Chapter 1170: Chapter 1170: To Desire Is to Suffer, to Be Free of Desire Is to Be Strong

Leah steadied her emotions, sat down, and looked at Griffith Squire and then at Caspian Howard, completely unaware of how these two ended up together, yet she anxiously inquired about Griffith’s recent circumstances.

"What exactly happened three years ago, and why are you only coming back now?"

A flash of hostility crossed Griffith Squire’s charming eyes, and without avoiding Hawk Howard, he sneered, "Three years ago, a Russian arms supplier suddenly disappeared, suspected to be due to enemy retribution. I went to Eastern Europe to investigate this matter. While in the Vatican, my movements were detected, and I was pursued by enemies, sustaining serious injuries. I only woke up a short while ago."

Seeing Leah’s worried expression, Griffith Squire smiled faintly and said, "Don’t worry, I came to the Imperial City to find you only after my body recovered, and I dealt with the enemies who pursued me back then. I even found the Russian arms dealer from that time and got some interesting information from him."

"What information?" Leah asked, holding her breath.

"He told me that he wasn’t being hunted by enemies; he was simply coerced into taking a trip to Europe, leading me around like a dog." Griffith sneered. Richard Shaw indeed had some good tactics, leading him around for three full years. But what of it? The feud between the Shaw family and mine stands like a mountain in the way, and thinking of marrying Leah is simply a pipe dream.

"Who was it?" Leah had a bad premonition, "How do you know Hawk Howard? Hawk said he hasn’t been back in the country for nearly ten years."

Griffith Squire sneered, saying nothing, and looked at Hawk Howard on the side.

Hawk looked up, staring steadily at Leah, and said calmly, "Half a year ago, your brother asked me to look after you. Leah, the person who tricked your brother into going to Europe back then was Richard Shaw. He used your amnesia as an excuse to try to develop a relationship with you."

Leah’s face turned suddenly pale, her long, slender fingertips pressing hard on the table until they turned white, as she wordlessly stared at Griffith Squire.

"Some things, you need to remember by yourself. If I tell you, it’ll be like listening to a story without a sense of reality." A hint of cruelty flashed across Griffith’s handsome, devilish face as he softened his gaze and said gently, "Leah, it was him."

"Why? Why would he do that?" Leah shook her head hoarsely, wanting to grab her phone to call and confront Richard Shaw.

Griffith Squire pressed down on her hand and said gravely, "He’s with the military, we’re Golden Triangle people, and both the legitimate and illegitimate sides are hunting us down. Leah, even if your hands are clean, you’re still my sister, Griffith Squire’s sister. They’ll target you all the same. Don’t you understand? Whether it’s a matter of stance or integrity, he’s deceived you, and you two are not meant to be together."

Griffith’s handsome face darkened slightly, avoiding mention of her past. Even Hawk Howard instinctively avoided mentioning her past, not wanting her to know she had once married Richard Shaw, nearly losing her life, sacrificing Eamon Turner’s life, and spending immense effort to save her.

Such a past was too heavy. If Leah never remembered it in her life, Griffith wouldn’t bring it up and would silently bear the Shaw and Squire family feuds alone.

Leah’s eyes were slightly moist, unwilling to believe all this was because of Richard Shaw, causing their sibling separation for three years, leading to Griffith’s severe injuries where he lay nearly dying for over two years.

"I have to ask him for clarification." Leah said hoarsely, looking at Griffith Squire. Suddenly, her hand froze. How could she question him? Griffith wouldn’t deceive her for no reason. Now that he’s in the Imperial City, what if the military’s crazy actions turn against Griffith?

"Griffith Squire, let’s go back to the Southeast Asia." Leah’s throat was somewhat dry as she said, "Going back to the Golden Triangle is fine too."

Griffith looked at Hawk, noted Leah’s worry, and not wanting to reveal too much in front of Hawk, merely said, "Mm, we’ll go back to Southeast Asia for the New Year. By the way, how’s Delphine?"

In these three years of Griffith’s severe injuries, he learned Delphine gave birth to a pair of twins, divorced Ignatius Leclair, and left Southeast Asia, feeling somewhat distressed inside.

If he hadn’t met with an accident back then, Delphine wouldn’t have suffered, nor would Leah have been deceived by Richard Shaw for nearly three years.

"Delphine is doing quite well, Nicholas and Benjamin are super cute. Although Ignatius isn’t much, both kids are just like Delphine. You’ll see when you meet them." Talking about those adorable kids, Leah’s mood instantly lifted.

Griffith nodded and smiled, "Great, then I must prepare some gifts for our meeting."

Seeing that the siblings’ conversation had finally steered to a safer topic, Hawk then said, "Leah, the local specialties I brought for you are in my car trunk, I’ll get them for you later. There’re quite a lot of kids’ toys; the rest are local culinary specialties, which you can give to Miss Carter and the kids exactly."

Leah nodded, looking gratefully at the always considerate Caspian Howard, and said with a smile, "Caspian, whoever marries you in the future will certainly be super happy."

Hawk smiled without saying a word.

"During this period before the year-end, I have to handle some matters, leaving some people to assist you. I’ll rush back before year-end," Griffith Squire said.

Leah nodded.

As Griffith needed to rush to Brocade City, the three parted ways.

Hawk escorted Leah back to the small villa and saw a black military-modified vehicle parked under the snow-covered street lamp. The snow had stopped these days, but it was in a thawing phase, not only cold and damp but also difficult to traverse.

"Ignore him, let’s go inside." Leah looked at the car with a complex expression and said softly.

Hawk nodded, got out, took the packed box from the trunk, and carried it inside for her.

"Major General, Miss Leah is back." Swallow, sitting in the driver’s seat, quietly reminded. The atmosphere inside the car was very subdued. He opened the window and asked, "It seems she came back with the fourth young master of the Howard Family."

Swallow sighed inwardly. The Major General waited here daily but never saw Miss Leah come out to say a word, and Swallow regretted not thinking better at the time; why did he make that call?

These days, the Major General almost neither ate nor slept well, and Swallow saw it all, wishing he could rush up and beg for Miss Leah’s forgiveness.

"Major General, might as well explain everything to Miss Leah." Swallow saw the man gazing at the tightly closed door of the small villa and said through gritted teeth. Major General had them even change their terms to keep the fact quiet that Miss Leah was indeed Madam. In Swallow’s view, why not just be open about it? Isn’t there a young master too? That’s Miss Leah’s child; with him there, Madam won’t leave, right?

"Let’s go back." Richard Shaw, after waiting an hour, lowered his handsome, cold face, realizing she wouldn’t come out today, and softly instructed.

The man’s heart felt slightly chilled as the cold wind streamed in through the car window, bringing fine rain that dampened the seat and the Buddha beads on his wrist.

In this world, seeking comes with hardship, but with no desires, one can be strong. What he owes her, he will repay slowly.