Chapter 1180: Chapter 1180: Time Lasts Forever—How Do You Know It Won’t Be Me by Your Side in the End?

On the way back from the park, Leah remained silent while Hawk Howard maintained his breezy demeanor.

As the cold wind swept through, Hawk suddenly stopped, helped her put on a hat, fastened the buttons on her clothes, and said lightly, "Don’t feel burdened by what I said. If you can’t accept being lovers, we can just be friends. The difference between friends and lovers is like tea and wine—one is fragrant, the other rich. For me, choosing tea or wine is just a matter of changing flavors."

Leah’s delicate face was surrounded by the soft gray raccoon fur of the hat, her skin gleaming like icy jade in the winter chill. She blinked her eyelashes, looked at Hawk, and said softly, "You really are strange, but why didn’t I meet you sooner?"

Hawk smiled slightly, reached out to rub her head through the furry hat, and said, "Time is long; how do you know I’m not the one who will stay by your side until the end?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

How much resolve would it take to say such words? Leah sighed inwardly; she genuinely felt that Caspian Howard was great and felt comfortable being with him.

As they reached the entrance of the villa, they saw a black Hummer parked under the street light. A man stood there smoking, dressed in ordinary clothes instead of a uniform. His posture was as towering as a mountain, and when he saw them returning, he looked over with tea-colored eyes, his face stern and seasoned.

Richard Shaw saw Leah returning, instinctively pinched out his cigarette, tossed it into a nearby trash can, then walked over, not even glancing at Hawk, and said coldly, "The old lady fell ill last night and wants to see you. Leah, can you go to the Shaw Mansion?"

Leah was taken aback, thinking of the old lady from the Shaw Family.

"Is Grandma Shaw alright?"

"She caught a cold. Grandma’s getting old, can’t get out of bed easily, and the winter makes it worse. When she’s feeling uncomfortable, she keeps calling your name." Richard’s brows showed a trace of somberness as he spoke heavily.

"Then I’ll go with you to the Shaw Mansion." After Leah spoke, she looked up at Hawk Howard.

Hawk nodded, firmly said, "Go see Grandma Shaw. Call me if anything happens. I’ll head back later."

Leah nodded and got into Richard’s black Hummer.

Hawk Howard stood in the cold wind, watching the black car disappear at the bend, lost in thought for a long time. Delphine heard the noise, came out, and saw him standing alone under the streetlight, politely asked, "Mr. Howard, Leah left with Major General Shaw?"

"Grandma Shaw fell ill and wanted to see Leah. Richard Shaw took her over." Hawk turned, smiled courteously, and said, "Thank you, Miss Landon, for taking care of Leah during this time. She may seem carefree, but she’s actually very affectionate and lonely. With Miss Landon by her side, she feels much happier."

Delphine, hearing this, looked at Hawk Howard a few more times. She’s seen many outstanding men, from Southeast Asia to France and the Imperial City, all from prominent families and prestigious backgrounds. Hawk Howard, having lived in the United States since childhood, does things with a deep understanding of the Golden Mean, appears cold and detached yet is deeply passionate and reserved. Someone from a top aristocratic family like the Howard Family is indeed rare. Leah would feel more at ease with him than with Richard Shaw.

"Though I haven’t known Leah as long as Mr. Howard has, we’ve been through life and death together, so it’s only right to stay by her side." Delphine smiled, saying, "Mr. Howard, you’re welcome to come over for meals often."

"Certainly." The man softly smiled.

Richard Shaw drove himself, and when Leah got into the car, she realized there were only the two of them inside. Remembering they had argued last night, which she’d already forgotten amid the day’s events, she felt a bit awkward.

Richard’s long, coarse fingertips tightened on the steering wheel, thoughts flashing of Leah and Hawk walking together, conversing happily, his lips involuntarily pressed downward, his heart somewhat heavy, as he said with a low voice, "You really like Hawk Howard?"

"Yes." Leah responded coldly.

Upon hearing that, Richard’s gaze grew a bit darker, his fingertips gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to suppress the rising bitterness, hoarsely saying, "I’ll be better than Hawk Howard."

Leah said nothing.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy, all the way to the Shaw Mansion.

Mrs. Zhao had been waiting outside the Shaw Mansion, delighted to see the young master finally bringing Leah along, and happily stepped forward, saying, "Miss Leah, you’re finally here. The old lady has a fever and keeps calling your name."

Leah followed Mrs. Zhao inside, quietly asked, "Grandma Shaw was fine; how did she catch a cold? Has the fever subsided?"

"The fever has subsided, but she’s still not quite lucid. The doctor came to see her, saying the cold had settled in, and it’s my fault for not noticing. She’s been feeling a bit unwell for the past few days." Mrs. Zhao said regretfully.

Leah entered the old lady’s room, the heater was on, warm and dry. The old lady lay on a carved wooden bed, her thin frame barely lifting the blanket.

Getting closer, Leah heard the old lady muttering, calling out her name.

She sat by the bed, reached out to hold the old lady’s hand, her eyes inexplicably reddening, softly said, "Grandma, Leah’s here."

Richard Shaw also came in from outside, leaned down to look at the old lady, the Buddha beads on his wrist emitting a faint sandalwood scent, filled with a rich masculine aura.

Leah moved aside, watching Richard gently call the old lady.

The old lady of the Shaw Family fuzzily woke up, looked at her grandson, then at Leah, her eyes reddened, choking up, "Why have you come back, child? You never come to see me after all these years, raising you was a waste."

The old lady’s mind wasn’t fully clear, instinctively mistaking her for Crystal Landon, tightly holding her hand, murmuring, "Ah Zhe, did you bully Crystal again?"

Richard lowered his gaze, hoarsely said, "Grandma, she’s Leah."

"Leah? Leah was raised by me too." The old lady couldn’t quite differentiate between the two, and after murmuring for a while, she drifted back to sleep.

Richard Shaw covered the old lady with the blanket, then got up and left the room.

When Leah came out, she saw the man standing in front of the green window curtains in the living room, looking out at the wintery courtyard. The hall was empty, extremely quiet, his silhouette exuding a sense of desolation and solitude.

Leah saw that the old lady hadn’t fully recovered, so she couldn’t just leave without paying attention. She walked over and said indifferently, "Shouldn’t we send the old lady to the hospital for a check-up?"

"The doctor has seen her already; Grandma is just old, hence the coma." Richard’s voice was somewhat hoarse and dry. The Shaw Family’s power, employing highly revered old doctors, and having advanced equipment in the mansion, going to the hospital wouldn’t make much difference. However, a person’s longevity is governed by fate, uncontrollable against time’s passage.