Chapter 1653 - 1597: Shaw Family’s Counterattack_2

Leah nodded, grateful that it was Marcus Quinn who rescued Tara. The young girl from the Chase Family had become more alert after this ordeal. Had she naively returned to Seacoast, falling into the hands of the Yarn Family, a second escape might have been impossible. If anyone else had rescued Tara, without the connection to the Howard Family, she wouldn’t have been able to reach the Shaw Family, and the matter would have quietly remained unresolved. So many coincidences aligning like this was truly a stroke of ancestral luck.

"I’ve heard that Marcus Quinn has had a tumultuous life. Since we owe him a favor, we should certainly repay it," Leah mused.

"While waiting for you, I reviewed Marcus Quinn’s files. There’s something peculiar about his records. Given his performance in the military, his advancement would have been swift even without his grandfather’s connections. However, he suddenly entered a special department, and during a confidential assignment, his team suffered over fifty percent casualties. Marcus was deeply affected by this and subsequently requested to retire." Richard Shaw thought of that confidential mission, and his years of governing instantly made him suspect something was amiss.

Several aspects were off. Marcus entering the special department was quite strange. The department’s evaluation process is very stringent. Marcus was highly competent, passing the evaluations with ease. However, entry into the special department is targeted. Marcus’s biological father is a high-ranking official in the Imperial City and has ties to the Howard Family. It’s surprising he’d enter such a dangerous department and undertake such risky missions.

Considering the mission’s danger level and the personnel configuration at the time, it was almost a death sentence.

"Something’s not right?" Leah was surprised. She knew Richard was not one to jump to conclusions without confidence. When Leah heard this, she sat up, her alluring eyes narrowing as she said, "Since something’s off, we should return the favor to Marcus."

"Sir, ma’am, we’ve arrived at the Shaw Mansion." The guard stopped the car and spoke softly.

Leah exchanged a glance with Richard and dropped the subject as they got out of the car. The gates of the Shaw Mansion were wide open. Sister-in-law Li stood at the entrance, overjoyed at their return, exclaimed, "Master, ma’am, everyone’s here from the second, third, and fourth branches."

Richard nodded, assisting Leah out of the car and into the house. "Shuangzi, close off this road. Don’t let anyone through."

The Yarn Family hasn’t reacted yet. Once they do, they’ll likely come crying at the Shaw Mansion.

"Yes, sir." Shuangzi quickly obeyed.

"Ma’am, what happened?" Sister-in-law Li asked worriedly, "Isn’t today Miss Lana’s engagement party? Why has everyone come to the Shaw Mansion?"

"Where’s grandma?" Leah asked.

"The old lady is playing with the little miss. The third branch’s people have tearful eyes, but since you and the master hadn’t returned, they didn’t dare say anything. They’re all playing with the little girl," Sister-in-law Li whispered.

Leah breathed a sigh of relief. Grandma was getting old, but thankfully, the third branch knew the gravity of the situation and didn’t act impulsively, sparing the old lady from worry.

When Leah entered the house, she saw everyone gathered by the pumpkin cradle near the fireplace. The little Miss of the Shaw Family, wearing a pink vest, was crawling playfully on the pumpkin cradle. Her dark, enchanting eyes were bright and shiny, with long lashes and fair skin, cutely reaching for toys at the edge of the cradle, melting everyone’s hearts and drawing laughter from the Shaw’s extended family.

As soon as Leah saw her little daughter, all her worries vanished. She removed her coat, wiped her hands, stepped forward, and smiled, "Grandma, has the baby been good today?"

Since having the little great-granddaughter, the Shaw Family’s grandmother was so delighted she seemed ten years younger. She no longer concerned herself with many matters, spending her days happily playing with the baby.

"She’s been excellent, just too well-behaved, without any fuss," the grandmother chuckled.

Looking at her well-behaved little girl, Leah’s heart melted. She stepped forward, hugged her little daughter, and gave several kisses. The small child smelled the familiar scent on her mommy and snuggled into her, babbling with her pretty eyes wide open.

Leah laughingly placed her daughter back on the pumpkin cradle, then looked towards the third branch’s people.

The grandmother, knowing they likely needed to discuss something, called Sister-in-law Li and took little great-granddaughter to another room. The child was too young to hear any adult matters. Miss of the Shaw Family had two bedrooms — a small one on the first floor and another on the second. Due to her age, the grandmother took the little great-granddaughter into the first-floor bedroom to continue playing with her.