HPDBC Chapter 1229: Coldgate Origins, Righteous Spirit, An Aura That Illuminated Countless Hearts
Chapter 1229: Coldgate Origins, Righteous Spirit, An Aura That Illuminated Countless Hearts
Leah was about to ask about her parents’ past when Hawk Howard approached, smiling, "Mom, Chelsea and the others insist on meeting my sister."
Behind Hawk Howard were several blonde-haired and blue-eyed young men, whose eyes lit up when they saw Leah, eagerly greeting her and showing off.
The Noyce family was indeed quite warm and cheerful, showing great enthusiasm towards Hawk Howard’s sister, who had come from afar.
Leah was over 1.7 meters tall, which wasn’t considered short among Western women. Combined with her striking features, especially those unique almond-shaped eyes, she seemed to exude an Eastern charm in the eyes of the Noyce family, quickly becoming their new favorite. Hawk Howard, who had been the center of attention in previous years, could finally relax a bit.
From arriving on the island to dinner and post-dinner interactions, Leah didn’t have a chance to catch her breath or talk to her mother. After everyone finally left her alone, she returned, took a shower, and fell asleep, exhausted.
Leah was awakened early the next day by the birds in the woods. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the morning sun streamed through the woods behind the house. The countryside air was excellent, the sky was blue, the grass was green, and the lake water was clear. Leah rolled around on the soft bed for a bit, then got up to change clothes and take a walk nearby while it was still early.
The servants were already up, preparing breakfast, with smoke curling from the chimneys, giving the place an oil painting-like feel. Though it was summer, a refreshing breeze swept over the island. Leah walked along the lake for a while, then sat on the grass, gazing at the emerald-green water. Soon, the sunlight began rising from the lake surface, and a motorboat sliced through the lakeside waves, docking at the shore with a call. The servants heard the call and went out to greet them.
"That’s the uncle from town delivering ingredients," Hawk Howard said as he walked over, sitting next to her, ruffling his slightly messy hair with a sleepy smile, "This island is isolated. Everything, from eating to getting around, depends on the town’s supply, coming and going by motorboat."
"Isn’t that quite inconvenient?" Leah asked, "Does your mother live here all the time?"
"Mom lives in Los Angeles, running a book club there. During school vacations, she comes over with my stepfather. Because of the transport inconvenience, everyone only comes back here once or twice a year."
"Caspian Howard, don’t you have any brothers or sisters?" Leah suddenly wondered, realizing that over the years, he rarely mentioned his family. Initially, she thought he had a poor relationship with his mother, but after meeting her yesterday, she saw such a gentle and generous woman, realizing that the mother and son were quite close. Hawk Howard also got along well with his stepfather’s family. It seemed Hawk Howard really had no siblings?
Hawk Howard nodded, saying, "Mom resolutely decided not to have more children, saying one was enough. My stepfather agreed. Mom said it’s the last thing she can do for my father and me."
Although she remarried, she didn’t have more children, and she managed to integrate into a culturally diverse United States family. She’s an independent woman with ideas. Leah felt some respect for her, no wonder she could raise someone like Hawk Howard.
"Staying here is better than going back home," Leah said, lost in thought.
"I was only planning to visit the old lady back home, not settle there," Hawk Howard smiled. If it hadn’t been for encountering young Leah that year, he wouldn’t have stayed in his home country for those two years. Now, he understood clearly that Leah had always treated him as a friend, a brother, without any romantic intention, and he didn’t point it out.
She was growing up during a moment of pain and confusion. Taking advantage of someone in need wasn’t gentlemanly behavior.
Perhaps he wasn’t confident enough in himself. He felt unable to keep hold of such a bold and flamboyant woman, just like back then, following her racing shadow at Clear Creek Bay. Even then, he thought the young girl seemed to have boundless strength, shining brightly.
"Will you go back?" Hawk Howard asked calmly.
Leah paused, her gaze setting upon the red sun emerging from the lake, then lazily smiled, "I don’t know. Life’s path is taken one step at a time."
Hawk Howard smiled slightly, that’s how one maintains freedom.
Soon, the other people in the villa were gradually waking up. Leah went back to freshen up, joining everyone for breakfast before being pulled along with Hawkmom and the Noyce family’s women to town by boat, to shop for various souvenirs and local specialties, eventually even dragging Leah to enjoy the local special cuisine, and by chance, joining a dance party.
Despite the varied nature of what Leah learned during her childhood, she wasn’t adept at dancing. But surrounded by enthusiastic and beautiful people, she gradually relaxed, learning to dance along with the locals.
Catching the last motorboat back to the island, everyone held large bags in their hands.
Leah returned to her room, looking at the piles of souvenirs and gifts stacked in the corner. Every single day’s schedule over the past two days had been filled so fully, blending completely into the local culture, she hadn’t had time to let her thoughts wander, feeling strangely rejuvenated and relieved, with less pain and more pleasure.
A while later, Hawkmom came to the door, bringing two evening dresses, smiling, "Tomorrow evening is a formal family gathering, and women should wear dresses. I brought two I haven’t worn for you to choose from."
"I originally wanted to bring a qipao, but I worried if you wore it and someone proposed on the spot, you wouldn’t be able to go back." Hawkmom laughed warmly and delicately.
"Thank you, Auntie." Leah got along excellently with Hawkmom these past two days, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling with tiny light, reaching out to hold Hawkmom’s hand, and saw that one dress was black and the other was white, both of elegant designs and universal colors, choosing the black one.
"Try it on, if anything doesn’t fit, I can tailor it for you," Hawkmom smiled.
Leah tried it on, finding the waist and neckline slightly big, Hawkmom measured the size then took out a sewing kit, to cinch in the dress’s waist a little.
"Auntie, could you tell me about my parents?" Leah asked softly, seeing Hawkmom focused on altering the dress under the light, her features gentle, Leah lowered her voice even more, "When I was three, my parents passed away."
Upon hearing this, Hawkmom paused, looked up, put the dress aside, held her hand, sighed gently and said, "Time passes, and years ago nothing remains but a bittersweet difficulty to recall those gone. Sit, I’ll tell you slowly."
"Your father was truly outstanding back then, rising from Coldgate with integrity, lighting up countless hearts in those days." Hawkmom began reminiscing about how back then she too had silently admired the Cox family youth, yet Zachary had another love; their affection intense, and later she married the Howard Family’s third son, moving to the United States after his early death with her son.
Later she heard of the Cox family’s downfall, corrupt scandal and all, and learned that the world is unpredictable and the old is never to return, taking her child and remarrying, never to set foot again on that heartbreaking land.