Chapter 1195: Chapter 1195: She Came to the Imperial City with Him, Having Dinner with Hawk Howard?

Unemployed? Mrs. Young’s face instantly turned a little unpleasant.

"Mrs. Young, young Mr. Howard was once a rare talent in our institute. We went through great efforts to recruit him back to the country. If it weren’t for his family background, he could have easily been a director by now," Director Liu said with a smile. "The position in our institute has always been reserved for him."

Mrs. Young’s face improved slightly. She called an attendant to order food and said while ordering, "Our daughter, since she was little, has been raised in luxury and comfort. Although she’s getting married, her dowry has long been prepared. A villa in Spring River Garden in Imperial City, two apartments, two cars, and many other items. Even if Mr. Howard doesn’t work, with our Young family, he will not worry about his future."

"Mrs. Young is really generous. Miss Young is so fortunate," Mrs. Liu said enthusiastically, smiling. "The villas in Spring River Garden are selling for fifty million each."

Mrs. Liu then gave Hawk Howard a knowing glance.

Hawk Howard maintained a polite smile throughout, neither warm nor cold. Seeing Mrs. Young had finished ordering, he asked Leah what she wanted to eat.

Leah, entertained by the unfolding scene, realized that Caspian Howard was worth only a fifty-million villa after all.

Leah noticed Hawk Howard glared at her disapprovingly. She blinked her clear, bright eyes and said with a smile, "You go ahead, you know my tastes well."

Hawk Howard nodded slightly, called over the attendant, and fluently ordered dinner for Leah and himself in French, his manner cold yet gentlemanly throughout.

"Miss Squire can’t possibly not recognize French and not be able to order, can she?" Miss Young sneered in contempt. From the moment she entered, she took a liking to this man. Seeing he didn’t speak a word to her and instead tenderly ordered dinner for Leah, her temper flared.

Leah, suddenly the focus of all eyes, perked up, realizing she was on Hawk Howard’s payroll.

"As long as Hawk Howard can handle it." Her deep-set features and cold elegance overshadowed Miss Young, who turned pale. Leah smiled kindly and said, "Miss Young, your nose looks a bit overfilled, Hawk Howard prefers natural beauty. Mrs. Young, constantly bringing up fifty-million villas, even if accompanying a daughter in marriage, depends on whether the other party is willing. Forced marriages don’t bring happiness."

Leah’s smile was indifferent as she looked at the opposite Young mother and daughter. Caspian Howard lost his father early, and his mother’s remarriage was a topic even the Howard family matriarch dared not bring up in front of him for fear of upsetting her grandson. This woman was ridiculously bold.

Miss Young was about to explode when Mrs. Young held her back.

Director Liu and his wife were sweating profusely; this matchmaking was entirely a one-sided affair. With Hawk Howard bringing a female friend, and such a beautiful one, they knew the match was doomed, especially given Leah Squire’s beauty trumped Miss Young’s by a mile.

The couple originally thought of finishing the meal and leaving, but things spiraled out of control. Yet, offending the Young family was not an option. Director Liu kept giving Hawk Howard winks.

Hawk Howard pretended not to notice, smiling faintly. Seeing Leah defend him, like a mother hen protecting her chicks, strangely warmed his heart.

"I wonder what Miss Squire’s family does, where they work with such a tone," Mrs. Young, full of resentment, asked.

"The family has some modest assets, so I don’t need to work," Leah replied coolly, looking down.

Through the years, Griffith Squire gave her all his earnings. Over time, their assets grew so much she no longer knew just how much the siblings were worth.

"Oh, so that means she’s jobless, what a joke," Miss Young mocked. "Isn’t she a fraud? Hawk Howard, don’t be fooled. These days, many women adopt influencer looks to pretend to be rich ladies and deceive others."

Hawk Howard’s expression turned a bit cold. He had reluctantly agreed to this matchmaking, wanting to spend more time with Leah; yet, the Young mother and daughter ruined the evening.

Hawk Howard lost interest in staying and said calmly, "We have other matters to attend to, so we won’t join you for dinner. Dinner is on me, as an apology."

Mrs. Young immediately put on a sour face, ready to lash out, when a hearty laugh interrupted: "Hey, Caspian, what brings you here for dinner?"

Alaric Howard was just heading to the restroom, heard the noise, glanced over, and saw his younger brother Caspian.

He thought he was seeing things. Caspian, such a reclusive figure, was dining out on French cuisine with so many people?

"Are you Master Alaric?" Director Liu recognized Alaric Howard and got excited. "Master Alaric, two years ago, you inspected our institute. I’m Albert Thompson. Do you remember?"

Amongst Imperial City’s elite, the Shaws are too low-key and mysterious, while the Howard Family, led by its eldest, has remained active in politics, earning quite the reputation.

Alaric glanced at the over-fifty Director Liu but couldn’t recall him, knowing his younger brother had worked at the institute. With a laugh, he said, "I just came by to say hello, didn’t mean to interrupt your meal. Thanks to you all for looking after our Caspian over these years."

The Howard Family’s youngest member? Director Liu and his wife were dumbfounded, as were the Young mother and daughter.

Hawk Howard’s surname was indeed Howard, after all.

Hawk Howard frowned slightly and asked, "Who are you here with?"

"With old Shaw. He owes me a dinner, three years now. I must make him pay a hefty bill," Alaric joked. When Leah, facing away, stood up with her bag, turned, and revealed a familiar face, he was briefly stunned, almost biting his tongue, and stammered, "You, you, you?"

Leah smiled, seeming unintentional, and asked, "Is Master Alaric here with Major General Shaw?"

"Yes." Alaric’s eyes widened at seeing Crystal Landon seemingly resurrected. Could it be Crystal never died? Could that be why Shaw was willing to get his legs treated and return to his military duties? Wasn’t it said back then that no body remained, and the scene was horrific? What’s going on? Alaric was bewildered.

The fact that Leah looks like Crystal Landon is known to only a few. With the Shaw Family keeping tight-lipped, and Caspian never mentioning it, Alaric remained in the dark all this time.

Leah knew Richard Shaw was also present, which felt utterly indescribable, a shock in its entirety.

"How do you two happen to be here?" Alaric asked, looking at Hawk Howard, surprised that Caspian potentially had run off with Crystal for years.

"I was also wondering how you two ended up here?" a deep, sexy voice sounded.

Richard Shaw’s handsome, cold face held no expression, looking at Leah, who unexpectedly appeared in Imperial City. His tall, straight silhouette exuded pressure, his tea-colored eyes slightly narrowing, wondering how she could be dining with Hawk Howard.