When she unveils identities

Chapter 51

Chapter 51 Specialties

As they spoke, Howard put down his pen, pulled open his desk drawer, solemnly took out a rosewood

box, and handed it to Shirley

“Shirley, open it and take a look.”

Shirley took the box and carefully opened it. There was a medal inside, engraved with a dove of peace

and a sword. She looked at Howard in confusion. “Howard, this is…”

“Good girl, this is what your grandfather gave me on his deathbed, a symbol of his heroic life. Now I

pass it on to you.”

Jason was like a brother to Howard. Howard sighed with emotions as he recalled Jason’s legendary

life. “Before your grandfather passed away, he was worried about you the most. He repeatedly told me

to give you the medal four years after your marriage to Braden….

“Now that you have been married for four years, the medal will carry your grandfather’s blessing to you.

It will bless you and Braden with a happy and long lasting marriage.”

As Shirley put the gold medal in her palm, she felt as if the line between life and death had blurred, and

she could touch Jason’s slightly rough but gentle palm. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Jason took great care of me when he was alive. And now that he’s gone, his spirit still guards me. I’m

such a useless granddaughter I’m nothing but a burden for him…”

Shirley still remembered that before Jason passed away, he had held her hand and repeatedly told her

not to take revenge and not to go back to that dangerous and complicated interpersonal circle. He did

not need her to be very capable, nor did he need her to revive the Wilson family. He just wanted her to

be an ordinary woman for the rest of her life and be Braden’s wife properly. Otherwise, he would not be

at ease after he died.

But now…

She sighed and thought, I blame myself. Why am I so useless? I can’t even satisfy such a small wish of

grandpa.

In the world, one’s mind is the most difficult to control.

I can take revenge and revive my family, yet I can do nothing about a man who doesn’t love me.

So far, I have tried my best. Since there is no hope, I can only choose to give up. I only ask for a clear

conscience!

“Silly girl, what are you talking about? In our eyes, you are a very outstanding kid. How can you be

useless?”

Howard looked at Shirley lovingly, his eyes full of admiration. “Put others aside The fact that you

have tamed Braden, who has been difficult since childhood, is enough to prove that you have at talent

that no other girl can match.”

Shirley coughed a few times.

She avoided Howard’s gaze, feeling guilty

She thought, if Howard knows that Braden and I have already divorced, Howard will be so pissed

off

She quickly changed the topic and said, “Howard, you know what? After my vacation with Braden this Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

time, I brought you some specialties. I hope you will like them.”

“Really? Thank you. What a wonderful girl you are. Let me see”

Shirley took out the specialties she had bought beforehand. “These are coffee beans. This is fruit tea,

this is coconut powder, and they are all specialties from Semporna. And this one here…”

She opened a jewelry box, and inside it was a round and transparent pearl that seemed to be shining.

“This is a black pearl dug up from the deepest part of Kapalai Island. They say that it has been existing

for hundreds of years and has absorbed the essence of the natural environment. You should place it in

your room. It’ll protect the house and soothe your nerves.”

She lied about the vacation, yet the pearl was real, which cost her a lot. She regarded it as a gift for

Howard before she left.

“It looks nice. I like it a lot.”

Howard fiddled with the black pearl that was the size of a pigeon egg and was very satisfied.

He thought, Shirley still thinks of me when she is on vacation. Also, she has great taste I dig this pearl

so much.

“Grandpa.”

Suddenly, Braden’s cold and low voice came from outside the door

Shirley turned around and happened to meet Braden’s eyes.

After Shirley and Braden left Seatle Courthouse, they walked in opposite directions, as if both of them

were determined to not see each other again for the rest of their lives.

Unexpectedly, they saw each other again after just a few hours.

However, now that they were divorced, it seemed that they looked at each other a little differently.

Howard’s eyes darted back and forth between Shirley and Braden, full of mixed emotions.

“Shouldn’t you two be attached now that you are back from your vacation? Why are you here to see

me one after the other? Are you having a fallout ”

“We

**

Shirley bit her lip, looking in a pickle

She didn’t know whether she should come clean or continue to lie to Howard.

Before, when she was married to Braden, she could lie to Howard without feeling guilty. Besides, she

didn’t lie to Howard technically.

But now, things were different. After all, there had been a qualitative change in her relationship with

Braden, and she could not act as if nothing had happened.

“We love each other so much. How could we have a fallout

Braden said calmly as he put his arm around Shirley’s shoulder

He acted so naturally as if they were used to being this intimate

Ignorant outsiders might think of them as a loving couple indeed.

Shirley’s cheeks blushed slightly, and she could only play along with a fake smile. She said, “That’s

right. How could we have a fallout” Yet at the same time, she thought, we will simply get divorced!

“I’m relieved to hear that.”

Howard nodded and then asked Braden, “Braden, tell me, did you enjoy your vacation? Where did you

go?”

Seeing that her lie would be exposed soon, Shirley wanted to answer Howard, yet she was stopped by

him. He said sternly, “Shirley, I am asking Braden. Let him answer

Braden glanced at the specialties on Howard’s desk, and he fixated on the bag of coffee beans only.

Then he said calmly, “We went to Africa.”

After all, the best coffee beans in the world came from Africa.

Shirley was stunned.

She held her forehead, feeling speechless. She gave up struggling.

She thought, see? This is the so–called tacit understanding between Braden and me. My dream

destination for vacation is a pristine island like Semporna, but he wants to go to Africa?

Semporna and Africa are so unrelated. How am I supposed to patch up our lies

“Africa, right? Good for you!”

The benevolent expression on Howard’s face was immediately replaced by sternness and coldness.

“What a wonderful grandson of mine. You can lie so calmly! Do you two really think that I am so gullible

since I am an old man? Do I look stupid to you?”

Braden tried to explain, “Grandpa, I…__”

“Kneel!”

Howard shouted angrily

When Braden was angry, everyone around him would be too scared to speak. Yet when Howard got

angry, none of the creatures around him were spared!

There was a natural majesty to Howard, who had been a great hero on the battlefield. His

momentum could bring everyone to their knees.

“I’m sorry, Grandpa. I shouldn’t have lied to you.”

Shirley knew she was wrong, and out of filial piety to Howard, she was about to kneel as well.

Seeing that, Howard quickly stopped her “Good girl, you don’t need to do that. The floor is so hard, and

it hurts a lot to kneel. I’m asking this brat to kneel!”

Braden pursed his thin lips, and his handsome face was cold. He did not hesitate at all. In the next

second, his tall, straight figure fell straight to his knees.

“Grandpa, I was wrong. I am willing to be punished.”

He lowered his eyes and said in a cold voice.

Howard was the absolute authority of the Stewart family and had always been Braden’s example.

Braden always respected Howard and was filial to Howard. He grew up obeying Howard’s orders.

unconditionally.

Braden’s marriage to Shirley was the only exception. Braden had to defy Howard once.

“Well, at least you have a proper attitude when admitting that you were wrong. Alright then. I might

as well give you one last chance. Tell me, what else are you two keeping from me besides this so–

called vacation?”

Braden didn’t say anything.

He lowered his head coldly and remained silent.

“Keeping silent, are you?”

Howard took a deep breath with a meaningful expression. Then he said, “I know what happened, even

though you don’t tell me. I guess Shirley was aggrieved and was afraid to fight back, which was why

she sent me a pearl to hint at me”