CHAPTER 269: CHAPTER 269: GODFERY SHAW’S FIVE YEARS

Hailey Smith was stunned, feeling on the verge of tears.

He just wanted to hear some gossip, not to spill any secrets.

The Eldest Young Master’s past, he always forbids anyone to talk about it.

Hailey Smith grimaced, "Young Madam, I have some things to take care of. Can I talk to you some other day when I’m free?"

Nancy Allen shook her head and wrote, "No, if you don’t tell me, I won’t meet Godfery Shaw tomorrow, and I’ll say it’s because you upset me."

"What! Young Madam, we’re on the same team! You can’t do this to me!"

Nancy Allen just looked at Hailey Smith indifferently.

Hailey Smith screamed inwardly, Brother, save me!

Finally, Hailey Smith lowered his head and resignedly said, "I can tell Young Madam, but please don’t let the Eldest Young Master know it was me, otherwise he’ll make sure I’m in trouble."

Nancy Allen nodded.

Hailey Smith’s gaze became less playful and slightly mournful as he said, "Back then, the Eldest Young Master was in the hospital for a long time. He literally snatched his life back from King Yan."

"After he woke up, he was silent and depressed for a long time. He wouldn’t take his meds for recovery, and his wounds repeatedly got infected and tore open. He ignored company matters, let the Shaw family infiltrate, and shut himself in your old area residence, indifferent to everything. At that time, we all thought the Eldest Young Master was finished, his spirit drained."

Hailey Smith spoke simply, but Nancy Allen detected Godfery Shaw’s despair from those simple words.

Nancy Allen only felt a sting at her nose.

Hailey Smith continued, "At that time, no amount of persuasion worked on him. Young Madam, you’d never believe it, but it was Marsh Smith who got the Eldest Young Master to pull himself together. We don’t know what he said, but after that, the Eldest Young Master started talking and took his medicine properly."

Hearing this unfamiliar name, Nancy Allen frowned slightly.

What was Marsh Smith doing? Given what she did, Marsh Smith should be having a hard time now. Why would he help Godfery Shaw?

As Hailey Smith got to this part, his expression became even more sorrowful, his usually cheerful voice now low, "The Eldest Young Master soon recovered and started acting against the Shaw family. We originally needed more time, but Amos Shaw’s situation greatly impacted the Shaw family, setting off a balanced confrontation between the Eldest Young Master and the Shaw family, depleting his energy."

"Gradually, the Eldest Young Master developed a severe stomach ailment, even having near incidents from stomach bleeding, and he started self-harming. His wrists bore scars, and suffering from severe insomnia, going night after night without sleep made him colder and more ruthless."

"Until two years later, when the Eldest Young Master took down the Shaw family. I thought he would stop, but he didn’t. He acted tirelessly and painlessly, aggressively expanding in the business world, living in a self-torturing way. I wanted to persuade him, that living so exhausted is pointless, but my brother said not to, because the only calm Eldest Young Master is a dead one; pain is the only thing that makes him clearly alive... waiting for you."

Upon finishing, a profound silence engulfed the room.

Nancy Allen couldn’t understand how Godfery Shaw, having gone through so much, could still be so gentle with her after their reunion.

Nancy Allen closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again.

She had imagined that the past five years might not have been good for Godfery Shaw but hadn’t expected them to be so bad.

To her, five years passed like a blink of an eye, but for Godfery Shaw, those five years passed painfully, second by second.

And how could the Godfery Shaw who reunited with her have suppressed all those negative emotions?

Since coming back, she had wanted to ask but didn’t dare. Now that she found out, her heart felt heavy.

Taking a moment to calm down, Nancy Allen wrote again, "And what about Julius Shaw? It’s been five years, and his condition just keeps worsening."

Having said so much, the sorrowful Hailey Smith was momentarily dumbfounded.

Oh, right, the Young Madam still doesn’t know that the Eldest and Second Young Master are the same person.

Hailey Smith, feeling a bit uneasy, said, "The Second Young Master’s condition has always been unstable; since your departure, it’s become even more so. The doctors can’t do much, only saying that certain people or events, certain catalysts, might improve his condition."

When Hailey Smith said this, he glanced eagerly at Nancy Allen.

He actually wanted to say that Young Madam was that catalyst, that she was the only one who could calm the Eldest Young Master and merge his two personalities back into a normal state.

But Hailey Smith dared not speak too clearly. The Young Madam was smart and might catch on if he said too much.

This matter, as long as the Eldest Young Master didn’t bring it up, none of them would say a word.

Nancy Allen sighed, writing, "Okay, I understand. I’ll make sure to watch Godfery Shaw eat in the future, and I’ll do my best to help with Julius Shaw."

Hailey Smith cheered up, "With Young Madam’s help, that’s great. The Eldest Young Master doesn’t listen to anyone, but he definitely listens to you."

Nancy Allen had someone bring a bouquet of roses, attached a card, and handed it to Hailey Smith.

Without needing to be told, Hailey Smith self-assuredly said, "I know, give them to the Eldest Young Master, right? I’m on it."

Nancy Allen nodded and wrote, "You go deliver it. I’m bringing lunch to the company and eating with him at noon."

Hailey Smith’s mood, quick to come and go, brightened immediately. He flashed a big grin and dashed off with the roses.

An hour later, Robert Reed and Sophie Allen came downstairs.

Sophie Allen gave Nancy Allen a signaling look.

Nancy Allen nodded, bowed to the teacher, and raised her little notebook.

On the little notebook were three big words: I was wrong.

Sophie Allen wanted to laugh but held it in.

Robert Reed, a bit helpless, tapped Nancy Allen lightly on the head, not really using any force, and said in a tone of mock annoyance, "Good to know you’re wrong. Let me tell you, if you mess around like this again, I won’t let you into Ink Manor."

Nancy Allen immediately wrote, "I promise I won’t, and if I do, punish me by making me wear a clown costume and dance on the street!"

Sophie Allen couldn’t hold back and snorted with laughter.

Robert Reed also almost couldn’t help but smile. This girl had come back this time with a sense of humor, finally alive again, how wonderful.

Nancy Allen followed eagerly behind Robert Reed.

Robert Reed asked puzzledly, "I’m too lazy to stay mad at you. Why are you still following me? Do you want to say something else?"

Nancy Allen quickly wrote, "I want millet porridge for lunch, black dates yam fish soup, stir-fried pork with lettuce..."

Nancy Allen wrote a bunch.

Robert Reed asked puzzledly, "Is your stomach uncomfortable? These are all stomach-friendly foods."

Nancy Allen honestly wrote, "Not for me, for Godfery Shaw. I want to take them and have lunch with him."

Robert Reed was taken aback, and exclaimed, disappointed yet affectionate, "I knew you’d take his side."

Nancy Allen looked innocently at Robert Reed.

At noon, Robert Reed still cooked the dishes Nancy Allen mentioned, even adding two more stomach-friendly ones.

Nancy Allen left with the lunch box satisfied.