Chapter 76: Operation Green Vein 9: Meeting the Rival
Henry Brown stood by the roadside under a tree that had just sprouted new buds. Looking across the narrow street, he was caught off guard by the person he thought he would never see again in his life.
It was autumn when he left Longbourn, and he was still unsure of his future, wondering how many years it would take before he could finally settle down. Within a few months, everything was settled.
It was just an ordinary early spring afternoon. The place where my daughter had classes every day was not unfamiliar to me, but she looked at me with a smile on her face, as if the past few months had never existed.
He forgot everything and walked straight ahead uncontrollably.
Heather raised an eyebrow. Major Brown hadn't changed much, except for being a bit more plump. However, a young woman was holding his arm intimately, but he hurried across the street without paying any attention to her. She was so flustered that she let go of her arm and instinctively protected her stomach.
interesting.
Major Brown soon entered the little garden.
"Long time no see, Mrs. Lawrence." He looked dazed for a moment, and then tried his best to maintain etiquette, but the neighbor lady who was closest to him still noticed something and glanced between them suspiciously.
Heather stepped back imperceptibly. "Good day, Major Brown. But are we going to leave that lady alone across the street?"
Major Brown looked at the familiar distant yet still stunning smile before him and his face turned pale, then he remembered that he had neglected to leave his new wife behind.
Recalling what he had just done, under the blazing gazes of those around him, he wished he could burrow into the ground. Turning back now would be too much of a hassle. He hesitated over what to do. Fortunately, his wife had already carefully crossed the street and kindly helped him out.
She naturally put her arm around her husband again and greeted him gracefully, "Henry, is this Julie's painting teacher?" Without waiting for her husband to respond, she added, "Ma'am, I haven't been out much these past two months due to health reasons. You might not recognize me since this is our first meeting. I'm Julie's mother. You can call me Lola. Julie loves you very much and often mentions you to me."
As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell into an eerie silence.
Lola realized that she seemed to have said something wrong, and she forced herself to pull her silent husband.
"Hey, hello, Lola." Heather's awkwardness kicked in: "My niece Mary is Julie's friend, and we just happened to come over to see her. Also, that teacher Douglas you mentioned is there." She pointed at the two people who were still arguing with each other. They had already quarreled to the point where they were exposing each other's romantic rumors.
Laura took a deep breath: "Oh, of course, you are certainly not Ms. Douglas, I mean... I mean..."
Heather: "Well, I think they need a little time, we can go in and wait first, how about it?"
They all agreed that only the neighbor's wife was left there feeling lost. She was really curious about the relationship between these people, but unfortunately this wish could not be fulfilled.
Back in the house, Julie was still immersed in painting. Heather didn't disturb her. After closing the door, she told Major and his wife the whole story.
"I have no intention of dictating your child-rearing methods. I just think that Douglas is generally considered unsuitable to be a teacher by the people around here. It's extremely unsafe for Julie, a child without the ability to protect herself, to be left here alone all the time. I think it would be better to find a tutor or wait until she's older and find a teacher with a better reputation."
Lola looked at her husband. Sending Julie here was a joint decision of theirs. Of course, she was very satisfied with this decision. Although she didn't want to make things difficult for an innocent little girl, she also didn't want someone to always stand between them.
Major Brown didn't notice her gaze: "Of course, I was negligent before. I won't let Julie come again tomorrow." He felt a little guilty. The appearance of two new members in the family made it impossible for him to take care of his daughter, whom he had always wanted to compensate.
Laura pursed her lips: "Actually, sending her to an aristocratic girls' school is not bad, but the tuition fee..."
Heather sighed in her heart. Julie finally got to stay with her father, but she didn't expect Major Brown to remarry so soon, and his wife didn't want to see her more often.
"A girls' school is fine, or we can hire a dedicated tutor to accompany her. The most important thing is to respect the child's wishes and pay close attention to her condition. Julie is very talented in painting, and I think her paintings will be appreciated by many people in the future, including me. This money is enough to pay for her tuition."
Major Brown noticed her subtle dissatisfaction and felt even more ashamed. He repeatedly promised to fulfill his father's responsibilities.
Class was over, time to go home. Mary went in and led Julie out, still clutching her half-finished painting. Major Brown bent down and offered her his hand, but Julie stepped back, tugging at Mary's skirt. She had already vaguely sensed the distance between her and her father. Her hopes for a future with him, her stepmother, and their children were soon gone, and she no longer longed for his embrace, nor did she strive to fit in with their family.
Major Brown paused his hand in the air and subconsciously looked at Heather.
Mary also looked at her aunt: "Julie's painting is not finished yet. Can you let her sleep with me today and send her home in two days?"
Heather couldn't resist the two pairs of watery eyes, one big and one small. "Major Brown?"
Major Brown sighed and said, "Of course, Julie, Dad will come to pick you up in two days." Julie gave a faint smile.
When they went out, the garden was empty. Major Brown's carriage was parked at the door. From the open door, they could see that there were a lot of boxes piled inside. They should be the spoils they had taken in the commercial street that afternoon.
Mary and Julie were playing childish finger games in the garden. Lola got into the car first, holding the door open and waiting for her husband to get in. Major Brown hesitated, looked back, and finally got in.
Just as Heather was about to ask Mary and Julie to leave, the carriage suddenly stopped not far ahead, and then Major Brown jumped out of the car and strode in the opposite direction.
Mary raised her head and gestured to Julie, who had her back turned. "Hey, did your dad suddenly remember anything else he wanted to tell you? Go ask him."
She had barely finished her words when Major Brown had passed them and was standing in front of Heather.
"Mrs. Lawrence." He ran all the way here, panting heavily.
Hesselton felt bad.
Major Brown said softly, "I've been successfully commissioned into the Cavalry Regiment. Although I still hold the title of Major, the interpersonal relationships here are complex and everyone has their own network of contacts. Intrigue and backstabbing are commonplace, and I no longer want to pursue a glorious future." He took a breath. "However, I'm confident I can keep my current position. The salary here is three times that of the militia, and there are often additional benefits. I've already bought a nice house, and the living environment in Birmingham is also very good. Everything is developing well."
Heather smiled politely, "Congratulations."
Major Brown glanced at Julie at a distance, then turned and looked into Heather's eyes and continued, "If, I mean if, I hadn't gotten married, and we met again like today, would the outcome between us be different?"
He had decided to bury this question deep in his heart. Britain was so big, unless they deliberately looked for it, they would never see each other again in this lifetime. But then, God's hand moved gently, and perhaps he was destined to ask this question.
Heather took a deep breath. She had never thought that the seemingly rational and upright Major Brown would still be struggling with such a question after getting married. "It seems that I really don't know how to judge people. If you have any respect for your wife, you wouldn't ask such a question."
Major Brown lowered his head in pain: "I'm sorry, Lola is a good woman, but I can't fall in love with her."
Heather really wanted to punch him, but because Julie and his wife were not far away, she had to endure it in order not to mess everything up.
"I'm giving you the same answer for the third time, Henry Brown. No. In addition to the first reason, I have one more: a man who covets the warmth of family and can't forget women other than his wife is not worthy of being my husband."
"You're right." His voice was hoarse. "But perhaps there's another reason, a reason I can't defeat. He's the one you like more, right?"
Heather followed his gaze and looked behind him. Lancaster was leaning against the wall next door. The shadow of the leaves above his head made his expression unclear. He had his hands in his pockets and didn't know how long he had been standing there waiting.
Heather quickly pulled out her pocket watch. It was five forty, past their agreed time. He probably had asked the newspaper's director before coming. She raised her hand and waved at him, signaling him to come over. Lancaster obediently stood up and walked towards them slowly.
She then continued to say to Major Brown: "No comment, this is none of your business."
The courage Major Brown had mustered when he jumped out of the car had vanished. He turned back into his steady, rational self. Looking at Lancaster, who was still a hundred meters away, he took a step forward and lowered his voice, "Sorry, I won't ask a fourth time. But I still want to remind you to be careful of him. Two months ago, I happened to meet the officer who recommended me to Birmingham during a mission. He didn't notice me, but I recognized him at a glance. I heard him talking to the people next to him about Mr. Lancaster. It's a unique surname, isn't it?"
Heather looked up in shock, even forgetting to distance herself from him.
"But... in any case, it's your decision whether to come or not, right? You just used the word 'recommend'."
Major Brown nodded. "Yes, but if I don't tell you, you might never know what he did," he reminded.
As Lancaster approached, Major Brown stopped talking, nodded at him, and stepped back.
"I'm leaving, Heather. Please forgive my impoliteness. You are so unique that anyone who has the opportunity to get close to you is unwilling to give up the opportunity to win your favor easily. Sorry, goodbye."
He left, leaving Heather standing there awkwardly, feeling a little guilty for some reason. But she quickly remembered she'd just been tricked, so she straightened up again. "Let's go eat! We're all hungry. Why are you taking so long?"
Lancaster seemed not to have heard Major Brown's last words: "Sorry, it took me so long to find this place. The car is here, and we can leave now."
Heather was discouraged and stamped her foot quietly behind him.
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