Chapter 167: Chapter 167
The car arrived at the Leclair estate, and Delphine woke up to find herself encircled by Ignatius Leclair’s arms, held somewhat domineeringly in his embrace as he rested with his eyes closed.
Delphine nudged him gently and said softly, "Do we have to live here?"
Ignatius opened his eyes. The man’s gorgeous, almond-shaped eyes were profound like the ocean, and he replied in a husky, sensual voice, "This house represents the Leclair Family’s century-long legacy. It’s a symbol."
Delphine remained silent.
"Don’t want to live here? Prefer the Emerald Lake Villa?" His voice carried a trace of amusement, suddenly recalling the time they stayed at the villa. The estate, with its numerous residents, indeed necessitated some discretion.
Delphine’s face warmed. She simply didn’t like this old house. Mrs. Gu had been entrapped for a lifetime by the authority and wealth symbolized by this mansion, with all the joys and sorrows of her life unfolding within these walls. It felt inescapable, like destiny.
Ignatius chuckled lowly, stepped out of the car, and the smile on his lips instantly vanished, like the fleeting bloom of a night flower, leaving behind his usual coldness.
Ignatius entered the side hall and noticed new changes in the furnishings. The antiques from the Ming and Qing dynasties that the old master cherished had been smashed to pieces long ago, leaving little behind. His lips curled into a cold smile as he asked the butler, "Is Mr. Leclair and Miss Bessie home?"
"Mr. Leclair went out early this morning, and Miss Bessie went to the salon, but there’s a small gathering at the house tonight. Mr. Yeager and Reginald Yeager will be coming over," the butler replied with a polite smile.
Ignatius raised an eyebrow, a contemplative look crossing his face as he turned to glance at Delphine.
Upon hearing that Stone Leclair and Bessie Leclair were not home, Delphine exhaled a sigh of relief and, a beat slower, asked, "What’s the Yeager Family doing at the Leclair estate?"
Ignatius’ lips curved in a cold, cruel smile. He hadn’t expected Reginald Yeager to move so quickly. If he hadn’t impulsively decided to return to the South Seas last night, he might have missed this performance entirely.
"Go upstairs and rest for a while. Tonight might turn out to be quite busy," Ignatius murmured lowly.
Delphine nodded. Two weeks in Berlin had drained her—it was exhausting to return so suddenly. She’d barely slept last night and had gone to the airport to pick up Ignatius. Thinking about the possible hard battle awaiting her tonight, she nodded and went upstairs to rest.
Not long after she lay down, Delphine sensed someone entering the room. The man scooped her up in his arms and whispered in a deep, husky voice by her ear, "Sleep in my room instead."
Her eyes could hardly open, but she caught the familiar scent of pine that calmed her heart, and she faintly nodded in agreement.
Ignatius took in the small, modest attic where she slept and frowned deeply, his striking brows knitting together. If not for the need to be considerate of the old master’s feelings, for fear of shocking him, this little attic would’ve been torn down ages ago.
But living like this wasn’t tenable in the long term. Ignatius toyed with the idea of alternating between both residences with Delphine in the future.
Delphine slept soundly, dreaming of embracing a burning furnace that made her sweat all over. The exhaustion from several days of rushing about seemed to evaporate under the warmth of that furnace.
"Young Master, Mr. Leclair has returned," the old butler knocked lightly on the door and spoke softly from outside.
"Mm, I know." The man’s voice carried a seductive nasal tone, husky as he responded.
Delphine abruptly awoke, only then realizing she had been sleeping in Ignatius Leclair’s bedroom. Just outside the door stood the old butler, someone she greatly respected.
Her face instantly turned pale. Although she knew the old butler wouldn’t enter without knocking, an unfounded sense of shame crept over her.
Ignatius saw that she was awake, flipped over and pinned her beneath him, peppering her with dense kisses. Seeing her suppress the urge to make a sound, he chuckled lowly, his chest vibrating with mirth. His voice was deep and raspy as he said, "The Yeagers are coming tonight. You’ll come downstairs too."
Delphine dared not move a muscle and nodded slightly, the man’s deep, lake-like eyes lingering on her with resolute focus.
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