the two-faced Adopted Girl Who Melted CEO's Ice-Cold Heart
Chapter 45: Li Shao is a very protective person

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Li Shao is a very protective person

Delphine let out a sigh of relief and handed the phone back to Maximilian, only then realizing her hands were trembling slightly.

All her weaknesses and vulnerabilities were in Ignatius Leclair’s grasp. He could take advantage of her without consequence. But fortunately, he had agreed to her request. The man lacked neither money nor power.

"Miss Delphine, Mr. Leclair is very good to his own people," Maximilian glanced at her and said oddly. Mr. Leclair was extraordinarily protective, treating his close advisors far too generously, let alone his own woman. As long as Miss Delphine avoided provoking his most sensitive points, she would be fine.

"Mr. Maximilian, how long have you been following Mr. Leclair?" Delphine lifted her gaze, asking the confidant who had shadowed Ignatius Leclair for many years.

"More than ten years now. But I was previously responsible for matters in Australia and was only reassigned to the South Seas with Six five years ago."

Maximilian wasn’t a particularly talkative person. However, this fifth Miss seemed to hold a distinct position in Mr. Leclair’s eyes, different from others. Subconsciously, he let down his guard and said a bit more.

"I recall that five years ago, it was an assistant named White who followed Mr. Leclair," Delphine remarked casually, as if making small talk.

"Old White was transferred to the UK headquarters," Maximilian said with a smile. "Miss Delphine might meet the other members of the think tank in the future. But most of them oversee various regional branches, and unless Mr. Leclair summons them, they rarely set foot here in the South Seas."

What Maximilian didn’t mention was that Arthur White, as the second-in-command, had always been the most favored. Five years ago, for some unknown reason, he had incurred Mr. Leclair’s wrath and was sent packing to the UK. Otherwise, Maximilian and Six would still be stuck in Australia dealing with a group of misfits.

In just a few words, Delphine had pieced together that not only Maximilian, the capable assistant, but also the taciturn and elusive Six, and the assistant White who had been with Ignatius Leclair five years ago—all of them were members of Mr. Leclair’s think tank and had followed him for over a decade.

Ten years ago, Ignatius Leclair had not yet returned to the South Seas. She knew nothing of his past; the rare glimpses she caught of it were terrifying, like the tip of a looming iceberg.

An hour later, the car arrived at Emerald Hill Villas. As night had already fallen, Delphine could only see the twinkling lights along the winding path, which under the evening sky, resembled an illuminated sea of stars.

The car stopped at Emerald Hill Villas. The ground lights surrounding the villa turned on one by one, their warm glow quietly illuminating the white house.

"The villa is usually looked after by Sister Li. She’s a longtime servant of Mr. Leclair’s maternal Howard Family and has worked for them for decades," Maximilian suddenly mentioned before getting out of the car.

Delphine instantly understood that this was someone Ignatius Leclair trusted. She knew little about his maternal Howard Family, only that the late Mrs. Leclair had resided in the UK, and there were very few rumors about the Howard Family in the South Seas. They were an exceptionally low-profile family.

"Miss Delphine, the young master just called to say that the items from Leclair Mansion won’t be moved here for now. He mentioned that he might return there in the future. I’ve already prepared all the living essentials here for you this afternoon," Sister Li said, waiting by the villa entrance. She opened the car door, bent slightly, and smiled warmly.

Her voice was calm and measured, carrying the tranquility that comes with age—a kind and approachable woman.

"Thank you, Sister Li," Delphine replied softly, stepping out of the car and entering the villa.

Contrary to her imagination, Emerald Hill Villas wasn’t modeled after the Gothic spires of Middle Ages Europe, nor the standalone castles typical of Southern France. Instead, it reminded her of the ancient architecture of a small coastal city in Southern China: perched by the sea, quad-style courtyards, and leaning towards a simpler, more Japanese-inspired aesthetic.

The first thing she saw was the expansive main hall, with muted tones and a minimalist, ascetic design. Beyond the hall were the beach and vivid blue ocean, visible through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

It was as if everything had been stripped back to its most essential, primal form.