novelraw Chapter 272 I Thought No One Lived Here Anymore
Chapter 272 I Thought No One Lived Here Anymore
Delphine and the others followed the Cloud Family’s servant through the outside courtyard, arriving at a sprawling artificial lake. The appreciation banquet was set up by the lakeside, where several early guests—wealthy ladies—were already enjoying the view and chatting.
A line of small afternoon tea tables had been arranged along the lakeside, offering splendid scenery, exquisite desserts, and fine tea. This appreciation banquet was truly meticulously planned.
"The Cloud Family estate is just too enormous. It makes one’s head spin wandering around," Mrs. Gu muttered while taking in the grandeur, "Throwing such an extravagant banquet to celebrate their son’s promotion—it’s as if they’re afraid people might not find out."
Noticing the mix of jealousy and disdain in her tone, Delphine gave a faint smile. Compared to the Leclair Residence, the Cloud Family estate was undoubtedly more expansive, with vastly different styles. Yet, the significance of that red mansion represented the peak of Southeast Asian power—something even the grandest estate couldn’t surpass.
"Mrs. Leclair, you’ve arrived? Welcome, welcome." Following Mrs. Gu’s lead, Delphine walked up to meet the group of ladies, who enthusiastically came forward to greet them. Ever since Mrs. Gu had ’accidentally’ revealed while playing cards that she was about to receive her marriage certificate with Stone Leclair, it had sent shockwaves through their social circle, becoming the talk of the town. Now that Mrs. Gu was invited to the Cloud Family’s appreciation banquet, these wealthy ladies understood the significance and, filled with both envy and an eagerness to curry favor, greeted her ten times more warmly than usual.
Mrs. Gu, feeling puffed up by this rare attention, chuckled and said, "You ladies arrived awfully early. This here is my niece, Delphine. Delphine, come and greet the ladies."
Delphine stepped forward with a smile, greeting them one by one. Then she noticed an elegantly dressed woman in a cheongsam walking toward them, her demeanor full of sophistication, appearing to be a few years older than Mrs. Gu. With a quick glance, Delphine guessed that this must be Mrs. Cloud.
Sure enough, another round of pleasantries ensued.
"What a lovely and radiant young lady Mrs. Leclair’s niece is," Mrs. Cloud remarked, holding Delphine’s hand as she admired her from every angle. She laughed and said, "Melody just took her little group of friends to the garden to see the peacocks. If you’re feeling bored here, I can ask her to come back and take you along."
"Let her go herself," Mrs. Gu interjected with a laugh from the side. "She can get a better look at this charming garden as she strolls."
Mrs. Cloud didn’t insist further, and Delphine let out a sigh of relief, seizing the opportunity to quietly slip away and wander casually along the lakeside.
She deliberately chose a fairly secluded path, aiming to avoid those wealthy ladies and high-society young heiresses. The further she walked, the more remote the area became, leading her to a relatively desolate garden.
The garden clearly wasn’t inhabited—its gate stood ajar. Peering into the distance, Delphine noticed that the villas where the Cloud Family typically resided were beyond the artificial lake. She surmised there must be multiple entrances to the estate, and the particular entrance they had taken today must have been purposely opened for the event. Otherwise, it would likely take over an hour just to leave the estate on a normal day.
She reached out and pushed open the gate, when suddenly a crisp jingling sound rang out. A faded dreamcatcher fell to the ground. As Delphine bent down to pick it up, a deep male voice commanded, "Don’t move."
A middle-aged man strode quickly from behind, carefully scooping the fallen dreamcatcher off the ground.
Delphine noticed that he was wearing a robe whose color was indistinguishable, his face dotted with faint stubble. Yet his bright eyes and handsome features carried a certain unrestrained charm.
"Thank goodness, it didn’t break," the man exhaled in relief, smiling.
"I’m sorry, it was unintentional," Delphine apologized softly, noticing his evident care for the dreamcatcher. "I thought this place was uninhabited."