novelraw Chapter 303: My elder brother is now obsessed, bewitched by this woman to a state of utter confusion.
Chapter 303: My elder brother is now obsessed, bewitched by this woman to a state of utter confusion.
Delphine felt her stomach ache even more after Griffith stormed off in anger.
Without saying a word, Ignatius picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, his expression dark and heavy.
"How long have you had this stomach pain?" Once Delphine’s complexion improved slightly, Ignatius touched her pale little face and asked gravely.
"It’s been several years." A fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead; her whole body seemed as though it had been pulled out of water, even her lips looked unnaturally pale. Those years had hollowed out her health, leaving her with various ailments, the most persistent of which was her stomach condition.
The man’s chiseled and handsome face dimmed, and he said in a low voice, "Do you have any medicine? Take one first, I’ll have Dr. Zheng make a visit."
Delphine nodded, letting him fetch her the medicine. She swallowed it with water and lay down to rest.
Ignatius tucked her in and then called Dr. Zheng.
He went downstairs, his expression grim, and stood by the window in the side hall, gazing at the dazzling lights and grandeur of the central hall across the way. The hollow opulence of the scene only deepened his inner solitude; his brows and eyes were tinged with frost. From a young age, he had lived in a world carved from ivory and gold, steeped in strict hierarchies and ingrained prejudices, thinking this to be the norm. But now, seeing her tormented to this extent, a vast sorrow and helplessness surged within him.
Ignatius’ lips pressed into a tight line; over the years, he owed her too much.
On the other side of the central hall, Melody noted Ignatius’ prolonged absence and took the opportunity to pull Bessie along as they stepped out. Spotting Ignatius in the side hall, Melody’s eyes lit up. Among the young scions of Southeast Asian aristocratic families, Sylvester was known for his ethereal elegance, Reginald for his scholarly charm, and Griffith as the darkly dashing newcomer, radiating an aura of danger and bloodlust.
Ignatius, however, evoked a different feeling altogether—so handsome it made hearts race, like a gentleman plucked from the medieval world.
Melody saw him standing by the window. When he wasn’t smiling, he appeared even more brooding and enigmatic, exuding a fatal allure. Instinctively, she straightened her posture, trying to make herself look even more graceful and confident.
Today, she had made a special effort to dress up in a style mimicking Delphine’s—an elegant champagne-colored gown that revealed her graceful swan-like neck. At first glance, she bore a slight resemblance to Delphine.
"Senior, why are you standing here?" Melody asked, her gaze flowing and her smile soft.
Ignatius noticed the two women entering and gave a faint nod, replying, "Just stepped out for some air. Why are you here?"
"Melody said that after the incident where she fell into the water, she felt guilty for implicating Delphine and causing her to take a tumble. She wanted to come see her," Bessie said with a pout.
"Where’s Miss Carter?" Melody smiled, her clear eyes bright and captivating, her innocent allure striking even in the depths of winter.
Ignatius’ deep-set phoenix eyes darkened. Right now, the woman was upstairs, in his bed, and naturally couldn’t be seen.
"She isn’t a resident of Leclair Manor. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to attend an event like this; it would just require unnecessary explanations," Ignatius said flatly. "That matter happened so long ago, there’s no need to dwell on it."
Melody’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly nodded and said, "You’re right, Senior. Then we’ll head back for now."
Just then, Ignatius’ assistant arrived, and the two headed to the tea room for discussions.
Melody’s innocent and gentle expression instantly turned icy.
"I’ve told you before, my brother’s completely lost his mind. He’s hiding that woman so tightly it’s like she doesn’t even exist; he won’t let her show her face at all," Bessie said through gritted teeth. "You have no idea—the past three days we’ve been eating nothing but medicinal dishes all because of that wretched Delphine Carter. My brother even tricked grandfather into it!"
"What’s the rush? Did you really think the near-fallout with Reginald Yeager and the Wade Family being uprooted was just a coincidence?" Melody mused coldly, her tone contemplative. "That woman’s far more cunning than you realize."