the two-faced Adopted Girl Who Melted CEO's Ice-Cold Heart

Chapter 335: Take good care of grandpa at home, I’ll be back soon.

The main hall was deathly silent. The expressions on everyone’s faces were particularly vivid.

Such a disgraceful and private matter being exposed in front of the Leclair Family elders—forget Ignatius Leclair, even the members of the Cloud Family were utterly shocked.

The old patriarch of the Leclair Family abruptly stood up, walked over to Ignatius, and struck him heavily with his cane. The elderly man hit with so much force that his entire body shook.

Ignatius showed no expression as he bore the blow. His deep phoenix-shaped eyes turned to Delphine, his thin and handsome lips tightened, and the light in his gaze gradually dimmed.

What could he hope for? Hope that she would be as brave and fearless as she had been in her youth, stepping forward to declare their mutual affection?

It was nothing more than self-deception.

After delivering the strike with his cane, the patriarch was torn between heartache and fury. When, he thought bitterly, had the affairs of the Leclair Family ever been fodder for outsiders’ gossip? Whatever outrageous actions his grandson committed, it was his responsibility to teach him a lesson.

"Old Yeager, take your grandson and leave. Don’t set foot in my house again. As for today’s events, right or wrong, I’m not going to pursue it. But if gossip spreads from your mouths in the future, don’t blame this old man for being ruthless!" the patriarch uttered with sorrow, his thin frame relying entirely on the cane to keep him from collapsing.

The Yeager patriarch was elated by this outcome, pulling Jocelyn away and preparing to leave.

Jocelyn, however, showed signs of reluctance. After all the planning he had done, was this the result he had to accept?

"You insolent brat! Hurry up and leave!" The Yeager patriarch’s temper flared, delivering a slap and dragging him away.

If they didn’t leave now, they’d only end up rotting in prison!

Ignatius cast a glance at the unscathed Reginald, let out a cold laugh, then assisted his grandfather back into his seat. Seeing the old man grimace from delivering the strike, Ignatius lowered his phoenix-like eyes and spoke deeply, "Even if you let them off today, I won’t allow the Yeager Family to have peace moving forward."

He always kept his word.

The old housekeeper rushed inside from the doorway, reporting, "The Imperial City investigators have arrived."

The patriarch had barely sat down before urgently rising again. "Do I know the people who’ve come?" he asked.

The housekeeper shook his head.

"You go with Ignatius—don’t let anyone bully him." The patriarch glared at Stone Leclair, who had been watching the entire scene passively, and barked, "If anything happens to my grandson, don’t bother coming back!"

"Come on, stop dawdling," Griffith Squire remarked coldly, scoffing as he was the first to stride out of the main hall.

The Cloud Family uncle and nephew followed suit.

Ignatius was the last to leave.

As the man approached Delphine’s face, his handsome features betrayed not a trace of panic or unease. Reaching out, he gently smoothed her stray locks by her temple and said in a low voice, "Stay at home and take good care of Grandpa. Wait for me to return."

The man gave her delicate face one last profound look before turning to leave.

In an instant, only Delphine and the patriarch were left in the main hall.

Delphine exhaled long and deeply. Through the wooden lattice windows, the shadows of trees outside stretched dark and sprawling, their branches intricately entwined. But no trace of humanity was to be seen anymore.

These past few days had felt like years to her; each day dragged on unbearably long.

Delphine walked up to the patriarch and gazed at the man who had never shown her affection—the former helmsman of South Seas—and whispered softly, "I’m sorry, Mr. Leclair."

The patriarch’s gaze was complex.

The words his grandson had spoken before leaving were clearly telling him not to drive Delphine away.

"Come with me," the patriarch ordered, rising unsteadily as he leaned on his cane and moved into the side hall, instructing the housekeeper to lock the main hall behind them.

"Do you know why I spared the Yeager Family today?" the patriarch asked as he sat by the fireplace, warming himself.