novelraw Chapter 398: She Waits for the Final Storm at the Leclair Family’s Home
Chapter 398: She Waits for the Final Storm at the Leclair Family’s Home
Melody Cloud suffered a mental breakdown and would not let anyone but Ignatius Leclair approach her.
Ignatius had no other choice but to take her to the hospital.
Bessie Leclair’s wedding, which was supposed to be a joyful event, was thrown into chaos midway through the night due to the incident involving Ignatius and Melody. Gossip spread like wildfire, and many of the guests left in discontent. Seated in her luxurious bridal suite, Bessie smashed everything within reach, her eyes reddened with rage. A once-in-a-lifetime wedding, completely ruined.
At the same time, the entertainment tabloids were ablaze with the latest scandal: the dashing Southern scion from the Leclair Family meeting in secret at a hotel with the nation’s premier socialite. With photographic evidence circulating, the public buzz reached fever pitch.
After bringing Melody to the hospital, both the Leclair Family and the Cloud Family rushed to her side.
Suffering from extreme shock, Melody fell asleep after being medicated and sedated.
"This has blown up so publicly, Old Leclair. Melody’s reputation is completely destroyed," Mrs. Cloud choked out as she watched her daughter, who even in her sleep clung tightly to Ignatius Leclair’s sleeve. Her heart ached as she continued, "Now, this child doesn’t even recognize her own mother anymore. She only knows your Ignatius."
"The man has already been apprehended. I will do everything I can to minimize the damage. After all, this happened at the Leclair wedding," Ignatius stated coldly, his tone sharp and unwavering.
"How could such a drunk stumble in so easily? Investigate it. This matter must be thoroughly looked into," the family patriarch declared with a grim expression.
"But right now, Melody doesn’t recognize anyone but Ignatius. Ignatius, I’m begging you to stay at the hospital the next few days to look after her," Mrs. Cloud implored, gazing pleadingly at him.
"Originally, our two families had intended for these two children to marry, but with this scandal, we are too ashamed to bring it up," lamented the Cloud Family Head with a deep sigh.
"The child has already suffered enough. Besides, the way Ignatius discovered and saved Melody—it must be fate. Now the outside world also thinks the two are a couple. I say we may as well go along with it and make it official," Old Leclair interjected. The elder was evidently in favor of the Leclair-Cloud alliance and seeing his grandson marry Melody Cloud.
The Cloud couple exchanged surprised glances, a flicker of excitement in their eyes. This misfortune might very well turn into an unexpected blessing.
As Ignatius walked out of the hospital room, the Leclair and Cloud families continued discussing how to handle the situation.
His expression dark and severe, Ignatius suppressed his emotions as he asked, "Have you found her?"
"We haven’t found Delphine yet," Maximilian replied, not daring to breathe too loudly.
"This situation could turn out very badly for Miss Delphine," Maximilian stammered haltingly. All the surveillance evidence pointed to Delphine being behind this incident. Once Melody regains consciousness and recounts the truth, given the Cloud Family’s vengeful nature, the situation might spiral into utter disaster.
Still, Maximilian couldn’t understand why Miss Delphine would do such a thing.
Ignatius pressed his aching temples and, suppressing his seething anger, ordered in a low, grave voice, "Lock down the city. Find her."
At that moment, Dongzi rushed over in a fluster, stammering as he said, "We found her! The butler said Miss Delphine has returned to Leclair Manor."
Under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard of Leclair Manor, Delphine stood gazing at the lush green leaves. Evening had descended, and the lamps in the courtyard lit up one by one. Yet the manor remained festively adorned, red paper cutouts of the character for double happiness still plastered across every surface. The red-brick residence of the Leclair Family loomed in the night, resembling a dormant, menacing beast. She had flung herself into its maw years ago, a reckless youth, and had been devoured whole.
In the side hall, Delphine wandered into what had been converted from a storage room into an art studio six years ago. The space displayed paintings Ignatius had purchased at exorbitant prices from overseas. She lowered her gaze, her eyes lingering over the stunning artworks one by one, awaiting the inevitable storm to come.