novelraw Chapter 399: You think you can get rid of me by doing this, you’re dreaming!
Chapter 399: You think you can get rid of me by doing this, you’re dreaming!
After waiting for a short while, Delphine heard the old butler’s voice in the adjoining hall: "The young master is back."
"Where is she?" A man’s voice carried an undeniable anger.
The door to the studio was ajar. Ignatius pushed it open, letting the light from the adjoining hall and the glow from outside spill in, alternating shadows and light within the room.
Delphine sat inside the studio, gazing at the paintings, her posture rigid and straight, without turning around.
Ignatius stepped forward and gripped her slender arm fiercely, his brows furrowed in frustration as he said, "I told you I’d explain, Delphine Carter. You retaliating against me by sacrificing yourself—you really are something else."
Her arm ached from his grasp, but Delphine raised her eyes and replied faintly, "How do you know it wasn’t Melody who arranged for someone to assault her?"
Ignatius’s thin lips tightened. His gaze bore into her exquisite face, still as flawless as ever. Her deep, ink-black eyes were as clear as they had been in her youth, yet always carried an aloof, faintly cruel indifference at the edges. This woman had always been as unyielding as stone.
Ignatius’s phoenix-shaped eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with a cold sneer: "All the evidence points to you. If you hadn’t made that call, I wouldn’t have gone down to meet you."
This was all meticulously orchestrated by Delphine. With her intelligence, she could have done it flawlessly and without trace, but she hadn’t just done it—she’d left glaring clues behind on purpose. Her intention was simply to solidify the scandal between him and Melody, forcing him to marry her.
He could endure her revenge, her coercion. After all, it was no different than what he had done to her years ago. But pushing him toward another woman, using this as a way to sever ties with him completely—how could this not infuriate him?
"It was me." Delphine let out a cold laugh, unafraid of him seeing through her. Compared to what he’d done to her six years ago, what she’d done now was merciful. At least she’d summoned reporters before they could consummate their scandal in bed. As for Melody, who desperately longed to marry into the Leclair family, she clearly underestimated Ignatius.
Most men would feel pity for a seemingly fragile woman after witnessing such a scene, but not Ignatius. This man had an obsessive cleanliness that bordered on pathological, ensuring he would never feel any romantic inclination toward the so-called top socialite.
Even if Melody one day married into the Leclair household, Ignatius might never touch her.
Over the years, his compulsive cleanliness had become nothing short of madness.
A widow-like marriage—was that part of Melody’s expectations? Delphine curled her lips in a mocking smile.
"Do you think doing all this will get rid of me? Dream on." He pulled her roughly into his arms, punishingly kissing her.
"Smack—" She slapped him hard, her face pale.
Ignatius’s expression darkened, his features sharp with anger. He took a deep breath, restraining himself, knowing that in his fury, he might hurt her. Abruptly, he turned around, slamming the door behind him as he left. The sound reverberated loudly.
Delphine exhaled deeply, collapsing into her chair, her pallor strikingly pale. She couldn’t even fathom how she’d dared to hit him just now.
When she emerged, only the old butler remained in the adjoining hall. He saw her exit and asked cautiously, "Miss Delphine, would you like some supper tonight? You might not have had enough to eat at the banquet."
Delphine spoke softly, "No, I’m not hungry."
"The young master tends to act out of concern; he seldom shows this kind of care for anyone over the years. If it’s a misunderstanding, it would be best to clear things up." The old butler sighed, having observed much over the years yet always unable to speak openly.
Delphine laughed self-deprecatingly and replied, "There’s no misunderstanding."
It was merely the bitter end of a road.
"Has Mrs. Leclair returned?" she asked, referring to Beatrice.
The old butler shook his head and said, "She hasn’t returned, and her phone remains unreachable."
Delphine frowned. Beatrice and Leah had been missing for an entire night. Just as her thoughts began spiraling, an unmarked, unfamiliar message appeared on her phone. It contained only two words: "Open the door."