novelraw Chapter 460: Men have a strong desire to control deep in their bones, yet their methods are extremely gentle.
Chapter 460: Men have a strong desire to control deep in their bones, yet their methods are extremely gentle.
Delphine stayed at the hospital for two days, and each day felt unbearably long. Ignatius Leclair was a man with an intense innate desire for control, yet his approach was incredibly subtle and mild. He always managed to gently steer things toward his expected outcomes without drawing attention to it, much like the proverbial frog in slowly boiling water—by the time you realized, it was already too late.
Take, for example, Delphine wanting to go shopping with Leah to buy some essentials for her pregnancy. The man responded to her proposal with nothing but a silent nod. Yet, he immediately arranged for the nearest shopping mall to have a massive clearance sale. By the time the two of them finished shopping, with bags upon bags in hand, and started wondering why the mall was so empty that day, the aloof man was already waiting outside to escort her back home.
Later that evening, a cheerful Desmond Wood returned from his own shopping spree and blurted, "Singapore really is a fantastic place. The whole mall had everything 50% off today—it’s the only one in town doing it! And it was conveniently located near the hospital too. But for two hours this afternoon, the mall was sealed off entirely. They blocked all entrances, and the lines outside stretched all the way to the opposite street!"
Delphine glanced at the large shopping mall logo on his bags, her mood sinking to rock bottom in an instant.
Two days later, Yunji, Desmond Wood, and Ken, who was running errands for them, finally picked out a house from the many they had viewed. After settling the purchase, they began putting it in order and finally moved in.
Initially, Delphine thought Ignatius Leclair would interfere more aggressively. To her surprise, he merely lifted his phoenix-like eyes slightly and remarked with indifference, "Good location."
The newly bought house was near the cultural district in Northern Town and was a detached, old-style mansion. The surroundings were serene, and according to what they were told, the original owner had relocated overseas a long time ago. Left neglected for years, the property wasn’t cheap. However, once Delphine moved in, she realized just how underpriced the house was when her father purchased it.
This detached old-style mansion in the cultural district was originally worth a fortune—never mind the understated luxury displayed both inside and outside, or the meticulous effort the former owner had poured into it. The entire property felt like a dreamlike garden secluded from the bustling world. In early spring, a century-old flower tree bloomed in front of the house, its crimson petals falling in layers and carpeting the ground. Delphine couldn’t even recognize the tree’s species—it was an extraordinarily rare sight, with blossoms so intricate and breathtakingly beautiful.
How could it be that a few grown men coincidentally agreed on choosing this particular house?
Inside, the furnishings further revealed the original owner’s exceptional taste and artistic sensibilities.
Delphine couldn’t shake the feeling that this house was undoubtedly from the hands of someone from a truly distinguished lineage. People like them weren’t short on money—if they were selling a house, it was probably because they’d moved overseas and had no plans to return. Once Delphine and the group settled into the house, Maximilian had fulfilled his task and went back to report to Ignatius Leclair’s estate.
"Miss Delphine has already moved into the house in Northern Town. Does Mr. Leclair plan on moving in as well?" Maximilian asked quietly.
The houses in Northern Town had originally been the late Mrs. Leclair’s residence. Empty for years, yet cleaned and meticulously maintained daily at enormous expense, the property had become one of the cultural district’s landmarks. Countless people sought to buy it, mesmerized by the towering flower tree outside before they even glimpsed the exquisite interiors, only to be met with rejection each time.
When the property was finally listed on major real estate platforms, interested buyers practically blew up the phone lines. Yet there remained only one response: "Not for sale."
After several days of hemming and hawing, Yunji’s group, joined by the Singaporean adventurer, finally dared to make an offer. By then, Maximilian had no words left; their efficiency—or lack thereof—was simply exasperating.
"Does she like the house?" the man asked in a low voice. Knowing Delphine’s temperament, giving her a gift wouldn’t work, so he had to sell it to her secretly. He wanted her to live in the house his mother had once resided in, to safely bring their child into the world—a way of telling his mother that this woman was her daughter-in-law.