novelraw Chapter 464: Is This Someone Coming to Steal His Woman?
Chapter 464: Is This Someone Coming to Steal His Woman?
Ignatius Leclair’s face was cold and stern, his phoenix eyes deeply fixed on the prominent political figure from the Imperial City who had come to steal his thunder.
Finnian wasn’t someone he knew well, only vaguely recalling how rapidly he’d risen in recent years, earning an excellent reputation. Though Ignatius hadn’t encountered him directly, his name was well-known far and wide.
This man had arrived silently in the Southern Isles, sought out Delphine, and even declared his intent to pursue her—did he think Ignatius was dead?
Now, in the Southern Isles, who didn’t know that Ignatius had publicly proclaimed in court that the two were a couple?
Ignatius was not only jealous but outright enraged, while Delphine felt utterly humiliated. Finnian, though his intentions were questionable, maintained a polite and pleasant demeanor throughout. Ignatius’s petty behavior had cost her all face.
As the atmosphere grew awkward, Desmond Wood dashed in from outside, laughing cheerfully and shouting, "Hey, Delphine! We scored a ton of treasures today—jade, South Red agate, and even a Qing Dynasty vase, perfect for you to use as a flower holder!"
The baby-faced Desmond stepped into the room and immediately noticed the two men seated near the tea table, one of them being the smug pretender who had humiliated him countless times. He was furious.
"Finnian, how did you manage to find your way here?" Desmond dumped the treasures from his bag onto the floor, shuffled nervously toward Delphine, and asked, "You were doing just fine in the Imperial City—why come all the way to the Southern Isles?"
Finnian, observing his clumsy and rustic treasure-hunting antics, touched his forehead and forced a mild smile. "Desmond, you should address me as your elder cousin. You’ve been bothering Delphine for so long here; I came to check if you’ve caused any trouble."
"Cousin? Cousin your damn ass!" Desmond nearly spat blood in anger, thinking to himself that he didn’t recognize this guy at all.
Ignatius Leclair’s phoenix eyes narrowed, a trace of cold light flashing in their depths. Both men bore the Wood surname—it was almost certain they were relatives from Delphine’s mother’s side. Looks like it was necessary to investigate Finnian further.
Ignatius sent Richard Shaw a message. Moments later, Richard called back.
Ignatius walked into the small backyard garden, gazing at the lush, climbing plants draped over the walls, emanating a fresh, verdant atmosphere. In a low, gravelly voice, he asked, "Did you find anything?"
Richard, who had been preparing dinner at home, glanced at Ignatius’s message and casually delegated the task to his subordinates. "Finnian is considered one of the most prominent political figures to emerge in the Imperial City in recent years. He specializes in navigating crisis situations and is a natural in diplomacy, endowed with an innate charm. As for his family background, his records trace back to a secluded family near Brocade City. Judging by their ancestral lineage, it’s even older than both of ours, but they’ve been so closed off and stagnant over the years that they’ve gradually faded into obscurity."
Ignatius narrowed his phoenix-shaped eyes slightly and pressed further, "Is there anything special about the Wood Family? My guess is that Delphine’s mother was one of them."
Richard was mildly surprised but quickly responded, "I haven’t heard that before. Finnian has always kept a low profile in the Imperial City. But these types of secluded families often harbor hidden reserves that outsiders don’t know about. Are you worried they’ll recognize Delphine and find a way to take her back?"
Ignatius’s long, deep phoenix eyes narrowed again. These two cousins were trying to steal his woman—first the rustic-looking baby-faced Desmond, and now the model-like smiling tiger Finnian. So this was how remote and closed-off the Wood Family was. No wonder he couldn’t find anything on them before.