novelraw Chapter 466: The Vengeful Crown Prince of Nanyang
Chapter 466: The Vengeful Crown Prince of Nanyang
The two hadn’t been this close in ages. The man’s searingly warm, thin lips descended, carrying a restrained breath, tentatively kissed her once, and then suddenly deepened the kiss, infused with years of longing and an innate aggressiveness.
Delphine was caught off guard by his abrupt kiss, a bit stunned. Ever since she became pregnant, her body was even more sensitive than before, softening at the slightest tease. Now, as he kissed her, all her strength vanished, and she could only softly lean into his embrace.
Ignatius Leclair didn’t dare to go too far. The relationship between the two was still in a frozen period; even a kiss was already pushing his luck. This sort of matter had to be handled gradually.
The man restrained himself and let her go, but his hand didn’t retract, still gently encircling her waist. In a husky, low voice, he said, "Tomorrow is the opening trial for your father’s inheritance embezzlement case. If you want to attend, I’ll come to pick you up."
Delphine, breathless from his kiss, was about to get angry when his words diverted her attention. She asked, "Is this case going to have a big impact?"
Ignatius Leclair’s phoenix-like eyes lifted, his handsome face reflecting a trace of contemplation. He said lightly, "For the Cloud Family, whether the case is won or lost, the Cloud couple has already lost."
They lost the Cloud Family’s hundred-year reputation as an esteemed lineage, the scandal of brothers fighting over inheritance, and the disgrace of driving out their kin for money—all of it a catastrophic blow to the Cloud Family.
Delphine nodded in satisfaction, finally feeling comforted after enduring indignation from Melody Cloud.
"Ahem." A cough sounded at the doorway. Delphine then realized how intimately the two were positioned and immediately stiffened.
Amusement flickered briefly in Ignatius Leclair’s phoenix-like eyes. Without changing his expression, he released her and turned to face her future father-in-law. In a deep, polite tone, he said, "Mrs. Li went back to Emerald Hill Villas to fetch something and was worried about Delphine, so she asked me to come over and check in."
Sylvester Cloud nodded with a grim expression.
Early the next morning, the inheritance embezzlement trial began. Delphine went to observe the proceedings. The case was so old that most of the evidence from back then had been virtually destroyed. With just one witness whose testimony lacked absolute persuasiveness, Sylvester Cloud ultimately lost the lawsuit. However, the scandalous nature of the case directly caused the Cloud Corporation’s stock to plummet by nearly half.
Half the assets evaporated invisibly, coupled with a ruined reputation. The Cloud Family truly suffered a heavy blow this time.
The day after the inheritance case, Sylvester Cloud sent her a message saying sorry and then resigned from his position in Nanyang. He left Nanyang alone without revealing his destination.
When Delphine received the message, she was silent for a long time, vividly remembering their first meeting last year. She was following Griffith Squire to the Hundred Ancestor Shrine when the flamboyant and charming eldest son of the Cloud Family flashed her an uninhibited and radiant smile. Now, unable to cross the hurdle in his heart, he left alone, and she had no idea if they would ever meet again.
After this ordeal, the Cloud Family adopted an entirely low-profile demeanor. Even Melody Cloud disappeared from the social scene, and the title of "Imperial City’s first socialite" now seemed like nothing more than a joke.
With both cases settled, Delphine finally felt a subtle sense of closure. Sylvester Cloud appeared more open-minded and optimistic than before, his mood improved greatly. However, Desmond Wood seemed weighed down with worry these past days.
Delphine thought about it and decided to call Finnian to invite him over as a guest.
Finnian had long returned to the Imperial City and had been bitterly busy these past few days. Indeed, powerful and influential men were not to be trifled with. After merely having a single meeting, sharing a cup of tea, and uttering one ill-chosen remark, the man retaliated relentlessly, almost costing him half his life.