novelraw Chapter 660: Sure, but don’t even think about marriage
Chapter 660: Sure, but don’t even think about marriage
The man leaning silently against the doorway curled his lips into a faint smile. He decided to cut Benjamin’s milk allowance for a month—after all, raising her all these years, playing both dad and mom, had not been in vain. As for Nicholas, who had been raised too gently under Delphine’s guidance, the man mused that additional lessons for Benjamin were in order.
"You can sleep in the bedroom with Benjamin and Nicholas. I’ll take the study instead. If you’re worried, you can lock the door." The man’s deep, magnetic voice was irresistibly alluring. "The old man hasn’t seen Nicholas in three years. If you take him away tonight, he probably won’t be able to sleep a wink."
Dropping her gaze to Benjamin and Nicholas, Delphine hesitated but didn’t harden her heart—in the end, she tacitly agreed. Ignatius Leclair headed downstairs with the kids to play, while Delphine walked to the small garden and called Leah.
"So, not divorced yet?" Leah nearly choked on a mouthful of water. After several violent coughs, she rasped, "Ignatius Leclair’s brain just doesn’t function like a normal person’s, does it? Back then, he created such a huge spectacle to force you into divorcing him, and now you’re saying it didn’t happen? He’s insane."
"He’s always been insane." Delphine sighed, sitting in the garden pavilion, speaking softly. "When a man is willing to stab himself in the chest, what isn’t he capable of doing? Leah, I honestly don’t know what to do anymore."
"You’re just too soft-hearted. To deal with shameless men like him, you need to be ruthless," Leah said, mid-meal with Griffith Squire. Mentioning Ignatius immediately ruined her appetite, and she stood up, snorting coldly. "If you ask me, even if you didn’t get divorced, it’s no big deal. These days, married couples living their own separate lives are common enough. If you meet a man you like, flirt with him, go for it—live your own carefree life. Who cares if you’re divorced or not?"
Griffith, who was sipping wine across from her, almost spat it out in surprise. His expression turned amused as he teased, "So, when you saw Richard Shaw, you just went for it without looking back? Leah Squire, you might have been able to freeload off him, but marriage? Forget it."
Listening to the Squire siblings’ bold exchange, Delphine suddenly felt like saying nothing at all.
"Dammit, how did I not think about freeloading? Delphine, just treat him like a gigolo. Reward him when you’re pleased, kick him out when you’re not. After all, he’s the one clinging to you," Leah’s charming eyes lit up with excitement as she squinted mischievously, grinning widely.
Seeing Griffith return, Delphine noticed Leah instantly reverting to her previous self. Feeling unexpectedly comforted, she remarked, "I’m pretty conservative in that regard. I probably couldn’t do what you’re suggesting."
"I swear, you’re a rare beauty, yet you’ve only ever been with Ignatius Leclair your entire life. It’s such a waste!" Leah stomped her foot in frustration, wanting to say more, but Griffith’s long arm had already snatched the phone from her hand.
"The day after tomorrow, Leah and I are heading to Southeast Asia for the New Year. I’ll invite you to dinner then." Griffith’s wicked smile curved as he added, "Little Delphine, you really should consider ditching Ignatius. After all, I’m no worse than him—in every way!"
Delphine’s smile froze slightly. Her naturally introverted and reserved personality stood in stark contrast to Leah, who lived life with daring exuberance—they clearly belonged to two different worlds.
"Oh, please. Spare me the act. In these three years, you expect me to believe you’ve been without women? No women could make you forget about your sister entirely?" Leah muttered indignantly from the side.
"Ha! And what about you running off with some wild man during these three years without a word? Did I agree to that?" Griffith responded with a cold sneer. Richard Shaw would never earn his approval—let him dream! Allowing him to keep his legs intact was him being gracious enough.
Amused by the Squire siblings’ bickering, Delphine chuckled softly. After hanging up, she noticed the man strolling toward her with an air of nonchalant elegance. His handsome, noble features carried a hint of melancholy as he spoke quietly, "Tomorrow, let’s take Benjamin and Nicholas to live at Emerald Hill Villas. Hmm?"