the two-faced Adopted Girl Who Melted CEO's Ice-Cold Heart

Chapter 727: Kiss Me, and I Can Make Cinderella’s Glass Slipper

Delphine’s gaze slightly misted over. So, he had actually been around all these days, just not showing himself?

"Why didn’t you say anything?" Delphine hugged the balloon tightly in her arms and complained.

"I was afraid you’d be angry." Ignatius Leclair glanced at the hotel owner’s wife, who had been looking their way frequently, and whispered with a smile, "Mrs. Leclair, perhaps we should discuss this back in our room."

Ignatius had booked a hotel suite right across from hers. Delphine led a simple and predictable life, making it easy for the man to avoid being seen.

Ignatius reached out and took her hand, nodded and smiled at the hotel owner’s wife, then gently led Delphine back to the honeymoon suite.

Over these days, the man had followed her quietly, observing her as she ate alone, walked alone, wrote in her journal, or idly gazed into the distance. It left him profoundly contemplative—his wife turned out to be a woman with such a serene inner world. No wonder she instinctively refused when he brought up the wedding.

Love was between two people, while marriage was between two families, and even more complex family dynamics. Her world was far too simple and pure, instinctively rejecting such intricacies.

She lived on an island of solitude within herself. But that island had long since blossomed, with flowers blooming everywhere. And he wanted to enter that island within her.

The man stepped into the room and drew her tightly into his arms. His voice was hoarse and deep as he said, "I’m sorry. I’ve thought a lot these past few days. I didn’t realize you were afraid. From now on, just live the way you want to live. I won’t force you anymore."

A lump of bittersweet emotion surged in Delphine’s heart. Leaning into his embrace, she choked slightly and murmured, "Ignatius, I hope you’ll always be here."

The man’s body stiffened for an instant, then relaxed. He responded with a low hum and held her even tighter.

The days that followed transformed from solitary leisure time into moments shared between the two of them. Ignatius took her across the border of France into Italy, and then onwards to Slovenia.

That miniature Central European country rarely appeared in the public’s eye, and Delphine was learning of it for the first time.

"Dress beautifully today," the man said in a rich, low voice, hugging her from behind in the morning.

Ignatius then produced a box containing a custom-made white lace dress. Its simple yet elegant design revealed intricate and exquisite craftsmanship upon closer inspection, emanating a restrained sense of beauty.

Delphine looked at the small dress, hesitated for a moment, and said, "But I don’t have matching high heels."

Being naturally tall and slender, her travel wardrobe consisted entirely of flat shoes.

"Kiss me once, and I’ll conjure Cinderella’s glass slippers," the man murmured in his soft, captivating voice, a sly smile tugging at his lips. His usually stern countenance softened with a faint upward curve of his eyes, revealing a trace of his true age.

Delphine reached out and traced her fingers along the lines at the corners of his eyes. No wonder he rarely smiled—when he did, it was overwhelmingly mature and enticing, almost impossible to resist.

Uncertain of what his intentions were, Delphine changed into the custom lace dress and paired it with high heels. The man, dressed more impeccably than ever, led her to Lake Bled, where they boarded a boat to the lake’s solitary island.

"There’s a legend here," he began in his low voice as they arrived. "If a man carries a woman up all 99 steps, and she remains silent the entire time, something good will happen." He gently kissed her and continued, "Shall we try it, hmm?"

The man carried her up the steps. Delphine tilted her head slightly upward, gazing at his profile, her heart faintly tightening.

The two remained silent throughout, climbing all 99 steps before ringing the bell in the tower and stepping into the church.

The church was completely empty, save for a smiling priest holding the Bible.