the two-faced Adopted Girl Who Melted CEO's Ice-Cold Heart Chapter 226: The Buddha Sitting Atop the Blood Red

When Richard Shaw arrived, Delphine was basking in the sun in the little backyard garden. Inside the square pavilion, wisteria vines had climbed across the railings. She had arranged a thick sofa chair on one side, covered with a snow-white sheepskin throw, her face shielded by a silk scarf as she rested with her eyes closed.

The two little ragdoll kittens had grown slightly larger, their round bodies nestled into the woolen blanket, their snow-white stubby legs stretched lazily as they lounged beside their owner, soaking in the sun.

The old butler ca around now and then. Seeing that the fruit tea on the table had cooled, he would patiently warm it again over low heat.

The chaos and bloodshed of the previous night seed as if it had never happened. Bessie Leclair had packed her belongings in the dead of night and fled to Switzerland to avoid trouble, terrified that the incident might implicate her.

The swelling on the right side of Delphine’s face had gone down after a night’s rest. Her wounds had been treated with ointnt multiple tis. Last night, Ignatius Leclair had rested in the bedroom, holding her in his arms all night. When she woke the next day, her neck felt sore from sleeping at an odd angle.

This man’s thoughts were becoming increasingly inscrutable.

Though Ignatius had confronted those behind the scenes, the Wade Family had yet to take any action, a sign to Delphine that the matter was far from over.

As she basked in the sunlight, her mind was chaotic and restless, hoping that Leah would return soon.

Delphine was dozing lightly when she heard the delighted voice of the old butler in the side hall, saying, "Mr. Shaw is here. I’ll go call the young master down right away."

"Thank you, old butler. He knows I’m visiting today." The man’s gentle and asured voice carried over.

Delphine rose, picked up the two little kittens in her arms, and stepped into the side hall. She saw the man sitting by the window. Dressed in a black long robe, he was seated in a wheelchair, his wrist adorned with a string of glossy black Buddha beads. His face was strikingly handso and solemn, his brows and eyes calm but still carrying the hardened aura of soone long imrsed in military life.

He resembled a Buddha presiding over a bloodstained altar. Delphine froze montarily—so this was the fad Major General of the Shaw Family, a man whose presence inspired both awe and fear.

Ignatius Leclair ca downstairs and imdiately noticed Delphine staring intently at Richard Shaw, his heart surging with displeasure.

The man glanced at the two little bundles in her arms and frowned slightly, saying, "Delphine, Shaw doesn’t care for pets."

Richard Shaw didn’t pause as he turned the Buddha beads between his fingers, a fleeting curve at the corner of his lips. All these years, this guy not only had pet allergies but was still stubborn and guarded.

Delphine pursed her lips slightly. After raising the cats for so long, she had naturally overheard the old butler say it in passing—Ignatius didn’t like pets. And now here he was, conveniently pinning it on the guest.

Delphine handed the two kittens to the servant to take care of.

"Didn’t you plan to grow old in the Imperial City? What’s made you leave now?" Ignatius’s face was cold as he sized up Richard Shaw, who didn’t seem interesting at all—he was even sitting in a wheelchair.

"Leclair’s Master-of-the-South raised accusations, and the Shaw Family was sowhat alard. That’s why I’ve co to offer an apology," Richard Shaw replied with a faint smile, the fine lines around his eyes lifting slightly, adding a touch of warmth to his deanor.

Ignatius snorted coldly but refrained from showing more displeasure. He instructed the butler to attend to Richard’s entourage outside, then personally brought out a treasure-grade batch of Lu’an Gua Pian tea. The two n sat in the tea room, their voices low as they conversed.

"I heard you acted against the Wade Family because of that Miss Carter who was holding the ragdoll kittens earlier?" Richard Shaw asked, personally preparing the tea. Inhaling the soothing aroma, he inquired in an unhurried tone.

Ignatius Leclair despised small animals most of all. For that Miss Carter to freely raise two ragdoll kittens at the Leclair Family residence indicated that her place in his heart was not insignificant. Not to ntion, their etings always avoided Leclair territory. This trip to the family ho was clearly an attempt to introduce Miss Carter to him.

"Yes," Ignatius replied in a low voice.

"Are you serious about this?" Richard Shaw’s expression grew slightly tense. He was familiar with Delphine Carter’s complicated background—taken in as an adopted daughter by the Leclair Family. If their relationship ca to light, Ignatius would face a storm of public criticism.