Chapter 1439 - 1434: Constantine Stewart Poaches Talent
Richard Shaw, in the strictest sense, was experiencing the joy of being a father for the first time. Back when Leah was pregnant with Casimir Shaw, there was still a distance between them, and neither had clarified their feelings. At one point, Richard couldn’t face it and ran away for peacekeeping duty.
Years later, after so much effort, they finally had a second child. Richard Shaw was most looking forward to having a sweet and adorable daughter, just like Benjamin Leclair from the old Leclair Family, to save Ignatius Leclair from constantly bragging about his wife and daughter.
Constantine Stewart listened to his endless chatter, sounding like an old lady, and the smile on his face faded, as he coldly said, "Is having a child that wonderful?"
Richard Shaw saw him sitting alone in a wheelchair, knowing he wasn’t feeling well, so he toned down his excitement somewhat and looked at his plastered right leg, saying, "You’ll understand when you’re a father. Having a child that carries on your bloodline is very important."
Constantine Stewart fell silent for a moment. His father had long passed away, and his mother had become an enemy. From a young age, he was moody and not well-liked, and the elders favored other juniors more, so he naturally couldn’t understand this blood-related familial bond.
The man casually nodded and said, "Got it."
"The old lady asked me when you’re going to take Chloe Winston to Shaw Mansion for dinner." Richard Shaw came to gauge his intentions. The household was now divided into two camps regarding Constantine Stewart’s affairs. Leah was on Chloe Winston’s side, while the old lady felt sorry for Constantine Stewart and hoped they could reconcile, thus putting Richard in the middle.
"It’s not possible now, she currently doesn’t think well of me." Constantine Stewart lowered his eyes, his profound features showing very little expression, speaking softly, "I want to remarry her."
During his life-and-death moments, the only person he could think of was her. For him, the world was not more important than her.
As he said this, his gaze was deep, his expression indifferent.
Richard Shaw saw that the usual carefree and languid demeanor of Constantine Stewart had vanished, realizing these past four months had been difficult for him, and couldn’t help but smile knowingly, patting his shoulder.
Men, especially those like them who’ve seen all the beauties of the world since childhood, truly marry a woman only if they really like her in their hearts. He had long expected Constantine Stewart would one day regret.
"I’ll go home and tell the old lady. This time I will hold back my wife from interfering, how you proceed is up to you." Richard Shaw stood up with a smile, sitting for less than half an hour, eager to hurry home.
"Hmm, go ahead." Constantine Stewart didn’t even lift his eyes, casually waved at him. It’s good that Leah is now pregnant, at least she won’t interfere in his affairs with Chloe Winston, otherwise, it would really be difficult to explain to the Shaw Family.
When Richard Shaw returned to the Shaw Family, the butler looked at the joyful pastries, candies, and eggs specially sent over and asked, "Mr. Stewart, what should we do with these things?"
Constantine Stewart had a dark face, saying, "Give them away as you see fit, just say they’re from the Vice Admiral’s family."
The baby hasn’t even been born yet, and joyous eggs were already sent. Could it be that they’re specially prepared to provoke him?
The old butler, upon hearing they’re from the Vice Admiral’s family, when allowed to distribute freely, joyfully collected them. The household staff each received some, and relatives also got some, all to share in the joy. It’s the joy of a prestigious family in Imperial City after all.
"Wait, keep one aside." Constantine Stewart’s eyes deepened, stopping the old butler, wheeling himself over to pick the most exquisite box of joyous pastries from the gift basket Richard Shaw sent, then called Zheng Gu.
Today is the day Chloe Winston enters the film crew; he has to go and support her, lest she gets bullied while playing the third female lead.
Constantine Stewart didn’t even bother with lunch, instead taking a box of joyous pastries and bought a box of pink calla lilies to head to Chloe Winston’s filming set.
The crew has been filming in the film city lately. Faust intended to produce a high-quality fantasy drama for the year, so he required the lead actors to schedule at least six months of availability. Due to perfectionism, filming naturally slowed.
The first day began with the opening ceremony, and shooting started in the afternoon, but the workload wasn’t heavy.
All the lead actors were present on site. The afternoon saw the crew nearly buried under various flowers, with Victoria and Yu Sitian, receiving gifts till their hands were full, flowers, diamonds, dolls, etc., dazzling to the eyes. Most actresses in the crew are extraordinary in looks, feeling very envious and jealous.
Chloe Winston also received flowers sent by Finnian, along with fifty delicate afternoon tea pastries, practically enough for anyone present.
Chloe Winston had Xiao Qiu distribute the pastries and then sent Finnian a WeChat message to express her gratitude.
"Sis, someone sent flowers again, it’s a box of pink calla lilies. No card." Xiao Qiu opened the flower box and exclaimed, "They’re so beautiful, let me check the flower meaning."
Chloe Winston glanced at the flower box, nine pink calla lilies blooming gorgeously, their stems arranged in a heart shape filled with pink roses, with a beautiful doll inside. She reached out, took the doll, and poked its braid, smiling slightly.
She actually had an obsessive love for dolls and furry animals, perhaps because there were no toys when she was young, now grown, she clung to them dearly. Constantine Stewart was the one most disliking these dolls.
Chloe Winston’s smile faded at her lips, as she heard Xiao Qiu stutter, "The flower meaning is a love everlasting. Sis, sis, that..."
Chloe watched as a refined and handsome man entered with the director, her face turned pale with fright, and she nearly dropped a box of beautiful flowers.
"What happened?" Chloe was on a break; she only had a photo shoot today and no scenes to film. She continued to look down at the doll in her hands.
A pair of long, fair, and finely-articulated hands handed over a cute sky-blue boy doll, speaking in a deep voice: "The dolls are a pair."
He placed the female doll in the flower box while the male doll remained on his wheelchair. Seeing her stare unblinkingly, he couldn’t resist handing the other doll over as well.
Chloe’s hand movements stiffened, she looked up at the man’s refined and lean face. Her hand shook, and the doll fell to the ground.
Constantine, seated in a wheelchair, bent down to pick up the doll and placed it into the flower box beside him. His eyes were deep as he looked at her. As she was having a photo shoot, she was dressed in red, her black hair tied up, with no adornments whatsoever, pure beauty.
Mr. Stewart unexpectedly arrived at the set and even gave Chloe dolls. With the director Faust and producers accompanying him silently, everyone suppressed their excitement inside. Was Mr. Stewart here to see Chloe?
Charles, being occupied with taking over the family business, had been quite busy these past months. He left after his shoot, while actors friendly with him were frantically nudging him. Mr. Stewart was here to throw a wrench!
Constantine was a big shot in the noble circles of Imperial City. News about his near-death experience during an avalanche in Switzerland had circulated before. Seeing him in a wheelchair now, his refined and elegant face bore faint bruises—he evidently suffered real injuries.
Everyone, realizing his identity as a descendent of French nobility, stealthily took pictures with their phones to show off at home, flaunting their connection.
Chloe realized what was happening, suddenly stood up with a blank expression, while Little Autumn clutched her sleeve desperately.
Constantine coughed lightly, speaking in a low, raspy voice: "I’m here to bring wedding cakes."
Everyone gasped—wedding cakes? Who’s getting married?
"You’re getting married?" Chloe blurted out, her expression changing slightly. Did Constantine gain enlightenment from his brush with death, deciding to marry Lori?
Thinking back to how Lori visited France to see him and frequently attended French high society galas thereafter, many speculated they were close to marriage. Lori’s previous scandals were instantly forgotten, and she recently took up a socialite path, even endorsing a high-end French brand, earning waves of praise.
But why tell her about his marriage?
Constantine was taken aback, squinting slightly as he noticed everyone around them wearing expressions of eager gossip, and said nonchalantly: "Not me, Richard Shaw. These are the Shaws’ wedding cakes. Richard is quite busy and asked me to bring you a piece to share the joy."
The Shaws’ wedding cakes?
The crowd was stunned again. Was there something joyful in Vice Admiral Shaw’s family in Imperial City? No, such a prestigious family, sending wedding cakes to Chloe, even sending Mr. Stewart as a courier?
With one leg impaired, he really delivered them to the set?
The onlookers were so stunned their eyes nearly fell to the ground, as they frantically opened their social media circles, asking: "Did Vice Admiral Shaw send wedding cakes today, did any of your bigshot friends receive them? Did any bigshot post on their feed?"
After asking around, there was no post from any prominent figure in Imperial City’s elite circles, and some noble heirs even inquired back upon hearing the news.
"Damn, the Shaws sent wedding cakes? Whose face is so important to receive wedding cakes from the Shaws?"
"Asked around, and not even the second or third sons of the Howards got wedding cakes, maybe it’s a rumor?"
"Rumor my ass, Constantine brought them personally, could it possibly be fake?"
"For crying out loud, I’m begging a big shot to let me hold their leg."
"Begging for pictures, I want to see what the Shaws’ wedding cakes look like. My niece from my eighth aunt is getting married and wants to buy identical wedding cakes."
Both the celebrity and noble circles were all stirred up, all starting to look into which high-end brand Vice Admiral Shaw’s wedding cakes came from.
Chloe looked at the wedding cake gift box Constantine handed over. It was an extremely festive embroidered box adorned with vibrant floral patterns. The man stared at her deeply, standing very close, and she could vaguely smell the subtle men’s cologne from him, crisp and restrained.
"They’re wedding cakes, Chloe, open them and take a look. We don’t know what the Shaws’ wedding cakes are like either." Faust interjected with a smiling face, seeing the two of them remain silent, his urgency evident as sweat beaded on his forehead.