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

Chloe Winston saw that the Shaw Family’s grandmother was kind and amiable. Having been an orphan since childhood with no family, and certainly no grandmother, she felt a sense of intimacy and approached respectfully, greeting, "Hello, Grandma Shaw, I’m Chloe Winston."

Chloe originally intended to bring some gifts for her visit, but Constantine Stewart stopped her, saying he would handle it himself.

In such a prestigious family like the Shaws’, presumably nothing would be lacking, and Chloe didn’t have any impressive gifts to offer, so she simply decided to come over for a meal.

The grandmother noticed that in person, she was even more beautiful than on TV. The key was her pure and pleasing demeanor, with eyes like the little kitten Leah kept, carrying a look of sweet dependency that hit right at her heart, making her feel soft inside. She smiled and said, "Leah, where is the meeting gift I prepared for Chloe?"

"Grandma, you spent the whole evening and still couldn’t decide what to give," Leah said with a laugh from the side. A meeting gift for a younger person is naturally different from one for a favorite celebrity, hence the grandmother’s dilemma.

In the end, Leah chose a pair of jade bracelets since she noticed the young girl was simply dressed without any jewelry. She took out a pair of jade bracelets that had been in the storeroom for many years, with a captivating green color, watery and clear without a single blemish. Although Chloe modestly declined several times, she was eventually forced to accept them.

Constantine Stewart glanced at that pair of jade bracelets, pausing slightly, noticing Chloe was unaware of their value but said nothing.

During their marriage, he’d enjoyed buying outfits for the young girl, bringing home things he found appealing. However, Constantine often presented diamonds and gems rather than jade. When they divorced, Chloe didn’t take any of it with her, and it all remained where it was.

When Leah presented the jade bracelets, Constantine realized just how simply his young lady lived, and he gently furrowed his brow.

Since there was still some time before dinner, Chloe chatted with the grandmother, while Constantine stood in the yard with Richard Shaw, discussing men’s topics.

The two men glanced at the women talking amicably in the living room and fell into an odd silence.

"When’s the wedding?" Constantine asked blandly, his long fingers pressed against the trunk of an ancient ginkgo tree in the yard.

"Soon," Richard Shaw replied, his face blooming at the mention of it. Due to certain circumstances, Leah’s desire to have a joint wedding with Delphine Carter couldn’t be fulfilled. Adding their personal reasons, neither man wanted another couple to take the spotlight at their wedding. So Leah finally agreed, and now they were just waiting for Griffith Squire’s return to hold the ceremony.

Constantine felt a slight pang, seeing Richard’s joyful face, looking lovingly at Leah inside. He said nonchalantly, "I truly envy people like you with such stubborn minds."

Richard Shaw’s life goals were straightforward: get married, have children, focus either on family or his immediate circle, all diligently, steadily, and with responsibility.

Having indulged in almost all life experiences, Mr. Stewart felt an inexplicable loneliness inside.

The older he got, the more fragile he became, unable to bear others’ happiness.

Richard Shaw patted him on the shoulder, chuckling faintly, "If you’re not truly fond of Chloe, don’t harm her. She’s a nice girl, deserving a better man, not someone as capricious and wandering as you."

Richard Shaw thought that someone like Constantine Stewart might only consider settling down once he was toothless and unable to walk, impressed that he could actually stay in the Imperial City for six years.

Constantine let out a couple of cold laughs, "How is it that I’m harming her? Maybe she’s the one harming me."

Richard Shaw had been pulled aside for a deep discussion by his wife the night before. Otherwise, with his character, he typically wouldn’t concern himself with others’ affairs.

"But you’ve divorced, so why bring Chloe to the Shaw Family? Looking for a way back? A random whim, or thoughts of remarriage? You’re already doing well, so why partake in reality TV? You don’t even plan to enter the Entertainment Sector," Richard asked one question after another.

Constantine was momentarily stumped.

"Don’t bring your French notions into this country; here, there’s no concept of long-term casual relationships. She’s an orphan, adopted by you for three years, married you, and that’s already unfortunate enough. Why not just let go and allow her to live her own unrestrained life?" Richard’s words were all aimed at persuading Constantine to let go, speaking in a low tone, "Leah is very fond of her and views her as a sister, so those carefree notions of yours should be tested on other women, not Chloe."

"Not interested in other women," Constantine said with a deeper gaze.

Seeing him this way, clearly with an interest in the young girl yet maintaining an aloof and indifferent demeanor, Richard couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle. Constantine was just asking for trouble; there would surely be a time when he’d cry. Thinking back to his own days with the old Lì, actually sleeping in his wife’s bed meant he had to listen to her. Old Constantine, huh, wishing him happiness.

In the living room, Chloe, seeing how grandma and Leah were so caring towards her, felt deeply guilty. Grandma Shaw was so good to her, probably assuming she was Constantine’s wife, when in fact, they had long ceased to be related.

The words "I’ve already divorced Constantine Stewart" stuck in Chloe’s throat, unable to be spoken, neither swallowed nor voiced, causing her much distress.

"I’ve watched your reality shows; as a young girl, don’t work too hard. If you get hurt, you’ll suffer in old age. As for Winters, I heard from his mother, he’s been like a rebellious teenager these past years, doing things without measure. If he bullies you, just let me know. I’ll teach him a lesson, and he won’t dare make a sound," Grandma Shaw said kindly, smiling.

Chloe didn’t even know how many people were in Constantine’s family, let alone what her former mother-in-law said. Hearing Grandma Shaw’s words, she could no longer suppress the guilt inside her and said quietly, "I’m sorry, Grandma Shaw. I lied to you."

Grandma Shaw was momentarily taken aback.

"Constantine and I divorced half a year ago. We’re not suitable, and I can’t accept this. I’m sorry, I’ll leave now. Thank you for your hospitality." Chloe pushed the box of bracelets Leah had given her back, bowing her head in remorse, her voice tinged with hoarseness, almost breaking into tears.

The Shaw Family was too good, so good that it troubled her conscience. She couldn’t deceive such a grandmother.

After speaking, Chloe bowed to Grandma Shaw, then to Leah, and quickly ran out of the living room, heading outside.

This sudden change caught both Grandma Shaw and Leah off guard.

The grandmother looked at Leah and said, "You didn’t mention it, but this child is indeed an honest person."

This silly child, with a room full of people deceiving her, she instead ended up bowing and apologizing to them, feeling immensely guilty. The grandmother chuckled and watched Constantine Stewart, whose face had turned grim as he ran after her, "Winters needs to suffer a bit too; I definitely won’t help him in the future."

Leah let out a playful laugh, "Grandma, don’t worry about him anymore; he’s full of tricks. It’s time someone gave him a taste of his own medicine. I’ll invite Chloe back to our home later."

With that, Grandma Shaw smiled and nodded, calling Casimir Shaw, who was working on his homework in the tea room, out to dinner.