After lunch, the atmosphere became considerably more relaxed.
Conversations broke into smaller groups.
Cora, Miranda’s elegant daughter, finally approached with a pleasant smile.
“Hello, Maliyah.” She smiled warmly enough to fool anyone unfamiliar with her. “We’ve met before, right?”
Jasmine’s heart skipped. She didn’t know if Maliyah had met her before or not.
“We have?”
“Of course.”
Cora laughed lightly. “We attended the same charity gala last spring.”
Jasmine froze.
Charity gala?
She had never attended one.
“I remember you were wearing a sapphire gown.” Cora tilted her head innocently. “Do you still remember the painting that won the charity auction?”
The room fell unexpectedly quiet. Several relatives looked over curiously.
Jasmine’s mind raced, she had absolutely no idea.
Seconds stretched painfully.
Her silence became increasingly suspicious.
A smile slowly appeared on Miranda’s lips.
“What is it? You’ve forgotten already? I think I was at that gala too. It was quite a memorable one.”
Jasmine opened her mouth but nothing came out.
She couldn’t invent an answer without risking exposure. The tension became suffocating.
Just then, the crisp metallic sound of a lighter snapping shut echoed through the room.
Every gaze turned toward Leon. He lazily leaned back on the sofa, turning the silver lighter between his fingers.
His dark eyes landed coldly on Miranda.
“Second Aunt.” He began, his voice was calm. Too calm. “I heard Moon Manor has finally been renovated.”
Miranda’s smile instantly stiffened. “What... what do you mean?”
Leon smiled faintly. “It wasn’t easy repairing the damage after someone set it on fire.”
Silence filled the air, his words struck like thunder.
Several relatives exchanged startled glances. Without waiting for her response, he continued.
“I also heard someone once hired a group of prostitutes in an attempt to ruin my reputation.” His lighter clicked once more. “I’ve always wondered...” He looked directly into Miranda’s eyes. “Should I continue pretending I don’t know who did it?”
The color drained from Miranda’s face, she gripped her teacup so tightly her fingers turned white.
“I... I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you don’t?” Leon’s smile never reached his eyes. “That’s too bad because I know exactly what I’m talking about.”
The oppressive silence swallowed the room.
Not even Cora dared speak anymore.
Moments earlier, they had confidently cornered Jasmine.
Now, it felt as if they had been cornered instead, they couldn’t even lift their heads.
Madam Valentina immediately stepped forward before the conflict escalated further.
“Enough.” Her voice carried undeniable authority. “This is a family gathering.”
She turned toward Jasmine with a gentle smile. “Child, if anyone makes you feel wronged in this house. You come directly to me, okay? I’ll make sure justice is done.”
Jasmine odded respectfully.
“Thank you, Grandma.”
Without another word, Leonardo stood. He reached for her hand naturally.
“Let’s go home.”
She allowed him to lead her away, his fingers wrapped firmly around hers.
Strong and Protective.
Only after they had disappeared down the long corridor did Miranda finally release the breath she’d been holding.
Her face darkened with resentment. Cora leaned closer and whispered quietly,
“Mother, I think there’s something off about Leon’s wife.”
Miranda narrowed her eyes toward the direction the couple had left.
“I think so too and we need to find out.” A slow, calculating smile spread across Miranda’s face.
“She’s definitely hiding something.”
And they were going to use that something to destroy her!
************
The black Rolls-Royce glided through the wrought-iron gates of Moon Manor, disappearing into a long driveway lined with towering camphor trees. The afternoon sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns of light over the polished hood of the car.
Jasmine sat quietly in the passenger seat, gazing out of the window.
The estate was far larger than she had imagined.
Elegant fountains decorated the entrance, while rows of meticulously trimmed hedges surrounded a mansion that looked more like a private palace than a home.
She had known the Madrigal family was wealthy.
But witnessing it with her own eyes was something else entirely.
The car had barely come to a stop when a thunderous chorus of barking erupted from outside.
“Woof! Woof!”
“Arf!”
The deep, powerful barks echoed across the courtyard.
Jasmine jumped.
Before she could react, several enormous black guard dogs sprinted across the lawn toward the vehicle at astonishing speed.
Their muscular bodies were intimidating enough to make anyone’s heart race in fear.
“Oh!” Her face turned pale. “They’re coming!”
The moment Leon opened the car door, the dogs charged forward.
Jasmine instinctively shrank back.
“They... they’re going to bite me!”
Without thinking, she threw herself toward the nearest source of safety.
Leonardo.
Her hands grabbed the front of his shirt as she buried herself against his chest, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.
“Leon...” Her voice trembled. “I...I’m afraid of dogs...”
For a brief moment, he froze.
The her mesmerizing scent drifted into his senses as the woman in his arms clung to him tightly.
His heartbeat unexpectedly skipped.
Meanwhile, Bruno, who had stepped out of the driver’s seat, stared in disbelief.
This woman had actually hugged the young master?
Did she have no fear?
He subconsciously glanced at Leon, expecting his employer to immediately push her away.
Instead, Leon simply stood there.
Perfectly still.
He even unconsciously raised one hand, lightly steadying her shoulder.
“Don’t be scared.”
His usually cold voice was noticeably gentler.
“They won’t hurt you.”
Almost as if they understood his words, the barking abruptly stopped.
Jasmine cautiously opened one eye.
A massive black German Shepherd stood directly before her.
Its fierce appearance alone was enough to make her heartbeat skyrocket.
The dog suddenly lowered its head. Then, instead of baring its teeth, it rubbed its large head affectionately against her calf.
Its tail wagged enthusiastically.
Jasmine blinked in confusion.
The fierce guard dog looked almost... wronged. It nudged her leg again, asking for attention.
Bruno nearly dropped the car keys. “Murphy?”
The notoriously aggressive dog was actually acting spoiled?
As though not wanting to lose, the other guard dogs hurried over one after another.
Moments earlier, they had looked like terrifying beasts guarding the estate.
Now, every single one of them wagged their tails so hard that their entire bodies swayed.
One carefully placed its paw beside Jasmine’s foot. Another lowered its head, silently asking to be petted, a third rolled shamelessly onto its back.
Bruno rubbed his eyes. “I...I must be hallucinating.”
He had raised these dogs himself.
Outside of Leon, they barely tolerated anyone approaching. Even experienced trainers kept their distance.
Yet now, they surrounded his boss’s new wife like oversized puppies.
“Master...” Bruno muttered in astonishment. “They’re usually only this obedient around you.”
Jasmine finally relaxed.
Carefully crouching down, she gently stroked Murphy’s head.
“You scared me just now.”
Murphy let out a satisfied whine.
“But you’re actually a good boy, aren’t you?”
His tail wagged even faster.
“Such a good dog.”
Murphy proudly puffed out his chest.
The other dogs immediately pushed closer, each trying to earn a share of her attention.
Seeing them compete so openly, Bruno was rendered speechless.
Leonardo quietly watched the scene, his expression remained unreadable.
Murphy was shamelessly resting his enormous head on Jasmine’s knee.
Did he raise this dog to be like this?
Jasmine laughed softly as she scratched behind his ears. “You’re so well-behaved.”
Leon’s eyes narrowed. These dogs were getting too comfortable with her. He was yet to even rub her like that.
“Bruno.
“Yes, Master.”
“Take them away.”
Bruno hesitated. “Now?”
“Now.” Leonardo’s tone left no room for discussion. “They have too much wildness in them. They could hurt her. Keep them in the back enclosure.”
Murphy instantly looked at Leonardo with unmistakable betrayal.
Bruno almost laughed.
Was his Master...Jealous?
Jasmine looked up. “I don’t think he’s dangerous.”
Leonardo answered calmly. “Appearances can be deceiving. He should keep his distance.”
Murphy whined pitifully as Bruno reluctantly led him away.
The large dog repeatedly turned his head, looking back at Jasmine as though asking why she wasn’t stopping them.
She couldn’t help smiling helplessly. “I’ll come visit you later.”
Only then did Murphy reluctantly leave with the other dogs while Leonardo looked unexpectedly satisfied.