CHAPTER 579: CHAPTER 579: CHERISHED ONES, BELOVED ONES

"Don’t just say thank you, if you hurt Ivana again next time, she might forgive you this time, but if it happens again, I won’t let her forgive you."

The speaker was Fawn Rhodes. She utterly detested the two elders of the Kane family, especially that old witch of a mother. If Leon Keane hadn’t said he sent that vicious witch away, she would have taken Ivana out of the country by any means necessary.

"Young lady, rest assured, I swear on my life this time, if I harm Ivana again, let me be hit by a car on the spot."

The matriarch feared Fawn wouldn’t believe her, so she raised her fingers.

"Oh dear! Is such a cruel vow necessary? I’m scared of you. I believe you."

Fawn patted her chest in relief. This elderly lady was quite decisive and swift, yet it’s clear she was wise, knowing when to correct her errors. Fawn hoped Ivana would find happiness with the Kanes.

Not only was Fawn shocked, but even Ivana and Leon were startled by the matriarch’s harsh vow.

Ivana passed by the matriarch and reached out to stroke Timmy’s little head, saying, "Call her Grandma."

Timmy obediently said, "Grandma."

The matriarch was moved to tears, "Good, good child, all of you are such good children."

"Mommy, this is for you."

Ian Keane, who had been hiding behind Leon, came forward. Wearing woolen mittens, he held a small bouquet of carnations, looking both excited and a bit shy as he gazed at Ivana.

Ivana didn’t take the flowers from Leon’s hand; instead, she took the carnations from Ian and kissed his handsome little face, "Mommy likes your flowers."

Ian was thrilled. He wanted to leap into Ivana’s arms, but upon seeing her protruding belly, he seemed to remember something and refrained.

Ivana reached out to hold Ian’s small hand, filling in the hug he should have received, "Come, let’s go home with Mommy."

As they got into the luxury car, Ivana noticed that Ian’s little hands were covered with centipede-like scars, presumably just after having stitches removed.

"Ian, does it hurt?"

Ivana felt terribly sorry as she gently held his little hands, kissed them, her tears almost falling onto the little boy’s palms.

"It doesn’t hurt, not at all," Ian felt warm in his heart from Ivana’s breath on his palm. As long as Mommy was alright, he wouldn’t feel pain.

"Brother’s hand is so seriously injured; it must be very painful."

Timmy’s eyes were red; no wonder his brother hadn’t come to the hospital to see him and Mommy since being brought back by Daddy. His brother’s hand was so severely injured, even more so than his.

"No matter what happens in the future, neither of you nor Timmy can do anything to harm yourselves," Ivana said sternly, "because both of you are Mommy’s treasures, understand?"

Mommy’s treasures.

Ian gazed at Ivana in a daze, "Brother and I, both of us are Mommy’s treasures?"

Ivana nodded, "That’s right, you’re both Mommy’s treasures, pieces of Mommy’s heart."

Ian leaned his face against Ivana’s arm, joyful tears silently sliding down his cheeks, "Mommy is also Ian’s treasure."

"Cough cough~"

Leon Keane rolled his eyes upon hearing this, feigned a cough with his fist to his lips, feeling quite uncomfortable inside. This mother and sons trio were just too sappy, with all their talk about treasures and hearts.

Those two little ones were just the "little tadpoles" he provided, they just happened to swim faster than their siblings, luckily formed and were born. They should remember that he, their father, was the greatest contributor and should willingly give Ivana back to him.

Instead of acting all mushy like they were, trying to become Ivana’s heart’s treasure.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the villa.

This time, the matriarch had also moved in; she wanted to personally witness Ivana nurture the child until its birth.

Evening.

Leon Keane’s phone rang, the call was from F Country.

Seeing the incoming call, Leon Keane felt a headache coming on, as he had been receiving calls from F Country almost every day recently. Either his mother was staging a hunger strike, threatening to jump off a building, or holding a knife to her wrist to attempt suicide.

In short, Leon’s mother was causing turmoil on the island in F Country, hoping to soften Leon’s heart and have him bring her back to Ravenswood.

Leon definitely wouldn’t do that. After knowing that his mother had been sent away, the matriarch had sternly instructed him not to bring her back, as it would affect Ivana and potentially harm the baby in her womb.

"What happened? Is it your mother again?"

The matriarch came to the corridor, seeing Leon standing there with a phone in hand, a frown on his face, yet not answering. As wise as she was, she couldn’t help but guess it was his mother calling.

Right now, only Leon’s mother could make him knit his brows so tightly.

The funding crisis of the Kane Group hadn’t even fazed Leon, which was grandma’s recent pride. She knew her grandson was capable, but hadn’t expected he would resolve the funding crisis of the Kane Group so effortlessly.

The matriarch felt much regret; had she known earlier, she wouldn’t have handed over the estate abroad and the Xianglong bracelet for Leon’s mother to sell off.

Leon turned around. Seeing his grandmother stepping out, he eased the furrow between his brows and said lightly, "It’s nothing, the evening wind is strong, Grandma, you should go indoors and rest, don’t catch a chill."

The matriarch "hmphed," "Don’t try to fool me, it’s your mother causing trouble on the island again, isn’t it? Let her be. Just make sure you have someone keeping an eye on her 24/7; as long as she’s not dead, it’ll be fine."

Leon sighed, nothing could get past his grandmother.

"Answer it."

The matriarch pointed to the phone in Leon’s hand. She wouldn’t leave until Leon finished the conversation, ensuring that he wouldn’t soften and allow that problematic woman back.

Leon could only answer the call.

"President Kane, it’s bad news, madam committed suicide by jumping into the sea."

The voice on the line came through hastily.

"What?"

Leon fumbled the phone, dropping it to the ground.

"What happened?"

The matriarch witnessed his sudden paleness, knowing something serious must have happened, her grandson wouldn’t have dropped the phone otherwise.

Leon’s trembling fingers picked up the phone from the floor, turning on the speaker, "Say it again."

The voice over the phone broke into sobs, "Madam jumped into the sea. We don’t know if she’s dead or alive."

On hearing this, the matriarch swayed slightly; she had jumped... into the sea?

It took a long while before the matriarch slowly gathered her thoughts; she suddenly realized Leon was no longer in the hallway.

The matriarch muttered, "If she’s truly dead, then so be it..."

"Aunt Golding, I have an emergency to attend to, have to leave for a while. If Mrs. Keane asks, tell her this."

"Ah? President Keane, won’t you tell Mrs. Keane yourself? How long will you be gone?"

"No time, the duration is uncertain."

With that, Leon Keane hurriedly left the villa.