Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Birds of a Feather, Stubborn to the End
He didn’t dare make a sound, holding the food his daughter brought and apologized to Leon Keane before hurriedly leaving with his daughter in his arms.
Some parents didn’t feel quite right about it, especially the fathers, wasn’t he just relying on his good looks? What’s so great about that?
The fathers didn’t openly comment on Leon Keane, but their daughters chasing after someone else’s son with food, all the way here, made them feel inferior in front of Leon Keane.
The parents took their daughters and left, and it became quiet around Leon Keane. These were just little girls; their emotions came and went quickly. Once their parents brought them back to their seats, they were coaxed and cheered up in no time.
After Leon Keane finished ordering food, it started arriving on the table about fifteen minutes later.
Leon Keane wasn’t interested in sweet foods. To be precise, he generally didn’t eat sweet food, but Ivana Monroe and Timmy loved it. The cheese-pull pizza, once stuffed into their mouths, would make them show satisfied expressions.
Is it really that delicious?
Leon Keane suddenly wanted to try the cheese-pull pizza. What’s it like?
"Brother, this pizza is so good! Why aren’t you eating?" Timmy Monroe cared a lot about Ian Keane. When he ate something delicious, he thought of his brother, tearing a piece of pizza with his little fair hand and placing it onto Ian Keane’s plate.
Seeing this, Leon Keane wanted to tell Timmy, "Brother doesn’t really like pizza."
What happened next surprised him; Ian Keane didn’t refuse, Ivana Monroe helped him put on plastic gloves, Ian Keane said nothing, and finally picked up the pizza from the plate, elegantly eating it one bite at a time.
Timmy Monroe saw Ian Keane eating the pizza, and his small brows and eyes were all smiling.
Leon Keane glanced at the pizza, feeling a bit restless, but in the end, he didn’t make a move. He wasn’t sure if his palate could accept pizza like Ian. If he tore a piece, tried a bite, and then not eat it, it would be embarrassing.
About ten minutes later, Leon Keane’s phone rang.
Taking it out, he saw it was his mother calling.
Leon Keane’s brows furrowed slightly.
Ivana Monroe saw Leon Keane holding the phone and not answering for a while, and asked curiously, "Why aren’t you answering the phone?"
Leon Keane smiled slightly at Ivana Monroe and said, "You guys eat first. I’ll take this call."
Leon Keane stood up, left his seat, and walked towards the sunlit glass window balcony, sliding his long fingers over the phone: "What’s up?"
Isn’t it a bit unnecessary to walk that far just to take a call?
It seemed intentional, not wanting her to overhear their conversation.
Ivana Monroe sensed something was off about Leon Keane’s call but didn’t think much of it, nor was she interested in guessing who the call was from.
Currently, Ivana Monroe’s task was to take good care of the two small children.
On the other side.
Jean Shaw heard Leon Keane lower his voice deliberately, not calling her "mom" and just asking what’s up, she instantly sensed Leon Keane’s unusual behavior.
"Leon, who are you with right now?"
"I’m having dinner with Ian at a restaurant."
"Just you and Ian?" Jean Shaw was doubtful.
Leon Keane hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "Not just us."
Jean Shaw immediately exclaimed, "Are you with Ian and Ivana Monroe?"
Leon Keane did not deny it. Since everything was laid on the table, there was no need to tell lies: "Yes, she’s Ian’s mother. Ian has missed out on motherly love for six years, and now it can’t be missing anymore. Every child is entitled to that."
Jean Shaw didn’t acknowledge Ivana Monroe: "She’s not Ian’s biological mother. Ian’s real mother is dead. I’m Ian’s grandma, and the love I give Ian surpasses that any biological mother could give her son."
Leon Keane frowned, shaking his head: "You are Ian’s grandmother, but you are just Ian’s grandmother. You can never replace the maternal love and joy a mother provides to a child."
Leon Keane spoke the truth; however, to Jean Shaw, it felt like a needle piercing her heart.
What kind of spell did that vixen Ivana Monroe cast on Leon Keane? She put so much effort into Ian that even many wealthy women gave her thumbs up, acknowledging her strong maternal devotion, even beyond what many mothers would do for their grandchildren.
On what grounds could Leon Keane erase all her accomplishments just because of Ivana Monroe?
So what if Ivana Monroe is Ian’s biological mother? Has Ivana ever taken care of Ian for a day? Can she spend money like Jean Shaw, buying everything Ian likes?
"Ivana Monroe, Ivana Monroe, it’s always Ivana in your eyes. Let me tell you, Leon Keane, as long as I’m alive, Ivana will not enter our house. Do you know what her mother said to me today?"
Leon Keane’s dark eyes dimmed at the mention of Ivana’s mother. Jean Shaw? What was she doing at the old Keane residence?
Leon Keane continued to listen to what Jean Shaw had to say.
"She came over to discuss a wedding gift, and with such audacity! She demanded one billion dollars to be wired into her account by tomorrow. She said without a billion-dollar dowry, don’t even think about marrying her daughter. Her daughter isn’t lacking suitors, despite already having a child. Many men queue up daily at her house to marry Ivana."
Jean Shaw’s words carried a heavy load of information.
Leon Keane’s handsome face turned cold as he explained: "Jean Shaw is just Ivana’s stepmother, and she’s not kind to Ivana. Mom, you don’t have to listen to her. I’ve already discussed it with Ivana’s father, offered him a project, and gave Ivana one hundred million as a dowry."
Jean Shaw was quite displeased to hear that Leon Keane not only gave Caleb Monroe a project but also a hundred million to Ivana: "Whether she’s her real mom or her stepmom, she raised Ivana. Leon! Can’t you see it yet? Ivana and her mother are the same; they’re both after our family’s money. A hundred million as a dowry, Ivana could live two lifetimes on that."
Jean Shaw’s earnest persuasion was in vain. She bitterly said, "Leon, are you still not awake? Do you know how Ivana’s mother spoke of you in front of me? She said you ran to their door like a grandchild, insisting on marrying her daughter. She even said you are spineless and have no dignity, willing to lower yourself just to marry her daughter."
Jean Shaw’s eyes turned red, gritting her teeth: "You are the heir of the Keane family, a distinguished young man. Did your parents raise you to let you be insulted like this because of a woman?"
Leon Keane’s handsome face sank deeply; he hadn’t expected Jean Shaw to be so shameless, running in front of his mother and spewing nonsense.
Leon Keane said, "Mom, don’t listen to Jean Shaw. I never went to their house, and Ivana has not returned since she came back. Their relationship is something I can’t explain to you right now, but please believe that your son is not that type of person, and Ivana isn’t like you say. She is capable and has her own company, and she’s not after my money at all."