Chapter 041 She's Already My Wife in the Eyes of the Law

There was a luxurious, five-star hotel complete with duty-free shopping owned directly by Moore Corporation in Shadewood City.

Adelina was taking in the elegant woman sitting across from her, who was so well-maintained she almost mistook her for Langston's sister. Surprisingly, she was Langston's biological mother.

"So, you're the Adelina. I've been wanting to thank you in person. Thank you for saving my son Langston last time," said Ileana with a warmth and approachability that made her instantly likable.

Langston, calm and composed, sipped his tea on the side without interrupting the chat between his mother and Adelina.

"Oh no, it was Mr. Moore's good luck. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to pull a big guy like him up from the edge of a cliff," Adelina said, not wanting to boast, especially in front of Langston's most important relative.

Ileana smiled as she assessed Adelina and then turned to her son. "What's this about, Langston? Miss Howard saved you after all, but why haven't you bought her any skincare or makeup? And what about jewelry? Girls love to look beautiful, and those are must-haves! Also, what's with all this outdoor equipment you've bought? Anyone would think you're preparing for a disaster!"

Langston replied with a sigh, "I gave her a raise. She's buying this because she's working on a project in the mountains."

"Salary is salary, but a project doesn't have to spoil a woman's beauty! No, that's it, I want you to go shopping now! Skip the meal for now and eat after you've bought the items!"

It was clear Ileana was trying to send him away. Langston put down his teacup, stood up, and pulled Adelina to her feet. "Let's go, pick out whatever skincare and jewelry you want; I'll come with you."

Before Adelina could refuse, Ileana preempted her, "You go by yourself! Just ask at the counter, and the salespeople will recommend the best to you! Miss Howard and I have more to talk about, and there's no rush for you to return before we've finished our meal."

Langston was speechless.

Soon, the private room was left with only Adelina and Ileana.

With Langston gone, Adelina felt even more restrained.

"Tell me, Miss Howard, how many people are in your family, and where are you from?" Ileana offered her a cup of tea to start.

Adelina looked down at her barely sipped tea, now filled to the brim again by her gracious host.

Not wanting to seem unthankful, she took a sip before responding, "I'm a local from Shadewood City. I came from a family of four, but my dad got into trouble a while back, and my mom divorced him, taking my little brother and leaving Shadewood City. Now, it's just me and my friends living on our own here."

She intentionally avoided mentioning the word "bankruptcy," fearing it too sensitive and worried that Ileana might think she was trying to latch onto the wealthy Langston family to settle her father's debts.

However, her worries were unfounded.

Before their chance encounter today, Ileana had already had Adelina investigated.

"Miss Howard, your father, Eddy, he's the founder of Refresh Daily Chemicals, right? He filed for bankruptcy recently due to a huge amount of debt that landed him in trouble. And you're married?" Ileana inquired.

Adelina was taken aback for a moment, observing Ileana for a while before nodding. "Yes, that's my father. As for my marriage, it was arranged by my father, but there were some issues... It's not very convenient to discuss with you, Madam Moore."

Seeing Adelina's forthrightness, Ileana managed a comforting smile. "Then, I'll speak frankly with you, Miss Howard. No matter how far you and my son have progressed, I won't stand in the way. However, I hope you can keep a low profile, as your married status could cause unfavorable public opinion for my Langston. Also, I've recently taken a liking to the heiress of the Wealthy family, Katherine, the eldest daughter of Watson Enterprises. She just returned from graduating at Harvard, and aside from the late heiress of the Ward family, she is my second choice for a daughter-in-law for the Moores."

Throughout the conversation, Ileana never directly criticized Adelina, yet the subtext was clear. "You can date my son, even be intimate, but you will never be a Moore daughter-in-law. Only someone of equal social standing, like Miss Watson, can fill that role."

A shade passed over Adelina's face, not expecting Ileana to add, "I don't know if Langston has mentioned it, but he was ready to register his marriage with the Ward heiress. Tragically, Miss Ward met with a car accident and passed away on the day they were to register. Despite this, Langston still generously gave the Ward family an 80 million settlement. Think about it, if he could do that for a woman who wasn't even his wife, imagine what he would do for you—you saved his life, after all."

The implication was clear. All of Langston's kindness was merely him repaying a life debt.

Adelina's expression became even more complex after hearing this, but ultimately it settled into a calm demeanor. "Madam Moore, rest assured, my relationship with Mr. Moore is strictly professional. While I do admire and respect him, I know that we are worlds apart. I would never dream of marrying into the Wealthy family. I also won't expect Mr. Moore to pay off my debts. Currently, I'm holding down multiple jobs, and I intend to pay off my debts with my own hard work!"

Her words had just left her mouth when the door to the private dining room was pushed open.

Langston entered with a stern face, carrying several bags of merchandise, all from well-known luxury brands.

A chill went through Adelina's heart.

She didn't know how much of her conversation with Ileana he might have overheard.

However, what she had said was the truth, and if he had inadvertently learned of it, it might be a blessing in disguise. This way, she wouldn't have to confront him directly, avoiding any awkwardness in their future interactions.

"That was quick," Ileana remarked with some surprise.

Langston looked down with an indifferent expression. "The mall is just downstairs. A single phone call and they had everything ready for me. I just went to the elevator lobby to pick it up."

He then set the bags down in front of Adelina. "I'm not sure what brands you prefer, but these come highly recommended. Take them!"

Adelina didn't want to accept them, but Ileana chimed in, "Miss Howard, this is what you deserve, consider it a gift from Langston on my behalf. It would be disrespectful to me if you refuse. I don't want to remain in your debt."

With that said, Adelina could only respond with a reluctant, "Thank you."

"By the way, Miss Howard, would it be okay to add you on WhatsApp? You seem very capable, and if I hear of any suitable part-time opportunities, I would like to recommend you," Ileana offered while passing her WhatsApp QR code.

Adelina, thinking about the promise of part-time job references, scanned the QR code.

Seeing this, Langston, in front of Ileana, also extended his own QR code. "Add me as well. We've known each other for a while now, and I still don't have your WhatsApp."

By saying this, he was undoubtedly making it clear to his mother that his relationship with Adelina was not what others might imagine.

Ileana was indeed taken aback, pausing for a moment, but eventually, she didn't continue the topic.

After finishing lunch, Adelina got a ride back to the office with Langston, and Ileana drove off in her own car.

Reaching the underground parking lot, Adelina was about to get out of the car when she noticed the doors were still locked.

She looked at Langston quizzically.

Langston rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette, took a drag, and then suddenly started to explain, "Don't worry about what my mom said to you today. As for the late Miss Ward, she was my wife in the eyes of the law. But it was nothing more than a marriage certificate; we hadn't even met before we registered our marriage. The Moores and the Sutherlands were unaware of this, and out of various concerns, I never spoke up. That's why I willingly gave the Sutherland family 80 million dollars in compensation, to cover the funeral expenses for my deceased wife."

Adelina's eyes widened in shock.

She never imagined that Langston was not only married but also widowed.