st half an hourter, Sapphire Valley Estates
The family doctor had given Marguerite a thorough check–up Save for some bruising on her back, there was jeding Sifa threatening Margueritey weakly or the bed her thin shirt hatched up to reveal a bruise that was so deep it was aboost purple Fredenck sat by her side applying severalrge, rectangr sters to her back, like patches stitched onto her skin His cool fingertips gently brushed against her skin, causing his eyes to tighten and a wave of pain to flood his heart
“Why bearing it when it hurts?”
The marks on her weren’t just from today, there were also faint scars from when Yuna had kidnapped her
It was only then that Morguente realized Frederick had finished applying the unguent. She hurriedly pulled her shirt back down and sat up on the bed
Feeling somewhat awkward, she nced at Frederick. Seeing the time, she seized the opportunity to shoo him off. It’ste, you should go Yuna must be waiting
anxiously
Frederick’s eyes stayed on her unblinkingly “Since when did you be so concerned about others, Marguerite?”
Concerned about others? She <b>was </b>just stating facts.
Larlier <b>today</b>, when she was tricked by Yuna into delivering clothes to <b>Seaside </b>Manor, she saw Yuna’s suitcase
Yuna was finally living with the man she loved and Marguerite was sure she would want to do something special on their first night together
But here <b>was </b>her beloved man, spending his time with her. Wouldn’t Yuna be anxious?
Yet, despite it beingte into the night, there wasn’t a single phone call from Yuna
Marguente met Frederick’s gaze, about to say something, when she felt a slight movement in her belly <b>She </b>froze, not daring to move
Sensing that something was amiss, Frederick grew even more worried. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Marguerite ced a hand on her belly, feeling the movement for a moment before looking up at Frederick with joy. “I think the baby just moved
“Moved?”
She nodded quickly. “Yes! I think it’s kicking!”
<b>Suddenly</b>, driven by some unfathomable emotion, Frederick moved to kneel in front of her, leaning his <b>ear </b>against her belly
Marquente stiffened, wondering if Frederick knew what he was doing. This wasn’t his baby!
As she watched him, she saw a change in his normally <b>cold </b>demeanor His eyes were wide, and his gaze was filled with curiosity and anticipation for this unknown life
“I don’t feel it moving” He heard a couple of grumbling sounds and chuckled. “You’re just hungry. The baby is only a month along, it wouldn’t have legs to kick <b>you </b>with yet.”
Raising his sharp–featured face to wait for Marguerite’s <b>response</b>, he found her staring <b>back </b>at him with aplex expression
In a sh, he understood her bewilderment.
Damn it! This wasn’t his child! Why was he getting so excited?
His joy quickly faded. Frederick stood up and walked to the window, reaching into his pocket for his pack of cigarettes. But as he pulled it out, he stopped himself
Marguente watched him, her gaze growing increasinglyyered. After <b>a </b>long silence, she <b>asked </b>hesitantly. “When you said you wanted to be a stepfather, you were just saying that in anger, night?”
Frederick’s tall figure stiffened noticeably
He did want to provoke Powell, but no matter how angry he was, he wouldn’t use this thing to rile him up The fact that he’d blurted out that statement without thinking was something even he couldn’t understand
Marquente didn’t receive an answer from Frederick. All he said was, “Aren’t you hungry? Ill have Sadie bring up some food”
With that, he turned around and strode out of the room.