Penelope and Robert returned to the couch, their minds a whirl of distress. Robert, feeling downcast, grabbed a can of beer from the fridge and took a couple of hefty gulps.


    Fortunately, the soundproofing in the office was decent enough to keep Marguerite, who was working next door, from overhearing.


    He couldn’t help but wonder what Marguerite’s reaction would be once she discovered she was his sister. And what about Frederick? How would he


    react?


    Surely now there’d be no grounds for Frederick to suspect any impropriety between Robert and Marguerite? After all, it’s the most natural thing in the world to be good to your own sister!


    The shadow of Frederick crossed Robert’s mind, and suddenly, he remembered something of utmost importance, “Didn’t you and Jocelyn make a verbal promise back when Nina was born that you’d marry her off to Frederick when they grew up?”


    Robert had forgotten many things, but his sister’s affairs were etched in his memory with crystal rity.


    On the day of his sister’s birth, Jocelyn had visited the hospital. And since Robert and Frederick were like brothers, with a bond as tight as any family’s, their mother Penelope had suggested a childhood betrothal.


    When Robert heard the idea, he was over the moon. His beloved sister married to his best friend meant the three of them could be together forever, inseparable by anyone or anything.


    Childhood dreams are always pure and lovely, but who could have imagined that the very next day, his sister would vanish?


    After her disappearance, Frederick and Jocelyn were also driven out of the Winston family.


    The loss of his dearest sister and best friend was Robert’s first bitter taste of separation at the tender age of six. From then onwards, the incident became a hushed affair that no one dared speak of again.


    Penelope, sensing her son’s thoughts, prodded him on purpose, “What’s on your mind now?”


    Robert chuckled, “If Nina really is Marguerite, perhaps we should bring up the childhood engagement again?”


    With his matchmaking effortsbined with family support, there’s no way these two could miss their destiny!


    “The paternity test isn’t even done, and you’re already certain Marguerite is Nina?”


    “Who are you kidding? I bet you’re even more certain than I am!”


    He wasn’t wrong there. Penelope hoped more than anyone that Marguerite was her daughter!


    As Robert looked at Marguerite, thinking of all the hardships she had endured over the years, he felt a profound sense of loss, “Marguerite’s had a tough life growing up. Frederick mentioned that Zoe and Ablett weren’t kind to her. But who could be cruel to their own flesh and blood? That’s why I think Marguerite is Nina.”


    Penelope felt a surge ofpassion. How many hardships had her Nina faced. How many cold stares had she endured over the years? She wished she could take on all the suffering for her daughter.


    Lost in thought, Penelope too nced at Marguerite next door.


    There she was, still working diligently, her head bowed as she scribbled and asionally typed on herputer.


    Around her neck was the sapphire blue silk scarf Penelope had given her that morning, her entire being exuding an air of sereneposure.


    Yet, inexplicably, the more Penelope watched, the more her heart ached. Tears fell uncontrobly as emotions overwhelmed her. She had already begun to ept that Marguerite was indeed her own flesh and blood.