《Bride Behind The Mask Novel by Frederick》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 The room was a hot mess. A man and a woman were tangled up like a pair of intertwined snakes. Under the sunlight, their bodies were twisted tightly together. When Frederick Winston woke up, he found a woman snuggled into his arm, her face covered by her hair, making it hard to see her features. This woman shifted her neck slightly, murmuring in her sleep and unconsciously burrowed into his embrace. Frederick had a splitting headache and realized that the woman in his arms was naked. Her skin had a sexy glow under the sunlight that made his almond¨Cshaped eyes squint slightly. His eyebrows furrowed as he instinctively looked around. Then, he suddenly remembered all the things happenedst night. At thepany¡¯s anniversary celebration, he had drank quite much and crashed in his hotel room. In his half awake state, the woman wrapped herself around him. Their skin¨Cto¨Cskin contact filled the air with a steamy atmosphere. So, in a blurry haze, they did the deed. Turns out,st night wasn¡¯t just a dream, it was real. Frederick¡¯s expression darkened instantly. He rolled out of bed, hurriedly put on his clothes, his gaze swept over the bedsheet and then came to a sudden halt. The red stains on the bedsheet, like a blooming flower, caught his eye. To his surprise, she was a virgin. All of a sudden, he had an urge to see what the woman, whose virginity he took, looked like. Hisrge hand was about to brush away the hair obstructing her face, but he stopped just before touching her. This was just a one¨Cnight stand, no need to get hung up on it. After all, the women who wanted to sleep with him were only after his money and status. His hand moved towards the suit on the bed, and Frederick bolted from the room. But what he didn¡¯t know was that as he picked up his suit, a ne that had fallen from the woman¡¯s neck got caught on it. The ne was swept away along with his suit. Ten minutester, a Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan raced down the bustling streets. The CEO Frederick¡¯s assistant Chuck was respectfully reporting work, but Frederick seemed a bit distracted, his thoughts started to wander. He thought about the sweet scent he seemed to have smelledst night. He began to wonder if it was just his imagination. After all, he lost his sense of smell in a car ident three years ago. ¡°Mr. Winston, there¡¯s a resident on Cedarbrook Street that refuses to move. The demolition department is at a loss,¡± Chuck reported. ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± he asked, snapping back to reality. ¡°That family runs a casino, they are drowning in gambling debts. They think thepensation we offered for relocation is too low, so they are asking for more. If that plot ofnd isn¡¯t demolished, it will affect our uing bids,¡± Chuck exined. Frederick, sitting in the back seat, squinted his eyes and immediately gave an order, ¡°To Cedarbrook Street.¡± Chuck was surprised but quickly understood Frederick¡¯s intention. It appeared that Frederick was going to handle this matter personally. Soon, the driver changed direction, and the car started heading towards Cedarbrook Street. Just then, the suit draped over his shoulder began to vibrate. As Frederick reached into his pocket to find his phone, a pendant suddenly dropped onto the floor.. It was a ne with a stunning sapphire. The surface of the gem was carved with a floral pattern surrounded by a ring of tiny, dazzling diamonds. Frederick bent over to pick up the ne. His deep eyesnded on the sparkling gem, his pupils quivered. Was this ne hers? Was it her? The person he had been searching for over a decade, could it be the woman he spentst night with? Chuck looked at Frederick with a puzzled expression, ¡°Mr. Winston, this is¡­?¡± Frederick clutched the ne like a treasure, a small smile ying on his lips, ¡°Track down someone for me.¡± ¡°Who is it, Mr. Winston?¡± ¡°A woman.¡± Chuck¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°A woman?¡± What was going on here? Mr. Winston wanted to find a woman? This was shocking. It wasn¡¯t surprising that Chuck was surprised, after all, Frederick was a legendary figure in Stonebridge City. In the world of wealthy families, the family business is always inherited by the rightful heirs, no exceptions. But Frederick, being an illegitimate child, broke this tradition. In less than three years since he took over, he turned Stonebridge City¡¯s top wealthy family, the Winston Group, into the world¡¯s top business empire. The Winston Group was involved in many industries, not only globally renowned real estate but also a perfumepany. Its unique scent drove all women crazy. But the man in charge of the Winston Group, Frederick, has been single for 28 years. There were even rumors that he¡­ didn¡¯t like women. Chuck was stunned for a moment before he found his voice again, ¡°Mr. Winston, can you give me a search scope?¡± *Regal Haven Hotel, Room 1205. Between 11 PMst night and 10 AM this morning.¡± Regal Haven Hotel? Did Mr. Winston take that girl to the hotel? Chuck forced himself to calm down, his hand trembling as he pulled out his phone to immediately contact the person in charge of the Regal Haven Hotel Meanwhile, Frederickzily leaned back into thefortable seat, the ne clutched in his hand. The sapphire sparkled under the sunlight. The sternness in his eyes faded away, reced by endless tenderness. His mind was filled with the image of a little girl from fifteen years ago, who held a loaf of bread in her hands and saved him in the snow. He was only thirteen then, an illegitimate son of the Winston Group who was not acknowledged by the family, cruelly kicked out of the house along with his mother and dumped in the middle of nowhere. During those desperate times, if it weren¡¯t for the generous little girl, he and his mother would have starved to death. Now, he was the king of this city, and the only one he cared about was that little girl. He kept reying in his mind how the little girl had told him in her soft, childlike voice, ¡°Will you marry me when you grow up? This is my ne, remember what it looks like, so you can find me in the future!¡± He had to find her! He had promised to marry her since he was just a kid, and he was damn sure gonna make it happen! Chapter 2 Chapter 2 An hourter, the bus came to a slow halt at the corner of Cedarbrook Street. Marguerite Lockwood stepped off, her body aching all over. All she could see was a sight for sore eyes, broken bricks and tiles, thendscape looking deste. She walked down the alley, standing in front of the undamaged, conspicuous house, that was her home, and also a private casino. This once bustling ce had be quiet due to demolition and gambling debts. The decline of the family didn¡¯t make her feel too much regret, because she had a more important task to aplish. Marguerite took a deep breath, walked into the front door with traces on her body, and stood in the living room. ¡°Dad, Mom, I spent the night with Hanley as you requested. Can you help Granny and save her life?¡± she asked. Standing in front of her were her biological parents, but she had nothing but hatred for them. Twenty¨Ctwo years ago, Marguerite was born with her twin sister, Yuna Lockwood. She came out four minutester than Yuna, but it was precisely these four minutes that a so¨Ccalled fortune teller said her existence was ipatible with everyone in the family. Therefore, Marguerite was sent to her grandmother¡¯s house in the countryside by her parents less than a day after she was born, and they didn¡¯t even register her birth. But now, her grandmother was seriously ill, and she had nowhere to turn for help, so she had to , pointed at her, and said angrily, ¡°Marguerite, you have the nerve toe back! I asked you to apany Mr. Hanley, not to sleep with other men! Because of you, our family is bankrupt! What should we use to pay back these hefty gambling debts? You shameless bitch!¡± As she spoke, Zoe pped Marguerite again. Marguerite was toote to dodge and was hit by this p, her head was dizzy, touching her swollen face, she was stunned for a while. Didn¡¯t she apany Hanleyst night? Then who was the manst night? ¡°Dad, Mom,e out! Hanley is here! Mr. Hanley, let me go, this has nothing to do with me! It was all Marguerite¡¯s idea! You should go after her¡­. Suddenly, her sister Yuna¡¯s cry came from outside. Marguerite instinctively turned back and saw the big¨Cbellied old man in the front hall dragging Yuna angrily. She frowned. Is this Hanley? Marguerite felt a little flustered, and was suddenly pushed from behind, she wobbled and stopped in front of Hanley. The pleasing voice of her father, Ablett Lockwood, came immediately, ¡°Mr. Hanley, please don¡¯t be mad. You got it wrong, this is the woman who should have been with youst night, not Yuna!¡± Hanley looked at the two sisters who looked exactly the same, his eyes immediately lit up with interest. ¡°I don¡¯t care! I waited all nightst night, and no one showed up! Your family owes me 10 million, if you don¡¯t have money, sell your two daughters to me!¡± As he said, he pulled Marguerite over as well. ¡°Hanley, Marguerite and Yuna look very simr, so you don¡¯t need to have both. You can take Marguerite, but can you spare Yuna? She is our most beloved daughter! Please spare her!¡± Zoe almost knelt in front of Hanley to beg for mercy. Marguerite couldn¡¯t recover from the shock, she suddenly felt like a joke. Yuna is their daughter, what about her? Facing these two people who were eager to use her as a chip to pay off their debts, she could hardly believe they were her biological parents. How could they say such things? Love, it seems not worth mentioning to them! What they really cared about was her twin sister, Yuna! Looking at the nauseating fat man in front of her, Marguerite could hardly bear it. She didn¡¯t want to be sold to such a person as amodity! At this moment, she could only save herself! Marguerite wiped the tears from her face, gathered up the courage to break free from Hanley¡¯s arm, and turned and ran. ¡°Marguerite,e back! Don¡¯t make me clean up the mess for you! Bitch!¡± Yuna shouted at Marguerite¡¯s back, afraid that without Marguerite, she would be the unfortunate one serving Hanley, so she chased after her Meanwhile, a high end Cullinan car had slowly driven into the corner of Cedarbrook Street. Chuck quickly pulled out a surveince screenshot and handed it in front of Frederick, ¡°Mr. Winston, this is the surveince screenshot just sent by the hotel. The girl you are looking for should be her.¡± Frederick lowered his head to look at the screen, the girl in the screenshot had a beautiful face, big eyes, and looked a bit flustered. Her hair was not long, only to the corbone, but it revealed an attractive neck Fifteen years had passed, and this little girl was exactly like the erged version in his childhood memory. ¡°Mr. Winston, do you need me to order a citywide search for her?¡± Chuck asked, the Cullinan car was driving into a dpidated alley and stopped in front of a gambling den that was about to be demolished. A petite woman hurriedly escaped from the door, Frederick¡¯s gaze involuntarily fell on the woman, his eyes full of joy. ¡°Mr. Winston?¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I found her.¡± Frederick got out of the car and strode towards the woman with a full of momentum. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 By the time Yuna bolted out, Marguerite was already gone. She looked around and saw a hot guy approaching her- The guy was decked out in a ck and white striped suit, poker¨Cfaced, with a resilient aura in his features. Her eyes widened at his handsome face and she stood rooted to the ground, captivated. Suddenly, Hanley grabbed her wrist from behind and yanked her into his arms. ¡°Yuna, you¡¯re not getting away! You promised to be with mest night. Does your family really have 10 million to give me?¡± Yuna struggled, ¡°Mr. Hanley, I told you, it¡¯s none of my business. You should go find¡­¡± ¡°Pah! Your sister ran away, you think you can escape, too? We agreed it was you who would be with me! Where were youst night?¡± The one who should have been with Hanleyst night indeed was Yuna. But Zoe and Ablett couldn¡¯t stand their daughter being mistreated and came up with a n. Since Marguerite and Yuna looked identical, they decided to let the less favored Marguerite to take her ce. Who knew, Marguerite got the hotel rooms mixed up! ¡°Mr. Hanley, let me go!¡± Yuna struggled hard. The sight of this greasy man made her sick. But Hanley wouldn¡¯t listen and even nted a kiss on Yuna¡¯s face. Yuna was helpless, she could only scream, ¡°Hanley, don¡¯t touch me! Let¡¯s talk this out! Mom, Dad,e save me¡­¡± Suddenly, there was a loud thud. Hanley¡¯s head was struck and he fell to the ground. Yuna was stunned. She looked up at the handsome man in front of her, feeling extremely nervous. Oh my God, he¡¯s so handsome! So strong! She was about to lose her bnce, Chuck quickly stepped forward to steady her, ¡°Miss, are Yuna mechanically shook her head, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± you okay?¡± Chuck nced at Frederick, then asked, ¡°Miss, were you in room 1205 of Regal Haven Hotelst night?¡± Last night? It was Marguerite who went to the Regal Haven Hotelst night! Could it be, the man Marguerite was with, is this man? Before she could respond, Hanley on the ground started cursing, You sneaky Yuna, I knew there was a reason you didn¡¯t showst night. You found yourself a new sugar daddy!¡± A cold glint shed across Frederick¡¯s eyes. The woman fromst night, it was indeed her. But what¡¯s her rtionship with the man on the ground? Why was she supposed to be with him? Frederick nced at Chuck, who stepped forward and stomped on Hanley¡¯s face. ¡°Shut up! How dare you disrespect Mr. Winston!¡± Mr. Winston? Who else could it be, but the highly capable and influential Frederick, who would dare to call himself ¡°Mr. Winston¡± in the whole of Stonebridge City? So, the man in front of her was¡­ was¡­ This shocking realization made Yuna feel a mix of shock and envy. Damn Marguerite, how on earth did she manage to sleep with Frederick? Seeing Yuna¡¯s shocked expression, Frederick calmly took out the sapphire ne from his pocket and asked her, ¡°Is this ne yours?¡± Yuna recognized it as Marguerite¡¯s ne at a nce, but she wasn¡¯t sure if she should admit it. After all, Marguerite got involved with Frederick out of nowhere. For someone of his status, he must hate being used by women. He must be furious right now, right? If she admitted it, would his anger blow over to her? Yuna felt torn. Zoe quickly came to her senses, snatched the ne and said, ¡°Sir, this is indeed Yuna¡¯s. She¡¯s been wearing it for 22 years! I thought she lost it, turns out it¡¯s with you.¡± Frederick looked up at Yuna, ¡°Do you remember who I am?¡± Yuna looked confused, ¡°Aren¡¯t you Mr. Winston, Frederick?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about that.¡± Frederick frowned, ¡°Do you remember, 15 years ago, you gave me a piece of bread. You saved me, do you remember that?¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Yuna stared at him in surprise. That was something Marguerite did, how could she possibly remember. ¡°Sir!¡± Seeing this, Zoe quickly stepped in, ¡°The thing is, Yuna had a high fever when she was a kid and she forgot a lot of things.¡± She forgot? The man¡¯s deep gaze was fixed on her, his handsome eyebrows slightly knitted. That¡¯s okay. Even if she had forgotten him, as long as he still remembered, that was enough. Frederick thought to himself and stepped closer to Yuna. She was enveloped in his shadow, looking up at his handsome face. Yuna¡¯s eyes widened, once again captivated by Frederick¡¯s handsome face. Frederick seemed to be in deep thought, he leaned in a little and subconsciously sniffed Yuna. Surprisingly, the faint scent fromst night was not on her. It seemed, he must have been drunkst night and got it wrong. He Had lost his sense of smell years ago, how could he have sniffed it out so easily? After a long silence, he suddenly spoke, ¡°Bring your ID,e with me.¡± Yuna was baffled, ¡°What?¡± Chuck immediately pushed Yuna towards Frederick, ¡°Miss, Mr. Winston wants to register for marriage with you, go get your ID, you two are going to register for marriage today!¡± Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. Marguerite walked out of the doctor¡¯s office, She learned that her grandmother¡¯s condition had worsened, but she didn¡¯t have a dime. She had just finished her university course, majoring in perfume development. Although her grades were top of her ss, she couldn¡¯t get her diploma because she didn¡¯t have sufficient identification documents, which resulted in her not even getting an interview when looking for a job.¡± With no other choice, she had to anonymously send the perfume she designed to various perfume designpanies, hoping to get a chance to prove herself. This included the globally renowned fragrancepany ¨C LuxeScents International. But Marguerite knew that a big namepany like LuxeSc¨¨nts International would never hire her. E Even at the recent perfume designpetition, the samples she sent were probably thrown straight into the trash. She let out a sigh and instinctively pulled out her phone, checking for any interview invitations. But there were none. She sat helplessly on the cold bench of the hospital corridor, penniless, jobless, lost, and utterly desperate. She didn¡¯t understand why her parents treated her this way. Was it just because of what the fortune teller said? Even so, they shouldn¡¯t ignore their own mother! To save her grandmother, she even slept with a stranger. And pathetically, she got the wrong man! Recalling the events ofst night, Marguerite thought it was too crazy and absurd. Because of the darkness, Marguerite didn¡¯t really see the man¡¯s face. She shook her head, not willing to recall such a humiliating night again. Her priority now was to find a way to raise money for her grandmother¡¯s treatment. Just then, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. [I can save your grandmother.] Marguerite was stunned. Possibly because of her desperation to save her grandmother, she didn¡¯t consider if it was a scam and called the number without thinking, ¡°Who are you?¡± The voice on the other end was metallic and processed, making it hard to tell if it was a man or a woman, ¡°Who I am is not important, what¡¯s important is, I can save your grandmother.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch. You won¡¯t help me for no reason,¡± Marguerite responded. The person on the other end chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re a smart girl. I do need your help.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I need you to marry someone.¡± Marguerite paused, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Frederick.¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 To save her grandma, Marguerite was willing to pay a huge price. She would do anything. But getting married was hard for her. She hesitated, ¡°I don¡¯t have enough identification.¡°¨C ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of it for you,¡± the voice on the other end said ¡°My guy is waiting for you at the hospital entrance. Thest two digits of the license te are 25 Come down now.¡± Marguerite hung up the phone, her mind foggy. With just a few words, had she entrusted her life to a stranger? But who was this Frederick? Why was he so keen on marrying her? Marguerite was puzzled. But she couldn¡¯t afford to ponder these questions. Her grandma¡¯s life was at stake. She took onest look at her unconscious grandma in the hospital room, then made up her mind and left. But just as she was about to step out, Zoe and Ablett appeared in front of her, blocking her way. Marguerite¡¯s heart leapt. ¡°Mom, Dad, have you decided to save grandma?¡± If Zoe and Ablett were willing to save grandma, she wouldn¡¯t have to marry this stranger called Frederick. But Zoe pped Marguerite across the face. The burning pain seared across her cheek. ¡°Dream on! Do you know that Yuna was almost taken away by Hanley because of you? You should be with Hanley, not causing us trouble, you wretch! Put this mask on!¡± Zoe tossed a human¨Cskin mask at Marguerite. Marguerite was fuming, her heart filled with both hatred and pain. ¡°Mom, Hanley¡¯s debt is yours, not mine. Why should I wear this mask?¡± Ablett picked up the mask and handed it back to Marguerite. ¡°From now on, the Lockwood family only has one daughter, Yuna. You shouldn¡¯t look like her. Wherever she is, you can¡¯t be.¡± At home, Zoe and Ablett had guessed thatst night, Marguerite might have mistakenly entered the room and confused Frederick for Hanley. That was why that incident happened. So, the person Frederick wanted to marry was actually Marguerite, not Yuna. To keep this secret from being discovered, Marguerite had to wear the mask and never let Frederick find out about the truth. Marguerite, clutching her aching face, looked at her parents in disbelief, crying out, ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯m your daughter too. Why are you treating me like this?¡± ¡°Ha! I don¡¯t have a daughter like you! If it weren¡¯t for your inauspicious birth, would our casino business be in decline? Your face is mine to control, I have the right to make you wear this mask!¡± Zoe¡¯s eyes were bulging out of their sockets. Marguerite, having cried herself out, feltpletely dead inside. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to?¡± Zoe pushed Marguerite aside, walked straight to her grandma¡¯s bed, and swiftly reached for the respirator. ¡°Then I¡¯ll pull out your grandma¡¯s breathing tube right now! If you don¡¯t wear the mask, your grandma¡¯s death will be on your hands!¡± Hearing this, Marguerite¡¯s mind went nk, as if she had been struck by lightning. ¡°Mom, that¡¯s my grandma, your mother¨Cinw. How could you do such a thing?¡± Marguerite asked Ablett anxiously, ¡°Dad, she¡¯s your mother. Why are you doing nothing?¡± Ablett pressed down on Marguerite¡¯s shoulder, angrily retorting, ¡°You heartless girl, if you don¡¯t wear the mask, you¡¯ll be the one who kills your grandma!¡± Marguerite felt weak, her worldview shattered. These two people were not human, they were demons! How could the world be so cold and ruthless! ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯ll count to three. If you don¡¯t put it on, I¡¯ll pull the tube!¡± Zoe arrogantly lifted her chin, her eyes threatening, ¡°One¡­two¡­three¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wear it!¡± Marguerite¡¯s voice was filled with despair and sorrow. With trembling hands, she put on the lifelike mask. The two of them left triumphantly. Marguerite, drained, stumbled to her grandma¡¯s side. Looking at her sleeping face, tears rolled down her cheeks. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t protect you. Please wait for me, wait for me to find a way to cure your illness. Then we can leave this city forever.¡± Wiping away her tears, Marguerite hurried downstairs and found the luxurious car mentioned in the mysterious phone call. But as soon as she sat in the back seat, before even getting a good look at the driver, she suddenly passed out. Half an hourter, in the registry office. Frederick had already filled out the paperwork with Yuna. They were waiting for the staff to review it, then they could register their marriage. Yuna felt like she was in a dream,pletely unable to believe what was happening. The man beside her was the king of the city! And she was about to be the wife of the king, to enjoy a life of luxury. For a moment, she felt it all too surreal. Would Marguerite be insanely jealous if she knew? Just as Yuna was basking in her triumph, an unexpected voice shattered her fantasy, ¡°Mr. Winston, you can¡¯t marry Ms. Lockwood.¡± Frederick furrowed his brow, ¡°Why not?¡± The staff member swallowed nervously, ¡°Because our system shows you¡¯re already married.¡± Already married? Frederick was stunned, an aura of terror radiating from him. But the most shocked of all was Yuna. How could Frederick be married? He was the city¡¯s most eligible bachelor! ¡°Did you make a mistake?¡± Yuna asked anxiously. The staff member looked embarrassed, ¡°The system shows this result. There can¡¯t be a mistake.¡± Soon after, Chuck rushed in, his face covered in sweat. ¡°Bad news, Mr. Winston! Sadie just called saying there¡¯s a passed¨Cout woman at the back door. She¡¯s clutching some marriage papers, and your name¡¯s on it.¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Hearing the news, Frederick¡¯s face turned icy in an instant, his eyes as cold and dangerous as a cheetah lurking in the woods. turne A fainted woman? Boy, was he pissed! Who the hell had the nerve to set him up like this? ¡°Mr. Winston¡­.¡± Yuna¡¯s frail voice rang out, her eyes filled with hurt that would make anyone¡¯s heart ache, ¡°You¡¯re married now¡­ can I still be your wife¡­?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze became indifferent, but when he looked at Yuna, his eyes were warm. Hisrge hand rested on her shoulder, gentlyforting her. ¡°I promised to marry you. The only woman to be my wife will be you. Wait for me to sort things out, then I¡¯lle for you. Go home and wait for me.¡± Yuna was ecstatic, ¡°Ok, no matter how long, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± So, Mr. Winston did love her, right? His voice was sb tender, his gaze so affectionate. Then, Frederick dug out a ne from his pocket, looped it around Yuna¡¯s neck, and gently put it on her. ¡°Don¡¯t lose this ne again. I¡¯ve been looking for you for a long time.¡± Yuna¡¯s face changed instantly. She knew that Frederick married her because of this ne, the real owner of which was Marguerite. She was filled with jealousy! If she was the one who went to Regal Haven Hotelst night, she could have been with Mr. Winston, and then he would surely love her. But it was toote to say all these now. However, since Marguerite had changed her appearance and was unrecognizable, as long as she didn¡¯t return this ne, she could still enjoy Mr. Winston¡¯s affection. ¡°Call a car for Yuna. Send her home.¡± Frederick said to his secretary. ¡°Yes.¡± After sending Yuna away, Frederick¡¯s gaze sharpened. He was going to find out who this woman he married really was! Sapphire Valley Estates. Two rows of servants stood neatly on the stone steps in front of the estate, bowing to the expensive Cullinan vehicle, ¡°Wee home, Mr. Winston.¡± Frederick alighted from the back seat, his aura so powerful it seemed like he was born to rule,. The housemaid Sadie stepped forward, ¡°Mr. Winston, thedy just woke up, she¡¯s a bit¡­ She¡¯s lying in¡­ your room.¡± Frederick exuded an oppressive air as he strode towards the mansion, then suddenly stopped, ¡°My room?¡± Sadie lowered her head timidly, ¡°Mr. Winston, thedy was holding your marriage certificate. I¡­ I didn¡¯t dare to be negligent¡­¡± This statement seemed to hit a nerve in Frederick, he gritted his teeth, his gaze fiery, ¡°How did she get in?¡± Sapphire Valley Estates was known for its tight security, with the top¨Cnotch security system worldwide. Not even a fly could get in. So, how did this woman manage to bypass the stringent security system and appear at the back door unscathed? Chuck and Sadie followed closely behind, with Sadie hurriedly reporting to Frederick. ¡°Mr. Winston, we¡¯re not sure. I checked the surveince, but the footage from two hours ago was deleted. We don¡¯t know who did it.¡± They had reached the master bedroom by the end of their conversation. Frederick pushed open the door, the petite woman on the bed was drowsily leaning against the headboard. This was the brightest time of the day, tiny spots of light fell on the woman¡¯s thin body. The early spring temperature was still a bit chilly, but she was only wearing a washed¨Cout grey sweatshirt, her soft hair only reaching down to her corbone. Her features were not striking, they could even be considered ordinary. But her eyes were sparkling with vitality, making her look like a cute doll. Marguerite turned her head to see the neer, and froze. This was her husband, Frederick? He had deep, captivating features, a tear mole under his narrow eyes, adding a hint of mystery and sexiness to his noble demeanor. The man walked over, but his pent¨Cup anger couldn¡¯t burst out the moment he saw the woman¡¯s eyes. This woman, she gave him a natural sense of familiarity and warmth. ¡°How did you get in?¡± Marguerite replied frankly, ¡°I have no clue, I just woke up here.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡°I¡¯m, well, your wife now.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes were pure, sincere, and showed a steadfast calm and tolerance. Frederick stared at the woman, trying to break down her defenses with his strong aura. However, his efforts were in vain. He was meeting this woman for the first time, so why couldn¡¯t he get mad at her? So, he could only treat her coldly, making his expression look even more fierce, ¡°You¡¯re not my wife.¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t argue, instead, she spread out the marriage documents in her hand, ¡°Our names and identities are written here. You¡¯re Frederick, right?¡± At those words, Sadie, Chuck, and all the servants in the room held their breaths. This woman, she really didn¡¯t know her ce. She dared to call Frederick by his name? Everyone took a step back, waiting for Frederick¡¯s¡¯explosion. However, contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations, the anticipated storm didn¡¯t arrive. What on earth was going on? Facing the powerful Frederick, Marguerite showed no fear. She calmly exined, ¡°I really don¡¯t know how I ended up marrying you. I passed out at the hospital while taking care of a rtive. When I woke up, I was here. As for this document, I¡¯m just as clueless.¡± Marguerite wasn¡¯t lying. Since the moment she got into the car, she was unconscious. When she woke up, she was already in the guest room, with this document next to her. She was utterly puzzled because she had no memory of ever going to the registrar¡¯s office. And the photo on the marriage certificate wasn¡¯t actually her. It was her with a mask on. This was just too strange, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb, I¡¯m not buying it.¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was still filled with dissatisfaction. Marguerite¡¯s¨Ceyes weren¡¯t deliberately wide open, but her eyes wererge, so it looked like she had an innocent expression, ¡°I¡¯m not ying dumb, this is really what happened.¡± Frederick was rendered speechless. He was a man of action, but at this moment, he felt helpless. ¡°You¡¯re not lying?¡± ¡°No.¡± Seeing that this woman was even more tight¨Clipped than he was, and didn¡¯t argue, his hostility towards her gradually faded. He took the marriage certificate from her hand, looked it over carefully, and then looked up at her, ¡°You¡¯re Marguerite?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Get up ande with me.¡± Marguerite was taken aback, ¡°Where to?¡± Frederick nced at his wristwatch, and said tly, ¡°We¡¯re getting divorced.¡± Divorce? They were getting divorced already? She hadn¡¯t even figured out what was going on yet! And the mysterious person who had called her hadn¡¯t shown up yet. If they got divorced this quickly, would that mysterious person stille to save her grandmother? Marguerite sat on the bed motionless, Frederick¡¯s gaze conveying a hint of impatience, ¡°Get up, don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡± Marguerite quickly thought about how to temporarily appease this man. She¡¯s not unwilling to get divorced, it¡¯s just that the mysterious person hadn¡¯t messaged her yet, so she couldn¡¯t make a hasty decision. Not long after, Chuck suddenly remembered something, smacked his forehead, ¡°Mr. Winston, you can¡¯t divorce Ms. Lockwood right now.¡± Frederick¡¯s brow furrowed, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to cut a piece of flesh from him, ¡°Are you asking for trouble?¡± Chuck quickly waved his hands, hastily exining, ¡°Mr. Winston, please calm down. A month ago, Stonebridge City issued a new marriagew, now there¡¯s a three¨Cmonth cooling¨Coff period for divorces. So you and Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to wait until three monthster to get divorced.¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Frederick watched Marguerite, his deep eyes flickering with a cold light, his gaze colder than ever. They can¡¯t divorce within three months? Upon hearing the news, Frederick couldn¡¯t hide his anger anymore. He opened his lips and snapped at the woman in front of him, ¡°So, this is your n?¡± How bloody convenient! He¡¯d just walked into the registry office with Yuna, and this woman named Marguerite swooped in like a bolt of lightning, somehow managing to be his wife in name first. What the hell was this woman ying at? Marguerite looked at him nkly, her clear eyes filled with innocence, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Frederick coldly stared at her, his rebellious eyes like a fierce bird of prey, ¡°You¡¯ve nned it well, bing my wife for three months. Thinking you¡¯ll get a cut of my wealth once we divorce? Dream on!¡± Wealth? Rich¨Cfolks always have the weirdest thinking. Just because they¡¯re loaded, they think everyone wants to get something from them? She just wanted to save her grandma¡¯s life. She married a stranger she didn¡¯t love, so she was a victim too. Marguerite clenched her fists in anger at his insult. She straightened her back and her gaze hardened, ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I don¡¯t know you, and I don¡¯t give a damn about your money.¡± The manughed, his slightly upturned mouth revealing his white teeth, ¡°I¡¯ve seen plenty of gold¨Cdiggers, but you¡¯re the first to be so calcting.¡± Marguerite blushed furiously at his insult and was momentarily speechless. To save her grandma, she¡¯d be the wife of this man in front of her, under the instructions of a mysterious person. That was her biggest scheme. So, this man wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. The room fell into silence, with the servants keeping quiet. The housekeeper, Sadie, watched Marguerite¡¯s expression closely, feeling there was some misunderstanding. This girl, dressed simply, thin as a stick. But her delicate hands looked pitiful, and her pale face was heartbreaking. She was obviously a poor girl, but her eyes were resolute and bright, nothing like what Frederick described. Sadie stepped forward, asking softly, ¡°Miss, are you in some kind of trouble? You can talk to us, Frederick isn¡¯t heartless.¡± In trouble? Her only trouble was her grandma, but she couldn¡¯t say that. Marguerite threw off the covers and got out of bed, ¡°I¡¯m not in any trouble, and I¡¯m just as confused about this marriage. So, I can¡¯t answer any more questions. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Since she¡¯d already married Frederick and current marriagews meant she couldn¡¯t divorce him straight away. The mysterious person had only asked her to marry Frederick, but made no further demands. She didn¡¯t want to stick around to hear him spout more insults at her. Marguerite didn¡¯t even look at Frederick, so indifferent she didn¡¯t even flicker an eysh, she walked straight towards the door. Frederick¡¯s brow creased, and he said coldly, ¡°Stop right there.¡± Marguerite turned around in surprise, her clear eyes conveying an indefinable message. ¡°You think you cane and go as you please? It¡¯s not that simple.¡± Frederick turned to Sadie, continuing to give orders, ¡°Take her to the guest room, she can¡¯t leave without my permission.¡± Frederick hated being deceived. How could he possibly let this woman leave without finding out the truth about her? Chuck quickly gathered all the information on Marguerite and rushed to the study to report, holding a file. At that moment, Frederick was standing in front of the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, agitatedly smoking a cigar. Behind the swirling smoke, his stern face full of authority. ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite¡¯s information is very clear. She has no parents, no rtives, she¡¯s listed as ¡®illiterate¡®, likely an orphan.¡± Frederick turned around. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Chuck nodded mechanically, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all.¡± The man took a puff, the lit end of the cigar illuminating his sharp face, and a slight smile curled his lips, ¡°Illiterate? She speaks fluently, she¡¯s no illiterate.¡± Chuck nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, I always felt Marguerite seemed rather aloof.¡± Frederick scoffed, ¡°Aloof? She¡¯s more like a poor girl trying to scam some money. Because she¡¯s poor, she¡¯s always scheming to get money. She thinks she can deceive me? Dream on!¡± Chuck thought for a moment then asked, ¡°Mr. Winston, we¡¯ve checked all of Marguerite¡¯s information, should we let her go?¡± Frederick stubbed out his cigar and walked out of the study with his hands in his pockets, ¡°Let her go. The further away she gets, the better. Before the divorce in three months, I don¡¯t want to see her again.¡± ¡°Understood! Chuck carried out his boss¡® orders, quickly removing all the bodyguards outside Marguerite¡¯s room. But considering the time and how far Sapphire Valley Estates was from the city, Chuck didn¡¯t ask Marguerite to leave immediately. As the night deepened, the grand Sapphire Valley Estates was illuminated by the bright moonlight. Everyone was fast asleep, except for Marguerite. Because she suddenly realized that her precious sapphire ne was missing! Marguerite thought about all the ces she¡¯d been today. It seemed that the ne had been missing since she left Frederick¡¯s room. Could the ne be in his room? She¡¯d been wearing this ne for twenty¨Ctwo years, never taking it off. The ne was the only thing her grandma left her, she had to find it! Marguerite thought about it, checked the time on her phone, figuring that Frederick should be asleep by now. Without thinking further, she quietly made her way to his room. The door wasn¡¯t locked and was half open. Marguerite, in her haste, walked straight to Frederick¡¯s bedside. She spent the afternoon lounging on his bed, her ne probably got left behind somewhere near the pillow. Under the moonlight, she caught a glimpse of Frederick¡¯s handsome face. She was so close to him, her entire face surrounded by his gentle breath. Was it guilt, or was it his overwhelming presence that made Marguerite nervous? Her heart started to race. Her heart was beating so fast. She was under immense pressure, and her heart was about to leap out of her mouth in fear that Frederick might suddenly wake up. Then, the next second, the bedsidemp suddenly lit up. The sudden bright light made Marguerite instinctively shut her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw the man in front of her staring at her. Frederick¡¯s cold face left Marguerite momentarily stunned. She nervously opened her mouth, without knowing how to exin her action, so she instinctively wanting to flee. But the man held her wrist tightly, pulling her to his side, and with a quick tug, Marguerite lost her bnce and fell into the man¡¯s chest. The strong impact made her dizzy, and the man quickly turned over, pinning her beneath him.. Everything happened so fast, Marguerite didn¡¯t even have time to react, but she remembered every detail clearly. What the hell is he nning to do? Marguerite was in aplete state of panic, ¡°What¡­what are you doing?¡± she asked. Frederick held her tightly, his eyes were shing with anger, ¡°That¡¯s what I should be asking you, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why did youe to my room in the middle of the night, were you trying to seduce me?¡± ¡°No, not at all¡­¡± Marguerite rushed to exin, her face flushed with panic, ¡°¡­I think I left something here, a ne.¡± ¡°What ne?¡± The atmosphere was filled with ambiguity and tension. Marguerite bit her lower lip, her big eyes staring straight at him. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Marguerite¡¯s eyes were wide and bright, filled with panic. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ just a piece of jewelry I¡¯ve worn since I was a kid.¡± Frederick looked at the woman beneath him, obviously terrified. His anger was somehow mysteriously fading away. Why? He hated being used by women the most, and Margueriteing to his bed in the middle of the night clearly had an ulterior motive. But he just couldn¡¯t unleash all his anger towards her, It was like this in the afternoon, and it¡¯s the same now. Frederick felt helpless and could only sternly warn her, ¡°Don¡¯t take me for a fool. If you step out of line again, I¡¯ll make you wish you were dead.¡± The man was intimidating. His hawk¨Clike eyes alone were enough to make her tremble uncontrobly. Frederick looked at her, his gaze suddenly turning cold and stern. ¡°Do you understand?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Marguerite was felling uneasy under his gaze. Frederick noticed this and wanted to let her go.. But just as he was about to let go of her, her faint voice came pleading, ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, can you¡­ let me search a little longer? Frederick was speechless. Did he not make himself clear, or was this woman just too cheeky? But Marguerite¡¯s eyes were sincere, her tone urgent. ¡°That ne means a lot to me.¡± Frederick¡¯s face slightly changed, his grip on her wrist suddenly tightened. The sudden force made Marguerite tense. She knew she had said too much, but she had to find that ne. She had no choice but to negotiate with Frederick. He just stared at her in silence. Marguerite bit her lip and pleaded weakly, ¡°I beg you.¡± I beg you¡­ Frederick¡¯s heart was touched by Marguerite¡¯s soft voice, like a beautiful melody resonating in his heart. Unexpectedly, he recalled their one¨Cnight stand from the previous night. In the dark, Yuna had also pleaded with him in such a tone. How could he feel the same way with Marguerite? And the sudden rise in body temperature made him realize something was off with his body. Frederick was annoyed and released Marguerite, his gaze carrying a hint of unease. ¡°You have one minute.¡± He left her side, walked to the balcony, and lit up a cigar, taking a few puffs moodily. When he sneakily looked at Marguerite, she was already searching frantically. She flipped the pillows and the covers, but found nothing. Her face, full of anxiety, was covered with freckles. Her eyebrows were a mess, her nose wide and thick, and she had pimples and e scars. She was too ugly to look at. But her eyes were round and bright, as if they were finely carved, mesmerizing. Frederick suddenly realized, with her bright eyes, this woman didn¡¯t seem so unattractive. As Frederick smoked his cigar, he suddenly got up and walked into the room, his tall figure surrounding the frail Marguerite. ¡°Your minute is up. Get out now.¡± The man holding the cigar was very charming, but faced with hismand to leave, all Marguerite could feel was disappointment. Marguerite didn¡¯t find her ne in Frederick¡¯s room. So where was the ne? How could it suddenly disappear? Marguerite said ¡°sorry¡°, and as she was preparing to leave the room, she suddenly turned back and said, ¡°Sir, if you find my ne, please return it to me. This ne is¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing you¡¯re looking for here,¡± Frederick coldly cut her off. ¡°Get out.¡± The man¡¯s patience had worn thin, and his anger began to show. Seeing this, Marguerite could only leave silently. Frederick continued smoking his cigar. After taking a puff, he felt his heart in a mess, so he put out the cigar and walked into the bathroom. He did not expect Marguerite to make him lose control, his body reacting, needing a shower to calm his physical desires. The next morning. Marguerite rushed downstairs after waking up. As she passed the dining room, she saw the chef preparing avish breakfast. The housekeeper invited her to eat before leaving, but Marguerite seemed at a loss. She had never seen such luxurious food in her life, with the food artistically arranged, looking very extravagant. She was a simple, ordinary person who didn¡¯t fit in this environment, Chapter 9 Marguerite turned around and looked up to see Frederick in his loose ck robe, looking down at her like a king. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Marguerite asked, her tone icy. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed to be my wife, but I hope you understand, a woman like you will never have any rtion with me. So, three months from now, I hope you can divorce me on time.¡± What¡¯s her status? What kind of status does she have? Marguerite couldn¡¯t stand Frederick¡¯s high and mighty attitude. Did he think he was a king just because he had some money? Compared to Frederick, they were indeed from different worlds. But even though she was of low status, she didn¡¯t belittle herself. So, she straightened up and said fearlessly, ¡°Mr. Winston, I believe neither of us wants to have any rtion with the other. Goodbye.¡± With that, Marguerite left Frederick with a thin but proud back. Marguerite¡¯s indifference made Frederick¡¯s face darken, his mood bing more irritable. Who did she think she was, acting all high and mighty? She was so brazen to sneak into his roomst night. What a pretentious woman. Marguerite left Sapphire Valley Estates and walked a long way to find a bus stop. She hadpleted the task given by the mysterious person, and now the most important thing was to go to the hospital to see if her grandmother had started treatment. She soon arrived at Stonebridge Memorial Hospital and ran into a nurse as she entered the ward. The nurse looked at Marguerite and asked, ¡°Are you a rtive of Laverne?¡± Marguerite nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Her condition is very serious, and she missed the best treatment time. She¡¯s been unconscious. The subsequent treatment will take a long time, prepare yourself.¡± Marguerite turned pale at the news and cautiously asked, ¡°About the treatment cost¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the cost, someone has already paid for it.¡± The mysterious person had kept the promise, and the heavy burden in Marguerite¡¯s heart was finally lifted. E But who was this mysterious person? Just because she married Frederick, this person helped to pay for her grandmother¡¯s treatment? Marguerite thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t figure out the answer. ¡°Miss, do you know who paid for us?¡± The nurse shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t have the right to ask.¡± Marguerite gave up asking. This mysterious person was so secretive that even Marguerite didn¡¯t know who he or she was, let alone letting others know this person¡¯s existence. Marguerite could only wait for this mysterious person to contact her. Marguerite didn¡¯t chat with the nurse anymore but turned around and walked into the ward, sitting by the bed to massage Laverne¡¯s hands and feet. Laverne¡¯s condition was getting worse. If she didn¡¯t move her hands and feet, her muscles would atrophy. Marguerite was busy and sweaty¨Cwhen a sharp and harsh voice came, ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re here indeed!¡± Marguerite looked back, and it was Yuna! Marguerite withdrew her gaze and continued to massage Laverne. Yuna was not in a hurry. After all, she had climbed onto Frederick, a man of great wealth, and was about to be the mistress of the Winston family. She was full of pride and couldn¡¯t wait to show off to Marguerite. ¡°Do you hate me that much?¡± Yuna walked in with her high heels, her steps heavy and annoying. ¡°I guess so. Mom and dad gave me all the love, and you must be pissed off. But you can¡¯t me others. If you have to me someone, you can only me yourself for being unlucky. You bankrupted our casino, this is your retribution!¡± Marguerite¡¯s hand suddenly stopped, and she looked up at her coldly. ¡°Are you done? If so, please leave.¡± Yuna looked at Marguerite¡¯s masked face and became more arrogant, ¡°This mask really suits you. You¡¯re such a despicable woman, you don¡¯t deserve to have the same face as me. You¡¯re such a bitch!¡± Marguerite was shaking with anger, she straightened up and looked down on her, ¡°What on earth do you want?¡± Although they were twins and looked very simr, there were some subtle differences. Marguerite was slightly taller and her eyes were bigger and brighter. Back when their parents took Yuna to the countryside to visit Laverine, many vigers praised Marguerite for being more beautiful than her. Since then, Yuna had been jealous of Marguerite. No matter what Marguerite did, Yuna always wanted topete with her. ¡°What can I do? As your sister, of course, I have to share my good news with you!¡± Yuna was very proud just thinking about it, ¡°I¡¯m getting married.¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t react much, just said an ¡°oh¡°, and then turned around to continue massaging her grandmother. Getting married? Marguerite thought, ¡°The man who wants to marry Yuna is really unlucky!¡± ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m going to change my fate. I¡¯m going to marry into a wealthy family, be a rich wife, and enjoy endless wealth and luxury for the rest of my life! The gap between us will only get bigger, and you can continue to be your beggar in the trash heap!¡± Hearing this, Marguerite couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Marguerite¡¯s reaction was not the envy and jealousy she had imagined, but a mockingugh. Yuna was immediately taken aback. ¡°Did I hear you right? You said you¡¯re going to marry into a rich family?¡± Yuna raised her chin proudly, ¡°Of course.¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes wandered over her clothes, looking her up and down, ¡°Are you sure they¡¯re willing to give you a proper status?¡± What do you mean?¡± Margueriteughed, ¡°If he was really willing to give you a legit status, howe you¡¯re still dressed like a hobo?¡± Marguerite might not have ever mingled with the real high society, but she knew that rich folks should dress like Frederick. Like the ck robe he wore this morning, she could tell it was expensive just by looking at it. Wait, why was she thinking about that guy she despised so much? She must have gone crazy. Marguerite shook her head, while Yuna behind her was so furious at her words that her face turned red, and she screeched: ¡°It¡¯s all your fault that I¡¯m dressed like this! If it wasn¡¯t for you driving our family to the brink of ruin, would we be too broke to buy me designer clothes? Marguerite, I should be grateful to you, my fianc¨¦ is loaded and powerful!¡± Why on earth would Yuna thank her? Marguerite paused, turned around and looked at her, her face filled with puzzlement. Finally seeing a hint of surprise on Marguerite¡¯s face, Yuna, in her high heels, burst outughing, ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t you want to know who I¡¯m about to marry?¡± Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°Yuna is getting hitched, but what¡¯s that got to do with me? Do I even share any mutual friends with Yuna?¡± Marguerite pondered, then a thought struck her. Could Yuna¡¯s fianc¨¦ be Hanley? That greasy, pudgy guy! You gotta admit, Yuna and Hanley are a match made in heaven. They are both trash! At that thought, Marguerite chuckled softly, looking at Yuna with amusement, ¡°Sorry, I got zero interest in your love life.¡± Yuna had put in so much effort to get a rise out of Marguerite, but Marguerite wasn¡¯t taking the bait. It was like Yuna was shooting herself in the foot. She ground her teeth in frustration, nearly bursting with anger, ¡°Marguerite, let me tell you, my husband is¡­¡± ¡°Yuna!¡± Marguerite cut her off sharply, ¡°You¡¯re engaged, not married. You sure the end game will y out like you nned?¡± Yuna was left speechless, her mind a nk canvas. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d stick with him till the end. Not like you, unting around before anything¡¯s set in stone. If things don¡¯t work out, you will be embarrassing yourself.¡± Yuna failed to achieve her goal, and her hatred for Marguerite grew. But she took Marguerite¡¯s words to heart. Frederick had indeed proposed, but something or someone had messed up the final step, leaving her in a state of limbo. A day had passed, and Frederick hadn¡¯t reached out to her. She didn¡¯t have his number, so if he backed out, she wouldn¡¯t know where to find him. She had to get her dad to find out Frederick¡¯spany address, and get some answers. Yuna snapped back to reality, shooting Marguerite a cold re, and threatened arrogantly, ¡°Marguerite, this isn¡¯t over. Just you wait. When I marry into a rich family, I¡¯ll have you kissing my feet.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll wait,¡± Marguerite replied with a smirk. Her eyes filled with disdain for Yuna. Smart people never let others see their cards. And to Marguerite, Yuna, who unted at every opportunity, was nothing more than a joke. Meanwhile, in the office of the President of the Winston Group. Frederick sat in his plush chair, eyes half¨Cclosed, twirling a scent strip under his nose. His brow furrowed, his face darkening! ¡°Can¡¯t you still smell anything?¡± asked a handsome young man with delicate features, worry lining his face. Frederick crumpled the scent strip and tossed it on the floor with a grunt, ¡°Hmm.¡± The man, Robert Fitzgerald, was Frederick¡¯s psychiatrist. Three years ago, Frederick had lost his sense of smell in a car ident. He¡¯d had numerous secret check¨Cups abroad, but no cause was found. His doctors suggested it could be psychological, so he brought in Robert for therapy. However, even after three years, his condition hadn¡¯t improved. Robert sighed softly, turned on some calming piano music, and started probing Frederick, ¡°Have there been any recent events that have stuck with you? If you think about it, you might realize that you could actually smell something during those events. But because you¡¯re so used to not having a sense of smell, you overlooked it.¡± Frederick closed his eyes, thinking back on recent events. He remembered a ridiculous night where he seemed to have caught a faint scent. It was a subtle fragrance that was easy to miss, but thinking back, that scent seemed to linger at the tip of his nose, touching a chord in his heart. ¡°I think¡­¡± Frederick¡¯s sentence was cut off as someone knocked on the ss door, interrupting his therapy session. He immediately opened his eyes, his previously calm face reverting to its usual impassiveness. His assistant, Chuck, walked in, followed by another assistant carrying a tray of perfume samples. Their group¡¯s perfumepany, LuxeScents International, had recently held arge¨Cscale perfume designpetition. The perfumes on the tray were the finalists, selected from tens of thousands of entries. ¡°Mr. Winston, the initial selection of the perfume designpetition has ended. These are the finalists. Please review them,¡± Chuck gave a nod to the assistant, who set the tray down on the coffee table. Ever since Frederick lost his sense of smell, the task of testing scents had been handed over to Robert, who had grown up with Frederick and shared a simr taste with him. Without a word from Frederick, Robert stepped forward, dipped the test strip into the liquid, and began making his selection. The perfumes were close to Frederick. He nced at them and immediately picked out a special colored perfume from the bunch. In the perfume industry, colored perfume was nothing new. But this light green, shimmering perfume caught Frederick¡¯s attention. He had never seen a perfume of this color before. Frederick leaned in to smell the bottle and was stunned. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked up at Chuck in disbelief, ¡°I don¡¯t recall a green perfume being in thepetition. Where did thise from?¡± Chuck nced at the bottle, realizing his mistake. He broke into a cold sweat and quickly exined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Winston. I made a mistake. This perfume missed the submission deadline. When it was delivered, the initial selection had already ended. When we went to retrieve the finalists, the staff was clearing out the rejected entries. It must¡¯ve gotten mixed up in the rush, I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± However, Frederick was gripping the bottle tightly, his thumb rubbing over and over the mouth of the bottle, ¡°Does this perfume have a name?¡± Chuck paused. Mr. Winston was interested in this perfume? But it didn¡¯t seem like he had even smelled it! Although filled with questions, Chuck quickly racked his brain. He remembered that when the perfume was sent, it came with a design concept. After a moment of thought, he immediately answered, ¡°Mr. Winston, this perfume is called Pr Radiance.¡± ¡°Pr Radiance?¡± Holding the perfume named Pr Radiance, there seemed to be something slowly awakening in Frederick¡¯s nostrils. His suddenly focused eyes were shining sharply. Looking at Chuck, he said urgently, ¡°Find the person who made this. I need to see this person immediately!¡± Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 No sooner had Yuna left than Marguerite got a call for an interview from the design department of Luxe Scents International. She could hardly believe her ears. She¡¯d sent out a ton of resumes and LuxeScents, being a globally renowned perfumepany, was the one she had the least hope for. But to her surprise, it turned out to be the only one that got back to her and invited her for an interview. Marguerite figured as long as she could get a foot in the door at Luxe Scents, she could take her grandma and get the heck out of chaotic Stonebridge City for good once her grandma gets better. She had no idea that she was in for a world of challenges. Half an hourter. Marguerite, all giddy and jittery, rushed to the headquarters of LuxeScents International. She was escorted by a secretary straight to the top floor of the building. As the secretary pushed open the ss door, Marguerite was gobsmacked. She was just a simple country girl who¡¯d never seen such grandeur. The office was bathed in light, surrounded by floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows on three sides. The lush greenery and flowers made her feel like she¡¯d stepped into a fairnd What made her more anxious was the gathering of people in the reception area with her perfume sample disyed in the center of the table. Were all these folks here to interview her? She spotted a tall man standing with his back to the crowd by the window. He stood out like a sore thumb among the crowd, emanating an aura of power, like a natural¨Cborn ruler. Something about this man seemed oddly familiar to her. As the secretary handed the man Marguerite¡¯s personal details she¡¯d filled out earlier, he respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Winston, the designer of Pr Radiance perf¨´me is here.¡± The man gave a slight nod, nced at the document, then abruptly turned around. Marguerite was taken aback by his piercing gaze, just as bbergasted as Frederick at that moment! His skin was delicate, features handsome. He looked dashing in his navy blue suit, tailored to perfection. The mole by his eye added an air of mystery. His good looks were jaw¨Cdropping. Marguerite was too stunned to react. Frederick! What was he doing here? The boss of LuxeScents International was him! ¡°It¡¯s you?!¡± Marguerite asked in a low voice, staring at the man before her. Frederick emanated a coldness as he sternly said, ¡°I should be the one asking you that. Marguerite, you¡¯ve got guts! Trying to stick around me using such despicable means!¡± He had been wondering how she could leave the mansion so easily that morning. So, this was her game! How infuriating! The perfume makers assisting with the interview exchanged nces. They were surprised enough that this in¨Clooking woman in simple clothes could design the Pr Radiance perfume. Even more surprising was that she apparently knew their CEO! And judging by their conversation, they seemed to have some kind of past. Marguerite knew Frederick harbored deep animosity toward her. No matter how much she tried to exin, he would stubbornly believe she was after something. So, she decided to adopt the stance of a job applicant and firmly denied his usations. ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯m apetition participant. I anonymously submitted my perfume design to yourpany half a month ago. I didn¡¯t know you then, nor did I know you work at LuxeScents International.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was icy. He strode over to Marguerite, ¡°So you¡¯re saying this is all a coincidence?¡± Marguerite stood her ground, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a coincidence.¡± He tossed her documents onto the table, crossed his arms over his chest, and said nonchntly, ¡°Once or twice can be a coincidence, but three or four times? That¡¯s plotting!¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, if yourpany hadn¡¯t called me today, I don¡¯t think we would¡¯ve crossed paths so soon.¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t want to argue with him. After ncing at the perfume sample on the table, she continued, ¡°Even if I did have a plot, it wouldn¡¯t be against you. I¡¯m vying for a position as a perfumer at LuxeScents International. Yourpany reached out to me today because they see potential in my perfume to bring in revenue. So, Mr. Winston, I¡¯m here today because I was invited. It has nothing to do with you.¡± Everyone around sucked in a breath. This woman actually dared to talk back to Mr. Winston! Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Frederick didn¡¯t get as pissed as expected. Facing Marguerite¡¯s powerful and logical words, he felt a hint of admiration. He grabbed the perfume on the table with his strong arm and asked coldly, ¡°Did you design this perfume?¡± Marguerite nodded without hesitation, ¡°Yes.¡± His eyes turned icy in an instant, ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Investigation from yesterday showed that this woman had low education. How could a woman without higher education possibly design such a unique perfume? That¡¯s pure bullshit! Marguerite was helpless. She thought this was just a simple interview, but she bumped into a nitpicker. He didn¡¯t ask her any professional questions from start to finish, but kept pestering her about her private life. ¡°If you¡¯re using me of lying, you need evidence. From grinding petals, distilling flower juice, to adjusting proportions, all were done by my own hands. I have no reason to lie.¡± Facing her insistence, Frederick felt a hint of annoyance. Why the hell was she being so cocky in front of him? Frederick decided to teach her a lesson. ¡°We won¡¯t talk about whether your level of education is enough to design¨Ca perfume. Even if you really have the ability, your perfume only attracts people with its light green color and subtle sparkle. You tried innovating for the sake of innovation, that¡¯s called losing the essence, it will only get you washed out by the market. Sorry, you failed your interview.¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t understand why she failed the interview. He didn¡¯t even take a good look at her work! ¡°Mr. Winston,, don¡¯t ept your one¨Csided conclusion. You didn¡¯t ask me any professional questions from start to finish, how can you conclude that I don¡¯t have the ability to make perfume? That¡¯s one thing. Second, I didn¡¯t innovate for the sake of innovation. The color of the perfume is entirely due to a special pigment of the flower I used. It¡¯s not my innovation. Third, I would like to ask, how much higher is your professional level than mine? Can you tell the top, middle, and base notes of this perfume? Do you really understand perfume?¡± The employees watched this argument, all sweating bullets. This woman was fierce! Robert and Chuck exchanged nces in the corner, feeling nervous for Frederick. As the founder of a perfumepany, if it came out that Frederick lost his sense of smell, it would cause a serious crisis of confidence, both internally and among customers. So, his problem with smell was a secret, only known to Robert and Chuck. But now, Marguerite asked Frederick about the smell of the perfume in front of everyone, how could he answer? Just as Robert was about to step forward to help, a deep and maic voice made him stop. ¡°Mint leaves and pear are the top notes, mandrake and jasmine are the middle notes. The base notes are musk and raspberry. Did I get it wrong? And one more thing I need to remind you, I¡¯m the founder of LuxeScents International. Your fate is in my hands! You have no right to argue with me.¡± After Frederick finished speaking, aplex emotion shed in his eyes. Because he suddenly realized that the base note of this perfume was so simr to the scent he smelled at the hotel that night! Was the scent he smelled that night not an illusion? But how could this scent possibly be blended by Marguerite? Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¡ª At this moment, Frederick had Marguerite frozen in her tracks with his burning gaze. Hisst words echoed in her ears I¡¯m the founder of LuxeScents International. Your fate is in my hands! She had tried to persuade him with her professional knowledge and even nned to find his boss to fight for her chance to stay. She was too naive. He was the king of the perfume industry, he indeed had the power to act as he pleased. And what did she count for? She dared to challenge this industry titan. This world was controlled by these people! Marguerite¡¯s face turned ashen, She felt like a joke, watched coldly by everyone. The office atmosphere was eerily quiet, Robert and Chuck were stunned. Especially Robert, he simply couldn¡¯t believe it. Frederick¡¯s sense of smell had returned? That was too sudden! He was just counseling him a moment ago, and Frederick couldn¡¯t smell a thing! Robert tried to contain his excitement, signaled Chuck tofort Marguerite, and quickly pulled Frederick into an interior lounge, shutting the door tightly. He was so thrilled that he didn¡¯t know what to do, he stuck his hand in front of Frederick¡¯s nose, his face tense. Frederick pushed him away, frowning, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Smell me.¡± Frederick, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I sprayed perfume today. Can you smell what it is?¡± Frederick looked at him, frowning, and after a while, he realized his purpose. He leaned slightly forward, and took a light sniff. Soon, he pushed Robert¡¯s hand away again, without saying a word. ¡°Can you smell it?¡± Frederick answered coldly, ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Maybe the scent is too light, hold on.¡± Robert looked around, turned to find a scented candle on the bookshelf. He was so anxious that he knocked over some items. After a while, he finally found the scented candle he wanted, lit it, and held it up to Frederick¡¯s nose, ¡°Smell again.¡± This scented candle was one of LuxeScents International¡¯s strongest scents, so sweet it was somewhat sickening. Frederick sniffed, but still shook his head. ¡°Still nothing?¡± Robert was puzzled, ¡°Then how could you smell the perfume just now?¡± Frederick pursed his lips, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Robert was confused, what was going on? He saw that Frederick still held the perfume sample called Pr Radiance, snatched it, sprayed it into the air, and the light scent instantly filled the room. ¡°Can you smell it now?¡± Frederick¡¯s nostrils twitched slightly, afortable feeling instantly filled his nose, making his whole body feel refreshed. He smiled slightly and simply said, ¡°Yes.¡± Now, Robert was utterly dumbfounded. Frederick couldn¡¯t smell anything due to his loss of smell, but he could only smell this perfume. Wasn¡¯t this too strange? Robert¡¯s eyes narrowed, lost in thought. Frederick was also very frustrated, full of doubts. Since he lost his sense of smell in the car ident, there were only two times he could smell something. Once was that night. The other time was just now. After thinking for a long time, Robert walked back to Frederick, without any hesitation, he made a decision for him, ¡°Keep that woman called Marguerite.¡± Frederick was taken aback, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t smell anything, but you can only smell the perfume she designed. I think, this woman is the antidote you need.¡± Robert said firmly. A look of surprise shed in Frederick¡¯s eyes. Thinking of Marguerite¡¯s tactics and scheming, he didn¡¯t have a good impression of her. ¡°I won¡¯t keep a maniptive woman by my side.¡± Robert was puzzled, ¡°I¡¯ve been observing her, I really don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re so repulsed by her.¡± A look of doubt appeared on Frederick¡¯s emotionless face, ¡°Do you remember what I told you this morning, that I suddenly have a wife?¡± Robert was stunned, then his heart raced, blurting out, ¡°Your wife is Marguerite?¡± Frederick was frustrated, but he didn¡¯t utter a word. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Robert rubbed his forehead, looking utterly shocked. What a freaking coincidence! No wonder he was always nitpicking at Marguerite, there was more to the story. But regardless of whether Marguerite was a sly fox or had something up her sleeve, the fact that the perfume she made could be smelled by Frederick, who had lost his sense of smell, spoke volumes about her skill. Robert cleared his throat, offering somefort, ¡°I get why you can¡¯t stand her, but you can¡¯t deny that she¡¯s really helped with your sense of smell. Since you can¡¯t divorce her, you might as well let her stick around. It¡¯s all gain and no pain for you.¡± Frederick was about to argue, but Robert was already pushing him towards the door, talking as they walked. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to find out how on earth this woman managed to restore your sense of smell? I¡¯m super curious, how could a bottle of perfume solve a problem that even top¨Cnotch doctors couldn¡¯t fix?¡± Before they knew it, they were outside. The other perfumers who were interviewed had been sent off by Chuck, leaving only Marguerite and Chuck in the reception room. Frederick was still resistant towards Marguerite. Seeing Frederick¡¯s defiant expression, Robert walked up with a smile and told Marguerite, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, we¡¯ve had a chat and decided to keep you. You can start working here today, and Chuck will help you with the paperworkter.¡± Marguerite looked surprised and a bit scared as she looked at Frederick. Just a few minutes ago she was humiliated and was told to leave, the next minute she could start working? This man definitely had something nned. ¡°Really?¡± Marguerite was skeptical. Frederick looked at her, his voice cold, ¡°Don¡¯t think that once you¡¯re in LuxeScents International everything will be smooth sailing. You¡¯re just an intern now, on probation for three months. If you don¡¯t perform well, you are out.¡± Marguerite was frustrated. What¡¯s wrong with this guy? Couldn¡¯t he speak nicely? Why keep her if he was so hostile? Ridiculous! She wished she could turn around and walk away, but she really needed this job. She had nothing, not even a ce to live. Plus, her grandma was sick and needed medication, she needed to earn money! So, Marguerite put on a brave face, ¡°Don¡¯t worry Mr. Winston, I¡¯ll focus on my work.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better be. If I find you cking off, I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t find a job in this industry.¡± Seeing the two about to bicker again, Robert quickly stepped in, ¡°I trust in Ms. Lockwood¡¯s professional skills, she¡¯ll definitely pass the probation. period. Also, thepany offers a good sry. Do you have any other needs, Ms. Lockwood?¡± Marguerite breathed a sigh of relief, finally, they brought it up. But would Frederick agree to her request? Well, she had to give it a shot. With this in mind, Marguerite plucked up the courage to look at Frederick, ¡°I only have one request. You guys. have to sort out my amodation.¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Frederick already had doubts about, Marguerite. Letting her, an uneducated woman, stay at Luxe Scents International was already him bending over backwards. Now this woman had the nerve to bring up her requirements! Frederick¡¯s face was as dark as a thundercloud, making Chuck worry for Marguerite. Seeing this, Robert, sensing an impending storm, quickly stepped in to smooth things over, ¡°No problem, it¡¯s just amodation. LuxeScents International can handle it.¡± Chuck was scared to death. Frederick¡¯s displeasure was as clear as day. How could Robert keep ignoring his anger? If Frederick lost his cool, they would all be in hot water. Chuck quickly sidled over to Robert and whispered nervously, ¡°Robert, you forgot, LuxeScents International has no staff dormitory¡­¡± Robert, however, was as cool as a cucumber, waving his hand dismissively and looking at Frederick with a smile. ¡°Marguerite¡¯s request isn¡¯t out of line. I trust Mr. Winston¡¯s magnanimity. You won¡¯t turn her down.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was as threatening as a loaded gun. He turned and sat down in his office chair,pletely ignoring Robert. ¡°You insisted on keeping her. Her demands are your problem, not mine. You deal with it.¡± This man! He kept Marguerite for his own sake! What an ungrateful jerk. Marguerite frowned at Frederick, then looked at Robert anxiously. Did he agree or not? At least give a clear answer! She and her grandma had been kicked out of their cheap rental for not paying rent. If thepany couldn¡¯t solve her housing issue, could she muster the courage to ask for an advance on her sry? She needed to rent a ce! Facing the hard¨Cnosed Frederick, Marguerite knew she couldn¡¯t say much. But what could she do? Reality forced her to stand her ground. If she couldn¡¯t solve her basic needs, how could she focus on work? Marguerite paused, and despite her embarrassment, she tried to speak again, ¡°So¡­¡± Almost as soon as she opened her mouth, Robert quickly coughed to interrupt her. Marguerite¡¯s words got stuck in her throat, and she heard Robert say, ¡°Chuck, take her downstairs to handle the paperwork. I¡¯ll take care of the rest ¡°Yes, Mr. Fitzgerald.¡± Chuck responded respectfully, then gestured towards the door, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, please follow me.¡± Marguerite was confused and lost. This man called ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald¡± said he would handle it, but did his words carry any weight? She could only go with the flow and take it one step at a time. With that in mind, she followed Chuck downstairs. Once the two were gone, Robert turned to Frederick with a grin, teasing, ¡°You told me to handle it, so I¡¯m helping you out this once. If you¡¯re not satisfied, don¡¯te crying to me.¡± Frederick snorted, gave Robert a sidelong nce, then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest, no longer interested in conversation. But what he didn¡¯t know was that a cunning glint shed in Robert¡¯s eyes the moment he closed his own, his expression full of hidden meaning. This woman Marguerite had a lot of potential, and as Frederick¡¯s friend, it was his duty to take good care of his wife. Robert didn¡¯t stay long and soon left, while Chuck¡¯s call sessfully connected to the CEO¡¯s office. Frederick impatiently activated the speaker, his imperial¨Clike voice came through low and stern, ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite haspleted her paperwork. Do you want her to stay in the design department and find a mentor, or should she do misceneous tasks like all the other interns?¡± Frederick furrowed his brow, ¡°No rush. Have her submit a detailed resume first.¡± He had a feeling that the information he investigatedst night was wrong. Marguerite was an uneducated woman, but her skills in perfume making were very professional. This woman was definitely not simple. Since he had decided to keep her by his side, he needed to figure out everything about her. ¡°Okay.¡± Chuck paused, then said, ¡°Mr. Winston, the receptionist just called to say that Yuna is downstairs making a fuss to see you. What do you think¡­¡± Upon hearing Yuna¡¯s name, Frederick¡¯s eyes flew open. God. Marguerite¡¯s arrival had thrown all his ns into disarray, and he had overlooked such an important woman as Yuna. He hadn¡¯t contacted her since they parted ways yesterday. She must be anxious. ¡°Bring her up.¡± Soon after, Yuna, led by Chuck, came straight to the top floor and into the CEO¡¯s office. Yuna looked around as if she had never seen such a luxurious ce. Seeing her awestruck expression, Chuck furrowed his brow. Such a woman was the one Mr. Winston had been searching for over ten years? It felt a bit off. Chuck pushed open the ss door, about to speak, but Yuna couldn¡¯t wait and pushed past him, rushing over to Frederick. She threw herself into his arms, asking, ¡°Frederick, where have you been? I¡¯ve missed you. You were all I dreamed aboutst night.¡± The sickeningly sweet voice made Frederick ufortable. His body instinctively wanted to push her away, but he didn¡¯t. He had always had a question. Why did the scent he smelled on her that night match the scent of the perfume Marguerite had made? His arm wrapped around Yuna¡¯s waist, Frederick pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head to take another whiff of her scent. Meanwhile, on the other side, Marguerite, resume in hand, followed Chuck¡¯s directions to the CEO¡¯s office. But just as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Frederick hugging a woman¨Cfrom a distance. Marguerite hesitated for a moment, Was that woman his¡­ girlfriend? Chapter 16 Chapter 16 The woman had her back to Marguerite, blocking any view of her face. But she was dressed in a revealing halter¨Cneck bodycon dress that made her look anything but ssy. If it wasn¡¯t for Frederick¡¯s arms wrapped around her, Marguerite would¡¯ve thought she was just some floozy Chuck had brought in to amuse Frederick. And Frederick, of all people, was into this kind of woman. No wonder he hated her guts. She had interrupted his steady rtionship, forcing him into marrying her. Who wouldn¡¯t be pissed? But it was weird. Seeing the two of them all over each other, hatred welled up inside Marguerite. It felt like her heart was being squeezed, leaving her gasping for air. She was on the fence about walking up and handing in her resume, but Chuck was watching her from the corner. He carefully closed the curtain for Frederick before walking over to her. His face was flushed, clearly embarrassed by the earlier scene. ¡°Why¡¯d youe up? If Mr. Winston sees you, he¡¯ll be pissed!¡± Chuck whispered urgently. Marguerite waved her resume. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me toe up once I finished my resume?¡± Chuck took the resume from her. ¡°Leave it to me. You can go downstairs, and remember, next time you gotta announce yourself.¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes fell onto the private ss room. After the curtains were drawn, she couldn¡¯t see a thing, but she knew what was going down. She nodded nkl and turned to leave. Watching Marguerite¡¯s retreating figure, Chuck couldn¡¯t help but think that if she wasn¡¯t so damn ugly, she might even be a better match for Mr. Winston than, Yuna. He had no reason for this thought. It was just that the sight of Marguerite arguing with Mr. Winston in his office was one he would never forget. He had never seen a woman dare to make Mr. Winston so mad and embarrassed. Although Mr. Winston seemed annoyed, Chuck knew he wasn¡¯t really pissed. Frederick, annoyed, was a much scarier sight, but he hadn¡¯t blown up at Marguerite. To Chuck, Mr. Winston¡¯s behavior towards Marguerite was an anomaly, one that Frederick himself probably hadn¡¯t noticed. Meanwhile, Frederick couldn¡¯t smell a thing on Yuna in the room. As Chuck drew the curtains, Yuna thought Frederick was about to shower her with affection, and she pressed herself against him. Anything Marguerite could do, she could do better! But when Frederick saw her chest, he felt a wave of revulsion. He pushed her away instinctively, he pushed too hard, and she tumbled onto the sofa. ¡°Freddie, you¡¯re so strong, you hurt me,¡± she whined, looking up at him with innocent eyes. He looked at her sharply, holding back his anger. ¡°Yuna, I get what you¡¯re trying to do. But I¡¯m married now. Some things will have to wait until I¡¯m divorced.¡± Yuna looked at him seductively, her voice whiny. ¡°Frederick, when are you going to get a divorce?¡± The mention of divorce brought Marguerite to Frederick¡¯s mind. He felt irritated again and said curtly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t divorce right now.¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Yuna looked like she¡¯d taken a punch, her eyes brimming with tears, ready to spill over at any second. ¡°Freddie, have you changed your mind? You don¡¯t want to marry me anymore? Are you just looking for an excuse to ditch me? It¡¯s okay, I can take whateveres. I¡¯ve tried so hard to find someone who can bring me happiness, and I just¡­ I guess I¡¯m just unlucky¡± Hearing this, Frederick felt a pang of pain. ¡°You got it all wrong. It takes three months to process a divorce. Once that¡¯s over, I¡¯ll marry you right away. I¡¯ve been looking for you for over a decade, it has to be you who bes my wife.¡± Yuna thought, ¡°he had been looking for Marguerite, not me!¡± This made Yuna fume. What¡¯s so great about Marguerite? What made a powerful and influential man like Frederick chase after her for so long? But then she thought, ¡°what does it matter?¡± As long as she could rece Marguerite, and as long as she had that sapphire ne, Marguerite wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against herl With this in mind, Yuna nodded obediently, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have been so impatient, it¡¯s just that I love you so much. Frederick, I¡¯ll wait for you, I¡¯ll wait for you to marry me after your divorce.¡± Afraid that Frederick might change his mind, she brought up the subject of marriage again. Frederick¡¯s lips pressed tightly. He did n to get married. But before that, he needed to figure something out! ¡°Yuna, did you wear perfume the night we were together?¡± Yuna was taken aback, did Marguerite wear perfume that night? She knew nothing about the details between Marguerite and Frederick.But afraid of giving herself away, she had no choice but to bluff, ¡°I think I did.¡± ¡°Which one?¡± Frederick¡¯s intense gaze made Yuna feel uneasy. But then she remembered, Marguerite would never afford a perfume. So, what Frederick smelled that night, could it be Marguerite¡¯s natural scent? With this thought, Yuna confidently corrected herself, ¡°Freddie, I was wrong. I was in a rush that night and didn¡¯t wear any perfume. If you smelled something, it must have been my natural scent.¡± It wasn¡¯t her natural scent! How could the perfume mixed by Marguerite smell exactly like Yuna? Where did things go wrong? Unable to find the answer, Frederick decided to let it go for now. ¡°Forget it, we¡¯ll talk about itter.¡± Frederick looked at Yuna, and asked, ¡°I heard from Chuck that your family¡¯s casino lost a lot of money?¡± Even before she came to thepany, her mother had told her to borrow money from Frederick. They owed 10 million, and only Frederick could save them now. Upon hearing this, she immediately nodded, putting on a pitiful act, ¡°Freddie, can you lend me some money? Our family owes 10 million and we¡¯ve already sold all our possessions. We wanted to mortgage our house to the creditors, but we ran into a demolition, and thepensation of the stingy demolitionpany is not enough.¡± Was Frederick stingy? Yuna¡¯s family¡¯s casino was an illegal construction in the first ce, and technically, nopensation was required for its demolition. But out of humanitarian considerations, he still paid millions inpensation, not expecting the Lockwood family¡¯s demands to be so outrageous. Yuna¡¯s words made Frederick even more upset, but he remembered that she once saved his life, a favor he could never forget. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the Lockwood family¡¯s debts. However, the casino must be demolished.¡± ¡°But if the casino is demolished, where will we live?¡± Frederick looked at her, ¡°I¡¯ll provide a home for you. Pack your things and move in tomorrow.¡± With that, he tore off a note, wrote down an address, and handed it to Yuna gently. Yuna looked at the strong handwriting on the note, her eyes shining with joy. Did she hear it right? Frederick actually invited her to live with him and promised to give her a home? She was about to strike it rich! She was finally going to live the life she¡¯d always dreamed of! How insane would Marguerite be if she knew that Yuna had taken everything that was originally hers? Just thinking about it made her feel good. Yuna held the note with Frederick¡¯s address close to her chest, nodded shyly, and acted innocent, ¡°Thank you, Freddie. Once you divorce and marry me, I promise to be a good wife and take care of you.¡± Having achieved her goal, she couldn¡¯t wait to go home and share the good news with her parents. Plus, she was going to move in with Frederick tomorrow, so she needed to prepare. Frederick didn¡¯t want to touch her before their wedding, but she couldn¡¯t wait that long. With her sex skills, she didn¡¯t believe Frederick could resist her! After Yuna left, Frederick lit a cigar in frustration and took a puff. Strangely enough, he didn¡¯t seem to like Yuna as much as he thought he would. And she was far different from the innocent girl he remembered from fifteen years ago. In dealing with her, Frederick felt like he was just going through the motions, devoid of any joy or happiness. Had he changed, or had the girl in his memory changed¡­. Six o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 2 Marguerite had a pretty chill first day at work, basically did nothing. Just as she was about to clock out, Robert popped up behind her. She was so startled when she turned around and saw him, blurting out, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald¡­¡± Robert just grinned, ¡°Ready to head out? Come with me, I¡¯ll show you where you¡¯ll be staying.¡± She was surprised he remembered his promise. She thought she¡¯d be spending the night in the hospital corridor again. She had nothing to carry, so she followed Robert empty¨Chanded to his car in the parking lot. The ride was fast and silent. Marguerite didn¡¯t ask where she was going. Even though she¡¯d just met Robert, she felt he was more reliable and friendly than Frederick. So she trusted him. But Robert totally let her down. Because when they reached their destination and Robert¡¯s car pulled into Sapphire Valley Estates and stopped in front of Frederick¡¯s mansion, Marguerite was gobsmacked. This was Frederick¡¯s crib! Why did he bring her here? Marguerite looked at him dumbfounded, incredulously asking, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, you¡¯re not telling me I¡¯m staying at Frederick¡¯s ce, are you?¡± Robert raised an eyebrow, ¡°You knew this was his¡¯ce? You¡¯ve been here before, huh. How¡¯s the bed?¡± Marguerite¡¯s face turned beet red, totally mortified. Robert just smiled, turned off the engine, got out of the car, and gentlemanly opened the door for Marguerite, helping her out. ¡°Marguerite, now that Frederick¡¯s not around, there¡¯s something I need to tell you. He¡¯s a tough¨Ctalking softie, so be patient with him. Marguerite felt even more awkward, ¡°I¡¯m not his girlfriend, and you should be telling this to his girlfriend.¡± Robert didn¡¯t argue with Marguerite. He just nudged her, ¡°Marguerite, just chill out. You¡¯re Frederick¡¯s antidote and your presence is important to him. That¡¯s why I want you to stay here: I hope you two can get along.¡± What the heck was he talking about? Marguerite was lost. Being with Frederick was like a disaster. Antidote? Important? She was resisting and wanted to argue. But Robert was already back in his car, smiling at her through the window, and then he drove off. His car zoomed off, leaving Marguerite in a cloud of gas emission. She was coughing uncontrobly, still in shock, when Frederick¡¯s luxury car pulled up in front of her. Frederick stepped out of the back seat, looking so handsome and cool that she couldn¡¯t look away. The anger in his eyes was like fire, and the moment he saw Marguerite, he gave off a powerful vibe. Marguerite felt guilty under his gaze and unconsciously stepped back. Just then, he charged at her like a beast. She opened her eyes wide trying to exin, but Frederick¡¯s icy voice cut her off, ¡°How did you get in here? Get out!¡± Chapter 19 Chapter 19 The guy was full of intimidation. Although Marguerite was a bit rattled, she quickly rified, ¡°It was Mr. Fitzgerald who brought me here.¡± Frederick¡¯s face changed slightly, his eyes sparking like a torch. This Robert was a real pain in the ass. He shot Marguerite a re before ringing up Robert, his irate voice loaded with gunpowder, ¡°I need an exnation!¡± Robert chuckled on the other end of the line, responding with a jest, ¡°You got it all wrong! Marguerite is your wife, yet you let me handle her. I thought to myself, that I can¡¯t stash someone else¡¯s wife at my ce, can I?¡± ¡°Take her back wherever you picked her up from. You¡¯ve got ten minutes. Don¡¯t make me lose it.¡± Frederick was like a cheetah, inducing fear. But being Frederick¡¯s doctor, Robert knew how to get his mind. He was always within Frederick¡¯sfort zone. ¡°Frederick, do I need to spell it out? How Marguerite became your wife, how you can smell her perfume, aren¡¯t you curious? There must be some hidden truths around here. The closer you keep her, the closer you are to the truth.¡± Robert¡¯s words woke Frederick up like a ssh of cold water. Yesterday, he could have let Marguerite go since her background was clean as a whistle. But today¡¯s perfume incident revealed that she wasn¡¯t as simple as her profile suggested. What puzzled him the most wasn¡¯t why he could smell Marguerite¡¯s perfume, but why her perfume smelled exactly like the one Yuna had on that night. If it wasn¡¯t for the clear CCTV footage showing Yuna was the woman with him, he would have suspected Marguerite! Until he figured out the source of that scent, he couldn¡¯t let Marguerite go. Frederick snapped back to reality, massaging his forehead with his long fingers, ¡°I got it.¡± After a short conversation with Robert, Frederick turned back to Marguerite, his icy face seemed indifferent, ¡°I can let you stay, but there are a few rules.¡± Marguerite was caught off guard, looking up at Frederick with a puzzled expression. Did he just change his mind? What did Robert tell him? But she had no other ce to go, it didn¡¯t matter where she stayed. ¡°Please say it.¡± ¡°First, you can¡¯t enter my room. Second, don¡¯t let anyone at thepany know we¡¯re living in the same house. And third, the most important one, you can¡¯t im to be my wife.¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, did you get it twisted? Wife? Aren¡¯t we just boss and employee?¡± Marguerite was quick on her feet, knowing Frederick doubted her identity, she rified her position. His wife? No way. She never acknowledged that title. Frederick was taken aback by her reaction. Her effort to push him away didn¡¯t seem like she was up to something. He gave her a nce, then turned to Chuck, ¡°Take her in.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston.¡± Marguerite followed Chuck inside, but Frederick stayed out. He stood at the doorway, smoking, as if he was deep in thought. Marguerite seemed genuine, there wasn¡¯t a hint of deception. She truly wasn¡¯t interested in being Frederick¡¯s wife. If it wasn¡¯t for her sick grandma, with Marguerite¡¯s personality, she would never associate with a man like Frederick. She was just taking shelter here, and she would try her best to avoid Frederick during her stay! Marguerite had a nice n, but reality didn¡¯t y along. As soon as she entered the guest room, an unknown call came in. The number was hidden, it was so careful it reminded her of the mystery person. And it turned out she was right. ¡°Marguerite, you should have gotten close to Frederick by now. Good, I didn¡¯t misjudge you.¡± The mystery person¡¯s voice was metallic, making it hard to tell its gender. Marguerite quickly looked around, feeling watched. ¡°Who are you?¡± she whispered, ¡°How did I be his wife? Why was I at his house yesterday? I demand an exnation!¡± The mystery personughed, his or her voice, modified by the voice changer, was grating, ¡°That¡¯s not what you should be worrying about. Now, you have a new mission to aplish.¡± Marguerite was instantly filled with rage, ¡°Don¡¯t push me too far! Our deal was for me to marry him, then you would treat my grandma. What else do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Marguerite, you don¡¯t have the right to negotiate.¡± The mystery person¡¯s voice turned icy cold, with a tone dead serious, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, your grandma is in my hands. One word from me, and her treatment could stop at any time.¡± Marguerite shuddered, feeling a chill. Her grandma was her weakness, and she was powerless against it. She had no choice but topromise, asking helplessly, ¡°So, what¡¯s the next mission?¡± ¡°Make Frederick recognize you as his wife and fall in love with you within three months.¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Marguerite, hearing all this, got really on edge, her fingers even started to tremble. The new instructions given by the mystery person confused her, even seemed nonsensical. Did this person think love was child¡¯s y, that simply saying ¡°I love you¡± was enough? Gripping her phone tightly, Marguerite said, ¡°There¡¯s no way Frederick would ever fall for me. The mere mention of marriage has already put him off me.¡± ¡°Guys like gentle women, and Frederick¡¯s no exception.¡± Gentle? This mystery person wanted her to act gentle towards Frederick? She¡­ couldn¡¯t do it! Noticing Marguerite¡¯s hesitation, the mystery man threatened her again, ¡°Marguerite, you don¡¯t have a choice. Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯ve got your family.¡± Using her grandmother as a threat was too much for Marguerite to handle, she demanded, ¡°What¡¯s your deal? I can do these things for you, but I can¡¯t do it blindfolded.¡± Her tenacity didn¡¯t sit well with the mystery person, ¡°Like I said, overthinking this won¡¯t do you any good. You¡¯ve got three months. Whether your grandma gets better within that time all depends on you.¡± This person then hung up, cold as ice. Marguerite was stunned. The person was clearly using her, pushing her step by step into the enemy¡¯s hands. But she was at a loss, if the mystery, person had trouble with Frederick, why go through her? Why did he want her to marry Frederick, and why did he want her to act gentle towards Frederick? It was baffling. Meanwhile, in the study room. Upon receiving his boss¡® orders, Chuck couldn¡¯t help but break a sweat, ¡°Mr. Winston, you want me to investigate Marguerite again?¡± Frederick dryly answered, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But Mr. Winston, we just investigated herst night and found nothing.¡± With a frown, Frederick tossed Marguerite¡¯s CV onto the table, ¡°Search based on the leads in her CV. If there¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll have to seriously consider whether you¡¯re fit to stay in thepany. Clearly frightened, Chuck quickly picked up the CV and left the room. Frederick¡¯s threat was effective. Chuck didn¡¯t dare to dawdle, immediately contacting hackers and private investigators for a thorough investigation. A few hourster, he rushed back into the study with the investigation results. The room was filled with smoke from Frederick¡¯s cigar, causing Chuck to instinctively squint his eyes. ¡°Mr. Winston, we found something! The records show that Marguerite studied perfume at Stonebridge City University, but she didn¡¯t graduate. Also, she¡¯s an orphan living with her elderly grandmother in the countryside.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes shed open upon hearing this. Marguerite had been living with her grandmother in the countryside since she was a child? What a coincidence! Fifteen years ago, he and his mother were banished to the countryside of Stonebridge City. In a moment of despair, a little girl living with her grandmother in a house called Marina Shores Vige gave him a piece of bread. Over the years, he had indeed investigated the old house, but the results were hard for him to ept. By the time he got close to the truth, the old house was burned down. When he arrived at the scene, it was already reduced to ashes. Ever since then, he lost contact with the little girl and her grandmother. He didn¡¯t know if they survived or perished in the fire, and he regretted not asking for the little girl¡¯s real name. Even though his friend Robert had told him multiple times that no one could have survived the fire without injury, Frederick still held onto a glimmer of hope, believing that she was alive. No matter her appearance, whether her face was burned or not, as long as she was alive, he would marry her. However, when Yuna appeared, he hesitated. He couldn¡¯t find the familiar scent or the warmth the girl gave him fifteen years ago. In a whirl of confusion, Frederick put out his cigar, picked up the Pr Radiance perfume he brought back from thepany and gave it a light sniff. His eyes narrowed slightly, a bigger question formed in his mind. If the little girl had been living with her grandmother all these years, why hadn¡¯t Yuna mentioned her grandmother until now? Chapter 21 Chapter 21 The more he thought about it, the more Frederick felt that something was off. After pondering for a while, he put down the perfume he was holding and turned to call Yuna. At that moment, Yuna was busy sorting out packages with her mom. Seeing Frederick¡¯s iing call made her day. She answered jubntly, ¡°Freddie, you¡¯re calling thiste, missing me already?¡± Ignoring her tease, Frederick cut directly to the chase, ¡°Yuna, who have you been living with all these years? Where do you live?¡± Caught off guard, Yuna replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been living at the casino with my parents!¡± Frederick felt a shiver ran through his eyes upon hearing this. Then, Zoe swiftly grabbed Yuna, hastily typing a reminder on her phone, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be Marguerite, remember her ce!¡± Realizing her slip, Yuna nervously added, ¡°But, I was living with my grandma in a rented ce on Riverside Boulevard some years back.¡± ¡°Where exactly on Riverside Boulevard?¡± Yuna wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed, but she knew Frederick was onto her. She feared he¡¯d find the exact rental location and expose the truth about Marguerite. If that happened, her richdy dream would be blown! That was a no¨Cgo. So, Yuna decided to y dumb. She pretended to think hard, but to no avail, ¡°Freddie, I can¡¯t remember. I had a high fever when I was little, messed up my memory a bit. But I remember living with my grandma before moving to the casino with my parents.¡± Frederick lit a cigar, ¡°Last time I was at the casino, I didn¡¯t see your grandma.¡± ¡°Because¡­, because she went missing then. I have no idea where she went. So, my parents took me home.¡± Frederick took a drag on his cigar, mulling over Yuna¡¯s words. His silence made Yuna and Zoe anxious. Yuna shifted her eyes and added, ¡°Freddie¡­ I have a terrible headache, I can only remember so much. But I¡¯m telling you the truth. I have no reason to lie.¡± She sounded so sincere, even a bit tearful. Without further questioning, Frederick hung up abruptly, then told his assistant Chuck, ¡°Look up all the rentals on Riverside Boulevard.¡± Chuck seemed troubled, ¡°Mr. Winston, as far as I know Riverside Boulevard is a well¨Cknown refugee reception area, at least ten blocks. How should we go about it?¡± Frederick¡¯s determination was palpable, he slowly said, ¡°Search block by block, question every household.¡± Chuck, ¡°¡­ Yes, Mr. Winston.¡± After hanging up, Yuna was seized with unprecedented fear. She jumped around anxiously like a scared kid, ¡°Mom! I shouldn¡¯t have told him about Marguerite¡¯s old address! What if he finds Marguerite?¡± Zoe grinned cunningly, ¡°I bet my bottom dor Frederick won¡¯t find Marguerite no matter how hard he tries. Remember, she¡¯s wearing a mask, you and Marguerite look identical, how could he tell?¡± Hearing this, Yuna calmed down, a mischievous smile on her lips. She hugged Zoe¡¯s¡¯arm, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re so smart. You think of everything, you even had Marguerite wear a mask.¡± ¡°Of course. With Frederick being so loaded, we can¡¯t let him slip away easily. Besides, you¡¯re his favorite now, he won¡¯t suspect a thing. Otherwise, why would he let us stay at his ce? Even arrange his personal driver for us. Yuna, he values you, you must seize this opportunity!¡± Just thinking about living with Frederick from tomorrow made Yuna blush, with excitement bubbling inside. Her proud face was like she had be ady of leisure, beaming with delight. Her happy life was about to start. As for the stand¨Cin, Marguerite, she could hit the road now! Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Next morning at Sapphire Valley Estates. 1 The maid had prepared a hearty breakfast, waiting for Frederick and Marguerite toe downstairs and eat. The table was still filled with loads of scrumptious dishes, but Marguerite felt a bit out of ce when she saw all this. 1 She instinctively wanted to bolt, but she couldn¡¯t do it on an empty stomach, so she had to suck it up and sit at the table. Yet, she didn¡¯t know where to start or how to navigate the dining etiquette, afraid she might tick someone off. Frederick nced at the clueless Marguerite fumbling with her cutlery, then took a jab at her, ¡°Can¡¯t even handle a meal, can you?¡± Marguerite felt a sting of defeat. She bit her lip. In the face of the rich man¡¯s arrogance, her poor self¨Cesteem always seemed to be so fragile. Not wanting to lose face, she gritted her teeth and responded, ¡°I can. Just not used to it.¡± Frederick expertly sliced up the steak in front of him, nced at her, and coldly said, ¡°Always trying to act.¡± Marguerite felt utterly embarrassed. In front of Frederick, she felt like a total misfit. She looked at the spread of food, trying to find something that wouldn¡¯t make her look like a goofball when she ate. She saw a small bread roll, it was tiny, and she knew it wouldn¡¯t fill her up. Just as she was indecisive, a te of sliced steak suddenly appeared by the table. The juicy meat looked quite tempting. Marguerite looked at Frederick in surprise, her eyes filled with confusion. Why was this man suddenly being so nice? She swallowed hard, her emotions mixed, ¡°Um, thanks.¡± Frederick was elegantly slicing another steak, didn¡¯t even look at her, ¡°Don¡¯t I have a name?¡± Er¡­¡­ She couldn¡¯t just call him by his first name, right? She wanted to call him ¡°Mr. Winston¡± as usual, but then she remembered the task the mysterious person had given her. He had asked her to woo Frederick, to make him fall in love with her within three months. The more Marguerite thought about it, the more panicked she felt, although reluctant, she had no other choice. And now, obviously, was a good opportunity to put on a show. She cleared her throat, plucked up the courage, and coyly asked in a sweet voice, ¡°Um¡­ Can I call you ¡®Fred? Frederick paused in cutting the steak, looked at Marguerite, his eyes full of confusion and surprise. Marguerite felt the nickname ¡°Fred¡± was awkward, but Frederick didn¡¯t seem to think so. He looked at the ugly woman in front of him with her innocent wide eyes, and couldn¡¯t help but think of the naive little girl from fifteen years ago. The innocent little girl had once told him, ¡°Fred, will you marry me when you grow up?¡± Now, the tone Marguerite used to call him ¡°Fred¡± was exactly the same as the little girl¡¯s fifteen years ago. Damn it! What was going on? Why did he always think of things from fifteen years ago when he faced Marguerite? But Yuna never gave him this feeling Frederick was filled with excitement, had he really mistaken the person? But he soon controlled his emotions. Chuck was already investigating as he had requested. Until the truth was revealed, he couldn¡¯t make any rash moves. Frederick snapped back to reality, his face returned to its usual indifference, ¡°You can¡¯t talk to me in that tone.¡± Marguerite was speechless.. Frederick didn¡¯t ept this approach? Seems like, she needed to find another way to win him over. Marguerite put the steak the man had prepared for her into her mouth, and began to eat in silence. After breakfast, Marguerite was getting ready to go to work. At this moment, there was a frantic knocking at the door outside the vi. Marguerite casually opened the door. In an instant, she saw that the visitors were actually her parents. And her twin sister, Yuna, was standing there, her eyes wide in disbelief, ring at her furiously. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 ¡°Skank! What are you doing at Freddie¡¯s ce?¡± Yuna, currently a hot mess with her arms full of packages, looked furious. Marguerite was also shocked. She never expected Yuna to show up at the Sapphire Valley Estates. So, Yuna was pretty chummy with Frederick, huh? What was going on with them? Zoe, standing nearby, was totally gobsmacked. She nced at Ablett, first angry and then, after a second thought, scared as hell. Seeing Marguerite in Frederick¡¯s house first thing in the morning, had she been shacking up with him? What the heck was going on? Did Frederick know Yuna had been pretending to be Marguerite? No way! With Marguerite¡¯s ugly disguise and the only proof of her identity, a ne, in Yuna¡¯s hands, how could Frederick know? Wait, did Marguerite confess herself? Zoe, ready to rip Marguerite¡¯s hair out, was interrupted by a chilling voice, sounding pissed off, ¡°Who let you in?¡± Zoe froze in shock. Yuna, taking advantage of the situation, shoved Marguerite aside and clings to Frederick, ¡°Freddie, didn¡¯t you invite me to move in with you today?¡± Move in? Marguerite suddenly remembered Yuna bragging at the hospital about marrying into a rich family. So, she was going to marry Frederick? And the woman who was with him in the CEO¡¯s office yesterday was Yuna? This thought left Marguerite in shock. Everything happening right now was crazier than a movie. ¡°When did I say I wanted to live with you?¡± Frederick pushed Yuna away, his gaze passing over the Lockwoods andnding on the driver in the corner. The driver, sweating bullets, hastily exins, ¡°Mr. Winston, when I went to pick up Yuna, she said you invited her to stay here. That¡¯s why I brought them here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Frederick¡¯s icy stare is fixed on Yuna, chilling to the bone. Yuna scrambled to pull a piece of paper from her pocket, unfolding it hurriedly, ¡°Freddie, you promised to give me a home, isn¡¯t this your address?¡± Frederick didn¡¯t back down, ¡°I did say that, but not now. You got it wrong, the address is at Diamond Crest Estates, not here.¡± Zoe and Ablett breathed a sigh of relief. So, Frederick didn¡¯t know about Marguerite and Yuna¡¯s rtion. Then why was Marguerite at Frederick¡¯s house? Yuna started to sob, looking heartbroken, ¡°Freddie, can¡¯t I live with you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Yuna red at Marguerite, her eyes filled with jealousy and rage, ¡°Then why can she?¡± ¡°Do you know each other?¡± Yuna¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she denied subconsciously, ¡°No! No¡­ We don¡¯t know each other. I just¡­ I can¡¯t stand the thought of you living with another woman.¡± Marguerite was thinking, ¡°Don¡¯t know each other? This woman¡¯s lying skills are top¨Cnotch, denying her own twin sister without batting an eyelid.¡± Frederick¡¯s mood was getting worse. He had no patience for women who cause a scene, and Yuna was a perfect example, making him feel pretty annoyed. ¡°I¡¯ll exin it to youter. Now, you should go to Diamond Crest Estates immediately. Don¡¯t make me angry.¡± His stare was so intense and intimidating that Ablett and Zoe were too scared to speak. Yuna, feeling resentful, slowly left. But as she did, she noticed Marguerite in the corner. Marguerite¡¯s wide eyes looked innocent, but to Yuna, it was a show¨Coff. Her jealousy red up. Even though she was Frederick¡¯s fianc¨¦e, she couldn¡¯t live with him, while this woman could. Why? No, she wouldn¡¯t give up. She needed to figure out what was going on. The angrier Yuna got, the more determined she became. She dropped her stuff and walked back, ¡°Freddie, I was in such a hurry when I got here, so I¡¯ve sweated through my clothes. I want to borrow a dress from thisdy, or I might catch a cold on my way back.¡± Frederick frowned but says nothing. Marguerite was surprised, but before she could refuse, Yuna grabbed her arm and dragged her upstairs. Frederick was having a headache dealing with the Lockwood family¡¯s drama this early in the morning. Just then, Chuck came over with a document in his hand, whispering to Frederick, ¡°Mr. Winston, I found the information you asked me to look upst night.¡± Frederick¡¯s heart raced, his focus intensifying as he decided to discuss it with Chuck in his study. Chuck respectfully handed over the unopened folder, ¡°Mr. Winston, our people found a family that resembled the one you¡¯re looking for. The family consists of an old woman and a girl. They used to live in an old house, which was destroyed in a fire. The local authorities helped them move into a subsidized housing unit due to their circumstances. This file contains their detailed information.¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Frederick stayed mum, but his gaze stayed sharp. The truth was staring him in the face, so he hurriedly pulled out the documents from the file. Inside were a lease agreement and two personal information sheets. One was for an old woman named Laverne. Before he could look at the other one, he saw a photo in the top left corner of the form. The person in the photo had bright eyes, a high nose, and a cute little mouth. She looked exactly like Yuna. Yuna, was really the little girl who saved him in his moment of crisis 15 years ago! His pupils were shaking, his gaze moved down, and he realized his thumb was covering her name. He moved his finger slowly, but he didn¡¯t see the name clearly when someone pushed open the study door in a hurry. ¡®Mr. Winston, something¡¯s up! The Madame and Ms. Yuna are having a row in the room.¡± Frederick looked up, ¡°The Madame?¡± ¡°Uh.:. Marguerite.¡± 1 That damn Marguerite, daring to mess with the woman he cared most about! Frederick put down the documents, stood up and walked towards the door. His assistant asked nervously, ¡°Mr. Winston, what about these documents?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were stormy, he replied curtly, ¡°Destroy them.¡± Just seeing the photo, he was already certain that Yuna was the little girl from 15 years ago. If she found out he was investigating her, she would be heartbroken. After Frederick left, his assistant, following his instructions, threw the documents into the shredder. The gears turned, the machine hummed, the documents, along with all the secrets, were shredded. But what Frederick didn¡¯t know was, the name on the documents was actually Marguerite Lockwood. Meanwhile, Marguerite and Yuna were arguing in the room. ¡°Marguerite you shameless hussy, why are you in Frederick¡¯s house? He¡¯s my man! My man!¡± Yuna was shaking Marguerite wildly. Marguerite was so dizzy from the shaking that she felt like throwing up her breakfast. Before she could get a word in, Yuna pped her across the face. With a loud smack, Marguerite was knocked to the floor. Holding her aching face, she felt a rage welling up inside her. ¡°Slut!¡± Yuna continued punching and kicking at Marguerite, ¡°Are you jealous that I¡¯m about to marry into a wealthy family, so you¡¯re scheming to get close to Freddie? Look at yourself, do you think Frederick would give you a second nce? Slut! Homewrecker! Did you know that Freddie and I¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Marguerite was fed up, so she raised her voice, pushed Yuna away, walked to the bedside table, and mmed their marriage certificate onto Yuna¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m his wife, where else would I live?¡± Yuna waspletely shocked, the names on the paper stung her eyes, and she couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. The day she and Frederick went to the city hall to register their marriage, they were told that Frederick was already married. So, his mystery wife was that bitch Marguerite? This was a fatal blow to Yuna. She had schemed so hard to take Marguerite¡¯s ce, to build a rtionship with Frederick, living in fear and trepidation every day, afraid that Frederick would find out the truth. But she hadn¡¯t expected that after all she¡¯d been through, he still brought Marguerite home. But why?! Frederick knew nothing about this, how did Marguerite get here before her? Marguerite must have used some trick! This woman was always good at charming people, even though she was prettier and better, the people of Marina Shores Vige still preferred Marguerite. Damn it! Yuna was furious. She tried to snatch the marriage certificate and rip it up, but Marguerite quickly pulled her arm back. ¡°Yuna, look who¡¯s the real homewrecker. This is legally binding. I am hiswfully wedded wife!¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Yuna screamed in disbelief at Marguerite, ¡°He said he¡¯d marry me!¡± Marguerite wasn¡¯t one to gloat, but Yuna was really pushing her buttons. Even with her mild personality, she couldn¡¯t tolerate Yuna¡¯s tant bullying. She held the certificate a bit tighter, her gaze cold, ¡°I told you before, don¡¯t unt things that aren¡¯t certain. Are you sure he wants to marry you?¡± ¡°You!¡± Yuna was so angry her face turned red, ¡°Just you wait, I¡¯m going to tell Frederick who you really are!¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡°My true face? You guys have already made my life hell, what true face do I still have?¡± Marguerite thought to herself, a pang of sorrow in her heart. She was the child of Zoe and Ablett too, but why was her life so damn hard? When she and her grandma were homeless and living on the streets, no one was willing to lend a hand. She was done being the punching bag of this family. She was going to protect her dignity her way, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want Frederick to know about our rtion, would you?¡± Yuna had vehemently denied knowing her earlier, for reasons unknown. But Marguerite was sure that the truth about her and Yuna would be a big blow to whatever¡¯s going on between Yuna and Frederick. Yuna, hearing this, was clearly rattled, gritting her teeth so hard it¡¯s like she wanted to rip Marguerite¡¯s mouth off. ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯ve got some nerve! But do you think I¡¯m scared? You just slept with a man few days ago, and now you¡¯re Frederick¡¯s wife. If he finds out, you¡¯ll be in deep shit!¡± Marguerite showed no fear, ¡°Then go tell him!¡± She had no ties to Frederick, she had nothing to fear. Seeing that Marguerite wasn¡¯t falling for her bait, Yuna¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°I¡¯ll tell him, of course. But do you think I¡¯ll just let it slide? Believe it or not, I can unplug your grandma¡¯s venttor this afternoon. If I can¡¯t live well, neither can you or that old hag!¡± Hatred was a knife, and it stabbed right into Marguerite¡¯s heart. ¡°Yuna, are you even human? She¡¯s your grandma too!¡± ¡°My grandma? I never acknowledged that old hag as my grandma! She¡¯s so filthy, I can¡¯t even stand looking at her. Only a low¨Clife like you would treasure her!¡± Anger rolled in her chest, Marguerite felt numb all over, her limbs cold. She looked at Yuna in disbelief. This woman was hitting her where it hurt again. Marguerite couldn¡¯t fight back, she felt suffocated. Yuna was very pleased with Marguerite¡¯s reaction, sheughed triumphantly, like she was the victor of this war. ¡°Marguerite, you better keep your mouth shut, don¡¯t say what you¡¯re not supposed to, or else, I¡¯ll make your life a living hell. But seeing how pathetic you are, I¡¯ll let you off in front of Freddie today. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t spill the beans.¡± C Having said her piece, she quickly left Marguerite¡¯s room. Yuna ran off quickly. Not because she wanted to let Marguerite off the hook, but because she didn¡¯t dare to tell Frederick everything! The room went silent again, Marguerite sat weakly by the bed, her heart still pounding. She had to be strong as soon as possible. She wouldn¡¯t let her grandma be in danger, she just wouldn¡¯t! As Marguerite thought, the pain on her cheek made her facial muscles twitch uncontrobly. She realized her mask had loosened, so she went to the vanity to fix it. But just as she took off the mask, Frederick, who had heard themotion, barged into the room. Marguerite was startled, she instinctively covered her face, but it was toote. The man at the door had already seen her face through the vanity mirror¡­ Chapter 26 Chapter 26 That face was pure as a summer¡¯s day, her big doe eyes, innocent yet captivating. Her fair cheeks, which had been pped by Yuna, bore a natural blush, and her bright lips were tempting. Frederick took a step forward, suddenly enveloping Marguerite from behind, hugging her tightly. His heart ached as he sighed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t find you sooner, you¡¯ve suffered.¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyshes trembled slightly as she was filled with shock, her body trembling. Looking for her? Marguerite looked at her reflection in the mirror. The face she revealed when she took off her mask was identical to Yuna¡¯s. So, Frederick had mistaken her for Yuna? Quickly, Marguerite shoved the mask into her vanity, fearing he would discover it. He held her tight, as if trying to mold her into his body. Marguerite felt aching all over and, in a voice imitating Yuna¡¯s, sheined, ¡°Freddie, can you let go of me first? It hurts.¡± Her weak demeanor reflected in the mirror, her coquettish and aggrieved voice melted his heart, and he got lost in the feeling. Frederick was reluctant to let her go, but his hands couldn¡¯t resist holding her shoulders, gently turning her¨Caround, his loving kissnded unexpectedly on her forehead. Marguerite¡¯s body stiffened, even though she knew the kiss wasn¡¯t meant for her, her heart was still pounding. She was at a loss, unsure of what to say. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ¡®got too excited.¡± Heughed at himself, his voice gentle, as if afraid to scare this woman, who was as delicate as a kitten. Marguerite remained silent, only staring at him wide¨Ceyed. The faint scent of her perfume wafted in the air, calming Frederick¡¯s emotions just like that night. He knew he hadn¡¯t mistaken the person. He had been too suspicious before. Thinking about her painful experience over the years, Frederick only med himself for not finding her sooner. ¡°Yuna, I¡¯ll find your grandma as soon as possible, so you can reunite.¡± Marguerite was shocked again. Her grandma was at Stonebridge Memorial Hospital, the Lockwood family had been there several times. Why did he say ¡°find¡°? So, Yuna must have lied to Frederick about her grandma¡¯s disappearance? This woman was indeed good at lying. But Frederick was so cautious, how could he be easily fooled by Yuna¡¯s lies? Marguerite looked up at him, his handsome face filled with deep love. It seemed he hadpletely lost himself. In a moment, an odd emotion stirred in Marguerite¡¯s heart. She calmed herself, then gratefully said, ¡°Okay, thank you, Freddie.¡± Even though everyone knew where grandma was, Marguerite didn¡¯t stop Frederick Because she knew, if Frederick really found grandma, he would protect her. This way, the Lockwood family wouldn¡¯t threaten her with grandma anymore. ¡°It¡¯s something I should do.¡± Frederick¡¯s slightly rough thumb gently stroked her delicate cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll find a chance to exin my rtionship with Marguerite to you. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll marry you.¡± Hearing this, Marguerite¡¯s face turned cold. She finally understood where Yuna¡¯s arrogance and confidence at the hospital came from. Frederick was determined to marry her and showered her with love. The man before her now waspletely different from the Frederick she knew. All his love and tenderness was for Yuna. That was her confidence. Marguerite should have been indifferent to this, but for some reason, her heart felt blocked. Her mind began to wander uncontrobly, not understanding why Frederick was so fond of Yuna. Was it because of this face? Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but turn to the mirror, looking at this face identical to Yuna¡¯s. She had to admit, it was a beautiful face. Back in Marina Shores Vige, many men had pursued her. So, if she could truly drop the mask,¡® would Frederick¡¯s attitude towards her improve? With these thoughts, Marguerite cautiously said, ¡°Frederick, you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else, I¡¯m not Yuna.¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 A look of surprise clearly shed oss Frederick¡¯s handsome face, a slight astonishment flickered in his deep¨Cset eyes. He smiled, subconsciously stroked Marguerite¡¯s soft cheek, ¡°You¡¯re not Yuna, then who are you?¡± ¡°I am¡­¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Frederick cut off Marguerite¡¯s sentence before she could finish it, ¡°Yuna, I¡¯ve already promised to marry you, I won¡¯t break my word,¡± ¡°Therefore, you don¡¯t need to attract my attention by pulling such boring pranks.¡± Marguerite was left speechless, thinking, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way! This guy¡¯s Imagination is really something else!¡± He didn¡¯t give her a chance to exin further, aspany matters were waiting for him. Frederick quickly drove away. Marguerite sighed, returned to her room, put on her face mask, changed clothes, and then headed to the office. In the afternoon, at LuxeScents International. The sun shone brightly in the luxurious CEO¡¯s office. Frederick¡¯s voice waszy, deep and pleasant like a cello, ¡°Investigate Yuna¡¯s grandmother¡¯s whereabouts as soon as possible.¡± Chuck¡¯s hair was neatly styled by hair gel, he bowed his back slightly and replied respectfully, ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston.¡± ¡°Also,¡± Frederick suddenly thought of Marguerite. His previously t gaze became sharper, ¡°Have someone secretly monitor Marguerite¡¯sputer. If there are any suspicious emails, let me know immediately.¡± Chuck was initially taken aback, but quickly understood his boss¡¯s intentions, ¡°Mr. Winston, do you suspect that Marguerite is a spy sent by apetitor?¡± Frederick suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze deep as the ocean, ¡°Not justpetitors, her identity is suspicious, we must be careful.¡± He had already investigated Marguerite twice, and although he had obtained some useful information, strictly speaking, he hadn¡¯t seen what he wanted to see, Marguerite was too innocent, an innocence that felt abnormal. He couldn¡¯t believe that a woman with no scheming or blemishes could be his wife. So, he couldn¡¯t let his guard down with Marguerite. Chuck immediately went to check, half an hourter, he came back with a file. ¡°Mr. Winston, I just searched Marguerite¡¯sputer. She didn¡¯t do anything in the morning. She just¡­ looked up some information online.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°What information?¡± Chuck licked his dry lips, tentatively asked, ¡°Mr. Winston, do you need me to read it out?¡± The man leaned back in the sofa, an impatient look on his face as he retorted, ¡°Of course.¡± Chuck was obviously a bit nervous, ¡°Are¡­ you sure?¡± ¡°Chuck, if you waste any more time, I¡¯ll have the ountant to settle your wages.¡± Chuck was shaking all over, he didn¡¯t want to waste time, it¡¯s just that¡­ he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. The things Marguerite looked up were too¡­ passionate, he couldn¡¯t read them out. But now that Frederick had spoken, he had to bite the bullet and read it out: ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite searched for the following information: [Frederick¡¯s worth], [The acquisition price of Luxe Scents International], [The number of Frederick¡¯s female friends], [Frederick¡¯s female friends]¡­¡± Chuck¡¯s voice got quieter and quieter, until it was almost inaudible at the end. He didn¡¯t have the guts like Marguerite to directly call his boss by his first name. So, every time he called out Frederick¡¯s name, his head would get closer to the file, until his face waspletely buried in the file, daring not to Look at Frederick¡¯s expression. Robert couldn¡¯t help butugh, although not loudly, it was the result of his utmost control. The expected storm didn¡¯te, Frederick raised an eyebrow, his voice t, ¡°She spent all morning looking up this stuff?¡± Chuck nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, she has been looking it up since she came to the office.¡± ¡°Not focusing on work!¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was full of authority, but his eyes carried a hint ofplex emotion. Then, he changed the subject, ¡°Since she has so much free time, let here and help me with scent testing.¡± Chuck wasn¡¯t sure whether his boss was genuinely angry or just pretending, but he was worried that Frederick¡¯s mood would affect him, so he epted the order immediately and went to find Marguerite. Robert looked puzzled, he pointed at himself, then looked at Frederick, ¡°Frederick, wasn¡¯t scent testing my job? Why was I reced as soon as your wife came?¡± Frederick shot him a nce, thinking about Chuck¡¯s report, a thoughtful smile on his lips. ¡°Why did she suddenly be interested in the identity of my girlfriends? Does she have other motives?¡± Upon hearing this question, Robert immediately began to gossip, ¡°Did Yunae looking for you this morning?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did Marguerite also see it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Robert suddenly startedughing, excitedly pped his thigh, ¡°Haven¡¯t you figured it out yet? She¡¯s jealous!¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± Frederick was slightly taken aback. ¡°Why do I get the feeling that you¡¯re quite happy to know she¡¯s jealous? Could it be you have feelings for her?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze flickered, he didn¡¯t respond. Then, Robert suddenly looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze, asking, ¡°Are you falling for her? Frederick, are you willing to admit it?¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Robert¡¯s sudden interrogation made Frederick feel uneasy, a feeling he absolutely hated. He shot Robert a disgruntled look and said, ¡°Buzz off! Quit spouting nonsense.¡± Robert shrugged, not surprised by Frederick¡¯s reaction. Frederick was a man who¡¯d never been in love. For all Robert knew, Frederick probably didn¡¯t even know what love felt like. So Robert wasn¡¯t expecting Frederick to admit. Those words might nevere out of Frederick¡¯s mouth. But that was okay, there was still time. Meanwhile¡­ Chuck couldn¡¯t find Marguerite at the office. Marguerite didn¡¯t have a fancy degree, wasn¡¯t exactly a beauty, and was just an intern. She got pushed around by her co¨Cworkers, running errands and putting up with their snide remarks and ridicule. The worst part? She didn¡¯t even have time to grab lunch before her boss sent her out to distribute leaflets. Marguerite knew this was just another way her colleagues were bullying her. Thepany¡¯s reputation was already well¨Cknown, there was no need to hand out flyers on the street. But she was on a low position and had no say in the matter. All she could do was suck it up and endure the mistreatment. From noon till around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, the sun was at its peak. She was out there for a solid three hours.. She wasn¡¯t some spoiled brat, and she¡¯d done all sorts of jobs to make ends meet. So handing out flyers wasn¡¯t a big deal. But without lunch, she was running on empty. She was hungry and dizzy, and almost got heatstroke. But Marguerite couldn¡¯t stop. There was hardly anyone around the storefront, and she still had a stack of leaflets to hand out before she could clock out. She patiently handed a flyer to a passerby who ignored her and even went out of their way to avoid her. cpproac Marguerite didn¡¯t let it get her down. She was about topproach the next person when she felt a hard shove on her shoulder. She turned around to see a woman dressed with famous brands, carrying bags of designerbels. It was Yuna, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°God, Marguerite! You¡¯re handing out flyers? Aren¡¯t you Frederick¡¯s wife? Isn¡¯t he taking care of you?¡± € Yuna¡¯s fingers casually brushed against her neck, her diamond ne caught the sunlight and sparkled. Marguerite didn¡¯t respond, she just moved past Yuna and continued with her work. But Yuna was persistent. She showed her bracelet which made Marguerite incredibly annoying. ¡°Marguerite, does Frederick know you¡¯re doing such a menial job? He shouldn¡¯t let you do this. Look at me, he had someone give me a card loaded with money. He said I could spend it however I wanted and when it runs out, I should just ask him for more.¡± Marguerite pretended not to hear, she was busy handing out flyers to passerby, greeting them with a pleasant, ¡°Hello, ourpany is¡­¡± ¡°Hello, would you like to buy some perfume? Ourpany is¡­¡± ¡°Hello¡­¡± Ignored by Marguerite, Yuna couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. She marched up in her heels, snatched the flyers from Marguerite¡¯s hands, and tossed them into the air. The colorful sheets fluttered in the air like butterflies,nding on Marguerite, making her look ridiculous. ¡°Flyers! Flyers! That¡¯s all you care about! You don¡¯t even listen to me! You bitch!¡± Seriously! ¡°This woman would rather smile at strangers than give me the time of day, is she blind? I¡¯m dressed head to toe in designerbels, I¡¯m way ssier than these average Joes!¡± Yuna thought. The scattered flyers on the ground made Marguerite furious. She red at Yuna, trying her best to keep herposure, ¡°What the hell do you want?¡± Yuna arrogantly brushed her hair away, then suddenly yed the victim, shouting out loud, ¡°Is there anyone who can help me? This woman stole my bracelet and won¡¯t admit it! Can someonee over here!¡± Marguerite thought, ¡°What?¡± She stole Yuna¡¯s bracelet? What a crock of bull! Was this woman out of her mind? ¡°Which eye of yours saw me stealing your stuff? I¡¯ve been handing out these flyers fair and square, I didn¡¯t even touch you!¡± Their argument quickly gathered a crowd outside the store, their cold stares made Marguerite feel the pressure. ¡°You did steal my bracelet! If you had the guts, you¡¯d open that bag and let me see!¡± Marguerite had had enough, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anything, why would I have to let you search my bag?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t let me check, how would I know you didn¡¯t steal?¡± Yuna yed up her victimhood, ¡°Can anyone help me here? That bracelet was a gift from my boy friend, it¡¯s expensive. If you want one, I can buy you one, but you can¡¯t steal mine!¡± The crowd saw Yuna¡¯s sincere expression and her beauty, so they started to stir the pot. ¡°Yeah, if she suspects you, just open your bag and show her!¡± ¡°She must¡¯ve stolen it, why else would she refuse to open her bag?¡± ¡°Look at her raggedy clothes, and she¡¯s so ugly. Ugh, envy the rich all you want, but you can¡¯t steal!¡± ¡°All of you¡­¡± Everyone was against Marguerite, she felt helpless and desperate. Even though she was poor, she was always ambitious, always striving to be upright and kind. How could she endure Yuna¡¯s public humiliation? To clear her name, Marguerite had no choice. She red at the smug Yuna, took off her bag, and dumped everything out. Notebooks, pens, lipstick all rolled out. And with them, a shiny chain. Seeing this, Marguerite was horrified, but Yuna, who felt like she got her gotcha moment, immediately picked up the chain from the ground and used her, ¡°And you dare say you didn¡¯t steal, what¡¯s this then?¡± Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Who would¡¯ve thought things would turn out like this, Marguerite¡¯s face changed in an instant, while Yuna was bombarding her with questions non¨Cstop. Marguerite was rooted to the spot, speechless, and realized she was caught in a trap she couldn¡¯t exin her way out of. How did Yuna¡¯s bracelet end up in her bag? She neverid a finger on Yuna, how could she have taken Yuna¡¯s stuff? Suddenly, it dawned on Marguerite! Earlier, Yuna had bumped into her and appeared from behind her. That bracelet must had been sneakily slipped into her bag by Yuna at that point. But why? She was always extra cautious around Yuna, but still fell into her trap. ¡°Yuna, you¡¯re ruthless. What¡¯s the point of doing this?¡± Marguerite was filled with anger, looking in disbelief at her own sister who was setting her up. Her voice was drowned out again by the crowd¡¯s self¨Crighteous shouting and cursing. ¡°This chick is a real thief!¡± ¡°Lady, don¡¯t let her off the hook, people like her are the worst! Send her to the police station, she must be punished!¡± ¡°Yes! Punish her!¡± At that moment, Marguerite felt like she was being swallowed by the crowd¡¯s criticisms. She was panicking, her exnations were useless. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that, the bracelet is found, no need to make a fuss.¡± Yuna said, feigning ¨¢ pout. ¡°No way! She needs to be taught a lesson Lady, this bracelet isn¡¯t cheap, right? It¡¯s quite valuable, she could be jailed for this! Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got your back!¡± ¡°Yes, we have your back! The police station is just up ahead, let¡¯s take her there!¡± Before Marguerite could react, she was dragged away by some enthusiastic locals to the nearby police station. Marguerite stumbled along, turning her head to see Yuna¡¯s smug face. Marguerite was filled with despair, feeling helpless and powerless. She couldn¡¯t understand why Yuna held such a grudge against her, was it because she became Frederick¡¯s wife? But he didn¡¯t love her, he was in love with Yuna! Before she knew it, Marguerite was brought to the police station. She was silently locked up in the detention area, while the onlookers were furiously discussing the events, Yuna triumphantly waved her phone, approached Marguerite and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already called Freddie. Marguerite, you¡¯re done for!¡± So this was the true face of Marguerite, stealing her glory in their childhood, now trying to steal her man. Marguerite was nothing but a vile thief, Yuna had to show Frederick her true colors! Marguerite gave up struggling, ¡°What¡¯s the use of calling him?¡± Yuna sneered sarcastically, ¡°Aren¡¯t you two married? Aren¡¯t you his wife in the eyes of thew? Then who else could help you but him? I¡¯m just curious, if Freddie knew you stole my stuff, would he still let you live with him?¡± She didn¡¯t steal anything! She was being framed! Marguerite wanted to shout out the truth, but what good would it do? No one was on her side, not even the soon¨Cto¨Carrive Frederick, she guessed he wouldn¡¯t believe her either. Love often blinds people, so she didn¡¯t expect Frederick, who was head over heels for Yuna, to stand on the side of justice and investigate the truth. Soon, a familiar car pulled up at the corner, Frederick and Robert walked into the police station with an intimidating presence. As soon as Yuna saw Frederick, she ran over and grabbed his arm, pointing at Marguerite and whining, ¡°Freddie, look at her! I¡¯m so upset.¡± The man had a serious expression, but his eyes were only on Marguerite. He coldly shook off Yuna¡¯s hand and walked towards Marguerite. Marguerite felt guilty under his gaze, instinctively clutching her clothes, waiting for his usations. However, reality didn¡¯t turn out as she expected. As he approached, all she heard was his anxious and worried voice, ¡°Who locked you up here? Don¡¯t you know I¡¯ve been looking for you? Why didn¡¯t you answer your phone?¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 When Chuck went downstairs to find Marguerite, his co¨Cworkers deliberately lied that she was cking off, probably somewhere sneaking in a §á§Ñ§â. Upon hearing this, Frederick was livid, he dialed Marguerite loads of times, but she didn¡¯t pick up. After a while, he found out from Yuna that Marguerite had been taken to the police for theft. He stormed into the station with anger boiling inside him, but the moment he saw Marguerite¡¯s pitiful face, he found himself unable to express his displeasure. He even felt a pang of sympathy. However, when Frederick asked three questions in a row, Marguerite seemed totally clueless. ¡°I ask you, who locked you up?¡± Frederick¡¯s cold voice echoed again. Marguerite lifted her head, her gaze fell on Yuna standing behind him. Frederick frowned at Yuna behind him, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Yuna didn¡¯t seem to care. She originally hoped Frederick would support her, but he didn¡¯t even nce at her when he walked in. Now she finally got her chance, she yed victim and exaggerated, ¡°Frederick, she stole my bracelet and was brought in by passers¨Cby, I told them it wasn¡¯t necessary to make a fuss, but they didn¡¯t want me to be wronged. I had no choice but toe here with them.¡± Yuna was really¡¯something, so good at twisting the truth. Marguerite sighed and looked at Frederick, though she knew he didn¡¯t believe her, she insisted on exining in a soft voice, didn¡¯t steal¡­¡± ¡°But, my bracelet was indeed found in your bag.¡± Yuna looked pitifully innocent, biting her lower lip, looking very appealing. By then/Robert had already sent the passers¨Cby away, and walked to the detention area with the officer. Frederick¡¯s eyes showed ayer of coldness, looking at the officer, he ordered coldly, ¡°Open the door.¡± { The officer looked at Frederick somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Mr. Winston, what is your rtionship with thisdy?¡± ¡°She is my¡­¡± ¡°Employee! I am his employee!¡± Marguerite unintentionally interrupted him without hearing what Frederick was saying. They had previously agreed that he wouldn¡¯t let her disclose their rtionship in public, Marguerite remembered. C Frederick didn¡¯t finish what he wanted to say, a flicker of indiscernible darkness passed through his eyes, leaving everyone clueless about what he was thinking. Yuna, on the other hand, was gobsmacked. Marguerite was Frederick¡¯s employee? So, they not only live together, they also work together? Suddenly, she felt tense all over. Robert politely shoved the officer, reminding him timely, ¡°Aren¡¯t you gonna release her? If you don¡¯t, Mr. Winston is gonna lose it.¡± The officer was even more embarrassed, he involuntarily looked at Yuna and said, ¡°Mr. Winston, Mr. Fitzgerald, we¡¯re just following the rules here. If Ms. Yuna doesn¡¯t drop the charges, we can¡¯t release her.¡± Frederick looked at Yuna without saying anything, hoping she would understand. Yuna, of course, got what Frederick meant, but she couldn¡¯t ept it. This was not the oue she wanted! She lifted her chin, pouted her lips and said, ¡°Frederick, she stole my stuff, are we just gonna let it slide? I¡¯m hurt.¡± ¡°I willpensate for your loss, but Marguerite must return to thepany now.¡± This was infuriating! -Why would Frederick make up for the loss for Marguerite? She wanted Marguerite to suffer! She wanted Marguerite to be sentenced and stay away from Frederick forever! The hatred in her eyes made Frederick even more displeased. He couldn¡¯tprehend why the Yuna now was so different from the girl he kissed in the morning. Her vengeful nature surprised him, but he still said patiently in a soft voice, ¡°Good girl, don¡¯t be stubborn now.¡± Yuna knew she couldn¡¯t defy him, so she nodded weakly and reluctantly agreed, ¡°Fine, I drop the charges.¡± ¡°Ms. Yuna, pleasee with me to sign.¡± Yuna was upset, ring hard at Marguerite as she turned around. ¡°Sir, the key!¡± Robert reminded with a smile. The officer immediately handed the key to Robert, then took Yuna to sign. Her face twisted with anger, she was extremely dissatisfied. After all the procedures were done, she turned around to look for Frederick, only to find the detention room empty. Where did they go? They left? She dashed out of the police station, just in time to see Marguerite getting into Frederick¡¯s car, and then they drove away. The three of them didn¡¯t wait for her, as if they had forgotten her existence. The more Yuna thought about it, the angrier she got. Her heart filled with resentment, she was green with jealousy. What was so special about this woman that she could have two men offering her protection? The car was getting further and further away, but Yuna couldn¡¯t calm down. She fumbled for her phone in rage, dialed Zoe¡¯s number and yelled, throwing her image to the wind, ¡°Mom! I want Marguerite dead! She must die!¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Meanwhile, the luxurious Cullinan was sailing smoothly on the t road. Marguerite sneaked a peek at the man, finding him quite dashing as he steered the wheel with one hand. She was contemting whether to exin about Yuna¡¯s bracelet when Frederick beat her to it, ¡°Where were you this afternoon?¡± A hint of surprise shed in Marguerite¡¯s eyes. Instead of asking about the alleged theft, he was asking about her whereabouts in the afternoon. Turning to him, Marguerite responded honestly, ¡°I was handing out flyers.¡± ¡°Handing out flyers?¡± The surprise was evident in Robert¡¯s voice from the back seat, ¡°Who told you to do that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know him. He was a bald dude with a beer belly, dressed in ck.¡± Among LuxeScents International¡¯s staff, only one person was bald, the head of the Marketing Department. Robert seemed a bit helpless, ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re too naive. You just do whatever they tell you to do? You¡¯re not even in his department.¡± Easier said than done with such aissez¨Cfaire attitude! She didn¡¯t have a degree, still an intern on probation, everyone seemed to have the fight to order her around. Marguerite pressed her lips but didn¡¯t say more to Robert. After all, both Robert and Frederick were rich folks. How could they understand the struggles of an ordinary person? It didn¡¯t take long to get back to the office. Marguerite returned to her desk, continuing to endure the ridicule and scorn from others. ¡°Look! The boss is in Bald¡¯s office! He looks pissed! Scary!¡± The gossiping whispers of her colleagues immediately reached Marguerite¡¯s ears. She saw a crowd gathering. ¡°What¡¯s up? Did Bald screw up?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± ¡°Shh! Quiet! Listen!¡± Bald¡¯s office was directly opposite everyone¡¯s workstations, easy to see with a simple nce. But at that moment, the curtains were drawn tight, so everyone could only listen to themotion inside. Marguerite wasn¡¯t interested in the office drama. She just kept her head down and worked. But themotion in the office was too big to ignore. ¡°Who gave you the authority to boss my people around?¡± That was Frederick¡¯s voice! And something sounded like it was smashed to the ground. ¡°I¡­ Mr. Winston, I didn¡¯t hurt your people!¡± ¡°Did you get Marguerite to hand out flyers?¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡­ I didn¡¯t know Marguerite was your person. I thought¡­ she was just an intern¡­¡± ¡°Go settle your wages with the ountant. I don¡¯t want to see you again.¡± ¡°Mr. Winston! Mr. Winston! Please! I have a family to feed¡­¡± Marguerite froze. Was Frederick standing up for her? She found it unbelievable, suddenly looking up towards the office, only to find her colleagues staring at her withplicated expressions. Ah¡­ Did they misunderstand something? Bam- The office door was flung open, breezing a wave of cold air to everyone. Everyone felt a chill, immediately returning to their desks, heads down, no one dared to look up. The silence was eerie. Marguerite¡¯s eyes met with Frederick¡¯s. Her face flushed, feeling both embarrassed and perplexed. Frederick¡¯s sharp gaze swept over the crowd, his voice cold and angry. ¡°If I find out anyone else bullying the interns, your fate will be worse than his!¡± 13:09 Frederick¡¯s aura was chilling. No one dared to make a sound. But everyone knew, the intern the boss was referring to was Marguerite. Marguerite felt confused, she couldn¡¯t understand the man in front of her anymore. Though Yuna falsely used her of theft, Frederick didn¡¯t question it, even defended her when someone made her hand out flyers. What kind of man was Frederick? Marguerite had no answer, shaking her head and ready to get back to work. Unexpectedly, Frederick¡¯s voice came again, ¡°Marguerite,e upstairs with me.¡± The curiosity among the staff grew, some exchanged nces. Marguerite could feel it. She swallowed, responding in a daze, ¡°Oh¡­ okay¡­¡°. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Marguerite felt super awkward to walk with Frederick, so she dawdled at her desk for a bit before she finally headed to the CEO¡¯s office By then, Frederick was at his desk, with a tablet in one hand, his fingers sliding across the screen. Robert was lounging on the sofa, his eyes viewing around, which freaked Marguerite out. Frederick seemed so engrossed in his tablet that Marguerite didn¡¯t dare to interrupt him. She just stood silently by his side, like a kid who had done something wrong. The tense silence was making Robert really antsy. He could understand Frederick¡¯s stubbornness, but how could Marguerite be so thick? Did his reminder yesterday go in one ear and out the other? Robert couldn¡¯t help but say in aid¨Cback tone, ¡°Marguerite, Mr. Winston solved your issue, don¡¯t you think you should thank him?¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes lit up. Although she didn¡¯t understand why Frederick helped her, she knew she should say thanks regardless. She blushed and said sincerely, ¡°Thanks, Mr. Winston.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I didn¡¯t do it for you.¡± Frederick¡¯s cold voice came out of the blue, right after Marguerite finished her sentence. Marguerite was taken aback, while Robert found Frederick¡¯s dishonesty frustrating. ¡°I just can¡¯t stand the bullying culture in thispany. If everyone wastes their time picking on interns, who¡¯s gonna make money for rhe?¡± Robert scratched his head, ¡°This bullying stuff happens every year. Why didn¡¯t you stand up for these poor interns before?¡± Frederick stopped scrolling on his tablet, the fire in his eyes seemed to want to swallow Robert, ¡°Why are you so chatty today?¡± Robert just grinned. He knew his friend was way too proud and headstrong. Getting him to speak his mind was like pulling teeth, But he felt really out of ce in the current environment. After some thought, he realized it¡¯s because he shouldn¡¯t stick around in this situation! Ever since Marguerite joined thepany, he had be the third wheel. Robert pped his hands, stood up and headed for the door, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m outta here!¡± Suddenly, it was just Frederick and Marguerite left in the vast office. Marguerite really didn¡¯t understand why Frederick called her over, only to say nothing and just stare at his tablet. There should be a certain distance between a boss and his subordinate, let alone theirplex rtionship. Marguerite paused, then said in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Winston, if you don¡¯t need me, I¡¯ll go back to work.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Frederick finally broke hiszy demeanor, slowly lifting his eyelids, holding his tablet with one hand. Then he pushed it towards Marguerite, ¡°I¡¯m giving you a piece of jewelry. Pick one you like.¡± Marguerite, ¡°What?¡± Give her jewelry? Was he still that Frederick? Why would he give her something out of the blue? Frederick¡¯s unexpected friendly gesture made Marguerite flustered. She stared at him in disbelief, but couldn¡¯t read any emotion from his expression. All she saw was his handsome face and his cold, distant eyes. ¡°Why¡­ are you giving me a gift?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze shifted slightly towards the tablet, ¡°Just take a look.¡± Hearing this, Marguerite hesitantly picked up the tablet and looked down. On the screen, the jewelry was quite shy, a shiny bracelet with a diamond hanging on it. It was exactly the same as the one Yuna falsely imed she lost! Marguerite suddenly caught on to Frederick¡¯s intention. He wasn¡¯t giving her jewelry, he was clearly insulting her! With a face full of shame, Marguerite gritted her teeth, holding back her anger, ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Frederick frowned, his sharp eyes filled with contempt and disdain, ¡°I can give you what Yuna has. But you need to ask for me, not steal.¡± Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Marguerite was very astonished. She¡¯d braced herself, expecting Frederick not to buy her story, but still, when the words came out of his mouth, she could hardly swallow it, let alone shake off the feeling of injustice. Had he used her right off the bat, med her, maybe she wouldn¡¯t feel so choked up as she did now. But no, he¡¯d stepped up to defend her, not just for her sake but for all the interns. And in the heat of the argument with the bald man, he¡¯d even dropped her name. She¡¯d thought Frederick had her back, but it turned out she was just fooling herself. With a defiant re, Marguerite mmed her tablet onto the desk, ¡°Thanks, but no need.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y high and mighty with me. You cozying up to me was all about the fame and fortune, wasn¡¯t it? Maybe others can¡¯t see through you, but I can.¡± Marguerite turned her head, ¡°So, you¡¯re convinced that I swiped the bracelet, huh?¡± Frederick scoffed, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Marguerite¡¯s world was spinning. She¡¯d never felt this way before. First, she was framed by Yuna, then ended up at the police station. Just when she thought it was all over, Frederick showed up, shaming her without knowing the whole story. Did they really think she was asking for it? Her resentment erupted like a volcano, and she couldn¡¯t hold back the tears any longer. ¡°No! Hell no! What do I owe you, Frederick? Why don¡¯t you question your girlfriend before youe at me? I work in a ce covered with CCTV, there¡¯s no way you can¡¯t find out the truth! Go see for yourself who stole it, me or her!¡± Seeing Marguerite in tears, Frederick, cold as he was felt a knot in his stomach. Her tear¨Cstreaked face was heartbreaking, her sobs filled with sorrow, like a wounded animal. Could it really be Yuna¡­ No way! The love of his life couldn¡¯t possibly do such a thing. ¡°I don¡¯t need to look into it. I trust her.¡± Marguerite was shaking, her voice filled with pain. ¡°Yeah, because she¡¯s the one you love, of course you¡¯d trust her! You¡¯re so damn blind! Toy candle to her lies.¡± I¡¯m just some lowlife, my reputation can¡¯t hold a Marguerite¡¯s words got under Frederick¡¯s skin. ¡°Marguerite, calm down, stop getting defensive. Don¡¯t throw a fit in front of me just because you¡¯re my wife!¡± At that, Marguerite burst intoughter, but it wasced sarcasm, ¡°Frederick, I never acknowledged myself as your wife! Never!¡± She stormed out, no longer willing to argue with Frederick. As she exited the office, the ss door rattled in her wake. Seeing her storm off, Frederick was left with a bitter taste in his mouth. He was furious but he couldn¡¯t help but hurl the tablet at the door. Who did she think she was, yelling at him like that in Stonebridge City? She had the nerve to shout at him? His thought was: if she dared to be so brash, next time she needed help, he wouldn¡¯t lift a finger! Despite his anger, when Marguerite left, Frederick felt a void. Why was he getting worked up over a woman he didn¡¯t care about? What a mess! Meanwhile, Marguerite was in a simr state. She ran into the bathroom in tears, hoping to wash her face to calm down, but remembering she was wearing a mask and afraid it would fall off, she could only pat her face with wet hands. After a while, she pulled herself together and went back to her post, hoping to vent through hard work, she could only numb herself with the heavy workload. Just as she was about to call it a day, Zoe called. Marguerite nced at the screen and pressed ¡°ignore¡°. ?1 13:09 Chapter 33 It was clear as day that she was calling on behalf of Yuna. If she¡¯d picked up, Zoe would probably give her an earful of lessons. She didn¡¯t need that kind of trouble. Even though Marguerite didn¡¯t pick up, Zoe¡¯s texts kepting, ¡°Your grandma¡¯stest medical record is with me. Pick it up or not, your call.¡± Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Now this is a head¨Cscratcher, how did Marguerite¡¯s grandma¡¯s medical records end up in her mom¡¯s hands? Just as Marguerite was lost in thought, another text from Zoe buzzed in. The text was an address, along with a nasty jab, ¡°If you don¡¯t wannae grab your grandma¡¯s medical records, that¡¯s on you. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re gonna lose sleep over whether she kicks the bucket or not.¡± Marguerite¡¯s fingers clenched tightly around her phone. She could stomach insults from Zoe, but for her to say such a thing about her seriously ill grandma? What kind of human being does that? For the sake of her grandma¡¯s wellbeing, Marguerite had no choice but to duck out of work and dash off to Zoe¡¯s given address. She knew she was about to walk into a storm of scolding, but hell, her grandma was the only family she had left, she couldn¡¯t choose not to go. at a swanky residential area called ¡°Diamond Crest Estates¡°. An hourter, she hopped off the bus Marguerite got off the bus, entered the neighborhood, found the house number and knocked on the door. The door swung open, and Yuna, sizing Marguerite¡¯s in¨CJane outfit, didn¡¯t bother hiding her disdain, her eyes dripping with arrogance. ¡°Marguerite, are you moonlighting behind Frederick¡¯s back? Dressed like this and you have the gall toe to Diamond Crest Estates? How the hell did you get past security?¡± Marguerite replied with a poker face, ¡°I¡¯m just here to pick up grandma¡¯s medical records, then I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Ablett and Zoe were sipping in the livin room. Zoe nced at the door and haughtily said, ¡°Let her in.¡± Yuna yanked Marguerite inside, then gave her a hard shove. ¡°Get in and knock off the ¡®woe is me¡® act, will ya?¡± Even though she was shoved, Marguerite didn¡¯t bother. She straightened her back and headed for the living room. Watching Marguerite¡¯s resilience, Yuna was overly smug. ¡°Marguerite, you see this? This ce is something you could never afford in a million years, but here I am, living in it. You know why? Because Frederick loves me. He bought this house for me and my name¡¯s on the deed.¡± Marguerite calmly stared at Yuna¡¯s smug face, ¡°No matter how much he loves you, you¡¯re still just a mistress. As long as I don¡¯t divorce him, you¡¯ll never be a part of the Winston family.¡± ¡°YOU!¡± Yuna was so angry her eyes turned red. ¡°Give me grandma¡¯s medical records now.¡± Marguerite ignored Yuna and turned to face Zoe and Ablett. But the moment she turned her head, Zoe¡¯s palmnded hard on her cheek. ¡°You shameless ingrate! Our family went bankrupt because of you, and now you¡¯re trying to steal your Zoe pointed at Marguerite, almost poking her in the eye. sister¡¯s husband!¡± ¡°You dare to steal from your sister? You must be out of your mind! If we knew you were so conniving, we should have let Feeling that cursing at Marguerite wasn¡¯t enough, Zoe shoved her to the ground. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal her bracelet! I didn¡¯t!¡± Marguerite covered her reddened cheek with one hand, using the other to push herself up from the floor, Seeing this, Yuna quickly moved forward and started to beat Marguerite. ¡°Thief! You¡¯re still trying to defend yourself!? It was you who stole my bracelet! You wench!¡± Marguerite was drained. She had spent the day handing out flyers and hadn¡¯t eaten anything. How could she defend herself? All she could do was using her arms to protect her head and gritting her teeth to bear the pain. Pain washed over her like a flood, and Marguerite¡¯s frail body trembled. die at birth!¡± Suddenly, she realized, they didn¡¯t have grandma¡¯s medical records. They had tricked her intoing here just so they could give Yuna an excuse to bully her. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Yuna! If you keep hitting her, you¡¯ll hurt your hand.¡± A deep, weathered male voice rang Ablett put down his cup of tea, stood up proudly, and looked at Marguerite. He tossed a bus ticket in her face. His action was as if he regarded Marguerite as nothing more than a lowly animal. ¡°Mr. Winston is Yuna¡¯s man, and that¡¯s not changing. You better get real, leave Stonebridge City while we¡¯re still in a good mood and go back to Marina Shores Vige.¡± Marguerite, with tears welling up in her eyes, choked on her words, ¡°Dad, the old house in Marina Shores Vige was burned down years ago. If you want me to go back, where am I supposed to live?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem, not ours!¡± Ablett nced at Marguerite, hands behind his back, ¡°And for the record, I¡¯m not your dad. Yuna is my only 13-09 daughter!* With a throbbing headache and a deste look on her face, Marguerite balled up her fists, staring at the three people in front of her. Why did she still call him ¡°dad¡°? They had long stopped acknowledging her as their daughter. To differentiate her from Yuna, they even made her wear this hideous mask. Tears welled up in Marguerite¡¯s eyes, but she held them back and said, ¡°Unless Frederick himself tells me to leave, I won¡¯t let you guys have your way!¡± Ablett¡¯s face changed, as he didn¡¯t expect Marguerite to have the guts to say that. *Marguerite, you¡¯ve been in the countryside for so many years, but you sure have grown some guts!¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you, if you dare to hurt grandma again, I¡¯ll rip you guys!¡± Marguerite tightened her fists, unflinchingly staring them down. Before she could finish her sentence, a vase in Yuna¡¯s hand came crashing down on the back of Marguerite¡¯s head. Marguerite¡¯s world went ck and she passed out. Letting go of the vase and seeing the blood seeping from the back of Marguerite¡¯s head, Yuna suddenly screamed, ¡°Dad! We¡¯re screwed! I think we might¡¯ve killed her!¡± Ablett was taken aback and quickly reached out to check Marguerite¡¯s breathing. After a while, he let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s just passed out.¡± ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Yuna looked at Marguerite, asking anxiously. Ablett looked menacingly at Marguerite, ¡°Since she doesn¡¯t want to leave, then she can¡¯t me us for being rude! We¡¯ll dump her in Marina Shores Vige and let her die!¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Ablett barked an order and Zoe and Yuna immediately whipped out a big stic bag they had prepared earlier, stuffing Marguerite inside. The ground was a mess, with Marguerite¡¯s blood stains and her dropped belongings scattered everywhere. Yuna quickly got to picking up Marguerite¡¯s stuff, suddenly noticing a small vial of pale green perfume with a faint shimmer. She brought the vial close to her nose for a sniff, a refreshing and unique scent immediately hitting her nostrils. Zoe nudged her, ¡°What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and clean this mess! Get rid of her stuff!¡± Yuna turned to Zoe, ¡°Mom, this perfume actually smells really good, wonder where Marguerite got it from.¡± ¡°She¡¯s dirt poor, where¡¯d she get the money for perfume? Probably nicked it from some store, that shameless thief!¡± After hearing this, Yuna¡¯s distaste for Marguerite deepened. Shrugging her shoulders, Yuna chucked away all of Marguerite¡¯s belongings, except for the vial of perfume, which she decided to keep out of whim. Sapphire Valley Estates. After work, Frederick had somest¨Cminute meetings with clients, so it was alreadyte by the time he got home. The vi was quiet, the servants already in bed, with only amp left on in the living room for Frederick. As soon as he stepped inside, Sadie quickly donned a coat and hurried out of the servants¡® quarters to take Frederick¡¯s jacket. ¡°Mr. Winston, the chef prepared some French veal broth for you earlier, I can heat it up for you right now.¡± ¡°No need. Frederick quickly ascended the stairs, suddenly stopping to ask, ¡°Is that woman asleep?¡± Sadie paused, ¡°Do you mean the Madame? Hearing the term ¡®Madame¡®, Frederick¡¯s gaze sharpened, then rxed again. He didn¡¯t correct Sadie¡¯s reference to Marguerite, merely nodding after a moment of silence, ¡°Mhm.¡± Sadie looked puzzled, ¡°Mr. Winston, the Madame isn¡¯t back yet.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not back?¡± Frederick¡¯s face changed immediately. Sadie nodded, ¡°Yes, I called her just now but there was no answer. I thought she was with you¡­¡± Frederick nced at his watch, it was already midnight. That woman wasn¡¯t home yet? He felt a hint of irritation. ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯ste, I¡¯m worried the Madame might be in danger¡­¡± Frederick felt a pang of concern. But then he remembered Marguerite¡¯s argument with him in the afternoon, and her defiant voice, ¡°I have never acknowledged myself as your wife! Never!¡± So just because he lectured her about stealing, she got so mad she didn¡¯te home? Was she trying to get his attention? So childish! So melodramatic! ¡°Mr. Winston, do you want me to send someone to find her?¡± Sadie¡¯s anxious voice only added to Frederick¡¯s irritation. He took off his tie impatiently, replying coldly, ¡°She¡¯s a grown woman, what danger could she possibly be in? Don¡¯t bother sending anyone!¡± At that moment, he thought, ¡°Marguerite is such an ungrateful woman. Does she really think she¡¯s that important?!¡± He couldn¡¯t even be bothered to call and ask about her whereabouts. ¡°That woman, better if she neveres back!¡± With that, Frederick stormed off. Just as he reached his room, Sadie rushed in, looking lost with phone in hand, Mr. Winston, I tried calling the Madame again. It was still ringing just now, but now it says she¡¯s out of service!¡± ¡°Out of service?¡± Frederick furrowed his brows. ¡°Yes! Her phone lost signal! That means the Madame was in a remote area. Mr. Winston, just in case, you should check where the Madame is right away!¡± 1/1 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Frederick didn¡¯t move right away. He strode over to Sadie, his tone icy. ¡°Call her again, and put it on speaker.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Sadie immediately dialed Marguerite¡¯s number. After a brief pause, the call started ringing. The call actually went through! Sadie looked at Frederick, puzzled, only to see his worried expression suddenly gloomy. ¡°This¡­¡± Sadie seemed a bit nervous. ¡°Didn¡¯t the call get through? Don¡¯t make a mountain out of a molehill.¡± He turned away, his face cold. ¡°Get out.¡± Sadie looked at her phone screen, then at Frederick, and left with apprehension. ¡°How could this happen? It was out of service just now, how could it suddenly get through¡­¡± Sadie muttered under her breath, but Frederick didn¡¯t care. He was convinced that Marguerite was just throwing a fit and refusing toe home. Little did he know what she was going through right now. After being shoved into a bag, Marguerite was driven by Ablett to Marina Shores Vige and dumped in a warehouse there. The warehouse was not far from the house that had been burnt down, only about a three¨Cminute walk. He found a local mad beggar to watch Marguerite, and paid him a hefty sum. Ablett had already nned that once Marguerite died, even if the police got involved, they wouldn¡¯t be able to trace it back to him After all, who would believe the babblings of a madman? After Ablett left, Marguerite gradually regained some consciousness. The intense pain in her body caused her to slow down. When she woke up, she found herself tied up and stuffed into arge, dark bag, unable to move. She had no idea where she was, and the cold wind and eerie silence filled her with fear. Marguerite yelled in panic, ¡°Is anyone there? Can anyone help me?¡± The mad beggar hit the iron bars of the window with a rod, stuttering, ¡°You¡­ shut up! Just die already¡­ once you starve to death, my¡­ my mission will beplete!¡± The Lockwood family was really ruthless. They not only tied her up and put her in a stic bag, but also nned to let her starve to death? Marguerite was filled with hatred! She hated the Lockwood family for treating her life so cruelly! She also hated herself for being so stupid and falling into their trap again. As the night deepened, the cold seeped into every part of Marguerite¡¯s body. She curled up, helpless. She felt her eyelids getting heavier and sleepiness creeping in. No! She couldn¡¯t sleep! Absolutely not! If she fell asleep, she might never wake up again! Marguerite, you must hold on! Just think about the Lockwood family¡¯s hatred for you. Think about your grandmother still in the hospital You have to survive, get out of here alive, and then fight back¡­ The next day. There was a problem with the demolition n for Cedarbrook Street, so Frederick didn¡¯t go to LuxeScents International, but spent the whole morning at the demolitionpany. When everything was done, Yuna called. Frederick suddenly realized that since he had found Yuna, he hadn¡¯t had a chance to properly date her, so he decided to spend the entire afternoon with her. Yuna was very happy, dressed up, and even sprayed perfume she got from Marguerite. Frederick took her to eat food at the top of Stonebridge City¡¯s tallest skyscraper. He cut the steak handsomely while Yuna just stared at him dreamily. 13:09 He asionally looked up at her and asked casually, ¡°Are you , ¡°It¡¯sfortable, but I still want to live with Freddie.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already said, once I divorce, you cane live with me.¡± Yuna wasn¡¯t in a hurry. After all, that annoying woman Marguerite was now in Marina Shores Vige, dead or alive, by the time Frederick found out, she¡¯d probably be history. Who would be there topete for her husband then? ¡°Freddie, can you take me to Grandeur Square Mall this afternoon? They have the world¡¯s most high¨Cend luxury brands. I want to take a look.¡± Freddie looked at her, a hint of impatience in his eyes. ¡°Do you like luxury goods that much?¡± Yuna cooed, ¡°Freddie, no woman can resist the temptation of luxury goods. I just want to take a look. I don¡¯t necessarily have to buy anything.¡± No woman can resist the temptation of luxury goods? Not necessarily. Marguerite didn¡¯t seem to like luxury goods. The few sportswear she often wore were washed to the point of fading, but she didn¡¯t change them, Frederick thought to himself: Why am I thinking about that annoying woman again? Frederick suppressed his irritation, stuffed a piece of steak into his mouth, ¡°If you like anything, just buy it. If you don¡¯t have enough money, let me know.¡± Yuna was over the moon. The consumption level of Grandeur Square Mall isn¡¯t something everyone can afford. With the previous assets of the Lockwood family, she could only stare greedily at the window disys of most brand stores. But today was different, she had Frederick, her ¡®mobile ATM¡®, and she could buy whatever she wanted, without considering the price. Just as Yuna was contentedly thinking about this, Frederick¡¯s phone rang. He picked up the phone with grace, his face unreadable, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡°. ¡°Mr. Winston, thepany is applying for a patent for Marguerite¡¯s Pr Radiance perfume. We need the form. Are you¡­ with Marguerite right now?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze changed instantly, ¡°She hasn¡¯t been to the office yet?¡± Chuck seemed nervous, ¡°No, she hasn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Call her.¡± ¡°I did call her, but she didn¡¯t pick up!¡± Frederick¡¯s expression became even more severe, ¡°Then keep calling her!¡± Yuna had known from Frederick and Chuck¡¯s conversation that the person they were discussing was Marguerite. Thinking about the fact that this bitch Marguerite was probably hiding out in a warehouse somewhere, she couldn¡¯t help but reveal a sly smile. After Frederick hung up the phone, she started to stir the pot again, trying to rile up his emotions. ¡°Freddie, it¡¯s irresponsible for an employee to skip work without any exnation. Whoever it is, they should be fired.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t pay any attention to Yuna¡¯s words, looking out of the window in frustration. The towering skyscraper they were in pierced the clouds, the sunlight filtered through the gentle cloudyer, creating a Tyndall effect. But he couldn¡¯t calm down with such a serene view. The only thing on his mind was: where the hell was Marguerite? Chapter 37 Chapter 37 The guy took his eyes off her. He kept dialing Marguerite¡¯s number, but no one answered. Yuna nced at his phone and saw Marguerite¡¯s name shing on the screen. She was pissed off. Why was he still thinking about Marguerite when he¡¯s with her? That woman was so annoying! Once she was gone, Frederick wouldn¡¯t think about her anymore! With a roll of her eyes, Yuna gged down a waiter, hoping to divert Frederick¡¯s attention. ¡°Check, please.¡± The waiter nodded politely, ced the bill next to Frederick, and gently asked, ¡°Sir, your total is 480 dors. Would you like to pay in cash or by card?¡± Snapping back to reality, Frederick responded sinctly, ¡°Card.¡± After quickly settling the bill, Yuna grabbed her purse. She leaned on Frederick¡¯s shoulder, and said, ¡°Frederick, let¡¯s go to Grandeur Square Mall. It¡¯s our first date, and I¡¯m so excited.¡± Frederick, however, was still trying to reach Marguerite. He shook his head and pushed Yuna away, keeping a distance. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got something to do this afternoon. I may not be able to apany you today.¡± Then Yuna¡¯s face turned pale. He had promised that he would spend the whole afternoon with her, and now he suddenly imed to be upied. Was he going to see Marguerite? Yuna lowered her eyelids, feigning a hurt look. ¡°Frederick, you promised to keep mepany. Are you really going to leave me alone for Marguerit¨¦?¡± Frederick turned to look at her, and Yuna¡¯s tears immediately fell. heard you when you were on the phone. Frederick, know Marguerite is your wife in name, but I am your girlfriend. Am I not as important as Marguerite in your heart?¡± Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked pitiful. Frederick frowned. He hated it when women cried at the drop of a hat. But he realized that he had indeed neglected the woman in front of him. t Was Marguerite really more important to him than Yuna? No! Absolutely not! He needed Marguerite¡¯s form to apply for a patent for thepany, and he was only interested in the benefits Marguerite could bring to the Frederick hugged Yuna, gently patting her back tofort her. ¡°Who could be more important than you? If it weren¡¯t for thepany¡¯s need, I wouldn¡¯t care about her.¡± Yuna was thrilled. ¡°Really, Frederick? Even if Marguerite dies, does it matter to you?¡± Frederick nodded, ¡°No.¡± Suddenly, he smelled a faint scent from Yuna¡¯s neck. That scent was exactly like the Pr Radiance perfume designed by Marguerite. Frederick gently pushed Yuna away, then stared at her. ¡°Did you wear perfume today?¡± Yuna was about to reply, but she didn¡¯t say a word. She did wear perfume, but it was Marguerite¡¯s! Yuna realized something and quickly shook her head, widening her eyes in innocence. ¡°Frederick, do you smell anything on me?¡± Frederick looked at her with aplex expression. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my body scent.¡± Frederick hesitated, then had a sudden realization. He was sure that Yuna was the girl he had a one¨Cnight stand with, so this scent was indeed her body scent. He had always been curious as to why Yuna¡¯s body scent was exactly the same as the Pr Radiance perfume designed by Marguerite. However, the most important thing now was to find Marguerite and get the form. Other matters could be set aside for now. Without saying anything else, Frederick left in a hurry. Yuna watched his retreating figure with narrowed eyes. 13:10 She remembered Frederick asking her more than once whether she had worn perfume that night. Today she wore Marguerite¡¯s perfume, and he asked again. It seemed that Marguerite attracted Frederick that night using that perfume, She finally understood that Frederick didn¡¯t really love Marguerite. What he was infatuated with was probably just the scent of Marguerite! This realization excited Yuna. She called Zoe as soon as she left the restaurant and said urgently, ¡°Mom, get the bottle of perfume from my vanity. The light green one. It¡¯s a sample.¡± Zoe walked to the vanity. She found the perfume sample and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this Marguerite¡¯s?¡± ¡°Mom! Marguerite seduced Frederick with this perfume! Now help me get this perfume. With this perfume, I can definitely capture Frederick¡¯s heart!¡± Zoe immediately agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll find it for you right away.¡± Yuna smiled in satisfaction and added, ¡°Mom, Marguerite is about to die, right? Tell the guys at Marina Shores Vige to speed up the n to kill her. Don¡¯t hold back.¡± Yuna thought, ¡°Since Frederick doesn¡¯t care if Marguerite is alive or dead, why not just get rid of her now and dump her body in the wilderness? No one will find her, and no one will suspect me. Given my current status in Frederick¡¯s eyes, even if he knew it was me, he wouldn¡¯t be angry. No! How could Frederick possibly know about this? I just met him and acted like the perfect girlfriend. Frederick thought was kind and innocent, and he would never suspect me. Thinking of this, Yunaughed. She seemed to have already seen Marguerite¡¯s pitiful state and her own bright future. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 The moment Frederick stepped into the CEO¡¯s office, he flew off the handle and angrily threw an ashtray at the French window. ¡°Which department does Marguerite belong to? Get her manager here! She¡¯s cking off, and now she¡¯s not even showing up for work?¡± Looking troubled, Chuck stole a nce at his irate boss and plucked up the courage to say, ¡°Mr. Winston, you said only you could handle Marguerite. So, she was assigned to your department.¡± Frederick spun around, ring at Chuck. ¡°Are you implying that her absence is my fault?¡± Robert squinted and shook his head. He thought, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? If you hadn¡¯t humiliated Marguerite with the jewelry purchase yesterday, would she be avoiding work to dodge you?¡± Chuck had the same thoughts, but he didn¡¯t dare to voice them out loud. Seeing this, Robert waved Chuck out of the room. He sighed and walked over to Frederick. ¡°This woman is so headstrong. I¡¯m starting to doubt that she really stole the bracelet. Getting the patent is the priority now, and we need to get the perfume form ASAP.¡± Robert cautiously looked at Frederick. ¡°How about you apologize to her?¡± A sharp look shed in Frederick¡¯s eyes as he retorted arrogantly, ¡°Apologize? Who does she think she is?¡± 1 Feeling helpless, Robert retorted, ¡°She didn¡¯te home yesterday and she didn¡¯te to work today. She doesn¡¯t even have a ce to stay. Aren¡¯t you worried something dangerous might happen to her?¡± Frederick f¨¦lt a pang of concern at his words. He took a deep breath. Taking out his phone, he sent a text behind Robert¡¯s back. [I was too harsh on you about the theft. I¡¯ll help you clear things up. Where are you? Send me your location, and I¡¯lle pick you up.] He had made the biggest concession, and surely that should cool her down. However, Frederick didn¡¯t receive a reply from Marguerite. He anxiously dialed her number again, only to find out that her phone was turned off! Just a moment ago he could call her, but now her phone was off. Frederick was livid. He was worried about her safety, but she didn¡¯t appreciate it. Frederick was getting angrier. ¡°She has crossed the line! Didn¡¯t she need this job? Fine, if she doesn¡¯te to me, I will make sure she can¡¯t find a job in this industry!¡± He made the threat, waiting for Marguerite to reply ande begging to him at thepany. But two days passed and Marguerite didn¡¯t reply to any of his messages. Robert couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. While trying to soothe Frederick, he cautiously asked, ¡°Frederick, has Margueritee to see you?¡± Frederick had been troubled by this for days, and now Robert was rubbing salt in his wound! He red at Robert, his voice sounding demonic, ¡°If you¡¯ve got nothing to do, go find a job. Stop spouting nonsense here.¡± Robert shifted his chair closer to Frederick and anxiously said, ¡°Frederick, aren¡¯t you worried? No matter how stubborn Marguerite is, she wouldn¡¯t disappear without a trace. Have you tried tracking her phone?¡± Frederick frowned. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off. Marguerite was not the type to shirk responsibilities. Even if she didn¡¯t want toe to the office, considering her dedication to her work, she wouldplete all her handovers before resigning. But she did none of that and just disappeared. Robert stopped caring about Frederick¡¯s mood. Love wasn¡¯t a chess game, it was not about who gave in first or who won. If Marguerite was indeed in danger, Frederick would be filled with regretter! He walked towards Frederick¡¯s desk, turned on theputer, and said sternly, ¡°Frederick, if you don¡¯t want something to happen to your wife, I suggest you get Chuck to check the surveince footage of herst day at thepany right now. I¡¯m going to track her phone location, and you better pray she¡¯s safe.¡± Even Frederick¡¯s cold and hard heart tightened at Robert¡¯s words. Could she really be in danger? 13:10 Without any hesitation or consideration, Frederick immediately called Chuck, ¡°Check the surveince of Marguerite¡¯sst day at thepany, and do it as fast as you can!¡± Soon, Chuck rushed into the CEO¡¯s office with the update, ¡°Mr. Winston, I found something! Three days ago, Marguerite took a call and left in a hurry. She seemed anxious.¡± ¡°Check her call records!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± As Chuck hurried out of the office, Robert suddenly hit the enter key and announced, ¡°I found Marguerite¡¯s location!¡± Frederick immediately went to his desk. He looked at theputer screen and saw a green location marker on the Google map filled with winding streets. Frederick¡¯s eyes widened, and his usually calm face was filled with shock. That location marker was at Marina Shores Vige! The vige that had a big fire! It was where Yuna used to live, but how could Marguerite be there? Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Marina Shores Vige was just an hour¡¯s drive away from Stonebridge City, tucked away in the countryside. But Frederick, with his foot heavy on the gas, made it there in less than half an hour. By sunset, the vige was filled with the salty, fishy scent of the sea breeze. Robert held his breath, but Frederick¡¯s was dark and grim. His gazended on an old, dpidated warehouse surrounded by thorny bushes. Wincing through the pain, Frederick pushed his way through the bushes, heading straight for the warehouse pinpointed in Google Maps. Each step he took felt heavier than thest. The stench from the surrounding dump was so bad that it had Robert following behind him sneezing like crazy. With his nose covered, Robert could barely hide his anger. ¡°Who on earth did Marguerite piss off? Who would go so far as to dump her here? This is just sick!¡± Just then, there was a shabby and dirty beggar, and his hair was all over the ce. He sat in the pile of garbage gnawing on moldy bread. Seeing Frederick and Robert approaching, he picked up a steel pipe and began to menacingly stride towards them. ¡°This is my turf. Who the hell are you guys?¡± Robert was taken aback. ¡°Is this guy out of his mind?¡± Before he had even finished his sentence, the beggar was swinging the steel pipe at them. Frederick dodged swiftly. Caught off guard, Robert was forced to block the iing pipe with his hand. Frederick shot a nce at the situation. ¡°You handle this guy, and I¡¯ll go find Marguerite!¡± With pressure mounting, Robert was livid. ¡°Frederick, make it quick! This guy is stronger than he looks!¡± Then Robert was caught up in a struggle with the beggar. Frederick wasted no time. He kicked open the warehouse door, and the light from outside illuminated the darkness, revealing a flurry of moths and bats that fluttered around before disappearing into the night. His face was grimmer than before as he called out, ¡°Marguerite!¡± The warehouse was eerily silent, with only his anxious echo responding. He ventured deeper into the warehouse, and as he moved further in, the light grew dimmer. He pulled out his phone, using the shlight to guide his path. Then he noticed arge bag on the floor. The bulging bag hinted at a vague human shape inside, and Frederick¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. He was anxious, thinking, ¡°Oh my God! Could Marguerite be in there?¡± Without a second thought, he rushed over and opened the bag. What he saw was Marguerite¡¯s dirty face. She was barely breathing and was cold as ice. He was frantic. Then he undid the ropes around her hands and feet, calling her name, ¡°Marguerite! Marguerite, wake up!¡± Her breath was faint and she remained unconscious, unable to hear his desperate calls. Frederick quickly removed his coat, draping it over Marguerite¡¯s frail body. Then he gently picked her up. He dashed towards the entrance, where a Cullinan car had just pulled up through the bushes. Sporting a new injury on his face, Robert shouted, ¡°Get in, quick!¡± Frederick held Marguerite tight as he opened the car door and quickly got in. Robert hit the gas, and the engine roared to life as the car kicked up dust. Just as they were pulling away, the beggar emerged from somewhere with a string of firecrackers in his hand. He threw them at the car with a manic grin on his face. The firecrackers exploded under the car, and Frederick instinctively covered Marguerite¡¯s ears. By now, night had fallen, and the dim streetlights illuminated Marguerite¡¯s bruised and battered face. Frederick looked at her face. While gently touching her wounds, his hand was trembling slightly. It felt like a punch to the gut, leaving him with a dull pain. Who had she offended? Who had the audacity to not only hurt her but to tie her up and abandon her in the vige? Frederick thought of the beggar in the dump. Could it be him? No! There was no way! The beggar was clearly mentally unstable, dressed in rags. He was probably just a pawn, and there was no way he had anything to do with Marguerite! 13:10 So, who was it that hurt his woman? He was determined to find the culprit! Frederick held Marguerite tightly. He gently soothed her frail body, trying his best not to hurt her. Looking in the rearview mirror, Robert was both saddened and relieved. For once, he saw something other than indifference on Frederick¡¯s face. At that moment, Frederick¡¯s world was consumed by Marguerite. His eyes were filled with guilt and concern. Suddenly, a call from Chuck came through. With Frederick¡¯s phone connected to the car¡¯s Bluetooth, Robert answered the call for him. ¡°Mr. Winston! We found thest call record on Marguerite¡¯s phone! It was from a woman named Zoe!¡± A look of killing intent shed across Frederick¡¯s eyes, ¡°Who¡¯s Zoe? Find her!¡± On the other end of the line, Chuck swallowed nervously and stammered, ¡°Mr. Winston, Zoe is Ms. Yuna¡¯s mother.¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 In the middle of their conversation, Robert had quickly driven back to Sapphire Valley Estates. Sadie and Chuck, along with the medical team, had been waiting at the door for quite a while. As soon as Frederick got out of the car carrying Marguerite, the nurse rushed over with the stretcher. Frederick carefully put Marguerite on the bed, then turned to Chuck. His tone was icy. ¡°Come with me to the study.¡± Chuck followed him without a word. In a huff, Frederick lit up a cigar andmanded, ¡°Dig into the rtionship between Marguerite and the Lockwood family.¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯m on it!¡± Then Chuck left at once. Meanwhile, Frederick turned to the full¨Clength window, slowly puffing on his cigar. Yuna had previously denied knowing Marguerite, but things didn¡¯t seem to be as simple as that. If she really didn¡¯t know Marguerite, then how the hell did Zoe have Marguerite¡¯s phone number? He wasn¡¯t sure what they had talked about, but Marguerite had looked extremely agitated when she left thepany. She was clearly under a huge threat. And then she disappeared. All this made him suspect that the Lockwood family was bullying Marguerite. If that was the case, what the hell had Marguerite done to piss off the Lockwoods so much? They were even willing to take her life just to get rid of,her. Frederick was seething, unable to figure out why. Out of control, he immediately dialed Yuna. Yuna was thrilled to receive Frederick¡¯s call, but before she could even speak, Frederick threatened, ¡°I need an exnation.¡± ¡°What exnation? Freddie, I don¡¯t get what you¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°Why did you hurt Marguerite?¡± His voice was dangerously low. Yuna waspletely taken aback, and she stuttered, unable to find her words. Frederick¡¯s eyes narrowed. So, it was them! At first, it was just his suspicions without any evidence, so he had to test. He just asked one question, and Yuna¡¯s reaction said it all. ¡°Freddie, you must have gotten something wrong. I didn¡¯t hurt her.¡± Ignoring Yuna¡¯s feigned ignorance, Frederick retorted, ¡°Do I need to spell it out for you? I found her in the warehouse at Marina Shores Vige, and I¡¯ve brought her home.¡± ¡°Freddie.¡± Yuna was visibly shaken. ¡°Yuna, I can give you everything, and I can also take it all back. If you dare to hurt my woman, you¡¯re asking for trouble!¡± He hung up the phone coldly, and then he angrily deleted Yuna¡¯s contact. Frederick was livid, and without any hesitation, he found Chuck and ordered, ¡°Tomorrow, go to Diamond Crest Estates and take the house back.¡± Chuck hesitated slightly, ¡°Then where will Ms. Yuna stay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn.¡± Frederick put out his cigar angrily, and changed the subject, ¡°How¡¯s Marguerite?¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite only has some superficial injuries and soft tissue bruises. The doctor said it¡¯s not serious, and she¡¯ll be fine after a few days rest.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± Frederick exploded, ¡°She¡¯s been unconscious. How can it not be serious?¡± Chuck was taken aback by Frederick¡¯s anger, looking confused. When did Mr. Winston start caring so much about Marguerite? This was so abrupt. Although Chuck was puzzled, he wouldn¡¯t pry into Frederick¡¯s personal matters. He could only exin, ¡°Ms. Marguerite fainted because she hadn¡¯t eaten for days. She passed out from hunger.¡± Frederick was in disbelief. How ruthless were the Lockwoods? Marguerite couldn¡¯t even get a meal! She had been starving for three whole days! He swore they would pay for this! Seeing Frederick¡¯s fury, Chuck quickly added to ease his mind, ¡°Mr. Winston, Sadie said Ms. Marguerite has woken up. Sadie made her chicken 13:10 soup and even helped her take a bath. There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± Frederick¡¯s tense expression finally rxed a bit, ¡°How is Marguerite now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s stable now, but she¡¯s probably resting. Mr. Winston, would you like to see her?¡± Frederick nodded subconsciously, then he walked straight to Marguerite¡¯s room without a word. But when he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, hesitating whether to go in. Because he suddenly realized that his feelings for Marguerite seemed to be changing. This change affected every aspect of his life, and his mood was increasingly influenced by Marguerite. He was out of control. He didn¡¯t think it was a good thing. He and Marguerite were never on the same path, and he was going to divorce her eventually. Frederick was worried about the increasing uncontroble factors in the future. He clenched his fist tightly and didn¡¯t open the door. He tried to suppress his feelings for Marguerite, trying to distance himself from her. However, things always turned out unexpectedly. Frederick sauntered back to his room, and the moment he shoved the door open, he instantly spotted a woman hiding in the nkets. Her head was buried in the quilt, shaking like a leaf out of sheer terror. Chapter 41 Instead of having a good rest in her room, she popped up in his bed. This had Frederick all kinds of confused. He saw her trembling like a leaf and it tore at his heart. He didn¡¯t wanna spook Marguerite, so he made his steps as light and slow as possible. But no matter how careful he was, her quivering just got worse. When Frederick got closer, he bent down to soothe her, gentlyying his hand on her. He was about to say something when he heard Marguerite¡¯s shaky voice. ¡°I have nothing. I have no money for you. Please don¡¯t hit me.¡± She had been locked up in that dark warehouse for three days, tortured by darkness and pain. This was Marguerite¡¯s reaction after her trauma. Even though she knew she was back at Sapphire Valley Estates, every little noise sent fear spiraling through her uncontrobly. She didn¡¯t feel safe. She mistook Frederick for a burr and she was scared out of her wits. Seeing Marguerite¡¯s reaction, Frederick felt his heart clenched. When she said ¡°don¡¯t hit me¡±, it tugged at his heartstrings. He let out a soft sigh, his face darkening, and he said in a tender voice, ¡°I won¡¯t hit you.¡± When Marguerite heard Frederick¡¯s deep voice, her heart raced. She slowly pulled back the covers, giving Frederick a wary look. Seeing Marguerite curled up in bed, Frederick was filled with pity. ¡°Are you scared?¡± He sat down on the edge of the bed, asking softly.. Marguerite nodded, her big eyes clear as water. She whispered a reply. ¡°Did you wander into my room on your own?¡± Frederick asked again. Marguerite shook her head, her face flushed from the warmth of the nket. Her voice was weak, as if she was afraid he¡¯d blow his top, so she was super careful. ¡°No, I woke up in bed. Sadie and the doctor were there, and you can ask them.¡± Seeing her tread on eggshells like that, Frederick felt even more heartbroken. What the hell did she go through in those three days that left her so scared? Frederickposed himself, then climbed into bed next to Marguerite. Marguerite was startled and instinctively moved away, asking in rm, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Frederick held out his arms to her, ¡°Are you scared? Come here. I¡¯ll hold you.¡± Marguerite blushed, ¡°I don¡¯t need that.¡± ¡°Are you ying hard to get?¡± Just as Frederick finished speaking, a bolt of lightning sliced through the sky outside the window, followed by a thunderp that was deafening. Marguerite was scared out of her wits by the thunder. She lost control and flipped over, quickly burrowing into Frederick¡¯s arms. The rain was pouring down like peas, falling uncontrobly to make a pitter-patter sound. But at this moment, Frederick¡¯s mood was unusually calm. He slightly bent his arm, holding Marguerite even tighter, gently turning her over. His sharp chin rested perfectly on top of Marguerite¡¯s head. Marguerite¡¯s trembling body gradually calmed down under Frederick¡¯sforting hold. And in the ce she couldn¡¯t see, the corners of Frederick¡¯s mouth curved up, revealing endless joy. Chapter 42 The storm raged on all night, and even as the dawn broke and the sky started to lighten up, the rain showed no sign of stopping. Frederick was jolted awake by the thunder, only to find Marguerite still nestled in his arms, sleeping soundly. Marguerite¡¯s brow was rxed. A wave of tenderness washed over Frederick. Marguerite might not be a beauty, but her eyes held a gentle yet unwavering strength, matching her resilient character. Her strong sense of self-worth radiated from her very bones. She didn¡¯t seem like someone who could harbor any ill will. At that moment, his heart was pounding chaotically like a ss window battered by the relentless rain. Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door, followed by Sadie¡¯s voice. ¡°Mr. Winston, are you awake? I have something important to report.¡± Frederick nced at the woman in his arms, who was still deep in slumber. Not wanting to disturb her, he carefully withdrew his arm from around her neck. He got out of bed, put on a ck robe, and left the room. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked, standing at the doorway. His tall figure was imposing. Sadie quickly reported, ¡°Mr. Winston, Ms. Yuna is here.¡± Yuna was here? Frederick¡¯s eyes narrowed, his expression as predatory as a cheetah¡¯s. ¡°Fine, have here in and apologize to Marguerite.¡± Sadie looked uneasy. ¡°Mr. Winston, Ms. Yuna is standing outside. She said she won¡¯te in unless you forgive her. She¡¯s been standing there for a while. I saw her when I woke up. With the heavy rain, you might want to go check on her yourself.¡± Yuna¡¯s actions irked him. She was tantly using her femininity to manipte him. So dramatic! Did she really think he¡¯d feel sorry for her? Ridiculous! Frederick wanted to ignore her, but he hadn¡¯t yet avenged Marguerite. Plus, he was curious about why the Lockwood family had hurt Marguerite. Since Yuna was here, he was curious to see how she would exin herself. Bypassing Sadie, Frederick headed to the living room. He grabbed arge ck umbre and went outside. The woman in the rain was a pitiful sight. Despite her small transparent umbre, her white dress waspletely soaked. Fredrick didn¡¯t feel sorry for her, instead, he said sternly, ¡°You need to apologize to Marguerite.¡± Yuna¡¯s lower lip was turning blue from the bite. Seeing the handsome man before her, she was more aggrieved than ever. ¡°Freddie, I can exin. It¡¯s not what you think!¡± Frederick¡¯s face darkened. ¡°So, do you admit that you did it?¡± ¡°Freddie, I had reasons for doing it!¡± Yuna dropped her umbre and knelt on the ground. She hugged Frederick¡¯s legs tightly and sobbed uncontrobly, ¡°Listen to me! Will you listen to me?¡± The more she begged him, the angrier Frederick became. Every time he thought of the bullying Marguerite endured, he wanted to give the perpetrators a taste of their own medicine, paying them back double. But he was adamant about never hitting a woman, so he had to swallow his anger. ¡°You don¡¯t need to beg me, and you don¡¯t need my forgiveness. Marguerite is the victim. You should apologize to her.¡± His gaze fixed on the view in the distance, sharp as a hawk¡¯s. Yuna¡¯s tears fell unchecked, her body shaking with emotion as she shook her head vehemently. ¡°No! Frederick, I won¡¯t apologize to Marguerite! Not even if I die!¡± ¡°Do you refuse to do that? What gives you the right to refuse? Yuna, you almost killed her!¡± Frederick could barely control his fury. He growled at her, his eyes bloodshot and turning red. Yuna clung tightly to Frederick¡¯s leg, her tear-streaked face looking up at him pleadingly. ¡°Frederick, Marguerite is my sister! My sister stole my husband. Why should I apologize to her?¡± Frederick froze. What did she say? Did she say that Marguerite was her sister? Chapter 43 Frederick was downright bbergasted. Marguerite Lockwood and Yuna Lockwood. They shared the samest name, but looked nothing alike. How on earth could they be sisters? Frederick¡¯s face was a picture of astonishment. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Yuna took a deep breath, her sorrow was so deep that her shoulders shook uncontrobly. ¡°Frederick, Marguerite was adopted by my parents and she was my foster sister. Although we didn¡¯t share a drop of blood, I treated her like my own sister. Whatever she wanted, she got it. I did everything an elder sister should do! But ever since she arrived, I lost the favor from the family. My parents no longer favored me, even rtives and friends began to dislike me. Despite my best efforts to please everyone, nothing I did could match up to Marguerite. Seeing my plight, my grandma took me to the countryside. I don¡¯t know what happened next. By the time my parents found me, Marguerite was no longer with us. Later, my mom told me that Marguerite was so loved because she was a smooth talker, and she was especially good at ying innocent. She spread lots of nasty rumors about me when we were kids. They believed her, thinking kids wouldn¡¯t lie. That¡¯s when I realized Marguerite had stolen everything from me! She took the love my parents had for me, and even my rightful glory. Now, she¡¯s your wife. Frederick, you¡¯re my boyfriend! You are the man I love the most! I can overlook everything she¡¯s done before, but I can¡¯t stomach you bing her husband!¡± Marguerite was actually the adopted daughter of the Lockwood family. This factpletely blindsided Frederick. Yuna clung tightly to his legs as if afraid he¡¯d leave. Her tears had dried up, leaving only sobs, making her look pitiful and helpless. Gripping his umbre tightly, Frederick crouched down and sheltered Yuna under it. ¡°Even so, you can¡¯t just abuse her like that. Illegal confinement and excessive humiliation are crimes, you know?¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna tightly clung to Frederick¡¯s arm, shaking her head as she cried. ¡°No, Frederick, we didn¡¯t confine her, and we certainly didn¡¯t hit her! My parents called her back home to have a serious talk, to stop her from affecting you. But she not only refused to listen, but also threatened that as long as she doesn¡¯t divorce, I can never marry you. My parents were angry and just wanted to teach her a lesson. They took her back to Marina Shores Vige, so that she could reflect on her actions. But we never hit her. We even argued carefully, afraid of provoking her. Moreover, my dad left her some money to take care of herself. But when you said you found her in a warehouse yesterday, I was shocked. We never took her to any warehouse! Frederick, she was once part of our family. She used to be my sister! We couldn¡¯t bear to hurt her!¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze hardened, staring at her intently. ¡°You really didn¡¯t hurt her. Is that true?¡± Yuna nodded vigorously. ¡°We didn¡¯t hit her! Freddie, if you don¡¯t believe it, you can check! I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, and I¡¯m not afraid of being investigated!¡± Before she came, her parents had bribed everyone in Marina Shores Vige who had connections with Marguerite, reaching a unanimous agreement. So all the information Frederick could find would be in Yuna¡¯s favor. After saying this, Yuna gazed at the man pathetically. His expression wasplex, but the determination in his eyes seemed to suggest that he believed Yuna¡¯s words. Yuna bit her lip gently, squeezing out a few tears. ¡°Freddie, Marguerite stole everything from me, and I really don¡¯t want to apologize to her. It doesn¡¯t matter how she sees me or nders me in front of you, I only care about you.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes grew serious. ¡°You can¡¯t do foolish things in the future. If there¡¯s any issue, tell me immediately.¡± A sense of relief washed over Yuna. She had sessfully tricked Frederick. ¡°I got it, Freddie. I was wrong this time. I shouldn¡¯t have been so insecure. We¡¯ve known each other since fifteen years ago. You¡¯ve been looking for me all these years. How could you not love me, right?¡± Yuna deliberately mentioned the events from fifteen years ago as a reminder to Frederick. Upon hearing this, Frederick indeed faltered. Chapter 44 Indeed, Yuna was the woman he spent years looking for. The bread she gave him back then saved his life, how could he forget such a crucial thing? Why did he forget momentarily? Was it because he had beenpletely upied by Marguerite recently? So, was it as Yuna said? Did Marguerite have the ability to muddle people¡¯s thoughts? As long as he was with her, he would lose interest in everything else. Frederick¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his deep gaze unreadable. ¡°Frederick, you promised to marry me, and you wouldn¡¯t back out, would you?¡± Frederick looked at her, then helped her up from the ground. Though he was still confused about his feelings, he knew that what he felt for Yuna was nowhere near as strong as what he felt for Marguerite. But his promise to Yuna started fifteen years ago, and he wouldn¡¯t break it easily. After a moment of silence, Frederick calmly said, ¡°I won¡¯t. I said I¡¯d marry you, and I will.¡± Hearing this, Yuna¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Frederick, can you unblock my number? I couldn¡¯t sleepst night thinking you¡¯d left me for good.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t leave you. Go home now, and don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Despite feeling distant and awkward, Frederick had to keep taking care of her out of gratitude and responsibility. Though she had achieved her goal, Yuna didn¡¯t immediately leave. Instead, she extended her hand to Frederick, pleading pitifully, ¡°Can you hug me?¡± Frederick paused, a hint of indifference shed in his eyes, but he stepped forward and wrapped one arm around Yuna. Yuna held onto his waist tightly, her face full of happiness, yet her eyes were uncharacteristically cold. She looked over Frederick¡¯s shoulder, directly at the frail woman in front of the spoor window. Her smile grew wider, Yuna thought triumphantly, ¡°Marguerite, can you see this? Even after what I did to you, leaving you mentally and physically exhausted, Frederick still embraces me without hesitation. He doesn¡¯t love you at all!¡± Immersed in her world, Yuna failed to notice that Frederick didn¡¯t put any strength into the hug She clung onto him for a while, only letting go when she saw Marguerite¡¯s disappointed expression on the second floor. Frederick handed her the ck umbre he was holding, ¡°Alright, go home now.¡± Yuna took the umbre from Frederick like it was a prized possession, nodding her head coquettishly before reluctantly leaving. She stumbled a bit, feeling that something had gone wrong. While hugging Frederick, she seemed to have caught a whiff of Marguerite¡¯s scent on him. No! More specifically, it was the scent of that light green perfume! Frederick never wore perfume. Why would he smell like that? Did he stay with Margueritest night? Ugh, disgusting! Marguerite did bewitch Frederick with that perfume! Thinking this, Yuna immediately hailed a cab home. As soon as she stepped through the door, Zoe rushed towards her, eager to know if she had won over Frederick. But Yuna spoke first, ¡°Mom! Did you manage to get the perfume I asked you to buy a few days ago?¡± Zoe paused, then she immediately asked, ¡°The green one that Marguerite uses?¡± ¡°Yes! Don¡¯t even get me started! Your father and I searched every mall in Stonebridge City and we couldn¡¯t find it! We even took the sample to every store, but they all said that this kind of light green, iridescent perfume can¡¯t be produced domestically!¡± Yuna waspletely stunned. If it couldn¡¯t be bought domestically, how did Marguerite get it? Was it purchased overseas? But who would buy samples of perfume? Even if Marguerite was poor, she wouldn¡¯t be that desperate, right? Unable to figure it out, Yuna turned to Zoe and asked, ¡°Mom! Where¡¯s the perfume sample? How much is left?¡± Zoe turned and walked towards the couch, pulling out the perfume sample from her bag for Yuna. ¡°There¡¯s more than half left, and I didn¡¯t use it. But how did it go? Did Frederick believe you? We¡¯re not getting kicked out, are we?¡± Yuna took the sample and shook it gently with a victorious smile on her face, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He believed me.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Zoe felt a weight lifted off her shoulders, but she was still uneasy. ¡°Yuna, we can¡¯t let our guard down! I think Frederick has feelings for Marguerite. He was so angry when he called yesterday. It scared me!¡± Yuna sprayed the perfume behind her ears and said confidently, ¡°Frederick¡¯s feelings for Marguerite are fragile. If it wasn¡¯t for this perfume, he probably wouldn¡¯t even give her a second nce. I have Marguerite¡¯s secret weapon too. No matter where she bought it, now that this perfume is in my hands, I have the upper handl So, before this sample runs out, I¡¯ll definitely get Frederick!¡± Chapter 45 Sunshine streamed through the windows into the president¡¯s office of the Winston Group, spreading warmth and coziness. Frederick lounged on his swivel chair, basking in the sun, while his assistant, Chuck, respectfully reported from behind him, ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite and the Lockwood family do have a connection, but they don¡¯t interact much.¡± Frederick massaged his forehead, confused. ¡°If Marguerite was truly adopted by the Lockwood family, why are there no adoption records? And there¡¯s no proof that Marguerite is a Lockwood.¡± Chuck quickly pieced together a possibility from their previous investigation. ¡°The Lockwood family might have taken Marguerite in temporarily before she was taken away by her own family. We found out that Marguerite lived with her grandmother since childhood. She might¡¯ve been taken away by her grandmother.¡± Frederick nodded in agreement. Speaking of Marguerite¡¯s grandmother, Frederick suddenly remembered his agreement with Yuna. ¡°By the way, how¡¯s the search for Yuna¡¯s grandmother?¡± Chuck dropped his gaze, looking guilty. ¡°Still looking.¡± Frederick threw him a displeased look, then massaged his forehead again. What a bunch of useless guys. They had her grandmother¡¯s detailed information and they still couldn¡¯t find her. But what Frederick didn¡¯t know was that Yuna¡¯s grandmother and Marguerite¡¯s grandmother were the same person. He opened his eyes and looked at Chuck. ¡°How¡¯s Marguerite? Is her health improving?¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite has already returned to work.¡± Frederick frowned, his concern subtly leaked from his tone. ¡°Who allowed her toe to work?¡± ¡°It was Marguerite¡¯s own insistence. She¡¯s currently working on the Pr Radiance perfume and felt she had been dying the work, so she came.¡± Frederick¡¯s handsome face showed a hint of interest. ¡°She does have a great work ethic.¡± Chuck nced at the time and made a suggestion. ¡°It¡¯s almost lunchtime. Should I send her home?¡± Frederick thought for a while, then shook his head. ¡°No need. She¡¯s all about work right now. She won¡¯t rest well at home, so let her stay at thepany. Also, order a meal from Epicurean Eats.¡± Chuck immediately took out a notepad to write down the order. ¡°Mr. Winston, what would you like?¡± Frederick thought for a moment. ¡°A nut chicken sd, grilled salmon, and a porcini mushroom soup.¡± Chuck reminded him as he wrote, ¡°Mr. Winston, do you need these foods for replenishment?¡± Frederick red at him. ¡°Do I look like I need replenishment?¡± Chuck hesitated before asking, ¡°Then, this is?¡± ¡°For Marguerite.¡± Chuck felt that Frederick seemed to be more concerned about Marguerite since she was rescued. Chuck remembered how Yuna had caused a scene at Sapphire Valley Estates this morning. Although he didn¡¯t know what she said, he was sure it was nothing good about Marguerite. He even spotted Mr. Winston holding Yuna from afar, which filled his heart with disappointment. He believed Mr. Winston must have believed Yuna¡¯s words! However, Mr. Winston¡¯s deep concern for Marguerite now confused him even more. Who was the woman Mr. Winston loved? Actually, Frederick did believe some of what Yuna said. But what she talked about were things from their childhood. Now, Marguerite might not be the same as she was as a child. Frederick had been in the business world for many years, and he knew better than anyone else that rumor could kill. Although Yuna¡¯s words were logical and sincere, they were still just her side of the story, But Frederick had eyes. He could judge for himself. He needed to observe for himself what kind of person Marguerite was. Besides, he had been living with Marguerite for so many days. Although he always suspected her of having other motives, she never badmouthed Yuna in front of him. But every single word from Yuna hinted at Marguerite¡¯s wrongdoings. How different was Yuna from those backstabbers in thepany? Frederick had a deep distaste for Yuna¡¯s behavior. Lunchtime came. Chuck quickly ordered food from the restaurant, and appeared near Marguerite¡¯s desk with arge lunch box. The employees were about to head to the cafeteria for lunch, and Marguerite was about to join them. To her surprise, she almost bumped into Chuck as she turned around. Chuck stumbled, immediately guarding the lunch box in his arms, afraid it would spill.¡± ¡°Chuck, can¡¯t you make some noise when you walk? You scared me.¡± Marguerite was startled. Chuck took a moment to catch his breath, then calmly ced the lunch box on Marguerite¡¯s desk. ¡°Mr. Winston prepared this nutritious meal for you. Make sure you sat it all. Then Chuck winked at Marguerite yfully before immediately resuming his usual serious expression. Marguerite stiffened, ncing around ufortably. Sure enough, she saw her colleagues whispering and asionally ncing in her direction. They had long suspected something was going on between her and Mr. Winston! So, Mr. Winston stuck up for Marguerite when she was handing out flyer, right? And these past few days, Marguerite had been ying hooky for three whole days. Mr. Winston didn¡¯t chew her out, and he even thoughtfully prepared a nutritious meal for her. Could she be Mr. Winston¡¯s sweetheart or what? Chapter 46 The employees were shocked and envious of the situation, wondering if they had ever disrespected Marguerite. If she snitched to Mr. Winston, they¡¯d all be in hot water! Marguerite stared at the meal on her desk, scratching her head in confusion. If she refused, would Frederick be offended? ¡°All right,¡± she finally said, scratching her head. ¡°No need for the food next time.¡± She leaned in towards Chuck, her expression helpless. ¡°I can¡¯t ept his kindness. Do you get it?¡± Chuck was all smiles. ¡°I get it! I totally get it!¡± Chuck made promises he didn¡¯t keep, which was pretty annoying. For several days, Chuck would deliver meals in Frederick¡¯s name at lunchtime. Not only that, but he¡¯d watch Marguerite eat, and then ask about her well-being before leaving. The colleagues definitely saw everything and their attitude towards Marguerite changed dramatically. Every day when she walked into the office, she was met with smiling faces, and the heavy-duty tasks never came her way. Someone even bought coffee for her. She was just an intern! Were they misunderstanding Marguerite even more? Finally, when Chuck delivered food again, Marguerite, unable to bear the weird nces, whispered to Chuck, ¡°Can you stoping here? I¡¯m an adult, and I can eat on my own. I don¡¯t need you to remind me.¡± Chuck, however, said loudly enough for everyone in the office to hear, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, this is Mr. Winston¡¯s order. If you have anyints, you can go to him. He¡¯s always waiting for you!¡± There was a burst of whispers in the office. What was going on? Not everyone could enter the president¡¯s office, and the fact that Mr. Winston was always waiting for someone was surprising. What was so good about Marguerite? She wasn¡¯t even pretty, and she had an arrogant attitude. What did Mr. Winston see in her? Marguerite red at Chuck. He did it on purpose! She tried to speak quietly to avoid gossip, but he was shouting, as though he wanted everyone to hear. Pointing at Chuck, Marguerite said through gritted teeth, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you when I get back.¡± With that, she stormed into the VIP elevator, heading straight for Frederick¡¯s office. At that moment, Frederick had just finished a therapy session and left the president¡¯s office restroom. His mood hadn¡¯t recovered, so he looked rather gloomy. Marguerite¡¯s arrival surprised him, and his tense expression suddenly rxed. But Marguerite looked unhappy, as if she¡¯d been wronged. Frederick raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you knock?¡± Marguerite replied angrily, ¡°I did knock, but you didn¡¯t hear.¡± Frederick turned around and sat down at his desk, pulling out a folder and busying himself. ¡°Speak up, I¡¯m busy.¡± Yes, he was busy. He was busy having romantic moments with Yuna in the rain, and making trouble for her every day, intentionally making her colleagues misunderstand her. ¡°I don¡¯t need those fancy foods. Tell Chuck to stop delivering them.¡± Frederick nced at her. ¡°Anything else?¡± Marguerite blinked. ¡°Also, you don¡¯t have to worry about me. My injuries are healed, and I don¡¯t need to keep eating these healthy meals.¡± Frederick finally put down his folder and crossed his arms, looking rxed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t worried about you. I was worried about yourck of energy at work after being sick, so I asked Chuck to supervise you.¡± Supervise? So Frederick had been supervising her all along! She thought he was genuinely caring for her, and that was why he kept asking Chuck to look after her. She¡¯d misunderstood again. But Marguerite didn¡¯t understand how Frederick could say something as serious as ¡°supervision¡± so casually. Sitting on the luxurious sofa, Robert noticed Frederick¡¯s forced expression. Couldn¡¯t Marguerite see Frederick¡¯s unnatural expression? She must be really simple-minded! So, Robert proposed jokingly, ¡°Since you¡¯re so worried about Marguerite not focusing on her work, why not move her desk next to yours? You can supervise her personally. How about that? Chapter 47 Marguerite: ¡°What?¡± Howe Robert always stirs up trouble? Fredrick was obviously fed up with her, how could he possibly let her move into his office and let her hang around him all day? As for that stormy night, he only slept with her because he felt sorry for her. Marguerite wanted to find an excuse to slip away, but unexpectedly, Frederick suddenly spoke with a straightforward tone, ¡°Sure.¡± Marguerite was stunned. Was Frederick really willing to let her move in? Even if he was, she wasn¡¯t! Her rtionship with Frederick was like a cat and mouse, they were always at each other¡¯s throats. With such frequent interactions, they were bound to have conflicts that would make her unhappy. Marguerite immediately rejected him: ¡°No way!¡± ¡°Your rejection is invalid.¡± Upon hearing this, Marguerite quickly looked up at Frederick, only to find that he was staring back at her, not giving her the chance to argue. Marguerite was almost speechless, her astonishment turned into confusion. ¡°Why?¡± He squinted slightly and said, ¡°To keep you from being distracted and not focusing on your work.¡± Marguerite was filled withints, but Frederick¡¯s words left her feeling helpless, she even forgot to be angry. ¡°What have I done to make you guard against me like I¡¯m a thief?¡± ¡°Marguerite, you inexplicably became my wife. Don¡¯t you think I should be on guard?¡± Every time Frederick thought about this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel angry. But today, he didn¡¯t get angry. However, Marguerite¡¯s frown deepened. Again, this was the reason! She inexplicably became his wife, and she was just as puzzled. She did make a deal with a mystery man to marry Frederick. But she thought, even if it was a marriage in name only, they should go through all the normal procedures of marriage. Who would have thought that they would have gotten married while she was unconscious? What was even stranger was that the mystery man had only called her twice and then disappeared without a trace. She had no idea about this mystery man who had schemed against her and was secretly watching her. She didn¡¯t even know if it was a man or a woman. Marguerite had nowhere to vent her grievances, and the man in front of her seemed to have no intention of letting her go. Going head-to-head would only end in defeat. Marguerite let out a heavy sigh, her voice ofpromise containing a hint of defiance: ¡°I¡¯ll move in.¡± No matter how sharp-tongued Frederick was, it was not as damaging as the gossip spread by her colleagues downstairs. If she moved upstairs, she could at least get some peace and quiet. Robert, having achieved his aim, snapped his fingers happily and said, ¡°Great, now go get your stuff moved upstairs.¡± Marguerite nodded, turned around, and left. After she had gone, Robert looked at Frederick and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Marguerite has a sharp tongue and she almost leaves you speechless.¡± ¡®She pours all her emotions onto me. Although she¡¯s always bullied, she never fights back; she just confronts those she¡¯s close to.¡± Frederick was holding a pen, signing a document quickly without even lifting his head. Every time he thought about the obvious scars on Marguerite, he felt pain. Whoever did this to her, he¡¯s gonna get to the bottom of it! Robert¡¯s gentle and elegant face was full of smiles, he didn¡¯t care about Frederick¡¯s dignity and decided to uncover his secret. ¡°She does always confront those she¡¯s close to, but I think you enjoy it. Right, Frederick?¡± Frederick stopped, looked up at him, and said, ¡°As the young master of the Fitzgerald Group, instead of working, you alwayse to me for gossip. If I remember correctly, your father is looking for you, isn¡¯t he?¡± His control and intelligence were fully disyed at this moment. Robert¡¯s face instantly darkened. Fearing that Frederick would reveal his whereabouts to his father, he had to shut up. At this time, Marguerite had already gone downstairs, found a box, and returned to her desk, starting to pack some odds and ends. A few colleagues exchanged nces, then a female colleague couldn¡¯t help but ask out of curiosity, ¡°Marguerite, where are you going? Are you quitting?¡± Before Marguerite could reply, Chuck bluntly answered, ¡°She¡¯s not quitting: she¡¯s moving upstairs!¡± ¡°Upstairs?¡± The female colleague was taken aback. ¡°To the CEO¡¯s office?¡± Chuck smiled and slowly nodded, ¡°Yes!¡± The female colleague immediately murmured, ¡°I was wondering why she seemed so happy, it turns out she got promoted.¡± Chapter 48 Marguerite¡¯s neck stiffened, and her face turned beet red with anger. ¡°Can you just zip it, Chuck?¡± she shot at him. After packing up, Marguerite followed Chuck to the elevator with a carton in her arms. In the corridor, she ran into a few colleagues from the marketing department. She saw Larry holding a tray with several samples of Pr Radiance perfume on it. Marguerite sidled up to Larry, her eyesnded on the tray. ¡°Hey Larry, where are you off to?¡± Larry turned to look at Marguerite, exining amicably, ¡°Pr Radiance is still under development. The boss wants us to do some market research; let people on the street give it a whirl and see what they think.¡± Market feedback was indeed necessary before a productunch, so Marguerite didn¡¯t say anything more. Just then, the elevator doors opened. Marguerite quickly bid Larry goodbye and followed Chuck into the VIP elevator that led to the CEO¡¯s office. Meanwhile. Yuna hadn¡¯t seen Frederick for several days, and every time she called him, she got the busy signal. After a few words, he¡¯d hang up. Feeling neglected, she was getting antsy and decided to drop by his office. But as soon as she got out of her car, she saw arge crowd gathered at the entrance of thepany. Some people were writing something, others were spraying something into the air. Yuna was in a hurry to see Frederick and didn¡¯t want to dilly-dally, but then she caught sight of a woman in a uniform with an ID badge, holding a bottle of liquid, and exining something to a passer-by. Yuna¡¯s gaze was instantly drawn to it. The pale green liquid with a fine shimmer-wasn¡¯t it the exact same perfume she got from Marguerite? Yuna moved quickly over to the woman and asked, ¡°Is that perfume you¡¯re holding?¡± The woman turned and smiled, nodding. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. It¡¯s a new perfume called Pr Radiance that LuxeScents International is developing. Would you like to try it?¡± Yuna nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes! Spray me some, quick!¡± As she spoke, she extended her wrist impatiently. The woman sprayed some of the sample on Yuna¡¯s wrist. A refreshing, heartwarming fragrance wafted up, light and fresh, reminding one of the auroras in d. It was refreshing and eye-catching. It was the exact same fragrance as Marguerite¡¯s! ¡°Is this the first time you guys have brought this perfume out? Have there been any events like this before?¡± The woman shook her head and said, ¡°This is the first time.¡± If it was the first time, how did Marguerite get her hands on it? Could Frederick have given it to her in advance? No way! Based on her spection, the night Marguerite and Frederick had a one-night stand, the fragrance Frederick smelled on Marguente was this Pr Radiance perfume. She used this perfume to bewitch Frederick, which meant that this Pr Radiance perfume had existed at that time. Now it¡¯s a new product being developed by LuxeScents International? As Yuna was lost in thought, her shoulder was bumped by a passer-by, who excitedly grabbed the woman¡¯s hand, asking eagerly, ¡°Miss, who designed this perfume? Your perfumes have always been top-notch; did you hire a professional perfumer? The fragrance is simply amazing; I¡¯ve never smelled anything like it before! And the color is so unique!¡± ¡°It¡¯s designed by a neer in ourpany, not very famous yet. Her name is Marguerite. Once the perfume isunched, we will do some promotion. We hope for your support then.¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna¡¯s mind was almost unable to process this information. Was this perfume really concocted by Marguerite? How could a country bumpkin without any professional training possibly know how to blend a perfume? ¡°Ma¡¯am, when will the perfume be avable? I can¡¯t wait! Can you give me a few samples?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯re currently short on samples. Please be patient. It shouldn¡¯t be long. We¡¯ve submitted the perfume form to the Patent Office. Once we get the patent report, we¡¯ll start production immediately.¡± Yuna leaned against the wall, spiritless, the crowd¡¯s words of praise for Marguerite¡¯s talent echoing In her ears. She felt weak, their voices grating on her ears. No wonder Marguerite, with her outstanding talent, caught Frederick¡¯s eye! Once this perfume was mass-produced, Marguerite will be able to enchant Frederick every day. By then, she¡¯d bepletely out of the picture. No! She couldn¡¯t let that happen! She had to do something to stop all of this! Soon, a bigger scheme began to form in her mind. This time, she was going to ruin Marguerite¡¯s reputation! As Yuna thought about this, she couldn¡¯t help but nce at the imposing and majestic Winston Building behind her, a hint of ruthlessness and cunning shing in her eyes. Chapter 49 Meanwhile, at the Winston Group. Marguerite walked into the CEO¡¯s office carrying a cardboard box, with Frederick and Robert chit-chatting by the floor-to-ceiling windows. ¡°Mr. Winston, Mr. Fitzgerald, Marguerite¡¯s here,¡± Chuck said, gently knocking on the door, a smile on his face. The two men turned around at the sound of his voice, their gaze falling on a silent and expressionless Marguerite behind therge box, which made the woman look even more petite and fragile. ¡°Mr. Winston, where do you think would be a suitable ce to set up her workstation?¡± Marguerite looked around, the CEO¡¯s office was as stylish as an art gallery. Despite it being spacious, the cement of each table, chair, and decor was meticulously designed. The entire office was harmonious, so setting her workstation anywhere would disrupt the aesthetic. Robert, who seemed prepared, pointed to the side of Frederick¡¯s desk and said, ¡°Over there! Let her work there!¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes bulged out, looking at Robert in confusion. Was he nuts? He wanted her to share a desk with Frederick. This was way too close forfort! Frederick nced at the woman, her obvious resistance darkening his expression and making him look somewhat irritated. He lightly touched his lips, his voice deep and captivating. ¡°The desk¡¯s too small, too cramped.¡± Robert ignored him, went ahead, and started clearing stuff off the desk. ¡°What do you mean, too small? Marguerite doesn¡¯t have that much stuff, just aputer will do! Having cleared arge chunk of space, he turned to Chuck andmanded, ¡°Chuck, go fetch a chair from the supply room.¡± It was clear to anyone what Robert was up to, he was trying to pair Marguerite and Frederick up. How could Chuck not know? After spending some time with her, Chuck was quite fond of Marguerite. Marguerite was way more efficient than Yuna. So, Chuck was in high spirits, and before Frederick could even say anything, he happily responded, ¡°On it!¡± He quickly pulled over a swivel chair,pletely ignoring the opinions of the two involved, and directly asked Robert, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, where do you think this chair should go? Same side as Mr. Winston or opposite?¡± Robert tested out the chair¡¯s position himself, finally deciding, ¡°Opposite!¡± Chuck lowered his voice and whispered to Robert, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, wouldn¡¯t that be too far if they were sitting opposite?¡± Robert shook his head mysteriously. ¡°Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Besides, it¡¯s not that far, they can reach each other with just a stretch of their hands. Think about it: face-to-face, and they can exchange nces just by looking up, how great is that?¡± Chuck nodded in agreement, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, you¡¯ve got experience.¡± ¡°Whispering behind my back? Are you looking down on me?¡± Frederick¡¯s stern voice rang out. Chuck felt a little nervous and took a step back, not daring to meet Frederick¡¯s gaze. Robert¡¯s face was filled with a familiar smile. He pointed to Marguerite¡¯s new workstation and said, ¡°We were discussing how to set up this workstation. After all, if I don¡¯t help, you wouldn¡¯t bother to do it for her.¡± Frederick¡¯s deep gaze was fixed on Robert, he asked softly, ¡°And what¡¯s the result of the discussion?¡± ¡°Of course! I let her work within your line of sight so she wouldn¡¯t dare ck off.¡± With that, Robert walked over to Marguerite while talking, pulled her back to the new workstation, and pushed her down onto the chair. ¡°Right, Marguerite?¡± Marguerite felt extremely awkward, she stared at him nkly,pletely at a loss for words. Frederick was still standing by the window. Marguerite couldn¡¯t see his expression, nor did she know what he was thinking. But given his level of disdain for her, he probably wouldn¡¯t be pleased. He was already annoyed by her presence, now that she was this close to him, he might grow even more irritated towards her. ¡°Alright, you two get to work. Chuck and I are heading out.¡± Robert¡¯s voice rang out again, he gave Chuck a nudge, and the two left one after the other. However, even after he left the office, he still gave Marguerite a wicked grin through the ss wall. Marguerite shuddered. She thought to herself, how did Mr. Fitzgerald end up on the same side as Chuck? The more she looked at their faces, the more she felt there was some deeper meaning behind it. This was too strange. Marguerite shook her head, snapped out of it, and took out herptop and office supplies from the box. Thest thing she ced on the desk was a photo of her and her grandmother. Frederick walked over in silence, his gaze inadvertently falling on Marguerite¡¯s desk. He focused on the photo on Marguerite¡¯s desk. He picked up the photo frame with his long and strong arm, light flickering in his pupils. He asked, ¡°Who¡¯s in the photo?¡± Marguerite looked at him in confusion then she replied nkly, ¡°It¡¯s me and my grandma. Why do you ask?¡± Chapter 50 ¡°Is that really you?¡± Frederick asked in disbelief, ¡°You¡¯ve changed so much?¡± Marguerite shrugged it off. ¡°So, are you saying I¡¯m ugly now? All kids look pretty much the same, and mind you, I was only a few days old then.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were glued to the photo. It was of a lively olddy holding a baby in swaddling clothes, both beaming brightly. Snow was falling around them, but the olddy¡¯s clothes were thin and shabby. It was a heart-wrenching sight. No wonder Marguerite was taken in by the Lockwood family. The olddy seemed not to have the means to raise a child. Did her parents abandon her right after she was born? Frederick wanted to ask Marguerite about her parents and consider if he should help her find them, but he decided against it. Marguerite never mentioned her parents or grandma, probably because it hurt too much. He didn¡¯t want to reopen her wounds. At this point, she was very much like him. Even though he now sessfully controlled the entire Winston Group, his childhood experience of being driven out of the family by his father was still a painful scar. He never talked about it and didn¡¯t want to recall that past. Suddenly, he felt a mysterious connection with Marguerite. Their simr experiences evoked deep sympathy in him. He again looked carefully at the photo, then hesitantly handed it back to Marguerite. Besides, he had a more peculiar feeling. He had the impression that he had seen the olddy somewhere before. ¡°Your grandma seems very kind.¡± Frederick returned to his desk, sitting across from Marguerite. Marguerite didn¡¯t think much of Frederick¡¯s words. She shrugged, looking at the photo. ¡°True beautyes from within. My granny was the best person in the world.¡± Her grandma left her a sapphire ne with a floral pattern, but it had mysteriously disappeared, and she hadn¡¯t found it yet. Marguerite thought for a moment, then looked at Frederick, tentatively asking, ¡°Do you remember if I lost a ne in your room? Have you seen it?¡± He was busy scanning through some documents and didn¡¯t look at her. ¡°Are you sure you lost it in my room?¡± Marguerite bit her lip, her gaze shifting on him. She wasn¡¯t sure. That day, when she lost the ne, she had been to many ces. Marguerite¡¯s silence made Frederick look up. He nced at her briefly, then bluntly said, ¡°If you lost it, just buy a new one.¡± He said it so casually. Did he think everything could be bought with money? Marguerite was at a loss for words: ¡°I can¡¯t afford it.¡± Frederick paused, realizing that Marguerite had only been with thepany for half a month and hadn¡¯t received a full month¡¯s sry yet. She couldn¡¯t afford to buy it, right? ¡°I can buy it for you.¡± Frederick looked at Marguerite, a smirk on his face. ¡°But the cost wille out of your sry.¡± Marguerite looked annoyed. ¡°My ne is priceless; no amount of money can buy it!¡± ? ?? ? ?? ?? She thought to herself that the sapphire ne was hard-earned by her grandma. Even though it wasn¡¯t finely made, it was invaluable to her! Frederick looked surprised. Marguerite wanted to exin the source of the amulet, but then she thought, how could a rich man understand the feelings of a poor person? She paused and decided not to say more. So, all she could do was mutter, ¡°Never mind, you won¡¯t understand anyway.¡± Marguerite quickly ended the conversation when a design department employee walked in with several bottles of perfume. ¡°Mr. Winston, these perfumes ranked in the top three in thepetition, but the exact order is up to you.¡± The employee ced the perfumes on Frederick¡¯s desk. Frederick¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change: ¡°I see, you can leave now.¡± The employee didn¡¯t leave immediately. Frederick nced at him and asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± The employee looked helpless, with a hint of nervousness in his voice. ¡°Mr. Winston, ScentSpirits Ltd. is also holding a perfumepetition recently, and they¡¯re going strong. I heard that theypletely copied ourpany, from theposition of the judges to thepetition format. What¡¯s more, some of the entries even directly giarized ourpany¡¯s signature perfumes.¡± Chapter 51 Frederick signed off on a document, and a hint of contempt flickered across his face. ¡°It¡¯s just a small factory, not worth our attention.¡± Marguerite, as a seasoned perfume blender, had naturally heard of ScentSpirits Ltd. To be honest, ScentSpirits Ltd. didn¡¯t have a great reputation in the industry, especially with frequent usations of giarism and imitation. Previously, Marguerite had sent her CV to various perfumepanies but had deliberately left out ScentSpirits Ltd. Even she, a person with no formal education, looked down on ScentSpirits. How could Frederick possibly care about them? Frederick¡¯s confidence gave his employees a sense of security. The employee didn¡¯t say much after hearing his words, just nodded, nced at Marguerite, and left. Before he lost his sense of smell, Frederick used to handle the perfume testing himself. Now, he couldn¡¯t smell anything, and this important task naturally fell on Marguerite. But she didn¡¯t know about his lost sense of smell and muttered to herself while testing the perfumes: ¡°He¡¯s such a typical businessman, shamelessly exploiting mybor while he lounges on the sofa, catching some rays. What a jerk!¡± Marguerite dipped the test strip into the liquid, sniffed it, and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°These perfumes seem pretty average to me, nowhere near as good as my Pr Radiance. I can¡¯t understand why it didn¡¯t even make it past the first round.¡± The man¡¯s voice came from the sofa: ¡°You missed the initial selection deadline; who¡¯s to me for that?¡±. Marguerite pouted, ¡°I¡¯m not ming anyone, just expressing an opinion. Is that not allowed?¡± ¡°No.¡± Frederick scolded her seriously, with an air of arrogance about him. ¡°What right do you have to express an opinion? I picked your work out of the trash, applied for a patent for you, and put it into production. Who else gets this kind of treatment?¡± Marguerite was taken aback, staring dumbfoundedly at the man¡¯s back, aplex feeling welling up in her heart. Realizing he might have frightened the woman in front of him, Frederick sighed a little, his voice lowering: ¡°Marguerite,pared to many people, you¡¯re already very lucky.¡± Marguerite was stunned for a moment. The man in front of her didn¡¯t respect her, but strangely, she didn¡¯t want to lose her temper. Even so, there was a hint of warmth in her heart. Her lips unconsciously curled into a smile. So in Frederick¡¯s eyes, she was still special to him? At least, the perfume she blended was special. Otherwise, why would he go through all the trouble to pick out a work that had missed the initial selection and invest heavily in its production? Although Marguerite thought the man was arrogant and always annoyed her, she had to admit that his appreciation for her work was unconditional. So at least at this moment, Marguerite was full of gratitude for Frederick. Marguerite obediently shut her mouth and finished her perfume testing in silence. She quickly wrote a perfume test report, intending to hand it to Frederick, only to find that he had fallen asleep. The sunlight at five or six o¡¯clock wasn¡¯t as intense as at midday. The warm spots of light fell on his handsome face, making him look charming and peaceful. Marguerite put down the report, got a thin nket, and put it on him. She was so close to him that she could even see the tiny hairs on his face. His slightly closed eyelids were faintly red in the sunlight, and his breathing was steady and shallow, following a regr rhythm. For some reason, Marguerite¡¯s heart suddenly tightened, and then she began to feel anxious and uneasy. So annoying! Why did her heartbeat start to speed up again? She didn¡¯t understand why her heartbeat would be extraordinarily intense whenever she got close to him. And the more nervous Marguerite was, the more she lost control of her actions. She quietly looked at the sleeping man in front of her, his lip was moist and soft, and it greatly attracted her. So, she slowly approached him, so close that a slight movement of her lips could make her kiss him. Chapter 52 Common sense quickly won over impulse, and Marguerite just didn¡¯t have the balls to kiss him. She turned her face away, her cheeks blushing like crazy, fanning herself to cool down. She was clearly a nervous wreck. Why the hell did she want to kiss him? Had she fallen for him? This idea blew Marguerite¡¯s mind, and she immediately denied the possibility. How on earth could she fall for a guy like that, who had zero taste? Even if she did mess up and fall for him, even if she had the chance to date Frederick openly, she might not really get with him. Marguerite knew herself too well. Her experiences growing up made her desperate for love. So, once she had feelings, if a guy was even slightly nice to her, she¡¯d throw herself into his heart and soul. But reality didn¡¯t let her dream too big. She had no room for trial and error when it came to rtionships. She had to get stronger ASAP and she couldn¡¯t afford to lose herself in love. Marguerite was lost in thought looking at Frederick until her phone suddenly rang, scaring the hell out of her. She straightened up subconsciously, took a couple of steps back, and saw Frederick open his sleepy eyes. She awkwardly pointed to his phone, trying to divert his attention. ¡°Your phone¡¯s ringing. Let me check it out.¡± Frederick casually picked up his phone, saw that it was ¡°Yuna¡±, frowned, and hung up straight away. Marguerite was surprised and asked tentatively, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to answer her call?¡± But Frederick ignored her question and asked her, ¡°What time is it?¡± Marguerite checked her phone: ¡°It¡¯s 6:03.¡± ¡°Time to go home. Come with me.¡± He said it so casually that it felt so natural. She got delusional. The way he said ¡°Time to go home¡± felt like they were a couple who¡¯d been living together for ages. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing?¡± Frederick, picked up his car keys and said, ¡°Or do you want to take a cab home?¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t understand why he was offering to drive her home today. They¡¯d agreed not to let their colleagues know they were living together. If they were seen together, wouldn¡¯t that raise suspicions? Ah, screw it; she was just hitching a ride. Sapphire Valley Estates was too far, and she couldn¡¯t afford a taxi. Thinking this through, Marguerite hurried to catch up with him. Meanwhile, at Diamond Crest Estates Yuna, whose call Frederick had hung up, was hopping mad. Freddie would never hang up on her! What was going on today? It must¡¯ve been Marguerite who hung up! Just then, Zoe and Ablett came home. Hearing the door open, Yuna rushed out. ¡°I was on a roll today and I won a few grand!¡± Zoe grinned from ear to ear. Ablett poured himself a ss of water and said, ¡°Just don¡¯t get caught cheating. That guy seemed pretty intense. If he gets mad, I won¡¯t be able to help you.¡± Zoe seemed dismissive, but she soon saw Yuna running over in a hurry. ¡°Dad, Mom! Do you know any experts who can analyze perfume forms? And the Patent Office! Do you have any friends working there?¡± Zoe and Ablett exchanged looks. Perfume analysis? Patent Office? If she needed some lowlifes, they could find some but Yuna clearly needed some high-level pros! Where the hell were they supposed to find people like that? Zoe shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re really putting me in a tight spot. Where are we supposed to find these people for you?¡± Yuna was furious. She didn¡¯t care that these two people were her parents, she threw a tantrum. ¡°How could you not know people like that? Our family used to run a casino and lots of rich people came! You either don¡¯t know any or you just don¡¯t want to look! Let me tell you, whether I can get Freddie back depends on these people!¡± Realizing this was about Yuna¡¯s future, Zoe said adoringly, ¡°Alright, alright! I¡¯ll move heaven and earth to find you the pros you need!¡± Yuna finally felt relieved and went back to her room. She picked up the flyer for the ScentSpirits Ltd. perfumepetition preliminaries from her vanity, a determined look in her eyes, thinking, ¡°Marguerite, you asked for this! No one can save you now! I don¡¯t believe that if you make such a huge mistake, Freddie will still keep you around. Chapter 53 Recently, Yuna had unexpectedly piped down and stopped bugging Marguerite, leaving Marguerite with some much-needed peace. A few days had passed, and Marguerite had gradually gotten used to the swing of things, working alongside Frederick. As the big cheese of the Winston Group, Frederick was swamped with work. His te was full of managing LuxeScents International, not to mention other businesses like real estate, tourism, IT, and machinery. The more Marguerite got to know Frederick, the more curious she became. She¡¯s never rubbed shoulders with the filthy rich before, but from TV dramas and novels, she knew that the heirs to conglomerates usually ran thepany with their siblings. But Frederick was a one-man band, whether it¡¯s work or personal life. She had never seen this man have any contact with his family. When she had time, she even Googled Frederick, but to no avail. But one thing surprised her. Since her workspace was moved to the CEO¡¯s office, her rtionship with Frederick had slowly but surely gotten better. Though there were still some rough patches and friction, at least the number of arguments had decreased. One afternoon, Frederick was off dealing withpany affairs. Marguerite checked the time and gave him a call, hoping he could bring back a bouquet of flowers. The mysterious stranger had just reconnected with her and brought in the world¡¯s top doctor to treat her grandma. The doctor just returned from abroad and has just taken over her grandma¡¯s treatment, so he needed to meet with Marguerite ASAP. They scheduled the meeting for the next day. Marguerite thought about the musty smell in her grandma¡¯s hospital room, so she nned to make a fragrance to freshen up the room. The phone rang twice, and Frederick picked up quickly. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Marguerite asked gently, ¡°Are you heading back to the office? Could you grab a bunch of roses for me? Purple if possible.¡± Frederick chuckled. She was getting more audacious, now even asking him for gifts directly. ¡°Sure.¡± Without further ado, Frederick hung up in a hurry, still wearing a smile. Chuck, the co-pilot, asked confusedly, ¡°Mr. Winston, what¡¯s put you in such a good mood?¡± Frederick then realized his face was giving him away, he quickly put on a poker face and replied nonchntly, ¡°No biggie, Marguerite just wants a bunch of purple roses.¡± Chuck was taken aback. Roses weremon, but purple roses were rare. Such a flower was so scarce that not every flower shop had them. ¡°Mr. Winston, are you going to buy them now?¡± Frederick looked out the window, feeling good. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But we still have an international meeting to attend.¡± ¡°Postpone it and we¡¯ll reschedule.¡± Chuck thought to himself, was this the Mr. Winston he know? Wasn¡¯t he the frosty type? Didn¡¯t he always keep his distance from women? Seemed like those were all rumors! Ever since Marguerite joined thepany, Mr. Winston¡¯s personality haspletely changed. However, Chuck didn¡¯t see anything wrong with it. Ever since Mr. Winston took over the group, he had been single. Marguerite¡¯s arrival was just the right fit to fill the void in Mr. Winston¡¯s heart. Though he wouldn¡¯t admit it, Chuck saw all the changes and took them to heart. Purple roses were indeed not easy toe by. After going through a few flower shops, Frederick finally got the flowers Marguerite wanted. The shop assistant saw the handsome Frederick with a beaming face and no one else around, naturally guessing these flowers were for his girlfriend, So she wrapped the bouquet especially beautifully, with understated ck wrapping paper enveloping the flowers, sprinkled with white baby¡¯s breath. Marguerite waited a long time at the office for Frederick toe back with a bunch of purple roses. He was dressed in a ck double-breasted suit that day. The well-tailored suit entuated his physique, his towering height of 1.9 meters exuded a transcendent aura, looking incredibly dashing and hard to take eyes off. However, Marguerite didn¡¯t have the time to admire his good looks. She immediately went over to take the flowers from him and hurriedly said, ¡°Thanks¡± Seeing her so impatient, he naturally thought it was her excitement about receiving a gift. Little did he know, the next second, Marguerite directly tore open the packaging and pulled off all the petals of the roses. Frederick¡¯s face instantly darkened. Seeing this, Chuck Immediately stepped in and reminded Marguerite, ¡°Marguerite, how could you treat Mr. Winston¡¯s gift B this?¡± Marguerite was clearly taken aback, she blurted out, ¡°Gift? No way. Giving flowers as a gift is so clich¨¦.¡± Frederick was obviously a bit peeved. There was a flicker in his eyes as he asked coldly, ¡°Then tell me, what gift isn¡¯t clich¨¦?¡± Marguerite took out a mortar and pestle, smiling. ¡°Keep the scent of the flowers and make itst forever. That¡¯s not clich¨¦.¡± Chapter 54 It took him forever to figure out that Marguerite didn¡¯t want him to bring her flowers as a gift. She wanted to make perfume, and the flowers were the raw materials! Marguerite was busy crushing petals and the sound was crisp and clear. Frederick was not in the best mood, watching her with a gloomy expression. ¡°Are you treating my office like ab?¡± Marguerite looked up and asked earnestly, ¡°Can I?¡± She dared to ask him for permission? She really didn¡¯t take him seriously! Frederick denied her request tly: ¡°No.¡± Marguerite looked awkward, her hands halted mid-air. The room was filled with a tense silence. Chuck, fearing another argument, quickly exined, ¡°Perfume is made through chemical reactions, which need to be done in a professionalb. If some substancese into contact with an open me here, it could cause an explosion. As a perfumer, shouldn¡¯t you know this?¡± Marguerite was not pleased. She knew all that, but she was confident she wouldn¡¯t make such a rookie mistake. Marguerite nced at Chuck, then looked at Frederick and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be careful and I¡¯m not an idiot. Besides, LuxeScents International refuses to let me into theb and they said it¡¯s only for top perfumers.¡± Frederick thought he must have heard wrong. Was that a hint ofint and coyness in her voice? But since she was so passionate about making perfume, he might as well indulge her. He looked at Marguerite without any expression and said, ¡°Follow me.¡± Marguerite was a bit puzzled, but she followed Frederick into the inner office. She had never been in there before, all she knew was that Frederick and Robert would go in there for meetings every morning at 10, always secretive about what they were doing. Frederick led her up a spiral staircase by the floor-to-ceiling windows, and Marguerite curiously followed. At the end of the staircase, a wooden archway appeared. Frederick punched in a code, and Marguerite followed him in, and her jaw dropped. The sshouse was filled with all sorts of flowers and nts, and a suite of perfume-making toolsy on theb table in the corner. Marguerite had never seen such a beautifulb, it was like a dream. She was taking in the sight when a puppy suddenly popped out from somewhere, yapping and running towards Marguerite. Marguerite was startled. She looked down and saw a young corgi, at most three months old. ¡°How did you get in here? You¡¯re so cute!¡± Marguerite lovingly picked up the corgi, gently stroking its fur. The corgi let out a huff, affectionately licking Marguerite¡¯s hand. ¡°Ugly woman! Ugly woman!¡± A harsh, unpleasant voice suddenly echoed in the room. Marguerite was taken aback. She looked up and saw a red-headed parrot perched on a branch. The parrot was staring at Marguerite with its round eyes, constantly repeating, ¡°Ugly woman! Ugly woman!¡± This parrot was nowhere near as cute as the corgi! Marguerite red at the parrot. ¡°Who are you calling ugly? What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Divine! Divine!¡± Marguerite frowned, ready to take on the little parrot. ¡°Who named you? It¡¯s such an ugly name!¡± Chuck was standing behind Frederick,pletely bbergasted. How could Marguerite make talking to animals so entertaining? Frederick, however, slowly cracked a smile; his face was rarely this rxed. He had thought this woman was all schemes and pretense, but her genuine joy was reminiscent of an innocent young girl. ¡°You can make your perfumes here in the flower room from now on and I¡¯ll give you the passcodeter.¡± Marguerite was stunned, she couldn¡¯t believe it. When did this man be so kind? Chuck was dumbstruck. ¡°Mr. Winston, the flowers in the flower room are rare and expensive, some are on the verge of extinction. If damaged, even money can¡¯t rece them.¡± Frederick gave him a cold look, clearly indicating he didn¡¯t want Chuck to interfere. Chuck was startled and quickly shut his mouth. Frederick turned back to Marguerite and said, ¡°You¡¯re in charge of the flower room now. If anything is damaged, you¡¯ll work for LuxeScents international for free for the rest of your life. Margueriteughed, ¡°Understood.¡± Chuck looked at Marguerite, then at Frederick. He knew Frederick¡¯s attitude towards Marguerite was changing, but he didn¡¯t expect it to change so quickly and so drastically! Before Frederick lost his sense of smell, the flower room was his most cherished ce. Many of LuxeScents International¡¯s early fragrances came from this flower room, all supervised by Frederick and created by top perfumers around the world. However, after he lost his sense of smell in a car ident, he never entered the flower room again. Today, not only did hee back, but he also gave Marguerite ess to the room. This proved how important Marguerite was to him. Chuck¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. He picked it up and walked to a corner, his face turning grim. E After a while, he hung up and approached Frederick, his face serious. ¡°Mr. Winston, the Patent Office called. They said our Pr Radiance perfume didn¡¯t pass the evaluation.¡± Frederick frowned. ¡°Why?¡± Chuck gulped, casting aplicated nce at Marguerite. ¡°They¡¯re saying our patent is a rip-off. The perfume recipe we put out is a dead ringer for somebody else¡¯s.¡± Chapter 55 ¡°What the heck are you talking about?¡± Marguerite was dumbfounded, her voice involuntarily rising in disbelief. Her outburst startled the little Corgi in her arms, which leapt out and scurried away. ¡°used of giarism? I made the Pr Radiance myself!¡± Marguerite moved forward, her face flushed with indignation and her brows deeply furrowed. Frederick looked gloomy and silent, but his solemn manner gave off an imposing aura. Chuck found it hard to believe Marguerite would giarize too, he quickly asked, ¡°Did you ever send this perfume to otherpanies?¡± ¡°No! I did send out resumes to manypanies in Stonebridge City, but only LuxeScents International got a sample because I was targeting the perfumepetition!¡± Frederick¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, his eyes shing coldly. ¡°Whose form matches Pr Radiance?¡± Chuck¡¯s gaze dropped, his thick lips trembling with nervousness. ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s Ms. Yuna.¡± Both Marguerite and Frederick were taken aback by this, their eyes wide as they turned to stare at Chuck. Their piercing gazes were too much for Chuck, who spilled the beans. ¡°Apparently, Ms. Yuna entered a perfume contest run by ScentSpirits Ltd. Her work was outstanding and won the gold. You can probably find the details online.¡± Upon hearing this, Marguerite quickly whipped out her phone and found a trending topic about Yuna¡¯s victory. Without thinking, she clicked on it. The first thing that popped up was a pair of pictures. One was Yuna, trophy in hand, being interviewed by the media. The other was a close-up of her winning perfume. The texture of the perfume, the faint green color with a slight shimmer. Wasn¡¯t that her Pr Radiance? The only major difference was the name. Her perfume was called Pr Radiance, but Yuna¡¯s was named Golden Cascade. Golden Cascade? Marguerite didn¡¯t need to think twice. She knew she¡¯d been giarized. Golden Cascade should be more golden than gold, but this award-winning perfume was light green. Yuna didn¡¯t even make the connection between the name and the product. If this wasn¡¯t giarism, then what was? As Marguerite was eager to exin, the onlinements caught her off guard. [Must say, ScentSpirits Ltd. really killed it this year. The color of Golden Cascade is totally unique, a real breakthrough. No wonder Yuna won.] [Wait a minute, did Yuna design this? I remember LuxeScents International gave out a new perfume during a tester event. It was exactly like Yuna¡¯s, but the designer was Marguerite, and the perfume¡¯s name was Pr Radiance.] [So, Marguerite giarized? Golden Cascade came out first and even got a patent. Marguerite¡¯s perfume isn¡¯t even fully developed. This is a clear case of giarism!] [giarists must be punished! I can¡¯t believe a bigpany like LuxeScents International would stoop to copycat small shops.] Marguerite was infuriated by the maliciousments. She was the victim here, but because Yuna¡¯s perfume came out first, she was now the one under fire. She didn¡¯t understand how her perfume form could have been stolen by Yuna. She¡¯d never leaked it! ¡°Mr. Winston, ScentSpirits Ltd. is not as developed as we are. Their specialty is giarism and imitation. It¡¯s an open secret in our industry. So, there might be a misunderstanding.¡± Frederick was aware of this, so he didn¡¯t immediately me Marguerite but asked, ¡°You know that a perfume form is top secret before it hits the market, right?¡± Marguerite nodded. ¡°Yes, I know. But I¡¯ve handed over my form to thepany. Neither I nor thepany would leak it for no reason.¡± Frederick nced at Chuck, then asked, ¡°How long does it usually take for the Patent Office to approve an application?¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, it usually takes at least fifteen days.¡± ¡°Fifteen days.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Yuna¡¯s perfumeunched today, so she must have submitted her application to the Patent Office at least half a month ago. But back then, you hadn¡¯t even joined LuxeScents International, and we didn¡¯t know about Pr Radiance. So, Marguerite, how do you exin this?¡± Marguerite was at a loss for words. She had no exnation. Yes, it did take at least fifteen days to apply for a patent. But fifteen days ago, she hadn¡¯t joined LuxeScents International yet, she didn¡¯t even know who Frederick was. No matter how they looked at it, it seemed like she was the guilty party But Marguerite knew that wasn¡¯t the truth. Feeling helpless, Marguerite could only cling to a shred of hope: ¡°Do you believe me, or do you believe Yuna?¡± Frederick looked at Marguerite¡¯s sincere face, his emotions wereplicated. ¡°Whether I believe you or not isn¡¯t the point. The point is, can you provide evidence to prove your innocence?¡± Tears sild down Marguerite¡¯s cheeks. He was just giving her lip service. In reality, he was still siding with Yuna. After all, all the current evidence was in Yuna¡¯s favor. ¤´ But she wasn¡¯t about to let her reputation go down the drain just like that. Making perfumes was her only love and talent, she had to fight back. Marguerite gritted her teeth, determination filling her steely gaze. ¡°Get Yuna over here and I want to confront her face-to-face.¡± Chapter 56 When Yuna arrived at thepany, Frederick was already busy putting out fires with the PR department. Upon hearing that Marguerite was in the flower room, she made up some excuse to go there first. She knew Marguerite would confront her, but she couldn¡¯t care less. Her parents had already taken care of everything for her, even going as far as bribing the officials at the Patent Office. Once she got her hands on the patent report, the perfume would forever be out of Marguerite¡¯s reach. She was hell-bent on dragging Marguerite¡¯s name through the mud, making her the world¡¯sughing stock for stealing Frederick away! She wasn¡¯t afraid of Marguerite and she was here to stir up trouble! The door to the flower room was open. Yuna walked straight in, a smug expression on her face: ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t be so upset. Have you checked online? Everyone¡¯s singing praises for your work. Aren¡¯t you happy?¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes were filled with rage and defiance, her clenched fists seemed ready to punch Yuna any second. ? ?¨² ????? ??? ?? ¡°Can¡¯t you just confront me directly? Stop stirring up trouble online! Because of you, LuxeScents International¡¯s reputation is going down the drain! Do you realize how much Frederick stands to lose?¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart felt stifled, her emotions beginning to re. ¡°I¡¯m going to clear this up with them!¡± Yuna¡¯s scoffingughter echoed from behind: ¡°You think Frederick will believe you? What are you going to tell him? That I giarized you? Do you have any proof?¡± Marguerite stopped in her tracks and spun around abruptly, her anger making it hard to breathe. ¡°Yuna, what did I ever do to you? Have you no conscience? Aren¡¯t you ashamed of what you¡¯re doing?¡± Yuna, however, leisurely strolled around the flower room, casually picking up a tulip to sniff. ¡°Your biggest mistake was bing my sister and stealing my man. Just those two reasons are enough for me to trample you underfoot. I¡¯m going to make you the world¡¯s punchline, you shameless bitch!¡± No sooner had she spoken, Yuna knocked over a pot of tulips, stomping on them angrily. The loud crash sent the parrot flying to a higher perch and the corgi hiding in the corner, trembling. ¡°Yuna, stop making a scene!¡± Seeing the expensive tulips getting crushed under Yuna¡¯s feet, Marguerite¡¯s heart tightened. But Yuna justughed even harder: ¡°I¡¯m making a scene? I have every right to. I¡¯ve been pampered by our parents since childhood, but what about you? You¡¯re just a nobody; why don¡¯t you just disappear!¡± With another swing of her arm, she knocked over another pot of precious flowers. ¡°Baddy! Baddy!¡± The parrot, clearly scared out of its wits, kept squawking. Marguerite held back her rage, stepped over the broken pieces, and reached out to grab Yuna, her voice choked with emotion: ¡°Stop it! If you keep this up, I won¡¯t hesitate to teach you a lesson!¡± Yuna suddenly broke free of Marguerite¡¯s grip, provocatively smashing an expensive vase on the ground. ¡°Marguerite, what can you do to me? I stole your work, and you¡¯re just standing there like a scared rabbit. So, if I pluck a few flowers and pull up a few nts, what can you do to me? Hahaha!¡± With that, Yuna, like a madwoman out of control, ran around the flower room, leaving trails of destruction in her wake and the sound of breaking vases echoing around. She intended to destroy everything, to make Marguerite live in perpetual fear, unable to create any more perfumes. She wanted Marguerite to lose all honor and wish she were dead! The worse off Marguerite was, the more satisfied Yuna felt! In just a matter of seconds, the flower room that once looked like a secret garden turned into a wastnd. Marguerite stood in the center of the wreckage, looking at the once vibrant and expensive flowers scattered all over, feeling a bit lost, her mind nk. The parrot, scared out of its mind, perched on Marguerite¡¯s shoulder, the corgi trembling, whimpering, and huddled at Marguerite¡¯s feet, utterly terrified. And Yuna seemed far from done, her eyesnding on the perfume-making table in the corner. Just as Marguerite saw Yuna reaching for the distition sk, her brain stopped working. She instinctively rushed over, trying to push Yuna away. Just at that crucial moment, with Marguerite¡¯s hand barely touching Yuna, Frederick appeared at the door, surrounded by people, witnessing everything that had just happened. Chapter 57 Yuna suddenly screamed, her body briefly airborne before crashing hard on the ground. Debris was scattered around, some embedded in her arm and thigh, but the injury was not serious, only a little fresh blood was seeping out of her elbow. Yuna¡¯s smug satisfaction quickly turned into anger, her eyes zing red as she opened her mouth to scold, ¡°Marguerite.¡± Her words abruptly stopped because Marguerite, standing in front of her, looked shocked, her eyes incredulously fixed on the doorway behind her. Yuna slowly turned her head, casting a sidelong nce, and sure enough, she saw Frederick standing in the doorway. She immediately shed a couple of tears, covered her elbow, and started sobbing. ¡°You¡¯re so ruthless! Why did you push me? It was bad enough that you copied my work, but money and my life?¡± Marguerite was taken aback. ow you¡¯ve pushed me to the ground. Marguerite, do you want both my What was this woman saying? Did she change her tune the moment she realized Frederick was here? Her acting was so good, why didn¡¯t she be an actress? Marguerite was both angry and amused. ¡°Yuna, have you no shame? Who giarized whom, and why would I push you? Don¡¯t you know what¡¯s really going on?¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Frederick¡¯s authoritative voice echoed throughout the room. The man stepped forward, bending down to help Yuna up from the floor. Yuna immediately threw herself into Frederick¡¯s arms, tears falling down her face. ¡°Freddie.¡± The man gently rubbed Yuna¡¯s shoulder, his cold eyes darkly staring at Marguerite. ¡°Is the confrontation you wanted just the panic and anger after being exposed?¡± Marguerite¡¯s back stiffened, her nose prickled, and her frightened eyes instantly filled with tears. Panic and anger after being exposed? Just because she pushed Yuna, he assumed that the giarism was her doing? Marguerite was filled with resentment and shaking with anger, her words bing jumbled: ¡°Frederick, your timing couldn¡¯t be worse. If you hade ten minutes earlier, you would have heard Yuna admitting to copying my work.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, all I saw was you pushing her.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was calm, but enough to frighten anyone. Hearing this, Yuna immediately snuggled deeper into Frederick¡¯s arms, shooting a defiant look at Marguerite, then turning her pitiful gaze towards the man. ¡°Freddie, I¡¯ve never copied her work, really. I¡¯m a bit upset, but I don¡¯t want to make a fuss, I believe Marguerite didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Yuna¡¯s magnanimous attitude infuriated Marguerite. She had refuted the usations too many times, but no one was willing to believe her. Marguerite looked defeated, not expecting Yuna not to let her off the hook. ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯ve already dropped it, but you don¡¯t need to apologize to me. Don¡¯t make Freddie angry anymore, you¡¯ve smashed the room. If you apologize to Freddie properly, he won¡¯t do anything to you.¡± Marguerite was shocked once again. Was this woman ming everything on her? Was she the scapegoat? Was she supposed to be bullied by everyone? ¡°Yuna, do you find lying amusing? I really regret not recording your actions just now!¡± Marguerite finally snapped, shouting at Yuna. ¡°Marguerite!¡± Frederick raised his voice, his authoritative tone making everyone in the room tremble. ¡°Control your emotions!¡± Chapter 58 Marguerite¡¯s chest heaved violently. Feeling the tears ready to fall, she quickly turned around to wipe them away. She was undoubtedly the target of everyone¡¯s attacks, but she didn¡¯t want Yuna to see her in a mess, and even less did she want Yuna to gloat. At this time, Chuck rushed over with a tablet in hand, opened the screen, and handed it to Frederick. ¡°Mr. Winston, public opinion is piling up. Nearly 100 millionizens are saying we need to respond. It¡¯s a real pickle right now. If Marguerite really is a giarist, then we just have to admit it, but ourpany¡¯s reputation will take a massive hit, and we¡¯ll lose credibility in front of clients.¡± Marguerite listened quietly, her heart cold as ice. They had already assumed she was the giarist. ¡°Freddie, if it really is like this, I¡¯m willing to admit I¡¯m the giarist. I¡¯m willing to be misunderstood by everyone, and I¡¯m willing to give everything for you. Because ! know, even if the whole world betrays me, you¡¯ll be behind me, believing in me, protecting me.¡± That¡¯s right! No matter what Yuna did, Frederick always protected and believed in her unconditionally. Marguerite thought, ¡°What about me? Just because I don¡¯t y games, did I deserve to be bullied and insulted by everyone? Marguerite! You can¡¯t be this weak! You need to stand up strong and prove your innocence to everyone! The only one who can protect you now is yourself!¡± Marguerite turned around, her eyes already dry of tears but still red and swollen. ¡°What kind of crisis management is it to protect thepany at the expense of the reputation of the woman you love?¡± Yuna trembled and hid in Frederick¡¯s arms, shamelessly saying, ¡°You created this big problem; I have to sacrifice! I¡¯m your scapegoat!¡± Marguerite smiled slightly. ¡°No need; I can¡¯t bear it. I¡¯ll clear my name, and I won¡¯t let thepany do it for me.¡± Yuna was obviously shocked by Marguerite¡¯s sudden counterattack. This woman was so firm, could she really have some evidence? She suddenly started to worry, even her speech became hesitant: ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple; didn¡¯t you say the perfume was made by you personally? Tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll have apetition in the flower room to see who can make this perfume.¡± In fact, applying for a patent was simple, just needed the form. But if they really wanted to make the perfume, it¡¯s not that easy. With the same form, the ratio of the floral ingredients, the temperature of the distilled water, etc. all affected the final scent of the perfume. Pr Radiance was her pride and joy, she could recite all the forms and proportions backwards. Hearing this, Yuna hesitated, thinking about how to stop all this. ¡°The flower room was destroyed by you, where will we get the raw materials?¡± Margueriteughed confidently. ¡°LuxeScents International is so capable, restoring the flower room to its original state in one night shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Yuna quickly looked at Frederick, almost crying, ¡°Freddie, are we really going to have apetition? I think this kind ofpetition is childish, like something a child would do.¡± Marguerite sneered. To her, even a childishpetition was necessary against a shameless woman like Yuna. Seeing Marguerite¡¯s determined look, Frederickposed himself and said with an intense gaze, ¡°Since you¡¯re so insistent, I¡¯m eager to see what you¡¯re capable of.¡± With that, he picked up the injured Yuna and strode away. Chapter 59 The sight of the two leaving together was painful for Marguerite. Frederick¡¯s heart belonged to Yuna. Marguerite never harbored any delusions about that. All she asked for was trust. She was with him every day, wasn¡¯t her character clear enough? Besides, she wasn¡¯t just his wife, protected by thew, but also his employee, constantly under his watchful eye. So, anyone could doubt her, but not Frederick! She didn¡¯t understand why she clung to this man¡¯s trust and couldn¡¯t find a reason for it. Just the thought of his disappointed and shocked expression made Marguerite¡¯s heart ache. Tears streamed down her face again. The crowd had long dispersed, and Marguerite copsed on the ground, unable to vent her emotions, and left to let the tears fall. The little corgi in the corner seemed to sense her emotions, wobbling towards her and licking her hand with its little tongue. The parrot pped its wings by her side, repeating, ¡°Don¡¯t cry! Beautifuldy, don¡¯t cry!¡± Just then, Robert suddenly appeared at the door. He was panting from his run and gasped in surprise at the sight of the mess. Seeing Marguerite sitting on the ground, he hurriedly asked, ¡°Marguerite, where did Frederick go? What happened to the flower room? What¡¯s with the rumors online?¡± Marguerite lifted her head, her shoulders shaking with her sobs. Only then did Robert notice her tear-streaked face, and he froze. Why was she crying? ¡°Why are you crying? Stop crying! Did you have another fight with Frederick?¡± Whether it was the difficult Frederick or the straightforward Marguerite, Robert could always bnce their moods well. But he was scared of women crying. He was always at a loss when a woman cried. Marguerite cried as if she couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°He doesn¡¯t trust me.¡± Robert wanted to pull Marguerite up but figured he shouldn¡¯t touch her, so he crouched down and said, ¡°Stop crying; I¡¯ll take you to him.¡± Marguerite, dizzy from crying, shook her head firmly and said, ¡°No, I won¡¯t go to him. Mr. Fitzgerald, can you help me restore the flower room?¡± The precious flowers and nts in the flower room had been destroyed by Yuna, and it broke Marguerite¡¯s heart! ¡°You¡¯re still worried about these nts! Where is Frederick? I¡¯m taking you to him today!¡± Marguerite shook her head vigorously. ¡°No, Mr. Fitzgerald. The flowers and nts in the flower room are more important; you have to help me!¡± This was her battlefield, her chance to prove her innocence. She couldn¡¯t let it be destroyed. Seeing Marguerite so determined, Robert didn¡¯t push any further. After searching his body, he found a tissue in his pocket and handed it to Marguerite. ¡°Then stop crying; I¡¯ll find a way to help you.¡± Meanwhile, at Diamond Crest Estates Frederick had taken Yuna back to her apartment. Ablett and his wife couldn¡¯t stop grinning at the sight of their daughter being carried home by Frederick. They warmly invited Frederick in and busied themselves preparing desserts and coffee. Frederick headed straight for Yuna¡¯s room and found a first-aid kit to treat her wounds. This was Frederick¡¯s first visit to Diamond Crest Estates. No matter what, Yuna should be happy. But thinking about tomorrow¡¯spetition with Marguerite, she started to worry and fear. The perfume she was going topete with was straight from Marguerite, and she had no idea how to blend perfumes! She was sure to be exposed in tomorrow¡¯spetition! Yuna pouted and pretended to be pitiful. ¡°Freddie, there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told you,¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± The man was cleaning Yuna¡¯s wounds with an alcohol swab. There were only a few shallow scratches. Did they really hurt that much? Somehow, Yuna gave him the impression of a woman who had never experienced hardship. She always liked branded stuff. On the other hand, Marguerite sometimes made him worry. ¡°Actually, the perfume form was given to Marguerite by me. I created Golden Cascade and wanted to see the feedback, so I let Marguerite try it. She loved it, and 1 felt sorry for her, so I gave her the form. But I didn¡¯t expect her to use the form to apply for a job at LuxeScents International Frederick blinked. Seeing his reaction, Yuna pretended to be magnanimous. ¡°Freddie, why don¡¯t we cancel tomorrow¡¯s perfumepetition? I really don¡¯t want to see Marguerite fail, After all, she was my sister once. Even though she was adopted by my parents, I still have feelings for herl Frederick¡¯s face revealed no emotion as he said, ¡°You¡¯re so kind but you should stand up and prove yourself at this time. Kind? So that¡¯s how he saw her. Her efforts were not in vain! But what about tomorrow¡¯s perfumepetition? She was sure to be exposed! The more Yuna thought about it, the more anxious she became. But Frederick didn¡¯t stay long, he left as soon as he finished treating her wounds. As soon as Frederick left, Yuna immediately showed her angry face, knocking all the makeup on her vanity to the floor and screaming, ¡°That bitch, Marguerite! Why did she suddenly want to blend perfumes? Just to gain presence in front of Freddie, right?¡± Upon hearing themotion in the room, Zoe rushed over to soothe Yuna. ¡°Yuna, calm down! Your dad and I heard about it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you figure something out! We won¡¯t let you be exposed!¡± Chapter 60 The next morning at the Winston Group Frederick just walked into the floral room and immediately frowned due to the media activity. The perfume blending station was split into two, with two machines each for the media to do live broadcasts. Marguerite was on the left side of the station, engrossed in organizing some documents. When he saw Robert walk in, Frederick asked him grumpily, ¡°Who let the media in?¡± ¡°It was me.¡± Robert looked exhausted, the dark circles under his eyes especially prominent. Hearing this, Frederick gave Robert a cold look. ¡°You know I don¡¯t like media, right?¡± Robert could feel Frederick¡¯s annoyance, but he wasn¡¯t in a good mood himself. ¡°Frederick, this is about LuxeScents International and Marguerite¡¯s reputation, not your personal issues. I think the public wants to know the truth more than anyone.¡± Robert did this to defend Marguerite. He never doubted that Marguerite giarized, and he believed that she was not capable of such a thing. So he invited the media, aiming to expose Yuna¡¯s true face in front of the national audience. But revealing the truth was not as important as Frederick¡¯s opinion to Robert. In other words, he wanted to understand Marguerite¡¯s thoughts about Frederick. He chuckled lightly and asked in a low voice, ¡°If Marguerite really is a giarist, what would you do?¡± Frederick replied icily, ¡°I¡¯d have her leave.¡± Robert was taken aback. Marguerite had been with him for so long that everyone saw his changes. Now, couldn¡¯t this man see his own heart? ¡°I only kept her around because her perfume allowed me to smell again. If the real creator of the perfume is Yuna, why would I keep her?¡± Robert was left speechless. Originally, he used this reason to persuade Frederick to keep Marguerite. Now, this man was using the same reason to show his cold and ruthless attitude. Robert wanted to say something, but a parrot¡¯s shriek suddenly echoed in the noisy crowd: ¡°Bad woman! Bad woman! The bad woman is here!¡± Robert instinctively looked towards the entrance and saw Yuna, dressed in a casual dress, carrying a designer handbag, walking in gracefully. After the parrot¡¯s shout, it seemed to be extremely agitated and hid behind Marguerite along with a puppy. Robert looked at Yuna withplex emotions. In such a serious atmosphere, this woman was dressed like she was on vacation, her arm full of jewelry, she didn¡¯t look like someone who made perfume! Yuna walked straight towards Marguerite, noticing her in a whiteb coat, wearing rubber gloves, and carefully cleaning the perfume blending vessels. She looked very focused. Thinking about Marguerite¡¯s impending failure, Yuna found her concentrated look pitiful, but she felt veryfortable inside. ¡°Is this Marguerite? If I didn¡¯t know you, I would think you¡¯re a cleaner.¡± Yuna turned around and scoffed. Marguerite nced at her, took in her outfit, and coolly retorted. ¡°Take off your jewelry, put on ab coat, and wear safety goggles. Don¡¯t expose your unprofessionalism before thepetition even starts.¡± Yuna looked at Marguerite with confidence and said, ¡°Don¡¯t use that expert look on me, Marguerite, you¡¯ve already lost.¡± Marguerite nonchntly shot back, ¡°Yuna, the judges aren¡¯t blind.¡± Yuna nced at the judges sitting nearby, then leaned closer to Marguerite and chuckled. ¡°The judges aren¡¯t blind, but they do have a long view.¡± Marguerite felt a twinge of unease. Seeing Yuna¡¯s confident demeanor, she suddenly had a bad feeling. Something didn¡¯t feel right. Marguerite¡¯s reaction made Yuna very happy, she raised an eyebrow, her tone flippant and provocative. ¡°Marguerite, every judge here today has been bought by my mother. Unless you have extraordinary skills to turn the tide, from today on, you¡¯ll be the object of contempt in the perfume world.¡± Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Marguerite shivered, staring in disbelief at the woman with a sinister smile in front of her. Her first instinct was to expose her, but Yuna suddenly held her shoulder and looked at her with a smile. ¡°Marguerite, let me remind you that today¡¯s judges were invited by Frederick, If you expose me in front of Frederick, are you trying to challenge his status? In other words, do you think Frederick would believe you?¡± Marguerite was so angry that she clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, barely managing to control herself. Yuna was right; Frederick trusted her. No matter what Marguerite said, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Damn it! To frame Marguerite, Yuna really would do anything! Marguerite turned around mechanically and sat heavily on the stool. She had thought this would be her battlefield for a counterattack, but she hadn¡¯t expected Yuna to have dug a big pit for her already. So, was she destined to lose today? Soon, the perfume blending began on The two blending tables were very close, but there was an opaque screen in the middle, so neither of them could see the other¡¯s operation. Even though the oue was obvious, Marguerite was neither discouraged nor did she back down. Her experiences growing up had shaped her character to face difficulties. Even if she knew she was bound to fail, she would seize every possible opportunity, She carefully took out the original floral materials and ground them, then dried them with a mini dryer, set up the distition vessel, and used the extraction distition method to refine the liquid. Every step was perfect, without any mistakes. On the other side, Yuna was not panicked. She had watched a documentary on perfume makingst night and remembered all the steps. She even thought that making perfume was quite simple, just follow the steps and mix the ingredients in the form. What¡¯s so hard about that? If she had known this earlier, she would have made a perfume for Frederick herself. The scent would definitely be much better than what Marguerite made. At this moment, the judges came down to observe their work. They didn¡¯t linger in front of Marguerite, all the judges gathered behind Yuna, asionally chatting and nodding in approval. They tried to create the impression that Yuna was more professional and capable than Marguerite. Yuna noticed everyone¡¯s expressions. Knowing that she held the winning card, she quickly raised her face with pride and then looked at Marguerite with contempt. ¡°If you give up now, it won¡¯t be too embarrassing. Are you going to wait until the judges publicly announce that you are the one who giarized my idea?¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t look up, she waspletely focused on her work and didn¡¯t hear Yuna¡¯s words. Yuna sneered, ¡°Well, it¡¯s not my dignity that¡¯s being lost, you just keep pretending.¡± As soon as her words fell, one of the judges noticed that the perfume liquid distilled by Marguerite and Yuna had begun to form. He looked at Marguerite, then at Yuna, and frowned. Then he immediately turned his head and whispered his findings to his colleague. Then, all the judges¡® expressions became serious. Then, Yuna heard a judge sighing softly in her ear. She was stunned, turned her head, and saw that they had returned to their seats, discussing something in low voices. Everyone¡¯s face showed signs of struggle and indecision. Hmm. They were just putting on a show, but did they really need to y it so real? But it was good this way, at least it wouldn¡¯t make Freddie suspicious. Ten minutester, Marguerite was the first to finish blending her perfume. She used the guide tube to guide the perfume into a small bottle and politely handed it to the judge with both hands. Chapter VI The judge took itberly, not even looking at Marguerite. Marguerite knew why, so she didn¡¯t hold any hope and quietly returned to her seat. Yuna then also handed in her work. Robert, seeing that the time was almost up, walked from the back of the media to the judges¡® table and eagerly asked, ¡°Well, do we have a result yet?¡± The judges looked at each other and smiled, all withplicated expressions. One of them was even sighing constantly. ¡°No results yet?¡± Robert asked again. Seeing that no one else wanted to announce the result, an elderly judge took it upon himself, stood up, and nodded. ¡°We have a result,¡± As soon as the words came out, several media outlets immediately aimed their cameras at the old man, everyone¡¯s expressions eager and serious. The old man sighed, nced at Yuna, seeing that she was ready, and then announced: ¡°Afterparing on the spot, we found that Marguerite¡¯s perfume is exactly the same as the one on the market. That is to say, Marguerite is the original creator, and Yuna is the giarizer.¡± Chapter 62 Yuna waspletely taken aback, and so was Marguerite. Hadn¡¯t Yuna bribed the judges? Wasn¡¯t Marguerite destined to lose? What the heck happened? Did the judges suddenly grow a conscience? Before Marguerite could even get over the shock, Yuna had already shoved past the media and was yelling at the judges: ¡°You¡¯re lying! Did Marguerite bribe you? I¡¯m the original creator! She stole my idea! What¡¯s wrong with you guys?¡± Yuna was so heated, she didn¡¯t realize that her outburst in front of the media was being live¨Cstreamed all over the inte. Her tantrum plunged the scene into chaos. Seeing things spiraling out of control, Frederick quickly stepped forward and grabbed Yuna by the shoulder. ¡°Cool it!¡± Upon seeing Frederick, Yuna immediately burst into tears. ¡°Freddie, you have to help me! Marguerite bribed the judges. I¡¯m the real creator and you have to believe me!¡± She pleaded, fearing Frederick wouldn¡¯t believe her, and started to recite the form over and over again. Several journalists, going with the flow, nodded in agreement. After all, Yuna recited the form like it was engraved in her heart. Also, the judges seemed more pleased with Yuna¡¯s presentation when they inspected the works earlier. How did she end up being the copycat? So, the judges must have been bribed by Marguerite. ¡°Marguerite! Exin yourself, did you or did you not bribe the judges?¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re journalists; reporting the truth is our professional duty. You owe the public an exnation.¡± ¡°Marguerite, exin yourself quickly! Or else, believe it or not, I¡¯ll have your ugly photos broadcast on TV every day! You ugly duckling!¡± Ugly duckling? That term irked Frederick, he frowned and yelled out in an ominous tone, ¡°Shut up!¡± His voice was loud and forceful, like an invisible attack that silenced everyone present. Marguerite looked at him and found him looking back at her. His eyes were deep, as if a hint of light was hidden beneath them. Marguerite felt a pang in her heart. What was that look? Did he believe her? Or was he hoping she would clear things up? Marguerite averted her gaze, her emotions in turmoil. People were questioning why she won, even though she was curious. But to clear up the confusion, there seemed to be only one way. Marguerite made her way through the crowd to the judges¡® table,paring the perfume she and Yuna had blended. She couldn¡¯t help butugh. This was Yuna¡¯s concoction? What a joke! Marguerite¡¯s skills finally had the chance to shine. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss whether the judges were bribed. But I believe everyone here has a keen sense of judgment. The bottle of perfume in my left hand is my work, and the one in my right hand is Yuna¡¯s. Even if you¡¯re not perfume experts, you can clearly see which one is original and which one is giarized.¡± Everyone looked up and started to whisper. Some in the media even burst intoughter. Marguerite¡¯s perfume was a standard light green with a slight shimmer, nearly identical to Yuna¡¯s Golden Cascade, which won yesterday. But Yuna¡¯s concoction today was a dark green, almost ck, without any shine, looking like a witch¡¯s brew. No wonder the judges changed their minds at thest moment. They thought even if Yuna was bad, she should at least have basic perfume¨Cblending skills. If the difference wasn¡¯t too big, they¡¯d let it slide. But they never expected that Yuna¡¯s skills didn¡¯t even meet the basic threshold. If they still defended Yuna at this point, it wouldn¡¯t be Marguerite gaining infamy, but them, the judges. Seeing everyone¡¯s reaction, Marguerite¡¯s brow furrowed, and her disdainful gaze swept over Yuna. ¡°You only know the form but havepletely ignored the proportion. Yuna, you have a lot to learn about perfume. You might need to spend more time making up for your shorings. But before that, you have to apologize to me for your giarism.¡± Chapter 63 Marguerite¡¯s analysis hit the nail on the head, diffusing the tense atmosphere and earning everyone¡¯s approval. But Yuna was still stubbornly refusing to admit her mistake. ¡°Why should I apologize to you? I didn¡¯t copy anything! You switched my perfume and bribed the judges! The color I just mixed was light green too!¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t get angry, instead, a smirk crept up on her face. She mimicked Yuna¡¯s tone and shot back. ¡°How could I possibly afford to bribe the judges? The judge today was personally invited by my superior, Mr. Winston. Are you questioning his authority by saying I bribed the judges?¡± Yuna¡¯s face turned pale instantly. Marguerite put down the perfume sample in her hand, pped her hands gently, and slowly walked towards Yuna. She was petite and not tall but at this moment, she exuded a strong power. That was the determination to expose the truth and the strong offensive against enemies. ¡°You said I switched your perfume? Yuna, you should pick the right time to lie. I guess you were so guilty that you forgot about the cameras around. Every move you and I made when mixing the perfume was being broadcast live. The viewers have sharp eyes. I guess they know better than me what color your perfume really was.¡± Frederick and Robert had never seen this side of Marguerite. Her usually inconspicuous face was void of any expression except determination in her eyes, but it was enough to draw attention. Yuna was left speechless from the rebuttal, she crumpled to the ground in embarrassment. Several cameras immediately focused on Yuna¡¯s face. The spotlight flickered on her face and even a reporter¡¯s microphone almost touched her mouth. ¡°Ms. Yuna, you seem very nervous. Is it because Marguerite hit a nerve?¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re the real giarist, right?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you should apologize to Marguerite. Are you nning to settle this privately or let the entire nation see?¡± The media¡¯s relentless questioning got Yuna all flustered, she quickly took off herb coat to shield her face, fearing her current embarrassment would be live streamed. She intended to expose Marguerite, but the tables were turned, and she became theughing stock of the nation. Her helpless look caught Frederick¡¯s eye. The man frowned and said to Robert, ¡°Alright, call off your media.¡± Robert was puzzled. ¡°Are you still defending Yuna? Didn¡¯t you see clearly just now?¡± Call them off? No way! His aim was to show Frederick Yuna¡¯s true colors and get justice for Marguerite. Now that the exposed Yuna hasn¡¯t apologized yet, how could he let her off the hook? Frederick¡¯s face was serious, and his feelings were moreplex. Yuna¡¯s actions disgusted him. He never imagined that the little girl who helped him fifteen years ago would turn out like this. Not only did she lie on a whim, she let innocent people take the me for her. Frederick looked at her, justifying herself, and wanted to p her awake. But he couldn¡¯t. No matter how much he disliked Yuna, he still had a responsibility towards her. Frederick¡¯s face darkened further, and despite Robert and Chuck¡¯s advice, he decisively walked into the media circle and gently helped Yuna up from the ground. Yuna took the opportunity to lean into Frederick. ¡°Freddie, I knew you wouldn¡¯t ignore me. Let me exin.¡± ¡°Shut up! What else do you want to justify? Do you take me for a fool?¡± At this moment, Marguerite was stunned. She stared nkly at the two people in front of her. The noise around her made it hard for her to hear their conversation. All she could see was Frederick protecting Yuna. Marguerite couldn¡¯t believe what she saw, and then his deep voice left her even more surprised. ¡°The root cause of this matter is ScentSpirits Ltd. If they hadn¡¯t tolerated the giarist, this work wouldn¡¯t have easily appeared and caused such a negative impact. The apology should be made by ScentSpirits Ltd.¡± Marguerite frowned. The apology she was expecting, why should it be made by ScentSpirits Ltd.? The one who hurt her was Yuna! Chapter 64 Marguerite couldn¡¯t get why Frederick kept defending Yuna when the truth was as clear as day. But hey, was it really that strange? They were a couple head over heels in love, after all. A boyfriend standing up for his girlfriend didn¡¯t need a reason. Even if his girlfriend was in the wrong. Even if the whole world knew she had hurt others, he¡¯d still stubbornly stand by her side. Once Frederick spoke up, all the media shut up, and no one dared to question Yuna anymore. Chuck was worried this issue was going to blow up. After all, Frederick defending Yuna under the public eye, although rational and fair, was bound to raise eyebrows. Frederick¡¯s love life was always a closely guarded secret. His indecision between Marguerite and Yuna, if leaked, would definitely attract a lot of attention. Thinking quickly. Chuck stepped up to interrupt the media and called for several employees to block the cameras. ¡°Alright folks, let¡¯s call it a day. This is a matter between corporations, not something to be broadcast. If there¡¯s any update, we¡¯ll share it on our official website.¡± Although they didn¡¯t get the juicy part, the media didn¡¯t want to annoy Frederick and had no choice but to leave. The room quickly returned to silence. Marguerite was pissed off. She should¡¯ve been happy with her victory, but she couldn¡¯t muster any enthusiasm. She needed an apology from Yuna. She needed her to say ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡°! It was a matter of her dignity and her innocence. But all this was taken away by Frederick. Marguerite clenched her teeth, gave Yuna a cold look, and said firmly: ¡°I don¡¯t care what tricks you¡¯ve got up your sleeve or who¡¯s backing you. But with this apology, you owe me. And what you owe, you gotta pay!¡± With that, Marguerite took off herb coat and rubber gloves and walked away without even ncing at Frederick. As Marguerite walked by, Yuna stepped back nervously. Her fear was exposed, but she had too much on her te to care. Now, the only thing she needed to keep steady was Frederick¡¯s mood. So, she immediately took Frederick¡¯s arm and cooed, ¡°Freddie, I need to talk to you alone. Let¡¯s go to the office downstairs.¡± Marguerite¡¯s departure made Frederick anxious. He shook off Yuna¡¯s hand and red at her: ¡°Just because I defended you doesn¡¯t mean I believe you. Scram!¡± With his eyes wide open in anger, he too left the room. Yuna instinctively wanted to chase after him but was blocked by Robert. He had a serious look on his face, clearly not as friendly as he was with Marguerite. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, Frederick has made his feelings clear. If you go after him now, you¡¯re just asking for trouble. He needs some time to think things over. You should go home.¡± Despite his handsome looks, Robert¡¯s gentlemanly demeanor was no match for Frederick¡¯s strong personal charm. Yuna, who had always valued appearances, had no idea how outstanding Robert was. She retorted angrily, ¡°Do you know who I am? I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e! What right do you have to interfere in my business with Freddie?¡± Robert lost patience with Yuna¡¯s attitude. He didn¡¯t even look at her as he gave an order to Chuck: ¡°Chuck, get the bodyguards to escort her out!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Fitzgerald!¡± As soon as his words fell, two tall bodyguards walked in. They were dressed in ck suits and ties, their sunsses making their eyes unreadable. Their intimidating presence was even greater than that of a regr thug. ¡°Let go of me! Do you know who I am? I¡¯m Frederick¡¯s fianc¨¦e! You uncouth people!¡± Robert gave the ranting woman a deep look, his eyebrows raising slightly. ¡°You¡¯re Frederick¡¯s woman?¡± Yuna thought her words had sessfully intimidated the man before her. Though held by the bodyguards, she still held her head high. ¡°Of course!¡± A mischievous smile appeared on Robert¡¯s thoughtful face, his eyes shing with a ruthless light. ¡°Yuna, remember this. As long as I¡¯m here, you¡¯ll never be Frederick¡¯s woman in this lifetime.¡± Chapter 65 After Yuna was ruthlessly kicked out by the Winston Group, Robert quickly returned to the CEO¡¯s office to find Frederick. At that time, Frederick was quietly puffing on a cigar. The office was filled with smoke, making it almost impossible for Robert to open his eyes. He walked up and directly took the cigar from Frederick¡¯s fingers. ¡°Instead of puffing away, you should think about how to apologize to Marguerite.¡± Frederick¡¯s fingers still held the lingering scent of the cigar; he disagreed. ¡°What she needs is Yuna¡¯s apology, not mine.¡± ¡°It looks like you¡¯re still sane. Then why did you abuse your power and refuse to give Marguerite fair treatment?¡± Frederick stood in front of the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, his hands in his pockets, his shoulders shaking slightly. He answered, ¡°Yuna once saved my life, and I always feel like I owe her.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re making Marguerite pay for what you owe?¡± Robert was emotional, he paused for a moment, then sighed and continued. ¡°Frederick, I shouldn¡¯t be the one to say this. But I don¡¯t want to see you go astray. I know you can¡¯t forget that little girl from fifteen years ago, but are you sure Yuna is the one who saved you? She kidnapped Marguerite and giarized Marguerite¡¯s work. How could she be the innocent little girl from fifteen years ago? She can easily mix up right and wrong, of course she can fake someone else¡¯s identity!¡± Frederick suddenly turned around, and his dark eyes widened instantly. His face fell then he shook his head. ¡°I have thoroughly investigated; there is no mistake.¡± ¡°Even if Yuna really is your lifesaver, what does that have to do with Marguerite? Frederick Marguerite is the most innocent. No one helped her from beginning to end and she could only rely on herself to survive.¡± Frederick stared at him and said, ¡°You seem quite willing to worry about her.¡± Robert was taken aback, then almostughed. ¡°You¡¯re not jealous, are you?¡± Frederick ufortably turned his gaze away, not saying a word. Robert couldn¡¯t help butugh, his handsome face showing some helplessness. ¡°Frederick, I¡¯m helping her because of you, because she is your wife! I¡¯m helping her, at least in your name, so she¡¯ll feel better when she¡¯s helpless. I¡¯ve never doubted that Marguerite is a giarist, and she could never be the one who destroyed the flower room. On the contrary, she didn¡¯te homest night and helped me restore the flower room. So, Frederick, can you see it? Marguerite, like you, isn¡¯t good at expressing her feelings. Can¡¯t I give her a hand? She can be sharp¨Ctongued sometimes, but that¡¯s the thorn life has ground into her and she needs to protect herself this way! You should show more care for such a woman.¡± Frederick remembered the scene of Marguerite pushing Yuna yesterday. If he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, he would never believe that Marguerite could be so ruthless. And because of this, his original firm trust in her began to waver. ¡°She¡¯s really good at protecting herself. I saw her push Yuna away with my own eyes yesterday.¡± ¡°Did you see the reaction of the corgi and the parrot? Why were they afraid of Yuna? Isn¡¯t it because she destroyed the flower room and left them with a shadow? Therefore, Marguerite pushing her is already lenient. If I were there, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have spared her.¡± Hearing Robert¡¯s words, Frederick seemed to realize how serious his actions were for Marguerite. But for the sake of his dignity, he was always unwilling to bow his head. Now Marguerite must be very angry with him and might even not want to see him. Frederick¡¯s face showed a trace of irritation. He snatched the cigar back from Robert and lit it again. Seeing that Frederick¡¯s mood finally showed signs of loosening, Robert decided to continue persuading him, turned around, and picked up Frederick¡¯s phone from the desk. ¡°I¡¯ve already said what I had to say. Now you should call Marguerite back and think about how to appease her.¡± Robert dialed Marguerite¡¯s number, then turned on the speakerphone. Frederick instinctively put out the cigar, staring at the phone screen, his face full of tension. A minute passed, and the other party did not answer the phone. Robert tried again, but still no one answered. He tentatively looked at Frederick, only to see the man angrily throw down his cigar, looking out the window with anger. This woman actually didn¡¯t answer his call again! Frederick¡¯s face turned ugly, feeling that his mood was again controlled by Marguerite. He felt extremely humiliated, waved his hand in a huff, pretending not to care, and said, ¡°Fine! If she doesn¡¯t want to answer my call, then I won¡¯t give her the chance!¡± Robert thought, ¡°did she need you to give her a chance? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s wrong! You should be the one begging for a chance.¡± But with Marguerite not answering the phone, Robert had no choice. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy all night so I¡¯m going to go rest.¡± He exited the call screen, put the phone back in its original ce, and prepared to leave. Suddenly, Frederick turned around and said urgently, ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Frederick turned his head, his awkward expression full of difort. ¡°Can you call her again?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t we already called several times? She just won¡¯t answer!¡± Robert was puzzled. Frederick ufortably touched his nose. ¡°Can you try calling her again with your phone?¡± Chapter 66 Robert furrowed his brows. Did he hear that right? Was Frederick really nning on calling Marguerite again using his phone? Robert stared at Frederick in surprise, noticing an unusual expression on Frederick¡¯s typically arrogant and indifferent face. Robert wanted tough. When would Frederick finally get over his habit of saying one thing and doing another? But since he suggested it, that was a huge step forward. Robert felt his words of advice weren¡¯t wasted after all. Satisfied, Robert pulled out his phone and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s give it a shot with my phone.¡± Unfortunately, Marguerite still didn¡¯t pick up. Staring at his phone, Robert mumbled, ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. Marguerite is giving me the cold shoulder too? Is she really pissed off?¡± Frederick¡¯s expression turned tense and serious. Feeling a bit awkward, Robert scratched his head, then quickly came up with the suggestion, ¡°Marguerite might still be fuming. But you know how women are, they can always be sweet¨Ctalked.¡± ¡°You want me to whisper sweet nothings? No way!¡± ¡°What good are sweet words? Marguerite is a tough cookie, sweet words won¡¯t cut it. Actions speak louder than words.¡± A flicker of light crossed Frederick¡¯s eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big mystery? Whatever Margueritecks, you provide.¡± With a serious face, Robert rubbed his chin, picturing Marguerite¡¯s in and simple image in his mind. He snapped his fingers and immediately said, ¡°Frederick, I¡¯m not ming you. But Marguerite is your wife, right? Where¡¯s the look of a rich wife from top to bottom? Those worn¨Cout tracksuits look like rags, not even a simple piece of jewelry. This isn¡¯t right!¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze tightened a bit. He kept his mouth shut and didn¡¯t say a word, clearly taking Robert¡¯s words to heart. Even though he was going to divorce Marguerite in three months, she was still officially his wife. How could Frederick¡¯s woman be dressed in rags? Jewelry was a must. In the silence, he seemed to know what to do next. Meanwhile, Marguerite waspletely unaware that missing a few calls had caused such a stir. She had a meeting with her grandmother¡¯s doctor and went straight to Stonebridge Memorial Hospital after leaving the office. She walked into the ward, just finished helping her grandmother clean up, when a male doctor walked in. ¡°Are you a rtive of Laverne?¡± A pleasant male voice. Marguerite turned and found a handsome man standing before her. He was tall, at least 1.9 meters, with exquisite facial features. He wore silver sses, his eyes were clear as ake, and his lips were plump and rosy, exuding an elegant aura. Marguerite was captivated, not by his looks. She was just surprised. How could a man¡¯s skin be even more beautiful than a woman¡¯s? His skin seemed to glow, as if soaked in honey, so delicate it could be easily damaged. ¡°Are you Marguerite?¡± The doctor stepped forward with a faint smile, sizing up Marguerite. Marguerite snapped back to reality and said, ¡°Yes. Are you Dr. Steven?¡± Steven smiled even more charmingly than a woman: ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Marguerite quickly pulled out a thick folder from her canvas bag and handed it to Steven. ¡°These are my grandmother¡¯s previous medical records. I¡¯m counting on you, doctor.¡± Steven gracefully epted it. Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure if it was her imagination, but it seemed the doctor intentionally took a long time to ept the records, his beautiful and expressive eyes examining her. Feeling a bit awkward under his gaze, Marguerite let Steven take the medical records and change the subject: ¡°I performed a check¨Cup on your grandmotherst night and her indicators are almost back to normal. She should wake up soon.¡± Marguerite was overjoyed. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°But waking up doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s fully recovered, she¡¯ll still need ongoing treatment.¡± Marguerite frowned. ¡°Will she be cured within three months?¡± ¡°No.¡± Marguerite sighed deeply. It seemed her n to leave with her grandmother after divorcing Frederick had to be put on hold. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Steven tucked the medical records under his arm, his hands in his pockets, exuding a weak yet handsome aura. Marguerite suddenly remembered a question and quickly asked, ¡°Wait, Steven. Can I ask who arranged for you to treat my grandmother?¡± The mysterious person who never showed up was still bothering Marguerite. 10:59 ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re referring to. I was transferred back to Stonebridge Memorial Hospital by my superiors. As an employee, I don¡¯t have the right to question them.¡± With her question unanswered, Marguerite gave an embarrassedugh and let Steven leave. Marguerite spent the entire afternoon taking care of her grandmother at the hospital. By the time she left, it was already evening, and she realized she had nowhere to go. She didn¡¯t want to go back to Sapphire Valley Estates, as the thought of Frederick¡¯s behavior that day made her angry. She nned to find a small inn to spend the night, so she took out her phone to book a room. But as soon as she turned on her phone, she was stunned. Frederick had called her this many times? Chapter 67 A bunch of missed calls, but Marguerite didn¡¯t pick up a single one. She had put her phone on silent to avoid distractions before the morning fragrance match. Therefore, she didn¡¯t hear the ringtone at all. But those missed calls were ancient history now, and Marguerite didn¡¯t feel the need to return them. She knew for sure that Frederick was trying to tell her something. Frederick, Yuna¡¯s lover, what else could he do apart from defending Yuna? Marguerite didn¡¯t feel like stirring up trouble. She had checked out several motels, but they all seemed too pricey. So, left with no choice, she took thest bus back to the office and decided to crash on the office couch. Thete spring and early summer nights were a bit chilly, and Marguerite felt a little cold. She curled up, hugging herself, feeling lonely and deste. She rubbed her hands constantly, but it didn¡¯t chase away the chill. So, she got up to find a paper cup and fumbled to pour herself a cup of hot coffee to warm her hands. Suddenly, the lights in the CEO¡¯s office came on, and Marguerite blinked in surprise as Robert walked in, looking astonished. ¡°What are you doing here? Do you know Frederick¡¯s been looking everywhere for you?¡± Marguerite was stunned, the warm steam from the cup in her hands bringing some warmth back to her face and hands. ¡°He¡¯s looking for me?¡± ¡°He thought you were in danger because you weren¡¯t answering your phone!¡± Robert said, taking out his phone. ¡°I¡¯m calling him back now. He¡¯s worried sick and was about to call the cops!¡± ¡°I put my phone on silent.¡± Marguerite sounded helpless, her emotions mixed. Was he worried about her too? At this point, Robert had dialed Frederick¡¯s number. He nced at Marguerite and walked into the office lounge, speaking quietly on the phone, ¡°Marguerite¡¯s been found. Call off the police. Do you want me to take her home for you, or will youe and pick her up yourself?¡± For some reason, Marguerite wanted to hear what Robert and Frederick were saying. Frederick was actually worried about her. That piqued Marguerite¡¯s curiosity. The lounge door was slightly ajar, and Marguerite stood at the doorway. In the silent room, Frederick¡¯s voice from the phone was clear and audible. ¡°Where was she?¡± ¡°In the office. She said her phone was silent, and she didn¡¯t hear it.¡± ¡°Shees up with suchme excuses? I shouldn¡¯t have bothered looking for her. She can fend for herself!¡± Frederick growled angrily. The sound was so piercing that Robert immediately moved his phone a little further away. ¡°Frederick, she didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Besides, you were the one who messed up today. It¡¯s only normal for her to be stubborn. Apologize to her, and let¡¯s move on.¡± Frederick was still seething, using the nastiest words to vent his frustration. ¡°I should apologize to her? Was she worth it?¡± Marguerite was stunned. Was she worth it? Ha. She wasn¡¯t! Yuna was! Marguerite¡¯s anger was ignited, and she pushed the door open, raising her voice at Robert, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, wrong is wrong. But I don¡¯t need his apology and won¡¯t return to Sapphire Valley Estates. I don¡¯t want anything to do with him.¡± Robert was frozen in ce. When did Marguerite show up? Did she hear everything Frederick said? In the confusion, his hand slipped and hit the speaker button, and Frederick¡¯s disgruntled voice came through again, ¡°Tell her I don¡¯t need to apologize to her. Even if she gets killed out there, it¡¯s none of my business!¡± Marguerite¡¯s face paled with anger as she retorted, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, you can tell him that whether I live or die, it¡¯s none of his business!¡± And with a ¡°click,¡± Frederick decisively hung up the phone. Robert stood still like a statue, looking at his phone screen, then at Marguerite,pletely baffled by the couple¡¯s behavior. What the hell was going on? Why were they fighting again? Marguerite gave Robert a resentful nce, turned around, and left the lounge, shaking with anger as she sat back down on the couch. ¡°Marguerite, why don¡¯t youe back with me?¡± The man came out of the lounge, about to patiently persuade her, but Marguerite cut him off sharply. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, can you stop ying peacemaker? I¡¯ve told you I will never return to Sapphire Valley Estates! I don¡¯t want to share a roof with such a rude man!¡± ¡°Marguerite, he¡¯s just.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the rude one?¡± An angry male voice interrupted Robert again. Both of them were startled and turned toward the direction of the voice, only to see Frederick¡¯s face filled with anger. 10:59 The bright light shone on the man¡¯s upright figure, giving off a terrifying aura. He had been at the police station reporting a case, and the station was only a three¨Cminute walk from the office. So as soon as he got Robert¡¯s call, Frederick rushed to the office. ¡°I remember you saying you don¡¯t want anything to do with me. So, what are you doing here?¡± His face was lean, and his words were provocative. Marguerite retorted sarcastically, ¡°I¡¯m spending the night at the office. What does that have to do with you?¡± ¡°Marguerite, do I need to remind you? This is mypany.¡± Marguerite clenched her lower lip, her fingers tightly gripping each other. She was tired, really too tired to argue with Frederick anymore, ¡°Fine, this is your ce! I¡¯m leaving!¡± With that, Marguerite walked past Frederick towards the door. However, as they passed each other. Frederick grabbed her slender waist tightly, and the next second, he lifted her, carrying her over his shoulder. ¡°You juste and go as you please, Marguerite. You really don¡¯t give a hoot about me.¡± 212 Chapter 68 Marguerite didn¡¯t see iting, not at all when Frederick suddenly went all caveman on her. No matter how much she squirmed, he wouldn¡¯t let go, holding on to her like a lifeline. ¡°Frederick, let me go!¡± she demanded. She pounded on his chest, but her feeble strength tickled him. ¡°Cut it out. If you keep struggling, there will be hell to pay!¡± With that, Frederick had already dragged her to the parking lot. He opened the car door and tossed her in the back seat. He then coldly ordered the driver, ¡°Home.¡± Seeing Frederick¡¯s domineering attitude, the driver got the jitters. He swallowed hard, stepped on the gas, and drove home without looking at the duo in the back seat. Frederick held Marguerite in his arms, the embrace far from tender. His grip was so tight it was causing her pain. Marguerite knew she was stuck in Frederick¡¯s grasp, so shey helplessly in his arms, her tears betraying her and spilling down her face. Feeling his chest wet, Frederick realized the woman in his hold was crying. His emotions were all over the ce, one minute angry, the next filled with guilt. He felt her pain and gradually loosened his hold on her. He thought she would seize the opportunity to escape, but Marguerite didn¡¯t move. She justy on him, sobbing. Frederick was all mixed up. He couldn¡¯t say anything tofort her and gently wiped away her tears. Soon, the car pulled into Sapphire Valley Estates and stopped at the vi. Frederick carried Marguerite out of the car. Amid the surprised nces of everyone, he took her straight to the bedroom. He shut the door with his foot, put down Marguerite, and immediately locked the door. Marguerite rushed at the lock. ¡°Let me out!¡± Frederick, with a frown, blocked her. ¡°We need to talk.¡± Marguerite¡¯s face was streaked with tears. Her voice was full of sorrow. ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about? We are like oil and water, Frederick! What have I done to deserve this? Why are you always like this with me? I know you love Yuna and want to solve all her problems! But her problems aren¡¯t my doing. I¡¯ve never hurt her! It was she who copied my work! I had to fight tooth and nail to clear my name. Was it too much to ask for an apology? I know you can¡¯t stand me, always thinking I have an ulterior motive. But think about it, have I ever used my status as your wife to gain anything? Have I ever spent a dime of your money?¡± Marguerite¡¯s grievances spilled out all at once, her words tumbling out in a rush. For a moment, Frederick was at a loss for words. He felt for Marguerite, and her words left him speechless. For some reason, he gently cupped Marguerite¡¯s neck, his lips suddenly covering hers. Her familiar scent gradually drew him in, and he once again held her slim waist tight. He spun around with Marguerite, pressing her against the cold door. Marguerite¡¯s eyshes quivered. She was frozen in ce, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the man before her. Her mind went nk, and her heart pounded fast. For some reason, Frederick¡¯s kiss reminded Marguerite of the stranger from that night. The stranger had also gripped her neck and kissed her deeply that night, just like Frederick. It was odd. Why did she get this feeling? Chapter 69 Marguerite was so caught up in this intense confusion that she even forgot to resist until the next second when the sting on her lips brought her back to reality. This guy just bit her! Marguerite pushed Frederick away. His sudden kiss left her feeling embarrassed and flustered. She raised her arm to p him, but he quickly grabbed her wrist. Frederick¡¯s lips, now unusually rosy from the kiss, shimmered under the light. Unable to meet his gaze, Marguerite turned her face away, her tone a bit pissed, ¡°If you want to talk, just talk. Why did you have to kiss me?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were deep, a glint shing in his pupils. Facing the woman before him, he seemed to lose control again. ¡°Somebody¡¯s been running their mouthtely, spewing nonsense, and it¡¯s been getting on my nerves. I had to teach her a lesson. Hopefully, she¡¯ll remember it.¡± Marguerite jerked her arm out of his grasp, her cheeks flushed, ¡°What nonsense? I only stated the facts. You were in the wrong.¡± Just as Marguerite was speaking, Frederick suddenly pulled out a small jewelry box as if by magic. Inside was a simple ne. The silver chain was understated, with a white pearl pendant that was crystal clear. It was a design that would suit any girl. Marguerite blinked, clueless about Frederick¡¯s intentions. Unexpectedly, the man took out the ne and put it around her neck, his arms wrapping around her shoulders. Marguerite looked at his handsome face so close that her breath hitched. ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you gave me a ne, I¡¯ll forgive you,¡± Marguerite grumbled haughtily. ¡°You said you lost a ne here. I don¡¯t want to owe you anything, so I got you another one.¡± The man had put the ne on her, and his fingers lightly touched the pearl. His fingertips brushed against Marguerite¡¯s skin, sending a tingling sensation through her body. ¡°I don¡¯t know how expensive the ne you lost was, but since I¡¯m giving you one, it¡¯s definitely more expensive.¡± Marguerite felt awkward and tried to hide her panic with an indifferent attitude, ¡°There¡¯s nothing more valuable than my ne.¡± Frederick¡¯s smile faded, and his face tightened, showing his displeasure, ¡°Marguerite.¡± ¡°But I quite like it,¡± Marguerite hurriedly added. The man¡¯s anger vanished instantly, his eyebrows raising slightly, his expression confident and dominant, ¡°Say that again?¡± Marguerite¡¯s lips curled up slightly. She touched the pearl and looked up at him, saying earnestly, ¡°I said, I really like this ne you gave me.¡± Hearing this, Frederick¡¯s mood finally improved. He suddenly leaned over, grabbed her face, and pinched it with a punishing gesture, ¡°If you dare to take it off, you¡¯re dead meat.¡± Marguerite looked at his fierce expression, furrowed her brows, and tried to pull away, ¡°Alright, alright. Can you let go? It hurts.¡± Her cheeks were plump and cute, and Frederick felt like he could feel the cogen when he pinched her. Her lips pursed together due to the force of his pinch. Frederick¡¯s gazended on her lips, and his desire nearly made him lose control. Realizing he was losing control, he immediately let go of her and turned away to avoid her gaze, ¡°Clear your schedule for tomorrow. We¡¯re going out.¡± Marguerite rubbed her sore cheek, ¡°Tomorrow? What are you up to?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask so many questions,¡± Frederick said impatiently, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving yet, or do you want to?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving now!¡± Without hesitation, Marguerite turned around, opened the door, and ran out of his room. She was so nervous that she was like a scared little bunny, bumping around, and Frederick was afraid she might trip. It wasn¡¯t until she was back in her room that her racing heart began to calm down. She leaned on the vanity, gasping for air. When she looked up, she saw her flushed cheeks in the mirror. Slowly, hesitantly, she touched her lips that Frederick had kissed, her heart filled with mixed feelings. The man had kissed her, and her emotional defenses, her barrier to protect herself, seemed slowly crumbling, falling apart. Chapter 70 At the same time, at Diamond Crest Estates. As soon as Yuna got home, she exploded, swearing like a street shrew. ¡°That wicked woman Marguerite. Laverne is almost dead, why didn¡¯t she drop dead too? Hosting that stupid fragrancepetition, just to show off her power, right? And she actually expects me to apologize to her? As if! That witch isn¡¯t even fit to carry my shoes. And she dares to dream that I would apologize to her. Mom and Dad, you didn¡¯t see her arrogant face today, it made my blood boil.¡± Not feeling vented enough, Yuna grabbed a vase and smashed it to the ground. The sound of breaking ss sent a wave of panic through Zoe and Ablett, and the cell phones in their hands almost fell as well. They were scrolling through onlinements. Since Yuna lost thepetition, the inte opinion flipped within a day. What pissed them off more was that Frederick called out ScentSpirits Ltd. to apologize on camera in the morning, which stirred everyone¡¯s anger. Netizens also posted their opinions on the official website of ScentSpirits Ltd. ScentSpirits Ltd. started as a small workshop with the initial intention of establishing a foothold in the perfume industry by replicating Golden Cascade through Yuna¡¯s copying. However, her performance turned out to be so disappointing, resulting in aplete loss. Unable to handle the pressure, the staff of ScentSpirits Ltd. had to step out to apologize. In order to salvage their reputation, they quickly distanced themselves from Yuna, iming they had no idea about Yuna¡¯s giarism, and they were victims too. Instantly, the whole web¡¯s condemnation towards Yuna grew even stronger. Ablett took a deep breath, and started analyzing the situation for Yuna. ¡°You should focus on handling the negativements online now. The inte is full of people condemning you. Seeing this, Frederick might waver. Your priority now is to reassure him.¡± Yuna, red¨Ceyed with anger, retorted, ¡°Dad! Freddie doesn¡¯t even want to see me now, how am I supposed to reassure him?¡± Zoe immediately pulled Yuna over, ¡°Didn¡¯t Frederick stand up for you when Marguerite wanted you to apologize today? If he doesn¡¯t care about you anymore, would he do that? He¡¯s just angry.¡± Yuna, on the verge of tears, asked, ¡°Mom, what should I do next then?¡± Zoe suddenly thought of an idea. ¡°Go buy a new dress tomorrow, doll yourself up in front of Frederick. Men are all about looks. Sweet talk him a bit, once he¡¯s happy, he won¡¯t be mad at you anymore. Besides, Marguerite was so tough today, Frederick saw it. Marguerite, having neither the looks nor the figure, will never be epted by the wealthy family. You¡¯re so pretty, you should pay more attention to your appearance and let Frederick see your gentleness and value.¡± Yuna waspletely convinced by Zoe. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll listen to you. I¡¯ll go to Grandeur Square Mall to buy clothes tomorrow. I will get the most expensive and luxurious brands. Only in this way can I truly deserve Freddie¡¯s status.¡± Early next morning, at Sapphire Valley Estates. The chef prepared avish breakfast. Marguerite walked into the dining room, seeing Sadie and the servants setting up the table. She quickly scanned the table, full English breakfast, North African eggs, French toast, and various fresh juices. Marguerite was a bit puzzled, and turned to ask Sadie, ¡°Sadie, I remember we usually have sandwiches and milk, don¡¯t we?¡± Sadie looked at Marguerite with a warm and content expression, saying. ¡°Madam, the Master said we¡¯ll have a luxurious buffet breakfast from now on. He thinks we shouldn¡¯t have too simple a breakfast every day. What do you think, Madam?¡± Sadie was smiling brightly, and Marguerite felt a sudden warmth in her heart. She was never keen on just dry bread and milk. Could it be that Frederick was amodating her habits? Chapter 71 Marguerite felt a bit awkward, ¡°Actually, you guys don¡¯t need to fuss over me. I¡¯m not picky about what I eat, I¡¯m just a bit bored.¡± ¡°Do you really think so highly of yourself, believing that everyone should center on you?¡± Frederick suddenly passed by her, a servant immediately pulled out a chair for him and he sat down as gracefully as a prince. Hezily wiped his fingers with a hot towel, not even ncing at her, ¡°Eating bread and milk gets boring after a while, one has to change it up once in a while.¡± Marguerite felt super embarrassed, mentally berating herself for overthinking. She made aplete fool of herself. Marguerite stiffly sat down and silently started eating. Fortunately, the dishes today suited her taste perfectly, the healing power of good food quickly made her forget her embarrassment. Breakfast onlysted half an hour, after they finished, Frederick told Marguerite to go change into appropriate clothes. Marguerite had a strong sense of time and she didn¡¯t want to keep him waiting. So she quickly changed her clothes and ran downstairs to find him. By then, he was already dressed up, leaning against a Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan waiting for her. Marguerite was slightly startled, feeling that the man looked particrly handsome today. He was not wearing a suit, his white silk shirt was a bit loose, but not sloppy. The shirt was tucked into light blue jeans, his rxed style was like a charming male lead who just walked out of a TV series. Marguerite was used to seeing him in formal attire, his outfit today was indeed a pleasant surprise. She had to admit that this man had a really good figure, and he could pull off any style. Marguerite jogged over, reaching for the back seat handle only to realize the car door was locked, she turned to him: ¡°Don¡¯t we have things to do? Let¡¯s go.¡± Frederick looked her up and down, not hiding his displeasure: ¡°I told you to change into something appropriate, why did youe out like this?¡± Marguerite frowned. Was it Inappropriate? She thought it was pretty appropriate. She specifically wore a grey Nike tracksuit, even though it was on sale, it still cost her twenty bucks. ck sneakers were versatile, though the soles were a bit unglued. But it was the only pair she had. Marguerite subtly hid the foot with the unglued shoe, looking a bit uneasy ¡°Isn¡¯t what I¡¯m wearing proper enough, as long as I can go out it¡¯s fine, right?¡± Seeing her outfit, a hint of determination to transform her shed in his eyes. A smile appeared on his lips: ¡°Alright, get in. Sit in the front. If you sit in the back, that¡¯s like treating me as your driver, then you¡¯re screwed.¡± With that, he unlocked and got in the car. Marguerite innocently pouted, silently following him into the car. Frederick drove straight to the parking lot of Grandeur Square Mall, only when Marguerite got out did she realize he brought her to a mall. And not just any mall, but a high¨Cend, ultra¨Cluxurious international mall. In her past twenty¨Ctwo years, she rarely went to supermarkets, let alone such grand ces. Marguerite felt uneasy, she felt out of ce, even the socialites around were pointing at her, their strange gazes made her feel more ufortable. Frederick noticed Marguerite¡¯s unease and intentionally slowed down his pace to let her catch up. Then, he gently put his arm around her shoulder. His move was both natural and unobtrusive, Marguerite leaned on his shoulder as if she¡¯d found her savior. He gave her a sense of security, and in that moment, Marguerite gradually felt that this man had be reliable. Frederick directly took her to thergest luxury clothing store in Grandeur Square Mall. The store manager, Alison, upon seeing Frederick, immediately came over to serve them personally, leading them enthusiastically to the VIP area on the second floor. However, they didn¡¯t notice that at the same moment, Yuna also walked in. Chapter 72 On the second floor in the VIP area, there were no disyed products. It looked more like a fashion exhibition space. A mini runway cut through the middle, with vibrant flowers arranged on either side. A pricey Fendi Cloud Sofa sat at the very front of the runway. After inviting the pair to take a seat, Alison brought over a tray with desserts and water, respectfully squatting down next to Marguerite. ¡°Sir, ma¡¯am, here are the mineral water and snacks prepared for you. Please wait a moment, and I¡¯ll go fetch the clothing catalogue.¡± Marguerite was stunned. This¡­ was mineral water? The bottle was wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, studded with diamonds all over. It was decorated with a pair of wings in the center, and even the cap was topped with a crown. Marguerite had a salty breakfast, and her throat was dry after following Frederick around. She was indeed thirsty, but the mineral water in front of her was clearly an extravagance most people couldn¡¯t afford. As someone not well¨Coff, Marguerite instinctively felt repulsed by things she couldn¡¯t afford. She swallowed hard, then turned to Frederick, kindly reminding him, ¡°This ce seems to sell women¡¯s clothes.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You know?¡± A look of surprise crossed Marguerite¡¯s face, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re into cross¨Cdressing?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly, and the corner of his mouth twitching. He suddenly felt likeughing. This woman¡¯s way of thinking was truly unique. He picked up the mineral water, slowly unscrewing the cap, ¡°When have you ever seen me in women¡¯s clothes?¡± ¡°Then you¡­¡± Marguerite was even more confused. He brought her to the mall, wasn¡¯t that to have her apany him to buy clothes? If it wasn¡¯t for himself, was it for Yuna? Did he want her opinion? Thinking of this, Marguerite felt a bit annoyed, then the man¡¯s words shocked her even more, ¡°It¡¯s for you to wear.¡± ¡°Me to wear?¡± This answer surprised her, it was simply unbelievable. Would Frederick be so kind to buy clothes for her? Wait, would he be paying for the clothes or would she? She can¡¯t afford the clothes here. Either way, it made Marguerite feel uneasy. However, the man was already handing her the opened bottle of mineral water. Marguerite hesitated, not taking it. Frederick saw through her thoughts, saying, ¡°It¡¯s free, no charge.¡± Upon hearing this, Marguerite breathed a sigh of relief. She took the bottle and took two big gulps, almost choking. She sipped the water while blinking her eyes, as if trying to savor it. There was nothing special about the water. The micro¨Cexpressions on Marguerite¡¯s face were very lively, which Frederick found interesting. ¡°What does it taste like?¡± Marguerite answered him seriously, ¡°It tastes like money.¡± Frederick almostughed out loud. Honestly, this woman did have the ability to make him happy. Being with her, he could inexplicably rx his tense nerves. Even if they did nothing but sat face to face in the office, his mood could remain calm. So keeping this woman by his side wouldn¡¯t be bad. At this point, Alison hade forward with a clothing catalogue, once again politely squatting down next to Marguerite¡¯s foot to open it. ¡°Madam, these are our store¡¯stest seasonal fashions, limited in quantity. The designs are not too shy, and they are more for everyday wear. See anything you like?¡± As Alison flipped through page by page, Marguerite was dazzled. To say she didn¡¯t like them would be a lie, but the clothing on the catalogue looked very expensive, she didn¡¯t have the money, how could she say she liked them? ¡°Madam, if you see a style you like, just let me know, and I¡¯ll have the staff bring it up for you.¡± Marguerite squirmed ufortably, trying hard to find a reason to refuse. ¡°Um¡­ I feel these clothes don¡¯t suit me.¡± Alison immediately flipped a few pages further, ¡°What about these designs? These are very suitable for you. You¡¯re quite slender, and your corbone is beautiful. This dress would highlight your corbone very well, and it goes great with your pearl ne.¡± Marguerite felt very embarrassed and clenched her fingers angrily wondering how she hadn¡¯t had the courage to say no. Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to just say that she didn¡¯t have the money and couldn¡¯t afford it? But her pride made it hard for her to speak up. Frederick on the side simply took the catalogue, pointed at the dress Alison introduced and calmly said, ¡°Bring this for her to try.¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes widened. What was this man doing? Try what? She didn¡¯t want to try. If she tried she wouldn¡¯t feel right not buying. Then the man confidently pointed to a few other clothes, ¡°This one, this one, and all the clothes on the next few pages, bring them all for her to try.¡± Chapter 73 ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯ll be ready in a jiffy.¡± Marguerite was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof, she plucked up courage and said, ¡°Hang on, don¡¯t go just yet.¡± Frederick frowned, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Marguerite forced a smile, trying to swallow her anxiety, ¡°With all these clothes, I can¡¯t possibly try them all on. I guess I¡¯ll pass.¡± Alison smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mam. We have professional models here. If you don¡¯t want to try them on, I can have a model with a simr figure to you try them on. That way, you can get a better visual perception of this.¡± Alison¡¯s smile was sweet and warm, but it didn¡¯t melt Marguerite¡¯s icy heart. She couldn¡¯t believe this was how the rich went shopping. Frederick waved his hand at Alison, and his voice indifferent, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Meanwhile, downstairs. Yuna had her eyes on a dress, She had wanted to emte the rich folks, and impressed everyone in the room by pping her card on the cash register and generously saying, ¡°Wrap it all up for me and swipe the card.¡± But her moment of glory was cut short when the cashier poured cold water on her parade. Her card was declined due to insufficient funds. Yuna was dumbfounded ¨C how could this happen? The card was from Frederick. There were hundreds of thousands in it. Did she blow it all? She asked the cashier to try again, but it was the same story. What now? She wanted to wear this dress for Frederick. She was banking on this dress to win him over. It was her battle gear. She had to buy it. While Yuna was deep in thought, she had a brazen idea ¨C ¡°Do you guys have a rental service? Can I rent this dress?¡± The cashier looked like she had heard the funniest joke ever, ¡°Miss, we are an international luxury brand. We only offer rental services for haute couture dresses, not for daily wear.¡± ¡°So you can rent out haute couture, but not daily wear? What kind of business are you running? Who¡¯s your manager? I want to speak to the manager.¡± Just as Yuna was raising a fuss, Alison came running downstairs. ¡°Neal, get the models out here, we have a customer who wants to see how the clothes look on. Quick! This is a big fish.¡± Neal who was serving Yuna turned around and asked, ¡°How many models do we need?¡± Alison quickly counted, ¡°Twenty. We need twenty.¡± Neal listened and tapped his head in anxiety. ¡°We only have neen today. Should we call in from other branches?¡± Alison was pacing around anxiously, ¡°There¡¯s no time. Time is money and our customer¡¯s time is very precious.¡± In her frantic state, Alison¡¯s eyesnded on Yuna. Thisdy, her height and figure, were simr to thedy upstairs. In a pinch, Alison went up to Yuna and asked, ¡°Miss, I don¡¯t know if you could help us out. We have a customer who¡¯s picked out some clothes and wants to see them on the models. But we¡¯re short¨Cstaffed, could you give us a hand?¡± Yuna sneered, wondering who would have the audacity to ask her to be a fitting model? She was Frederick¡¯s girlfriend. Yuna instinctively wanted to refuse, but she suddenly realized that this was a business opportunity. She raised her head proudly and negotiated directly with Alison, ¡°I can help you, but I need a payment.¡± Alison and Neal exchanged looks, worried that Yuna would ask for too much, ¡°How much are you looking for?¡± Yuna pointed at the dress on the counter, ¡°Give me this dress.¡± Alison looked at the dress and realized that it was the most basic style in the store and not very pricey. If Frederick bought all the clothes for thedy upstairs, they would make more than the cost of this dress. Alison immediately agreed, ¡°No problem. The dress is yours, plus a belt.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Chapter 74 Yuna and Alison struck a deal, then Yuna was immediately ushered off to change at backstage. As she stepped into the dressing room, Yuna¡¯s eyes sparkled at the sight. Golden racks were filled with rows of dazzling high¨Cend fashion pieces. Long gowns, mini skirts, dresses, blouses, sweaters, thermal tops, and even a few zers. All were trendy and fashionable, items Yuna had never seen in the shop on the first floor, and they looked even better than what she had initially picked out. The shop assistant. Neal, casually pulled a dress from the rack and handed it to Yuna, ¡°Try this one on.¡± Yuna inspected the dress as she took it. grumbling. ¡°Why aren¡¯t these clothes on disy? If I knew these were avable, I wouldn¡¯t have chosen the one I did.¡± Neal nced at Yuna with undisguised disdain, ¡°These are samples for the models to wear. The real deals are saved for VIPs. We don¡¯t disy them unless the customer can afford it. Otherwise, even if we put them out, no one can afford to buy them.¡± Yuna was irked. Was this guy mocking her for not being able to afford it? She wanted to blow up at him, but remembering her deal with Alison and needing that dress, she swallowed her anger. She vowed to herself that once she sessfully seduced Frederick, she¡¯d have him take her shopping here. She¡¯d make Neal bow down and shine her shoes. Snooty salesclerk. Yuna felt indignant but took the dress into the fitting room to change. She then joined the other models to showcase in the VIP area on the second floor. She was brought up as ast¨Cminute addition and didn¡¯t have the professional model¡¯s stride. Alison had to ce her at the end of the lineup. As the rhythmic music started, the first model confidently stepped onto the runway, showcasing every detail of her outfit to Marguerite. After watching a few models¡® performances, Marguerite started to feel nervous. Why didn¡¯t she just say she couldn¡¯t afford it? Now she not only experienced high¨Cend service but had them bring out all these models. Such a big show and she wasn¡¯t going to buy anything, she was sure to get chewed out by the staff. Marguerite leaned towards Frederick, lowering her voice to confess. ¡°Can you make them stop? The clothes are beautiful, but I can¡¯t afford them. Even if you sold me, I couldn¡¯t afford them.¡± Seeing her anxious face, Frederick smiled lightly. ¡°You think I¡¯d let you pay, huh?¡± His voice was pleasant, especially the teasing question at the end, which felt indulgent. Marguerite felt a little dazed, her heartbeat quickening. Why was he offering to buy the clothes for her? Marguerite was puzzled by Frederick¡¯s attitude, and she asked hesitantly. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Perfume is essential in the fashion world. As a designer for LuxeScents International, you should care more about your rtionship with the fashion industry. Dressing too shabbily will certainly affect thepany¡¯s image.¡± Frederick¡¯s slightly oppressive tone made Marguerite feel even more embarrassed. She tried to hide her worn¨Cout sneakers and whispered, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to owe you.¡± Frederick looked down on her, ¡°What you owe me is more than just this.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to owe you more.¡± For Marguerite, Frederick¡¯s gesture of letting her into LuxeScents International and generously providing her with amodation, despite herck of education, was already a significant favor, a favor she couldn¡¯t repay at her current situation. So she didn¡¯t want to ept his extra gifts, let alone spend his money. Marguerite was already feeling guilty enough, but Frederick seemed to have no intention of letting her off the hook, ¡°You can choose to pay me back.¡± Marguerite blinked, ¡°How?¡± Frederick smiled, ¡°Deduct it from your sry.¡± What? Deducting it from her sry? Marguerite frowned in helplessness, ¡°I¡¯m just an intern; my monthly sry is so little. I can¡¯t possibly repay you no matter how hard I try.¡± Seeing Marguerite¡¯s innocent and pitiful face, Frederick felt more amused. He instinctively reached out, gently patting Marguerite¡¯s head, ¡°If you can¡¯t pay it back all at once, you can keep paying. One day, you¡¯ll pay it off.¡± Marguerite was taken aback for a moment, then swallowed nervously, feeling her heart rate quicken once again. She felt like Frederick¡¯s action was a bit suggestive. Feeling troubled, she quickly pushed Frederick¡¯s hand away and turned to watch the fashion show, trying to hide her embarrassment. But when she turned her head, thest model walked directly in front of her. Marguerite¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Meanwhile, the other person was also staring intensely at her, her eyes widened open. The runway seemed to wobble under her feet as she walked. Yuna? How did she be a model? What was going on? Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but look at Frederick beside her. She noticed that he looked tense, and his entire body exuded a cold aura. ¡°Miss, all the outfits have been showcased. Is there anything in particr you like?¡± Alison lined up all the models and approached with a beaming smile. Marguerite¡¯s gaze stayed on Yuna Seeing her reminded Marguerite of all the bullying and insults. Marguerite remembered Yuna¡¯s disrespect towards her grandmother, locked her in the warehouse, and giarized her work. Anger red up in her heart. Margueriteposed herself and pointed directly at Yuna, ¡°I want to see the details of that dress, have her show it again.¡± Chapter 75 Upon hearing this. Alison shot a nce at Yuna, but found her standing still as a log. In frustration, Alison had to drag Yuna over to Marguerite herself and forced her to twirl around a couple of times. Yuna was livid, her body stiffened as she shouted at Alison, ¡°Get your hands off me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± She was absolutely turning. Who would¡¯ve thought that the customer who made her lower herself to be a fitting model was none other than the evil Marguerite. And worse, Marguerite was brought here by Frederick himself. Not only that but Frederick even flirted with this evil woman right in front of her. What on earth had Marguerite done to Frederick to get him to pamper her so much? After being scolded by Yuna, Alison was quite embarrassed. Worried that this scene would upset Frederick, she quickly apologized with a smile: ¡°Mr. Winston, Mam, I¡¯m really sorry. She¡¯s new here and doesn¡¯t know the ropes. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Frederick¡¯s handsome face darkened slightly, his brow furrowed, and the frosty aura he radiated made everyone feel pressured. ¡°Not knowing the ropes? Every industry has its own rules. Teachers educate, doctors save lives, designers can¡¯t giarize. And she, since she chose to be a fitting model. should serve the customers diligently. Alison, your models need to work on their temper.¡± Frederick¡¯s words hit Yuna like a punch. The reason he stood up for Yuna yesterday was purely out of old ties and not wanting to make a scene. But that didn¡¯t mean he would tolerate or forgive Yuna¡¯s giarism. Despite Frederick¡¯s calm tone, it gave off an aura of restrained authority that scared Alison into wringing her hands: ¡°Absolutely, Mr. Winston, you are correct. Our service indeed needs improvement. We will definitely enhance staff training.¡± Alison apologized with an apologetic smile and then asked, ¡°Mr. Winston, Mam, do you still need this dress?¡± ¡°Yeah. Of course, we do.¡± The one who spoke was none other than Marguerite. Although Frederick¡¯s attitude towards Yuna suddenly became very severe, which made Marguerite a bit worried. But anyhow, Yuna¡¯s behavior was way too much. She had hurt her over and over again, and it was high time she struck back. Marguerite thought to herself and gave Frederick a flirtatious look, saying, ¡°I want all these clothes, and can we buy a few more pairs of shoes as well?¡± Seeing the woman¡¯s ¡°need your support¡± expression, Frederick found it hard to refuse. His tone was firm yet calm, ¡°Sure.¡± Upon hearing this. Alison immediately handed the catalogue back to Marguerite, ¡°Mam, these are all the new items in the store, which ones would you like?¡± Marguerite flipped through the catalogue, imitating Frederick¡¯s casual gestures and pointed at a few ces, ¡°This, this, and these pages, bring them all for me to see. Well, have her try them on for me.¡± Saying this, Marguerite pointed at Yuna. ¡°Mam, no problem. Please wait a moment, I will have our staff prepare the samples for you immediately.¡± Alison immediately instructed the staff to prepare the samples. Yuna had been stunned long before. She felt extremely angry but helpless at the same time. Frederick¡¯s attitude towards her was so indifferent just now. Clearly, he was still very angry. She worried her resistance would tire Frederick and she would have even less of a chance to win his heart. Thinking of this, Yuna immediately gave Frederick a pitiful look, her eyes filled with distress, as if she was deeply wronged. But the man¡¯s attention was not on her at all, Marguerite kept feeding him snacks, obviously trying to rub salt in Yuna¡¯s wound. Yuna cursed Marguerite as a bitch in her heart. She would remember this grudge, sooner orter, she would make Marguerite pay. Soon Neal came up with a huge shoe rack in the elevator. The fiveyer rack was full of shoes picked by Marguerite, Marguerite looked down at Yuna with an air of superiority and ordered in a cold tone, ¡°Try the shoes.¡± Yuna was so angry that she was grinding her teeth, her eyes sharp as knives, as if they were going to pierce through Marguerite¡¯s chest. Alison quickly took a pair of crystal shoes and stuffed them into Yuna¡¯s arms, warning her in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Winston is a famous big shot, if you dare to upset him again, no one can save you. Quick, try the shoes. You can have the dress after that.¡± Chapter 76 It was driving her nuts. Who the hell would want that raggedy old dress? That sneaky Marguerite totally ruined Yuna¡¯s ns. What woman wouldn¡¯t look better in the clothes the bought? How could that dress she picked from downstairs possibly catch Frederick¡¯s eye Yuna wanted to cancel her agreement with Alison single¨Chandedly, but it was toote. Frederick was looking at her, his gaze was terrifying, and she had no choice but to force herself to serve Marguerite. Yuna put on the sample of crystal shoes and walked up to Marguerite. Marguerite¡¯s indifferent gaze fell on those pretty crystal shoes, she slightly raised her eyebrows, and looked at her from top to bottom: Turn around, and let me see the design of the heel Yuna was full of anger, but she dared not get angry because of Frederick¡¯s presence, so she had topromise and turn around. Marguerite nodded, ¡°Not bad. I¡¯ll take this pair, get me another.¡± Marguente picked more than fifty pairs of shoes. Yuna tried on as many pairs as Marguerite picked out Every time, Marguerite had her spin to showcase the details of the shoes. By the time she finished trying on thest pair, Yuna was already dizzy and exhausted. Marguerite and Alison decided on the final styles and the models were dismissed by Alison. Yuna stormed off, cursing Marguerite countless times in her heart, but the moment she stepped downstairs, she heard Alison¡¯s voice tinged with excitement that couldn¡¯t be hidden away. ¡°Mr. Winston, your totales to five hundred thousand dors.¡± What? Five hundred thousand! Dors?! Frederick didn¡¯t even have five hundred thousand on the card he gave Yuna, but he spent a whopping five hundred thousand shopping with Marguerite. The stark contrast made Yuna feel both hateful and jealous, yet there was nothing she could do. On the other side, after Frederick swiped his card, he instructed the clerk to deliver all the purchased clothes to his home. Marguerite changed into a new dress and a pair of white fisherman¡¯s shoes on the spot. When she came out of the dressing room, Frederick seemed surprised. Admittedly, Marguerite wasn¡¯t attractive, but she looked much better in nice clothes, He had a good taste. Marguerite looked at herself in the mirror, Frederick then appeared behind her, with his hands folded in front of his chest, looking at the reflection in the mirror with satisfaction, asking. ¡°Enjoying your revenge?¡± Thinking of Yuna¡¯s frustrated expression, Marguerite felt as happy as a child, and it made her feel very satisfied. ¡°Of course. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. She deserved it.¡± The man chuckled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re just using my influence.¡± Frederick¡¯s figure blocked the light, casting Marguerite in shadow, Marguerite turned to face him: ¡°She did so much to hurt me, I¡¯m just fighting back a little.¡± Frederick nodded seriously, a sly smile suddenly crossed his lips: ¡°Marguerite, do I need to remind you that you¡¯re fighting back with my money.¡± ¡°I know, but I¡¯ll pay you back. How much were these clothes?¡± When Frederick swiped his card, Marguerite was in the dressing room changing. She knew today¡¯s expenses would be high, but she had no idea how much. So the man¡¯s answer left Marguerite with her jaw dropped. ¡°Five hundred thousand.¡± ¡°FL¡­five hundred thousand?¡± Marguerite¡¯s mouth twitched, and she felt almost faint, ¡°Can I¡­can I return them? I regret it.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was full of cunning and craftiness, and his smile was elusive and hard to read, ¡°Of course not. Marguerite, you¡¯ll have to pay me back slowly.¡± After saying this, the man walked off satisfied. Marguerite stood there, her legs felt like they were filled with lead. She taught Yuna a lesson worth five hundred thousand? The price was too steep. It may take her a long time to pay off five hundred thousand. Wasn¡¯t she practically bought by Frederick? Marguerite¡¯s expression became very serious, and her expression changing constantly. She felt she got the short end of the stick. With a dejected look, she followed Frederick¡¯s lead, feeling like the world was about to copse as she walked out of the store. Frederick checked the time and found it was already noon, so he turned and asked, ¡°Hungry? Wanna grab something to eat?¡± Just as Marguerite was about to answer, a crying voice came from behind, ¡°Freddie.¡± Marguerite was taken aback and turned to look. Yuna appeared out of nowhere, tears streaming down her face, Chapter 77 ¡°Frederick, can I have a word?¡± Yuna Lockwood cautiously stepped forward, reaching out to lightly grasp the sleeve of Frederick Winston¡¯s suit. The look on Frederick¡¯s face immediately darkened, and he coldly shook off her hand. Marguerite Lockwood had just had an altercation with Yuna, and her anger was still simmering. She knew that despite Frederick¡¯s recent aid, it didn¡¯t mean that their rtionship would change substantially. Frederick had never acknowledged her as his wife, and in three months, he would divorce her and marry Yuna. This was an unchangeable fact. Marguerite knew her predicament. Now that Yuna had came to him, the dispute between her and Frederick was their business. She had no obligation to intervene. Lifting her head, Marguerite found an excuse to leave. ¡°The patent for Pr Radiance perfume needs to be resubmitted today, I need to check on it at thepany. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on my way. You two can continue your chat.¡± Frederick¡¯s face immediately darkened, but before he could say anything, Marguerite had already turned to leave. Seeing this, Yuna hastily clung to Frederick¡¯s arm, pleading in a low voice: ¡°Frederick, please, just hear me out. I¡¯ll leave as soon as I¡¯ve said my piece, I swear¡­¡± The crowd around them was growing. Not wanting their dispute to be public, Frederick had no choice but to lead her to the parking lot. Seeing this, Yuna quickly hopped into the passenger seat. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you wanna say, just say it.¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Frederick, don¡¯t you care about me at all? I¡¯m being backed into a corner by Marguerite. How could I have ended up working as a fitting model in that store if it wasn¡¯t for her? I know you¡¯re angry, and I don¡¯t expect you to believe me, but things aren¡¯t what they seemed yesterday. That perfume was my design, and I was the one who gave the form to Marguerite. From the beginning, the perfume was meant to be a deep green. Marguerite¡¯s light green perfume was a modification of my original form. I have no idea how Marguerite managed to convince the judges, and now everyone online is bashing me, painting me as the viin. Frederick, I feel so helpless and wronged. Frederick, you¡¯re all I have left. Can you trust me just this once? Please.¡± Tears slid down Yuna¡¯s cheeks, and her breath hitched with the intensity of her emotions. Looking at the crying woman in front of him, Frederick felt nothing but disgust. ¡°Who the creator of the perfume is doesn¡¯t matter.¡± After yesterday¡¯spetition, Frederick had made a point to smell the perfume that Yuna and Marguerite had created. He could still only smell Marguerite¡¯s scent. So no matter what Yuna said, to Frederick, it all sounded like excuses. Each time Yuna attempted to justify herself, Frederick¡¯s disgust only grew. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder, if Yuna couldn¡¯t produce the scent of the Pr Radiance perfume, then whose scent was it that he smelled that night? Frederick¡¯s hand tightened on the steering wheel, and turning to Yuna, he suddenly asked, ¡°Tell me, has Marguerite¡¯s appearance ever changed?* Yuna was taken aback, her body going limp with fear. Had she slipped up, revealing something to Frederick? Why was he asking her this all of a sudden? Yuna was so frightened that she forgot to shed tears. She sniffled and put on an innocent look. ¡°Frederick, I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. I don¡¯t remember what Marguerite looked like when we were kids, I only remember that the first time I saw her as an adult, she looked the way she does now.¡± Had Marguerite undergone stic surgery? Frederick mulled over this in silence, eventually discarding the thought. The timeline didn¡¯t add up. His encounter with Marguerite had been the day after that night. A stic surgery, including recovery time, would take at least half a year. It couldn¡¯t have happened overnight. Besides, the face in the surveince footage and the name on his list of impoverished individuals both belonged to Yuna. The woman beside Frederick noticed him deep in thought and was afraid he might ask more questions, so she quickly redirected the conversation to herself. ¡°Frederick, I was the one who gave you bread when you were at your lowest, saving your life. Can¡¯t you forgive me just this once? I¡¯ve been miserable enough. I grew up with my grandma, never having enough to eat or wear. It was through her hard work that I grew up. My parents finally found me, but then my grandma disappeared. I wanted to repay her, but never got the chance. Frederick, both my grandma and you are very important to me. I¡¯ve already lost my grandma, I can¡¯t lose you too.¡± Remembering the past fifteen years, Frederick¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened. If Yuna were still the innocent, lovely, and kind girl from his childhood, he wouldn¡¯t feel such disgust for her. She had crossed his line time and again, but each time, she was forgiven because she had once saved his life. He was tired. Just then, a call from Chuck came through Frederick¡¯s phone. He answered immediately, hearing the unmistakable joy in Chuck¡¯s voice, ¡°Mr. Winston, we¡¯ve found Ms. Yuna¡¯s grandmother, Laverne.¡± Chapter 78 Frederick spun around, giving Yuna a quick once¨Cover, and instantly asked, ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, she is in Room 305 of the Stonebridge Memorial Hospital¡¯s inpatient department. Thedy has lost consciousness and is currently receiving treatment.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± He quickly hung up the call, his emotions swirling inside him. You could say that Yuna¡¯s current state had a lot to do with her family circumstances. Ablet and Zoe ran a casino, their coarseness having a profound influence on her. If Yuna had lived with the elderlydy all along, away from the temptations and hustle of the world, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have be the person she was today. Frederick didn¡¯t want this person who¡¯d once helped him to turn down the wrong path. He was hoping Laverne¡¯s appearance could reawaken Yuna¡¯s conscience. Seeing him hang up. Yuna seemed to calm down a bit and threw herself into his arms. ¡°Frederick, everything I said was true. You and grandma are my world, and I can¡¯t lose any more. And my perfume making skills were taught by grandma. It¡¯s a pity though, I still don¡¯t know where she is.¡± This time, Frederick didn¡¯t push Yuna away. His body was somewhat tense as he calmly asked, ¡°Do you miss her?¡± Tears were streaming down Yuna¡¯s face, and she looked heartbroken. Nodding like a pecking chicken, her face was a picture of sorrow, ¡°Of course I do. I dream of seeing grandma. But I guess this wish will nevere true.¡± Frederick gently patted Yuna¡¯s shoulders, softly saying, ¡°Get up, I¡¯ll drive you somewhere.¡± Yuna was stunned, looking at him with a puzzled expression, ¡°Frederick, where are you taking me? What are you doing?¡± By this point, he¡¯d already started the car, quickly driving out of the parking lot, ¡°A surprise for you.¡± Hearing this, Yuna¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, ¡°Frederick, did I hear that right? You¡¯re giving me a surprise?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Her eyes sparkled, ¡°Then¡­ have you forgiven me?¡± His face expressionless, ¡°Depends on your behavior.¡± If even Laverne couldn¡¯t awaken the goodness in Yuna¡¯s heart, he really needed to consider whether it was necessary to keep the promise he¡¯d made years ago. Yuna nodded vigorously, ¡°Frederick, I won¡¯t do anything to upset you again. I promise, this is thest time.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t speak to Yuna any further. He drove straight to Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. Half an hourter, Frederick parked the car in the hospital¡¯s outdoor parking lot. Seeing it was a hospital, Yuna seemed a bit puzzled. ¡°Frederick, why did you take me to a hospital?¡± Frederick turned off the engine and got out of the car, ¡°Follow me and you¡¯ll know.¡± What was going on? Why would the surprise Frederick had for her be in a hospital? This wasn¡¯t a good sign. Yuna furrowed her brows, seeming a bit displeased. But because Frederick took her here, she would go no matter how much she disliked the ce. Yuna quickly followed Frederick¡¯s pace, pondering as she walked. Was there someone important to Frederick staying in this hospital? A family member of his? Ever since she¡¯d known him, she¡¯d never met any of Frederick¡¯s family, nor had she heard him mention any. So was Frederick¡¯s purpose this time to introduce her to his family? Chapter 79 Yuna was super stoked about Frederick taking her to meet his folks. It was clearly a sign he was getting serious about her. Holy moly! What a mega surprise. She wished she could spill the beans to Marguerite right now. So what if Marguerite lived with Frederick? Who cared if he sshed out half a mil on clothes for her? She was going to meet Frederick¡¯s family, a privilege Marguerite could only dream of. Yuna was so overwhelmed by this sudden happiness that she lost herposure, to the point where she even ignored the familiar surroundings. Soon they were standing by a ward room door. As Frederick reached to open it. Yuna felt even more shy, saying, ¡°Frederick, I never thought you¡¯d take me to meet¡­¡± The door swung open. Yuna mmed up. The frail figure on the hospital bed was indeed Laverne. Yuna could hardly believe her eyes. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck her, causing her thoughts and actions to freeze in an instant. Frederick¡¯s surprise was Laverne? Surprise, my foot! This was a shocker. ¡°I¡¯ve been secretly looking for your grandma. I didn¡¯t tell you because I was afraid I wouldn¡¯t find her and disappoint you.¡± Yuna turned as pale as a sheet, breaking out in cold sweat. She stood rooted to the spot, before it finally hit her she hadn¡¯t reacted. She threw herself at Laverne, crying her eyes out. ¡°Grandma! Wake up, grandma! It¡¯s Yuna, I came to see you. Why are you in bed? What happened? I¡¯m sorry, grandma, for not finding you sooner. Grandma!¡± How could Laverne, on the brink of death, know she was being used by her own granddaughter? Yuna¡¯s acting was top¨Cnotch, tugging at heartstrings. Frederick stepped up, worried that Laverne¡¯s frail body couldn¡¯t handle Yuna¡¯s outburst. He quickly grabbed Yuna¡¯s hands. His gaze flickered over Laverne¡¯s pale face. The face, filled with wrinkles, vaguely resembled the one from fifteen years ago, but now it appeared even older and more fragile. It seemed that Yuna was indeed the little girl from fifteen years ago, ¡°You were only seven when you gave me bread and your grandma was standing at the door of the old house, giving me hot soup. That¡¯s why I always remember her face. I just didn¡¯t expect she¡¯d aged so much.¡± Yuna froze at his words and suddenly threw herself into Frederick¡¯s arms. He actually remembered the old crone¡¯s face? This was a disaster. Laverne and Marguerite had been living together. In Yuna¡¯s memory, Laverine was weak but her memory was sharp. If she woke up and talked to Frederick, the jig would be up. Frederick patted her back, assuming she was shocked by the news of her grandma¡¯s illness, and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll do everything I can to help treat your grandma¡¯s illness.¡± ¡°Thank you, Frederick, I believe¡­ I believe you can cure my grandma.¡± Yuna¡¯s chin rested on Frederick¡¯s shoulder, her eyes shing with deep malice. No, she absolutely could not let this old woman wake up. Chapter 80 In the afternoon, Marguerite took a bus to work at the Winston Group. Having skipped breakfast, she headed straight to the cafeteria with her employee card. By then, only a few employees were in the cafeteria. Marguerite stood out like a sore thumb. Nearly everyone was looking at her, their eyes filled with astonishment. The dress Frederick had chosen for her was a perfect fit. The white dress hugged her slim waist and revealed her beautifully prominent corbones. Ignoring that unattractive face and considering just her figure, it was enough to make all her female colleagues envious. Marguerite had always been a wallflower, always preferring to keep to herself, so all the attention was quite overwhelming. She ordered a te of spaghetti Bolognese, found a secluded spot, and ate her meal without lifting her eyes. When she was the only one left in the cafeteria, her phone buzzed with a message: ¡°Hey babe, I¡¯vended. Expect it¡¯ll take me about half an hour to clear customs. Come get me.¡± Her face lit up instantly at the message. She quickly replied, ¡°On my way.¡± The sender was none other than Miley Goldie, Marguerite¡¯s best and only friend. They had both grown up in Marina Shores Vige. Both were from poor families, but Miley was the lucky one. Her family hit it big in the lottery and her father took them to Stonebridge City to start a business, which brought in another fortune. Later, Miley studied abroad. Although they had not seen each other since, they had kept in touch. When Marguerite was bullied by the Lockwood family and suddenly got married, she wanted to tell Miley about it. But Miley was busy with her graduation and Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure how to exin her chaotic life. So Miley was clueless about Marguerite¡¯s current situation. By the time Marguerite arrived at the airport, Miley had been waiting for a while. She was sitting on her suitcase, enjoying a lollipop, dressed in a tight pink t¨Cshirt, ck shorts, and swinging her legs d in Doc Martens. Her sweet looks contrasted sharply with Marguerite¡¯s aloof style. She was clearly a pampered child. When Marguerite approached Miley, it took her a while to recognize her friend. It wasn¡¯t until Marguerite softly called her ¡°silly¡± that Miley screamed, ¡°Marguerite? How did you get so ugly?¡± Marguerite went silent. Miley¡¯s voice was too loud. Marguerite quickly dragged her out of the airport, saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t get ugly.¡± ¡°What happened then?¡± ¡°I¡¯m wearing a mask.¡± Miley looked puzzled: ¡°Have you lost your mind? Take off the mask, you¡¯re scaring me.¡± Marguerite quickly hailed a taxi and they left the airport. After giving the taxi driver the address of her apartment, Miley tried to pull off Marguerite¡¯s mask: ¡°Take it off, will you? It¡¯s stuck so tight.¡± Marguerite avoided her: ¡°Stop it. We¡¯ll talk about it over dinner.¡± Miley¡¯s apartment was at Diamond Crest Estates, just across from Yuna¡¯s. Upon arriving, they quickly dropped off their luggage and Miley dragged Marguerite to the restaurant downstairs. After quickly ordering food, Miley asked impatiently, ¡°What on earth happened?¡± Marguerite exined sinctly while sipping her drink, ¡°My parents disowned me. They said they only acknowledge Yuna. They don¡¯t want me to look like her, so they made me wear this mask.¡± Miley was furious, ¡°They told you to wear it and you just did? Marguerite, can¡¯t you stand up for yourself?¡± Marguerite replied helplessly, ¡°I had no choice, they threatened me with my grandma. I was afraid they¡¯d hurt her.¡± Miley pounded her fist on the table, ¡°You¡¯ve been disowned, so theoretically, there shouldn¡¯t be any more interactions. How would your looks affect them?¡± Marguerite too was confused. She had suspected it was because of Frederick, but the timeline didn¡¯t add up. There was no connection between her and Frederick when they forced her to wear the mask. Even after she became his wife, everyone knew they were going to divorce in three months. Her real looks posed no threat to them. Marguerite sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Miley thought for a moment, then leaned in and whispered, ¡°How about I help you find out?¡± ¡°How would you do that?¡± Miley smirked, ¡°I¡¯m a private detective now. There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t find out.¡± Chapter 81 ¡°You¡¯re a detective now? I thought you studied finance?¡± Just then, the waiter served the food. Miley grabbed the steak, and started chowing down, not caring about her manners at all. ¡°That was just to keep my dad off my back. I like to get the dirt on people, especially the powerful families, you know. I¡¯ve been doing it for years.¡± Miley took a bite of her steak and gulped down her drink, ¡°So do you want me to dig some dirt up for you? I¡¯m dying to know what¡¯s going on with Yuna¡¯s farity.¡± Marguerite absentmindedly stirred the pasta in front of her and after a moment of thought, she shook her head and said, ¡°Never mind, it¡¯s not necessar Once she got divorced, her grandmother should start getting better. And then she would leave Stonebridge City with her grandmother and start a new life somewhere else. Everything that happened in Stonebridge City, whether it was with Yuna or Frederick, would have nothing to do with her. Miley was about to say something more when she spotted a very handsome man standing behind Marguerite. ¡°Marguerite?¡± he asked softly, Marguerite turned around and saw a man with silver sses, bending slightly and smiling at her. She recognized him instantly. It was her grandmother¡¯s doctor, Steven, ¡°Steven, what are you doing here?¡± Steven had taken off his work clothes and was wearing a ck silk shirt, the top few buttons undone, revealing his corbone. He sat down next to Marguerite and smiled. ¡°Just finished work and thought I¡¯d grab a bite. Would you mind if I join?¡± ¡°Not at all, eat whatever you want, it¡¯s on me.¡± Miley quickly answered for Marguerite. Seeing her friend¡¯s familiar love¨Cstruck face, Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but smile. Besides being a gossip, Miley had a thing for handsome guys. For Miley, looks were everything. She was also great at socializing. Without any introductions from Marguerite, she had already exchanged business cards with Steven, Then Miley started sharing her overseas experiences with them. When she finally ran out of stearn, Steven turned to Marguerite, saying, ¡°By the way, your grandma might wake up in the next few days. Are you ready?¡± Marguerite was thrilled. ¡°Her condition is stable?¡± Steven nodded slightly, ¡°Almost¡± Marguerite was over the moon, her smile as bright as a sunflower, Seeing how excited Marguerite was, Steven had to remind her, ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down, you still need to keep a close eye on your grandma¡¯s condition.¡± Marguerite snapped back to reality. Her grandmother was about to wake up, and yet Steven, as the attending doctor, had no hint of excitement on his face. This was somewhat unusual. ¡°Steven, is there something you¡¯re not telling me?¡± The man¡¯s gaze was profound, and he looked meaningfully at Marguerite for a few seconds. Then suddenly, he smiled and gracefully ced a piece of the steak in his mouth, savoring it while replying. ¡°Your grandma is still unconscious, and many tests can¡¯t be done. But the results of the tests that have been done are all normal. I¡¯m just worried about the unexpected. It¡¯s always best to be cautious.¡± Marguerite nodded, looking worried. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital tomorrow afternoon.¡± Miley was excited. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you. We can have lunch together too.¡± By the time the trio left the restaurant, it was getting dark. Miley lived above the restaurant, so Steven offered to drive Marguerite home. Marguerite wanted to refuse at first, but she wanted to know more about her grandma¡¯s condition, so she got into Steven¡¯s fancy McLaren. Sapphire Valley Estates. It was almost eight in the evening, and Marguerite was not back yet Frederick sat on the couch, reading the paper. Even though he was reading, his focus waspletely on the door. Every little noise, he thought it was Margueriteing back. Chuck decided to test the waters. ¡°Mr. Winston, do you want to call Marguerite? You¡¯ve been waiting for her for three hours.¡± Frederick looked up from his paper and red at Chuck. ¡°I¡¯m not waiting for her.¡± Despite his words, Frederick¡¯s actions told a different story. He tossed the paper aside and headed for the door. Chuck quickly followed. ¡°Mr. Winston, where are you going?¡± ¡°Just going for a walk.¡± Chuck was speechless. Frederick walked out, looking irritated. Did he upset her? He had deliberately asked her to set aside time for today. He had dressed up, even neatlybing his hair. It was supposed to be a shopping date. But then Yuna showed up and messed up his ns. Marguerite must be upset. Lost in thought, Frederick found himself at the gate of the mansion. Just then, two headlights lit up the darkness. Frederick squinted at the lights, not really caring. But then a McLaren pulled up under the locust tree not far from the mansion. Then Marguerite got out of the passenger seat. Chapter 82 Ordinary cars couldn¡¯t roll into Sapphire Valley Estates. Marguerite was worried that Steven would smell a rat about her and Frederick, so she had him drop her off nearby. After getting out of the car, she bid Steven goodbye and saw Frederick standing at the gate, his face was as stern as a judge. The moonlight spilled over him, but instead of feeling cozy, Marguerite felt a chill. Who on earth had pissed him off? Before she could open her mouth, Frederick started to chew her out, ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re getting bolder and bolder. Not onlying homete, but now you¡¯re also hanging out with other men?¡± Marguerite was confused and irritated by his baseless usation, ¡°Frederick, can you watch your mouth? It was a chance encounter, and he just gave me a lift home.¡± ¡°A chance encounter?¡± Frederick sneered. ¡°You¡¯re really crafty. You may look average, but you always manage to find rich guys. I really underestimated you.¡± Marguerite bit her lip, her face turned pale. Considering their interactions these past few days, she thought they could get along, and sometimes even found herself leaning on him. But Frederick still prejudiced against her, saw her as someone who would do anything to climb up the socialdder. ¡°You can me me all you want, but I have my dignity. I¡¯m a human being, not some animal you can insult at will.¡± Despite being agitated, Marguerite managed to keep her cool and said this calmly. She was furious but didn¡¯t want to argue further. Without waiting for his response, she was about to walk away when he suddenly grabbed her shoulder. ¡°Marguerite, are you tired of pretending to be all high and mighty? Your friend is long gone. He can¡¯t hear your righteous words.¡± The pain in her shoulder made Marguerite shove him off and finally lost her temper, ¡°Frederick, are you out of your mind? I told you we just ran into each other. There¡¯s nothing going on between us, he¡¯s just my¡­¡± ¡°Marguerite!¡± Frederick cut her off, not listening to her exnation. Marguerite was at a loss, feeling furious but helpless. ¡°You married me by scheming, so until we get divorced, you better fulfill your duties as a wife and do not think about messing around. If I find out you¡¯re betraying me, you know what will happen.¡± His stubbornness was driving her crazy. She had exined clearly, but he still insisted on his own views. The duties of a wife? He never acknowledged her as one, why should she fulfill those duties? ¡°I wish I could get a divorce right now. You think I want to be your wife?¡± Marguerite¡¯s harsh words made Frederick¡¯s eyes darken, and his anger rose. So she couldn¡¯t wait to put a distance between them? She must have found a better man. ¡°You think divorce solves everything? Do I need to remind you? The clothes you wear and the food you eat, which one wasn¡¯t bought with my money? Not counting lodging and food, you still owe me $500,000. Your tricks don¡¯t work on me.¡± Marguerite was worn out, shouting at Frederick, ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back. Even if it means selling everything I have, I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± With that she broke free from Frederick and ran into the mansion. Back in her room, Marguerite slumped onto the couch, tears rolling down her cheeks. She hated herself for not being strong enough to stand up to Frederick¡¯s insults and leave. Her marriage to Frederick was a deal with a mystery man. Her grandmother was still in the hospital. If she unterally breached the agreement, what would happen to her grandmother? She had to endure. Endure until the contract ended, until she could get a divorce, until her grandmother got better. She had to take her grandmother and leave. But she still owed Frederick $500,000. $500,000, that was a lot of money. How was she going to pay it back? Chapter 83 Marguerite was still pissed, she even skipped breakfast and hopped on a bus to work. She wanted to avoid any direct contact with Frederick, his very sight was irritating. She buried herself in work until Frederick arrived at the CEO¡¯s office. Even though the development of Pr Radiance perfume was on track, she didn¡¯t have a lot on her te. But to avoid Frederick, Marguerite kept herself busy even when there was nothing to do, trying to give off a ¡°I¡¯m so busy, don¡¯t disturb¡± vibe. Robert Fitzgerald, who was there to counsel Frederick, could easily see the tension between the two. There was no need to be a rocket scientist to figure out they had a row. He wanted to mediate but seeing both were pissed at each other, he knew any meddling would only backfire, so he decided to back off for now. By noon, a text message from Miley gave Marguerite a glimmer of hope. When she finally had a valid excuse to leave, with a simple, ¡°I¡¯m going to eat,¡± she got up and left the office in a hurry, without even looking back. Watching Marguerite¡¯s retreating figure, Robert couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Your lovely wife is mad, why don¡¯t you apologize?¡± Frederick¡¯s long fingers were quickly tapping on the keyboard, and he scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s it to me?¡± Robert rolled his eyes. Frederick, what an arrogant man. He¡¯d been stealing nces at her numerous times, did he think he had not noticed? # Shaking his head, Robert grabbed a bottle of soda water from the fridge and stood by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window to drink. Outside the window, a familiar figure crossed the road and headed straight for a BMW. Robert squinted at the figure, swallowed hard, and quickly reported to Frederick, ¡°Frederick, your wife seems to have gotten into a luxury car.¡± He pointed to the scene outside the window. Frederick¡¯s eyelids fluttered and his eyes suddenly turned cold. Didn¡¯t she say she was going to eat? Why was she in a luxury car? He stood up and walked to the window, following the direction Robert pointed. From the 25th floor CEO¡¯s office, everyone below looked tiny like dust, but Frederick recognized Marguerite. At this moment, someone stepped out of the driver¡¯s seat of a BMW. This person was wearing a baseball cap, making it difficult to discern the gender, but this person waved enthusiastically to Marguerite. Frederick tightly clenched his lips, his white teeth bared in a menacing expression. His eyes were as sharp as a cheetah¡¯s, locked onto Marguerite, piercing like he was fixating on prey. Robert quickly grabbed two high¨Cpowered binocrs from the bookshelf and handed them to Frederick, ¡°Check who that is. Who¡¯s got the nerve to flirt with your wife?!¡± Seeing Robert¡¯s urgency, Frederick felt even more ufortable. Why should he care who picked up Marguerite? It felt like he cared about this woman. He wouldn¡¯t do such a humiliating thing. But as a CEO, suspecting his wife of infidelity, how could he sit back and do nothing? No way. He had to find out. With this in mind, Frederick grabbed the binocrs and started scanning the roadside. Meanwhile, Chuck who hade to report work saw the most unforgettable scene of his life. By the window, two men, each nearly two meters tall, each with a pair of binocrs, slightly bent over, their faces almost sticking to the ss window, seemingly observing something. Their movements were incredibly synchronized, from behind, it was a hrious sight. ¡°Wow, Frederick, look, they¡¯re hugging. Did we see it wrong? That person is wearing tight clothes and shorts, her legs are so white, it¡¯s a woman, right? Frederick! It¡¯s a woman. it¡¯s a woman! She¡¯s got boobs!¡± Having figured out the truth, Robert put away his binocrs, only to see Frederick still scanning the roadside like a radar, he couldn¡¯t help butugh. Frederick¡¯s current demeanor was a far cry from his usual serious and strict image, it even made him look a bit childish. He crossed his arms and couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she has nothing to do with you? That¡¯s quite a quick change.¡± Hearing this, Frederick put down the binocrs, stood straight, and looked coldly at Robert, ¡°You asked me to look.¡± Frederick, feeling agitated, tossed the binocrs to Robert and turned around, only to see Chuck gazing at him with an odd expression in his eyes. Chuck¡¯s expression was priceless at the moment. ¡°When did youe in?¡± ¡°Not long ago.¡± Chuck scratched his head, then hurriedly put on a ttering smile, ¡°Mr. Winston, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t say a word. No, I didn¡¯t see anything.¡± Chapter 84 Back then, the BMW on the street was already revving up. Ten minutester, the car pulled up in front of the barbecue joint across from Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. Miley was meticulously picking out dishes from the menu, ordering a bunch of barbecue stuff and a side of dipping sauce. Across the table, Marguerite was all sulky and droopy, looking like a wet nket. ¡°What¡¯s eating you? Someone giving you a hard time?¡± Marguerite tried not to think about Frederick, but his snobbish and crude demeanor kept popping up uninvited in her mind. Marguerite felt like she was stuck in a funk, her resolution to leave him growing stronger by the minute. ¡°Miley, can you lend me some dough?¡± To make her exit, she needed to settle the whopping half a million she owed him. And Miley was the only one she could turn to. Hearing this, Miley instantly dropped her chopsticks and said, ¡°I can wire it to you, how much do you need? Ten grand? Twenty grand? Or thirty grand?¡± Marguerite looked at her, feeling sheepish, and held up five fingers. ¡°Fifty grand?¡± Miley was taken aback, ¡°Sure.¡± Marguerite said in a soft voice, ¡°Miley¡­ it¡¯s half a million.¡± Miley was startled. ¡°I do have some savings, but I don¡¯t have half a million. What¡¯s going on? Are you in debt?¡± Marguerite let out a deep sigh. She hadn¡¯t had time to spill everything to Miley yesterday. But since the cat was already out of the bag, there was no point in holding back. These secrets had been bottled up for too long, maybe letting them out would bring some relief. Marguerite put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then whispered, ¡°I¡¯m married.¡± Miley, who was in the middle of a sip, did a spit take, ¡°What?¡± ¡°My husband is Frederick.¡± Miley sprayed the drink she was drinking all at once. ¡°What?¡± Marguerite quickly covered Miley¡¯s mouth and whispered, ¡°I owe him half a million. If I don¡¯t pay him back, my life is over.¡± Miley pushed Marguerite away, her mind in utter chaos from the shock. Imagine, the man who was the dreamboat of eighty percent of women worldwide suddenly got hitched, and the bride was your bestie. What a mind¨Cblowing revtion. Marguerite spent half an hour exining the whole shebang to Miley. She was hoping for some advice, but instead, Miley was gripping her hands tightly like she was praising her. ¡°Marguerite. You must be happy. Don¡¯t you dare divorce. Keep owing that half a million. If you divorce, I won¡¯t let you off.¡± Marguerite was speechless. ¡°Can you help me or not?¡± Miley wore a stern look, ¡°I won¡¯t help you. I won¡¯t assist in wrecking your marriage. You and Mr. Winston make a great pair, he¡¯s a tremendous catch, a rarity. As long as I¡¯m here, there is no way that you are going to get a divorce.¡± Marguerite went silent. Miley seemed to be cut from the same cloth as Robert. Marguerite was hoping Miley would give her some advice, but instead, Miley was dissuading her from divorcing. Such a pain. Ever since Miley found out about Marguerite and Frederick¡¯s rtionship, she had been giving her unsolicited advice, leaving Marguerite feeling helpless. All she could do was munch on her barbecue and tune out Miley¡¯s words. Looked like she would need to figure out another way. Meanwhile, at the entrance of Stonebridge Memorial Hospital, Yuna, wearing a face mask and a backpack, carefully walked in. From the outside, she looked normal and made her way in smoothly. But only she knew that her backpack was loaded with a ton of sedatives. Her goal was clear. Go straight to Laverne¡¯s hospital room. Laverne, with an oxygen mask on, was still unconscious, though the ECG showed everything was normal. Yuna, with shaky hands, pulled out a syringe loaded with sedatives and slowly approached Laverine. What she was about to do sent shivers down her spine. She knew it was against thew, but she had no other choice. She couldn¡¯t let Frederick find out that the person he¡¯d been looking for was actually Marguerite. So this olddy, Laverne, couldn¡¯t wake up. ¡°Old woman, don¡¯t me me for doing this. If you must me anyone, me your granddaughter for stealing Frederick. I gave her chances, from making her wear a mask initially to confining her, these were warnings. But she didn¡¯t listen, constantly pushing my buttons. I had no choice but to resort to this, Old woman, keep on sleeping, sleep forever.¡± Yuna finished her rant and was now at Laverne¡¯s bedside. But she didn¡¯t notice the sudden spike in the ECG, or the slight movement of Laverne¡¯s hand. Yuna bent down, looking at Laverne¡¯s wrinkled face, ready to inject the sedative. Just at that moment, the old woman on the bed suddenly opened her eyes, gasping for air. Laverne was awake. Chapter 85 Laverne and Yuna locked eyes, Laverne¡¯s eyes filled with fear. She raised her trembling arm slightly, her voice sounding weak and helpless like that of a child, ¡°Yuna. Yuna¡­ Yuna was freaked out by Laverne¡¯s gaze. Her mind was in such a whirl that she almost hit the deck. Laverne woke up? The olddy woke up out of the blue? Did she hear everything Yuna said earlier? ¡°Yuna¡­Yuna, don¡¯t hurt me.¡± Damn, Laverne did hear. Laverne¡¯s look had Yuna scared out of her wits. Facing Laverne, she was frozen in fear, her heart pounding like a drum, feeling like she was about to suffocate. ¡°Yuna, don¡¯t hurt me. Can you call a doctor for me, I miss you.¡± Laverne¡¯s voice almost drove Yuna mad. It was a plea, but to Yuna¡¯s ears, it sounded like a threat. She was awake. She was gonna spill the beans. No. Absolutely not. In a split second, Yuna¡¯s eyes red with malice. Grinding her teeth, she picked up the syringe and stood up. One hand smothered Laverne¡¯s mouth without hesitation, and the other plunged the syringe into her artery. Laverne¡¯s eyes bulged, staring at Yuna in disbelief. The only thought that ran through her mind was what would Marguerite do if Yuna was going to get her killed? Was Marguerite safe now? But if her death could be traded for Marguerite¡¯s safety, she would trade her life for it. After all she¡¯d already been around the block more than seventy times. Yuna injected her with five doses of tranquilizer, enough to kill a horse. With the final injection, Laverne slowly closed her eyes. Seeing that she was not moving, Yuna breathed a long sigh of relief, but her heart was filled with fear, ¡°Sorry olddy. It was Marguerite who pushed me to this. She took everything from me.¡± After getting everything done. Yuna busied herself cleaning up, wiping off fingerprints carefully, then beat it like a bat out of hell. Just as she bolted from the hospital, Marguerite and Miley had just finished their meal and went to Laverne¡¯s room. As usual, Marguerite poured a basin of hot water to give Laverne a sponge bath. But when her fingers touched Laverne¡¯s skin, a chill made her fingertips tremble. Why was Laverne¡¯s body so cold? Instinctively. Marguerite checked Laverine¡¯s breathing, which scared her so much that she dropped the towel and her mind went nk. She ran out of the room and in her panic knocked over the water basin on the floor and slipped. But she didn¡¯t have time to stop, she struggled to her feet, screaming as she ran, ¡°Is anyone there? Doctor! Doctor, my grandma suddenly stopped breathing! Anybody there? Steven! Steven, where are you?¡± Doctors and nurses came running from all directions at Marguerite¡¯s call, pushing Laverne¡¯s bed towards the operating room. ¡°This olddy has stopped breathing!¡± ¡°Get the defibritor ready! Prepare for defibrition!¡± The noisy surroundings, the flurry of medical staff, made Marguerite feel like she was in another world. It felt as if the whole world was spinning, and everything before her was merging and distorting with the images of her time spent with her grandmother. It created a dazzling halo that made Marguerite feel dizzy for a moment. She sat weakly at the door of the operating room, her heart aching with pain, sadness, and an unbearable reality. She stared nkly ahead, shaking uncontrobly, tears falling incessantly, but she felt nothing. Suddenly, she felt someone shaking her shoulder, a deep male voice muffled in her ears, ¡°Marguerite? What are you doing here? Is it your family in the operating room?¡± Slowlying to her senses, Marguerite saw the man in front of her was Frederick. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes filled with concern. It was not strange for Frederick to appear in the hospital. Since he found Yuna¡¯s grandma, he had Chuck keep a close eye on Laverne¡¯s condition. So not long after Laverne was wheeled into the operating room, Frederick got the news and rushed over. But he never expected to see Marguerite there. At this moment, Marguerite¡¯s mind was a mess. Seeing Frederick, she kept repeating the same sentence on her pale face, ¡°My grandma suddenly stopped breathing.¡± Frederick¡¯s pupils dted in surprise, ¡°Laverne is your grandma?¡± Chapter 3D Chapter 86 The moment Yuna got home, she got a call from Chuck, telling everyone to head to Stonebridge Memorial Hospital to see Laverne. Chuck didn¡¯t want to shock Yuna, so he didn¡¯t mention Laverne¡¯s condition. But both Yuna and the Ablett couple knew what was going on. Giving Laverne sedatives was a collective decision. Yuna didn¡¯t intend to kill her, she just wanted her to be unconscious. However, halfway through, the olddy woke up and witnessed her actions. Yuna was frantic and ended up using all the drugs. She hung up the phone in a panic and burst into tears holding Zoe, ¡°Mom, what do I do?! I killed Laverne! I killed her! Freddie got there so fast, he¡¯ll definitely figure out it was me.¡± Zoe and Ablett were shocked and eximed in unison, ¡°You killed her?¡± Yuna felt helpless and rambled like a lunatic. ¡°She woke up halfway through. She woke up. I just lost control, and she pleaded with me not to hurt her. Mom, she knew I was going to hurt her, how could I not panic. I identally used up all the drugs. I didn¡¯t mean to kill her.¡± Ablett red at Yuna, roaring. ¡°You troublemaker. Mr. Winston has been keeping an eye on Laverne, now that you¡¯ve killed her, are you trying to get us all killed?!¡± Ablett was so angry he was about to hit her. Seeing this, Zoe quickly shielded Yuna, ¡°What are you trying to do. Are you going to hit her now? She¡¯s already dead, what¡¯s the point of saying all this now?¡± Ablett was so angry at the mother¨Cdaughter duo in front of him that he could feel his chest hurting. He pointed at Zoe and began to scold. ¡°You¡¯re still protecting her, Zoe. She¡¯s killed my mother now. How do you n on helping her?¡± Zoe rolled her eyes at her husband, turned to the trembling Yuna and asked, ¡°Did you clean up the scene before you left? Did you leave any evidence?¡± Yuna shrank into Zoe¡¯s arms, ¡°I cleaned up, and I wiped my fingerprints.¡± ¡°What about the surveince? Was your behavior recorded?¡± Feeling guilty, Yuna nced at Ablett and saw that he was still ring at her. She quickly averted her gaze. ¡°I wore a mask, even if it was recorded, they can¡¯t see my face.¡± Zoe felt a weight lift from her heart. ¡°That¡¯s good then, don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t find anything on you.¡± ¡°What if they detect sedatives in Laverne¡¯s body?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for the autopsy, they¡¯d have to cut her open, do you think Marguerite can stomach that?¡± Ablett was so angry he nearly passed out, ¡°Keep spoiling her! It¡¯s going to end badly!¡± Zoe shot him a look, and snapped at him, ¡°If you¡¯re not going to deal with it, then stop talking nonsense. Get to the hospital. If you¡¯rete, Mr. Winston might get suspicious.¡± On the other end, Marguerite was too distraught to answer Frederick¡¯s questions, only crying non¨Cstop, her shoulders shaking, which made the man feel very worried. He gently lifted her from the cold floor and held her tightly in his arms, which finally steadied her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯ll be fine.¡± Just as he finished speaking, the operating room door was pushed open, Laverney on the hospital bed, looking extremely weak. Marguerite rushed to the bedside, wanting to hold her grandma, but she was covered in tubes, Marguerite could do nothing but call her repeatedly in grief, ¡°Grandma¡­ Grandma¡­¡± The nurse looked at Marguerite, ¡°Ms. Marguerite, the patient is out of danger, she¡¯s just in a deep sleep, and she is fine. But she¡¯s very weak now, you need to take care of her.¡± Marguerite finally rxed, tears flooding out uncontrobly. She thought she was going to lose her grandma. Frederick stepped forward to help Marguerite up, and together with the nurse, pushed Laverine into the ward. As their figures gradually faded, Steven and his assistant, Janie, left the operating room one after the other. His gaze flickered, falling on Frederick¡¯s arm wrapped around Marguerite, Janie¡¯s hands in her pockets, calmly said, ¡°Steven, Marguerite and Frederick, they seem pretty close.¡± Steven nodded slightly, his expression inscrutable, making it difficult for anyone to figure out what he was thinking at that moment. After a while, Marguerite finally calmed down. She tidied up Laverne¡¯s quilt, then gently wiped her cracked lips with a moist cotton swab. Frederick sat on the sofa behind her, quietly watching everything Marguerite did, his questions growing. Marguerite calmed down, and her thoughts cleared. She turned to look at Frederick, and asked directly, ¡°Do you want to ask me about Yuna?¡± Frederick was stunned by her words, he didn¡¯t expect the woman in front of him to be so sharp, to read his emotions and thoughts so urately. He realized the rtionship between Marguerite and Yuna was not as simple as it seemed. He looked at Marguerite, and asked softly, ¡°Isn¡¯t Laverne Yuna¡¯s family?¡± Marguerite sighed deeply, then slowly walked towards him, ¡°Yuna¡¯s grandma and my grandma, are the same person.¡± hapter 87 Chapter 87 In fact, Marguerite was aware all along that Frederick was investigating Laverne. Back then, she identally let her mask slip and the man mistook her for Yuna, saying that he was looking for Laverine. Marguerite never interfered, knowing that once Frederick found her grandma, the Lockwood family could no longer use her as leverage. Now that he had found her grandma, and once she regained consciousness, her ties with the Lockwood family would be crystal clear. Since he would find out sooner orter, she might as well spill the beans. The fact that she and Yuna were twins, as well as her being forced to wear a mask, she¡¯d tell him everything. ¡°What do you mean?¡± His handsome face turned pale, and he pressed on, asking, ¡°Exin.¡± Marguerite stared at him, ¡°Actually, Yuna and I are¡­¡± ¡°Bang¨C¡± A loud door m cut Marguerite off. She was about to say that she and Yuna were twins, but her words got stuck in her throat. Then, a heartbreaking cry filled the room: ¡°Grandma!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Before they could see who it was, Yuna rushed to Laverne¡¯s bedside, followed by a sobbing Zoe. ¡°Wake up, grandma! It¡¯s me, Yuna! What¡¯s wrong with you? Open your eyes and look at me!¡± ¡°Mom, Ablett and I came to see you. What happened to you? ¡­We¡¯re toote¡­¡± The room was filled with noise. Chuck walked in from the doorway, Frederick asked with a frown, ¡°What took you so long?¡± Chuck wiped off some sweat, looking at Yuna and the others, ¡°Ablett said there was a traffic jam on the way, so we were dyed.¡± ¡°Did you tell them about the olddy¡¯s condition?¡± Chuck shook his head, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t dare. I was afraid they¡¯d be shocked.¡± ¡°So why are they crying as soon as they walked in?¡± It was as if they had known about Laverne¡¯s condition beforehand. Chuck thought for a moment. ¡°Maybe my serious expression gave it away.¡± Frederick waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Close the door.¡± ¡°Okay. Mr. Winston.¡± Yuna¡¯s cry grew louder, so loud it was heart¨Cwrenching. If one didn¡¯t know the situation, they would think that this mother and daughter were mourning a family member. But in reality, they were crying their hearts out. After all, they didn¡¯t expect the olddy to be so lucky to have made it through. Seeing this, Marguerite was furious. When her grandma needed help the most, this family was nowhere to be found. They were so heartless that they let her sacrifice herself without lifting a finger to save her grandma. Now that Frederick had found her grandma, they started ying the victim in front of him? Why should her grandma be used by them? Marguerite stepped forward, pushing Yuna and Zoe aside, and stood guard by Laverne¡¯s bedside. ¡°What¡¯s the point of your fake tears? My grandma has been lying in the hospital for so long, sick for over half a year, and unconscious for three full months. Did you guys chip in at all during that time? Who are you crying for now?¡± Yuna was panicked. Zoe subtly kicked her, bringing her back to her senses. She pointed at Marguerite with disbelief, ying the victim. ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re so cruel. You snuck my grandma away, do you know how long we¡¯ve been looking for her? You were with my grandma, why didn¡¯t you take care of her?¡± Marguerite was confused by Yuna¡¯s words. ¡°What are you talking about, Yuna? I¡¯ve lived with my grandma since I was a kid, why would I need to sneak her away? I really don¡¯t know how long you¡¯ve been looking for her. because you simply didn¡¯t care.¡± Marguerite¡¯s voice trembled with sadness. She pointed at her chest, overwhelmed with grief. ¡°It was me who begged you guys to save my grandma, and to help pay for her treatment. But what did you do? You asked me to¡­¡± ¡°Marguerite, stop talking nonsense!¡± Marguerite was cut off by Yuna. If Frederick found out that Marguerite had slept with him, wouldn¡¯t he know the truth? ¡°Laverne is my grandma, when did she be yours? Besides, Frederick knows how much I miss her! I¡¯ve told him more than once how much I want to see her. If it weren¡¯t for Frederick helping me find her, were you nning to hide my grandma forever?¡± Yuna raised her voice, acting like a madwoman. Whenever she felt guilty, she would raise her voice, hoping to overpower the other party. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, Chuck quickly stepped in to mediate: ¡°Marguerite, Ms. Yuna, this is a hospital, we shouldn¡¯t disturb the other patients. I just want to know, who is Laverne¡¯s real granddaughter?¡± Chapter 88 Upon hearing this, Ablett immediately stepped up like he was the one in charge. After all, being the head of the Lockwood family and the elder of everyone present, he believed that his words held some weight. So he cleared his throat and turned to Frederick with a congenial smile: ¡°Mr. Winston. Marguerite used to be the adopted daughter of the Lockwood family, so technically, she should call my mom ¡®Granny¡®. But my mom is not her biological granny.¡± Marguerite was shocked. How could Ablett have the audacity to say that? Calling Marguerite his adopted daughter? Or rather, former adopted daughter? If Marguerite wasn¡¯t in her right mind at the moment, she would think she was going bonkers and heard wrong. ¡°Yes, yes, yes, Marguerite is an adopted daughter, and that¡¯s all there is to it.¡± Zoe hurriedly stepped forward to exin. Seeing these people she once called family ¨C her parents and her sister ¨C only left Marguerite with a sense of destion. They were all part of the Lockwood family, yet she was heartlessly abandoned. Even worse, that day in the warehouse at Marina Shores Vige, they even tried to take Marguerite¡¯s life, leaving her to fend for herself in a dump. Now they even schemed to snatch away Granny from Marguerite. That was her only family. How could Marguerite stand for this? With a coldugh, she sarcastically apuded and stepped forward, ¡°Mr. Lockwood, your family is pretty good at lying off the cuff, huh? Leaving aside what exactly my rtionship with you is, the fact is, I¡¯ve lived with Granny since I was a kid, and there¡¯s no changing that. I¡¯ve been the one taking care of her all along, how many times have any of you shown up? You just said you¡¯ve been looking for Granny? That¡¯s a joke, did Granny disappear? If that¡¯s the case, let me ask the three of you: when did Granny disappear? And where did she disappear?¡± Marguerite¡¯s words were incisive, every sentence she uttered was powerful and hard to rebut. Ablett and Zoe¡¯s faces darkened to the extreme, Yuna quickly stepped in, shouting angrily. ¡°I¡¯m the one who lived with Granny, not you, and you¡¯re the one who¡¯s lying.¡± Marguerite smirked mockingly, clearly throwing the Lockwood family members off bnce. She seized the opportunity to press on. ¡°Who exactly is lying, I think you all know better than me. Besides, why would I lie? Do I need to?¡± Yuna staggered back half a step, her legs trembling, barely able to stand due to guilt. Her peripheral vision caught Frederick¡¯s face, and she noticed that his expression had turned absolutely dreadful. She suddenly felt a surge of hostilitying from behind her. If Freddie knew about all this, he would definitely kill her. She had taken Marguerite¡¯s sapphire ne, reced her identity, and worst of all, she had identally taken Laverne¡¯s life. Any of these would be enough to provoke his rage. The man sitting behind her was none other than the ruthless Frederick of Stonebridge City. The man she desperately wanted to marry by any means necessary. For the sake of marrying him, Yuna hade this far, there was no turning back for her now. Gathering herposure. Yuna clenched her fists tightly, ring furiously at Laverne on the sickbed. Since Granny had passed away, she would make sure Marguerite had no evidence to prove anything. ¡°Marguerite, do you think everything you say stands? Do you have any proof to back up your ims or to prove that you¡¯ve been living with my granny since you were a child? Is it because you saw Granny in this state and knew there would be no way to refute your ims so you¡¯re letting your mouth run wild?¡± After finishing, a hint of glee shed across Yuna¡¯s mind. Granny¡¯s death was well¨Ctimed, now all secrets could be buried. And from now on, no one could prove that Laverne was Marguerite¡¯s granny. Even though Marguerite was exining, as long as Yuna and her parents kept denying, Marguerite would be wronged. Thinking of this, Yuna looked at Marguerite arrogantly, a smug look on her face as if to say ¡°what can you do to me?¡± Unfortunately for her, the next second, a weak voice faintly reached everyone¡¯s ears: ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. I need water.¡± Everyone stood up in surprise, all eyes turned towards the bed. Laverne was still alive!? 1/1 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Marguerite¡¯s heart skipped a beat, then she spun around to see her grandma¡¯s lips moving with difficulty. ¡°Water. I need a drink.¡± She seemed ufortable because of the tight oxygen mask. Her frail hands were fumbling with the straps. Marguerite quickly held Laverne¡¯s arm, she felt nervous and excited. ¡°Don¡¯t move, Grandma. Chuck, go get the doctor, quick.¡± Chuck ran out of the room at her words. At that moment, the usually silent Frederick walked briskly to Laverne, leaning down to softly ask, ¡°How are you feeling, Grandma? Is there anywhere that¡¯s particrly ufortable?¡± Laverne slowly shook her head. ¡°I have a headache. Did I sleep for a long time?¡± Marguerite, holding Laverine¡¯s hand full of needle marks, nodded repeatedly, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Grandma, you¡¯ve been unconscious for three months. You scared me to death.¡± Then several doctors entered the room, forming a wall of people. They surrounded Laverne¡¯s bed, conducting a thorough examination. Outside the human wall, the Lockwood family members were dumbstruck, feeling both shocked and frightened. Especially Yuna, she was speechless and numb, as if she had lost her voice and couldn¡¯t utter a word. How could this happen? She had injected all the sedative into Laverne¡¯s body, choosing the most harmful arterial injection. How did she not die? Why did she wake up? It was over. Everything was over. Grandma would definitely expose that Yuna injected her with drugs. Back then, grandma was watching Yuna stuff her mouth and threatening her, her eyes filled with fear. Grandma would definitely not let her off. Not only that, her secret of impersonating Marguerite would definitely be exposed. It was over,pletely over. At that moment, the doctors had finished their thorough examination and removed Laverne¡¯s oxygen mask. ¡°The patient is all right now, all her body indicators are normal, She will stay in the hospital overnight for observation. If there¡¯s no problem tomorrow, she can be discharged.¡± Marguerite quickly expressed her gratitude and, after escorting the doctor out of the ward, hurriedly approached Laverne¡¯s bedside, anxiously asking, ¡°Grandma, you finally woke up. You scared me to death, you know?¡± Laverne stared at Marguerite, ¡°I want to drink water.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get you some water.¡± Before she could finish speaking, Frederick handed a cup of water over. Marguerite quickly raised the back of the bed, allowing grandma to lean against the head of the bed. carefully feeding her the water. Watching all this, a dark glint shed in Frederick¡¯s eyes. Her movements were smooth and natural, and her concern for Laverne was genuine. Especially the scene at the door of the operating room just now, how could anyone be so upset if not for a loved one? On the other hand, the three members of the Lockwood family had been standing in a corner, keeping their distance ever since Laverne regained consciousness. This abnormal behavior made Frederick take a second look. Yuna¡¯s guilty look caught Frederick¡¯s sharp eyes, and she was so scared that she unconsciously gripped Zoe¡¯s arm tightly. The family¡¯s faces were as pale as death, apparently prepared for the worst. But they never expected what was about to happen. After drinking a cup of water, a touch of color returned to Laverne¡¯s pale cheeks. ¡°Thank you for taking care of me. Can you bother to get my granddaughter for me? Her name is Yuna and she lives on Cedarbrook Street. I miss her.¡± Laverne looked at Marguerite with gratitude, but with a hint of unfamiliarity. As if she had never seen Marguerite before. Chapter 90 Marguerite stared in disbelief at Laverne, trembling and almost unable to articte her words.¡°Granny, what about me? Me!¡± She was so impatient that her face turned bright red. Her wide eyes were filled with an urgent desire to know more, leaving Laverne looking bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Aren¡¯t you standing right here? I want to see my granddaughter. I want to see Yuna.¡± Laverne spoke with a childlike stubbornness. What? Did Granny forget about her? Laverne nced at Marguerite with disgust, not caring how shocked she was. She scanned the room and her gaze quicklynded on a corner of the room. ¡°Yuna? Come,e quickly. I knew you wouldn¡¯t leave me while I¡¯m sick, why are you hiding over there. Hehe, my gazes are blurry, I didn¡¯t see you, don¡¯t be mad at me,e quickly.¡± Seeing Yuna, Laverne immediately beamed, waving her hands at her incessantly. Yuna looked lost. Zoe quickly nudged her, and she walked up,pletely baffled. Finally at the bedside, Laverne grabbed Yuna¡¯s hand. Her surprised expression carried a sense of regained joy as she stared at Yuna without letting go. ¡°Yuna, I finally see you. I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± Yuna was awkward, ¡°Granny¡­ I missed you too.¡± The whole scene felt surreal to Marguerite, who stood there like a statue, staring nkly at the two of them. Chuck was also dumbfounded, looking at Frederick with confusion, ¡°Mr. Winston, what¡¯s happening?¡± The man¡¯s gaze slightly hardened, and he looked at Marguerite in a questioning and angry tone, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± What was going on? Marguerite could only give a bitter smile. She wanted to know more than anyone what was happening. Why did Granny forget about her the moment she woke up? Marguerite was so agitated that her chest heaved rapidly. She didn¡¯t have time to respond to Frederick and immediately rushed to Laverne¡¯s bedside. She knelt on the ground. looking at Laverne with a pitiable and helpless expression. ¡°Granny. Don¡¯t you remember me? I¡¯m Marguerite, your own granddaughter. I¡¯m Marguerite.¡± Laverne looked at Marguerite and then at Yuna. She quickly pulled her arm out of Yuna¡¯s grasp, appearing puzzled by Marguerite¡¯s sudden actions. ¡°Who¡¯s Marguerite? My granddaughter doesn¡¯t look like you. I only have one granddaughter, and that¡¯s Yuna. Yuna is my granddaughter. My most beloved granddaughter.¡± Hearing this, Marguerite feltpletely defeated. She slumped to the floor, overwhelmed by confusion. Her expression was darker than a cloudy day. What on earth was happening? Chuck quickly helped Marguerite up from the floor, looked at Laverne, and asked gently, ¡°How many granddaughters do you have?¡± ¡°One, her name is Yuna.¡± Before Chuck could ask another question, Laverne started chattering away. ¡°My son is Ablett, my daughter¨Cinw is Zoe, they have a daughter named Yuna. I lived with Yuna in Marina Shores Vige when I was young, then they opened a casino in Stonebridge City.¡± ¡°What about Marguerite? Do you remember Marguerite? Do you remember Mr. Lockwood adopting a child?¡± Laverne waved her hand dismissively, ¡°Him adopting a child is his business, I¡¯ve always lived with Yuna in Marina Shores Vige.¡± Another bolt from the blue struck Marguerite, she leaned weakly against the wall,pletely drained. Grandma remembered everyone, except for Marguerite. At first, Marguerite thought it was because she was wearing a mask and Granny couldn¡¯t recognize her. But it turned out that Granny hadpletely forgotten about her, even Marguerite¡¯s name. Chuck sighed, looking worried as he exchanged nces with Frederick. He knew that Mr. Winston had always sided with Marguerite over Yuna¡¯s words. After all, lies can deceive, but subconscious actions can¡¯t. Marguerite¡¯s care for Laverne was mostly genuine and unconscious expressions. So in order to help Marguerite, Chuck tried to guide Laverne to remember. After all, patients who had been in aa for a long time often had short¨Cterm memory confusion when they woke up. But now it was clear, Laverne was lucid and logical, not like someone who lost her memory at all. In Laverne¡¯s memory, there was no one named Marguerite. Sigh! Marguerite, you¡¯d better pray for yourself. Chuck shook his head and stepped out, followed by Frederick¡¯s suppressed and hurried voice. ¡°Marguerite, you really know how to lie. You better give me a reasonable Chapter 91 Frederick¡¯s icy demeanor was as chilling as the Arctic, leaving one feeling frozen all over. Marguerite stared at the towering man in front of her, her heart filled with destion. Being forgotten by a loved one was the cruelest cut of all. So it didn¡¯t matter whether Frederick believed her or not. ¡°I don¡¯t owe you an exnation.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were aze, the fury boiling in them, ¡°Marguerite! You dare to talk back to me?¡± He practically roared, a vein popping out on his forehead, startling everyone. ¡°Kid, can you tone it down? You¡¯re scaring the bejesus out of this olddy. My heart¡¯s pounding like a jackhammer, and I can¡¯t catch my breath.¡± Laverne was all dramatic, and her eyes widened as saucers, looking utterly startled. Frederick shot a venomous re at Marguerite before lowering his voice, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with youter.¡± Then his anger vanished, he turned to Laverne apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, grandma. Are you feeling alright?¡± Laverne gave Marguerite a sly nce, then shook her head at Yuna, ¡°Yuna, who¡¯s this handsome young man?¡± Yuna blushed, her doe eyes all sparkling, ¡°Grandma, this is Freddie, my boyfriend.¡± ¡°Really? Your boyfriend!¡± Laverne was grinning from ear to ear, ¡°Yuna¡¯s dating! How lovely!¡± ¡°Yep, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Listening to their chatter, Zoe assessed Laverne¡¯s reactions to ensure she had truly lost her memory. Then she leaned onto Ablett¡¯s shoulder, letting out a long sigh. The couple exchanged a knowing nce, their sentiments unspoken. It had been a roller¨Ccoaster day, nearly dragged into the gutter by that viin Marguerite. But luckily, Laverne had amnesia. So what if Marguerite was eloquent? Even her grandma was against her now, let¡¯s see how she dealt with that. But they couldn¡¯t let their guard down. After all, they didn¡¯t know how long Laverne¡¯s amnesia wouldst. But one thing was certain, they couldn¡¯t let that viin Marguerite anywhere near Laverne. That woman was a sly fox. If she found a way to restore Laverne¡¯s memory, they¡¯d be done for. Zoe pondered for a moment, then put on a dutiful face, ¡°Mom, you should rest tonight. From now on, we¡¯ll never part.¡± Upon hearing that, Laverne¡¯s mischievous eyes turned furious, and she threw a tantrum, ¡°I¡¯m not living with you. I want a big house. Your ce is too small for me.¡± ¡°Grandma, we¡¯ve moved. We live in a big house now.¡± Laverne looked at Yuna seriously. ¡°Is it a vi?¡± Yuna shook her head, ¡°Not exactly.¡± Laverne snorted, ¡°Then no deal. I want a two¨Cstory vi.¡± Her stubbornness was a stark contrast to her usual timid demeanor. Ablett whispered into Zoe¡¯s ear, ¡°Not only has Laverne lost her memory, but her character¡¯s changed too. She¡¯s acting like a nut job.¡± Zoe gave Laverne a cold look, ¡°As long as she doesn¡¯t recognize Marguerite, we¡¯re safe.¡± Then she put on a pretentious front, ¡°Mom, you¡¯ll have to live with us for now. How about we get a vi when we can afford it?¡± She even shot Frederick a meaningful nce. She was clearly using this opportunity to have Frederick pay for a vi. Laverne¡¯s expression changed when she heard that, ¡°No. When will you be able to afford it? I want to live there now.¡± Zoe secretly signaled to Yuna, and Yuna immediately understood. She looked at Frederick with a troubled expression. ¡°Freddie, what do we do? We¡¯re just ordinary people. We can¡¯t just buy a vi.¡± Frederick was deep in thought, and his lips pressed together. Finally, he said, ¡°She can stay at my ce.¡± The smiles on the Lockwood family¡¯s faces froze. Laverne looked at Frederick, ¡°Kid, do you live in a two¨Cstory vi?¡± Frederick started to answer when Chuck jumped in eagerly, ¡°Yes, yes. Mr. Winston doesn¡¯t just live in a two¨Cstory vi, he has several floors.¡± Hearing this, Laverne nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stay at your ce. But.¡± Laverne scanned the room, her gaze finallynding on Marguerite, looking a bit greedy. ¡°You have to provide me with a maid. That girl said I¡¯m her grandma, right? Let her serve me. Let her be my maid.¡± Chapter 92 Marguerite was totally down for her granny moving into the mansion, she¡¯d take care of her no sweat, no need for anyone to remind her. But Yuna wasn¡¯t cool with Laverne living with Marguerite. What if the cat got out of the bag? ¡°Granny, you should stay with us. You just got better, we¡¯d be gutted if something happened to you.¡± Her tone was too eager, and she didn¡¯t realize how frantic she sounded. Frederick shot her a look and Chuck chimed in, none too happy. ¡°Ms. Yuna, what kind of trouble are you talking about? Are you saying Mr. Winston can¡¯t take care of a patient?¡± Yuna went pale, quickly waving her hands, ¡°No, no, Freddie, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Well, then there¡¯s nothing left to talk about.¡± Frederick nced at his watch, coldly saying to Chuck, ¡°Get some bodyguards to keep an eye on things. I¡¯ll pick granny up as scheduled tomorrow.¡± Yuna turned to Zoe, desperately tugging at her sleeve, her eyes pleading. ¡°Quick, think of something.¡± But what could they possibly do? Mr. Winston was standing right there, any more objections would spill the beans. Soon it was lights out at the hospital. No one could stay in the room, so after everyone left, Frederick had some bodyguards stand guard at the door. Once home, Yuna threw a fit, pacing anxiously in the living room, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you guys stop her? You just let her move into the mansion?¡± Ablett widened his eyes, ¡°With Mr. Winston standing right there, how were we supposed to stop her? Stop throwing tantrums, it¡¯s your half¨Cassed job that left us picking up the pieces! Dumbass!¡± Zoe, feeling sorry for her daughter, angrily shoved him. ¡°Why are you blowing up at her. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that big of a deal, Laverne moving into the mansion is good. We were worried Yuna wouldn¡¯t get a chance to get close to Mr. Winston, now we¡¯ve got a reason. Plus, with Marguerite looking after her, she¡¯ll probably drive her up the wall. Hahaha!¡± Hearing this, Yuna¡¯s eyes lit up, and she excitedly hugged Zoe¡¯s arm, ¡°Right. Let them fight each other.¡± Just thinking about it made Yuna feel massively better. Poor Marguerite probably wouldn¡¯t believe it in a million years, the only family she ever had would torment her like this. Meanwhile, at Sapphire Valley Estates. Her granny¡¯s sudden memory loss had Marguerite all cut up, she didn¡¯t say a word on the ride home, just quietly crying. Her granny was her only family, and now her granny didn¡¯t remember her. Earlier at the hospital, she saw the Lockwood family surrounding her grandmother, and her grandmother was affectionately holding Yuna¡¯s hand. Even though Marguerite knew the Lockwood¡¯s care for granny was all a show because Frederick was there, it still hurt. Her granny¡¯s affection was genuine, but she didn¡¯t even nce at Marguerite. They looked like a real happy family. Marguerite was heartbroken, she could hardly breathe from the pain. She just wanted to lock herself in her room, curl up under the covers, and let it all out. So she headed straight for her room the moment she got home. But no sooner had she stepped into the bedroom and was about to close the door than Frederick, in the doorway, grabbed Marguerite by the wrists and then pinned her hard against the wall Chapter 93 Marguerite didn¡¯t expect Frederick to barge in, but his intentions were crystal clear. If it wasn¡¯t to fight for Yuna¡¯s so¨Ccalled justice, then what? But Marguerite had been heartbroken all day, feeling exhausted and drained. Right now, all she wanted was to crawl into bed and let her feelings out, whether it meant crying or screaming. In the end, it was her own business. ¡°Can we talk about this tomorrow? I don¡¯t want to argue with you,¡± Marguerite said wearily, her face showing exhaustion. Facing her resistance, Frederick¡¯s anger red up even more, starting off with a bang. ¡°Well, so you¡¯re wallowing in self¨Cpity because you got exposed by the person involved? Marguerite, weren¡¯t you good at putting on a show? Weren¡¯t you good at smooth talking? If grandma hadn¡¯t woken up today, how long were you nning to deceive me?¡± The continuous heartache had already drained Marguerite of her strength to argue back. Her face darkened, and she asked him faintly, ¡°What did I deceive you about?¡± ¡°Why did you say Laverne is your family?¡± The man¡¯s knee pressed against Marguerite¡¯s thigh, immobilizing her. ¡°She has always been my family, there¡¯s no need for me to say it. It¡¯s an unchangeable fact.¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t lie to me.¡± Marguerite turned her face away and closed her eyes, letting out a deep sigh in despair, ¡°Frederick, do I need to do a DNA test for you to believe me?¡± The man¡¯s hand gripped her shoulder tightly, the other hand forced her face to turn towards him, questioning her word by word. ¡°Do you think I would let an elderly woman who just recovered from a serious illness do such an obvious thing?¡± She wondered, ¡°What does this man want me to say? Nothing seems to please him.¡± Marguerite lowered her gaze, and could only give a mncholic smile: ¡°Alright, what do you want me to say? You tell me, and I¡¯ll repeat it word for word, okay?¡± ¡°Marguerite! Don¡¯t push me to my limit! If you don¡¯t tell me the truth, I¡¯ll make you wish you were dead!¡± Marguerite gazed at the man¡¯s grim and malicious face, filled with a determination that seemed like it wanted to end her life. She clenched her lower lip tightly, her eyes were dull and hopeless. Despair, humiliation and angerpletely enveloped her. She had been framed by Yuna so many times, but Frederick never once trusted her. Rather than exining over and over again, it would be better to just give up and end this war as soon as possible. Marguerite made up her mind, her round eyes were filled with tears, but she was full of defiance: ¡°Yes, I admit it, I lied alright. Laverne is Yuna¡¯s grandmother, and she has nothing to do with me.¡± A hint of surprise shed in Frederick¡¯s eyes, he clearly didn¡¯t expect Marguerite, who was just defiant, to admit so quickly. ¡°Why would you do that?¡± Why? Didn¡¯t he just want to hear her admit all her mistakes? She had already said what he wanted to hear, but he asked why again. How would she know why. She was still puzzled why the Lockwood family didn¡¯t let her recognize her grandmother. A tear crossed Marguerite¡¯s cheek and she wiped it away carelessly, raising an eyebrow with a light smile on her face. ¡°I just like to snatch Yuna¡¯s things, I snatched her man, what¡¯s wrong with snatching her family?¡± She looked at him with such calm gazes, her frivolous words were weightless, as if she was joking. Frederick became even more furious, his fingers gripping her shoulders tightened abruptly. The piercing pain quickly spread throughout her body, and Marguerite felt as if her bones were going to shatter. But she stubbornly refused to lowered her head. She clenched her teeth and didn¡¯t scream in pain. ¡°Marguerite, your behavior disgusts me.¡± The man enunciated each word, his voice was as terrifying as a devil. With that, he cast a disdainful nce at Marguerite¡¯s cheek, unwilling to say another word, and angrily walked away, releasing her shoulder. The door mmed shut with a bang, echoing his rage. Marguerite shivered, the high walls in her heart copsed, and her back uncontrobly slid down the cold wall until she waspletely copsed on the floor. Her soul had long been drained, and within her shattered shell, there was emptiness, with only a heart beating chaotically. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Marguerite had a long night, hell, she could hardly remember how it all went down. When she woke up the next morning, she found herself on the cold, hard floor of her room. No one seemed to give a damn. She hauled herself up feeling sore all over. After she washed up quickly, she hopped on the bus to the hospital without breakfast. Now, all she had left was her grandma. Even though her grandma couldn¡¯t remember her anymore, she believed it was just temporary. They had so many great times together, so she was sure that her grandma would remember everything one day. Laverne was still sleeping when Marguerite arrived at the hospital. She was nning on handling the discharge procedures first, but as soon as she stepped out of the ward, Steven¡¯s assistant, Janie, approached her and said, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, Steven needs you in his office. He said he has something to tell you.¡± Marguerite paused for a second. Thinking about her grandma¡¯s memory loss, she figured she did need to visit Steven. So she asked the security guy at the door to handle her grandma¡¯s discharge, then followed Janie into Steven¡¯s office. Steven had just started his shift and wasn¡¯t in his scrubs yet. He was just wearing his olive drab uniform and sorting through files on his desk, his hair obviously well¨Cgroomed. Seeing Marguerite in, a trace of warmth appeared on his cold face. ¡°Have a seat. All your grandma¡¯s medical records areid out here.¡± He said. Marguerite took the files, her eyes locked on Steven,¡°Steven, my grandma has lost her memory. Does she have Alzheimer¡¯s?¡± Steven¡¯s pen suddenly stopped in its tracks. He looked surprised, ¡°She lost her memory?¡± Marguerite¡¯s lips were pursed white, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Steven said with his brow furrowed. He logged into the hospital¡¯s online system and quickly pulled up all of Laverne¡¯s previous medical reports. His eyes shining, he deftly turned theputer screen towards Marguerite with his slender fingers. Marguerite nced at the images on the screen, but theplex images were beyond her. Seeing this, Steven quickly exined, ¡°This is the brain CT scan I did for your grandma two days ago and she was in good condition. There¡¯s no way she could have Alzheimer¡¯s.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s lost her memory now! She really has! She¡¯s forgotten me! How do you exin that?¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t hide her agitation. Steven batted his eyelids, and his narrow eyes were staring somewhere in the air as if in thought. He caressed the tip of his nose with his index finger, which was slightly bent, and then returned his gaze to Marguerite. ¡°You said she lost her memory, so what exactly are the symptoms? Did she forget everything, or just some people and things?¡± Marguerite felt heartbroken thinking about it; she sniffed, her voice filled with loss, ¡°She remembers everyone and everything, except for me.¡± ¡°She forgot about you? What about the things you guys did together, does she remember those?¡± Marguerite shook her head, ¡°No.she forgets everything as long as they are rted to me. I mean everything.¡± Yesterday, Marguerite was devastated when she found out about her grandma¡¯s memory loss. she repeatedly told her grandma about the good old times they had together. Her first day of school, first award, first schrship, and the first perfume she made. Even though these things might seem trivial, they were things her grandma was proud of and shared with the neighbors. How could she forget things she often talked about? It felt like she had been erased from her grandma¡¯s memory; all the memories about her had turned nk. ¡°Steven, did my grandma develop some kind of disease?¡± Marguerite asked. Steven tilted his head slightly as if in denial, but seemed less sure. There was a glint in his eyes. After pondering for a moment, he said slowly, ¡°Human memory has many limitations. She might forget some people, but it¡¯s impossible topletely forget all the memories associated with them. So ording to your description, I think there are two possibilities. One possibility is, as you said, your grandma might have developed some kind of disease, but with current medical technology, we can¡¯t diagnose it.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s the other possibility?¡± Marguerite asked. Steven opened his eyes wide and his gaze was as sharp as a de, ¡°Your grandma¡¯s memory loss might be a hoax.¡± Chapter 95 Just as Steven finished speaking. Janie walked over and reported that a patient had an emergency and needed Steven to check it out. With a quick ¡°hang on a sec¡± to Marguerite, Steven left the office with Janie. Alone in the room, Marguerite was utterly clueless about what just happened. She was so baffled. A hoax? How could her grandma¡¯s memory loss be fake? She had lived with her grandma since she was a kid and her grandma loved her dearly. Many times, she chafed with the Abletts on Marguerite¡¯s issue. And because of this, her grandma had been bullied a lot by the Lockwood family. So, there¡¯s no way her grandma would only recognize the Lockwoods and not Marguerite. Could her grandma really have some weird illness? Marguerite shook her head; thinking too much wouldn¡¯t help. Once her grandma got a little better, she¡¯d definitely get her a more thorough check¨Cup. At least her grandma was moving to the manor soon, and they could continue living together. That was a bit of sce for Marguerite. But with Pr Radiance¡¯sunching in a few days, Marguerite, being the designer, definitely wouldn¡¯t have time to be with her grandma every day. She wasn¡¯tfortable leaving her grandma alone at home, so she had to get her a cell phone. As she was thinking this, she whipped out her own phone and opened up a shopping app, only to find that even the cheapest phone was out of her budget. Screw it, let¡¯s check out some senior¨Cfriendly phones. Those were cheaper. As long as it could make calls and send texts, it¡¯d be fine. She thought. As Marguerite was about to pay for a phone, Steven came back. She looked up and saw Steven¡¯s eyesnd on her hand. She locked her screen nervously. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Steven walked over to the rack to put on his white coat, and then pulled out a stic¨Cwrapped box from the drawer. ¡°Bring her back in three days for a follow¨Cup. I¡¯ll arrange another brain scan for her. Also, this is a gift for your grandma, take it back for her.¡± Steven said, tapping the box on the table. Marguerite looked down and saw it was a brand¨Cnew iPhone. She hurriedly refused, ¡°No, Steven, you¡¯ve already helped me so much. I can¡¯t ept this phone, it¡¯s too expensive.¡± She couldn¡¯t afford this phone; it was too pricey. ¡°It¡¯s a gift for your grandma, not for you.¡± Steven smiled and exined, ¡°I won this phone in a raffle yesterday, and I already have the exact same model. I don¡¯t need it. Your grandma can help me use it.¡± With Steven saying this, Marguerite felt it would be impolite to refuse again. So she epted, ¡°Thank you, Steven.¡± Steven¡¯s face was all smiles, ¡°No need. If you really want to thank me, just invite me to dinner next time.¡± ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll invite you to dinner with my grandma.¡± Once they left the office, the bodyguard had already taken care of all the paperwork for Marguerite. They headed straight for the manor after picking up Laverne. Marguerite gave her grandma the phone and arranged everything before catching the bus to meet Miley. They agreed to meet at the park below the Winston Group building. Miley had been waiting for a good ten minutes before Marguerite hurried over. Upon seeing Marguerite, Miley walked up and smacked her, ¡°You¡¯rete again! Do you know how long I¡¯ve been waiting here? Why can¡¯t we meet at a cafe or a dessert shop?¡± Marguerite gave an awkward smile, ¡°I don¡¯t have extra money to treat you to coffee or dessert.¡± Upon hearing this, Miley pinched herself in anger and pointed at the building next to them, ¡°Marguerite! Listen to yourself! Your husband has a lot of power in this building, and as his wife, you can¡¯t even afford a coffee or a piece of cake? Doesn¡¯t he give you pocket money?¡± Marguerite felt so depressed thinking about Frederick, ¡°All his money goes to Yuna, how could he possibly give me any?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Yuna again! That¡¯s outrageous! Let here see me and I¡¯ll smack her!¡± Miley said angrily, then smacked her own thigh, squishing a mosquito against her skin. She picked up the mosquito¡¯s body and her expression like she was looking at Yuna, ¡°I¡¯m going to show Yuna that smacking her would be as easy as squishing this mosquito!¡± Seeing her friend so worked up, Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Her downcast mood lifted a bit. She walked up to Miley and spoke earnestly. ¡°I need you to help me investigate why the Lockwoods made me wear a mask. Please do it as soon as possible; it¡¯s urgent.¡± Miley looked at her andughed, ¡°Finally, you¡¯ve seen the light! I¡¯ve been waiting for you to say that.¡± Marguerite honestly didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with Lockwoods anymore, let alone waste time on them. But the way things were going made her more and more perplexed. She noticed that from the very beginning, the Lockwoods had been trying to distance themselves from her in front of Frederick, even forcing her to wear a mask. Now they were publicly denying her rtionship with her grandma. Marguerite felt things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed. Her grandma¡¯s memory loss made Marguerite realize she couldn¡¯t lose her again, nor could she let those enemies do whatever they wanted. To protect the one she loved the most, she had to pluck up her courage and face those difficulties. So she had to find out the truth, the root of the problem, and to solve it once and for all. And that root was the mask she was wearing right now! Chapter 96 Meanwhile, at the Winston Group. Decked in a ck body conscious dress and clutching a Hermes bag, Yuna strutted into the CEO¡¯s office. She was here today to show Marguerite her mettle. After yesterday¡¯s drama, she was convinced Frederick must be fed up with Marguerite. In contrast, she had given quite the performancest night. Her apparent concern for Laverne¡¯s health and her filial piety were all on full disy. Frederick had to be impressed by her. The office was empty except for Frederick, who was sitting on the couch with crossed legs and engrossed in a document. Yuna saw an opportunity. She promptly took a seat next to him. ¡°Freddie, you must be beat from running around for Granny yesterday. Let me give you a massage.¡± Saying so, she gently gripped Frederick¡¯s shoulders, starting to knead them. Frederick stiffened slightly, closing the document in displeasure. He dodged Yuna¡¯s touch, stood up, and lit a cigarette by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. His bodyguard had just called. He said that Marguerite had taken Laverne back to the mansion. Before leaving, she left after a lot of chatter with the servants. That woman really seemed to care about Laverne. If all she wanted was to snatch Yuna¡¯s loved ones, Marguerite didn¡¯t need to be this meticulous. Could she be pretending to care to win his favor? The more Frederick thought, the more irked he became. He nced at the time, it was already afternoon. That woman should be at thepany by now, right? Still no sign of her! Where the hell did she go? Frederick exhaled a ring of smoke, annoyed, when someone¡¯s soft hands cupped his waist from behind. ¡°Freddie, I¡¯ve missed you.¡± It seemed that Yuna was rubbing against his back. Frederick¡¯s breathing got raspier as he felt this touch. He flicked off the ash, ¡°Let go.¡± His voice was t but carried a tone of suppression and distance. Disheartened, Yuna retracted her arms, only to hear him ask, ¡°Did Marguerite tell you when she was taking your Granny out of the hospital?¡± Marguerite? Marguerite again! Why was he still thinking of that woman at this time? Enraged, Yuna lost her temper, ¡°Why would Marguerite tell me anything? She whisked away my grandma behind our backs and we searched for her for years. Marguerite made her this way, Freddie. If she hadn¡¯t hidden Granny, worsening her condition, she wouldn¡¯t have suffered this much. Now she has finally recovered, but she lost her memory. It breaks my heart.¡± After finishing, Yuna even pretended to wipe her eyes, as if she was crying. Frederick just found her even more repulsive. He hated women who badmouthed others behind their back. It was not something honorable. It made her almost a morally corrupt wretch. ¡°Do you have anything else to do with me other thanining about Marguerite?¡± He asked. Yuna replied stiffly, ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to be deceived. Plus, now that Granny and Marguerite are living together, I¡¯m worried Marguerite might bully her.¡± The man¡¯s gaze was deep and detached, ¡°If you cared so much about your Granny, why didn¡¯t you take the initiative to pick her up from the hospital today? Just voicing your concerns doesn¡¯t mean you genuinely care.¡± Yuna got nothing to say. She shifted her gaze and tried to feign a suave tone, ¡°So can I visit Granny at the mansion tomorrow? You¡¯ll let me go, won¡¯t you, Frederick?¡± ¡°Whatever makes you happy.¡± Hearing this, Yuna¡¯s spirits soared. Tomorrow was Saturday and Marguerite surely wouldn¡¯t be working. So she had to spend the entire day with Frederick. She¡¯d show that woman how close she and Frederick were. She had to make that woman realize that Frederick was her man! Yuna didn¡¯t stay in the CEO¡¯s office for long before Frederick asked her to leave. Not long after she left, Zoe called, ¡°Yuna, have you won Mr. Winston¡¯s affections yet?¡± ¡°Mom! He won¡¯t even touch me!¡± Yuna stomped her foot in frustration, but quickly changed the subject when she thought of tomorrow¡¯s visit. Her charming smile back on, ¡°But Freddie has allowed me to visit Granny at the mansion tomorrow.¡± Zoe was ted on hearing this, ¡°Yuna, this is a great opportunity and you have to seize it!¡± ¡°Mom, there are so many people at the mansion. What if he still won¡¯t touch me?¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to resort to more drastic measures!¡± There was a sinister glow in Zoe¡¯s eyes, ¡°Although Laverne has lost her memory now, we can¡¯t let our guard down. You have to get pregnant with Frederick¡¯s child as soon as possible. Then you can rely on the child to secure your position. Nobody will be able to threaten you!¡± Chapter 97 As the sun dipped below the horizon, the evening sky was painted with a palette of red hues. Marguerite just back to the mansion in time for dinner. Frederick was seated at the head of the table and Laverne was engrossed in her new phone. Marguerite¡¯s gaze happened to meet his. Some unspeakable traits on his face made him so dignified. Feeling uneasy about their spat the previous night, Marguerite was not in the mood for chit¨Cchat. She quietly headed for the dining room and sat next to Laverne, whispering, ¡°Granny, it¡¯s dinner time. Phone can wait.¡± With that, she served Laverne some chicken soup. Laverne was squinting at and wrestling with her phone screen. Suddenly, she mmed her phone on the table, crossed her arms and looked visibly pissed off, seemingly at herself. ¡°Damn it!¡± Marguerite was stunned. She jerked her head, ¡°What¡¯s up, Granny?¡± ¡°The font on the phone is too small. I can¡¯t see anything!¡± Marguerite chuckled, ¡°Hold your horses, Granny. I¡¯ll fix it for you.¡± She picked up the phone, opened the settings and patiently adjusted the font size for Laverne. Frederick was feeling uneasy not having seen Marguerite all day. Now he spotted the new phone in Marguerite¡¯s hand and attempted to kick start a conversation, ¡°Did you get this for Granny?¡± Before Marguerite could answer, Laverne grunted, ¡°Hell no, it¡¯s not from Marguerite. It¡¯s a gift from that handsome doc at the hospital.¡± ¡°Handsome doctor?¡± Frederick asked with a frown. Marguerite finally looked at Frederick and exined tly. ¡°It¡¯s Granny¡¯s doctor, Steven.¡± Laverne¡¯s expression was visibly affectionate as she heard Steven¡¯s name. ¡°Yes, Steven! He¡¯s quite a looker and drives a fancy car! The doors open like wings! It¡¯s called McLaren, right, Marguerite?¡± Marguerite bit her lip awkwardly and didn¡¯t say anything. She was clueless about limo brands and didn¡¯t know how to respond to Granny. But shepletely missed the fact that the man at the head of the table was visibly upset. McLaren? If he remembered correctly, the limo that dropped Marguerite home the other night was a McLaren indeed. So, this guy dropped her off one night and gave her a phone the next day? What was next? What would he give her tomorrow? Frederick mmed his cutlery onto the table, causing a sharp clink, ¡°Marguerite, do you remember what I told you before?¡± Marguerite was dumbfounded. She didn¡¯t understand what she¡¯d done to offend him. She looked at him with an innocent face, not knowing what to say. But to Frederick, she was ying dumb by feigning innocence. That pissed him off even more. He scoffed, ¡°I¡¯ve told you not to flirt with other men. If I find out, you¡¯ll face the consequences. Did you get that?¡± Marguerite suddenly understood. Was he misunderstanding her rtionship with Steven again? Just because of a phone? Marguerite was frustrated, ¡°Can you stop being such a kid? The phone was a gift from Steven to Granny. I have nothing to do with it.¡± Frederick sneered, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t flirted, why would he bother gifting Granny a phone?¡± Marguerite bit her lip, feeling a mix of humiliation and difort. ¡°Frederick, why are you always saying mean words like that?¡± Chapter 98 The guy red at her, his words seething with so much rage that it bordered on cruelty. ¡°Talk to you nicely? Do you even deserve my good words? You¡¯re nothing but a lowlife with no bottom line.¡± With that, he angrily pushed back his chair and stormed off. No bottom line? Lowlife? Marguerite watched his retreating figure. Despite feeling humiliated, tears welled up in her eyes. Why was he so possessive? He¡¯d even throw a tantrum just because she got out of Steven¡¯s car. Was this love? Absolutely not! To put it bluntly, he treated her like a pet. He was all sweet and gentle when he was in a good mood, but he¡¯dsh out with harsh words whenever he was upset. But how could Marguerite, who had never been in love, know that was all about a man¡¯s jealousy? If he had no feelings for her, why would he care so much? Sadly, neither Marguerite nor Frederick realized this. Seeing Frederick¡¯s outburst, Laverne, who was standing nearby, leered at Marguerite and asked with a guilty tone, ¡°Marguerite, did I say something wrong?¡± Marguerite shook her head, ¡°No.¡°¨C ¡°That young man has a terrible temper. I don¡¯t know what my granddaughter sees in him!¡± Laverneined. Then she asked with a pout, ¡°Marguerite, do you know how Yuna met Frederick?¡± Hearing her grandmother refer to Yuna as her ¡°granddaughter,¡± Marguerite felt a pang of sadness. Her grandmother had forgotten about her and even shifted her affections to Yuna. But Marguerite didn¡¯t resent her. As long as she could recover, that¡¯s all that mattered. Taking a deep breath, Marguerite responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know how they met.¡± Laverne shifted her gaze and put down her phone, walked over to Marguerite, and asked with curiosity, ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal between you and Frederick? Have you been living together all along?¡± Marguerite had a mix of emotions after arguing with Frederick, so she didn¡¯t feel like exining. She just nodded. Laverne¡¯s face was stretched at her response, her voice rising in surprise, ¡°So, are you the homewrecker?¡± Marguerite was taken aback; she could almost hear the snickering of the maids behind her, and that added to her embarrassment. ¡°Gran! No! Frederick and I are married by contract. We¡¯ve already done the paperwork.¡± Marguerite exined, her face flushing. The term ¡°homewrecker¡± was too sensitive. Emotionally, she had never interfered in Yuna and Frederick¡¯s rtionship, and legally, she was Frederick¡¯s wife. In no way could the term ¡°homewrecker¡± be used to describe Marguerite. Laverne scratched her head in confusion. After a long while, she muttered, ¡°Frederick and Yuna are dating, and you and Frederick are married. Young people¡¯s romantic life these days is tooplicated.¡± Marguerite was left speechless. ¡°I must find out how those two met! I can¡¯t let my granddaughter get hurt.¡± Hearing Laverne¡¯s words, Marguerite felt incredibly down. Now, everyone was supporting Yuna, including her beloved grandmother. They were all considering Yuna¡¯s interests, worrying about her getting hurt. Meanwhile, Marguerite had be the loneliest person. But she didn¡¯t notice that when Laverne said, ¡°I can¡¯t let my granddaughter get hurt,¡± her eyes filled with concern and worry were clearly directed at Marguerite. Chapter 99 The next morning, the whole city woke up bathed in the rosy glow of dawn. Just after everyone had finished breakfast, Yuna strolled into the mansion blissfully. As soon as Sadie opened the door, she threw herself at Frederick, eager to hug him and show off in front of Marguerite. However, she was stopped in her tracks by Laverne, ¡°Yuna, where do you think you¡¯re going? I¡¯m right here!¡± Yuna was left red in the face. She had used the olddy as an excuse toe to the mansion, and if Freddie found out that her real motive was to get into bed with him, she¡¯d be kicked out in no time t. With no other choice, she had to hug Laverne and put on a fake sweet act, ¡°Grandma, I didn¡¯t see you just now. Did you sleep wellst night? Did anyone bully you?¡± Laverne waved her off, ¡°Marguerite has been taking good care of me! Yuna, I¡¯m just living it up here.¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna was so pissed off she could¡¯ve had a fit. She wished her grandma would just drop dead! Her whole family was walking on eggshells at Diamond Crest Estates while the olddy moved into the mansion of her dreams and lived her own life. Sost night she didn¡¯t torture Marguerite at all? And they didn¡¯t tear each other apart? Yuna forced out an awkward smile. Sneakily, she whispered in Laverne¡¯s ear. ¡°Grandma, Marguerite has a bad temper. If she bullies you, don¡¯t take any shit from her.¡± Laverne looked shocked and her voice rose in confusion, ¡°What? You¡¯re saying Marguerite has a bad temper? No way! She¡¯s a really nice girl and she works hard. She is even more meticulous than the servants at home! Yuna, don¡¯t worry! She won¡¯t bully me!¡± Yuna didn¡¯t expect Laverne to have such a loud voice and blurt out all her scheming. She panicked all at once. She thought her grandma was deliberately trying to embarrass her, but Laverne looked genuinely innocent. The man suddenly jerked his head, and there¡¯s a tinge of weariness in his sharp eyes. That sent a chill down her spine. ¡°Freddie, I¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re here to see your grandma, then watch your mouth. Stop bbering and badmouthing others.¡± With that, the man strolled towards the backyard. At that moment, Yuna clearly felt the man¡¯s disdain for her. Yuna was so desperate that she was running after him, ¡°Freddie, where are you going?¡± ¡°Yuna!¡± Laverne stepped in front of her, blocking her path, ¡°The mountain¡¯s flowers are blooming, so take me there.¡± Damn it! Nobody wanted to see some flowers with that old tramp. Yuna thought. Freddie went to the backyard so no one was around. It was the perfect opportunity for her to drug him. ¡°Grandma, let Marguerite go with you.¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes darted past Laverne¡¯s shoulder, anxiously looking towards the backyard. ¡°I don¡¯t want Marguerite, I want you! You¡¯re my granddaughter, who else should apany me if not you?¡± Yuna tried to refuse but noticed Chuck was watching her.. She wasn¡¯t afraid of Chuck, but this tub ofrd was Freddie¡¯s sidekick. He¡¯d report what she did in the mansion to Frederick in detail, Therefore, she couldn¡¯t let anyone think she was unfilial. Yuna was a bit disheartened. She still had a whole day, and she believed she¡¯d get a chance to drug Freddie! ¡°Alright, Granny, I¡¯ll take you to see the mountain¡¯s flowers!¡± Her eyes softened, but her teeth gritted. Chapter 100 Laverne took Yuna¡¯s hand and strolled out. She then stopped and said to Chuck with a casual tone, ¡°Hey, Chuck,e with us!¡± Chuck couldn¡¯t just leave Laverne in Yuna¡¯s hands. He had a hunch that Yuna might be ying nice with Laverne, so he epted it and tagged along. Soon the vi fell into an eerie silence. Marguerite stood alone in the middle of the living room. The opulence of the massive house made her figure look even more lonesome. Neither Frederick nor her grandma nced at her when they left. She felt like a small fry that everyone overlooked. At that moment, Sadie descended from upstairs with a neatly folded bathrobe and towel. She rted Marguerite¡¯s bad mood to her quarrel with Mr. Winston the night before. She stopped beside Marguerite and asked tentatively. ¡°Miss Lockwood, Mr. Winston is at the estate¡¯s pool. Maybe you should go see him?¡± Marguerite snapped back to reality. She bypassed Sadie and headed for the stairs, ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Miss Lockwood!¡± Sadie called out to Marguerite in a sincere tone, ¡°Have you ever wondered why Mr. Winston is upset?¡± Marguerite stopped, turned around, and gave her a wry smile, ¡°Does that need a reason?¡± Sadie sighed and shoved the bathrobe into Marguerite¡¯s arms. ¡°Miss Lockwood, you¡¯ve been living with Mr. Winston for almost a month. Haven¡¯t you noticed he might¡­ kinda into you?¡± Marguerite¡¯s pupils dted in surprise, then she immediately dismissed it, ¡°Impossible! He thinks I have ulterior motives and only feels disgust towards me.¡± ¡°Miss Lockwood, I admit Mr. Winston hated you in the beginning. But people change. Can¡¯t you see how drastically his attitude has changed? Can¡¯t you tell he¡¯s jealous?¡± Jealous? Jealous of Steven? Marguerite clutched the bathrobe and shook her head violently. ¡°That¡¯s just his possessiveness.¡± ¡°If he didn¡¯t care at all, why would he be so possessive?¡± Sadie frowned, ¡°Miss Lockwood, as an outsider, I can see things clearly. Let¡¯s say Mr. Winston really does hate you. The truth is you won¡¯t be able to divorce until two monthster. You don¡¯t want to live a crappy life for those two months, do you? So Miss Lockwood, swallowing your pride sometimes doesn¡¯t mean you lose your dignity. It¡¯s just to make your uing days a bit easier. Sweet¨Ctalk him, act a bit coquettish, if Mr. Winston is happy, you¡¯ll have an easier time too.¡± Marguerite had nothing to say; she could only choose topromise. It was not Marguerite¡¯s ce to probe into Frederick¡¯s true thoughts about her. But Sadie was right, she still had two months before she could divorce Frederick. Since they had to live together, she needed to take a step back. After musing for a second, Marguerite can only agree, ¡°Lead the way to the pool. I¡¯ll go see him.¡± Hearing this, Sadie immediately brightened up and hurried to escort Marguerite to the pool. The pool was located at the top level of the gym, an open¨Cair facility. By the time they arrived, Frederick had already swum quite a fewps and was taking a break in the middle of the pool. He was only wearing swimming trunks so his entire body was exposed under the sun. Droplets of water flickered on Frederick¡¯s muscles under the sunlight, catching Marguerite¡¯s eyes. He really had a great body. Broad shoulders, a firm chest, and eight¨Cpack abs like a fitness trainer, were all exuding a strong masculine power. Seeing this, Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but blush. Her breathing also gotbored. Not daring to look any longer, she quickly averted her gaze. Sadie, however, sneakily nudged Marguerite and handed her a bottle of sports drink from the table, whispering, ¡°Miss Lockwood, Mr. Winston needs to replenish his energy. Call him out of the water.¡± Marguerite was so nervous that her legs were filled with lead. She couldn¡¯t move. Seeing this, Sadie simply called out loudly, ¡°Mr. Winston, Miss Lockwood is here to see you!¡± Frederick slowly opened his eyes in the pool andnded his gaze softly on Marguerite. Sadie was busy poking Marguerite¡¯s waist and whispering, ¡°Miss Lockwood, Mr. Winston is looking at you. You should at least say something!¡± The blush on Marguerite¡¯s face deepened and reached her ears. She bit her lip. Her shy but gentle expression was deeply captured in Frederick¡¯s sight. Finally, Marguerite, like a child who made a mistake, took a deep breath and raised her shy eyes. She bit her lips and stuttered. ¡°Um¡­ do you want toe up and take a break?¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Frederick was still in the water, his eyes fixed on Marguerite but he didn¡¯t utter a word. The more quiet he was, the more uneasy Marguerite felt. She couldn¡¯t focus, not daring to meet the man¡¯s gaze. Her eyes darted about aimlessly but inadvertently locked onto his. In that moment, Marguerite felt like a thief caught in the act; her panic kicking up a notch. Sadie relished the sight and couldn¡¯t resist stirring the pot. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, there¡¯s nodder in this pool. Mr. Winston¡¯s been swimming for a while and he might be pooped. Fancy giving him a hand?¡± Marguerite sucked in a breath. Her muscles were taut and she muttered awkwardly, ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯ll pull you up.¡± With that, she approached the pool hesitantly reaching out her hand towards him. Seeing her so jumpy, a mischievous glint appeared in Frederick¡¯s eyes. He had never seen this feminine side of Marguerite. She was like a scared little kitten waiting for his reassurance. How great it would be if she was like this every day. In that way, he wouldn¡¯t always lose his temper with her. Frederick¡¯s face softened. He quickly turned and swam towards Marguerite. Her arm was getting tired from holding it up in the air. When Frederick¡¯s cold hand shot out of the water, their hands were sping. Marguerite felt like she¡¯d been zapped, instinctively wanting to pull her hand back. Unexpectedly, he held onto her warm little hand tightly and kicked off the pool floor; his upper body shot out of the water. His knee hit the pool edge and sshed some water onto Marguerite, making her shirt see¨Cthrough. Startled, Marguerite quickly covered her chest. But it was toote. Next thing she knew, she felt a shove from behind and involuntarily hurled herself at him. Almost simultaneously, Marguerite felt a tight grip around her waist. Then she heard a loud ssh apanied by a brief sensation of weightlessness. They fell into the water together, locked in an embrace. Sadie opened her mouth wide on the shore, ¡°Oh dear, Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯m sorry I slipped and identally pushed you! Ms. Lockwood can¡¯t swim! You¡¯ve got to hold onto her, Mr. Winston!¡± The cold water soaked through Marguerite¡¯s thin clothes. She hastily lifted her head after swallowing a mouthful of water. *Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Marguerite was coughing hard, her nose and ears ringing. Choking was a terrible experience. Marguerite clung to Frederick like a lifeline, her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms tightly around his neck. She was panting so heavily that she didn¡¯t even realize her chest had brushed against his face. Seeing this, Sadie blushed like a rose and quickly turned around, leaving the couple alone in the water. Frederick¡¯s face turned serious, his ears slightly burning, ¡°Marguerite, calm down.¡± Marguerite blinked her captivating eyes, her voice barely a whisper, ¡°Can¡­ can you take me to shore? I¡¯m a bit scared.¡± A smirk yed on Frederick¡¯s lips; he let go of one hand in the water on purpose and Marguerite immediately clung to him tighter. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t joke around, I¡¯m really scared.¡± Whether she was truly scared or just pretending, her unconscious voice was melodious and tender, making him feel unusually at ease. Her petnce was unlike Yuna¡¯s. Marguerite¡¯s frailty came from within, but she refused to let people read it. That made him want to protect her even more. In contrast, Yuna¡¯s coquetry was off¨Cputting and repulsive. Frederick¡¯s gaze deepened. With a smile, he held Marguerite tight again and swam to the shore. He was firmly supporting her petite waist and having her sit on the pool edge He then propped himself up on the edge and left the water effortlessly. He wrapped a towel around himself casually and tossed a bathrobe to Marguerite. Marguerite hurriedly put on the bathrobe. The breeze made her shiver from the cold. She was grumbling under her breath. ¡°You could¡¯ve gotten out of the pool without me. Did you¡­ did you do it on purpose?¡± Chapter 102 When the man heard this, he couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Marguerite, just to rity, I didn¡¯t ask you to help me ashore.¡± Marguerite avoided eye contact and sat far away after getting up from the ground. She touched her mask subconsciously, ensuring it was still perfectly stered on her face, then let out a sigh of relief. Frederick popped open an energy drink and guzzled it down; his bobbing Adam¡¯s apple was exuding a unique masculine vibe. Marguerite identally saw this and turned her face away in shyness. Frederick¡¯s gaze followed her all the time. Seeing her sitting alone in the corner was like seeing a flower rise unsullied from the mud. She was to be looked at and never yed with. For this moment, his anger seemed to dissipate. He walked over curiously and started a conversation. ¡°Who sent you here?¡± Seriously? Couldn¡¯t this guy dress properly? His muscles were swaying in front of her, impossible to ignore. Marguerite¡¯s eyes were fixed somewhere, ¡°I came because I wanted to.¡± ¡°You¡¯re afraid to look at me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Marguerite gritted her teeth, and her frustrated look was quite adorable, ¡°Go put on some clothes.¡± ¡°Feeling shy?¡± ¡°No.¡± The man chuckled triumphantly, then sat next to Marguerite. Marguerite plucked up the courage to shift away, but Frederick, as though decided to annoy her, shifted closer. His thigh was pressing against Marguerite¡¯s skin. Marguerite felt a tingle up her scalp. She jerked her head. ¡°Can you please stop¡­¡± She stopped mid¨Csentence. Because she realized that the man was so close. Marguerite was so nervous that she held her breath, her eyes fixed on the man in front of her. His gaze first lingered on her face, then slowly moved down towards her lips. The air heated up. What the hell? Why was he looking at her so passionately?! Marguerite felt the tension in the air, so she turned her face away and tried to find a topic to ease the awkwardness, ¡°Um, I wanted to exin something. There¡¯s really nothing between Steven and me, I was also surprised when he gave my grandma a phone. I went to a restaurant with a friend and bumped into him. Plus, I wanted to ask about my grandma¡¯s condition, so I agreed to let him drive me home. Aside from that, we don¡¯t really talk much. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check my phone.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The man replied indifferently, his voice devoid of emotion. Marguerite was puzzled. What did ¡°Oh¡± mean? ¡°There¡¯s no need to exin your business to me, I don¡¯t care.¡± He answered. Just now, he had convinced himself when he was padding around endlessly. He and Marguerite were contractually married; forgetting about Marguerite¡¯s intentions, he just paid too much attention to her. This was very abnormal. He absolutely couldn¡¯t waste any more energy on this woman. Absolutely not! He couldn¡¯t understand why that Steven, just a poor doctor, was showing off with his McLaren. Weren¡¯t his cars more expensive than that? Did this woman not understand the situation at all? Maybe his low¨Ckey style had made this woman think he was not as good as she imagined? Marguerite shifted a little and turned to look at him, ¡°If you really don¡¯t care, then you can¡¯t interfere with my normal social activities in the future.¡± Frederick was stunned. He immediately put away all his self¨Csoothing arguments and asked coldly, ¡°Do you want to get out of someone else¡¯s limo, and let everyone in the manor know that I¡¯ve been betrayed?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about my normal social activities!¡± Could this man stop misunderstanding her? Talking with him was so exhausting! Marguerite paused and added. ¡°You can¡¯t have double standards. You ask me not to betray you, but you¡¯re all over Yuna. How do you exin that?¡± The man¡¯s face regained some color but he didn¡¯t dare to meet Marguerite¡¯s gaze, ¡°Jealous?¡± Marguerite felt guilty. She immediately refuted, ¡°Why would I be jealous? You¡¯re just being selfish.¡± The man chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re just jealous.¡± Marguerite immediately retorted. Without noticing it, she carried a hint of urgency in her words, ¡°So, by your reasoning, you were also jealous when I got out of Steven¡¯s car?¡± Their eyes met abruptly, then quickly averted. Marguerite suddenly regretted saying all these. Why would she care so much about whether he was jealous or not? She¡¯s so ungrateful. It was as if she had feelings for him, and hoped to hear the same from him. So was Frederick really jealous as Sadie said? Marguerite¡¯s gaze fell on him, and he was also staring at her. In that moment, they seemed to have a silent agreement. It left them both somewhat stunned. They quickly averted their faces, not daring to look at each other again. But the corners of their mouths curved in a natural and happy smile. Chapter 103 Chapter 103 On the other side of the back hill. Laverne was poking and running around like wild chargers, not even bothering to admire the elegance of the locust flowers. Yuna kept checking the time on her phone. They had been outside for quite a while and she needed to head back to handle some important issues with Frederick. So she pretended to be exhausted. She leaned against a tree, panting heavily. ¡°Granny, I really can¡¯t walk any further! Let¡¯s head back, or Frederick will be worried!¡± Laverne slowly approached Yuna with a curious face. ¡°Yuna, how long have you been with Frederick? I think he¡¯s really into you. He even arranged a big house for Ablett and the others. I heard it¡¯s in Diamond Crest Estates? The houses there are so expensive!¡± Yuna immediately lifted up her chin as if she was Frederick¡¯s wife, not Marguerite. ¡°Of course! Frederick loves me so much that he not only took care of our amodation but also gave me a credit card with no limit. Last week when I ran out of money, he transferred me some without a second thought.¡± ¡°Wow, Frederick is so generous!¡± ¡°Granny, Frederick is only generous with me! And with me dating such a great guy, you get to bask in some of the glory too. You can show off and people will respect you more.¡± She wished more than anything for Marguerite to learn from her grandma just how good Frederick was. And this goodness was only for her. Everyone else could just dream on. Yet Laverne didn¡¯t respond to her, instead asking, ¡°So how did you guys meet?¡± ¡°Well, we met because¡­¡± Yuna almost let slip how she had reced Marguerite, but luckily caught herself in time. But how was she supposed to exin? Should she say that she was the little girl who gave Frederick bread fifteen years ago? Absolutely not! The one who gave the bread was Marguerite, and ording to Frederick, Granny was there too. If she told the truth, it might trigger Granny¡¯s memories and give herself away.. Yuna could only be vague after a moment of musing. ¡°Frederick has always liked me. He knew me a long time ago and spent years looking for me. Granny, Marguerite is a homewrecker. I¡¯ve had to go through a lot to be with Frederick.¡± ¡°That damned Marguerite, daring to be a homewrecker to my granddaughter!¡± Laverne immediately got angry on hearing this; a hateful look appeared on her face. But then she frowned and looked confused. ¡°If you and Frederick are dating, why did Frederick register marriage with Marguerite?¡± Yuna thought she had sessfully driven a wedge on seeing Laverne¡¯s expression like that. So she began to rant without any restraint. ¡°It¡¯s all because Marguerite seduced Frederick! That Marguerite, she¡¯s so damn wicked! She¡¯s a slut! Granny, let me tell you, Marguerite¡¯s personal life is a mess. She likes to hang out with shady men¡­ Ah!¡± Laverne suddenly pped her before Yuna could finish. The pnded perfectly on Yuna¡¯s face. She covered her burning face and stared at Laverne in disbelief. The p had left her dizzy. This old tramp actually dared to hit her? Unbelievable! Wait! She was just badmouthing Marguerite before she was pped. Yuna was shaking all over; her whole body seemed to freeze. Did this old woman remember something? Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Laverne waved her hand like an idler. She immediately stepped forward and examined Yuna¡¯s face closely. Vigour filled her big eyes and her stretched face. ¡°Whoa there, Yuna. You had a bug on your face, a big one. I was just helping you shoo it away,¡± she said, swinging her hand in front of Yuna¡¯s face. Yuna looked closely and sure enough, there was a squashed mosquito on Laverne¡¯s wrinkled hand. Even so, she shouldn¡¯t have pped her! Yuna felt like her insides were tearing apart by anger. Her arm trembled with the urge to punch the old woman in the face. But, because Chuck was there, she held back. Laverne looked at Yuna eagerly, waiting for her to continue, ¡°Where were we? Oh, you were saying Marguerite¡¯s personal life is a hot mess. Then what, huh?¡± Her expression was both eager and curious, like she was listening to some juicy gossip. Yuna, still fuming from being pped, was all too ready to unload her anger on Marguerite, ¡°Marguerite likes fooling around with shady men, Granny. I¡¯m afraid one day she won¡¯t even know who the father of her child is.¡± Laverne pped Yuna¡¯s mouth, ¡°Yikes! Bug flew right into your mouth, Yuna! Smack it! Smack it!¡± As she spoke, she squashed several more mosquitoes. Yuna waspletely stunned. She staggered a few steps before copsing to the ground. Her inner resentment exploded. Seeing Laverne advancing again, Yuna quickly covered her head and yelled at Chuck. ¡°Chuck, stop her! My Granny¡¯s gone nuts! Where are all these bugsing from in broad daylight?¡± Chuck couldn¡¯t help butugh. He quickly chimed in. ¡°Ms. Yuna, it¡¯s spring. The bugs are everywhere!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean she should hit my face!¡± ¡°Ms. Yuna, don¡¯t fret. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Chuck said this but sneakily grabbed Yuna¡¯s shoulder. Now, Laverne had free reign to p Yuna. Again and again, until Yuna couldn¡¯t even speak. Laverne didn¡¯t know how many bugs she¡¯d killed. All she knew was that her hand was starting to sting. ¡°Oh, my dear granddaughter, there are too many bugs here. Let¡¯s head back,¡± said Laverne, elegantly waving her hand and striding forward. At this point, Yuna¡¯s cheeks were swollen like a puffer fish. The sight was hrious. Seeing this, Chuck had to pinch his arm to keep fromughing. He took a deep breath and, after regainingposure, helped Yuna up from the ground, ¡°Ms. Yuna, let¡¯s go back. Mr. Winston is waiting.¡± Yuna angrily pulled her hand away and shouted at Chuck, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop her from hitting me like that?¡± Chuck looked a bit flustered, ¡°Ms. Yuna, she is old and just recovered from a severe illness. I was afraid I might hurt her if I tried to stop. Then Mr. Winston would me me. I can¡¯t bear that.¡± Yuna red at Laverne, her eyes growing colder. ¡°It¡¯s all Marguerite¡¯s fault. If she hadn¡¯t hidden my granny away, my granny¡¯s condition wouldn¡¯t have worsened. I don¡¯t know what Granny¡¯s been through these years. She may have woken up, but she¡¯s be a bit confused. Chuck, you have to tell Frederick about this. He needs to take care of Granny.¡± As Laverne walked ahead, her wrinkled face was serious, and there was a very wise and abstruse twinkle in her eyes. Who would¡¯ve thought she was a fool? Chapter 105 Inside the vi at Sapphire Valley Estates. Yuna and two others had just arrived home and were having a drink when Marguerite and Frederick came in dripping wet. By that time, Frederick had already put on a bathrobe, while Marguerite was d in a man¡¯s white loungewear, all baggy and sloppy, with the waistband rolled up several times. Her hair was soaking wet, and her lips were turning purple from the cold, making her look rather pitiful. Without giving them a chance to catch their breath, Laverne rushed up and started interrogating Frederick. *Dude, have you made up with Marguerite yet? You two had a big fight yesterday, and Marguerite was very distracted when she was attending to me. You have to make her happy, or I¡¯m the one who¡¯s gonna suffer!¡± Marguerite raised her head and subconsciously looked at Frederick, only to find him staring back at her. The flirtatious vibe from the pool mysteriously resurfaced. She lowered her head and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to dry my hair.¡± And then, with a blush on her face, she made a swift exit. While sitting on the couch, Yuna watched Marguerite¡¯s retreating figure as jealousy burned in her like a fire that threatened to reduce her to ashes. How annoying! She had never worn Frederick¡¯s clothes, so why should that woman have the privilege? What the hell had they been up to behind her back? The more Yuna thought about it, the angrier she became. Marguerite was such a flirt. If this went on, she would definitely fall out of favor. No way! She had to have a child with Frederick. Her heartbeat quickened. Yuna nced at the ss of water by her side, then at the people talking. She quietly reached into her bag, found the pill, and surreptitiously dropped it into the ss. Once the pill hadpletely dissolved, Yuna picked up the ss and walked over. ¡°Frederick, where have you guys been? You¡¯re all wet.¡± She asked while offering him the ss. He didn¡¯t answer her question or take the ss; he just kept staring at her. Yuna felt guilty under his gaze. Had he seen her spike the drink? She tightly clutched the ss, breaking out in a cold sweat. ¡°Frederick, why are you staring at me?¡± Frederick¡¯s face was expressionless. ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Yuna subconsciously touched her swollen cheek; it was still hot and painful from being pped. She red at Laverne, who was pretending to be innocent, while her eyes zed with unquenchable rage. She felt like she had found someone who would stand up for her. Her sense of grievance came to a head, and she was ready to tell on her. However, Chuck beat her to it. ¡°Mr. Winston, there are lots of mosquitoes on the hill behind us. They always fly to Ms. Yuna¡¯s face. Laverne just swatted a few mosquitoes, that¡¯s all.¡± Yuna opened her mouth to speak but found herself cut off, which was very frustrating. That damn fatso! Once she married Frederick, she would teach him a lesson! Yuna quickly recovered. She threw herself into Frederick¡¯s arms, acting like a spoiled child. ¡°Frederick, I know Granny means well, but she hit me too hard, and I got hurt. Can we go to the bedroom? I was hoping you could help me put on some medicine. Just likest time.¡± As she spoke, she took Frederick¡¯s hand and started to lead him upstairs. But Laverne pulled Yuna back and quickly said, ¡°Oh, Yuna, Chuck just told me he has something to report to Frederick. Right, Chuck? Didn¡¯t you say you had something urgent?¡± Chuck quickly caught on. ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston, I have something important to report. It¡¯s very urgent! Can we go to the study?¡± Frederick gave a slight nod, not even ncing at Yuna, and went upstairs with Chuck. Yuna was anxious, and she began shouting after Frederick. ¡°Frederick, I¡¯ll wait for you downstairs.¡± Laverne always stood in front of Yuna, constantly pushing her towards the door. ¡°Alright, Yuna. They might be talking for a while. You should go home.¡± Yuna was taken aback. Go home? She couldn¡¯t go home! She was so close to sess; how could she give up now? ¡°But Granny, I¡¯ve been with you on the hill for so long that I haven¡¯t even had lunch yet. I¡¯m hungry!¡± ¡°Oh dear! Then you should go eat something. If you starve, it¡¯ll break my heart.¡± ¡°And I want to eat here!¡± ¡°Oh and give me the ss.¡± The ss contained the spiked drink. If Frederick happened to drink it while she wasn¡¯t there, wouldn¡¯t she be helping Marguerite? ¡°This ss belongs to us; what are you taking it for? Don¡¯t let people mistake you for a thieft As she spoke, Laverne snatched the ss and quickly closed the door. Everything happened so suddenly that Yuna was left standing there, dumbfounded. When she came to, the door was already closed tight She was so angry that she stomped her foot, and her face turned ugly. On the other side of the door, Laverne looked at the ss in confusion. It was just a normal ss of water, so why was Yuna in such a hurry to take it? The more Laverne thought about it, the stranger it seemed. So she held the ss up to the sunlight, and the residue of a pill at the bottom immediately caught her eye. Chapter 106 Frederick lounged on the couch, puffing on a cigar. His expression was stern as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, we received word from thepany this morning. The patent for Pr Radiance perfume has been approved. Tomorrow, we need to pull an all¨Cnighter at the office to discuss the perfume¡¯s marketunch with all departments.¡± Frederick blew out a smoke ring. ¡°Got it; you can leave now,¡± Chuck watched his expression but didn¡¯t move. Frederick raised an eyebrow. ¡°Anything else?¡± Chuck swallowed as his face suddenly turned sour. ¡°One more thing.¡± ¡°Spill it.¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, there has been some¡­ activity at the Winston Mansion.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes flickered, his indifferent face revealing no emotion. ¡°What kind of activity?¡± Chuck nced at him nervously, his voice shaking as he spoke. ¡°Maurice Winston is back from abroad. Apparently, there are some people in the family who want to hand over part of the Winston Group¡¯s assets to him.¡± ¡°Part of the assets? How much exactly?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Fifty percent. Mr. Winston, they want Maurice to share the Winston Group¡¯s wealth, and I also heard¡­¡± Chuck¡¯s voice trailed off; he was at a loss for words as he approached the crux of the matter. ¡°Go on.¡± Chuck wiped his forehead, hastily wiping away some sweat. ¡°I heard that Maurice¡¯s ambitions are even greater than many people imagined. He seems to want to take your ce in the Winston Group.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze sharpened, his fingers tightened, and the cigar snapped in half. ¡°Has he returned to the Winston Mansion yet?¡± Chuck shook his head. ¡°No, Maurice hasn¡¯t shown up anywhere since he returned from abroad. Nobody knows where he is.¡± Frederick¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. His intimidating air as a business tycoon could make anyone feel scared. ¡°Activate full¨Cscale defenses and encrypt allpany systems. Also, monitor everyone¡¯sputers. If there are any suspicious emails, report them to me immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Frederick gave his orders, then pulled out another cigar from the drawer and stood by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, puffing away. At this moment, he still maintained his icy indifference, revealing no emotion. But the cold aura emanating from him made Chuck tremble with fear. He had never seen Mr. Winston act like this before, but Chuck wasn¡¯t surprised. After all, Maurice¡¯s return had created a tense atmosphere, even for an outsider like him. Maurice was the eldest son of the Winston family and Frederick¡¯s half¨Cbrother. Traditionally, the family fortune should have been Maurice¡¯s to inherit, but it ended up with Frederick instead. The reason behind this was known only to Frederick and his father. And Frederick knew very well that, because of the family fortune, his half¨Cbrother had always been jealous of him. The two brothers had always been inpetition since they were young; their abilities were evenly matched, and their tactics were equally ruthless. Therefore, Frederick had to be on guard after hearing of Maurice¡¯s return. After delivering his report, Chuck made to leave. But he paused, remembering something important. ¡°Mr. Winston, your father¡¯s sixtieth birthday ising up, and Maurice will be there. Also, I heard that your father wants to arrange a marriage for you.¡± Frederick suddenly turned to look at Chuck. He had a mix of disgust and arrogance on his face. ¡°Forget it! I¡¯m not marrying any woman.¡± Chuck¡¯s eyes shifted, remembering that Mr. Winston once promised to marry Yuna. He tentatively asked. ¡°So¡­ Are you taking Ms. Yuna to the eve Chapter 107 Frederick¡¯s frown deepened. Every time he thought of Yuna, the image of her sharp tongue popped into his mind, sparking a sense of disgust that he couldn¡¯t shake off. But she was the woman who had saved his life once. He had promised to marry her before. It was a responsibility he couldn¡¯t just get rid of. Irritated, he took a deep puff of his cigarette and said, ¡°I need some more time to think. Leave me alone for now.¡± Hearing this, Chuck didn¡¯t dare push it any further and left the room with a sense of disappointment. Six o¡¯clock in the evening, dining room. Avish and delicious dinner was prepared by the chef. There were grilled meats, lobsters, and even cheese pizzas. But Marguerite felt sick at the sight of all the food, especially the greasy grilled meat; it made her want to throw up just looking at it. Her face was pale, which caught Frederick¡¯s attention. He quietly asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t eat?¡± Marguerite felt terrible all over. She cradled her heavy head and gently shook it. Her weak voice could break your heart. ¡°I don¡¯t know why: I just feel really sick.¡± Seeing this, Sadie stepped forward to feel Marguerite¡¯s forehead and said worriedly. ¡°Ms. Lockwood is a bit feverish; she might have caught a cold from the fall into the water earlier.¡± At that moment, Laverne stuffed a piece of grilled meat into her mouth, causing her lips to turn greasy. Marguerite felt her stomach churn at the sight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m feeling too sick. I need to lie down.¡± After saying this, Marguerite, clutching her chest, headed upstairs. Frederick¡¯s gaze followed Marguerite. His eyes were filled with worry, and his expression turned unnatural. ¡°Sadie, bring her some cold medicine.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston.¡± Sadie went to the infirmary. But after Marguerite left, Frederick seemed distracted; he nced upstairs from time to time. He absentmindedly sipped his hot soup and finally put down his utensils to leave. Laverne nced at him. ¡°Hold on, sit down. I have something to ask you.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t expect Laverne to stop him at this moment. He halted and looked at Laverne, who had a stern look on her face and looked back at him with a serious gaze. He paused, then sat back down, facing Laverne. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Laverne took another bite of her grilled meat and asked, ¡°You live in such a big house; you even have bodyguards. Tell me, what can you do to protect me and my granddaughter?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let any harme to my woman.¡± Laverne snorted at his reply. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen it. Marguerite, that silly girl, is covered in scars. She must have suffered a lot. If you can¡¯t even protect your own woman, how are you going to protect Yuna?¡± Frederick¡¯s face stiffened slightly, and his eyes darkened. The scars on Marguerite¡¯s body were remnants of when she was held captive by the Lockwood family. Although the wounds had healed, they left scars. Frederick had seen some of them today when she was wet from swimming in the pool. His gaze tightened at the sight as a pang of pain echoed in his heart. But Marguerite was incredibly strong. She never cried out when she was hurt, and she never cared about the scars left on her. Yuna, on the other hand, would cry and scream at the slightest injury, as if she wanted everyone to pay attention to her. Frederick remained silent while maintaining steady eye contact with her, so Laverne asked again. ¡°How did you meet Yuna? Yuna said you¡¯ve been looking for her for many years, but I raised her with my own hands. Howe I¡¯ve never seen you?¡± Frederick looked at Laverne, who was drinking a bowl of hot soup. He smiled lightly. ¡°You probably don¡¯t remember. I happened to meet Yuna at Marina Shores Vige years ago. She gave me a piece of bread, and you gave me a bowl of hot soup.¡± Laverne suddenly stopped drinking her soup. Her head shot up, and her eyes widened, staring at the man in front of her in shock. Her reaction was too strong, making Frederick feel like something was off. His lips trembled slightly, so he asked in disbelief. ¡°Do y Chapter 108 Laverne¡¯s serious expression vanished the moment she heard Frederick¡¯s retort. After swiftly fricking her son, dead genes with a man of her hand and chuckled. ¡°How could an old gal like me remember so dearly? Yura says ¡®ve been a bit daft since I got better, so how could remember sometinga wak she said this, a mischievous twinkle shed in her eyes Then, as if she had made a decision, she got up and fetched the ss of water Yuna had given her, cing it next to Fresera The corner of the man¡¯s mouth twitched in displeasure. ¡°Yuria called you daft?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Laverne exaggeratedly nodded, ncing at the ss of water. ¡°You¡¯ve been ving too much, so have one weer? Frederick¡¯s anger hadn¡¯t subsided. He couldn¡¯t believe Yuna had the audacity to call her grandmote Chemter gednoter¡¯sery countering tak her kindness, it seemed he had to reconsider his promise to marry her. He took a sip of water, feeling irritated, and Laverne took this opportunity to slip a tube of scar¨Chealing creams into his hand from her sode. Soortent gu clothes are all ragged, and dress season is just around the corner. I don¡¯t wanna see her covered in words it¡¯s an geoe the fricking he cant Laveste pared contentedly and headed upstairs. Frederick picked up the cream and started to gently rub it in his hands. Then he stood up and headed towards Marguerite¡¯s room At this point, Marguerite had just finished her bath and was feeling much morefortable. She had finished drying her hair and wes tot botte med bad on and change into her nightgown. Unexpectedly, as she opened the door, she bumped right into Frederick¡¯s ches ¡°Ah¡­¡± Marguerite¡¯s scream echoed again. ¡°Why are you in my room?¡± The incident at the swimming pool had left Marguerite embarrassed, and she had been avoiding him ever since. She was not ready to face fim yet. And now he had barged into her room?! And she was only wrapped in a towell What on earth was this man up to? Frederick, oblivious to her nervousness, looked her up and down. Her skin was covered in scars of various sizes, excedaty on her shoulders and ante. Some had faded to te point of being barely noticeable, while others were quite conspicuous. His pupils narrowed sharply as a strong urge surged in his heart. He wished he could kick Yuna in the face for what she had core What angered him even more was that Marguerite hadn¡¯t said a single word about it allowing the wounds on her skin to we His gaze was cold and sharp, making Marguerite uneasy. ¡°Could you wait until I¡¯m dressed before youe in Ahr Before Marguete could inish te sentence frescence strode forward, grabbed her waist, and effortlessly lifted her up. ¡°Frederick, let go of me! What are you doing?¡± Marguerite struggled, experiencing a brief moment of weightlessness beforending on the softted. Marguerite instinctively resisted, but Frederick held her hands with one of his, opened the lid of the cream, and gently applied it to Marguete¡¯s scars. The cool sensation made Marguerite freeze. He was actually there to apply medicine. The scars had scabbed over and fallen off, so Marguerite dicit feel any can, but the ces where the man¡¯s hands had touched were burning hot. It was a heat of embarrassment The cream covered her shoulders and arms, and although it looked messy, Frederick¡¯s fingers were extremely gente as if he were afraid of hurting her. He gently scread the cream evenly and then waited for the skin to absorb it. Such consideration was something Marguerite had never seen before He was so close to her that she could even see the tiny fuzz on his cheeks. Marguerite forgot to resist and just stared at him rky. She had never noticed how beautiful his man¡¯s eyes were. His deep pupils seemed to be filled with stars, outshining even the chandelier overhead. ¡°Take off your towel; let me see your back.¡± Marguerite, whose eyes were stinging from looking so intently, softly agreed before immediately realizing her mistake and staring her head. ¡°Take off my towel? No, no, no! There¡¯s no injury on my back, really!¡± She looked at the man¡¯s face, feeling nothing but nervousness and embarrassment ¡°Stop lying, let me check!¡± Frederick spoke as he attempted to turn Marguerite around. Marguerite reacted quickly, cing her hands on Frederick¡¯s chest. Even though she was touching his shirt, she could feel the heat radiating from him. That warmth wasing from Frederick¡¯s body. Chapter 109 Even with Marguerite¡¯s limited experience, she knew exactly what Frederick¡¯s reaction was at that moment. She instinctively looked up at him. His face was flushed as sweat moistened his hair, and his breathing seemed a little ragged. Frederic, you¡­ What¡¯s wrong with you? Your face is so red¡­ uh.¡± Her words abruptly stopped, as Frederick suddenly kissed her. It was a fierce kiss that left Marguerite breathless. His kiss was both urgent and intense; he was like a monster that wanted to devour Marguerite. The familiar taste stirred Frederick¡¯s nerves. ¡°No, don¡¯t¡­¡± Marguerite bit her lower lip as her face filled with shame. In an instant, she recalled the feelings of that night. The scenes from that night ovepped with the present, leaving Frederick unable to distinguish whether what was happening was his memory or reality. ¡°Frederick, can you calm down? I beg you¡­ please¡­ don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Tears uncontrobly slid down from the corners of her eyes. She had no idea what had happened to Frederick. He was just fine a moment ago, but then suddenly changed. She would rather have him hit or scold her than hurt her dignity in such a way. Frederick¡¯s back suddenly stiffened, his hands propped on both sides of her body, and he slowly raised his disheveled body. A hint of confusion shed in his eyes, as well as surprise and disbelief. Previously, the familiarity that Marguerite gave him was only preliminary; now, it had be stronger. It was as if the woman who had been with him that night was her, not Yuna. His thoughts shifted too violently. He didn¡¯t notice that the woman under him had already slipped out of his arms and then awkwardly hid at the head of the bed, hugging her body tightly. ¡°Frederick, did you¡­ mistake me for someone else? Should I call Yuna over?¡± She trembled nervously all over. After hearing Yuna¡¯s name, Frederick finally sobered uppletely. The redness on his face receded, and he became serious. Frederick got off the bed and went straight into the bathroom of Marguerite¡¯s room. Soon, the sound of shower water came from the bathroom. Marguerite got chills. She frantically put on her pajamas and then hurriedly tried to pull the door open. But the door was either locked from the outside or broken. Marguerite shook the doorknob and found itpletely impossible to open. She gritted her teeth, struggling with the doorknob for a while. As her sweat dripped down like rain, the bathroom door opened. Marguerite was startled. She retreated to the corner like a scared bird, her eyes filled with fear. ¡°You¡­ Don¡¯te over!¡± Frederick looked at her withplicated feelings. He said nothing and went straight to the door, ready to leave. But the doorknob seemed to be stuck and couldn¡¯t be opened. Suddenly, the room became eerily quiet. ¨C Frederick¡¯s eyes were sharp and deep. Marguerite was afraid he would misunderstand and hurriedly exined. ¡°The door seems to be broken. It wasn¡¯t me. I¡­ I don¡¯t mean any harm to you.¡± Frederick was speechless for a moment. Clearly, panic made Marguerite very flustered, so she couldn¡¯t even speak clearly. Her stuttering appearance was like that of a panicked deer. Frederick found her pouting look somewhat cute. ¡°Call Chuck.¡± He crossed his arms, his tone full of dominance. Marguerite subconsciously touched her pocket. She realized that she had already changed into her pajamas and hurriedly searched for her clothes. After searching for a while, she didn¡¯t find her phone. ¡°My phone seems to be in the living room; I didn¡¯t bring it up.¡± Marguerite looked helpless. ¡°What about your phone? Use your phone to call him.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring mine either.¡± Marguerite was dumbfounded. This man! He didn¡¯t even search! As if he saw through her little thoughts, Frederick walked up to her, coldly extending his hand. ¡°Or, you can search?¡± Search his body? Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but look at Frederick, noticing he had put on a ck bathrobe. The neckline was somewhat low, exposing his chest muscles and corbone, making him look very sexy. She couldn¡¯t help but look away. ¡°Howe your bathrobe is in my room?¡± 12.29 ¡°Marguerite, let me remind you that this is my house. It¡¯s normal for my clothes to be in your room,¡± Marguerite was speechless for a moment. She tried the doorknob again but still couldn¡¯t open it. She sighed. ¡°What should we do now? We can¡¯t get out.¡± Frederick nced at his watch. ¡°They should all be asleep at this time; let¡¯s talk about it tomorrow.¡± Marguerite was bewildered. Talk about it tomorrow? How could they talk about it tomorrow? There was only one bed in the room, and although there was a sofa, the sofa was small and hard, so she couldn¡¯t even lie on it. Marguerite thought wildly, and in the blink of an eye, she saw that Frederick had already opened her quilt andy straight on the bed. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Marguerite was speechless. Did this guy just make himselfity on the bed like it was the most natural thing in the world? Then where the hell was she supposed to sleep? On the floor? He was the one who barged in, and now she was supposed to crash on the floor? Marguerite was getting more and more ticked off. She stood there brooding for a while before she finally managed to pull herself together and marched over to Frederick, ready to unleash all her grievances. But when she saw Frederick¡¯s closed eyes and heard his steady breathing. Marguerite couldn¡¯t get a word out. Did he just fall asleep? That was fast! Marguerite waved her hand in front of his eyes and whispered. ¡°Frederick?¡± All she got was dead silence. Feeling a bit let down, Marguerite realized that there was no way the arrogant Frederick would ever be generous enough to give up the bed to her. So she had no choice but to dig out aforter from the wardrobe, dim the bedsidemp, and set up her bedding on the floor. The bedsidemp was slightly above Marguerite¡¯s head. When she stood up to turn it off, she nced at Frederick, who was lying on the bed. The dim light softened Frederick¡¯s usually cold face. He looked peaceful at the moment and even had a slight smile on his lips. She¡¯d never seen Frederick like this before; it surprised her quite a bit. He even looked gentle. In fact, he could be gentle a lot of the time, like when he applied medicine for her just now, or when he took her to Grandeur Square Mall and held her close when things got chaotic But he could also be really mean. He always misunderstood her and said things that made her feel insulted. With these thoughts in her mind, Marguerite sighed and muttered. ¡°Which one is the real you?¡°, She shook off her thoughts and reached out to turn off themp. But as the room plunged into darkness, a strong arm circled around her waist and pulled her onto the bed, right into his arms. Marguerite¡¯s mind went nk. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be asleep? ¡°You¡¯re noisy.¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was husky, his deep voice sounded oddly pleasant to Marguerite. Feeling nervous, Marguerite swallowed hard, and her heart started racing. ¡°Sorry, I thought you were asleep. I¡¯ll go back to the floor; I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± As she finished speaking, she tried to sit up, but Frederick pulled her back into his arms. ¡°No need. You¡¯ll be quiet if we sleep together.¡± Facing away from him, his shallow breath brushed against her neck, almost driving Marguerite insane. She was afraid he would do something like before, so she carefully said, ¡°I only said one thing; I didn¡¯t mean to wake you up.¡± ¡°What are you rambling about?¡± Frederick moved his head closer to her neck. ¡°You were looking at me for a long time, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you asleep? Marguerite couldn¡¯t control the volume of her voice. Frederick suddenlyughed. ¡°How could I possibly be asleep?¡± ¡°What?¡± Frederick¡¯sughter left Marguerite confused. Why was heughing? That was unsettling. Frederick shook his head behind her. ¡°Never mind.¡± An hour ago, this woman had him all fired up. And now he was stuck in this tiny room with her, so there was no way he could sleep. He was a normal man, after all, What man could control his body¡¯s reactions? Marguerite didn¡¯t know howplicated Frederick¡¯s feelings were, but one thing was certain: she wasn¡¯t getting off the bed tonight. Since she was here, she might as well stay. Since she couldn¡¯t resist, she might as well ept it. Besides, after a long day, she was tired. Just when Marguerite was about to fall asleep, a soft maic voice broke the silence. ¡°Marguerite.¡± He called her name. ¡°Hmm?¡± Marguerite mumbled, caught between sleep and wakefulness. ¡°I want you toe with me to my father¡¯s sixtieth birthday party in a few days.¡± Chapter 111 Chapter 111 ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Marguerite slurred out through heavy eyelids, nearly falling asleep. ¡°You agreed?¡± Agreed? What on earth did she agree to? Marguerite tried to fight the fatigue, attempting to recall what Frederick just said, and then her eyes widened in surprise. What? Frederick was taking her to his father¡¯s birthday party? This was the first time she¡¯d heard anything about his family from him, and she couldn¡¯t help but be a bit taken aback. Shifting slightly on the bed, she attempted to put some distance between them. ¡°We¡¯re nearly divorced. Is it really appropriate for me to meet your family now?¡± Frederick casually draped his arm over her waist. ¡°I just need you there to ward off other women. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± ¡°You could take Yuna.¡± At the mention of Yuna, Frederick¡¯s brows furrowed even more. There was no way he was taking Yuna. Sure, she was better¨Clooking than Marguerite, but she was just so obnoxious. He didn¡¯t expect Marguerite to be so opposed to the idea. When she instinctively brought up Yuna¡¯s name, Frederick¡¯s heart sank a little. ¡°Marguerite, it¡¯s none of your business.¡± After a bit of bickering, Marguerite finally heard a warning in Frederick¡¯s tone, and it put a damper on her mood. She propped her cheek on her hand, indecisively saying, ¡°But¡­ but¡­¡± She stuttered for a while but couldn¡¯t articte a clear reason. Marguerite herself didn¡¯t understand why she was so opposed to meeting his parents. Frederick wanted to use her to ward off other women; his parents probably didn¡¯t even know she existed. So under these circumstances, they definitely wouldn¡¯t like her. The thought made Marguerite feel a bit downcast; she turned her head slightly, hoping to exin her concerns to Frederick. But she found that he had already closed his eyes and was unresponsive. ¡°Frederick?¡± Regardless of whether he was actually asleep or just pretending, Marguerite tried calling out to him, but Frederick didn¡¯t respond. Marguerite turned her head away in resignation, feeling a sense of defeat. Her sleepiness had disappeared entirely due to Frederick¡¯s sudden invitation. The next morning, Marguerite was jolted awake by the sound of a metal saw. After blinking her blurry eyes open, she saw sparks flying from the doorknob. Frederick stood five meters away from the door, arms crossed,pletely expressionless. Marguerite asked in surprise. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Without looking at her, Frederick replied. ¡°Fixing the door.¡± Right, the doorknob had brokenst night, which was why she ended up sharing a bed with Frederick. The sound of the saw grew louder and louder, making it impossible for Marguerite to go back to sleep. She decided to get up and freshen up. By the time she came out, Frederick had already left. But she still felt incredibly confused, and there was a tightness in her chest, like something was stuck there. She went back to the bathroom and stood by the sink, trying to cough something up. But apart from saliva, nothing came out, and instead, tears started to fall.. Marguerite decided to give up. After getting dressed, she trudged downstairs. Breakfast was as sumptuous as always, but Marguerite had no appetite. She drank a few sips of milk and then went off to work with Frederick. Pr Radiance perfume was starting mass production this morning, and if all went well, it would hit the market next week. Marguerite and Frederick spent the entire morning in the meeting room. The sh of ideas from different departments left Marguerite feeling somewhat drained. Finally, when the meeting ended, Marguerite returned to the CEO¡¯s office, only to find Laverne standing in front of her desk. She was looking at the photo frame on Marguerite¡¯s desk. When she saw Marguerite and Frederick walk in, followed by Chuck, she instinctively turned the photo frame face down on the desk, as if she were trying to hide something. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 ¡°Granny, what on earth are you doing here?¡± Marguerite asked in surprise, ¡°Did youe by yourself?¡± Laverne was dressed gorgeously today, wearing a floral blouse with ck silk trousers, glowing with radiance. ¡°No, silly, I didn¡¯te by myself. How could I possibly find this ce on my own? I was dropped off by the driver!¡± Laverne smiled warmly before saying, ¡°Dr. Steven told me I had a follow¨Cup appointment today. Weren¡¯t you supposed to take me to the hospital? Did you forget?¡± It then hit Marguerite like a ton of bricks. She pped her forehead in self¨Creproach, her face turning pale, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve been swamped these past few days and totally forgot.¡± ¡°Well, what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s get a move on!¡± Laverine stood up from her office chair and gave her seat to Frederick. Marguerite nced at him, thinking back on the heated argument she had with Steven a few days ago. She tentatively asked, ¡°What about the meeting this afternoon¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve postponed it for you.¡± There was no emotion on Frederick¡¯s icy face, which made Marguerite a little scared. She hesitated for a moment before asking. ¡°Do you want toe to the hospital with me?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about what would happen between Steven and me?¡± Marguerite was bing weary from the constant arguments with him because of Steven. Since she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, she might as well take this paranoid man with her. Frederick looked taken aback for a moment before a smirk appeared on his face, ¡°Just keep things under control.¡± Not giving much thought to what Frederick¡¯s smirk could mean, Marguerite silently prepared to leave with her granny. However, Laverne was mumbling. ¡°This handsome guy, is he really jealous? How petty!¡± Frederick was speechless. Chuck almost burst outughing upon hearing this. Laverne was clever, but saying he was jealous in front of him was just too much! Half an hourter, at Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. Marguerite took Laverne to Steven¡¯s office. He had his assistant, Janie, take the olddy for various tests. After asking about Laverne¡¯s recent condition, Steven noticed that Marguerite looked a bit out of it. He couldn¡¯t help but show concern, ¡°Marguerite, are you feeling unwell?¡± Marguerite rested her head on the desk, ¡°A bit. I¡¯m feeling dizzy and nauseous.¡± Dizziness, nausea? ¡°Do you feel easily tired recently?¡± Marguerite nodded, ¡°Yeah, I feel like I can¡¯t get enough sleep.¡± Steven was taken aback for a moment. His professional instinct kicked in, ¡°When was yourst menstrual cycle?¡± Marguerite shifted to a morefortable position. Last menstrual cycle? Marguerite thought for a moment but couldn¡¯t remember. Thest menstrual cycle seemed to have been a long time ago, so long ago that she didn¡¯t know Frederick yet and hadn¡¯t moved into the mansion. It seemed that ever since she moved into the mansion, she never had her period again. ¡°I can¡¯t remember. It¡¯s been quite a while since thest one, but I haven¡¯t had my period this month.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Steven seemed to be diagnosing her. After listening to Marguerite¡¯s symptoms, his serious expression made her thoughtful. Marguerite immediately straightened up, looking very nervous, ¡°Steven, am I sick?¡± Steven adjusted his silver¨Crimmed sses thoughtfully, ¡°I suspect there¡¯s something wrong with your endocrine system. It¡¯s a serious issue, so you need to pay attention. Let¡¯s go to the gynecology department for aprehensive examination.¡± Steven¡¯s words caught Marguerite off guard. As a woman, she knew the seriousness of endocrine disorders. The worst¨Ccase scenario could lead to infertility. Marguerite did not hesitate and followed Steven to the gynecology department, anxiously pacing between the various examination rooms. An hourter, a nurse handed arge stack of test reports to Steven. Marguerite stood by Steven, watching him go through the reports one by one with a nk expression. But when he got to thest report, he furrowed his brows. Marguerite¡¯s heart clenched, and she quickly asked, ¡°Steven, is there something wrong with me? Just tell me, I can handle any result.¡± Steven lifted his eyes, a determined look in them. The words he said left her stunned, ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re pregnant.¡± Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Marguerite suddenly lost her bnce, stumbling back a few steps and copsing onto a bench in the hallway. She was momentarily stunned. ¡°Am¡­ am I pregnant?¡± Her fingers went ice¨Ccold, her body stiff. How could she be pregnant? Her mind involuntarily shed back to that wild night a month ago at the Regal Haven Hotel¡­ She didn¡¯t even know who the guy was, how could she have his kid? No, she can¡¯t! She couldn¡¯t ept a child whose father she didn¡¯t even know. Marguerite lifted her head, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°I want an abortion, right now.¡± Steven sighed gently, handing Marguerite another medical report. ¡°Marguerite, you have severe pelvic inmmatory disease. You can¡¯t have surgery under these circumstances.¡± Steven¡¯s words sent a chill down Marguerite¡¯s spine. A sudden sense of impending doom pulled her in. She bit her lip, tears streaming uncontrobly down her face. She asked, ¡°What would happen if I insisted on having an abortion?¡± ¡°You might end up infertile or even worse, it could be life¨Cthreatening.¡± Steven replied. The news hit Marguerite like a ton of bricks. Her heart sinking, she leaned listlessly against the cold bench. Steven probably had no idea what Marguerite was going through, but she had no intention of exining. Her life was aplete mess, how could she possibly exin? ¡°Miss, why are you crying? Want some candy?¡± A gentle child¡¯s voice suddenly entered Marguerite¡¯s ears. Marguerite lifted her head to see a little girl, barely up to Steven¡¯s knee, standing between them. The little girl held out an enormous piece of candy to Marguerite, which was even bigger than her adorable face. Marguerite was too upset to ept it. The little girl then turned to Steven, tugging at his clothes. ¡°Mister, what¡¯s wrong with her? Why is she crying? You shouldfort her.¡± Steven reached out to pat her head. ¡°She¡¯s not feeling well, she¡¯ll be okay soon. What are you doing here alone? Where are your mom and dad?¡± The little girl¡¯s eyes grew wide, she shook her head. ¡°Mister, I don¡¯t have a dad. My mom¡¯s in the bathroom and asked me to wait here.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a dad?¡± Marguerite was starting to catch on. The little girl nodded, showing no signs of sadness on her face. ¡°I¡¯ve never had a dad. My mom and dad broke up when she was pregnant. My mom takes care of me all by herself, I¡¯ve never seen my dad.¡± Marguerite¡¯s tears started to flow again. She felt a strange connection with the little girl. Seeing her, Marguerite could almost envision her own future, being alone with her child. She would be so helpless, so pitiful. ¡°Your mom must be amazing, and it must not have been easy for her.¡± Upon hearing this, the little girl vigorously shook her head and started chattering away. ¨C ¡°It¡¯s not that hard really. My mom said she didn¡¯t want me at first, but I was already too big to be aborted, so she gave birth to me. My mom loves me very much. She said I¡¯m her only family. Because of me, she¡¯s able to keep going through a lot of things.¡± The little girl was so young, but her words inexplicably gave Marguerite a sense of strength. Marguerite unconsciously rubbed her belly, a warm feeling spreading through her heart. Chapter 114 Not long after, the little girl¡¯s mom emerged from the restroom. She warmly said ¡°goodbye¡± to both of them, insisting on shoving the lollipop into Marguerite¡¯s hand, then happily took off. Marguerite stared at the lollipop in her hand, a bit in a daze. Then, she heard Steven¡¯s gentle voice, ¡°Marguerite, why don¡¯t you want this baby? What happened? Tell me, maybe I can understand you.¡± Marguerite gave a bitter smile. ¡°Steven, no one can truly understand another person¡¯s feelings. You can¡¯t understand me.¡± Just then, Laverne had finished all her check¨Cups and wasing their way with Janie. As soon as the olddy saw Marguerite, she yelled from a distance, ¡°Where have you two been? Let¡¯s go home! I¡¯m feeling great!¡± Steven smiled and replied. ¡°I can tell you¡¯ve recovered well.¡± Marguerite quickly turned to Steven, urgently saying, ¡°Steven, don¡¯t let my grandma know about my pregnancy.¡± Steven kept a straight face, but his slightly furrowed eyebrows betrayed his surprise. Marguerite didn¡¯t exin, and he didn¡¯t ask further, just nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± Considering her rtionship with her grandma, she hadn¡¯t figured out how to break the news. Besides, her grandma might not consider it from her perspective. But in reality, Frederick was the more difficult one to deal with. When she was dropped off home by Steven, his reaction was pretty intense. What if he found out she was carrying another man¡¯s child? She could even imagine Frederick¡¯s angry face. However, Marguerite had no intention of telling Frederick. In two months, her rtionship with Frederick would be over. By then, her two¨Cmonth pregnancy wouldn¡¯t be obvious. So, there was no need for Marguerite to tell him and stir up unnecessary trouble. Then, Marguerite quickly said goodbye to Steven and left the hospital with Laverine. Marguerite and Laverine walked under the sun. Laverine was healthy and seemed worry¨Cfree. Marguerite¡¯s figure seemed lonely, projecting an aura of solitude and destion. Steven watched her, feeling a surge of indescribable emotions. Janieughed, ¡°Steven, you¡¯re feeling sorry for her.¡± The man pulled his gaze back, nced at Janie, then headed for his office, ¡°She¡¯s not someone I should feel sorry for.¡± Janie shrugged, not saying anything more. But as soon as they got back to the office, they spotted Marguerite¡¯s canvas bag left on the table. ¡°This is Marguerite¡¯s, right? They probably haven¡¯t gone far, I¡¯ll go give her the bag.¡± Janie, sharp as she was, picked up Marguerite¡¯s bag and headed out, Steven¡¯s voice followed immediately, ¡°Give her these reports as well.¡± Marguerite had left in a hurry and didn¡¯t take her medical reports. Janie, with the reports in hand, rushed out of the hospital but couldn¡¯t find Marguerite anywhere. ¨C She thought, oh well, I¡¯ll give them to her next week when theye back. As Janie walked back into the lobby, she spotted a mother¨Cdaughter duo who looked familiar registering at the front desk. They were Laverne¡¯s daughter¨Cinw and granddaughter! The day Laverne woke up, the ward was noisy. There seemed to be a dispute about who the real granddaughter was. Janie wasn¡¯t interested about who came out on top,. But she was sure, these two must know Marguerite. So why not give them the stuff? With this thought, Janie quickly approached them, ¡°Miss, I have your grandma and your friend¡¯s stuff. Could you pass it to them?¡± Yuna¡¯s face was swollen badly. When she turned to look at Janie, Janie gasped. ¡°My grandma and my friend? Who?¡± ¡°Thedy taking care of your grandma. Not the best looking, a bit taller than you. Oh, her name¡¯s Marguerite!¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna immediately responded in a displeased tone, ¡°How could she be taller than me!¡± She thought, ¡°what is that bitch Marguerite doing here? And that old hag! If that old hag hadn¡¯t pped mosquitoes on my face yesterday, I wouldn¡¯t be here at the hospital losing face today. On the way here, who knows how many people were gossiping about me.¡± The more Yuna thought, the angrier she became. She pushed Janie aside and was about to leave. But strangely, she inadvertently saw a pregnancy test report at the top of the stack of files in Janie¡¯s hand! And on the top left corner of the report, was a name clearly written: Marguerite. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 What? Marguerite is pregnant?! Without a second thought, Yuna snatched Marguerite¡¯s stuff and told Janie. ¡°I¡¯ll take it to her.¡± Before Janie could react. Yuna pulled Zoe and dashed out. Zoe wore a puzzled look, seeing Yuna with Marguerite¡¯s stuff, her face full of disgust, ¡°Why are you holding Marguerite¡¯s stuff? Chuck it away, don¡¯t you think it¡¯ll bring bad luck?!¡± They walked to the garden outside the hospital, and Yuna abruptly turned around, her face filled with despair. She blurted out to Zoe, ¡°Mom! Marguerite is pregnant!¡± Zoe was taken aback, shocked, ¡°Pregnant? Whose child?¡± ¡°Freddie¡¯s.¡± Zoe snatched the report from her hand, looking at it in disbelief, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s pregnant, but how do you know it¡¯s Mr. Winston¡¯s?¡± Tears welled up in Yuna¡¯s eyes, ¡°Mom! Marguerite moved into the manor the day after she slept with Freddie. If it¡¯s not his child, then whose is it?!¡± Yuna was on the verge of breaking down¡­ She had tried so hard for so long to have Frederick¡¯s child, however this woman, Marguerite, not only beat her to the wedding, but now even to pregnancy. How infuriating! She had hoped that she could secure a better position through a child, but now everything was ruined by Marguerite! ¡°Mom! What do I do? If Frederick finds out Marguerite is carrying his child, it¡¯s over! No way! I can¡¯t just sit around, I¡¯m going to find that bitch Marguerite right now!¡± Yuna was so furious that she didn¡¯t care about anything anymore. She wanted Marguerite dead! She wanted Marguerite to die right now, including the child in her womb! No matter what it took, as long as Marguerite disappeared from this world, she wouldn¡¯t mind. Seeing her so agitated, Zoe quickly pulled Yuna back. ¡°What are you going to do to her? You¡¯re not nning to kill her, are you? If you kill her, you¡¯ll end up in jail! Then where will you be in the Winston family?¡± ¡°What am I supposed to do then?!¡± Yuna growled in anger. She was at a loss, trembling all over, and eventually sank down onto a bench in the garden. Zoe looked at the report in her hand, an idea suddenly struck her. She hurriedly moved closer to Yuna, gripping her wrist, ¡°I have a way to get rid of Marguerite quietly!¡± ¡°What?¡± Yuna¡¯s head shot up. A sly smile spread across Zoe¡¯s lips, ¡°Did Mr. Winston know who he was with that night?¡± Yuna shook her head. Zoe asked again, ¡°And did Marguerite know?¡± Yuna shook her head again. Zoe began to it, if Mr. Winston knew Marguerite was carrying another man¡¯s child, would we even need to do anything to get rid of her?¡± Yuna¡¯s hatred for Marguerite had reached its peak. She wanted to trample Marguerite under her foot right away, speaking excitedly. ¡°Then let¡¯s tell Freddie right now!¡± At this point, Zoe was somewhat annoyed at Yuna¡¯s naivety. ¡°You¡¯re really quite slow! We can¡¯t go around broadcasting this! You need to remember, we don¡¯t know that Marguerite is pregnant, we know nothing! That¡¯s how we keep our distance. Plus, now is not the right time. This is a crucial strategy, we need to wait for the perfect moment to strike back. You need to cool down.¡± hapter 10 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 The mother¨Cdaughter duo hatched a new n, not daring to stick around. They found a post office and anonymously sent Marguerite¡¯s package to herpany, only leaving behind the pregnancy test report. Meanwhile, Marguerite, feeling quite down after sending her grandma back to the mansion, needed some sort of release. Even a chat with someone would do. So, she hopped on a bus and headed off to Miley Goldie¡¯s apartment. Miley, just awakened from her nap, opened the door with her hair all in a mess, only to see a distressed Marguerite. Caught off guard, Miley asked, ¡°What happened? Don¡¯t tell me you had another fight with Mr. Winston and ran away from home?¡± She let Marguerite in and turned to get her a ss of water from the kitchen, but was brought to a halt by Marguerite¡¯s calm voice, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant, and the baby isn¡¯t Frederick¡¯s.¡± Suddenly, the ss slipped from Miley¡¯s hand, shattering into pieces and spilling water everywhere. Miley twitched her mouth, asking. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Marguerite responded seriously, ¡°No, I am clear¨Cminded. I know what I¡¯m saying. Miley, I¡¯m really pregnant.¡± Miley stared at Marguerite, Marguerite looked back. Marguerite knew Miley must be shocked. She sighed and then spilled the beans about the one¨Cnight stand. Having been shocked twice before, Miley seemed surprisingly calm this time, ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re not hiding anything else from me, right?¡± Marguerite shook her head, ¡°Nope, I¡¯ve told you everything that has happened recently. Miley, I didn¡¯t mean to keep it from you before, but it was too painful for me to recall.¡± Miley took a deep breath and embraced Marguerite, ¡°Marguerite, I had no idea you¡¯ve been through so much. You¡¯re always being bullied and used. It¡¯s not your fault. If it wasn¡¯t for Zoe making you apany Hanley, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up in the wrong room and pregnant.¡± Marguerite gently patted Miley¡¯s back, ¡°What¡¯s done is done. It¡¯s pointless to think about it now. I just want to solve the problem.¡± Miley stood straight, eye to eye with Marguerite, back to her usual self, ¡°What do you n to do?¡± Marguerite was firm, ¡°I want you to help me find the baby¡¯s father.¡± Miley paused, then replied, ¡°I¡¯m willing to help, but you don¡¯t even know who he is. I can¡¯t just randomly grab a guy on the street and ask, ¡®Excuse me, did you have a thing with a woman at a certain ce and a certain time?¡± That¡¯d be in crazy!¡± A certain year, a certain month, a certain ce? Marguerite was taken aback, it seemed like she just remembered something, ¡°Miley, there is a range!¡± Before Miley could ask, Marguerite excitedly grabbed her wrist, ¡°It happened about a month ago, I can¡¯t remember the exact date, at the Regal Haven Hotel, room 12¡­ Yes, room 1205!¡± ¡°Do you want me to check the surveince footage from the Regal Haven Hotel?¡± Marguerite nodded enthusiastically. ¡°I can try to help you with that. But you know, the surveince footage from Regal Haven Hotel isn¡¯t something anyone can get, and I¡¯m not a hacker who can break into their system. Plus, most hotels only save the footage for about 15 days, I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯ve deleted it. So brace yourself, it might take a while to get the info.¡± Marguerite pondered for a moment, looking like she was about to back out, but then shook her head, deciding to stick with it. ¡°It¡¯s fine, no matter how long it takes, I need to find out. I can¡¯t have my baby born not knowing who its father is, and I can¡¯t just have this baby without any clue.¡± The atmosphere in the room suddenly became very serious. Miley remembered something and said with a smile, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about these sad things for now. I have some good news for you.¡± She then pulled two photos from a drawer and ced them on the table. The photos were from a surveince camera, leaving Marguerite looking confused. ¡°What good news?¡± ¡°I found out the reason why Zoe made you wear a mask.¡± Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Upon hearing the news, Marguerite immediately grabbed the two photos and started inspecting them closely. Possibly due to the surveince camera being too far from the scene, the images weren¡¯t clear, with some parts even blurred out. But Marguerite quickly recognized the location ¨C both pictures were taken at Cedarbrook Street, amidst dpidated ruins and a few standing buildings. Among them, the casino run by the Lockwood family was particrly noticeable. In the first photo, a man stood at the entrance of the casino with his back to the camera, chatting with Yuna and Zoe. In the other photo, the man was gone, leaving only Ablett and Zoe hailing a taxi on Cedarbrook Street, with Zoe seemingly holding some object. Marguerite squinted her eyes at the photo, feeling that what Zoe held was her human¨Cskin mask. Yes! That¡¯s it! It was indeed her mask! However, Marguerite couldn¡¯t link the scenarios in the two pictures together, and had to look at Miley for help. Miley nced at Marguerite, then exined, ¡°Both photos were taken on the same day, with no more than ten minutes between them. This means that after the man in the photo went to the casino, Zoe and Ablett left with the skin mask, presumably to find you. So, I suspect that the reason they had you wear the mask is rted to this man.¡± Upon hearing this, Marguerite immediately picked up the first photo again for a closer look. She strained her eyes, but other than the back of the man¡¯s head, she couldn¡¯t make out anything else. Plus, the surveince footage was in ck and white, so she couldn¡¯t discern the man¡¯s outfit. However, something about the man felt oddly familiar. ¡°You think you can recognize him just from the back of his head?¡± Miley found Marguerite¡¯s seriousness somewhat amusing. ¡°I¡¯ve asked a friend abroad to help enhance the photo. Once the image is clearer, we can narrow down the search.¡± Marguerite grumbled unhappily, ¡°Even after we narrow it down, we¡¯ll only have the back of a head.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have his clothes, height, and body shape, right?¡± Miley exined impatiently, taking a big gulp of water, ¡°You have no idea how much effort I put into this. I had to scour the surveince footage from across the street from your casino to find these images.¡± Marguerite squeezed Miley¡¯s hand gratefully, ¡°When I get my paycheck, I¡¯ll treat you to a drink.¡± Miley rolled her eyes as if she¡¯d heard the funniest joke, ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself! You may have married a good man, but you¡¯re still poorer than me! If I have to wait for you to treat me to a drink, I¡¯ll be waiting till my next life!¡± Miley¡¯s blunt words warmed Marguerite¡¯s heart. Her previous tension and irritation were somewhat alleviated by Miley¡¯s presence. Marguerite didn¡¯t stay long and left, returning to the manor just in time for mealtime. The usualvish food was waiting for her, but the greasiness of the food made her want to throw up. She had no appetite, but thinking of the baby needing nutrition, she forced herself to eat a lot, stuffing her mouth with food. This spectacle left Laverne dumbfounded, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Haven¡¯t you eaten all day?¡± Marguerite shook her head, ¡°No, Granny, I¡¯m just hungry.¡± ¡°Eat slower! Oh my goodness!¡± Laverne was genuinely concerned that Marguerite might choke herself. Marguerite finished a te of pasta and then stuffed a piece of grilled meat into her mouth. She chewed on the meat, her behavior, unconsciously pulling out a silk handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the sauce off her lips. ¡°Slow down, no one¡¯s going to snatch your food.¡± The man gently chided, but Marguerite suddenly froze. She turned to him, staring nkly, an inexplicable emotion welling up in her heart. Frederick had been much kinder to her recently. If this had happened a few days ago, Marguerite might have been a little delighted. But now, the nicer he was to her, the more she wanted to keep her distance. This rejection wasn¡¯t because of him, but because of herself. She was carrying another man¡¯s child, and Frederick, as her current husband, made her feel like betraying him. The feeling was unbearable, suffocating. She quickly turned her head, avoiding his gaze. Frederick¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She wasn¡¯t angry! She was carrying someone else¡¯s baby, so she had no right to be angry at him! Pregnant women¡¯s emotions are alwaysplex. Marguerite felt horrible and inexplicably wanted to cry. Cosing her silent Frederick gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, ¡°Talk to me.¡± Chapter 11/ Marguerite¡¯s eyes widened, and tears trickled down her cheeks, her stomach churning. ¡°Ugh-¡± She retched uncontrobly, quickly pushing Frederick away and rushing into the bathroom. Chapter 118 The sound of major hurting echoed from the bathroom. Laverne was the first to snap out of it, quickly running into the bathroom, constantly patting Marguerite¡¯s back. ¡°Did you get food poisoning or something? I told you to slow down on the eating!¡± Hurl- She didn¡¯t even have time to answer Laverne¡¯s question when Marguerite started puking again, everything she had just eatening right back up. Eventually, there was nothing left to puke up, just some green stomach acid. That¡¯s when Marguerite spotted a ss of water. Following the direction of the ss, she saw Frederick¡¯s stoically handsome face. ¡°What happened?¡± The man¡¯s tone was emotionless, but Marguerite knew he was displeased. After rinsing her mouth with the water, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and made up an excuse. ¡°Miley made me some green beans this afternoon. I had some, but they weren¡¯t fully cooked.¡± Frederick frowned, his tone slightly cold, ¡°Miley?¡± Marguerite exined with her head down, ¡°The friend I told you about who just came back from abroad, that¡¯s her.¡± ¡°Oh my god, you can get poisoned from eating undercooked green beans!¡± Laverne eximed, then quickly looked at Marguerite, ¡°Are you okay, Marguerite? Feeling dizzy? Marguerite nced at Frederick guiltily, then weakly shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything. I felt better after I threw up.¡± The truth was it was morning sickness, Marguerite knew this very well. She¡¯s only been pregnant for a month, the symptoms are still mild. She was worried that the symptoms would get worse and arouse Frederick¡¯s suspicion. Marguerite was somewhat scared, especially Frederick¡¯s sharp gaze made her even more nervous. Afraid of exposing herself, she made up an excuse, ¡°I just threw up, I¡¯m going to take a bath.¡± The moment Marguerite left, Frederick wanted to follow. Seeing Marguerite¡¯s demeanor when she left, Laverne guessed that she probably didn¡¯t want to be disturbed right now. So, she quickly blocked Frederick¡¯s way. ¡°Where are you going, Frederick?¡± Frederick watched as Marguerite headed towards the staircase, not saying a word. Laverne could see what he was thinking, ¡°I know you want to go upstairs to see Marguerite, but she¡¯s going to take a bath, what are you going up there for?¡°. Frederick¡¯s eyes were full of worry, left speechless by Laverne¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for three days, and I observed for three days. I noticed that no matter what Marguerite does, you always give her an extra nce. I am curious, do you like Marguerite, or do you like Yuna?¡± Laverne may be a bit nutty, but her words always hit the nail on the head, not considering Frederick¡¯s dignity at all. ¡°I promised Yuna once that I would marry her.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Laverne asked him, ¡°Are you nning to divorce Marguerite and then marry Yuna? Frederick, I don¡¯t want to criticize you, but looking at your current situation, you¡¯ll hurt Yuna. I won¡¯t hand my beloved granddaughter over to you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let Yuna get hurt, and I can protect you too.¡± Frederick said. ¡°Protect me? Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± Laverneughed exaggeratedly, rolling her eyes, deciding to test him. ¡°I was very beautiful when I was young, a lot of people chased me! Even though I¡¯m old now, I still have charm, it would be dangerous if men were fighting over me. By the way. have you seen how I looked when I was young?¡± Chapter 119 Ever since Laverne woke up from her recovery, her thoughts seemed to jump around, and her speechcked logic, but Frederick had gotten used to it. ¡°Yuna never showed me your pictures from when you were young.¡± A deep glint shed in Laverne¡¯s eyes as she immediately remembered the group photo on Marguerite¡¯s desk. Wasn¡¯t that the picture of her holding Marguerite in the Graceful Light Chapel when she was young? Marguerite kept the picture on her desk every day. How could he not see it? Was it because Laverne now looked so different from when she was young that he didn¡¯t recognize her? Snapping back to reality. Laverne asked, ¡°Have you seen pictures of Yuna when she was a child? She was very pretty with big eyes, even bigger than they are now.¡± Frederick gazed at her, but he still shook his head. Seeing his reaction, Laverne began to have some thoughts of her own. ¡°Howe you haven¡¯t seen anything? How can you have a rtionship like this. Alright, when I¡¯m in a better mood, I¡¯ll find some pictures for you to see.¡± With that, Laverne left. Frederick watched as Laverne¡¯s figure gradually receded, and doubts began to spring up in his heart. He always felt that the olddy¡¯s problem was not as simple as amnesia. ording to the people of the Lockwood family, Laverne and Marguerite had no blood rtion, and they never crossed paths. The only intersection should have been what Yuna said, Marguerite secretly took Laverne away, causing the olddy¡¯s condition to worsen. If that was the case, Laverne should hate Marguerite. Even if she had lost her memory and forgotten all her memories with Marguerite, habits and feelings wouldn¡¯t be so easily forgotten. When Marguerite was vomiting just now, Laverne¡¯s reaction was faster than anyone else¡¯s, and the concern on her face was almost instinctive. Not only that, but Laverne also relied heavily on Marguerite. Every time they went to the hospital, Marguerite would take her. There seemed to be a silent understanding between the two of them, this understanding permeated every detail of their lives. Even they might not have realized it if they hadn¡¯t observed closely. So, did Laverne really lose her memory, or was she deliberately hiding something? Frederick wasn¡¯t sure. In fact, he was very close to the truth. During the time Laverne was unconscious, although she was like a vegetable without consciousness, her senses of touch, smell, and hearing were intact. From the moment Ablett and his wife used the removal of her breathing tube to ckmail Marguerite into wearing a mask, to the times they caused trouble at the hospital. Laverne heard all of this, especially when she first woke up and saw Yuna trying to kill her. At that moment, Laverne was ready to die. But she didn¡¯t expect her fate to be so good. God spared her life, and she decided to live on. So, she pretended to have amnesia and yed dumb to protect herself, first to make the enemy let their guard down, and then to secretly investigate the truth. She was fully sure that Frederick had mistaken Marguerite from fifteen years ago as Yuna, but she was not sure if Frederick had the ability to protect her and Marguerite. When the time is right, she will tell Frederick everything. By then, the people of the Lockwood family, and what they have done to her and Marguerite, will be brought to light and scrutinized. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 The next day, at Sapphire Valley Estates. Normally, pregnant women tends to have intense morning sickness. So, it took Marguerite some time before she finally managed to stroll into the dining room calmly. After the episodest night, she didn¡¯t dare to eat too much. So, she had a ss of milk and some nibbles. Frederick was about to head to the office after breakfast when he suddenly stopped in his tracks and decided to wait for Marguerite at the door. Even though this woman usually caught the bus before him, they had gone to work together yesterday, and it seemed like she didn¡¯t mind it that much. Just as he opened the tall mansion doors, he saw Yuna standing there. Her face was red and swollen, and she was about to knock. Her manicured hand almost hit his face. Frederick¡¯s face soured immediately, his voice filled with irritation, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Yuna quickly shook the thermos in her hand, her eyes full of anticipation, ¡°I made chicken soup for you and grandma.¡± Just then, Marguerite walked up to the door after packing up her stuff, and saw Yuna throwing flirty nces at Frederick. Marguerite brushed past Frederick, barely nced at the thermos in Yuna¡¯s hand, and was immediately grabbed by Frederick. ¡°Wait for me in the car.¡± His voice wasmanding, making Marguerite¡¯s heart race. Wait for him? For what? To watch him and Yuna y lovey¨Cdovey outside the car? Hell no, she wasn¡¯t gonna lose her dignity like that. Marguerite pulled her hand away from him, turned to look at him with an awkward smile on her face. ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯ll take the bus, bye.¡± Hearing this, Frederick¡¯s face became gloomy. Mr. Winston? What was this woman up to now? Was she jealous? As he watched Marguerite walk away, Frederick¡¯s mood worsened, and he took it all out on Yuna, ¡°What on earth do you want?¡± Yuna pouted, ¡°Freddie, can¡¯t Ie see you if I don¡¯t have anything to do? I¡¯m your fiancee, can¡¯t I bring you chicken soup?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already had breakfast¡± As Frederick tried to push past Yuna to chase after Marguerite, Yuna blocked his path. ¡°Freddie, why don¡¯t you take it to the office and have it there? I made the chicken soup myself.¡± As she said this, she shoved the thermos into his hands. He tried his best to ignore her, but he couldn¡¯t help but notice the picture of Yuna stuck prominently on the thermos. He smirked coldly. Daring to stick her picture on it? This Yuna was getting more and more annoying. ¡°You said you made one for grandma too? Take it in and let her have it. Move, you¡¯re in the way.¡± Yuna tried to sweet¨Ctalk him, but Frederick¡¯s expression was so terrifying that she had to give up. As she watched him walk past her,pletely indifferent to her, Yuna was both angry and disappointed. Just as she was feeling down, Frederick¡¯s voice suddenly came from ahead. ¡°Come here.¡± Yuna was overjoyed, thinking that Freddie had changed his mind. She quickly ran up to him and eagerly said, ¡°Freddie, what are you saying?¡± Instead of the gentle gaze she was expecting, his eyes were even colder. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, if I ever find out t Chapter 121 ¡°How the hell did Freddie find out I called that old hag a dummy? Damn it! She actually went tattling!¡± Yuna was so ticked off she couldn¡¯t breathe. Watching Frederick walk away, she turned and marched towards the mansion to confront Laverne. But the mansion was only filled with servants. Yuna instantly switched her tone, ¡°Where¡¯s the old¡­ Where¡¯s my grandma?¡± The servants looked at her in surprise. ¡°Speak up! Did you all turn mute? I¡¯m Freddie¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Shouldn¡¯t you address me as ¡®ma¡¯am¡® when you see me? Forgot your ces, did you? Want to get fired?¡± No one responded. Yuna was being quite the brat. Plus, she had onlye to the mansion twice; many servants didn¡¯t even know her. So, some were speechless, some looked puzzled, everyone treated her as if she was off her rocker. Ignored. Yuna started to yell, ¡°Do I need to teach you how to talk? In this house, it¡¯s only Freddie and me. Is this how you treat your masters? Now, where¡¯s my grandma?¡± A new servant, trembling, nervously asked, ¡°Miss, are you looking for Lady Laverne? She¡¯s upstairs, still asleep.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Yuna held her chin up high, pointing at the servant, ¡°You all should address me as ¡®Miss¡® like she did. Don¡¯t forget your manners.¡± After her speech, Yuna turned and strutted towards the stairs, not noticing everyone was rolling their eyes at her behind her back. In her rush to go upstairs, she didn¡¯t ask where Laverne¡¯s room was and had to go door to door. In doing so, she identally walked into Frederick¡¯s dressing room. At the time, a tailor was ironing a suit, and a white dress was hanging on a rack behind him, apparently waiting to be pressed. She was instantly attracted to the dress. It was long, with diamonds around the waist, and arge bow on the back. Proper from the front, sweet from the back. Yuna fell in love with the dress and without a second thought, didn¡¯t care that the tailor was still there, took the dress down and held it up against herself. The tailor jumped, ¡°Miss, what are you doing! You can¡¯t touch Madame¡¯s dress! It¡¯s for their party in a couple of days!¡± The tailor snatched the dress back as if protecting his treasure, then examined it carefully, afraid it got dirty by Yuna. Yuna, deprived of the dress, was about to explode, but she caught the information in the tailor¡¯s words and quickly asked, ¡°What party?¡± The tailor hung the dress back, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Winston¡¯s father¡¯s sixtieth birthday. Mr. Winston is taking his wife home.¡± Yuna was taken aback by the news, stepping back, almost losing her bnce. Freddie¡¯s taking Marguerite home to meet his parents? Why? She was Frederick¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and she should be the one he¡¯s taking home! Marguerite, where did this beggare from? Why is Freddie so fond of her? She came to the mansion to deliver chicken soup to Freddie, and to announce her status. But instead of that, she found out Freddie was taking Marguerite home to meet his parents! This was unbearable! The more Yuna thought about it, the angrier she got. Throwing down the thermos, she hurried home, seeking Zoe¡¯s advice. Her face full of spite, she asked, ¡°Mom! Freddie¡¯s fallen for Marguerite. He¡¯s even taking her home to meet his parents. What do we do?¡± Zoe clenched Yuna¡¯s wrist, her eyes sharp, ¡°Looks like it¡¯s time to y our trump card.¡± Yuna paused, ¡°You mean, the thing about Marguerite being pregnant¡­¡± Before she could finish, Zoe put a finger to her lips, nodded meaningfully, and said, ¡°This time, I¡¯ll make her wish she were dead.¡± Chapter 122 Meanwhile, at the Winston Group. Taking public transport wasn¡¯t as fast as private cars, so even though Marguerite left the house earlier than Frederick, she was thest to arrive at the office. By the time she got to the CEO¡¯s office, Frederick and Robert had already met in the break room. Every morning from nine to ten, they¡¯d chill in the break room for an hour. Their actions were as mysterious as a ck box, and Marguerite didn¡¯t bother to dig deeper. She didn¡¯t know this time slot was for Robert giving Frederick his therapy sessions. And the topic they were discussing most of the time was about her. Marguerite walked to her desk and saw a small bowl of mushroom soup on it. She thought it was from the canteen for Frederick, so she put the soup back on his desk and then went back to her own workstation. Soon, the two men came out of the break room. Frederick instinctively looked at his desk, his eyes suddenly tensed up, and the next second he walked over to the workstation and put the small bowl of mushroom soup back next to Marguerite¡¯s desk. Marguerite was puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± ¡°Have it.¡± Frederick¡¯s tone was arrogant and domineering. Marguerite shrank back a bit. Was the soup for her? ¡°You¡¯re not eating enough. Can you bear the responsibility if your work fails because of hunger?¡± Marguerite looked up at him. Even though this man spoke so coldly and looked so grim, she felt a warm current in her heart. She gave a small smile, said ¡°Okay¡± in a mixed mood, and then quietly started to eat after opening the small bowl. Frederick saw that Marguerite didn¡¯t resist as usual, behaving like a docile kitten, and couldn¡¯t help but reach out to pat Marguerite¡¯s head. Marguerite stiffened, looked up at him with wide eyes in surprise. ¡°Why are you patting my head?¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t know why she would ask such a question. The atmosphere wasn¡¯t awkward just now, but now it became a bit weird after her question. Her innocent big eyes seemed to hook people¡¯s hearts, making Frederick¡¯s hand pause in the air. He quickly withdrew his hand. When he turned around, Marguerite noticed that his ears were a bit red. ¡°There was a mosquito on your head.¡± Marguerite was perplexed. When did the CEO¡¯s office have mosquitoes? Very strange. At that time, Robert was looking at his phone with a broad smile, texting someone. Suddenly, he came over anxiously and asked, ¡°Does anyone have a spareputer I can borrow?¡± Frederick gave a slight nod towards the break room, ¡°Inside.¡± Robert rushed into the break room and quickly turned on theputer. Aizen named ¡°Smiley¡± soon sent a voice message on WhatsApp. When Robert opened it, the whole room was filled with a woman¡¯s sweet voice, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, how¡¯s the photo I sent you the other day? Did you manage to restore it?¡± Robert¡¯s heart started beating wildly for some unknown reason, and he, who was usually uninterested in women, started to fantasize about what Smiley looked like. He tried several times to send a voice message, but was unsatisfied with his voice and kept canceling it. Smiley sent another voice message, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, are you still there?¡± Realizing that he had kept her waiting for a long time, Robert quickly said: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was about to tell you. The quality of the picture you sent decreased afterpression. I tried to restore it but it¡¯s still blurry. Can you send the picture to my email, so I¡¯ll give it another try?¡± Robert immediately logged into his email, and Smiley quickly sent the photo again. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, it¡¯s all up to you whether my friend can regain her beautiful looks or not!¡± Robert was confused, ¡°What does your friend¡¯s looks have to do with this photo?¡± Then, he heard Smiley sigh on the other end of the phone. ¡°It¡¯s a long story! When youe back, I¡¯ll treat you to a few drinks and invite my friend along so she can tell you herself.¡± Robert was eager to say that he¡¯s actually been domestic all along and he was free anytime. But thinking about his father who was looking for him everywhere, he was worried that he might give away his location if he said it. So he thought for a while before saying, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about meeting upter. But since she¡¯s your friend, I¡¯ll do what I can to help you guys.¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Smiley is a friend Robert met online, their friendship blossomed on a ¡°photo restoration¡± forum. Two years ago, Smiley was on the forum looking for someone to restore photos. By chance, Robert noticed that her profile indicated she was in Stonebridge City. He saved her contact info. After a lot of chatter, they had be good pals who can talk about anything. On the day Smiley wasing back, Robert wanted to surprise her at the airport. But due to family issues, he couldn¡¯t risk giving away his whereabouts, so he stayed incognito. But he was curious about this online friend he had never met. What did she look like? He thought about it, worried that Smiley might get the wrong idea. He quickly exined, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to see you. I¡¯ve got some stuff going on and it¡¯s just not a good time.¡± Smiley chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking this. I didn¡¯t misunderstand. I get it, you can tell me when you¡¯re back.¡± Behind her voice message, there were car horns. Robert figured Smiley was probably driving. He wanted to warn her to be careful, but her voice message arrived first. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve arrived at my friend¡¯s ce. Let¡¯s catch upter. Bye for now, Mr. Fitzgerald.¡± She spoke quickly, as if she wanted to end the conversation. So, Robert didn¡¯t get to say ¡°be careful¡°. Instead, he just sent a message: [Have fun, see ya.] After sending the message, he stared at the screen for a while, but didn¡¯t get a reply. He suddenly felt a sense of loneliness, shook his head in self¨Cmockery, and left the lounge to take a break beforeing back to help Smiley with the photo restoration. As he walked out of the lounge, he noticed Marguerite¡¯s desk was empty. He asked Frederick, ¡°Where¡¯s your wife?¡± Without looking up, Frederick replied, ¡°She¡¯s on her way to meet a friend.¡± Huh¡­ Robert cracked open a soda and took a big swig, thinking, ¡°Do all girls these days have a BFF?¡± Meanwhile, in the Winston Group¡¯s underground parking lot. As soon as Marguerite got into the white BMW, she noticed the smell of chicken soup. Miley had a thermos. She blew on the soup to cool it down, then carefully handed it to Marguerite. ¡°I had my nanny make it especially for you. Drink up.¡± As she spoke, Miley was rummaging through her bag, probably for some medicine. Marguerite held the thermos of soup, her eyebrows furrowed in hesitation. ¡°Do I have to drink it?¡± Miley pulled out some folic acid and a few bottles of supplements, her eyes wide open. ¡°Absolutely! You¡¯re pregnant now, you need the nutrition. You must drink! Also, I¡¯ve heard pregnant women often feel nauseous and vomit in the early stages, so I bought you some folic acid and other medicines. Take two pills each time in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Remember, the bottlebeled VC is folic acid, and the onebeled VB is for pregnant women. Don¡¯t mix them up.¡± Even though Miley usually seemed casual, giving off aid¨Cback vibe, she was actually quite reliable and trustworthy in her actions. Frederick didn¡¯t know about Marguerite¡¯s pregnancy, so to avoid blowing her cover, Miley carefully reced the packaging of the pregnancy supplements and folic acid with vitaminbels. Seeing this, Marguerite was touched. Not wanting to let her bestie down, she braced herself against the nausea, finished the soup, and took the opportunity to take the folic acid and pregnancy supplements. Afterwards, she returned the thermos to Miley. While putting away the thermos, Miley asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going with Frederick to his dad¡¯s 60th birthday celebration in a few days?¡± Chapter 124 Marguerite was totally caught off guard when she heard this. She hadn¡¯t yet told the news to Miley that she and Frederick were heading back to meet his folks, so she asked, ¡°How¡¯d you find out?¡± Miley¡¯s reaction was all over the top, with her voice going up and down like a rollercoaster ride. ¡°Come on, how could I not know? Did you forget what I do for a living? I¡¯m a top¨Cnotch private detective! I¡¯ve got clients lining up, begging me to score them an invite to the Winston family party. I reckon you¡¯ll have to tag along with Frederick.¡± Marguerite rubbed her temples, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thest thing she wanted was to go back with Frederick and celebrate his father¡¯s birthday. It was a sticky situation as she didn¡¯t even know what role to y. On top of that, she was carrying a stranger¡¯s child and felt guilty as hell, thinking she had let Frederick down. She even questioned herself whether she should be seen with him at such a formal event. While she was deep in thought, Miley suddenly whipped out a stack of pictures from her pocket and pped them into her hand with a stern look. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Marguerite asked, looking puzzled. ¡°This, my dear, is the family tree of the Winstons. All investigated and ready for you.¡± Marguerite was speechless. She thought: Has she lost her marbles? Who the hell asked her to dig into the Winstons? I haven¡¯t even decided if I should go back with Frederick! Despite this, Marguerite was curious about the Winston family, so she took a closer look at the pictures. The first picture was of Frederick¡¯s father, an old¨Cman nearing sixty with white hair, but still powerful. He looked remarkably like Frederick and his presence was intimidating. Looking at his picture, Marguerite felt a twinge of fear, She nced at the note under the picture. ¡°Powell Winston,¡± it read. The second picture was of a woman named Lisette, about fifty or so. Marguerite thought she was Frederick¡¯s mother. But when she flipped to the next picture, there was another woman around the same age named Jocelyn. Jocelyn had a different vibe, who was refined and gentle. Miley shot a nce at Marguerite, looking like she had the whole Winston family saga at her fingertips. ¡°Both these women are Powell¡¯s wives, your future mothers¨Cinw. Lisette is the legal wife, and Jocelyn is the illegal wife.¡± Marguerite was stunned for a moment before it sunk in, ¡°So, Frederick is a love child?¡± ¡°Correct!¡± Miley leaned back in the leather chair, taking it easy. ¡°Since when do love children have inheritance rights?¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t believe it. Miley chuckled, ¡°Well, your hubby is something else!¡± No wonder Frederick had never mentioned his family. Although Marguerite hadn¡¯t lived the high life, she knew that love children were often given the cold shoulder. She had assumed that Frederick was a pampered rich kid, but it seemed like she barely knew him. Frederick must have gone through a lot to rise above, probably more than she had. Feeling a bit down, Marguerite turned over the final picture, and surprisingly, it was nk. So, the name ¡°Maurice Winston¡± in the middle stood out. Maurice, Frederick. Given their sharedst name, this guy was likely Frederick¡¯s brother. ¡°Is Maurice Frederick¡¯s older or younger brother? Where¡¯s his picture?¡± Miley pulled out a lollipop from her bag and started licking it, her voice a bit low. ¡°Maurice is Frederick¡¯s elder brother, Lisette¡¯s son. Couldn¡¯t find his picture.¡± Marguerite frowned, ¡°Couldn¡¯t find it?¡± Miley took another lick of her lollipop, her expression turning mysterious. ¡°Marguerite, a little bird told me that Mr. Winston and Maurice have been at odds since they were kids. Now that Maurice is back, he¡¯s likely to challenge Frederick for the family fortune. You better watch your back.¡± Chapter 125 Marguerite was a bit puzzled, ¡°What in the world does their family feud have to do with me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? You¡¯re Mr. Winston¡¯s wife now. Maurice is a sly fox. I¡¯m worried he mighte after you to outsmart Mr. Winston.¡± Marguerite furrowed her brows without saying a word. Miley blinked and asked, ¡°Think about it, have any strange men popped up around youtely?¡± Strange men? Marguerite, for some reason, thought of that mysterious guy she hadn¡¯t heard from in a while. He had me stick around Frederick for some sort of reason. But this mysterious man had never asked her to snoop into Frederick¡¯s affairs. He only asked her to marry Frederick, and even made him fall for her. Was the mysterious man¡¯s goal just to stir up chaos? Marguerite really couldn¡¯t get a read on this mysterious guy. Seeing the puzzled look on Marguerite¡¯s face, Miley gave up on getting any useful information out of her. After all, it¡¯s often said that pregnant women get a bit slow, there¡¯s some truth to that. Seeing the situation, Miley could only give her a helpless nce, ¡°No need to rack your brain anymore. Maurice will definitely show up at the party, stay away from him as much as you can, don¡¯t let Mr. Winston get the wrong idea.¡± Marguerite thought Miley was overreacting. Even if this mysterious guy was Maurice, she hadn¡¯t done anything to harm Frederick. She had never met either the mysterious man or Maurice, so what could Frederick possibly misunderstand? Three dayster, on the day of the banquet. In the cloakroom of Sapphire Valley Estates. When Marguerite walked out of the cloakroom in that white gown, Frederick¡¯s eyes were glued to her. There was surprise and joy in his eyes. Without even looking at Marguerite¡¯s face, her figure was already top¨Cnotch. Despite being skinny, the gown entuated her figure well. She had a slim waist and full chest, very sexy. Especially the big bow design at the back, adding a touch of sweetness to the otherwise elegant style. The gown was a perfect fit for Marguerite, but she didn¡¯t have time to admire her own beauty. She was holding her breath and then exhaling repeatedly, ensuring the waist of the gown allowed her to breathe freely and didn¡¯t squeeze her baby. ¡°Mr. Winston, Ms. Lockwood¡¯s figure is simply perfect. Just her face, it¡¯s a bit¡­not so pretty¡­¡± The makeup artist tried to tter Marguerite, continuing to speak to Frederick. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure Ms. Lockwood looks stunning, she¡¯ll be the center of attention!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not wearing makeup.¡± Marguerite retorted as soon as the makeup artist finished speaking. She wasn¡¯t against makeup, in fact, she was somewhat looking forward to it. After all, which woman doesn¡¯t want to look more beautiful? Marguerite had no choice. She was wearing a silicone mask and regr makeup couldn¡¯t be applied to it. More importantly, she was pregnant. Many makeup products aren¡¯t suitable for pregnant women, she had to be responsible for her baby. The makeup artist looked at Marguerite helplessly, then at Frederick. ¡°Mr. Winston, what should we do?¡± The man¡¯s eyes flickered, alwaysnding on Marguerite. ¡°You go out first.¡± He pointed to the door and said coldly to the makeup artist. ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston.¡± Marguerite¡¯s refusal to wear makeup was too suspicious, she was worried about being exposed. So, she picked up her dress and walked to Frederick, nervously asking: ¡°Can I not wear makeup?¡± The man¡¯s eyes suddenly became intense, he gently lifted Marguerite¡¯s chin, his nose almost touching her face. ¡°Your face is so noble that makeup can¡¯t even touch it?¡± Frederick¡¯s handsome face suddenly magnified in front of Marguerite, making her feel very panicked and nervous. He was so close to her that she was afraid he would notice the mask on her face. Chapter 126 ¡°I¡¯m allergic to makeup.¡± Marguerite swiveled her head, dodging the man¡¯s arm nervously and taking a half¨Cstep back. The man noticed her movements, but didn¡¯t react. Suddenly, he raised his arm and his muscr arm immediately moved behind Marguerite¡¯s head. Marguerite was momentarily stunned as the tension at the back of her head dissipated, her hair tie was untied by the man¡¯s long fingers, and her shoulder¨Clength hair cascaded down like a waterfall¡­ This scene was inexplicable beautiful. Frederick¡¯s breath hitched, his eyes glued to the sight. Marguerite lifted her head, calling out in confusion, ¡°Frederick?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to put on makeup, you might as well let your hair down.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Not wearing makeup meant letting her hair down? Was there a necessary connection between the two? Marguerite waspletely puzzled. Then, she heard the man¡¯sughter,ced with a hint of maism. ¡°Let it down. It looks great.¡± Marguerite was a little lost. Was he sure? The mask she currently wore made her face look quite ugly. But this man actually said that she looked good with her hair down? The aesthetic of the rich was always a bit peculiar, something she as an ordinary person couldn¡¯t understand. But beingplimented still felt good. Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but smile, happily taking the initiative to link arms with the man. He escorted her out of the dressing room. As they passed a mirror, Marguerite noticed that they seemed to be dressed as a couple? A well¨Ctailored ck suit, cufflinks made of vintage pearls, echoing the diamonds around her waist. He wasn¡¯t wearing a tie, two buttons of his white shirt undone, revealing his healthyplexion. The outfit wasn¡¯t overly formal, but it had a strong, wild vibe. No doubt, Frederick looked incredibly attractive today. And the softness she exuded seemed to bnce out the sharpness in him. Looking at it this way, they seemed to be a perfect match. ¡°Marguerite, what are you thinking? How could you possibly be a match for Frederick?¡± Marguerite quickly hid these thoughts, shaking her head and following Frederick into a luxury car, the status¨Csymbol of him, heading towards the mansion. Half an hourter. ¡°Mr. Winston, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± The driver¡¯s voice had Marguerite looking out the window. She noticed that the Winston Mansion was also located in an estate, although smaller than Frederick¡¯s, it was still substantial. Rows of bodyguards stood like royal guards, in formal uniforms on either side of the road, stretching out into the distance. Countless luxury cars were neatly parked on the ¡°Mr. Winston, wee home!¡± Marguerite¡¯s high heels had just touched the ground when the bodyguards shouted in unison, startling her so much she almost tripped. If it hadn¡¯t been for Frederick quickly steadying her, she might¡¯ve fallen. ¡°Sorry, I lost my bnce.¡± Marguerite looked at the scene in front of her, feeling a bit nervous. She tried to grab the man¡¯s arm, but Frederick was faster, tightly gripping her hand and gently pulling her up. Frederick¡¯s palm was warm, making Marguerite¡¯s head spin for a moment, her heart racing. She felt something different about this man holding her hand. In formal asions, a woman linking arms with a man was a polite gesture. No matter the rtionship, it wouldn¡¯t raise eyebrows. But holding hands seemed like an intimate gesture between lovers. Marguerite felt uneasy, attempting to pull away, but the man only tightened his grip. She had no choice but to follow him step by step. As they crossed thewn, a three¨Cstory castle¨Clike mansion suddenly appeared before them. Marguerite suddenly stopped, and Frederick looked at her. ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Marguerite turned to look at Frederick¡¯s handsome face and asked, ¡°I want to know, how do you n to introduce me to your parents?¡± Chapter 127 Marguerite posed a question, her eyes suddenly bingplex, ¡°Do you see me as a lover or a wife?¡± Truth be told, it was a question that she¡¯d been itching to ask. How exactly did this man view her? Did he see her as hiswful wife? Well, Frederick never seemed to acknowledge that. And treating her as a lover didn¡¯t seem right either, because lovers at least had love, something Marguerite didn¡¯t feel. She had been living with Frederick for a full month. They¡¯d cuddled in bed, and they¡¯d kissed. Except for the most intimate interaction, they¡¯d done pretty much everything else. Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure why she was so hung up onbels, but she knew she was always harbouring a glimmer of hope. If only Frederick would say, ¡°You mean nothing to me.¡± she could stop ming herself for being pregnant. But the man turned his head, his mouth quirking slightly, and asked, ¡°Are you scared?¡± Marguerite was perplexed, ¡°Scared of what?¡± ¡°If I were to publicly acknowledge you today, could you bear the responsibility thates with it?¡± Looking up at him, Marguerite saw a hint of desperate courage in his slightly excited eyes. ¡°You bringing me here today already let many people know about me. Besides dealing with baseless rumors, what else do I need to take on?¡± ¡°Marguerite, when I say ¡®acknowledge¡®, I mean letting everyone know. Therefore, you¡¯ll have to bear much more than just rumors. So listen carefully, are you scared or not?¡± ¡°Not scared,¡± Marguerite affirmed. The word ¡®scared¡® simply didn¡¯t exist in her life. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± the man said, sping her hand tightly again and leading her into the hall. Marguerite followed him, a bit bewildered. She was just curious about how Frederick would introduce her to the elders, but he was talking about going public with their rtionship. She didn¡¯t want to be like Yuna, trying to prove their rtionship to everyone. For her, whether they go public or not wasn¡¯t that important. Besides, she had nothing to lose. If she tangoed with the rich, she might not be the biggest loser. What to be scared of? Yuna should be the scared one. Because the thing Yuna dreamed of, Marguerite was getting it without lifting a finger. Yuna must be fuming, right? At this moment, guests were pouring into thevish hall. Everyone was exchanging pleasantries and chatting amicably. Especially when they saw Frederick leading Marguerite in, it caused quite a stir. Marguerite looked around bored, her gazending on an elderly man leaning on a dragon¨Cheaded cane on the second¨Cfloor balcony of the grand staircase. His hair was white but his spirit was vigorous. His demeanor bore some resemnce to Frederick¡¯s. While Mr. Powell didn¡¯t appear angry, he exuded an air of authority that sent a chill down Marguerite¡¯s spine. Because she could clearly feel Mr. Powell¡¯s intense gaze falling directly on her. His eyes were deep andplex, making Marguerite feel puzzled. ¡°Does he know me? He even seemed to have a sense of rejection.¡± Marguerite¡¯s hand trembled slightly, she lightly pinched Frederick¡¯s thumb, gesturing towards the stairs, ¡°Is that your father?¡± Frederick nced up, and the old man¡¯s gaze shifted slightly but still held strength. For a moment, it seemed like sparks flew between the father and son¡¯s line of sight. Frederick¡¯srge hand suddenlynded on Marguerite¡¯s back, ¡°Wait for me somewhere, don¡¯t wander off.¡± Chapter 128 In the study room. Frederick had taken off his ck suit and slung it over his arm, revealing a chunk of sturdy wheat¨Ccoloured skin inside his white shirt, the first two buttons undone. He was always indescribably handsome, especially at the moment, his divine faceden with a raw, aggressive edge. Even in the presence of his own father, he didn¡¯t tone down his distinctive traits. Powell tapped his cane and sat down, voice stern, ¡°Sit.¡± Frederick strolled over, hands in his pockets, and slouched into the couch across from Powell, staying silent, not even willing to address him as ¡°Dad¡°. Powell sighed, disappointment shing in his dark eyes as he looked at Frederick. ¡°You bring home a not¨Cgood¨Clooking woman just to piss me off? I know you resent me for leaving you and your mother. But Maurice is innocent. Giving him half of thepany¡¯s shares was my decision, and it has nothing to do with him. I don¡¯t want you two brothers hurting each other. Over the years, I¡¯ve tried to bnce between you two. I wanted to make up for what you lost back then, but I also couldn¡¯t ignore him. That¡¯s why I wanted you two to take turns running thepany, supporting each other.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t listen to Powell¡¯s good advice. He opened his eyeszily and said outright. ¡°Take turns? Maurice never thought that way. What he wants is to take my ce. I think you know that better than I do.¡± Powell had noeback. As their father, how could he not know Maurice¡¯s intentions? But what could he do? The grudges between Frederick and Maurice had reached an irreconcble point, and Powell could only try to mediate one and then the other. Powell took a sip of his coffee, staying silent. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, the Winston Group was a major aristocracy before I took over, but it wasn¡¯t famous in the business world. You came to me, asking me to help the Winston Group out of its predicament.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were deep and intelligent, his words sharp, almost reminding that without him, the Winston Group wouldn¡¯t have reached its present status. At that time, the Winston Group was struggling, but Frederick was flourishing. He was willing to help out of love for his mother. So, he proposed two conditions for the exchange. First, let his mother return to the mansion. Second, he wanted to control the Winston Grouppletely, and Maurice wouldn¡¯t get anything. Frederick took a deep breath and lit a cigarette in front of Powell. ¡°Now that the Group is doing well and unmatched, you want Maurice to take the credit? No way.¡± Upon hearing this, Powell¡¯s cane¨Cholding hand trembled slightly. He never expected that this seemingly calm kid had such awe¨Cinspiring determination and power within. At this moment, as a father, he had a tinge of fear for Frederick¡¯s aggressive strategy. He squinted, calming himself down, knowing he was at a disadvantage, he had to retreat. ¡°Frederick, your contribution to the Group is undeniable, but as the Group grows, so does our influence. That woman named Marguerite, she¡¯s not pretty, and her background is unclear. In the Winston family, a woman¡¯s past must be absolutely clean. Otherwise, any small thing can be blown out of proportion, which can affect the development of the Group. I know you have the ambition to expand the Winston Group, I am just worried that this woman might hinder your future.¡± Frederick exhaled a puff of smoke and replied, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. She¡¯s not the woman you imagine.¡± ¡°Are you sure Marguerite is innocent?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t predict if Marguerite will be my woman in the future, but at least for now, she is innocent.¡± Powell was clearly angry, banging his cane on the floor. ¡°Do I not know you enough? Frederick, you¡¯ve never brought a woman home. I know your thoughts. There¡¯s nothing going on between you two? That woman has no ulterior motives towards you? I¡¯m worried you¡¯ve been tricked.¡± With the cigarette extinguished, Frederick looked at him and dropped a bombshell, ¡°Marguerite won¡¯t cheat on me, and we¡¯re already married.¡± Chapter 129 ¡°You¡¯re so rude!¡± With a roar of shock, Powell picked up his cane and hurled it at Frederick. Frederick stood there without dodging. The cane hit his waist, but it didn¡¯t affect his mood at all. The more indifferent Frederick was, the angrier Powell became. ¡°You¡¯re treating marriage like a joke. You just get married when you feel like it? Have you discussed it with your family? Have you talked to me about it? I¡¯m your father, why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Frederick replied, ¡°Now you¡¯re calling yourself a father, but when you abandoned my mother and me, you didn¡¯t mention it. Dad, when did you start caring about my affairs?¡± Powell was so angry that his blood pressure went up. ¡°Frederick!¡± he growled, his voice like a bell. ¡°You always said she was innocent, now you¡¯re married, are you lying to me? You¡¯re too reckless!¡± Frederick narrowed his eyes, a cold smile on his lips. ¡°In the past, you deceived my mother into bing your mistress without her knowing. You just wanted a moment of pleasure, but didn¡¯t take any precautions¡­¡± ¡°Shut up! Just shut up! You¡¯re shameless!¡± Exposed by Frederick, Powell was so furious he rushed over and picked up the cane to hit him. Frederick endured the pain without moving, but his tone was still tough. ¡°My mother was pregnant for ten months, but you abandoned her and haven¡¯t given her a proper status till now. And I, I won¡¯t be like you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a curse! Say one more word and I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± By that time, Powell had already dropped his cane, his hand raised to hit Frederick, his eyes were red. Frederick looked at him coldly, without fear. ¡°If it would give Marguerite a proper status. Dad, today¡¯s your birthday, good day, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Powell asked word by word, each word full of strength. ¡°I¡¯ll tell everyone, I, Frederick, am now married to Marguerite.¡± ¡°You! You¡­¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Just as Powell was about to swing his arm, Frederick¡¯s provocative voice interrupted him. He paused, then asked leisurely. ¡°Would you prefer a grandson or a granddaughter?¡± Powell¡¯s blood pressure skyrocketed, his arm stopped in mid¨Cair, then slowly lowered to his chest. Then there was a dull thud, and he fell onto the sofa next to Frederick. ¡°You¡¯re a curse! You¡¯re determined to piss me off! Do you want everyone tough at the Winston family? This is so damn unlucky!¡± Frederick stood tall, his cold gaze fell mercilessly on Powell. His eyes were cold and ruthless, it sent chills down your spine. Meanwhile, in the banquet hall. Marguerite had been wandering around the main hall for a long time, but she hadn¡¯t seen Fredericke down. She went to the self¨Cservice area and had some soup. A fewdies from the social circle were gossiping nearby. They were talking about who¡¯s having an affair, who¡¯s with whom. Their voices were very low, but Marguerite heard that they seem to be talking about her too. Of course, they didn¡¯t know her name, and not everyone knew she was brought by Frederick. But the reason Marguerite knew she was the topic of their conversation was because they said ¡°Look at that ugly woman over there¡°. In the entire banquet hall, who could be uglier than her? Because of her unattractive appearance, she had always been the center of attention wherever she went. Marguerite was used to it. She quickly finished her soup, then got a ss of soda and went to a corner on the second floor. From the railing, she could see the whole view of the main hall. The rich people were chatting and boasting, it was very lively. But this liveliness didn¡¯t belong to her. Chapter 130 Clearly, she was Lisette, his dad¡¯s legal wife. She was dolled up in this vintage green dress, not too long, just knee¨Clength, showing off her calves. The heels not too high, but she looked both seductive and posh. Quite different from the image Marguerite had in mind from the pictures. In real life, her aura was even stronger. There she was, swirling her ss of red, making small talk with the men, her ssy and elegant demeanor oozing superiority. Marguerite squinted, studying Lisette¡¯s mannerisms and character. Where was Frederick? Frederick, the name that sent chills down people¡¯s spines, she hadn¡¯t met him yet. ¡°Marguerite?¡± A familiar male voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned her head, her eyes wide open. Steven? What was he doing here? Today he wasn¡¯t in his work clothes but in a ck double¨Cbreasted suit, simr to Frederick¡¯s style. His hair also was impably styled, looking like he¡¯d taken great care to dress up. ¡°Steven, you¡­¡± The man¡¯s rosy lips curled up slightly, noticing Marguerite¡¯s confusion, and he began to exin as he approached. ¡°At big events like these, the blue bloods always have a couple of doctors on standby, you know, just in case.¡± His hands rested casually on the railing, his exposed slender fingers exceptionally pale, emanating a somewhat androgynous beauty. But she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Steven¡¯s aura was a bit different than usual. A bit sly and a hint of unspoken cruelty. But his face, it was all smiles. ¡°In case of what? A stampede because it¡¯s too crowded? Or worried about feuds breaking out if enemies bump into each other and there¡¯s no one to break it up?¡± It was meant as a joke, but Steven¡¯s eyes shed with seriousness. His gaze shifted, then he nodded slightly towards the floor below. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. After all, at this kind of gatherings, there are a lot of women vying for attention. Lovers, mistresses, official and unofficial partners, all tangled up in love triangles. Fights aremon.¡± Having heard that, Marguerite thought about the anger of thedies when they were talking about mistresses earlier, and she shuddered. She smiled wryly at Steven, ¡°That¡¯s terrifying.¡± ¡°Did Frederick bring you?¡± Marguerite¡¯s face fell a little, she nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± The man raised an eyebrow, his beautiful eyes full of meaning that Marguerite couldn¡¯t quite understand, ¡°Nice.¡± Then, he turned his gaze to the distance, his originally smiling lips slowly straightened. Seeing his expression, Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled. What was that about? He didn¡¯t ask about her rtionship with Frederick, and Marguerite didn¡¯t exin. Since he worked for the rich, he must have seen scenarios like this all the time. A young female college graduate hanging out with the wealthy, pregnant with someone else¡¯s child. It sounded shocking, but in this turbulent and deceitful circle of the rich, it seemed normal. Maybe to Steven, she was no different from the secret lovers downstairs. They stood side by side in silence. Not long after, there was suddenly amotion downstairs, everyone was gathered around the TV wall, shocked cries and screams made the atmosphere of the party chaotic. ¡°I remember saying something important was about to happen, I need to get ready.¡± Steven nced in a direction, then hurriedly left. Were they arguing? Marguerite stood still, staring at the TV wall downstairs, trying to guess whether the chaos was rted to what was on the TV. But she couldn¡¯t see any images, it looked like a report on the screen. A report? It looked familiar? Was it a pregnancy test report? Whose report was it? At the same time, the door behind her was suddenly pulled open from the inside, and Frederick came out. His gaze passed over Marguerite andnded on the screen. Chapter 131 The TV wall was a fair distance from the second floor, so all Marguerite could make out was a pregnancy test report that looked oddly familiar. Then slowly, the screen zoomed in and the name in the top left corner became more and more clear. Marguerite squinted and found to her shock, the name on the pregnancy report was her own! A sense of shock descended, leaving Marguerite¡¯s mind in a whirl, barely able to think straight. Why was her pregnancy report on the Winston family¡¯s TV wall? Who the hell put it there! She didn¡¯t have time to think further, she was shaking all over, looking at Frederick beside her, her face pale as snow, cold as ice. Frederick¡¯s icy stare at that moment sent a chill of fear down her spine. Meanwhile, the celebrities downstairs started chattering away. ¡°Who¡¯s this Marguerite? She¡¯s pregnant? Whose kid is it?¡± ¡°Who is this Marguerite? Is she some rich kid¡¯s mistress or a home wrecker?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you guys see? This Marguerite is forcing the legal wife to divorce! She doesn¡¯t want to be the other woman, she wants to be the wife. That¡¯s why she¡¯s making the pregnancy public!¡± Though the topic was unsavory, it was the talk of the town. Marguerite¡¯s head was in a spin, she was at a loss, gripping Frederick¡¯s arm, ¡°Frederick, listen to me¡­I¡­I¡­¡± Tears filled her eyes, her lips moved, but no words came out. She had no idea how her pregnancy report ended up here, at the moment, all she knew was any exnation seemed weak and meaningless. Her trembling hands were shaken off by the man, ¡°Marguerite, I really underestimated you!¡± He had defended her honor so resolutely in the study room, even willing to stand against his entire family to give her a name, to protect her. And she, behind his back, was carrying another man¡¯s child! He, the head of the Winston Group, was for the first time subjected to such humiliation! Frederick felt like a joke! A big joke! ¡°Frederick, it¡¯s not what you think! Will you listen to me?¡± Marguerite¡¯s tears flowed non¨Cstop. ¡°Marguerite, do you have no shame? You¡¯re carrying another man¡¯s child, and you have the audacity to ask me how to introduce you! How should I introduce you? As a backstabber?¡± Marguerite was lost for words, all she could do was apologize and cry, but the voice behind her was even more severe. ¡°This is your idea of an innocent woman? Didn¡¯t you say nothing happened between you two? Whose child is she carrying?!¡± Powell, one hand on his cane, the other clutching his chest, was almost suffocating with rage! Whose child was it? Even Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure! Frederick¡¯s fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white, his nails digging deep into his flesh. ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you? I said this woman would ruin your future! You insisted she wouldn¡¯t deceive you, look at what¡¯s happening now! Our entire family has lost face because of this! Frederick, why do you still protect her? Do you want her to destroy our whole family?¡± A chill spread, Frederick¡¯s deep eyes turned bloodshot, ¡°This is my business. I¡¯ll handle it, and you have no right to interfere.¡± ¡°Frederick, how could you talk to me like that? You¡­¡­you¡­¡­¡± Powell was so angry he felt a tightness in his chest, clutching at it, breathing heavily. Frederick¡¯s words were sharp, his cold eyes fixed on Marguerite, then he turned and left without a word. No denying, Frederick was mad, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself tosh out at Marguerite. Because everything happened so suddenly, behind his anger, there was an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He felt like his heart was being crushed by a huge rock, suffocating him, trapping him, causing him pain. He didn¡¯t want to face it. He couldn¡¯t believe the woman he thought was pure and innocent would choose to betray him in this way. It was both ironic and despairing for him. Marguerite immediately ran after him, barely taking a few steps down the stairs when Steven came running up with a bunch of servants. ¡°Powell has fainted! Bring the first aid kit, now!¡± The scene descended into chaos once again, but Marguerite couldn¡¯t care less. She had one thing on her mind, she must find Frederick and tell him the truth. She had to tell Frederick, she too was a victim, a month ago she was forced to sleep with someone at the Regal Haven Hotel. But at that time, she didn¡¯t even know Frederick! She wasn¡¯t married to him yet! So, her so¨Ccalled betrayal was actually forced upon her! Chapter 132 Frederick bolted out the back door. By the time Marguerite chased after him, all she saw was his taillights disappearing into the night. His abrupt departure left her bbergasted. She even took a tumble, but he didn¡¯t stop. Her gown was torn, her delicate skin scraped raw. The pain made her arm and hand burn. Picking herself up off the ground, she kicked off her high heels and began the challenging trek outside the mansion. Luckily, the Winston Mansion wasn¡¯t far from the city. Marguerite quickly hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address to Sapphire Valley Estates. The driver nced at Marguerite through the rearview mirror, his eyes widened in surprise. His shock wasn¡¯t unwarranted. Marguerite¡¯s white gown was stained and torn in ces from her fall. Plus, she¡¯d been running barefoot, her feet bloody. The sight was heartbreaking. For Marguerite, her usual strong facade was gone. Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly, her slender shoulders trembling with her sobs. Before long, they arrived at the entrance of Sapphire Valley Estates. Marguerite generously paid the fare, her voice choked with tears, ¡°Keep the change.¡± She hastily got out of the car, pushed open the ck iron gates, and ran inside. Frederick¡¯s vi was at the very heart of the estate. Marguerite ran panting, but she didn¡¯t dare stop. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t even sure why she was so desperate to exin, but she followed that impulse nheless. She¡¯d always thought that since there was no emotional foundation between her and Frederick, she could just walk away after the divorce. But she was wrong. The moment Frederick found out she was pregnant, the moment he coldly asked, ¡°Do you have any dignity left,¡± she felt a pain so deep she couldn¡¯t breathe, let alone catch her breath. She didn¡¯t want Frederick to misunderstand, so she had to tell him the truth about that night. Whether he could forgive her or not, she had to tell him. After about ten minutes, the vi finally came into view. With fists clenched, she knocked on the door frantically, irregrly. Chuck answered the door and was startled at her appearance, ¡°Marguerite, what happened to you?¡± Marguerite brushed past him, ¡°Where¡¯s Frederick? I need to see him!¡± Chuck quickly blocked her path, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, Mr. Winston doesn¡¯t want to see you now.¡± Marguerite was taken aback, then turned to Chuck desperately, ¡°I have something important to exin to him!¡± ¡°Ms. Lockwood, there¡¯s no point in exining anymore. Regardless of your exnation, the child in your belly isn¡¯t Mr. Winston¡¯s. What else do you want to say? He¡¯s already done you a favor by not being angry. So, you want to barge in, and recount the whole story, just to make him angrier?¡± Chuck and Robert, they¡¯ve always been the cheerleaders of their rtionship. And he¡¯s always thought Marguerite was good for Mr. Winston. Though she wasn¡¯t a beauty, her resilience and kindness set her apart from any other woman he¡¯d met. But he never expected Marguerite to do something so uneptable, and his tone naturally hardened. Tears welled up in Marguerite¡¯s eyes, she grabbed Chuck¡¯s shoulders pleadingly, ¡°I never meant to use him. I really didn¡¯t. This child¡­ it was an ident.¡± Chuck sighed deeply, his eyes filled with disappointment. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, do you know what Mr. Winston did for you today? In his study, he even¡­¡± ¡°Chuck!¡± A sharper voice interrupted Chuck¡¯s words, ¡°Let her in!¡± The voice came from the direction of the stairs. Marguerite was startled, and the next second she shook off Chuck¡¯s hand and ran towards the living room. Frederick was leaning on the banister, his gloomy face looked terrifying, ¡°You wanted to exin? What do you have to say?¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Frederick took a good look at Marguerite. Seeing her frail body, her hands with skin peeling off tightly clutching her long skirt, revealing a pair of blurred and dirty feet. The man¡¯s gaze paused, his heart skipped a beat. Oh, this is bad! How did this woman end up like this? No doubt, Frederick felt bad for her. But his sympathysted only for two seconds before he forcibly suppressed it. He said to himself, ¡°Frederick, haven¡¯t you realized it? Isn¡¯t this woman just trying to arouse your protective instincts with her pitiful appearance? But in reality, she¡¯s cunning and maniptive. What¡¯s more, she¡¯s carrying another man¡¯s child without your knowledge. Do you really want to continue being fooled by her?¡± Frederick gritted his teeth, his temple veins throbbing violently, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, can¡¯t speak all of a sudden?¡± Marguerite shook her head, ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s not like that. I just¡­ don¡¯t know where to start.¡± Frederick had misjudged her many times, but each time Marguerite chose to remain silent, quietly bearing all the usations. Back then, she was proud and stubborn, always thinking that if the other party didn¡¯t believe her, any exnation would be useless. She was unwilling to bow her head and beg others to believe her. However, when she actually wanted to exin something, she became speechless. She had borne so many usations, in front of Frederick, she was apletely disgraced woman. Oh my god! How should she speak to make Frederick believe her? ¡°Hmm, don¡¯t know where to start?¡± The man arrogantly descended from the spiral staircase, step by step approaching Marguerite, then harshly grabbed her neck. Marguerite¡¯s throat suddenly tightened, she couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Of course you don¡¯t know where to start because you¡¯re carrying someone else¡¯s child. That¡¯s a fact. What excuse do you n to use now?¡± Tears welled up in Marguerite¡¯s big eyes, ¡°It was my fault, but I am also a victim. Frederick, the child was an ident, I¡­ I was forced¡­¡± Her voice got weaker and weaker towards the end. That was the past she least wanted to remember, and the humiliation she least wanted to ept. Frederick seemed to have heard a very funny joke, asking, ¡°Forced? So you¡¯re saying you were raped?¡± She bit her lip, tears filled her eyes again. She sat upright, too pained to speak, could only nod her head with deep humiliation. ¡°Rape?¡± Frederick uttered the word softly, suddenlyughed, his eyes full of mockery when he looked at Marguerite, ¡°Marguerite, take a good look at yourself.¡± Marguerite¡¯s tearful eyes suddenly widened, ¡°You¡­ what do you mean?¡± ¡°Your lie is too clumsy, nobody would want to rape you.¡± In an instant, humiliation, doubt, and pain engulfed Marguerite. He didn¡¯t say anything too harsh, but Marguerite felt his words were extremely unpleasant. He said, ¡°Nobody would want to rape you.¡± Are there any words more repulsive than that? ¡°Frederick, do you have to say such disgusting words?¡± Marguerite cried out, her emotions so stirred up that her belly began to hurt. Suddenly, a hint of pain shed in Frederick¡¯s eyes. ¡°I just said some unpleasant words and you can¡¯t take it? Marguerite, what I¡¯ve done is nothingpared to you.¡± Frederick withdrew his hand with disgust, his impatient expression as if touching her one more time would be repulsive. Marguerite suddenly copsed and fell to the ground. At that moment, Marguerite had lost the desire to exin. Frederick had humiliated her so much, why should she still apologize to him in a humble manner? Marguerite casually wiped her eyes. Her stomach was churning, she couldn¡¯t control it and started vomiting. The sound of her vomiting fueled Frederick¡¯s anger, making her vomiting look even more offensive, Every word and action of hers seemed to remind him that he was betrayed by an ugly woman. This is utterly ridiculous! ¡°Chuck!¡± Frederick turned around. ¡°Throw her out!¡± Throw¡­ throw her out? Although Chuck felt Marguerite had done too much, it didn¡¯t seem quite right to just throw a pregnant woman out like this. He stood there, not knowing what to do. ¡°Did you hear me? I said, throw her out!¡± The man¡¯s angry voice rang out again. Chuck stood there, caught in a dilemma. 11:08 But seeing Mr. Winston¡¯s furious eyes, he could only hesitantly step forward, sighing, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯m sorry.¡± But before Chuck could touch Marguerite, she fiercely resisted, pushing him away with force. Her voice was tearful but firm. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I can leave on my own!¡± Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Having said that, Marguerite got up from the ground, clutching her belly and ran into her bedroom. She quickly packed her things and came out. She didn¡¯t have a suitcase, so all her belongings were stuffed into a clear stic bag. She changed out of her dress and into a sweatshirt and sneakers, clothes she often washed. As she walked past Frederick, she was like a proud swan in daylight, not sparing him a nce. At this moment, Laverine walked in from outside. She had been to the cheap apartment where she and Marguerite used to live. They were kicked out when they couldn¡¯t pay rent, but their stuff remained in the apartment. Before Marguerite turned 18, Laverine would take her to a photo studio to take a picture every year. There were 18 photos in total. This time Laverine went to retrieve these 18 photos. Each photo wasbeled ¡°Marguerite Age XX Memorial¡°, they could all be used to prove her identity. Laverine had brought them all back, ready to show Frederick when the time came. As soon as she got home, she saw Marguerite walking out with a stic bag in a determined manner. Laverine immediately grabbed her hand, ¡°Where are you going? What happened to you? How did you hurt your hand?¡± Seeing her grandmother, Marguerite felt like crying again. She could leave without a backward nce, but she couldn¡¯t bear leaving her grandmother. Marguerite was stopped by Laverine in the middle of the living room. Seeing this, Chuck was afraid Frederick would get angry again. So he lowered his voice, sweating profusely, and exined to Laverine, ¡°Ma¡¯am, Mr. Winston has kicked Ms. Lockwood out. He¡¯s really pissed right now. Let¡¯s let her leave first, then we¡¯ll figure out what to do.¡± Laverine was shocked. Frederick wanted to kick Marguerite out? This was uneptable! She didn¡¯t care if Frederick would get mad, she asked loudly, ¡°If you kick her out, where will she stay?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my problem.¡± Frederick¡¯s face was gloomy, his eyes cold and murderous. ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t worry about me. You take good care of yourself at home, remember to go to the hospital for a check¨Cup every three days.¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t take Laverine with her, she had nothing now, not even a ce to stay. Her grandmother could stay in the vi, although she would miss her, at least she would have a ce to live and someone to take care of her. After saying this, Marguerite tried to squeeze past Laverine to the door, but Laverine gripped her wrist tighter, ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere!¡± The man¡¯s eyes were terrifying at this moment, but Laverine dared to confront him, ¡°Did you two fight again? Over what?¡± Over what? Frederick clenched his lips, looking even more displeased. Seeing this, Chuck was so nervous his legs were shaking. She¡¯s really fearless! Mr. Winston was already so mad, how could she still dare to poke the bear? Chuck immediately went to Laverine, and quickly whispered in her ear, ¡°Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s more than just a fight this time! Please don¡¯t get angry, try to say less. You¡¯re not her real grandmother, be careful not to get yourself involved.¡± More than just a fight? Is there a more serious problem? Laverine looked at Marguerite, holding her wrist tightly, and asked softly. ¡°Tell me, is this problem rted to Yuna again?¡± The deep sadness and pain made Marguerite feel like her throat was blocked by a stone, unable to speak. Observing Marguerite¡¯s reaction, Laverine already had an answer in her mind. It seemed that Yuna is up to her old tricks again! She had chosen to ignore the previous few conflicts for various reasons. But today¡¯s misunderstanding had escted to the point of wanting to kick her beloved granddaughter out of the vi. She had had enough! Wasn¡¯t Yuna just acting recklessly because she had taken Marguerite¡¯s ce? Today she was going to show Frederick just how wrong and ridiculous he had been. She reached into her pocket and tightly gripped the envelope full of photos. Holding Marguerite¡¯s hand, she walked up to Frederick and looked at him sternly. ¡°Frederick, you should take a look at these photos I brought before deciding to kick Marguerite out!¡± 1/1 Chapter 135 Laverne¡¯s move was so out of the blue, that it left everyone baffled. Chuck was shaking like a leaf. Laverne really had a death wish or something! He knew Laverne was trying to stick up for Marguerite, but what was the point? Marguerite¡¯s pregnancy blew up the whole feud between them, and things were totally beyond repair now. The bunch of photos, God knew where she got them from. How could they possibly put out the fire in Frederick¡¯s heart? Chuck was red¨Cfaced and sweating buckets. He rushed over, grabbed the envelope full of photos, and stuffed it into Laverne¡¯s arms. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m begging you! Please, don¡¯t stir the pot anymore! Marguerite¡¯s pregnant, and the kid ain¡¯t Frederick¡¯s! Do you actually think a bunch of photos can fix this mess?¡± Laverne was blindsided; she was frozen in shock. Frederick was frowning deeply, shooting her a puzzled look. His gaze flickered over the photos in her arms, then his expression turned icy and scary. ¡°I call you granny out of respect, because you¡¯re Yuna¡¯s kin, and I promised I¡¯d protect you and her. But if you insist on defending Marguerite, then¡­¡± Frederick didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Laverne was his elder, and she had once given him a bowl of hot soup. She was a benefactor, so he couldn¡¯t say anything too harsh in front of her. But he believed Laverne got the picture. Laverne turned to Marguerite, with disbelief written all over her face, and her voice trembling. ¡°Marguerite, is it true what he¡¯s saying?¡± Marguerite kept her head down and was silent. Tears were streaming down her face. So it was true. Her granddaughter was actually carrying another man¡¯s child! Laverne couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. Marguerite was the child she raised on her own. She knew her character inside out. There was no way she would do something so out of line. She had to get to the bottom of this. However, it was undeniable that Marguerite had hurt Frederick, so she was in the wrong, and there were no two ways about it. With this thought, Laverne quietly put the photos back into her pocket. Since Marguerite had wronged him, those photos couldn¡¯t be brought up. If Frederick found out Marguerite was the woman he had been searching for all these years, and she was carrying another man¡¯s child, he would be livid, furious! The atmosphere became unbearably tense, and Marguerite just took Laverne¡¯s act as a misunderstanding. She pulled her arm away from her granny, her eyes filled with gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Granny. Take care, I should go now.¡± Even though her granny had lost her memory, she stood up to Frederick for her, which showed she still wanted to protect her deep down. But she had let her granny down. She was the one who made the mistake. She had broken her granny¡¯s trust. Marguerite sighed quietly, took onest look at Laverne, then held back her tears, and left the vi with a heavy heart. She never looked at Frederick. So, she had no idea, the moment she turned her back, a pair of eyes, sharp as a hawk¡¯s, were watching her. Those eyes were filled withplex emotions, a mix of anger, heartache, and deep longing. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Marguerite stepped out of the vi with nothing but the clothes on her back. She spent herst hundred bucks on the cab ride back. Luckily, Miley had just returned home, offering her a temporary ce to crash. Miley had just stepped out of the bath, with her hair wrapped in a white towel. When she opened the door to find Marguerite standing there, looking like a refugee, she was shocked. ¡°What the hell happened to you? Why are you dressed like a ragamuffin, and is that blood on your clothes? Did someone hurt you? Was it Yuna? That makes my blood boil! How could Mr. Winston let her get away with this?!¡± Marguerite said weakly, ¡°Miley, can we talk inside? I¡¯m beat.¡± Miley quickly ushered Marguerite in and fetched her a set of PJs. ¡°Get out of those clothes.¡± Marguerite changed and emerged from the bedroom to find Miley with a first aid kit, waiting on the couch. ¡°Miley, is it okay if I crash here for a few days?¡± She felt a bit awkward asking for another favor. ¡°Stay as long as you need!¡± Miley took out an alcohol swab and started cleaning Marguerite¡¯s wounds, then it hit her. ¡°Wait, won¡¯t Mr. Winstone looking for you?¡± Marguerite gave a bitter smile. ¡°He found out I¡¯m pregnant, so he kicked me out. I guess that¡¯s it for us.¡± Miley¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What the hell?¡± Marguerite sighed, looking pale and exhausted, but patiently exined everything that had happened at the party. As Miley patched Marguerite¡¯s knee, she sat cross¨Clegged on the couch, deep in thought. Suddenly, she grabbed Marguerite¡¯s wrist. ¡°Who else knows about your pregnancy?¡± ¡°Just you and me,¡± Marguerite replied without hesitation, then remembered. ¡°Wait! My grandma¡¯s doctor knows! He was the one who told me.¡± Miley immediately said, ¡°Call him! Put it on speaker!¡± Marguerite was puzzled by Miley¡¯s anger. Did Miley think Steven was the one who leaked her medical report? Yes, she did see Steven at the party, but they had no beef, so why would he do that? It took a while for Steven to answer. Marguerite hesitated before speaking, ¡°Steven, I¡¯m sorry for calling thiste, are you asleep? I need to ask you something.¡± ¡°No, there was an issue at the party. Mr. Powell from the Winston family had a heart attack, so I¡¯ve been trying to save him.¡± This news hit Marguerite like a bolt of lightning. A wave of guilt immediately engulfed her. Powell had a heart attack? How could this have happened? It was all her fault! If it hadn¡¯t been for the news of her pregnancy, Mr. Powell wouldn¡¯t have had a heart attack. No wonder Frederick was so furious, this chaos was all because of her. It was all her fault! Chapter 137 ¡°Marguerite?¡± Steven asked tentatively. ¡°You had something to ask me, why did you go silent?¡± Miley pushed her impatiently. Marguerite had yet to voice her question. What did someone else¡¯s sudden heart attack have to do with her! Miley was fuming, snatched the phone, and started talking to Steven. ¡°Steven, I¡¯m Marguerite¡¯s good friend. We¡¯ve met before. I think you should know what happened at the party today, so I want to ask you, how did the pregnancy test report leak?¡± Miley¡¯s tone was very firm and obviously sharp. Her attitude was like she was about to charge up and question Steven, did you make Marguerite¡¯s pregnancy test report public! Steven, however, was not angry at all. Instead, his tired voice was filled with patience. ¡°After Marguerite had her checkup that day, she forgot to take her bag and report, so I had my assistant deliver it to her. The pregnancy report was in my hands for less than ten minutes.¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart began to race. Steven¡¯s assistant never personally handed her the stuff! She started to get anxious, her tone bing urgent. ¡°I did receive the bag and some reports, but it wasn¡¯t your assistant who gave them to me; it was sent to mypany by courier. Moreover, the pile of reports did not include my pregnancy report. I didn¡¯t think much of it at the time because I thought you were keeping it for me.¡± ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ask my assistant about the situation.¡± After saying this, Steven immediately hung up the phone. The two of them waited for a few minutes, and Steven sent Marguerite a video. The video was surveince footage from the hospital. In the video, Steven¡¯s assistant Janie handed Marguerite¡¯s bag and a stack of reports to Yuna. Then, Steven¡¯s call came quickly. ¡°Marguerite, this is what happened. Your stuff was left in my office, Janie went out to deliver it to you, but you had already left. She happened to see Yuna there, so she asked Yuna to help deliver it. Your pregnancy report was very likely leaked at that time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s infuriating! I knew Yuna was up to no good!¡± Miley angrily punched the sofa. ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯m really sorry. The report leaked from my hospital, and I will take responsibility. Can I do anything else for you?¡± Steven¡¯s tone was full of self¨Cme, but Marguerite just lightly pursed her pale lips, shaking her head indifferently. ¡°Steven, you don¡¯t need to take responsibility or apologize. This is my problem, and you guys didn¡¯t know about my feud with Yuna, so you don¡¯t need to take responsibility.¡± ¡°Marguerite. I heard about what happened at the party today¡­¡± Steven¡¯s tone at the moment was clearly full of nervousness and caution. He paused, then continued. ¡°If Frederick suspects that the child is not his, you cane to me. I can take a blood sample from your blood, get the fetus¡® DNA, and thenpare it with Frederick¡¯s DNA. So Marguerite, would you be willing to do a paternity test?¡± Chapter 138 Paternity test? Even though Marguerite wasn¡¯t clear about who the father of the child in her belly was, she was pretty sure it wasn¡¯t Frederick. It was in as day, no need for a paternity test. Marguerite took a deep breath, ¡°Steven, thanks for your concern, but no thanks.¡± Steven was taken aback, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pointless.¡± When Steven understood what Marguerite meant, he was deeply shocked, ¡°Marguerite, is the child in your belly really not Frederick¡¯s?¡± This matter had already caused Marguerite a lot of pain, so when Steven questioned her, she felt her wounds being reopened and insulted again. She answered a few words in a fluster and then hung up the phone. Steven stared at the phone screen in a daze,pletely unable to snap back to reality. ¡°Steven?¡± Janie waved her hand in front of his eyes, ¡°Stop zoning out, Mr. Powell woke up, and the other doctors are there. Are you going to check it out?¡± Steven shook his head, ¡°No, you go first, let me think for a bit.¡± Janie shrugged her shoulders, and closed the door on her way out. Steven immediately grabbed a ss of ice water and gulped it down, trying to clear his head. Then he pulled out a picture frame from the drawer, inside was a picture of Marguerite smiling. Since it was a candid shot, the quality of the photo wasn¡¯t very good, but Marguerite¡¯s face was clear as day. Her big eyes exuded an innocent yet determined aura. How could such an innocent girl have an illegitimate child? What on earth went wrong? Meanwhile, in the study room of Sapphire Valley Estates. The room was filled with smoke. Frederick stood in front of the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, continuously smoking. Chuck was choking on the smoke, sneezing non¨Cstop. He didn¡¯t remember how many Frederick had smoked, but he didn¡¯t stop after Marguerite left. ¡°Chuck.¡± The man¡¯s hoarse voice suddenly came. Chuck immediately stepped forward and responded respectfully, ¡°Mr. Winston, what can I do for you?¡± The man had his back to him, so Chuck couldn¡¯t see Frederick¡¯s expression at the moment. But after Frederick called him, he fell silent. ¡°Mr. Winston?¡± Chuck plucked up the courage to call out. No response. After Frederick remained silent for a long time, Chuck heard his angry voice, ¡°Find out who the father of her child is.¡± Chuck looked troubled, ¡°Mr. Winston, Ms. Lockwood said she was forced, so she definitely wouldn¡¯t want to talk about such painful memories. If she doesn¡¯t say, we have no way to investigate.¡± ¡°Forced?¡± Frederick sneered, ¡°Which man would force her?¡± Chuck stood nervously. Although Chuck was Frederick¡¯s subordinate and always ttering him, he didn¡¯t want to say anything more at this moment. Frederick¡¯s words were very hurtful in his view. If Marguerite really was forced, then she was the victim. But Frederick pushed all the me onto Marguerite. He knew Frederick was angry and couldn¡¯t control his emotions towards Marguerite, and could only vent in this way. It was totally pointless. Doing so would only make the rtionship between Frederick and Marguerite more distant. ¡°Mr. Winston, I really don¡¯t know how to investigate this matter.¡°. ¡°Then just stick to her side!¡± Frederick turned around angrily, his eyes burning with rage were already turning red. Chuck was so scared that he kept backing away, his face full of fear, ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston! I got it. Do you have any other orders?¡± ¡°Withdraw all stocks of Pr Radiance perfume from all stores, not a single bottle should be left!¡± Chapter 139 It was already the next morning when Marguerite got the news that Pr Radiance perfume waspletely off the shelves. She was torn about going to work, but reality already made the choice for her. Frederick had previously made such a fuss aboutunching Pr Radiance, but now he¡¯d pulled itpletely. Marguerite understood that this was his way of showing his attitude. When he wanted to support her, she could be a shining star, admired by everyone. But if he got mad, she was nothing, humble as dust. She was probably already fired from LuxeScents International. Annoyed, Marguerite shut off her phone¡¯s trending page, took a sip of soup, and Miley sighed across from her. ¡°Pr Radiance perfume was pulled off the shelves overnight, they must¡¯ve lost a fortune! Consumers areining too, they¡¯ve been waiting for this perfume for half a month, and now it¡¯s just taken off. Frederick¡¯s really throwing money away!¡± Marguerite listened to Miley¡¯s words, but didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Marguerite, if this perfume had sessfullyunched, you¡¯d be LuxeScents International¡¯s top perfumer! With that position, you¡¯d be raking in at least a hundred grand a year! It¡¯s all because of that Yuna. If it wasn¡¯t for her sabotage, how could you lose such a golden opportunity? It¡¯s infuriating!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of ming her? What¡¯s done is done.¡± Miley stared at Marguerite, her face full of disappointment. ¡°No way! She¡¯s hurt you again and again, even spilling the beans about your pregnancy, and you¡¯re just gonna let it slide?¡± Marguerite put down her spoon, and asked seriously. ¡°What do you suggest I do?¡± Miley said excitedly. ¡°Tell Frederick! It was Yuna who leaked it!¡± ¡°You might not know how much Frederick dotes on Yuna. He knows what she¡¯s done to me, but he¡¯s always forgiven her. To Frederick, Yuna has privileges. And what¡¯s the point of telling him? It won¡¯t change the fact that the baby in my belly isn¡¯t his. We¡¯re never getting back together.¡± Saying this, Marguerite felt a sudden sting in her heart, as if pricked by a needle. ¡°What will you do next?¡± Marguerite looked calm. ¡°First, get a job, I can¡¯t keep living off you. My grandma still lives at the manor, and I¡¯ll have to take care of her in the future. I want to give her a good life, and that needs money. Then, I¡¯ll keep investigating who the father of the child is. He¡¯s ruined me, I won¡¯t let him off!¡± Miley puffed her cheeks, saying firmly, ¡°Alright! After breakfast, you go job hunting, and I¡¯ll keep investigating!¡± It was graduation season, and the annual job fair was being held in Stonebridge City. Marguerite printed a stack of resumes, read o try her luck at the job fair. The job fair was packed with excellent talents, including many overseas returnees. Companies had too many candidates to choose from, who would notice Marguerite who didn¡¯t even have a degree? Somepanies even directly tossed Marguerite¡¯s resume into the trash, disdainfully saying, ¡°You dare toe to our job fair without a degree? What a waste of time! You should go wash dishes at Promenade za!¡± Marguerite was hit hard, desperate to make money she really went to Promenade za. There were plenty of tourists there, always short of hands, always in need of servers and dishwashers. Yet strangely enough, she walked the whole street, but not a single store wanted to hire her. By then, the sun was setting, and the sky was filled with a magnificent sunset. After a whole day of hustle without any gains, Marguerite fell into unprecedented self¨Cdoubt. Was she really that bad? Marguerite cleaned her sweat, took a break under a big tree, but as soon as she looked up, she saw a familiar and displeasing figure approaching her. ¡°Hey, Marguerite, shouldn¡¯t you be at home? Since you¡¯re pregnant, what are you doing here?¡± Yuna crossed her arms, her gaze full of provocation. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 ¡°How do you know that? Marguerite frowned, her eyes cold yet bright, ¡°So it was you! You sent my pregnancy test report to Powell Winston¡¯s birthday partyl Yuna¡¯s gaze flickered, her subconscious mind wanted to deny it, but when she thought that Frederick had driven Marguerite away, she had nothing to fear. She lifted her chin and said proudly, ¡®So what if I did? You don¡¯t know who¡¯s the father of your child. Of course I have the right to let my fiance know. I bet you wanted to trick Freddie into thinking it was his! Marguerite, you¡¯re really ambitious, not wanting a divorce, and using this tactic to gain status through a child!¡± Listening to Yuna¡¯s words, even if Marguerite could endure all of this, she couldn¡¯t stay calm. Marguerite grabbed her cor, and forcefully pulled her close. Yuna was frightened and her breath hitched, shocked by Marguerite¡¯s sudden move. ¡°Yuna, you say I don¡¯t know who¡¯s the father of my child. How dare you say such a thing? Tell me, why did I get pregnant? It¡¯s all because of you! A month ago, you guys from the Lockwood family said that if I apany Hanley for a night, you guys would save my grandma¡¯s life! But did you? It was clearly you who was supposed to go with Hanley, but you sent me instead. Yuna, how my child came to be, you know it better than anyone!¡± Yuna knew! Of course she did! She even knew that the child in Marguerite¡¯s belly was Frederick¡¯s! But, this secret she would never reveal. ¡°Marguerite you bitch! Cough cough.¡± Yuna¡¯s neck was squeezed tight, making it hard to breathe. She pushed Marguerite away and leaned against a tree stump, gasping for air. ¡°Marguerite, listen to me!¡± Yuna widened her eyes, ring at Marguerite, ¡°We indeed wanted to save your grandma, but the condition was that you had to please Hanley! But you¡¯re just a brainless fool, and you even managed to mistake the man. After Hanley found out, he almost took my life! You still expect us to pay for your grandma¡¯s treatment? Dream on! Marguerite, do you know how you got to where you are today? At most, I just gave you a push, but in reality, you chose this! You¡¯re a disaster. You ruined our family¡¯s casino, and now you should pay! You should die! You deserve to die!¡± Now that Marguerite had left Sapphire Valley Estates, and Frederick was too angry to even look at her. Yuna was of course as cocky as possible. All the jealousy and anger she had in front of Marguerite, she was going to give it all back to her. Anyway, Marguerite had fallen out of favor, so, she could bully Marguerite as much as she wanted. The more worked up Yuna got, the calmer Marguerite became. Her expression was cold, and a sarcastic smile hooked up the corner of her mouth. ¡°In two months, I was supposed to divorce Frederick. I really wanted to divorce, but your words just now made me change my mind. I don¡¯t want a divorce anymore¡± Marguerite said. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Marguerite said, ¡°Sure, Frederick kicked me out of the manor, but I didn¡¯t sign anything. You think he can divorce me just like that?¡± ¡°You shameless bitch, Marguerite! Let me tell you¡­¡± ¡°Tell me what? Yuna, are you hoping for me to die right in front of you?¡± Yuna, fuming, lunged at Marguerite, but Marguerite grabbed her wrist. You want me dead, don¡¯t you? You dumped me in the warehouse at Marina Shores Vige over 20 days ago, expecting me to vanish into thin air?¡± As she spoke, Marguerite put on a mock thoughtful expression and then burst outughing. ¡°I remember there¡¯s a tradition in Stonebridge City. If a spouse dies, the other one has to mourn for a year. Yuna, if I die, Frederick would be in mourning for an entire year! Can you guarantee that he won¡¯t fall for another woman during that time?¡± Yuna, red¨Ceyed with fury and disgust, looked like she wanted to tear Marguerite to shreds and brutally finish her off. But Marguerite¡¯s words stopped her from lifting a finger. She wanted Marguerite dead more than anyone else, but Marguerite just couldn¡¯t die! That was so infuriating! It was unbearable! Marguerite snorted again, let go of Yuna¡¯s hand, and said coolly, ¡°Yuna, you better pray I stay safe and sound. Or else, you might not find it easy to join the Winston family.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that naive to just let you die, that wouldn¡¯t be fun at all, I¡¯m not done ying with you just yet!¡± Yuna, who had just been threatened by Marguerite, lost credibility even as she blustered. Seeing Marguerite¡¯sck of reaction, she suddenly startedughing, looking very pleased with herself. ¡°By the way, Frederick bought all the shops in Promenade za as my birthday gift. He also booked the most expensive restaurant for my birthday celebration tomorrow. You¡¯re job hunting, right? Sorry, we only hire staff with a bachelor¡¯s degree or above, and you are not qualified.¡± Frederick bought her a whole street of shops! That must have Marguerite green with envy, right? Yuna, thinking she had sessfully unted, left with a spring in her step. By then, night had fallen, and Promenade za was at its busiest. Neon lights blinked, and the crowd buzzed. Marguerite stood at the end of Promenade za, peering down a long street with no end in sight. She felt lost. No wonder she couldn¡¯t even secure a job as a dishwasher, Frederick was so enchanted by Yuna that he had gifted her an entire street just to keep her happy. But tomorrow was also Marguerite¡¯s birthday, too. Thinking about this was heart¨Cwrenching, and the loneliness was indescribable. She stumbled into an alley. At the end of the alley was a bar named The Drunken Donkey. Marguerite was about to leave when she noticed a hiring notice on the bar¡¯s window. (URGENT: Female salesperson required, working hours from 20:00 to 24:00, no degree required, part¨Ctime eptable. Job description: Selling liquor. Sryposed of basic wage of 3000 USD and 20% of monthly sales. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Marguerite was instantly hooked. Working only four hours a day for a base pay of three grand? In ces like this, booze usually cost more than five times the market price. And a 20%mission? That¡¯s a killer paycheck! Marguerite had never been in a ce like this and naturally, she was a bit put off. But to make a living, she had to suck it up and do it, even though she was reluctant. With that thought, she dialed the number on the job ad. A woman answered, and Marguerite got straight to the point. The woman directed her to the office on the second floor of the bar. The office door was open, and the woman was puffing away on a cigarette in her chair. As Marguerite walked in, the woman took a drag and started coughing, ¡°You¡¯re Marguerite?¡± ¡°Hi Lily, I¡¯m the Marguerite from the phone call. I¡¯m here for the sales job.¡± Seeing Marguerite¡¯s look, Lily was taken aback. ¡°Listen, , I¡¯m running a business here. Why do you think I need female sales? Men are visual creatures. If they see a pretty face, they¡¯ll buy more booze. But with your look, who would want to buy booze from you? Just get out of here!¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t argue with Lily¡¯s words and simply left, deted She walked out of the bar in a daze, passing by the ad in the window again. The lights inside the bar were so bright that the ss was practically reflective. Marguerite turned back to see her ugly reflection in the window and made a risky decision. Her grandmother was now safe in Sapphire Valley Estates, under Frederick¡¯s protection, and the Lockwood family wouldn¡¯t use her grandmother to threaten her, at least not for a while. So, since she needed a job, why not take a risk? Marguerite thought it over, decisively took off the hideous mask she was wearing, and stuffed it into her pocket. Looking back at the window, she now saw a stunningly beautiful face, which made passersby stop to look. Marguerite turned around and walked back into Lily¡¯s office. Men are visual creatures, and so are women. Lily¡¯s attitude took a 180 when she saw Marguerite¡¯s real face. She couldn¡¯t wait to get Marguerite to start working. Marguerite stood there awkwardly. ¡°Lily, it¡¯s my first time doing sales job. Don¡¯t I need some training before I start?¡± Lily waved it off, happily puffing on her cigarette, exhaling a rxing smoke ring. ¡°With a face like yours, what training do you need? Just stand there and men will line up to buy your booze. Got it?¡± Marguerite felt a bit ufortable, and Lily asked, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s your name? You don¡¯t need to tell me your real name. Working here, you need a nickname, something that customers can remember.¡± Marguerite twirled her finger, ¡°Call me Margery¡± The name was close to her real name, Marguerite. Lily was thrilled, ¡°Perfect! Our customers will love you!¡± Marguerite said nothing. Wasn¡¯t she here to sell booze? Why did Lily¡¯s words make it sound like she was selling herself? ¡®Lily, let¡¯s make one thing clear. I¡¯m here to sell booze, nothing Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Upon hearing this news. Lily¡¯s eyes popped wide open, and then she burst outughing. Margery you¡¯re such a cutie! What you¡¯re talking about is what hookers do. We don¡¯t have any of those here, so you can rx You¡¯re just a saleswoITATS at most you¡¯ll have to drink a couple of shots with the customers! Don¡¯t worry With that assurance from Lily Marguerite finally felt relieved. Before leaving, Lily gave Marguerite a drink sales chart to memorize Marguerite went back to her apartment and reviewed the chart all night, only taking a break when dawn was about to break By the time she woke up, it was already 7 PM. Marguerite crawled out of bed, put on Miley¡¯s tiny dress, and hurriedly left the room. At that moment, Miley was on the couch with herptop, a birthday cake sitting on the table. She asked. ¡°Where are you going? Today¡¯s your birthday, and you¡¯ve slept all day! Shouldn¡¯t you be celebrating your birthday tonight?¡± Marguerite sighed deeply. ¡°Miley I need to work¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to work thiste? Can¡¯t you ask your boss for a day off? It¡¯s your birthday Mitey stood up from the couch it¡¯s not appropriate to ask for a day off on my first day at work. I have the cake when I get back. Thanks, Miley, you¡¯re the only one who remembered my birthday Miley yfully pped Marguerite¡¯s butt, Marguerite, stop saying thank you to me Marguerite replied with a smile, then at the entrance she put on a pair of Miley¡¯s beige fats, Tm just saying I¡¯m in a rush, gotta gor After bidding Miley goodbye, Marguerite quickly arrived at The Drunken Donkey With ten minutes left till eight, she went to the staff room to change. Lily walked towards her ¡°Margery, there are some rich young mening in tonight, try to avoid them for your first time being a saleswoman. These guys are notonously difficult to serve. Marguente nodded. ¡°Got it¡± With that, Marguerite tied a bow tie around her cor Because she worked in a bat even as a saleswoman, her outfit was quite bold She wore a white blouse on top and short ck hot pants on the bottom, paired with a pair of Doc Martens, her short hair reaching her corbone. She looked like the typical pick-me girl you see on TV However, her face was pure and makeup¨Cfree, which made her outfit even more stunning Marguerite went out with a box of drinks and the other salespeople, the rich young men Lily mentioned sat in the center Marguerite scanned the room, didn¡¯t recognize anyone, and went to serve other customers in the corner She was diligent in her work, greeting every customer who bought drinks with a sweet smile Soon, she had sold all the drinks in her hands Those who bought drisks from her were all attracted by her looks. As the crowd¡¯s cheers grew louder, more customers were drawn in ¡°Mergery! Give me another ten boxes of Corona ¡°Margery, I want to buy ten bottles of Jagermeister How muchmission can you get?¡± Not far from the bar The gaze of a wealthy young mennded on Marguente, he couldn¡¯t help but tug at the sleeve of the man next to him, Mr. Fitzgerald, what do you PAR OF this girl? Do you like her? Are you taking her home tonight?* The said it before, I¡¯m not interested in this sort of thing Robert Fitzgerald seemed somewhat agitated he looked in the direction the mar pointing, and his words suddenly stopped. Yuw? How could be her Without any hesitation, he quickly took out his phone and sneakily took a picture of the famr woman in the datance, then sent it Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Robert rarely went to clubs, but today, his friends dragged him here. Originally, he nned to have a few drinks and leave, but he spotted Yuna working at the bar. This rare and surprising sight, he had to inform Frederick. After sending him the picture, he noticed Frederick didn¡¯t reply. So, he immediately pinged him with the location, ¡°The Drunken Donkey, Yuna¡¯s here, going by Margery¡± At that time, Frederick was napping on the leather couch of his Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan, Today was Yuna¡¯s birthday, so he had made reservations at Bluebell Bistro and was on his way there. His phone was blowing up, he thought Yuna was rushing him. But when he checked his phone, he was struck by the dazzling photo. On the screen, the woman¡¯s face was Incredibly beautiful. She was holding a case of beer, her big eyes innocently looking at the customers. Her innocent aura was totally out of sync with her surroundings. Was this Yuna? Frederick took a second look. Was Yuna always this stunning? His gazended on her smooth legs, marred by scars. Damn it! Was she seriously dressed like that? Had the woman lost her marbles? ¡°To The Drunken Donkey!¡± Frederickmanded. Chuck was taken aback, turned his head and asked, ¡°Mr. Winston, aren¡¯t we heading to Bluebell Bistro?¡± ¡°No!¡± Upon hearing this, the driver immediately obeyed his boss¡¯s orders, took a turn at the intersection ahead, and rushed to The Drunken Donkey. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He opened Yuna¡¯s chat, and sent her a message. ¡°You have ten minutes to get out of The Drunken Donkey. By that time, Yuna had already arrived at Bluebell Bistro, happily waiting for Frederick. So, when she received the man¡¯s message, Yuna was taken by surprise. But the frosty words let Yuna feel the man¡¯s anger, she waspletely bbergasted. Was that a bar? What was Freddie talking about? ¡°Freddie, I¡¯m not at a bar. I never go to such ces, they¡¯re too dingy, totally not my scene.¡± ¡°You dare to lie now?¡± Frederick shot back with the picture, ¡°I¡¯m on my way to pick you up, and you better have a good exnation ready!¡± Yuna took a closer look. In the photo, the woman who looked exactly like her and was equally beautiful, was Marguerite! She actually took off her mask! That was outrageous! She couldn¡¯t let Freddie meet that bitch, or everything would be exposed! So, she had to get there before Frederick arrived at the bar! Yuna had never been as anxious as she was today, she ran out of the restaurant, hailed a cab and headed to The Drunken Donkey. ¡°To The Drunken Donkey! Step on it!¡± ¡°Miss, the speed limit is 40 km/h, can¡¯t go too fast.¡± The driver nced at Yuna in the rear¨Cview mirror. Yuna was desperate, even a bit unhinged, ¡°I need you to speed up! I¡¯ll cover the fine!¡± As she said this, she quickly took out a wad of cash from her bag and tossed it to the driver, ¡°Is this enough!¡± The driver was startled at first, looking at the money scattered all over the car, then without a doubt, he floored it, Chapter 145 Chapter 145 On the road, the driver ran countless red lights, risking his life and limb, finally dropping Yuna at The Drunken Donkey. But, she was stillte. As she hopped out of the car, flustered, a Cullinan ¨C a symbol of status ¨C was already parked in the narrow alley. Frederick had just gotten out of it and walked straight into the bar. Yuna¡¯s heart was pounding, she was pissed off, but she dared not storm in to drag Frederick out. Because Marguerite wasn¡¯t wearing a mask now, and she couldn¡¯t be seen together with this lowlife woman in Frederick¡¯s line of sight. So, no matter if Marguerite was already acquainted with Frederick or not, she should try to steer clear But Yuna was not willing to let Marguerite have Frederick all to herself, so she reluctantly stayed outside the bar, secretly observing the situation inside. At that moment, Marguerite was nowhere to be found in the bar. Frederick looked around, then overheard some people whispering. ¡°That chick is something else! Palmer only touched her thigh, and she freaked out! Wearing that sexy, wasn¡¯t she asking for attention? Well, she got it now, Palmer must have taken her to a room! Serves her right!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that girl¡¯s name? Margery?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! Margery! Nice name, good¨Clooking too. Just wait and see, Palmer will enjoy her body!¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick was livid. He grabbed one of the guys by the cor. ¡°Where the hell did that bastard Palmer take Margery?¡± *Please, let me go!¡± The guy was gasping for air, begging for mercy, ¡°Palmer took her to the third floor, I don¡¯t know which room though!¡± Frederick flung him to the ground. Themotion silenced the bar, everyone turned to look at Frederick, startled by his action. Frederick turned around and walked upstairs under all the watchful eyes. The bar was tucked away in an alley, but it was quite spacious. Without bodyguards, he had to search room by room. Meanwhile, somewhere else. The guy called Palmer tossed Marguerite onto the bed. He was drunk as a skunk, ¡°Babe, keep mepany tonight, I promise you¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± Marguerite was terrified, she backed into a corner, ¡°Don¡¯te any closer! I¡¯ll call the police!¡± The man moved closer, grabbed Marguerite by the ankle, and yanked her towards him. ¡°Sweetheart, you look innocent, but who knows how many men you¡¯ve hooked up with? Hahaha.¡± One of his hands was gripping Marguerite¡¯s wrists, the other was trying to unbutton her shirt. Marguerite struggled, but it was no use Her struggles seemed to only excite him more. In her panic, Marguerite yelled out, ¡°If youy a hand on me! My husband will make you pay!¡± The man paused, his foggy mind clearing up a bit. ¡°Your husband? You¡¯re married? No worries, babe, I love married women, I don¡¯t care who your husband is!¡± He said as he pinned Marguerite underneath him. ¡®Frederick! Frederick, help me! Frederick, where are you!¡± Marguerite screamed with all she had, then broke down in tears. She didn¡¯t know why she thought of Frederick in such dire circumstances, just his name alone was enough to give her a sense of safety. The man stopped in his tracks, ¡°Frederick? As in, the famous Frederick in the business world?¡± Marguerite bit her lip, staring back at the man firmly, ¡°Yes, him!¡± ¡°What are you to him?¡± ¡°I¡¯m his wife¡± The man seemed taken aback, then he burst intoughter. ¡°You must be joking! If your husband is Frederick, then I¡¯m his father! In all of Stonebridge City, I don¡¯t think anyone would dare to fight me over a woman! Chapter 146 Before the man could finish, the door was kicked open with a bang. The door fell t on the ground with a loud noise. Startled, the man let go of Marguerite and got out of bed in a huff. ¡°Damn it! Can¡¯t you see there are people inside¡­ Ah- Before he could finish, he was punched hard in the face. Taking advantage of the situation, Marguerite got off the bed and hid in a corner, looking towards the door. She was stunned. Unexpectedly, two handsome men appeared at the dimly lit doorway. They appeared like superheroes, their presence overwhelming. The two men were none other than Frederick and Robert! Where did theye from? How dare youy hands on Mr. Winston¡¯s woman?¡± Robert turned on the light, illuminating Frederick¡¯s face. The man was scared out of his wits, unable to even apologize. All he could do was chuckle bitterly within, not expecting Margery to be Frederick¡¯s woman! And he had offended Frederick. ¡°Mr. Winston, spare me! I really didn¡¯t know Margery was your woman. If I did, I would never have touched her!¡± Without waiting for Frederick to speak, Robert dragged the man out of the room. ¡°We have ady here, we need to avoid violence. Let¡¯s see, should I chop off your left hand first, or your right hand?¡± ¡°Ah! Please! Mr. Winston, spare me! I won¡¯t dare again, I won¡¯t dare again¡­¡± The man¡¯s screams faded away in the corridor. Marguerite hid behind the sofa, cautiously peeping out. They must have left. When her vision finally cleared, Frederick¡¯s figure appeared before Marguerite. Their eyes met, and Marguerite froze. They had only been apart for a day, but he seemed so different now. Marguerite looked at Frederick,pletely forgetting that she had removed her mask. Looking into her eyes made Frederick¡¯s heart ache. He held Marguerite in his arms and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she choked out, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Frederick gently rubbed Marguerite¡¯s shoulder, feeling like he had lost and regained her. He rarely felt pity for Marguerite, but the sight of her now evoked an unfamiliar emotion in him. Familiar yet strange The familiar thing was her face, but her vulnerability was strange. The tighter he held her, the more confused Marguerite felt. She lifted her face and asked tentatively, ¡°Are you, not mad at me anymore?¡± Frederick¡¯s thumb gently traced her tender cheek, I don¡¯t know why, but every time I see you, all my anger just disappears. Yuna¡± Yuna? That name pulled Marguerite back from her pleasant fantasy She instinctively touched her face, realizing she wasn¡¯t wearing her mask. So, Frederick had saved her not because she was Marguerite, but because he mistakenly thought she was Yuna. Yes, the one he loved the most was always Yuna. He even bought an entire street as her birthday gift. And she, was nothing to him. Marguerite didn¡¯t know why she felt so wronged, only that the atmosphere was suffocating and oppressive. She pushed Frederick away abruptly, wiped away her tears and ran out of the room. hent want to see Frederick anymore, nor did she want to know how much Freitensk Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Frederick didn¡¯t realize that the Yuno in his eyes was actually Marguerite. Sa he didn¡¯t understand the chaos Marguerite was feeling at the moment. However, her lonely figure stung his heart. Realizing today was her birthday, he couldn¡¯t let her leave alone Frederick quickly followed her out, leaving The Drunken Donkey behind. Yuna watched them love the bar, one after the other She was worried about being discovered, but when Frederick shouted ¡°Yuno¡± towards Marguerite¡¯s back, she snapped back to reality Frederick had mistaken Marguerite without her mask for her! Seeing his worry. Yuna felt a warmth in her heart. Frederick must really love her! Excited. Yuna put on her mask and secretly followed Frederick. She wanted to see how Marguerite was going to use her identity to attract Frederick. Across the alley was arge square. At the time, there were a few young people singing on the street, attracting many people to stop and watch Marguente was walking briskly ahead, with Frederick following her closely He could easily catch up to Marguente in a few steps, but out of consideration for Marguente, he deliberately slowed down to keep pace with her, quietly following behind her. In the end, Marguente couldn¡¯t help but tum around But the sudden turn of events caught Frederick off guard, and he bumped into Marguerite. Marguente lost her bnce and fell onto the bench behind her At that moment, Marguente felt incredibly embarrassed, her face turning red She turned around, seething in silence. Seeing her like this, Frederick found her very cute and couldn¡¯t help but want tough. He stole a nce at her and carefully sat at the other end of the bench. There was a gap between them, like a boundary line. *Can you stop following me?¡± Marguerite snapped. She knew Yuna wouldn¡¯t dare to talk to Frederick like this, but what did that have to do with her? She wouldn¡¯t maintain Yuna¡¯s image in front of Frederick, so if Frederick was angry, let him be. It wouldn¡¯t matter to her once she left. As expected, Frederick looked surprised This was the first time Marguerite had seen Frederick look so flustered. His long fingers rubbed his forehead, clearly embarrassed, ¡°When did you be so bad tempered?¡± ¡°Ive always been this bad¨Ctempered! Can you just leave? Let me have some peace!¡± After saying this, Marguente turned away in annoyance. Frederick was at a loss for words. How could Yuna have the guts to talk to him in such a tone? This rude and willful demeanor was a lot like the stubborn Marguerite Frederick extended his hand, watching her angry figure He didn¡¯t know what to do, so he retracted his arm This was terrible! He was a CEO, with a high status in the business world. Why was he at a loss because of a woman? Feeling extremely awkward, Frederick was about to do something to redeem his dignity when an olddy suddenly sat between them. Fredenck and Marguerite were both stunned The olddy looked at Frederick, then at Marguerite who was turned away from him, and began to speak. *Couples always make up after a fight, missy Your husband really loves you! Don¡¯t be angry!¡± What? Frederick loved her? This was the most ridiculous joke Marguerite had heard in a while. She turned to the olddy, smiling awkwardly. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you¡¯re mistaken. He¡¯s not my husband.¡± The olddy waved her hand, ¡°Missy, what¡¯s the difference? Nowadays there¡¯s no clear line between dating and mamage! If your boyfriend loves you this much before marriage, he will love you even more after!¡± Before marriage? After mariage? Whether Yuna would marry Frederick was not for her to know, but if she married Frederick, she would definitely divorce him. Thats why she didn¡¯t want to be mistaken for Yuna by the man in front of her, and had to pretend to be a loving couple in from of strangersi 12:32 A Chapter; Ma¡¯am Im not his girlfriend, nor his wife, I¡¯m his mistress.¡± After saying this, Marguerite deliberately showed a mischievous smile. Frederick had never seen Marguerite with such a lively expression, he was stunned. At the same time, he was helpless about Marguerite¡¯s ¡°mistress¡± title Upon hearing this, the olddy¡¯s face immediately changed, and she Chapter 148 Chapter 148 The olddy gave them a pissed off nce, then stormed off with a sour face. Marguerite shot a sidelong nce at Frederick, recalling how she had just cherkily referred to herself as his mistress. She expected him to lose his cool. However, the anticipated scene didn¡¯t y out The guy just grinned at her, not a hint of anger in sight. Marguerite swallowed hard, but she wasn¡¯t surprised. Frederick¡¯s doting on Yuna wasmon knowledge. It seemed he was really head over heels for her. Marguerite got up and started to walk away from the square, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, you better get going¡± Frederick quickly nced at his watch, I still have to celebrate your birthday. One more hour and today would be over¡± Marguerite stopped in her tracks, stiffening up She didn¡¯t want to argue with this man, but his mention of ¡°birthday reminded her of herself. Despite being poor and abandoned since birth, Marguerite had always been well taken care of by her grandma, never missing a single birthday celebration. Every year on her birthday, Laverne would try her best to buy Marguerite a small cake and take her to the photo studio for a picture. However, this happiness ended abruptly when she was eighteen, as a sudden fire robbed them of everything. Since then, Laverne and Marguerite had led a life of wandering And Marguerite, she never celebrated a birthday or took a picture again. Mechanically, Marguerite turned around, feeling a sting in her nose, ¡°Are you going to celebrate my birthday?¡± ¡°We had agreed to dine at the Bluebell Bistro, but you ran off to the bar to do part-time work, whose fault is that?¡± Marguerite stared at Fredenck, a wicked thought creeping into her heart. ¡°But the restaurant is closed now¡± Marguerite reminded. ¡°No problem, I can have Alison and the chefe back. Since it¡¯s your birthday, it¡¯s all about you.¡± Frederick, who had never put any thought into Yuna before, maintaining their rtionship simply with money, hadn¡¯t even prepared a gift for Yuna before today But now, his attitude had changed dramatically He started to me himself for not preparing a gift. He wanted to make her happy, to give her an unforgettable birthday. This series of changes, even Frederick himself couldn¡¯t exin why As if out of his control, his subconscious drove him to do so, and he did. With that, Frederick pulled out his phone from his pocket and quickly dialed the restaurant Marguente¡¯s eyes sparkled, and she immediately grabbed the man¡¯s sturdy wrist, ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat, apany me somewhere¡± Frederick paused, didn¡¯t ask where, and assertively pulled up Marguerite¡¯s hand to go back, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to my car ¡°The ce I want to go is not far from here, just a ten minute walk. Can you walk with me?¡± Frederick didn¡¯t clearly agree or refuse, he just suddenly put his arm around her waist, holding her tightly. Marguerite stiffened, her heart racing, feeling extremely uneasy with his action, but she didn¡¯t struggle. She suddenly started to crave for Frederick to treat her this way, even though she knew clearly that he was only treating her as Yuna But isn¡¯t this the way a normal couple should behave? in the distance, behind a huge utility pole on the square, Yuna was fuming, watching Frederick and Marguerite slowly walking away. Even though the already knew that Frederick had mistaken Marquente for herself, Yuna was still red with rage. Now, she was even more convinced that her beloved Freddie was tempted by Marguente Yuna thought, ¡°This despicable woman, dare to approach Freddie under my own name! Freddie was supposed to love me Damn that woman Yuna originally wanted to continue following them, but the high heeled sandals she was weaning had wom her feet out Thinking of Frederick¡¯s car still parked outside the bar, she decided to go back and wait. Since Marguerite went on a date with Frederick as herself, let her be After all, in Frederick¡¯s eyes, every move of Marguente was in reference to Yuna, so the more attractive Marguerite was, the more he would love Yuna All she needed to do was to enjoy all of this With this thought, Yuna turned around satisfied, then hoped towards the bat Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Meanwhile, at another location. Marguerite, with Frederick beside her, stopped in front of the Majestic Memories on the street. At this hour, this was the only ce she could think of that was still open.. Back in the day. Marina Shores Vige was quite backward, without a photo studio. So, every year on Marguerite¡¯s birthday, Laveme would take her into town. And the bus fare from Marina Shores Vige to Stonebridge City was cheapest at night. By the time they arrived in the city, it waste at night, and most of the photo studios were already closed, except for Majestic Memories, which was open 24 hours. Marguerite brought Frederick to the photo studio for a simple reason: although they were a couple, they didn¡¯t have a proper photo together Even if their differences had reached an irreconcble point, some memories were worth cherishing. And she couldn¡¯t ask him to take a picture in her real identity, so if he treated her as Yuna, she would go along with it. Even though, she didn¡¯t want to do that, but what could she do? Because, Frederick never truly loved her. The man looked up at the old sign and frowned, ¡°You want to take a picture?¡± Marguerite nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I can arrange for the best photographers toe to your ce, why bothering to a small shop like this?¡± ¡°Who says I can¡¯t take pictures in a small shop? Ordinary ces can create beauty tool Plus, I¡¯ve been taking pictures here for many years, since I was little.¡± With that Marguerite pushed Frederick into the narrow photo studio. ¡°Sir, I want to take a photo, can we do it now?¡± Marguerite said, yfully tapping the table. The owner of the photo studio had a pipe in his mouth, a detective hat on his head, and a brown vest on. He had a bit of a Sherlock Holmes vibe He looked up at Marguerite, recognized her after a while, feeling she looked very familiar The next second, he suddenly realized, pped his forehead and stood up, ¡°Miss, you haven¡¯t been here for several years. How¡¯s your grandma? Is she well?¡± Marguerite smiled, a blend of innocence and charm on her pure face ¡°Some things happened in the past two years that kept me froming to take pictures. My grandma is well. She¡¯s been recovering from an illness and is resting at home.¡± The owner then looked past Marguerite, straight at Frederick, his expression bing inscrutable. Your boyfnend?¡± Marguerite opened her mouth, suddenly unsure how to introduce him. She was currently using Yuna¡¯s identity, if she said he was her boyfriend, but he was not divorced yet, if she said he was her husband, it seemed werd too Before Marguerite could speak, the owner had already naturally walked up to Frederick, and without asking if he was willing, shook his hand enthusiastically Then, the owner began to chatter away ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve been taking photos of this youngdy since she was a child! She was brought here by her grandma when she was a baby 1 photographed her for eighteen. years! This girl, she¡¯s gotten more and more beautiful over time. Although I don¡¯t know her name, I remember she always wore a sapphire ne around her neck She always wore it when she came to take pictures! Wait, why don¡¯t I see you wearing it today?¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick immediately remembered something important Of course he had seen the sapphire ne the owner was talking about, a month ago, it was this ne that confirmed Yuna¡¯s identity But since then, he never saw Yuna wear it again. Feeling a bit strange, Frederick immediately asked the woman, ¡°Where¡¯s your sapphire ne? Howe you never wear it?¡± Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Frederick¡¯s abrupt question took Marguente by surprise. The way he asked, it was as if he knew all along about her sapphire ne. But she had lost that ne, so there was no way Frederick could have seen it around Yuna¡¯s neck. | Perhaps he was just following up on the shop owner¡¯sment. Tlost It Marguerite admitted, her eyes betraying her unease Frederick¡¯s eyes tumed ley upon hearing this Marguerits was puzzled Why was he getting so worked up over her fost ne? Especially when Yuna didn¡¯t even have it in the first ce Marguente ruminated on this, suddenly regretting bringing Frederick to this photo studio. To Frederick, she was Yuno, but to the shop owner, she was Marguerite. Even though the owner didn¡¯t know her real name. What surprised her was that the shop owner remembered things from many years agol If he continued to talk, her cover might be blown! Marguente, anxious, quickly changed the subject ¡°Sir, it¡¯s almost midnight. It¡¯s my birthday today, and I want to capture this moment. We¡¯re short on time.¡± The shop owner quickly put down his pipe. ¡°No problem! Sit over there, the same seaside backdrop as before, okay?¡± ¡°Sure¡± Marguente readily agreed white Frederick¡¯s brows furrowed even deeper In this digital age, this old, decrepit photo studio was still using a vintagerge¨Cformat camera! It was as though Frederick had been transported back to the 70s! He was not thrilled, but seeing the excitement in the woman before him, he didn¡¯t want to let her down, so he went along with it They took their seats on the bench, the shop owner then motioned for them to get closer, ¡°Move in a bit!¡± They awkwardly shifted towards the center, but the shop owner was still not satisfied. ¡°You¡¯re still too far apart! Can you smile a bit? It¡¯s your birthday, where¡¯s the festive mood?¡± Marguente sat up straight, not moving an inch. This was as close as she was willing to get. Every lime she moved closer to him, her heart rate sped up, and she found herself resisting Seeing Marguente unmoving, the shop owner was puzzled. ¡°Miss, I remember you having a big smile when you took photos with your grandma! Whats up today? Can¡¯t you smile?¡± Just then, Frederick put his arm around Marguerite and pulled her into his embrace Click- The sh went off as the shutter clicked, and the shop owner said with satisfaction, ¡°Nice! Looks like a wedding photo! Do you guys want to take a few more?¡± Marguerite quickly shook her head, shrugged her shoulder, and Frederick¡¯s arm slid off. ¡°One is enough.¡± ¡°It will take about a week to develop the photo. Is your phone number still the same? I¡¯ll send you a message.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you¡± Marguerite answered politely, then got up and walked out with Frederick. ¡°Hold on!¡± The shop owner turned off the power and walked over to Marguerite. ¡°Miss, do you still have the photos you took here before?¡± The old photos were kept by her grandmother She remembered the day of the big fire, they pulled out all their photos, but after moving into the low¨Crent house, she didn¡¯t know where her grandmother had put them Now that her grandmother had lost her memory, she couldn¡¯t remember anything about herself, let alone find these photos. Regretfully, Marguerite shook her head, her eyes full of self¨Cme. ¡°I don¡¯t have them¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay Next week, I¡¯m updating the equipment in my shop, and some old photos may be found. If I find yours, I¡¯ll contact you¡± ¡°Thank you so much! Feel free to call me anytime, I¡¯m always avable!¡± The possibility of finding her lost old photos excited Marguerite immensely ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t paid yet, have 1?¡± Marguente was about to pull out her wallet to pay, but after patting herself down, she membered that she had left her purse in the bar¡¯s dressing room. ¡°You can wait outside.¡± A gentle, maic male voice sounded in her ear Marguente looked at hun to see him pulling a leather wallet from his pocket and handing a bill to the shop owner Her heart pounded harder as she walked out. The shop owner quickly gave Frederick his change. The man paused for a moment before pulling out a business card and cing it on the table ¡°When the photo is ready. call the number on this card She¡¯s a bit forgetful, I bet she¡¯ll forget toe pick it up¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 When Frederick banded out his business card, Marguerite didn¡¯t notice. He left the shabby photo studio, his air of elegance in stark contrast with the surroundings Under the dim lights, his handsome demeanor was godlike, lighting up Marguerite¡¯s world in an instant. Marguerite watched him, her heart filled with loss. She and he were not from the same world. Her world was filled with hardship, with taking photos done in a shabby photo studio. For Frederick, he might nevere a second time in his lifetime What time is it now? Marguerite suddenly asked as Frederick approached. The man checked his watch, ¡°Ten minutes to midnight.¡± Past midnight, her birthday would be over, Marguerite never expected Frederick to celebrate her birthday, so his presence today was already a surprise for her. Even if she was appearing as Yuna Lockwood, she was already satisfied. ¡°We should go Frederick was reluctant, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to eat something? It¡¯s your birthday. I don¡¯t want to just go through the motions.¡± Marguerite chuckled lightly, shaking her head. Thank you, I¡¯m very happy today¡± Happy? Frederick was somewhat surprised. He thought this woman was too easily satisfied, with him only taking a photo with her. But he had to say, he liked Yuna¡¯s current character Gentle and resilient, somewhat like Marguerite. Marguerile¡­ Thinking of Marguerite, he suddenly felt irritable. Why did he always think of the woman who betrayed him? He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes had turned cold. He quickly masked his emotions, ¡°Go change your clothes, I¡¯ll take you back to Diamond Crest Estates.¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t refuse. Diamond Crest Estates, where Yuna lived, was right across from Miley¡¯s apartment. She could sneak back to Miley¡¯s home after Frederick left. When they returned to The Drunken Donkey, it was still bustling inside. Yuna, weaning a mask, hid in the alley. When she saw them return to her sight, her alertness instantly heightened, her eyes fixed on everything happening in front of her. Not far away, Marguerite stood on the steps, looking at the man, ¡°Don¡¯t go in, there was such a bigmotion just now, I¡¯m afraid it will cause a stir if everyone sees you.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze swept over her, ¡°Don¡¯t wear clothes like this in the future.¡± Marguerite felt the man¡¯s strong possessiveness, looking down at her shorts, nodding lightly, and then she reentered the bar¡¯s lounge. Frederick stood at the entrance of the bar for a while. Yuna found the right time and immediately walked out from the shadows, rushing to Frederick¡¯s side. She didn¡¯t want her beloved man to take that woman Marguerite home! ¡°Freddie, let¡¯s go.¡± The voice came from behind him. Frederick was taken aback and turned around to look at the woman in surprise, ¡°Where did youe from?¡± Yuna¡¯s face looked somewhat stiff, she quickly made up a lie, ¡°Freddie, I came out from the back door of the bar.¡± Freddie¡­ In the few hours he spent with this woman, he had never heard her call him that This made Frederick feel a little strange Yuna was worried that Marguerite would appear at this time, so she immediately hooked Frederick¡¯s arm in a coquettish manner, pressing her body against his ¡°Freddie, take me home quickly, my mom will be worried¡± Yuna didn¡¯t wait for his response, but pulled him towards a luxurious Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan at the end of the alley. At the same time, Marguerite, who had changed her clothes, rushed over She didn¡¯t see Frederick at the door. Looking around, she saw him getting into the car with Yuna Marguerite¡¯s eyes instantly became tense, but Frederick¡¯s head slightly turned, his gaze about to shift back to her She was startled, quickly retreating back into the bar. Through the blinds, Marguerite saw Frederick finally leave with Yuna. The Cullinan quickly disappeared, but Marguerite¡¯s heart was filled with sadness. Trederick, it¡¯s time for us to say goodbye¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 At the same time, the pricey Cullinan was cruising smoothly into the peaceful night. How would Frederick know that the woman who had spent a few delightful hours with him was Marguerite, not Yuna? Still basking in the afterglow of the woman¡¯s tendemess, he voluntarily pulled Yuna into his arms, allowing her to lean on his shoulder. Yuna was over the moon. This was the first time that Frederick had taken the initiative to hold her! Apparently, Marguerite had her ways of reeling men In. But Marguerite would never know that she had once again sacrificed herself for Yuna! The man she had meticulously plotted to attract was now cuddling and chatting with her. if Marguerite knew, she would be fuming! The more Yuna thought about it, the happier she became. Frederick¡¯s voice echoed in her ear, ¡°If you¡¯re broke, just tell me. No more working at the bar The deep, resonant voice of the man made Yuna¡¯s heart burst with joy. At the same time, she saw a business opportunity and hastily said, ¡°Then give me some money, Freddie.¡± ¡°How much do you need?¡± Yuna wrapped her arm around the man¡¯s waist and boldly said, ¡°A million!¡± Frederick¡¯s face turned serious, and he asked with a slight frown, ¡°What do you need so much money for?¡± Yuna pouted unhappily, ¡°Freddie, do you think I¡¯m asking for too much and you¡¯re unwilling to give me? Today is my birthday.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he was unwilling. Before, she had had many opportunities to ask him for money, especially when he had said he wanted to celebrate her birthday. But she didn¡¯t mention money, only asking him to take pictures with her. But now, she was asking for a million bucks under the pretext of celebrating her birthday! In just over ten minutes, she had be apletely different person, and of course, Frederick wanted to find out why. Could it be that she had encountered some problem that required money to solve when she was changing clothes at the bar? Unexpectedly, Yuna blinked her eyes andined unhappily, ¡°Freddie, you spent so much money shopping with Marguerite before¡­ So, it was only fair for her to ask him for a million! That was only the cost of two shopping trips with Marguerite. Frederick¡¯s body visibly stiffened, and he pushed away Yuna¡¯s arm. Yuna was somewhat puzzled and looked at the man innocently, ¡°Freddie, did I say something wrong? I was the fitting model back then. You don¡¯t know how heartbreaking it was for me to see you two.¡± The more Yuna exined, the more repulsed Frederick became. What a pain! He was worried about whether this woman had encountered some problem, but her reason for asking for money was so simple and straightforward Because he had bought Marguerite a lot of expensive clothes, Yuna had to ask for a million. Interesting! Such a love forparisons, this was the true nature of Yuna. So, all the joy from earlier was all pretense by this woman! But, that joyful feeling was hard for him to forget. She had been so sincere, so gentle back then. He was desperately trying to find a trace of that feeling in Yuna again, but due to her vanity, it vanished in an instant. Seeing Frederick in this state, Yuna unashamedly tugged at his cor, ¡°Freddie¡­¡± Just then, the car pulled into Diamond Crest Estates. The driver parked the car steadily, but Yuna didn¡¯t get out. How could she leave without Frederick promising to give her the money? So, she shamelessly sat there without moving. Frederick took a deep breath, suppressing his annoyance and said, ¡°Send your bank details to my secretary Ill have him transfer the money to you¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna¡¯s eyes lit up as she replied, ¡°Thank you, Freddie. I knew you loved me.¡± With that, she couldn¡¯t wait to give the man a hug But just as she extended her arm, Frederick¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Get out of the car¡± Yuna¡¯s hand hung in the ait, and she felt extremely awkward, ¡°Freddie, I want to hug you.¡± Traid, get out. redericks displeasure was obvious, his words slow and threatening. His cold session caused Yuna to shiver Afraid that the promised million would fly away, she quickly got out of the car Frederick was leaning back in his office chair, his long fingers massaging his forehead, his expression devoid of warmth. Chuck was about to leave after reporting on work when Frederick spoke, ¡°You¡¯ve been talling Marguente these few days. Has any progress been made?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston.¡°. Her movements. Chuck suddenly remembered that Marguerite had gone for a job Interview at The Drunken Donkey yesterday. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Chuck wasn¡¯t sure if he should spill the beanspletely. After all, Marguerite was wearing a long face when she left The Drunken Donkey yesterday, it was pretty clear she didn¡¯tnd a job. Seeing that she wasn¡¯t sessful, Chuck didn¡¯t pry any further Plus, when Mr. Winston found out today that Yuna was also working at The Drunken Donkey, he was madder than a wet hen. Chuck didn¡¯t want to add fuel to the fire between Mr. Winston and Marguerite, so he only told Mr. Winston part of the story, ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite was job hunting at Promenade za yesterday, but she struck out.¡± Frederick¡¯s cold expression shifted slightly Was she still looking for a job? He didn¡¯t believe that she, with no formal education, could get a nice job. He figured she was used to the good life and woulde crawling back to him. *Get out.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston.¡± The next day, 8 PM. Marguerite went to work at The Drunken Donkey again, but as soon as she arrived, Lily summoned her into the office. Lily warmly greeted her onto the couch and quickly got her a cup of Joe. ¡°Lily, why did you want to see me?¡± Marguerite asked, puzzled. ¡°Marguerite, why didn¡¯t you tell me you were Mr. Winston¡¯s girl? If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have had you working sales. I would even give you my position!¡± The news of Frederick¡¯s actions yesterday had reached Lily. He thought she was Yuna, and he wouldn¡¯t let his girl work in a bar. Marguerite was afraid of losing her job, so she quickly denied it, ¡°Lily, you got it all wrong. Mr. Winston mistook me for his girlfriendst night. The lighting was dim. and he didn¡¯t see my face clearly. It was only when he took me out of the bar that he realized his mistake.¡± Lily raised an eyebrow, ¡°So you¡¯re saying, you and Mr. Winston aren¡¯t involved?¡± Marguerite affirmed, ¡°We have nothing to do with each other!¡± Lily finally breathed a sigh of relief. After Mr. Winston took Marguerite out of the bar yesterday, his assistant came to her, demanding that she fire Marguerite immediately. He even threatened that if she insisted on employing Marguerite, he would make sure The Drunken Donkey was cklisted in the entire bar industry. Turns out it was a misunderstanding, Lily felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. Lily said lightly, ¡°Well that¡¯s a relief! We can¡¯t afford to cross paths with big shots like Mr. Winston.¡± ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Lily, I saw Mr. Winston¡¯s girlfriend yesterday, he¡­ won¡¯te again.¡± Lily finally cracked a smile, but still warned Marguerite, ¡°Regardless, what happened yesterday was due to myck of supervision. If something simr happens in the future, don¡¯t try to tough it out, call me right away.¡± Marguerite nodded calmly, ¡°I got it, Lily. Rest assured, it won¡¯t happen again. I¡¯m going to change clothes, we¡¯re about to open.¡± Seeing Marguerite so proactive, Lily was pleased. Marguerite was really something! Yesterday, she actually achieved such high sales! All those high¨Cpriced drinks that had been piling up were sold out, thanks to Marguerite¡¯s sales skills. With a cash cow like her in the bar, the ie would be rolling in! Therefore, when Mr. Winstoris assistant demanded her to fire Marguentest night, she was extremely reluctant. Who would want their cash cow to leave? When Marguerite has been working for a month, she will definitely give her a raise! 8 PM. Marguerite put on her shirt and shorts, carrying a box of drinks out of the break room The customers were as enthusiastic as before, but just as she finished selling this box of drinks, a coworker came over with a message. ¡°Marquette there are two people at the door looking for you.¡± ¡°Looking for me¡± Marguerite was surprised. Could it be Frederick and Robert again? Marguente snapped back to reality, handed the box of drinks to her coworker, ¡°Can you take this for me, I¡¯ll be right back¡± Then, Marguerite quickly walked to the entrance, curiously pushed aside the heavy curtain, but before she could see who it was, a p hit her face You bitch! Who allowed you to take off the mask at will? Are you asking for a death wish?¡± Chapter 154 Marguerite was left in a daze by a sudden smack to the face Clutching her throbbing cheek, she finally saw who had hit her Ables and Zoe Rage swept over hes like a storm. The fire in Marguerite¡¯s eyes was burning brightly, ready to scorch the duo into ashes. How dare you? Who gave you the right to re at your mother like that?¡± Zoe demanded, bristling with anger. You¡¯re not my mom anymore, Marguerite shot back. ¡°How dare you talk back to me? You need a lesson!¡± As Zoe raised her hand again to sinke Marguerite, she swiftly dodged, leaving Zoe tosh out at thin air, which only made her angrier It wasn¡¯t that Marguerite didn¡¯t want to fight back. It was just she didn¡¯t want to give Zoe an excuse toin as a customer and put her job at nisk Seeing this, Ablett grabbed Marguerite by the cor from behind and threw her into a corner of the alley They were here to make Marguerite put on a mask. This ce was teeming with people, if Marguerite put on the mask in public, word could get back to Mr. Winston ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far! I¡¯ve already cut ties with you and left the mansion. Whether I wear a mask or not is my decision!¡± Marguente stumbled a few steps before regaining her bnce, being in the shadows, she had nothing to fear ¡°Your decision? What right do you have to make decisions? Don¡¯t want to wear the mask? Fine! Then get out of Stonebridge City, the farther the better, and don¡¯t let us see you again¡± Marguerite scoffed, ¡°Want me to leave? Alright! Give me some money to live on, and I¡¯ll go!¡± Even though Marguerite didn¡¯t know why the Lockwoods were so desperate to get rid of her, she did know that nothinges without a price So, she decided not to make things easy for them. Upon hearing this, Zoe¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°You¡¯re asking me for money? I gave you life, and not asking for anything in return is already a mercy! What right do you have to ask us for anything?¡± Then don¡¯t expect me to leave!¡± Marguerite said, resisting the urge tosh out, her voice firm and strong ¡°You¡­¡± Zoe was too angry to speak. In the tense atmosphere, Ablett shoved Marguerite and threw a brand new mask onto her face. ¡°If you insist on staying, then wear the mask. Stop wasting our time, we don¡¯t want to argue with you.¡± The mask lightly hit Marguerite¡¯s face, but her heart ached as if it had been cut by a knife. Even though she had long given up hope on the couple, every time they treated her like an animal, her heart still hurt. She never experienced any love despite having parents She was in so much pain! ¡°Marguerite, just a reminder, your grandmother is still living in the mansion! Now Yuna and Mr. Winston are together, they cane and go from the mansion without any formalities. If we wanted to make trouble for your grandmother, it would be too easy!¡± Damn it! They were threatening her with her grandmother again! Her grandmother was the light in her heart, and she had to protect her grandmother! Shaking. Marguente picked up the mask from the ground and put it on, clutching it tightly, ¡°How long do I have to wear this mask?¡± Zoe sneered, ¡°Until the day you die! Bitch! Marguerite leaned against the wall, feeling weak. Seeing her powerless to fight back, the couple left triumphantly With the mask on, Marguente couldn¡¯t keep her job Lily wouldn¡¯t want an ugly woman working here. Marguente had to cover her face, return to the break room, change into her regr clothes under the pretense of quitting, and then rush back to her apartment. When Miley saw Marquentes hideous face again, she frowned in displeasure, ¡°Why did you put your mask on again?¡± ¡°Zoe care to the bar to find me and we had a big fight. I had to put it back on for my grandma¡± That evil woman threatened you with your grandma again?¡± Marguerite copsed onto the sofa and silently sipped her water. ¡°Yes¡± Miley rolled her eyes in frustration, ran into the bedroom and pulled out a photo to give to Marquente, ¡°We need to figure out what¡¯s going on Luckily, an online friend has restored the photo, take a look Marquente took the photo and it was much clearer than before ¡°The man has his back to the camera. I¡¯ve looked at it all day and still can¡¯t tell who it is! The photo was very clear after restoration! Even the cutsinks under the man¡¯s suit were clearly visible. The round base with a crown shaped pattern, it was very well made and obviously expensive Chapter 155 ¡°Have you seen this before?¡± Miley excitedly moved closer to Marguerite, her face filled with urgency Marguerite, however, was frowning pinching her temples, her lips tightly closed. She couldn¡¯t recall where she had seen the cufflink before Growing Impatient, Miley quickly cupped Marguerite¡¯s face in her hands. ¡°Spit it out! You¡¯re killing me with suspense!¡± Marguerite blinked and said, ¡°The more I look at this cufflink, the more familiar it seems, but I can¡¯t remember where I¡¯ve seen it.¡± Miley sighed deeply in disappointment and sat down next to Marguerite. This woman, why does she always drop the ball at crucial moments! There¡¯s a saying that a woman¡¯s IQ drops when she¡¯s pregnant, and Miley felt that it applied perfectly to Marguerite. Forget it, I¡¯ll take this photo to the suit storeter and see if anyone knows anything.¡± Miley went silent for a moment, then looked at Marguerite, ¡°What¡¯s your next move?¡± After days of running around, Marguente was worn out. She had finally found a job at a bar, only to lose it because of Ablett and his gang ¡°I¡¯m at my wit¡¯s end, what else can I do?¡± She said weakly, even speaking seemed to drain her Miley worried that Marguerite would be crushed under the immense mental pressure, she immediately grasped Marguente¡¯s shoulders, trying to fire her up. ¡°Marguerite, look at me! Life has its ups and downs, but you have to keep going, you need to pull yourself together!¡± Marguerite lifted her head to look at her,pletely drained. Then what should I do next?¡± *Besides investigating the cufflink, we need to find out who the baby¡¯s father is. I¡¯ve given it some thought, getting the surveince footage from the Regal Haven Hotel won¡¯t be easy, but they keep records of their guests. Tomorrow, you go apply for a receptionist job at the Regal Haven Hotel! Once we have the guest record of the person who stayed in room 1205, we¡¯ll find our target!¡± Of course! Why didn¡¯t she think of this brilliant idea! Marguerite¡¯s eyes lit up for a moment, but quickly dimmed again. ¡°I¡¯ve been unable to apply for a job for a while now, I even failed at a dishwasher interview. There¡¯s no hope for me at a high¨Cend ce like the Regal Haven Hotel¡± The reason you couldn¡¯t get the dishwasher job is because Mr. Winston bought Promenade za for Yuna and she¡¯s been targeting you! But the Regal Haven Hotel is a bigpany, Mr. Winston can¡¯t possibly buy that for her too, right? Marguerite, get a grip, you¡¯re not that hopeless!¡± Marguerite looked at Miley, and Miley looked back at her. In that brief moment of eye contact, a warm feeling surged in Marguerite¡¯s heart. Miley¡¯s optimism was infectious, since she didn¡¯t just offer soothing words but also gave Marguerite a feasible n, preventing Marguerite from feelingpletely hopeless. Marguerite¡¯s eyes hardened, she nodded firmly. ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll go for the interview tomorrow!¡± Miley smiled in satisfaction, lifting Marguerite¡¯s face with her hands. ¡°That¡¯s the Marguerite I know! Now, no more sulking, or you¡¯ll chase away all your good luck!¡± The next morning. After eating, Marguerite left the house, ready to take the bus to the Regal Haven Hotel for the interview. However, as soon as she stepped out of the building she spotted that familiar luxury car in the corner. She had seen this car in Sapphire Valley Estates, it belonged to Chuck. In the past few days, she had seen it no less than ten times. That was why she always wore a mask before returning to the apartment, afraid that Chuck would recognize her. Marguerite was nning to ignore it like she usually did, but after a few steps, she stopped, thought for a moment, then turned around and walked towards the luxury car Her slender fingers started knocking on the window, the person inside quickly rolled down the window, looking at Marguerite with a smile. ¡°Marguente? What a coincidence, what are you doing here?¡± Marguerite replied without expression, ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence. I know you were sent to follow me, tell Frederick that I don¡¯t know who the father of the child is, and I don¡¯t have any secret lovers. So, stop following me, it¡¯s pointless¡± Chuck¡¯s smile turned awkward, but Marguerite had already turned and walked away Her frail figure walking on the bustling street might not stand out in the crowd, but she seemed strong and unyielding. Chuck¡¯s face instantly changed, and he didn¡¯t know what to express. As soon as Marguerite got on the bus, he immediately started his engine and followed her again. Chapter 156 Chuck wasnt hot on Marguerite¡¯s heels, plus it was rush hour, the bus was packed, so Marguerite didn¡¯t notice him Marguente got off at Regal Haven Hotel and headed straight for the hotel Seeing this, Chuck was gobsmacked, he was left breathless. What on earth was Marguerite doing at the hotel this early in the moming? Chuck was tom inside, wondering whether he should tell Frederick. But not long after, Marguerite emerged from the hotel, looking rather off¨Ccolour and utterly downcast This made Chuck even more curious. Marguerite quickly made her exit. Chuck got off in a hurry, walked into the hotel and headed for the reception ¡°Good day, sir, wee to Regal Haven Hotel Excuse me, did a short¨Chaireddy in a grey T¨Cshirte in just now? Chuck asked the receptionist The receptionist thought for a moment, ¡°Do you mean thedy with freckles and average looks?¡± ¡°That¡¯s her! Can you tell me why she was here? Did she meet anyone?¡± Chuck asked tentatively ¡°She was here for a receptionist interview, she only met our manager¡± the receptionist replied Then her gaze fell behind Chuck, ¡°Sir, our manager is out now, you can ask him directly for the details.¡± Chuck tumed around, upon seeing the manager he quickly unleashed his social skills, ¡°Hawk, long time no seel Weren¡¯t you working in another city? How did you end up in Stonebridge City?¡± ¡°The education resources in Stonebridge City are top¨Cnotch, and I wanted a good school for my child, so I applied to transfer here. Chuck, why are you at our hotel so early? Anything up?¡± Hawk asked. Chuck pulled Hawk aside and whispered. There was a girl who came for a receptionist interview, how did she do?¡± Hawk replied dismissively. ¡°How could she possibly pass! The receptionist is the face of the hotel, but her image was too poor, so I didn¡¯t hire her¡± Did she flunk again? Gotta say, Marguente really had a run of bad luck. She¡¯d been job hunting for days but with no sess, Chuck knew it all But she was pregnant, the baby needed nutrition, she needed regr prenatal exams, there were plenty of ces that needed money Even though she betrayed Frederick, after spending so much time with her, Chuck could tell that Marguente was a kind¨Chearted girl, so he wanted to lend her a hand ¡°Hawk, I can get your kid into a good school. If you¡¯re willing to hire her, I can help you with that.¡± Chuck proposed to Hawk Heaning this, Hawk¡¯s eyes lit up. Hed always been stressed about his son¡¯s schooling, now that there was such a good opportunity, he had to seize it He immediately warmed up. ¡°Since she¡¯s acquainted with Frederick, and she¡¯s your friend, I¡¯d be more than happy to help. But we have to go through the necessary procedures, once my boss is back, I¡¯ll handle it asap Meanwhile, at Winston Group. The President Office was quiet, empty, devoid of any vitality Frederick was undergoing psychological counseling, but his mind was elsewhere. His brow furrowed, his expression anxious, he held the Pr Radiance perfume, took a deep sniff, but the feeling of frustration didn¡¯t alleviate at all After learning that Frederick had lost his sense of smell and could only smell Pr Radiance perfume, Robert initially thought this perfume was the key to Fredenck regaining his smell. But now he no longer thought so The perfume was not the key, and the key was the woman associated with the perfume! But with the woman¡¯s departure, everything had returned to square one. Robert was anxious, thinking Frederick¡¯s self¨Ccontrol was really strong He was clearly anxious inside, but he could still keep silent and act as if everything was normal He swallowed, trying to indirectly remind Frederick, ¡°You know, these days your sense of smell has gotten worse. Should we find Marguente Before he could finish, Frederick looked at him sternly, ¡°What are you trying to say? I warn you, don¡¯t say what you shouldn¡¯t say, and don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t know Robert was speechless He didnt say anything! He didn¡¯t even finish! Never mind, this cant be rushed Seng Frederick¡¯s reaction, Robert knew he couldn¡¯t force him But there was one thing he really needed to ask Heputed out botograph from his pocket and handed it directly to Frederick, ¡°A few days ago I restored a photo, and the person in the photo, should be you.¡± 14.2 Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Robert and Frederick had been buddies for almost two decades. Robert knew Frederick so well that he could pick him out of a pile of ash. So, when Robert had just finished restoring a photo, he immediately recognized the figure In It. That unyielding silhouette was Frederick himself Frederick took a nce at the photo, his eyes were very sharp. Frederick, you¡¯re being snooped on, Robert dered steadfastly Frederick had an aura that was rather unsettling, ¡°Is Maurice Winston behind this?¡± Robert shook his head. ¡°Not sure. The photo was brought to me by a woman. Are you suspecting she¡¯s Maurice¡¯s henchwoman?¡± What¡¯s her name?¡± ¡°She goes by Smiley online. I don¡¯t know her real name, Robert crossed his arms, his alert expression indicating deep thought. ¡°But if she¡¯s really Maurice¡¯s henchwoman, this is a sloppy job My contact details are no secret, and our friendship ismon knowledge. Would Maurice be dumb enough to ask me to investigate you? I doubt it¡± Frederick rubbed his temples, his gaze piercing. He was about to dial a number on thendline when Robert reached over and hung up the phone. The man looked up, his puzzled eyes brimming with anger. Robert knew he wanted to dig into this matter and, without a doubt, he would end up tracing it back to Smiley But having known Smiley for two years, Robert found her to be easygoing and a bit scatterbrained, not at all the scheming type. He feared this might be a misunderstanding and he didn¡¯t want to harm an innocent person After all, Frederick¡¯s methods were not something an ordinary person could handle ¡°Get your hand off, Frederick warned Robert met his gaze, ¡°If she¡¯s really Maurice¡¯s minion, investigating this through your contacts would set off rm bells. But I¡¯ve known her for two years, and if I do it, she¡¯ll let her guard down. It¡¯ll make things easier¡± Hearing this, Frederick¡¯s anger¨Cstiffened face softened a bit. ¡°Til get in touch with her right away. Regardless, I¡¯ll arrange a meet¨Cup first.¡± Saying this, Robert pulled out his phone and opened his chat with Smiley, typing briefly, ¡°I¡¯m back in Stonebridge City Meet up in a couple of days?¡± Smiley responded quickly. ¡°No problem! Stay in touch!¡± Robert didn¡¯t reply further. After putting down his phone, he picked up the photo again, studying it closely. ¡°Where was this taken? it¡¯s all ruins around, like a demolition site¡± Frederick nodded, ¡°Cedarbrook Street. A month ago, I found that little girl from our childhood, and this was taken at her doorstep.¡± ¡°So this is Yuna¡¯s home?¡± ¡°Mhm¡± Robert immediately furrowed his brows, his face changing. ¡°This is even weirder If it¡¯s Maurice, he¡¯s investigating you to bring you down, he could just go to Yuna directly Why bother restoring a blumy photo? Makes no sense At this point, Robert was genuinely confused about their opponent¡¯s background. Just then, Fredenck¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He pulled it out and saw it was a call from Sapphire Valley Estates. As soon as he answered, he heard Sadie¡¯s urgent and anxious voice. ¡°Mr. Winston! Pleasee home ASAP there¡¯s been an incident with the Ma¡¯am!¡± Chapter 158 Frederick rushed to the mansion, only to find Laveme sitting in a wheelchair, looking like an absolute wreck. Her face was streaked with tears, eyes swollen, she looked downright pluful Fredenck quickly stunde over to her, dropping to one knee he asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Layere didn¡¯t respond, the just kept wiping away her tears. Sadie watched this scene, her legs trembling, the was worried Mr. Winston would me her, but she had no choice but to gingerly report to Mr Winston Mr Winston, Ma¡¯ar took a tumble down the stairs. We were all preupied and didn¡¯t notice until she was already on the ground.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you all? Thedy¡¯s not at her best, she needs someone by her side! Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was filled with anger. Laverne sniffed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t me them Marguente was the one who usually look care of me, it¡¯s normal they don¡¯t know my habits Besides, it was my own clumsiness that caused me to fall¡± Frederick immediately gently rubbed Laverne¡¯s knee, ¡°How do you feel now? Does it still hurt?¡± Laverne lowered her head, hearing Frederick¡¯s concern made her even more upset, ¡°I can¡¯t feel anything, my legs are numb¡± Numb? What the hell! The stairs were so high, even a young and fit person could break a bone from such a fall! And Laverne¡¯s legs were numb, how bad was this injury! Frederick hurriedly asked, ¡°Did you get it checked? Where¡¯s the doctor?¡± Sadie swallowed, too scared to articte clearly. ¡°Mr. Winston, we¡¯ve already taken Ma¡¯am to the medical room for a check¨Cup. But the doctor couldn¡¯t find anything.. the doctor said there¡¯s no injury to her bones or muscles, but she just can¡¯t feel any pain. We¡¯re worried she might have some illness¡­¡± A flicker of guill shed in Laverne¡¯s eyes, but being a sharp woman, she hid it well. She blinked and casually said, ¡°When I was young, I used to spend long hours with my legs submerged in mud and water, it¡¯s caused some old issues. Every time the seasons change, my legs either hurt or itch, now they¡¯ve gone numb. You don¡¯t need to worry, it¡¯s an old problem.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, how can we not worry? Your legs are numb but the doctor can¡¯t find a cause, we have to take this seriously! Sadie continued. Of course, the doctor couldn¡¯t find anything because Laverne was ying sick! Ever since Marguerite left Sapphire Valley Estates, Laverne had been feeling ufortable, worried about Marguerite¡¯s difficulties, or the possibility of her being taken advantage of. Every day she thought about how to bring Marguerite back, and so she often pretended to be ill, iming to have a fever, or a fall¡­. She wanted to give the impression that she needed to be cared for, and only a specific person could do it right But she knew Frederick was still angry, and if she directly asked for Marguerite toe back, he definitely wouldn¡¯t agree. So, Laverne pondered for a moment, preparing to tackle this issue another way ¡°Listen, you really don¡¯t need to worry about me. My legs will recover in a few days. It¡¯s just that right now, with my legs numb, I need someone to take care of me. Marguerite may have left, but others can fill in. You could ask Yuna to look after me for a few days. She¡¯s my granddaughter after all, she¡¯s bound to take care of me better than Marguerite¡± Laverne believed her strategy was a win¨Cwin. Not only would Frederick realize how good Marguerite was, but he would also see Yuna¡¯s shorings and viciousness After all, it¡¯s only throughparison that people feel difort Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Having Yuna tend to Laveme at the mansion was certainly not an unmasonable request. Frederick dialed Yuna¡¯s number immediately. Pack your bags within an hour ande stay at the mansion for a few days.¡± He wasn¡¯t nning on Yuna staying indefinitely, once Laveme was mobile enough, he intended to hire professional caregivers for her. Upon hearing the news, Yuna was initially taken aback, then overjoyed. ¡°Freddie, did I hear you right? You¡¯re inviting me to stay at the mansion?¡± I send someone to pick you up.¡± Frederick¡¯s tone was indifferent as he casually dropped a line before hanging up. Yuna, clutching her phone, was so excited she was trembling, unable to extract herself from her joyful emotions. Indeed, revealing Marguerite¡¯s pregnancy test report was the best move she had ever made. With that vile woman out of the picture, Freddie seemed to care about her even more than before. Seeing Yuna grinning like a Cheshire cat, Zoe nudged her ¡°What¡¯s going on? Whose call has you so excited?¡± Yuns burst outughing. ¡°Mom and Dad, the era of my happiness is about to dawn. Freddie just asked me to move into his mansion! He wants to live with me! Mom, Dad, 1 need to pack!¡± Yuna hopped merrily into her room, to which Zoe immediately added, ¡°Take some matching lingerie! The kind that¡¯s subtly alluring! Lace would be best! Yuna, this is a golden opportunity, you must try to have his child!¡± ¡°I know, Mom! I¡¯ve bought all of that already, just in case!¡± Unfortunately, Yuna¡¯s joy was premature. When she arrived at the mansion in high spints, only to learn of Frederick¡¯s intention, she was utterly stunned ¡°Freddie, you invited me over just to take care of that old granny?¡± Her tone could not hide her disappointment. Frederick remained silent, looking at her with a cold gaze Laverne, however, wheeled herself forward with a jovial smile, purposely raising her voice, ¡°You sound disappointed What, you don¡¯t want to take care of me?¡± Yuna gave Laveme a forced smile, finding the old woman¡¯s half¨Cparalyzed state in her wheelchair quite annoying. How was she supposed to take care of this old woman?! Damn it! ¡°Granny, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to. It¡¯s just that we should probably hire a professional nurse. I mean, if I¡¯m sleeping with Freddie at night, it would be inconvenient if you needed anything.¡± As Yuna spoke, she cast a seductive nce at Frederick, her intentions clear Hearing this, Laverne¡¯s eyes widened ¡°What did you say! Freddie hasn¡¯t divorced yet, and you already want to share a bed with him? You have no shame! Of course, you¡¯ll be staying in the same room as me! Who else would take care of me?!¡± Yuna tumed ashen, immediately turning to Frederick with a pout, ¡°Freddie, can¡¯t I stay with you? I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e ¡°No¡± Frederick¡¯s response was ruthless and cold, without an ounce of hesitation. ¡°But if I share a bed with Granny, I might disturb her if I toss and turn at night¡­ Ha! She knew Yuna would say that! Laveme had already prepared for this. ¡°No need to worry about that, Sadie has already arranged for an extra cot in the room.¡± Laverne confidently looked at Yuna. What what? A cot? Nevertheless, no matter how unwilling she was at the moment, she had no choice but toply for her own sake. Once she had Frederick¡¯s child, her day wille Yuna gritted her teeth in anger, yet managed to put on a forced smile, ¡°Granny, you¡¯re as thoughtful as ever. Since you¡¯ve already prepared, I guess I have no choice but toply¡± She thought, ¡°Damn old woman! Just you wait, your day wille!¡± However, how could Laveme not see through Yuna¡¯s little schemes? Laveme was determined not to let her have her way. Throughout the afternoon, Laverne kept ordering Yuna around Yuna was formented to the point of exhaustion, with no chance to get close to Fredenck Finally, when night fell, Yuna helped Laveme to bed before copsing onto the narrow cot and falling asleep She was exhausted, sleeping so deeply she was snoring, with no energy left to retaliate against Laverne. In the middle of the night, Laverne chuckled mischievously, secretly pulling out a bottle of golden liquid from under her bed. She opened the bottle and took a whiff, the pungent smell almost suffocating. Chapter 160 wake up! Help me, won¡¯t you? Stop sleeping Laverne stopped the bedsidemp to life with a ¡°snap and immediately called out to Yuna Joled from her sleep. Yuna was funous. Her moming temper made her shout, ¡°What are you yelling for? Are you going to sleep or not? What are your up to now?¡± Her subconscious reaction revealed her true colors. Realizing she had snapped at Laverne and fearing Frederick might hear, Yuna lowered her voice to a harsh whisper, What do you want?¡± Lavere flung the coveway with a worned look. A foul smell overwhelmed Yuna, who quickly covered her mouth and nose Upon closer spection, she was both shocked and angry, nearly fainting on the spot! This damn old woman, she had wet the bed! The situation was too much for Yuna. She looked at Laveme, fear etched on her face, and asked in a shaky voice, ¡°What what are you going to do?¡± Loveme was on the verge of tears ¡°Yuna, take me to the toilet! I need to¡­ go number two¡­¡± Go number two? Was this old hag nning on having a bowel movement? That was bound to smell awfull Yuna hurriedly helped Laverne off the bed. However, the stain on the old woman¡¯s pants was too revolting that she didn¡¯t even want to touch it! ¡°Yuna! You need to help me cfl the bed!¡± TLL Yuna stuttered for a moment, feeling helpless and on the verge of passing out You despise me, don¡¯t you? Fine, Ill call Sadie to help me instead!¡± Lavere shouted towards the door, ¡°Sadie¡® Sadie ¡°Quiet!¡± Yuna urgently whispered, almost hopping with frustration Laveme¡¯s voice was so loud that if Sadie was awakened, she would definitely tell Freddie. If they used her of not taking good care of this damn old woman, she couldn¡¯t stay in the mansion anymore. ¡°Til help! Isn¡¯t that enough!?¡± Yuna held her breath, gatted her teeth, and reached for the old woman¡¯s arm. ¡°¡®Yuna! My legs are numb, I can¡¯t walk, you have to carry me!¡± Oh- This old hag was her nemesis! A curse! She wished she could throw this old woman on the floor and stomp her to death! Laverne¡¯s pants were soaked with urine. If she were to carry Laverne, wouldn¡¯t that disgusting stuff get on her hands? Yuna was so disgusted that she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. ¡°Fine, Yuna! I won¡¯t trouble you. I¡¯ll crawl off the bed and to the toilet!¡± Laverne¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, and Yuna figured it wouldn¡¯t disturb anyone else, so she said. ¡°Then keep your voice down, don¡¯t let Freddie hear Crawl over there yourself!¡± Laverne nodded and began to move towards the edge of the bed But even crawling required getting off the bed, and Yuna had no intention of helping Laverne. Laveme steeled herself and fell off the bed Thud- A dutt thump echoed as Laverne cried out in pain, ¡°Ouch¨CI¡¯ve fallen! It hurts me! It hurts me! Is there anyone to help me?¡± Laverne¡¯s cries were loud and earth¨Cshaking, her raspy voice filled with pain and bitterness ¡°Shut up! Just shut up!¡± Laverne¡¯s cries made Yuna¡¯s scalp tingle. She approached, intending to cover the old woman¡¯s mouth. But the foul smell drove her back. ¡°You promised me you wouldn¡¯t make a sound! Stop shouting! You¡¯re not allowed to shout! You cursed old hag!¡± ¡°Yuna, I fell it hurts, can¡¯t cry out? You¡¯re too much.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here Laverne¡¯s words had barely left her mouth when a deep, sharp voice echoed from the door Yuna whipped around to see Frederick, dressed in a ck robe, ring at her with a furious expression Fredunck strode towards her, and Yuna got extremely nervous Following him was Sadie ¡°Speak Frederick towered over Yuna, his icy gaze boring into her Yuna stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence. Frideck don¡¯t question her now 1. Ineeds to use the restroom.¡± ick nbedi soit avere lying on the cold fjort Hier lease panty were started yetion and she was trying to hide Her wrinkled face was flushed with embassament i nem is nach a state caused Frederick¡¯s heart to tighten, his gaze growing even sharper we swiftly grabbed a nket, gently wrapping it around Laverne¡¯s waist. His long arm circled her knees, and with a slight effort, he lifted her from the ground extured the bathroom, gently cing Lame on the toilet Softly, he said, ¡°Mydy, don¡¯t rush. Take your time, I¡¯ll wait for you outside¡± Chapter 161 After Frederick stepped out Sade humedly fetched a brand new set of pajamas for him to take in Once Levene was done. Sadie helped her hathe in warm water, then moved her into a wheelchair and wheeled her out Fredericks face was icy, his silence chilling to the bone Sadie bent down, asking with concern, ¡°Ma¡¯am, you cried out in pain earlier Where does it hurt? Is it severe?¡± Laveme nodded tearfully. It hurts! My back is in pain, my legs are numb, but it¡¯s a bit better now. I¡¯ve troubled you all, please go rest¡± Frederick stood still, repeating. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Despite hot expression, Sadie could tell this was the calm before the storm for Mr. Winston. ¡°Freddie, I ¡°Quiet¡± Yuns¡¯s wordspletely infuriated Frederick. He turned to Laverne, his fist clenched until his knuckles tumed blue, ¡°Mydy, you tell me¡± ¡°Lavemo hesitated, ncing at Yuna Her careful demeanor was as if she dared not speak. Frederick shot Yuno a fierce re, stepped forward, and knelt on one knee beside Laveme, ¡°You can tell me without worry. No one in this mansion will dare to threaten you¡± Seeing Yuna trembling, Laverne managed a magnanimous smile. ¡°Don¡¯t me Yuna, it¡¯s my fault. I needed to use the bathroom, but Yuna was asleep. I called her for a long time, but she didn¡¯t wake up. I couldn¡¯t hold it in and¡­I wet myself. Before I could clean up, I woke this child up, and asked her to take me to the bathroom. She might have been reluctant, so I tried to crawl there myself. I fell when i tried to get off the bed.¡± Laveme¡¯s tone was submissive as wetting oneself was not a matter of pride Frederick¡¯s anger erupted, he stood up abruptly, ring at Yuna Yuna thought Frederick was going to hit her and out of fear, she copsed to the floor. ¡°Freddie¡­ Granny just said it wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t want to take her to the bathroom, it¡¯s just that I was asleep when she wet herself, I. I didn¡¯t have time¡­¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyebrows twitched, his tight lips revealing bared teeth, looking as ferocious as a hunting wolf. ¡°And after you woke up? You just watched her crawl to the bathroom? Yuna, this is your grandmother! Your own grandmother!¡± Laverne had been causing her trouble all day, she had been holding in her resentment. Now, she couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer, andined angrily. ¡°Freddie, you don¡¯t know, Granny is really troublesome. She treats me like a maid! And she¡¯s all covered in urine, so smelly and dirty! When have I ever been treated like this¡°* Yuna¡¯s petnt tone only made Frederick more displeased, and Sadie shook her head, unable to hold back her words. ¡°When Marguerite took care of Ma¡¯am, she was willing to do any tiring or dirty work. If she were here today, she would neverin about Ma¡¯am.¡± Marguerite, Marguerite! Why was everyone speaking up for her? Witch! Yuna red at Sadie fiercely, ¡°Marguerite is nothing but a lowly bitch! She¡¯s willing to even carry bedpans for people!¡± Frederick¡¯s face was as cold as ice, his teeth clenched, his anger raging in his bloodshot eyes. Lowly bitch? Bedpans? How could this woman utter such filthy words? Sadie didn¡¯t intend to save Yuna¡¯s face anymore, and sarcastically retorted, ¡°Ms. Yuna, don¡¯t forget, it was Mr. Winston who carried Ma¡¯am to the bathroom, despite her unne¨Csoaked clothes. So, ording to your logic, is our Mr. Winston also a lowly man?¡± Yuna felt threatened, her heart beating fast. She shook her head repeatedly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that! I really didn¡¯t! I¡­ I was talking about Marguente!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t take care of Laveme properly, go back to Diamond Crest Estates tomorrow.¡± Frederick¡¯s frosty voice left Yuna in tears. ¡°No, Freddie! I only just arrived today, I don¡¯t want to go back so soon! The neighbors will at me!¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem.¡± ¡°Freddie. ¡± ¡°Get out! I better not see you in the mansion when I wake up tomorrow.¡± Frederick¡¯s ruthless attitude cut off all of Yuna¡¯s possibilities. At that moment, Laverne, sitting in the wheelchair, sighed softly, her words revealing a sense of loss. I never thought my own granddaughter would treat me worse than Marguente It¡¯s disheartening¡­ After saying this, she nced at Frederick Frederick looked conflicted, it was clear he had taken Laverne¡¯s words to heart. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 The following day Maiquote was in a drowsy slumber whe received a call from the Regal Haven Hotel, notifying her to report for her new job She was jolted awake by the news and it took her a moment toprehend what was being said. She was being asked to start work at the Regal Haven Hotel? Just like that? Only yesterday, she had been turned down by the manager, and now, merely a dayter, they had changed their minds? Was this what they called a stroke of luck? Marguerite hastily got out of bed and freshened up After a quick breakfast, she made her way to the Regal Haven Hotel Why bother about his sudden change of heart? As long as she had a job, that was all that mattered! Upon her amival, Hawk personally took care of her employment formalities. His solicitous altitude and warm smile left Marguente stunned Hawk suddenly showed her so much care, and the entry process was too smooth! She was unaware that, upon leaming Marguerite was friends with Chuck and acquainted with Frederick, the kingpin of Stonebridge City, Hawk wouldn¡¯t dare be negligent Marguerite, still in a daze, finished her induction and donned her ck uniform to start her shift Just as she was heading to her workstation, she remembered she had left her ID with Hawk In the lobby, she spotted Hawk chatting with Chuck behind a potted nt while they smoked Even Marguerite, who wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed, would know her smooth sailing at work was all thanks to Chuck¡¯s help Hawk left without saying a word, and Marguente approached Chuck with a grateful smile, ¡°Thank you, Chuck Chuck promptly discarded his cigarette when he saw Marguente approaching ¡°What are you talking about, Marguente?¡± ¡°Come on, Chuck, don¡¯t y dumb. You¡¯re making me look like the fool here.¡± Chuck scratched his head, the picture of innocence, while Marguerite noticed a small cut on his finger, unnoticed by him. Growing up, Marguerite was always prone to scrapes and wounds, so she made it a habit to carry band aids. She handed him one, reminding him, ¡°The weather in Stonebridge City is quite dry, and you¡¯re always running errands for Frederick. Don¡¯t forget to use hand cream.¡± Chuck was confused, ¡°What?¡± Marguente pointed to his injury. ¡°You¡¯re hurt¡± Chuck looked at his hand and only then realized he had a small wound. But the tiny band¨Caid she offered stirred up a multitude of feelings. The woman before him didn¡¯t seem like someone who would betray Mr. Winston. She was considerate and strove to cater to everyone¡¯s feelings. How could such a considerate woman do such a deviant thing? He didn¡¯t want to see Marguente and Mr. Winston grow apart. With a sigh, he made onest attempt, ¡°Marguerite, are you really not considering going back? If you apologize to Mr. Winston, he might let you move back in.¡± Marguerite remained calm, her emotions in check. ¡°Chuck, like you said before, no matter what, the baby in my stomach isn¡¯t his So what¡¯s the point of going back? To make him feel ufortable? It¡¯s time we said our goodbyes¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there a chance for negotiation?¡± Marguerite smiled, choosing to ignore his question. ¡°Chuck, thanks for helping me get a job. Although I¡¯m not capable of much, if you ever need my help. I¡¯m here Goodbye¡± Without waiting for Chuck¡¯s response, she calmly turned and walked away Her slim figure, shrouded in cold aloofness, was a poignant sight to behold. Chuck felt a sense of regret for Fredenck, little did he know, at that very moment, a prestigious Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan was quietly parked at the entrance of the Regal Haven Hotel the mesonme Chapter 163 Having re Ihat I from Hawk, Marguere quickly returned to the reception desk, determined to locate the guest information for room 1205 Upon her oyment, she had been given her own username and password for the front desk system. Thus, she had no difficulty essing the quests¡® registry The Ragal Haven Hotel had nearly a thousand rooms, and the number of guests who stayed there within a month was immense. As Marguente scanned the list of names on the screen, she felt overwhelmed. Searching through this lensive list would take forever No way! She needed to narrow it down, to sort by specific dates But, the couldn¡¯t for the life of her, recall the exact date of the fling She was stumped, her brows furrowed in deep concentration, her face etched with senousness What else happened after the one¨Cnight stand? The casino, the mask, the mysterious person proposing a coboration¡­ The mysterious person? Coboration? Right The day after the one¨Cnight stand, the mysterious person had sent her a text message about a potential treatment for her grandmother! The text message had a date! With a sudden realization, Marguerite felt a surge of relief. She immediately pulled out her phone, scrolled through her messages, searching for that particr one Reaching the end of her inbox, Marguente finally found the familiar text. The date disyed was April 28th. So, the night of the one¨Cnight stand was April 27th! As she moved closer to the truth, Marguente felt a strange sense of anxiety. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath held She put her phone down and began to narrow down the guest information to April 27th. As she was about to hit enter, her view was blocked by a looming shadow She knew, a guest had amived In an instinctive move, she hid the screen, stood up, and greeted the visitor with a professional smile, ¡°Hello, wee to Regal Haven Hotel¡­¡± Her greeting was cut short as she froze, her eyes wide with shock. She was taken aback by the man¡¯s imposing figure, radiating an air of confidence and superiority Unlike his usual business attire, he was dressed casually in a white tracksuit, giving off aid¨Cback vibe. His chestnut hair was slightly disheveled, but it added to his charm. He was incredibly attractive, his eyes, however, were a mix of indifference and contempt Frederick? Why was he here? Marguerite was caught in a whirlwind of thoughts, but she had made up her mind to distance herself from Fredenck. She quickly masked her emotions, her professional smile reappeared, her voiceced with polite detachment. ¡°Good afternoon, sir. Wee to Regal Haven Hotel.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, his expression was cold and stern, causing Marguerite¡¯s heart to flutter This woman, she was good at pretending. After all those days of separation, he didn¡¯t believe for a second that she was not flustered! ¡°Sir? How may I assist you today? We have limited avability at the moment, with most of our guests yet to check out. We only have a few rooms left on the fifteenth and twentieth floors. If you have no specific requirements, I can arrange for you to stay in the Presidential Suite on the twentieth floor. It is well¨Clit, and the view is¡­ ¡°Marguerite.¡± Frederick finally spoke. Marguerite abruptly stopped talking, her face fell She had been trying her best to distance herself from him, to pretend she didn¡¯t recognize him. But why wouldn¡¯t he let her? Why did he have to call her by her name? Wasn¡¯t it better to pretend they were strangers? Her nose ungled, and her eyes welled up. Marguerite looked down, afraid to meet his gaze, worried that she might break down. Then, his cold and husky voice echoed in Marguerite¡¯s ears, ¡°Pack your things. You¡¯reing home with me¡± Home Chapter 164 This gave Marguente a case of illusion It was the that typical couple spots at the break of dawn only to reconcile at dusk, no matter how great the conflict, that sanctuary called ¡°home¡± could always reconnect them Marguerite felt like the was losing her mind, her volce trembling barely above a whisper. ¡°What did you say?¡± Frederick was table, unaware of theplexity of Marguente¡¯s emotions at the moment. Ha clubbornly took Marguerite¡¯s disbelief as feigned ignorance, staring at her, his cold gaze silent. Chuck, standing behind, was anxious, wondering why Mr. Winston and Marguente could nevermunicate effectively. He clenched his fist, humedly stepping in to defuse the situation, ¡°Marguente, Mr. Winston is asking you toe home!¡± Ever since Frederick mentioned Marguerite returning home, her gaze remained fixed on his face. She saw his indifferent demeanor from start to finish, which ironically sobered Marguente up The mansion was home to Frederick, but not to her And she knew very well that Frederick had never acknowledged her status, nor considered her as family I¡¯m not going back.¡± Her tone returned to its usual coldness. Just a few days ago, she was driven out of the mansion, and now she was being asked to return Despite not knowing the reason, Marguerite no longer wished to overthink due to a man¡¯s words, imagining things that could never happen Such fluctualing emotions scared her, so it was better to keep her distance from him. Seeing Frederick¡¯s face growing more unpleasant, Chuck helplessly rubbed his temples, bypassing the front desk to pull Marguente aside, whispering in a reproachful manner ¡°Marguerite. Don¡¯t say anymore! It¡¯s not easy for Mr. Winston to ask you back, don¡¯t just stand there! Don¡¯t piss Mr. Winston off!¡± Marguente was pulled away from the front desk by Chuck, but she kept anxiously ncing at theputer screen. She had just pulled up the customer¡¯s information and hadn¡¯t had a chance to look yet! Chuck, however, used hisrge body to block Marguerite¡¯s view once again, obstructing her line of sight, ¡°Marguerite! Laverne is seriously ill You must go back and take care of her!¡± Marguente¡¯s body stiffened, her pupils dting in shock She turned her gaze to Frederick, deep concern and disbelief in her eyes, ¡°Grandma is seriously ill?¡± Frederick was as always, a man of few words, ¡°Yes¡± Her grandma was seriously ill? How senous? Could it be that her old illness had rpsed? The more Marguerite thought about it, the more scared she became. She thought, even Frederick, who hated her, hade to ask her to go back. Could it be that her grandma¡¯s illness had reached a point of no return? Thinking of this, Marguerite no longer had any reason to refuse. She walked around the front desk to Frederick, her voice filled with urgency, ¡°I¡¯ll go back with you¡± Frederick stood in ce, his gaze fixed on Marguente, his words full of warning, ¡°Marguente, remember, it¡¯s your grandma who asked you toe back, it has nothing to do with me. I have no intention of forgiving you.¡± Marguerite was speechless Right now, all she could think about was her grandma, and she was in no mind to listen to Frederick¡¯s warning. She showed no respect for Frederick, her face expressionless, her tone as cold as ice, ¡°I¡¯m going back because of my grandma, it has nothing to do with you! And, I don¡¯t need your forgiveness¡± Han hour Chapter 165 As Marte dired of the mansion¡¯s entrance, the enormous double copper doors swung open. The first thing she saw was Yuna, hauling a plethora of luggage out of the house, while Sadie was pushing Laveme, seated in a wheelchair, towards the exit Marguente eyes minowed her gare inadvertently fating upon Laverine¡¯s legs, covered in a thin nket. She rushed over like a madwoman, and throwing herself at Loverine¡¯s side, pleaded. ¡°Gran, what happened to your legs? Are you hurt? Let me see!¡± A Marguite began to knead Laverne¡¯s knees, Laveme started to feel ticklish all over Afraid of revealing anything, she quickly stopped Marguente. ¡°Rx, It¡¯s just an old adment Ancaliment? Marguente was utterly confused. Sade turned to Marguerite, ¡°Madam, when Ma¡¯am was young, she worked on a farm in the countryside, wading through muddy fields, which left asting effect on her legs¡± Marquette was left even more perplexed Worked on a farm? Waded through muddy fields? Why was the hearing about this for the first time? She had aved with her grandmother in Manna Shores Vige since she was a child. The vigers there made a living from fishing, not farming! Marguente was left scratching her head, not noticing the pair of enraged eyes ring at her from behind Yuna was going crazy Seeing Marguerite storm into the mansion left her dumbfounded! This woman had been kicked out of the mansion, how could she have the audacity to show her face here again? Didn¡¯t she know how much Freddie hated her? In a fit of rage, Yuna dropped her luggage, stored over to Marguerite, and grabbing her by the cor, was about to p her. But just as she raised her hand, a strong force grabbed her arm from behind. Taken aback, Yuna tumed around to see Frederick ¡°Dare to act recklessly again?¡± Fredenck¡¯s thin lips moved, his eyes filled with an intense harshness. ¡°Freddie, Marguerite is carrying another man¡¯s child, this is a sphemy! You have shown mercy by just kicking her out of the mansion. And this woman, she has the nerve toe back, isn¡¯t she pping your face? She clearly doesn¡¯t respect you!¡± Yuna tried to incite Frederick, hoping he would lose his temper with Marguerite. But things did not go as she hoped Frederick pushed her away, causing her to stumble and fall onto the ground. She stared at Frederick in disbelief, unable toprehend the situation. What the hell is going on here? Why was he still protecting Marguerite? At this point. Marguerite stood up from Laverne¡¯s side, turned around, and calmly looked at Yuna. ¡°I did not intend toe back, it was my grandmother who called me back.¡± Upon hearing this, Laverne immediately raised her voice and interjected. ¡°You silly girl, don¡¯t make things up! It wasn¡¯t me who called you back, it was Frederick who personally ordered you toe back as my personal maid! Look, he didn¡¯t even have time to change out of his house clothes before rushing to pick you up!¡± Marguente was taken aback. Frederick called her back? What was going on? Before she returned to the mansion, Frederick had made it clear that it was her grandmother who asked her toe back! Why were their stories conflicting? Marguerite was hesitant, but Yuna was visibly hurt. ihe couldn¡¯t believe that Marguerite was called back by Freddie! lo wonder he asked her to move out yesterday, he was making room for Margueritel low could Yuna stand this? She had worked so hard to get Marguente kicked out of the mansion, there was no way she was letting Marguentee back! una picked herself up from the ground, ran over to Laverine, and began to whine, ¡°Gran, I¡¯m your real granddaughter. How can you trust an outsider over me? Don¡¯t ou believe i can take care of you?¡± Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Yuna, dear, not that I dont trust you. Back in the day, I recall reaching you how to run a household and take care of the elderly But wonder how you changed so much so quickly.¡± reme¡¯s words were loaded and the threw a quick nce at Fredenck to gauge his reaction She had begun to hint to Frederick that her rtionship with Yuna was not what he had assumed it to be. If it werem for Marguerite¡¯s sudden pregnancy, she would have told the truth a long time ago. She didn¡¯t need to hide it like this at all! Upon hearing this, Yurs was both furious and nervous That olddy never taught her anything, she taught Margueritel At that moment, Chuck stepped forward, polite but firm, ¡°Ms. Yuna, the car is ready. You should leave now Yuna wanted to argue but she was afraid that Laveme might bring up past issues. If she were exposed, she would lose everything. 60, she clenched her ficts, shot Marguerite a resentful look, and reluctantly left Marguerite turned around to push Laveme¡¯s wheelchair, ¡°Granny, let me take you to rest¡± Laverne nodded contentedly. Before she could say anything, the authoritative figure behind hermanded. ¡°Come to the study with me.¡± The study? What was he up to now? Marguerite stood still, Laverne quickly nudged her and gestured towards Frederick¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°What are you waiting for? Go after him!¡± How could this smart girl be so slow when it came to rtionships? It was really annoying She grabbed Marguerite¡¯s hand, her expressive face full of excitement ¡°Listen here, girl That handsome man may seem cold on the outside, but he¡¯s a softie inside. He responds to kindness, not harshness. In my eyes, he¡¯s just a kid, easily appeased¡± Sadie, standing behind them, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Herughter almost reaching her ears. It¡¯s true what they say, having an elder in the house is like having a treasure Laverne, with her wisdom and humor, was the only one who could handle Mr. Winston! Laverne gave Morguerite another push, and Marguente finally followed, reluctantly heading towards the study The study had a carved wooden door that took some effort to push open. Upon entering, she was hit by a strong smell of smoke. Frederick was standing by the window, one hand in his pocket. He held a slim cigarette between his fingers, exuding an unexpected roguish charm. The ss ashtray on the windowsill had recently been cleaned, but was already filling up with cigarette butts. She was only a few minutes , yet he had already smoked so much? Marguenteposed herself and stepped into Frederick¡¯s long Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Frederic fingers hesitated on the desk, lost in his thoughts. He hadnt even noticed when the woman had entered the room Out of theer of his eye, har nced at Marguerite¡¯s still t stomach He subbed out his burning cigarette in the ashtray and reluctantly went to open the ndow for some fremai Hetomed around and got straight to the point ¡°Get rid of the baby.¡± Marguente felt a shock run through her at the blunt words, making her shiver ¡°What does it matter to you whether I keep the baby or not?¡± she asked, her voice trembling. Frederick¡¯s imuon at her defiance was evident. ¡°I brought you back here to take care of the olddy, not for the olddy to take care of a pregnant woman!¡± Marguente gave a softugh. ¡°You think I want to keep it? The child will be fatherless from the moment It¡¯s bom, practically on orphan But I don¡¯t have a choice. I have avere pelvic inmmatory disease. If insist on an abortion, it could threaten my life¡± As their eyes locked, Marguerite thought she saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. Marguerite¡¯s words left Fredenck silent. After a few seconds of quickened breath, she continued. ¡°In two months, no, a month and a half, our divorce will be finalized and we¡¯ll have nothing to do with each other. Until then, I¡¯ll try to avoid you and not cause you any trouble¡± Frederick stood still as a statue, his expression unreadable but it made Marguerite increasingly anxious Having said her piece, Marguerite didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. She forced a smile and excused herself. ¡°I¡¯m going to take care of my grandma.¡± She turned to leave, but before she had gone far, she heard the quick footsteps behind her. The next moment, Frederick had grabbed her wrist and pushed her against the bookcase He held her throat and kissed her lips with a frenzy Marguente¡¯s brain shut down. She tried to push him away, but his grip was strong and unyielding. Her back against the rough bookshelf caused her pain. The force of his body against hers dislodged the books, causing them to tter to the floor His kiss was rough and wild, suffocating Marguente She knew he was punishing her, but she couldn¡¯t understand why Suddenly, Frederick stopped, panting heavily and gritting his teeth. ¡°Do you think I pity you, a woman about to be a single mother? It¡¯s what you deserve.¡± Marguerite was taken aback and tears fell from her eyes She bit her lip, feeling her dignity trampled underfoot. ¡°I told you, I was forced into this!¡± ¡°Oh? But you seemed to be enjoying it just now¡± Fredenckughed, a chilling sound ¡°Marguerite, who were you thinking about when you were kissing me? Was it me? Or was it the father of your child?¡± He released her and without a lingering nce, he turned and left With her defenses copsing, Marguente leaned back against the bookshelf and sank feebly inch by inch onto the soft carpet. She knew Frederick was trying to hurt her with his words, but she couldn¡¯t find any evidence to prove her innocence Because when Frederick was deepening that harsh kiss, the image that shed in her mind was of the stranger she had spent that fateful night with. Chapter 168 It took Marguerite a while to leave the study wasta, yet it had deed bepletety After pening her grandmother in her room. Margate returned to her own bedroom only to find that her bed sheets and quilt cover had been reced with new There were also several new outfits, all in her stylin neatly folded on the couch. 11 must¡¯ve been Sadie doing tchaunted copsed onto the bed, then suddenly remembered the hadnt informed Miley about her return to the estate She quickly inxted her ¡°He, goofball, I¡¯m back at the mansion taking care of my grandma.¡± No sooner had she sent the message than Miley¡¯s immediate call came through. ¡°You little sneak, Marguerite! You snuck off to the mansion without telling meli was nning to take you out for a sumptuous meal tonight? Marguere¡¯s voice was hoarse and her lips throbbed painfully from Frederick¡¯s intense kiss, ¡®Frederick came by this moming, all so sudden, didn¡¯t have time to tell you Miley eximed in surprise, ¡°No way! Mr Winston came to pick you up himself? Has he forgiven you? Are you two back together?¡± Thinking of his stem and terrifying face, Marguente shivered. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. It¡¯s just because of my grandmother. But I do need your help with something¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°I obviously can¡¯t go to Regal Haven Hotel now, but I have the hotel system¡¯s login information Can you check to see if you can ess the guest records?¡± Miley got up from her bed, ¡°Don¡¯t hang up! I get myptop right now! Send me the login details on Facebook¡± Marguerite sent Miley the details and held her phone anxiously, waiting for the results. Sometimes life felt like a y Every lime slie was one step away from the truth, something would always block her path Miley was on the other end, typing furiously, essing the official page of the Regal Haven Hotel, looking for an employee login. Marguerite was getting a little impatient, ¡°Is it done yet, goofball?¡± ¡°Marguente, there¡¯s no employee login on their website Guest records are confidential, they wouldn¡¯t upload them online. They must be only on the hotel¡¯sputer.¡± With Miley¡¯s reminder, Marguerite remembered When she logged into the system today, it wasn¡¯t through a webpage but an app that came preinstalled on theputer This app was an offline system of Regal Haven Hotel, unavable for download online Once again, the clue was cut off. Marguerite sighed in defeat, ¡°Life¡¯s so unfair All I want is to find my child¡¯s father, but why are there always so many obstacles?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lose hope, Marguente I¡¯ll try to get a job at the Regal Haven Hotel in a few days¡± Suddenly remembering something important, Miley added, ¡°Oh, the guy who helped us restore the photo wants to meet in person. I thought we could go together. After all, he helped you out. We should at least treat him to a meal. I¡¯ll pay, you just need to make time, don¡¯t fight me on this!¡± Marguerite saw through Miley easily. ¡°You¡¯re paying? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve taken a liking to him? Is he handsome?¡± Miley chuckled, as she envisioned his look in her mind. ¡°I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s handsome, haven¡¯t met him yet. But his voice is rather charming, so he can¡¯t be all that bad.¡± Marguente was defeated by Miley¡¯s reasoning. But, this was a meeting they should attend, both personally and professionally. After all, he did help her out significantly. It was only right to thank him in person. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯lle with you.¡± Miley cheered at Marguente¡¯s agreement, ¡®But.. I have a small favor to ask.¡± ¡°Go ahead¡± Milley lowered her voice, hesitantly asking. ¡°That is¡­ Chapter 169 That was indeed a tricky request You know I can¡¯t take off the mask right now Miley. If the Lockwoods find out, ill be in a pretty tight spot¡± Marguerite responded Undeterred. Miley pleaded. ¡°But five told everyone how beautiful you are, Margie. If you show up looking all in, fd be so embarrassed. Marguente please! How about I find a secluded restaurant? There¡¯s a new mall in Sunrise District. It¡¯s way out of the way! We can go there, right? There¡¯s no way we¡¯ll run into any of the ¡°Lockwoods¡± Miley¡¯s relentless cham offensive left Marguerite feeling helpless. It was bue, the Sunnse District was quite remote, over an hour¡¯s drive away. Briefly removing her mask shouldn¡¯t cause any trouble. Marguente thought, finally relenting to Miley¡¯s request. After hanging up. Marguente was suddenly overwhelmed by drowsiness Ever since she became pregnant, not only had her appetite grown but she also developed a particr fondness for sleep, always feeling like she hadn¡¯t had enough She slept till sunset, waking up groggy and disoriented, staring at the spectacr sunset skies, momentanly losing track of time. Sadie came to call her for dinner. As she descended the stairs, Marguerite noticed that everyone was present but Frederick But it made sense His disdain for her only seemed to grow, he probably didn¡¯t want to see her anytime soon. To Marguente¡¯s surprise, however, Frederick¡¯s absence wasn¡¯t temporary Ever since she retumed to the mansion, she hadn¡¯t seen him at home Not even once Marguerite suddenly felt a hollow sensation in her chest Every time she thought of Frederick, her memories always took her back to theirst kiss If this were a soap opera, Frederick would be the heartbreaker He left her with just a kiss without any exnation, yet he managed to stir her feelings so effortlessly. Of course, Marguerite knew that kiss was meant as a punishment for her and held no special meaning for Fredenck. But there were so many ways to punish someone, yet he chose the one that was most likely to be misunderstood How frustrating! Days passed uneventfully. The day before she was to meet Miley, Marguente received a phone call It was the owner of the photo studio *Hello, is this Ms Lockwood? I¡¯m the owner of Majestic Memories. I¡¯ve developed all your old photos with your grandmother. Remember you took a picture with your boyfriend here the other day?¡± The photo was taken on her birthday, as Yuna, with Frederick. How could Marguerite forget? ¡°Yes, I remember Can Ie pick up the photo?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t get it today, but thetest you¡¯ll be able to is the day after tomorrow. I noticed on the photos with your grandmother you had written Marguente at X years old, do you want something written on the one with your boyfriend?¡± Marguente thought for a moment, ¡°No, don¡¯t write anything on that photo¡± ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll mail you the photos, including the one with your boyfriend once it¡¯s ready Could you leave me an address?¡± Marguerite bit her lip, remembering that she lived in the Sapphire Valley Estates, surrounded by Frederick¡¯s people. If the package was sent to the mansion and mistakenly opened by someone else, it would give her away. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll have some free time soon and I can pick it up myself. Just call me when it¡¯s ready.¡± After quickly ending the conversation, Marguente hung up. The next day. Today was the day Marguerite and Miley were to meet their online friend After breakfast, she gave her grandmother a leg massage and then made an excuse to leave the mansion. Miley parked the car at the bus stop outside the Sapphire Valley Estates. As soon as Marguente got in, Miley immediately reached for her mask ¡°Take it off, take it off! I¡¯ve been praising you to the high heavens, you can¡¯t let them see you like this!¡± Marguerite grabbed Miley¡¯s restless hand, ¡°Drive first! We¡¯re still in Frederick¡¯s territory. I can¡¯t take it off yet¡± Miley wasn¡¯t in a rush, she hummed in satisfaction, then started the engine and happily drove towards Sunrise District. The joumey was long, and the roads became more secluded. It was only when Miley parked the car in the underground parking lot of Sunrise za that Marguerite felt safe enough to remove her mask. The elevator to the mall was right in front of the car. Two elevators were facing each other, both opening their doors at the same time. Marguerite and Miley entered one while, at the exact moment the doors wem closing, Robert entered the one across from them. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Surse za won nestled within Sunrise Heights. The first five floors were filled with various shops, and the floors above were dedicated to office. This is why there were two elevators, each serving a different purpose The one Marguents and Miley took led to the shopping area, while the one Robert entered didn¡¯t even have options for the first five floors. Its buttons started at six The two women had agreed to meet at a chowder house on the fifth floor This restaurant was a culinaryndmark of the Sunrise District, famous for its exceptionally fresh fish chowder Because the restaurant was so popr online, it was always crowded with customers. Miley had reserved a window seat in advance. As they settled down and browsed the menu, they didn¡¯t notice that not far away, in a ss booth, Frederick was sitting At this moment, Frederick¡¯s phone buzzed abruptly. After answering, his voice was low and captivating. ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Good day, Mr. Winston. I am the owner of Majestic Memories. I called Ms. Lockwood earlier to inform her that her photos were ready for collection, but she didn¡¯t pick up, so I thought I¡¯d contact you.¡± Frederick nced at the time, guessing that Yuna must be on her way and didn¡¯t hear the call. ¡°Il send someone to pick them up.¡± After hanging up, Frederick immediately dialed Robert¡¯s number Before he could say anything, he heard panting on the other end. He hesitated. Was this a bad time to call? ¡°Are you¡­ with a woman?¡± ¡°What woman¡® I¡¯m climbing the stairs!¡± Robert was slightly annoyed. If he hadn¡¯t been in such a hurry when he got into the elevator, he wouldn¡¯t have taken the wrong one. It wasn¡¯t until the elevator reached the eighth floor that he realized his mistake. Having no other choice, he had to take the stairs down. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Pick something up for me. I¡¯ll text you the address¡± Upon hearing this, Robert almost copsed in the dimly lit stairwell ¡°Frederick, give me a break Can¡¯t you ask Chuck? I have ns today! With Smiley.¡± Fredenck¡¯s eyes widened, full of caution. Smiley? The woman Investigating him! He made a quick decision, ¡°Where are you meeting her?¡± ¡°At Sunrise za!¡± Frederick surprised What a coincidence Fredenck smirked. ¡°Perfect, I¡¯m having dinner here. Get my stuff and bring her to me¡± With that, he hung up the phone with authority Frederick was eager to see who this woman investigating him was. Robert on the other hand, was left furning at the sound of the dial tone. When he tried to call back, Frederick had already hung up. Reluctantly, Robert had to ept the task. After all, Frederick had something on him. If Fredenck revealed his whereabouts to his father, his carefree days would probably be over After sending a message to Smiley about his dy, he left following Frederick¡¯s instructions Meanwhile, at the chowder house. Returning from the restroom, Miley was texting Robert while walking But when she looked up, she spotted a slender figure in high heels entering the restaurant She froze for a moment, then sprinted towards Marquente, positioning herself in front of her friend ¡°Where¡¯s your mask? Go, go, go! Put it on Marguerite looked up at her, confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Put it on first, then I¡¯ll exin!¡± Miley insisted, out of breath. Marguente, still puzzled, quickly put on her mask and frowned. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Miley turned around, scanned the room, and finally fixed her gaze on the isted booth. She pointed, ¡°Look who¡¯s there!¡± Following Miley¡¯s direction, Marguerite saw Yuna elegantly seated across the thick ss window. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Margate¡¯s breathing suddenly quickmed. Heshwart became even more chaotic. Marguerite¡¯s eyes heated up, and guilly withdrew her gaze like a child caught in wrongdoing, feeling like she was walking on pins and needles. She huntedly took a sip of her drink to calm herself. When she looked up, she saw Miley had put on a mouth¨Cmuffle. What on earth? ¡°Why are you wearing that?¡± Miley danratically widened her eyes, exaggerating like a melodramatic leenager, ¡°Yuna¡¯s cunning, what if she knows I¡¯m your best friend and Iries to get to me?¡± Marguerite chuckled helplessly, lightly scolding, ¡°You¡¯ve been watching too many dramas. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to eat with that mask on!¡± Miley rolled her eyes, ¡°We¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there, the food hasn¡¯t even arrived yet!¡± As she spoke, her gaze kept wandering towards the private booth. Seeing Miley¡¯s behavior, Marguente fell a creeping sense of unease It seemed that Miley was even more curious about what was happening in that booth ¡°Wow! So that¡¯s what Mr. Winston looks like! He¡¯s absolutely handsome!¡± ¡°Good grief, he¡¯s a real catch! How can there be such a handsome man in this world?¡± ¡°Marguenle Marguerite! Mr. Winston is looking at you! He is looking at your Marguente s¨¹ffened, her body tumed rigid. Truth be told, the wanted to ask Miley what kind of emotion Frederick had when looking at her, was it anger or something else But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask She thought, ¡°Why the curiosity? How he looks at me is his business, what does it have to do with me? Sigh. It was all because of that kiss.¡± It took a while before Miley finally calmed down, ¡°Alright, he¡¯s not looking at you anymore* The straw was bitten full of teeth marks by Marguerite, Then what is he doing..¡± Miley nced at him, ¡°He¡¯s eating.¡± Only then did Marguente dare to look over, but still only out of the corner of her eye. But the unfortunate thing about life is that it¡¯s full of surprises. The rare time she looked at him, all she saw was Yuna, spoon in hand, smiling sweetly as she fed Frederick some soup Marguerite bit her lower lip involuntarily, her stomach chumed, and she suddenly felt nauseous. The next second, she clutched her chest and ran towards the restroom. The sound of her retching was heart¨Cwrenching, yet Marguerite didn¡¯t bring anything up. She felt dreadful, and her heart ached painfully It felt as if her fragile heart was being tightly squeezed, then forcefully torn apart. Just as she finished retching, her eyes red and tears streaming down her cheeks, a strong arm extended a piece of tissue to her. ¡°Thank you¡± Marguente weakly thanked him, took the tissue and looked up. The handsome face reflected in the mirror made Marguente freeze Fredenck! She tumed abruptly, her hands gripping the sink, her body on high alert, ¡°Frederick, this is thedies¡® room!¡± Frederick¡¯s thin lips remained silent, but he kept approaching her. Marguerite had nowhere to retreat, watching helplessly as the man¡¯s handsome face grewrger in her vision, with her heart breaking into pieces. She felt her emotions were overflowing, knowing that just a month ago, she could still face him without flinching. But from some point on, she had gradually lost control. By then, Frederick¡¯s knee was against Marguerite¡¯s thigh. He bent his body slightly, his hands propped on the sink on both sides of Marguente, trapping her in that small space Frederick was tall, blocking the light in front of Marguente, but she didn¡¯t dare to look at his expression, her body trembling uncontrobly Frederick¡¯s sensual, cold lips were close to Marguerite¡¯s ear, his eyes reflecting in the minor were particrly fierce, ¡°Marguente, how many tricks do you have up your sleeve? You knew I was here, didn¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Fredrick¡¯s paran was stilling, making Marguerite feel suffocated He was a long standing at the pinnacle of the world, able to manipte everyone with just a few words. How could the possibly keep track of his every move? Feeling cornered by him, Marguerite gritted her teeth and tried to remainposed. ¡°Mr. Winston,¡± she said, her voice calm, ¡°You give me too much credit. Whether or not I know your whereabouts, you¡¯re here, leaving your girlfriend alone waiting. Shouldn¡¯t I interpret it as I am more worthy of your attention than Yuna?¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t find words to refute him, she knew he wouldn¡¯t believe her. She decided to change her tactics and quickly end this standofi Yet, she realized there was some truth in her words. If the didn¡¯t mean anything to him, why would he leave Yuns to find her? Deep down, Marguente knew that this man¡¯s attention had nothing to do with love, it was all about hatred In fact, his hatred for her surpassed his love for Yuna Frederick¡¯s eyes locked onto Marguerite, his voice filled with mockery and contempt, ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± Marguerite held her own, her words sharp and precise, ¡°Mr. Winston, isn¡¯t my self¨Cttery a product of your Indulgence? Every little thing I do, you get upset. If you cuspect me of ulterior motives, wouldn¡¯t the best course of action be to ignore me?¡± Frederick was speechless. For the first time, he felt defeated by a woman. He knew she was being sarcastic, yet her words were spot¨Con, each one hitting him where it hurt. After a moment of silence, he released Marguerite, his gaze colder than ever. ¡°Remember this, Marguente. You are nothing to me. From now on, steer clear of me!¡± Marguerite put on a brave face, raising her pale face, still wearing herposed expression. ¡°Til remember that, I wont seck you out. But Mr. Winston, the same goes for you. I believe we both don¡¯t want further entanglements.¡± With that, Marguerite pushed Frederick away and walked out of the bathroom. Her cold, proud silhouette was asposed as ever. Once out of his sight, Marguente, who had been on edge, finally rxed She took deep breaths to calm her racing heart. The man¡¯s overpowering presence had suffocated Marguente. She had used all her strength to stand up to him, not wanting to appear weak She didn¡¯t want any more ties with him, so she said the harshest, most infuriating things she could think of As she pushed him away, she also cut off the hidden hope in her heart. After all, only when you never had something, you won¡¯t year for it. Miley, oblivious to what had happened, bombarded Marguerite with questions. ¡°Did Mr. Winstone to see you? What did you guys talk about? Did you make up? Tell me! Tell me!¡± Marguerite, feeling down, took a few bites of the fish that had just been served. ¡°It didn¡¯t go well, it got worse. Enough about me, what¡¯s up with your online date? He¡¯s beente for quite a while now¡± ¡°He ran into some unforeseen issues. He¡¯ll be here as soon as he sorts it out.¡± What could possibly take so long? If she didn¡¯t agree to meet him, Marguente would have dragged Miley away long ago. Marguerite took a sip of her drink. For some reason, the sweet juice tasted sour She frowned at Miley, who hadn¡¯t taken off her ck mask yet. ¡°Take off the mask, Yuna won¡¯t do anything to you.¡± Miley shook her head, unable to probe further into the gossip. She could only nce at her phone screen, anxiously waiting for a response to her message to a man named Mr. Fitzgerald. After typing a long string of text, she deleted it out of nowhere. She finally gave up and looked out the window, waiting anxiously Meanwhile, in the sspartment Yuna spoke in hushed tones to a male waiter, her palm covering her lips, her gaze asionally drifting towards Marguerite ¡°Did you get all that?¡± she asked The water looked ufortable. ¡°Miss, I could get aint for this¡± Yuna red at him. ¡°If you don¡¯t do as I say. I¡¯llin about you! On the other hand, if you do as I say, I¡¯llpensate you handsomely¡± As she finished speaking. Frederick walked in with a sulky face. The waiter quickly cleared the empty tes from the table, nced at Yuna, and left nervously. Chapter 173 hapter 173 Fredi con try the salmon incredibly tender, Hawn in straight from ska¡± Yuna rose from her seat her arm shaking sound the men¡¯s elbow, her body leaning into his shoulder ¡°What do you want, Yuna? Frederick shifted his shoulder subtly, dodging Yuna¡¯s attempt to get clote Yuna¡¯s joyous expression fraze instantly What just happened? Just moments age, Freddie was incredibly wann to her, even letting her feed him soup with his gaze soft and tender. But after had gone to the restroom with Marguerite, he came back a changed man. It must be that wretched Marguerite again! Danin hert Just wait! She¡¯ll make sure that woman gets what she deserves! Yuna¡¯s face changed faster than a quick-change artist, her small face drooped, full of grievance. ¡°Freddie, I am here to apologize t should not have ignored the fact that my grandmother wet the bed. I will not repeat this mistake. Please forgive me.¡± Ever since the day she was driven out of the mansion, Freddie hadn¡¯t seen her. Yuna, immable to contain her restlessness, was constantly calling and texting Freddie, who wouldn¡¯t even bother to reply Fed up. Freddie blocked Yuna¡¯s number Unexpectedly, she got a new number and continued to call For the sake of future peace, Freddie had no choice but to agree to meet her. Who would have thought he¡¯d run into Marguerite here? Clearly, the woman had been living it up while he was gone, his absence clearly having no effect on her! A strong sense of possessiveness andpetitiveness filled Frederick. To get back at Marguerite, he could only use Yuna. The soup feeding was his idea, just to make Marguerite sce Seeing that Frederick remained silent, Yuna bravely reached out to hold his hand, intending to act spoiled, but was abruptly shoved away by Frederick. ¡°Freddie, won¡¯t you stop being angry? Can you can you forgive me, just like you did when I gave you that bread fifteen years ago?¡± Frederick went silent That incident from fifteen years ago was a beacon of light in Freddie¡¯s heart, one he now wished he could forget. It was hard for him to understand how the kind and sincere girl of the past had be what she was today. As much as he yeared for the past, he now felt regret. But what could he do? Yuna had saved his life. Without that bread she gave him all those years ago, he wouldn¡¯t be where he was today Once again, Freddie convinced himself. His demeanor softened, and his expression lightened a bit, ¡°This is thest time, don¡¯t upset me anymore.¡± Yuna was overjoyed, nodding her head happily. ¡°I won¡¯t make you angry anymore, Freddie! I swear! From now on, I will behave, working hard to improve myself! This way, I can be a good wife when you marry me.¡± After finishing. Yuna hesitantly asked in a humble tone, ¡°Freddie, you will marry me, won¡¯t you?¡± Ah- Suddenly, a scream echoed from a table in the corner of the room, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Freddie looked up at the sound, only to see a masked woman by the window, hopping up and down while yelling. ¡°How could you spill water like that! You can¡¯t even hold a pitcher properly, all the water soaked her! She¡¯s pregnant, what if she gets scalded? Get your manager here now! Scalded? Frederick stood up abruptly and looked towards the window Marguerite¡¯s tight jeans were already soaking wet, steam rising from the damp fabric. Damn it! How hot was that water? What angered and puzzled Freddie more was that the petite woman in the distance just sat there, her eyes wide open, looking at her wet thigh idiot! Was she not feeling any pain or just didn¡¯t know how to react? Frederick, his face an icy mask, got up and started walking towards the exit Yuna quickly stepped forward, spreading her arms to block his way ¡°Freddie, I¡¯m sorry! 1 identally overheard your conversation with Marguente! Have you forgotten how she treated you? Have you forgotten that she told you she didn¡¯t want to see you again?¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Seeing Frederick¡¯s obvious hesitation, Yuna took advantage of the situation to tightly hug Frederick¡¯s waist, sobbing and whimpenng. Freddie, I am the one who loves you most! It was me who brought you bread fifteen years ago! Marguerite just scalded herself, what¡¯s the big deal? Why are you so nervous? Freddie, I am your fianc¨¦e! I was the one who wanted to marry you, not her! Please, I beg you, don¡¯t go looking for her, I beg you¡­¡± Yuna spoke with tears streaming down her face, causing the man¡¯s waist to be damp and his body rigid. His foot, which had just stepped forward, hesitated, unsure whether to retreat or continue forward. Meanwhile, at the other end. Miley, flushed with anger, grabbed the walter¡¯s cor. In her excitement, she identally spat in his face. ¡°You did that on purpose! We ordered drinks, we didn¡¯t need extra water! You poured the water, that¡¯s fine, but it was boiling hot! Tell me, did someone order you to do this?¡± ¡°Miss I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to! I would never have done it if I knew she was pregnant!¡± Miley immediately caught on to his slip, ¡°So you admit it! What exactly were you nning to do?¡± Realizing he had let something slip, the waiter became even more nervous, stammering without being able to exin himself. ¡°You can¡¯t exin, can you! I¡¯ll answer for you! You knew the water was hot, and you nned to pour it on her! I ask you, did a woman named Yuna instruct you to do this? Speak!* ¡®Miss, I don¡¯t know anything I really don¡¯t know anything. Who is Yuna?¡± He wasn¡¯t lying. He didn¡¯t know the woman in the private room at all. She asked him to do it and he did it for the money. How could he know this woman was pregnant! If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to do it. As the crowd gathered around, Marguerite remained silent, staring at her wet leg, enduring the pain without a word. The incident happened so suddenly, when the boiling water touched her skin, Marguerite didn¡¯t have time to react, nor could she feel anything. The numbness onlysted a second, followed by excruciating pain. She felt her skin sticking to her jeans. Any movement caused a tearing pain. Miley, still full of fight, continued to confront the waiter, her voice rising. Marguerite found it annoying She reached out and grabbed Miley¡¯s hand, struggling to say, ¡°Don¡¯t make it hard for him, it wasn¡¯t intentional¡± Miley rolled her eyes in anger, ¡°Marguerite, are you crazy! He did it on purpose! I saw it clearly, this man went to the private room and whispered with Yuna, then came out and spilled water on you!¡± Marguerite bit her lip, ¡°You really saw it?¡± ¡°I really saw it!¡± Miley stomped her foot, her eyes shooting daggers, ¡°I¡¯m going toin to Mr. Winston! You may endure it, but I can¡¯t! You¡¯re such a pushover¡± Hearing this, Marguerite quickly grabbed Miley¡¯s hand, lowered her voice and pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯t go! He won¡¯te!¡± After what she said earler, Frederick won¡¯t care about her. If Miley just barged in like this, it would make her look like a joke. But to her surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, a domineering and appealing voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°Where¡¯s the burn?¡± Marguerite looked up and found herself facing Frederick. She pointed mechanically at her upper thigh. Frederick turned to the waiter, ¡°Get a bottle of iced water, and a pair of scissors¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175 She didn¡¯t expect Frederick to make the first move, a fact that left Marquente father perpleind. Following close behind the waiter brought over ice water and scissors Frederick took a moment to measure Marguerite¡¯s thigh before decisively cutting off most of the denim fabric In an instant, Miley coed out in sorow Marguerite¡¯s thigh was swollen and covered in blisters. Some had risen into small bumps while others had already burst Frederick lowered his cate his deep eyes seemed to ignite with a hidden me. ¡®Quit the fussing, if you¡¯re hurt this bad, why aren¡¯t you at the hospital?¡± was clear he was directing this at Miley Miley didn¡¯t expect Fredericks fire to be directed at her. Although displeased, the realized this was a disy of hic concern for Marguerite. She cast a meaningful look at Yuna, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Tm just worried, okay? Our Marguerite is loo soft for her own good. She gets bullied and still defends the culprit. She¡¯s all alone. If I don¡¯t stand up for her, who Will?¡± Frederick nced at Miley impatiently, the next second he unscrewed the bottle cap and gently poured the icy water over Marguerite¡¯s wound. The coolness flooded in, a reliefpared to the earlier burning sensation, but it still hurt Marguente watched the man kneeling before her, her feelings a tangled mess. At the same time, she caught a glimpse of Yuna out of theer of her eye, secretly gauging the woman¡¯s expression Yuna was green with envy, her teeth gritted as if she wished she could kick Marguente Meanwhile, the waiter responsible for the mishap hid behind Yuna, whispering into her ear. Marguerite instantly knew what was going on. ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Winston, right? I¡¯m Marguente¡¯s best friend, and I saw everything that happened.¡± Marguente quickly shot Miley a look, signaling her to keep quiet. Miley¡¯s words got stuck in her throat, her expression one of frustration. But Marguerite¡¯s gaze was so sharp and urgent that Miley held her tongue and closed her mouth obediently. After a long silence, Marguente suddenly locked eyes with Frederick Her watery eyes held a hint of softness and plea, ¡°I¡¯m in pain, could you take me to the hospital?¡± Fredenck stared at her, his eyes as deep as a well Take her to the hospital? Hadn¡¯t she promised not to bother him again? But after a long contemtion, he finally agreed, ¡°Alright.¡± Marguente shot Yuna a cold look, then leaned on the table to shift her body, the pain getting worse She decided to push a little further, ¡°I can¡¯t feel my legs anymore, I can¡¯t walk. Can you carry me?¡± Yuna clenched her fists upon hearing this, her face redder than a tomato. Was this Marguente¡¯s way of seducing men? Despicable! Absolutely despicable! Yuna was burning with rage, but what infuriated her more was that Frederick didn¡¯t say a word before he hoisted Marguerite up and started walking towards the door Dominant, yet utterly charming Miley followed like a little tail, ¡°I¡¯ming with you¡± ¡°Miley, don¡¯t¡± Marguerite¡¯s expression was cryptic, she was addressing Miley but her gaze remained fixed on Yuna, ¡°One man is enough¡± Miley instantly understood Marguerite¡¯s intention, she deliberately walked over to Yuna, raising her voice for effect ¡°Alright, alnight, I won¡¯t go! Mr. Winston, you must take good care of our Marguerite!¡± Marguente was doing this on purpose, using Frederick to deal a harsh blow to Yuna She knew that Yuna was the one causing trouble behind the scenes, andining about it wouldn¡¯t make a difference. The only thing that could hurt Yuna was monopolizing Frederick And Marguerite¡¯s maniption of Fredenck was indeed effective. This move had Yuna seething with rage! Chapter 176 Chapter 176 hout away file Elenebadge temorial Hospital. Upon embarking out their journey, both Marguente and Frederick remained silent Mae gazed out the white, her expression serene as she took in the ever changing scenary Frederick, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t resist stealing a few at Marguerite A licked by the wound to Marguemere leg worsened tors started to emerge, clustered together in a sight that brought a sense of dread Marguente gritted fete, reform to any signs of pain. The more Margunte remained calm and collected, the mom frustrated Froderick became Ho fould be nechnce infuriating, as if she was imniune to any misfortune that befell her Even Freevere injury seemed to go unnoticed. Woh the Truly sa indifferent? Her body numb even her heart seemed to have gone numb. Did she not feel any emotions towards him? With these thoughts wiring in his mind, Frederick pulled his gaze away from Marguerite and looked at the rear view mirror ¡°Why are we moving so slow?¡± he asked coldly ¡°Mr. Winston, there¡¯s a speed limit,¡± the driver responded politely ¡°Chuck, call the traffic police We need a green light all the way¡± ¡°Yes, sir¡± After giving his orders, Frederick¡¯s gaze fell back on Marguerite Yet, she remained on cold and aloof as ever Frederick turned away in annoyance, clenching his fists so tightly that the veins on his forehead bulged The woman had a heart of stone! Damni Thanks to the green light, what was supposed to be an hour¡¯s drive was shortened to half. The luxurious Cullinan smoothly came to a halt at the entrance of Stonebridge Memorial Hospital Frederick stepped out first, intending to assist Marguente from the car, but she had already managed to get out on her own. She limped a few steps, then noticed Frederick¡¯s gaze fixated on her wound. His eyes were filled with a mix of confusion and surprise. Marguente met his gaze without flinching ¡°As you can see, I just used you I¡¯m not as fragile as you think, nor as fortunate as Yuna. It¡¯s just a burn, not so severe that I can¡¯t walk Taken aback, Frederick moved closer, his towering figure imposing, ¡°So, you used me to get back at her?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Marguente, you¡¯ve got some nerve! Frederick was furious. But how could she not fear him? He was like a king chosen by God, powerful and respected by all. And she was the humblest person Therefore, how could she not be afraid when confronted with the furious Frederick? Despite her feat, she couldn¡¯t let it show She refused to lose her dignity in front of him. So she stood her ground Marguerite steadied herself and thenughed, ¡°I couldn¡¯t stand her bullying me. What¡¯s wrong with fighting back? Go back, your little darling is waiting for your affection¡± With that, Marguerite turned and limped towards the hospital entrance. Each step she took sent a sharp pain through her leg it hurt It hurt so much! But she held her head high, neither arrogant nor humble Watching her receding figure, Frederick¡¯s anger rose. She used him? Find! Very well! This damn woman would not receive an ounce of his sympathy ever again! Frederick turned back to the car, his whole body radiating a cold aura. ¡°Back to the office ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± The driver immediately started the engine while Chuck, in the passenger seat, suddenly eximed, Mr. Winston! Look at Marguerite!¡± Chapter 177 Frederick¡¯s gaze snapped up his eyebrows furrowed in an instant Marguerite had tumbled onto the staircase her wound facing downwards. The uneven edges of the steps scraped her injury, bursting many blisters, her flesh a bloody mess! But she stubbomly propped herself up, hoping to stand on her own strength, but it was in vain Each attempt ended with her falling again After several rounds, he, wound had visibly worsened. Damn it! He cas less than thirty feet from her. If she just called out, he would hear her. Was she so stubbom? Would it kill her to ask for help? ¡°Mr. Winston! You have to go down and help her! If this continues, Marguente¡¯s leg will be ruined!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t! I want to see if she¡¯ll ask for help today!¡± Frederick was exceptionally firm, determined to settle who would win or lose today. Chuck was so anxious he could faint Marguerite was stubbom, and Mr. Winston was ruthless. The two of them together were a relentless match. But love wasn¡¯t a game, it wasn¡¯t about who made the first move and lost! Chuck nced at Marguerite, the steps now stained with blood, soaking into the wood. His face twisted with worry. He didn¡¯t care if Mr. Winston¡¯s mage would affect him, he gathered his courage to advise ¡°Mr Winston, Marguerite¡¯s condition is no longer a simple bum! The staircase is full of bacteria, if not treated promptly, it could get infected¡°¡± Frederick went silent. ¡°Mr. Winston! Marguente is pregnant! If she keeps falling like this, it¡¯s not just her leg that¡¯s at risk, she could even miscarry! And she has pelvic inmmatory disease, if she miscamies, it could be life¨Cthreatening!¡± The air seemed to be thin, Chuck and the driver felt the atmosphere suffocatingly oppressive. Mr. Winston looked unlike anything they had seen before, more than just angry, he emanated an aura of power and control Yet his eyes were constantly flickering, reflecting his inner turmoil. Time ticked away, and seeing that Frederick still hadn¡¯t made a move, Chuck thought since he had already said so much, he might as well go all out! He gritted his teeth, stomped his fool, and reached for the door handle ¡°Damn it!¡± With a curse, the backseat door was §±ung open. Frederick¡¯s long legs hit the ground, like a proud cheetah, he strode towards Marguerite Bending down, his strong arm wrapped around Marguerite¡¯s waist, he forcefully lifted her into his arms. ¡°Put me down.¡± Marguente didn¡¯t like the feeling of being pitied by Frederick, repulsing him entirely ¡°Who are you trying to impress with this death wish? If you really want to die, find a secluded ce, don¡¯t involve others.¡± ¡°Did I involve you? I didn¡¯t ask for your help. Put me down, whether I live or die is none of your business.¡± ¡°You yed your cards well, everyone is speaking up for you. Robert, Chuck, even Yuna¡¯s grandmother is on your side, you must be quite pleased, aren¡¯t you?¡± So, it was Chuck who had sent Frederick In no time, Fredenck had camed Marguerite to the emergency room. Sheid on the cold hospital bed, the doctor and many nurses hurriedly treated Marquente¡¯s wound. The chaos and panic indicated the seventy of her injury. Frederick stood by Marguente the whole time, so she turned her head away, refusing to look at him Then she heard him tell the doctor, ¡°She always wants to act tough, give her a shot of anaesthetic.¡± *Anaesthetics are not good for the fetus, we can only administer a small dose She will still feel pain during the wound cleaning¡± ¡°Give her as much as you can!¡± They only administered a quarter of the anaesthetic, but Marguente felt it was damage Thor more don¡¯t move it will be over moon in the midst of the chaos, something was thrust into Marguerite¡¯s mouth. It was soft and firm at the same time. Her mind was a blur, she hit down on it frantically, but the pain didn¡¯t subside at all The doctor methodically cleaned the wound, a bottle of alcohol was poured onto it, Marguerite screamed and fainted from the pain. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Merguate was lying in a makeshift infirmary, hooked up to a dop, and her head was swimming. Chuck was by side, and upon seeing her shic fetched her a worm ss of water, Marguerite, do you feel any better?¡± Marguerite propped herself up on the bed, epting Chuck¡¯s water and taking a few sips, Tm alnight, when can I leave?¡± The doctor said this is thest drie, once it¡¯s done, you can go Marguerite nodded, er eyes scanning the morn, Fredenck was nowhere to be seen That was for the best, the didn¡¯t want to see him. She finished the water, offering Chuck a grateful look, ¡°Thank you Chuck, I appreciate this. You can leave if you have other matters to attend to, I can manage on my own Marguerite, the person you should be thanking is not me, it¡¯s Mr. Winston.¡± Chuck replied with a jovialugh, thinking back to what had transpired, he felt sahsfied and relieved Morguente looked surprised, and Chuck continued, ¡°Marguerite, Mr. Winston loves you¡± Marguerite was silent. Everyone said Frederick loved her, Chuck, Sadie, even Robert But she couldn¡¯t feel it, all the could feel was his resentment. ¡°Chuck, could you stop saying things like that? I don¡¯t know what I did to deserve everyone¡¯s support, and I¡¯m grateful, really. But you can¡¯t force feelings. He doesn¡¯t love me, and I don¡¯t love him. If you guys keep ying matchmaker, it just create misunderstandings.¡± Like Frederick misunderstanding her earlier, thinking everyone was used by her She hadn¡¯t done anything to deserve that Chuck shook his head hastily. ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯m not just saying this. When the doctor was cleaning your wounds, you were in so much pain you were delirious. To offer you some relief, Mr. Winston extended his arm for you to bit into. Do you know, your biting left arge teeth mark! But he bore it without a word. Marguente, would he do this if he didn¡¯t have feelings for you?¡± Chuck look out his phone, revealing a photo to Marguente The image showed Fredenck¡¯s sturdy arm His strong forearm was marked with a dense ning of teeth impressions, the indentations were deep, and the bloodstains were chilling Chuck had managed to take a secret photo earlier Marguerite was even more confused after seeing it. Frederick hated her with a passion, why would he let her bite his arm just to make her morefortable? Marguente¡¯s finger clenched tightly, lifting her gaze to meet Chuck¡¯s ¡°If he truly has feelings for me like you said, why hasn¡¯t hee home since returning to the manor?¡± Chuck sighed, resting both his hands on his knees. ¡°Mr. Winston has been staying alone at Seaside Manor these past few days. After all, the baby in your belly isn¡¯t his, Mr. Winston is upset about this, it¡¯s not something he can get over casily But regardless of whether you acknowledge it or not, I can see that Mr. Winston cares about you. So Marguerite, make some time to visit him at Seaside Manor With that, Chuck scrawled down an address on a piece of paper, ¡°This is the address of Seaside Manor. Mr. Winston¡¯s routine hasn¡¯t changed. You can visit him anytime¡± Marguente¡¯s eyes fell on the address, and she fell silent. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Meanwhile, at the Winston Group, Frederick received a text from Chuck Mr. Winston, Marguente is awake. After thest IV drip for her inmmation, she can go home. Upon reading it, he felt frustrated and didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he got up and began to smoke by the floor¨Cto¨Ccelling window. Without Marguerite, the CEO¡¯s office felt deste. The flower room upstairs had also been neglected for a while. A few days ago, he went up to check. The corgi and the parrot were both whimpering in protest. Suddenly, the ss door of the CEO¡¯s office was forcefully swung open by someone. Frederick turned his head to see Robert storming in with an angry face. He mmed a thick envelope onto the table, ¡°I missed a date to retrieve these sted photos for you! I went to the restaurant, found you not there, and my online girlfriend wasn¡¯t there either! What on earth is in this? You owe me an exnation!¡± Frederick extinguished his cigarette and turned around. He picked up the envelope with photos, weighing it in his hand it was quite heavy, like a stack of cards. ¡°Pictures of Yuna when she was little. There¡¯s also one of her and me together on her birthday.¡± Robert¡¯s eyes widened in confusion. ¡°You sabotaged my date with Smiley just to get pictures of Yuna? Frederick, I was meeting Smiley to investigate her for you!¡± Smiley? That woman who was investigating him! He had nned to get a good look at the audacious woman today, but unexpectedly ran into Marguerite at the restaurant, which left him feeling restless and disturbed. He had tried his best to ignore her, but Marguerite got hurt. Unable to control himself, he took her to the hospital,pletely forgetting that he still had an important matter to attend to Why did this woman always manage to disrupt his ns? ¡°Did you meet her?¡± Robert, both angry and exhausted, took a bottle of soda from the fridge and took a couple of sips without any enthusiasm. ¡°That¡¯s why I am so angry! I didn¡¯t get to see her! Frederick, next time, can you prioritize your tasks better? What¡¯s more important, Yuna¡¯s photos or Smiley¡¯s investigation? And another thing, you left without saying a word, didn¡¯t even say goodbye! I wanted to tell you where Smiley was, so you could keep her upied. But you didn¡¯t even answer my phone! Now she¡¯s ignoring me!¡± Frederick slowly opened the envelope, his voice steady as ever, ¡°Marguerite got hurt.¡± Robert paused, ¡°Hurt¡­ she got hurt? Did you just take her to the hospital?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± With the soda in his hand, Robert looked as if he wanted to drink but didn¡¯t, his expression a mix of frustration and confusion ¡°Well. If it¡¯s Marguerite, I forgive you.¡± ¡°You would forgive me for Marguerite, but not for Yuna? Why?¡± Robert snorted coldly, ¡°No reason. I just can¡¯t stand that malicious woman, Yuna. That¡¯s all While they were talking, Frederick had already opened the envelope and taken out all the photos. The first one was a picture of him and Yuna. That day, he had rescued her from a bar when she was still wearing a shirt and shorts. Although she was the one who dragged him to the photo studio, she felt awkward during the photo session. It was him who took the initiative to pull her close. Thinking of what happened that day, Frederick felt a warmth in his heart, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curled up His rough hand gently touched the photo paper, suddenly very interested in what Yuna looked like as a child. Was she still the same as he remembered Innocent, adorable, and kind¨Chearted. Just as he was about to flip to the second photo, his phone rang abruptly With a frown, he answered the call, and Zoe¡¯s anxious voice immediately came through- ¡°Mr. Winston! Yuna has overdosed! Pleasee quickly!¡± A chill ran down Frederick¡¯s spine. Without any hesitation, he pocketed the photos and once again left Robert behind as he ran out. What he didn¡¯t know was that if he¡¯d flipped just one more photo, he would have seen pictures of the woman and Laverne over the years. Each photo had a caption. A photo of Marguerite at X years Chapter 180 Meanwhile, at Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. Thest IV drip of antibiotics was finished, and Chuck got some topical ointment from the doctor before he returned to the temporary ward to find Marguerite. The doctor said you¡¯ll need to take antibiotics for the next few days, and don¡¯t forget to apply this ointment in the morning and at night.¡± Chuck stuffed boxes of medicine into his pocket, then looked up at Marguerite, ¡°Can you walk? Do you need a wheelchair?¡± Marguerite carefully got out of bed and stood on the floor, ¡°I¡¯m okay, the blisters have been drained, it doesn¡¯t hurt as much now. Can you help me up?¡± Chuck rushed forward to support Marguerite¡¯s arm. Because of her rtionship with Mr. Winston, Chuck didn¡¯t dare to get too close. He kept his distance, but was always polite Just as they reached the lobby, Frederick, carrying Yuna, rushed towards them. Behind him were Zoe and Ablett Lockwood, their face twisted with worry. Immediately after, several doctors rushed forward with a stretcher. Frederick ced Yuna on the stretcher and together with the others, they rushed her into the emergency room The sudden incident left Marguerite stunned. Chuck quickly grabbed a running doctor to asked, ¡°What happened to thatdy?¡± The doctor replied in a hurry, ¡°She tried tomit suicide by overdose!¡± Suicide by overdose? Marguerite was shocked. Yuna was so ruthless, even to herself, threatening her own life! Turning around, Chuck helped Marguerite to sit down on a bench in the corridor, ¡°Marguerite, Mr. Winston probably needs help, please sit here for a while, I¡¯ll go check out the situation, and I¡¯ll take you hometer¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t want to dy him, ¡°You go ahead, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Chuck stuffed the medicine into Marguente¡¯s arms and hurriedly followed the others. Marguente wanted to go home by herself, but as she was about to leave, she saw Frederick pacing anxiously outside the emergency room. She had never seen that man so worried, his usually expressionless face was taut, and his anxiety was palpable. Maybe that was the difference. Marguerite had never seen him express such emotions towards her. She didn¡¯t need to think much to understand how deeply Fredenck loved Yuna. As for her own wound treatment, the reason he offered her his arm to bite was probably because their mantal status forced him to do so. Marguerite sighed and limped along the wall towards the exit. But as she reached the corridor, she bumped into a stiff chest. Her nose hurt, and when she looked up, she saw Frederick standing in front of her, his face as cold as ice. He was tall and very close to Marguerite, which gave her a sense of pressure. ¡°Are you satisfied now? Your maniption of me worked. Yuna is in danger now. If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll hold you responsible.¡± Frederick¡¯s harsh rebuke hit Marguerite hard She was confused and then felt wronged. What does Yuna¡¯s suicide have to do with her? Why was everything med on her? But Marguerite didn¡¯t argue back. She had never done anything to hurt anyone, so she couldn¡¯t find a way to exin. ¡°I have nothing to say¡± Marguerite dropped her eyes and fell silent, waiting for the storm toe. But the atmosphere just froze, she didn¡¯t get any angry outburst from Frederick, nor did she hear a word from him. When she looked up again, she saw that the door to the emergency room was open, and Yuna was being pushed out. And Frederick was bending over Yuna, anxiously touching her face. Marguerite felt no emotional fluctuation, only the sense of mncholy She was left alone, forgotten. The air here was too oppressive, Marguerite didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. So she turned around, slowly moving toward the exit with the support of the wall. But just then, a gentle force gripped her arm. Marguerite turned to look and was slightly startled. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 ¡®Steven? Shouldn¡¯t you be in you department? What brings you here?¡± The man who had just walked in was none other than Laveme¡¯s attending physician, Steven! He had shed his uniform, now dressed in a ck thin with his zer slung over one arm Marguerite noticed that Steven had a penchant for ck shirts, but the color was too dark and didn¡¯t go well with most suits, so few people chose to dress like this. Even Frederick, who fits in any color, had a closet full of crisp white shirts. Stever¡¯s inherently soft demeanor, coupled with the ck shirt, gave him a unique air of cool defiance ¡°just finished my shift and saw you as soon as I stepped out. You are injured pretty bad Didn¡¯t Frederick head ¡°Because of the baby?¡± Marguerite nodded Til take you home¡± Steven decided immediately Marguerite didn¡¯t want to trouble him and quickly declined, ¡°You don¡¯t have to, Steven. I can go home by myself¡± Steven didn¡¯t listen, his long arm wrapped around the back of Marguente¡¯s shoulders while his other hand held her arm, guiding her towards the exit. ¡°The pregnancy test results leaked from my office. I feel guilty about it. Please, Ms. Lockwood, give me a chance to make amends.¡± At his words, Marguente¡¯s lips curled up into a smile She had never med Steven for the incident. After all, the culprit was Yuna who made the pregnancy test public Even if she hid the results initially, Yuna would have found out eventually She stopped resisting and let Steven lead her to the parking lot. It wasn¡¯t long after they left the lobby that Chuck, who had finished his tasks for Frederick, rushed back. He couldn¡¯t find Marguerite and quickly texted her, ¡°Marguerite, where are you? Mr. Winston asked me to take you home!¡± She replied quickly, ¡°Chuck, I¡¯ve already left¡± Left? Chuck could only reply, ¡°Let me know when you¡¯re home, but you might want to tell Mr. Winston. He¡¯s quite worried about you.¡± After waiting five minutes with no response, Chuck put away his phone and turned to find Frederick. But two doctors quickly passed him, walking ahead,ughing andining. ¡°That patient named Yuna is hrious. I heard she tried tomit suicide by overdosing, so I rushed to pump her stomach. But guess what? Her vital signs were excellent! She swallowed a few mtonin tablets and didn¡¯t forget to take some vitamins. Absolutely unbelievable!¡± Chuck was stunned. Yuna¡¯s vital signs were excellent? But he clearly saw her being wheeled out earlier, looking half¨Cdead. He quickly caught up to the doctors and asked, ¡°Doctor, can you tell me what mtonin is?¡± The doctor didn¡¯t hold back, ¡°It¡¯s a natural sleep aid, not as strong as sleeping pills. We just had a patient who tried to overdose on the lowest dose of mtonin. She sure knows how to take care of herself, taking vitamins after the mtonin, effectively neutralizing the effects!¡± Chapter 183 Fr though he was dalbe fed up with Yuna¡¯s endless monologue, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether he had ignored this woman who had once saved his life She right they were to get maned, after all. Arbough he had started doubting this due to Marguente¡¯s presence in his life and contemted whether he should go ahead with his promise to marry Yuna But then Marguerite got pregnant. She was pregnant with a child that was not his The reality had made the choice for him, but he was still reluctant to ept his fate. He didnt ve Yuns, he knew that if he married her, it wouldn¡¯t just be him who would be hurt, but Yuna would end up being the most hurt. For the first time Frederick felt the need to have a real conversation with Yuna. He put down his cup, moved the chair next to Yuna¡¯s bed, and asked gently. ¡°Do you really want to marry a man who doesn¡¯t love you?¡± Yuna was taken aback. Freddie didn¡¯t love her? How could that be when she had once saved his life? Yuna was visibly upset, her expression defiant, as if she was the one who had saved Frederick¡¯s life fifteen years ago. ¡°Freddie, what are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Whether someone loves another person or not, it can be felt. Since you¡¯ve noticed that I¡¯ve been ignonng you, it means you know that I don¡¯t love you.¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was calm when he said this, showing no concern for her feelings Yuna was trembling with anger, ¡°Freddie, if you don¡¯t love me, who do you love then? Is it Marguente? Freddie, I was the one who saved you!¡± Frederick was enraged by Yuna¡¯s words, ¡°This is between you and me, why do you keep bringing up Marguerite? What does she have to do with what happened fifteen years ago?¡± Yuna was taken aback, she was rendered speechless by Frederick¡¯s question Frederick looked up at Yuna, her startled expression made him think that maybe he had been too harsh. He paused, softened his tone, and exined, ¡°It¡¯s because you saved me fifteen years ago that I promised to marry you. But before we do that, I need to tell you that I can marry you, but I won¡¯t be able to love you.¡± As expected, Frederick¡¯s willingness to marry her was entirely due to that incident fifteen years ago. This was Yuna¡¯s talisman, as long as she had it, Frederick had to keep his promise! As for his feelings¡­ Whether he loved her or not wasn¡¯t important, as long as he was willing to stay with her, he would eventually develop feelings for her. Yuna sniffled, nodded, and held onto Frederick¡¯s hand, ¡°Freddie, it¡¯s enough that I love you! But I don¡¯t want to push you. Mamage is a lifelongmitment, I don¡¯t want you to be unhappy. So, could you give me a chance to get close to you? We could give each other some time to develop feelings. After that, if you still can¡¯t love me, I¡¯ll let go. Whomever you love, and want to marry, will have nothing to do with me.¡± Fredenck looked at her, his eyes deep and thoughtful This perhaps was her biggestpromise, but for him, there was no loss. He couldn¡¯t refuse Frederick sighed lightly, nodded his head, and agreed. Yuna was overjoyed This was just a strategy for her to get closer to Frederick, she just needed to find a way to bear Frederick¡¯s child and get rid of Marguente. Whether he loved her or not in the end, he would have to marry her! Yuna hugged Frederick, her face full of happiness, she buried her face in his chest. ¡°Thank you, Freddie, I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Frederick, however, remained distant. He paused, and then asked, ¡°Have you found your sapphire ne that you said you lost?¡± Yuna was startled, ¡°When did I say that?¡± ¡°At the photo studio¡± Damn! The person at the photo studio was Marguente, not her! Yuna quickly corrected herself, ¡°Im sorry, Freddie, I had a high fever when I was a child, and my memory is not very good. I did lose the ne, I don¡¯t know where I lost IL Could you buy me a new one?¡± A month ago, when Frederick used the sapphire ne to find Yuna, he personally put it around her neck. But Yuna never wore it again. After all, it was Marguerite¡¯s ne. Yuna was worried that if Marguerite saw it, she would be exposed, so she hid it Now that Fredenck thought the ne was lost, she might as well go along with it That ne was ugly and cheap, it didn¡¯t match her current status at all! She had to get Frederick to buy her a more expensive one! Frederick paused Buy a new one? That ne was so important, but Yuna was nonchnt about losing it and wanted a new Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Lale unto the night, Seaside Manor. After resuming from the hospital, Frederick stood before the floor to ceiling windown on the second floor, gazing out at the tranquil waves in deep thought. The grand mantion was shrouded in darkness, void of any servants, making it seem particrly deste Chuck approached with reverence, reporting. ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite arrived home three hours ago. ording to Sadie, she fell asleep after taking her medication. She should be able to walk normally by tomorrow¡± 1 sex¡± Fredenck puffed on his cigar one after another, showing no inclination to speak. Yuna¡¯s proposal to build a rtionship was suffocating him, but since she seemed hell¨Cbent on it, he decided to y along for a while. After all, Frederick himself was curious whether he could fall in love with another woman again If not, then whom did he love? Marguerite? The more Frederick pondered, the more restless he became, his handsome eyebrows furrowing tightly. Chuck lingered, observing Frederick¡¯s expression. After a moment of hesitation, he finally decided to report what he had leamed at the hospital ¡°Mr. Winston¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°By ident, I overheard at the hospital that the pills Ms. Yuna took in her suicide attempt were mtonin. After that, she took two witamin pills.¡± Frederick paused, tumed around, and looked puzzled. Chuck swallowed and continued exining. ¡°Mtonin is a supplement for sleep, and its effects are very mild. ording to the doctor, the vitamins Ms. Yuna took afterwardpletely neutralized the effects of the mtonin.¡± ¡°What are you implying?¡± Frederick¡¯s expression was ominously terrifying But once the words were out, there was no turning back, so Chuck could only continue, ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s possible that Ms. Yuna never intended tomit suicide at all. She did it just to call you over and frame Marguerite!¡± Chuck had witnessed how harsh Mr. Winston had been to Marguerite at the hospital 1 see. That¡¯s it? That¡¯s Mr. Winston¡¯s reaction? ¡°Mr. Winston, Ms. Yuna¡¯s suicide attempt had nothing to do with Marguerite. You misunderstood Marguerite. Dont you think you should¡­ apologize?¡± Fredenck retorted, ¡°Did she ever apologize for getting pregnant behind my back?¡± Chuck was taken aback and didn¡¯t know what to say Indeed, Marguerite was in the wrong for carrying another man¡¯s child without Winston¡¯s knowledge. Fredenck exhaled a circle of smoke, then look out a photo from his pocket, ¡°Investigate how this ne was purchased and find out as soon as possible¡± Chuck nced down and was surprised to see it was the sapphire ne Yuna wore. Was Mr. Winston starting to care about Yuna? Chuck sighed, didn¡¯t say anything else, and respectfully exited. The following day at noon Robert managed to arrange another meeting with Smiley and they met at the Bluebell Bistro for steak. The sight of Smiley made Roberts heart skip a beat Her candy pink long T¨Cshirt barely covered her white shorts, paired with matching sneakers. The color was bright, but it looked just night on her Smiley, true to her name, was truly making others smile. I¡¯m really sorry about yesterday Something came up. When I got there, you had already left, and you didn¡¯t respond to my messages. Are you mad?¡± Miley looked at him with her big, watery eyes. ¡°You ghosted me on our first date. Are you asking me if I¡¯m mad?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I apologize¡± Miley held back herughter. She had to admit, she was quite enthralled by the man before her. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Robert was ready to reveal his identity, but he remembered how this woman had been snooping around Frederick, and he wondered if she was working for Maunce Winston. Although she didn¡¯t seem like it, he had to be cautious. The name isn¡¯t important, you can keep calling me Mr. Fitzgerald What about you? What¡¯s your name?¡± Miley rolled her eyes, mimicking his tone, ¡°The name isn¡¯t important, you can keep calling me Smiley! They stared at each other, nearly bursting out inughter As Robert calmly cut his steak, he decided not to beat around the bush and asked directly, ¡°Why did you want to restore that photo? Are you trying to find the man I the photo?¡± Miley was straightforward and didn¡¯t think too much about it. Im not looking for him, my bestie is.¡± Robert paused, surprised that Smiley admitted it so quickly But what did her bestie have to do with Fredenck? Chapter 185 Miky wat about to blurt out her finend¡¯s nam Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Miky wat about to blurt out her finend¡¯s name when the suddenly decided against it, swallowing the word ¡°Marguerite¡± before it could escape her lips. to tell Mr Fitzgerald that her friend was Marguente, he would most definitely probe for more Information about her. would she seriously have to tell him that Marguerite is Frederick¡¯s wife? No, she couldn¡¯t This man might be to her taste, but she couldn¡¯t be so naive as to tell him everything! She¡¯d have to meet him a few times more, make sure he¡¯s trustworthy before she could spill the beans. Frederick wasn¡¯t just anybody! He was a man of great Influence in Stonebridge City, akin to a king! She couldn¡¯t just go around bbening about Mr Winston and Marguerite to anyone. Miley, after hesitating for a moment, finally changed the topic in her usual yful manner. If you¡¯re not willing to tell me your name, that means you don¡¯t trust me. And if that¡¯s the case, then of course, I don¡¯t trust you either! So why should I tell you who my best frend is? But I can give you a hint, she¡¯s really amazing and super beautiful! However, for some reasons, she doesn¡¯t look as good as she used to¡± Robert was getting tired of this kind of vague description! ¡°What do you mean by she doesn¡¯t look as good as she used to? I remember you told me before that your friend is extremely beautiful. And you even mentioned that whether or not she can restore her looks depends on the picture that I helped restore What does that mean? Can your friend¡¯s appearance change at any time? What does she do?¡± Miley chuckled, trying to keep the atmosphere light, ¡°She¡¯s a performer in a local theatre, ying different characters every day¡± How could she reveal that Marguerite was hiding behind a mask? That¡¯s way too important! But saying that she¡¯s an actress wasn¡¯t entirely wrong either, they both had to wear masks after all! However, Miley¡¯s yful response did make Robert burst intoughter. He took a sip of his ck tea, and even though he found Miley incredibly cute, he couldn¡¯t forget the purpose of his visit If Miley¡¯s mystenous friend was the one Investigating Frederick, then he needed to figure out who this elusive woman was. He joked, ¡°Next time, bring your friend along I¡¯d love to see if she¡¯s as cute as you.¡± Miley nodded enthusiastically, stuffing her mouth with spaghetti. ¡°We were supposed to go together yesterday, but something came up for my friend so she had to leave early But there¡¯s something else I need your help with.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Miley cleaned her mouth and pulled out a piece of note paper from her pocket, ¡°Have you ever seen cufflinks like this before?¡± On the note was a sketch of a cufflink, drawn by Miley herself. The cufflinks on the man in the surveince picture were too small to see clearly, so Miley decided to draw a bigger version. The drawing was incredibly detailed, almost a perfect replica. Robert¡¯s eyes widened in surprise That crown design, isn¡¯t it the symbol of the Winston Group? Each member of the Winston Group had a unique crown symbol that represented their status and honor. The design on Miley¡¯s paper was identical to Frederick¡¯s ¡°Where did you get this cufflink?¡± ¡°It was in the picture you helped me restore. It was on the man¡¯s cuff,¡± Such meticulous observation? When he was restoring the picture, he only noticed that the man¡¯s back looked simr to Frederick¡¯s Even he hadn¡¯t noticed the details of the crown cufflink. Did these two women use a magnifying ss or something? But this did confirm one thing ¨C Miley¡¯s friend was desperate to find Frederick! But before meeting Marguente, Frederick was notorious for his disinterest in women. Which woman would need to find him so badly? But as long as he could keep Miley¡¯s trust, he was confident that he could find out who her mysterious friend was! He pretended to examine the drawing carefully, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, ¡°This kind of cufflink is usually custom made by wealthy families. The design you have here, it¡¯s not something you can buy off the shelf¡± ¡°What? I can¡¯t buy it?¡± Miley was disappointed, ¡°Have you seen anything simr then?¡± Robert curved his lips into a smile, looking at Miley with amusement, ¡°Never seen it before¡± Meanwhile, at the Seaside Man Chapter 186 Out on the patio of the ground floor rectumnt, Frederick was having his lunch facing the ocean Chuck mushed mafter hanging up a call, ¡°Mr. Winston, wo have a problem! I just got word that Maurice registered a newpany under the Winston Group name Bang- Frederick mmed his nife and fork on the table, making a startling noise Maurice far to attach hispany to the Winston Group? Hov. audacious! Has he forgotten whos In charge of the Winston Group now? Without his permission, who dared to do such a thing? Frederick Immediately knew, it must be his biased father¡¯s doing! ¡°Where is Maurice?¡± An ominously cold voice asked, carried by the sea breeze into Chuck¡¯s ears. Chuck shuddered, ¡°He must still be at the Commerce Bureau. Mr. Winston, do you want to go there? You said yesterday that Ms Yuna was moving in. She¡¯s about lo amve.¡± Thats fine¡± The man picked up a fine handkerchief by his side to clean his mouth, then stood up. His narrow eyes radiated a venomous and dark light Just as Chuck opened the gate for Frederick, he saw Yuna standing there with a brilliant smile, arge suitcase by her feet. ¡°Freddie, are you going out?¡± Frederick was expressionless, ¡°Hmm. ¡°I¡¯lle with you!* ¡°No need You get settled in, I¡¯ll take you shoppingter¡± The request to go shopping was made by Yunast night. If they were to develop a rtionship, they must date like a normal couple At the time, Frederick neither agreed nor refused, so Yuna thought it was a lost cause. She was overjoyed when he agreed as soon as she arved. Having seen Frederick off with an eager face, Yuna couldn¡¯t wait to enter the vi Looking around, she realized that this ce was truly nice. The decor wasn¡¯t asvish as the Sapphire Valley Estates, but Seaside Manor had a more understated elegance. The broad vision floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows alone made her feel extremelyfortable. At that moment, the only servant approached, courteously took Yuna¡¯s luggage, then said, ¡®Ms. Lockwood, you should rest first. Your room isn¡¯t ready yet, so you may have to wait a bit¡± Yuna immediately rolled her eyes and imperiously scolded, ¡°I¡¯m Freddie¡¯s girlfriend, I should be staying with him! Take my luggage to his room!¡± The servant looked confused, ¡°But Mr. Winston asked me to prepare a room for you.¡± ¡°Whatever I say goes! Can¡¯t you understand? Do you still want your job? If you don¡¯t, you can pack up and leave now!¡± Yuna was so arrogant and bossy that the servant was particrly frightened How did such a woman end up being Mr. Winston¡¯s girlfriend? In her heart, she was upset. Even if she didn¡¯t like this woman, she still did as told She decided to tell Mr. Winstonter. With that thought, the servant took Yuna¡¯s luggage upstairs, looking displeased Yuna walked over to the sofa and jumped on it, instantly sinking into the soft, milky white fabric. Everything here pleased her, as if it had been tailored just for her. For some reason, she really wanted Marguerite to know about her current situation. If that wench knew she was moving in with Freddie, she¡¯d definitely be green with envy, wouldn¡¯t she? Thinking this, Yuna couldn¡¯t wait to pull out her phone and dialed Marguente¡¯s number, ¡°Marquentel Go to the closet and bring some clothes over here now! Be quick! Don¡¯t make me repeal myself! There are no clothes of yours at the Sapphire Valley Estates¡± Marguerite was about to hang up after leaving a remark, but Yuna anticipated this and shouted, ¡°Take Freddie¡¯s clothes¡± To bring Frederick¡¯s clothes to Yuna? For what? Wasn¡¯t Yuna in the hospital? ¡°I¡¯m the personal maid of the olddy, not yours. If you want his clothes, and get them yourself, I don¡¯t have time¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t listen to Yuna¡¯s words at all, which infuriated her Freddie told you to do it! You can ignore what I say, but can you ignore Freddie¡¯s orders? You¡¯re a servant, he¡¯s the master, and servants must obey their masters like dogs! Hurry up and bring the clothes to Seaside Manor, don¡¯t make him angry!¡± Seaside Manor? Wasn¡¯t that where Frederick was staying these days? He end Yuna, they were living together? -1/1 Chapter 187 Margoonte casually gathered up a few items of clothing from the walk¨Cin closet. She knew exactly about Yuna¡¯s motives. The woman was showing off. in and simple. Well, Yuno wanted to Baunt her new status, Marguente would y along And while she was at it, she¡¯d confirm whether Frederick had indeed had her moved in. If not, the wouldn¡¯t hesitate to give Yuna a plece of her mind today! Marguerite held the address that Chuck had given her the day before. She took a bus and made her way there, with a small suitcase. After an hour¨Clong ride, she arrived at the Seaside Manor. It wasn¡¯t a neighborhood, but a standalone house. Her leg hadn¡¯t fully recovered and she limped as she walked She carefully trod along the sandy path, knocked on the grand entrance door and was greeted by a servant, who looked at her with unfamiliarity ¡°Miss, can I help you?¡± Yuna called me over¡± The servant let her in and pointed upstairs, ¡°Ms. Lockwood is upstairs in the dressing room You can go straight up to see her Marguente took a few steps before turning back to ask, ¡°Is Frederick also upstairs?¡± Frederick?! Who was this woman, so bold as to call Mr. Winston by his first name? How could the newly appointed servant know that the woman standing in front of her was Mr. Winston¡¯s legally protected wife! She shook her head mechanically. ¡°No, Mr. Winston is not here¡± Not here? Ha! So, it was Yuna who tricked her intoing here by using Fredenck¡¯s name. How childish! Marguente ascended the staircase and entered the dressing room. She tossed her suitcase aside, ¡°Stop calling me. I don¡¯t have time for your childish games¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go, don¡¯t you want to see where Freddie and I stay? Marguente, for the past few days, we¡¯ve been sharing a bed. And every night, Freddie holds me.¡± Yuna¡¯s face was full of pride as she bragged about their intimate moments. She was itching for a fight! What a tant lie! If Yuna had been living at Seaside Manor all this while, why would Chuck suggest that she visit? The suitcase by her foot was ringly obvious. Did Yuna really think she was blind? Marguente scoffed, ¡°Arguing with a woman like you is beneath me. If I were you, I¡¯d be on my best behavior during the initial days of moving in and wouldn¡¯t stir up trouble¡± Yuna didn¡¯t expect Marguerite to remain so calm. She hastily grabbed a stack of photos from her suitcase and threw them at Marguente ¡°I assert my dominance because I have someone backing me! If you can¡¯t stand it, then swallow it!¡± Yuna spat out venomously, threatening Marguerite ¡°Take your photos and get out of here. If I catch you taking off your mask and approaching Freddie in my name again, I will make you wish you were dead¡± Marguerite was shocked How did Yuna get her photos? Although Marguente didn¡¯t know the reason, she was sure that Frederick hadn¡¯t seen the content of these photos Otherwise, Yuna wouldn¡¯t be here unharmed. Just as Marguente was about to leave, she caught a glimpse of a drawer full of men¡¯s cufflinks. In a sh, she froze To her shock, those cufflinks were exactly the same as those worn by the man in the surveince footage, the man who had his back to the cameral Chapter 188 Marguerite spun around and reached for the cufflink, scrutinizing it closely. The embossed crown, adorned with tiny diamonds. Yest it was identical) Suddenly, she recalled the message Miley had sent her She¡¯d said that this cufflink was custom¨Cmade for a rich family, impossible to find In any shop. So, the cufflink belonged to Frederick! This meant that the man in the security footage, the one standing with his back to the camera, was himl She knew it The silhouette, the cufflink, they were all too familiar! Yuna suddenly lunged forward, shoving Marguerite aside and reaching for the cufflink in her palm, ¡°You¡¯re stealing now, are you? Give it back, It¡¯s Freddie¡¯s!¡± Marguerite clenched her fist, pulling back, her gaze fixed on Yuna, wordless. Yuna red at her, ¡°Not giving it back, huh? Fine! I¡¯m calling Freddie right now! I¡¯ll tell him you¡¯re stealing from his house! You¡¯re done for, Marguerite!¡± ¡°Go ahead, call him! It¡¯ll be perfect, I want to ask Frederick why you had me put on that mask, right to his face.¡± Yuna froze, rooted to the spot. What was happening? Marguerite was going to ask Frederick why she had to wear the mask? Did this woman know something? Yuna felt her heart thump wildly, but she refused to back down, raising her voice, ¡°What do you mean? Stop spouting nonsense, Marguente!¡± Marguerite pulled out the two snapshots of the CCTV footage from her pocket, and repeatedly pped them against Yuna¡¯s chest. ¡°A month ago, night after Frederick went to the casino, your parents came to me with the mask. So, the reason you had me wear the mask was because of Frederick, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Yuna nced at the CCTV snapshots, stunned, her lips trembling. This woman had found out! And she even found these snapshots from the security footage. What else did she know? The child in her womb¡­ No¡­ Impossible! If she knew that the child was Frederick¡¯s, she wouldn¡¯t be standing here, confronting her At most, she was just suspecting the reason behind the mask. Yuna felt her heart racing, but she decided to go all in, to take a gamble. ¡°So what if it was¡® At that time, I had just started dating Freddie and could finally marry him, of course I had to be wary of you. We look exactly alike, what if you seduced him pretending to be me? I just didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯d still beat me to it, bing his wife!¡± Marguente stepped closer, ¡°The reason you had me wear the mask couldn¡¯t have been that simple! You¡¯re definitely hiding something else from me!¡± Yuna stood her ground, ¡°That¡¯s all there was to it! And it proves I was right, with you wearing the mask and looking hideous, you were still flirting with Freddie. What would¡¯ve happened if you didn¡¯t wear the mask? I¡¯m warning you, Marguerite, Freddie said he¡¯s going to marry me. So, until I marry him, you better not take off that mask! Or else, I¡¯ll make sure your grandma suffers!¡± How dare shel Yuna had threatened her with her grandmother again! She would never nsk her grandmother¡¯s safety, but she wouldn¡¯t let this go easily either! The Lockwood family¡¯s reason for making her wear the mask couldn¡¯t have been that simple, but getting Yuna to spill the beans would be much harder. Instead of wasting time with Yuna, she should find Miley and figure out a n. Marguerite clenched the cufflink in her hand and didn¡¯t return it, shooting Yuna a glowering look before turning to leave Watching Marguerite exit the dressing room, Yuna quickly peered out the window to make sure she was really leaving before letting out a sigh of relief She didn¡¯t know if Marguerite had believed her, but she couldn¡¯t let her guard down. She had just moved into Seaside Manor with Freddie, everything was going well, she couldn¡¯t let Marguerite ruin it all. Regaining herposure, Yuna quickly pulled out her phone and sent an anonymous text to Powell Winston: [Mr. Powell, Marguerile is married to Mr. Winston, but she¡¯s carrying another man¡¯s child and has moved back to Sapphire Valley Estates. As the head of the family, aren¡¯t you going to do something?] Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Wher querite arrived at Ahley¡¯s apartment Miley had already finished her date with Robert and was back home. Marie spent half an hour exining the ins and outs of the whole situation to Miley My hatened attentively, studying the cufflink that Marguente had brought back. As she thought it over, she began to analyze it ¡°Yuna ron¡¯t entirely in the wrong you know. Back in Marina Shores Vige, you were incredibly popr. Everyone loved you. It¡¯s only natural that Yuno felt Chraptened¡± Marguerite shook her head in frustration, ¡°Don¡¯t you think the whole thing is just too suspicious? I didn¡¯t even know Frederick when he went to the casino to look for Yunal Why did they want me to wear a mask? Could they have predicted that I¡¯d have trouble with Frederick in the future?¡± Miley greed with a nod and shrug, taking a gulp of water. ¡°Better safe than sorry, I guess. But they sure made a big deal out of it, making you wear a mask just to prevent Mr. Winston from falling for you! And as far as I can rell, Yuna didn¡¯t exactly win Mr. Winston¡¯s affections with her looks either! Didn¡¯t you notice? When you got bumed yesterday, he left her right away!¡± Marguerite sighed heavily, her small face fraught with worry. She had a feeling that things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed. Miley sensed Marguerite¡¯s concems, cing her hands on Marguerite¡¯s shoulders and resting her chin on them from behind ¡°Your rtionship with Mr Winston is actually quite simple. You were instructed by a mysterious person to marry him and that¡¯s it. As for Yuna¡¯s motive for making you wear a mask, it¡¯s also straightforward. You two are Identical twins, so she naturally fears that Mr. Winston might mistake you for her. And given the Lockwood family¡¯s intelligence, they certainly can¡¯t think that far So things might not be asplicated as you think.¡± Miley¡¯s analysis seemed to sway Marguerite a little. In fact, the evidence was pretty clear, but Marguerite just found the reason behind the mask hard to ept. The Lockwood family threatened her grandmother¡¯s life, to coerce her time and time again She thought she could use this to uncover more secrets. But who would have thought that the reason for the mask was just an old¨Cfashioned love issue! Wasn¡¯t that making a mountain out of a molehill? But for now, Marguente couldn¡¯t think of any other reasons and had to temporarily give in. She rubbed her temples in imitation and conceded, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ve got that sorted But I still want to find the father of the child in my belly as soon as possible¡± Miley looked worried, gently massaging Marguente¡¯s shoulders and urging her to take it easy. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve been a bit too busytely? After investigating this and that, now that the truth is finally out, take a break. Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯ve still got mel Forget about it for now, let¡¯s go shopping¡± With that, Miley dragged Marguerite towards the door, ¡°Consider it a celebration of our partial victory¡°¡± Miley grabbed her bag from the foyer, put on her mask and led Marguerite out the door. As Marguerite stepped into the elevator, she couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°What¡¯s with you and the masktely?¡± Miley gave a yful smile, ¡°I took my makeup off as soon as I got home. I don¡¯t want to go out like this!¡± Soon, Miley drove Marguente to the Grandeur Square Mall. Thest time she was here, she was with Fredenck He had bought her countless clothes Marguente had always wanted to pay him back, but therge sum of money was an astronomical figure for an ordinary person Was she really going to spend a lifetime Chapter 190 Marguerite shook her head clearing Frederick out of her mind, refusing to dwell on him anymore. Hog Hry had not yet healed, causing her to wince in pain with each step she took. Therefore, Miley supported her, strolling slowly as if they were taking lesundy walk ¡°Silly gut in the only one in the world who would apany you shopping with ame leg ¡°Indeed, my dear Marguerite the best friend one could ever ask for. How about we buy some friendship bracelets downstairs, as a symbol of our unwavering bond? ¡°But if we¡¯re tag about unwavering bonds, we should be buying rings.¡± Miley chuckled in delight, ¡°Make Mr. Winston buy you a ring!¡± Aring symbolized a lifetimemitment. How could Frederick possibly buy her one? It was impossible now, and it would be even more so in the future. Meanwhile, Yuna and Frederick arrived at the jewelry store. She had bought quite a few things today, carrying bags of shopping spolls, her mood was especially cheerful. Perhaps thinking of thest time Frederick spent a big sum of money on that wretched Marguerite, she felt a surge of jealousy. Therefore, upon arriving at Grandeur Square Mall, she retaliated by making Frederick pay for her shopping spree At the moment, the counter was filled with all sorts of dazzling jewelry, which made Yuna¡¯s eyes sparkle. Each plece was worth a fortune, with the cheapest one costing over twenty thousand Seeing this, Yuna¡¯s vanity red up. She tumed to Frederick and asked, ¡°Freddie, I lost my ne. Can I buy another one?¡± Frederick didn¡¯t say yes, but neither did he say no. He simply turned to the clerk and ordered in a cold voice, ¡°Get a sapphire ne with diamonds around it.¡± The clerk hesitated, Tm sorry, sir. We don¡¯t have that style of ne in our store.¡± Yuna pouted and tugged at Frederick¡¯s arm, ¡°Freddie, I don¡¯t want a sapphire ne. I¡¯ve been wearing that style for over ten years and I¡¯m bored of it. I want something new!¡± The clerk, observing the couple¡¯s interaction, made a calcted guess about their rtionship Seeing the woman carrying bags of shopping goods, it was clear that the man had been spending on her Why not, then, suggest the store¡¯s new amvals and make a handsomemission? So, the clerk put on a professional smile and turned to the couple. ¡°Sir, our store is most famous for its rings. Take this one for example, an eight¨Ccarat full diamond ring. It was worn by a famous actress at her weddingst month It¡¯s one of only two pieces in the world¡± As soon as the ring was brought out, its dazzling light immediately caught Yuna¡¯s attention. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful! Can I try it on?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Yuna eagerly stretched out her hand, and the clerk carefully slid the ring onto her finger. To be honest, the diamond was too big and looked rather odd on her hand. But Yuna loved it. What she wanted was extravagance, the kind that screamed she was a woman of high society. ¡°Freddie, I love this!¡± Frederick stood tall and handsome, but his icy face hardened. ¡°Sir, your girlfriend seems to like it very much. Why not buy it for her? A man can only customize one of our diamond rings in his lifetime in our store, symbolizing his love for one person¡± Fredenck¡¯s face darkened. If it was just an ordinary piece of jewelry, even if it cost a fortune, he could swipe his card without blinking an eye After all, money was not scarce for him, it was just paper But a ring, especially one that could only be customized once in a lifetime, he had to think twice. redenck didn¡¯t say anything, but suddenly, a sarcastic female voice came from the other side, ¡°Oh, I was wondering why the air was so bad, turns out there¡¯s a fly Juzzing around¡± veryone turned to look, and to their surprise, they once again ran into Marguerite and her best friend in the jewelry store rederick looked at Marguerite, who also had aplicated expression on her face. His eyes were deep and unfathomable ¡®uns, however, immediately snuggled into Frederick¡¯s arm, holding her hand up high, showcasing the eight¨Ccarat diamond ring on her ring finger What a coincidence? Come, take a look. Isn¡¯t the diamond ring Freddie bought for me beautiful?¡± Chapter 191 Hasient ringi Ha tt should be a welding pig Littae h?r gara to the craindre diamind that Yahs held in her hand, sparking like a beacon under the chandelier¡¯s glow life just un infair The bad people who had door hun wrong in the past, was now Banshing In contrast Margonite was battered and bigsod, and in ten months, she would be a single mother Marguerite Trita sting in her eyes followed bye unexinable tears. Turning har gaze away quickly, the mollered in a tone that not even she recognized as her own, ¡°What a coincidence¡± The man in front of her didul say anything, nor did he offer any exnation about the ong Instead, he observed Marguente with keen interest, studying the annotions on her face. budced he finally noticed a flicker of emotion on her pale checks The next second, he quietly extricated his arm from Yuna¡¯s, his face betraying no emotion Let¡¯s back around elsewhere¡± Marguente left those stiff words bnd before fuming and hurrying away, with Miley in tow ¡°Marguente what are you doing? The enemy is at your doorstep, and you¡¯re not going to fight back The ring! Didn¡¯t you see the ring on Yuna¡¯s finger? What right ded Mr. Winston have to buy her a diamond ting?¡± Miley scolded Marguente while being dragged into the center of the hall. Seeing Marguente¡¯sck of response, Miley continued. ¡°This won¡¯t do I have to go back and give them a piece of my mind This is infanating¡± Marquente stopped Miley befom she could leave. ¡°Inough, just let them be. I¡¯m really tired¡± ¡°Marguerite, I just cant stand seeing you being bullied¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a ring how am I being bullied? Aren¡¯t I standing right in front of you?¡± Miley wanted to retort, but seeing how stubborn Marguerite was, the knew it was futile Unlike Marguerite¡¯s patient nature, Miley was one to hold grudges. Anyone who wronged her would face her wrath, she wouldn¡¯t tolerate the slightest bit of Marguente wished she could have Miley¡¯s carefree personality, but she couldn¡¯t. No matter how much of a fuss Miley made, even if she brought the sky down, her family would be there to pick up the pieces. But Marguerite had nothing. So no matter how wronged she felt, she had to swallow her pride After wandering around the Grandeur Square Mall for a while, Marguente, feeling uninterested, suggested they head home Miley agreed, and they left the mall for the parking lot. Not two steps out, a procession of cars suddenly pulled up at the entrance of the mall. A middle aged man, who looked like a butler, stepped out of the leading ck business car and headed straight for Marguente. As Marguerite was zoning out, a deep voice devoid of any emotion grumbled from behind her, ¡°Are you here to catch me? Tell Mr. Powell that no matter what wont back down¡± With that, Frederick came to a halt beside Marguerite Marguente nced at Frederick and then at the man in front of her, utterly confused. Was he here for Frederick And Frederick¡¯s attitude toward this man seemed more like a lord to his servant So, could this man be from the Winston family? Marguite had no desire to meddle in the Winston fataly¡¯s affairs and was about to move away with Miley when the butler curved his lips into a polite smile and Mr fredenck, we¡¯le not here to pick you up, we¡¯re here for Ms Chapter 192 hath Whats going ont hi p¨¹rrled and chicicas bravediately she saw the butler how slightly towards Frederick, showing respect without a hint of fear Of course, if you wish to retum aether it¡¯s possible it won¡¯t take long After all, the master has not recovered from his heart attack since hisst birthday party He¡¯s all tyng in the hospital You should go see him! Bothday party¡± He tack? It must be the Winston family! But Marguente had never expected her pregnancy test to have such a powerful impact. So much that the head of the Winston Group fell ill and hasn¡¯t left the She fell be was about to walk into a lion¡¯s den ¡°Miss Lockwood, pleasee with us Our master wants to see you the butler finished speaking, two bodyguards stepped forward, rudely pushed Miley aside, and took Marguerite in between them. Let go of me I can walk on my own!¡± Marguente¡¯s feet swayed in mid air. She felt helpless and angry, like a chick at the mercy of a butcher. Miley rushed forward, pounding the bodyguards¡® shoulders, ¡°Put her down! She¡¯s carrying a child! If she gets hurt, who¡¯s going to take responsibility? Put her down now!¡± With a backward shove, Miley was sent flying by brute force Suddenly. Marguente felt a tight grip on her arm Frederick had grabbed her elbow and blocked the way with his other hand. ¡°Be gentle with her¡± Frederick¡¯s tone was indifferent, but the anger in his eyes threatened to incinerate everyone. The butler, still smiling, motioned towards the cars. ¡°Young master, why don¡¯t we all go together? The master has been waiting for a long time.¡± ¡°Put her down I don¡¯t want to repeat myself.¡± His sharp, angry tone resurfaced, and the bodyguards immediately let go of Marguerite. She almost fell to the ground, but Frederick swiftly caught her and, with an expressionless face, led her to a Rolls Royce parked nearby. The driver quickly started the engine, and once the convoy left Grandeur Square Mall, Yuna in the corner finally revealed a triumphant smile. She knew that the anonymous message she had sent to Powell had done its job. Tonight, Marguerite was more likely to face danger than luck. She dared to fight with her? Bitch! Half an hourter, VIP ward of Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. Frederick held Marguente¡¯s hand since they¡¯d alighted the car arguente felt strange, but she didn¡¯t pull away. She had never dealt with Powell before and had no idea what she was about to face. But it wouldn¡¯t be easy. With Frederick holding her hand like this, Marguerite felt a little less anxious. Upon entering the ward, Powell¡¯s condition was not as severe as Marguerite had imagined. Powell sat on the couch with a fierce look in his eyes, clutching a cane A dignified andposed middle¨Caged woman sat next to him, dressed in a simple, milky white gown. Her soft features were surprisingly beautiful She had the grace and gentleness of ady of a big, noble family. I! Marguente wasn¡¯t mistaken, this was Frederick¡¯s biological mother, Jocelyn. Lost in her thoughts, a particrly stem voice broke her reverie. ¡°You brat¡® III make things clear today. Either you hand over half of thepany¡¯s shares to Maurice, or you divorce this woman!¡± Chapter 193 De man only chatched her hand tighter mas druhe Tudut he t M. Powell? waip naushntly resting on Pawals face rang for him, and 16vestel Eatons Youre making such a huge move, but you want me to give him half of my shares? Dad, you chand grippling the cane tightened noticeably any for Mautice this rooming and Frederick knew about it already powerful and cunning than he had imagined! Federick, bu gaze feli on this hand Fredenck held Marguente with, then quickly shifted away (tapti tacu sullped slighth as cknowledge her I couldn¡¯t argue with you then, so I turned a blind eye. Who would have thought that she¡¯s you handle the damage?¡± he pubing at Powell¡¯s birthday banquet ought that since they were bound to divorce, whether she was made public or not wouldn¡¯t hurt her too much. clearly that her status was nowhere near Frederick¡¯s, he might want to make her public, but his family would definitely not allow it. mover imaging that Fjederick would be so stubbom, even at the cost of going against Powell, the head of the family! Talking but he was serious! would only deepen the conflict with Powell, and there was no benefit at all! nigingente no franat? vais a mess. Then she heard Powell¡¯s voice echo through the room, even more agitated than before. ¡°If you want to monopolize the group, finel withed his lips, bis atulude defiant personality The more you ask me to do something, the less likely I am to do it. So what if she¡¯s carrying a bastard child? I don¡¯t mind being the kid¡¯s And so was Powell, and so was Fredenck¡¯s mother, Jocelyn. ck any longer fearing that the father and son would have a bigger conflict. She stood up and walked to Frederick, her eyebrows furrowed test as she lowered her voice kongue. You guys go home first don¡¯t provoke your father any further!¡± Lihog che tnad luu separate the hands of the man and Marguerite, but it seemed that where there is oppression, there is resistance. a palo hold Ma me¡¯s fingers tighter and tighter, so light that Marguente felt her bones were about to break. assed over Joveva and fell Powell, his expression indifferent, but with an undeniable solemnity. ¡°I asked you before whether you preferred a boy or a choice. The chuld in Marguente¡¯s belly must be bom!¡± pavesi ahakily standing up, pushing Jocelyn away from Frederick, and confronting Frederick furiously. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± lightly. Don¡¯t you understand? I won¡¯t divorce Marquente, and naturally, I won¡¯t give up a single share of thepany!¡± od Ali Powell¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he was so angry that he nearly spat out blood, ¡°I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± Xudahy, the raced his came high Marguente, quick as a sh, instinctively hugged Frederick The cane fell Chapter 194 vestering to explode da ke turied In retaliate when Morguente hastly grailped fie pids Found bei eysi g?and red as if ha saluti shaking her head weskly at Tom Da Dan tuned to fa (cane failing from his hand in ugh he dongsw be didn¡¯t want to hurt her After a? she was pregnant had 300, if my presence hat brought sha to the Winston family. Empolo?lun vdt take responsibility¡± she said in calm and dignified volon Powell scoffed at her words, filled with mockery Take responsibility? How? You¡¯re just a high and mighty woman, thinking) can do whatever you want because you have Fredericks support Marguente turned to look at Frederick. Whether he was serious about bing a stepfather or not the knew she had to stand by him now facing everything together She leaned into Frederick her gaze steady on Powell As you said, many people are alreadyughing at us if I teave him now wont there be even more Adicule? So, unless he at for a divorce, I won¡¯t leave him¡± Jocelyn, standing nearby, was wringing a silk handkerchief anxiously. She was womed, but also admired Marguente¡¯s courage. Frederick could stand up to Powell ( ause he was a member of the Winston family and had significant control over it. He knew Powell couldn¡¯t do anything to tumn But what about Marquente? Without Frederick¡¯s protection, she had no support. Yet, she stood there dignified and resolute They looked like a pair of star crossed lovers ¡°Marguente! You dare to speak to me like thist Who gave you the right to Powell why are you getting angry at a child? You¡¯re still sick, don¡¯t get upset so easily!¡± Jocelyn quickly stepped in front of Powell, turning back to Frederick ¡°What are you waiting for? Get her out of here¡± Frederick shot Powell a fierce nce His strong arm wrapped around Marquente, lifting her up in a possessive yet gentle manner With a cold and heartless look, he camed Marguerite out of the room 195 Chapter 195 st half an hourter, Sapphire Valley Estates The family doctor had given Marguerite a thorough check¨Cup 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 was just stating facts. Larlier today, when she was tricked by Yuna into delivering clothes to Seaside 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 was 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 She 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!¡± Suddenly, driven by some unfathomable emotion, Frederick moved to kneel in front of her, leaning his ear 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 cold 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 you with yet.¡± Raising his sharp¨Cfeatured face to wait for Marguerite¡¯s response, he found her staring back 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 a long silence, she asked 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. Chapter 196 Alter dinner, Marguente lost sight of Frederick. She assumed that he had tuned to Seaside Manor and decided not to dwell on it any longer He had already taken Yuna into his property and even purchased a wedding ing for her Ho actions screamed of a man in love so why wouldn¡¯t he be eager to see her again? What surprised Marguerite, however, was that the encountered Fredenck again the following moming in this diner He was still dressed in a ck robe, looking as though he had just rolled out of bed. His sleepy eyes made him appear a batzy, yet he remained as Martive as Noticing her gaze, Fredenck pulled out a chair and sat down, his expression nk ¡°What are you looking at?¡± he asked Marguente averted her eyes, mumbling. ¡°Nothing Didn¡¯t you leave yesterday?¡± The is my home Where else would I go? His words left Marguerite speechless True enough. Whether it was Sapphire Valley Estates or Seaside Manor, they were all Fredericks properties Where he decided to stay was his business, not hers Laverne, sitting nearby nced at Frederick then Marguente A grin spread across her wrinkled face That¡¯s more like It! This was how a couple should behave! Suddenly, Frederick¡¯s phone rang. He answered it without any hesitation, causing Marguente to assume it was Yuna, urging him to return to Seaside Manor She therefore, turned her gaze away and remained silent However, Frederick did not utter any sweet or sensitive words, merely responding with a few affirmatives before hanging up He then turned to Marguente, ¡°My mother wants to meet you. I¡¯ll send you the addresster. Don¡¯t bete Marquente blinked, stunned So, the call was from Jocelyn? Jocelyn wanted to meet her? What was going on? Upon hearing this, Lavernes face lit up with joy. ¡°Good, good, good! it¡¯s time to meet the parents! Sweetie, you have to dress up nicely Don¡¯t disappoint Fredericks mom¡® Marguerite was still stunned. Meet the parents? She understood what Laverine meant, but she had never thought about it She had met Powell twice, and each time they had parted on bad terms. Meeting Jocelyn would probably conclude the same way ¡°It¡¯s her who wants to meet you, and it has nothing to do with me¡± Frederick added coldly, as if he was trying to prevent Marguerite from overthinking it Marguente puffed up her cheeks, grumbling. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it had anything to do with you¡­¡± Their breakfast was consumed in silence, with each lost in their own thoughts. After finishing his meal, Frederick left for work, leaving Marguente alone to prepare However, she had no idea why Jocelyn wanted to meet her, and thus had no idea what to prepare At this moment, Laverne wheeled into the room. After taking a look at the faded clothes on Marguerite¡¯s bed, she pursed her lips. ark, are you going to meet Frederick¡¯s mom in these clothes? Are any of these presentable?¡± Marguente looked troubled, ¡°Grandma. I don¡¯t have any other clothes¡± Laver red at Marguente, disappointment evident in her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re lying right to my face!¡± In her frustration, she stood up from her wheelchair, opened the wardrobe and pointed at the clothes inside ¡°What are these? Fredenck bought you a wardrobe of nice dresses, and you think I don¡¯t know about it? You bought them but you don¡¯t wear them. Do you think he¡¯s running a charity?¡± Marguente stared at Laveme¡¯s legs, shocked, ¡°Grandma your legs, they¡¯re better?¡± Laverne stood as still as a statue, not moving an inch CH has she forgotten she¡¯s supposed to Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Lavere chuckled, ¡°I only realized this moming that my leg was fine But that¡¯s not the point. You have to make a good impression on the young man¡¯s mother Here, wear ther The old woman pulled out a white dress, n Uneck, knee¨Clength that exuded a sense of grace and elegance Trust me, elders love thus kind of outfit Since you can¡¯t wear makeup, you can only rely on your clothes¡± Laverne had necked earlier, most human skin masks were made of silicone, makeup wouldn¡¯t stick! Marguerita was even more confused, ¡°Grandma, how did you know I can¡¯t wear makeup?¡± She always felt that the olddy was strange today. Her numb legs recovered unexpectedly, and she even knew that her face couldn¡¯t hold makeup? What¡¯s going on? Could it be that she¡¯s overthinking again? Laverne swallowed, feeling guilty as hell Damn it, the was always careful, but she made mistakes today! Luckily she was quick¨Cwitted, changing the subject and exining. ¡°Why would you wear makeup while you¡¯re pregnant? It¡¯s not good for the baby! Now don¡¯t dy, hurry up and change your clothes, or you¡¯ll bete!¡± Before Murguente could react, she was pushed towards the bathroom by Laverne Tums out, this dress really ttered Marguerite¡¯s figure, giving her an air of a well¨Cbreddy. She and Jocelyn had agreed to meet at Mystic Table in the city center. Not long after Marguerite arrived, Jocelyn showed up She was still wearing the same dress fromst night, only with a light purple gem bracelet on her wrist. Clearly, she had just rushed over from the hospital Upon seeing this, Marguente promptly stood up to greet her, ¡°Hello, ma¡¯am.¡± Jocelyn nced at Marguerite¡¯s still t belly, gently raised her hand to signal, ¡°No need to be formal, please sit.¡± Marguerite felt ufortable under Jocelyn¡¯s gaze After sitting down in a fluster, she saw Jocelyn clean the utensils. ¡°The dishes in the restaurant are not as clean as those at home. It¡¯s reassuring to clean them. Plus, since you¡¯re pregnant, you have to be extra careful when eating out Jocelyn ced the first set of cleaned utensils next to Marguerite, and then started to clean the second set Jocelyn smiled slightly, her slender hand holding the teacup was even more delicate than a young girl¡¯s. Marguente was feeling extremely awkward. Although Jocelyn was much more approachable than Powell, she was tense all the way through As the younger one, she should have been the one cleaning the utensils, but she sat there as if paralyzed, watching everything unfold in front of her ¡°Ah. Ma am, is there something you wanted to talk about?¡± Marguente finally couldn¡¯t hold it in and gathered the courage to ask. Jocelyn looked at Marguente with a smile, her expression as calm as a cidke. ¡°You seemed quite boldst night, why so nervous today?¡± How could she not be nervous? She was boldst night because Frederick was there! Now she was alone, unsure of Jocelyn¡¯s intentions. It was only normal to feel nervous Ma¡¯am, did Mr. Powell ask you toe?¡± It has nothing to do with him¡± By then, Jocelyn had finished cleaning all the utensils, had the waiter get some tea, and then filled a cup for Marguente Margarite took a few sips of the tea, and then heard the gentle voice of Jocelyn Marguente i saw how you protected Frederickst night, and I appreciate your care for him. But you¡¯ve seen the situation in our family. If you and Frederick want to be together im afraid it¡¯s going to be tough¡± ¡°Maarn, you misunderstood.¡± Whether it was Miley¡¯s previous investigation into the Winston Group¡¯s rtionships, orst night¡¯s experience, Marguente knew that Jocelyn was very protective ef Frederick The rtionship between Jocelyn and Frederick was definitely not like that between Frederick and Powell. At least, they could still contact freely Therelor Marguerite didn¡¯t want to lude anything from Jocelyn and exined without hesitation, ¡°Ma¡¯am, actually, what I saidst night was just to help hum pess off his dad There were all Mr. Powell¡¯s people in the ward If I didn¡¯t stand up, he would have been all alone¡± Jocelyn locked up suddenly, looking at the kind girl in front of her, she felt a bit of admiration. Seeing how you took a stand for Frederick against his fatherst night, I knew I didn¡¯t misjudge you Marquente, I feel quite relieved leaving Frederick to you Chapter 198 Marg¨¹ester¡¯s heart uve ¨¤ pl. Did Jocelgh fel any she must her path Frederick? dyt word bad nwn her into Cabin Hasily she refited Jocelyn¡¯s leanup, trytong to fir A thousand questions whided in her mbul, but home of them made it to her lips. night w¨¹rde. ¡°Macam you verit, continued to look at her tensity, her eyes was bad het wonts ebars Hot Marguinte, you aretus are hd pad ka ba gaiter Frisset Because of Marquerite, the already strained rtionship between Powell and I rodenck had worsened, and as a rodina, Joslyn was trying to strike a bal Taking a rip of her tea, Jocelyn looked at Marquette who remained silent Marguerida face revealed a touch of bunnliness She sighed and continued With Maurice making a strongeback, and Frederick¡¯s favention, Frederick is in a tight spot to secasts position in the Weste Group the rtionship between him and Powell cannot worsen because of you¡± Marguerite heart was racing 56, she had overthought Indeed, she was the ugly duckling, carrg another man¡¯s child, causing a stir in the Winston family Il Jocelyn Buly supported her that would be a real surprise ¡°Marquente, I know you¡¯te a good girl. You understand a mother¡¯s concems, don¡¯t you?! Marguerite nodded, but she couldn¡¯t meet Jocelyn¡¯s eyes. Tunderstand ma¡¯am, you¡¯re worrying too much In a month and a half, he and I will be getting a diese Divorce? Jocelyn doubted if Frederick would agree As Frederick¡¯s mother, she knew his thoughts better than anyone else. Frederick was not able to let go of Marquente, she could see that Since he couldn¡¯t make a decision she had to be the one to do it, ¡°You¡¯re very smart, I know you won t disappoint me, right?¡± Linexpectedly, a tear fell from Marguerite¡¯s eyes She sniffled and nodded, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I won¡¯t disappoint you When the timees, I will divorce him immediately ¡°Good girl¡± Soon, a feast was on the table Jocelyn pushed a bowl of delicacy soup towards Marguerite, ¡°Eat, it¡¯s good for the baby You¡¯re so skinny, don¡¯t go on a diet while you¡¯re pregnant.¡± The more kind Jocelyn¡¯s voice was, the more it hurt Marquente Jocelyn wasn¡¯t the evil mother in in dramas, and she hadn¡¯t tried to break Marguentes dignity with a cheque She had been calm, polite, and considerate of Marquente¡¯s feelings This made Marguente feel guilty, she med herself for everything If it wasn¡¯t for her, Fredenck wouldn¡¯t be tom between two sides, and his rtionship with his father wouldn¡¯t have reached such a deadlock. Marguente bit her lip, lowered her eyelids, and obediently took a sip of the soup. Jocelyn nced at Marguerite¡¯s belly and finally rested her gaze on Marguentes face Marguente, may I ask whose child you are carrying?¡± Suddenly, Marguente choked Even though she knew she would divorce Frederick and her child had nothing to do with the Winston family, she still wanted to give Jocelyn a satisfactory answer But she was destined to disappoint Jocelyn, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know who the father of the child is I was forced Im sorry Jocelyn¡¯s delicate hand trembled. She looked at Marguerite with aplicated expression, feeling a strange sense of empathy Seeing, Marguente reminded her of herself When Jocelyn found out that Powell was mamed, she had decided to leave him. But he had forced her to stay by saying he couldn¡¯t let her go That was how Fredeck came into the world, and how she was abandonedter Aban Joning one¡¯s own child is unforgivable Jocelyn sighed, her eyes filled with sympathy. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize. It¡¯s not your fault. The child is innocent, so are you. If you have any difficulties in the future you cane to me At this point, Jocelyn took off the bracelet from her wrist and gave it to Marguente The maternal glow radiated from her. ¡°This bracelet was given to me by my moth- Now, rm giving it to you¡± Chapter Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Jovelyn gently rubbed Marguerite¡¯s fingers with a soft, yet fum grip, transmitting an unspoken strength, ¡°I¡¯m sorry that you can¡¯t be my daughter inw it itances were different, you would have been my pick So Marguerite, don¡¯t me yourself Life doesn¡¯t always go the way we want it to This bracelet s iny most precious possession. I¡¯m giving it to you as a form ofpensation. Please, ept it.¡± fret saying her piece, Jocelyn cleaned her hands on a napkin, rose from her seat and smiled at Marquente. Tve said all I came to say I must return to the hea M¨¢rquente, still trying toprehend Jocelyn¡¯s words, stood there in a daze, watching Jocelyn leave the restaurant without even uttering a goodbye. She touched the bracelet on her wrist, her gaze fixed on the dishes spread out on the table before her, their taste lost on her. She signaled the waiter and muttered, ¡°Check, please.¡± Ma am, thedy who was with you has already paid the bill; the waiter informed her. Marguerite, finding no reason to stay any longer, left the Mystic Table and hopped on a bus to Miley¡¯s ce She told Miley everything about her meeting with Jocelyn Miley, being the gossip enthusiast she was, listened with rapt attention. ¡°Whats up with Mr Winston¡¯s mom? She says she doesn¡¯t support you but leaves her family heirloom for you What¡¯s that all about?¡± Marguerite sighed, ¡°She said it¡¯s apensation¡± Compensation? Thats quite a valuablepensation! Usually, heirlooms like these are passed down to daughters or daughters in She gave it straight to your Maybe you should try harder? I don¡¯t think Mr. Winston¡¯s mom ispletely against you After all, she gave you her bracelet She must approve of you in some Mdley analyzed the situation excitedly, noticing Marguerite¡¯s silence, she grew a bit worried. ¡°Marguerite, are you even listening? What are you thinking?¡± Marguerite shook her head, her mind in turmoil, ¡°It¡¯s a strange feeling I used to be confused about my feelings for Frederick, but after what Jocelyn said about him today, I feel really bad for him. Am I falling for him?¡± Miley, hearing Marguente admit her feelings for someone for the first time, let out a heartyugh, ¡°You¡¯re not just falling for Mr. Winston, you also have a thing for his mom!¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°I think she understands me.¡± Upon hearing this, Miley¡¯s eyes sparkled with a sudden idea and she leaned in excitedly. ¡°If Mr Winston¡¯s mom insists on you two getting divorced, you can finally take off that mask, night?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Think about it, the Lockwoods made you wear the mask because they were afraid you¡¯d seduce Mr. Winston with your beauty But now, your marriage with Mi Winston doesn¡¯t have the support it needs. This naturally fulfills Yuna¡¯s wish. Since you¡¯re destined to divorce, she won¡¯t feel threatened anymore. So, what¡¯s the point of the mask?¡± Miley¡¯s argument made sense to Marguerite, ¡°Maybe, just maybe, I can try taking off the mask¡± ¡°Take it off, take it off now! Before you divorce, you must show Mr. Winston your true face, dazzle him!¡± Miley didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity and reached out to grab Marguerite¡¯s face Marguerite quickly stepped back, avoiding Miley¡¯s hand. Tot now You don¡¯t know what happened yesterday. Powell was furious! And I heard that Maurice, with Powell¡¯s support, started a newpany with a huge investment! Frederick¡¯s not just fighting one person, it¡¯s his brother and his father. How would he have time to care about my looks?¡± Upon hearing this, Miley¡¯s face fell, ¡°Mr. Powell is so biased! Poor Mr. Winston.¡± ¡°That¡± why I can¡¯t add to his troubles I made a promise to his mother.¡± Miley suddenly asked, ¡°So when are you nning to remove the mask? There must be a deadline, right?¡± Marg ente thought for a moment, ¡°Once we¡¯ve finalized the divorce, I¡¯ll take it off.¡± Chapter 200 trafing this, Miley was over the moon. She had long been sick of the facade that Marguente worse. Hot cinly wins it way, but d also seabed of a ish ol sophistication. This was nothing like the Marquante she held in her heart As for her marriage, let it gol With Marguerite¡¯s stunning beauty. Miley was confident she could marry again with easel Nooh umved swiftly, and the two women were famished Miley suggested they go down to the diner Marguerite thought of thevish spread they had left behind at Mystic Table, and regretted packing some forter Such an indigent feast and she forgot to take it home! What a waste Shaking off her thoughts, she and Miley arrived at the diner Miley¡¯s apartment was conveniently located across from Diamond Crest Estates, and she had always feared crossing paths with the Lockwood family thankfully she never did Today by some sticke of luck or otherwise, no sooner had they entered the diner than they spotted Zoe and Yuna seated by the window The two seemed to be having a lively conversation, their faces alight with smug satisfaction Why was Yuna here? Shouldn¡¯t she be at Seaside Manor at this time? Little did Marguente know, ever since she and Frederick were escorted away by the Winston Group¡¯s butler, Yuna had been gloating She imagined Marquente and Frederick getting a tongueshing from Mr. Powell and figured Marguerite would be banished from Stonebridge City disappearing from her sight forever. So, despite Fredenck¡¯s absencest night, Yuna patiently refrained from calling him Today, she excitedly returned to Diamond Crest Estates and couldn¡¯t wait to share the news with Zoe Miley didn¡¯t see them, and she headed straight into the diner Marguente quickly stopped her, ¡°Don¡¯t go in there. Yuna¡¯s inside¡± As Marguente spoke, she subtly signaled Miley with her eyes. Just as they nced at Yuna, she and Zoe happened to look their way. ¡°What a small world¡® Let¡¯s go!¡± Miley took Marguerite¡¯s hand and walked straight towards Yuna. ¡°Miley, stop it I don¡¯t want to make a scene¡± ¡°Make a scene? I just want to see if Mr. Winston bought Yuna that diamond ring yesterday As Marguente drew closer, Yuna¡¯s initial delight turned to shock, then to anger How dare this annoying woman show up here? Didn¡¯t Powell kick her out of Stonebridge City? Finally, Miley and Marguente stood half a meter away from the pair. They said nothing just stared at Yuna Yuna felt ufortable under the intense gaze, ¡°What are you looking at? if you keep staring. I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out!¡± Miley chuckled sarcastically, ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t Mr. Winston buy you a diamond ringst night? Why not wear it so everyone can admire Yuna turned red with anger at Miley¡¯s words teddie hadn¡¯t bought her the ring at all Ever since Marguerite showed up, he had been focused on her Not to mention, he didn¡¯t even buy the ne she wanted! Dame it! It was all Marguente¡¯s fault! Yuna clenched her fists within her mind and stubbornly retorted, ¡°He did¡® Of course, he did it¡¯s just that the diamond is so big fin afraid envious people might strat Uday evi Yuna was insinuating Marguente, but she wasn¡¯t going to back down. She immediately lifted Marguente¡¯s hand, wevealing the it¡¯s just a ring what¡¯s the big deal Why don¡¯t you take a look at this bracelet? It was personally put on Marguente by Mr. Winston mother What do you fing Winston bought for you valuable, or is the approval of his parents more Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Tuna trembled with rage upon heanng the news What? The bracelet in Marguerite¡¯s hand was a gift from Freddie¡¯s mother? That¡¯s impossible! Just yesterday, she had witnessed Marguerite, that wretched woman, being escorted away by the Winston Group¡¯s butler. And the news of Marquente¡¯s pregnancy would surely infuriate Powell, so how could Freddie¡¯s mother possibly gift her the bracelet? Yuna¡¯s eyes narrowca dangerously on Marguente¡¯s hand, where the bracelet glowed in the sunlight. Whether it was the texture or the radiance, the bracelet was clearly a high end piece With Marquentes destilute status, there was no way she could afford such a luxury So, was the bracelet really a gift from Freddie¡¯s mother? The thought ignited Yuna¡¯s fury and she moved to p Marguente across the face Miley instinctively stepped in front of Marguerite, shielding her from Yuna¡¯s wrath Zoe, quick to act, grabbed Yuna and whispered harshly in her ear ¡°Calm down! You¡¯re only making a fool of yourself! Act like Mr. Winston¡¯s legal fiancee, not someone who can be easily imitatedi¡± Zoe then tumed her re on Miley and Marguente. ¡°Do you really expect us to believe that Mr. Winston¡¯s mother just gave her a luxurious bracelet? What proof do you have?¡± Miley smirked. ¡°You don¡¯t believe us? Why don¡¯t you ask Mr Winston himself if his mother gifted our lovely Marguente a bracelet?¡± Miley¡¯s smugness was like a knife to Yuna¡¯s heart. She was desperate for answers Pushing past Zoe, Yuna dashed out of the restaurant, hailed a cab and headed to the Winston Group ¡°Finally, some peace and quiet. Let¡¯s enjoy our lunch in peace now, shall we?¡± Miley said, guiding Marguente to a seat. She then turned to Zoe ¡°Aren¡¯t you going after your daughter? She¡¯s long gone by now¡± Zoe¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°Marguerite, you better watch your back. You ungrateful brat, I should have never brought you into this world!¡± Meanwhile, at the Winston Group¡¯s office, Chuck walked in with a report for Mr Winston ¡°Mr. Winston, I have found Ms. Yuna¡¯s ne. It was purchased from the Graceful Light Chapel in Marina Shores Vige, StarGaze Summit if lost it can be reced by presenting the owner¡¯s ID card. Here is the specific address of the chapel.¡± Chuck handed over the report. Mr. Winston nced at it and asked, ¡°Any appointments this afternoon?¡± ¡°None, Mr Winston¡± Frederick stood up, took his suit jacket from the rack and draped it over his arm. ¡°Stay here. Fill handle this personally¡± As Frederick left the office, Yuna pushed her way in. She was desperate to see Frederick, but couldn¡¯t find him. Frustrated, she tried calling him, but her phone died before she could dial his number Cursing her bad luck. Yuna walked out of the elevator, only to be stopped by the butler who had escorted Marguente and Frederick the night before ¡°Ms. Yuna, you were the one who texted our master yesterday, weren¡¯t you?¡± Yurs heart skipped a beat. She looked up to see the butler smiling at her, his calm demeanor belying a subtle threat not just anyone has our master¡¯s number Did you really think we wouldn¡¯t investigate the anonymous text before summoning Marguente? face hardened ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± You want to be with Mr Winston, don¡¯t you? How about we make a deal?¡± runas used her lips, cautious. ¡°What kind of deal?¡± ¡°Ms. ¡°una, if you would follow me, we can discuss this further¡± Chapter 202 Chapter 202 An hourter Marina Shores Vige Graceful Light Chapel nestled halfway up StarGaze Sunimit Frederick parked his car at the open our parking lot at the base of the hill, and then procedeti on fam The hill wasn¡¯t high, and after a short walk, the small chapel came into view. The steps leading up to it were covered in moss, and the sign hanging above the entrance was wom and weathered from years of exposure to the detents At first sight, Frederick felt a strange sense of familiarity with the chapel. This feeling was ofte unexpected, given that he had never been hem before, not even during the fifteen years he had lived in Marina Shores Vige with his inoth¨¦r But he just couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that he had seen this ce somewhere In fact he had. Back when Marguerite was still working at LuxeScents Intemational, she was ordered to move her workstation to the CEO¡¯s office That was when Frederick had seen a picture of Marguerite and her grandmother. The backdrop of that picture was Graceful Light Chapel. Because the photo was old, Frederick hadn¡¯t recognized the elderly woman as Laverne, nor had he realized that the background was the Graceful Light Chapel Just then, an old man dressed in a gray robe emerged from the chapel. Frederick stopped pondering over his sense of familianty and approached the old man, exining why he was there. ¡°Sir, if you wish to get a recement for the ne, you¡¯ll need to provide your ID card or ID number¡± Fredenck frowned slightly. In his haste, he had forgotten to ask Yuna for her ID number! He asked the old man to wait for a moment and stepped aside to call Yuna. To his surprise, her phone was off. Dammit! Normally, she was like a ghost, always hovering nearby and calling him all the time. But at this crucial moment, she had disappeared! Fredenck put away his phone, his expression darkening. The old man noticed the change in Frederick¡¯s demeanor and stepped forward to help. ¡°Sir, those who can buy this kind of ne in our chapel are all locals of Marina Shores Vige. You can go to the local police station in the vige, provide the name and date of birth, and they can help you find the ID number¡± Frederick thanked the old man briefly and hurriedly left the hill to find the local police station of Marina Shores Vige He provided Yuna¡¯s name and date of birth. As the officer was typing this information into theputer, he asked, ¡°Sir, what do you need the ID number for?¡± To get a recement for the sapphire ne,¡± Frederick answered sinctly. The officer quickly entered Yuna¡¯s name and hit the enter key, then looked up at Frederick. ¡°Sir, we do have a resident named Yuna in our vige, and the birth date matches what you¡¯ve given, but she has never bought the sapphire ne¡± Frederick was taken aback, his well¨Cgroomed eyebrows furrowing in confusion. ¡°Impossible!¡± Seeing Frederick¡¯s conviction, the officer double¨Cchecked the screen to ensure there were no mistakes, and then exined carefully ¡°Sir, the sapphire ne is a sacred peculiarity in our vige. Each sapphire is unique and symbolizes a person¡¯s identity, so we keep records. There¡¯s no record of this Yuna buying the sapphire ne¡± What? There was no record of Yuna? Then whose ne had she been wearing before? The other officers in the station were equally puzzled. A woman leaned over to nce at the screen, ¡°Yuna? That name sounds so familiar ¡°Oh! Isn¡¯t that Ablett and Zoe¡¯s family?¡± ¡°It must be, we don¡¯t have another Yuna in our vige¡± ¡°Wow! They have the audacity to buy such a precious sapphire ne for Yuna? Have they forgotten about the child they abandoned? Talk about favontism! That poor girl!¡± The unmtentional revtion left Frederick petrified, disbelief painted across his face. ¡°They had abandoned a child before? ¡°Yes, indeed! The Ablett couple had two children but they abandoned one, supposedly due to some conflict in their birth charts. That child was Yuna¡¯s sister, so Yuna would never have had a sapphire ne. At that time, everyone in the vige knew that Zoe had abandoned her child. When she had tried to get a sapphire pe, which means a lucky thing in oul vige, for Yuna, the old man at Graceful Light Chapel had outright refused her ¡°Now that you mention it, I do remember something like that! What was the name of the child they abandoned?¡± Chapter 203 The woman waved her arm dismissively, a look of disgust etching across her gossip loving face, ¡°The baby was abandoned, she doesn¡¯t deserve a name The staff continued their discussion, oblivious to the man standing before them whose face had darkened to a stormy hue Given Yunas background, she had no right to possess the sapphire ne! if the sapphire ne wasn¡¯t hers, then did that mean, the girl who had offered him a plece of bread years ago wasn¡¯t Yuna but someone else?! Then why did Yuna have the sapphire ne that night of their one¨Cnight stand? Whose sapphire ne was this, really? Could it be¡­ Yuna¡¯s younger sister¡¯s? What does her sister look like?¡± Frederick looked up at the crowd, his eyes already burning with a crimson rage When she was bom, people said she was quite adorable. We don¡¯t know exactly what she looked like. The folks in Marina Shores Vige have left since ther These stories have all been passed down from the older generation.¡± Finel Excellent! So, he had been deceived by the Lockwood family from the very beginning! How audacious they werel And Yuna, she had the audacity to repeatedly bring up events from fifteen years ago. Today, the truth behind all this must be revealed! As for the Lockwood family, he would never let them off easy! Fredenck¡¯s fist clenched white¨Cknuckle tight, he abruptly turned and stormed off, dialing Chuck¡¯s number as he went, ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it, get in touch with Yuna immediately. Have her family wait for me at Diamond Crest Estates¡± Perhaps because of his anger, the dignified Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan was driven like a rocket. What was normally an hour¡¯s journey waspleted in twenty minutes Just as Yuna entered the house, Frederick barged in forcefully. His entrance was so chilling and lethal that it swept through the entire house. The Ablett couple sat dumbfounded on the sofa. They had seen Frederick angry before, but never to this terfying extent Yuna, unaware of what had transpired, stepped forward to hold Frederick¡¯s hand and began to act cute, ¡°Freddie, why are you so angry? You¡¯re scaring me Frederick seized Yuna¡¯s throat, his murderous intent enveloping her instantly, ¡°Is the sapphire ne yours? Was the little girl from fifteen years ago really you?¡± Without any preamble, Frederick¡¯s direct questioning left Yuna nk Struggling to breathe as he strangled her, she coughed dryly and feigned ignorance, ¡°It¡¯s me! How could it not be me?¡± ¡°Stop pretending¡± If I didn¡¯t have any evidence, would I be asking you this?¡± Frederick¡¯s rebuke sounded as if it came straight from hell The sudden usation from Frederick had also left the Ablett couple dumbstruck He was so angry, the hatred in his eyes seemed like he was going to tear Yuna apart right then and there. He knew! He must have known everything! The couple froze on the couch, too terrified to speak. Yuna grasped the hand choking her neck in pain and struggled to say, ¡°Freddie, did someone say something to you? Please believe in met ¡°So, you want to shift the me onto others?¡± ¡®Freddie, I.. I didn¡¯t!¡± Frederick let out a coldugh at her words, releasing Yuna in disgust. The woman slumped to the floor, terrified. Striding past Yuna¡¯s copsed form, his angry gaze fell onto the Ablett couple I went to the Graceful Light Chapel today to secure a recement sapphire ne for Yuna. The police told me everything. She has a sister who was abandoned by you Yuna had no right to buy the sapphire ne. So, whose ne is this?¡± Zoe was so frightened that she began to tremble, stammering without forming a coherent sentence. Secing the situation spiraling out of control, Ablett quickly made a decision, stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Winston, this has nothing to do with Yuna it¡¯s our fault as duits. Dont pressure her anymore! Il tell you the truth. Yuna does have a sister, and this ne indeed belongs to her sister Chapter 204 They neve Zos lupus and fustrated hid to shaka it¡¯s grip. Old fool Ablen made no exnation to Zoe just fondantly pushed her away w you taking about She stumbled back a few steps, tripped over her own feet, and fall hard on the ground Damn that old mar it was had enough he betrayed them, but he even physically hurt her anger, grabbers a coat hanger from the couch and swing towards Alim Zoe, sert But a sob filled vorte stopped her hand midway in the air ¡°After Yuna was bom, we did have another baby! She was one year younger than Yunar Zoe and Yuna we utterly stunned They had another baby after Yuna? And she was a year younger? What the hell was this man talking about? The twins she gave birth to were Yuna and Marquente, they were the same age Confused to the extreme, the mother and daughter had no idea what Ablett was trying to say Before they could soover his lengthy exclean ¡°We didn¡¯t abandon her On the contrary, because she was premature and weak, we got her a sapph and representing good luck in our vige. We hoped she would be safe and happy She grew until she was two years old put disappeared! She was lost, not abandoned by us! We looked everywhere for her but all in vain! Plus, that year furah we went to the Graceful Light Chapel to get her the same type of ne But someone spread rumors that we abandoned our child and didn¡¯t deserve the lucky ne We had no choice but to grie Yuna the notace we got for the other child Ablett spoke with a sorrowful tone, noticing the man¡¯s still cold and skeptical expression No! He had to try harder! He must clear Yuna¡¯s name from this matterpletely. He paused for a moment, then with a downcast face, he began to ramble on ¡°That ne, Yuna wore it since she was three until she was grown! Later, we saw Marguerite begging alone on the street Seeing h child, so we adopted Marguerite We poured all our love for the lost child into Marguerite, even neglecting Yunia. That¡¯s why Yuna grew up i Mr. Winston, happiness is alike but misfortunees in many forms. This is the tragic past of our Lockwood family. I never thought tha away from Marina Shores Vige, people would still spread rumors! Mr. Winston, my heart aches!¡± Yuna blinked, stunned and dumbfounded. Ablett spoke in such a pitiful manner that even they started to believe this tragic story truly happened in their family Ablett wiped away symbolic tears, all the while trying to gauge Frederick¡¯s emotions However, Frederick¡¯s deep and inscrutable face made it hard to read his feelings, leaving them unsure if he bought the story ¡°What was the child¡¯s name? Frederick finally broke the silence after a long pause Ablett shook his head, let out a sigh that echoed with sorrow ¡°There¡¯s no name We were too poor at that time, and we were undocumented immigrants, couldnt get a birth certificate. We called Yuna ¡°Gif Lite One After getting the sapphire ne for Little One, we didn¡¯t report it to the authorities because we had no papers. When we could documented, Little One was already lost Yuna was documented when she was around four, and her name was given by the officer Frederick¡¯s cold lips pressed into a straight line Knowing the truth about Ablett¡¯s story, he didn¡¯t feel any joy Since Yuna had been wearing the sapphire ne since she was three, the little girl who saved his life fifteen years ago was indeed 1, What an irony When he found out that Yuna might not be the girl who saved him fifteen years ago, he thought there was a chance He didn¡¯t want to marry her, in any case, but the reality always seemed to disappoint He thought this was the worst oue, but the next moment, something even more shocking happened without any waming Yung suddenly pulled out a report from her bag handed it to Frederick with both hands, and said with a buming gaze, Treddie, there to tell you, fin pregnant ¡± of our dhe had nej chia thot to give Fita ti se kind en yt ta ha he began ke raindia on (hove for Laber we ken k?ngande beyging e in the street dosing her wounded an af nut bat Marqu¨¦, even neglecting tune. That¡¯s why hunk gee jy wil toe grandprotheti (Lockwood family ( navor thosight that noen altor ma noved Hit spmat rumory! Mi Winston, my heart aches?? hid tengut and died- natus Bul even say rbord to believe this tragic story truly happened in their family koptu at the nduin trying (Fuelings, leaving them unsure if he bought the along mderus Focally brake the silence after and we now unida eled itemigrants, tuuldit get a birth curtifici to the authunt ause we had nu papers. When we could afford to get the kitt tha mise stivind bad and Knowing the Truth about Abletts skry he don¡¯t feel any the ice the way thins, the little girl wher waved his life littuso years ago was ad lenght not be the gill who saved hun thuen years ago he thought them was 1 the mally always asemed to deepurant Ind the next segment Ghing eat more glushing happened without any wi Frons tus fag trendent it to Fini u, and barl Chapter 205 Like a bolt from the blun. Fredonck visibly gasped in disbelief. Ha eyebrows knitted together in a tight frown, hip voice ringing out sharply. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡°. Equally stunned were Ablett and Zoe When had Yuna gotten pregnant? Why didn¡¯t they know anything about it? The couple immediately rushed over their gazesnding on the pregnancy test report. It had an ultrasound image and a hospital seal, it wasn¡¯t a fake?! Yuna shed tears, her head bowed low as if she was finding it hard to speak. Yes. Freddie, it was from that night. I know you don¡¯t love me, but I want to keep this child It¡¯s all I have left!¡± Ablett reacted quickly, pulling Yuna towards him, his voice thundering. ¡°Keep the baby? What are you nning to do? Get an abortion! Let¡¯s go to the hospital now!¡± As he spoke, he began to lead Yuna towards the door. Zoe quickly stepped between them, her eyes shing with anger ¡°Have you lost your mind? Do you know how much harm abortion can do to Yuna¡¯s body? This is Yuna¡¯s child, even as her father, you have no right to make this decision for her!¡± Ablett¡¯s face tumed red as he nced at Frederick, his voice full of regret. This is not only Yuna¡¯s child but also Mr. Winston¡¯s! If Mr. Winston doesn¡¯t want it, why should she keep it? Do you want our grandchild to be born without a father?¡± By this time. Yuna was crying, her tears intermingling with her runny nose, a pitiful sight. She fell to her knees in front of Ablett, gasping for breath as she held onto his legs ¡°Dad, please let me have this baby! It doesn¡¯t matter if Freddie loves me or not, but with this child, it can at least prove that Freddie once loved me. It¡¯s the result of cur love¡± Abletts body shook, his face twisted in pain as he harshly pulled his legs away. He turned to Frederick, his voice filled with a hint of ttery, ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s my fault for not teaching my daughter well. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure Yuna gets nd of this baby! We won¡¯t cause you any trouble!¡± Frederick looked at the chaotic scene in front of him, his irritation growing. His handsome face was clouded over as he stepped forward, standing in front of Yuna, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were pregnant?¡± ¡°I found out this morning I was nning to tell you tonight, but I didn¡¯t expect the sapphire ne incident to happen.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you realize it yet? Mr. Winston never loved you! Are you blind to that fact? Sweetheart, listen to me. Get rid of this child. We¡¯ve already caused enough trouble for Mr Winston Don¡¯t try to trap him with this baby! Love is all about destiny!¡± Frederick red at Ablett, then bent down to help Yuna up, ¡°Get up first.¡± However, Yuna stubbornly shook her head, her knees seemingly glued to the floor Then Yuna turned around, clinging desperately to Frederick¡¯s legs, ¡°Freddie, I beg you, let me have this baby, okay? This is our child, can you bear to see him or her die before they¡¯re even born? Freddie, please, I beg you! II take back what I said earlier! I won¡¯t force you to marry me, and you don¡¯t need to cultivate any feelings for me I just have one request, let me have this baby! Please, Freddie!¡± Even though he detested the woman in front of him, Frederick had to resign himself to the situation. The child in her womb was his flesh and blood. If he let her give birth and then abandoned them, how was he any different from Powell? He couldn¡¯t be a man like Powell! Fredenck squatted down, hisplex gaze filled with conflict, but eventually, his stance softened, gently he said to Yuna, ¡°I will marry you, and I will give you a family When the baby is born, I will raise it¡± Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Yuna¡¯s heart fluttered, her face a mix of tear¨Cstained joy and worry. Freddie can I trust you? A month ago, you swore you¡¯d marry me. But then¡­ never mind. Freddie, I don¡¯t mind if you don¡¯t marry me. My only concern now is for the baby inside me.¡± 1 won¡¯t let our child be born without a father For its sake, I will marry you.¡± Frederick made himself perfectly clear. He was willing to marry her solely because she was carrying his child, and that was it. There was no other reason, and he could never love her. But for Yuna, the prospect of bing a member of the Winston family was enough! Yuna flung herself into Frederick¡¯s arms, her tears soaking his shirt. ¡°Thank you, Freddie. Thank you for giving me and our child a chance¡± Mr. and Mrs. Ablett, who had been arguing with Frederick, fell silent at his words. Frederick, looking a little annoyed, gave Yuna¡¯s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. ¡°Take it easy for the next few days. I¡¯ll have someone look after you.¡± Yuna sniffled, looked up at Frederick with teary eyes. ¡°Freddie, can I move back to Seaside Manor?¡± Frederick stiffened. ¡°Yes, but you must behave. No more trouble with Marguerite.¡± Yuna nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Freddie. I won¡¯t bother her, and I trust you to handle your rtionship with her.¡± Frederick lifted Yuna off the ground, ced her gently on the sofa, and gave her some advice on prenatal care before leaving. As soon as Frederick was gone, Yuna¡¯s gloomy expression was reced by one of triumph. She knew it, there was nothing she couldn¡¯t achieve. Marguerite was trying to steal her man? No way! The Ablett couple breathed sighs of relief, Zoeughed and yfully punched Ablett in the chest. ¡°You did good! Usually, you can¡¯t even make a peep, but today you were quick on your feet. Well done!¡± Ablett still looked a little shaken. He never would have dared to speak to Frederick like that. But he had no choice. They were on the brink of disaster. He had to take a risk. Fortunately, Yuna¡¯s pregnancy strengthened Frederick¡¯s resolve. Their family had narrowly survived this crisis. ¡°Dad, Mom, you don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯m pregnant now, he won¡¯t have any doubts.¡± Zoe gave Ablett a nce before rushing over to Yuna. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you really pregnant?¡± Yunaughed heartily. ¡°Of course not! He¡¯s never even slept with me!¡± Ablett frowned, looking worried. ¡°Then how did you get that pregnancy test? Did you forge it?¡± Yunaughed calmly. ¡°Mom, Dad, I met a someone today. He taught me this trick. He will continue to help me, so we don¡¯t have to worry about Marguerite anymore.¡± Yuna¡¯s words didn¡¯t reassure her parents. Instead, they looked more worried, ¡°But how will he help you? You¡¯re not pregnant, where are you going to get a baby for Mr. Winston?¡± Yuna raised her chin, pride radiating off her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. My benefactor said he would help me with the baby. Besides, I still have a trump card up my sleeve. As she spoke, a vicious glint returned to Yuna¡¯s eyes. Chapter 207 riderick fuft the upscale neighborhood of Diamond Crest Estates and headed fly back to fili this astutant, Chuck Have Marguerite sign it He personally drafted a document andnded a coldly uck was puzzled As he nced at the thick stock of A4¨Ceized pages, the title on the front page caught his attention Circice Agreement, Chuck was confused. ¡°Mr. Winston, there¡¯s still a month left until your divorce with Marguerite finalized. Why are you preparing this agreement to eady? Youss¨¦ acting as if the councit won¡¯t process it¡± Frederick walked over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, lighting a cigar in his agitation, ¡°Il doesn¡¯t matter Let¡¯s get the property division sorted out early if she¡¯s riot satisfied she¡¯ll have enough time to consider¡± Chuck held the agreement, caught between a rock and a hard ce. Everyone knew about the hidden affection Mr. Winston held for Marguerite. Even when Marguerite was pregnant with another man¡¯s child, Mr. Winston still considered her feelings Just a quick scan revealed several astronomical figures on the agreement, enough for Marguerite to live a life of luxury for generations Chuck could see that Mr Winston didn¡¯t want Marguerite to be helpless after their divorce. And property was the best way to provide a wornan with a sense of security. -If he was so reluctant to let go of Marguente, wouldn¡¯t it be better not to divorce her? Chuck swallowed and gathered his courage to ask, ¡°Mr. Winston, is it impossible that you guys don¡¯t get a divorce?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Mr Winston, may I be so bold as to ask why?¡± Frederick exhaled a ring of smoke from his sexy lips. His answer was straightforward and irrefutable, ¡°Yuna is pregnant.¡± Upon heanng this, Chuck was dumbfounded and rendered speechless. He knew better than anyone that Mr. Winston held no feelings for Yuna other than responsibility. Yet, she was carrying his child! The baby she camed was Mr. Winston¡¯s blood, while the child in Marguente¡¯s womb belonged to another man. Any person could tell which was more important Chuck sighed and said no more, respectfully retreating. Following Mr. Winston¡¯s instructions, he took the divorce agreement directly to Marguerite at Sapphire Valley Estates. After briefly exining his purpose, Marguerite signed her name without even looking at the agreement. Her brisk action surprised Chuck. Doesn¡¯t she need to think about it? ¡°Marguente, why don¡¯t you take another look at the agreement? There¡¯s still a month left. If there¡¯s anything you want to add, I¡¯ll do my best to negotiate with Mr Winston.¡± Marguerite shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Chuck. The marriage has to end anyway, so what¡¯s written in the agreement doesn¡¯t matter¡± Ever since she had met Jocelyn, she knew this day woulde But she didn¡¯t expect it toe so soon. She had just seen him in the morning, and by the afternoon, the divorce agreement had arrived. She signed her name and handed the agreement back to Chuck. Seeing him still standing there, she asked, ¡°Is there anything else? Did he ask you to pass on a message?¡± Chuck studied Marguente¡¯s expression, ¡°Mr Winston just sent a message. He wants you toe back to work at thepany He¡¯s reinstating the Pr Radiance perfume project and wants you to be in charge. He said it¡¯s a form ofpensation.¡± Compensation? Why does everyone think she needspensation? She wasn¡¯t as fragile as they thought. In this rtionship, she hadn¡¯t suffered any real loss. On the contrary, her marriage to Frederick had taken her into a world she would never have essed otherwise. An upper ss society she would never have known For her, it was an extraordinary experience. Although it onlysted for three short months, it was enough tost her a Chapter 208 Masquiere breed to tum to the repiest of Lucets fatornathinal hatian da Hashance perfun was her guide and joy which had been widely arimed in the previous market feedback This was not ably her abilities. Lut ate a signicant addition to her After all the had ns to rarsen family in the future and wanted to provide a better life for her gmudmother Love couldn¡¯t provide her with a sense of security, bin hot career coul The next afternoon, Maiguente returned to thepany to Wasn¡¯t that some kind of fate? But they were not meant to be together. Frederick didn¡¯t love her. Even if there were feelings, they were pathetically few. They were destined to part ways. Marguerite tightened her grip on the box, raised her head, and responded with a polite yet distant smile, ¡°Mr Fitzgerald, since Pr Radiance perfume seems to help with Frederick¡¯s condition, I will do my best to make this project sessful. As for his loss of smell, rest assured, I will keep it confidential.¡± reaction? Chapter 209 y away from using his Hiness as a bargaining chip. Dement Maigueme Teel even a Tiny bit of sympathy? Deruntu It¡¯s board mought that federick can¡¯t face his feelings, but Marquente fan¡¯t helping eitheri He¡¯s tom between two sides, and in the end, hers pleasing neither After taying her piece, Marguerite turned and left Her clops were decisive and unyielding without a hint of hesitation or regret the bad already promised Jocelyn and made her decision in her heart Since the oue was already decided, she didn¡¯t want to dwell on it. That would only cause her to lose more than she gained And once the divorce agreement was signed, it seerned like Frederick was deliberately avoiding her Marguente hadn¡¯t seen Frederick at the mansion for several days, and even at thepany, she could only catch a glimpse of his back. Marguerite got used to this lifestyle and focused all her attention on the Pr Radiance perfume project for the first time, she was in charge of everything. There was a lot to do, and the pressure was immense. Thepany provided her with a secretary to assist her One day, her secretary, Hannah, walked into the office with a stack of documents, her face troubled ¡°Ms Lockwood, our representative went to speak with Gat at the Grandeur Square Mall about leasing space yesterday, and it seems like he doesn¡¯t want to continue working with us¡± Marguerite was inmediately rmed, ¡°Why? We have a long term contract with the Grandeur Square Mall. They want to break the contract before the lease is up?¡± It¡¯s no wonder Marguerite reacted so strongly All of the LuxeScents International¡¯s products, whether they¡¯re aromatherapy or perfume, are sold in physical stores Although they are well known, they use a strategy of scarcity marketing By limiting the supply of their products, they tap into the customers fear of missing out Therefore, LuxeScents International signed an exclusive agreement with Grandeur Square Mall for their domestic sales All of their domestic products are sold at Grandeur Square Mall. If Grandeur Square Mall breaks the contract, LuxeScents International will lose its distribution channel, and theunch of Pr Radiance perfume in the country will be impossible ¡°The Grandeur Square Mall hasn¡¯t given any feedback yet, but a source said that Mr. Winston mysteriously pulled out of the Pr Radiance perfume warehousest month. This upset the executives at Grandeur Square Mall Mr. Winston¡¯s actions not only hurt ourpany, but also caused significant losses for Grandeur Square Mall.¡± Marguente was well aware that Frederick¡¯s decision to withdraw from the Pr Radiance perfume warehouse was a punishment for her pregnancy. But Frederick¡¯s anger exceeded Marguerite¡¯s expectations. He expressed his dissatisfaction with her by severing his own lifeline Things were bing more and moreplicated. Marguerite, feeling exhausted, rubbed her temples and stood up, making a decision on the spot. ¡°Schedule a meeting with Gamett at the Grandeur Square Mall. I go myself.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡± Hannah sessfully scheduled a meeting with Gamett¡¯s secretary. However, when Marguerite and Hannah arrived at Grandeur Square Mall, they were kept waiting After waiting in the lobby for three hours, Marguente suddenly spotted a familiar figure exiting the elevator A middle¨Caged woman, dressed extravagantly, draped in an ostentatious white fur coat. Her blonde hair was tied behind her ears, andrge diamond earrings dangled from her lobes She was breathtakingly luxurious This woman was Lisette, Powell¡¯s wife, and Maurice¡¯s mother! Marguerite had seen her from a distance at Mr. Powell¡¯s birthday party. But why was sheing out of the Grandeur Square Mall office building? The woman also recognized Marguerite and walked straight towards her. She looked Marguerite up and down with disdain. ¡°So, you¡¯re Marquente?¡± Until now, the two of them hadn¡¯t officially met. Marguerite¡¯s understanding of Lisette was limited to the information Miley had gathered. But Marguente wasn¡¯t surprised After all, news of her pregnancy had stirred up the Winston family Her reputation probably preceded her Marguente looked at her, ¡°Can I help you?¡± Liserte sneered, deliberately dragging out her words, ¡°I just wanted to see what the woman who made Frederick so mad that he had a heart attack looks like But, Frederick¡¯s taste has always been worse than Maunce¡¯s Him choosing you as a wife is no surprise.¡± Suddenly, Marguerite felt a lump in her throat Did this woman find it amusing to elevate one person while belittling another? But Lisette was her elder, so Marguerite swallowed her anger and remained silent Sewing Marguente¡¯s reaction, Lisette didn¡¯t continue her tirade. She turned around and walked away After a few steps, she suddenly turned back andughed, her body shaking with muth By the way, tell Frederick to be prepared Within a month, hell be ruined¡± mdend her But cette was bing too by Chapter 210 Monce had returned to the county with force, and Powell had funded hid newpany helm of the tinston Group, and LuxeSets International was just a branch of it. Even if Petor real estate Courier businesses went they all toe¨Cnotch? secretary invited Marguerite, and Hannah in man, perhaps in his early forties. He was the epitome of sucoRSS Hoto, M. Ca fm Marguerite, the project manager for Pr Radiance perfume Camet got Margue a cup of coffee with a hearty you which led to a lot ofints from customers. Such a waste Marguente held the cup with both hands, not drinking it was her first time negotiating a deal and although nervous, her demeanor was nothing but sincere Mt Gamett, LureScents Intemational ns to reunch Pr Radiance. We have a loyal customer base from the past and this deal is a sure win.¡± Game chuckled, but there was mischief in his eyes ¡°Unfortunately, Marguente, we were unaware of your ns to reunch the perfume. Before you approached us, we had already rented the space to a perfumepany called Fragrance Finesse Lets talk about our coboration another time¡± Fragrance Finesse?¡± Marguente was familiar all the perfumepanies in the country, but she never heard of apany called Fragrance Finesse Could it be a newly established brand? If so, it made Marguerite even more puzzled. LuxeScents international ruled the perfume industry if Grandeur Square Mall wanted to make money, it made no sense to ditch LuxeScents International for a startup ¡°You havent heard? Fragrance Finesse is owned by Mr. Winston¡¯s elder brother, Maurice, under the name of the Winston Group¡± Fragrance Finesse was thepany Maunce set up? But the Winston Group already had a perfumepany Maurice registering another one of the same type was a clear sign of his intention topletely eliminate Frederick¡¯s position in the perfume industry. Marguente began to feel anxious as she said, ¡°Mr. Gamett, Grandeur Square Mall and LuxeScents International had a ten¨Cyear lease agreement. Is it really okay for you to creach the contract like this?¡± ¡°Marguente, Mr Winston withdrew from the warehouse without notice, causing us great losses. If anyone breached the contract it was Mr. Winston! Besides, isn¡¯t Fragrance Finesse also part of the Winston Group? Whether it¡¯s LuxeScents International or Fragrance Finesse, the money eamed will still go to the Winston Group. right?¡± Of course not! Fragrance Finesse and LuxeScents International were totally different! The two werepetitors, and Marguente refused to believe that Gamett, who was well¨Cversed in the world of the wealthy, didn¡¯t understand their rtionship His response was clear rejection, with no room for negotiation Who could me him, though? Maurice¡¯s newpany was worth billions, with Powell backing him up. Naturally, clients would side with Maurice Feeling defeated, the two of them left Grandeur Square Mall under the scorching sun. Hannah thought for a moment, then suggested. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, it looks like Grandeur Square Mall is a no¨Cgo. Should we try the other malls?¡± Marguente sighed, ¡°Grandeur Square Mall is a top¨Ctier global brand. If they¡¯ve rejected us, I¡¯m afraid the other malls will follow suit¡± ¡°What can we do then?¡± Hannah sighed. As the two women stood on the streeter, feeling helpless, Marguente¡¯s phone rang It was Jocelyn. She had signed the divorce papers. What could Jocelyn want now? Marguente picked up the phone, puzzled. Before she could speak, she heard Jocelyn¡¯s trembling voice, ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t know who else to call. Could you please go to the pharmacy and get me some medicine for bruises and sprains? Til text you the address.¡± Her voice was shaky, with a hint of helpless sobbing Deep down, Marguerite knew something was wrong with Jocelyn, ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you in trouble?¡± Jocelyn took a deep breath, followed by a suppressed whimper, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Send me your address immediately I am on my way¡± Marguente hung up the phone and soon received the address from Jocelyn She hated a cab and quickly turned to Hannah, ¡°You need to get back to the office right away. Have Fredericke to the location I¡¯m going to. Il text you the address¡± Chapter 211 Chapter 211 The tart quickly anved at Jocelyn¡¯s location, an upscale apartmentplex Gute bought some ointment for bruises and sprains from a nearby efore then headed straight to Jocelyn¡¯s apartment ording to the address the had bain red gently on the door, and when Jocelyn opened it Marguerite was taken aback. Jocelyn was wearing a teal¨Ccolored dress, her exposed amma covered in bruises, and arge bump was swelling on her forehead Ma¡¯am, what happened to you?¡± Marguente asked her eyes wide in surprise Jocelyn de But Marguente gesturing for Marguerite toe in ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside. I¡¯ll get you a ss of water¡± the mood for water She rushed forward, grabbing Jocelyn¡¯s wrist. Jocelyn flinched as if stung Marguente quickly let go looking down to see a band of purple bruising around Jocelyn¡¯s wrist ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the water. Let me help you with these wounds first¡± Without waiting for a response. Marguente gently pushed Jocelyn onto the couch and sat down beside her The smell of the ointment was sharp and distinct. Marguerite warmed some in her hands, then began to gently apply it to Jocelyn¡¯s arm, ¡°Maam your injuries lock predy severe fil do what I can, but we should really take you to the hospital¡± Jocelyns voice was barely above a whisper ¡°Tm not going. These are just minor injuries. I¡¯m used to it¡± Marguere looked at her in disbelief. ¡°You are used to it? Did Mr Powell hurt you?¡± idental injuries were one thing, but habitual ones were cause for concer Marguente had met Mr. Powell twice, and both times he had red at her Thest time, at the hospital, he had evenshed out at her had a violent streak But Jocelyn shook her head. ¡°It wasnt him¡± ¡°t wasn¡¯t him?¡± Marguente was taken aback, then blurted out a name ¡°Was it Lisette?¡± Jocelyn diant deny it just gave a faint smile. ¡°You seem to know a lot about our family ¡°Why would she hit you?¡± ¡°Where there are love nivals, there is war She¡¯s the wife, I¡¯m the mistress. Does she need a reason to hit me?¡± Jocelyns voice was barely above a whisper ¡°Tm not going. These are just minor injuries. I¡¯m used to it¡± Marguere looked at her in disbelief. ¡°You are used to it? Did Mr Powell hurt you?¡± idental injuries were one thing, but habitual ones were cause for concer Marguente had met Mr. Powell twice, and both times he had red at her Thest time, at the hospital, he had evenshed out at her had a violent streak But Jocelyn shook her head. ¡°It wasnt him¡± ¡°t wasn¡¯t him?¡± Marguente was taken aback, then blurted out a name ¡°Was it Lisette?¡± Jocelyn diant deny it just gave a faint smile. ¡°You seem to know a lot about our family ¡°Why would she hit you?¡± ¡°Where there are love nivals, there is war She¡¯s the wife, I¡¯m the mistress. Does she need a reason to hit me?¡± hid cane. He defe Marguente fet a pang in her heart. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell Mr. Powell? Wouldn¡¯t he protect you if he saw Lisette hitting you?¡± Jocelyn sighed, her face expressionless, but Marguente could feel her grievance The Winston family was a matnarchy and the family business was established with the help of Lisette¡¯s family Before Mau But now that Lisette has Maunce to back her up. Powell tums a blind eye to everything she does to me.¡± back, everything was fin Marguente couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter as she continued to apply the ointment to Jocelyn¡¯s wounds. So that was why Jocelyn had insisted on her divorcing Frederick. With the Winston family¡¯s fortune built on Lisette¡¯s family, Powell would naturally favor his wife Lisette and their son Maurice presence was only causing tension between Powell and Frederick. If Frederick lost to Maurice at this time, not only would he fall from grace, but Jocelyn¡¯s the Winston family would be even more unbearable Frederick, who seemed so plonous in public, had a family that was a mess behind the scenes true that life in a wealthy family was like a deep ocean. Some people were swept out, while others lived a life of luxury Andmed Fredenck and Jocelyn were destined not to be among thetter plying the dentment to Jocelynis arms, Marguerite took out an ice pack to put on the swelling on Jocelyn¡¯s forehead began to open up to Marguerite, perhaps because they shared a simr expenence of pregnancy This spartment was something I saved up for after I returned to the Winston family Every time I¡¯m mistreated, Ie here Thats why I always kop medication here today, I realized that all the medicine was expired I cant go to the hospital because Lisette has people there. So, had to bother Sorguente looked at Jocelyn with sympathy asking ¡°Does Fredeck know about this?¡± As soon as Marquente mandoned him, Jocelyn¡¯s usually calm face showed a flicker of emotion. The doesn¡¯t know. And you must not thin W Maunu hesply focused on work I cant distract him¡± But before Joodlyn (bud finish, the sound of a di coder being entered echoed from the entrance. Bough the door who trip and murmured epulogatically qght after you cuded me. I put my secretary to find her. I didnt know the sctuation. ted her gaze. She wasn¡¯t mad at Chapter 212 Frederick, noting the bruises on Jocelyn, his already Gomber face darned even more ¡°What happened? Joonyn stood up, ncing at Marguente out of theer of her eye at the fabricated a tale, I fall down the stairs by ident Marguente happened to be nearby and I had her get me some medication¡± Inderick clearly held doubts about her story, his gaze furned to Marguerite, intense and probing. Really?¡± His piercing stare, carrying an aura of having seen it all, made Marguerite¡¯s heart race She hesitated, then came back to her senses nervously touching her earlobe, ¡°yes¡± ¡°Why did you leave the house ande here?¡± Jocelyn avoided his gaze. ¡°Your father was discharged from the hospital today Lisette went to pick him up this morning I had nothing to do at home, so I decided to take a walk¡± Has Maurice been back?¡± Jocelyn shook her head. He hasn¡¯t been home since he returned to the country But I guess he must have met with your father¡± Frederick¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but Marguerite clearly sensed his dissatisfaction Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have walked over to the window to light a cigarette Although she had only been living with Frederick for two months, she had quickly learned his habits and temperament Whenever he was upset, he¡¯d cham smoke Jocelyn wamed him, ¡°Frederick, Marguerite is pregnant, put out the cigarette¡± Frederick paused, nced at Marguerite¡¯s belly and walked over to the window opening it Jocelyn¡¯s gaze on Marguente was apologetic, and Marguerite quickly shook her head, whispering, ¡°It¡¯s okay, ma¡¯am, let him smoke by the window I wont m The child in her belly wasn¡¯t his, he didn¡¯t owe her anypromises Marguente looked at Jocelyn, and Jocelyn looked at Frederick. The backs of the mother son duo were within Marguentes sight, which filled he and sympathy Jocelyn had her own sorrows that she couldn¡¯t express. Despite having a son who could support het she silently endured everything She was not only striving to bnce the rigid rtionship between Powell and Frederick but also shielded Frederick from most of the family turmo Everything she did was to ensure Frederick could stand firm within the Winston family But all this seemingly steady life was chattered by the child Marguerite¡¯s carrying Marguerite felt overwhelmingly quilty, but at the same time, she resolved to get Pr Radiance perfume back on the market ncholy Since Maunce wanted topete with Frederick for the perfume market, then Fragrance Finesse would be the first shot Maurice fed Marguente would do her best to thwart his ns! domestic wat Frederick continued to smoke, without interruption Jocelyn nced at the time and began to usher them out, ¡°Frederick, I should be going Let¡¯s go downstairs together, and you can drop He finally put out hisst cigarette and immediately tumed to head for the door. Murguente helped Jocelyn walk slowly The atmosphere was oppressive, and Marguente wanted tofort her, but couldn¡¯t find the words All she could do was whisper to Jocelyn, ¡°Ma¡¯am, Fil keep today¡¯s events a secret If anything like this happens again call me night away. Ie running¡± Jocelyn patted Marguente¡¯s hand, touched and guilt ridden She regretted tearing apart this innocent couple but felt she had no choice for the sake of her sons future The three of them walked out of theplex Frederick intended to drive her back to the old house himself, but because of Marguentes presence, Jocelyn was afroid that Powell would be even more upset if he saw her So, the decided to take a cab back alone and reminded Frederick to make sure he took Marguente home Marpente got into the luzunous Rolls Royce, the confined space with only the two of them felt strange She had nothing to say and Frederick was silent as he drove The atosphere was suffocating and quiet, and Marguente wished she could escape They happened to pass a street full of food stalls Marguente pointed out the window, ¡°Shop here, I want to get something to wat Frederick hit the brakes, ¡°Where?¡± Where wookt she know? Sho just wanted to get out of the car Marguerite untad and pointed at a random sign. Tondue? Yes, that onel You can drop me off here I take a cab home after it done Marqueme finished in one breath, unbuckled her seat belt, and got out of the car as it she were fleeing When the rated up, the man was already standing in front of her Marguerite ¡°Why did you get out? opped fun words and tuned out, leaving Marguerite standing Chapter 213 mpanying her geen how busy! was From the moment he sat down, he was caught up in a f parte endered a tapis, and quickly est hed ut a tow dishes on the menu dred Pradang khung up the phone, Marquent was already happily digging m the fandom was bubbing away, the arding of chores was tickling her none. Marguente picked up a piece of jpe?o, and was about to eat it when Ark swoopet in. ¡°Who wand you could wat sphy food?¡± (njaritia khakisa, I know you can¡¯t eat eploy fond, that a why I noderad other stuff You can have the lead stick and sausage¡± A Marguente woke she tried to continue but found rodenck¡¯s grip was too strong Marguerite puzzled. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Froderick stared at her without saying a word, gostaid for the walter, and astonishingly, he took the te of ppe?o ¡°When you¡¯re pregnant you need to be careful with what you eat you can¡¯t keep making trips to the hospital 50 he was showing concem for her? Marguite¡¯s heart pounded ematically, she quickly avoided his gaze, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. She hadn¡¯t seen Finderick in many days, and she¡¯d grown ustomed to the quiet days without his presence But she couldn¡¯t understand why his sudden appearances could turn her calmke into a tumultuous ocean Even though Marguerite didn¡¯t want to admit it, the chaos in her heart was uncontroble Marguente suppressed her burbulent emotions and tried to annoy him, ¡°The baby I¡¯m carrying isn¡¯t yours, why do you care so much?¡± Frederick was about to explode upon hearing this but recalling Marguerite¡¯s expression when she was caring for her mother he held back The atmosphere became tense again Marguente obediently had bread stick, eating without saying anything She took a sip of her drink in frustration and suddenly asked, ¡°Have you signed the divorce agreement?¡± ¡°Not yet¡± Marguente gave a wry smile, a joke slipping out. Is it because I¡¯m getting too much of your property?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too little Frederick¡¯s response caught Marquente off guard, leaving her stunned How was the supposed to know that no matter how much property she received, he always felt it wasn¡¯t enough? Marguente felt a lump in her throat, a sense of suffocation in her heart She tapped her phone screen lightly, looking at the date, Marguente sighed with a hint of mncholy. ¡°Time flies, it¡¯s already been two months in one more mont we¡¯ll be divorced. But we never hved like a normal mamed couple¡± Frederick chuckled ¡°True¡± Following that, silence fell once again Damn it! Even though they were both speaking lightly. Marguente felt as if the atmosphere was suffocating amed couple, we Feeling the tear forming in her eyes, Marquente widened her eyes, her forced smide particrly strained, ¡°Since we couldn¡¯t live like a normal i should at least be open minded after the divorce How about on the day of our divorce, wee here for a farewell meal, each of us w a bome of beerugh off all grievances?¡± Frederick suddenly looked at her. ¡°Do you really want to do that?¡± Marguente smirked. ¡°What else is there? Life has to go on, we have to say goodbye to the past with a smile¡± (rederick was stung by her smile. To her, divorce seemed like a particrly easy thing Did she not feel a shred of reluctance? Even a bit of struggle would have been something Fredenck¡¯s handsome face darkened, and his phone rang at the same time After answering the call and saying a few words, he looked at Marguente tentatively ¡°Something came up, I can¡¯t take you home Can you get a cab Marguerite nodded, ¡°Sure you go ahead, don¡¯t keep her waiting¡± The call was from Yuna Although Frederick didat put it on speaker, Marguente still heard it She dt want Frederick to see her petty jealousy, she wanted to maintain thest shred of her dignity, so she put on a brave face But Fredericks gaze suddenly became profound he stated for a moment, eventually, he took a wad of halts from his wallet and ced it under the cup penth setting Marguerite ¡°Get a cab home, let me know when you get home¡± ¡°Okay¡± Margate shortently responded, watching Frederick rise and turn to leave, tears welled up in her eyes and fell un Chapter 214 Chapter 214 vh¨®w, Marghatta quickly deined the hints at th¨¢i renau jil her dyes bhar pralind, mkaling nut to the chhe Tay balind a whipping ten thousand dors. Was will toy money for canda? was aperisation, she thought Hurwie Uluce pompentsta for? Fredanck hadn¡¯t done anything wrong H?he in Usa wrong, canying another mans ld, cing Frederick in a more difficult pratticon within the Winston Farndy one from her sent and left the restaurant. As soon as she stepped out a torrential downpour began, apanied by thunder ¡°There was on waves outside the diner, nod Marguerito hailed a cab the rain, taking a good half hour to find one Seal. 11. the bone and in a pitiful state, she decided to head straight to Ailey¡¯s apartment, since she didn¡¯t want to worry her grandmother The taxi suuggled to move in the heavy rain, and Marguerite beaddled in the backseat, shayering from the cold but all the felt was cold, and colder soit The rain petted against the window, and Marguente felt utterly helpless Images awaited in her mind, weaving a movie whore every scene featured Fredenck Yet, the more she thought about him, the luor the felt as if the were the only person left in the world Upon reaching Miley¡¯s apartment Marguerite paid the fate and braved the rain to enter the building, weakly knocking on the door ¡°Why is it? Miley¡¯s disgruntled voice came from inside, and she was taken aback when the saw Marguente ¡°Marguente¡± Why are you drenched? Don¡¯t you carry an unbre?¡± Marguerite stood there, soaked and shivering, with tears streaming down her face. Its so cold was all she could say. Miley quickly pulled Marguente inside, guiding her towards the bathroom ¡°Take off your clothes and get in the tub, fl run you a bath¡± As the water gushed from the showerhead, Marguente slowly undressed and moved her mask, slipping into the bathtub Only in front of Miley could she let go of all her inhibitions and just be herself Miley tossed a few rose petals into the bath, asking. Feeling better? Still cold?¡± Marguente huddled closer into the water, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m cold¡± ¡°Still cold?¡± Miley dipped her hand into the water, ¡°No, the water is warm¡± ¡°My heart is cold¡± Mitey shivered at her words, ¡°Marguerite, when did you start sounding so emotional? I cant believe those words came out of your mouth?¡± Marguente stared nkly at the ceiling, silent, her tears streaming down her face and into her ears She was crying? Marguente had always been strong, when had she ever shed tears in front of Miley? It was then Miley realized that Marquente wasn¡¯t just being melodramatic, she was genuinely sad. Womed. Miley crouched down beside her, Marguerite, what happened? Did Yuna provoke you again?¡± Marguerite shook her head. ¡°No¡± Then what is it? Tell me, and I¡¯ll stand up for you Don¡¯t just cry, what happened?¡± Marguente tumed to look at Miley, her face flushed from the steam. The next moment, her chest heaved violently, tears flowing down her face Miley Heel awful Ive been trying so hard to control myself, but all I can think about is Frederick! No matter how hard I try it¡¯s uselesai food. Haetike my head in going to explode, and my heart feels suffocated it¡¯s like there¡¯s this breath stuck in my chest that I cant exhale.¡° Marguente began to hit her head, Miley quickly stopped her, pulling her into a hug She had never seen Marguente lose control like this, crying so much that her body shook ¡°Miley, I¡¯m so upset, I¡¯m really upset Sometimes, I wonder if things would be different if I wasn¡¯t carrying this child. But what¡¯s the point of thinking about ai understand, I really dont Miley froze then let go of Marguente, cupping her face in her hands, looking deeply into her eyes. Tremember you asking me unce if you might have feelings for Mr Winston Now I can answer you, you don¡¯t just like hum, you¡¯re in love with him!¡± opnably Miles ue Chapter 215 uerite¡¯s best friend and the had a knack for getting to the heart of the matter with just a few words. et feelings were tangled, she didn¡¯t deny it. She took a deep breath, tumed to Miley and said, ¡°I need a moment alone¡± We nced at Marguerite, a swarm of emotions worry, concem¨Cflooding over her. But in the end, she kept her peace. She hadid bare Marguerite¡¯s deepest lelings, whether or not Marguerite chose to face them wasn¡¯t something she could dictate if you head anything just holler. It be in the living room; Miley said, leaving the bathroom She found a fresh set of clothes in the bedroom and left them on the Eack outside the bathroom, giving Marguerite plenty of space to herself. Hall of the damp rose petals in the bathtub floated on the water¡¯s surface, the other half clung to Marguerite¡¯s scar¨Cdappled skin She held her breath slowly dipping further into the warm water until just her head remained above the surface The buzzing and of water filled her ears, and memones of Frederick began to fade. She was still hurting but she was a bit better Outside the bathroom Miley was anxiously waiting Suddenly, a message popped up from a user named Mr. Fitzgerald, ¡°Smiley, are you still investigating that cufflink?¡± Miley nced womedly at the closed bathroom door before typing, ¡°No, I stopped. We¡¯ve found what we were looking for¡± Robert sent back three question marks, followed by. ¡°You found it, what did you find?¡± Was the cufflink Fredenck¡¯s? Had Smiley and her friend targeted Frederick? Seeing no response, Robert asked again, ¡°Do you know who the cufflink belongs to?¡± By then Miley had retumed to the bathroom door, she sent a straightforward ¡°Yes¡± to Robert, then knocked on the bathroom door ¡°Marguente, are you still in there? The water must be getting cold, don¡¯t forget to add some hot water Marquente¡¯s soft voice echoed from within, ¡°Okay¡± Miley, phone in hand, returned to the living room. She found a string of questions from Mr. Fitzgerald, all centered around the owner of the cufflink, clearly cunous She couldn¡¯t reveal Frederick¡¯s name, respecting his public profile and privacy Miley knew well what to reveal and what to keep under wraps She thought for a moment and chose a neutral answer, ¡°Who it is doesn¡¯t matter now that we¡¯ve found the truth.¡± Robert was left wondering Smiley seemed so straightforward, yet she was so cautious Getting information from her wasn¡¯t going to be easy He tried another approach, ¡°Did your friend meet this person?¡± ¡°Yes¡± She met him? Frederick had met Smiley¡¯s friend? This was shocking Was Frederick entangled with another woman besides Yuna and Marguerite? Who was Smiley¡¯s friend? Robert¡¯s curiosity was piqued Just as he was about to probe further, Miley sent another message, ¡®Mr. Fitzgerald, I need a favor Can you help me get a job at the Regal Haven Hotel? work at the front deck¡± Miley looked towards Marguerite Marguerite loved Mr. Winston deeply, but she was constantly wracked with guilt over the child she s carrying. The sight off struggling was heartbreaking. The instigator of all this was the beast who had forced himself on Marguentel Miley was determined to find him and use all her resources to ensure he paid for his actions. But Miley didn¡¯t expect that after sending the message to Mr Fitzgerald, he would immediately call her She moved to the balcony with her phone, pressed the answer button, and heard a maic, warm voice say, ¡°Smiley, are you short on money? Miley was confused ¡°No, I¡¯m not ¡°Then why do you want to work at the Regal Haven Hotel?¡± My thought for moment, Tm a private investigator I just want to investigate something at the front desk¡± vestigate what Does it have to do with the owner of the cufflink?¡± Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Tho cufflink belonged to Fredenck while she was looking for the father of Marguerite¡¯s unborn child. It couldn¡¯t possibly have anything to do with him Mr. Fitzgerald he was incredibly nosy. Recently, he seemed particrly curious about what she was up to. that he fancied her? Miley pondered, a hint of a sweet smile danced on her lips, ¡°It has nothing to do with him I need the quest ingistration information of Pegal Haven Hotel in April¡± Robert was desperate to know who the mysterydy behind Smiley was The only way to get closer was through Miley He thought for a moment, then made a snap decision, ¡°You need the guest information? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of it You?¡± Miley blinked ¡°You¡¯re that influential? You can just got the guest information from the Regal Haven Hotel?¡± Absolutly The Regal Haven Hotel is partly owned by the Fitzgerald family! But Robert cut himself off halfway. He wasn¡¯t sure about Smiley¡¯s identity yet, so he couldn¡¯t reveal too much. He quickly changed the subject, ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t worry I will get it done Easier said than done though His father was thergest shareholder of the Regal Haven Hotel. With the hotel undergoing a transformation, his father was practically living in the office, with his people all over the hotel If he were to show up there, it wouldn¡¯t take more than ten minutes for his father¡¯s men to locate him But no pain, no gain. This time, he might have to take a risk Upon heanng this, Miley became more convinced of her suspicion This Mr Fitzgerald definitely had a crush on her! ¡°Sm ley? Are you listening¡°¡± ¡°Yes, yes Miley quickly pulled herself out of the romantic atmosphere, smiling. ¡°Mr Fitzgerald, since you said so, I¡¯ll have to trouble you then¡± Just as she finished speaking, she heard the bathroom door open She quickly nced inside to see Marguente walking out, drying her hair with a towel, with a downcast look Miley quickly lowered her voice. Thave to go, my friend is out of the bathroom¡± Her friend was out? Was Smiley living with her fnend? Robert opened his mouth to speak but before he could say anything, the call was abruptly ended No! This was a golden opportunity, he couldn¡¯t let it slip away! On the other end Marguente and Mileyy in the same bed Marguente¡¯s face was flushed, and Miley immediately put her hand on her forehead. ¡°Marguerte, you seem to have a 1 might have caught a cold, Marguente retreated into the covers. Til go downstairs to buy youe medicine Just as Miey was about to get out of Led, Marguente weakly held onto her arm. It¡¯s pouring outside, the pharmacy is probably closed. I just need some rest, I be better after a good night¡¯s sleep¡± Are you sure? Miley was womed ¡°Miley Im really tired I dont want to move anymore¡± Hearing this, Miley had no choice but toply. ¡°Alright If you still don¡¯t feel well in the morning, I take you to the hospital¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t say anything more, she just closed her eyes weakly Perhaps due to the fover Marguente¡¯s head was heary and she fell into a dreamless sleep The next morning. Miley was the first to wake up, roused by the vibration of her cell phone picked up her phone in a daze to see that Mr Fitzgerald had been sending her messages non stop since sus in the morning Did the man get up early of hadn¡¯t he slept at all? Miley fought off the sleepiness to reply just woke up As soon as the message was sent, tu pisane rang almost immediately The ad ng shared the nce Miley quickly hung up, then anxiously nced at Marguente Thank God, she hadn¡¯t woken up copened tak chat ber and quickly typed talk now, my friend is all sterping! What do you need to warly in the moming?] Mr. Egeald Fancy joining me fo Chapter 217 Chapter 217 May put down bli mobile phone, her whole being radiating incitement. A singleton fortwenty¨Cone years, was her romance Anally on the horizon? She hopped out of bed to get ready, unintentionally walong Marguente, who was still in bed. beibits having a dreamless night, Marguentda head was heavy and her body weak. ey? Why are you up say?¡± Marguerite proppant herself up to look at Miley, who was sitting at the vanity applying makeup. Through the reflection in the mirror, she saw Miley¡¯s radiant smile. ¡°You¡¯re awake? Great, let¡¯s have breakfast¡± Marguerile rubbed her temples, ¡°Did you order takeout?¡± Hearing this Miley¡¯s smile got even wider, ¡°No, a friend is bringing it over.¡± Observing Miley¡¯s beaming face, Marguerite paused, ¡°A guy?¡± Miley blushed, ¡°Yes¡± ¡°You¡¯re seeing someone, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Nothing is set in stone yet!¡± Upon hearing this, Marquente rolled out of bed, sluggishly made her way to the bathroom to freshen up She then picked out a shirt from Miley¡¯s closet to wear ¡°Tm off to the office¡± Miley turned around. ¡°You¡¯re leaving? Stay for breakfast He¡¯ll be here in ten minutes!¡± Marquenle gave a light smile, ¡°He¡¯sing over for you, not me. I don¡¯t have the good fortune to enjoy his breakfast¡± Miley quickly got up and walked Marguente to the door, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take the day off? You don¡¯t look well¡± ¡°I have work at the office I have to get going¡± Marguente put on her shoes and walked out the door She thought for a moment before deciding to give Miley a piece of advice, ¡°Know what you should and shouldn¡¯t do Don¡¯t end up like me¡± It took a while for Miley to understand what Marguerite was implying She yfully pped Marguente¡¯s arm, ¡°Marguerite¡® It¡¯s just breakfast Look where your mind went Marguente gave a meaningful shrug, hailed a cab, and left. Half an hourter, at the Winston Group Marguente took all the files on Pr Radiance perfume to Frederick in his office Truth be told, Miley¡¯s wordsst night had forced Marguerite to face her feelings. She had fallen for a man she shouldn¡¯t have. If she didn¡¯t want to fall deeper, she should stay away However, this man was her boss. She couldn¡¯t handle this big project alone, so she had to discuss it with him. She was just professionally handling a situation with her boss, so she had to stay calm! She couldn¡¯t let him see her feelings. Marguerite was mentally preparing herself as she pushed open the ss door to the office At that moment, Chuck was holding an invitation¨Clike envelope and reporting to Frederick Marguerite quietly stood in aer and waited ¡°Mr Winston, today is the 20th anniversary of Grandeur Square Mall. They are holding a thank you banquet and have invited you. Will you attend?¡± Fredenck was sitting in his office chair, his cold aura enveloping him, ¡°Grandeur Square Mall broke the contract first and they still have the nerve to invite me? Toss ¡°Yes, Mr Winston Chuck followed his boss¡¯s instructions and heartlessly threw the invitation into the trash can Hearing this, Marguente quickly walked over. ¡°Why not go? Grandeur Square Mall did give our rental spot to Fragrance Finesse, but they haven¡¯t announced any new products. Everything is still uncertain, we still have a chance¡± Frederick looked at her, his fingers inteced, ¡°Tve always been the one giving chances, not receiving them. Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Ma gente tossed the files on his desk and came around, so flustered she didn¡¯t realize she had grabbed his hand ¡°The sales channel of LuxeScents International has always been Grandeur Square Mall if we choose a smaller mall it will lower our brand¡¯s reputation and significantly affect our sales! Do you want to see Maurice surpass you?¡± ¡°The Wuston froups industnes are leaders of all industry Maunce thinks he can surpass us with a small perfumepany? Wishful thinking Fragrance Finesse is just his first move What about next tine? What will it be?¡± Marguente professional remarks were beyond Frederick¡¯s expectations it cermed he had underestimated her. If nurtured properly, her potential was limitless. His gaze fell on Marguerites pale face, then down to her hand that was holding his Merguiente paused, quickly withdrawing her hand. However, Frederick grasped her hand. Tarquit my affairs that important to you?¡± Chapter 218 The shap qize of this man bore deeply into Margueres e nail hav i trying to decipher an elusive emotion within her However, Marguerite was unable to withstand his intense state. He heart pounded in her chest, and she quickly looked away to hide her unease Important How could it not be important? Frederick and Powell¡¯s rtionship had be increasingly strained because of her, and the knew shecked the ability to mend this nift Her only course of action was tounch the Pr Radiance perfume. She didn¡¯t want Maunce to encroach on Fredenck¡¯s market, not even if Lucents Informational was just a small subsidiary of hispany She didn¡¯t want thepany to suffer any losses This was the only thing she could do for Frederick But facing the man who clearly didn¡¯t love her she had already lost the battle of love For this reason, her maramal dignity couldn¡¯t be shattered any further Marguerite grifted her teeth and forced herself to meet Frederick¡¯s gaze, her voice devoid of affection ¡°Mr. Winston, this isn¡¯t just about you Luxe Scents International isn¡¯t only yourpany¡± Marguente pulled her hand from his gnp, picked up an invitation from the trash can, and looked at him again Tm the project manager for Pr Radiance If Fragrance Finesse gets the upper hand, I¡¯d be failing my team For them, I won¡¯t back down With that, Marguerite turned around and left, leaving Frederick with the sight of her slender but proud figure Chuck, who had been watching the scene unfold, was shocked Ever since Marquente returned to thepany, her rtionship with Mr. Winston seemed to be more distant He nced at Marguente, then at the gloomy¨Cfaced Mr Winston, his expression troubled ¡°Mr. Winston, how should we handle this?¡± Frederick took a moment to regain hisposure before lighting a cigarette ¡°Let her go¡± ¡°Should I arrange for some staff to apany her? She hasn¡¯t dealt with this kind of situation before. I¡¯m afraid she might be overwhelmed¡± The smoke from the cigarette framed his handsome face, making him look even colder. He scoffed, his tone filled with mockery. ¡°She won¡¯t leam until she hits a brick wall. This will be a good chance to take her down a notch Chuck was right. Marguente had never attended an event like the one at the Grandeur Square Mall The only time she had gone to something simr was at Powell¡¯s birthday party, where Frederick had brought her and things hadn¡¯t ended well. She didn¡¯t have time to buy a dress, so her secretary, Hannah, rushed home to find a Hepburn style ck dress. The dress entuated Marguerite¡¯s slender legs. Hannah also put Marguente¡¯s shoulder¨Clength hair into a bun and ced a vintage red hairband on her head. The ensemble indeed gave off an Audrey Hepbur vibe However, Marguente still looked unwell, causing Hannah to worry ¡°Ms. Lockwood, are you sure you want to go tonight? You¡¯re not looking so good Ignoring her concern, Marguente left the office. I¡¯m going to a party, not a battlefield. What could possibly happen?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re looking pale. Are you feeling sick?¡± if Hannah hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Marguerite would¡¯ve forgotten that she was running a fever. She touched her forehead and found it to be slightly warm, but she didn¡¯t feel too ill Til be fine I¡¯m going to talk to Mr Gat and then I¡¯ll be back Keep an eye on the news from Fragrance Finesse for me, and let me know if anything happens.¡± Understood After the conversation, Marguente hailed a taxi and soon arrived at the Grandeur Square Mall The sun was setting, and the temperature was dropping The air conditioning in the venue was set cold, and as soon as Marguente entered, goosebumps prickled on her skin, and she had a fit of sneezes. Fortunately, she quickly found Gamett, who was entertaining a group of potential investors with a ss of champagne in hand. She watched from a corner, waiting for a chance to approach him when he was alone Soon, Gat¡¯s phone rang. He nced at it and quickly ended his conversation, heading in a certain direction Without thinking. Marguente followed him Gat rounded a corner and was suddenly stopped by a slender arm that tugged at his tie, pulling him into aer Marguerite quickly halted, and what she saw left her stunned. Gamett and a voluptuous middle¨Caged woman were passionately kissing, oblivious to their surroundings. The blonde hair, the fur cost¨Cit all seemed too familiar was Liselle, Powell¡¯s legal wife and Maurice¡¯s mother! age red hairband on her head. The ensemble indeed gave off an Audrey Hepbur vibe However, Marguente still looked unwell, causing Hannah to worry ¡°Ms. Lockwood, are you sure you want to go tonight? You¡¯re not looking so good Ignoring her concern, Marguente left the office. I¡¯m going to a party, not a battlefield. What could possibly happen?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re looking pale. Are you feeling sick?¡± if Hannah hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Marguerite would¡¯ve forgotten that she was running a fever. She touched her forehead and found it to be slightly warm, but she didn¡¯t feel too ill Til be fine I¡¯m going to talk to Mr Gat and then I¡¯ll be back Keep an eye on the news from Fragrance Finesse for me, and let me know if anything happens.¡± Understood After the conversation, Marguente hailed a taxi and soon arrived at the Grandeur Square Mall The sun was setting, and the temperature was dropping The air conditioning in the venue was set cold, and as soon as Marguente entered, goosebumps prickled on her skin, and she had a fit of sneezes. Fortunately, she quickly found Gamett, who was entertaining a group of potential investors with a ss of champagne in hand. She watched from a corner, waiting for a chance to approach him when he was alone Soon, Gat¡¯s phone rang. He nced at it and quickly ended his conversation, heading in a certain direction Without thinking. Marguente followed him Gat rounded a corner and was suddenly stopped by a slender arm that tugged at his tie, pulling him into aer Marguerite quickly halted, and what she saw left her stunned. Gamett and a voluptuous middle¨Caged woman were passionately kissing, oblivious to their surroundings. The blonde hair, the fur cost¨Cit all seemed too familiar was Liselle, Powell¡¯s legal wife and Maurice¡¯s mother! Chapter 219 Powell¡¯s wife would t the audacity to keep a boy toy on the olde Gat was in his early forbes, he was definitely more than ten years younger than Lisettel r, and ruggedly handsome, he was the perfect toy for Li der he¡¯d father breach his contract with LureScents International to lease the spot to Fragrance Finesse must¡¯ve paid the way for Maurice Marguer¡¯s was worried about finding a bargaining chip against Gament, but she¡¯s caught them in the act sooner than the expected Marguerit? satisfied with the unfolding of events, pressing her back against the wall, hoping not to be noticed by the couple in theer At that moment, sette and Gament were passionately kissing, their eyes closed as they exchanged saliva. It was an intense sight that would make anyone blush Now is the time! Marguente nervously pulled out her phone, carefully turning on the silent mode, and snapped pictures of Gamett and Lisette Licente was a pro at kicsing. These pictures would surely cause a stir if they were to leakt Marguente was engrossed in her photography when a waiter pushed a food cart, breaking the silence. Excuse me, ma¡¯am, could you make way?¡± The water¡¯s voice was low but loud enough for Gat and Lisette to hear Marquente quickly put away her phone, just as she heard footsteps approaching from around theer She must have been caught Marguerite¡¯s heart pounded as she pushed the waiter aside and dashed away She wasn¡¯t sure if Gamett and Lisette had seen her, but being inexperienced in such matters, she was like a frightened bird! Her sudden sprint drew many curious nces Soon, she heard numerous security guards walkie¨Ctalkies crackling with anxious voices, ¡°Catch the woman in the ck dress! Don¡¯t let her The entire event was in chaos looking for Marguerite, but it was toote She swiftly ran out of the event venue, scrambling to find a cab on the busy streets. Not a single taxi in sight! She nced back and saw several shadows racing towards her in the dark. Damn it! She was doomed Marguente continued to run, despite feeling unwell and dizzy from a fever, she pushed on After running for what felt like ages, she noticed a lush green park nearby, an ideal ce to hide Marguente dashed into the park, darting around until she found arge sculpture formation. She quickly slipped into a crevice, covering her mouth to stifle any sound The security guards arrivedte, stopping just outside and saying, ¡°Where did she go? I clearly saw her running in here¡± ¡°Boss, did you see the woman¡¯s face?¡± No just the back of her head! She¡¯s fast, disappeared in a blink ¡°Boss, let¡¯s check over there!¡± The security guards humed off, but Marguerite was wary of their tricks and stayed hidden All was quiet, except for the pounding of Marguente¡¯s heart. She never imagined she¡¯d find herself in such a thrilling predicament As the night grew deeper and colder, despite it being summer, Marguerite was shivering Her head grew heavier, and everything around her became a blur She shook her head trying to stay awake She¡¯s tom hiding for hours, the security guards wouldn¡¯te locking for her now Thinking this, Marguerite mustered the strength to crawl out from the crevice But she was weak and staggered with every step Dann ist She could afford to mess up now! But as Mamuenter¡¯s legs gave way and she copsed backward Her phone, with the incriminating evidence, slipped from her grasp and feil to the ground about to close her eyes she saw a pair of men¡¯s legs, d in a suit, approaching His back Marquette, the man bent down slowly and picked up her phone. Chapter 220 farig shard eligit, but whan a low qetonation of gray whit white, had an artists best to l M¨¢lgustite besitated, just as the door wat quelly nulged open A man in a white hous¨¦eral entead, conying an 17 bay up and was surprised to fed taymi standing the Was this Grevens bedrun? ¡°You¡¯re marke* How do you feel? Marguerite propped berend up, feeling nothing but exhaustion. Her head no longer felt dizzy But she was still confused. Why am Here?¡± Steven walked out to Marguerite¡¯s bedside, removed the 17 tube from the empty bag and reced it with a fractione ¡°You copsed in the middle of the streetst night, and I happened to be passing by Instead of resting at home with a fever, you were wondering smund Aret you concert about the baby in your belly?¡± He found her on the street? That wasnt gh She distinctly remembered being chasedst night and hiding in a park She shouldve fainted in the park, so how did the end up on the street? And before she passed out, shed seen a man pick up her phone! Her phone? Yes! Her phone! Marguente quickly asked Steven, ¡°Where¡¯s my phone? Is it here?¡± Without any rush, Steven pulled out a phone from the drawer and handed it to her, it should be yours, but the screen is shattered¡± The shattered screen didn¡¯t matter, as long as it still worked! She had some incriminating photos of Garett on there, which she had nsked her life to takel Marguerite hastily unlocked the phone, only to find a series of missed calls from Frederick She didn¡¯t have time to call him back, but immediately opened her photo gallery To her dismay, all the photos had been deleted! Including the ones shed risked her life to takest night Marguente turned to Steven, ¡®Did anyone touch my phone?¡± Steven shook his head. Im not sure. When I found you fast night, you were clutching this phone¡± Marguerite was stunned once again. She clearly remembered dropping her phone befom fainting, and then seeing a man pick it up Obviously that man had tampered with her phone LOU SEM OWA Could it have been Maunce? Since Fragrance Finesse had already coborated with Gat, Maunce should have been at the eventst night, night? If it was him. Marguente was out of options. She couldn¡¯tpete with Maurice, and without the leverage against Gat, theunch of Pr Radiance perfume was doomed Shed overestimated herself Che thought she could help Frederick with her own abilities, but in the end, she couldn¡¯t even help herself Marguerite leaned weakly against the headboard, utterly helpless. Somen, fin sorry for causing you trouble again¡± Steven turned around and handed her a cup of warm water His chiseled features were strikingly handsome Theres nothing to be sorry about. But Frederick has been calling you non stop while you were unconscious Aren¡¯t you going to call him back?¡± With fu: ofender fingers clutching the phone, Marguenta bat her lower lip and after a moments thought, said softly. Ti call himter¡± Frederick was passive if he found out she¡¯d spent the night at Steven¡¯s, he¡¯d likely jump to conclusions. Best to avoid unnecessary trouble Shed call him back once she left As Harguide thought this, she tion at the IV bag voice rang out, ¡°Marguente, I heard that Frederick lost his senge of amali Do you know about this?¡± Mangun to body yiffened She looked straight into Steven¡¯s eyes, noticing the probing expression on his face. dacked pointedly. How did you find out about that? Chapter 221 ¡°The thumest Roben divulged Eradericka loss of smell to her Marguerite knew this was a critical decrel. After all, as the prendent of a perfumepany Fredenck had perbally been involved in fragrance development in recent years if it were to be known that? had foot his sense of h¡¯s credibility would be shattered in front of their customers. nts untemational would be plunged into a crisis of trust. vtion impat remain a secret. Butthen, how could Steven, who was entirely outside the perfume industry, know of this? Maiguente rouldn¡¯t help but tense up, her eyes widening in ck, scrutinizing him as if trying to see through to the truth. Svin, however, didn¡¯t disy the panic the expected. His gaze was calm, his expression indifferent. Marguente could discem nothing from his demeanor After a prolonged state Steven lightly touched his nose and chuckled. ¡°You know, I attend almost every high society party in town. You hear a lot of gossip Naturally, you learn things¡± I was an answer that held up under scrutiny. Marguente recalled Steven mentioning that these upscale parties usually had a few doctors on hand in case of emergencies So, he must have heard this news at one of those events? Marguerite mused over this, forcing a strained smile and replying. ¡®Steven, not all gossip should be believed¡± Steven remained unperturbed. ¡°Marguerite, I have studied psychology, and have established several psychology clinics go abroad¡± Marguente was bewildered ¡°I¡¯m mentally sound, and I wouldn¡¯t go abroad for treatment¡± ¡°Your reaction just now said it all¡± Steven shed a wolfish grin, his white teeth sending a shiver down Marguerite¡¯s spine. ¡°So Mr. Winston has indeed lost his sense of smell, hasn¡¯t he? You know it, and you cant fool me¡± Suddenly Marguerite found Steven¡¯s gaze to be even sharper than Frederick¡¯s. She didn¡¯t know if Steven was applying his psychological training to her, but his questions felt incredibly maniptive Luckily, Marguerite managed to keep herposure She yanked the IV needle from her arm, slipped out of the bed, and briskly headed out. The IV isn¡¯t finished yet, where are you going?¡± Where could she go? She needed to find Miley and see if it was possible to restore the deleted photos from her phone! If even Steven, an outsider, knew about Frederick¡¯s loss of smell, surely Maurice, who viewed Frederick as his lifelong nemesis would know as well? She feared that Maurice might seize this opportunity to harm Frederick She was in a hurry! Marguente turned at the doorway. ¡°Steven, you¡¯ll keep our conversation today a secret, right?¡± Steven, hands in his pockets, met Marguente¡¯s gaze without hesitation. ¡°Yes¡± Marguente nodded. ¡°I trust you Steven. I hope you don¡¯t betray my trust¡± 11:50 Vinod Merquenta amived at Miley¡¯s apartment, che found My actin Chapter 222 Chapter 222 art of p Maryony was taken aback, her gaze daning towards the couch where clothes, a belt, and underwear were seen haphazard down her spine, ¡°He hasn¡¯t left ye?¡± fey, with a coy smile, remained silent Marguerite was bbergasted, ¡°Miley, he came here yesterday morning, didn¡¯t he Peeling flustered Miley changed the subject ¡°Enough about me you said you needed help What¡¯s going on?¡± Marquette had a stern look on her face, thinking that Miley was moving too fast with this man she had never even met before But given the situation, she had no tima for Ailey¡¯s personal affaire. She unmediately pulled out her phone with a shattered screen and presented it to Miley ¡°All the photos on my phone were deleted Can you help me recover them?¡± ¡°Who deleted your photos?¡± Miley asked Marguente sighed, exining the events of the previous night to Miley But Miley seemed more interested in the juicy bitst ¡°No way! Are you saying that Lisette is really having an affair with a younger man?¡± actual problem. Marguente rubbed her temples, tapping impatiently on her phone screen, ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for gossip I need those pictures. If you can¡¯t help me, take my phone to a repair shop¡± As Marguente grabbed her phone to leave, Miley quickly grasped her arm, I can do it When have I ever let you down?¡± ¡°How long will it take?¡± Miley nced at the closed bedroom door, giving a cheeky smile, ¡°Depends on his pace¡± Marguente rolled her eyes Women in love were hopeless, and their intelligence seemned to plummet dramatically ¡°How long have you known him? Can he be trusted?¡± Miley nodded fervently. ¡°Of course. He was the one who helped recover the surveince footage With this reassurance, Marguente felt slightly relieved She had been meaning to thank him in person for that, but never got the chance Leaving her phone with Mey, Marguente quickly made her way to the door, ¡°Do you have a spare phone I can borrow for a few days ¡°Sure do Miley handed her a brand new phone from a storage cab, ¡°Never been used¡± Gratefully epting Miley¡¯s ¡°gift¡°, Marguerite left in a hurry Soon after, Robert emerged from the bedroom, feeling sore all over He had hoped to find out more about Miley¡¯s friend, but ended up getting more involved than he expected Despite not getting much done, he did learn Smiley¡¯s real name Miley A sweet name, but in bed, she was a wildcat. But he enjoyed it Before he could gather his thoughts, Miley appeared with a phone in her hands. Unable to resist, he pulled her into his arms again Chapter 223 Abbly, but not before shyness won¡¯t be that easy for you to see paid. I have some tut pat Since Thin a good mood, go ahead and tell me inck broken phone in front of him. My bee¡¯s phone is broken and she wants to recover her photos. Can you think of a solution?¡± he had almost forgotten the purpose of his visit phot | biggest seowts, and he wanted to investigate) sbeshe This was undoubtedly the perfect coportunity! soda from the refrigerater took a few gulps, and then deliberately said suspect you¡¯re sleeping with me just for your bestie. First, it was its to fix a phone What will you want me to do next?¡± Me pouted and leaned to hix ams, looking chamingly cov ¡°Next time what do you think? What do you want me to do?¡± Damme Was this woman bying to seduce him with her cuteness? It went for Frederick calling him back to the office, he would have lost control yet again He plucked the broken phone from Miley¡¯s hand, leaned in and whispered in her ear ¡°What do I want you to do? I¡¯d love to die in your arms, honey¡± With that he smuket gave her cheek a yful pinch, then reluctantly headed towards the door. ¡°Give me a couple of days. No ruch Winston Group Miley¡¯s apartment Marguente retumed to the mansion. She had not been together with her grandmother for days due to work So she went back to have lunch with her However when she returned to the office after the meal, she found thepany in chaos. Employees were running around anxiously with documents, their frantic voices filled with urgency ¡°Neal get in touch with the PRpany ASAP ¡°Contact all the shopping malls except for Grandeur Square Mall! They can¡¯t be small, they must be international brands¡± ¡°How many cosmeticspanies are there in Stonebridge City? Summange it for me in a spreadsheet and send Marquente walked into the office with a confused look on her face, only to find Hannah already waiting for her Before Marguente could sit down and catch her breath, Hannah pounced on her ¡°Ms. Lockwood, why are you sote? M Winston has been looking everywhere for your ¡°Calm down, Hannah. Tell me slowly Did something happen?¡± Hannah swallowed hard Fragrance Finesse hasunched a new perfume called First Love which hit the market today. They¡¯re currently holding a press conference at Grandeur Square Mall Gamett was personally present for the ribbon¨Ccutting¡°¡± She was still a step toote! Im going to find Frederick right now!¡± Marguenta dropped her bag and rushed to the CEO¡¯s office The moment she walked in, she saw Frederick and Robert sitting on the sofa, a news broadcast about Fragrance Finesse¡¯s ¡°First Love¡± perfumeunch at Grandeur Square Mall ying on the TV screen She didnt see Maunce there. It looked like the high¨Clevel representatives of Fragrance Finesse were present, none of whom she recognized At that moment, Frederick was holding a cigarette between his distinctly knuckled fingers, the ashtray on the coffee table almost overflowing with cigarette Marguerite know whether this man smokes has nothing to do with her yet she couldn¡¯t help herself She walked over, took the cigarette from his fingers and said. ¡°Stop smoking¡± Frederick itted has long, narrow eyes, a cold tight shing but he remained silent Morguente heaved a deep sigh, Im sorry I was still a step fate¡± The man ved her gaze his tone as indifferent as ever it has nothing to do with you¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Marguente heard a reporter interviewing Gameft on the TV as for know you¡¯ve had a deep and friendly rtionship with LuxeScents International for many years and even signed a tee Short, But why did you terminate your partnership with them and choose Fragrance Finesse instead?¡± Muerte turned to look at the screen, only to see Gat looking rubly disappointed his motal magnity on falt disy national was indeed my strategic partner You could say that half of Grandeur Square Mall¡¯s customers were brought Lonly found out a few days ago The CEO of Luxescents International Mr Winston has lost ha sense of smell As the CEO of s of emak, ran the portumes they produce he liked by customers?¡± Chapter 224 Chapter 224 The novtion was a shocking that the then into a deathly zdane ?r Ga had formed spanking man thay bad just been given Umimalisis ned of each other in debelipf, imahle Altera was absurd to piggest that Frederick, fesful perfumepany, who had jornally deliyed hip of amet, I was he a cruel joke Eul Camelt eemed to have anticipated her action Aterretary handed hina stack of documents that liad been prepsied in advance epting them, bolt tuned to face the camerat Mi Winston¡¯s medical records from the past three years I wouldn¡¯t have made this conclusion without exter The room gasped collectively as he presented the documenta Marguente kept her eyes glued to the screen, straming until they hurt, but she couldn¡¯t make sense of what she was sering Robert, who had apanied Frederick on lus numerars medical consultations, immediately recognized the wounds in Gametrs hands. They nam nat And they were the ong nats! How was that possible? Frederick¡¯s icy demeanor seemed to peak at that moment, his dark eyes sharp and infundating His gaze fell on Robert, ¡°What is going on? ¡°I don¡¯t know I swear I destroyed all those documents!¡± If they had been destroyed, how did they end up in Gats hands? Who could have leaked them? Marquente¡¯s mind was a whirlwind of confusion, the more she thought about it, the more things didn¡¯t add up Suddenly a pair of maniptive eyes shed in her mind Steven! Yes, it had to be him! He had tested her just this moming, and by afternoon Frederick¡¯s secret was out in the open She couldn¡¯t think of anyone else who would be capable of such decent Marguente rushed forward, grabbing Frederick¡¯s wrist, ¡°Give me your car keys, I need to go out Fredenck¡¯s voice was angry yet restrained, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, go home and rest¡± ¡°No¡°¡± Marguerite defiantly met his gaze ¡°Marguente Frederick snapped, his patience wearing thin. But seeing her determined expression, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to argue He swallowed hard, his eyes softening. ¡°Please, don¡¯t make me worry¡± Marguente bit her lip, locked in a standoff. She knew that when Frederick set his mind on something, there was no changing it She had no choice but to concede, ¡°There are reporters everywhere downstairs Even if I wanted to go home, I¡¯d need a car¡± Seeing the situation, Robert handed his keys to Marguerite, ¡°Everyone recognizes his car Take mine¡± Marguente hesitated, ncing at Frederick She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn¡¯te Finally, she epted the keys from Robert and headed for the door ¡°Marquente¡± The deep sound of Frederick¡¯s voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned to see him watching her ¡°Call me when you get home¡± Marguente took a deep breath and nodded, her mind a mess Go home? She wasn¡¯t going homel She needed to get to the bottom of this! Marguente hopped into Roberts car and headed for Stever¡¯s house Miley called her on the way, and she put the call on speaker Margueritel What on earth is happening? Did Mr. Winston really lose his sense of smell? The inte is going crazy. They re saying Mr Winston deceived customers, and that his previous fragrances must have been giarized! Luzescents International is facing a crisis of trust Chapter 225 To be frank, Maurice¡¯s n to topple Frederick by taking the market share of LuxeScents International was a moonshot However, his secret of losing his sense of smell was leaked at this critical moment, causing a public uproar. Not to mention the staggering losses of Luxe Scents International, even the rest of the Industries under Frederick¡¯s control would be affected Miley had said before that Maurice and Frederick were evenly matched in terms of capabilities, and they were lifelong archenemies. The establishment of Fragrance Finesse was probably just a move in Maurice¡¯s grand strategy His primary objective was keeping Frederick firmly under his foot. Marguerite¡¯s mind was in turmoil, ¡°The PRpany is dealing with it urgently, you also need to hurry up and get the phone repaired, those photos must be useful.¡± ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll push them right away!¡± While speaking, Marguerite had already parked the car in front of Steven¡¯s vi. She hurriedly got out of the car and knocked on the door loudly. The door was opened by Steven¡¯s assistant Janie. Seeing Marguerite, she paused for a moment, and quickly said, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, Dr. Steven is resting upstairs. If you have anything to say, you can tell me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to tell you.¡± Marguerite pushed Janie aside and ran to Steven¡¯s bedroom. Seeing Steven sitting on the couch, savoring a ss of red wine, she was furious. Marguerite red at him, ¡°How much did Maurice pay you to be willing to work so hard for him?¡± Steven seemed to have expected Marguerite toe. He put down his wine ss and stood upzily, ¡°Sit down and let¡¯s talk¡± Sit down? She didn¡¯t have the leisure to sit down and talk! Marguerite strode forward, her brows furrowed, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to exin?¡± Steven put his hands in his pockets, ¡°Marguerite, what do you need me to exin?¡± He was still pretending to be clueless! Marguerite¡¯s brain was spinning fast, and she logically deduced everything. ¡°You knew early on that Frederick had lost his sense of smell, but you weren¡¯t sure, so you kept asking me this morning. My reaction confirmed your guess, so you immediately told Maurice. Steven, as a doctor, you could easily get Frederick¡¯s medical report, couldn¡¯t you?¡± Steven¡¯s lips curved up. His smile was charming, but it made Marguerite feel very ufortable. ¡°Do you think that I teamed up with Maurice to set him up?¡± ¡°Otherwise?¡± ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit.¡± Steven shook his head with a faint smile, the look in his eyes was very vague. ¡°If it¡¯s really as you said, I found out about Frederick¡¯s loss of smell this morning through your reaction, and then told Maurice. In half a day, heunched the perfume on the market, and I had to precisely find Frederick¡¯s medical records from various countries over the past three years. Marguerite, let alone the fact that I¡¯m just a domestic doctor, do you think I could ignore the time zones and get his overseas medical records in such a short time?¡± Marguerite¡¯s mind was buzzing, and she slumped weakly onto the couch. Steven got a ss of water for Marguerite and ced it on the coffee table, then said, ¡°Maurice and Frederick being feud is well known to everyone in the circle. If he wants to suppress Frederick, he will definitely use all his power to make full preparations. But I¡¯m just a doctor, how could I team up with Maurice?¡± What Steven said made sense. If Maurice wanted to bring down Frederick, he would definitely prepare in advance. Those medical records, he probably got them without anyone noticing Marguerite rubbed her temples and looked up again, her eyes bloodshot. *Im sorry, Steven, I was too anxious.¡± Steven paused for a moment, looking at Marguerite meaningfully, ¡°I¡¯ve never dealt with Maurice, but his hatred for Frederick is obvious. This time. the probably won¡¯t stop easily. Given your current rtionship with Frederick, I suggest you stay out of it¡± The more Steven spoke, the more chaotic Marguerite¡¯s thoughts became. She didn¡¯t stay any longer and left Steven¡¯s vi without even bothering to find an excuse She knew what Steven meant. After all, this was a personal feud between Frederick and Maurice If she continued to meddle, she would not only make things worse but also get herself involved. She knew she could do nothing, but at this moment, Marguerite really wanted to see Frederick Even if she couldn¡¯t help, a hug would do. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. At this moment, Hannah called, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, something¡¯s wrong! Mr. Winston is missing!¡± ? Chapter 226 What happened Marguerite¡¯s reaction was even more frantic than Hannati¡¯s. The PR team just came by and Mr. Winston took off with his car keys. We¡¯ve been waiting and there¡¯s no sign of him. His celf¡¯s off, Chuck even went to Sapphire Valley Estates to look for him, but no luck¡± Marguente¡¯s brain was spinning as she tried to think of where Frederick might be, ¡°What about the Seaside Manor? Did anyone check there?¡± ¡°We did! He¡¯s not there either! What should we do, Ms. Lockwood? Without Mr. Winston, the PR tearn is hesitant to act. The Inte is raging. everyone is demanding an exnation. The golden time of PR crisis management is 24 hours, if we miss this window, no matter what we say, Ti be useless!¡¯ When it rains, it pours. Frederick a man known for his decisiveness and ability to face challenges head on, had disappeared. It was clear that this crisis had hit him hard *Don¡¯t panic, consult with the PR firm on an executable n, I¡¯ll go find him. We need to act on both fronts, we can¡¯t afford to waste any time.¡± Hannah hung up in a hurry, leaving Marguerite at a loss of what to do next. She was barely able to handle the Pr Radiance perfume project on her own, let alone manage apany-wide crisis. All she could do was try to stabilize the employees¡¯ morale, but she was helpless when it came to anything else. The only thing she could do was to find Frederick But where could he be? Marguerite suddenly realized that despite her love for him, she hardly knew him. She had been living with him for two months and yet, she had no idea where he might be. What about a month from now? After their divorce, if he didn¡¯t want to see her, she would never be able to find him. Oddly enough, the more Marguerite thought about it, the more fearful she became. She didn¡¯t know when she started to fear losing Frederick so much. Marguerite shook her head in frustration, scolding herself for wallowing in sentimentality at such a critical time. Thepany! Thepany matters the most right now! In her panic, Marguerite suddenly thought of Jocelyn. She didn¡¯t understand him, but surely his mother would, right? Marguerite quickly dialed Jocelyn¡¯s number, ¡°Jocelyn, I¡¯m sorry to bother you at this time. Frederick¡¯s missing, everyone at thepany is looking for him. Do you know where he might be?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s voice was hoarse, ¡®He¡¯s here with me. You shoulde over.¡± Hearing this, Marguerite didn¡¯t have time to ponder whether Frederick was at Jocelyn¡¯s apartment or the Winston Mansion. She hung up burnedly. started the engine, and rushed toward the apartment. Given the current situation, the Winston Mansion was a battlefield, there was no way Frederick would go back there Marguerite sped all the way and soon arrived at Jocelyn¡¯s apartment Jocelyn opened the door and Marguerite walked in without any greeting. She looked around but didn¡¯t see Fredenck ¡°Jocelyn, where is he?¡± Jocelyn sighed and nced at a tightly shut door, ¡°in there. He came back and hasn¡¯t said a word, hasn¡¯t eaten anything either it¡¯s driving me Only then did Marguerite notice the table full of delicious food, still steaming hot She took a te and picked a few dishes, and then walked toward Frederick¡¯s room. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on him After saying this, Marguerite pushed the door open. The sun was setting, the dim light of the twilight was not enough to dominate the ualit nxen Freden was shing on the edge of the bed, back to Marguente, smoking a cigarette. His silhouette was debant, yet szemed wiedza KYA Marguerite walked quietly to his side, mudged this a gently, andforted softly. ¡°No matter what happens, you stil have to eat rig mother is worried usk¡¯ The sagaratie was held in Frederick¡¯s slender fingers but he didn¡¯t take a puff the tuned his tread and sted his eyes, the red pen ficken Rghtly Chapter 227 Marguerite¡¯s voice watted over to Frederick, causing him to feel slightly dazed. He didn¡¯t have an appetite, yet the spectacle of Marguerite feeding him was unprecedented. He had never even imagined such a moment could ur. Was she expressing concern for him? Frederick was at a loss, mechanically opening his mouth to ept the morsel of food. Margueriteughed, ¡®See, you can eat it, can¡¯t you? But it seems like you need someone to feed you.¡± After saying this, Marguerite pushed the te into Frederick¡¯s hands. However, he was left staring nkly at the utensils in his palm. He still had no appetite. He ced the te and utensils on the bedside table. Marguerite leaned against the French window, facing Frederick, a thread ofpassioncing through her heart. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, would you like to share what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the scenery outside the window. Marguerite was unsure what he was looking at, let alone what he was thinking about. Perhaps he was merely zoning out, but his state of detachment was worrying to Marguerite! After a prolonged silence, Frederick finally spoke. ¡°Everything I¡¯ve done has been for my mom, to secure a ce for her in the Winston family. But it seems that I¡¯m not as capable as I thought.¡± Marguerite had never seen Frederick reveal such emotions in front of her. He appeared mncholic and somewhat fragile. She could never truly understand the state of siege he and Jocelyn faced within the Winston family, but she could imagine how precarious their situation would be in the future. Unable to find the right words tofort him, she tried to lighten the mood and forced a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re being overly humble! Who are you? You¡¯re the legendary Frederick! Who wouldn¡¯t tremble at the mention of your name?* Frederick shifted his gaze to Marguerite, his usually sharp eyes now softened, ¡°If I were really that powerful, would thepany be in this state?¡± Marguerite¡¯s expression fell slightly. Truthfully, it wasn¡¯t Maurice who defeated Frederick, but Frederick himself. Since his takeover of the Winston Group, Frederick had been an almost mythical figure in the business world. Within three years, he had transformed the Winston Group into one of the most prestigious business empires globally. This was an unprecedented achievement, and he was revered as a deity, feared by all. Even Frederick himself may havee to believe this narrative. However, there are no gods in the business world. His sess today is the result of his struggles as an ordinary man. Everyone has their weaknesses. When everyone believed that Maurice, with his modest perfumepany Fragrance Finesse, was delusional to think he could topple Frederick, he struck Frederick where it hurt most, revealing his unmentionable illness to the world. This was the real reason for Frederick¡¯s downfall. Frederick and those around him had been toocent. However, with Frederick¡¯s abilities, this crisis was far from irreparable. Marguerite looked at Frederick, her gaze so sincere it seemed to shimmer. ¡°Ever since you took over the Winston Group, you¡¯ve had a smooth journey. Nopetitors, no obstacles. But life isn¡¯t always smooth sailing, is it? Good fortune won¡¯t always favor you, even the most powerful tycoon will face setbacks. You¡¯re not a god. If you continued to dominate, wouldn¡¯t God seem a bit biased?¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick abruptly put out his cigarette. There was a sh of surprise in his eyes as he stared at her, unblinking. Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure if her words would resonate with him, but she had tactfully highlighted the crux of the matter After a long silence, Frederick suddenly extended his arm towards her, his lips parting to say, ¡°Come here¡± Marguerite paused, ¡°What for?¡± ¡®Give me a hug.¡± Chapter 228 Marguerite was taken aback. But on second thought, it wasn¡¯t an unreasonable request. Everyone has their moments of sorrow, and it¡¯s natural to seek aforting embrace during those times, regardless of the emotional Implications. Marguerite bit her lip, shuffling gingerly towards him. Before she got within arm¡¯s reach, his long arm looped around her waist, pulling her close. Marguerite stood, while Frederick sat, his head burled in her waist, his breathing deep and heavy. His warm breath enveloped her stomach, aforting sensation, but Marguerite knew that Frederick was far fromforted. Feeling somewhat helpless, she could only stroke his hair gently, her voice shaky as she murmured, ¡°You can¡¯t fall apart. If you do, Jocelyn won¡¯t have anyone to protect her.¡± Marguerite had faith in Frederick¡¯s strength, but she was terrified that he might crumble. His loss of smell, a vulnerability he had always kept hidden, was nowmon knowledge, and even a subject of mockery. Marguerite couldn¡¯t believe that it didn¡¯t affect him. Meanwhile, the arm around her waist tightened, making it harder for Marguerite to breathe and her thoughts to scatter. To Frederick, this embrace may have been a simple act offort. But for Marguerite, it wasn¡¯t that simple. She had to admit, she enjoyed the feeling of being needed by a man. Because it was in these moments that she truly felt like his wife. Marguerite chided herself for her greed, but the thought of their inevitable divorce stirred aplex mix of emotions within her. She knew all too well that for her, love was a luxury. She had been starved of love from a young age, and when she finally fell in love, she wished to give her all. But why did she have to fall for a man with whom she had no future? As Marguerite thought about this, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. It was at this moment that Jocelyn walked in. Marguerite froze, instinctively pushing Frederick away. She turned to Jocelyn, stammering as she tried to exin, ¡°Well Jocelyn, we¡­¡± She had promised Jocelyn that she would divorce Frederick, and now she was in his arms. She was afraid of upsetting Jocelyn. But she was at a loss for words to exin the situation. Frederick got up from the bed and headed towards the door, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Jocelyn quickly asked, ¡°Where are you going? I¡¯ll go with you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going back to the office. I have to fix what happened.¡± Frederick paused at the door, looking back at Marguerite, ¡°Come with me.¡± Marguerite was taken aback. His determination to resolve the issue was a good sign. Marguerite quickly followed Frederick, but Jocelyn grabbed her arm, ¡°Wait, I have something to say to Marguerite.¡± Marguerite thought Jocelyn was going to bring up the embrace, and when Frederick left, she was a bundle of nerves. Even though she felt extremely guilty, she had to lie to reassure Jocelyn, ¡°Jocelyn, it¡¯s not what you think. I hugged him because¡­ ¡°Marguerite, you don¡¯t have to exin,¡± Jocelyn interrupted, patting her sweaty hand, ¡°I just wanted to thank you and apologize to you formally. Will you hate me for separating you and Frederick?¡± Marguerite felt a buzzing in her head, a sense of lightheadedness, her vision blurred. This wasn¡¯t Jocelyn¡¯s fault. Frederick didn¡¯t love her. Marguerite shook her head, her voice shaky as she said, ¡°Jocelyn, our divorce has nothing to do with you. We were going to divorce anyway. whether you came to me or not. So you shouldn¡¯t feel guilty, and you should rest assured, I will keep my promise.¡± Having said that, Marguerite managed a weak smile, giving Jocelyn¡¯s hand a reassuring squeeze, as thoughforting her. She then quickly excused herself, leaving Jocelyn standing at the door, watching Marguerite get on the elevator. As she watched Marguerite¡¯s stubborn silhouette, Jocelyn¡¯s once firm resolve started to waver. Chapter 229 An hourter, at Winston Group headquarters. Upon Frederick and Marguerite arriving at thepany, Robert and the numerous PR teams had already brainstormed a multitude of usible strategies. Frederick listened to each report, but found none to his satisfaction. Robert looked troubled, ¡°Frederick, you said this won¡¯t work, that won¡¯t work. But we¡¯re running out of time. The only way to stabilize the customer sentiment is to vehemently deny your loss of smell.¡± Frederick massaged his furrowed brow, weariness etched on his face. As he pulled a cigarette from the pack, his gaze fell on Marguerite, and he halted, He exhaled heavily, returning to his usual assertive demeanor, ¡°Release a statement immediately, acknowledging my loss of smell, and bring all our perfumers to the forefront. Thepany¡¯s growth is due to the collective effort of all our perfumers.¡± Robert was taken aback, as was Marguerite. Frederick admitting his loss of smell was akin to validating Gat¡¯s im at the press conference. ¡°If the CEO of a perfumepany loses his sense of smell, can the fragrances they create satisfy the customers?¡± Wouldn¡¯t Frederick¡¯s admission further incite customer outrage? Robert was vehement in his disapproval, ¡°No way! This is absolutely uneptable! Do you have any idea how enraged our customers are about your loss of smell? To quell their anger, your only choice is denial!* Frederick¡¯s expression remained steady. Having proposed this countermeasure, he naturally had his reasons. Marguerite¡¯s attention remained fixed on him, her eyes wide as she tried to discern his thoughts. Suddenly, it was as though a lightbulb went off in her head. Strangely, at that moment, she felt a connection with Frederick, understanding his rationale. Unable to contain her excitement, she unconsciously gripped his hand: ¡°In a PR crisis, some lies can be told, some cannot. Maurice leaking your loss of smell is just his first move. He assumed our team would deny it and would have prepared his next move ordingly. If I¡¯m not mistaken, once the PR statement is released, he¡¯ll hit you hard with evidence. The only way is to do the unexpected, and leave him with nowhere to go. Am I right?¡± A flicker of appreciation crossed Frederick¡¯s eyes as he looked at Marguerite. This woman could actually understand his thoughts, which was unexpectedly pleasant. In the past few days, Marguerite had constantly surprised him. In just two months, she had transformed from aplete novice to a woman capable of standing on her own. She was holding his hand tightly, as if eagerly awaiting a confirmation of her thoughts from him. At that moment, he realized a woman¡¯s appearance was far less important than her inner qualities. Marguerite may not be conventionally beautiful, but at that moment, she was incredibly alluring in Frederick¡¯s eyes. He took Marguerite¡¯s hand in his own, nodded slightly, a faint smile of relief on his lips, ¡°Our thoughts arepletely aligned.¡± Nothing was more exhrating than the moment of shared understanding. Marguerite was so excited she could barely contain herself, wanting to rush into his arms. But she held back. She couldn¡¯t be that forward. However, Marguerite¡¯s cautious logic managed to convince everyone present. Robert, however, remained unconvinced. He looked at the couple, finding their intimate gazes unbearable, ¡°What about the customers?¡± Frederick quickly withdrew his gaze, his eyes losing their softness, ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve participated in the research and development of a few fragrances, but since losing my sense of smell, my name has not appeared on the perfumer¡¯s list. Isn¡¯t that exnation enough?¡± Frederick¡¯s argument was reasonable. The reason for the public outrage was that all customers who had purchased from LuxeScents International felt deceived. Frederick¡¯s loss of smell meant he couldn¡¯t create fragrances, and they assumed all LuxeScents International¡¯s products were giarized. What the public didn¡¯t know was that LuxeScents International employed some of the world¡¯s most skilled perfumers who, for a heftymission, were dedicated to working for Frederick. f Chapter 230 Upon hearing Robert¡¯s decision, he gave the order to the PR team, ¡®Get a statement out ASAP, make sure it sincere. Also, Inform all the perfumers on staff to share our official tweet and back up Mr. Winston.¡± Everyone was in agreement, and immediately got to work. Ten minutester, a sincere statement was promptly posted on LuxeScents International¡¯s official Twitter. Within a minute of the statement going live, the Twitter engagement exploded, nearly bringing down the server. Marguerite was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Frederick¡¯s influence to be this vast! Keep in mind, the official statement was released at 10 PM. Were people really waiting online at this hour just to hear what Frederick had to say? That was terrifying. The PR team, watching the engagement and sentiment metrics rise, collectively sighed in relief. ¡°One must admit, that move by Mr. Winston was genius. The sentimentpletely flipped, and he¡¯s now seen as a man who values talent,¡± one of them said. ¡°Absolutely, I saw that too. Especially once our perfumers started tweeting, his reputation was solidified.¡± Just as they were about to celebrate their victory, one of the PR members urgently called for attention, ¡°Hold on! Who posted this hashtag? Is Fragrance Finesse hiring bots?¡± Marguerite froze, and quickly joined everyone at theputer screen to see the tweet. ¡°#DontAskWholAm: Frederick values talent? Don¡¯t make meugh! A month ago, when Pr Radiance perfume was released, so many were eagerly waiting! But the night before theunch, Mr. Winston cleared out the inventory, disappointing the customers and surely the designer too. Is this what Mr. Winston calls ¡®valuing talent? Mr. Winston, you¡¯re a figure in the business world, don¡¯t mimic pop stars and create fake personas. Watch out for karma! ¡°This ¡®DontAskWholAm¡¯ user was the first to speak out, and ever since their post, everyone¡¯s been jumping on the bandwagon. And the engagement spike is suspicious, it¡¯s obviously bots.¡± Marguerite turned to Frederick, ¡°Can we take down this hashtag?¡± Frederick furrowed his brow and pressed his lips together, ¡°If Maurice is behind this, it might not be that easy. Marguerite felt dizzy. She hadn¡¯t expected anyone to bring up the Pr Radiance perfume incident. She knew all too well that the decision to clear out the Pr Radiance inventory had been due to her unexpected pregnancy! Was she supposed toe forward and exin that it was because she was carrying the child of a stranger that Frederick had impulsively cleared the shelves of the perfume? It was all her fault¡­ If she hadn¡¯t gotten pregnant, Frederick wouldn¡¯t have cleared out the Pr Radiance perfume. If these two things hadn¡¯t happened, would all the subsequent events have been avoided? Marguerite looked at Frederick, her eyes filled with confusion. The rollercoaster of emotions she was experiencing had her on the verge of tears. Her voice shook as she held onto Frederick¡¯s sleeve, her whisper barely audible, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ It¡¯s all my fault¡­ I¡¯ve messed everything up¡­ Suddenly, Frederick softened. The guilt and hurt she was feeling were like a knife to his heart. This wasn¡¯t her fault, yet she was taking all the me. He gently wiped the tears off her face, his voice soothing, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s another option.¡± Marguerite sniffled, looking up at him with teary eyes, ¡°What?¡± ¡°We admit that you¡¯re my wife, and say that the reason for clearing the shelves of the perfume was because you were pregnant with my child.¡± Chapter 231 Marguerite was shocked. Had she misheard? Frederick intended to acknowledge her as his wife in public. And what was even more shocking was that he was going to falsely im that the child she was carrying was his own? Before Marguerite could recover from this shock, Robert stepped forward nodding in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! Let¡¯s y up the devoted husband angle. Pr Radiance was your creation, Marguerite, and it contains musk, doesn¡¯t it? Perfect: We can im that we discontinued the perfume due to concerns about its potential effects on the baby. This is perfect!¡± Robert was already rallying the PR team to draft a new statement when Marguerite¡¯s voice rang out, firm and clear, ¡°No! I don¡¯t agree!¡± This was a wound in her heart that would never heal. She was carrying a child out of wedlock, and she felt that she had forever brought shame upon Frederick. Yet now, he was willing to pick up this mantle of disgrace. It was like pouring salt on her wound Marguerite was well aware that once Frederick decided on something, he would go through with it regardless of the consequences. But she couldn¡¯t allow that. If this statement was released, the ignorant masses might be fooled, but what about Jocelyn? She had already promised Jocelyn that she would divorce Frederick. If they were to publically acknowledge their rtionship now, how would Jocelyn view her? But Marguerite couldn¡¯t find a reasonable exnation. She steeled herself and retorted, ¡°You just set up this image of a talent-cherisher, and now you want to present yourself as a loving husband? Mr. Winston, people are already questioning your image. Aren¡¯t you afraid it will crumble and bring about your downfall? I want to ask you, are we really that in love? We¡¯re going to be divorced in a month, how are you going to exin that?¡± The PR team was stunned. A child! Married! Divorce? Frederick, the globally renowned bachelor, was married? And they were expecting a child? What kind of shocking secret was this! Robert, too, seemed to realize that their secrets were being popped one after another like bubbles. He quickly dismissed everyone from the CEO¡¯s office, ready to ¡°threaten them into keeping the secret. In an instant, only Marguerite and Frederick were left in therge office. Frederick stared intently at Marguerite, who returned his gaze. Perhaps she was mistaken, but she thought his eyes looked particrly sorrowful. ¡°So, you believe my loving-husband image is bound to copse? What if it doesn¡¯t?¡± Doesn¡¯t? Was he referring to the image of a talent-cherishing man or a loving husband? Marguerite was baffled. Why did this man always say things that led her to misunderstand? If he continued like this, she was afraid she¡¯d start falling for him! Marguerite tried her best to regain herposure, shaking her head and smiling faintly. ¡°Frederick, I think it¡¯s necessary to remind you that you promised to marry Yuna, and I¡¯ve already signed the divorce agreement. In a month¡¯s time. we will inevitably be divorced.¡± Upon hearing this name, Frederick¡¯s resistance grew stronger. He wished the entire Lockwood family would disappear from his sight right now! Vuna. ? ? ? ? ?? But the fact was, Yuna had once saved his life, and moreover, she was carrying his child. Marguerite¡¯s words brought Frederick back to reality. ¡°The oue of our divorce won¡¯t be halted simply because I acknowledge you as my wife. It will just be postponed. It won¡¯t be for too long. Once the dust settles and people forget about this, we can still get a divorce Chapter 232 Divorce postponed? Marguerite wouldn¡¯t have it! If she could, she¡¯d run to the courthouse right now! How could the man in front of her understand the agony of unrequited love? Seeing him everyday was like living through years of torment She viewed Frederick as a heartless executioner. He could have mercifully ended her suffering, yet he chose to drag it out, grinding down her patience bit by bit. The constant dy of their divorce left her fearing that her feelings for him would only intensify, making it even harder to let him go. ¡°So, you¡¯re set on doing this? Even if I don¡¯t agree, you¡¯ll go public with our rtionship at this point?¡± Despite Frederick¡¯s seemingly cold and resolute demeanor, she couldn¡¯t see the tightly clenched fist hidden behind his back, his short nails digging painfully into his skin. And she didn¡¯t know that everything Frederick was doing was to protect her. Everyone was currently focusing on the Pr Radiance perfume project. The Inte was not so easily fooled. If they didn¡¯t address the rumora, the public would keep digging The truth about their rtionship, and the scandal of Marguerite being pregnant out of wedlock, which led to the abrupt cancetion of the Pr Radiance project, would inevitably be revealed. So, he¡¯d rather take the me than let Marguerite face public humiliation. He had to admit that the child Marguerite carried was his. Misunderstandings often stemmed from ack ofmunication. Marguerite was unaware of Frederick¡¯s true intentions, and she kept her own feelings to herself. Both of them fell silent, neither one willing to break the quiet. In her distress, Marguerite silently shed tears. She couldn¡¯t persuade Frederick, but perhaps Jocelyn would understand! She discreetly texted Jocelyn, concisely exining the evening¡¯s events. It took a while before Jocelyn replied: ¡°If this can salvage thepany¡¯s reputation, I support Frederick¡¯s decision.¡± Marguerite was stunned. Jocelyn agreed with Frederick? How could that be! Hadn¡¯t she always been advocating for their divorce? Confused, Marguerite quickly typed out a response, ¡°Jocelyn, what about the family? Frederick¡¯s rtionship with Powell is already strained. Admitting this publicly will only make things worse!!!¡± Marguerite used three exmation marks to emphasize her shock and confusion. Jocelyn¡¯s response was a calming reassurance. ¡°If we dy the divorce, Powell has no reason to stay angry. Stop worrying. You two just need to help thepany through this crisis. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± Since even Jocelyn sided with Frederick, Marguerite feltpletely lost. In everyone¡¯s eyes, thepany¡¯s reputation was paramount. Her feelings, inparison, were insignificant. Marguerite felt a pang of sadness, but she couldn¡¯t me anyone. Who else knew about her feelings for Frederick? She couldn¡¯t expect anyone to cater to her emotions. Marguerite took a deep breath, epting the reality that she had topromise. She put down her phone and slowly moved in front of Frederick, ¡°For the sake of thepany¡¯s reputation, I¡¯m willing to make this sacrifice. But you better control Yuna. I don¡¯t want her stirring up trouble.¡± Frederick looked at her with aplicated expression, ¡°I¡¯ll exin everything to her.¡± *You better!¡± Marguerite retorted, then decisively turned to leave. But before she could exit the office, Frederick called out to her, ¡°Marguerite.¡± She stopped and turned around, ¡°What now?¡± He paused, his deep voice seeminglyforting and reminding her. ¡°The divorce is inevitable. It¡¯s just postponed I wont let you suffer any loss Chapter 233 She won¡¯t suffer any losses? Her greatest loss was falling in love with a man she shouldn¡¯t have loved! Suddenly, at this moment, Robert poked his head out from the door, his voice lowered, ¡°You two, have youe to a conclusion yet?* Marguerite gently pressed her lips together and nodded lightly, ¡°Draft the statement.¡± Robert, excited, snapped his fingers and immediately called the PR team back into the office. His joy wasn¡¯t unfounded. After all, if Frederick and Marguerite went public with their rtionship, probably they wouldn¡¯t be able to leave their mariage. As for the rtionship between Miley¡¯s best friend and Frederick, whether she was the other woman, was still up for investigation. But he wasn¡¯t nning on sharing his findings with Frederick at this time. After all, things had to be done one at a time, right? Marguerite didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. As she was about to leave, Frederick blocked her way with his body, ¡°Anything you don¡¯t want to mention in the statement, you can say. I will do my utmost to protect your rights.¡± Marguerite looked up at him, a faint smile on her face, one that held a trace of resignation, ¡°Write it as you please, I have no reservations.¡± In her eyes, her rtionship with Frederick was already in the dark, let alone the child in her womb. Her two biggest secrets were about to be made public, what else couldn¡¯t be mentioned? In Frederick¡¯s eyes, there was an emotion that Marguerite couldn¡¯t read, ¡°Marguerite, I know you¡¯re not feeling well, but there¡¯s no better way to handle this right now.¡± Marguerite stared back at him, and suddenly saw a hint of worry in his eyes. Yes, she was distressed, and Frederick probably wasn¡¯t faring much better. The whole thing started because of her, it was the child in her womb that led to today¡¯s situation. She even believed that Frederick must hate her to the core, not only having to admit to the public that the illegitimate child in her womb was his, but also dying the divorce. Marguerite let out a light sigh, a look of self-me on her face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He frowned, his eyes full of sorrow, ¡°Why apologize?¡± Marguerite confessed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you admit that the child in my womb is yours.¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick¡¯s mind was in turmoil. He paused, wanting to say something, but held back. At this moment, the PR team member who was drafting the statement turned around, ¡°Mr. Winston, the statement is ready. Please review it, if it¡¯s okay then we¡¯ll send it out.¡± Frederick instinctively pulled Marguerite over, ¡°Take a look.¡± Marguerite walked over to theputer, a few simple lines that made her eyes sting. One had to admit, the biggest characteristic of a PR firm was their ability to spin tales out of thin air. Ten minutes ago, they knew nothing of her rtionship with Frederick, yet in a short time, they were able to paint a picture of a loving couple. No wonder she had seen numerous celebrities rebound their reputations overnight after scandalous news broke. No need to guess, it was all thanks to the PR firm. ¡°Any problems?¡± Frederick asked for Marguerite¡¯s opinion. Marguerite snapped back to reality and looked at him, trying to focus, ¡°No problem, send it as it is. I have nothing to add.¡± The second statement was quickly released, causing an expected uproar amongst the public. Netizens spected about who Marguerite was, and how she managed to snag the renowned billionaire. Some said she was a socialite, others a celebrity, in any case, her identity was demonized by the public. Five minutes after the statement was released, Yuna had a mishap. Zoe called Frederick, her voice unusually anxious, ¡°Mr. Winston, what¡¯s going on with the statement online? Yuna¡¯s so upset she¡¯s sent to the hospital!¡± Chapter 234 Half an hourter, in the VIP ward of Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. Yuma was lytig on the hospital bed, her face pale, her eyes half-closed, looking particrly weak. The doctor stepped forward to check the IV bag, then turned to Chuck, ¡°If she hadn¡¯te in time, the baby would have been lost. Ms. Lockwood¡¯s health is delicate, and the baby¡¯s heartbeat is unstable. You must not let her get upset!¡± Chuck threw a worried nce at Frederick, then wiped his forehead, ¡°Understood.¡± After the doctor left, Chuck saw Frederick sitting by Yuna¡¯s bed and respectfully said to him, ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯ll go and get Ms. Yuna¡¯s hospital paperwork sorted.¡± Frederick nodded slightly, his hand gently adjusting the cover around her neck. It was then that Yuna opened her eyes. *Freddie¡­ Yuna weakly called his name. Frederick¡¯s emotions were mixed, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll stay with me, won¡¯t you?¡± Frederick¡¯s lips were tightly sealed, unsure of how to respond, he simply said, ¡°Rest, don¡¯t think too much.¡± Yuna nodded slightly, her gaze fell on Zoe, as if to remind her. Zoe cleared her throat, and with purpose, asked, ¡°Mr Winston, what¡¯s this about the statement online? Weren¡¯t you about to divorce Marguerite? Why make it public now? Don¡¯t you know how much this hurts Yuna¡­¡± Frederick¡¯s warning nce silenced Zoe immediately. Yuna quickly grabbed Frederick¡¯s hand, her voice full of plea, ¡°Freddie, don¡¯t be angry with my mom. She¡¯s just trying to stand up for me. If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, I won¡¯t force you.¡± Of course, he didn¡¯t want to talk about it. He didn¡¯t have to report to the Lockwood family. But Yuna was in the hospital because of him, he owed her an exnation. ¡°Marguerite is tied to thepany¡¯s interests. I did this to protect thepany¡¯s reputation¡± Yuna bit her lip, looking at him with probing eyes, ¡°What about the child in her belly? Is that also linked to thepany? Why did you acknowledge her bastard as your own?¡± Did he know something she didn¡¯t? As Yuna continued to question, Frederick grew more annoyed. ¡°This has nothing to do with you. It¡¯s not something you need to worry about.¡± What kind of answer was that? But judging from his reaction, it didn¡¯t seem like what she had thought. Yuna breathed a sigh of relief, her tearful eyes ready to spill, ¡°Freddie, how can I not worry? If you acknowledge her bastard, then what about me? You¡¯re the father of my child¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, I will marry you, and I will. You don¡¯t need to keep dwelling on this. Take care of yourself, don¡¯t think about things you shouldn¡¯t. don¡¯t ask about things you shouldn¡¯t.¡± Seeing that Frederick was about to lose his temper, Zoe immediately reached under the covers and pinched Yuna, who reluctantly shut her mouth The night was getting deeper. The Ablett couple had returned to Diamond Crest Estates, while Frederick stayed in the hospital. Seeing Yuna¡¯s eyes drooping, he quietly left the room and stood at the end of the corridor, a cigarette glowing faintly in his fingers. Because of the child, he had no choice but to bring Yuna home, but he was not willing. The fact that he didn¡¯t love her was a secondary reason. The key was, this woman was nothing like the girl from his memories fifteen years ago. Back then, the girl cherished the locket ne so much, she made him remember the shape of the locket so he could find her. But for Yuna, it was just a piece of jewelry Frederick suddenly thought of the first time they met, he put the ne he found at Regal Haven Hotel on Yuna¡¯s neck, but she looked at it with unfamiliarity. Frederick hesitated. it the truth was as the Lockwood family imed, that Yuna had been wearing the locket ne since she was three, then where did het unfamiliaritye from? Fredenck tell that something was off the more he thought about it. Chapter 235 The following morning at the Winston Group¡¯s headquarters Reporters had been taking out thepany building ao Marquerite, not daring to take the bus and still in possession of Robert¡¯s convertble, decided to take his car She deliberately drove to the underground parking lot, making overal sounds to throw off any reporters. Before she could get more than a few steps away from the car, she was stopped by a man who looked like a butler Marguerite looked up and Instantly recognized the face. it was the butler from the Winston Mansion! He was the one who had taken her and Frederick to the hospital that day ¡°Good to see you again, Ms. Lockwood. My name is Hammond, but you can call me whatever you like,¡± he greeted her cordially Marguerite frowned, ¡°And why should I care about your name?¡± ¡°Well, you might want to remember it. After all, we¡¯ll be seeing a lot of each other¡± Hammond finished with a smile, but the pressure in his eyes was unmistakable. He took a step back, bowed slightly, and opened the back door of the sleek Mercedes-Benz behind him. ¡°Ms Lockwood, the master would like to see you Ever since those two statements had been releasedst night, Marguerite knew that this wasing. Either Yuna or Powell, no matter which one, wouldn¡¯t make things easy for her. Marguerite was prepared. Without batting an eye, she got into the back seat of the car and left with Hammond. The car drove into the Winston estate in no time, and Marguerite was led into the mansion by Hammond. Past the entrance, Powell was sitting on a grand armchair in the middle of the living room, still gripping that familiar cane. To her surprise, Lisette and Jocelyn were also present. Lisette, as the first wife, was sitting leisurely on the sofa next to Powell, admiring her freshly manicured nails. Jocelyn, the second wife, was standing alongside the servants, a stark contrast to her usual status. The atmosphere was tense and serious, making Marguerite feel as if she¡¯d stepped back in time to the empire era. But where was Maurice? Why wasn¡¯t he present at such an asion? He must be displeased. After all, he had plotted and schemed to bring down Frederick, and just when victory seemed within his grasp, those two statements had turned the tide. Then again, it was odd. Maurice had been back for quite a while, even setting up apany andunching new products, but Marguerite had yet to meet him face-to-face. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re here for a sightseeing tour? Standing without poise, sitting without grace, do you really think you¡¯re fit to enter the Winston family doors? Ridiculous!¡± Powell mmed his cane on the floor, his features twisted in anger. Marguerite didn¡¯t flinch, ¡°Mr. Powell, I don¡¯t want to enter your household either. But I had no choice, Hammond brought me here, I had toe.¡± ¡°You.¡± Marguerite knew exactly what Powell was implying, but he probably didn¡¯t expect her to brush it off so casually. Her carefree demeanor only seemed to infuriate him further. ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re stepping out of line!¡± Powell roared, his voice resonating through the room. ¡°Take a good look at yourself, your appearance, your character, your values-none of them are worthy of Frederick! He¡¯s been bewitched by you, even daring to admit that the child you¡¯re carrying is his!¡± Lisette opened her eyes and nced at Marguerite, who was looking at Jocelyn. Through Jocelyn¡¯s eyes, Marguerite knew that she had failed to appease Powell. Marguente regretted listening to Jocelyn and releasing the second statement. Jocelyn had promised to handle the Winston family, and Marguerite had naively believed her. But now, things seemed even moreplicated. Despite being Powell¡¯s second wife, why was she standing with the servants? In such a humility condition, she was barely managing to get a word in Marquente forced a sinde, ¡°Mr. Powell, if you hadn¡¯t favored Maurice and funded hispany, and if he hadn¡¯t brought up the incident about Fred Chapter 236 What the hell are you implying, Missy?¡± Powell growled, punctuating each word. Marguerite blinked, ¡°Just as I said, Mr. Powell. No hidden meanings.¡± Lisette, idly resting her arms, crossed them over her chest, looking down on Marguerite from her lofty position. ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t you dare drag Maurice into this. If you¡¯re dreaming of bing thedy of our house, you¡¯d best leave Maurice out of it.¡± Lisette¡¯s gaze was cool and unnerving, but Marguerite didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Lisette, it¡¯s clear that Maurice¡¯spany recing Frederick¡¯s partnership with Grandeur Square Mall was under your help, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Even though all the photos on her phone were mysteriously deleted, she¡¯d caught Lisette red-handed on a secret rendezvous with Gat. Why should she be afraid? What she didn¡¯t expect, however, was Lisette suddenly rising from her chair, striding up to her, and pping her across the face. The sudden assault left Marguerite stunned, as did Powell and Jocelyn. Quickly reacting, Jocelyn stepped in front of Marguerite, shielding her from Lisette. ¡°Lisette, Marguerite may be blunt, but you have no right toy a hand on our younger generation.¡± Lisette ignored Jocelyn¡¯s pleas, pointing at Marguerite furiously. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of your nonsense, Marguerite!¡± Touching her burning cheek, Marguerite noted the sting and numbness in her teeth. If not for the audience, she was sure Lisette would¡¯vended a heavier blow. But she knew Lisette wouldn¡¯t dare go too far. The p was meant to silence her, to keep her from spilling the beans about Lisette¡¯s affair. Regaining herposure, Marguerite asked, ¡°Lisette, this is our first formal meeting, isn¡¯t it? What grudge do you have against me? Or have we met elsewhere before?¡± Just as Lisette was about tosh out again, a stern voice rang out, silencing them all. ¡°Enough! Everyone, shut up!¡± Lisette¡¯s arm froze mid-air. She nced at Powell and reluctantly dropped her arm. Turning to Marguerite, Powell narrowed his eyes. ¡°Who do you think you are? When did Frederick and Maurice¡¯s business be your concern? How my corporation expands, who I registerpanies with, how does it concern you?¡± Marguerite knew Powell was angry, but she didn¡¯t care. Lisette¡¯s p had left her feeling off-kilter. ¡°Is it not rted to me, then why am I here today? Is it just because of the baby I¡¯m carrying? Let me tell you, Mr. Powell, the only reason LuxeScents International survived was because Frederick acknowledged our child! If you want to help Maurice, that¡¯s your business, but Frederick isn¡¯t so easily reced. If you¡¯ve got any tricks up your sleeve, feel free to y them. As long as Frederick doesn¡¯t divorce me, I¡¯m his wife. No matter what happens, I¡¯ll face it with him.¡± Marguerite¡¯s words only served to infuriate Powell further. ¡°Do you think you can just waltz into the Winston family? You think you can handle everything for Frederick? You¡¯re the one who messed up Maurice¡¯s business! Let me tell you, if Maurice canpete with Frederick this month, he can rece him next month! If you¡¯re counting on Frederick to get into the Winstons, you¡¯ve got another thinging.¡± Unfazed, Marguerite looked straight at Powell and retorted, ¡°Well, who else would I rely on? Surely not Maurice.¡± Chapter 237 If anyone had told Marguerite that she would ever have the audacity to speak to Powell in such a manner, she would have thought them delusional. She always med herself for the worsening rtionship between Powell and Frederick, even devising ways to mend it. But today, she realized that Powell was unequivocally biased. Powell¡¯s support for Maurice wouldn¡¯t shift to Frederick even if she disappeared. He was determined to have Maurice, his legitimate son, rece Frederick, and there was no reasoning behind it. Just like how she and Yuna were both Zoe¡¯s children, yet Zoe wished her disaster. Parental favoritism never needed a reason. Lisette, who had been standing nearby, couldn¡¯t hold back her anger upon hearing Marguerite¡¯s words. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve developed the courage of a lion, setting your sights on our Maurice. I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± Lisette seized an opportune moment to p Marguerite, but Jocelyn quickly grabbed her wrist, ¡°Stop it, Lisette! She¡¯s pregnant!¡± ¡°Oh, so you want her to be your daughter-inw, Jocelyn? You might be okay with her bastard child, but we, the Winstons, certainly arent!¡± Lisette, livid, grabbed Jocelyn by the cor, ¡°So you¡¯re taking her side now? Fine, you can take the p for her!¡± Marguerite knew trouble was brewing. Before she could react, Lisette had already raised her hand and pped Jocelyn across the face. The p was much harder than any she would have given Marguerite. Marguerite felt a knot in her stomach and a pang in her heart. The frequency of Lisette¡¯s violence and Jocelyn¡¯s eptance was clear from their reactions. Yet Powell sat there, coldly watching. Infuriated, Marguerite stepped forward and shielded Jocelyn. She could tolerate being hit herself, but assaulting Jocelyn was uneptable! She turned to Powell, ¡°Mr. Powell, I ept the punishment of my actions. But what about Jocelyn? She gave up everything to be with you, and now she¡¯s being abused by your wife. Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡± Powell gripped his cane tightly, seething, ¡°Marguerite, I am warning you, you have no say in Winston family matters!¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot! When Jocelyn had Frederick, it was against her will, right? You were irresponsible when you were young, and now even more so in your old age?¡± Her words stoked Powell¡¯s fury to its peak, terrifying Jocelyn. Seeing Powell advancing towards Marguerite with his cane, Jocelyn quickly pushed Marguerite towards the door, ¡°Stop talking nonsense and leave!¡± Marguerite was frustrated, ¡°Lisette hit you, and I can¡¯t stand it! Why don¡¯t you fight back?¡± Jocelyn sighed, ¡°I¡¯m used to it.¡± Marguerite grabbed Jocelyn¡¯s wrist, ¡°Come with me! He doesn¡¯t love you, why do you stay and tolerate the abuse? Come live with us at the estate. Frederick still controls the Winston Group, I don¡¯t believe he can¡¯t protect you.¡± Powell never considered Frederick and Jocelyn as family. His sole purpose was to pave the way for Maurice. Why couldn¡¯t they unite against the Winston family? Jocelyn patted Marguerite¡¯s hand, ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re oversimplifying things. Don¡¯t worry about me, stop talking nonsense and leave.¡± As Jocelyn spoke, she pushed Marguerite out of the door and turned back towards the vi. Marguerite kept turning back, only to see Lisette, triumphant, closing the door before Jocelyn could enter. Marguerite suspected Lisette had wanted to kick Jocelyn out long ago but had been waiting for the right moment. With everything in her favor now, how could she not seize the opportunity? Jocelyn stood still for a moment. Marguerite noticed her shoulders shudder slightly, as if sighing. Turning around with a wistful smile, she said, ¡°Well, there you have it, I have to leave now, whether I like it or not.¡± Chapter 238 og to get out of the turbulent Winston family was a mason for Marguerite to celebrate woldt behind by Licette anymore argente affectionately took Jocelyn¡¯s arm, Jocelyn, let¡¯s hall & cal. What would you like for dinner? I have Sadde prepare ¡°baby car is parked just doide the estate we can walk Jocelyn tapped Marguerite head with her index finger ¡°What am I going Tone Meng despate all this Marguerite culted her cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re not going to be bullied by Lisette anymore, of course, I¡¯m happy¡± Do you think Lte and Powell wit let this go so easily? You¡¯ve stirred up my house, and they won¡¯t let you off so easily Marquerta stvugoed. Let¡¯s cross that bridge when we get to i By the time they finished taking, they had already left the estate. Jocelyn¡¯s car wasn¡¯t as luxurious as Marguerite had imagined. It was a second hand car parked under a massive free cutside the estates Marguento was taken aback, ¡°Towell only gave you this old car Jocelyn sighed, ¡°I bought the car myself Frederick had bought me a top-of the-range Maybach, but Powell thought it was too shy He said that I th¨¢nh have any status, driving such a nice car would only attract gossip. To keep him happy I secretly bought a second hand car That was ard was natural for rich people to drive toury cars, especially since the car was bought by Frederick How could she not drive t was clear that Powel was based, using maniptive tactics on Jocely ¡°Dies Fredenck know? Marguerite asked, visibly upset. Jocelyn shook her head how could let him know? Heid get into a fight with his father if he found out. And it would be ufortable for me stuck in the muddie Marguerite was unhappy hearing this. Seeing Jocelyn in such a state, she took the car keys from her and walked to the driver¡¯s side, ¡°¡°Jocelyn, drive. You rest Marguere was puzzied. Despite living in the top wealthy family for so many years, Jocelyn¡¯s lifestyle was barely better than whley 3 ¨¤ nouveau fiche. At least Miey had a BMX unlike Jocelyn who couldn¡¯t voice her opinion in her family and even had the lowest quality of the Let¡¯s go to the apartment Jocelyn broke the sience Marguerite turned to her ¡°y? Aven¡¯t you staying with us? Pawel knows where my apartment is Fm afraid he¡¯lle looking for me.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s voice was calm, dextrd of any emotions, leaving Marguerite perplexed Powel watched as Jocelyn was bullied yet he remained silent, How could such a man possibly want her back? *Jocelyn, i don¡¯t understand Tone, Powel doesn¡¯t seem to love you. Why are you so devoted to han Joey smiled faintly. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because i love ham is ny life, apart from Powell, there is only Federick have no other options,¡± you would give up everything for him?? wes muffed, as if she were sulking at she could never reach Jocelyit? state of mind to love someone so much to disregard everything, even if it meant teng a haset Hine day Fick asked her to be his mistress while T remained his wife, he would definitely wap han be que bue cant fix strayed M¨¢ty¨¢ska krunej Beden an was the in the top her pred like fuw kiederick bared Yuna and minist (Rynse such 4 ouvintes suggestion ta vind? sara quaeri at the spermani Bunding, but put so thay din Miles vallend Marguerite stafa Miley peli Marjasta: viny va jud kis name beton ka re About Eisette? Did the photos on her phone get restored? Marguerite quickly made up her mind, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there¡± Marguerite hung up the call, turned to Jocelyn, ¡°Jocelyn, can i borrow your car for a bit? I¡¯ll return it to you in a while.¡± Jocelyn nodded, unbuckling her sesibelt she quietly anld, ¡°Drive safely¡± Marguerite watched Jocelyn enter the apartment building, then immediately headed to Miley¡¯s ce. n She had barely caught her breath upon entering when My excitedly tossed a stack of photos in front of her, ¡°Isn¡¯t this explosive? Lisette and Gat were in a hotel room with the curtains wide open!¡± Chapter 239 Marqui me stared at the photos, her face reddening, ¡°Where did you get these?¡± Your phone isn¡¯t going to be fixed anytime soon and I didn¡¯t want you to wait impatiently I figured since Lisette has an affair with Gat, it¡¯s not just About kosing So I got the Winston family¡¯s address. I went there yesterday and watched them for a while. Once Lisette stepped out, I followed and you wouldn¡¯t believe how easily I got these shots!¡± The photos were explicit, as expl cr; as they could get Marguerite turned to Miley. ¡°How tid you get these? These are crystal clear¡± ¡°What do you think my job is? I¡¯m, a private investigator Binocrs, high-powered DSLR, I used everything that could be helpful. If I couldn¡¯t yet these would have been a stap in my face Marguerite swiftly shuffled through the photos, she had thought that Lisette was just hooking up with Gat momentarily to pave the way for Maurice Now seemed, it wasn¡¯t that simple. They must have been maintaining a long-term rtionship, otherwise why would Gat choose to cooperate with Fragrance Finesse, even if it meant offending Frederick? Marguerite suddenly dropped the photos, looking up at Miley, ¡°Do you know any hackers who could infiltrate Fragrance Finesse¡¯s official website?¡± Miley was shocked, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of posting these photos on Fragrance Finesse Ltd.¡¯s official website, are you?¡± Mate nodded, rot saying a word. However, Miley instantly denied Marguerite¡¯s idea, ¡°Maurice¡¯spany is so big, do you think an average hacker could break in? You¡¯d be better off handing these photos to Mr. Winston!¡± The trought of Frederick made Marguerite¡¯s face fill with disdain: ¡°Not even two minutes after the announcementst night, Yuna fell ill. He¡¯s probably going to be running to the hospital every day. It¡¯s better not to bother him. I¡¯ll find someone to release the photos¡± ¡°Arent you afraid Lisette will cause trouble if you release these photos?¡± ¡°1 can¡¯t worry about that now. Jocelyn took a p for me today, my heart aches for her. I don¡¯t want her to suffer anymore, I want to help her.¡± Lisette is Maurice¡¯s mother, a fact known to all As long as these photos were made public, Fragrance Finesse would definitely be hit hard, and Lisette¡¯s days in the Winston family wouldn¡¯t be good either. Marguerite supposed, by then Powell would remember how good Jocelyn was! Hearing this, Miley put away the photos, I¡¯ll help you!¡± ¡°I know what to do, I don¡¯t want to drag you into this again.¡± Miley rolled her eyes, not hiding her disagreement with Marguerite, ¡°You know what to do? Just find aputer and post these photos?¡± Marguerite blinked, looking innocent, ¡°What else?¡± ¡°Are you stupid? They can trace you through your IP address! Don¡¯t forget what I do, I¡¯m a private investigator! I know how to anonymously distribute the photos, don¡¯t worry.¡± Miley gathered all the photos from the table. Marguerite didn¡¯t stay any longer and drove Jocelyn¡¯s second-hand car back to the apartment to return it It was noon. Marguerite bought some ready-made food at the bottom of the apartment building and went upstairs. She knocked on the door, only to find Frederick standing in front of her ¡°Why are you here?¡± she blurted out. ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here?¡± Marguerite went silent. Was she crazy? This was Jocelyn¡¯s apartment, it couldn¡¯t have been more normal for Frederick to be here. ¡°No, didn¡¯t you go to the hospitalst night? I thought you¡¯d be with Yuna at this time¡± As soon as she finished speaking, a pair of strong arms suddenly reached over, fingers with pronounced knuckles gently pinching her chin. Marguerite instinctively dodged, and Frederick directly pulled her into the entrance, ¡°Don¡¯t move, let me see your face.¡± Chapter 240 Marquerna stole a nce inside the room, noticing Jocelyn bustling about the dining table, she said nothing. Had she spilled the beans about today¡¯s events to Frederick? if so, Marguerite wasn¡¯t about to hold anything back either. She looked at Frederick with a hurt expression, ¡°Lisette was too harsh. Stop staring at me, go check on your mom.¡± Frederick¡¯s handsome fotot bry, his sharp eyes shing with a dangerous light, ¡°She hit my mom too?¡± Marguerite was confused, ¡®What What was going un? ed Jocelyn only talk about Marguerite being hurt? Realizing that Marguerite had blurted out more than intended, Jocelyn rushed to intercept Frederick as he turned to leave, car keys in hand. ¡°Yes, she hit ine, but I fought back too. I wasn¡¯tpletely defenseless. You should focus on Marguerite.¡± Jocelyn said. What was all this about? Marguerite was truly baffled by Jocelyn¡¯s behavior. Jocelyn had already told Frederick abou: her being bullied. Why not reveal the whole truth? Frederick was more than capable of protecting her, so why was Jocelyn trying to pacify the situation with lies? Could Jocelyn actually fight back? From head to toe, she exuded the aura of a docile housewife. How could she possibly stand up against Lisette? Marguerce was getting anxious. ¡°Jocelyn, you¡­ Joslyn shot Marguerite a desperate look, signaling her to stop talking. Marguerite,pletely bewildered, blinked back at Jocelyn. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Frederick¡¯s tall figure cast a shadow over Marguerite, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your eyes?¡± Marguerite swallowed, ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s just a cramp¡­¡± Frederick was speechless. Quickly, Jocelyn fetched an ice pack and relieved Marguerite of the bag of groceries she was holding. Turning to Frederick, she said, ¡°Last night when you and Marguerite went public, your father has been holding a grudge. If you rush over now, it¡¯ll only add fuel to the fire. Don¡¯t worry about me. I can take care of myself.¡± ¡°Is he upset over Marguerite and me, or because LuxeScents International weathered the storm?¡± Jocelyn hesitated, her mouth opening but no wordsing out immediately, as if deep in thought. Marguerite¡¯s arrival that morning had led Powell to reveal the truth in a fit of rage. Jocelyn felt a cold chill, but also a sense of understanding. She knew that the rtionship between Powell and Frederick wasn¡¯t something she could mend on her own. His favoritism had nothing to do with anyone else. Therefore, Jocelyn had no intention of hiding anything, ¡°Thetter.¡± Frederick scoffed, he had already suspected as much. Jocelyn sighed, ¡°I no longer hold out hope for any progress between you and your father. But the sess of Winston Group is all thanks to your hard work. It¡¯s yours, hold onto it tightly. Don¡¯t let Maurice get ahead. I won¡¯t stop you if you want to get revenge, just not now. Right now, your main objective should be to stabilize thepany and protect Marguerite. Your father won¡¯t let her off that easily.¡± Having said that, she shoved the ice pack into Frederick¡¯s hands, nced at Marguerite, and added, ¡°I¡¯ll go make dinner. You help her with the ice pack. Look at her swollen face, if you don¡¯t feel sorry for her, I do.¡± If you don¡¯t feel sorry for her, I do¡­ Those words nearly brought tears to Marguerite¡¯s eyes. She had no idea that Jocelyn could be so warm towards her Just like a mother Tears welled up in Marguerite¡¯s eyes as Frederick gently pushed her onto the couch and ced the cold ice pack on her cheek. She sniffled, and then heard him whisper softly. ¡°Did it hurt?¡± Chapter 241 Morgu, na shook her head, her voice tinged with a whine. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Why are you crying if it doesn¡¯t hurt?¡± Marguerite puffed out her chicks, her gaze falling on Jocelyn¡¯s retreating figure. She retorted stubbornly, I¡¯m not crying, I didn¡¯t even shed a tear¡± Frederick followed her gaze and -huckled, ¡°So, you like my mom?¡± Marguerite turned her gute back i Frederick, nodding earnestly. ¡°Yes¡± ¡°How much do you like hei?¡± ¡°Very much,¡± Marguerite furrowed her brows, noticing that Frederick was acting differently today. ¡°Why are you talking nonsense today?¡± Why to exin about liking someone? Frederick¡¯s face got gloomy, and he unceremoniously shoved an ice pack into Marguerite¡¯s hands. ¡°Ice it yourself.¡± Marguerite was confused. What did she do to make him angry? After icing her injury for a while, Jocelyn beckoned them to the dining table. Jocelyn was a great cook. In under an hour, she had whipped up a meal that smells quite good. She served Marguerite a bowl of chicken soup, and a te of steak and roasted vegetables, ¡°Eat some carrots and cabbage. They help prevent constipation, during pregnancy¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes widened as she gazed at Jocelyn. ¡°Mom.¡± Frederick, who had been silent, finally spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re at dinner¡± Jocelyn cracked a smile, her eyes squinting until they resembled crescents. ¡°Right, right. I just noticed Marguerite only eating meat and not vegetables, so I couldn¡¯t help but remind her.¡± Jocelyn sat across from them, her elbow propped up on the table as she watched them, not picking up her cutlery. ¡°Marguerite, I haven¡¯t cooked in three years. I hope it suits your taste.¡± Marguerite nodded vigorously. ¡°It¡¯s delicious. Both the carrots and cabbage are great. Jocelyn, did you cook for years?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s smile widened at thepliment. ¡°Yes. When Frederick and I were driven out and lived in the countryside for a while. He was young then, and I was worried about his nutrition, so I tried all sorts of ways to cook for him.¡± ¡°You lived in the countryside?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jocelyn seemed ready to open up to Marguerite, but before she could continue, Frederick¡¯s cautious voice interrupted. ¡°Mom.¡± Jocelyn paused, quickly regaining herposure. ¡°Never mind, never mind. If you don¡¯t want to hear it, I won¡¯t say it.¡± Marguerite had heard gossip about Jocelyn and Frederick being driven out of the Winston family, but she never knew they had lived in the countryside. Marguerite remembered when she was very young, she had met a mother and son on a snowy night. They were starving and looked pitiful, but their manners and demeanor were clearly those of the upper ss. Thinking about this, Marguerite studied Jocelyn with a thoughtful gaze. Although more than a decade had passed and her memory was fading, she felt that Jocelyn¡¯s demeanor was very simr to the woman she met that night. They were bothdies of a prestigious family, gentle and soft-spoken. ¡°Jocelyn, do you want to return to the Winston family?¡± Jocelyn nced at Frederick nervously, as if worried he would be upset, and simply nodded in response. Marguerite thought of Lisette¡¯s photos. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a feeling you¡¯ll be able to return soon¡± Jocelyn looked at Marguerite andughed. ¡°What are you up to?¡± Marguerite grinned but stayed silent. Frederick nudged Marguerite with his elbow. ¡°Behave yourselftely. If you want to go crazy, don¡¯t drag my mom into it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not crazy¡± Marguerite shot Frederick a disgruntled look, then quickly picked up a piece of roast beef and ced it in Jocelyn¡¯s te ¡°Jocelyn, you should eat too. Don¡¯t just watch me.¡± num. i¡¯st when it¡¯s ready¡± Jocelyn looked at Frederick, her gaze incredibly tender. Frederick, serve Marguerite warming as if a sun had taken residence within it. eyn was such onderful person. How wonderful life would be every day arxan like th? could bring her grandes along, it ould be even better. The day afte arguerite left Jocelyn¡¯s apartm Chapter 242 tos of Lisette having an affair were spread online by Miley. When she tried to get the news on herputer, the envire inte seemed to be in a state of paralysis,pletely unresponsive. Miley quickly sert a few screenshots of the onlinements to Marguerite. The inte users were feuding intensely and Marguerite found it rather amusing. Many people were saying that Maurice managing to establish himself so quickly in Stonebridge City could not only contributed to Powell¡¯s support, but also his mother¡¯s romantic liaisons. Marguerite quickly checked the stock market to see Fragrance Finesse Ltd¡¯s performance. It was miserable with the market value probably going to drop by nearly half. But the most miserable part of it was Powell being cheated. Once the reputation damaged, even Lisette being the daughter of high society couldn¡¯t turn things around. At lunch, Marguerite went to thepany cafeteria and found that everyone was discussing the scandal. Rumors were that Fragrance Finesse¡¯s partnership with Grandeur Square Mall had been terminated. The investors who had previously invested in th m were now flocking to LuxeScents International. There was even a foreign mallrger than Grandeur Square Mall seeking to enter the domestic market and wanted to sign an exclusive agreement with LuxeScents International. As Marguerite ate her lunch, she was secretly delighted. Then she received even better news. Jocelyn sent her a text: [Marguerite, Powell took me back. My car is parked downstairs, the keys in the shoe cab at the entrance. When you have time,e and take it. No need to take the bus anymore.] The situation was developing in a positive direction. Looking at Jocelyn¡¯s words, Marguerite suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction. Lisette had arrogantly chased Jocelyn out of the old house like a victorious general. Seeing Powell take Jocelyn back now, her mood was probably worse than eating a fly. After lunch, Marguerite returned to her office. She had just sat down when her phone rang She pulled it out and saw that it was the mysterious man who had been missing for a long time. Calling her at this critical moment, it was hard for Marguerite not to overthink. She hesitated and then answered the call, not saving anything Immediately. The metallic voice quickly came through the phone, ¡°Marguerite. I warn you, take down the photos immediately!¡± Every time he spoke, his voice was processed, emotionless like a robot. But today, Marguerite could hear his frustration. Then Marguerite started to feel a bit dizzy. Didn¡¯t Miley tell her that she could spread these things out without anyone knowing? Chapter 243 How did he know that she was the one responsible for the photos? Was everything she did under his control? Never mind. Since he had already traced it back to her, she was toozy to y games with him. ¡°Who are you? Are you Maurice?¡± ¡°What does it matter who I am? I¡¯m telling you, Marguerite, if you insist on doing this, I will make everyone around you leave one by one. Your grandmother, your best friend, even Frederick.¡± People are always afraid of the unknown, and the mysterious man was just that to Marguerite. She was in the light while he was in the dark. She had never seen him, didn¡¯t know his goals or his thoughts. Even the matter of him wanting her to marry Frederick, she still didn¡¯t understand why. Thinking about it, Marguerite felt a chill. The mysterious man¡¯s voice came through again, ¡°Marguerite, aren¡¯t you going to back down?¡± 12.50 chapter Their conver lon didntst long. In fact, ther bus man didn¡¯t give Marguerite a chance to resist at all. She was no longer the fearless Marguerita from two months ago. Now, she had her grandmother and she had fallen in love with Frederick, both of whom were her weak spots. She had no idea how powerful this mysterious man was. Maybe he was just tuffing, but Marguerite still felt threatened. She immediately had Miley take down the online photo after hanging up the call. When she reopened the webpage, everything was peaceful. But so what? Her goal had been achieved Jocelyn had returned to the old house, and Fragrance Finesse was severely damaged. That was enough. At this moment, Frederick walked in, his eyes fixed on her without blinking, ¡°Have you had enough?¡± Marguerite was confused. ¡°Don¡¯t y innocent, the photo.¡± Marguerite felt a bit downcast. Why did everyone know it was her who did it? Marguerite¡¯s face was emotionless, but the loss in her eyes was impossible to hide. ¡°I didn¡¯t leave any trace¡­ Are you mad?¡± Frederick stood in front of her, hands in his pockets, his demeanor bing softer, ¡°Marguerite, how did I never notice before that you are so troublesome? Can¡¯t you stop causing problems?¡± ¡°You think this is causing problems? The market value of Fragrance Finesse has shrunk by nearly half, all the vendors havee to you, and that mall How was it causing problems? It was obviously a great help. Frederick watched Marguerite getting upset, and he felt a tug at his heartstrings. Had he been too harsh and frightened the woman in front of him? Frederick tapped his nose, cleared his throat, and asked softly. ¡°Is that why you did it?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Marguerite instinctively nodded, but she was afraid Frederick would see through her, so she quickly shook her head, ¡°Notpletely. Mainly it was because of Jocelyn, and¡­ and to punish Fragrance Finesse by the way.¡± Frederick raised an eyebrow, ¡°by the way?¡± ¡°Yes, by the way.¡± Marguerite was sure of her answer and looked up to meet his gaze, ¡°So did I really cause you trouble?¡± Frederick looked deeply at her, suddenly unsure how to respond. Truthfully, what Marguerite had done had improved thepany¡¯s performance in the short term, but at the same time, it had put her in a more dangerous situation. Her opponents were the entire Winston family ¨C Lisette, Maurice, even Powell, None of them would let her off easily This foolish woman was always thinking of ers, unaware of the trouble she¡¯d brought upon herself. He would have to stay by her side at all times from now on. Marguerite was still gazing at him, seemingly desperate for an answer Frederick felt a moment of tenderness. He wanted to step forward and stroke her hair, but he held back He gave a faint smile, ¡°Since it¡¯s already done, don¡¯t overthink it. Let¡¯s go to the hospital¡± The hospital? Was he nning to take her to see Yuna? Why? Marguerite couldn¡¯t figure it out She felt a lump in her throat and her tone was naturally a bit sharp. 7 wont go Frederick softened his tone. Please Marguerite was confused, ¡°Arent you afraid I¡¯ll start a fight with Yuna at the hospital?¡± He was afraid, of course he was But Frederick had no choice He was warned about the Winston familying after her and didn¡¯t feelfortable leaving Marguerite alone in the office Though he was worried about her, his words came out differently ¡°We¡¯ve already gone public with our rtionship if someone saw me meeting Yuna alone, it would cause problems. But as long as you are there everything can be exined¡± Got it. Chapter 244 This guy has relegated her as a tool. Marguerite was bitter about it, but what could she do? Everyone knew she was Frederick¡¯s wife. Would it be eptable if she refused to cooperate with him? She was reminded of the numerous couples in Hollywood who, despite have been apart, continued to y the part of a loving couple in publie because their interests were intertwined. Compared to them, Marguerite realized she was not so open-minded. They could act affectionately in public and be indifierent in private. She simply couldn¡¯t do that Slowly, she rose from her seat, grabbed her purse and walked out. Frederick watched her retreating figure, hesitated for a few moments, and then followed The weather wasn¡¯t very good that day. It was already summer and the rain was frequent. The sky was a brooding grey, and it seemed like it could start raining at any moment. Frederick packed some soup and porridge from a restaurant near the hospital for Yuna, while Marguerite waited in the car Seeing hime out with a bag of food containers, she felt disconnected between the man standing in front of her and the image of him in her mind He could have easily asked Chuck to do something as mundane as ordering food, but he chose to do it himself. It was obvious he was deeply in love with Yuna. Marguerite felt a mix of emotions. Truth be told, she was sometimes jealous of Yuna. She couldn¡¯t understand why Frederick loved Yuna so much. She lived with him day in and day out, and they were married, yet she had gained nothing It was not always true that you could get advantage because of a nice position. Sometimes, she would have this sinister thought-if she took off her mask, would he feel even a little bit of affection for her? But of course, it was just a fleeting thought. Soon, they arrived at the hospital. Frederick entered Yuna¡¯s ward, and Marguerite sat on the bench outside the room. The door was left ajar, and Marguerite could not only see what was happening inside but also hear their conversation. A nurse wanted to give Yuna an IV, but she refused, her voice soft and pitiful, her teary eyes evoking sympathy ¡°Freddie, I¡¯ve had IVs for several days now, it hurts.¡± ¡°We can do itter, eat first¡± ¡°I can¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°Behave¡± ¡°Will you feed me?¡± ¡°Yuna, don¡¯t be stubborn¡± Marguerite had never seen Yuna so soft before, but she knew better than to be fooled in her memory, Yuna was the epitome of a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing Her current frail and delicate demeanor made Marguente feel nauseous Whether Frederick ended up feeding Yuna or not, Marguerite didn¡¯t know But he was soon called out by the doctor As he passed by Marguerite, he gently touched her hair and softly instructed. Dont wander off, dont make me worry¡± His tenderness made Marguerite¡¯s skin crawl Yuru did have the ability of making a man let down his guard and be gentle and Marguerite was even benefiting from her influence. Marguerite weakly lifted her eyelids to look at hum her voice devoid of emotion, ¡°Got a ¡± After he left. Marguerite felt particrly drained Conuidering the dates, whe fad been pregnant for two months. During this period, she ate a lot and slept a lot. Now, the sleepine sa eyes for a nap Marquertin y?uted, leaned aganut the wal and chased her However before the could fall asleep rungs still use echoed tium wide room, Maguerite, you bitch! Det in here now?¡± Chapter 245 Marguerite thought, ¡°Just like what I have said.¡± Marguerite revealed that Yuna is a wolf in sheep¡¯s thing. Not even a minute after Frederick left, she already dropped the act, refusing to pretend anymore. Marguerite, having no energy to argue, just sat by the doorway, unmoving. Yuna¡¯s screech soon came, ¡°Marguerite! Are you deaf? Get your ass in here now¡± Really? Yuna was cursing like a sailor. Wasn¡¯t she afraid of Frederick hearing her? ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯m telling you for thest time! Get in here now!¡± Yuna¡¯s yelling escted to a point where her voice almost broke, aggravating Marguerite with the shrill noise. Annoyed, Marguerite reluctantly got up and entered the room. ¡°Can you keep it down? You¡¯re making it seem like I¡¯ve done something horrible to you¡± Upon entering. Yuna immediately red at Marguerite, her eyes full of anger and provocation. ¡°Did you see, Marguerite? Freddie treats me so well. He feeds me, stays up with me through the night. He¡¯d never do that for you¡± She always starts with this line. Can¡¯t shee up with something new? Marguerite knew how much Frederick loved Yuna and all he did for her. But did she really have to unt it so eagerly? Marguerite couldn¡¯t deny feeling a twinge of jealousy, but she remained calm. Her characters didn¡¯t allow her to lose her cool in public. She knew Yuna¡¯s weak spot, so she calmly retorted, ¡°So what? Everyone knows I¡¯m his legally wedded wife.¡± ¡°Do you know how good Freddie is to me? He stays by my side every night, holds me as I fall asleep, and tells me jokes! He said he¡¯d give me a home. and pour all his love onto me!¡± Marguerite remained calm, ¡°So? His wife is still me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just being stubborn! You¡¯re just insanely jealous! You¡¯re nothing but a dog to us, a lowly parasite! How long do you think you can stay smug? Freddie won¡¯t love you!¡± Marguerite merely nodded and repeated, ¡°Despite all you¡¯ve said, I¡¯m still his wife¡­¡± ¡°Shut up, Marguerite!¡± Yuna cut her off before she could finish, ¡°What¡¯s the use of being his wife? He¡¯s still running to me every day! It¡¯s all just a facade! You¡¯re just a figurehead! I¡¯m the future Mrs. Winston, I am!¡± She had repeated it three times now, enough. Marguerite knew exactly what Yuna wanted. She wanted to be Mrs. Winston, Frederick¡¯s wife. Unfortunately for her, all those things were already Marguerite¡¯s. Marguerite was puzzled though. If Frederick loved her so much, why was she so desperate, always trying to assert her presence, always getting angry at the smallest things? Losing one¡¯s temper is a sign of ipetence, born out of fear of loss. Could it be that Yuna wasn¡¯t as important to Frederick as Marguerite thought? Looking at the dishevelled woman in front of her, Marguerite felt a chill. Yuna looked like a madwoman. Tired of the whole ordeal, she asked, ¡°Are you done? If you are, I¡¯m leaving.¡± As Marguerite turned to leave, Yuna lunged at her, screaming hysterically: ¡°You bitch! Stay right there! It¡¯s all your fault! If it wasn¡¯t for you, Freddie wouldn¡¯t have made your rtionship public! You¡¯re nothing but a maniptive bitch! it¡¯s you or me today!¡± Caught off guard, Marguerite was shoved onto the floor. Before she could react, she felt a kick to her stomach. Instinctively covering her belly, she managed to grab Yuna¡¯s ankle and pull, causing her to fall as well Using this opportunity, Marguerite scrambled to her feet, but Yuna lunged at her again. Marguente quickly subdued her, probably due to Yuna¡¯s weakened state from staying in the hospital for so long ¡°Can you stop it already?¡± Marguerite managed to pin Yunas hands, but Yuna escaped and picked up a fallen thermos swinging it at Marguente¡¯s head For a moment, Marguerite felt a buzzing noise in her head, her vision blurred Soon after, Frederick and a few nurses arrived Without a word, he helped Marguerite up Marguerite, feeling weak, leaned into Frederick. Her head was spinning but Yuns wice was crystal clear. Why are you grabbing me it¡¯s her She tried to kill met Lock her up! Do it now!¡± Chapter 246 Marguerite rubbed her nead, blinking several times before the world carne back into focus. It was then she realized the man holding her was a pe other than Fredericki A shiver ran down Marguerite¡¯s spine. Why was Frederick hugging her, of all people? She dreaded the thought that this scene might only infuriate Yuna further. She tried to squirm out of his arms, but Frederick pulled her back, ¡°Let¡¯s get you some first aid.¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna burst into tears, ¡°Freddie! Marguerite is trying to kill me! She wants me dead!¡± Frederick¡¯s grip on Marguerite tightened slightly, ¡°She¡¯s hurt.¡± Yuna stomped her foot in frustration, ¡°I¡¯m hurt too! I¡¯m hurt worse than she is! Look, just look!¡± Yuna rolled up her sleeve, but even after a thorough search, she could find no injuries on her arm. Marguerite had to admit, Yuna was tough. Despite their recent brawl, not a scratch could be found on her. But where was her injury? Marguerite furrowed her brows as a dull pain throbbed at the back of her head, invading her brain. She reached back to touch it, wincing at the sizable lump. Frederick guided Marguerite towards the exit, with Yuna¡¯s voice trailing behind theni, ¡°Freddie, where are you going?* Frederick turned to one of the nurses, ¡°Take good care of her, I¡¯ll be right back! ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± Frederick led Marguerite to a treatment room to tend to her injury. With no cuts to treat, they could only apply an ice pack to soothe the swelling. Marguerite sat in the cold, sterile room, letting Frederick press an ice pack to the lump. ¡°What happened?¡± Caught off guard, Marguerite didn¡¯t know how to exin. She remained silent, her face somber. One of the nurses who¡¯d followed them thought Frederick was addressing her. Without a second thought, she answered, ¡°Mr. Winston, Ms. Yuna and Ms Lockwood got into an argument, and then they started fighting.¡± Marguerite shot her a look, her tone sharp, ¡°You saw everything from outside, and you didn¡¯t think to step in?¡± The nurse shrunk back, stuttering, ¡°1¡­ I didn¡¯t dare¡­¡± Marguerite sighed. Yuna was intimidating, and this nurse, who took care of her on a daily basis, would know that better than anyone. It was understandable that she was too afraid to intervene. ¡°What did you say to her?¡± Marguerite stiffened slightly, a hint of guilt creeping into her voice, ¡°Nothing much.¡± ¡°Marguerite, Frederick¡¯s tone was a warning. Marguerite sighed deeply, forced to admit, ¡°I told her I¡¯m your wife.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Nothing else. But I repeated it three times.¡± Marguerite could feel Frederick¡¯s body go tense behind her, but she couldn¡¯t see his face to gauge his reaction. is that how you truly feel?¡± Marguerite was confused, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Do you truly consider yourself my wife?¡± Marguente felt a mix of emotions, but she stuck to her lie, ¡°Of course not. I just wanted to piss her off¡± ¡°Marguerite, you ¡°Frederick¡¯s voice trailed off, his tone a mix of frustration and disappointment After a pause, he regained hisposure. So, the hit you first? ¡°Who else? I¡¯m the one covered in bruises, she¡¯s perfectly fine¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick handed the ice pack to Marguerite and promptly headed for the exit. ¡°Stay here, I¡¯m going to have a word with her ¡± The nurse at the door looked toin. As Frederick was about to leave, she finally mustered the courage to speak up. Mr Winston, maybe it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t confront Ms. Yuna She just found out she¡¯s pregnant Her emotions are trung high, it¡¯s to be expected. If you reprimand her she might get even more upset. And then our jobs will be a bit more difficult¡± Marquente¡¯s eyes widened at the news her mind buzzng louder than when Yuna had hit her with the thermos. What did she just hear? The nurse said Yuna was pregnant ? Chapter 247 ¡°Frederick!¡± Marguerite cailed out to him, her voice trembling upon.robly. Frederick turned around stiffly, not daring to meet her eyes. Through his reaction, Marguerite understood that he probably did not want her to know about something. ¡°Is she pregnant?¡± Frederick lowered his eyes, his heart a tangled mess. He nodded silently, nottering a word. ¡°Wh¡­ when did this happen?¡± ¡°Not long ago.¡± How long is not long ago? Was it before their marriage or after? Marguerite knew the answer without pondering too much. Yuna must have found out about her pregnancy recently, otherwise, with her personality, she would have already bbed about it all around town. Marguerite felt a sudden pang in her heart. She was trying to console herself. After all, she was carrying another man¡¯s child too. What right did the ave to demand fidelity from Frederick? She understood it all too well, managing to force out an awkward smile. But her hands couldn¡¯t stop trembling. She rose and approached Frederick, her steps as light as if she was walking on cotion. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have said those things to upset her.¡± Frederick stood still, clenching his fists. He wanted to exin, but her reaction made him hesitate. If she didn¡¯t care, then what was the point in saying anything? ¡°You take care of her. I need to go home,¡± Marguerite said, about to leave when he grabbed her arm. The driver will be here soon. I don¡¯t feelfortable letting you go home alone.¡± She managed to smile and nod. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for him downstairs.¡± Marguerite practically ran out of the room, through the hall, and out to the parking lot. She couldn¡¯t keep still, using movement to distract herself from her thoughts. The sky grew darker as if a storm was about to hit any second. Thankfully, just before the rain started, the driver arrived and took her home to Sapphire Valley Estates. Back home, Laverne and Sadie were on the couch watching a TV show, eating sunflower seeds and discussing the plot. Seeing Marguerite, Sadie immediately stood up. ¡°Have you had lunch, ma¡¯am? I can heat up something for you.¡± Marguerite waved her off. ¡°I ate before I came. Don¡¯t bother.¡± She then turned to her grandmother and made a bit of small talk before heading to her room. Something about her seemed off, and her grandmother noticed therge bump on the back of her head. ¡°What happened to your head, dear?¡± she asked, immediately reaching out to touch it. Marguerite winced in pain, and her grandmother grew more worried. ¡°I just fell, Grandma. I¡¯m fine,¡± Marguerite reassured her. ¡®Fell? Fell backwards? Don¡¯t give me that. You can¡¯t hit that p part of your head by falling backwards. What really happened?¡± Chapter 248 Laverne¡¯s reaction was so intense that even Sadie had rushed over. She rummaged through Marguerite¡¯s hair, her surprise leaving her flustered, ¡°Miss, that¡¯s quite a knock! Hold on, I¡¯ll fetch you an ice pack!¡± ¡°No need, Sadie, you can rest.¡± Marguerite was hurt, how could she rest? Ignoring Marguerite¡¯s protests, she went to find an ice pack. Marguerite sighed and withdrew her gaze, only to see Laverne¡¯s piercing eyes fixated on her. ¡°Grandma, I¡­ ¡°It was Yuna again, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Marguerite¡¯s words were stuck in her throat, she hadn¡¯t expected her grandma to guess so quickly. Ail she could do was nad silently in response. ¡°Dammit! What is Yuna up to?!¡± Laverne pped her thigh in fury, her eyes welling up with tears, ¡°Does it hurt a lot? Let grandma have a look!¡± Seeing her grandmother¡¯s tears, Marguerite¡¯s heart clenched with emotion. She felt like she was back in the days before her grandmother lost the memory, when every time she was sick or injured, her grandmother would be just as worried as she was now. Finally, her emotions, that had been held back for so long, burst forth. Regardless of whether Laverne remembered her or not, she let her tears fall, her hand clenched into a fist pounding her chest, ¡°Grandma, my heart hurts, it hurts so much¡­¡± Laverne, with her frail, shaking hands, gently cupped Marguerite¡¯s face, her thumb wiping away her tears, her voice filled with urgency and concern, ¡°Calm down, Marguerite, calm down. Tell me what happened. What¡¯s going on?¡± Marguerite was sobbing so hard that she could barely speak. ¡°¡®Yuna, she¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s pregnant¡­ She¡¯s carrying Frederick¡¯s child¡­ I feel so suffocated, grandma, please don¡¯t tell Frederick¡­¡± The shocking news brought Laverne¡¯s tears to a halt, ¡°What did you say? Yuna¡¯s pregnant?¡± Marguerite nodded, tears streaming down her face, her nose sniffing continuously. ¡°When did this happen?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I think she just found out.¡± Laverne stood there, stunned, unable to recover from the shock.. Yuna was pregnant? How could that be possible? Even after Frederick had kicked Marguerite out of the mansion, she had been watching him at home, worrying that Yuna would take advantage of the situation. And even when Frederickter moved to Seaside Manor, she would always find time to video call himte at night, only resting assured when she saw that Yuna wasn¡¯t with him. How could Yuna be pregnant? Had she let her guard down? Where did she go wrong? Laverne¡¯s mind was in turmoil, but seeing Marguerite¡¯s tears was breaking her heart, so she quickly pulled her into a hug, patting her back gently, her voice soothing, ¡°Sweetie, what¡¯s yours is yours and no one can take it away. Of course, Laverne won¡¯t let Yuna take anything away from Marguente ever again She didn¡¯t say this out loud, only patting Marguerite¡¯s back repeatedly Once Marguerite¡¯s emotions had settled, Laverne hurried back to her room and stood there in deep thought for a long time. As if making up her mind. she decisively pulled out a photograph from the bottom of a box, a photograph that could prove Marguerite¡¯s identity Whether Yuna was really pregnant or not, she couldn¡¯t hide the truth any longer if Yuna could hurt Marguerite today then she could use her pregnancy to manipte her tomorrow. The situation would only escte, and the more it developed, the more it would be against Marguerite Therefore, it was time for this secret to be revealed The next morning Chapter 249 Laverne opened her eyes and immediately FaceTimed Frederick, who picked up quite promptly. ¡°Mydy, what¡¯s up?¡± The man on the screen was groggy, clearly having just woken up. Clearing her throat, Laverne tentatively asked, ¡°Dear boy, where are you? When will youe back to the mansion to see me? The thunder was so loudst night and there were nic men around. Scared me half to death, I tell you!¡± Frederick rubbed his eyes with his long fingers and sat up on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital, Yuna¡¯s not feeling well and has been admitted. I¡¯ll be back on a few days.¡± Admitted to the hospital? What a bunch of mrkey! Yuna had been eating like a queen since she was a little girl, practically overfed, and now she¡¯s running to the hospital every other day. Who wouk believe that? Not a word of truth in Yuna¡¯s mouth, even the baby in her belly was in question, Laverne thought. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Snapping back to reality, Laverne chuckled, ¡°Oh yes, I need that chubby boy to help me with something. Can I borrow him for a few days?¡± ¡°Do you mean Chuck?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, Chuck! That¡¯s him!¡± ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll send him over right away.¡± ¡°Great! As soon as possible.¡± Laverne hung up, her cheerful expression dropping immediately. What reced it was a look of seriousness and determination. She wouldn¡¯t tell Frederick the truth so soon. After all, Yuna was her own granddaughter, bearing her bloodline. No matter what, she had to give Yuna a chance. Laverne would make Yuna confess! In front of Frederick and Marguerite, in front of everyone, admit her wrongdoings! Chuck arrived at the mansion shortly. Just as he got out of the car he saw Laverne, dressed primly, standing at the front door and walking towards him. ¡°Chubby boy, get in the car!¡± Laverne waved at him, Chuck waspletely baffled. ¡°Ma¡¯am, where are we going?¡± Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be home? Why was he called out as soon as he got back? Laverne was already in the passenger seat, buckled up and leaning out the window to look at him. ¡°We¡¯re going to see my granddaughter, Yuna! Get in the car, don¡¯t waste time.¡± Chuck was confused. What¡¯s going on? He just left the hospital! What was this olddy up to? Chuck was baffled but remembered that the olddy was indeed Mr. Winston¡¯s benefactor. He couldn¡¯t ignore her instructions He got in the car and they rushed to Stonebridge Memorial Hospital By that time, Frederick had just left, and the Ablett couple hadn¡¯t yet arrived. The entire ward was upied by Yuna alone. Chuck pointed Laverne in the right direction and the olddy bustled towards where Yuna was She stood at the door for a moment, then quickly strode back to Chuck ¡°Chubby boy, stand a bit farther away. I have something to say to Yuna. But don¡¯t go too far. If I yell, you need to run back to me immediately got it? Chuck waspletely in the dark, a bad feeling welling up. ¡°Maam, what are you nning? Please don¡¯t do anything rash¡± Chapter 250 Laverne pinched Chuck on his arm, ¡°On, Chuck, Yuna is my own granddaughter, do you really think I¡¯d hurt her?¡± ¡°But why would you.¡± ¡°Just in casel¡± Laverne cut him off, ¡°I heard Yuns pegnant, and you know how hormonal pregnant women can get. I¡¯m just afraid she might get too emotional!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ alright, I get it.¡± Chuck, following Laverne¡¯s instructions, walked to the end of the hallway. Tdy¡¯s unusual behavior made him suspicious, and he wondered whether he should report it to Mr. Winston. However, he decided not to do so. After all, there was nothing strange about an olddy visiting her granddaughter. He didn¡¯t need to report every trivial thing to Mr. Winston. Chuck looked back at Laverne, who was taking a deep breath at the door before resolutely stepping into Yuna¡¯s room. At that moment, Yuna had just finished washing up and was stepping out of the bathroom. She was surprised to find Laverne sitting on the sofa, cross-legged, scrutinizing her. Rolling her eyes secretly, Yuna knew that Laverne liked to tattle. She approached with a forced smile, ¡°Granny, what brings you here?¡± ¡°Drop the fake smile, Yuna. Are you not tired of pretending? I know exactly how much you despise me and Marguerite!¡± Yuna froze, ¡°Granny, what are you talking about?¡± Without giving Yuna a chance to react, Laverne mmed a stack of photos onto the coffee table, ¡°You think I¡¯ve lost my memory, huh? Take a look at these!¡± [You think I¡¯ve lost my memory, huh?) The sentence alone left Yuna stunned. Laverne hadn¡¯t lost her memory? Had she been pretending all this time? More than shock, Yuna was curious about what Laverne wanted her to see. With her heart pounding, Yuna approached the coffee table. But when she looked down, the photos scattered on the table nearly scared her out of her Wits! Those were pictures of Laverne and that bitch Marguerite! Each photo had Marguerite¡¯s name on it! Hadn¡¯t she returned all these photos to Marguerite intact when she went to Seaside Manor? How did they end up with Laverne? What Yuna didn¡¯t know was that the photos she returned to Marguerite and the ones in Laverne¡¯s hands were not the same ones Her face had turned pale. Without thinking twice, she rushed to tear the photos into pieces. Laverne watched Yuna¡¯s frantic behavior, making no effort to stop her. She chuckled coldly, ¡°Go ahead, tear them up. I¡¯ve made plenty of copies. If you¡¯re not satisfied, I can give you more.¡± Yuna abruptly lifted her eyes, her chilling gaze sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. She started screaming hysterically, ¡°You old witch! What the hell do you want?¡± Laverne¡¯s face was even more ruthless than Yuna¡¯s. She suddenly stood up, her petite figure radiating an unstoppable aura ¡°What do I want? I should be asking you the same question, Yuna! Do you even realize what you¡¯ve done? You¡¯ve broken thew! The gai who savedt Frederick¡¯s life fifteen years ago wasn¡¯t you. You usurped Marguerite¡¯s identity and tore her apart from Frederick I can overlook that, but what i cant forgive is how cruel you are. You even tried to kill me! Yuna, I¡¯m your grandmother Your own grandmother! How could you? Don¡¯t you have any sympathy at all?¡± Chapter 251 With a heavy heart, Laverne let her tears fall. Just the thought of that dreadful day when Yuna mercilessly injected her with unknown substances was enough to make her shudder But Yuna was far from moved by Laverne¡¯s anguish, When all secrets wereid bare and exposed, all Yuna could think of was fear. Fear was all that was left. Frantically, Yuna searched for her cell phone, turning the hospital room upside down. ¡°Where¡¯s my phone¡­. my phone¡­. wait, you old witch, I¡¯m calling my parents right now! I swear I¡¯ll make you pay, you and Marguerite¡­¡± Her incessant rambling was, to some extent, disturbing. Laverne, though, found lier heart growing colder and colder. Laverne took a deep breath, straightened up, wiped her tears, and spoke with grave seriousness, ¡°Chuck is right outside. If I call for him, hel, be here in a heartbeat. Now tell me, who do you think is faster, Ablett or Chuck?¡± Yuna froze, rooted to the spot. She turned to look at Laverne, her face a mess of tears and snot, a pitiful sight to behold. As if under some sort of spell, she suddenly threw herself at Laverne¡¯s feet, pleading desperately, ¡°Granny, I beg you, please don¡¯t tell Freddie. I die, really will! I¡¯m sorry, Granny, I should never have hurt you! I apologize, I¡¯ll do anything, anything you want. What do you want?¡± As she spoke, she knocked her forehead on the floor with such force that it echoed through the room, Seeing her like this, Laverne felt a heartbreaking pain. Yuna was her granddaughter too, after all. How had she be like this? She couldn¡¯t bear to see this. She gently helped Yuna up from the floor. ¡°My dear child, listen to your granny. Stop this. Apologize to Marguerite, tell the truth. Freddie won¡¯t harm you.¡± Her words, though spoken with nothing but gentle persuasion, seemed to only fuel Yuna¡¯s emotional frenzy. She gripped Laverne¡¯s shoulders tightly, her eyes zing, and dered vehemently. ¡°No way! I can¡¯t, I won¡¯t tell!¡± Laverne, feeling as if she was about to be shaken apart by Yuna, pushed her away with equal determination, leaving no room forpromise. ¡°Since you refuse, I guess I¡¯ll have to do it.¡± ¡°Granny! Granny, please! I¡¯ve reached the end of my rope. I can¡¯t tell. I really can¡¯t¡­¡± Yuna started crying again. Laverne looked at her, sighed, and felt a mixture of emotions. It was just a pity. ¡°You should know that there¡¯s a difference between confessing on your own and having someone else expose you.¡± ¡°No¡­ no¡­ Granny, I beg you¡­¡± Yuna shook her head in desperation, continuously ying the emotional card. But Laverne¡¯s resolve had turned rock-solid, following Yuna¡¯s repeated transgressions. Giving Yuna onest look, Laverne resolutely walked towards the door and said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you two days to think it over.¡± Laverne¡¯s tone was that of an ultimatum, but also seemed to offer onest opportunity. Whether Yuna seized this chance or not was entirely up to herself. Chapter 252 Laverne stepped out from Yuna¡¯s hospital room, scanning the surroundings to find Chuck still waiting at the end of the hallway. With a kind wave of her hand, Chuck hustled over immediately. ¡°Ma¡¯am, is everything taken care of?¡± he asked. Laverne nodded, her voice weary, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s done. Take me home, please.¡± Chuck noticed her swollen eyes, and knew without asking that she had been crying. Yuna¡¯s hysterical cries from inside the room had echoed on the hallway, but her voice was so shrill andced with sobs that Chuck couldn¡¯t make out what she was saying. ncing at Laverne hesitantly, he asked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, did Ms. Yuna pick a fight with you? Should we inform Mr. Winston?¡± A mix of regret and heartbreak crossed Laverne¡¯s face as she waved her hand dismissively, sighing, ¡°No need, she¡¯ll tell Frederick herself in a couple of days¡± Seeing no reason to pry further, Chuck guided Laverne into the elevator. Meanwhile, inside the VIP ward. No sooner had Laverne and Chuck left than Yuna began screaming, venting her frustrations and fears. Her hair was a disheveled mess, covering hatt der face, and her eyes were furious red. Unshed tears and snot still smeared across her face. In this state, she looked more horrifying than a banshee. Her screams eventually turned into hoarse whispers as she frantically searched for her phone. She finally found it under the bed, but her fear kept her huddled in the corner under the bed. ¡°Call¡­ yes, I need to call¡­ Hammond, Hammond will help me¡­¡± Yuna nervously dialed Hammond¡¯s number at the Winston Mansion. He picked up quickly, and Yuna¡¯s voice broke as she tried to exin her situation. ¡°What do I do¡­ Laverne knows! She knows everything¡­ she¡¯ll tell Frederick, I¡¯ll die, I¡¯ll really die¡­ you have to help me! You said you would help me.¡± Yuna¡¯s words were jumbled, illogical, but Hammond managed to understand the situation. After a moment of thought, he tried to calm her, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, do as I say¡­¡± Yuna listened intently, terrified of missing any crucial detail. But when Hammondid out his n, she immediately protested, ¡°No! Absolutely not! That¡¯s illegal!¡± Hammond chuckled, a sound that was both confident and chilling ¡°You¡¯ve broken thew more than once or twice, do you need me to count them for you? What, thinking of being good? Toote!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Yuna!¡± Hammond interrupted Yuna, his voice full of persuasion. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t ask you to do this if I didn¡¯t have a way out for you. Plus, Mr. Powell thinks highly of you. Do you really want to give up the position of the Winston family¡¯s young mistress?¡± ¡°No! Absolutely not! The young mistress of the Winston family is me! Only me Hearing her determination, Hammondughed satisfactorily, ¡°So?¡± Hammond¡¯s words sessfully stirred Yuna¡¯spetitive spirit, but she felt like her brain was about to explode from the dilemma Her knees shook uncontrobly as she murmured, ¡°So¡­ so¡­ no¡­ can¡¯t. It¡¯s illegal. L. I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Hammond¡¯s patience seemed to have run thin, and he snapped, ¡°Yuna, I¡¯m giving you half a day If you can¡¯t make a decision, I won¡¯t give you another chance! And our partnership will end.¡± The continuous beeping sound indicating a disconnected call filled her ears, and the phone slipped from her trembling hands. Curling up in the corner under the bed like a terrified bird, she was overwhelmed by worry, fear, and panic. She couldn¡¯t think of a solution and kept repeating. ¡°What do I do¡­ what do I do what should I do¡­ do it, or not* Chapter 253 Noon, at the Winston Group. Marguerite had suffered from severe morning sickness on that morning, coupled with a throbbing bump on the back of her head, all of which made her feel unconfortable, so she rested until noon before heading to the office. Not long after she had settled in, Hannah walked in with a file in her hand, her tone cheerful: ¡°Ms. Lockwood, I just got the exact news from the Finance Department. Fragrance Finesse¡¯s market value has shrunk by thirty percent, and ha of the manufacturers have expressed an intention to cooperate with ourpany.¡± Only shrunk by thirty percent? This was not within Marguerite¡¯s expectations; she thought it would have to shrink by half at least. It seemed that she had underestimated the resilience of the Winston Group. However, it didn¡¯t matter. As long as they could put some pressure on Fragrance Finesse, the pictures would not have been sent in vain. No sooner had Hannah left the office after her report than Frederick walked in, He didn¡¯t knock. Marguerite looked at the man who had appeared suddenly, a little stunned. She opened her mouth, but didn¡¯t know what to say. Upon hearing of Yuna¡¯s pregnancy yesterday, her heart tightened every time she saw Frederick. But Frederick seemed unaffected. He approached, his face devoid of any excessive emotion, and simply said, ¡°If you¡¯re hurt, you should stay at home and rest. Whye to the office?¡± Marguerite kept it professional, ¡°It¡¯s not a serious injury, just a bump¡± ¡°You won¡¯t go back?¡± Marguerite shook her head, I¡¯m already here.¡± The man nodded slightly, a smirk on his lips. From behind his back, he produced a thermos and ced it on Marguerite¡¯s desk, ¡°Since you¡¯re not going back, you might as well take some soup.¡± Marguerite was surprised. Where on earth did this thermose from? And why did it seem so out of ce with his sophisticated, suited and booted appearance? Could it be from the hospital? Marguerite, feeling disgruntled, retorted sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m not having Yuna¡¯s leftovers.¡± Somehow, seeing Marguerite¡¯s girlish reaction, Frederick felt a little amused. In a good mood, he elegantly pulled over a swivel chair to sit opposite Marguerite. Without asking her opinion, he casually opened the thermos, revealing its contents, and pushed it towards her. Marguerite stared at him, her resistance clear in her eyes. Seeing this, Frederick finally exined, ¡°I just came back from the Winston Mansion. The soup was made by my mother. You have to take some whether you like it or not.¡± Frederick had been to the Winston Mansion? And he seemed in a good mood Presumably, Jocelynis situation must have improved, otherwise how could this soup have made it from the house unscathed? Marguente picked up the spoon and started drinking, asking, ¡°Is Jocelyn okay?¡± ¡°Quite well¡± After a few sips, Marguerite noticed that the man in front of her showed no signs of leaving He just sat there watching her making her feel ufortable How dare hel What kind of look was that in his eyes? it was shining brightly. Marguente wished she could douse the light in his eyes with cold water It was so awkward. Marguerite touched her earlobe unnaturally, and finally asked, ¡°What are you doing here watching me all the time? Yuna is pregnant, you should spend more time with her¡± Frederick raised an eyebrow, ¡°Marguerite, when did you be so sarcastic? Marguerite paused, realizing that this maris eyes were sometimes really sharp, guessing what she was thinking At the same time, she often found him to be quite slow auous moods, but never noticed the adoration in her eyes when she looked at tum. to reject her she wonte here and cause trouble for me ¡°She¡¯s being discharged from the hospital tomorrow and will go out of town with her family for a few days beforeing back.¡± ¡°Oh, so you took this raportunity ice here?¡± Took this opportunity? Frederick found this phrase strange. He tried to guess Marguerite¡¯s thoughts, but didn¡¯t say anything. At this moment, Marguerite murmured to herself, why do I have this feeling of having an affair..¡± Chapter 254 Realizing that the man in front of her was looking at her with a strange and profound gaze, Marguerite only then realized that her unconscious mumbling had been heard by him. Uh¡­ Why did she blurt out something like that? At this moment, Marguerite¡¯s face turned as red as a tomato, wishing she could find a hole to bury herself in. Frederick cleared his throat, not avoiding her gaze, and deliberately said, ¡°If you want, I have no objections. After all, I¡¯m not at a disadvantage.¡± Marguerite abruptly gazed at Frederick, feeling embarrassed but also noticing something different about Frederick today. His tone was also gentle, not deep, as if he was responding to her joke? What happened during his trip to the Winston Mansion? Did he finally take down Maurice or something else? His mood seemed unusually good pday. Or perhaps, it was because she had been spending a lot of time with Jocelyntely and had helped her out a lot, so Frederick was graciously will to chat more with her. Marguerite drained the soup from the thermos, and Frederick handed her a napkin. His voice was t, but he subtly observed her expression, Tilbe moving back to your ce starting tomorrow.¡± Marguerite was taken aback, ¡°Is the Seaside Manor notfortable?¡± ¡°No. Your grandma seems to miss me.¡± Oh? Marguerite thought about how she had cried to her grandma about Yuna¡¯s pregnancy yesterday. So, was Frederick being called back by her grandma? Marguerite hesitated as she looked at the man, feeling that his gaze was particrly strange at this moment, as if he was expecting her to make a statement. She squinted her eyes and tilted her head, ¡°You want me to bring grandma to pick you up?¡± Frederick finally revealed a contented smile, ¡°I don¡¯t mind Don¡¯t mind? So that¡¯s what he meant. However, Marguerite sometimes really couldn¡¯t understand some of the practices of the capitalists. For justing home, did she really need to bring grandma and the servants with a banner to wee him? ¡°What, do you have objections?¡± Once again, the man guessed what she was thinking, and Marguerite felt a little annoyed. But she didn¡¯t hide anything and exined softly, ¡°Tomorrow, I need to take grandma to the hospital for aprehensive check-up. There are many tests, and she needs to be hospitalized.¡± So that¡¯s how it was. Frederick raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯ll apany her,¡± ¡°For how long?¡± ¡°All night ¡°Frederick¡¯s gaze was intense, and he assertively added, ¡°With you Uh¡­ What was up with this man today? He was being unusually gentle Was this still the Frederick she knew? Although his changes surprised Marguerite, she also felt a bit delighted Howes she did not want to share a room with the man If Yuna found out, her easy life would surely be over ¡°Where are you going to sleep? The hospital only allows one extra bed Even if agree to let youe over grandma wont let you go Damn Trying to find an opportunity to get close to this woman was not easy at all She was resisting him with all her night, which made Frederick feel extremelyfortable Despite the clear signs from her why did he always keep testing the waters? Frederick¡¯s originally rxed face slightly fell, and without saying much, he got up and left Marguerite¡¯s office Meanwhile, at Stonebridge Memorial Hospital hud just contacted Marguente nat long ago when he received a notice about a business top attles when his assistant, Jane, walked in ¡°Steven, yore going on a business trip for two days Arayanl ¡°Do it. I¡¯ll be back early the day a atter tomorrow, in time¡± Janie locked concerned. ¡°Won¡¯t it be a bit rushed? a re-examination, as long as he The director is proficient with the equipment, that suggests the arrived newly Dr. Jimmy 1 temporarily take Over work. your there will definitely be no problems.¡± Since it¡¯s only suggested?¡± Steven turned to look at her. The director Janie. nodded, ¡± Yes.¡± for Steven pondered a while, ¡°That works.¡± 12 At the other end of town, there was ICE Auto Sh Chapter 255 A shy yellow sports car arrogantly halted in front of the shop. From the driver¡¯s seat, Robert, dressed in a sk ck leather jacket, got out with an air of cool defiance. He was the sole proprietor of the shop, but in order to escape his father¡¯s control, he kept a low profile, hence the shop wasn¡¯t named after him. It was a hub for him and his wealthy friends who were passionate about cars. The rich and the reckless gathered there. And because of this, ICE Auto Shop had the mostprehensivework of wealthy families in Stonebridge City. If you were smart, if you knew how towork, you could learn anything you wanted to know in less than a day at ICE. Entering the lobby, several of these rich kids were lounging around on the sofas, some ying video games, some flirting with girls, Seeing Robert walk in, Wade Charles, the heir to the Charles Group, abruptly stood up and blocked Robert¡¯s path with a mischievous smirk. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, you¡¯ve been away from the shop for too long! If you don¡¯te around more often, I might just im it as my own!¡± Robert gave him a cool nce, ¡°You¡¯re dreaming, Wade. Where¡¯s Kent?¡± Wade pointed upstairs, ¡°In the darkroom. He¡¯s been in there for days, fiddling with who knows what.¡± Kent was the mechanic of the shop, not only skilled in car repairs, but also in fixing various mechanical parts. Marguerite¡¯s phone was currently being repaired by him. Hearing this, Robert immediately headed for the stairs, but Wade suddenly ran up and blocked his way again. ¡°What now?¡± Wade nced at the other rich kids behind him, then mysteriously pulled Robert into a corner. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, there¡¯s some news about your family. I heard from my dad that Hackett Fitzgerald has been looking for your sister.¡± Robert¡¯s eyebrows twitched, ¡°And?¡± Wade, seeing Robert¡¯s indifference, was exasperated. ¡°And what? Your father said if you don¡¯t want to inherit the family fortune, he¡¯ll let your sister inherit it all! You need to go back home before it¡¯s toote! Robert didn¡¯t seem to be fazed, ¡°I¡¯d actually like to meet this alleged sister of mine. If she wants to inherit the family fortune, that¡¯s fine by me. Then, my father won¡¯t be on my case all the time.¡± Unlike the other rich kids, Robert lived as he pleased. He had many interests-medicine, coding, racing-but no interest in inheriting the family fortune. He did have a sister, but she mysteriously disappeared shortly after birth. The Fitzgerald family had been searching for her for twenty-two years without any leads In fact, Robert had started this auto shop and gathered all the car enthusiasts in Stonebridge City, partly in hopes of gathering useful information to find his sister. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, have you lost your mind? The Fitzgerald family is second only to the Winstons! You¡¯re willing to give all that money to a sister you¡¯ve never met?¡± Robert shrugged, his hands in his pockets, ¡°Money isn¡¯t that important to me. If my sister wants it, she can have it all.¡± Wade was speechless with shock, he pped his forehead and blurted, ¡°You¡¯re a fool! An absolute fool Wade stormed off, and Robert headed upstairs. His sister¡¯s return to inherit the family fortune was secondary. His main concern was his mother¡¯s mncholy over their missing daughter He remembers the day his sister was born, it was also his sixth birthday. He had been so excited that he had left his birthday cake untouched and ran to the hospital His little sister had been born prematurely and was frail and weak. Shey in the incubator with her eyes closed, but her little mouthing movements as if she wanted to drink milk, were etched deeply into Robert¡¯s memory His sister was clearly going to grow up to be beautifull Robert was so enamored with her that he put his own bracelet on her small ankle. The bracelet had a small lock that could only be opened with a password He wanted to keep his adorable sister close forever, but things took an unexpected turn, and she was stolen when she was just three days uld The perpetrators had nned it well, destroying the surveince cameras and evading the bodyguards By the time they realized, it was toote His worst fear is that his sister was sold to a remote and unpoverished area by human traffickers Regardless, he was determined to find her Lost in thought, Robert had reached the darkroom He pushed the door open the room was dimly lit, with only a deskmp beside Kent shedding a faint light Robertid his hand on Kent¡¯s shoulder and asked softly ¡°Kent, is the phone foxed yet?¡± Chapter 256 Kent straightened his back, shaking of Robert¡¯s hand. ¡°Stop disturbing inel Robert gave a smile, trying to appease him, ¡°Alright, alright, Mr. Kent, I just want to know how¡¯s the phone fix going? Any progressin Kent cracked a smile hearing this but then his expression changed to one of difficulty. He waved his hand, his facial muscles all knitted together Mr Fitzgerald, your friend¡¯s phone is quite peculiar Is this really a girls phone?¡± Robert was confused, ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Kent sighed heavily, ¡°Her phone has a very professional anti-spy system installed. Once pictures are deleted, it¡¯s very difficult to recover them¡± ¡°Anti-spy system? Built-in?¡± Kent shook his head, ¡°No, the built-in anti-spy system can¡¯t reach this level can tell this one was installed separately Installed separately? Could it be that Miley¡¯s best friend installed it herself? That wouldn¡¯t make sense If she¡¯d installed it herself, she¡¯d know that once the pictures were deleted, they could not be recovered, and she certainly wouldn¡¯t have asked Miley for help Robert pondered this for a while, then asked, ¡°What about text messages? Or call logs? Are those also hard to recover?¡± ¡°Text messages and call logs are the same as the photo album. They can be recovered, but it will take some time.¡± When this phone was returned, its content was squeaky clean. Not only was the photo album empty, but any trace of the owner¡¯s social circle, like text messages and call logs, had been wiped clean. Robert was eager to find out who Miley¡¯s best friend was. He was anxious, and he was also worried that Miley was anxious. He paused, took out his own phone, and walked away to call Miley ¡°Miley, recovering the photos on the phone isn¡¯t easy. It might take some more time At that moment, Miley was at home painting her toenails. Upon hearing Roberts words, she was taken aback, then remembered why Marguerite¡¯s photo album was important. It was because she had secretly taken pictures of Lisettes affair But now, with Lisette¡¯s reputation already ruined by her and Marguerite¡¯s actions and their exposure of more explicit photos, the album wasn¡¯t as important Miley was quite generous about it, ¡°No need to recover it. The matter has already been resolved¡± Robert was puzzled, ¡°Already resolved? Miley, can I ask what was in the album?¡± Miley contemted for a moment, wondering whether to tell Robert After all, Lisette¡¯s affair had caused quite a stir. If Robert found out that she was the one who started it all, would he think she was a ruthless woman? Miley swallowed hard and led, ¡°It¡¯s my best friend¡¯s phone How would I know? Anyway, she said the matter¡¯s already resolved, so there¡¯s no need to recover it. Just bring the phone back next time, and I¡¯ll return it to her¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been a bit busytely, might not be able to make it over anytime soon. You¡¯re not in a hurry, are you?¡± Miley was nonchnt, ¡°Not at all! What I¡¯m anxious about is the guest list from Regal Haven Hotel, don¡¯t forget about that¡± Oh right, there was also the matter of the guest list from Regal Haven Hote! ¡°I won¡¯t forget. I¡¯ll start investigating right away. I¡¯ve got things to handle here, so I¡¯ll hang up now* Robert quickly ended the call, and Kent slowly turned his head back, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, are we still recovering the photos on this phone?¡± The room was so quiet that Kent had heard the entire conversation between Robert and Miley Without a second thought, Robert said, ¡°Yes, of course! Kent pouted, ¡°But didn¡¯t she say there¡¯s no need to recover it?¡± Robert looked annoyed, ¡°If I say fix it, just fix it. Why so many questions?¡± How could he stop the recovery? He had to find out who the owner of the phone was! Ever since she started investigating Frederick through a cufflink, Robert knew that this woman was not simple! However, since Miley had mentioned before that her best friend had met Frederick, he could take some time to subtly inquire about this man Chapter 257 The next afternoon. Since Laveme was scheduled for aprehensive check¨Cup the following morning. Marguerite packed a few casual outfits and checked Laverne Into Stonebridge Memorial Hospital Frederick was still swamped with work, expected to return to the mansion only in the evening, hence he couldn¡¯t apany Marguerite and Lav¨¨me. However, he was worried about the Winston family causing trouble for Marguerite, so he arranged for a few bodyguards to escort them to the hospital Laveme¡¯s room was just one floor above Yuna¡¯s. While Marguerite was making the bed in Laverne¡¯s room, Laverne went downstairs. She Intended to remind Yuna about the time, but when she opened the door, Yuna¡¯s room was empty. A nurse was tidying up the bed. Laverne¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and she asked, ¡°Nurse, where¡¯s the girl who was staying here?¡± The nurse turned around and said, ¡°Are you referring to Yuna? She¡¯s been discharged.¡± ¡®Discharged?¡± Laverne¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Just then, Marguerite, who had been looking for Laverne, finally found her in Yuna¡¯s room. She immediately approached Laverne and asked gently, ¡°Grandma, are you looking for Yuna?¡± Laverne nodded. Marguerite remembered what Frederick had told her the day before and informed Laverne, ¡°She and her parents have gone on a trip. They won¡¯t be back for a couple of days.¡± Laverne¡¯s face fell instantly. Tomorrow was the deadline she had given Yuna, and Yuna had chosen to evade it by going out of town. Without much thought, Laverne knew what Yuna¡¯s decision was Since Yuna couldn¡¯t grasp this opportunity, it was up to Laverne to reveal the truth. After some thought, Laverne suddenly took Marguerite¡¯s hand, ¡°Come, girl, I just remembered something I need to buy. Let¡¯s go to the mall.¡± Go to the mall? Grandma never goes to the mall! ¡°What do you need to buy? I can go get it for you! You have a check¨Cup tomorrow, and the doctor will be looking for you¡± Laverne didn¡¯t care and led Marguerite out of the room, ¡°It won¡¯t take long. Besides, you wouldn¡¯t know what I want. Juste with me!¡± Marguerite was a little confused about what Laverne was nning and followed her across the street to the mall. It was a small mall with only three stories, and it didn¡¯t have the upscale vibe of Grandeur Square Mall. Laverne took Marguerite to several young women¡¯s clothing stores, looking for dresses, but couldn¡¯t find one she liked. Marguerite followed quietly, thinking that Laverne was probably looking for a discharge gift for Yuna A twinge of jealousy crept up on her. When would her grandma¡¯s memory recover? The man she loved was already snatched away by Yuna, and now she only had her grandma left. Was she unable to hold onto this one remaining kinship? Marguerite sighed softly, and then Laverne pulled her into a clothing store. Laverne instantly spotted a white dress, took it off the rack, and shoved it into Marguerite¡¯s arms, ¡°Try this on.¡± Marguerite was taken aback Was this dress for her? Why would grandma suddenly buy her a dress? It was a little odd. Marguerite looked questioningly at Laverne and said, ¡°Grandma, I don¡¯t need new clothes. You should buy some for yourself instead.¡± Laverne pushed Marguerite towards the fitting room, ¡°Just try it on before we discuss further. Don¡¯t make me angry¡± Of course, Marguerite didn¡¯t want to upset her grandma. She took the dress into the fitting room and quickly changed Five minutester, the velvet curtain w Chapter 258 Marguerite, despite the grotesque human skin mask the wom, had a body that was undeniably impreculv 1ter sleeveless dress revealed her porcin white arms, its length above the knee giving an illusion of long, slender lega. A beige elk rihl fied around her waist, forming a tiny bow at the back She was reminiscent of a blossoming young girl With a satisfied nod, Lavene moved forward, guiding Marguerite to face the dressing mirror ¡°You look lovely, look at yourself in the mirror Stand tall and be confident.¡± Looking into the mirror, Morguente saw more than just a pretty woman. Ignoring her hornely face, everything below her neck was a sight to behold. ¡°You see, what a pretty youngdy you are,¡± Laverne remarked, before calling over a store assistant ¡°We¡¯ll take this dress. We¡¯re wearing it out.¡± Hearing this, the store assistant immediately set off to process the order, a big grin on their face. This left Marguerite utterly perplexed, quickly stopping Laverne. Grandma, this dress isn¡¯t for me. Please, let¡¯s not buy it She had sneaklly checked the price tag while trying on the dress¨C400 dors. Although it wasn¡¯t as expensive as the pieces Frederick bought for her, she knew that her grandmother hadn¡¯t had any ie since leaving the hospital. She didn¡¯t want her to splurge However, Laverne gently held Marquente¡¯s hand. ¡°Are you worried about the price?¡± Marguente nodded reluctantly, trying to find the right words to refuse. ¡°Grandma, you really don¡¯t need to buy this for me. Frederick bought me a lot of clothes, I can¡¯t even wear them all¡± Laverne gently stroked Marguerite¡¯s fingers, offering a small smile. ¡°What he bought is his business, what I buy is mine. They can¡¯t bepared Tell me, do you think you look good?¡± Marguerite nced at her reflection in the mirror, responding honestly, ¡°I look good.¡± ¡°Do you like this image of yourself?¡± Again, Marguerite nodded. ¡°I do.¡± Laverne smiled. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡± She gently tucked Marguerite¡¯s hair behind her ear, her gaze tender and her voice soft. ¡°My dear girl, you should always look this beautiful No more looking drab and downcast. Life is hard enough, we need to find ways to brighten it up. What youck is passion for life.¡± Laverne always had a way of getting through to Marguerite. Every woman has a natural desire to look attractive. It wasn¡¯t that Marguerite didn¡¯t want to dress up or look pretty. She always thought of herself as the most insignificant person, someone who would instantly get lost in a crowd So she felt inferior, in love and in life. So what was the point of dressing up? No one would spare her a second nce anyway But she had forgotten that women don¡¯t dress up to please others, but themselves. Marguerite understood the wisdom in Laverne¡¯s words, but she still felt a bit dazed. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that her grandmother was acting unusual that day. Looking up at Laverne, she asked, ¡°Grandina, we can buy dresses any other day, why did we have toe today?¡± The light in Laverne¡¯s eyes dimmed and her face fell from joy to guilt. When Marguerite was eighteen, her school had organized aing¨Cof¨Cage ceremony for all the seniors. But Marguerite, being a tuition student without an official status, wasn¡¯t eligible to attend. She watched as her ssmates, dressed in formal attire, walked hand in hand through the ceremonial gateway, while she could only stand in the corner with tears in her eyes. Laverne had seen it all and it broke her heart. She had wanted to buy Marguerite a formal dress and personally walk her through the ceremonial gateway. But that n was derailed due to their financial situation. But tomorrow, she was going to reveal all the truths. it would be a turning point in Marguerite¡¯s life, and Laverne wanted to make up for the past regrets. She couldn¡¯t let Marguerite appear downcast again. She wanted Marguerite to know that from tomorrow forward, her life would take a dramatic turn A happy life was beckoning her and she needed to present a new image to bid farewell to her past As Laverne thought about this, her eyes became misty She patted Marguerite¡¯s hand, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Chapter 259 Laverne swiped her card with a flourish, and then they quickly returned to the hospital. Always restlers in the hospital room, Laverne couldn¡¯t sit still. The thought of Yunn being her fath and blood made her reluctant to watch the young girt stray further and further from the right path. She thought for a moment, took out her phone, and secretly went Yuna onest text message: [At 1 pm tomorrow, if you do not tell Frederick the truth yourself, I will do it for you.) She did nofceive a reply from Yuna, but Fredericke instead. Frederick rushed to the hospital as soon as he finished work, thinking that Laverne would have a check up the next morning and must be fasting. so he brought a lot of food with him. Laverne couldn¡¯t stop smiling as she sat cross¨Clegged on the bed, gorging herself on the food. As soon as Frederick entered the room, he noticed Yuna in her new dress, his eyes constantly dorting towards her. Laveme, cunning as ever, had already noticed Frederick¡¯s reaction. As she peeled an orange, she leaned over and whispered to Frederick, ¡°Handsome, Isn¡¯t she looking good today?¡± Frederick smiled shyly and looked at Marguerite, nodding slightly. ¡°It suits her.¡± Laverne looked at Frederick, then shifted her attention back to Marguerite, unconsciously uttering a sigh of contentment. ¡°If our little family could always be this happy, that would be nice.¡± Frederick furrowed his brows at her strange words. After all, she was Yuna¡¯s grandmother and even if she had kinship for Marguerite, she wouldn¡¯t say such things about a little family without Yuna. Frederick corrected her in a joking manner, ¡°Granny, if Yuna hears you say that, she might be upset.¡± The mention of Yuna made Laverne sigh. She looked at Frederick reluctantly and patted his hand earnestly, ¡°Handsome, our Yuna, she¡¯s toopetitive and spoiled by her parents. Promise me, no matter what happens, you¡¯ll spare her some dignity. Okay?¡± Once the truth came out tomorrow, Frederick would certainly be furious with Yuna. Marguerite Interrupted Laverne¡¯s words with discontent, ¡°Granny, why are you talking like you¡¯re leaving us? You¡¯re acting weird today!¡± Laverne was so upset that she threw the orange peel at Marguerite, ¡°Nonsense! I n to live to be a hundred! Stop your baseless chatter!¡± Marguerite yfully stuck her tongue out at Laverne and turned around to get some water, no longer teasing her. Frederick didn¡¯t stay for long, and the night hadpletely fallen. After saying goodbye to Laverne, he got up to leave, and Marguerite walked him to the door. The two stood at the doorway, neither of them making the first move to speak. Frederick¡¯s gaze deepened, and for some reason, he found the woman in front of him more and more attractive, more and more likable He licked his lips and whispered, ¡°Call me anytime if anything happens.¡± ¡°What could possibly happen? And even if I called you in the middle of the night, would you hear it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll set up a special alert for you.¡± Marguerite was stunned. A special alert? Did she deserve Frederick to set a special alert for her? Absolutely not! He must be doing this because he was worried about Granny. As she was thinking, Frederick¡¯s hand suddenly grabbed the back of her head and he unexpectedly gave her a quick peck on the forehead. Marguerite waspletely taken aback. Why would he kiss her? Though it was just a brief, light kiss, didn¡¯t he realize it could easily lead to misunderstanding? Marguerite¡¯s face was a mix of emotions, but Frederick just smiled knowingly. ¡°You said before that we¡¯ve been married for so long, but we¡¯ve never lived like a regr couple. Right now, you¡¯re my wife, and that kiss was from me, your husband¡± This was eptable? Marguerite stood in ce, dazed, as Frederick pinched her cogen¨Cfilled cheek and turned to leave. This was too sudden! What did it mean? Could it be that he, too, was developing some ambiguous feelings for her? While Marguerite was lost in her thoughts, a doctor approached with a nurse, introducing himself politely, ¡°Marguerite, Dr. Steven can¡¯t make it back from his trip, so I¡¯ll be handling Laverne¡¯s check¨Cup tomorrow. My name is Jimmy.¡± Yuna immediately extended her hand, ¡°Nice to meet you, Dr. Jimmy. We appreciate your help.¡± ¡°Of course. I need to administer an injection of medicine to her now to help her have a bowel movement tomorrow morning. Normally, we would give an enema, but I¡¯m worried Laverne¡¯s body won¡¯t be able to handle it, so we¡¯ll have to go with an injection.¡± Marguerite had no objections and immediately opened the door for Dr. Jimmy to give Granny her injection. As he was leaving, Dr. Jimmy stopped and turned around, his face very serious. *I have to warn you. This kind of medicine has a uniqueposition, so you absolutely cannot let her eat anything else, especially mangoes. Otherwise, if the drug reacts with the mango, it could cause sudden suffocation in severe cases.¡± Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Marguerite remembered the words Jimmy had spoken, and when he had left, she looked around the room and noticed the basket of fruit Frederick had brought filled with mangoes. Without a second thought, she tossed all the mangoes into the trash bin. Just to be sure, she hid the bin inside the bathroom After all this, she fetched a basin of warm water to wash Laverne¡¯s feet, reminding her repeatedly as she did. ¡°Granny, Jimmy just said, you can¡¯t eat anything right now, okay?¡± Laverne patted Marguente¡¯s head affectionately. ¡°I understand, dear You¡¯ve been raised so well, whoever brought you up must have loved you very much! Marguente was taken aback, looking at Laverne with unwavering eyes. Yes, her grandma had always loved her Even when she had lost her memory, she treated Marguente as her own. Tears threatened to spill from Marguente¡¯s eyes at the thought, and she quickly looked away. ¡°Yes, she loves me. She always has.¡± ¡°Believe in me, dear. Everything will be alright after tomorrow.¡± Your grandma has never forgotten about you, she has always loved you Wait for tomorrow, and when ites, Granny will tell you everything Sadly, Laverne never spoke these words out loud The night got darker. Margueriteid on the narrow wire bed, her heart fluttering with uncertainty Despite the anxiety, she felt an overwhelming wave of fatigue washing over her as soon as she got into bed. She soon sumbed to sleep. As did Laverne, lying on the hospital bed, and the bodyguard at the door, sprawled out on the floor No one noticed a shadowy figure sneaking into the room. The next moming Marguerite was awakened by the rm clock. She woke up feeling groggy, and when she checked the time, the realized she only had ten minutes left to take Granny for her check¨Cup She quickly got out of bed, calling out to Laverne, ¡°Granny, it¡¯s time for your check¨Cup Wake up.¡± Marguente rushed into the bathroom to freshen up, noticing that Granny wasn¡¯t stirring She popped her head out of the bathroom, toothbrush in mouth, and saw Granny wide awake, staring at the ceiling as if daydreaming She mumbled a reminder, ¡°Granny. I¡¯ve squeezed the loothpaste for you. It¡¯s time to get up.¡± Marguente retracted her head, spat out the foam, and froze What did she just see next to Granny¡¯s pillow? Peeled and yellow¡­ A mangol Marguerite dropped her toothbrush in fear, and instinctively rushed to Laverne¡¯s bedside. The pillow was covered in fruit peels, and a gnawed mango pit. Granny had eaten a mangost night! Marguente reached out to shake Laverne¡¯s body, her voice trembling uncontrobly. ¡°Granny Granny, what¡¯s wrong? Speak to me! Can you see me? Granny The only response was Laverne¡¯s vacant eyes Marguerite¡¯s fingers trembled as she checked for Laverne¡¯s breath, her fingertips identally grazed her lips, stiff and cold Marguente¡¯s legs gave out, and the copsed on the floor Just then, Jimmy, dressed in a white coat, burst into the room, ¡°Marquente, bring the olddy out. Marguente? Marguente He too noticed the mango on the bed and immediately shouted at the nurse, Patient is suffering from sudden asphyxial Rush her to the OR! Get the defibrtor -ready!¡± Awam of doctors and nurses rushed into the room, wheeling Lavdme towards the operating room Marguerite sat on the floor in shock, her heart feeling hollow, her mind aplete nk. She had experienced this feeling once before. Thest time, Granny had also suffered from sudden asphyxia, but thanks to the doctors, she had survived So this time, this time Granny would survive too, right? foztoly she reached for her phone, her hands shaking so badly it took her a while to find Rederick¡¯s number The call was answered quickly, but suddenly, Marguente felt as if the world was spinning, her head throbbing her throat glued together, unabl You finally called me waited until four in the morning before falling asleep. The man¡¯s voice was groggy, yet inaic Magie eniffed, team chreaming down her face Chapter 261 Chapter 261 By the time Frederick rushed to the hospital, Laveme¡¯s body was already chilling in the morgue. Laveme was now lying there, her eyes closed, her body cold and stiff Marguente was kneeling on the floor, staring at her grandmother¡¯s face over and over again, muttering, ¡°Granny, granny, look at me¡­¡± Tears rained down on Laveme¡¯s face, slipping from her cheeks without pause. ¡°Granny, it¡¯s me, Marguente Look at me. I¡¯m wearing the pretty dress you bought for me. Just open your eyes for a moment, just a moment¡­¡± Frederick and Chuck were standing at the door, their hearts aching They ached for Marguente, but even more for Laverne Laverne wasn¡¯t Frederick¡¯s biological grandmother, but she had saved him and his mother¡¯s lives fifteen years ago, along with Yuna He still remembered the warm bowl of soup she gave him. Having lived in Sapphire Valley Estates for so long, he had long considered her his own grandmother. He was deeply pained but he couldn¡¯t break down at this moment. The one who was hit the hardest was the woman before his eyes. If he broke down, what would happen to Marguerite? He suppressed his pain, turned to the morgue attendant, and asked, in an icy tone, ¡°What was the cause of death?¡± The attendant sighed regretfully, his drooping features showing pity ¡°Apparently, the olddy was in good health. But she was scheduled for a check¨Cup today. The doctor gave her axative injectionst night. But after taking the medicine, she couldn¡¯t eat mango I don¡¯t know if she didn¡¯t know or if her granddaughter was irresponsible, but the olddy ate a mango and suffered a sudden asphyxiation! I heard that when she died, she kept her eyes open, refusing to close them!¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick¡¯s piercing gaze immediatelynded on the attendant The attendant had never seen such an intimidating gaze before. He shuddered, not knowing what he had said wrong, and shut his mouth in fear How could Marguerite possibly be irresponsible? From what he knew of the woman, she was more careful than anyone else when it came to matters involving Laverne How could it be her fault? If Laverne knew about the danger of mango, she certainly wouldn¡¯t have eaten it What had gone wrong? At that moment, a nurse rushed over and stood at the door, whispering to Marguerite, ¡°The family of Laverne, it¡¯s time to go upstairs to sign her death certificate¡± Frederick looked at Marguerite, a mix of emotions filling him. She seemed not to hear the nurse¡¯s words, continuing to murmur Laveme¡¯s name Seeing this, Chuck paused for a moment before saying to the nurse in a low voice, ¡°Give her a little more time. We¡¯ll be up shortly¡± As soon as he finished speaking. Marguerite stood up from the floor and appeared at the door Her tears had dried, but her eyes were still red and swollen. Let¡¯s ga I¡¯ll go now¡± Seeing Marguente¡¯s state, Frederick¡¯s heart ached He quickly put his arm around Marguerite¡¯s shoulders and started to walk upstairs with her But her steps were unsteady, moving forward with difficulty, as if she had no strength at all. Frederick decisively picked her up by the waist and cared her into the office There was a death certificate, too unfamiliar and too cold Marguerite¡¯s eyes stung as she looked at it. She held the pen in her hand but couldn¡¯t bring herself to sign her name. She suddenly looked up at the doctor and asked, ¡°There¡¯s no chance of ake death, is there?¡± The doctor pushed up his sses and shook his head in silence ¡°But I¡¯ve seen it on TV. People are dered dead, but then theye back to life at the funeral. Couldn¡¯t that happen to my grandmother? The doctors expression was gloomy Although he wanted tofort Manguente, his professional ethics forced him to tell her the painful truth ¡°A person¡¯s heart must be resuscitated within six minutes after it stops beating But your grandmother, she died in the early hours of yesterday moming¡± So, there was no hope left, was there? Marguerite couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe it Just yesterday, her grandmother was fine. They had gone shopping and enton lots of delicious food But in less than a day, how had everything changed? She hadn¡¯t even been given a chance to prepare The pen was clenched in Marguerite¡¯n hand, unmoving She was as still as a statue, not even blinking an eye Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Frederick, seeing Marguerite in such a state, felt each second passing by was pure agony He gently wrapped his arms around Marquente, tightly clutching her shoulders, hoping he could offer her a sliver offort and strength ¡°There¡¯s no rush to sign. We¡¯lle back tomorrow¡± Marguente in his arms had long run out of tears, her emotions utterly drained. She shook her head, her voice hoarse, ¡°Let me go, I can sign. I¡¯ll sign¡± Marguerite¡¯s voice was monotone, but her hand trembled uncontrobly. Her handwnting was shaky but the pressure she applied was forceful enough to make an imprint on the back of the paper, giving Frederick a glimpse into her despair Laveme¡¯s body had to be kept in the hospital for a day to determine the exact cause of death, so Frederick had no choice but to take Marguerite home first. Throughout the joumey, Marguente was calm. She didn¡¯t cry, nor did she make a fuss. Frederick kept silent, knowing that no words could console her wounded heart night now. Chuck, the co¨Cpilot, was about to turn around to report the situation, but Frederick immediately shook his head at him, signaling him to stay quiet. Instead, Chuck texted Frederick [Ive informed Ms Yuna about Laveme. They justnded at Meadow Haven and are on their way back now] [Look into the doctor who prescribed the medication for Laverne] [Understood¡°] Their Rolls¨CRoyce moved through the city streets, caught in the early morning traffic Streeters were filled with breakfast street vendors, and Marguerite¡¯s gaze suddenly fell on a shop selling fries. She turned to Frederick, the floodgates of her memories opening wide, and pointed out the window, ¡°Look¡± Following her direction, Fredenck asked. ¡°Want some?¡± Marguente shook her head, her tone indifferent. ¡°No, it just reminded me of when I was a child. We were so poor, but I really wanted to eat fres. My grandma would get a couple of discarded potatoes from our neighbors and fried them for me. But those potatoes were rotten, so they tasted bitter and astringent. Yet, my grandma and I found them incredibly delicious, and it made us feel so content¡± As Marguerite spoke, she felt as though she was travelling back in time. Her entire being was transported back to her childhood, to that familiar old house in Marina Shores Vige. She straightened Frederick¡¯s face to look him in the eye, her tone filled with excitement ¡°Have you ever eaten po? The old¨Cfashioned kind, that pops with a loud bang, it¡¯s spectacr! I had it when I was little, my grandma made it for mel We had an old po machine that thendlord had discarded. One day, when my grandma was napping, I took out the machine and decided to try making popcorn myself. But I didn¡¯t control the temperature right, and the machine exploded right in my face, leaving me dazed My grandma rushed out from the house, temfied She looked at my soot¨Ccovered face, quickly checked if I was disfigured, and when she saw I wasn¡¯t hurt, she spanked me so hard! You wouldn¡¯t believe it, the neighbors said they could hear me begging for mercy five blocks away! Hahaha-¡± Marguente¡¯s storytelling was animated and vivid, but Frederick felt a pang in his heart The happier she seemed, the more his heart ached Her reminiscence about her own grandmother in rtion to Laverne showed how much she hade to consider Laveme as family Laveme¡¯s passing was a fatal blow to Marguerite So, he would rather have Marguerite cry and make a fuss, even act out, as long as it made her feel better He feared her bottling up her emotions would lead to a breakdown Marguente, however, sighed and tumed to look again at the shop selling fries, tears inexplicably welling up in her eyes ¡°How did such a happy lifee to an abrupt end? I miss my childhood so much. Inally do She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence as her sobs took over, leading to an uncontroble weeping ¡°Treally really miss my grandma I miss her so much Her shoulders shock with her sobs, beyond her control Frederick, with a heavy heart, pulled Marguente into his aus holding her tight The woman in his arms began to pound on his chest, her broken words reflecting her sorrow, Frederick, I miss my grandma, I miss her so much.¡± He caressed her back, his voice filled with concern, his tone unusually gentle ¡°Marguerite, Laverne may have left you, but you still have your own grandma Wherever she is, I help you find her, okay?¡± His words, meant tofort her instead triggered aplete emotional breakdown Her tears poured out, and she screamed at him hysterically Fredenck, Laverna my grandma! She is my real grandma! She¡¯s gone, I don¡¯t have a grandina anymore! The person who loved me the most in the wor Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Marguerite cried until her voice was hoarse, until no sound could escape her throat Tears fell like a dam had burst She sobbed uncontrobly, repeating over and over again, Laverne was my grandma, she was my real grandma.¡± Frederick gently pulled Marguente back into his arms, soothingly patting her back as he reaffirmed, ¡°Yes, yes, Laverne was, the always be your grandma¡± Despite hisforting words, surprise and confusion swirled in his eyes. He remembered this wasn¡¯t the first time that Marquente had imed Laverne as her grandmother Thest time was in the hospital, after Laverne had a near¨Cdeath experience. The Ablett couple had provided a detailed exnation, and when Laverne awoke, she didn¡¯t recognize Marguerite So naturally, he had believed them. But now, with Laverne¡¯s passing Marguerite was making the im again. The fervor in her voice, the determination in her demeanor, it didn¡¯t seem like the was lying What could possibly be going wrong? Could there be secrets between Marguerite and Laverne that he wasn¡¯t privy to? He had to get to the bottom of it Back at the mansion, Marguerite was exhausted. He put her to bed gently, then summoned Chuck to his study ¡°Look into the rtionship between Marguerite and Laverne again,¡± hemanded, his handsome face hardened by the pain of Laverne¡¯s passing ¡°Yes, Mr Winston, Chuck quickly responded, preparing to leave the study to start his investigation But just as he reached the door, Frederick¡¯s sharp voice called him back. ¡°What about the investigation into Yuna¡¯s sister? Any leads?¡± Chuck paused, turned around, and reported, ¡°Mr. Winston, I found out that Zoe had given birth at a small clinic in Marina Shores Vige I¡¯m currently trying to locate her I believe we¡¯ll have results soon.¡± Frederick Hit a cigarette, the milky smoke swirling in front of his face, highlighting his sharp features and the intensity in his eyes He seened deep in thought, but there was a hint of hesitation in his expression. Chuck ventured a guess, ¡°Mr Winston, you don¡¯t think Yuna¡¯s sister could be Marguerite, do you?¡± Frederick exhaled a ring of smoke, nodding slightly. ¡°Yes¡± ¡°But,¡± Chuck said, ¡°the Lockwood family imed that the child they lost was a year younger than Yuna. If I¡¯m not mistaken, Marguente and Yuna are the same age¡± ¡°Don¡¯t trust everything they say Just do your job¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston¡± After Chuck left, Frederick sank into deep thought again. He considered the Lockwood family¡¯s long history of deception, their well honed skills in maniption. He should have been more skeptical If the truth was as Marguente imed, that Laverne was her biological grandmother, that would mean Marguente and Yuna were sisters, shanng the same bloodline. If that was the case, had the Lockwood family been lying to him all along? What else had they lied about? Could it be that the person who saved his life fifteen years ago was Marguerite, not Yuna? The more Frederick thought, the more frustrated he became Without any leads, he needed evidence to support his suspicions From now on, he would not trust a word from the Lockwood family Evidence That¡¯s all he would rely on Chapter 264 Chapter 264 When Marguente returned to the manor, she fell into a deep sleep thatsted from dawn to dusk, and then from dusk to dawn The next day, the first thing Frederick did when he woke up was to check on Marquente. Seeing that she was still asleep, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of panic. He rushed forward, gently lifting the covers to check for any wounds on her body, especially on her arm¡¯s main artery, or any other areas that could cause significant bleeding He was afraid that Marguente, overwhelmed by grief, might give up her own life to join Laverne in the afterlife. Thankfully, it was a false rm. There wasn¡¯t a single wound on her He carefully pulled the covers back up for Marguente. Perhaps it was his rushed and domineering actions that unintentionally woke her up. Marguente¡¯s eyshes fluttered, then slowly opened her eyes. The man in front of her became clear, and Marguente saw the worry on Frederick¡¯s face. She asked him with tired, half-closed eyes, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frederick brushed a few strands of hair from her forehead, his voice soft as he said, ¡°Nothing Are you still sleepy? If so, go back to sleep.¡± Marguente nced out the window and saw that the sun was only halfway up. She asked, ¡°How long have I slept?¡± Her voice was full of exhaustion, with a hint of a sleepy lisp, making it particrly pleasant to the ear Frederick smiled, tucking her in and said, ¡°Not long Go back to sleep. When you wake up, have Sadie make you something to eat. I have to go out, but I¡¯ll be back shortly* Marguerite nodded obediently. ¡°Okay¡± Fredenck¡¯s gaze lingered on her a moment longer before he reluctantly left. Half an hourter, Fredenck was at the Stonebridge Memorial Hospital. In the director¡¯s office. Laverne¡¯s death report and cause of death had been finalized and handed to Frederick Sitting beside him was the hospital director, and standing in front of him were Jimmy, the doctor who administered the medication to Laveme, and a nurse. Jimmy was visibly shaken, his sses askew The autopsy report showed no anomalies Laverne died from anaphxis caused by eating a mango. But Frederick had a hunch that there was more to Jimmy than met the eye ¡°Why did you choose to administer the medication instead of using an enema? You better give me a reasonable exnation¡± Fredenck¡¯s imposing presence left Jimmy frozen in fear, his mind buzzing and unable to hear Frederick¡¯s question The nurse next to him nudged him, ¡°Answer him, Dr Jimmy! Mr Winston is asking you a question!¡± Jimmy snapped back, his eyes darting to Frederick, ¡°What? What did you ask, Mr. Winston?¡± Fredenck remained silent, his aura bing even more oppressive. Chuck quickly said. ¡°Mr. Winston asked you why you chose to administer medication instead of using an enema. You must¡¯ve known the medication contained a special ingredient!¡± Jimmy swallowed hard, stuttering his response
  1. I thought the enema might be too harsh for the olddy. So, I chose to administer the medication¡±
Jimmy quickly added, ¡°After, I specifically told her granddaughter not to let her eat anything, especially mangoes. I did¡® Laune can prove it for me. She was night there when I said it!¡± The nurse named Laune nodded in agreement, ¡°He did! I can testify! And the medication requires special authorization. Jimmy had it authorized before using it. It can be checked in the hospital system!¡± Upon hearing this, the director immediately began to browse the system. Within three minutes, he found the approval and turned the screen to Frederick, ¡°As you can see. Mr Winston, Jimmy did have it authorized¡± Frederick nced at the screen, weighing the heavy file in his hand. If the doctor had indeed wamed Marguente, why did Laverne still eat the mango? Could it be that her death was really an ident? Fredenck closed the file with a puzzled look, ordering in a cold voice. ¡°Chuck, arrange for the funeral after a few days of mourning period¡± Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Chuck instantlyplied, bringing Laverne¡¯s body to the morgue Meanwhile, Frederick returned to the office to continue his work. Over the past few days, Maurice had been quiet Although Fragrance Finesse had suffered minor damages, Frederick couldn¡¯t afford to let his guard down Maunce¡¯s tactics were ruthlessly cunning, something Frederick had personally experienced. He attacked when least expected Frederick couldn¡¯t predict Maurice¡¯s next move, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy His only option was to stay vignt After a long day. Frederick returned to the manor around eight in the evening. Marguerite was sitting on the couch, engrossed in a television series that Laveme had been watching Despite theedy genre, a gloomy atmosphere hovered around Marguente. The apple pie Sadie had baked for her remained untouched. Frederick approached the couch, resting his hands on the back. He leaned over to discuss with Marguente, ¡°Grandma¡¯s body has been taken to the morgue. The funeral will be held next week¡± The word ¡°funeral was heavy, despite Frederick¡¯s attempts to soften it. Marguente¡¯s back stiffened She forced a smile, her face nk, ¡°Okay¡± Fredenck gently ced his hand on her shoulder Marguente suddenly turned to him, ¡°Can I wear the white dress grandma bought for me at the funeral?¡± Traditionally, ck attire was expected at funerals. But Frederick agreed, understanding that Marguente didn¡¯t want the asion to be too somber Laverne had always been a cheerful spint. Weaning the dress would be aforting thought for her, even in the afterlife Marguerite didn¡¯t feel like talking anymore. She checked the time stood up and started towards the stairs. As she passed by, Fredenck held her hand, ¡°Where are you going? The finale is about to start, aren¡¯t you watching?¡± Marguente looked tired, ¡°I¡¯m sleepy I want to go to bed¡± She didn¡¯t like finales, or endings. She held onto the hope that if she didn¡¯t watch the finale, her grandma woulde back to watch it with her. They could go back to the way things were. It was a form of self¨Cdeception, but it made her feel slightly better. Frederick let go of Marquente¡¯s hand, watching her climb the stairs in a daze. However, after a few steps, she turned back, her voice pleading. ¡°I want to sleep in grandma¡¯s room tonight. It feels too empty Can you stay with me?¡± Marguente rarely asked for favors. This was a first for Frederick Without hesitation, he helped her to Laveme¡¯s room. There were two beds in the room. Sadie once had set up a small one for Yuna when she came to care for Laverne. Frederick gently guided Marguerite to therger bed As shey down quietly, he moved to the smaller bed to rest. As the night deepened, the room grew more silent. Frederick, worried about Marguente, couldn¡¯t sleep. He stared into the darkness, in the direction of Marguente In his memory, Marguente was a resilient girl, unshaken by life¡¯s trials. But Laverne¡¯s death seemed to have broken her. He remembered the previous day in the car when an offhandment had made Marguerite lose control. Her hystena was a side he had never seen before Frederick heard a soft sobbing from Marguente¡¯s direction. It sounded muffled, as if she was crying into her pillow, trying to keep quiet Fredericks heart ached He got up, moved to Marguente¡¯s bed, and wrapped his arms around her,forting her through the silk nket, ¡°It will pass everything will pass¡­¡± Chapter 266 The next day, at half past five in the morning, the sky was still a dim shade of grey Marguerite had to go to help with Laverne¡¯s mourning amangements and to greet the mourners who were amiving She got up early, and after a simple breakfast of toast and coffee, she and Fredenck set off together Laverne¡¯s bodyid in the grandest hall of the church Chuck had arranged everything the day before, even ensuring a mortician applied makeup on Laverne and dressed her in her favente floral dress Marguerite walked slowly into the hall Laveme in the crystal casket seemed as if she was sleeping, her face serene, except for her lips, which drooped slightly Marguente it two candles for her, and then she and Frederick tossed a handful of rose petals. By the time they finished, mourners were starting to arrive Laverne¡¯s hometown was Marina Shores Vige, but the vigers there moved on quickly, and although the olddy had many friends, most of them had left the vige and scattered to different parts of the country Therefore, most of the people who came were friends of Marguente and Frederick. The Lockwood family, as direct rtives of Laverne, didn¡¯t arve until noon. Especially Yuna, she seemed fatigue while greeting guests. Herck of energy was starkly different from Marguente¡¯s Marguerite¡¯s fatigue was due to the loss of a loved one, but Yuna¡¯s was simplyziness. She was reluctant to help and seemed impatient. From her expression, Frederick didn¡¯t see any hint of grief. This was far from the expected reaction of someone who just lost a loved one. This made him even more cunous about the rtionship between Laveme and Marguerite At this time, Chuck hurriedly arrived in a sedan. He immediately found Frederick and mysteriously called him into a corner He nced at Yuna and Zoe, then lowered his voice to report ¡°Mr Winston, I found the midwife who delivered Zoe. But I think you should meet her yourself. She¡¯s a peculiar woman, with a temper, and she¡¯s very tight¨Clipped. She won¡¯t tell me anything¡± Frederick¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze towards Marguente slightly worried. Chuck immediately said, ¡°Mr. Winston, your mother is on her way Shell take good care of Marguerite¡± Heaning that his mother wasing. Frederick eased his worry a bit. He turned to say a few words to Marguente, then quickly left with Chuck On the way, Chuck reported everything he knew about the midwife to Frederick Her name was Thelma, and she had personally delivered all the babies in Marina Shores Vige years ago. But she had moved out of the vige long ago and was now living in Brightwater Cove, asionally assisting with births in her spare time. By the time they arrived at Brightwater Cove, they learned that Thelma was at the vige chief¡¯s house, delivering a baby. Chuck, following directions from vigers, easily found the chief¡¯s house, outside of which was parked a basic white Mercedes As soon as they got out of the car, they saw a woman covered in freckles, wiping her hands and talking to a middle¨Caged man, ¡°Your wife is an older mother. She had a close call today. You better take good care of her!¡± The man nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, Thelma Thank you, Thelma!¡± He then happily disappeared into the house. Thelmaughed and walked out of the yard. As she looked up, she saw a tall, imposing man. But her gaze finallynded on Chuck, and her brow furrowed instantly, ¡°You again? I¡¯ve told you, I don¡¯t know anything! Stop bothering met Chuck smiled at her. ¡°Thelma, it¡¯s not me who needs you, it¡¯s our master, Mr Winston. This is him, the fampus¡­ Chuck didn¡¯t dare to say Frederick¡¯s name out loud, so he moved a half step closer to Thelma and lowered his voice, ¡°Frederick Winston!¡± Thelma rolled her eyes, seemingly unimpressed by Frederick¡¯s fame. She gave Chuck a disdainful look, brushed him off with her elbow, and got into the Mercedes. Chuck was taken aback, ¡°Such a cheeky woman. Do you know who our master is?¡± Thelma started the engine, poked her head out of the window, and retorted, ¡°Even if the King himself came, it wouldn¡¯t change a thing! When I say I don¡¯t know, I mean it Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Thelma stomped on the gas pedal, the engine roaning to life, before she sped off in a flurry of dust. Chuck jogged after her for a few steps, only to get drenched when she deliberately ran over a puddle. Chuck was livid, ¡°What nervel Doesn¡¯t she know who Mr. Winston is?¡± Frederick watched the receding cloud of dust left by the Mercedes, his sharp gaze hardened. He made a quick decision, ¡°Get in the car, we¡¯re following her¡± ¡°Right away, Mr Winston!¡± Chuck quickly discarded his muddy coat into a nearby trashcan before hopping into the passenger seat, keeping a safe distance behind the lower¨Cend Mercedes Brightwater Cove was not arge vige. After only a few minutes, they saw Thelma¡¯s car pull up to a luxurious two¨Cstory mansion. As they watched Thelma exit her car and saunter into the yard,pletely at ease, it was clear that the mansion was her home. Chuck, still fuming from the puddle incident, parked the car under a tree outside the yard He was about to get out when he saw that Fredenck remained unmoved Frederick studied the mansion with a sharp gaze, remaining silent. Chuck settled back into his seat, confused, ¡°Mr Winston, aren¡¯t you getting out?¡± Fredenck¡¯s calm, deep voice replied, ¡°Do you think she will see you if you barge in like this?¡± Oh.. Probably not! So Chuck was nning to just storm in. But judging by Mr Winston¡¯s words, that didn¡¯t seem to be the n. Chuck was at a loss, ¡®Mr. Winston, do you have a better idea?¡± Frederick squinted slightly, his gaze sweeping over the Mercedes and the mansion ¡°How can a midwife afford a Mercedes and a two¨Cstory beautiful mansion? As we drove through the vige, her house was the most extravagant¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, are you saying?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been bought out. If we want her to talk, we need to offer more¡± Fredenck¡¯s conclusion was followed by a decisive order, ¡°Go to the nearest bank and transfer five million to a new card¡± There was a bank at the entrance of Brightwater Cove. Chuck quickly followed Frederick¡¯s instructions, creating a new card and transfering five million into it When they returned to Thelma¡¯s front yard, Chuck was gripping the heavy bank card, his posture noticeably confident Frederick pressed the doorbell with his distinct, knuckled finger They heard Thelma¡¯s voice from inside. I¡¯m done for the day! No more delivenes! Go to the clinic Frederick remained silent, pressing the doorbell again. Thelma was clearly getting impatient, ¡°Who is it? Stop ringing! I¡¯ming!¡± She hurriedly opened the door, her face falling when she saw Frederick and Chuck, ¡°You again? Leave Suddenly, she stopped mid¨Csentence Because she saw the card in Chuck¡¯s hand her favorite thing? Her eyes filled with greed. Thelma swallowed and slowly opened the iron gate, ¡°Come in and let¡¯s talk, I don¡¯t want to be seen.¡± Money had indeed changed Thelma¡¯s attitude drastically. She eagerly weed them into the living room, even getting them two cups of tea Her favorite thing was now lying conspicuously on the table. With a gleam in her eye, Thelma pushed the tea towards Frederick, her hand inching towards the bank card, ¡°Sir, what exactly do you want to know? Frederick didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries, ¡°Do you remember a woman named Zoe?¡± Zoe?¡± Thelma¡¯s response was vague, but her evasive eyes told Frederick all he needed to know Thelma took a sip of water, ¡°What about Zoe?¡± ¡°She had two children, do you remember? They were born a year apart¡± ¡°Two children?¡± Thelma was so surprised she nearly spit out her water, ¡°She told you that?¡± Frederick and Chuck were both confused Thelma¡¯s reaction was bewildering Was it really that surprising that Zoe had two children? Just as Frederick and Chuck were puzzled, they saw Thelma down the rest of her water and scoff, ¡°She only had one child, named Yuna!¡± Chapter 268 ¡°A single kid¡± Chuck¡¯s voice broke in shock, and it took him a while to stulter out ¡®Does Yuna not have a sister then?¡± Frederick was just as shocked as Chuck, but his shock was overshadowed by his anger If Zoe only had one child, then why had che previously imed to have two? And she even provided detailed descriptions! What was this family trying to hide? Thelma, however, didn¡¯t have time to ponder over the men¡¯s shock. All her attention was on the bank card in front of her She had no intention of telling them everything After all, she had no idea how much money the man had given her If they wanted more secrets, they would have to pay up! ¡°I¡¯ve answered your questions, the rest you can ask her yourself!¡± Thelma said while subtly pressing her hand on the bank card As she was about to pocket the card, Chuck¡¯srge hand pped on top of hers, holding it in ce Chuck curled his lips into a smirk, leaning in close, his voice barely above a whisper, Thelma, we gave you a whole five million dors. That should set you for life. nght? So, does this one piece of information we got worth our five million dors?¡± Five million? Had she heard right? This tiny bank card contained five million dors? Thelma was dumbstruck. She had never seen this much money before! Feeling weak at the knees, her grip on the card started to loosen in a desperate attempt to secure her newfound fortune, she forced a smile onto her face. ¡°Since you guys are so sincere, I¡¯ll throw in another piece of information for free.¡± Frederick had run out of patience, his icy gaze enough to freeze anyone in ce, ¡°Speak!¡± Thelma cast a timid nce at Frederick, cleared her throat, and started to reminisce 1 was the only midwife in Marina Shores Vige back then. I delivered every child in the vige. I know exactly how many children Zoe had. Zoe only had one child But not long after the child was bom, they brought another one home, a preemie, so small it was shorter than my forearm But that¡¯s not the most shocking part. Thelma started panting halfway through her story, her eyes widening in shock as if she was about to reveal a major secret Chuck was intrigued, his attention fully on Thelma, ¡°There¡¯s something even more shocking?¡± Thelma nodded vigorously, her eyes wide, ¡°Yes! The most shocking thing is, the child they brought home looked exactly like Yuna!¡± Thelma animatedly recounted her story, her words painting a vivid picture The old events of the past gained a mysterious and fantastical hue as she narrated them. Chuck¡¯s heart raced as he instinctively turned to look at Frederick. However, Mr Winston was not looking at him, but rather was scrutinizing Thelma, trying to discern the truth ¡°The eyes, the nose, and the mouth were identical. They imed that Zoe had twins. But I knew something was off. I was the one who delivered the baby, so how could I not know if it was a single birth or twins? I confronted them, but without a word, they gave me ten thousand dors to keep quiet! So, Yuna doesn¡¯t have a sister. They only have one child!¡± Chapter 269 Fredencks gaze was as sharp as a hawk ¡°Can you stand by your words?¡± ¡°Absolutely?¡± Theima affirmed, her eyes twinkling with unhidden ambition as she nced of her hand, which was held by Chuck ¡°I wouldn¡¯t cross anyone, especially not moner Understanding the hint in Frederick¡¯s eyes. Chuck slowly let go of her hand Thelma, eager as a beaver, quickly grabbed the bank card and lovingly examined it before carefully tucking it into her purse In a hushed voice, Chuck muttered, ¡°So Yuna¡¯s sister is adopted Adoption is fine, but why would Mr Winston be deceived?¡± With a smug grin, Thelma parted her purse, ¡°Who knows what that couple was thinking. They often do strange things¡± Fredenck seized the opportunity ¡°Such as?¡± Thelma looked up at the distinguished man. Figuring she had nothing to lose now, she decided to spill the beans. ¡°Like they had a fortune teller predict the girl¡¯s future. The fortune teller said that the girl was bom to be their nemesis. They got scared and tried to give her away, but no one wanted her But what you don¡¯t know is that ever since the girl came to their home, the Lockwoods became nch! They opened a casino in Stonebridge City and even bought a car Sc, the girl was not a nemesis, but a lucky charm Fredenck pondered. ¡°So, who did the girl end up with? Was it an olddy?¡± You mean Laverne? Yes she took her in! The Lockwoods dumped her in a trash heap, and Laverne saved her That girl was a real looker when she was young, with pretty eyes and thick eyebrows. She is as beautiful as Yuna, but somehow, she stands out more.¡± These charactenstics should have excluded Marguente, but for some reason, Frederick couldn¡¯t shake her image from his mind. He paused for a moment before asking. ¡°Does she have a name?¡± Thelma shrugged. 1 don¡¯t know I didn¡¯t interact much with Laveme. Plus, the year they were bom was the millennium, a lot of women in ge were pregnant and i was always busy. A yearter I moved to Brightwater Cove, so I don¡¯t know much about what happened to them.¡± Fredenck asked, ¡°When did the Lockwood family move to Stonebridge City¡°¡± Thelma¡¯s voice was filled with disdain for the Lockwoods. They moved as soon as they hit the jackpot! Even sooner than mel i heard from the mi reced me that the Lockwoods hadn¡¯t retumed to Manna Shores Vige for seven or eight years After that, it was just Laveme and the girl. Then, I heard Laverne¡¯s old house caught fire, and she and the girl were homeless and had to move to the slums of Stonebridge City with the help of themunity¡± Fredencks thoughts were racing. ¡°Are you sure it was the adopted girl who moved with Laverne to the slums and not Yuna?¡± ¡°Of course! It¡¯s obvious if you think about it. The Lockwoods pampered Yuna, and they would never let their daughter live in the slums!¡± A fire. The slums. So the girl adopted by the Lockwoods was the one who had saved his life fifteen years ago! Frudenck¡¯s eyes were shining with anticipation, and the image of Marquente kept floating in his mind. ¡°After the fire, was the girl¡¯s face disfigured No, just the house was destroyed Laverne and the girl werent severely injured¡± This was thest piece of information Frederick needed nema, fearing shed said too much, quickly added, ¡°But these are all rumors. I didn¡¯t see anything with my own eyes!¡± Chapter 270 Chapter 270 The truth was as clear as day. After leaving Thelma¡¯s house, Frederick was eager to rush to the slums of Riverside Boulevard for an investigation Upon understanding Frederick¡¯s intent, Chuck hurried forward to stop him, his face full of difficulty ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s no use going there now You asked me to investigate the slums on Riverside Boulevard before, and I ve brought back the original file. It¡¯s now gone because i was asked to retrieve it¡± Frederick turned to look at him, his piercing gaze making Chuck break out into a cold sweat. ¡°Where is the file now?¡± Chuck swallowed, nervousness making his back slick with sweat. ¡°You told me then that you were worried Ms. Yuna would be upset if she found out you were investigating her. So you asked me to dispose of the file¡­ L. I put it through a shredder ¡± Damn il! He had originally focused on Yuna because of the photo in the file. The woman in it looked just like Yuna! Furthermore, the woman¡¯sst name was the same as Yunas, which made him jump to conclusion without reading the whole thing Now, having heard the truth from Thelma, he was sure that the woman who saved his life fifteen years ago was not Yuna, but someone else If that was the case, the woman he had slept with two months ago could very likely be that same girl. A part of the truth was gradually surfacing, but Frederick couldn¡¯t bring himself to feel relieved When Thelma had told him all this, the first person that came to his mind was Marguente But Marguerite¡¯s appearance was far from ¡°beautiful: On careful inspection, she seemed rather ill¨Cfavored, which was a far cry from Thelma¡¯s description of ¡°stunning beauty? So what exactly was the rtionship between Laverne and Marguerite? Where had things gone wrong? Frederick was at a loss. Seeing Frederick¡¯s silence, Chuck thought that Mr. Winston was angry at him for shredding the file, therefore he dared not meet the man¡¯s gaze He could already imagine Mr. Winston¡¯s piercing gaze, and he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it. -Chuck kept his head lowered, about to apologize, when he heard Frederick¡¯s uncertain voice, ¡°The rtionship between Marguerite and Laverne remains a mystery. Chuck quickly lifted his head, realizing that Mr Winston was not angry, but full of regret. He quickly understood that Mr. Winston wished very much that Marguerite was the girl Thelma had described! His mind worked quickly toe up with the safest answer ¡°Mr. Winston, could it be that Marguerite was so shocked by Laverne¡¯s death that she began to im Laverne was her grandmother?¡± Frederick¡¯s face fell at once, his gaze boring into Chuck Curse it! What had he just said? Didn¡¯t that imply Marguente had suffered a mental breakdown, and had be mentally ill¡­ But, it was a possibility Chuck lowered his head again, ready to admit his mistake. ¡°Mr. Winston, I spoke out of turn, please don¡¯t take it to heart. I think Marguerite¡¯s words are worth considering I will definitely take this matter senously and investigate thoroughly!¡± ¡°If you dare to talk nonsense again, I¡¯ll have your head!¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, I won¡¯t dare to do it again!¡± Chuck¡¯s back was soaked with sweat But quickly, he thought of another possibility, He lifted his head slowly, carefully choosing his words After a long pause, he gathered his courage to speak, ¡°Since Laverne is Marguerite¡¯s grandmother, and the child who looks exactly like Yuna has always been living with Laverne, where could she have gone? Do you think Marguerite might have seen her? Shouldn¡¯t we ask Marguerite? Chuck suggested hesitantly Frederick had thought about it, but it wasn¡¯t the right time to ask Marguerite was still Immersed in profound grief, and Frederick felt a deep sympathy for her That¡¯s why he couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask her such a question now ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it after the funeral,¡± Frederick said, effectively silencing Chuck Although he wanted to suggest that Mr. Winston could confront thet ockwoods and demand the truth, Chuck thought better of it After all, he had learned today that the Lockwoods had not been honest with Mr. Winston Mr. Winston revealed his hand, they would probably spin an even bigger web of hes Chapter 271 Chapter 270 The truth was as clear as day. After leaving Thelma¡¯s house, Frederick was eager to rush to the slums of Riverside Boulevard for an investigation Upon understanding Frederick¡¯s intent, Chuck hurried forward to stop him, his face full of difficulty ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s no use going there now You asked me to investigate the slums on Riverside Boulevard before, and I ve brought back the original file. It¡¯s now gone because i was asked to retrieve it¡± Frederick turned to look at him, his piercing gaze making Chuck break out into a cold sweat. ¡°Where is the file now?¡± Chuck swallowed, nervousness making his back slick with sweat. ¡°You told me then that you were worried Ms. Yuna would be upset if she found out you were investigating her. So you asked me to dispose of the file¡­ L. I put it through a shredder ¡± Damn il! He had originally focused on Yuna because of the photo in the file. The woman in it looked just like Yuna! Furthermore, the woman¡¯sst name was the same as Yunas, which made him jump to conclusion without reading the whole thing Now, having heard the truth from Thelma, he was sure that the woman who saved his life fifteen years ago was not Yuna, but someone else If that was the case, the woman he had slept with two months ago could very likely be that same girl. A part of the truth was gradually surfacing, but Frederick couldn¡¯t bring himself to feel relieved When Thelma had told him all this, the first person that came to his mind was Marguente But Marguerite¡¯s appearance was far from ¡°beautiful: On careful inspection, she seemed rather ill¨Cfavored, which was a far cry from Thelma¡¯s description of ¡°stunning beauty? So what exactly was the rtionship between Laverne and Marguerite? Where had things gone wrong? Frederick was at a loss. Seeing Frederick¡¯s silence, Chuck thought that Mr. Winston was angry at him for shredding the file, therefore he dared not meet the man¡¯s gaze He could already imagine Mr. Winston¡¯s piercing gaze, and he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it. -Chuck kept his head lowered, about to apologize, when he heard Frederick¡¯s uncertain voice, ¡°The rtionship between Marguerite and Laverne remains a mystery. Chuck quickly lifted his head, realizing that Mr Winston was not angry, but full of regret. He quickly understood that Mr. Winston wished very much that Marguerite was the girl Thelma had described! His mind worked quickly toe up with the safest answer ¡°Mr. Winston, could it be that Marguerite was so shocked by Laverne¡¯s death that she began to im Laverne was her grandmother?¡± Frederick¡¯s face fell at once, his gaze boring into Chuck Curse it! What had he just said? Didn¡¯t that imply Marguente had suffered a mental breakdown, and had be mentally ill¡­ But, it was a possibility Chuck lowered his head again, ready to admit his mistake. ¡°Mr. Winston, I spoke out of turn, please don¡¯t take it to heart. I think Marguerite¡¯s words are worth considering I will definitely take this matter senously and investigate thoroughly!¡± ¡°If you dare to talk nonsense again, I¡¯ll have your head!¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, I won¡¯t dare to do it again!¡± Chuck¡¯s back was soaked with sweat But quickly, he thought of another possibility, He lifted his head slowly, carefully choosing his words After a long pause, he gathered his courage to speak, ¡°Since Laverne is Marguerite¡¯s grandmother, and the child who looks exactly like Yuna has always been living with Laverne, where could she have gone? Do you think Marguerite might have seen her? Shouldn¡¯t we ask Marguerite? Chuck suggested hesitantly Frederick had thought about it, but it wasn¡¯t the right time to ask Marguerite was still Immersed in profound grief, and Frederick felt a deep sympathy for her That¡¯s why he couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask her such a question now ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it after the funeral,¡± Frederick said, effectively silencing Chuck Although he wanted to suggest that Mr. Winston could confront thet ockwoods and demand the truth, Chuck thought better of it After all, he had learned today that the Lockwoods had not been honest with Mr. Winston Mr. Winston revealed his hand, they would probably spin an even bigger web of hes Chapter 272 Frederick returned straight to the church from Brightwater Cove, and everyone was upied until into the night before they could head home Marguerite was still sleeping in Lavernes inom, with Frederick lying next to her, a small gap always maintained between them Marguerite didn¡¯t say anything, her eyes zed as she stared at the ceiling Frederick Tumed on his side, looking at Marguerite¡¯s modest profile through the moonlight, and softly whispered, ¡°Marguerite, tell me about your childhood¡± Marguerite turned her gaze towards Frederick, a fleeting emotion passing through her eyes before she turned back to stare at the ceiling once again. Her thoughts gradually drifted back to the past. When I was a child life wasn¡¯t easy I was constantly sick and the neighborhood kids would ridicule me for not having parents. Whenever that happened, grandma would always jump in to defend me. Did you know, grandma¡¯s character isn¡¯t what you think. She was hardworking and patient. She often told me, ¡®patience is a virtue, Marguente She told me that there are too many wicked people in the world, and instead of confronting them, it was better to swallow my pride and endure. At least, they might spare you if they perceived you as weak¡± Marguerite took Laveme¡¯s words to heart and did just as she advised. But sheter realized that endless patience only emboldened the bullies. After all, cruel people are heartless, like Zoe, like Yuna So, when dealing with the Lockwood family, Marguerite learned to resist. She could bear her own grievances, but if it involved her grandma, she would fight to the death. Even if she had to sacrifice her own dignity, threaten with her own life, she would do everything to protect her grandma But this time, she failed. She lost her loved one forever. Frederick watched Marguente silently, suddenly understanding the core of her character. He always thought she was too cold, as if nothing could stir her emotions Little did he know, she was just enduring Like all women, she was sensitive, fragile, and needed protection. Yet, she had an addedyer of resilience. A sense of lone bravery in the struggle of life. But she never mentioned the Lockwood family or Yuna, leaving Frederick unsure about her true identity Since Laverne had such a great influence on Marguerite, they must have spent a long time together. But she never mentioned the child adopted by the Lockwood family. Fredenck pondered for a while, then tentatively asked, ¡°Did you always live with your grandma?¡± Marguente nodded her head. ¡°Just the two of you?¡± Marguerite suddenly turned around, her gaze sharp and alert, ¡°What are you trying to ask?¡± Fredenck hesitated He saw the wariness in her eyes and couldn¡¯t voice his question. He feared that he might say something wrong and cause her to break down like thest time in the car So Frederick stopped Tm just curious about your life¡± Hearing this, Marguerite turned her head back, her gaze returning to its vacant state as she stared at the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling At that moment, Frederick made a decision in his heart. He moved half an inch closer to Marguente, his ann gently wrapping around her as he drew her closer ¡°Marguerite, I don¡¯t want to divorce you anymore¡± Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Silence A silence that filled the air for what seemed like forever. Marguerite was clearly stunned, her body rigid as if locked in ce, her mind unable to process the situation. She tumed mechanically, her eyes filled with suspicion as she tried to gauge the sincerity of the man¡¯s words. What did you say?¡± Marguerite finally managed to utter, disbelief staining her voice. ¡°I said, I don¡¯t want a divorce anymore.¡± Marguerite reflexively retorted, ¡°What about Yuna? She¡¯s carrying your child!¡± Frederick said, ¡°Whether that child is mine is up for debate¡± A flicker of surprise crossed Marguerite¡¯s face, and a hidden joy that even she found hard to recognize hit her, ¡°You never slept with her?¡± Frederick¡¯s lips, sensual yet cold, pressed into a firm line, remaining silent. Truth be told, Frederick couldn¡¯t be sure if the woman he had a one¨Cnight stand with was really Yuna. The Lockwoods had fooled him too many times, their lies often masked as concrete evidence. Therefore, a single sapphire ne wasn¡¯t enough to confirm that Yuna was the woman that night. Perhaps it was the child the Lockwoods had adopted? His silence said it all. He had hoped that his honesty and vulnerability would win over Marguerite, making her agree to his plea against divorce. To his surprise, Marguerite¡¯s eyes widened and a smirk crossed her lips, seemingly mocking or taking joy in his predicament. ¡°So, did Yuna cheat on you?¡± Frederick was speechless. She seemed blind to his plea against divorce. So, she wanted a divorce? Frederick felt a pang of disappointment, but seeing a rare smile on Marguerite¡¯s face gave him a sense of relief. He tried to lighten the mood, ¡°Well, at least you¡¯re smiling¡± Marguente¡¯s face fell slightly, as she finally realized his intentions Frederick was just trying to make herugh. She almost fell for it, she thought that¡­. Marguerite shook her head, firmly pushing that thought away How could Frederick ever love her? Despite his tireless efforts these past few days, which had touched her greatly, it didn¡¯t equate to love Maybe he just pitied her. Marguerite turned her back to him, her voice muffled, ¡°Don¡¯t make jokes like that anymore. They¡¯re not funny.¡± Frederick asked, ¡°What joke?¡± Marguerite replied. ¡°Your joke about not wanting a divorce¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick sighed inwardly She had no idea how much he loved her! He wasn¡¯t joking, he was serious. Because he found himself thinking of Marguerite more and more, he found it increasingly hard to be without her. He even started to ept the child she was carrying and found himself worrying about whether the child would be as unattractive as Marguente Back then, he didn¡¯t understand that this was love. It wasn¡¯t until Laverne¡¯s death that he truly faced his feelings. He loved Marguerite. He wanted to cherish her, protect her, spoil her. For her, he would betray the world. Even if he had made a promise to another woman in his childhood, so what? His heart was now fully given to Marguerite. When it came to love, Frederick was fearless Once he was sure of his feelings, he would charge forward without hesitation. But¡­ he was defeated by Marguerite¡¯s indecision. He wasn¡¯t sure if Marguente loved him. But that was okay. He would give her an unforgettable deration of love. Even if she rejected him, at least the grandest love confession of her life would be from him. That was enough. With these thoughts, Frederick suddenly pulled Marguerite close again from behind. His face pressed against her back, greedily taking in her scent before he fell into a Chapter 274 Chapter 274 After spending the entire night cradled in Frederick¡¯s arms, Marguerite enjoyed a long, restful sleep ¨C a rarity for her When the awoke, it was already seven in the moming and Frederick was nowhere to be found With only half an hour left before she had to head to the funeral home to continue making arrangements, she hurriedly freshened up and made her way downstairs. To her surprise, she found Frederick in the kitchen, an apron wrapped around his waist. Was she seeing things? Frederick was making breakfast! The sight was so shocking that she felt as if she¡¯d been hit by thunder At that moment, Sadie was setting a tray of freshly baked croissants on the table. Marguerite¡¯s gaze swept over the breakfast spread it looked good, but would it taste good? ¡°Good moming, ma¡¯am Fancy Irying some of Mr. Winston¡¯s cooking? He worked hard this time.¡± Marguerite was rather taken aback. She sat down with a stunned look on her face and whispered to Sadie, ¡°Is he okay? He seems. different.¡± Sadie chuckled quietly, leaning in to reply in a whisper ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who thinks so. He woke up even earlier than the cook. By the time we arrived, he was already cooking¡± This was all too strange. It seemed Frederick was really affected by something Is this his first time cooking?¡± Sadie nced at the kitchen and nodded gravely, ¡°It is¡± Marguente pulled a face. ¡°So, is this food safe to eat?¡± Sadie chuckled again, avoiding a direct answer. ¡°Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s Mr. Winston¡¯s first time in the kitchen. Maybe you could give him some encouragement.¡± Marguente looked as if she¡¯d been struck by lightning ¡°I filtry¡± As they were talking. Frederick emerged from the kitchen with thest dish and ced it on the table. His gazended on the two women who were whispering Sadie straightened up immediately, falling silent and taking her ce in line with the other household staff. Marguerite looked up and was instantly captivated by the man standing before her Despite the incongruity of the apron, Frederick was undeniably handsome. His every move radiated an aura of sophistication and charm. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating?¡± He asked, his gaze questioning as he noted her untouched te. Marguerite forced a smile. ¡°I was wailing for you.¡± Frederick removed his apron with a suave motion and settled into the head of the table. He watched Marguerite with folded arms, then nced pointedly at the breakfast spread Marguente was speechless. Was he using her as a food taster? She tentatively picked up a piece of French toast and took a bite. It was surprisingly good ¨C the creamy vour mixed with the sweet syrup. Frederick observed her reaction, then nodded in satisfaction and began to eat The French toast, eggs, bacons.. everything received high praise from Marguerite She had never imagined that Frederick had such culinary potential. In the days following her grandmother¡¯s death, Marguerite had lost her appetite. But now, she found herself eating heartily, too preupied with the food to engage in conversation. Frederick¡¯s voice broke the silence, carrying a hint of curiosity. ¡°Marguerite, how do women like to be confessed to?¡± Caught off guard, Marguerite paused in her eating. Thinking of the romantic scenes in TV dramas, she said, ¡°The grander, the better, I suppose.¡± ¡°A public surpose?¡± ¡®Perhaps. Anyway Yuna would love it.¡± With a glimmer of mncholy in her eyes, Marguerite finished her sentence. The day of her divorce from Frederick was drawing near. The mention of a confession at this time could only mean one thing ¨C Frederick was nning a surprise for Yuna Frederick failed to notice theplexity of Marguerite¡¯s emotions. He looked at her, his eyes serious and eamest. ¡°What about you? Do you like it?¡± Chapter 275 Marguente stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her cheeks pulled in thought Her? Did it matter if she liked it or not? She and Yuna were on different wavelengths, her advice would have no relevance to Frederick. So, it shouldn¡¯t hurt to say it. Marquente swallowed her coffee, slowly saying, ¡°I don¡¯t like public surprises, they¡¯re awkward and embarrassing Everyone staring at me gives me goosebumps For me, the happiest surprise is between just two people. As long as he can make me feel loved, that¡¯s enough. Oh, and flowers. I love flowers.¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, Marguerite realized she might have overstepped All he asked was if she liked it, and she not only answered but provided a detailed n That was presumptuous, Frederick wasn¡¯t proposing to her Flushing, Marguente quickly focused on her lood to hide her embarrassment, unaware of the man beside her revealing a triumphant smirk. She was easy to please, he had intended to make a grand gesture, but she had no such expectations. He was the CEO of a perfumepany, what kind of flowers couldn¡¯t he get? After their meal, they went their separate ways Marguente was driven to the funeral home, while Frederick headed to his office. In the Cullinan. Chuck sat in the passenger seat, mulling over the moming¡¯s events. Mr. Winston making breakfast and discussing confessions, was he going to¡­ Gossip was Chuck¡¯s forte, and his round face lit up with a grin, ¡°Mr. Winston, are you¡­ nning to confess your feelings to Marguerite?¡± Frederick on the leather seat crossed his legs, ncing at Chuck. He hadn¡¯t intended to let Chuck in on the n, but he needed Chuck to assist with the event. There was no need to hide it. So, Frederick turned his face, nodding. ¡°Yes¡± He admitted it? Mr Winston admitted it?! This was exciting news; he wished he could share it with Mr. Fitzgerald right away! He and Robert had put in a lot of effort to bring Mr. Winston and Marguerite together. Now that Mr. Winston was finally making a move, he was more eager than the man himself. However, Frederick saw through Chuck¡¯s thoughts, warning him, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Chuck nodded rapidly, miming a zip over his lips, finally giving an ¡°ok¡± sign, looking ratherical. Frederick looked out the window, pleased, and after a moment of silence, asked, ¡°When would be a good time for me to do it?¡± Chuck thought for a moment, suggesting. ¡°Mr Winston, perhaps after the olddy¡¯s funeral?¡± Frederick locked at him, ¡°After the funeral? That¡¯s inappropriate.¡± Chuck exined, ¡°The funeral would mean a final goodbye for Marguerite. She would be vulnerable and needpany. If you tell her your feelings then, it would Moreover, it would bring some joy after thedy¡¯s departure.¡± Frederick nodded, seeming to take Chuck¡¯s words into consideration. ¡°What time is it now?¡± Chuck checked quickly, responding with respect, ¡°Almost half past seven ¡°Half past seven. Frederick mused, ¡°The flower market should be open¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, are you suggesting we prepare now?¡± ¡°Yes. ¡°But Mr. Winston, you have an international conference at half past eight¡± ¡°Let Robert handle it.¡± ¡°Understood Upon receiving the order, the Cullinan swiftly changednes, made a sharp turn at the intersection, and sped towards Stonebridge City s top flower market with Frederick. Chapter 276 Meanwhile, at the Bluebell Bistro in the Modern Tower, Zoe and Yuna sat Inside It was fare for the mother and daughter pair to go out for breakfast so early. Were it not for the death of old Laverne, which required them as rtives to guard the wom aut coffin, they would never wake up this early That old hag! Can¡¯t even let us live in peace after she¡¯s dead! If it weren¡¯t for Freddie¡¯s sake, who cares about whether she is alive!¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes were heavy with sleep, but her bitter words showed no sign of softening due to her tiredness, She cut her steak with an angry fervor, as if the wished she could thrash Laverne¡¯s corpse, the clinking of her knife and fork resonating loudly. ¡°She¡¯s desu, and we¡¯re finally off the hook. Laveme deserved it!¡± Every time Zon thought about this, she was overjoyed The secrets they harbored would never be exposed again. And those days of living on the edge were finally Over But the more Yuna thought about it, the more scared she became. These past few days, she had been having nightmares about Laverne. In her dreams, Laverne with bloody hands woulde after her for revenge, making her nerves increasingly fragile As soon as she thought about this, she couldn¡¯t help but shudder all over Finally, she couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, dropped her knife and fork, and said to Zoe, ¡°Mom! I heard from Hammond that Freddie went to the hospital to investigate Laveme¡¯s death a few days ago. Will he trace it back to me? I¡¯m scared, I¡¯m really scared.¡± Zoe looked at her daughter with disdain, and a touch of disappointment. Just like her father Ablett, Yuna was a coward! ¡°What are you scared of? Laverne ate the mango herself, what does that have to do with you?¡± Zoe¡¯s tone was harsh, scaring Yuna into a shudder. She remembered that night at the hospital when she used aromatherapy to put everyone to sleep, and then surreptitiously forced open Laveme¡¯s mouth to feed her the mango. The bite marks on the mango pit were left by Yuna, all to create the impression that Laverne had eaten it herself. ¡°But but¡­¡± ¡°No buts! Keep this to yourself and never bring it up again. Got it!¡± Yuna nodded fearfully, like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow Zoe red at her, ¡°And control your emotions! Don¡¯t lose it every time something happens. Do you know how scared your father and I were that day? We thought you had lost your mind¡± The ¡°that day¡± Zoe referred to was when Laverne threatened Yuna with a photograph. When she and Ablett walked into the room, they found Yuna hunched under the bed, shivering, looking like a bullied beggar Zoe was irate at Yuna¡¯s cowardice, herck of experience in dealing with crises After finishing thest piece of steak, Zoe wiped her hands and went to the front desk to pay However, the front desk received a phone call and put it on speaker, leaving Zoe to wait. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you want to rent out our restaurant for a few days to set up the venue, is that correct? Well, our restaurant charges a hundred thousand a day. You want to rent for four days, that¡¯s four hundred thousand. Is that price eptable to you?* ¡°Sure!¡± ¡°Okay, sir Our manager is on his way. I¡¯ll report everything to him. Sir, could you please leave your name and phone number.¡± The man on the phone rattled off a string of numbers, then added, ¡°Chuck, your manager knows me.¡± ¡°Alright, sir May I ask what the purpose of the reservation is, and whether it needs to be expedited?¡± ¡°It has to be expedited blurted the man on the other end of the line, then lowered his voice, ¡°It¡¯s for a surprise event, a love Chapter 277 Zoe froze on the spot, taking a moment to process what she had just heard. The call was from Chuck? And he was nning to rent out the entire restaurant to confess his feelings to someone? But Zoo remembered what she had heard from Hammond; Chuck was a bachelor who had little interest in women. How could it be possible for him to make such a grond gesture? Did that mean the person who was doing it would be¡­ The mere thought made Zoe feel deliriously happy. As soon as the cashier hung up the phone, she quickly paid her bill and rushed back to Yuna. ¡°Yunal Great news! Mr. Winston is going to confess his feelings for you in four days! I overheard Chuck making a call to the cashier. Mr. Winston has booked the entire restaurant for you, and they¡¯ll be setting up the ce in the next couple of days!¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course! I heard it with my own ears, how could it be false? I knew it was a good thing when Laverne passed away! It has elerated your progress with Mr Winston!¡± Zoe and Yuna lightly embraced each other in shared excitement. But what Zoe didn¡¯t see was the manic happiness and arrogance in Yuna¡¯s eyes, and the hair she had anxiously pulled from her scalp clutched tightly in her fist For the next three days, Marguente was kept busy at the funeral home, with Frederick apanying her every step of the way. After putting Marguente to bedte at night, Frederick would then go to the Bluebell Bistro to personally set up the ce with Chuck, often working till the early hours of the morning Today was thest day. Once Marguerite¡¯s grandmother wasid to rest tomorrow, Frederick would bring her to the venue in the evening and candidly express his feelings for her Surrounded by roses and tulips, Frederick was growing increasingly nervous. He had never confessed his feelings to anyone before, and all of this waspletely new to him He was afraid that Marguerite wouldn¡¯t like it, and also worried that she would think the setup was too cheesy. All of this made his heart flutter nervously. At that moment, Chuck was adjusting the lights. With a press of a button, the entire restaurant was adorned with clusters of starlight, creating a high¨Css and dazzling atmosphere. Even Chuck was surprised to see this romantic side of Mr. Winston ¡°Mr. Winston, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve looked through many stage designs and wedding ceremonies, both domestic and international, and none of them are as beautiful as this. I know Marguerite will love it.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t respond to Chuck¡¯s words, and Chuck asked, ¡°Mr. Winston, have you thought about what you¡¯re going to say to Marguente tomorrow?¡± Frederick finally looked up What was he going to say to her? He hadn¡¯t thought about that. Between the funeral home and nning this grand gesture, he hadn¡¯t had time to think about it Frederick¡¯s expression was slightly guilty, as if he felt he hadn¡¯t done enough for Marguerite. Chuck caught on to this and said, ¡°It¡¯s normal for you not to know, after all, you¡¯ve never been in love! But I¡¯ve read romance novels! I know exactly how to confess to a woman! You should say something like, Marguerite, I love you. My love for you is as constant as the transition from night to dawn, from dusk to the four seasons. It¡¯s evesting¡± Fredenck¡¯s expression became strange, and he scratched his nose awkwardly. ¡°That sounds a bit cheesy. She doesn¡¯t seem like the kind of woman who likes to hear those kinds of words.¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s your sincerity that counts. Marguerite will love it.¡± Chuck was certain of this Overjoyed, he suddenly asked, ¡°But Mr. Winston, have you thought about how to deal with the baby she¡¯s carrying? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not bothered.¡± Seeing Fredenck¡¯s face slowly harden, Chuck quickly cut himself off. 7¡¯m sorry, Mr. Winston I shouldn¡¯t have dampened your mood.¡± To his surprise, Frederick¡¯s mood was unusually good, ¡°I don¡¯t mind. After today I will thoroughly investigate who hurt Marguerite. He must give her an exnation¡± Hearing Frederick¡¯s words, Chuck breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Mr, Winston loved Marguerite more than he had let on. He had epted everything about her, the good and the bad, and taken it all in his stride. Chuck admired Mr. Winston¡¯s love for Marguerite and hoped that the two of them could face the future together As they finished their final checks and prepared to leave the restaurant, Jocelyn was standing by the door, looking at them with a stein expression Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Zoe froze on the spot, taking a moment to process what she had just heard. The call was from Chuck? And he was nning to rent out the entire restaurant to confess his feelings to someone? But Zoo remembered what she had heard from Hammond; Chuck was a bachelor who had little interest in women. How could it be possible for him to make such a grond gesture? Did that mean the person who was doing it would be¡­ The mere thought made Zoe feel deliriously happy. As soon as the cashier hung up the phone, she quickly paid her bill and rushed back to Yuna. ¡°Yunal Great news! Mr. Winston is going to confess his feelings for you in four days! I overheard Chuck making a call to the cashier. Mr. Winston has booked the entire restaurant for you, and they¡¯ll be setting up the ce in the next couple of days!¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course! I heard it with my own ears, how could it be false? I knew it was a good thing when Laverne passed away! It has elerated your progress with Mr Winston!¡± Zoe and Yuna lightly embraced each other in shared excitement. But what Zoe didn¡¯t see was the manic happiness and arrogance in Yuna¡¯s eyes, and the hair she had anxiously pulled from her scalp clutched tightly in her fist For the next three days, Marguente was kept busy at the funeral home, with Frederick apanying her every step of the way. After putting Marguente to bedte at night, Frederick would then go to the Bluebell Bistro to personally set up the ce with Chuck, often working till the early hours of the morning Today was thest day. Once Marguerite¡¯s grandmother wasid to rest tomorrow, Frederick would bring her to the venue in the evening and candidly express his feelings for her Surrounded by roses and tulips, Frederick was growing increasingly nervous. He had never confessed his feelings to anyone before, and all of this waspletely new to him He was afraid that Marguerite wouldn¡¯t like it, and also worried that she would think the setup was too cheesy. All of this made his heart flutter nervously. At that moment, Chuck was adjusting the lights. With a press of a button, the entire restaurant was adorned with clusters of starlight, creating a high¨Css and dazzling atmosphere. Even Chuck was surprised to see this romantic side of Mr. Winston ¡°Mr. Winston, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve looked through many stage designs and wedding ceremonies, both domestic and international, and none of them are as beautiful as this. I know Marguerite will love it.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t respond to Chuck¡¯s words, and Chuck asked, ¡°Mr. Winston, have you thought about what you¡¯re going to say to Marguente tomorrow?¡± Frederick finally looked up What was he going to say to her? He hadn¡¯t thought about that. Between the funeral home and nning this grand gesture, he hadn¡¯t had time to think about it Frederick¡¯s expression was slightly guilty, as if he felt he hadn¡¯t done enough for Marguerite. Chuck caught on to this and said, ¡°It¡¯s normal for you not to know, after all, you¡¯ve never been in love! But I¡¯ve read romance novels! I know exactly how to confess to a woman! You should say something like, Marguerite, I love you. My love for you is as constant as the transition from night to dawn, from dusk to the four seasons. It¡¯s evesting¡± Fredenck¡¯s expression became strange, and he scratched his nose awkwardly. ¡°That sounds a bit cheesy. She doesn¡¯t seem like the kind of woman who likes to hear those kinds of words.¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s your sincerity that counts. Marguerite will love it.¡± Chuck was certain of this Overjoyed, he suddenly asked, ¡°But Mr. Winston, have you thought about how to deal with the baby she¡¯s carrying? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not bothered.¡± Seeing Fredenck¡¯s face slowly harden, Chuck quickly cut himself off. 7¡¯m sorry, Mr. Winston I shouldn¡¯t have dampened your mood.¡± To his surprise, Frederick¡¯s mood was unusually good, ¡°I don¡¯t mind. After today I will thoroughly investigate who hurt Marguerite. He must give her an exnation¡± Hearing Frederick¡¯s words, Chuck breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Mr, Winston loved Marguerite more than he had let on. He had epted everything about her, the good and the bad, and taken it all in his stride. Chuck admired Mr. Winston¡¯s love for Marguerite and hoped that the two of them could face the future together As they finished their final checks and prepared to leave the restaurant, Jocelyn was standing by the door, looking at them with a stein expression Frederick hadn¡¯t expected Jocelyn to find this ce, He knew his mother had always dicapproved of his rtionship with Marguerite, so he hadn¡¯t mentioned a word about his ns of proposing to her As Jocelyn walked into the restaurant, flicked on the lights and looked around, she didn¡¯t seem surprised it was as if she had anticipated every move Frederick had made. But Frederick didn¡¯t give Jocelyn the chance to speak He blurted out, ¡°Mom, I know you were trying to convince Marguerite to break up with me. But now you see my decision. I know you might not be happy, but I hope you¡¯ll support me.¡± Jocelyn tumed round to face him Her face was stern, radiating displeasure. ¡°So, knowing It would upset me, you still went ahead anyway? Couldn¡¯t you have discussed such a major decision with me?¡± He had expected his mother¡¯s reaction. Even if she chose not to support him, he¡¯d still go ahead with his n. But herck of support was a blow to him. After all, she was his only family. If you had talked to me about it, I could have given you a woman¡¯s perspective on what you were doing right or what you were doing wrong. Look at this ce, filled with flowers and crystal decorations Marguerite might find it extravagant.¡± Frederick blinked in surprise. How quickly Jocelyn had changed her tone Hadn¡¯t she been upset just moments ago? Jocelyn looked at him with a knowing, motherly gaze ¡°If you¡¯re going all out for tonight, I wonder what you¡¯ll do for the wedding if you botch it, Marguerite might be disappointed¡± Frederick was still struggling to believe it ¡°Mom, does this mean you support me?¡± Jocelynughed warmly. ¡°I didn¡¯t support you before, but the more I¡¯ve gotten to know Marguerite, the more I like her.¡± Frederick¡¯s chest heaved with excitement as he wrapped Jocelyn in a hug He was a grown man, but at that moment, he was as happy as a child, ¡°Mom, thank you¡± Jocelyn yfully ruffled Frederick¡¯s hair. ¡°But Frederick, have you even hinted at your n to Marguerite? If she says no, what will you do?¡± Frederick released Jocelyn, his face falling again. ¡°Yeah, what if she doesn¡¯t agree¡­¡± His reaction surprised Jocelyn. Her parenting approach had always been to encourage Frederick. Even when he made mistakes as a child, she never shouted or hit him. Instead, she encouraged him when he did well and guided him when he faltered. Jocelyn often told Frederick that he was a gift to the world, chosen by God. So, even when they faced hardships, Frederick would always remind himself, ¡°To whom much is given, much is tested.¡± I was safe to say that Jocelyn¡¯s parenting had yed a significant role in shaping the man Frederick had be. lo, she was taken aback to see her son, who was usually so resilient, falter over a joke. Jon¡¯t worry, you are rich and handsome, who wouldn¡¯t fall for you?¡± Marguerite isn¡¯t like that. But right now, I wish she were superficial. At least then I¡¯d know where I stand.¡± acelyn smiled gently. Remembering Marguerite¡¯s behavior in recent times, she couldn¡¯t be more certain of the girl¡¯s feelings for Fredenck he two youngsters had always been running towards each other, just not knowing it scelyn leaned against Frederick¡¯s shoulder, her arm draped around his back, patting him reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Marguerite will say yes¡± Chapter 279 Chapter 279 The following day, Laverne¡¯s funeral was held as nned. The hearse carrying her body made its way to thergest cemetery in Stonebridge City The funeral director exined the details of the burial to Marguerite and Yuna, who then stood at the entrance to wee the mourners. There weren¡¯t many people. Most of them were friends of Marguerite and Frederick. Marguerite was dressed in a white dress, a stark contrast to Yuna¡¯s somber ck attire. Upon seeing Marguerite, Yuna was immediately annoyed. She approached Marguerite ghostlike and sold sarcastically. ¡°You dress up so brightly for a funeral? You really have no heart, Marguerite. Laveme¡¯s gone and I bet you¡¯re happier than anyone else. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯ve always seen Laverne as a burden.¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t want to argue with Yuna at her grandmother¡¯s funeral. She didn¡¯t even look at her and continued to greet the guests. Yuna scoffed and thought about the date she expected from her beloved Freddie tonight. She wanted to show off this sacred moment to Marguerite. However, she had checked the ce for the past few nights. All the tables and chairs in the restaurant had been cleared, leaving only a small round table on the terrace. The location had a great view overlooking the whole of Stonebridge City. Freddie would certainly not want such a romantic atmosphere to be disturbed But she had to show off to Marguerite. She wanted Marguerite to know that in front of Freddie, she was just a clown! Thinking about it, Yuna raised her chin high. ¡°You know, Marguente, Freddie is going to confess his love to me today. Oh, Marguerite, with Laverne gone, your happy days are over!¡± Atst, Marguente turned to look at her, her eyes sharp and warning. ¡°Does Frederick know you¡¯re talking like this at your grandmother¡¯s funeral?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yuna was taken aback. ¡°If you dare to say one more word, I won¡¯t hesitate to tell him exactly what you¡¯ve said.¡± ¡°Marguerite, you.¡± Yuna didn¡¯t dare to say anything more. She was truly threatened All she could do was roll her eyes at Marguerite, cursing her silently in her heart. Marguente was just like the old hag, a tattletale. But so what? Her happy days wereing to an end. Once Freddie confessed his love tonight, the next one to be buned would be Marguerite! Meanwhile, in the open¨Cair parking lot outside the funeral home. Miley had intended toe early to help, but the morning rush hour had caught her off guard, causing her to bete Just as she parked her BMW, a familiar yellow sports car pulled up next to her. Robert, dressed in a ck suit, got out of the car. The moment he saw Miley, they both looked surprised ¡°Why are you here?¡± Both of them asked almost simultaneously. Robert quickly replied, ¡°A friend¡¯s rtive passed away. I¡¯m here for the funeral. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for a funeral too.¡± Robert stood there, dumbfounded, That can¡¯t be There¡¯s only one funeral here today. We¡­. we can¡¯t possibly be attending the same one?¡± Miley shook her head confidently, ¡°Impossible! The deceased is my best friend¡¯s grandmother!¡± Like a bolt from the blue, Robert¡¯s mind was in a whirl. He regretted realizing the connection toote. His surprise made him raise his voice, ¡°You don¡¯t mean to tell me, Marguerite is your best friend! Chapter 280 Chapter 280 ¡°Do you know Marguerite?¡± This piece of information took Miley by surprise She never expected that Robert not only knew Marguerite but they also seemed to be close. How else could he have been invited to her grandmother¡¯s funeral? Tell me first, is Marguerte your best friend?¡± Robert asked, his eyes revealing an urgency he wasn¡¯t trying to hide She had been keeping Robert in the dark, not wanting him to know about the rtionship between Frederick and Marguerite. But it seemed like now, she had no other choice but to admit it. Quietly, she pulled Robert to aer of the parking lot, whispering, ¡°Yes, she is my best friend.¡± Upon hearing her answer, Robert¡¯s handsome face stiffened. What was going on? Was it possible that all this time, the person investigating Frederick was not some stranger, but Marguerite!? He had assumed Frederick was tangled up with another woman, only to find out that this woman was none other than his closest friend, Marguerite! But thank heavens it was her, the best possible oue. However, he couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why? They¡¯re together every day, why would there be a need for a secret investigation?¡± Faced with Robert¡¯s question, Miley¡¯s brain began to work in overdrive. ¡°Are you Marguente¡¯s friend, or Mr. Winston¡¯s?¡± ¡°Of course, Frederick and I have been friends since childhood, and I only met Marguente after she started working at LuxeScents International.¡± Since Robert was one of Frederick¡¯s people, should she tell him the truth? Frederick probably didn¡¯t know that Marguente¡¯s investigation had something to do with the mask. But since her grandmother had passed away, the Lockwood family wouldn¡¯t threaten Marguente anymore. So, telling Robert the truth shouldn¡¯t be a problem, night? Miley was about to speak when she noticed Ablett smoking by the trash can nearby. She nced at him, lowered her voice, and decided to make a deal with Robert. ¡°You want to know the truth? Fine, but it¡¯s going to cost you.¡± ¡°What do you want in exchange?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you could get the guest list for the Regal Haven Hotel today? Give it to me first, then I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Robert stared at Miley, his gaze unwavering There was a reason why she and Marguerite were best friends. These two women, one cunning and calctive, the other sincere but inscrutable. They were the perfect match,plementing each other. Robert had no choice but to pull out his phone and immediately send the list to Miley¡¯s email. ¡°I received it this morning. I¡¯m sending it to you now. I hope your answer won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Ding! The email notification rang out, and a satisfied smile spread across Miley¡¯s face. She nced towards the trash can again, catching Ablett¡¯s eye as he watched her Miley quickly looked away. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you right now. I¡¯ll let you know after the funeral.¡± She tried to walk away, but Robert pulled her back. His handsome face was serious, his hot breath hit her face, carrying an unidentifiable fragrance. ¡°Miley, you were my first woman, so you can¡¯t y tricks on me Miley was shocked. That was Robert¡¯s first time? That didn¡¯t seem right! Miley felt like she had gotten a great deal. Her gaze towards Robert grew more affectionate. ¡°Would I dare to trick you? I¡¯ll tell you as soon as the funeral is over Chapter 281 Ten minutester, the funeralmenced on schedule. A few workers gently lowered Leveme¡¯s crystal coffin into the grave, carefully arranging the mementos on top of the casket lid The officiant mumbled words that Marguerite couldn¡¯t understand, but she knew they were wishes of goodwill towards her grandmother Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t let them fall freely. Yuna, on the other hand, was sobbing uncontrobly. She knelt on the grass, her cries piercing and shrill. Frederick stayed by Marguente¡¯s side, his armforting around her shoulders, whispering. ¡°If you need to cry, it¡¯s okay to let it out.¡± Marguente shook her head, a determined smile on her lips, ¡°I can¡¯t cry Grandmother didn¡¯t like seeing me cry. Look how sunny it is today, she loved sunbathing I believe heaven must be even more beautiful than here.¡± Touched by her optimism, Frederick¡¯s hand gently soothed her shoulders Meanwhile, Yuna watched enviously from the ground, her face distorted with jealousy She consoled herself, thinking Frederick was simply pitying Marguerite. Tonight, he was going to confess his love to her, not Marguente. The funeral ended quickly, and guests began to disperse. Marguerite took off the gardenia from her chest and ced it on her grandmother¡¯s tombstone Looking at her grandmother¡¯s smiling picture, Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but smile too, ¡°Grandma, I picked this gardenia for you from the hill behind our house this moming. You always said you preferred the countryside to the city and were disappointed the gardenias hadn¡¯t bloomed yet. This year, they did bloomte But, do you know why? Because they were waiting to bloom especially for you You go ahead to heaven and scout out the ce, but don¡¯t have too much fun without me. When my timees, I¡¯ll need you to meet me at the gates.¡± Marguente¡¯s words were simple but heartfelt, leaving Miley in tears. Robertforted her, holding her closely and cleaning her tears. But Marguerite¡¯s expression remained calm, just like her words. As she stood up, Miley quickly pushed Robert away, and Marguente said softly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± They made their way to the parking lot, with Robert and Miley in some secret conversation. When they reached the entrance, Frederick wanted to check the confession site onest time and decided to send Marguente home first. He turned to her, ¡°You go home and rest. I¡¯ll get in touchter.¡± Marguerite thought Frederick was going to confess his feelings to Yuna, so she nodded without saying much ¡°All the ck business cars in the parking lot belong to my bodyguards. You can get into any of them, they¡¯ll take you back to the Manor Marguerite obediently nodded again, turned to Miley, and asked, ¡°Do you want toe with me?¡± Miley nced guiltily at Robert and quickly refused, ¡°No, no, I drove here. Let me know when you get home!¡± After all, she needed to tell Robert about Marguerite¡¯s secret, and it wouldn¡¯t be right to do so in front of her. Unsuspecting, Marguerite walked alone to the parking lot and got into thest Mercedes¨CBenz business car. Everyone was so engrossed in their conversation, they didn¡¯t notice a handsome man dressed in a ck velvet suit carrying a bouquet of white roses and a bottle of premium sparkling wine approaching the grave. He gently ced the flowers in front of Laverne¡¯s tombstone, then pulled out two wine sses from his pocket, filling each one. He poured one ss onto the tombstone, and downed the other in one gulp His expression solemn, he held the empty ss and murmured, ¡°Madam, may you rest in peace.¡± Then, he look out his phone and dialed Marguerite¡¯s number. She answered almost immediately. ¡°Steven?¡± His eyes remained fixed on Laverne¡¯s smiling face in the picture, ¡°Marguerite, do you have a moment? I need to see you. There¡¯s something I need to tell you¡± ¡°Sure, should I meet you at the hospital?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Marguerite quickly hung up the call and told the driver, ¡°Sir, could you please turn around and head to Stonebridge Memonal Hospital?¡± Chapter 282 Marguerite had just left when Frederick and his men started to make their way towards the parking lot Yuna, still basking in the joy of Frederick¡¯s impending confession, conscientiously waited by the side of a Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan. As time passed without any sign of Frederick, she peeked back towards the direction they came from, only to see Robert intercepting Frederick halfway, with Miley beside him. A sudden sense of foreboding washed over her. Quietly, she signaled to Zoe and Ablett to follow her as she stealthily circled behind the trio through an adjacent shrubbery. Robert suddenly halted, forcing Miley towards Frederick with an air of righteousness and brevity, ¡°Go on, spill it!¡± Miley was momentarily stunned. She had indeed nned to reveal the truth to Robert, but she never expected him to ask her toy it all out in front of Frederick Embarrassed and conflicted, Miley sidled closer to Robert, gritting her teeth in frustration. In a hushed whisper, she hissed, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I was going to tell you privately? Why did you bring Mr. Winston into this?¡± Telling Robert the truth was an easy task, considering their rtionship. She could at least demand him to keep it a secret. However, telling Frederick, who was still technically Marguerite¡¯s husband, about Marguerite¡¯s secret, felt like backstabbing Robert just smiled at her, not bothering to hide anything, ¡°I¡¯d have to tell him anyway, aren¡¯t you being foolish?¡± Miley¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She thought she could trust him with her secret, but he just betrayed her without a second thought. And he didn¡¯t even giver her time to react Meanwhile, Frederick, anxious to oversee his nned confession, was growing impatient. The two before him were talking around the bush, wasting precious time His handsome face twisted in annoyance, ¡°What is the matter?¡± Miley was caught in a dilemma. She should¡¯ve discussed with Marguente before revealing the secret, but Robert didn¡¯t seem to give her that opportunity. However she had already started talking, she had to continue. Alright, then. Just do it. ¡°Mr. Winston, my name is Miley. I¡¯m a close friend of Marguente. We¡¯ve met a few times before, I hope you remember me ¡°I remember you¡± Frederick, always sparing with his words, was getting increasingly impatient with the overly expressive duo. He paused before asking. ¡°What do you want to tell me?¡± Miley started talking but again trailed off mid¨Csentence, clearly conflicted Seeing this, Robert, fearing Miley might change her mind at thest minute, quickly interjected. The person who was investigating your cufflink was her friend in other words, the woman investigating you was Margueritel Worned Frederick might misunderstand, Miley hurriedly exined, ¡°But she didn¡¯t mean to investigate you in the beginning! We didn¡¯t know who the cufflink belonged to initially. It was only during our investigation that we stumbled upon you¡± Frederick furrowed his brows, ¡°So, why was she investigating that cufflink?¡± The truth was just at the tip of her tongue, but Miley was too nervous to speak. Marguente always presented herself under a mask, would Mr. Winston think she was deceiving him? Robert impatiently nudged her, ¡°Just say it, you¡¯re killing me!¡± Miley made up her mind. ¡°Mr. Winston, I can tell you. But you must promise not to be mad at Marquente!¡± His face turned colder, ¡°Speak¡± Miley took a deep breath, and let it out slowly as if gathering the courage to make a grand revtion, ¡°Actually, the Marguerite you see now, isn¡¯t the real Marquente.¡± Chapter 283 Chapter 283 The moment the words left Miley¡¯s lips, Frederick was taken aback, and even Robert was stunned for a few seconds. Robert asked, ¡°What are you talking about? Are there two Marguente?¡± ¡°Quit interrupting. let me finish!¡± Miley snorted at Robert in annoyance, hating to be interrupted. She then turned to Frederick. The Marguerite you see now is disguised! She doesn¡¯t naturally look like this!¡± Marguente doesn¡¯t look like this? In an instant, a tremor passed through Frederick¡¯s indifferent pupils, and his beating heart lost its regr rhythm, bing chaotic. ¡°She¡¯s disguised¡± Exin!¡± ¡°Marquente is disguised! She¡¯s actually incredibly beautiful, breathtakingly so! She¡¯s been wearing a cosmetic mask, and¡­ and also¡­¡± ¡°Miley, quit spouting nonsense! How could Marguerite be wearing a cosmetic mask? She¡¯s just ugly! Naturally ugly!¡± Miley¡¯s words were abruptly cut off by Yuna, who had leapt out from the bushes. She had been about to say that Marguerite was forced to wear the mask by the Lockwood family! But Miley couldn¡¯t say anything else at that moment, as she was being chased by Yuna Zoe and Ablett had even picked up pebbles and were throwing them at her They yelled while throwing, ¡°Miley! How dare you lie in front of Mr. Winston?! I¡¯ll teach you a lesson on his behalf! You gossip!¡± As the words fell, arge, uneven rock was thrown at Miley Robert¡¯s pupils dted in shock, and he quickly stepped in front of Miley, taking the brunt of the impact. A dull thud sounded as the rock hit Robert¡¯s back, causing him to grit his teeth in pain and his veins to pop. ¡°Bodyguards!¡± At Frederick¡¯smand, the bodyguards quickly restrained the frenzied trio of the Lockwood family Seeing Robert in such pain, Miley felt her heart shatter She couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, pointing at Yuna and raising her voice, ¡°Mr. Winston! Marguerite is wearing a mask because of Yuna! They look exactly alike, and Yuna was afraid Marguente would steal her thunder, so she forced Marguerite to wear the mask.¡± Frederick¡¯s slender body stiffened in disbelief, ¡°What did you say? Marguente and Yuna look exactly alike?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Freddiel Don¡¯t listen to Miley¡¯s nonsense!¡± Despite being restrained by the bodyguards on either side, Yuna wasn¡¯t giving in. She kicked her legs as if to kick Miley But Frederick didn¡¯t pay any attention to her words, his tall figure lowering over Miley with an intimidating aura Why do you know so much?¡± Miley was frantic, ¡°I didn¡¯t know anything before, only that Yuna forced Marguerite to wear a mask! I felt wronged and looked into why they made Marguerite wear a mask, and I didn¡¯t expect it to lead to you, Mr. Winston! Marguente tried to take off the mask several times, but every time the Lockwood family would threaten her with Granny¡¯s life! You don¡¯t know how much she has suffered¡°¡± Fredenck¡¯s eyes were zing. ¡°Are you telling the truth?¡± Miley nodded, ¡°As true as pearls!¡± Seeing that the truth was out, Yuna made a ¨Cditch effort, ¡°Freddie, it¡¯s nonsense! She¡¯s talking nonsense! Don¡¯t believe her!¡± Miley turned to Yuna, her eyes wide in anger, ¡°It¡¯s easy to tell if I¡¯m lying Mr Winston, why don¡¯t you go and see for yourself if Marguerite is wearing a mask!¡± Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Meanwhile, inside a car Laverne¡¯s funeral had taken a toll on Marguerite, leaving her physically and emotionally drained. As a result, she fell asleep not long after getting into the car She was jolted awake by the chauffeur¡¯s voice, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, we have arrived¡± Rubbing her eyes, Marguerite tried to make sense of her surroundings, only to be stunned Why was she at the Winston Mansion? Didn¡¯t Powell live here? Marguente looked suspiciously at the chauffeur who was holding the door open for her, asking. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I wanted to go to Stonebridge Memorial Hospital?¡± The chauffeur gestured for her to get off, his tone professional and devoid of emotion, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯m just following orders. Please, get off the car. The young master is waiting for you in the study.¡± ¡°Young master? Which young master?¡± Marguerite blurted out. Fredenck should not invite her into the Winston Mansion in this way, right? So, the one being referred to as the young master by the chauffeur could only be Maurice Winston? Why would Maurice want to see her? ¡°Ms Lockwood, please get off the car. Don¡¯t keep the young master waiting,¡± the chauffeur urged once again. At the same time, the grand double doors of the mansion swung open from the inside, with rows of bodyguards standing imposingly at the entrance. As if weing Marguente, but with an undeniable air of intimidation. Confused, Marguerite stepped out of the car, intending to send her location to Frederick via her phone. However, she saw the numerous missed calls from him and a message from Miley [Marguente, the guest list from the Regal Haven Hotel has been sent to your email. Also, Mr Winston is looking for you everywhere Have a good chat with him today, everything will be clear. I¡¯ll wait for your good news at home] The guest list from the Regal Haven Hotel? This was what Marguente wanted to see the most, but she didn¡¯t have the time to check her emails now Looking around, she saw the bodyguards marching towards her in a neat line. She quickly sent a message to Frederick. [I didn¡¯t hear your calls, I¡¯ve been brought back to the Winston Mansion. There are so many bodyguards here, they seem to be Maurice¡¯s men¡® Don¡¯t call me, I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll take my phone away if they hear it ring] Fredenck replied quickly (Stay safe, I¡¯ming to find you] Before Marguerite could respond with a ¡°okay¡°, the bodyguards had already lined up beside her Unsure of their intentions, Marguente knew she couldn¡¯t resist and obediently walked into the mansion, heading to the study. The study in the mansion wasrge, exuding an ancient vibepared to the one in the manor its location on the shaded side of the house made the room eerily gloomy Marguerite scanned the room several times and found no one, then the door was suddenly pushed open Marguente looked over nervously, spotting Steven dressed in a ck velvet suit standing at the doorway. Seeing Steven here didn¡¯t surprise Marguente, considering his frequent interactions with the wealthy and his job as a family doctor She quickly walked up to him, unable to hide her anxiety ¡°Steven, have you seen Maurice? I was going to the hospital to find you, but for some reason, the chauffeur brought me here. They kept mentioning a young master that¡¯s Maunce, nght?¡± When in danger, any familiar face can be a source of protection. At this moment, Steven was that person for Marguerite However, Marguerite didn¡¯t get the response she was hoping for Steven subtly lifted his chin, his eyes twinkling with murth. However, his facial expression was serious and unfamiliar to Marguente. Slowly, he extended his arm towards Marguerite, saying, ¡°Hello, Marguerite. Allow me to reintroduce myself. Steven is my pseudonym, but my real name is Maurice¡± Chapter 285 Maurice gazed at her, his deep¨Cset eyes seemingly brimming with unsaid secrets Marquente was taken aback, herce a canvas of confusion, thinking that Steven was merely jesting ¡°Steven, now¡¯s not the time for jokes.¡± Though she had doubted before if Steven was part of Maurice¡¯s crew, she refused to believe that Steven was Maurice himself. After all, Maurice was Frederick¡¯s half brother, both sharing the Powell blood. Hence, there should be some semnce of resemnce between the two. But Steven, with his effeminate look and tender skin, bore no resemnce to either Frederick or Powell Ignoring Marguente¡¯s skepticism, his gaze tumed icy, studying her for a few seconds, as if offering her a final moment of reprieve After a moment of silence, he spoke again. ¡°Not only that, but I am also the mysterious person you¡¯ve been in contact with.¡± Marguente was in shock Had the atmosphere not been so cenic and serious, Marguerite would haveughed out loud It was slightly usible that Maurice was the mysterious person, but to say that Steven was Maurice and the mysterious person, Marguerite couldn¡¯t draw an equal sign amongst the three Wasn¡¯t this too melodramatic? Even scriptwriters couldn¡¯te up with such a plotline, let alone it happening in real life ¡°Steven, you ¡°Before she couldplete her sentence, Maurice interrupted her in a different way He stretched out his arm towards Marguerite, his well¨Cdefined fingers brushed against her ear. With a swift motion, he tugged at the edge of the mask that was as smooth as skin, and mercilessly ripped it off. The unexpected move left Marguerite stunned. It took her a while to regain herposure The man looked at the stunning woman in front of him, her fair and tender face revealed, her eyshes fluttering like wings, and her eyes twinkling like stars. This face was nothing short of breathtaking! Though he had seen her true face before, he was still taken aback by her beauty ¡°You¡­ Marguerite¡¯s lips moved, but no words came out Maunce ced his finger on his lips, signaling Marguerite to stay silent. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a square¨Cshaped voice changer ¡°How about now? Do you believe me now?¡± His voice, distorted by the voice changer, echoed in the room, making it impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman speaking Upon seeing Marguerite¡¯s obvious surprise, Maurice cleared his throat seductively, ¡°How could I have agreed to cooperate with you without knowing your secrets?¡± In the blink of an eye, Marguente¡¯s mind was buzzing Her palms were sweaty, and her legs felt like jelly Even though she didn¡¯t want to believe it, she had to The voice matched, and he even knew her secret of wearing a mask She began to believe the man before her was Maurice Marguerite leaned against the wall to steady herself. ¡°Steven, I never doubted you for a moment!¡± But Maurice justughed, hisughter filled with a charm that could turn the world upside down. But Marguente couldn¡¯t appreciate it. She only felt chills running down her spine! The man who was a life¨Csaving doctor, the man who had saved her grandmother¡¯s life multiple times, was the person Frederick hated the most ¡°Marguente, I must correct you A month ago, you questioned whether I was Maurice¡¯s man. So, you didn¡¯t trust me as much as you imed¡± Marguente clenched her teeth, her throat felt as if it was blocked by arge stone, making it impossible for her to speak When the truth came crashing down like a tidal wave, Marguerite felt as if she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, making it hard for her to breathe Then, countless questions flooded her mind, filling her face with confusion and disbelief ¡°Why? Why did you choose me? Why did you make me marry Frederick!¡± 11:27 # Chapter 286 Maurice looked deep into Marguerite¡¯s eyes, his gaze charp and profound, sending chills down her spine ¡°Marguente, I returned home much earlier than you could ve ever imagined My purpose was clear to bring down Frederick, I needed someone to distract him. Coincidentally, you appeared I saw you taking Laverne to the hospital, your relentless determination to protect your kin was exactly what I needed So, I called you, proposed my n, and you willingly walked into the lion¡¯s den. And you didn¡¯t disappoint me within just two months in the Winston family, you stirred up so much trouble¡± Fredenck once said that Maunce¡¯s tactics were beyond anyone¡¯s wildest imaginations. Thus, when faced with her queries, Marguerite expected him toe up with some excuse or lie to brush them off But to her surprise, Maurice was unsettlingly candid, revealing everything without any reservation Marguerite stared back at him in disbelief, ¡°So, every move I made within the Winston family was under your control?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Maunce replied Marquente closed her eyes in despair. She never imagined that every blunder she made at the manor, every disagreement she had with Frederick, could have been used as a weapon by Maurice against Frederick. She felt an overwhelming quilt towards Frederick Marguerite tried topose herself, and when she opened her eyes, they were bloodshot. ¡°In that case, you should be well aware that I did nothing to betray Frederick during those two months at the manor, nor did I leak any information about thepany¡± Maurice scoffed at her naivety. ¡°Marguente, even if you just sat by his side and did nothing, I would still know everything I need to.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Your and Laverne¡¯s phones¡­ Ive installed surveince software on them. I can hear and see everything¡± Marguente stiffened, a surge of anger welled up within her. So every word she said, every action she look at the manor was under Maunce¡¯s control? No wonder he wanted her to marry Frederick, no wonder he wanted her to get Frederick to acknowledge her as his wife within three months. Because only by getting close to Frederick could Maurice extract the secrets he wanted through the surveince software Suddenly, Marguente remembered the divorce agreement she signedst month and returned to thepany where Robert revealed Frederick¡¯s loss of sense of smcli Not long after, Fragrance Finesse snatched LuxeScents International¡¯s order and exposed Frederick¡¯s secret to everyone. All of this was because of her! Marquente felt a mix of desperation and anger She wished she could kill Maurice right now ¡°So.. you wanted to bring down Frederick through me within three months?¡± Marguente leaned against the wall for support. It took all her strength to ask that question Maurice instinctively reached out to help her, only to be harshly brushed off Seeing her strong reaction, Maurice didn¡¯t insist. He let her slump to the ground, paused for a moment, and responded, ¡°Yes. But something disrupted my initial n and pace I was supposed to reveal the truth to you after your divorce from Frederick¡± Marguente looked up, her face drained of energy But Maurice¡¯s next words hit her like a sledgehammer, I never expected you to be pregnant, and the child you are carrying, is mine.¡± Chapter 287 There were no words to describe the storm that was raging within Marguerite Today, she¡¯d been bombarded with secrets upon secrets, leaving herpletely unprepared and caught off guard. Her emotions had already settled into a numb calm after wave after wave of shock, akin to the feeling of throwing caution to the wind. All that Maurice had done, wasn¡¯t it just to bring Frederick down? So, whatever he said now, Marguerite did not find it surprising Even if he suddenly confessed to being the Grim Reaper himself, she had to believe him! Marguerite let out augh, soaked in self mockery and despair, before tears start to trickle down her face, her nose stinging worse than after a spoonful of horseradish. Maunce looked down at Marquente¡¯s shaking shoulders, and regardless of whether she could ept it, he continued to speak, ¡°The moment I saw you in the hospital, I was drawn to your beauty. But that was just a fleeting admiration, nothing to do with affection Yet, when I began to investigate you, I found out your parents were scheming to get you involved with Hanley. I¡¯ve met Hanley, he¡¯s a fat gambler. At that moment, I found myself empathizing with you. If you had to give up your virtue that night, why couldn¡¯t it be with me? At least, afterpleting your mission, I could offer you stability for the rest of your life Hanley, however, could offer you nothing¡± His voice was soft, his tone gentle, but Marquente could only feel nausea How could he utter those words. ¡°If you had to give up your virtue, why couldn¡¯t it be with me?¡± Despite his good looks, how was he any different from Hanley? In fact, Maurice was even more of a refined scoundrel and hypocrite than Hanley. Cleaning her tears, Marguerite leaned against the wall to stand up, locked eyes with Maurice, and forced herself to pull together, ¡°You say the child I¡¯m carrying is yours, prove it¡± ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re smart. You have the evidence of that night in your hands, don¡¯t you?¡± At Maurice¡¯s reminder, Marguente suddenly remembered the list Miley had just sent her. She pulled out her phone impatiently, her entire being filled with urgency and anxiety, her trembling fingers almost dropping the device. April 27th! The date of that one¨Cnight stand was April 27th! Marguente frantically found the corresponding date, following it to the booking details of room 1205 Guest Maurice! Suddenly, the surroundings blurred, the name ¡°Maurice¡± burning into Marguente¡¯s retinas. She couldn¡¯t believe that the father of her child could be Maurice! Marguerite, holding up her phone, voice filled with emotion, ¡°Maunce, how did you know I would have this list? You knew I was investigating it, didn¡¯t you? So, you had plenty of time to change the information!¡± Maurice had wide¨Creaching influence, altering the guest records of the Regal Haven Hotel would be a piece of cake for him. ¡°You can choose not to believe me. Give birth to the child, we can get a paternity test¡± Marguerite clenched her teeth with anger, ¡°You expect me to give birth to this child? Dream on! I will never let you be the father, I will aborti Marguerite, saying this, stormed off, opening the door in rage, Maurice¡¯s voice immediately followed, ¡°Marguente, you have severe pelvic inmmation. If you want to abort my child, you might as well sign your own death warrant At that moment, the usuallyposed Maurice finally lost his temper Marguerite stopped in her tracks, turned around and dered, ¡°Even if I die, I will not bear this child for you!¡± Maurice gave a faint smile, ¡°So, you¡¯ve epted that the child is mine, haven¡¯t you?¡± Marguerite¡¯s hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into fists. Her short nails dug into the flesh of her palms, but she barely felt the pain. ¡°Laverne is gone, and this child, is now your only Chapter 288 ¡°You¡¯re already over two months pregnant, and the baby¡¯s already forming Soon, it¡¯ll start developing arms and legs, it¡¯ll start kicking, can you really bear it, Marguerite Marguerite froze, her slender fingers instinctively stroking her belly as if to feel the miracle of life. Even if she didn¡¯t want to believe it, she had to admit that Maurice had a knack for maniption, for hitting people where it hurt the most and using that to his advantage She did have feelings for the unborn child. These feelings were hard to sever, a result of her innate maternal instincts Slowly. Maurice approached Marguerite With a long arm, he closed the door behind them, ¡°Give birth to the baby. Fill raise it, and fill make it the cream of the crop To leave my child with a lowlife like you? Id have to be kicked in the head by a mule¡± With that, Marguerite puthed Maurice away and turned to leave. ¡°Marguerite, do you want our child to live your past life? Can you afford to give it a proper upbringing? Can you afford to educate it?¡± Maurice¡¯s voice was steady but it made Marguerite halt in her steps She thought of her own bleak childhood, of not knowing where the next meal woulde from, of falling sick every other day, of being ostracized due to poverty Every mother wants to give her child the best, but what could she give, besides a hard luck life? ¡®Or perhaps, you want to leave the child with Frederick? Don¡¯t forget, it¡¯s my blood, not his. Do you think he will ept it? Between your child and Yuna¡¯s child, who do you think he would choose? And even if he epts it, people are unpredictable. Do you think he will treat it as his own? Marguerite, do you want our child to be another Frederick? An outcast, always being rejected and ostracized?¡± Marguerite spun around, her voice raising in defense. The child is mine, not yours!¡± She said it almost in a growl, her chest heaving with anger Her gaze hardened, and she continued, ¡°I hope he bes the next Frederick. Do you have any shame, Maurice? Despite being an outcast, Fredenck carved his own path, took control of the family business, and became a sess. Who are you to say that my child can¡¯t do the same?¡± Maurice¡¯s lips curled into a smirk and heughed, augh filled with mockery and disdain for her naivety, ¡°Marguerite, I have to ask, what makes you think you have the right to say that? Do you know anything about Frederick¡¯s mother Jocelyn? Do you know shees from an intellectual family and holds a PhD from Stanford? What makes you think you can replicate Jocelyn¡¯s sess and raise your child to be the next Frederick?¡± A child¡¯s sess is closely linked to their upbringing Even though Frederick and Jocelyn were ostracized in the Winston family and even kicked out of their home, Jocelyn¡¯s background and capabilities gave her a confidence that Marguente could never match Jocelyn was born into an intellectual family, but what about Marguerite? She was a nobody from Marina Shores Vige, who despite going to school for over a decade, had no qualifications to show for it. She couldn¡¯t see any future for her child other than the one she had lived What should she do? What could she do? At this point, Marguente felt cornered, confused, and lost Just then, the door was kicked open Tears streaming down her face, she looked up to see Frederick standing in the doorway, his face cold. Chapter 289 Chapter 289 The sight of Frederick brought a momentary joy to Marguerite. The man she had been waiting for had finally amved, and she no longer had to face everything alone She yeamed to throw herself into his arms, regardless of whether he loved her or not. She wanted to use his sturdy shoulders as a pir of support and to pour out her tears, without restraint. But reason told Marguente that she couldn¡¯t do that. She wasn¡¯t certain if Frederick had overheard her conversation with Maurice, and now that she had taken off her mask, revealing her true face, she hadn¡¯t figured out how to break this to him. But Frederick¡¯s maction wasn¡¯t as shocked or surprised as she had imagined, as if he had known her true appearance all along Fredenck stepped forward and took Marguerite¡¯s hand, his authontative tone softened, it wasforting. Til take you home¡± Marguente was a bit taken aback, but she followed Frederick, step by step But before they could leave the room, Maurice¡¯s voice rang out from behind them ¡°Frederick! Marguente has something to tell you¡± Both of them stopped in their tracks. Frederick turned around and looked quietly at Marguerite, but he was silent In the few seconds of their eye contact, Marguerite saw a mix of emotions sh through Frederick¡¯s eyes. First skepticism, then deep thought, and finally, he made a calm decision His words were directed at Maurice, ¡°Our business is none of your concern¡± Fredenck took Marguente¡¯s hand and turned around again, but Maurice spoke up, as if issuing a final ultimatum, ¡°If you don¡¯t tell him, I will.¡± Marguente¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively pulled her hand out of Frederick¡¯s grasp Frederick paused, then looked back at Marguente. His bright eyes were unwavering, but he remained silent Through Frederick¡¯s eyes, Marguente realized that he didn¡¯t seem to want to know what she had to tell him. Maybe, subconsciously, he sensed that what she was about to say was something serious. Serious enough to disrupt his life, perhaps even cause a radical change in his life. So, Marguerite saw a hint of self¨Cdeception in Frederick¡¯s expression But after a long silence, he finally spoke, ¡°What do you want to tell me?¡± ¡°What can I say?¡± Marguente looked at Frederick nkly, tears of self¨Creproach falling down her cheeks. What was she supposed to say? That their mamage was the result of her and Maurice¡¯s maniption? Or that the baby in her belly was Maurice¡¯s child? I¡¯m sorry.. It¡¯s all my fault. Im sorry.¡± Marguente kept apologizing, her voice trembling her body shaking uncontrobly Marguente was crying so hard that she couldn¡¯t get her words out properly Frederick¡¯spassion for Marguente overcame his suspicion. He put his arm around Marguente¡¯s shoulders, his warm hand gently stroking her, ¡°if you don¡¯t want to talk about it, we don¡¯t have to Let¡¯s go home¡± The gentler Frederick was towards her, the more upset Marguerite became She didn¡¯t know why Maurice insisted on her having the baby, but what she did know was that she was the one who hadplicated Frederick¡¯s situation. Although thepany had weathered the storm, she found it impossible to face Frederick again. So what if they went home? Every time she looked at him, she would remember the foolish things she had done. And since she was carrying Maurice¡¯s child, Maunce would never let her go, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t let Frederick go, either It was time to end all this. The pressure, guilt, and heartache almost suffocated Marguerite She held her breath, forcing herself to calm down. Then she looked up at him, her words as ruthless as an executioner¡¯s de, ¡°Frederick, I¡¯m carrying Maurice¡¯s child. He he is the father¡± The room suddenly fell into a deathly silence, and no one spoke. Marguente could only hear Frederick¡¯s rapid, heavy breathing After a long while, Frederick finally spoke, his voice cold, ¡°Marguerite, you said.¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Marguerite interrupted him, ¡°I said i¡¯m carrying Maurice¡¯s child, don¡¯t ask me again¡± Chapter 290 Marguente locked eyes with Frederick, whose handsome face shrouded in a cloud of grim shock She quickly avoided his oppressive gaze long her head slightly to observe Maurice from theer of her eye Was that enough?¡± she asked Maunce wore a smile throughout the entire ordeal, as if everythin happening was under his control. Marguente was finally experiencing the cunning and sly nature of Maurice that she had heard so much about. His strategic y was smart and ruthless. No man could stand to be cheated on, especially by his own woman and a loathed nemens The wordsing out of Marquente¡¯s mouth had a devastating impact, far more severe than if Maurice had said them himself Maurice walked up to Marguente, whispering in her ear with an air of familianty and ambiguity. ¡°What about the rest? Did you tell Frederick when we met?¡± Marguerite felt a chill run down her spine. Maunce had backed her into aer One step forward would mean plunging into an abyss. But what could she do? She was at the root of this mess, she had no choice but to take the leap. ¡°We we met a long time ago Marguerite gritted her teeth, looking back at Frederick ¡°We knew each other before I met you.¡± Frederick remained calm, his gaze fixed on Marguente¡¯s face as he tried to determine the truth in her words Marguente knew he didn¡¯t believe her. His current state was akin to when Maurice revealed his true identity to her. He must have thought she was joking, making fun of him. But he was much moreposed than she was Marguerite was overwhelmed with emotion, but suddenly found herself pulled into Frederick¡¯s embrace His jaw rested on her neck, his hand dusting her hair. His voice was barely a whisper, only meant for her to hear, ¡°Did he threaten you? You know I won¡¯t let my woman be in danger I have the power to protect you Tell me, everything you said was under his coercion.¡± His embrace was tight and warm, but Marguerite¡¯s heart was shattering She was on the verge of tears, the words she had to say were choking her Taking a deep breath, she pushed Frederick away, not giving him a chance to argue, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you, not a single word Iconspired with Maurice against you. He promised me that if I mamed you, he could cure my grandmother¡¯s illness¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes darkened, but his gaze on Marguerite remainedplex Marguente wished he would look at her with raw hatred, but instead, she saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes Marguerite shouted inside of her ¡°Fool! Why won¡¯t you believe me? I deceived you! I deceived you of everything!¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was heartbreaking for Marguente, but his phone rang at that moment He kept dismissing the call, but the caller was persistent. Eventually, he answered and heard Robert¡¯s urgent voice, ¡°Frederick! Did you see Marguente? I have something important to tell you about her Go somewhere private, don¡¯t let her hear anything I¡¯m about to tell your Marguente didn¡¯t know who was calling, but she noticed that Frederick¡¯s gaze never left her since he picked up the call Then, he put the call on speaker ¡°A few days ago, Miley brought Marguerite¡¯s phone for me to fix I just checked it at the garage, there are several spyware and recorded conversations in it! Our privatepany meetings have all been recorded. Frederick? Frederick, are you there? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Frederick hung up the call, his piercing gaze fixed on Marguente Marguerite stumbled backward, but Maunce quickly steadied her and pulled her to his side The line was clearly drawn, Marguente didn¡¯t pull her hand away from Maurice She looked back at Frederick with a self¨Cmocking smile. See, Robert just confirmed it is there anything else you don¡¯t understand? I can exin it to you¡± Frederick¡¯s face was almost pale, his expression nk Just an hour ago, he thought he finally knew the truth, that Marguente was the girl who saved his life fifteen years ago He was eager to meet her to ask her if she was the one he had a one-night stand with at the Regal Haven Hotel He desperately hoped that the baby Marguerite was carrying was his. But Marguente told him, the father of the child, was Mauncel Looking at Marguerite¡¯s face, sweeter and more innocent than Yuna¡¯s, Frederick felt alienated from the woman he once shared an intimate rtionship with After a long standell, Fredenck finally spoke, his voice filled with a hatred Marguente had never seen before. ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re done well! You¡¯re a woman that disgusts me! I wish you and the child you¡¯r Chapter 291 Chapter 291 With a gritted¨Cteeth determination, Fredenck uttered each word in a clipped tone before turning around and resolutely striding away Marguente instinctively wanted to follow, but she was stuck in ce as if she was a statue, her body refusing to obey hermands. Her heart was the only thing that moved, shattering into a million fragments. Meanwhile, Frederick had just left the grand Winston Mansion when the Lockwood family¡¯s Mercedes¨CBenz drew up slowly. Yuna tumbled out of the car and clumsily lunged towards Frederick, falling onto her knees and clutching his legs as she sobbed and pleaded, ¡°Freddie! I admit it, Marguerite was the one who saved you fifteen years ago, but the child I¡¯m carrying is truly yours! Our baby is innocent! Please forgive me, can you forgive me?¡± Looking down at Yuna¡¯s face that was identical to Marguerite¡¯s, the hatred in Frederick¡¯s heart intensified. He ruthlessly pulled his legs free from Yuna¡¯s grasp. leaving her sprawled awkwardly on the ground. With a disgusted expression, Frederick skirted around Yuna and headed towards his car. Yuna, in a fit of desperation, yelled after him, ¡°Freddie! It was Marguerite who fooled you, not me!¡± Frederick froze for a moment, turning around to face her. The look in his eyes was full of bloodlust and fury. He approached her quickly, his aura threatening and intense as he gripped Yuna¡¯s throat, ¡°Don¡¯t mention Marguente in my presence!¡± Hearing about everything that happened in the study through Hammond, Yuna was still terrified by Frederick¡¯s explosive anger. Her voice trembled as she cried out his name, ¡°Freddie. Is the child truly mine?¡± He asked, his gaze intense and his tone oppressive. Yuna, feeling guilty, kept silent Afraid that Yuna would mess things up, Zoe quickly stepped forward, ¡°It is, Mr. Winston! The child Yuna¡¯s carrying is indeed yours!¡± Frederick shot a sharp nce at Zoe before turning his gaze back to Yuna, his eyes filled with hostility, ¡°I will have you immediately transported to an ind for istion You im you¡¯re pregnant with my child? Fine, give birth to it for a DNA test. If it¡¯s mine, I¡¯ll raise it. But if you dare lie to me, I¡¯ll make sure you and your child have no ce to rest in peace.¡± With that, Frederick walked arrogantly towards his car, revving the engine and speeding away Yuna was left sitting on the ground in shock. A DNA test? She was not pregnant, and even if she was to get pregnant now, she would never pass Fredenck¡¯s demand for a DNA test! ¡°Mom! What do we do now? He wants a DNA test for the baby! I¡¯m doomed, I¡¯m really doomed this time!¡± Yuna wailed Zoe looked at her daughter with disappointment, cursing her stupidity in her mind. Yuna could only ask ¡°what do we do?¡± whenever there was a problem and always relied on her toe up with solutions! ¡°What an idiot!¡± Zoe angrily yanked Yuna up from the ground, casting a sinister look at the old mansion, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, the child in Marguente¡¯s womb is Mr. Winston¡¯s¡± Understanding dawned on Yuna, ¡°Are you saying.¡± Zoe quickly put a finger to her lips, nodding with a thoughtful expression But Yuna hesitated, ¡°But Marguerite is currently with Maurice, will he¡­ allow us to do this?¡± ¡°Maurice won¡¯t, but Hammond might. You¡¯ve done so much under Hammond¡¯s instructions, if he doesn¡¯t help you now, we¡¯ll go to Maunce and expose him¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Meanwhile, Maurice took a phone call and left the den, with Marguerite left standing there for what felt like an eternity. By the time she decided to leave, her legs had already given way to exhaustion She walked aimlessly out of the study, only to find that the entire mansion was deserted, save for the omnipresent security staff. Powell was not home, and even Jocelyn and Lisette were gone. Presumably, Maurice had sent them all away Marguerite stood at the entrance of the mansion, staring at the concrete driveway leading away from thevish property, a wave of uncertainty washing over her In the span of an hour, her life had taken a dramatic tum. Returning to her former home, Sapphire Valley Estates, was no longer an option. With her grandma gone, she was left wondering where her home was Just then, a McLaren pulled up in front of Marguente, revealing Maurice¡¯s smug face. Marguerite ignored him, walking past the car and heading towards the road. The McLaren kept pace with her, Maunce¡¯s maic voice ringing in her ears, ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t be stubborn. You think I wouldn¡¯t be able to find you?¡± Marguerite stopped in her tracks, and the McLaren came to a halt behind her Maurice stepped out of the car and stood in front of Marguente, hismand crisp and clear, ¡°Get in the car¡± Marguente¡¯s eyes sparkled with suspicion, but after a mere two seconds of staring into Maurice¡¯s eyes, she decided toply and silently got into the car. Maurice was right. Everything she did at the mansion was under his control, so even if she ran to the ends of the earth, he would be able to catch her with ease. So, she might as well go along with himm She had no idea where Maurice was taking her, but at this point, it didn¡¯t really matter She had nowhere to go, so what difference did it make where she ended up? The ride was silent, the McLaren eventually pulling up in a gatedmunity known as Emerald Meadows Marguente recognized it immediately. It was where Maurice had lived previously, and she had visited once when she had passed out Back then, Maurice was still Steven As Marguerite got out of the car, she noticed two rows of security guards standing at the entrance of the mansion. She shot Maurice an angry nce but before she could utter a word, he beat her to it, ¡°Give birth to the baby, and III let you leave. Until then, you¡¯re free to do as you please, I won¡¯t interfere. But for the baby¡¯s safely, I¡¯ll have security follow you¡± So, she was essentially under house arrest? Marguerite scoffed, her desire to converse with this maniptive man dwindling to nothing. She walked into the mansion and mmed the door shut behind her A maid named Nadine showed Marguerite to a room that overlooked the sea Standing on the balcony, she could see the shimmering waves stretching out into the honzon. Marguerite stood in the center of the balcony, the wind causing her hair to dance around as her emotions began to spiral out of control The pale blue sea seemed endless, just like her life, with no end in sight Her first night away from Frederick was especially long. Marguerite tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, images of Fredenck invaded her thoughts She couldn¡¯t remember falling asleep, and upon waking the next day, she had no desire to get up Just as she was opening her eyes, there was a knock on her door. It was Nadine, standing at the door with a massive suitcase, ¡®Ms. Lockwood, the master had me retrieve your belongings from the second master¡¯s ce this morning¡± Marguente was taken aback, ¡°He let you in?¡± Nadine paused, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Frederick¡± Nadine nodded, ¡°Yes, Sadie helped pack your stuff.¡± Marguerite¡¯s emotions were a whirlwind. She knew her life at the estate was bing a distant memory, but she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡®Did they ask anything?¡± Nadine reported truthfully, ¡°No, Mr. Frederick just gave me a scary look. Mrs. Frederick was there too, along with a friend of Mr. Fredenck¡¯s and a girl named Miley.¡± Miley? ¡°Miley?¡± ¡®I think so.¡± The fact that Miley was at Sapphire Valley Estates surprised Marguerite. As Marguerite pondered over this, her phone rang. It was a call from Jocelyn. Stepping out onto the balcony to take the call, she answered quickly, Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Through the screen, Marguente keenly noticed a change in Jocelyn¡¯s tone. It was no longer polite, but rather amanding statementced with inntation Marguente nced at the bodyguards stationed below the balcony, but did not hesitate to pond, ¡°Alright¡± ¡°Meet me at the restaurant where we first met, in an hour¡± With those words. Jocelyn hung up. The sudden dial tone left Marguente feeling like she was in a different world, her heart aching immensely There was nothing more painful than letting someone you cam about down Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure if Frederick had feelings for her, but she knew for certain that Jocelyn had treated her kindly, even taking a p for her once. So when Jocelyn spoke to her with such a distant tone, her heart ached She quickly freshened up, meticulously applied light makeup, and put on the white dress her grandmother had bought for her No matter how you looked at her, Marquente locked especially elegant and beautiful that day She had a feeling that her meeting with Jocelyn that day would likely be theirst, so she wanted to leave a good impression Two bodyguards drove her to the restaurant, by the time they arrived, Jocelyn was already waiting by the window Jocelyn looked at Marguerite¡¯s face, a sh of surprise in her eyes. She then looked past Marguente¡¯s shoulder at the bodyguards, 1 need to have a few words with her, step away¡± The bodyguards stood still, expressionless ¡°I wont take long Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything to her¡± Upon hearing this, the bodyguards finally turned around and left, standing guard at the entrance of the restaurant Jocelyn looked at Marguerite, ¡°Have a seat.¡± Marguente sat down in front of Jocelyn, an apology on her face, and carefully said. ¡°Ma am 7 already know¡± Marguente was somewhat at a loss for words, but not surprised When Nadine said she had seen Jocelyn at the mansion, Marguerite kn already know everything She couldn¡¯te up with any excuses. She picked up the lemon water next to her and took a sip. Jocelyn then said, Frederick has given up all his shares in Te Winston family¡± Marguente looked at her in shock, her eyes wide open, ¡°Why?¡± Jocelyn smiled. ¡°Marguerite, you should know the reason best, right?¡± Marguerites gnp on the cup tightened Yes. Fredenck hated everything about the Winston family, hated Powell and Lisette, and hated Maurice Now, she was carrying Maunces child, and she had be someone he hated as well But giving up all the shares in the Winston family, Marguente was surprised no matter how she thought about it This was the empire he had built with his own hands. The fact that he was willing to let it go showed that his hatred had wached an unspeakable level. However Marguente believed that with Frederick¡¯s abilities, he would rise again and build a business empire even stronger than the Winston Group: it was any d matter of time Marguerite said in a light voice. Im sorry¡± Jocelyn was frustrated Looking at Marguentes innocent face, she suddenly felt like she didn¡¯t know her anymore ¡°You said before that you were forced was ty Marguente nodded Even though she hadn¡¯t seen the man¡¯s face that night, the name on the quest list was Maunce, so it must have been hum Jocelyn sighed, feeling helpless In fact, they had already started to ept Marguente¡¯s pregnancy They won thought that it didn¡¯t matter whose child it was, what mattered was whether they could live happily for the rest of their lives. But this child was Masnor so no matter what, they couldn¡¯t get over this hurdle Jocelyn gut Margery another cup of water, sighed, and said Rally Frederick has filed for divorce with the court. The cout wil cab you in te you answer Chapter 294 The word ¡°divorce¡± was like a dagger, plunging deep into Marguente¡¯s heart, causing a pain she¡¯d never felt before Her eyes started to sting, and she looked up at Jocelyn through a blurry veil of tears, ¡°Will I ever see him again?¡± Jocelyn met her gaze, her own eyes revealing aplex mix of emotions that were hard to decipher She shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no need for a mutual agreement, the court has already decided.¡± They hade to this inevitable crossroad. Margueriteughed bitterly, ¡°Well, at least I¡¯m spared the pain of a final goodbye¡± Jocelyn didn¡¯t understand what Marguerite meant, but her words stirred a sense of unease within her ¡°Marquente, do you know that Frederick decided yesterday to¡­¡± Dere his love for you. But Jocelyn¡¯s words came to a sudden halt. She thought of Frederick¡¯s tireless efforts to arrange the perfect setting and his anxious anticipation of Marguerite¡¯s response. It broke her heart. Marguerite was pregnant with Maurice¡¯s child, an irrevocable fact. And Marguerite¡¯s decision to keep the baby meant she was on the opposite side of Frederick So, what good would it do to tell her about Frederick¡¯s love to her? She paused, her gaze shifting from regret to determination, ¡°Never mind. Marguerite, it¡¯s time for our paths to diverge. I wish you the best¡± As she finished, Jocelyn briskly pulled a bill from her wallet, left it under the water pitcher, and walked away. Once Jocelyn left, Marguerite was flooded with thoughts Suddenly, she stood up and called after Jocelyn, ¡°Jocelyn!¡± Jocelyn turned around, her unfamiliar expression making her seem like a stranger ¡°What is it?¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes, brimming with tears, evoked a sense of pity in anyone who saw her She had a thousand things to say to Jocelyn, but she didn¡¯t know where to start. She wanted to say she loved Frederick. She wanted to apologize for carrying this child She wanted to say she never meant to manipte him, deceive him, or betray him. But, she just couldn¡¯t make the wordse out ¡°Marguente?¡± Caught off guard, Marguerite touched her bare wrist, remembering the bracelet Jocelyn had once given her ¡°Wait, let me return your bracelet¡± The bracelet was priceless and had been treasured by Marguerite. Now, it should be in the suitcase Nadine had brought back Jocelyn, however, shook her head, her expression colder than ever ¡°Keep it. Once a gift is given, it¡¯s not taken back. Just like life, once something happens, all that remains is facing the consequences.¡± Marguerite felt a lump in her throat. She understood the meaning behind Jocelyn¡¯s words Carrying Maurice¡¯s child meant she could never go back to Frederick. Jocelyn cast a final nce at Marguente, before resolutely turning around and leaving At the entrance, Jocelyn spoke briefly with the bodyguards, who promptly returned to Marguerite, urging her, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, it¡¯s time to go¡± The deep pain in her heart made Marguerite feel like a walking corpse as she followed the bodyguards back to the vi As soon as the car came to a stop, Marguerite spotted a familiar figure being forcefully stopped by the bodyguards. Yet, the figure continued to push forward, seemingly tireless Chapter 295 ¡°Let me in! I want to see Marguerite! I need to see Marguerite!¡± Marguerite squinted, recognizing the familiar face ¨C it was Miley. She darted out of her car, pulling Miley behind her, and barked at the security. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡± The head of security grimaced, ¡°Ms Lockwood, Mr. Lockwood has instructed us to report all visitors to him¡± Marguente shot him an Icy re ¡°Report as you must, but I¡¯m taking her in.¡± Marguente gripped Miley¡¯s hand, making a move to head inside, but the security guards blocked their path. Marguerite¡¯s anger red, her voiceced with threat, ¡°If anything happens to my baby because of this, can you handle the consequences?¡± The security guard flinched, and he moved aside, but immediately turned to report to Maurice Marguerite led Miley to her room, grabbing a bottle of water from the mini¨Cfridge for Miley. Without wasting time, she asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡± Miley took a big gulp before replying, tongue¨Ctied. ¡°Yesterday, I saw Maurice¡¯s name on the guest list of Regal Haven Hotel. I tried calling you but couldn¡¯t reach you, so I came here. Robert and I spent the whole night at your manor¡± Marguerite thought back to the previous night the intimate scenes between Robert and Miley She asked, ¡°Are you two together?¡± Miley nodded, somewhat sheepish. ¡°It¡¯s strange, we¡¯ve been together for a while, but neither of us knew the other knew you.¡± Marguerite managed a weak smile. If she could carry Maurice¡¯s child, why should she be surprised her best friend is dating Robert? ¡°Marguente, I came here to tell you that Mr. Frederick is going to Vespera. Jocelyn and Robert are going too. They¡¯re leaving tonight.¡± Miley looked at Marguerite hopefully. Marguerite, however, spotted a small piece of paper sticking out of Miley¡¯s jeans. ¡°You¡¯re going too, arent you?¡± Miley brought out the ne ticket, ¡°I secretly bought you a ticket. If you go, I¡¯ll go. If you don¡¯t, I won¡¯t¡± Marguerite gazed down at the security men below from the balcony, ¡°I can¡¯t go.¡± Miley looked disappointed but finally decided, ¡°Then, I won¡¯t go either¡± Marquente turned to face her, ¡°What about Yuna? Is she going?¡± Miley shook her head, ¡°Yuna has been sent to an ind by Mr. Fredenck to give birth. She¡¯ll probably go after the baby is born Marguerite felt a pang of sorrow. The people who had once hurt her were doing better and better. As soon as her baby was born, Yuna would be set for life. If Yuna asked for more, Frederick would probably offer up his empire to her. Seeing Marguerite lost in thought, Miley decided to leave the ticket and go. But as she reached the door, she couldn¡¯t bear to see Marguente give up She remembered the day Marguerite had showed up at her apartment, crying and gasping- ¡°Miley. I¡¯m so upset. Sometimes I wonder whether everything would be different if I weren¡¯t pregnant.¡± Miley turned back, stood in front of Marguerite, and said earnestly, ¡°Marguente, when Mr. Frederick booked the flightst night, I could clearly feel that he wanted me to see the flight information. I think he wanted me to bring y Chapter 296 Marguerite locked eyes with her, an intense gaze that flickered then faded, ¡°Miley, you¡¯re overthinking things. He probably hates me Why would he want you to call me to him?¡± ¡°You¡¯re canying Maurice¡¯s child, but I think Mr. Frederick is feeling conflicted It¡¯s not good that the child is Maurice¡¯s, he won¡¯t ept it right away, you have to give him time¡± ¡°Yes, the child is Maurice¡¯s. So why would he want me to leave with him?* Miley stamped her foot in frustration, feeling like Marguerite was being stubborn ¡°That¡¯s why I said he¡¯s conflicted! Marguerite, if you go, there¡¯s still a chance for you two. If you don¡¯t, there¡¯s no hope left.¡± Marguerite gazed at the shimmering sea, her voice filled with sadness, ¡°You don¡¯t understand our rtionship. He doesn¡¯t love me at all. From the beginning, it was just my wishful thinking¡± Miley held her head in her hands,pletely exasperated by Marguerite, her voice uncontrobly loud, ¡°At this point, who cares if he loves you! Marguerite, stop being so dramatic! You only get one chance, grasp it or lose it forever! Think about it!¡± Miley huffed off, having said all she could Whether Marguerite could seize thisst opportunity was up to her Miley left the vi in a huff, leaving Marguente holding the ne ticket, feeling a surge of emotions. The flight was at 8pm, directly from Stonebridge City to Vespera Marguerite suddenly felt dizzy, her head spinning. The distance between Vespera and Stonebridge was thousands of miles. But to Marguente, it felt farther than the ends of the earth Because it meant that they would part forever. There would be nothing left between her and Frederick. Jocelyn would take good care of Frederick, and with Robert¡¯s resources, he could regain his status. She had nothing to worry about. And with Yuna giving birth to Frederick¡¯s child, they could live happily ever after in Vespera The more Marguerite thought about it, the lonelier she felt. Tears streamed down her face But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, a rebellious voice echoed inside her. Deep down, she wanted to run away with Frederick But she knew, her actions had made it impossible for her to face him again. Fearing she would change her mind, she threw the ne ticket into the trash. Then she took some mtonin, hoping to sleep through the long day. She fell asleep quickly, but her dreams were full of Frederick She dreamt that he held her face, telling her that he loved her In her dreams, he waited for her at the boarding gate¡­. When she woke up, it was already dark. By now, Frederick should have boarded his flight, right? She cleaned her tear¨Cstained face, looked at the time, and realized it was only seven o¡¯clock. There was still an hour left before Frederick¡¯s flight to Vespera Miley had sent her countless texts, [Marguerite, there are three hours left before Mr. Winston leaves, you can still change your mind¡®] Marguerite, answer the phone] |Two hours left! Robert said they¡¯re already on their way to the airport!) Marguerite! Only one hour left! In ten minutes, they¡¯ll start boarding! Please give it a try Just do it for me. You¡¯ve never loved anyone before, now that you¡¯ve met him, do you really want to live with this regret?] Marguente locked at Miley¡¯s long messages. Something had struck a chord in her, and her resolve began to waver Her rational side told her she should stay put in her vi, to not cause any more trouble in Frederick¡¯s life. But she wanted to see him again, even if it was for thest Lime With that thought, Marguente retrieved the ne ticket from the trash can Chapter 297 Chapter 297 puentes room was closely guarded round the clock by barly bodyguard, but Mariors room was not in addition to the er¨Cconscioning unt ging outside Maurice¡¯s room, there was a row on staircase Marge quickly made her way to Meurice¡¯s room, scrambled through the window and down the starcate sodyb She took back alleys to eat the gatedmunity, haled a yelow cab on the sheer and sped towards the airport Emerald Meadows was close to the arport, the cab ride took only about twenty minutes Checking the time, Marguerite realized the security checks were about to begi Ancery washed over her All one could hope for was that Fadenck would dy on departure Meanwhile, at the security checkpoint the loudspeaker was already arrounding themencement of security checks for passengers bound for Vesper, yet Frederick was still seared in the VIP lounge Robert, who bought his ticket using his ID, was womed that their father would dome looking for them and was holy orging Frede Jocelyn gave Robert a meaningful nce, whispering ¡°You go ahead, we arch? Robert nodded and walked towards the security check. Jocelyn gently held Fredenck¡¯s hand, her gaze soft, ¡°Are you waiting for her Fredericks face was expressionless, but his sharp eyes betrayed a ma ofplex emotions He responded coldy Tio¡± Jocelyn stood up, her purse in hand, ¡°Good, let¡¯s get through security¡± Frederick sat fislerce Jocelyn looked at him with pity. The man was her sore could put on a tough enanon but see through him? his mother fox could she not fight information She sighed softly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, if she wereing, she would have been here by now Frederick shifted slightly Yes He had given up the private jet and chosen to fymercial instead Andst night he had purposely let Miley still harboring some hope? Through Robert, he knew that Miley had sought Marguente that morning So, how could the possibly not know he was leaving The more Frederick thought about it the more agitated fie became Damn it Why still thinking of her at this point? She had manipted him she had deceived him was he going to betray him? Fredericks eyes filed checkpoint. temess. After a long silence, he finally stood up and left the VIP lounge with Jocelyn, heading towards Meanwhile Marguerite had already entered the departure hall. She frantically searched for Frederick but found no trace of From the ticket counter to the baggage drop¨Coff, and then to dozens of security checkpoints Finally, she spotted the man who had haunted her dreams at the first¨Css security checkpoint There was hardly a queue Jocelyn was in front of Frederick, and th unty ponnel were venting her identity Frederick was behind Jocelyn thest in line Through the crowd. Marguente saw Fredenck looking around seemingly searching for something Her tears fell once again at the sight of him. A wave of emotion surged from her che her head Sobbing Marguerre ran towa She didnt know if Frederick would let her leave with him, but that no longer m What was important w that she needed to tell him that she loved him. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 At a distance less than twenty meters from Frederick, an unexpected figure suddenly blocked Marguerite¡¯s path. Marguerite was running so fast that she couldn¡¯t stop in time, colliding hard into a man¡¯s chest. A famr scent wafted over her, but with no time to identify the source, Marguerite instinctively pushed the man away and continued to run. However, her wrist was swiftly caught by the man and she was yanked back. Only then did she realize that the man blocking her way was none other than Maurice! ¡°Let go of me!¡± Marguerite anxiously looked towards the security checkpoint. The facial recognition machine seemed to be having some problems and was unable to sessfully identify Frederick. This only increased her anxiety. However, Maunce looked at her with annoyance. ¡°Marguerite, what are you trying to do?¡± Marguerite, frantic, kept her gaze fixed on Frederick not far away. 7 want to see him onest time.¡± ¡°Just to see him?¡± Marguerite nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± But as soon as she finished speaking, her backpack was harshly pulled off from her shoulder. Maurice, with his long and slender fingers, gripped the corner of the bag and pulled it upside down. Items poured out like a waterfall. Airline tickets, driver¡¯s license, passport,ptop.. Maurice looked at each item, his eyes bing increasingly cold. ¡°Do you need airline tickets and a passport just to see him? Marguerite, you¡¯ve already made up your mind, why lie to me?¡± Indeed, Marguerite had always seen herself as a greedy person. Once she got something, she wanted more. The moment she decided to see Frederick, she had already nned to leave with him. She just didn¡¯t want to admit it. But now, she had no choice but to confront her feelings. She opened her eyes and stared coldly at Maurice. ¡°Since you already know my decision, you¡¯ll let me go with him, right?¡± Maurice stared back at her, his gaze filled with unfathomable depth. Ignoring Marguerite¡¯s words, he gripped her arm with one hand, and used the other to force her to face Frederick¡¯s direction. ¡°Since you only wanted to see him, you¡¯ve seen him now. Can we go back?¡± Marguerite stiffened, trying to pull her arm away, but Maurice simply wrapped his arm around her shoulders, immobilizing her, ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t make me lose my temper.¡± Maurice¡¯s soft yet threatening warning filled her ears, but she didn¡¯t care. In her world, there was only Frederick. Sensing her presence, he turned around and their eyes met. Separated by a sea of people, Marguerite felt an insurmountable distance between them. In that moment, it was as if a lifetime passed. She wished Frederick woulde and take her back, harshly ordering her, ¡°Come back through security!¡± But she didn¡¯t hear his voice. Instead, Maurice¡¯s voice filled her ears. ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t forget, Frederick doesn¡¯t love you. You¡¯re carrying my child, he would rather see you dead. Have you forgotten what he said to you? He wishes you and my child were dead¡± Marguerite froze, the image of Frederick in front of her suddenly bing blurred. She thought he was about to walk towards her but Maurice¡¯s words brought her crashing back to reality. Maurice gripped her arm, slowly leading her towards the exit. But Marguerite and Frederick¡¯s gaze locked on each other. Quietly, tears fell from her eyes as she repeated to herself over and over, I¡¯m sorry. I love you.¡± Eight monthster Stonebridge Memorial Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Night was falling, and the world was nketed in a heavy snowfall In the howling wind, Hammond drove Yuna, who had secretly fled the ind, and parked the car in a secluded corner of the hospital¡¯s parking lot. Yuma was shielded against the cold, her face covered with a mask and her head wrapped in a thick scarf. Despite theseyers, the bump of her pregnant belly was evident After receiving a phone call, Hammond turned to say something to Yuna He caught sight of her pregnant belly and couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°You really know how to push yourself To make the act more convincing, you actually went ahead and got yourself pregnant¡± Yuna shot Hammond an angry look. What could she do? When she first lived on the ind, her pregnancy wasn¡¯t showing, which aroused suspicion from Frederick¡¯s men Yuna had no clinice but to get pregnant by sleeping with one of Frederick¡¯s bodyguards. Today, she managed to escape from the heavily guarded ind, thanks to the help of that same bodyguard. Knowing Marguerite¡¯s exact due date, she had been takingbor¨Cinducing drugs for several days, hoping to give birth around the same time as Marguerite. Yuna red at Hammond again and coldly said, ¡°Get to the point¡± ¡°My man is in the delivery room. Marguerite¡¯s due to give birth in ten minutes. All soon as the baby¡¯s born, he¡¯ll take it¡± Yuna gripped Hammond¡¯s wrist, her eyes shing with icy ferocity, ¡°I want you to go up there yourself¡± Hammond immediately pulled his hand away, ¡°Are you trying to get me killed?¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes widened, the bloodshot orbs filled with menace, ¡°Hammond, I¡¯ve risked my life for you many times. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that you¡¯ve been eager to puth me aside ever since Frederick gave up his shares in the Winston Group. Since this is ourst time working together you have to do it yourself That¡¯s the only way I can trust you¡± ¡°You¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t go, I¡¯m sure Maurice will find out about our little scheme tomorrow¡± Hammond looked at Yuna warily, regretting ever having partnered with her. When he found Yuna, it was entirely Powell¡¯s doing. Powell wanted to help Maurice topple Frederick and told him to use Yuna. Maurice was not aware of this In the business world, schemes and intrigues are a dime a dozen. The tactics used are sneakier and nastier than the other. The fact that Maurice knew about them was no big deal. But Maurice had fallen in love with Marguerite! If Maurice found out that Marguerite¡¯s grandmother had been killed by him and Yuna, with Maurice¡¯s methods, his good days would be over. He clenched his fists, wishing he could punch Yuna in the face, but he held back. His angry gaze bore into Yuna, then he swung open the car door and headed for the maternity ward. Half an hourter, with the birth of a baby boy Hammond, disguised as a doctor, carried the newborn out in full view of everyone Marguerite, who had just given birth, was in so much pain she was almost unconscious. In her blurry state, she recognized the doctor¡¯s back. She had seen him somewhere. A sense of danger rose in her heart. Marguerite shakily pointed at the doctor, her voice weak and hoarse, ¡°My child where are you taking my child?¡± The nurse swiftly reassured her, ¡°Not to worry, he¡¯s just taking the baby to the nursery for some post¨Cbirth checks ¨C it¡¯s standard procedure.¡± ¡°No, wait a minute!¡± insisted Marguerite because she felt something off. ¡°My baby is perfectly fine, let me see him first! Please, stop hin Marguerite tried to sit up, but the doctor pushed her back down, ¡°Hold her down! There¡¯s another babying, don¡¯t move, youll suffocate the baby!¡± Ten minutester, the cry of a baby girl echoed in the room. As the intense sensation of tearing came, Marguerite fainted from the pain. Chapter 300 Three yearster. In the depths of winter After a whole night of heavy snowfall, it finally ceased at the break of dawn The sun¡¯s reflection on the snow made the spacious kitchen, surrounded by windows on three sides, even brighter Marguerite¡¯s chestnut hair had grown long, cascading over her shoulders like sik. She had to brush it aside while eating, so it wouldnt obstruct her view ¡°When are you going to start working at Fragrance Finesse?¡® Maurice¡¯s voice was nonchnt as Marguerite looked up at him, ¡°I¡¯m doing pretty well at Luxe Scents International.¡± Three years ago, she had given birth to twins. The eldest mysteriously disappeared, leaving her and Maurice to raise their daughter Teresa together They never got married, maintaining a facade of a couple in front of their daughter, ying their roles with an adult¡¯s dignity But privately, she despised Maurice. She couldn¡¯t understand why he insisted on keeping her around, continuously pushing her to work at Fragrance Finesse Of course, Marguerite refused. LuxeScents International held traces of Frederick, her lost love. Each time she sat in the office, she felt as if he was right there beside her She had thought her love for him would fade with time, but it was more like a bottle of aged wine. The longer the time, the richer and more poignant it became Marguente missed him so much that it was killing her, and she dreamt of him every night That¡¯s why she was determined to stay at LuxeScents International, where she could reminisce about their shared memories But with Frederick¡¯s departure, LuxeScents International had been in a slump,sing its past glory ¡°Except for the CEO position, you can have any position you want at Fragrance Finesse¡± Maunde put down his cutlery, looking at Marguerite with an air of superiority For you, work might be a casual choice, but to me, it¡¯s a way to prove my abilities. Luxe Scents International is my faith, and I wont leave Maurice¡¯s domineering attitude always reminded her of Frederick They shared the samemanding CEO demeanor, yet Frederick respected her dignity. Frederick wouldn¡¯t arbitrarily give her promotions and raises. Each reward was just, allowing her to experience the confidence and joy of amon person¡¯s growth. But Maurice seemed to be reminding her intentionally that everything she and her daughter owned now was his charity Marguente hated how Maurice always treated her as if he held her life in his hands ¡°So, you n to guard your old lover¡¯s nearly bankruptpany for the rest of your life?¡± Enraged, Marguerite mmed the table, ¡°LuxeScents International is falling all because of you!¡°¡± The confrontation between the two was intense. It was as if a line of fire was drawn between their eyes, sparking with tension. ¡°Daddy, Mommy¡± The sweet voice of their daughter, apanied by the sound of her cheerful footsteps, interrupted them Teresa, dressed in a pink kindergarten uniform, ran towards Marguerite with her tablet in hand. ¡°Mommy, look, this bracelet is so furt can we buy it for me?r Marguerite scooped Teresa onto herp, ncing over her pig¨Ctailed head at the screen, seeing an advertisement for an auctioni the bracelet ¡°Mommy, this bracelet is so high¨Ctech. It has a string of buttons that you can twist, and you can only unlock the bracelet if you input the correct password I really like it¡± The little girl chattered excitedly, thrusting the image closer to Marguerite For some reason, Marguerite, who usually showed no interest in jewelry, found herself liking this bracelet it gave her a sense of famhanty Her daughter wanted it, and she liked it too, so she readily agreed to the request Maurice nced at the tablet, Tll take you to the auction next week¡± Marguerite was still furning and didn¡¯t respond to him. She quickly fed her daughter breakfast, then let the maid Nadine take Teresa to kind while she headed to work Marguente was inherently a nostalgic person, Even though she had earned some money, she still drove the second hand car that Jocelyn had left her Emerald Meadows wasn¡¯t far from the Sapphire Valley Estates Every time she went to work, Marguerite would intentionally pass by the mansion Several times, she saw real estate agents showing people around the mansion Later, she found out that the owner was trying to sell it, intending to settle down in Vespera But no one seemed interested in buying the mansion. The roads were slippery due to the snow, and Marguerite drove slowly As she passed Sapphire Valley Estates, she saw the side door of the mansion open, with a few workers inside In the distance, she caught a glimpse of a Cullinan parked inside the mansion Marguerite¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she mmed on the brakes. Chapter 301 The car shd half a meter in the snow before it came to a halt. Marguente unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out, her ankles sinking into the snow 25 she dashed unevenly towards the mansion¡¯s entrance. Just as the reached the doorway, a security guard¡¯s arm swiftly blocked her path Ma¡¯am, who are you looking for? The mansion¡¯s security had changed hands several times, and this guard was new Marguerite didn¡¯t recognize him I¡¯d like to take a look inside Marguente tried to push past him, but the guard gently pushed her back, his body blocking the entrance as his hand gripped the side railing, effectively blocking her way ¡°Ma¡¯am, this is a private residence You can¡¯t go in!¡± Marguente was desperate. ¡°Has the mansion been sold, gr has the owner returned?¡± Tm not sure, today is my first day¡± Marguente tiptoed to get a better look inside. The Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan was a fair distance away, and she couldn¡¯t make out the license te, let alone determine the owner of the car The guard was growing impatient, ¡°Maam, what exactly are you trying to do?¡± Marguerite pointed at the Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan, ¡°Do you know who owns that car? Is it the same person who owns the house?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know who owns the house, how could I possibly know who owns the car?¡± Marguerite looked disappointed, but she didn¡¯t give up. ¡°Have you seen a tall, thin man, very handsome with a mole near his eye?¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, don¡¯t make a fuss here. If you don¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll have to call the police¡± The guard¡¯s gloomy face looked even grimmer in the cold wind. Realizing that she had put him in a difficult position, Marguerite didn¡¯t push. She cast a resentful look at the guard, then reluctantly turned back to her car, her gaze lingering on the distant Rolls¨CRoyce The Cullinan, once a rare sight, was now quitemon among the wealthy Knowing Frederick Winston¡¯s character, he wouldn¡¯t be driving a three¨Cyear¨Cold dar. But Marguente couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Fredenck had returned She couldn¡¯t contain her excitement and immediately dialed Miley¡¯s number. Miley, still groggy with sleep, answered, What¡¯s up?¡± Marguerite got straight to the point, ¡°Is Frederick back in the country?¡± Miley was surprised, ¡°How would I know if Mr. Winston is back or not?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Robert Fitzgerald tell you?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t been in touch for a week. He said he was going to South Africa to find someone. The signal there is bad, so he hasnt called Her guess was wrong then. In recent years, Robert had always been with Frederick Marguerite knew that. If they were to return, Robert would certainly inform Miley first So, was she overthinking? Marguerite felt increasingly disappointed. She buried her head in the steering wheel, the feelings of guilt and pain enveloping her once more. It was her fault that Frederick had to give up everything he had built with the Winston family Every time she thought of this, she felt like she was nailed to a pir of shame, even despising herself a little She didn¡¯t dare to hope that Frederick would forgive her, nor did she want to stir up any more trouble. But the constant longing was driving her mad She just wanted to see him, to know what he looks like now, whether he had gained or lost weight, how he was doing When she raised her head again, Marguerite¡¯s face was wet with tears. Realizing that she might never see him again in her life, Marguerite took a deep breath She quickly wiped her tears, ready to resign herself to fate and leave. But just then, there was a slight movement under her car, as if something had rolled underneath Then, someone tapped on her car, it was gentle, without much force. Marguerite turned to look out the window, and her eyes met a pair of round, stubborn ones To her surprise, it was a little boy! Chapter 302 The buy was short, just a tad taller than the windowell Dressed in a ck long, down coat, his noggin was covered with the hood of the coat, the Velcro ps sticking together to cover The boy was snugly bundled up, and all Marguerite could see were his round eyin staring at her His gaze was filled with caution, yet it somehow tugged at her heartstrings Marguerite quickly got out of the car and as the boy got a clear look at her face he mstinctively took a step back seemingly frightened Histered demeanor was as if she had harmed him in the past Marguente was utterly confused, because she had never seen this boy before Marguente hesitated before asking ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The boy¡¯s eyes were still filled with fear, his round eyes examining Marguerite closely he was frozen for a ¡°Hey kiddo Marguente¡¯s tone was gentle She found the little boy so adorable that she couldn¡¯t help but rufe his hair The little guy withdrew his neck slightly, and his initial fear suddenly turned into delight It was as if a smile danced on his ips, his eyes crinking into delightful intia crefcents. He mustered the courage to tug at Marguerite¡¯s sleeve and then pointed under the car Marguerite tied her head and asked. Is there something under the car? The boy nodded. The ground was covered in dirty snow, crushed by the tires. But Marguerite didn¡¯t mind the fit as she knelt to Marguente reached out and grabbed it, then handed it back to the little guy Seeing the ball, the boy took a deep breath, seemingly relieved. The hood of his coat was a Marguerite His skin was dry perhaps from the cold wind, and his chubby cheeks were fed charming as shining diamonds, but his gaze was stil cautious under the i big, and it slipped back, vealing fes appled blush His eyes were beautiful,rge and round, and as Perhaps she had missed Frederick too much that she was going crazy, Marguente thought She moved closer to the boy and asked. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Where are your parents?¡± The boy his hands red from the cold, held the ball, his pup dted with surprise. As to say Dont you recognize me?¡± But in the end, the boy couldn¡¯t voice out Marguerite pointed at the mansion gate, Do you live in there? The boy¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t blink he didn¡¯t speak but nodded
  • Boy |
but two hun Marguerite felt her heart was about to jump out of her chest, she couldn¡¯t wait to Where your dad? is ha name Freden There was a strange sparkle in the boy¡¯s eyes, he leaned forward and examined Margun in his little head, a bunch of questions arose, but he couldn¡¯t find any answers. His reaction surprised Marguerite, it felt like an swer was on the verge of being revealed, but then, a chilbah ¡°Hayes¡® Where is my bat? Hurry up and give it to me, of 11 fell mom and she¡¯ll spark you? The voice came from the matsion gate. Both of them turned towards the source of the sound, Ma coat withrge logo hands on hips Baned out. verite saw another boy standing next to the amodity part, denied na Cuba ??nted subun He was shorter than the first boy, and has small body was as chubby Chapter 303 The young boy before her shrank back in fear, clutching his ball, darting across the street before handing the ball to him. So, this little boy¡¯s name was Hayes? And the other one? What was his name? They must be brothers, right? Could they be Yuma¡¯s children? Marguerite had heard from Miley that Yuna had a set of twin boys. If these two were indeed Yuna¡¯s, they must be fraternal twins, as they looked nothing alike. But what about their heights? Hayes was noticeably taller than the other boy If they were born at the same time and raised in the same environment, they should be about the same height So, were these Yuna¡¯s children or not? Marguerite couldn¡¯t figure it out. Then she saw the boy in the Gi jacket stretch out his finger and jab Hayes on the head. As he jibbed, he said. ¡°You¡¯re too slow! You need to follow my orders immediately, to Mommy will like you, understand?¡± Hayes instinctively turned his head to look at Marguerite, his eyes filled withplex emotions. ¡°What are you looking at? I¡¯m talking to you! Did you hear me?¡± Hayes paused, gave Marguerite a final nce, then reluctantly turned his head back. Marguerite was slightly taken aback. She had never seen a child harbor such animosity towards his own brother Hayes remained silent throughout, his head lowered. ¡°Mute! You¡¯re a real mute! No wonder nobody likes ying with you!¡± The boy in the down jacket said, before smacking the ball and heading back into the mansion. Marguerite couldn¡¯t see Hayes¡® expression, but she noticed his head drop lower and lower. After a long silence, he finally followed suit and stepped back into the mansion, But after only a few steps, the boy suddenly seemed to remember something. He stopped and turned around, his gaze unwavering as he stared at Marguerite. Marguerite locked eyes with him, thinking he had something to say, and tilted her head to wait for him to speak His dejected face brightened at the sight of Marguerite, and he slowly raised his arm, his hand softly waving at Marguente, as if bidding her goodbye Marguerite returned a warm smile, watching as Hayes teft, her heart softening If her son hadn¡¯t disappeared, he would be about the same age by now Marguerite watched Hayes enter the mansion until he was out of sight, but she still had no intention of leaving. She wasn¡¯t sure if her emotions were overflowing, or if she was projecting her longing for her son onto this other child. She couldn¡¯t help but feel bad for this boy named Hayes Her eyes ached from staring, and she suddenly noticed the security guard ring at her Marguerite figured the guard must think she was a child trafficker, smiling and touching someone else¡¯s child, and lingering even as he left The guard¡¯s gaze was rather unsettling Marguerite shivered and hurriedly drove away from the mansion, heading to the office By then, Miley had woken up and, after applying an borate makeup, showed up in Marguerite¡¯s office Her current office was Frederick¡¯s former CEO office, quite spacious and empty, and Miley would oftene to liven up the ce In her free time, she would also help Marguerite with office work ¡°Marguerite, Christmas Eve is in a month. My morn wants you to bring Teresa over for dinner. Are youing?¡± Miley askedzily from the very couch where Robert used to lounge. Ignoring Miley¡¯s question, Marguerite dragged a chair to sit in front of her, earnestly recounting her encounter at the mansion¡¯s gate. Miley listened with disinterest, sizing up Marguerite with a nce, ¡°So, you suspect those two boys are Yuna¡¯s children?¡± Marguerite nodded eagerly, her breathing slightly irregr with anxiety Miley bluntly poured cold water on her spection, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. If that boy. Hayes, really was Yuna¡¯s child, the moment he saw you, he would have rushed over and called you ¡®mom. Don¡¯t forget, you and Yuna are identical twins! Chapter 304 Marguerite was subconsciously reminded of Hayes reaction earlier, he had been giving her lingering nces and his emotions were rather strange There was suprise, astonishment, but also fear in his eyes. If he had mistaken her for his mother, why would there be fear? No1 Overthinking would only lead her down a dead end Marguerite made a snap decision, ¡°Can you get hold of a picture of Yuna¡¯s wing?¡± Miley was puzzled, ¡°Why do you want her childrens pictures?¡± Marguerite could barely hide her excitement, ¡°If those kids are Yunn¡¯s twins, it would mean that Frederick must have returned! ¡°Marguerite, why can¡¯t you see the bigger picture? What does his return have to do with you? You had the chance to leave with him and you chose not to, it¡¯s toote for regrets now He even has children now, what¡¯s the point in knowing all this?¡± Miley wasn¡¯t unwilling to help Marguerite, slin wished more than anyone for a reconciliation between Frederick and Marguerite. However, Yuna had given birth to Frederick¡¯s children, and stood by him through his most difficult times. No matter her ulterior motives, from a man¡¯s perspective, he would not abandon the woman who stood by him through thick and thin. Miley feared that Frederick was already married to Yuna and was even more worried that Marguerite¡¯s reconnection with Frederick would be a huge tragic Miley¡¯s words hit Marguerite hard. She understood Miley¡¯s concern, but she was still heartbroken ¡°Miley, I know I¡¯m being selfish I don¡¯t want anything from him, I just miss him so much, I just want to know if he¡¯s back, if he¡¯s doing well.¡± ¡°All these years, I¡¯ve kept in touch with Robert, trying to glean any information about Mr Winston, but he¡¯s been tight¨Clipped¡± Marguerite looked up at Miley ready to receive a lecture from her best friend. She needed dine harsh words If it could help her clear her mind, she could handle even the harshest words But Miley didn¡¯t scold her, she just sighed and said, ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t you understand? The reason I can¡¯t get any information is probably because Mr. Winston told Robert not to say anything. The only thing I know is that Yuna gave birth to twins for Mr. Winston¡± Marguerite¡¯s emotions were hard to hide, her eyes slowly filled with tears. Seeing her reaction, Miley¡¯s heart softened and she finally agreed, ¡°If you really want to know about Mr Winston¡¯s whereabouts, I can try to find pictures of the twins¡± Ever since Miley agreed to help investigate information about Yuna¡¯s twins, Marguerite had been anxiously waiting in suspense. Her visits to the mansion had also increased in frequency, not only during hermute Sometimes, she would even drive to the mansion during work hours, hoping for a chance encounter someone there. Marguerite was anxious. The question of whether Frederick had returned was driving her mad Marguerite didn¡¯t know how many days she had waited, but this morning she missed Frederick so much that she felt her head was about to explode So. she skipped breakfast, got up, and hurriedly drove to the mansion, preparing to stand guard Luckily, Marguente noticed that the security guard at the gate had been reced by a friendly looking old man who seemed very approachable Marguerite had a brainwave and thought of a n to sneak into the mansion Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Marguerite, seasoned by her years in the advertisement industry, had perfected the art of blulfing Walking briskly towards the manor, she passed the side gate without giving it a second nce, and even look the Initiative to great the old quard ¡°Hey, you¡¯re new here, aren¡¯t you? I haven¡¯t seen you around before¡± Marguente fed to sound nonchnt, deliberately creating an impression of familiarity with the manor. The old guard eyed Marguerite suspiciousty, blocking her path. ¡°And who might you be?¡± Unfazed, Marguerite gestured towards the construction workers in the manor Tm an architect Those guys in there are from ourpany¡± The old guard was clearly skeptical Before taking over Neals shift, he¡¯d herh warned about a woman in a yellow Polo who¡¯d been hanging around the manor. It seemed she had her eyes on the young manters of the house So, when Marguerite parked her car, the old guard was already on high alert. ¡®An architect? From whichpany?¡± Marguerite might be good at bluffing, but architecture was a field she hadn¡¯t dabbled in before Caught off guard by the question, she faltered. With a stern face, the old guard shut the side gate and locked it, leaving Marguerite on the outside, Trespassing isn¡¯t allowed here! Be on your way¡± Faced with the guard¡¯s firm dismissal, Marguerite grew desperate She clung to the cold railings, pleading. ¡°Just a few questions and I¡¯ll be on my way is the master of the house is his name Frederick?¡± The goard looked at Marguerite in surprise, a hint of unease in his eyes. He wasnt sure how to respond when Marguerite continued, ¡°He¡¯s tall, about 62, with a mole near his eye. Have you seen him?¡± ¡°No!¡± the guard responded firmly ¡°No? Marguerite couldn¡¯t believe it She pressed on, ¡°What about a woman about my age? Named Yuna! She looks exactly like me! Exactly!¡± Marguerite looked hopefully at the guard, who just stared back in confusion The security team was new and weren¡¯t aware of many things. The master did bring a woman home a week ago. Although he hadn¡¯t seen her he found it impossible to believe that she could look exactly like the woman standing before him. *Just tell me, yes or no, and I¡¯ll leave right away!¡± The guard pulled out his phone and showed Marguerite the screen, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave now, I¡¯m calling the cops¡± Marguente looked into the guard¡¯s eyes and realized the kindest people often took their responsibilities the most seriously. She wasnt going to get any information out of him. With a heavy sigh, her face fell, Tm sorry for wasting your time Marguente retreated to her car in defeat, her mood taking a while to lift. She never thought shed be so desperate for information about Frederick. Even after disappearing for three years, the mere thought of him brought her immense pain. Tears streamed down Marguerite¡¯s cheeks as her phone buzzed incessantly Miley sent her a photo. Before Marguerite could even open it. Miley was already calling ¡°Got it. Yuna¡¯s twins, one¡¯s named Manley Winston, the other Hayes Winston Hayes is the younger one, not very favored. Check out the photo for the rest¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Hayes! Chapter 306 The answer was drowing near, and Marguerite was bing Increasingly anxious. She nervously clicked on the picture that Miley had sent. At first nce, Marguerite noticed the little boy in the corner of the photo, his shoulders slumped and his face downcast- That was Hayes! His ck, long puffer coat was too conspicuous; coupled with his characteristic downcast demeanor, Marguerite was almost instantly certain that the boy In the photo was that little boy! Though Hayes kept his head down, his eyes remained focused in a fixed direction. Marguerite caught the longing and sadness in Hayes¡® eyes. Following Hayes¡® gaze, she noticed another child cradled In Yuna¡¯s arms. They were both dressed in matching Gi Jackets withrge logos. In a sh, Marguerite realized why that child named Manley had been able to freely poke Hayes¡® head and behaved so aggressively towards him. Parents are mirrors to their children, with Yuna¡¯s clear favoritism, Manley was naturally spoiled and unkind to Hayes A few days ago, when Hayes was looking at her, he was seeing Yuna in her! That¡¯s why he was scared when he first saw her but surprised when she reached out to pat his head. His cautiousness was all because of Yuna¡¯s s! Unexpectedly, Marguerite found herself feeling sorry for this child, Hayes. But on second thought, why should she feel sorry? These were Yuna¡¯s children! Whether Yuna was biased or not, had nothing to do with her! Marguerite shook her head, the short¨Clived sympathy quickly reced by excitement. Since those two children were indeed Yuna¡¯s, then Frederick must have returned as well. What about Jocelyn? Did Jocelyne back too? Marguerite was desperate to rush to the mansion and see the man who had been haunting her dreams. But she couldn¡¯t act impulsively now. She couldn¡¯t get into the mansion, but she could wait here, right? Frederick had to leave the house at some point! Perhaps because she finally had an answer, Marguerite was somewhat overwhelmed with excitement. While she was waiting happily, a call from Maurice Winston came in, his tone rather displeased, ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°Meeting a client.¡± Maurice¡¯s voice dampened Marguerite¡¯s mood, and she quickly made up an excuse ¡°Don¡¯t lie, I¡¯ve been waiting in your office all morning, you never showed up¡± Doesn¡¯t this man have a job? Why is he always hanging around her? ¡°What does it matter to you where I am? Goodbye.¡± ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t give me attitude. If I don¡¯t see you in twenty minutes, I will stop looking for our son.¡± Because she didn¡¯t love Maurice, she always effortlessly won in their power struggles. She could freely hang up Maurice¡¯s call, defy him, and even humiliate him Except for one asion, when he used the whereabouts of their son to threaten her Marguerite admitted that she felt threatened. Her son was her sore point, something she couldn¡¯t handle on her own. Marguerite nced at the mansion,forting herself silently. There will always be another chance. If she couldn¡¯t see him today, she coulde back tomorrow With that thought, Marguerite started the engine and headed towards her office As she reached a crossroads, Marguerite saw a ck Mercedes van pass by She noticed the car, but failed to notice that Frederick, the man she was infatuated with, and Jocelyn were in it And Jocelyn in the car had noticed the familiar car speeding towards them. Isn¡¯t that her car? Could the person in the car be Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Right! It must be Margueritel Back in the day before all hell broke loose, she had personally given that car to Marguerile. Besides her, no one else would drive her car! Had she been driving it all these years? But why? Jocelyn hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Marguerite again in this manner upon returning home. But clearly, Marguerite hadn¡¯t seen her or Frederick Following her gaze, Frederick took a look at the car that was driving away ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± His voice was deep and hoarse. Jocelyn returned to her senses and shook her head, ¡°Nothing.¡± Frederick did not press further. His fingers, clearly defined from work, rubbed of his temples, a tired look on his face. He had been back home for less than a month, and just a week ago, he had brought Yuna and the kids back. He had been busy and hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep in many days. He had woken up early today to take the kids to kindergarten, even deliberately told the driver to take the most unassuming Mercedes van. He took the education of his children very seriously However, Hayes¡® introvert personality was a source of concern for him. He feared that his education might not keep up Seeing Frederick¡¯s worry, Jocelyn sympathetically rubbed his hand. After a moment of consideration, she asked, ¡°When will you marry Yuna? Frederick¡¯s gaze hardened. His bloodless lips pressed together tightly, clearly resistant. ¡°Frederick, she born and raised two children for you. It¡¯s only right to marry her. Besides, raising two children isn¡¯t easy¡± Frederick¡¯s response was icy ¡°Manley and Hayes are her children, but she favors Manley and neglects Hayes. How can I bring her into my home?¡± Jocelyn smiled softly, ¡°What about you? Despite your best efforts to be fair, I can see that you favor Hayes more. Because Hayes is a bit like Marguerite, isn¡¯t b¨¦?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s gentle smile stirred up a whirlwind of emotions in Frederick¡¯s heart. The name ¡°Marguerite, which he had tried to avoid for three years, still haunted his mind. Ever since Hayes was born, Marguerite¡¯s shadow had clung to him. Every time he looked at Hayes, it was as if he was looking at Marguerite! But he knew why Marguerite was so unforgettable to him- it was all because of hatred! Seeing Frederick silent, Jocelyn sighed, a look of regret on her face. ¡°Hayes¡® personality is indeed a problem During the kindergarten interview earlier, he didn¡¯t say a word. Despite being eligible for the advanced ss, he was ced in the regr ss¡± Jocelyn rubbed her temples, feeling a little overwhelmed. She then looked at Frederick, ¡°Frederick, with just one word from you, Hayes could join the advanced ss like Manley¡± ¡°Mom, although it breaks my heart, I want him to understand that power can¡¯t solve everything I believe Hayes can work his way back into the advanced ss.¡± With that, Jocelyn didn¡¯t push further, but still couldn¡¯t help feeling a little mncholic, ¡°Hayes is also your child with Yuna, but why does he have the personality of Marguerite? It¡¯s just weird!¡± Hearing Marguerite¡¯s name again, Frederick¡¯s sharp eyes were filled with loathing and mockery. His thin lips moved, his tone harsh, ¡°If she were really a pushover, she wouldn¡¯t be so sessful now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe everything you read online. Jocelyn signed. In Vespera, Jocelyn had been keeping a close watch on the news back home. The news imed that Marguerite had a daughter with Maurice and that Maunce¡¯s family and business were thriving. But from Robert, Jocelyn learned that Marguerite wasn¡¯t married to Maurice. Once she overheard Robert and Miley¡¯s video call. Miley mentioned that Marguerite had stayed at Luxe Scents International and moved into Frederick¡¯s office. She would stare at a photo of her and Frederick, lost in her own world. Frederick knew nothing about this, and he didn¡¯t want Robert to divulge any news about Marguerite. He was determined to forget Marguerite, despite the futility o yofit But Jocelyn couldn¡¯t bring herself to say anything. Now that Frederick was back home and nning to stay for a long time, she didn¡¯t want him to live the rest of his life full of hatred. Regardless of what happens between him and Marguerite in the future, whether they rekindle their old love or avoid each other for life. It¡¯s time to untangle the web of love and hate, to break the chains that bind them. Jocelyn thought about the car that had passed by earlier. Sheid her warm hand on Frederick¡¯s, her tone suggesting more than just concern. 1 had bought a second¨Chand Volkswagen before I left for Vespera. I haven¡¯t kept track of it, I don¡¯t know where it is now Can you help me find out where it went?¡± Chapter 308 Chapter 308 A hint of surprise fickered in Frederick¡¯s eyes. Had never heard his mother talk about the second hand car before. But he distrit dwell on it, simply saying. ¡°It¡¯s just a used cer, we can get a new one in a few days¡± After all tits old car in the garage was due for a recement Might as well rece his mom¡¯s car too Jocelyn, however, was insistent, I¡¯ve always been sentimental about old things I¡¯m not ustomed to those fancy care Hasides, when I bought the car, i used my real information if you don¡¯t help me retrieve it, I won¡¯t feel at ease¡± The car was a minor issue, but the leak of personal information was a serious concern It seemed this matter indeed required some serious investigation Meanwhile, at Royal Elite Kindergarten During nap time, all the children were dutifully preparing their beds for test As the leader of the pack, Teresamanded respect among her peers in the kindergarten. She had a gaggle of followera Of course, she didn¡¯t need to busy herself with tasks like bed making At this moment, she sat high on a windowsill, her back against the ss. Her title legs swung in the air, her chubby arms cradling arge cup of milkshake, which she sipped noisily Just then, Sammie swaggered into the room. He was Teresa¡¯s desk mate and also the deputy leader of their ¡°Vine Whip Alliance¡± He walked straight towards Teresa, raising his square little face to whisper in her ear, ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a new kid in our ss who¡¯s really cool Wanna check him out?¡± At this, Teresa¡¯s round eyes immediately lit up A new cool kid? Then he must be recruited into her ¡°Vine Whip Alliance¡°) Teresa jumped off the windowsill, pping her hands, ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°In the administration building! The guidance counselor¡¯s officer Teresa immediately turned to her left and right hand men, who were busy making her bed. Her voice had a boss¨Clike tone. You two,e with me to the admin building! Then she pped Sammie on the shoulder, a look of gangster¨Clike demeanor on her face, ¡°Sammie, you stay in the ssroom to cover for me. If the leacher , call me immediately!¡± Having issued her orders, Teresa led her henchmen out of the room in a flurry Her henchmen were taller than Teresa by half a head. With Teresa striding in between, they looked quite formidable. But even with all their bravado, they dared not barge into the guidance counselor¡¯s office. They nned to wait outside the building, but as they approached, they saw two boys, not in uniform, descending the stairs, one in front of the other The boy in front was short and chubby, round like a ball. He had a lollipop in his hand, licking it after each step, looking rather dimwitted. The boy behind was in a ck puffer jacket, hands in his pockets, head slightly lowered. The hood of his jacket covered the lower half of his face, preventing Teresa from getting a good look at him. But his eyes were gorgeous, shining like the stars at night. Was this the cool new kid? At that moment, Hayes and Manley had just finished their orientation and were heading to their respective sses. To their surprise, they saw three kids standing at the base of the stairs. The girl in the middle was even smiling at them. Hayes was surprised, but his joy quickly faded. No one would want to y with him. These people were surely here for Manley. Hayes lowered his head even more, walking down the stairs in disappointment Teresa quickly pointed at him, ¡°Hey! You! Come here, we need to talk!¡± Hayes stopped, looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief. Were they¡­ here for him? Thayes not Chapter 309 (molt, sweet vote. ¡°Do you want to join us in the Vine Whip Alliance? Our club is the best in the whole sts to think about it The, four, three two, one Okay! Your pilence means you agree! Come on!¡± ft giving Hayes no chance to respond. She happily grabbed his hand and led him away innocenow, waspletely bewildered, not knowing what had just happened He was simply led away by Teresa. Hayes didatos but the fact that a kid wanted to y ith him made him really happy Kantry, however embered forward at that moment. He waddled forward, stretching out his arms to block their way. ¡°You can¡¯t y with him! He¡¯s mute, bepattak Mankey shouted Upon hearing Manley¡¯s words Hayes felt heavyhearted and hung his head low Ich tane a kid approached him, Manley would call him mute, and the kids would subsequently keep their distance from him He didn¡¯t need to guess to A that the time would be the same Hayes dont want to be disliked Sensing the mevitable, he withdrew his hand and walked away, his eyes downcast With his n seeding. Marley¡¯s chubby face was full of smugness. He turned to Teresa and volunteered eagerly, ¡°Befriend with mel I¡¯ll treat you all to pazal And Unrealh good at fighting¡°¡± As he spoke, he began to swing his fists around, looking utterly ridiculous. Teresa nced at him, then turned to see that Hayes had already reached thest step of staircase. She hurried after him, wobbling as she ran Why are you running away? You already agreed to join our club, are you backing out now? Don¡¯t you want to join the Vine Whip Alliance?¡± Upon seeing this, Manley also chased after them, shouting. ¡°Don¡¯t y with him, he¡¯s too weak! With me around, no one would dare to hit you!¡± While holding Hayes hand, Teresa frowned at Manley Her Vine Whip Alliance whsn¡¯t meant for fighting! Her daddy had told her to make use of the resources around her and build good rtionships with her peers. So she had started the Vine Whip Alliance¡°. gathering all the children from wealthy families together ¡°Youre so fat and clumsy, you¡¯re lucky if you don¡¯t get hit yourself¡± the boy on the left chimed in. Txactly! Our leader doesn¡¯t even want you in our club¡± the one on the right added. Upon hearing this, Manley¡¯s already round face turned red with anger. Usually, everyone would only y with him and avoid Hayes, but now the tables had turned. His massive ego severely hurt, Manley felt incredibly ufortable. Furious, he threw his lollipop on the ground, turned around, and stormed back into the school building. He was going to tell the headmaster that Hayes was starting a gang fight! If he couldn¡¯t have something, there was no way he was going to let Hayes have it either! And so, Manley greatly exaggerated the story and, dragging the Dean of Students by the hand, went straight to Hayes, pointing at him and his friends. ¡°Ma¡¯am it¡¯s them! The four of them are starting a gang fight¡± Chapter 310 The tour of thein, balled mud way, Brihanged bewildered mra The schmol¡¯s Dean of Students, Miss Trunchbull, was notoriously strict fittingleaught by her during the lunch break was a surf he way of losing points for the ss! At that inament, Miss Trunchbull wore a stem expresston, her votes chilling as the demanded, ¡°What on earth an you lol doing?¡± Quick thinking Teresa responded, ¡°We just woke up from our nap and was going to the bathroom. The bathrooms in the main building are all upied by the younger kidar That¡¯s a liel Ma¡¯am, they were fighting! I saw it all Manley mediately dianded Teresa¡¯s exnation ¦° Of course, Miss Trunchbull know Manley was lying if they had truly been fighting, would they be walking arm in army? However, her garended on Hayes face, and she suddenly remembered the d she had just received from both Hayes and Marley¡¯s moller. The woman had inentioned Hayes¡® had temper and entric behavior, insisting that she give han special attention Ideally, she should seize the opportunity to call in bis father for a meeting! This request was unusual, but Miss Trunchbull agree). After all, she knew better than to argue with money ¡°All four of you, to my office!¡± Punishing Hayes alone would be too obvious, no she decided to make it a gropi penally As the leader of the Vine Whip Alliance, Teresa¡¯s sense of justice tan deep. She stepped forward bravely. It has nothing to do with them! I¡¯ll go to your office Miss Trunchbull looked at the little girl speechlessly Did she really think she could take the fall for Hayes? Not a chancel Tine, youe with me, Miss Trunchbull pointed towards Hayes, ¡°And you, tod What? Teresa was confused. She had already said it had nothing to do with others, why was Miss Trunchbull dragging this young into it? Miss, you¡­ A harsh re from Miss Trunchbull silenced Teresa, who immediately shut her mouth The two kids trudged behind Miss Trunchbull. As they passed Manley, he immediately made a face at Hayes. ¡°You¡¯re toast! When your parents find out, you¡¯re going to get a spanking!¡± Teresa frowned, shot a re at Manley, and protectively pulled Hayes away The moment the two kids stepped into Miss Trunchbull¡¯s office, a furious voice rang out, ¡°First day of school and already fighting What do you thing you are doing? Get your father on the phone!¡± Teresa was startled and stuttered. He didn¡¯t hit me, and I didn¡¯t hit him¡± The woman¡¯s anger turned towards Teresa, Teresa Winston, shut up! So young and already forming cliques at school? This is outrageous! Call your mother too!¡± For the kids, a parent being called to school was a big deal. Teresa fell silent, adopting Hayes¡® apologetic posture and hanging her head low The office fell into silence as Miss Trunchbull mmed her office phone onto the table, ¡°Who started it?¡± Both kids remained silent. Just then, another teacher ran in to call Miss Trunchbull for a meeting Before she left, she shot a stern nce at the two, ¡°Hayes Winston, call your father Teresa, call your mother. When I return from the meeting, I want to see your parents here. No dawdling!¡± Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Miss Trunchbull, the Dean of Students finished speaking and closed the door with an abrupt m. Teresa immediately pressed against the door, discovering to her surprise that the stern woman had locked it! How annoying! Teresa tugged at the doorknob In vain, it was locked light. She looked at Hayes in disappointment, but his bright, innocent eyes inexplicably lifted her spirits. ¡°So your name is Hayes Winston? We share ast name, what a coincidence! Are you regretting joining my Vine Whip Alliance?¡± Hayes lifted his head, finding Teresa¡¯s voice to be pleasing, like the chime of wind bells. He desperately wanted to respond to her, to tell her, ¡°I don¡¯t regret it at all!¡± But his voice seemed trapped, and he couldn¡¯t utter a single word. Teresa moved closer to him, herrge eyes fixed on him, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? You¡¯re not mute, are you? Mutes can¡¯t join the Vine Whip Alliance. Hayes felt a pang of sorrow. He wasn¡¯t mute! He used to be able to speak! He didn¡¯t know when it started, but one day he just couldn¡¯t speak anymore. His godfather said it was psychological, and he had been receiving treatment ever since Hayes wanted to exin this to Teresa. His mouth moved under his cor, but no sound came out. Seeing no response from him, Teresa felt a bit frustrated. She pointed at the phone, asking, ¡°Do you want to call your dad?¡± Hayes stared at her, unsure of what to do. After some thought, Teresa suddenly grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, ¡°Or you could write down your dad¡¯s number, and I could call for you?* Hayes hesitated, neither speaking nor making any indication of what he wanted. Teresa puffed her cheeks in annoyance, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to call him? Are you scared your dad will spank you?¡± She was met with silence. Now Teresa was the one feeling desperate, ¡°Forget it, I can¡¯t wait around for you. I¡¯ve already had to call parents three times this week. My mom is going to kill me! Anyway, I can¡¯t call.¡± The little girl muttered to herself as she rolled up her sleeves and moved towards the window, peeking out for a moment before turning back around to give her final instructions ¡°Listen, the dean is really strict. When your dad Chapter 312 The pair of little ones managed to escape through the window, with the help of one another. Just as Teresa was about to rush back to the ssroom, Hayes stopped in his tracks and pointed towards the yground. Teresa paused and asked, ¡°You want to go to the yground?¡± Hayes nodded his head, causing a look of concern to cross Teresa¡¯s face, ¡°But lunch break is about to end. If the teacher doesn¡¯t see us, we¡¯ll get in trouble¡± Hayes blinked his eyes, his lips, hidden beneath his cor, movedboriously to form the Teresa looked serious, ¡°Well have to perform a dancel¡± Hayes actuallyughed, his round and earnest eyes stubborn, 1 want, you, dance.¡± It was a simple sentence, but it took all of Hayes¡® energy. words, ¡°What, trouble?¡± Of course, Teresa didn¡¯t know just how difficult it was for Hayes to speak, but his words made her blush. With her crimson cheeks, she turned her head away in embarrassment, muttering under her breath, ¡°Why do you speak in such a stato manner? Never mind, I¡¯ll apany you to the yground!¡± Teresa took Hayes to a corner of the yground where the two of them sat on the cool rubber track, their legs stretched out straight. ¡± Hayes couldn¡¯t wait to take out his iPad from his backpack, his fingers dancing across the screen He quickly typed in his dad¡¯s phone number, temporarily jamming his phone signal. Teresa was bewildered, her innocent eyes filled with question marks, ¡°What¡¯s this? The number you just typed, was that a phone number?¡± Hayes nodded, then brought up the digital keyboard on the iPad and pushed it towards Teresa. Teresa blinked, ¡°You want me to input my phone number?¡± Hayes shook his head. Teresa asked again, ¡°My mom¡¯s?¡± Hayes nodded. Teresa, filled with suspicion, typed in her mom¡¯s phone number. Hayes busied himself with the iPad for a moment, and soon a line of text appeared on the screen= [¡°All signals from this phone have been temporarily blocked. Will be lifted in three hours.¡°] Teresa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Could this be the famed hacking technique? Who would have thought that Hayes, unassuming as he was, had such skills! She immediately admired Hayes to the point of prostration and hugged him joyfully, praising him unabashedly. ¡°You¡¯re so clever, little mute! Can you help me block my mom¡¯s phone signal when we have parent meetings?¡± Hayes nodded his head in Teresa¡¯s embrace. Teresa then cupped Hayes¡® face and said in a childish voice, ¡°Little mute, you should try to speak more. okay? You look so pitiful when you don¡¯t speak, it breaks my heart.¡± Hayes pouted, his eyes moistened and a tear trickled down his cheek Hayes cried His tears made Teresa feel a strange ache in her heart, and she hurriedly wiped his tears in a flustered manner, ¡°What happened, little mute? Were you bullied? I¡¯ll protect you from now on, okay?¡± Hayes sniffled, his eyes red as he nodded fervently Finally, someone was going to protect him¡­ Meanwhile, at LuxeScents International Just as Marguerite walked into the office, Maurice¡¯s reproachful reprimand canle flying at her, ¡°Why arent you answering your phone? I was about to call the police!¡± Maurice¡¯s voice was harsh and vicious, yet it was underlined with worry Marguerite took out her phone in annoyance, seeing no missed calls. ¡°Maurice, can you stop being so dramatic?¡°¡°> Maurice¡¯s deep blue eyes fixed on her, ¡°Where the hell have you been?¡± ¡°None of your business¡± Maurice stepped forward, gripping Marguerite¡¯s pale wrist tightly. ¡°Are you going to tell me?¡± Marguerite felt a bit dizzy Truth be told, her life with Maurice for the past three years had been smooth and uneventful, they had hardly ever quarreled Maurice was the calcting type, a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Even when Marguerite had been furious with him several times, he never showed it outwardly, instead choosing to retaliate in his own way. For example, using the whereabouts of their son as leverage This time, Marguerite felt his emotional turmoil for the first time, and she realized that he was truly angry. Therefore, the silent stand¨Coff didritst long. Marguerite looked at him, finally responding, 7 went to Sapphire Valley Estates! Hearing her answer, Maurice slowly let go of Marguerite, turned and walked towards the floor¨Cto¨Ccelling windows, standing in silence with his hands in his pockets. His back was to her, preventing Marguerite from seeing his expression. Marguerite knew that Maurice must be furious. But so what? She had gone to the Sapphire Valley Estates, she wanted to see Frederick, and she saw no need to lie to Maurice. She had never cared about Maurice¡¯s feelings. However, the words that Maurice said next forced Marguerite to care, it was hard to ignore. She saw Maurice turn around after a moment of silence, his gaze serious as he looked at her, ¡°Marguerite, let¡¯s get married¡± Chapter 313 Of course, Teresa didn¡¯t know just how difficult it was for Hayes to speak, but his words made her blush. With her crimson cheeks, she turned her head away in embarrassment, muttering under her breath, ¡°Why do you speak in such a stato manner? Never mind, I¡¯ll apany you to the yground!¡± Teresa took Hayes to a corner of the yground where the two of them sat on the cool rubber track, their legs stretched out straight. ¡± Hayes couldn¡¯t wait to take out his iPad from his backpack, his fingers dancing across the screen He quickly typed in his dad¡¯s phone number, temporarily jamming his phone signal. Teresa was bewildered, her innocent eyes filled with question marks, ¡°What¡¯s this? The number you just typed, was that a phone number?¡± Hayes nodded, then brought up the digital keyboard on the iPad and pushed it towards Teresa. Teresa blinked, ¡°You want me to input my phone number?¡± Hayes shook his head. Teresa asked again, ¡°My mom¡¯s?¡± Hayes nodded. Teresa, filled with suspicion, typed in her mom¡¯s phone number. Hayes busied himself with the iPad for a moment, and soon a line of text appeared on the screen= [¡°All signals from this phone have been temporarily blocked. Will be lifted in three hours.¡°] Teresa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Could this be the famed hacking technique? Who would have thought that Hayes, unassuming as he was, had such skills! She immediately admired Hayes to the point of prostration and hugged him joyfully, praising him unabashedly. ¡°You¡¯re so clever, little mute! Can you help me block my mom¡¯s phone signal when we have parent meetings?¡± Hayes nodded his head in Teresa¡¯s embrace. Teresa then cupped Hayes¡® face and said in a childish voice, ¡°Little mute, you should try to speak more. okay? You look so pitiful when you don¡¯t speak, it breaks my heart.¡± Hayes pouted, his eyes moistened and a tear trickled down his cheek Hayes cried His tears made Teresa feel a strange ache in her heart, and she hurriedly wiped his tears in a flustered manner, ¡°What happened, little mute? Were you bullied? I¡¯ll protect you from now on, okay?¡± Hayes sniffled, his eyes red as he nodded fervently Finally, someone was going to protect him¡­ Meanwhile, at LuxeScents International Just as Marguerite walked into the office, Maurice¡¯s reproachful reprimand canle flying at her, ¡°Why arent you answering your phone? I was about to call the police!¡± Maurice¡¯s voice was harsh and vicious, yet it was underlined with worry Marguerite took out her phone in annoyance, seeing no missed calls. ¡°Maurice, can you stop being so dramatic?¡°¡°> Maurice¡¯s deep blue eyes fixed on her, ¡°Where the hell have you been?¡± ¡°None of your business¡± Maurice stepped forward, gripping Marguerite¡¯s pale wrist tightly. ¡°Are you going to tell me?¡± Marguerite felt a bit dizzy Truth be told, her life with Maurice for the past three years had been smooth and uneventful, they had hardly ever quarreled Maurice was the calcting type, a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Even when Marguerite had been furious with him several times, he never showed it outwardly, instead choosing to retaliate in his own way. For example, using the whereabouts of their son as leverage This time, Marguerite felt his emotional turmoil for the first time, and she realized that he was truly angry. Therefore, the silent stand¨Coff didritst long. Marguerite looked at him, finally responding, 7 went to Sapphire Valley Estates! Hearing her answer, Maurice slowly let go of Marguerite, turned and walked towards the floor¨Cto¨Ccelling windows, standing in silence with his hands in his pockets. His back was to her, preventing Marguerite from seeing his expression. Marguerite knew that Maurice must be furious. But so what? She had gone to the Sapphire Valley Estates, she wanted to see Frederick, and she saw no need to lie to Maurice. She had never cared about Maurice¡¯s feelings. However, the words that Maurice said next forced Marguerite to care, it was hard to ignore. She saw Maurice turn around after a moment of silence, his gaze serious as he looked at her, ¡°Marguerite, let¡¯s get married¡± ¡°You¡¯re toast! When your parents find out, you¡¯re going to get a spanking!¡± Teresa frowned, shot a re at Manley, and protectively pulled Hayes away The moment the two kids stepped into Miss Trunchbull¡¯s office, a furious voice rang out, ¡°First day of school an e it out on you¡± With a bright smile, Teresa waved at Hayes, ¡°I¡¯m leaving, bye!¡± As she said this, she climbed onto a stool and prepared to escape through the window. Watching Teresa¡¯s retreating figure, Hayes felt a strange turmoil. He had never had someone his age speak to him so directly and show concern for him. Teresa was about to leap from the window, her bnce shaky and precarious. Hayes¡® heart leapt, and before he knew it, he blurted out, ¡°Be careful!¡± He darted towards her, his hands raised as if to catch her. Teresa paused, turning to look at Hayes, ¡°Oh, so you can speak. You¡¯re not muter Hayes was stunned. He had just¡­ spoken? He could speak again! Teresa excitedly extended her arm towards him, ¡°So, do you want to leave with me? I can protect you!¡± Hayes knew, subconsciously, that escaping through the window was wrong. If his mom found out, she would surely spank him. Bud already fighting What do you thing you are doing? Get your father on the phone!¡± Teresa was startled and stuttered. He didn¡¯t hit me, and I didn¡¯t hit him¡± The woman¡¯s anger turned towards Teresa, Teresa Winston, shut up! So young and already forming cliques at school? This is outrageous! Call your mother too!¡± For the kids, a parent being called to school was a big deal. Teresa fell silent, adopting Hayes¡® apologetic posture and hanging her head low The office fell into silence as Miss Trunchbull mmed her office phone onto the table, ¡°Who started it?¡± Both kids remained silent. Just then, another teacher ran in to call Miss Trunchbull for a meeting Before she left, she shot a stern nce at the two, ¡°Hayes Winston, call your father Teresa, call your mother. When I return from the meeting, I want to see your parents here. No dawdling!¡± Chapter 314 Marguerite was breathing heavily The man who haunted her dreams was now sitting not too far from her. How she yearned to reach out and trace his eyebrows and his eyes. But Marguente couldn¡¯t. Because she saw Yuna, sitting next to Frederick,ughing flirtatiously into his ear Yuna¡¯s lips were close to his, and he didn¡¯t seem to mind. He nced at Marguerite nonchntly before turning and wrapping an arm around Yuna¡¯s waist After three years, they were finally together and seemed genuinely in love. The bid Maurice shouted out made Robert a tad urgent, but also full of bewilderment. Eight million was no small sum. Even the top elites would ponder whether this bracelet was worth the price. Just as the auctioneer was about to bring down the hammer, Marguerite saw Frederick grab Robert¡¯s paddle and call out an even more astronomical figure Ten million! His voice was light, carrying his signaturenguid charm. Marguente stared at his back, feeling a gnawing pain spreading within her. It wasn¡¯t a strong pain, more like a thorn stuck in her palm. It wasn¡¯t bothersome, but once touched, it was impossible to ignore ¡°Twenty million!¡± Maurice raised the bid again, causing everyone in the room to gasp. Frederick seemed to be in a bidding war with Maurice, the price doubling each time. Eventually, the value of the bracelet was being measured in billions thanks to the bidding war The audience¡¯s shock turned into amusement. After all, Marguerite¡¯s rtionship with the Winston siblings was a hot topic that everyone wanted to talk about So, it was hard for them not to think that they were fighting over Marguerite out of jealousy Catfights between women were terrible, but what about men? Frederick and Maurice¡¯s bidding war seemed to suggest they were willing to risk it all. Seeing things were out of control, the auctioneer had to intervene. Frederick and Maurice were both prominent figures in Stonebridge City. If they continued their reckless bidding, not only would the auction be a joke, but it could also trigger an economic crisis. The auction house sent two staff members. One of them led Maurice and Marguerite to the VIP lounge to discuss if they could privately negotiate the ownership of the bracelet with Frederick Marguente was yearning for Frederick, but all she wanted now was to leave as soon as possible His affection for Yuna made Marguerite¡¯s heart ache so much that she could hardly breathe Just watching from afar was unbearable. How could she bear to face him in person? Before she could refuse, the double doors of the lounge were suddenly pushed open. Marguente looked up to see Frederick holding Yuna¡¯s hand, walking in her direction. Marguentes clenching her fists. She wanted to escape, but Maunce held her by the shoulder As Fredenck drew closer, every step he took felt like a knife cutting into Marguente¡¯s chest, causing excruciating pain Then, he stopped in front of them and said indifferently, Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Fredenck¡¯s gaze was nk and unfamiliar, not even ncing towards Marguerite. Behind Maurice¡¯s sses were cold eyes, yet theers of his mouth curled upwards into a smile that seemed harmless yet dangerous Not only that, he extended hands to hug Frederick, asking, ¡°When did you get back?¡± Frederick replied with a chuckle, ¡°About a fortnight ago.¡± The casual conversation between the brothers made Marguente feel as if she was in a different world. The tension that had just been present seemed to be nothing more than a figment of Marguerite¡¯s imagination. Marguente realized thatpared to the two men before her, she was still a novice. She couldn¡¯t pretend to be oblivious under such circumstances. The moment she saw Frederick, she became so nervous that she couldn¡¯t breathe. Therefore, the one who was unable to move on was always herself. The man she had once hurt had long started a new life. Only she remained stuck in the past. Maunce gently massaged Marguente¡¯s shoulder, smiling blissfully. ¡°My daughter has been eyeing this bracelet for a long time, and she asked me to bid for it. Frederick, I heard that you and Yuna have two sons, so you must understand my concerns as a father.¡± Frederick, ignoring Marguerite, carried on the conversation with Maurice, ¡°I do, but this bracelet isn¡¯t what I want.¡± ¡°What?¡± Robert stepped forward, sp?ring Marguerite a nce, ¡°It¡¯s for me¡± Maunce seemed to know everything. ¡°Does it have something to do with your sister?¡± Robert nodded. ¡°The bracelet is a keepsake I gave to her when she was born. Only by getting this bracelet can I get the seller¡¯s information from the organizer As you all know, our family has been looking for her for over two decades.¡± Marguente was taken aback. She had no idea that Robert had a sister. And from his story, it seemed that his sister had been missing for over two decades. Somehow, she thought of her son who was lost three years ago, and naturally felt a sense of connection with Robert. Marguente looked up, saying softly. Then you take it.¡± Robert looked at Marguente, then at Frederick, momentarily at a loss for words. Maunce, however held Marguerite even tighter, ¡°Since Marguente says so, I agree. But my daughter will probably be disappointed. I have to think of a way to make it up to her.¡± He cast his gaze towards Marguerite, thought for a moment, and said, ¡°Marguerite, do you remember she mentioned wanting to go to the Maldivesst time? Why dont we take her there when we get a chance?¡± Marguerite¡¯s attention was entirely on Frederick, but she dared not meet Frederick¡¯s eyes, her gaze lingering on the hand he held Yuna¡¯s with ¡°Marguente?¡± Marguente turned to look at Maurice, ¡°OK¡± He nodded contentedly, but Marguerite was far from calm She summoned the courage to look at Frederick, scrutinizing his current expression. But his indifferent gaze gave no clue. Next, she saw him tum his head, gently tucking a stray lock of Yuna¡¯s hair behind her ear, and his eyes were filled with affection. ¡°Your hair¡¯s gotten long Isn¡¯t it getting in your eyes?* Yuna brushed her bangs aside, her voice soft, ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll have Jocelyn take me for a haircut tomorrow¡± Jocelyn was back too? How wonderful! Marguerite was d that during Frederick¡¯s time away, he had thepany of Yuma and Jocelyn. But her heart hurt so much at that moment She hastily withdrew her gaze, lowered her eyes, and let out a sigh, ¡°Let¡¯s go¡± After bidding everyone farewell, Maurice slowly led Marguerite away Marguerite felt as if her soul was being ripped from her body She was upset and followed Maurice out like a walking corpse Robert¡¯s voice came at that moment, ¡°Marguerite, wait!¡± Marguente stiffened instantly. She turned her head, hearing Robert continue, ¡°If your daughter really likes this bracelet, I can have a replica made for her There¡¯s no need, Maurice quickly declined on Marguerite¡¯s behalf. ecessary don¡¯t like owing anyone anything, especially you. This sentence came from Fredenck nered She asn¡¯t pure if Frederick¡¯s words wam meant as a response to Maurice or deliberately spoken for her to hear Chapter 316 Marguente couldn¡¯t recall how shed left the lounge, or how she¡¯d ended up in the car By the time the gathered her senses, Maunce already had the car parked in front of the mansion. Marguerite was about to step out of the car grabbed her wrist ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You are upset to find out your old me is doing well?¡± Marguente didn¡¯t understand where Maurice¡¯s resentment came from ¡°Don¡¯t call him my old me. He never responded to my feelings¡± Uurouted love is always cheap Marguente pulled her hand back, her words biting. ¡°You don¡¯t even deserve cheap love¡± His hands grasped her shoulders, pulling her closer ¡°Marguerite, you want to see him, don¡¯t you? Now that you have, you should consider my proposal¡± ¡°What proposal?¡± Marguerite was still reeling from seeing Frederick, and Maurice¡¯s words were just adding to her confusion ¡°Marry me Im not in the mood for romance¡± ¡°If you want to find your son, you¡¯d better stick close to me Marguente stared at him, realizing for the first time how his assertiveness scared her She made her intentions clear yet he was obsessively trying to keep her by his side in the past three years, countless women had messed around Wasn¡¯t there anyone who could fill his twisted, empty heart? Maybe it was because she was hard to get, inting his pride, that he only saw her as a game piece. But love wasn¡¯t a game, and while he couldn¡¯t heart, Marguente could if she couldn¡¯t be with Frederick, she didn¡¯t care who she ended up marrying, but it would never be Maurice His intensity scared her, but she couldn¡¯t have insisted on this when she knew it was wrong. Marguente stared him down, freeing herself from his grip, exiting the car, and mming the door behind h Meanwhile at Sapphire Valley Estates vithout ¨¤ second look Marguere¡¯s appearance made Frederick distracted Had been sent the entire nde, his face a mask of severity Yuna, however was ecstatic Today Frederick had shown her respect in front of Marquette She Som wading for this moment for a long time So as soon as they¡¯d arrived back home, Yuna had practically held Frederick sa arms. She clung to hum affectionately, her hot breath tickling his neck Freddie¡± He showed no reaction, puting his arms away and warning her ¡°We¡¯ll meet the kidster. You¡¯ll have to be demum ¡± Yuna was slightly disappointed but still content. Compared to three years ago, Frederick was much kinder to her now That change hade about because of their children, and the more she thought about it, the more she believed she made the night baodiah. she hadn¡¯t taken Marguentes baby all those years ago and passed the paternity test, shed have been exiled by now. She would be me by Frederic Looking up at the grandeur of Sapphire Valley Estates, Yuna¡¯s ambition grow jer trump card everything her could be hers They entered th sion to find Mandy ying with his Legos ¡°Daddy! I missed you Fredeno poked up Manley, his stem gaze softening ¡°Are you a good boy today? ¡°Of course I¡¯m always good¡± Franck Mankey¡¯s hair, then realized they were alone. Whem is everyone else? ¡°They went out to back for Mayes¡± Free¡¯s brow furrowed, and he set Manley doon Where did Hayes go?! Marley Booked at Vuna then turned back to Frederick, embeltrating the truth, I don¡¯t know Hayes got into a fight at schoor seday and drapesired home eye has cared of facing you and Mommy, so he¡¯s lung Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Feden¡¯s boumally impassive face turned terrifyingly grim in a split second, making Yuna anxious. She quickly said to him, ¡°Freddie you go out and search where Haves might be and I stay home and check if we missed anywhere. Let¡¯s split up¡± Whout any hestation, Frodenck, dashed out of the house, his long legs carrying him swiftly like an arrow shot from a bow Yuna feta gust of wind pass by her Sering Predeck leave, Manley held Yuna¡¯s hand, his nose slowly dribbling with snot Mommy, are you going to look for that mute?¡± Yuna smiled coldly, pulling out a tissue from her pocket to clean Manley¡¯s nose, ¡°why would mommy have time for that mute bay? I¡¯m going to y Legos with Manley was ovenoved at heanng this, eagerly leading Yuna to the living room filled with Lego blocks. They sat and began to y They were delighted and oblivious to the fact that Hayes was hiding in the corner formed by the couch and the wall. Through a small gap, he saw his moth Manley locking so happy. But he had never experienced such happiness from his mother Meanwhile, Yuna watched Manley ying, a wicked grin ying on her face Three years ago, she secretly brought Hayes back to their ind home, nning to convince Frederick that the two boys were twins once Manley was But babies grow fast. Hayes was already half a month old, and Manley still hadn¡¯t been born. So, she starved Hayes to stunt his growth. If it weren¡¯t for the nutritional supplements, Hayes would have been long gone. A month after Hayes arrived, Manley was finally born. At the parentage test, she tricked Frederick by using only Hayes¡® blood, making him believe they were his twin sons Manley, being a preemie, wasn¡¯t as healthy as Hayes, so she always fed him hearty meals and supplements. But she overdid it turning Manley in a plump boy with a somewhat slow mind Regardless, Manley was her child, and she would do anything to give him the best Hayes, being Marguerite¡¯s child, wasn¡¯t so lucky. Hayes was just a tool for her to pass the parentage test Every time she saw Hayes, she was reminded of that woman, Marguerite, and wished she could strangle him to death. But it was because of Haves that she be with Frederick. So, she couldn¡¯t do anything to him in public, and could only plot behind his back While helping Manley with the Legos, she asked, ¡°Manley, did Hayes get into a fight today?¡± The thought excited Manley. ¡°It wasn¡¯t really a fight. But he got into trouble because some girl was bullying him. Mommy, Hayes is so week, and bully him.¡± Yuna seized the opportunity to teach Manley a lesson. ¡°You can¡¯t be like Hayes. You should be obedient, and stay close to Daddy. He likes you and he everything to you¡± Manley was thrilled. ¡°Mommy, Tm the older brother Daddy will definitely leave everything to me Yuna affectionately pinched Manley¡¯s nose. ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re the firstborn¡± Many sucked on his finger confused, ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s a firstbom?¡± ¡°A fretbom is the one who inhents everything. Mommy and Daddy love you the most¡± Mankey locked up at his mother expectantly. ¡°Mommy, does daddy love Hayes?¡± ¡°Of course not Yuna dered firmly, adding, ¡°Remember, Daddy and Mommy only love you It¡¯s Hayes fault for being disobedient¡± Hearing the answer he wanted, Manley danced around in joy. Meanwhile, Hayes, hiding behind the couch, heard everything. His young eyes fille hurt. He didn¡¯t understand what heartache was, but the feeling of it was already tearing him apart. Chapter 318 hapter 318 Hayes kept shedding tears. He huddled in a corner, clutching his knees tightly, one hand stifling his mouth. He was temfied his sobbing would be heard by his mom, causing her to dislike him even more. He didn¡¯t mean to hide and make everyone worry. It was just that his older brother, Manley, would hit him every time he returned home, forcing Hayes to hide. He intended toe out once his parents were home. However, he overheard them saying they didn¡¯t love him, and the knowledge hurt him deeply He couldn¡¯t understand why Yuna hated him so much. Was it because he identally broke her antique vase a year ago? But he had already been severely punished by Yuna for that. Hayes couldn¡¯t shake the confusion. Ever since that incident, Hayes realized no matter what he did, Yuna always ignored him. In her eyes, it seemed everything he did was wrong. So, he decided to stop talking altogether. It seemed the less he spoke, the more tolerable Yuna became The more Hayes thought about it, the more his tears welled up. He craved his parents¡® love and yearned for Yuna to call him by his name affectionately. But what about his dad? Did he not love him too? If his dad didn¡¯t love him, why did he go out looking for him? Hayes was ambivalent. Half an hourter. Everyone returned home disappointed, without any sign of Hayes. Jocelyn was cleaning tears anxiously, her hand trembling as she clutched Frederick¡¯s. Her voice was hoarse and unsteady, ¡°Frederick, call the police! Hayes is only three years old, and where could he have gone? It¡¯s snowing heavily outside, and I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s dressed warmly enough. If he met a child trafficker, L.. Jocelyn¡¯s legs gave way in her anxiety, but Frederick quickly caught her and steadied her, ¡°Mom! Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call the police right now¡± Yuna immediately showed concern. She stepped forward to discuss with everyone. Seeing Frederick about to call the police, she immediately said, ¡°Freddie, the police won¡¯t file a case if Hayes has been missing for less than 24 hours.¡± Frederick¡¯s fury red up, and he red at her, ¡°Who dares not file a case when I call?¡± Feeling the anger from Frederick, Yuna not only backed down but also got a fright. At that time, Manley, who was engrossed in his Lego game, was thirsty. He wanted to get up for a drink but slipped and fell. Nobody noticed him, and Manley was about to start crying. But as he opened his mouth, his sight fell on a pair of round, tear¨Cfilled eyes under the couch. Hayes, the little mute, was hiding behind the couch. As if he had discovered something incredible, Manley immediately stood up, pointing at the corner of the couch, and shouted with a face full of ment, ¡°Daddy. Mommy, Hayes is hiding here¡°. Frederick, who was halfway through his call, immediately dropped his phone and ran over But Yuna was faster than him. She was the first to pull Hayes out of the corner, and her action was rough like she was handling a chicken. ¡°You¡¯re disobedient. We have been worried and looked for you, but you¡¯ve been hiding here. Have you been hiding for a long time? Why didn¡¯t youe out?¡± Hayes¡® legs dangled in the air, and his cor was gripped tightly by Yuna, making it difficult for him to breathe. Chapter 319 Yuna reluctantly let go of bom, and he immediately dashed off towards Frederick and Jocelyn Fresdelck reached out to embrace him, but Hayes eyes were filled with hurt and resentment. He slipped past Frederick and hid behind Jocelyn. ¡°Jovelyn, dom) defend him Yuna was furious. She pointed at Hayes and shouted, ¡°It¡¯s snowing outside, and you let your grandma search for you in the cold How could you be so cruel? It¡¯s all because of you¡± Hayes felt quilty His small arms were tightly wrapped around Jocelyn¡¯s leg, his tiny body shivering uncontrobly Daddy and Mommy didn¡¯t love him, but Grandma did Whenevet meniny would hit him, it was always Grandma who protected him. by a panic, Yuna pulled a stick out from the coffee table drawer, her voice rising. ¡°Hayes, get out here right now. You have to apologize to everyone today¡± Hayes was temfied, tears welling up in his eyes. Jocelyn immediately turned around to shield him, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Hayes. I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Frederick, who was standing nearby, couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. His eyes filled with revulsion as he red at Yuna, his voice filled with authority. ¡°You want to hit Jum again? Stop it Freddie, you are spotting him. I can¡¯t go easy on him.¡± You¡¯ve never hit Manley¡± ¡°Because Manley is more obedient than him¡± Yona¡¯s tant favontism filled Frederick with disgust. Before, she had only shown her favoritism in private, and he had always turned a blind eye to it. When the children were hom, Manley was much weaker than Hayes. The doctor exined that the two children werepeting for nutrition in the womb, which resulted in Manley¡¯s frailness As such Yuna was more concerned about Manley than Hayes. Frederick didn¡¯t say much about it. The maternal love that Hayes wascking from Yuna, he, as a father,pensated for it doubly. Yet, Yuna was bing more and more overbearing She even showed her favoritism in front of Hayes How could he tolerate it? Frederick gave Yuna one menacing re He then turned around, lifted Hayes into his arms, and gave Yuna a warning. ¡°I was too busy with work and neglected my duty to discipline our children. From now on, Hayes is my responsibility. You stay out of it.¡± He then carried Hayes straight to his study Hayes was still crying, but his tears had dried up. His little shoulders were shaking, and he was gasping for breath. But he was sensible enough to use his little hand to pat his chest, repeatedly telling himself in his heart, ¡°I can¡¯t cry! I can¡¯t cry! Daddy doesn¡¯t like children who cry¡± Frederick seated Hayes on his office chair and then took out a state from his bookshelf. The te was filled with writings. Some were childish, others were powerful It was a tool for father and son tomunicate. Frederick took out a chalk and knelt on one knee so he was at eye level with Hayes. His tone was gentle, ¡®Hayes, why did you hide? Winte it down and tell Daddy¡± Hayes held the chalk in his hand and said nothing Even though he hadforted himself hundreds of times in his heart, telling himself not to cry, he couldn¡¯t help but shed tears. ¡°Hayes?¡± Frederick rubbed the top of his head. ¡°Be a good boy¡± Suddenly, Hayes put down the chalk, turned his head, and looked at Frederick His round eyes were filled with unshed tears. His small hand tentatively cupped Frederick¡¯s face Thinking about what Yuna had said to Manley earlier, Hayes¡® emotions were on the verge of spilling over Frederick could sense the turmoil in his son¡¯s emotions. He knew that Hayes wanted to cry, but was holding it in. His little face was flushed red. He whimpered a few times but quickly swallowed his cres. Frederick gently wiped away the tears that had gathered in Hayes¡® eyes and softly said, ¡°If you want to cry, let it out Daddy will wait for you¡± But, Hayes didn¡¯t cry He forced himself to hold it back, but the overwhelming feeling of injustice made him open his mouth Then, his eyes widened again, filled with sincenty and hurt, he asked a question that took Frederick by surprise. ¡°Daddy, do you love me?¡± Chapter 320 The joy of hearing Hayes voice again was overpowered by a stab of pan because the first words out of Hayed mouth were to question Fradors love for num Frederick was not a sentimental person, yet them were only two people whind ever stirred such emotions in him. First, it was Margu Without hesitation, Frederick swept Hayes into his arms, his chin resting gently on the boy¡¯s head ¡°Of course I love your How could Daddy ever not love your blurted out Hayes finally burst into tears, his mouth tremulling, unsure whether to trust his father¡¯s words The tle guy didn¡¯t know that Frederick loved him more than anyone else could Hecause Hayes reminded him so much of Marguente, he couldn¡¯t help but be extra attentive and caring, even if he didn¡¯t want to admit Fredenck released Hayes, holding his shoulders lightly, his voice thick with emotion Hayes, call me Daddy again¡± Hayes cleaned his tears and turned away in silence. He picked up a pencil and quickly wrote, ¡°I didn¡¯t hide on purpose, Manley hit me, I didn¡¯t want gent¡± Frederick¡¯s brows furrowed in rm ¡°Manley hit you?¡± Hayes nodded, tears streaming down his face. ¡°Why would he hit you?¡® Frederick asked Hayes lowered his head in despair, his little hand clutching the pencil tightly, but he didn¡¯t write down the reason. He himself didn¡¯t understand why Marley was always picking on him, always for no reason at all. Seeing Hayes fall silent, Frederick gently prodded further, ¡°Manley told me that you¡¯ve been getting into fights at school? Is the An image of a girl named Teresa shed across Hayes¡® mind, making his tear streaked face soften slightly. He opened his mouth, but managed only one word- ¡°Teresa¡± Frederick fought to control his emotions, asking quickly, ¡°Who¡¯s Teresa?¡± Hayes turned to look at his dad, struggling to speak. ¡°She is nice to me Frederick asked many more questions, but Hayes fell silent again Frederick wasn¡¯t in a rush, he knew that haste makes waste. The fact that Hayes had spoken st all had already thrilled him. Ever since Hayes was born, his speech development hadgged behind his peers. It wasn¡¯t until he was two that he¡¯d finally called him ¡°Daddy for the first time, then never again Frederick had taken Hayes to several hospitals, but anything wrong
  • could find
Robert suspected that Hayes¡® refusal to speak was a psychological issue, simr to Frederick¡¯s loss of smell. So, Robert amanged for weekly therapy sessions for Hayes, all to no avail But today, Hayes had spoken three sentences, two of which mentioned a girl named ¡°Teresa¡± This girl could be the key to getting Hayes to speak again. He had to find her! After putting Hayes to bed, Frederick called Chuck into his office Find out if there¡¯s a child named Teresa at Hayes¡® preschool ¡°Understood, Mr Winston Thinking of Hayes¡® behavior that evening. Frederick¡¯s eyes darkened Il Teresa was indeed the reason Hayes had started speaking again, he would do anything to make sure her parents would allow her to spend time with Haves. The next afternoon at Thunderbolt Enterprises This was the newpany Frederick hard started in Vesper after leaving the Winston Group His exceptional abilities, coupled with a dose of good luck, had allowed thepany to overshadow other major conglomerates in Vespera within the years, once again securing a ce at the top of the world Now returning to Stonebridge City, he was targeting the domestic market. At that moment, Robert was anxiously cing a bracelet on Frederick¡¯s desk, pleading with him to give it to Marguerite the bracelet was a replica Robert had had nade overnight Frederick chose to ignore it, ifung his eyelids to warn ¡°Don¡¯t make trouble for me Robert looked at Frederick, his face showing his dialyess Frederick, please! You know I¡¯ve been in a long distance rtionship with Miley for the past four years. Now I finally decided to tum to the country to surpasan bar but as soon as I got off the ne, I was whisked away by my father¡¯s people. We¡¯ve been out of touch for a week She¡¯s upset with a Deed to make it in to b night away!¡± Robert didn¡¯t wait for Frederick response, he tumed and sped out of the ronin. ¨C Ch¨²ck, fearing his boss anger, quickly picked up the bietet, saying respectfully. ¡°Mr Winston, shall run this grand for your Put it down Chuck was puzzled, baking, ¡°Mr.Winston, what the matter?¡± Thinking of Marguerite and Maurica¡¯s disy of affection the right before, Frederick was filled with reser shave ny people tunning miranda for her, t she wants im things, she can torna git being bea Charger er Tot be said for sme drie moming, sur te temperatues suddenly droped Maybe the tastings pre es memeticulous in the work and would have ensu is ajatul dear to Maquete er betrayal | no grounds to fight back. are promptly said. The divae is collect the stuff in a crkuste of days Chapter 321 When Nalignante uit a cali fwen Church, ale was in the wild of a treeling af Lusterids fubiqmcial Truth be told she was unheses about how to have hom baxt night when he had tantly tempted her. Even a feeling glines aremad in bo tibial the This mealizebonatuung Manguenta pending her that then tionship wae Best rechim Ve she was out of cel The Thunderbolt Building wasist too far from Ievante International and Kanquette antred qut¨Ckty. As she walked to the Rapidding too Those we at colleagues who had bought alongside bredenck, and won the recrpinatal zoomed strangely famodial My word Soli make aeback in just three yeate Even though he had given uge the Windbar troops hold takin most of the Connerdune with han The eph sognized Marguerite immediately, her expression a inis of sumpiles and nekwardness: She stood in her voice hesitant, ¡°Me Lokwood¡± Marguente odded slights. Tredeck asked me to pick romellin ¡°Mi Lockwood do do you have an appointment?¡± A hint of disappointment flickered in Margiente¡¯s eyes Right she needed to book an appointment to see him herk Marquente Toned a smile, No you could just wait a moment I give him a call¡± The receptionist quickly dialed an extension, mumbling a few words that Marguerite coulida¡¯t make out After hanging up, the receptionist seemed even more embarassed, ¡°Ms Lockwood Chuck shid Mr Winston is in a meeting Why dont you all over tans and mat I get you a cup of water¡± No wore you go on with your work¡± waved her off, took a seat in the waiting area and waited in anxious silence Meanwhile in the CEO¡¯s office, Frederick cat with his logs crossed on the deck, leisurely puffing on a cigarette while watching the surveins were slightly narrowed his shaip gaze focused on the anxious woman waiting Chuck gauging Frederick¡¯s mood ventured to ask, ¡°Mr Winston, when do you n to let Marguentee up?¡± Frederick let out a ning of smoke, a cold smile ying on His eyes were filled with aunting loy gaze ¡°Whenever Chuck lowered his head. It seemed that Mr. Winston wasn¡¯t intending to make it easy for Marguente Poor woman, he felt bad for hel Marguente waited for a long time, from moming to noon, and then from noon to aftemoon, but Frederick didert invita tar up. Her initial anxiety slowly drained away with the passing time As the day was about to end Marguente realized that she hadn¡¯t even had lunch She was starving and the sudden drop in temperature in the lobby made her shiver Marguerite asked the receptionist for a hot cup of water to waim her bands. Seeing the receptionist dressed lightly, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, Tant it too cold for you with the heating off and you dressed so lightly?¡± The receptionist rubbed her hands and sniffled, ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong It was warm this moming, but the temperature suddenly dropped Mayte the heating s not working The heatings not working? It dawned on Marguerite Frederick was meticulous in his work and would have ensured immediate sale of any fault. The way the heating could be broken for an entire day Frederick was doing this on purpose? The depth of Frederick¡¯s hatred for her was crystal clear to Maiguente. Her betrayal had left her with no gromaichs to fight tie she could only endure it But she didn¡¯t want the other people to suffer because of her so she promptly said, ¡°Tell Chuck I¡¯lle to collect the stuff in a couple of days frikaan Chapter 322 Marguerite finished speaking and turned to leave, but as she did, she bumped into Robert, who was in the middle of a sente Robert rubbed his nose, ¡°Marguente? What are you still doing here?¡± He had heard from Chuck earlier in the morning when he went to see Miley that Marguente was roning to the office he had already returned fro was still waiting here? ¡°He didn¡¯t want to see me, so I had no choice but to wait here,¡± Marguerite chuckled batterly Robert, being the chivalrous man that he is, said, ¡°You¡¯re here for the bracelet, aren¡¯t you? Wait a minute, I¡¯ll go get it for you! Wom that, Robert quickly amyed at the CEO¡¯s office Frederick was still smoking, gazing out the window at the suncel On the security footage, Marguerite¡¯s silhouette was particrly clear Childish! Robert couldn¡¯t help but mutter in his mind, before deliberately asking. ¡°So you¡¯re frem? Ho clients today?¡± Frederick was brief, ¡°No¡± Robert seized the opportunity toin, ¡°Figures, you¡¯ve turned the lobby into an ice cave, you¡¯ve scared off all the clients As he spoke, Robert picked up the bracelet from the table and turned to leave ¡°Put it down!¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was cold andmanding Robert stopped in his tracks, making up an excuse, ¡°There¡¯s a blizzard tonight, and she won¡¯t be able to get out if she doesn¡¯t leave soon! Frederick slowly turned his head to meet Robert¡¯s gaze, sneering coldly, ¡°What¡¯s it to me?¡± Robert was helpless and confused. He didn¡¯t understand why Frederick Insisted on hurting Marguerite Three years ago, he didn¡¯t understand why Marguerite got involved with Maurice, only to cling to Fredericks picture after they left Stonebridge Gay He also did understand why Fredenck who clearly loved her would reject any news about her They both remained faithful to each other, and when they finally met, instead of clearing up the misunderstanding, they were both stubborn. What were they dange Robert turned to Frederick, finally starting to talk about Marguente, ¡°Frederick, Marguente didn¡¯t live happily for the past few years. Do you know the ¡± ¡°She deserves it!¡± Frederick cut him off before he could finish Robert felt a pang in his heart, thinking. Here he goes again¡± Whenever he tried to talk about Marguente, Frederick would always cut him off with an emotional outburst Feeling helpless, Robert concluded, ¡°Frederick, I won¡¯t say much, but Marguerite once loved you¡± A trace of emotion flickered in Frederick¡¯s eyes, but it was gone in an instant After a pause, he finally put out his cigarette and rose from the sofa, heading towards Robert Robert couldn¡¯t read his emotions at the moment. He watched as Frederick took the bracelet from his hand and walked out with a cold air On the other end After Robert left on the elevator, Marguente went to wait at the entrance of the building She waited and waited but didn¡¯t see hime down, so she took out her phone to send a message when a ck Maybach suddenly pulled up beside her Marguente was busy typing when she heard a familiar voice, ¡°Get in!¡± Marguente¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She looked up abruptly to see Frederick in the driver¡¯s seat, one hand on the steering wheel, looking at her Marguerite was stunned for a moment, unsure whether to get in the car His impatient voice followed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat myself.¡± Chapter 323 Marguerite¡¯s mind went nk, and she found herself involuntanly moving forward, taking a seat in the passenger side of the car ¡°Where to?¡± Marguente was dazed, but before she could respond, her stomach grumbled loudly Frederick was silent for a while, then started the engine and without expression, uttered two words, ¡°Dinner then The joumey was quiet, the narrow space filled with a peaceful silence. She could hear his steady breathing and the familiar scent that clung to him Back when they were at LuxeScents International, he often smelled of various perfumes due to his work. But despite his change in upation and absence of perfume, Marquerte could still detect a distinct scent that was uniquely his Has he been well these past few years? Has his sense of smell recovered? Marquente had so many questions, but none she could voice out. Their destination was Bluebell Bistro, the ce where Frederick had nned to confess his feelings for Marguente And he had specifically chosen a table on the terrace. Marguente, of course, was not aware of this Although the confession n was three years ago, as Frederick looked around, the tumultuous emotions from that day resurfaced Regret, pain, and hatred, effectively piercing his heart. The chilly wind howled, and the waiter kindly closed the window After Frederick ordered a few appetizers, the awkward silence descended once again. In Marguente¡¯s mind, a reunion with Frederick was supposed to be tense and confrontational Who would have thought that they could sit together peacefully? Marguente was a bundle of nerves and tried to make conversation. ¡°Bluebell Bistro closed down for three years I didn¡¯t expect it to reopen today¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes locked onto Marguerite¡¯s, a spark in his gaze, ¡°Three years ago, a man booked the entire restaurant for a love confession, but the n was canceled due to the betrayal of his lover. Hence, the man bought the restaurant and closed it down for years¡± The word ¡°betrayal¡® sent chills down Marguerite¡¯s spine His tone was indifferent, as if he was talking about someone else¡¯s story, but in reality, he was insinuating his own. Marguerite was taken aback, but she was unaware of the backstory ¡°If he had been betrayed, just avoid this ce. Why buy it and close it down?¡± A sarcastic smile tugged at theer of his lips. ¡°Perhaps, it was to remind himself of his foolish past¡± ¡°Foolish?¡± Frederick retorted, ¡°Isn¡¯t it foolish?¡± Foolish enough to be trapped in a calcted marriage, yet constantly pondering on how to confess his feelings For a moment, Marguente was at a loss for words. There was something odd about his expression. She could see the hatred in his eyes, but also pain and loss. She understood the hatred and pain, but where did the losse from? As Marguerite was sorting out her thoughts, Frederick¡¯s question threw her into a whirlwind of emotions. He asked her, ¡°Marquente, did you ever love me?¡± Marguente was taken aback, and then a wave of emotion swept over her From the day she rushed to the airport and locked eyes with him amidst a sea of people, she had chosen to confront her feelings. This wasn¡¯t a question the needed to ponder over. Regardless of what he might think, she looked at him sincerely and said, ¡°I do¡± What Marguerite said was ¡°I do¡°, not ¡°I did. Her feelings for Frederick were always in the present tense ¡°Do you love Maurice? This question was unexpected and left Marguente perplexed Before she could deny it, more questions from him flooded in ¡°Have you two slept together? How many times? And is everything you have now a result of selling your body?¡± Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Frederick¡¯s banage of questions left Marguerite feeling utterly humiliated She finally understood that Frederick didin¡¯t need a reason to invite her for dinner. He was just out for revenge, to humiliate her, to vent his spleen without restraint. All the bittemess of the past three years was erupting all at once. Marguente felt a deep pain inside, as if Frederick was pulling aport her dignity thread by thread and grinding it into the dirt But she did betray him What else could she do but silently endure? And finally, she saw a satisfied look on Frederick¡¯s face at her hurt expression. The waiter served their delicious food at that moment Marguerite, not wanting to respond to Frederick¡¯s words, buried herself in her meal. But as soon as the waiter left, Frederick¡¯s mobile phone rang. He answered it night in front of Marguerite, his voice gentle, ¡°Just finished work having dinner, no, I¡¯m with Marguerite. we¡¯re catching up¡­ He suddenly handed the phone to Marguerite. ¡°Yuna wants to have a word with you.¡± So the call was from Yuna. No wonder his tone softened a bit. But what could Yuna possibly want to say to her? To show off her happy life these past years, or to mock her for not doing as well? Marguente instinctively rejected the idea, but she took the phone anyway, her tone mechanical, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Marguerite, I wanted to say hello yesterday. Did you get the bracelet? Did your daughter like it?¡± Marguerite was surprised. Yuna wasn¡¯t showing off anything or mocking her. She was even being quite sweet. ¡°I haven¡¯t given it to her yet¡± Marguerite replied ¡°I see¡­ Marguente, we¡¯ve missed you these years. If it¡¯s alright with you, Frederick and I would like to invite you to dinner next time. What do you think?¡± Invite her to dinner? So she was showing off after all. Of course, Yuna was never one to be genuine. But Marguente didn¡¯t expose her, she just replied good¨Cnaturedly, ¡°Sure, no problem. But I should be the one to treat you next time, consider it a wee meal¡± Marguerite nced at Frederick as she spoke, only to find his gaze on her even colder. ¡°Could you give the phone back to Frederick? I need to say a few more things to him.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Marguerite handed the phone back to Frederick, but he ended the call immediately and ced his phone face down on the table. Marguente blinked, ¡°She said she wanted to talk to you.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t reply, but instead asked, ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Getting a call from your sister after three years. Must bring back a lot of memories, huh?¡± Marguente paused, knowing that no matter how she answered, she¡¯d just be inviting more humiliation. But she chose to reply anyway. ¡°Yes, she seems a lot gentler¡± Frederick chuckled, ¡°And you¡¯re just the same?¡± ¡°Pardon me?¡± ¡°Just as fake as ever. Even though she was prepared, Frederick¡¯s words still stung. She took a sip of her drink, her eyes welling up with tears. Frederick watched her reaction, nodding slightly in satisfaction. He then took out the bracelet and lightly tapped it on the table, saying. I think we¡¯d both rather not get too entangled with each other. Please keep your distance, Ms. Lockwood Don¡¯te around the mansion anymore.¡± Marguente¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He knew about her visits to the mansion? Feeling like shed been caught red handed, Marguente didn¡¯t know what to say. The secunty guard needs his job. Don¡¯t make him lose it because of your mistakes¡± It was indeed the security guard who had told Frederick He had reported to Frederick the day after Marguerite¡¯s visit to the mansion, saying that a woman who looked exactly like Yuna had been lurking around the gate several times Upon hearing this, Frederick had immediately suspected Marguerile. Marguente looked at him with wide eyes, unable to say a word in her tumultuous state of mind Then she saw Frederick take a wad of cash from his wallet, stand up decisively, and say onest thing. ¡°It¡¯s time you returned my mother¡¯s car Frederick¡¯s barrage of questions left Marguerite feeling utterly humiliated. She finally understood that Frederick didn¡¯t need a reason to invite her for dinner He was just out for revenge, to humiliate her, to vent his spleen without restraint. Alt the bitterness of the past three years was erupling all at once. Marguerite felt a deep pain inside, as if Frederick was pulling apart her dignity thread by thread and grinding it into the dirt. But she did betray him. What else could she do but silently endure? And finally, she saw a satisfied look on Frederick¡¯s face at her hurt expression. The waiter served their delicious food at that moment. Marguerite, not wanting to respond to Frederick¡¯s words, buried herself in her meal But as soon as the waiter left, Frederick¡¯s mobile phone rang He answered it right in front of Marguerite, his voice gentle, ¡°Just finished work¡­ having dinner¡­ no, I¡¯m with Marguente¡­ we¡¯re catching up.. He suddenly handed the phone to Marguerite ¡°Yuna wants to have a word with you¡± So the call was from Yuna. No wonder his tone softened a bit. But what could Yuna possibly want to say to her? To show off her happy life these past years, or to mock her for not doing as well? Marguente instinctively rejected the idea, but she took the phone anyway, her tone mechanical, ¡°Hello?¡° ¡°Marguente, I wanted to say hello yesterday. Did you get the bracelet? Did your daughter like it?¡± Marguente was surprised Yuna wasn¡¯t showing off anything or mocking her She was even being quite sweet ¡°I haven¡¯t given it to her yet.¡± Marguente replied ¡°I see. Marguerite, we¡¯ve missed you these years. If it¡¯s alright with you, Frederick and I would like to invite you to dinner next time. What do you think?¡± Invite her to dinner? So she was showing off after all. Of course, Yuna was never one to be genuine. But Marguerite didn¡¯t expose her, she just replied good naturedly. ¡°Sure, no problem. But I should be the one to treat you next time, consider it a wee meal¡± Marguente nced at Frederick as she spoke, only to find his gaze on her even colder. ¡°Could you give the phone back to Frederick? I need to say a few more things to him¡± ¡°Sure¡± Marguente handed the phone back to Frederick, but he ended the call immediately and ced his phone face down on the table. Marguerite blinked, ¡°She said she wanted to talk to you.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t reply, but instead asked, ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Getting a call from your sister after three years. Must bring back a lot of memories, huh?¡± Marguente paused, knowing that no matter how she answered, she¡¯d just be inviting more humiliation. But she chose to reply anyway. ¡°Yes, she seems a lot gentler Frederick chuckled, ¡°And you¡¯re just the same?¡± ¡°Pardon me?¡± ¡°Just as fake as ever¡± Even though she was prepared, Frederick¡¯s words still stung She took a sip of her drink, her eyes welling up with tears. Frederick watched her reaction, nodding slightly in satisfaction. He then took out the bracelet and lightly tapped it on the table, saying 1 think we¡¯d both rather not get too entangled with each other Please keep your distance, Ms. Lockwood. Don¡¯te around the mansion anymore.¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He knew about her visits to the mansion? Feeling like she¡¯d been caught red handed, Marguente didn¡¯t know what to say ¡°The secunty guard needs his job. Don¡¯t make him lose it because of your mistakes¡± It was indeed the security guard who had told Frederick He had reported to Frederick the day after Marguerite¡¯s visit to the mansion, saying that a woman who looked exactly like Yuna had been lurking around the gate several times. Upon hearing this, Frederick had immediately suspected Marguente Marguente looked at him with wide eyes, unable to say a word in her tumultuous state of mind Then she saw Frederick take a wad of cash from his wallet, stand up decisively, and say onest thing. It¡¯s time you returned my mother¡¯s car With that be tamed and left the diner Chapter 325 Watchong Fredbuck¡¯s tall busty figure recede, har oyes clouded with tears ba had changed, morphed into soterone she no longer recognized His vindictiveness and underhanded tactics were now identical to those of Maurice Sushanty Hury of snow began to fall outside the window nketing the streets in white The Christmas hights from month were still hanging their glow intermingling with the snowfall, a lingering reminder of the festive season. The door was ying ¡°Jingle Hells¡± overhead, as if everyone was in a celebratory mood, everyone but her. She sat dazed for a long time before hastily paying and piting the del Marguerite¡¯s cut was parked in the underground lot of the Thunderbolt Building She had to first return to the building before driving back to her mansion. The manstens steps were covered in snow Marguente almost slipped as she climbed them Upon seeing Marguente return, Nadine quickly made her a hot cup of tea, ¡°Ma¡¯am, the young master won¡¯t being home tonight. He¡¯s workingte¡± Maurice rarely workedte Ever since Frederick left, he had been fearless for three whole years. Now, with Frederick¡¯s powerful return and hispany¡¯s growing Ses, Maunce naturally felt threatened His absence was a wee respite for Marguente Marguerite sipped her tea and nodded, ¡°Alright, you can rest now¡± Before leaving, Nadine handed Marguente a tube of itch relief ointment, ¡°Ma¡¯am, Teresa said her foot was itchy this morning I think it¡¯s her birthmark acting up again She didn¡¯t let me in, so would you mind taking this to her?¡± Teresa had a red birthmark on the sole of her foot. It was small, but slightly raised. When Teresa was bom, the birthmark was just a red mole, so Marguerite hadn¡¯t paid it muchumind But as time passed, the mole grew bigger. Marguerite mmediately took Teresa to the hospital, and the doctors concluded that it wasn¡¯t a natural birthmark, it was due to the father¡¯s excessive smoking during conception the toxins in his body had affected the child, resulting in the birthmark. This revtion had troubled Marguerite for a long time since Maurice never smoked. She had even doubted whether Teresa was Maurice¡¯s child! But, she had only ever been with one man, and that was Maurice. Perhaps he had been a heavy smoker in the past and quitter on? This was the only exnation Marguerite could think of Meanwhile, in Teresa¡¯s bedroom The room was littered with Teresa¡¯s sketches, some were taped to the walls, some scattered on the floor The room was imbued with a sense of artistic disarray. At that moment, Teresa was funously sketching a portrait on her easel. The top left corner of the easel had a blurred surveince photo taped to it. A man¡¯s figure could be vaguely seen in the photo, but his face was indistinguishable. Just then, Miley¡¯s voice message came through. Teresa pressed y and heard Miley¡¯s anxious voice, ¡°Teresa! Have you finished the portrait I asked for? This surveince footage is quite blurry, can you work with it?¡± Teresa tossed her pencil down in frustration, her babyish voice tinged with impatience. I¡¯m working on it! I can recreate any face, no matter how blurry! Stop rushing me, I finish soon! Teresa was spoiled growing up and aside from y, nothing else interested her But half a year ago, she watched a TV show called ¡°The Sketch Artist¡± and thought that being an artist was really cool! The protagonist could recreate a person¡¯s face based on the vague figures from surveince footage, by observing the muscle movements and bone structure. Teresa was intrigued and decided to delve into the world of sketch artistry, finding many online courses to teach herself. She was smart and incredibly talented. Not only did she leam how to recreate faces from surveince footage, but she could also urately depict the aging process in her sketches Most importantly, she could deduce the parents¡® appearances based on a child¡¯s facial features! And she was always spot on, never once making a mistake. Chapter 326 Chapter 326 At that moment, a polite knock echoed in the room, followed by the sweet sound of her mother¡¯s voice, ¡°Honey, may Ie in?¡± Teresa, feeling like a cat on a hot tin roof, quickly covered the sketch she was working on with a white sheet of paper, and tucked away the surveince photo Only after that did she feel bold enough to call out, ¡°Mum,e on in!¡± Beng a sketch artist was her little secret with her godmother Miley, who was a private detective. Sometimes, clients would bring surveince footage to Miley, and in order to save time, she would ask Teresa to help recreate the faces. They would split the profit fifty¨Cfifty If her mother ever found out she was making a pretty penny at such a young age, she would surely confiscate all her earnings! Moreover, she would scold her for not taking her studies senously! Marguerite stepped into the room, took out the bracelet, and then sat down. She gently lifted Teresa¡¯s foot onto herp. She took off Teresa¡¯s sock and began to apply ointment to the birthmark on her foot. Teresa was ying with the bracelet, casually spinning thebination lock, and to her surprise, it popped open. She immediately sensed something was amiss, ¡°Mum, this isn¡¯t the bracelet I wanted!¡± Marguente was taken aback, not expecting her to catch on so quickly, ¡°How is it not? It¡¯s identical!¡± Teresa shook her head stubbornly. ¡°Mum, look, this bracelet has abination lock, it should only open if the correct code is entered. But I just spun it randomly and it opened Realizing she couldn¡¯t fool the little girl, Marguente confessed, ¡°The bracelet is a replica made by your godfather. The original one is with him.¡± Teresa stared with innocent wide eyes, pounding her fist on Marguente¡¯s knee in frustration ¡°My godmother has a boyfriend? Why didn¡¯t she tell me about such a big thing?¡± And here she was, working for her godmother! So unfair! Marguente simply smiled, knowing that a three¨Cyear¨Cold wouldn¡¯t understand the intricacies of adult rtionships ¡°Mum, my godfather is really mean then! He¡¯s stealing from a kid!¡± Don¡¯t me him. The real bracelet was a gift to his sister, who unfortunately went missing shortly after her birth. He¡¯s hoping to find he bracelet help Huh? Her godfather was looking for his sister? That¡¯s something she could help with! If her godfather had a picture of his sister as a baby, she could sketch what she might look like grown up That would make finding her much easier For the past few years, she¡¯d wanted to do the same with her missing brother, but without a photo, there was nothing she could de Teresa saw the sadness in Marguentes eyes, knowing that her godfather¡¯s predicament had reminded her of the loss of her brother Wanting to cheer her mother up, she brought out a sketch she drew earlier and handed it to Marguente, ¡°Mum, look, this is for you¡± in the sketch was an old woman beautiful and dignified. Upon closer inspection, her features bore a slight resemnce to Marguentes ¡°Who is this?¡± Teresa grinned ¡°This is how you¡¯ll look when you¡¯re 80¡± Marguente was in disbelief, ¡°How did you draw this?¡± Teresa paused Oops shed exposed herself Her mother wasnt supposed to know about her special talent! Teresa came up with a little white be, just imagined it I hope that when you grow old, you¡¯ll still be as beautiful as you are now A fashionable olddy!¡± Marguente chuckled, then asked, ¡°What about your dad? Have you drawn him too?¡± Teresa heated a bit, then took out another sketch from a pile of drawings couldn¡¯t wagine what dad would look like when he¡¯s cid, so I just drew a portrait of him¡± Marguente nced at the sketch The depiction of Maunce was incredibly mubotic Thistle gut had captured every single detail of Maurice¡¯s demeanor Morgante gently stoked Teresa¡¯s head, nced at the clock, and gently said, it gettingte and you need to get some sleep now dear htthe autoh* ally, watching Marguento leave, and then pulled out another skych from the drawer, cing it next to the portrait of Maunot the sketch iad sharp fatures, and actinctive termole at the of his mys einer med Was Ma Chapter 327 While Investigating the profession of portrait artist, Teresa discovered that it was not only about mastering the basics of painting, but also understanding thews of human gics. Each feature of a child¡¯s face, she realized, contained features of their parents. Therefore, she frequently used herself as a model. She oftenpared her own features to those of her mom, trying to extrapte her dad¡¯s appearance from the simnties and differences. To her surprise, the image of her dad that she painted was of apletely unfamiliar man. Initially, she thought she had made a mistake somewhere, so she continually improved her skills. However, no matter how many times she painted, the ¡®dad she painted was always this stranger, without exception! Teresa was truly puzzled because she had never seen this man before. Ever since she was bom, her mom had been Marguente, and her dad was Maurice There was no reason for there to be a mistake! Therefore, Teresa could only hide this painting She was afraid that her mom and dad would be hurt if they knew she doubted her own origins. She didn¡¯t want to upset her mom and dad. With a sigh of mncholy, Teresa, as serious as a mature adult, put away the two portraits of her dads, quickly finished the one she was working on, and sentit off to Miley Then, she quickly added a message, ¡°Miley, painting portraits takes so much out of me, I need a break.¡± On the other end, receiving the portrait, Miley breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately forwarded it to the client, who quickly sent the bnce of payment. Counting the hefty sum, Miley was in high spints. She couldn¡¯t wait to share the joy with Robert, but she noticed he was busy on a phone call Finally, when he hung up, Miley immediately asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? You¡¯ve been busy all day, and even during our date you seemed preupied.¡± Robert seemed a bit imitated, ¡°It¡¯s about my sister. I heard from Wade Charles that there is a portrait artist named Terry in Stonebridge City who can infer what someone will lock like in the future from their current face. I was thinking of sending a photo of my sister when she was bom to see if that artist could extrapte what she might look like now, which would make finding her easier¡± When Miley heard this, she swallowed hard, looked at the message from Teresa, and then at Robert. She wanted to say something, but she wasn¡¯t sure should Terry is Teresa! Miley blinked, ¡°Maybe I could help you look for this person?¡± ¡°You know Terry?¡± ¡°Uh. ¡°Miley was caught off guard. Tve just heard the name.¡± To be honest, getting Teresa to paint a portrait is not that easy, because she was an entric girl who took jobs based on her mood. Several times Miley had tried tomission work from her, Teresa had declined for various masons So, Miley wasn¡¯t sure what Teresa was thinking. Plus, Teresa had just suid she needed a break, so Miley was sure that if she approached her now, she would be turned down. Therefore, Miley chose to keep the truth hidden for now She would try to convince Teresater, and she could tell Robert when the dust had settled Miley changed the subject, ¡°Did you hear that Mr. Winston called Marguerite in today? What¡¯s going on? Robert shrugged, ¡°Who knows what Frederick is thinking, that man can be vindictive Why are you thinking of helping again?¡± ¡°Of course Miley was adamant, ¡°Back then, I didn¡¯t know about Mr. Winston and Yuna¡¯s situation and advised Marguente not to persist. Now that he¡¯s still a bachelor and she¡¯s still single, I¡¯ll certainly go all out for my best friend I¡¯ll snatch Mr. Winston back from Yuna Exhausted, Robert rubbed his temples, then tabbed Miley on the shoulder For now, I leave this challenging mission to you. I have more important tasks to handle. I cant dy finding my sister any longer!¡± Mijey looked at Robert wide¨Ceyed Why did she feel like they were a bit like Mr & Mrs Smith? Chapter 328 Chapter 328 The following day, outside the gates of the prestigious Royal Elite Kindergarten. It was the end of the school day, and throngs of people clustered around the entrance. A parade of luxury vehicles lined the narrow roads, bringing traffic to a standstill. From inside his Rolls Royce, Chuck pointed out the window. ¡°Mr. Winston, see the young girl who just said goodbye to the young master? Her name is Teresa.¡± Frederick looked out the window to see a young girl named Teresa nked by two boys. One held her backpack, the other her chocte milkshake. The little girl strutted with her chin held high. A mix of adorable and assertive, she walked with an air of authority. Once Hayes got into the car and settled down, Chuck asked, ¡°Young Master, is that Teresa, the one who is nice to you?¡± Hayes watched Teresa through the window, his eyes positively glowing. He eagerly nodded his head, to which Chuck chuckled, ¡°This little one looks like a lioness not to be trifled with.¡± Upon hearing this, Hayes instantly frowned. His Teresa was not a lioness! His eyes widened, and his cheeks puffed up in displeasure. Seeing this, Chuck quickly closed his mouth. Frederick lovingly patted his son¡¯s hand, his voice soft and gentle, ¡°Hayes, how about we invite Teresa over to y? Would you like that?¡± At this suggestion, Hayes¡® eyes lit up with excitement. He nodded eagerly, thrilled at the idea. Immediately, Frederick stepped out of the car, his imposing presence drawing all eyes as he approached Teresa. Hayes peered out the window in anticipation, his heart pounding in his chest. He worried his father¡¯smanding presence might scare Teresa¡­ Meanwhile, Teresa, who had yet to leave school, was engrossed in her phone. She received a text from Marguerite, saying there was a traffic jam and suggested she wait in the school office. As she walked and texted, she suddenly bumped into a soft ¡°wall.¡± Ouch! Rubbing her forehead, Teresa looked up in annoyance, only to freeze in ce. What on earth?! The handsome man standing before her, a distinguishing mole near his eye, wasn¡¯t he the man she had been drawing? She hadn¡¯t made a mistake! There really was such a man in the world! But¡­ was he really her father? Teresa stared at the man, her eyes not leaving his face for a moment. He then crouched down to her level. Teresa, I¡¯m Hayes dad. Hayes would like to invite you over to our house, would you like that?¡± Teresa¡¯s round eyes were filled with surprise and she couldn¡¯t speak. Teresa? How old are you? Not taking her eyes off Frederick, she swallowed hard. Three ¡°And do you want toe over to y?¡± Chapter 328 Teresa blinked. Her mom had told her not to go anywhere with strangers, but she didn¡¯t think this man was a stranger! He was Hayes¡® father, and the man from her drawings. Ever since she drew him, she would look at the picture every night. She knew his features by heart and had imagined his personality and temperament a hundred times. Eagerly, Teresa nodded, her excitement palpable. ¡°Yes! I¡¯d love to!¡± Seeing her enthusiasm, Frederick couldn¡¯t help but smile. Her eager nodding mirrored Hayes¡® earlier nod, and this uncanny simrity made him feel a strange sense of familiarity and fondness towards Teresa. Teresa quickly grabbed her bag and shake from her two bodyguards, then texted her mom telling her she was going to a friend¡¯s house and would be hometWithout waiting for her mom¡¯s reply, she carefully held Frederick¡¯s hand, looked up at him with eager eyes, and happily followed him away. Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Teresa hopped into the car with Frederick, and Hayes, all smiles, immediately linked his arm with hers. Although the little boy still couldn¡¯t express his joy verbally, the light in his eyes spoke volumes more than words ever could. For the first time in three years, Frederick was witnessing such an unabashed disy of happiness from Haves. Things were looking up, and he was confident that with Teresa¡¯s assistance, Hayes would soon start talking again. He was, however, taken aback by Teresa¡¯s constant gaze since they got in the car. One of her hands was held by Hayes while the other rested on her cheek, a picture of contentment. Her eyes didn¡¯t blink once. Especially those focused eyes, that looked like they were trying to see right through him. Teresa¡¯s behavior amused Frederick, who found her inherently endearing. So, he couldn¡¯t resist pinching her soft cheek and asked yfully, ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± Teresa replied with an incredibly sweet voice, ¡°You have a pretty face.¡± Thisment sent the driver and Chuck, who had been trying to hold back theirughter, into fits of giggles. The atmosphere in the car was light, but Teresa was nursing a major question in her heart. With her soft little hand wrapped around the man¡¯s pinky finger, she asked seriously, ¡°Sir, have you ever had a daughter?¡± Frederick smiled and replied, ¡°No.¡± His answer made Teresa go pale, her big eyes filled with disappointment and hurt. If Hayes¡® daddy never had a daughter and her daddy Maurice didn¡¯t look like the person she had imagined, where did shee from? Chuck, who was sitting in the passenger seat, couldn¡¯t resist the adorable little girl and decided to tease her, ¡°Little one, do you want to be Mr. Winston¡¯s daughter?¡± Teresa blinked, looked at Chuck, then at Frederick. Her face turned red with shy embarrassment. She had many questions in her mind, especially if Hayes¡® daddy knew her mommy, Marguerite. But in the end, she held back. Soon, they arrived back at the mansion. At that time, Yuna was in the living room ying Lego with Manley. Frederick walked in first, his brows furrowing at the mess, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Manley go to school this afternoon?¡± His question made Yuna nervous, and she immediately exined, ¡°Manley felt unwell this afternoon, so l brought him home early.¡± Unwell? His gaze fell on Manley, who was ying enthusiastically. He didn¡¯t look unwell at all. His gaze towards Yuna became even more piercing, but due to Teresa¡¯s presence, he could only suppress his displeasure, ¡°Don¡¯t let it happen again He snorted, then turned to Teresa and Hayes, his voice softer, ¡°Feel free to y with anything in the house. Call me if you need anything. Okay?¡± Teresa¡¯s voice was soft and childish, ¡®Okay, Hayes¡® daddy Just after Teresa finished her sentence, Manley couldn¡¯t wait to run over, and along with him came Yuna. This woman must be Hayes and Manley¡¯s mommy, right? Teresa tilted her head to look at her, and her brain froze She blurted out uncontrobly, ¡°Mommy?¡± Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Teresa¡¯s gasp was so soft, it was barely audible. Why on earth was her mom here? And why did she seem so chummy with Manley? Mom was dressed in avish dress today, a far cry from her usual style. What on earth was going on? Before she could figure it out, she saw Manley tugging at the hem of Mom¡¯s dress, pointing at her and Hayes, a gleeful look on his face, ¡°Mommy! This is the girl who¡¯s been mean to Hayes!¡± Hearing Manley address the woman as ¡°Mommy¡°, Teresa finally snapped back to reality. This wasn¡¯t her mom! But why did this woman look exactly like Mom? ¡°Manley, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. Teresa is a friend of Hayes, invited by Mr. Winston to be a guest at our home, to y with Hayes.¡± Chuck quickly intervened. Yuna nced at Teresa, her gaze icy. But when she looked at Frederick, her eyes softened, ¡°Freddie, we¡¯ve spent enough time with Hayes. Why did you invite a stranger to y with him?¡± A stranger? She was no stranger! Teresa didn¡¯t like the way this woman spoke, so unfriendly, so sarcastic. But it was really strange. Why was there a woman who looked exactly like her mom? And why did Hayes¡® dad look exactly like the man in her portrait? Teresa felt utterly confused. She quickly pulled Hayes away, muttering as they walked, ¡°Let¡¯s go to your room! I have something important to tell you!¡± Hayes immediately led Teresa into his bedroom, carefully closing the door behind them. He then took out a chalkboard and wrote, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± With determined eyes, Teresa leaned in close to Hayes, her voice a dramatic whisper, ¡°Hayes, this is super scary. You have to be prepared!¡± Teresa¡¯s heavy breathing piqued Hayes¡® curiosity, and he watched her with bated breath. ¡°Your mom and my mom look exactly the same!¡± Teresa¡¯s exaggerated expression left Hayes wide-eyed with surprise. But then he calmed down, remembering the woman who had helped him pick up the ball at the mansion. She also looked just like his mom. Was that Teresa¡¯s mom? But why was Teresa¡¯s mom at his house? Hayes¡® expression turnedplicated, his brows furrowed. Then he heard Teresa ask, ¡°What¡¯s your mom¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Yuna Lockwood¡­¡± Hayes replied, each word a struggle. Teresa gasped, ¡°My mom¡¯sst name is Lockwood too!¡± Teresa¡¯s mom was a Lockwood, his mom was a Lockwood, and they both looked identical¡­. This couldn¡¯t be a coincidence! Hayes face turned serious, the implications floating in his mind before he scribbled on the chalkboard, Twins? Teresa was taken aback She had never heard of Mom having a twin sister or brother. What on earth was going on? She decided to ask Mom when she got home. But for now, there was a more pressing concern. Why did Hayes Chapter 330. dad took exactly like the man in her portrait? Genes didn¡¯t lie, and her portralt had never been wrong. So, Hayes¡® dad was her dad! If that was true, then weren¡¯t she and Hayes siblings? And what about her missing twin brother? Was he also Hayes¡® dad¡¯s son? Chapter 331 Chapter 331 A flood of thoughts gushed through Teresa¡¯s mind, all of them eventually overturned by a single sentence from Frederick, who told her that he didn¡¯t have a daughter. But how could he not have a daughter?! Could it be that he didn¡¯t know that Mommy had given birth to twins? As Teresa pondered, she thought that since Yuna looked just like her mommy, so Hayes¡® father might have mistaken her mommy for Yuna, hence her birth. If that was the case, did Maurice, her dad, know about this? Mommy¡­ Did her mommy betray her daddy? Teresa was somewhat shocked by her own thoughts. This won¡¯t do, she needed to find out what was really going on! The best way was to arrange a meeting between her mommy and Hayes¡® father. She needed to observe their interactions and reactions when they meet! However, before her suspicions were confirmed, she couldn¡¯t recklessly tell Hayes. She didn¡¯t want the little mute to join her in her wild spections. With these thoughts, Teresa continued ying games with Hayes. When it was time to go home, she specifically requested Frederick to drive her back. Frederick, who was fond of Teresa and didn¡¯t want to upset the little girl, happily agreed. All the way, the little girl had a bunch of questions she wanted to ask, but she felt adults would not tell her the truth. Like Mommy, who had been hiding many things from her. Mommy thought that she wouldn¡¯t understand even if she told her, but Teresa noticed everything. Forget about it! Once Hayes¡® father met her mommy, she could judge from their reactions. Teresa didn¡¯t tell Frederick the exact location of the vi. Instead, she directed from the backseat, pointing out which intersections to go straight and which to turn. When the car finally entered Emerald Meadows, Frederick realized with a shock that he had ventured into Maurice¡¯s territory! So, Teresa was Maurice and Marguerite¡¯s child? This realization made Frederick¡¯s face sink instantly, bing gloomy and bloodthirsty. Today, he had allowed Maurice and Marguerite¡¯s child to spend the entire day with Hayes! The car turned into the front yard of the vi, and Frederick mmed on the brakes. Darkness hadpletely fallen, and the car¡¯s interior was not lit. Teresa didn¡¯t know how terrifying Frederick¡¯s expression was at this moment. She hurriedly unbuckled her seat belt. Seeing Frederick¡¯s sharp face hidden in the shadows, she pointed towards the house and begged in a very timid and fearful voice, ¡°Sir, could you walk me inside? The yard is so dark, I¡¯m scared!¡± Frederick remained motionless in the passenger seat. Teresa got out of the car, opened the driver¡¯s door, and forcibly pulled him out. ¡°Please, you just need to take me inside! Hurry up, it¡¯s so cold out here!¡± As Teresa spoke, she forcefully dragged Frederick into the house. As soon as she entered the foyer, she opened her mouth and shouted, ¡°Mommy! Mommy, I¡¯m home!! Teresa¡¯s childish voice was somewhat shrill, The next second, Marguerite¡¯s voice came from the top of the 1721 stairs, ¡°Honey, stop shouting!¡± Frederick¡¯s spine stiffened. Teresa was indeed Marguerite¡¯s child! That damn Chuck, he was tasked to investigate Teresa¡¯s identity, and he missed such important information! Soon, apanied by the sound of light footsteps descending the stairs Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Suddenly, the whole living room was dipped into an awkward silence. Teresa nced at Frederick, then at Marguerite, and quickly broke the silence, ¡°Mommy, is daddy not home yet?¡± Marguerite¡¯s gaze remained on the man. She stood still, replying mechanically, ¡°Your daddy¡¯s workingte.¡± Frederick abruptly let go of Teresa¡¯s small hand, his eyes full of hostility towards Marguerite. ¡°How¡­ how did you end up with Teresa?¡± Marguerite was puzzled, her disbelief evident. Taking the opportunity, Teresa observed the expressions of the two, then deliberately exined, ¡°Mommy, this is Hayes¡® dad. Oh yeah, Hayes is my ssmate and my good friend. I went over to his house to y.¡± Marguerite was suddenly taken aback. Hayes? The less¨Cfavored child in the Winston family! He was in the same ss as Teresa? Marguerite¡¯s expression turned increasingly unpleasant. She couldn¡¯t understand why things always coincided so perfectly! Frederick¡¯s gaze darkened, his tone cold as ice, ¡°Exin.¡± Marguerite was taken aback, meeting his intimidating gaze, ¡°Exin what?¡± ¡°Did you send your daughter to get close to my son?¡± Marguerite felt a rush of panic. She feared that her past grudge with Frederick would affect their children. She quickly looked at Teresa, forcing calm into her voice as she said, ¡°Honey, go upstairs first. I need to have a word with Hayes¡® dad.¡± Teresa¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement at the tone of their conversation. They clearly knew each other! She wouldn¡¯t really go upstairs! She puffed up her cheeks, acting ording to Marguerite¡¯s wishes and heading towards the staircase. When Marguerite and Frederick left the house and stood in the yard, the little girl quickly hid in the dark, peering out of the window. The outside was pitch ck, with a dim light hanging under the eaves. The wattage was low, so the light wasn¡¯t bright. But she could still see the long shadows of her mom and Hayes¡® dad. It was annoying though. The howling of the cold wind drowned out their conversation, and Teresa couldn¡¯t hear a thing. Meanwhile, Marguerite was only wearing a beige linen dress, covered with a long knitted cardigan. She felt a shiver as soon as she left the vi and sneezed due to the cold. She quickly wrapped her cardigan tighter around herself, exining in a trembling voice, ¡°It¡¯s just a coincidence. I didn¡¯t know your son was in the same ss as Teresa, let alone that they were friends.¡± Frederick¡¯s distinct features were half buried in the shadows. He remained silent, his intense gaze never leaving her. Marguerite was so unnerved by his stare, and while her eyes wandering in panic, she spotted the outdoor storage box behind him. She paused for a moment, then quickly moved past Frederick, taking a car key from the ceramic jar on the storage box and held it out to him, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, take Jocelyn¡¯s car.¡± Frederick neither epted the keys nor spoke. Marguerite noticed his chest heaving. She didn¡¯t know what she had said wrong to provoke him, Chapter 312 But the hadn¡¯t lied. She genuinely didn¡¯t know that Teresa and Hayes were ssmates. Marguerite sighed and withdrew her arm, knowing that no amount of exnation would work once Frederick had made up his mind. She wanted to ask him to leave, but before she could utter a word, he suddenly pulled her into his arms. She was unexpectedly enveloped in warmth. The next moment, her lips, chilled by the cold wind, were forcefully sealed with a kiss by Frederick. Chapter 333 This man actually kissed her mommy! Teresa, in the other room, Jumped in shock, nearly letting out a gasp. And Marquente, who was wrapped in Frederick¡¯s embrace, didn¡¯t resist. Frederick had her wrapped so tightly she couldn¡¯t push him away, even the kiss was fraught with vengeance. She felt Frederick¡¯s tongue pry open her lips, then sweep through her mouth. Marguerite¡¯s body went limp as their lips met, and snowkes suddenly started to fall from the sky. She was shivering violently, unsure whether it was from the cold wind and snow, or from the turmoil stirred by the kiss. Her mind was nk, instinctively wanting to hold him. But before she could wrap her arms around Frederick¡¯s waist, she felt a sharp pain in her lips, and the taste of blood filled her mouth. ¡°Ouch!¡± Marguerite whimpered in pain, struggling to push Frederick away. She pressed her tongue against the wound he had bitten, her face pale. Frederick¡¯splex gazended on Marguerite¡¯s face. Under the dim light of the eaves, Marguerite exuded a delicate charm he had never seen before. Frederick¡¯s displeasure grew. In the years he had been living abroad, had Marguerite been as flustered and entangled with Maurice as she was now? Frederick¡¯s sharp gaze fixed on Marguerite, his hand gently traced her bleeding lips, lingering over the blood. ¡°So, all this scheming for a roll in the hay. What, Maurice can¡¯t satisfy you, so you want to taste forbidden. fruit?¡± The repeated humiliation made Marguerite¡¯s emotions surge. She couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, raising her arm and pping Frederick hard. She used all her strength for that p, but tears filled her eyes. Frederick retaliated by grabbing her throat, pushing her back until she was pinned against a column under the eaves. Frederick clenched his jaw, his entire body radiating a dangerous aura. His eyes were cruel, his tone threatening, ¡°Keep your daughter in check. If I find out she¡¯s making moves on Hayes, I¡¯ll make sure she pays dearly!¡± With that, he let go of her. Whether Marguerite¡¯s legs gave out from weakness or she copsed on the ground, he was indifferent. Marguerite watched him storm off to his car, the taillights quickly disappearing into the night. But his warning left her more terrified. Teresa was her everything, she couldn¡¯t let her daughter get into danger. She quickly calmed herself, struggling to her feet with the support of the wall, and ran into the house, wishing she could make Teresa and Hayes break up right now. But the moment she stepped inside, Teresa jumped out from the shadows, blurting out, ¡°Mommy, were you and Hayes¡® daddy in love before?¡± In the blink of an eye, facing Teresa, she felt as if she was facing a great enemy. Teresa had seen? But how much had she seen? Teresa¡¯s words sent Marguerite into even deeper distress. In her panic, Marguerite could only use her authority to shut her up, ¡°This Is adult stuff, don¡¯t butt in!¡± But today¡¯s Teresa wasn¡¯t buying it! She stared at Marguerite with a stubborn, hurt look in her eyes: But you guys just kissed!¡± Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Kiss? Marguerite pulled Teresa close, questioning, ¡°Who taught you that word?¡± *No one! Lips meet lips, that¡¯s a kiss! Mommy, you didn¡¯t cheat on daddy, did you? Am I really Hayes¡® dad¡¯s child? Does daddy know about this?¡± Teresa¡¯s shocking words frightened Marguerite. How could Teresa possibly be Frederick¡¯s child? Obviously, this little girl must have misunderstood something. She had to straighten this out. Marguerite took Teresa to her bedroom, struggling to find the right words to exin, when the little one broke the silence, ¡°Mommy, stop making excuses! I may be only three, but I understand a lot! I want you to treat me as an equal!¡± Marguerite was shocked again. This wasn¡¯t the first time Teresa¡¯s words had stunned Marguerite. Treat her as an equal? Kids these days sure are precocious. They¡¯re so articte, even adults like her can¡¯t fool them. However, since Teresa had asked, she didn¡¯t n to hide anything anymore. She sat down opposite her daughter, ready to have an honest conversation. ¡°Me and Hayes¡® dad, we did date each other¡­ But that was a long time ago. And your daddy knows about it.¡± ¡°So if my mommy and Hayes¡® dad were together, that means I¡¯m his child?!¡± Teresa thought, then she wrung her tiny fingers, asking in a strained voice, ¡°So, am I your and daddy¡¯s child?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Marguerite replied without hesitation. ¡°I carried you for nine months, how could it be otherwise?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant! What I meant was¡­¡± Teresa¡¯s cheeks puffed up like an angry little pufferfish. She stammered for a while, then blurted out, ¡°Is Maurice really my dad?¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t understand why Teresa had this doubt. Could it just be because Frederick had kissed her? The mere thought of Frederick made Marguerite feel frustrated. She sighed heavily, then gently patted Teresa¡¯s head. ¡°There¡¯s no need to question this. Don¡¯t ever say this in front of your daddy, it would break his heart.¡± The reason Marguerite defended Maurice was because Maurice, as a father, had always been good to Teresa. No matter how much she despised Maurice, she couldn¡¯t let her personal feelings affect Teresa¡¯s rtionship with him. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why aren¡¯t you two married?¡± Marguerite instinctively lied, ¡°Teresa, we¡¯ve always been a family.¡± Teresa immediately denied it, ¡°Mommy, stop lying to me. You guys didn¡¯t even get married. I know.¡± Marguerite felt a pang of anxiety. She couldn¡¯t understand how Teresa had learned so much. She and Maurice had been so careful to hide their secret, for three years, their only silent agreement was to create a happy and rxed family atmosphere for Teresa. Where did they go wrong? Marguerite couldn¡¯t figure it out, but maybe the most important thing right now wasn¡¯t to worry about these things/It was Frederick! She had only met Frederick three times, but those three encounters had thrown her peaceful life into chaos. She didn¡¯t want her past rtionships to affect Teresa. So she changed the topic and earnestly said, ¡°Teresa, each age has its own responsibilities. You¡¯re only three. You should be ying and enjoying your childhood. Mommy will only exin this once, and you¡¯re not allowed to ask about it again. Also, I¡¯ll arrange for you to switch schools, Starting tomorrow, you¡¯ll live with your grandparents Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Marguerite and Frederick had been apart for three years, and she knew he was no longer the man he used to be. Yet, his hatred for her and the Winston family was undeniable. He wouldn¡¯t set foot in the Winston Manor, so at the moment, it was safest for Teresa to live with Powell and Lisette. However, when the little girl heard that her mom wanted to transfer her to another school, she immediately burst into tears. ¡°I don¡¯t want to! I don¡¯t want to change schools! I don¡¯t want to live at Grandma and Grandpa¡¯s ce either!¡± Marguerite furrowed her brows, gently adjusting Teresa¡¯s shoulders, her tone stern, Teresa, behave yourself!¡± Teresa, desperate and crying like a kettle on the boil, bawled and muttered through her tears. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back to the Winston Manor! I don¡¯t even like Grandma! She told me about you and Daddy not being married!¡± Marguerite was taken aback, then filled with rage at Lisette for discussing such matters with a child. Lisette never approved of Marguerite or acknowledged Teresa as her granddaughter. Whenever Teresa tried to bond with her, Lisette would keep her distance. On the other hand, Powell seemed quite fond of Teresa. Marguerite would sometimes take Teresa to the Winston Manor when Lisette was absent. No wonder Teresa knew so much. Lisette must have been stirring the pot behind her back. Worried that Lisette might spill more beans to Teresa, Marguerite finally acquiesced to her daughter¡¯s pleas, ¡°Alright, we don¡¯t have to move back to the Winston Manor. But you must consider changing schools.¡± Teresa burst into heavier tears upon hearing this, sobbing uncontrobly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to change schools! I¡¯d have to adjust to a new environment. If I join in the middle of the term, everyone will ostracize me! Mommy, I don¡¯t want to change schools, I don¡¯t want to¡­¡± Her crying broke Marguerite¡¯s heart. Teresa¡¯s little shoulders were shaking up and down, she could hardly catch her breath. Marguerite quickly tried to soothe her, ¡°You don¡¯t have to change schools, but you must promise me one thing.¡± Teresa, sniffing and with tear¨Cstreaked cheeks, looked utterly pathetic. ¡°Wha¡­what thing?¡± Try to avoid Hayes at school. Can you do that?¡± Teresa¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she broke down again. ¡°I can¡¯t do it, Mommy! I can¡¯t!¡± she wailed. Her cries could shake the heavens. Looking at her daughter¡¯s tearful face, Marguerite felt like someone had cruelly taken away her precious treasure. But Teresa¡¯s distraught expression was oddlyical, and Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but want tough. Hayes must have transferred to the school only recently. How did he and Teresa be so close in just a few days? Her daughter and Frederick¡¯s son being so close wasn¡¯t that a twisted fate? So, no matter how hard it was for her she had to be the viin for her daughter¡¯s safety. If you can¡¯t fulfil Mommy¡¯s request, then you¡¯ll have to change schools.¡± Teresa sobbed, her mind racing. Changing schools would mean that she couldn¡¯t see Hayes anymore! So she Won¡¯t let that happen! Anyway, her mom wouldn¡¯t see what she did at school. She¡¯d agree first and see how things go! So Teresa sniffed, suppressed her sadness, and put on an obedient facade, ¡°I agree¡­ I¡¯ll try to avoid Hayes!¡± Marguerite finally breathed a sigh of relief. Afterforting her daughter a bit more, she left Teresa¡¯s bedroom. Chapter 336 Teresa was having a sleepless night. Lying on her plush princess bed, her round eyes stared nkly at the dark ceiling. Her mom imed that Maurice was her father, but she was more inclined to believe that Hayes¡® dad was her real father. Gics was the mostpelling evidence! By [Teresa, are you upset?] [No, I¡¯m just thinking about what to do.] [Teresa, I¡¯ll try toe to school tomorrow, I won¡¯t stop being your friend.] Hayes was careful with his words, fearing that Teresa might get angry and stop being his friend. She was his only friend, and he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing her, so he would never keep away from Teresa. Hayes, can you do me a favor?] [Sure] Hayes responded immediately, not caring what Teresa¡¯s favor was. As long as it was for Teresa, he would do his best. Chapter 336, [Can you get me a few of your dad¡¯s hair strands? Don¡¯t tell him, okay?] Hayes was taken aback. Why would Teresa want his dad¡¯s hair? Hayes stared at the chat box, utterly confused. [What do you need my dad¡¯s hair for?] Of course, it¡¯s for a paternity test! Teresa was bursting to spill the beans. She typed out a lengthy exnation and was about to hit send when she hesitated. If she was indeed Hayes¡® dad¡¯s daughter, wouldn¡¯t that make her and Hayes half¨Csiblings? Would Hayes think her mom stole his dad from him? No, she couldn¡¯t tell Hayes. Teresa yfully twirled her eyes, deleted the long message, and quickly concocted a lie: [I have a weird collection habit. I like collecting people¡¯s hair.] Hayes furrowed his brow. Teresa likes to collect people¡¯s hair? What a strange hobby! But why doesn¡¯t she collect her own hair, why his dad¡¯s? Did his dad mean more to Teresa than he did? Hayes was a little jealous at the thought, but he had promised Teresa, so he had to deliver. However, plucking a lion¡¯s mane without being noticed didn¡¯t seem like an easy task. Hayes was in a quandary. Chapter 337 Chapter 337 The conglomerate¡¯s newly acquired real estate project was finished today, and Frederick was there for the inspection, and he got home veryte. As soon as he stepped inside, he noticed an unusual quietness. Manley wasn¡¯t in the living room building Lego towers, and Hayes was nowhere to be seen. Sadie promptly stepped forward to take Frederick¡¯s ck coat, respectfully handing him a ss of warm water. ¡°Where are Hayes and Manley?¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, Manley went shopping with Ms. Yuna,¡± she replied. Frederick¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Without Hayes?¡± Sadie looked ufortable. ¡°Mr. Winston, Hayes hasn¡¯t left his room since you left this morning. He refused to eat. I tried to get him, but his room has a fingerprint lock. I can¡¯t get in.¡± ¡°Did Yuna go check on him?¡± Sadie felt nervous, knowing her answer would upset Mr. Winston, but she didn¡¯t dare to lie. She let out a sigh and shook her head. As expected, Frederick¡¯s stern face grew even darker. Hayes¡® room was equipped with a fingerprint lock that only registered his, Frederick¡¯s, and Yuna¡¯s prints. Although the servants couldn¡¯t get in, Yuna could. That damn woman! Their son locked himself in his room all day, and she, as his mother, didn¡¯t even care! Frederick put down his ss of water and headed straight for Hayes¡® room. Pressing his finger against the panel, he heard a beep, and the door opened smoothly. At that moment, Hayes was sitting at his desk, doing nothing, just sulking with his arms crossed. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Frederick asked. Hayes gave him a resentful look and picked up a pen, furiously scribbling on a notepad. ¡°Because you won¡¯t let me go to school. I want to go to school!!¡± Frederick looked grim. Seeing Hayes using hunger strike as a threat, he felt both helpless and upset, ¡°I wanted to transfer you to a new school, but since you don¡¯t want, I can only hire a tutor for you.¡± Hayes continued to write furiously, ¡°I don¡¯t want a tutor, I want Teresa!¡± Every time he faced Hayes, Frederick felt a strong guilt because of his understanding. He always thought it was because of his busyness that he neglected Hayes, causing his unusual maturity for his age. Though Hayes was mature, he was more stubborn than Manley, and more obstinate. His obstinacy was just like Marguerite¡¯s, so Frederick was often at a loss and would eventually give in. But today, faced with Hayes¡® obstinacy, he was particrly angry! Because his reason for transferring Hayes was rted to Marguerite, he obsessively thought that Marguerite had influenced Teresa to get close to Hayes intentionally. And the poor little guy even took others¡® malicious intentions as kindness, even threatening him with a hunger strike! How could he bear it?! Frederick¡¯s expression grew colder, yet he suppressed his anger, ¡°Hayes! Don¡¯t make me angry!¡± Hayes looked at Frederick, his dark eyes shed, then he turned his head, urgently wrote, ¡°She is my only friend! ONLY ONE!¡± Hayes wrote with such force that his pen almost went through the paper. His words clearly expressed his dissatisfaction. Chuck, who had rushed over when he heard the news, couldn¡¯t help but sweat when he saw this situation. Oh no! Hayes was really pushing Mr. Winston! He immediately stepped forward to mediate, only to see Frederick snort, turn around and leave, mming the door behind him. Chuck and Hayes were locked in the room together. He looked at the closed door, then at the stubborn Hayes, and didn¡¯t know what to do. Then, he saw Hayes lift the notepad, clumsily wrote two big words, ¡°GET OUT!¡± Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Chuck¡¯s rotund frame shuddered, and he cleaned his sweats as he quickly assured, ¡°Young Master, please don¡¯t be upset, I¡¯ll go and smooth things over for you!¡± After hurriedly finishing his sentence, Chuck scurried out of the room. But he was wise enough to leave the door slightly ajar. Once it was shut, no one would be able toe in! The study. The window showed a world nketed in snow, endless white that seemed to intensify the silence. But Frederick¡¯s heart was anything but calm. He chain¨Csmoked, and Chuck tapped lightly on the study door, treading carefully as he entered. ¡°What is it?¡± Frederick¡¯s indifferent voice rang out, not even bothering to look at him. Chuck cleaned his sweats again. He racked his brains, realizing that straightforwardly persuading Mr. Winston to let Hayes attend school would likely be unsessful. So, he decided to appeal to his emotions and reason. ¡°Mr. Winston, Sadie told me that Hayes hasn¡¯t eaten all day. He¡¯s already malnourished, if he keeps this up, he¡¯ll damage his stomach.¡± Frederick remained silent. Chuck took a step forward, circling to Frederick¡¯s side to gauge his expression. Seeing that Frederick didn¡¯t explode in anger, he mustered his courage and continued, ¡°Mr. Winston, since Hayes was born, he¡¯s never been as rebellious as he is today. This is the first time. Maybe you should let him go to school¡­ Marguerite¡¯s daughter is only three years old, and a three¨Cyear¨Cold child wouldn¡¯t have any ulterior motives.¡± Frederick turned to face him upon hearing this, his delicate cigarette snapped easily under his fingertips, ¡°That¡¯s Marguerite¡¯s child, how can I not be cautious?¡± Facing Frederick¡¯s icy gaze, Chuck swallowed hard, trembling with fear, ¡°But Mr. Winston, you just met her yesterday, and you seemed quite fond of the little girl, didn¡¯t you? Most importantly, Hayes likes Teresa, he waspletely different when she arrived yesterday.¡± This struck a chord. Regardless of what ideas Marguerite had instilled in Teresa, and how close she was to Hayes. The girl undeniably had the ability to change Hayes. Frederick had never seen Hayes happier or more content than he was yesterday. When Teresa arrived, he seemed to rxpletely, appearing much more at ease. But, Teresa is Marguerite¡¯s daughter! How could he possibly let that woman¡¯s child get close to his own son? Frederick, frustrated and confused, lit another cigarette. The flickering embers cast harsh shadows on his face. Just as he exhaled a ring of smoke, Sadie burst into the room, panting heavily. Her wide, fearful eyes were filled with worry, ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s bad! Young Master Hayes has stomach cramps! You muste quickly!¡± The tense atmosphere in the room peaked, and before Chuck could react, Frederick was already running out. In the bedroom. The family doctor immediately gave Hayes a thorough check¨Cup, then injected him with a shot. Hayes¡® face was flushed red with pain, but he merely clutched his stomach, curled up on the bed, and gritted his teeth without uttering a word ofint, as if this wasn¡¯t the first time it had happened. Frederick watched his son¡¯s resigned expression of pain, his heart aching. He immediately asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The doctor put away the syringe, his face full of concern, ¡°Mr. Winston, Young Master Hayes¡® sudden stomach cramps are due to prolonged hunger. Besides medication, he needs to eat as soon as possible. Also, judging by his reaction to the pain, it¡¯s clear this isn¡¯t the first time.¡± Frederick¡¯s face hardened, ¡°Not the first time?¡± ¡°Yes. Judging from his health condition, he often misses meals, eats too little, or doesn¡¯t eat at all. Mr. Winston, you must pay attention to the his eating habits!¡± Upon hearing the doctor¡¯s words, Frederick¡¯s eyes shed with murderous intent. The care of the two children had always been Yuna¡¯s responsibility. How dare she neglect Hayes? She just let Hayes go hungry when he refused to eat? Chapter 339 Chapter 339 As Frederick conversed with the doctor, Sadie quickly made a bowl of oatmeal in the kitchen and brought it into the room. ¡°Mr. Winston, we should try to get the young master to eat something,¡± she suggested. Frederick took the bowl and sat beside Hayes¡® bed, spooning a mouthful up to the young boy¡¯s lips. ¡°Open up, be a good boy!¡± he encouraged. Hayes shifted stubbornly away, clutching at his stomach. ¡°Hayes! Don¡¯t make me angry!¡± Frederick¡¯s raised voice caused a chill to run down everyone¡¯s spine. Chuck also flinched, having never seen Mr. Winston lose his temper with young Hayes before. He must have been pushed to the edge today. Firstly, he was upset that Hayes was sick yet still risked his health. Secondly, he was worried as a father. But Mr. Winston, always busy with work, rarely took care of his son personally. How could he understand the way to deal with a child? In such a situation, he must step back, not push forward! At this moment, Chuck and Sadie exchanged a look, but neither dared to step in. After all, Mr. Winston was in a fury. Whoever dared to intervene would be asking for trouble. Seeing this, Sadie pinched Chuck, who could only sigh silently. It seemed he would have to be the one to step in! Before he could even do anything, Sadie, unable to hold back, pushed him forward. He stumbled, almost falling onto Hayes¡® bed. At that moment, Frederick¡¯s eyes were locked onto him in a murderous re. Chuck hesitated and then decided to persuade Hayes. ¡°Master Hayes, look how worried Mr. Winston is about you! Please, have something to eat! We promise to do whatever you ask if you take just one bite, okay?¡± Hayes finally turned back around, his sweat¨Cdrenched hair glistening. With great effort, he muttered two words, ¡°Kindergarten¡­¡­ Teresa¡­¡­¡± This was the second time Hayes had spoken after a long silence, and Frederick was both shocked and overjoyed. But, the content of his speech was still rted to Teresa. Chuck quickly looked at Frederick, urging, ¡°Mr. Winston, Hayes is talking! Isn¡¯t this what you wanted? Please give him some response!¡± Seeing his son willing to endure pain just to be with Teresa at kindergarten truly moved Frederick. Perhaps, this girl truly cared about Hayes, for how else could she have won 1/2 over his heart so quickly? In the end, Frederick backed down. He put down the bowl and spoon and agreed, ¡°Alright, I promise you can go to kindergarten.¡± Hayes, writhing in pain, looked up at Frederick¡¯s intense gaze when he heard his father¡¯s promise. ¡°And Teresa?¡± ¡°You can invite her over to our house, but only when I¡¯m present.¡± This was the biggest concession he was willing to make. After all, Teresa was Marguerite¡¯s child, and he had to be cautious. ¡°Can we eat now?¡± Frederick picked up the spoon again and brought it to Hayes¡® mouth. Hayes obediently took a bite, then stretched out his thin arm, his voice whimpering, ¡°Hug, me.¡± Seeing this, Sadie quickly took the bowl and spoon from Mr. Winston¡¯s hands. Then, Frederick bent down to gently scoop up Hayes into his arms, reassuring him, ¡°Hayes, you can¡¯t starve yourself to harm your body, understand?¡± In his father¡¯s arms, Hayes obediently nodded. But what Frederick didn¡¯t know was that Hayes had managed to pluck a hair from his head unnoticed, and he didn¡¯t feel a thing. Chapter 340 Chapter 340 After finishing the oatmeal, Hayes¡® stomach¨Cache had greatly subsided. iming exhaustion, he got everyone out of the room, eager to share the good news with Teresa. Frederick was worried that Hayes he might still be hungry, and he decided to head to the kitchen and ask Sadie to make some soup. But just as he reached the staircase, he saw Yuna and Manley, mmed up andughing,ing his way. They were carrying bags full of shopping spoils. It was clear they¡¯d been having a good time. An icy chill crossed Frederick¡¯s face as he frowned, ¡°See me in my room.¡± With those words, he strode off, leaving Yuna with an enigmatic silhouette. His words were simple and emotionless, yet they filled Yuna with excitement. For three years, Freddie had never allowed her to set foot in his room. Even serious discussions were held in his study. So, was Freddie finally willing to get closer to her? Suppressing her thrill, Yuna quickly instructed Manley, ¡°Stay in your room tonight, don¡¯t look for me!¡± After speaking, Yuna dashed back to her room, changed into a ckce mini skirt, and couldn¡¯t wait to rush into Frederick¡¯s bedroom. Inside the room, Frederick had already changed out of his formal attire into a ck robe. The cor formed a ¡°V¡± at his chest, revealing a patch of his tan, healthy skin and sexy corbones. Freddie had changed too? It seemed he was even more eager than her! Yuna, looking at Frederick¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple, swallowed hard and flung herself into his arms, cooing, ¡°Freddie, this is the first time you¡¯ve invited me into your room.¡± ¡°Out.¡± The cold words echoed in Yuna¡¯s ears, her body froze, her mind reeling. ¡°Freddie¡­didn¡¯t you ask me to¡­¡± ¡°And you think I asked you here for what?¡± Frederick¡¯s face was icy, making Yuna blush even more. ¡°What else could it be if you asked me toe here.¡± She said and snuggled closer to him, but Frederick stepped back, leaving her to fall into empty air. She was a mother of two, yet still filled with juvenile thoughts. She really needed to grow up! Yuna, looking embarrassed, met Frederick¡¯s grim gaze, only to be met with a barrage of questions. ¡°Do you know about Hayes¡® irregr eating habits?¡± Yuna was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Frederick to summon herte at night because of Hayes, the mute. She had thought that Frederick was finally epting her. Damn it! A sh of resentment flickered in Yuna¡¯s eyes. But thinking that Frederick rarely paid attention to the mute, his sudden inquiry made her wonder, had he discovered something? How could Frederick possibly know that Hayes wasn¡¯t just eating irregrly? It was Yuna who had directly deprived him of the right to eat! When he first arrived at Vespera, because of Marguerite¡¯s betrayal, he dared not trust anyone. So, he didn¡¯t have any servants at home. Sometimes Jocelyn would help with the cooking, but most of the time, she was like Robert, running around to different clients¡®panies for Frederick¡¯s new corporation. Who would have thought that this would provide Yuna an opportunity to bully Hayes? Yuna would always find fault with Hayes even when he did nothing wrong, and depriving him of food was her punishment. Even when he was allowed to eat, she would save the most nutritious food for Manley. That¡¯s why Hayes, slowly adapting to it, would only eat vegetables. Afraid that her actions would be discovered by Frederick, Yuna immediately widened her innocent eyes and exined, ¡°Freddie, Hayes has always been introverted and silent. Every time he doesn¡¯t eat, I don¡¯t know what to say, I worry that he might take offense and hurt his pride.¡± Frederick scoffed, ¡°Afraid of hurting his pride? But you haven¡¯t been shy about hitting him!¡± ¡°Freddie, I only hit Hayes when he makes a serious mistake, and only when I can¡¯t help it. Spare the rod and spoil the child, I need to discipline him!¡± ¡°Discipline?¡± Frederick¡¯s cold and questioning gaze fixed on Yuna¡¯s face, ¡°Is it really just discipline?¡± Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Frederick¡¯s retort made Yuna feel especially guilty. Everything she had done to Hayes was solely out of her resentment towards Marguerite, retaliating indirectly by punishing her child. She wished nothing more than for this little brat Hayes to disappear from this world forever! But as everyone deemed her to be Hayes¡® mother, she couldn¡¯t outright hurt him. So, she had to use her motherly facade to punish Hayes, justifying it as ¡°discipline.¡± But when looking at the big picture, connecting all her actions towards Hayes, her im of ¡°discipline¡± was hard to substantiate. Seeing that Frederick was about to discover her intentions, Yuna quickly yed her emotional card, ¡°Freddie, Hayes is my own flesh and blood, I love him more than anyone else!¡± ¡°Hayes has had multiple instances of stomach cramps. Do you know about this? Have you ever told me?¡± Yuna was taken aback, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears, feigning a look of surprise. ¡°Hayes has stomach cramps? I¡­ I had no idea! Oh my god, why didn¡¯t he say anything!¡± Tears finally cascaded down her face. She wiped them, whimpering, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault! I neglected Hayes. I had to focus more on Manley because he was frail. I thought¡­ I thought Hayes understood my predicament¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s a three¨Cyear¨Cold kid, what do you expect him to understand, Yuna? If you continue to be biased like this, don¡¯t me me for kicking you out! This is my final warning.¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was devoid of emotion, yet it was filled with absolute authority. Yuna said nothing, but cried and nodded, seemingly giving her consent. But the more Frederick watched her, the more displeased he became, and the more regretful he felt. He regretted leaving his children in Yuna¡¯s care during those years in Vespera. If he had hired a nanny earlier, none of this would have happened! It was toote for regrets now. But, he would do everything in his power to make up for Hayes. Meanwhile, he hoped that little Teresa, as Chuck had said, would be able to heal Hayes¡® inner wounds. The following day, at the Royal Elite Kindergarten. Hayes¡® stomach condition had just improved, and he was eager to go to kindergarten. As soon as he entered the ssroom, he saw Teresa resting her chin on her hands, her face filled with anticipation. The two children locked eyes, their gazes instantly 1/2 Little Mouse The missed your Teresa¡¯s voice was as clear and melodious as a bell. Thanks as strange, because Hayes hated it when people called him Little Mute. But when Teresa called him that, he didnt find it ufortable or annoying. This nickname felt endearing and it made him feel happy. in an over to her, rummaging in his pocket for a while before finally pulling out a crumpled Toove and handed it to Teresa with a straight arm. Teresa frowns sergileres ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Shayes blinked, stugging to pronounce one word, ¡°Hair¡± Terass¡¯s eyes lit up with excremen Aher receiving the tissue, she eagerly unfolded it to And a hair wessed inside Tess paises, then carefully wrapped the hair back up. She turned to Sammis, who was sting at the ner desk, and ordered, ¡°I¡¯m skipping the first gym deset Cover for me!¡± Shipping Cas9AS WAS & NOME CCOMMENCEs for Terese, so Semmis didn¡¯t ask any questions, pues sounded his chest with his fist and dered, ¡°You can count on met Teens immergay, wether a few steps, she turned back to look at Hayes and instructed him authoritatively, ¡°Lee More, you stay with Semmis during gym ss! If anyone bullies you, looks back and son them out! WAT HET, SE of wwds the corner of the yground, used the wall to gain WMA, round Half an hour fear, The Miss Prysts Hosp She had kinally wanted to go to sponende Memonal Hospital, but remembering that it was filled with her dads form, she had to settle for a random private She ging in theb, wisers of who to approach *****, * HER And Teresa, gently asking, ¡°Little girl, who are you looking TOANE WALA HONG, SAY 16 yes staring at the nurse, her innocent demeanor melting ** wyssey, ¡°yboy, can you help me?¡± TEISSA TIKS STIStaving the mass, who instantly agreed, ¡°Of course, what do you need * * Tess held on the NSENS Comairing the hair with one hand, while with the other, she gaved on a hay of her, and said in her baby voice, ¡°I need a paternity test!¡± Chapter 342 Chapter 342 Meanwhile, at LuxeScents International, Marguerite had just clocked in when she received a call from Maurice. She stared at the caller ID in disbelief for a moment. She had been enjoying the peace and quiet with Maurice gone for several days, but this call instantly furrowed her brow. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Come over to Fragrance Finesse.¡± Maurice¡¯s tone was resolute, leaving no room for Marguerite to negotiate. But Marguerite was equally stubborn, refusing outright, ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°Busy with what? LuxeScents International hasn¡¯t had a client for several quarters, what could you possibly be busy with?¡± Marguerite could hear theughter in Maurice¡¯s voice, which made her even more adverse, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? Mind your own business! Frederick¡¯s return must have you on edge, right?¡± This was how Marguerite and Maurice interacted, neither conceding to the other. On the surface they appeared courteous and calm, but their conversations were filled with jabs at each other¡¯s weak spots. Unfazed, Maurice responded, ¡°A potential client wants to coborate with you, but they came to me first.¡± Marguerite was taken aback, ¡°Why would theye to you if they wanted to work with me?¡± Mauriceughed, ¡°Who in Stonebridge City doesn¡¯t know that Marguerite is my wife? It would be improper to approach you directly, right?¡± = 25 I¡Ü ¡ã His smugness irked her! He really thought he was some kind of omnipotent CEO, didn¡¯t he? He thought he looked cool with his rising inflection, huh? His wife? She had never acknowledged that! If it wasn¡¯t for Teresa needing a loving environment to grow up in, she would never have allowed the world to believe she and Maurice were a loving couple. Marguerite hung up the phone without a word, and Maurice¡¯s text message came through shortly after: [You have ten minutes to get here. I presume you wouldn¡¯t want your ex¡¯spany to go bankrupt so soon.] 1/2 Marguerite gritted her teeth in anger, but she knew Maurice was right. Thepany Frederick left behind couldn¡¯t go bankrupt, so she needed the money. After several quarters of losses, she was barely able to pay the wages, these few months she had been relying on her own savings to keep thepany afloat. She quickly left the office, hopped into her car and sped towards Fragrance Finesse. As soon as she parked, she saw Maurice waiting by the elevator, shing her a smile. She approached him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the client¡¯s name?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± He was still ying coy with her? What a pain! Marguerite stared at his smiling face, sensing a deeper, malicious intent. Before stepping out of the elevator, Maurice deliberately draped his arm around Marguerite¡¯s shoulder. Marguerite shivered, and quickened her pace, sessfully leaving Maurice behind. Over the past three years, Maurice had often introduced her as his beloved wife at public events. For the sake of Teresa, she swallowed her words each time. But now that Teresa knew she and Maurice were not really a couple, she didn¡¯t feel the need to y along with his charade anymore. He wanted to continue presenting her as his loving wife in front of clients? Not a chance! Marguerite didn¡¯t even want to pretend anymore. From a distance, she could see a man with a muscr build standing in front of the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows in Maurice¡¯s office. He was dressed in a ck shirt, his suit jacket draped over his arm, a cigarette in his other hand. The man exuded a noble elegance with every move. But he had his back at her, preventing Marguerite from seeing his face. Yet, Marguerite felt an inexplicable familiarity with the man¡¯s posture and movements. Was this the client who wanted to coborate with her? OF > S <= 3 ME F As she approached the office, Marguerite pushed open the door, swiftly introducing herself, ¡°Good afternoon, sir. I¡¯m Marguerite. I heard you¡¯re interested in coborating with LuxeScents International¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, she was cut off. Because the moment the man turned around, she was rooted to the spot, unable to recover for a long time. The man was Frederick! Why was he in Maurice¡¯s office? Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Marguerite¡¯s brain was struggling to function properly. She stared nkly at Frederick, watching as he stubbed out his cigarette and shed a smile. ¡°Long time no see.¡± Long time no see? They had just seen each other the day before yesterday! Wasn¡¯t she supposed to meet a potential client today? Just as she was about to make a hasty retreat, Maurice walked into the office, positioning himself between Frederick and Marguerite. ¡°Marguerite is one of the most promising perfumers at the Winston Group,¡± he said. ¡°I believe she¡¯ll meet all your needs.¡± Marguerite waspletely dumbfounded. What was going on? So there was no client looking to coborate with her after all, and it was Frederick who hade to see Maurice, and Maurice had rmended her to him! Marguerite was stunned. The thought of the once fierce rivals bing partners was shocking enough. But now Maurice had thrown her into this whirlwind in front of everyone. What was he up to? Frederick gazed at Marguerite, and she returned his stare, but neither of them said a word. Maurice cleared his throat, pulling Marguerite closer to Frederick and gently exined, ¡°Frederick has a new project outside the city, a newly built residentialplex. They need a batch of air fresheners that can remove formaldehyde.¡± It took Marguerite a while to force herself to regain herposure. She replied in a tone devoid of emotion, ¡°If you need to remove formaldehyde, you should contact a cleaningpany. I¡¯m not the right person for this.¡± She turned around to leave after saying these words, but Maurice¡¯s hand quickly snaked around her waist, pulling her into his embrace without any regard for Frederick¡¯s presence. ¡°No, you¡¯re the perfect person for this,¡± he said, his warm breath hitting the top of Marguerite¡¯s head, but she felt a chill run down her spine. She locked eyes with Maurice, his inscrutable gaze growing more intense. His eyes were always so dark, like a deep, unfathomable well, making it impossible to see whaty at the bottom. ¡°An on¨Csite inspection is necessary to remove formaldehyde. Would you two be avable to apany me?¡± Frederick¡¯s indifferent voice cut through the tension. Marguerite instinctively tried to push Maurice away, but no matter how hard she pushed, he wouldn¡¯t budge. Maurice slightly turned his body, using one hand to hold Marguerite¡¯s waist, and gave Frederick a smile. ¡°Sure, we¡¯re avable now.¡± But at that moment, Frederick¡¯s phone rang. Marguerite caught a glimpse of the caller ID¨Cit was Yuna. Frederick apologized, ¡°Excuse me, I need to take this call,¡± and he was the first to leave the office. Feeling the grip around her waist loosen, Marguerite pushed Maurice away and looked at him with wide eyes, her voice filled with usation, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± From start to finish, Maurice remained indifferent, ¡°Why not make money from him? Using his money to save his near¨Cbankruptpany isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡± ¡°Maurice!¡± Marguerite finally lost her patience and raised her voice, ¡°You are such a bastard!¡± But Maurice seemed unfazed. He leaned in closer to Marguerite, a mysterious smile on his face. ¡°If anyone else insulted me, I would have sent them straight to hell. But you¡¯re Marguerite, and I love it when you scold me.¡± Marguerite¡¯s face turned pale, and she backed away, ¡°Keep your distance!¡± He was such a dog! She should really take him to a psychiatrist. ¡°Are you in such a hurry to draw a line between us in front of your ex?¡± Maurice reached out to tuck a stray hair behind Marguerite¡¯s ear, but Frederick chose that moment to open the door and enter the room. The room was instantly filled with an awkward silence. Maurice casually withdrew his hand. Marguerite instinctively looked at Frederick, trying to read the expression on his face. But his emotions were hard to decipher. He merely nced at her, paused for a moment, then said in a t tone, ¡°I¡¯ll send you the address. I need to pick someone up, so I¡¯ll be thereter.¡± Damn it! Why did Frederick always catch the moment of Maurice¡¯s deliberate PDA with her? But who was he going to pick up? Yuna? It made sense. They were so in love, they probably wished they could spend every moment together. Yuna and Frederick were the ones truly in love, but her rtionship with Maurice was nothing but a charade. Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Frederick¡¯s new building site was a considerable distance from Fragrance Finesse. Although he said he would bete, when she and Maurice got out of the car, they saw Frederick standing near the construction site with Yuna. At that moment, he was adjusting a safety helmet on Yuna¡¯s head, tilting his head as if asking her something. Marguerite watched from a distance and found they looked like a picture¨Cperfect couple. Even though they were not deliberately unting their affection, their every move exuded a sense of romance. Maurice¡¯s gaze also fell on them, his tone full of provocation, ¡°I¡¯ve been so good to you. I gave you the chance to see him since you wanted.¡± Marguerite turned her head and looked at him unhappily, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Just then, a worker respectfully brought over two safety helmets. Maurice took one and put it on Marguerite as if nobody else was there. He put it on for her slowly and carefully, but his words were far from polite, ¡°There are no eternal friends or enemies in the business world, even if I have schemed against him in the past, he would still choose to work with me when ites to interests.¡± Having finally put on the helmet, Maurice¡¯srge palm pressed down on Marguerite¡¯s shoulder, he leaned closer to her, his maic voice carrying an almost bewitching undertone, ¡°Marguerite, he¡¯s not the same Frederick anymore, your stubbornness is worthless in his eyes.¡± Marguerite gritted her teeth, ¡°So what? I¡¯d rather be tortured to death by him than marry you!¡± Under the sunlight, Maurice¡¯s smile was so beautiful that it seemed unreal, like a beautiful illusion. But his crimson lips were wide open, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth. And the look he gave Marguerite was like a predator eyeing its prey. ¡°You might want to throw yourself at him, but you should also ask if Frederick is willing to ept you.¡± Having said this, he put on his own safety helmet and led Marguerite towards Frederick and Yuna. Marguerite followed step by step, and Frederick who haunted her dreams was getting closer and closer. Her heart was once again restless. In her anxiety, she finally understood Maurice¡¯s intentions. He knew that her stubbornness was nothing but a joke in Frederick¡¯s eyes, so he made her face Frederick again and again, reminding her how foolish and shameful her actions were. But did Maurice think she would give up loving Frederick and willingly return to his side to be his wife? That was the real joke. ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to bete? Howe you arrived earlier than us?¡± Maurice asked casually. ¡°The ce where Yuna was staying is not far from the construction site, I was afraid she would wait for too long, so I took a short cut.¡± Mauriceughed at this, ¡°Bro, you guys have a good rtionship.¡± Bro? Marguerite was taken aback. She knew Maurice better than anyone else. He had never treated Frederick as family, and now he had the audacity to call him ¡°bro¡°? It was so fake! Frederick replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t you and Marguerite the same?¡± He was looking at Marguerite when he said this, but his eyes were calm and provocative. Marguerite met his gaze and suddenly felt a sense of vertigo. She quickly looked away and said nothing more. Yuna, on the other hand, walked up and greeted Marguerite warmly, ¡°Marguerite, we finally meet. How have you been?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Marguerite had no intention of catching up, she nced at Yuna¡¯s high heels, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of twisting your ankle with those high heels?¡± Yuna pouted, looking like a blooming white lotus, her eyes filled with self¨Cme. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we wereing to the construction site today¡­¡± she looked at Frederick and asked, ¡°Freddie, will I dy your work?¡± ¡°No.¡± Frederick reached out to her gently, ¡°Come here, let me lead you.¡± 2/2 Chapter 345 Chapter 345 ¡°Come here, let me lead you.¡± Frederick¡¯s tone was authoritative yet warm. Marguerite could tell that Yuna was overflowing with joy, but her own heart was throbbing with an inexplicable pain. Regardless of how much Maurice had exined to her about how much Frederick had changed from his old self, and no matter how cold and indifferent Frederick was towards her, Marguerite didn¡¯t think much of it. But witnessing Frederick¡¯s unabashed love for Yuna, expressed in both words and actions, was a fatal blow to Marguerite. The indifferent look Frederick gave her contrasted sharply with the affection he showed Yuna. In his eyes, she had indeed be a stranger. It was said that a woman¡¯s jealousy andpetitive spirit could be frightening, and Marguerite had to admit that she was indeed jealous of Yuna at that moment. Why did Frederick give all his love to Yuna, but showed only indifference towards her? But on deeper thought, Marguerite felt that Yuna deserved it. During Frederick¡¯s most difficult times, it was Yuna who had been there for him. On the other hand, what had she, Marguerite, given him? All she brought him was betrayal.. OF 2 < < 0 ¨± 3 ? ? ?? As everyone slowly headed towards the model apartment, Marguerite walked absent¨Cmindedly, not daring to look at the happy figures of Yuna and Maurice. Suddenly, a cry of pain came from ahead ¨C Yuna had indeed sprained her ankle. Without a word, Frederick held Yuna up in his arms and turned towards the others. ¡°Yuna¡¯s ankle is badly injured. I¡¯ll take her to rest.¡± E ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go upstairs to take a look.¡± Maurice replied. Marguerite didn¡¯t say anything but caught the cold look in Frederick¡¯s eyes, sharp like a de, leaving her feeling wounded all over. Marguerite climbed the stairs quickly, eager to escape the sight of Frederick and Yuna¡¯s affectionate interaction. Out of sight, out of mind, she didn¡¯t want to torture herself and decided to immerse herself fully in her work. However, she had never created a fragrance that could remove formaldehyde, and was momentarily at a loss. So she began checking the formaldehyde levels and instructed the workers to take notes. Soon, Hammond appeared next to Maurice. He pulled out a bottle of Bengay from his pocket and respectfully said to Maurice, ¡°Young Master, this is the ointment for sprain you asked me to buy.¡± Maurice took it and handed it to Marguerite, a half¨Csmile on his face, ¡°I think Frederick might need it. Why don¡¯t you take it to him?¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t take it. She knew Maurice was deliberately tormenting her. ¡°How childish can you get? Enough is enough, don¡¯t push it.¡± ¡°If you love him that much, you¡¯d even hand him a knife if he wanted tomit a crime. So, why not this?¡± Marguerite red at him and without saying a word, walked past him to the balcony to catch her breath. Today, Marguerite felt a pain she had never experienced before. She couldn¡¯t understand how she ended up in this situation. How she wished she had the carefree nature of Miley, the ability to let go and forget about things. But Frederick was like a thorn in her heart, one that she couldn¡¯t pull out. What should she do? Marguerite ran her slender fingers through her hair, kneading her scalp out of frustration. Suddenly, a faint hint of cigarette smoke wafted over. She frowned and instinctively turned around. The man she least wanted to see at that moment was standing there, a cigarette held between his fingers, silently watching her. Chapter 346 Chapter 346 Why on earth did Frederick show up here? Could it be that his apartment downstairs didn¡¯t have a balcony, so he came up here to smoke? Marguerite was embarrassingly at a loss for words, trying to make small talk, ¡°How did you get up here?¡± Frederick was expressionless, ¡°Yuna can¡¯t stand the smell of smoke.¡± Every word he spoke was not about loving Yuna, but every word was filled with it. Marguerite was hurt once again. Why did he have to torture her this way? Marguerite¡¯s breathing became short, but she still managed to produce a strained smile, ¡°Is she feeling better?¡± Frederick nodded slightly, ¡°Thanks to the ointment you bought.¡± What on earth had she done in her past life to deserve this kind of treatment from the Winston brothers? Damn Maurice! Just thinking about him made Marguerite¡¯s teeth itch with anger. But since Frederick had misunderstood, there was nothing she could argue about. She just wanted to end the conversation as quickly as possible and then run away from his sight. ¡°No problem, it¡¯s the least I could do.¡± Marguerite responded mechanically, watching as Frederick exhaled smoke rings with a mysterious look in his eyes, she quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m going to check on the progress of the work, I¡¯ll go first.¡± Marguerite nearly fled, but Frederick¡¯s deep, maic voice stopped her, ¡°Marguerite.¡± His voice was light, but it stirred up a thousand feelings in Marguerite¡¯s heart. She turned around stiffly, her forced smile more painful than tears, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Frederick stamped out his cigarette on the windowsill that had yet to be tiled, and took out a fine handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his hands. Every move he made was effortlessly handsome. He walked up to her, his sexy lips parting and closing, ¡°Is Teresa alright?¡± As soon as he mentioned Teresa¡¯s name, Marguerite¡¯s heart tightened, ¡°What do you 11-56 mean?¡± ¡°Rx.¡± Rx? How could she rx! It was Frederick who had told her, if Teresa got close to Hayes, he would make sure Teresa suffered! ¡°I¡¯ve already told Teresa not to approach your son at school. What else do you want?¡± ¡°I take back what I said.¡± Frederick¡¯s words were unexpected. Marguerite faltered, stunned. She didn¡¯t understand what Frederick was trying to do. Next, she saw Frederick open his mouth again, ¡°I don¡¯t mind Teresa interacting with Hayes. Actually, I¡¯d like her to apany Hayes at my ce. But to avoid any misunderstandings, I need to get your agreement.¡± ¡°I disagree!¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t even think before she outright refused. ¡°You kept her away from Hayes, and now you want her to apany Hayes. Mr. Winston, Teresa is my precious princess, not some tool for your son¡¯s amusement.¡± With that, Marguerite turned around decisively and left. Frederick¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her retreating figure. Indeed, even the most patient and gentle women will get strong and unrelenting when ites to their children. Hidden in the shadows, Chuck saw Marguerite leave and hurried over to Frederick, concern etched on his face, ¡°Mr. Winston, what should we do?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyebrows flicked, his eyes slightly squinted, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be simpler to approach Teresa directly?¡± ¡°You are saying¡­ we approach Teresa instead?¡± Frederick retracted his gaze, didn¡¯t answer directly, but said, ¡°Prepare something, I¡¯ll pick her up after school.¡± Meanwhile, at As Private Hospital. Teresa sent her and Frederick¡¯s hair samples to theb and then anxiously waited on a bench. She sweet¨Ctalked the nurse into promising to expedite the processing of her samples. But an hour had already passed, why were the results not out yet? Teresa had never felt more anxious! Ten minutester, the nurse finally came forward, holding a document with a smile on her face. She affectionately pinched the chubby cheeks of the little girl, softly saying, ¡°Little girl, the results are out!¡± Teresa took the report impatiently, ignoring the diagrams and various iprehensible 14:56 symbols and went straight to thest line- [DNA test result: Supports the existence of a parental rtionship between the tested father and child.] Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Teresa hopped up and down with excitement, her fists clenched and held high in front of her chest as she enthusiastically shouted, ¡°Yes!¡± The little girl was so excited that her happy dance was just too adorable to resist. She jubntly embraced the nurse and nted three kisses on her cheek. ¡°Prettydy, you¡¯re the prettiestdy in this hospital, I like you so much!¡± With that, she ran off, leaving the nurse alone in a state of confusion. Half an hourter, at the kindergarten. She returned the same way she came, scaling the wall back into the yground where she immediately spotted Sammie kicking pebbles under a tree. And Hayes was nervously pacing back and forth, his big eyes full of worry. Teresa quickly called out, ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± At the sound of Teresa¡¯s voice, Hayes sprinted over, checking her over with a serious look, even squatting down to feel her ankles. The school¡¯s wall was so high, she could have been hurt climbing over it, right? Sammie slowly sauntered over, ¡°Teresa, you¡¯re finally back. Hayes has been dragging me out here waiting for you, he was worried sick!¡± Teresa felt a warmth surge into her heart, ¡°Little Mute, you¡¯ve been waiting for me?¡± Hayes nodded sincerely. Teresa turned to Sammie, her heart pounding, ¡°Did someone pick on him?¡± ¡°Who¡¯d dare to with me around? He¡¯s just been worried about you!¡± Hayes¡® worried eyes made Teresa¡¯s joyful mood suddenlyplex. Now they had the same father, Teresa felt both close and scared. Would Hayes think she was trying to steal his dad from him? Teresa was worried. She led Hayes and Sammie back to their ss, and this question kept bothering her, even during her favorite art ss. One was her biological father, the other had raised her, who should she choose? Was her mom not marrying her dad because she was waiting for Hayes¡® father? But Hayes¡® father was mean, he even choked her mom! He probably didn¡¯t like her mom, right? But then why did he kiss her? Geez, adult rtionships were just tooplicated. She just couldn¡¯t figure it out, her dad was obviously Hayes¡® dad, so why didn¡¯t her mom tell her the truth. Did her mom not know? 14.56 Teresa blinked, suddenly remembering something ¨C Once, when her mom and dad were arguing, she heard her mom angrily say, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you¡¯re Teresa¡¯s father, I would have taken her and left you long ago!¡± So, her mom didn¡¯t know! What about Maurice, her dad? Did he not know either? Teresa¡¯s little head was about to explode. No! She needed to find a chance, take the DNA test results, and ask her mom about this! Determined, she turned back to Hayes and asked in a low voice, ¡°Little Mute, are your dad and mom married?¡± Hayes looked at Teresa with some confusion, and Teresa quickly exined, ¡°I know it¡¯s a weird question. But some parents, they have kids but they¡¯re not married!¡± Like her dad and mom. Oh no, Hayes¡® dad was her real dad¡­ Who should she call dad now? Oh dear! This was really driving her crazy! Watching Teresa¡¯s colorful expressions, the unsuspecting Hayes was obviously much calmer. His cute little face was lifted by a hand, and Hayes said two words, ¡°Not married.¡± Teresa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and joy. Not married? Did that mean Hayes¡® dad was also waiting for her mom? Oh my! If that¡¯s the case, then it couldn¡¯t be better! People should be with those they love the most! That¡¯s when they¡¯ll be truly happy! But what about Maurice, her nominal dad? What would he do? Even though she thought Maurice was great in every way, it seemed like he was the unfortunate one now¡­ Chapter 348 Chapter 348 In a blink of an eye, it was already time for school dismissal. Teresa was listlessly packing her school bag when Hayes suddenly whipped out his phone and typed a message for Teresa to read, ¡°My dad invites you over to our ce!¡± Upon seeing this, Teresa¡¯s eyes lit up in delight, herughter causing two adorable dimples to appear on her little face, ¡°Really? Is it really your dad who invited me over?¡± Hayes was nodding his head like a bobblehead, then opened a message from his dad, Frederick, that was sent earlier in the morning and showed it to Teresa again. [After school, I¡¯ll pick you up. You can invite Teresa over.] Teresa, holding Hayes¡® phone, blushed happily. It really was from his dad! And his dad even said he would pick her and Hayes up! However, she suddenly remembered something and her previously excited lips slowly drooped down. Her mom didn¡¯t allow her to y with Hayes! If she went to Hayes¡® house and her mom found out, she would be very angry, would she? Teresa was in a dilemma. Seeing Teresa¡¯s disappointed expression, Hayes also remembered that his dad had forbidden him to y with Teresa a couple of days ago. And the only reason his dad relented was because he had been on a hunger strike! Did his dad have some sort of grudge with Teresa¡¯s mom? That day, after his dad drove Teresa home, he came back home very angry¡­ As Hayes was thinking about this, he quickly took his phone and typed, ¡°Does your mom also forbid you from ying with me?¡± Teresa saw the cautious expression on Hayes¡® adorable face. She didn¡¯t want Hayes to be disappointed, so she quickly reassured him, ¡°I¡¯ll just tell mom that I won¡¯t go find you! I¡¯ll say¡­ I¡¯ll say that I have rehearsal! I need to practice Taekwondo!¡± As she was saying this, Teresa quickly sent a message to her mom, Marguerite, lying about going to practice. Then, she happily hopped into the luxurious Maybach with Hayes. As soon as Teresa got into the car, she saw Frederick sitting in the leather seat, talking on the phone. Upon seeing her, he quickly hung up and gave a rare, warm smile. Gosh, Hayes¡® dad looked so handsome when he smiled! Although Maurice, was also very handsome, she seemed to prefer the looks of Hayes¡® dad. ¡°Hello, Hayes¡® dad! Nice to see you again!¡± Teresa¡¯s face beamed with joy, and her lips and eyes were filled with happiness. Frederick didn¡¯t say anything, but just nodded in acknowledgment. But his originally cold demeanor softened a bit with the arrival of the little girl. It was strange. Teresa, being Marguerite¡¯s daughter, which should made him feel ufortable. But once he saw her, his prejudice inexplicably vanished, and even he himself didn¡¯t understand why. This little girl, she naturally brought him a sense of familiarity and fondness. Seeing her vibrant and cheerful smile, all his worries seemed to fade away. At this time, Chuck, who was sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly turned around and said mysteriously, ¡°Teresa, youing to Hayes¡® house is our little secret, okay? Don¡¯t tell anyone!¡± Teresa¡¯s clear and sparkling eyes blinked, and she pouted as if deep in thought. Don¡¯t tell anyone? That¡¯s exactly what she wanted! She was even worried that Hayes¡® dad would tell her mom! ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone!¡± Teresa patted her chest, her round eyes filled with a sense of loyalty. Chuck was thoroughly amused by the little girl¡¯s innocence and stretched out his pinky finger. ¡°Then let¡¯s make a pinky promise!¡± However, Teresa shook her head, turned to look at Frederick, and said, ¡°I want to make a pinky promise with him!¡± Chuck turned to Frederick. Would Mr. Winston even do such a childish action? Besides, Mr. Winston had a grudge against Teresa because she was Marguerite¡¯s daughter! He must not like this little girl! Worried that Teresa would be disappointed, Chuck again stretched out his hand towards her, ¡°You can also make a pinky promise with¡­¡± And then, he stopped talking. Because he suddenly saw Mr. Winston actually stretching out his pinky towards Teresa! Theirrge and small pinkies gently hooked together, forming a lovely knot, incredibly heartwarming. Wow¨CIt seemed that even Mr. Winston couldn¡¯t resist Teresa¡¯s charm! After making the promise, she gave Frederick a soft smile, almost melted Frederick¡¯s Chapter 348 heart. However, at this moment, a cell phone ringtone broke the warm atmosphere. Teresa took out her phone and immediately panicked, ¡°Oh no, my mom is calling me!¡± Chapter 349 Chapter 349 The ringtone was Teresa¡¯s favorite luby, but at this moment, it sounded more terrifying than any horror movie score. ¡°What do I do now? I told her I was going to Taekwondo ss! She definitely wants me to hand the phone to the coach! Who can pretend to be the coach for me?¡± Teresa was on the verge of tears, holding her phone as if it was a hot potato. She turned to look at Hayes. No way, he was a little mute, he wouldn¡¯t be able to pretend. Teresa¡¯s eyes then met with Chuck¡¯s, who flinched as if burnt by her gaze, ¡°No can do! Marguerite would recognize my voice right away!¡± Chuck then turned his attention to Frederick, ¡°Mr. Winston! Mr. Winston, maybe you should take the call!¡± Mr. Winston was always cunning, a true wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! He could lie without batting an eye, he was the perfect candidate! Without hesitation, Frederick took the phone from Teresa, ready to answer the call, but the little one snatched it right back, ¡°Daddy, no! Mommy knows your voice! You can¡¯t fool her!¡± Daddy? This sudden address made Frederick¡¯s heart skip a beat, stirring something deep within him. A strange sense of¡­ happiness? His gaze was fixed on the little girl, who was still busy with the phone call. She leaned forward in her seat, handing the phone to the driver. ¡°Sir, can you take the call? Mommy definitely won¡¯t recognize your voice!¡± The driver didn¡¯t immediately take the phone, instead, he looked at Frederick through the rear¨Cview mirror, seemingly waiting for hismand. Frederick nced at Teresa¡¯s phone and told the driver, ¡°Answer it.¡± Upon hearing this, the driver respectfully took the phone, cleared his throat, and adopted a deep voice, ¡°Hello, this is Teresa¡¯s Taekwondo instructor. Yes¡­ okay¡­ understood¡­¡± The matter was smoothly handled, and the driver ended the call. Teresa let out a sigh of relief. She slumped back into her seat, patting her chest, ¡°Thank God, that was a close one!¡± But just as one wave settled, another rose. Frederick wasn¡¯t about to let the little one off the hook. ¡°What did you just call me?¡± Teresa stiffened, straightening her back. 14:56 Oh no! Did she just call him daddy in her panic? Teresa couldn¡¯t help but reach for the paternity test in her pocket. She wanted to show it to him as proof that she didn¡¯t call him by the wrong name! However, seeing Hayes out of the corner of her eye, she didn¡¯t want to hurt him, so she swallowed her words. She looked at Frederick with an innocent face, her eyes brimming with naivety, ¡°I meant to call you Hayes¡® daddy, but I was so panicked, I slipped up.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was unyielding, he asked again, ¡°Do you know the rtionship between Marguerite and I?¡± Oh no! Daddy sure has a lot of questions! Marguerite did mention that she dated him, but how could she admit it now? If she did, Hayes would surely overthink! Teresa shook her head vigorously, acting cute, ¡°Nope!¡± ¡°Why did you say she would recognize my voice?¡± Teresa was speechless this time. Was daddy a walking encyclopedia of questions? Why was he always asking ¡®why¡®? Chuck also watched with a gossiping look, and Hayes was also curious. Teresa looked at Hayes, then at Chuck, deciding that this secret couldn¡¯t be known by everyone. So, the little one half¨Ckneeled on the seat, her small hands resting on Frederick¡¯s broad shoulders, she whispered into his ear. ¡°Hayes¡® daddy, I saw you kissing my mommy the other day. You bit her lips until they bled¡­¡± Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Frederick looked stiff as a board, a man who had never tasted the bitterness of embarrassment, but was now caught in a whirlwind of awkwardness, by a three¨Cyear old little girl. Teresa grinned at him and said something that plunged him further into difort, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hayes¡® daddy. I won¡¯t spill the beans to Hayes.¡± With that, she sat back down, looking pleased as punch. Frederick¡¯s meticulously groomed eyebrows knitted together, a clear sign of his difiture. ¡°You misunderstood.¡± But Teresa wouldn¡¯t take that for an answer. She turned away, her sparkling eyes full of stubborn determination, ¡°I saw it from the window. I strained my eyes just to make sure!¡± Frederick was speechless. Chuck and Hayes shared a look, their curiosity piqued. What were these two going on about? They couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it. Chuck looked at them, puzzled, and voiced Hayes¡® confusion, ¡°What did you see from the window?¡± In unison, Frederick and Teresa replied, ¡°Nothing!¡± Chuck scratched his head, utterly baffled. ¡°Huh? Howe Mr. Winston and Teresa are in sync?¡± Even their tones were identical! It was downright perplexing. Hearing this, Teresa gave Frederick a mischievous wink and a grin. Of course, they were in sync. He was her dad, after all! After a while, they finally saw Manley emerging from the school building. He was sucking on a lollipop, stopping every few steps to take a lick, a familiar trail of snot hanging from his nose. Once he got in the car, they headed for the Sapphire Valley Estates. The moment Manley saw Teresa, he thought of her Vine Whip Alliance and his eyes lit up with excitement. Once Frederick had carefully wiped Manley¡¯s nose clean with a tissue, the boy couldn¡¯t contain his enthusiasm, ¡°I wanna join the Vine Whip Alliance! If you let me, I¡¯ll let you y with my toys!¡± Teresa was not the least bit interested. Manley was a slob! But he was also Frederick¡¯s son, and she didn¡¯t want to embarrass him in front of his dad. So, to sidestep the issue, she smoothly changed the subject, ¡°Let¡¯s all y together! I want to be the leader!¡± 11-57. Manley cast a disdainful nce at Hayes. Why should he have to y with a dumb kid like Hayes? But if he yed along, maybe Teresa would let him join the Vine Whip Alliance? Reluctantly, he agreed, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be second inmand. Hayes can be the servant, fetching us drinks and snacks!¡± Hayes¡® face fell. It was always like this. In the world of children, he was always at the bottom of the pecking order. Teresa, sharp as a tack, noticed Hayes¡® dejection. She wasn¡¯t happy about it either, ¡°No way! Hayes can¡¯t be the servant!¡± ¡°Well, what do you want him to be then?¡± Teresa thought for a moment, her chin resting on her palm, ¡°I want him to be my big brother!¡± Manley was adamant, ¡°No way! If he¡¯s your big brother, then he¡¯ll be the leader!¡± Teresa took Hayes¡® hand, offering him her full support, ¡°I¡¯m fine with him being the leader!¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not!¡± Manley¡¯s voice rose in protest. ¡°Then you can¡¯t join our Vine Whip Alliance!¡± Infuriated, Manley retorted, ¡°Then I won¡¯t share my toys with you!!¡± The atmosphere was charged, a fight imminent. Manley looked ready to start a brawl, even raising his arm to strike Teresa. Frederick caught Manley¡¯s pudgy arm in a vice¨Clike grip, his voice harsh and stern, ¡°Who taught you to resort to violence when you can¡¯t win an argument?¡± Chapter 351 Chapter 351 Manley was scared to tears. Unable to get his way, he threw a tantrum, thrashing about in his car seat, his iling legs nearly hitting Teresa in the face. Hayes, quick as a whip, scooped Teresa into his arms for protection. Rage burned in Frederick¡¯s chest, a me that refused to be extinguished. He hauled Manley onto hisp, his crimson eyes filled with fury. ¡°Manley Winston!¡± His reprimand silenced the car, every pair of eyes wide with fear. Teresa and Hayes clung to each other, everyone¡¯s gaze darting between Frederick and Manley, no one dared to make a sound. Damn it! Yuna had spoiled this child rotten! Frederick locked eyes with Manley, who was sniffling on hisp. His stubborn demeanor persisting, not swayed by reprimands or physical admonishments. Frederick took a moment topose himself before speaking to Manley, his tone serious: ¡°You shouldn¡¯t fight, and you need to learn to be humble and share. You can¡¯t be so selfish, understand?¡± Manley¡¯s shoulders shook as he sobbed, ¡°Daddy, are you angry?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Manley wilted. He remembered his mother¡¯s warnings, never to make his father angry. Otherwise, he would not inherit the family fortune; it would go to Hayes instead. Manley quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Daddy. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± ¡°Apologize to Teresa.¡± Frederick said. Reluctantly, Manley turned to Teresa and apologized. But no one saw the hatred in his eyes, an intensity that belied his age, directed squarely at Hayes. Ten minutester, the car pulled up to their mansion. Teresa and Hayes got out, they happily ran towards Hayes¡® bedroom. In another room, Manley sat on his bed, sulking with his mother, Yuna. ¡°Mommy! Hayes took Teresa away from me. I want to y with Teresa too, but she always chooses Hayes over me!¡± His go¨Cto tactic ¨C crying when he didn¡¯t get his way. Yuna pulled Manley into her arms, ¡°That girl, I knew from the start that she would be trouble. She¡¯ll only bully you if you y with her. We won¡¯t y with her anymore!¡± Thest time Teresa had visited, Yuna had taken an instant dislike to her. Any child who could be friends with Hayes couldn¡¯t possibly be good news. But instead of calming down, Manley¡¯s cries grew louder, ¡°No! Everyone used to y with me, but now they all prefer that mute! It¡¯s because he¡¯s been hanging out with Teresa! He¡¯s been badmouthing me to her, I just know it!¡± Yuna¡¯s face hardened, ¡°Is that so? You¡¯re saying that little mute has been keeping Teresa from ying with you?¡± Cleaning his tears and snot, Manley continued his tantrum, ¡°Of course! It¡¯s obvious!¡± A dangerous glint appeared in Yuna¡¯s eyes as she pulled Manley away from her, ¡°Go wait for me in the usual ce. And bring the stick with you.¡± As soon as Manley heard this, he knew that Hayes was in trouble. His tears dried up instantly, and he excitedly began searching for the stick. Soon after, Yuna left the room, heading straight for Hayes¡® bedroom. Without knocking, she used her fingerprint to unlock the door and entered. Hayes, who was ying with Teresa, was startled. Even though Yuna¡¯s fingerprint could open the lock to his room, she rarely entered his room. Whenever she did, it usually meant he was in for a punishment. So every time Yuna walked in, Hayes would be extremely frightened. ¡°I need to talk to you. Come with me.¡± Yuna¡¯s voice was devoid of any emotion, her face cold. Hayes quickly exined to Teresa that he would be back soon before following Yuna out of the room. His little heart was pounding. What did he do wrong this time? Hayes racked his brains but couldn¡¯t figure it out. Chapter 352 Chapter 352 Teresa had no idea how hard things were for Hayes right now. All she could do was wait in his room, bored out of her mind. Looking around, she noticed it was a high¨Ctech haven. Hisputer screen was massive and curved, books about hacking were piled on the desk. Curiosity piqued, Teresa flipped through a few. Each one was filled with annotations. Did Hayes teach himself to hack? That was something she could rte to as a child prodigy herself. Of course, it made sense since both she and Hayes were their father¡¯s children. Their dad was smart, so it was only natural they were too. However, why was Manley the odd one out? He didn¡¯t seem bright at all, and there was always a string of snot hanging from his nose. The thought of Manley¡¯s sloppiness made Teresa shudder in disgust. Shaking her head, she received a message from Marguerite, [Baby, did you make it to practice?] Teresa, lounging on Hayes¡® king¨Csized bed, replied nonchntly, [Made it. It¡¯s break time now.] [Do you wear a Taekwondo uniform for practice?] Teresa didn¡¯t think twice before replying, [Of course!] Wasn¡¯t that obvious? She was about tough at her mom¡¯sck of knowledge when the next message from Marguerite took her by surprise. [Can you send me a picture of you in your Taekwondo uniform?] A picture? Startled, Teresa sat up in bed, nervously typing back, [Why?] [I want to post it on my Facebook.] Why would she want to do that out of the blue? Teresa was on high alert. Where was she supposed to find a Taekwondo uniform at this time? She dashed out of the room, looking for Hayes, but he was nowhere to be found. In desperation, she went to Hayes¡® dad¡¯s office, where she found him busy working. Out of breath, she managed to stammer, ¡°Dad¡­I mean, Hayes¡® dad! I need help! I¡­I¡­¡± Frederick immediately put out the cigarette he was smoking, opened a window to let in 1457 some fresh air, then knelt down in front of Teresa, ¡°Take your time, don¡¯t panic. What happened?¡± Teresa swallowed hard, gasping, ¡°Mom wants me to send her a picture of me in a Taekwondo uniform! Right now! I don¡¯t have one. What do I do?¡± Seeing Teresa¡¯s distress, Frederick was calm, ¡°Follow me.¡± Frederick led Teresa out of his office. However, she couldn¡¯t keep up with his long strides. Out of breath, sheined, ¡°Hayes¡® dad, slow down. I can¡¯t keep up!¡± Frederick paused, realizing he was moving too fast for the little girl. He picked her up, exining, ¡°Your mom can be impatient. If she doesn¡¯t get a reply within ten minutes, she¡¯ll start to worry.¡± Teresa blinked, wrapping an arm around his neck, ¡°Hayes¡® dad, you seem to know my mom very well.¡± His heart softened. His moods were like a roller coaster. Three years ago, he only lived with Marguerite for three months. But her habits and personality were deeply ingrained in him. It was impossible to forget her. He stayed silent, but Teresa kept talking to herself, ¡°That makes sense. You and my mom shared a kiss, after all.¡± Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Teresa finished speaking, suddenly realizing she had misspoken. Quickly, she pped her mouth, ¡°Oops! That¡¯s our little secret, we shouldn¡¯t be talking about it.¡± Teresa grinned and snuggled into his neck, her cheek rubbing against his shoulder. Frederick shook his head helplessly. She was such a clingy and adorable little girl, which made him have no reason to get mad at her! In this respect, she was very much like Marguerite. He recalled when Marguerite first arrived at their estate, even though there had been many unpleasant incidents, he could never bring himself to be angry when faced with her. Lost in thought, he had already carried Teresa into the dressing room. He headed straight for thest closet, which was filled with children¡¯s clothes. Holding Teresa with one arm, he picked out a Taekwondo uniform with his free hand and held it up to her, ¡°Try it on.¡± Teresa gasped, ¡°Wow, Hayes¡® daddy, you¡¯re like my personal genie, always able to magically produce what I want!¡± This Taekwondo uniform was bought for Hayes when he was two years old, for his photoshoot. At the time, it was bought a little big, so he wasn¡¯t sure if Teresa could fit into it. He set Teresa down, ¡°Come on, hurry up and get dressed.¡± With that, he politely turned and left, standing outside the room, patiently waiting. Teresa hastily discarded her pink school uniform jacket and started to put the Taekwondo uniform over her sweater. But the uniform was too small. The cor was stuck around her neck, and she couldn¡¯t get her arms into the sleeves. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t put it on. Now, she couldn¡¯t put it on or take it off. She was stuck. She had no choice but to waddle over to Frederick, her face looking glum, ¡°Hayes¡® daddy, I can¡¯t put it on!¡± Frederick looked down at Teresa, her arms twisted together in the small uniform, looking adorably funny. He chuckled but then his eyesnded on the pattern on Teresa¡¯s sweater, depicting the pr lights. Pr lights¡­ His gaze lingered on the pattern, and Teresa couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°Hayes¡® daddy, stop daydreaming and help me get this uniform on, okay?¡± Frederick snapped back to the present, and together with Teresa, still struggled with the too small uniform. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll take off my sweater first! The sweater my mommy made for me is too thick!¡± Teresa said as she stripped off her sweater. Putting on the Taekwondo uniform without the sweater was much easier. But Frederick seemed a little flustered, ¡°Teresa, did Marguerite knit this sweater herself?¡± Teresa nodded, ¡°Yes, my Mommy is really crafty!¡± Frederick couldn¡¯t help but touch the pattern, his thoughts drifting back three years. LuxeScents International, Pr Radiance. This was something he and Marguerite had worked on together. He thought that after he left Stonebridge City, Maurice would help Marguerite and bring Pr Radiance back to market. But the perfume had disappearedpletely, with no news or signs of it being reintroduced. Teresa followed Frederick¡¯s gaze to the pattern on her sweater, noticing the deep and distant look in his eyes. The pattern was pr lights, and there were several bottles of Pr Radiance perfume that her Mommy had mixed at home. Could it be that Pr Radiance was a special symbol for Daddy and Mommy? Teresa thought for a moment, and when the timing felt right, she said, ¡°Hayes¡® daddy, this pr lights pattern was knitted by Mommy herself. She said that pr lights have a special meaning to her. ¡± Frederick raised an eyebrow, ¡°Oh? What kind of meaning?¡± Teresa twiddled her fingers, yfully asking him, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Hayes¡® daddy, you¡¯ve known mommy for such a long time, you should know more than me, right?¡± 212 Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Teresa locked eyes with Frederick, but his emotions were tooplex for Teresa to decipher. Pr Radiance, a brand of cologne, was once a symbol of the bond between him and Marguerite. Despite losing his sense of smell, he was still able to detect the scent of that particr cologne. And that was why he decided to keep Marguerite around in thepany, even after banishing her from his mansion. Had it not been for this cologne, he would never have gotten involved with Marguerite to such an extent. But now, Teresa had brought to his attention that pr lights had a special significance to Marguerite. Could the truth be as Robert suggested, that Marguerite was once in love with him? But Frederick quickly dismissed the idea. If she truly loved him, why would she betray him?! Frederick reassured himself, before bending down to fix Teresa¡¯s cor, suppressing his turbulent emotions, nonchntly stating, ¡°Marguerite and I are not as close as you think.¡± Teresa puffed her cheeks, upset. Daddy was lying! How could people who are not close kiss?! What a hypocrite! Were there any misunderstandings between daddy and mommy? While Teresa was deep in thought, Frederick had already taken her phone, using the white wall as a backdrop to quickly take a few photos of her. Seeing this, Teresa immediately began to pose, imitating a few boxing positions. ¡°Send them to her.¡± Frederick handed the phone back to her. Upon receiving the phone, Teresa quickly opened her chat with Marguerite and began to choose photos fervently. But a series of messages from her mom made her nervous again. [Honey? Are you done yet? Why is it taking so long?] [Honey, are you really practicing taekwondo? Don¡¯t lie to mommy, okay?] [Honey? Honey?] [Answer me!] [Teresa Winston! Are you lying to me again?] Teresa was mischievous and loved to have fun. It had been a while since she received a 14-57 reply, so she had a hunch. Marguerite thought for a moment, then sent another message: [Honey, mommy is giving you one minute. Otherwise, I will have to call your school teacher!] What?! Call the school teacher?! Teresa¡¯s eyebrows furrowed in an instant. She quickly showed the screen to Frederick, making a pitiful face, pleading, ¡°Help, Hayes¡® daddy! I¡¯m in trouble!¡± Frederick nced at the screen, then took Teresa¡¯s phone and sent a few photos to Marguerite. Marguerite, at the other end, was very satisfied with the photos and was finally reassured, [Nice, very cool!] Frederick stared at her reply. When did this woman be so gullible? Frederick¡¯s clean fingers danced on the screen, [I am Teresa¡¯s coach, please do not disturb during practice.] [Teresa, don¡¯t mimic your teacher!] Frederick frowned, [She is training, her phone has been confiscated.] Marguerite at the other end was stunned for a moment, then her attitude immediately took a 180¨Cdegree turn, [Coach, I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were Teresa. She¡¯s a wild one, and I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s tricking me.] Teresa blinked her eyes, looking up at Frederick. Huh? That¡¯s weird! What are daddy and mommy talking about? Why is daddy smiling? [You sure do talk a lot.] Marguerite was taken aback again. Isn¡¯t that Frederick¡¯s catchphrase? Are all teachers so temperamental now? Frederick typed the message and handed the phone back to Teresa, smiling, ¡°Your mom seems to know you pretty well.¡± Teresa quickly looked at the chat history, pouting, ¡°If mommy knew she was tricked again, she¡¯d definitely spank me!¡± The little girl sighed dramatically as her phone vibrated twice. She tentatively took a peek, then gasped in horror! [Hayes¡® daddy, my mommy wants to add you on Facebook!] Chapter 355 Chapter 355 Teresa said, turning the screen towards Frederick. He saw Marguerite¡¯s message and a hint of helpless yet thrilling emotions stirred within him. [Do you mind if I add you on Facebook? It makesmunication easier.] ¡°What do we do? Hayes¡® dad, you must¡¯ve exchanged Facebook contacts with my mom before, right? Did you delete her already?¡± Frederick didn¡¯t expect the little one to know so much. Could it be because of that kiss? Or had Marguerite revealed his existence in front of Teresa? Frederick felt troubled, but admitted frankly, ¡°Yes, I deleted her.¡± ¡°My mom would notice if you deleted her. And don¡¯t use your personal ount, she¡¯s very sharp, she¡¯ll figure it out!¡± Frederick strode out of the wardrobe and pulled out another phone from the bedroom drawer, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she won¡¯t find out.¡± Frederick reassured Teresa, and then began fiddling with the new phone. He sessfully added Marguerite¡¯s Facebook using thepany¡¯s business ount. As soon as the request was epted, he saw an urgent message from her. [Coach, what time does Teresa finish school? I¡¯ll pick her up.] Frederick looked at Teresa and asked softly, ¡°When do you want to go home?¡± ¡°I need to go home for dinner. How about¡­ Five o¡¯clock?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll drop you off at half past four, I need to get you to school early, otherwise we¡¯ll be caught.¡± Half past four? That¡¯s way too early! ¡°No, I haven¡¯t had enough fun yet! You don¡¯t want me to leave so soon, do you, Hayes¡® dad?¡± The little one looked at him with hopeful, coquettish eyes that melted his heart. How could this little one be so adorable? ¡°I¡¯ll tell her half past five, and then drop you off at five, okay?¡± Teresa¡¯s eyes immediately lit up with joy, ¡°Sounds great!¡± IF F F 3 @ Tricking mom with dad felt amazing! That¡¯s what a real family is like! Unlike with Maurice, where she was always forced to listen to a bunch of lessons till her ears were calloused! Thinking about it, Teresa happily looked at herself in the mirror, feeling super cool in her taekwondo outfit! She wanted to show it off to Hayes! ¡°Sir, I¡¯m going to y with Hayes! Don¡¯t forget to take me back to schoolter!¡± Teresa¡¯s voice was lively. She waved at Frederick before skipping out the room. Frederick finished sending the Facebook message to Marguerite, but did not get a reply. Strangely, he began to feel anxious, but even himself didn¡¯t notice this emotion. He waited for a long time, but there was no movement from the other side. He put away his phone and walked out of the room, almost colliding with Chuck who was running towards him, ¡°Mr. Winston, there¡¯s trouble! Thepany¡¯s business ount has been hacked! Not only has the name been changed, but the profile picture has also been reced with a taekwondo image! Don¡¯t worry, I will find out who did this!¡± Chuck said with a worried face, then turned around to contact the hacker. Behind him, Frederick¡¯s resounding voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Wait!¡± Chuck froze, mechanically turning his head, ¡°Mr¡­¡­. Mr. Winston?¡± Thunderbolt Enterprises has the most stringent security system in the world, yet someone had stolen the business ount, why wasn¡¯t Mr. Winston panicking? ¡°I changed it.¡± Chuck was stunned. Why would Mr. Winston do that? ¡°You changed it?¡± Chuck stood still, incredulous, ¡°You¡¯re going into, taekwondo?¡± ¡°To handle Marguerite.¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was indifferent, but Chuck clearly saw a hint of guilt shing in Frederick¡¯s eyes. Obviously, this answer seemed to make Frederick embarrassed. Marguerite wasn¡¯t worth him doing all this, but he did it and even admitted it. Frederick didn¡¯t bother to exin, he just walked past Chuck, casually leaving, leaving him with a dominant and proud back view. Chuck stood still, in a mess. Hadn¡¯t Mr. Winston stopped loving Marguerite? Why would he change thepany¡¯s business ount just to trick her? This was too much, wasn¡¯t it? Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Teresa, filled with joy, ran back to Hayes¡® room only to find he was still not back. She waited for what seemed like an eternity, and with time running out before she had to return home, she couldn¡¯t help but start to panic. Without a second thought, she dashed out of the room. Coincidentally, a servant was cleaning the living room, and she immediately asked him about Hayes¡® whereabouts. The servant thought for a moment before remembering that young Master Hayes had apparently headed to the garage. Teresa found this extremely odd. Hadn¡¯t Hayes been called away by his mother? Why on earth would he be in the garage? Anyways! She decided to find Hayes first and ask questionster. Without another word, Teresa wobbled on her short little legs, stumbling towards the underground garage. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the size of the garage belonging to Hayes¡® father. Not only was it massive, but it was also filled with many luxury cars she had never seen before. Her own family also had a garage, but the number of cars paled inparison to those owned by Hayes¡® father! The garage was sorge it was like a maze, and Teresa almost got lost. She wandered around, ending up back where she started, but still, there was no sign of Hayes, In a state of panic, she decided to go upstairs to ask Hayes¡® father for help. However, just as she stepped into the elevator, she suddenly heard a roar, ¡°Hayes Winston! I¡¯m asking you onest time, did you or did you not alienate Manley?¡± Immediately after, she heard a crack, sounding like a stick striking the floor. Terrified, Teresa scampered out of there without a second thought. Meanwhile, in the southeast corner of the garage. This area was a blind spot for the security cameras. Severalrge luxury cars were parked neatly in a row,pletely blocking the view of a few individuals. Yuna, wielding a stick, was ring furiously at Hayes. Beside her, Manley was swinging a cane, his eyes filled with a taunting gleam, looking at Hayes with an air of dominance, ¡°Mute! Speak up! You bullied me! You made all the kids avoid me, and you stole Teresa away from me!¡± As he spoke, he swung his chubby arm and shoved Hayes, Hayes hung his head low, enduring the humiliation in silence. He hadn¡¯t done anything to alienate Manley. In fact, he always kept his distance from Manley at school, fearing he would be bullied. But despite his fear and avoidance, he was once again misunderstood by his mother. Yuna pulled Hayes roughly to her side, her actions so rough that Hayes¡® face was turning blue, but he bit his lip, holding back his tears, and endured the pain. ¡°Hayes! You¡¯ve been spoiled by your father! Manley is your older brother, the rightful heir to the family. He has the right to everything first. But you shamelessly stole what is his, and you even stole his friend! You¡¯re nothing but a thief! A morally corrupt thief!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! The mute is a thief! A thief with a belly full of mischief!¡± Manley chimed in, even going as far as to spit on Hayes¡® face. Hayes¡® cheeks burned with humiliation, his anger and resentment intertwining, and for the first time ever, he stood up for himself, ¡°I didn¡¯t! I¡¯m not a thief!¡± Yuna was so taken aback by Hayes¡® outburst that she froze on the spot. She had never expected the usually meek and obedient boy to fight back! This only served to fan the mes of her anger! She roughly grabbed Hayes by the cor and shoved him onto the ground. ¡°So you can talk after all! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve been pretending all these years! Well, exin yourself! Why did you alienate Manley at school?¡± Hayes stumbled and fell to the ground, remaining silent. But the humiliation made his chest heave with suppressed anger, his defiant eyes fixed on Yuna. ¡°You won¡¯t talk? So you¡¯re looking for a beating!¡± Yuna was so angry she was nearly hysterical, she raised her arm tosh Hayes with the stick. But at the crucial moment, a figure darted out. Teresa pushed Yuna away and quickly shielded Hayes with her body, shouting, ¡°You can¡¯t hit him! If you hit him again, I¡¯m going to tell his father!¡± Chapter 357 Chapter 357 The shove Teresa gave Yuna wasn¡¯t particrly strong, but it was enough to give Yuna pause. Her arm hung in the air, Teresa¡¯s threat lingering in her head. Damn it! Where did this little bitche from? Yuna cursed under her breath, but Manley hastily filled in the silence, ¡°If you dare to tell my dad, go ahead! He loves me the most, if he finds out that Hayes has been excluding and bulling me, he¡¯ll be even angrier! Then you¡¯ll be crying!¡± Manley thought his words would intimidate Teresa, but Teresa was far from frightened, ¡°Hayes isn¡¯t excluding you! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s always grimy and snotty¨Cnosed! We don¡¯t want to y with you because you¡¯re gross!¡± Manley was furious, he reached for Yuna¡¯s hand, pointing at Teresa, ¡°Mommy, look at her! She¡¯s bullying me!¡± Of course, Yuna wanted to teach this insolent girl a lesson! How dare she call her son grimy! But she didn¡¯t know who Teresa was, and if she was the daughter of some big shot, she might be in trouble. She had to drop the stick, squat beside Teresa, and feign kindness, ¡°Teresa, forget about others. I just want to know, why don¡¯t you want to y with Manley?¡± Her reason for not ying with Manley was the same as the others! Because Manley was always dirty! But fearing that telling the truth would bring trouble and get her punished by Yuna, she could only exin, ¡°Because Manley and I are not in the same ss.¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°So you and Hayes are in the same ss, in the regr ss?¡± Teresa didn¡¯t understand, but she nodded anyway. With that, Yuna breathed a sigh of relief. Most of the sons and daughters of the elite circle would pay for the premium sses. The kids in the regr sses were usually nouveau riche, who, despite their wealth, didn¡¯t hold much power in the circle. With this in mind, Yuna felt she didn¡¯t need to be polite to Teresa. So, her words became more blunt, ¡°Manley is in the premium ss, and you¡¯re in the regr ss. What right do you have to reject Manley¡¯s kindness?¡± This question left Teresa stunned. Was the premium ss really superior to the regr ss? The teaching resources were the same! And the only difference was that the premium ss was more strict. When she enrolled half a year ago, her intelligence test score was the top of the school! But she loved to y too much, she had to beg her Dad, Maurice, for a long time before he agreed to let her attend the regr ss. Teresa, shielding Hayes, took a step back, Yuna asked again, ¡°Little girl, have you heard of Thunderbolt Enterprises?¡± Teresa, her big eyes round, shook her head. ¡°Thunderbolt Enterprises is the wealthiest corporation in Stonebridge City. Manley¡¯s Dad is the CEO, and Manley will be the first heir to the corporation. Show kindness and respect to Manley, and I assure you, your efforts will not go unrewarded!!¡± Teresa, looking at the face that was a carbon copy of her Mom¡¯s, felt this woman was evil. How could Hayes¡® Dad have a child with such a woman? ¡°Do you want me to suck up to him?¡± Yunaughed, herughter like the chime of a wind bell, ¡°You¡¯re so smart!¡± Teresa heard Hayes¡® muffled sobs from behind her and felt a pang in her heart, ¡°But Hayes is also your child! Don¡¯t you love him? Why do you hit him?¡± ¡°Hayes is my child, but he¡¯s the second son, and Manley is the legitimate eldest.¡± Teresa firmly grabbed Hayes¡® little hand, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to y with Manley, and I¡¯m going to tell Hayes¡® Dad that you hit him!¡± With that, Teresa yanked Hayes and ran out. Chapter 358 Chapter 358 At those words, Yuna¡¯s heart pounded as if she was facing an imminent threat! She recalled Freddie¡¯s final warning. If he found out that she was showing favoritism again, she would be driven out of the manor! What¡¯s more, she didn¡¯t just show favoritism today, she had hit him! Seeing the two little devils about to dash into the elevator, Yuna chased after them! Right before the elevator doors closed, she effortlessly scooped them up. Teresa squirmed and protested, ¡°Let me go! You¡¯re hurting me!¡± Yuna pushed Teresa against the wall roughly, ¡°Little girl, you better not make me angry. It¡¯s not a pretty sight when I lose my temper.¡± Her tone was gentle, but the stern look in her eyes sent a chill down Teresa¡¯s spine. Hayes tugged on Yuna¡¯s arm, tears streaming down his face as he pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t hurt Teresa¡­ please¡­¡± Yuna red at Hayes fiercely, her heart skipping a beat. She knew better than anyone why Hayes couldn¡¯t speak. Years ago, she had done everything in her power to inflict psychological trauma on this mute boy. And now, just a few days after arriving at the manor, this brat Teresa had him talking! This realization made Yuna dislike Teresa even more. However, the genuine affection between these two kids could be useful. She let go of Teresa, turning to Hayes instead, ¡°I won¡¯t hurt her, but will you behave?¡± Hayes nodded furiously, his face wet with tears, ¡°I will, I promise!¡± Yuna turned back to Teresa, issuing a warning, ¡°Hayes is my son, and it¡¯s my right to discipline him. If you try to tell his father, he¡¯ll get mad and won¡¯t let youe over again.¡± Teresa looked at Hayes hesitantly, finally understanding why he was always so cautious. It must be because his mother hit him! His mother was terrifying! Teresa was scared, worried she would be next in line for a beating. But she refused to back down, staring at Yuna defiantly, ¡°Does Hayes¡® father know you hit him?¡± Damn it! This little bitch sure had a lot of questions! Yuna wanted to cut out her tongue! But for now, she couldn¡¯ty a finger on Teresa. She could threaten her, sure, but this bitch had leverage over her too. So she couldn¡¯t make a move! ¡°Of course he knows!¡± Yuna asserted, ¡°Whenever I discipline Hayes, his father is fully aware!¡± Teresa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise He knew? That was impossible! Teresa didn¡¯t believe it for a second! If Haves¡® father knew why would they go to such a remote ce to bully Hayes? And Hayes¡® father was so gentle, he didn¡¯t seem like someone who would tolerate child abusel She wanted to stand up for Hayes, but she was too small, there was no way she could fight an adult. Teresa remembered an old saying, patience is the key to sess! She vowed to stand up for Hayes, but not now. Seeing Teresa¡¯s frightened expression, Yuna felt satisfied and seized the opportunity to ask, ¡°Teresa, do you know what to do next time?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Teresa nodded, but her eyes were still wide, stubborn and disdainful. ¡°Do you want to y with Manley?¡± Yes.¡± Atst, Yuna smiled triumphantly like a victor She turned to Manley andmanded, ¡°Go on, Manley. Go y with Teresa.¡± At this point, Manley, backed by Yuna, put on a haughty air. He red at Hayes, then turned to Teresa with a smug look and snorted, ¡°I don¡¯t want to y with her today! Maybe next time!¡± With that, Manley took Yuna¡¯s hand and strutted out of the underground garage. Chapter 359 Chapter 359 As soon as Manley and Yuna stepped out, Teresa and Hayes returned to Hayes¡® room, their hearts pounding with anxiety. Suddenly, Teresa noticed something odd about the way Hayes was walking. He moved as if he was treading on thin ice, as if he was injured somewhere. She quickly rolled up Hayes¡® sleeves and pant legs to look for any wounds, but found none. Hayes, feeling ufortable, pushed Teresa aside, his neck stiff and silent. Teresa was frantic, ¡°Hayes! Are you hurt? Are you in pain somewhere?¡± Hayes, his face flushed, awkwardly covered his bottom. Teresa, quick to notice Hayes¡® furtive motion, rushed forward and pulled down Hayes¡® pants¨CHis buttocks were covered with red marks! In some areas, blood was still oozing! Caught off guard by Teresa yanking down his pants, Hayes was mortified. He instinctively wanted to pull his pants back up, but Teresa held on tight. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know whether to cover his front or his behind. He could only stand there, legs mped together. His movements were hrious, but Teresa couldn¡¯t find it in her tough. She was so heartbroken that she burst into tears, ¡°Little mute, I¡¯m so angry! I¡¯m furious! Why did they have to bully you?¡± Hayes turned around and hastily wiped Teresa¡¯s tears, but as she cried, he too shed tears. Yet he still tried to console Teresa, ¡°Don¡¯t cry¡­ Don¡¯t cry¡­¡± Every time Hayes spoke, it only made Teresa cry harder, ¡°Little mute, you can talk just fine, so why do you m up when it matters most? You should have told your dad!¡± Hayes turned around to grab a writing board to exin, but fearing his father might see, he ended up pulling out his phone to quickly type, ¡°Mom was just looking out for me, and I shouldn¡¯t be so selfish. If I told Dad, he¡¯d be stuck in the middle.¡± Teresa was exasperated, ¡°What does that have to do with you? You¡¯re not selfish at all! I was the one who insisted on ying with you!¡± As she spoke, Teresa had Hayes lie down on the bed. Then, she took out a scar¨Ccovering ointment that she always carried with her and gently applied it to Hayes¡® wounds. But as soon as Teresa applied a bit of ointment, Hayes shivered in pain. Teresa cried, ming herself, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, I said I would protect you. If it wasn¡¯t for me, your mom wouldn¡¯t have hit you. If I knew¡­if I knew I would¡¯ve¡­¡± Teresa couldn¡¯t bring herself to say the rest of her words. Hayes immediately got up from the bed, pulling up his pants while covering Teresa¡¯s mouth. The two kids stared at each other for a long time before Hayes, burdened with worry, asked Teresa through text, ¡°Were you going to say, if you knew, you wouldn¡¯t have yed with me?¡± Teresa was taken aback, she never imagined Hayes could read her thoughts! Without thinking, she nodded. Seeing this, Hayes immediately threw his phone away, crossed his arms and sat on the edge of the bed, his back to Teresa. Tears streamed down his face.¡± Realizing she had misspoke, Teresa rushed tofort Hayes, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Hayes, I shouldn¡¯t have thought that. I just¡­I just care about you¡­¡± Hayes turned around, his eyes welled up with tears. He looked at Teresa stubbornly, then buried his head to type: ¡°So, are we still best friends?¡± Teresa nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes!¡± Hayes heaved a sigh of relief, the two kids immediately embraced each other tightly. While patting Hayes¡® back, Teresa made a solemn promise, ¡°Little mute, I will find a way to protect you! I promise!¡± Chapter 360 Chapter 360 In the blink of an eye, it was time to leave. Just likest time, Frederick personally dropped Teresa back at school. As they were leaving, Yuna came up to them with a wide smile as soon as Frederick and Teresa stepped out of the door, ¡°Teresa,e and y again next time.¡± Teresa froze, her face contorting as she looked back at Yuna. She found Yuna¡¯s smile eerily unsettling, her gaze carrying a hint of intimidation. Teresa was no fool, she knew Yuna was warning her! If she were to tell Hayes¡® dad about what happened, he wouldn¡¯t let her visit the mansion again. With resignation, Teresa managed to squeeze out a smile, waving goodbye to Yuna. ¡°See you.¡± She hopped into the car with Frederick and they were soon at the kindergarten. At that time, Marguerite hadn¡¯t arrived yet, so Teresa smartly pointed to the reception room. ¡°Hayes¡® dad, you can go. I¡¯ll wait in the reception room. If mom sees us, we¡¯ll be caught.¡± Frederick nodded, leading Teresa into the reception room. As he was about to leave, he turned back to look at her with concern. And there she was, staring at him with a look of hesitation on her face. ¡°Something you want to say?¡± Teresa¡¯s little face was clouded with grievance, full of unspokenints. She wanted to tell him, but the warning from Yuna held her back. ¡°There¡¯s nothing! You should go, Hayes¡® dad. Mom will be here soon!¡± Frederick finally left, but he didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, he parked his car in a corner from where he could watch covertly. He waited until Marguerite¡¯s car pulled up at the entrance and saw her taking Teresa¡¯s hand before he finally drove away. Inside the car, Teresa was visibly upset, pouting and crossing her arms as though she was sulking. ¡°Who upset my little princess?¡± Marguerite asked, ncing at Teresa in the rear¨Cview mirror as she drove. Teresa looked at her mother and asked indirectly, ¡°Mom, what would you do if someone bullied you?¡± ¡°It depends.¡± Teresa¡¯s interest was piqued, ¡°What does that mean?¡± Marguerite thought for a while before answering, ¡°If they hurt you, you must stand up for yourself; if they are just trying to get attention, then it doesn¡¯t matter. Ignoring them is the best response.¡± Marguerite would never teach Teresa to tolerate harm like her grandmother did. She wanted Teresa to learn how to protect herself. Hearing her mother¡¯s words, Teresa found herself in a dilemma. Clearly, Manley and Yuna had hurt Hayes, they abused him. But how could she fight back? She couldn¡¯t take on both of them! Even if she could fight them, they would still bully Hayes once she leaves. ¡°Mom, if they hurt me, what¡¯s the best way to fight back?¡± ¡°Find their weakness. But Teresa, never fight back with the intention to hurt them. No hitting, okay?¡± Teresa pondered. Weakness? Yuna¡¯s weakness must be not wanting Hayes¡® dad to find out she hit Hayes, right? But if she directly told Hayes¡® dad, would he believe her? No, she had toe up with a good n. Marguerite noticed Teresa deep in thought. She had a hunch that something was off with her today. She instantly became alert and asked anxiously, ¡°Why are you asking this? Did someone at Taekwondo ss bully you?¡± Teresa was taken aback, she hadn¡¯t expected to be questioned like this. She didn¡¯t go to a Taekwondo ss, and if she told her mom she was being bullied, would she run off to talk to the ss teacher? 0 25 5 Afraid of being found out, Teresa fibbed, ¡°We elected a group leader today, but one kid wasn¡¯t happy. He wanted to be the leader too.¡± ¡°What did the coach say?¡± Chapter 361 Chapter 361 ¡°Coach¡­ he doesn¡¯t know! I don¡¯t even know how to tell him.¡± ¡°Does the coach like you more, or does he like that little kid more?¡± Teresa found herself in a dilemma once again. Manley was Hayes¡® dad¡¯s son, and although she was also his daughter, he was unaware of this fact. So, surely, Hayes¡® dad would favor Manley, right? As Teresa pondered, her expression became even more somber, and she fell silent in her frustration. Seeing her daughter¡¯s destion, Marguerite didn¡¯t probe further, but she took note of Teresa¡¯s demeanor. Soon after they arrived home, Marguerite suddenly took out her phone and opened the Facebook business page named ¡°Taekwondo¡°. Normally, as a parent, she shouldn¡¯t meddle with the teacher¡¯s teaching methods. Royal Elite Kindergarten possesses the strongest faculty in Stonebridge City; no matter what, the teachers¡® ways of educating children would surely be more professional than her own. But since the moment her little one came home, she seemed listless, lying on the couch. Even her favorite cartoons couldn¡¯t pique her interest. Marguerite felt that her daughter must have been wronged at school. After much deliberation, she finally decided to message the Taekwondo ¡°coach¡± on Facebook. [Hello, coach. I am Teresa¡¯s parent. It seems Teresa has had some conflict concerning the election of the team leader in Taekwondo ss. Please pay close attention to this matter.] [I believe the election for team leader should be fair and unbiased, not influenced by personal favoritism. This will be beneficial to both children.] [Apologies if this message has caused any inconvenience.] At that time, Frederick had just returned to the manor. He was scrolling through Marguerite¡¯s Facebook feed, originally searching for evidence of her affectionate rtionship with Maurice Winston. However, he noticed that most of her posts were about Teresa. Despite his opinion that Marguerite was insincere and had once betrayed him, her posts showed that she was indeed apetent mother. Inparison, Yuna, as a mother, wasn¡¯t even aspetent as Marguerite. 14:58 Feeling restless, Frederick was about to put his phone away and check on Hayes, who had been sulking and hiding in his room ever since Teresa left the manor. Suddenly, his phone vibrated three times. Subconsciously furrowing his brows, he exited Facebook to see several messages from Marguerite. Team leader? Favoritism? What was she talking about? Frederick didn¡¯t reply immediately. Instead, he took a screenshot of Marguerite¡¯s messages and sent them to Teresa with three question marks. Upon seeing this, Teresa immediately bolted up from the couch! She turned to look at her mom, who was sitting in the dining room, anxiously gazing at her screen as if waiting for a response. Oh no, Mom really did ask Hayes¡® dad! In a panic, Teresa quickly replied to Hayes¡® dad: [I was in a bad mood when I came home today, and Mom asked me why. I just made something up. Hayes¡® dad, you mustn¡¯t blow my cover!] [Lying isn¡¯t a good habit for children.] Frederick replied. Teresa stiffened, feeling that Hayes¡® dad had changed his tune too quickly. Therefore, she had to remind him: [But Hayes¡® dad, you were the one who first colluded with me to lie to Mom about going to your house. You even said it was a secret, and we pinky swore!] [If I tell Mom the truth, I won¡¯t be able to go to your house next time. If I can¡¯t go to your house, I can¡¯t be with Hayes!] Chapter 362 Frederick looked down at the two messages Teresa had sent, the corners of his mouth. curling into a smile. Teresa was quick on the uptake, and even he had been roped in by her. Frederick was defeated by this little girl. He didn¡¯t mind eating his words so quickly and immediately surrendered. [Got it. I¡¯ll handle it. But no more lies about anything else.] Teresa, feeling her dad¡¯s assertiveness, yfully cooed: [I know, but one lie needs more lies to cover it up. I¡¯m going to have to lie to mom about going to your house. Will you help me, Hayes¡® daddy?] What a clever little thing! Frederick was practically at a loss. Yet, a sense of happiness inexplicably welled up in his heart. If he had a daughter as cute as Teresa, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad. With that thought, his indulgence of Teresa¡¯s requests increased. [Got it.] [Awesome, you are the best, Hayes¡® daddy!] Frederick revealed a faint smile, quickly recalling the hesitation the little one disyed when she got out of the car. He was worried and heartbroken then, but she said nothing. Was her unhappiness rted to her hesitation? Frederick couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. [So, can you tell me why you¡¯re unhappy? Didn¡¯t you have fun at my ce today?] Teresa hesitated. Why was she unhappy? It was because of Hayes! He should ask Hayes! Hayes was the one who was the unhappiest! But she couldn¡¯t tell him yet, she needed a foolproof n. A n that could not only make Hayes¡® daddy believe her, but also protect Hayes! With no other choice, Teresa continued to lie: [It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t get to y enough, so I¡¯m sad that I had to leave.] That finally had Frederickughing out loud. He was also reluctant to let Teresa go¡­ How he wished he could keep Teresa at the manor forever, it seemed like a good choice for both Hayes and himself. Lost in his thoughts, Frederick didn¡¯t realize that he had developed a soft spot for Teresa¡­ Engrossed in their conversation, Frederick suddenly noticed several new messages in the top left corner of his Facebook screen. He exited the chat to find that they were all from Marguerite. [Hello?] [Sir, I¡¯m not favoring my own child. But Teresa is rarely focused on something, and I don¡¯t want to discourage her.] [If both children run for team captain fairly and Teresa loses, it¡¯s okay.] [Hi?] How could Marguerite know that the taekwondo coach, who hadn¡¯t responded to her messages, was having a lively chat with her daughter! With no response from him, Marguerite started to mutter to herself, ¡°Did the coach fall asleep¡­ He¡¯s going to bed so early¡­¡± Marguerite looked at her messages that filled the screen. Would he think she¡¯s too talkative? Was it impolite to message the coachte at night? Would the coach, annoyed with her, start to take it out on Teresa? As Marguerite mulled over this, she quickly typed [Sorry coach, for bothering you] in the chat box. But before she could send the message, she saw a short sentence from him- [Marguerite, even coaches need to rest.] Chapter 363 The coach was actually addressing her by her name. She¡¯s done for! He must be pissed off! This coach has such a temper! But she had been so polite in her messages! Each word had been carefully chosen, afraid of offending him. Yet he was acting so high and mighty! Marguerite was extremely annoyed, her fingers tapping angrily on the screen. But the message she sent was particrly submissive: [Sorry for bothering you, sir. Goodnight.] If it hadn¡¯t been for her daughter Teresa training under him, would she have been so amodating and nervous? So annoying! Marguerite, lost in her frustration, didn¡¯t notice that from the moment she began muttering to herself, up to the point she held her phone with aplex and submissive expression, everything was recorded by Teresa. Seeing her mom still preupied with her phone, Teresa ended the recording and immediately sent a message to Frederick: [Hayes¡¯ dad, is my mom still messaging you? If you find her annoying, tell her I¡¯ve be the group leader. She will rx and stop bothering you.] [It¡¯s fine.] It¡¯s fine? What does that mean? Is he not finding her mom annoying? Teresa tilted her head in thought, [I¡¯m going to send you a video, don¡¯t tell my mom, okay?] Saying so, Teresa decisively sent the secretly recorded video to Frederick. At the same time, in Sapphire Valley Estates. The video was still loading, and the image was extremely blurry. Frederick thought it was a funny video shared by Teresa, but when the video fully loaded, he immediately recognized the familiar figure. His eyes became sharp at once, and his heart started to race. After three years, he thought he had sessfully forgotten this woman, but seeing her again, even if it was just a small photo or a short video. It could still cause his heart to flutter. His clearly outlined finger clicked the y button decisively, and he heard a woman¡¯s voice, ¡°Did the coach fall asleep¡­ He¡¯s going to bed so early¡­¡± Marguerite¡¯s voice was full of doubt, tinged with caution and trepidation from the unknown. As if, she was afraid of making him angry. What does his sleeping habits have to do with her? Then, he saw Marguerite in the video getting upset after receiving his message. Like a kitten showing its fangs at him, with an expression that seemed like she wanted to tear him apart! But he clearly remembered that the message this woman sent was very polite and careful. A smile spread over Frederick¡¯s face. He loved seeing this woman looking so ufortable yet unable to do anything about it. It miraculously made him feel happy. The one-minute video ended quickly, and Frederick instinctively clicked save. After exiting the video, the screen was filled with his conversation with Marguerite. But Frederick had no intention of letting Marguerite off. He decided to tease her: [Whether Teresa can be the group leader depends on the parents¡¯ performance.] Marguerite froze on the other end. Depends on the parents¡¯ performance? Could this coach be hoping for a bribe? Although she was very opposed to this, for Teresa¡¯s sake, she had to do something against her will. Holding her phone, Marguerite nervously wrote: [Sir, please give me an address. I will send a box of pastries in a few days.] ? ? ? Afraid he wouldn¡¯t understand, she added a dor sign ¡°$¡± emoji. She couldn¡¯t make it too obvious that she was giving money, she had to hide it. Frederickughed when he saw Marguerite¡¯s message. Money? That was thest thing he needed! And this woman was actually trying to bribe him. Marguerite, he never thought she would resort to bribery for her daughter¡¯s sake one day. [Ms. Lockwood, are you nning to hide cash in the pastry box? I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t ept such bribes.] [Sir, then what do you mean¡­¡­] Frederick looked at the message, smiling deeper. He didn¡¯t reply to her message, just exited the chat. He was sure that if he ignored her, Marguerite wouldn¡¯t get a good night¡¯s sleep tonight! But torturing this woman in this way seemed quite enjoyable. Chapter 364 That night, Marguerite found herself restless, tossing and turning in her bed. Her mind was filled with conjectures about what the Taekwondo coach meant. Teresa¡¯s kindergarten, located in Stonebridge City, was the go-to for the city¡¯s elites. Most sons and daughters of the wealthy families attended this prestigious institution. Bribes to the headmaster and teachers were amon urrence, and not a surprise to anyone. However, this coach, he didn¡¯t want money? Then what did he want? Marguerite was at a loss. The next morning arrived. With tworge dark circles under her eyes, Marguerite sat at the breakfast table, eating a sandwich absentmindedly. Teresa, with her round, big eyes, enjoyed a mouthful of cereal. The delicious vor had her exim, ¡°So yummy!¡± Marguerite nced at her daughter¡¯s upper lip, stained with milk, making her look like she had a small moustache. It was too adorable. ¡°Clean your mouth,¡± reminded Marguerite. In response, Teresa cheekily stuck out her tongue, licking the milk off. ¡°What a messy eater,¡± Margueriteughed, setting down her sandwich and suddenly asked, ¡°Teresa, is the Taekwondo coach nice to you?¡± Images of Frederick shed through Teresa¡¯s mind, bringing with it a wave of happiness. ¡°He¡¯s pretty nice,¡± she replied. Marguerite, her arm resting on the table, her pale hand supporting her chin, continued, ¡°So, what kind of person do you think he is?¡± ¡°He¡¯s warm but can also be pretty domineering,¡± Teresa replied thoughtfully. Warm? Domineering? Marguerite remembered the coach¡¯s coarse voice during their phone conversation. He even had a slight ent, making her imagine him as a burly, older man. How could that be rted to warmth or domineering? ¡°He didn¡¯t sound like it.¡± Teresa puffed up her cheeks. Of course he didn¡¯t sound like it! The person who took the call yesterday was the driver, not Frederick! ¡°Does the coach have any particr hobbies? Or anything he likes?¡± Teresa, sipping her orange juice, shook her head, ¡°Not sure¡­ does smoking cigarettes count?¡± Smoking? Marguerite couldn¡¯t possibly gift the coach two packs of cigarettes, could she? That would be too inappropriate! However, if he liked smoking cigarettes, she indeed had something she could give. Whether it¡¯s appropriate, or not, she wasn¡¯t sure. Teresa, sensing that her mom was acting odd today, wondered why she was so interested in Frederick. Was she developing feelings for him? No way, it couldn¡¯t be so soon! Teresa shook her head, deciding to put aside her mother¡¯s romantic concerns for now. She had more important things to do, ¡°Mom, I won¡¯t be home for dinner tonight! We did well yesterday, so the coach is treating us to dinner.¡± Frederick hadn¡¯t invited Teresa to stay over for dinner. It was merely an excuse concocted by the little one. After what Manley and his mom did to Hayes yesterday, she felt suffocated and determined to avenge Hayes. She had already thought of a foolproof n, and Tonight would be the day she¡¯d settle scores for Hayes! Thinking of her n, Teresa clenched her little fists, mming them on her knees. Her little face was filled with righteous indignation. But Teresa was a natural actress, so Marguerite didn¡¯t think much of her daughter¡¯s changed demeanor. She stood up, ruffling Teresa¡¯s fluffy hair, ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs to get something for your coach, make sure you give it to him.¡± Teresa was stunned. What? Mom¡¯s giving Hayes¡¯ dad a gift? He would definitely be happy, wouldn¡¯t he? Chapter 365 Marguerite swiftly passed a petite, elegant box to Teresa. The little girl couldn¡¯t wait to open it and was surprised to find an exquisite gold cigarette holder inside. Blinking her eyes in confusion, Teresa asked, ¡°Mommy, Daddy doesn¡¯t smoke, why do you always buy cigarette holders?¡± Marguerite was momentarily lost for words, unsure of how to exin. Years ago, when Frederick left Stonebridge City, he was always on Marguerite¡¯s mind. And somehow, Marguerite thought everything about this man was perfect, except that he smoked so much. So, whenever she went shopping and saw a cigarette holder, she would instinctively want to buy it for him. But when she arrived home with the cigarette holder, she realized that she was no longer living in Sapphire Valley Estates, and Frederick was no longer by her side. Marguerite once shared with Miley, ¡°He¡¯s clearly gone, but it¡¯s so strange, I always feel like he¡¯s still with me.¡± But Miley bluntly responded, ¡°I think you¡¯ve gone mad!¡± Mad? Marguerite indeed felt like she was going mad! Frederick despised her to the bone, yet she was still holding on to LuxeScents International. She even bought some many random things rted to him, like those cigarette holders. Marguerite was lost in her thoughts until her daughter waved her arms in front of her, bringing her focus back, ¡°Mommy? What are you thinking about?¡± Marguerite shook her head, putting the cigarette holder into Teresa¡¯s backpack, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just remember to tell your coach that this cigarette holder is a special gift from me!¡± Since Teresa said the coach was warm, he must be a thoughtful man. He would surely appreciate this tender gesture. Teresa looked at her mother¡¯s strange behavior but didn¡¯t think much about it. After finishing thest gulp of her juice, she cheerfully grabbed her backpack and went to school with Nadine. In the afternoon, at Sapphire Valley Estates. As soon as the three little ones returned to Hayes¡¯ manor, Teresa and Hayes dashed to knock on the door, ¡°Open the door, open the door, please open the door~¡± Teresa¡¯s voice was as clear and melodious as a bell, but the sudden appearance of Yuna gave her a start.. One nce at the solitary Manley left behind, Yuna scolded Teresa, ¡°Do you remember what I told you yesterday?¡± Teresa looked at the grim witch in front of her and mumbled, ¡°You told me to befriend Manley¡­¡± Yuna¡¯s threatening gaze bore into her, ¡°So, what are you waiting for?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Teresa looked pitiful as she let go of Hayes¡¯ hand and slowly moved to hold Manley¡¯s. Hayes felt a pang of sadness. Teresa had always been his little hero because she dared to challenge the adults. Even yesterday, she risked getting scolded to protect him. What happened today? Why did Teresa obey her mother¡¯smand so easily? It¡¯s so strange. Maybe it was because of what happened yesterday that Teresa started to fear his mother too. But that was okay, Teresa wouldn¡¯t abandon him, and they could y together! Hayes thought optimistically and ran to meet Teresa and Manley, his small hand ready to hold Teresa¡¯s. But his arm hung in the air for a long while, and Teresa didn¡¯t reach out to him. Even as they passed each other, Teresa deliberately avoided him. She didn¡¯t even look at him! What¡¯s going on? Under his mother¡¯s coercion, did his only friend also abandon him? Hayes stood alone, watching Teresa and Manley walk hand in hand into the manor. His mood suddenly sank. The biting cold wind blurred his eyes. A tear slipped down his cheek, and his nose was sour. He was heartbroken but keptforting himself, ¡°Don¡¯t cry! Hayes, you have to be strong! Teresa just didn¡¯t see you.. Chapter 366 Hayes cheered himself up by keeping reminding himself about Teresa¡¯s daily affection towards him. Once he returned to the vi, he found Teresa and Manley engrossed in a video game. The duo was engrossed in the game, and Hayes felt left out. Therefore, he could only sit beside Teresa and watch her y. ¡°Headshot! Get him! He¡¯s practically standing in front of you, what are you waiting for?¡± Teresa was impatient and angry. The next moment, two gunshots were heard, and Manley froze before shouting, ¡°You stole my kill!¡± ¡°What? I was saving you! One more shot and you¡¯d be dead!¡± Manley nced at the game stats, and despite the game having just started five minutes ago, Teresa had already killed over ten people while he had not managed to eliminate anyone. His extreme selfishness made it difficult for him to ept that Teresa was about to receive the ¡®MVP¡¯ title! Instead, he threw a grenade near Teresa, ending the game prematurely by intentionally killing himself. Teresa watched the blinding white light cover the screen, and the system promptly dered her death. She looked at a smug Manley, utterly upset and angry, ¡°Why did you do that? We were about to win!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s winning, not me!¡± ¡°This is a team game!¡± ¡°You took all my kills! If it wasn¡¯t for you, I would¡¯ve been the MVP! You¡¯re like a mute thief!¡± Manleyshed out, leaving Teresa bewildered. Shouldn¡¯t she be the one who¡¯s angry? Why was Manley shouting at her? It felt as if she was the one who had wronged him. Manley¡¯s outburst attracted Yuna¡¯s attention, who immediately rushed over and interrogated them, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Mummy! Teresa keeps stealing my kills, she even took the MVP title from me!¡± Manley quickly told on her. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal your kills, I was saving you! That guy was shooting at you!¡± ¡°I was already aiming at him, I could¡¯ve killed him any second, but you came and stole my glory! You¡¯re the worst!¡± Teresa tried to exin, but Yuna¡¯s icy re immediately silenced her, ¡°Apologize to Manley.¡± Teresa was puzzled. Why should she apologize? It wasn¡¯t her fault! ¡°Are you not going to say anything?¡± Yuna¡¯s gaze was threatening. Subconsciously, Hayes tightened his grip on Teresa¡¯s hand, anxiously ncing at Yuna, fearing she mightsh out at Teresa next. Teresa looked back at Yuna, took a deep breath, and decided to swallow her pride. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can apologize. It won¡¯t kill me,¡± she thought to herself. More importantly, she knew she could make this mother-son duo pay for this soon¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Teresa muttered weakly. Hearing Teresa¡¯s apology, Manley smirked at her triumphantly, as if gloating. Yuna nced at Teresa, her dislike for the girl growing. Previously, she didn¡¯t have a chance to intervene when Frederick was at home. Now, she thought she could seize the opportunity before Frederick returned to kick this annoying girl out. She nced at the time, and indirectly suggested Teresa should leave, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and our chef is already preparing dinner. What are your ns?¡± Teresa pretended not to understand Yuna¡¯s hint and innocently replied, ¡°I was thinking of asking the chef to make me some chicken drumsticks. I love drumsticks!¡± Yuna¡¯s face fell. What was this girl nning, staying at her house? She decided to be more direct, ¡°Are you deaf?¡± Teresa blinked, exited the game and opened her chat with Frederick, ¡°Hayes¡¯ daddy said I could stay for dinner. He¡¯ll be home soon!¡± As she finished speaking, the sound of the front door unlocking was heard. Teresa chirped, ¡°See, Hayes¡¯ daddy is back!¡± The little girl ran to the front door, eagerly weing the arrival. As she opened the door, Jocelyn and Frederick stood there, The moment Frederick saw Teresa, his heart softened a bit. He gestured towards the little girl and introduced her to Jocelyn, ¡°Mom, this is Teresa.¡± Mom? Teresa looked at Jocelyn and blurted out, ¡°You¡¯re my grandma!?¡± So, this was her biological grandmother! Chapter 367 Thisdy looked significantly younger than the old Lisette back at the Winston Mansion, she looked too young to be a grandma. She was so beautiful and graceful! Teresa pondered if her own mom would age this gracefully when she¡¯s old. However, Jocelyn was left dumbfounded by Teresa¡¯s greeting of ¡°Grandma¡±. She squatted down to get a closer look and inexplicably found Teresa bearing some resemnce to Marguerite. Especially those brows and eyes, as if they were cut from the same cloth, almost identical.. But she was unaware that Teresa was indeed Marguerite¡¯s daughter, a piece of information Frederick had failed to share. ¡°Darlin¡¯, have we met before?¡± Teresa¡¯s eyes widened in panic, caught off guard. Before she coulde up with an exnation, Frederick had already walked into the mansion, a wry smile on his face. ¡°Teresa has a penchant for wrongfully addressing people. She even called me ¡®daddy¡¯ once.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s smile grew even warmer, the little girl in front of her was melting her heart. ¡°You¡¯re quite the character, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jocelyn scooped Teresa up in one arm, and spotting Hayes standing at the doorstep, she reached out to hold his hand and said, ¡°Come, let¡¯s take my grandchildren to dinner!¡± Once seated in the dining room, Teresa sandwiched between Manley and Hayes, she began to feel awkward. She surveyed the delicious food spread across the table, head bowed in caution. ¡°Teresa, I¡¯ve made some BBQ chicken drumsticks for you, don¡¯t be shy.¡± Jocelyn tapped the te lightly with her fork. Teresa nodded hesitantly, ncing at Yuna for approval. Unexpectedly, their eyes met, and Yuna¡¯s annoyance was palpable. An intimate family dinner ruined by aplete stranger! How infuriating! Yet seeing Teresa tread carefully, she figured nothing could go wrong. Frederick, seated at the head of the table, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Teresa¡¯s anxious demeanor, ¡°Quite the tough cookie in front of me, but now you¡¯re shy and quiet?¡± Teresa hurriedly nced at Yuna, nervous to the point of dropping her fork. Frederick¡¯s mood darkened instantly. Teresa, who usually exuded confidence, was suddenly walking on eggshells around Yuna? What was going on? Seizing the opportunity to showcase her nurturing side in front of Frederick and Jocelyn, Yuna feigned concern and served Teresa a dish, ¡°Help yourself, Teresa. Feel at home.¡± Timidly picking up her fork, Teresa quickly served a piece of BBQ pork to Manley, ingratiatingly saying, ¡°Here, you have some too, Manley.¡± Yuna was immensely pleased, ¡°Teresa and Manley are so close. She even told me that Manley is her best friend. Isn¡¯t that right, Teresa?¡± Teresa nodded nervously, ¡°Ye¡­yes¡­¡± Hearing this, Hayes was instantly crestfallen. So, Manley was her best friend? What about him? Knowing that Teresa loved chicken drumsticks, Hayes served one to Teresa in an attempt to win her over. But to his dismay, Teresa was too busy serving dishes to Manley. As each new dish arrived, Teresa would serve one to Manley. Soon, Manley¡¯s te was piled high like a mountain, while Hayes¡¯ te remained empty. Manley, basking in the attention, pushed his te towards Hayes, showing off, ¡°All these dishes were served by Teresa. Take whatever you want.¡± His mom had told him to be generous in front of his dad and grandma, that¡¯s how he would win their affection. But Jocelyn, noticing Teresa¡¯s preferential treatment towards Manley and her subtle attempts to seek Yuna¡¯s approval, was increasingly displeased. This little girl already learned to treat people unequally at such a young age? Seeing Hayes ignored by both Teresa and Manley, she sympathetically served him thest chicken drumstick. But the little boy, in turn, served it to Teresa. Teresa, nning to pass it on to Manley, identally dropped it on the floor in the process. As Teresa froze, she nervously nced at Yuna, terrified, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Manley¡¯s mum! It was an ident! I will serve Manley properly. I¡¯ll¡­I¡¯ll eat the drumstick that fell¡­¡± With that, Teresa picked up the drumstick from the floor and started eating it hurriedly. Tears streamed down her face as she ate, a pitiful sight indeed, Chapter 368 Even the most obtuse person ought to realize, Teresa was being threatened, and the one threatening her was Yuna! Jocelyn put down her fork and knife, swiftly moved to Teresa, scooping her up in her arms, saying with concern, ¡°It¡¯s okay, stop eating. How can you eat food that fell on the ground?¡± Teresa, teary-eyed, looked at Yuna again, then turned away with the fear of a cornered animal.. Frederick was stunned, struggling to control the inner fury that threatened to explode. He asked Yuna in a toneced with anger, ¡°Did you threaten her?¡± Yuna was both confused and shocked. Catching a glimpse of Teresa out of the corner of her eye, she saw the little girl grinning at her! Damn it! She was being yed by a three-year-old! Yuna was about to spin a tale, but Teresa beat her to it, ¡°No, she didn¡¯t threaten me! She is very nice, she¡­ she just¡­ just¡­¡± Jocelyn gently rubbed the little one¡¯s arm, asking softly, ¡°Just what?¡± ¡°Just¡­ just¡­¡± Teresa was so nervous she was practically babbling. Finally, she buried her face in Jocelyn¡¯s neck, sobbing helplessly. ¡°And you say you didn¡¯t threaten her!¡± Frederick was livid! His eyes held a bloodthirsty glint, the aura of a man ready to kill. ¡°Freddie, it¡¯s not what you think! This girl is putting on an act! Don¡¯t believe her!¡± As soon as Yuna spoke, Teresa cried even harder. Frederick mmed his silverware on the table, got up and strode towards Teresa. ¡°Teresa,e here.¡± Frederick promptly took Teresa from Jocelyn¡¯s arms, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. If you have something to say, let¡¯s talk in the study.¡± With Teresa in his arms, he turned and left, leaving amanding and upright silhouette. In the study, Teresa¡¯s tears had dried up, and she was now whimpering. She was gasping for breath, Frederick was rubbing her chest, ¡°Breathe. Are you alright now?¡± Teresa sniffled, her voice heavy with sobs, ¡°I¡¯m better.¡± Seeing the little one calm down, Frederick moved Teresa to sit on hisp, ¡°Can you tell me now, what happened?¡± Teresa remained silent, her head hanging low, looking like she wanted to say something but was too scared. ¡°Was Yuna threatening you?¡± Teresa nodded subconsciously, but as if remembering something, she quickly shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will protect you. No one is going to bully you.¡± Frederickforted her. Teresa¡¯s eyes were red and swollen from crying, but at hearing these words, she looked up at him, ¡°Can you really protect me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Teresa opened her mouth, paused for a moment before changing the topic, ¡°You couldn¡¯t even protect Hayes, how are you going to protect me?¡± Frederick was quick to catch the hint in Teresa¡¯s words. Why bring up Hayes? ¡°Does this have something to do with Hayes?¡± Teresa looked pitiful and didn¡¯t immediately answer Frederick, instead, she said, ¡°Manley¡¯s mother said, Manley is the future heir of the Winston family. She told me to suck up to Manley. If I don¡¯t, she will hit me. And she also said, she¡¯s really scary when she¡¯s angry, and told me not to provoke her.¡± Frederick clenched his fists, but he managed to stay calm, ¡°Why would she suddenly say these things to you?¡± Teresa thought about the scene where Hayes was beaten in the underground garage yesterday, and fell silent again. Seeing the little girl be scared again, Frederick made a decision, ¡°Are you keeping something from me?¡± Teresa sobbed, ¡°I¡¯m really scared to tell you. But¡­ but you can check the surveince footage of the garage from yesterday. It¡¯s about Hayes¡­¡± Why would Yuna threatening Teresa have anything to do with Hayes? What on earth happened?! ¡°Damn! There are no cameras in the garage!¡± Teresa looked up at him, her voice barely a whisper, ¡°But it should have a dash cam in your car, right?¡± Chapter 369 Half an hourter, as Frederick watched the video in front of him, his breath growing heavier, Teresa knew she had won this battle! This was her strategy, to retreat in order to advance. First, she would please the enemy, thenunch a counterattack when the moment was right! She was indeed tired from all the acting, but it was all very real. She had experienced it herself, so she wasn¡¯t lying at all! ¡°How could there be such a cruel mother in this world! Poor Hayes¡­ Mister, why didn¡¯t you stand up for him when she was beating him?¡± Damn it! He knew about the times Yuna was harsh on Hayes, and he had already scolded her for it. He told her to treat both children equally! Little did he know, his words did not restrain her at all. On the contrary, she dared to do such unreasonable things behind his back! If he had known earlier that Yuna was going to be so hard on Hayes, he would never have stood by and done nothing! With a ¡°snap¡±, he closed hisptop, his fury already boiling over. With immense anger, Frederick strode out of the study. Seeing this, Teresa quickly followed him. In the living room. ¡°You have ten minutes to pack your things and leave the mansion.¡± Yuna was immediately startled by Frederick¡¯s anger, and Jocelyn was also confused. To drive Yuna out of the mansion for Teresa seemed to be a bit too much, didn¡¯t it? But just now in the dining room, she had misunderstood Teresa¡¯s good intentions, and had mistaken her for a child who looked down on others. So this time, Jocelyn did not immediately intervene. ¡°Freddie, did Teresa tell you something? You can¡¯t always believe what a child says! She¡¯s just acting, she¡¯s deceiving you!¡± Frederick shook off Yuna¡¯s hand, and with the sudden loss of support, she fell to the ground. Frederick was furious, ¡°Do I need to p the video in your face for you to admit what you¡¯ve done to Hayes?¡± Yuna¡¯s heart skipped a beat. As expected, he found out! ¡°I¡¯ve warned you before, if you show favoritism again, leave the mansion. But what you¡¯re doing now is not just favoritism, you even¡­¡± Frederick couldn¡¯t bear to say the rest. Teresa immediately added, ¡°You even beat Hayes until his buttocks were bruised!¡± Yuna red at Teresa, her eyes filled with murderous intent. Feeling threatened, Teresa quickly ran to Hayes and Jocelyn, ¡°Grandma, protect me! Protect Hayes!¡± Jocelyn quickly shielded the two children behind her. Seeing that Frederick knew everything, Yuna waspletely at a loss! She immediately fell to her knees with a ¡°thud¡±, tears streaming down her face. She said, ¡°Freddie, I was wrong, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I won¡¯t do it again¡­ I was just, just a little biased¡­ Manley has been weak since he was little, it¡¯s not too much to give him a little more love. So I wanted to give him everything. But I love both of them, I just used the wrong method¡­¡± As Yuna cried and screamed, she tightly clung to Frederick¡¯s leg, tears and snot streaming down her face, her pitiful look was extremely pathetic. Teresa, who was hiding behind Jocelyn, was dumbfounded. Hayes¡¯ mummy really had no dignity at all! But, Frederick¡¯s ruthlessness was always severe! Yuna thought that because she was the mother of his children, she could enjoy the supreme glory Frederick brought to her. But how could she forget that her glory waspletely built on Hayes¡¯ bloodline! The man ruthlessly pushed her away, his face gloomy, hemanded, ¡°Chuck, take her away.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± As Chuck moved forward, Manley immediately blocked him, ¡°Don¡¯t touch my mom!¡± Then, he anxiously tugged at the man¡¯s clothes, crying, ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t drive mom away! If mom leaves, I won¡¯t have a mom anymore¡­¡± Frederick remained silent, standing still. His knuckies were tightly clenched into fists. Children were innocent, and he could not ignore Manley¡¯s plea. But Yuna was not fit to be a mother! Better a short pain than a long one, he must eradicate the root of the problem today! Seeing that his dad was unmoved, Manley ran to Hayes, ¡°Mute! You have to beg too! Mom is about to be taken away!¡± Seeing this, Teresa immediately pushed Manley away, eximing, ¡°Hayes was hurt by you guys, how dare you ask him to beg for you! And you even call him mute!¡± Chapter 370 Like mother, like son, Manley¡¯s behavior was a direct reflection of Yuna! With this thought, Frederick¡¯s determination to chase Yuna out of the vi was further cemented. ¡°In a couple of days, it¡¯s going to be my birthday. If mom isn¡¯t here, I won¡¯t be happy!¡± Birthday. That hit a nerve in Jocelyn. She softened a bit, took a deep breath and approached Frederick. She gently rubbed his clenched fist. Frederick¡¯s anger receded slightly. ¡°This farce should end. Let¡¯s deal with everything after the kid¡¯s birthday. If you make a change during this period, we can let this slide.¡± She was addressing Yuna. Yuna had never paid heed to anyone other than Frederick, including Jocelyn. She always considered herself the futuredy of the Winston household. Why should she listen to an old woman like Jocelyn? However, Jocelyn¡¯s words gave Yuna a glimmer of hope, and she nodded eagerly, ¡°Yes, I will surely change my ways!¡± ¡°Mom! Did you consider my feelings while making this decision?¡± Frederick managed to ask, suppressing the anger boiling inside him. Jocelyn whispered to Frederick, ¡°I know you¡¯re angry, but you also have to consider the kids¡¯ feelings. How do you expect them to celebrate their birthday without their mother? It would be chaotic and not good for the child.¡± ¡°What about Hayes¡¯ feelings?¡± Frederick asked guiltily. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Manley is also your child. This incident is bound to bring about a change in Yuna. And if you chase her away, who will provide the motherly love to the two children?¡± Unexpectedly, Frederick thought of Marguerite. He admitted he despised Marguerite, but there was no denying her qualities as a mother! He even thought that Marguerite would be a better stepmother to Hayes and Manley than Yuna! But, it was just a thought. After pondering for a while, Frederick chose topromise. ¡°Go apologize to Hayes and Teresa.¡± His voice was cold and low, with an undertone of bone-chilling frostiness. Yuna was taken aback. What? She had to apologize to the kids? Hell no! Why should she? Did they even deserve it? Yuna stood there dumbfounded, but then she felt Frederick¡¯s murderous aura enveloping her, and she was jolted back to reality. If apologizing meant staying at the vi, then so be it! Regaining herposure, Yuna walked over to Hayes and Teresa, and grudgingly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Teresa was not about to forgive her that easily, but Hayes was different. He gently tugged at Yuna¡¯s hand, his eyes welling up, as if saying, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Even though he had never felt motherly love from Yuna, she was still his mom! He was Yuna¡¯s child, so he had to forgive her¡­ Hayesforted himself with this thought,pletely oblivious to the fact that Yuna¡¯s gaze was fixed on Teresa, filled with malice and hatred. She wished she could disfigure Teresa¡¯s face, or that the little brat got hit by a car. She even thought of hiring a hitman to make Teresa disappear forever. No matter with method she would use, she had a score to settle with the little brat. Yuna was not going to let her off that easily! Chapter 371 The farce was finally over, and it was time for Teresa to head home. She had told Marguerite that she wouldn¡¯t be home for dinner, so she hadn¡¯t asked Marguerite to pick her up from school. Teresa had Frederick drop her off directly at her mansion The car was parked in a secluded area of the mansion district. Frederick turned off the car, turned his head and asked Teresa in a t tone, ¡°Here we are. Do you need me to walk you in?¡± Teresa locked eyes with him, noting the look of disappointment on his face. His mood was evidently still entangled in the events of the day. Why not cheer him up a bit? Teresa shook her head yfully, ¡°No, I can get in on my own! Oh, Hayes¡¯ dad, my mom asked me to give you a present!¡± Frederick looked surprised. Marguerite had a present for him? What was she up to now? As Frederick was lost in thought, Teresa had already pulled out the delicate box from her backpack and yfully thrust it into Frederick¡¯s arms, ¡°This is something my mom picked out just for you! She put a lot of thought into it!¡±¡± The box was made from real wood, carved with intricate designs, exuding an aura of vintage charm. He gingerly opened the box, and saw a pure gold cigarette holder lying inside. Frederick paused, but Teresa didn¡¯t see the smile of joy she was expecting. Instead, with a snap, he closed the box and handed the cigarette holder back to her, ¡°Has your father started smoking?¡± Was Marguerite really using Maurice¡¯s things to curry favor with him? How dare she! Did she think he was a pushover, willing to ept anything? Damn it! Teresa pouted and tilted her head, giving the man a mischievous look, ¡°Do you think my mom is giving you my dad¡¯s stuff?¡± Frederick was taken aback, feeling a bit embarrassed. His thoughts werepletely transparent to a three-year-old! Frederick remained silent, but Teresa burst into giggles, ¡°You¡¯re so petty! My dad doesn¡¯t smoke, so this cigarette holder is definitely something my mom bought just for you!¡± Frederick was silent for a moment, then raised an eyebrow, ¡°When did she give you the cigarette holder?¡± Teresa responded without thinking, ¡°This morning!¡± Frederick took the cigarette holder back and twiddled it in his hands, ¡°We finished talkingtest night, and she was able to give it to you in the morning?¡± Oops! Daddy wasn¡¯t as easy to fool as mommy! But Teresa was quick to respond, widening her eyes in earnest, ¡°My mom left the housetest night, and I don¡¯t know what she was doing. She didn¡¯te back until very You wouldn¡¯t believe it, but she had huge dark circles under her eyes this morning, like a panda! She must have gone out to buy this for you!¡± The little girl¡¯s vivid description brought a surprisedugh from Frederick. And her sincere expression didn¡¯t seem like she was lying. Suddenly, Frederick was filled with a strange emotion. He paused for a moment, then decided to ept the cigarette holder. Teresa, on the other hand, was trying to read Frederick¡¯s expression. Seeing his reaction, she thought, he must like mom¡¯s gift, right? Otherwise, why would there be a hint of a smile on his lips? And why was his smile so sweet and moved? In a moment of whimsy, Teresa looked up at him, and blurted out, ¡°Mister, do you like my mom? If you admit that you like my mom, I¡¯ll tell you a secret!¡± As Teresa spoke, her hand was already sneaking into her backpack, clutching tightly onto the DNA test results¡­. Chapter 372 Teresa had been itching to present the DNA test results to Frederick for a while now, but her days were consumed by sorting out affairs for Hayes, leaving her with no time. Now that she¡¯d dealt with that bad woman Yuna, she could finally turn her thoughts to matters of family lineage.. Little did the young girl know, her inquiry had hit a sore spot for Frederick. Marguerite was the woman Frederick hated the most. He was still trying to figure out his feelings towards her, so how could he possibly admit anything easily? Teresa¡¯s secret was also far from captivating enough to pique his interest. Feeling a bit disgruntled, Frederick was careful not to let his temper re, for fear of scaring Teresa, so he concealed his emotions well. He simply reiterated, ¡°Teresa, as I¡¯ve mentioned before, Marguerite and I are not as close as you think.¡± Teresa, however, was not easily deterred. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t have feelings for her!¡± Teresa¡¯s earnest expression showed her determination. Her small hand, hidden in her backpack, tightly clenching the DNA test results. She was bursting to reveal her huge secret! Come on, admit it! Admit you have feelings for Mommy, and I can tell you I¡¯m your daughter! But Frederick merely looked down at the little girl, her eager face once again leaving him at a loss. He wanted to reason with Teresa, but was afraid that a three-year-old wouldn¡¯t understand. And if he tried to exin emotions to her, he feared she might get the wrong idea and believe he still harbored feelings for Marguerite. After a long silence, Frederick decided to try a different approach, hoping to warn Teresa off. ¡°If I admitted to having feelings for Marguerite, would you give up your biological father and ept me as your step-dad?* Teresa¡¯s round eyes were filled with a stubborn determination, as she met Frederick¡¯s gaze with unwavering seriousness. In reality, from the moment Teresa decided to present the DNA results, she had already made her choice. Without question, Maurice¡¯s love was pure andforting, but no matter what, he was not her biological father. She wanted to be with her biological parents. As for Maurice, he would still be her dad! Frederick looked at the little girl in the passenger seat, assuming that his question had sessfully troubled her. His cool demeanor slightly softened, and a faint smile appeared on his face. Just as he was about to speak, the little girl unexpectedly answered, ¡°I would!¡± Teresa¡¯s response took Frederick by surprise. His dark eyes widened, then deepened with surprise. ¡°You would?¡± ¡°Yes, I would! I¡¯d be more than happy!¡± He couldn¡¯t believe that, in Teresa¡¯s eyes, he was more important than Maurice, her biological father! How was that possible? He had only met Teresa a few times! In his shock, Frederick found himself increasingly fond of Teresa. If only Teresa wasn¡¯t Maurice¡¯s child. He had epted the fact that Marguerite was pregnant. But of all people, the child¡¯s father had to be his lifelong nemesis! For this reason, Frederick quickly regained hisposure. He lowered his eyes, his expression growing slightly gloomy. ¡°But, I wouldn¡¯t.¡± He did like Teresa, but to be her step-dad? Marguerite didn¡¯t deserve that! Teresa became anxious, her little legs shaking furiously as she tried to exin, ¡°But what if you¡¯re my¡­¡± Before she could finish the sentence, Frederick cut her off. Teresa! Things between us adults areplicated. You shouldn¡¯t involve yourself. I¡¯ll take the gift, please thank Marguerite for me.¡± Inside her backpack, Teresa had crumbled the DNA test results in her tight grip. Her little face turned red with frustration, her puffed cheeks resembling a puffer fish. She huffed in annoyance, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and hopped down from the passenger seat. She turned around and red at Frederick, emphasizing each word. ¡°I¡¯m not your messenger! Send Mommy a message yourself! Goodbye!¡± With that, the little girl mmed the car door shut with a ¡®bang¡¯. Chapter 373 Frederick didn¡¯t expect that Teresa was actually upset. Her childish, petnt anger, however, did not anger him. On the contrary, he found it somewhat endearing. But why was this little girl so insistent on him being her step-dad? That was something he couldn¡¯t quite wrap his head around. With a shake of his head, Frederick¡¯s attention was diverted to Marguerite, who was emerging from the vi, scooping Teresa up in her arms as she returned home. Teresa, with one arm wrapped around Marguerite¡¯s neck and the other scratching her head, seemed to be pondering something. The sight of them together, though, was heartwarming. Unable to resist, Frederick got off the car, instinctively walking towards the vi, wanting to catch another glimpse of this sweet mother-daughter duo through therge windows. In the living room. Marguerite turned to warm some milk for Teresa, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, rummaging through her backpack. So engrossed was she, that she almost stick her head in her backpack. Finally, she pulled out a crumpled DNA test, unsure whether to ask her mom about it. She had lived with Maurice for three years, only to find out that her real father was someone else. How exciting! ¡°Teresa, drink your milk!¡± Marguerite¡¯s gentle voice rang out, causing Teresa to crumple up the DNA test quickly and toss it back into her backpack. No! She couldn¡¯t tell her mom about this yet! Because Frederick¡¯s attitude was unclear, and if she told her mom, what would be the point if he didn¡¯t acknowledge her? She had to wait! At the very least, she had to wait until her mom and dad¡¯s rtionship warmed up. Teresa quickly took the milk offered by Marguerite and sipped slowly. Little did she know, her actions had been noticed by Frederick outside the window. But Frederick didn¡¯t realize what the crumpled thing in Teresa¡¯s hand was, he thought it was just her less than satisfactory report card. The winter wind began to howl outside, but he was too engrossed in the scene inside, oblivious to the cold. He watched as Marguerite and Teresa chatted warmly, unable to resist taking out a cigarette and lighting it up. The smoke was inhaled into his lungs, absent of the addictive nicotine, but it warmed his heart on this cold winter night. He pulled out his phone, opened up the chat with Marguerite, and typed, [Thank you.] Inside, Marguerite felt her phone vibrate, quickly nced at the screen, and began to type in response. Her actions were hurried but smooth, making Frederick smile outside the window. [No problem, do you like the cigarette holder?] [I like it.] Marguerite held her phone, slightly raised her chin, her gaze fell into the distance. After a moment of thought, she started typing again, [Can Teresa be elected as group leader?] At the end, she even sent a pitiful emoji. Frederick was left speechless. This always boring and serious woman was actually begging him with emojis? Indeed, her child was her everything. She probably could do anything, no matter how reluctant, just to pave the way for Teresa. [We¡¯ll see.] The cool response was sent again, and Frederick soon saw hopelessness rece the expectations on Marguerite¡¯s face. Hisughter grew louder. For Marguerite, he would be petty and vengeful. She had betrayed him in the past, and now, it was time for her to pay the price. Chapter 374 The next morning, at Royal Elite Kindergarten. Just as Teresa hopped out of the car, she spotted three familiar figures up ahead. ¡°Hayes!¡± she called out. The three turned around at the sound of her voice, and Hayes immediately rushed over to Teresa for a hug. Teresa noticed Yuna smiling sweetly at her. Although her smile was sweet, it sent a chill down Teresa¡¯s spine. ¡°Why is your mom here? Did she bother youst night?¡± Teresa asked. Hayes shook his head, ¡°No¡­I think Mommy¡­is starting to like me. She worries about me and Manley, and wants to walk us to ss¡­¡± Teresa was overjoyed, ¡°Little Mute! You are talking so much today! That¡¯s amazing!¡± Hayes realized his progress as well. Although it was hard for him to speak, he was still happy. He scratched his head, his cheeks flushed, ¡°It¡¯s all¡­because of you¡­¡± Teresa was genuinely happy for Hayes and nced at Yuna. Afterst night¡¯s incident, she guessed that the old witch would try to win Hayes over. Otherwise, she might be kicked out of the estate by Hayes¡¯ dad! Teresa happily took Hayes¡¯ hand and walked confidently towards Yuna, ¡°Good morning, Auntie Yuna. You don¡¯t have to walk Hayes to ss, I can take care of that.¡± Upon seeing Teresa, Yuna was so angry she could almost bite through her own teeth. However, she still managed to squeeze out a smile, ¡°Of course, Teresa. I¡¯m counting on you to take care of Hayes!¡± Teresa pounded her chest in response, ¡°Consider it done!¡± With that, the two children turned around and bounced off towards the school building. Once they were out of sight, Yuna¡¯s eyes filled with rage, her teeth grinding in fury, ¡°You little brat! I will find a way to get rid of you!¡± With that, Yuna dropped off Manley in ss and went straight to the principal¡¯s office. The principal was a middle-aged man with a bald head. He sat back in his chair, holding a cup. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, what can I do for you?¡± he asked. Yuna sat down on the couch, crossing her legs and got straight to the point, ¡°Do you know a girl named Teresa?¡± Yuna¡¯s visit was aimed at investigating Teresa¡¯s background. She was just a mere little girl, but she ignored Yuna¡¯s threats, and even made her look like a fool. What kind of background did this girl have to develop such an audacious and mboyant personality? She had to find out more about her! After all, knowing oneself and the enemy is the key to victory! The principal took a sip of water, pretending to be clueless, ¡°Teresa? We have lots of students named Teresa here. Which one are you referring to?¡± Yuna was impatient, ¡°The leader of the Vine Whip Alliance!¡± ¡°Oh, that Teresa. Yes, I know her. What about her?¡± the principal replied. ¡°Do you know who her parents are?¡± The principal rocked back and forth in his chair, his hand tapping on the armrest. As the kindergarten¡¯srgest shareholder, Maurice was Teresa¡¯s father, and everyone knew that. But it wasn¡¯t something he could reveal. So, he deflected the question, ¡°Why? Did Teresa upset your children?¡± Yuna seized the opportunity to nod, her eyes filled with rage, ¡°That girl is a bad influence to my children! At such a young age, she¡¯s already forming gangs. You must punish her severely, Principal! You can¡¯t let her corrupt the school environment!¡± The principal said, ¡°You mean Vine Whip Alliance? Yes, I¡¯m aware of it.¡± ¡°You know?¡± Yuna was shocked, ¡°You know and you¡¯re not doing anything? What are you waiting for!¡± Yuna was fuming, as if not punishing Teresa was a heinous crime. The principal calmly rocked in his chair, looking at Yuna, ¡°Indeed, forming gangs at such a young age is not a good habit. Many teachers have reported it, but I chose to turn a blind eye. Ms. Lockwood, do you have any idea why I would do that?¡± Chapter 375 Yuna was momentarily taken aback. The principal turned a blind eye to her questions, could it be that this little brat had an overwhelmingly strong background? Yuna could only suppress her resentment, casting an inquiring gaze at the principal. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, let me put it this way. The ¡®Vine Whip Alliance¡¯ may sound juvenile, but it¡¯s not a group for childish squabbles. Can you imagine how a three-year-old, Teresa, can gather the richest and most powerful heirs of the city together? What kind of power does she hold?¡± Yuna waspletely stunned. She had never imagined that the ¡®Vine Whip Alliance¡¯ was such a massive circle of the elite. and the founder of this group was just a three-year-old child! All the prominent heirs and heiresses of Stonebridge City were involved, which meant ess to aplex web of valuable resources! Once you join this crew, you would be tied to numerous influential families, ensuring a smooth path in the future! With this in mind, Yuna¡¯s resentment towards Hayes for snatching away Manley¡¯s chance to join the Vine Whip Alliance¡¯ deepened. She resented Teresa more for herck of discernment! Thunderbolt Enterprises was such a renowned family! How could this brat ignore Manley, the primary heir! It was infuriating! Seeing Yuna¡¯s turbulent emotions, the principal chuckled with a meaningful smile, ¡°I believe you now understand the caliber of Teresa¡¯s parents, Ms. Lockwood. Teresa¡¯s father¡¯s standing is at par with Mr. Winston.¡± Hisst sentence was aimed directly at Yuna, his tone loaded with implications. Hearing his words, Yuna froze on the spot, unable to snap back to reality for a long time.¡± Teresa¡¯s father¡¯s standing was at par with Frederick? That meant her father was not just a prominent figure in Stonebridge City! Had her father been dominating Stonebridge City during her three years away with Frederick? No wonder that brat was so fearless! She had such a strong background to rely upon! Yuna walked out of the kindergarten in a daze, and sat in her car, unable to calm her emotions. She wondered if Teresa had tattled on her for threatening her a few days ago. The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became. She loathed herself for herck of insight! But soon, a new idea formed in her mind. If Teresa was a distinguished heiress, why not arrange a betrothal with Manley? She could be inws with Teresa¡¯s parents! Even if Frederick found out in the future that Manley wasn¡¯t his biological son, having the support of Teresa¡¯s family would provide a safety for her and Manley! Once the two children grew up and got married, the title of ¡®Vine Whip Alliance¡¯ leader would naturally fall to Manley. This way, without lifting a finger, Manley could be a prominent figure in Stonebridge City! Perfect, tomorrow was Manley¡¯s birthday, a wonderful opportunity to meet Teresa¡¯s parents. She had to seize it! With that in mind, Yuna immediately drove to the Rosemary Beaumont Hotel, grandiosely booking the entire dining floor. She arranged for a band, and evenid out a red carpet at the entrance. Everything was of the highest quality, showing her determination. Once everything was prepared, she handed a stack of cash to the restaurant manager. ¡°Be on your toes tomorrow, any mishap and you¡¯ll answer for it!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lockwood! We¡¯ll follow your instructions to the letter!¡± As they scattered, Yuna looked around at the preparations with satisfaction. Excellent! It was grand and impressive! Tomorrow, she would make sure Teresa¡¯s parents felt warmly weed! Chapter 376 In the afternoon, when the three kids had just returned from school, Yuna mysteriously summoned Teresa aside. The sudden shift in demeanor made Teresa feel like a deer caught in the headlights. What¡¯s up with this old witch suddenly being so sweet? Yuna handed a handmade invitation to Teresa, her smile as warm as a spring breeze as she looked at the little girl, ¡°Teresa, tomorrow is Manley¡¯s birthday. I formally invite you and your parents toe and celebrate.¡± Teresa coolly nced at the invite, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Why would she go when it¡¯s not Hayes¡¯ birthday? No way! Yuna, not giving up, tempted Teresa, ¡°Hayes will also be celebrating his birthday tomorrow. He and Manley are twins, they always celebrate together.¡± ¡°What? Hayes and Manley are twins?¡± Teresa¡¯s surprise was so great she shouted out loud! How could Hayes and Manley be twins?! It just so happened that Frederick returned from work then, seeing the two looking at each other in surprise, Teresa with an incredulous look on her face. Frederick, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, approached and asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Yuna, eager to show off in front of Frederick, hurriedly exined, ¡°Freddie, tomorrow is Hayes and Manley¡¯s birthday. Teresa is close with both of them, so I invited her to join the celebration.¡± Given the uing celebration, Teresa should look happy, so why did she seem so lost in thought? Frederick lovingly pulled the little girl into his arms, asking gently, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, you don¡¯t want to go?¡± Teresa softly shook her head, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I¡¯m just surprised that Hayes and Manley are twins. I thought Hayes was the older one!¡± Yuna¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her legs going weak as she took a step back.. Manley, her prematurely birthed child, was a whole month younger than Hayes. But to secure Manley¡¯s inheritance rights, she had lied about him being born before Hayes! But this little imp saw right through it! ¡°Why would you think that?¡± Frederick asked, puzzled. ¡°Their heights! Hayes is so much taller than Manley, I thought he was my age. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m actually a month older than him! And besides, Hayes and Manley don¡¯t look alike at all, they don¡¯t look like twins!¡± Another bolt from the blue! Yuna struggled to keep her expression under control. She nced at Frederick and noticed that he seemed to take Teresa¡¯s words to heart. Worried about being found out, she quickly exined, ¡°Teresa, Hayes and Manley are fraternal twins, that¡¯s why they don¡¯t look alike.¡± Teresa rested her chin in her hand, deep in thought, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you need to get Manley¡¯s bone age tested. If his bone age doesn¡¯t match his actual age, you should start him on hormones as soon as possible, otherwise he¡¯ll be short when he grows up!¡± The little girl¡¯s earnest advice made Frederick chuckle. ¡°How do you know so much at such a young age?¡± Teresa proudly snuggled into the man¡¯s face, grinning widely, ¡°I read about it in a gics book. Hayes¡¯ Daddy, I know lots of things, and I¡¯m a child prodigy!¡± She had read many gics books before in her pursuit of bing a portrait artist, ¡°Hayes¡¯ Daddy, you need to pay attention to Manley¡¯s situation!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep your advice in mind, I¡¯ll take Hayes and Manley to get their bone age tested.¡± Yuna was taken aback. Testing bone age should just involve taking X-rays of the bones, right? It wouldn¡¯t involve any kind of paternity test¡­ would it? Chapter 377 That¡¯s right, there¡¯s no way! Checking bone age simply requires assessing the closure of the joints. There¡¯s absolutely no need for a blood draw, let alone a paternity test! Yuna reassured herself. As soon as Frederick left, she turned to Teresa, emphasizing that she must bring her parents to the birthday celebration the next day. Teresa, thinking it was for Hayes¡¯ birthday party, didn¡¯t think twice and agreed happily. Meanwhile, in a suburban casino¡­ Ever since Yuna had given birth and left for Vespera, Frederick had given the Lockwoods a sum of money. They¡¯d used this money to open a casino in the outskirts of Stonebridge City. At that time, the smoke-filled casino was bustling with lively card games. Suddenly, a drunken, rotund man stumbled in. He mmed his beer bottle on the ground, a reckless grin on his face, and looked at Zoe behind the bar with a challenging and contemptuous gaze, ¡°Hey, Mom. Long-time no see, huh?¡± Zoe was taken aback and terrified at the sight of the man. She was so frightened that her mouth widened, and she stared at the man in shock. ¡°Barnes¡­¡± In an instant, the entire casino fell into an eerie silence. Everyone turned their heads to watch what was happening at the bar. Barnes, stepping over the ss shards, reeked of alcohol. ¡°Well, well. You remember my name!¡± Ablett stood frozen on the spot, as if facing a great enemy. A gambler not far away red at Barnes, angrily throwing his cigarette stub on the ground and cursing at Barnes, ¡°What are you doing? If you¡¯ve had too much to drink, go cause a scene elsewhere! Don¡¯t mess with my luck here!¡± In a split second, Zoe seemed to see a sh of anger in Barnes¡¯ eyes. Before she could react, Barnes swiftly moved towards the gambler and grabbed his cor, crashing him onto the floor. The customers, frightened, quickly scattered, leaving Barnes alone in the center of the casino. ¡°Dang, it¡¯s about to get ugly!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s get out of here! If the cops show up, we¡¯re all going to end up behind bars!¡± The customers murmured and hurriedly fled. The gambler, scared out of his wits, stumbled out of the casino as fast as he could. Barnes, with a cold smirk, dusted off his hands and sat down in the middle of the casino. ¡°He¡¯s looking for trouble! Doesn¡¯t he know who I used to work for? Right, Mom?¡± Zoe finally came to her senses, she and Ablett retreated to one side, but she was hopping mad, ¡°I¡¯m not your mom! Watch your mouth!¡± Barnes spat on the ground. ¡°Your daughter used my sperm to conceive, if I don¡¯t call you mom, what should I call you?¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡­ How dare you bring this up! You¡¯re spreading it around!¡± Zoe screamed in shock, and quickly ran to close the door. Ablett shielded his wife behind him, ring at Barnes. ¡°What the hell do you want?!¡± ¡°Cut the crap! Just give me the money!¡± Barnes¡¯ thuggish demeanor left the couple at a loss. Zoe was breaking out in a cold sweat. ¡°Where do you expect me to get the money from? Haven¡¯t we given you enough over the years?!¡± Barnes¡¯ teeth gritted, seeming not to want to make things difficult for them. He casually took out his phone, calmly saying, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll call Mr. Winston. After all, I¡¯ve worked for Mr. Winston for many years, he can lend me the money.¡± Seeing him opening his contact list, Zoe, scared out of her wits, rushed over and grabbed his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Barnes¡¯ eyes darted over, ¡°Are you looking for trouble?¡± Zoe timidly let go of his hand, swallowing hard. Finally, she made up her mind to pass this hot potato onto Yuna. ¡°We don¡¯t have money for you, go find Yuna. Tomorrow is Manley¡¯s birthday at the Rosernary Beaumont Hotel. After the kid¡¯s birthday, you can go find her! But I warn you, don¡¯t show up in front of Mr. Winston! And don¡¯t bring up the child! If anything goes wrong, you won¡¯t get a penny!¡± Hearing this, Barnesughed, a wild and recklessugh, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! As long as there¡¯s money to be had, and I¡¯m well taken care of, I can keep my mouth shut!¡± Chapter 378 The following morning at the Rosemary Beaumont Hotel. The grand dining room on the first floor was already bustling with voices andughter. But these were not the friends Yuna had invited for Manley¡¯s birthday, but the staff gathered to wee Teresa¡¯s parents. By then, Maurice¡¯s car had pulled up beneath the open-air staircase of the Rosemary Beaumont Hotel. Marguerite hadn¡¯t initially nned to bring Maurice along, but Teresa was insistent, so she had no choice. Teresa¡¯s thoughts were simple. She was going to live with her biological parents, so any extra time spent with Maurice was a bonus. Moreover, the invitation read, ¡°For Teresa and your parents.¡± It would be weird to bring only her mother. As soon as the car stopped, Marguerite, holding her daughter and apanied by Maurice, was awestruck by the scene. This was¡­ a grand spectacle. There was a red carpet, flowers, and a signing board¡­ Anyone would think it was a Hollywood celebrity event. Teresa was dazzled by the new and exciting surroundings, and she wouldn¡¯t stop looking around. ¡°This is so grand, even my birthdays aren¡¯t this big!¡± The little girl eximed, wide-eyed with wonder.. The staff turned their attention to this attractive family trio. Such a cute little girl! They couldn¡¯t help but strike up a conversation with Teresa, ¡°Little one, you must not know this. This family is trying to arrange a marriage with the daughter of the guests. This grand event is to wee their future inws!¡± Teresa stood on her tiptoes and looked up at Marguerite, ¡°Mummy, what is marriage? What are inws?¡± Marguerite, exuding a hot mom vibe, lifted Teresa into her arms, ¡°It means your friend is going to be engaged to a girl ssmate.¡± Teresa looked confused. Who was getting engaged? If it was Hayes, he would have told her. So, it must be Manley? But who would want to be engaged to the scruffy Manley? The trio didn¡¯t linger, and in the face of all the attention, they headed straight for the red carpet.. ¡°On my mark! Music, cue¨C As Marguerite stepped onto the red carpet, the orchestra on both sides of the staircase started ying, followed by the violin, and finally the piano. The music was melodious, continuous. Marguerite suddenly regretted dressing too inly, in a white dress reaching her ankles, a beige coat, and no high heels. She always dressed forfort, thinking this was just a simple birthday party, who knew it would be such a grand event! At such an asion, she should have worn a formal dress. But it didn¡¯t matter, this grand event was to wee someone else, they were just there to add to the atmosphere. After walking down the red carpet, they signed their names on the signing board in the hall. Teresa¡¯s handwriting was squiggly, yet it exuded an innocent and childish charm. Marguerite was surprised to see that their family was the only signature on therge board. On such an important asion, they were the first family to arrive. The usher stretched out her hand with a smile, bent slightly at the waist, ¡°This way, please.¡± The private room was at the end of the corridor. Just as they rounded the corner, a clumsy waiter identally spilled a ss of water, wetting half of Marguerite¡¯s sleeve. The usher was like a cat on hot bricks, scolding sharply, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re going? This is a VIP guest!¡± Well, she wanted to say that she was hardly a VIP! The waitstaff here were too easily flustered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am! I¡¯m really sorry! I¡­I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± Maurice frowned, took Marguerite¡¯s arm, and looked at the wet sleeve, ¡°Are you okay?¡± The sudden intimacy made Marguerite ufortable. She pursed her lips, shook her head, and silently pulled her hand away, turning to the waiter, ¡°Is there a dryer in the restroom?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am! I¡¯ll take you there right away!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can go myself.¡± Marguerite looked at Maurice, ¡°The guests haven¡¯t arrived yet. You take Teresa in and wait for me.¡± Feeling Marguerite¡¯s distance, Maurice¡¯s eyes darkened, and he nodded slightly. Marguerite headed to the restroom, but as soon as she opened the door, she bumped into Yuna, who was dressed in full attire anding out of the stall. Chapter 379 Yuna was dressed in a royal blue strapless ball gown. The generous sweep of the dress set off her morous aura. Especially the colossal pearl ne hanging around her neck, it was a bit over the top. Their eyes met but none of them said a word. Marguerite had not expected to run into Yuna here. But really, wasn¡¯t she cold dressed like that in the middle of winter? Marguerite held her tongue, contemting whether to make a hypocritical greeting. After all, on their previous encounters, Yuna had disyed an unprecedented good temper. ¡°Well, Marguerite, what brings you here?¡± Yuna, chin held high, broke the silence first. She gave Marguerite a once-over, noticing her humble attire, her tone was sharp. Marguerite pulled out a napkin to wipe her hands, a cold smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she observed Yuna¡¯s arrogant demeanor. Apparently, her earlier good temper was just for Frederick¡¯s sake. When he¡¯s not watching, this woman couldn¡¯t wait to show her true colors. Marguerite replied casually, ¡°Just attending a friend¡¯s dinner party.¡± A dinner party? She¡¯d booked the entire first floor of the Rosemary Beaumont Hotel, meaning Marguerite¡¯s dinner party must be on the second or third floor. That was a low-end restaurant! Thinking of this, Yuna became even more smug. She raised an eyebrow at Marguerite, impatient to show off, ¡°Well, thanks to my wonderful son, I¡¯m enjoying this privileged lifestyle. It¡¯s his birthday today, and Freddie¡¯s been running around all over the ce for it. Not just that, but some of the top aristocrats in Stonebridge City are in line to marry into our family. Once that happens, we¡¯ll be a formidable alliance. You jealous?¡± Another birthday? Another marriage alliance? Seems like there¡¯s quite a few of those today. The elite circle loves their oddities, always making alliances, sticking to their old-fashioned customs. Marguerite had no desire to do same for her daughter, and she tried to walk past Yuna to leave. But Yuna stepped forward, mming the door shut. With one hand on her hip, the other against the door, she looked like a fishwife. Marguerite looked up, asking coolly, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Every time we meet, you put on this refineddy act. Don¡¯t you get tired? Admit it, you¡¯re just jealous that Freddie is with me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Marguerite found this absurd, looking at Yuna as if she were a joke, ¡°If you¡¯re sick, go see a doctor. Don¡¯t loiter around me, I don¡¯t have the time to entertain you.¡± Yuna hated Marguerite¡¯s dismissive attitude, it made her blood boil! Fuming, she wanted to p Marguerite across the face, and then crush her like killing a bug! Yuna arched an eyebrow mockingly, ring at Marguerite with challenging eyes, ¡°Stop putting on airs with me! Marguerite, others might not know your game, but you think I don¡¯t? When Freddie gave up his, inheritance, you quickly jumped ship to Maurice, all for the money, right? You just miscalcted, Maurice is nowhere near as influential now, is he? The Winston Group is no match for Freddie¡¯s Thunderbolt Enterprises now!¡± Yuna had heard things about Maurice, but it was all just smoke and mirrors in her view. In the past three years, the Winston Group hadn¡¯t made any waves, probably drowned in the tide of the business world! And yet, Marguerite still acted high and mighty? Did she deserve it? She was nothing more than a lowly loser! Chapter 380 Marguerite¡¯s expression never wavered, much to Yuna¡¯s surprise. She remained calm as can be, looking up at Yuna with a questioning gaze, ¡°So? What are you trying to say?¡° Yuna red at Marguerite, frustration boiling inside her. Damn it! Wasn¡¯t she clear enough? She had long surpassed Marguerite! Whether it was in terms of looks or social status, she was miles ahead of her. And yet, Marguerite still didn¡¯t see the need to grovel before her? Damn it! Why did she have the nerve to look down on her? She wasn¡¯t even worthy of polishing her shoes! With these thoughts, Yunaughed. Herughter was fierce and mocking, ¡°My son is marrying the heiress of a top-notch family, and my life is only going to get better. And you? You gave birth to twins and lost one. Your daughter won¡¯t be able to inherit anything, what will Maurice do for you when she gets married? Marguerite, you¡¯ll never be able to catch up to me.¡± With that, Yuna shot Marguerite a venomous look, before storming out of the room with a loudugh. Marguerite was speechless. Did Yuna think mming the door made her look cool? It only made her like a lunatic. Honestly, the only thing Marguerite envied about Yuna was Frederick. As for how well she was doing, Marguerite didn¡¯t care. Instead, she found Yuna hadn¡¯t changed at all in three years, aside from being able to utter harsh words, she was good for nothing. However, she couldn¡¯t deny that Yuna using the loss of her son and Teresa to provoke her, did make Marguerite feel ufortable and irritated. Marguerite was angry, but she held it in. After all, she had to attend Teresa¡¯s ssmate¡¯s birthday party, she couldn¡¯t let her temper re. Marguerite calmed herself, smoothed her dress, turned and left the bathroom, heading towards the end of the corridor. But who could¡¯ve thought, before one wave could settle, another rose. Just as Marguerite stepped into the room, she realized that she had stepped into a chilling atmosphere. Marguerite first heard Teresa fussing about having a piece of cake, then saw Jocelyn and Hayes sitting next to the little one. She then noticed Frederick and Maurice sitting opposite each other, their faces calm, but their eyes turbulent. Finally, she saw Yuna, her face stern, sitting next to Frederick. What kind of battlefield had she walked into? Had she walked into the wrong room? Marguerite was about to back out when she realized ¨C Her daughter was still sitting in there! The little one was still fussing about the cake! So, the party they were attending was Yuna¡¯s son¡¯s birthday banquet?! Marguerite was left speechless. She wanted to pinch herself awake. If she had known that Frederick was hosting them, she would never havee. ¡°Don¡¯t stand there,e sit.¡± Maurice turned his head towards Marguerite, calling her softly. Marguerite walked over slowly, sitting next to Maurice. Jocelyn then poured her a cup of tea, her face was all smiles, ¡°It¡¯s cold, have some tea.¡± Marguerite felt awkward, but nodded anyway, ¡°Thank you, Jocelyn.¡± Three years, and Jocelyn was still the same as she remembered. Kind, gentle and warm. ¡°Are we the only ones invited to the birthday party?¡± Marguerite asked, her voice barely a whisper. Jocelyn nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, we didn¡¯t expect Teresa to be your daughter. She¡¯s good friends with the twins, so they only invited you.¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but nce at the morose Yuna, a feeling of satisfaction washing over her. Marguerite calmly tucked her hair behind her ear, her smile sweet as honey. However, her next words were anything but sweet, ¡°After all this fuss, turns out you just wanted to form an alliance with our family.¡± Chapter 381 Yuna looked up, wanting to silence Marguerite, but the look Frederick cast her way left her feeling guilty and terrified. Marguerite¡¯s icy gaze swept over Yuna, seeing the fluctuating emotions on her face. She looked guilty, did that mean Frederick not know about the nned marriage alliance? Sure enough, Frederick clenched his jaw, his voice sharp as he questioned, ¡°What alliance?¡± Teresa, stuffing a piece of cake into her mouth, chimed in with a thick voice, ¡°Don¡¯t you know, Mr. Frederick? They gave us a grand wee at the front gate, they said it was to wee your inws! Aren¡¯t you nning to arrange a betrothal for Manley?¡± Jocelyn also looked surprised, ¡°A betrothal? Teresa, are you mistaken? We only invited your family today for the birthday party, are you thinking of bing my granddaughter-inw?¡± ¡°Grand¡­daughter¡­inw?¡± Teresa, her mouth full of food, repeated Jocelyn¡¯s words. Frederick too caught on, his eyes rolling with anger as he red at Yuna, ¡°Exin.¡± Yuna looked mortified. When she had returned to the private dining room and saw Maurice, she had been stunned and hadn¡¯t yet recovered. Facing Frederick¡¯s questioning now, she felt utterly hopeless. She knew Frederick would never agree to a betrothal. Her original n was to bring it up during dinner, in a joking manner. After all, they were all elite families, and a marriage alliance wasn¡¯t a bad thing. By then, she and Teresa¡¯s family would y along, and Frederick wouldn¡¯t have much to say. This marriage alliance would be pushed forward in a half-hearted manner. But how could she have imagined that this elite family was the Winston Group! And she could have never imagined that Maurice was thriving in Stonebridge City! Marguerite hadn¡¯t lived a hard life either! Yuna was livid! Marguerite smiled quietly, delicately peeling a shrimp, then slowly putting it in her mouth. Her gaze was cold, but her smile remained sweet, ¡°I ran into Yuna in the restroom earlier, and she mentioned the marriage alliance. She said Mr. Frederick attached great importance to it, so we were weed with much fanfare. But since Mr. Frederick was kept in the dark like us¡­ I guess, it was a surprise Yuna prepared for both parties.¡± Marguerite finished speaking and turned her gaze to Yuna. The woman¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and she held her cutlery tightly, she had lost all the arrogance and triumph she had in the restroom. Ah! She embarrassed herself badly! Marguerite took a sip of tea, delicately cleaned the corner of her lips with a napkin, and intentionally continued in a condescending manner that Yuna detested, ¡°Flowers, red carpet, orchestra, it really made us feel warmly weed. Yuna, you¡¯ve gone to great lengths, and I¡¯m pleasantly surprised and satisfied with your hospitality today.¡± Marguerite said, then picked up the red wine next to Maurice, swirled it elegantly, and leisurely proposed, ¡°Yuna, why don¡¯t we drink to thank you for your hospitality?¡± Yuna was getting annoyed. Marguerite opposite was adding insult to injury, and beside her was Frederick¡¯s anger. No matter how she dealt with it, she was bound to make a fool of herself today. Damn it! She still clenched her cutlery, ring at Marguerite, wishing she could cut this woman into a thousand pieces! She hadn¡¯t moved, but Frederick had poured red wine into her ss, his tone stern, ¡°Drink up. The guest is thanking you, don¡¯t break the rules.¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes became resentful. Marguerite was deliberately provoking her! So hateful! She never expected that the guest she had tried so hard to please was actually Marguerite! Yuna gritted her back teeth in anger, but in front of Frederick, she couldn¡¯tsh out. At this moment, Frederick had already pushed the wine ss into her hand and asked her to stand up. 4 When they were about to clink sses, Teresa, seeing this, thought her mother had really agreed to the marriage, and immediately burst into tears, ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry Hayes or Manley! Mommy, you can¡¯t drink with her! I don¡¯t agree to this marriage! Wahhh!¡± The little one¡¯s snotty tears amused Jocelyn. She yfully teased Teresa, asking, ¡°Teresa, why don¡¯t you want to marry Hayes or Manley?¡± Without thinking, Teresa blurted out, ¡°Because Manley and Hayes are my¡­my¡­¡± Half-brothers! How could siblings get married? Teresa¡¯s words trailed off when she saw the entire room¡¯s attention on her, and she hesitated. Should she reveal something so important right now? Chapter 382 Teresa nced at Hayes. She wondered if the birthday boy would be upset, thinking she was out to steal his father¡¯s affection, upon discovering he had a sister. She shifted her gaze to Maurice. Poor Maurice, she thought, as she watched him drown his sorrows in sses of bourbon. The news of her acknowledging Hayes¡¯s daddy as her dad would probably crush him. Regardless, she knew she shouldn¡¯t mention it at this moment. Jocelyn gently cleaned some frosting off Teresa¡¯s face with a napkin, her tone even softer, ¡°They are¡­?¡± They are my¡­ ssmate!¡± Teresa¡¯s face turned beet red, ¡°Since when do ssmates get engaged?¡± Jocelyn couldn¡¯t help butugh. Teresa, with her innocentments, was always such a delight. Besides, an engagement between her and Hayes wouldn¡¯t be such a bad idea. Furthermore, the two kids looked strikingly alike. ¡°Well, ssmates can get engaged too,¡± she said. Teresa didn¡¯t know how to respond. She looked at Marguerite with pleading eyes, as though asking for help. Seeing this, Marguerite put down her wine ss and sat back down, ¡°It¡¯s not that Teresa doesn¡¯t want to marry Hayes or Manley. She just isn¡¯t good enough for Yuna and Mr. Frederick¡¯s sons. After all, we¡¯re not from a top-tier wealthy family, I don¡¯t think Yuna would want it to happen either.¡± Yuna didn¡¯t catch the sarcasm in Marguerite¡¯s words. In fact, she foolishly thought Marguerite was being self-aware! She raised her chin arrogantly, looking down on Marguerite, and mocked, ¡°Good! Even if all the women in the world died, Manley wouldn¡¯t marry your daughter.¡± Marguerite asked nonchntly, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why did you invite us over in the first ce?¡± Yuna greeted her teeth but couldn¡¯t fight back. Unable to contain her anger any longer, she put her utensils down, about to make a scene. Unexpectedly, Frederick scooped a serving of food onto her te and warned her, ¡°Can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut even when dining?¡± Her fiery temper was instantly extinguished, leaving her feeling miserable. Damn! Marguerite had stepped all over her, and Frederick didn¡¯t even stand up for her! Yuna, not wanting to get more embarrassed in front of Marguerite, decided to change tactics. She immediately clung onto Frederick¡¯s arm, pressing her body against him, her tone sweet and high-pitched, ¡°Thanks, Freddie. You know how much I love BBQ ribs, right?¡± Frederick, taken aback, instinctively wanted to push the annoying woman away. However, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Marguerite¡¯s gaze lingering on Yuna¡¯s hand that was holding onto him. He remembered that she had used Maurice¡¯s ss earlier Perhaps out of jealousy, orpetitiveness, Frederick unusually did not push Yuna away. Instead, he gently cleaned Yuna¡¯s mouth, whispering, ¡°Eat your meal.¡± Yuna was thrilled, nodding her head vigorously, even put her head onto Frederick¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You are so sweet, I¡¯ll eat now!¡± Marguerite¡¯s crystal-clear eyes flickered with a hint of destion, her heart sinking slightly. Without a doubt, she had sessfully taught Yuna a lesson, but she didn¡¯t feel victorious. Because no matter how Yuna behaved, Frederick would always be indulgent towards her. Just that alone was something she could never ask for. Marguerite finished her ss of red wine in one gulp, suddenly feeling a jacket being gently draped over her shoulders. It was Maurice¡¯s! She turned to look at him in surprise, only to see him smiling gently and happily, casually saying, ¡°Are you cold? You should dress more warmly next time, otherwise I¡¯ll have to give you my jacket and freeze myself. Although it wasn¡¯t a romantic statement, it made Marguerite¡¯s skin crawl. Why did Maurice¡¯s words sound so misleading? It felt as though they were already an old married couple. Subconsciously, she looked at Frederick. To her surprise, he was also looking at her¡­ Chapter 383 Frederick¡¯s eyes were like the vast ocean, filled with a depth that Marguerite couldn¡¯t quiteprehend. A flutter of unease stirred in her chest, feeling the burning intensity of Frederick¡¯s gaze making her feel out of sorts. She quickly averted her gaze, preparing to bury herself in peeling the shrimp, using the meal as a distraction. However, Maurice pushed a te of already peeled shrimp towards her, gently asking. ¡°Do you want some vinegar and lemon zest?¡± Confusion shed in Marguerite¡¯s bright, stunning eyes. She shook her head, ¡°No, thank you.¡± The atmosphere was strangely oppressive, a peculiar silence hung on the table. Inappropriately, a voice rang out, ¡°Freddie, I want some shrimp, will you peel some for me?¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was more terrifying than that of a devil¡¯s, ¡°Can¡¯t you do it yourself?¡± Yuna was persistent, ¡°Then let me do it for you, open your mouth, ah-¡± Both Marguerite and Maurice were speechless, while the indignant Teresa and clueless Hayes were stunned. Unexpectedly, Marguerite found herself plunged into an environment of open and secret rivalry. What she didn¡¯t know was that she wasn¡¯t the only one feeling ufortable, so was Jocelyn! As the only elder present, she could only look helplessly between Marguerite and Frederick, her difort hidden behind her soup bowl. Whether it was Marguerite or Frederick, they were both too young. Their way of dealing with romantic rivals seemed childish in her eyes. Both were trying to make the other jealous, to gauge whether they still had a ce in the other¡¯s heart. But it also proved the saying, ho rain, no rainbow¡¯. Only through trials, misunderstandings, and hardships can one understand the preciousness of love and cherish it more. The worldly Jocelyn saw life very clearly, but little Teresa wasn¡¯t soposed. She was indignantly stuffing cake in her mouth, ring at Frederick who was being fed by Yuna. It was so infuriating! How could daddy show affection towards another woman in front of mommy! Humph! She didn¡¯t want to call him daddy anymore! They weren¡¯t even married yet, but they acted so shamelessly like a couple! Hayes¡¯ daddy was a womanizer! She didn¡¯t want to like him anymore! Or be his daughter! She would keep this secret to herself! Unless¡­ No! There were no unless! Maurice was the one who truly treated mommy well, from now on, she would only acknowledge Maurice as her daddy! While Teresa was stewing in her anger, Hayes climbed down from his high chair and cautiously walked over to Marguerite, tugging gently at her dress. Marguerite turned her head to look at him, seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, she was immediately taken by his cuteness, ¡°What is it? Do you need something from me?¡± Suddenly, all eyes in the room turned to Marguerite and Hayes. Yuna¡¯s reaction was particrly strong, standing up abruptly, ¡°Hayes,e here, don¡¯t disturb Ms. Marguerite¡¯s meal!¡± Although she had done a good job of hiding this huge secret, a mother¡¯s intuition was strong, whenever Hayes got near Marguerite, Yuna would feel anxious. But Hayes didn¡¯t seem to hear Yuna¡¯s voice, his innocent eyes were filled with sincerity. He remembered this auntie who looked just like his mommy! She had even helped him pick up his ball before! The ground was dirty then, but she didn¡¯t mind at all. He liked her! He liked her very, very much! Hayes didn¡¯t speak, which left Marguerite a bit puzzled. She gently caressed Hayes¡¯ nose, asking again, ¡°Do you have something you want to tell me?¡± Chapter 384 Hayes¡¯ eyes widened as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a lollipop, offering it straight out to Marguerite. For me?¡± Hayes nodded, pushing the candy into her hand before she could respond. Marguerite was startled by the boy¡¯s assertiveness, but then her eyes fell on the bracelet around his wrist. Wasn¡¯t that the exact one that Robert had given to Teresa? Marguerite twirled the bracelet around her finger, asking, ¡°Is this a birthday gift from Teresa?¡± Again, Hayes nodded. Marguerite chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hayes. I didn¡¯t bring you a birthday gift. Are you upset?¡± Hayes hastily shook his head and waved his hands in denial. Then, he saw Marguerite¡¯s warm smile and paused, staring at her. His own grin spread across his face, His eyes curved into crescents, just like the moon. He liked her smile. He liked her a lot!! Feeling shy, he quickly scampered back to his seat and burrowed into Jocelyn¡¯s arms. Jocelyn saw the blush creeping up Hayes¡¯ cheeks and teased, ¡°Are you blushing? Hayes, do you like Marguerite?¡± Hayes nodded, hiding his face in Jocelyn¡¯s embrace, afraid of being seen. Through the gaps between his fingers, he stole nces at Marguerite. Across the table, Frederick watched this in surprise. Had Hayes met Marguerite before? Why did he seem so fond of her? Hayes had never shown such affection towards Yuna. Yuna watched this scene, and her face darkened. What was this little boy up to? Did he know something? No, it was impossible! She had kept her secret so well. Not even Frederick knew, let alone a three-year-old child! She had to stay calm! She couldn¡¯t afford to slip up now! If Marguerite found out that Hayes was her missing child, she would be in serious trouble! An hourter, the tense gathering finally ended. Maurice held Marguerite¡¯s hand, said their goodbyes and left. Jocelyn, dissatisfied with Yuna¡¯s behaviour, tossed her napkin onto the table, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you gave birth to Frederick¡¯s children, no one would have tolerated your behaviour today. You¡¯ve disgraced Frederick. If this happens again, I won¡¯t stand up for you!¡± Jocelyn took Hayes and Manley and left. The room was left with only Yuna and Frederick, and Frederick remained silent. Seeing Frederick¡¯s angry expression, Yuna wanted to exin but couldn¡¯t find the right words. The ring of a phone broke the silence. Yuna took out her phone and saw an unfamiliar number. Without thinking, she answered, ¡°Hello?¡± Silence. Yuna looked at the screen. The call was connected. ¡°Who is this? Speak up!¡± Yuna¡¯s voice rose in irritation. Then she heard azy, provocative voice, ¡°How¡¯s our son doing?¡± Yuna nearly dropped her phone. It was Barnes! What was he doing, calling her now? Yuna shivered and instinctively nced at Frederick. Frederick appeared not to have heard the call. He picked up his jacket and headed for the door. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not interested in buying insurance,¡± Yuna tried to regain herposure and followed Frederick. ¡°I¡¯m right outside.¡± As Barnes¡¯ voice trailed off, Frederick¡¯s hand was already on the door handle. Chapter 385 Like a bolt from the blue, Yuna stood in shock as if she were in the presence of a great enemy. Seeing Frederick¡¯s hand descending toward the door handle, her face contorted in fear. She screamed at the top of her lungs, ¡°No-¡± A gust of cool wind blew through the room as the door swung open. She was toote. Her shrill scream was so loud that it made Frederick wince. He looked at her in bewilderment, only to see her turning her back to him. How could Yuna possibly face the sight of Barnes and Frederick together? Barnes had threatened her more than once, iming he would spill all their secrets to Frederick. He promised to make her life a living hell. Now that Barnes was back, she was done for. However, standing in front of Frederick was not Barnes, but a plump man in a waiter¡¯s vest pushing a trash cart. The brim of his hat was pulled low, so Frederick couldn¡¯t see his face. ¡°Sir, the front desk asked me to clear the dishes once you finished your meal, the man said, his voice unfamiliar to Yuna. It wasn¡¯t Barnes, but a waiter? Damn it! She¡¯d been tricked again! Frederick coldly stepped aside to let the waiter pass. The waiter, however, walked right up to Yuna, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, our manager asked you to settle the remaining payment for the private dining roomter.¡± What! Remaining payment? She had paid everything yesterday, even tipped generously. Was this hotel fleecing its customers because of its prestige? Yuna, who had been suppressing her anger all day, suddenly said angrily, ¡°What remaining payment? I¡¯ve already paid-¡± She stopped abruptly as the waiter slowly lifted his head. His face, hidden under the brim of his hat, was now revealing an eerie smile. Barnes! It was really him¡­. Yuna¡¯s pupils dted in shock. Overwhelmed, she froze, her mind unable to process the situation. Her gaze uncontrobly slid past Barnes andnded on Frederick at the door. Barely able to keep herself from copsing, she leaned heavily on the table, trying her best to remain calm, ¡°The remaining payment¡­ I forgot about it. I¡¯ll settle it in a moment¡­ Freddie, could you wait outside for me? The manager might take a while to arrive.¡± Seeing her strange behavior, Frederick¡¯s patience was wearing thin. His eyes filled with irritation, ¡°You can go home by yourself. I have things to do.¡± With these words, Frederick left. Before leaving, however, his gaze lingered on Barnes. Frederick¡¯s departure did little to relieve Yuna. Barnes¡¯s presence was an oppressive force. Furious, she shoved Barnes aside, quickly locked the door, and then let out a hysterical rant, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not toe back? Why are you here?!¡± Barnes took off his hat and nonchntly sat where Frederick had been, ¡°Exciting, isn¡¯t it? Isn¡¯t that what you like?¡± ¡°Frederick is outside! You need to leave before he sees you!¡± As she spoke, Yuna gathered all her strength and tried to push Barnes out of the room. Chapter 386 Barnes suddenly pulled Yuna into his arms, holding her tightly around her waist, ¡°You want me to leave? Sweetheart, we haven¡¯t even caught up yet. How could I bear to leave?¡± Yuna immediately shoved Barnes away, backing into a corner in fear, ¡°Sweetheart? What are you talking about?!¡± ¡°Oh really? Who was it moaning and groaning in bed? Yuna, don¡¯t tell me you have forgotten how much you enjoyed it?¡± ¡°Ah-¡°Yuna was so angry she started stomping her feet, unable to think of anything else but to yell at Barnes to shut up! Back then, she needed a child to appease Frederick, otherwise she would never have permitted this lowly bodyguard to touch her! In this lifetime, she didn¡¯t want to remember such a humiliating event! But this infuriating man kept reminding her of it! Why won¡¯t he just die! ¡°We had an agreement back then, remember? Once I had the baby, I¡¯d give you a sum of money and you¡¯d leave Stonebridge City forever. But you kept asking me for money, yet you still dare toe back! You can¡¯t be so greedy!¡± ¡°Well, I ran out of money. Give me another sum and I¡¯ll leave right away!¡± How could Yuna tolerate Barnes¡¯ audacity? But Frederick was still nearby, and she was afraid of being found out, so she could only lower her voice and ask impatiently, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Half million!¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Yuna was furious. Barnes wasn¡¯t in a hurry, he just casually got up and walked towards the door, I¡¯ll go ask Mr. Winston for it!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll transfer it! I¡¯m transferring it now!¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, Yuna quickly took out her phone. She found the familiar ount and immediately transferred the money. ¡°It¡¯ll be in your ount in an hour! This is thest time, I hope you keep your promise and stop bothering me!¡± After transferring the money, Yuna red at him furiously, but Barnes just grinned. He took a toothpick from the box on the table and casually put it in his mouth, ¡°Since you¡¯re so cooperative, I¡¯ll give you a useful piece of information. I heard that Mr. Winston is taking Hayes and Manley for a bone age test, is that true?¡± Yuna looked at him warily, ¡°How do you know about this? What are you nning?!¡± ¡°Ha, I¡¯ve been working for Mr. Winston for over a decade, it¡¯s easy for me to find out about these things. They draw blood for the bone age test, you better be prepared.¡± Yuna paused. They draw blood for the bone age test? But it shouldn¡¯t matter. After all, she hadn¡¯t given anything away, no one would think to do a paternity test. So, Yuna shrugged it off, ¡°Mind your own business! It¡¯s just a blood test, not a paternity test.¡± Barnesughed at her naivety and foolishness. ¡°As far as I know, Maurice, in his search for Marguerite¡¯s lost child, has already submitted Marguerite¡¯s DNA to all the major hospitals in Stonebridge City.¡± Yuna was taken aback, she didn¡¯t quite understand, ¡°S¡­so what?¡± ¡°So, whenever a child in Stonebridge City has a blood test, it will automatically bepared with Marguerite¡¯s blood type. If Hayes¡¯ blood type matches Marguerite¡¯s, Do you think you¡¯ll still be able to live this carefree life?¡± Chapter 387 At the same time, in the heart of Emerald Meadows. The minute the car came to a stop in the driveway, Teresa had sprung out, bolting towards the house in eager anticipation. Marguerite, sitting in the front, had unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to step out when she felt Maurice¡¯s hand grip her wrist. ¡°Wait.¡± Marguerite swiftly pulled her hand back. ¡°What is it?¡± The cold indifference in her eyes irritated Maurice. Frustrated, he looked out the car window before asking, ¡°You knew we were going to meet Frederick today, didn¡¯t you?¡± Why else would she have been so adamant about him not tagging along? Marguerite looked at him, visibly puzzled, ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Ignoring her question, Maurice turned to face her. ¡°What about our marriage? Have you decided yet?¡± Marguerite froze, taken aback. Without a doubt, she should have t-out refused. But for some weird reason, she couldn¡¯t find the right words to respond. Because once again, she saw the deep affection in Maurice¡¯s eyes. Could it be? Was he really in love with her? Was he serious? shes of the past kept flooding Marguerite¡¯s mind. She remembered the countless nights he had stayed by her side when she was suffering from morning sickness. When Teresa was born and she was breast-feeding the little one in bed, Maurice was always there, watching from a distance with a calm demeanor, his face expressing pure joy. Suddenly, her mind was a jumbled mess of woolen threads. She had never thought that Maurice had ever loved her, but the evidence of his affection was bing more and more apparent. But little did Maurice know, the clearer his feelings became, the more fearful Marguerite felt. Maurice was too cold, too calcting. He could ruthlessly persecute Frederick, and just for this reason alone, she could never marry him! ¡°Maurice, is there nothing else you can talk about other than marriage?¡± He just stared at her, hisrge hand suddenly caressing her cheek, gently brushing her soft skin. Marguerite recoiled, feeling a shiver run down her spine. ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re smart. Don¡¯t y dumb with me. You know I¡¯ve fallen for you. It started three years ago.¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her brain almost deprived of oxygen. She couldn¡¯t believe that these words could evere out of Maurice¡¯s mouth. He had openly confessed his love, leaving Marguerite feeling both cruel and helpless. Maurice was right. From now on, she wouldn¡¯t even have the privilege to y dumb. 1 admit, I was jealous today. I didn¡¯t like the way you and Frederick looked at each other, and I especially disliked how you were fond of his son.¡±, Marguerite felt her scalp tingle. The confined space of the car was stifling. She feared Maurice would say something disgusting again. She brushed Maurice¡¯s arm away and said with a scornful tone, ¡°What, weren¡¯t you the one who was so keen on arranging this meeting with Frederick? Now that it¡¯s happened, you¡¯re not happy with it. Don¡¯t be so melodramatic. It only makes me despise you more. And remember, I don¡¯t love you! There¡¯s no way I could ever love you! Don¡¯t you even think about our marriage!¡± With that, Marguerite opened the car door and walked away, and all Maurice could see was a view of her cold, proud back. Chapter 388 Teresa had just stepped into the mansion, leaving the front door slightly ajar. As Marguerite walked in, she immediately spotted Janie, who was waiting for Maurice. Back when Maurice was still known as Steven, Janie was his medical assistant. Upon Maurice revealing his identity and taking over the Winston Group, it was only natural that Janie would be his personal assistant. Witnessing all of Maurice¡¯s dirty deeds, Marguerite naturally had no good impression of her. ¡°Madam, I¡¯m here to see Mr. Winston.¡± Marguerite did not respond, silently moving past Janie and heading towards the staircase. At this moment, Maurice entered the house. Seeing this, Janie immediately reported, ¡°Mr. Winston, Fre¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Maurice quickly shot Janie a look. His gaze fell on Marguerite¡¯s retreating figure, then he lowered his eyes and voice, whispering with Janie. Marguerite stood by the staircase. Had Janie been about to say ¡°Frederick¡±? But she hadn¡¯t heard anything. Were they nning to do something to Frederick again? But weren¡¯t Frederick and Maurice currently partners? Their secretive behavior was suspicious. Marguerite shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it. After all, it was a matter between the brothers. She couldn¡¯t interfere. Meanwhile, at Sapphire Valley Estates. Snow began to fall outside the study window. It wasn¡¯t heavy, but it carried a hint of chill. Frederick, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window with a lit cigar, blended his silhouette with the snowy scenery, creating a lonely atmosphere. His handsome figure was entuated by the thought of Marguerite appearing in the restaurant, Maurice peeling shrimp for her and putting his jacket on her. His heart was more restless than ever. But he didn¡¯t believe it was love, just nauseating! ¡°Has the formaldehyde removal begun?¡± He suddenly asked in a cold voice. Chuck quickly responded, ¡°Yes, Marguerite has been on the site for the past few days.¡± Extinguishing his cigar, Frederick turned around, ¡°I¡¯ll inspect the progress tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let Marguerite know.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Chuck paused, ¡°Mr. Winston, are you nning a¡­¡­. surprise inspection?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Frederick responded simply, his sharp features half-hidden in shadow, giving him a profound aura. Seeing Mr. Winston¡¯s expression, Chuck fell silent. It seemed like Mr. Winston was out to pick a fight. Marguerite, you¡¯d better pray for luck! The next day, on the construction site. Marguerite, wearing a hard hat and blue overalls, was bustling about the site. The workers were also enthusiastically carrying out their tasks under her direction. *Keep up the good work, everyone! Once we install thesest few exhaust fans, we¡¯re done for the day.¡± Marguerite encouraged the workers. Several young men immediately began to move arge exhaust fan. But the site supervisor grumbled discontentedly, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, these high-powered fans are usually installed inrge halls on the first floor. Mr. Winston¡¯s project is a high-end residential area!¡± Upon hearing this, the young men halted their work. ¡°Yeah, Ms. Lockwood, if every household installs such a big exhaust fan, it¡¯s a bit¡­ tacky¡­ ¡°If we have to remove themter, the walls will be full of holes. The decorators will have to redo their work. Then we¡¯ll have to remove the formaldehyde again! It¡¯s a vicious cycle! Marguerite was at a loss. Her specialty was perfume creation and she had indeed developed a formaldehyde-removing fragrance. But Frederick had only given her a week to remove the formaldehyde. No matter how good her product was, it was impossible toplete the task in such a short time. That¡¯s why she had thought of using exhaust fans. The workers started discussing among themselves, questioning Marguerite¡¯spetence. They were questioning about Marguerite¡¯s decision, leaving her feeling quite beaten down. In the midst of the chaos, amanding voice suddenly rang out, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chapter 389 The voice came from behind, so familiar that Marguerite knew it was Frederick without having to turn around. Marguerite felt exceptionally unlucky. Out of all the times he could have chosen to show up, he had to pick the moment when everyone was questioning her. Knowing Frederick and his relentless pursuit of perfection, he was sure to criticize her mercilessly. Marguerite took a deep breath, bracing herself for the impending scolding. Seeing Frederick¡¯s arrival, the site supervisor hurried up to him, ¡°Mr. Winston, you¡¯re finally here! Please tell us what you think of this heavy-duty extractor fan on the wall. Isn¡¯t it a bit out of ce? I¡¯ve been questioning Ms. Lockwood¡¯s decision for days, but she won¡¯t listen!¡± Frederick strolled over to Marguerite, turning to look at her with a calm andposed expression.. Marguerite met his icy gaze without a word. ¡°What¡¯s the point of installing an extractor fan?¡± This wasn¡¯t Marguerite¡¯s area of expertise, so exining it made her feel incredibly uneasy, ¡°I n to ce air fresheners, which are also formaldehyde eliminators, in each room. Then, if we close the windows and turn on the extractor fan, it could speed up the air cirction in the room.¡± Frederick almostughed at Marguerite¡¯s exnation. Suppressing his amusement, he countered, ¡°Close the windows and turn on the extractor fan?¡± Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure what she had said wrong, and she nodded sullenly. Chuck, standing behind them, couldn¡¯t help butugh. Marguerite was utterly confused. Since she started work today, she had been questioned from all sides, but no one had told her what she was doing wrong. Her rising frustration was evident in her voice as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with what I¡¯m doing?¡± ¡°You¡¯re creating a death trap, do you know that?¡± Frederick scoffed. ¡°Where¡¯s the death trap?¡± Frederick was taken aback, unable toprehend how Marguerite could be so obtuse. ¡°Marguerite,¡± Chuck interjected, ¡°let¡¯s set aside the issue with the extractor fan for a moment. If you close the windows, how is the air supposed to circte?¡± Marguerite tried to exin, ¡°I have the air fresheners that can absorb the methanal!¡± Chuck was left speechless by Marguerite¡¯s wed reasoning. He nodded and gave Marguerite a thumbs-up, ¡°Brilliant! Truly brilliant, Marguerite You are absolutely entertaining!¡± Hearing this, Frederick¡¯s gaze turned icy, fixing Chuck with a lethal stare. Chuck felt a chill run down his spine. Mr. Winston¡¯s gaze was like a loaded gun, ready to riddle him with holes. Damn it! How could heugh at Marguerite in front of Mr. Winston? Even though he was being sarcastic, Marguerite was once Mr. Winston¡¯s woman, and he wouldn¡¯t want anyone tough at her for sure. So, hisment was indeed a bit careless¡­ Frederick nced at Marguerite, feeling utterly defeated by her logic. Was this how the high-priced formaldehyde elimination team he hired worked? They were messing things up! Frederick had intended to take this opportunity to embarrass Marguerite. The words of humiliation had been brewing in his mind. However, inexplicably, he found himself unable to bring himself to hurt her. This feeling of helplessness reminded him of when he first met Marguerite three years ago.¡± He chose his words carefully and began again, ¡°It¡¯s had been three years, but you have no progress. Didn¡¯t Maurice teach you to do your research before starting a project?¡± Marguerite felt insulted, muttering resentfully, ¡°I didn¡¯t need him to teach me. Besides, what does it have to do with you?¡± I¡¯m your client. Are you saying I can¡¯tment on your work?¡± Marguerite was taken aback, feeling cornered. ¡°Were all your previous clients introduced to you by Maurice? If you rely on men to get things done, you¡¯ll be discarded sooner orter.¡± She had never relied on Maurice! So, there was no question of being discarded or not! Couldn¡¯t Frederick just speak nicely? Did he have to embarrass her in front of everyone to feel satisfied? However, it was ultimately her failure to deliver that gave him the upper hand. She had no choice but topromise, although she couldn¡¯t soften her tone, ¡°Then tell me, Mr. Winston, what should I do next?¡± Marguerite¡¯s raised voice filled the room with tension. The workers nced between Marguerite and Frederick, observing the unfolding drama with interest. Frederick, however, withdrew his gaze and started walking downstairs. After taking a few steps and noticing that Marguerite wasn¡¯t following him, Frederick stopped and turned to look at her, asking, ¡°What are you waiting for? Come here!¡± Marguerite stared at him. Why was he being so gruff? He hadn¡¯t asked her to follow him! But when it came to Frederick, Marguerite was always a pushover. So she forced a smile, gritted her teeth and responded, ¡°Certainly, Mr. Winston.¡± Chapter 390 Marguerite followed behind Frederick, her mood as gloomy as a rainy day, as they headed to the makeshift office by the construction site. The office was nothing more than a temporary space put up with wooden nks. The lighting was poor, and the furniture was bare bones. But when Frederick sat down at the desk, he seemed to glow like antern in the dark. As she looked at him, an old saying came to mind: a diamond in the rough. However, she wasn¡¯t in the mood to appreciate his good looks. He had just given her a good scolding, and she was still bitter about it. Without any further orders from him, Marguerite just stood there, unmoving. She watched as Frederick pulled out arge blueprint and started sketching with a freshly sharpened pencil. He was utterly focused, his eyes never leaving the paper. He had a noble, aristocratic air about him, yet he wasn¡¯t soft or weak. His sharp features and the way he held the pencil, firm and confident, made him seem more like a king overseeing his kingdom. After about ten minutes of standing, her legs began to ache. Finally, Frederick put down his pencil, looked at Marguerite, and coldly ordered, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Marguerite walked over with her head down, only to see that the nk piece of paper had turned into a detailed 3D blueprint of a building. And it was incredibly well-done! The building was a massive fifty stories tall, covering an area of 25,000 square meters! And he had managed to sketch out its entire internal structure with incredible precision in just ten minutes! Was he even human? Marguerite leaned on the desk with one hand and rested the other on the back of Frederick¡¯s chair. She bent slightly, leaning in to get a better look. She was so engrossed in the blueprint that she didn¡¯t realize how close she was to Frederick. He pointed towards the left side of the blueprint, ¡°This is the venttion system that connects the entire building. There¡¯s a control valve on every floor.¡± Venttion system? Control valves? An idea suddenly popped into Marguerite¡¯s head. She leaned in even closer, inadvertently bringing herself even closer to Frederick, ¡°So, we could ce air fresheners that eliminate formaldehyde in the valves. That way, when the venttion system is activated, it will spread the fresheners throughout the building, speeding up the removal of formaldehyde!¡± Frederick looked surprised, because he had merely been exining the building¡¯s structure to her and hadn¡¯t fully expressed his idea yet, but she had managed to guess his thoughts and borate on them! Not many people could read him so well. He couldn¡¯t help but express his appreciation, ¡°You¡¯re quite clever.¡± They both froze at his words. Marguerite couldn¡¯t believe that Frederick was praising her. She turned to look at him, only to find his gaze already on her. Their eyes met, creating an awkward tension. What made her heart flutter even more was the fact that they were so close to each other. His nose was nearly touching her face. Frederick¡¯s warm breath sent a rush of heat through Marguerite, making her breath hitch and her heart pound. But she couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t push him away. Her gaze slipped from his eyebrows down to his lips¡­ Damn it! She wanted to kiss him so badly! No one knew how much she suffered in the past three years. Many times she had dreamt of him, but she would always wake up before anything could happen. And each time she was left grasping at empty memories. But now, the man who haunted her dreams was right in front of her. How could she not want him? After a moment of internal struggle, her emotions won over logic. Marguerite¡¯s feelings were a whirlwind of anticipation. She was ready to throw caution to the wind. Closing her eyes, she leaned in for a kiss¡­. Chapter 391 Unbelievably, the unexpected happened again. ¡°Mr. Winston, the venttion system needs¡­¡± Chuck¡¯s voice suddenly stopped, Marguerite¡¯s eyes opened wide as she straightened up in surprise, quickly moving to the corner of the room. She shot Chuck an awkward nce, making him feel both embarrassed and ufortable. ¡°Don¡¯t you know to knock first?¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was displeased, dark and chilling, even Marguerite felt a cold shiver down her spine. ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯m sorry! I¡­ I was careless!¡± Chuck apologized hastily, bowing his head and quickly heading out the door, ¡°The weather is nice today, and I¡¯ll go out and enjoy the sun! You two continue¡­¡± Chuck disappeared in an instant, and the room returned to its former silence. But the atmosphere couldn¡¯t return to the romantic vibe it once held. Instead, it was filled with never-ending awkwardness. Marguerite stood with her back to Frederick, feeling as if she had a thorn in her side. ¡°Marguerite.¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was t. ¡°Huh?¡± Marguerite turned mechanically, only to see Frederick leisurely watching her, a slight smirk ying on his lips, giving off a devilish charm. His gaze was deep, ¡°Did you understand what I said earlier?¡± Marguerite was confused, ¡°What did you say?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes hardened, and he impatiently tapped the blueprint, ¡°The venttion system!¡± Marguerite immediately understood, ¡°Got it.¡± She timidly walked over, only to be reprimanded by Frederick, ¡°Focus on your work, and stop daydreaming.¡± Marguerite knew Frederick was referring to her earlier behavior, her cheeks flushed more fiercely. Was he was angry? She nced at Frederick from the corner of her eye, surprisingly, she saw no signs of displeasure on his face. Could it be¡­ No! How could that be?! How could Frederick have feelings for her? He probably can¡¯t stand her! Marguerite shook her head, quickly regaining herposure, and focused her attention back on the blueprint. But she had to admit, it seemed that only when she was working under Frederick, her potential could be maximized. Also, she seemed to always understand Frederick¡¯s thoughts. She remembered three years ago, when Maurice revealed Frederick¡¯s loss of smell, causing the wholepany to be in turmoil. At that time, Frederick proposed to apologize, but everyone doubted his intention, only she understood the meaning behind his action, Such sweet memories, but no matter how sweet they were, they were in the past. She would not have the chance to work with him again, after this cooperation, she probably wouldn¡¯t cross paths with Frederick anymore. Thinking of this, a sense of loss swept over Marguerite. She rolled up the blueprint on the table with a forced smile, ¡°I¡¯ll hand these blueprints to the site supervisor, we¡¯ll start work again in the afternoon.¡± As she was about to leave, a phone call came in. She immediately answered the call, and the next second she heard Hannah¡¯s anxious voice, filled with a cry, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, pleasee back quickly, the boss has sold LuxeScents International to a man named Mr. Charles!¡± Chapter 392 Marguerite was so stunned by the sudden news that she didn¡¯t even have time to bid Frederick goodbye, instead rushing out in a blind panic. Frederick¡¯s eyebrows knitted together in confusion as he instinctively moved to the window, quickly spotting Marguerite hailing a cab and speeding off away from the construction site. Chuck re-entered the scene at that moment, ¡°Mr. Winston, Marguerite just left. Should we continue the work upstairs?¡± ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± As Chuck turned to go ry themand, Frederick¡¯smanding voice echoed once again, ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Mr. Winston, do you need anything else?¡± Frederick paused momentarily, then asked in a neutral tone, ¡°What¡¯s going on with her?¡± Her? Was Mr. Winston referring to Marguerite? ¡°I just heard that Maurice sold LuxeScents International. Marguerite probably just found out about it and is rushing back.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes clouded over with an emotion Chuck couldn¡¯t decipher. Could it be that there was some rekindled romance between Mr. Winston and Marguerite? Seizing the opportunity, Chuck decided to push further. He feigned sympathy, ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t expect Marguerite to care so much. You were gone for three years, and she stayed in thepany the whole time. It hasn¡¯t been easy for her. Mr. Winston, aren¡¯t you going to help her?¡± Chuck meant to support her, but his words only seemed to further agitate Frederick. ¡°Don¡¯t you have nothing better to do?¡± Chuck stuttered under Frederick¡¯s intense re, ¡°¡­I just feel bad for Marguerite, because she¡¯s about to lose her job.¡± Frederick scoffed, his lips curling into a cruel grin, ¡°She deserves it!¡± Chuck was confused. Was Mr. Winston still holding a grudge against Marguerite? Then what was going on earlier? Even if Marguerite initiated it, but Mr. Winston didn¡¯t push her away! Now, even the long-time associate Chuck was thoroughly confused about Frederick¡¯s feelings. Half an hourter, at LuxeScents International.. As soon as Marguerite got off the cab, she ran towards the CEO¡¯s office. Just as she got off the elevator, she saw Maurice and a stranger poring over a contract. The stranger was about to sign his name with a pen he pulled from his pocket.. Marguerite rushed forward to stop him, but it was toote. The moment she burst into the CEO¡¯s office, the stranger had just signed his name. Maurice and the stranger both turned to look at the out-of-breath Marguerite, who marched straight up to Maurice and asked, ¡°Did you sell LuxeScents International without my consent?¡± Maurice retorted, ¡°LuxeScents International is a subsidiary of the Winston Group. As the head of the Winston Group, I have every right to deal with it as I see fit.¡± Marguerite was livid, ¡°But our coboration with Thunderbolt Enterprises isn¡¯t over yet!¡± ¡°Mr. Charles will handle the rest.¡± Maurice remained calm throughout. Maurice, are you out of your mind?¡± Before the two could argue further, the stranger stepped in. He extended his hand to Marguerite and introduced himself, ¡°Hello Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯m Wade Charles. I¡¯ve heard so much about you, and you¡¯re even more beautiful in person. Wade Charles? The name sounded familiar. Marguerite turned to look at him. Despite his yboy looks, he seemed friendly Marguerite immediately pleaded, ¡°How much did you pay for it? Can you sell it back to me?¡± Wade withdrew his hand awkwardly, nced at Maurice, then turned back to Marguerite. ¡°I didn¡¯t buy thepany to make money. My father thinks I¡¯m aimless, so I bought apany to please him.¡± Marguerite was getting desperate, ¡®Out of all thepanies, why LuxeScents International?¡± ¡°Because LuxeScents International has potential!¡± Marguerite was at a loss for words. With the contract signed and no room for negotiation, Marguerite was at rock bottom. She slumped onto the sofa, tears welling up in her eyes. Her coboration with Frederick was abruptly ended, and she couldn¡¯t even save LuxeScents International. Everything ended so suddenly. Maurice walked over to Marguerite and suddenly gripped her shoulder, ¡°Marguerite, it¡¯s time you ertded things with Frederick.¡± ¡°Can you stop interfering in my life? Maurice tightened his grip, causing Marguerite to wince in pain. ¡°In a month, we¡¯ll be getting married.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, I won¡¯t marry you!¡± I¡¯m informing you, not asking for your opinion.¡± ¡°Even if you dragged me there, I would never go to the city hall with you!¡± Seft words didn¡¯t work, so he¡¯s resorting to force? Well, she wouldn¡¯t give in! Maurice justughed, ¡°Do we really need to go to City Hall to get married, Marguerite? Oh, you¡¯re too naive. If I had the power to marry you off to Frederick three years ago, then I certainly have the means to make you my wife!¡± Chapter 393 Wade had barely stepped out of the headquarters of LuxeScents International when he dialed Robert¡¯s number. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, thepany takeover isplete.¡± ¡°Already? That was quick.¡± Wade lit up a cigarette on the sidewalk, ¡°I bet Maurice was itching to offload LuxeScents International. The moment I approached him, he practically jumped at the offer.¡± ¡°Have you signed the contract?¡± ¡°Signed and sealed. The funds have all been transferred.¡± Robert was unable to hide his excitement, ¡°Good job.¡± However, Wade was still curious about Robert¡¯s intentions, ¡°Tell me, Mr. Fitzgerald, why did you buy Marguerite¡¯spany? Isn¡¯t Marguerite Mr. Winston¡¯s ex-wife?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern. Just keep quiet about my involvement. Maurice can¡¯t know I¡¯m behind this purchase. Gotta go.¡± Just as Robert was about to hang up the phone, Wade interjected, ¡°Hold up, hold up. There¡¯s some juicy gossip I need to share. As I was leaving, I overheard Maurice talking about marrying Marguerite. He seemed quite adamant. It looks like he¡¯s going to make her an offer she can¡¯t refuse. Isn¡¯t it strange? Didn¡¯t Marguerite run to Maurice after Frederick left the country? Why haven¡¯t they married yet?¡± Upon hearing this, Robert was instantly incensed, even his usually calm demeanor couldn¡¯t keep him from swearing. ¡°That¡¯s bullshit! Who said Marguerite ran to Maurice? Wade was taken aback, ¡°That¡¯s the word around town!¡± That¡¯s just Maurice¡¯s fucking wishful thinking. He¡¯s nning a wedding? Over my dead body. Gotta go.¡± Robert angrily ended the call, leaving Miley Goldie, who was beside him, in shock. She quickly tried to soothe him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no way Marguerite would marry Maurice.¡± Robert calmed down, but he was clearly conflicted, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s right, what we¡¯re doing, buying Marguerite¡¯spany?¡± Miley reassured him, ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea. Once Marguerite is out of work, she¡¯ll have to find a new job. That¡¯s when you can get her a position at Frederick¡¯spany.¡± ¡°What if Maurice offers her a job at hispany?¡± Miley shook her head, ¡°Marguerite would rather starve than work with Maurice. Trust me.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Seeing Robert still troubled, Miley tried tofort him further, ¡°Stop worrying, just do as I say. It¡¯ll all work out.¡± Her words gave Robert the confidence he needed. He took a deep breath. Little did Marguerite know, the takeover of LuxeScents International was a scheme concocted by Miley and Robert to bring her and Frederick together. They just hoped that this time the two would seize the opportunity and not let it slip through their fingers again. Robert turned to Miley and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to find portrait artist Terry for me? Any luck?¡± Miley was caught off guard. Uh¡­ Portrait artist Terry. Teresa has been resting for quite some time now. Perhaps she¡¯s ready to start takingmissions again? Robert had been preupied with the search for his sister, leaving early anding homete every day. It was heart-wrenching to watch. Perhaps it was time to ask Teresa? Before anything was confirmed, she couldn¡¯t give Robert a definite answer, so she vaguely responded, ¡°I¡¯m still looking. Don¡¯t worry. Besides, didn¡¯t you find your sister¡¯s old gold bracelet? Did you hear anything from the seller?¡± The mention of this irked Robert, ¡°Don¡¯t remind me. The bracelet has changed hands at least a dozen times. I couldn¡¯t find the original¡¯seller. Now, all I can hope for is Terry.¡± Miley tightened her grip on Robert¡¯s arm, offering more constion, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find Terry. And we¡¯ll find your sister.¡± Robert let out a sigh, his eyes reflecting his weariness, ¡°I hope so.¡± ¡°By the way, isn¡¯t Frederick taking Hayes and Manley for a bone age test tomorrow? Is the hospital appointment all set?¡± Robert pped his forehead, ¡°I almost forgot about that! I¡¯ll contact the hospital right away Chapter 394 The following morning at Sapphire Valley Estates, Hayes and Manley had finished their breakfast, and Yuna eagerly offered to personally take the boys to school. ¡°Freddie, from now on MI be the one dropping off and picking up Hayes and Manley from school. I don¡¯t trust the chauffeur to do it.¡± Her status in the mansion was already shaky after the scandal of her mistreating Hayes came out, courtesy of Teresa. The added blow of yesterday¡¯s birthday party only made things worse. Terrified of being thrown out of the mansion, Yuna was eager to establish herself as a caring mother. Frederick didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that today.¡± ¡°No need?¡± Yuna asked, surprised. ¡°But it¡¯s a school day.¡± Jocelyn, delicately holding her spoon, gently sipped her bird¡¯s nest soup, ¡°Hayes and Manley have to have their bone age tested today, I¡¯ve already notified the school.¡± Bone age test? That meant drawing blood! Yuna felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff. Frederick had never mentioned this before, she had assumed he had forgotten. But it seemed he had everything prepared. Damn it! The bone age test waspletely unexpected, and she was not prepared at all. Yuna, nervous and desperate, tried to dissuade Frederick, ¡°Freddie, why don¡¯t we have the family doctore to the house for the test? It would be less trouble than going out. Besides, they have school today, they would miss their sses.¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick looked at her, his voice full of contempt, ¡°Since when have you cared so much about their schoolwork? Haven¡¯t you often let Manley skip school?¡± Yuna was taken aback, unable to respond. Her nervousness was so obvious it was painful. Her trembling hands rested on the table. Frederick noticed her unusual behaviour. He sensed something was wrong, so he asked, ¡°Why are you so nervous about a bone age test?¡± Of course she was nervous! Once the hospital drew Hayes¡¯ blood, it would automatically be matched with Marguerite¡¯s blood type, and then it would be toote to do anything. Yuna quickly denied it, ¡°Freddie, I¡¯m not nervous. I was just thinking about something else. But since they¡¯re having the bone age test, as their mother, I should apany them.¡± She couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing. She had to think of a way to prevent this from happening. Meanwhile, at Emerald Meadows. Teresa had been sent to kindergarten by the maid, Nadine, and Maurice had already left for the office. The mansion was empty except for Marguerite. Without LuxeScents International, she felt lost and bored, devoid of any motivation in life. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Robert. ¡°Hello?¡± She answered tentatively. Robert¡¯s voice was as gentle as ever. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you so early, Marguerite. I was hoping to borrow something from you.¡± ¡°Borrow something? What do you need?¡± ¡°Pr Radiance.¡± Marguerite was shocked. How did Robert know she still had a few bottles of Pr Radiance? But then she remembered, Miley was Robert¡¯s girlfriend, and she probably told him everything. Marguerite was confused. ¡°What do you need the perfume for?¡± Robert chuckled awkwardly, ¡°As you know, Frederick has lost his sense of smell, but he can still smell Pr Radiance, the one you made. As his psychologist, of course, I¡¯m concerned.¡± Marguerite did not expect that answer. I¡¯m only using the Pr Radiance to assist his treatment, don¡¯t misunderstand. If you agree, could you please deliver it to thepany? Frederick is not there, and I can¡¯t leave.¡± Marguerite thought for a while, and finally agreed. She quickly hung up the phone, took out a bottle of Pr Radiance, and hurried to Thunderbolt Enterprises. Robert received her in the CEO¡¯s office and they chatted casually. He wanted Marguerite to stay at Thunderbolt Enterprises, but first, he had to deal with Frederick. He would definitely refuse if he asked directly, so he had to subtly influence him. And this bottle of Pr Radiance was the key Robert had thought of. Marguerite didn¡¯t stay long in the CEO¡¯s office. Just as she was about to leave, she received a call from Maurice, ¡°Marguerite, get to The As Private Hospital immediately. There¡¯s a child whose blood type highly matches your DNA!¡± Chapter 395 It was a match! A child¡¯s blood type finally matched her own DNA! Could it be her son? Nothing could be more exciting! Marguerite Lockwood quickly excused herself from Robert Fitzgerald and began to walk away as she spoke with Maurice Winston on the phone, ¡°Great! I¡¯ll be right there!¡± However, Maurice on the other end seemed hesitant, ¡°I¡¯m tied up at the moment. You go ahead to the hospital, I¡¯ll meet you there after I¡¯m done here.¡± Marguerite fell silent. Was her son¡¯s whereabouts less important than Maurice¡¯s work? Was he even the child¡¯s father? Marguerite was upset, but she knew her priority was to find her child. Without saying much to Maurice, she hung up and prepared to leave in a hurry. She practically ran into the elevator, but as she left the elevator, she saw all the staff running up the stairs. And the sudden rm startled her, who was already on edge! What was happening? Was there a fire? Why were they running upstairs instead of outside? Marguerite was bewildered, but she had no time to figure it out. She had to get to the hospital to see her son, so she bolted towards the exit. But when she reached the door, it wouldn¡¯t budge. It seemed to be locked. Was the door broken? Summoning all her strength, she pulled it a couple more times, but it still wouldn¡¯t open! Damn it! Seeing Marguerite struggling with the door, the receptionist came over and exined, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, there¡¯s been a level one alert in thepany. Once the rm goes off, the doors can¡¯t be opened.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be opened?¡± Marguerite turned around in disbelief. This was the worst time for something like this to happen. She was frantic! What could trigger an rm? Is there a fire? Does this building have a backdoor?¡± The receptionist shook her head, looking troubled: ¡°It¡¯s not a fire. It could be a leak of sensitive information, a cyber-attack, or an internal mole. We¡¯re not sure what¡¯s going on right now. As for a backdoor¡­there is one, but it¡¯s locked as well. Maybe you should wait upstairs.¡± ¡°Wait? I can¡¯t wait! I need to leave immediately! I have a very important matter to attend to!¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, her face turning red with anxiety. ¡°Only Mr. Winston can unlock this door, Ms. Lockwood. But he¡¯s not in the office, you¡¯ll have to wait for him.¡± Wait for him She might have to wait forever! Marguerite was desperate to see her son, she couldn¡¯t spare another minute. Looking around, she noticed a bar stool in the waiting area. The long, sharp legs of the stool seemed like a perfect tool. Without a second thought, Marguerite picked up the stool and mmed it against the ss door. Ah- The receptionist¡¯s screams mixed with the sound of the stool hitting the unyielding ss door, which showed no signs of cracking. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, stop! You¡¯re going to hurt yourself! Put that down!¡± The receptionist cried out in panic, but Marguerite ignored her, continuing to smash at the door. The power of a mother¡¯s love was unpredictable. At that moment, Marguerite knew she would do anything to see her child. She had been searching for her son for three years, now that she had a lead, she couldn¡¯t afford any setbacks. She wished she had wings so she could fly straight to her child, to see how he had grown, whether he was healthy, whether he was pretty! As Marguerite was about to m the stool against the door once more, Robert, who had rushed over, grabbed her arm, ¡°Marguerite! Stop!¡± Chapter 396 There was a mole in thepany, and all the executives were in an emergency meeting. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, security informed them that a woman was smashing on the door downstairs. Everyone thought it was thepany¡¯s mole trying to escape, but when Robert went downstairs to check, he found it to be Marguerite! 1 need to get out! I have an urgent matter!¡± The receptionist, seeing the situation, immediately grabbed the stool from Marguerite¡¯s hand. It was then that Robert noticed that Marguerite¡¯s palms were all scraped and bleeding in some ces. This crazy woman, she really didn¡¯t care about her own life! ¡°Calm down, thepany is under cyber attack. Your reckless behavior could make people think you¡¯re the hacker! Come with me upstairs to take care of those wounds.¡± As Robert tried to lead her away, Marguerite recoiled, wrenching her arm from his grasp, ¡°What have yourpany¡¯s problems got to do with me? Nothing is more important than my son!¡± Robert frowned, questioning, ¡°Your son?¡± Given the urgency of the situation, Marguerite quickly exined, ¡°Maurice told me, my missing son, he might be in the hospital right now.¡± Suddenly, Robert understood Marguerite¡¯s desperation. Because like him, Marguerite was also drowning in the pain of losing a loved one. Over the years, he had also devoted countless efforts to finding his younger sister, just like Marguerite. He understood Marguerite¡¯s feelings all too well, naturally feeling a sense of empathy. So, Robert softened his tone, but had to tell Marguerite a harsh reality, ¡°Marguerite, I understand how you feel. But this ss door is bulletproof, you won¡¯t be able to break it. You need to stay here, wait for Frederick toe, he will let you leave. I¡¯ll rush him right now!¡± Meanwhile, at The As Private Hospital. Hayes and Manley had already drawn blood and were now in the CT room for a bone scan. Yuna was pacing anxiously, her heart racing. She felt helpless and decided to call Barnes. Since he knew about the children¡¯s bone age test, he must know a solution! But before she could dial his number, Frederick¡¯s phone rang. She saw him tense up, his sharp voice echoing, ¡°A mole? Immediately seal allpany exits and cut offmunication signals!¡± Yuna slowly lowered the hand she was about to use to dial. As long as she could get Frederick out of the hospital, she could deceive him! As for Marguerite, whether she received the news or not was irrelevant. She was sure she could find a way to get rid of that annoying woman!¡± So, Yuna stepped forward, feigning concern, ¡°Freddie, is something wrong at thepany?¡± Frederick¡¯s face was grim. ¡°Yes.¡± He nced at the CT room and checked his watch, seemingly torn. Yuna seized the opportunity to say, ¡°Freddie, you should rush back to thepany. The bone age can be tested anytime, but now is a critical moment, thepany shoulde first.¡± Frederick looked at her intently. Yuna¡¯s unusual behavior today had aroused his strong suspicion. This woman seemed very reluctant to let the two children take the bone age test? Yuna seemed to sense his suspicion and hastily exined, ¡°Freddie, both children just turned three a few days ago, their immunity is still low, they need to get a vine every six months. I didn¡¯t want them toe here today because it¡¯s full of viruses in the hospital. I¡¯m afraid it might affect Hayes and Manley¡¯s health.¡± Chapter 397 Frederick hesitated, ncing at her before finally striding away with long, decisive steps. With a sigh of relief, Yuna watched him go. But the weight in her heart hadn¡¯tpletely lifted, when out of nowhere, Barnes, in a baseball cap, appeared. Startled, Yuna demanded, ¡°Tve already given you the money, what more do you want?¡± To her surprise, Barnes raised his voice, ¡°You only gave me a quarter of a million, Yuna,you dared to trick me?¡± Yuna quickly covered his mouth, ncing nervously at Frederick¡¯s retreating figure. Meanwhile, Hayes and Manley were still in the CT room. She couldn¡¯t let Manley know about Barnes! She quickly pulled Barnes into a secluded corner, lowering her voice, ¡°Just leave! Once you¡¯re gone, I¡¯ll transfer the rest!¡± Casually crossing his arms, Barnes looked at her. ¡°Your kid¡¯s getting a bone age test, right? Marguerite must know about the blood type match by now. She¡¯s probably on her way here.¡± Yuna, already on edge, felt even more flustered by his words, ¡°Enough! Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m already a mess?¡± Barnes leaned in closer, voice seductive, ¡°I do have a solution, on the condition that you transfer the rest of the money now.¡± At this, Yuna¡¯s eyes lit up. Just as she¡¯d hoped, Barnes had a solution. She quickly softened her tone, taking out her phone and transferring the remaining amount to his ount before showing him the screen, ¡°The transaction takes an hour! Now start talking!¡± Barnes nced at the screen, a triumphant smile finally gracing his features. He looked around before lowering his voice again, ¡°Remember when you took the baby? Hammond helped you out with that. Now he¡¯s Maurice¡¯s right-hand man. I bet he doesn¡¯t want Maurice to find out about his past deeds¡­¡± Meanwhile, at Thunderbolt Enterprises. Upon returning to his office, Frederick was surprised to find all the senior executives gathered, and more surprised to see Marguerite among them. How did she get here? Frederick strode forward, voice sharp, ¡°Who let you in?¡± Marguerite stood up immediately, ¡°You¡¯re back? Good, open the door and let me out.¡± Her hand was wrapped in a bandage, blood seeping through the edges. Clearly, she¡¯d been injured. She got injured in his office? What on earth had happened? Robert, sensing Marguerite¡¯s urgency and fearing Frederick¡¯s interrogation might dy them further, stepped in. ¡°Frederick, Marguerite has an emergency. Please let her leave.¡± Frederick¡¯s icy gaze shifted to Robert, ¡°Did you let her in?¡± Robert nodded, ¡°I asked her to deliver something. We¡¯ll talk the restter. For now, let her go.¡± Frederick nced at Marguerite before stepping aside to let her pass. As soon as they reached the elevator, Frederick¡¯s voice echoed again, ¡°Someone reported you broke a ss door. Care to exin?¡± Marguerite turned around, baffled, ¡°You don¡¯t really think I¡¯m the hacker who broke into yourpany¡¯s system, do you?¡± Robert quickly intervened again, ¡°Frederick, Marguerite breaking the door has something to do with her lost child.¡± Frederick demanded, ¡°Let her exin!¡± Marguerite took a deep breath, clearly exasperated. ¡°I¡¯ve provided my DNA to the hospital. Any child who gets a blood test will automatically be matched against it. The hospital just informed me that theres a match. That child could be my lost one!¡± Frederick pondered her words before asking, ¡°Which hospital?¡± ¡®The As Private Hospital.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes widened in surprise hearing her answer. The As Private Hospital? Isn¡¯t that where Hayes and Manley were getting their bone age tested? Frederick quickly took out his phone, his gaze on Marguerite threatening, ¡°I¡¯ll verify this with the hospital myself! But if you¡¯re lying, you should know the consequences!¡± Chapter 398 ¡°Damn it,¡± Frederick muttered, dialing the number for The As Private Hospital and setting the call to speakerphone. After two rings, the call was promptly answered. ¡°Hello, Hematology Department at The As Private Hospital.¡± Frederick wordlessly held out the phone towards Marguerite, who quickly took over the conversation, ¡°Hello, Doctor. This is Marguerite. I had my DNA analyzed at your hospital and received a notification that a child¡¯s test results match mine. Is the child still at the hospital?¡± There was a beat of silence on the other end before the doctor began to stammer, ¡°Ah, Ms. Lockwood¡­ there seems to have been a mistake.¡± Marguerite¡¯s head reeled as if struck by lightning. She nced at Frederick, whose icy gaze made her feel as though she had been plunged into the Arctic. Ignoring the chill emanating from Frederick, she pressed on, ¡°How could there have been a mistake? You called Maurice, and he informed me.¡± The doctor apologized profusely. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, we¡¯re truly sorry. There was indeed a mix-up, butter we sent a text message to rify.¡± A text? Marguerite immediately checked her phone and sure enough, there was a message from the hospital. In her anxiety, she hadn¡¯t noticed it before. But how could this mistake have happened? She was certain that a child¡¯s blood type had matched hers, even if the match wasn¡¯t perfect. Despite the imperfect match, she was desperate to meet this child. As she was about to voice this, Frederick abruptly ended the call. ¡°Frederick! I wasn¡¯t done speaking!¡± Frederick¡¯s fury seemed to sear through her, making her feel small and insignificant. ¡°No matter what you say, you can¡¯t change the fact that you deceived me!¡± Marguerite was at a loss, her eyes welling up with tears, ¡°What do I need to do for you to believe me? As soon as Maurice informed me, I tried to leave, but the door was locked! I was in such a hurry that I tried break the door. I¡¯m not the hacker!¡± Frederick sneered. ¡®You expect me to believe that?¡± ¡°Believe it or not, I couldn¡¯t care less! But right now, I need to get to the hospital. My child is what matters most to me! I need to understand what happened!¡± Tears streamed down Marguerite¡¯s cheeks as she insisted, her stare defiant and resilient. She refused to be looked down upon. Frederick¡¯s heart softened at her tears, and even Robert felt ufortable. ¡°Alright, Frederick. Let Marguerite go to the hospital. I¡¯ll exin everything else to you.¡± Robert signaled Marguerite to leave. She shot Frederick a resentful look before rushing into the elevator. As soon as she was gone, Frederick felt an emptiness gnawing at him. He thought of Marguerite¡¯s tear-streaked face, and his anger had nowhere to go. He directed it at Robert instead, ¡°Do you always let my enemies off so easily? Does Miley know how good you are to Marguerite?¡± The insinuation in Frederick¡¯s words was clear, implying an inappropriate rtionship between Robert and Marguerite. Robert was unimpressed. ¡°Frederick, there¡¯s nothing going on between Marguerite and me. Don¡¯t push me!¡± Frederick scoffed, questioning Robert¡¯s statement. ¡°I¡¯m good to her out of respect for you!¡± Robert continued. ¡°But we¡¯re divorced!¡± ¡°Yes, you two are divorced. But I¡¯ve known Marguerite for three years and I¡¯ve always treated her like a sister!¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re not looking for your real sister anymore? You¡¯re adopting Marguerite as your sister?¡± Chapter 399 The provocative mes roared like a wildfire, and in the depths of both their eyes, seemed to be a line of fire crackling and burning relentlessly. Robert had never lost his temper with Frederick. He knew that despite being a business prodigy, Frederick was as naive as a child when it came to emotions. That¡¯s why he kept trying to match him with Marguerite, tolerating his temper time and time again. But what he never expected was that one day, Frederick would question the nature of his rtionship with Marguerite! At this moment, Robert felt that Frederick¡¯s sense of reason had gone missing. He found the man utterly absurd, ¡°Can you stop acting weird about me and Marguerite?¡± This was a tone of almost begging frustration. Frederick froze for a moment, for he had never heard Robert speak to him with such a tone. And it seemed like he realized that his anger-fueled words had indeed crossed a line. Robert also felt odd about Marguerite. Three years ago, he was kind to Marguerite out of respect for Frederick. But gradually, he realized that his feelings for Marguerite were not just as a friend¡¯s wife, but something more profound. However, this emotion was definitely not love. He genuinely wished that Marguerite could end up with Frederick, his best friend. Conflicts between men usuallye and go quickly. After they both regained theirposure, Robert sighed and paused before exining again, ¡°Today, I called Marguerite over because I needed Pr Radiance for your treatment.¡± ¡°Thepany was hacked, causing nearly billions of losses. The tech department traced it back to a hacker who had connections with Maurice. Marguerite had been in charge of the suburban projects and was the most likely to be in collusion.¡± Robert was incredulous and retorted, ¡°Frederick, do you really think a woman who uses exhaust fans to remove formaldehyde has the capability to do this?¡± ¡°The day before the incident, Maurice sold off LuxeScents International. But you told me Marguerite had been working there.¡± Robert was shocked because he was the one who bought LuxeScents International! He was trying to bring Marguerite into Thunderbolt Enterprises so she and Frederick could rekindle their rtionship! Who would have thought that Frederick, being so sensitive and suspicious, would turn this into a suspicion against Marguerite? Robert wanted to tell the truth to prove Marguerite¡¯s innocence. But if Frederick found out that he and Miley had plotted to set him up with Marguerite, who knows how furious he would be! If it came to that, Marguerite wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of getting into Thunderbolt Enterprises! Robert felt awkward and rubbed his nose with his fist to hide his embarrassment, ¡°Umm¡­ Frederick, the sale of LuxeScents International has nothing to do with Marguerite. LuxeScents International was bought by Wade Charles. His father thought he was idle, so he bought LuxeScents International to please his father.¡± Wade was indeed the one who bought LuxeScents International, so he wasn¡¯t lying. Yes! That¡¯s it! But strangely, the more Robert thought about it, the more guilty he felt. Frederick tilted his head, full of suspicion towards Robert¡¯s behavior, ¡°Really?¡± Robert nodded, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask him.¡± Whether or not he chose to believe, Frederick was in exceptionally high spirits after hearing the truth. He put his hands in his pockets and walked to the CEO¡¯s office, saying stubbornly. ¡°Even so, I can¡¯tpletely trust her.¡± Robert quickened his pace to keep up with him, ¡°If you¡¯re so suspicious of her, fine. Get her to work at Thunderbolt Enterprises and keep an eye on her yourself!¡± ¡°Only a lunatic like you coulde up with such a crazy idea!¡± Frederick retorted. Robert suddenly stopped in his tracks. A lunatic? Looking at Frederick¡¯s arrogant and domineering confidence, Robert couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself, ¡°I¡¯m a lunatic? We¡¯ll see who¡¯s the lunatic in the future!¡± Meanwhile, in Country Veracoria. In the dark night, behind aputer screen emitting a soft blue glow was a man with an incredibly handsome face. His thick eyebrows raised, and his eyes were deep and mysterious. Watching the numbers on his ount jump, the man¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile. He chuckled mischievously. Chapter 400 On the opposite end, at Sapphire Valley Estates. Yuna, with a heavy heart, took Hayes and Manley back to the mansion. Her emotions had been on a roller coaster ride today. She had almost blown her cover! But thankfully, Hammond was a smart man. As soon as she had mentioned Maurice, he had agreed to y along. ¡°Marguerite, you wished to find your son? Dream on!¡± With this in mind, Yuna reached out and took Hayes¡¯ hand. She had no affection for Hayes, and in fact, she wished the worst curses upon him, but she discovered that this little brat was easily swayed by a bit of kindness. She decided to spare him some affection, who knows, he might prove usefulter on. Sure enough, as soon as Yuna took Hayes¡¯ hand, Hayes immediately broke into a brilliant smile. As the trio entered the house, Yuna was surprised to see Jocelyn entertaining her parents in the living room! On seeing this, Manley, with his plump body, immediately ran over, shouting, ¡°Grandma! Grandpa!¡± Ablett, doting as ever, picked up Manley at once, even wobbling him a little. But ultimately, due to Manley¡¯s weight, Ablett nearly hurt his back. Hayes watched everything in front of him with envy. He wanted to rush over, but knowing that his grandparents didn¡¯t seem to like him much, he could only politely wave at them. While he was waving his hand, the bracelet that Teresa had given him was visible due to his sleeve riding up. As soon as Zoe spotted the golden bracelet on Hayes¡¯ wrist, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of familiarity. Why does the bracelet look so familiar? Yuna stepped forward and asked, ¡°Mom, Dad, what brings you here?¡± Zoe retracted her gaze, giving Jocelyn a meaningful nce, ¡°We need to talk to you.¡± Jocelyn immediately got the hint, set down the teapot, and conveniently got up, ¡°You guys go ahead, I¡¯ll water the nts in the backyard.* To be honest, Jocelyn didn¡¯t really enjoy interacting with the Lockwoods. She always found them to be difficult, and when she learned that they had let Marguerite wear a mask for such a long time just for Yuna¡¯s sake, she lost all respect for them. Seeing Yuna living a morous life now, Jocelyn felt even more sympathetic towards Marguerite. And Zoe didn¡¯t like Jocelyn either. As soon as Jocelyn left the room, Zoe couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at her. Feeling sour, she thought to herself, Jocelyn is nothing more than a homewrecker in the Winston family, what¡¯s with the high and mighty attitude? If Powell abandoned her back then, she probably wouldn¡¯t be living as well as she was now! ¡°Mom, Dad, what did you want to talk to me about?¡± Yuna nced at Jocelyn¡¯s retreating figure in the backyard and asked in a low voice. Not wanting to discuss it openly in front of the kids, Zoe had to beat around the bush, ¡°How¡¯s the bone age test going?¡± Yuna hesitated, then looked at Hayes, noticing that he wasn¡¯t paying attention to their conversation, she subtly nodded at Zoe and gave her a meaningful look, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s been taken care of.¡± Upon hearing this, the Lockwoods were finally relieved. They then sat back on the couch, looking as rxed as if they were in their own home. Suddenly, Zoe noticed Hayes¡¯ bracelet again, and the more she looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. She immediately called Hayes over, ¡°Hayes,e here!¡± Hayes was surprised but cautiously approached, his small face filled with confusion as he looked at Zoe Looking at the pitiful little boy in front of her, Zoe felt not a bit of sympathy, instead, she became even moremanding, ¡°Take off the bracelet on your hand and let me have a look!¡± Hayes¡¯ eyes showed a hint of disappointment, but he obediently twisted the bracelet off and handed it to Zoe. Zoe examined the bracelet from all sides, finally holding it up to the sunlight to examine the intricate patterns. Suddenly, her face paled! Wasn¡¯t this the bracelet that she had put on Marguerite¡¯s ankle when they had first brought her home years ago? How on earth did it end up on Hayes¡¯ wrist? Chapter 401 Zoe nudged Ablett immediately, staring him down before giving a knowing look towards the bracelet. Following Zoe¡¯s gaze, Ablett¡¯s eyes widened in shock upon seeing the bracelet. ¡°Where did you get this bracelet, Hayes?¡± He asked. Hayes, sitting perfectly straight next to Zoe, took a while before he uttered, ¡®Te¡­ Teresa¡­gave it to me.¡± Ablett looked stunned. Teresa? Who was Teresa? Meanwhile, Zoe held onto Hayes¡¯ bracelet without letting go. She remembered when they sold the bracelet years ago, it fetched a staggering half million dors. Now that the money was all gone, she wanted to get the bracelet back. So she held it dearly, examining it over and over again.. She nced at Ablett and sighed, ¡°This bracelet could fetch a handsome sum¡­¡± Ablett shook his head in exasperation, whispered, ¡°Can¡¯t you focus on what¡¯s important? Is now the time to think about money?¡± Zoe looked downcast. Of course, she understood Ablett¡¯s point, but this bracelet had been sold so many times before. Now, it seemed to have been sold to this Teresa, who then gifted it to Hayes. And somehow, it had found its way back into her hands. She wouldn¡¯t let this chance to make some money slip away. Yuna, standing nearby, quickly grasped her mother¡¯s intentions and bluntly said, ¡°The bracelet is a fake, an exact replica.¡± Zoe looked startled, ¡°Fake?¡± A fake wasn¡¯t worth anything! All her excitement was for nothing! Disgusted, Zoe threw the bracelet onto the floor, which made Hayes frown. He picked up the bracelet gently, checking it to make sure it wasn¡¯t damaged, before putting it back on his tiny wrist. It was a birthday gift from Teresa, his most cherished possession! The real bracelet is with Freddie¡¯s friend I heard his sister got kidnapped, and they¡¯re using the bracelet to find her!¡± Zoe and Ablett exchanged a nce, their calm shattered as their hearts sank, once again feeling uneasy. Zoe stuttered, ¡°His friend¡­ is his surname Fitzgerald?¡± Yuna looked surprised, ¡°Yes! How did you know?¡± She remembered that her parents had only met Robert Fitzgerald once, at the funeral of Laverne. They had no other connections! How did they know his surname? Zoe waspletely dumbfounded! She couldn¡¯t believe her own ears! How could she expect that Marguerite¡¯s biological brother would be friends with Frederick! But since it was a secret from over twenty years ago, Marguerite couldn¡¯t possibly know her true origins. It was impossible! Yet Zoe still cautiously asked, ¡°Who is Teresa? Why would she give the bracelet to Hayes?¡± Thinking of Teresa, Yuna sneered, her eyes full of contempt, ¡°She¡¯s Marguerite¡¯s daughter! She fancied the real bracelet at the auction. Robert, Freddie¡¯s friend, made a replica for her out of goodwill.¡± Ablett and Zoe were both stunned, as if struck by lightning. They were gripped by a powerful fear. What were the odds? Marguerite¡¯s daughter had taken a liking to the bracelet Marguerite had worn? It was a wicked fate indeed! Yuna noticed the changing expressions on her parents¡¯ faces, their growing unease. She felt a sense of unease herself and demanded, ¡°Mom, Dad, are you hiding something from me?¡± Chapter 402 By now, it seemed that there was no point in them keeping the secret any longer. If they didn¡¯t spill the beans to Yuna and she inadvertently blew their cover, it would be the end of their family! Moreover, the act of adopting Marguerite was far more serious than having her wear a disguise. If they were exposed, they would be offending two of the top families in Stonebridge City! Frederick, being Robert¡¯s friend, would never side with them! By then, even if they ran away, Robert and Frederick would definitely hunt them down! The couple quickly summoned Yuna to the front yard and anxiously locked the main door. Zoe was at a loss for words. Yuna was getting impatient, her tone was full of irritation, ¡°What¡¯s all this about? Calling me out here and not saying anything! If Jocelyn sees us, shell tell Freddie!¡± Since they had to tell her anyway, Ablett looked around to make sure no one was around and dropped the bombshell, The sister Robert is looking for, is Marguerite!¡± Yuna was taken aback and her brain froze, unable toprehend, ¡°What did you just say?!¡± Her high-pitched voice put the couple on high alert. Zoe, in her anxiety, scolded Yuna, ¡°Are you trying to get us killed? Keep it down! What if that old hag Jocelyn hear us?* Yuna rubbed her aching arm, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, ¡°How could Marguerite be Robert¡¯s sister? Aren¡¯t we twins?¡± Ablett sighed, his face twisted in distress, ¡°Marguerite is adopted. Your mother and Marguerite¡¯s birth mother look alike, and they were pregnant at the same time. Who would have guessed that you two would look exactly the same when you were born! When I went to adopt Marguerite, I was taken aback by her looks too!¡± Yuna was unable to recover from the shock. ¡°Why did you bring that bitch home in the first ce?¡± ¡°When Marguerite was born, she had a valuable bracelet on her foot, the original one on Hayes¡¯ hand. At first, we only wanted the bracelet on Marguerite¡¯s foot, not to adopt her. But who knew that the bracelet had a password and couldn¡¯t be removed immediately, so we had to adopt her along with it. Our fortune from the casino is because we sold that bracelet.¡± Yuna, shocked, stepped back until her back hit the cold wall. She felt lost and jealous, ¡°So, Marguerite isn¡¯t my twin sister, and she¡¯s the heiress of a top family in Stonebridge City, right?¡± Zoe and Ablett nced at each other and nodded in unison, ¡°Right. So you have to keep this a secret. If the Fitzgeralds find out that we adopted their heiress and treated her so badly, we¡¯ll all go to hell! Understand?¡± Yuna¡¯s face fell, and she could only express her emotions with a coldugh. Why was it that she, who looked exactly like Marguerite, was born into a lowly casino, while Marguerite was born as the heiress of a top family? It was all so unfair! But then, she looked at Zoe and Ablett with hope, ¡°Mom, Dad, since you were able to get close to Marguerite so easily back then, does it mean you had a good rtionship with the Fitzgerald family? Do they trust you? Why don¡¯t you go find the Fitzgerald family again, maybe they can help us?¡± Upon hearing it, the couple exchanged nces. Their low status in the Fitzgerald family was hard to admit, even to their daughter. Zoe cleared her throat, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think!¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± Yuna was getting anxious. ¡°Don¡¯t ask too many questions, it¡¯s not good for you to know too much. You¡¯re always around Mr. Winston now, don¡¯t let anything slip!¡± Ablett quickly took over the conversation, not giving Yuna any chance to speak. Suddenly, Yuna had a strong sense of danger. If Marguerite and Robert recognized each other, and considering Marguerite¡¯s constant contact with Hayes Winston, wouldn¡¯t it be easy for Marguerite to find Hayes with the power of the Fitzgerald family? By then, her situation would be even more difficult! She couldn¡¯t interfere with the Fitzgerald family¡¯s search for Marguerite, but she could deal with Hayes, couldn¡¯t she? Right! She absolutely couldn¡¯t let that bastard Hayes stick around! She had to find a way to get rid of this trouble! Chapter 403 Yuna brooded, her eyes taking on a stormy cast. Once her parents had left, she quickly retreated to her room and dialed Barnes number. She cut straight to the chase, Ten million, take out Hayes.¡± There was a momentary silence on the other end of the line. Then Barnes let out a sly chuckle, ¡°Sleep with me once more, and I might just consider it.¡± Yuna¡¯s fiery resolution was abruptly doused by Barnes¡¯ words Angered, she hung up, left with an unsettling feeling. Three years ago, she had slept with this despicable man. Since then, that night had be a recurring nightmare. How could she possibly agree to such an outrageous request? She¡¯d rather handle it herself. After all, she had killed before, like Laverne. Laverne¡­ Her name echoed in Yuna¡¯s mind, sending a shiver down her spine as she recalled the night of Laverne¡¯s death. Countless times, in the dead of night, Yuna was haunted by nightmares where Laverne, with blood-soaked hands, sought revenge. But what¡¯s done is done, and there¡¯s no turning back. All she could do was brace herself and keep moving forward, making mistake after mistake. Meanwhile, at the As Private Hospital¡¯s entrance, Marguerite¡¯s deste silhouette was elongated by the afternoon sun. The cold wind made her seem insignificant, like a solitary leaf floating aimlessly in the void. She was certain the hospital wouldn¡¯t make such a mistake without reason. There must be a child whose blood type matched her DNA, albeit not a perfect match. Holding on to thisst thread of hope, she went to the hospital to request the child¡¯s information, but was coldly denied due to patient privacy In desperation, she drove to the Winston Group to seek Maurice Winston¡¯s help. After all, the child was Maurice¡¯s flesh and blood, too. He had no reason not to care. At that time, Maurice was in his office, dealing with the top hacker from Veracoria His anger was palpable, his voice cold and menacing, ¡°I wanted Thunderbolt Enterprises to suffer a total loss. And you? You only managed to transfer a measly three billion from them. That¡¯s nothingpared to Thunderbolt¡¯s market value!¡± The hacker¡¯s voice on the other end of the phone was metallic and androgynous, clearly altered. Their casual tone, however, couldn¡¯t disguise their nonchnce, Thunderbolt Enterprises¡¯ security system is top-notch. Making them lose thirty billion is my limit.¡± Maurice, furious, punched the window, ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me! I heard you once bankrupted a flourishingpany when you were only fifteen!¡± But the next second, all he heard was the cold tone of a disconnected call. The hacker was elusive, and the vast Winston Group couldn¡¯t track his exact location, and even contacting him was a challenge. So once the call ended, this hacker was virtually untraceable worldwide. ¡°Damn it!¡± Maurice cursed under his breath. Hammond, reflecting on the hacker¡¯s recent activities, quickly reached a conclusion, ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯m afraid that hacker never intended to take down Frederick. He¡¯d been observing, weighing whether the Winston Group or Thunderbolt is more worth his allegiance. So if Thunderbolt continues on its current trajectory, there¡¯s a good chance the hacker will switch sides.¡± Before he could finish, the office door was pushed open aggressively Maurice was about tosh out when he turned and saw Marguerite storming in, followed by a flustered Janie who looked apologetic, ¡°Mr. Winston, I couldn¡¯t stop her. She¡­ she insisted on seeing you right now!¡± As heid eyes on her, Maurice¡¯s anger softened a bit. He instructed curtly, ¡°Close the door.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston.¡± Janie obediently shut the door and thoughtfully pulled down the blinds. Marguerite turned to Maurice, took out her phone and showed him the erroneous text message from the hospital. She was frantic, The hospital said the blood type match was a mistake, but I think there¡¯s more to Lwant you to start an investigation. Now!¡± Listening from the side, Hammond felt anxious and panic. Chapter 404 Every bit of Maurice¡¯s attention was absorbed by Marguerite. Neither of them noticed Hammond¡¯s unease at the moment, but Janie noticed his nervous face. Easy there, Marguerite. What happened?¡± Marguerite narrated the entire incident at the hospital to Maurice. Thinking she was overreacting, Maurice tried to console her, ¡°Even the best hospitals can make mistakes.¡± Marguerite was on the verge of tears. ¡°How could they just mistakenly lose a patient? Can¡¯t you just look into it for me? I beg you!¡± She had never pleaded in front of Maurice before, but when it came to their child, she was willing to set aside her pride. Over the years, Maurice had been the one searching for their missing child, with no sess. He had long given up hope. He didn¡¯t believe that a lost child could be found again, so he had gradually lost his drive. Therefore, Maurice wasn¡¯t moved by Marguerite¡¯s plea. Moreover, Marguerite¡¯s reasoning was based on her intuition rather than concrete evidence, which seemed overblown to Maurice. But seeing how distressed Marguerite was, Maurice couldn¡¯t refuse her request, at least not outwardly. He gently squeezed Marguerite¡¯s shoulder, a warm smile ying on his lips, ¡°Alright, I promise I¡¯ll look into this.¡± Maurice turned to Hammond and Janie, delegating tasks, ¡°Hammond, go to IT Department and continue to track down what happened. Janie, visit the hospital when you can.¡± Hammond, feeling guilty, hesitated before speaking, ¡°Mr. Winston, maybe I should trade tasks with Janie? This job requires technical skills, and Janie is young, so she needs the experience.¡± Maurice shot him a stern look. What a dumbass! Couldn¡¯t he see the bigger picture? The most important thing now was to deal with the hacker threat! And Hammond, being his right-hand man, was the most suitable person for the task. But now Hammond was worried about his own family affairs? Feeling the weight of Maurice¡¯s gaze, Hammond quickly apologized. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Winston. I¡¯m heading to IT Department right away!¡± Hammond turned to leave, his guilt casting a cold shadow over him. Even though he had already arranged things with the hospital, he still felt uneasy. So he needed to double-check. He had worked hard to get where he was today, from being a mere butler. He wasn¡¯t going to let his efforts go to waste! After Hammond left, Maurice turned to Janie, his tone softening, ¡°Keep a close eye on Marguerite¡¯s matter in the next few days. If you can find any leads, I will promote you and give you a raise!¡± When Marguerite left the Winston Group, it was already four in the afternoon, just in time for Teresa¡¯s school to end. With mixed feelings, Marguerite drove towards the kindergarten, eager to see Teresa. In the days when their older child was missing, it was Teresa who had brought herfort. The little girl¡¯s smile was always so bright, as if she never had a worry in the world. That made Marguerite even more eager to see her. But now, Teresa would be in her after-school Taekwondo ss. Marguerite nned to sneak in and surprise her. However, things never go as nned. Just as Marguerite arrived at the kindergarten and parked her car, she saw Teresa happily skipping out of the main gate, her hand held by a strange man. Marguerite took a closer look and found the man oddly familiar! Teresa was led into a Maybach by him, and then he got into the driver¡¯s seat. A Maybach? Wait! Isn¡¯t that Frederick¡¯s car? And that man, isn¡¯t he Frederick¡¯s driver? Why is Teresa getting into Frederick¡¯s car? What is going on? By the time Marguerite came to her senses, the Maybach was already weaving through traffic, ready to hit the highway. A sense of foreboding welled up in her heart! Without a second thought, Marguerite stepped hard on the gas and sped after them! Chapter 405 It was smack dab in the middle of evening rush hour, the streets were teeming with cars. Despite the other driver not even going that fast, Marguerite just couldn¡¯t keep up. All the way, she was very anxious, her mind racing with all sorts of spections about Frederick¡¯s motives. With their tangled history, Marguerite couldn¡¯t bring herself to think positively at all! What she didn¡¯t understand the most was that she¡¯d taught Teresa time and time again not to go off with strangers, yet there she was, hopping and skipping along, didn¡¯t look worried at all It was enough to drive Marguerite mad! Soon, the Maybach pulled into the mansion, closely followed by Marguerite¡¯s car. The security guard quickly recognized Marguerite¡¯s car and remembered Frederick¡¯s previous instructions, quickly using the remote control to close the gate. Marguerite instantly hit the emergency brake, mming down on it hard, almost hitting the iron gate. She got out of the car, anger ring up instantly, ¡°Open the gate! Let me in!¡± ¡°Mr. Winston has instructed that you are not allowed in,¡± the security guard said righteously. ¡°My daughter has been taken in there by him! Call him out!¡± The security guard was taken aback, thinking, ¡°The little girl who had beening in and out of the mansion these past few days was this woman¡¯s child?¡± The security guard couldn¡¯t help but take a second look at Marguerite. He¡¯d heard about a woman who bore an uncanny resemnce to Yuna, but this was not a mere resemnce, they were identical! If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he recognized her car, she could have just walked in and he probably would have let her! ¡°Are you even listening to me? My daughter! My daughter has been taken by your master! Let me in!¡± The security guard was drawn back by Marguerite¡¯s angry voice, he looked at the clock in the guardhouse and said, ¡°Mr. Winston will be home in five minutes, you can wait for him at the gate. But ma¡¯am, please move your car to the other side, don¡¯t block the way.¡± Marguerite was fuming. Five minutes? She could wait! She had all the time in the world! Marguerite started the engine to move the car, all the while trying to call Teresa. Her phone was switched off, adding fuel to Marguerite¡¯s conviction that Teresa must be in danger! Fear gripped Marguerite tightly. She had already lost one kid, if something happened to Teresa, Marguerite couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine how she would live on. After quickly moving her car to the other side of the road, Marguerite almost missed a step when she got out of the car. She was too worried, too scared. Soon, a luxury business car slowly decelerated and began to turn into the mansion. Through the windshield, Marguerite caught sight of Frederick and Robert in the back seat, deep in conversation. Marguerite¡¯s mind went into overdrive, with a nearly reckless abandon, she sprinted in front of the car, stretching out her arm to stop it. The sudden appearance of a woman caused the driver¡¯s heart to skip a beat, he mmed on the brakes- With a ¡°screech¡±, the car barely missed Marguerite¡¯s leg. The driver was still in shock, staring in disbelief at Marguerite outside the window. Meanwhile, in the back seat, Frederick and Robert, due to the sudden braking, were both jolted forward. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was scarier than the devilst The driver was trembling, ¡°Mr. Winston, someone stopped the car.¡± Stopped the car? Who had the guts to stop his, Frederick¡¯s car? His bloodthirsty eyes fell on the woman in front of the car, only to be shocked by what he saw, Robert also looked at the woman with her arms outstretched, then nced at Frederick, swallowed hard and looked back at Marguerite, he couldn¡¯t help eximing. Marguerite, she¡¯s really bold!¡± Chapter 406 ¡°What, have you lost your marbles?¡± Frederick mmed the car door with a resounding bang, barreling forward while shouting. But even he failed to notice the undercurrent of worry in his own voice. Marguerite, undeterred, faced up to Frederick¡¯s murderous gaze, ¡°If you hate me,e at me. Why harming my child?¡± Frederick was confused, asking, ¡°Huh?¡± Marguerite¡¯s outburst seemed to catch him off guard, leaving him momentarily tongue-tied. His stern expression shifted, reced by a flicker of surprise. ¡°What exactly have you done to Teresa? Do you find this entertaining?¡± Why were things taking such a strange turn? And what could he have possibly done to Teresa? Was he supposed to tell Marguerite that he was actually quite fond of her child? But this woman didn¡¯t give him a chance to exin, simplyunching into a tirade of usations that left Frederick feeling quite mad. His brow furrowed slightly, and he said coolly, ¡°Get a grip on your emotions, then talk to me.¡± Tears began to fall freely, and Marguerite¡¯s voice trembled with emotion. ¡°You took Teresa away. How am I supposed to keep calm? Frederick, I admit I wronged you in the past. But can you give me back Teresa? She¡¯s all I have left¡­¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes hardened. This woman¡¯s tears stirred a whirl of emotions within him. And he had to admit that Marguerite was indeed stunningly beautiful. Even tear-streaked, she was a sight to behold, her beauty heart-wrenching. Robert, standing nearby, squirmed awkwardly. He never knew how to deal with crying women and instinctively wanted to hand Marguerite a tissue. But given Frederick¡¯s presence and the fact that this man had misunderstood his earlier interactions with Marguerite, Robert decided against it. He looked at Frederick in confusion ¡°Did you.. kidnap her daughter?¡± Frederick remained silent. It seemed that his little secret with Teresa had been discovered by Marguerite. And her reaction clearly indicated that she had misunderstood his intentions. Frederick didn¡¯t bother exining, instead pulling out his phone and dialed Hayes¡¯ number, saying tersely, ¡°Get Teresa to take the call. Marguerite is waiting at the door.¡± The waiting was torturous. Marguerite paced nervously while Frederick stood by, hands in his pockets, watching her with an unreadable expression. Was she painting him as the viin? His mood inexplicably darkened, a shadow of gloom reflected in his eyes. Soon, Jocelyn appeared, holding hands with Teresa on one side and Hayes on the other, walking to the main entrance. Marguerite saw her daughter and immediately rushed towards the gate. She clung to the bars, her tears flowing freely once again, Teresa had been brought out by Jocelyn, so she should be fine¡­. Robert was left dumbfounded. He had been so keen on ying matchmaker for the two in front of him, only to find that Frederick had been bringing Marguerite¡¯s daughter his home behind her back. Just by the level of affection between Teresa and Jocelyn, it was clear they had known each other for a while. He had underestimated Frederick! ¡°Mummy!¡± Teresa saw Marguerite and called out in a childish voice, The little girl wrestled free of Jocelyn¡¯s hand and toddled towards Marguerite, her chubby body swaddled in a pink down jacket. The security guard finally opened the door, and Marguerite rushed forward, picking her up, ¡°What are you doing here? You scared me to death, do you know that? Are you hurt? Let me Marguerite checked her little one over, a sight that stirred an unpleasant feeling within Frederick, ¡°I¡¯ve been taking good care of her. How could she be hurt?¡± Whether her daughter was mistreated or not was something Marguerite had no way of knowing. But she was certain it wasn¡¯t as Frederick said that he was treating her well Would he treat the child of his enemy well? Marguerite didn¡¯t believe it! But seeing no signs of injury and Teresa¡¯s cheerful demeanor, Marguerite decided not to press the matter. She picked Teresa up, gave Frederick a nce, and headed towards the door But Frederick¡¯s arm shot out, blocking their path, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood me. It¡¯s only fair and right that you apologize.¡± Chapter 407 Marguerite stood stunned. Although she deeply loved Frederick, it did not mean she wouldpromise without boundaries Marguerite turned her head calmly towards Frederick and said, ¡°Apologize? You kidnapped my daughter, so the one who should be apologizing is you¡± Teresa was stunned Dops, it seems mommy misunderstood! What could she do? ¡°Kidnapped?¡± Frederick raised an eyebrow, almost amused by Marguerite¡¯s usation, ¡°Your daughter was brought here in a luxury car by my people You¡¯re wee to ask her how I¡¯ve been treating her.¡± Marguerite pulled Teresa into her arms, her voice soft but firm, ¡°Sweetheart, tell mommy, did he bully you? Don¡¯t worry, mommy will protect you I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you¡± Frederick was speechless. Bully? Hurt? Marguerite¡¯s wording was quite intriguing Such a suggestive question, it was as if she was about tobel him as a ¡°bad guy¡± directly! But Frederick was not in a hurry, because how well he treated Teresa was obvious to all. Although this little one had no blood rtion to him, he truly adored her Children don¡¯t le, so he¡¯s simply waiting for Teresa to set the record straight with Marguerite At this moment, everyone¡¯s attention was focused on Teresa. Jocelyn picked up Hayes and walked over, as Robert also watched with interest. Feeling like a deer in the headlights, Teresa stammered, ¡°Hayes¡¯ daddy Hayes¡¯ daddy he.. ¡°What about Hayes daddy?¡± Jocelyn quickly asked As if she had made up her mind, the little girl suddenly became righteous. Pointing at Frederick, she said. ¡°Hayes¡¯ daddy is a big viin, he¡¯s a cheater!¡± Everyone was shocked and confused. How could a three-year-old understand what cheater represents? Such surprising words from such a young age! Robert was taken aback, almost bursting intoughter, quickly asked, ¡°Little girl, why do you say he¡¯s a cheater?¡± Because because ¡°Because on Hayes¡¯ birthday, he flirted with the woman named Yuna in front of mommy! She didn¡¯t like him since then! She didn¡¯t like this cheater daddy for a long time! ¡°Because Hayes¡¯ daddy is always adies¡¯ man! And he does it in front of so many people, shame on him!¡± Teresa almost spilled out what happened at the restaurant that day, but considering he was her father, she decided to spare his dignity But when the little girl said that everyone was stunned. What on earth was this little one talking about? Frederick¡¯s face turned even more unpleasant, a cold aura enveloping him, as if he wanted to freeze everyone into ice. But Teresa was not afraid of his icy face, she stared at Frederick and boldly said. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me with that pitiful gazel Hayes daddy, if you bully mommy, you¡¯re bullying me!¡± Pitful? Did this little girl just describe his angry, almost bloodthirsty gaze as pitiful? Jocelyn couldn¡¯t help but exchange amused looks with Robert, finding Frederick¡¯s arrogant silhouette now somewhat pathetic When did I ever bully your mommy?¡± Teresa¡¯s mouth fell open in shock! ¡°What? You don¡¯t even know where you went wrong? Hayes¡¯ daddy, you¡¯ve really disappointed me! You¡¯ve hurt me, and I hope you apologize to me. No, you should apologize to mommy If mommy forgives you, then I¡¯ll forgive you¡± It was proven that men should never try to reason with women, not even with a three-year old girl. Teresa¡¯s logic waspletely skewed by Marguerite. The little girl kept Talking, making it hard for anyone to argue Frederick red at the little girl, gritting his teeth and retorting. ¡°Dieam on!¡± Wrong? He didn¡¯t do anything wrong! On hearing this, Teresa¡¯s face fell instantly, she turned to Hayes and said, ¡°Little mute, Fl nevere to your house again!¡± She then looked at Marguerite andmanded, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go!¡± Marguerite was grateful for Teresa¡¯s courage to stand up for herself despite facing a strong opponent. She felt a warm feeling inside, nodded slightly After exchanging a look with Jocelyn and Robert, she turned and left Throughout, Marguerite did not even nce at Frederick But as they were about to step out of the door, Frederick¡¯s stern voice rang out again, ¡°Stop!¡± Teresa¡¯s heart leaped with joyl Surely it was because she said she would nevere back to the mansion again, and daddy was worried! Humpli! Daddy must be about to apologize to mommy! Thinking of this, Teresa smiled with mischief. Chapter 408 Teresa¡¯s small hand wrapped around Marguerite¡¯s neck, giving her an affectionate pat ¡°Mommy, stop! Daddy¡­ Hayes¡¯ daddy is going to apologize to us!¡± Apologize? Would Frederick apologize to her? Marguerite hesitated, but eventually halted her steps, slowly turning around The next moment, she saw Frederick¡¯s gaze fixated on her second hand car across the mansion, his voice clear and authoritative, ¡°That¡¯s my mother¡¯s car, Everyone was stunned, thinking, ¡°this man is so stubborn! Is this the time to talk about the car?¡± Marguerite remained silent, not surprised at all A month ago, Frederick asked her to return the car, but it had been postponed due to various reasons. Marguerite held Teresa in one arm, while taking out the car keys from her coat pocket with the other hand, stretching her arm straight out Her open palm still bore the blood marks from banging the door that morning. And the gauze that wrapped around the wound was long gone, ripped off when she had been steering the car vigorously while chasing her daughter here But despite Marguerite holding out the keys for a long time, Frederick did not step forward to take them, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on her injured palm Marguerite was bewildered. What was Frederick up to? He wanted her to return the car, and now that she was ready to do so, he seemed displeased? Teresa¡¯s dissatisfaction grew stronger. What a rotten dad! He¡¯s such a bad guy! Not only did he not apologize, but he also wanted to take back the car that mommy had been driving for three years! Although she did not understand why mommy always drove an old car, she knew that this was mommy¡¯s favorite car! Her dad was just too despicable! She wasn¡¯t going to like him anymore! Marguerite¡¯s arm, still holding the keys, began to ache from strain. She looked at Frederick with displeasure, demanding, ¡°Do you want it or not?¡± Frederick remained silent. The standoff between the two made the atmosphere on the scene particrly strange. and you need to leave it behind.¡± Jocelyn, seeing this, stepped forward to mediate, ¡°Since you¡¯ve been driving the car all this time, just keep it for now. It¡¯s getting dark, and it¡¯s not easy to get a cab outside¡± Marguerite thanked Jocelyn, turned around, and drove away Even though Marguerite had left with Teresa, Frederick¡¯s anger could not be quelled. More than that, he was confused. He did not understand why Teresa had suddenly turned against him! Where had he offended the kittle girl? Everyone leisurely walked towards the vi area. Jocelyn, pondering Teresa¡¯s behavior, mused aloud, ¡°Frederick, it seems that Teresa holds a significant grudge against you?¡± The little Hayes in his arms also piped up, ¡°Teresa said. daddy is¡­ cheater bad guy¡­¡± Jocelyn continued to think aloud, ¡°Thest time I saw Teresa was at Hayes¡¯ birthday party. Nothing much happened then it was just that you and Yuna were a bit affectionate? Hmm, no wonder she¡¯s calling you a cheater¡± ¡°I¡¯m not her father, so why should she be angry if I¡¯m affectionate with someone?¡± Robert, always one for a good show, couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Unless this little girl really sees you as her father!¡± Strangely, Robert¡¯s words did not upset Frederick. Instead, it stirred up a peculiar sense of aplishment, as if being liked by Teresa was some sort of vahdation for him. Frederick¡¯s mood softened a bit, but then Hayes suddenly lugged at his clothes Frederick turned his head, only to see the little guy staring at him earnestly ¡°Daddy please make up with. Teresa.¡± The stern look on Frederick¡¯s facepletely disappeared, ¡°Are you afraid Teresa won¡¯t y with you?¡± Hayes shook his head quickly, searching for the right words in his mind. Then he straightforwardly andboriously said, ¡°Teresa will y with me, but if you annoy be your may¡­ not be pleasant¡± Chapter 409 Frederic was speechless. Damn it! Is this kid really his own flesh and blood? He¡¯s constantly spouting things that make him embarrassed! A stern expression once again settled on his face as he sneered with a contemptuous curl of his lip, ¡°Just a little girl, and she thinks she¡¯s got me all figured out? Dream on!¡± In little time, the four of them were back at the mansion, with Frederick and Robert retreating to the study to handle the unexpected hacking incident that urred that morning. Not long after, Chuck came rushing in, his expression grim ¡°Mr. Winston, our tech guys say they can only trace the hacker¡¯s location to Veracoria, and it seems there¡¯s indeed some connection with Maurice. But we¡¯re still at a loss as to how they made ourpany lose three billion.¡± Frederick¡¯s face darkened, his sharp features revealing his exhaustion. He¡¯d been running around all day without any leads, and he was at his wit¡¯s end. His finger lightly massaged the spot between his eyebrows as he ordered coldly, Intensify the investigation!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Although three billion was just peanuts to Frederick, a hacker capable of triggering thepany¡¯s rm system wasn¡¯t something to be taken lightly Who was hiding in the shadows? They had infiltrated thepany, but only stole three billion. What was their motive? Frederick was at a loss. His slender finger moved to massage the corner of his eye, after a moment, he opened his eyes to see Chuck still standing there. ¡°Anything else?¡± he asked, his thin lips barely moving. ¡°Mr. Winston, there¡¯s another matter, which could be big or small, that I would like to report to you.¡± It was about Yuna. But since Mr Winston had always been indifferent to Yuna, Chuck was unsure about how to proceed, and decided to ask for Mr. Winston¡¯s opinion. ¡®Go ahead.¡± Upon receiving the order, Chuck reported respectfully, ¡°Today, while I was checking the employees¡¯ bank ounts at the bank, I noticed something unusual in Ms. Yuna¡¯s transactions. She transferred half million to an ount within two days. Could it be possible that¡­ Ms. Yuna¡­ is having a side guy?¡± Yuna wasnt actually employed at Thunderbolt Enterprises, but Frederick had given her an employee card for convenience in managing finances. Every month when it was time to pay sries, the finance department would deposit arge sum of money into her ount for her daily expenses. Chuck was checking the employees¡¯ transactions out of concern for potential inside jobs in coboration with the hacker. But he didn¡¯t expect to find anything unusual with Yuna Frederick, however, didn¡¯t seem too bothered, his reaction was casual, ¡®Don¡¯t bother with her.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± Robert, on the other hand, looked surprised, ¡°How can we ignore this?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not my wife, even if she¡¯s keeping a hundred side guys, it doesn¡¯t concern me.¡± Frederick voice was indifferent and cold, clearly not putting Yuna in his heart But Robert felt that things might not be so simple, ¡°What kind of side guy needs such a vast amount of money? I¡¯m afraid Yuna might be up to something behind your back!¡± This was something Frederick had overlooked, because he didn¡¯t love Yuna, he chose to ignore her However, since Yuna was living in the mansion, if she was up to something that could harm his interests, Frederick wouldn¡¯t let her off the hook! With this in mind, Frederick made a quick decision, ¡°Chuck, go investigate it!¡± Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± Chapter 410 An hourter, Frederick and Robert¡¯s overtime finally came to an end Robert stretchednguidly, yawned, and got up to leave. ¡°I¡¯m off. Oh, and remember to get to the office early tomorrow. We haven¡¯t done a psychological debriefing in days, I need to test your olfactory sensitivity¡± As he spoke, Robert was already making his way to the door. Suddenly, Frederick spoke up, his voice threaded with exhaustion, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Robert turned around, his eyelids heavy with sleep. He squinted at Frederick, ¡°What is it?¡± Frederick unconsciously licked his lips, finding it somewhat difficult to voice his question¡­.what kind of toys do little girls generally like?¡± Little girls? Toys? Robert¡¯s sleepiness evaporated instantly. He crossed his arms andughed at Frederick, mimicking his tone on purpose. ¡°Teresa¡¯s got you wrapped around her little finger, hasn¡¯t she?¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Cut the crap! Just tell me!¡± Robert shrugged nonchntly, grinning cheekily at Frederick, ¡°Ive never had a daughter, how would I know what she likes? But Frederick, you¡¯ve upset her, so it¡¯s your job to make it right. If I help you out, I¡¯d be taking the credit. Next thing you know, che¡¯ll be calling me ¡®daddy¡±.¡± Frederick shot Robert a frosty re, harboring a momentary fantasy of sending him off to toil away in grueling hardship! ¡°Get out!¡± After Robert left, Frederick once again found himself at a crossroads. His pride wouldn¡¯t allow him to bow down to Teresa, especially since she was Marguerite and Maurice¡¯s daughter. Why should he care if she was upset or not? The fact that he could tolerate Teresa¡¯s presence at the mansion to apany Hayes was already a significant concession. But the little girl was pushing it, even demanding an apology from him? No way! Yet, when Teresa dered that she would nevere to his house again,¡± why did his heart flutter with agitation and annoyance? Even though he knew that Teresa might have said it in a fit of anger, he still took it to heart. All he could think about as he worked was the soft, sweet sound of Teresa calling him ¡°Hayes¡¯daddy¡± Bloody hell! As he brooded, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Marguerite! [Hi, coach. Teresa told me she skipped her Taekwondo ss tonight, I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯ve already scolded her. Will this affect her chances of being elected team leader? Frederick was stunned at her message. That was¡­ unexpected. This woman was really clueless He thought his cover was blew, but she didn¡¯t notice anything amiss? Even now, she¡¯s worried about Teresa being team leader? Dumb woman! But since Teresa lied to Marguerite about skipping ss, it meant the little girl hadn¡¯tpletely turned against him. She was probably waiting for him to apologize. His annoyance slowly subsided, and Frederick almost burst outughing [The team leader election is for next semester. This term has already ended Please, Ms Lockwood, don¡¯t worry too much Marguerite on the other end was taken aback The term had ended? Even though winter break was near, she distinctly remembered that Teresa had only been attending sses for less than a week! Seemed like the Taekwondo ss started toote? Just as Marguerite was considering how to respond, Frederick sent another message. [Before winter break, we need to prepare gifts for the students. Does Teresa have any other hobbles, or any particr toy she wants?] Chapter 411 Marguerite felt that question weird The Royal Elite Preschool has never had a tradition of teachers giving gifts to students. Is this taekwondo coach new? He¡¯s actually thinking of giving gifts to students? Suddenly, Marguerite¡¯s impression of the ¡°coach¡± vastly improved. This coach truly cared about his students Marguerite started to appreciate him a bit. Expressing her gratitude, she didn¡¯t forget to subtlypliment Teresa, [Thank you. Teresa has a remarkable talent for painting. You don¡¯t need to splurge on her, basic art supplies and paints are enough ] Art supplies, paints? A mother¡¯s choice is never wrong, and Frederick knew this truth all too well. Meanwhile, the Fitzgerald Mansion As soon as Robert arrived home, his mother Penelope, who had an extremely keen sense of smell, immediately detected a unique fragrance on him, ¡°Robbie, did you wear perfume today?¡± Robert, bewildered, replied, ¡°No!¡± Perfume? In an instant, Robert smacked his forehead, realizing in shock He had casually pocketed the Pr Radiance Marguerite brought in the morning! He took out the perfume and joked with his mother, ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the nose¡± Penelope took the perfume bottle from her son¡¯s hand, sprayed it lightly into the air, and the refreshing fragrance immediately filled the room ¡°I¡¯m the CEO of Poppy Petal Fragrances, it¡¯d be a joke if I couldn¡¯t recognize this.¡± Poppy Petal Fragrances is a cosmetics brand under the Fitzgerald Group and is a leading industry yer. It¡¯s hard to describe just how deep Penelope¡¯s expertise in cosmetics is. Caling her the Einstein of the cosmetics world wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration Immersed in the aroma of the perfume, Penelope looked content. Unconsciously, a thought crossed her mind ¡°Where did you get this perfume?¡± It¡¯s not bought, a friend made it ¡°A friend? Which friend? Introduce me!¡± Seeing the eagerness in his mother¡¯s expression, Robert immediately understood Penelope¡¯s intentions and spoke candidly. ¡°What, are you looking to poach talent again? But you cant poach this one. The perfume is for Frederick¡¯s treatment, and as for the person who made this perfume, I¡¯m still figuring out how to get her into Thunderbolt Enterprises.¡± Penelope yfully smacked Robert¡¯s shoulder, retorting. Thunderbolt Enterprises is primarily in real estate. It¡¯s a crying shame to squander such a talent for perfumery in that field.¡± Listening to his mother, Robert couldn¡¯t help butugh, opling to rify things further. The person who made the perfume is Marguerite, Frederick¡¯s ex-wife. Not only you think she has talent, Frederick used to think so too. I¡¯m bringing Marguerite to hispany to give them a chance to reconnect.¡± The feud between Marguerite and the brothers of the Winston Group was well known in their social circle. Penelope had naturally heard of Marguerite¡¯s fame, but she had never met her in person. However, she generally kept out of the gossip mill. Who was right and who was wrong in these disputes, only the people involved knew best She had never met Marguerite and had no preconceived notions about her. On the contrary, having smelled the perfume Marguerite made, she was even a little curious about this young woman. A young woman who shared her taste, not having her work at Poppy Petal Fragrances seemed like such a waste. She had always been trying to find someone with exceptional talent and simr taste to join thepany Every time she thought about this, Penelope would feel a sense of loss. If Nina hadn¡¯t disappeared, she would be 25 now. She would surely have the same passion for cosmetics as I do- she were here, she would definitely be more than happy to help me out in thepany Ah, my Nina, when can I find you¡­¡± Hearing his mother say this, Robert knew she was missing her lost daughter again. His heart ached for his mother, and he felt a lump in his throat Robert reached out and held his mother¡¯s cold hand, gently caressing it, his voice firm, ¡°Mom, I will find Nina for you, I promise!¡± Chapter 412 The following afternoon at the Royal Elite Kindergarten. Since winter break was tomorrow, the school gates were especially bustling today. As soon as the bell rang, the little ones couldn¡¯t wait to dash out. Teresa, holding Hayes¡¯ hand, hopped along gleefully, her pigtails bouncing up and down alongside her. At the gate, Miley immediately waved her arm and shouted at Teresa, Teresa! I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here!¡± Miley¡¯s voice was so loud that many parents immediately moved away from her Teresa was speechless. Her godmother Miley was so embarrassing! She immediately covered her face and quickened her pace to escape, holding Hayes¡¯ hand However, she was unexpectedly scooped up by Miley, ¡°Little one! What are you hiding from?¡± Teresa pouted with a sulky expression, ¡°Miley, you¡¯re an adult, can¡¯t you act mature? You¡¯re not a three-year-old, it¡¯s disgraceful to act cute in public!¡± Miley was speechless with embarrassment. Would someone tell her, who did this cheeky little girl take after? Seeing this, Teresa grinned and sweetly said, ¡°I was just joking, Miley. You¡¯re still really cute when you act like that! But, why are you picking me up today?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I pick you up? There¡¯s a new Hello Kitty themed diner in the south of the city, I¡¯m taking you there for a treat! There are lots of toys there!¡± Miley tried her best to tempt Teresa, and sure enough, Teresa¡¯s eyes lit up! She nodded vigorously, repeatedly saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go now!¡± As Teresa was about to leave with Miley, Hayes tugged at Teresa¡¯s hand with a stubborn and serious look in his eyes. ¡­Back to my manor¡­¡± Teresa was instantly torn, ¡°But¡­ I swore I wouldn¡¯t go to your house! Unless, unless your dad apologizes to my mom, then I¡¯ll consider it!¡± Hayes looked disappointed. So, Teresa wasn¡¯t just saying she wouldn¡¯t go to the manor out of anger, she was seriously not nning on going Hayes dropped his head, let go of Teresa¡¯s hand, and stood alone at the gate. Seeing Hayes¡¯ lonely silhouette, Teresa softened, thinking he really was pitiful Looking around, she didn¡¯t see Hayes¡¯ father¡¯s caring, probably stuck in traffic For Hayes¡¯ sake, Teresa decided topromise ¡°Hey little mute, why don¡¯t youe have dinner with us Later, we¡¯ll drop you off, Ill even personally walk you into the manor. How¡¯s that sound?¡± ¡°Would my dad let me have dinner with Teresa?¡± As Hayes was pondering. Teresa had already impatiently started to push him towards the exit. ¡°Stop thinking, Miley is really nice! I¡¯ll order you your favorite chicken wings!¡± Miley looked helplessly on. Weren¡¯t chicken wings Teresa¡¯s favorite? Why were they suddenly Hayes¡¯ favorite? But then, was this the unloved Hayes of the Winston family? She had seen him in photos before, but meeting him in person today, she felt that Hayes¡¯ demeanor was very much like Marguerite, submissive yet cautious, but most simr was the strong resilience in Hayes¡¯ stubborn gaze He was Yuna¡¯s child, but he didn¡¯t seem to have any of Yuna¡¯s annoying airs about him. Chapter 413 Contrarily, Miley even thought that the child¡¯s facial expression looked more like Marguerite¡¯s Could she have been mistaken? Without giving it much thought, Miley immediately drove the two children to the children¡¯s diner in the southern part of the city The decisive Teresa ordered everyone¡¯s favorite dishes ording to her godmother¡¯s and Hayes¡¯ preferences. For herself, she ordered a pizza and chicken wings. Once the food arrived, Miley started the conversation, ¡°Teresa, have you gotten enough rest recently?¡± Teresa, mouth full of chicken wing, replied. ¡°No need to beat around the bush. You want me to take on a portraitmission, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well I really couldn¡¯t hide anything from this kid!¡± Miley thought. ¡°Will you take it?¡± Miley asked, hopeful. She quickly answered her own question, ¡°You should take it. Consider it a favor for your godfather!¡± Godfather? Did her godmother¡¯s boyfriend send her over? Teresa recalled something her mom told her about her godfather¡¯s sister going missing That must be what this was about! Teresa cleaned her hands and put down her chicken wing. ¡°Since it¡¯s my godfather asking, I¡¯ll definitely help. But before I do, I want to meet him! Call him over!¡± Miley was taken aback by how readily Teresa agreed. She quickly sent Robert a message. [Bring your sister¡¯s photo ande to the location I sent you. I found Terry¡¯] On the other end, Robert was momentarily stunned when he saw the restaurant name. It was a children¡¯s diner with Hello Kitty themed. Did Miley get it wrong? How could Terry possibly be at a children¡¯s restaurant? However, his sister was his top priority. Robert didn¡¯t think much further, took out his sister¡¯s photo, and rushed over But when he arrived and saw Miley, Hayes, and Teresa feasting, he was filled with doubt. ¡°Where¡¯s Terry?¡± Robert asked hastily Miley lifted her head, nodding towards Teresa, ¡°Right here.¡± Robert looked at Teresa, who was scrutinizing him with her arms folded. She looked like she was evaluating him ¡°You¡­are you joking, right?¡± Robert stood still as a statue, the corners of his mouth twitching in disbelief. Miley quickly pulled Robert over to sit next to her ¡°I knew youd react like this. But I¡¯m not kidding, she really is Terry! She¡¯s the one who helped me with those client requests to recreate people from surveince footage! I didn¡¯t mean to keep it from you, this little one just asked me to keep it a secret.¡± Robert was at a loss for words. Teresa instantly recognized the man before her. Wasn¡¯t he her daddy¡¯s good friend? They had just met yesterday! So, Teresa snorted dismissively. ¡°Can¡¯t a child be a portrait artist? You want to meet Terry, that¡¯s me!¡± How dare he question her? Meanwhile, Robert waspletely dumbfounded Teresa? Terry? No way! It really was her! Who would have thought that the talented portrait artist he had been looking for was Marguerite¡¯s daughter! Robert felt like he had been hit by a ton of bricks! And this little girl was happily bragging to Hayes, ¡°Little mute, do you know what a portrait artist does? They can make an old person look young, like how I can sketch what you¡¯ll look like when you¡¯re grown up! And they can recreate people from surveince footage. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t understand. Just remember, I¡¯m an incredible person! Just like you, a genius!¡± Being a portrait artist is usually a serious profession, but when attached to Teresa, the contrast was striking as she was just a little girl. Miley nudged him, ¡°Did you bring your sister¡¯s photo?¡± Robert was doubtful of Teresa¡¯s professional skills. Could she really sketch it out? Even though he was hesitant, Robert still took out his sister¡¯s photo Who would have thought that Teresa would raise her chin arrogantly and dere, ¡°I changed my mind! I¡¯m not helping you anymore!¡± Chapter 414 Robert froze as he held the photo, while Miley¡¯s face turned a shade of embarrassed red. Hastily, she said, ¡°You promised me just now! Hayes can testify!¡± Teresa shot Robert a sideways nce before returning to her fried chicken, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve changed my mind. I don¡¯t want to help anymore!¡± There must be a reason! Robert and Hayes¡¯ dad are good buddies! For Hayes¡¯ sake, please help- Please, I¡¯m begging you!¡± Miley started to coo at Teresa, trying her best to persuade her Upon seeing this. Hayes also decided to lend a hand. He gripped Teresa¡¯s arm, pointing at Robert, ¡°He is my godfather¡­ I like him¡­ help him¡­¡± Yet Teresa looked determined, as if nothing anyone said could change her mind. it¡¯s exactly because he¡¯s a friend of Hayes¡¯ daddy that I refuse to help! He¡¯s a bad guy!¡± Robert was confused Frederick is a bad guy, fine. But how does that have anything to do with him? Teresa frantically turned to Miley, warning. ¡°Birds of a feather flock together. A friend of A bad guy is also a bad guy. Don¡¯t let this man fool you!¡± Upon hearing this, Robert nearly lost his temper ¡°Little girl Why are you calling me a bad guy, too?¡± What kind of twisted logic is this? Teresa joyfully gnawed on her chicken wing, ncing at her godmother, then at Robert. An idea suddenly popped into her head, and she changed her tune, ¡°I can help, but only if you can get my mom to work at that bad guy¡¯spany.¡± In truth, Teresa already knew about Marguerite¡¯s job loss since yesterday. Because Hannah had brought a lot of her mother¡¯s stuff from the officest night. She had guessed it then. Asking her mom to work at Hayes¡¯ father¡¯spany was the solution she had been pondering over all night. Even though she despised Hayes¡¯ daddy, after all, he¡¯s her biological father. Every time she thought about it, Teresa couldn¡¯t help but soften. At this moment, Miley and Robert exchanged a look, their spirits lifting. Getting Marguerite to work at Thunderbolt Enterprises was already part of their n. Now that Teresa had the same idea, she could undoubtedly be their little helper! In this way, they could let Teresa persuade Marguerite As for Frederick, Robert would handle him. Robert grinned, eagerly asking. Two people¡¯s power is limited. Would you be willing to join us and help them?¡± Teresa blinked, thinking that her godfather sounded like a gang leader! Join them? Of course, she would join them and help! This way, she could better y matchmaker for her father and mother! Teresa was eager inside but didn¡¯t want Robert to see her anticipation. Otherwise, he might use her mother¡¯s job offer to ckmail her into drawing his portrait! She feigned calmness and nodded, ¡°Alright, Ill be in charge of convincing mom! After she sessfully gets the job, Ill consider helping you!¡± Robert extended his palm, ¡°Then let¡¯s seal the deal with a high five!¡± Teresa liked sealing deals with high five She started liking her godfather If possible, she would have liked to invite her godfather to join their ¡°Vine Whip Alliance!¡± But no, her godfather was too old to qualify for membership in the Vine Whip Alhancel¡± As Teresa thought, she extended her arm and high-fived Robert Just as their hands separated, a stern and icy voice sounded from behind, ¡°Having a secret meeting behind my back, very good¡± Everyone was stunned. Isn¡¯t that the voice of that bad guy?! Everyone turned around to see Frederick, hands in pockets, standing behind them. Frederick¡¯s gloomy gaze was fixed on the hands that Robert and Teresa had just high-fived Chapter 415 Damn it! Robert had the audacity to sneak around him and get close to Teresa! Chuck, who was holding a gigantic canvas, quickly dragged a stool between Teresa and Robert. Then, he respectfully said to Frederick, ¡°Mr. Winston, please have a seat.¡± Frederick sat down between the two with a poker face. Only then did Robert realize that this man was probably jealous! He quickly released Teresa¡¯s hand in a panic. However, when did this man get here? He had been silently watching them like a ghost. He probably didn¡¯t hear their n, did he? ¡°So, what were you guys talking about?¡± Robert breathed a sigh of relief. From his words, it was clear that he didn¡¯t know about their n. And Miley¡¯s brain remained in a state of confusion, ¡°Mr. Winston, how did you get here?¡± Frederick red at her, ¡°You took my son away and dare to ask me why I came?¡± Miley scratched her head awkwardly and tried to hide her embarrassment with an apologetic grin. In fact, Frederick was called by Hayes because Hayes knew that his dad had bought painting supplies as an apology gift for Teresa. Thinking that Teresa was there, he sent his dad the location. ¡°We¡­ didn¡¯t talk much, you arrived just as we started eating. I was just saying hi to Teresa.¡± Robert exined nervously, facing Frederick¡¯s hawk-like gaze, he couldn¡¯t help but shiver. Damn it! This man was too petty! At that moment, Frederick gave Chuck a look, and Chuck hurriedly handed the canvas to Teresa, praising Frederick extravagantly. ¡°Teresa, Mr. Winston noticed that you have a talent for painting, so he bought this canvas for you. It¡¯s a joint edition with the top artist Andie, it¡¯s very hard toe by.¡± Top artist Andie? Wasn¡¯t she her defeated opponent? Teresa nced at the canvas with disdain, refused to ept it, and deliberately raised her voice to let Frederick hear, ¡°What¡¯s so special about a joint edition? My drawing board is custom-made, and it cost a fortune when mommy bought it for me! Uh¡­ looks like the little girl was not going to forgive Mr. Winston easily. Seeing Mr. Winston¡¯s face getting worse, Chuck hurriedly added, ¡°But these painting supplies are the best in Stonebridge City!¡± ¡°My mommy bought me the best painting supplies in the world! Because they are custom-made, there is only one set in the world! That¡¯s what truly unique means!¡± Chuck was in a dilemma, he took back the canvas hesitantly and looked at Frederick, ¡°Mr. Winston, what do you think¡­¡± Robert and Miley watched the drama unfold, wondering how the famous Frederick could be cornered by Marguerite¡¯s daughter. Hayes was sweating for his dad. Teresa was determined to oppose his dad, so his dad couldn¡¯t upset Teresa anymore. Otherwise, she would really never go to the mansion again! But to everyone¡¯s surprise, Frederick was remarkably calm. He crossed his long legs, turned his head to look at the little girl next to him, and said leisurely. ¡°You¡¯ve been spending time with me longer than with Marguerite, right?¡±Was this man already starting topare himself to Marguerite in front of Teresa? Teresa didn¡¯t give in, ¡°But mommy¡¯s love for me is much more than yours! Mommy is the one who loves me most in the world, not you!¡± Frederick was neither arrogant nor impatient, ¡°I can give you things that Marguerite can¡¯t, just say it.¡± From everyone¡¯s perspective, these two werepletely on aparison spree! Teresa was immediately attracted by Frederick¡¯s words, she raised her little face, innocently asking. ¡°Whatever I want, you¡¯ll give it to me?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°If I want the stars in the sky, will you give them to me?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were sharp, he remained silent for a moment. Stars from the sky? This little girl had been watching too many dramas! Seeing that he was at a loss for words. Teresa pouted, casting a disdainful nce at him and saying. ¡°All talk, no action! Mommy was right, men are all about empty promises! Especially Hayes¡¯ daddy, his promises are lies!¡± Chapter 416 Everyone around the table froze, their brains took a full minute to process Teresa¡¯s words. She just called Frederick a liar, this was a blow to his ego, wasn¡¯t it? At that moment. Chuck could feel his hands getting sweaty from the tension, almost silently sent his condolences to Teresa. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that Teresa was Marguerite¡¯s daughter! The only ones who¡¯d dare to step on Mr. Winston¡¯s toes like that were these two people. No one else would even dare. But this little princess wanting a star from the sky did put Mr. Winston in a bit of a pickle. Even though Mr. Winston was a big-shot, he was still human. How could he possibly get a star from the sky for her? Just as everyone was trying to figure out how to diffuse the situation, a confident male voice cut through the silence, ¡°I can set up a research team for you. As soon as they discover a new asteroid, we will name it after you.¡± The room was silent. Frederick¡¯s move was unexpected! After all, naming an asteroid was a permanent honor, internationally recognized. Teresa was stunned by Frederick¡¯s proposition. Hayes¡¯ daddy was really going to name an asteroid after her? Was he really willing to do so much for her? So, did this mean he truly¡­ truly cared for her? As Teresa pondered this, a smug smile began to y on her lips, ¡°I want the star, but there¡¯s something else I want!¡± Teresa looked at Frederick, her eyes filled with a hint of avarice. Seeing Teresa¡¯s happiness, Frederick¡¯s brow softened a bit, ¡°Go on.¡± Teresa remembered the n she had discussed with her godparents, and seized the opportunity, ¡°My mommy is unemployed, I want her to work at yourpany!¡± Frederick was taken aback for a moment, then chided lightly, ¡°Greedy!¡± But Teresa scooted closer to Frederick, her chubby little hands clutching his strong arm, pleading, ¡°I am greedy, fine, I am greedy! Will you agree or not?¡± Frederick was resolute, ¡°No.¡± Within his means, he would do his best to give the child the world. But when it came to matters of principle, there was no room for negotiation. Having Marguerite work at hispany? Not a chance! Upon hearing this, Teresa immediately pushed Frederick away, her mouth pouting. ¡°You big bad wolf! I won¡¯t like you anymore!¡± With that, Teresa hopped off the bench, grabbed Miley¡¯s hand and started to walk out, ¡°Let¡¯s go! I don¡¯t want to y with the big bad wolf anymore!¡± For a moment, everyone looked at each other in disbelief. Robert watched as Miley was dragged away by Teresa,pletely puzzled. ¡°It seems this little girl really sees you as her father, otherwise why would she be so adamant about whether you love her more, or if Marguerite does.¡± Frederick thought back to the night when Teresa had asked him to admit his feelings for Marguerite, a cold smirk appeared on his lips. ¡°Huh, she wants me to be her stepdad!¡± Robert was shocked by his words. Hayes overheard their conversation, which got him thinking. If his dad was to be Teresa¡¯s stepdad, that would mean he would have to marry Teresa¡¯s mother. In that case, Teresa¡¯s mom would also be his stepmom. For some reason, Hayes really liked Marguerite. If Marguerite became his mom, she would surely be very good to him¡­ Chapter 417 Meanwhile, at the Winston Group. Just as Maurice was about to get off work, Janie burst into his office in a frenzy. ¡°Mr. Winston, I went to the hospital and indeed, there is a child whose blood type matches Mrs. Winston¡¯s.¡± Maurice was taken aback,pletely dumbfounded. He had sent Janie to the hospital to investigate, merely to put on a show for Marguerite. But he didn¡¯t hold out any hope. Who would have thought, Janie had actually uncovered something! Maurice¡¯s brows furrowed, he immediately prompted, ¡°Go on.¡± Janie raised an eyebrow, scanned the room to ensure no one else was around, and hesitated before continuing. ¡°But that day¡­ nearly a hundred children had their blood tested, so it¡¯s impossible to confirm which child it was. However, I reviewed the hospital¡¯s surveince footage and saw Hammond at the blood test department that day. Ipared the timelines and found that Marguerite received the erroneous text from the hospital right after Hammond left the blood test department. Mr. Winston, Hammond is highly suspicious! And when Mrs. Winston came to you about the matter that day, I noticed that Hammond looked very uneasy, he was particrly nervous!¡± No sooner had Janie finished speaking, Hammond burst into the room, shouting, ¡°Janie, stop ndering me! I wasn¡¯t nervous! I was worried for Mrs. Winston! You¡¯re just jealous of me because I joined thepanyter than you, yet I became the head manager while you¡¯re still an assistant, you¡¯ve always wanted to bring me down! Mr. Winston, you can¡¯t just listen to Janie¡¯s side of the story. I went to the hospital because I was sick and needed a blood test! It has nothing to do with Marguerite¡¯s child.¡± Maurice narrowed his eyes at Hammond, his deep gaze locking onto him. ¡°Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?¡± Hammond, confused, quickly shook his head, ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t! I just came in to deliver some documents and heard Janie using me. I was so taken aback that I burst in. Mr. Winston, I promise it won¡¯t happen again. But everything I just said is true!¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so? Then how do you know that our discussion was about Marguerite¡¯s child?¡± Suddenly, Hammond was at a loss for words. His rush to defend himself had inadvertently revealed more information, ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡­ I was just guessing¡­¡± Janie red at Hammond and presented more evidence. ¡°Hammond, you¡¯re quite something, your guess was spot on. But you didn¡¯t just go to the hospital that day, you also went yesterday, and again to the blood test department! What¡¯s the matter? One day¡¯s worth of blood tests weren¡¯t enough, you had to go two days in a row?¡± ¡°I went yesterday because I had something to deal with at the hospital!¡± His visit to the hospital yesterday was purely out of fear of exposure, to confirm things with the doctor! He didn¡¯t expect that Janie would find out about that too! Upon hearing this, Maurice cast a meaningful nce at Hammond, then slowly removed his silver-framed sses and began to clean them with a handkerchief. The gesture was gentle but to Hammond, it was as if Maurice was exuding a murderous aura. Then, in a maic and bewitching voice, Maurice said, ¡°Psychology tells us that the main reason a criminal returns to the scene of the crime is to see if the police have discovered anything or if there are any ws in the handling of the case, to better strategize their responses and exnations in the future.¡± Having finished cleaning his sses, Maurice put them back on, looked up at Hammond, and smiled charmingly yet menacingly. ¡°Am I right. Hammond?¡± Hammond, caught in the depths of Maurice¡¯s gaze, felt as if he was facing a formidable foe. How could he forget that before Maurice took over the Winston Group, he was a world-ss physician with psychology clinics all over the world. How could his intentions be hidden from him? But no matter what, Hammond couldn¡¯t confess! If he confessed, everything he worked so hard for would go up in smoke! ¡°Mr. Winston! You¡¯re right! But I¡¯m not a criminal, and I¡¯ve done nothing to harm Mrs. Winston! Her child has nothing to do with me! Mr. Winston, please believe me!¡± In desperation, Hammond knelt before Maurice, begging for mercy. ¡°So, you don¡¯t know who Marguerite¡¯s lost child is, right?¡± Thinking that Maurice believed him, Hammond shook his head fervently, ¡°No! I really don¡¯t know, I have no idea!¡± Maurice coldly withdrew his leg. ¡°Get him out of here! Take good care of him until he talks!¡± At hismand, a group of bodyguards, as disciplined as special forces, marched in, emotionlessly dragged Hammond away, and left without a trace. Chapter 418 A half-hourter, at Emerald Meadows. As soon as Maurice walked into the room, he saw Marguerite bustling about in the kitchen. She was wearing a beige silk gown, the material draped perfectly over her figure, and the length of the gown entuating her curvaceous form. Maurice¡¯s eyes narrowed as he moved in to wrap his arms around Marguerite¡¯s slender waist from behind, ¡°Are you bored? You rarelye into the kitchen.¡± His cool hand traced over the fabric of her dress, causing Marguerite to break out in goosebumps. She pushed him away in a panic, her face alert, ¡°Back off!¡± Maurice remained calm, advancing once more but avoiding any physical contact. ¡°We¡¯ll hear from our son soon,¡± he said. Surprises always catch you off guard. Marguerite was initially taken aback, then disbelief set in, ¡°Really? You¡¯re not fooling me?¡± Her excitement overwhelmed her, and amidst the chaos, she identally knocked over the trash bin by her feet. This is wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Perseverance pays off! Once her son was found, she vowed to stick by his side, never letting him out of her sight. Seeing her joy, a smile spread across Maurice¡¯s face, ¡°But if our sones back, he wouldn¡¯t want his parents to be apart. He¡¯d want aplete family. Marguerite, you know what I mean.¡± Marguerite paused, sensing that Maurice was once again bringing up marriage. Her joy turned to indignation, her chest heaving with a sense of sorrow, ¡°Maurice! He is your son too, how could you use him as a bargaining chip, threatening me into marrying you?¡± Maurice shrugged nonchntly, undeterred, ¡°I¡¯m thinking the best for our son.¡± ¡°You were so confident in getting me to marry you, so why are you saying all this now?¡± Maurice corrected her, ¡°There¡¯s a difference between voluntary and forced.¡± Voluntary and forced? Well, that¡¯s a grand way to put it. Marguerite¡¯s anger red, her eyes zing as she met his gaze, unafraid to expose his true intentions. ¡°You¡¯re just ying a game with me! You not only want to outdo Frederick, you also want to win me over, to prove yourself superior to Frederick, to show that with just a snap of your fingers, I¡¯d fall into your arms! You¡¯re wrong, Maurice, you¡¯ve been a loser from the start, you lost to Frederick and you lost to me! Because from start to finish, Frederick is the only one in my heart, and I will never willingly marry you!¡± Marguerite¡¯s words stung, infuriated Maurice. He had been patient and tolerant towards Marguerite for the past three years, no matter how she acted out, he was always in control, never engaging in a full-blown argument. But to say that he lost to Frederick? How could Maurice stand for that? His gaze was furious as he red at her, his long arm wrapping around her neck, pinning her against the wall. ¡°Marguerite, have I been too nice to you? I warn you, don¡¯t push your luck! You know there¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t do! Including sleeping with you!¡± With that, Maurice¡¯s hand moved to lift Marguerite¡¯s skirt. Marguerite was terrified, her palms sweaty, she kicked out at him, but he remained immovable, trapping her in his embrace. ¡°Let go of me, Maurice! Do you want to bet that if you touch me today, I¡¯ll be dead in your bed tonight!¡± Maurice¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he red at Marguerite. ¡°I¡¯d rather you die in my bed, I¡¯d think less of you if you didn¡¯t!¡± In the midst of their argument, the servant Nadine rushed in, her face pale with fear, ¡°Sir, there¡¯s a call from the Winston Mansion. They said the master has broken his leg and it¡¯s caused a series ofplications. You should call back right away!¡± Chapter 419 Maurice immediately let go of Marguerite, straightened his disheveled suit, shot her a nce, and then turned around and walked away without al second look. Hidden by the doorway, little Teresa ran into the kitchen and tightly embraced Marguerite. ¡°Mommy, are you okay? Did you get hurt? Did daddy hit you? Are you in pain?¡± Her chubby little hands kept cleaning the tears that fell from her worried eyes. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry, I will protect you! If daddy bullies you again, just shout my name! I¡¯lle running right away!¡± Teresa suddenly thought of making amends with Frederick, because only by reconciling with him could she help bring him and her mother together. Once they were together, Hayes¡¯ daddy could protect her mother. But now, she was on winter break and her mother kept a close watch on her, she couldn¡¯t even step out of the house, how could she meet Hayes¡¯ daddy? Marguerite squatted down and held Teresa in her arms, softly saying, ¡°Sweetie, mommy is fine. Your daddy and I were just arguing, not fighting.¡± Teresa, however, held Marguerite¡¯s face in her hands, pressed her forehead against her mother¡¯s and pleaded, ¡°Mommy, why don¡¯t you and daddy separate? You¡¯re not even married. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re happy with him. Don¡¯t worry, mommy. If you split up, I¡¯ll choose to stay with you. Can you please leave him?¡± Teresa¡¯s maturity took Marguerite by surprise. She always wanted to create a carefree environment for Teresa, where she could grow up without any worries. But when Teresa asionally showed a maturity beyond her years, Marguerite¡¯s heart ached incredibly. She was suggesting that her mother should separate from Maurice, saying that he couldn¡¯t make her happy. How could a three-year-old child speak such words? Yet, she couldn¡¯t leave Maurice. Teresa needed a father, and the whereabouts of her son were still controlled by Maurice. As Marguerite thought about this, she pulled Teresa closer into her arms, ¡°Sweetheart, you¡¯re overthinking. I¡¯m already very happy with you in my life. I don¡¯t want you to grow up without a father.¡± Teresa blinked her eyes. If mommy separated from Daddy Maurice, she could be with Hayes¡¯ daddy! And Hayes¡¯ daddy was her real father! ¡°Mommy, I won¡¯t be without a father! You just need to separate from Daddy Maurice, then you can¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Marguerite quickly covered her mouth. She gave Teresa a look and shook her head, signaling that someone was behind them. Teresa was startled and quickly turned around, only to see Maurice standing at the door with an emotionless expression. She immediately shielded Marguerite behind her and shouted, ¡°Daddy, you are bad! You¡¯re not allowed to bully mommy!¡± Seeing Teresa, the anger within Maurice subsided a bit. He stepped forward, bent down, and picked Teresa up in one arm and said, ¡°How could I bear to bully your mom? I love her so much!¡± Marguerite was disgusted by Maurice once again. Knowing that Marguerite wouldn¡¯t retaliate in front of their child, he deliberately provoked her. Of course, Marguerite was angry, but she didn¡¯t respond. Instead, Maurice turned to Marguerite and ordered, ¡°Pack your things. We¡¯re going back to the Winston Mansion. My father is seriously ill and he needs ourpany during the holiday season.¡± ¡°Powell was ill? If Maurice was going back, would Frederick also return?¡± Marguerite thought so. Chapter 420 Quickly, Marguerite dismissed the thought from her mind. For Frederick, every member of the Winston family was someone he despised to his bones. Therefore, how could he possibly return to the Winston Mansion because of Powell¡¯s illness? Marguerite didn¡¯t linger on this thought. She and the servants began to pack their luggage quickly, while Teresa was busily packing her own snacks. An hourter, they had everything sorted out and were at the Winston Mansion. As soon as they walked in, they saw Powell sitting in a wheelchair, pushed by a servant into the front hall. The sight of Powell filled Teresa with excitement and anticipation, ¡°Grandpa! Grandpa!¡± *Teresa! Come here! I¡¯ve missed you so much since you haven¡¯t visited for a while!¡± Teresa and Powell hugged each other happily. Teresa wanted to climb onto Powell¡¯sp, but seeing his knee in a ster, she had to give up the idea. ¡°Grandpa, does your foot hurt? I will blow it to make it better!¡± Teresa said, pouting and immediately blowing on Powell¡¯s knee, making himugh heartily with her adorable antics. Maurice went up to examine Powell¡¯s condition, while Marguerite stood idly by. Strangely, she didn¡¯t see Lisette. Although she found it odd, Marguerite wasn¡¯t surprised. Lisette had always thought Marguerite was unworthy of Maurice and was always difficult to deal with whenever they met. Marguerite knew exactly how much Lisette despised her. Now that she was moving into the Winston Mansion, she probably didn¡¯t even want to see her. Compared to Lisette, Powell¡¯s attitude towards her changed a lot after she gave birth to Teresa. After a brief conversation with his son, Powell¡¯s gaze fell on Marguerite. It was then that Marguerite approached him and obediently said, ¡± Mr. Powell.¡± Powell nodded in acknowledgment, and Marguerite quickly added, ¡°You guys can continue talking. I¡¯m going upstairs to change.¡± A servant immediately came forward, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, we have prepared a room for you. Please follow me.¡± Marguerite had never lived in the Winston Mansion before and was naturally unfamiliar with theyout of the rooms. Upon entering, she found the room surprisinglyrge. Inside the bedroom that was nearly a thousand square feet, it was a two-bedroom suite. Marguerite randomly picked a room and changed into a house dress from her suitcase. As soon as she finished changing, Maurice came in. Marguerite warned him crossly, ¡°Can¡¯t you knock first?¡± Maurice approached her, his tone equally upromising, ¡°Don¡¯t make trouble here. Take good care of my father and don¡¯t wander around. Otherwise, you can forget about hearing any news about our son.¡± His tone was threatening, and Marguerite had no desire to argue. She sneered, ¡°You¡¯ve sold my onlypany. Where could I possibly run to? Besides, you are just worried that I¡¯ll go see Frederick, right? You can control my body, but can you control my heart?¡± Maurice smirked, revealing his pearly white teeth, ¡°All I need to control is your body.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Marguerite was furious, but she couldn¡¯t find the words to retort. Maurice was adept at whittling down Marguerite¡¯s resistance little by little, making her gradually crumble. Marguerite was afraid that one day, her defenses would truly be broken down by this man, and she would give in to Maurice. If that day ever came, she couldn¡¯t imagine the pain she would feel. The person she loved most was Frederick, but even seeing him once was a luxury. At this moment, Teresa ran in, cutely eating a lollipop, and said, ¡°Mommy, Daddy, Grandpa want you toe down for dinner!¡± Marguerite shot a nasty re at Maurice, then took Teresa¡¯s hand and began to walk down. They had just reached the first floor when they saw the front door wide open, and the servants carrying in suitcases one after another. Marguerite was puzzled, as they hadn¡¯t brought much luggage due to their hurry. So whose luggage was this? As Marguerite was pondering this, she heard Teresa gasp and then blurt out excitedly. ¡°Yay!¡± Marguerite frowned, ¡°What is it?¡± Teresa quickly pointed to the front door, ¡°Hayes¡¯ dad! Hayes is here too, and his grandma and mom!¡± Chapter 421 Marguerite¡¯s heart raced. Lifting her gaze abruptly, sure enough, she saw Frederick at the door, leading Hayes by the hand. Frederick stood tall and imposing, exuding a potent aura of capability even in silence. Jocelyn was checking their luggage, while Yuna, holding Manley¡¯s hand, was looking at her in disbelief. It took Marguerite at least half a minute to snap out of her stupor, her eyes instinctively seeking Maurice¡¯s. Judging by his expression, he seemed oblivious to Frederick¡¯s return. Suddenly, Marguerite felt a premonition of bloodshed and turmoil looming ominously ahead. Hayes had also noticed Marguerite. He broke free from Frederick¡¯s grip, running towards Marguerite. Looking up at her with his round eyes, he radiated sincerity and anticipation. Teresa watched the unexpected arrivals, her mind filled with questions. Grabbing Hayes¡¯ hand, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Little mute, why are you here?¡± Hayes reluctantly tore his gaze away from Marguerite and earnestly answered Teresa, ¡°Daddy said¡­ Grandpa¡­ is sick.¡± Grandpa? Teresa¡¯s beautiful eyes widened in shock, her mouth dropping open, ¡°What? My grandpa, is he your grandpa too?¡± The atmosphere plunged into an unprecedented awkwardness. As Teresa was about to speak again, Marguerite quickly covered her mouth, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t ask. It¡¯splicated. Mommy will tell youter.¡± At that moment, Powell, seated in a wheelchair, extended a shaky arm towards the door. His face was a picture of poignant longing: ¡°Jocelyn, my dear Jocelyn¡­e, let me have a good look at you¡­¡± Jocelyn¡¯s back stiffened noticeably as she checked the luggage. Marguerite noticed Jocelyn¡¯s hesitation. Rising to her full height, Jocelyn turned around, her gaze calm and gentle, and walked over. She crouched down in front of Powell¡¯s wheelchair, her delicate hand resting gently on his knee. Instantly, Powell clutched her hand, his lips trembling as tears falling down. ¡°How have you been these years? You left without a word¡­ Did you know how heartbroken I was? You didn¡¯t even let us know when you returned¡­¡± Jocelyn smiled softly, ¡°I¡¯ve been helping Frederick. I didn¡¯t have time.¡± It was clear that Jocelyn still held affection for Powell. However, she was no longer the docile woman she once was, and now held a certain confidence. Marguerite knew that this confidence came from Frederick. From the moment Jocelyn chose to leave Stonebridge City with Frederick, she no longer needed the support of the Winston family. This also indirectly proved how much Frederick had flourished over the years. Marguerite mused on this, her gaze lingering on Frederick. Yet, Frederick¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Jocelyn and Powell, his expression inscrutable. In that moment, Marguerite could feel the deep-seated hatred Frederick harbored for the entire Winston family. If he held such resentment, why had he chosen to return? Marguerite didn¡¯t understand. Yuna, standing by the door, looked utterly confused. She quickly took Manley¡¯s hand and hurried over to Powell, urging. ¡°Manley, it¡¯s your grandpa.¡± Manley, who probably never knew he had a grandfather, clung to Yuna¡¯s leg in fright, not uttering a word. Yuna, exasperated, yanked Manley in front of her and shoved him towards Powell, ¡°Say it! Haven¡¯t I taught you manners? Say it!¡± Marguerite thought Yuna was ridiculous. Trying to acknowledge an enemy as kin in front of Frederick? Her intentions couldn¡¯t be more obvious. Expectedly, Marguerite noticed Frederick¡¯s expression growing even darker. But before Manley could utter ¡°grandpa¡±, the long-absent Lisette finally made her leisurely descent from the stairs. She was dressed in a blue velvet dress, a pink silk shawl draped over her shoulders. She was the picture of opulence. Her voice rang loud and clear, her tone dripping with sarcasm and disdain. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Let¡¯s go to the dining room! Otherwise people would think that I have been neglecting you as thedy of this house.¡± Chapter 422 Lisette¡¯s words wereced with hostility. It was probably due to Jocelyn¡¯s return, which threatened her standing, hence her emphasis on the titledy of the house¡¯. Everyone quickly moved to the dining room, the seating arrangement being a matter of importance. By rights, Powell and Lisette should be seated at the head of the table, but Powell had the servant bring a chair for Jocelyn, asking her to sit next to him. He even personally draped the napkin over Jocelyn¡¯sp. Marguerite caught a glimpse of Lisette¡¯s displeased expression and subconsciously smirked. The affection between Jocelyn and Powell today was just the beginning. In the days toe, Lisette would surely have a tough time. The seating continued with Frederick and Maurice on either side at the guest of honor spots, followed by Marguerite and Yuna. Teresa had some snacks earlier and wasn¡¯t hungry, she took Hayes for a leisurely exploration of the mansion. At this time, the meal was served, Powell first spooned a bowl of lobster bisque for Jocelyn, then raised his ss towards Frederick, his voice full of apology, ¡°Frederick, your decision toe back to me, it¡¯s a blessing for me as a father. I hope you can forgive me for what happened before.¡± Frederick picked up his wine ss, but he did not indulge Powell, instead he took a sip and corrected, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my mother¡¯s sake, I would never return to this house.¡± His words made Powell quite unpleasant, and the atmosphere dropped to a freezing point. Marguerite felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She thought the scene at Hayes¡¯ birthday was bad enough, but she didn¡¯t expect today¡¯s atmosphere to be even more bizarre. She guessed that from now on, whenever everyone was gathered together, it would be impossible to have a proper conversation. Meanwhile, Powell still couldn¡¯t put down the wine ss in his hand, he looked at Frederick and added, ¡°Frederick, I was just looking out for you back then. And Maurice, I sincerely hoped that you brothers could support each other. If Thunderbolt Enterprises merges into the Winston Group, then we, the Winston family, will be invincible globally!¡± Powell¡¯s words finally made Frederick look at him directly. Frederick gave a slight smile, but his gaze was still sharp. ¡°Even without external forces, Thunderbolt Enterprises can still develop very well.¡± Frederick¡¯s words were t, but the hostility in his eyes only grew stronger. Three years ago, he worked hard to establish the Winston Group at the top of the world, and Powell asked him to hand it to Maurice. He never thought that three yearster, Powell would still not give up! He had finally built Thunderbolt Enterprises to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Winston Group, but Powell still wanted Maurice to reap the benefits? Delusional! The atmosphere plunged into awkwardness once again, Powell¡¯s hand still holding up the wine ss. Seeing this, Jocelyn immediately stepped in to defuse the situation, ¡°Enough, you¡¯re not well, it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t drink.¡± With that, she took the wine ss from Powell¡¯s hand. Jocelyn¡¯s actionrgely saved Powell¡¯s dignity, and Powell himself realized that he had made another mistake. People often only cherish what they have when they lose it. If it weren¡¯t for his favoritism back then, their family wouldn¡¯t have ended up where they are today, and Jocelyn wouldn¡¯t have left him. So when Jocelyn brought Frederick back today, he was especially happy. He knew that his time was limited, and his greatest wish was for his two sons to unite. He knew that the pace of change in the elite circles was fast, one careless move could lead to being overtaken by others. Therefore, only by uniting the twopanies could Frederick and Maurice always remain at the top of the world. But who would have thought that Lisette¡¯s deliberately raised voice would embarrass everyone, ¡°You¡¯re old and confused! Always thinking about nonsense! Why would anyone want to merge their conglomerate into yours? Even if someone else¡¯s things are good, they are still outsiders. You better manage your own household affairs!¡± Powell was choked with anger, his eyes widened immediately. His voice was old, but full of vigor, ¡°Outsiders? Who are the outsiders? Frederick has my blood running through his veins, he is my son! Furthermore, Frederick and Yuna are not yet married, neither are Marguerite and Maurice, I was thinking of having them marry on the same day, to be closer! I want everyone to know, we are one family!¡± Chapter 423 Marrying on the same day? Marguerite was utterly baffled. Weren¡¯t they discussing things about the corporation? How did it suddenly veer onto marriage? Marguerite had always been insightful. She could see that Powell was trying to curry favor with Frederick, but his approach was off, making Frederick even more resistant. Setting aside the idea of a corporate merger, merely the notion of both brothers getting married on the same day made Marguerite think Powell had lost his marbles. The incident she had with the Winston Group brothers was a hot topic in high society. Moreover, she and Yuna were identical twins. If they really have the weddings on the same day, people might have unpleasant things to say. What¡¯s more, she could never marry Maurice! Just as Marguerite was about to refuse, Yuna on the opposite side nodded eagerly and agreed, ¡°Alright, alright, I have no objections!¡± Lisette rolled her eyes at Yuna in disgust, then cast a contemptuous nce at Marguerite, mockingly saying.¡± They look exactly alike, who would know who¡¯s marrying who? I think you just want to stir up more drama!¡± At this point, Maurice gently took Marguerite¡¯s hand and said calmly. ¡°We don¡¯t have do it together. However, Marguerite and I do have ns to get married. The wedding will be as soon as next month.¡± Frederick paused in swirling his wine ss, his gaze fixated on Maurice holding Marguerite¡¯s hand. A tiny jolt of panic hit Marguerite¡¯s heart. She was afraid that Frederick would misunderstand and instinctively pulled her hand from Maurice¡¯s. Damn it! He did it on purpose! He knew she wouldn¡¯t marry him, and now he¡¯s using the family¡¯s power to pressure her? Marguerite was extremely displeased, but before she could deny it, she heard Lisette¡¯s furious voice, ¡°Did you ever ask for my opinion before deciding to marry Marguerite? How could you reject a wealthy heiress for some slut who¡¯s seduced you?¡± A slut? Even with Marguerite¡¯s usually calm demeanor, she couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.. ¡°I didn¡¯t seduce him. Your son insisted on marrying me. Since you¡¯re not happy about it, it¡¯s perfect. I can reject him outright.¡± Upon hearing this, Frederick arched his eyebrows, silently putting down his silver fork, and watched Marguerite with a rxed posture. Unexpectedly, this woman who used to endure in silence was now standing up for herself. Lisette was so angry that her teeth were grinding together, ¡°If anyone is to refuse, it should be him! What right do you, a woman that no one else wants, have to¡­¡± Powell¡¯s face changed drastically, throwing down his cutlery in anger, silencing everyone in the room. Powell was finally furious. His face was ashen, his eyes were wide open, and his face was twisted with anger. He impatiently smacked the table, ¡°Do you have any sense? Can you speak properly? The kids are finally home for once, and you¡¯ve ruined it.¡± Lisette probably didn¡¯t expect Powell to lose his temper at her in front of everyone. She was a bit embarrassed, even though she tried to hide it behind her stubbornness, ¡°Anyway¡­ I don¡¯t agree with this marriage!¡± Marguerite was somewhat surprised by Powell¡¯s firmness. Because initially, the Winston Group was established with the help of Lisette¡¯s family. And as a son-inw, Powell had no say in anything, let alone to lose his temper at Lisette. But this situation changed dramatically after Frederick¡¯s departure. With Frederick gone, Lisette was eager to merge her family¡¯s corporation with the Winston Group to strengthen Maurice¡¯s power. Unfortunately, soon after the merger, Lisette¡¯s parents passed away. Without the support of her family, Powell naturally became more assertive. Jocelyn, who was tired of the quarrels, once again stepped in to mediate, reaching out to soothe Powell¡¯s agitated chest. ¡°Calm down. The kids are still young; there¡¯s no rush to get married.¡± ¡°How can we not rush? They already have children; they should be married by now!¡± Having a child doesn¡¯t necessarily mean they have to get married. When Jocelyn had Powell¡¯s child, he didn¡¯t marry her either, did he? Marguerite thought to herself, a hint of sarcasm appearing at the corner of her mouth. But her gaze inadvertently met Frederick¡¯s, and she saw an unexpected look of admiration and delight in his eyes! Chapter 424 Meanwhile, in the living room. After a round of house tour, the two little ones were sprawled out on the floor, curiously eyeing the happenings in the dining room. Teresa propped her chubby cheeks in her hands, her expression a mixture of confusion and awe. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought,¡± she mused, ¡°that your dad and my dad are brothers! And your mom and my mom are twins! Their rtionships are soplicated!¡± Hayes opened his mouth, eager to respond, but he couldn¡¯t find the words fast enough. Frustrated, he reached for his phone to type out his thoughts. ¡°How can you be so sure that your mom and my mom are twins?¡± He typed. Teresa¡¯s mouth twitched as she replied, ¡°Because they look the same, and they both have the samest name! We¡¯ve talked about this before, even though my mom never mentioned having a twin sister, maybe¡­ they are not that close?¡± As Teresa rambled on, Hayes busied himself with typing on his phone again. But Teresa quickly stopped him, cing her soft hand over his screen, reminding him seriously, ¡°Little Mute, you need to try to throw away the tablet and phone. You can¡¯t type! You must learn to talk. Speaking slowly is okay, alright?¡± Hayes blinked, his eyes shing with determination. He carefully opened his mouth, and very slowly, spoke out his question, ¡°Can your mom¡­ be my¡­ mom too?¡± Teresa was taken aback by Hayes¡¯ question. But soon, she jumped up from the floor, grabbing Hayes in an excited hug, ¡°Little Mute, did I hear you right? You want my mom to be your mom too?¡± The little boy nodded in Teresa¡¯s arms, muttering softly, ¡°I like¡­ her!¡± Teresa was genuinely surprised. Because she never expected Hayes to like her mom as well! Before, she was worried about how Hayes would feel if she went to reveal the truth about her dad. But now, she had no concerns at all! Overjoyed, Teresa couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Little Mute, why do you like my mom?¡± ?? Hayes blinked, caught off guard by Teresa¡¯s question. He didn¡¯t know why he liked Marguerite, he just thought that she was really nice and incredibly kind, and being her child would surely be a blessing, right? Hayes pushed away from Teresa, meeting her gaze with a serious and sincere question, ¡°Teresa¡­ are you happy?¡± Teresa nodded enthusiastically, ¡°Of course I am! My mom is the best mom in the world!¡± Hearing Teresa praise Marguerite so highly made Hayes envious. If only he had a mom like Marguerite from the beginning, he¡¯d be as happy as Teresa. Feeling a bit upset, Hayes wasforted by Teresa who held his arm tightly, urging him, ¡°If we can get your dad and my mom together, then you can be my mom¡¯s son! We¡¯re living together now, it¡¯s the perfect opportunity.¡± Hayes hesitated, looking down as he asked, ¡°If your mom¡­ marries my dad, would she¡­ like me?¡± Instead of answering, Teresa countered, ¡°Does your dad like me?¡± Hayes nodded emphatically, ¡°He does!¡± With a triumphant grin, Teresa dered, ¡°Then my mom will definitely like you! Our mission now is to make them fall in love!¡± Hayes¡¯ eyes lit up, ¡°How do we do it?¡± Teresa leaned in close, whispering her n into Hayes¡¯ ear. Once she was done, she made sure to ask, ¡°Did you understand?¡± ¡°I did!¡± Hayes nodded solemnly, feeling the weight of their mission on his small shoulders. But for his dad¡¯s and his own happiness, he was ready to work with Teresa! Chapter 425 By the time everyone finished dinner, it was alreadyte into the night. Marguerite decided to head back to her room to rest, only to find Maurice following her into the bedroom. Even though they were in a suite with two bedrooms, Marguerite couldn¡¯t recall seeing Maurice¡¯s luggage being moved in. Turning abruptly, she stood blocking the doorway, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Maurice leaned against the doorframe, his tall figure creating an imposing silhouette in the dim light. ¡°Don¡¯t be so stubborn. I know you don¡¯t want to share a room with me, but Frederick and Yuna are back. Don¡¯t you want to show them we¡¯re getting along?¡± ¡°That was his reason? Was he out of his mind?¡± Marguerite thought. She didn¡¯t want to give Frederick any wrong ideas, let alone pretend to get along with this man! Between gritted teeth, Marguerite snapped back, ¡°Dream on! Get out before your mom sees you and starts using me of seducing you!¡± No sooner had Marguerite finished her sentence than Lisette strode in. Her face hardened with disapproval as she saw her son. ¡°What are you doing here? Your room is upstairs!¡± Maurice sighed helplessly, ¡°Mom, I have the right to choose my room.¡± Not wanting to argue with her son, Lisette took Maurice¡¯s hand gently, ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for you. It¡¯s inappropriate for you guys to live together before marriage. Come upstairs with me, I need to talk to you.¡± With that, she led Maurice upstairs, leaving Marguerite alone. How convenient, this meant she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Maurice for a while. And since Lisette was against her marrying Maurice, it saved her a lot of trouble. Just as Marguerite was about to retreat to her room, she noticed Yuna and Frederick standing by the door of the adjacent room. They were staying next door? How awkward! Upon noticing Marguerite, Yuna quickly clung to Frederick¡¯s arm and leaned against him, ¡°Freddie, let¡¯s go to bed early. I¡¯m tired.¡± His gaze lingered on Marguerite for a moment, then he disappeared into the room with Yuna. Marguerite stood there dumbfounded, wondering whether their room was also a suite? Were they sleeping separately or together? The thought was driving her mad. She shook her head, forcing herself to calm down. It was none of her business whether Frederick was sleeping with Yuna or not. Feeling awkward, Marguerite entered her own room and quickly got ready for bed. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. For one, she had barely eaten at dinner due to the constant bickering, which left her feeling hungry. Secondly, the distinct soundsing from the next room were making her blush. It sounded like the bed was hitting the wall, apanied by heavy breathing. Marguerite quickly buried her head under the nket and covered her ears. Despite blocking out all the noise, Yuna¡¯s voice still echoed in her head. Can¡¯t they keep it down? Just as Marguerite was feeling frustrated, her phone buzzed from under her pillow. It was a message from Teresa ¨C [Mommy,e to the kitchen for ate-night snack. Hurry!] Marguerite paused, then replied, [Go back to your room and sleep, don¡¯t walk around freely.] [I¡¯m not walking around! Hayes is hungry, and if you don¡¯te, I¡¯ll have to cook for him myself!] Surging upright, Marguerite¡¯s mind was filled with fears of the dangers of them cooking alone! With the thought of them ying with fire and knives, she jumped out of bed, threw on a cardigan, and headed for the kitchen. From afar, she could smell the aroma of food. Oh no! Were those two already cooking? Marguerite quickened her pace and burst into the kitchen. ¡°Children shouldn¡¯t be ying with fire!¡± As she stepped into the kitchen, she saw the man holding a spat. She came to an abrupt halt. How could the cook be Frederick? Wasn¡¯t he in the room with Yuna¡­ What was going on? Meanwhile, Hayes and Teresa were sitting on small stools at Frederick¡¯s feet, looking up at him expectantly, like two little birds waiting to be fed. Chapter 426 Marguerite stood frozen in ce, her eyes wide in shock. Frederick, however, turned his head, not at all surprised by Marguerite¡¯s arrival. His gaze made Marguerite ufortable, she forced a smile, she wished she could ask what was causing the noise in the next room. But when she opened her mouth, what came out was, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Teresa immediately stood up, stepping on her tiptoes to pull Marguerite into the kitchen. ¡°Mommy, Hayes¡¯ Daddy is here to make us a midnight snack! He made instant noodles and it smells so good!¡± Marguerite looked baffled and confused, ¡°Since someone is already making food, why did you call me?¡± Oh, isn¡¯t it obvious? They were trying to y matchmaker for her and Hayes¡¯ daddy! How could mommy not see their well-meaning intentions? Teresa yfully rolled her, eyes and feigned innocence, ¡°Because¡­ Because I¡¯m afraid that Hayes¡¯ Daddy will bully me¡­¡± Frederick paused, his eyes half-smiling as he looked at Teresa, ¡°Do you still want to eat?¡± Teresa pretended to be terrified, her eyebrows furrowed in distress, she immediately turned to Marguerite to tattle, ¡°Mommy, look, he¡¯s starting to threaten me¡­¡± Frederick looked at the little girl, feeling speechless. At this moment, Frederick wished he could discipline this little girl, although he probably wouldn¡¯t bare to punish her. Marguerite, on the other hand, seemed indifferent, she lightly pushed Teresa away, her face expressing displeasure, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re quite happy being bullied by him. Now, you have two choices, stay here and continue to be ¡®bullied¡¯, ore upstairs with me right now.¡± Teresa stared with her big watery eyes, looking at Hayes¡¯ daddy, then at Marguerite, she was torn. Mommy really didn¡¯t understand the situation. They had gone through a lot of trouble to create this moment for the two of them, but mommy wasn¡¯t appreciating it at all. Seeing Teresa standing still, Marguerite didn¡¯t want to force her, so she turned and headed upstairs. But out of the blue, Hayes charged forward, his arms outstretched to block Marguerite¡¯s path. The little boy¡¯s eyes were stubborn, his hesitance causing his little face to turn red. After a long while, Hayes finally managed to speak, ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­ I like¡­ you.¡± Hayes stuttered, leaving both Marguerite and Frederick dumbfounded. Hayes liked Marguerite? What about her did he like? What made her likable? Frederick waspletely baffled. Marguerite, on the other hand, had a moreplicated mix of feelings. It was hard to describe her feelings for Hayes, after all, she had only met the little boy three times. But strangely, every time they met, Marguerite felt an immense sympathy for him. It was as if there was an invisible thread connecting her and Hayes. Each time, she felt helpless yet willing to do anything for him. Hayes no longer blocked Marguerite, instead hugging her legs tightly. He looked up, his soft voice mingled with a heartbreaking plea: ¡°Don¡¯t go, okay?¡± A strange emotion tugged at Marguerite¡¯s heart, she found herself nodding involuntarily, answering in a daze, ¡°Okay, I will stay.¡± Chapter 427 Marguerite found herself bbergasted after saying those words. How on earth did she get overwhelmed by Frederick¡¯s son? Strange indeed! Yet when she saw the little boy¡¯s innocent and radiant smile, her heart filled with genuine joy. It seemed like his smile could brighten her entire day. Soon, a pot of steaming instant noodles was ready, wafting with its inviting aroma. The two little ones eagerly went to help, vying to serve Marguerite first. Frederick, feeling ignored, was speechless and displeased, his handsome face clouded over. He had done all the work, yet Marguerite was the one who gained! What ungrateful little ones! Hayes managed to serve Marguerite a te first, and Teresa, missing the chance, felt a bit disappointed. Frederick next to her cleaned his hands and cleared his throat meaningfully. Teresa, sharp as a tack, of course understood his hint. She chuckled and said teasingly, ¡°Hayes¡¯ daddy, you¡¯re an adult, do you really need a kid to serve you? Shame, shame!¡± Frederick was once again speechless. Teresa then climbed onto the stool and served herself a teful, leaving only a little for the man. ¡°Oh dear! Hayes¡¯ daddy, maybe you should make yourself another te, or you¡¯ll go hungry!¡± After serving herself, Teresa couldn¡¯t resist making a snidement. Humph! It was a punishment for him offending mommy and not apologize. Even though he made her a midnight snack, Teresa hadn¡¯t decided whether to forgive him yet! Frederick wore a helpless expression. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the offender was Teresa, he would have lost his temper! But this little one sure had a temper. Appeasing her wasn¡¯t going to be easy. Despite his inner frustration, Frederick patiently got a new pack of instant noodles and started cooking. Fifteen minutester, he could finally sit down to eat. Just as he sat down, he heard Marguerite chastising Teresa, ¡°Eating instant noodles sote is not healthy, you shouldn¡¯t have too much foodte night next time, understand?¡± Teresa pouted and blinked her eyes, trying to deflect with cuteness. However, Hayes inadvertently spilled the beans, ¡°Late night snack¡­ healthy! Teresa¡­ eats them¡­ a lot.¡± Marguerite paused, ¡°Was it your idea to eat instant noodles?¡± When Teresa realized she couldn¡¯t hide it anymore, she quickly covered Marguerite¡¯s mouth, and put a finger to her lips, ¡°Shh! Mommy, lower your voice! You¡¯re so loud, you¡¯re going to draw the crowd! Then, grandma will start nitpicking again!¡± Before Marguerite could finish her sentence, she was cut off by the little one, leaving her feeling frustrated. Oh, how she was at her wits¡¯ end with Teresa! Frederick, on the side, couldn¡¯t hide his amusement, but his smile carried a hint of sarcasm. It seemed that Marguerite didn¡¯t have a high status in front of Teresa, being manipted by a three-year-old. Thinking about it, he felt happier and started enjoying his instant noodles with increased appetite. Strange, why did it taste weird? Could it be that he didn¡¯t season it well, causing it to taste off? At that moment, all three inhaled simultaneously, catching a whiff of a foul smell. Teresa sniffed around on the table, and when she got to Frederick¡¯s te of instant noodles, she gasped in shock! ¡°Hayes, didn¡¯t you smell anything off about the instant noodles?¡± Frederick nced at the instant noodles, his sense of smell having been impaired for many years, leading to his taste buds being less sensitive than the average person¡¯s. ¡°What smell?¡± ¡°You really can¡¯t smell it?¡± Teresa was surprised, then began to feel troubled, ¡°But you¡¯ve already eaten it, should I say it or not¡­¡± Frederick put down his fork, frowning, ¡°Speak!¡± Teresa also frowned, looking apologetic, ¡°Your pack of instant noodles seems to be expired for quite some time. I was in a hurry to pack snacks today, didn¡¯t check the date and brought it over¡­ It stinks, really stinks¡­¡± Suddenly, Frederick¡¯s face turned pale. His already insensitive taste buds suddenly became abnormally sensitive, nausea rising up inch by inch from his stomach. Without any hesitation, Frederick rushed into the bathroom, and began to retch. Teresa wasughing delightedly, mumbling under her breath, ¡°Humph! You deserve it! For bullying mommy!¡± Hayes, on the side, couldn¡¯t find it amusing. He was always the peacemaker, so he quickly fetched a ss of water and nervously handed it to Marguerite, ¡°For¡­ for daddy to drink¡­¡± Chapter 428 The sound of Frederick retching in the bathroom was subdued, but Marguerite could still hear his difort. Marguerite¡¯s heart ached. She took the ss of water that Hayes handed her, then scolded Teresa with a stern face, ¡°You¡¯ve taken the joke too far this time! You need to apologize to himter!¡± With this, she strode off towards the bathroom. Teresa blinked. She saw her mom¡¯s serious face and realized that she was upset. So, her mom really did like Hayes¡¯ dad, didn¡¯t she? She was genuinely worried about him! Meanwhile, in the bathroom. Frederick continued to retch. Marguerite handed him the water, but he was too preupied to take it. She ced the ss on the sink and instinctively moved closer to him, her delicate hand gently stroking his back, over and over again in a soothing rhythm. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Marguerite asked, her voice full of concern. Frederick¡¯s heart softened inexplicably. Her gentle voice even gave him the illusion of a time three years ago, when he nned to confess his feelings to her. Frederick¡¯s mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, causing him to retch even more severely. His eyes were bloodshot as he finally vomited a little acidic bile, relieving his difort slightly. He slowly raised his head, the mirror reflecting Marguerite¡¯s anxious expression, bringing him back to reality. He kept quiet and bypassed Marguerite to rinse his mouth at the sink. Marguerite knew that he didn¡¯t want her there, so she sighed softly and reminded him, ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, call the family doctor. Don¡¯t forget to drink the water. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Marguerite walked straight towards the door, but as they passed each other, Frederick suddenly grabbed her wrist. His cold palm made Marguerite¡¯s goosebumps rise. His grim expression made Marguerite shudder, ¡°Are you feeling unwell? I¡¯ll call the doctor for you right now!¡± Marguerite rushed to open the door, but with a ¡°click¡±, Frederick closed the door. Marguerite was stunned, her eyes wide as she stared at him. What was he doing? ¡°Was it you who asked Teresa and Hayes to invite me for ate-night snack?¡± Marguerite was taken aback. Frederick¡¯s cold interrogation made Marguerite snap back to reality. Damn it! His damned suspicions were back! Marguerite quicklyposed herself, meeting Frederick¡¯s gaze with a cold smile, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. I¡¯m more worried about you hurting her than anyone else.¡± ¡°Hurt her? You don¡¯t know how much I¡­¡± His words came to an abrupt halt. He didn¡¯t want Marguerite to know how much he liked Teresa, and he didn¡¯t want to give this woman any opportunities! Marguerite immediately made her stance clear, ¡°How much you like her? Do you think I¡¯d believe that? Frederick, you don¡¯t need to torture me through Teresa. I betrayed you, I admit. But my child is innocent, I hope you stay away from Teresa in the future. She has a father, and she doesn¡¯tck for paternal love.¡± With that, Marguerite pushed Frederick aside, yanked open the door, only to see two little ones standing at the doorway. She had no idea how much of her conversation with Frederick the two kids heard, but she didn¡¯t feel like exining now. She walked past the two of them and left. Teresa mumbled, ¡°What should we do? Their rtionship seems to have worsened.¡± Hayes was equally worried, but when he got nervous, he couldn¡¯t speak. Desperate, he pulled out his phone and texted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll figure something out.¡± Teresa stomped her foot in frustration, ¡°My mommy really likes your daddy! It must be your daddy who¡¯s bullying my mommy again!¡± Just as she finished speaking, she turned around and saw Frederick standing behind her. Teresa huffed angrily, then stormed off. Hayes quickly intercepted his dad and asked, ¡°Did you¡­ bully Marguerite?¡± ¡°Stay away from this woman in the future.¡± Hayes sighed. Oh no! If dad and Teresa¡¯s mom hate each other this much, how are they going to set them up in the future? Adult rtionships are soplicated, this is way too tricky! No! He has to think of a new n! He can¡¯t give up just yet! Chapter 429 Marguerite had been sulking all night long. When she woke up the next morning, she had two huge dark circles under her eyes and couldn¡¯t stop yawning, which only added to her gloom. After leisurely getting ready, Teresa knocked on Marguerite¡¯s door, standing in the doorwayining in a mournful tone, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m starving Why hasn¡¯t anyone made breakfast?¡± No one made breakfast? Marguerite was taken aback. Then she rememberedst night at the dinner table, Yuna couldn¡¯t wait to show off, and promised that she would prepare breakfast for everyone this morning. Marguerite knew that Yuna wanted to impress Powell and create an image of a good and dutiful wife. But all talk and no action, it was alreadyte and breakfast wasn¡¯t ready. She suspected Yuna¡¯s image wouldn¡¯tst long before people started to dislike her. Marguerite took Teresa¡¯s hand and walked downstairs, ¡°Are grandma and grandpa up yet?¡± Teresa shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I didn¡¯t see them downstairs.¡± ¡°Just wait a little longer. No one will let you starve.¡± Marguerite smiled. Yuna was always very opportunistic, it¡¯s possible that she was waiting to cook in front of Powell and Lisette to show off. Teresa, however, tilted her small face, puckered her lips and asked Marguerite, ¡°Mommy, thete-night snackst night was really tasty, right?¡± The image of Frederick cooking and the pot of tempting, fragrant noodles came to Marguerite¡¯s mind. She had to admit, the taste was excellent. She remembered Jocelyn once mentioned that because they had lived in the countryside, Frederick had learned to cook from a young age and his culinary skills were very good. She had the chance to taste itst night, and he indeed lived up to his reputation. But since they had a conflict, Marguerite subconsciously wanted to deny it, so she coldly scoffed, ¡°It was alright.¡± Teresa pouted and muttered in a low voice, ¡°But it was really tasty!¡± Just as Teresa finished speaking, Yuna yawned and bumped forcefully into Marguerite¡¯s shoulder from behind. Marguerite was standing at the top of the stairs, almost falling down due to Yuna¡¯s provocative force. Luckily, she quickly grabbed the handrail to steady herself. Marguerite was taken aback by the sudden impact, but Yuna was looking arrogant, ¡°Don¡¯t stand in the way if you¡¯ve got nothing to contribute. Can you bear the me if you two dyed me from cooking for everyone?¡± Marguerite frowned at her, not saying a word. Teresa, however, quickly covered her ears, innocently muttering, ¡°Mommy, did you hear a dog barking? It sounds so unpleasant! Whose dog came out early in the morning barking everywhere, polluting my ears!¡± Yuna was furious! She red at Teresa threateningly, ¡°You dare to call me a dog? Do you know who I am?¡± Teresa was not afraid at all,¡± I didn¡¯t name names, and you admitted it yourself. Plus, you¡¯re living in my house now! If you bully my mommy again. I¡¯ll tell my grandpa! My grandpa spoils me the most, as long as Iin, he will have someone punish you! You¡¯d better behave!¡± Teresa had always been sharp-tongued and had never lost an argument. ¡°What are you still standing here for? Go cook, if you starve me, my grandpa will get angry too!¡± Yuna was so angry that she almost jumped, wishing she could smash Teresa¡¯s head with a hammer. But in this mansion, she really didn¡¯t dare to do anything to this little bastard, so she could only walk towards the kitchen in a huff. But she would not let this pass, and she had to vent her anger! They had a secrette-night snackst night, didn¡¯t they? Good! She would seize this opportunity to make trouble for them! Chapter 430 As Yuna left the staircase, Marguerite lovingly turned to Teresa, who barely reached her thigh in height, and lifted her up with a beaming smile. ¡°Sweetie, look at you, defending your mom like a brave little soldier!¡± Teresa beamed even wider at the praise. ¡°Of course! Because I¡¯m your little helper! I promised I wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt you!¡± With that, Teresa tenderly held up Marguerite¡¯s face and nted a sweet kiss on her cheek. They continued their happy conversation as they descended the stairs. But as they reached the main floor, a sudden shriek echoed from the kitchen. ¡°Ouch! Who left oil all over the kitchen floorst night? I fell when I walked in!¡± At Yuna¡¯s cry, servants rushed to her aid. Yuna promptly pushed them away, ¡°Back off, all of you! You¡¯re ruining the crime scene!¡± Upon hearing this, the servants hastily retreated, leaving the kitchen in a chaotic state. Marguerite didn¡¯t want to get involved in Yuna¡¯s theatrics and headed for the door with Teresa in her arms. With Yuna in this state, breakfast was definitely off the table. But Marguerite couldn¡¯t let Teresa go hungry; she needed to take her out for breakfast first. Just then, Yuna turned her fury on Marguerite, shrieking at her retreating figure, ¡°Marguerite, stop right there! You and your daughter had a midnight snackst night, didn¡¯t you? Was it you who spilled the oil?¡± Marguerite was speechless at her use. She wasn¡¯t the one who cookedst night, and Yuna should be ming Frederick for the oil! Marguerite turned around, her tone t, ¡°Yes, we did have midnight snack, but the kitchen¡­¡± ¡°Did you hear that? She admitted to eating the midnight snack!¡± Yuna cut off Marguerite, then wailed, ¡°Marguerite, how could you?! You knew I was going to prepare breakfast this morning, so you spilled oil in the kitchen to make me fall, didn¡¯t you? What did I ever do to you, Marguerite, for you to treat me this way?¡± ?? Yuna¡¯s voice echoed throughout the house, painting Marguerite as a wicked, vindictive woman. She knew very well that Marguerite¡¯s status in the Winston family was due to her daughter. Mr. Powell¡¯s fondness for Teresa was the only reason Marguerite was tolerated. But Yuna intended to ruin Marguerite¡¯s reputation within the household and make her life a misery. At Yuna¡¯s outburst, several of the servants began to whisper among themselves. ¡°Could it be true that Ms. Marguerite spilled the oil? She seems so refined, wouldn¡¯t stoop to such a level, would she?¡± ¡°You¡¯re new here, so you wouldn¡¯t know that Ms. Marguerite and Mr. Frederick had a fling before! She probably resents Ms. Yuna!¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s aplex!¡± ¡°You bet! Once you¡¯re in a wealthy household, even the most noble women can turn ruthless!¡± The servants¡¯ gossip fueled Yuna¡¯s drama, and she continued to weep and wail, ¡°My life is so wretched! It¡¯s hard enough living under someone else¡¯s roof, but to be harmed as well! Why is my life so difficult, gosh.¡± With Yuna¡¯s hysterics, the servants were at a loss. They wanted tofort her, but Yuna wouldn¡¯t let them near the ¡®crime scene¡¯. And if they didn¡¯t do something, they risked disturbing the owners of the house, which would make things even worse. In the midst of themotion, Maurice was the first to be drawn by the noise. He hurried downstairs and went straight to Marguerite, ¡°What is she making a fuss about now?¡± ¡°What else? Just trying to stir up trouble.¡± Maurice frowned, his eyes filled with annoyance. The next moment, he strode into the kitchen, barking, ¡°Why are you lying around on the floor? Get up!¡± Yuna¡¯s wails ceased instantly. She probably hadn¡¯t expected Maurice to intervene. Even though Marguerite and he never truly shared a marital bond, Maurice would always stand up for her when necessary. Yuna paused, whimpering, ¡°Maurice, your wife deliberately spilled oil on the floorst night to make me slip. Aren¡¯t you going to do something about it?¡± Before Yuna could finish, a more authoritative voice echoed through the room, ¡°This has nothing to do with her. I was the one who cookedst night.¡± The man¡¯s voice was all too familiar, and everyone turned towards the source. There was Frederick, d in a ck robe, leisurely descending the spiral staircase. Chapter 431 Yuna froze on the spot, as the servants once again caught a whiff of juicy gossip. ¡°So, the midnight snack was made by Mr. Frederick? But didn¡¯t Ms. Marguerite just admit that she also had a midnight snack?¡± ¡°They had it togetherst night!¡± ¡°What! Mr Frederick cooked for Ms. Marguerite? This is big gossip! No wonder Ms. Yuna is throwing a fit this morning!¡± The chattering of the servants made Yuna furious. She was even more livid that Frederick would lie in public, making her theughing stock to save Marguerite. She hastily got up from the floor and rushed to find Frederick. But she identally stepped on a spot of oil on the floor and stumbled right into the man¡¯s feet. Several servants couldn¡¯t hold back theirughter as Yuna took a tumble. But Yuna didn¡¯t care, she managed to get up, grabbed Frederick¡¯s shoulders firmly. ¡°Freddie, I know you don¡¯t like to stir up trouble, but Marguerite intentionally set me up, and you are still defending her at this point? Last night¡­ you were with me all night! When did you have time to go downstairs and make a midnight snack?¡± She deliberately made it sound ambiguous, leading everyone to believe that something had happened between themst night. Frederick lowered his gaze, his expressionplicated, ¡°Last night¡­¡± Just as he was about to spill the truth, Yuna quickly leaned in, whispering in his ear, ¡°Freddie, Maurice and Marguerite are so close, and they teamed up to bully me. Can you really stand by and watch? They are targeting me because they don¡¯t dare to confront you directly! They don¡¯t respect you at all! They just want to make your life miserable at this mansion! And they want to push you out of the Winston Group. Can you swallow this insult?¡± From a third-person perspective, Yuna whispering in Frederick¡¯s ear looked especially intimate. Marguerite couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, but she felt devastated. N She didn¡¯t need to guess to know that Frederick would definitely stand up for Yuna. And the sight of the two seemingly embracing made a young servant particrly envious, ¡°Mr. Frederick and Ms. Yuna are truly close. Last night I passed by their room, and I heard some noises¡­¡± ¡°What kind of noises?¡± The young servant blushed, ¡°Well¡­ the sound of the bed hitting the wall, and Ms. Yuna¡¯s groan¡­¡± Several servants were stunned, they swallowed hard as their minds filled with images. At that moment, Yuna turned around, linking her arm with Frederick¡¯s, triumphantly casting a gloating nce at Marguerite. It seemed that her effortsst night were not in vain. She initially just wanted Marguerite to hear Frederick and her having sex, but unexpectedly her own noises were also overheard by the servants. This was even better, because now everyone in the Winston family will know how much Freddie loves her! Marguerite¡¯s eyes were stung again, it seemed, this man really had no intention of telling the truth. ¡°Marguerite, did you hear that? Freddie didn¡¯t go to the kitchen at allst night, he was with me the whole night! So you were the only one who went to the kitchen, and you must have spilled the oil on purpose! You owe me an apology! Right now!¡± Marguerite¡¯s cold and proud eyes fell on Frederick, carrying a hint of question and defiance, but she remained silent. If even the person involved denied it, then the truth would be meaningless. Let it be misunderstood then. After all, it wasn¡¯t the first time that Yuna had framed and set her up. ¡°Alright, I admit¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already said it¡­¡± Frederick interrupted Marguerite before she could finish. Meeting his gaze, Marguerite saw a glint of sharpness in his narrow eyes. The next second, he shook off Yuna¡¯s hand, his eyes filled with displeasure. After a pause, he finally spoke again, ¡°The midnight snack was made by me for her, and it has nothing to do with Marguerite.¡± Chapter 432 Everyone was shocked. In that moment, Frederick was not saying, ¡°I made thete-night snack,¡± instead he said, ¡°I made thete-night snack for her!¡± For her! Who was ¡°her¡±? Of course, it was Marguerite! Everyone was shocked, not to mention Marguerite, even Yuna was stunned! Last night, she did share a room with Frederick. But their suite was two bedrooms with a living room, so they didn¡¯t sleep in the same bed. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t hear Frederick leave the room at all! Was Freddie really with Margueritest night? Had they eaten ate-night snack together? What else had they done? Yuna¡¯s face turned red with anger and embarrassment. Marguerite, on the other hand, looked incredulous. What surprised her was not that Frederick had revealed the truth, but when he said ¡°I made thete-night snack for her¡±, his gaze was clearly directed at Maurice! Was he trying to provoke Maurice on purpose? But why? Marguerite couldn¡¯t figure it out. Meanwhile, little Teresa struggled to get out of Marguerite¡¯s arms. With a girlish and stern voice, she said, ¡°I can prove that Hayes¡¯ Daddy is telling the truth! Last night we ate instant noodles, and we don¡¯t need oil to cook them! We didn¡¯t do the dishes, so check the sink if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± Teresa said so, then walked towards the kitchen, pointing hastily at the sink! Even though Daddy had upset Mommyst night, the way he stood up to protect Mommy was so cool! So, she wanted to stand up with Daddy to protect Mommy, to make Mommy the happiest woman in the world! Gradually, Teresa didn¡¯t seem to dislike him that much. ni Everyone else followed Teresa¡¯s pointing direction, fully believing Frederick and Marguerite¡¯s words. ¡°Wow, Mr. Frederick really came out for ate-night snackst night? But I clearly heard noises in their room, how was that possible?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that easy to exin? Obviously, Ms. Yuna was faking it!¡± ¡°Can you fake something like that? That¡¯s just asking for ridicule¡­¡± The servants started discussing again. Yuna looked at Frederick with resentful eyes, as if asking why he was helping Marguerite. Yuna was so angry that she stamped her foot. She didn¡¯t expect that she not only failed to make Marguerite pay, but also caused herself a lot of trouble! Now, everyone in the mansion knew about her fake moaning! How embarrassing! Damn it! ¡°Freddie, why did you¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Frederick shouted angrily, shook off Yuna and went upstairs. Yuna, infuriated, red at Marguerite, ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Marguerite smiled slightly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m quite satisfied.¡± ¡°You bitch!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why isn¡¯t anyone cooking at this hour? Are you trying to starve me?¡± Powell¡¯s voice boomed, pushed by Jocelyn in his wheelchair into the living room. The servants scattered like birds, and a few chefs immediately dashed into the kitchen. Yuna headed towards Powell, wanted toin, but Marguerite pulled her back, whispering, ¡°What, isn¡¯t this embarrassing enough for you? Do you want Mr. Powell to know about your fake moaning? Stop embarrassing Frederick, don¡¯t shoot yourself in the foot. Clown!¡± Yuna was so angry that she wanted to scream, but the embarrassment was real. She still needed to butter up Powell, so she had to swallow her anger. Maurice, who had been silent for a while, stepped forward and put his arm around Marguerite¡¯s shoulder, exining, ¡°Dad, something just happened, but it¡¯s been resolved.¡± Mr. Powell cast a disdainful nce at Yuna. Back then, he was eager to split up Marguerite and Frederick, so he had Hammond find Yuna for help. At that time, he knew Yuna was a troublemaker. Today, although he didn¡¯t know what had happened, he knew without a doubt that Yuna must have instigated it. Without a word, he let Jocelyn push him away. Seeing his father leave, Maurice pulled Marguerite to the backyard, questioning, ¡°Why were you with Frederickst night? I need a reasonable exnation.¡± Marguerite looked at him, her face impassive, not denying, ¡°So what if I did? What¡¯s it to you?¡± Maurice wasn¡¯t angry or impatient, hisrge hand suddenly rested on Marguerite¡¯s shoulder, leaning down to whisper in her ear, ¡°I will continue to investigate where our son is, Marguerite, you must take our marriage seriously.¡± Chapter 433 Marguerite shivered involuntarily. Maurice¡¯s voice was calm, a gentle smile ying on his lips, but it sent a chill down her spine. Her weakness, it seemed, was well and truly in Maurice¡¯s grasp. Even if she wanted to resist, she was powerless to do so. Nobody knew better than Maurice how important their lost son was to her. That¡¯s why he could threaten her so tantly. After speaking, he straightened up, his smile as warm as a spring breeze. His cold fingertips gently traced the curve of her earlobe, he nodded in satisfaction and spoke again. ¡°Stay at home and wait for news from our son, okay?¡± Maurice gently patted Marguerite¡¯s shoulder, a loving gesture before preparing to leave. As he turned to go, he unexpectedly locked eyes with Frederick. Frederick returned to the living room, seemingly about to leave the house. Maurice once again ced his arm around Marguerite¡¯s shoulder and nodded at Frederick as a form of greeting. Marguerite also saw him. She noticed that Frederick always looked exceptionally dashing. He had changed into a navy¨Cblue suit with a camel overcoat, looking as handsome as a lead actor from a Hollywood movie. Subconsciously, Marguerite did not want Frederick to see her this close with Maurice, so she pushed Maurice away. But by the time she had done so, Frederick had already turned around and left the manor, his steps quick and determined. He had seemed indifferent, his gaze as he looked at her as casual as if he were looking at any other couple. Oh! She almost forgot that Frederick no longer loved her, so why was she hoping to see jealousy in his eyes? This realization hurt Marguerite deeply. After Maurice left. Marguerite saw the three little ones eating breakfast in the dining room. Teresa and Hayes wereughing and chatting, while Manley was still sucking on a lollipop, looking rather clueless. Marguerite wanted to go upstairs to find Jocelyn, but she unexpectedly bumped into Lisette. Lisette descended from the spiral staircase, still dressed in her pearls and finery, looking regal. Seeing Marguerite, she lifted her chin in amanding manner, ¡°Marguerite, get ready. I am going to the church to pray for Powell you¡¯reing with me.¡± Marguerite was surprised by her invitation. Was she worthy of apanying Lisette? But Marguerite quickly realized Lisette was trying to pull her onto her side. After all Jocelyn was back, and Lisette viewed Frederick as a thorn in her side. Even though she also rejected Marguerite, at least Marguerite had had a child with Maurice, so it was more advantageous to win Marguerite over. But Marguerite was not going to do it. If she switched sides. Jocelyn would have a tough time in the Winston family. Marguerite politely declined, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not going anywhere. I¡¯m staying home with the kids.¡± Lisette frowned and said. ¡°What¡¯s your deal? The butler can take care of the kids, you¡¯reing with me.¡± Marguerite was put on the spot, but her stance was clear, ¡°No one can take care of the kids better than their mother.¡± Yuna appeared out of nowhere and quickly ttered Lisette, ¡°Lisette, I¡¯m free today, let me apany you.¡± Lisette paused, gave Yuna a surprised look, and alter a moment of thought, she actually agreed! Truth be told, Marguerite looked down on Yuna¡¯s behavior. She could tell Yuna was trying to gain a foothold in the Winston family by pleasing Mr. Powell and Lisette. But the person standing behind Yuna was Frederick, and Lisette considered Frederick as a threat. Given this rtionship, Lisette would never see Yuna as one of her own, at most, she was just a pawn. Yuna couldn¡¯t see this, and Marguerite suspected she would end up empty¨Chanded in the end. Just as they were about to leave, Jocelyn came down the stairs. Marguerite gave Jocelyn a hearty smile and asked, ¡°Jocelyn, what brings you down here?¡± ¡°I was about to prepare some fruit for Powell.¡± Marguerite immediately rolled up her sleeves, a determined look on her face, and she intentionally raised her voice. ¡°Rest up, I¡¯ll do it for you!¡± She deliberately wanted Lisette to hear this. Marguerite wanted Lisette to know that no matter how much she tried to woo her, she would always stand firmly by Jocelyn¡¯s side. Moreover, she would do it openly and honestly! Even If it meant being partial, she would do so proudly! Chapter 434 Marguerite prepared a tray of freshly washed fruits and brought it to Jocelyn¡¯s room. At that time, Powell was already fast asleep on the bed. Meanwhile, Jocelyn was sitting on a rocking chair beside the bed, donned in reading sses, attentively scrutinizing what looked like a financial report. Tip¨Ctoeing her way, Marguerite approached gently and said in a low voice, ¡°Jocelyn, the fruits are ready.¡± Jocelyn, engrossed in her report with one hand and marking annotations with a pen in the other, did not look up. ¡°Just leave it there. Powell can have it when he wakes up.¡± As soon as she finished her sentence, Marguerite grabbed a cherry and tried to feed it to Jocelyn, ¡°I got all your favorites! You like cherries, right?¡± Hearing it. Jocelyn paused, removed her sses, and looked up at Marguerite. Her expression was somewhat serious, but Marguerite¡¯s yful smile made her lose her stern demeanor. ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be taking care of the kids, what are you doing here?¡± Marguerite popped a cherry into her mouth, looking innocent, ¡°That¡¯s just an excuse I gave her!¡± Jocelyn looked at Marguerite, helpless, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have tried to get close with me in front of Lisette.¡± Marguerite knew Jocelyn meant well. Although she understood the rationale, her rebellious nature kicked in, and she certainly wasn¡¯t one to bow down to power. She took a knee on the floor, leaning over to see what Jocelyn was writing, skillfully diverting the topic. ¡°Jocelyn, this is the report of Thunderbolt Enterprises, right? Your handwriting is so beautiful. It¡¯s so strong and assertive, just like you!¡± Jocelyn sighed, bringing the conversation back on track. ¡°What am I going to do with you? It¡¯s clear that Lisette is trying to win you over. Now that Yuna has gone over to her side too. Aren¡¯t you worried they¡¯ll team up against you?¡± Marguerite put down the fruit tray, a serious look on her face, ¡°That¡¯s their business, and what¡¯s it got to do with me? My life isn¡¯t a spy movie, why should it be filled with schemes!¡± Jocelyn shook her head, chuckling. ¡°If you¡¯re not scheming against others, you¡¯re just waiting for them to scheme against you?¡± ¡°Anyone could scheme against me, but I know you wouldn¡¯t. So even if I went over to Lisette¡¯s side, she¡¯d only treat me as a pawn. I¡¯d rather spend time with the people I care about!¡± Jocelyn was amused by Marguerite¡¯s argument, ¡°Honey, I don¡¯t have time to y games with you! Remember, Lisette is going to be your mother¨Cinw!¡± The mention of this made Marguerite¡¯s head ache. And perhaps it was because Jocelyn once again gave Marguerite a sense of warmth, she let down her guard, and like a child, denied it seriously and simply. ¡°I won¡¯t marry Maurice!¡± Jocelyn, sensing Marguerite¡¯s deted tone, retorted, ¡°So, if you¡¯re not marrying him, are you nning on marrying our Frederick?¡± Marguerite felt even more downcast. ¡°Jocelyn, I know there¡¯s no chance for me and Frederick, I¡¯m not lucky enough to be your daughter¨Cinw. But now I can see him every day, and I can see you every day, I¡¯m quite content.¡± Jocelyn looked deeply at Marguerite, not uttering a word. Her gaze was moving; it seemed as though there was a faint tremble of emotion in her eyes. Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure why Jocelyn had such an expression, but the seriousness in her eyes was making Marguerite teary. Just as Marguerite was about to cry. Jocelyn finally spoke, ¡°Do you still love Frederick?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Marguerite¡¯s answer came almost without hesitation. For the past three years. loving him was bing her habit. No matter who asked, no matter the circumstances, she would say it without any hesitation. But what good did love do? Whether it was three years ago or three yearster, it was all one¨Csided. ¡°Jocelyn, I do love him, but I know it¡¯s meaningless now. Not to mention the fact that I betrayed him back then, even without the betrayal, I knew there was no possibility between us. Frederick¡­ he never loved me, I¡¯m not delusional.¡± ¡°Who said Frederick never loved you? Frederick was head over heels in love with you! The day your grandmother passed away, the day you two broke up for good, Frederick was nning to confess his love to you!¡± Chapter 435 Marguerite froze on the spot. She was surprised at Jocelyn¡¯s anxiety. Jocelyn nce towards Powell, ensuring that Powell was still sound asleep before she let out a small sigh, looking at Marguerite with aplex expression. It took a moment for Marguerite to respond, her calm demeanor was like ake that had just been hit with a stone, instantly sinking. For some reason, her nose felt sour, and tears began to fall one by one. ¡°Jocelyn¡­ What did you say? Can you, say it again?¡± Jocelyn reached out to clean the tears from Marguerite¡¯s cheeks, her voice softened. ¡°I said, Frederick was in love with you.¡± Frederick had been in love with her? Marguerite suddenly recalled a dream she had one night. In the dream, Frederick confessed his love for her. In the dream, Marguerite was ecstatic, dancing with joy while holding Frederick. But when this became a reality, Marguerite didn¡¯t feel the excitement and joy she had in her dream. Instead, she felt more despair. ¡°Did he give up on confessing his feelings to me because of what happened?¡± she asked. Jocelyn¡¯s eyes were heavy and filled with regret as she nodded, saying. ¡°Yes. He had nned to confess his feelings to you at the Bluebell Bistro. He filled the restaurant with your favorite flowers and had been nning for days. But then, on the day of his confession, that incident happened. Marguerite, Frederick wouldn¡¯t go to such lengths for anyone. He truly loved you.¡± Why? Why was it that when Jocelyn told her all this, Marguerite felt more pain than joy? No wonder when she reunited with Frederick a month ago, he took her to the Bluebell Bistro and mentioned that someone nned a love confession there from three years ago. The man who bought the Bluebell Bistro due to an interrupted confession was Frederick himself! The man who wanted to constantly remind himself of his foolish past was Frederick! In an instant, Marguerite felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. it was her fault, she single¨Chandedly destroyed all the possibilities between her and Frederick but the truth came toote. If she had known all these earlier, she would have followed Frederick to the airport that day, no matter what. Even if he would curse her, or even hit her, Marguerite was willing to ept it all. Even if she had to be a servant for him in the future, she was willing to follow him, like a tail with no dignity. But it was toote, everything was toote¡­ Marguerite lifted her head, her face was covered in tears. She looked at Jocelyn with a glimmer of hope, her voice trembling, unable to form aplete sentence, ¡°Does he¡­ still love me?¡± Jocelyn pulled out a tissue to gently wipe Marguerite¡¯s tears, sighing, she didn¡¯t n to lie. ¡°I once asked Frederick the same question, and he personally said, he no longer loves you.¡± Marguerite broke down again, ¡°Is that true?¡± Jocelyn didn¡¯t want Marguerite to suffer anymore, after contemting for a while, she gave a neutral response. ¡°Although he said so, no one knows what he truly feels inside.¡± ¡°So, he is in love with Yuna, isn¡¯t he? Because Yuna was with him during his toughest times, so no matter what, I don¡¯t stand a chance, right?¡± Jocelyn didn¡¯t know how to answer her. Although Frederick said he didn¡¯t love Marguerite, as his mother, how could she not understand that he was just being stubborn? But if he refused to admit it verbally, he certainly wouldn¡¯t admit it in his heart. More importantly, she waspletely unsure about Frederick¡¯s current feelings towards Marguerite, whether he hated her more or loved her more. Therefore, Jocelyn couldn¡¯t give Marguerite an urate answer. Just when things were difficult, a servant walked into the room. Marguerite quickly turned around to wipe her tears, then heard the servant whispering, ¡°Madam, Mr. Fitzgerald hase to visit Mr. Powell with his parents. They¡¯re waiting in the living room now.¡± Chapter 436 Jocelyn rose to her feet quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll go out and wee him. Would you like to join me?¡± Marguerite, whose eyes were already red and swollen from crying, shook her head heavily. ¡°I¡¯d rather not. I¡¯m not exactly in a state to entertain guests.¡± Jocelyn gave Marguerite a sympathetic look, nodded, and took her hand to walk her out. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go rest in your room? I¡¯lle check on youter?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Marguerite¡¯s room was upstairs. Jocelyn apanied her to the stairwell before they went their separate ways. Marguerite, still trying to regain her emotional stability, slowly climbed the stairs to her room. As she stepped off the stairs and onto the hall, she noticed a strange woman looking around as if searching for something. ¡°Hello, can I help you find someone?¡± Marguerite asked. The woman turned at the sound of her voice. She was dressed in a simple beige dress covered by a white coat. The yellow scarf around her neck. however, gave her an air of elegance. Marguerite stared at the woman¡¯s features and froze. The woman bore a resemnce to Zoe, but she was far more sophisticated and refined. Upon seeing Marguerite, the woman disyed a brief moment of unease. ¡°I¡¯m Penelope, a friend of Powell¡¯s,¡± the woman exined. ¡°I heard he was ill and brought my son, Robert, to visit.¡± So, she was Robert¡¯s mother. No wonder she was so elegant. ¡°Ma¡¯am, Mr. Powell¡¯s room is downstairs. You seem to have taken a wrong turn,¡± Marguerite replied politely. The woman, who introduced herself as Penelope, hesitated as if considering something. She then decided to ask Marguerite directly about the person she was looking for. ¡°Do the Winstons have a girl named Marguerite?¡± Penelope asked. ¡°I¡¯m Marguerite,¡± she responded instinctively. Penelope appeared surprised. The girl she had been looking for was right in front of her? With a look of delight, Penelope pulled out a business card from her pocket and handed it to Marguerite. ¡°This may be sudden, but trust me, I mean no harm. I¡¯ve smelt your Pr Radiance, and there¡¯s no doubt you¡¯re talented. I¡¯d like to offer you a position in my cosmeticspany. We¡¯re working on a new product and need a perfume developer.¡± Marguerite was taken aback. She looked at the business card. Penelope¡­ Poppy Petal Fragrances¡­ Penelope was a big name in the cosmetics industry! However, Maurice had explicitly told her to stay at the mansion or she wouldn¡¯t get any news about her son. With a twinge of sadness, Marguerite was about to refuse, but Penelope seemed to see through her and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for an immediate answer. You can think it over. Whether you ept or not, I hope you¡¯ll give me a call.¡± Penelope¡¯s gentle tone and demeanor made Marguerite reconsider. She finally took the card and nodded, ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Watching Marguerite ept the card, Penelope breathed a sigh of relief and left. But she stopped midway, turned around, and looked at Marguerite again. For some reason, she felt an inexplicable attachment to the girl she just met. ¡°Do you need anything else, ma¡¯am?¡± Marguerite asked instinctively. Penelope¡¯s gaze was intense. ¡°Marguerite, how old are you?¡± Marguerite answered truthfully, ¡°Twenty¨Cfive.¡± Penelope paused, a flicker of something passing in her eyes, then a hint of sadness. ¡°Twenty¨Cfive¡­ the same age as my lost Nina¡­¡± She murmured. Chapter 437 Chapter 437 Marguerite was momentarily stunned ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am, what did you say?¡± Caught in the throes of her grief for her lost daughter, Penelope swiftly shook her head. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Every time she saw a girl of her daughter¡¯s age, she¡¯d instinctivelypare them to her own child, seeking some form of sce. But the resemnce between Marguerite and her daughter was particrly striking, which is why Penelope found herself staring a little longer than she should. Afraid of losing herposure and breaking down in front of Marguerite, Penelope quickly excused herself after a brief response. Suddenly, it clicked for Marguerite. The girl named Nina must be Penelope¡¯s missing daughter, and Robert¡¯s sister. No wonder she saw a familiar emotion on Penelope¡¯s face. It was the pain and regret of losing a loved one, coupled with a deep sense of guilt. Numerous times, Marguerite had questioned herself. During childbirth, she had clearly seen the so-called doctor take away her son. Why hadn¡¯t she fought back and blocked their way? Marguerite was convinced that if she¡¯d disregarded the advice and take her son back, he wouldn¡¯t have gone missing. But she was in so much pain then that she¡¯d fainted. So, this incident became an eternally unhealed wound in Marguerite¡¯s heart, and she would never be able to forgive herself¡­ Meanwhile, Robert had searched everywhere before finally locating Teresa¡¯s bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, and as he pushed it open, he could hear Teresa¡¯s excited shouting. ¡°Zoom in! Little mute, you won¡¯t hit them like that!¡± ¡°Hide in the grass in your ghillie suit! I gave you all the equipment, make use of it!¡± ¡°There are only two teams left, let them kill each other first! We¡¯lly low for a while. Little mute, hide! What are you doing running out there?¡± Suddenly, there was a barrage of gunfire from the speakers, and the next second, a victory firework shot up, and the word ¡°Winner¡± appeared on their screens. Teresa was stunned for a moment. ¡°Chicken dinner?¡± Hayes looked up and asked in a halting voice, ¡°What does¡­ ¡°Chicken dinner¡¯ mean?¡± ¡°Winner winner chicken dinner, it means we won, little mute! You¡¯re so good! You took out two teams with a Kar98k! You¡¯re so amazing!¡± As Teresa excitedly dropped her phone, she was about to throw herself at Hayes in a hug, but then she saw Robert standing there, arms crossed, watching her with amusement. Her action froze midway, ¡°Godfather? What brings you here?¡± Robert approached her, his domineering demeanor softened by a hint of appeasement. ¡°I brought you some high-quality art supplies, toys, and your favorite Hello Kitty stuff.¡± Teresa smirked, her big, bright eyes twinkling with anticipation. ¡°Nothinges free. So you need something from me, don¡¯t you?¡± Robert fell silent. Teresa had a knack for reading people, as if nothing could escape her piercing gaze. Strangely enough, he saw a bit of Frederick in Teresa. Since she had seen right through him, Robert decided to cut to the chase, ¡°It¡¯s about my sister again.¡± Teresa looked at him without uttering a word. Robert added, ¡°We wanted your mom to work at Frederick¡¯spany to bring them closer together. But now that they¡¯re living under the same roof, it¡¯s not necessary for them to be at the samepany, don¡¯t you think?¡± Teresa contemted his words, her face lighting up with excitement. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right!¡± Hayes also eagerly ran over, clinging to Teresa¡¯s shoulder and insisting, ¡°Help¡­ him. Teresa blinked, thinking about how her dad had defended her mom¡¯s innocence this morning, and she was feeling quite pleased with herself. So, riding on that high, Teresa readily agreed. ¡°You don¡¯t need a portrait or anything like that. Just show me a picture of your sister, and I should be able to guess what she looks like. Bring out the picture!¡± Chapter 438 Upon hearing this, Robert immediately took out his sister¡¯s photo from his wallet. Teresa and Hayes curiously peeped in with their heads popped up on their tiptoes. There, within the folds of a daffodil yellow nket,y a tender little girl. Her eyes were wide and curious, and her tiny mouth was curved upwards in anticipation of the world before her. She was a little baby! Teresa looked it carefully, falling into silence. Seeing her quiet for so long, Robert anxiously asked, ¡°Did you figure something out?¡± Swallowing hard, Teresa replied, ¡°This little girl is quite pretty. Seems even a tad bit more beautiful than me.¡± Robert was at a loss for words, ¡°Who asked you that! Didn¡¯t you say you could tell how she looks now just by looking at her photo?¡± Teresa stared fixedly at the picture of the baby girl, her mind nk. Robert looked at Teresa with a hint of disappointment, ¡°You can¡¯t tell?¡± Teresa shook her head reluctantly, pulling a sad face, ¡°She¡¯s too young.¡± Robert started to doubt Teresa¡¯s expertise, ¡®Aren¡¯t you the one who can sketch an elderly from a three-year-old¡¯s picture?¡± What an empty reputation! Teresa immediately corrected him, ¡°Yes, but look at this baby girl, she¡¯s not even three! She¡¯s just born, without eyebrows and even her facial features aren¡¯t fully formed yet. How am I supposed to sketch that?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve sketched from blurry CCTV footage before, why can¡¯t you sketch this? You can definitely do it!¡± No matter what, Teresa¡¯s reputation was well-known, regardless of his doubts, he had to give it a try. Teresa felt a huge burden, the weight of the task ahead made her feel pressured. The little one furrowed her brows, her face serious, ¡°Actually, I can do it, but it will take a lot of time, and I will need to use a human body mold.¡± Robert¡¯s hope was rekindled, ¡°Whatever it takes, as long as you can sketch, I will fulfill any condition you ask!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Without any hesitation, Robert immediately agreed to Teresa¡¯s terms. But remembering her knack foring up with all sorts of ideas, he quickly added, ¡°But you can¡¯t ask for the moon and the stars, and I can¡¯t name an asteroid after you!¡± Teresa puffed up with pride. Of course, Robert can¡¯t match up to her real father! Her dad was the most incredible man in the world! No one couldpare! ¡°I get it, I get it. You¡¯re more nagging than godmother! I don¡¯t need anything now, just get the human body mold and thene find me.¡± After Teresa had spoken, she hastily took Hayes¡¯ hand, her voice sweet as honey, ¡°Hey, Little mute, let¡¯s go find my mom, okay?¡± Upon hearing the mention of Marguerite, Hayes¡¯ eyes lit up, nodding enthusiastically, his eyes curving like crescents, ¡°Okay!¡± Meanwhile, in a half-built building on the outskirts of town. Hammond was tied up, his body battered and bruised, his face unrecognizable from the beating. A bodyguard raised his whip, ruthlesslyshing it towards Hammond¡¯s already wounded body. With each whip, Hammond howled in agony ¡°Mr. Winston, I really don¡¯t know anything! I¡¯ve been with you for years, from when you were still a doctor at Stonebridge Memorial Hospital, taking orders from Mr. Powell to assist you. How could I possibly harm your wife or your child? I certainly don¡¯t know where your missing child is! It¡¯s all Janie¡¯s doings! She set me up! She wants to take my ce!¡± Hammond was tearful as he pleaded, his eyes filled with deep fear. In the vast unfinished building, Maurice satzily on a high-end leather couch in the center. He sat with his legs crossed, idly twirling a razor-sharp dagger in his hand. His expression was indifferent, but the cruelty radiating from him was bone-chilling. He slowly lifted his eyelids, his gaze settling emotionlessly on Hammond¡¯s swollen face, ¡°Even with the evidence against you, you are still lying? Seems like you don¡¯t value your life at all.¡± Chapter 439 Hammond¡¯s face went ghostly pale, his mind buzzing with the extreme fear that gripped him. ¡°Mr¡­ Mr. Winston, what are you nning to do?¡± Maurice continued to casually toy with the knife in his hand, ¡°Considering you know of my past as a surgeon, you should be well aware that my expertise lies in human anatomy¡± As Maurice spoke, he suddenly flicked his eyes upwards, his gaze piercing Hammond with an unabashedly ruthless and murderous intent. Yet his tone was calm, even gentle, ¡°How do you think it would feel, watching your own body being dissected piece by piece while still conscious, huh?¡± Hammond was frozen with fear, his body quaking uncontrobly, teeth chattering in terror, ¡°Mr¡­ Mr. Winston, I¡¯ve served you for many years. You¡¯re not only a titan of the business world, but also one of the world¡¯s top surgeons. You surely wouldn¡¯t¡­you wouldn¡¯t be so cruel to me.¡± Maurice let out a slow, satisfied chuckle, nodding approvingly before casually handing the knife to his bodyguard. Upon seeing this, Hammond let out a sigh of relief, tears of joy streaming down his face as he thought Maurice had spared him, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Winston! Thank you, Mr. Winston! Please believe me, everything I¡¯ve said is¡­Ah-¡± A painful scream immediately drowned out all other sounds. Hammond cried out, looking in horror at the bodyguard who had plunged the knife into his chest. The pain was excruciating. Maurice wiped his hands and slowly stood, walking over to the trembling Hammond before breaking into a smile, ¡°Did you really think I would do this myself?¡± ¡°Mr¡­.Mr. Winston¡­¡­..¡± Hammond¡¯s lips were twitching violently, the blood seemingly flowing back into his eyes, which were now a terrifying shade of red He was in such pain and terror that he was now barely recognizable as human. His head drooped heavily as if his neck had lost all strength. The bodyguard promptly checked his breathing, ¡°Mr. Winston, he¡¯s still alive! Just unconscious!¡± ¡°Wake him up!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± Following his boss¡¯ orders, the bodyguard repeatedly doused Hammond with buckets of icy water. The cold water mixed with the blood on his body, forming a dirty puddle. Janie, who had been watching from the sidelines, felt her stomach churn. She had been with Maurice for many years, but this was the first time she had witnessed such ruthless violence. Unable to bear the sight of the unconscious Hammond, Janie turned to Maurice, tentative. ¡°Mr. Winston, maybe we can try a different approach? After all, Hammond has been your loyal employee for years. He wouldn¡¯t betray you without reason. Perhaps there¡¯s something he¡¯s not telling us?¡± Upon hearing this, Maurice nced at Janie, making her heart skip a beat out of fear. ¡°Janie, as I recall, you¡¯ve been eager to rece Hammond, haven¡¯t you?¡± Janie bit her lower lip hard. She instinctively wanted to deny it, but knew she couldn¡¯t hide anything from Maurice. He was a master of psychological warfare. Avoiding his gaze, she admitted quietly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Showing mercy to your enemies is cruelty to yourself. If youck ambition, how can you expect to rece Hammond by my side?¡± Ever since Maurice took over, he had promoted a dog-eat-dog working environment. Even though he knew his subordinates were constantly scheming against one another for business, clients, and status, he never interfered. Survival of the fittest was his motto, and all the victors served him. All he had to do was reap the benefits. After all, subordinates were tools for Maurice to exploit. Maurice studied Janie with a deep, meaningful gaze, ¡°I¡¯m leaving Hammond to you. Whether or not you impress me depends on your capabilities.¡± With that, Maurice turned and left, a small smile ying on his lips. When he returned to the Winston Mansion, Marguerite was in the living room ying with LEGOs alongside Teresa and Hayes. Hayes seemed particrly fond of Marguerite. Every time hepleted a piece, he would excitedly show it to her. Hayes was clearly Frederick¡¯s child, but seeing him interact with Marguerite filled Maurice with an unanticipated warmth. Just as he was about to join them, his phone buzzed It was a call from Janie. He immediately connected the call on his Bluetooth earpiece, lowering his voice, ¡°Speak¡± Janie¡¯s voice wasced with exhaustion and a hint of hoarseness as she replied, ¡°Mr. Winston, Hammond¡¯s finally cracked. He said the child that your wife lost is named Hayes, who is Frederick¡¯s current youngest son!¡± Chapter 440 Maurice wasposed. The faces of Hayes and Marguerite seemed to ovep in front of him. The sound of their conversation became clearer and clearer. ¡°Hayes, this part is wrong. The castle door should be an arch, not a square one, understand?¡± ¡°Uh huh.¡± 1 heard from Teresa that you won the shooting game today? You¡¯re quite the gamer, a smart little guy, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± No wonder Maurice always felt a peculiar connection between Hayes and Marguerite. He was Marguerite¡¯s son! Her very own son! ¡°Mr. Winston, three years ago, Yuna colluded with Hammond to deal with Frederick¡¯s paternity test and snatched Ms. Marguerite¡¯s son. As for the details, Ill report to you in detail when you go to thepany tomorrow. The priority now is to tell Ms. Marguerite the truth. She seemed quite worried when I saw herst.¡± Maurice lowered his gaze, his tone indifferent, ¡°I know, I¡¯ll tell her right away.¡± Before Maurice had a chance to finish the call, Marguerite was already approaching him. Unaware that Maurice was still on the phone due to his Bluetooth headset, she cut straight to the chase, ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to find out about my son¡¯s whereabouts today? Any leads?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Yes? Marguerite¡¯s heart started pounding as she dragged Maurice to the corner, urgently asking. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where¡¯s my son?!¡± ¡°Marguerite, your son¡­¡± Maurice¡¯s deep eyes looked at Marguerite, but his sudden silence left her frustrated and puzzled. She couldn¡¯t discern his emotions through his expression. In theory, their son was also his child. But she didn¡¯t see any joy or happiness that he should have. What was he struggling with? Could it be that something had happened to their son? Marguerite was getting anxious and suddenly felt a rush of tears, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there silent! What happened to my son? Who is he? Tell me now!¡± Maurice shook his head, his tone as usual, ¡°Not now, but I do know that he¡¯s doing well.¡± ¡°I want to see him!¡± ¡°Promise me that you¡¯ll marry me in a month, and I¡¯ll bring him to you.¡± Almost unable to suppress her rage, Marguerite¡¯s hatred was evident. ¡°Maurice, you knew where my son was all along, didn¡¯t you? You knew where he was but you deliberately didn¡¯t tell me. Was it just so you could threat meter?¡± Maurice held Marguerite¡¯s hand, tightening his grip. ¡°Marguerite, I suggest you don¡¯t talk to me with that tone! You¡¯re in the Winston Mansion now, are you sure you want to lose your temper with me? Do you think anyone would help you? Or do you think that if you yell at me, I¡¯ll willingly tell you about our son?¡± Marguerite was about to explode, wishing she could p Maurice in the face. But meeting his stern gaze, she pursed her lips and gritted out a word, ¡°Get lost!¡± He stood still as Marguerite shook off his hand and stormed upstairs. Tears, no longer held back, streamed down her cheeks. Was this the so-called y of fate? In one day, she had suffered a double blow. She had missed Frederick¡¯s confession years ago and buried any possible future between them. Now, she finally had news of her son, but Maurice was using it to threaten her. Was she forever trapped in Maurice¡¯s palm? Meanwhile, Maurice returned to his room. Janie hadn¡¯t hung up and was still puzzled, ¡°Mr. Winston, if you tell Ms. Marguerite the truth, she might agree to marry you.¡± He countered, ¡°And if I tell her, does she still have a weakness?¡± Janie was speechless. She realized that Maurice was truly ruthless, not just to his subordinates, but to those around him. Even if that person was the woman he loved deeply, he wouldn¡¯t spare her. ¡°Janie, remember, only when you hold someone¡¯s weakness in your hand, can you control them.¡± Maurice quickly ended the call and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the distant view. His eyes tightened, filled with an intense ruthlessness. No matter what, in this game of love, he would never allow himself to lose to Frederick! Chapter 441 Meanwhile, the half-dead Hammond was tossed into the middle of nowhere by his bodyguards. With hisst ounce of energy, he dialed Yuna¡¯s number, ¡°Maurice has found out that Hayes is Marguerite¡¯s son. You better watch your back.¡± At this moment, Yuna was on her way to Frederick¡¯s study. She intended to apologize to him for the morning¡¯s mishap. Dressed in a breezy outfit and carrying a te of homemade cookies, she was startled by Hammond¡¯s words and dropped the cookies on the floor. Without cleaning up, she ran back to her room, fuming, ¡°You said you would help me. What the hell happened?¡± Hammond¡¯s voice was very weak, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know Maurice. He won¡¯t tell Marguerite until thest minute. You better prepare yourself. And after this, don¡¯te looking for me anymore. Because of you, I¡¯m now a broken man. The only thing I regret in this life, is siding with you!¡± As he spoke, Hammond¡¯s words grew increasingly resentful. He now knew very well that being close to Yuna would bring misfortune! He himself was the living proof! Unfortunately, he realized this toote! In these deste outskirts, he had no idea whether he would survive. Even if he did manage to hang on, there would be no ce for him in Stonebridge City! What hurt him the most was that Janie, in order to interrogate him, had castrated him. Looking down at his mutted genital, Hammond was filled with regret. Ignoring Yuna¡¯s screams on the phone, he coldly hung up and began to drag his battered body around, aimlessly looking for signs of life. On the other end, Yuna was frantically pacing her room. Maurice knew that Hayes was Marguerite¡¯s child! And what was worse, they were now living under the same roof! With them bumping into each other constantly, it was only a matter of time before Maurice spilled the truth to Marguerite! ¡°Would I still be able to enjoy my luxurious life then?!¡± Yuna worried. In her desperation, Yuna thought of Barnes. Even though the man posed a great threat to her, she had no other choice but to turn to him! She immediately dialed Barnes¡¯ number, who picked up almost instantly, ¡°Well, have youe to your senses?¡± ¡°Get rid of Hayes. Name your price!¡± Barnesughed, hisughter wicked and chilling, ¡°Money? I¡¯ve got plenty of it now. What I really want, is you.¡± Yuna gritted her teeth in anger, ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°Sweetheart, third time¡¯s the charm! Next time youe to me, I might not be so amodating!¡± Yuna¡¯s face turned red with rage. But then, a more meticulous n began to form in her mind. Perfect! Barnes liked to threaten her, right? Then she would let him taste the consequences of threatening her! In an instant, a sinister and ruthless light shone in Yuna¡¯s eyes. She took a deep breath, and said calmly, ¡°Give me your location. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Hayes, Barnes¡­ those who threaten her position, she would make sure they pay dearly, and no one could escape! Especially Hayes, she would make him disappear from Marguerite¡¯s life in the most brutal way imaginable! Chapter 442 Barnes sent his location quickly and Yuna took some time to get there. What she didn¡¯t anticipate, however, was that Barnes was living in a rental apartment just above her family¡¯s casino! Thankfully, it was deep into the night, the casino¡¯s busiest hours. Hence, when Yuna arrived, Zoe and Ablett didn¡¯t spot her. The slightly ajar door was pushed open by Yuna, and the choking smell of smoke and alcohol made her nauseous. Barnes was hiding behind the door, and as soon as Yuna entered, he immediately grabbed her by the shoulder and eagerly pushed her against the door. Yuna turned her face away in disgust, questioning him fiercely, ¡°Did you do this on purpose? How long have you been living here behind my back? Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± A wicked smile curled up at the corner of Barnes¡¯ lips. He leaned in towards Yuna, greedily inhaling her scent, ¡°Why? You don¡¯t want Zoe and Ablett to know how much we love each other?¡± Seeing Barnes about to kiss her, Yuna instantly pushed against his chest. ¡°I¡¯m here now, what else do you want? You want to make everyone know about this?¡± Barnes cruelly brushed off Yuna¡¯s hand, and in an instant, he picked her up and tossed her onto the nearby bed, pouncing on her. ¡°Whether your parents know or not, what does it matter? Your family should be thanking me! It¡¯s me, who¡¯s about to get rid of the Hayes for you! And it¡¯s because of me, your family¡¯sfortable life can continue! Oh no, to be precise, they should thank you! Because all of this, you earned by pleasing me with your body¡­¡± As he spoke, Barnes tilted up Yuna¡¯s chin and kissed her. This time, Yuna didn¡¯t resist. Because Barnes had mentioned Hayes, and she wanted Hayes gone, so she had to make some sacrifices¡­ After a passionate night, Barnes was half-naked, leaning against the headboard smoking. Yuna quickly dressed and suddenly took out a gun from her bag onto the bed. Barnes looked down at the dark muzzle, slightly stunned. But Yuna crossed her arms and looked at him coldly, ¡°Frederick¡¯s bodyguards are all former special forces. I think, you should be capable of a headshot.¡± Barnes¡¯ yful eyes fell on Yuna, suddenly appreciating the ruthless determination in this woman, despite her pretending to be righteous. But after all, Yuna was Frederick¡¯s woman, and sleeping with her, Barnes naively thought he was no different from Frederick. ¡°You¡¯re heartless! Hayes has been your son for three years. Can you really do this?¡± ¡°Enough talk! That brat is nothing but trouble, I can¡¯t let him diefortably! It must be a headshot!¡± How painful would Marguerite be if she found out that her long-lost son died so gruesomely? The image of Marguerite crying out in anguish shed through Yuna¡¯s mind, bringing her immense satisfaction. ¡°Your wish is mymand. But I have one condition.¡± Barnes said, his voiceden with hidden implications. Upon hearing this, Yuna¡¯s face fell, clearly irritated, ¡°What, you want more?¡± ¡°After I kill Hayes, shouldn¡¯t we celebrate? Like¡­ tonight?¡± As Barnes spoke, he looked at Yuna with a provocative and ambiguous gaze. Thinking about what had just happened, Yuna felt like vomiting! But she held it in. Hayes wasn¡¯t dead yet, and Barnes, this scapegoat, had to stay alive! Celebrate? After he kills Hayes, would Frederick let him off? There are not many people in Stonebridge City with the legal right to bear arms. As a former bodyguard of Frederick and an ex-special forces sniper, Barnes naturally had this privilege. However, his gun permit was confiscated by Yuna when he resigned three years ago. Therefore, the gun Yuna threw was bought on the ck market using Barnes¡¯ permit. By then, it wouldn¡¯t take much effort for Frederick to quickly identify Barnes as the suspect. She was aiming to kill two birds with one store! Not only did she want to get rid of Hayes, but also Barnes, the ticking time bomb! Chapter 443 The following morning. After the group finished breakfast, Maurice and Frederick left the Winston Mansion one after the other, each heading to their respective offices. Marguerite was unsure of how Frederick had dealt with the hacker attack on Thunderbolt Enterprises. Despite this, he still managed to maintain a fa?ade of friendliness with Maurice, asionally even exchanging business strategies. This left Marguerite somewhat puzzled. What she didn¡¯t understand was that battles between titans were always fought behind the scenes, with neither party ever breaking rank publicly. As a result, the war between Frederick and Maurice was likely to continue indefinitely. Not long after the two men had left, Marguerite went upstairs to find Jocelyn. However, the weather that day was poor, with heavy snow and fog making even the well-lit areas appear grey and hazy. After breakfast, Powell had settled down for a nap, while Jocelyn was still sitting in her rocking chair, engrossed in paperwork. Marguerite tiptoed into the room, adopting a yful demeanor as she began to massage Jocelyn¡¯s shoulders. Without lifting her head, Jocelyn said, ¡°You¡¯re so young, shouldn¡¯t you be out working instead of hanging around me?¡± ¡°Is it a crime to enjoy spending time with you?¡± Setting down her pen and removing her sses, Jocelyn paused for a moment before turning to look at Marguerite and saying, ¡°Cut the crap. You betrayed Frederick, and haven¡¯t even started with you yet. Don¡¯t expect me to like you.¡± Marguerite merely smirked, understanding that Jocelyn was only joking, and continued massaging her shoulder without a word. The Jocelyn she saw now was quite different from the woman she remembered. She was graceful and wise, at peace with the passage of time, and no longer the pushover she had been three years ago. Marguerite was happy for her. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you working? Penelope gave you her business card, didn¡¯t she?¡± Marguerite was taken aback. She didn¡¯t expect Jocelyn to bring that up. ¡°The day Penelope personally came to ask for you, but you didn¡¯t say yes to her. Are you worried about something?¡± With a sigh, Marguerite decided not to hide her concerns. ¡°Jocelyn, I do want to work. But right now, I can¡¯t. Maurice won¡¯t let me leave the mansion because he¡¯s keeping tabs on the whereabouts of my lost son. I can¡¯t go against him.¡± Jocelyn looked at Marguerite, her eyes disying a mix of frustration and disappointment. ¡°You¡¯re clever. Why do you be so foolish when it matters most?¡± Marguerite was taken aback. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Has Maurice hired someone to keep an eye on you?¡± Marguerite shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Well then, that settles it. Maurice is busy dealing with Frederick, so he won¡¯t have time to monitor you. It¡¯s a question of priorities. Which do you think is more important to him?¡± Marguerite thought hard, but couldn¡¯te up with an answer. Jocelyn was getting frustrated with Marguerite¡¯s inability to grasp the simple logic. She remembered Marguerite as a quick-witted girl when she was with Frederick. Now, under Maurice¡¯s torment, she had be overly cautious and jittery. Jocelyn decided to be more explicit. ¡°If he was really focused on you, he would¡¯ve handed over hispany to his subordinates by now so he could monitor you. As long as you get back before he does, he¡¯ll be none the wiser. Moreover, you know Penelope lost her daughter and they¡¯ve been looking for her for over 20 years. They have more experience in this than Maurice. You need to take control of your life and not let others manipte you, understand?¡± Jocelyn spoke earnestly, her voice filled with concern. She could see that Maurice was very simr to Powell when he was young, exceptionally adept at maniption. She was afraid that Marguerite would walk down the same path and be trapped by Maurice. Marguerite, however,ughed off Jocelyn¡¯s worries, saying, ¡°And you said you don¡¯t like me. Now you¡¯re teaching me how to escape Maurice!¡± This caught Jocelyn off guard. She almost burst outughing, lovingly hit Marguerite, and gently scolded, ¡°Stop joking around! Lisette has been cking off ever since! came back, she¡¯s not even looking after Powell. God knows where she is now. She won¡¯t be back for a while, and won¡¯t have a chance to spill the beans to Maurice. Now is the perfect time for you to go to Penelope¡¯s office. But remember toe back early. Tonight is the New Year¡¯s eve, we¡¯re all having dinner together.¡± Chapter 444 Marguerite was easily persuaded by Jocelyn, and as she left the Winston Mansion, Yuna happened to see her. Yuna lingered, watching as the number of people in the mansion dwindled. Jocelyn won¡¯t being downstairs for a while, and Lisette was nowhere to be found it was a golden opportunity! She quickly headed to the kitchen, packing some doughnuts and coffee into a thermos, then went to the children¡¯s bedroom to call for Hayes, instructing, ¡°Hayes, daddy didn¡¯t eat much for breakfast, and he must be hungry now. If you take this snack to him, he¡¯ll be really happy. Would you mind doing that for me?¡± The mere thought of making his daddy happy was enough to light up Hayes¡¯ eyes. Unaware of the impending danger, he joyfully nodded his little head. Yuna, thrilled, quickly thrust the thermos into Hayes¡¯ arms, urging, ¡°Go on, the driver¡¯s outside waiting for you.¡± Hayes, clutching the thermos, stumbled towards the doorway. He initially wanted to call for Teresa to join him, but she had mentioned earlier that the weather was perfect for a nap. So Teresa must be resting, right? Better not to disturb her. With that thought, Hayes resolutely stepped out of the mansion. From the window, watching the car carrying Hayes disappearing into the distance, Yuna swiftly texted Barnes ¨C [Hayes and the driver are out, make your move.] A prompt response from Barnes soon followed. Yuna looked towards the direction where Hayes had left. Now, there was no sign of the car. Instead, there was heavy snowfall and dense fog. Her malicious gaze, particrly noticeable amid the gloomy weather. The blizzard was especially ferocious that day, a harshness Marguerite had never experienced before. After an interview at Penelope¡¯spany, she returned home. The severe weather had disrupted traffic, congesting all the streets. Fortunately, she arrived home before Maurice, so that she could keep her interview a secret. However, during dinner, Marguerite overheard Lisette reprimanding Jocelyn in the dining room, ¡°What¡¯s up with your son? Powell finallyes downstairs for dinner, and he¡¯s nowhere to be seen! If he doesn¡¯t want to eat this family dinner, he can just leave!¡± ¡°Frederick is working overtime, and with this snowstorm, he can¡¯t possibly be home soon.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s voice was still gentle, yet firm and upromising. ¡°Working overtime my foot! Yuna said Hayes went to thepany to look for your son, now who knows where those two are! Call your son right now!¡± Marguerite could tell Lisette was picking a fight. Frederick was always outte, rarely ate at home, and Lisette knew that. But she chose this day to bring it up, precisely because it was New Year¡¯s Eve. Powell had been lenient with Frederick, but even he could not tolerate his disregard on such a significant day. So she intentionally said it in front of Powell, to make Jocelyn suffer. Powell was indeed displeased, but at that moment, Manley ran up to Lisette, batting his eyshes and said, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯ll call daddy right away and ask him toe home!¡± Marguerite was shocked. Did Manley just call Lisette grandma? And his tone was even more affectionate than when he called Jocelyn! Children don¡¯t know any better, it must have been Yuna¡¯s doing! Seeing Manley frantically dialing Frederick¡¯s number, Yuna was inwardly delighted. At this hour, Hayes must have already been taken care of by Barnes. Frederick still hadn¡¯t returned home, he must be investigating the matter! Once this call was made, Powell would surely find out about Hayes¡¯ death, and he would certainly use alt his resources to investigate. By then, Hayes would be long gone, and Barnes would be caught even sooner due to Powell¡¯s involvement. This was exactly what Yuna wanted, so she didn¡¯t stop Manley. Chapter 445 Yuna had never thought that as soon as Manley dialed Frederick¡¯s number, he would answer the call almost immediately. ¡°Daddy, are you still workingte? Grandma and Grandpa want you home for dinner. Hurry back, we¡¯re waiting for you!¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was tired but steady, ¡°Got it. Daddy¡¯s wrapping up at work. I¡¯ll be home soon.¡± Yuna was utterly perplexed! How could Freddie remain so calm? Manley handed the phone to Powell with a triumphant expression, ¡°Dad, Grandpa wants to talk to you!¡± Powell took the phone and inhaled deeply, his face tight with suppressed irritation, ¡°Workingte is one thing, but why did you take Hayes to the office? Put him on the phone, I miss him!¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was still calm, but firm, ¡°He¡¯s resting beside me, and I don¡¯t want to wake him. I¡¯ll bring him home soon.¡± With that, he ruthlessly hung up the phone. Powell¡¯s face darkened, his dignity obviously wounded, ¡°He¡¯s always causing trouble!¡± Yuna, however, couldn¡¯t remain calm! Hayes was resting at the office? And next to Frederick? What on earth was happening? Hadn¡¯t Barnes acted as soon as they set off? Damn it! Unable to contain her impatience, Yuna discreetly sent a message to Barnes: [What the hell are you doing? You were supposed to act this morning and you still haven¡¯t moved?] Barnes replied instantly, his fury palpable through the screen ¨C [You¡¯re an idiot! Of all days, why did you pick today? The fog is so thick that I can¡¯t get a clear shot!] Yuna was furious, too. [Go to thepany parking lot! As soon as you see Hayes leaving, act immediately!] [Are you trying to get me killed? How dare I act at Thunderbolt Enterprises?] Yuna¡¯s lips curled into a sinister, cunning smile. [You¡¯re in the shadows, what are you afraid of? It¡¯s night time, there¡¯s only one guard in the underground garage, no one will notice you! This is a golden opportunity!] [A golden opportunity, my ass! You¡¯re ying with my life!] Yuna continued to manipte Barnes, [Aren¡¯t you the sharpshooter? As far as I know, you were a sniper in the special forces! Remember, if this job goes well, not only will you get paid, I can also be with you every day.] Thest sentence finally made the lustful Barnes waver. He spat on the ground and immediately replied, [Damn it! I¡¯m gonna risk it all for you today! Wait for my good news!] Yuna put away her phone with trembling hands, nervously waiting for Barnes¡¯ message. By this time, everyone had settled down for dinner. Since it was New Year¡¯s eve, the dinner was especiallyvish. But Yuna was preupied and found the food tasteless. Ten minutester, her phone buzzed again, and Barnes had sent her a brief reply ¨C [It¡¯s done.] Yuna was overwhelmed. [Are you sure? You¡¯re not lying to me?] [Stop talking nonsense! I¡¯ve shot through Frederick¡¯s car window, there¡¯s blood all over the ss, how could it be fake?] With Barnes¡¯ confirmation, Yuna finally rxed. She slowly opened her eyes and suddenly found the food around her delicious. She leisurely cut into her steak, elegantly took a bite, and smiled contentedly. Chapter 446 The family dinner hadsted two hours, and yet Frederick and Hayes were still not back. Powell was thoroughly disappointed, nudged by Lisette to leave the restaurant. Before they departed, Lisette couldn¡¯t resist making a sarcasticment to Jocelyn. ¡°Don¡¯t ever use the Winston family of ying favorites again. Frederick is so rude. We¡¯ve been waiting for him all night and he still hasn¡¯t shown up. Isn¡¯t this just a p in the face to Powell?¡± Jocelyn stood there, aplex expression on her face, but it was Powell who shot Lisette a re, reprimanding, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you just keep quiet?¡± Lisette sulked and left the restaurant with Powell. Jocelyn walked towards the front hall, standing by the massive French windows, scanning the outdoors. Teresa, ever the considerate one, handed a cup of hot chocte to Jocelyn. With a childish tone, she asked, ¡°Jocelyn, are you waiting for Hayes¡¯ daddy?¡± Jocelyn took the hot drink and patted Teresa¡¯s head. She managed to muster a weak smile but didn¡¯t directly answer, ¡°It¡¯ste. Time for you to go to bed!¡± But Teresa shook her head sadly, pressing her small face against the chilly window, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go! Hayes and his dad haven¡¯te back. I¡¯m worried too!¡± Teresa¡¯s concern warmed Jocelyn¡¯s heart. She turned to look at Marguerite and sighed softly. Marguerite rested her chin on Jocelyn¡¯s shoulder from behind, her hand gently massaging her shoulder. She asked quietly, ¡°Jocelyn, are you going to wait for him?¡± Jocelyn felt a pang in her heart, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I have a bad feeling. I called him, but he didn¡¯t answer.¡± ¡°Maybe his phone¡¯s dead? And the weather¡¯s terrible today. I was stuck in traffic for three hours on my way back. Thunderbolt Enterprises is far from here. If there was any ident, the evening news would have reported it by now. Jocelyn, you should go rest. You¡¯ve been looking after Powell for days, and you haven¡¯t been resting well. If Frederick sees you staying up sote, he¡¯d be upset too.¡± Marguerite¡¯s words made sense. If something had happened to Frederick and Hayes, the news would have reported it right away. Perhaps, she was worrying over nothing. Jocelyn shook her head and went upstairs to rest. After Marguerite tucked Teresa into bed, and it was almost midnight. She returned to her room, looking out the window once more. Frederick¡¯s car was usually parked under the front yard oak tree, but now there was no sign of it. Why hadn¡¯t hee back? Suddenly, Marguerite felt a terrible premonition. She brushed her teeth and washed her face, but when sheid in bed, she found it impossible to fall asleep. After what felt like ages, she heard the crunching sound of a car rolling over snow. She instinctively sat up and looked out the window, immediately recognizing the familiar Maybach. It was Frederick¡¯s car! They were back? Marguerite breathed a sigh of relief. She was about to go back to sleep when her bedroom door was carefully pushed open. Marguerite sat upimmediately, her face wary as she looked at the dark entrance. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± She instinctively turned on the bedside light. The room was suddenly filled with light, causing Marguerite, who had adjusted to the darkness, to immediately close her eyes. After a while, she opened them again, only to see Hayes standing at the door, his face covered in blood, his small body looking utterly disheveled. 1 Marguerite was shocked and rushed over to him, checking him over, ¡°What happened to your face? Why is it covered in blood? Hayes, don¡¯t scare me! What happened?¡± Hayes sniffed, tears streaming down his face, and pulled Marguerite out of the room. They walked out the front door, towards the car parked under the oak tree. Marguerite was trembling, because she saw that the passenger side window was covered in blood! What on earth had happened? And there, in the driver¡¯s seat, with the door wide open, Frederick was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious! Chapter 447 In a heartbeat, Marguerite¡¯s body was trembling, her legs shaking. She approached the car, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch Frederick¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Fred¡­Frederick, what happened? Wake up, wake up¡­¡± Frederick did not react, and all that awaited her was a deathly silence. Suddenly, Marguerite¡¯s head was buzzing, and she pushed Frederick again with more force.. ¡°Frederick, don¡¯t scare me. Wake up, wake up!¡± Her voice, tinged with a sob, had scarcely ceased when Frederick rolled towards her. Taken aback, Marguerite instinctively extended her arms to catch him, only to realize he was soaked through. Touching him, she realized he was covered in blood! Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned to look at Hayes, only to find the little guy already crying desperately, ¡°Shot¡­shot¡­save him¡­¡± Shot? Frederick had been ambushed? Who would dare to ambush Frederick? Did they want to die? Under the moonlight, Frederick¡¯s face was deathly pale, his breathing heavy and erratic. Marguerite forced herself to calm down, mustering all her strength to drag Frederick from the driver¡¯s seat. She then shouldered his body, stumbling her way into the house. Frederick, being almost six feet tall, was a hefty weight. Marguerite was petite and could barely support him, but she gritted her teeth and managed to maneuver him onto the bed. Under the light, Frederick¡¯s white shirt was thoroughly stained with blood, the crimson ringly vivid. The smell of blood was pungent and unbearable, and Marguerite could not help but shed tears of distress. Hayes, standing by helplessly, tugged at Marguerite¡¯s nightgown, crying so hard he could barely speak, ¡°Save¡­save him¡­¡± Marguerite had never experienced such a situation, and she was so panicked that her hands wouldn¡¯t stop shaking. But she couldn¡¯t afford to lose herposure now, for if she did, Hayes would be even more lost. So, Marguerite clenched her hands into fists, steadying herself enough to regain some stability. ¡°Hayes, go get a basin of hot water right now, and the first aid kit! Hurry!¡± Hayes quickly cleaned his tears, the streaks of blood on his face making a long trail. Without any hesitation, he turned and ran off. Now, she had to remove the bullet immediately! Marguerite knelt beside Frederick, but she couldn¡¯t find his wound. She carefully turned Frederick¡¯s body, shocked to find the gunshot wound on his back shoulder! The dark wound was bleeding profusely, the flesh on his shoulder a gruesome sight. Marguerite had no idea how deeply the bullet was lodged! Damn it! What was she supposed to do to get the bullet out?! In this dire situation, Marguerite had no choice but to seek Chuck¡¯s help. She immediately dialed Chuck¡¯s number, her voice choked with sobs as she stuttered, ¡°Frederick¡­ Frederick¡¯s in trouble, pleasee to the old house! Quick!¡± f Chuck, who was resting, jolted up from his bed and asked quickly, ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t panic, tell me slowly, what happened?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time! Frederick¡¯s been shot! But I don¡¯t know how to remove the bullet! What should I do? I¡¯m so scared¡­if Frederick dies, I don¡¯t want to live either¡­¡± Chapter 448 Chuck was hastily getting dressed, barking instructions at the same time, ¡°Snap a picture of Mr. Winston¡¯s wound and send it to me right now. I¡¯ll tell you how to handle a bullet wound. Don¡¯t panic, I¡¯m on my way!¡± No sooner had Chuck finished speaking than he was in his car, heading to them in full speed. Marguerite quickly sent the photo, and soon received an audio message from Chuck.. Meanwhile, Hayes had prepared some hot water and the first-aid kit. With trembling hands, Marguerite cut open Frederick¡¯s shirt with scissors and sterilized a pair of tweezers over a small alcoholmp. She yed Chuck¡¯s audio message over and over again, her hand trembling as she extended the tweezers towards Frederick¡¯s wound. But Marguerite was no trained doctor, removing the bullet was like groping in the dark! A sharp intake of breath echoed in the room. She didn¡¯t know what she had hit, but whatever it was, it was enough to rouse the unconscious man. Marguerite¡¯s hand shook even more violently, but in a stroke of blind luck, the tweezers mped onto something metallic. Without thinking, she yanked it out, and the bullet rolled out from Frederick¡¯s flesh! Frederick grunted in pain, sweats forming on his forehead. His teeth clenched in pain, he grabbed Marguerite¡¯s wrist, ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯ve been holding a grudge against me for a while, huh? Do you think that I¡¯m not in enough pain, so you twisted the knife inside me?¡± Marguerite¡¯s face was pale, her throat trembling as she stammered, ¡°I¡­ I was just trying to remove the bullet¡­¡± ¡°Did you get it out?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll bandage you up.¡± Marguerite quickly found some gauze and clumsily wrapped it around the man¡¯s shoulder and chest. Frederick, now more alert, looked down at the haphazard bandage on his chest with a look of distaste. Marguerite swallowed nervously, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not a trained doctor. If you can, you should go to the hospital tomorrow.¡± ¡°Are you scared?¡± Marguerite was taken aback for a moment, then her grievances welled up and tears began to roll down her face. Frederick shot her a nce and, with a grimace of pain, sat up and pulled her closer by her cor, ¡°What are you scared of? Taken by surprise, Marguerite nearly fell into Frederick¡¯sp. Seeing this, Hayes blushed and quickly turned away. Marguerite was already flustered and Frederick¡¯s questioning just made her more tongue-tied. Damn him! He¡¯s the one who¡¯s been shot and he¡¯s still acting so restless! He should be resting, not asking questions! Seeing Marguerite biting her lip and looking as pitiful as a kitten, Frederick¡¯s heart softened and he let go of her cor. Damn it! He was the one injured, but why was she tooking so upset? Was she worried about him? Thinking this, Frederick felt a small wave of satisfaction. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else to know about this.¡± Marguerite frowned, her eyes full of guilt, ¡°No one can know?¡± Frederick took a deep, pained breath, looking at Marguerite, ¡± No one!¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart fluttered, her eyes wide and nervous as she hesitated, ¡°But I¡­ I told Chuck¡­ He should be on his way here now¡­¡± Chapter 449 Chapter 449 The words had barely left Marguerite¡¯s lips before she found herself unable to meet Frederick¡¯s gaze. It wasn¡¯t like she had wanted to spill the beans. But the situation had been dire; she wasn¡¯t able to remove the bullet herself, so she had no choice but to ask for Chuck¡¯s help. Yet, the anticipated scolding never came. Instead, she heard Frederick¡¯s pain¨Cfilled voice interspersed with heavy breaths, ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± Good, when Chuck arrived, he would be able to take over the situation. Relieved, Marguerite fetched a wet wipe to clean the blood from Hayes¡® face. But Hayes was still caught in the throes of fear, his eyes, wide and frightened. Marguerite¡¯s heart softened. She sat down on the couch, pulling the little boy into herp, her voice gentle as she reassured him, ¡°It¡¯s okay. See how brave your daddy is? He didn¡¯t even cry out in pain, did he? You must be brave too, like your daddy!¡± Hayes shivered, his little nose turning red from crying, whimpering, ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­¡± His childish voice was so soft, it¡¯s breaking Marguerite¡¯s heart. Holding him close, she patted his back gently, just likeforting a baby, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Hayes, you¡¯re the bravest¡­¡± In Frederick¡¯s hand, he held the bullet Marguerite had managed to extract. His gaze, however, was locked onto the pair on the couch, his eyes growing darker. Hayes had always reminded him of Marguerite. Now, as they huddled together, they resembled a true mother and son, radiating warmth and love. Frederick watched, entranced, until Marguerite suddenly met his gaze. Their eyes locked unexpectedly. Perhaps it was the intensity of his gaze that caused Marguerite to flinch, a sudden sense of panic washing over her. She cleared her throat, subconsciously asking, ¡°How did you get back?¡± Hayes couldn¡¯t drive, and Frederick had been unconscious at the wheel, so how had they managed to get back? Frederick¡¯s voice was unusually hoarse as he retorted, ¡°I drove! What, did you expect me to walk?¡± ¡°You drove back?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Marguerite was taken aback. She couldn¡¯t imagine how Frederick, in such a grave condition, had managed to drive back! What kind of determination did that require? Suddenly, she looked at him with newfound respect. But more than that, she felt a lingering fear. He had been on the brink of death, covered in blood. Never before had she been so terrified of losing him. Soon, Chuck arrived, braving the snowstorm. Frederick tossed him the bullet, his instructions clear and concise, ¡°Check the bullet type. Investigate all ck market gun sales. ¡°Pull up the security footage from thepany¡¯s underground parking lot from around 8:35. ¡°Arrange to dispose of the car downstairs, clean the blood. I don¡¯t want anyone knowing about this.¡± Even severely wounded, Frederick was still able to think clearly. Despite his condition, he was still inmand, truly a king among men! However, Marguerite hadn¡¯t heard him recount the incident. She turned to Hayes, whispering, ¡°What exactly happened? Why was he shot?¡± Hayes lifted his head, the memories flooding back. He could still clearly remember everything that had happened. He had so much he wanted to say, but the moment he got nervous, he lost his voice. Quickly, he pulled out his phone and began to type, ¡°Daddy was taking me home. I was sitting in the passenger seat. When we left thepany, Daddy was shot.¡± Passenger seat? No wonder she had only seen blood on the passenger side window. The attacker had been aiming for Hayes! But who could be so ruthless as to target a three¨Cyear¨Cold child? Chapter 450 Chapter 450 After all, such a little kid poses no threat to anyone. What on earth happened? When Marguerite came back to her senses, Chuck had already left. Holding Hayes, she moved toward the bed, her expression filled with worry and tension, ¡°We must take this incident seriously. Whoever it is, they¡¯re clearly targeting Hayes! But for the life of me, I can¡¯t figure out who Hayes might be threatening. Could it be¡­ one of your enemies?¡± Frederick stared intently at Marguerite, his gaze deep and thoughtful, ¡°My biggest enemy at present is Maurice.¡± Marguerite was taken aback. As soon as she thought of Maurice, she denied the possibility without a second¡¯s hesitation, ¡°No way, he would never target Hayes.¡± Even if Maurice was a ruthless man, he wouldn¡¯t stoop so low as to harm a child. Frederick was, however, extremely displeased. He wouldn¡¯t let off any suspect, but in this situation, Marguerite was actually defending Maurice? Damn it! ¡°Evidence is key in these matters. Trusting him is your prerogative, suspecting him is mine.¡± ¡°If it really was Maurice, why didn¡¯t he target Manley? Manley was right at home. If he wanted to do something, it should¡¯ve been Manley in danger today!¡± Marguerite¡¯s staunch defense of Maurice left Frederick exasperated. However, her words did clear his thoughts. If anyone wanted to bring him down through someone close, Manley would indeed be an easier target. In the eyes of the world, Manley was the more pampered one and slower in his actions. The kid was the type to follow strangers who lured him with candies and toys. Yet, it was the smarter Hayes who was in danger. This suggested that the person¡¯s target was not him, but indeed Hayes! Who on earth did Hayes offend? He had to get to the bottom of this! Frederick massaged his temples, looking tired, and leaned back against the headboard, ¡°I will handle the investigation. You don¡¯t need to interfere.¡± Not interfere? How could Marguerite possibly stay out of it? She was, after all, a partial witness to the incident. How could she pretend as if nothing had happened? Moreover, if there was a first time, there could be a second. Marguerite was terrified that Hayes might get hurt again. Therefore, her first instinct was to argue. hit get hurt again. inct was to But as she met Frederick¡¯s somewhat distant gaze, she found herself at a loss for words Strictly speaking, she had no rtions with either Frederick or Hayes. So why was she so concerned about Hayes? Frederick would probably think that she was poking her nose where it didn¡¯t belong. For some reason, Marguerite felt a pang of disappointment. Sighing resignedly, Marguerite finally nodded in agreement, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stay out of it.¡± Then, patting Hayes¡® back, she turned to Frederick, ¡°I¡¯ll take Hayes to rest. You should head back to your room too.¡± But before she could turn around, the little one in her arms was shaking his head, ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t go¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Marguerite paused for a moment, ¡°You want to sleep here?¡± Hayes nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes.¡± It was not an issue if Hayes wanted to sleep in her room, but why was Frederick still lying on her bed? He showed no intention of leaving! Marguerite was momentarily flustered, looking at Frederick with uncertainty, ¡°Are¡­ are you nning to sleep here too?¡± Frederick, with his cold, stoic face and indifferent eyes, casually retorted, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m able to move right now?¡± Chapter 451 Chapter 451 Marguerite sat on the edge of her bed, a bemused frown creasing her forehead. What on earth was she supposed to do now? She couldn¡¯t very well have Yunae here and take them away. She could already picture it¨Cthe usatory res, the air thick with the scent of scandal, Yuna summoning the whole household as if she¡¯d caught Marguerite red¨Chanded in some illicit affair. Then Yuna would undoubtedly y the victim, wailing about the betrayal and how Marguerite hadmitted the ultimate treachery. If that happened, Marguerite won¡¯t have peace anymore. With a resigned sigh, Marguerite scooped Hayes up onto the bed, relenting, ¡°If you need anything, just call for me. I¡¯ll be in the next room over.¡± The apartment was a two¨Cbedroom suite, so with Frederick Winston deciding to camp out for the night, Marguerite had no choice but to move to the adjacent room. Hayes curled into a little ball near the headboard, reaching out with chubby arms, his voice a soft plea, ¡°Daddy¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Frederick¡¯s brow furrowed, pain sharpening his features. Breathing heavily, he tried to muster a gentle tone, ¡°Boy, can you sleep by yourself tonight?¡± Hayes¡® bottom lip quivered, ¡°But¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Frederick¡¯s heart softened at the sight of his son. The little guy just wanted thefort of being held¨Cno kid should have to be brave after facing the threats and fears they had encountered today. The incident had been so severe that Frederick was already considering getting Robert to give Hayes psychological counseling. He wanted to hold his son, but his own body betrayed him; even the slightest movement was excruciating. Hayes didn¡¯t want to cause his father more pain, so he turned those hopeful, watery eyes to Marguerite and implored in his childlike voice, ¡°Auntie¡­ your turn to cuddle?¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no to that face. She embraced Hayes once more, ¡°How about youe sleep with me in the next room?¡± ¡°No¡­ wanna stay¡­ with Daddy¡­¡± Marguerite was at a loss. So, Hayes wanted to sleep with his father but also wanted Marguerite¡¯s embrace. Were they all supposed to share the same bed? The situation was getting weirder. Marguerite cleared her throat firmly, trying to reason with the child, ¡°Hayes, if we do that, Auntie will end up sharing the bed with your dad. And that¡¯s inappropriate.¡± ¡°This is critical situation. Let Hayes sleep in the middle,¡± Frederick interjected. Marguerite¡¯s mind reeled. Was Frederick serious? She felt a tension coil within her as she nced between the man, writhing in silent agony, and the little boy, shivering from trauma in her arms. For the first time in her life, Marguerite felt truly cornered. This was a disaster. Could someone extricate her from this mess? But there was no way around it. Hayes had been through too much, and despite herforting hold, he couldn¡¯t stop trembling. Frederick, now propped against the headboard, his face a mask of impatience and pain, cut through her indecision, ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any more time. If we don¡¯t sleep now, it¡¯ll be morning. Do you want the whole world to know about this?¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Gritting her teeth, she gingerly climbed into bed, careful not to get too close to Frederick. Hayes was sandwiched between them, and despite her reservations, Marguerite couldn¡¯t deny the warmth that enveloped them. Soon, Frederick seemed to drift off. His breathing, thoughbored, evened out, and his familiar scent enveloped Marguerite, evoking memories long buried. For a brief moment, Marguerite was transported three years back in time, to a ce of longing and sorrow. If only things hadn¡¯t fallen apart between her and Frederick, if only she had known his feelings sooner, perhaps she would have been the woman next to him every night. But life doesn¡¯t deal in ¡®what ifs.¡® Some things, once lost, can never be reimed. Meanwhile, Hayes nuzzled his face against Marguerite¡¯s neck, finding the perfect nook to curl into. He had never been held through the night before, and this curious sensation was nothing short of magical. He felt as though Marguerite was an angel sent to love and cherish him, to hold him every night just as his own mother would. In that instant, Hayes was convinced that Marguerite was meant to be his mother¨Ca guardian angel who would envelop him in nightlyfort and love. It was a bliss he was determined to cling to, a happiness he was now set on weaving into a future where Marguerite and his dad could be together, just like in the fairy tales. Chapter 452 Chapter 452 Hayes had spent the entire night nestled into Marguerite¡¯s arm, sound asleep. For Marguerite, it wasn¡¯t the mostfortable position, but somehow she slept like a baby. The next morning, it was the weight of a brute force that woke her. Blearily opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was the Adam¡¯s apple of a man. His distinct jaw rested atop Marguerite¡¯s head, his strong arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Marguerite was startled! She realized Hayes and her werepletely trapped in Frederick¡¯s embrace, and he was holding her tight! Her cheeks flushed, and her heart started racing, making it hard for her to catch her breath. She nced down at the little guy in her arms and to her surprise, Hayes was up before her, gazing at her with puppy¨Cdog eyes. The little boy was squished in the middle, his cheeks red and his forehead sweaty. Marguerite whispered, ¡°Is it a bit tight?¡± Hayes gasped, his eyes filled with a intive look, ¡°Can¡¯t¡­ breathe¡­¡± Seeing his pitiful expression, Marguerite had to suppress a chuckle. ¡°How about we push him off? You nudge him with your bum, and I¡¯ll push his shoulder. We¡¯ll do it quietly, don¡¯t want to wake him.¡± The little guy blinked, nodding in agreement, ¡°Okay.¡± Marguerite carefully extracted her arm and her hand found its way to Frederick¡¯s shoulder. She counted to three in her head and then, with Hayes, gave a great heave, rolling Frederick to the side. Their breathing eased instantly, but then came a heavy sigh from above. Frederick was awake! They mmed up, exchanging wide¨Ceyed looks, their hearts in their throats. This was not good. They might have used too much force, aggravating Frederick¡¯s wounds. He must be furious, right? ¡°What time is it?¡± Sure enough, Frederick¡¯s voice, gruff with irritation, broke the silence. Marguerite swallowed hard, took out her phone to check the time, and reported urately, ¡°Eight o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°Take Hayes downstairs for breakfast, and don¡¯t arouse suspicion.¡± Marguerite gingerly sat up, she stole a peek at Frederick¡¯s face, his expression still tight, his brows furrowed together. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing down?¡± Without opening his eyes, his voice took on a sharper edge, ¡°You talk too much.¡± Marguerite mped up immediately. Frederick¡¯s tone was harsh, but Marguerite wasn¡¯t offended; instead, she felt a twinge of sympathy. It seemed he was in pain just talking, and she wondered if he was feeling any better. Shaking off her concerns, she lifted Hayes from the bed, hurriedly helped him wash up, and snuck into the nursery to change him into clean clothes. Then they headed downstairs for breakfast. The dining room wasn¡¯t fully upied yet, and the servants were efficientlyying out the morning meal. Teresa and Manley stood to the side, their eyes glued to the procession of food as they involuntarily swallowed their saliva. Yuna, yawning profusely, descended the spiral staircase and caught sight of Marguerite holding Hayes¡® hand in the living room. She reacted as if she¡¯d seen a ghost, her voice filled with shock, ¡°Why are you here?¡± They turned at the sound of her voice. Marguerite, thinking Yuna was addressing her, responded nonchntly, ¡°Where should I be, then?¡± Yuna rolled her eyes at Marguerite, then ran over to Hayes, her tone urgent, ¡°Where¡¯s your dad?¡± Her abrupt question threw Hayes off for a second, but he quickly fibbed, ¡°Work¡­ overtime¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t tell Mom the truth because Dad had saidst night that this was to be kept from everyone else. He had to keep Daddy¡¯s secret. Yuna, however, was anything but calm, ¡°Who brought you homest night?¡± ¡­The driver.¡± If it was the driver who brought him home, there¡¯s no reason for this Chapter 452 Barnes had clearly said the problem was taken care of. How is he still not dead? What on Earth is going on!? Chapter 453 Yuna¡¯s eyes bulged with incredulity, the redness seeping into her vision as she struggled toprehend what was unfolding before her. But even more overwhelming than the shock was her raging frustration. Ever since she heard the news of Barnes¡® sess the night before, she had been over the moon. But now, seeing the little brat standing right in front of her,pletely unscathed and not even sporting a scratch, Yuna¡¯s heart twisted with loathing. From the living room came the tter of someone rushing in. Teresa, breathless with concern,tched onto Hayes¡® arm and began inspecting him anxiously, ¡°Little mute, are you alright? Did you get hurt anywhere?¡± Hayes blinked, guilt flickering in his eyes as he nced at Marguerite. Did Teresa know something? Why was she immediately asking if he was hurt? Trying to steady his nerves, Hayes shook his head, ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± Teresa finally exhaled a long sigh of relief, her small hands patting her chest. ¡°That was a false rm! Little mute, I had this nightmare where a ghoul with a gun shot you, and there was so much blood¡­ It scared the living daylights out of me!¡± Marguerite was taken aback. Did Teresa have some sort of sixth sense linked to Hayes? Guns and blood ¨C both keywords fitst night¡¯s events to a T! And in Hayes¡® mind, the horrifying images from the night before resurfaced, sending shivers down his spine. Teresa¡¯s expression tightened with worry, her features contorting in fear. ¡°Hayes, what¡¯s wrong? Are you nervous? You¡¯re sweating.¡± Marguerite stepped in quickly, pulling Hayes into aforting embrace to defuse the situation. ¡°Hayes was uptest night; he probably didn¡¯t get enough rest. Stop grilling him, it¡¯s time for breakfast.¡± Yuna watched as Marguerite protectively drew Hayes close, her eyes shing fiercely. She thought, ¡°Hayes was shaking and tense, clearly something had happenedst night! But how on earth did he cheat death? And was it Marguerite who saved him? No! That was impossible! How could Marguerite possibly save him from Barnes¡® bullet?¡± There was no doubt in Yuna¡¯s mind that Hayes was lying. After such an incident, how could Frederick possibly stay calm and work overtime at the office, especially all night long? Yuna was full of doubts, but couldn¡¯t for the life of her figure it out. She sat at the dining table, her mind heavy with thoughts, barely touching her food. Under the table, her fingers furiously typed a message to Barnes. Damn it! Barnes wasn¡¯t responding! Meanwhile, Hayes, in a frenzy, took a few bites of his food and then grabbed his bowl of oatmeal, then went back upstairs. Jocelyn, surprised, called out to the little guy, ¡°Hayes, there are rules at the table. You can¡¯t take your food upstairs!¡± Hayes paused mid¨Cstep, turning to Marguerite with a pleading look. Daddy¡¯s wound was serious, and he was so weak; he needed to eat! Marguerite caught on quickly and smoothed things over, ¡°Jocelyn, Hayes didn¡¯t get much sleepst night. Let him eat upstairs just this once.¡± With Marguerite¡¯s word, Jocelyn couldn¡¯t refuse and allowed it. Seeing this, Hayes dashed up the stairs. Marguerite, still uneasy, found an excuse to return to her room as well. There, Hayes stood in the center of the bedroom, desperately spinning with the oatmeal in his hands. Marguerite noticed then that the man who should¡¯ve been in bed was nowhere to be seen. Where could he have gone? Just then, the bathroom door slid open from the inside. Frederick emerged, his face still damp with water droplets. At some point, he had changed into a sleek, ash¨Cgrey suit. Apart from a pallor to hisplexion, there was no sign of injury. Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you resting in bed?¡± Frederick lifted his eyes to meet Marguerite¡¯s, a slight curve forming on his lips. ¡°Continue resting in your bed? I¡¯d say you¡¯re really looking for trouble.¡± With that, he strode past Marguerite, took the bowl from Hayes, and downed the oatmeal in one go. Then, with long strides, he left Marguerite¡¯s bedroom. Marguerite watched his retreating figure, noting that his spirit seemed much revived, even his tone carried a sharp edge. ?? Shot and still so fierce ¨C she should¡¯ve thought twice about saving himst night! + Chapter 454 No sooner had Frederick left the room than Hayes dashed to the terrace, pressing his small frame against the window ledge to peer outside with earnest longing in his eyes. It was then that Marguerite noticed Frederick left from the back door of their sprawling suburban home and into a gleaming new Maybach. The car fromst night, stained with the remnants of a violent encounter, had already been disposed of by Chuck in the dead of night. The engine roared to life and the man was gone, prompting Hayes to point his tiny finger towards the slowly disappearing car before turning back to Marguerite with an urgent, stirring gaze. It was clear he was desperately trying to convey something. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Hayes?¡± The boy¡¯s face drooped, and with a struggle, he managed to speak, ¡°Daddy¡¯s hurt¡­ I¡¯m worried about him¡­ I want¡­ to find him¡­¡± ¡°You want to go with him?¡± He eagerly nodded in agreement. Marguerite was at a loss. ¡°But your daddy¡¯s already left, sweetie!¡± ¡°Call him¡­ back¡­ or maybe, we can call Mr. Chuck¡­¡± That was a bit of a pickle. She knew that Frederick was off to dig into thest night¡¯s shooting. And with his way of handling things, there was bound to be a bloody aftermath¨Cno ce for a little boy like Hayes. As Hayes reached for his child¨Cfriendly phone to dial Chuck, Marguerite instinctively grasped his small hand, saying, ¡°How about I go find him for you? Will that make you feel better? You stay here, okay?¡± A hint of confusion flickered in Hayes¡® worried eyes. He wanted to see his daddy safe with his own eyes, but Marguerite¡¯s words brought him a strange sense offort. Teresa¡¯s mommy was trustworthy, and if she went, she would get to spend time with daddy too. With that thought, Hayes didn¡¯t hesitate to nod. Marguerite tenderly ruffled his hair and gently instructed, ¡°If you get scared, go find Teresa or grandma. Wait at home for my good news, okay?¡± Hayes¡® eyes brightened as he quickly nodded again. With that, Marguerite grabbed the car keys and swiftly left the house. The little boy remained perched on the terrace railing, watching Marguerite¡¯s yellow car vanish into the distance, his gaze lingering long after she was gone. But innocent Hayes had no idea that his small figure on the terrace had already caught the attention of Yuna. He was even more oblivious to the fact that, at that moment, home was actually the most dangerous ce to be. Yuna stared at Hayes¡® slender silhouette with clenched teeth and seething anger. Why was this little brat still alive? Why hadn¡¯t he just died? For three years, every sight of the child reminded her of Marguerite, that wretched woman! She hadn¡¯t had a moment¡¯s peace, always on edge for fear that one slip¨Cup would reveal Hayes¡® real identity. Why did he have to be as tenacious as Marguerite, even escaping Barnes¡® bullet? But if she wanted him dead, he had no right to live! The only woman by Frederick¡¯s side would be her! No one would threaten her hard¨Cwon status! Hatred swiftly consumed Yuna. She would make sure Hayes Winston met his end in the most tragic way possible! She would push him off! And now was undoubtedly the best chance! In Marguerite¡¯s room, she could push him without anyone seeing her! Then, Marguerite too would never have peace! With these thoughts, a twisted, malevolent smile spread across Yuna¡¯s face. In the meantime, she had quietly approached the terrace, her hand inching closer to Hayes¡® frail shoulder¡­. Chapter 455 Poor Hayes had no idea that danger was creeping up on him. Yuna¡¯s hand inched closer and closer to Hayes¡® back. Closer and closer¡­ But just as her fingers were about to graze him, a jarring ringtone shattered the silence. Ding- Hayes jumped, whirling around in an instant. Met with Yuna¡¯s re, seething with hatred, Hayes was utterly baffled. When did Mom sneak in? He hadn¡¯t heard a sound. The little guy cocked his head, puzzlement written all over his face as he gazed at Yuna. Damn it! The kid had spun around unexpectedly, catching Yuna off guard. Her diffidence reflexively made her withdraw her hand. Damn it all! What was she afraid of? There was no one else around! So what if he saw her? As long as he was out of the picture, she didn¡¯t mind the brat watching her do the deed! She wanted to crush his hope anyways! Yuna, teeth gritted, was about to reach out again when Hayes furrowed his brow and reminded her, ¡°Mom¡­ your phone¡­¡± Damn it! Which low¨Clife was calling her now? Fuming, Yuna yanked out her phone to hang up, but then she caught sight of that familiar number. Barnes! He couldn¡¯t even handle a little kid, and now he had the nerve to call? But she couldn¡¯t ignore Barnes¡® call; he must be reporting onst night¡¯s business! Suppressing her loathing for Hayes, Yuna pressed the answer button. But just as she brought the phone to her ear, Barnes¡® voice came through, livid with fury, ¡°Yuna, you¡¯re nothing but trouble! Why the hell did you use my gun license to buy a weapon? Do you have any idea I¡¯m being hunted down right now?¡± Hearing his words, Yuna¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her gaze flicking involuntarily to the little boy before her. Realizing he seemed not to have heard, she hastened out of the room and back to her room. Hayes was left in confusion. Why did Mom leave again? But her look just now¡­ it was terrifying. Did he do something wrong again? Afraid of another punishment, Hayes dashed out of the room to seek refuge with Grandma. Grandma would surely protect him! Meanwhile, in the other room. ¡°You deserve to be hunted down!¡± Yuna spat venomously. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the problem was taken care ofst night? Why is Hayes still alive today?¡± ¡°The fog was thickst night! I missed the shot, for crying out loud! I didn¡¯t realize it untilter!¡± Barnes had just dropped that bombshell when Yuna heard him panting heavily on the other end. As if he were on the run! The next second, a gunshot ripped through the receiver, nearly bursting Yuna¡¯s eardrums. ¡°Listen up! You¡¯re surrounded! If you try any funny business¡­¡± Yuna¡¯s heart lurched, and she abruptly ended the call! It had to be Frederick¡¯s men on Barnes¡® tail! Smiling to herself, Yuna thought about the situation. If Hayes couldn¡¯t be dispatched, getting rid of Barnes, the ticking time bomb, was the next best thing. Now, she just needed a hacker to erase her call and text history with Barnes, and no one would ever know she had been in contact with him. No matter how much he squirmed or even reveal her name, Yuna wouldn¡¯t bat an eye. After all, with theirmunication erased and Freddie being a man who needed hard evidence, he¡¯d never take Barnes¡® word for it. Yuna thought about it and exhaled a satisfied sigh. She was going to show Barnes what happens when he crossed her. Chapter 456 Half an hourter. The imposing Maybach came to amanding stop outside a nondescript building on the outskirts of the city¨Ca private detention facility. The back door was opened respectfully by a bodyguard, and Frederick in a te¨Cgrey suit stepped out without a hint of emotion visible on his face. His eyes shone brightly but betrayed a bloodthirsty cruelty. Chuck hurried over to report, ¡°Mr. Winston, we¡¯ve apprehended the culprit. We checked his phone¨Cit was clean. It¡¯s likely been tampered with by a hacker. So, there might be someone behind him.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the culprit?¡± Frederick¡¯smanding voice sent a shiver down Chuck¡¯s spine, and he couldn¡¯t help but nce at the sign above the detention center, his face a mix of difficulty and regret as he sighed softly, ¡°You¡¯ll see for yourself once you go in, Mr. Winston.¡± Chuck¡¯s roundabout way of speaking irked Frederick, but he held his tongue and entered with an entourage of bodyguards in tow. As soon as the door swung open, Frederick caught sight of the handcuffed culprit and his eyes widened in shock. ¡°Barnes?¡± How could it be him? Barnes¡® lips curled into a smirk. Despite having betrayed Frederick, the sight of his former master stillmanded his respect. ¡°It¡¯s been years, Mr. Winston.¡± Frederick was in disbelief, his eyes filled with murderous confusion, ¡°You¡¯re the one who hurt my son?¡± Barnes suddenly dropped the smile. It had been three years, but the aura Frederick exuded still instilled a touch of fear in Barnes, who silently nodded. With killing intent seeping into Frederick¡¯s bones, his jaw clenched so tight that veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes burning with rage as if they could incinerate Barnes on the spot. ¡°Why?¡± Frederick¡¯s words were terse, the simple question loaded with explosive tension. Barnes mustered his courage to meet Frederick¡¯s gaze, only to see the unrelenting cruelty in Frederick¡¯s eyes. He knew that today, he might not escape with his life. ¡°I¡¯ve served you for years, and if there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned, it¡¯s the importance of ¡®loyalty,¡® Mr. Winston. I was forced.¡± In truth, Barnes, though often extorting money from Yuna, was aware he had a son named Manley. He had never met Manley, nor sought him out in secret. But as the only blood rtive he had, Manley held a ce in his heart. After all, that was his flesh and blood. That¡¯s why he risked his life to go after Hayes. Not just because Yuna paid him and slept with him, but also because he wanted Manley to be the primary heir of the Winston family. To one day revel in endless wealth and privilege, living a life above others. But he never imagined that Yuna would y him for a fool! This had caught himpletely off guard. As Barnes hesitated over whether to tell the truth, the door to the detention center suddenly swung open again. Everyone turned to see Marguerite standing at the entrance, slightly out of breath as if she had run there. Frederick was already on edge, and his tone was naturally harsh when he saw Marguerite, ¡°Who allowed you toe?¡± Damn it! He had told that woman to stay out of it, yet here she was, showing up uninvited! Marguerite caught her breath and exined, ¡°Hayes was worried and insisted oning. I didn¡¯t want him to witness this, so I came alone.¡± ¡°How did you know about this ce? Who brought you here?¡± Marguerite nced at Chuck, and although the answer was obvious, she chose not to respond directly, ¡°I was aware of the situation yesterday. Coming here today shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡± Before she could finish, Chuck¡¯s phone rang. He stepped aside to take the call, then quickly turned back to report, ¡°Mr. Winston, earlier we discovered unusual transactions from Ms. Yuna¡¯s ounts, and we¡¯ve traced the recipient. It¡¯s¡­ Barnes!¡± Frederick paused. Yuna transferred money to Barnes? What was going on? Could Yuna be connected to the danger Hayes faced? Frederick¡¯s threatening gaze fell on Barnes, but Barnes¡® eyes held a meaningful look as they drifted towards Marguerite. After several seconds, he finally met Frederick¡¯s gaze again, revealing a self¨Cmocking Chapter 457 Chapter 457 Marguerite was left utterly befuddled under Barnes¡® intense gaze. Could this possibly have something to do with her? An hourter, by the time Yuna arrived at the corridor of the holding cell, she was well aware of what was about to unfold. That coward Barnes must have bbed her name! But it was fine, because she had prepared her speech and was ready for anything. What she didn¡¯t expect was to see Marguerite in the holding cell! What was that wench doing here? Of course! Marguerite was somehow aware ofst night¡¯s shooting incident. While Yuna red daggers at Marguerite, Barnes looked at Yuna with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and asked affectionately, ¡°There you are.¡± The nerve of him! To address her with such familiarity in front of Freddie! Yuna was so irate she could have jumped out of her skin as she struggled to contain her anger, ¡°Pfft! Who gave you the right to speak to me like that?¡± Barnes, seemingly unbothered, continued, ¡°Yuna, fetch me a ss of water, will ya? Out of everyone here, you¡¯re the only one who cares about me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk like there¡¯s something between us. I don¡¯t know you!¡± As Yuna spoke, she nervously nced at Frederick. Frederick¡¯s eyes were deep and probing, his gaze upon her felt like a cross¨Cexamination, making Yuna¡¯s heart pound. ¡°What are you waiting for? Get the water.¡± After a tense silence, Frederick abruptly broke the stillness. What¡­ What¡¯s going on? Why was Freddie agreeing to let her fetch water for Barnes? Reluctantly, Yuna picked up a paper cup from the table and walked over to the water cooler. She slowly filled the cup with water. But unseen by the others, she concealed a small white pill beneath her beautifully manicured index finger. With a slight tap, the pill dropped into the water and dissolved instantly. Then, with a huff, she mmed the cup down on the table in front of Barnes. She crossed her arms and tilted her chin up disdainfully, refusing to look any longer than necessary. Barnes shook the handcuffs in his hand and snorted, ¡°How am I supposed to drink this?¡± Yuna snapped back, ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck!¡± ¡°Feed him!¡± Themand came from Frederick. Yuna looked at Frederick in disbelief, her eyes filled with silent reproach. He enunciated each word, his eyes piercing as if they could see right through her soul, ¡°Feed him, and don¡¯t make me repeat myself!¡± Frederick¡¯s raised voice left Yuna breathless, and sheplied without another sound. Marguerite, on the other hand, watched the scene unfold with a knowing look. The moment Yuna arrived, Barnes greeted and bossed her around. Perhaps, Barnes was trying to show Frederick that they were not strangers as Yuna imed. Barnes¡® tone was natural and affectionate, but Yuna¡¯s reaction was notably hostile. She seemed to have hated Barnes for a long time. After gulping down the water, Frederick spoke again, ¡°Tell me, why did you hurt my son?¡± Barnes, with a meaningful look at Yuna, replied, ¡°Mr. Winston, you should really be asking Yuna about that.¡± Yuna was prepared. She feigned innocence and indignantly retorted, ¡°Asking me what? Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Which of my sons did you hurt ¨C Manley or Hayes?¡± But Barnes just smiled at Yuna, ¡°Mr. Winston has found all the money transfer you¡¯ve been funneling to me over the years.¡± Like a bolt from the blue, Yuna was left speechless. Chapter 458 Yuna had only told the hacker to erase the traces of her calls with Barnes, but in her panic, shepletely overlooked the bank ounts ¨C a crucial piece of evidence she had forgotten to cover up. But why on earth would Freddie suddenly decide to check her bank statements without any cause? Did he suspect something all along? A wave of unease washed over Yuna as she realized her scheme was on the verge of exposure. In a moment of desperation, she copsed to her knees at Frederick¡¯s feet. Marguerite was taken aback by Yuna¡¯s disy. This woman was truly adaptable, dropping to her knees without a second thought, a stark contrast to her once haughty and defiant demeanor. Then, Yuna began to sob uncontrobly, ying the victim as she told her story, ¡°Freddie, I transferred the money¡­ I only did it because he threatened me! Three years ago, when I was at the beach house for the pregnancy retreat, that¡¯s when it started. He threatened me! He demanded¡­ he demanded I sleep with him!¡± As Yuna recounted the story, tears streamed down her face, and she twisted the truth beyond recognition. Three years prior, it was she who had seduced Barnes, eager to conceive and alleviate Frederick¡¯s concerns. She had stripped down, standing bare before Barnes. If it weren¡¯t for her advances, Barnes wouldn¡¯t haveid finger on her. After all, to everyone else, Yuna was Frederick¡¯s woman ¨C who would dare touch her? Barnes listened to Yuna¡¯s ount with an incredulous smirk, eyeing her as if she were insane. He was curious to see how she would spin the story. Yuna continued, her sobs growing louder, ¡°And many times¡­ he tried to force himself on me. But Freddie, you were the only one in my heart. How could I let him touch me? When I resisted, he started threatening my parents! Back then, everyone on the ind was under your control, including Barnes. He even said that if I told you, he would kill my parents! That¡¯s why I kept transferring money to him! Freddie, I¡¯ve been living in such oppression all these years, all because of his threats!¡± Yuna¡¯s tears flowed like a floodgate had been opened, her sobs even more violent. Enraged by her words, Barnes shouted hysterically, ¡°Yuna, you have the nerve to say that? It was me! I was the fool you manipted from start to finish!¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! What have I used you for? You were the one who started threatening me for money!¡± Yuna, desperate to extricate herself, didn¡¯t realize that in her haste, she had slipped up again. Barnes immediately countered, ¡°Then tell me, what did I supposedly threaten you with? Can you even articte it?¡± Yuna was speechless, unable to utter a word. Every time Barnes came to her for money, he would bring up little Hayes! He threatened her that if she didn¡¯t pay up, he¡¯d go straight to Freddie and reveal the true parentage of the child! Under such pressure, she had no choice but to keep transferring money to Barnes! Now Yuna was trapped, with no way out. How could she dare tell Frederick the truth? If Frederick ever found out, wouldn¡¯t he skin her alive? ¡°Why stop talking, Yuna? Tell me the reason I threatened you, Come on! Even a screenwriter couldn¡¯t spin tales as well as you do, turning ck into white! To lie in front of Mr. Winston?¡± Frederick, tired of the ongoing quarrel between Barnes and Yuna, turned to Barnes and asked directly, ¡°What reason did you use to threaten her?¡± Barnes locked eyes with Frederick, thinking that since he and Yuna had already burned bridges, he might as well go down swinging. Without hesitation, he revealed the truth, ¡°Mr. Winston, the leverage I had over her was your child!¡± Chapter 459 Frederick¡¯s pupils dted in an instant, a surge of anger flooding his eyes as he demanded, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Barnes, filled with righteous indignation, blurted out, ¡°Mr. Winston, Hayes, he was¡­ was¡­¡± But his words were abruptly cut off. A searing pain suddenly spread from Barnes¡® throat, climbing upwards with brutal speed, choking the breath from his lungs. sping his handcuffed hands to his neck, his body began to convulse. ¡°Argh¡­ it hurts! It hurts¡­¡± He muttered repeatedly, then slowly fell silent, copsing to the ground, his condition unclear. ¡°Someone call a doctor! Chuck, dial 911!¡± Marguerite, never having witnessed such a scene, fumbled in panic, urging Chuck to call for an ambnce. Chaos reigned in an instant. But unnoticed in the corner, Yuna¡¯s face was streaked with tears, her eyes, however, sparkled with a sinister triumph. The drug had taken effect at the perfect moment! He wanted to rat her out? Well then, she¡¯d make sure he¡¯d never speak again! The ambnce arrived swiftly, and the paramedics immediately conducted a thorough examination of Barnes. ¡°Mr. Winston, his throat has sustained permanent damage, and he¡¯s in aa. I¡¯m afraid he might never speak again,¡± one reported grimly. ¡°How long until he wakes up?¡± If he couldn¡¯t speak, he could still write, right? Frederick could wait. The doctor¡¯s expression was troubled as he replied, ¡°It could be¡­ a very long time.¡± Frederick¡¯s anger red at the vague answer, his voice a low growl, ¡°I need a precise time!¡± The doctor, visibly shaken, stammered, ¡°Well¡­ Mr. Winston, the EEG shows brain activity, but his body isn¡¯t responding at all. He¡¯s¡­ in a vegetative state. I can¡¯t predict when, or if he¡¯ll ever wake up.¡± Vegetative state? Damn it! The truth was so close, yet always just out of reach. Marguerite, witnessing Frederick¡¯s emotional spiral, instinctively reached out and sped Frederick¡¯s clenched fist, squeezing gently. Then she turned to the doctor, her voice soft, ¡°What caused him to fall into this state? Is there any way to find out?¡± The doctor shook his head, relieved at the kinder face before him, ¡°We can¡¯t determine the cause right now. Unless he passes away, an autopsy could reveal if he ingested any harmful substances. Otherwise, we can only wait for him to wake up.¡± Frederick¡¯s face was taut with barely contained fury, a seething rage threatening to erupt. Unable to contain himself, he spun around and seized Yuna by the throat, his tone cruel and wild, ¡°Spill it! What were you and Barnes up to?¡± Yuna, gasping for air under his grip, coughed painfully, tears streaming down her face, ¡°Freddie, it¡¯s a misunderstanding! I¡¯ve told you everything, he was threatening me! And for years, he¡¯d threatened me with my parents. When Hayes and Manley were born, he started using the kids as leverage. Just now¡­ he admitted it, he was using the kids to ckmail me!¡± ¡°What did he mean with hisst words? Why mention Hayes? Manley and Hayes are both your children, he had no reason to threaten just one!¡± Yuna couldn¡¯t exin herself and resorted to feigning ignorance to deflect. She shook her head frantically, the very picture of distress, ¡°Freddie, I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, I¡¯m just as confused. Hayes is my own flesh and blood; even if I¡¯ve been a bit biased, I¡¯d never hurt him!¡± Chapter 460 Despite Yuna¡¯s words, Frederick didn¡¯t show any sign of letting go. Marguerite watched as Frederick¡¯s face grew paler, a fine sheen of sweat breaking out on his forehead, and even the white dress shirt under his suit was stained with traces of blood. Oh no! He¡¯s aggravated his wound again! At this rate, he was going to work himself into an early grave! Marguerite stepped forward, grasping Frederick¡¯s wrist and pushed him away with some effort. ¡°Come on, what do you expect to get out of her by pressing like this?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was intense, ¡°Since when is it your ce to tell me what to do?¡± Marguerite moved closer, lifting her chin and lowering her voice, ¡°Do you think I want to meddle? You¡¯re hurt, and I¡¯ll have to exin it to Hayes when we get back!¡± The mention of Hayes seemed to melt a fraction of the ice in Frederick¡¯s stern demeanor. He shot Yuna a venomous look before turning to give an order to the doctor, ¡°Take him back and make sure he¡¯s cared for. The moment he shows signs of waking up, report to me immediately!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± Then he turned to Chuck, his eyes holding a hellish ferocity, as he lowered his voice, ¡°Look into everything that happened three years ago, when Yuna was secluded on that ind during her pregnancy!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± After issuing thesemands, Frederick strode straight toward the Maybach parked at the door of the confinement room. Yuna hurried to follow, seemingly trying to exin something. But Frederick turned around, his cold gaze pressing down the atmosphere to its breaking point, ¡°Stay away from me until the truthes out.¡± Despite being ustomed to Frederick¡¯s coldness and disregard, Yuna had never seen him this angry. Her palms were sweating, heart pounding, her mind a nk te. But when she saw Marguerite carrying a bag and getting into the car with Frederick, jealousy surged within her. Damn it! Why does that wench Marguerite get to go with Freddie? It was she who had abandoned Freddie, while Yuna had stood by him through the hardest times! Why did Marguerite get to reap all the benefits? Why did she get to seed without effort? Why?! No! She wouldn¡¯t lose to Marguerite ! The title of Mrs. Winston could only belong to her, and no one could snatch it away! In the car, the moment Marguerite sat in the passenger seat, she met Frederick¡¯s piercing gaze and, inexplicably, felt a flutter of panic. Quickly, she shook the bag in her hand and exined, ¡°I¡¯ve got some first aid supplies from the doctor. After all, you¡¯ve been shot, andst night I only managed a quick fix without proper medication. Why don¡¯t you take off your shirt? I can help apply the medicine for you.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes, narrow and sharp, fixed on her unwaveringly. It was strange. His rage should have been as all¨Cconsuming as a wildfire, ready to devour everyone present. Yet here was this woman, fearlessly charging into his ze, stubborn and defiant. A flicker of warmth crossed his heart as he pondered this, though he kept silent, leaving Marguerite in an awkward state. Feeling defeated, she reached for the door, intending to leave with dignity, ¡°I¡¯ll go find Chuck to help you with the medication.¡± ¡°Come back.¡± Marguerite paused, confused, and turned back only to see Frederick had already undone his buttons, revealing his solid chest. Chapter 461 Even with half his chest swathed in bandages from a gunshot wound, the potent masculinity and strength that oozed from his presence made Marguerite¡¯s cheeks burn with an unbearable heat. Her gaze inadvertently flickered to him, setting her heartbeat into an erratic sprint. Frederick¡¯s deep-set eyes shed with impatience as he grumbled, ¡°Drama queen.¡± It was Marguerite who had insisted he undress, and now that he had, she was acting all bashful about it. Despite being a mother and having braved various storms in life, Marguerite couldn¡¯t seem to cure herself of blushing at the drop of a hat. And hisment, ¡°Drama queen,¡± snapped her out of her reverie. She lifted her eyelids sharply and said firmly, ¡°Turn around. Your wound is on the back. How am I supposed to treat it like this?¡± Frederick regarded her with a coolposure, his eyes shadowed beneath his brow. After a moment¡¯s pause, he slowly turned away. The bandages, soaked through with blood, were a stark and horrifying sight for Marguerite. The wound was on his back, and his earlier agitation had caused it to reopen and bleed profusely. Even his discarded white shirt was spattered with stains of crimson. Marguerite carefully unraveled the damp, heavy bandages, feeling as if a twist would wring out a pool of blood without any effort. But what truly chilled her to the bone was the gaping wound on Frederick ¡®s back. The muddled flesh and blood stung Marguerite¡¯s eyes painfully. Unexpectedly, her nose tingled, and hot tears flowed down her cheeks as if a dam had burst within her. Last night, she had been too anxious to examine his wound closely, but now, seeing it in the harsh light of day, her heart twisted with a sharp pang of pain. How much must he hurt from such a grave injury? Marguerite sniffled and, with tweezers, picked up a piece of medical gauze soaked in antiseptic, then gently dabbed it onto Frederick ¡®s shoulder. Hiss- Frederick inhaled sharply with pain, causing Marguerite to flinch and ask worriedly, ¡°Did I hurt you?¡± Hearing her voiceced with the sound of tears, Frederick looked over his shoulder at her, surprised. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Marguerite hastily wiped her tears with her sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s the medicine¡­ it¡¯s too strong, got in my eyes.¡± ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°I will¡­¡± Marguerite mumbled a subdued response, then applied the ointment even more delicately, afraid of causing him further pain. No matter how gentle her touch, each time the medicine met Frederick ¡®s skin, he couldn¡¯t help but flinch. And with each flinch, Marguerite¡¯s heart constricted tighter, her emotions swirling into turmoil. She remembered how Jocelyn had revealed the borate love confession Frederick had nned three years ago. How Jocelyn had told her that Frederick had once loved her so deeply, it was almost to the point of death. Howst night, he had appeared before her, bloodied and wounded, and she had been terrified of losing him, almost wishing to die with him. And then, she thought of all their past moments together, both joyous and sad. Suddenly, Marguerite realized how steadfastly she loved him and how she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing him again. Maybe, just maybe, she should try to win him back, to make the first move. With that thought, Marguerite carefully wrapped the bandages around Frederick ¡®s shoulder and draped his shirt back over him, ¡°All done.¡± Frederick turned back around, his fingers efficiently fastening the buttons with an air of aristocraticposure despite his pallor. His stature may have been weakened, but his noble demeanor remained irresistibly charming. Marguerite¡¯s gaze was intense, her voice tinged with hesitation, ¡°Will you¡­ be heading home soon? Could you perhaps give me a ride back?¡± He turned his head, his gaze icy. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a car?¡± How infuriating! Did he always have to be so indirect? He clearly rejected her request! Marguerite wanted to reconcile with him, but his dismissal left her feeling utterly deted. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll drive myself home.¡± She muttered under her breath as she began to put away the medical supplies, then turned to leave the car. But just as her hand touched the door handle, she heard the click of the door lock. Why had he locked the door? Marguerite looked at him in surprise, only to see that he had already buckled his seatbelt. The next second, the Maybach surged forward powerfully into the traffic. Chapter 462 Marguerite fumbled with her seatbelt. She was confused. Frederick, it seemed, didn¡¯t dislike her as much as she had imagined. A small thrill of victory zipped through her as she pondered this. But then, as if on cue, fat snowkes began to flutter down from the sky, quickly nketing the streets and bringing traffic to a standstill, trapping the two of them on the road. Marguerite had dashed out in such a rush that she only threw a peacoat over her usual dress, she didn¡¯t even put on socks. She felt a chill creeping in, her hands, now rosy with the cold, rubbed together for warmth. Then came the ¡°click¡± of a button being pressed, and the next thing she knew, a wave of warm air enveloped her. Suddenly, her heart felt a touch warmer, and she turned to the man beside her to ask, ¡°Are you cold, too?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Frederick¡¯s reply was terse, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, a picture of icy detachment. Yet, the next moment, his eyes inadvertently flicked towards Marguerite¡¯s exposed ankles, just beyond her boots, and his expression tightened ever so slightly. In truth, Marguerite wanted to ask if Frederick had turned on the heat just for her, but his response made her feel like she was reading too much into it. Still, her mood lifted, and even the snowy scene outside seemed more enchanting. She was secretly grateful for the blizzard that had stranded them together, cocooned in the tight space of the car, making Frederick seem so much more within reach. She was fully aware it was an illusion, but she couldn¡¯t help wanting it tost a little longer. However, wishes often go ungranted, and Maurice Winston¡¯s ill-timed call came through. Before this, Maurice had been sending Marguerite a bunch of messages, all of which she had purposefully ignored. But now the ringing phone shattered the rare peace inside the car, forcing her to pick up. ¡°Where the hell are you? When are youing back?¡± Maurice¡¯s irritable voice was unmistakable, even through the phone screen. ¡°What¡¯s it to you where I am?¡± ¡°Marguerite, what the hell are you ying at? I know you¡¯re with Frederick! Get back here now!¡± Marguerite nced at Frederick, who had started the engine, and only then realized that the traffic had begun to clear. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Marguerite hung up, frustrationcing her tone. Frederick didn¡¯t ask who had called, and she didn¡¯t feel like exining. But then Marguerite noticed that Frederick didn¡¯t seem to be taking her home. Instead, he took a turn at the next junction, heading in the opposite direction of the Winston Mansion. Marguerite was puzzled. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going back?¡± Frederick caught her gaze, his eyes deep and unreadable. ¡°Dinner first.¡± Without thinking, Marguerite blurted out a suggestion. ¡°How about the Bluebell Bistro?¡± It was the ce where Frederick had intended to confess his feelings to her three years ago, and she wanted to revisit that memory. Surprise flickered across his face. On one hand, his decision not to take her home didn¡¯t seem to bother her. On the other, why was she so eager to go to Bluebell Bistro? He wasn¡¯t particrly keen, as the ce held memories he¡¯d rather forget. Despite his reluctance, Frederick found himself pulling up to the Bluebell Bistro. They seated themselves on the terrace, just as they had before, overlooking the snow-covered city. The waiter closed the windows against the chill and passed Frederick the menu. He handed it directly to Marguerite without looking, ¡°You insisted oning here, so you pick.¡± Marguerite flipped through the menu listlessly, then looked up with a faint smile. ¡°You own the ce, so why don¡¯t you rmend some of your favorites?¡± Years earlier, their falling-out had cut short his confession, and in response, he¡¯d bought the restaurant to remind himself of his folly. Indeed, Frederick was the owner of Bluebell Bistro, but he had never mentioned it to Marguerite ! How could she know? His eyes shed with shock, fixated on Marguerite, who now wore a knowing smirk. ¡°The one who bought this ce was you, right? Do you remember the menu from the day you were going to confess your feelings to me three years ago? Whatever you wanted to treat me to that day, that¡¯s what I¡¯ll have today!¡± Chapter 463 Frederick¡¯s eyes flickered with an unusual glint. He suspected that Marguerite¡¯s recent closeness to his mother meant that his mother was likely the source of whatever was on her mind. Silence hung in the air for a long while, his expression of shock slowly morphing into one of anger, his voice icy and distinctly displeased, ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± Marguerite shed her usual aloof demeanor and shed him a coquettish smile, ¡°Can¡¯t we talk about love? I wanna be cheesy today, so you¡¯d better get used to them.¡± Talk about love? In an instant, his anger was scrambled by her words. He leaned back, arms crossed, tilting his head with a knowing look directed at Marguerite. What was this woman up to? Absolutely nonsensical! ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for love talk right now.¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes widened unconsciously, shamelessly pressing on. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just wait in line. When you¡¯re in the mood, could I be the first you consider?¡± Frederick met her gaze with a leisurely air, a smirk ying at the edge of his lips, he countered, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re worthy?¡± Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure if his smile was mocking or if he found her amusing, but she didn¡¯t have the luxury to care. Determined to win him back, she needed to dive in and figure out a n! ¡°I may not be worthy, but I think Yuna is even less so.¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes were filled with sincere conviction. ¡°And where does your confidencee from? Regardless of Yuna¡¯s shorings, at least she gave me twins, Manley and Hayes. What have you left for me?¡± Marguerite found herself stumped by Frederick¡¯s question. Indeed. What had she left for him? Her betrayal three years ago had left him with countless wounds and resentment. Even if Yuna¡¯s scheme was beyond Marguerite¡¯s, her misdeeds were tied to Frederick through their children, Manley and Hayes. And her? What did she have to show? Her passion and earnestness? Should she recklessly confess to Frederick that she was worried sick about him yesterday, that she had suddenly realized she couldn¡¯t bear to lose him? But obviously, her current fervor was negligiblepared to the betrayal she had caused, worthless inparison. Upon reflection, she truly had no grounds forparison to Yuna. But then Marguerite realized there was something she had that Yuna did not-Frederick¡¯s past love. With resolve, she insisted, ¡°But you¡¯ve never loved her, have you?¡± Before they returned to Winston Mansion, Marguerite had no idea how Frederick and Yuna had gotten along. Yet, observing their interactions over the past few days, she sensed that Frederick¡¯s attitude toward Yuna hadn¡¯t improved much since three years ago. He seemed to disdain Yuna, Marguerite could tell! Frederick didn¡¯t blink, his gaze on Marguerite growing more profound. Although the woman¡¯s behavior today was extremely unusual, her sharp wit remained undiminished. Regaining hisposure, Frederick, now unaffected by Marguerite¡¯s disys of vulnerability or affection, remainedposed. A mocking smile yed on his lips, ¡°Indeed, I don¡¯t love her. But just as true, I could never possibly love you.¡± Chapter 464 In a heartbeat, Marguerite¡¯s spirits plummeted to rock bottom. Life is riddled with too many regrets. The regret that haunted her was not knowing she was loved when it mattered, and by the time she realized, the one who loved her had already departed. Why do we always miss our chances? Marguerite couldn¡¯t fathom the reason, her helplessness rendering her powerless. Had Frederick truly lost all affection for her? The more she pondered, the sadder she became, vexed at how brutally frank men could be with their words. With a sharp snap, she closed the menu and stood up resolutely, ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite. Take me home.¡± Marguerite headed for the door, but his warning voice exploded like a bombshell, ¡°Stop right there.¡± Her stride faltered, and she turned with a look of silent reproach. She saw his hands, with their distinct knuckles, gracefully tracing the contours of the teacup, every movement reeking of elegance. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to walk home in this weather, sit down. You might not be hungry, but I am.¡± Though she yearned to storm out with dignity, the ever-thickening snow outside left her no choice but topromise. She wouldn¡¯t be able to hail a cab in such atrocious weather! Seething inwardly, she returned to her seat just as he nonchntly ordered somefort food. But even as the dishes arrived, Marguerite had zero desire to engage in conversation. His eyes twinkled with a perverse satisfaction upon seeing her sad face. Frederick admitted to himself that there was a twisted pleasure in this moment. He wanted her to experience the pain he once felt, ensuring his feelings for Marguerite remained a pure, undiluted loathing. Only through this could he maintain his inner peace and justify their entanglement as something detached from love. Sipping his tea with serene indifference, he locked eyes with Marguerite and casually inquired, ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t eat?¡± She red at him defiantly, then picked up her fork and began shoveling food into her mouth. Why shouldn¡¯t she eat? What good would starving do except harm her own body without affecting anyone else? She wasn¡¯t that foolish! Besides, how could she muster the strength to spar with him on an empty stomach? She had taken the initiative for the first time and refused to concede defeat at the first hurdle. But did Frederick still love her? If not, why keep her here to dine with him? This question was driving Marguerite to the brink of madness! She sat through the meal in a sullen silence, unable to decipher his intentions. She found herself sumbing to insecurity, her actions far removed from her typical boldness. Ah, love was indeed a taxing affair! After their meal, Frederick drove towards the Winston Mansion with unhurried ease. The heavy snow and misty sky blurred the road ahead, but as they approached the manor, Marguerite glimpsed Maurice¡¯s figure standing stark against the ornate gate. Frederick parked swiftly, and as Marguerite prepared to exit the car, he unexpectedly caught her shoulder and leaned in close, his eyes twinkling mischievously, ¡°He¡¯s probably worried about us rekindling old mes. So, should I kiss you now, just to make his long wait worth it?¡± Marguerite sighed deeply. She knew Frederick was merely toying with her, but even armed with this knowledge, she willingly yed the puppet in his hands. Gazing into his deep eyes, she felt herself being pulled into an endless abyss. As his sensuous lips drew nearer, Marguerite¡¯s heart sank, and she quietly closed her eyes. Chapter 465 But before their lips touched, Maurice abruptly strode forward, yanked open the car door, and forcefully pulled her out. All of a sudden, Marguerite couldn¡¯t tell if the strange look in Frederick¡¯s eyes was one of anger or disappointment. Before she could even process what was happening, Maurice slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, pulling her tightly into his embrace the next moment. Marguerite, feelingpletely rebellious and infuriated, tried to push the man away, but her efforts were in vain. Her gaze instinctively sought Frederick. But Frederick always remained soposed, his emotions unreadable, not a ripple to be seen. So, he really didn¡¯t love her anymore, right? Maurice held Marguerite close, not letting go, his tone finally revealing a hint of anger, ¡°Frederick, whatever happened between you and Marguerite is history. I don¡¯t want you disrupting what she and I could have in the future.¡± Frederick cocked an eyebrow, his smile tinged with mockery. ¡°If you truly wanted to marry her, why would her past bother you at all? As for the future, how can you be so sure there won¡¯t be any twists and turns yet toe?¡± Maurice fell silent because he knew all too well that the biggest wildcard was Frederick himself. The fact that Frederick could speak so brazenly today meant he was extremely confident about Marguerite¡¯s stance. Frederick locked the car and went inside, leaving Marguerite still held captive in Maurice¡¯s arms. ¡°Let me go.¡± Marguerite struggled, pushing against his chest. Maurice¡¯s face darkened, a storm brewing as he spoke again, his voice filled with suppressed rage, ¡°Exin yourself.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to exin? You¡¯ve heard the same words from me so many times it¡¯s worn thin. What do you want to hear? That I love him, or that! want to win him back? Maurice, do you really need me to dere my feelings for him in front of you every time? You know I have no sweet words to offer, if you don¡¯t want to torture yourself, just let me go.¡± Marguerite let it all out in a rush of words, but Maurice tightened his grip on her shoulders, emphasizing each word through gritted teeth, ¡°Marguerite, do you still want to know where our son is?¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll drop it,¡± Marguerite quickly changed her tune, her tone softening immediately, ¡°Can you tell me now where my son is?¡± Maurice¡¯s eyes, filled with anger, bore into Marguerite. She had quickly changed her words, yet her defiant stance remained. Maurice knew that no matter what, Marguerite would never be truly submissive to him, so he left her with a harsh warning, ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯te crying and begging to me in the future!¡± Marguerite smiled wryly, sincerely meeting his gaze, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to that day more than you are.¡± With that, Marguerite forcefully broke free from Maurice¡¯s embrace and without a backward nce, she headed inside the house. Love can make one vulnerable, but also brave. In front of Frederick, Marguerite was vulnerable. But with Maurice, she was fearlessly audacious. She never intended to receive anything from Maurice, so no matter how he threatened her, Marguerite was unafraid. She held Jocelyn¡¯s words close to heart. A woman must take control to avoid being at the mercy of others. Thus, for her son¡¯s whereabouts, she had decided to seek help from Robert and Penelope. Marguerite hurried through the front yard into the house, but just as she stepped through the foyer, she was stopped in her tracks by the scene before her. Yuna was kneeling in the middle of the living room, tears streaming down her face. What on earth was going on now? Chapter 466 At that moment, all eyes in the living room were fixed on Yuna. Powell Winston upied the prime spot on the sofa, his right leg encased in a ster cast resting on the coffee table, his left hand gripping a cane, and his eyes wide and intense. Lisette lounged with one leg crossed over the other,zily shelling pumpkin seeds, seemingly delighted by the unfolding drama. Jocelyn sat on the other end of the sofa, her gaze lowered as she knitted a scarf, as if she¡¯d grown ustomed to such family spectacles. And then there was Frederick, positioned directly in front of Yuna, his expression unreadable, his silence and lofty demeanor terrifying. ¡°Freddie, please forgive me! My dealings with Barnes were purely financial, I swear that was it! He threatened me, Freddie, otherwise I¡¯d never have gotten involved with him in any way! Before you came back, I confessed to Jocelyn and Lisette, I promised Uncle Powell, I won¡¯t let anything like this happen again! Please, Freddie, won¡¯t you forgive me?¡± Actually, Yuna had been on her knees in the living room for quite some time. This tactic was something her mother, Zoe, had advised. After all, first impressions are powerful, so once she came home, she immediately exined the situation to Jocelyn and Powell, expressing her deep regret. Of course, the full truth was neatly omitted. She only needed to emphasize the threat from Barnes, to stir up sympathy from the family elders, and then earnestly express her remorse. With that, as long as someone spoke up for her, Frederick, under familial pressure, might bepelled to forgive her. And sure enough, Lisette, with a sly undertone, chimed in while cracking seeds, ¡°Freddie, don¡¯t be petty. The poor girl is apologizing so sincerely. What can¡¯t you forgive? Come on now, get up from there, stop kneeling!¡± Yuna, with tears that could evoke pity in the devil himself, kept shaking her head, ¡°No! If Freddie doesn¡¯t forgive me, I won¡¯t get up!¡± Throughout this, Frederick remained silent. Yuna¡¯s wailing only intensified the revulsion inside him. It was as if a fierce me was smoldering in his chest, ready to reduce the wretched woman to ashes the next second. ¡°I underestimated you,¡± he said coldly, his voice not loud but filled with intimidating authority. ¡°Do you really think this act will make me overlook everything? Yuna, you keep pushing my limits. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re getting a bit too bold?¡± Tears surged uncontrobly from Yuna¡¯s eyes as she crawled to Frederick¡¯s feet, clutching desperately at his legs, ¡°No, Freddie! I didn¡¯t! It¡¯s just self-loathing and fear! I know I¡¯ve disappointed you with my foolish actions, that¡¯s why I sought everyone¡¯s forgiveness! I want you to see my sincerity and my resolve to repent! Please, Freddie, can¡¯t you forgive me?¡± Mr. Powell, who had been observing from the sidelines, could no longer stand the spectacle. He mmed his cane down with a thud, his eyes wide with anger, ¡°Enough! Get up from there! What do you think you are doing?¡± Lisette, not one to miss stirring the pot, added her two cents, ¡°Exactly! Come on, Frederick, she can¡¯t keep kneeling like this. People might think we¡¯re some heartless family! Tell her to stand up already, don¡¯t waste our time.¡± Marguerite watched silently from the corner, only able to see Frederick¡¯s back, clueless about his expression. Yet, she understood his mood very well. There¡¯s an old saying, don¡¯t judge another people¡¯s wrongs without walking in their shoes, don¡¯t preach goodness without knowing their struggles. If she were in his shoes, her rage would have already reached a boiling point, yet here were a bunch of onlookers, ignorant of the truth, urging him to take the moral high ground. was a suffocating and frustrating feeling. Although Frederick never took Mr. Powell or Lisette¡¯s words to heart, he was annoyed. Further provoked by Yuna¡¯s outburst, Frederick¡¯s displeasure was indescribable. He coldly withdrew his leg from Yuna¡¯s grasp, his sharp jawline like a de, cruel and intimidating, ¡°Whether I forgive you depends on your actions,¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna¡¯s tear-filled eyes suddenly sparkled with hope. Fantastic! She knew the tactic her mother taught her would work! Freddie was finally going to forgive her! Chapter 467 Yuna nodded vigorously, her movements exaggerated, like a bobblehead on a dashboard, ¡°Freddie, what do you want me to do? I¡¯ll do anything, just please forgive me!¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were as deep and fierce as a caged animal¡¯s. His tone grew colder, his presence casting an icy chill, ¡°Chuck¡±¡± At his call, Chuck hurried forward, ¡°Mr. Winston, at your service!¡± ¡°Pack her bags and get the car ready. She needs to leave the Winston mansion within ten minutes.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± Yuna¡¯s delicate frame shuddered, and for a moment, she was too stunned to react. ¡°Freddie¡­ What do you mean? Are you sending me away?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t ask much of you. Just one thing ¨C leave my house.¡± In truth, Frederick had no intention of making Yuna hit the road for good. Barnes had beatose, he was a dead end, and the truth behind the events on the ind three years ago remained unsolved. So, he hadn¡¯t nned to send her away. He was keen to see what kind of tricks this woman had yed, joining forces with Barnes. And since Manley was struggling to adjust to life at the Winston mansion, Yuna¡¯s presence could help him settle in. But he hadn¡¯t expected this woman be so clueless, dragging her entire family into a moral crusade against him! She was scheming over his head, and if he tolerated it now, she would only be more audacious. He would not stand for it! In that moment, Yuna, feeling cornered, scrambled to her feet and clung desperately to Frederick¡¯s waist from behind. ¡°Freddie, I was wrong! I truly realize my mistake! I don¡¯t want to go. If I go, what about Manley? What about Hayes? They¡¯re so young, how can they be without their mother?¡± she sobbed. Leaving would only give that wench Marguerite the chance she was looking for. Yuna had fought hard to infiltrate the inner circle of the Winston family; she couldn¡¯t let Marguerite reap the rewards of her efforts! And her current situation was all thanks to that witch Marguerite ! If it weren¡¯t for her, would she have been pushed to this desperate edge? It was Marguerite who had forced her into viiny! So she had to stay. Only by staying could she ensure Marguerite¡¯s downfall! Bitter and resentful, Yuna¡¯s cries grew louder and more piercing, grating on Lisette¡¯s nerves. Lisette red at Yuna, her voice sharp and shrill, ¡°Will you cut that out? What¡¯s with all the crying? Take your drama outside! We¡¯re trying to have a peaceful life in the Winston family, and you lot are turning it into a circus! Get out, all of you! Just get out!¡± ?? Yuna was crying too hard to pay any attention to Lisette¡¯s scolding. It was as if she hadn¡¯t heard her at all. Meanwhile, the grand living room was in utter chaos, filled with crying and shouting. Marguerite covered her ears, feeling as if a hundred ducks were quacking around her. In the midst of themotion, she noticed Manley, who had been napping on the back of the couch, suddenly wake up with a start. The little Boy, seeing his daddy and mommy apparently fighting, scrambled to his feet, ready to run over. But perhaps he got up too quickly, because he suddenly went pale, lost his bnce, and fell backward with a thud. The scene was too chaotic; no one but Marguerite noticed Manley copse. Her heart skipped a beat, and she rushed over, scooping Manley up off the floor, her voice rising with urgency, ¡°Everybody shut up! Manley¡¯s fainted. Can¡¯t your fight wait forter?!¡± Chapter 468 In an instant, the chatter ceased, and the living room plunged into a silence as deep as the grave. Yuna was the first to snap out of it. Her eyes, filled with ferocity and jealousy, locked onto Marguerite, who was cradling Manley like a protective mother hen. Marguerite, that wench! She¡¯d been cozying up to Hayes and now she was making moves on Manley? Damn her! Yuna¡¯s legs powered her forward as she lunged to snatch Manley from Marguerite¡¯s embrace. ¡°Marguerite, you venomous witch! What did you do to my Manley? If he¡¯s hurt, I swear you¡¯ll pay with your life!¡± Yuna¡¯s voice was screaming viciously and raised her hand, but Maurice stepped in front of Marguerite, catching Yuna¡¯s iling hands. ¡°Mr. Maurice! Marguerite hurt Manley, how can you stand by her?¡± Maurice¡¯s tone was unapologetically blunt, ¡°Did you see her harm Manley? I have no interest in your past spats, but if you bully her in my presence, you¡¯ll have me to reckon with.¡± Even Yuna, with all her bluster, dared not challenge Maurice and reluctantly mped her mouth shut. Meanwhile, Frederick made a beeline for Manley, but Maurice blocked him, issuing a stern warning, ¡°Control your woman.¡± Anger sparked in Frederick¡¯s eyes as he swatted Maurice¡¯s hand away and scooped Manley from Marguerite¡¯s arms. ¡°What are you waiting for?! Call the doctor!¡± he thundered, his voice like a p of thunder. The servants, nearly scared out of their wits, fumbled for their phones in a panic. ¡°No need! I am a doctor.¡± That was Maurice speaking. Truth be told, Frederick would rather have the devil himself treat Manley than his lifelong rival, Maurice. But with the family doctor living near the Winston estate unable to make it due to the stormy weather, Frederick had no choice but topromise for Manley¡¯s sake. He gentlyid his son on the couch before stepping back. Meanwhile, Teresa and Hayes, who had been watching the drama unfold from their hiding spots, rushed forward. The two youngsters had been itching toe out, but the adults¡¯ quarrel was terrifying, monstrous! They hadn¡¯t dared to show themselves. Without medical equipment, Maurice could only rely on his instincts to make a basic assessment. ¡°From what I can see, he¡¯s not in danger. The drooping mouth and slightly dted pupils suggest ack of blood supply. He¡¯s fainted from anemia.¡± Jocelyn, beads of sweat forming in her palms, was frantic, ¡°I frequently experience anemia, but usually, a faintsts only a few seconds before I recover. Why hasn¡¯t Manley woken up yet?¡± Maurice¡¯s expression grew grave as he cautiously replied, ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I find strange. Manley¡¯s symptoms are unusual; I suspect there¡¯s an issue with his circtory system. We¡¯ll give him an IV drip for now, and take him to the hospital for thorough tests tomorrow.¡± Blood systemplications sounded serious. Jocelyn was anxious, she insisted, ¡°We should go now!¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote. The hospital is closed, and the weather is bad. We won¡¯t be able toplete all tests today; let¡¯s not put the child through that.¡± Jocelyn was uneasy but had to agree. She looked at Frederick, probing, ¡°Frederick, can we leave your issues with Yuna until after Manley¡¯s check-up? I¡¯m worried about him.¡± Lisette, seizing the moment, chimed in with glee, ¡°Exactly! The poor kid is sick, and you want to kick his mother out? When did the Winstons be so heartless? Look at him, so pitiful and frail, that poor child!¡± Frederick, his mind a turmoil, didn¡¯t notice Teresa¡¯s quiet murmur to Hayes, ¡°Manley¡¯s not frail at all. He¡¯s chubbier than both of us put together. And since when is anemia such a big deal?¡± Chapter 469 Marguerite swiftly mped a hand over Teresa¡¯s mouth, her voiceced with irritation as she scolded, ¡°Don¡¯t you ever talk like that!¡± Teresa stiffened under Marguerite¡¯s stern gaze, wide-eyed with shock. Why is Mommy so fierce? She just didn¡¯t want that bothersome Yuna hanging around the Winston Estate! What did she do wrong? Feeling her temper re, Teresa puffed out her cheeks in defiance. Shaking off her mother¡¯s hand, she huffed indignantly and stomped away, her little frame shaking and her small face clouded with displeasure¡­ Jocelyn sighed softly, ncing at Marguerite, ¡°You were a bit harsh with her. Teresa¡¯s so young; sometimes she can¡¯t tell what should or shouldn¡¯t be said.¡± ¡°A child¡¯s true nature shows early on, and now¡¯s the time to set boundaries. If we don¡¯t correct her mistakes promptly, she¡¯ll grow up arrogant and overbearing. I don¡¯t want to raise her to be like that.¡± Marguerite¡¯s words prompted Frederick to regard her with newfound respect. As a mother, she really was exemry. If only Yuna had a fraction of Marguerite¡¯s discernment, Manley wouldn¡¯t have turned out the way he has! So young, yet so imperious and selfish. Frederick now found it a struggle to set him straight. Soon, a few servants arrived with nutritional supplements to administer to Manley through an IV drip. Hayes, concerned for Teresa, hurried off to find her. At that moment, Teresa was channeling her frustration into studying an anatomical model and furiously scribbling in her notebook. Hayes skittered over, propping his chin in his hands, and asked, ¡°Are you upset?¡± Teresa tossed her pencil down in a huff, leaned back with her arms crossed, and pouted, ¡°Little mute, tell me! Was I wrong just now? Anemia isn¡¯t a serious illness! Why did Mommy have to scold me? Ugh, it¡¯s so infuriating!¡± Hayes had so much he wanted to say tofort Teresa, but, tongue-tied as he was, he could only make funny faces to make herugh. Then, he poked Teresa¡¯s puffed-up cheek with his index finger and gently patted her head, cooing, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad!¡± Teresa regarded Hayes with a sigh, sounding like a miniature adult. Truth be told, her anger wasn¡¯t so much about Yuna not leaving the estate. It was because every time her Daddy tried to send Yuna away, something inexplicably interfered, and Teresa was thoroughly annoyed. But considering Yuna was Hayes¡¯ mommy, Teresa kept her thoughts to herself out of consideration for his feelings. Seeing that Teresa seemed less angry, Hayes leaned over her desk to look at her drawing and noticed she had sketched a rough outline of a figure. He blinked earnestly, asking with delight, ¡°You can¡­ draw now?¡± Teresa nodded, repositioned herself in her chair, and resumed her work with one hand on the anatomical model and the other bringing her vision to life on paper. ¡°It¡¯ll take a little more time. But I¡¯ve got the hang of my godfather¡¯s sister¡¯s bone structure, so it shouldn¡¯t be long now.¡± Hayes¡¯ heart leapt with joy If godfather knew about this, he¡¯d be over the moon! Chapter 470 Yuna eventually didn¡¯t leave the Winston Mansion. Marguerite had long suspected that one major reason she couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Yuna in Frederick¡¯s eyes was Yuna¡¯s knack for using the children to keep him tethered. No matter how little Frederick loved her, he was undeniably the father of Hayes and Manley, But she, Marguerite, seemed to have left him nothing to remember her by. Marguerite brooded over this, Frederick¡¯s words echoing in her mind, ¡°I certainly don¡¯t love her, but just as much, I could never love you,¡± haunting her and refusing to fade. The first morning after the drama, Marguerite noticed a significantly reduced number for breakfast. Only Jocelyn was bustling about with the servants, while Teresa and Hayes sat on stools, their fingers feverishly dancing over their phones as they yed a shooting game. ¡°You¡¯re up? Come have breakfast,¡± Jocelyn called out when she saw Marguerite. Sitting down, Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but ask, Jocelyn, why¡¯s it just us? Where¡¯s everyone else?¡± Jocelyn, sitting beside Marguerite, instructed a servant todle her a bowl of warming soup. ¡°Frederick and Yuna took Manley to the hospital, and as for Maurice, if you don¡¯t know where he¡¯s off to, I¡¯m certainly in the dark.¡± Marguerite wasn¡¯t concerned about Maurice¡¯s whereabouts in the slightest. Perhaps the previous night¡¯s uproar had taken its toll, for Marguerite felt exhausted despite a night¡¯s sleep. She sipped her soup in silence, not uttering a word. Jocelyn patted the table gently, her voice as tender as always, ¡°Kiddos, phones down. If you don¡¯t start eating properly, grandma¡¯s going to confiscate them!¡± Both children chimed in unison, ¡°Got it!¡± Jocelyn smiled, tying bibs around Hayes and Teresa before turning to Marguerite with a probing look, ¡°Were you with Frederick beforeing homest night?¡± Marguerite¡¯s spirits were low, but she nodded without denying it, ¡°Yeah, we were at a diner.¡± Jocelyn seemed to look right through her, sipping her soy milk thoughtfully before asking, ¡°Did you enjoy it?¡± Marguerite replied with a hint of defiance, ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Marguerite met Jocelyn¡¯s gaze, filled with dejection, ¡°Because he told mest night that he just doesn¡¯t love me.¡± Jocelyn was taken aback, ¡°You asked him?¡± Marguerite nodded, and then a soft sigh reached her ears. Jocelyn gently tapped Marguerite¡¯s forehead, her tone somewhat exasperated, ¡°When did you be so impatient? Put yourself in his shoes. If someone who once betrayed you suddenly deres their love, could you just let bygones be bygones and respond warmly?¡± Though Jocelyn spoke thus, Marguerite¡¯s heart still brimmed with resentment. She was stiflingly ufortable! Ever since she learned that Frederick had once intended to confess his feelings for her, her heart had never been at peace. She was desperate for an answer. But hearing Jocelyn¡¯s words, Marguerite suddenly harbored a sliver of hope, ¡°Jocelyn, are you saying I still have a chance?¡± Jocelyn smiled, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. Who knows what Frederick really feels? But opportunities are made, not given. Why not give it another shot?¡± Give it another shot? Frederick had been so harsh with his words, Marguerite felt as though he had blocked every path forward and back. How could she try? It seemed no matter what she did, the oue wouldn¡¯t be particrly good¡­ Chapter 471 An hourter, at Poppy Petal Fragrances. Today marked Marguerite¡¯s first day at thepany, and the CEO herself, Penelope, personally guided her through the orientation process. Skipping the usual entry-level grind, Penelope had appointed Marguerite as a senior fragrance designer right off the bat. ¡°Marguerite, your office is right across from mine,¡± Penelope said warmly. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for an assistant for you, about your age. If you need anything, just ask her.¡± Marguerite blushed with modesty. ¡°Penelope, that¡¯s really kind of you. I¡¯m just here to work, and you¡¯ve set the bar so high, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll let you down.¡± Penelope quickly patted Marguerite¡¯s hand, feigning annoyance. ¡°What¡¯s this ¡®Penelope¡¯ business? You¡¯re making it sound so formal! Call me Auntie! Besides, my instincts are never wrong. I have confidence in you, so you better start believing in yourself!¡± Marguerite was taken aback. Landing a management role on her first day was unbelievable enough, but Penelope asking her to call her ¡®Auntie¡¯? Yet strangely, despite having only met Penelope a handful of times, Marguerite felt an inexplicable kinship with her. Nodding obediently, Marguerite agreed, ¡°Penelope, from now on, I¡¯ll call you just that.¡± Hearing Marguerite address her so casually brought a smile to Penelope¡¯s face. She grabbed Marguerite¡¯s hand and affectionately squeezed it, her eyes beaming as they surveyed her new prot¨¦g¨¦. Then, with a sudden flourish, Penelope removed the sapphire blue silk scarf from around her neck and gently draped it over Marguerite¡¯s shoulders, tying it into a chic knot. ¡°Marguerite, you and I have a simr sense of style-minimal on the jewelry. Remember, we¡¯re in the beauty business; it¡¯s linked to fashion. Spruce yourself up a bit; it gives you energy, whether at work or in life. This is my favorite scarf, and I want you to have it as a wee gift. Work hard and don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Marguerite fingered the luxurious sapphire scarf, its silky fabric clearly expensive. Suddenly, she thought of herte grandmother Laverne, who had also encouraged her to shine brightly and live beautifully. In that moment, Marguerite realized Penelope was more than just a boss; she was like family without the barriers of distance. epting the gift, Marguerite smiled gratefully, ¡°Thank you, Penelope.¡± With a wave of her hand, Penelope led Marguerite to her office. ¡°Settle in. I¡¯ll have your assistante find you.¡± After Penelope left, Marguerite waited in her office. Finally, the assistant entered, and to Marguerite¡¯s utter shock. It was Miley? Their surprise was mutual, and in unison, they eximed, ¡°Why is it you?¡± Marguerite was stunned, but Miley quickly closed the door and rushed to the desk, leaning on it with both hands, and blurted out, ¡°So you¡¯re the hotshot they parachuted in? Marguerite, what kind of spell do you have? You¡¯ve got Mr. Winston¡¯s mother in your palm, and now my future mother-inw can¡¯t do without you!¡± Marguerite rolled her eyes at Miley¡¯s blunt words, ¡°Stop making Jocelyn sound so frail! Jocelyn and I respect each other; nobody¡¯s controlling anyone.¡± ¡°Oh,e on! Mutual respect is for married couples!¡± ¡°It¡¯s close enough,¡± Marguerite retorted, then peered intently at Miley. ¡°But what do you mean by ¡®can¡¯t do without you¡±?¡± Miley¡¯s eyes widened with disbelief. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Marguerite shook her head. ¡°How would I? I¡¯ve never dealt with the Fitzgerald Group.¡± Miley dragged a swivel chair over, sat down across from Marguerite, and leaned on the desk with an air of seriousness. ¡°Robert told me his mother wanted to poach you for Poppy Petal Fragrances, but he refused because he was trying to get you into Thunderbolt Enterprises!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Miley was exasperated. ¡°Why? To set you up with Mr. Winston, of course! We¡¯ve been breaking our backs over your little romance.¡± Margueriteughed. ¡°Then you guys really are too idle.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that sass! I¡¯m not done! The position you¡¯re in has been vacant for over twenty years! My mother-inw was saving it for her lost daughter! And now that you¡¯vended, everyone thinks she¡¯s been found, and it¡¯s you!¡± Chapter 472 Marguerite was taken aback by Miley¡¯s exnation. ¡°So, she handed over the position meant for her daughter to me?¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± Miley rolled her eyes at Marguerite with no pretense of subtlety. ¡°Marguerite, seriously, what¡¯s your secret? Howe everyone¡¯s just falling head over heels for you? I¡¯m starting to get a wee bit jealous over here.¡± Marguerite nearly burst intoughter. ¡°Don¡¯t you go buttering me up! Aren¡¯t you the same? Penelope must like you too, right? Why else would she sneak you into thepany through the back door?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it at all!¡± Miley was a mix of indignation and a touch of wistfulness, ¡°Penelope doesn¡¯t even know I¡¯m Robert¡¯s girlfriend! I got the job on my own merits! I¡¯m a private investigator by trade, you know. Justst week, while digging up info for a client, I found that the Fitzgeralds trying to set up Robert with a marriage alliance. So, naturally, I rushed over!¡± Marguerite looked at Miley¡¯s childlike frustration and couldn¡¯t help but find it both exasperating and amusing, ¡°With that firecracker personality, you should be chasing off those would-be fianc¨¦es, not sneaking around.¡± ¡°What do you know!¡± Margueriteughed heartily, teasing Miley further: ¡°I might not know much, but I sure thought, with all your ¡®my mother-inw this and that,¡¯ you had the Fitzgerald n eating out of your hand. Turns out they don¡¯t even know you exist.¡± Miley was crestfallen. ¡°They know Robert has a girlfriend. But Hackett Fitzgerald looks down on my family for being new money from a lottery win, thinking I¡¯m not good enough for them. I wanted to test the waters with Penelope; after all, to solve a problem at its root, you¡¯ve got to butter up the mother-inw first, right? Maybe once Penelope gets to know me, sees my charm, she mighte around. Anyway, Penelope is definitely going to be my mother-inw!¡± Suddenly, Marguerite saw parallels between her own life and Miley¡¯s. In the early stages of their rtionships, neither was epted by their partner¡¯s family. Butpared to herself, Miley was braver and more confrontational. She went after what she wanted with all her might and main. In contrast, here was Marguerite, still hesitating because of Frederick¡¯s ¡®I don¡¯t love you,¡¯ unsure whether to move forward or not. Miley sighed and suddenly remembered something urgent, quickly asking, ¡°By the way, what happened to Mr. Winston? I stopped by Thunderbolt Enterprises beforeing here and saw Robert tending to his wounds. They looked like gunshot wounds?¡± Marguerite hesitated, instinctively wanting to keep the truth hidden. Frederick had warned that this matter should not be disclosed to anyone, but Miley caught the fleeting look of evasion in Marguerite¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare keep things from me! Remember my profession ¨C if there¡¯s something I want to know, I¡¯ll dig it up even if it¡¯s three feet underground!¡± Convinced by Miley¡¯s argument and knowing that she could probably worm it out of Robert anyway, Marguerite let down her guard and spilled the beans about everything that had happened over the past couple of days. She detailed how Frederick was shot, how he ended up back at the Winston Mansion, and everyst detail of Barnes and Yuna¡¯s behavior in the holding cell ¨C she told her everything. Miley listened intently and then looked at Marguerite, finding the situation exceedingly strange. ¡°You said Barnes was staring at you before he asked Mr. Winston to bring Yuna over?¡± Marguerite nodded. ¡°Then he must have had something to tell you, right? After Yuna came, he didn¡¯t leave any crucial information?¡± Marguerite shook her head. ¡°And the second before Barnes lost his voice, he mentioned Hayes¡¯ name?¡± Miley pressed on. ¡°Yes.¡± Miley rubbed her temples, mentally juggling the three names. Barnes¡­ Yuna¡­ Hayes. Her professional instincts kicked in as she rapidly spected about the connection between the three. Looking back at Marguerite and then thinking of Hayes, Miley suddenly gasped in realization: ¡°Marguerite, haven¡¯t you ever noticed how much Hayes looks like you?¡± Chapter 473 Marguerite couldn¡¯t quite believe her ears, but the realization soon hit her. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, Hayes is my missing son?¡± Miley nodded vigorously, like a bobblehead, ¡°I shrugged off the resemnce between you and Yuna before, thinking it was just a coincidence. But the moment I met Hayes face to face, I saw that it wasn¡¯t just about looks. It was the mannerisms, the way you carry yourselves!¡± If that was the case, there were too many unanswered questions swirling in Marguerite¡¯s mind. 4 But Miley¡¯s thoughts were as unpredictable as a summer storm. She paced around the room, her mind racing. Then, as if struck by lightning, she had an epiphany, her face lighting up with excitement, ¡°What if the person who took away your son was Barnes, and he handed the child over to Yuna? She then made up a story, telling Mr. Winston she had twins! Think about it. If Manley and Hayes were both Yuna¡¯s children, why would she favor one so tantly over the other? The most likely exnation is that Hayes is actually your son, and that¡¯s why she neglected him! Doesn¡¯t that make sense?¡± Miley¡¯s ideas were always out of left field, and her spection eased Marguerite¡¯s doubts. ¡°At the time, Yuna was already pregnant with Frederick¡¯s child, which should have been enough to secure her status. So why go through the trouble of taking my treasure? And you know, after Yuna gave birth, they did a paternity test with Frederick.¡± ¡°And what of it? That only proves Hayes is Mr. Winston¡¯s son, not necessarily Yuna¡¯s!¡± Miley finished her thought and her mind was off to the races again. She paced back and forth, muttering to herself, ¡°Paternity test¡­ paternity test¡­¡± Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, turned, and hurried over to Marguerite, urgency written all over her face, ¡°The crux of the matter is the paternity test! I remember Robert telling me once that Mr. Winston sent Yuna to an ind to give birth mainly because he doubted the child was his! So he cut off contact with Yuna, eager for a paternity test as soon as she delivered! Therefore, her stealing your son could very well have been to pass Mr. Winston¡¯s paternity test!¡± Listening to Miley¡¯s narrative, Marguerite furrowed her brows. Her face showed a half-smile, as if she found the woman¡¯s story increasingly far-fetched. ¡°Just on a hunch, you¡¯re convinced Hayes is my lost son? So, by your logic, I had twins, Teresa by Maurice and Hayes by Frederick? Does that even sound usible?¡± Marguerite¡¯s retort threw a wet nket on Miley¡¯s enthusiasm. She slumped back into her chair, resting her chin in her hand, a touch deted, ¡°That true¡­¡± How could she forget Teresa¡¯s existence? Miley pursed her lips, her other hand idly tapping on the table¡¯s surface. After a moment of silence, she looked up at Marguerite with a spective glint in her eye, ¡°What if¡­ both children are Frederick¡¯s?¡± Marguerite was taken aback. Before she could respond, Miley pped the table with renewed excitement, ¡°Marguerite, how can you be so sure the man you had a fling with that night was Maurice? You never saw his face!¡± ¡°Because Maurice himself admitted it was him that night! And with Maurice and Frederick being arch-enemies, would Maurice really raise Frederick¡¯s child for so long?¡± Miley snapped back, ¡°You take his word for it? Maurice is twisted; there¡¯s nothing he wouldn¡¯t do.¡± Marguerite was left speechless. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Miley was so adamant that Hayes was her lost son! And Marguerite knew that Miley, as a detective, had a way of leaping to conclusions that others couldn¡¯t fathom. But where was the evidence? There was not a shred of factual support, it was all spection. Moreover, Maurice had recently discovered the whereabouts of the treasure. If her son was indeed Hayes, now living with Frederick at the Winston Mansion, how could Maurice be content to let her be in touch with them every day? Too many questions remained unanswered. Marguerite stayed silent, but Miley was undeterred, talking to herself, ¡°To be honest, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for Maurice to have tampered with the Regal Haven Hotel¡¯s register back then. But it¡¯s been three years; the original files are probably long gone. Looks like we¡¯ll need to think of another approach.¡± Chapter 474 Marguerite threw up her hands in exasperation. ¡°Oh,e on, What are you plotting?¡± Miley¡¯s gaze towards Marguerite was tinged with disappointment. It seemed to her that Marguerite had a knack for getting hung up on the tiniest details, and no amount of talking could change her mind. With no other choice, Miley just waved her off. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll dig deeper into this when I get a chance.¡± Marguerite was left feeling helpless, letting Miley have her way. But in her heart, Marguerite couldn¡¯t ept that Hayes could be her long-lost son, nor could she imagine Teresa being Frederick¡¯s child. Life couldn¡¯t possibly be filled with such bizarre coincidences, like some over-the-top soap opera that she¡¯d stumbled into. Little did Marguerite know that real life could outdo any drama on TV! Meanwhile, at As Private Hospital¡­ Yuna and Frederick spent the entire morning running tests for little Manley. But it was Chuck who was busy bustling about the whole time. After receiving thest of the reports, Chuck reported back to Frederick, who then strode ahead with Manley in his arms, leaving Yuna trailing behind. The events of the previous night still had Frederick fuming, so he ignored Yuna¡¯s attempts at making amends. Had it not been for Manley, he would never have let Yuna stay. Of course, thispromise was herst chance. One more outrageous act from her, and he would cut ties, regardless of past connections. Soon, the three of them walked into the office, and Chuck quickly handed a stack of medical reports to the doctor. As the doctor flipped through each page, his expression darkened. Suddenly, he looked up, concern and caution in his eyes, ¡°Mr. Wigston, perhaps have your friend take your son out?¡± At his words, a chill ran down Yuna¡¯s spine. Seeing the tension, Chuck wisely took Manley into his arms and said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Winston, Manley mentioned wanting to y in the children¡¯s yground downstairs. I¡¯ll take him there ande backter.¡± Once they left, Frederick¡¯s voice was icy, ¡°Speak.¡± The doctor hesitated, his face etched with difficulty, ¡°Mr. Winston, the young master¡¯s condition is serious. He has astic anemia.¡± In an instant, a cold frost seemed to settle over Frederick¡¯s handsome face. Yuna was confused. ¡°How is that different from regr anemia?¡± ¡°The biggest difference between simple anemia and astic anemia lies in the cause,¡± the doctor exined. Still not understanding, Yuna snapped, ¡°Can you speak in English? What¡¯s the difference with the cause? Just tell me why he¡¯s sick!¡± The doctor, a renowned pediatrician in the elite circles, was not ustomed to such rudeness. Yet, in deference to Mr. Winston, he patiently replied, ¡°There are many causes, such as viral infections or immune system issues. But the most likely is gic.¡± Yuna paused, ¡°Gic? I never had this disease. How do you treat it?¡± That¡¯s when Frederick, who had been silent, spoke with a stern and decisive tone that made everyone tense up, ¡°A transfusion.¡± ¡°A transfusion?¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The doctor looked with regret at Frederick and nodded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston is correct. This condition indeed requires a transfusion.¡± It was only when Frederick mentioned a transfusion that the severity of the condition really hit Yuna. She was anxious, her palms sweating as she looked hopefully at Frederick, ¡°Freddie, why do you know how to treat this? It can¡¯t be that serious, right?¡± Could it be that someone close to Freddie had suffered from this before? Did they recover? Was it also because of gics? Questions swirled in Yuna¡¯s anxious mind. But Frederick neither nodded nor shook his head, his entire demeanor radiated a bone-chilling cold. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice quiet but heavy, ¡°Five years ago, Barnes had this disease.¡± Chapter 475 If three years ago, Barnes hadn¡¯t resigned, he would have been one of the old guard by Frederick¡¯s side. Frederick, despite his fiery temper, was beyond reproach when it came to his inner circle. Whether it was Chuck, who had been with him for years, or his personal bodyguard, he treated them like brothers. That¡¯s why he was so enraged when he saw Barnes in the holding cell yesterday. After all, when Barnes fell ill, Frederick had covered the bill for the expensive blood transfusions and even led his team to check for a match with their own blood. So, Barnes¡¯ betrayal was not just a disappointment for Frederick, but deeply heartbreaking. He couldn¡¯t fathom why Barnes would turn on Hayes! However, since Manley had never been linked to this matter, when the doctor said Manley¡¯s condition was hereditary, Frederick didn¡¯t think deeper into it. It might just be a viral infection. Yuna, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t soposed. When her gaze identally met Frederick¡¯s piercing eyes, she jumped like a startled deer and quickly looked away, feeling guilty. She hadn¡¯t expected that Manley¡¯s illness would be inherited from Barnes, his biological father! That despicable jerk! Even in a vegetative state, he wouldn¡¯t leave her alone! She felt like barging into Barnes¡¯ hospital room upstairs with a knife and plunging it into his chest! But even that wouldn¡¯t be enough to quell her rage! The doctor mistook Yuna¡¯s tension for concern about Manley¡¯s condition and immediately offeredfort, ¡°This condition is serious but manageable, as long as we can find apatible blood type, it can be treated fairly quickly.¡± Yuna quickly asked, ¡°Is it easy to find a donor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy to find donors, but whether they¡¯re willing to give is another matter. This isn¡¯t like donating blood; a blood transfusion requires arge volume, which can be harmful to the donor. However, blood from rtives usually has the highestpatibility.¡± Years ago, Frederick had already led his men to test their blood when Barnes fell ill. Sadly, his blood didn¡¯t match Barnes¡¯. But Manley was his own flesh and blood; Frederick would never abandon his child. He rolled up his sleeve, presenting his arm with a decisive air, ¡°Take mine.¡± Yuna was moved by Frederick¡¯s sense of responsibility, but then she grew anxious. Manley wasn¡¯t Frederick¡¯s child. If the blood types didn¡¯t match, wouldn¡¯t all her secrets from three years ago be revealed? Thinking this, Yuna stepped in front of Frederick, hastily stopping him, ¡°Freddie, this could harm you. Let them use my blood for Manley! Thepany is at a crucial juncture; everyone depends on you. But I¡¯m just a housewife. I can rest up at home after.¡± Her words were heartfelt and touching, as if she truly cared about his well-being. The doctor looked at Yuna with surprise. This woman could really turn on the charm, from a shrew to a seemingly wise and graciousdy in front of Mr. Winston. Such hypocrisy! He stood up and said calmly, ¡°We¡¯re not at the transfusion stage yet. We need to do a blood type test first. If your blood types aren¡¯t the same, the child¡¯s blood type could follow either parent. So, Mr. Winston has a 50% chance. I suggest both of you get tested.¡± So that was it. Even though Frederick wasn¡¯t Manley¡¯s biological father, she was his mother. Manley¡¯s blood type would surely follow hers! This way, even if Frederick got tested, her secret would remain safe. ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? ?? ? ?? ? ? ?? Yuna breathed a sigh of relief and agreed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s both get tested.¡± The doctor quickly arranged for their blood tests. After the blood was drawn, Yuna waited at the window. Since it was expedited, the results were handed out by the nurse within five minutes. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯m sorry, but your blood type does not match the child¡¯s.¡± Yuna was shocked, but then it dawned on her! If Manley¡¯s blood type didn¡¯t follow hers, it must be Barnes¡¯? Frederick was surprisingly calm, approaching the window, ¡°Well then, it looks like we¡¯ll have to use my blood.¡± The nurse looked troubled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Winston, but your blood isn¡¯t a match either.¡± Chapter 476 The news hit Frederick like a thunderbolt, a man known for his decisiveness and swift action, he found himself at a loss for words. ¡°But how could this be? Manley¡¯s blood type doesn¡¯t match mine or Yuna¡¯s?¡± His question left Yuna looking like she had seen a ghost. This was it, he found out. No matter what she said now, there was no way to exin why Manley¡¯s blood type didn¡¯t match Frederick¡¯s. Terror gripped her as she sneakily nced at Frederick, only to find him staring back with a look that was bothplex and intimidating. His gaze was fierce, like a predator ready to rip its prey apart. ¡°Freddie¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on¡­¡± she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, her mind racing for some way out of this disaster. Just then, the nurse¡¯s timely voice cut through the tension, offering Yuna a lifeline ¨C ¡°Mr. Winston, please stay calm. Due to your long history of smoking, your blood has a high level of carbon monoxide, making you ineligible for blood transfusion. You were ruled out before we could even get to the matching process.¡± Yuna felt her heart flutter with excitement. She could hardly believe her good fortune. She silently breathed a sigh of relief. Her emotions had been on a roller coaster ride, leaving her clutching her chest to calm her racing heart. Quickly regaining herposure, she turned to the nurse, ¡°So, what¡¯s the next step?¡± ¡°The patient needs to be admitted for treatment with medication for now. We¡¯ll keep looking for a donor. If we can perform the surgery before he turns four, there will be enough time.¡± Before he turns four? That was a year away. Yuna finally rxed, but Frederick was still worried. A year could fly by in the blink of an eye. He remembered the exhausting search for apatible donor for Barnes, which had taken nearly a year. He hoped Manley would not face the same fate. Knowing there was no quick fix, Frederick arranged for Manley to be ced in a VIP room and made several calls to his widework, initiating a search for a donor. After ensuring everything was in ce, he returned to Thunderbolt Enterprises to deal with some work, leaving Yuna at the hospital. She called her parents, Zoe and Ablett, to share the close call they¡¯d had and the need for discretion moving forward. She also briefed them on Manley¡¯s condition. The news of Frederick almost finding out and their beloved grandson¡¯s hospitalization sent Zoe and Ablett rushing to the hospital in a state of anxious urgency. Arriving at the hospital, they found Manley already asleep. Standing silently by his bedside, they were overwhelmed with emotion, nearly breaking down in tears. ¡°Our little Manley has never experienced hardship, always having the best of everything. How could he fall ill like this?¡± Ablettmented. ¡°It¡¯s gics! Barnes had the same condition!¡± Yuna replied, her voice tinged with frustration. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t that jerk just die? He¡¯s brought enough trouble to our family, and now he¡¯s threatening my grandson!¡± Zoe fumed with rage, cursing under her breath. Yuna, however, was too preupied with her own concerns to engage in conversation. The recent events had left her on edge, fearing the day Frederick would uncover the truth. Suddenly, a text from Hayes arrived: [Mom, have you and dad finished with the tests? How serious is Manley¡¯s condition? Grandma is asking if you¡¯reing home for dinner tonight.] Hayes meant well, but to Yuna, this was just another aggravation. That insufferable brat! Like mother, like son. Marguerite had been a curse on their family, and now her offspring was threatening her precious Manley! Yuna didn¡¯t reply, fuming with anger. Zoe, on the other hand, pped her shoulder sharply, ¡°Yuha! I am talking to you! With Manley getting sick, how can you even think of texting? Who are you texting anyway?!¡± ¡°That little bastard Hayes!¡± Hayes? Zoe turned the name over in her head, a scheming spark igniting, ¡°Darling, remember how we¡¯ve always wanted to get rid of Hayes but never could? I might just have the perfect n. Are you interested?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± A cold glint appeared in Zoe¡¯s eyes as she replied, ¡°We¡¯ll use that little bastard for Manley¡¯s blood transfusion!¡± Chapter 477 Yuna¡¯s eyes went wide with shock. It wasn¡¯t that Zoe¡¯s scheme was too sinister; it was the sudden, nagging realization that she hadn¡¯t thought of it first. That little brat Hayes, always looking so pale and scrawny, and the major transfusion requires lots of blood? She wondered how long he¡¯dst. But then, Yuna furrowed her brow in hesitation, quickly scanning the room before stealthily closing the door. She then whispered, ¡°Hayes isn¡¯t a blood match for Manley. They¡¯re not even rted by blood!¡± Zoe¡¯s smile grew darker, ¡°If you want a match, we¡¯ll make one.¡± Yuna was confused, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°This is a golden opportunity to get rid of Hayes: If he¡¯s a match, perfect. His life for Manley¡¯s, it¡¯s worth it! If not, we¡¯ll just say he was. We¡¯ll drain the brat dry and see if he survives that!¡± Yuna¡¯s face lit up with a mischievous glee, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s brilliant! I¡¯ve never liked that little brat anyway!¡± Zoe nodded proudly, her ning together perfectly, ¡°And don¡¯t worry about Mr. Winston finding out. We have a client at our casino who works at the hospital¡¯s blood bank. I¡¯ll bribe him to have some intern draw Hayes¡¯ blood. Once we finish, we¡¯ll dump him out in the boonies. By the time Mr. Winston finds him, it¡¯ll be toote, and he¡¯ll never know what happened. And if he does find out, we¡¯ll pin it all on the intern. If that intern dares to rat you out, I¡¯ll give you another pill, and we¡¯ll turn him into a vegetable too!¡± Yuna was practically buzzing with the thrill of it, seeing Hayes¡¯ demise in her mind long before the n had even been set into motion. Both Zoe and Yuna shared a triumphant smirk, but Ablett¡¯s face was a mask of grim disapproval, ¡°Hayes is just a three-year-old kid. Isn¡¯t this a bit much? He¡¯s no threat to you. There¡¯s a line you just don¡¯t cross, especially with a child!¡± Ablett shivered with the weight of their cold-heartedness. Zoe red at him, ¡°No threat? How can you be sure? Hayes is Marguerite¡¯s son, and who knows when she might spill the beans and take him for a paternity test? If that happens, we¡¯re all done for! Marguerite is bad luck, and so is her offspring. Haven¡¯t we suffered enough because of them? Every time we face danger, it¡¯s Yuna and I whoe up with solutions. What do you do? If you can¡¯t protect us, shut your trap and stop adding to the chaos!¡± Ablett, red-faced and furious, clutched his chest, struggling to stand. Pointing a trembling finger at Zoe, he spat, ¡°You¡¯re losing your mind! I¡¯ve turned a blind eye to your petty squabbles, but murdering a three-year-old? There¡¯s karma to consider!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so keen on karma, why don¡¯t you hurry up and reincarnate? We sure as hell don¡¯t feel sorry for Hayes! You are always preaching your fake piety, but your sins are no less than ours!¡± Zoe¡¯s words were sharp, cutting through any pretense of respect. With a huff, Ablett stormed out of the room, leaving Yuna to shrink back in fear. ¡°Mom, Dad won¡¯t turn on us, will he? What if he goes to Freddie with this?¡± Zoe snorted, ¡°Your father¡¯s a coward. He won¡¯t dare. But we¡¯ve been loud. We didn¡¯t wake Manley, did we?¡± They both turned to check on Manley, who seemed to be sound asleep, and breathed a sigh of relief. What they didn¡¯t know was that Manley had been awakened by their quarrel. What had he just heard? Mommy and Grandma nning to kill Hayes! Though Manley despised Hayes and childishly wished all the world¡¯s misfortunes upon him, the idea of murder was terrifying to a three-year-old. His beloved mommy and grandma were plotting something so horrendous Trembling under his covers, Manley found himself in a terrible quandary. Should he warn Hayes? Chapter 478 Meanwhile, at the children¡¯s bedroom in the Winston Mansion¡­ Hayes clutched his cellphone with a glint of hope in his eyes. After what felt like an eternity, there was still no reply from Yuna. A sigh escaped his lips, and a wave of mild disappointment washed over him. But he tried forgetting it and cheering himself up. Ever since moving into the Winston Mansion and having Teresa¡¯spany, his mom¡¯s neglect didn¡¯t seem to sting as much. Back when his mom ignored him, he¡¯d brood over it for ages. But now, he could bounce back in no time! If he could, he really wished he could live with Teresa forever! As Hayes harbored this thought, Teresa¡¯s voice,ced with surprise and urgency, reached his ears, ¡°Little mute! You gotta see this! Come here, quick!¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Hayes spun around and dashed to Teresa¡¯s side. Teresa sat upright in front of her easel, and clipped onto it was a portrait taller than she was. Hayes stood opposite Teresa, the easel blocking his view, so he had no idea what was drawn on it. After Hayes joined her, Teresa didn¡¯t look at him right away; instead, she was staring gobsmacked at the easel, ¡°Little mute, I¡¯ve got to tell you something super spooky!¡± Hayes, full of curiosity, tilted his head and looked at her with all seriousness, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Teresa, genuinely shaken, swallowed hard before she finally met Hayes¡¯ gaze, ¡°¡­ My godfather¡¯s sister¡­ she looks just like my mom!¡± Hayes was surprised. He quickly moved to the front of the easel and looked up at the woman on the paper, stunned. How could she look so simr? With a sense of disbelief, Teresa pressed her rosy-cheeked face close to the drawing, scrutinizing it from the left and right, her fingers intertwined and her brow furrowed, ¡°Could I have drawn it wrong? That¡¯s impossible! I broke down the features from the photo and even used a mannequin, drawing ording to the natural growth of muscles and bone structure!¡± After a moment of thought, Hayes ced his hand on Teresa¡¯s shoulder, his young face taking on an uncharacteristically serious and solemn expression, ¡°It could be¡­ my mom¡­¡± Teresa stiffened, turning to look Hayes in the eyes. That¡¯s right! Her mom and Hayes¡¯ mom were look-alikes! But who was really her godfather¡¯s sister? ¡°Could it be that both your mom and my mom are the his sisters?¡± Hayes shook his head, his mouth opening as he struggled to articte a difficult truth, ¡°He¡­ only had one sister. His mother.. didn¡¯t have twins!¡± Hearing this from Hayes, Teresa was utterly bbergasted! What was going on? Their moms were twins! So either Teresa had drawn it wrong, or both were her godfather¡¯s sisters. There was no reason for it to be just one of them! The two kids were stumped. Forget it! Might as well send the photo to him; after all, they were just kids. How could they possibly unravel such aplex mystery? With that thought, Teresa took out her phone, snapped a photo of the portrait, and sent it straight to Robert. Chapter 479 At the same time, after leaving Frederick¡¯spany, Robert headed straight to Poppy Petal Fragrances. If it hadn¡¯t been for Miley¡¯s slip of the tongue on the phone, he wouldn¡¯t have He parked his car and took the VIP elevator straight to the executive floor. khown that his mother had actually managed to get Marguerite to work for thepany. There were two separate ss-walled offices facing each other; one belonging to his mother, the other to Marguerite. Through the transparent windows, Robert nodded to Marguerite before striding into Penelope¡¯s office. ¡°Ms. Penelope, did you really take one of my peo Robert didn¡¯t beat around the bush as he walked in. ¡°Ms. Penelope? Show some respect, young man!¡± Penelope chided Robert, then chuckled, ¡°And since when is everyone ¡®your people¡¯? But you¡¯re toote, Marguerite is with me now.¡± Robert couldn¡¯t help but nce over at Marguerite in the neighboring ss office as he leaned forward with both hands on Penelope¡¯s desk, ¡°You knew very well that I was grooming Marguerite for a position at Thunderbolt Enterprises. How could you think of undercutting me like this?¡± Penelope just smiled, ¡°Frederick and Marguerite are now living at the Winston Mansion. Isn¡¯t that enough for them? They don¡¯t need to be glued at the hip at work too. Distance makes the heart grow fonder! It¡¯s better for her to and help out at ourpany.¡± Robert v was both annoyed and perplexed, ¡°Why must it be Marguerite? We have plenty of talented designers. It¡¯s not like we have to have her¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know that more talent is always better? Besides, in the twenty-odd years since Poppy Petal Fragrances was established, I¡¯ve never encountered someone whose taste is so simr to mine and who satisfies my expectations like Marguerite does. The moment I smelled her Pr Radiance, I knew she was the one. She feels so familiar; I like her!¡± ¡°But even if you liked her, you shouldn¡¯t have given her Nina¡¯s spot! You¡¯ve been holding on to that position for over twenty years, and now you¡¯re handing it over to an outsider? Where are you going to ce Nina when she returns?¡± Penelope spoke with conviction, but faced with Robert¡¯s question, she couldn¡¯t find a suitable answer. When she was initiating Marguerite that morning, she couldn¡¯t help but think of the position originally reserved for Nina. Firstly, Marguerite¡¯s capabilities were a perfect fit for the job. Secondly, the office for this position was right next to her own. She couldn¡¯t exin it, but somethingpelled her to want to see Marguerite at all times.. As for the rest, she really hadn¡¯t thought it through.. Penelope remained silent, and Robert helplessly shook his head.. He wanted to chide his mother for her foolishness, but at that moment his phone buzzed. He took it out and saw a message from Teresa along with a picture. ¡± * [Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell Mommy who your sister is until you figure it out yourself! That¡¯s all the help I can offer; I didn¡¯t expect this situation either.] Robert was baffled. H What did Teresa mean by this? What did this have to do with Marguerite?¡± ¡£ 18 Fr ¡± 2 ¨C B W Confused, he opened the picture. Upon a closer look, he froze as if petrified. x * 9 10% 1 4 * * 2 10 * V A t * He spun around,paring the woman in the picture on his screen to Marguerite, who was working in the next office, his eyes widening in astonishment. After a long moment, he handed the phone to Penelope with a trembling hand. ¡°Mom, we found Nina¡­¡± As the truth was on the verge of being revealed, his emotions were not as jubnt as he had anticipated. Penelope, overjoyed, quickly took the phone to look at the photo. Unlike Robert¡¯s shock, Penelope was visibly moved, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°That¡¯s mother¡¯s intuition! I knew there was a reason I liked Marguerite so much; she is my daughter!¡± Penelope stood up immediately, ready to rush out and recognize Marguerite as her kin, but Robert held her back with a look of unbearable sorrow. As much as he wanted to preserve his mother¡¯s happy illusion, he had to reveal the truth, ¡°Marguerite has a twin sister, identical to her. How can you be so sure that the person in the photo is Marguerite?¡± Chapter 480 Penelope froze in her tracks, her mind suddenly abuzz with realization. How could she have forgotten? Ever since Robert had returned from his studies abroad, he had mentioned that Marguerite¡¯s twin sister had given birth to two children for Frederick. And Penelope, never one to indulge in idle gossip, hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the matter. With a sense of urgency, her gazended on Marguerite. ¡°Could there have been a mistake? Why would it be Marguerite and Yuna? They¡¯re twins, sure, but I only have one sister!¡± Suddenly, scenes from twenty-five years ago yed before Penelope¡¯s eyes. Snapping back to the present, she faced Robert, her deep eyes locking onto his. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s one of them?¡± Robert¡¯s face was a mask of confusion. ¡°How could it be?¡± ¡°Do you remember,¡± Penelope began, ¡°we had a maid who bore a striking resemnce to me? Even your father would sometimes mistake us. She married the gardener, and shortly after, discovered she was pregnant. Around the same time, I was expecting Nina. Your father used to make this joke, that given the maid and I looked so much alike, what a hrious mix-up it would be if our kids turned out to be identical¡­¡± Robert listened intently, scouring his memory for any trace of the maid. He had been a mere first-grader, a boarding school student who only came home on weekends. The maid¡¯s image had long since faded from his memory. ?? ???? -, ???? ????? ??? ¡°I can¡¯t remember,¡± Robert admitted. ¡°It was over twenty years ago.¡± Penelope¡¯s thoughts were tangled like a ball of yarn, yet she relentlessly pursued every thread of possibility. Marguerite¡­ Yuna¡­They were both Lockwoods? The gardener had also been a Lockwood! A premonition surged within her. She quickly refocused on Robert, pressing for details. ¡°What are Marguerite and Yuna¡¯s parents¡¯ names? What do they do?¡± Robert had scant interaction with Marguerite¡¯s parents, having only met them briefly at Laverne¡¯s funeral. ¡°Their mother¡¯s name is Zoe, and their father is Ablett. Frederick mentioned they used to run a casino.¡± Penelope¡¯s face went rigid, her eyes wide, ¡°It¡¯s them! The maid who looked like me was named Zoe, and Ablett was our gardener!¡± Robert was dumbfounded. Marguerite¡¯s parents had worked in his family¡¯s home? What were the odds? ¡°But that doesn¡¯t prove anything, does it?¡± Penelope faced Robert, memories flooding her mind with relentless force, ¡°How can it not? Zoe only had one child! Where did the twinse from? Back then, I wanted her to take maternity leave, but her family was so poor they could barely afford food. Feeling sorry for her, and since we were both pregnant, I let her stay on. I even took her for prenatal checkups with me. The ultrasounds always showed a single baby! After I gave birth to Nina, she was stolen. The very next day, they both resigned, they said they had gambling debts and saying they needed to flee town. We were all so focused on Nina, we didn¡¯t question it. Now, it strikes me as odd. Perhaps Nina was taken by them!¡± Chapter 481 Penelope¡¯s voice was thick with empathy, and although Rob Fitzgerald had never been through it himself, vivid images sprang to life in his mind. He remembered his mother giving birth to his sister on his sixth birthday. He¡¯d dashed to the hospital, thrilled, and watched the newborn in the bass, utterly besotted. He wanted his sister¡¯s first present to be from him, so he slipped his own little golden anklet onto her tiny foot. Her mother was so kind to Zoe. How could they have the heart to steal Nina from the hospital? Damn! The Lockwoods had torn their happy home apart! He wouldn¡¯t let them get away with it! Never! Anger red in his eyes, his forehead veins bulging with fury. He spun on his heel, storming toward the exit. Penelope sensed trouble and hurried to intercept Robert, ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Robert¡¯s face was a mask of ice. ¡°I¡¯m going to confront the Lockwoods!¡± His disposition had always been gentle, even his anger usually contained. But Penelope knew once he blew his top, it was catastrophic. Fearing her son might do something rash, she urged him to reconsider, ¡°Think this through, Robert! My suspicions might be off. What if the Lockwoodster found or adopted Nina.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still defending them now? If they found her or adopted her, wouldn¡¯t they find it strange that Nina looks exactly like their own kids? This has to be deliberate!¡± Penelope tried to appeal to his reason, ¡°If you barge in there now, and they deny everything, what then? Besides, we need to figure out who our Nina really is-Marguerite Lockwood or Yuna Lockwood!¡± Her words helped Robert regain hisposure. He rubbed his temples, annoyed, then decided firmly, ¡°We need a DNA test. Tell Marguerite thepany is doing a health check and find a way to get a blood sample. As for Yuna, I heard Manley is sick, and she went for a blood typepatibility test this morning. I¡¯ll ask the hospital if they¡¯ve kept any of Yuna¡¯s blood samples.¡± Penelope sighed, ncing back at Marguerite. Without solid proof, she wanted nothing more than to rush in and embrace her. Maybe Marguerite was her Nina, lost for twenty-five years-her longed-for daughter! If only she hadn¡¯t been taken, the life she could have had would be so much more than what she had now! Nopensation could ever make up for the agony and regret of those lost twenty-five years. Yet now, she had to suppress the urge to im her, to wait out the grinding gears of fate, hoping for a favorable oue. ¡°Well, we have no choice but to go ahead with the DNA test¡­¡± she murmured, a mix of hope and heartache in her eyes. Chapter 482 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. Chapter 483 Marguerite couldn¡¯t fathom what was stirring such intense emotions in the mother and son. She found it odd that ever since Robert arrived, the duo seemed to sneak peeks at her every now and then. Initially, they were discreet, but now they were openly staring, making Marguerite feel a mix of difort and anxiety. Was it something wrong with her work? That couldn¡¯t be right. She had been working hard. Unable toe up with an exnation, Marguerite chose to ignore the intense gazes from across the way and dove back into her tasks. Before she knew it, the workday had ended. The moment Marguerite stepped into the Winston Mansion, Maurice Winston followed right behind her. Apanying him were several stylish women that Marguerite didn¡¯t recognize, one of whom was carrying an oversized makeup case. Marguerite was bewildered, and her confusion only grew as she watched two servants carefully wheel in arge, see-through wardrobe. Then, she saw a wedding dress hanging inside! A sinking feeling washed over her. What was going on? Was Maurice nning a surprise attack, expecting her to marry him today? But there were no flowers, no red carpet, and no guests-so who was the dress for? Marguerite was at a loss, ring at Maurice with a fierce frown, ¡°What are you up to?¡± Maurice¡¯s gaze passed over Marguerite without a word. Instead, hemanded, ¡°Take thedy upstairs to change!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± As soon as he spoke, the entourage of fashionistas advanced toward Marguerite in their high heels, towering over her by a good half a head and exuding a suffocating presence. Frozen on the spot, Marguerite had no clue how to react, ¡°Don¡¯te near me!¡± Her mind was still reeling, and she instinctively took a step back. Regardless of her anger, no one seemed to care. Like amb to the ughter, she was herded by the women into the room, stripped of her clothing, and forcefully adorned in the wedlock gown. ¡°Let go! Who said I wanted to wear this damn dress?!¡± Marguerite, half-dressed, was growling furiously when one woman, strong as an ox, restrained both her arms with just one hand. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, please don¡¯t struggle. We¡¯re just following orders. If you get hurt, it¡¯s not on us.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if I get hurt! I¡¯d sooner die than marry him!¡± ¡°That¡¯s between you and Mr. Winston, and frankly, it¡¯s none of our business. But you need to get into this dress.¡± The woman signaled the others with her eyes. They didn¡¯t just pin Marguerite¡¯s hands; they also held her legs, forcibly fitting the dress onto her. Then she was pushed in front of a vanity, where the makeup artist approached with her kit. ¡°I¡¯m not putting on makeup!¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes were red with fury as she struggled against the two women who were pinning her shoulders down with such force it was as if they were nailing her to the chair. As the makeup artist opened her box, seemingly searching for her tools, Marguerite covered her face with her hands and shouted through her fingers,¡± won¡¯t wear makeup! No one¡¯s touching me today!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not up to you!¡± Maurice¡¯s sharp voice exploded into the room just as Marguerite finished her sentence. Chapter 484 With amanding presence he had, Maurice burst through the door and walked in. Marguerite whipped her head around, catching the fierce gaze of Maurice who looked every bit the part of a king in his domain. The sheer force of his aura seemed to leave no room for dissent; as if to say,ply willingly or not, you willply. Yet Maurice was known for his cunning, a man whose gentle exterior often hid a de. Marguerite had never seen him so unbridled with madness. What on earth did he intend to do? ¡°Maurice, have you lost your freaking mind?¡± Marguerite spat out, her anger breaking through in her choice of words. With a slight lift of his arm, a silentmand, the two women nking Marguerite withdrew their hands from her shoulders. Freed, Marguerite rose to her feet and pointed toward the balcony, challenging Maurice, ¡°Believe it or not, if you force me to marry you, I swear I¡¯ll jump off that balcony tonight.¡± Maurice stepped in front of her, his gaze lingering on her for a long moment before breaking into augh. But his seeminglyposed smile carried an edge of devilry. ¡°Look at you now. Are you still the Marguerite who doesn¡¯t give a damn about anyone else?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me!¡± He scoffed coldly, turning to the makeup artist with a sharp order, ¡°Make her over! Right away!¡± As the makeup artist approached, Marguerite bolted for the balcony, ¡°I said don¡¯t touch me!¡± In an instant, she was perched precariously on the railing, a portrait of imminent danger that startled everyone present. But Maurice was quick, striding to the balcony and pulling Marguerite back from the brink. ¡°Stop this madness!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t do it! I¡¯ll jump!¡± Suddenly, Maurice found himself at a loss facing this defiant Marguerite. For three years, he had nned to slowly chip away at her resistance, but his approach was backfiring; his assertiveness was only fueling her resistance, making her fight back even harder. What did she really want? Love or money? He could give her both! Maurice¡¯s face shifted, a hint ofpromise as he exined, ¡°We¡¯re not getting married today.¡± Marguerite red at him, ¡°Then what the hell is this?¡± ¡°The wedding is in a month. I don¡¯t want to rush things. I just wanted you to try on the dress.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve tried it, it fits fine, but I hate it. I¡¯m taking it off now, get out!¡± With that, she began shoving Maurice toward the door, but he quickly grasped her wrist, leading her downstairs. ¡°Maurice, let go! What are you trying to do?¡± Marguerite was panicking. Everyone would be home by now, and she couldn¡¯t bear Frederick seeing her like this! But Maurice was too strong; her struggles were futile. Jocelyn was knitting a scarf beside Mr. Powell¡¯s wheelchair, and Lisette was sipping tea, engrossed in the TV show. Maurice dragged Marguerite straight to Lisette, ¡°Today, I¡¯m announcing our engagement.¡± ¡°Engagement? Over my dead body!¡± Marguerite seethed inwardly, struggling to free herself. Lisette paused, her eyes shifting to the wedding-dressed Marguerite and the stern Maurice. After a moment, she spat a mouthful of tea right onto Marguerite¡¯s dress, ¡°I object!¡± Marguerite knew if it weren¡¯t for the audience, Lisette would¡¯ve aimed for her face. But she wasn¡¯t upset, instead, she quickly seized the opportunity, ¡°Alright! No wedding it is! A marriage without the blessing of the elders is doomed, I¡¯m taking this dress off right now!¡± Jocelyn nearly burst intoughter at Marguerite¡¯s words. When had this girl ever been sopliant with Lisette? Checking the time, it seemed Frederick would be home any minute now. Chapter 485 Marguerite scanned the room and, to her relief, didn¡¯t spot Frederick anywhere. She exhaled quietly and once again shook off Maurice¡¯s grasp, making a beeline for the staircase. She had to get out of this ridiculous wedding gown before Frederick returned. If someone else fancied it, they¡¯re wee to it! She was certainly not going to wear it! But as fate would have it, just as she turned around, there he was-Frederick, slipping off his shoes at the entrance. And his gaze, so perfectly timed, settled on her, d in that damned dress. Marguerite wanted to run, but inexplicably, her legs felt like they were filled with lead, refusing to budge. In the end, it was Maurice who stepped forward, pulling her back to stand before Lisette. His face was stone as he announced, ¡°Mom, this isn¡¯t up for discussion. Whether you approve or not, I¡¯m marrying Marguerite in a month.¡± Marguerite shrugged off the hand on her shoulder, acutely aware of Frederick¡¯s eyes on her, feeling like she was being pierced by thorns. Just her luck! The very thing she didn¡¯t want Frederick toy his eyes on was now fully exposed to him.. Lisette, meanwhile, set aside her tea and leisurely cleaned her hands with a napkin, ¡°If you want to marry her, you ought to ask if she agrees.¡± Not waiting for Maurice to ask, Marguerite blurted out impatiently, ¡°I do not!¡± At that moment, the ever-silent Powell Winston finally lost his temper. Angry, he started thumping his cane on the floor, ¡°Marguerite, if not Maurice, then whom do you wish to marry?¡± Marguerite¡¯s gaze flicked to Frederick involuntarily, catching him with his arms crossed in a ¡°let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to answer this one¡± stance. Marguerite stiffened her neck, ¡°Whom I wish to marry is no mystery to Maurice. If you want me to spell it out, you might want to ask your son if he¡¯s ready for the truth.¡± ¡°Insolent!¡± Mr. Powell bellowed, ¡°Marguerite, you¡¯re out of line! I¡¯ve been tolerating you for far too long! If it weren¡¯t for Teresa¡¯s sake, I¡¯d have kicked you out long ago! Who do you think you are?¡± At the mention of Teresa, Marguerite couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°I can leave, but Teresaes with me.¡± ¡°Over my dead body!¡± Mr. Powell¡¯s voice boomed, nearly leaping from his wheelchair, cane raised as if ready to strike her. His posture was intimidating, but Marguerite wasn¡¯t afraid. ¡°Then I have no choice but to stay. Where Teresa is, I am. Your son might do without a wife, but my daughter won¡¯t be without her mother.¡±¡± In the blink of an eye, it seemed every hair on Mr. Powell¡¯s head stood on end. He was livid, shaking with rage, his cane thumping more fiercely against the ground. ¡°Marguerite! I dare you to say that again!¡± Jocelyn hurried over to calm Mr. Powell, ¡°Enough, calm yourself, she¡¯s just a kid, don¡¯t take it to heart! Don¡¯t let her get to you!¡± ¡°She¡¯s twenty-five, she¡¯s not a child anymore! Oh, Jocelyn, Marguerite has been spoiled by you and Frederick! She¡¯s gotten way too cheeky!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll have a word with herter.¡± Jocelyn cated him, then turned quickly to Marguerite, shing her a look and feigned anger, ¡°What are you still standing there for? Go upstairs and think about what you¡¯ve done!¡± Not wanting to put Jocelyn in a tough spot and, yet again catching Frederick¡¯s eye, Marguerite hastily gathered her dress and dashed upstairs. She knew speaking to Powell like that was rude, but she was fed up with the Winston family¡¯s oppression over thest three years. Maurice was pushing her into marriage, Lisette was against it, and then taking it out on her. And Powell, acting all indecisive yet iming it was for Teresa¡¯s sake.¡± Couldn¡¯t this family get their act together before trying to sort her out? Marguerite fumed as she entered her bedroom, ready to m the door shut, but a foot suddenly wedged itself against the doorframe. Startled, she looked up to see Frederick, a smirk ying on his lips. Marguerite¡¯s mind went nk: ¡°Do you¡­ need something?¡± Without a word, he stepped in, closed the door behind him, and in an instant, had her pinned against the door panel. Chapter 486 Frederick¡¯s upper body was almost entirely pressed against Marguerite¡¯s body. He looked down at her, his breath hot and fierce, blowing directly onto Marguerite¡¯s face. Marguerite¡¯s heart fluttered, and for a moment, she had the wild desire to kiss him. But she knew she didn¡¯t have the nerve. With a mockingly yfulugh, she taunted him, ¡°Do you enjoy the thrill of a secret rendezvous? Last time you tried to kiss me in front of Maurice and failed. Are you trying to even the score today?¡± Frederick¡¯s face was expressionless, ¡°Even the score? That should be done face-to-face. What¡¯s the point if it¡¯s done in secret?¡± ¡°Then let rne call Maurice in.¡± As Marguerite spoke, she pushed Frederick away with effort, ducked under his arm, and reached for the door. B¨²t suddenly, Frederick scooped Marguerite up from behind with one arm, locked the door with the other, spun around, and tossed her onto the bed before looming over her. The sudden closeness made Marguerite¡¯s head spin. He had clearly stated he didn¡¯t love her, so why was he doing this now? Marguerite couldn¡¯t understand and was desperate to probe, ¡°Have you never seen me in a wedding dress before?¡± His deep pupils fixed on her, then he lowered his head, brushing the tip of his nose against the side of Marguerite¡¯s face, his voice husky, ¡°Never.¡± ¡°Do I look beautiful today?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he admitted without pretense. ¡°But I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Why not? Is it because I¡¯m not wearing this dress for you?¡± Frederick paused, his hands bracing on either side of Marguerite, lifting his eyes to hers. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I think you do have feelings for me, right?¡± As Marguerite asked, tears suddenly welled up at the corners of her eyes. Time and again, her tentative reaching out only led to heartache. ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t get too clever for your own good, you might just y with fire.¡± Marguerite, gathering her courage, hooked her hands around his neck, ¡°What does ying with fire mean? Does sleeping with you count?¡± Frederick looked surprised. His perception of Marguerite was still stuck three years in the past, of the innocent, dedicated, and serene girl she was-not the woman she had be. Today¡¯s Marguerite made him feel like he didn¡¯t quite know her. But that wasn¡¯t strange. Three years ago, when he found out that the person who had been scheming behind his back was Marguerite, she had already ceased to be the girl he knew. Heughed mockingly, replying, ¡°It counts.¡± Marguerite stared at him with wide eyes, persistent, she asked again, ¡°But if you don¡¯t love me, why would you want to sleep with me?¡± ¡°It will be meaningless sex, and it has nothing to do with love.¡± In that instant, Marguerite felt utterly defeated. Her hands, which had been around his neck, moved uncontrobly to caress his face, tracing the line of his nose and lingering on his lips. Tears of pain filled her eyes, cascading down her cheeks and trailing to her ears. ¡°Is it really nothing to do with love? Can I test it?¡± Chapter 487 ¡°How do you want to test it?¡± Marguerite locked eyes with the man across from her, her gaze unwavering and intense. For a long moment, she said nothing. Suddenly, with a swift motion, she cupped his face in her hands and lifted her chin, leaning in to press her lips to his. Frederick, caught off guard, watched as her lips neared his, only to turn his head away at thest possible instant. Marguerite¡¯s kiss met the air, and as Frederick rolled off her, she caught a glimpse of shock and bewilderment in the depths of his eyes. He had been so sure she wouldn¡¯t dare make a move, yet he failed to realize she was tired of ying it safe. She wanted to be bold for once, even if it meant facing a world of hurt. Frederick sat on the edge of the bed with his back to Marguerite, his silhouette tinged with a forlorn air. Marguerite couldn¡¯t fathom what emotions were entangling him in this moment. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that sleeping together has nothing to do with love? So a kiss shouldn¡¯t be a big deal, right? If you really have no feelings for me, why would you dodge?¡± Why would he dodge? Even Frederick couldn¡¯t sort through his own feelings. Was he afraid of falling for her again, and reliving the disaster from three years ago? In this moment, Frederick wished he felt nothing for Marguerite. At least then he could deal with her advances without any qualms. He wouldn¡¯t bear any ountability ¨C whether they shared a bed or locked lips, it wouldn¡¯t matter. But the instinctive reaction of his body and the turmoil in his mind only served to confuse his emotions further. ¡°Don¡¯t be so shameless. If you¡¯re about to marry Maurice, stop trying so hard to seduce me.¡± ¡°If it bothers you that much, why don¡¯t youe and take me away on my wedding day!¡± Marguerite retorted with a brazen defiance. The words ¡°take me away¡± hit Frederick like a hammer to the heart. His back stiffened, and after a long pause, he finally asked, ¡°Why did you betray me back then?¡± In an instant, Marguerite was speechless. That was a chapter of her life she wished to forget, a stain on her personal history she never wanted to discuss. But how was she to answer him? Should she tell him she had been manipted by Maurice? Or confess that she had no idea that Maurice was the mysterious figure behind it all? Even if she spoke the truth, would he believe her? After all, she had willingly conspired with Maurice, and she had indeed carried his child. It seemed that any exnation would be futile. The prolonged silence eventually eroded Frederick¡¯s patience. Without a word, he stood up and headed for the door. Desperation wed at Marguerite¡¯s heart. She leaped out of bed and called out to his retreating figure, her voice rising in volume, ¡°If I said it was against my will, would you show up at my wedding?¡± Frederick halted but didn¡¯t turn around, and he remained silent. Tears streamed down Marguerite¡¯s cheeks, her voice breaking with a plea that pierced the heart, ¡°Just show up, and I¡¯ll leave with you¡­ Will youe?¡± Chapter 488 Until Frederick left, he still hadn¡¯t told Marguerite whether he woulde to her rescue and take her away from the wedding she dreaded. Marguerite was crushed with disappointment. She got up in a daze, ready to take off her wedding gown, and just then she caught sight of herself in the full-length mirror. Her face was pale and her hair, was a tangled mess from the entanglement with Frederick who had left her in such turmoil. But the gown was truly magnificent-a handcrafted vision of white, adorned withyers of diamonds and pearls, shimmering and captivating. Marguerite could tell; it was one of the wedding dress brands that every girl dreams of. Yet, at that moment, she felt an overwhelming loneliness. She was living a dream that many ordinary girls couldn¡¯t fathom, but it wasced with sorrow because she wasn¡¯t wearing this beautiful dress for the man she truly loved. If it had been Frederick dering his intentions to marry her instead of Maurice, she would¡¯ve been blissful even in rags and tatters, without a fancy dress. But reality was cruel and wouldn¡¯t bend to her desires. With a heavy sigh, she unzipped the side of the gown and let it fall away from her body. Outside the vi. Yuna had just returned from the hospital when everyone had retreated to their rooms for some rest. She was in a hurry to sort things out and without catching her breath, she rushed straight to Hayes¡¯ bedroom. At that moment, Hayes was leaning on his race car bed, engrossed in ¡°The Matrix¡± on his tablet. Hayes tensed up the instant Yuna walked in. Mommy never sought him out unless something was wrong. Had he done something to upset her again? He was so nervous. But Yuna showed him a gentleness she had never before disyed. She sat lightly on the edge of his bed and pulled the nket up to cover his bare legs. ¡°It¡¯s chilly, don¡¯t catch cold,¡± she said softly. Hayes was startled, then visibly moved. He looked up at Yuna, his mouth opening and closing before he managed to utter four words, ¡°Thank¡­ you¡­ Mommy¡­¡± Yuna smiled faintly and shook her head, ¡°Hayes, don¡¯t think Mommy doesn¡¯t care about you. Manley¡¯s had it tough, he¡¯s been sick since he was born, so naturally, I¡¯ve been more attentive to him. Are you mad at me?¡± Hayes felt a twinge of sadness. He wasn¡¯t upset about the favoritism, but because it seemed like his mother had never truly loved him at all. He felt like an orphan, even the affection from Teresa, the housekeeper, felt stronger than that from his own mother. That¡¯s why he wished his dad would marry Teresa¡¯s mommy instead. Hayes didn¡¯t respond directly but instead asked, ¡°Is Manley¡­ doing okay?¡± Yuna¡¯s heart leapt. She had been looking for an opening to broach the subject, and here Hayes had brought it up himself! She let out a deep sigh and started toy the groundwork, ¡°Manley is not doing well at all. Do you know why he¡¯s always sick?¡± Hayes shook his head innocently. Yuna¡¯s expression was one of profound sorrow, ¡°Because when I was pregnant with you two, you were both fighting for nutrients inside me. Manley couldn¡¯t keep up and was born before he was fully developed. He¡¯s had all sorts ofplications and is in the hospital now. Oh, if only you had let him have a little more back then, he could be as healthy as you are now.¡± Hayes was dumbfounded, feeling a mix of heartache and guilt: ¡°Manley¡­ is sick¡­ because of me?¡± Yuna let two symbolic tears fall, and Hayes hurriedly tried to wipe them away. He was just an embryo back then, with no thoughts or feelings; how could he have controlled his actions? But if his mother said that Manley was sick because of him, he still felt an immense guilt. ¡°Hayes, would you be willing to help Manley?¡± ¡°¡­How can I help?¡± ¡°Manley needs a blood transfusion. Daddy¡¯s and my blood are not a match, but since you¡¯re twins, your blood is perfect!¡± A blood transfusion? The very thought made Hayes anxious, ¡°Does it¡­ mean taking¡­, a lot of blood?¡± Yuna tempted him with half-truths, ¡°No, just a little bit will do!¡± An obvious lie, but Yuna didn¡¯t care about details now! The priority was to deceive this little rascal into going to the hospital; how much blood would be taken wasn¡¯t his decision to make. Hayes blinked and looked at Yuna with earnest eyes. He seemed to have a long list of questions, but every time he thought about asking one, he became too emotional to speak. He quickly typed out a message on his tablet and handed it over to Yuna with an eager expression, ¡°If I save Manley, will you love me more, Mommy? Chapter 489 Hayes watched Yuna¡¯s face with a heart full of hope, feeling a sourness at the tip of his nose, and his eyes brimming with tears, ready to spill over in helpless sorrow. Yuna simply pulled Hayes into a warm embrace. ¡°Oh, you silly boy, I¡¯m your momma, and I¡¯m your kin. How could I ever not love you?¡± Hearing her words, Hayes¡¯ tears flowed freely, unrestrained. But what he didn¡¯t know was just how much malice and venom lurked in the so-called ¡°kin¡¯s¡± eyes at that very moment! The following morning. After everyone had left the Winston Mansion, Yuna quietly took Hayes off to the hospital. She knew she could find a way to draw Hayes¡¯ blood, no matter what. But she still took the chance and brought Hayes in for a bloodpatibility test. If the life of this little bastard could save Manley¡¯s life, then it¡¯s even better. As they waited for the results, Yuna stood by the window, her gaze fixed outside, while Hayes sat silently on a bench in the corner. Suddenly, he saw Manley, dressed in a hospital gown, rushing out of nowhere, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the exit. ¡°Mute! Why did you evene to the hospital? You¡¯ve got to get out of here!¡± Hayes was bewildered, looking at him without understanding. ¡°You¡¯re such an idiot! A big, big idiot! Get out of here, now!¡± Manley was frantic, sweat beading on his forehead as he pushed Hayes toward the elevator. Hayes clung to a railing, opened his mouth, and with difficulty and said, ¡°I want to save you!¡± ¡°Who needs you to save me! I don¡¯t need your saving! If you don¡¯t leave now, it¡¯ll be toote!¡± For the first time, Manley showed concern for Hayes. After all, everyone starts out good at heart. If only Yuna, his mother, hadn¡¯t filled Manley¡¯s head with wicked thoughts, he wouldn¡¯t be so defiant. But he was only three years old, and his goodness still lingered. He was genuinely afraid that Hayes would be bled dry by mommy and left for dead! But Hayes knew nothing, looking at him confusedly, ¡°What do you mean¡­ toote?¡± Manley was desperate to tell Hayes the truth but looked around for a ce where they could talk in private. That¡¯s when he saw mommy approaching with a stern face. Manley¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and in a fit of impulse, heshed out at Hayes, ¡°You dumb mute! I don¡¯t want to see you! Get lost! I don¡¯t want your blood, it¡¯s foul! It¡¯s dirty! I hate you! Get away from me!¡± Yuna swept in from behind and scooped Manley up in her arms, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Hayes was visibly ufortable. He didn¡¯t understand what got into Manley. ¡°Mommy! I don¡¯t want the mute¡¯s blood! He¡¯s all filthy, aren¡¯t you scared that if he gives me his blood, I¡¯ll turn into a filthy kid too?¡± Yuna was taken aback. How did Manley know about the blood transfusion? No one had told him! Damn it! This must be that little brat¡¯s doing! She gritted her teeth, ring venomously at Hayes, ¡°Did you tell him?¡± Hayes shook his head quickly. He hadn¡¯t mentioned the blood transfusion; he only said he wanted to save him, nothing more. At that moment, a young nurse intern rushed to Yuna with a report in hand, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, the results are in.¡± Manley, hearing this, became frantic, crying and shouting, ¡°I don¡¯t want it! I don¡¯t want the mute¡¯s blood!¡± The intern paused, thinking how deeply these brothers must care for each other. Smiling, she patted Manley¡¯s head and soothed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little guy, we won¡¯t let your brother give you a transfusion!¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes widened, staring at the intern with a threatening intensity, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± The intern showed the report, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, Hayes¡¯ blood type does match Manley¡¯s, but we¡¯ve got some good news. We found a match in the blood bank for Manley, an adult whose blood type matches, and we¡¯ve contacted him. He¡¯s agreed to donate for Manley. So, Hayes doesn¡¯t need to do the transfusion, which is great news, right?¡± Chapter 490 Yuna¡¯s face fell instantly as Manley¡¯s scream echoed through the sterile corridors of the hospital. ¡°Yuck! I don¡¯t want his filthy blood! Mommy, I don¡¯t want it, please!¡± If Manley kept this up, pretty soon the whole hospital would know she was nning to use the blood of Hayes for her precious boy. They had only bribed thepliance of the head of the hematology department, and if word got out, it could reach Frederick¡¯s ears. Taking a deep breath, Yuna tried to pacify her son with a calcted tenderness. ¡°Okay, okay sweetie, Mommy promises we won¡¯t use Hayes¡¯ blood for your transfusion! Now, go back to your room before Grandma worries herself sick looking for you.¡± At that, Manley¡¯s fears seemed to subside. He threw a wary nce at Hayes and, with a haughty tilt of his chin, strutted off. Hmph! He had just saved that little mute¡¯s life! When he got better, he¡¯d make sure that mute thanked him properly! Once Manley had left theb, the intern turned to Yuna. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯ll just go and confirm the arrangements with that adult donor, and we can schedule the transfusion for Manley as soon as possible.¡± Yuna¡¯s expression turned icy, ¡°Forget it, we¡¯ll use Hayes¡¯ blood.¡± The intern, puzzled, replied, ¡°But¡­ I thought we agreed¡­¡± ¡°I consulted with your department head yesterday. There¡¯s no risk of rejection between twins. Do you really think I¡¯d risk my son¡¯s life with some stranger¡¯s blood?¡± ¡°Our department head told you this?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The intern was in disbelief. Manley was her son, but wasn¡¯t Hayes too? How could a three-year-old possibly endure such arge volume blood exchange? Yet, if the department head had approved it, what could a mere intern do? She reluctantly agreed, ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll go prepare everything.¡± As she moved to leave, Yuna¡¯s grip tightened on her arm, pulling her close. Towering in her high heels, Yuna¡¯s presence was menacing. With venom in her voice, she whispered a warning, ¡°Keep your mouth shut. If you breathe a word of this to anyone, you¡¯ll regret it.¡± The intern nodded, her eyes wide with fear, fully aware of the power of the Winston family to which Yuna belonged. Half an hourter, Yuna escorted Hayes into the treatment room. Hey on the cold, metallic bed, a mix of fear, nervousness, and a profound sense of abandonment washing over him. Even though there were other options for Manley, why was his mother so insistent on using his blood? As the intern returned, a consent form in hand, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, due to the unusual circumstances, you, as Hayes¡¯ guardian, need to sign this waiver. Yuna was incredulous. ¡°It¡¯s just a blood draw, not surgery. Is all this really necessary?¡± The intern, despite her unease, stood firm. ¡°Hospital policy requires consent from the guardian for any procedure on a minor, be it surgery or a blood donation. Without it, we cannot proceed.¡± Yuna was fuming. She had already sorted everything with the head of the department; none of this should be necessary. Where did this dumb interne from. Just wait. Once she got what she wanted from Hayes, this intern would pay. But with the department head on her side, the waiver was as good as meaningless. So, without further thought, Yuna grabbed the pen and scrawled her signature across the document. Chapter 491 The intern let out a sigh of relief as she took back the signed waiver. In truth, she had crafted the document herself, and the hospital didn¡¯t actually have any of the policies she had mentioned earlier. Her actions were driven entirely by fear, having been thoroughly scared by Yuna¡¯s heartless demand to use one son to save the other. What if something went wrong during the blood draw? How could she possibly shoulder that guilt? So she wrote the waiver, as an a just-in-case safeguard. After Yuna had stormed off, the intern looked down at Hayes, lying on the gurney, her heart heavy with sympathy. Seeing the poor kid scared stiff, she gently squeezed his hand to calm him and said in a soft voice, ¡°Your name¡¯s Hayes, right? Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m not gonna take too much blood from you. Just a little bag, once a month, for half a year. It won¡¯t hurt you one bit. You¡¯re brave, aren¡¯t you, Hayes?¡± For some reason, Hayes trusted this intern. He nodded timidly and piped up in his childlike voice, ¡°Yeah! I¡¯m brave!¡± The blood draw was over quickly, taking no more than five minutes. Outside the operating room, Yuna seethed with rage when she saw the little bastarding out so soon. She had nned to be rid of him today! Yet that intern had only drawn such a small amount! It seemed she would have to have another word with the department headter. Putting Hayes in a taxi, Yuna couldn¡¯t help but give a stern instruction, ¡°Hayes, don¡¯t tell anyone about this blood exchange, okay?¡± Hayes was confused; his face was pale from the recent procedure, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s so chaotic at home right now, and daddy¡¯s busy with work. If you talk about it, it¡¯ll distract everyone. You¡¯re a good kid; you don¡¯t want to cause any trouble, right?¡± Hayes felt a sadness welling up inside. He had just had his blood taken and felt awful, yet his mom hadn¡¯t given him a proper hug. But then Hayes remembered how mean and scary his mommy had been to the intern. Scared, he quickly agreed. Half an hourter, at the Winston Group. After wrapping up a meeting, Maurice had just returned to his office when Janie rushed in. ¡°Mr. Winston, I just got a call from The As Private Hospital. They¡¯ve found a child whose blood type is a perfect match for Mrs. Winston. It appears Hayes Winston has been to the hospital for a blood draw.¡± Long ago, Maurice had entered Marguerite¡¯s DNA into the database at various hospitals in Stonebridge City. If a child had blood taken, it would automatically be cross-referenced with Marguerite¡¯s DNA. Maurice spun around, an instinctive edge of suspicion and menace in his posture, ¡°Why would he go to the hospital to have blood taken out of the blue? Did Marguerite take him?¡± Could it be¡­ Marguerite had discovered something? So she took Hayes to have a paternity test! Janie shook her head, replying, ¡°I¡¯ve checked, and Ms. Marguerite started working at a cosmeticspany a few days ago. She should be at work now, and wouldn¡¯t have had time to take Hayes to the hospital.¡± Janie didn¡¯t know that Marguerite had joined apany under the Fitzgerald family umbre and didn¡¯t think much of it. Hearing it was just a cosmeticspany with no ties to Thunderbolt Enterprises, Maurice didn¡¯t give it a second thought either. ¡°Mr. Winston, before youe clean with Ms. Marguerite, I think we should ensure Hayes¡¯ safety. How about I investigate what illness he¡¯s got?¡± Illness? He and Hayes lived together at the Winston Mansion; how could the boy be sick without him knowing?, Besides, aside from being a little quiet, Hayes seemed to be having a st every day with Teresa. He didn¡¯t seem sick at all. Maurice¡¯s anxiety grew as he thought it over, ¡°No need to check, I¡¯ll call right now.¡± Saying this, he immediately reached for his phone. Chapter 492 Unfortunately, the lines at As General Hospital were constantly tied up, leaving Maurice unable to get through. But then it struck Maurice-Teresa was always close to Hayes, so she might know something. Without wasting another moment, Maurice dialed Teresa¡¯s number. ¡°Daddy, why are you calling me at this hour? Miss me much?¡± Teresa¡¯s voice was as sweet and crisp as the chime of wind-bells, but Maurice was too preupied to savor it. He asked, veiling his concern with small talk, ¡°How are you? Did you and Hayes go out for any adventure?¡± ¡°Nope, I stayed in. But Hayes, he went out and just got back.¡± Maurice¡¯s brow furrowed, his face tensing up, but he kept his tone light and teasing, ¡°Oh? You two are practically inseparable. Howe you let Hayes go solo? Girl, he didn¡¯t sneak off to make new friends without you, did he?¡± At that, Teresa¡¯s possessiveness kicked in, prompting a quick rebuttal, ¡°Absolutely not! I¡¯m Hayes¡¯ best friend ever! He just had a cold and went for a check-up, so he didn¡¯t take me with him! Daddy, you¡¯re such a tease, stirring up trouble!¡± So, it was just a check-up. Nothing to worry about then. Maurice¡¯s concern for Hayes wasn¡¯t born out of affection. After all, Hayes didn¡¯t hold the same ce in his heart as Teresa did. He was merely a bargaining chip to coerce Marguerite into marrying him. Once they were hitched, he¡¯d spill the beans to Marguerite. By then, even if she found out that both her children were Frederick¡¯s by blood, it would be of no consequence. Once married, as long as Maurice refused to let go, she would have no escape from his grasp! Meanwhile, Teresa hung up, her gaze full of worry as she looked at the pale-faced Hayes and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Little Mute, did you really go for a check-up? You aren¡¯t lying, are you?¡± Hayes¡¯ sleeve was rucked up high by Teresa. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Teresa had excitedly grabbed his arm to dance around upon his return, identally hurting the spot where he¡¯d been pricked for blood, he wouldn¡¯t have given himself away. Hayes never kept secrets from Teresa, but he said nothing this time; he didn¡¯t want to cause her worry. Plus, the mere thought of his mother¡¯s vicious expression sent shivers down his spine. He shuddered and shook his head quickly, ¡°No lying¡­ it was just a check-up¡­¡± But Teresa was unconvinced, pointing at his arm bristling with pinpricks, her stubborn little face pressing, ¡°Then why are there so many marks on your arm? I¡¯ve been for check-ups, and the nurse only pricked me once! And look, those marks are bruised, like you¡¯ve been beaten!¡± Hayes tried to exin, but struggled to articte, quickly pulling out his phone to type, ¡°My veins are super thin, so the nurse had to poke around a bunch of times to find the right spot. Don¡¯t worry, Teresa, I¡¯m really okay.¡± Teresa eyed Hayes¡¯ typed exnation, her face a picture of distress. She just had a gut feeling that Little Mute wasn¡¯t telling the truth. Whoes back from a check-up looking so wiped out, as would he lie to her? Could he be hiding something too hard to share? Teresa was dying to ask, but seeing Hayes¡¯ condition, she knew he wouldn¡¯t spill the beans. pale as a ghost? But why Hmph! If he wouldn¡¯t talk, she¡¯d wait until mom and Hayes¡¯ daddy were back. Then, they would hold a proper discussion with Little Mute and uncover the truth! Chapter 493 On the chilly night under a sky dotted with dimly shining stars, Teresa had been waiting for ages. Her mom and Hayes¡¯ dad hadn¡¯te home yet. She was so sleepy that her eyelids kept drooping, and eventually, she dozed off into a slumber. As the night deepened and silence spread, the excitement was still palpable at the suburban casino. Zoe lounged at the reception desk, legs crossed, munching on barbecued ribs while scrolling through her phone, engrossed in thetest TV series. The sound of someone rapping on the bar snapped her attention away from the screen. A raspy male voice followed, ¡°Hey, time to settle the tab!¡± Looking up, Zoe saw a lean, tall old man with twinkling eyes, a cigarette dangling from his lips. It was the head of the Hematology department! Zoe stood up, all eagerness and smiles, ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve made money tonight, right? Forget the tab, it¡¯s on the house. After the big favor you¡¯ve done for us, how could I possibly charge you?¡± The man waved off her offer with a chuckle, leaning on the bar to close the distance while lowering his voice conspiratorially, ¡°Don¡¯t you worry. I¡¯ve sacked that intern! Got someone else to draw blood tomorrow. Someone who knows the ropes. I¡¯ll make sure your grandson is drained dry!¡± ¡°Stop it! He¡¯s not my grandson. Manley is my one and only!¡± Zoe retorted, and promptly spat on the floor in emphasis. The man wasn¡¯t surprised. After all, as a service provider at The As Private Hospital, he was well-versed in the intricate web of rtionships within the elite families they catered to. Affairs, mistresses, and secrets were all part of the daily dealings, as long as the price was right. He was about to leave when a thought struck him, he turned back to Zoe, his face alight with gossip. ¡°Zoe, hope you don¡¯t mind me asking, but is Yuna really your daughter?¡± Zoe bristled, pping the counter with impatience. ¡°What kind of question is that! Of course, she¡¯s my daughter!¡± The man¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion, scratching his chin. ¡°That¡¯s odd. Why would someonee to me this afternoon to get Yuna¡¯s blood sample for a DNA test?¡± Zoe was baffled. ¡°Do you remember who it was?¡± He considered for a moment, then it hit him. ¡°The Fitzgerald Group! Hackett Fitzgerald! That¡¯s right, Hackett himself came with his butler!¡± Cold shot through Zoe. Hackett? Robert¡¯s father? If they were seeking a paternity test, they should have taken Marguerite¡¯s sample, not Yuna¡¯s. What were they up to? A sinister thought dawned on Zoe ¨C the Fitzgerald family must have found the child they were looking for. But because Marguerite and Yuna looked so alike, they weren¡¯t sure which one was theirs. Seizing the head of the Hematology department by the cor, Zoe hissed, ¡°Do me another favor!¡± ¡°What now?¡± Hammond asked, wary. Zoe whispered her scheme into his ear, then pulled back with a smirk. ¡°Well, will you do it?¡± The head of the Hematology department had seen Zoe¡¯s ruthlessness before, but this time he hesitated. She was challenging the authority of Hackett Fitzgerald. ¡°Look, you¡¯re even able to help me on Hayes¡¯ blood drawing. This should be a piece of cake for you, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy enough, but they¡¯ll get the DNA results by tomorrow morning. How could we possibly dy that?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you find a reason to postpone it for half a day? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make it worth your while.¡± Zoe¡¯s eyes narrowed cunningly. She punched a hefty sum into her phone¡¯s calctor and showed it to him in secret, ¡°Think about it. That¡¯s your cut.¡± Chapter 494 The following morning dawned crisp and clear. Ever since the day before yesterday, when Maurice forced Marguerite into a wedding dress, she had steadfastly avoided him. So, upon rising early that morning, she skipped breakfast and made a beeline for the door. But no sooner had she stepped out than Sadie hurried over, saying, ¡°Mrs. Winston, Teresa waited up for youst night, saying she had something to tell you. Maybe you should hold off on leaving?¡± Sadie had been brought in to help at the Winston Mansion by Jocelyn, and even after three years since Marguerite had lived at Sapphire Valley Estates, Sadie still addressed her as ¡®Mrs. Winston, a habit that had never changed. Marguerite didn¡¯t correct her, merely asking, ¡°What¡¯s it about?¡± EP 8 8 1?2 F F 55 ¡°I¡¯m not sure, she didn¡¯t tell me. But she waited up for you tillte before going to bed.¡± ¡°If Teresa had something to say, why didn¡¯t she just text me?¡± Marguerite thought. She had been swamped with her new job, getting to grips with the business at thepany, workingte nearly every night. She intended to wait for Teresa to wake up before leaving, but the thought of facing Maurice head-on was too much to bear, so she said, ¡°Once she¡¯s up, have her send me a text.¡± She couldn¡¯t imagine what urgent news a three-year-old might have and, leaving that instruction, she drove off to Poppy Petal Fragrances. She arrived early, expecting the ce to be quiet, but to her surprise, she found all the employees seated at their desks, expressions stern and tense, like they were prepping for a presidential visit. Marguerite shook off her bewilderment, ascended to her private ss-walled office, only for Miley to burst in, frantically dragging her back out. ¡°Seriously, girl! What time do you call this? All the department heads are in the meeting room, just waiting on you!¡± Marguerite was taken aback, replying, ¡°I didn¡¯t receive any notification of a meeting! And what time is it? The work day hasn¡¯t even started!¡± Miley cast a disbelieving look at Marguerite, asking, ¡°Didn¡¯t you check the work group chatst night?¡± Marguerite shook her head, responding, ¡°Too many messages, so I had it on mute. What¡¯s up?¡± Miley, pushing Marguerite towards the elevator, let out a deep sigh, ¡°A new director is taking the reins today, your direct boss. Word is, they¡¯re a real terror to work with. Everyone was on pins and needlesst night! Penelope ordered all the department heads to the meeting room a few minutes ago. She¡¯s introducing the new big shot!¡± Marguerite wasn¡¯t overly concerned, saying, ¡°If they¡¯re that terrifying, didn¡¯t you ask Robert who it wasst night?¡± Miley huffed at the mention, ¡°Don¡¯t get me started! I tried everything, but he wouldn¡¯t spill the beans, said I¡¯d find out today. The unknown is the worst fear of all, I had nightmares, I tell you!¡± Miley¡¯s expression wasical, and Marguerite had to stifle augh. They chatted all the way to the meeting room, where Marguerite chose a seat as far from the main chair as possible. Miley, her faithful assistant, took her ce on a stool behind her. Before long, Penelope briskly entered with the new director in tow. But when Marguerite saw who it was, her head spun. Frederick? Why was he here! He had been doing fine as CEO of Thunderbolt Enterprises; why on earth would hee to Poppy Petal Fragrances as a mere director? Sure, a director was part of management, even her direct superior, but this was a far cry from his former CEO status! Marguerite turned to exchange a look with Miley, only to see she was even more shocked. Miley¡¯s mouth hung open as she stared, transfixed, at the handsome man in the navy suit. ¨C Oh my goodness! Penelope had really outdone herself this time it¡¯s like the stars aligned! Chapter 495 Marguerite turned her head with a timid gaze fixed on Frederick, but he seemed utterly oblivious to her presence, as if she were a stranger to him. The others quickly stood up, and Penelope took the opportunity to introduce everyone to Frederick, ¡°This is Jack from sales; Larry from admin; Mike from R&D¡­ and Marguerite from the design team.¡± Frederick¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the group, pausing briefly on Marguerite before coolly looking away. It was meant to be a simple introduction; but once Frederick had a sense of everyone, Penelope promptly dismissed the group. Marguerite tried to slip out the back door, the memory of their tangled sheets just two days prior vivid in her mind! She had been rejected when she leaned in for a kiss, and her pride was wounded. She had avoided direct eye contact with Frederick ever since. But before she could escape, Penelope called out to her, ¡°Marguerite, a word, please!¡± Helpless, Marguerite turned around stiffly and walked over. ¡°Frederick, Marguerite has a taste that¡¯s very close to my own. You should coborate with her on the new product development; I¡¯m sure she can offer some valuable insights. And you, this could be a good opportunity to mentor her.¡± Marguerite was taken aback. Was Penelope really pushing her towards Frederick? She managed an awkward smile and extended her hand professionally, ¡°Mr. Winston, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, I¡¯ve heard so much about you!¡± Penelope almost burst outughing upon hearing this. She reached out and yfully smacked the back of Marguerite¡¯s head, ¡°What ¡®pleasure to meet you¡¯? You two are quite the actors, putting on such a convincing show! I couldn¡¯t say anything in front of the others, but we don¡¯t need to be so formal in private.¡± Marguerite sheepishly withdrew her arm, her smile strained. She didn¡¯t want things to be awkward! It was Frederick who had acted like he didn¡¯t recognize her first, and she was just ying along.. ¡°I understand, Penelope. I¡¯ll be sure to work well with him.¡± Hearing this, Penelope¡¯s face lit up with a triumphant grin. Even though the paternity test results weren¡¯t out yet, Penelope already treated Marguerite as if she were her daughter. That¡¯s why she was going to great lengths to y matchmaker between her and Frederick. To persuade a big shot like him to join the team, Penelope had put in a lot of effort. Meanwhile, Frederick still hadn¡¯t greeted Marguerite, instead turning a distant gaze towards Penelope and speaking indifferently, ¡°Penelope, I¡¯m heading back to my office.¡± With that, he walked away without a backward nce. Marguerite stood frozen in ce, prompting Penelope to give her a little push and nod towards the door, ¡°What are you waiting for? Your man is getting away, go after him!¡± Marguerite was at a loss, asking, ¡°But what should I say?¡± ¡°Talk about the new project! Work details! Implementation ns! Anything! You know how to improvise, don¡¯t you? Now go!¡± Penelope¡¯s sudden enthusiasm caught Marguerite off guard. It was clear she was trying to pair her up with Frederick. Though the motive wasn¡¯t apparent, with everyone else rallying behind them, it seemed only right to give it a shot. Marguerite shook off her hesitation and hurried after him. In the corner, Miley watched Penelope with hearts in her eyes, full of admiration. 10.44 She realized her mother-inw, Penelope, was unlike any other wealthy matron! She was open-minded, kind-hearted, and had a knack for connecting with the younger crowd. It appeared that winning over Penelope was the key to gaining eptance into the prestigious Fitzgerald family! Chapter 496 Meanwhile, in the executive suite, Marguerite clutched a man folder nervously as she stepped inside, her voice timid, ¡°Um, I have a report for you.¡± Frederick continued typing, saying without looking up, ¡°Leave the documents. I¡¯ll review them myself.¡± Marguerite¡¯s words caught in her throat. This guy sure knows how to flip the switch. Just a couple of days ago, he wasn¡¯t like this! She struggled to find anything to say, and finally set the folder down, her voice tinged with dejection and annoyance, ¡°My office is just downstairs. You can call me anytime.¡± Frederick suddenly lifted his gaze, fixing her with a steady look. Marguerite faltered, thinking he might have had a change of heart and wanted her to stay. She waited with bated breath for him to speak. Instead, he uttered two icy words ¨C ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± With that chilly attitude, she still had hopes he¡¯d object to her arranged marriage? It seemed like wishful thinking. Reluctantly, Marguerite returned to her office, restless and fidgety. All day, she either stared at the office phone, hoping for an internal call, or daydreamed, wondering when Frederick would summon her. But the day ended with no call. Packing her things to head home, she stood up and noticed it had started snowing again. Marguerite had driven Jocelyn¡¯s old car to work that day. The car, showing its age, had some brake issues, and the tires were prone to slipping in the snow. With the snowing down heavily, it seemed a taxi was her only option. Marguerite thought this as she walked out of thepany¡¯s front door. The steps were covered in snow, and she carefully trod on them. Her winter bootscked traction, causing her to slip with nearly every step, her heart racing with every skid. Frozen in fear, she no longer dared to move. After hesitating on the stairs, a hand suddenly took her elbow, escorting her steadily down to the ground floor. Marguerite knew it was Frederick; his familiar scent was unmistakable due to their proximity. Whether it was the biting wind or her own shyness, Marguerite¡¯s cheeks flushed. Though he merely held her arm and didn¡¯t wrap an arm around her shoulders, and despite the distance that remained between them, her heart swelled with joy. She didn¡¯t want to consider his motives; she just wanted to savor this fleeting moment of happiness. With that thought, she stole a nce at his face. His expression was as unreadable as ever, his eyebrows sharp dashing, and beneath the wing-likeshes were focused eyes. He was handsome, and undeniably charismatic. ¡°Watch your step,¡± he warned. Caught off-guard, Marguerite quickly turned away, safely descending the final step. It seemed he still had no desire to speak, but Marguerite, ying up her vulnerability with a hint of cunning, said, ¡°My car¡¯s broken down¡­¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was leisurely, almost amused. Marguerite, thick-faced and engaging in this little battle of wits, seemed far cuter than before. ¡°What are you getting at?¡± he asked. Marguerite blinked, replying, ¡°With the car broken and the snow so heavy, I doubt I¡¯ll get a taxi. I don¡¯t know how to get home¡­ ¡°You could walk.¡± He gave a smirk of triumph and bypassed Marguerite, heading toward the open-air parking lot. Seeing this, Marguerite hurried after him, trudging through the snow, a perfect little shadow to Frederick. ¡°I still think hitching a ride suits me better. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll pay you! It won¡¯t be a free ride!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a chauffeur.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t pay, I¡¯ll just hitch a ride. That works, right?¡± Frederick was speechless. Chapter 497 Meanwhile, in the children¡¯s bedroom at the grand Winston Estate, Teresa and Hayes were in the thick of an intense video game battle. ¡°Little Mute! Head to the storage room! There¡¯s loot in the storage room!¡± ¡°Aw, man! Someone¡¯s looted the storage already! There¡¯s a drop in the southeast! Let¡¯s go for the air drop! Come on out, Little Mute!¡± ¡°Little Mute? Little Mute,e out already! Huh? Why are you just standing there?¡± Teresa clutched her phone with both hands, ncing up to see Hayes sprawled at the foot of the bed. Her gaze fell on Hayes¡¯ phone screen, which had switched to an iing call interface, prompting a surge of frustration, ¡°Ugh-Who¡¯s calling you at a time like this?¡± Hayes, looking guilty, nced at the call from Yuna, then back at Teresa, and quietly walked onto the balcony to answer. ¡°Hayes! Manley¡¯s condition is getting worse! Hurry to the hospital! I¡¯ve called a car to the front door; don¡¯t dy!¡± The urgency in Yuna¡¯s voice tightened Hayes¡¯ little heart in an instant. The little guy knew what this meant-his mom wanted him to give blood again. But didn¡¯t the nice nurse say just yesterday that it was only once a month? He hade back feeling awful yesterday, and was still not feeling great, so Hayes was a bit scared. His voice was timid, trembling, ¡°Mommy¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­¡± ¡°How can you be so thoughtless? I¡¯m just asking you to give a little blood! But what about Manley? Manley¡¯s fighting for his life! Brothers are supposed to help each other out! Don¡¯t forget, it was you hogging the nutrients in my belly that made Manley sick!¡± Suddenly, Hayes felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. His innocent and kind heart even started to believe Mommy had a point. He was giving blood to save Manley¡¯s life, and right now, Manley must be a hundred times more in pain. His guilt made him quickly agree to Yuna¡¯s request. He hung up and stepped back inside from the balcony, ncing at Teresa before pointing towards the door: ¡°I¡¯ll be back¡­ in a sh!¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Teresa asked, nonchntly holding her phone. Hayes felt a bit guilty, replying, ¡°Just going to pick up¡­ a medical¡­ report.¡± Instantly, the words ¡°medical report¡± put Teresa on high alert. Her mind raced to the image of Little Mute¡¯s arm, covered in needle marks. She had meant to tell her Mommy and Hayes¡¯ Daddy about it, but she didn¡¯t see theming home all night. And by morning, they had already left. She thought about sending a text to Mommy, but seeing Hayes looking better, she decided to spend the day ying games with him. Now, Little Mute said he was going to get a medical report, but he seemed unusually tense! His brows were furrowed into a tiny, worried knot! It was the face of someone heading to the gallows. Teresa quit the game and, with a sharp gaze, eyed Hayes, ¡°Are you really just going to pick up a medical report?¡± Hayes, too anxious to meet Teresa¡¯s eyes, nodded faintly, ¡°Yeah.¡±¡± ¡°When will you be back?¡± It only took five minutes for the blood draw yesterday, so it should be the same today. Including the travel time, he should be home within half an hour. ¡°Half an hour¡­ I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ make it quick!¡± Hayes nodded and left the room without another word. But Teresa wasn¡¯t so easily fooled. As soon as Hayes stepped out, she turned into a little detective, silently trailing behind him. She saw Hayes leave the estate and get into a sleek ck sedan. She quickly gged down a taxi and pointed to the ck car ahead, ¡°Hurry! Follow that car!¡± Before long, the two youngsters arrived one after the other at The As Private Hospital. Hayes was taken to the blood draw area, but today, to his surprise, it wasn¡¯t in the aseptic operating room but in a more secluded ward. The friendly nurse from yesterday was reced by a taller, imposing man whose mask was tightly fixed, obscuring his face. He Chapter 498 Meanwhile, at the hospital¡¯s eighth-floor lobby, Teresa was hunkered down behind a massive stand-up advertisement when she saw a tall man emerge from a room at the end of the corridor. She blinked in surprise.. Why hadn¡¯t Hayese out with him? And this floor seemed unusually quiet, not at all like the bustling activity of patientsing and going for check-ups or reports. What was going on? As soon as the man disappeared into the elevator bay, Teresa dashed toward the end of the corridor. Peeking into the room on tiptoe, she saw a medical screen in the middle of the room, blocking her view. Could Hayes be behind it? Tentatively, she tried the door handle and to her relief, found the room unlocked. With guts bolstered by concern, she stepped inside and was shocked to discover a hospital bed behind the screen! And there, Hayesy on it, hisplexion deathly pale as an IV dripped into his arm. But why was the fluid in the IV tube red? Looking up, Teresa realized the bag was hanging upside down! The bag connected to the IV was swelling, growingrger by the second. Blood! The bag was filling with Hayes¡¯ blood! Teresa turned pale with fright and rushed over to shake Hayes¡¯ shoulder. ¡°Little Mute! Little Mute, why are you donating blood? Wake up, please!¡± Only silence greeted her. Hayes showed no sign of life! Unustomed to such grave situations, Teresa was at a loss. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Hayes would be donating blood! Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she yanked the IV out of his arm, mping her hand over the needle site while her other hand fumbled to dial Frederick. ¡°Hayes¡¯ Daddy,e to the hospital quick! Hayes is donating blood, and he looks so pale and scary. Please hurry! We¡¯re at the As Private Hospital! Waaah, I¡¯m so scared!¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡± Frederick tossed aside his phone, swerved sharply, and sped toward the hospital. The sudden swerve nearly sent Marguerite flying into Frederick¡¯sp, but the seatbelt jerked her back into ce. The next second, the Maybach roared off, with Marguerite watching the speedometer climb, feeling her heart pound in terror. Turning to Frederick, she saw his expression was more foreboding than storm clouds, a harbinger of an impending tempest. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Marguerite clutched her seatbelt tight. ¡°Hayes is in trouble,¡± replied Frederick. Her heart rate skyrocketed at the thought. Although she didn¡¯t know the specifics, the sudden surge of anxiety nearly suffocated her. Hayes must be alright! After hanging up, Teresa stared at the unconscious Hayes on the bed, tears streaming down her face. Her hand trembled uncontrobly as she covered the needle site, but thankfully, the bleeding had stopped. Yet, her palm was smeared with Hayes¡¯ blood-sticky and pungently metallic. She copsed over Hayes¡¯ frail body, sobbing uncontrobly, gasping out, ¡°Little Mute, what¡¯s happened to you? Please don¡¯t scare me. Can you hear me? Please open your eyes and look at me!¡± Exhausted by her own cries, she finally fell silent. Suddenly, she thought she heard the door open. Had Hayes¡¯ Daddy arrived? Teresa was about to run out from behind the screen when she was halted by the sound of women¡¯s voices. ¡°We need to speed up the infusion pump, shorten the blood extraction process!¡± ¡°I never thought this little brat¡¯s blood would match Manley¡¯s! His life for Manley¡¯s, it¡¯s worth it!¡± ¡°What¡¯s this called? Killing two birds with one stone! Not only does it save Manley, but it also gets rid of that little bastard¡­¡± Their words stopped abruptly. Yuna and Zoe had just rounded the screen, only to find Teresa, her face streaked with tears, ring at them with furious eyes. The two women froze, shocked. They never expected to find Teresa, the undesired thorn in their side, here. How long had this little pest been here? How much had she heard? Damn it! Their conversation must have been overheard by Teresa! ¡°You monsters! You¡¯re all monsters! You¡¯re using Hayes¡¯ blood to save Manley! And you dare call Hayes a little bastard!¡± Chapter 499 Teresa¡¯s voice was quivering with rage as she stepped forward, her little fists clenched tight, and started pounding on Yuna¡¯s body. As she struck, tears streamed down her face. ¡°You¡¯re so mean! How could you do this to Hayes? You don¡¯t deserve to be his mom!¡± Her small fists kept hammering away at Yuna, all her might focused on getting justice for Hayes today. Yuna was livid! She had never liked Teresa, and now all her pent-up anger erupted. She reached out and shoved Teresa in the chest. The little girl, overwhelmed, staggered backward and fell to the ground with a thud. Teresa cried out, ¡°You wicked woman! You¡¯ve hurt Hayes, and now you¡¯re picking on me! If Hayes knew how you¡¯ve been using him, he¡¯d be heartbroken!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Yuna¡¯s voice was hysterical, her eyes wild and bulging. Teresa was momentarily stunned. Yuna grabbed Teresa by the cor, her voice venomous as she hissed, ¡°Listen to me! I¡¯m not using him! Hayes knows about the blood draw! He volunteered to give blood for Manley! He can¡¯t bear to see Manley suffer, so he offered to do it himself! I¡¯m warning you, this is family business. If you meddle again, do you believe I won¡¯t end you?¡± Teresa was too scared to speak, and Zoe, who was nearby, was equally terrified by Yuna¡¯s malice. She stepped forward, her voice low and cautionary, ¡°What are you saying? Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll tell Frederick?¡± Yuna turned away, her grip loosening involuntarily. Seizing the moment, Teresa pushed Yuna off and retreated to a corner of the room, shaking in fear. ¡°Kids who see things they shouldn¡¯t, need to be silenced.¡± Yuna sneered, then nced at Zoe and motioned with her eyes, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m going to let her go today?¡± She didn¡¯t say it out loud, but Zoe understood the implication. She nced at Teresa and pulled Yuna aside, ¡°You want her gone, fine. But think about it. If both kids disappear, Frederick and Maurice will investigate! With their resources, do you think they won¡¯t trace it back to us?¡± Yuna, blinded by anger, didn¡¯t care about the consequences, ¡°She has to die today!¡± Her words had barely faded when Zoe¡¯s phone suddenly buzzed. It was a text from the head of Hematology. Zoe skimmed the message, her eyes revealing something Yuna couldn¡¯t decipher, ¡°You handle her gently, don¡¯t hurt her if possible! I¡¯ll be right back!¡± And then, there were only Yuna and Teresa left in the room, with Hayes lying on the bed, his condition unknown. Teresa was trembling, her sobs stuttering, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re going to let Hayes give blood to Manley¡­¡± Did that mean they were going to drain Hayes of all his blood and transfuse it into Manley? No wonder he looked so pale when he came home yesterday! So, he didn¡¯t go for a check-up yesterday. He had already given blood! ¡°I told you, Hayes giving blood to Manley was his choice! If you value your life, keep your mouth shut! Don¡¯t tell anyone, got it?¡± Teresa, more frightened than she had ever been, just nodded, tears continuing to stream down her face. Yuna lost her patience and grabbed Teresa by the throat, ¡°Did you understand me? Keep quiet if you don¡¯t want to die!¡± Teresa began to scream illogically out of pure fear, ¡°Daddy, Mommy, where are you? Please save me! I¡¯m so scared!¡± Yuna¡¯s smile grew more twisted, her expression a mix of malice and cruelty, ¡°Keep yelling! Even if you scream your lungs out, no one wille to save you today!¡± Bang-The door to the room was suddenly kicked open. Yuna turned instinctively and saw Frederick, his expression stern as a hawk, standing with Marguerite at the screen. 10:24 Immediately, Yuna felt like she was scared to death. Teresa pushed Yuna aside and ran behind Frederick for protection, pointing at Yuna, she eximed, ¡°Hayes¡¯ Daddy, I¡¯m so d you¡¯re here! She¡¯s terrifying; she wants to take Hayes¡¯ blood for Manley!¡± Chapter 500 Yuna¡¯s knees buckled, and she found herself copsing to the floor! Why on earth was Freddie here? How could he be? She had been so careful with her secrecy! She hadn¡¯t told a soul! But today, Teresa showed up, and then Freddie came hot on her heels! Damn it! It had to have been that snake, Hayes, who spilled the beans! Or maybe it was Teresa! Panic clutched Yuna¡¯s throat like a vice. This was it. She was done for. Hayesy in the hospital bed, an inted bag of blood hanging overhead, and with Teresa¡¯s loose lips on top of it, Yuna felt like her own demise was imminent in that very room. ¡°Freddie¡­ Freddie, listen to me! It¡¯s not¡­ it¡¯s not what you think!¡± Yuna¡¯s mind raced for an exnation, but she was drawing aplete nk. Frederick¡¯s bloodthirsty gaze cut through her like a de. The next moment, his long legs stepped right over her crumpled form, moving toward Hayes¡¯ bedside. The kid looked as pale as a ghost, barely hanging on to life. When Chuck, thete arrival, caught the scene, he was so shocked he couldn¡¯t find his voice. He gasped for air, ¡°Mr¡­. Mr. Winston, I-I¡¯ll go call the doctor right away!¡± With that, Chuck bolted out the door! But Frederick couldn¡¯t hold back his fury any longer. A chilling aura of wrath enveloped everyone present, ¡°Yuna! You¡¯ve got some nerve! Is Hayes¡¯ life so cheap to you?¡± ¡°Freddie¡­ I¡­¡± Yuna¡¯s teeth chattered in terror, ¡°It¡­ it was the hospital¡¯s suggestion! They said taking blood from Hayes wouldn¡¯t be a problem! But I still didn¡¯t agree, because I was afraid Hayes couldn¡¯t handle it! Then Hayes overheard that Manley got sick, and he insisted on donating his blood, I couldn¡¯t stop him! Freddie, I didn¡¯t want to take Hayes¡¯ blood!¡± ¡°Lying even at the brink of death?¡± Frederick red at her fiercely, his disgust and hatred for Yuna reaching uncontroble levels. In that moment, he wished he could kick her squarely in the face. But it was when he saw Teresa, he held back. The scene was too gruesome; he didn¡¯t want Teresa to witness that. ¡°Freddie, I¡¯m not lying! I swear I¡¯m not lying! Wait until Hayes wakes up, ask him! It was his choice!¡±The excuse was flimsy, and she wasn¡¯t sure what -Hayes would tell Frederick. She was just buying time! Now, she had to figure out how to get out of this mess! She racked her brain for words, but Marguerite¡¯s anguished voice suddenly cut through, ¡°If Hayes knew the blood transfusion could cost his life, would he still agree? What exactly did you hide?¡± The sound of Marguerite¡¯s voice sent Yuna into a fury! No one hated Marguerite more than she did herself! Hatred consumed her mind, and she bellowed at Marguerite, ¡°Shut up! Marguerite, I¡¯ve tolerated you for far too long! Why are you always meddling? This is a family matter, why don¡¯t you take your bastard and beat it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who should beat it!¡± Frederick¡¯s authoritative voice thundered, ¡°Bastard? You seem toofortable with that term. You¡¯ve used it on Hayes before, haven¡¯t you?¡± He advanced towards her slowly, and Yuna, trembling, scooted backward on the floor, shaking her head in terror, ¡°No! I haven¡¯t! Freddie, I¡¯ve never called Hayes that! I swear! Please believe me, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hayes¡¯ Daddy, she¡¯s lying! I just heard her call Hayes a bastard too! She even threatened me! Said if I told anyone about this, she¡¯d take my life!¡± Teresa shouted. Chapter 501 ¡°You¡¯re full of it!¡± Yuna sobbed, kneeling and clutching Frederick¡¯s leg, tears and snot mixing as she pleaded, ¡°Freddie! You can¡¯t just take her word for it! She¡¯s Marguerite Lockwood¡¯s daughter for heaven¡¯s sake! You know how much Marguerite despises me! She¡¯s just parroting her mother¡¯s words! Freddie, why on earth would you believe a stranger over me? After all, I¡¯ve given you twins!¡± Yuna tried to y the children card again, but Frederick¡¯s expression was unyielding and grim, his eyes filled with a chilling wrath that seemed to wish her straight to hell, never to find peace again. ¡°Children? Do you even remember that Hayes is your son?¡± ¡°Freddie, I¡­I¡­¡± Their argument terrified little Teresa, who burrowed into Marguerite¡¯s embrace, her cries tinged with fear, pitiful beyond words, ¡°Mommy, protect me! I¡¯m so scared!¡± Marguerite grabbed Teresa into her arms, then moved towards Hayes¡¯ hospital bed, her other hand brushing his cold, frighteningly mmy cheek. Marguerite was wrapped in an unprecedented fear as she turned to Frederick in panic, ¡°Hayes is so cold! What do we do?¡± Frederick¡¯s nerves snapped tight. He kicked Yuna aside and strode over, reaching out to check Hayes¡¯ pulse. Seeing that both of them were distracted, Yuna¡¯s mind raced with thoughts of escape. She knew she was in deep trouble and that escape was her only chance of survival. She had to take Manley and get out of Stonebridge City! With that thought, she scrambled to her feet and dashed for the door. But as soon as she flung it open, Chuck stood there with a host of doctors, blocking the exit. Beside him stood the intern from yesterday who had given Hayes a blood transfusion! What was she doing here? Hadn¡¯t she been fired by the hospital? The next second, at Chuck¡¯smand, the doctors swarmed to check on Hayes¡¯ condition. Chuck, seeing Yuna¡¯s attempt to flee and unconcerned with her prior rtionship with Mr. Winston, shoved her forcefully back into the room. ¡°Mr. Winston, this intern here is responsible for Hayes¡¯ blood draw!¡± The intern was visibly shaken, trembling under Frederick¡¯s intimidating presence. She really was down on her luck! Justst night, she found out she had been inexplicably fired and hade to the hospital to finalize her termination paperwork. No sooner had she finished that she learned something had gone wrong with Hayes¡¯ blood work. And she wasn¡¯t even the one who had done it today! Yet there she was, turned into an unfortunate scapegoat. Now, Frederick looked at the intern with eyes as cold as the Arctic, grabbing her throat in a fierce grip, his anger causing veins to bulge on his forehead. ¡°Did you draw blood from my son?¡± The sudden brute force left the intern gasping for air, her voice choked with indignation, ¡°Mr. Winston¡­ the blood draw yesterday¡­ it was me¡­ cough, cough¡ª¡± Yuna suddenly remembered the hospital chief¡¯s promise to find a scapegoat should things go south. This intern must be the fall guy! Yuna forced out a few more tears, pointing at the intern she used, ¡°Freddie! It was her! She¡¯s the one who said she could draw blood from Hayes! And she assured me there would be no issues! Hayes insisted on the transfusion for Manley. I couldn¡¯t talk him out of it! Next thing I knew, she had taken Hayes to the OR for the draw! I couldn¡¯t stop them! My poor Hayes! If I had known, I would have stopped them at all costs! Woe is me!¡± Yuna cried dramatically, even throwing herself onto Hayes¡¯ bed for effect. But the intern kept shaking her head, desperate to exin, yet unable to speak against Frederick¡¯s iron grip. Marguerite, sensing the intern¡¯s distress, gently put Teresa down and approached, touching Frederick¡¯s arm, now as rigid as stone, ¡°May I have a word with her?¡± Chapter 502 Frederick¡¯s eyes darted towards Marguerite, and in that moment, he felt an unexined, natural trust in her. He hesitated for a split second before reluctantly releasing the intern¡¯s neck. The intern nearly copsed, but Marguerite was quick to steady her and demanded, ¡°Don¡¯t you guys have any standards for blood donations? Why would you take blood from a three-year-old? They¡¯re practically still teething!¡± Gasping for air, the intern¡¯s eyes were red as she looked at Marguerite, knowing she was a scapegoat but also fully aware that crossing Mr. Winston meant a fate worse than any firing. So, she wasn¡¯t about to side against him. ¡°I swear I¡¯m being framed! I never suggested we use Hayes for the transfusion! In fact, I was against it yesterday. We found a match in the blood bank, an adult with the same type as Manley. We had contacted him, and he was willing to donate! But Ms. Lockwood wouldn¡¯t have it. She insisted on twin-to-twin transfusion to avoid rejection, so she wanted to use Hayes¡¯ blood! I tried to reason with her, but she wouldn¡¯t listen. I really care for Hayes, so I was nning to extend the donation period to every six months, just a small bag each month to avoid any harm to him. But just after I got home yesterday, the hospital fired me. As I was finishing my discharge procedures this morning, the butleres in saying there was a problem with Hayes¡¯ donation, demanding to bring me here! But Mr. Winston, I didn¡¯t even draw Hayes¡¯ blood today!¡± Before Marguerite could react, Yuna lunged forward like a banshee, ¡°Stop spewing nonsense! It was you who forced me to let Hayes donate!¡± Yuna screamed hysterically, and confusion reigned. How had the hospital¡¯s scapegoat turned against them? Furious, she was determined to make the intern pay. She grabbed the intern¡¯s hair and dragged her to the ground, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to lie! Who put you up to this? Was it Marguerite? Why do you want to ruin me? How much did she pay you?¡± In her frenzy, Yuna was indiscriminate in her usations against Marguerite. A firestorm raged in Frederick¡¯s chest. He kicked at Yuna¡¯s hand, which was tangled in the intern¡¯s hair. Pain exploded, and Yuna released her grip, looking incredulously at Frederick, ¡°Freddie¡­ I swear this isn¡¯t my fault¡­¡± Marguerite quickly helped the intern up, asking with concern, ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?¡± Tears streamed down the intern¡¯s face as she shook her head. Marguerite then continued, ¡°Can you stand by what you just said?¡± The intern nodded. Marguerite¡¯s gaze was piercing as she asked, ¡°How can you prove your words are true? Is there anyone who can back you up?¡± 1 The intern was at a loss; no one but she and Yuna had been there during the transfusion. No one could vouch for her. Then, suddenly, she remembered the waiver she had Yuna sign and quickly pulled it from her pocket. ¡°See, this is the waiver I had Ms. Lockwood sign before the blood draw yesterday. If what she said was true, and I forced her, why would she have signed this? But she did!¡± That waiver sucked the fight right out of Yuna. Frederick looked at the guardian¡¯s signature, bold and resolute, and knew that Yuna had never valued Hayes¡¯ life as she should have. Rage swelled in him, his gaze as icy and fierce¡¯as the arctic wind. ¡°Guards!¡± At hismand, a swarm of bodyguards converged. ¡°Take her to the middle of nowhere, revoke her passport and citizenship, and make sure she never sets foot in Stonebridge City again!¡± At those words, Yuna¡¯s world crumbled. No citizenship? She might as well not exist. Frederick was merciless. This was a fate worse than death. Yuna fell to her knees, trembling and begging for mercy, but before she could utter another word, amanding voice echoed at the door of the ward, ¡°Frederick! You can¡¯t do this!¡± Chapter 503 e Behind The Mask Cha Chapter 503 The voice carried amanding presence, as if it had harnessed the most formidable forces under the heavens, its booming quality impossible to ignore. Heads turned toward the source of the sound, and Immediately, their eyes locked onto an elderly man in his early sixties. His hair, peppered with white, framed a face marked by sharp, knife¨Clike eyebrows and deep, etched wrinkles that spoke of a life not lightly lived. Clutched in his hand was an opened leather¨Cbound folder, its contents a mystery. Trailing behind him was Zoe. Marguerite blinked in surprise. Was that Hackett Fitzgerald, Robert¡¯s father? She hadn¡¯t seen Hackett at thepany, but she remembered when Powell had fallen ill, he hade to the Winston estate with Penelope, giving Marguerite the chance to meet him briefly. But why was Robert¡¯s father here with Zoe? Did they know each other? Marguerite nced towards Frederick, noticing that his expression mirrored her own, a mix of shock and confusion. He stepped forward, maintaining a respectful demeanor in the face of the elder¡¯s imposing air, yet without a hint of subservience. His presence seemed to rival even that of Hackett. ¡°Hackett, what brings you here?¡± Frederick asked. Hackett¡¯s eyes softened as they met Frederick¡¯s, the intensity of his mood giving way to something that suggested negotiation. ¡°Frederick, you can¡¯t treat Yuna like this.¡± Marguerite was puzzled. Since when did Hackett Fitzgerald have a say in Yuna¡¯s affairs? ¡°Hackett, while I¡¯m unaware of the nature of your rtionship with Yuna, this is, after all, a private matter for the Winston family. I¡¯d appreciate it if you¡¯d allow me to handle it,¡± Frederick stated firmly. Hackett sighed, ¡°Frederick, this isn¡¯t just your family matter, it¡¯s mine as well!¡± Frederick¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°What do you mean by that, Hackett?¡± Hackett¡¯s gaze unintentionally drifted towards Marguerite, his eyes filled with aplex mix of regret and resignation. After a long pause, he dropped a bombshell. ¡°Frederick, Yuna¡­ she is my daughter, the one I lost twenty¨Cfive years ago!¡± In that instant, Marguerite stood frozen, unable to process the revtion. Her mind whirled, ¡°What was happening? Yuna was the long¨Clost heiress of the Fitzgerald family? How could that be? Weren¡¯t they twins?¡± And Yuna, shocked and confused on the ground, turned her gaze towards Zoe, only to see her mother giving her subtle cues. She quickly caught on. The Fitzgerald Group must have found something about her and Marguerite! But since they looked identical, there was no way to tell who the missing child was, her or Marguerite! Although Yuna didn¡¯t know how her mother had managed to deceive Hackett, she didn¡¯t have the luxury to dwell on it. Right now, Hackett seemed to be her only chance at salvation! With this in mind. Yuna feignedplete bewilderment, looking at Zoe with an urgent expression, ¡°Mom! What¡¯s going on? Aren¡¯t I your daughter? How could this, how could this¡­¡± Tears of disbelief began to fall from Yuna¡¯s eyes. Seeing this, Zoe pushed through the crowd and fell to her knees before Hackett. all my fault, all my fault! Twenty five years ago, Ablett and I were drowning in debt from gambling, and we couldn¡¯t borrow money wn when your gave birth to a girl, we saw that the baby was wearing a bracelet worth a fortune We thought to steal the bracelet bracelet had a lock we couldn¡¯t blesk, and in desperation, we ended up taking the baby slong with us! Tremoved the bracelet, we intended to return the baby to the mansion, but then we identally learned and and Chapter 504 Zoe¡¯s voice trembled with a concoction of self-reproach and fear as tears began to spill from her eyes. She paused, shivering, took a deep breath, and continued with a choked sob: ¡°We were just¡­ terrified! You hadid down thew so fiercely, vowing that anyone caught would face severe consequences, no questions asked! We feared for our lives, had no choice but to keep the little miss safe at home! Sir, I am at fault! I was blinded by greed! It¡¯s all my mistake, please punish me as you see fit! Take my life or do as you will, I will not utter a single word ofint! But Yuna, she truly is your own flesh and blood!¡± Everyone in the room was stunned, especially Marguerite, who had never heard Robert mention that Penelope had given birth to twins! So, if Yuna is a Fitzgerald heiress, then what does that make her? What is she? She looks exactly like Yuna, how could that be exined? And Yuna yed her part brilliantly, tears streaming down her cheeks as she crawled to Hackett¡¯s feet, sobbing uncontrobly, ¡°Dad? So you¡¯re my real father¡­ How did I ever deserve to be your daughter?¡± Up until that point, Hackett¡¯s entire understanding of Yuna was based on Robert¡¯s narrative. He knew Yuna wasn¡¯t the easiest of daughters to manage. But the thought that she was the daughter he had been searching for over twenty-five years made all her misdeeds seem insignificant in Hackett¡¯s eyes! Especially when Yuna wept like that, it tore at Hackett¡¯s heartstrings. If only their supervision had been tighter back then, how could his daughter have been snatched away so easily? His arms trembling, Hackett lifted Yuna from the ground, eyes welling up, ¡°My child, my dear child! Your mother and I, we¡¯ve searched for you for twenty-five years!¡± Yuna, seizing the moment, clung to Hackett, weeping. The scene of familial recognition was so heartfelt that even the attending doctors were moved to tears. But Frederick remained expressionless. Back in the day, he had scoured the Lockwood estate from top to bottom to investigate the girl who had saved his life as a child. However, he never imagined that a missing Fitzgerald could be connected to the Lockwoods! Piecing together the past with the present, he arrived at a truth far moreprehensive than anyone else had. After a moment¡¯s contemtion, Frederick red at Zoe. He took Marguerite by the hand and pulled her in front of Hackett, not mincing words as he dered, ¡°Hackett, you¡¯ve been deceived. Yuna isn¡¯t your daughter, Marguerite is!¡± Hackett¡¯s back stiffened as he pushed Yuna away and locked eyes with Frederick. Seeing the certainty in his gaze, he couldn¡¯t help but give Marguerite another look. He knew Marguerite worked at Poppy Petal Fragrances and, through his wife and son¡¯s descriptions, had covertly observed her. He couldn¡¯t deny that Marguerite exuded an aura eerily simr to his wife¡¯s! Intuition had nearly convinced them that Marguerite was indeed their daughter, but the paternity test he held in his hands told a different story! Could there be a mistake in the report? Impossible! He had personally collected the report from the clinic window. There was no chance of a mix-up! Before Hackett could voice his doubts, Frederick¡¯s piercing gaze turned to Zoe, and he asked pointedly, ¡°Tell me, do you recall a midwife named Thelma?¡± Zoe, caught off guard, nodded subconsciously, ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston. She was the one who delivered my baby years ago.¡± Frederick¡¯s face darkened into a scowl, and he scoffed, ¡°Three years ago, I found her. She confessed to me in person that Marguerite was the child you had adopted!¡± Chapter 505 Zoe felt like the ground was spinning beneath her feet. The shocking revtion nearly buckled her knees, and she stumbled back a step. ¡°The child you brought back is a mirror image of Yuna! You spun things perfectly, iming you had twins. Am I wrong?¡± As Frederickid bare the deeds of twenty-five years ago without any reservation, Zoe was struck speechless, her eyes wide with a mix of guilt and astonishment. How could she have known that Frederick had once sought out Thelma? What was she to do now? Every eye in the room was on her, and Hackett¡¯s gaze was so sharp, she felt it could cut right through her. Damn it all! She was one crucial step away from sending Yuna off to be the darling heiress of the Fitzgeralds! With Yuna, the Lockwoods would bask in endless luxury and prestige! They wouldn¡¯t have to live at the mercy of Frederick¡¯s whims anymore! No, she had to think fast, think of something else! Backed into a corner, Zoe¡¯s mind raced, and she spouted a lie effortlessly, ¡°Mr. Winston! Indeed, the child we brought back was Yuna, not Marguerite! Since Yuna was the precious daughter of the Fitzgeralds, we treated her with the utmost care, raising her as our own! Our affection for her surpassed even that for Marguerite, so everyone naturally assumed Yuna was our flesh and blood, and Marguerite the adopted one. But in order for Yuna to grow up well, we let others speak as they wished. We didn¡¯t want a single scratch on her upbringing, feeling already indebted to the Fitzgeralds, we couldn¡¯t bear to shortchange their child!¡± At this, Marguerite¡¯s face was streaked with tears, evidently swayed by Zoe¡¯s narrative. All the slights, insults, cold shoulders, and Zoe¡¯s venomous words from the past seemed to have found their reasons. Teresa, seeing her mommy so distraught, frantically dabbed at her tears. If only she had known the damage her portrait would cause, she never would have agreed to help her godfather with this scheme! Oh, it was all her fault! Zoe¡¯s story might fool everyone else, but not Frederick. He knew the Lockwoods too well after all these years. What kind of people they were, he knew better than anyone! Truth be told, he didn¡¯t really care whose child Marguerite was. Yet, watching her quietly shedding tears, with that expression of pain and unspoken perseverance, it stirred an ache in his heart. In the shadows, his warm hand tightly sped Marguerite¡¯s smaller one, giving her strength while he bluntly challenged Zoe, ¡°Once you imed Marguerite was a street beggar, then your adopted daughter, and now you say she¡¯s your own flesh and blood. What will it be next time?¡± Zoe stood frozen. She didn¡¯t know how much truth Frederick was privy to, and her words certainly wouldn¡¯t convince him. But it didn¡¯t matter if Frederick believed her or not; she only needed to convince Hackett. She fell to her knees before Hackett again, cautiously pointing to the paternity test report in Hackett¡¯s hands. Though her face was turned toward Frederick, her words were meant for Hackett¡¯s ears. ¡°Mr. Winston, there¡¯s no denying, this mess is our fault! But everything we did was to protect Yuna better. If Mr. Winston doesn¡¯t believe it, just look at the paternity test! It¡¯s all there in ck and white! You can see for yourself, or even inquire at the bloodb. The results are nationally registered, there¡¯s no faking it!¡± Chapter 506 That night, she had the chief of staff at the hospital do her a solid-switch the blood samples of Marguerite and Yuna. This way, no matter the test, the results would show Yuna as Hackett¡¯s flesh and blood! So, Zoe wasn¡¯t the least bit worried about getting it checked out! At that moment, Hackett looked again at the paternity test in his hands, and all he felt was a deep, aching sorrow. He could still recall the crushing disappointment when he first heard the news. He couldn¡¯t even bear to think about how heartbroken his wife would be, learning that the daughter she had longed for was Yuna, not Marguerite. After all, they had been searching for their daughter for twenty-five long years. He knew all too well the hardship and heartache they¡¯d gone through, so despite the regret and pain, he had no choice but to face reality. Yuna was his daughter, and no matter what outrageous things she might have done, as a father, he had the right to clear her name, even to back her up! Hackettposed himself and handed the paternity test to Frederick, saying, ¡°Frederick, you can¡¯t fool anyone with a paternity test. I got this report myself, and it¡¯s legit! Yuna is my daughter, and I won¡¯t allow you to erase her records or nationality! From today on, her ce is with the Fitzgerald Group, and nobody can change that!¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna was so ted she could practically burst. She wasn¡¯t hearing things, right? From now on, she was a bona fide Fitzgerald heiress! And who were the Fitzgeralds? Only second to the mighty Winston family in prestige and power! Hackett finished his deration and, with newfound confidence, wrapped an arm around Yuna¡¯s shoulders, adding, ¡°So, Frederick, I¡¯d like you to do me a solid and forgive her.¡± Frederick quickly scanned the paternity test, and after a long silence, he finally wrestled his way out of the overwhelming shock. With both testimonial and physical evidence before him, he knew that whatever he said, Hackett wouldn¡¯t believe him! He¡¯d been duped by the Lockwoods too many times, so it was a safe bet the report had been tampered with! But at that moment, he had no proof that Zoe had lied! He had to y it smart andpromise for the time being. So he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t care whose daughter Yuna is, but she hurt my son, and just for that, she¡¯ll never set foot in the Winston estate again!¡± Yuna had thought about running away because she knew she was toast! But now, with Hackett backing her and her newfound heiress status, she believed she was more than worthy of Frederick! After all, Frederickwould have to show Hackett some respect! With that in mind, Yuna put on a pitiful act, ¡°Freddie, Hayes and Manley are my kids too! How can you keep me from seeing them? How will I live?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes, dark as a swamp, shot back, ¡°Is Hayes really your kid?¡± Yuna¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly blurted out with guilt, ¡°Yes¡­ I just, I just favored one over the other, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Favored so boldly and shamelessly, you think I could forgive you?¡± Frederick scoffed coldly, then turned and, with one arm, scooped up Teresa, while with the other, he confidently wrapped Marguerite, who was shivering, and barked out an order, ¡°Move Hayes and Manley to the VIP ward, and without my say-so, nobody steps foot in there!¡± Having given hismands, he walked towards the exit, holding Marguerite. And as he brushed past Hackett, his eyes shed with a hint of mockery, disregarding the elder¡¯s dignity as he bluntly said, ¡°Hackett, when you find out that Marguerite is your real daughter, you¡¯ll realize just how screwed up your actions today were! What a jackass!¡± Chapter 507 Chapter 507 Jackass? Frederick¡¯s use of the word ¡°jackass¡± to describe the head honcho of the Fitzgerald Group¡¯s behavior today left everyone in the room gobsmacked. And Hackett himself shuddered at thement! He was about to blow his top, but even as an elder, he had to give Frederick his due respect considering Frederick¡¯s stature. Besides, he had just acknowledged his daughter¡¯s return to the fold today, and he had more pressing matters to attend to! He needed to get her home pronto, to fulfill his wife¡¯s dying wish. So, he had no choice but to suck it up. But make no mistake, a score had been settled between him and Frederick today. Marguerite, who had just stepped out of the sickroom with Frederick, was utterly bbergasted. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Frederick had gone to bat for her like that today. Puzzled yet warmed by the unexpected defense, she wondered, ¡°Does he still care for me after all?¡± Her emotions were all over the ce as she followed him into the VIP ward. By now, Hayes had been moved to a room, where Chuck was ying assistant to the doctor, hanging a blood bag and transferring the much¨Cneeded blood back into the boy. ¡°Mr. Winston, the guard detail is tight outside the little master¡¯s room. Should we move Manley here as well, for convenience¡¯s sake?¡± Frederick pondered briefly, then replied sinctly, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Winston. I¡¯ll fetch Manley from downstairs.¡± With that, Chuck dashed off. Marguerite took a seat on the edge of Hayes¡® bed. Seeing little Hayes still out cold, a deep pang of sorrow washed over her. For some reason, she was racked with guilt. Why hadn¡¯t she protected him better? Logically, Hayes was Yuna and Frederick¡¯s child, and it wasn¡¯t her ce to worry. Yet, there was this strange feeling gnawing at her, causing both pain and distress. She¡¯d have taken his ce in a heartbeat to spare him this suffering. Her hand gently caressed Hayes¡® cheek, which was finally showing signs of warming up. Teresa, ever the sensible child, touched Hayes¡® hand and pouted, ¡°Mommy, Hayes¡® hand is so cold. He must be freezing! Should I heat up some water and warm him up?¡± Thankfully, Teresa¡¯s maturity offered Marguerite some sce. Nodding, she instructed softly, ¡°Be careful not to burn yourself.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Teresa hurried off, bustling about with purpose. After tucking Hayes in, Frederick approached Marguerite, his tone neutral but firm, ¡°Take Teresa home.¡± Marguerite was defiant, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± 7 don¡¯t want Maurice Winston on my back asking for her,¡± he said, clearly irritated. Marguerite locked eyes with him, her gaze shimmering, ¡°Nothing is more important than Hayes. And I¡¯m sure Teresa wouldn¡¯t want to leave either.¡± With that, she turned her attention back to Hayes, leaving Frederick silently moved. For a fleeting moment, he entertained the illusion that Marguerite was his wife, and Hayes, their shared son. He quickly snapped out of it, realizing she was lost in thought, staring out the window, a trace of mncholy crossing her features. Then, with a gentleness even he didn¡¯t recognize in his voice, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Feeling down?¡± Chapter 508 Marguerite snapped back to reality, confusionced her voice. ¡°What?¡± ¡°About Hackett,¡± Frederick across from her said, his eyes piercing as if they could unveil the deepest secrets of the soul. He had an unnerving talent for voicing things in a direct manner. He always seemed to know what she was thinking, had done so in the past and was doing it now. Marguerite had grown used to
Thus, she didn¡¯t bother to hide her feelings. A trace of mncholy thickened on her face as she nodded, spilling her truth. ¡°Deep down, I guess I always hoped I was a Fitzgerald. At least that way, I¡¯d have family that cared, that worried about me. Zoe and Ablett never treated me like one of their own. And since grandma passed away, I¡¯ve been all alone in this world.¡± Suddenly, Frederick felt a pang in his chest. Was it because he thought of Laverne? Or had he begun to feel a twinge ofpassion for Marguerite? It seemed even he couldn¡¯t pinpoint the reason. Marguerite turned her gaze to meet his deep-set eyes and asked, ¡°But I am genuinely curious. Why did you stand up for me downstairs? Why argue on my behalf?¡± Why indeed? Even Frederick couldn¡¯te up with a suitable reason at first. After a long pause, he found an answer that could convince both Marguerite and himself. ¡°Laverne was kind to me. Even if I despised you, I owed it to her to do something.¡± Marguerite blinked in confusion, her eyes clouded with questions as she faced him. ¡°What do you mean by that? Laverne was kind to you?¡± She had no knowledge of any goodwill between her grandmother and Frederick. Could it be that her grandmother had known Frederick long before? Frederick did not answer immediately. He leaned casually against the wall, arms folded, a strange flicker in his eyes as he continued to gaze at Marguerite. ¡°Eighteen years ago, I was exiled to the countryside with my mother. When we were at our lowest, a little girl gave us a loaf of bread, and her grandmother, a bowl of warm soup.¡± Marguerite¡¯s mind seized. Amidst the fog of her childhood memories, a simr scene surfaced. Except, she was not the beggar; she was the benefactor. She couldn¡¯t remember how old she was when it happened. All she remembered was a snowy evening, a mother and son close to copsing in the snow outside their old house, starving and cold. She had rushed to get a bowl of broth from her grandmother, and she had given away their only loaf of bread for the night. Back then, Marguerite and Laverne, despite struggling in the depths of poverty themselves, always sought to help others. Even knowing that giving away that bread and soup meant they would go hungry for a long time, they shared what little they had with those in greater need. Marguerite¡¯s eyes unwittingly widened, as if an answer was impatiently waiting for Frederick to confirm. Before she could voice her question, he continued on his own ord: ¡°That pair saved my life. So, ever since I came to my senses, I¡¯ve been trying to find them, just to repay the debt.¡± Marguerite bit her lip, her eyes trembling, unable to settle. ¡°The girl you¡¯ve been looking for¡­ it¡¯s me, isn¡¯t it?¡± She asked. Frederick¡¯s lips curled into a bittersweet smile, tinged with a touch of sadness rather than joy. ¡°Yes.¡± That was his answer. Chapter 509 In that moment, Marguerite struggled to steady her emotions. She had just discovered that the mother and son she had helped years ago were none other than Frederick and Jocelyn. How had she failed to recognize them all this time? What touched her most was the realization that her small act of kindness, something she thought of as an inconsequential gesture, had stayed with Frederick for so long. ¡°When did you know that the girl, the one you were looking for, was me?¡± she asked. His gaze turned distant, as if he were speaking of someone else¡¯s life. ¡°Three years ago, the day we fell apart.¡± It was the same day her grandmother wasid to rest-the day Frederick had intended to confess his feelings to her! Marguerite cursed the timing of her knowledge. Had she known earlier that Frederick had been searching for her, had she known of his intentions, she would never have gone to the Winston estate to meet Maurice. Even if she¡¯d remained blissfully unaware of the identity of the mysterious man from her past, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered. She wanted to be with Frederick, even if it meant fleeing with him, far from theforts of Stonebridge City. She would have given anything for that. But life offers no second chances, and her regrets were now a burden toote to lift. A tearful hitch caught in her throat as she spoke, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that day?¡± ¡°I went to the Winston estate to tell you everything,¡± he said. That day, his urgency to find Marguerite was not just to acknowledge the debt of a life saved. He wanted to know if she was the woman from that passionate night-a question left unanswered as the woman¡¯s face captured on the security footage was unclear whether it was Marguerite or Yuna. But Frederick had not anticipated that before he could voice his doubts, Marguerite would reveal something far more consequential-something that would alter the course of his life forever. His decision to send Yuna to the ind was ast grasp at hope; if the child wasn¡¯t his, then the only other possibility was Marguerite. If that were true, he¡¯d find any excuse for her, believing she must¡¯ve been manipted by Maurice or hiding some unspeakable secret. But reality is often cruel, and he was left to face the painful oues alone. The more Marguerite thought about it, the sadder she became. She hadn¡¯t realized the significance she held in his heart, and perhaps that was why he resented her so deeply. With a sudden lift of her face, her eyes brimming with tears and sincerity, she asked, ¡°Do you still hate me?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± His answer came without hesitation, and despite preparing herself, Marguerite was taken aback. The word was a blow, its power almost too much to bear as tears blurred her vision. If he still harbored hatred, why had hee to her aid today? Could it merely be for her grandmother¡¯s sake? Determined for a clearer answer, she pressed on, ¡°What about love? Do you still have love for me? Can you answer me honestly?¡± A heavy silence fell upon the room, suffocating Marguerite as she awaited his response. They locked eyes, their gazecking the sweetness of the past, reced by regret and sorrow. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Frederick broke their gaze and looked out at the snow falling gently beyond the window, perhaps reminiscing about their shared history. ¡°My love has been worn away. There¡¯s nothing left but hate,¡± he said. Chapter 510 Marguerite stared nkly at Frederick¡¯s retreating figure, her lips unable to form aplete sentence no matter how hard she tried. Her chest began to heave uncontrobly as waves of emotion crashed over her. Head bowed, she couldn¡¯t stop the tears that streamed down her cheeks. Her sobs were restrained, but they still reached Frederick¡¯s ears. Perhaps, Marguerite truly loved him, but what did it matter? In his world, it seemed that aside from hatred, he was utterly incapable of love. He couldn¡¯t love any woman, including Marguerite. By all means of propriety, he should beforting her now, rubbing her back or offering a shoulder, followed by some noble titudes about remaining friends if not lovers. Yet, his hands remained clenched into fists at his sides. He wouldn¡¯t even afford her that final courtesy. He feared misunderstanding, feared a point of no return. If the past couldn¡¯t be reimed, then it was time to choose an end at this juncture. It wasn¡¯t long before the sound of a hospital bed¡¯s gears broke the silence. Frederick turned at the noise and saw Chuck leading Manley in, with two bodyguards following, pushing the hospital bed Manley had previously upied. The little guy looked up and saw Hayes lying unconscious on the bed, immediately stumbling over in his oversized hospital gown, leaning over Hayes¡¯ bedside. Marguerite quickly wiped away her tears, noticing Manley¡¯s gaze on Hayes-lost and worried. He pondered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Little Mute? Was he asleep or in aa? He seemed so serious.¡± Manley couldn¡¯t wait and looked urgently at Frederick, asking, ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s¡­ what¡¯s wrong with Hayes?¡± Frederick was pondering how to respond to Manley when Chuck, oblivious to their conversation, began to report: ¡°Mr. Winston, we¡¯ve set up Manley¡¯s bed next to Hayes. Also, we¡¯ve located the doctor who drew blood from Hayes today. What would you like us to do with him?¡± A chill settled around Frederick, his gaze turning icy, ¡°Let him face the consequences in Yuna¡¯s stead.¡± Chuck replied in hesitation, ¡°Mr. Winston, do you mean to exile him to Africa, strip him of his citizenship, and leave him to his fate?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Manley was confused. Although not the brightest, and a bit slow to catch on, he understood the implications when Chuck mentioned a doctor drawing blood from Hayes. Could it be that Little Mute had drained his own blood to save him? Suddenly filled with remorse, Manley shook his head incredulously at Frederick, mumbling, ¡°How could this happen? Mommy promised me, she said she wouldn¡¯t draw blood from Hayes! She promised me¡­ Frederick¡¯s brows furrowed. What was this? Yuna had arranged for Hayes¡¯ blood to be drawn, and Manley knew about it? He was about to inquire when Teresa, who had been filling a hot water bottle in the utility room, saw Manley and hurried over. She pushed Manley aside and shielded Hayes on the bed fiercely, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! Little Mute gave all her blood to save you! You¡¯re nothing but trouble!¡± Manley, in a panic, burst into tears, protesting, ¡°I¡¯m not trouble! I¡¯m not trouble! I told Mommy not to take blood from Hayes! She promised me! My mommy wouldn¡¯t lie to me!¡± 2 ¡À 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 Frederick knelt down to level with Manley¡¯s shoulders, asking softly, ¡°Manley, tell Daddy, how did you know about Hayes having blood drawn? Did your mom tell you?¡± Manley shook his head instinctively, ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me. I overheard her talking to Grandma. She said she had to draw Hayes¡¯ blood no matter what.¡± No matter what? Damn it! So this was premeditated by Yuna! She never cared for Hayes¡¯ life! What kind of mother would do such a thing? What was she trying to achieve? Chapter 511 Frederick¡¯s anger simmered with every passing thought, and despite this woman now having the backing of the illustrious Fitzgerald family, he was not about to let her off the hook so easily. ¡°Manley, why on earth didn¡¯t you tell me about something so important?¡± Frederick¡¯s voice rose,ced with a fury that made the_ room shrink. Manley, visibly shaken, stuttered out an exnation, his body trembling, ¡°I had just finished my checkup yesterday when I saw Hayes at the hospital. I told him to hit the road quick, didn¡¯t want him giving any blood. Mom promised she wouldn¡¯t take Hayes¡¯ blood, so I didn¡¯t tell you. -Dad, please don¡¯t be mad, you¡¯re scaring me¡­¡± It was then that Frederick realized his panic had unnerved the little guy. He sighed softly, drawing Manley into his arms and asked with a calmer demeanor, ¡°So now, can you tell Dad what else you overheard from Mom?¡± Manley blinked up at his father, racking his brain for memories. He had also heard that Mom was taking the blood of the mute to kill him¡­ If he spilled the beans, wouldn¡¯t that make Mom a murderer? But if he told Dad, could his father prevent it all? Manley mulled it over, torn about whether to confide in his father. As he remained silent, Frederick thought maybe Manley genuinely couldn¡¯t remember. After all, Manley had always been a bit slow on the uptake, and he had just given him a fright-it wouldn¡¯t be unusual for him to have forgotten some things. He tenderly stroked Manley¡¯s hair, his tone gentle, ¡°If you can¡¯t remember, then let it be. But Manley, would you and Hayes like toe live with me?¡± Manley was perplexed. What did Dad mean by that? ¡°What about Mom?¡± He asked. ¡°Just us, without her.¡± What? Without Mom? Was Dad thinking of kicking Mom out of the house again? He had been ready to tell his father about Mom¡¯s intentions to harm Hayes, but hearing his father speak like this made him even more afraid to reveal the truth. If he lost his Mom, who would have his back? Even though he had started to see Hayes differently, Mom had told him Hayes was a bad kid, that he needed to be tough with him or he¡¯d end up getting bullied! He didn¡¯t want to be without Mom, nor did he want to be bullied by Hayes! Thinking this made Manley especially angry, and he shouted at Frederick, ¡°I don¡¯t want to! I can¡¯t be without Mom! I won¡¯t live with you!¡± Frederick¡¯s face darkened, his voice stern, ¡°Manley!¡± Marguerite watched the standoff between the man and the boy, both asbative as sworn enemies, neither willing to give an inch. She stepped forward, her voice soft but firm, ¡°Enough. Manley is only three years old. It¡¯s too soon for this talk; he doesn¡¯t understand.¡± Frederick, frustrated and agitated, couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°A child¡¯s easily influenced by his families! Now¡¯s the time to set boundaries. How can I assert my authority when Yuna¡¯s always whispering in his ear?¡± ¡°That sounds awfully familiar,¡± Marguerite mused, then it hit her, ¡°Aren¡¯t those my own words from before? You listened well enough to remember them clearly.¡± Frederick was speechless. What was this woman doing, interfering while he was disciplining his child? Yet, it was odd. As far as he was concerned, any love he had once held for Marguerite was long ground to dust by his resentment. But her words, her actions, they haunted him, resurfacing in his mind unbidden. Frederick fell silent, but just then, Chuck burst in again, frantic. ¡°Mr. Winston, there¡¯s trouble! Maurice is downstairs being blocked by the security! He¡¯s trying to barge in, but they won¡¯t let him because of your orders. I just saw him; he looks like he¡¯s calling for backup. Is this going to turn into a brawl?¡± Chapter 512 Upon hearing it, Frederick¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, the warmth that had been directed at Marguerite dissipating in on Instant. ¡°Hees demanding people without even the courtesy of a heads-up?¡± His usatory tone wasden with reproach and a hint of detachment. Marguerite stood up, swallowing the hurt from his questioning, her voice tinged with defiant resilience, neither servile nor overbearing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for troubling you. I¡¯ll handle my affairs and won¡¯t make you intervene.¡± With that, she turned on her heel with a stubborn tilt of her head and left the hospital room. Frederick was left speechless. Was she really getting feisty with him? He¡¯d just given her the chance to leave, and she wouldn¡¯t. Now that Maurice had shown up, messing up his ns, wasn¡¯t he entitled to a little anger? Releasing his grip on Manley, he looked up sharply at Chuck and barked, ¡°Follow her.¡± Chuck, standing at the doorway, nced at Marguerite¡¯s retreating figure as she hurried downstairs, then back at Frederick, ¡°Mr. Winston, are you worried about her?¡± Impatience shed in Frederick¡¯s eyes as he snapped, ¡°Why waste words? Just go!¡± ¡°Mr. Winston was indeed worried about Marguerite! If he was worried, why not just admit it and go himself? Such a tsundere!¡± Chuck mused with an amused smile and took off. However, he had no intention of making his presence known alongside Marguerite. After all, representing Mr. Winston, if Maurice caught sight of him, it could very well heighten his anger. That would make Marguerite¡¯s situation even more difficult. Chuck nned to follow at a distance, ready to step in on Mr. Winston¡¯s orders and shield Marguerite if a confrontation ensued. Meanwhile, Teresa blinked her eyes at Frederick and pointed outside, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go check on her too, Daddy Frederick. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll convince my dad to let Mommy stay! You won¡¯t be all alone in the hospital!¡± Frederick just stared. At the same time, at the entrance to the wards. Marguerite pushed through the throng of bodyguards and strode towards Maurice. She didn¡¯t beat around the bush: ¡°Hayes is in trouble, I need to stay at the hospital with him for the next few days.¡± Maurice¡¯s face was already a picture of displeasure, ¡°Marguerite, Hayes Winston is Frederick and Yuna¡¯s son. What right do you have to be here?¡± ¡°I may have no right, but I¡¯m worried about him. Is that not allowed?¡± Marguerite¡¯s tone was earnest, her inflections betraying a considerable hostility towards Frederick. Maurice paused, taken aback. He suddenly realized that Marguerite was not herself today. Why was she so concerned about Hayes? Could she have learned something? Yet from her words, it seemed she was oblivious to the truth. Despite this, Maurice remained on high alert. He knew the bond between mother and child; Marguerite had a natural maternal instinct towards Hayes. This instinct could drive her uncontrobly to protect him. But now, Hayes was in the hospital. If he let Marguerite stay, and she went through with a DNA test with Hayes out of sheer determination, all his efforts would evaporate into thin air. He couldn¡¯t take that risk! Just then, Teresa broke through the wall of bodyguards and ran toward them. Without hesitation, Maurice strode over to Teresa, scooping her into his arms and heading for the car. ¡°Let¡¯s go home!¡± Teresa shivered in shock. She hade down to persuade Maurice on behalf of her mom, only to be whisked away by him. This was not part of the n! Little Mute hadn¡¯t woken up yet, and she wanted to stay at the hospital with him! Teresa immediately rebelled, iling her arms and legs desperately shouting, ¡°I won¡¯t go home! Hayes is my friend. I want to wait here till he wakes up!¡± ¡°Hospitals are full of germs. It¡¯s just as good to wait at home.¡± As Maurice was about to get into the car, Teresa had a eureka moment and quickly said, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re holding me too tight, it hurts! You can¡¯t force me. Even if we¡¯re going home, can you put me down and talk about it properly?¡± Chapter 513 Maurice doted on Teresa like she was his little princess. Looking down into her big, doe eyes, he asked with a wry smile, ¡°Sweetie, if I put you down, will youe home with me?¡± Teresa pouted adorably, her eyes twinkling like grapes in a vineyard, and nodded her head with an irresistible cuteness. ¡°Of course! Daddy, if you put me down, I¡¯ll go home with you.¡± Maurice was a goner when it came to Teresa¡¯s charms. As he reluctantly set her down, he never expected the little rascal to make a break for it, darting into the wall of bodyguards and sticking her tongue out at him. ¡°Daddy, if you want to take Mommy away, then go ahead, but I¡¯m not moving! Bye-bye, Daddy!¡± She waved at him mockingly, then turned tail and disappeared faster than a rabbit down its hole. That little trickster! Maurice had nned to use Teresa as leverage to bring Marguerite back home, but the tables had turned. Teresa had yed him like a fiddle, and he¡¯d fallen for it. His handsome face clouded over, his aura darkening as he red at the human barricade set up by Frederick. He knew breaking through was a lost cause. ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat myself,¡± he said with a tone that brooked no argument. Turning to Marguerite, he exuded an air ofmand that seemed to weigh down the atmosphere. ¡°Get in the car.¡± Marguerite stood her ground, unflinching. ¡°Do you expect me to leave Teresa here at the hospital all alone?¡± ¡°Marguerite Lockwood!¡± Maurice snapped, his voice rising sharply in warning. ¡°No man can tolerate the humiliation of being cuckolded. My patience has limits, and I hope you don¡¯t test them!¡± However, Marguerite remained cool as a cucumber, her gaze meeting his steadily. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. Even if I wanted to make you aughing stock, it would have to be consensual between me and the other man. And since he despises me so, I¡¯m notfortable leaving Teresa alone here.¡± She lied to Maurice with thatst remark. She wasn¡¯t worried Frederick would harm Teresa; she just wanted an excuse to stay at the hospital. Yet, she couldn¡¯t deny feeling a pang of loss. Nothing hurt more than facing the raw wounds over and over again. Frederick¡¯s feelings for her were nothing but hatred, a constant reminder that she didn¡¯t even have the luxury of self-deception. ¡°Maurice, it¡¯s over between Frederick and me.¡± Ever since Frederick had said that his love had worn away, she had made up her mind. Any further entanglement would only fuel Frederick¡¯s disdain. After all, the intensity of his love in the past was now matched by the depth of his hatred. Hatred was born from love; if she eroded that too, she and Frederick would truly be theplete strangers. She needed to let go of Frederick, and herself. Maintaining the status quo was the best course of action. Maurice closed the distance, looking down at Marguerite as if from a great height, asking, ¡°Is that really what you think?¡± She nodded firmly. ¡°Yes. Since it¡¯s over, there¡¯s nothing for you to worry about.¡± Maurice clenched his jaw, a vein throbbing on his forehead. He couldn¡¯t tell if Marguerite was just cating him or if she meant it. But Hayes was Marguerite¡¯s flesh and blood, and even if he loathed admitting it, Maurice couldn¡¯t deny her the right to care for her own son. Maurice¡¯s affections for Marguerite were always steeped in love, a feeling that frequently resulted in his submission to her. This asion proved to be no different. He red at her fiercely, his gaze threatening as he warned, ¡°You¡¯d better be telling the truth, because if I find out otherwise, you know the consequences will be severe!¡± Chapter 514 Maurice finished his words and retreated back into his car. Marguerite watched him drive away, her gaze lingering until the taillights were no more than a distant glow. Chuck, hidden in the shadows, noticed that they didn¡¯t argue, hurried back to the hospital room to report to Frederick. Once thest trace of Maurice¡¯s car vanished, Marguerite turned and made her way back to the hospital. She had barely stepped into the lobby when her phone buzzed with a call from Miley. ¡°Marguerite! How the heck did Yuna be Robert¡¯s sister?¡± Through the screen, Marguerite could almost feel Miley¡¯s shock rippling across the distance. Now that Miley was in the loop, it was a safe bet that Robert and Penelope were clued in as well. Sighing with a hint of dejection, Marguerite replied, ¡°How should I know? I¡¯m suddenly an only child and just as clueless!¡± Miley was nearing hysteria, her voice a whiny crescendo, ¡°What do we do now? She won¡¯t be my future sister-inw, will she? Maybe you could¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ make another y for it?¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Make a y for what? Hackett waltzed in with a DNA test to im her. What¡¯s there for me to fight for? Besides, I¡¯ve barely crossed paths with Hackett. He probably doesn¡¯t even know who I am!¡± ¡°Marguerite, you gotta understand, Robert¡¯s taking this harder than eating a spoonful of mustard. He¡¯s been sulking in the boxing gym all day, punching so hard he¡¯s scared off several trainers!¡± Marguerite paused, then asked instinctively, ¡°And what about Penny? How¡¯s she handling it?¡± ¡°Penny? Who¡¯s Penny?¡± Miley sounded utterly baffled. ¡°Your mother-inw, Penelope!¡± ¡°Oh! Oh, yeah! I overheard them on the phone; she seemed pretty down. She probably hoped her daughter would be you, but with the DNA test, she can¡¯t exactly object.¡± Suddenly, Marguerite felt a strange twist in her heart. She knew the Fitzgeralds had been searching for their daughter for years, and Penelope had been particrly heartbroken over
Now that their daughter was found, they should be overjoyed, regardless. But Miley said Penelope felt an unusual loss, specifically because Marguerite wasn¡¯t her daughter. She had thought she was the only one feeling the loss. Yet, to be remembered and wanted warmed Marguerite¡¯s heart. She hadn¡¯t known Penelope for long, but the kindness shown could rival that of her own mother, Jocelyn. All she hoped for was that Penelope wouldn¡¯t let the grudge between her and Yuna color her perception. Now that Yuna had the support of the Fitzgeralds, she would certainly not let Marguerite off the hook easily. Marguerite had wanted to ask more about how the Fitzgeralds found Yuna, which could give her a direction in searching for her own lost child. She didn¡¯t want Maurice using it as leverage over her anymore. But before she could ask anything, Robert beckoned Miley away, and the call was promptly ended. Marguerite pocketed her phone and returned to the hospital room, finding Frederick still embroiled in a debate with little Manley over Yuna¡¯s situation. The two were locked in a stare-down, the tension palpable. Manley, already pudgy, puffed up with anger, his cheeks ballooning like a chipmunk¡¯s. ¡°I wanna live with daddy and mommy, and if mommy¡¯s not home, Aunt Marguerite will be mean to me! I don¡¯t wanna be bullied!¡± Marguerite stopped in her tracks, surprised to overhear Manley badmouthing her. She didn¡¯t want to stoop to arguing with a three-year-old and brushed it off. But unexpectedly, Frederick who always imed indifference towards her, stood up for her, no-561 ¡°Who said Aunt Marguerite is a meanie? That¡¯s not how we talk about people, kiddo!¡± Chapter 515 Manley¡¯s sobs burst forth in a torrent, his small shoulders shaking uncontrobly as he repeatedly wiped his tears with the sleeve of his shirt. Teresa stood by, her cheeks puffed with irritation. ¡°Hmph! Considering how you fuss over Hayes, I thought you might turn over a new leaf, but then you go and call my mom the viin! You¡¯re the viin! You and your mom are the real viins!¡± Manley¡¯s voice escted into a full-blown tantrum, iling as though he might throw himself on the floor in protest. ¡°My mom is not the viin! Your mom is the viin! She is!¡± His voice was loud and shrill, cutting through the air until Frederick furrowed his brow and couldn¡¯t help but bark out in anger, ¡°Manley Winston!¡± Manley was instantly silenced, and he looked up, eyes wide in shock. Frederick¡¯s anger was terrifying, but Manley didn¡¯t think he said anything untrue. Wasn¡¯t it okay to speak the truth? Marguerite could see Frederick¡¯s chest rising and falling with barely contained fury, and she didn¡¯t need to guess how angry he was. Marguerite had long heard of Manley¡¯s arrogance. But back at the Winston Mansion, she had little to do with Manley and rarely saw his temper re. Now, witnessing it firsthand, she could see the rumors didn¡¯t do justice to his outbursts. Manley¡¯s temperament, to a certain extent, was a product of Yuna¡¯s nurturing. She approached Frederick, her voice soft but with a polite distance. ¡°May I have a word with him?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were stormy with anger, and he remained silent, neither consenting nor objecting. His own son wouldn¡¯t listen to him; what chance did Marguerite, a virtual stranger, have to sway Manley? He was curious to see what this meddlesome woman could possibly do. Marguerite moved forward anyway and slowly crouched beside Manley, smiling warmly at him. Manley froze. When had Aunt Margueritee in? Had she heard everything he just said? He was in big trouble! She was such a meanie, surely she wouldn¡¯t cut him any ck! Manley nervously looked up at Marguerite, his earlier defiance vanishing, reced by a hint of apprehension. ¡°Manley, do you think I¡¯m a meanie?¡± Marguerite asked gently. Manley¡¯s eyes widened, and he nodded dumbly. ¡°Can you tell me why you think I¡¯m a meanie?¡± For a moment, Manley was at a loss. He expected Marguerite to be cross with him, but instead, she spoke softly. What was going on? Mommy had warned him that Marguerite was fierce! Stay away, or she will smack you! Manley stared at Marguerite, stammering and unable to articte a reason. Marguerite remained patient, moving a bit closer to him. ¡°Manley, why do we have eyes?¡± The question seemed to catch him off guard. ¡°To see things,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Exactly, to see people, see the world, and most importantly, to discern right from wrong. Sounds deceive, but if you see something with your own eyes, that¡¯s the truth, right? Have you ever seen me do something mean?¡± Do something mean? He indeed couldn¡¯t recall ever witnessing such a thing. So Manley pouted and shook his head. ¡°Have I ever picked on you?¡± Marguerite continued. Again, Manley shook his head. 09:06 Marguerite smiled and asked, ¡°Then how can I be a meanie?¡± Manley looked at her, then nced over at Hayes lying in the hospital bed not too far away. ¡°But you¡¯re always with Hayes! Hayes is a little rascal, so you must be the big rascal!¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t want your mommy to draw blood from Hayes, which means you¡¯re worried about him, right? If you are so noble, why would you care about a little rascal? If you¡¯re worried about a little rascal, then that would make you a little rascal too.¡± Manley¡¯s eyes went wide, and he rushed to clear his name, ¡°I¡¯m not a little rascal!¡± Marguerite humbled herself to his level, asking in a child-like tone, ¡°Is Hayes then?¡± Caught in Marguerite¡¯s logic, Manley frowned, instinctively shaking his head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°And what about me? Am I a rascal?¡± Marguerite¡¯s eyes twinkled with hope as she looked at Manley expectantly. Chapter 516 Manley had an epiphany, and his gaze locked seriously with Marguerite¡¯s. ¡°No, you are not!¡± He finally replied. Finally, Marguerite¡¯s face broke into a satisfied smile. She reached out, ruffling Manley¡¯s hair affectionately, her voice tender and sweet. ¡°That¡¯s my boy! Manley, you¡¯re so bright and sensible. I bet you are everyone¡¯s favorite little guy!¡± Manley beamed with pride. His heart warmed, and suddenly Marguerite didn¡¯t seem so intimidating after all. In fact, she was kind, even more patient with him than Mommy had ever been! There had been times when he¡¯d upset Mommy, and she¡¯d been quite harsh with him. And she always threatened that if he wasn¡¯t obedient, Daddy would grow cold, and he¡¯d be cut off from the inheritance! So, to keep Mommy happy, he did everything she asked, no questions asked! But here he was, having just spoken ill of Aunt Marguerite, and instead of threatening him, she had patted his head and called him a smart, sensible child. His confidence soared. Feeling a pang of guilt, Manley tugged at Marguerite¡¯s sleeve, mumbling bashfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Auntie¡­ I won¡¯t say things like that again.¡± Marguerite, with a generous look on her face, pinched Manley¡¯s fleshy cheeks again, dotingly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re too cute to stay mad at!¡± After saying this, she looked triumphantly at Frederick. Frederick¡¯s face showed a hint of embarrassment. He didn¡¯t say anything, but he was secretly impressed. He was surprised that Marguerite could smooth over a w in Manley¡¯s personality that he himself had struggled with for so long. And he had to admit, there was a certain charm about Marguerite, a charm that made her likable to everyone. Whether it was his mother, Robert, Manley, Hayes, or even Chuck, Marguerite had a way of winning their hearts. And yet, why did he harbor such intense animosity for her?? Their rtionship should never have be so strained. Marguerite was unaware of the turmoil in Frederick¡¯s heart. She stood up, faced him, and whispered, ¡°When ites to kids, you can¡¯t go against the grain. you have to go with the flow. It works wonders.¡± He responded with a nomittal ¡°Hmm.¡± Marguerite then looked at Manley, who had sincerely apologized, and Teresa had forgiven him. Now, the two little ones werepeting to get Hayes a ss of water. ¡°Manley¡¯s a good kid at heart. A three-year-old can only be so ¡®bad.¡¯ He listens to what people tell him, and his understanding of the world is shaped by those around him,¡± said Marguerite. Frederick¡¯s refined features tightened slightly. ¡°Since when did the high-and-mighty Marguerite start insinuating things about others?¡± She didn¡¯t deny it. Frederick, shrewd as ever, knew she wasn¡¯t alluding to just anyone; it was Yuna. ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me whatever Yuna says about me to Manley. But what I can¡¯t fathom is why Hayes, her own child, is getting the same treatment as me? A mother, no matter how wed or wicked, usually sees her child as herst line of defense. But clearly, Yuna doesn¡¯t seem to regard Hayes as her child at all.¡± Marguerite¡¯s bewilderment echoed Frederick¡¯s own confusion. If outsiders could sense Yuna¡¯s animosity towards Hayes, how could he ignore it? Something required his immediate attention.¡± Frederick steadied himself, turned sharply on his heel, and exited the hospital room with Chuck. Chapter 517 Chuck was on the phone when Frederick beckoned him out of the hospital room. He quickly hung up and reported with due respect, ¡°Mr. Winston, the adult willing to donate blood for Manley has been contacted. We should be able to proceed with the surgery tomorrow. As for the blood drawn from Hayes, it¡¯s been transfused back into him. He should recover in a few days.¡± Frederick nodded slightly, a trace of frost and dominance in his deep gaze. ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going on Yuna¡¯s pregnancy at the ind retreat three years ago?¡± Chuck¡¯s face immediately creased with worry. He nervously rubbed his fingers, his facial features twisting with tension. ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯m digging for leads, but so far¡­ not much to go on. I¡¯ve talked to the staff from back then, and they say Ms. Yuna hardly left her room on the ind, keeping to herself. No one knew what she was up to. Except for meal times, she was hardly seen around. She imed to be resting in her room, but no one knew what she was actually doing during that time. Frederick¡¯s dark eyes sharpened, his brows furrowed with frustration as he strode to the end of the hallway, lighting up a cigarette and taking a drag. The ember glowed intermittently, casting his striking features in a harsher light, especially his chiseled jawline, sharp as a de¡¯s edge, surrounding him with an aura of icy menace. ¡°Mr. Winston, I find Ms. Yuna¡¯s actions baffling. If it was simply about using Hayes¡¯ wellbeing to save Manley, I could somewhat understand. There are countless stories where parents have another child to save their first from illnesses like leukemia when they can¡¯t find a matching donor. What I can¡¯t fathom is why she persisted in her ways when there was already apatible adult blood donor for Manley.¡± The thin smoke curled from Frederick¡¯s lips, his voice rough with a hint of gravel and his gaze narrowing more hawkish. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, neither do I. What are her true motives?¡± Hayes was, after all, the son of Chuck¡¯s boss, and the thought of the young master¡¯s suffering over the years clenched his heart with pain. He sighed heavily, his wordsced with bitterness. ¡°I just heard from Manley that Ms. Yuna has been badmouthing not only Marguerite but Hayes as well. She subtly poisoned Manley against Hayes, painting him as a child beyond redemption. This isn¡¯t just simple favoritism! Mr. Winston, Marguerite had a point. A child is a mother¡¯sst stand, but Ms. Yuna has never treated Hayes as her own!¡± Hearing this, Frederick felt an ufortable chill. These were conclusions he could have drawn himself, weren¡¯t they? But it was as if something clouded his vision, preventing him from seeing the truth. He couldn¡¯t grasp why, as a mother, Yuna could inflict such cruelty on her own child. Nor could he fathom her motives! Since Barnes¡¯ arrest, it seemed like the truth was slowly surfacing, yet there was still a crucial piece missing. Chuck paced back and forth, his eyes suddenly shing with a startling realization. He braced himself, seeing Frederick¡¯s expression, and ventured a bold suggestion, ¡°Mr. Winston¡­ perhaps you should take this opportunity to do another maternity test.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze cut through Chuck like a de, ¡°It was done at birth. Manley and Hayes are both my sons!¡± Chuck shivered with fear. He swallowed hard, hesitated, then added, ¡°There¡¯s no doubt Manley and Hayes are your sons, but that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that Hayes is Ms. Yuna¡¯s.¡± Frederick suddenly realized something, his body freezing in ce as the umted ash from his cigarette unexpectedly fell to the floor. Chuck edged closer to Frederick, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of cunning and sincerity. ¡°What I mean is, why not test Hayes and Marguerite?¡± 08:511 Chapter 518 Actually, the idea that had taken root in Chuck¡¯s mind was nothing more than a hunch. Whether it held any truth was something even he couldn¡¯t be sure about. But it was worth a shot. ¡°Mr. Winston, no mother in her right mind would willingly harm her child, yet Ms. Yuna did just that-and without a second thought! Doesn¡¯t that suggest, indirectly, that Hayes isn¡¯t Yuna¡¯s kid?¡± Chuck said, looking at Frederick across from him. He rubbed his hands together for warmth before continuing, ¡°Mr. Winston, do you remember when we went to Regal Haven Hotel to retrieve the surveince footage? The woman in the video had a striking resemnce to both Ms. Yuna and Marguerite! If that woman wasn¡¯t Yuna, then it must have been Marguerite¡­¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were terrifying, his trance-like contemtion causing the cigarette to burn down perilously close to his fingers. Agitated, he flicked the cigarette butt away and swiftly lit another, drawing on it with a sense of urgency and impatience. After a long pause, he suddenly realized that Chuck¡¯s analysis made a lot of sense. If Hayes really was Marguerite¡¯s child, then Manley, Hayes¡¯ twin brother, would also have to be Marguerite¡¯s son. Given that both were Marguerite¡¯s children, why then did Yuna favor Manley and hurt Hayes? The reasons behind this discrepancy seemed worth investigating. Of course, all of this was spection on Chuck¡¯s part. Nothing would be as convincing as a maternity test. ¡°Do we still have Hayes¡¯ blood sample in the blood bank?¡± Chuck nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston! You just need to find a way to get a blood or hair sample from Marguerite.¡± Frederick extinguished his cigarette and tossed it out the window before turning around and striding back to the hospital room with a decisive air. Chuck lingered in ce for a moment, then saw Mr. Winston swiftly exit, leading Marguerite by her delicate wrist. Chuck was somewhat taken aback, thinking to himself that Mr. Winston was truly a man of action. His silhouette wasmanding, and with petite Marguerite trailing behind him, his stature seemed all the more imposing. Goodness! His boss was oozing authority! Chuck was impressed by Frederick¡¯s handsomeness, but Marguerite was not so calm. Just moments ago, Hayes had woken up, and she was in the middle of helping Hayes drink water and take his medicine when Frederick barged in and dragged her out without saying a word, making her confused. Moreover, with his long strides matching her two for every one, Marguerite was practically jogging to keep up, like a little tagalong. It was a struggle for Marguerite to keep pace, and only upon entering the elevator did she manage to free herself from his grip, her irritation evident as she asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was icy and unyielding from the start. ¡°Robert called me and said your blood sample from the previous check-up went missing. He asked me to take you to get another one done.¡± A check-up? As Frederick mentioned it, Marguerite suddenly remembered that on her first day of work at Poppy Petal Fragrances, she indeed. had been sent for a check-up that ended with just a blood draw. Little did she know that the blood taken before was for a maternity test and the same was true now. Marguerite was in the dark about what had transpired and didn¡¯t dwell on the matter. She couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°You could have told me sooner. You came rushing in like there was some emergency.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were deep pools of thought, but he offered no further exnation. Soon after having her blood drawn at theb, Marguerite returned to the hospital room. Frederick, however, holding her blood sample, made a beeline for the DNA testingb. Chapter 519 It was just Frederick¡¯s bad luck that when he arrived at the DNA testingb, he found that all the doctors had clocked out for the day, leaving only a young nurse on duty. She told Frederick that he could leave a blood sample and if he requested expedited processing, the results would be ready by the next morning. The truth was so close that he could almost taste it, but at thest minute¡­ Ah, well! Good thingse to those who wait. He could handle one more night. With no other choice, Frederick left the blood sample and made his way back to the private room. By that time, the sky had turned pitch ck. Hayes had woken up, and Marguerite had just finished serving dinner to the three kids. Hayes looked a lot better, though he was still weak. Bundled up in bed, he had no idea of the drama that had unfolded while he was unconscious. The moment Frederick appeared, Hayes stretched out his arms, his voice tinged with a need forfort, ¡°Daddy¡­hug me¡­¡± The room wasn¡¯t chilly, so Frederick scooped Hayes out from under the covers and set him on hisp. ¡°How you feeling, buddy?¡± Frederick asked gently. Hayes answered, ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­ Is Manley better?¡± Marguerite hesitated; she was touched that Hayes was still worried about Manley. But the more considerate he was, the more it pained her. Manley was feeling guilty and couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet Hayes¡¯ gaze. Frederick hugged Hayes a little tighter and said, ¡°Buddy, you don¡¯t have to give Manley anymore blood transfusions.¡± Hayes looked up, surprised and confused. ¡°Why? I want to¡­ save him¡­ My blood¡­ can help¡­¡± Teresa nudged Manley, urging him forward. Manley approached awkwardly and touched the spot on Hayes¡¯ arm where the needle had been, his tone both proud and petnt, ¡°I know your blood can help!¡± ¡°Then why¡­ ¡°Because! Just because!¡± Manley cut Hayes off, his awkwardness showing. ¡°Because I¡¯m worried about you, okay? Dad found someone else to donate blood to me. You¡¯re too little to be worrying about everyone else!¡± Manley¡¯s voice was stern, but Hayes was visibly moved. Had he heard right? Was Manley worried about him? The thought made Hayes¡¯ pale face break into a warm smile. The room was suddenly filled with a harmonious and cozy atmosphere. Frederick couldn¡¯t help but give Marguerite a second look. He had to admit, if it weren¡¯t for Marguerite¡¯s guidance that afternoon, the two boys might not have reconciled so quickly. Suddenly, Teresa pointed outside, her face alight with excitement, ¡°Hayes¡¯ Daddy, Mommy, look! It¡¯s snowing!¡± Everyone turned to look, and Teresa¡¯s excitement bubbled over, ¡°Can we go have a snowball fight, please?¡± Marguerite quickly pulled Teresa back, ¡°Hayes is still recovering, and Manley has surgery in the morning. We can¡¯t go out for a snowball fight now.¡± Teresa looked crestfallen as she peered out the window, ¡°But the snow ising down so hard, and I haven¡¯t had a single snowball fight this year¡­¡± Seeing the mix of hope and disappointment in Teresa¡¯s eyes, Hayes didn¡¯t want her to feel sad. He looked up at Frederick and suggested, ¡°Daddy, if we can¡¯t have a snowball fight, we can build a snowman¡­¡± Manley chimed in to support the idea, ¡°Yeah! Daddy Aunt Marguerite, let¡¯s go downstairs and build a snowman! It won¡¯t be tiring.e on, please!¡± The two adults couldn¡¯t resist the charm offensive of the three little ones and surrendered, agreeing to their request. Marguerite bundled Hayes up tightly, while Teresa and Manley, more rugged, threw on their sweaters and dashed downstairs. Marguerite and Frederick walked behind the three kids, watching them y with unbridled joy. But unexpectedly, Frederick stopped in his tracks and asked, ¡°Marguerite, did you lose a ne three years ago? A sapphire ne?¡± Chapter 520 Marguerite turned to face Frederick, the pristine moonlight casting over his head, wrapping him in a halo of golden grace. She was baffled, utterly at a loss as to why he would suddenly bring up something from three years ago-the matter of the sapphire ne. Her mind stuttered through her memories; it seemed that when the ne went missing, he hadn¡¯t seemed to care much about it. She recalled rushing into Frederick¡¯s room, eager to describe the design of the ne, hoping he¡¯d keep an eye out for it. But he had cut her off, showing no interest. So, why was he now so certain that the lost ne was the sapphire one? Marguerite couldn¡¯t find the logic in it and could only nod, her eyes slightly widened as she answered, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s lost. What about it?¡± Frederick¡¯s face was taut with intensity as he closed the gap between them, his tall frame casting an imposing presence that rushed over her in waves of urgency. ¡°The ne-did you lose it before you met me, or after?¡± His proximity sent Marguerite¡¯s heart into a frantic gallop, almost leaping from her throat. She had resolved to give up on Frederick and didn¡¯t want to give herself any reason to feel otherwise. She took a few steps back, avoiding his burning gaze. ¡°I suppose it was after I met you.¡± ¡°Do you remember where you lost it?¡± Marguerite wracked her brain, but the passage of time had blurred the details in her memory. ¡°If I remembered where it was, would I havee to your room looking for it? But I suspect it¡¯s somewhere within your estate. Never found it, in any case.¡± Within his estate? Impossible! He remembered that Sadie had looked for it on Marguerite¡¯s behalf, but she never found it. ¡°Could it have been taken by Yuna?¡± Frederick asked. Marguerite was confused, her gaze filled with puzzlement as she looked at him.. Why was he suddenly so interested in the past? She just couldn¡¯t figure him out. Shaking her head firmly, Marguerite denied the possibility, ¡°How would I know? Yuna is so materialistic, why would she even care about my sapphire ne? But Frederick, since when did you start beating around the bush? If you¡¯re so interested in that sapphire ne, what are you trying to prove?¡± What was he trying to prove? He just wanted to confirm whether the woman he¡¯d had a one-night stand with years ago was indeed Marguerite. But her recent reply gave him no clues, leaving himpletely in the dark. He was on the verge ofying it all out, demanding to know if she had ever been to the Regal Haven Hotel that night three years ago. Yet, deep down, he feared her response. If she said she hadn¡¯t been there, would he still care about the maternity test results in the morning? For a moment, he wasn¡¯t sure what answer he wanted to hear. But since the results of the maternity test would be revealed by morning, unveiling the truth, there was no need to press the issue. Seeing that he remained silent, Marguerite lost interest in pursuing the conversation further. She noticed the children ying joyfully and hurried to join them, kneeling on the snowy ground to start building a snowman with them. Their four silhouettes formed a tranquil and harmonious picture. This scene, reflected in Frederick¡¯s eyes, seemed to brighten and warm his entire world¡­. Chapter 521 Frederick harbored a hidden sense of regret and sadness in his heart. How had he and Marguerite ended up in this ce today? He had loved her so much back then, so desperate to have her. But now, all he could distinctly recognize was his hatred for her. The love, the adoration, It all seemed to be blurring into obscurity. So, if Marguerite truly was Hayes¡¯ mother, what was he to do? Should he keep things distant, or should he take her back for the sake of their child? Frederick was in utter disarray¡­ Early the next morning. Manley¡¯s blood transfusion surgery was scheduled for eight. He dutifully changed into his hospital gown, ready to step into the operating room, when he noticed everyone¡¯s eyes on him. In that instant, his mind conjured up scenes from TV dramas where only the gravely ill received such worried and tense gazes from their families. His dad, Aunt Marguerite, Teresa, and Hayes-they all looked at him with that same concern. This sudden sense of crisis struck Manley with the fear that he might nevere out once he went in. Still, he suppressed his nerves, put on a cool front, and tilted his chin up proudly at Hayes. ¡°Hey, little mute! If I don¡¯t make it out, you can have all the Legos in the toy room!¡± Hayes froze, his nose tingling, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll be¡­ you¡¯ll be okay.¡± Manley¡¯s face showed defiance, but he mustered all his courage and asked, ¡°So if I do make it out, can you¡­ can you be my. friend?¡± Be his friend? Hayes was shocked. Manley wanted to be his friend? This was the first time Manley had ever extended an olive branch so directly, leaving Hayes utterly bbergasted. Unable to hold back any longer, tears streamed down Hayes¡¯ cheeks as he shook his head wildly, unable to utter a word. Seeing this, Teresa yfully chimed in, ¡°You guys aren¡¯t friends!¡± Disappointment surged in Manley at her words. Little Mute must still be mad at him, and Teresa probably hated him too¡­ But to his surprise, the next second, he saw Teresa sh him a mischievous smile. ¡°You¡¯re his brother, not just friends, silly! Manley, Little Mute and I will wait for you toe out! Once you¡¯re better, I¡¯ll let you join our ¡®Vine Whip Alliance¡±!¡± Teresa promptly grabbed Hayes and Manley¡¯s hands, embracing them tightly, all three bursting into heartfelt tears. It was a scene both touching and funny. Frederick watched contentedly, feeling that everything was starting to go smoothly now that Yuna was out of the picture. It seemed that keeping Yuna away from Manley and Hayes was indeed the right decision. Just then, Chuck received a phone call. After a brief exchange, he approached Frederick and whispered, ¡°Mr. Winston, theb called about the maternity test for Hayes and Marguerite. The results are in.¡± Chapter 522 As Frederick nced at his watch. The scene in front of him was so heartwarming that he did not want to interrupt. But if he let the kids continue their tearful disy, it wouldn¡¯t just dy the surgery, the real issue was his growing anxiety to get the maternity test results from downstairs. His bright eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke up to break the silence, ¡°Alright, the surgery isn¡¯t as serious as you think. Let Manley go in, and try to stay calm.¡± The three little ones let go of each other, Hayes and Teresa still sobbing, tears streaming down their cheeks. I a F. 2 ¡± Manley obediently nodded, turning his head back every few steps as he followed the doctors and nurses into the operating room. Frederick was about to leave when he paused, overhearing Marguerite¡¯s soft murmur, ¡°Poor Hayes, he really tugs at my heartstrings.¡± Frederick halted, his gaze fixed intently on Marguerite, puzzled. Marguerite met Frederick¡¯s eyes, sniffled, and gently exined, ¡°I read an article once that said the bond between twins is the deepest in the world. But Hayes has received love and attention far toote. His life shouldn¡¯t have been like this. Thankfully, there¡¯s still time, and I¡¯m sure from now on, he¡¯ll be happy¡­ Frederick¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t waver as he stared into Marguerite¡¯s, his look meaningful. ¡°You seem to have a special interest in my son, huh?¡± Realizing she might have overstepped, Marguerite managed a weak smile, her tone carrying an almost imperceptible apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He gave her a long look, then quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± before hurrying away. Stepping into the elevator, Frederick nced at his watch again and raised his eyes, his restless gaze mirroring the unease in his heart. Turning to Chuck, he couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°Did you ask about the results when the doctor called you?¡± Chuck shook his head nkly, his anxiety matching Frederick¡¯s. ¡°Mr. Winston, I didn¡¯t feel it was my ce to ask ahead of time. I thought that you should be the first to know.¡± Chuck, attuned to the urgency in his boss¡¯ eyes and knowing the deep hopes harbored in his heart, quickly added, ¡°Mr. Winston, to be honest, I think Hayes is Marguerite¡¯s son. Whenever she¡¯s around Hayes, there¡¯s this maternal glow about her. Maybe that¡¯s the so-called mother-child connection¡­¡± Chuck waited cautiously for Frederick¡¯s reaction. Unfortunately, Frederick¡¯s response was ambiguous, leaving Chuck unable to decipher his thoughts. Soon, they arrived at theb. A young nurse, masked and waiting, hurriedly handed the sealed test results to Frederick with both hands, respectfully saying, ¡°Mr. Winston, here are your test results.¡± Suddenly, Frederick hesitated, staring at the envelope as if in a trance, motionless. Seeing this, Chuck took a deep breath, stepped forward to take the report, and nced at Frederick nervously. ¡°Mr. Winston, shall I check it for you first?¡± Without saying a word, as if braced for the oue, Frederick snatched the report from Chuck¡¯s hands and opened it immediately. The report was thick, filled with graphs and data dancing across the pages, but Frederick impatiently flipped to thest page. One sentence stood out starkly. ¡°The maternity test results indicate a non-parentage rtionship. Chapter 523 Frederick scanned the dense lines of text for what felt like the umpteenth time, and finally, his gaze settled on the words ¡°non-parentage rtionship.¡± It was as if a stone had been dropped into the still waters of his heart, rippling through his calm with a resounding ssh. His chest felt heavy, his mind anything but at peace. Wasn¡¯t Hayes Marguerite¡¯s child? It seemed he had been wishful thinking all along. But then, why had Yuna done all those things to Hayes? Questions circled back to the beginning. Chuck, standing nearby, hadn¡¯t even nced at the results of the maternity test, but he could read the truth in the subtle shifts of Frederick¡¯s expression. He punched his fist into his palm regretfully, racking his brain for words offort. ¡°Don¡¯t be down, Mr. Winston. Maybe there was a mix-up with the test! How about we get Marguerite and Hayes down here and run it again?¡± Frederick was a tempest of frustration, his face betraying his emotions despite his stubborn words. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be down about. That woman and I have nothing to do with each other. This was a waste of time!¡± With a scoff, he tossed the report at Chuck and walked away, his disappointment trailing behind him. In the distance¡­ Behind the ss, a young nurse saw Frederick ept the maternity results without question. She breathed a sigh of relief, turned away, and slipped off her mask to reveal the face of Janie, looking determined. She quickly dialed a number and reported with precision, ¡°Mr. Winston, this is Janie. You were right, he brought Marguerite and Hayes for a maternity test.¡± Maurice tensed up on the other end. ¡°Was Marguerite there?¡± ¡°Marguerite wasn¡¯t present. Frederick conducted the maternity test without her knowledge.¡± The tension in Maurice¡¯s eyes eased, a sly smile curling at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Did you take care of it?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Winston, it¡¯s been handled.¡± ¡°Find a time to leave the hospital, and don¡¯t give them any reason to suspect.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Winston!¡± After the hurried conversation, Janie put her mask back on, nning to exit through the back door. But her gaze inadvertently fell on Chuck. He hadn¡¯t left, flipping through the reports with a look of disappointment and dissatisfaction. Janie¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she couldn¡¯t help but recall the moment she and Maurice had parted ways the day before- After Maurice drove off, Janie had sensed the tinge of nervousness and caution on his face. She tried to reassure him, ¡°Mr. Winston, so far, Marguerite hasn¡¯t found any loose ends that could prove Hayes is her son. She¡¯s unlikely to get a maternity test done on a whim.¡± Janie had been in the passenger seat of the car when Maurice and Marguerite were talking, close enough to hear their exchange clearly. She knew Maurice was eager to take Marguerite home for fear she¡¯d suddenly decide to take Hayes for a maternity test. As Maurice gazed out the window at the, swiftly changing scenery, his thoughts grew moreplex. ¡°Marguerite doesn¡¯t need to find any loose ends. A mother¡¯s instinct is like a sixth sense, and she and Hayes have shown each other affection many times. We¡¯re at a critical juncture now, and I don¡¯t want any slip-ups.¡± Janie hesitated before asking, ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Winston?¡± He turned to her, his handsome yet pallid face casting a shadow of malice, chilling to the bone. ¡°Lock down all the maternity testing facilities in Stonebridge City¡¯s hospitals. If Marguerite tries to get a test done with Hayes, tamper with the results.¡± ¡°And what about the tests for Frederick and Teresa? Lock them down as well?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Winston!¡± Chapter 524 At the same time, Manley¡¯s blood transfusion had been a sess, and Hayes had been resting in the hospital. After a little over a week, the two boys were ready to be discharged. They hadn¡¯t brought much when they first checked in, but now, packing up to head home, they were swamped with bags. There were essentials for the three children, along with some household items Marguerite had bought on a whim. Thankfully, the VIP hospital suite was spacious enough. Besides Hayes and Manley¡¯s room, there was also a small side room. Marguerite and Teresa had been bunking down in that side room, while Frederick had been roughing it on the couch in the main lounge. Marguerite had considered swapping with Frederick several times, feeling guilty for always relegating him to the couch. But every time she stepped out of the room, she¡¯d find Frederick on the balcony, lost in a cloud of smoke, his gaze fixed on some distant point, shrouded in a cloak of mncholy. She couldn¡¯t guess what was on his mind. Not wanting to intrude on his solitude, she shelved the idea of swapping ces. Chuck and a few bodyguards stayed back to pack up, while Marguerite and Frederick, along with the three little ones, headed downstairs to go home. Their Maybach was parked right outside the hospital entrance. However, as Marguerite was stepping down the stairs, a ck SUV boldly parked itself right in front of their ride. Janie got out of the back seat, smiling as she approached Marguerite, politely advising, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, Mr. Winston is currently scouting wedding venues. He heard that Hayes and Manley were being discharged today and sent me to escort you over.¡± Marguerite was speechless to the core. Did Maurice really have to be so persistent? She hadn¡¯t even made it home yet, and here he was, pulling strings to force her into his ns! ¡°What does his venue scouting have to do with me?¡± At that moment, Frederick, cradling Manley, walked past Marguerite without a nce. Seeing this, Janie raised her voice intentionally, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, this is your wedding too, after all. And haven¡¯t you promised Mr. Winston that the chapter between you and Frederick was over?¡± Frederick¡¯s rigid back momentarily froze. He turned to look at Marguerite, his eyes carrying an inscrutable hue. But Marguerite knew his mood at that moment seemed far from pleased. She averted her guilty gaze from him, only to sneer disdainfully at Janie, ¡°You don¡¯t need to beat around the bush in front of me. But I am curious, are you so eager for me to join him so I can scout an early escape route for the wedding?¡± Janie looked awkwardly aside, making way for Marguerite. ¡°I¡¯m just the messenger, Ms. Lockwood. Please don¡¯t make this hard for me. Just get in the car, or I won¡¯t be able to exin myself.¡± Janie¡¯s difficulties were none of Marguerite¡¯s concern. Marguerite barely nced at her but turned to find Frederick efficiently loading the children into the car and then coldlymanding the driver, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The driver nced at Marguerite, knowing he couldn¡¯t disobey Frederick¡¯s orders. He reluctantly started the engine, rather slowly, all the while signaling Marguerite to get in. Seeing this, Marguerite didn¡¯t wait for Janie to react. She yanked open the car door and jumped in with lightning speed. The driver, seeing her settled, floored the elerator and sped off with everyone on board. Marguerite caught a glimpse of Janie in the rearview mirror, seemingly reporting to Maurice on the phone. She wisely shut off her phone, then turned to re at Frederick, utterly baffled. ¡°After all, I¡¯ve been looking after Hayes and Manley for a week which counts for something. You can¡¯t just leave me and run off. That¡¯s just not right!¡± Frederick calmly rolled down the window. The breeze tousled his hair, sending a few strands into disarray. ¡°So, what would you have me do? You can¡¯t expect someone to wait for you forever.¡± Even though she had resolved to let him go, Marguerite¡¯s heart still ached when he spoke those words. 08:19 And on Frederick¡¯s side, Janie¡¯s suggestivement echoed in his mind. Marguerite had assured Maurice that things between them were over¡­ He despised the restlessness that gnawed at him, so heshed out with harsh words meant to warn Marguerite-and perhaps to warn himself as well. ¡°Don¡¯t delude yourself into thinking I¡¯d ever fight for you. Better drop that notion right now, Marguerite. I don¡¯t love you anymore.¡± Chapter 525 There we go again, he said he didn¡¯t love her anymore! She had grasped the message in his heart, so why did he insist on repeating it over and over? He was always like this vaciting, tormenting her to her very soul! Marguerite bit her lower lip fiercely, feeling a tumultuous ache in her chest, ¡°I get it, you don¡¯t need to tell me every single day. It¡¯s exhausting for me to hear!¡± The atmosphere in the car took a sudden nosedive into awkward silence after Marguerite spat out those words. Both of them seemed upset, yet neither understood what they were really angry about. So what if Frederick didn¡¯t love her? Wasn¡¯t it enough that she loved him? But that confession, Marguerite could never muster the courage to voice it out loud. Most of the time, Marguerite despised herself for not being as bold as someone like Miley, who charged headfirst into love, recklessly pursuing the one she cherished. It wasn¡¯t like she hadn¡¯t tried. Lately, she¡¯d been desperately clinging to him, in a manner so demeaning it almost stripped her of her dignity. But what she received in return was only neglect and agony. Perhaps she was never meant to be strong. From her earliest memories, she¡¯d been hurt too much, too deeply; her spirit was scarred beyond recognition. So, to protect her battered heart, she chose to run away, time and time again. If Frederick hated her, she¡¯d stop chasing. If he wanted to torment her, she¡¯d hide away. Her love for him, that profound affection, would be forever concealed within the depths of her heart. And so be it. She was tired, too. Letting go of Frederick meant freeing herself; it was the best oue. In the backseat, Marguerite upied the left while Frederick took the right. Unspoken words hung between them, creating a divide that neither seemed willing to bridge. But Teresa, sitting between them, looked from one to the other, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles. Daddy had just said he didn¡¯t love Mommy anymore. That simply wouldn¡¯t do! If Daddy didn¡¯t love Mommy, how could she tell them the truth of her origin? Involuntarily, Teresa¡¯s thoughts drifted to a month ago when she had used a strand of Daddy¡¯s hair for a DIY paternity test. If she brought out the test results, revealing to Frederick that she too was his child, would that make Daddy fall back in love with Mommy? Teresa was conflicted; she had guarded this secret for a whole month! It was suffocating her, and each time she wanted to reveal it, something made her hesitate. But this time, she couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer! She decided toe clean to Frederick, then figure out the next steps. Before long, they arrived back at the Winston Mansion. As they each lifted the little ones out of the car, Teresa grabbed Marguerite¡¯s hand and pulled her towards the house. But no sooner had they stepped inside than they were met by a charging Yuna, her eyes filled with desperate hope that vanished the moment they locked gazes, reced by an arrogance even more pronounced than usual. ¡°Where¡¯s my son?¡± Yuna demanded, her voice edged with fury. Marguerite, taken aback, replied, ¡°Why are you still at the Winston Mansion?¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes widened, her sharp voice suddenlyced with a feigned grievance as she deliberately raised her volume: ¡°Why can¡¯t I be at the Winston Mansion? Manley and Freddie are here, so of course, I should be here too! What are you implying, Marguerite? Freddie just banned me from the hospital, not from the mansion! Are you stirring things up with Freddie again?¡± Marguerite stood dumbfounded. What was this all about? Frederick had clearly wanted to cut ties between Yuna and the child, hadn¡¯t he? How had it turned into her supposedly whispering in Frederick¡¯s ear? But soon, Marguerite realized why Yuna was talking nonsense. She saw Hackett put down his teacup, rise from the living room sofa with a menacing look, and start marching towards her. Chapter 526 Frederick¡¯s steely gazended on Hackett¡¯s face with a rebellious intensity. The corners of his lips curled up in a mocking sneer as he said, ¡°Hackett, I¡¯ve made up my mind precisely because I know her all too well. It¡¯s got nothing to do with anyone else!¡± In that instant, Hackett was tongue-tied. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t find any words to counter! ¡°Hackett, you¡¯ve just brought her back, it¡¯s normal you don¡¯t know her well. But believe me, the real circus show is yet toe, no need to hurry.¡± Hackett¡¯s heart sank, how could he not understand that Frederick was alluding to his beloved daughter? His protective instincts had already clouded his judgment. Fuming, he puffed up his cheeks and stormed toward the living room, ¡°This is preposterous! The world¡¯s turned upside down! Powell, for heaven¡¯s sake, control your son! What kind of nonsense is he spouting? What kind of nonsense?!¡± At this point, the ever-silent Powell finally emerged from the living room, pushed in his wheelchair by a servant. He knew better than anyone that Yuna was a handful! Yet, by some stroke of luck, this woman happened to be the long-lost daughter of his dear friend! In the past, he would have kicked Yuna out without a second thought! But now, out of respect for Hackett, he restrained himself from speaking his mind. That¡¯s why he¡¯d been staying out of it, keeping his silence. Now, though, since Hackett had spoken up, Powell felt obliged to show some support for his good friend, so he said, ¡°Alright, Frederick, give Yuha another chance, let her stay.¡± But Hackett was far from satisfied, his agitation palpable, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Powell frowned, ¡°What more do you want?¡± ¡°Marguerite must apologize to Yuna! If it wasn¡¯t for her whispering in Frederick¡¯s ear, he would never have been so resolute against Yuna! An apology! It must happen! My daughter should not bear such indignity!¡± Marguerite was speechless. Had Hackett Fitzgerald been brainwashed by Yuna? As the head of a top-tier family, was he taking everything she said at face value? Had he lost all sense of reason? Powell cleared his throat awkwardly, nced at Marguerite, and whispered to Hackett, ¡°Hackett, I get your desire to protect your daughter, but don¡¯t make a mess while trying to help! The fact that I¡¯m allowing your daughter to stay is already the biggest favor I can do! Insisting on dragging Marguerite into this is asking for trouble. Are you not afraid Maurice wille after you? Maurice is far more formidable than Frederick. Frederick is openly ruthless, Maurice is ruthless behind the scenes! Besides, Marguerite is now the apple of our eye! Both Frederick and Maurice had fallen for her, do you really want to risk Maurice and Frederick teaming up against you?¡± Powell¡¯s stance on Marguerite had always been subtle, but as the father of Frederick and Maurice, he was well aware of what his sons were thinking. However, to minimize infighting within the family, he had no choice but to watch and keep his thoughts to himself. His words certainly struck a chord. The Fitzgerald family¡¯s influence was no match for the Winston family, and Hackett felt a chill run down his spine after Powell¡¯s reminder. Seeing Hackett¡¯s reaction, Powell stepped in once more to smooth things over, ¡°Let it go, Frederick. This matter is over! Yuna, don¡¯t just stand there; take the kids upstairs!¡± Yuna had already overheard Powell¡¯s conversation with Hackett. The mes of jealousy in her heart were zing even higher! Since when did Marguerite be the golden girl? Nonsense! As long as she was around, Marguerite would never stand a chance with Freddie! Her heart was filled with bitter resentment, but at this moment, she had to swallow her pride! After all, only by staying could she carry out all her ns! So, she wisely decided to take Manley upstairs, but Frederick, with a singlemand, showed no regard for Powell¡¯s wishes, ¡°Throw this woman out!¡± Chapter 527 As Frederick¡¯s words fell, a swarm of bodyguards buzzed in like bees to a hive. Yuna was hoisted up, one on each side, with no chance for her to resist! Panicked and directionless, she thrashed her limbs and shouted, ¡°Freddie! Freddie, I¡¯ve already apologized! Even Powell¡¯s willing to keep me around, why are you still kicking me out?!¡± ¡°He may want to keep you, but who asked for my opinion?¡± Frederick¡¯s icy voice seemed to echo from the depths of hell, ¡°Get her out of here!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± The bodyguards started to drag Yuna out, and no matter how much Hackett tried to intervene, it was no use! As Yuna was about to be tossed out the door, Manley was beside himself with worry! It seemed Daddy had really made up his mind, but this just couldn¡¯t happen! He can¡¯t be without his mommy! Manley hurriedly positioned his chubby little body in the way, raising his tiny fists with righteous indignation and pounding on the muscr frame of the bodyguards. ¡°Put my mommy down! I won¡¯t let you touch my mommy! Bad guys! Let go! Let go!¡± Manley was the young master, after all. Even though Frederick had just issued themand, the bodyguards didn¡¯t dare to push Manley aside and forcibly throw Yuna out. They were afraid that in a moment of carelessness, they might hurt the little prince in front of them! Then Mr. Winston would be even more furious! So, the bodyguards all showed expressions of difficulty and hesitated to ask, ¡°Mr. Winston, what should we do about this?¡± Frederick red at Manley, who then clung to his leg and burst into tears, ¡°Daddy! Please, keep mommy here! If you throw mommy out, I won¡¯t have a mommy anymore! Daddy, I¡¯m begging you! If you let mommy stay, I¡¯ll give all my snacks and toys to Hayes and Teresa! I won¡¯t pick on Hayes anymore, and I¡¯ll never call him ¡®Little Mute¡¯ again. From now on, I¡¯ll behave and study hard! I don¡¯t want Daddy¡¯s inheritance, I don¡¯t want anything! I just want you to keep mommy!¡± Frederick¡¯s back stiffened sharply! He truly hadn¡¯t expected that Manley would go so far as to make such a promise to keep Yuna around! After all, he had always been a selfish child! Anyone who touched his things would trigger his tantrums! But now, he was willing to give up everything carelessly?! Yuna had to leave the Winston Mansion, but his son¡¯s reckless wishes made the fatherly affection in Frederick waver. Seeing Manley crying so heartbreakingly, so moved, and then stumbling over to tug at Hayes¡¯s arm, bowing solemnly in apology, ¡°Hayes, I¡¯m sorry! It¡¯s because I¡¯m weak and sick that Mommy¡¯s been partial to me! Can you help Mommy, please? Can we ask Daddy together? If Mommy goes away, we won¡¯t have a mommy anymore! We¡¯ll never have a mommy again¡­¡± Hayes was stunned. He looked at the tearful Manley and then at his woeful mommy, and something in his heart just couldn¡¯t stand it. On one hand, he felt sorry for Manley, and on the other, he thought of Yuna, who no matter what, was still his mother! No matter how biased or cruel she had been in the past, she was still his mom! This fact was unchangeable. Hayes hesitated, and Teresa, watching anxiously, shouted at Hayes, ¡°Hayes, don¡¯t plead for her! You won¡¯t be without a mommy! From now on, my mommy will be yours! Don¡¯t agree to him!¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Chapter 528 Teresa was talking out of her hat, and Marguerite knew it. She mped a hand over Teresa¡¯s mouth from behind and hissed in her ear, ¡°Would you quit sticking your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong? Mind your own beeswax, why don¡¯t you?¡± Teresa, rebellious as ever, wriggled free from Marguerite¡¯s grip and gazed at her with puppy dog eyes. Hmph! It was all for her mom¡¯s sake that she was doing this! If Yuna stayed, how was she supposed to reconnect her dad and mom? Her mom was so clueless, always telling her to keep her mitts off everything! She was so disappointed! The more Teresa thought about it, the more she felt wronged, and with a huffy ¡°hmph,¡± she stomped away, clomping up the stairs in a huff. Marguerite sighed but let her go. Teresa was quick to anger and quick to cool down; no need to fret over it. 1 Meanwhile, at the other end of the room, Hayes had made up his mind. After a long contemtion, he decided to plead for his mom. He toddled over to the man, tugged timidly at his sleeve, and whispered, ¡°Dad¡­ forgive Mom, please¡­¡± The little guy didn¡¯t say much, stammering out just that simple request, but it tugged at Frederick¡¯s heartstrings. He looked down at the earnest faces of the two children, but his gaze kept drifting back to Marguerite, feeling a peculiar ache in his chest. He hadn¡¯t expected that just a week with Marguerite would bring such rapid progress in Manley. The usually brash kid was ready to give up everything to keep Yuna around. Even Hayes, the victim, was willing to step forward and ask for mercy on Yuna¡¯s behalf. He red at the sobbing Yuna before him, the rage in his chest nearly bursting forth. But for the sake of his children, he held it back. ¡°Look what you have done to Hayes, and consider what has Hayes done for you! Don¡¯t you feel any shame?¡± he demanded, his stance towering over her like a sovereign. Yuna trembled with fear, shaking her head vigorously, her shoulders heaving with sobs, ¡°Freddie, I¡¯m so sorry! I won¡¯t do it again! I¡¯ll never y favorites again! I swear¡­¡± Watching the groveling woman before him, Frederick felt nothing but disgust. How he wished that Hayes was Marguerite¡¯s child! If that were true, he¡¯d have every reason to send Yuna to hell! But the paternity test forced him to ept the bitter truth. Hayes and Manley were Yuna¡¯s children! And how could he ignore his son¡¯s pleas and cruelly cast Yuna out? In the end, Frederick chose topromise. He gritted his teeth, veins throbbing on his forehead, ¡°Yuna, you can stay. But without my say-so, you don¡¯te near Hayes!¡± Yuna nodded vigorously, ¡°I¡¯ll agree to anything just to stay! Freddie, I won¡¯t let you down this time!¡± He scoffed, his voiceced with sarcasm, ¡°Your resolve should be shown to your sons, not me!¡± Yuna nodded dumbly like a bobblehead. Seeing this, Manley rushed to hug Yuna, while Hayes was held back by Frederick. Inexplicably, Marguerite felt a twinge of loss. She wasn¡¯t interested in Yuna¡¯s drama, but she had to admit, deep down, she¡¯d hoped Yupa would leave. She watched Yuna and Manley¡¯s tearful embrace, Yuna¡¯s cries moving yet pitiful, as if she truly intended to turn over a new leaf. But that was just the surface; what she would do next was still up in the air. Yuna¡¯s true intentions were anyone¡¯s guess. Chapter 529 At night, in the children¡¯s bedroom, the air was thick with tension. Teresa was fuming because Manley and Hayes had pleaded on behalf of Yuna. The two little boys were now trying their hardest to cheer her up-one brandishing a doll and the other waving a superhero mask in her face. But Teresa was having none of it. With a sharp turn, she crossed her arms and gave them her back, sulking in silence. Manley and Hayes scurried around to face her, their eyes wide with concern. Hayes took Teresa¡¯s hand, his expression earnest. ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t be mad¡­¡± Teresa rolled her eyes and pulled her hand away with a huff, ¡°Stop talking to me!¡± Manley, desperate to make peace, crouched before Teresa. She turned away, but he shuffled along to stay in her sight. ¡°Teresa, I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re so mad at my mom. But wouldn¡¯t you freak out if your dad kicked your mom out of the house?¡± Teresa was stumped. She hated Yuna with a passion, but the logic was sound. Pouting, she locked eyes with Manley, ¡°But your mom made Hayes get a blood test! It hurts! Why didn¡¯t she do it herself? She doesn¡¯t care about Hayes at all!¡± Manley defended Yuna with the innocence of a child, ¡°But my mom promised dad she wouldn¡¯t y favorites anymore! She won¡¯t make Hayes do that again!¡± Teresa turned to Hayes, her face inches from his, ¡°Little Mute! Do you believe what your mom said?¡± Hayes blinked, his heart pounding. He didn¡¯t believe her. She always broke her promises to be kind to him. She was like the boy who cried wolf, and now, although she seemed sincere, Hayes was hesitant. But he was too kind-hearted. He didn¡¯t want to disappoint Manley, who had just be friends with him again. Reluctantly, he nodded, ¡°I¡­ believe my mom¡­¡± Teresa was about to explode with anger when the bedroom door suddenly swung open. There stood Yuna, beaming, with a burly bodyguard in tow. ¡°Ms. Yuna, you can¡¯t see young master Hayes without Mr. Winston¡¯s permission, the bodyguard stated firmly. Yuna, annoyed, replied with a haughty stance, ¡°Who gave you the right to tell me that?¡± ¡°Mr. Winston,¡± the bodyguard replied with unwavering authority. Yuna¡¯s face flushed with frustration, ¡°I know that! I¡¯m here to see Manley, is that not allowed?¡± With a beckoning gesture to Manley, she smiled brightly, ¡°Come here, Manley. Mommy has something to tell you.¡± Manley, ever trusting, scrambled to his feet and ran to her side. Teresa watched, her distrust of Yuna growing. The woman reminded her of a sly tiger-scary when silent, even more so when smiling. -As Manley followed Yuna out of the room, a shadow of disappointment crossed Hayes¡¯ delicate features. Despite her promises, he knew his mother favored Manley. Teresa, sensing Hayes¡¯ mood, was frustrated by his naivety. He was too trusting, and it always ended in heartache for him. She had been nning to reveal a family secret to him, but now she hesitated. With the boys getting along so well, telling Hayes could lead to Manley and Yuna finding out. And that could spell disaster. Sighing, Teresa decided to keep the secret a little longer. It was a burden she would have to bear alone. Chapter 530 Meanwhile, in Yuna¡¯s room. As soon as they entered, Yuna¡¯s demeanor shifted dramatically. Her face set in a stern mask, she interrogated Manley, ¡°Manley, was what you said to daddy about pleading for me real? You¡¯re willing to ditch the inheritance? And you¡¯re actually considering being pals with Hayes?¡± Manley, believing that his mother had been moved by his and Hayes¡¯s heartfelt gestures, was expecting some words of praise. Grinning from ear to ear, he nodded earnestly. ¡°Yeah, Mom, every word I said was the truth! If it means keeping you here, I¡¯d give up anything.¡± After speaking, Manley lifted his little face, waiting for his mother¡¯smendation. But Yuna, to his surprise, flew into a rage, yanked Manley close, and red into his eyes, ¡°You spineless twit! Who gave you permission to cast aside your inheritance? You must never give up our estate, and you especially can¡¯t be friends with Hayes! Got it?¡± Manley was taken aback,pletely stunned. He couldn¡¯t fathom why his mom was so angry; after all, he and Hayes were just trying to keep her around! The more puzzled he appeared, the angrier Yuna became. She nced around, locked the door, then dragged Manley to the balcony, and whispered fiercely, ¡°You are the rightful heir, Manley. That estate will be yours to inherit! And cut the nonsense about giving it up!¡± Manley, confused, protested, ¡°But what about Hayes? Why can¡¯t I hang out with him?¡± He had just reconciled with Hayes, who was so generous that he even gave him a Transformer toy. Why didn¡¯t his mom want him to y with Hayes? Pondering over this made Manley feel a pang of sadness. Yuna was livid. She knew her son was innocent, and would be swayed by anyone¡¯s words, bending over for the smallest of favors! Without a doubt, it was Marguerite, meddling behind the scenes! She steadied herself, her face growing stern as she exaggerated the stakes to manipte Manley, ¡°Manley, I just heard from Teresa Winston¡¯s mother that if your daddy grows fonder of Hayes than you, he might kick you out too! Do you want to be cast away by your own father?¡± Manley couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°Did Lady Marguerite say that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call her that! She¡¯s nothing but a homewrecker!¡± Yuna¡¯s venomous, threatening tone scared Manley to his core. He looked steadily at his mother, convinced that his daddy wouldn¡¯t do such a thing, and Marguerite had been kind to him too. Yet, he also felt that his beloved mommy wouldn¡¯t lie to him. Torn, he didn¡¯t know whom to believe. Caught in his dilemma, yet wanting to reassure his mom, Manley nodded obediently and promised, ¡°I get it, Mom. I¡¯ll listen to you. Please, don¡¯t be mad.¡± Seeing Manley¡¯smitment, Yuna finally rxed. Her expression softened as she pulled Manley into a gentle embrace. ¡°I¡¯m doing everything for you. So, you can¡¯t let me down, you hear?¡± Manley nodded against Yuna¡¯s chest, feeling guilty inside. He resolved that the next time he wanted to y with Hayes, he¡¯d make sure his mom wasn¡¯t around. And as for his dad, he¡¯d do some good deeds to earn his favor, so he wouldn¡¯t be thrown out. But the naive little boy had no idea that Yuna¡¯s actions were not only for his sake but, more so, for her own! Chapter 531 A few days ago, after Hackett had rescued her from the hospital, she had been staying at the opulent Fitzgerald Mansion for several nights. But then, Zoe had called her, insisting that she return to the grandeur of the Winston Mansion. ¨C Her mother¡¯s reasoning was simple now that the Fitzgeralds had epted her as their family, their loyalties would naturally lie with her. That was an undeniable truth. And the most crucial part of her n was to capture Frederick¡¯s heart. Firstly, with the endorsement of her newfound status as a Fitzgeraldr, she was surely a match for Freddie. Secondly, Freddie, considering the Fitzgeralds¡¯ reputation, would likely invest more effort in courting her. With this, she would firmly grasp Freddie¡¯s heart! And then, Yuna would reign as Stonebridge City¡¯s most sought-after socialite, wielding influence like a queen. That¡¯s why Yuna had used the excuse of worrying about Manley and Hayes to convince Hackett that she needed to return to the Winston Mansion. Though Hackett had just reimed his daughter and was loath to let her go, he was also inclined to indulge her, so without much thinking, he had agreed to send Yuna back. Triumphant, Yuna hugged Manley a little closer to her chest, her eyes gleaming wickedly. She knew that from now on, she would be one of Stonebridge. City¡¯s elite. With the Fitzgeralds backing her, it wouldn¡¯t be long before she trampled Marguerite Lockwood underfoot and monopolized Freddie¡¯s affection. But she wouldn¡¯t im Marguerite¡¯s life just yet. Now that she had everything Marguerite could only dream of, she wanted to savor her rival¡¯s torment. Yuna¡¯s era was finally dawning! The next day at Poppy Petal Fragrances. When Marguerite hadst left the office, there had been the unexpected matter of Hayes needing blood work, and she had hastily taken a week off to care for him. As a result, she hadn¡¯t been to the office in a week, and she had lots of work to deal with. She hustled out of the elevator, rushing toward her office However, her office was on a split-level floor, and to reach her ss-encased office, she had to walk past many of her colleagues¡¯ workstations. The moment she appeared, she sensed the atmosphere shift eerily Every employee shot her puzzled nces, some even gasping in shock as if she wasn¡¯t supposed to be there at all. What was going on? Marguerite was hesitating when Linda from the design department suddenly stood up, blocking her path with her body. Linda tilted her chin up haughtily, looking down at Marguerite with disdain in her voice, ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Manager Marguerite? Oh, I mean, the former manager Marguerite! What brings you here? Didn¡¯t you get the memo that you¡¯ve been fired?¡± Marguerite was taken aback but maintained herposure, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Linda sneered, ¡°Marguerite, you got fired, so drop the act. Riding on your looks and the resemnce to President Penelope¡¯s daughter, did you really see yourself as a highborndy? Heh, do you even believe in your own abilities or are you that clueless? Sorry to break it to you, but your position has been taken over by the rightful owner. Better pack your stuff and scram Linda had always been irked by Marguerite! Before Marguerite¡¯s arrival, the top spot in the design department had been vacant. As a senior designer, Linda had enjoyed a status just shy of the top. But when Marguerite swooped in and imed the vacant position, bing the head of the department, it threw Linda off bnce! Why should an unqualified womannd in management out of the blue? Everyone had thought she was Penelope¡¯s daughter, but it seemed that was a ruse! Now that the charade was over, Linda wasn¡¯t afraid of her at all! Marguerite, however, didn¡¯t give Linda a second nce, calmly pondering the words she had just heard. Fired? The rightful owner? A sense of urgency gripped Marguerite, and she sidestepped Linda, hurrying towards her office. And indeed! There sat Yuna, in the swivel chair with her legs crossed atop the desk, looking down upon her with a triumphant smirk. Chapter 532 Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but remember a conversation with Miley, who had confided that her current position at thepany was actually saved by Penelope for her own daughter. Now that the Fitzgeralds had officially weed their long-lost daughter into the fold, it seemed only right that this job should go to Yuna, both morally and legally. Marguerite,cking in ambition and with no desire to sh with Yuna, turned to find a cardboard box to pack her things and leave. But ncing around the room, she realized that there was nothing of hers left to pack. Calmly, Marguerite faced Yuna and asked, ¡°Where are my things?¡± Yuna¡¯s voice was loud and shrill as she retorted, ¡°Your things? Get a grip, Marguerite. This position was always meant for me. You were merely keeping the seat warm. What, you got too cozy in it? Looking for your stuff in my territory is like questioning my authority. Do you get that?¡± Marguerite sighed inwardly, guessing that Yuna had likely disposed of her belongings already. She intended to walk away, but stopping in her tracks, she noticed a crowd of employees at the door, all eager to witness some office drama. Their faces mirrored Yuna¡¯s smug expression, seemingly waiting for Marguerite to make an embarrassed exit. Why should she give these gossips the satisfaction? Standing tall, she reminded herself that she had done nothing wrong. It was Penelope who had brought her into thepany, and if anyone should be telling her to leave, it should be Penelope herself. Marguerite fixed her stance and her gaze wasposed and determined. The innate poise she carried made her seem unassable. ¡°Is it Penelope who wants me gone, or are you just taking matters into your own hands?¡± At this, Yuna was visibly shaken. While she had managed to win over Hackett¡¯s affection entirely, dealing with Penelope was a different matter. She could feel Penelope trying to make amends with her, and so the previous night, she¡¯d brazenly suggested that Marguerite should be let go. Penelope, however, had not only refused but also insisted that Yuna should work alongside Marguerite! As if she would ever! Yuna¡¯s status versus Marguerite¡¯s was like night and day. How could someone of her low standing dare to share apany with her? So, taking advantage of Penelope¡¯s business trip, Yuna had jumped the gun. The Fitzgerald family adored her now, and she would kick Marguerite out first and deal with any falloutter. Yuna straightened her back and dered, ¡°Soon, Poppy Petal Fragrances will be mine! Do I really need to consult my mother to fire an employee when ! am the future owner?¡± Oh, the newfound confidence that came with the Fitzgerald name! Marguerite internally conceded that Yuna was indeed the Fitzgerald heiress and stood to inherit everything Penelope had worked for. Staying would only fuel Yuna¡¯s arrogance. Marguerite had no interest in stooping to Yuna¡¯s level. Even a second more in this ce felt like a waste of time. As for Penelope, Marguerite decided she would find the right moment to express her gratitude. After all, Penelope had looked after her for so long, and now that her daughter was back, it wouldn¡¯t be fair to take any more of her affection. Marguerite turned to leave, her exit neither flustered nor submissive, which infuriated Yuna even more. Yuna had fantasized about Marguerite begging for mercy, but instead, she left with her dignity intact, exuding the same grace she always had. Meanwhile, Linda, eager to curry favor with the real Ms. Fitzgerald, stepped in front of Marguerite, blocking her path, and turned to Yuna with a sycophantic smile. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, Marguerite hasn¡¯tpleted her resignation process yet! Thepany policy states that whether you¡¯re a full-time employee or an intern, you mustplete three months of work once you¡¯ve started. Since she currently holds no position, why not reassign her some new tasks?¡± Chapter 533 Yuna shot Marguerite a venomous re and asked with feigned innocence, ¡°Oh, we have that rule, do we? Well, then let¡¯s just find her some random job to do. What positions are still open?¡± Linda put on a convincingly troubled expression, her brow furrowed. ¡°We don¡¯t really have any positions open, but¡­ the janitor in the lobby just took off to help her daughter with the new baby, and she¡¯s on leave for three months. I doubt Ms. Marguerite would be thrilled with that.¡± Yuna¡¯sugh was as sinister as it was cunning. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she be thrilled? Let¡¯s just tell the facilities department to send Marguerite over there right away! A janitor position suits her just fine! Someone who came from a lowly ce like her would be good at cleaning. Marguerite, use that energy you have for scrubbing your own reputation and put it into sprucing up the lobby. We wouldn¡¯t want you t¨¢rnishing thepany¡¯s image now, would we?¡± Yuna spared no cruel words, sshing Marguerite with every bit of verbal filth she could muster, pushing her to the brink. Marguerite stormed forward, her hands mming down on the desk as she leaned in, her eyes zing with unrestrained fury, ¡°Yuna, I¡¯m warning you! Don¡¯t push me!¡± Her voice was sharp enough to make Yuna flinch. The proximity of Marguerite¡¯s threat made Yuna fear a physical confrontation was imminent! ¨C But then Yuna remembered where she was her turf, surrounded by her own people. If Marguerite dared to so much as touch her, she¡¯d have the staff on her faster than a pack of hungry wolves. Yuna¡¯s voice rose in anger, ¡°What are you going to do, hit me? I¡¯m doing you a favor, Marguerite, do you think you¡¯ll find work elsewhere if I don¡¯t ept your resignation? Aren¡¯t you concerned about your references? Even if you try to leave on good terms, no one else will dare hire you!¡± Marguerite felt her blood boil at Yuna¡¯s words. What cursed deed had she done in a past life to endure such treatment from Yuna? She had been relentless three years ago and was just as vicious now. She stared at Yuna¡¯s increasingly twisted face and said with deliberate pause, ¡°Has Hackett seen you like this? Does dear Penelope know you can be this aggressive? Have you forgotten how you were on your knees begging Frederick just yesterday?¡± Yuna¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment and rage. She knew Marguerite was threatening her. In a desperate attempt to deflect, Yuna stood up and barked, ¡°The nerve of you, Marguerite! Who do you think you are to Hackett and Penelope? If you didn¡¯t look so much like me, would my mother have mistaken you for her own daughter? All her affections were based on a lie! And yet, instead of correcting her, you basked in everything that was mine! How dare you!¡± Yuna¡¯s talent for spinning tales was unmatched, and her maniptive words quickly incited the staff¡¯s anger. They began to gossip among themselves, their outrage mirroring Yuna¡¯s own. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Marguerite would stoop so low! No wonder Penelope was so good to her; she pretended to be Penelope¡¯s daughter!¡± ¡°Looks can be deceiving! Luckily, the real Ms. Lockwood was found and brought back, otherwise who knows what might have happened! For all we know, Marguerite¡¯s after the entire Fitzgerald Group!¡± ¡°Unbelievable! How can there be such a vindictive woman in the world? Good on Ms. Lockwood for stepping in while Penelope was away and giving her a piece of her mind!¡± ¡°You mean Ms. Fitzgerald! She¡¯s been recognized as family now, so she should bear the name rightly!¡± Yuna listened to the whispers with satisfaction, then poured herself a ss of champagne, imitating the grace of high society as she sipped, ¡°Marguerite, the eyes of the public are sharp! I¡¯m not trying to make things hard for you, but it¡¯s not like thepany has spare positions just lying around. You should head down to the facilities department and report in. If my brother and Freddie get involved, it¡¯ll only get messier for you. We wouldn¡¯t want that, would we?¡± Yuna¡¯sughter filled the room, but she was too caught up in her own triumph to notice the sharp voice that suddenly cut through the chatter from the doorway- ¡°Who told you thepany has no positions avable?¡± Chapter 534 A woman¡¯s voice rang out, crisp andmanding, slicing through the murmur of the crowd like a knife through warm butter. Everyone. looked back and saw Frederick and Robert Fitzgerald! If Frederick could be likened to a zing wildfire, capable of consuming forests in its ferocity, then Robert would be the relentless flow of water, carving its path through stone. Together, they were an elemental force, a bnce of power and poise that couldmand the heavens and the earth. And there, trailing just behind Mr. Fitzgerald, was none other than Marguerite¡¯s former assistant, Miley. It was clear as day that Mr. Winston and Mr. Fitzgerald hade to back up Yuna, but had Miley switched sides too? Was she about to throw her lot in with Yuna after all? A few starry-eyed employees basked in the presence of these two paragons of masculine virtue, hearts all aflutter, while they pondered Miley¡¯s allegiance. As the trio approached, Linda, ever the risk-taker, shot forward to air her grievances to Frederick and Robert, ¡°Mr. Winston, Mr. Fitzgerald, you¡¯vee to stand with Ms. Yuna, haven¡¯t you? You¡¯ve got no idea-Marguerite¡¯s been running her mouth like she owns the ce ever since Ms. Yuna arrived. They¡¯ve been at each other¡¯s throats! You both know this was a position President Penelope reserved for her daughter! Now that Ms. Yuna has been brought back into the fold, Marguerite¡¯s been left out in the cold. Ms. Yuna, bless her heart, even offered Marguerite the janitor¡¯s job out of pity, but that woman wouldn¡¯t know grace if it smacked her in the face!¡± Miley, upon hearing this, shot Linda a venomous re. She then made a beeline for Marguerite, shielding her protectively and pointing an using finger at Yuna, dering with righteous indignation, ¡°I knew it! I just knew you¡¯d start trouble with Marguerite on your very first day! Good thing we got here in the nick of time!¡± Miley¡¯s voice was far from subdued, but next to the powerful presence of Frederick and Robert, it barely registered with the onlookers. No one stopped to ponder the implications of her words; they all assumed the Fitzgerald brothers were there for Yuna. After all, it wasmon knowledge that the Fitzgeralds had been searching high and low for their daughter. Now that she was back, she was sure to be the apple of their eye. And so the jeers began to fly at Marguerite. ¡°I mean, Linda¡¯s right! Mr. Winston, Mr. Fitzgerald, you can¡¯t let her get away with this!¡± ¡°People should know their ce. Time to grab a broom and start sweeping up the lobby, sweetheart!¡± ¡°Exactly! This woman¡¯s not fit to hold a candle to Ms. Lockwood. She¡¯s getting what she deserves!¡± They clung to the belief that by siding with Yuna and currying favor with the Fitzgeralds, they¡¯d elevate their own standing. But for Marguerite, it was a bittersweet realization. Though her stint as head of the design department had been brief, she¡¯d worked tirelessly and without pretense. On the rare asions that overtime was necessary, she¡¯d even treated her staff to milkshakes and pastries out of her own pocket. She had never imagined that the same people who once sang her praises were now the ones spewing vitriol. Life was an ironic masquerade for her, a series of disillusioning facades. Yuna, meanwhile, was being buoyed by the employees¡¯ ttery, really starting to believe that her newfound status had activated some kind of golden touch, powerful enough to shatter the bond between Robert and Marguerite. Emboldened, she addressed Marguerite and Miley with a triumphant air, ¡°Marguerite, my brother has arrived. Surely you don¡¯t n to squat on my position any longer! I¡¯m willing to overlook what happened before, but you can¡¯t ignore my brother¡¯s honor!¡± The sting of betrayal must be unbearable, Yuna thought. She ached to ask Marguerite just how dreadful she felt, but she had to keep herposure. After all, everyone saw Yuna as the victim. ? ? ? ? ? Especially now, in front of Freddie and Robert, she couldn¡¯t afford to be too aggressive. She needed to y the part of the magnanimous sufferer. And as the real deal spoke up, the employees awaited Frederick and Robert¡¯s verbal smackdown that would send Marguerite packing. Their gazes were glued to the two imposing figures, tense with anticipation. But Frederick seemed aloof, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Marguerite, as if no one else existed. Robert stepped forward, his smileced with a hint of mockery as he locked eyes with Yuna, his tone sardonic, ¡°Who did you say wa your brother?¡± Chapter 535 The retort struck Yuna like a p across the face. Her excited expression froze mid-cheer, mouth hanging open in disbelief, ¡°What¡­ what do you mean?¡± Miley snickered, mercilessly tearing away the pretense, ¡°You calling him ¡®brother¡¯ just made him queasy, didn¡¯t you catch that? Yuna, don¡¯t tell me you actually believed that slipping into the role of a heiress would make Robert respect you? You¡¯re living in a fantasy! All those dirty little schemes you¡¯ve been pulling ¨C he¡¯s seen them all! Nothing¡¯s more revolting than having someone you despise suddenly be your sister.¡± Yuna¡¯s cheeks flushed a patchwork of anger and shame, wishing she could skin Miley alive. But with Robert and Freddie there, she couldn¡¯tsh out, not one bit! Damn it! It was just too infuriating! ¡°The job openings at thepany aren¡¯t for you to decide! Don¡¯t go causing trouble while mom¡¯s not around. And don¡¯t you forget, I¡¯m still a part of the Fitzgerald family!¡± Robert¡¯s deration was indisputable, yet it left Yuna utterly baffled, ¡°What positions are avable at thepany? I wasn¡¯t aware of any.¡± Miley couldn¡¯t care less about ying cat and mouse with Yuna. She, along with Mr. Winston and Robert, hade to put Marguerite in her ce, not to waste time with this woman. So, she simply pushed Marguerite towards Frederick, turning to Yuna, ¡°Since when do you get a say inpany positions? Whatever Marguerite wants, she gets. Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Winston?¡± As she spoke, Miley didn¡¯t miss the chance to give Frederick a meaningful wink. Frederick gave her an annoyed nce, knowing full well that Miley and Robert didn¡¯t summon him for anything trivial. It seemed as though Marguerite had been bullied again, so they were seeking his strength to stand up for her! Despite everything, seeing her so defenseless and deste did pull at his heart. Where was that sharp-tongued firecracker he knew from before? This woman, it seemed, only had the guts to vent her frustrations at him. Frederick thought to himself, subtly stepping closer, protectively positioning Marguerite behind him. Yet Yuna, ring at Miley, was seething with rage. Why did that woman have to meddle in everything? ¡°This is a family matter, keep your nose out of it! Do you really think you can extend your reach into mypany?¡± Robert corrected her sternly, ¡°This is mypany!¡± Publicly reprimanded by him, Yuna felt utterly humiliated. She noticed several employees whispering amongst themselves, their once admiring looks nowced with skepticism. Desperate to salvage her dignity, she stuttered before managing a weak question, ¡°Brother, weren¡¯t you¡­ uninterested in the family. business?¡± Robert¡¯s handsome features remained stoic, but his voice carried an edge of ruthless nonchnce, ¡°I was uninterested before, but things have changed! Not only am I interested now, but ording to the tradition of primogeniture, as long as I hold on, not a single. penny of the Fitzgerald family¡¯s fortune will go to you!¡± Yuna staggered at his words. She knew all too well she couldn¡¯t contend with Robert given her current clout. Swallowing the bitter pill, she chose to temporarily concede and show weakness, ¡°I¡­ I wasn¡¯t even after the family¡¯s assets. Mom gave the position to me, and since Marguerite had nothing to do, I just thought I¡¯d find her some work to tide over. Besides, I already checked; there really aren¡¯t any open positions for her, just a janitorial spot left.¡± She refused to believe it! Could Robert truly create an entire department out of thin air just for Marguerite? Establishing a new department would require a series of board votes. Could Robert buy them all off? Moreover, with her managerial position, she had a vote to veto! If Robert truly intended to go through with such a n, she would be the first to stand in opposition! Yuna thought her words had indirectly pressured Robert. However, Frederick, who had been quiet all along, casually adjusted his cuff, tilting his head slightly without looking at anyone in particr. His voice, maic and almostnguid, casually let slip, ¡°I happen to have a vacancy for an executive assistant Marguerite could give it a try.¡± Chapter 536 The moment the words left the Frederick¡¯s mouth, the office erupted into a cacophony of shocked gasps and whispers. Had they heard that right? The famously aloof Mr. Winston was actually offering Marguerite the role of his executive assistant? Holy smokes! That position was the best opportunity-everyone would wish for it! Ever since Frederick had joined the ranks of Poppy Petal Fragrances, people tried to cozy up to him, hoping to catch his eye. They hoped that with just one shared nce, he might favor them with his attention. But no one had ever seeded! Rumor had it that Mr. Winston was already engaged, with a three-year-old kid. As for why he kept it a secret, that was a mystery none of the mere mortals in the office could im to understand. Maybe he just wasn¡¯t into it. But why did he show favor in Marguerite? Not only did she have the scions of two major corporations vouching for her, but she also got Frederick, the dreamboat of every female¡¯s fantasy, to willingly hand over the assistant¡¯s spot to her! Who on Earth was Marguerite? In the blink of an eye, the office was abuzz with spection about her true identity. Meanwhile, Miley was overjoyed! The fact that Frederick had even deigned to apany them on their visit to Marguerite was surprising. She had never imagined that he would actually speak up for Marguerite! She knew it! Frederick had once adored Marguerite; he wouldn¡¯t stand to see her bullied like this! Miley, unable to contain herself, chimed in enthusiastically, ¡°Absolutely! Ever since Mr. Winston joined Poppy Petal Fragrances, he and Marguerite had been working on the new blush line together!¡± Yuna, green with envy, could not bear the thought of that wretch Marguerite working side by side with her beloved Freddie. An assistant meant sharing an office, and what if old mes were rekindled? Out of desperation, Yuna blurted out, ¡°Marguerite is such a klutz, how could she possibly be a good assistant? Freddie, I can help too!¡± Frederick scoffed disdainfully, finally deigning to nce at her with a look of mockery and disdain, ¡°What can you do?¡± Truth be told, he was just ast-minute addition by Robert; he had no idea about the spat between Marguerite and Yuna, nor did he intend to y the knight in shining armor for Marguerite. But inexplicably, he found himself instinctively protecting her. His retort left Yuna speechless. He knew Yuna was all about high society¡¯s trivialities-luxury cars, designer watches-but when it came to work, she probably couldn¡¯t even make heads or tails of the simplest schedule! Yuna stood there, unable to utter a word. Frederick withdrew his gaze, signaled Robert with a nod, and then, in a bold move, grasped Marguerite¡¯s wrist and led her out of the office, leaving everyone watching, dumbstruck. Miley, pleased with the day¡¯s events, gleefully took Robert¡¯s arm and followed suit. The office was left in stunned silence once more. Suddenly, one of the employees had an epiphany, muttering incessantly as if piecing together a juicy piece of gossip, ¡°Marguerite and Yuna¡­ they look identical¡­ Marguerite¡­ Yuna¡­ Oh my gosh! Could they be twins from those rumors?¡± Curiosity piqued, the others pressed for more, not even caring that Yuna was still within earshot, ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°About Mr. Winston, who dated twin sisters. He fell for the older one first and then the younger. But then the younger one got involved with Mr. Winston¡¯s brother, and everyone says Mr. Winston actually loved her more! It¡¯s a whole mess of a story!¡± ¡°Marguerite¡¯s the younger sister?¡± ¡°Exactly! Didn¡¯t you see both Mr. Winston and Mr. Fitzgerald stand up for Marguerite? Mr. Winston didn¡¯t say much, but didn¡¯t you notice how much straighter Marguerite stood by his side? Wow, the sense of security that Mr. Winston exudes is just so strong!¡± ¡°But wait! If they¡¯re twins, why was Yuna the only one recognized but not Marguerite?¡± ¡°Who knows! The world of high society is deep and unpredictable, like a vast ocean. All sorts of strange things can happen, and it¡¯s not surprising that we¡¯re not always privy to them. After all, that world is out of our league!¡± In that moment, Yuna could no longer contain her fury. Who dared to say that her Freddie preferred Marguerite? Did that bitch deserve him? 09:56 These fair-weather employees, she¡¯d fire everyst one of them! Consumed by jealousy, Yunas face twisted into a snarl. With a sweeping gesture, she knocked all the office supplies from her desk to the floor and began to smash and hit everything in sight, ¡°Shut up! All of you, shut up! Get out! Get the hell out of here!¡± Chapter 537 Meanwhile, back in Frederick¡¯s corner office, all four had barely settled when Frederick noticed an additional desk ced right beside his usually solitary workspace. Marguerite stared at it, her mind suddenly catapulting back three years. Back then, when she first met Frederick, the stubborn man suspected her of having ulterior motives and had her desk ced right beside his own. In hindsight, those months they spent working under his watchful eye were among the happiest times she had experienced in three years. Now, it seemed history was repeating itself, and a small spark of hope for the future flickered within Marguerite. But Frederick seemed taken aback, his gaze flitting from Marguerite¡¯s desk to Robert in confusion. ¡°Care to exin?¡± he asked. Robert and Miley were nestled together, radiating the bliss of love. With a smile that hinted at deeper meanings, Robert said, ¡°What¡¯s there to exin? You see it, don¡¯t you? From now on, Marguerite will share this office with you!¡± Frederick¡¯s brows knitted in displeasure. ¡°I only agreed to help you out this one time. I didn¡¯t agree to anything else, so don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Marguerite was puzzled. Hadn¡¯t he just personally offered her the position as his executive assistant? Why the sudden change of heart? However, she quickly caught on. If Frederick was here at Robert¡¯s behest, then all the actions taken, all words spoken, must have been prearranged. So, he wasn¡¯t sincerely intending to keep her by his side. Meanwhile, Robert was clearly confused, ¡°What are you ying at, Frederick? Sure, I asked for your help to make a statement, but I didn¡¯t expect you to make promises to Marguerite willy-nilly! You just said in front of everyone that she would be your executive assistant. You wouldn¡¯t really make her sweep the streets, would you? I¡¯m not worried. I¡¯m thick-skinned, but aren¡¯t you worried about going back on your word?¡± Frederick fell silent. He had never wanted to get involved, preferring to remain an observer. But Marguerite¡¯s forlorn expression had tugged at his heartstrings, and more importantly, he found Miley and Robert¡¯s harsh words to Yuna excessive. To him, ensuring Marguerite¡¯s safety was paramount; the harsh words and public face-pping were unnecessary. That¡¯s why, at the critical moment, he had publicly promised her a position, just to get her out of there quickly. Little did he know that Robert had anticipated his promise and even set up a desk in advance. Once again, Frederick realized he¡¯d fallen into a trap designed by the lovebirds before him. He reluctantly epted his fate; after all, he couldn¡¯t be a boss who didn¡¯t keep his word in the eyes of his employees. Convincing himself this was the right move, he turned to Miley, remembering her rtionship with Marguerite in thepany, and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°If Marguerite is the executive assistant, what does that make you?¡± With a yful grin, Miley quickly ran behind Marguerite and cooed, ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m the assistant to the executive assistant!¡± Frederick was both amused and bemused. ¡°Can assistants have their own assistants?¡± + I He couldn¡¯t help but find the situationical. Turning to Marguerite, his tone unexpectedly held a hint of sourness, ¡°You must have quite the influence.¡± Marguerite met his gaze and fell silent. She knew he was always pushing her away and understood he wasn¡¯t genuinely trying to help her. So why should she stay and be an eyesore?/ Taking a deep breath, Marguerite spoke with neither servility nor overbearing pride, ¡°If you dislike me so much, I¡¯ll just leave. The world is vast; surely there¡¯s a ce for me somewhere.¡± ?? ??? ?? ? ?? Although she felt resentful and aggrieved, after dropping that bombshell, she turned resolutely to leave. Unexpectedly, Frederick blocked her path with his hand. ¡°What¡¯s your game? Are you always this prickly, or are you just scared of getting too close to someone? What is it? Have you finally decided to run off to Maurice Winston?¡± 09:55 Chapter 538 She was fed up with Frederick rejecting her, with the dismissive shake of their heads and the cold deration that they didn¡¯t love her, seemingly despising her to their core. She refused to be hurt again, preferring to beat them to the punch and leave first. At least that way, she wouldn¡¯t look too pathetic in their eyes. ??? ?? ? ?? ??? ??? As for Maurice, she never intended to seek his help. The pain in her eyes softened his heart. He was beginning to regret his harsh words and, with a tone tinged with concession, he sighed faintly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you a trial period, but if you don¡¯t meet my expectations, you¡¯re out!¡± Marguerite remained silently stoic, while Miley, impatient on the sidelines, quickly clutched her shoulder, speaking on her behalf, ¡°Deal Mr. Winston, you can count on us. With me backing Marguerite up, how could she possibly fail to meet your standards?¡± Despite her words, Miley knew all too well what Frederick was really thinking. After all, when Marguerite joined LuxeScents International three years ago, Robert had mentioned simr demands from Mr. Winston. And yet, hadn¡¯t he ended up keeping her on the team? Frederick and Marguerite, each more stubborn and prideful than the other. What a pair! But Marguerite¡¯s heart was filled with irritation. Frederick¡¯s reluctant offer to keep her felt like charity, which was thest thing she wanted. Her displeasure was clear and her words still sharp, ¡°I don¡¯t need your trial period, and don¡¯t act like you¡¯re all that. At Poppy Petal Fragrances, you¡¯re just a small-time director!¡± Frederick¡¯s brows furrowed, his voice involuntarily rising a notch, ¡°What got into you today? Have a bee in your bo?¡± Miley and Robert exchanged a knowing look, both silently facepalming. Trouble was brewing! Frederick was headstrong and fiery, responding to softness but not to force. And Marguerite was all pride, never backing down, always charging straight into the fray. When these two shed, it was like aet smashing into the neither willing to give an inch. But this couldn¡¯t happen! Miley and Robert had worked so hard to bring them together, from the acquisition of LuxeScents International that left Marguerite jobless, to getting Frederick on board at Poppy Petal Fragrances. Now, with the two finally set to coborate again, any hup could ruin all of Miley and Robert¡¯s efforts. Thinking this, Miley jabbed Marguerite in the ribs and quickly threw in a couple of exaggerated praises for Frederick, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! He¡¯s not just a director at Poppy Petal Fragrances, but also the king of Stonebridge City! The king, I tell you!¡± Marguerite was still fuming, ¡°Then I¡¯m even more confused. Why would you leave your own big empire to meddle in someone else¡¯s business? Is the king of Stonebridge City really so idle?¡± Hearing Marguerite¡¯s retort, Robert nearly burst outughing. In this world, perhaps only Marguerite had the nerve to belittle a man of Frederick¡¯s stature. She might know he was powerful, but his influence was far beyond her wildest dreams. Robert cleared his throat, hands in his pockets, and met Frederick¡¯s gaze with azy yet teasing look, ¡°And why do you think that is? Back in the day, even if someone begged him, a big shot like him wouldn¡¯t step foot in my humble abode. Isn¡¯t that right, Frederick?¡± Chapter 539 Frederick nced up, his eyes sharp as daggers. Was he peeved because Robert had bbed, or was it that his own pride had taken a hit? Either way, his gaze was intimidating, practically shooting daggers! Robert couldn¡¯t help but shiver and quickly pulled Miley from behind Marguerite. The two hightailed it out of there without another word. In the blink of an eye, the office was left with just Frederick and Marguerite. Marguerite stood rooted to the spot, while Frederick¡¯s fierce look gradually softened, his eyes leisurely resting on her. He couldn¡¯t figure out why Marguerite had suddenly grown such a backbone.. She was all bristled up like a kitten in defense mode. It seemed like no matter how he petted her, with the grain or against, she¡¯d bite back. And if she was unhappy, keeping her around would only make her resent him more. He¡¯d have to waste time coaxing her again. But why should he, the mighty CEO of Stonebridge City, the king in Miley¡¯s words, have to pacify her? After all, she was the one who had betrayed him! Frederick turned his back, hands in pockets, his voice dropping a few degrees of warmth, ¡°I don¡¯t need to give you a trial period, so you can leave now.¡± As his words faded, he didn¡¯t expect to hear the sound of a chair wheel dragging behind him. Turning around, he was taken aback to see Marguerite had already taken her ce at her desk, brimming with indignation as she retorted, ¡°Why should I leave? I was hired by Penelope! And if anyone¡¯s going to fire me, it has to be Penelope.¡± Frederick looked down at her, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking smile, ¡°You were just a pawn in Yuna¡¯s game, Marguerite. I should remind you, it was me who saved you!¡± Marguerite suddenly felt a softness in her ears, unable toe up with a retort. Why did it feel like he was almost bragging, looking down his nose at her, yet not without a touch of tenderness? She was struck with a strange illusion¡­ She felt like Frederick didn¡¯t hate her as much as he imed. He would bicker with her and, albeit reluctantly, would stand up for her, spending a good chunk of his time focused on her. Did that mean she still held a special ce for him? This feeling was unlike when they had first reunited a month ago when he treated her like a stranger. But now, she could clearly sense a shift in Frederick¡¯s attitude towards her. A surge of emotion welled up inside her; she clung to this new chance, eager to validate her hunch. But as she opened her mouth to speak, Frederick, as if preempting her motives, cut her off with a decisive tone, ¡°Don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t. I don¡¯t have time for your questions.¡± Marguerite bristled, her frown deepening, feeling incredibly stifled. Damn it! How could he interrupt her when she hadn¡¯t even started to speak? He was so paranoid and autocratic! Fuming, she turned her head away, defiantly began to organize her desk, and booted up herputer. Watching her struggle to express her frustration, Frederick felt a childish sense of triumph. Marguerite was a tough nut to crack, utterly unpredictable. But since she was going to work for him, he didn¡¯t mind taking his time to smooth out her rough edges! Chapter 540 In the break room. Miley was grinding coffee beans with a practiced hand, and in less than five minutes, she had whipped up two cups of hand-ground coffee, handing one gently to Robert. Robert took the cup, and the usual jovial expression on his face settled into a calm repose, his deep eyes gazing out the window into the distance. Ever since Yuna had been acknowledged by the Fitzgerald family, Robert had been in a subdued mood. But he was good at hiding his emotions, never willing to show his vulnerable side, even to his closest friend, Frederick. After all, everyone has their own set of troubles to bear. Frederick had his own issues to deal with, and Robert didn¡¯t want to be a burden to anyone. However, even though he never spoke of it, Miley, his confidante, could easily glimpse into his heart. Aware of Robert¡¯s anguish over the revtion that Yuna was his sister, she tried to lighten the mood with a joke, ¡°Don¡¯t you ever get that feeling?¡± ¡°What feeling?¡± Robert asked, his voice soft. Miley turned and leaned against the counter, casting a nce at Frederick and Marguerite in the ss-walled room nearby, silent in their own world. She chuckled, ¡°The feeling of being a sidekick! I¡¯ve noticed we hardly ever get any time to ourselves. I¡¯m either ying wingman for Marguerite and Mr. Winston or on my way to do it. Or I¡¯m tracking down leads on Marguerite¡¯s precious heirloom. And you-after all that sleuthing about your sister, the oue was such a letdown. But, you know, I actually enjoy running around for Marguerite. She feels like family to me.¡± Robert also turned, offering a brief smile at Marguerite before looking back at Miley, puzzled, ¡°Why are you two so close?¡± Even with Frederick, he couldn¡¯t imagine going to such lengths for each other. They both had their own lives to lead, and even when lending a hand, they would always put themselves first. For instance, this trip back home, he had barely been involved in Frederick and Marguerite¡¯s affairs. Instead, he was preupied with the search for his sister. But for Miley, Marguerite seemed to be her whole world. Miley beside him tilted her head, pondering the question as if it were a matter of great importance. Herrge eyes sparkled with sincerity. ¡°Because we¡¯re childhood friends, silly! We grew up together, running around in our birthday suits! Plus, I lived right next door to her-no more than a stone¡¯s throw away! Did you know her family had a popcorn machine? We used to sneak in and make popcorn all the time. It was awesome!¡± Robert was taken aback, asking without thinking, ¡°You grew up next to her?¡± Miley nodded, ¡°Yep!¡± He knew they were best friends, but had no idea they were neighbors! If their families had been that close, then surely any news from the Lockwood family could have reached them. ? Suddenly, Robert set down his coffee cup and ced his hands on Miley¡¯s shoulders, leaning in with urgency, ¡°Miley, when the Lockwoods brought my sister back, did you know about it?¡± She blinked in realization, ¡°You mean, when was Yuna brought into their home?¡± Robert scoffed, ¡°Pfft! I¡¯ll never ept her as my sister!¡± Despite the DNA test being clear-cut, Robert refused to ept defeat. He had to get to the bottom of this! ¡°If I had known, don¡¯t you think I¡¯d have told you? But the thing is, I had no clue about it. I was just a kid back then!¡± Robert, calm and collected, pressed on, ¡°What about your parents? Do they remember anything?¡± ¡°My parents¡­ I¡¯ve never heard them mention anything like that.¡± The next second, Robert¡¯s tone turned decisively moremanding, ¡°Miley, I need to meet your parents!¡± Chapter 541 Miley was caught off guard, her reaction time seemingly caught in a slow-motion trance. A barrage of inquiries from Robert left her befuddled, leading her to a sweet, blushing misunderstanding, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too sudden? Are we meeting the parents already?¡± Robert gently patted Miley¡¯s head, rifying with a warm smile, ¡°It¡¯s not just about meeting your folks. What I really want¡­ is to dig into some childhood stories about little Marguerite.¡± Miley then realized what was going on. Oh! She thought he wanted to meet her parents as her boyfriend. But then again, it made sense. Robert¡¯s mind was preupied with his sister¡¯s welfare, not exactly in the mood for whispering sweet nothings. Miley was gracious, yet a tinge of imbnce shadowed her heart. She recalled all the efforts she¡¯d made to win over the Fitzgeralds, putting her pride aside to chase after Robert to hispany, yet he had shown little in return. It felt like a brazen disregard for her feelings. So, with a voice tinged with resentment and an emotion slightly stirred, Miley vented, ¡°I just don¡¯t get it! With the DNA test at hand, why can¡¯t you just trust the results? There¡¯s no evidence to suggest that your sister is Marguerite!¡± Facing his girlfriend¡¯s fiery displeasure, Robert didn¡¯t re up. Instead, he took her hand with patience and began to exin, ¡°Three years ago, Frederick scoured the earth for the girl who had saved his life. He was close to finding Marguerite, but in the end, Yuna took her ce. If she could impersonate once, what¡¯s stopping her from doing it again with my sister? Miley, it¡¯s not the DNA test I distrust; it¡¯s the possibility of Yuna¡¯s interference that bothers me. So, I want to investigate further. Can you understand that?¡± Miley, pouting, slipped her hand from Robert¡¯s grasp and turned away, her lips pursed as she gazed into the distance, silent. Robert, initially lost in his own emotions, saw Miley¡¯s resistance and was momentarily stunned before rapidly reying their conversation in his head. He quickly realized that in the whirlwind of his sister¡¯s issues, he had indeed neglected Miley. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, and pulled her gently into an apologetic embrace, ¡°Sweetheart, I admit I haven¡¯t been at my besttely, and I hope you can forgive me. My sister is my family, and so are you. You both mean the world to me. Once I sort out my sister¡¯s affairs, I promise I¡¯ll propose to you, officially. Alright?¡± Nothing promises sweetmitment like talks of marriage, and at his words, Miley¡¯s mood visibly lifted. Her smile was unstoppable, though she yfully posed a question, still feigning indifference, ¡°And have you discussed this grand n with your parents? What if they don¡¯t agree?¡± His fingers traced her soft cheek as he replied with the finesse of a seasoned diplomat, ¡°You¡¯ve pursued me all the way to my family¡¯s firm; not every girl has your determination. Trust me, my parents will wee you with open arms.¡± Miley¡¯s smile broadened, her tone turning teasing, ¡°And if they don¡¯t, no matter what?¡± Robert pulled her closer, his chin resting on her neck, his warm breath spreading from the nape to her ear, ¡°Then we¡¯ll jet off to our own adventure! We won¡¯t repeat Frederick and Marguerite¡¯s tragic misunderstandings. I¡¯m holding on to you tight, right here, right now!¡± His words were sincere and heartwarming, not slick or overdone. Miley turned to embrace him fully, finally letting him off the hook, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll believe whatever you say! I¡¯ll contact my parents as soon as I can. They¡¯re usually off to a tropical getaway every winter, so¡­¡± Robert, ever so polite and considerate, assured her, ¡°No rush. They can return whenever it suits them.¡± 09:41 Chapter 542 Meanwhile, in Yuna¡¯s office. She slumped on the couch, utterly inebriated, her spirits dead, yet she kept pouring red wine into her mouth without a pause. Her eyes were bloodshot with envy, and she clenched her teeth in hatred! She couldn¡¯t understand why, even though she was now a Fitzgerald heiress-a status that surely matched Frederick¡¯s-his gaze still perpetually followed that wretch, Marguerite! Why would he rather p his own face, endure public humiliation, just to openly assist Marguerite! He was supposed to hate Marguerite! He hated her, right? And the worst part was Robert! As her own brother, how could he not stand up for her?! Why did everyone seem to side with Marguerite! As Yuna brooded in indignation, the wine ss¡¯s capacity could no longer satisfy her thirst, so she grabbed the bottle and began to guzzle it down to numb herself. It was at this moment Hackett walked in. He looked around at the chaotic scene, then at Yuna, reeking of alcohol on the couch, and he felt both anger and heartache. ¡°What on Earth happened here?¡± Hackett stepped forward, towering over his daughter. Seeing him, Yuna quickly tried to sit up from the couch in a drunken daze,tched onto Hackett¡¯s neck, and began to wail, ¡°Dad! Dad! You¡¯re finally here! They¡¯re all bullying me! Marguerite is bullying me, Freddie too! Even my only brother is in cahoots with them! Dad! I know you don¡¯t like me, I know you want to im Marguerite as your daughter! It¡¯s all my fault! Should I give up my heiress title to Marguerite? If I do, will they start to like me a little? I¡¯ll do it! I¡¯ll call Marguerite back right now!¡± Saying this, Yuna let go of Hackett and staggered towards the door. Though she was drunk, her mind was crystal clear! She had long figured out Hackett¡¯s temper. Just a bit of coquettish pleading and ying the victim would surely soften him up! The old man¡¯s only weakness was being a doting father to his daughter! After all the effort spent searching for his daughter, now that she was finally home, he would indeed do everything in his power to satisfy her! Sure enough, at Yuna¡¯s plea, Hackett was infuriated! Marguerite, Marguerite! That damned woman was upsetting his daughter again! Hackett pulled Yuna back and made her sit on the couch again, rebuking her, ¡°Who told 07:55 you we want to im Marguerite as our daughter? I only have one daughter, and that¡¯s your Yuna feigned a moved expression, symbolically shedding a few tears. ¡°Dad! You¡¯re the best! Only you and mom love me! I don¡¯t ask for much, I have no ambitions! I could even give up our family¡¯s wealth, as long as I have your love, that¡¯s enough!¡± Hackett, looking at his daughter¡¯s teary spectacle, felt a pang in his heart, and his dislike for Marguerite deepened, ¡°What nonsense! How could you give up the wealth? You carry the blood of the Fitzgerald family, how could I let my own daughter be wronged? Yuna, whatever you want, just say it. Dad will do everything in his power to satisfy you!¡± A sly gleam shed in Yuna¡¯s eyes; she hadid the groundwork for so long just to hear the old man say these words! She struck while the iron was hot, eager, ¡°I want Marguerite out of thepany! I also want her cklisted in the entire industry! Dad, can you grant me this wish?¡± Hackett looked at Yuna in astonishment; he had thought that his daughter was as she said, without much ambition, modest in her requests. He was considering buying her a few priceless handbags or even throwing in a luxury vi to win his daughter¡¯s affection. But the girl had thrown him a curveball with her first demand! Hackett¡¯s face showed his dilemma as he took a deep breath, ¡°Darling, that request¡­ I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t grant you that¡­¡± Chapter 543 He still remembered the day when Powell cornered him at the Winston Mansion and dropped the bombshell. Marguerite is the belle of the ball right now, and Maurice and Frederick were both vying for her affection! If he actually cklisted Marguerite, there was no doubt those two wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook! And then there was his wife, another puzzle he couldn¡¯t quite solve! Yuna never expected Hackett to reject her so quickly, and in a fit of pique fueled by one too many sses of wine, sheshed out, ¡°Dad! How can you go back on your word like this? You just promised me you¡¯d agree to anything I asked!¡± Hackett sighed, speaking with a patience born of long suffering, ¡°Honey, I know you¡¯ve got your beef with Marguerite, and I don¡¯t like her either! But your mother likes her. You want me to go head-to-head with your mom over this? Not to mention, when Marguerite was hired, your momid out this crazy use to keep her on board ¨C if either party breaches the contract, they owe the other fifty times the penalty fee! If I fire Marguerite now, wouldn¡¯t that be like throwing money at her?¡± Back then, when Penelope proposed that use, she was half-joking. Neither took it seriously, but Marguerite, seeing Penelope¡¯s earnestness, signed on the dotted line without hesitation. She was just to give Penelope some peace of mind. Hackett¡¯s refusal to side with Yuna wasn¡¯t solely out of fear of the Winston brothers¡¯ nefarious tactics; the main roadblock was Penelope herself. The harmony of a household hinges on thedy of the house. His daughter had just returned home, Robert was no longer avoiding him, and life had started to look up. He wasn¡¯t about to throw all that away! But Yuna¡¯s eyes sparkled at her father¡¯s words, ¡°Dad, so if Marguerite quits on her own, she¡¯d have to pay fifty times the penalty to ourpany, right?¡± ¡°Of course! That¡¯s what the contract says! But why would she quit on her own? Let it go, sweetheart.¡± Yuna feigned a sigh of resignation, letting the conversation drop. But she wasn¡¯t one to give up so easily. If that wretch couldn¡¯t be ousted, she¡¯d make sure to crush her at the office! Freddie couldn¡¯t possibly swoop in to save the day every time, and she was quite curious to see just how much Marguerite could take. Seeing his daughter fall silent, Hackett tentatively broached another topic, ¡°Yuna, are you 07:55 really that smitten with Frederick? With your status, you could marry into any top-tier family in a heartbeat! That boy is so impetuous, even daring to defy me, his elder. You¡¯re setting yourself up for a world of hurt. Maybe it¡¯s time to stop loving the wrong man, what do you say?¡± Hackett¡¯s words came from a ce of concern, he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of his daughter suffering Everyone told him Frederick was obsessed with Marguerite, whether it was love or hate, the guy had blinders on to any other woman. What was his daughter to him then? A lovesick puppy? He couldn¡¯t stand the thought of his daughter debasing herself like that! But Yuna, upon hearing this, bristled with defiance, and her tears started flowing again, ¡®Dad! Freddie is the only man for me! You don¡¯t understand how much I love him! If I didn¡¯t, why would I have agreed to have Manley and Hayes for him? Dad! Freddie used to love me! It¡¯s all because Marguerite meddled that we¡¯re in this mess! She was the homewrecker everyone despised three years ago! After Freddie found out she betrayed him, we left everything behind and started anew! I was by his side through the darkest days of his life! Just when we finally got back on our feet and nned to return and rebuild, Marguerite reared her ugly head again! Dad! How could I possibly let her reap the rewards of my suffering? Love isn¡¯t meant to be shared!¡± 07:55 Chapter 544 Yuna poured her heart out, tears streaming down her face like pearls slipping off a string, sobbing until she was gasping for breath! How could Hackett stand to see his daughter in such a pitiful state? He had no idea that the hardships his daughter had been enduring were far greater and more challenging than he had ever imagined. And the one who started this whole mess was that woman named Marguerite! Damn it! They say birds of a feather flock together, and Marguerite seemed to have inherited every nasty trait from the Lockwood family! He would not allow Marguerite to walk all over his daughter like this! He had been absent from her life for a full 25 years, but from now on, he would move heaven and earth to elevate her in every way possible, whether it be her career or her love life! He would do everything in his power to make his daughter¡¯s wishese true! Hackett gently rubbed Yuna¡¯s trembling back with a resolve that had already made up his mind, ¡°Since you love him that much, I, as your father, will certainly give you a hand! Powell and I go way back, and he owes me a couple of favors.¡± Yuna internally rejoiced, thinking that she finally had him hooked! She immediately looped her arm through Hackett¡¯s, yfully chiding with a giggle, ¡°Dad! I knew you were the best! You look so cool helping me out, just like Freddie!¡± Hackett affectionately tapped Yuna¡¯s forehead, teasing her, ¡°Don¡¯t drink too much. Look at you, seeing things! What would the staff say if they saw you like this?¡± Suddenly, Yuna paused, a lightbulb going off in her head. What Hackett just said just gave her an idea. A grand scheme swiftly took shape in her mind! She thought she knew exactly how to y her cards to utterly tarnish Marguerite¡¯s reputation¡­ Upstairs. Marguerite, who was tapping away at herputer in her office, jolted in her seat. The movement was a bit exaggerated, catching Frederick¡¯s attention from across the room. With his arms crossed, he spoke in his measured tone, ¡°Thepany pays you a handsome sry, not for daydreaming on the job.¡± 07:55 M Marguerite muttered defensively. ¡°I¡¯m not daydreaming, just had a little shiver.¡± This guy was making a mountain out of a molehill! She couldn¡¯t even shiver without it being a whole thing? What a tyrant! ¡°If you¡¯re not daydreaming, then when can I expect the project report for the new blush development?¡± Marguerite¡¯s fingers stalled on the keyboard, and she turned to meet Frederick¡¯szy gaze, ¡°The report is in Yuna¡¯s office, but she disposed of all my belongings.¡± Frederick assumed this was just an excuse, his mood souring slightly, ¡°No excuses! I gave you a week to work on that report, and now you¡¯re trying to brush me off by saying it was thrown away?¡± ¡°The report was done ages ago!¡± Marguerite stood her ground, but as she locked eyes with him again, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit petnt, ¡°Besides, didn¡¯t I spendst week¡­ looking after Hayes in the hospital¡­¡± Marguerite!¡± Frederick called her name sharply. Seeing he was about to lose his cool, Marguerite quickly opened a Word document and began typing furiously, ¡°I remember everything. I¡¯ll just rewrite it, okay?¡± Frederick remained silent. Ten minutester, Marguerite typed thest period into the document, let out a sigh of relief, and looked up at Frederick, ¡°Done!¡± Done? He was visibly taken aback. How could she be done so quickly? Seeing the triumphant gleam in her eyes, Frederick stood up and walked over, stopping beside Marguerite¡¯s chair, ¡°If I find out you¡¯ve just thrown something together, there will be hell to pay!¡± He spoke with finality, leaning in close, his hand bracing on the desk, the other on the back of Marguerite¡¯s chair, inadvertently pulling her into his half-embrace. The posture was undeniably intimate, but neither seemed to notice. He scanned the document rapidly, his doubts fading just as quickly. Although he often chided Marguerite for herck of progress at work, when it came to her field of expertise, she was quite impressive. But when he got to the part about the blush¡¯s fragrance, he frowned, murmuring to himself, ¡°Top notes of mint leaves, pear, heart notes of mandrake, jasmine¡­¡± Marguerite looked up at him and suddenly realized just how close he was. 07:55 Her heart rate spiked, and without thinking, she blurted out, ¡°Stop reading, the blush¡¯s fragrance, it¡¯s the scent of Pr Radiance¡± 07:55 Chapter 545 At her words, Frederick¡¯s face darkened. He asked, ¡°Are you telling me the scent of this blush is identical to Pr Radiance?¡± Marguerite, puzzled, nodded in confirmation. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right!¡± What was so surprising about that? She couldn¡¯t figure out what was wrong, but Frederick¡¯s expression grew stormier by the second. His breath was hot on Marguerite¡¯s face as he dered with an air of righteousness, ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Marguerite was taken aback, her heartbeat halting abruptly. She instinctively leaned back, swiftly breaking free from his embrace. ¡°Why not?¡± Why not, indeed? It was all because subconsciously, he believed Pr Radiance was a scent that belonged solely to him. He was the only one who should be enveloped by its fragrance, wanting selfishly to im it as his own. He straightened up, his gaze piercing and fierce, ¡°No reason needed. I do not approve of this n.¡± Marguerite was bbergasted. Why would he disapprove outright? When Pr Radiance was set tounch, the anticipation had been palpable! Now that she was incorporating its form into a blush, it was bound to be the season¡¯s blockbuster product. Yet he had dismissed her n without a second thought, without even a semnce of an exnation. Marguerite was fuming. ¡°Frederick, can you stop being so irrationally decisive for once? Even if you reject my proposal, at least give me a reason!¡± ¡°Marguerite, do you intend to rehash the same old dish until it¡¯s burnt out? Have you exhausted all your creativity that you can¡¯te up with any new scents?¡± Marguerite was stunned by the insult, his reaction seemingly over the top. She stood up abruptly, and though shorter than his jawline, her presence wasmanding as she retorted, ¡°I¡¯m the designer, you¡¯re in distribution! Since when do you have the right to dictate what goes into the fragrance form?¡± Caught up in his fervor, Frederick blurted out, ¡°This scent is mine, and I will not allow you to sell it in such a manner.¡± It was rare for the man to lose hisposure, but his vulnerability in that moment left 09-22 Marguerite frozen in ce, unable toe to terms with his reaction. If Pr Radiance meant so much to him, how had he survived those three years at Vespera? Was it Pr Radiance he cared about, or was it her? Marguerite had no clue. Sheposed herself, her tone softening but still edged with defiance, ¡°I created the perfume. When did it be yours?¡± ¡°Do I need to remind you that I bought the rights to Pr Radiance three years ago?¡± ¡°The rights were purchased by LuxeScents International! And LuxeScents International is no longer yours!¡± Their words flew like rapid gunfire, and Marguerite¡¯sst statement plunged them both into silence. Frederick, agitated, lit up a cigarette and took drag after drag. Perhaps he was inhaling too fiercely, his throat growing parched while his nose tingled with a barely perceptible sourness. Indeed. LuxeScents International was no longer his empire. As for Pr Radiance, it had long ceased to be his. Slowlying to his senses, he realized that he was the one who couldn¡¯t break free from the memories of three years ago, so much so that he could no longer distinguish between the past and the present. The one truly trapped was himself. Marguerite took a moment to fully calm herself. She didn¡¯t want the argument, so she sighed and exined softly, ¡°Penelope also saw the potential in Pr Radiance, which is why she brought me on board at Poppy Petal Fragrances. She wants to make a special edition blush in coboration with Pr Radiance. If you have any objections, you should take it up with her.¡± Frederick looked down to extinguish his cigarette, avoiding her gaze. ¡°This was Penelope¡¯s idea?¡± Marguerite nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Poppy Petal Fragrances was not hispany, and he had no sway over someone else¡¯s decisions. So, what was he doing here in the first ce? He had long since left the fashion world and had stopped dealing with anything rted to perfumery. Yet, when Penelope mentioned that Marguerite had joined Poppy Petal Fragrances, he couldn¡¯t help but show up. 09:22 He never asked himself why or what he hoped to gain. Unwilling to confront his feelings, Frederick finally conceded, ¡°Contact the factory. Start the production.¡± Chapter 546 The verbal sparring match had finallye to an end, but Marguerite couldn¡¯t shake the disgust crawling beneath her skin. The rest of the workday dragged on, her motivation as absent as the warmth in a mid-winter¡¯s breeze, When quitting time rolled around, she and her adversary made their way to the parking lot in a silent procession. There, parked with precision, was the familiar Maybach. Chuck, always the professional, stepped out from the passenger side and with a bow of respect, opened the back door for Frederick, who slid into the seat without so much as a backward nce. Marguerite caught sight of the scene and turned to her own ride, a second-hand car, when Chuck¡¯s voice floated toward her, ¡°Marguerite, where are you off to? Get in!¡± She paused, her gazending on the tall figure now settled into the leather upholstery, fully aware of his current disdain for herpany. With a stubborn shift of her eyes, she replied: ¡°I¡¯m good. I left my car herest time, and I might as well drive it home today.¡± Chuck stood puzzled. He remembered the days Marguerite would hitch a ride without a second thought about her own vehicle. What had changed today? Were they fighting? Chuck scrambled to find a way to keep her there, oblivious to the growing impatience of Frederick inside the car, who suddenly barked at the driver, ¡°Drive!¡± Chuck shivered, stealing a nce at Marguerite before hurriedly hopping into the vehicle. The driver floored it, and the Maybach shot away, leaving Marguerite coughing in a cloud of exhaust. Cursing under her breath, she found her car and after several attempts, the weary engine roared to life. She set off at a crawl, her mood sour and her concentration scattered so much that she didn¡¯t even notice the steady creep of the speedometer. The car wobbled down the road, rounding a bend and approaching a red light. Marguerite moved to slow down but was met with the heart-stopping realization that her brakes had failed. She mmed the pedal to the floor to no avail, careening out of control. A frantic nce in the rearview mirror revealed the chaos unfolding behind her, but in her haste, she didn¡¯t see the Maybach reappear, now on a collision course with her. Before she could react, it surged forward, positioning itself in front of her. Then came the thunderous crash as both vehicles mmed into a curbside nter. The impact sent Marguerite¡¯s head crashing into the steering wheel, pain splintering 09:22 through her skull, her vision whiting out. Dazed and confused, with the acrid stench of smoke assaulting her senses, a pair of strong hands dragged her from the driver¡¯s seat. The familiar, husky voice wasced with a mix of anger and concern, ¡°Driving without a seatbelt? What, are you trying to kill yourself?!¡± Chapter 547 Marguerite was groggy for a moment before the scene before her eyes started toe into focus. She saw the worried face of Frederick looming over her, anxiety etched into his features. In that instant, a cloud of darkness seemed to engulf her entirely. Her head was splitting, and she clutched at her temples while moaning, ¡°I¡­ I forgot it¡­¡± Her emotions had been a tangled mess, and the moment she hopped into the car and revved up the engine, the thought of fastening her seatbelt hadn¡¯t even crossed her mind. Plus, the car was an old beater and hadn¡¯t been serviced in ages. When her car collided with the other, not even the airbags deployed. ¡°How could you forget something that important? If I had arrived a secondter, you would¡¯ve died, you get that?¡± Frederick¡¯s voice was stern. Marguerite felt wronged as she was scolded, but the throbbing pain in her head left her no room to argue back. Chuck made ap around Marguerite¡¯s wrecked vehicle and then promptly reported to Frederick, ¡°Mr. Winston, seems like the brake pads on Marguerite¡¯s car are broke.¡± How could brake pads just randomly break? Frederick¡¯s gaze lowered to the disheveled woman in his arms and asked, ¡°Have you had any beef with anyely?¡± Marguerite lifted her eyelids to meet his gaze, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°You and Yuna.¡± Frederick was momentarily speechless, ¡°I¡¯m not joking around here!¡± Marguerite puffed her cheeks, ¡°Neither am I¡­ My only enemies are you two, so if it wasn¡¯t you, it had to be her¡­¡± Chuck, standing off to the side, couldn¡¯t fathom how these two could bicker in the midst of such a crisis. He quickly interjected, ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯ve already called the DMV. They¡¯ll be here shortly to tow the car for a thorough inspection. Right now, we should rush Marguerite to the nearest hospital to get checked out.¡± Marguerite, still not fully lucid, hadn¡¯t paid attention to the exchange between the men. In the next moment, Frederick was whisking her away, hailing a cab with ease. He held her close in his arms, and Marguerite, weak and powerless, leaned into his firm 08:57 chest. His familiar scent enveloped her, his Adam¡¯s apple gently brushing against the tip of her nose as he spoke, causing an itch to spread throughout her body. She must have really rattled her brain because, in her delirious state, she cooed with a soft charm, ¡°You smell really good.¡± Frederick stiffened, taking a moment before he could think of how to respond. Marguerite snuggled closer unconsciously, tilting her face up, her cool lips brushing unintentionally against his neck. Frederick clenched his teeth, fighting off the sudden urge that shot through his body, and managed a half-smile, ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯ll make sure we get the best neurologist to check out your head.¡± Marguerite whined in his embrace, ¡°No matter how messed up my brain is, I won¡¯t forget how deeply I love you¡­¡± Frederick was taken aback once more. Why did it feel like this woman wasn¡¯t in a car ident but rather drunk? ¡°Marguerite,¡± he called her name gently. ¡°Hmm?¡± Her eyes fluttered open, full of confusion. ¡°Do you even realize what you¡¯re saying?¡± Marguerite mumbled, ¡°Did I¡­say something just now?¡± Frederick sighed, a hint of amusement curling his lips despite his silence. He reached out to pat her head, soothing her in a tone one would use with a child, ¡°Rest now.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Before long, they arrived at the hospital. The doctor conducted aprehensive checkup on Marguerite. Aside from a minor concussion, there were no other injuries, He picked her up again, and by now, Marguerite was more aware. Feeling ufortable in his arms, she awkwardly suggested, ¡°My legs are fine. Maybe you can put me down now?¡± Frederick looked down at her flushed cheeks and couldn¡¯t help but find the situation amusing. Was she feeling shy now? Did she have any idea how fearlessly she had confessed to him just moments ago? 08:57 His gaze lifted as he asked, ¡°Do you remember what you told me earlier?¡± Marguerite blinked, her mind straining for a recollection before she blurted out, ¡°That you and Yuna are my enemies.¡± Chapter 548 In a sh, the urge to throttle Marguerite surged through him like a wildfire! It didn¡¯t take long for Chuck to arrange a ride to the hospital to pick them up. After lifting Marguerite into the car, Chuck¡¯s call came through almost immediately. ¡°Mr. Winston, the brake pads on Marguerite¡¯s car weren¡¯t tampered with. It¡¯s just wear and tear.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± He hung up and turned to Marguerite as if to prove something, ¡°The results are in. Yuna had nothing to do with it.¡± ¡°So, what you¡¯re implying is that it¡¯s somehow rted to you?¡± Marguerite¡¯s voice was barely audible, caught in her throat. A cold sh passed through Frederick¡¯s deep-set eyes, his tone turning sharp with annoyance, ¡°It¡¯s rted to no one, the brake pads simply wore out! Marguerite, is that really what you think of me? That desperate?¡± ¡°You yourself said you loathed me to the core, and when there¡¯s hate like that, guess anything¡¯s possible, huh?¡± Frederick¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line, a storm of displeasure brewing within. Communicating with this woman was bing intolerable! Annoyed, he turned his gaze out the window, his mind wandering back to an hour earlier, to Marguerite¡¯s disoriented state. They say men don¡¯t fancy smart women, and Frederick had always scoffed at that notion. Now, it seemed there might be some truth to it. Marguerite, out of sorts, might babble nonsense, but she wasn¡¯t unlikeable. Especially when her frail, soft voice seemed to coo, which could lighten anyone¡¯s mood. But once she regained her senses, her defenses shot up, making her approachable by no one. The car fell silent again until they reached the Winston Mansion half an hourter. Frederick carried Marguerite inside, heading straight for the vi. Though Marguerite wanted to resist, she noticed they were home unusually early. At this hour, Maurice and the others were probably not yet back. Plus, she admittedly enjoyed being embraced by Frederick like this. Marguerite knew she was being slightly self-indulgent ¨C saying no verbally, yet desiring him physically. So, she allowed herself this onest selfish act. 08:57 After all, an intimate moment like this would likely nevere again in her lifetime. But Marguerite miscalcted; no sooner had they stepped out of the hallway than they saw Powell and Hackett sitting in the living room. And there was Maurice, standing on the spiral staircase, his piercing gaze fixed unblinkingly on her and Frederick. In that instant, Marguerite felt the guilty thrill of a scandal exposed. She hastily tapped the man¡¯s shoulder, signaling him to put her down. But he disregarded herpletely, standing defiantly in the center of the living room. Powell exchanged an awkward nce with Jocelyn, while Hackett, livid, stood up and bellowed, ¡°Frederick! What in God¡¯s name is going on here? The hugging and the holding ¨C have you no decency? Have you forgotten who Manley and Hayes¡¯ mother is?¡± Frederick shot him a nce, ¡°Hackett, you seem to fancy visiting my home quite a bittely. Why not move in?¡± His tone was calm andposed, but Marguerite couldn¡¯t miss the provocation in it. Hackett, red-faced and furious, barked, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Frederick retorted coldly, ¡°Or, you could take Yuna back with you.¡± Frederick, holding onto his chest in exasperation, stared at the pair, his re as hot as if he¡¯d been burned, ¡°Just put her down! Even I feel awkward! Frederick, Marguerite is your sister-inw!¡± Frederick arched an eyebrow, his toneced with defiance, ¡°Oh? Hackett, you seem to misjudge me.¡± ¡°What are you hinting at now?¡± Frederick smirked slightly, a challenging glint in his eye, ¡°I have no taboos.¡± Hackett was so shocked he couldn¡¯t utter a word. Marguerite knew Frederick was just riling him up, so she didn¡¯t take his words to heart. But Maurice couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. With a face cold as stone and an oppressive aura, he approached and without a word, snatched Marguerite from Frederick¡¯s arms, demanding, ¡°What happened to her?¡± Frederick nodded, ¡°Yeah, a minor concussion.¡± Maurice¡¯s gaze hardened, ¡°How did it happen? ¡°Car ident.¡± In that moment, Marguerite saw aplex look in Maurice¡¯s eyes. Was it guilt for not 08:57 being there with her during the ident, or something else? Marguerite couldn¡¯t tell. Mauriceposed himself, his tone clearly setting boundaries, ¡°Thanks for your trouble. From now on, Marguerite won¡¯t be your concern.¡± Frederick, however, remained ever-smiling, ¡°No trouble at all, just lending a hand.¡± 08:57 Chapter 549 In an instant, the air crackled with tension as Frederick and Maurice locked eyes, a fiery spark seeming to ignite and sizzle between them. Marguerite felt suffocated, trapped between the two men. She couldn¡¯t understand why Frederick, who clearly didn¡¯t love her, always used her to provoke Maurice. She hated it because it gave her the false hope that Frederick still held some affection for her. Maurice held Marguerite so tightly she could barely breathe. Desperate to end this silent standoff, she quickly patted Maurice on the shoulder and pleaded, ¡°Can we please just go? I¡¯m feeling awful, I need to rest in my room¡± Maurice shot Frederick a re that could cut steel before turning on his heel, carrying Marguerite toward the staircase. Hackett was still seething with anger, turning to Powell with a face twisted in resentment. Powell, taking a break from his usual silence, reprimanded from his wheelchair, ¡°Frederick! What the hell did you say earlier? What if Yuna heard you? How would she feel?¡± Frederick¡¯s response was nonchnt, ¡°What¡¯s it to her?¡± Powell heaved a deep sigh and threw ast nce at Maurice and Marguerite¡¯s retreating figures, raising his voice just enough for all to hear, ¡°What¡¯s it to her? She¡¯s your betrothed, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Betrothed? Since when?¡± ¡°When Yuna was born, our families arranged it. Now that Hackett has brought her back to the Winston Mansion, she¡¯s your fianc¨¦e, isn¡¯t she?¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart dropped like a stone upon hearing this. So Yuna and Frederick had been promised to each other since birth; no wonder Hackett kept showing up at the mansion to support her. Her thoughts tangled like a ball of yarn as Maurice carried her to her room. As soon as they were inside, she quickly demanded, ¡°Leave me alone. Don¡¯t bother calling me for dinner.¡± But Maurice just sat on the edge of the bed, clearly not intending to leave. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin?¡± Marguerite instinctively shrank back, putting some distance between them. ¡°Exin what?¡± ¡°Why were you with Frederick?¡± ¡°It was a coincidence. My car crashed into his.¡± She didn¡¯t want Maurice to know that she was now working at the samepany as Frederick, so she lied. But Maurice¡¯s piercing gaze was unsettling, ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. Stonebridge City has thousands of roads, a million cars. You¡¯re telling me it¡¯s just a coincidence that you both happened to be on the same street and had an ident?¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a thing as fate,¡± Marguerite retorted coolly, stirring the fire. Maurice¡¯s face fell, his voice rising in frustration, ¡°Marguerite!¡± ¡°Whatever I say, you won¡¯t believe me, so why ask?¡± ¡°All you do is lie, why should I believe you?¡± Marguerite, exasperated, shot back, ¡°Then lock me up if it pleases you!¡± Drained of the energy to argue, she burrowed into the bedclothes, wrapping herself up tightly. ¡°Get out, and close the door behind you!¡± She didn¡¯t want to see him, but Maurice mercilessly pulled back the nkets. He loomed over her, a malicious smile ying on his lips. ¡°Marguerite, how could I lock you away now? Your beloved is about to marry Yuna, and it¡¯s going to be a celebration for the heavens. I wouldn¡¯t do something so disgraceful.¡± Marguerite sat up abruptly, eyes zing with fury. The next moment, she tasted the salty bitterness of tears. Maurice¡¯s smile never waned as he gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his fair face highlighting the cruel red of his lips, ¡°Rest well, don¡¯t make me worry, alright?¡± With that, he left the room. Maurice¡¯s twisted amusement left Marguerite with a pounding heart, but she knew it wasn¡¯t fear she felt towards him. After three years of living together, he knew exactly how to hit where it hurt the most. She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Frederick and Yuna getting married in front of her. She could ept that Frederick didn¡¯t love her, but she couldn¡¯t ept that she would never be close to him again, Chapter 550 In the evening, the dining room of the grand estate was winding down for the night. Marguerite had note down for dinner, and as thest of the guests trickled out, the servants began to clear away the remains of the feast. Sadie ced three sses of milk on a wooden tray and set them on the dining table before returning to the kitchen to prepare desserts. Each ss bore a different color, designated for specific person. Meanwhile, Yuna slinked by, a white pill clutched in her fist, her eyes darting nervously to the sleek ck frosted ss that seemed to beckon her with its opaque sheen. Her mind wandered back to the afternoon phone call with Zoe- ¡°The pills you asked for have been delivered. They¡¯re herbal, harmless to the body, and when mixed with milk, they induce vivid hallucinations. But the headaches they cause can be severe.¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes, shadowed with malice, betrayed her inner turmoil, ¡°I understand.¡± Zoe seemed even more anxious than Yuna, ¡°Are you sure you want to do this? You do realize he is your¡­¡± ¡°Mom! I¡¯ve made up my mind!¡± ¡°Have you really thought this through?¡± That question still echoed, unanswered, in Yuna¡¯s mind. Could she really be this cruel? Her hand trembled as she brought the pill closer to the rim of the ss, her conflicted heart making it nearly impossible to follow through. She was already branded a woman capable of the worst, but now, was she ready to extend this vendetta to her own flesh and blood? Her heart ached with the thought, her body shaking uncontrobly with twisted emotions. If Freddie ever found out, she wouldn¡¯t just be outcast from the Winston Mansion-she¡¯d be a pariah in all of Stonebridge City! But if she did nothing, that bitch Marguerite would triumph! Knowing her nemesis as she did, Yuna was certain Marguerite wouldn¡¯t rest until she was destroyed. It was, after all, a fight to the death. Why shouldn¡¯t she strike first? She could not, would not, lose to that wretched Marguerite! The heirloom of the Fitzgerald family was hers by right; Freddie¡¯s wife could only be her! Everything Marguerite had, Yuna was determined to seize! 09.00 With resolve hardening in her voice, Yuna prepared to drop the pill, but at thest moment, hesitation seized her once again¡­ Caught in her internal struggle, she didn¡¯t notice Sadie approaching from behind. ¡°Ms. Yuna, is everything all right?¡± Startled, Yuna¡¯s fingers involuntarily released their grip- The white pill slipped silently into the ck frosted ss. A hollow feeling spread through her palm and into her chest, leaving her with a gaping sense of emptiness and anxiety. She shook her head frantically, her forced smile betraying her guilt, ¡°No¡­ I thought I dropped my phone here. Just taking a look.¡± Sadie, preupied with her duties, didn¡¯t dwell on Yuna¡¯s behavior. After cing the freshly prepared desserts on the tray, she wiped her hands on her apron and carried the tray out. Yuna¡¯s heart was in, her throat as she watched Sadie move towards the doorway. Driven by a mixture of nerves and dread, she called out, ¡°Sadie, wait!¡± Sadie paused, careful not to spill the brimming sses of milk as she turned back, ¡°What is it, Ms. Yuna?¡± Swallowing hard, Yuna¡¯s back was damp with a cold sweat. She clenched her sweaty fingers and, after a long silence, raised a smile that was somehow both resolved and relieved, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just wondered if you¡¯d seen my phone.¡± ¡°No, Ms. Yuna. Maybe it¡¯s in the couch cushions?¡± Sadie suggested. Yuna cast onest look at the ss of milk, her resolution firm. Chapter 551 Half an hourter, in Manley¡¯s bedroom. After guzzling down his warm ss of milk, Manley suddenly felt his head spinning, and then there was chaos. Sweat dripped down in the pitch-ck night, and in his sleep, Manley thought he saw faceless specters dancing in the air.. With a start, Manley woke from the nightmare, clutching his throbbing head, and cried out towards the door, ¡°Mommy! Mommy, where are you?¡± The door slowly opened. With a click, the room was flooded with light. Shivering, Manley looked towards the door and was stunned to see Yuna, dressed in a cream-colored nightgown, standing emotionlessly in the doorway. Terrified by the nightmare, Manley staggered forward and quickly burrowed into Yuna¡¯s arms. His voice was trembling with fear and close to tears, ¡°Mommy, my head hurts so bad! I¡¯m scared! Can I sleep with you tonight, please?¡± Yuna paused for a moment, then, as if making a firm decision, she pushed Manley¡¯s shoulders away, heartlessly sending him tumbling to the floor! In an instant, a sharp pain shot up from his bottom, and Manley, clutching his buttock, looked up confused and pitifully called out, Mommy?¡± Yuna¡¯s expression was stern as she leaned down and gripped Manley¡¯s face harshly. ¡°I¡¯m not your mommy, I¡¯m Teresa¡¯s mom, get it straight, my name is Marguerite!¡± ¡°Aunt Marguerite?¡± Manley looked at the woman, trembling with fear and dread. Why would Marguerite be so¡­ terrifying? She wasn¡¯t like this when we were at the hospital the other day! Manley was too frightened to speak, and the cold smirk on ¡°Marguerite¡¯s¡± face made him. shiver even more. ¡°Yes, I am Marguerite! Look at me well, I am Marguerite!¡± Yuna repeated, grinding her teeth, emphasizing each word to deepen Manley¡¯s impression. That hallucinogenic pill was meant for Manley! It would greatly amplify his current emotions and temporarily impair his judgment. Her sole purpose was for Manley to recount everything that happened tonight to Frederick! 09:00 So, she had bought a nightgown identical to Marguerite¡¯s, and let her hair down intentionally. She wanted Manley to believe that the woman who tormented him was Marguerite! As Yuna¡¯s face grew more and more sinister, Manley couldn¡¯t hold back his tears and began to cry loudly! Yuna mped her hand over Manley¡¯s mouth, hissing venomously, ¡°Manley Winston, let me tell you, during the time at the hospital, I¡¯ve realized you¡¯re not as a good boy as Hayes! You don¡¯t know, do you? Your beloved daddy doesn¡¯t love your mom at all! He loves me! When I marry your daddy, Teresa will be his daughter too! When that timees, your daddy will surely kick you and your mother out of Stonebridge City! He¡¯ll make you both beggars, despised by everyone! Do you understand?¡± Manley¡¯s mouth was muffled by Yuna¡¯s hand, he couldn¡¯t speak, but he was terrified, his shoulders quivering, pitiful to the core! Suddenly, Yuna felt a twinge of pity. Since Manley was born, she had neverid a hand on him! But she had to be ruthless; if she wanted to get rid of that wretch Marguerite, she had to make Freddie aware of her viciousness through Manley¡¯s words! So, to make the act more convincing, Yuna tightened her grip on Manley¡¯s hand. At that moment, the pain made Manley¡¯s tears flow even more fiercely. ¡°Manley! Remember what I said today! In the Winston Mansion, you and your mom better tread carefully around me! Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off so easily!¡± With that, Yuna released Manley and gave him one final shove before leaving without a trace ofpassion! Manley curled up on the floor, still clutching his aching head, now more afraid than ever¡­ Chapter 552 The next morning, Marguerite woke up to the sun high in the sky. As soon as she opened her eyes, her mind involuntarily revisited the bombshell Maurice had dropped on her ¨C Yuna and Frederick were getting hitched. The idea soured her stomach, and thest thing she wanted was to face the lovebirds first thing in the day. After a quick wash-up, she nned to dodge Yuna and Frederick and head straight to the office. That¡¯s when Teresa burst into her room,tching onto her arm with a whine. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re up just in time! Sadie made a super-delish breakfast!¡± Seeing her daughter, Marguerite¡¯s troubles seemed to melt away. She stroked the little one¡¯s head, indulgently exining, ¡°Mommy¡¯s got to run to the office, sweetie. No time for breakfast.¡± But Teresa was having none of it, shaking her head with a pout. ¡°No way! Hayes¡¯ daddy is finally home for breakfast, and both he and I want you to join us!¡± As Teresa dragged Hayes into the plea, Marguerite found herself at a loss. Somehow, Hayes had crept into her heart, almost on par with Teresa. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint why, but the sight of Hayes¡¯ puppy-dog eyes always tugged at her heartstrings. However, the thought of breakfast with Frederick and Yuna at the same table didn¡¯t exactly boost her appetite. ¡°How about next time? I¡¯m going to bete for work!¡± Teresa wasn¡¯t letting go, pulling Marguerite towards the door. ¡°But Hayes¡¯ daddy hasn¡¯t left yet. How could you bete? He¡¯s isn¡¯t he?¡± your Marguerite was stumped. ¡°How did you know that?¡± Teresa twirled her head, smugly saying, ¡°My godfather and godmother told me!¡± Then she leaned in conspiratorially, her finger to her lips, whispering to Marguerite, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy, I¡¯ll keep your secret. I won¡¯t tell Daddy Maurice! So now, let¡¯s make a deal. I keep your secret, and youe down for breakfast with me.¡± Marguerite was speechless. The kid had mastered the art of negotiation, not to mention the concept of quid pro quo. She was clearly influenced by Maurice, though Teresa was nothing like him. Maurice was more cunning and subtle, whereas Teresa was straightforward, wearing her emotions on her sleeve ¨C a trait that reminded Marguerite of the fiery Frederick. 1 Lost in thought, Marguerite was already being ushered into the dining room by Teresa. The breakfast crowd was iplete, with none of the elders present. Marguerite knew that since Frederick¡¯s involvement with Poppy Petal Fragrances, Jocelyn had been 09.00 preupied with Thunderbolt Enterprises. As for Lisette, she hadn¡¯t seen her for days. The atmosphere at the table was peculiar. Frederick and Maurice sat opposite each other, with Marguerite at the end, forming an awkward triangle with them. It felt eerily like a love triangle. Marguerite nced at Frederick, noticing his dark circles and general air of exhaustion. He sipped his ck coffee with an innate aristocratic grace. Suddenly, Yuna sprinted down from upstairs, visibly distraught, ¡°Freddie, Manley is refusing toe down for breakfast. Could you please try to speak with him?¡± Frederick set down his cup, his voice even, ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s not hungry.¡± ¡°But he didn¡¯t eatst night either. If he skips breakfast, he¡¯ll get stomach issues!¡± Frederick frowned slightly, ¡°He didn¡¯t eatst night?¡± Yuna nced at Marguerite and shook her head anxiously, ¡°No.¡± He rose immediately and headed upstairs. Teresa and Hayes exchanged puzzled looks. Why wouldn¡¯t Manley eat? He loved food and always ate heartily. Could he be sick? They jumped from their seats, and Teresa grabbed Marguerite¡¯s hand, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go check on Manley! He really relied on you at the hospital; maybe he¡¯ll eat if you talk to him.¡± It made sense to Marguerite, so she followed the little ones to Manley¡¯s room. But as soon as Marguerite entered, Manley freaked out as if he¡¯d seen a ghost, clutching his head and screaming, ¡°Aunt Marguerite, I¡¯m sorry! Please don¡¯t hit me, I¡¯ll never pick on Teresa again¡­¡± Chapter 553 The crowd gasped in shock, turning their heads to look at Marguerite. Marguerite herself waspletely baffled, at a loss as to why Manley would say such a thing. When had she ever hit him? He had just been discharged from the hospital the day before, and she had gone to the office yesterday, not even having the chance to be alone with him! What was even more surprising was that, at this moment, Yuna didn¡¯t explode with anger. Instead, she wrapped Manley in her arms and asked softly, ¡°Sweetie, did you have a nightmarest night? Tell me, what happened?¡± Manley looked at Marguerite with pitiful eyes, then quickly nced away in fear, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡­ it wasn¡¯t a nightmare¡­ Aunt Marguerite hit me! She¡­ she choked me and said¡­ said Daddy was going to kick me and mommy out, never to let use back¡­ TE Marguerite was confused as she urgently tried to clear her name, ¡°Manley, are you sure you didn¡¯t get it wrong? How could I possibly hit you?¡± Manley¡¯s shoulders quivered as he saw Marguerite approach, and he scurried away in panic, clinging tightly to Yuna¡¯s waist from behind. Maurice furrowed his brow, observing the situation, then lowered his eyes to Teresa, ¡°Did Manley bully you?¡± Teresa was just as confused, looking at Manley as if he were possessed. ¡°Manley didn¡¯t bully me. Yesterday while ying, he identally tripped me.¡± Upon hearing this, Yuna¡¯s anger visibly red. She stood up in outrage, her expression dramatically exaggerated, ¡°Oh, so Marguerite! My son identally tripped your daughter, and you had the heart to be so rough with him? He¡¯s only a three-year-old child, how could youy a hand on him?¡± Out of nowhere, Marguerite was at a loss for words. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t think of any way to prove her innocence. She hadn¡¯tid a finger on Manley, of that she was certain! Was Manley lying? But that didn¡¯t make sense! Back in the hospital, she had gotten along well with Manley. The little boy had even trusted her enough to share his favorite toy with her. 09.00 But now, with his usations, not only was Marguerite perplexed, she was also helpless. She racked her brains for a long time, and although she couldn¡¯t find any evidence, her sincere eyes were steady and unflinching, ¡°Believe it or not, but I absolutely did not touch your son.¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes were filled with rage, her tone usatory as if channeling a scorned woman, ¡°You didn¡¯t touch him? Then why would he say you hit him out of the blue? Are you suggesting he¡¯s lying?¡± Marguerite looked at Manley, seeing the little guy trembling and cowering behind Yuna, not looking like he was lying at all. If she weren¡¯t the one being used, she probably would have believed his story as well. So what was really going on? Frederick¡¯s gaze was piercing as he stood with his arms crossed, his eyes thoughtfully on Marguerite. Feeling his stare, Marguerite boldly met his eyes. Having done no wrong, she had nothing to conceal and thus, nothing to fear. His gaze held steady on her, his lips parting slightly, ¡°Are you really sure it wasn¡¯t you?¡± Marguerite nodded with certainty, a hint of frustration in her voice, ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Freddie, don¡¯t believe her! Because Manley identally tripped Teresa, this woman held a grudge and hit him! Didn¡¯t you hear Manley say that Marguerite told him you would kick him out of the house? Manley loves you so much, and you love him dearly. How could the idea of you kicking him out ever cross his mind? Someone must be stirring up trouble!¡± Frederick remained silent, as if deep in thought. Teresa, protective of her mother, finally thought of a way to prove her mom¡¯s innocence, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! I didn¡¯t even tell my mom about Manley tripping me! So the reason for my mom to hit Manley doesn¡¯t stand at all!¡± Chapter 554 Little did innocent Teresa know that the so-called evidence she clung to was worth nothing in Yuna¡¯s eyes! ¡°That doesn¡¯t prove anything. You didn¡¯t see it with your own eyes! Besides, does your mother need a reason to hit my son? She¡¯s wicked enough just to do it because she feels like it!¡± Teresa panicked, and so did Manley. Tears streaming down his face, he stomped his feet in distress and looked at Teresa with a pitiful gaze, ¡°Aunt Marguerite hit me! She really did! Teresa, why won¡¯t you believe me? I was so, so scared!¡± Everyone was saying Mommy had hit Manley, but Teresa stubbornly believed her mother would never do such a thing! Without caring for evidence, she rushed over and clung to Frederick¡¯s leg, crying her heart out, ¡°Hayes¡¯ daddy! My mom would never hit Manley! I believe in her! We had such a good time at the hospital, all four of us. How could she bear to hit him? Please, you have to believe me!¡± Frederick¡¯s heart twisted at the sight of the little one in distress. He bent down and lifted Teresa into his arms,forting her softly, ¡°Alright, I believe her.¡± Marguerite froze for a moment. Frederick¡¯s words were so sudden, she couldn¡¯t even react. Did he really believe her, or was he just trying tofort Teresa, who was pleading on her behalf? Yuna, on the other hand, was livid! She had gruesomely drugged and frightened her own son the previous night, all in order to spring a trap for Marguerite, that abominable woman! After such a hefty sacrifice, and now Freddie was not buying her son¡¯s story! The more Yuna thought about it, the angrier she got, her voice rising uncontrobly, ¡°Freddie! Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too unfair? You believe what Teresa says but not Manley? Who is your child after all? I have solid evidence that Marguerite hit Manley! Last night, Manley didn¡¯t have dinner, neither did Marguerite! She took advantage when none of us were in the bedroom to strike at Manley!¡± A look of disgust shed in Frederick¡¯s eyes, his gaze burning with anger, ¡°Marguerite was in a car ident yesterday, she even had a mild concussion. A woman who can barely walk without support, how do you suppose she had the strength to touch Manley?¡± His words carried an undeniable force, stopping Yuna in her tracks. That woman was in a car ident yesterday? Damn it! Why didn¡¯t it kill her! If she had 10:51 known, she would never have chosenst night to make her move! Yuna felt guilty, her defiance waning, ¡°Then¡­ how do you exin Manley¡¯s words?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was piercing, slowly he uttered two words, ¡°A nightmare.¡± It was a lifeline he was throwing to Yuna. But his unwavering decision to believe Marguerite over Manley wasn¡¯t about favoritism. It was because on many asions, under Yuna¡¯s influence, Manley had a habit of lying. Yuna, however, refused to take the lifeline, ¡°Freddie, Manley said it wasn¡¯t a nightmare! By showing such tant bias, aren¡¯t you afraid Manley will be disappointed in you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a question you should be asking yourself.¡± Chapter 555 Frederick¡¯s words cut the air like a bone-chilling gust, his dark murmurs sending shivers down Yuna¡¯s spine. She felt a shiver run through her, despite the warmth of the room, as Frederick¡¯s piercing gaze bore into her. What on earth did Freddie mean by that? Had he discovered that she drugged Manley¡¯s milkst night? But if he knew, how could he be so eerily calm in her presence? It didn¡¯t make sense! Yuna¡¯s heart fluttered in confusion, and she stood frozen in ce, unable to move or think. Frederick, meanwhile, nced at her sharply, his eyes burning with an unspoken message. He then picked up little Teresa to leave the bedroom. As he brushed past Yuna, he suddenly stopped, his voice low and fraught with warning, ¡°If I catch you filling Manley¡¯s head with lies and coaching him to deceive again, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll never inherit a dime from the Fitzgerald estate!¡± With those final words, he strode away decisively. Yuna felt threatened, yes, but at the same time, she let out a sigh of relief. So that¡¯s what he had been thinking? She had been scared for nothing! As the room emptied, Manley scrambled into her arms, his face a picture of misery as he shook his head vehemently, ¡°Mommy, I didn¡¯t lie! I didn¡¯t! Auntie Marguerite threatened me!¡± Yuna snapped back to reality and crouched down to meet Manley¡¯s eye. ¡°Did she tell youst night that Daddy would kick you out of the house?¡± Tears streamed down Manley¡¯s cheeks as he sobbed uncontrobly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°See, Mommy didn¡¯t lie to you! Do you still think she¡¯s nice to you?¡± Manley paused, still tangled in his own confusion, but the memory of ¡°Auntie Marguerite¡¯s¡± vicious face from the night before sent shivers down his spine. His head shook like a rattle, ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ Mommy, I¡¯ll always listen to you from now on, I¡¯ll be good¡­ Can you make Auntie Marguerite stop hitting me?¡± Yuna stroked Manley¡¯s hair,forting him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy will protect you. And from now on, don¡¯t call her ¡®Auntie.¡± Manley sniffled, ¡°If not ¡®Auntie,¡¯ what do I call her?¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes flickered maliciously as she spat out the words, ¡°The bitch! We¡¯ll call her the bitch!¡± Manley was stunned. Although he¡¯d joined his mother in scolding Hayes before, he¡¯d never 10.51 really sworn. The worst he could think of was ¡°dummy¡± or ¡°little meanie.¡± But now, Mommy wanted him to call Auntie Marguerite ¡°the bitch¡±! Manley couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. Yuna coaxed him, ¡°Manley, she hit youst night. What are you waiting for? If you don¡¯t want to be bullied, you need to stand up for yourself! Do you hear me?¡± Manley nodded, half-understanding, ¡°Y¡­yes.¡± ¡°So what will you call her?¡± Manley¡¯s timid voice was barely audible, ¡°The¡­ the bitch¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! The bitch! Marguerite is nothing but a bitch!¡± Yuna cursed venomously, her eyes swirling with hatred and malice. 10:51 Chapter 556 Frederick¡¯s warning had done little to dampen her resolve. After all, he didn¡¯t know about the little ¡®extra¡¯ she¡¯d slipped into his drink! Manley was sure he saw ¡°Marguerite¡±st night, and she can make it happen again. She was determined to crush Marguerite, to grind her into the dirt under her heel! Meanwhile, a sleek ck Mercedes glided smoothly along the expansive avenue. Marguerite shot a nce at Maurice sitting beside her, her irritation growing by the second. The morning¡¯s unpleasantness had already soured her mood, but to add insult to injury, Maurice had insisted on giving her a ride to work in front of Frederick. Marguerite knew he was worried about her. But the more he tried to cage her, the more rebellious she became. Suddenly, Maurice turned to lock eyes with her, his gaze mockingly yful. He taunted, ¡°So, hearing about Frederick¡¯s wedding ns with Yuna got you so riled up you¡¯d stoop to harming their child? Marguerite, since when did you be so venomous?¡± Marguerite¡¯s skin crawled at his usation, her tone sharp with displeasure, ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, I had absolutely nothing to do with that!¡± Maurice raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you sure it wasn¡¯t you?¡± Marguerite sighed, a cold smile curling at the corners of her mouth, ¡°I must be out of my mind to waste my breath exining this to you. The truth doesn¡¯t matter, as long as Frederick believes in me!¡± Marguerite intended to fan the mes, and she seeded. Maurice remained expressionless, but Marguerite could feel the anger radiating off him. She didn¡¯t want to argue any longer, a second more with Maurice felt suffocating! ¡°Pull over.¡± The driver hesitated, ncing at Maurice¡¯s expression in the rear-view mirror. Maurice¡¯s tone brooked no argument, ¡°Not yet.¡± If she arrived at the office at the same time as Frederick and Maurice saw them together, her future would be hellish. Besides, at this moment, she truly couldn¡¯t stand another second with Maurice. It made her sick! ¡°Are you going to pull over or not?¡± 10:51 Maurice didn¡¯t even look at her, instead instructing the driver, ¡°Speed up.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winston!¡± The elerating speed gave Marguerite a feeling of being propelled forward. She suddenly rolled down the window, letting the icy wind rush in: ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯ll jump right out!¡± ¡°One threat, I¡¯ll indulge, but two or three is pushing it. Go ahead and jump, Marguerite.¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t care to hear more of his drivel. She stood up, leaning half her body out the window. Maurice seemed not to care this time, but the driver was terrified! He knew Marguerite was crazy, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be this crazy! At this speed, if she really jumped and got hurt, he couldn¡¯t possibly bear the responsibility! In a panic, he mmed on the brakes, but didn¡¯t dare unlock the doors. Seeing this, Marguerite simply climbed out the window, Maurice¡¯s voice trailing after her: ¡°Marguerite, do you know that Frederick is nning to have his wedding on the same day as ours?¡± 10:51 Chapter 557 Marguerite¡¯s body tensed, a flicker of shock passing through her wide, watery eyes. But it was quickly reced by a sharp stab of pain. Frederick had set up a date to marry Yuna? He was actually doing it? And to add salt to the wound, he nned to tie the knot on the same day as her? Marguerite wasn¡¯t sure if she should believe Maurice, but one thing was certain: his timing in delivering this news was a calcted move to even the score between them. She held her ground, turning to face him, her crimson lips curling into a mocking smile. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that just peachy? A double celebration.¡± Maurice¡¯s face fell, a gloom enveloping him as he fought to mask his emotions. Marguerite, on the other hand, spun on her heel and hobbled into a taxi, heading straight for Poppy Petal Fragrances. Leaning back in the seat, she gazed out the window, lost in thought. When she had jumped out of Maurice¡¯s car earlier, she¡¯d twisted her ankle. The piercing pain was a mere distractionpared to the heartache of her beloved marrying another woman. This was a pain Marguerite had over and over again. e had the Ten minutester, she limped into the director¡¯s office at Poppy Petal Fragrances. Miley was there, perched on Marguerite¡¯s desk, apparently in the middle of a conversation with Frederick. Her expressions were as animated as ever, while Frederick raised an eyebrow, seemingly skeptical of whatever tale Miley was spinning. Upon seeing Marguerite, Miley¡¯s face contorted into an exaggerated concern. ¡°Marguerite! What happened to you? Why are you limping?¡± Before Marguerite could respond, Miley was at her side, fussing over her like a mother hen. Marguerite felt a twinge of annoyance mixed with embarrassment. ¡°You¡¯re being dramatic,¡± Marguerite muttered. Miley leaned in close, whispering conspiratorially, ¡°Because you will never say it yourself! I have to be dramatic or Frederick won¡¯t even notice your injury.¡± Despite herself, Marguerite had to admit that Miley knew her well. Miley swiftly guided Marguerite to her chair and unexpectedly knelt to remove her snow boots, her hands fluttering with concern. 10:51 ¡°Mr. Winston! Marguerite¡¯s ankle is swollen!¡± Swollen? Marguerite nced down and indeed saw a bulge around her right ankle. ¡°I didn¡¯t even notice,¡± she said calmly. Frederick¡¯s gaze followed, and with a hint of urgency, he asked, ¡°What happened?¡± His tone was a mix of concern and usation, but it made Marguerite bristle defensively. ¡°I fell.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you with Maurice? How did you manage to fall?¡± ¡°Is it not possible for me to fall while I¡¯m with him?¡± Marguerite¡¯s retort left Frederick momentarily speechless, and Miley was beside herself. Did these two have any sense of priorities? Now was not the time to argue about such trivialities. Miley sighed, shaking her head as she stood. ¡°I¡¯ll go get the medic. Mr. Winston, please make sure Marguerite stays put and doesn¡¯t walk around.¡± Miley was back in less than five minutes with a bag full of medical supplies and a sheepish smile. ¡°The medic wasn¡¯t in, so I grabbed some ointment and a few ice packs. I doubt Marguerite can apply it herself in this state, right?¡± Marguerite was baffled. Her foot was injured, not her hands. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. What was Miley ying at? Frederick tilted his head, his gaze unwavering, watching the scene unfold in silence. Soon, Miley stuffed all the medical supplies into Frederick¡¯s arms, holding up her beautifully manicured hands in a self-exnatory gesture. I ¡°Mr. Winston, look at these nails. I can¡¯t possibly assist Marguerite. I might scratch her and cause more harm than good. Maybe she¡¯ll even end up in the hospital! How about you lend her a hand?¡± Chapter 558 Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but force a polite smile through her difort. Miley¡¯s attempts at matchmaking were about as subtle as a bull in a china shop! This tant attempt at setting her up could easily give the wrong impression to the man in front of her, making it seem like she was in cahoots with Miley. Feeling a twinge of guilt and eager to prove her innocence, Marguerite leaned forward and reached out, ¡°Hand me the ointment, I can apply it myself.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was distant, pondering something as he locked eyes with Marguerite for a moment. Finally, as if making up his mind, hemanded in a cool tone, ¡°Sit tight.¡± Sit tight? What did he mean by that? Confusion swirled in Marguerite¡¯s mind, and before she could process, she watched as Frederick pulled up a swivel chair next to her. He gently lifted her right leg onto his knee, and without warning, peeled off her cotton socks. A chill and her embarrassment made Marguerite¡¯s exposed toes instinctively curl, followed by his nextmand, ¡°Go close the window and set the thermostat to 77 degrees.¡± Miley nodded vigorously, repeating ¡°Right away!¡± three times before scampering off to close the window and adjust the heating. Marguerite¡¯s confusion only deepened. What was this man thinking? Wasn¡¯t he about to marry Yuna? Why was he fussing over her injury instead of getting ready for his wedding? Marguerite¡¯s gaze was innocent yet inquisitive, and whether it was the heat in the room or something else, her cheeks flushed a rosy hue Then, Frederick poured a dollop of soothing balm into hisrge, firm palm, rubbed his hands together, and applied it to Marguerite¡¯s swollen ankle. The warmth spread through her, and she looked up cautiously at Frederick tending to her, her heart beginning to race for reasons she couldn¡¯t fathom. But her excitement was short-lived. She remembered a month ago, when Yuna was injured on the construction site, and Frederick had also used balm to treat her wound. Suddenly, Marguerite had a newfound respect for Frederick. He didn¡¯t love Yuna, yet he was still willing to care for her injuries, and even marry her. 10:51 But as for herself, she couldn¡¯t muster such magnanimity. Her emotions were a mess, but Miley, leaning provocatively against the desk, watched the two with a mischievous grin. ¡°Mr. Winston, did you know that in the old days, if a man saw a woman¡¯s feet, he was expected to marry her? And you¡¯ve not only seen Marguerite¡¯s feet but touched them, too.¡± Marguerite struggled for breath. That damn Miley, always spouting nonsense! Flushing deeper, Marguerite retorted, ¡°That¡¯s thousands of years ago, why are you bringing up ancient customs? He¡¯s about to marry Yuna, don¡¯t spout nonsense and make things awkward.¡± Frederick¡¯s hand paused in applying the ointment, and he looked up at Marguerite, sensing a hint of jealousy in her tone. He felt an odd sense of satisfaction, his eyes betraying an emotion Marguerite couldn¡¯t decipher. Marry Yuna? He never once agreed to take Yuna as his wife. Last night¡¯s confrontation with Mr. Hackett was too pressing, and Frederick, not wanting to engage in a futile argument, had chosen to ignore it. The subsequent arrangements were all Mr. Hackett and Powell¡¯s doing, nothing to do with him. But now, the memory of Maurice carrying Marguerite away the night before stubbornly lingered in his mind. His gaze cooled, and with an intent to tease her, he dodged revealing the truth and countered, ¡°Whom I marry is none of your business, is it?¡± 10:51 Chapter 559 Marguerite stood there, seething with a fury she couldn¡¯t quite articte. The man in front of her, Frederick, wasn¡¯t being outright rude-in fact, he wore a casual smile that only seemed to fan the mes of her irritation. The fact that he was getting married had nothing to do with her, yet here he was, always finding a way to stir her feelings. It was maddening. She had resolved to give up on him time and time again, yet his mixed signals kept her clinging to a hope she knew she should abandon. Her resolve wavered on his whims. Marguerite¡¯s temper red, and the words tumbled out before she could stop them, ¡°If you¡¯re so keen on weddings, why don¡¯t we just have the ceremonies together? Won¡¯t that be better?¡± Frederick paused, a sh of something unreadable crossing his face before he let go of Marguerite¡¯s ankle and pulled out a wet wipe to clean his hands. His movements were graceful, his expression loaded with meaning, ¡°Why not? I have no objections.¡± A tightness gripped Marguerite¡¯s chest as she snatched her leg back, her resentment growing thicker by the second. Miley, witnessing the tension between Marguerite and Frederick, wondered how they¡¯d managed to start another quarrel. Hadn¡¯t she just tried to smooth things over with Frederick? Worried, she chimed in, ¡°Mr. Winston, you¡¯re just marrying Yuna because of a childhood betrothal, right? And now, it¡¯s not even clear if Yuna truly is the Fitzgerald heiress. Can¡¯t you wait a bit longer? The truth is about toe out!¡± Just the night before, Robert had filled her in on the whole thing. In a panic, she had called her parents to rush over. Not fully grasping Frederick¡¯s way of handling affairs, she feared his sense of duty might corner him into marrying Yuna if Hackett pushed hard enough. Miley had dashed to work early that day to y mediator, but instead of resolving issues, things seemed to be spiraling out of control. Were Frederick and Marguerite simply ying house? Talking of marrying as if it were a game and even considering a joint wedding! Miley felt like an ant on a hot pan, but Frederick¡¯s emotions remained muted. He didn¡¯t answer Miley¡¯s question, his gaze lingered on Marguerite, intense and unsettling. Feeling the weight of his stare, Marguerite quickly slipped on her shoes and limped towards the door. Miley, taken aback, asked, ¡°Marguerite, where are you going?¡± 09:04 Without looking back, Marguerite answered, ¡°I contacted the factory yesterday. I¡¯ve got a contract to sign today.¡± And with that, she limped out of the office. Miley was at a loss. Avoidance was Marguerite¡¯s solution to every problem? Wasn¡¯t this the time to stay and clear up any misunderstandings with Frederick? He had just finished tending to her wounds, the concern in his eyes nearly spilling over. Any observant person could see his feelings for Marguerite, but her foolish friend was blind to it. And Frederick was stoking the fire of misunderstanding! Miley was beside herself with frustration when Frederick¡¯s voice broke through her thoughts, ¡°If you¡¯re so worried about her injury, why aren¡¯t you following her? What are you waiting for?¡± Miley was speechless. It was clear as day that it was he who was worried. Why did he have to be so proud and stubborn? With a forced smile, Miley said, ¡°Mr. Winston, perhaps it would be more effective if you were the one to go after her!¡± 00:04 Chapter 560 Frederick cast a deep, lingering nce at Miley before he turned on his heel, a cold detachment sinking into his bones as he mercilessly pulled out a folder and began to review the documents within. His actions screamed his stance loud and clear. He had already shown Marguerite kindness by treating her injury; had he not indulged her enoughtely? He feared that if he chased after her, he would only lose more control. And Marguerite would surely tick him off even more! He would rather die than relive the tragedy of three years ago! Miley, seeing Frederick¡¯s heartless demeanor, felt helpless and worried for Marguerite. With no other choice, she hastily followed her out. They drove to the cosmetics factory where Marguerite was surprised to find the swelling in her right ankle had subsided, and walking was less painful than before. Miley/approached Marguerite with a chuckle, linking arms with her, ¡°Wow, Mr. Winston¡¯s got some skills. You can tell he¡¯s a pro when he was massaging you. Felt good, didn¡¯t it?¡± Marguerite was baffled. How did Miley manage to make that sounds weird! As they noticed the factory manager approaching from the entrance, Marguerite quickly reminded Miley, ¡°Don¡¯t make him sound like some kind of masseur! And please, no nonsense in front of others, let¡¯s stay focused at work!¡± Miley muttered under her breath, ¡°So stubborn!¡± but quickly switched gears, putting on her best social butterfly performance as the manager approached. ¡°Hello!! This is Mr. Winston¡¯s assistant, Ms. Lockwood, and I¡¯m her friend, Miley Goldie. We¡¯re here to inspect the factory. If everything checks out, we¡¯re ready to sign the contract and start production.¡± The manager was a gaunt middle-aged man with a protruding mouth and heavy dark circles under his eyes. He eagerly made his way over to them upon seeing Miley¡¯s greeting. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, Ms. Goldie, please call me Zack. Mr. Winston already briefed me, pleasee this way.¡± Zack seemed a bit anxious as he led the way into the factory. Marguerite and Miley were wrapped in white protective gear as Zack exined, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, here we have the finished product and raw materials area; the corner is where production and quality control take ce.¡± He nced at Marguerite¡¯s foot, concern shing across his face, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, we¡¯ve got a wheelchair from the pharmacy just now, would you like to sit and rest for a bit?¡± Marguerite smiled, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I¡¯ve just twisted my ankle; it¡¯s not that serious.¡± Zack smiled awkwardly, remembering Mr. Winston¡¯s call, which had left him under the impression that her injury was severe. He had rushed to get a wheelchair in his panic. Now, he wondered if Mr. Winston was testing their hospitality. Zack¡¯s tone grew more respectful, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, rest assured, our factory staff are highly trained to ensure perfection at every stage of production. Poppy Petal Fragrances making a deal with our factory is definitely a wise choice!¡± Marguerite inspected the facility, finding it met the standards and proactively signed the contract with Zack. As soon as her signature was on the document, Zack let out a sigh of relief. Marguerite was puzzled, ¡°Zack, are you afraid of me?¡± Zack¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he quickly shook his head, ¡°Not at all, Ms. Lockwood. You¡¯re beautiful and approachable; there¡¯s no reason to be afraid.¡± ¡°Then why have you been so nervous since you met me? Don¡¯t worry, once the contract is signed, I can¡¯t back out. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re notfortable with, please tell me. I don¡¯t want any issues during our coboration that could affect production.¡± Zack realized that Marguerite¡¯s attitude was much more amodating than Mr. Winston¡¯s and let out a quiet sigh. ¡°Ms. Lockwood, it wasn¡¯t you that made me nervous; it was Mr. Winston.¡± Chapter 561 Zack sighed, a hint of gloom tinting his voice. He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing, ¡°You see, when Mr. Winston approached our factory for a partnership, we were thrilled. But he is a stickler for details-his standards are sky-high! Last night, when we caught wind that he might send someone to inspect, we were all wound up tighter than a drum, working overtime until the wee hours to make sure the assembly lines were squeaky clean.¡± Was Frederick Winston really that intimidating? Why did everyone seem to fear him? Marguerite Lockwood chuckled, offering Zack a dose of reassurance, ¡°He does have his own standards when ites to work. Don¡¯t worry too much. If the coboration goes well, he¡¯ll remember your efforts.¡± Zack nodded, half-convinced, but his trust in Marguerite grew a notch. Recalling the previous night¡¯s factory gossip, he thought that knowing the enemy could ensure a smooth partnership, so he probed Marguerite for some intel, ¡°By the way, Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something. Is it true that Mr. Winston has an ex-wife he¡¯s still very much in love with?¡± Ex-wife? That would be her! But where did this notion of a deep lovee from? Marguerite hesitated, not responding immediately. Zack, however, went on exining, ¡°Ms. Lockwood, I¡¯m just curious. Everyone says that the fragrance in this blush was concocted by Mr. Winston¡¯s ex-wife, which is why he¡¯s so strict with every department.¡± Marguerite blinked, her inquisitive gaze settling on Zack, trying to gauge the truth behind his words. She awkwardly asked, ¡°Zack, do you know who I am?¡± Zack assumed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you Mr. Winston¡¯s assistant?¡± Marguerite let out a yful scoff, ¡°Sure, I¡¯m his assistant.¡± It seemed Zack was truly clueless about her real identity. Marguerite knew the subtleties of business etiquette. To secure a deal, many would avoid brown-nosing directly, instead, they¡¯d cozy up to the client¡¯s family-either the kids or the spouse. After all, if you win over the person closest to the decision-maker, you¡¯re just a whisper away from sealing the deal. But Zack didn¡¯t appear to have such an ulterior motive. So what was he really getting at? Who had started this rumor about Frederick having a beloved ex-wife? Curious, Miley Goldie leaned in and pressed, ¡°Zack, where did you get all this? Mr. Winston has an ex-wife he¡¯s still in love with? That¡¯s news to me!¡± Zack, brimming with gossip, replied, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the talk of the factory floor! When you first 08:22 showed us the blush sample, some of the girls immediately recognized the scent! They were all die-hard fans of Pr Radiance and the story of Mr. Winston and his ex-wife was quite the buzz online back in the day!¡± Miley prodded yfully, ¡°But that doesn¡¯t prove Mr. Winston is still in love with her. She¡¯s an ex for a reason, right? Maybe the romance faded long ago!¡± Zack, however, was adamantly shaking his head, ¡°I beg to differ, Ms. Goldie! After Mr. Winston returned from abroad, he dove into real estate, and then suddenly he¡¯s at Poppy Petal Fragrances as a mere director. The way he gets hands-on with everything, it¡¯s quite the shocker! Once they mentioned the fragrance in the blush, it all clicked-we figured he¡¯s still got a torch for his ex! Ms. Goldie, take it from someone who¡¯s been around the block. With men, don¡¯t listen to what they say; watch what they do and how they do it!¡± Chapter 562 Miley feigned a sudden realization, deliberately nudging Marguerite and raising her voice for effect, ¡°Whoa, so Mr. Winston is still hung up on his ex-wife, huh? I think Zack¡¯s got a point. What do you say?¡± Marguerite shot Miley a withering re but remained silent. Was she trying to stir up more trouble in her already chaotic mind? ¡°But you know¡­¡± Zack suddenly changed tune, his expression souring. He remembered that Ms. Lockwood was Mr. Winston¡¯s assistant, and that Mr. Winston had instructed him to look after her ¨C she must be an important employee to the boss! Better to vent a little to her, indirectly¡­ ¡°Look, no one dares toin about Mr. Winston chasing after his ex. But it¡¯s usmon folks at the bottom who suffer the most! We knew Mr. Winston was tough to work with, but with his ex around, he¡¯s be even more nitpicky! Ms. Lockwood, I wouldn¡¯t dare to speak out if it weren¡¯t for your kind face. Although Mr. Winston had his heyday in the perfume industry, let¡¯s face it, he¡¯s lost his sense of smell. A lot of the production steps are just unnecessary fussing, ording to experience.¡± Still irked by her earlier spat with Frederick, Marguerite seized the opportunity to vent, ¡°Exactly. He¡¯s so pedantic, it¡¯s unbearable! We could just hand over the form and let you guys produce it to spec. But when he meddles with the technical side, it¡¯s like an amateur trying to school the pros. That¡¯s what you mean, right?¡± Her words struck a chord with Zack, who nodded vigorously in agreement, ¡°Absolutely, Ms. Lockwood! And not just that, Mr. Winston can be quite obsessive. I get that it¡¯s his perfectionist streak, but it sure makes our lives harder! Ms. Lockwood, maybe you could have a word with him, ask him to delegate and let us take full charge! With Mr. Winston¡¯s intimidating presence, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll scare the workers into messing up!¡± ¡°He¡¯s so authoritarian, vtile, obsessive, and imperious, how could he possibly listen to me?¡± Marguerite used the harshest words she could think of to describe Frederick, but it did little to soothe her frustration. Zack sighed in sympathy, ¡°Well, it looks like we¡¯ll just have to keep our heads down and work harder. But Ms. Lockwood, how long have you been working with Mr. Winston? You seem to know him so well?¡± He remembered Frederick¡¯s assistant was always a portly man, so Ms. Lockwood must not have been around for too long, right? Marguerite hesitated, feeling a bit guilty, ¡°Not¡­ not that long.¡± Not long? How could she describe Frederick¡¯s personality so urately if it hadn¡¯t been long? Miley, watching the back-and-forth with the glee of someone who loves a good drama, couldn¡¯t resist adding fuel to the fire, ¡°Zack, don¡¯t let her spin you tales! Mr. Winston¡¯s ex isn¡¯t just anyone ¨C it¡¯s her.¡± ¡°Oh, so Ms. Lockwood is Mr. Winston¡¯s ex-wife¡­¡± Zack followed Miley¡¯s lead without thinking, not quite processing the information at first. But when he caught Miley¡¯s sympathetic and meaningful gaze, he stiffened, quickly catching on. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ you¡­¡± He stuttered for a moment,pletely tongue-tied. Frederick¡¯s ex-wife was Marguerite, wasn¡¯t it? Marguerite¡­ Ms. Lockwood! Damn it! They both shared the surname Lockwood! What had he said in front of Frederick¡¯s ex-wife? He had bad-mouthed Frederick! This was it; he was done for! But what in the world were these two ying at? Boss and assistant? An office romance? He was truly out of luck! Why hadn¡¯t someone given him a heads-up?! Chapter 563 Zack stood there, dumbstruck, as Miley cheerfully looped her arm through Marguerite¡¯s, ushering her towards the exit, ¡°Zack, Marguerite and I are off to grab a bite in the cafeteria. Better get cracking on your work, or else when Mr. Winston shows up, you¡¯ll be in a pickle!¡± The pair quickly made their way to the factory¡¯s dining hall. Marguerite, with a sigh of exasperation, tapped Miley on the forehead and scolded her, ¡°I told you before we came not to run your mouth! Look at Zack, poor guy¡¯s tongue-tied now because of you.¡± Miley shrugged it off, ¡°What do you know? I¡¯m doing you a favor! Zack¡¯s got that sad puppy look, but with his decade-plus on the job, he¡¯s a sly old fox, trust me! He sees you¡¯re easy to talk to, has things he wouldn¡¯t dare say to Mr. Winston himself, and wants you to be his mouthpiece. Then bam, Mr. Winston would end up taking it out on you! Besides, I wasn¡¯t talking nonsense. You really are Mr. Winston¡¯s ex-wife. And you know what? That¡¯s quite the card to y. Did you see how Zack¡¯s jaw hit the floor? Bet he¡¯s kicking himself for badmouthing Mr. Winston with you!¡± As Miley spoke, she stuffed her face with food, bursting intoughter in between bites. Marguerite shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re reading too much into it. Zack doesn¡¯t seem like the type you¡¯re making him out to be. ¦° ¡°Looks can be deceiving! You and Yuna Lockwood could be twins, both with that innocent look, but who knew she¡¯d be nastier than a wicked witch! Bad apple!¡± Miley¡¯s rant almost made Marguerite snort withughter. But before she could reply, Zack appeared, armsden with toys, and eagerly sat down next to Marguerite. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I was blind to your stature, not recognizing you as Mr. Winston¡¯s wife. I heard you¡¯ve had a baby, so please, ept these toys as gifts.¡± Marguerite was taken aback, quickly rifying, ¡°You¡¯re making too much of it. Frederick and I are divorced, I¡¯m not his wife anymore.¡± Zack waved his hands dismissively, his tone slipping into smooth-talking charm, ¡°Divorced or not, everyone can see that Mr. Winston is head over heels for you.¡± Marguerite was speechless. Miley¡¯s words rang true-Zack was indeed not what he seemed. He had just been unaware of her actual rtionship with Frederick, and now he was implying that anyone with eyes could see Frederick¡¯s enduring love for her. Marguerite, not knowing how to refuse the toys graciously, was at a loss. 08:58 Miley stepped in to cut through the awkwardness, speaking candidly while nibbling on a fork, ¡°You just want Marguerite to keep mum about today¡¯s chat, right?¡± Zack, caught in his tracks, scratched his head with a look of mock sorrow, ¡°Ms. Goldie is sharp.¡± He hadn¡¯t had the chance to interact with Marguerite before and had assumed she was just another one of Frederick¡¯s underlings, likely another victim of his notorious temper. So, during their earlier conversation, he¡¯d been careful not to be too direct, sharing his woes in hopes of eliciting some empathy that would encourage her to speak even more freely on his behalf. He would y the pitiable victim, hoping to garner her sympathy. In turn, maybe she¡¯d put in a good word for him with Mr. Winston. But how could Mr. Winston¡¯s ex-wife possibly pity him? She must be firmly on Mr. Winston¡¯s side! Miley saw right through Zack¡¯s little scheme, her expression one of disdain, ¡°Alright, cut it out. You¡¯re lucky Marguerite is the one you ran into today; with anyone else, you¡¯d be toast. Leave the toys, and get back to work.¡± Zack nodded fervently, remorseful as he took his leave, ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, Ms. Lockwood. Rest assured, we¡¯ll do whatever it takes to meet Mr. Winston¡¯s demands! But one thing I said was no lie-Mr. Winston, he really does adore you!¡± Chapter 564 Marguerite¡¯s ears were practically calloused from all the ttering talks Zack was throwing her way. She knew he was buttering her up, hoping to make his future at work a little less grueling. She was about to wave him off when Mileytched onto Zack¡¯s arm and demanded, ¡°How did you know that, Zack? And if you¡¯re fibbing, I¡¯ll spill the tea about your little gossip session to Mr. Winston!¡± Zack paled, shaking his head frantically, ¡°I would never fib! Actually, before you two arrived, I got a call from Mr. Winston! It scared the daylights out of me, because why would a big shot like him lower himself to ring me up? He mentioned his assistant had a sprained ankle and insisted we take it seriously or else he¡¯d have my head. That¡¯s why I asked Ms. Lockwood if she wanted a wheelchair earlier. At first, I thought Mr. Winston was just testing our hospitality towards clients. Only when I found out Ms. Lockwood is Mr. Winston¡¯s ex-wife did I realize his concern was genuine!¡± Marguerite was surprised. Frederick had actually called to make sure Zack took care of her? What in the world was that man up to? Meanwhile, Miley was grinning from ear to ear, ¡°I never bought it when Robert said Mr. Winston was shy. But now, it¡¯s clear he¡¯s indeed like that. It¡¯s funny, though. If he wants to pamper hisdy, why go through middlemen? Sounds like a fuss over nothing!¡± As Miley prattled on, Marguerite¡¯s scalp itched with irritation. Without giving Zack another look, she ignored him, and he took the hint to skedaddle. Munching on a cold cut from her te, Miley suddenly blurted out, ¡°It¡¯s dull if you do nothing.¡± Marguerite was baffled, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Miley rolled her eyes, ¡°You really don¡¯t catch my drift? Fine, I¡¯lly it out in and simple! You are still in love with Mr. Winston, no doubt about that. And Mr. Winston, even though he¡¯s tight-lipped, he¡¯s been showering you with tender loving care in every little aspect of life. I don¡¯t see the point in your dithering and testing. Love isn¡¯t about entanglement. Sure, you need a storm to see the rainbow, but what¡¯s the use if your rtionship is always stormy? If there¡¯s a big bang and the world explodes, there won¡¯t be any rainbow left. Think about it, Marguerite. I reckon you need to take the bull by the horns.¡± Marguerite felt a pang of sadness, ¡°I already made a move, didn¡¯t I? He rejected me.¡± 08:58 ¡°That was a move? How long did you persist? A week?¡± ¡°And what if he rejects me again?¡± ¡°Then you cut him off, for good. Never see him again. I don¡¯t believe a man who truly loves you would watch you walk down the aisle with Maurice Winston. If that happens, no matter what Mr. Winston¡¯s reasons are, I¡¯d say he¡¯s a coward!¡± Miley¡¯s candidness made sense, and Marguerite fell silent, deep in thought. If everyone else could see that he loved her, but he himself was oblivious, was there any point in continuing this charade? She had never been the one fooling herself-it was Frederick all along! But facing his feelings was one thing, admitting them quite another. Was she really ready to tear down that wall? Marguerite was tangled in her thoughts again. That evening, at the Winston Mansion. Marguerite,den with bags of toys, returned to the Winston Mansion, changed into her pajamas, and headed to the nursery. In the room were only Hayes and Teresa. At the sight of the toys in Marguerite¡¯s hands, they were over the moon! They divided the spoils amicably, and Teresa wasted no time ying with her new Barbie doll. Hayes, however, was cradling a brand-new Transformers toy with a glum expression, pouting as if wrestling with a tough decision. Sensing his mood, Marguerite asked softly, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it, Hayes?¡± He shook his head and stuttered, ¡°Like¡­ but Manley¡­ likes more¡­¡± Manley was crazy about Transformers. A few days back, when they had made up, Hayes had given all his Transformers to Manley. Marguerite got the picture right away, ¡°You want to give this toy to Manley, right?¡± Hayes¡¯ eyes widened with hope as he gazed at Marguerite and nodded earnestly. Teresa, on the other hand, was having none of it, ¡°No way! Manley lied this morning, said Mommy hit him! I¡¯m not giving my toy to him!¡± 08-58 Chapter 565 Hayes was feeling a bit anxious. He scrambled onto the bed and grabbed his writing pad, scrawling a message with such fervor that his pen practically punched through the paper, ¡°Daddy said that Manley had a nightmare, right? We just made up with him after that big fight; we can¡¯t let another misunderstanding get in the way. Plus¡­ Manley¡¯s been really generous with us too. He got you those Hello Kitty stickers and even gave me a Bumblebee action figure!¡± Teresa could feel the guilt weighing on her as she read Hayes¡¯ earnest words. That¡¯s right; during their previous hospital stay, their room had been so bare and boring. Out of sheer boredom, Manley had used a kid¡¯s tablet to order takeout, even treating her to some cupcakes and her favorite stickers. The thought of his kindness made her dislike for him waver. She sighed and turned away, sullenly fiddling with her toys. Hayes wobbled back, clutching a Transformer toy and pushing it into Marguerite¡¯s arms with his little voice trembling, ¡°The¡­ misunderstanding¡­ is the biggest¡­ you go talk¡­* Manley had once confessed to Hayes in secret that he thought Aunt Marguerite was really soft and gentle. So, in truth, Manley actually liked Teresa¡¯s mommy. Hayes definitely didn¡¯t want that so-called nightmare to cause any anger towards Marguerite. Marguerite was touched by Hayes¡¯ thoughtfulness. The little boy was so kind and considerate; who wouldn¡¯t adore him? Suddenly, Marguerite felt a pang of longing. What if Hayes were her son? How wonderful that would be! She stroked his head affectionately, her smile reassuring as she offered him a promise, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take the toy to Manley, okay?¡± Hayes nodded happily, his voice soft and sweet, ¡°Okay!¡± Marguerite left the children¡¯s bedroom and made her way to Manley¡¯s room. The door to Manley¡¯s room was ajar. He was engrossed in a movie on his tablet. When Marguerite entered, he didn¡¯t look up, just said, ¡°The milk¡¯s on the coffee table; I¡¯ll drink it after the movie.¡± Marguerite paused, her tone gentle yet probing, ¡°Manley, it¡¯s me.¡± Manley jolted in surprise, then lifted his gaze to Marguerite. Her hair was loose, and she was still in her creamy white nightgown! Instantly, the terrifying scene from the night before reyed in Manley¡¯s mind. 09:22 He trembled uncontrobly, dropping the tablet and cowering in the corner, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯te any closer! I didn¡¯t bully Teresa, I¡¯ve been in my room all night! If you hit me again¡­. I¡¯m going to call Daddy¡­¡± Manley¡¯s reaction was baffling to Marguerite. Why was he so afraid of her? She had neverid a finger on him! And his behavior didn¡¯t seem like he¡¯d had a nightmare. It felt too real! What on earth was going on? Marguerite took a step forward, shaking the toy in her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Manley. Hayes told me you like Transformers. Here, this one¡¯s for you.¡± But Manley couldn¡¯t care less about the toy at that moment. His whole body was shaking. he was the picture of misery, ¡°Get out! Just get out! Don¡¯t try to buy me off with toys! You¡¯re just a¡­ you¡¯re just a Chapter 566 Manley was on the brink of calling her the ¡°bitch¡±. That¡¯s what his mommy had taught him. But, weirdly enough, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. Instead, he inched backward, a look of pure terror in his eyes. Seeing Manley so worked up, Marguerite was afraid that a single wrong word might set. him off. She stepped back slowly, cing the action figure-a Transformer-by the door. ¡°Okay, sweetie, I won¡¯te any closer. I¡¯m just leaving your toy here; it¡¯s a gift from Hayes. Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ll be out of here.¡± After saying this, Marguerite promptly left the room, gently closing the door behind her. She lingered outside the door, puzzled. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Manley was so frightened of her. That morning, she had wondered if perhaps Yuna had coaxed him into. telling lies, knowing how easily the little guy could be swayed. But now it was just the two of them, and he was still scared. It wasn¡¯t an act. What on earth had happened? Marguerite¡¯s mind was a whirl of confusion. As she stood there, lost in thought, a clear and firm voice came from behind her, ¡°Ms. Lockwood? What are you doing standing by Manley¡¯s door? Why not go in?¡± Marguerite turned to see a maid approaching with a tray carrying three sses of milk. Marguerite, calm andposed, exined, ¡°I was just dropping off a toy. You go on in.¡± After that, she walked away, leaving the maid with a furrowed brow and a curious nce in her direction. The next morning, Marguerite got up a bitte and, to avoid being tardy at work, she decided to head straight to the office. But as she passed Manley¡¯s room, she noticed a flurry of activity among the staff. Frederick stood in the center of the room, his back to her, making it impossible to read his expression. Hayes and Teresa looked utterly baffled, staring at Yuna who was crying. She was muttering non-stop, but her sobs were so intense that Marguerite couldn¡¯t make out a word she was saying. It seemed to be about Manley again? When she caught sight of Teresa, Marguerite¡¯s brain hit a snag. Thinking her daughter was meddling again, she decided to step in and pull the little meddler out. 08:05 But as soon as she entered the room, she unexpectedly locked eyes with Manley. The boy¡¯s reaction was even more intense than the night before. He scrambled out of bed and thump dropped to his knees before Marguerite. Banging his forehead on the floor while crying, he pleaded, ¡°Auntie Marguerite, I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m so, so sorry! Please don¡¯t hit me anymore, okay? I beg you! Please, I¡¯m begging you!¡± Marguerite was shocked at this. Teresa and Hayes were just as bewildered. The two kids quickly pulled Marguerite aside. Teresa even shielded Marguerite with her own body, standing like a little warrior brimming with righteousness, ¡°Manley, stop spouting nonsense! My mom didn¡¯ty a finger on you! It was just a bad dream, that¡¯s all!¡± Manley raised his tear streaked face and wailed, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t dream it! Your mom did hit mest night! Teresa, I never bullied you! You and your mom are so mean! Waaah-¡± Marguerite waspletely befuddled. What was Manley talking about? Saying she had hit himst night? Marguerite was at her wit¡¯s end, almost on the verge ofughter because of this nonsense. Why did all these bizarre situations always seem to find her? Meanwhile, Yuna was making a scene, rushing over to scoop Manley up from the floor, scolding. ¡°You spineless kid! They¡¯re pushing you around, and you¡¯re kneeling to them? Manley! What in the world happenedst night? Spill it! Your dad¡¯s right here, and he¡¯ll stand you!¡± up for 08:05 # Chapter 567 Manley was a mess, sobbing so hard he could barely catch his breath. His face was a blend of tears and snot, a picture of utter distress. Frederick pulled out a tissue and stepped forward to clean Manley¡¯s face, casting a nce at Yuna. His gaze softened as he looked back at Manley, ¡°Manley, let¡¯s talk this out, buddy. No lying, okay?¡± Manley shook his head like a tambourine, his eyes wide with fear as tears continued to stream down his face, ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m not lying! Auntie Marguerite¡­ she hit me against night! I didn¡¯t sleep a wink! Waaah-¡± ¡°Did you hear that, Freddie? Manley said Auntie Marguerite hit him. How can you keep defending her? He¡¯s my kid, how can I stand by while he¡¯s being bullied?¡± But the look Frederick gave Yuna was one of growing disgust, ¡°He¡¯s my son, and of course, it breaks my heart to see him like this. But I will not tolerate you, filling his head with nonsense!¡± Yuna was consumed with guilt. Freddie hadn¡¯t believed her yesterday, so she had no choice but to resort to desperate measures! Not only did she up the dose of the medication, but she also had the heart toy a heavy hand on Manley! Yet after all this, why was Freddie still shielding Marguerite? Marguerite, on the other hand, was taken aback. Naturally, she was heartbroken and anxious about Manley¡¯s condition. But she never imagined Frederick would actually trust her this much. Unexpectedly, she thought back to what Miley had said to her yesterday. Could it be that Frederick actually loved her, and he just didn¡¯t realize it himself? Marguerite¡¯s heart was in turmoil, a tangled mess. Unsure of how to clear her name, she chose to remain silent. But Yuna couldn¡¯t keep herposure. With a howl, she burst into tears, her disy as dramatic as it was intense, ¡°It¡¯s so unfair, Freddie! If it¡¯s as you say, that Manley¡¯s usations against Auntie Marguerite are the result of my influence, then after your warning yesterday morning, I would never have continued! But Manley still says the same things today. That proves I wasn¡¯t fabricating anything! It must be¡­ it must be because Marguerite thinks you haven¡¯t caught on to her hitting Manley, so she¡¯s grown bold!¡± Yuna¡¯s words were inmmatory, and some of the servants who didn¡¯t know better started giving Marguerite suspicious looks. But Frederick maintained an intense gaze with Yuna, his eyes probing, sharp enough to pierce through one¡¯s soul. Yuna, already lying, felt even more quilty under his scrutiny. So she quickly lowered her eyelids, and her dried-up tear ducts managed to squeeze out more tears. She hugged Manley tighter, crying and whimpering. But at that moment, Manley screamed, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t hold me! It hurts¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes flew open in an exaggerated motion, and she quickly ced Manley on his toddler bed, swiftly rolling up his sleeve as if she had done it a thousand times before. Instantly, bruises in shades of blue and purple covered his little arms. Without a second thought, she lifted his shirt, revealing more bruises on his stomach and back, just as severe. Frederick¡¯s eyes narrowed, and Yuna, with bloodshot eyes, demanded, ¡°What happened? How did you get these injuries?¡± With Yuna¡¯s questioning, Manley¡¯s grievances surged like a tide, ¡°Auntie Marguerite did it¡­ she¡¯s the one who hit me! Daddy, Mommy, it hurts so much! It really does!¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes filled with hate as she mustered the courage to re back at Frederick, ¡°Freddie, the proof is right before your eyes. Are you still going to insist that Manley¡¯s just having nightmares? Look at this! Can these injuries reallye out of nowhere?¡± Frederick stepped forward, his heart aching as he gathered Manley into his arms, asking softly, ¡°Manley, tell Daddy how you got these wounds. Did you fall or bump into something by ident, and you just don¡¯t remember?¡± At this point, Frederick still didn¡¯t believe that Marguerite could be capable of such cruelty. But before Manley could respond, a servant approached timidly, his voice barely audible, ¡°Mr. Winston, when I came to bring Manley his milkst night, I saw Ms. Marguerite lingering at the door. She said she was there to drop off a toy, but when I went into the room, I found¡­¡± Chapter 568 Frederick¡¯s eyes were icy with bloodlust. ¡°Out with it! No beating around the bush!¡± The servant shivered with fright, ¡°I found Manley shaken up, huddled in the corner trembling¡­¡± Before he could finish, several other servants who couldn¡¯t stand by idly anymore began to chime in. ¡°No way! Manley was actually hit by Ms. Marguerite? The child¡¯s only three, how could shey a hand on him? That¡¯s too much!¡± ¡°Who knows! Ms. Marguerite must¡¯ve had it in for Ms. Yuna for ages! Since she couldn¡¯t take her out, she took the chance to strike at her kid!¡± ¡°But that doesn¡¯t add up! If Ms. Marguerite wanted tosh out, why not go after little Master Hayes? He¡¯s Ms. Yuna¡¯s child too!¡± ¡°Pfft, it¡¯s obvious, ain¡¯t it? Ms. Yuna always doted on Manley the most. If you¡¯re gonna strike, hit ¡¯em where it hurts!¡± The servants¡¯ morous voices opened up a discussion, grating on Marguerite¡¯s nerves. What in the world was going on? Just because she was seen at the door to Manley¡¯s room, they pinned the crime on her? Frederick¡¯s gaze then skewered through the crowd, causing the servants¡¯ hearts to skip a- beat, and they fell silent. After a moment, his eyes met Marguerite¡¯s with aplex intensity before swiftly turning away. That brief eye contact left Marguerite feeling hollow inside. She didn¡¯t know if Frederick would still trust her now that she was the target of everyone¡¯s usations. Soon, he released Manley, stood up towering over the servants with a menacing presence. ¡°Do you know the consequences of lying?¡± he threatened. The servant stepped back, tripping over his own feet, anxious he might have missed some detail, desperately trying to recallst night¡¯s events. ¡°Mr. Winston, I swear I¡¯m not lying! I remember bringing milk to Master Manley¡¯s room. I saw Ms. Marguerite standing at the door. I couldn¡¯t see her face, so I called out to her. Then Ms. Marguerite turned around, and she looked¡­ uneasy. That¡¯s when I walked into the room and found Master Manley crying in the corner. I tried tofort him, but all the f 00.00 T while Master Manley kept on muttering, ¡®Auntie Marguerite, please don¡¯t hit me, don¡¯t hit me¡­¡± ¡± Frederick¡¯s frosty gaze suddenly contorted with disbelief as he turned to Marguerite. Even if Marguerite wished to remain silent, she had to rify her stance in that moment, ¡°I did go to Manley¡¯s roomst night, but it was only to bring him a toy. Nothing else happened.¡± Teresa, eager to defend her mother, grabbed the servant, ¡°When you entered the roomst night, did Master Manley already have bruises?¡± The servant shook his head, ¡°The room was top dim; I couldn¡¯t see clearly. And the little master was in his pajamas, I couldn¡¯t see a thing!¡± Teresa and Hayes exchanged a look, both eager to help. Hayes stepped forward, grabbing Frederick¡¯s hand to exin, ¡°Daddy¡­ the toy¡­ it was¡­ I asked¡­ Auntie Marguerite¡­ to bring it¡­¡± Teresa chimed in quickly, ¡°That¡¯s right, Hayes¡¯ daddy! Mommy brought back lots of toys yesterday, and Hayes didn¡¯t want Manley to feel left out, so he asked Mommy to take one to him! Mommy didn¡¯t hit Manley! She really didn¡¯t! My mommy isn¡¯t like that!¡± Yuna, seizing the moment, pressed the issue, ¡°Manley, don¡¯t be scared. If Daddy won¡¯t protect you, Mommy will stand up for you! Tell me, what did Auntie Marguerite say when she hit you yesterday?¡± Manley, meek and timid, nced at Marguerite and then fearfully towards Frederick, ¡°Auntie Marguerite said that Daddy was going to marry her, and if I didn¡¯t behave, she¡¯d throw me and Mommy out of the house! Auntie Marguerite also said¡­ that Daddy doesn¡¯t like me at all, he likes Hayes! And that three years ago, Daddy was already married to her, and that my mommy¡­ was the other woman¡­¡± 08:30 Chapter 569 Marguerite couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. How could she ever say such a thing to a child? Even if she despised Yuna, she would never hurt a child! But when Manley told Teresa and Hayes what he believed, they couldn¡¯t stay calm. Teresa looked from her mom to Frederick, her face a picture of shock. ¡°Hayes¡¯ daddy, you were married to my mom?¡± she asked. But her mom had always told her that they were just boyfriend and girlfriend. Even though she was only three years old, she knew there was a difference between dating and marriage! She had seen it all on TV dramas! Hayes was just as puzzled, looking innocently at Frederick, desperate for some rity, ¡°Are you¡­ now¡­ divorced?¡± The relentless questioning from the youngsters was enough to make Frederick¡¯s head spin. He had always believed in Marguerite. But now that Manley had mentioned a marriage from three years ago, Frederick hesitated! He had never mentioned this to Manley or Hayes before. If Marguerite hadn¡¯t deliberately revealed it, how could Manley possibly know? And for a moment, he had even doubted Yuna. But soon, that confusion vanished as quickly as it hade. Yuna was a woman so keen on the Mrs. Winston title, so how could she reveal his marriage with Marguerite? Especially not in front of Manley and Hayes. He realized he had been wrong to doubt her. Frederick¡¯s anger red, his deep eyes shing with uncontainable fury. Marguerite felt the full force of his anger and resentment wound tightly around her heart. Suddenly on the verge of tears, she spoke with a choked voice, yet holding back, ¡°Think what you want, I don¡¯t mind. But for the trust you had in me yesterday, I¡¯ll always be thankful.¡± ¡°Thankful? You think you have the right to say that?¡± His tone was calm but terrifying. Upon hearing this, Yuna rushed to cling to Frederick, pressing her body against him, ¡°Freddie, I knew you would believe our son! Marguerite is nothing but a witch, leading Maurice astray, and now she¡¯s trying to bewitch you! 08:38 Freddie, you can¡¯t let her get away with this! She hurt Manley, she deserves to rot in hell Yund¡¯s eyes zed with a venomous rage. But Frederick¡¯s disappointment in Marguerite didn¡¯t mean he was willing to give Yuna any more attention. Disgusted, he pushed her away and turned to order the butler, ¡°Sadie, call the family doctor for a full examination. If anything is wrong with Manley, I will hold you responsible Hisst words were aimed directly at Marguerite, delivered with chilling precision. Sadie, shaken, quickly turned to call the doctor Marguerite faced Frederick¡¯s gaze, defiant and honest. Even as her eyes turned red with unshed tears, she stood tall and resolute, not allowing herself to cry He might not trust her, which she could understand given the evidence pointing at her. It was only natural for him to be angry Yet, Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep sense of loss. The love she sought was not a simple exchange of affection. She craved a biased devotion, the kind where even if the whole world was against hep there would be one person who would stand unwaveringly by her side, providing her with strength and protection.¡± But how could Frederick offer her such devotion when he wouldn¡¯t even admit to love? It seemed they were star-crossed, fated to meet but destined to part Marguerite withdrew her gaze and turned to leave, her disappointment palpable She didn¡¯t see Yuna¡¯s triumphant smirk behind her back. Fortune favors the bold, indeed! The night before, facing Maurice, she had hesitated to go through with her n. Now, it seemed her ruthlessness had paid off! Sure, Maurice had been hurt, but she had regained some ground with Freddie. Though he hadn¡¯t punished Marguerite immediately, the disappointment was there, and he needed time. That¡¯s okay! Once Freddie¡¯s anger cooled, Marguerite would be finished! Yuna thought to herself, smiling with malicious glee, oblivious to the pain Maurice was suffering behind her¡­ Chapter 570 Half an hourter, at Poppy Petal Fragrances, ??? ???? Marguerite didn¡¯t spot Frederick upon arrival at the office, but there was Miley, busily packing up office supplies in the director¡¯s office. Catching sight of Marguerite trudging in looking worn out, Miley couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°Did you have another spat with Frederick?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Only an hour had passed since the incident to her arrival at thepany. How could the news have reached Miley so swiftly? Miley sidled up to Marguerite and said, ¡°Robert just called me. Said Frederick won¡¯t be in for a while and asked me to keep an extra eye on the factory for you. Right in the thick ofunching a new product line, and he bails just like that. I figured you two must¡¯ve had a fight. What¡¯s it about this time?¡± He¡¯s noting in for a while? Looks like Frederick was genuinely upset this time. But as miffed as he might be, where could she air her grievances? She hadn¡¯t done a thing, and yet, she was inexplicably sttered with mud. A heavy lump seemed to lodge in Marguerite¡¯s chest, and with a sigh that betrayed herck of spirit, she terselyid out the sequence of events. After listening, Miley looked at her with a mix of curiosity and scrutiny, pressing, ¡°Marguerite, are you really that clueless, or is it an act? How can you not see what¡¯s so ringly obvious?¡± Marguerite, baffled, mumbled, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Miley gave her a look that was usually reserved for a blockhead, then ushered her to sit face-to-face on the couch, her eyes implying a hidden depth. ¡°Manley¡¯s so certain you hit him, but did you ever consider, maybe¡­¡± She paused mid-sentence, her gaze fixed intently on Marguerite, before mysteriously adding, ¡°He got the wrong person?¡± As Marguerite¡¯s eyelids flicked open in confusion, her face was a canvas of puzzled innocence. She was somewhat bewildered, but not without sense. Miley¡¯s words were straightforward, and even someone as obtuse as Marguerite couldn¡¯t miss their meaning. But how could it be? Marguerite¡¯s emotions tangled instantly, but Miley continued, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Yuna looks just like you. You said Hayes mistook you for her the first time he saw you. So why couldn¡¯t Manley?¡± ¡°Why would Yuna hit her own kid?¡± Miley was dismissive, not hesitating for a second, ¡°Yuna¡¯s twisted, there¡¯s nothing she wouldn¡¯t do. Don¡¯t forget, Hayes is her child too! If she can harm Hayes, why would she spare Manley?¡± ¡°I still find it unbelievable. A child is a mother¡¯s shield and her weakness. Like me, I¡¯d die for Teresa! I can¡¯t see why Yuna would hurt Manley, unless¡­ to get back at me?¡± If that were true, Yuna had indeed lost all humanity. Miley sneered, finding Marguerite¡¯s naivety exasperating, ¡°Marguerite, haven¡¯t you suffered enough these past three years? How can you remain so naive? People are different. It¡¯s fine to be kind, but you can¡¯t expect everyone to be like you. I believe you know better than anyone how vile Yuna can be.¡± Miley left it at that, not saying more, but Marguerite¡¯s heart was in turmoil. If the truth was as Miley suggested, and this was all a malicious setup by Yuna, then Marguerite would surely retaliate! Whether Frederick chose to believe her was beyond her control. But at the very least, she had to defend her dignity in her own way. Her nature might be mellow, but that didn¡¯t mean she was a pushover. Indeed, it was time for her to fight back. Chapter 571 Marguerite was deep in thought when Miley¡¯s cell phone suddenly rang with a video call. Miley quickly turned away to answer, and Marguerite, sensing the need for privacy, left her to it and walked over to the bay window, her mind racing. To clear her name, she had to pull the problem up by its roots. And the root of all her troubles was Manley. Marguerite had considered confronting Manley alone, but remembering his defensive attitude the night before, she doubted she¡¯d get anything out of him. She rubbed her temples lightly, then, as if struck by a sudden thought, whipped out her phone to message Teresa on Facebook, [Sweetie, what¡¯s the situation at home? Is Manley still insisting that I attacked himst night after I left?] Teresa replied quickly, [Yeah, Mom! Hayes and I don¡¯t get it. You and Yuna are gone, but Manley keeps sobbing to Sadie about it. It¡¯s driving me nuts! I feel like punching him!] Marguerite¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her daughter was a good kid, but way too impulsive. She¡¯d been called into school more times than she could count because Teresa had either gotten into a fight or talked back to a teacher. Although her actions were always excusable, it hadn¡¯t stopped Marguerite from spending countless hours teaching her daughter self-control. Thankfully, Teresa had calmed down a bit since then. [If you darey a finger on him, then I¡¯ll be in hot water for sure!] [Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I¡¯m just venting. I won¡¯t cause you any trouble. But Hayes is really worried about Manley. He kept wanting to check on him in his room, but I pulled him back.] Ever since the kids had made up, Hayes had taken a special interest in Manley¡¯s well-being. Since Marguerite couldn¡¯t approach Manley herself, it might be a good idea to enlist the help of Hayes and Teresa. After all, they were all kids around the same age. Communication between children was often more effective than an adult¡¯s intervention. [Sweetheart, don¡¯t stop Hayes. Listen to me and ask Manley about everything that happenedst night. Don¡¯t miss a single detail.] Teresa, who had been moping in the kids¡¯ bedroom, perked up as she read Marguerite¡¯s message and showed it to Hayes, ¡°Look, Little Mute! Mom¡¯s on the case! She wants us to go undercover in Manley¡¯s room and gather intel!¡± Hayes nced at the screen, then looked at Teresa with a raised eyebrow. Undercover? That didn¡¯t seem quite the right word, but whatever. Right now, Teresa¡¯s mom¡¯s issue was the top priority. 00:25 They had been brainstorming ways to prove Marguerite¡¯s innocence, but nothing they came up with had stuck. They were at a dead end until Teresa¡¯s mom sent that text. She must have a n! Hayes eagerly gripped Teresa¡¯s hand, whispering urgently, ¡°Quick¡­ make sure to ask. carefully!¡± Teresa¡¯s cheeks puffed up like little dough buns, adorably cute. She tapped on the screen with her chubby fingers, [Mom, do we just ask him? What if he lies and doesn¡¯t tell the truth? Do we need to do something else?] [You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Just ask him. Also, record everything when you go in. Don¡¯t threaten him, and don¡¯t argue. Send me the recording right after, got it?] Manley had always be particrly agitated whenever he recounted the supposed attack, and people tended to only remember the most striking details when they were upset, overlooking crucial subtleties, By now, more than an hour had passed since the incident, and Manley¡¯s emotions should have settled. Facing his peers, Hayes and Teresa, he wouldn¡¯t be as tense as he would with Marguerite. She needed to get more details from Manley to piece everything together. Whether this would help prove her innocence was yet to be seen. Chapter 572 After Marguerite tucked her phone back into her purse, Miley ended her call as well. With a turn, she began to exin, unasked, ¡°My parents just got back from their trip abroad, they¡¯ve justnded in Stonebridge City, and wanted to let me know they¡¯re safe. Oh, and they send their regards to you, and they¡¯ve invited you over for Christmas.¡± Every year, Miley¡¯s parents would invite Marguerite and Teresa to join them for the festive season. Marguerite had been to their home twice and adored the cozy, weing atmosphere. ¡°With all the drama this year, I doubt I can make it, but I¡¯ll definitely send them my best. Weren¡¯t your folks on vacation, though? Why are they back so early this time?¡± A spark of excitement lit up Miley¡¯s eyes as she said, ¡°It¡¯s because of you!¡± ¡°Because of me?¡± Marguerite was a picture of confusion. ¡°Yep! Since we were neighbors when we were little, Robert¡¯s been dying to dig up history on you and Yuna¡¯s childhood. You know how he is, stubborn as a mule. He refuses to ept Yuna as his sister and won¡¯t let go of any shred of hope!¡± Marguerite was baffled, ¡°If he wanted to know about my childhood, why didn¡¯t he just ask me directly? Why go through all this trouble?¡± Miley smiled slyly, stepping closer, face to face with Marguerite, ¡°Well, I might as well ask you. You were raised by your grandmother, right? Did she ever mention that your family took in a foster child at some point?¡± This took Marguerite aback, her face a nk te, ¡°No, nothing like that. Yuna and I are twins, that wasmon knowledge around Marina Shores Vige, and I¡¯ve never doubted it.¡± Miley shrugged, ¡°So now you see why Robert¡¯s been pestering my parents? You¡¯re clueless about the whole thing! He¡¯s after the dirt from before and just after you were born. It¡¯s a tangled web, and I¡¯m just as curious as you are. But you know what¡¯s funny? Without a shred of evidence about your origins, Robert¡¯s absolutely convinced you¡¯re his sister! He t-out denies Yuna¡¯s existence!¡± Miley rambled on, parched, and eventually headed to the fridge to down a can of soda in one long gulp. The more Miley talked, the more Marguerite felt an odd mix of emotions stir within her. In the Fitzgerald family, she had a fondness for Penelope, and Robert Fitzgerald had indeed been a big help to her. But what had she done to earn such trust from the mother and son? 08:47 Even she couldn¡¯t understand Robert¡¯s adamant belief. Miley finished her soda with a satisfied sigh and delivered her closing argument, ¡°Long story short, ording to Robert, if Yuna isn¡¯t his sister, then the Fitzgerald family¡¯s heiress can only be you! If that¡¯s the case, everyone¡¯s happy. For one, Robert won¡¯t have to deal with her every day, and two, you¡¯ll be the one engaged to Mr. Winston¡¯s son!¡± Miley delivered thest sentence with a melodramatic ir and a suggestive wink at Marguerite. But Marguerite¡¯s mind was too preupied with her own confusion to entertain any thoughts of romance. She had an important question burning inside her, ¡°What I really can¡¯t wrap my head around these past few days, whether it¡¯s you, Robert, or even Frederick, is why are you all so certain that the Fitzgerald family heiress is either me or her? Where are you getting your odds from? If Robert¡¯s sister isn¡¯t Yuna, she could very well be someone else entirely. Why the fixation on me?¡± 212 08:47 Chapter 573 Marguerite had every right to be skeptical since she wasn¡¯t clued in on the whole story. Miley, on the other hand, felt a twinge of guilt. They had zeroed in on Marguerite and Yuna as their prime suspects solely because of the portrait Teresa had drawn. If it weren¡¯t for the uncanny resemnce between the Marguerite and Yuna, which made it impossible to distinguish who was who in the portrait, they probably would have gotten to the bottom of things by now. And Miley¡¯s guilt stemmed from a promise she had made to Teresa to keep her talent as a portrait artist under wraps. Now, with Marguerite pressing her for answers, Miley was torn about whether to keep holding onto this secret. But Teresa was always a bit odd in her ways. Being a portrait artist wasn¡¯t some disreputable job, and Miley couldn¡¯t fathom why the kid would opt to hide this from Marguerite. If she¡¯d had such a skill at Teresa¡¯s age, she would have been trumpeting her talent all over town instead of hiding it like Teresa. Miley couldn¡¯t guess what the kid was thinking, and from her grown-up perspective, it didn¡¯t seem like such a big deal. There really wasn¡¯t a need to keep it under wraps any longer. After a moment¡¯s thought, Miley nudged Marguerite onto the couch, swallowed hard, and cleared her throat with exaggerated mystery, ¡°Marguerite, what I¡¯m about to tell you might just knock your socks off, so brace yourself.¡± Marguerite, puzzled, retorted, ¡°Can you just spit it out already, don¡¯t keep me hanging!¡± Miley opened her mouth to speak but paused abruptly, her eyelids drooping as if wrestling with an inner conflict. After a long silence, she finally mustered the courage and asked somewhat foolishly, ¡°Marguerite, do you know about a very famous portrait artist from Stonebridge City, goes by the name Terry?¡± Marguerite furrowed her brows in thought, ¡°Rings a bell. Maurice mentioned something about that. What about it?¡± ¡°Anything else you¡¯ve heard?¡± Marguerite shook her head, clueless. Miley plopped down next to Marguerite and began a rambling lead-up, ¡°Well, this Terry is something else. She can sketch ¡®age progression¡¯. She can take a child¡¯s face and predict 09.44 how they¡¯ll look all grown up! Not just that, she can work backward using gics to figure out what parents or kids might look like! In short, she¡¯s a real whiz!¡± Miley rattled off her spiel in one breath, then met Marguerite¡¯s still-baffled gaze, panting slightly from her tirade. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you guys found this Terry, and she sketched looks for me and Yuna, leading you all to be clueless about which one of us is Robert¡¯s sister?¡± Miley excitedly snapped her fingers in front of Marguerite, ¡°Bingo! You¡¯re not as slow on the uptake as I thought! Quick thinking!¡± So that was it. No wonder they were so certain that Robert¡¯s sister was either Yuna or herself, having already sketched their likenesses. But it was strange; she and Yuna weren¡¯t twins, so why would they look exactly alike? Zoe and Penelope did bear a resemnce, but that didn¡¯t mean their kids would be carbon copies! This was all beyond belief! Marguerite mused, troubled by the thought. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off, and she whirled to face Miley, urgency written all over her face, ¡°If Terry is that talented, then couldn¡¯t she also work out what my son might look like from mine and Maurice¡¯s features? I could totally go to her for that! Introduce me!¡± Marguerite inadvertently hit the nail on the head, sending Miley into an awkward, guilt-ridden frenzy of scratching her forehead. ¡°Marguerite, actually¡­ I don¡¯t need to introduce you. You know Terry.¡± Marguerite¡¯s look of tion instantly turned to confusion as she stared at Miley, bewildered. She knew Terry? How could that be? Her social circle was limited, and her list of friends was short. But in her memory, there was absolutely no one named ¡°Terry.¡± Seeing Marguerite¡¯s puzzlement, Miley bit the bullet and dropped the bombshell, ¡°Stop guessing, I¡¯ll just tell you. Terry is Teresa!¡± 09:44 Chapter 574 Marguerite stood there, momentarily stunned, before her brow furrowed and she shot back, ¡°Are you joking with me?¡± Miley was taken aback. She had braced herself for Marguerite¡¯s shriek of disbelief, but her response was far moreposed than when Miley herself had first discovered the truth. Did her bestie even have emotions? Her daughter was incredibly gifted and all Marguerite could do was question the fact? Miley immediately jumped to Teresa¡¯s defense, ¡°Joking? If Teresa saw your reaction, she would be heartbroken! How can you not trust that she¡¯s got the talents?¡± Marguerite shook her head, rifying, ¡°It¡¯s not Teresa I don¡¯t trust-it¡¯s you. You¡¯re always exaggerate things, Miley. I don¡¯t know what to believe.¡± Miley hastily lifted three fingers in a solemn vow, ¡°I swear! I¡¯m not exaggerate things this time! Teresa is the Terry! In all my years as a private investigator, every face we¡¯ve reconstructed from surveince footage was thanks to Teresa¡¯s help!¡± Miley¡¯s eyes were red with earnestness, yet Marguerite¡¯s emotions were a tangled mess. She had seen Teresa¡¯s drawings before, even a projection of her own older self. Back then, the little girl had fibbed, iming it was just a random doodle, but it was clear now there was more to it than that. Marguerite should have been ted for Teresa, but instead, she was swamped with confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on in that little head of hers? I¡¯ve been searching for my son for three whole years, she knows that. With her talents, why didn¡¯t she lend a hand?¡± Miley was pping her thigh in excitement, eager to exin on Teresa¡¯s behalf. ¡°I know this one! I asked Teresa the same thing. But the kiddo said, without a snapshot of your son, she couldn¡¯t conjure up an image.¡± ¡°But she could have tried to reverse-draw a likeness from pics of me and Maurice, right?¡± Miley looked dead serious, ¡°She tried. But she said when she looked at photos of you and Maurice, she just hit a wall¨Cno inspiration!¡± Marguerite was baffled, ¡°No inspiration? Why not?¡± ¡°Who knows! Maybe back then, she was just a fledgling artist and couldn¡¯t quite grasp it yet?¡± 08:14 574 Miley crossed her arms, letting her imagination run wild before she threw her hands up in a grand gesture, ¡°Instead of doubting here with me, why not head home and ask her yourself? She¡¯s not going anywhere, she¡¯ll cough up a masterpiece eventually.¡± Miley¡¯s logic was sound, but Marguerite¡¯s confusion ran deeper. What she couldn¡¯t fathom was why Teresa would keep such a secret from her. Yet, at the same time, Marguerite could finally breathe a sigh of relief. With Teresa¡¯s skill, she would no longer be at Maurice¡¯s mercy over the whereabouts of her missing son. She ced all her hopes on Teresa, determined to have a heart-to-heart with the little whiz kid when she got home. Meanwhile, at the Winston Mansion. Manley red at Hayes and Teresa, his belly bulging and jiggling with each breath he took. His small hands were balled into fists at his sides, the very picture of fury. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you guys anymore, I don¡¯t want to be friends, and I¡¯ll never trust you again!¡± The words of ¡°Aunt Marguerite¡± haunted him from the past few nights. He vividly remembered her saying daddy didn¡¯t love him, only Teresa and Hayes. He recalled her saying daddy wanted to kick him out of the house! He despised ¡°Aunt Marguerite,¡± and he despised Teresa and Hayes! They were all in cahoots, all viins! At Manley¡¯s usation, Teresa¡¯s anger surged to her head, and she pointed at Manley, ¡°You don¡¯t want to see us? Well, the feeling is mutual! You lied, and now everyone¡¯s got the wrong idea about my mom! I don¡¯t trust you either!¡± Teresa had a fiery temperament, and seeing this, Hayes quickly pulled her aside, gesturing with his eyes to the recording children¡¯s smartwatch on her wrist. Teresa smacked her forehead in realization. Oh, boy! Mom sent her to fish for info, and here she was, bickering with Manley again! This definitely wasn¡¯t the way to go! 08:14 @ Chapter 575 Teresa sighed heavily, her reluctance softening into a pout. She puffed her rosy cheeks and asked with earnest, ¡°Manley, why did you say my mom hit you?¡± ¡°I saw her hit me, my skin turned red where she pinched me, that¡¯s the proof!¡± Manley¡¯s eyes were stubborn and livid, his little chubby body shaking with the intent to usher Teresa and Hayes out. ¡°We¡¯re not friends anymore! Don¡¯te looking for me! I don¡¯t wanna hang out with jerks!¡± Hayes and Teresa were pushed towards the door, both of them clinging to the doorframe, refusing to leave. Teresa rolled/her eyes cunningly, a shrewd glint passing through them as she decided to provoke Manley, ¡°We¡¯re not jerks! Liars are the real jerks! You lied! And you pinched yourself and then med everything on my mom! That makes you the jerk!¡± Teresa hadn¡¯t spent much time with Manley, but she had noticed one thing at the hospitalst week-Manley hated being called a jerk. As soon as someone described him with that word, he would argue his case fiercely, Sure enough, as soon as Teresa finished her usation, Manley¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, ¡°I didn¡¯t! I did not pinch myself! I didn¡¯t lie, and I¡¯m not a jerk!¡± Manley was confused and anxious inside. He was the one who had been hurt, so why were Teresa and Hayes picking on him and misunderstanding him? His mom had already forbidden him from ying with Hayes and Teresa, but to prove he wasn¡¯t lying, his voice rose sharply, his words tumbling out amidst sobs, ¡°Last night I saw your mom storm into my room, wearing a white dress, hair all wild, like some kind of ghost! She said my mom was the other woman, that my dad didn¡¯t love me, he only loved you and Hayes! I got so upset, we started arguing! Next thing I knew, your mom was pinching my arm and spanking me! I was hurting all over, my head was throbbing! Your mom hit me so hard I started seeing stars! And¡­ and her face was so, so scary! She was all snarling and hissing, like a mad lioness!¡± As Manley spoke, he lifted his sleeve to reveal bruised skin, fooking rather shocking. Hayes¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief, fixated on Manley¡¯s bruises and his tear-streaked face. Teresa, on the other hand, grew angrier with every word. Although her mom had repeatedly warned her not to argue with Manley, she couldn¡¯t stand him throwing all these usations at her mom. ¡°Manley, shut up! Who are you calling a lioness? I won¡¯t let you talk about my mom like that!¡± With that, Teresa rolled up her sleeves and charged at Manley. Hayes, startled, grabbed Teresa¡¯s arm and whispered urgently, ¡°Don¡¯t do anything rash! Manley might not be lying!¡± The situation was tense, and Hayes didn¡¯t even realize that he¡¯d managed to speak aplete sentence so smoothly! And Teresa, caught up in her fury, pushed everything else aside. ¡°Hayes! What are you doing? How could he not be lying? My mom would never hit him!¡± she stomped her foot, fuming. Hayes pursed his lips, his gaze serious and defiant, ¡°Stay back, I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Letting go of Teresa, he walked over to Manley and examined his head closely from all angles. Alright! Good, there were no wounds. Manley, puzzled by Hayes¡¯ actions, tried to push him away, his chubby face smeared with tears. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Get out! I never want to see you guys again!¡± Hayes¡¯ resolve strengthened, his eyes fierce and determined. He was going to clear Teresa¡¯s mom¡¯s name and resolve this misunderstanding with Manley! But first, there was something he had to figure out. Chapter 576 Hayes was thinking hard when he suddenly grabbed Teresa¡¯s hand and headed for the door Caught off guard, Teresa panicked and yelled, ¡°Hayes, let go of me! I wasn¡¯t done asking!! won¡¯t go out! I won¡¯t!¡± Despite her efforts to break free, Teresa couldn¡¯t match the strength of Hayes. All she could do was turn her head and shout at Manley, ¡°Manley, you¡¯re such a bad kid! Don¡¯t you remember how my mom took care of you in the hospital?¡± Manley¡¯s voice rose to a hysterical pitch, ¡°It was your mom who hit me first! She¡¯s the one who let me down!¡± Manley was so angry that his chubby body trembled uncontrobly, looking like he might break down at any second! Soon enough, Hayes had dragged Teresa out of the room. As the door mmed shut with a loud ¡°bang,¡± Manley copsed on the floor and burst into tears His tears mixed with snot, dribbling into his mouth, and he looked as pitiful as one could
From that day on, he would no longer be friends with Hayes and Teresa! No matter what, he would never forgive them! Because ¡°Aunt Marguerite¡± had said while hitting him that daddy only loved Teresa and Hayes, and he despised only him. And Manley, unable to discern right from wrong, stubbornly believed it¡­ Meanwhile, in another room. Hayes rushed Teresa into the children¡¯s bedroom, eager to share what he had found out. But when he opened his mouth, he found he couldn¡¯t say a word. Undeterred, Hayes frantically pulled out a writing pad and scribbled down a few lines, ¡°Teresa, listen, Manley¡¯s injuries are all on his body, but there¡¯s not a mark on his head or face. If he was really hit hard enough to hallucinate, there would be serious injuries on his head. Maybe he really had a nightmare, and he just doesn¡¯t realize it!¡± Teresa calmed down as she read Hayes¡¯ shaky handwriting. His analysis seemed to make sense. But her face soon scrunched up again as she twiddled her fingers, looking at Hayes, ¡°But 08.16 What about the bruises on his body? I think he did it to himself! I don¡¯t care! I¡¯m going to send the recording to mom right now!¡± She reached for the children¡¯s watch on Hayes wrist. Haves thought quickly and hid his hand behind his back, blurting out, ¡°Not to your mom, send it to my dad! Teresa froze Why? Mom just said she wanted the recording sent to her!¡± ¡°It¡¯s your dad and my mom who have the misunderstanding. Show it to my dad, let him Soure it out.. to protect your mom¡­¡± Teresa scratched her head, mulling it over. It did seem a bit better to send the recording to Dad rather than going straight to Mom. Hayes¡¯ dad was more formidable than her mom, and if he got involved, her mom wouldn¡¯t be left to fend for herself! Teresa mulled over Hayes¡¯ words for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She btedly cupped Hayes¡¯ face, her voice soft with excitement, ¡°Little Mute, did you notice? You spoke so smoothly just now, without any stutters!¡± Reminded by Teresa, Hayes realized it too. In fact, it wasn¡¯t just now. Lately, he¡¯d been able to put down the writing pad andmunicate normally with others. Although he could only say a few words, it was already a huge improvement from a month ago. Teresa tried to encourage Hayes, ¡°Little Mute! Say a few more words to me, anything!¡± Hayes opened his mouth, but it felt like there was a lump of cotton stuck in his throat. The words that hade out so easily before were hard to say now that he was thinking about it After waiting in vain for Hayes to speak, Teresa shrugged with a hint of disappointment but didn¡¯t forget to cheer him on, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Little Mute! Next time you talk, I¡¯ll write it down for you! You¡¯re going to keep getting better! But right now, we should hurry and find your dad Mom¡¯s situation is the most important!¡± Hayes¡¯ eyes shone with determination, and he sped her hand firmly, his voice soft but clear, ¡°Okay!¡± 08:16 8 Chapter 577 The two kiddos happily reached an agreement, clutching their kofiendly smartwatches as they hailed a cab to Thunderbolt Enterprises At that moment, Frederick had just finished a session with his thereoret Once Robert had left the room, Jocelyn pulled out a stack of contacts and handed them over to Frederick, letting out a long, relieved sigh ¡°You¡¯re finally back. These are the contracts I¡¯ve been hammering out with our canners over the past few days. Take a look. I¡¯m getting on in years, I can¡¯t keep up with the rat race at the corporation. So, how¡¯s Marguerite doing at Poppy Petal Fragrances? Anything new with the familytely?¡± In an instant, Frederick¡¯s gaze turned icy cold, a sh of anger passing through his eyes at the mention of Marguerite. He said nothing, but the subtle changes in his facial expressions spoke volumes to Jocelyn. ¡°Is it a tiff or a full-blown row this time? Powell mentioned that the Fitzgeralds want you to marry Yuna. Is that what¡¯s caused the rift?¡± Frederick¡¯s voice lowered, a shadow of menace crossing his face, ¡®She¡¯s inconsequential so we don¡¯t have all that drama. You¡¯re reading too much into it.¡± Jocelyn smiled gently, knowing all too well that her son was famously stubborn, and teased him, ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re nning to avoid Poppy Petal Fragrances from now on? So I can take my glorious retirement and rest easy at home?¡± Frederick¡¯s hand, flipping through the documents, paused. The thought of Manley¡¯s behavior that morning made him seethe with fury! Marguerite had the audacity toy a hand on his son? That was something he could not, would not tolerate! Yet deep down, the idea of leaving Poppy Petal Fragrances felt like a decision he couldn¡¯t quitemit to He continued to peruse the papers nonchntly, his tone neutral, betraying no emotion, ¡°We¡¯ll talk after the new project wraps up.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s eyes twinkled knowingly. She asked, ¡°So, I take it that means I¡¯m still needed at the corporation?¡± ¡°Mhr.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s smile broadened ¡°Frederick, you¡¯ve always been so decisive. When did you start waffling? If I¡¯m not mistaken, the production line issues are hardly something that requires your direct attention, right?¡± Confronted with his mother¡¯s soul-searching question, Frederick grew restless and agitated. He wanted to run from all the things that unsettled him, but Jocelyn wasn¡¯t about to give him that chance. He set down the paperwork, and his coolposure finally cracked, showing a visible hint of annoyance as he called out impatiently, ¡°Mom!¡± Jocelyn, ever the doting mother, gently patted his shoulder, not pressing any further, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll drop it.¡± As Jocelyn chuckled, Chuck entered the room, bowing slightly with respect, ¡°Young master, and mydy, Hayes and Teresa have arrived.¡± No sooner had Chuck finished speaking than Teresa ran out from behind him,unching herself into Frederick¡¯s arms, clutching at his sleeve in a desperate exnation, ¡°Hayes¡¯ daddy, you have to listen to me! You¡¯ve got it all wrong about Mommy! Hayes and I went to ask Manley, and he said Mommy hit his head and made him see stars! But there¡¯s not a scratch on his head! You have to believe me, Hayes¡¯ daddy! Mommy¡¯s really been misunderstood!¡± The little girl was like a firecracker, her tiny voice popping out in rapid session. But without providing the full context, she only managed to confuse Frederick and Jocelyn further. Jocelyn quickly soothed Teresa¡¯s head, speaking softly, ¡°Take it easy, tell us slowly. What exactly happened?¡± Teresa poured out all the critical details, but she just couldn¡¯t fathom why Frederick and Jocelyn just couldn¡¯t understand. Anxious and frustrated, she blinked herrge eyes and stomped her feet in distress. Hayes, seeing her agitation, quickly extended his small, plump hand forward, pointing to the smartwatch on his wrist and blurted out, ¡°Recording! We have a recording!¡± 915 Chapter 578 The recording brought by the two little ones had been yed twice in full. It was only through this recording that Jocelyn learned about the grave incident that had taken ce at home over the past couple of days. It seemed likely that the major conflict between Frederick and Marguerite was due to Manley, wasn¡¯t it? But something about Manley¡¯s words in the recording struck her as odd. She quickly took off Hayes¡¯ watch and held it to her ear, listening intently from the beginning. Teresa nced at Jocelyn and then, in a flurry, reached out her small hand to tug urgently at Frederick¡¯s sleeve, exining on her own initiative, ¡°Hayes¡¯ daddy, do you get what I¡¯m saying now? Manley said Mommy gave him such a headache, he started having headache! If he¡¯s hallucinating, howe there isn¡¯t a single scratch on his head? He must¡¯ve been having a nightmare! It really has nothing to do with my mommy!¡± Teresa was so anxious that her small face scrunched up, her delicate features looking up, as if she desperately wanted Frederick to take a stand right then and there. But Frederick¡¯s remained silent, with a chilling aura of authority. No one knew what he was thinking at that very moment. Teresa, frantic that Frederick might still not believe her, was about to say something more to turn the tide. Seeing this, Hayes quickly stepped forward to cover Teresa¡¯s mouth and put his finger to his lips, whispering in her ear, ¡°Daddy needs to think¡­ he doesn¡¯t like to be disturbed¡­¡± Left with no other choice, Teresa reluctantly nodded. Then, the two little ones turned around together, both looking expectantly at Frederick, whose face was shadowed with coldness. The surrounding silence was profound, only the child¡¯s watch yback was distinctly audible. ¡°Your mommy hit me so hard I started hallucinating! I saw leprechauns floating before my eyes! And¡­ Manley¡¯s voice in the recording stopped abruptly. It was Jocelyn who had turned it off. She stood up and approached, seemingly with a clear answer in mind. ¡°Frederick, do you remember when we were down on our luck in the countryside, Mom taking you from ce to ce? Along the way, we passed through a vige on the southern border where there was a nt that have interesting effect?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes showed a hint of confusion. He remembered many things from his childhood quite clearly. But back then, he had been too young and his attention too limited to remember everything. The nt his mother mentioned didn¡¯t ring a bell. Seeing his reaction, Jocelyn didn¡¯t press further but immediately exined, ¡°it was called the Dead Man¡¯s Fingers, it¡¯s a nt, and it¡¯s also an edible fungus. However, I remember the locals once told me that if you eat it raw without cooking it thoroughly, it can induce disorienting hallucinations. The most obvious symptom is that the person will experience excruciating headaches and see numerous little figures floating in the air, even feeling as though they¡¯re part of that reality, unable to distinguish the true from the false. And if someone approaches during the effects of the toxin, everything they see gets exaggerated and magnified by the brain, which means they can¡¯t urately identify who is in front of them. So, Frederick, I think Manley may have been poisoned.¡± Chapter 579 Poisoned? This was utterly unforeseen for Frederick. ¡°Frederick, think hard. Has Manley eaten anything unusual at home these past few days?¡± Teresa, though half in the dark even after Jocelyn¡¯s lengthy exnations about bedonna, was still somewhat baffled. But she was aware that Manley might have hallucinated from ingesting bedonna. So, without waiting for Frederick to reply, Teresa eagerly interjected, ¡°Granny, Manley eats the same food as us, and he hates mushrooms! He never touches the mushroom stew Sadie makes! He only likes meat!¡± ¡°Now that is peculiar. Where could the trouble have stemmed from?¡± Frederick cleared his throat, ¡°Mom, are you so sure Manley was poisoned?¡± ¡°His symptoms match those of poisoning perfectly.¡± Frederick looked down, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotion, ¡°And how do we exin the bruises on his body?¡± ¡°If he truly hallucinated, thinking Marguerite was hitting him, then he might have fought back. It¡¯s possible he hurt himself in the process.¡± Frederick¡¯s heart was in turmoil, his feelings exceedinglyplex. If this was true, then it was likely he had wronged Marguerite. But he could not fathom why Manley would be poisoned for no reason; the boy loathed mushrooms and would never willingly eat them.. And the ingredients at Winston Mansion were always managed by Sadie. It made no sense for everyone else to be fine while only Manley suffered. Just then, Hayes approached with a serious expression, timidly tugging at Frederick¡¯s sleeve, his voice clear, ¡°Daddy, you¡¯ve got it all wrong¡­ Aunt Marguerite¡­¡± Seeing this, Teresa rushed to exin as well, ¡°Yeah, Hayes¡¯ daddy! Manley hallucinated because of the poison. Doesn¡¯t that prove my mommy didn¡¯t hit him?¡± Frederick gazed at the two little ones, his tumultuous heart finding a sliver of calm, mixed with an imperceptible guilt, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll look into this immediately.¡± Jocelyn, relieved, knelt down and embraced both Hayes and Teresa, asking, ¡°Did you two rush over here just to clear Marguerite¡¯s name?¡± Teresa¡¯s innocent face nodded earnestly, ¡°Yes! Because she¡¯s my mommy! Mommy said that even if the whole world turns its back on me, she¡¯ll be there for me!¡± Teresa nced meaningfully at Frederick and deliberately raised her voice, ¡°So, even if all people in this world don¡¯t trust my mommy, I will stand firmly behind her! Not like Hayes¡¯ 08:15 daddy, who jumps to conclusions. It¡¯s disappointing!¡± Frederick was speechless. This little girl, truly is the daughter of Marguerite. Sharp-tongued, always spouting astonishing words. But strangely, he found himself not the least bit annoyed, often charmed by Teresa¡¯s unexpected sweetness. Jocelyn chuckled, surprised by Teresa¡¯s extensive vocabry. Turning to Hayes, she asked, ¡°And you, Hayes, why are you also worried about Aunt Marguerite?¡± Hayes blinked his big eyes, his speech bing smoother, revealing more of his desires to confide. Without a second thought, he adorably said, ¡°Because I want Aunt Marguerite¡­ to be my mommy¡­¡± His response took Frederick aback, his eyebrows knitting together in surprise as he corrected, ¡°Hayes, you have your own mother! Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± No matter his aversion to Yuna, she was still Hayes and Manley¡¯s mother. He didn¡¯t want Hayes to blur the lines between family rtionships. But Hayes¡¯ earnest little face was stubborn as he met Frederick¡¯s gaze, his tone sincere and passionate, ¡°I know. But¡­ Aunt Marguerite feels more like a mommy than my own mommy¡­¡± 212 08:15 Chapter 580 Words failed to capture the turmoil raging within Frederick¡¯s heart. Jocelyn, on the other hand, was utterly baffled. Ever since they¡¯d moved into the Winston Estate, their paths crossed more frequently, but Marguerite was always hustling, leaving at dawn and returning well past dusk due to her demanding job. In all honesty, Jocelyn and Hayes didn¡¯t interact much. Yet, the words Hayes had for Marguerite were undeniably the highest form of praise. ¡°Hayes, why would you say that?¡± Hayes, hands jammed in his pockets, chin tilted up, appeared to be seriously pondering the question. ¡°Because¡­ Aunt Marguerite is kind, thoughtful¡­ sincere, and she cares about me¡­¡± He articted each thought as it came to him. He racked his brain for all of Marguerite¡¯s virtues, wishing he could ascribe every splendid word in the world to her. But to Hayes, even those words seemed too shallow, hardly sufficient to express his true sentiments. He sighed, resigning to a vague summation, ¡°It¡¯s just a feeling!¡± Yes, a feeling! To him, Aunt Marguerite felt more like family than his own mother ever did! Jocelyn listened silently, her eyes welling up with emotion, her heart swelling with a sense of tenderness. Children¡¯s perspectives are always pure; they gravitate towards those who treat them well. Hayes¡¯ affection for Marguerite was a clear sign of her devotion to him. It wasn¡¯t easy. The warmth that Hayes¡¯ actual mother Yuna had failed to provide, he¡¯d found anew in Marguerite. With this in mind, Jocelyn¡¯s heart ached even more for Hayes. She sniffled, stood up, and met Frederick¡¯s gaze, her eyes slightly stinging, and asked, ¡°You heard all that? You¡¯re too stubborn. No matter the past grudges, for the sake of the child, it¡¯s time to let go. And about the poisoning usation against Marguerite, obviously there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. Aren¡¯t you going to clear her name?¡± Frederick was in turmoil, his emotions unsettled after three long years, yet his mother was determinedly nudging him forward. His dark eyes were unfocused, shrouded in a thick fog of confusion and doubt. 08.07 He mumbled, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d look into it, to clear her name?¡± ¡°How will you investigate?¡± Jocelyn challenged. ¡°Behind her back?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were reddened, his demeanor icy, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you let her know about what you¡¯re doing for her? Listen, as someone who¡¯s been through it all, you shouldn¡¯t hide everything from her. Love is love. Don¡¯t y games. with mixed signals. If you investigate behind her back, how will she know you care?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s words were blunt. She had been caught between Marguerite and her son, never daring to jump to conclusions or give Marguerite false hope. That was because she wasn¡¯t sure which was stronger in her son¡¯s heart towards Marguerite, love or resentment. But since moving back to the Winston Estate, their daily interactions had slowly revealed his true feelings to her. Of course, she had to give him a push. In this rtionship, hate might still linger, but it had be irrelevant. Frederick didn¡¯t immediately counter his mother¡¯s words, simply saying, ¡°I don¡¯t want to get into something with no end in sight. She¡¯s about to get married.¡± ¡°But the wedding hasn¡¯t happened yet, has it? Marriage isn¡¯t a joke, and it¡¯s not an excuse for you to run away.¡± As she spoke, Jocelyn grabbed his phone from the table and dialed a number. Frederick nced down and realized she was calling Marguerite. His tone was displeased, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Calling Marguerite over. Take her with you and investigate this whole thing together.¡± Frederick¡¯s posture was haughty and defiant, his reddened eyes bloodshot and intense, ¡°Mom! Stay out of it!¡± He was adamant, but Jocelyn stood her ground just as firmly, ¡°You¡¯ve wronged her; the least you can do is exin. You¡¯re thirty-one, don¡¯t you have any sense of responsibility?¡± Her words hung in the air as the call connected. Marguerite¡¯s voice came through the phone, emotionless, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jocelyn held the phone up to Frederick, urging him to speak. He hesitated, falling silent. ¡°If you don¡¯t speak up, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± said Marguerite Chapter 581 The two kids pulled at Frederick¡¯s arms, one on each side, their little faces lifted in urgent expectation. Finally, unable to resist their pleading eyes, Frederick capitted just as Marguerite was about to hang up, ¡°Swing by the office after work.¡± Marguerite blinked, slightly confused. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Come with me to the Food Inspection Department.¡± ¡°Food Inspection Department?¡± Marguerite echoed, her confusion deepening. Frederick, growing impatient with the questioning, was on the verge of ending the call. Fortunately, Jocelyn was quick to take the phone and get straight to the point, ¡°Marguerite, it¡¯s me. I know there¡¯s been a mix-up between you and Frederick, something to do with Manley. You should¡¯ve given me a heads up about such an important matter. I¡¯ve been thinking, and I suspect Manley might have been poisoned. Frederick realizes he¡¯s misunderstood you and feels guilty, so he wants you to join him at the Food Inspection Department. Can you make it after work?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s words left Marguerite momentarily stunned. She hadn¡¯t fully processed the situation, but since it was Jocelyn asking, she felt obliged to agree, ¡°I can make it, I¡¯ll be there right after work.¡± With that, both hurriedly ended the call. Marguerite, still holding her phone and leaning against the sofa in a daze, was approached by Miley, ¡°Who was that? Who was that?¡± ¡°Frederick.¡± ¡°What? Why did he call?¡± Marguerite set down her phone and sinctly shared the conversation with Miley, who pped her thigh in excitement, ¡°I knew it! Mr. Winston has got your back!¡± Marguerite was baffled, ¡°Since when did you say that?¡± Miley scratched her head awkwardly, trying to deflect, ¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t hear me? But seriously, Mr. Winston is awesome, taking the initiative to help you uncover the truth!¡± Marguerite wasn¡¯t quite as enthusiastic, ¡°Oh,e on. I know him too well. It must¡¯ve been Jocelyn putting in a good word for me. Otherwise, he¡¯d never believe.me.¡± Miley looked frustrated, ¡°Whether Jocelyn spoke well of you or not is one thing, but whether Frederick is willing to believe you is another. Don¡¯t conte the two. If he¡¯s willing to do this and has reached out to you, he must want to clear your name. Marguerite, you should be happy.¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t want to delve into Frederick¡¯s inscrutable thoughts; he was always so secretive and elusive. She just couldn¡¯t read him. Yet, she was still puzzled, ¡°But the misunderstanding he has about me involves me hitting Manley. How does poisoning fit into this?¡± Miley waved it off, ¡°Why worry about the details? No matter the reason, it has nothing to do with you. Everything will be cleared up soon enough, stop overthinking it.¡± Miley was trying to calm Marguerite down, and soon it was time to leave the office. The executive elevator, typically deserted and leading straight to the parking lot, was unusually halted after descending just one floor. The doors slid open, and there stood Yuna, smugly striding in. 07:52 Chapter 582 Yuna strutted confidently into the office, her Jimmy Choo heels glinting under the fluorescent lights. The ck cocktail dress she wore clung to her curves, hemmed just above the knees, showcasing her long, porcin legs. Her brown faux fur coat she had draped over her shoulders-its hairs standing on end from static, yet doing nothing to diminish her regal and captivating presence. Miley couldn¡¯t help but gawk at Yuna¡¯s bare legs and then at the exaggerated fur coat, barely stifling a chuckle. She leaned close to Marguerite¡¯s ear and whispered with a mischievous grin, ¡°Marguerite, she looks like an ostrich.¡± Marguerite could only offer a nk stare in response. Yuna, misinterpreting Marguerite¡¯s speechless reaction for envy, reveled in her own self-assumed superiority. After all, she was decked out in designer gear and jewelry worth a king¡¯s ransom-a status she had cunningly stolen by usurping Marguerite¡¯s ce in the prestigious Fitzgerald family. Yuna¡¯s smug thoughts lifted her chin higher as she sneered at Marguerite, ¡°Well, Marguerite, still slumming it at work, I see? Freddie must be fuming after you hit my son. Let me tell you, dear, your days offort are over! Not even Maurice can save you now.¡± ¡°Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of my real parents¡¯ wedding, and we¡¯ll be celebrating at Stonebridge City¡¯s most exclusive restaurant. Oh, by the way, has mom reached out to you since she got back? Of course not! Why would she spare you a nce when she has me, the true Fitzgerald heiress? The only reason she ever cared about you is that you look just like me! So you should be thanking me, after all, it¡¯s because of your face that you managed to ride my coattails.¡± Marguerite remained silent, unwilling to give Yuna the satisfying reaction she wanted. Seeing this, Miley turned to Marguerite and asked pointedly, ¡°Marguerite, who¡¯s that chirping so loudly? It¡¯s quite the racket!¡± Marguerite, cool and detached, replied, ¡°No one¡¯s talking; you must be hearing things.¡± Miley feigned a sudden realization, yfully acting as if cleaning out her ears, ¡°Oh, then I must have been mistaken.¡± Yuna, overhearing their exchange, felt her blood boil with rage. With a haughty flip of her hair and hands on her hips, she stood in front of them, ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯m warning you, you¡¯re nothingpared to me! I am the exalted Fitzgerald heiress, and you? You¡¯re just a nobody from some backwater town! The whole world knows about your sordid past, how you slept your way to the top! Did you know why your parents pushed you into Hanley¡¯s bed? Because you exude filth! And yet, you¡¯ve somehow seduced Maurice and bearing him twins!¡± 07.53 Chapter ¡°But fate has its way of dealing with those like you. How could someone of your ilk ever truly be a phoenix? Not even God can stand you, hence why he took your son!¡± Yuna¡¯s tirade, filled with the vilest of words, still failed to bring her the satisfaction she craved. She was adorned in gold, held in high regard, and worshipped in thepany-how could Marguerite treat her as if she were invisible? It was infuriating! Marguerite¡¯s hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into fists. Yuna could insult her all she wanted, but bringing her children into it crossed a line. Just as Marguerite was about to retaliate, Miley stepped in. In one swift move, she grabbed Yuna by the throat and pinned her against the cold steel of the elevator doors. 07:52 # 212 Chapter 583 ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t waste your time with this woman! Me, I¡¯m made of tougher stuff-I ain¡¯t scared of nothin¡¯.¡± Miley spat out the words with a sneer before turning her re toward Yuna, her voice dripping with menace, ¡°Zip it, Yuna. You may look like a million bucks, but underneath, you¡¯re nastier than a snake in the grass. I¡¯m warning you, if you keep running your mouth at Marguerite, do you really think I won¡¯t rip that fake facade right off your back? And whether you¡¯re truly a Fitzgerald or not, that¡¯s up for debate. Maybe you don¡¯t know, but Robert¡¯s already on the case. You better savor these moments on your high horse while you can. ¡®Cause if you take a tumble, it¡¯ll be by my hand, sweetheart!¡± With that, Miley pinched Yuna hard enough to leave a mark, then let go as if disgusted by the contact. Yuna clutched at her neck, gasping for air, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and shame. Robert was digging into her background! What was he nning to do? Meanwhile, the elevator dinged its arrival at the underground parking lot. As the doors slid open, Yuna was caught off guard and stumbled backward,nding with a humiliating st on the cold concrete floor. Miley pped her hands with satisfaction, stepping over Yuna¡¯s crumpled form alongside Marguerite, without uttering another word. Lying there, Yuna seethed with rage. She couldn¡¯t bear to be humiliated like this! She scrambled to her feet, her voice shrill with anger as she yelled after them, ¡°Miley, don¡¯t think you can do whatever you want just because Robert¡¯s your boyfriend! Do you have any idea how much my parents despise you? They find you filthy, low-ss, a nobody from a family that struck it rich with a lucky lotto ticket! As long as I¡¯m around, you¡¯ll never marry into the Fitzgerald family! Mark my words, you¡¯ve crossed me now! If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯lle crawling back this instant, begging for my forgiveness on your knees!¡± But Miley might as well have been deaf to Yuna¡¯s tirade. She turned to Marguerite and casually asked, ¡°Did Mr. Winston send you the address yet? Or should I just drop you off at Thunderbolt Enterprises?¡± Yuna paused, confused. Freddie wanted to see Marguerite? What was going on? Her dim-witted brain quickly pieced it together. Marguerite had tortured Manley, so Freddie must be out for blood! Calling her in now meant only one thing-he was ready to tear her apart! After all, when Barnes had shot 08:10 Hayes, Freddie didn¡¯t hold back! Now, Marguerite was in for it, too! The thought of Marguerite at Freddie¡¯s mercy filled Yuna with malicious glee. Eager to rub it in, she shrieked, ¡°And you, Marguerite! You think Freddie¡¯s calling you in for a date? Dream on! You hit his beloved son. Do you really think he¡¯ll let you off the hook? Marguerite, you¡¯re as good as dead!¡± Her voice echoed through the empty parking garage, twisted with spite and satisfaction. The sound was loud and grating, prompting Miley to rub her ears before letting out a chuckle. Marguerite, unable to help herself, asked, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Miley shrugged with a smirk, ¡°I was just thinking-if Yuna knew Mr. Winston called you in to clear your name, I wonder if she¡¯d still be cackling like that.¡± 08:10 Chapter 584 An hourter, at the modern tower¡¯s bistro. Yuna had just taken a tumble out of the elevator, ruining the fur-trimmed dress she had so carefully chosen for the evening. As a result, she had to go to the mall for a quick change of clothes, which made her half an hourte to the restaurant. Robert was perched by the window, his disdain palpable as Yuna came into view. Hackett observed Robert¡¯s behavior with a frown and whispered a stern warning, ¡°Today marks the anniversary of your mother and me. For the sake of our celebration, try to be decent to your sister.¡± Sister? He never truly epted Yuna as such! Robert wanted to retort, but he didn¡¯t want to ruin his parents¡¯ special day, so he swallowed his words. Yuna approached the table timidly, her eyes skittering over to the empty seat next to Robert, her feigned timidity nauseatingly evident, ¡°Bro, may I sit here next to you?¡± Robert chose to ignore her, sullenly sipping his drink. Hackett shot him a displeased look before turning to Yuna, his expression softening as he reassured her, ¡°Go ahead! Of course, you can sit there! We¡¯re all family here!¡± As Yuna sat down, she sneaked a nce at Robert, looking utterly intimidated, as though, he had bullied her before. Then she lifted her eyelids and turned to her parents, obediently saying, ¡°Dad, Mom, happy anniversary!¡± Hackett, ever the doting father, was over the moon with her wish. He quickly poured her a ss of orange juice and inquired, ¡°Yuna, you got off work an hour ago, why are you sote? Was there traffic?¡± Yuna shook her head, her face suddenly stricken, ¡°Dad, no. I had a bit of a disagreement with a colleague and took a fall, my dress was ruined. I couldn¡¯te to your anniversary dinner all messed up, so I stopped to buy this outfit.¡± Hackett¡¯s ears perked up at the key details, ¡°A disagreement with a colleague? Who dared to mess with my daughter? Speak up! I¡¯ll handle it!¡± Yuna lowered her eyshes, silent for a moment before her eyes welled up with tears, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Dad. It was just a little incident.¡± ¡°What little incident? You¡¯re about to cry! My daughter¡¯s tears are no small matter!¡± Hackett¡¯s voice boomed. Penelope thought Hackett was overreacting. She patted his hand and coaxed softly, ¡°Rx, if she says it¡¯s nothing big, let it be.¡± And then to Yuna, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk 08:23 about it, then don¡¯t. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Yuna had to swallow her words back. She wanted to talk! She was waiting for Hackett to ask so she could spill the beans! Damn it! Penelope just didn¡¯t understand her! With that in mind, Yuna could only nod in agreement, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± However, the next second, her tears fell like pearls off a string, unabated. Hackett¡¯s gaze tightened and he grasped Yuna¡¯s hand urgently, ¡°Tell me what happened. I brought you back to the family to enjoy the good life, not to suffer!¡± Yuna sniffled and shook her head, ncing unintentionally at Robert, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m scared to say¡­¡± Scared to say? In thepany, the only ones with the clout to upset his daughter, besides Frederick, were Marguerite! But he had heard Frederick hadn¡¯t even been to the office today, which only left Marguerite! Realizing this, Hackett mmed his palm on the table, ¡°Is it Marguerite again?¡± Robert exchanged a look with his mother and couldn¡¯t hold back his frustration, ¡°Why does everything have to be about Marguerite? Isn¡¯t this supposed to be your anniversary? Let¡¯s not talk about things we shouldn¡¯t!¡± Yuna, in between sobs, pitifully dabbed at her tears, ¡°Brother¡¯s right. It really isn¡¯t much about Marguerite today. It was Miley¡­¡± Robert tensed up immediately. Hackett paused, ¡°Miley? Who¡¯s that?¡± Penelope pondered for a moment, ¡°Marguerite¡¯s assistant.¡± But Yuna cautiously eyed Robert¡¯s expression, hesitating to speak. Hackett furrowed his brow, ¡°Yuna, why do you keep looking at your brother? Wasn¡¯t it this Miley person who upset you?¡± Yuna trembled, ¡°It was Miley¡­ I¡¯m just afraid that mentioning it might anger my brother¡­¡± ¡°Why would he get angry?¡± Yuna, feigning innocence, stuttered, ¡°Because¡­ Miley is actually my brother¡¯s girlfriend¡­¡± Chapter 585 The mention of his beloved was enough to send Robert into a towering rage. He whirled around, his piercing gaze locking onto Yuna with an intensity that could cut through steel. His usation was pointed and harsh, ¡°Yuna, are you doing this on purpose? Don¡¯t y the innocent victim with me; you might fool Mom and Dad, but you can¡¯t fool me!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± The voice belonged to Hackett. ¡°Miley, that daughter of the nouveau riche? Haven¡¯t I told you to break it off with her? And now you¡¯ve gone and brought her into thepany! Get her out of mypany!¡± A sly smile curled on Yuna¡¯s lips, unseen by the others. Anyone who stood in her way was just another target to eliminate! By this time, Freddie should have been dealing with Marguerite. So, all she had to do now was to take care of Miley! Unexpectedly, Penelope¡¯s voice chimed in just then, ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong about Robert, Miley didn¡¯t get into thepany through him. She got an interview, and I hired her. I had no idea she was your girlfriend at the time, Robert. I hired her purely for her skills. She has her own unique take on cosmetics and is fluent in threenguages. More importantly, she¡¯s incredibly well-connected, with ties to several big shots in Stonebridge City. The CEO of the Charles Group even wrote her a rmendation, saying she¡¯s a rare talent. How could I not respect a request from such an old friend?¡± Miley¡¯s extensivework was a result of her days as a private investigator. And Wade Charles, the yboy heir to the Charles Group, was a good friend of Robert. So, before the interview, Miley had asked Wade to get a rmendation letter from his father. Yuna couldn¡¯t have imagined Miley was so capable! Hearing his wife put it like that, Hackett seemed to be on the back foot. Though the Charles Group wasn¡¯t quite on par with the Fitzgerald Group, the interests of the elite were interconnected. If he were to fire Miley, wouldn¡¯t that be tantamount to pping Moneybags Charles in the face? ¡°But no matter what, she shouldn¡¯t be bullying our daughter!¡± Penelope spoke with a soft and steady voice, unflustered, ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s some misunderstanding? Besides, from what I see, Miley mighte from new money, but she¡¯s well-educated and sharp. She¡¯s not quite the person we thought she would be.¡± Yuna felt like she was about to explode with fury! 08:23 She hadid the groundwork for so long, all so that Hackett would defend her! But what was Penelope doing? With just a few words, she¡¯d swayed him? Yuna spoke with feigned modesty but underlying indignation, ¡°Mom! There¡¯s no misunderstanding! Marguerite was there in the elevator too, they were ganging up on me! I know you¡¯re fond of Marguerite, so I didn¡¯t mention her. But I just can¡¯t tolerate Miley! She shoved me to the ground, even tore my stockings!¡± Robert¡¯s eyes, sharp and probing, lingered on Yuna¡¯s face. Before Hackett could respond, Robert immediately whipped out his phone and dialed a number, thrusting it in front of her. ¡°You say she pushed you? Fine, I¡¯ll call the tech department right now and review the surveince footage.¡± In an instant, Yuna¡¯s face turned ashen! She was the one who had instigated the whole fight! Moreover, in front of Hackett and Penelope, she had always maintained the image of a frail and obedient daughter. If they heard the vile words she used to describe Marguerite, her facade would crumble-not to mention whether Hackett would still stand up for her! She let out a deep breath, quickly pushed down the phone Robert held up, and said with a voice that was sweet yet magnanimous, ¡°Let¡¯s drop it, Robert. Today¡¯s Mom and Dad¡¯s anniversary, let¡¯s not get sidetracked. Let¡¯s just let this go, I won¡¯t mention it again.¡± Robert¡¯s handsome face wasced with sarcasm as he replied, ¡°You don¡¯t want to mention it again because you¡¯re guilty, perhaps?¡± 08:23 Chapter 586 Robert¡¯s gaze was usatory, relentless in its intensity as he bore down on Yuna before. him. Yuna, eyes darting with guilt, seemed utterly incapable of uttering a single coherent sentence. Damn it! How could she have forgotten something as crucial as the security footage? Had she known this debacle would ensue, she never would have brought it up at such a critical moment. She had truly shot herself in the foot. Meanwhile, the dinner table was rife with tension, an awkward silence enveloping the guests. It was up to Penelope to break the ice. ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s consider this little incident water under the bridge, shall we? Isn¡¯t this the first time we¡¯ve all sat down for a meal together since Yuna came home? Let¡¯s lighten up a bit, no more sour faces. It¡¯s a family dinner after all!¡± With Penelope¡¯s interjection, Robert feltpelled to relent, if only to preserve her dignity. He grudgingly put away his phone and refrained from furtherment. For the remainder of the evening, whether they were dining, toasting, or simply making conversation, Robert remained silentlypliant. He watched Yuna charm their father, Hackett, into a cid state, all the while sneering internally at the disy. After several rounds of wine, Hackett¡¯s eyes zed over with a tipsy sheen and a hint of teary emotion as he reflected on life¡¯s hardships, ¡°Having Yuna back and seeing Robert all grown up and sensible, it makes me feel so blessed! I hope from here on out, we can all move forward together, hand in hand!¡± Intoxicated, Hackett was visibly moved as he delved into the past, ¡°You kids might not know this, but your mom and I, we had a shotgun wedding! When we unexpectedly conceived your brother, I knew I had to step up. I couldn¡¯t wait to make Penelope my wife. As for Yuna, oh, she was the apple of the eye in our family even before she was born. We always wanted a daughter and worked hard to make that happen! You have no idea how ecstatic the entire Fitzgerald n was when we found out we were having you. It was almost a national celebration!¡± The apple of the eye? So Marguerite¡¯s arrival had been the fulfillment of everyone¡¯s hopes. Sadly, the likes of her would never experience a life of such universal adoration. Yuna smirked triumphantly and asked, ¡°Mom, when did you find out you were pregnant with me?¡± 08-31 Before Penelope could respond, Hackett, buoyed by the spirits, rambled on, ¡°When? It was 25 years ago today, of course! It was our 5th anniversary, but there was a little hup-we had a huge fight! Your mom must¡¯ve felt bad about it, because that night, she came to me, and vo! Along you came!¡± Penelope¡¯s face turned pale as she hurriedly ced a ss of orange juice in front of Hackett, chiding softly, ¡°Sober up, will you! You¡¯ve had too much to drink, spouting all sorts of things to the kids!¡± With cheeks flushed red and a goofy grin, Hackett basked in his drunken happiness. Penelope looked at her husband, both annoyed and amused at his childlike disy. The ¡°hup¡± he¡¯d mentioned was actually due to a quarrel between Jocelyn and Powell Winston on their anniversary night-Powell had even threatened to kick Jocelyn and Frederick out of the house. In a rush of concern, Penelope had left their anniversary celebration unfinished to mediate the fight at the Winston Mansion. Hackett had been miffed, sourly remarking that her best friend seemed to matter more to her than her own husband. Feeling remorseful, Penelope made sure Jocelyn and her son were settled before rushing back home. By the time she returned, it was already the next morning, and that was when they conceived their daughter. That Hackett could so confidently im it all happened the same night was astonishing! It seemed that once a man had too much to drink, even the most significant details could slip his mind. 212 08:31 Chapter 587 As the evening wound down, the family of four stepped out of the restaurant, their celebration of the anniversaryplete. Penelope was supporting Hackett as they walked ahead, while Yuna followed closely behind Robert. Her status as the Fitzgerald family¡¯s golden girl had proven invaluable; she couldn¡¯t afford to simply hand that title back to Marguerite! So, seizing the moment to win Robert over was crucial. She couldn¡¯t let him continue his investigation! Quickening her pace to catch up with Robert, she spoke in a soft, syrupy voice, her demeanor earnest, ¡°Robert, I don¡¯t understand why you despise me so much. The issues between Marguerite and me are our own and they have nothing to do with you. Your perception of me is limited to Marguerite¡¯s narratives. Now that I¡¯m back home, I don¡¯t want any bad blood between us. After all, we must care for our aging parents together. If we¡¯re at odds, the whole Fitzgerald n will crumble.¡± Robert stopped in his tracks, looking at Yuna with a mixture of amusement and incredulity. This woman, foolish as she was, always fancied herself clever, attempting to drag everyone down to her level with her pitiful act. Pitiful, yetughable. ¡°Don¡¯t think having our parents¡¯ approval means you¡¯re in the clear. I¡¯m not that easily fooled, and I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this,¡± Robert said, his voice smooth like polished stone, a gentlemanly smile ying on his lips. But to Yuna, that smile was a chilling reminder of her precarious position, ¡°With a DNA test result, why can¡¯t you just believe me? I get that you hate me, that¡¯s your right! But you can¡¯t stop me from reuniting with my family!¡± ¡°With your¡­ talents, Yuna, tampering with a DNA test wouldn¡¯t be too hard, would it?¡± Caught off guard again, Yuna took a moment to muster a response, her eyes downcast, stuttering, ¡°The DNA tests are nationally coordinated. How could I possibly manipte that?¡± Robert shrugged nonchntly, hands in his pockets, ready to walk away, ¡°You¡¯re adamant, but I have no interest in indulging in self-deception. We¡¯ll see what happens.¡± With that, he turned and headed toward the business-ss van parked by the curb. Meanwhile, Hackett, supported by Penelope, was bent over retching under a tree, feeling unwell from all the wine. Penelope constantly patted his back, trying tofort him. Just then, a woman¡¯s arm reached out with an ecru handkerchief. Penelope took it, about to express her gratitude, but froze when she turned to see Zoe. 08:23 The Lockwoods had taken the Fitzgeralds¡¯ treasured daughter, and with such a deep grudge, Penelope could never forgive her! Yet, Zoe looked at Hackett with visible concern and said to Penelope, ¡°Madam, best clean the master¡¯s mouth. He¡¯s drunk, and some honey water would help sober him quickly.¡± Hearing Zoe¡¯s voice, Hackett fought back the nausea, straightened up, and red at her with fury in his eyes. Penelope¡¯s voice was cold, her tone displeased and distant, ¡°Is there something you want?¡± Zoe¡¯s plea was pitiful, ¡°Master, Madam, we had an agreement. If you took Yuna back, we could visit twice a week. I¡¯ve hurt you, but we¡¯ve raised Yuna for so long, we¡¯re attached to her. I just wanted to see her today¡­¡± Hackett¡¯s gaze instinctively shifted to Yuna, who seemed utterly clueless about Zoe¡¯s arrival. Considering Zoe¡¯s past nurturing role, Hackett¡¯s response, while chilly and imperial, wasn¡¯t harsh, ¡°Ten minutes!¡± With that, he turned to Penelope and ordered, ¡°Help me to the car and wait. Bring Yuna back after ten minutes!¡± 08:23 Chapter 588 Hackett finished speaking and, with a resolute pull of the arm, ushered Penelope into the Car Zoe, however, stood there with a yearning gaze fixed on Hackett¡¯s retreating figure, as if savoring a lingering memory. When her eyes drifted towards Penelope, they were filled with unmistakable envy. The two women shared a striking resemnce. If only things had been different¡­ Lost in her reverie, Zoe was abruptly dragged aside by Yuna, who wore an expression of utmost displeasure and spoke with a scolding tone, ¡°Morn! Why didn¡¯t you call me before showing up? How could youe here in front of the Fitzgeralds?¡± Zoe, flustered, hissed in a lowered voice, ¡°They are right there, how could you call me mom? Be careful, this is a critical moment, we can¡¯t blow our cover!¡± Yuna nervously nced over Zoe¡¯s shoulder, then silently motioned for Zoe to follow her away from prying eyes. Once they were out of earshot, Zoe exined, ¡°I called you, but you didn¡¯t pick up. I went to your office, and your secretary said you were at this restaurant.¡± Yuna took a moment topose herself and asked, ¡°Is there something urgent?¡± With a sigh, Zoe pulled a tube of ointment from her pocket, her voice tinged with concern, ¡°I can¡¯t stop worrying about little Manley. He¡¯s just a child; you shouldn¡¯t have been so harsh!¡± Recalling Manley¡¯s pitiful plea for mercy the night before, Yuna felt a pang of guilt. Yet, the thought of that wretched Marguerite erased any flicker of sympathy, reced by a chilling vindictiveness, ¡°Manley¡¯s sacrifice was worth it; Marguerite has already faced Freddie¡¯s wrath! Mom, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find a way to make it up to Manley.¡± Knowing that Marguerite had been dealt with by Frederick, Zoe felt a weight lift off her shoulders, ¡°By the way, I saw you whispering with Robert earlier. What did he say to make you look so upset?¡± Yuna burst out, frustrationcing her voice, ¡°What else? He¡¯s threatening me! Mom, Robert doesn¡¯t believe the paternity test result; he¡¯s been investigating! Why is fate so cruel? Why couldn¡¯t I have been born into wealth and privilege, adored by all? If only I were truly a Fitzgerald heiress, none of this would be happening, and I wouldn¡¯t have to worry! What am I going to do if Robert finds something?¡± As Yuna spoke, her anxiety grew palpable. Zoe, rather than soothing her immediately, 08:32 turned her gaze back to the grand entrance where the luxurious business car was parked. She could clearly see Hackett, leaningfortably into Penelope¡¯s embrace, their affection enviably palpable despite their mature years. Zoe¡¯s eyes held aplex mix of emotions before she steadied herself and assured Yuna with conviction, ¡°Whether or not you¡¯re truly a Fitzgerald, you must carry yourself like you are! With the DNA test in hand, Robert won¡¯t dig up anything!¡± ¡°Whether or not I¡¯m a Fitzgerald?¡± Yuna echoed Zoe¡¯s words, her eyebrows knitting together before she let out a self-aware chuckle, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m definitely not! Have you gotten so caught up in this act that even you can¡¯t tell reality from lies anymore? But don¡¯t worry, once I¡¯ve secured my footing, I¡¯ll make sure the Fitzgeralds will go by the name. Lockwood!¡± 08 Chapter 589 The ten minutes were up. Zoe watched as Yuna climbed into the luxurious executive car, her gaze fixated on the rear window where the Fitzgeralds leaned into each other¡¯s embrace. Penelope, without thinking, turned her head to look outside, locking eyes with Zoe through the ss. She couldn¡¯t help but feel there was something peculiar about Zoe¡¯s longing gaze. ¡°What did she tell you?¡± Penelope asked Yuna, her curiosity piqued. Yuna had a lie on the tip of her tongue, but then she saw an opportunity to turn Penelope against Marguerite. She quickly dug out an ointment from her bag and said, ¡°Manley¡¯s hurt, and she was worried. She sent this ointment for him.¡± Hackett¡¯s sobriety returned in an instant at the mention of his grandson¡¯s injury, ¡°What happened to my dear grandson? Isn¡¯t there someone at home to look after him?¡± Yuna cast a meaningful nce at Penelope and remained silent. ¡°Impatient, Hackett pressed, ¡°Speak up! I¡¯m asking you, how did my dear grandson get hurt? Yuna shivered in fear, her voice barely audible, ¡°¡­Marguerite hit him¡­¡± Penelope¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Marguerite, so gentle and kind, how could she possibly bring herself to hit Manley? Robert had reached his boiling point. From the passenger seat, he red at Yuna through the rearview mirror. ¡°If you spout nonsense one more time, I¡¯ll sew your mouth shut, try me¡± Seizing the moment, Yuna clutched Hackett¡¯s arm. The old man, now fully sober and visibly enraged, barked, ¡°Robert! Have you lost your mind? Is Marguerite your lover or your kin that you defend her so? You are threatening to sew your sister¡¯s mouth shut for her¡­ You¡¯re turning the world upside down!¡± Robert turned to face his father, ¡°Dad, do you know why I don¡¯t want toe home?¡± Hackett, taken aback, didn¡¯t have a chance to question before Robert revealed the reason. with a scornfulugh, ¡°Because you¡¯re unreasonable, quick to judge without understanding, easily swayed by nder.¡± Robert¡¯s tone was so t, devoid of any emotion, yet it fanned the mes of Hackett¡¯s anger. ¡°Robert, have you lost all sense of propriety? Who gave you the right to speak to your father in that tone?¡± he thundered. 08:36 Robert turned away, sitting in silence. Yuna rushed to soothe Hackett, ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s a beautiful day; don¡¯t let this spoil your health.¡± But Hackett grasped Yuna¡¯s hand, his heartache and concern pouring out, ¡°Yuna, why didn¡¯t you tell me about the troubles at the Winston Mansion? It breaks my heart! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll stand up for you today. Let¡¯s go to the Winston Mansion and demand an exnation!¡± Yuna nearly cheered out loud. This was exactly what she wanted! With Freddie chastising Marguerite and now Hackett storming to the Winston Mansion, Marguerite would be an outcast, the talk of the town in disgrace! But knowing Freddie, he wouldn¡¯t let Marguerite return to the mansion so easily. He must have taken her to the same ce where Barnes was once held, enduring the guards¡¯ rough treatment by now. No matter, Yuna thought gleefully, with Hackett going there to support her, her own status would surely rise. It was a win-win situation! She couldn¡¯t see Penelope, sighing quietly to herself. Since Yuna¡¯s return, their family was no longer at peace. This wasn¡¯t what Penelope had intended when she weed her daughter back. The three of them, each lost in thought, arrived at the Winston Mansion. But as they stepped out of the car, they were greeted by a shocking sight. The mansion¡¯s grand doors were wide open, and numerous workers in white protective suits bustled in and out. A government vehicle was parked at the entrance, the words ¡°Food Inspection Department¡± emzoned on the side, ringly obvious. Yuna¡¯s heart raced. What on earth was happening at the Winston Mansion? ng 36 2 Chapter 590 Hackett stormed into the vi with his wife and daughter, striding ahead without a care for the chaos that surrounded them. The living room was abuzz with a flurry of servants and staff, so busy that no one noticed the Fitzgeralds¡¯ arrival. Hackett scanned the room until his eyesnded on Marguerite, standing just behind Frederick. Without a word, he lunged forward, grabbed Marguerite¡¯s shoulders with one hand, and raised the other, poised to strike. Frederick moved with lightning speed, seizing the old man¡¯s still-strong arm. ¡°You think you can touch her without going through me?¡± he barked. Hackett struggled to free his arm from Frederick¡¯s grip, cursing, ¡°Going through you? Since when do I need your permission? Marguerite is your sister-inw, for God¡¯s sake! And let¡¯s not forget, Yuna here is your fianc¨¦e!¡± Penelope, shocked, quickly stepped in to pull her husband away, apologizing rapidly, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Frederick. Hackett¡¯s had a bit too much to drink. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Yuna, meanwhile, couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Marguerite, her gaze incredulous. Had Frederick not punished Marguerite? How could this woman not have a scratch on her? And why was he defending her? What was going on? Where was Maurice in all of this? Couldn¡¯t someone just drag this eyesore away already? Damn it! As Frederick shielded Marguerite once again, Hackett¡¯s anger surged. Pushing Penelope aside, he wobbled, barely standing, but still pointed a trembling finger at Frederick, his voice sharp with usation, ¡°Frederick! That woman has bewitched you! If Yuna hadn¡¯t told me, I would¡¯ve never known this woman attacked my grandson, Manley!¡± ¡°Hackett, at your age, you should drink less and avoid making a fool of yourself,¡± retorted Frederick, his voice cool but firm. He then instructed the servants, ¡°Sadie, fetch Hackett a cup of honey lemon water. He needs to sober up.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Winston,¡± Sadie replied, ready to follow orders. The veiled insult from Frederick left Hackett feeling humiliated, fueling his rage further, ¡°You little brat! What are you implying? That I¡¯m senile? I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m perfectly lucid! Hand over Marguerite right now. She assaulted my grandson, and I¡¯ll be damned if I don¡¯t give her the lesson she deserves!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± chimed in Lisette, who had been watching the drama unfold while idly sipping tea. She had never liked Marguerite and wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity to see her taken down a notch. She added sarcastically, ¡°Make way, Frederick. To those who know, you¡¯re a man of integrity, but to others, it looks like there¡¯s an illicit affair between you and 09.1322 your sister-inw. Marguerite hurt your son, and you won¡¯t let them settle the score?¡± Lisette¡¯s voice grated on everyone¡¯s ears, especially Jocelyn¡¯s, who defended, ¡°Don¡¯t speak so harshly. Whether or not Marguerite hit Manley is still up for debate. Frederick is looking into it.¡± ¡°He is?¡± Lisette scoffed. ¡°So, bringing in a bunch of FDA inspectors to turn the house upside down is his idea of an investigation? Jocelyn, what¡¯s your son up to? Trying to prove Marguerite¡¯s innocence by slinging mud at us?¡± 08:42 Chapter 591 Lisette was on a tirade, her voiceden with hostility, sharp as a knife¡¯s edge. Powell, sitting in his wheelchair, couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. He reached out to grab her, chastising, ¡°Cool it, Lisette!¡± But Lisette, defiant as ever, shook off Powell¡¯s grip. She stopped munching on her sunflower seeds and turned her temper toward the crowd, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with telling it like it is? A punch is a punch, no need for this poisoning nonsense! What, do you think we¡¯d spike Manley Winston¡¯s drink or something?¡± Suddenly, Yuna froze in shock! Just moments before, she¡¯d seen the Food Inspection Department¡¯s van pull up, and a bad feeling had twisted in her gut. Upon hearing Lisette¡¯s mention of ¡°spiking¡±, she could hardly maintain her cool. She hadn¡¯t anticipated Frederick to react so promptly, managing to identify thepromised food in less than two days! Staggering back, Yuna had to grip the back of the couch to steady herself. If they found something in Manley¡¯s milk, could they trace it back to her? Yuna¡¯s heart was racing, but then she quickly regained herposure. Every time she¡¯d drugged Manley¡¯s -milk, she¡¯d done it after the milk was prepared. And at this hour, it wasn¡¯t even time for Manley¡¯s milk. Besides, those hallucinogenic pills she used were always on her person. Even if they searched, they¡¯d find nothing! Yuna allowed herself a moment¡¯s relief, then heard Jocelyn exining to Lisette, ¡°We¡¯re not using anyone in the house of poisoning Manley. Frederick is just concerned about food poisoning. We don¡¯t want Marguerite to be unfairly used, that¡¯s why the inspectors are here.¡± Lisette was seething, itching to take Jocelyn down a peg, and today seemed the perfect opportunity. Her voice rose to a near screech, ¡°Jocelyn! Drop the holier-than-thou act! Sure, you¡¯re the saint of the world! When they find nothing, I wonder whose face will be pped ¨C yours or Marguerite¡¯s?¡± No sooner had Lisette finished her rant than a Food Inspection Department official walked out of the kitchen, holding a sleek, ck, matte cup. He swirled the half-filled cup of milk and reported in a strictly professional tone, ¡°This milk contains traces of bedonna!¡± Lisette was dumbfounded. 08:31 # The ¡®p¡¯ she anticipated for Marguerite or Jocelyn hadnded squarely on her face! Fuming yet speechless due to her own guilt, she stood there, chest tight with frustration. Frederick, with a keen eye, noticed that the ck matte cup was indeed Manley¡¯s milk cup. ¡°So, it really is bedonna.¡± Jocelyn sighed, squeezing Marguerite¡¯s hand secretly forfort, ¡°The problem¡¯s been found, so this has nothing to do with you.¡± Marguerite allowed herself a small smile, calm andposed, nodding in acknowledgment. This vindication was not toote, and the feeling of being shielded by Frederick had touched her deeply. His shoulders were broad and sturdy, and although a man of few words, he gave her a sense of reliability. Lost in thought, Marguerite barely registered Jocelyn raising another concern, ¡°But how did bedonna get into the house? It¡¯s a nt from the South, and it certainly doesn¡¯t belong in milk. Could it be that two foods were mixed together?¡± Yuna felt her guilt weighing heavily. The primary ingredient in those hallucinogenic pills she had was extracted from bedonna! Chapter 592 When Y¨²na got her hands on those pills, Zoe had reassured her they were purely herbal extracts. That¡¯s why she felt so darn confident spiking Manley¡¯s milk with them! But she never imagined that just two dayster, Frederick would sniff out her little scheme! Yuna was pale as a ghost, but she wasn¡¯t about to let her efforts go down the drain without a fight, ¡°Manley¡¯s sick as a dog, probably food poisoning. That¡¯s a whole different can of worms from the beating Marguerite gave him! How do you exin the bruises? Freddie, you always take Marguerite¡¯s side, and I¡¯ve never said boo! But how can you twist facts like this? Just because Manley¡¯s milk tested positive for Nightshade, you think that proves Marguerite¡¯s innocence? That¡¯s just nuts!¡± Hackett stood by Yuna like a rock, even though he was clueless about the whole mess and had no idea how these two incidents were connected. But he backed Yuna up like it was his job! ¡°Yuna¡¯s right! My grandson got beaten ck and blue, and you lot cook up some flimsy excuse to cover for Marguerite¡¯s misdeeds? Over my dead body!¡± With the argument heating up again, Jocelyn had to step in and rify, ¡°Hackett, you¡¯re missing a piece of the puzzle. Nightshade is a type of fungus from down South. Eat it raw or have too much, and you¡¯ll start seeing things. Marguerite didn¡¯ty a finger on Manley. He was hallucinating. The bruises? Probably hurt himself stumbling around in his delirium.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s exnation left Hackett speechless for a moment. If the Food Inspection Department hadn¡¯t pinpointed the source, he¡¯d never have believed it! Penelope, seeing Hackett finally calming down, quickly pulled him aside. Meanwhile, Frederick¡¯smanding voice echoed through the room, ¡°Who¡¯s responsible for Manley¡¯s milk?¡± The servants exchanged looks, but no one stepped forward. Just then, Sadie walked out. of the kitchen with a ss of honey water, overheard Frederick¡¯s question, and reluctantly owned up to the task. ¡°Mr. Winston, I¡¯ve always taken care of the children¡¯s milk.¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze sharpened, and Marguerite¡¯s heart raced. Sadie had been with Frederick for years, from the Sapphire Valley Estates to now at Winston Mansion, managing all household affairs with utmost diligence and never a slip-up. Frederick¡¯s expression darkened menacingly, his eyes cold with suspicion, an aura of 08:36 threat looming. Hackett, blinded by rage, pped Sadie without a second thought, ¡°Damn you! You¡¯re the one who fed my grandson Nightshade! What kind of butler are you? Why was there Nightshade in my grandson¡¯s milk? Did you mix it in just to save yourself some trouble? Speak up!¡± Sadie¡¯s cheek sharply reddened, bearing the stark imprint of the p. Clutching her swollen face and on the verge of tears, she desperately exined to Frederick, ¡°Mr. Winston, I swear I don¡¯t know what happened. The milk they found was fromst night, what Manley didn¡¯t finish. I¡¯mpletely baffled! I don¡¯t even know what Nightshade is! And all three kids¡¯ milk came from the same pot. Howe only Manley got sick, and Hayes and Teresa are fine?¡± In the midst of the chaos, a calm and collected voice cut through the tension. Robert spoke up, ¡°Perhaps, Manley wasn¡¯t poisoned by his food at all. Maybe someone drugged him.¡± 212 Chapter 593 As Robert finished speaking, his gaze unintentionally fell upon Yuna. It was meant to be nothing more than a fleeting nce, but what he saw was Yuna¡¯s guilty and nervous eyes, filling Robert with puzzlement. How odd! Why was this woman so flustered? At that very moment, Yuna, now conscious of Robert¡¯s scrutiny, deeply regretted her decision to spike Manley¡¯s drink. She had thought her actions were stealthy, perfectly concealed, yet Frederick had noticed something amiss! Not only had he called in the Health and Safety inspectors, but Robert¡¯s keen intuition was also inching closer to the truth! Both of them were top minds in Stonebridge City, unparalleled in their analytical skills. Now with their intellectsbined, uncovering her misdeed was a matter of minutes! Yuna felt the noose tightening around her neck, danger looming over her. No way! She was supposed to frame Marguerite today; she couldn¡¯t afford to bring trouble. upon herself and let that wretched Marguerite have thestugh. Absolutely not! As Yuna thought this, her guilty gaze morphed into one of malice, almost ferocious. She clenched her teeth, her hands thumping against her chest in uncontroble rage as she red daggers at Marguerite, her pain palpable, ¡°So, my poor little Manley was drugged! He¡¯s just a baby, hardly able to string sentences together, and yet someone had the heart to harm him so cruelly!¡± Yuna¡¯s words were inmmatory, stirring difort among the servants and the inspectors alike. They began whispering to each other in hushed tones. ¡°Indeed, how could anyone be so cruel to little Master Manley?¡± ¡°Absolutely! Drugging is no small matter!¡± ¡°The Winston Mansion always had strict security, how could someone get so close to Manley?¡± ¡°Could it have been someone from his inner circle?¡± Spections ran rampant, and Marguerite felt Yuna¡¯s piercing stare like a thorn in her side. Why keep staring at her as if she was the culprit, as if Yuna had caught her red-handed? Unfortunately, it seemed her fears were manifesting, as Yuna once again spoke in a mocking tone, ¡°Tell me, who could be the poisoner? Me and Freddie? We are Manley¡¯s parents; we adore him too much to ever think of harming him, right?¡± 08:23 Yuna continued, slowly emerging from the shadows and surveying the crowd. ¡°Could it be Maurice? Manley has no quarrel with him, barely spoken a few words to him, he surely wouldn¡¯t do such a thing! So, who could it be?¡± With that question, Yuna had positioned herself right in front of Marguerite and Frederick. Her gaze was so sharp that Marguerite felt a chill run down her spine. Frederick, without a word, stepped in front of Marguerite, his deep eyes looking down with a piercing intensity that sent shivers through the room. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Yuna smiled, but it was a twisted, pained smile. ¡°Freddie, after all this time, are you still going to be fooled by Marguerite, this sly fox? The entire Winston family knows she¡¯s had it in for me! She¡¯s been resentful of me for ages, but now that I¡¯m the Fitzgerald family¡¯s real daughter, she can¡¯ty a finger on me! So, she targeted Manley, didn¡¯t she?¡± As Yuna spoke, she suddenly burst out, yelling at the top of her lungs, ¡°The one who poisoned Manley is none other than Marguerite!¡± Chapter 594 Marguerite was bbergasted, unable toprehend how the tide of me had suddenly turned to crash over her head. In her view, Yuna¡¯s usations were baseless! Yet, infuriatingly, Yuna¡¯s wild guess had found favor with most of the people present. Several clueless servants started gossiping anew. ¡°Holy smokes! Did Ms. Marguerite poison Manley?¡± ¡°It has to be her! There¡¯s no other exnation! Manley¡¯s inner circle is small, and Ms. Marguerite had the motive!¡± ¡°I bet Ms. Marguerite didn¡¯t just poison him; she must have hurt him too!¡± ¡°And how! Exin to me how a three-year-old kid, even in a delirium, could get such severe injuries from just bumping into things!¡± The chatter prated Marguerite¡¯s ears, leaving her feeling both helpless and frustrated. That¡¯s how rumors spread like wildfire. One person starts the tale, and by the time it¡¯s been passed around, the story has morphed beyond recognition. So, in their eyes, she had be the wicked witch. Yuna, quite pleased with the situation, was careful not to show it too openly. She had to maintain the image of the victim! So, with teary eyes, she looked at Marguerite, then turned her pitiful gaze to Frederick, and asked with a quivering voice, ¡°Freddie, can¡¯t you see the truth yet?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes were ice as he locked his gaze on her and countered, ¡°You expect me to trust a web of lies?¡± Yuna was taken aback, her insides churning with difort. But she quickly regrouped, her voice whiny and desperate, ¡°Freddie, you think I lied, fine, I¡¯ll own it. But the crowd sees clearly! Didn¡¯t you hear their discussion? They¡¯re saying Marguerite poisoned Manley and even hit him! My heart aches as a mother; how could I bear this?¡± Seeing Frederick unmoved, Yuna hurriedly ran to Hackett, tears streaming down her face, ¡°Dad! You have to help me! Manley is your dear grandson; can you bear to see him treated like this?¡± By then, Hackett had sobered uppletely. He took Yuna¡¯s hand and was about to approach Frederick when Robert stepped in their way, blocking their path. Hackett, red with anger, bellowed, ¡°Move!¡± 12.52 Robert stood firm and directly challenged Yuna, ¡°You¡¯re so sure Marguerite is to me, where¡¯s your proof?¡± Yuna was dumbfounded. Her entire scheme was aimed at smearing Marguerite to clear her own name! Proof? She had no proof! And then, she heard Frederick¡¯smanding voice, cold as the Arctic chill, ¡°If today¡¯s events hadn¡¯t unfolded, I never would have realized the Winston family harbored such a rabble!¡± Frederick¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it held enough authority to silence everyone. Chuck, seizing the moment, followed Frederick¡¯s lead, ¡°Everyone who used Marguerite, present your solid evidence now! If you can¡¯t, you will be in trouble!¡± Suddenly, the room fell into a silence as grave as death. If Yuna had no evidence, how could those blindly following her confabtions have any? Heads hung low, nobody dared to utter a word, all awaiting Frederick¡¯s judgment. On the sidelines, Sadie was finallying to her senses. She was responsible for the children¡¯s milk, and the discovery of poison in Manley¡¯s cup was on her watch. She hadn¡¯t anticipated her oversight would cause such trouble for Marguerite. She hurriedly interjected, ¡°Mr. Winston, I can assure you, this has nothing to do with our young mistress¡­ oh, I mean Ms. Marguerite. I was present every time the milk was prepared, never leaving it unattended. During these times, Ms. Marguerite was either workingte at the office or in her room, never near the kitchen. However¡­¡± Sadie paused as a memory surfaced ¨C someone hade close to the kitchen two days ago. Pondering, she then cast her gaze upon Yuna and began slowly, ¡°Ms. Yuna visited the dining hall two days ago.¡± 12.53 Chapter 595 Upon hearing those words, Yuna¡¯s entire demeanor shifted, her reaction as explosive as a startled alley cat with its fur standing on end. ¡°Hold on a sec, Sadie, what are you implying? You¡¯re not trying to shift the me on me, are you? Are you saying that I drugged my own son?¡± Her reaction was so over the top that to Sadie, it screamed guilty conscience. But Sadie couldn¡¯t be too blunt. For starters, shecked evidence. Secondly, she was just a maid, hardly in a position to take on the Fitzgeralds. That¡¯s when Marguerite, who had been silent until then, stepped out from behind Frederick and asked a question in the calmest tone ¨C a question that sent shivers down Yuna¡¯s spine. ¡°Sadie just mentioned you were in the kitchen, but she didn¡¯t say you poisoned anyone. Why so quick to defend yourself?¡± Yuna felt her heart leap into her throat, scrambling for a reason, any excuse, and all she could muster was a hysterical retort aimed at Marguerite, ¡°Shut it, Marguerite! What¡¯s it to you, anyway?¡± ¡°You¡¯re slinging mud my way and then asking what¡¯s it to me? Yuna, you sure have a talent for talking your way out of anything. But since you¡¯ve decided to drag me into this, let¡¯s set the record straight. Tell me, why were you in the kitchen two days ago?¡± Cornered by the direct confrontation, Yuna couldn¡¯t mask her panic. She knew there was no dodging the bullet today! What had she told Sadie again? Looking for her phone? That was it! She was there to look for her phone! Yuna rapidly regathered her wits. ¡°I lost my phone, okay? I went to the kitchen to look for it. I¡¯ve got loads of important work stuff on there, I had to search everywhere!¡± Marguerite smirked, ¡°If it was that urgent, why did you have to think so hard when I just asked you? Or were you, in fact, not looking for your phone at all?¡± Yuna hadn¡¯t expected Marguerite to be so quick on the uptake, catching her slip-up in a matter of seconds, leaving her nearly hopping mad, ¡°So what if I forgot? You think everyone¡¯s as scheming as you, keeping track of every little thing? I was just looking for my phone! Sadie knows that!¡± Marguerite turned to Sadie without hesitation and asked, ¡°Sadie, did Yuna find her phone when she left the kitchen?¡± 08:23 Sadie pondered for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°No, Ms. Marguerite. In fact, Ms. Yuna didn¡¯t seem to be looking for anything. She just stood by the dining table, lost in thought. And at the time, there were three sses of milk sitting on the table.¡± Marguerite raised an eyebrow, meeting Yuna¡¯s frantic gaze, and pressed on, ¡°You lost your phone but weren¡¯t looking for it? So please, enlighten me, what exactly were you doing standing by the dining table?¡± Yuna felt the pressure closing in, Marguerite¡¯s impassive face on one side, the united front of Frederick and Robert on the other. A shiver ran down her spine involuntarily, but words failed her. ¡°¡­I¡­¡± Yuna stuttered, unable to articte a defense. To Frederick, the answer was clear as day. His eyes narrowed with resolve; just as he was about to order Yuna to be thrown out, a timid housemaid stepped forward. Head bowed, she dared not meet anyone¡¯s gaze. Her voice was a frightened stammer, quieter than a whisper, ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m so sorry¡­ Mr. Winston, this¡­ this might be my fault¡­ I brought the poisoned nt to the mansion¡­¡± Chapter 596 The crowd was utterly shocked, but Yuna was especially gobsmacked, frozen in ce. The truth seemed crystal clear, yet the sudden appearance of the little maid threw the whole matter into even deeper confusion. Puffing her cheeks in fear, the maid was trembling so much it was visible. Clutching the hem of her dress tightly in her hands, she was totally unnerved by the formidable presence of Frederick. After mumbling inaudibly for what felt like an eternity, she finally offered an exnation, ¡°Mr¡­ Mr. Winston, I¡¯m from a small border town down South. That nt is a local delicacy there, and I¡¯ve been eating them my whole life. A few days ago, my parents came to visit me in Stonebridge City, and they brought me some. I¡­ I used that milk pot to make broth, and perhaps the substance from that nt lingered on
Please, Mr. Winston, have mercy, I swear I didn¡¯t know that was the pot used for the little master and miss¡¯ milk. I had no idea¡­¡± As the truth took a wild detour, to be honest, it wasn¡¯t entirely the maid¡¯s fault. Ever since the substance was detected by the oversight department¡¯s staff, she had been in a state of panic. She truly thought she had caused an ident unintentionally, hoping to cover it up, but after seeing how severe Frederick and Robert were, she feared it would eventually lead back to her. Moreover, the nt was right there in her room. If found outter, her fate would certainly be worse than if she came forward voluntarily. That¡¯s why she chose this moment to step
But Robert wasn¡¯t buying it. Putting himself in their shoes, if it were his own child affected by food poisoning or drugging, he knew any mother would be frantic and bewildered. Yet Yuna¡¯s reaction waspletely different. She was so tense, so guilty! That¡¯s why Robert was convinced that Yuna was involved in this! He strode forward, pressing the maid with a demanding tone, ¡°If all three kids drank from the same pot of milk, why is it that Teresa and Hayes are fine, but Manley is ill?¡± The maid was just as perplexed, perhaps Robert¡¯s aura wasn¡¯t as intimidating as Frederick¡¯s, which gave her the courage to look up and meet Robert¡¯s gaze cautiously, ¡°It¡¯s very strange to me too. I used only a tiny bit of it, and they were thoroughly cooked, 08:35 nowhere near strong enough to cause hallucinations. Thus, I honestly can¡¯t understand why Mr. Manley had such visions.¡± ¡°So what does that tell us?¡± Robert turned to Frederick, answering his own question, ¡°It suggests¡­ that this matter, isn¡¯t really much rted to this servant.¡± Frederick remained silent, but his mind was actively considering the feasibility of the situation. Meanwhile, Yuna had finally snapped back to reality, secretly rejoicing in her heart. Fortune favors the bold after all! The heavens were still looking out for her! Since her fate wasn¡¯t sealed, and now that a scapegoat had emerged, she had to seize the opportunity. She couldn¡¯t let them investigate further, otherwise, it would definitely lead back to her. Quick to react, she immediately said, ¡°Manley has always been frail, taking various tonics. since childhood. Perhaps¡­ Perhaps some residual medicine in Manley¡¯s system reacted with the nt, causing such severe symptoms.¡± The little maid pondered, then nodded with newfound courage, ¡°I¡¯ve heard my parents mention that indeed there is such a saying. One shouldn¡¯t take any medications after eating that nt¡­ Mr. Winston, Ms. Yuna, I am willing to ept punishment for the trouble I¡¯ve caused! But I assure you, it was not intentional. Please, Mr. Winston, show some leniency, I beg of you¡­¡± Chapter 597 Frederick¡¯s fury hit its zenith, his eyes casting a dark re at Yuna as he scrutinized every flicker of emotion across her face. Penelope was a bundle of nerves, her emotions a rollercoaster ride. While her daughter¡¯s return brought her joy, she couldn¡¯t overlook Yuna¡¯s behavior. She wasn¡¯t as dim-witted as Hackett, nor would she lose her wits over this. Deep down, she suspected that Yuna was more likely to be the meddler. Yet, because Yuna was her own flesh and blood, Penelope chose to turn a blind eye. She longed to reserve that special ce in her heart for Marguerite, but with the DNA test in hand, she couldn¡¯t deny the blood connection with Yuna. All she could do was step in to defuse the situation, her tone soft and soothing as she looked at Frederick and said, ¡°Frederick, Marguerite, I¡¯m terribly sorry for the tro¨´ble. Since this has all been a big misunderstanding, I ask you both to let bygones be bygones for my sake.¡± Marguerite seemed nonchnt; after all, the mess didn¡¯t concern her. As long as her innocence was proven, whatever drama ensued was none of her business. After speaking, Penelope turned and yanked Yuna next to Marguerite, her voice sharp and displeased, ¡°Yuna, apologize to Marguerite right now!¡± Yuna was shell-shocked, her rebellious streak ring up. Apologize to Marguerite, that harlot? Why should she? What made Marguerite worthy of her apology? Of course, Yuna refused, but she dared not defy Penelope and could only cast a pitiful look at Hackett, hoping he¡¯d have her back. Hackett, ever protective of his daughter, quickly fell into Yuna¡¯s trap and rebuked Penelope, ¡°Why should Yuna apologize to Marguerite? Yuna hasn¡¯t done a single thing wrong! If it¡¯s all been a mix-up, then it has nothing to do with Yuna! She doesn¡¯t need to apologize to anyone!¡± Penelope, fiery with indignation, insisted that wrongs must be righted, even if Yuna was her daughter. She wouldn¡¯t defend her in public, ¡°You might be fool, I certainly am not! Earlier, Yuna mistook Marguerite for hitting Manley, and she was so sure Marguerite drugged him. If we don¡¯t apologize after slinging mud at Marguerite repeatedly, wouldn¡¯t it reflect poorly on the Winston family¡¯s upbringing?¡± 08:35 With that, Hackett was left speechless. He too was a man who feared his wife¡¯s wrath and could only offer an apologetic nce at Yuna. Seeing Hackett¡¯s unreliable stance, Yuna quickly turned to Penelope with teary eyes, ¡°Mom, I really don¡¯t think I did anything wrong. If someone drugged me or my brother, you¡¯d be suspicious too, right? I¡¯m not at fault! If that really happened, I would choose to apologize.¡± Penelope¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver as she grabbed Yuna by the cor and pulled her close, whispering a threat in her ear, ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m clueless? I¡¯m offering you a way out with this apology. If you¡¯d rather face a worse fate, I don¡¯t mind revealing the truth!¡± Yuna stiffened, her eyes widening in disbelief as she looked at Penelope. She knew the truth? But how? And how much? The unknown was terrifying, and Yuna understood she could never deceive Penelope. Clearly, within the Fitzgerald family, Penelope was the true authority. To anger her would mean no good, even with Hackett¡¯s support. She exhaled deeply and reluctantly turned to Marguerite, muttering, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Marguerite was taken aback by the swift turnaround. If she could, she¡¯d love to capture Yuna¡¯s crestfallen expression-it would be more entertaining than anyedy. But she wasn¡¯t so idle. Just as she was about to ept the apology, Frederick¡¯s mocking sneer cut through the air, ¡°What, did you skip breakfast?¡± Yuna was baffled, ¡°Huh?¡± Chuck quickly intervened, ¡°Ms. Yuna, Mr. Winston means to say that when you apologize, you should speak up. Make sure everyone in the room can hear you loud and clear!¡± Chapter 598 Shivers coursed through Yuna¡¯s body. If it weren¡¯t for the prying eyes that surrounded her, she would have loved nothing more than to scratch that smug look off Marguerite¡¯s face. The very idea of apologizing to someone as lowly as Marguerite made Yuna¡¯s blood boil surely Marguerite, the wretched thing, was reveling in this moment. But with Frederick¡¯smand hanging in the air, Yuna knew all too well the consequences of defiance. So, she bit back the venom in her heart, nning to bide her time and seek her revengeter. With every ounce of her pride hanging by a thread, Yuna reluctantly raised her voice, enunciating each syble with disdain, ¡°I¡­ am¡­ sorry!¡± Her apology was grudging at best, filled with an undercurrent of loathing. Off to the side, Penelope shook her head, a mix of sorrow and regret washing over her. -Her threat to Yuna had been a bluff ¨C a gamble. Penelope wasn¡¯t certain Yuna was the one who spiked Manley¡¯s drink; she just suspected it strongly. But Yuna¡¯s reluctant apology was as good as an admission of guilt, and it only served to confirm Penelope¡¯s suspicions. Penelopemented her family¡¯s misfortune. Her daughter, whom she had waited 25 years for, turned out to be such a disappointment ¨C it pained her deeply. And so the drama concluded, under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Penelope felt a pang of guilt towards Marguerite and, before leaving, pulled her aside. ¡°Marguerite, I am so sorry. If there¡¯s anything that can make this right, tell me. I¡¯ll do anything to make amends.¡± Marguerite, however, remainedposed throughout. She shook her head, her usual grace intact, ¡°Penelope, you worry too much. As long as my name is cleared, that¡¯s all that matters to me. Please, don¡¯t worry ¨C I¡¯m quite alright.¡± Internally, Marguerite was quite content. Forcing Yuna to apologize in public was a rare victory, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime urrence. Meanwhile, Yuna was seething. What could be worse than publicly apologizing to a rival in love? Not only had she embarrassed herself in front of the servants, but she had also been harshly scolded by her own mother, Penelope. She felt like she was about to explode with frustration. ¨C 212 Penelope ignored Yuna¡¯s defiant scowl, her gaze lingering on Marguerite this noble and lofty young woman ¨C with a sense of mncholy. Why couldn¡¯t her daughter be more like Marguerite? Ah, the cruel twists of fate! As she contemted this, a wave of sadness washed over Penelope. She took Marguerite¡¯s hand gently into her own, caressing it tenderly, and sighed, ¡°Marguerite, I¡¯ve been away from the office these past few days, and if Yuna has wronged you in any way, don¡¯t take it to heart. Tell me, and I will deal with her. You won¡¯t be wronged under my watch.¡± Marguerite felt a stir of emotion as she looked into Penelope¡¯s eyes, suddenly feeling an inexplicable sense of injustice. No matter what Yuna did, no matter the trouble she caused, she had Penelope, a loving and protective mother. But Marguerite had no one. She couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes because she had no one to fall back on. She had to protect herself, and so she built a fortress of thorns around her heart, simply to avoid more hurt. 1 Chapter 599 Marguerite was too strong for her own good, strong to the point that it even made her own heart ache. But she swallowed her emotions, given that Penelope was Yuna¡¯s mother, she couldn¡¯t very well vent her frustrations to someone else¡¯s mom. Marguerite shook her head, mustering a strained smile, ¡°Thanks, Penelope. I¡¯m really grateful you let me work at Poppy Petal Fragrances. As for Yuna, I¡¯ll just keep my distance. I don¡¯t want to put you in an awkward spot.¡± Penelope felt a lump in her throat, finding Marguerite¡¯s maturity and understanding beyond her years both admirable and heartbreaking, She had always admired Marguerite¡¯s spirit, enduring so much yet still clinging to that pure, untainted spark inside her. It was her charm, as well as her Achilles¡¯ heel. It¡¯s hard to tell how many people have exploited this, attacking and causing her harm. Neither said anything more, but Penelope resolved then and there to treat Marguerite like her own daughter from now on. As Penelope walked away, Marguerite bumped into Frederick. Remembering how he had stood up for her earlier, her heart fluttered, and she called out to his retreating figure, ¡°Hey! Thanks for that.¡± He stiffened, turning around with a cool tone, ¡°Don¡¯t get it twisted. I didn¡¯t do it for you. I just don¡¯t want any trouble toe to Manley. That¡¯s all.¡± Marguerite felt a little snubbed, thinking how unromantic the guy was. But he wasn¡¯t wrong. Everything he did, he did for his son. To him, she was never that important. Trying to console herself, Marguerite still felt a twinge of sadness. ¡°Oh¡­ it¡¯s gettingte. I should head off to bed.¡± As Marguerite turned to leave, Frederick suddenly gripped her wrist, pulling her close. Her eyes widened in shock, ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡± His lips curled up in a mischievous smirk, a renegade charm and the aura of a man inmand emanating from him. ¡°Now that the child¡¯s situation is sorted, shouldn¡¯t we clear the air between us?¡± Marguerite froze. The issues between her and Frederick? She didn¡¯t need to guess that it was about the incident three years ago. But what did he want to resolve? Was he looking to make up or make her pay a steep price? Her mind raced with uncertainty. Unable toe up with any way to settle the longstanding grudge between them, she feigned ignorance, meeting his gaze with a look of feigned bewilderment, ¡°Our issues? Didn¡¯t you choose to ignore them long ago? How do you n on resolving them now?¡± ¡°Ignore?¡± He chuckled, obviously amused by her misinterpretation, ¡°Don¡¯t we need to address things one by one?¡± ¡°You mean the betrayal from three years back?¡± Marguerite went for broke,ying it all out there. She really couldn¡¯t handle Frederick¡¯s roundabout ways. She was feeling too suffocated! He smiled, ¡°And what else?¡± Marguerite was puzzled, ¡°What else? That¡¯s the only thing!¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was intense, not blinking, shining with a brilliant light. Marguerite was so close she could see the twinkling of countless stars in his eyes, shimmering brightly. Then, he leaned in close, his voice soft yetden with meaning, ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors from the factory¡­ that you¡¯ve been telling people¡­ you¡¯re my ex-wife?¡± Chapter 600 Marguerite¡¯s brain short-circuited, and her whole body stiffened in shock. Uh¡­ How on earth did this man know about the incident at the factory? She blinked rapidly, shaking her head in denial, ¡°I¡­ When did I ever say that?¡± She hadn¡¯t spilled the beans, not at all! It was Miley who had let it slip out unintentionally! But what was truly baffling was that he wasn¡¯t even there that day. How could he possibly know about it? Marguerite¡¯s mind raced with wild thoughts, only to be interrupted by Frederick¡¯s light, mockingughter. ¡°I heard you called me arrogant, tyrannical, obsessed, and insufferable? Marguerite, you¡¯ve got quite the vocabry. Howe I¡¯ve never noticed?¡± Marguerite¡¯s mouth hung open, a chill running down her spine. Hold on! Weren¡¯t these the very words she had used to vent about Frederick with the factory¡¯s manager, Zack, behind his back? How could this man have repeated them verbatim? Had he bugged her? No way! Impossible! Did Miley spill it? That didn¡¯t seem right either. The most likely culprit had to be Zack! After all, Frederick had been in touch with Zack before she and Miley had visited the factory. And surely, after their departure, Zack would have reported back to him, right? That sneaky rat! Zack had acted all sweet and generous, trying to cover his tracks, and now he had backstabbed her? Miley was right all along! Zack was a double-dealer! Marguerite swallowed hard, deciding that if Frederick was going to keep using this to get under her skin, she wouldn¡¯t let him have the satisfaction. She thought quickly and said with a hint of mischief, ¡°Actually, those weren¡¯t all my words. Others had their say too.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyebrows twitched, clearly hooked, ¡°Others? Who? What did they say?¡± ¡°Just others.¡± Marguerite grinned teasingly, leaving him hanging with anticipation. Her eyes danced with a probing intent as she casually dropped another bait, ¡°Speaking of which¡­ some were wondering if Mr. Winston has a beloved ex-wife. Is there any truth to 08:53 that, Mr. Winston?¡± Frederick¡¯s posture stiffened, a twinge of vulnerability showing through. Then, to his surprise, he noticed Marguerite lifting his hand to her eye level. Upon a closer look, it wasn¡¯t Marguerite holding his hand at all. He had been clutching her wrist all this time without letting go. And there she was, looking smug as if she had caught him in a moment of weakness. Caught off guard, he released his grip and straightened up, uneasily dismissing her with four words, ¡°Just rumors, nothing more.¡± Marguerite shrugged nonchntly, her eyes glinting with amusement. Frederick had never seen such a sharp look in Marguerite¡¯s eyes, as if piercing straight to his soul. Trying to cover his fluster, he turned away, dropping a ¡°Get some rest¡± before striding off. Marguerite watched his broad, retreating figure, feeling utterly surprised. With his temperament, she had expected an explosive denial to her probing question. But instead, while he did deny it, his emotion wasn¡¯t the anger she had anticipated. Was that a hint of defiance she saw? What was going on? At that moment, the living room clock struck twelve, its chimes echoing the olden times. It was past midnight, and she really should get some rest. Marguerite quickly gathered her thoughts and retreated to her room. Everything that had happened today had left her utterly drained. She had nned to talk to Teresa about the portrait, but it seemed she would have to find another opportunity. 212 08:53 Chapter 601 The following day at noon, the Goldie family was abuzz with anticipation. Today was the day Miley was bringing her boyfriend, Robert Fitzgerald, home to meet her parents. She had taken the day off from work especially for this asion. Robert arrived at the Goldie householdden with all sorts of gifts and goodies, from fine wines to gourmet cheeses. Miley¡¯s parents could hardly contain their excitement; they were absolutely delighted! They were thoroughly impressed with their prospective son-inw. He was handsome, considerate, and most importantly, Robert didn¡¯t carry himself with the haughtiness often associated with the scions of wealthy families. He knew how to charm his way into their hearts. Within just a couple of hours after arriving, he had Miley¡¯s parents, Edgar and Harriet Goldie, grinning from ear to ear,pletely won over by his charm. After a hearty meal, Harriet loaded the dishwasher with the tes and washed some cherries to take to the living room for dessert. Sensing the perfect moment to broach the subject, Robert cleared his throat and spoke in his gentle, soothing voice. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Goldie, I was hoping to discuss something with you,¡± he said. Harriet, busy offering a bowl of cherries to Robert, nodded and encouraged him to continue, ¡°Go ahead, son.¡± Robert took a deep breath before posing his question, ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Miley that the Goldie and the Lockwood families used to be neighbors. I was wondering, about twenty-five years ago, do you happen to know if the Lockwoods ever took in a foster child?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about Yuna Lockwood, aren¡¯t you?¡± Edgar chimed in. After Edgar and Harriet had returned to Stonebridge City, Miley had promptly filled them in on the recent happenings within the Lockwood family. They were as shocked as anyone to learn that Yuna and Marguerite Lockwood were not actually twins. While Harriet¡¯s response gave Robert a moment of hope that she might know something, she quickly shook her head with a look of regret. ¡°Young man, I won¡¯t lie to you, we don¡¯t really know much. We were stunned when we first heard about the turmoil in your family. When Zoe Lockwood was due to give birth, Edgar and i had gone to visit my folks. By the time we returned, Zoe had already delivered-not one, but two babies. They imed they were twins, although one was significantly smaller, almost like a preemie But since both babies looked so identical, none of us ever suspected that one was adopted,¡± she exined 30:42 ¡°Preemie?¡± Roberttched onto the word instantly. His sister had been a premature baby, born a month early and ced in an incubator right away. That preemie had to be his sister. His voice was urgent, ¡°Do you remember the name of that premature baby?¡± The years had blurred the details, and Harriet couldn¡¯t recall. She turned to Edgar for help. Edgar took a sip of his water, furrowing his brow in deep thought before finally shaking his head. ¡°When the children were born, they didn¡¯t have names yet. We did visit the Lockwoods once, but Ablett Lockwood and his wife turned us away. They imed the children were too delicate and that we might carry germs that could make them sick. Looking back now, they weren¡¯t worried about illness; they were probably just afraid we¡¯d uncover their secret. For a long while after that, the Lockwoods-Ablett and his wife, along with Laverne-were constantly at odds, even threatening to send one of the children away. Eventually, they moved away with Yuna, leaving Laverne and Marguerite to fend for themselves. As for which one was the preemie-Marguerite or Yuna-we truly don¡¯t know,¡± Edgar confessed with a heavy sigh. 712 10:42 Chapter 602 Robert certainly hadn¡¯t expected the Abletts to do it so perfectly. Even the Goldies, who lived right next door, had been tricked for so long! Robert couldn¡¯t dig up any dirt, so he had no choice but to drop it. Miley took Robert to her boudoir, noticing his sour mood, she did her best to cheer him up. Not only that, but she also pulled out a stack of photo albums to distract him. ¡°Everyone says looking at childhood pictures of your sweetheart is a joyous thing. Even though I was a pretty awkward kid, I don¡¯t mind showing them to you! Today, I¡¯ll let you see for yourself the magic of growing up!¡± she said with a yful wink, eager to turn the pages and share the memories with her boyfriend. And it worked like a charm. As Robert looked at those photos of a younger Miley, cheeks puffed and adorable as a little doughball, his heart softened. He pointed at a picture and asked, ¡°How old were you here?¡± Miley thought for a moment, ¡°Maybe three or four? I can¡¯t quite remember. It was when ! first started preschool! That was before my family hit the jackpot. I went to the same preschool as Marguerite, but I was a year younger, so we weren¡¯t in the same ss.¡± At this, Robert genuinely chuckled, and the atmosphere softened. Miley breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Robert had finally cracked a smile, and eagerly flipped to the next page. But before she could exin the next set of photos, Robert¡¯s gaze zeroed in on one, his brow furrowing in seriousness, ¡°This elderlydy in the photo¡­ Is that Laverne? And who¡¯s the child in her arms?¡± Miley looked closely and saw that Robert was pointing at a picture with an old woman holding a baby, wrapped in a butter-yellow nket, on the steps of a church, both basking in sunlight with the old woman smiling radiantly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s Marguerite¡¯s grandma, she was much younger then, almost unrecognizable, huh? The baby she¡¯s holding is definitely Marguerite! I remember my mom telling me this was taken when Marguerite¡¯s grandma went to the church to get a sapphire ne blessed for Marguerite. My parents were there too, praying for their own blessings, and they happened to bump into them. Knowing my parents had a camera, she asked for a photo. They printed two copies, gave one to Grandma, and kept one. Why? Is there something special about this photo?¡± 08:26 ¡°You¡¯re sure the baby is Marguerite?¡± Miley, confused, replied, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure!¡± A sense of heaviness settled in Robert¡¯s heart, yet his eyes sparkled with intensity. Every secret has a crack, and it seemed the answer was about to surface! He vividly remembered the anticipation surrounding his sister¡¯s birth, especially from his mother! Robert recalled his mother stressing the importance of a newborn¡¯s clothing and environment. His sister¡¯s clothes and even her bed linens were not store-bought but custom-made. And the nket that wrapped his sister when she was born was specially crafted; his mother had even coborated with the seamstress to knit it! With this in mind, he pointed back at the photo and asked urgently, ¡°Has this nket been with Marguerite since she was born?¡± 08:26 Chapter 603 Miley¡¯s mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She was a year younger than Marguerite, so how could she possibly remember the events surrounding Marguerite¡¯s birth? Instead of answering Robert right away, Miley hollered toward the foyer, ¡°Mom! Can youe here for a sec? We need to ask you something!¡± Harriet scurried into the room, concern etched on her face. ¡°What¡¯s up, honey?¡± Miley swiftly retrieved the photo from its hiddenpartment and echoed Robert¡¯s inquiry with urgency. Harriet scrutinized the photo, her eyes narrowing with recognition at the sight of the nket, and after a moment¡¯s reflection, it clicked. ¡°This nket was Marguerite¡¯s from the day she was born. Laverne used to say she wouldn¡¯t go anywhere without it, clung to it like a security nket. She finally stopped using it around three, and Laverne kept it safe ever since. I remember her joking that she¡¯d save it for Marguerite¡¯s wedding day, to gift her husband-to-be with a piece of her childhood. I¡¯m not sure if she ever did gift it, but I -am certain Laverne considered this nket a cherished keepsake for Marguerite.¡± ¡°Did Yuna have a simr nket when she was born?¡± Robert interjected. Harriet shook her head, a definitive no. ¡°Never saw one like it with Yuna.¡± As Miley watched the back-and-forth between her mother and Robert, she felt lost in the shuffle, unable to piece together the significance of their words. She squinted at Robert, perplexed. ¡°Okay, slow down. What¡¯s the big deal about the nket?¡± Robert¡¯s expression was solemn as he pulled out another photo from his wallet. It was a newborn picture of his sister, a little bundle swaddled in a butter-yellow nket. He held up the photo next to the one of Laverne cradling Marguerite, and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t these nkets look almost identical?¡± Miley looked at them closely, and suddenly the penny dropped. Still, she frowned. ¡°But matching nkets don¡¯t necessarily mean anything, right? Maybe the Abletts just ended up using Marguerite¡¯s nket for Yuna when they took her home?¡± Robert sank into contemtion, considering Miley¡¯s suggestion. Memories of his father¡¯s actions at the hospital and Zoe¡¯s words echoed in his mind, ¡°Because Yuna was the Fitzgerald¡¯s daughter, we spared no effort in treating her as our own. Our affection for her even surpassed what we felt for Marguerite, which led everyone to believe that Yuna was our biological child and Marguerite was the adopted one.¡± 08:35 m With that revtion, Robert shook his head, ¡°Zoe said they doted on Yuna out of guilt. If that¡¯s true, why would they give something meant for Yuna to Marguerite?¡± In a sh of insight, Miley¡¯s eyes widened as she turned to lock gazes with Robert. Her throat dry with anticipation, she blurted out, ¡°The most likely exnation is that this nket was always Marguerite¡¯s to begin with!¡± 08:35 Chapter 604 Miley¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she voiced the possibility, a chill running down her own spine at the implications. Marguerite could very well be the real heiress to the Fitzgerald family! If that were true, then the paternity test that was supposed to prove Yuna¡¯s identity was undoubtedly tampered with. Snapping back to reality, Miley dered with conviction, ¡°I suggest you find an opportunity to redo the paternity test!¡± Robert didn¡¯t hesitate, and he said, ¡°Why wait for another day? Let¡¯s do it today!¡± Miley blinked in surprise and nced at her watch, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit hasty?¡± ¡°Not at all!¡± Robert insisted, his voice firm. ¡°To prevent any further foul y, we have to catch them off guard!¡± Meanwhile, over at the Winston Estate¡­ After getting the morning off from Miley, Marguerite had smoothly secured a day off from Frederick to stay at the estate. She feigned feeling under the weather, and Frederick didn¡¯t pry further. But her supposed ailment was just a smokescreen. Marguerite¡¯s true intention was to grill Teresa about a certain portrait! She¡¯d spent the morningying the groundwork, and after a hearty lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, she headed to Teresa¡¯s colorful bedroom, using a flimsy excuse to have the little girl show her all her drawings. Innocent Teresa was clueless about her mommy¡¯s agenda and casually pulled out a handful of her art. Marguerite flipped through them, showering her daughter with praise along the way. And Teresa, ever the sucker forpliments, was practically floating with joy at her mother¡¯s words. Seizing the moment, Marguerite asked, out of the blue, ¡°Terry, where did you learn this amazing ability to age people in your drawings when you were just three?¡± Teresa hadn¡¯t given it much thought and blurted out, ¡°I taught myself, of course! And that¡¯s not all I can do, I can also¡­¡± Her words trailed off abruptly. Something was wrong. Wait, what had Mommy just called her? Terry? Oh no! How did Mommy know her secret nickname? Teresa¡¯s face fell as she eyed Marguerite warily, still scrambling for a way out, ¡°Mommy, who¡¯s Terry? What¡¯s aging drawings? I don¡¯t understand any of this.¡± 08:35 Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but smile, sending shivers down the little girl¡¯s spine, ¡°Still trying to fool me?¡± Deted, Teresa puffed up her cheeks in anger ¡°Did my godmother spill the beans?¡± That darn godmother! She had switched sides! And betrayed her own goddaughter! As Teresa fumed, she couldn¡¯t help but rant, ¡°That¡¯s so unfair of her! She promised it was our little secret. I¡¯m never helping her again! Hmph!¡± Listening to her daughter¡¯s adorable grumbles, Marguerite felt a mix of exasperation and confusion, ¡°Being talented isn¡¯t something to hide. Why keep it a secret from me?¡± Teresa nced at Marguerite cautiously, growing more and more uneasy. Ever since she first started drawing, her initial portrait was a reverse-engineered image of her daddy, Frederick, based on her own features and those of her mommy, Marguerite. But back then, she didn¡¯t even know who Frederick was. The uncertainty had sent Teresa into a spiral of self-doubt about the identity of her biological father. As a stubborn little girl, she feared that if Marguerite knew about her drawing skills, she¡¯d be asked to sketch her twin brother, leading to a dilemma-should she base it on Marguerite and Maurice¡¯s looks, or Marguerite and the man from the portrait? With so many unknowns, secrecy seemed the best policy. But now, faced with her mother¡¯s direct question, how could she exin? Ugh! She was just a kid! Why did she have to deal with grown-up problems? With a defiant little huff, Teresa decided it was time toe clean and tell her mom the truth. 08:35 Chapter 605 ¡°Mommy! Actually, I¡¯ve got to be honest with you, it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s¡­¡± Teresa opened her mouth, ready to spill the beans, but at thest second, her little lips mped shut again. She felt that she just couldn¡¯t reveal the truth so soon! For one thing, Daddy and Mommy hadn¡¯t made up yet, let alone fallen back in love. The ace up her sleeve should be yed at the very end. Secondly, if Yuna found out she was Daddy¡¯s kid, she would definitely try to hurt her! Teresa propped her chin in her hands and twirled her round, doe-like eyes, suddenly falling silent. Marguerite was nearly driven mad by Teresa¡¯s heavy breathing. She straightened Teresa¡¯s shoulders and looked her dead in the eye, ¡°Spit it out. What is it?¡± Teresa¡¯s eyes darted away in panic. Oh dear, Mommy¡¯s gaze was too piercing! If she looked at Teresa for two more seconds, -she feared she would really confess everything! Her young mind was racing, desperately searching for a way out, and atst, she thought of something to cate Mommy, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ I¡¯ve made a whole lot of money with my drawings, way more than you can imagine! I was afraid that if you knew, you¡¯d just take it all away from me!¡± Marguerite was surprised hearing this. Since the day Teresa was born, she¡¯d always had the best of everything. She was never short on pocket money, so why would she hide such a vital secret for the sake of money? Marguerite¡¯s eyes were full of spection, ¡°How much did you make?¡± The little one cautiously held up three fingers, ¡°This much.¡± Marguerite frowned, ¡°Thirty thousand?¡± Teresa shook her head. Marguerite was stunned. Teresa had said it was more than she could imagine. Could it be¡­ ¡°Three million?¡± Teresa fell silent. Three million was way too little! She wouldn¡¯t be satisfied earning such a paltry sum! Though the money was just an excuse to mislead Mommy, she was genuinely scared that her hard-earned cash would get confiscated! 08:35 But if she imed too small an amount, Mommy would never believe her. Swallowing hard, Teresa steeled herself and whispered, ¡°Billions¡­¡± Marguerite was speechless. If she weren¡¯t already sitting on the couch, Marguerite would have feared that her legs would give out from sheer shock and she¡¯d copse onto the floor! She had lived for twenty-five years and had never seen so much money! Yet her daughter had earned it effortlessly! ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll never hide anything from you again! I just wanted to earn more money so I could buy you a house, buy you a car! You always used to argue with Daddy Maurice behind my back, but I heard it all. I was scared that if you two split up, you¡¯d have nowhere to live¡­¡± As the little one spoke, Marguerite felt a lump forming in her throat. Teresa was so considerate and caring, always thinking from her perspective. Had Marguerite overreacted, frightening the little one before her? Marguerite took a moment topose herself, ¡°I won¡¯t take your money, but you¡¯re only three years old, and it¡¯s not safe for you to have that much money. I¡¯ll find a bank to deposit it for you, and you can have it when you grow up.¡± Teresa looked up pitifully, ¡°Mommy, you can¡¯t trick me! TV shows always say adults trick kids, iming they¡¯ll save their gift money, but then they just secretly spend it!¡± For a moment, Marguerite was at a loss for words. But she wasn¡¯t greedy, nor did she want to dwell on the matter of money with her daughter for too long. She dug into her bag and pulled out two photographs, cing them in Teresa¡¯s little hands, ¡°If you don¡¯t want your hard-earned money to vanish into thin air, then work for me, right now! Draw your brother¡¯s face, and Mommy won¡¯t touch a penny of your money. Teresa nced down and saw two photos in her palm, one of Mommy and one of Maurice? 08:35 Chapter 606 Teresa gazed longingly at the photo of Daddy Maurice, with a look of utter confusion painting her cherubic face a rosy red. After all, she was undoubtedly Hayes¡¯ Daddy¡¯s daughter through and through. And her twin brother, who shared her birthday suit down to the freckle, must be Hayes¡¯ Daddy¡¯s kiddo too! Staring at the photo of Mom and Maurice, she knew she couldn¡¯t draw a thing. Her eyes flickered with indecision as she stammered, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re really putting me in a tight spot here¡­¡± ¡°In a tight spot? I¡¯ve heard tall tales about your skills, Terry. They say you can draw anything! And now, when your dear mom needs your help, you¡¯re suddenly in a bind?¡± Teresa, timid as a mouse, couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet Marguerite¡¯s gaze. She was given the wrong photo-how could she not be flustered? She frowned and nodded, ¡°I can draw, sure, but it¡¯s gonna take a while! Mom, why don¡¯t you leave the photo here and go chill for a bit? I¡¯ll call you when it¡¯s done, okay?¡± She had to shoo Mom out, then sneakily swap in Hayes¡¯ Daddy¡¯s picture to get the job done right! But Marguerite wasn¡¯t born yesterday. She could see Teresa pushing her out with all her might. Still, she chalked it up to the whims of a yful child avoiding work, not the desperate antics of Teresa in a bind. After all, this was about her son, a matter of the utmost importance to her. Three long years with no leads, and now Teresa could help her find him. Marguerite couldn¡¯t afford to take this lightly. So, she grabbed a bottle of soda from the fridge, helped herself to some cookies, and plopped back on the couch, legs crossed, with determination on her face. ¡°You do your thing, I won¡¯t bug you. But I¡¯ve gotta see you at work with my own eyes.¡± Teresa was speechless, on the verge of throwing a full-blown tantrum at Marguerite. But with Mom¡¯s determined stance, there was no way she was leaving the room! With no choice left, Teresa set up her easel with a resigned air, stered the photo of Mom and Maurice in the top right corner, but her hand holding the pencil quivered non-stop. Gosh! Faced with Maurice¡¯s picture, she couldn¡¯t start! Feeling like she had a cactus under her dress, she finally caved to Marguerite¡¯s relentless gaze, turned around with a crestfallen look, and pleaded, ¡°Mom, do you really have to watch me draw? You¡¯re cramping my style here!¡± Marguerite popped a cookie into her mouth with content, ¡°Are you so eager to get rid of me because you¡¯re up to no good? You¡¯re not nning on cking off, are you?¡± Teresa hastily raised three fingers in a scout¡¯s honor gesture, ¡°I swear, Mom, I won¡¯t ck off! Don¡¯t think drawing¡¯s a piece of cake-it takes real brainpower! It¡¯s not just drawing; I have to consult resources, consider gic factors! It¡¯s a lot of brain work, so I need absolute silence, okay?¡± Marguerite didn¡¯t realize howplicated drawing can be. But just because of that, she was worried that Teresa would try and trick her Marguerite wavered between trust and skepticism when her phone rang. It was Miley. She hustled to the balcony to pick up, only to spot Miley¡¯s signature white BMW parked right outside the Winston Mansion. Confused, she answered, ¡°Your car¡¯s at the drive way. Why note up? Why the call?¡± The car window rolled down leisurely, and Miley waved frantically at Marguerite on the balcony. ¡°I¡¯m noting up. Come down! Something happened. I¡¯ll fill you in on the way. Let¡¯s go!¡± Chapter 607 Miley¡¯s voice carried an edge of urgency that Marguerite couldn¡¯t ignore. She hastily ended the call and turned to Teresa, who was engrossed in her drawing, ¡°Keep at it, kiddo. I¡¯ll check on your masterpiece when I get back.¡± With no time to waste, Marguerite rushed out of the room. Teresa, barely containing her excitement, mentally cheered, ¡°Yes!¡± She quickly took down a photo of Maurice and darted to Frederick¡¯s room to find one of his snapshots. Then, she hunkered down, dedicating herself to her artistic endeavor. Half an hourter, Miley, with Marguerite in tow, raced into The As Private Hospital¡¯s parking lot and made a beeline for the hospital¡¯s Forensic Identification Center. Simultaneously, the Hackett couple, along with Yuna, and the Ablett couple converged on the center¡¯s entrance from different directions. They met at the door, a flurry of confusion and concern swirling around them. Marguerite was bewildered, but Zoe, upon seeing Yuna, rushed over for a thorough once-over. ¡°Yuna! Weren¡¯t you in a car ident? Your brother said you were bleeding out, and your dad and I¡­¡± Zoe caught herself mid-sentence, her eyes darting to Hackett¡¯s equally worried face, and she quickly corrected herself. ¡°I mean, your foster father and I rushed over as soon as we heard.¡± Yuna blinked in confusion. ¡°I wasn¡¯t in any ident?¡± Penelope¡¯s brow furrowed in bewilderment, ¡°Was it Frederick who called you all here?¡± Zoe¡¯s face was a map of wrinkles as she nodded vigorously. Penelope then turned to Marguerite and Miley, questioning, ¡°And you two? Did Frederick summon you as well?¡± Marguerite, still clueless, looked to Miley, unsure of what to say. Miley, however, twirled her eyes mischievously and grinned, ¡°Yes, Robert asked me to bring Marguerite over.¡± For a moment, Penelope was utterly lost, ¡°How peculiar. Frederick called us, he said Robert was in an ident. But from what you¡¯re saying, he¡¯s obviously fine. Yuna¡¯s been with me at the office all day; she couldn¡¯t possibly be in any danger. What in the world is going on?¡± Hackett, having put two and two together, let out a cold snort of realization that resonated through the corridor, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? We¡¯ve been duped by that boy¡¯s antics! What kind of nonsense is he ying at now? Ridiculous! Look around, what does this ce do? It¡¯s a Forensic Identification Center, for Pete¡¯s sake! Where paternity tests are done! Can¡¯t you see what the boy is up to? I must have lost my senses to have believed him!!¡± Penelope and Hackett had rushed to the hospital, panicked by Frederick¡¯s call about Robert¡¯s supposed ident in the surgery room on the fourth floor. They didn¡¯t realize they were heading to the department that could shatter their family¡¯s foundations. Hackett, connecting the dots with Robert¡¯s recent behavior, had a sinking feeling about what the boy was nning today! The Abletts, hearing Hackett¡¯s outburst, quickly came to the same grim realization. If a paternity test was the goal, why call Marguerite as well? Could it be that they wanted to test the paternity between Hackett and Marguerite too? 09.14 Chapter 608 apter Zoe stood rooted to the spot, her mind reeling from the revtion. Marguerite was the actual Fitzgerald heiress an undeniable fact that no one could overlook! If Hackett decided to go through with the DNA test for Marguerite and Yuna, not only would their little charadee crashing down, but the secret Zoe had harbored for twenty-five long years would also rise to the surface! And then, she would have nowhere to turn but a dead end. So, before Robert and Frederick arrived, Marguerite needed to leave, and pronto! With this thought, Zoe whispered urgently to Ablett, ¡°You need to get a hold of Dr. Hammond from the gicsb, stat! Have him rush over here. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± No sooner had Zoe finished her sentence than she was striding over to Marguerite, pointing an usatory finger, ¡°Marguerite! It¡¯s my fault, I know. I should¡¯ve raised you better. It was bad enough you yed mind games with your father and me, but why, dh why, did you have to mess with Mr. Winston and Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s heads? I¡¯ve told you time and again, Yuna is the Fitzgerald family¡¯s daughter! That¡¯s not something you can change! Why can¡¯t you just ept that? Why are you causing trouble again?¡± Marguerite was taken aback by Zoe¡¯s sudden grip on her arm, but her shock quickly turned to a mixture of amusement and irony. She hadn¡¯t spoken to her so-called parents in three years, yet here they were, slinging mud her way as soon as they appeared. How ironic Hackett¡¯s brows knitted in confusion at Zoe¡¯s words, asking, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®mind games¡¯?¡± Zoe, feeling a surge of energy, released Marguerite and locked eyes with Hackett, fanning. the mes as she spoke non-stop, ¡°Ever since Yuna was taken by you, Marguerite¡¯s been ming me and Ablett, asking why we couldn¡¯t just swap her in and make her the Fitzgerald heiress! She looks just like Yuna, then why couldn¡¯t she be the golden girl? We¡¯ve always told her that whoever is meant to have that status will have it! I know we¡¯ve been too kind to Yuna over the years, trying to make up for past mistakes, and we¡¯ve neglected Marguerite¡¯s upbringing and affection. But we never imagined she would set her sights on the Fitzgerald heiress¡¯ title! Yes, I am Marguerite¡¯s mother, and I¡¯ve already made one mistake; I can¡¯t make another! I cannot condone my daughter doing such a heinous act!¡± 08:17 As Zoe spoke, she grabbed Marguerite¡¯s arm, pleading earnestly, ¡°Come on, Marguerite! Go home with me now! We¡¯ll give you our business, just stop picking on Yuna! may not have shown you enough love, but darling, the Fitzgeralds are out of your league! Isn¡¯t having Maurice enough for you? Why this obsession with being a Fitzgerald heiress? Please, I¡¯m begging you,e home with me. Don¡¯t be theughingstock!¡± Of course, Marguerite had never said any of those things, but who would believe her? As long as Zoe and Ablett stuck to their story, Marguerite would be tarnished, no matter how she tried to defend herself! And Zoe couldn¡¯t help but suspect that Marguerite must have shared her grievances with Frederick about the whole acknowledgment ordeal. After all, who wouldn¡¯t covet the status of the second most prestigious family in Stonebridge City? Maybe it was time to pile on a bit more scandal to Marguerite¡¯s name. Perhaps by flipping the script, the tides of public opinion would turn against her! Esp¨¦cially since Robert and Frederick were yet to arrive. Add to that the fact that it was clear as day to anyone with eyes that Hackett¡¯s doting on Yuna had reached outrageous levels. Now, if Zoe could just clutch onto Hackett as her lifeline, there might just be a chance to turn everything around. 00.17 Chapter 609 As Zoe was about to drag Marguerite away, Miley¡¯s heart raced and she bolted to intercept them, ¡°Let go of Marguerite, you witch! Lies just spill out of your mouth like water! Marguerite¡¯s been either at work or home all this time. When would she have had a second to chat with you?¡± ¡°Ms. Goldie, I know you¡¯re close with Marguerite, but this ain¡¯t the time to blindly stick up for her! Step aside, girl, don¡¯t bring trouble on yourself!¡± ¡°Zoe! You¡¯re nothing but a two-faced snake! What¡¯d you use to call Marguerite behind her back, huh? Trash! And now, in front of the Fitzgeralds, you suddenly remember her name is Marguerite? Hypocrites! Is there even one ounce of truth in anything you say?¡± Hackett nced at Marguerite, then at the fiercely outspoken Miley. Already not fond of either, his anger now red up, ¡°Miley, shut up! You¡¯ve bamboozled my son¡¯s mind, and I haven¡¯t even settled the score with you! And now you¡¯re going after Yuna too?¡± Confronted by her future father-inw, Miley mmed up instantly. How did he know she was Robert¡¯s girlfriend? Who spilled the beans? But right now, this wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on that. She wanted to be with Robert, so she didn¡¯t dare talk back to Hackett. Seeing the tension, Penelope stepped forward to smooth things over, ¡°Alright, enough! Everyone stop bickering. Hackett, for heaven¡¯s sake, Miley¡¯s just a kid. Why are you being so rough on her?¡± Hackett, who was well under his wife¡¯s thumb, took Penelope¡¯s words seriously. He paused, then turned his steely gaze on Zoe and barked, ¡°Like mother, like daughter! No wonder Marguerite has no shame, she learned from the best ¨C her mother! Get out of here with your daughter now! I don¡¯t ever want to see you again!¡± Zoe¡¯s heart leapt with joy at his words! Leave with Marguerite? She couldn¡¯t wish for more! ¡°Right away, sir, I¡¯ll take Marguerite and go!¡± As Zoe spoke, she clutched Marguerite¡¯s arm tightly, forcefully hurrying her out. Miley was in a bind. She looked at Marguerite, then at Hackett. Forget the future father-inw! Robert can clean up this messter! With that thought, Miley immediately wrapped her arms around Marguerite¡¯s waist, pulling her in the opposite direction, ¡°Back off, you hag! Don¡¯t you touch her!¡± Zoe was strong, and with Ablett¡¯s help, Miley was no match for the two of them. Penelope felt a surge of sympathy for Marguerite and was about to intervene, but Yuna, 08-54 feigning innocence, clutched her arm, and said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t help Marguerite. That¡¯s just how she is! I¡¯ve lived with her for over twenty years, I¡¯m used to it. She¡¯s always bullying me¡­¡± Penelope furrowed her brow, uncertain whether to believe Yuna¡¯s words. As she hesitated, Miley¡¯s voice, filled with desperation, rang out, ¡°Robert! Mr. Winston! Where are you guys? They¡¯re taking Marguerite away! Hurry up-¡± Before she could finish, amanding voice cut through the chaos, ¡°Everybody stop!¡± Simultaneously, the double doors at the entrance swung open from both sides. Frederick and Robert, donning crisp whiteb coats, stood imposingly at the threshold. 212 Chapter 610 The room was thick with tension, and Ablett and Zoe stood frozen in ce, their hands still clenched around Marguerite¡¯s as if they had forgotten to let go. With a confident stride, Frederick approached the Abletts, towering over them, his voice cool butmanding, ¡°Let her go.¡± Startled as if facing an adversary, the Abletts quickly released their grip. Miley immediately straightened Marguerite¡¯s shoulders, inspecting her for injuries, ¡°Are you okay, Marguerite? Are you hurt?¡± During the tussle between Miley and the Abletts, Marguerite had been jostled about so much that she felt as if her bones were about toe apart. Rubbing her sore arms, she offered a rueful smile, ¡°I wasn¡¯t hurt, but I feel like I¡¯m about to fall to pieces.¡± Miley tenderly massaged her arms, then cast a reproachful nce at Frederick, Frederick¡¯s gaze briefly tightened at the sight of the bruise on Marguerite¡¯s wrist, but his look of concern vanished in an instant, returning to his usual icyposure, ¡°The examination room is soundproofed. We didn¡¯t hear you arrive.¡± Marguerite, puzzled, turned to Miley, whispering suspiciously, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why do they dress like that? Are they really going through with a paternity test?¡± Miley chuckled, ¡°Absolutely! You just wait and see. Today¡¯s a day for the history books! Yuna-no, the entire Lockwood family-is going down!¡± Marguerite was still trying to make sense of it all when she saw Hackett storm over to Robert, arm raised as if to strike him, but ultimately, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. His anger was palpable, ¡°Exin yourself! Why did you drag us here? What¡¯s going on?¡± Robert stood a head taller than Hackett, his face mask obscuring his expression, but his eyes were piercingly direct, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? We¡¯re at a paternity testing center.¡± Robert¡¯s response was expected, but it still left Hackett momentarily speechless, ¡°What for? Yuna and I already took the test!¡± Robert¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes, and Frederick stepped closer, tilting his head and shooting Yuna a nce before locking eyes with Hackett again, ¡°Hackett, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll need you to take the test once more.¡± The pressure from Frederick¡¯s presence fueled Hackett¡¯s rage. He had always harbored a grudge against Frederick-for his coldness in both family and 08:54 business matters, never showing the slightest respect for the bond between their families. Furthermore, Frederick¡¯s disregard for his daughter was a p in the face! With that provocative statement, Hackett redirected his anger towards Frederick, ¡°What business is it of yours?¡± Frederick¡¯s voice waszy, almost casual, but his gaze was intense, ¡°Hackett, it concerns who my fianc¨¦e is. How is that not my business?¡± Marguerite¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The paternity test affected who his fianc¨¦e would be? She couldn¡¯t help but feel that she was reading too much into his words-that if the test proved she was the Fitzgerald heiress and not Yuna, he¡¯d be willing to acknowledge her? Startled by her own thoughts, Marguerite shook her head, refusing to harbor false hope and pushed the thought away. But in the corner, Ablett was far from calm. From the start, he had been against Zoe¡¯s scheme to have Yuna rece Marguerite. After all, the Fitzgeralds weren¡¯t fools, and perpetuating the lie would only reveal more ws. It looked like someone must have uncovered solid evidence, prompting this new demand for a paternity test. Damn it all! He cursed Zoe¡¯s stubbornness, and now, to save his own skin, he had to concoct more lies to cover their tracks. But what was with Zoe? She had been so fired up before, so why was she suddenly silent on the matter of Hackett and Yuna taking the test? Had the shock rendered her speechless? Ablett couldn¡¯t afford to ponder any longer. He stepped forward, his voice quivering, betraying hisck of confidence, ¡°Mr. Winston, Mr. Fitzgerald, Yuna has already taken a paternity test with Mr. Fitzgerald. Why must we do it again?¡± Robert¡¯s coldugh cut through the tension as he countered, ¡°Why do you think we need to do it again?¡± Chapter 611 Ablett felt his heart hammering in his throat, every fiber of his being quivered with unease. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on either¡­¡± Beside him, Penelope was equally perplexed. She knew her son had never epted Yunal and had been digging into the matter for some time. But everything seemed fine until today, when, out of the blue, he announced he wanted a paternity test redo. Had Robert stumbled upon something? Penelope gently prodded, following Ablett¡¯s lead, ¡°Robert, their skepticism is understandable. This sudden move of yours has us all baffled. Retaking a DNA test is no big deal, but why don¡¯t you share your reasons? You¡¯ve got to convince them, right?¡± Her words soothed Robert¡¯s agitated state. Without further ado, he pulled out two photographs from his wallet and handed them to Penelope. ¡°These two pictures, one is of Laverne, that is, Marguerite¡¯s grandmother, holding her. The other one is Nina¡¯s baby photo. Mom, take a good look and tell me what simrities you see.¡± Ablett choked up for a moment. Laverne, that old witch, had taken a picture with Marguerite? But what was so strange about that? Marguerite and Yuna looked exactly alike anyway! Ablett, not quite reassured, leaned in to scrutinize the photos, but still saw nothing out of the ordinary. However, as a mother, Penelope noticed something immediately! Her hands shook as she held the photos, and turning to Marguerite, her shock was tinged with a mix of joy and relief, ¡°This nket, I made it with my own hands! Marguerite, have you been keeping this nket with you since you were little?¡± Marguerite, confused, stepped forward and took a while to remember something about the nket, ¡°Penelope, I recall grandma mentioning that I loved sleeping with a nket as a child. She said that when I grew up, she¡¯d refurbish it for my dowry. But once I got older, grandma stored it away, and I¡¯m not sure if this is the same one.¡± Penelope was on the verge of tears, but Zoe reacted quickly, rushing to exin, ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding! You¡¯ve all got it wrong! The nket isn¡¯t Marguerite¡¯s, it¡¯s Yuna¡¯s!¡± Miley, fired up, stood defiantly, ¡°You¡¯re lying! My parents told me that Marguerite has been using this nket since she was a baby!¡± Zoe, well-prepared, continued her exnation, Marguerite did use this nket, that¡¯s true. 08:55 But the fact is, when Ablett brought Yuna home, the nket she came with was too thin, so I swapped it. The pale yellow one, that went to Marguerite!¡± Ablett caught on, feigning sudden realization and immediately said, ¡°Mr. Winston, Mr. Fitzgerald, is this nket the reason for the paternity test redo? I¡¯m puzzled! A nket doesn¡¯t prove anything! Whomever uses it, it doesn¡¯t change its value, nor does it hold any special significance! Are you really going to crush Yuna¡¯s dignity underfoot over such a trivial matter?¡± Robert and Frederick exchanged nces. Yuna¡¯s dignity meant nothing to them. But with Ablett¡¯s exnation, it seemed indeed, relying on a nket to prove Marguerite¡¯s identity was far from convincing. Ablett, noticing their reactions, stirred the pot once more. ¡°Besides, Mr. Fitzgerald, DNA tests are nationally registered. It was your father himself who retrieved the report. You may not trust me, but do you¡­ distrust your own father?¡± Hackett, already fuming, lost hisposure with Ablett¡¯s goading and barked, ¡°Robert, I think you¡¯re out of your mind! The DNA test is clear as day, showing Yuna is my daughter! I¡¯ve epted her, what more do you want? This is unnecessary! As her brother, you¡¯re not only hurting your sister¡¯s feelings, but you¡¯re also breaking your mother¡¯s and mine!¡± Seeing Robert possibly losing ground, Frederick remained calm throughout. He locked eyes with Ablett and simply went with the flow, ¡°Apologies, Hackett, this was an oversight on Robert¡¯s and my part, indeed a nket can¡¯t prove anything.¡± His words were conciliatory, but his demeanor remained unyielding, his eyes even twinkled with amusement. Hackett was incensed, ¡°Cut to the chase! Don¡¯t beat around the bush with me!¡± Frederick didn¡¯t bother with subterfuge and said, ¡°If you¡¯re so certain Yuna is your daughter, Hackett, what¡¯s the harm in one more test?¡± Chapter 612 Hackett was left utterly speechless, a sharp pang in his chest making him stagger, almost unable to stand on his own two feet. Miley inwardly cheered for Frederick, thinking he was the real deal. Everyone had been yed by the Lockwoods, but he kept his head clear! He was just so darn cool and. awesome! Her excitement cranked up the volume as she chimed in, ¡°Exactly! You¡¯ve all been beating around the bush, but isn¡¯t it just because you don¡¯t want to take a paternity test? What are you so afraid of? What are you trying to hide?¡± At that moment, Yuna, who had been unable to get a word in, couldn¡¯t take it anymore! She was like an ant on a hot griddle, ncing helplessly at the silent Zoe and then at Hackett, who had no say in front of Robert and Frederick. She knew all too well that Zoe was useless, and Hackett, who was under his wife¡¯s thumb, was even less reliable. So, it seemed she had to take matters into her own hands with Penelope. With a n brewing, she immediately grabbed Penelope¡¯s hand and spoke in a tone of utter misery, ¡°Mom, please talk some sense into him. The way he¡¯s humiliating me, I might as well just drop dead right now! Or maybe you should just consider Marguerite your daughter and I¡¯ll step aside, how about that? I¡¯ve known hard times since I was a kid, and I won¡¯tin about going back to that. Just knowing you and dad are my kin is enough for me. The Fitzgerald heiress title is too heavy, too heavy for me to bear. Let me go back to the countryside¡­¡± Yuna burst into tears as she spoke. Hackett, watching her act, was torn between anger and heartache, scolding her, ¡°Why would you say such things? The Fitzgerald heiress is you, and you alone!¡± Yuna sniffled but didn¡¯t respond to Hackett, instead turning her pitiful gaze toward Penelope. She knew her tactic of a strategic retreat worked on Hackett but wasn¡¯t sure about Penelope. So, all her hopes were pinned on Penelope. Penelope, the person in question, seemed torn, her expressionplex. Yuna thought she had swayed Penelope and just waited for her to put an end to all this. But things didn¡¯t turn out as she wished. 08:55 Penelope gently squeezed Yuna¡¯s hand in constion and looked at Robert, her tone soft and kind, ¡°Yuna, this farce has gone on long enough. It¡¯s been painful for me to watch your and your brother at odds. Since he insists, you should just prove it to him, and perhaps find some peace afterward.¡± Penelope had her own motives, of course. Before the first paternity test results came out, the whole family believed her daughter was Marguerite. She was deeply disappointed but had no choice but to ept the oue. However, Robert¡¯s persistent investigations had indeed surprised her. So, why not go for another paternity test? If Marguerite truly was her daughter, it would be a cause for celebration; if not, things would remain as they were. Either way, it seemed like a win-win situation. Yuna was shocked to her core! Prove it to him? How could she? She wasn¡¯t a Fitzgerald by birth, so what evidence could she possibly provide? Yuna felt as though she had reached a dead end. 1 And just as Robert was about to lead everyone to the testing room, Frederick cut through the crowd and pushed Marguerite in front of Hackett with a simple but emphatic deration, ¡°Not just that, Hackett and Marguerite, they need to be tested as well.¡± 08:55 Chapter 613 Since Marguerite was already there, they decided to go ahead with the paternity test. For the past three years, he had had his fair share of dealings with the cunning Lockwood family. Even Frederick, clever as he was, had been duped by them more than a dozen times! So instead of just proving that Yuna wasn¡¯t the Fitzgerald heiress, it made more sense to confirm Marguerite¡¯s identity as well, to make things crystal clear. The Ablett couple was beside themselves with worry. Zoe immediately told Ablett to find a way to get in touch with someone at the hospital, to see if there was a way out of this mess. But Robert knew what Frederick was trying to do. Before Ablett could even pull out his phone, Robert¡¯s calm butmanding voice filled the room, ¡°I want to witness the blood being drawn this time, and I will personally wait for the test results.¡± 1 As if on cue, a female doctor with a transparent basket stepped out of theb, ¡°Is everyone here? Pleasee in. Per Mr. Winston¡¯s orders, everyone must surrender their cell phones before entering. Kindly ce your phones in this basket in an orderly fashion.¡± This statement left Ablett and Yuna dumbfounded. Usually, during a paternity test, the subjects just had their blood drawn at a window and waited. Nobody knew what happened inside theb. Ablett and Zoe had exploited this fact to manipte previous paternity tests. But now, everyone had to enter theb, where every move the doctor made would be under the watchful eyes of Frederick and Robert. Even if they could manage to call Hammond, it wouldn¡¯t make any difference now. They were doomed! Hackett was furious, nearly standing up to point an using finger at Robert, ¡°You¡¯ll be apologizing to your sister soon enough!¡± Despite his outburst, when he saw Penelope cing her phone in the basket and entering theb, he had no choice but to follow his wife¡¯s lead. When Frederick had initially brought Marguerite forward, his hand rested on her shoulder, and it remained there, warm and reassuring. Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but nce up at him. Meeting his intense gaze, a surge of urgency rose within her. She was desperate to ask why he was so eager to help prove her identity. But deep down, she didn¡¯t have the courage to voice the question. She feared that without an answer, disappointment would inevitably follow. Life was hard enough without the added weight of letdowns. 08:53 Soon, they all entered theb and donned protective gear, scattering throughout the spacious room. The doctor took out two syringes, turned to Marguerite and Yuna, and asked, ¡°I¡¯m the only one here, so we can¡¯t proceed with both at the same time. Who will have their blood drawn first?¡± Yuna seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move or speak. It didn¡¯t matter who went first anymore. No matter whose blood was drawn, the oue spelled doom for her. Seeing Yuna¡¯s reluctance, Marguerite stepped forward. The results could only be good for her, so the order didn¡¯t matter to her. But before she could speak, Robert¡¯s arm blocked her path, ¡°Yuna first.¡± He wasn¡¯t about to give the Lockwoods any chance to prepare. ¨C Better to settle the matter swiftly better an end with terror than terror without end. Yuna¡¯s face was the very picture of misery. She seethed with silent rage but was powerless to resist. With death inevitable either way, she had no choice but to ept her fate. Hackett, equally reluctant, rolled up his sleeve with a scowl so dark it seemed to swallow the light, especially when he looked at Robert, his eyes aze with barely suppressed fury. Robert, however, seemed unaffected by the animosity, a picture of righteousness as he watched the proceedings with detached resolve. The doctor quickly drew blood from both Hackett and Yuna, then ced the samples on slides under a microscope, studying them before entering data into aputer. Perhaps because of the imposing presence of Robert and Frederick, the process was expedited. Within ten minutes of the blood being drawn, the doctor had the results ready. 08:53 Chapter 614 ¡°The paper report would take forever to format, and I can see you¡¯re all on edge. So, I¡¯ll just project the data on the screen. Take a look,¡± he said, gesturing toward therge LED disy that lit up with an array of colorful graphics and figures. Everyone turned to look, their eyes darting across the screen, trying to make sense of the information overload. Ablett, who already knew the oue, didn¡¯t even bother to nce up. Yuna sat deted in a corner, silent and still, like a punctured balloon, waiting for the inevitable. Penelope, after staring at the screen for what felt like an eternity, turned to the doctor and asked impatiently, ¡°Doc, it¡¯s all just numbers and jargon. Can you just tell us straight-is Yuna my daughter or not?¡± The doctor cleared his throat and said, ¡°I¡¯ve extracted 23 pairs of chromosomes from their blood samples. There¡¯s a 99.99% match at every gic marker. There¡¯s no doubt about it-your husband and this youngdy are biologically rted.¡± The room fell silent as the doctor¡¯s words dropped like a bombshell. Ablett and Yuna both stood up, their faces a picture of disbelief. How could Yuna possibly be Hackett¡¯s daughter? Ablett knew all too well who Hackett¡¯s daughter was-it was Marguerite, the infant he had brought home all those years ago! Their eyes turned to Zoe, who let out a sigh of relief as if a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders. In that moment, Ablett had realized something. He clenched his fists, a surge coursing through him. Zoe, that bitch, had cheated on him! of rage Meanwhile, Marguerite had not held much hope, so her disappointment wasn¡¯t as profound. Hackett, red with fury, pointed a finger at Robert and bellowed, ¡°Are you happy now? Go and apologize to Yuna! With evidence this solid, do Marguerite and I even need to test? Forget it! This is an absolute circus! You and I will settle thister!¡± Robert and Frederick were equally stunned. Unable to digest the news, Frederick stormed out of theb to the end of the hallway, lighting up a cigarette to calm his nerves. Robert, however, was not ready to ept the due. He stepped forward, his voiceced with skepticism. ¡°Doc, you do realize if this was tampered with, the consequences for you would be severe, right?¡± The doctor, known for her short temper, had already had a rough day with Robert and Frederick barging into theb, shooing everyone out until only she was left. She had 08-13 worked tirelessly for them, thankless as it was, and now faced threats. Irritated as she was, she knew better than to cross the Fitzgeralds. With a gloomy face, she replied, ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, you watched me draw the blood. You saw me process the data. I was alone in theb, didn¡¯t take calls, didn¡¯t wear headphones-no contact with the outside world. The final results? They¡¯re straight from the machine. I haven¡¯t even had time to print out the report, let alone tamper with it. So, what¡¯s left not to trust?¡± Yuna, finally catching on to the gravity of the situation, ignored Ablett¡¯s seething rage and leaped into Hackett¡¯s arms, her face alight with joy. ¡°Dad! You¡¯re my dad, my real dad! Oh, I¡¯m so happy! No! I¡¯m not Yuna anymore, from now on, I¡¯m your Nina! Dad! I¡¯m Nina!¡± Hackett, his face softening with paternal love, hugged her tightly, hisughter filled with contentment. ¡°Why are you so surprised? You¡¯ve always been my daughter!¡± Yuna nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes! I¡¯m your daughter! Past, present, and future, I carry your blood in my veins! I¡¯m so overjoyed!¡± So it turned out she was not the daughter of some casino owner, nor was she a nobody from the countryside. She was the legitimate heiress of the illustrious Fitzgerald family! She was the heiress! And all thanks to her mother, Zoe, who hadid out this path for her. Chapter 615 As Yuna¡¯sughter filled the air, Ablett¡¯s fury surged like a wildfire unchecked. Powerless tosh out at Hackett, the man who truly deserved his wrath, Ablett clung to thest vestiges of hope in his heart. Without a word, he grabbed Zoe¡¯ by the arm, dragging her out with a mixture of force and urgency. They sped off, the car racing towards the casino like a bullet from a gun. L The casino, still closed to the public, was eerily quiet, its poker tables standing in orderly rows beneath dim lighting. Ablett pushed Zoe inside with a callous shove. Zoe stumbled and fell hard onto the floor. Pain shot through her, and she had never seen Ablett this enraged. Burning with anger herself, she shouted, ¡°Coward! If you¡¯re sick, go pop some pills! Why take it out on me? What, you gonna hit a woman now?¡± Ablett¡¯s voice rose to a shout. ¡°Hit you? I¡¯m gonna do more than that, I might as well kill you! Oh, Zoe, you think you¡¯re so clever, betraying me and act as if nothing happened?¡± Zoe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a nervous tremor took her. Since the moment the test results came back at the hospital, she had anticipated this confrontation, but she hadn¡¯t expected it toe so swiftly. She had thought Ablett too meek to every a hand on her. But as they say, even a cornered dog will leap over a wall in desperation, let alone a man who learns he¡¯s been wearing the cuckold¡¯s horns-for a staggering twenty-five years! Quaking, Ablett strode forward, crouched before Zoe, and gripped her throat, exerting a silent pressure, ¡°Talk! What the hell happened?¡±¡± Gasping and coughing, Zoe managed, ¡°How can I talk when you¡¯re choking me? Let go!¡± Ablett, eyes zing, released his hold. Zoe sucked in desperate breaths, then cautiously eyed Ablett¡¯s face. ¡°Listen to me, it was an ident¡­¡± ¡°Cut the crap! I want the truth! The truth!¡± Ablett exploded. Another shiver ran through Zoe. She swallowed hard, mustering the courage to reveal the secret she had harbored for twenty-five years. ¡°On the night of Hackett and Penelope¡¯s fifth wedding anniversary, he came home drunk. I was following orders, making him a honey-lemon tea to sober him up. But you know, I bear some resemnce to Pen¨¦lope. The room was dark, and when I brought him the tea, he mistook me for her. Then¡­ it happened¡­ I resisted, I told him he was mistaken, but Hackett was too drunk, too strong, I couldn¡¯t stop him!¡± ¡°Just that one time?¡± Ablett pressed. 08.25 Zoe hesitated, biting her lip, her eyes darting before she shook her head frantically. ¡°Yes! Just that once! And I didn¡¯t even know Yuna was his child! It only urred to me today when they mentioned the paternity test. I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you, truly!¡± Zoe painted herself as the victim, but the reality was different. After that night, having tasted the forbidden, she pretended Penelope several times to seduce Hackett. Unsure whose child she was carrying, Zoe had kept silent about the affair from Ablett. Hearing her confession, Ablett felt like his lungs were about to burst from rage. The daughter he had raised was not his own flesh and blood. His anger reached a fever pitch, and he stormed toward the door. Zoe sprang up, blocking his path. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°To settle the score with Hackett!¡± ¡°No! You can¡¯t confront him! He doesn¡¯t know the truth. What about Yuna? We¡¯d all be ruined!¡± Ablett¡¯s face turned crimson with rage. Thinking of how this woman and her daughter had treated him over the years fueled his hatred. Before him stood the woman who had betrayed him for twenty-five years, repeatedly calling him a coward, dragging him into this abyss. And he had never fought back, instead loyally cleaning up her messes He finally saw how vicious she was. All the pent-up humiliation erupted. Unable to contain himself, he pped her hard across the face. Zoe¡¯s cheek burned with the sting, and before she could react, Ablett¡¯s fists and feet descended upon her like a merciless storm. Chapter 616 Dusk settled in, draping the city in a veil of twilight as the streetlights flickered to life. Nestled in a window seat at the Bluebell Bistro, Marguerite and Miley had a panoramic view of the city¡¯s glittering nightlife. Opposite them sat Frederick and Robert, two dashing figures whose eyes were lowered as if the array of sulent dishes before them had lost all vor. The recent paternity test results had left Frederick and Robert in utter disbelief. Meanwhile, Yuna, upon learning her true heritage, could barely contain her tion. She carried the esteemed Fitzgerald bloodline, she was the real heiress of the Fitzgerald n. No longer fearing her true identity would be uncovered, she was emboldened and convinced that she and Frederick were a match made in heaven, a perfect pairing of equals./ With brimming confidence, she turned to Hackett and Penelope-not so subtly addressing Frederick, ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯ve redone the paternity test as Robert suggested. I am truly your daughter. So, shouldn¡¯t we start nning my and Frederick¡¯s engagement?¡± She was intent on leveraging the influence of the Fitzgerald elders to corner Frederick. But before her parents could respond, Frederick, with Marguerite in tow, had already made a swift exit under the watchful eyes of the crowd, not even deigning to acknowledge the situation. And soon, the group of four found themselves at the Bluebell Bistro. Marguerite, propping her chin in her hands, gazed at Frederick with eyes as deep and stirring as ake, her confusion apparent. Miley leaned in and whispered to Marguerite, ¡°You know, staring at him like that¡­ it¡¯s a bi obvious, don¡¯t you think?¡± Snapping back to reality, Marguerite turned to Miley, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯m just¡­ confused.¡± ¡°Confused by what?¡± Marguerite couldn¡¯t help but steal another nce at Frederick before confiding in a low voice, ¡°I get why Robert¡¯s upset, but why is Frederick looking like he¡¯s lost his best friend?¡± Miley shrugged, nonchntly saying, ¡°What else can it be? It must be because Frederick confirmed Yuna¡¯s identity, which pretty much seals the deal on their arranged engagement. He probably doesn¡¯t want to marry her, right? I bet he¡¯s trying to figure a way out of it.¡± Miley¡¯s words were barely a whisper in Marguerite¡¯s ear, but as she finished, they saw Frederick lifting his gaze, his eyes as deep and inscrutable as an ancient well. He casually tapped on the table near Robert, his voice icy and expressionless, ¡°Yourdy sure has a lot to say.¡± Miley stiffened, a chill running down her spine, and offered a nervous chuckle, ¡°Mr. Winston, you must have ears like a hawk! How did you even hear me? But I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? You don¡¯t want to marry Yuna?¡± Frederick set aside his silverware and crossed his arms, his gaze leisurely fixed on Marguerite as if trying to read her expression. Feeling scrutinized, Marguerite felt a chill-run down her spine. Thinking about Frederick¡¯s supposed engagement to Yuna and his recent attentiveness towards her, she felt a tightness in her chest. He always seemed to y hot and cold, giving her a p only to follow it with a sweet treat. Her voice dripped with sarcasm, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to get married on the same day as m¨¦? Now you don¡¯t want to marry her? Just as I thought, a man¡¯s word is as good as sand!¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze remained calm andposed as he countered, ¡°Marguerite, when did I ever personally say I wanted to have a wedding on the same day as you?¡± Chapter 617 Frederick hadn¡¯t once brought up the idea of getting married on the same day as Marguerite, let alone marrying Yuna. ¡°If memory serves, it¡¯s you who had been saying that,¡± Frederick remarked, and Marguerite was momentarily bbergasted, Then it struck her, as she reyed the myriad of interactions with him over the past few days. He really hadn¡¯t mentioned it, not once. But how had the rumor of his engagement to Yuna reached her ears? It took her a moment, but then she pinpointed the source, Maurice. He¡¯d been revealing ¡°information¡± to her, even deliberately leaking the false news of Frederick¡¯s concurrent wedding ns. But after figuring out this, Marguerite was more puzzled than ever. Her face a picture of urgency, she pressed, ¡°Even if it was all in my head, why didn¡¯t you correct me when I brought it up?¡± Frederick chuckled, ¡°And what would that prove, exactly?¡± Marguerite was momentarily stumped, words failing her. What did she want to prove? That Frederick had no intention of marrying Yuna? Or that he still harbored some soft spot for her? Marguerite had always been greedy when it came to him. She wanted to prove both, yet as the words reached her lips, she was filled with hesitation, leaving her mute. Frederick¡¯s lips curled into a half-smile, his gaze fixed intently on her, a yful triumph twinkling in his eyes. He seemed to revel in her look of distress, as if it offered some outlet for the resentment he felt over her past betrayal. Miley, watching the verbal spar turn into an awkward silence, nced between Marguerite and Frederick. Considering herself a guru in matters of the heart, she sensed an opportunity and, not one to miss a beat, decided to y cupid. She pulled out her phone and shot a covert text to Robert sitting across the table: [We can¡¯t change Yuna¡¯s situation, but we shouldn¡¯t just give up. Let¡¯s stop their engagement.] Robert nced at his screen, his brow furrowing as he shot a puzzled look Miley¡¯s way. [What¡¯s your angle now?] Miley¡¯s fingers danced across the keyboard, her face beaming with mischief. [First off, we 11:30 get Mr. Winston sloshed, maybe even cozy in bed. That should help him confront his true feelings, right? I mean, he and Marguerite haven¡¯t ever hit the hay, have they?] Robert massaged his forehead in exasperation. [Getting Frederick drunk might be easier said than done. Might as well slip him a pill.] Miley shot back a look of disbelief. [Where am I supposed to get a pill at this hour? Just back me up, will ya? I refuse to believe the two of us can¡¯t outdrink him!] After furiously typing her message, Miley flipped her phone face down with a flourish and gestured boldly to the waiter, ¡°Excuse me! Can we have a stack of beers ¨C no, make that a dozen beers and a dozen shots of tequ!¡± Marguerite, utterly baffled, turned to Miley and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the big idea?¡± Miley quickly deflected, pointing at Robert and dering, ¡°He¡¯s upset, needs to drown his sorrows!¡± The mere thought of tequ made Robert wince, but seeing Miley¡¯s enthusiastic antics and her yful nudges, he yed along, ¡°Er, yeah¡­ I¡¯m feeling a little blue¡­¡± The waiter approached, offering a word of caution with a polite tone, ¡°Ma¡¯am, tequ is quite strong, high-proof. We rmend enjoying it with a soft drink.¡± Miley dismissed the suggestion with a grandiose wave of her hand, oozing confidence, ¡°No chaser, we¡¯ll take it straight!¡± Chapter 618 Marguerite¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she blurted out, ¡°Are you out of your mind? Tequ with no soft drink, are you trying to get smashed?¡± ¡°What soft drink? Tequ may be strong, but it¡¯s pretty much on par with vodka, I¡¯ve never seen any of you dilute vodka with mixers, always making a fuss over nothing Miley quickly instructed the waitress, ¡°Bring a dozen beers and a dozen shots of tequ, please, and hurry it up.¡± The waitress swallowed hard in shock. In all her years of service, she had never seen anyone drink like this. Mixing beer with liquor like that, they wouldn¡¯t even know what hit them when they got drunk! But the customer is always right, and since the deity had spoken, she had no reason to refuse. She swiftly brought the drinks as Miley had requested, Robert was already feeling a bit down because of the paternity test, but seeing the table full of drinks only sank his spirits further. With Miley¡¯s setup, he feared that before Frederick could get drunk, he might be the first to pass out! But no matter, he steeled himself for what was toe. He thought to himself as he opened a beer to hand to Frederick, nning to get Frederick drunk gradually, But Miley was quicker, boldly cing a bottle of tequ in front of Frederick. ¡°Mr. Winston, sessful folks like you stick to liquor, right? Leave the beer to usdies, she said with a charming smile, well-versed in the art of socializing. Before attempting to persuade him to drink, she made sure to elevate Frederick¡¯s status. Unfortunately, Miley didn¡¯t know Frederick well enough to see that he wouldn¡¯t fall for her approach. Frederick elegantly forked a piece of steak into his mouth without even lifting an eyelid, his tone indifferent, ¡°The one who¡¯s upset is him, not me.¡± Frederick¡¯s reaction caught Miley off guard, and her brain froze for a second. However, she was quick to react and slid the bottle of tequ towards Marguerite instead. ¡°If Mr. Winston doesn¡¯t drink, Marguerite will join us instead.¡± Frederick¡¯s hand, lightly gripping his cutlery, paused for a moment as he lifted his eyelids and looked piercingly at a distressed Marguerite, Marguerite was at her wit¡¯s end, ¡°You know I can¡¯t hold my liquor, and you expect to carry me home?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t even live on the same area, why should I carry you? Besides, you live with Mr. Winston, so it¡¯s not my responsibility anyway!¡± Marguerite was speechless at her words. She didn¡¯t want to drink at all, but her best friend was already gearing up for drinking games, making Marguerite want to flee even more. She seldom socialized and waspletely clueless about drinking games. ying these games, she knew she was bound to lose! But Miley¡¯s target wasn¡¯t really Marguerite. She nned to get Marguerite a bit tipsy first, then somehow draw Frederick into the game. So, she proposed the simplest game of rock-paper-scissors. Miley felt she was being considerate enough, but to her dismay, Marguerite didn¡¯t catch a break, losing three straight rounds in a most spectacr fashion. ¡°Whoa, looks like you¡¯ve lost, eh?¡± Miley cackled, pouring three shots of tequ with a sense of treacherous glee, ¡°Marguerite, bottoms up!¡± Marguerite, a good sport, downed the three shots of tequ in one go. The taste was sour and astringent, and her belly felt aze after each swallow. Her face turned beet red immediately after finishing. But Miley had no intention of letting her off the hook. Without giving her a moment to recover, she started a new round of games. Unfortunately, Marguerite lost again. The three shots of tequ seemed like water from hell itself. Just looking at them made her skin crawl, let alone drink them. With her little red face drooping, she asked, ¡°Can¡¯t we skip the drink? Can I substitute tea for liquor?¡± Miley shook her head mercilessly, teasingly saying, ¡°Can¡¯t handle it? Then ask for help from the guys~¡± 11-57 Chapter 619 The guys? She couldn¡¯t possibly expect Robert to drink on her behalf, could she? It was obviously meant for Frederick! Marguerite eyed Frederick across from her, who had alreadyid down his knife and fork. His gaze was fixed unblinkingly on her, a silent challenge in the depths of his eyes. She wasn¡¯t sure how to broach the topic, but Frederick¡¯s cool and nonchnt voice pre-empted her attempt to break the silence, addressing Robert instead. ¡°Yourdy¡¯s got a mind full of tricks; she needs to be set straight.¡± Miley chuckled mischievously and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°So, Mr. Winston, are you going to take one for the team and drink for Marguerite?¡± His sly look fell upon Marguerite, his posture exuding an air of superiority, ¡°Let her ask me herself.¡± Post-drinks, Marguerite¡¯s eyes were zed with a slight buzz, but her mind was still clear. What right did she have to ask Frederick to drink for her? Even if she did ask, rejection was the most likely oue without a second thought. Marguerite was well aware of this, so to avoid the sting of refusal, she chose not to ask at all. Without a word, her arm trembling slightly, she reached for the ss, ready to down the liquid fire herself. But Frederick furrowed his brow, his long arm reaching out, utterly disregarding his previous stance of aloofness, and snatched the ss from Marguerite¡¯s hand to drain it in one gulp. The remaining two sses were emptied just as swiftly. Marguerite was taken aback, and even Miley and Robert showed faint signs of surprise. Mr. Winston was only looking for a gesture from Marguerite, but she was as clueless as theye,pletely oblivious. They were practically at their wits¡¯ end with frustration! Miley was the first to recover, showering Frederick with praise, ¡°Mr. Winston, what a tolerance for liquor! I always said you were a chivalrous man-how could you leave Marguerite in the lurch, right?¡± Frederick certainly could hold his liquor, downing three shots without batting an eye, as smoothly as if it were water. 11:18 Chapter Marguerite, her eyes downcast, remained silent as a sullen gourd. Miley nudged her with an elbow before turning to remind her, ¡°Marguerite, don¡¯t you think you owe someone a word of thanks?¡± Marguerite, still tipsy from the drinks, didn¡¯t catch Miley¡¯s hint and thought she was being asked why she hadn¡¯t sought Frederick¡¯s help. So, in a non-sequitur response, she said, ¡°Even if I asked, he wouldn¡¯t drink for me. Why bother?¡± Before Miley could make sense of her reply, Frederick¡¯s retort reached their ears, ¡°Did you ask me?¡± Marguerite repeated, ¡°Even if I asked you, you wouldn¡¯t have drunk for me, right?¡± ¡°So thosest three drinks, were they for the dogs?¡± In an instant, Marguerite felt as if a boulder was lodged in her throat, heavy and suffocating, leaving her speechless. Almost bursting intoughter at the sight, Miley¡¯s face was a picture of excitement as she quickly shared an amused nce with Robert. He was rattled, clearly rattled! Nothing seemed to faze Frederick quite like this, but Marguerite had be his exception! With his concern so tantly obvious, Miley was certain Marguerite had to notice it. Miley surreptitiously squeezed Marguerite¡¯s hand, signaling her to stay quiet, then turned to Frederick with a negotiating tone, ¡°Mr. Winston, since you¡¯ve already stepped in for Marguerite, you¡¯re part of the game now. It wouldn¡¯t be fair for Robert and me to gang up on her. How about this, Marguerite and I will y a game, and if we lose, you guys What do you say?¡± drink. 11:18 Chapter 620 ¡°What kind of rule is this?¡± Marguerite was honestly baffled by Miley¡¯s antics. But since it didn¡¯t involve her chugging beer, she could only pin her hopes on Frederick. She gazed at him eagerly, only to find his expression unchanged from moments ago. It was as if he was waiting for her to say something. Even if Marguerite was slow on the uptake, she had to realize where Frederick¡¯s earlier anger stemmed from. Swallowing hard, she ventured, ¡°Is that okay?¡± Frederick¡¯s gaze was unwavering. So she knew how to ask favors? Frederick finally cracked a satisfied smile. He slid the tequ from Marguerite¡¯s side to his own, sinctly stating, ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± Marguerite blinked, puzzled. When did her words be so effective? Could it be that whatever she said, this man wouldply? Her mind was in a fog, struggling to make sense of it all, when Miley grabbed her to continue the game. She didn¡¯t want Frederick to drink too much, so she focused all her attention on the game. But it seemed she had no luck in game. Still a best-of-three, yet she lost every single round. Watching Frederick down one drink after another, Miley was thrilled but simultaneously felt a pang of guilt. She tried to lose a few rounds, but Marguerite just couldn¡¯t seize the opportunities. Finally, after Frederick downed another trio of shots, he asked with a slightly pained expression, ¡°Marguerite, how can you not get the hang of rock-paper-scissors?¡± His chiseled features were now tinged with a faint blush. Though he appeared sober, Marguerite knew he was slightly buzzed. Robert caught Frederick¡¯s cool, exasperated look and recalled that tonight¡¯s antics were all about setting him up with Marguerite. He couldn¡¯t let them fall out at such a crucial juncture. So, naturally, Robert stepped in to defuse the situation, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not Marguerite¡¯s fault. She¡¯s bright, just unlucky to y against Miley. You have no idea; Miley is the undefeated champ at the bar. Not in terms of drinking, but in never losing a game. Even in something as simple as rock-paper-scissors, I¡¯ve lost to her more times than I can count.¡± Marguerite knew Robert was trying to smooth things over, but she felt he was overthinking it. Frederick¡¯s words were a bit sharp, but she wasn¡¯t upset. After all, her notorious gaming skills had him drinking nonstop; anyone would¡¯ve made a Full of self-reproach, Marguerite wanted to give him a chance to rest, so she excused herself to the restroom under a pretense. She sshed water on her face, having metabolized the alcohol she had drunk earlier by focusing so intently on the game. Now sober, she nned to linger in the restroom to give Frederick a longer break. However, as soon as she turned around, she saw Miley leaning against the wall with a grin. Marguerite jumped, ¡°Do you always move so silently?¡± Miley wasn¡¯t in the mood for beating around the bush. Seizing the moment, she earnestly advised Marguerite, ¡°You saw it, Marguerite. The first time Mr. Winston drank tonight, he wanted you to ask him to, and even when you didn¡¯t, he drank for you. You must feel how much he cares! I¡¯ve already told you clearly before. It¡¯s time for you to make a move. Dragging this out is pointless! Besides, I can only help you so much! Whether you can seize the opportunity tonight is entirely up to you!¡± 11:53