Bride behind the mask novel (Marguerite)
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, replaceing 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 to come 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 getting late. 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 in command 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 to come 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 plan 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, laying 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 yet laden with meaning, "I've heard rumors from the factory... that you've been telling people... you're my ex-wife?"