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 glare 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 nonchalant, “What’s it to her?”

Powell heaved a deep sigh and threw a last glance 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 fiancée, 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 explain?”

Marguerite instinctively shrank back, putting some distance between them. “Explain what?”

“Why were you with Frederick?”

“It was a coincidence. My car crashed into his.copy right hot novel pub