Bride Behind The Mask

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 plan?”

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 become his wife in name first.

What the hell was this woman playing at?

Marguerite looked at him blankly, 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 planned it well, becoming my wife for three months. Thinking you’ll get a cut of my wealth once we divorce? Dream on!”

Wealth?

Rich–folks 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 man laughed, his slightly upturned mouth revealing his white teeth, “I’ve seen plenty of gold– diggers, but you’re the first to be so calculating.”

Marguerite blushed furiously at his insult and was momentarily speechless.

To save her grandma, she’d become 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 marriage laws 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 eyelash, 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 can come 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–to–ceiling 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 relatives, 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 necklace was missing!

Marguerite thought about all the places she’d been today. It seemed that the necklace had been missing since she left Frederick’s room.

Could the necklace be in his room?

She’d been wearing this necklace for twenty–two years, never taking it off.

The necklace 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 necklace 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 bedside lamp 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 explain 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 balance 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 planning to do?

Marguerite was in a complete state of panic, “What…what are you doing?” she asked.

Frederick held her tightly, his eyes were flashing with anger, “That’s what I should be asking you, isn’t it?”

“Why did you come to my room in the middle of the night, were you trying to seduce me?”

“No, not at all…” Marguerite rushed to explain, her face flushed with panic, “…I think I left something here, a necklace.”

“What necklace?”

The atmosphere was filled with ambiguity and tension. Marguerite bit her lower lip, her big eyes staring straight at him.