Bride Behind the Mask novel Chapter 212

Jocelyn retracted her gaze. She wasn't mad at Marguerite.

Frederick, noticing the bruises on Jocelyn, his already somber face darkened even more, "What happened?"

Jocelyn stood up, glancing at Marguerite out of the corner of her eye as she fabricated a tale, "I fell down the stairs by accident. Marguerite happened to be nearby and I had her get me some medication."

Frederick clearly held doubts about her story, his gaze turned 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, "Y...yes."

"Why did you leave the house and come 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 chain-smoke.

Jocelyn warned him, "Frederick, Marguerite is pregnant, put out the cigarette."

Frederick paused, glanced at Marguerite's belly and walked over to the window, opening it.

Jocelyn's gaze on Marguerite was apologetic, and Marguerite quickly shook her head, whispering, "It's okay, ma'am, let him smoke by the window. I won't smell it."

The child in her belly wasn't his, he didn't owe her any compromises.

Marguerite looked at Jocelyn, and Jocelyn looked at Frederick. The backs of the mother-son duo were within Marguerite's sight, which filled her with melancholy and sympathy.

Jocelyn had her own sorrows that she couldn't express. Despite having a son who could support her, she silently endured everything.

She was not only striving to balance the rigid relationship between Powell and Frederick but also shielded Frederick from most of the family turmoil.

Everything she did was to ensure Frederick could stand firm within the Winston family.

But all this seemingly steady life was shattered by the child Marguerite's carrying.