Bride Behind the Mask novel Chapter 652

"An illegitimate child?"

Yuna was shocked, and in the kitchen, Penelope was utterly speechless.

This revelation hit her like a bolt of lightning, mercilessly crashing down on her. Marguerite was her daughter! Indeed, Marguerite was her biological daughter! No wonder every time she was with Marguerite, that innate maternal affection overflowed uncontrollably. It was that unbreakable bond between mother and daughter!

Yet, at the same time, she was filled with hatred! Because she never imagined in her wildest dreams that Yuna would turn out to be Hackett and Zoe's offspring! She couldn't fathom that her beloved husband could betray her like this! And she had been kept in the dark for twenty-five long years! Twenty-five whole years!

So why should she raise this child born out of wedlock? Not only that, but she was determined to make Yuna and Zoe pay! She wanted justice for her daughter!

With fists clenched tightly, rage surged through Penelope as she was about to march out of the kitchen to confront them. But the conversation between mother and daughter stopped her in her tracks.

"How can I be the Fitzgerald family's illegitimate child? Does my dad know about this? Does Hackett know?"

Zoe let out a heavy sigh: "Your dad found out after we did the paternity test, and that's why he was so furious with me! As for Hackett, he's clueless."

This tangled web of relationships left Yuna completely bewildered. She couldn't wrap her head around it, grasping Zoe's shoulders as she asked:

"Mom! What's going on here? If I'm really yours and Hackett's child, how can he not know?"

"Yuna, it was all an accident! I'm telling you everything today, just make sure Penelope never finds out! With Penelope’s swift and decisive nature, we'd both be done for!"

Zoe carefully warned, her brow furrowing, inadvertently touching the wounds on her face. The pain contorted her features, making her look more hideous than a wicked witch!

"I used to be a servant for the Fitzgerald family, and your dad was the gardener. That night, it was Penelope and Hackett's anniversary. Hackett came back drunk, and Penelope was nowhere to be found. In the process of taking care of him, he mistook me for Penelope, and then you came into being. But at that time, I was already married to your dad, and I was pregnant at the same time as Penelope. I had no idea whose child I was carrying, and I didn't dare tell anyone!"

As Yuna listened to Zoe calmly explaining, her shock was replaced by a wild joy.

"People say daughters take after their fathers, and Hackett's genes are strong. Plus, with me resembling Penelope a bit, you and Marguerite ended up looking identical! Your dad had his suspicions early on, saying no matter how much I looked like Penelope, it was impossible for the children to be identical! You don't know how guilty and scared I felt back then. But luckily, your dad was a bit clueless, and after a few evasive answers from me, he believed it."

Inside the kitchen, Penelope covered her lips tightly, unable to pull herself out of this profound shock. Hackett had no idea about any of this! No wonder he had mentioned that the night of their fifth anniversary was when she got pregnant. He hadn’t remembered it wrong! He had mistaken her for someone else!

If... If she hadn't gone to the Winston family to mediate a fight between Jocelyn and Powell Winston that night, if she had come back earlier, would everything be different now? It was her, indirectly leading to today's outcome!

Feelings of injustice, guilt, and hatred overwhelmed Penelope, bringing her immense pain. Suddenly, she didn't know what to do anymore. Yuna wasn't her child, but she was Hackett's! Could Hackett really let go? And she knew all too well that Hackett's relationship with Zoe would always be a thorn in her side. Even if Hackett had erred unknowingly, she found it hard to forgive!

For the first time ever, Penelope, who had always been clear-headed about everything, was at a loss.