Chapter 553

The crowd gasped in shock, turning their heads to look at Marguerite.

Marguerite herself was completely baffled, at a loss as to why Manley would say such a thing.

When had she ever hit him?

He had just been discharged from the hospital the day before, and she had gone to the office yesterday, not even having the chance to be alone with him!

What was even more surprising was that, at this moment, Yuna didn’t explode with anger. Instead, she wrapped Manley in her arms and asked softly, “Sweetie, did you have a nightmare last night? Tell me, what happened?”

Manley looked at Marguerite with pitiful eyes, then quickly glanced away in fear, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

“It wasn’t… it wasn’t a nightmare… Aunt Marguerite hit me! She… she choked me and said… said Daddy was going to kick me and mommy out, never to let us come back…

TE Marguerite was confused as she urgently tried to clear her name, “Manley, are you sure you didn’t get it wrong? How could I possibly hit you?”

Manley’s shoulders quivered as he saw Marguerite approach, and he scurried away in panic, clinging tightly to Yuna’s waist from behind.

Maurice furrowed his brow, observing the situation, then lowered his eyes to Teresa, “Did Manley bully you?”

Teresa was just as confused, looking at Manley as if he were possessed.

“Manley didn’t bully me. Yesterday while playing, he accidentally tripped me.”

Upon hearing this, Yuna’s anger visibly flared.

She stood up in outrage, her expression dramatically exaggerated, “Oh, so Marguerite! My son accidentally tripped your daughter, and you had the heart to be so rough with him? He’s only a three-

year-old child, how could you lay a hand on him?”

Out of nowhere, Marguerite was at a loss for words. For a moment, she couldn’t think of any way to prove her innocence. She hadn’t laid a finger on Manley, of that she was certain!

Was Manley lying? But that didn’t make sense!

Back in the hospital, she had gotten along well with Manley.

The little boy had even trusted her enough to share his favorite toy with her.

09.00 But now, with his accusations, not only was Marguerite perplexed, she was also helpless.

She racked her brains for a long time, and although she couldn’t find any evidence, her sincere eyes were steady and unflinching, “Believe it or not, but I absolutely did not touch your son.”

Yuna’s eyes were filled with rage, her tone accusatory as if channeling a scorned woman, “You didn’t touch him? Then why would he say you hit him out of the blue? Are you suggesting he’s lying?”

Marguerite looked at Manley, seeing the little guy trembling and cowering behind Yuna, not looking like he was lying at all. If she weren’t the one being accused, she probably would have believed his story as well.

So what was really going on?

Frederick’s gaze was piercing as he stood with his arms crossed, his eyes thoughtfully on Marguerite.

Feeling his stare, Marguerite boldly met his eyes.

Having done no wrong, she had nothing to conceal and thus, nothing to fear.

His gaze held steady on her, his lips parting slightly, “Are you really sure it wasn’t you?”

Marguerite nodded with certainty, a hint of frustration in her voice, “No, it wasn’t.”

“Freddie, don’t believe her! Because Manley accidentally tripped Teresa, this woman held a grudge and hit him! Didn’t you hear Manley say that Marguerite told him you would kick him out of the house?

Manley loves you so much, and you love him dearly. How could the idea of you kicking him out ever cross his mind? Someone must be stirring up trouble!”

Frederick remained silent, as if deep in thought.

Teresa, protective of her mother, finally thought of a way to prove her mom’s innocence, “Don’t talk nonsense! I didn’t even tell my mom about Manley tripping me! So the reason for my mom to hit Manley doesn’t stand at all!”