Chapter 568

Frederick’s eyes were icy with bloodlust. “Out with it! No beating around the bush!”

The servant shivered with fright, “I found Manley shaken up, huddled in the corner trembling…”

Before he could finish, several other servants who couldn’t stand by idly anymore began to chime in.

“No way! Manley was actually hit by Ms. Marguerite? The child’s only three, how could she lay a hand on him? That’s too much!”

“Who knows! Ms. Marguerite must’ve had it in for Ms. Yuna for ages! Since she couldn’t take her out, she took the chance to strike at her kid!”

“But that doesn’t add up! If Ms. Marguerite wanted to lash out, why not go after little Master Hayes?

He’s Ms. Yuna’s child too!”

“Pfft, it’s obvious, ain’t it? Ms. Yuna always doted on Manley the most. If you’re gonna strike, hit ’em where it hurts!”

The servants’ clamorous voices opened up a discussion, grating on Marguerite’s nerves.

What in the world was going on?

Just because she was seen at the door to Manley’s room, they pinned the crime on her?

Frederick’s gaze then skewered through the crowd, causing the servants’ hearts to skip a- beat, and they fell silent.

After a moment, his eyes met Marguerite’s with a complex intensity before swiftly turning away.

That brief eye contact left Marguerite feeling hollow inside.

She didn’t know if Frederick would still trust her now that she was the target of everyone’s accusations.

Soon, he released Manley, stood up towering over the servants with a menacing presence. “Do you know the consequences of lying?” he threatened.

The servant stepped back, tripping over his own feet, anxious he might have missed some detail, desperately trying to recall last night’s events.

“Mr. Winston, I swear I’m not lying! I remember bringing milk to Master Manley’s room. I saw Ms.

Marguerite standing at the door. I couldn’t see her face, so I called out to her.

Then Ms. Marguerite turned around, and she looked… uneasy. That’s when I walked into the room and found Master Manley crying in the corner. I tried to comfort him, but all the while Master Manley kept on muttering, ‘Auntie Marguerite, please don’t hit me, don’t hit me…”

Frederick’s frosty gaze suddenly contorted with disbelief as he turned to Marguerite.

Even if Marguerite wished to remain silent, she had to clarify her stance in that moment, “I did go to Manley’s room last night, but it was only to bring him a toy. Nothing else happened.”

Teresa, eager to defend her mother, grabbed the servant, “When you entered the room last night, did Master Manley already have bruises?”

The servant shook his head, “The room was top dim; I couldn’t see clearly. And the little master was in his pajamas, I couldn’t see a thing!”

Teresa and Hayes exchanged a look, both eager to help.

Hayes stepped forward, grabbing Frederick’s hand to explain, “Daddy… the toy… it was… I asked…

Auntie Marguerite… to bring it…”

Teresa chimed in quickly, “That’s right, Hayes’ daddy! Mommy brought back lots of toys yesterday, and Hayes didn’t want Manley to feel left out, so he asked Mommy to take one to him! Mommy didn’t hit Manley! She really didn’t! My mommy isn’t like that!”

Yuna, seizing the moment, pressed the issue, “Manley, don’t be scared. If Daddy won’t protect you, Mommy will stand up for you! Tell me, what did Auntie Marguerite say when she hit you yesterday?”

Manley, meek and timid, glanced at Marguerite and then fearfully towards Frederick, “Auntie Marguerite said that Daddy was going to marry her, and if I didn’t behave, she’d throw me and Mommy out of the house! Auntie Marguerite also said… that Daddy doesn’t like me at all, he likes Hayes! And that three years ago, Daddy was already married to her, and that my mommy… was the other woman…”