NovelEnglishChapter 802
Marguerite clutched the bottle of painkillers as she dashed to the front door, expecting someone else entirely.
Instead, a middle-aged man in a gray waistcoat stood there, smiling warmly at her.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Lockwood," he said politely. "I'm the butler for The Reed Group. I've been sent by my
employer to deliver an invitation for tomorrow's engagement party."
He handed her an exquisitely crafted invitation with both hands.
Marguerite accepted it, murmured a quiet thank you, and closed the door. She didn't bother to open the
invitation from Violet Reed. Her eyes drifted to the painkillers, and an unexpected wave of melancholy washed
over her.
With a slight sigh, Marguerite tossed both the invitation and the painkillers into the basket by the entryway,
deciding not to dwell on either.
The next morning, Marguerite dressed simply and made her way to Violet's engagement party.
The event was held outdoors, modest in scale due to its nature, but still buzzing with guests. After all, Violet's
parents could boast a virtual monopoly on the silk market both domestically and internationally, which explained
the many familiar faces who had traveled from Stonebridge City to attend.
Penelope and Jocelyn were already there, chatting with Violet's mother, Katherine. They were surrounded by a
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtgroup of society ladies, laughing and gossiping about the latest scandals.
After signing in at the entrance, Marguerite intended to join Penelope and Jocelyn. But as she approached,
someone stepped into her path.
She stopped short, locking eyes with the man who had blocked her way, her expression freezing in surprise.
Maurice Winston? What was he doing here?
Dressed in a sleek charcoal suit with silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his eyes held a familiar,
unreadable depth.
"Surprised to see me?" Maurice asked, reaching out as if to touch her cheek.
Marguerite quickly dodged his hand, noticing the slight downturn of his expression. She didn't hold back her
words: "Six months and you haven't changed a bit."
Maurice raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh?"
"You still don't know your place."
After the funeral of Frederick and Teresa, Marguerite had returned to the Fitzgerald family with Penelope and
hadn't seen Maurice since. Despite his repeated calls to explain that he had no part in the gunfight that
happened six months ago, Marguerite wanted nothing to do with him, even changing her number to avoid
further contact.
But she knew Maurice's influence spread far and wide, and his network was extensive. This knowledge fueled her
natural animosity towards him.
Maurice picked up a glass of champagne, his gaze lingering on Marguerite's face. "Enough with the temper. It's
tto cback. Dad misses Hayes; you should bring him around."
"That's your father, not mine."
"But Hayes is undeniably his grandson, isn't he?"
Marguerite wasn't in the mood to argue. She tried to step around Maurice, but he shifted again to block her way.
"Move."
Maurice placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his tone carrying a veiled threat. "Don't make a scene. It would be
embarrassing to start a fight at someone's engagement party."
Fine. Maurice's words were an effective deterrent. The last thing Marguerite wanted was for anyone to know
about her past with Maurice. If they caused a disturbance, it would ruin the party and beca public spectacle.
She stood her ground, annoyed. "Who invited you, anyway?"
Maurice took a sip of champagne, giving her a knowing look without answering.
Marguerite let it go, turning her attention to the conversation nearby, where a group of affluent women
congratulated Katherine, Violet's mother.
"Katherine, congratulations! Your daughter's getting married, and you can finally relax."
"Yes, | heard your future son-in-law is quite something. Worth billions and a member of the International Trade
Organization! Your family's business will surely benefit!"
Katherine's response was ambiguous. "He's got an impressive career, though he's not much to look at."
"Looks don't pay the bills. Being good to your daughter is what really matters!"
"They've hardly met, and now they're engaged. How can | not worry as a mother?"
"Speople date for years and divorce within months of marriage, while those who marry quickly often stay
together for life. Think positively, Katherine."
"True enough. If Violet's happy, then that's all that matters."
As the conversation continued, someone called out, "The couple's here! Everyone, give them a hand!"
Marguerite joined in the applause, watching as Violet, in a pink tulle dress, entered on the arm of a man.
They were close enough for Marguerite to clearly see the man's face, marked by the scars of old burns.
She froze, her applause faltering as shock washed over her.
Marguerite was stunned.
She never expected Violet's fiancé to be Silas!
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