Chapter 51
Frederick looked at the sheer rejection and disgust reflected in Maeve’s eyes, as if her love for him had completely vanished.
He couldn’t help but raise a hand to cover her eyes, wrapping his other arm around her waist to pull her forcefully against his chest.
“Mae, don’t look at me like that p>
Catching the faint, familiar scent of mint lingering in the air, Maeve didn’t immediately push him away.
She hugged him back, her fingers tightly clutching the fabric at his waist as she buried her face in his shoulder.
“Frederick, do you even love me p>
She didn’t even know what she was still hoping for.
Perhaps it was the undeniable panic in his eyes when she had stepped out of the guest room, terrified she might disappear, or the jealousy he displayed when he interrogated her about giving incense to Jonathan Giles.
It all reminded her of the Frederick she used to know.
It brought back all those heart-fluttering moments from their past p>
Or perhaps she just desperately needed validation that the overflowing love she had poured into him over the last five years wasn’t a pathetic joke.
She urgently needed a definitive answer straight from his lips.
Frederick cupped her face, his fingertips gently stroking her cheek.
“Who else would I love if not you? Mae, there is no one in this world who loves you more than I do. Let’s go back to how we were. Let’s stop fighting p>
Tears slipped from Maeve’s eyes as she gripped his shoulders tightly.
“Frederick… I don’t want to fight with you either. Can’t you just… stop revolving your life around Zoe? She has maids, she has her parents. She doesn’t need you checking on her every single p>
The next second, Frederick gently but firmly pushed her away, his hands resting on her shoulders as his dark, predatory gaze locked onto hers.
“Mae, I don’t care what anyone else thinks, but I need your understanding and support. Yess others can take care of Zoe, but Charlie’s need for a father figure and Zoe’s need for a husband during her pregriancy cannot be ignored. Felix was my brother. I have to shoulder this responsibility for him p>
Maeve froze, a deafening ring echoing in her ears.
She understood every single word he said, but strung together, they made absolutely no sense.
Frederick was willingly choosing to play the role of Charlie’s father and Zoe’s husband?
Even though she had already decided not to keep the baby in her womb after witnessing his blatant favoritism toward Zoe, hearing him actually say it out loud still sent a chilling wave of despair crashing over her.
Where did that leave her? Where did that leave their five years together?
“Mae Frederick looked at her shattered expression, his lips parting as if to say something more. A flash of struggle and pain crossed his eyes, but it all dissolved into a heavy, unfinished sigh.
“Just give me a little more time p>
He reached out to pull her into his arms again.
Maeve’s face hardened as she shoved him away violently “Frederick, are you even listening to yourself? You claim you love me the most, Yet you re telling me you need to act as another woman’s husband? Is this what you call love p>
“Mae, you’re misunderstanding my intentions,” he tried to explain desperately.
“It’s just for a few months. Once Zoe gives birth, it’ll all be fine. Just give me a little more time p>
“Fine. I’ll trust you p>
Maeve stared straight at him, her body rigid as she pressed him for an answer, word by word.
“Then promise me. In a few months, when Zoe has her baby, you will cut ties with her completely and never cater to her again p>