Bride behind the mask novel (Marguerite) novel Chapter 885

**Cancel the wedding?**

Marguerite stared in shock.

She never expected to hear that answer.

Why would the wedding be called off?

Could it be because of Silas...?

Before her half-formed suspicion could take shape, Marguerite shook her head, forcing herself to stop spiraling.

She took a long, steadying breath before finally asking, “Was it Silas who called it off, or was it Violet?”

“Does it really matter?” her friend replied. “The story the Reed family put out is that Violet’s mother, Hazel, had a sudden heart attack and collapsed at the ceremony. That’s why they had to cancel everything at the last minute.

But it’s been days now, and Mr. Ward hasn’t made a single public statement.”

Marguerite’s thoughts settled, a subtle wave of disappointment passing through her.

So—it was because of family.

For a moment, she’d wondered if it had anything to do with her.

Turns out, she was just overthinking it again.

She glanced at the time, gathered a stack of folders, and stood up. “Let’s head to the conference room.”

“Yeah, okay.”

The conference room was right next to Marguerite’s office. By the time she walked in, nearly everyone had already arrived.

There were no assigned seats or strict hierarchy in Marguerite’s company; people just took whatever spot was open. She slid into the nearest empty chair.

Chuck made a move to sit next to her, but before he could, a shadowy figure reached out, long arm draping casually over the back of the chair, blocking his way.

“Sorry, I’m going to need this seat for quite a while.”

Marguerite blinked in confusion.

Marguerite gazed at him, searching his face, only to notice a hint of a smile at the corner of his eyes.

His tone was sharp—almost confrontational.

“Time? I have plenty. But more importantly, I need to know exactly where my money’s going, don’t you think, Ms. Lockwood?”

The pen twirled between his fingers, mimicking the anxious flutter of Marguerite’s own heart.

What was happening to her?

Wasn’t this distance between them exactly what she’d wanted?

So why did it hurt so much, hearing him call her “Ms. Lockwood” with that cold formality?