Chapter 579

Poisoned? This was utterly unforeseen for Frederick.

“Frederick, think hard. Has Manley eaten anything unusual at home these past few days?”

Teresa, though half in the dark even after Jocelyn’s lengthy explanations about belladonna, was still somewhat baffled.

But she was aware that Manley might have hallucinated from ingesting belladonna.

So, without waiting for Frederick to reply, Teresa eagerly interjected, “Granny, Manley eats the same food as us, and he hates mushrooms! He never touches the mushroom stew Sadie makes! He only likes meat!”

“Now that is peculiar. Where could the trouble have stemmed from?”

Frederick cleared his throat, “Mom, are you so sure Manley was poisoned?”

“His symptoms match those of poisoning perfectly.”

Frederick looked down, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotion, “And how do we explain the bruises on his body?”

“If he truly hallucinated, thinking Marguerite was hitting him, then he might have fought back. It’s possible he hurt himself in the process.”

Frederick’s heart was in turmoil, his feelings exceedingly complex. If this was true, then it was likely he had wronged Marguerite. But he could not fathom why Manley would be poisoned for no reason; the boy loathed mushrooms and would never willingly eat them..

And the ingredients at Winston Mansion were always managed by Sadie. It made no sense for everyone else to be fine while only Manley suffered.

Just then, Hayes approached with a serious expression, timidly tugging at Frederick’s sleeve, his voice clear, “Daddy, you’ve got it all wrong… Aunt Marguerite…”

Seeing this, Teresa rushed to explain as well, “Yeah, Hayes’ daddy! Manley hallucinated because of the poison. Doesn’t that prove my mommy didn’t hit him?”

Frederick gazed at the two little ones, his tumultuous heart finding a sliver of calm, mixed with an imperceptible guilt, “Alright, I’ll look into this immediately.”

Jocelyn, relieved, knelt down and embraced both Hayes and Teresa, asking, “Did you two rush over here just to clear Marguerite’s name?”

Teresa’s innocent face nodded earnestly, “Yes! Because she’s my mommy! Mommy said that even if the whole world turns its back on me, she’ll be there for me!”

Teresa glanced meaningfully at Frederick and deliberately raised her voice, “So, even if all people in this world don’t trust my mommy, I will stand firmly behind her! Not like Hayes’ daddy, who jumps to conclusions. It’s disappointing!”

Frederick was speechless.

This little girl, truly is the daughter of Marguerite. Sharp-tongued, always spouting astonishing words.

But strangely, he found himself not the least bit annoyed, often charmed by Teresa’s unexpected sweetness.

Jocelyn chuckled, surprised by Teresa’s extensive vocabulary.

Turning to Hayes, she asked, “And you, Hayes, why are you also worried about Aunt Marguerite?”

Hayes blinked his big eyes, his speech becoming smoother, revealing more of his desires to confide.

Without a second thought, he adorably said, “Because I want Aunt Marguerite… to become my mommy…”

His response took Frederick aback, his eyebrows knitting together in surprise as he corrected, “Hayes, you have your own mother! Don’t talk nonsense!”

No matter his aversion to Yuna, she was still Hayes and Manley’s mother.

He didn’t want Hayes to blur the lines between family relationships.

But Hayes’ earnest little face was stubborn as he met Frederick’s gaze, his tone sincere and passionate, “I know. But… Aunt Marguerite feels more like a mommy than my own mommy…”