Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 104

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"No!" Marguerite leaped back, clutching Chester tightly against her chest. Her frantic gaze swerved back to Matthew, a desperate plea tumbling out of her lips, "Matthew, please, I've cut ties with him. Yesterday I told him to never contact me again."

A scoff escaped him, his eyes hardening as they held hers.
"You are so naive, Maggie," He said, his voice laced with a coldness that sent shivers down her spine. "This is a ploy, a manipulative tactic to worm his way back into your affection. The dog will be a constant reminder of the time you spent with him, the moments you should have been spending with me."

A stricken look crossed her face, a tremor running through her lower lip as she shook her head. "I don't believe that was his intention. He... he simply wanted to return Chester to me."

Matthew let out a mocking chuckle, a cold glint entering his eyes,
"Maggie, open your eyes. See him for the man he truly is. This gallant knight charade? A cruel illusion. He's a cunning coward, Maggie. Slinking in whenever I'm gone, whispering sweet nothings. Do you think a real gentleman would ask you to sneak around like a thief? Is that honorable? He doesn't even have the decency, the courage, to face me and declare his intentions."
Seeing the flicker of doubt in her eyes, he pressed on, his voice held a dangerous edge. "And even worse, Maggie, he's a traitor. A true friend would never betray my trust, never make a move on you in my absence. What kind of future can you build with a man like that?"

Marguerite flinched as if being struck, a flicker of pain crossing her features before her gaze returned to him, resolute and defiant. "There's no need to challenge my perception of him, because I've made a decision to stay with you, Matthew. And Chester..." Her voice softened slightly, a plea creeping in, "He has nothing to do with Jacob's actions! You have nothing to fear from a puppy. Please, let me keep Chester."

Matthew fell silent, his brow furrowed as his mind raced to sort through this difficult situation. Jacob was playing a dirty game, using the innocent dog as a weapon to chip away at his hold on Marguerite. A muscle in his jaw clenched tight, a stark reminder of the simmering jealousy churning within him. He couldn't let Jacob prevail, but a countervailing concern held him back. To deny Maggie, to disappoint her once again, would only grow the existing chasm between them. He couldn't afford the price of pushing her further away, not when Marguerite finally seemed to be leaning towards him. He needed to figure out how to get rid of the dog, but in a way that served his own purposes. With a sigh that seemed to hold more weight than the words themselves, he finally spoke. "Alright, Maggie. You can keep the dog."

It wouldn't be easy for him to endure the presence of the dog, a furry token of his rival, a gnawing thorn in his side. But the sight of the blossoming joy on Marguerite's face was a balm to his simmering jealousy. Setting the dog on the bed, she beamed, her eyes sparkling with gratitude as she leaned over to wrap her arms around him,
"Thank you, Matthew! This means so much to me!"

A ghost of a triumphant smile flickered across his face, fading as his gaze flickered at the dog. A surge of possessiveness twisted his gut, a primal urge to banish the creature from their lives. But he quickly squashed the feeling, forcing a smile. Later, he consoled himself with the thought, for now what truly mattered was winning Marguerite's affection.

A polite cough from the hovering footman startled them. Marguerite flinched, a rosy blush painting her cheeks as she quickly withdrew.

"Pardon, Sir, Miss. There's another package." The footman informed, an apologetic note in his voice. His hand dipped into his pocket and produced a small velvet box. Marguerite's breath hitched and Matthew's eyes narrowed. What else could Jacob possibly want to send to Maggie? Was he trying to impress her with jewelry? How dare Jacob send that kind of last-ditch effort for Maggie to his very home?