Goodbye My Arrogant Ex (Marguerite and Leonard) novel Chapter 266

The siblings had grown up in a warm, comfortable home, never having to worry about food or shelter. It was hard for them to truly understand what it felt like to struggle.

But she was different. After all she'd been through, she still faced life with such optimism and cheer that it was hard not to admire her.

“That’s true. Even if we can’t fully empathize, we can help change his future!” Marguerite declared, her voice steady with conviction.

“Alright, enough talk about sad things,” she added, lightening the mood. “Now that you've met, you two can go shopping together sometime, get to know each other, maybe even be like sisters. She really is a good person—kind and genuine.”

“I’d love that. I promise I’ll look out for her, and I’ll always have her back,” Marguerite replied, already thinking of them as family. And in her mind, family meant putting each other first, no matter what.

Leonard had been listening quietly from the driver’s seat, his eyes on the road but his thoughts clearly elsewhere. His expression grew more somber as their conversation continued.

Back at home, Marguerite noticed he was still unusually quiet. Finally, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity. “Leonard, what do you think about my brother’s girlfriend?”

“She seems nice,” Leonard answered coolly. “She gets along well with your brother, too.”

“But you barely said a word earlier. It felt like you were holding something back, like you noticed something but weren’t sure whether to mention it. If you have something to say, you can tell me, you know.”

“But I haven’t noticed anything strange,” Marguerite protested. “She seems friendly enough—maybe a bit reserved, but nothing out of the ordinary. She’s always polite when we talk.”

She tried to recall their past interactions, searching for anything out of place, but nothing matched Leonard’s suspicions.

“You’re only seeing the surface,” Leonard said quietly. “It’s the little things I pick up on. Ever since she met you, she’s been watching for your reactions—always gauging your mood. People who’ve been hurt or neglected growing up develop these survival instincts. Sure, self-protection is normal, but with her, it runs deeper.”

“She’s clever—calculating, even—and people like that tend to look out for themselves above all else. I don’t think she’s with your brother for the reasons you think. Sometimes, I see her glance at you or Hogan, and there’s something hidden in her eyes—like she’s afraid of being found out. She’s definitely keeping secrets.”