Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 384

The massive Winters Mansion was eerily quiet, save for the soft echo of Margaret Winters’ heels clicking against the polished marble floor as she paced restlessly across the grand living room.

Her hands were tightly clasped around her phone, her brows furrowed in deep thought. A mix of frustration and unease coiled in her stomach, making it impossible to sit still.

She had spent the entire day trying to push away the nagging suspicion that had lodged itself in her mind after that mysterious text message.

But no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t leave her alone.

She brought the phone to her ear, sighing as the familiar voice of her closest friend, Eleanor Harrington, filled the silence.

“Margaret, darling, you sound stressed,” Eleanor said, her voice laced with curiosity. “What’s the matter?”

Margaret exhaled, rubbing her temple. “I don’t know, Eleanor… I just have this terrible feeling. Something isn’t right.”

Eleanor hummed. “Is this about Thomas?”

Margaret hesitated. “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. Someone sent me a message today. An unknown number. They asked if I knew what my husband was doing behind my back.”

There was a pause before Eleanor responded carefully, “And do you?”

Margaret let out a bitter laugh. “That’s the thing—I don’t. But ever since I got that message, I’ve been thinking, Eleanor. He’s been acting strange lately. He’s out more than usual, he takes his calls in private, and when I ask, he always brushes it off as ‘business’—but what if it’s not?”

Eleanor sighed. “Margaret, you’ve been married to Thomas for decades. You know how he is. He’s secretive by nature, but that doesn’t always mean he’s doing something wrong.”

Margaret bit her lip, staring at the elegant grandfather clock in the corner of the room. It was nearing midnight, and still, Thomas was nowhere to be found.

“If it were before, I wouldn’t have doubted him,” Margaret admitted. “But now, I don’t know what to think. And the worst part? I don’t even know where he is right now.”

Eleanor clicked her tongue. “He didn’t tell you?”

“No,” Margaret said flatly. “And I have this awful feeling that if I ask him, he’ll just lie to me.”

Eleanor’s voice softened. “Then maybe you should start looking for answers yourself.”

Margaret swallowed, her grip tightening on the phone. “You think I should?”

Eleanor hesitated for only a moment. “I think that if something doesn’t feel right, then you shouldn’t ignore it. Follow your instincts, Margaret. They’ve never failed you before.”

Margaret exhaled, nodding to herself. “You’re right.”

Just as she said that, she heard the distinct sound of a car pulling up outside. Her heart skipped a beat.

“He’s home,” she whispered.

Eleanor sighed. “Be careful, dear. Call me later.”

Margaret ended the call, her body tensing as she turned toward the front doors.

A moment later, the heavy mahogany doors swung open, and in walked Thomas Winters.

—

Thomas entered the house, pulling off his coat as he stepped into the lavish foyer. He had expected to find the house dark and quiet, his wife already in bed, but instead, he was met with a sight that made him pause.

Margaret was standing in the middle of the living room, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

Thomas arched his brow. “You’re still awake?”

Margaret tilted her head slightly, her voice calm but firm. “Where have you been?”

Thomas barely missed a beat. “Business meeting ran late,” he said smoothly, walking over to set his coat down on the couch. “You know how it is.”

Margaret let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “A business meeting? At this hour?”

Thomas turned back to her, his gaze steady. “Yes. I had important matters to handle.”

Margaret took a step closer, narrowing her eyes. “And where exactly was this meeting?”

Thomas sighed, clearly growing impatient. “Margaret, what is this about? Why are you interrogating me like I’m some criminal?”

Margaret’s fingers dug into her arms as she crossed them tighter. “Because I don’t believe you.”

Thomas’s expression darkened slightly. “Excuse me?”

Margaret inhaled sharply, her heart pounding. “If it were before, I might have accepted your excuses. But now? I don’t trust a word that comes out of your mouth.”

Thomas frowned, stepping closer. “What the hell is going on with you tonight?”

Margaret clenched her jaw. “I could ask you the same thing. You’ve been acting strangely for weeks, Thomas. Always disappearing, always stepping away to take private calls, always working late. And now, I get a message—an anonymous message—asking me if I know what my husband is doing behind my back.”

Thomas’s entire body stilled for a brief second before his expression smoothed back into neutrality.

“A message?” he asked carefully.

Margaret nodded, her eyes locked onto his. “Yes. Someone is watching you, Thomas. And now, I have to wonder… why?”

Thomas exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Margaret, this is ridiculous. Someone is obviously trying to stir up trouble between us.”

“Is that so?” Margaret shot back. “Then tell me, Thomas. Where were you tonight?”

Thomas met her gaze without flinching. “I told you. A business meeting.”

Margaret scoffed. “Then tell me who was there. Where was it held?”

Thomas sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair. “Margaret, this is absurd. Are you really going to let an anonymous message plant these ridiculous doubts in your head?”

Margaret’s lips pressed into a thin line. “If there’s nothing to hide, then why won’t you just answer me?”

Thomas took a step closer, his voice dropping. “Because I don’t appreciate being treated like a liar in my own home.”

Margaret let out a humorless laugh. “Then stop lying, Thomas!”

Their voices had risen now, and although they were alone in the living room, the staff working in the mansion had started to gather in the shadows, watching the rare sight of their employers openly arguing.

Thomas clenched his jaw. “I work hard every day to maintain this family’s power, Margaret. And this is how you repay me? By listening to baseless rumors?”

Margaret held her ground. “Then prove them wrong. Tell me the truth.”

Thomas exhaled sharply. “I am telling you the truth.”

Margaret searched his face, looking for any crack in his perfect composure. But as always, Thomas was too good at this game. Too skilled at deception.

And yet… something was different tonight.

For the first time in years, Margaret wasn’t just doubting him.

She could see so many differences in the man she married years ago. It’s more like, something changed in him.

She knew he was lying.

She could see it in the way he avoided specifics, the way his body tensed just slightly before answering.

And she hated that realization.

Hated that after all these years, after building a life together, she could no longer trust her own husband.

The silence between them stretched painfully long.

Then, without another word, Margaret turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Thomas standing alone in the middle of the living room.

The watching staff quickly scattered, pretending they hadn’t been eavesdropping.

Thomas exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face.

Something was wrong.

Margaret was acting differently.

And now, more than ever, he needed to figure out who was whispering in her ear… before she uncovered something she wasn’t supposed to know.