Bride Behind the Mask novel Chapter 872

In an instant, the tension in the air felt almost unbearable, slicing through the hallway like a blade.

The two kids were wound so tight, it was as if they shared a single heartbeat. Instinctively, they wanted to dart back into the safety of the stairwell.

But the stairwell was right next to the elevator—if they made a break for it now, they’d run straight into the people coming their way.

As the sound of footsteps grew louder, Manley’s heart pounded so hard, he thought it might leap right out of his chest.

“What do we do? If someone catches us here, we’re finished, aren’t we? Back when Dad was still around, this floor was totally off-limits!”

In his panic, Hayes’s eyes landed on the giant potted plant outside Marguerite’s office. Behind it, he spotted a huge trash bin—probably full of leftover construction debris from the recent renovations.

He pointed. “In there. Hide.”

Manley looked like he might burst into tears. “Why am I always the victim of your crazy schemes? What did I do to deserve this?”

“Save it! Just get in—hurry!”

Eyes brimming with tears, Manley glanced desperately around. There was nowhere else to hide. With no other choice, he clenched his jaw, squeezed his eyes shut, and scrambled into the trash bin on his short, trembling legs.

Barely a second after the lid closed, a woman rounded the corner, phone pressed to her ear.

“Mr. Winston, Marguerite knows you arranged an office for her... She didn’t really react... Okay, I’ll try to bring her over for a tour soon... Don’t worry, we won’t go into your office...”

Janie had already reached the executive suite. She swiped her access card and entered the code, the soft beep echoing down the hall.

Behind the potted plant, the trash bin lid cracked open just a sliver.

Hayes memorized Janie’s movements. He watched as she entered the office and came out again, this time holding a file folder.

Moments later, Manley heard a door close, followed by the ding of the elevator doors sliding shut.

Inside the cramped, stifling trash bin, the two kids were awkwardly piled on top of each other.

Manley was squashed at the bottom, his face pressed against the side of the bin, completely flattened. Hayes crouched unsteadily on Manley’s shoulders.

Manley, barely able to breathe, ground out a sentence between clenched teeth: “Hayes, are you done yet? I’m dying in here. Seriously. Dying.”

After making sure the coast was clear, Hayes hopped out of the bin, pulling Manley out behind him.

“Come on! I saw the code just now. Let’s split up—I’ll search for the stuff, you stand guard at the door and keep an eye out!”

Without waiting for a reply, Hayes unlocked the office and darted inside.

Manley slumped against the door, utterly defeated. “What could possibly be in Maurice’s office anyway? This is just a normal workspace—looks exactly like Dad’s old office.”

There was no way it was just a regular office.

Janie had clearly been calling Maurice, and he’d specifically said not to let Mom in here.