Chapter 249

Could it be that Donald had recognized her?
For a fleeting moment, Penelope’s composure wavered, but she quickly regained it and turned to face him. “What do you mean, Mr. Bishop?”
Perhaps the restaurant’s dim lighting had obscured her features. He seemed to be studying her face more closely now.
“I heard Mr. Stapleton paid a hundred million for that painting of Edith’s because of you.”
So that was what this was about. Still, she was just as curious as he was.
“I’m a great admirer of Ms. Laurier’s work. I love her style, her atmosphere, everything.”
“Is that all?” Donald raised an eyebrow.
Penelope smiled but didn’t answer. Instead, she countered with a question of her own. “You bid up to sixty million yourself, Mr. Bishop. What was your reason?”
She expected a vague, dismissive reply, but he answered with surprising earnestness. “Edith was once the woman I loved most.”
Penelope frowned. How could he say that without a shred of guilt?
“You say ‘was”?”
“Things happened, and we broke up.”
“What things?”
“I’m sorry, I’d rather not talk about the past.”
“You cheated on her, didn’t you? You fell for someone else?”
The question was blunt, but Penelope’s hands were itching to tear away his carefully constructed facade.
Donald frowned. “The truth is, she cheated on me.”
Penelope thought she must have misheard. “You’re saying she cheated on you?”
He shook his head, a look of
frustration on his face. “No, it was all my fault. None of it was her fault!” He seemed agitated. “I only came after you to say this, Mrs. Stapleton: you may have bought her painting whim, but please, take good care of it. If you ever decide to sell it, please consider me first. I’m trying to collect all of her works.”
“What for?”
“To hold an exhibition in her honor.”
Watching Donald’s retreating back, Penelope scowled. She didn’t believe a word he
said, but perhaps it was time she started looking into her mother’s past.
…
With only four days left until the
wedding, Penelope woke up early, planning to head over to the Johnson family’s house. As she stepped outside, she saw Rebecca
Sullivan’s home, Rebeet
f
and her mother in front of the
Rebecca must not
have been seriously injured, as she was discharged after just one night in the hospital.
“Is anyone in there? Open the door!” Mrs. Winters yelled, pounding on the large gate. But despite her efforts, no one came.
Rebecca was on the phone. “You’re not home? Luna isn’t there either?” she asked, her voice tight with frustration. “The keypad isn’t working… You changed the code? What’s the new one My mother wouldn’t steal anything, you—”
The person on the other end hung up. Mrs. Winters turned to her daughter expectantly.
“They’re all out for the day,” Rebecca reported. “No one’s home.”
“So we can’t get in? What do we do now?”
Rebecca shook her head miserably. “I don’t know.”
Mrs. Winters Stomped her foot in anger. “They dropped you at the hospital yesterday and just took off! They didn’t ever show up for your discharge this morning! They don’t care about you at all! They don’t see you as part of the Sullivan family!” Cóntent
“That’s enough, Mom. Stop it.” Rebecca glanced over at Penelope, who had just come out of her house. She didn’t want to lose face in front of her.
But Mrs. Winters was past caring about appearances. “Penelope! Don’t lock your gate just yet. Rebecca just got out of the hospital and needs to rest. Since the Sullivans aren’t home, let her come inside your place for a bit.”
Penelope slammed her gate shut. “My house isn’t a shelter for stray animals!” “You… have you no sense of decency left?”
Penelope looked at Rebecca. “Do you think there’s anything left between us?”