Chapter 325

The day-to-day operations of Zenith Group had largely been handed over to Theodore, leaving his mother to focus solely on the Resort project. As such, she rarely visited the corporate headquarters. Rumor had it that once the resort was complete, she would retire from the business world for good.
The moment she entered the conference room, the Zenith Group executives shot to their feet. Penelope quickly followed suit, signaling for her team to rise as well. They all remained standing until Mrs. Stapleton took her seat at the head of the table.
With a silent nod, she indicated for the meeting to proceed.
When the meeting concluded, no one moved, all eyes on Mrs. Stapleton, waiting for her to speak.
She kept her gaze lowered. “The rest of you may leave.”
Both teams filed out of the room, but Penelope remained seated.
As expected, Mrs. Stapleton finally looked up, her eyes meeting Penelope’s with a deep, cold indifference. “I don’t understand why Carson chose you.”
Penelope’s lips tightened. Chose me for what? she thought. To marry Theodore, to carry on the Johnson family line, to inherit their legacy? The unspoken implication was clear: Mrs. Stapleton saw no merit in her, no qualities worthy of the role. She was looking at Penelope as if from a great height, her expression a mixture of arrogance and a perplexing, unprovoked disgust.
“Time will tell, madam. I’m sure you’ll come to understand,” Penelope replied, her tone matching the older woman’s frostiness.
Mrs. Stapleton’s face darkened. “Arrogant, conceited, and rude!”
“And you consider yourself humble and polite?”
“Is that any way to speak to an elder?”
“So you do remember you’re my elder.”
A flash of fury crossed Mrs. Stapleton’s eyes. She clearly hadn’t expected Penelope
to be so bold, so sharp-tongued, refusing to yield an inch.
Nevertheless, Penelope knew she had to show some deference for Theodore’s sake. She stood and gave a slight, respectful bow. “I heard you haven’t been feeling well. Please take care of your health.”
It was a classic carrot-and-stick approach. She had no intention of letting her mother-in-law think she was a pushover who could be easily manipulated.
Mrs. Stapleton’s eyes narrowed. She had been ready to escalate the conflict, to tear away all pretense of tote civility, but Penelope’s sudden shift to polite concern left her with no opening to press her attack As the elder, she was expected to show a certain grace. Content bétongs
“I gave Carson one year,” Mrs. Stapleton said, raising an eyebrow. “You understand
what that means, don’t you?”
Penelope said nothing. Mr. Johnson
had mentioned it at the very beginning Mrs. Stapleton wanted her pregnant within a year. The rest went unsaid, but the ultimate was obvious. If she conceived she would divorce Theodore afterward, if she didn’t, she would be divorced all the same. Back then, she hadn’t cared. But now…
“Whether you understand or not, let me make it perfectly clear. I’m giving you one year. If you get pregnant in that time, that’s your own accomplishment If you don’t, don’t, complain. Either way, after one year, you and my son will get a divorce!”
“Theodore and I, we
“It was the only condition under which I allowed him to marry you. Both Carson and
you agreed to it at the time.”
Penelope was speechless.
“And there’s one more thing I need you to promise me.”
Penelope took a steadying breath. “Go on.”
ແ
Mrs. Stapleton paused for a moment. “Don’t let my son fall in love with you.”
“And if he’s already started to, then you find a way to kill those feelings!”
Penelope could say nothing against the terms of their contract, but forbidding Theodore from loving her was never part of the deal. She was about to refuse when the conference room door swung open and Norton hurried in. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on.net
“Mom, you forgot your medication this morning. I brought it for you.” He placed a glass of water and a small pill bottle on the table in front of her.
Mrs. Stapleton’s face contorted with anger. “Who allowed you to come to Zenith Group? Do you want the entire company to know who you are?”
…