Penelope quickly stuffed everything back into the cardboard box, even finding tape

to seal it shut before pushing it back into the corner.

She was flustered, scared, but she didn’t dare to dwell on it.

“Didn’t you say we were going out to eat?”

She looked at Theodore, only to see that he looked unwell.

“Are you tired? Work must be busy lately. Maybe we should just eat at home. But I need to tell Una; I told her this afternoon not to prepare dinner for us.” She said, getting up.

Theodore grabbed Penelope’s hand. He paused for a moment, then looked up at her and smiled. “Let’s still go out. I’ve already booked a restaurant.”

Seeing Theodore smile, Penelope breathed a sigh of relief.

“Okay.”

As Penelope went to change, Theodore stepped out onto the terrace. He lit a cigarette, taking a few harsh drags, then pulled out his phone and called Hamilton.

“Help me look into someone.”

“Name.”

Theodore was about to say ‘Edith,’ Penelope’s mother’s name, but when he glanced back and saw Penelope, already changed and waiting for him with a happy expression, the words died on his lips.

“Never mind.”

“Is something wrong on your end?”

“No. I’m hanging up.”

Theodore ended the call, took another deep drag from his cigarette, and slowly exhaled. He buried the seed of suspicion deep inside, refusing to let it sprout and grow.

After dinner at the restaurant, they walked out into a windy evening. On the nearby path lined with ginkgo trees, a shower of golden leaves was falling like snow.

Penelope ran over, scooped up a handful from the ground, and tossed them into the air, twirling with delight. Then she ran forward, trying to catch the fluttering leaves in the air.

A smile filled Theodore’s eyes. He strode over, took her hand, and squeezed it tightly, as if afraid she would turn into a butterfly and fly away.

Penelope took the opportunity to snuggle into his arms, complaining that she was cold.

Theodore wrapped his coat around her protectively and bent down to kiss her forehead.

“Still cold?”

Penelope rested her head on Theodore’s shoulder and said playfully, “Still cold.” Theodore tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

“How about now?”

“Cold.”

He tightened his grip again, almost as if trying to merge her into his own body. “Still cold?”

Penelope glanced around. Seeing no one, she stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss.

“Not cold anymore.”

Theodore’s breath hitched slightly. He lowered his head and kissed the woman in his arms deeply.

From late autumn to early winter,

when the leaves had all fallen, the first snow would soon arrive. It

пошти would be colder then, but they could eep each other

hold each other,

warm, and so they weren’t afraid of winter’s arrival.

The next day, Penelope woke up early for work. By the time she got up, Theodore was already gone. He was now taking full control of Zenith Group and it was a critical time, so t he was bound to be busy.

“Penelope, don’t lie to me.”

As Penelope was getting ready, she suddenly remembered someone seeming to whisper those words in her ear last night.

Was it a dream?

It couldn’t have been Theodore, could it? If it was, he must have been talking in his sleep.

Penelope shook her head, dismissing the thought.

After breakfast, she headed to the office. The morning was a blur of activity. After

lunch, just as she was about to take a break, Norton called her.

“Penelope, can you tell my brother something for me?”

Penelope chuckled. “Can’t you call him yourself?”

“I don’t dare.”

“Did you get into trouble again?”

“I’m leaving.”

Penelope was taken aback. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. Haven’t decided yet.”

Penelope quickly sat up straight. “Where are you right now?”

“Please tell my brother I don’t love Mom anymore, and I don’t want the Stapleton family anymore. But still love him. If stay here any longer. I’ll

gg crazy, m leaving going tarafari

away, and I’m never coming back.”