Chapter 466

A look of pure happiness spread across Carson’s face as he recounted the memory.

“I heard it when I came back.”

“You insisted it didn’t count, that she wasn’t really calling me ‘Daddy.””

“The first person Lorraine called for was definitely me.”

“It was about a month later, I think, that she learned to say ‘Mommy.””

“Seven months and ten days. I was feeding her when she suddenly said, ‘Mommy.”

A tear of happiness slid down Mrs. Stapleton’s cheek at the memory.

“None of you saw it. She looked so sweet and adorable, and her voice was so soft, so beautiful to hear.”

The two of them leaned against each other, side by side, lost in their shared past.

Penelope instinctively touched her stomach, where two new lives were growing. If she kept them, she would have experiences just like these.

Should she keep them?

“Is your stomach bothering you?” Theodore asked her.

Penelope shook her head. “No.”

Theodore moved closer, carefully studying her expression.

“If you feel uncomfortable, I can have Hogan take you back first.”

Penelope managed a small smile. “No, it’s fine. I want to spend a little more time with Mr. Johnson.”

After a long while, Carson beckoned for Theodore and Penelope to come closer. “Lorraine, this is your brother’s wife, Penelope.”

“Carson!”

Mrs. Stapleton grew agitated again, but Carson squeezed her hand reassuringly.

“Every meeting in life is destined. Lorraine, I think you would have liked her. From now on, she’ll come visit you often in my place.”

Penelope took a deep breath, walked to the grave, and placed a bouquet of flowers before it.

“Lorraine, I’ll come see you often.”

Hearing this, Mr. Johnson gave Penelope a grateful look.

As they were leaving, Mrs. Stapleton stood up, then suddenly fainted. Fortunately, Theodore had been watching her closely and caught her in time.

He shot Carson a reproachful look, but Carson simply nodded, as if to say not to worry.

“It’s been twenty years. She can, and she must, accept that Lorraine is

gone. If she’s going to lose her mind, then let her Maybe she’ll find some peace that way.”

“Is that really what you think?”

“Yes. She can’t keep hurting you, and Norton, and Penelope. It’s enough. It’s truly been enough.”

Instead of returning to the city, they drove to the villa by the sea. Mr. Johnson wanted to see the sunrise the next morning.

Mrs. Stapleton’s fainting spell didn’t last long; she woke up in the car.

To Penelope’s surprise, the four of them had dinner together, and Mrs. Stapleton

was calm and composed, even smiling throughout the meal.

She was trying her best to control herself, wanting to be there for Carson on his final journey so he could depart in peace.

After dinner, as Penelope was

heading upstairs, she heard a noise from the bathroom. She went to check and found Mrs. Stapleton

hunched over the tollet, vomiting.

She had forced herself to eat a lot at dinner just to make Carson happy but her mind and body were in such distress that she couldn’t digest any fit.

Penelope poured a glass of warm water and brought it to her.

When Mrs. Stapleton looked up, her eyes were still sharp and cold.

At that moment, Penelope had no desire to argue. She placed the glass on a nearby table and turned to leave.

She went to her room, grabbed a blanket, and went downstairs to cover Carson with

it.

“Thank you for today,” Carson said, looking at Penelope.

Penelope sat on the step beside him. “Is there anything else you want to say to me?”

Carson closed his eyes, listening to the waves crash against the shore.

“I found you two years ago, but I had no particular plans back then. Do you know what it was that made me think you should marry Theodore?”