Chapter 478

Penelope and Natalie both sighed. The two were such masterful performers they could sometimes fool even their own mothers.

Without a doubt, they had Laura hidden somewhere in the house.

“Mommy, you’re back!” Kristin was the first to run over, throwing herself into

Natalie’s arms.

“Mommy, I missed you so much!” Hubert immediately dropped the watering can and rushed to hug Penelope.

“Mommy, you look even prettier today than you did yesterday!”

“Mommy, I love you even more today than I did yesterday!”

Natalie snorted. “Whenever you two get this sweet, it means you’ve gotten into trouble.”

Kristin shook her head vigorously. “No, we haven’t! Don’t accuse us, Mommy!”

“Then what were you doing out so early this morning?”

Kristin’s eyes darted around. “Just playing.”

Penelope smiled. “The grandmas and grandpas outside said you went to buy us breakfast?”

“Uh…..” Hubert’s eyes shifted. “We forgot.”

“Alright, forgotten is forgotten. I’ll go make you two some breakfast.”

Penelope headed for the kitchen. It was hardly breakfast anymore, seeing as it was almost noon.

She and Natalie took turns cooking, and since neither was particularly skilled, their kids had a unique perspective. While other children complained about the food at preschool, theirs thought it was a gourmet feast.

As a result, they adored going to preschool, never missing a day, rain or shine, and had made plenty of friends.

During the meal, for once, neither of them complained that the food was bad. They ate with gusto.

“Mommy, can I take my bowl and eat in my room?” Hubert asked.

Penelope knew exactly what he was planning. “Go ahead.”

As Hubert got up, he shot a discreet look at Kristin.

Kristin immediately ladled a bowl of soup and turned to Natalie. “Mommy…”

“You can go too.”

Natalie waved her off before she could even finish her sentence.

The two little ones scurried upstairs to deliver food to Laura, thinking they had pulled

it off perfectly, giggling to themselves as they went.

“I’ll have Laura’s dad come pick her up this afternoon,” Natalie said.

Penelope nodded. Just as she was about to say something else, Cindy rushed in with Kelly trailing behind her.

“Natalie, do you know this Maria? Why is she telling people you hit her?”

Cindy must have seen a video online, discussed it with the ladies outside, and decided to come get the scoop directly from Natalie.

At the mention of Maria, Natalie frowned.

“I know of her. We’re not close.”

She glanced at Cindy’s phone. It turned out Maria had won the award for Best Actress last night. During the press conference afterward, a reporter had brought up the incident from years ago when Natalie had slapped her in public, and Maria had responded.

Her response was: “The matter has been settled, and I don’t wish to speak of it again. I hope you will all stop pouring salt on my wounds. After all, this is a scar will need a lifetime to heal.”

The dramatic statement had sent online spectators digging through the archives, bringing the ald

incident back to light and

condemning Natalie all over again.

“I did hit her,” Natalie said with a shrug.

Cindy paused for a second, then declared, “Well, she must have deserved it!”

“That’s right! You can tell just by looking at her that she’s no good!”

“Good for you! Bullies need to be put in their place!”

The women didn’t know the details of what had happened, but they knew Natalie,

and that was enough for them to be sure she had done the right thing.

After they left, Penelope browsed online for a moment.

“Maria and Hamilton are getting married,” she said.