Chapter 346

At that moment, Penelope couldn’t contain herself anymore and burst into this loud, mocking laughter that echoed through the entire restaurant. Other diners started turning their heads to see what all the commotion was about.

“Just look at this good-for-nothing fool!” she said between her fits of laughter, pointing directly at Oliver like he was some kind of circus act. “Do you have any idea who is going to be our most valuable guest of honor that day? I bet you haven’t even heard of him before in your entire pathetic life. And for you to think that someone like you could ever be considered important at my wedding, you better be joking!” Her laughter died down, but the smirk remained plastered across her face.

“My husband’s family is definitely going to be hosting the highest-ranking guests of honor, and they are people you couldn’t even dream of meeting p>

At that moment, without wasting another second, Penelope’s fiancé Richard finally decided to break his long silence. He cleared his throat in this deliberate way that immediately drew everyone’s attention to him, and when he spoke, his voice was calm and measured, completely different from Penelope’s loud and aggressive tone.

“Even though I don’t usually involve myself in these kinds of situations, and I really wasn’t planning on saying anything at all during this entire exchange,” he began, his eyes fixed directly on Oliver with an intensity that showed he was taking this very seriously.

“It seems like you really want me to contribute something to this conversation, which honestly, I had no intention of doing because I’m a man of very few words. I prefer to watch and observe rather than get caught up in unnecessary drama p>

Richard placed his hand gently on Penelope’s shoulder, a gesture that seemed both protective and possessive at the same time.

“However, I’m absolutely not going to sit here and allow anybody to disrespect or insult my wife-to-be in my presence. That’s just something I cannot and will not tolerate, regardless of how calm I might appear on the surface.” His jaw tightened slightly as he continued. “And since you’re sitting there literally betting with us, since you’re trying to raise your shoulders and act like you’re somebody important who can make impossible things happen, which are behaviors that I really don’t appreciate or respect, I have a proposal for you p>

Richard leaned forward slightly, his expression becoming even more serious as he laid out his challenge.

“What if we just make an actual bet right here and now, and literally forget about all these back-and-forth arguments that we’re doing? A proper bet with real stakes would definitely resolve this entire issue once and for all, just in case either one of you fails to deliver on what you’re claiming p>

At that moment, upon hearing what Richard had just proposed, Penelope immediately nodded her head with this excited, almost predatory gleam in her eyes. She looked like someone who had just been handed the perfect opportunity to humiliate someone she despised.

“Yes! Yes, that is exactly what we’re going to do,” she said, her voice rising with enthusiasm as she clapped her hands together.

“That is a very, very good idea, and I’m so glad you thought of it, honey.” She turned to face Cora and Oliver with this triumphant smile spreading across her face.

“I literally have the perfect plan in mind, and I literally have a suggestion that’s going to make this bet absolutely unforgettable p>

However, before Penelope could get another word out of her mouth or explain what kind of twisted bet she had in mind, Cora immediately shook her head vigorously and held up her hand to stop the conversation from going any further.

“No. Absolutely not. That is not what I want, and that is definitely not what I’m going to agree to,” Cora said firmly, her voice cutting through Penelope’s excitement like a knife.

“Nobody literally invited you and your fiancé to sit at this table in the first place, so why are you both still here trying to disrupt what was supposed to be our quiet, peaceful evening together? This is getting ridiculous p>

At that moment, hearing Cora’s refusal, Penelope threw her head back and started laughing in this loud, obnoxious way that made several other restaurant patrons turn around to stare at their table with annoyed expressions.

“Just look at Cora over here, scared as always, acting like the same scared little girl she’s always been,” Penelope said mockingly, wiping fake tears from the corners of her eyes.

“This is exactly how she has always been for as long as I’ve known her. Whenever Cora feels like she might be in any kind of competition with me, whenever she thinks there’s a chance she might have to actually prove herself, she literally runs away with her tail between her legs, just like she’s doing right now p>

Immediately, without saying another word or giving Penelope the satisfaction of thinking she had won this psychological battle, Cora straightened her spine and looked directly into Penelope’s eyes with a fierce determination that hadn’t been there before.

“That is not it at all, and that is absolutely not what I was literally trying to say just now,” Cora said, her voice steady despite the anger coursing through her veins.

“I’m actually just worried about you, Penelope, because I know that your big mouth and your overconfidence are going to land you into serious trouble one of these days.” She paused, letting those words sink in before continuing.

“It’s for your own good, it’s for your own benefit that I was trying to decline this ridiculous bet in the first place. I was trying to save you from the embarrassment that’s coming your way p>

Cora leaned forward slightly, her eyes never leaving Penelope’s face.

“But since you literally want this so badly, since you’re sitting there thinking that the only reason I’m refusing is because I’m scared of you and your connections, then fine – let the bet commence. I want you to know right here and right now that I’m not afraid of you, Penelope, and I will never be afraid of you or anything you think you can do to me.” Her voice dropped lower, but somehow became even more intense.

“You should just know that with this bet, you’re going to end up ruining your own wedding, and yes, that is exactly what’s going to happen when all of this is said and done p>

In that moment, Penelope’s face lit up with this twisted excitement, and she let out another one of her loud, mocking laughs that echoed through the restaurant.

“Well, well, well! Since you want a bet so desperately, since you’re finally ready to put your money where your mouth is, then you will absolutely have your bet p>