Chapter 328

“When I’m thinking of you, how could I possibly have the energy to work?”
“Your words are so sweet to me. How can that same mouth make other people cry?”
Theodore tweaked her nose. “Then you should be glad you’re my wife and not my employee.”
“And what if I’m not your wife anymore?”
“That’s not a possibility.”
His work efficiency clearly plummeting because of her, Theodore eventually kicked her out of his office, instructing her to wait for him in the adjacent lounge.
After a quick work call with Nathan, Penelope started scrolling through videos to pass the time. She stumbled upon one featuring Donald and was about to swipe past when she saw her mother’s name on the screen. She paused.
“Edith Laurier was a painter of immense soul and talent,” Donald was saying to the camera. “I always believed she would achieve extraordinary things in the art world, but for reasons unknown, she vanished from the public eye. I’m a great admirer of her work and have collected nearly thirty of her paintings. I’m planning to host an exhibition in her honor.”
Penelope’s brow furrowed. Donald had mentioned this before, and she had dismissed it as absurd. But now he was actually doing it.
“I hope that when the time comes, esteemed artists and art lovers alike will grace us
with their presence. I simply wish for her talent to be seen by more people. Of course, if she herself could attend, it would make the exhibition truly complete.”
He then looked directly into the camera, his expression full of deep emotion. “Edith, wherever you are in this world, let’s meet again.”
The affection in his eyes was so thick it was as if his words could only express a fraction of what he felt.
Thanks to Donald’s influence, the exhibition quickly became a hot topic, with people online launching a search for Edith, hoping she would appear on opening day to fulfill his heartfelt wish.
Penelope scoffed. Her mother had passed away three years ago, and he was only now starting to look for her. This belated display of affection was pathetic, especially since she knew it was all a lie.
She swiped away, determined to pay no more attention to Donald or anyone else from the Bishop family.
At noon, Theodore took her from Zenith Group, saying they had to meet someone.
“Who is it?” she asked.
The question seemed to cast a shadow over his mood. “You’ll see when we get there.”
Seeing his reluctance, Penelope
didn’t press further. She snuggled
against him in the car and, after
moment’s hesitation, said, “I saw
your mother today.” fo
“What did she say?”
“You can probably guess.”
Theodore wrapped his arm around her more tightly. “Whatever she said, don’t pay it any mind.”
“I didn’t. I told her to take it up with you.” Official source ıs
“Good.”
Penelope smiled, then another
thought occurred to her. “I got the
feeling ut she seems to really
your mother… I don’t know if
I’m right,
dislike Norton?” In fact, it was more
than distike; it was closer to disgust.
And Norton seemed completely
used to it.

Theodore was silent for a moment before he answered. “Norton was conceived after
my mother had a… reckless night with an escort.”
“Her mental state was very poor
back then Our family wasn’t watching her closely enough, an she slipped out to a bar. She didn’t realize she was pregnant until three months later.”
“Everyone wanted her to terminate the pregnancy, but she refused. That whole
incident is what led to my father divorcing her.”
Penelope was even more confused. “If she was so insistent on having the baby, why does she dislike him so much?”
Theodore let out a heavy sigh. “Because Norton is a boy.”
…