Chapter 404

Being so close, Penelope could hear every word of Hans’ self-serving lies. She snorted in disgust.

Hans clearly heard her. “Theodore, how could you marry such an undisciplined woman? She’ll be the shame of the Stapleton family in Orenth. I was only teaching her a lesson for your family’s sake…”

“You hit my wife and call it a favor to my family?” Theodore’s eyes narrowed.

“Our families have known each other for generations…”

“I can pay you for whatever she broke.”

Hans let out a hearty laugh. “There’s no need for that. Just discipline your wife properly, so that she doesn’t…”

“I can pay you for the damages. How are you going to pay for the beating my wife took?”

“What?”

Theodore’s jaw clenched. “You didn’t really think you could lay a hand on my wife and get away with it, did you?”

“Theodore, don’t be ungrateful! I am your elder!”

“You’re a Bishop. I’m a Stapleton. What kind of elder are you to me?”

“You!”

“You have one hour. Bring the weapon you used to hit my wife to my doorstep. However many times you struck her, she will return the favor. Then this matter can be put to rest. But if you’re not here in one hour, then I’ll be coming to find you.”

With that, Theodore ended the call.

He looked at Penelope, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with a raw, aching tenderness.

“I thought you knew how to fight. How did you let him hit you?”

His words made her eyes well up. “It was their entire family against me…”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I didn’t want to put you in a difficult position.”

Theodore gritted his teeth. “The Bishop family is nothing. I could level their entire

estate, and it would be nothing more than a minor inconvenience.”

Penelope sniffled and leaned into his embrace.

“I didn’t start it.”

“It doesn’t matter if you started it or not. They are the ones who are wrong.”

“I did kind of wreck their house, though.”

“Hmph. That’s not what I call wrecking a house.” Theodore’s eyes narrowed. “I’m about to show you what ‘thorough’ really looks like.”

He took her upstairs and examined her injuries the welts were dark and swollen, some of them broken and bleeding. When he realized Hans had used a belt, he slammed his fist against the bed in fury. He gently applied ointment to her wounds, then held her close, kissing her softly for a long time.

“It’s been an hour,” he said finally.

Penelope pouted. “Hans isn’t coming.”

He wouldn’t. He didn’t believe the Stapletons were that much more powerful than the Bishops. He was convinced Theodore wouldn’t risk a family feud over her. And most of all, as an elder, he believed he was in the right and was too proud to apologize, let alone allow her to hit him back. His reputation would be ruined.

Theodore pulled a fresh set of clothes from the closet, helped her dress, and then led her to the car.

Penelope watched him as he drove,

his face a cold, hard mask, his eyes blazing with a fierce light. If she were his target, she would be terrified. But she was the one he

was protecting and thie feeling was

exhilarating. This was her husband, and he was standing up for her.

When they arrived at the Bishop Manor, three large bulldozers, summoned by Theodore, were already parked outside. The entire Bishop family stood at the gate, their faces pale with shock and fear.

They couldn’t believe it. Theodore was actually going to bulldoze their home.