Chapter 427

Outside, the rain beat a relentless rhythm on the stone steps. The blue house, isolated from the world, felt like a sanctuary.

Inside, it was another world entirely.

The moment Theodore’s lips met hers, all of Penelope’s worries, fears, and hesitations vanished. She surrendered to the kiss, completely accepting his demanding passion.

The small bed in the room creaked loudly as he laid her down on it, protesting as if it might collapse at any moment. So Theodore knelt on the floor, supporting most of her weight against his body as she leaned back against the bed, which only made the creaking louder.

But neither of them cared. He claimed her, and she gave herself to him, meeting his kisses with her own.

The rain was a storm, their clothes were in disarray, and their world was chaos.

After a long time, as he held her close, a low gasp escaping his lips next to her ear, a sense of calm finally settled over them.

“It’s despicable of me, but I’m just glad it wasn’t you,” he said.

Penelope’s nose stung. “If it had been me…”

“Don’t say ‘if’!”

“I thought you were the one who wanted to run away.”

“I never, not for a moment, had that thought.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I accept. But don’t let it happen again.”

They held each other tightly, listening to the sound of the rain outside.

In that moment, they decided to put the past aside and face the coming storm together.

The rain didn’t let up, and they had planned to spend the night there. But late in the night, the hospital called. Mrs. Stapleton was demanding to see him. Theodore had to go back.

“I’ll… I’ll go with you,” Penelope said, worried.

Theodore kissed her. “You don’t have to face her for my sake.”

Penelope hugged him tightly. “Okay.”

He didn’t ask her to play the part of a sinner and atone, nor did he expect her to be the bigger person and forgive. He would never ask her to swallow her pride for him.

He had always been the best kind of lover.

The next afternoon, Penelope went to the hospital to visit Gloria.

She felt incredibly guilty. Gloria had been hit and seriously injured because of her. When she arrived at the le she was surprised to see Donald and Judy there, talking to a doctor.

“How could such a serious accident happen? How long until she’s out of the critical period?”

“Have they caught the driver?”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Donald spoke as he peered through the glass window, his eyes filled with deep

concern.

Even though the paternity test had shown he wasn’t Edith’s daughter’s father perhaps after his anger subsided, he still cherished their past, which was why he had come to the hospital to offer his help.

After the doctor finished explaining Gloria’s condition and left, Donald continued to watch the person inside, sighing repeatedly.

Judy stood behind him, a triumphant smile slowly forming on her face.

“After everything Edith did to us, every single thing, we’re still here visiting her

daughter. We’ve more than done our duty by her.”

Penelope narrowed her eyes. Thirty

years ago, Judy had framed her mother, causing her to be separated from Donald. Twenty years ago, she had thrown her out of the Bishop family home behind Donald’sback. And now, she had spread rumors to slander her mother’s name, then manipulated a mentally unstable Mrs. Stapleton into committing a hit-and-run.

The root of all this evil was her!

Penelope took a deep breath, opened her phone, and logged into Edith’s account online. Without a word, she posted a voice recording.

It was a recording from Jack’s phone, and it was Judy’s voice.

“You have to stick to the story that Edith seduced you, that she slept with you just to

get money from you!”