Chapter 442

“And what about you?” Penelope raised an eyebrow.

“Me?” Theodore narrowed his eyes. “I’m far more loyal than you are, of course!”

The Stapleton family had two lunatics. One was Mrs. Stapleton, who was genuinely ill. The other was Marico, who wasn’t ill but was capable of murder, arson, and every evil imaginable.

As Steven’s only son, Marico should have been the heir to the Stapleton family fortune. But because of his violent nature, Mr. Stapleton Sr. had given up on him early on, choosing to groom Theodore instead.

“He was always causing trouble. In elementary school, he threw a classmate into a pond and nearly drowned him. In middle school, he stole a car and caused a multi- vehicle pile-up. In high school, he drove a girl to suicide. In college, he started gambling and lost over a billion.”

Theodore rubbed his temples just thinking about his cousin.

“And he’s tried to kill me more than once.”

Penelope shivered. “Is he… a psychopath or something?”

“Not really. Just spoiled rotten by my aunt.”

“Mr. Stapleton Sr. was the one who sent him abroad?”

“Yeah. After he lost the billion, my grandfather was afraid he’d destroy the entire family if he was left unchecked. So he had him tied up, sent overseas, and locked away somewhere.”

“So he escaped? He’s back in the country?”

Theodore sighed. “Most likely.”

Penelope shrank back. She didn’t want to cross paths with this man. He wasn’t just crazy; he was a genuine threat.

In the end, Penelope decided not to tell Theodore about the robot issue. The Stapleton family was already facing threats from within and without, and he was stretched too thin.

With that, Penelope decided to meet with Hans herself.

When she called to arrange a meeting, he agreed readily.

The chosen location was a restaurant directly across from the Bishop Group’s headquarters.

Penelope arrived first. Hans came over during his lunch break, sat down opposite her, and let out a cold snort.

“No wonder you’ve been opposing my family at every turn. You’re that woman’s daughter!”

“My mother isn’t ‘that woman.’ Her name is Edith. Please address her respectfully as Ms. Laurier,” Penelope said, frowning.

“Hah! She bewitched my son and turned him against me, and you want me to respect her?” Hans said angrily.

“First of all your son is not mentally incompetent. He makes his owne decisions, and they have nothing to do with anyone else. Secondly, when your son cuts ties with you, do you bear no responsibility at all?”

“You…”

“Furthermore, the methods you’ve used are the ones that are truly dishonorable, aren’t they?”

Hans’ face darkened. He had forgotten how sharp-tongued this girl was. There was no point in a verbal sparring match.

“You asked me here because you need a favor. But with an attitude like this, we can forget it.”

Penelope pursed her lips. He was both right and wrong. She didn’t need a favor, but she did want to talk things over The fact that he came meant he felt the same

“Actually, there’s something I’m quite curious about.”

Hans leaned back in his chair. “Go on.”

“Why fake the paternity test? Even if you dislike my mother, there was no need to

humiliate your own son by implying his wife cheated, was there?”

Hans just shook his head and laughed as if the question was ridiculous.

“It seems you never had a grandfather who doted on you.”

Penelope’s expression soured. She certainly didn’t!

Her so-called biological grandfather was busy twisting a knife in her heart at that very moment.

Hans, indifferent to her feelings,

continued, “I won’t allow anyone to

threaten Yvonne’s position in the Bishop family. She is my most beloved granddaughter and the sole heir to the Bishop family!”