Chapter 495

“Penelope, don’t you dare slander us. We acted with a clear conscience and didn’t take a single penny, you…

Before Rebecca could finish, Penelope hung up.

Was Rebecca just trying to get revenge for what happened back then?

That was certainly part of it, but there had to be something more. She hadn’t figured

it out yet, so there was no need to rush. She would just wait and see what Rebecca did next.

Having cleared her head, Penelope let out a breath of relief. She was about to head back to her room to sleep when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Didn’t Timothy say he’d be working late tonight?

Wait, if it were him, he wouldn’t need to ring the bell.

Curious, Penelope walked to the door and looked through the peephole. She saw a little boy dressed in a black suit with a bowtie, looking bored as he kicked at the floor tiles with his little leather shoes.

After a moment, when no one came to the door, he looked up in confusion.

It was a miniature version of Theodore’s face. His almond-shaped eyes were so defined they looked as if they’d been drawn with a fine-tipped pen, clear and sharp. His small face, taut and pale, had an almost porcelain quality. His demeanor was cool, and despite his young age, he exuded an intimidating presence.

This was… Julian, her and Theodore’s eldest son.

Penelope’s heart leaped into her throat. She stared at that small face with a mixture of fear and longing, her hand trembling as it reached for the doorknob. But reason held her back, preventing her from opening the door.

“Penelope, this is the last time I’m asking you. Do you really want to break up with me?”

“If you choose to leave, then I hope it’s for a lifetime.”

“Let’s never see each other again!”

“Please take responsibility for the choice you’ve made. Please leave my world completely!”

“And our child, please cut all ties with him as well!”

That winter, after a heavy snowfall, Theodore had come to her, holding the

swaddled Julian in his arms, hoping she would come home with him so their family could be whole.

He had swallowed all his pride that day, his voice pleading, even kneeling before her.

But she had said, “Theodore, the love

I have for you isn’t enough to make

me come back, especially when that love is fading so quickly with time. To be honest, don’élové Theodorey you that much anymore.”

Hearing her words, Theodore’s face had turned horribly pale. He stood up, staring at her for a long moment,

then turned and walked away”

clutching them child, one step at time.

As she decisively shut the door, she heard Julian’s heart-wrenching cries.

In that moment, she knew.

She and Theodore were completely over. The bond between her and Julian was severed.

This was her choice.

And terrifyingly, she had never once regretted it.

Even Natalie couldn’t help but say once, “Penelope, I’ve realized you have a heart of stone.”

She always had. Her heart was incredibly hard. She always put herself first, believing that her life was about her own happiness. there were multiple paths to

vernet

happiness, she would always

choose the easiest one the one that

caused the least harm to herself.

When no one came to the door, Penelope assumed the boy would leave, but

instead, he started punching in the door code.

Penelope’s heart sank, and she quickly ran back to the guest room.

Just as she got inside, the front door opened.

Julian walked in while talking on the phone. As he entered the living room, he

glanced at the coffee table and frowned.

Penelope looked over and saw she’d left her bath towel there.

“Uncle, I’m at your place now.”

Julian’s call had connected. Before Timothy could say anything, he added, “Your place is a mess. Do you need me to clean it for you?”

Timothy must have said no, because Julian pouted with a hint of displeasure.