Chapter 596

“What makes you so sure I still love her?”
“A gut feeling. You two have incredible chemistry.”
“Speak English!”
“The way you look at her is completely different from how you look at anyone else. And it’s the same for her.”
Penelope stared at the pond, scrutinizing its surface, trying to spot any fish, but there probably weren’t any.
There was really nothing for her and Sherry to talk about. Small talk felt pointless, and deep conversation was just awkward.
“Ms. Laurier, do you see me as the person who came between you and Theodore?” Sherry’s sudden question made Penelope quickly shake her head.
“Of course not. We’re already divorced.”
“I don’t know why, but I can’t shake that feeling,” Sherry said with a bitter smile.
“I… I have no contact with Theodore, and I’ll do my best to avoid him. Today was an accident, I can promise you that
“Ms. Laurier, I think you’ve misunderstood me,” Sherry said, shaking her head. “I’m just… conflicted about something.”
“What is it?”
“There’s an opportunity at my company for an overseas assignment, and my boss wants me to take it, but it’s for three years. Theodore and I barely have a foundation for our relationship. If I go, we’ll be finished. But if I stay, can our relationship really withstand the weight of what I’d be ‘sacrificing’?”
Penelope pressed her lips together. She couldn’t offer a single word of advice on this.
“Of course, I’m not asking you what I should do, Ms. Laurier. I’m just feeling troubled.”
“If my appearance has caused you this much distress, I am truly sorry.”
“It is your appearance that has made me realize Theodore and I are completely wrong for each other.”
Penelope looked at Sherry, confused. Why would she say that?
“You’re too brilliant, Ms. Laurier. As brilliant as Theodore.”
Just then, Sherry’s colleague returned from the restroom. As she walked along the edge of the pond her foot landed on a patch of loose soil, softened by recent rain. The ground gave way, and she tumbled into the water.
Seeing this, Penelope and Sherry rushed over.
The colleague couldn’t swim and was flailing wildly, pushing herself further from the bank.
Penelope saw Sherry already taking off her jacket to jump in, so she figured she wasn’t needed in the water and could help from the shore.
But just as Sherry was about to jump, she suddenly asked, “Ms. Laurier, can you swim?”
“Yes, I can.”
Penelope assumed Sherry couldn’t swim and answered quickly.
To her shock, in the next moment, Sherry shoved her into the pond. As she fell, she heard Sherry say, “I’m sorry.”
Utterly bewildered at being pushed into the water, Penelope saw Sherry dive in right after her.
Before Penelope could figure out what was happening, Theodore and Benson came running.
Seeing the scene, both men immediately jumped into the water to help.
Theodore gave Penelope a boost, but she was a capable swimmer. She pushed him away gently and pointed toward Sherry’s colleague. Together, they swam over and pulled the woman to safety, just as Benson was helping Sherry out of the water.
Sherry looked at Theodore and Penelope and suddenly let out a small laugh, as if the question that had been troubling her finally had an answer look of relief washed over
her face.

Benson was a decent cook. After they had all changed into dry clothes, they ate lunch.
After the meal, Theodore and Sherry went for a walk in the woods behind the house.
Benson sidled up to Penelope. “Do you have a boyfriend right now?”