Chapter 597

Penelope leaned away, trying to put some distance between herself and Benson’s sly grin.
“What are you up to?”
“If you don’t have a boyfriend, what about me?”
“You?”
“I’m actually a great catch. I’m rich, handsome, and in good shape. Why don’t you consider me?”
Penelope didn’t hesitate for a second. “Not interested.”
“Then what kind of man do you like? I can help you find one!”
“Why don’t you just tell me what you really want?”
Benson cleared his throat and sat down next to her. He opened his mouth a few times, but the words seemed hard to get out.
“My sister… she’s never been in a relationship before. It’s rare for her to like someone, and of all people, it had to be Theodore. I want her to be happy, but I’m also afraid she’ll get hurt.”
Penelope let out a breath. “So you want me to hurry up and get a boyfriend to extinguish any lingering hope for Theodore. Even though I don’t think he has any hope left for me, you believe that would make him treat your sister with his full attention, right?”
“Yes,” Benson admitted.
“And you’re willing to sacrifice yourself for the cause?”
“Ahem, well, it’s not exactly a sacrifice. I do admire you, Ms. Laurier.”
“That’s a despicable idea.”
Benson nodded. “I admit it.”
“Something only a lunatic would come up with.”
“I don’t admit to that. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with my brain.”
Penelope gazed into the distance. Sherry was a very clear-headed woman; she had likely already made her decision.
Summer was setting in, and from the hillside, the rolling mountains were a breathtaking sight.
Theodore stared into the distance, but his mind was consumed by the image of Penelope from that night, so stubborn it made him want to grind his teeth.
He had asked: Penelope, do you still love me?
And she had whispered: I will never let Theodore know I still love him.
The words had tormented him for days, making it impossible to focus on anything.
His mind kept replaying that moment, leaving him both angry and, strangely… relieved.
“Ms. Austin, I
“I know what you’re going to say.”
Sherry turned to face Theodore with a playful smile. “But can I go first?”
Theodore nodded. “Go ahead.”
Sherry looked at Theodore, her expression full of mock regret. “Let’s break up.”
Theodore was taken aback. That was exactly what he had been about to say.
“Actually, ‘break up’ is too strong a word. We were never officially dating, we never even held hands. It’s more accurate to say that I have no intention of taking things further, with Mr. Stapleton. Let’s stophere and just be friends.”
Theodore was surprised, but also felt a pang of guilt.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare think I’m doing this to make things easier for you. No, this decision is based on my own situation, after weighing the pros and cons. I believe breaking up is in my own best interest.”
“If you need me to explain anything to Mr. Austin, just call me anytime.”
Sherry stuck her tongue out playfully. “Actually, I never told him we were seeing each other.”
Not telling her family meant that, subconsciously, she also knew they would never last.
Benson hadn’t given up yet. He was showing Penelope photos of every eligible young man he knew, including some very famous actors.
Seeing her obvious lack of interest,
Benson sighed in frustration. “Of course none of them can compare to Theodore, but there’s only one Theodore in this world. I can
exactly find you a second one.”
If Penelope didn’t need something from him, she would have flipped the table by
now.
“Mr. Cooper, didn’t you say you owed me a favor?”
Seeing her suddenly serious expression, Benson’s eyes darted around. “I did say
that, but if you’re going to ask me to make my sister break up with Theodore, I can’t do it.”