Chapter 693

Penelope quickly went after the figure, but after searching for a while, she couldn’t find anyone.

She must have been mistaken. Yvonne should have been sent abroad long ago.

“Coming through, make way!”

Two workers carrying a large wooden crate came toward them. Penelope quickly stepped aside and watched as they carried the crate into the ballroom.

Figuring it was some kind of surprise planned by the company, Penelope didn’t think much of it. With Hubert getting antsy, she took him to the restroom first.

When they returned, she saw the large crate had been placed in front of Theodore, and the two workers were prying off the nails on top.

A short, middle-aged man in a pinstripe suit was explaining the contents to Theodore. “This is something truly special. I had to pull a lot of strings to acquire it. It’s my gift to you, Mr. Stapleton. Wishing you a booming career and hoping the group’s business hits the next level.”

Penelope recognized the man. He was a Zenith Group shareholder named Dominic Jones. But what on earth was he giving Theodore that required such a large box? She had a bad feeling about it.

Theodore seemed to feel the same way, his brow furrowed. “Mr. Jones, I appreciate the sentiment, but please don’t open it now. I’ll look at it when I get home.”

“Let’s open it now, so everyone can have a look!”

Dominic, as if afraid he wouldn’t be allowed to show it off, urged the workers to open the lid quickly.

Soon, the wooden crate was opened, and the crowd gasped at what was inside.

It was a wolf. A real wolf. As the workers tore away the wrapping, it was clear it was

a genuine animal-not alive, of course, but a taxidermy specimen.

The wolf’s eyes were open, and it was posed in a majestic stance. Its fur was smooth and glossy, clearly well-preserved.

“Mr. Stapleton, you can take this wolf home and display it in your living room. Everyone who sees it will be impressed,” Dominic said, clearly proud of his gift.

Hubert was initially scared but quickly grew curious. He slowly approached it and cautiously stroked the wolf’s fur.

“Why isn’t it moving?”

Dominic looked at Hubert and let out a deliberate howl, sending the little boy scurrying behind Penelope. Dominic laughed heartily.

“Because it’s been killed. Dead things don’t move.”

Hubert peeked out. “Why did you kill it?”

“It had to be killed to be turned into a specimen.”

“What’s a specimen?”

“A specimen is when you first kill it, then you take out its heart, kidneys, lungs, and everything else inside its belly…”

“That’s enough, Mr. Jones. There’s no need for such detail.”

Penelope eut Dominic off, trying to suppress her rising panic. How dare he give this to Theodore? ‘Heart, liver spleen, langs all hollowed out’… wasn’t that how Norton had died

Penelope clenched her fists. She suspected this Dominic was doing it on purpose.

Dominic just smiled. “I’m just

educating the young master. The insides have to be emptied to make a specimen You all know about mummies, right? A mummy is basically a specimen too. You just hollow out a person’s heart, liver, spleen, and lungs, leaving only the skin. That way…”

“Mr. Jones, that’s enough!” Penelope snapped. She could see Theodore’s face had turned dangerously dark.

Dominic glanced at Theodore but, as

if intentionally, continued, “A

person’s organs are actually quite useful. They can be transplanted. I hear it’s best if they’re harvested while the person is still alive…”