Chapter 703

Penelope had drunk a lot and was already wasted, but she still managed to snatch the bottle back from Theodore and take a few more sips. When he tried to stop her, she acted petulant.

“Why are you so stingy? It’s just a few drinks.”

He tried to take the bottle back, but she dodged him. He narrowed his eyes. “Do you believe I’ll throw you out on the street if you get any drunker?”

“Nope.” Penelope let out a hiccup and leaned close to his ear, giggling. “You wouldn’t have the heart.”

Theodore’s hand on her waist tightened abruptly, and she cried out softly in his

arms.

“Do you have to be so angry?” she grumbled. “Do you want a drink too?”

Penelope looked up at Theodore, trying to see if he was really mad, but found herself captivated by his lips. She murmured, “If you want some, I’ll give you some.”

She was truly drunk. She took a mouthful of liquor and, before Theodore could react, pressed her lips against his. She forced her way in, pushing the alcohol into his mouth. His grip on her waist grew tighter, but she endured the discomfort to press her advantage.

After transferring the mouthful of liquor, she greedily took half of it back. Once they had both swallowed, she started to pull away, but he wasn’t about to let her go. He captured her again, his kiss now a furious plunder.

At some point, Penelope found herself lying on the sofa with Theodore pinning her beneath him. The alcohol acted as a catalyst, igniting a desire that had been buried

for six years.

Just as Theodore was about to surrender to that desire, the one who had started the fire passed out.

Frustrated, he bit her lower lip, hard enough to hear her whisper, “Honey, have mercy.”

That one phrase sent a jolt through Theodore, a familiar tingling sensation.

It was what she used to say, a mix of pleading and playfulness, whenever she had provoked him and couldn’t take the consequences.

When she woke up, Penelope found herself in the master bedroom of Theodore’s villa. She blinked, then quickly looked at the space beside her. It was empty, of

course.

She vaguely remembered what she’d done just a few fragments-but after that… It seemed nothing came after.

Penelope sighed with regret and dozed for a little longer before getting out of bed.

The two children had already gone to school. After freshening up, she asked for breakfast, which Lilian brought to her.

The meal consisted of only a simple soup and some rolls, not the usual lavish spread when she took bite of a roll, she couldn’t help but frown.

“Is there a new chef?”

Lilian looked surprised. “You didn’t know, ma’am?” “Know what?”

“Sir is selling this villa and the staff house across the street. Since the properties are being sold, the staff are being dismissed. It’s just me and Hogar left now, and we’ll be leaving in a few days too.”

Penelope was stunned. “Why?”

Lilian shook her head. “I don’t know.”

After Lilian left, Penelope thought for a moment and called Theodore, but Michael answered.

“He’s still drunk.”

Penelope glanced at the time. It was only ten in the morning. He was drunk already?

“After I dropped you off last night, he called me out again to keep drinking. Honestly,

I’m about at my limit,” Michael said wearily.

“Do you know about him selling the villa?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No.”

Michael sighed. “He’s not just selling the villa. He’s selling all his properties and investment shares to pay back the money Zenith Tech owes Zenith Group, so he can make the company independent

“Is it a lot?”

“At least a billion dollars, and that’s after Mr. Stapleton Sr. gave him a discount.”