Chapter 152

Penelope smiled sweetly. "So, are we still allowed to have careers in Orenth?"

"Penelope, I was just joking with you, cuz!"

"What a hilarious joke." Her smile remained, but her eyes were cold as she turned

to her mother's grave. "Why is there a dirty shoe on my mother's headstone?"

Chasel shot a sharp glare at his father. Mr. Lancaster scrambled over and snatched the shoe away.

"And there are footprints," Penelope continued.

Mr. Lancaster immediately started to wipe the stone with his sleeve.

"I think your tongue would do a better job."

"Penelope, you can't ask him to "

"And all this spit," Penelope interrupted, her gaze sweeping over the Lancasters. "Whoever spat on it can lick it off."

A stunned silence fell over the group.

"You're going too far, child! We are your elders!" Grace Lancaster shouted.

"Chasel," Penelope said, ignoring her and fixing her cousin with a pointed look. "It must have been quite a climb to your position as general manager, given your intelligence."

Chasel's jaw clenched. The threat was unmistakable: do as she says, or Theodore will fire him.

"Let's not mix family matters with business, shall we?" he said, forcing a smile. "A fair point," Penelope nodded, then added, “But why should I be fair to you?" "I-I'm your cousin..."

"Don't make me laugh! Are you worthy? Do you know who I am now? I'm the future lady of Zenith Group. You're not even in my league!"

"Don't be so arrogant."

"I have my husband to back me up. Why can't I be arrogant?"

"You..."

"You know what you did to my mother. Now, all of you will kneel before her grave and apologize properly!"

The Lancaster's were bullies by nature; they weren't about to kneel just because Penelope said so. While Chasel and his parents were frozen by the threat to their

livelihood Sean Lancaster Mrs Gina Lancaster, and Grace scoffed and

turned to leave.

"Chasel," Penelope said, her voice dangerously calm, not even looking at the departing relatives. "If a single one of them leaves today, you can start packing your desk. Not only will you be fired, but my husband will also see to it that you are blacklisted from the entire industry And you know how far Zenith Group's influence reaches."

He was the family's pillar. All she had to do was aim for him.

Chasel's face contorted with rage. He glanced at Theodore, who was standing a short distance away, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He hadn't said a word, but he was Penelopes shield her power and the leverage she held over him.

"Lester's tuition, do you still want me to cover it?" Chasel snapped at Sean and Gina.

"Grace, are you sure you want me to stop holding him back from that divorce?" he added, looking at his aunt.

His two questions were enough to make the three of them sheepishly return.

Penelope's lips curved into a smirk. "Everyone, it must be tiring to stand. Why don't you kneel instead?"

Chasel's fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. Finally, with a deep, shuddering breath, he knelt. Seeing him go down, the other Lancasters followed suit, their faces dark with humiliation.

"Auntie..." one began.

"Address her as Mrs. Laurier," Penelope cut them off. "My mother is no longer part of your family, so stop trying to claim her."

Left with no choice, they changed their address and, one by one, began to kowtow and offer their apologies.

Penelope knelt before her mother's grave and took out a pack of wet wipes, gently cleaning away the filth. She hadn't made them lick it. Their mouths were just as dirty; they would only stain the stone further.

"Mom, I'm here. I know you don't want to see them, and you certainly don't want that animal buried next to you. Don't worry. I'm going to give you peace today."

She turned and glared at Chasel. "I want you to move Lucien's grave. Now."