Chapter 181

The knife slammed down onto the cutting board with a loud thud.

"What did you say?" Theodore's voice dropped to a dangerously low temperature.

Penelope, oblivious, continued to wrap herself around him. "You have to take responsibility for me."

He gripped her arms and pulled her away, his dark eyes boring into hers. "Say that again. What happened to you?"

Only then did Penelope notice the cold fury in his expression and realize he hadn't understood her joke.

"When I say I'm pregnant, it's a compliment! It means you're so charming and sexy that a woman could get pregnant just by looking at you. It's... hard to explain. It's just a feeling. It means I love you so much I want to have your baby."

Failing to explain, she gave up and decided to demonstrate instead. She stood on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed kisses along his throat, her body flush against his.

"Honey," she whispered, "make me pregnant."

Theodore's hands tightened on her waist. "I thought you were hungry," he growled.

"I am. Are you?"

His eyes darkened. In one swift movement, he lifted her onto the kitchen counter beside them and captured her mouth, his lips moving from a gentle bite to a hungry kiss. His hand slid under her sweatshirt, his touch igniting fires everywhere it roamed. Penelope's body grew hotter, her breath catching in her throat...

"Bro, can you hurry up with dinner? I'm starving out here!" Norton's voice echoed from the living room.

About ten minutes later, Penelope was unceremoniously evicted from the kitchen.

"What were you doing in there, making a mess? You can't even cook," Norton said, giving her a disdainful look.

Penelope stared at him as if he were an idiot. "Your brother is already on edge after being dragged to the police station to deal with our mess. Do you really think he's not angry?"

"Huh?"

"He was busy with work, and now he's cooking. But he's going to deal with us eventually."

Deal with us?

Norton felt a shiver run down his spine. "My brother hits really hard."

"Well, I already managed to get on his good side," Penelope said smugly.

"Really? What about me?"

"You're on your own."

It dawned on Norton that her trip to the kitchen had been a strategic move to appease his brother. The woman was cunning. He immediately tried to follow her lead, and went into the kitchen:

"Get out!"

He reappeared a moment later, looking dejected. "Penny, how did you do it? You have to teach me your ways."

Penelope's lip twitched. "My methods wouldn't work for you."

After dinner, Penelope left the brothers to themselves. She took her medicine and made a hasty retreat. As soon as she got home, her phone rang. It was her brother, and he was furious.

"How many times have I told you to stay out of my business? Who do you think you are, taking on Colin and his gang of thugs by yourself?! thought you were supposed to be the smart one. Did you leave your brain at home today?"

If anyone else had spoken to her like that, she would have torn them apart. But it

was her brother, and with him, she had no temper.

"I didn't get hurt."

"Oh, so you think you're some kind of hero now? You're a girl! What were you thinking, fighting them? You got lucky today, but what about next time? Do you have any idea what those delinquents are capable of? Just stay away from my school from now on. And stay away from me!"

"I know you're just worried about me, Timothy."

"Where in any of that did you hear concern? Penelope, do you have no shame?"

"I love you, Timothy. I always have."

"You"

"And I know you love me, too."

The line went dead. Timothy had hung up, either out of anger or disgust.

The next morning, Penelope returned from her run to find Mrs. Sullivan waiting for her at her front gate.