Chapter 5

"Actually, I do have a problem with that," Penelope said, raising an eyebrow with a smile.

Mr. Sullivan's face darkened. He hadn't expected such a direct refusal.

"Penelope, Dad must have his reasons. Just listen to him," Zebulon whispered.

"What reasons?"

Zebulon froze. The Penelope he knew was obedient. She never questioned him. "You must be tired. Why don't we discuss this at the office tomorrow..."

"I am tired. After all, I had to sweet-talk a client, secure a deal, and then rush home to surprise you."

"Then..."

"But I'd still like to hear Father's reasons."

Penelope kept smiling, her tone soft, but she refused to back down an inch.

“Hmph,” Mr. Sullivan grunted.

Penelope turned to him. "I've spent the better part of a year on this project. I've been on the road more than I've been home, working late nights, sometimes even sleeping at the office. Now that it's about to close, you want to replace me. I think I deserve an explanation, don't you?"

"You need to learn to see the bigger picture!"

"And what is the bigger picture?"

"You are a Sullivan. This company will belong to you and Zebulon one day. What's one project in the grand scheme of things? I'm doing this to help you build goodwill."

Penelope let out a snort of laughter. The president of Stone Group could lie without so much as blinking.

"You think this is funny?" Mrs. Sullivan, who had been simmering with anger, finally erupted. "If you weren't our daughter-in-law, he wouldn't be wasting his breath reasoning with you! He'd just fire you. You think you could do anything about it?"

"Mom!" Zebulon snapped.

"I've had enough of her!" Mrs.

is never home?

Sullivan slammed her hand on the table. "What kind of daughter-in-law She doesn't respect her elders, she can't take care of her husband-what use is she to this family?"

"No use at all?” Penelope clicked her tongue. "Last year, the two deals I closed

brought in a net profit of what, a hundred million dollars?"

"You think the company would go bankrupt without you?" Mrs. Sullivan jabbed a finger at her. "You only landed those deals because your dad and Zebulon were pulling strings for you behind the scenes! And you still had the nerve to take that massive bonus! You should be grateful, not insolent!"

"That's enough!" Mr. Sullivan roared. "We are a family! Why must we act like strangers?"

"Mom, Dad, please don't be angry. I'll talk to Penelope..."

"Don't bother," Penelope cut Zebulon off. "I agree to step down."

Zebulon breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped an arm around her. "Penelope, I knew you'd understand."

She shrugged him off with a sneer. "I'm always so understanding. That's what makes me so easy to deceive."

Zebulon frowned. "Penelope, what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you lied to me."

"When did I ever-?"

Penelope pouted, feigning anger. "When we got our marriage license, you promised me a grand wedding. We've been married for three years, and you still haven't made good on that promise!"

"You... you want a wedding?"

"Is that too much to ask?"

"Of course it is!" Mrs. Sullivan interjected again. "You're already married! And you've been married for three years! Why would you have a wedding now? It's a complete waste of money!"

"If we don't have a wedding, how will

anyone know I'm the Sullivan

daughter-in-law, Zebulon's wife?

What if someone else tries to

What if

impersonate me? I'd have no way to

defend myself, would I?"