Chapter 6

"What... what nonsense are you spouting!"

"So, here's the deal. I'll step down from the project, but I want a wedding. A lavish wedding, so grand that everyone in Orenth knows who I am. Otherwise, the deal is off."

"We've really let you get full of yourself, haven't we? You..."

Before Mrs. Sullivan could finish, Penelope threw her silverware onto her plate with a loud clatter.

The sharp sound made all three Sullivans flinch. In the past, she had been far too accommodating, and that's what had allowed them to deceive and humiliate her like this.

"You... you..."

"I've lost my appetite. I'm going upstairs."

With that, Penelope stood and walked away, not waiting for them as she used to. She didn't help Luna clear the table or cut fruit for the family or stay up late making conversation despite her exhaustion.

Upstairs, she found Luna fumbling with a key, trying to unlock the bedroom door. A smirk played on Penelope's lips as she approached.

"Luna, what are you doing?"

Startled, Luna quickly hid the key behind her back. "I... I was just going to clean your room, but the door seems to be locked for some reason."

"I locked it."

"Oh?"

Penelope pulled her own key from her pocket and unlocked the door in front of Luna.

"You may wait in the sitting room. I'll have it clean in no time."

As Luna tried to enter, Penelope stepped inside first, blocking the doorway.

"I'm tired and want to sleep. It doesn't need cleaning."

Before Luna could argue, Penelope shut the door in her face.

She turned around, and in the dim light from the window, she saw a shadow scramble frantically into the walk-in closet.

How amusing.

Who said only the legitimate wife could walk in the light? Here was the "real" Mrs. Sullivan, scurrying around like a rat in the dark.

She deliberately left the lights off

and moved in and out of the closet a

forcing the "rat to

few tin the wardrobe to Stay

huddled in

making a sound. When she

showered, she even left the

ло

of

bathroom door wide open.

By the time she emerged, she noticed the wardrobe door was cracked open. The air inside must have been getting stuffy. Even a rat needs to breathe.

She put on her pajamas, lay down on the bed, and quietly watched the wardrobe.

She and Rebecca had met in high school. They were desk-mates first, then friends. They grew closer, went to the same university, and became inseparable. They told each other everything, supported each other through everything.

After graduation, she started an internship at Stone Group. Zebulon was in the same intern class. At the time she didn't know he was the heir to the Sullivan fortune; she thought he was just like her, from anordinary family. They were assigned to the same team, worked on projects together, and slowly fell in love.

It wasn't until three years into their relationship, after the car accident, that she learned the truth about his family.

Penelope's hand drifted to her lower abdomen, tracing the faint line of a deep

scar.

They had been in the back of a taxi

that day. When a bundle of steel pipes broke loose from the truck in front of them and shattered the windshield, she had instinctively thrown herself in front of Zebulon. A pipe had impaled her, damaging her uterus.

While she was recovering, she had recommended Rebecca for a position at Stone Group. Looking back, Rebecca had only been at the company for six

months before she and Zebulon got their marriage license.

Her best friend was certainly resourceful.

Knock, knock, knock.

Zebulon was at the door. "Penelope, open up. Let me in."