Chapter 66

"On one condition."

"A condition?"

Penelope glanced down at herself, now modestly covered by his jacket. Surely he wasn't suggesting... no, that couldn't be right. He had his... issues.

But a medical condition didn't necessarily mean a lack of desire.

"My condition is that you are not to touch a single drop of alcohol tonight."

Penelope blinked. No drinking? What kind of condition was that?

Before she could ask, Michael appeared and whisked Theodore away.

"Weirdo," she muttered under her breath before heading back toward the banquet hall.

Just inside, she ran into Nathan. After a brief chat, they walked together toward a private lounge.

Rebecca had been searching for Penelope. When she saw her disappear into the lounge with Nathan, a triumphant glint appeared in her eyes. She hurried back to Mrs. Sullivan and Zebulon, who were both furious at the news.

"That Penelope! She's shameless!" Mrs. Sullivan hissed. "Does she have no sense of occasion? Carrying on with another man right under our noses!"

Zebulon's face was a thunderous mask as he stormed toward the lounge.

"Dear, you have to be patient!" Mrs. Sullivan called after him. "She may have no shame, but our family does!"

"Zebulon, that's right," Rebecca added, her voice dripping with false concern. "Besides, we still need to work with KINY Group. We can't afford to make a scene."

Mrs. Sullivan's advice was genuine, but Rebecca's was pure manipulation. She was secretly hoping Zebulon would publicly humiliate Penelope, causing a final, irreparable break between them.

But Zebulon heard none of it. His reason had been consumed by rage. He had only one goal: to catch Penelope in the act with her lover and humiliate them both.

He stalked to the lounge door. Hearing laughter from inside only fueled his fury. He kicked the door open and burst in.

"You bitch, you..."

His accusation died on his lips as he took in the scene before him.

"Zebulon, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Penelope, startled by his violent entrance, glared at him.

"Mr. Sullivan? Is everything alright?" Nathan asked, completely baffled.

Mrs. Reed, sitting beside Nathan, was even more confused. "Ms. Laurier, is this man a... friend of yours?"

Penelope snorted. "He's the young master of my former company."

Before Zebulon could process what was happening, Mrs. Sullivan and Rebecca rushed in behind him.

"Penelope, you tramp!"

"Penelope, have you no shame?"

The two women hurled their accusations, only to realize the situation was not what they had imagined.

The room fell into a bewildered silence.

Penelope, however, began to laugh, doubling over with mirth.

"Ms. Laurier, what's going on?" Nathan asked.

She wiped a tear from her eye. "They seem to think you and I are having an... affair."

"What?" Nathan's brow furrowed in anger.

"It's because you and I were seen going into the hotel last night. Someone was following me and took a bunch of pictures."

"I was taking you to meet my wife!"

"I know," Penelope said, her voice

dripping with sarcasm. "But

get

Some

people have dirty minds so they

filth everywhere."

As the pieces fell into place, Zebulon and the others flushed with embarrassment.

Trying to save face, Zebulon snapped at Penelope, "Why didn't you just explain?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Did you give me a chance to?"

"I was angry at the time, but later..."

"And why should I have to explain anything to you later?"

They had broken up. It was over.

"Penelope, are we really supposed to believe Mr. Reed took you to a hotel just to meet his wife? That soundsza little far-fetched, don't you think?” Rebecca chimed in, unwilling. to let it gö. And this woman-is she really Mrs. Reed?"

Even if it were true, she reasoned, they didn't have their marriage certificate on them. With a little prodding, she could turn the truth into a te. By the time Zebulon and

Penelope's relationship was completely destroyed, the facts wouldn't matter anymore?