Chapter 736

"Lavinia got her clothes wet while cooking, so I let her change into yours," Ellison explained, pulling Lavinia behind him. He glared at Marin. "She's just borrowing them. Why are you throwing a fit?"

Penelope jumped in before Marin could respond. "Those are pajamas. They touch bare skin. What if she has some kind of disease? Having her wear them is just... gross."

"Who are you calling diseased? You're out of line!" Lavinia cried, instantly defensive.

"I'm just saying loungewear is highly personal. Anyone with a shred of common sense wouldn't wear someone else's."

"Ms. Laurier, you—"

"Mr. Jeffries, surely you wouldn't share your underwear with another man, would you?"

Silence filled the room.

Penelope scoffed. "If you do have that kind of kink, you're a freak."

"Honey, who did you bring home? Why is she being so nasty?" Ellison finally snapped, his patience snapping.

Marin's expression turned frigid. "Ms. Laurier is my friend. Show her some respect!"

"Did you hear what she just said?"

"Where was the lie?"

Ellison took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. "Forget it. I don't want to fight with you today."

Lavinia tugged at Ellison's sleeve, putting on a fragile, apologetic act. "It's my fault for not double-checking yesterday. It was a slip-up at work. Marin has every right to be mad at me."

"You just started working and lack experience. Mistakes are inevitable," Ellison comforted her.

"But Marin is so furious."

"You just confused a casual happy hour with a formal gala. It wasn't a huge deal." "Still, it's my fault."

"So Mr. Jeffries doesn't think it was a big deal?" Penelope couldn't hold back anymore. She had been enjoying the atmosphere too much to keep quiet.

Ellison ignored her, already completely irritated by her previous jabs.

"Thanks to your precious Lavinia mixing up a dive bar meetup with a black-tie gala, Marin showed up in an evening gown and was immediately targeted by a bunch of tree

ceps on the street. I happened to be walking by and saved her. If I hadn't been there, can you even

imagine what would have happened to her?"

Hearing this, Ellison immediately looked at Marin. "Why didn't you tell me this?"

Marin let out a cold laugh. "I did. But didn't you say I was overreacting and

purposely making life hard for your sweet little Lavinia?"

"... when did I say that?" Ellison fell silent for a moment before deflecting. "Well, you should have confirmed the dress code before you left If you had just

double-checked two ne

happened."

have

"If I have to double-check every single thing she does, what the hell is the point of having her around?!" Marin yelled.

"Sob... Marin, I'm so sorry. Please don't fight with Ellison. It's all my fault," Lavinia started wailing, looking as pitiful and innocent as possible.

Penelope couldn't stand the manipulative performance. "This is an argument between a married couple. What does it have to do with you? If you want to cry so badly, go cry to your mother!"

Marin was thoroughly exhausted. She grabbed Penelope's arm to leave, but Ellison caught her wrist.

He let out a heavy sigh. "Lavinia's

former advisor asked me to look out

for her. You know I owe the

professor a lot, and I can't just

disrespect him the

dknows she

messed up. Just let it go and forgive

her this once."

"Wow, so she's just a kid now," Penelope clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "So,

deep down, you actually see her as a daughter, Mr. Jeffries?"

"I didn't say "

Penelope grabbed Marin. "Well, your daughter just apologized. As her mother, you should probably forgive her."