Chapter 803

It was too late.

No one could truly comprehend the sheer agony in Theodore's voice as he said those words, but Penelope understood. She felt the exact same suffocating grief.

She turned in his lap and wrapped her arms tightly around him. There was no need for words right now; just holding each other was enough to soothe their shared pain. They stayed like that for a long time, until Theodore hit play on the recording again.

Suddenly, Penelope realized something. "Norton said a man came in, and that his son needed his heart..."

Theodore's eyes narrowed. "The man Norton mentioned must be the buyer."

"So Norton..." Penelope trailed off, struggling to find the right words. "So Norton was basically a sheep locked in a pen. Before the buyer arrived, they just kept him captive. Once the buyer showed up and the match was confirmed, they bought him, and then..."

And then they cut out his heart.

Of course, it wasn't just his heart, and it certainly wasn't just one buyer.

"There's another possibility." Theodore's voice went dangerously quiet. "What is it?"

"Norton might have been tested for a match with that man's son without even knowing it. Then, the man hired that gang to lure Norton into the slaughterhouse step by step. That gang was just the weapon. The one who truly murdered Norton was that man."

Hearing this, Penelope clamped a hand over her mouth in horror.

"That's completely terrifying."

"The police have the same theory, which is why they interrogated the gang again. But those guys were just low-level thugs following orders; they had no idea how the actual deals went down. As for the real boss running the operation, he died of a sudden heart attack shortly after going to prison."

Penelope frowned. Didn't that mean they had absolutely zero leads on who the buyer was?

"The police are still investigating. All we can do is wait for the results."

Penelope nodded. "I guess that's all we can do."

With the heavy topic put to rest, Penelope asked him where he had been all day and why she couldn't reach him.

"Today marks the anniversary of Norton's passing," Theodore said.

Penelope slapped her forehead. She had completely forgotten. No wonder

Theodore had been gone all day.

"My phone died, but I really did forget to pick up the kids. I'm sorry."

"Don't be silly." Penelope leaned down and kissed him. "I should have gone with you to visit Norton's grave today."

By the time Penelope woke up the next morning, Theodore had already gotten the boys ready and was about to drop them off at school.

His expression was relaxed, looking as though he had already pulled himself out of last night's grief, which put Penelope's mind at ease.

The two boys wouldn't stop complaining about him forgetting to pick them upwesterday, so Penelope walked over and gave them each a swift kick to the shin, which finally shut them up.

"Let's grab dinner out tonight," Penelope said, pulling Theodore by the collar for a

kiss.

Taking advantage of the kids

wrestling with their shoes, Theodore backed Penelope into the corner of

the hallway and kissed her deeply,

By the time they broke apart they were both breathing heavily.

"I'll pick the boys up from school first, then I'll swing by the office to get you," he murmured against her forehead.

"I'll be waiting."

"Alright."

Watching the three of them leave, Penelope took her time eating breakfast while Lilian chatted with her as she cleaned up.

"By the way, have you met the new family that moved in next door?" Penelope asked Lilian.

Lilian, who was wiping down the sideboard, nodded. "It's a sister and brother. The boy just walks around with his head down and doesn't say a wor₫when he bumps into people. Seems like he's got some issues And that Sister of his, she might be tiny, but she's got a massive attitude. I was carrying a fruit platter outside, and her brother almost plowed right into me. Before I could even open my mouth, she started screaming at me to watch where I was going."