Chapter 815

Urged on by Julian, Penelope drove them straight to the coast, arriving just before

noon.

The beach villa was empty. After a quick phone call with Hubert, Julian dragged Penelope toward the shoreline. From a distance, she spotted Theodore. He was standing on the beach in a black overcoat, the ocean breeze whipping at the hem.

Beside him stood a petite woman in a white dress. She fluttered around him like a butterfly dancing in the wind. She was looking up at him, and even from this distance, Penelope could see the obsessive infatuation in her eyes.

Penelope recognized the woman.

It was the new neighbor who had moved in next door-the sister of the boy she had nearly run over a few days ago.

Penelope's eyes narrowed. So the new neighbor was Theodore's mysterious gaming teammate?

What a coincidence!

As they walked closer, they found Hubert sitting cross-legged in the sand, stuffing his face with cake, his eyes narrowed in absolute bliss.

Julian smacked him on the shoulder. "I told you to spy on Dad and report back! Is this how you spy?"

Hubert frowned. "Dad's right over there. I'm watching him, aren't I?"

"You're just watching! You didn't report the massive security threat!"

"What security threat?"

"He's with a woman!"

"Oh."

Seeing that Hubert entirely missed the point, Julian rolled his eyes in sheer frustration.

Penelope was much more direct. Without a word, she kicked Hubert in the leg. You raise an army for a thousand days just to use them for one, and this little brat was completely useless.

Telling the boys to stay put, Penelope marched down the beach.

Theodore had his back to her,

staring intently out at the ocean, so he didn't notice her approaching The woman, however, spotted her immediately and shot her a

her a hostile

mera hostile

glare.

Just as Penelope closed the distance, the woman suddenly picked up a shard of broken glass from the sand and viciously slashed it across her own finger. Blood instantly welled up.

"Ah! It hurts!" she cried out in a fragile, dramatic tone.

Penelope stopped in her tracks, watching in amusement to see what the woman's next move would be.

When Theodore didn't react to her cry, the woman deliberately stepped closer to him. "My hand is cut. It's bleeding so much."

Theodore didn't even glance at her. He kept his eyes fixed on the horizon.

Refusing to give up, she shoved her hand closer. "Mr. Stapleton, could you check if there's any glass left in the wound? It really hurts."

With her hand practically shoved in his face, Theodore couldn't ignore her. He spared it a single glance before his brow furrowed.

"There's a clinic not far from here. I'm not a doctor. I can't help you."

His voice was ice-cold and laced with blatant disgust. The woman's face froze in utter humiliation.

Penelope felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her. Putting on a bright smile, she strolled over. "Oh my, who got hurt? Do you need some help?"

Hearing her voice, Theodore's lips curled into a smile before he even turned around. He looked at her, and though he didn't say a word, his expression sale it all. He had known she would come, and here she was.

Penelope shot him a glare, then deliberately wedged herself between him and the woman. She met the woman's eyes before looking down at her bleeding finger.

"Wow, you really went all out. Slitting your own finger that deep takes commitment."

The woman's expression turned icy. "I accidentally..."

"Accidentally picked up a piece of glass from the sand and accidentally dragged it across your own skin?"