Chapter 377
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Mrs. Stapleton was clearly on edge, so Penelope tried to keep her own anger in check. “I came here tonight hoping we could have a civil conversation about Theodore and me p>
“If I had known from the beginning that you were barren, I would never have allowed you to marry him p>
“I understand that, but I never intentionally deceived anyone p>
“You would have never even met Theodore p>
“We p>
“There is no ‘we,’ only you! He was always meant to be someone completely out of your reach p>
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“With your background, your family… our families marrying you was a joke! When I agreed to Carson’s request, I was already prepared to be laughed at. But I gave him a clear deadline, and I never imagined he would present me with such a defective product p>
Defective product?
Penelope’s fists clenched at her sides. “Mrs. Stapleton, I don’t have to stand here and take your insults. I am tolerating this for Theodore’s sake, and I expect a little respect in return p>
The moment the words left her mouth, Mrs. Stapleton snatched a cup from the coffee table and smashed it on the floor.
“Respect?” she sneered. “You think you deserve respect p>
“I am not desperately clinging to your family p>
“Then get a divorce p>
“Fine!” Penelope shot back, taking a deep breath. “Like I’ve said before, if Theodore agrees, I have no objection p>
“Do you think you have him so completely wrapped around your finger? Do you actually believe he’s fallen in love with you, that he would defy his own mother for you p>
“I don’t think that. But marriage is between two people. Outsiders have no right to interfere p>
“You really see this transaction as a real marriage p>
“It seems the money Carson gave you is no longer enough to satisfy your greed, is it p>
“You think the title of ‘Mrs. Stapleton’ will bring you more? More money, status, prestige p>
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you feeling guilty p>
If she were still the old Penelope, driven only by revenge against the Sullivans and the allure of money, these words wouldn’t have touched her. But she had fallen in love. With Theodore. Just as Mrs. Stapleton said, she had started to see this transaction as a true marriage, and money was no longer enough. She did want more. The realization terrified her. Was her relationship with Theodore a marriage or a transaction? She loved him, and he loved her-but could that love
transcend the business deal that
had brought them together?
She had never asked him. Should she?
“Penelope, the daughter-in-law the Stapleton family wants, the wife Theodore is meant to marry, will be his equal. She will be someone who can provide him with powerful support, someone who doesn’t need his love but shines just as brightly as he does p>
“Do you see yourself as some kind of Cinderella p>
“She longed for the prince’s precious love, to marry him and gain a title, status, and wealth. But she was just a commoner. What could she offer a prince? How is that any different from wishing for a free lunch p>
Mrs. Stapleton cast a cold, withering glare at Penelope. “So, after you’ve received the status and wealth Theodore has given you, what can you give him in return? And don’t you dare say your love. It’s utterly worthless p>
With that, Mrs. Stapleton turned and went upstairs, her face a mask of ice.
Penelope didn’t know how she
managed to walk out of Star Villa. It wasn’t until she was sitting in her car taking a deep, ragged breath, that she finally came back to herself. Every word Mrs. Stapleton had spoken was like a hammer blow to her heart-painful, and terrifyingly true.
What could she give Theodore? They were not equals p>
No!
Penelope shook her head fiercely. She couldn’t let Mrs. Stapleton’s words poison
her mind.