Chapter 413
Gloria had taken time out of her busy schedule to help, and even got slapped for it. Though she insisted it was fine, Penelope felt terrible and insisted on treating her to dinner.
Timothy waited outside the research institute for Gloria to finish work and brought her over.
“You really don’t have to be so formal. If it weren’t for the money Mrs. Laurier gave me back then, which helped me with my tuition, I might be back in my hometown farming right now p>
Her name was Gloria White, and after graduating with a master’s degree, she had started working at a biomedical research institute. She still got emotional when she recalled the past, her expression filled with gratitude.
“You played that part for my mom, so it was only right that she paid you,” Timothy said.
But Gloria shook her head. “We originally agreed on two thousand, but when Mrs. Laurier found out I still hadn’t raised enough for tuition and had no money for living expenses, she gave me ten thousand right away. That money was a lifeline that allowed me to finish my studies p>
So that was why. No wonder she had agreed to help them without a second thought when Timothy found her.
Penelope thanked Gloria first, then asked her, “Back then, when my mother asked you to play my part, did she tell you why p>
Although she had a general idea, she still wanted to hear what her mother had said.
Gloria looked at Penelope and nodded firmly.
“Mrs. Laurier said her life was ruined by the Bishop family, and she was even more afraid that they would ruin her daughter’s life too. So she found me and asked me to pose as her daughter to divert the Bishops’ attention. But she also said it was only temporary and hoped that by the time it was needed, her daughter would have already seen the Bishops for who they were and wouldn’t be deceived by them p>
Penelope felt a lump in her throat. She now understood even better why her mother had been so adamantly against her attending Orenth University.
“That day, I accompanied Mrs. Laurier to meet that woman. The woman was so condescending and said many humiliating things to Mrs. Laurier, who didn’t say a word in her own defense. In the end, she even… even knelt before that woman.” Gloria sighed as she recalled the scene.
Penelope frowned deeply. “Why did my mother kneel to her p>
“Because that woman said with just a snap of her fingers, Mrs. Laurier could die without a proper burial, and her daughter wouldn’t be able to make a life for herself in Orenth p>
“Just because of that p>
Penelope couldn’t understand. Her mother wasn’t such a weak person. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have killed Lucien back then.
“But in exchange for that, all she got was the woman’s triumphant laugh and the words: ‘You’re dying anyway, so I can’t be bothered with you. As for your daughter, as long as she behaves and stays out of my sight, I’ll pretend she doesn’t exist p>
Penelope elenched her fists. Her mother had sacrificed her last shred of dignity to build a shield for her, just hoping she wouldn’t be crushed by the Bishop family while she was stil vulnerable.
And in the three years she had gained, she had indeed grown a lot.
But she had still clashed with the Bishop family, and this time, it seemed a showdown was inevitable.
“Ms. Laurier, Mrs. Laurier didn’t want you to have any contact with the Bishop family.
If at all possible, that was her dying wish p>
Penelope pressed her lips together. Her mother didn’t want her to fight the Bishops
to the bitter end; she just wanted her to stay away from them p>
Back home, Penelope thought long and hard. She shouldn’t make her mother worry about her even in the afterlife. She would stay away from the Bishop family. From now on, no matter what schemes the Bishops came up with, she would just ignore them.
Having come to this decision, Penelope felt a sense of relief.
Tonight, she was staying at the Johnson family’s home, while Theodore was at Star
Villa.
Mrs. Stapleton’s mental state was still unstable, and Theodore needed to spend more time with her.
Penelope texted him: Did you hear a knock on the door?
Theodore:?
Penelope: My heart just flew over to you. Open the door and let it in.