Penelope can’t help bursting her bubble, saying, “No, we’re not. I work in the school library and occasionally go to audit classes.”
Mrs. Duncan’s attitude became even icier than before as she looked puzzled.
“I used to be an underwear model and a yoga teacher.” Penelope smiled with her back straightened.
“What?” It seemed that Mrs. Duncan didn’t catch her words. Even Warren looked up at her.
Penelope calmly answered, “My parents died prematurely, so I have to feed myself and do all types of work.”
“You are an orphan?” Mrs. Duncan asked astonishedly.
“Ah, yes.”
“Are you the only one in your family?” Mrs. Duncan asked dryly.
“I have a younger sister.”
“Is she also a… model?”
“No, she isn’t. She was adopted by a wealthier family. She should be going to college by now.”
Penelope is fatherless, motherless, and jobless. She grew up on the street and is now pregnant before marriage. She couldn’t easily be accepted. Some things can be hidden well, but others can’t at all.
“I think I understand your situation.” Mrs. Duncan nodded and glanced at the maid next to her. The maid immediately said, “Miss Seinfeld must be tired. Please follow me and take a rest.”
Penelope has face blindness, but she is not senseless. She nodded her head towards Mrs. Duncan and followed the maid.
Penelope disappeared from the doorway.
Seeing it, Warren put down his teacup and asked, “You are not satisfied?”
“Are you satisfied?” Mrs. Duncan groaned.
“Asher liked her. Moreover, she is now pregnant. If you don’t like her, you can’t make a decision before Asher comes back.” He plainly said.
Mrs. Duncan grinned and said, “Miss White is better all around. Why didn’t Asher fall in love with her?”
“Asher is a grown-up man now, don’t worry about him.”
“How can I rest assured? How does such a girl become a member of our family?”
Mrs. Duncan glowered, “Asher’s mother died young. As his grandmother, I should take responsibility for his major decisions. Otherwise, he will be easily deceived.”
Warren knew that his mother had been domineering during her lifetime. And she will not budge easily when dealing with things related to Asher.
But he still said, “Penelope is pregnant; do you want your grandson to be an illegitimate child?”
“Miss White said she doesn’t mind Asher’s affairs before marriage, and she is glad to take care of the baby.”
Warren sneered: “Miss White is really generous.”
“Miss White is the daughter of an eminent family. She never blinkered.” Mrs. Duncan grunted and said, “In families like us, if the wife can stay in her place, the husband’s affairs are disregarded.”
Warren is speechless. He has always considered his mother paranoid. Maybe it’s because she did it, and she succeeded, so she never regarded her husband’s mistresses as threats.
****
Penelope sat in the slant hall. The maid sat her down and went away after offering some cakes and tea. It seems that she wasn’t treated respectfully.
“You’re my brother’s girlfriend?” A crisp female voice called out with a few picky notes.
Penelope cleared her mind and smiled. She introduces herself again, “How do you do? I am Penelope Seinfeld.”
Here comes a girl, about twenty years old, dressed in riding gear and holding whips. She’s full of animated courage. “My name is Grace Walker. Did my brother tell you about me?” She sat down on the stool and put the whip on the table.
“Of course he did. He said that you are in college now. You are a very kind girl.”
Grace glanced at her stomach and asked, “My nephew is here?”
“Err, probably.”
“Probably? What do you mean?” Grace frowned.
“It may be your niece.” Penelope blinked abruptly.
“Oh, yes.” Grace stretched her locked brow and nodded.
Penelope can’t help laughing to herself at the thought that she is really simply very cute.
“Do you want to marry my brother? I don’t think my grandmother likes you.”
Penelope’s smile cracked, “Ha, really..?”
“You are totally senseless. You didn’t feel it at all?” Grace asked with an expression of dislike.
Penelope went silent.
“Are you multiracial?” Grace looked at her wheat skin and couldn’t help but ask.
“No, I went to the beach to get suntanned.”
“How can it sustain for so long?”
“After that, I went to a tanning salon.” Penelope awkwardly laughed.
“Why?”
“Occupational requirements, huh, huh…” Penelope felt her sides hurt because she laughed too much.
Grace stared at her, saying, “If you’re not pretty, I really can’t chat with you for too long.”
Penelope, “…”
The door of the slant hall is knocked. Warren stood in the doorway and said, “It’s time to leave.”
Grace skipped to Warren agilely like a monkey, saying, “Uncle Warren, are you leaving me already!”
“I have something else to do. Spend more time with your grandmother. Don’t make her angry.”
Grace is tact. She blinked. “Don’t worry. I will try my best even if it’s for the sake of my unborn nephew.”
“Well, that’s good.” He replied with charming smiles.
Grace is enchanted. She waved, “See you, uncle Warren!”
“Goodbye.” Warren walked away, and Penelope immediately followed him.
In the car, Penelope cannot help but ask, “Did I behave badly?”
He seemed to close his eyes to grab a nap. He asked, “Is that what you think to be true?”
“It’s 100% true.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” Warren opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.
Penelope understands what he meant. If what she said is true, then it is her experience, which can’t be said to be good or bad, but if it isn’t true, her lie is a bad one, just like a script of a miserable play.
The car is driving into the tunnel. Penelope
tilted her head and looked at the window, which reflected Warren’s clear face outline.
Warren is a really good man. Penelope didn’t know if it was merchant traits that helped him conceal his real thoughts, so she never felt disdain for him after bearing her experience.
Penelope put her chin on the edge of the window and got her face close to the window, smiling.
“Ah!”
A scream of sheer agony erupted from the air. Penelope bit her tongue.
The driver apologized, “I’m sorry, it is too dark to see the stones on the road.”
“That’s… okay…” Penelope waved her hand with tears in her eyes.
Warren looked at her, “Did you say you weren’t an idiot this morning?”
Penelope covered her mouth tearfully.
Warren sighed, “It seems that you don’t know enough about yourself.”
Fine. She is said to be stupid in a new way.