He pulled her into her house and accidentally touched her hand. It is cold. He said, “You’ll be frozen stupid if you stand here any longer.”
He passed a cup of hot water to her. She felt warm, and her nerves became relaxed.
“… It is your tone that just reminds me of my mother,” Penelope explained after a while. “When I first arrived in New York, I was almost cheated by a man. She was as angry as you when she found me. She shouted at me, even beat me while I cried.”
Penelope looked up at him and awkwardly smiled, “What you said is true. I’m really stupid.”
He stood in front of her. He raised his hand and gently patted her head.
“You’re not stupid.” Warren Duncan, who always stands by his word, breaks his rule for the first time.
“Thank you…” Penelope bowed her head, blocking her red eyes.
“Where is your mother’s cemetery? I can take you to go see her.” He can only make her feel better within his ability.
He could never forget that day when she arrived in London. She looked down at the city from the plane with that kind of remembrance and excitement.
Her mother must have had a deeper attachment to the city than her.
She avoided his gaze and said embarrassedly, “I’m afraid not… her ashes have been spilled into the sea.”
“…”
“She wasn’t free for her whole life. I want her to be free finally.” Penelope said briefly.
A woman who had been abandoned by her husband and had been addicted to drugs for many years had never lived for herself and did not want to live well for her children. She gave herself up, but Penelope could not let her go.
Penelope stood up and wiped away the tears. She smiled and said, “I’m sleepy. I want to sleep.”
“Watch your step.” He turned sideways and let her go. He could feel her sadness.
Penelope thanked him for not asking and keeping her last bit of poor self-esteem.
“Thank you.”
She lowered her head and walked past him to the stairs.
A few steps away, she can feel him following.
She reached out quickly to wipe away the tears on her face and accelerated her pace.
When the door closed, she squatted down with her arms around her knees. Her tears drop from her eyes silently.
He stood on the other side of the door, hearing the faint sobbing sound. It’s very light, like a small animal trying to hold back the crying.
To be honest, he began to hate the woman he had never met.
How could she leave her alone?
****
Today is Mr. and Mrs. Duncan’s wedding anniversary. Some go home, and some go to the Duncan’s house together with Warren. Penelope is the only one left.
Mrs. Brown also left. Her children are coming back from abroad, so she planned to spend some days with her family.
Warren walked downstairs in a silver-gray shirt while buckling his cuffs. He saw Penelope in a daze there and asked, “You really won’t go with me?”
“Err… no.” Penelope came to her senses and shook her head while a pleasant smile appeared on her face.
Asher’s grandmother obviously looked down on her. If Penelope goes to her wedding anniversary, she is bound to destroy her good mood. If she did so, she would be to blame.
“Will you be okay if you stay here alone?” He struggled against the cuffs and put much effort into fixing them.
“Yes. I have lived here for a month, and I’ve gotten used to it.”
“If you want to go out, call the driver, and he will pick you up.”
“Okay. I will.” Penelope smiled, trying to prove that she could live alone well.
He glanced at her, “If you are afraid to stay alone at night…”
“People who have slept in sewers won’t be afraid of this.” She sneered.
“I said. If you are afraid, I can come back at night.”
Penelope tilted her head, squeezed her ear, and said, “I’ll think it over. This house is a bit big…”
“Um?”
“Perhaps I will be scared. After all, it is not my territory…” She stared at him with a look of innocence and purity.
He lifted his mouth but didn’t answer.
Penelope stretched her hands to his sleeves. She bowed her head to help him button his cuffs. She said, “You’re spending too much time on it…”
She stood in front of him. He looked down and saw the top of her head.
The small swirl in her hair is as cute as she is.
“I did it! I thought it would be difficult to buckle…” She patted his arm and smiled.
“When I come back, I could bring you a gift. What gift do you want?” asked Warren.
Penelope raised her eyebrows. She seems to be shocked, “Really?”
“Of course.”
Penelope happily applauded and asked with excitement, “How many gifts could I expect?”
“One.”
“What…”
As rich as he is, is he actually so penny-pinching? She had never heard that the boss of a company relied on savings to make the company bigger and stronger.
“You can think about it and then tell me.” He took the coat and changed his shoes to leave.
“Okay.” Penelope followed him to the door and watched him leave.
Ross ran out. He licked Penelope’s legs, and then he followed Warren out…
“Hey, stupid dog, come back!” Penelope shouted and chased out.
****
The family dinner was really cheerless. Today is Mr. and Mrs. Duncan’s wedding anniversary. It is also a time for the family members to reunite. However, Mr. Duncan wasn’t happy because he would prefer to be with his other family.
Additionally, their eldest daughter, Jessie Duncan, died young. Their son-in-law and grandson are all unable to go back to celebrate with them, leaving only the youngest granddaughter, Grace. As for Warren, he is single.
Mrs. Duncan is very high-spirited, and even her husband’s cold face didn’t affect her enthusiasm. Maybe in her eyes, she is the legal wife. At this type of family gathering, regardless of how the mistress is favored, the husband has to go home to accompany her.