In the neighboring dark bedroom, the bed was empty. Outside the balcony, Warren was sitting in the chair. Next to him were a glass and a half-bottle of red wine.
In the silent black night, he was deeper than the darkness.
The lamp in the next room was extinguished, and he looked back into the distance, where there were looming stars.
Alcohol swirled over the tip of his tongue and slipped down his throat. It was cool as if trying to melt the dark flame that was gradually regrowing in his heart.
****
The next day, as usual, Warren went to the company, and Penelope went shopping with Mrs. Brown.
The weather gradually warmed up. Penelope put on a thin coat to go out. At almost five months, she still couldn’t be seen as pregnant from the back.
Pushing a trolley to stroll around in the supermarket, she occasionally teased the passing children and tried to steal some snacks from them.
Mrs. Brown said smilingly, “You are still childish.”
Penelope ate a cherry and said with a smile, “There are always people who teach them this lesson.”
Mrs. Brown smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.
****
The secretary hurried into the CEO’s office and interrupted the report of the HR supervisor. “What’s wrong?” Warren knew that it must be something important.
“Master Asher has returned, and the flight has just landed.”
He pinched the pen in his hand, and he nodded lightly. He said calmly, “I get it. Have you sent someone to pick him up?”
“I also just got the news. I haven’t had time to arrange,” the secretary observed his expression and said cautiously.
Asher had returned silently, unlike his style.
With a furrowed brow, Warren nodded and said, “Then you don’t have to.”
The secretary received his instructions and retreated immediately, leaving room for them to continue talking.
Seeing that, the HR supervisor continued to report on his own folder.
“About this year’s employment, I plan to introduce high-level talent…”
After listening for two minutes, Warren took a deep breath. He got up with his jacket and said, “I have something urgent to tend to. You can send the report to my email.”
He then walked towards the door and disappeared within a minute.
The HR supervisor froze. He had finished his report, but did he still have to email it?
****
After shopping in the supermarket, Penelope was about to go home when her phone suddenly rang.
“It’s a domestic number…” She picked it up, “Hello, this is…”
After half an hour, Penelope arrived at the place he had mentioned. She hadn’t sat down yet when someone slapped her on the head from behind.
“Well, you seem to be doing well without me here!”
A white figure fluttered from behind and sat opposite her.
Penelope threw a small basket with napkins on the table at him. “I was scared!”
Asher looked like Warren, but his profile wasn’t as sharp as Warren’s. If Asher didn’t speak, he looked like a gentleman. However, when he began to say something, he was just a street hooligan, very down to earth.
“I know you can’t deal with my family, so I hurried to come back.” Asher passed a cup of tea to her and said, “What the heck is going on? I was really confused by what you told me over the phone.”
Penelope told him from beginning to end, including the part she had previously conjectured.
“So, you first stole my Uncle Phillip’s sweater and then discovered that my Uncle Warren has the same one. On top of that, Uncle Warren had been to New York in October, so you think he is the child’s father?” Asher made a concise summary.
Penelope lowered her head in embarrassment. “And… he admitted that the man that night was him.”
Seeing this scene, Asher looked up and said, “It’s not too late to be shy?”
“Hey, I didn’t know it was him before.”
Penelope’s cheeks became red.
Asher looked at her and asked, “Do you like Uncle Warren?”
“I also like Matt Damon. He doesn’t seem to like me.”
“You know Matt Damon?”
“He played an important role in The Bourne Identity.”
“…” Asher said, “You always remember something unimportant.”
“He played it five times. It’s easy to remember.” Penelope drank a mouthful of tea while saying it confidently.
“… don’t change the topic. What are you going to do now?”
Penelope frowned and said worriedly, “I dare not tell your uncle. I feel he will kill me.”
“Yeah, people of their status are afraid that a woman will suddenly appear pregnant with their baby.”
“Why?”
“Their first reaction is surely to think that the woman wants to split his family’s property. You are silly.”
Penelope said, “I never think about that.”
“There are too many lessons from the past. It is normal for everyone to think like this.” Asher sighed.
“Furthermore, you don’t know my grandma’s temper. Uncle Warren is considered to be the greatest pride in her life. She can’t tolerate anyone influencing him. She’s a control freak, it’s scary!”
Penelope fell into silence with her lips pressed.
She had only considered Warren’s reaction but hadn’t thought about his family’s influence.
How could a woman whose husband carries on a clandestine love affair and even has a child with his mistress possibly tolerate a woman pregnant after a one-night stand?
She would probably give her a check and ask her to get as far away as possible, as quickly as possible.
“Then what can I do now?” Penelope was also somewhat confused.
Asher said, “According to our original plan.”
The original plan was to fool his grandmother and disgust those women who wanted to marry into his home. Then, she would take the money and return to New York to give birth to her baby.
But there was a variable here – Warren Duncan, Asher’s uncle, her baby’s father.
In the yard, the sound of a car was heard. Warren stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room and watched them get out of the car with smiles. Then he saw Asher take their luggage, and the two of them walked towards him arm in arm.
“Uncle Warren, long time no see!” Asher shouted with a big smile and gave him a bear hug.