Warren glanced over him and looked at the woman behind him.
She was smiling, and her eyes sparkled like jumping stars.
“Long time no see,” he said, taking his eyes off her and patting Asher on the shoulder.
Asher dragged his suitcase and opened it, revealing a wood-carved item. He said, “I brought you a gift, and you’ll definitely like it.”
Penelope stood beside him and smiled, asking, “Where’s mine?”
Asher quickly pressed a kiss upon her lips and said, “This is your gift.”
Penelope reached out and touched her lips, surprised at how seriously he was playing along.
Bro, isn’t this… a bit too much?
Warren’s eyes dimmed as he picked up the woodcarving, seemingly appreciating it.
Asher smiled and said, “Uncle Warren, I only brought you a gift. Please don’t tell others, especially my grandma, or it’ll be out of control.”
“You rarely remember me,” Warren remarked, his smile quickly fading.
“I must keep you in my heart! You’ve helped me take good care of Penelope, and I can hardly recognize her now. She used to be such a skinny girl.”
Penelope playfully kicked Asher down onto the sofa, exclaiming, “A skinny girl?”
Asher leaned back on the sofa, glancing back at her. “You’ve got quite the temper. What’s wrong with being called a skinny girl? I’d love you no matter what.”
Penelope took a deep breath, seized a nearby pillow, and playfully pressed it onto his face. “Am I skinny? Huh?”
Asher’s cries echoed through the room, resembling a mouse squeaking in distress.
“Help…”
Warren, standing nearby, silently retreated upstairs.
“Murder…” Asher continued to feign distress.
Penelope eventually released the pillow and removed it from his face.
Asher sat up and looked towards the stairs. “Do you think he bought it?”
Penelope sighed and leaned on the sofa, not answering.
****
In the evening, Asher carried his pillow to Penelope’s room, explaining, “It’s strange that we don’t sleep together. It’ll make my uncle suspicious.”
Penelope placed her hands on her hips, “Although you are gay, I have never shared with a stranger in my bed, so…”
She opened the door and swiftly tossed out his quilt and pillow.
Warren happened to pass by, holding a cup and watched the scene unfold with dumbfounded eyes.
The overturned water splashed onto his face and neck.
“Sorry!” Penelope was shocked and hurriedly grabbed a towel to help him dry off.
He stood straight, allowing her to wipe his face with the towel. He made no resistance. Penelope was gentle and careful, like a virtuous wife tending to her husband.
Asher followed them out and observed Penelope’s meticulous actions. She seemed to be pressing herself against Warren.
“Let me help you!” Asher grabbed the towel and began wiping Warren’s face.
Penelope clenched her teeth and glared at him while Asher grinned smugly as if taking revenge for being kicked out of the room.
“What are you two doing now?” Warren asked, pushing Asher’s hands away.
Penelope replied, “There are other rooms here, right?”
“Yes,” Warren nodded, and Asher glared at him.
Penelope turned to Asher, picked up the quilt and pillow from the floor, and patted him on the shoulder. “Just find a bed and sleep.”
Asher held the pillow and quilt, watching Warren leave with his empty cup without any attempt at persuasion.
He sighed and lowered his head.
Penelope stepped back into her room, chuckled, and slammed the door. Asher was startled, fearing he was going to end up with a swollen nose.
“Hey, Penelope, you’re going too far!” Asher exclaimed angrily.
“You agreed to go along with the script! Your habit of constantly changing your words will make you be discarded by the director!”
Asher felt his heart was exhausted.
****
Asher returned, and the delicate balance between Penelope and Warren was shattered. Their contact reached the lowest point in the history of their relationship.
Now, there was another man fulfilling the role he used to play for her, and she no longer needed his help.
Her arguments had shifted to a different man, and they clashed frequently, causing turmoil in the house.
But Asher didn’t forget the underlying issue. He took Penelope with him to visit his grandparents, intending to show that he wouldn’t accept any substitute.
He spoke passionately, as if marrying Penelope was the only righteous path and anything less would be unfaithful.
He stood in front of his grandmother, holding Penelope’s hand. For a moment, it almost seemed like they were a young couple asking for a blessing from the family.
However, the outcome was quite different, as Mrs. Duncan ushered them out with their gifts.
Asher slumped on the couch, wearing a miserable expression. When Warren returned, he amplified his misery tenfold.
“Uncle Warren, what should I do…” he asked in a helpless tone.
Warren glanced at Penelope, who was outside watering plants with the butler, and replied, “Does she wants to be with you?”
“We have a baby. She is bound to be with me,” Asher asserted, looking at Warren.
“Why do you have such a stale idea?”
“Then you say, what am I supposed to do? I got her pregnant. I must give her a legal title.”
Penelope took off her coat and hung it on the chair. Turning around, she noticed them through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
She smiled and waved, then went back to her work.
Warren smiled and said, “You think she’s so fragile. She may not care about marriage.”
Asher nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “How do you know? I haven’t seen that side of her, and we’ve been together for so long.”
“Although she loves money, she’s not the kind of person who puts money first. Similarly, although she loves you, she may not give up her nature for you.”
“Does she need to give up something if she’s with me?” Asher didn’t quite understand.
Warren followed Penelope’s figure in the courtyard with his eyes, watching her movement like a diligent bee.
He said, “Our family will mistreat her.”
“Will they?” Asher wondered.
“Yes.”
She was an eagle with wings to soar, not the canary they could cage.
He liked her and cherished her, so he wanted to preserve all the goodness inside her.
Of course, he had a selfish motive as well. Once she became his nephew’s wife, there would be no chance for them.
Love could make a person both generous and possessive.