Penelope roamed around the club and noticed that some areas were restricted to VIPs. She had left hastily without the chance to ask Warren for his VIP card. Luckily, she spotted a claw machine in the children’s section. She got some change, stood there for an hour, and had quite the winning streak.
Warren had someone fetch her for dinner.
She was having a blast, and many people were watching her.
“This is her thirteenth…” someone behind her commented. Even the waiter in charge of the area couldn’t help but marvel. Penelope realized she should stop while she was ahead.
She returned to dinner with her pile of stuffed animal trophies. On her way, she encountered a cute girl and gave her one of the dolls. The restaurant was now more crowded, and everyone smiled at the legendary woman who had conquered Mr. Duncan’s claw machine. Penelope proudly displayed her arms full of dolls and said, “I did really well! It’s a shame you weren’t there!”
Excitedly, she sat down next to Warren and shared the story of her claw machine triumph. Everyone admired her joyful, childlike enthusiasm. Some may have even thought of their own similarly aged sisters-bright and lively.
Warren patiently and gently took the dolls from her with a smile while he listened.
A few women who had arrived later couldn’t help but envy her. Penelope asked, “So you’re taking all the dolls?”
Warren raised an eyebrow and replied, “No, they’re staying. I’ll get a box for them.” She wiped her hands with a hot towel from the dining table. Warren summoned a waiter and had all the dolls placed in a box.
“Take these home. Chris will surely love them,” Penelope said with a smile.
“Chris is a boy. Are you sure he’ll like them?” Warren asked with doubt.
“He might be a boy with a sensitive side,” Penelope replied.
“That seems less likely,” Warren remarked, and they continued their playful conversation.
Others in the room couldn’t help but jest, “Next time, we won’t allow family members to join us. They really hurt our ego.”
Penelope smiled and focused on her meal. After the jokes, the conversation shifted to more male-oriented topics.
During this time, Penelope tried to pay attention to their discussion but found herself completely lost. They talked about stocks and financial mergers, and she couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Glancing at the other three women, she noticed they were either eating or engrossed in their phones, showing no interest in the conversation either.
Penelope felt relieved, realizing she wasn’t the only one who found the topic confusing. She excused herself to the bathroom, where she encountered another girl who greeted her with a friendly smile. “They’re quite boring, aren’t they?” The girl had sweet dimples and appeared very approachable.
Penelope smiled and replied, “Yes…” In reality, she really just needed to use the restroom.
“How long have you been with Mr. Duncan?” the girl with dimples asked.
Penelope answered, “It’s been almost a year.”
“Then you’ve been with him longer than me. I’ve only been with Mr. Grey for three months.”
Penelope felt a bit lost by the comparison the girl had made.
“Actually, to them, we’re like ornaments,” the girl said as she applied makeup in front of the mirror, engaging in conversation with Penelope.
Penelope began to suspect that this girl might be Mr. Grey’s mistress.
“Have you ever seen Mr. Duncan with his girlfriend before?” Penelope asked shyly.
The girl turned her head, smiled at Penelope, and asked, “Are you feeling jealous?”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Duncan is a good man, and he won’t make you sad,” she assured Penelope. The sound of high heels approaching signaled the arrival of another girl.
She was stunningly beautiful and exuded confidence. She looked at the two of them in front of the mirror and said with a smile, “It’s been a while since you two came back. I assume you’re here for a chat.”
The girl replied, “Yes, we were chatting.”
“I couldn’t stand being out there any longer. It’s just too boring,” the newcomer said as she took out her makeup bag to touch up her appearance. Penelope looked at her empty hands; she had no makeup bag, no powder, not even lipstick. The newcomer glanced at her and said, “Your skin looks great. What skincare products do you use?”
“Lamer…” Penelope touched her face.
“Lamer is expensive, but it’s really effective,” the girl with dimples chimed in. The newcomer then asked, “What were you two talking about just now?”
“We were talking about those men out there. They seem to be really into us when they’re interested, but they can change their minds easily,” the girl with dimples explained.
Penelope responded, “It’s not that bad…” She felt a slight twinge of guilt but was also curious and intrigued by the lifestyle of these girls.
The newcomer added, “Mr. Duncan has never brought a woman before; you’re the first one.”
“Really?” Penelope was impressed. Warren seemed quite upright. She couldn’t help but admire him for that.
The newcomer continued, “I’ve known Mr. Duncan for a long time, and he didn’t strike me as a playboy. He never brought a woman with him.” Penelope silently chuckled. It seemed Warren had indeed maintained his moral integrity. “But I can understand him. His previous fiancée was so stunning that it’s natural for him not to show interest in ordinary people for a while.”
“Fiancée?” Penelope’s voice almost cracked.
“Yeah, I found out about it by chance. It was ten years ago,” the newcomer recalled, noticing Penelope’s perplexed expression in the mirror.
She reassured Penelope, “You’re wonderful too; don’t overthink it.”
“… I didn’t know I had a fiancée before,” Penelope said, feeling somewhat bewildered. She now understood why Warren had been so upset when he found out she was married.
“Just a previous fiancée? Don’t let it bother you. Focus on the present, and remember that you’re the one standing by his side now,” the girl with dimples advised. After all, he was thirty-five. How could someone have no past or history?
Penelope tried not to let it affect her, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy. It was like someone had taken a slice from a whole cake, even though it was still hers, she couldn’t help but be annoyed at the one who took that first bite. When she returned, Warren noticed that she wasn’t as cheerful as before.