Chapter 95
Elara’s pov
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Penelope stood at the door, her both hands akimbo, her posture radiating authority and entitlement.
“What are you doing here?” Elara asked, a genuine confusion showing on her face..
Penelope’s perfectly shaped eyebrows rose slightly. “Erhm, I’m in my house of course.”
Elara blinked. “Your house? What do you mean by “your house?”
But Penelope didn’t bother answering. She brushed past Elara like she was nothing more than an inconvenient obstacle and stepped inside the penthouse with the confidence of someone who belonged there.
Marcus’s expression changed instantly. The irritation from dealing with Aurora morphed into something darker, harder. His jaw clenched, and a vein appeared in his temple.
Marcus face went from angry to even more anger, his face was visibly red.
“What the hell are you doing in my house?” Marcus asked, his voice sharp and cold.
Penelope turned to face him, and for a moment, Elara thought she was going to respond to Marcus. But instead, her attention shifted completely.
“Oh, hi darling!”
Elara felt weird and confused all at the same time. Since when did this woman start addressing her as darling? For all she knew, Penelope hated her. She had made that clear multiple times.
But in less than two seconds, realization dawned on her as Penelope walked right past Marcus and headed straight for Aurora, who was still standing near the couch.
“It’s been what? Three years? Four years?” Penelope said, her voice warm in a way Elara had never heard before.
“Three years,” Aurora cut in excitedly, her entire face lighting up.
“Oh my God, my princess! Where have you been? I’ve missed you so much!” Penelope opened her arms wide and moved forward to embrace Aurora in a hug that looked genuinely affectionate.
Of course. Of course Penelope and Aurora would definitely bond. They were literally the same kind of people, just in different fonts, shapes, and sizes. Both manipulative, both entitled, both acting like they owned everything and everyone around them.
Elara watched the reunion with something close to disgust.
Marcus repeated his question, louder this time, like Penelope hadn’t heard him the first time. “I said, what the hell are you doing here?”
Penelope pulled back from her hug with Aurora, taking her time before turning to face Marcus. Her expression was perfectly innocent, like she genuinely didn’t understand why he was upset.
Mon, May
Chapter 95
“Well, I was just passing by,” she said, her tone dripping with false casualness. “I was using the elevator when I heard noise coming from this floor.” She gestured toward Elara with a dismissive wave of her hand “I decided to check it out. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there? Just being a concerned family
member.”
Elara’s confusion deepened. “Wait, I didn’t realize Penelope stayed here.”
The words came out in a hushed tone, directed at Marcus, but of course Penelope overheard. Being the nosy person that she was, she answered before Marcus could even open his mouth.
“Yes, the entire family lives here,” Penelope said, her smile sharp. “It’s a big estate, darling. Marcus has this floor, I’m on the top floor.” She pointed upward. “We’re all one big happy family under the same roof.”
Elara felt her stomach drop. This woman lived in the same building? Right above them? How had Marcus. not mentioned this?
“Anyway,” Marcus cut in sharply, clearly done with this conversation. “Thank you for checking in. You can see we’re doing great. You can take your leave now.”
Penelope’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. “Well, yes, I can see that.” Her eyes traveled over Elara from head to toe and back again, taking in the silk robe, the messy hair, the bare feet in slippers. The judgment was obvious and intentional.
Then she turned to Aurora directly. “Hi, darling. We should catch up some other time. You know where to find me now. Top floor. You’re welcome anytime.”
The way she said it made it clear to Elara that something was up or something was definitely going to happen after that meeting.
Aurora hasn’t shown to be a good person and Penelope as hell isn’t one herself.
Penelope turned to finally leave, walking toward the door with her head held high. Aurora gave her a little wave, still smiling like this whole morning had been some delightful reunion.
Just as Penelope reached the doorway, a man appeared behind her. He was dressed in a suit and sunglasses, standing just outside in the hallway. At first glance, he looked clean enough. Professional, even. The kind of person you’d expect to see working for someone like Penelope.
But something about him was off. Something in the way he carried himself, the slight slouch in his shoulders, the way the suit didn’t quite fit right. Like he was playing dress-up in clothes that didn’t belong to him. Like he wasn’t actually from the world of money and power that everyone else in this building inhabited.
Elara squinted, trying to get a better look at his face. The sunglasses were covering most of it, but there was something familiar about his build, his posture, the way he stood.
Then he stepped forward slightly, coming into better view under the hallway lights.
Ma’am please, you’re taking so long, can we get going already, it’s been almost twenty minutes, the man finally spoke.
Ohh yes yes, sorry about that I’m coming already. Penelope replied him smiling
Chapter 95
Elara immediately recognized the voice and her entire body went cold.
She knew that face. Knew it better than she wanted to. That voice,even in her dream she’d recognize it. She had spent years trying to avoid it, trying to escape it, trying to pretend it didn’t exist. But it just keeps following her everywhere she goes.
It was Luca. Her fucking father.
How did he get a fucking suit.
AD
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