The production crew had been too engrossed in the drama to notice Donald’s frantic signals. He gestured several more times before the host finally clued in and ordered the live stream to be cut. But it was too late. The footage was out there, and it couldn't be taken back.
Her objective achieved, Penelope turned to leave.
“You bitch!” Ruby shot to her feet, screaming at Penelope. “How dare you act so high and mighty in my house! Do you think you can just walk all over us?”
Penelope looked at Ruby, thought for a moment, and then raised an eyebrow. “Ah, you must be the Ms. Bishop who was caught cheating by her fiancé.”
“Say that again and I’ll rip your mouth off!” Ruby shrieked.
Penelope shook her head. “One Ms. Bishop covets another woman’s husband, while another cheats on her fiancé. Is this how the Bishop family raises its children? Or does the fish just rot from the head down?”
“Insolence!” Hans slammed his fist on the table, his eyes blazing with fury. “Your father-in-law wouldn’t dare speak to me like that! Who the hell do you think you are?”
Penelope’s eyes narrowed. “Mr. Hans Bishop, you not only exploit your past favors but also use despicable threats against my father-in-law. Do you really deserve to be called ‘venerable’? Who the hell do you think you are? A decrepit old fool!”
Hans was trembling with rage.
Penelope’s face was a mask of contempt. At that moment, Yvonne finally snapped. She lunged forward, her hand raised to strike.
“Penelope!”
With a smirk, Penelope caught Yvonne’s wrist with one hand and, with the other, delivered a sharp, clean slap across her face.
The crack echoed through the silent room.
The Bishops stared, momentarily stunned. Yvonne was the most shocked of all, unable to believe Penelope had dared to hit her.
“You little tramp! You dare hit my daughter!” Mrs. Bishop shrieked and threw herself at Penelope.
Penelope dodged the slap but was knocked off balance by the force of the collision. As she stumbled, Hans rushed forward and struck her with a vicious backhand.
“Today, I’ll teach you the lesson your father-in-law and husband clearly failed to!”
“Let go of me!”
Donald, an actor who maintained a lean physique, was no match for the larger, stronger Jonas, who easily dragged him away.
Seizing the opportunity, Hans stepped forward and lashed out at Penelope, who was still dazed, striking her again and again.
“You dare to bully my granddaughter!”
“I’ve been waiting to teach you a lesson, and today you walked right into my hands!”
“I will make you understand that the Bishops, especially my granddaughter, are not to be trifled with!”
Again and again…
...

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