“Hans, you really have gone senile. Have you already forgotten my warning?”
Theodore’s face was cold and grim, his gaze sharp as a blade.
Hans was old, after all, and the shove sent him stumbling. He had to brace himself with the shovel to keep from falling. He was panting with rage, but facing Theodore, he couldn't unleash his anger.
“You and her are divorced! Why are you still protecting her?”
Theodore narrowed his eyes. “Since when are my affairs any of your business?”
“You—you should at least show me some respect, for the sake of Marico and Yvonne’s upcoming marriage!”
“Who Marico marries has nothing to do with me.”
“You—you’ve been deceived by Penelope, just like my son!”
“Get out!”
Hans' face darkened several shades. In Orenth, he was a respected elder whom everyone treated with a degree of deference. Yet Theodore consistently showed him none, and usually, it was because of Penelope.
“My dad… what did you say about my dad?” Penelope shot up and ran to Hans, demanding an answer.
“Your dad is dying because of you, you…” Hans had more vicious words on the tip of his tongue, but a glance at Theodore made him swallow them.
Realizing she wouldn't get a straight answer from Hans, Penelope immediately ran back towards the operating room.
Hans let out a heavy snort and turned to go back as well.
Theodore took out a cigarette, but just as he was about to light it, he saw the two children looking up at him. He paused, then put the cigarette away.
“I promised you I’d come see her. I’ve seen her now. Let’s go home so you can sleep.”
Julian frowned. “Did my ears just deceive me? I think I heard something incredible.”
Hubert tilted his head. “Was it that old man saying Mommy and your daddy are divorced?”
Julian’s eyes widened. “So my ears are fine.”
Theodore took a deep breath. What a pair of devoted sons. One was speculating about his death, and the other was already mourning him.
Penelope rushed back to the operating room and found that the surgery was still in progress. Hans had just been venting his anger and had gone downstairs to lash out at her, only to run into Theodore.
The surgery finally concluded as dawn was breaking.
Donald had pulled through, but his condition was still extremely poor. He would need to be monitored in the intensive care unit.
Penelope kept watch outside, only returning to her car for short rests when she was exhausted. The Bishops also stayed, but they took shifts.
That evening, after a short nap in her car, Penelope returned to find Donald’s agent and assistant had arrived.
She was the one who had informed them of Donald's condition.
The two had worked with Donald for many years and had a deep bond with him, so they were both incredibly distressed.
Penelope waited for a moment before approaching them and leading them to a quiet corner.

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