The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 702

"Alright."

After Michael left, Penelope tossed her bag onto the sofa and sat down next to Theodore. There was a half-empty bottle of liquor on the coffee table in front of him. She picked it up, but as she was about to take a sip, a hand clamped around her wrist.

Theodore slowly lifted his head, his eyes fixing on her, a frown creasing his brow.

"Who told you to come here?"

"I came on my own."

"Go home."

"You're coming with me."

Theodore tried to wrench the bottle from her grasp, but Penelope leaned down and bit the back of his hand. While he was stunned, she snatched the bottle back and took several large gulps.

She choked, caught her breath, and then drank again. When Theodore tried to take it from her, she dodged away, not stopping until the bottle was empty.

"Theodore, I don't have a father anymore," she said.

Theodore's frown deepened. "What happened?"

"He was so good to me these past few years, I actually thought I had a father again. But it was all... it was all a lie!" As Penelope spoke, she opened another bottle and downed half of it in one go. "Do you know how I felt when Judy said all those things? It was like being skinned alive, layer by layer. It hurt so much."

Tears streamed down her face. The more you love someone, the harder it is to bear their betrayal.

"The Bishop family, Donald... I never asked them for anything. Why do they still have to hurt me? Do I owe them something? Why should I owe them anything?"

Penelope cried and shouted, knowing this time there would be no forgiveness.

She drank too quickly and was soon drunk. As she reached for another bottle, Theodore snatched it away. Unable to support herself, she collapsed into his arms.

Theodore moved to steady her and felt the tears on her face. In that instant, his expression turned chillingly grim.

Just then, Penelope's phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was a call from Donald.

"Find some men and beat Donald up."

"Huh? Donald? Are you sure?"

"Beat him. Just leave him breathing."

"But... isn't he Penelope's father? Your father-in-law, technically. You..."

"Not anymore. Don't ask questions. Just do it."

After hanging up, Theodore shifted his position to let Penelope lie more comfortably. He had plenty of ways to retaliate against Donald and the Bishop family—bankrupt them, ruin Donald's reputation, make them come crying to Penelope for forgiveness. But that wasn't what Penelope wanted.

She wanted to sever all ties with the Bishop family completely. A good beating to ensure Donald never dared to bother her again was the most fitting solution.

"Theodore..."

"What?"