This Chapter is dedicated to Midge01. Wow Midge! I love you so much baby š. Thanks for the gift love (ā *ā Ėā ļø¶ā Ėā *ā )ā .ā ļ½”ā *ā ā”
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The rules were simple. Even if the most dazzling treasures in the world were placed before Penny... even if they were worth enough to buy a kingdom... even if they were one of a kind...
If Osvaldoās little penguin didnāt like them, the search for "the perfect gift" would start again from the beginning and the familiesā children would bear the brunt of that failure.
Osvaldo would torture them harder than before.
They couldnāt afford that risk. Thatās why each family had gone to absurd lengths, scouring the world for what they believed to be the most luxurious and precious gifts to place at Pennyās feet.
None of them knew that the young woman standing there in her plain white dress, looking like an angel, her hair soft as the clouds above, wasnāt at all dazzled by gold or pearls.
In truth, Penny would have treasured a tiny bunny in her arms far more than any diamond necklace. She would have lit up for a jar of rare flower honey, a delicate glass bottle for her lab, or a clean, sharp syringe for her experiments.
Pearls? Jewels? Those could stay locked in someone elseās vault.
If they wanted to make her truly happy, they could take the money and feed the hungry children on the streets. They could help the sick, shelter the homeless. Drugs are really expensive these days especially for those helpless children. That would be a gift worth smiling for.
"The rules are the rules," Timothyās voice cut through the air, polite but unyielding. He could see the nervous looks on their faces.
"As my master instructed, the gifts will only be accepted if our mistress accepts them." he gestured his hands towards Penny.
All eyes shifted to the tall, shadowed figure, the master of the Adkins mansion. And the heir to the entire Adkins wealth.
He had barely spoken since they had arrived, yet the weight of his presence filled the yard like an unseen crown. He didnāt need to speak for his presence to be felt.
Osvaldoās golden eyes followed the gifts before him. Though they couldnāt see his face, but his eyes could see the gifts they had brought and they looked worthy for his penguin.
All he wants is for her to be respected and treated like a queen. Like his queen.
His wife, the new madam of the Adkins empire cannot be messed with.
While the others feared Osvaldo and didnāt dare speak, Abby and Maybelline stared at the man like a sacrificial lamb. Even if they both were terrified after their experiences with him, they still wanted him gone.
To Abby, it was either him or her son. And she cannot let her Chris die. All she needs is a maid or servant to pass the drugs to.
"If she doesnāt accept them, then Iām afraid you all will have to start your search again." Timothy announced.
Osvaldo was playing a game with kings and mighty men like they are puppets.
Maybelline stared at the man they claim had given instructions. A man that can barely form a straight sentence. How can he give all of those commands?
"How can..." Maybelline began, her voice rising, but Abbyās discreet pinch silenced her. Speaking out of turn against Osvaldo would be like setting fire to her own roof.
"Mrs Willard, do you have any questions?" Willy asked to see her shake her head. Abby was right, she couldnāt cause more trouble for Ariana. Not when sheās not out yet.
"Mrs. Adkins, do you like any of the gifts?" Timothy turned to Penny who bit on her lower lips.
Immediately, silks shimmered, gold gleamed, gemstones caught the light as the families angled their offerings toward her. Everyone wanted their gifts to be accepted.
David Willard stared at his once step daughter and shook his head. He never knew one day, he would kneel before like this, presenting gifts of offerings because of the kind of power she now holds.
They all thought her marriage to Osvaldo would be punishment, but it had backfired now.
Maybelline eyed her daughter stylishly, even the devil himself, she thought, could refuse such beauty.
Her lips curled in triumph. This was exactly what Penny wanted, her greedy little moment in the spotlight, surrounded by glitter and envy.
This attention-seeker!
Roselyn was his only child, his only thread to the royal bloodline. If anything happened to her... the inheritance, the crown, the centuries of power tied to his family name... all of it would be gone. The crown would pass to his younger brother, and Raphaelās name would fade into irrelevance.
He couldnāt allow that!
"Mrs. Adkins," another man, Mr. Jones, stepped forward, his voice hoarse. "These gifts are the finest in the world. We bled for them, searched the farthest corners of the earth to find them for you. Please... take them."
Pennyās gaze swept over the jeweled boxes, the silk-wrapped treasures, the things most people would kill to own. But she wasnāt most people.
She was Penelope, a girl who one day was heartbroken and wanted to be loved, and the next wanted to live the simplest most peaceful life. But she unfortunately got thrown into a marriage with a madman who unfortunately is the richest man in the world and now she gets gold as gifts because she was almost killed.
Penny wasnāt stupid. She knew this was all of Osvaldoās doing.
Did he punished these men and drag them out of their way to appease her with gifts? Penny smiled stylishly, turning to look at the man behind her, but his face was covered.
The rules were clear...
Even if the gifts were priceless. Even if they could never be replaced. Even if they could buy cities and crumble empires, if Osvaldoās Penguin didnāt like them, the cycle of searching for "the best" would continue. The gifts would become their curse, and their children would suffer for it.
"Iām sorry, but I do not need your gift."
"You cannot do this to us." Mrs Carter suddenly said. "I know our children hurt you so much, but please show them mercy. Please, if you reject these gifts it would be over for us." She cried out.
From the pictures they had all seen, they couldnāt let their children suffer again. Not anymore.
"How can you do this to Ariana Penelope, sheās your sister. No matter what she did, you shouldnāt treat her this way." Maybelline blurted a s regretted her words almost immediately.
No was not the time to pass blame on Penny. If she did, how would they get close to kill the madman.
"Penny opened her mouth to speak but Maybelline beat her to it. "Itās all my fault. I should never have tried to separate you two while you were little. Iām sorry for everything Ariana did to you. That is why I had picked the best gifts for you."

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