The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 107

The tonic was incredibly bitter. Penelope held her breath and downed it in one go, but the aftertaste immediately made her stomach churn. She desperately looked for water, but the only glass in sight was in Theodore’s hand. She snatched it from him and took several large gulps, managing to suppress the wave of nausea before she threw up.

When she looked up, Theodore was glaring at her, his face dark.

Penelope shoved the glass back into his hand. “Next time, please have a glass of water ready for me. Thanks.”

...

The meeting, originally scheduled for one morning, stretched into an entire day. Penelope presented their proposal to Zenith Group, but because of the tight deadline, it was still a preliminary draft—unpolished and with many details yet to be considered.

However, the team at Zenith was highly engaged. They actively discussed the plan, helping to refine and improve it on the spot. To everyone’s surprise, Theodore remained present for the entire session.

By the end of the day, Zenith Group had officially confirmed their partnership. Penelope and her colleagues were ecstatic.

For the next two weeks, Penelope practically lived at the KINY Group office. Zenith had given them an incredibly short timeline, forcing them to work around the clock to meet the deadline.

But their hard work paid off. Two weeks later, the contract was officially signed.

Only then did Penelope allow herself a moment to breathe. A partnership that had seemed impossible was now a reality, and everyone at KINY Group was deeply impressed with her.

“That shopping mall you had us invest in—Zenith left an access point open for it. Its value has more than tripled,” Nathan told her, his voice full of admiration.

Penelope waved it off. “It was a team effort, really.” She thought for a moment. “How about this: I’ll treat everyone to dinner tonight.”

Just as she was about to leave work, however, she received a call from Mr. Johnson. His tone was grave as he urged her to come to the Johnson estate immediately. Not daring to delay, Penelope gave Nathan a few quick instructions and rushed out.

The taxi couldn’t enter the private estate, so it dropped her at the main gate. The villa was still a long way off, and she was about to start running when a black Maybach pulled up beside her.

The window rolled down to reveal Theodore, his expression grim. “Get in,” he said.

“Your father—is something wrong?” Penelope asked anxiously as she climbed in.

Theodore’s eyes narrowed. “What is Coco?”

“He was the master’s prize rooster,” Una explained. “So handsome, strutting around so proud every day. He’d wake us all up before dawn. The master adored him. He’d let Coco eat at the table, sleep in his bed, and he’d take him for walks on the lawn. He treated that rooster like his own grandson.”

Grandson?

Penelope’s mouth twitched. She pictured Mr. Johnson, living all alone in this massive villa, no wife, a son who rarely visited. He must have been incredibly lonely to have raised a rooster. He had treated the bird like family, poured so much affection into it, and now it was suddenly gone.

“He must be devastated,” she said, her heart going out to him.

“He’s been crying his eyes out,” Una sighed.

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