“You piece of trash!”
“I’m your aunt!”
“I know who you are. Your family is full of them!”
“You!”
These so-called elders, puffed up with their own importance, assumed Penelope wouldn’t dare touch them. Each of them earned a solid blow for their arrogance.
“Penelope, do you know why you’re still able to get by in Orenth?”
A tall man who had been silent until now stepped forward. He wore a tailored suit and rimless glasses, projecting an air of sophisticated success.
Chasel Lancaster. The grandson of the barefoot man she’d just struck, the pride and joy of the Lancaster family, and their primary pillar of support. It was because of him that all of Penelope’s connections and money had failed to get Lucien’s grave moved.
Chasel walked toward her, his eyes suddenly turning ice-cold. “You dare to raise a hand to your elders? As your older cousin, it’s my duty to teach you some manners.”
As he spoke, he raised his hand to strike her.
Boris Lancaster, terrified that Penelope might harm their family’s golden boy, crept up behind her, waiting for her to raise the branch so he could snatch it away.
Chasel’s hand was already swinging toward her, and Penelope was aware of the man behind her. But in that instant, another figure stepped in front of her, shielding her from the attack.
“Who are you?” Chasel demanded, his raised hand instinctively falling back to his side as he took in the man before him—casually holding a cigarette, with a lazy demeanor but eyes as sharp as daggers.
Theodore took a long drag from his cigarette, then removed it from his lips and calmly pressed the glowing tip into Chasel’s chest. The fabric of his expensive suit sizzled, and the heat burned through to his skin.
Chasel cried out, slapping the cigarette away before swinging a fist at Theodore.
Theodore caught the punch effortlessly and, in the same motion, drove his foot into Chasel’s stomach. The speed and brutality of the counterattack left Chasel stunned.
The other Lancasters quickly gathered behind Chasel, their faces masks of fury, ready to attack at his command.
“Do you have any fucking idea who I am?” Chasel roared. “Do you want to have a future in this city?”
“What did you just say to me?”
“So, who exactly are you supposed to be?”
When it came to sheer arrogance, no one could outmatch Theodore. Nestled in his arms, Penelope had to fight to keep from laughing out loud.
“Fine, I’ll tell you,” Chasel said smugly. “Ever heard of Zenith Group?”
Theodore just scoffed.
“I’m the General Manager of their gaming division. You mess with me, and your careers in Orenth are over.”
One of his own employees? Acting this cocky?
Theodore felt a mix of exasperation and second-hand embarrassment. He glanced down at Penelope and saw her grinning mischievously up at him.
...

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