The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 163

“I—mmph!”

Mrs. Winters moved with lightning speed, clamping her hand over her son’s mouth. They had promised the Sullivans they would keep the secret until the contract was signed. If they blew it now, they would all be ruined.

“He’s just talking nonsense. Our Rebecca isn’t… isn’t married yet,” Mrs. Winters stammered.

Penelope’s lips curved into a slight smile, but she decided not to press the issue.

“It’s just a laptop, no big deal,” she said, echoing Rebecca’s earlier words. “But the fact that my brother was falsely accused and assaulted is a very big deal, and this university owes us an explanation!”

The truth was now painfully clear. While Colin’s laptop was still missing, the one in the office undoubtedly belonged to Timothy.

The counselor quickly returned the computer to Timothy and demanded that Colin apologize.

“No way! Why should I? Even if his sister bought it, that doesn’t prove this one is his!”

Timothy took the laptop, opened it, and typed in his password. The screen lit up, revealing his desktop background: a family photo of his parents, Penelope, and himself.

After holding it up for everyone to see, he snapped the laptop shut and stormed out of the office, his face a mask of cold fury.

Penelope’s heart warmed at the sight. So, her brother still considered her family.

Colin was left speechless, but his pride wouldn’t let him back down. He turned his anger on Rebecca.

“Why would you let someone else buy my graduation present? I don’t even like this model, especially not if it’s the same as someone else’s! If you can afford it, buy it. If you can’t, then don’t! It’s so embarrassing!”

Raised under Mrs. Winters’s coddling influence, Colin had become even more unreasonable than his mother.

Rebecca was furious at being yelled at, but Mrs. Winters offered no support.

“This is all your fault! None of this would have happened if it weren’t for you!” she scolded Rebecca.

“Mom, can you be reasonable for once?”

The family was on the verge of a full-blown argument right there in the office, forcing the school staff to intervene and calm them down.

Timothy didn’t want an apology, but Penelope wasn’t about to let it go.

She walked up to Colin. “So, now you know who bought you that laptop, right?”

Colin sneered. “So it was you. What of it?”

“Who am I?”

But Colin wouldn’t back down and tried to leave.

“If you don’t say it, you can forget about getting the keys to that car!” his mother threatened.

Colin stomped his foot in frustration. He desperately wanted that car, so he reluctantly mumbled to Penelope, “Thanks.”

“Thanks to whom?” she pressed.

He gritted his teeth. “Thanks to Timothy’s sister. Happy now?”

“I don’t need your thanks. What you need to say is something for falsely accusing my brother.”

“Don’t push your luck!”

“What do you say?”

“I’m sorry!” Colin bit out.

Penelope grunted in satisfaction. “Remember, Timothy has a sister. And if I ever find out you’re bullying him again…”

Her gaze swept over the three of them. “I’ll settle the score with all of you.”