The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 202

Theodore shrugged off his suit jacket and undid the top two buttons of his shirt before walking over to her.

Before he could even get his footing, Penelope threw a punch. He caught her fist with one hand, twisting it behind her back. She reacted instantly, kicking up to break his grip, but he caught her by the heel. With a firm push, he sent her stumbling away.

Penelope staggered for a few steps before steadying herself. "That didn't count! I wasn't ready!"

Theodore smirked. "Are you ready now?"

"My hand hurts a little."

She feigned rubbing her wrist, but the moment she saw him roll up his sleeves, she launched another surprise attack, this time leading with a kick.

Theodore dodged, grabbing her by the calf and pulling her forward.

Penelope landed on the ground in a split, her legs stretched out straight. Thanks to her flexibility, she managed to endure the searing pain of the stretch. In one fluid motion, she spun on the floor and aimed a strike at the back of his knee.

He sidestepped her attack and grabbed her arm. She used his momentum to pull herself up, aiming a left hook, but he caught both her hands, pulling her tight against his chest.

"You fight dirty!" Penelope huffed.

Theodore tapped her nose with his chin. "And who was it that just tried to ambush me?"

"It's called strategy!"

"It's called cheating," he countered, his gaze softening as he studied her forehead. "Did someone give you a hard time? Want me to get even for you?"

Penelope shook her head. "I fight my own battles. It's no fun letting someone else do it for me."

He smiled. "Don't be afraid to cause a little trouble. I've got your back."

She pressed closer into his embrace, then caught a whiff of something. "Have you been drinking?"

"Just a little."

"Hmph. How come you get to drink and I don't? That's not fair!"

"Craving it again?"

"A little bit."

Theodore smiled and leaned in to kiss her, and she immediately melted into his arms.

"You know, sparring in my shirt is a foul," he murmured against her lips.

"Whose rules am I breaking?"

Penelope pursed her lips, not bothering to reply. But then she saw Susan get out of the same car. Rebecca had gotten a ride from her.

Susan spotted her and deliberately walked over to Rebecca, linking her arm through hers in a show of intimacy.

"I didn't think she'd have the nerve to show her face either."

Penelope watched as Rebecca smiled at Susan, as if there had never been any bad blood between them.

But it was because of Susan that Rebecca had suffered. Years ago, Susan had plagiarized Rebecca's design project. Unable to submit her work and too afraid to confront Susan, Rebecca had broken down in helpless tears. As her best friend, Penelope had stepped in, forcing Susan to withdraw the plagiarized project.

That incident was the reason Susan had held a grudge against her, which led to Susan later framing her for stealing a phone.

She had always felt it was worth it, a sacrifice for a friend with no regrets or complaints. But now… now Rebecca and Susan had buried the hatchet and become friends.

What, then, was all the humiliation she had endured for?

"Well, well. A Porsche yesterday, a Ferrari today," Susan sneered. "Rebecca, don't tell me that's your husband's car too. Look at that, the mistress has more style than the actual wife!"

Mistress?

Penelope frowned. Had Rebecca really been telling people she was the other woman in her marriage to Zebulon?