The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 249

Could it be that Donald had recognized her?

For a fleeting moment, Penelope's composure wavered, but she quickly regained it and turned to face him. "What do you mean, Mr. Bishop?"

Perhaps the restaurant's dim lighting had obscured her features. He seemed to be studying her face more closely now.

"I heard Mr. Stapleton paid a hundred million for that painting of Edith's because of you."

So that was what this was about. Still, she was just as curious as he was.

"I'm a great admirer of Ms. Laurier's work. I love her style, her atmosphere, everything."

"Is that all?" Donald raised an eyebrow.

Penelope smiled but didn't answer. Instead, she countered with a question of her own. "You bid up to sixty million yourself, Mr. Bishop. What was your reason?"

She expected a vague, dismissive reply, but he answered with surprising earnestness. "Edith was once the woman I loved most."

Penelope frowned. How could he say that without a shred of guilt?

"You say 'was'?"

"Things happened, and we broke up."

"What things?"

"I'm sorry, I'd rather not talk about the past."

"You cheated on her, didn't you? You fell for someone else?"

The question was blunt, but Penelope's hands were itching to tear away his carefully constructed facade.

Donald frowned. "The truth is, she cheated on me."

Penelope thought she must have misheard. "You're saying she cheated on you?"

"So we can't get in? What do we do now?"

Rebecca shook her head miserably. "I don't know."

Mrs. Winters stomped her foot in anger. "They dropped you at the hospital yesterday and just took off! They didn't even show up for your discharge this morning! They don't care about you at all! They don't see you as part of the Sullivan family!"

"That's enough, Mom. Stop it." Rebecca glanced over at Penelope, who had just come out of her house. She didn't want to lose face in front of her.

But Mrs. Winters was past caring about appearances. "Penelope! Don't lock your gate just yet. Rebecca just got out of the hospital and needs to rest. Since the Sullivans aren't home, let her come inside your place for a bit."

Penelope slammed her gate shut. "My house isn't a shelter for stray animals!"

"You… have you no sense of decency left?"

Penelope looked at Rebecca. "Do you think there's anything left between us?"