The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 332

Penelope playfully dodged her. “No way. I stood in line for two hours to get these honey cakes.”

“So?”

“So, I need to maximize their value.”

Penelope led Hannah to a small, private courtyard tucked away in a quiet alley. After she knocked, a woman in an apron answered the door. She studied Penelope for a moment before recognition dawned.

“Oh, Ms. Laurier! You’re finally here. The old madam has been asking about you every day.”

Penelope greeted her and asked how the elderly woman was doing.

“Not too well. She hasn’t eaten a proper meal in two or three days.”

Just as Penelope was about to step inside, an elderly woman with a full head of silver hair emerged, leaning on a cane. Her face lit up when she saw Penelope, and she waved eagerly. “Why did you take so long to come visit your mother!”

Hannah was taken aback. “Who is she?”

Penelope whispered, “She’s Mr. Temple’s mother. She’s gotten a bit confused in her old age and thinks I’m her daughter, who passed away.”

With that brief explanation, Penelope hurried over to the woman, giving her a gentle hug before supporting her arm. “I brought you your favorite honey cakes.”

“My sweet girl, have you lost weight?”

“I haven’t, but you have. You haven’t been eating properly, have you?”

“I miss you so much I can’t eat.”

“Well, I’m here now. Let me feed you.”

It was nearly dark by the time Penelope and Hannah left the courtyard.

“When I first joined Stone Group, my first project was a hotel for LUNA Group,” Penelope explained as they walked. “To secure the deal, I drank with them, smiled, endured everything, but I could never quite close it. It wasn’t until I managed to get close to Mr. Temple’s family—almost becoming his mother’s goddaughter—that I finally succeeded.” She recounted the story not with shame, but with pride in her strategic victory.

“LUNA Group and Stone Group have worked together before?”

“You can’t have forgotten the hotel in the East District, surely?”

“As I recall, I worked with Ms. Laurier on that project.”

Ward’s face darkened. “She was just an employee of Stone Group.”

“All I know is that I dealt with her directly. The process was smooth, enjoyable, and the final result exceeded my company’s expectations. That’s why I intend to continue working with her.”

“She’s no longer with Stone Group.”

“Then whichever firm she’s with is the firm we’ll work with,” Mr. Temple said, his eyes shifting toward the entrance. A smile broke across his face. “And speak of the devil, here’s Ms. Laurier now.”

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