The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 392

“I’m not going!”

“Perhaps Ms. Bishop is sensitive to the cold. Very well.”

Several of the ladies secretly gave Penelope a thumbs-up for her sharp tongue.

The gala was in the evening, and from the moment she arrived that morning until just before the event began, Penelope was so busy she didn't even have time for a sip of water. She was constantly on her feet in high heels, greeting distinguished guests with a smile and dealing with one unexpected issue after another.

An elderly guest had a severe allergy to peppers, so Penelope rushed to the kitchen to give specific instructions, then assigned a server to attend exclusively to the man to ensure there were no mistakes.

Just as she was leaving the kitchen, a waiter carrying a tray bumped into her, spilling a plate of spaghetti bolognese all over her. The meat sauce stained the front of her evening gown. It was a disaster.

The waiter apologized profusely. Penelope didn’t make a scene, simply telling him to clean up the floor and then bring a change of clothes to the break room at the end of the hall.

But when the waiter returned, all he was holding was a tablecloth.

“Mrs. Stapleton, I’m so sorry, I couldn’t find anything else,” the young girl said, on the verge of tears.

Penelope took a deep breath. In her experience, crying was the most useless response. She took off her soiled gown, handed it to the server, and instructed her to take it to housekeeping. They were to clean the stain and have the dress dried and returned as quickly as possible.

The server hurried off, leaving Penelope to stare at her predicament with a helpless sigh. It was a rookie mistake to come to such an important event with only one gown. She was unprepared and inexperienced. But for now, all she could do was wait.

Mrs. Bishop approached her daughter and gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

“Theodore only married Penelope to produce an heir for the Johnson family. She’s nothing more than a human incubator. You shouldn't underestimate her, but don't take her too seriously, either. As I’ve said before, the Stapleton family wants a daughter-in-law from a comparable background. Only you are worthy of the title ‘Mrs. Stapleton.’ You need to make Theodore see that, and everyone else as well. When no one takes Penelope seriously anymore, you will have won.”

Yvonne still looked worried. “Theodore is supposed to lead the first dance soon.”

“Unless she plans on dancing naked,” Mrs. Bishop said with a sneer, then patted her daughter’s shoulder. “Go to Theodore. He needs you right now.”

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