bChapter /bb204 /b

Lucille was left utterly stunned, her mind nk for a long moment.

Pennie had always been so brash and straightforward–when did she learn to y emotional chess like this?

With tremblingshes, Lucille gazed up at Pennie, looking so fragile, as if she might burst into tears before saying a word.

“Pennie, is that really how you see me? I’m alone in a foreign country, barely know thews there. I thought getting the divorce finalized would take ages, and I didn’t want to let you down. That’s why I said I might not make it back in time for your wedding.”

Her eyes shimmered with tears, her voice quivering with wounded innocence. She sniffled, her gaze soft and pleading.

“It hurts to know you think of me that way. But I don’t me you–someone must have whispered something to you, right?”

After that emotional barrage, Pennie found herself thrown off bnce again, unsure

what to think.

Meanwhile, Justin watched as Edith and Pennie came out one after the other. Seeing Edith’s pale face, he immediately assumed she’d been bullied by Pennie.

His eyes narrowed, a cold edge sharpening his gaze.

Winston, still chatting with Justin, was trying to seize the moment. After all, forging ties with the Hawksley family could do wonders for his own ambitions.

“Justin, I actually have a conference up in Northcrest next month. Maybe we could-”

But Justin wasn’t listening. All he could think about was Mrs. Hawksley being wronged.

He raised a hand, his gaze cutting sharply toward Winston. “My cousin’s always been a bit spoiled–the only daughter, doted on by her parents. Now that she’s marrying into the Flynn family, I hope you’ll help her smooth out those rough edges.”

The implication didn’t need spelling out.

Winston had spent enough time in politics to know exactly what Justin meant.

“Of course, Justin. Don’t worry–I’ll make sure Pennie settles down. By the time we’re in Northcrest next month, you’ll see a whole new side of her.”

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At that, Justin’s tense expression finally eased.

In a mild, almost offhand tone, he added, “And you could stand to smooth out a few. rough edges of your own.”

Justin hadn’t missed how Winston had backed Edith into a corner at dinner.

Winston gave a sheepish smile, ncing apologetically at Justin. “You’re right, Justin. I misread the situation entirely. My apologies.”

Justin’s gaze drifted over Winston, cool and unreadable. “Misreading the situation is as bad as picking the wrong side. And that kind of mistake can be fatal.”

Winston kept his polite smile, but he understood the message loud and clear. In politics, you couldn’t afford to back the wrong horse.

He’d bet on Lucille, thinking she still held sway with Justin.

But the tide had clearly turned.

Edith, meanwhile, felt her head spinning and her stomach turning with nausea.

Seeing her so pale, Justin’s brow furrowed with concern. “Are you feeling sick?”

She nodded, pressing her lips together. “Yeah. I think I overdid it with the fish. It was a bit much.”

Justin didn’t notice the tenderness in his own voice. “You hardly said a word and just kept eating–of course you’d overdo it.”

He couldn’t help but admire Edith. Even while tempers red and the atmosphere grew tense, she’d simply tuned it all out, quietly finishing her meal with calm

She reminded him of a gentle, crystal–clear spring–sometimes sparkling with life, but most of the time serene and undisturbed.

Justin postponed his trip back to Northcrest, checking Edith and himself into a suite at a seaside hotel.

He even considered calling a doctor to look at her, but Edith firmly refused.