Chapter 5
“Your name is Penny? Why did you draw on my car? And who was with you just now? Arthur observed her.
Penelope folded her arms, tilted her head, and pouted, “I’m not telling you my name is Penny. I did it all by myself. No one else was involved.” She was pretty loyal, but a bit silly.
“If you won’t name your accomplices, then tell me who your mother
“No!”
“Then I have to take you with me.
Penelope’s eyes instantly welled up, shimmering with impending tears.
Arthur set her down.
The moment her feet touched the ground, the tears vanished. She spun around and bolted, her arms flailing as she chanted to herself, Run, Penny, run Arthur arched a brow, watching her scramble away.
He let her think she’d escaped before catching up in strides and hoisting her back into the air.
Penelope kicked her legs vigorously, only to realize it was all in vain.
“Keep running,” Arthur murmured
Defeated, Penelope crossed her arms and sulked, keeping her head down.
Arthur curled his lips into a smile, thinking she was somewhat adorable. He carried her over to the car and looked at the ugly words again Tell me, why did you write these words?”
The phrase “deserting his wife and kida was far too sophisticated for a child her age.
Penelope kept her mouth shut.
“Arthur, what’s with this bra? Martha snapped.
“She admitted to the vandalism but won’t say another word.” His gaze flicked to Henry. “Call the police.”
“Yes, Mr. Pendelton. And the child?”
Arthur glanced around, seeing no one nearby. The child looked to be around four or five years old. Leaving her alone wasn’t an option.
He opened the car door and put Penelope inside. “We’ll wait for the police to contact her parents.
Penelope’s world crumbled.
Her mom was right! Her dad really would take them away!
She’d never see Mommy again.
The thought made her shed tears.
Arthur had just settled into the car when he noticed the previously brave little girl now crying her eyes out.
He wasn’t good with children and disliked seeing them cry in front of him. But something about her pitiful state softened his hardened heart. “Why the tears? I didn’t let you.”
Penelope rubbed her eyes with chubby fists. “You bad people will take me–away… I won’t see Mommy again…”
She was truly heanbpaken, crying so hard she could barely speak.
After a long moment, Anhur sighed. “Once your mother contact me, you can go home.”
Really? Penelope stopped crying in an instant, her watery eyes shining hopefully at him
Anbur almost suspected she’d been faking it
“Yes. But first, tell me why you vandalized my car.”
Penelope clamped her mouth shut and stared at Arthur, her expression seeming to say, “You’ll get nothing from me!”
Despite being accustomed to wielding power in the business world, Anthur found himself powerless against a stubborn, crying child.
Meanwhile, the two escapers watched in horror as Penelope was taken away.
< Chapter 5
Caleb wanted to charge our and rescue her, but Oliver held him back. “We look too much like him. If we show up, we’d just make things worse for Mommy.”
But what about Penny?”
first.”
“We’ll go find Mommy f
Caleb shuddered, hands instinctively covering his backside. He could already feel the impending spanking.
The phone rang. It was Genevieve calling.
She had been frantic with worry, unable to find the three of them.
“Mommy’s calling! We’re screwed.” Caleb panicked, scratching his head frantically.
“Answer it,” Oliver said calmly, already accepting the call.
“Ollie? Cale? Where are you? Is Penny with you?” Genevieve’s frantic voice came through.
Penny… Penny… Caleb stammered uselessly.
y was taken away by Arthur”
Mommy, Oliver cut in steadily, Tenny was
Genevieve
nevieve listened, initially thinking there must be something wrong with her hearing.
It took a while for Genevieve to process the
the words.
Her world collapsed.
You… Oh… Penny… L. She fumbled for words before choking out, Did he recognize you?”
Oliver responded, “No.”
Good.
The situation wasn’t as dire as she had feared..
Genevieve took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. “You guys come home now. I’ll handle this.”
“Okay.”
The moment she hung up, an unknown number flashed on her screen.
Genevieve had a bad feeling.
Her hands trembled as she answered.
A cold, familiar voice spoke,“Are you the child’s mother?”
“Your daughter is with me.”
Genevieve instantly recognized Arthur’s voice. Her blood ran cold. “What do you want?”
“Come to the Hilton Hotel to get her.”
Penelope’s cries echoed through the phone. Genevieve’s composure shattered. “I know what happened. We can discuss this properly. I’ll pay for any damages. Just don’t hurt my child.”
Arthur frowned.
The woman’s voice sounded familiar, like he’d heard it somewhere before…
As he was pondering–Penelope burst into louder sobs. Her emotions were all over the places she’d cry for a while, then stop, and after a moment, as if reminded of something heartbreaking, she’d start–Wailing again.
Rubbing his temples, Arthur snapped, “I’ve no interest in harming a child. But you need to explain it.”
He didn’t believe a child would understand a term like “deserting his wife and kids“. She must have heard it from an adult.
He needed to figure out what was going on
With that. Anbur ended the call.
Genevieve’s heart ached at Penelope’s cries, and she immediately wanted to rush to the hotel Arthur mentioned.
But after just two steps, she froze.
* Chapter 5
She couldn’t go meet him.
She’d already seen Arthur once at the auction house. Meeting him again so soon would be too
What if he recognizes her?
And if he realized who she was, he’d know Penelope was his daughter.
No, she couldn’t let that happen.
Pacing in circles, phone clutched rightly, she finally called her best friend Bethany
risky.
Thirty minutes later, Genevieve pulled up to the Hilton Hotel with Bethany and the twins in tow.
She’d briefed Bethany during the drive.
Bethany would pick up Penelope in her place.
“Genie, are you sure this will work?
“I have to be.” Genevieve squeezed Bethany’s hand. Please bring Penny back.”
Bethany, seeing the worry in Genevieve’s eyes, patted her chest reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I bring Penny back.”
With that, she marched into the hotel like a warrior heading into battle,
Left waiting in the car with Oliver and Calebs, Genevieve felt upset.
Would things go smoothly from here!
