Chapter 22
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One year flew by in an instant.
On a sunny morning, Penelope was enjoying her nice breakfast of bacon and eggs when she saw a link being forwarded by a certain someone. After tapping the link, it redirected her to an article featuring Eric.
The headline read, “Business Mogul’s Life Ruined Thanks to His Affair–Career, Love, and Life
All Gone!”
Penelope’s chewing slowed down significantly as she began scrolling down the article. Basically, the article spoke about how Eric had mysteriously lost his marbles after getting deported out of Islanthia. He kept mumbling that his dead fiancée wasn’t actually dead at all. At the same time, he kept looking around for a blue diamond ring just so he could give it to
her.
Eric ended up getting admitted to a mental asylum, courtesy of Michael and Esther. Fulmer Industries – the very company that Eric had devoted years of blood, sweat, and tears into – was purchased by a company based in Northern Eucardia. Just like that, he lost the fruit of his many years of labor.
In the comment section, many internet users declared their pity for Eric after reading his life story. But a lot more people mourned Penelope’s death, for she had died an innocent victim.
After exiting the page, Penelope looked at Steve, who dug into his breakfast happily in the spot next to hers. “Why did you send this article to me?”
Steve wore an innocent look. “No reason. By the way, I have good news for you. My company has bought Fulmer Industries.”
Penelope thumped a fist onto his chest. “You’ve been jealous of Eric for one full year. I’ve already let him go. When are you planning to do the same?”
Steve shrugged in response. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll let him go once I finally stop feeling aggrieved about your past.”
After that, he roped Penelope into an embrace. She could feel her nose starting to burn from
her emotions.
Steve was right. He wasn’t targeting Eric out of jealousy; he did it because he knew her past far too well. Not to mention, his heart broke for her. That was why he could never forgive Eric on
her behalf.
Just as Penelope was about to wipe her tears with Steve’s collar, their neighbor, Sally Hopkins, suddenly rushed into their front yard and began hollering at the top of her lungs. “Your puppy
Chapter 22
just ran out of the house!”
Both Penelope and Steve jumped out of their seats immediately.
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They adopted a white Schnauzer puppy named Poppy three months ago. Penelope and Steve had always treated Poppy like their own child. Poppy was an obedient and smart dog, so how
did it run out of the house all of a sudden?
Penelope stamped her feet on the spot out of anxiety. Soon, tears began trickling down her cheeks. “It’s so cold outside! Not to mention, Islanthia has nothing but frozen lands everywhere! What if Poppy freezes to death out there?”
Steve, on the other hand, was a lot calmer than Penelope. “Don’t worry. Poppy is a smart dog. It might have gone over to the nearby cafe.”
“How could that be possible? That cafe doesn’t serve anything it likes! Plus, it might not know the way to the cafe!”
But no matter how anxious Penelope was, Steve insisted on looking for Poppy in that cafe.
Despite being puzzled, Penelope still put on her down jacket hurriedly and made a beeline toward the cafe after seeing how determined Steve was to visit that location.
That cafe was also the place where both of them had their first meal together. Back then, Steve had waited for Penelope for three hours. He had placed six orders altogether just so he could have a nice, warm meal with Penelope when she woke up from her nap.
After that, Steve bought the cafe. He still retained the old renovation style. All he did was open
another Cheronian restaurant next to the cafe.
Penelope, whose heart was still hung on Poppy, wasn’t in the mood to reminisce about the ast. As soon as she arrived at the cafe, she began circling around the backyard in search of Poppy. Alas, she didn’t see the puppy at all.
Just as Penelope was about to leave, Steve quickly pushed her into the cafe.
Once they entered the cafe, Poppy, clad in a pink dress, skipped merrily toward Penelope right away. Poor Penelope–who now had tears and snot running down her face because of how worried she was–quickly scooped Poppy into her arms and hugged it tightly.
“Bad dog! How could you run off on your own like that?”
Poppy barked a few times in response, clearly dissatisfied with Penelope’s reaction. It seemed to be angry at the fact that it got scolded by its owner.
Steve dropped a hint from behind Penelope. “Go through Poppy’s backpack and check if there’s anything in it.”
Penelope was stunned at first. Now that her panic had receded, she finally noticed that the cafe
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was decorated in a romantic manner, which was a huge contrast to its usual style. Pink balloons filled the entire room while a thick layer of white feathers covered the floor. Fairy lights that were shaped like stars were hung all over the walls.
Penelope turned around to look at Steve, who had a wide smile on his face. At the same time, she rummaged through Poppy’s backpack. A star–shaped diamond ring soon appeared on her palm. It sparkled under the lights.
Suddenly, Steve pulled out a bouquet of violets before sinking down to one knee.
“Penelope, will you marry me?”
At that moment, Sally, the cafe owner, as well as Penelope’s and Steve’s friends from the town emerged from the kitchen while pushing a five–layered cake on a cart. Colorful streamers cascaded from the ceiling at the same time, showering Penelope in bright colors.
As Penelope stared at Steve and listened to her friends singing a congratulatory song in the background, she felt as though she was in a wonderful dream.
The anxious Poppy quickly pounced into Steve’s arms before turning to bark at Penelope, as though it was urging her to put on the ring.
Having spotted Penelope’s dazed expression, Steve chose not to urge her. Instead, he pulled out another bag while adding softly, “I’ve invited my company’s lawyer here as well. Tonight, I’ll transfer all of my assets to your name just to give you the reassurance you need.”
Penelope accepted the black bag with both hands. After unzipping the bag, she saw an array of items cluttering it up. This included keys to all of Steve’s vehicles and properties. Even the key to his gym locker was included in the bag.
Delighted, Penelope let out a soft giggle. Poppy began barking as well.
Soon, Penelope accepted the bouquet of violets and allowed Steve to slide the ring onto her finger.
Snow began falling outside the cafe’s windows, and everyone started humming the wedding march loudly. Colorful streamers continued dancing around Penelope and Steve.
A bright smile was plastered on Penelope’s face the whole time.
Islanthia might be a frigid country, but Penelope felt that spring had visited the country for
the first time.
