Chapter 16
She was really at her breaking point. She had to treat Connor's burn and also bribe the prison guards so they wouldn't make things harder for him.
All of this needed cash.
"I knew it! No wonder you didn't pretend to push me away," Kelvin sneered. "Penelope, you know, the one thing I don't lack is money."
"Yeah, so can you give it to me?" Penelope clenched her fists, forcing herself to look him in the eye.
He stared at her lips. "How much?"
"Twenty thousand dollars," Penelope didn't dare to ask for too much. Ten thousand for treatment and ten thousand to grease some palms should be enough.
Solve this urgent problem first, and then she'd figure out the rest later.
This amount of money was just pocket change for Kelvin.
Kelvin asked, "Why should I give you twenty thousand dollars?"
Penelope bit her lip. "Because I'm your wife."
He pushed her away in disgust. "Penelope, know your place!"
Kelvin immediately lost interest and turned to leave.
Penelope leaned against the tiles, watching his back. "Kelvin, if you don't give it to me, I'll go to Nathan!"
She threatened him on purpose!
In fact, she knew Kelvin very well.
Penelope knew what made him angry and happy. Only by understanding his temperament could she survive under his control!
Sure enough, Kelvin roared, "How dare you?"
"A person driven to desperation will do anything!" Penelope insisted.
He squinted and questioned, "What do you need twenty thousand dollars for?"
"I," Penelope gritted her teeth. "I have my own use for it."
She was afraid that if Kelvin knew she was going to treat Connor's injury, he would be even less likely to give her the money.
After all, it was he who had sent Fiona to do it!
"Consider it an advance on my salary," Penelope added, "I can pay it back by designing jewelry every day!"
She had been the best student at the LA University School of Design.
Countless brands once wanted to hire her, and her sketches were still used as templates by LA University students!
Kelvin smirked, "Alright."
He was a businessman and never made a losing deal.
Seeing him relent, Penelope let out a long sigh of relief.
Kelvin transferred twenty thousand dollars to her on the spot. "Remember what you said!"
She cried tears of joy; Connor could finally get treated!
Penelope didn't care how Kelvin looked at her. She wiped the water off her face and left.
Kelvin stood by the window, smoking one cigarette after another.
He had married Penelope only because he couldn't find Fiona at the time. He needed someone to fill the position temporarily to prevent Lily and Audrey from causing trouble.
The position of Mrs. Davis was meant for the woman he loved.
That night, Fiona had indeed made his heart flutter.
Moreover, Fiona had saved him and neutralized the effects of the drug on him.
Kelvin was always clear about his debts and favors.
Extinguishing the cigarette, he prepared to sleep; it was already early morning.
Just as Kelvin lay down, he heard a series of coughs from outside.
She coughed every three to five minutes, as punctual as a clock, accompanied by sniffling and tossing and turning.
He was a light sleeper and needed an extremely quiet environment. How could he rest well with Penelope coughing like this?
Kelvin got out of bed, full of anger, and yanked the door open.
He uttered, "Penelope."
No response.
"Penelope!" he raised his voice.
She responded weakly, trying hard to open her eyes but finding she couldn't.
Kelvin then noticed her cheeks were burning hot, but her lips were pale.
He reached out to touch her, and his palm felt the heat.
Penelope had a fever.
Penelope's body was truly weak!
"Get up," Kelvin instructed coldly, "Don't die at my door."
She turned over, tugging at his pant leg, rubbing against him like a kitten. "I'm dizzy and uncomfortable."
Then she started coughing violently again.
"Hug me," she murmured, "I don't want to take medicine, it's bitter, very bitter."
Penelope was delirious with fever. The images in her mind were from her childhood when Grace would hold her and coax her to take her medicine whenever she had a cold.
Kelvin stared at her.
After a few seconds, he bent down, picked her up, and carried her into the bedroom.
He roughly applied a fever patch to her and threw her onto the couch.
Penelope's mouth kept moving, talking in her sleep. Kelvin couldn't hear clearly and shouted irritably, "Shut up!"
She shuddered and slowly quieted down.
Kelvin turned to leave.
But then he heard a sound behind him. It was Penelope falling straight off the couch.
Kelvin uttered, "What a stupid woman!"
The next day, Penelope turned over, habitually rubbing against the pillow, but found it seemed a bit hard.
She reached out to press it, and it was quite springy.
Wait, this didn't seem like her pillow. What was it?
Penelope groggily tried to open her eyes, only to hear Kelvin's voice from above her. "Have you touched enough?"
Was she dreaming?
She looked up and met his handsome face.
Penelope screamed, almost rolling off the bed in fright.
Kelvin, with a dark expression, reached out and pulled her back into his arms. "You stupid woman, do you want to fall a second time?"
Penelope looked confused. "Why am I in your bed?"
Kelvin replied, "You were sleepwalking."
Hearing his serious answer, Penelope was a bit skeptical. "Really?"
Kelvin retorted, "Would I lie?"
Good point.
She wasn't worth lying to.
Penelope nervously got up. She had actually sleepwalked into Kelvin's bed. It was already good enough that he hadn't thrown her out!
But didn't he notice at all?
"What are you dawdling for? Get out," Kelvin scolded, interrupting her thoughts.
Penelope nodded and agreed, but after taking a few steps, she felt dizzy and lightheaded.
Her throat was dry and sore.
She had caught a cold, probably from getting wet last night.
But Penelope couldn't worry about that now; she still needed to go to the prison.
She had to ask Kelvin for leave; otherwise, if he couldn't find her, he would be furious again.
But what reason should she give?
While Penelope was racking her brain, Kelvin instructed, "Go to the hospital, don't infect me!"
She happily agreed, "Okay!"
For the first time, Penelope felt that this cold had come at just the right time.
Leaving the King Manor, she first went to the prison.
Connor was much more awake, but his injuries were severe. He was still bedridden and needed daily dressing changes.
"Penelope, it's our family that's dragging you down," Connor sighed, "If we sever our ties, would Kelvin let you go?"
Penelope insisted, "Dad, you'll always be my dad."
Connor continued, "I've thought about dying. Maybe that would dissipate Kelvin's anger. But then I thought of you and your mom. If I died, Kelvin would only take it out on you more."
Penelope smiled, "I've been doing okay. Don't worry."
She didn't have much time to stay. She paid ten thousand dollars for medical expenses and gave the remaining ten thousand to the people watching over Connor.
"Sorry for the trouble," Penelope spoke, "Please take good care of my dad."
Clearly, these people had stood by and watched, heartlessly allowing Fiona to do her evil deeds, but she had no choice but to win them over.
One day, she would become strong! That day would come!
After leaving the prison, Penelope went to the hospital.
The doctor asked, "Are you Penelope?"
Penelope nodded. "Yes."
The doctor asked formally, "What's wrong?"
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