Chapter 126: Games of shadows

As they quickened their pace down the narrow hallway to the safe room, Grandma Penelope kept a tight grip on Jacqueline's shoulder, Ariel following closely, turning continuously at every sound behind her. Outside, the shooting had stopped. But the air was still thick with anticipation, like before a tsunami or an earthquake.


It was suddenly shattered by Penelope's ringing phone. She tugged it out of her pocket, her eyes narrowing into a slim line as she looked at the caller ID. A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she answered.

"Ah, Penelope," Greta cooed through the speaker, heavy with sarcasm and mockery. "Fancy hearing your voice at a time like this. Running for your life, are we?

Penelope's grip on the phone tightened, but her tone didn't change. "Greta," she returned coolly, "I see you still enjoy playing childish games. Shame it is the only thing that you are good at."

"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet," Greta sneered with malice lacing her tone. "All these years, you thought you could humiliate me, make me the laughingstock. Well, look who's running now, scrambling to hide with those precious girls.

Penelope chuckled low and was wholly unbothered, which further annoyed Greta. "Greta, let me give you a piece of advice: you're a child who's playing in an adult's game, and this game has a way of consuming the weak. Be careful lest you find yourself devoured.".

A pause hung on the wire, and Penelope could almost picture Greta's shocked expression. Her voice proceeded, a mix of steel and calm: "You may think that you're winning, Greta, but you're merely dancing to a tune you don't understand.".

Greta's voice went cold. "Is that so? We shall see who is consumed, Penelope. This is only the beginning. Before long, I'll take everything you hold dear, and you'll be left with nothing."

Penelope smiled, unseated. "That's the problem with you, Greta. You never grasped what real strength was. It's not in revenge or even control-it's in standing your ground with dignity. I doubt you'll ever grasp that.

With that, Penelope had already ended the call, slipping the phone back into her pocket as if it was some trifle. Turning around, she met Jacqueline and Ariel staring at her in shock and admiration-wide-eyed, surprised at the steely resolve she'd shown.

Jacqueline managed to break the silence first. "Grandma Penelope. you weren't one little bit afraid?

Penelope gave a light, dismissive wave of her hand. "Scared? Of Greta? My dear, she's nothing more than a spoiled child trying to play with fire. People like that only burn themselves in the end."

Ariel said in continued wonder, "I don't know how you stay so calm. It's like you know everything's going to be okay."

Penelope's expression softened as she looked at the girls. "I've been through many storms, my loves, and the key is to remember that fear only gives power to those who seek to harm you. Stand firm, and they lose their hold.".

Before either could say a word, Penelope extended an arm and pressed a hidden button somewhere in the wall. A soft whirring took over the room while a panel that hid an elevator within the wall opened. With a wave of her hand, she invited them inside.

"Come now, into the lift," Penelope invited them in. "This shall take us to a safer part of the mansion where even Greta's chaos cannot reach."

As the elevator doors closed, Ariel turned to her with a new respect. "I didn't know we had anything like this here."

Penelope nodded. "Your father made sure that every part of this house could be protected. There's more to this mansion than meets the eye." She smiled knowingly. "And I'm sure Greta doesn't know any of it.

The elevator began its descent, breaking the silence with the humming of machinery as the three of them stood in reflective quiet. Ariel finally broke the stillness, her voice low and a whisper. "Do you think Greta will keep coming after us?"

Penelope gave her an assuring smile. "Greta thrives on trying to disrupt lives. But as long as we stand together, she can't win.

Her eyes catching her grandmother's, Jacqueline asked, "How can you be so sure, Grandma? She seems so… relentless."

Penelope reached out and took Jacqueline's hand gently. "Because I have seen people like Greta before. All bark and bluster, when put to the test of real resilience, they cave in." She paused, looking with intensity at her granddaughter. "And we are resilient, my dear.

It slowed to a stop, the doors sliding open onto a soft, ambient lit hallway that hid an underground suite-designed for times just like these. First out was Penelope, leading the way as the girls followed her, craning their necks at the unfamiliar space.

With them now ensconced in the suite, Penelope turned toward them, her voice even but firm. "We'll stay here until Alessandro and Romano give the all-clear. There's nothing more we can do now but wait."

Ariel nodded, though her hands still shook slightly. "I hope they're alright."

Penelope reached out, placing a comforting hand on Ariel's shoulder. "Those boys are as brave as they come. They'll handle whatever comes their way."

Sinking onto a couch nearby, Jacqueline took a steadying breath. "I just wish none of this were happening. Sometimes it feels as though we are caught in another's nightmare."

Penelope sat beside her with a soft, gentle smile softening her features. "Life often feels that way, my dear. But we are stronger than any nightmare. And when it's all over, we'll come out of this much stronger.

Those words descended upon them like soothing balm, affording Jacqueline and Ariel just that respite from the raging storm outside. The dead silence in the room was spent soberly digesting the weight of Penelope's words as both took strength from her unwavering confidence.

After a few moments, Ariel spoke up, her voice a whisper. "I never thought just how much strength comes from staying calm. Watching you stand up to Greta like that… it made me feel like we can face anything."

Penelope chuckled softly, patting Ariel's hand. "You'll find, my dear, that strength often comes from within, from a quiet place that no one else can touch. No matter what Greta tries, she can't reach that part of us."

Jacqueline's face softened, and her eyes shone with gratitude. "Thank you, Grandma. For always being there … and for reminding us of who we are."

Penelope smiled, wrapping one arm around each of them. "It's my honor to stand on the side of both of you. Whatever will be next, we are family, and that is something Greta or anyone else cannot take away from us.