Chapter 578: Once Doormat Now Untouchable
---- Chapter 578 A flicker of joy stirred in Penelope's chest. She truly believed it was some sort of gift prepared for her. After all, even a property deed amounted to little more than a thin booklet. She stepped forward briskly, smiling as she picked it up and opened it. When she drew out the contents and saw what they were, her expression froze. "What's this?" Seeing her reaction, Megan finally felt a hint of relief. 'This idiot. How could Raymond possibly treat her any differently?' Yet in the very next second, she froze as well.
"This call log," Raymond said lazily, the comers of his mouth lifting into something that was not quite a smile. "You really don't remember it?" He fixed his gaze on Penelope and spoke slowly, each word deliberate. "Then surely you remember a man named Thomas Setford." At the sound of that name, Penelope showed no immediate reaction, but a cold sheen of sweat broke out across Megan's ---- back. Eliana had been poisoned yesterday. And today, Raymond had already traced things this far? Was this Raymond's doing, or Julian's? Either way, it was fast. Fast enough to make her heart pound.
Penelope frowned. "Who's Thomas Setford?" She genuinely had no memory of the name at all. To Raymond, however, it looked like she was playing dumb and refusing to react. He looked at her without the slightest change in expression. " You're asking me? That call was between you and him, was it not? Tell me. What did you talk about for half an hour?" Penelope remained utterly confused. Her mind lagged behind the situation, but she could sense the gravity of it. She was certain of one thing. She had not made that call.
Lately, she had not spoken to anyone on the phone for more than ten minutes at a time. The call had taken place three or four nights ago. She racked her brain. What had she been doing then? "Talking about how you handed the poison to him?" Raymond pressed, his eyes sharp and tinged with mockery. "Or how he should poison Eliana, then flee the country as fast as possible to lie low?" ---- If there had been any chance that following her trail could lead to Vee, Raymond would not have tolerated her for even a minute longer. 'Diana and James handle matters with far too much hesitation.
They're always afraid of this and wary of that, obsessed with roundabout tactics. Lock her up and starve her for two days, and she will spill everything.' At his words, Penelope's heart lurched violently. She turned to stare at Megan in disbelief It was her. Megan had never explicitly told Penelope what she was doing, but the two of them were inseparable. Penelope had always had a rough idea. They were vile deeds, all of them. If Megan said nothing, Penelope would be content to pretend she saw nothing. That way, when everything came to light, it would be easier to distance herself.
And now she finally remembered what she had been doing at the time of that call. She had been showering. Her phone lay tossed carelessly on the sofa. Megan had come into her room. That look from Penelope made Megan panic. She gritted her teeth and snapped, "Why are you looking at me? Don't you know what you've done yourself?" ---- Julian's influence in Jouleston far exceeded her expectations. In less than a day, the matter had almost been unearthed at its roots. Her plan had been thrown completely off course.
Originally, once everything was done, she intended to push Penelope out to take the blame. But now, if Penelope acted foolishly and refused to shoulder it, even turning on her instead... Penelope was not foolish. Her fingers trembled, not with guilt, but with rage. Megan's meaning could not have been clearer. If Penelope refused to carry this burden, then the truth about her stealing Sydney's identity would be exposed at once. Megan would drag her down with her no matter what. Penelope forced herself to calm down, weighing the pros and cons as quickly as possible.
Her eyes reddened as she spoke in a shaky voice. "Raymond, | was just momentarily confused. | saw how highly Alan regarded Sydney, and jealousy clouded my judgment..." Raymond did not bother to listen. He simply extended his hand. " Give me the antidote." His only concern was obtaining it, then going home to sleep. Everything else could wait until Diana returned. "What antidote?" Penelope clenched her hands. "! don't have any ---- antidote for this poison "You don't have it?" Suddenly, there was movement at the entrance. Diana had returned without warning.
She wore a dark trench coat and wide legged trousers, ankle boots clicking softly against the floor. Her tall, lean figure looked crisp and imposing. Her gaze, however, was sharp as it swept over Penelope and Megan in turn "Or is the antidote simply not in your hands?" she asked coolly.