"Can't you just stop Penny? Ariana has already apologized, can't you let it go?" Chris said in defense of his fiance and Penny couldn't help but chuckle. She hadn't even said a thing yet he was getting so defensive.
"That's enough," Abby said cutting them off. Then she turned to Penny.
"We'll be hosting a dinner party tonight just for you Penny," Abby said sweetly and a certain girl at the table frowned.
Even if her grand wedding preparations were commencing, she was still so jealous the Adkins family was hosting a dinner on Penny's behalf.
So what if she had survived a night at the madman's house, it's not like it was any huge achievement.
Who the hell does Penny think she is?
Ariana," Abby called lightly. "You'll be escorting Penny for shopping later. Since you have such good taste, I want Penny to look as fashionable as you."
Ariana blinked, stunned at Abby's words. Can things get any worse than this?
She hated Penny. But now she was supposed to play dress-up with her?
Ariana wanted to oppose it so badly, but she couldn't. She had already done one bad thing right now, adding another would destroy her image before Abby and the entire Adkin's, so she pinched Chris's arm.
Chris cleared his throat immediately and then said. "Hosting a dinner. Isn't that too much mother?" Chris asked but Abby waved it off.
"Nonsense. A dinner party is the best idea. Since we're not hosting a wedding celebration for Penny." Abby said.
"Mother is right Chris." Ariana turned to her husband to put her delicate fingers on his hands. "Your brother has been locked in there since his birth. Since Penny can tame him, I think we should let the world see him now." Ariana said sweetly and then turned to Penny.
"Right big sis? You're the only one that can tame him. You'll make sure he doesn't hurt anyone tonight right?" She asked.
She would never let Penny have any dinner party. Not while she's around. Penny can never outshine her again.
"Ariana is right. If we want to host a dinner and finally show that madman, then we need to be sure she can tame him. Just because she survived through the night doesn't mean she can tame him." Greg cut in.
He has been quiet until now. He didn't like the fat girl, she was just too unattractive. When they asked for Osvaldo's wife he had thought she would be manageable so that he too could have his way with her. It's been so long since he's been with any woman, especially since Abby's illness.
Ariana was his daughter-in-law. Plus she's his only son's wife, he couldn't imagine doing anything to her. But Osvaldo's wife...
"Father is right Mother. There will be important guests in attendance at the party, we can't let anyone get hurt because of that curse." Christian said.
"How can we be so sure the madman even likes her?" Ari asked glaring stylishly at her sister.
"But Penny survived through the night. It's something no one has been able to do." Abby said.
No one has been able to do what Penny did. Surviving in the hands of the madman was a miracle. The same violent body that has almost killed them in the past.
"Anyone can do that mother." Ariana laughed a little. "Even I can do it if I want."
"Penny just got lucky that's all. If we really want to test it, let her speak to him again." Ariana said eyeing her sister.
She was jealous the Adkins family were treating Penny like she was anything special.
"Let her speak to him before all of us and let's see if she can talk to him without a scratch. Only then will we believe she is capable of taming him." Ariana said.
"Penny, don't ever think for a day that I hate you. I'm just doing this for the sake of the family. As Chris's wife, I'm now a part of the family and it's my duty to look out for us."
"You have done well, Ariana," Greg said, and Ariana smiled. "Penny would be a fool to think you hate her for looking after the family." He added.
Penny said nothing, there was no need to waste her time on Ariana's games. Now she knew the Adkins family hated Osvaldo so much, but why would they hate the source of their livelihood?
Abby turned to the housekeeper at a corner, "Hughes, get Osvaldo out of the Penthouse. I want Penny to prove herself to us again." Hughes froze at her Mistress's words.
They all had no idea how Penny had survived through the night, but yesterday's encounter hadn't been nice at all. Penny had barely escaped the grip of the madman, which makes them think she could escape him now.
"But mistress..."
"Are you going against me, Hughes?" Abby asked and the housekeeper quickly dropped to her knees. She would never do that. She would never disrespect the last of the house.
"No mistress," Hughes said.
"Then do what I've asked." At that, Hughes ran out of the mansion without a second thought. Abby turned to the next servant there.
"You, tell Hugo to get the chains from the dungeon and arrange the whips." She said and the servant scrammed away immediately.
Penny had no idea what they wanted to use the chains for. She wanted to ask, but she held herself. If only these people knew the man she had met last night wasn't at all mad.
But why would he endure these tortures and still act mad before them?
"Penny dear, if you're done eating, please step out with us," Abby said sweetly. She wanted to settle this matter once and for all. Everyone would know today if this fat girl could tame the madman or if it was luck.
Though it didn't matter if she could tame him, after all, she was married to him, which makes her own everything belonging to the Adkins family.