Chapter 2

I turned and left as countless people stared at me in surprise. I did not feel any regret.

Back at the McLaren residence, I removed the cumbersome gown.

Everyone knew that I would do anything for Emil, despite his giving me the cold shoulder.

When it came to matters which concerned him, I would plan far ahead and organize everything thoroughly for him.

More than once, Emil mentioned that he was exhausted from work and wanted to unwind. Hence, I checked his work schedule and planned a trip to Wanoki Island because he said that he missed the beach and sea there.

However, Emil didn't agree to the trip to Wanoki Island. Instead, he chose to go hiking and camping with Sarah, and I was ordered to go along.

The rain was pouring, but Emil sent me to pick up Sarah's bracelet. In the end, I stumbled down the cliff and broke my leg. I ended up in the hospital for two months afterward.

I didn't want to experience that sort of hopelessness in life again, and leaving Emil was the first step.

I packed my belongings quickly and went downstairs with my identification documents. Coincidentally, I bumped into the formally dressed Emil, who was walking in.

Upon seeing me, he sniggered, snatched the luggage from my hand, and tossed it aside.

Frowning, I asked, "What are you doing?"

"I should be the one to ask you that, Penelope. Aren't you a little old to be playing the runaway act?

"What will you do next? Are you going to leave a note and commit suicide?" Emil chided in contempt while breathing heavily.

"Penelope, grow up. Are you going to threaten me with suicide again?"

I brushed the dust off my luggage and asked while enunciating each word, "Who told you that I'm going to kill myself?"

Heartless people like Emil and Sarah could live good lives, and it wasn't easy for me to get a second shot at life. Why should I kill myself?

Emil snickered and said nothing. His eyes were full of disdain.

Following closely behind him, Sarah said, "Penny, you can just tell Emil nicely that you would like to attend his birthday party.

"You're akin to siblings who grew up together. He'll definitely let you in. You can threaten suicide once, but nobody will believe you when you do it the second time."

There was more behind Sarah's statement, and the detest Emil held for me in his eyes intensified.

Memories flashed past my mind, and I suddenly recalled an incident. After Emil and Sarah started dating during high school, his attitude toward me changed completely.

Furious, I left a message saying that I would jump into a river. This scared the wits out of his parents, Hubert McLaren and Fiona Keller, and they ordered Emil to break up with Sarah.

Since then, Emil detested me and gave me the cold shoulder. He refused to interact with me.

Meanwhile, Sarah's circle of friends ostracized and bullied me, but he turned a blind eye to it.

Staring straight at Emil, I explained, "You've overanalyzed the situation. Suicide didn't cross my mind. I packed my things because I'm rushing to catch the flight to Wanoki Island."

Emil snorted in laughter, laughing at my clumsy excuse to conserve my dignity.

Sarah tugged at his sleeve. "Emil, let Penny come to the party with us. She's rather pitiful."

Furrowing his brows, Emil was about to give in when I refused it again, "No thanks. I want to go to Wanoki Island."

Emil flinched and snorted. "Did you hear that? She wants to go to Wanoki Island."

"Penny, stop being unreasonable at this time." Sarah sighed and hugged my arm.

Her manicured nails dug deep into my flesh in a spot where no one could see, and I shoved her aside from the pain.

Sarah fell to the floor and clenched her palms slowly. She looked at me in disbelief, and her lips trembled. "Penny, you—"