Chapter 7

James didn't seem to understand what Marina was saying. Marina frowned, whispering nervously in a low voice, "Are you stupid or what? I'm talking about the drug for the enjoyment of a couple." James felt a little embarrassed. He hadn't expected Marina to still use such things at her age. As Marina's longtime personal doctor, he tried to reason with her. "Mrs. Farrell Sr., you have a weak heart. You shouldn't…" James couldn't bring himself to continue. Speechless, Marina looked extremely awkward. "You little… What nonsense are you talking about? It's for Gavin and his wife." James instantly got it and quickly dug out a pill from his medical kit to hand to Marina. "Just have them drink this." Marina closed her hand around it, tucking it safely into her palm. … Before dinner, Marina fixed Chantelle with a fake smile, her tone polite but distant. "It's almost time for us to have dinner, so I won't keep you here any longer, Ms. Chantelle." Chantelle got up awkwardly before giving her a respectful nod, "Then I'll take my leave, Mrs. Farrell Senior." Her gaze fell on Giselle for a moment. With a gentle smile, she said, "Giselle, our father and cousins are looking forward to seeing you back home. Why don't you come with me?" Giselle merely snorted. Chantelle had no choice but to let it go. "Alright then. I'll get going now." She smiled at Gavin. "Bye, Gavin." Gavin's gaze flicked briefly toward Giselle. He then said to Chantelle, "Since you're already here, stay and have dinner. We have plenty of food." Marina fixed Gavin with a furious gaze. Though upset, she couldn't openly contradict Gavin in front of others. Penelope cheerily grabbed Chantelle's hand. "I want Mommy Chantelle to eat with me. When she's here, my food tastes better!" Chantelle knelt down, her pink dress spreading across the floor like blooming roses. She gently tapped Penelope's nose. "I like you as much as you like me, Poppy." Penelope led Chantelle to sit on the couch. She snuggled into Chantelle's lap, watching as Chantelle scrolled through her social media feed. Suddenly, Penelope saw a dog covered in blood on the screen. She let out a yelp. Chantelle quickly covered the screen. "Poppy, are you okay? Did I scare you?" Penelope, still shaken, asked, "What happened to that dog?" Chantelle cast a cautious glance at Giselle. Penelope, quick on the uptake, caught on. She jumped off the couch and approached Giselle. "I just saw a little dog all covered in blood." Giselle watched her silently. Penelope looked so much like herself, while she resembled Diane. Giselle had always considered looking alike to be a great maternal gift. But now that she was looking at a face nearly identical to hers that was full of revulsion and defensiveness toward her, she felt her heart die a little. Penelope pressed, "Why do you have to hurt dogs when they are so cute? You're heartless. I hate you even more now. Why do you have to be my mommy?" Giselle got down to Penelope's eye level, saying, "I wish you weren't my daughter as well. I'm very disappointed in you." Hearing this, Penelope pouted. Although she tried to hold it in, she burst into tears in the end. Gavin, hearing her cry, rushed over and scooped her up. In doing so, his arm slammed hard against Giselle's chest, knocking her back a few steps. He comforted the sobbing Penelope, anger evident in his eyes as he stared at Giselle. "How could you be so childish? She's just a kid!" Giselle sneered. "Why don't you ask your daughter what she said?" Penelope cried even louder upon hearing that. "Mommy said she hates me and doesn't want me as her daughter. She says it would be better if she didn't have me…" A look of shock, disbelief, and astonishment crossed Giselle's face. From early on, she had instilled in Penelope the importance of fearlessly owning up to her actions and mistakes, never twisting the truth or telling lies. No more than a minute had passed since Penelope spoke, and there was no way a child's memory could be that bad. As such, it only made sense that Penelope was deliberately lying. Giselle snatched Penelope from Gavin's arms, her tone sharp. "Penelope Farrell, tell the truth! What exactly happened just now? What did you say, and what did I say in response? Be honest and don't leave anything out. If you dare lie, I will spank you!" This was Giselle's first time being so furious at Penelope since Penelope was born. Even Gavin seemed surprised. His probing gaze instinctively fell on Penelope. Being stared at by her parents, Penelope stiffened. "I…" Chantelle slowly approached Gavin, gently tugging on his sleeve. "Gav, don't blame Poppy. You don't know how much gossip she's endured over the past six months. "She might be young, but she's smart. Those words have left deep psychological scars. She's already suffered enough. Must we put her through the hurt from her own family as well? "If someone must apologize today, I'd rather it be me. I want to protect Poppy since I know what it's like to be hurt by my own family." Penelope couldn't hold it in any longer and cried her heart out. She flailed at Giselle, screaming, "I hate you! I hate you so much! It's all your fault! I never want you as my mommy again! I want Mommy Chantelle! Mommy Chantelle, come save me!" Chantelle quickly reached out to hold Penelope, who leaped into her arms, causing her to stumble backward. With a subtle change in his expression, Gavin grabbed Chantelle by the waist, drawing her and Penelope into his arms. Chantelle looked up at Gavin reproachfully. "Gav, you need to apologize to Poppy for looking at her with a questioning gaze. She is your daughter. Your blood runs through her. She should be the closest person to you in this world. "How could you doubt her? Do you realize the psychological harm you could've caused?" Gavin seemed a little guilty. By the time he turned back to Giselle, his gaze was sharp and piercing. "Poppy is only four. She can't lie. Giselle, the one who needs to reflect is you. "How did you come to be shunned by all, including your relatives? Why does even your own daughter despise you? You're simply a rotten person, Giselle."