Chapter 15

Penelope froze. She hadn't expected Alexander to let it go without pressing her for more details. He was even willing to bear the consequences for her. Suddenly, a wave of conflicting emotions crashed over her. "H-How are you planning to explain this to them?" she asked hesitantly. Hearing the uncertainty in her voice, Alexander felt a pang of sympathy. After going through the documents Ethan had sent, he spent hours seething with anger. But it wasn't the Carters' audacious attempt to substitute the bride that had him so furious. What truly infuriated Alexander was how mercilessly they had treated their biological daughter, all for the sake of an outsider. And this wasn't just anyone. It was Penelope—the woman he had quietly adored for over a decade, the woman he had planned to marry the moment she came of age. At that moment, Alexander understood Penelope's feelings better than anyone. Unable to hold back, he pulled her into his embrace. "Penelope, you've been in Jendale for