The next day, Penelope looked really pretty in Bridget's dress.
The luxurious olive-green silk dress matched her red hair.
A large flower decoration made of flowing fabric along the neckline accentuated her gorgeous facial features.
It was as if the dress had been made just for her.
Penelope spread out the hem of her skirt and looked around in front of the mirror.
"How is it? How does it look?"
The maid who was serving the clothes reluctantly praised the question that had a set answer.
"It suits you well."
"Right? It's Bridget's clothes, but don't you think they suit me better than Bridget?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Penelope was annoyed at having to compare her to Brigitte, but the maid thought it was true.
When Bridget wore it, the dress covered up her figure and looked excessive, but when Penelope wore it, both the dress and the figure stood out.
Penelope darkened her plump lips and ran to Isaac.
Isaac was sitting in front of the fireplace in the living room, talking to the butler.
"How about me?"
Isaac snickered as he watched Penelope spinning before his eyes.
"You look prettier today. Is that a new dress?"
"Bridget gave it to me as a gift."
"Yes?"
Penelope sat down gently on Isaac's lap with a charming smile on her face.
"The dress you bought for Bridget is like a gift from you. Thank you, Isaac. I really like it."
Then, she lightly kissed Isaac on the cheek, leaving a red lipstick mark on his cheek.
"Oh, I'm sorry!"
Penelope laughed and wiped Isaac's cheek.
"Hmm, then I..."
The butler, who had been standing nearby, missing the timing to leave, quickly left his seat.
'It's a good thing Madam is out so she doesn't have to see this.'
As Penelope and Isaac showed their affection for each other in the space where Bridget lived, the public opinion of the employees only turned towards Bridget.
Anyway, it is not a good example for the subordinates to see the head of the household, Isaac, openly showing that he is not fulfilling his marital duties.
Isaac never thought about how he should appear to his employers.
The previous Viscount, who had purchased the title with money, did not teach Isaac the duties of a nobleman or the attitude or mindset that a nobleman should have. You can't teach your children something you don't know yourself. All Isaac learned from his father was how to buy people with money.
The butler sighed softly and left the living room, closing the door behind him so that the two people who were deeply in love with each other would not notice.
Isaac hugged Penelope's waist as he felt the quiet living room fill with Penelope's lively laughter.
"How is it staying here? Are you okay?"
"It's so great. I can see you anytime and Bridget is so nice to me."
"I'm glad you like it."
Isaac felt relieved when he saw Penelope smiling.
In fact, when Bridget suggested that the three of them live together, he thought there might be some hidden agenda.
But seeing that she even gave Penelope the clothes to wear, he was starting to think that it was more of a pure favor.
'You were close friends before you got married, so maybe you really want to spend time together on this occasion.'
It was a comfortable but convenient self-justification.
People of the world might think it strange to have two women under one roof.
But Isaac didn't feel the need to break this peace.
'Don't all nobles have at least one mistress anyway? There are many rooms in the mansion, so it's possible to have women in one place. I don't think it's rude.'
Isaac, who did not know much about aristocratic society, guessed that Bridget would not have taken it upon herself to do something that would bring shame.
"You, are you thinking of something else about me?"
Penelope gently pulled at his chin, her expression sour.
"Make me jealous."
"Do you know what I'm thinking and why you're jealous?"
"Anything. Anything that catches your attention more than me makes me jealous."
Penelope leaning against Isaac as she spoke looked truly lovely.
"Don't be jealous."
"But I want to have all of your heart."
"You already have everything."
"Really?"
Penelope laughed loudly and heartily.
The laughter reached the ears of the maids passing by the reception room door.
"Tsk tsk. Is it really that good?"
"Anna, please make sure Madam doesn't come near here. If I saw my husband with a concubine, I would want to set the house on fire."
Anna, who was among the maids, shrugged her shoulders.
"Fortunately, Madam Is out, so I won't have to run around turning off the lights. Madam said she'd be home around lunchtime, so I don't think she'll be hanging around like that until then."
The maid's gazes at the reception room door were not kind.
***
After going for a morning walk with Isaac, Penelope returned to her room and looked at herself in the mirror for a long time.
"Bridget, there have been prettier dresses than this one."
She kept feeling sorry for the dresses she left in Bridget's dressing room.
"It doesn't suit Bridget anyway, so wouldn't the person who made it and the person who gave it to her be happy if someone who suits it better wears it?"
Penelope headed to Bridget's room, intending to bring a few more dresses.
As Penelope thought about Isaac, who couldn't take his eyes off her, her steps became more confident.
Anyway, didn't all of Bridget's things come from Isaac?
"Bridget."
Penelope knocked, but when there was no answer from inside, she opened the door quietly.
"Bridget, are you there?"
There was no sign of life in the room.
"Well, it doesn't matter."
Penelope rather thought it was a good thing.
Since Bridget wasn't there, she thought she'd pick whatever she wanted.
"There are so many that you won't even know what's missing."
Penelope headed straight to the dressing room.
But then, a set of jewelry sparkling enchantingly on the dressing table caught her eye.
Penelope's eyes widened.
"Uh, this is..."
It was Bridget's wedding gift.
It was the first time she had seen them in years, but Penelope could recognize them at a glance.
When she saw that Isaac had given Bridget these amazing jewels, Penelope was so envious that she went home and cried under the covers.
"I married an old man, and Bridget has such a wonderful husband!"
Bridget is married to the young, handsome, and wealthy Isaac Winston and is given such expensive jewels, but what does she think of herself?
It was a cruel reality for Penelope to endure.
'What do I lack compared to Bridget? All Bridget has is a feeble ability to purify! And that's pretty useless.'
Her situation seemed even more dire because her friend, who was in a similar situation, seemed to be doing better than her...
It was from that moment on that Isaac felt so cool and amazing.
Honestly, Penelope was glad when he left Bridget alone right after the wedding.
It was comforting to know that Bridget was unhappy too.
'I like you, but I hope you're not happier than me, Bridget.'
Penelope touched Bridget's gift with envy.
She put the gift bracelet on her wrist and tried reflecting the light coming in through the window.
The large diamond attached to the bracelet sparkled like starlight.
The soft feel of the pearls was pleasant.
It was then that Anna, who had come to replace the comforter, came into the room without knocking.
Anna, who momentarily mistook Penelope for Bridget, was startled.
"Uh? I'm sorry, Ma'am. I thought you weren't here. No, aren't you Mrs. Bellingham?"
Penelope was so surprised that she unconsciously hid her bracelet wrist behind her back.
"Ah. I'm going to have to do something for a moment..."
Penelope looked around in confusion, choosing her words.
She looked at the gift and was lost in her old memories, so she forgot why she had come there, and her stammering seemed quite suspicious.
Anna narrowed her eyes.
"But why are you hiding it like that?"
"What, what did I hide?"
"When I came in, you quickly hid something behind you."
"Are you framing me now?"
"If not, take your hand out."
Anna placed the comforter on the bed, approached Penelope, and reached out behind her.
Penelope pushed Anna fiercely.
"This is really rude, how dare you do this to someone!"
At that moment, the pearls fell from Penelope's wrist and rolled on the floor.
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