THIBV - Chapter 37

Eventually, Bridget arrived at the scene in question.

There were employees gathered there. Penelope was there too, and she looked at her with an awkward expression.

Cedric jumped out from among the employees and explained politely.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but someone stole your belongings and buried them in the garden. I think they made a grave."

The employees sighed at the word grave that came out of Cedric's mouth.

"Who would do something like that?"

"You did something bad. You deserve to be severely punished."

"This is not just theft, it's murder. He must have done it because he wanted Madam to die!"

Penelope swallowed dryly as she listened to the sharp criticism of the employees who were murmuring.

I didn't know things would turn out like this. I made it in a place where no one would know!

Penelope resented the gardener.

Why on earth did the gardener turn this place upside down and create this mess?

'You didn't even manage this place normally.'

At that moment, her eyes met with Bridget's.

Penelope, startled, let out a scream without realizing it.

"Why are you looking at me? What!"

Because of that, everyone's attention was focused on Penelope.

People's gazes turned cold as they saw Penelope flinch.

Everyone thought the same thing, even if they didn't say it out loud. Does it look like it's being stabbed?

Penelope felt breathless and dizzy.

"Why is everyone looking at me like that? It's not me! It's not me!"

"Nobody said it was your doing."

Bridget calmly soothed her.

But that actually had the effect of highlighting Penelope's anxious appearance even more.

Penelope felt it too.

She should have stopped talking, but she was getting more and more anxious and kept saying careless things. She couldn't stop.

"That's a lie. You looked at me! You suspected me! And how do you know If It was meant badly or not? You could have meant it well!"

A burst of laughter broke out among the employees.

"You mean well?"

"That's ridiculous."

Penelope glared, trying to pinpoint the people who had laughed.

"Who is it? Who just said that? Is it you? Is it you?"

The named employees shook their heads calmly. Bridget sharply rebuked Penelope for this.

"Don't make a fuss, Penelope."

"What the hell did I do!"

"What you're doing right now is chaos."

"That's ridiculous!"

Isaac was seen looking anxious next to her.

He must have known that Penelope was the one who created this.

The person who was most irritating to Penelope right now was Isaac, not Bridget.

'I don't think I need to come out and embarrass Penelope.'

Since he had stepped on his own feet, it seemed like the employees had already figured out that this was Penelope's doing.

'I'll make you realize the true nature of your love this time.'

Bridget deliberately dragged Isaac into it.

"Isaac, do you think I'm being unreasonable?"

"Isaac!"

Penelope clung to him with a sad face as if she could only trust Isaac.

"I feel so wronged!"

But Isaac struck Penelope's hand away.

The look of annoyance was evident.

"..."

Penelope looked up at Isaac blankly.

"Isaac?"

"Stop being so mean, Penelope."

"But.."

"Bridget is right. You're the only one causing trouble right now. No one said anything to you, so why are you causing trouble?"

Penelope froze as if she had been splashed with cold water.

She couldn't believe it.

What is this?

Isaac's cold gaze was shocking.

He was always so affectionate.

Until recently, he was clinging to her, asking what he would have done without her.

How dare he look at me like that in front of everyone.

You're siding with Bridget.

Penelope face turned red from embarrassment and the muscles all over her body tensed.

A chill ran down her spine.

"Isaac..."

You have to take my side.

We are accomplices.

Just as I covered your faults and took your side, you too should protect me.

That's only fair.

The feeling of betrayal struck her like a bolt from the blue. Penelope was dumbfounded.

Isaac quickly gave orders to the servants next to him.

"Take Penelope to her room. She's just a nuisance."

"Isaac!"

A pale Penelope clung to Isaac.

But she was dragged away like a criminal by the servants.

Bridget watched Penelope indifferently.

She stared at her crumbling expression, her eyes filled with despair.

When Penelope erected a monument to celebrate her friend's death as if it were her good fortune, she thought she had a happy ending.

'The theme of this story is the punishment of evil and the promotion of good.'

Bridget looked down at Penelope as she was being dragged away, smiling sheepishly.

Penelope's expression crumpled.

"Ahhh!!"

Isaac mercilessly blocked even that Iast bit of evil.

"Shut your mouth and take her away! Oh my, how can a pregnant woman be cursing like that?"

He whispered to Bridget.

"Bridget, I'll take care of this. I understand that you're upset about this, but don't worry too much about it. You must be tired after going out. Why don't you get some rest?"

He pointed to his employees.

"It must have been done by one of them. I'll catch them, kick them out, and make sure they never do something like this again..."

The employees frowned.

Anyone can see that Penelope is the culprit, but you're going to catch and punish the employees?

"..."

Bridget felt the public anger boiling over.

She had no intention of blowing the opportunity Isaac had created for her.

"It's okay. There's no need to bother with a living person. It's not like I'm going to get hurt by making something like that. When I actually look at it, it's just a trivial prank, just like you said. It's not like I got anything valuable stolen."

Building a grave for a living person was by no means an easy task.

But Bridget was graciously saying she would let it slide.

To protect the employees from Isaac, who is trying to frame them even though he knows full well that it is Penelope's doing!

As expected, our merciful Madam.

The eyes of the employees looking at Bridget were filled with respect.

Isaac sighed in relief, not even noticing the atmosphere.

"Right? That's right. I thought about it well. Everyone disperse, quickly!"

Fearing that Bridget might change her mind, he quickly dispersed the employees.

Then, the eyes of the employees looking at Isaac's back as he chased after Bridget was fierce.

"Then why did you bring in such a vicious woman!"

"Are you trying to frame us?"

Cedric sighed.

"Let's calm down, at least for the sake of the Madam."

The employees' anger that day did not easily subside.

***

I, now alone with Isaac, glanced back at him in the hallway.

"Is that what you did?"

"What? That's nonsense."

I knew it wasn't true, but I pushed Isaac on purpose.

It crushed Penelope's pride and left her with a sense of betrayal.

Isaac also wanted to pay the price.

"You're the only one who would think I'm dead. You sold me to the Count of Kensington, so you thought I died there. That's why you made a grave for me."

"Why would I do something like that?"

"I don't know?"

"Hey, Bridget. Why would I leave any excuse for something like this to happen?"

"Show me the evidence."

Isaac chuckled.

"How can I provide evidence for something I didn't do?"

It seemed like he thought it was a joke.

I needed to make him realize that wasn't the case.

"Countess Spencer thinks of me as a benefactor."

"Benefactor? What benefactor?"

"I saved that son from dying of insomnia."

"What? You did something so outrageous?"

I instantly destroyed Isaac's joy.

"If I told her about my visit to the Count of Kensington and what happened today and asked for her help, I don't know if you would be that happy then."

Isaac's eyes shook violently.

"Bridget... Hey, what's wrong? Are you still angry?"

He spoke softly, sweat dripping down his face.

"What did I do while you were out? I sent a letter to the House of Lords, telling them there had been a misunderstanding and that I was annulling the divorce. It won't happen again. I swear it."

I turned away from him and climbed the stairs.

Isaac followed along.

"How can I make you feel better? What can I do for you? Just tell me. I'll do anything."

"Anything?"

"Yeah, whatever!"

I stroked my chin for a moment as if thinking about it.

Isaac nodded generously as if telling me to talk as much as I wanted.

Jewelry? Dresses? You weren't interested in those things? You liked to act classy, so maybe you'd ask me to buy you books or paintings? 

It didn't matter. It wouldn't be much of a request to my cat.

But what I said was completely unexpected.

"I would like you to invest in my business."

Isaac paused.

"What are you doing?"

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