"You're nothing but a girl married to our master. You have no right to touch him." The middle man suddenly said.
"Don't think because you're married to our master you have the upper hand. We can change your status anytime we like." Another person said.
"Please pardon her. She had no idea of the rules." Abby tried to defend her daughter-in-law.
"Step aside Abby. That is why we're here." The middle man said. He seemed to be the lead lawyer.
Ariana, who had been quietly watching from the corner, frowned. Something wasn't right. Why were the lawyers acting like this? Why did the Adkins family look afraid of them?
Weren't they supposed to control these men? Hadn't they hired them?
"Listen carefully, Penelope," the first lawyer in a brown suit spat as if her name itself was a stain. "The Adkins do not tolerate incompetence. Nor do we forgive those who bring harm to our bloodline."
The second lawyer, a skeletal man with cold, calculating eyes, pulled out a document. "By the authority of the family council, you are hereby put on probation. One more scratch. One more bruise. One more moment of suffering inflicted upon Young Master Osvaldo, whether by your hand or your negligence, and you will be expelled from the Adkins household. Permanently."
The third lawyer leaned in, his breath reeking of expensive cigars and disdain. "No appeals. No second chances. You will leave with nothing, no money, no status, not even the clothes on your back. The Adkins name will be scrubbed from your existence as if you were never here."
"Our young master is not a plaything," the first lawyer added harshly. "He may be sick now, but once he recovers, you'll be discarded if you're not useful."
Before anyone could say anything...
You don't have to worry," Penny said clearly. "I want a divorce."
The entire room went still.
Silence dropped like a blade.
Everyone turned to look at her, shocked. These people must think she's a fool because she's fat.
I don't need his money," she said quietly. "Or his power. I already have my dreams."
She didn't need Osvaldo's money or power anyway. She already had everything she needed. She had dreamt of living on the outskirts of the city where her lab was located. She would dedicate her life to help in treating the helpless.
Or maybe gave herself out as a lab rat. Maybe they could use her body as a lab experiment since she was fat and useless. Who knows, her body could be the answer or the cure for losing weight.
But Chris had thrown her into a nightmare. Into a marriage with a man she didn't even know.
"This isn't the time to joke," the lead lawyer said, confused now. "What are you talking about?"
They all know every woman that marries their master had the intention of stealing the Adkins's wealth. This woman couldn't be any different. She is a golddigger, who's now playing hard to get.
"Yes, Penny, what are you talking about?" Abby asked her voice tight with worry.
"I said I don't want to be married to Osvaldo Adkins anymore," Penny repeated, louder this time. "I'm not a thing you can toss around. I don't care about your rules or your money."
"I cannot be tied down to a family that plots my downfall and how to ruin me." She stated. She's been through so much to be treated even worse all over again.
Everyone froze at her words.
Penny stood her ground. For the first time, she realized, they didn't own her. They needed her. And because of that, she would never let them step on her again.
Hughes, standing beside her mistress, felt her heart clench with fear. If Penny left… Osvaldo would return to violence. But even so, she would support her. Her madam deserved better.
Penny seems like a nice girl with a big heart and she loved her for that.
"Penny, it hasn't come to this," Abby said quickly. "You're still in the wrong here. Don't forget that."
"In the wrong?" Penny raised an eyebrow. "Was I the one who told the guards to beat my husband?"
Chris's face twisted. Ariana's eyes widened. Greg looked away.
"I never laid a hand on him," Penny said clearly. "Not once. Even after what he did to me."
The lawyers looked at one another, frowns deepening. Something wasn't adding up.
Abby and Greg had told them Penny had harmed Osvaldo. But now she was denying it?
"What are you saying, Penny?" Ariana asked, trying to sound innocent.
Penny turned her full attention on her sister, voice steady, gaze sharp. "Say I touched Osvaldo. Say it, right now. And I'll divorce him and walk away forever."
Ariana's lips parted, but before she could speak, Abby stepped in. "Penny didn't touch him," Abby confessed, her voice low but firm.
"What?" Chris gasped. Greg's jaw dropped.
"We lied," Abby continued, swallowing hard. "It was Ariana. She was the one who gave the orders to punish him." Penny smiled faintly. Hughes did too.
To Abby, sacrificing Ariana meant nothing compared to losing Penny, the only person keeping them from bankruptcy. Penny wasn't a daughter-in-law.
She was an asset.
"Mother!" Ariana screamed, betrayal written all over her face.
The lawyers turned to Ariana, eyes sharp and full of judgment. "And who is she?" one of them asked coldly.
"S-She's my wife," Christian said quickly. "But she didn't mean to... she was just..."
"Nonsense!" the second lawyer snapped stopping his words.
"There is no excuse for laying a finger on our young master."
They were furious now. It was clear no one had educated this girl on who Osvaldo Adkins truly was.
The richest, most powerful man in Owlsgrave. Even in his madness, he was a lion asleep.
And they were the pride members guarding him.
"Miss Ariana," the third lawyer said, stepping forward. "According to Section 14 of the Adkins Law, you will face punishment for hurting our master."
The only reason they hadn't punished Penny was because she was legally his wife. She had the same rights as him now. They had only meant to scare her, not break the law themselves.
"You will spend three nights in the dungeon," the second lawyer said. "No food. No water."
Ariana paled. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
"Mrs. Penny," the first lawyer said with a respectful bow. "We deeply apologize for the misunderstanding. Thank you… for taking care of our master."
"That's not fair!" Ariana cried out. "You didn't punish Penny like this! Why are you punishing me over that madman? Mother, aren't these your lawyers?!"
Chris quickly dragged his wife out of the room, her screams echoing down the hall.
The lawyers turned to Abby and Greg.
"Keep that woman under control before she ruins everything," one of them said sharply. "She needs to learn her place."
Abby nodded quickly, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"Madam," the second lawyer said calmly. "We need to speak to you. Do you have time?"