Chapter 168: Do they have a death wish

"But what about the aunty?" Penelope asked innocently.

Hannah followed her gaze and gave Julianna a brief look. "Oh, don’t worry about her. She’ll be fine."

Julianna’s eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

Hannah ignored her and gently took Penelope’s hand. "We should leave before she starts charging you for the dry-cleaning bill."

Penelope looked up at Hannah, completely serious.

"Can she do that?"

"Probably not," Hannah replied. "But judging by her expression, she might try."

Penelope nodded thoughtfully before glancing at Julianna again.

"I’m sorry about your dress, Aunty."

Julianna’s expression softened slightly, believing the girl was finally apologizing properly.

Then Penelope continued, "But next time, you should look before turning. Big Sister Clara says people should watch where they’re going."

Hannah immediately covered her mouth, struggling to hold back another laugh.

Julianna’s lips parted, but no words came out.

Penelope waved politely. "Goodbye, Aunty. I hope your dress feels better."

With that, Hannah led the girl away without sparing Julianna another glance.

Behind them, Julianna stood frozen, her face burning with humiliation.

Hannah, meanwhile, could no longer contain her amusement.

"That was impressive," she said between laughs.

Penelope looked up at her. "What was?"

"Nothing, sweetheart. You just made my evening much better."

Hannah looked at the little girl, whose honesty seemed to know no limits. Then she remembered something Penelope had said earlier.

"By the way, did you say ’Sister Clara’?" Hannah asked. "How do you know her?"

She wasn’t entirely sure whether Penelope was referring to the same Clara she knew, but her curiosity got the better of her.

Penelope looked up at her and nodded.

"Hmm? Sister Clara gave me cookies. She also promised to help me find Detective Puppy’s mother."

Hannah paused.

"Detective Puppy?" she repeated under her breath. "Has my sister-in-law changed careers again?"

Penelope blinked at her, clearly unsure whether Hannah was being serious.

Before Hannah could ask anything else, a familiar voice called out.

"There you are!"

Both of them turned to see Sky approaching, her expression filled with relief and mild frustration.

"Penelope how many times have I told you not to wander off?" Sky asked Penelope. "What if you got lost again?"

Penelope remained completely calm.

"Don’t worry, Sister Sky. This beautiful sister helped me." She pointed at Hannah. "She’s just as beautiful as Sister Clara."

Hannah’s eyebrows rose at the mention of Clara’s name once again. This time, she had no doubt who the girl was talking about.

Sky pursed her lips before turning to Hannah.

"I’m sorry for the trouble, Miss."

"No worries," Hannah replied with a smile. "I was enjoying my time with Penelope."

Penelope’s eyes widened.

"Wait. How do you know my name? I never told you."

Hannah paused, then gently patted the girl’s head.

"I heard Sky call you."

"Oh." Penelope accepted the explanation immediately.

Sky extended her hand toward her. "Come on now. The event is about to begin, and we need to get back."

Penelope took Sky’s hand, then looked back at Hannah.

"Goodbye, beautiful sister."

"Goodbye, Penelope," Hannah said. "I’m sure you don’t want to miss out on more of your sister Clara’s cookies."

Penelope’s eyes brightened.

"She makes the best cookies!"

With that, she and Sky walked away.

Hannah watched them disappear into the crowd before finally spotting Clara across the venue.

"Ah..." She sighed, longing to join her.

I really want to go over there.

But then she remembered Dominic’s warning.

"Why does my brother have to make everything so difficult?" she muttered.

After one last reluctant glance at Clara, Hannah sighed in defeat and decided to wander around instead.

***

Meanwhile, Clara stood behind her counter, texting Dominic while occasionally glancing in his direction.

[To Dominic:

Husband, are you planning to make every girl in this venue swoon over you? You are absolutely dazzling with that handsome face of yours.]

Dominic, who was standing some distance away, felt his phone vibrate. He glanced at the screen and read the message.

The tips of his ears instantly turned red.

He looked up and found Clara watching him with a mischievous smile. After a moment of hesitation, he typed a reply.

[To Clara:

Don’t worry. I only have eyes for you. This face and body belong to my wife.]

Clara’s eyes widened as she read the message.

"Whoa..."

Lily and Silvia, who were standing nearby, immediately turned toward her.

Clara pressed a hand against her chest, staring at her phone as though Dominic had just delivered a fatal blow.

"Since when did he start flirting like this?" she whispered dramatically. "Is he trying to stop my heart?"

Lily and Silvia exchanged a look.

They were both accustomed to Clara talking to herself. However, that did not mean they had grown used to the strange things she said. Every time she opened her mouth, they were left wondering whether they should be concerned about her mental state.

She really needs to learn how to filter her thoughts, Lily thought, glancing nervously toward Dominic. Why is she saying these things out loud? Doesn’t she care that the Master is nearby?

From Lily’s perspective, Clara seemed to be admiring the handsome men around the venue without caring that her husband was present.

But that misunderstanding lasted only a few seconds.

Clara suddenly looked up, and her expression darkened.

"Just why are there so many women circling my man?" she muttered, glaring at the group of women gathered around Dominic. "Do they have a death wish?"

Silvia blinked.

Lily’s mouth twitched.

Ah. So that’s what this is about.

Clara’s gaze remained fixed on Dominic as the women smiled and chatted with him. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and her fingers tightened around her phone.

It was only then that she realized something.

The man she had just praised for his handsome face and dazzling appearance was none other than her husband.

And now, several women were shamelessly surrounding him.

"I need to go and shoo them away," Clara announced.

She stepped away from the counter, but before she could take more than one step, Lily and Silvia each grabbed one of her arms.

"Madam, you can’t act recklessly," Silvia warned.

"Please calm down," Lily added. "You’re at a charity event, not a battlefield."

Clara slowly turned her head toward them.

Both girls froze.

Her eyes blazed with such intense fury that it seemed she could burn the women across the room into ashes with a single glare.

"..."