Chapter 992 - Harriet is Penelope, call her Penny (1) (1/2)

~ Los Angeles, Cliffside Villa ~

That afternoon, Sarah was surprised to see that JoAnna arrived with Harriet.

”Harriet's name is now Penelope. And she prefers that people call her Penny.”, JoAnna made an introduction to Sarah.

Emma and Charlie are in the garden…

They are chatting in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Occasionally, Charlie mentions how he would like to go to some event and asks Emma if she wants to join him, but she always rejects.

Charlie is aware that Emma believes how those girls from upper class are better than her (for some reason), and he wants to take Emma with him into that circle so that she can see for herself that she is perfect. No girl is better then her, but Emma is always rejecting him. He feels that he is losing this battle. If he does not hurry, that B-r-i-a-n will come back and take Emma out again! And Charlie can see that Brian is bad news.

Charlie sighed while thinking that at this rate, he will need to ask JoAnna for an advice.

Charlie is not aware that Emma is rejecting him for two reasons. The first reason is the one he already knows, but the second one is that Emma thinks how he is doing this out of gratitude because she is helping him walk again.

In her opinion, introducing her to that circle is too much. She does not belong there, and eventually he will find a girl who matches his current (and future) status. There is no need for him to compromise a potential date with a girl who can be his match by being in Emma's company just because he is grateful to her. And once he finds that girl, the less Emma is attached to him now, the easier it will be to cope with Charlie's absence.

Penny spotted Emma and Charlie.

”Is that Charles Smith, the heir to the Smithsonite corp.?”, Penny asked JoAnna and Sarah.

JoAnna raised her eyebrows. ”You know him?”

Penny shook her head. ”Not personally. But my parents made me memorize top 100 heirs in the country. I had a portfolio in my room with their photos and short biographies, ordered by wealth. My parents said that it's an important knowledge for any young lady.”

JoAnna and Sarah exchanged glances at this information. Both of them sighed while thinking that not everyone has it easy. Many would envy Harriet Morgan, a single child of a wealthy family… but only she knows how miserable her life was. It will take some time for Harriet to become Penny, a free young woman who can make her own decisions.

Penny knows that JoAnna came to perform some examinations, and asked Sarah if she can check out the garden while waiting.

”Feel free to. It's safe here.”, Sarah responded. ”But let me introduce you to Emma and Charlie first. And it's probably for the best that I show you Kitty.”

After short introductions, and a surprise to see a young leopard relaxing in the branches of a tree, Penny went to stroll through the garden.

Emma recommended to Penny the path toward the pond with Koi fish, and the one leading to the lake with the gazebo.

”She is here because…?”, Sarah asked JoAnna when Penny was out of the earshot.

”I went to the safehouse to check on her, and she was miserable. I could not leave her there by herself.”, JoAnna explained.

”Ben left?”, Sarah assumed.

JoAnna confirmed. ”Penny made the call for both of them.”

JoAnna glanced at Emma and Charlie. ”Any updates?”, she is referring to Charlie's romantic advances toward Emma.