CHAPTER 186: HIS PENGUIN IS HUMAN

This Chapter is dedicated to Angela_Kulwa. Hey Angela,thanks for the golden ticket baby. I luv yuh!

(⁠灬⁠º ⁠3 º⁠灬⁠)⁠♡

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For a long moment, the families just stood there, blinking under the Adkins’ marble portico, the ridiculous gifts turning heavy in their arms.

The lawyers’ words still hung in the air like a blade.

"Your implication that the Penguin is an animal is both inaccurate and offensive."

Inaccurate and Offensive? These gifts were worth millions, who gets such gift for an ordinary Penguin. And if it wasn’t a real animal, why were they not informed before hand.

Prince Raphael’s polished poise cracked just enough for his jaw to clench. He had a lot to ask. A lot to say. It wasn’t their fault that they had misinterpreted the Penguin to be an actual one.

Maybe if the instructions were drafted properly, they would never have gone through such stress.

Faith’s mother pressed a lace handkerchief to her nose, the smell of squid still lingering from the Carter crate. She was furious too, but there was nothing she could do.

Alicia’s stepfather shuffled uncomfortably, his gaze fixed on the silk-lined igloo house at his feet.

None of them dared speak the obvious question aloud.

Except for Maybelline Willard.

Her manicured fingers tightened on David’s arm, her mind working like a locked mechanism finally clicking into place. Penguin. Precious. Untouchable. A person of great importance to the mad heir.

According to Ariana, there only one person the madman accepts in this life.

Penelope.

The child brought from pain.

Her discarded daughter.

A slow, poisonous realization bloomed in her chest. But she said nothing. Not here. Not now.

"So what do we do now? Can you not tell your master this was a clear mistake and misunderstandings?" Beverly asked.

She couldn’t leave here without her daughter today. From the picture, they had no idea what state she was in already.

"It is enough you have insulted our master and his precious Penguin today. You should be lucky he isn’t the one receiving it, else, all your heads will roll." Willy said.

Timothy then dismissed them with the clinical efficiency of undertakers. "You may leave your... offerings by the gates," Timothy instructed, his voice cool as steel. "They will be disposed of appropriately."

"How about our children." One person asked gingerly.

"Make haste while you still can to save them before it’s too late. Their sin was far too great. Our master has been considerate because of his Penguin, you don’t want to offend her."

At that, each family stepped back into their cars and drove off.

The Peterson’s, Abby and Greg both tried to approach the Adkins lawyers but they were both stopped before they could reach them.

You’re both forbidden from stepping your feet in here. I have no idea why you’re still here." Willy asked.

"We have come to talk things out. We have become a part of the Adkins family to be cast aside like this." Gregory started.

Maybelline then forced a smile, "We’ve learnt our lesson, we will never try to hurt the master anymore." May said. She thought it would be like last time, they were always forgiven no matter what.

"Everyone has one chance in life. If you mess it up, you lose it forever." Timothy said.

"You have blown your chances of ever being a member of the Adkins family. Now leave before the guards throw you out." At that, they each started walking away.

"Let’s go Greg, we’ll come back some other time." Maybelline said calmly holding her husband’s hand and both p ople stepped into their car.

The crime they committed was great, it wouldn’t take one attempt at apologizing for the Adkin’s lawyers to forgive them. They also knew they needed to speak to Penny too. Unfortunately, only that girl has the right to bring them back.

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Later, over at the Willard Mansion,

By the time they returned to the Willard mansion, tempers were fraying.

David stalked off to his study without a word.

The Petersons, Gregory and Abby lingered in the sitting room with Maybelline.

Abby crossed one elegant leg over the other and leaned forward. "May, we need to talk."

Maybelline arched a brow. "what would I want to talk to you about?" Maybelline barked. She was furious at their plans not going through. The longer Ariana stays in that place, the more hurt she would be.

She couldn’t even imagine the type of torture Penelope was putting her baby through.

She had underestimated Penny. She had thought she was only a waste of space, but it seems her true colour were finally showing. She needed to find a way of dealing with that bitch. But that would be after she has saved Ariana.

"I know we have our differences, but can we put that aside for now?" Abby asked.

"Look at you sitting in my house like it belongs to you. I can never mingle with a reject and a past glory." Maybelline continued with her brutal words.

"Our mission today was fruitless, I think it’s time for you to leave." Maybelline said.

"I wouldn’t take your words to heart because I’m not here for you. I’m so sure Ariana will never be in support of your behavior." Abby said.

"Ha." May scoffed. "Then you truly don’t know my Ariana.i and my family will never be associated with the poor." May said calmly.

"Look at the bigger picture May," Abby said. "You think this is just the madman or the Adkins lawyers flexing their power? No. This was Penny’s idea."

Maybelline paused from all of her insults and calmed a little. "You noticed too?" Her tone was a little friendly now. It’s almost like she’s been switched, just like a TV station.

"Yes," Abby said, voice sharp.

"But why would Penny go to this extent? I don’t think Ariana had done anything to her this time."

"Don’t you see? She’s getting at us. At you. We threw that extravagant engagement party for Ariana, something Penny could never have, not even as Mrs. Adkins. And now? She’s humiliating every one of our families in his name."

Maybelline’s mind flashed back to Penny’s calm face, the faint glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes the last time they met. She didn’t deny it.

"Remember she was at the party. She has seen everyone praise us even thought her plan was to make us fat and unattractive. I’m telling you that daughter of yours is a snake." Abby said for May to frown.

She should have known before now. Penny is her daughter, why would she be different from her?

Oh she’ll deal with Penny so much to that she wouldn’t know what hit her.

"What are you suggesting?"

"Why don’t we set up the gift they want. You know your child so well, what type of gift will be pleasing enough for her. Let’s get that."

"I know just what to give that girl." May smiled.

"After that we’ll have anotber gift given. Come close May."

The two women leaned closer, their hushed plotting curling into the dark corners of the room like smoke.

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Got it — we’re scrapping the dungeon entirely for this one and placing the whole "punishment" scene in the desert, making it both humiliating and strange, with Osvaldo’s cruel sense of humor baked in.

This will start with them already looking like desperate, stranded animals, in filthy clothes, Ariana now fat and the others equally degraded. I’ll weave in the absurdity (grass in hand, cow poop water) but still keep it menacing. We won’t send Ariana home or make her forget yet — they’ll remain stuck until the second gift for the Penguin is delivered.

Here’s the rewritten version:

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The sun was merciless. It beat down on the cracked earth until the air itself turned so hot.

Ariana knelt in the dust, sweat carved shiny lines down her bloated cheeks. Her hair, matted with dust, clung to her face like wilted weeds.

Beside her, Darla, Faith, Roselyn, and Alicia crouched low, plucking at the brittle tufts of grass that grew in scattered patches. The blades were dry, coarse, and tasted of grit, but they chewed anyway.

They were each silent, they couldn’t speak or move. Whatever action they made might alert the sleeping bulls, and they might chase them again.

When their thirst became unbearable, they cupped their hands under the large metal trough that stood a few feet away. The water in it was cloudy and brown, thick with the stench of manure. Cow poop.

The same thing each of them had once sworn they’d never touch. Now, they drank greedily, gagging between gulps.

None of them spoke. There was nothing left to say. They were slowly losing their memories anyway from the little grass concoction Osvaldo prepared for them, but the big one was yet to arrive.

A low rumble broke the silence.

They froze, heads snapping toward the horizon. In the distance, a black SUV shimmered in the heat waves, growing larger as it approached. Dust trailed behind it like a banner.