Revenge is My Love Language novel Chapter 69

Penelope felt Gabriel’s icy stare and her heart started to race. “Dad, I…”

“Enough!” Gabriel’s face was thunderous. “Didn’t I already explain what’s at stake here? Thank God Anastasia didn’t listen to you. If she had actually run off with that man, have you thought about what would have happened to the Sterling family?”

Take Anastasia’s place? Did Penelope really think Mr. Lancaster was so easily fooled?

Penelope turned pale under her father’s scolding.

Nora, full of concern for her daughter, quickly pulled Penelope into her arms. “Darling, Penelope’s still sick…”

Gabriel fought to rein in his anger. Seeing Penelope so frail and frightened, his heart softened just a little. “You’d better think long and hard about what you’ve done.”

He turned around and met Anastasia’s mocking gaze. His expression faltered; for a moment, guilt pricked at him.

That guilt quickly twisted into annoyance. He was her father, for God’s sake. Who was she to look at him like that?

He snapped, “Penelope was wrong, I’ve already scolded her. Don’t be so petty, Anastasia. You don’t have to keep holding it against your sister!”

If this had been the past, those words would have cut Anastasia to the bone.

But now, there was no hope left in her heart for this father. All she felt was cold amusement.

“Scolded her?” Anastasia’s smile was razor sharp. “You mean you told her to think about what she’d done? That’s it?”

Gabriel’s face darkened. “What, now you want to tell me how to handle my own family?”

“As if I’d dare,” Anastasia sneered. “After all, Penelope’s your little darling. You’d never punish her, and I know it.”

She paused, her eyes glinting. “But tell me, do you think Mr. Lancaster won’t find out about this? Let’s hope that when he does—and when the Sterling family has to pay the price—you still feel so protective of her.”

All the color drained from Gabriel’s face.

Anastasia stared him down, her voice cold. “Years ago, when your father’s gambling debts nearly destroyed your family, it was my mother who stepped in—she paid off the debt and gave you this job. But instead of gratitude, you repay us by stabbing me in the back, conspiring with people who wish me harm. Why should we keep you here?”

She gave him a withering look. “Even if I didn’t fire you, do you really have the nerve to stay?”

Martin looked desperate, scrambling for something to say. “But… Mr. Sterling calls the shots now…”

Anastasia almost laughed. How could he be so naïve at his age? After today, Gabriel would be glad not to see him again—he was lucky to be leaving with his job as his only loss.

She turned to Gabriel. “Dad, are you going to keep him around?”

As expected, Gabriel barked, “Get out. You’re fired.”

The whole mess with Rosewood Manor had nearly fallen apart because of Anastasia’s supposed elopement, and Gabriel couldn’t bring himself to punish Penelope, the true culprit. Martin, having played his part, had just walked straight onto the firing line.