Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

Chapter 156 So what if that girl had been the one Caleb cherished most ? Back then , she had still been at Penelope's mercy . And Penelope remembered her vividly . Back then ... The orphanage teemed with ragged , hollow - eyed children . Unexpectedly , a girl arrived in a delicate princess dress , clutching the director's hand with timid fingers . Her parents had just died , and her eyes were swollen from crying , round and glistening like bruised peaches . She looked heartbreakingly pitiful .

The moment the director turned away , Penelope rushed forward and yanked the hairclip from her head . Raised in a loving home , the little girl had seen no malice. Instead , she obediently removed another clip and offered it . " Here , you can have this one too . " Penelope slapped it from her hand . That was the first time Penelope realized just how much she resembled a rat crawling in the gutter , standing beside a child who had once been cherished . Caleb felt a murderous storm surge through him . His vision burned red , and his grip around her throat tightened without mercy .

never find her . " " What did you say ? " Reason snapped back for an instant . His hold loosened slightly ,

play games . You know I can end you in a heartbeat . " Of course she knew . In a world carved by power and class , her life had always been expendable before men like him . Caleb would not need an excuse to get rid of her . Still , she refused to accept it . Once she had tasted privilege , she could not endure returning to that precarious existence . Caleb would not let her go easily anyway . Facing the razor

. Marry me . " He let out a low , humorless laugh , his tongue pressing against his teeth . " Penelope , do you really think you have the right to negotiate with me ? " he asked coldly . " If you refuse , fine . Stay here . When you finally feel like talking , I will come back . " " Good . " Her heart sank , but her expression remained steady . She had to gamble one last time . " Then you will never see her again . She is the