Chapter 38 A Cheap Whore

Clearly, Ethan didn't expect to run into Zackary either. The smile on his face disappeared in a second and he looked at him with only resentment and wariness.

"Ethan, this is Zackary. He's my best friend and my future brother-in-law." Lyman didn't notice the tension and was still grinning goofily.

"Zackary, what are you staring at? Didn't I ask you to prepare a gift? My boy is so handsome. You must pay to see him."

Zackary froze in place, not saying a word, his gaze fixing on Penelope as if he was going to burn a hole in her face.

Lola recovered quickly and took out a thin envelope from her purse, handing it to Ethan. "Nice to meet you, Ethan."

Lola was the person Ethan hated the most. Naturally, he wouldn't accept her gift. But Lyman acted before him and shoved the envelope into Ethan's hands swiftly.

"Take it, Ethan." He hugged Ethan closer. "Let's go. We're going to collect more gifts."

Wilton and Devon arrived before them and were already sitting in a booth, waiting for them.

Since Lyman called beforehand, they gave Ethan their gifts as soon as he walked through the door.

Ethan was an adorable and sweet child. It didn't take long for Wilton and Devon to grow fond of him.

Like a proud father, Lyman was pleased that they all liked Ethan.

Wilton put Ethan on his lap and talked to him for a while. Suddenly, he realized a serious matter.

As excited as a man who discovered a continent, he patted Zackary hard. "Zackary, do you think Ethan looks like Lyman? Lyman, don't tell me that he's really your son?"

People didn't notice the similarity before Wilton pointed it out. They looked and realized the striking resemblance between Ethan and Lyman.

They had the same cute round face, nose, and mouth. Although their eye colors varied, their features were similar.

Lyman snatched Ethan out of Wilton's arms and stared at his face. Suddenly, he broke out in laughter.

"That's my boy. We look identical."

Lyman excitedly grabbed Penelope's hand, clenching it tightly. "Penelope, I told you that I had a special connection to Ethan. He's destined to be my son."

Lyman was a kind man. Since he liked Penelope, he didn't care that she had married and had a child. But it was a pleasant surprise that Ethan looked so much like him.

"Yes. You two look alike." Dazed, Penelope stared at their faces.

She thought, "The universe works in a funny way. Ethan doesn't look like me or Zackary. Yet, he looks like Lyman, who doesn't share any kinship with him.

No wonder I liked Lyman when I first met him. It's because he looks like Ethan."

Lyman gloated after gaining Penelope's recognition. Noticing Zackary's strange gaze, he shot him a glare. "Zackary, are you jealous? You can make one boy who looks like you too. But I doubt you can."

Lyman would easily get in over his head once he started bragging. He pulled both Ethan and Penelope into his arms, each on one side. "I must thank my great Penelope for giving me such a good son. I'm the happiest man in the world. Penelope, thank you for making me so happy."

Penelope was speechless. Lyman was acting like Ethan was his biological son.

She subtly broke free of Lyman's hold. She wanted to make it clear that they weren't dating, but she changed her mind after glancing at Zackary, who was sitting across from them.

She didn't want to use Lyman to make Zackary jealous. Lyman was a single-minded fool. Whether she rejected him or accepted him, he wouldn't give up as long as he liked her. So, no matter what she did, it wouldn't count as taking advantage of him.

She merely didn't want to reject Lyman in front of Zackary, as if she was protecting her virtue for him.

She knew that Zackary saw her as a cheap whore, yet she still needed to show him her loyalty? She wasn't that cheap.

Lyman was still showing off. "Zackary, if you're that envious, hurry up and make a baby with Lola, though I don't think you two can have a child as cute as Ethan."

Zackary slammed his glass of wine heavily on the table.

The glass shattered. He glared at Lyman and his gaze was as black as the darkest night.

"Are you saying that he's your son?"

Lyman was scared of Zackary. But he was upset that Zackary was throwing a fit for no reason.

He raised his voice. "Sure. Ethan is my son. Do you think he's yours? Zackary, I understand that you're jealous. But there are things that you can only hope for. Even if you have a child now, you can't find one as adorable as Ethan."

Zackary snorted, his gaze icy. "Unlike you, I don't think this bastard is precious."

Ethan's wide smile dropped and his face drained of color in a second.

He thought that he wouldn't care about Zackary's comments once he decided to give up on him. But he was wrong. He was still hurt.

Penelope's expression was thunderous. Zackary could hurt her, but she couldn't let him hurt Ethan.

When she was about to retort, Lyman stood up, slamming his palm against the table. "Zackary, what do you mean? Both Penelope and I think Ethan is a precious gift. He's my baby. If you say anything like that again, I won't forgive you even though you're my best friend."

Noticing that Penelope was shivering, Lyman clenched her hand tightly and cooed softly, "Penelope, don't be sad. As long as I'm here, nobody can bully Ethan or you! Penelope, I like you and I'll treat you well forever."

"Like her?" Zackary scoffed, his voice laced with cold malice. "Lyman, how could you stoop so low to like a cheap whore?"

A whore...

Cheap...

Penelope's face was as pale as a sheet. She subconsciously tightened her coat around her, but it didn't help with the cold she was feeling. The heat in the room was high, yet her teeth still clattered.

Zackary enjoyed humiliating her. It wasn't the first time that he demeaned her. She thought she could get used to it. But when he degraded her in front of so many people, it hurt as badly as always.

Penelope thought, "I'm not as shameless as I thought."