THE LOST HEIRESS RETURNS AFTER DIVORCE
Chapter 88: He Choose To Go Public

Chapter 88: He Choose To Go Public

"Heather," Penny snapped her fingers near Heather’s face before recoiling, covering her nose quickly. "What’s that smell? What is on you?"

Heather didn’t even flinch. She was too tired to react.

"Rotten eggs," she said simply.

Penny furrowed her brows, confused. "Is this part of the scene or something?"

Heather looked up at her slowly. Her face held the same deadpan expression it had carried for the last hour.

"What do you think?"

There was silence for a moment. Penny didn’t speak. But her mind was racing, and Heather knew her well enough to see it. Penny was putting the pieces together.

Of course, she’d think of Lauren. She always did. Lauren’s name hovered like smoke in any situation that smelled like this—literally or figuratively.

Penny’s eyes scanned Heather’s stained dress, the dried slime on her arms, and the strands of hair stuck to her temple with egg whites.

She wanted to ask if Lauren had really stooped this low—but decided against it.

She didn’t want to make Heather angrier than she already was. And honestly, the sight was infuriating enough.

"Can I get you something?" she asked quietly.

"New clothes will be fine."

"I’ll be right back." Penny left, shutting the door gently behind her.

Heather exhaled slowly and looked down at her clothes again. Her arms were stiff. The smell of eggs still clung to her skin.

She reached into her hair and pulled out one last shell that had been buried close to her scalp. It peeled off with a sticky sound.

"Ugh," she groaned in irritation, flicking the shell into the trash.

The door opened again. Penny walked in, holding a few clothes in her arms.

"It’s a set design," she said, placing the clothes on the table. "You can return it tomorrow. Lauren’s minions can get really dramatic about missing set designs."

Heather glanced at the outfit and raised a brow. "I’m sure they’re not that bad."

Penny scoffed. "Then you don’t know."

Heather gave a small sigh. "I’m not sure I’m interested in knowing."

Penny didn’t push further. Heather was clearly tired. She needed space, not more speculation.

Heather gathered the clothes and stepped toward the adjoining washroom.

"I need to wash off." Her voice was quiet.

Penny nodded and watched as she closed the door behind her.

...

Heather had just stepped out of the washroom, towel in one hand, still drying her damp hair, when Penny turned sharply.

"You got married? To Caius? Without telling me?"

Heather froze.

Right. She had forgotten, just for a moment, that the news had gone viral. That everyone was seeing clips and headlines. She hadn’t been ready for the confrontation. Especially not from Penny.

"Not now." Her voice came out tired, like she was pleading.

But Penny was not about to let it go.

"Oh no. Now. Because I had to find out online. On a livestream. From him. And then I had to scroll through thousands of people tagging me like, ’Did you know?’"

Heather rubbed her temples. She did not know what to say. She had not even told Penny about Alex’s surgery, let alone the rushed marriage.

And she hated how much it looked like betrayal. Even though she was not trying to betray anyone.

"Penny. Let’s talk after rehearsal."

"No." Penny stepped forward. "You will not postpone this conversation when all you’ve been doing for weeks is hiding it. I’ve been worried about you. I’ve been defending you. Telling everyone this is all some stupid rumor. Because I know you. I know how much you hate him. I’ve watched you cry because of him. And then you just... marry him?"

Heather turned away and let out a breath.

"I didn’t plan it."

Penny stared at her like she was trying to read a lie in her expression.

"So it’s true?"

Heather didn’t respond. She could not respond right away. She couldn’t bring herself to say the word. But she didn’t deny it.

That silence said everything.

"Tell me it’s not true."

"...Yes."

Penny’s mouth fell open. She stepped back slightly, like she had been slapped.

"You actually married Caius?" She was trying to keep her voice down, but the disbelief in it made it rise anyway. "The same man you said you’d rather chew glass than spend a weekend with? The one who almost ruined you—the same man whose lover is now throwing eggs at you like a lunatic?"

Heather closed her eyes. She could already feel her chest tightening.

"The one who cheated on you with your half-sister?" Penny’s voice cracked with emotion. "The one who told you to abort Alex? The one who made you suffer for years?"

That stung.

Heather swallowed hard, avoiding Penny’s eyes.

Of all the people who had stood by her through everything, Penny had been there the longest. She had picked her up from the floor when Caius had left her in pieces.

She’d cried for her when Heather was too numb to feel anything. Penny had earned the right to be angry.

"You know he doesn’t actually love you, right?" Penny continued, more gently now, but still stern. "He’s lying to you. That’s what he does."

"I know that." Heather said, not looking up. She knew better than to think Caius was inlove with her. He obviously doesn’t. Even though he’d been saying it for a while now.

Lie; that’s all he does.

"So why the hell are you with him?"

Heather looked up this time. Her expression was complicated. Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, but she hesitated.

"It was a decision I made. It’s temporary." Her voice was barely audible now.

Penny’s eyes narrowed. "So you’re using him?"

Heather didn’t answer. Not because she didn’t want to. But because she did not know if that was true.

Maybe she was. Maybe it was mutual. Or maybe she was lying to herself altogether.

"Or is he using you?" Penny’s voice was suddenly quieter, but the question hit hard.

Heather stepped closer, just inches away from Penny now.

"I didn’t have time to explain. Things happened. Fast."

Penny’s voice cracked slightly. "We’re not strangers, Heather. You could’ve told me. I’m not just your makeup artist. I’m not just the girl you call when you need someone to hold your kid or fix your damn eyeliner. I’m your friend. Do you even know what that means anymore?"

Heather’s throat tightened.

"I know, Penny. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you."

Penny looked at her for a long moment, then turned away slightly.

"Sorry doesn’t actually fix anything."

"I will make it up to you later. I promise. But right now, I have to get on set. The sooner I rehearse this last scene, the faster I leave this place."

Penny exhaled. Her anger hadn’t gone, but she could see Heather was exhausted. Broken in ways she wasn’t even admitting yet.

"You need someone to do your makeup."

"I do."

Heather sat down slowly, the new set costume finally clean and in place. Penny opened her kit and began brushing color onto her cheeks in silence.

"He was going around announcing you guys are married." Penny said after a pause.

Heather didn’t respond. But her jaw tensed. She’d seen the livestream. She thought Lauren was the one who leaked the marriage.

But now, she knew the truth. Caius choose to go public. And she had not even had a chance to prepare for the consequences.

"I don’t know what he thinks he will achieve with that." Heather murmured.

He did not even give them time to consider it. She wanted to talk about it to him, but she assumed he would not want to or even consider going public with the news. But here he was announcing it even before talking to her about it.

Silence again. Until—

"Do you love him?"

That made Heather blink. She looked at Penny through the mirror. "Penelope..."

"Answer the damn question."

Heather sighed, sitting back in the chair.

"I do not."

Penny didn’t say anything right away.

"Are you sure?"

"I know better. You’d kill me if I did."

"This is a serious question."

"I do not love him."

"So why are you married to him?"

Heather turned in her seat to look directly at Penny.

"Because I did it for Alex."

Penny’s expression shifted slightly. "Alex?"

Heather nodded.

"It’s a very long conversation. And we will talk about it later. I really need to get on set."

She stood up, reaching for her bag.

"Let me help you." Penny grabbed one of the bags without asking.

As they walked out together, Penny glanced sideways at her.

"Just... don’t shut me out again."

Heather didn’t reply. But the look in her eyes said everything.

She didn’t want to shut Penny out. She just didn’t know how to let her or anyone in anymore.

She had been so used to dealing with things in her own, she didn’t know how to confine in a person anymore.