Billionaire's Top Hacker Wife

Sunlight streamed through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a glow over the room strewn with discarded clothing. The air was thick with a lingering hint of last night's passion. It was clear that a wild encounter had taken place here. Penelope Cavendish half-sat against the headboard, gazing at the man beside her. Even in his sleep, his handsome profile was enough to make her heart skip a beat. She forced a stiff smile. 'Great, I'm in trouble,' she inwardly groaned. A month ago, Penelope's mother had passed away suddenly. Her father not only skipped the funeral but also flamboyantly announced his upcoming remarriage, planning a celebratory banquet without shame. Filled with anger and resentment, Penelope drowned her sorrows in alcohol, leading to an unplanned one-night stand. Penelope pressed her lips together and rubbed her throbbing temples, glancing at the man again. She quickly reached for her wallet, pulled out a wad of cash, and placed it on the nightstand. "I don't know how much you usually charge, but this should cover it," Penelope murmured to herself, glancing at him again before bowing slightly. "Sorry. I really have to go!" Although it seemed irresponsible, Penelope indeed had urgent matters to attend to. Those bastards were hosting the banquet today. If her father wanted to marry his mistress, she, as the daughter, had to make an appearance. Penelope's smile turned sharp, hiding the fury in her eyes as she hastily dressed and tiptoed out of the room. The roar of her sports car echoed as it sped out of the underground parking lot, heading straight for the villa on the outskirts. "You, yes, you, put that over there," Penelope heard Zoe Clark's commanding voice ringing through the yard before she even entered, sharp enough to make her want to cover her ears. 'She can't wait, can she?' Penelope sneered with disdain. She drove straight in, parking her car recklessly in front of Zoe, adjusting her sunglasses with a teasing smile. Emphasizing the surname, Penelope taunted. "Zoe Clark, your mother hasn't even married yet, and you're already playing the role of the master?" Zoe's face darkened immediately, her teeth clenched in rage as she glared at Penelope with venom. But she quickly plastered on a smile, laced with a hint of pride. "Dear sis, since Dad entrusted tonight's banquet to me, I have to make it spectacular. To let you feel the joy of our new home?" "Zoe, your shamelessness is beyond my imagination." Penelope shot back, detecting the sarcasm in Zoe's words. "You better remember that this is the Cavendish family." "And I'm not your sis," she added, her gaze chilling, tilting her head with a mock-innocent expression. "You don't deserve to." "You!" Zoe's eyes widened in fury at Penelope's condescending attitude and she took a step forward, only to be held back by her mother. Juliana Clark smiled gently, her voice soft. "Don't argue with Penny. After all, she is your sister and doesn't understand much. You should be more accommodating." "Tsk..." Penelope shifted her gaze to Juliana, noticing the hand resting on her belly. Her expression turned icy at once. Just after Penelope's mother had passed away, Juliana had immediately gotten pregnant. "Mrs. Clark, there's no need for you to play the elder in front of me." Penelope sneered, half-closing her eyes. "I don't recall my mother ever giving me a sister..." She stared at Juliana, her words dripping with sarcasm. Juliana's face twisted momentarily, but she quickly masked the malice in her eyes with a laugh. "Penelope, it's understandable that you're unaware since you've just returned. Tonight's banquet is to introduce Zoe to the social circle." Her eyes glinted with mockery, her tone tinged with pride. "Since Zoe is one of the Kingsley family and older than you, she is naturally your sister." The look of disgust in Penelope's eyes deepened. She was about to retort when Nicholas Kingsley suddenly approached, interrupting her. "What are you all talking about?" His gaze toward Penelope was openly hostile, his brow furrowed. "Why are you back?" "If I hadn't returned, how would I have known I suddenly have a sis, Mr. Kingsley?" Penelope's smile was cold, her eyes hard. "Oh, well, and I wasn't even aware you were planning to marry this mistress," she added, her tone dripping with disdain. "How can you be so rude?" Nicholas exploded with anger. "Your mother is pregnant. Be careful not to upset her. If you feel uncomfortable here, if this place pricks your eyes, you can leave! No one is stopping you." "My mother passed away a month ago," Penelope replied without flinching, confronting Nicholas head-on. "What? Are you implying the person standing before me is a ghost? Oh my, that's truly unfortunate! Your wife died before she even married?" "How dare you!" Nicholas shouted, his eyes wide with rage. He raised his hand to slap Penelope, but she caught it mid-air. "Penelope, are you rebelling now?" "Mr. Kingsley, I didn't hesitate to do this when I was seven, and I don't mind doing it again now," Penelope replied, her smile mocking as she stared directly into his eyes. "But I'm not sure if you'll be as lucky as you were back then." Nicholas was so furious he nearly passed out, glaring at her but not daring to move. Even Juliana froze, her expression dark. When Penelope was seven, Juliana had brought Zoe to force Nicholas into marriage. Little did they expect that Penelope, despite her young age, had a fierce temperament and had almost killed Nicholas in a fit of rage. Fortunately, she was small and not very strong at the time, so Nicholas survived, but his leg was injured and still ached on rainy days. "Nick," Juliana said, supporting Nicholas, her eyes flickering as she offered him an out. "Let it go. Penelope is still young and innocent." "She is already an adult!" Nicholas scoffed, his face as dark as ink. "I think she's gone mad and wants to kill me!" "Nick..." Juliana coaxed him softly, and he gradually calmed down, wrapping his arm around her waist in an intimate gesture. Penelope watched their display of family harmony with a blank expression. She suddenly felt a wave of disinterest, her lips curling into a silent smile as she headed upstairs. From above, she could see the bustling preparations in the yard. Nicholas had spared no expense, setting the banquet to the highest standards to flaunt his wealth to the entire city. Penelope clenched her teeth and suddenly punched the railing, producing a dull thud. She seemed oblivious to the pain, feeling only a deep sorrow. 'How generous,' she thought with a bitter smile. Nicholas had married into the Cavendish family, using her mother's background to grow his business and spending her mother's money to support this mistress and her child. Penelope glared at the three lively figures below, her eyes cold. 'I will reclaim everything that belongs to my mother and the Cavendish family. Not a single thing will be left for them,' she vowed. While Penelope was plotting to make their lives miserable, Christian Montague woke up. His gaze fixed on the wad of cash on the nightstand, his face darkening almost to the point of dripping ink. 'She's generous with her money, huh? Does she really think I'm a call boy?' he thought.