Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

Chapter 444: Because I believe her

[FLASHBACK]

"Miss Bennet, is it true that you're part of this grand scheme...?"

"What's your brothers' involvement in all of this?"

"Miss Bennet, why did you do such a thing? Are you not ashamed of what you've done to your family?"

Reporters swarmed around the police officers escorting Penny to the station. Penny flinched at the camera flashes and microphones being shoved in her face. Though the police tried to hold them back, they could only do so much.

"Miss Penelope!"

"Miss Bennet!"

"Why would you do such a thing?"

"Was your brother, the soldier, involved too?"

"Slater Bennet's your brother, Miss Bennet-does he have a say in this?!"

"The Prime Group was part of this scheme... is that how your family accumulated its wealth?!"

All their voices and questions blended into the air, making it hard for Penny to focus on who was speaking. With the pushing, the yelling, and the intensity of the crowd, it nearly suffocated her.

'I feel dizzy,' she thought, squinting against the lights. She felt lightheaded. She didn't know whether it was from the suffocating air or the fact that she hadn't eaten in the past twenty-four hours.

The police had shown up at the most unsuspecting time of the day. Just as Penny had been debating whether to eat or sleep, exhausted from working tirelessly for the past week. Or was it the lack of sleep? She hadn't had much of that, either.

"Miss Penelope!"

"Miss-"

Penny's drifting thoughts halted as something hit the side of her head. Her brows rose, the pungent smell of rotten egg assaulting her nostrils.

through the

silence fell over the scene until the

bloodshot. "You killed my daughter! Because of you, my daughter is

around him like bees to a flower. A few stayed with Penny, but their questions

as though her mind had gone blank for

murmured, trailing off, just as another egg struck the other side

"Traitor!"

egg hit her. "Greedy woman! You're a

by one, an angry crowd-previously thought to be bystanders-began to express their grief and anger. They hurled eggs, rotten tomatoes, and whatever they could find in

took Penny a moment to

furious faces of people she didn't even know, hearing them call her every vile name imaginable. The reporters relentlessly filmed and questioned her, caring only for their next big story. The police, although protecting Penny, mostly seemed concerned about shielding

It was chaos.

dragged Penny towards the station, another object came flying her way—this time, a pebble. Though small,

with her cuffed hands and noticed the blood on

surprised her more? The blood? Or the fact that this was all real? The arrest, the police, and the situation—it

with shock. Slowly, she raised her head to fully absorb the scene, and this time, her

Penelope, please

"You killer!"

is better without you

hate, she realized she was wrong. Tears slowly welled up in her

shaking her head. "I didn't...

are

Bennet, are you

that they were nearly touching her face. The police

But finally...

turning her head as she tried to defend herself. "It's not me! I didn't

tears

me I

until they reached the station, where the

***

me! Please believe me-I didn't do it! Please... believe me! Help me, I'm