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.

man's voice suddenly echoed through the air.

fell over the scene until the furious, middle-aged

eyes bloodshot. "You killed my daughter! Because

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

confused. It was as though her mind had gone blank for a

another

"Traitor!"

another egg hit her. "Greedy

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

a moment to process what

relentlessly filmed and questioned her, caring only

It was chaos.

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

halted again, lowering her head. She touched her temple with her cuffed hands and noticed the blood on

her more? The blood? Or the fact that this was all real? The arrest, the

her head to fully absorb the scene, and this time, her mind didn't dare

please

"You killer!"

is better without you

to receiving unreasonable hate, she realized she was wrong. Tears slowly

head. "I

are you

Bennet, are you

nearly touching her face. The police had

But finally...

didn't do it!" Penny cried out in panic, turning her head as she tried to defend herself. "It's not me! I didn't do it! Please! I didn't! It's not me!

with desperation, tears streaming down her face as she looked into the eyes of

do it! Please! It's not me! Please believe me I didn't do it! Please... believe me! Help me,

screamed these words repeatedly, almost begging, until they reached

***

not me! Please believe me-I