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

Chapter 1580: As long as they get me out of here... I'll do whatever they say.

Penny shook her head mildly, rolling her eyes. At this point, she wasn't sure who to be frustrated with-Patricia, or herself for not being able to resist food.

In her defense, Mrs. Miller really did cook well. Not quite at Jessa's level, but it was still good.

"Moving on..." she muttered, turning her attention to the files Wild had originally come to drop off.

She reached for them, taking a deep breath as a flicker of determination lit up in her eyes. Opening the file, her jaw tightened.

Inside were the documents detailing the incident involving her and Haines from many years ago.

It wasn't a pleasant memory. Penny remembered something snapping inside her back then. Had it not been for Angel, she probably wouldn't even be here today.

Her gulp echoed in her ears as she stared at the police report before flipping the page. Soon, she reached some printed photos-images of her injuries, bruises, and the aftermath of that day—all there to remind her of the pain.

"And I still somehow feel every strike I took that day," she whispered, flipping further.

The next photos showed the place where they were nearly beaten to death. Blood was everywhere—some splattered, others smeared across the floor. But the most harrowing image was the pool of blood where Haines had almost bled out.

Then came graphic images of Haines's injuries. One photo showed a bone protruding from his leg, the result of brutal torture. Penny's fingers brushed over it, her stomach twisting, her breathing turning heavy. The next photo showed how his leg had turned black after being rushed to the hospital for emergency care.

There were also photos of both their faces-swollen and nearly unrecognizable. If Penny had to describe it, it was hell.

No wonder Wild had been displeased when she asked for these files.

It had been a horrible time for everyone involved-Wild, Angel, Haines, Penny, and even Dean.

Anyone who saw these would wonder: How could a human being be capable of this?

"And to think I've had plenty of fights in prison," she murmured. "And my face swelled like this too in my first life..."

Yet this pain felt different.

Penny let out a sharp huff and closed the file. Her gaze was sharp with resolve. She hadn't asked for these just to relive the pain. She needed them for a reason.

see-but there was someone she wanted to show them

time later, at

With her were her grandfather, father, and lawyer. Unlike her last visitation with Kiara, where the

lawyer said, finally looking at Cassandra. "This time, I'm

nodded. "Once you're out, expect media ambushes you outside the courthouse. Just

pressed her lips into a thin line, lifting her lifeless eyes to them. She didn't speak because

it's

right, Miss Cassandra," the lawyer chimed in. "The Senator and your father have been reaching out to everyone who

Cassandra studied their expressions.

of her life before this was spent studying people— their thoughts, body language, and the subtle truths hidden in

had visited earlier today, these people didn't carry an ounce of the desperation Kiara had in her eyes. Not even the slightest of Kiara's exhaustion, which she tried to hide... and

she thought, scanning their faces. But they really do look like they've been sleeping well. Really

almost laughed, but couldn't

swallowing the tension in her throat, "...that I'm innocent, and this is just a smear campaign against the

nod. "It may not change everything, but it will help sway public

quietly. "Their opinion

silence followed. Senator Smith frowned, clearly displeased with

with us before your arrest," he said firmly. "We didn't

Cassandra's just tired. It's stressful

to get answers, but chose

just do what the lawyer says, hmm?" her father said

appealing again. If it works, you'll

and scanned their faces again. Then, she

wasn't like she had a

grew faint, and before she knew it, she was back in her cell, the buzz of

but time worked differently in here Without any windows, they relied on the lights beyond the bars to tell

She might be released. But somewhere deep inside, she felt no joy. Nothing

me out

closed her eyes and held on to the last hope she had.

she didn't know what

hadn't thought that

that, Cassandra spent another night in this small, stinking