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

Chapter 1764: It’s better this way

"Ask me if I’d cross the line for my people. I’d even cross Satan if he messed with me—or my people. You are one of them... aren’t you? Or are you not?"

Between Penny and Shawn, who was the real idiot?

Or rather, who was the bigger idiot?

The one who had already gotten away but was now walking back into trouble? Or the one who had finally achieved what he’d been working toward for the past decade... only to falter at the last second?

Another tear rolled down Shawn’s cheek as he looked at the woman calling him an idiot. He hadn’t even realized he was crying until his vision started to blur.

Thud!

Shawn slammed his hands against the floor, bowing his head low as it struck the ground.

"I’m sorry," he pleaded, voice trembling with suppressed tears. "Miss Penny, I... please... forgive me. I’m sorry!"

Penny’s shoulders slumped as she stared down at the towering man now kowtowing before her. She dragged her fingers through her hair, ruffling it as her head throbbed faintly.

This situation had just revealed two things:

First, whoever sent Shawn was already making their move.

Second, Penny and her team weren’t ahead of the enemy—they were neck and neck in a marathon, sprinting the final leg.

"I’m sorry!" Shawn cried. "I— I didn’t want to betray you, but I... I’m sorry."

He didn’t make excuses. He didn’t say, "I had no choice." He simply asked for forgiveness—and that was enough to tell Penny that he knew his share of the blame.

She exhaled hard and ran a hand down her face.

"Get up," she muttered.

He didn’t move.

With an irritated sigh, she marched to him and grabbed his shoulder. When he straightened up, her palm smacked across his cheek before another apology could escape his lips.

Shawn froze. His head turned from the blow, eyes wide and tearful. Slowly, he looked back at her.

"I said get up," she repeated through gritted teeth. "And get yourself together. This is just the beginning of our nightmare if you don’t realize that yet."

"Is there anything else in here?" she asked,

just slapped. But when Penny shot him

replied.

"Where?"

gulped and pointed at

and shoved her hand into the water. She withdrew a small device, partially wrapped in a rock to

The light blinked red.

connected now?" she asked, turning back to

a daze, prompting her to

it together! Do I need to keep

Shawn nodded quickly. "I—I broke

with the article mess, but in one ear, he wore a hidden earpiece. A habit

once I was sure the code was

there’s nothing else in this

more would’ve raised alarms. But I think other parts of the company have surveillance devices. I saw someone I

mind racing. After a second, she jerked

the gun and the

"But—"

do this either. But if I don’t, you and I both know someone else

was right, but he hadn’t thought about it that way until

won’t be spilled. They’ll hurt others to get the code

last thing she wanted was for her family, friends—or any of her people—to get caught in

said firmly. "At least now, I can maintain some

breath hitched, but he did as she asked. He picked up the gun and the

time he was upright, Penny had already marched over. She stopped just a step in front of him and pressed a

"So act like you mean to kill me this time. Do

eyes with her. After a moment, he wiped his face with

you," he whispered. "I’m supposed to bring you with me to ensure we

"We?"

The plan is to take you with us. If we leave you behind, it’ll trigger a deadly

there’s nothing in the plan to keep you long. Knowing

mode of

"A chopper."

nodded, looking away briefly before turning back to

"Then let’s do it."