Chapter 386: She Refuses to Back Down

Penelope's face turned ashen, but she continued to glare at Carlos with simmering resentment. Carlos returned a cold gaze.

Penelope felt wronged. "I despise you! If you can't love me, why are you so kind? You made me fall in love with you, but you don't want me. This is all your fault!"

This time, the gentle Carlos truly suffered the brunt of her malice. He never imagined his kindness would backfire so cruelly. He had only wanted to cherish her talent and help her unfortunate family, hoping to nurture another world-class talent for the nation. This had hit him hard.

He thought, Behind every pitiful person, there must be hateful deeds. Some people are simply destined not to be treated kindly.

He looked at the unrepentant Penelope. "You're right, it was my mistake. I won't be nice to you anymore."

Penelope's face drained of all expression. It was safe to say no one would treat her kindly in the future. Once the truth came out, she would be known as a backstabber. She had taught everyone a lesson: who would dare be kind to her again, only to be betrayed?

The Quirks agreed with Isabella. From then on, anyone treating Penelope kindly would be foolish; she would bite the hand that fed her. Her online outburst had backfired spectacularly.

Christopher, savvy about the internet, rubbed his chin, leaned toward Alexander, and said, "Even if the truth comes out, by the time the police conclude their investigation and post it online, won't it be too late? Public opinion, after all…"

He'd discussed this with Alexander. Managing public opinion was troublesome, especially given their high social standing. This made them vulnerable to harsh judgment, even with the truth revealed. Others would contrive conspiracy theories.

"Perhaps if Penelope had apologized," Christopher mused, clicking his tongue, "she might have salvaged the situation. But given her state, could she have reasoned things out?"

Suddenly, Christopher heard Isabella chuckling softly. He saw Alexander smirk and nod toward the lawyer.

The lawyer addressed Penelope: "Ms. Watson, if you issue a statement, admit your mistake, and vindicate Mr. Carlos, we might consider the matter resolved." Some teachers tried to persuade her to admit her mistake.

Penelope, foolishly, was unlikely to back down. Perhaps she didn't understand the implications of committing a crime and facing imprisonment. She saw it as a failed love pursuit, not a serious matter. However, she felt uneasy.

When her parents tried to make her accept their arrangements, she exploded in curses and blows, pushing them away. "I refuse! Even if I face prosecution, I won't let the one who betrayed my trust escape unscathed!" she raged at Carlos. "Your loss, not wanting me! You should have saved me, but you refused to give me a home. It's all your fault! You deserve my revenge. You want to erase the damage to your online reputation? Don't even think about it. As long as I don't apologize, even if evidence is uploaded, it won't matter. Jealous people will question you. Everyone will think it's a sham. I can easily play the victim. Do you think you can still be a teacher? People will never fully trust you. You made me, a schoolgirl, fall in love with you and consider suicide. It's a stain on your character you can never wash away. Haha."

Penelope's face was twisted in fury; her attitude suggested despair. She vented her madness, watched as a lunatic, her actions inconceivable.