Chapter 386

Nora was actually startled by the force of her words. “Anastasia, if you dare lay a finger on Penelope, I swear you’ll regret it!”
Anastasia let out a cold laugh, but there was no warmth in her eyes. “Relax. I’m not going to kill you do you really think it would end so easily? You can’t just escape that way. I want you to see what becomes of me in the future, what happens to your precious mom and dad, and your perfect sister too.”
With that, Anastasia simply glanced at the mother and daughter, then turned and strode off in the same direction Benson had gone.
The scene was left with only Nora and Penelope, and a few society ladies lingering nearby-plus, of course, the small crowd of onlookers pretending not to stare.
Penelope, after all her falls, had scraped her knees raw. Nora struggled to help her up alone, so she turned to the other women for assistance.
They exchanged uneasy glances, then quickly stepped back.
“Uh, we should be going. Mrs. Sterling, maybe call someone to help you,” one of them mumbled, already backing away.
Within seconds, they’d all hurried off, making it painfully clear they wanted nothing more to do with the Sterlings.
They’d all seen that video of Penelope-utterly revolting. No one wanted to be branded by association, not when their own reputations were on the line.
Watching the same women who had once smiled and fawned over her now leave without a backward glance, Nora’s face twisted with fury.
“Mom!” Penelope gasped, clutching Nora’s arm so hard it hurt. When Nora looked down, she saw the wild, desperate look in her daughter’s eyes. “We can’t just give up. I won’t accept this! That plan I told you about before-”
Nora’s heart leapt, but her eyes quickly hardened with resolve.
That’s right. This wasn’t the end of the road. They still had one last card to play. Mrs. Brennan’s identity-Penelope was going to get it, no matter what.
By the time Anastasia caught up, Benson was already outside the mall, hunched over by a trash can and dry-heaving, while Juliet patted his back in worry. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn.net
Seeing how pale he looked, Anastasia’s heart twisted with concern. She walked over and held out a tissue.
Benson didn’t take it, but Juliet grabbed it and tried to help him wipe his mouth. Benson caught his little sister’s hand, took the tissue himself, and did it on his
own.
“Do you believe me now, Ben?” Anastasia asked quietly.
“Yeah, Ben, you get it now, right?” Juliet chimed in. “Anastasia wasn’t lying. Penelope isn’t who you think she is-she fooled you!”
Benson only looked more unsettled. His mind was a tangled mess; he clearly wanted nothing more than to be alone. “You two should go home. I need to deal with something first.”
He turned to leave.
Suddenly, Anastasia’s expression changed. “Ben, watch out!”
A car appeared out of nowhere, speeding straight toward Benson.
He was so distracted he didn’t even react.
“Ben, move!” Penelope’s panicked shout rang out from behind.
In a split second, Anastasia’s body moved before her mind could catch up-she
launched herself at Benson, shoving him as hard as she could.
But Benson was tall and solid, and Anastasia barely managed to budge him.
In that flash of chaos, she felt herself being grabbed and spun roughly aside, then hitting the ground hard.
She realized-Benson had wrapped his arms around her, shielding her from the impact. His eyes were blazing with anger. “Are you out of your mind?!”
Anastasia hadn’t even caught her breath when-
A scream pierced the air. Penelope.
Penelope had tried to leap in front of Benson too, but Anastasia had beaten her to it. Off-balance, unable to stop herself, Penelope tumbled forward-straight under the oncoming car.
“Penelope!” Nora’s scream was raw and shattering as she sprinted toward her daughter.