Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 1499

Chapter 1499: Stay out of it
“It’s not me. I didn’t do it. I am being wrongfully accused, and I will make sure to file a counterclaim after this.” Cassandra, being escorted into the police station, stopped and turned to the reporters flocking around her. “I am innocent.”

Unlike what one might expect, she kept her head high, and her words came out strong. She didn’t show any sign of fear, even though fear was slowly eating her from the inside. With that, Cassandra resumed her steps.

Meanwhile, Penny and Hugo watched this from the screen.

“Holy… what the hell?” Hugo gasped in disbelief, turning to Penny. “Penny, you know that gal, right?”

How could she not?

Penny furrowed her brows, her eyes fixed on the television screen. For some reason, she was reminded of her experience in her first life. She, too, had been surrounded by the media when Penny was named the mastermind behind a crime she didn’t commit.

Her case hadn’t gained media attention until then. Even so, it felt almost the same. The only difference was the crime she was accused of and how differently she had handled it. Cassandra was handling it far better than she had.

“Hey.”

Penny snapped out of her thoughts at Hugo’s call. “Huh?”

“I said you know that chick, right?” Hugo tilted his head to the side. “Do you know this?”

“No,” she whispered, pushing herself up. “I’ll go check on Mint. Finish your food.”

Deep lines appeared between Hugo’s brows as he watched his sister rush outside the ward.

“Well,” he shrugged, snapping his eyes back to the television. “Really? She did that?”

—

The orphanage had been one of Penny’s concerns since she learned about its true nature. Hence, she had put a few of her people on watch. One could say it wasn’t her business, but how could she turn a blind eye to something so horrific?

When she knew that innocent children were being trafficked under the guise of adoption?

Besides, Penny already knew that letting the system handle it would be disappointing. Even before Mint had told her of the need to build a case to stop the orphanage’s operations, Penny had already guessed she would hear something like that. So, she was doing what she could at the moment to make sure none of those children were sent elsewhere.

This news should be a good thing.

That the person behind the orphanage had been arrested, and thus, the kids would be rescued. However, it felt very wrong. Penny had already dug into it, and although Cassandra was affiliated with it, there was nothing that indicated she had any knowledge of what was going on behind the scenes.

So, what in the world was going on?

“Mint—” Penny pushed the door open without knocking, only to stop when she saw two unfamiliar people inside.

The three—Mint included—turned their heads at the door.

“Oh.” Penny cleared her throat, stepping back. “I didn’t know you had visitors—sorry. I’ll be back later.”

“It’s okay!” Mint chimed in, offering Penny a smile. “They’re leaving, anyway.”

She then nodded to the two visitors. “Keep me updated.”

They exchanged a few words before the visitors walked away, offering Penny a brief nod, which she returned with a slight nod of her own. Once they closed the door behind them, Penny turned to the person in the hospital bed.

“Those are the detectives handling my case,” Mint explained. “They said they were able to identify the people who did this to me, but sadly, they’re all dead. Shot in the head. They’re still investigating, but I suspect it’s an inside job. Probably one of them was given an order to shut them up and lessen the mouths that could be running.”

Penny gulped as she approached, hearing all of that, but none of it mattered right now. “Mint, have you heard the news?”

Mint didn’t answer, just stared at her. And yet, her silence spoke louder than any words she could’ve said.

“Something’s wrong, Mint,” Penny breathed out. “I don’t think Cassandra Smith is behind it.”

“Penny…”

“Mint, I did my own research, and I tell you, it’s not her.”

Mint opened her mouth, then closed it again. After a shallow breath, she spoke.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, Penny. I know this is also weird for me, and I don’t feel one bit at ease despite knowing that those kids are being rescued as we speak. However…” She paused. “Someone came forward. Actually, a few did, claiming that they were from the orphanage many years ago.”

“What?”

“They’re some of the kids who escaped it,” Mint added. “And although that happened years ago, when Cassandra was still young, a lot of things can happen. Still, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be implicated. The orphanage was under someone’s name, but that was just an illusion. The initial investigation led them to her.”

That was the law.

Right now, the people who filed a case against the orphanage were claiming it was a house of terror. Even though Cassandra was just a child when the complainants were there, the orphanage was under her name. Therefore, Cassandra was arrested for that reason and many others.

After all, the police would have to know who was in charge before Cassandra took over.

Penny and Mint stared at each other in pure silence.

“Please tell me you don’t buy this crap,” Penny remarked.

“What I believe is not important right now, Penny,” Mint sighed. “However, I can’t physically do anything right now. Just look at me. All I can do is make a few calls, but that’s it. Besides, it’s not my jurisdiction.”

“Damn it, Mint.” Penny huffed, touching her forehead as it throbbed.

Meanwhile, Mint studied her before deciding to speak again. “Penny, this is not your business.”

“Huh?”

“Stay out of it,” Mint uttered, her eyes solemn and sincere. “Please.”

Because Mint’s gut feeling told her that Penny needed to remove herself from this situation. It wasn’t that Mint didn’t understand Penny’s feelings. In fact, in her heart, she, too, felt disturbed by Cassandra’s arrest.

It was suspicious how suddenly and quickly everything had fallen into place. It was as though they were being led to this very situation.

Mint shook her head and repeated, “Stay out of it, Penny. Even if you want to meddle, don’t. It’s not your business to worry about. Don’t get yourself implicated. This is a huge case the entire nation will talk about. Stay out of it.”