Rebirth: We Split Ways.. novel Chapter 38

"Dominic, why are you pleading for this wretched fellow?"

Melissa stepped forward, grasping Dominic’s arm. She was taken aback; she had never witnessed her son adopting such a conciliatory tone with Penelope, appearing so subdued.

They had never been ones to assert dominance or make lofty demands. Previously, it was always the woman who had to yield, but now the dynamics seemed to have shifted.

Confronting Penelope with a defiant expression, Melissa said, "What's wrong with calling you out? What reputation do you even have? You didn't dare to utter a word when I insulted you at the Archer residence!"

As Melissa ranted, she noticed Dominic's increasingly dark expression, realizing how her treatment of Penelope over the years had been exposed too late.

Vincent could no longer contain his emotions. He cast a sidelong glance at Penelope and remarked, "Are these the mother-in-law and sister-in-law you've devoted yourself to for the past three years? Just look at them. You've sacrificed so much for their sake!"

Thinking about his impoverished sister, he added with a stern tone, "The choice is yours. But remember, you're dragging the Reed family's name through the mud, not just yours."

Penelope calmed Vincent, saying, "Don't worry, brother."

Penelope mocked Melissa with icy composure, "Let me guess, next you'll say, 'So what if my daughter caused damage? Paying you off is enough, right?'"

Taken aback, Melissa retorted, "Isn't it? How much could your shop possibly be worth? Can't we afford such a petty amount?"

Penelope calmly stated, "Three billion. Can you easily afford that?"

Upon hearing the amount of compensation, Melissa was taken aback, nearly stumbling backward. Her face registered sheer disbelief. "What! Is your modest shop valued at such an amount? Who do you think you're fooling?"

With a piercing gaze, Penelope replied, "If you doubt it, I have a detailed assessment of the losses. You'll be convinced."

"Watch me tear your skin apart and leave you with nothing!" Melissa’s voice escalated sharply once more as if she intended to confront Penelope physically. However, Dominic stepped in, preventing her from advancing further.

Dominic’s brows knitted together tightly; his expression as dark as a stormy night. He commanded, halting Melissa in her tracks, "Enough!"

The dispute among the group had already captured the attention of many city elites. As they listened intently, the truth began to unfold.

Confronted by Danna's piercing shouts and Kyla's near-collapse pleas, Dominic, as the pillar of the situation, found himself capitulating once more. "Penelope, I'll compensate you the three hundred billion losses. Can we put an end to this matter today?"

"Compensation is one thing; facing the consequences is another,"

Penelope responded indifferently, exuding an air of nobility and dominance.

Dominic’s eyes narrowed, focusing intently on Penelope’s arrogant countenance. "You may hold grievances against the Archer family, but parading them in front of the police crosses a line."

Seeing the heiress of the Archer family and the second daughter of the Mendez family publicly arrested would tarnish both families' reputations.

"I determine what's excessive and what's not," Penelope retorted confidently.

"The sum involved is substantial enough to warrant imprisonment for several years. By the time she's released, perhaps she'll have gained some wisdom. If your Archer family fails to nurture the child properly, maybe the prison guards can impart some lessons!"

"And as for you," Penelope’s gaze fixed on Kyla’s pallid face, a hint of disdain apparent, "You're well aware of your deeds. Once you're in custody, rest assured, the evidence I've meticulously prepared will speak for itself!"