Penelope's POV:
Her words make me flinch. No matter how many times she's been harsh to me, I can never get used to it. It still cuts my heart, like a hot knife through butter.
“I was…” I trail off and glanced at Charles. The look in his eyes makes my blood chill.
Go on, he seems to say. Go on and tell them what happened.
The saddest part is that my parents won't even believe me. Charles could do no wrong in their eyes. He saved them from poverty. He clothed them in luxury. He took pity on their eldest daughter and married her.
“See?!” My mother yells. “How long will you remain incompetent for?! If your sister had died, what would you have—”
“Miss Verdant had an emergency with her health. At least listen to her before you judge.” Athena snaps.
“Athena, there's no need,”
My mot
