Penelope scoffed and continued toward the exit, but the two women blocked her path.
“Penelope, how dare you get my son arrested! Go back in there right now and tell the police you’re not pressing charges! Get him released!” Mrs. Sullivan shrieked.
Rebecca added frantically, “Penelope, no matter what’s happened between us, we’re still family! There’s no need to involve the police!”
Penelope let out a dry laugh. Even now, they thought they could bully her into submission.
“You knew he was breaking the law. You didn’t stop him; you encouraged him! Your entire family is morally bankrupt, with no regard for the law. If anyone is responsible for what happened to Zebulon, it’s you!”
“Penelope!” Ward shot up from his chair and got in her face. “Do you realize you’re sending him to prison?”
“I told you, I’m not the one who did this to him!”
“What did we ever do to you? Why are you so determined to destroy the Sullivan family?”
Penelope almost laughed. “I think that’s my question to ask. What did I ever do to the Sullivans that made you so determined to destroy me?”
“You wouldn’t be where you are today without us!”
“Without the Sullivans, I would be doing just fine!”
“Wait, what prison?” Mrs. Sullivan asked, her mind finally catching up. “It was just a fight, wasn’t it? They’ll hold him for a few days, that’s all. Why prison?”
“She’s accusing him of extortion and attempted murder,” Ward said, his eyes red with fury. “If those charges stick, Zebulon will be in prison for years. His life will be ruined!”
“Years in prison? Oh, god, no, how could this happen?”
The reality of the situation finally hit Mrs. Sullivan. She started to tremble uncontrollably.
“Penelope!” Ward pointed a trembling finger at her. “The Sullivan family will not be brought down this easily! You just wait…”
“Wait for what?” Penelope’s eyes narrowed. “This is a police station. Are you threatening me?”
A vein bulged in Ward’s forehead, but all he could do was let out a frustrated grunt.
A small, grim smile touched Penelope’s lips as she turned and walked out.
“My son can’t go to prison! He won’t survive in there! Ward, do something! We can’t let this happen!”
“My baby is due in three months! Is Zebulon really not going to be there to see his child born?” Rebecca wailed.
Outside, Penelope took a deep, cleansing breath. She felt lighter than she had in years.

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