Chapter 6

Penelope stood quietly in the corner amidst the commotion. It was as if she was invisible, and the bustling party had nothing to do with her. The upbeat piano music filled the air after the cake-cutting session. Couples then made their way to the dance floor. Sabrina glanced around before locking her eyes on Penelope. She sashayed over with a smug grin. She said, "You must be really upset to be overshadowed in your own birthday party, Penny. But there's nothing you can do about it since Dad, Mom, Patrick, and Gabriel all spoiled me more. "So what if you're their biological daughter? You're still beneath me anyway. Just look at how useless you are—how pitiful!" Penelope was aware that she was deliberately provoking her, yet she no longer had tears after all these years of crying. As such, she only looked at Sabrina indifferently. Sabrina continued to brag, only leaving with a sulk when she realized she wasn't getting any reaction out of Penelope. After staying seated for some time, Penelope grew tired and wanted to return to get some rest. After all, the star of this birthday party wasn't her. As she was about to leave, Sabrina, who was surrounded by many, suddenly shouted, "I lost the necklace Gabriel gave me that was worth billions! There's a thief among us!" Penelope glanced back and noticed that Sabrina's neck was indeed empty. For some reason, she had a bad feeling out of nowhere. As expected, Sabrina started crying soon enough. "My necklace went missing just as I was chatting with Penny earlier. You should have told me if you really liked my necklace, Penny. Why must you steal it?" Everyone's gazes landed on Penelope as soon as those words were out. She took a deep breath and calmly met with those hostile gazes. She said firmly, "It's not me. I'm the eldest daughter of the Carter family. It's just a necklace—I don't need to steal to get one." Penelope's calm and collected attitude dispersed the suspicion of many. Gabriel frowned, clearly in disbelief, yet Sabrina refused to let it go. She accused, "Who else would it be if not you? A necklace might not mean much to you, but this was given by Gabriel. How could you not covet it when you like him so much? If you're really innocent, then let us search you!" Penelope clenched her fists and coldly rejected being searched in public. "I've told you I didn't take it. Why should I let you search me?" Sabrina cried, "I'm telling the truth, Dad, Mom, Patrick! Please believe me! I know I'm only an adopted child, Gabriel. I'd let Penny have whatever she liked if it were anything else, but that's something you gave me. I don't want to let her have this one thing!" Everyone's hearts melted when they saw Sabrina's tearful face. Patrick eventually nodded and gave the bodyguards a subtle glance. The bodyguards all stepped forward to pin Penelope down. Penelope stared at him in disbelief. She was his biological sister, yet he was about to search her body in public—all for the sake of an adopted child! She desperately struggled and yelled that it wasn't her, yet nobody listened to her. Her glamorous gown was torn apart, and her styled hair was yanked loose, falling in clumps. Penelope covered her chest with her arms, her eyes filled with pain. Yet no matter how much she explained or struggled, the people around just stood there, watching with cold, amused expressions. It all seemed like a nightmare to her—with Robert and Camile watching indifferently, while Gabriel and Patrick were busy comforting Sabrina. Her parents used to pamper her, afraid of her getting hurt. Patrick would stand up for her whenever she was wrong, putting those who crossed her in their place. Gabriel would always stand by her side, shielding her from any storm. But at that moment, everything had changed. Painful tears blurred Penelope's vision as her gown was about to be ripped apart. In that moment of desperation, something came to her mind. She immediately lifted her bloodied hands and shouted with all her might, "It's not me! I have the footage!"