The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 436

His breathing was heavy, and his body was tense like a coiled panther. She patted his back, trying to soothe him, but he immediately crushed his lips against hers.

The kiss was frantic and messy, a perfect reflection of his current state of mind.

That same tearing pain struck Penelope again. She clung to him tightly, but no matter how close they were, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing her grip on him.

After a long while, they emerged from the stairwell, only to find Mrs. Stapleton standing right outside.

She was in a hospital gown, her hair disheveled, and her eyes fixed on Penelope with a crazed intensity.

"It was you!"

Mrs. Stapleton had heard everything Yvonne said.

The realization hit Penelope with a crushing sense of helplessness.

"You're the one who killed my daughter!"

Mrs. Stapleton lunged, shoving her with maniacal force.

Unable to restrain his mother, Theodore shielded Penelope, holding her tight in his arms and taking the brunt of Mrs. Stapleton's blows and curses.

"You murderer! You killed my daughter! I'll kill you!"

Penelope closed her eyes. She truly had no idea how to face this, how to face the Stapletons.

But...

"It wasn't my fault!"

She finally shouted it out. She had been kicked out that day, she hadn't dropped the hair tie on purpose. She had done nothing wrong and shouldn't be held responsible for Lorraine's death!

"Theodore! Did you hear her? She said it wasn't her fault!"

Mrs. Stapleton pounded on Theodore's back. "And you're still protecting her!"

Even without looking at Theodore, Penelope knew his expression mirrored her own: powerless, helpless, and trapped. An invisible net had ensnared them both.

They couldn't break free unless they tore the net apart.

And if they did that, everything between them would be over.

"Stop this madness!"

She could stay by Theodore's side and help him through this difficult time, but wasn't her presence just making everything harder?

Should she stay, or should she go?

It was late at night. Penelope walked faster and faster, but Theodore caught up and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Are you trying to run away again?"

"I just... I can't face your family... But it wasn't my fault!"

"I know."

"I'm so tired, and it hurts so much."

"Me too."

"Theodore..."

"But I can't let you go."