After receiving Penelope's call, Homer rushed her to the hospital as fast as he could.
As she was lifted onto the hospital bed, she pressed the USB drive containing the surveillance footage into his hand.
"After the verdict comes down, release the videos."
Homer read the resolve in Penelope's eyes and gave a firm nod.
Penelope closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
When she opened them again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nostrils.
"Miss Simmons, you're finally awake. You've been in a coma for three days since the surgery."
Her voice came out raw and hoarse. "What's today's date?"
"March twentieth."
Penelope counted the days. Three more, and the divorce papers would arrive.
Her phone buzzed. A message from her supervisor.
Application approved. You leave in three days.
Three more days, and she would be free of Luke Gilbert for good.
She was finally getting out of this hell.
The door swung open, and Luke walked in.
A faint trace of perfume drifted in with him.
He stood beside her bed, his gaze sweeping over the bandages covering her body. Something flickered in his eyes, a flash of distress and panic, gone almost before it registered.
"What happened this time is behind us now. As long as you don't hurt Crystal or her child again, I won't punish you."
Penelope's exhausted eyes shifted slightly.
"Punish?"
"Yes. You weren't like this before." Luke's voice was flat, certain. "Back then you were righteous and kind. All you wanted was to protect the wrongly accused. Now jealousy and resentment have twisted you into someone who hurts the vulnerable."
Penelope laughed. Her bloodless face remained cold and unyielding.
Jealousy and resentment?
So that was what Luke believed. That she was eaten up with envy. That she hated out of love.
In her entire life, Penelope Simmons had never stooped to betraying her conscience over a man.
And she never would. Not for anyone. She would never let a man taint the ideals and convictions she held sacred.
"Crystal's baby is fine, fortunately," Luke added. "Otherwise, you would have paid a far steeper price."
Penelope's lips moved. She finally spoke.
"I do have regrets."
A trace of satisfaction crossed Luke's face.
"So you finally regret hurting people?"
"I haven't hurt anyone. What I regret is ever knowing you."
The satisfaction froze on his face.
Penelope looked straight at him, enunciating every word.
"Back then, you weren't a killer. But now? You've become one."
Luke's expression darkened. He drew a deep breath to rein in his temper and stared down at her from his full height.
"You still don't think you've done anything wrong?"
"I've always remembered that you saved my life back then. But over these years, I've given you more than enough in return. That debt is paid in full."
"I fell in love with someone else, but she's done nothing wrong. The one thing you should never have done was hurt the woman I love."
Penelope let out a cold, derisive laugh.
Given her more than enough. That was what he called betraying five years of devotion.
That was what he called flaunting his affair in front of her, moving his mistress into their marital home for all the world to see.
That was what he called tormenting her until she wished she were dead, until she nearly was.
Luke's eyes churned with something complicated. His tone softened.
"As long as you stop causing harm, I'll let you keep the title of Mrs. Gilbert."
"And to keep the bad luck from your work with corpses away from Crystal during her pregnancy, you'll move to the housekeeper's quarters when you get home. Stay away from her."
When she said nothing, he took her silence for agreement and turned to leave.
At the door, he paused.
"Rest and heal. I've already arranged the best doctors and treatment plan for you. There won't be any scars."
The door closed behind him.
Three days later, Penelope discharged herself and took a cab home.
The moment she stepped inside, the housekeeper hurried over, looking uncomfortable.
"Ma'am, Mr. Gilbert is... at Miss Henson's prenatal appointment."
Penelope's expression didn't change. She gave a small nod.
"I see."
She walked into the bedroom and began packing. A few everyday clothes. Her forensic examiner's license and other professional credentials.
It wasn't much. Everything fit into a single suitcase.
Her phone buzzed again. A message from Old Mr. Gilbert's assistant.
Miss Simmons, the elder Mr. Gilbert asked me to bring something to you.
She went downstairs and took the document envelope from the assistant's hands.
Inside were two copies of the divorce certificate.
She kept one and slipped the other back into the envelope, handing it to the housekeeper.
"Give this to him when he gets back."
With that, she picked up her suitcase, walked out the door, and took a cab straight to the airport.
Security. Boarding. She found her seat and sat down.
Sunlight blazed through the cabin window.
But inside Penelope's chest, there was nothing but relief. A lightness she had never known before.
From here on, the road stretched far and wide, and they would never cross paths again.
