Chapter 296

"You're just stating the facts. Don't let online trolls get to you. Focus on finding a job and living well."

Whenever I spoke with Penelope, it felt like she was surrounded by people with sad stories, hiding away in her own world to heal her wounds. I wanted to rescue her from that world, but I was afraid that my attempts might have unintended consequences. So, the best I could do was to offer support without disrupting her life too much.

Joey worked swiftly, and the newspaper featuring Penelope's story was published the following day. The article cleverly disguised Penelope's real name and was divided into three parts: beginning, middle, and end.

Joey was better at evoking emotions than I was. She took the material I provided and added dramatic flair to make Penelope's story even more heart-wrenching. For example, she described how Penelope was left alone at home without warm clothing in the midst of winter while her aunt and uncle indulged in gambling. Penelope shivered as she wen