serpent ♔ juliet

Betty crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on Penelope Blossom as she listened to her explanations. The revelations about Penelope's past only fueled Betty's suspicions, but she needed concrete evidence to confront her.

"So, you claim that the women at the Maple Club aren't victims," Betty said, her voice filled with skepticism. "But isn't it exploitation? Taking advantage of someone's vulnerabilities and desires for personal gain?"

Penelope smirked, her gaze unwavering. "Exploitation is subjective, my dear. These women have chosen this profession willingly. They have agency and control over their lives. In fact, they're making enough money to escape their pasts and start anew."

Betty's jaw clenched as she weighed Penelope's words. While it might be true that the women were benefiting financially, she couldn't help but feel that Penelope was still putting her own interests above all else.

"But what about you, Penelope?" Betty pressed, her voice laced with accusation. "You built this empire for yourself, didn't you? You're the one profiting from these men's desires and pain."

Penelope's eyes glinted with a mix of defiance and self-assuredness. "No one else has ever looked out for me, Betty. When I was just a child, plucked from the Sisters of Quiet Mercy by the Blossom family, I learned that I had to fend for myself. I turned my misfortunes into opportunities. And yes, the Maple Club is my creation."

Jughead's eyebrows furrowed as a thought crossed his mind. "Could this be your motive, Penelope? Did you kill the Sisters as an act of revenge for what they did to you?"

Penelope's face remained composed as she shook her head. "I did not kill the Sisters. They were merely pawns in a much larger game. It was the Monsignor who sold me to the Blossom family, not the Sisters themselves."

Betty's skepticism persisted. "What about Claudius? Do you know anything about his death? Was it suicide or murder?"

Penelope's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Claudius took his own life, Betty. I was there at the Maple Club when it happened. Even if it was murder, I had no hand in it."

Betty and Jughead exchanged a glance, realizing that they still had much to uncover. Penelope's words were convincing, but they couldn't fully trust her. They needed to continue their investigation and find the truth buried beneath the web of lies and secrets.

As they left the room, Betty couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that Penelope was withholding something vital. There were more layers to this story, and she was determined to uncover them, no matter the obstacles that lay ahead.

Betty hurriedly checked her phone and read the message from Dr. Curdle Jr. The urgency in his words piqued her curiosity and made her momentarily forget about the mysteries surrounding Penelope Blossom and the Maple Club.

"Jughead," Betty said, her voice filled with anticipation. "Dr. Curdle Jr. wants to see me immediately. It must be important."

Jughead looked at her; concern etched on his face. "Are you sure it can't wait? We were just about to investigate."

Betty nodded, torn between her desire to uncover the truth about Hiram's mistress and the pressing matter at hand. "I know, but this might be a lead regarding Claudius' death. We can't ignore it."

Jughead understood the gravity of the situation. "Alright, let's split up. You go see Dr. Curdle Jr.; We'll reconvene later and share what we find."

Betty nodded, grateful for Jughead's understanding. She quickly made her way out of the hotel room, leaving Jughead behind. As she headed toward Dr. Curdle Jr.'s office, her mind was filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Upon arriving at the doctor's office, Betty found him waiting for her, his face wearing a grave expression. "Betty," he said, motioning for her to sit down. "I have something important to tell you."

Betty's heart raced as she took a seat, her eyes fixed on Dr. Curdle Jr. "What is it, Doctor? Did you find something in Claudius' autopsy report?"

Dr. Curdle Jr. sighed heavily. "There wasn't an official autopsy performed on Claudius. Penelope had him cremated before I could even get involved. But," he added, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, "I managed to obtain some information from the medical examiner who oversaw Clifford Blossom's autopsy."

Betty leaned forward, her attention thoroughly captivated. "What did you find, Doctor?"

Dr. Curdle Jr. cleared his throat, then spoke in a hushed tone. "Clifford's autopsy revealed traces of poison in his system. It seems he was killed, Betty. And the substance used to poison him... it matches the one found in the vial we discovered at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy."

Betty's eyes widened in shock. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, and the picture they painted was chilling. "So, Penelope's involvement with the Sisters and the Maple Club... it all connects."

Dr. Curdle Jr. nodded. "It appears so. But we need concrete evidence to confront her. Be careful, Betty. Penelope is dangerous."

Betty thanked the doctor for his information and left his office, her mind racing with newfound determination. She had to find Jughead and share what she had just learned. Together, they would expose Penelope's dark secrets and bring justice to those she had harmed.

As Betty made her way back to the hotel room, she couldn't shake off the feeling of suspicion that still lingered. Penelope's words and actions didn't entirely add up, and Betty was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

Little did she know that the answers they sought would take them down an even darker path, revealing shocking secrets.

Betty and Jughead continued their quest for answers, but little did they know that the web of intrigue in Riverdale was about to entangle them even further.