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131 Penny’s pain in Nina’s shoes

[Short Flashback]

Atlas sat quietly in the backseat of the car, reading a newspaper in his hand. After the long wait, the other door opened and Hugo, still in his uniform, jumped inside.

“You’re late,” said Atlas emotionlessly as he glanced at his brother.

“There’s a delay in the flight

“I see.

Silence quickly followed Atlas’s remarks while the car started moving away from the airport. For

a good five minutes, neither of them spoke. Hugo glanced at his brother, who didn’t seem he have any intention of saying or asking anything.

“I heard about the crisis the company had gone through,” Hugo broached. “Penny helped?” Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Atlas paused and slowly peeled his eyes from the newspaper to the window. “I didn’t want her to, but she did anyway.”

“You should chase her away fiercer in the future.”

“You think I’m not doing that already?”

“I’m just saying.” Hugo shrugged and turned to the window on his side. “She’s already working a lot with her research. The company matters aren’t supposed to be something she’d concern herself with.”

Atlas frowned and felt slightly irritated. “Do you think I never told her not to meddle? You know her. If only she could, she would even volunteer to be in your squad just to help you as well. She’s a real headache”

Both brothers stared at the side of their windows, and silence quickly filled in the air. Hugo didn’t retort at Atlas’s argument, because he knew that would be something Penny would do if only she had the chance.

Their sister, after all, would do anything for them, even if they never asked to the point it beyond annoying.

was

Pleasing them was already Penny’s personality. It somehow became the meaning of her existence. Even when they were children, she would do everything to gain their attention. She enrolled in different classes. Initially, they thought she was just curious. But even when they

bloomed into young adults, Penny never changed.

The brothers were worried about her.

It wasn’t like they liked her so much, but they never hated her. Penny was their sister, whether they liked it or not, and they already accepted that fact. They could only hope that instead of trying to please them, Penny would do something for herself.

Unintentionally, her actions only made them think they were so unreliable that she couldn’t trust them. Hence, they also had to resort to intense means of chasing her away just so she

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131 Penny’s pain in Nina’s shoes

stopped.

“Atlas, her birthday is coming up.” Hugo broke the prolonged silence, eyes on the window. “Should we celebrate it with her?”

“I don’t know. I’m afraid she’d misunderstand it again.”

“Let’s celebrate it.” Hugo turned to his brother. “Clear your schedule.”

Atlas slowly faced his brother, furrowing his brows at the strange look in Hugo’s eyes. “Did you almost die while on duty?”

“Yes.” Hugo chuckled. “Do you know what came to my mind when I thought I was dying?”

Atlas didn’t answer, but his face showed curiosity.

“Penny,” answered Hugo. “I thought of her and realized I was harsh on her.

“Is that so?” Atlas chuckled, not concerned that Hugo almost died while on duty since he was alive now. “I’ll ask her. For now, we’re going to visit home. Nina will be engaged to the Pierson Family. Zoren Pierson will be there, I heard.”

Hugo arched a brow. “Who’s that?”

“The current head of the Pierson Family.” Atlas’s expression changed solemnly as if he was thinking of an enemy. “I heard he is a ruthless man who feeds people to his panther, and he’s always at odds with the first branch of the family. He wasn’t supposed to be present at this engagement. So, I’m curious why he’s coming” @

“Nina is marrying into such a complicated family, huh?” Hugo frowned. “Why? Is she pregnant?”

[Present Time]

Old Madam Roswald and her husband didn’t stay long in the Bennet Mansion because of what happened. Thanks to Slater, they didn’t leave fuming in anger. Even so, they were displeased at Charles’s warning.

Allison didn’t send her parents off as she went to check on Nina after seeing Penny and her brothers were doing fine in the library.

“Mom?”

Allison hummed, sitting beside Nina on the bed after helping her back to her bedroom. “Yes, Nina?”

“I’m sorry, Mom.” Tears quickly formed in the corner of Nina’s eyes while her lips quivered. “I didn’t really mean to create a misunderstanding. It’s not my intention for everyone to fight.”

Nina hiccuped as she gazed down. “As much as possible, I wanted to keep quiet about it. But Penny got so upset and we ended up causing a commotion.

“Nina.” Allison’s heart softened, stroking Nina’s back gently. She clasped Nina’s unbandaged hand gently, wiping Nina’s tears with the other. “Nina, don’t cry anymore. It’s alright now.”

Nina hiccuned more while Allison was wining her tears. “But my brothers hate me now do

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< 131 Penny’s pain in Nina’s shoes

they?”

“Nina, don’t say that. Your brothers will never hate you. Allison smiled subtly. “It’s just that many things happened today that we have to do what we have to do.

“How about Penny? Does she hate me now too?” she sobbed. “I don’t want Penny to hate me. I know I shouldn’t have any rights in this family since I’m not your real daughter. But but… in my heart, you’re my only family.”

Allison’s eyes softened, smiling subtly. “Nina, you are our family too and I don’t think Penny

would hate you,” she reassured while nodding at her. “Just apologize for Penny, and I’m sure she’ll let this pass.”

What?

Nina’s expression briefly turned blank as she stared at her mother’s gentle smile. “Apologize to

Penny?”

“Nina. I know it’s not your intention to cause the misunderstanding, but you shouldn’t forget why Penny had to resort to such means,” Allison explained calmly, knowing Niria would understand since she’d been part of the family since the beginning. “It’s not nice to ask others to do your work just because they kept doing you a favor.”

Nina’s quivering lips pressed into a thin line. “Mom, do you still love me?”

“What? Of course, Nina. Mom always loves you.”

“Then why do I feel like eve’s leaving me for Penny?”

u’ve been with us since

“Nina, it’s not like that.” Allison sighed. “We’re not taking sides. Nina, you were a child and you know how much we love you. Even if this is between your brothers, we won’t tolerate it as well. The ones in the wrong would have to apologize. It’s always been like

that, isn’t it?”

Was it? Nina wondered.

Truthfully, a part of Nina’s heart knew what Allison was saying was true. Even if the people Involved were Atlas and Hugo, their parents would still ask the one in the wrong to apologize. This was never an issue in the past. Even if it was between Nina or any of her brothers, she wouldn’t think her parents were favoring them over her.

But this was between Penny and Nina.

And Penny’s mere existence was akin to a pipe stuck in Nina’s throat. Therefore, in her

eyes, her parents were biased because Penny was their daughter and Nina was just an outsider. To Nina, this was a display of favoritism.

“Mom, I just want to rest,” said Nina and pulled her hand from Allison, crawling on the bed. She lay on her side, her back facing her mother.

“Nina…” Allison called, but Nina didn’t respond. All she could do was sigh heavily. “Then, I’ll let you rest. If you need anything, just come down.”

Having said that, Allison pushed herself away. She looked back when she reached the door

( 131 Ponny’s pain in Nina’s shoes

The moment the click of the door caressed Nina’s cars, a tear rolled across her nose bridge. This time, she barely felt any spite. What swelled in her heart was the pain of abandonment and she hated this feeling more than anything else. 6)

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