Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Little beggar

When Penny came home, Allison and Charles were anxiously waiting for her in the family room. Their children were still in their school uniform with a look indiscernible. The second they saw her with Haines, the couple could only sigh in relief and sprinted to Penny to ease their anxiety.

"Penny, I thought something already happened to you!" Allison squatted in front of the chubby girl. "Why did you leave without telling anyone? Where did you go?"

Charles stood behind his wife, looking a little troubled.

Seeing their troubled faces, Penny felt guilt. "I didn't mean to worry you..."

"Tch! As if!" Slater jumped, yelling like a dog. "She probably left because she wants to snag more attention from mom and dad! Otherwise, there's no reason for her to leave the house!"

"Slater..." Nina held his arm to stop him. "Don't be like that. Maybe Penny just misses her aunt or she's unhappy with how things had been."

Huh?

Did Penny look unhappy at all?

Hearing Nina's assumptions, Slater's anger boiled even more. "Unhappy?! How can she still be unhappy when she eats everything she wants and has Mom and Dad's attention all for herself!?"

The couple looked at Slater worriedly.

Could it be that their actions until now made Penny unhappy? And that she was simply too shy to say that?

"Mom, Dad, this only shows how ungrateful she is!" Slater continued to fire shots at her, pointing at Penny accusingly. "Even if you give her the world, she wouldn't be satisfied and would want more! She —"

HICCUP!

Slater stopped when he suddenly heard a hiccup. Allison and Charles followed the noise, and their eyes fell on the plump little girl in front of them.

"Slater is right..." Penny hiccuped, squeezing every tear she could at the moment. "How can I be unhappy when mom and dad have been so welcoming of me? It was the first time I felt so warm during winter because my auntie always asked me to stay out in the cold. I just saw the kitten from the window and I thought it needed help."

Finally, everyone noticed the cat she was hugging and the little toad in her hand.

"Maybe Slater and my aunt are right," she added in between her tears. "I'm more suited to be a little beggar because I do not deserve even the ounce of the world." _{freewebnoveℓ.com}

Slater's anger shifted to confusion.

Where in his sentiments did she hear him say she should be a little beggar? He wasn't that mean!

"Oh, Penny, that's not true!" Feeling sorry for her, Allison pulled her into her embrace. "You deserve the world, Penny. Your aunt is just being mean — she shouldn't say that to a little girl."

"That is right." Charles tapped Penny's shoulder mildly. "Who said my daughter is more suited to be a little beggar? You are my princess! I'd like to see who dares say another harsh word toward you."

Penny broke out with more tears, crying dramatically in Allison's arms. Charles, on the other hand, felt sorry for her. Ever since she came, Penny kept tight lips about her life with her auntie. Hearing how she would usually spend her winter broke his heart.

Haines, who was watching this unfold, blinked in confusion.

'Why did Hugo sound so nice?' she wondered in horror, remembering this guy and Atlas would never waste a breath on her. 'Did he feel sorry when I said what Jessa was doing to me?'