Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 207

Chapter 207: I don’t hate you too.

"Then... why are you leaving?"

The bright grin on Penny’s face faded at that question. Surprised that Slater knew about it, her brows slowly knitted together.

How did he know?

"Some time ago, I overheard you and Professor Singh talking," he said quietly, eyes cast down a little. "I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, and I was simply going back to the library to get something. But I heard him talking about taking you in as his apprentice and that you would have to leave the house."

Slater explained his side of the story, including his assumption that apprenticeship was withdrawn. After all, Penny didn’t seem she was planning to leave in the past several weeks. Matter of fact, even their parents didn’t mention anything about it to them.

But seeing that Professor Singh came by today, Slater knew it was about that. Hence, he followed them to the study room. This time, he was planning to eavesdrop. The problem was, when he heard his parents’ response, Slater knew she would leave.

"Is it because I wasn’t very welcoming before?" he asked, almost tearing up. "Or was it because I got angry because of the chocolates? Penny, I will share all my chocolates — you don’t even need permission anymore. I won’t eat them anymore."

He pressed his quivering lips, assessing the unmoved look plastered on her face. "I’m sorry!" he exclaimed in a hurry, trying his best to get a reaction from her. "I’m sorry for being rude to you and for calling you name before. And I’m also sorry that I wasn’t a fair brother and that you have to clean up my mess, even though I’m older than you!"

"I’m also sorry about... about a lot of yelling," he continued nervously. "And for pulling all those pranks on you. I’m also sorry for not being a good brother and for being weak."

Slater rummaged through his memory to remember anything that he should feel sorry for. Meanwhile, the corner of her lips curled up while looking at him nervously racking his brain and apologizing for everything.

"And I’m sorry... for neglecting you," he said after the countless sorry mentioned before this. "I know I should be a proper big brother, but I kept failing you and disappointing you. I’ll try my best to be a good big brother."

Slowly, he lifted his teary eyes on her and smiled helplessly. "I’m sorry."

Penny planned to make a joke and play with him just to distract him. Her third brother was so easily distracted. He might have explosive emotions, but if done right, it was easy to distract him away from the emotions.

But that sorry... [I’m sorry for neglecting you,] hit her so differently.

That word — neglect — was the right term for Bennet’s biggest sin toward her.

They neglected her from the start till the end, and at this point in her life, she wasn’t expecting an apology for that anymore. What else could she do? These people hadn’t done what they had done — not that they still have that kind of power over her in this lifetime.

But that apology... touched a part of her heart that she didn’t know still existed.

A shallow breath escaped her nostrils as Penny tapped the side of her bed. "Third Brother, my pets are currently with Butler Jen. You can come in."

Slater gulped and cautiously walked in, afraid Tiana was just hiding somewhere. When Slater sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed, he faced her.

"You already forgive me?"

"You already said sorry many times, even before this day, remember?" she reminded him, referring to the time they all apologized to her and asked her for another chance to be a proper family for her. "I know you didn’t detail everything like today, but I already know you meant that apology."

His brows rose. "Then are you not going to leave now?"