Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 290

Chapter 290: Choose your audience

When Penny arrived at the mansion, her family was already waiting for her and Chunchun. Seeing them turn their heads in her direction and smile warmly at her made her feel safe. She smiled back at them, even though for some reason, her heart felt heavier.

Meow.

Penny raised her brows and gazed down at Chunchun. Without a word, she released her cat and let it saunter towards Hugo.

"Happy Birthday, Chunchun~" Hugo greeted warmly as he picked up the cat in his arms.

"Penny, what kind of walk did you do?" Slater quickly threw his entry, his hands on his hips, impatience in his eyes. "It felt like it was a marathon and not just a run!"

Atlas tugged his earlobe, finding Slater’s voice more annoying today.

"Slater, shut up!" Charles expressed, explaining why Atlas didn’t bother saying a word.

"Penny, your brothers prepared a simple celebration for Chunchun’s birthday," Allison, who seemed to have just gotten home, walked up to her daughter. "Let’s celebrate it together, okay?"

Penny nodded, smiling. "Mhm."

Having said that, the family gathered in the dining room. Hugo was the one who prepared everything with barely any help from Slater and Atlas. However, the other two were taking their rightful credits just because they could.

With party hats on, everyone, including Chunchun, they clapped slowly and sang Happy Birthday. The lights were off and only some dim lights were on to make the lit birthday candle appear warmer. Butler Jen and a few servants stood not far away to join the fun.

"Happy Birthday to you..."

Happy birthday to you..."

Although Penny was clapping and smiling, she couldn’t help but lower her eyes. Her smile turned bitter and her eyes softened.

’That... fool,’ she thought once again, reminded that Zoren might still be in that meeting spot right now.

"Blow the candle!" Slater exclaimed, and Hugo blew the candle for Chunchun.

As soon as the flame extinguished, the lights were quickly switched on. Everyone was clapping in joy, greeting their family member for another year in their lives. And while this was all happening, Slater glanced at Penny and furrowed his brows.

"Penny?" called Slater. "Are you crying?"

The moment everyone heard that, they redirected their attention to Penny. As soon as they did, they saw the tear that rolled down her cheek.

Penny smiled subtly. "I’m just moved," she whispered. "Very... touched. I can’t stop crying."

It wasn’t a lie, but those uncontrollable tears were for something else, or rather, for someone else.

Knowing Zoren kept his promise all these years, the thought of him camping on that street every Thursday without fail — unless he was hospitalized — moved her to tears. Despite his terrible health condition and the fact that he had such greedy family members who would scheme behind him at every turn, it was heartbreaking.

He was such a kind soul... just what sin did he do to deserve to be treated like that by his own family?

And that question brought a deep sense of familiarity into her heart. It clarified a lot of things. Penny, after all, used to ask that question in her previous life. Therefore, Penny knew more than anyone just how mind-breaking that question was.

Surely, he was a fool.

And because he was such a foolish man, she wanted to protect him. She wanted to make sure he could at least have some space to breathe because when Penny couldn’t breathe and had to escape the Bennet Mansion, he came into her life and gave her that space.

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[Present Time]

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