Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 1454

Chapter 1454: There was nothing in this world that could change that
[BENNET MANSION]

“Allison, honey.” Charles leaned against the bed’s headboard, turning his head toward the vanity mirror where his wife was seated. A shallow breath slipped past his nostrils as he watched her apply cream to her face. “Weren’t you a little harsh on the kids?”

Allison frowned as she glanced back at him. “Charles, no matter how old our children get, our job as parents never ends. They’re adults, yet they were still running around the city playing hide and seek.”

“Heh…” He laughed awkwardly. “I didn’t expect you to put it that way.”

“Those kids.” Allison shook her head, moisturizing her hands before joining him on the bed. Another shallow breath escaped her lips as she thought about it. “I just don’t want them to fall apart… we’re getting older. I worry about them every single day. There will come a time when they’ll only have each other, and I hope they never forget that.”

Charles raised his brows while Allison turned to him again.

“I think we were too lenient with them growing up. Sometimes, I wonder if we did a good job at all,” she admitted. “And when things like this happen, I can’t help but think—did opening the restaurant keep me from being a good mom to them?”

“Allison, honey.” Charles reached for her hand, smiling. “You are a good mom. And our children… they won’t hate each other. If anything, it’s the opposite. Tonight was proof that they’ll be okay.”

After all, Charles had grown up without siblings, but he had Haines. He and Haines weren’t always on good terms. They had fought, even to the point of nearly losing their relationship. But here they were—still together, with Haines still acting as the third wheel.

He nodded at his wife reassuringly. “There were probably things we could’ve done better, but I know we did our best. And even now, we’re still doing our best.”

Allison’s eyes softened at his words. Surely, she had married a good man.

“Though, I wonder…” Charles tilted his head. “Why was Haines there last night?”

Her brows rose as she considered it. “You’re right. Why was Haines there?”

The couple only knew that Haines had been present and, fortunately, had made it to the hospital in time. As far as Charles was concerned, there was nothing at Miller Company that Haines needed to discuss with Penny. They had already dealt with every headache the company had thrown their way. Right now, Miller Company was doing better than it had in the past decade.

“It’s probably nothing.” Charles shook his head and moved closer to his wife. “But Allison, what do you mean we’re getting older?”

Allison frowned. “Charles.”

“Honey, we’re not that old yet.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, smirking smugly as he wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll turn off the lights. Let me show you just how young we still are.”

—

Meanwhile, in the family room, Penny stared at her brothers, all hooked up to IV drips. Her husband sat beside them, getting the same treatment as them. When they arrived home, Charles had already called a doctor to treat his sons. Since none of them wanted to go to the hospital for something like this, their father had reached out to a friend for help.

“Is it… better now?” she murmured, watching her brothers slowly turn their heads toward her.

Zoren sported a faint smile and nodded. “It’s helping for sure.” It felt less tight down there.

“I’m sorry,” Penny pouted. Even though it wasn’t entirely her fault, Allison’s words had struck a chord. “I shouldn’t have hidden from you guys.”

“Where were you all day?” Hugo asked.

“In my office.”

“What?” Slater gasped. “But we checked!”

“Well… I was hiding in my secretary’s office when you all arrived one after another,” she admitted, summarizing how she had managed to work uninterrupted.

Hearing her explanation, they were all equally impressed and incredulous.

“Anyway, I really am sorry,” she said with a sigh. “Mom was right. I went a bit overboard today.”

“No, it’s my fault.” Atlas shook his head. “I shouldn’t have pressured you, nor should I have blamed you. After all, you weren’t even there when it happened.”

Hugo nodded. “First Brother is right. I’m sorry, Penny, for making you the scapegoat.”

“Tch.” Slater clicked his tongue, pouting. “Penny, if you apologize like that, I’ll feel bad. It’s not really your fault. But… I just want you to feel bad for me, so you give me some extra attention.”

“If anyone should apologize, it’s me,” Zoren chimed in. “I was the one who suggested the soup and served it. And it was my grandmother who ordered the chef to prepare it in secret. I’m sorry for all of it.”

The five of them exchanged glances before a stifled laugh escaped Hugo and Penny. Soon, they were all shaking their heads, their laughter infectious. Even Atlas chuckled, rubbing his forehead to hide it.

“Well, look at us.” Hugo gestured to the IV bags hanging beside their seats. “I don’t think we’ve ever been in this situation before.”

“It’s definitely a first,” Atlas agreed.

“We’re like those people getting booster treatments at a salon!” Slater joked.

“Not a first for me,” Zoren murmured, gazing at the back of his hand. “But at least this time, it’s a treatment for something different… for a change.”

Penny chuckled, looking at them as she sat across from them. “We should all apologize to Mom and Dad. And to Uncle Haines.”

“We should.” Atlas nodded. “They were probably really worried when Slater called them over.”

“I bet Dad drove like his life depended on it,” Hugo added. “Slater, next time, don’t make it sound like someone’s dying. Did you see Mom and Dad when they arrived?”

“They looked pale,” Zoren confirmed. “I’ve never seen Dad that pale before.”

Slater frowned. “It was an emergency! But… fine, I’ll apologize.”

In the end, they found something to laugh about. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but it was definitely a memory they’d remember for the rest of their lives.

Charles was right. There was nothing to worry about when it came to their children.

In this lifetime, they knew—deep in their hearts—that they were each other’s allies. And nothing in this world could ever change that.