Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 1655

Chapter 1655: Just because she’s the closest
Finding out why Priscilla chose Penelope as the name for her child was not something Penny, Slater, or Mint expected. But somehow, hearing the explanation made sense. They had all heard the story she was referring to at least once.

“They say not to name something — be it a stuffed toy, an animal, or anything,” Priscilla whispered. “Because if you do, you can’t just let them go so easily. However, when I heard that story, the first thing that came to my mind was… It’s a beautiful name for a girl.”

A bitter chuckle escaped her. “Besides, my name’s Priscilla, so we have the same first letter in our names. That’s when I knew, I couldn’t just neglect this child.”

The child in her womb had brought a little candle into her dark, inescapable room. The child’s light was, at first, very faint, almost unnoticeable. But as time passed, the flame grew bigger and brighter, until Priscilla’s world didn’t seem so bad at all.

Unlike donating her eggs, being a surrogate and carrying a child was different.

The organization only required her to send her results after her regular visits to the clinic. Other than that, Priscilla lived a relatively normal life. For once in all the years she had spent in darkness — with and without Jason — she was able to live like everyone else.

The nice accommodations and allowances were just bonuses she didn’t need. After all, Priscilla had saved up enough to financially support herself.

For the months that followed, her affection for the growing life within her grew even bigger than her stomach. She would take her vitamins on time, read stories to her, and even eat healthy meals for the child.

However, she knew that this wouldn’t last long.

There would be an end to this.

Every day was a countdown to the day she would give birth, and they would take this child away from her.

It wouldn’t be a lie to say Priscilla had already thought about escaping with the child. Even though she knew it was useless and that they would find her, she had to think of a way.

The thing was… as she was planning her escape, she stumbled upon a strange “rumor.” Whispers from the small gang she was affiliated with about the parents of the child she was carrying. From what she heard, this child was going to be a life support for their firstborn.

They wanted this child because, apparently, it was their only way to keep their first child alive. And that she needed the child somewhere else. How and why, Priscilla had no idea. She just knew that she had to deliver the baby safely, get paid, and then heal until she was ready to accept another gig.

It was then that Priscilla decided she couldn’t let them have this child.

Even if she had to die doing it, she didn’t care.

So, for months before her due date, she spent her days planning while still caring for the baby inside her. She thought of ways day and night, even in her sleep!

Until she finally came up with a plan.

A plan that required her to give birth a week before her due date, bribe the doctor to follow her plan even if it meant giving up every penny she had, make sure the child would be picked up before they could, and then disappear.

It wasn’t the best plan because she wanted to raise the child on her own. She may not be the best example to follow, but she wanted to be a good mother — a good person for once. But she knew she couldn’t.

“So… I had to… I had to do it,” Priscilla whispered. “I had to give up the thought of being with her, because I knew… if I had to raise her, it wouldn’t be good for both of us. I couldn’t protect her. All I want is to protect her and give her a normal life, but at the same time, I knew she would never get that with me.”

“That’s why…” she trailed off, breathing heavily. “… I had to do what I had to do.”

“You didn’t mention swapping her,” Mint pointed out, making Priscilla nod.

“It was a last-minute decision,” Priscilla confessed. “When I snuck into the nursery, pretending to be a nurse, all I wanted was to see her one last time and say my goodbye. But…”

She paused, swallowing. “She almost looked the same as the other children in the nursery. From what I know, all those children came from well-off families.”

“I didn’t choose you specifically,” she continued, lifting her eyes to meet Penny’s. “You were the closest, and I’m sorry if this has caused a lot of trouble for you and your family. I understand, but… It’s not like I’m asking you to understand me. All I’m saying is, I am a mother.”

“All my decisions led me down a path of no return, and every time is just another reason to get dragged back into that hell,” she added. “This may not be the best decision I’ve made, but she was able to survive. She lived a good life… at least, that’s what I want to believe.”

“She didn’t have to go from one place after another, wondering why we couldn’t make friends or why we kept moving. She was able to go to school, experience what it’s like to have a life away from such a burden. It may not be perfect, but that’s all I could give her — that freedom from the world I was trying to run away from.”

Another wave of heavy silence fell over them as they gazed at Priscilla.

It wasn’t like they were impressed by Priscilla’s display of motherhood. If Jessa were here, she would call her out on her bullshit right then and there. However, they could feel that Priscilla’s decision, though selfish, had been made with clear intent.

“You—” she stopped, biting her tongue. Her eyes remained on Penny as she sighed. “I didn’t target you specifically, but since you were the closest… I had to. I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry.”

Penny remained quiet, staring at Priscilla with unreadable eyes. After a second, her lips parted.

“I was expecting that. It’s not like I was looking forward to forgiving you, so I wasn’t that disappointed.” Her voice was calm, but then she slowly raised her phone from her pocket to show Priscilla, who was on the line. “But I don’t think she’s pleased either.”

Slowly, Priscilla moved her eyes to the screen, only to gasp when she saw Nina’s name on the screen.