Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 395

Chapter 395: Didn’t fix the pipe for free
“The moment I chose him over my solitude. I’d rather have him around than keep my solitude.”

Hugo studied Penny’s face. Her eyes were still sharp and intimidating, but the slight smile in the mix gave her expression a softer look. He nodded and said, “Then, it seems there’s nothing I should worry about. It looks like my sister knows what she’s gotten into. Still, I want you to be careful. Even though Zoren Pierson is a sickly man, he’s dangerous.”

Penny’s eyes snapped to Hugo at the mention of danger. For her brother to call someone dangerous, there had to be a reason.

“A dying person isn’t afraid of death, nor are they afraid of crossing lines,” he added quietly but clearly. “Be careful, Penny. Get to know him better. You know I’ll always side with you no matter what. If he’s one of your people, then he’s my person as well.”

“It’s a shared responsibility, I know,” she finished his thought, repeating a principle from the military. “Understood… sir.”

Penny pushed herself away from the desk and saluted her second brother. Hugo held her gaze for a moment before heaving a sigh of relief.

“I’m heading to the station later,” he said. “Don’t tell anyone about last night.”

“I don’t plan to,” she replied, slowly lowering her hand. “Let me know if you need any help.”

“I will.” With that, Hugo stepped back and marched to the corner to place a book on the shelf.

Penny watched him, then asked, “Second Brother, you didn’t come here and wait all morning just to ask me a question, did you?”

“My little sister didn’t come home last night, and she saw me wrestling with someone. Just the first reason alone is enough to keep me up all night,” he answered without looking back at her. “I waited for you because I was worried.”

Although that was true, Penny knew something was off about her brother. She had sensed it since she returned to the country, noticing Hugo going out at night more often than usual. At first, she thought it was because he was busy organizing the bachelor party, but now she wasn’t so sure.

“Is my connection to the military being questioned, Second Brother?” she asked directly, her question halted his actions. “Or… am I in danger, and that’s why you’ve taken a break?”

Hugo didn’t react at first, then resumed placing the book back on the shelf. He then turned to face her.

“No,” he said. “I’m on vacation. It’s protocol.”

“I’m not in trouble?”

“No.” He smiled. “If you were, I wouldn’t be the one investigating. We’re family. Conflict of interest. I’ll be biased for sure.”

Penny nodded in understanding. “Very well. If you say so, I trust you.”

“And that guy…” He raised his brows. “… are you two official now?”

“Official?” Penny blinked as Hugo tilted his head slightly.

“Penny?” he called, curious. “Don’t tell me you don’t know?”

“No, I mean… I assumed I was in a mutual relationship,” she remarked, searching for the right words. “But we haven’t actually talked about it.”

Even though they had almost… well, almost crossed the line, they didn’t talk about it. Penny froze as she recalled what Nina had told her recently.

‘My god,’ she thought, gasping mentally. ‘Even Nina has self-control, but I don’t! How does she do it!? That girl is more amazing than I thought.’

Hugo’s chuckle snapped her out of her thoughts. “Anyway, I hope you resolve that.”

“You want us to be official?”

“No, I don’t want you to be official at all.” His response was faster than lightning, his expression plain. “But I’m glad you’re happy.”

“Second Brother, you do realize how confusing and ironic that was, right?”

“I don’t.” He smiled, his eyes squinting. “Anyway, you’re late for work, and I’ve used up the time you should be dealing with that mountain of papers behind you.”

Penny glanced over her shoulder, her face twitching. “How did these get here? Or did I just not notice?”

“Haha. Have a good day, Penny.” Hugo smirked as he walked to the door. But just as he reached for the knob, he looked back. “Right. Penny, why is First Brother stressed out because you were drunk last night?”

“Huh?” Penny frowned. “I don’t know?”

Wasn’t Atlas stressed out because she snuck out right in front of him? She didn’t think her mental state or being a little tipsy was the real cause of Atlas’s panic.

“That’s weird,” he muttered, shaking his head as he glanced at her again. “You should give him a call. He was with me this morning, but he couldn’t wait for you. It’s better to get scolded and get it over with. Otherwise, you might not come home.”

‘Can I not come home?’ she thought, knowing she had the perfect place to hide.

Noticing the brief gleam in her eyes, Hugo spoke again. “No, you still need to come home. If you don’t, I’ll take the entire family to HIS house… including Slater.”

“Wow!” Penny scoffed. “Second Brother, that’s low.”

“So, you better give First Brother a call,” he chuckled, smirking. “I’m off now.”

“Take care—”

“One more thing.” He looked back again. “Something’s wrong with the pipe in your bathroom. I fixed it. You’re welcome.”

With that, Hugo twisted the knob and left the office. Penny, meanwhile, couldn’t help but twitch in frustration.

“I haven’t even used my place yet, and he’s already baptized it,” she muttered. “No wonder he smells like me, with a mix of bad odor from his clothes last night.”

Shaking her head, Penny turned to the mountain of paperwork on her desk. She had finished everything yesterday, so she wasn’t expecting much today. But when she opened the first file, her face twisted again.

“I knew it,” she hissed, glaring at the door. “These are military files for me to review. He didn’t fix the pipe for free!”

Meanwhile, Hugo, walking out of the building, was laughing deviously.