Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 458

Chapter 458: 4 T & M
“Hmm…” A soft moan escaped Penny as she slowly opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, and as her vision cleared, she noticed someone sitting in the chair beside the bed.

Hugo leaned over, his expression worried. “Penny, how do you feel now?”

“Hmm?” Confused, Penny furrowed her brows and noticed the bowl on the side table and the towels around it. With a coarse voice, she asked, “Second Brother, what’s going on?”

“You were running a fever,” he said. “I was worried about you earlier, so I came to check. You were burning up when I saw you.”

“Oh.” Penny tried to sit up, but Hugo gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Stay down,” he said, pushing her lightly back onto the bed. “Just rest for now. Your fever has barely gone down, so you need more rest.”

Penny frowned slightly, letting out a heavy sigh before nodding. “Why did I get a fever so suddenly?” she murmured, not recalling ever getting sick like this in this lifetime.

It was something she had noticed about herself since waking up as a child. While the other children would catch colds, Penny was always fine. Even during flu season, she remained healthy. She had assumed it was because she ate well and had a strong immune system. Another factor she considered was that in her previous life, Penny worked tirelessly, even when she wasn’t feeling well. So, even if there had been something off with her health or temperature, she wouldn’t have paid much attention to it.

In other words, this was the first time she’d had a fever in this lifetime—or at least, as far as she could remember.

“You’re human, that’s why,” Hugo said, humor in his weak voice as he fixed the blanket over her. “Just rest today. The warm soup will be here any moment, so you won’t sleep on an empty stomach. I’ll wake you up then.”

“Mhm.” Penny hummed and nodded, closing her eyes to rest. ‘I probably overworked myself lately.’

Given all the tasks she had to complete this week, this was likely her body’s way of telling her to take it easy. So, she listened and rested.

As she closed her eyes, Hugo let out a shallow breath and leaned back in the chair, his eyes still on her. After a while, a faint knock came from the door. When he turned around, he saw Butler Jen enter with a tray.

“Second Young Master,” Butler Jen called softly, almost tiptoeing into the room. “How is Miss Penny?”

“She just woke up,” Hugo replied as Butler Jen set the tray of soup on the side table. Hugo helped by clearing away the bowl of water and towels to make room.

Once everything was in place, Butler Jen cast a concerned glance at Penny.

“She’s fine, Butler Jen,” Hugo reassured him, noticing the worry in his eyes. “She just woke up, but I told her to rest while waiting for the soup.”

Butler Jen smiled meekly. “Miss Penny doesn’t usually get sick. She’s probably more exhausted from work than she lets on.”

“I know.” Hugo sighed, looking at his sister again. “She always does everything by herself. She always worries me.”

Silence descended in the room as they both watched Penny, concern evident on their faces. After a minute of quiet, Hugo turned to Butler Jen, who met his gaze with an understanding smile.

“Sir Charles and Haines just returned from their fishing trip,” Butler Jen said. “They’re in the drawing room with First Master Atlas and… Mr. Pierson.”

He paused before offering Hugo a smile. “I can look after Miss Penny, Second Young Master. Ma’am Allison is also on her way home. So, you don’t have to worry about Miss Penny. I’m certain your presence is needed elsewhere more than here.”

Hugo pressed his lips together, reluctant to leave his sister. A part of him felt guilty, thinking that if he had stopped Penny last night, she might not have developed a fever. However, he knew that things seemed important and tense, especially with Zoren Pierson personally reaching out to Charles Bennet.

Given that Atlas was now the head of the Bennet Family, any family matters should go through him. For the issue to reach Charles, it meant that even Atlas thought their father’s involvement was necessary.

Hugo’s only guess was that Zoren was asking for Penny’s hand.

Although Hugo didn’t dislike Zoren, he had his reasons for not fully approving of him. Despite everything Penny had shared and their date night, Hugo still wanted to know Zoren personally.

“Very well.” Hugo slowly rose from his seat, giving Butler Jen a brief smile. “I’ll leave her in your care for now, Butler Jen.”

Butler Jen smiled back and nodded.

With that, Hugo quietly left the room.

********

[The night of Penny and Zoren’s first date…]

“I need help. I just want to confirm something tonight. It can’t wait until tomorrow.”

“Sure. It’s the first time my sister has asked for my help so decisively. You don’t have to say more—I’m in.” Hugo smiled in satisfaction, ready to assist Penny with anything.

However, instead of a complex favor, Penny merely asked him to drive her somewhere. He didn’t ask why she wanted to go to this particular place, but when they arrived, curiosity got the better of him.

“What’s this place?”

Standing in front of the amusement park, Penny stared at it, her lips slightly parted. The corners of her eyes reddened as tears began to form.

“That,” she whispered, “that’s the reason.”

A tear rolled down her cheek as the corners of her lips curved upward slightly. Confused by her mixed emotions, Hugo was about to ask when she spoke again. “Tiana and Mouse.”

Hugo slowly turned his head to follow her gaze. When he did, he finally understood why she was tearing up. From where they stood, the layout of the amusement park spelled out letters.

4 T & M.

[For Tiana and Mouse]

When Zoren had said the owner built it for his friends, he didn’t mean just Penny. And unlike Chunchun and Renny, Tiana and Mouse had much shorter lifespans.

He built this place for them.

***A/N: FOR REFERENCE, THE CHAPTER IS CH336: HAPPILY EVER AFTER