Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 579

Chapter 579: 2022
“You’re alive.”

Deep lines appeared between Hugo’s brows because this time, it was clear. This was the third time she had said this to him. They weren’t the exact words, but they carried the same meaning.

It seemed to her—while in a drunken state—that he was dead.

Why?

“Of course I am?” He tilted his head to the side, ready to clarify that. “Am I not supposed to be?”

‘Mhm. You’re supposed to be dead,’ Penny pressed her lips together, staring at him. “Hugo.”

“Penny, why do you keep calling me by my first name?” Hugo blurted out with an awkward laugh. “Did I do something to you?”

Was he not worthy to be called brother anymore?

Instead of answering, she poked his chest again before deciding to pinch his cheek. Her eyes swirled with genuine wonder, not caring about how he winced.

“Ouch…” Hugo winced when she let him go, rubbing his cheek while looking at her. “Penny, what’s going on? Is there something wrong? If you want to fight, then let’s wrestle. Don’t pinch me like this as a form of torture—it’s unfair.”

“Huh…” Penny took a step back, tilting her head to the side. “I thought that time… was a dream.”

“Huh?”

“That time in the hospital,” she clarified, and Hugo’s expression turned ashen.

‘She remembered!’ For a second, Hugo held his breath while staring at her, horrified. “You… remembered that?”

“You stabbed me in the leg. How can I forget?” she clicked her tongue. “You sedated me.”

“…”

Hugo forced a smile at her, letting out an awkward laugh. “So, you remembered, huh?”

“Tss. I remember everything…” She trailed off as she questioned that. Without saying a word, Penny huffed and walked past him.

“Wait!” Hugo looked back at her, confused. “Where are you going?”

“None of your business,” was all she said without casting him a glance, leaving Hugo perplexed. He was about to follow her when suddenly, he caught a figure from where Penny had come.

Turning his head, he saw Zoren approaching.

“What happened?” Hugo asked the moment Zoren was close enough.

Zoren snapped his eyes inside and shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“She’s leaving.”

“I know.” Zoren nodded as he slowly turned his gaze to his brother-in-law. “Let’s let her be.”

“Let her be? Ah, hell no.”

“Second Brother,” he called when he saw Hugo about to follow her. “Please. Penny needs time.”

Hugo knitted his brows while staring at Zoren. Another second later, his shoulders relaxed, and he nodded.

“If she gets herself into trouble because we let her be…”

“I’ll take full responsibility,” Zoren answered without a second hesitation. “It would be a lie to say I know what’s happening, but I can tell she needs it.”

Hugo didn’t answer immediately, keeping his eyes on Zoren. He sighed and slowly looked away, turning his head to where Penny was headed.

“I wonder…” he whispered. “… why is she like that when drunk?”

Hugo wasn’t the only one who had that same question; everyone else did too. Even Atlas would sometimes drown in that thought, secretly reaching out for professional help for consultation. After all, if someone was drunk, even if they woke up, they didn’t entirely become a different person.

But all the answers they received were vague and indirect. They could only hope that one day, they would know from her.

*

*

*

Penny drove aimlessly with the motorcycle. Before she left, she had gone to the master’s bedroom to pick up the note Zoren said she had asked him to hand to her. It was confusing, and until now, she believed it was ridiculous. However, Penny couldn’t disregard it immediately.

After meeting Nathaniel and almost strangling him to death, she couldn’t ignore the letter.

‘What’s going on with me?’ she wondered to herself, drifting on the highway as she made an abrupt U-turn. She earned loud honks and angry yells, but she didn’t care.

Penny had endured more than that.

She continued driving until she found herself parked in front of Global Prime Logistics Headquarters. Staring at the building, Penny arched a brow as she turned to the side. Her eyes landed on the billboard not far away.

It was Slater.

“Since when did they have a billboard here?” she wondered to herself, biting her inner bottom lip. She kept her eyes on the beautiful spawn of evil on the billboard before looking away.

Taking out the letter from her jacket pocket, she read it again.

“A family who cares and cherishes me, a husband, and friends,” she murmured, reading her own handwriting. “Seriously?”

Would anyone blame her for doubting such claims? Even at the last thread of her life, no one was on her side.

“Am I… really reborn?” she wondered, her brows knitting tighter. “How? Why? What’s going on?”

Another shallow breath slipped past her as she idled on the motorcycle, weighing her options. It would be a lie to say she believed the letter entirely. However, she also couldn’t disregard it.

While Penny was deep in thought, two passersby spilled her drink, snapping her back to the present.

“Oops. Sorry!” one of the girls smiled at her awkwardly. “I’m sorry, Miss.”

Penny smiled subtly. “It’s okay.”

“Hehe. Sorry again.” The two young ladies lowered their heads, walking away from her. But before they could go far, they heard Penny again.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Penny asked, making the two ladies look back at her. “What date is today?”

The ladies looked at each other and then back at Penny. When they gave Penny the answer, all they saw was confusion on her face.

“What did you say?” Penny asked back. “Can you repeat it?”

The ladies were a little confused, but they still did. “Uhm, Miss? Is everything okay?” they asked when they saw the shock on Penny’s face. It was as though she had lost track of time and was surprised to hear about it.

“Uh, yes. Everything’s okay. Thanks.” Penny forced a smile, nodding at them. As the ladies walked away, Penny looked away and tilted her head. “2022? Seriously? It’s half a year before my arrest.”