Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 653

Chapter 653: Buried them in my backyard
Fishing was unlike any other sport that the young men would expect, as it required a lot of patience, good timing, and fierce competition. It was also a great hobby for relaxation and pleasure. After several rounds of competition to see who had the most catches, the men created a bonfire by the shore to enjoy the fruits of their hard work.

“This is so good,” Slater remarked as he ate the fish roasted by Hugo. “Second Brother, I didn’t know you could actually cook.”

Hugo smirked proudly, seated on the same log as his third brother. “No one cooks for us on the battlefield, in case you don’t know that.”

“Wow… I’m so proud of myself for choosing a better career.”

“…”

“But Second Brother, this is great! Good job!” Slater beamed as he continued eating the food his second brother prepared for everyone, a consequence of having the least catches.

Hugo, after all, didn’t have many catches after his first one. Even when he did, they were just small fishes. As for the rest, they caught a lot more. Charles got the most catches, followed by Haines. Zoren caught a few, but they were big. However, compared to the older and more experienced men, it was still not enough.

“Unbelievable.” Hugo shook his head before chugging down his cold bottle of beer.

Meanwhile, Zoren was quietly enjoying the fish when Haines suddenly sat down beside him. He had been seated across from Slater and Hugo, with the small bonfire between them. Charles was standing far away, as he had called his wife to brag about his victory.

“Good job today,” Haines said to Zoren, earning a small smile from him. “Did you have fun?”

Zoren hummed a long tune while nodding. “Surprisingly.”

“You shouldn’t eat so little.” Haines jerked his chin toward the plate Zoren was holding. Zoren was eating with his hands to remove some fish bones, but even those with clear eyesight would accidentally eat them. “Take this one. Fewer fish bones.”

Haines turned to his side and took the plate Zoren was holding, replacing it with the catch he had previously made. The size wasn’t too big nor too small; it was just perfect to fill Zoren’s stomach without the hassle of doing a thorough check.

“Thank you,” Zoren said with a nod, and Haines’s only reply was a slight nod.

For a moment, there was silence between them, with Slater teasing Hugo and Hugo weighing whether or not he would indulge with him.

“Don’t worry about Penny,” Haines spoke after some time, making Zoren’s brows rise. He chuckled when Zoren looked at him with a strange expression. “It seems like you’re worried about something, so I assumed it was Penny.”

Zoren let out a shallow breath. “Was it obvious?”

“Well, not as obvious as how Charles would do it.” Haines slowly set his eyes on Charles’s figure in the distance, catching the latter laughing while holding the phone in front of him. “After spending some time with a married man, you start to notice things like this. So, even if you’re good at hiding it, it becomes obvious.”

This time, Haines faced him and smiled, while Zoren couldn’t help but let out another shallow breath.

“You’re the man who always picks up Penny,” Zoren said. “I’ve always thought you were quite the strict type.”

“Is that what she told you about me?”

“No, but it’s what I assumed.” A shallow laugh escaped Zoren. “I never thought a day would come when I’d get to know the people she talks about in passing. It still feels surreal for me.”

A short wave of laughter escaped Haines as he set his eyes on the bonfire in front of them. “It’s probably the same feeling for everyone.”

After all, who would have thought that the Thursday Guy, or what they used to call Penny’s little benefactor, would become her husband? That never crossed their minds; perhaps not even for Penny and Zoren.

“Life is surely full of surprises,” Haines whispered, listening to the crackle of the wood as the fire continued to burn around them. He smacked his lips and turned to Zoren. “You’re going to be fine.”

Zoren tilted his head, a little confused by Haines’s sudden remark.

“I meant you’re going to be fine in this family,” Haines clarified, ignoring Slater’s squeal as Hugo snatched his phone and ran away from them. “Don’t worry about gaining Charles’s favor. As long as you take care of his daughter and love her more than anyone else ever loved her, you’re going to be fine.”

Haines paused, smiling as if a realization crossed his mind. “Yes, you will be. I’m certain of that.”

The moment Zoren boldly came into the Bennet Mansion, facing Charles and the others with the idea of taking Penny away was already a lot to say about Zoren’s character. He was everything they would probably want as Penny’s partner in life.

“Thank you for your confidence in me,” Zoren said with a slight nod. “Though I have some slight troubles.”

Haines raised his brows. “About?”

“My family.” Zoren slowly set his gaze on the fire in front of them, taking some time to articulate his thoughts. “I’ve only spent a few days in the Bennet home, and it made me think about how lovely the home she had. The Pierson family, on the other hand, is the complete opposite.”

Zoren paused as he locked eyes with Haines. “What if being with me takes away her smile?”

“That is something I can’t answer because I am not Penny, but…” Haines trailed off as he slowly moved his gaze to where Charles was, only to see the latter approaching them. “That man was able to protect his family from his own family. He, along with his wife, created a lovely home and a safe environment for their children. It may not be perfect, but it is definitely one of his greatest achievements as a father and a husband.”

Zoren kept his gaze on Haines’s side profile before moving his attention to Charles. At this point, Charles had reached them, darting his eyes between him and Zoren.

Charles squinted. “Are you two talking about me?”

“No—” Haines was about to deny it when Zoren’s solemn voice reached his ears.

“How do I protect Penny from my own family, Father?” Zoren stared at Charles sternly, as if he didn’t think the question could backfire on him. “My family is quite a headache. I do not want to go to jail and leave my wife behind because I buried them in my backyard.”

Charles: “…”

Haines: “Well, I guess asking is the best way. Though, you could’ve filtered it a little.”