Chapter 165: Her heart is healing

[SHORT FLASHBACK]

"Brother, I like this one!" Nina smiled sweetly as she held a dress in front of her brothers.

Atlas glanced at the dress without any interest before he shifted his eyes to her. "Just get it."

"Thank you, First Brother~!" Nina excitedly clasped the dress and skipped to another rack to get another one.

"Bro — Brother Atlas..."

Atlas peeled his eyes from Nina’s figure to the small and petite figure in front of him. He tilted his head a little to the side, watching Penny lift a dress in front of him.

"Can I — Can I get this too?"

Atlas glanced at the dress. It was the same as Nina’s, but in a different color. "Get it."

Penny pressed her lips. "Do you think it will suit me?"

"No." His answer was faster than batting an eye.

"Oh." She gazed her eyes down, and at the same time, Nina came back. Penny peeked at her, only to see the brief sneer on Nina’s face.

"First Brother, can I get this too?!" Nina sweetly inquired while holding another type of dress.

Atlas nodded and hummed.

As if mocking her, Nina then asked, "Do you think it will suit me, First Brother?"

Atlas glanced at the dress before rocking his head. "It will suit you."

"Yey~!" Nina giggled and hugged the dresses. Their first brother then gazed down at his phone, missing the meaningful smirk Nina cast at Penny.

Penny pressed her lips into a thin line. When no one was looking, Nina wouldn’t mind giving her these meaningful and provoking smirks and looks. But when others were looking, she would quickly wear her sweet smile.

"If you’re done shopping, I’m going to pay for it. Hugo just texted me and told me they’re already in the restaurant," Atlas spoke as he looked up at the girls, whom he accompanied to shop for some clothes.

"Okay~!"

Having said that, Nina and Penny followed Atlas to the counter. Compared to Nina, Penny only got one dress.

When Atlas saw this, he frowned a little and glanced at her. "You’re going to get this?"

To be honest, Penny didn’t like the dress. But she ended up nodding and lowering her head. She failed to see the faint sigh from his brother before he settled the bill with their father’s card.

Once they finished, Nina asked him if he could help carry her shopping bags. As usual, Atlas didn’t complain and just carried everything. She then clung to Atlas’s arm, talking about any nonsense she could think of. Despite Atlas’s lack of interest, he still made an effort to respond.

As for Penny, she kept a step behind them and simply watched the two walk together.

This was the first time the Bennet siblings had gone out together. However, Penny didn’t even feel she was in it. She felt unwanted, and her presence was unnecessary. Well, considering what happened a week before when she got framed for stealing, she understood her brothers were displeased with her.

Another heavy sigh escaped Penny, and soon they reached the restaurant.

Even while they ate, Nina took all the spotlight. Slater indulged with her eagerly, making Nina the center of attention. Once they finished, the four of them walked together while Penny walked a few steps behind them.

*

*

*

Years later...

Penny walked slowly with her eyes on her brothers and Nina. Many years had already passed, and they were already adults. Yet, this scene and the feeling that it gave to her were still the same.

’Well, compared to me... they all look like real siblings,’ she thought, observing their stature, their elegant demeanor, and the regal air around them.

Atlas looked dignified with the suit he was wearing. Hugo, although in casual clothing, his posture made him stand out. As for Slater, he didn’t need anything because he was just dazzling. Nina was also very pretty and confident.

They were like the perfect siblings.

And Penny? Penny couldn’t help but gaze down at her clothes. She was wearing a loose shirt and some old jeans with stains on it. She came straight from the lab after getting a call from Nina. So, she still looked haggard and unprepared.

’Heh.’ A bitter smile turned up on her face as she looked ahead once more.

How she wished... she was Nina.

Perhaps it was because she was exhausted and hungry that she imagined herself replacing Nina’s spot. How nice would it be if the one talking so happily with them on their way to the restaurant was Penny’s?

******

[PRESENT TIME]

Heading to the restaurant where Atlas made a reservation, Penny held the two greeting cards with a smile. Slater leaned closer to her.

"They’re nice, aren’t they?" she muttered proudly.

"They are nice," Hugo, who was pushing the cart with his arms, kept his eyes on the card.

Slater grinned. "I’m the one who chose them for Penny!"

"Mhm. Third brother is really good at this!" Penny nodded profusely, making Slater smirk proudly.

"See?"

Hugo’s mouth formed an o-shape. "Slater, good job."

"Heh. No worries! Penny can rely on me on this stuff!"

Penny showed him a thumbs up. "I hope you don’t regret that, Third Brother."

"Huh?" For some reason, Slater’s heart thudded nervously. "Pe — Penny, why would you say something that feels so ominous?!"

Hugo chuckled because Slater started panicking, forcing Penny to explain what she meant by that. However, Penny mischievously giggled and leaped away, hiding behind Atlas.

"Penny!"

"I just meant I will need your help in the future!"

"What kind of help?!"

"Haha!" Hugo laughed out loud while Atlas walked slowly, so Penny wouldn’t fall since she started clinging to the hem of his shirt. He stopped when Slater moved closer and Penny walked around him, hiding from her third brother.

"Ugh! I know I’m talented, but that doesn’t mean you can exploit me!" Slater grumbled.

"Slater, how could you call yourself talented?" Atlas wondered. "Shouldn’t you let someone else tell you that?"

Hugo laughed even more, making Slater’s face sour.

"Second Brother, why are you laughing!? This is not funny!" Slater fumed, but Hugo just laughed more.

Atlas shook his head, and they resumed their steps.

Penny hadn’t realized it, but if the previous Penny was watching this, she would say, "Finally, I don’t need to just imagine it now."

Her heart was healing slowly but steadily.