Chapter 204: Maybe a miracle will happen in five days?

WEEKEND —

Penny had always believed that Atlas was the type of brother who wouldn’t talk much but would stand up for his little siblings. He was the type who didn’t know how to show his feelings and simply showed them through actions. He was also easily misunderstood because of his communication problems regarding feelings.

Most of those traits were good... if he cared for someone.

But because he didn’t care for Penny back then, those traits were something that only added bitterness to her heart.

In this lifetime, Atlas was still the same. The only new thing that Penny discovered about him in this lifetime was... he was a vengeful person!

Penny only roped him in one bet! ONE! But this was the second time he dragged her into a situation!

’My poor money...’ Penny’s heart sank as she watched the basketball team do their practice game in the Bennet Mansion. ’My poor, poor money.’

Her round eyes shimmered with tears, grieving for the money she would have to lose. Right now, what she was watching was... pathetic!

Why did Hugo and the basketball team drag Atlas into this game?!

"Wow." Seated beside her, Slater’s mouth was partially opened, torn between awe and shock. "First Brother... is shockingly pitiful."

There, in the small basketball court the team set up in the vacant space of the mansion was the basketball team with Atlas. Sweats made their skins shiny, their clothes damped, and they all looked exhausted. However, unlike the basketball team, who were used to training and playing the game, Atlas looked like he was about to die of exhaustion!

Not only that, but Atlas might catch the ball, and let others steal it right in front of him! Atlas might try to pass the ball, but for some reason, the ball would always end in the opposing team! He was also the slowest in running.

"And this court is rather smaller than the real one," Slater whispered, feeling sorry for Atlas for getting dragged into this. "This is Second Brother’s fault! He shouldn’t have dragged First Brother in this since we all know he is pathetic in sport!"

Wasn’t that the reason Atlas was studying hard to make up for that area!?

Slater panicked and turned to Penny. "Penny, did you already put your money on him!?"

Slowly, Penny faced her third brother with wiggling wide eyes, as if she would bawl her eyes out at any moment. ’I didn’t want to! But your First Brother wants me to put all my money in and he said that so confidently!’

At this point, Penny knew Atlas held a grudge against her.

"I have to..." Penny whimpered, almost hiccuping as she held back her tears. "Third Brother, you did well in your exam, did you?"

The panic in Slater’s eyes was slowly replaced with uncertainty. Seeing this, Penny looked away and clasped her chest in dismay.

’Why is my life so hard when I’m with them?’ she mentally wept her heart out. ’I did my best, but they just won’t give me a break!’

Slater stared at her apologetically. To be fair, the exams on the second day till the last day were not as hard as the first day. Compared to before, Slater was certain he answered quite a lot correctly because Penny covered all of them in their lessons. The only reason he was reluctant to say that was because he still wasn’t sure and he didn’t want her to raise her expectation, only to get disappointed.

"Penny," he called and tapped her back mildly. "Penny, don’t cry anymore. Who knows?"

When he uttered his last remarks, Penny looked back at him as if she was expecting him to reveal something.

Slater pressed his lips together and glanced at Atlas. "Maybe a miracle will happen in five days?"

Forget it.

Penny looked away from him, unable to watch this game unfold because it was akin to watching how she would lose her payout.

’Surely, when it’s easy money, you’d end up losing them just as easily,’ she told herself, learning another life lesson. ’I’ll never gamble again. At least with this. Wait. What about my stock market trades? They’re not easy money, right? I study the market flow and...’

As Penny tried to reassure herself that the wealth she was secretly building at the moment wasn’t easy money and that she wasn’t "cheating," Slater caught a figure from the corner of his eyes. When he turned, he saw Butler Jen before Professor Singh appeared behind him.

’Professor Singh?’ Slater furrowed his brows, now reminded of the conversations he overheard some time ago. ’Why is he here? The final exam week already ended yesterday.’

For some reason, he felt his heart thud against his chest at the thought that this was about Penny and not the tutoring session. When Butler Jen waved to get his attention, he saw him point at Penny.

’I was right.’ Slater pressed his lips into a thin line before he turned to Penny. "Penny, it looks like Butler Jen is calling for you."

Penny, who was still mentally preoccupied, looked at him in a daze. "What?"

"Butler Jen." He pointed his thumb in a direction, making her shift her attention to where he was pointing at.

Deep lines appeared between Penny’s brows as soon as she caught Butler Jen and Professor Singh. She immediately knew what this was about. Hence, she sported a smile and all her previous dramas disappeared.

"Third Brother, I’ll be back in a bit," she said and placed down the towels she was holding for the team.

Having said that, Penny jumped out of the bench and ran to where Butler Jen and Professor Singh were. As she walked away, Slater stared at her small back, his lips drawn into a thin line.

’Don’t tell me this is about her being Professor Singh’s apprentice?’ Slater gulped and hung his head low, hiding the sorrow and fear in his eyes. ’Is she going to leave now?’

He clasped the towels on his lap. ’If so, can we make her stay?’

It was only recently that the siblings felt a lot closer than before. Although Penny was still hot and cold, but mostly indifferent, that indifference would never hide her big heart.

"I don’t want her to go."