Chapter 23: It’s nice to know someone’s on my side, regardless.

"I’ve been on a diet and have been on constant training. I was very hungry, so when I saw the chocolates, I ate them."

Everyone looked at Hugo with surprise.

"What?!" Slater quickly snapped out of his shock, gazing at his big brother with disbelief. "You’re the one who ate them!?"

Nina pursed her lips. "Second brother, are you sure they’re the same chocolates?"

Nina knew that it was Penny by heart. Hugo was known for his dedication and discipline. They had never seen him cheat, and he had always been upright. Their parents couldn’t even make him eat if he was fasting.

"Yes, they’re the same chocolates." Hugo picked up one of the wrappers and examined it closely. "They’re yummy."

"Second brother! Are you trying to cover for Penny!?" Slater frowned deeply, unable to accept this.

Just like Nina, he was so sure Penny was the one who ate his precious sweets. He glared at Penny, infuriated that she was making Hugo lie for her!

Butler Jen was also surprised upon hearing Hugo’s confession.

As for Penny, she gazed at Hugo with a conflicted look. ’Is he standing up for me?’

This wasn’t the first time Hugo covered for her. In their first life, he did it once. But alas, he wasn’t very pleased by it because he had to lie. After that, he slowly detached himself from her.

Thinking about it, there was this sense of heaviness in her heart.

’Just when I thought we were about to get along...’ she thought, sighing.

"Second Brother, thank —"

"If you think I’m covering for Penny, you probably see me as a liar," Hugo spoke sternly, cutting off Penny.

"What?! That’s not what I meant!" Slater grumbled angrily. "I’m just saying why would I believe you?!"

Hugo blinked as if he didn’t expect that question. But the more he thought about it, the more his lips curved down. He had done everything with a clear conscience.

Butler Jen also frowned.

Hearing this, Penny’s ears clapped.

What did this brat say?

Penny’s eyes sizzled as a layer of frost coated them. "Slater, you of all people, how dare you say that to him when you know he had done everything in his life with a clear conscience?"

Slater flinched the second he met Penny’s sharp and cold eyes. "Wha — what did I say so wrong?" he stuttered nervously as his brain sent alarm bells in his head. "I’m just saying he got no evidence to prove he ate them!"

"Then do you have evidence that will prove he didn’t?!" Penny yelled, her heart constricting with rage.

She might be young, but she felt like Slater would give her an early onset of hypertension.

Slater almost choked with her rebut. He spoke without thinking.

"Second Brother already confessed yet, you’re making such a huge fuss about his confession and insinuating he is lying. This only means it’s not about the chocolates anymore." Penny’s eyes were like shooting poisonous arrows at Slater. "It’s about who ate them. What’s the point of this when you already believed it was me who ate them?!"

Penny didn’t want Hugo to take the blame for her. However, if she revealed it now, that was just making things worse for him.

Hugo stared at Penny’s red face as if she wanted to give Slater some beating. If only he knew how Penny disciplined Yugi, he would be surprised at how lenient she was.

His initial displeasure slowly disappeared, sighing, and then smiling subtly. He felt like he was being protected, and somehow, it felt nice to be looked out for once in a while.

"Third Young Master, your second brother already admitted and apologized." Butler Jen intercepted. "It’s your decision to forgive him. However, you also had to apologize to him for saying hurtful things."

He sighed. "Third Young Master, the tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break a heart. The Second Young Master didn’t mean to eat your chocolates, but you judged his entire character solely based on that."

After hearing this, Slater gradually softened up. Was his question that hurtful? He shifted his eyes to Hugo, pressing his lips together.

"That’s enough." Hugo gave in, knowing Slater wouldn’t apologize. "Slater, I apologize again for eating your chocolates. And I also apologize that even after all this time, my words aren’t enough for you to trust them. It only means I’ve failed you as a big brother."

He then got up from his chair and turned to leave. But before he walked away, he offered Penny a reassuring smile.

"Tch!" Penny clicked her tongue once Hugo left, glaring daggers at Slater. She wanted to scold him or set him straight herself. However, she was no longer in the mood. Good thing she finished the pudding before he could ruin her appetite.

Penny got up from her seat and rushed to pick up Chunchun, leaving the outdoor patio without care.

Slater’s ears drooped, realizing he had gone too far.

"Third Brother, don’t blame yourself," Nina cooed and approached him. But before her hands could touch Slater, the latter slapped her hand away.

"Don’t touch me! I don’t want to talk to anybody! Leave me alone!"

Having said that, Slater stormed back inside the mansion.

Nina awkwardly retrieved her hands, once again left alone. She looked at Butler Jen, but he was just staring at where Slater went and sighed.

*****

Inside the house, Penny went straight to Hugo’s room. She wanted to thank him and also apologize to him. He was put in a difficult position because of her. So, she wanted to reassure him she would be careful so it wouldn’t happen again.

"Second Brother?" Penny knocked on the door mildly.

She waited for several seconds, but no one opened the door. She expected this. Hence, she took a step back and huffed.

"Second Brother, thank you —" Penny stopped when she briefly felt something sticky and cold slap on her cheek. "Huh?"

She touched her cheek and gazed up, only to feel Tiana on top of her head.

"Penny?"

Just then, Hugo’s voice reached her ears. When she turned, she saw him advancing in the direction where Tiana came from.

"Penny, what are you doing here?" he asked when he reached her.

"Second Brother, I thought you were in your room."

Hugo smiled. "Did you think I locked myself in my room and cried?"

"No?" she puffed her cheeks and slid her eyes to the corner. "A little... maybe?"

"Haha. I went to get Tiana," he chuckled, his mood was surprisingly better than she expected.

Penny had to examine him to make sure she wasn’t just seeing things.

"Ahem!" she cleared her throat, telling herself observing her brother’s handsome face wasn’t the reason she came here. "Second Brother, sorry if I put you in a difficult position, and thank you for covering for me."

"Just thanks."

"Huh?"

Hugo smiled. "You’re not the one who put me in a difficult position, but myself. I could’ve just stayed silent, but I didn’t. So, you don’t have to say sorry for that."

"But —"

"Moreover, you stood up for me too." His smile stretched, patting the side of her head mildly. "Slater is younger than me, and arguing with him is difficult. Thank you for being angry in my stead. It’s nice to know someone’s on my side... regardless."

His words were kind and moving, and his gentle pats enveloped her with this strange warmth in her heart. Penny pressed her lips, lowering her head to hide the relieved smile on her face.