Chapter 238: Family reunion

In the van...

"I can’t believe all of you!" Slater harrumphed from his seat. "Did you all plan to leave me behind?! You’re all so cruel!"

"What do you mean, we’re cruel? Third Brother, do you think it’s not cruel to mistake someone else for your sister just because of a difference in size?" Penny pouted and narrowed her eyes at him.

Slater frowned, his eyes going wide. "Penny... please forgive me! I didn’t mean to! How was I supposed to know what you looked like when you didn’t even send me a picture of yourself?"

"I didn’t know Penny lost some weight," Atlas shrugged. "But I didn’t mistake someone else for her."

"First Brother, are you angry at me or what?!" Slater gasped. "As the eldest, shouldn’t you side with me?"

"I’m being neutral."

"Or you’re trying to say you’re the better brother," Hugo chuckled, only to receive death glares from his brothers. "Ha ha... I’ll shut up."

Watching them, Haines couldn’t help but shake his head. It had been a while since he saw these four together, but they were mostly the same as when they were children.

"Anyway..." Penny glanced out the window, her face twitching. "Third Brother, how come your face is on every block?"

"Heh," Slater smirked proudly. "I told you. This third brother is so famous that I only need to say my first name, and everyone will know who I am."

’But aren’t you tired of seeing your face everywhere?’ was what Penny wanted to ask, but she just smiled and gazed at the billboard. "Wow. My brother’s really famous."

"I’m also famous," Hugo blurted out, earning everyone’s attention. "Everyone on base knows me, even without seeing my badge."

"..." Slater snorted. "That’s it?"

Hugo frowned. ’How is being a singer better than someone who is fighting for the country?’ Surely, Hugo’s chosen career was underrated by ungrateful people like Slater.

"Quiet down. Uncle Haines and Penny have been on the plane for a day. Let them rest for now," Atlas said while casting Penny and Haines a look. "If they’re a bother, I’ll drop them off."

"You don’t have to, Atlas," Haines chuckled. "Penny and I are used to it."

Penny’s face turned sour at the thought. "That’s right. I honestly prefer this kind of bother."

"Anyway, where are you taking us?" Haines asked. "You told me that Penny and I didn’t need to book a hotel or find a place."

"Mom and Dad’s place is always open for us," Atlas smiled subtly. "They wanted to come with us, but it’d be too crowded. So, they’re at home, waiting."

Haines nodded. "That’s not bad."

"I missed my room," Penny giggled. "And I missed home."

"We’ll also stay."

"Huh?" Penny snapped her eyes up at Atlas. "What?"

"Slater, Hugo, and I will also stay at Mom and Dad’s place," Atlas repeated. "Nothing’s changed, really."

Penny blinked and darted her eyes between her brothers. The last time she heard, her brothers had moved out, except Hugo, who didn’t have a place of his own since he was usually on base. So, Hugo often stayed with their parents or at Atlas’s place.

Haines chuckled. "I don’t think that’s a bad idea. Seems like before, I see."

"Ha ha... isn’t that a hassle for you and your third brother?" Penny laughed awkwardly, sensing an ominous feeling creeping into her heart.

It sounded to her like they were staying at their parents’ home not to reminisce about happy childhood moments or to make up for lost time together. A part of her told her it wasn’t that at all!

’Please tell me this is not so you can poke your noses into my business,’she wanted to ask, but didn’t have the heart to with the smiles on their faces.

"Our parents’ home might be a little far from the office, but Dad used to drive back and forth everyday," Atlas explained. "If he could do it, I could do to. So, it’s not a hassle at all."

"My manager or personal assistant picks me up for my next appointment," Slater added. "So, it doesn’t really matter where I am. Still the same."

"Are you sure?" Hugo asked before Penny could, though his intention wasn’t the same as hers.

"Yes," Atlas and Slater answered in unison, knowing Hugo simply wanted to have Penny to himself.

Haines laughed. "Penny is definitely touched by you boys."

Penny cast her uncle a look before shifting her attention back to her brothers. "I missed you all a lot," she said softly, a gentle smile on her face. "I’m really happy to be back."

Her brothers’ lips slowly stretched into satisfied smiles, nodding. Their hearts were the same. They missed her like no other. Even though they had kept in touch over the past twelve years, it was still different when she was with them.

Now, they could continue living the way they should. Even though they were all now adults, it still felt like they were back twelve years ago, with Penny now back in their lives.

*******

[Bennet Mansion]

"Mom!" Penny exclaimed the second she stepped out of the van.

"Oh, my Penny~!" Allison, as usual, was immediately teary-eyed at the sight of her beautiful daughter. She welcomed Penny in her embrace, crying and smiling. "My baby. I missed you so much. How come you’ve grown so tall in just half a year?"

Penny giggled as she parted from her mother, but held her hand. "Mom, why are you crying again? You just visited me six months ago."

"I know, but I’m just... happy that you’re back here."

"Mom..." Penny pressed her lips together and hugged Allison again. When her eyes veered to the person next to Allison, Penny’s smile slowly turned nervous. "Papa. He he."

Charles looked furious. "Penny, my princess, you...! Oh, my goodness! My blood pressure!" He wanted to hug her and, at the same time, scold her. How could his daughter and cousin keep a secret from him for so long?!

"Haha. It’s nice to see you too, Charles. I see that even as you grow older, you’re still the same," said Haines, and Charles glared at him.

Haines, Charles, and Allison clearly looked older than Penny remembered them twelve years ago. However, aside from the minimal wrinkles and white hairs, she could tell they had aged like fine wine.

"I know we’re all excited about this reunion, but let’s go in first," Allison suggested, and everyone nodded.

As they got in, Penny’s face brightened. She let her mother go and skipped ahead. "Butler Jen!!"

"Miss Penny." Standing at the entrance, Butler Jen smiled amicably. "It’s nice to see you again. I see that you’ve grown into a stunning young lady."

Everyone smiled at Penny and Butler Jen’s interaction.

But then Slater couldn’t help but notice Haines’s limp and cane. "Uncle Haines, what happened to your leg?"

"Bad bone," Haines answered with a smile, keeping it short and simple. "Take care of yourself while you’re young, so you don’t limp early."

"I’ll keep drinking milk at night," Atlas commented while Hugo chuckled.

Penny, on the other hand, kept a look at her uncle but said nothing. Just like Penny, Charles didn’t say anything, but they both knew what had happened to Haines’s leg.