Chapter 40: Tomorrow’s gonna be their doomsday!

"Apologize to Second Brother. You owe him that and he deserves it."

Slater furrowed his brows. For a moment, he thought she would ask him to be a slave or take his chocolates. This was not something he expected.

He pressed his lips and nodded. "Fine. I’ll do it."

"Good." Penny waved dismissively and signaled him to step aside.

Slater quickly got her message and jumped away. He watched Penny stride off without looking back.

"I think I’m safe... for now," he whispered, heaving a sigh of relief at convincing Penny to not tell their parents. "Wait... I only told her not to tell Mom and Dad, but I didn’t tell her she can’t tell others!"

Slater panicked and was about to run after her to clarify it. However, with the dirty laundry in his hand, he hesitated.

"She’s not that slow not to understand that I didn’t want her to tell anyone, right?"

*

*

*

In the master’s bedroom, Allison sat on the edge of the bed while rubbing her hands with hand cream.

"Charles, is there a problem in the company again?" she asked as she noticed her husband staring at the laptop intently.

Charles was already on the bed, but his laptop was still on his lap, and some notes with a pen in his hand. "No. The company is doing much better. Thanks to Penny, many want to invest in our next project."

"Then what seems to be the problem? Why do you look so serious?"

"Well." Charles lifted his eyeglasses over his head and smiled. "Penny has been very helpful in the company. She only solved one problem, but I don’t think there would be any major issues about the matter for a few years."

He paused and smacked his lips. "Even today, she’s very sweet. Do you know what she told me to make her meet Mrs. Cortez?"

"That she is Charles Bennet’s daughter and that she’ll be fine?" Allison recalled and smiled.

"Our daughter is very smart and also very sweet — she is truly a gift, just like what we always prayed for," he said. "So, I want to make up for it by planning her birthday gift."

Allison raised her brows a little at the mention of Penny’s birthday. In a week, Penny and Nina would turn thirteen. They were born on the same day, so they had the same birthday.

It wasn’t like the couple weren’t aware of it. However, Penny specifically asked them not to host a party for her. Thinking about it, her lips curved down.

"Haines is right, Charles," she remarked in disappointment. "We might’ve been unintentionally making Penny feel an extra we brought home to clear our conscience. After all, I listened to Penny’s request to not have a party, but I haven’t thought of canceling Nina’s birthday celebration."

Every year, the Bennets throw a big party for their only daughter. Nina loved it. However, with Penny now in the household, it would be too insensitive to throw a big party for Nina, but not for Penny. It was also her birthday, after all.

"I feel horrible," she added. "Nina might not be ours, but they were both our daughters." Doing one thing for one felt like neglecting the other.

Charles pressed his lips. He hated it, but at the same time, he knew Haines only had their best interest in mind. "We’ll talk to Nina tomorrow."

"Charles, can’t we really keep them both?"

"Ali..." Charles put away his laptop and dragged himself near her. He held her hand and smiled bitterly. "We’re not sending Nina away. We’re just... sharing. We can still take care of her and look after her. It’s just that our Penny hadn’t been with us for the first thirteen years. This would be her first birthday with us."

His bitter smile remained, but the determination in his eyes was palpable. "If we don’t choose now, I’m afraid sooner or later they’ll have to make the decision we didn’t. If that happens, we might lose our daughter forever."

Tears coated Allison’s eyes. "What would our sons think of us?"

"They will understand." He reassured.

"I’m afraid of what Nina would feel."

"Nina is a good kid. She might not have matured like Penny, but I’m certain she’ll eventually understand our heart." He smiled, almost certain Nina wouldn’t hold it against them. "She’s been with us for thirteen years. Moreover, Butler Jen told me about his observation of the Cortez Family and he thinks they might be blunt, but they were honest people. They won’t hurt our Nina."

Allison was still reluctant, but she smiled subtly. "Then let’s talk to her tomorrow."

Seconds after the couple had an agreement, they heard a knock on the door.

"Mama? Papa? Are you still awake?"

"Penny?" Allison and Charles furrowed their brows, watching the door open from the outside.

"Honey, is there’s something you need?" Allison quickly asked.

Penny marched to them and stood near the bed. "Mama, Papa, can I go back to school?"

"Hmm?" the couple raised their brows at the abrupt request.

"I want to go back to school," Penny poked both her index against each other. "Can I?"

The couple looked at each other before they cast Penny their attention again. The main reason Penny hadn’t attended school was because her academic achievements granted her the opportunity to move up early. Their family’s connection helped, but it was mostly Penny’s advanced knowledge.

"Uh..." Charles cleared his throat. "I can arrange that. I mean, you can. Of course."

Penny’s eyes lit up. "Then can I start tomorrow?!"

"Penny, but your uniforms aren’t done yet," Allison remarked, but Charles told her it was not a problem.

"Penny can attend school on her first week without a uniform. The school will understand." Charles rubbed his chin and thought it was time for her to enter school. Although there were only a few months left till summer vacation, it was better for Penny to get herself familiarized with the school and its structure.

Charles smiled at her and nodded. "Then I’ll take you there tomorrow."

"Thank you~!" Penny clapped happily and darted her eyes between the two. "Alright, I’m going to sleep now! Good night, Mama and Papa! Sweet dreams!"

Penny didn’t idle and turned her back on them. But the moment she did, the happy smile on her face was replaced with coldness.

’Those little jerks! Tomorrow’s gonna be their doomsday!’