Chapter 62: I have to

Charles and Allison’s plan to break the news about Nina to their children halted at Hugo’s remarks.

"Oh, Atlas, I put my bet on you."

"Huh?" question marks filled the couple’s thought bubble as they gazed at Hugo. "Hugo, what do you mean, a bet?"

Hugo smiled as he happily explained. "There’s a betting pool in the school now. All students are putting their bets on whether Atlas will make it to the star section this semester or not."

"What?" Allison and Charles gasped in unison as they instinctively gazed at Atlas.

"Atlas, is this true?" Charles blurted out.

Atlas glanced at them and nodded before he ate a spoonful. While the couple processed this, Hugo continued in the same enthusiastic tone.

"Slater’s in the bet too!" he exclaimed, making Slater freeze. "He declared that he wouldn’t be at the bottom of his class anymore. I bet on him, and the entire team also placed their bets on Atlas just to spite Max."

The couple was momentarily stunned. Atlas’s goal was surprising, but Slater too? Above all, they were most surprised that Hugo was putting on bets.

Penny also looked at Hugo incredulously. She heard about Max, who jumped from the 7th place in the star section to the 5th rank. She didn’t know Hugo knew him that much.

’Also, what did he mean, the team bet on Atlas just to spite someone? How did he make that sound less... vicious?’

"Hugo, how come there’s a betting pool in your school? Isn’t that another form of gambling? The school allows this?" Allison asked, worried their son would get caught by participating in such things.

’That’s right, Second Brother. How can you join the betting pool?’ was what Penny wanted to say, but then, she wasn’t in the right place because she was the only one who anonymously started the betting pool.

"Don’t worry," Hugo reassured. "The betting system found loopholes in the school policy and is legal. So even if the teachers already got wind of it, they can’t do anything. Moreover, they can’t put all students in disciplinary action. It’s a harmless betting and it will keep the students motivated."

The couple was still uncomfortable with it, but then Hugo spoke enthusiastically.

"Say, First Brother, do you think you can be a star student?"

Atlas ate his food elegantly before he said, "I have to."

"Atlas." Allison sighed before Charles followed. "Atlas, your mom and I are always proud of you. So, you don’t have to say you have to —"

"Penny’s monthly allowance on me, so I have to."

Penny choked on her food when she heard Atlas’s reason, pounding her chest with her fist while reaching for a glass of water. She was quiet when Hugo mentioned the betting because she didn’t want to get dragged into this conversation. Was this Atlas’s way of returning the favor because she roped him in the bet?

"Penny, did what?" Charles gasped.

"Penny placed her entire monthly allowance on me, so I have to enter the star section no matter what," Atlas clarified emotionlessly. "She’ll starve if I don’t."

Allison’s and Charles’s mouths fell open while Hugo grinned from ear to ear.

"Now, you really have to kick those guys from their high horses," Hugo chuckled happily before his bright expression turned solemn — almost deadly. "I’m serious. Penny’s allowance is on the line here."

Charles suddenly pounded the bottom of his fist against the table, making Penny jolt from her seat.

’Is he angry with me now?!’

"Atlas..." Charles’s face darkened as he slowly shifted his glinting eyes to his eldest son. "Go get them! Tear the entire star section apart! Our Penny’s money’s on you! Don’t disappoint her!"

Penny: "Ah?"

Hugo nodded approvingly while Atlas confidently shrugged.

"I’ll also place our entire fortune on you!" Charles continued, taking this betting to the next level.

"I think it’s better if parents also bet on this," Hugo suggested. "It’s been a while since the last parents-teacher meeting. It’s a good way for parents to socialize too."

"I see." Charles nodded, having the idea of bringing this up without implicating himself. He had to think of the Bennet Family’s reputation too, after all. "As long as this idea didn’t come from me..."

’I don’t think the headmaster will tolerate that...’ Penny sported a conflicted look as this conversation was getting out of hand!

"The Miller kids started this," Atlas hinted, giving his father a knowing look.

Upon hearing that, Charles raised a brow. "The Miller’s, huh?" the corner of his lips curled up into a wicked smirk.

Seeing this, Penny scoots away a little. Her father and her two brothers looked a little devious. ’Oh, gracious god. Please don’t let them cross the dark side!’

Allison darted her eyes between Hugo and Charles. She wanted to say something righteous, but she ended up sighing heavily. It was a rare occasion for their eldest and second son to willingly engage in this type of conversation.

The couple simply accepted it was part of the adolescent stage. But here they were, enthusiastically talking about a bet.

"Oh, you boys." She shook her head, her eyes falling on Penny. She offered Penny a subtle smile and a slight nod, indicating she approved.

Now that Allison thought about it, since Penny came in here, their family seemed to be slowly reuniting. It wasn’t like they were not united before, but she often felt that the more her sons grew up, the more they were growing distant.

It felt nice to be having a normal dinner where everyone was active.

"Oh, it seems everyone’s very active tonight." Suddenly, Haines entered the dining hall. Seeing Charles and his two elder boys look at him, Haines immediately notices the determination in their eyes.

Haines carefully sat down and asked curiously. "Is there a problem at school?"

"Haines, Atlas made a bet that he’d enter the star section and Slater wouldn’t be at the bottom of his class!" Charles summarized. "Penny fell into this betting pool and bet her entire allowance on her brothers."

Hearing that, Haines’s expression turned serious. "I’ll call for Professor Singh or one of his recommendations to help you."

"..." Penny was rendered speechless. Her hope that Haines wouldn’t participate in it had gone down the drain.

"Pfft—!" Allison couldn’t contain her laughter anymore, covering her lips with the back of her hand. But even with her attempt to cover it up, she ended up bursting out in laughter. "Oh, you silly boys."

"Ali, what’s silly about this?" Charles frowned while everyone else looked at her.

Haines was also not pleased to be called silly. "Penny puts her entire allowance on Atlas because she believes in him. Atlas shouldn’t disappoint, and the adults should make sure he’d get the best support."

"Mom, it’s not silly," Hugo also defended themselves, while Atlas just smiled subtly at his mother’s laughter.

It had been a while since everyone saw Allison laugh out loud. Although she was always smiling, this was the first time she laughed — she was wheezing. As Atlas continued his food, his eyes caught Penny.

She was looking at their mother with surprise, but at the same time, her eyes were soft with appreciation. One could tell Penny cared for Allison, and hearing their mother’s laughter looked like Penny treated it as a blessing. The look in her eyes softened Atlas’s heart.

’This sister of mine...’ Atlas smiled in satisfaction, now more motivated to enter the star section just for his little sister. ’Who would have thought I would want to be better for another person’s sake?’

While the family was engaged in dinner, they didn’t notice that Nina also entered the dining room. Standing by the entrance, Nina stared at the family who were so lively despite her absence. Her mother was even wheezing whilst knowing Nina was on a hunger strike.

When her eyes landed on Penny’s seat, she balled her hands into a tight fist. Bitterness filled her eyes as she ran back into her room.