Chapter 68: This girl needs to go

In the middle of their session with Professor Singh, Penny excused herself to find Butler Jen.

"Butler Jen," Penny called as soon as she saw Butler Jen talking to the in-house chefs in the kitchen.

Butler Jen turned his head and smiled as soon as he saw Penny. "Yes, Miss Penny?"

"Hello, Miss Penny," the in-house chefs greeted their favorite child in the house.

They loved Penny even though they had to add portions of everything because of her big appetite. Even so, watching her enjoying everything they make only gives them more motivation to cook and even explore some dishes.

Penny smiled back at the chefs and greeted them back before she reached Butler Jen. "Butler Jen, did my dad and Uncle Haines come back?"

"No, Miss Penny. But they’re probably on the way. After all, they just visited your grandparents."

As soon as Penny heard that, her smile stiffened.

Grandparents...

Penny could barely hide her discomfort at the thought of her grandparents from both sides. In her previous life, her grandparents were very enthusiastic about meeting her. So, after their incessant nagging, her parents agreed to introduce Penny to them.

At first, everything was going well until it wasn’t.

Penny lowered her eyes, remembering how even their relatives often tell her Nina was a much better fit as a Bennet than her. Some of them couldn’t blame Penny, but they didn’t spare her from telling her she had a bad upbringing because she was raised by other people.

’I don’t care about them anymore, but it doesn’t feel good remembering those things from the past.’

"Miss Penny." Worry laced Butler Jen’s voice when Penny’s mood changed. He offered her a kind smile and said, "Don’t worry, Miss Penny. The elders were strict, but they aren’t that scary."

Penny smiled and didn’t dwell on the bitterness that crept into her heart. "It’s okay, Butler Jen."

Butler Jen knew it wasn’t okay, but he didn’t expose her. "Then why are you asking if your father and Sir Haines are already back?"

"Hmm... because I want to tell them if they can postpone Nina’s departure."

"Hmm?"

"Butler Jen, my first and third brothers, is focusing on their studies while my second brother is preparing for his next game. I don’t think it’s a good timing to tell them about such sad news," Penny explained, knowing Butler Jen could explain this to her father before they could come inside the manor. "I think I can persuade my auntie."

Butler Jen’s eyes softened, and even the chefs in the kitchen couldn’t help but give her a look of appreciation. What a thoughtful child, indeed.

Butler Jen couldn’t help himself from ruffling her smooth hair. "Miss Penny, you really are so thoughtful."

"Hehe. Butler Jen, can you tell my dad about it once he comes home?" Penny requested politely. "Professor Singh is still in the library, so I might not welcome them home when they get back."

"Of course, Miss Penny." Butler Jen nodded. "Anyway, I’ve prepared some snacks for everyone and Professor Singh. Can you help me bring them, Miss Penny?"

"Okay!"

Butler Jen chuckled, and with that, they approached the chefs. The chefs happily handed Penny a tray with a big smile.

On their way to the library, Penny and Butler Jen halted at the entryway when they saw Atlas, Slater, and Allison sending off Professor Singh.

"Huh?" Penny tilted her head to the side. "Why is Professor Singh leaving so soon?"

Butler Jen also furrowed his brows, but he already had a guess. "He probably has an emergency. Otherwise, he would’ve stayed."

"Oh..."

At the same time that Professor Singh was leaving the manor, Haines and Charles arrived.

"Professor Singh!" Charles called and jogged his way to the entrance. "You’re leaving so soon?"

"Yes, Mr. Bennet. I have some emergency in the office and I had to go. I’m sorry," said Professor Singh.

"Oh, it’s alright, Professor. You don’t have to apologize."

The family and Professor Singh talked for a while before Haines volunteered to walk Professor Singh to his car. He offered to drive the professor, but the professor refused.

"That’s a shame." Butler Jen sighed. "The chefs prepared him something."

Penny also sighed, but then she caught Hugo storming in the entryway from the second floor.

"Huh?" Penny furrowed her brows. "Why does Second Brother look angry?"

"Mom! Dad!" Hugo’s voice rang in the great hall and the entire family inevitably shifted their attention to him. "Is it true?!"

Everyone furrowed their brows in confusion until Hugo spoke again.

"Are you really sending Nina away without any plan to tell us?"

Charles and Allison’s breath hitched while Atlas’s face darkened.

"Hugo, watch your tone," Atlas warned before his parents could even speak.

Hugo glared at Atlas and said, "Did you know about this too and didn’t tell me?"

"Hugo —"

"She’s leaving tomorrow! When do you plan to tell me? Does Penny also know about this?" Hugo continued aggressively. Whatever he heard surely agitated him.

"What do you mean Nina is leaving?" Slater asked in confusion, darting his eyes between everyone.

Hearing him, Atlas’s face darkened even more, and glared at Hugo. He wanted to discuss this after Professor Singh left with Hugo and his parents. After all, he didn’t want Slater to get distracted when he was already having difficulty studying lessons that were lower than his grade level.

But then, Hugo had to blow it out of proportion.

"Kids, let us explain..." Allison trailed off when Slater looked up at her and said,

"You’re sending Nina away too?" Slater’s voice was laced with disbelief and then was reminded of Penny and Professor Singh’s conversation. ’They’re not only sending Nina away, but Penny too?’

Watching this unfold, Butler Jen frowned deeply, as he didn’t like the guess he had in his mind. There was only one way the boys would know this if it didn’t come from their parents. Remembering Penny’s plans and intentions just now, Butler Jen was even more displeased.

Penny secretly seethed as her grip on the tray trembled, looking up at the second floor and caught Nina peeking over the first floor. ’That little witch...’ the vein in her forehead protruded. ’I purposely ignored her pathetic antics because I’m leaving anyway. But with this? She just made it to the top of my list of priority list.’

That’s it.

This girl needs to go.