Chapter 889: I’ll score for you

"Oh, Penny, you’re here," Haines mused as soon as he saw Penny excusing herself to get to her seat. He smiled when Penny sat down next to him, while Slater, who was seated on Haines’ other side, tilted his head.

"Penny, have you placed your bets? Is that why you were late?" asked Slater, grinning from ear to ear. "I placed all my cash today on my chosen team."

Penny looked at her brother and blinked. "What is your chosen team, Third Brother?"

At Penny’s question, Haines also turned to Slater because the way he said it was quite vague. Knowing Slater, he would have proudly told Penny which team he placed his bets on if it was the same team as hers.

"Hehe." Slater grinned. "I put it on our family, of course!"

Penny and Haines narrowed their eyes, only to catch James tilting his head, revealing himself from Slater’s other side.

"It’s true!" James vouched for Slater. "The two of us put our bets on Second Brother. After all, Slater said that since Second Brother came home, he’s been practicing with his friends on the basketball team. So, we’re sure he’ll play well!"

"Ah..." Haines rocked his head. "So, you only placed your bets on Hugo?"

James’ giddy smile stiffened, realizing that they had bet on the team just because of Hugo. After all, none of the players on the open court had been playing the same sport.

"But we’re all on the same team!" Slater mused, grinning. "Isn’t that what’s important?"

Haines darted his eyes between Slater and James before raising a hand and lightly pinching Slater’s cheek.

"You should’ve joined the team," said Haines. "But you’re right. That’s what’s important."

After saying that, he withdrew his hand while Slater touched his cheek.

"Uncle Haines, do you still see me as a kid?!" Slater exclaimed. "I’m not cute anymore. I’m handsome!"

Haines: "..." He stared at Slater, opened his mouth, but ended up smiling. "Of course you are."

Slater pouted at Haines’ response, watching the latter turn to Penny.

"Penny, are you alright?" asked Haines, noticing that Penny was slightly quiet. "Or are you worried about your husband?"

"I’m not worried about him at all," she flashed Haines a smile. "I think what’s in here is supposed to be here."

Deep lines appeared between Haines’s brows. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, only to see her mouth stretch even more.

"They’re going to win." Penny winked at him, making Haines, Slater, and even James raise their brows curiously. However, even if they asked her, Penny just told them, "Just watch. I used to do fortune telling, and I think I still have it in me."

After hearing that, Haines, Slater, and James exchanged looks. In their minds, they were glad they placed their bets on Hugo’s team, even though secretly, all three of them were tempted to bet on the other team. Penny sounded so sure, after all.

Slowly, the three of them set their eyes on Penny, thinking, ’She didn’t manipulate the game, did she?’

Penny, no matter how questionable her actions might seem at times, wasn’t the type to cheat. There was no way she would bribe the opposing team or sabotage them just so Hugo’s pathetic team could win this game.

---

At the same time, both teams were given a few minutes to warm up and make plans. Just like the other team, they also had a coach to condition them mentally and physically. Hugo’s team, on the other hand, just looked at Charles as he enthusiastically cheered them on.

"You guys should win this, alright!? I put all my pocket money on you guys, so make sure to double it!" Charles, as usual, didn’t beat around the bush and revealed his personal stake in the game. "Hugo, you lead this team and score as many points as you can, even if it kills you!"

Everyone on the team stared at the enthusiastic Charles with dead expressions—except Zoren, of course.

"I’ll score for you," said Zoren, causing Charles to glance at him suspiciously.

Charles, with narrowed eyes, asked, "Have you played this game before?"

"No."

"Tch." Charles hissed and shook his head, then reached out and placed his hands on Atlas’s shoulders, then on Zoren’s. "You lot, come here."

Atlas, wearing a dead expression, reached out and pulled Hugo toward him. And like that, he rested his arm over Hugo’s shoulder, now able to reach his second brother without a problem. Like a domino effect, Hugo casually reached out to Jonathan, placing his arm over the latter’s shoulder after pulling him down.

Jonathan’s eyes snapped wide open for a moment as he found himself ducking, looking at Hugo in disbelief. But alas, Hugo was already focused on what Charles had to say. Shifting his eyes to the person next to him, Jonathan’s face contorted when he saw it was Dean.

Dean also looked back at him, his eyes telling Jonathan that if he ever laid a finger on him, he would kill him. Not that it scared Jonathan, but the feeling was mutual.

While Dean and Jonathan were glaring daggers at each other, Zoren’s eyes drifted to the person next to him. It was Dean. The side of his mouth curled up, and without a word, he reached out to Dean and placed his hand on the back of Dean’s neck. With one swift pull, Dean found himself bending, his face inches from Zoren’s and the Bennet’s.

When Dean cast Zoren a look of disbelief, Zoren just smiled at him innocently.

"..." For a second, Dean had to wonder which emotion was dominant. Was he angry? In disbelief that Zoren was doing all this? Or should he just walk out?

Before Dean could even make up his mind, Charles’s voice assaulted their ears.

"Hey, what are you still doing there? Come closer!" Charles hissed at Jonathan, nodding toward him to signal him to lower his head more.

Jonathan cleared his throat, realizing everyone was already looking at him. He huffed and reluctantly placed his hands on his knees, bending over to listen to Charles explain the game mechanics and what they were supposed to do to end this game.

"Win," Charles breathed out, his voice low and firm, his eyes fiery. "Otherwise, you’ll all take turns driving me to my fishing trips, since all my allowance is on this team."