Chapter 91: Only the real daughter

"What’s going on?" Penny looked up at her three brothers as they stood outside her room. "Is there something I should know?"

"No — no!" Slater intoned while trying to conceal his nervousness. "We just thought that you should rest today before we start our study session!"

Skeptical, Penny squinted her eyes at Slater. Since when did this brother become so enthusiastic about their study session? Most times, she had to drag him to the library with her.

"It’s nothing, Penny." Hugo smiled and hit Atlas with his elbow. "Right?"

Atlas, who couldn’t even form a smile, nodded. "It’s nothing. Come down when dinner is served."

Having said that, Atlas turned around to leave. Hugo offered Penny a reassuring smile before he followed Atlas.

"You better stay there until Butler Jen calls you for dinner!" Slater pointed a finger at her, making her flinch a little. "Stay!"

After saying that as if she was a dog, Slater jogged and followed his brothers.

Left alone in front of her room, Penny looked at their backs and tilted her head. "What’s wrong with everybody?"

She pondered about it for a while before she shrugged. Well, it was probably nothing of her concern because if it was, her two elder brothers would be wearing grim faces. But, they weren’t. So Penny entered her room.

"Chunchun~! Tiana~! Mouse~!" Her thoughts about the situation outside of her room dissipated at the sight of her pets. Penny quickly took off her bag and rushed to hug them. "I miss you all so much today~!"

*

*

*

Meanwhile, Atlas, Hugo, and Slater didn’t go to their rooms but went downstairs. Everyone was still there, confused at what had just happened. When Charles saw his sons coming down, he quickly stood up.

"Atlas, why are you —" Charles cleared his throat and reminded himself to conduct himself as a respectable father. "Why did you do that?"

"Dad, it’s Penny’s birthday tomorrow and you’ve all been planning to surprise her only to expose yourselves a day before." Hugo was the first one to speak. "It’s her first birthday with us. It wouldn’t be a surprise if you told her about it."

"Well, the problem is we’ve used everything we could to think of a good surprise for her," Haines explained solemnly.

Allison frowned. "We’ve already asked everyone to help us think, but her birthday is tomorrow."

"Young Masters, we also want to make Miss Penny happy on her special day," one of the servants murmured. "But until now, we hadn’t bought her gifts."

The three brothers scanned everyone’s gloomy faces. It wasn’t like they were unaware of the dilemma everyone had for the past week. They were just too preoccupied with so many things that it slipped Atlas and Slater’s mind. If not for Hugo telling them about it in the van, they would’ve completely forgotten about it.

"We’ll ask her after dinner," Atlas proposed. "I’ll be discreet about it."

"Then, can you ask Penny if she likes princess dress or —" Charles halted when Atlas coldly returned;

"I’m not asking anything for anyone," Atlas remarked. "Just buy her gifts that you think will make her happy. I don’t even think Penny is aware tomorrow is her birthday."

Hugo nodded. "Your eagerness might just scare her. So please, don’t flood her with questions. She already has a lot on her plate. Considering she’s working on a project, we don’t want to disturb her." — the project he was talking about was the Survival Project.

"I can ask!" Slater placed his hands across his chest and raised his chin proudly. "After studying with her, Penny and I got really close! She answers all my questions in the lessons, so she will not find it odd if I ask her more questions."

Atlas glanced up and recalled how Penny would answer Slater’s questions with a tinge of mockery. ’But he never asks her anything other than if he was right or wrong.’

Oh, well. It was worth the shot.

"We still have school tomorrow, so we all have a day to prepare," Atlas spoke. "We’ll get as much information as possible from her tonight. If not, then let’s all just prepare a cake and sing her a happy birthday."

Everyone looked at each other and bore a conflicted look. Wasn’t that a little too simple? Just a cake and a happy birthday song?

"How about... we invite her cousins?" Allison suggested. "Or maybe, should I reach out to Mrs. Cortez for advice?"

Everyone set their eyes on Allison, who was the biggest anti-Jessa in the house. But because she mentioned Jessa, everyone also thought of Nina’s birthday. Tomorrow was also Nina’s birthday.

"Why are you inviting those kids when she already has us?" Slater frowned deeply. "It’s her first birthday, and should we really share? Nina is already with them!"

A layer of frost coated Hugo’s eyes as he spoke emotionlessly. "Mom, Dad, you agreed with Mrs. Cortez and even reassured us they’re kind people. So, I think we let them spend tomorrow with their real cousin and niece while we worry about our real family."

Hearing the ruthless remarks Hugo uttered, everyone couldn’t help but look at him. The second young master was often warm and gentle. However, right now, he was speaking as though he carried a vendetta against Nina, or perhaps, the Cortez Family. They weren’t exactly sure about it.

"I don’t think it’s a bad idea," Atlas spoke his mind. "No matter how we dislike the idea, if there were people who knew about Penny, that would be the people who raised her. Mrs. Cortez then can ask us what Nina likes, although I doubt they can afford a big party for her."

Everyone looked at each other once again after Atlas’s remarks. His suggestion wasn’t wrong. As a matter of fact, it was logical.

"This might be a way for the two families to start anew." Butler Jen was pleased, smiling in relief that the brothers shared the same sentiments as them to make Penny’s birthday special.

"Well, I guess we must trust the boys to keep things a secret." Haines nodded in satisfaction. "Then let me know what she wants so I can make some phone calls."

Allison also chimed in. "I’ll contact Mrs. Cortez tonight."

"Let me know if you need anything, boys." Charles volunteered. "Your father will handle it!"

"Please, hand me the list of what Miss Penny likes so I can distribute them since everyone wants to buy her a gift," Butler Jen also spoke.

"Butler Jen, can we do another round of groceries?" The chefs jumped in excitedly. "It’s best if we have a lot more so we can prepare anything in real-time."

One after another, everyone took a role in helping each other out. Seeing this, Allison’s eyes softened and smiled subtly. Although she didn’t want to reach out to Jessa, seeing everyone this eagerness made her want to lower her pride.

’I’ve never seen everyone this united,’she thought as she gazed at her boys. ’Even they were participating in the planning. They never did this before.’

The Bennet Couple’s heart warmed up while Haines could only smile in satisfaction.

Haines thought as he watched this unfold. ’Only the real daughter of this family could do this. I’m so glad Penny’s with us.’