Chapter 944: Shopping

The day had been long, and even though the Bennet children had gathered together, there was nothing they could do but stare at each other. Therefore, Hugo rose from his seat after finishing his soup.

"Thank you for the soup, Butler Jen," he said, addressing the butler standing in the corner. "I’m heading to bed now. Penny, are you going to stay over?"

"Did you win the drinking race?" she replied. "I’m heading home with my husband. Even if we stay here, there’s not much we can do."

Hugo shrugged. "Very well, good night, everyone."

"I’m also retiring for bed," Haines announced as he rose from his seat. "Penny, give me a call tomorrow."

Penny smiled. "Sure, Uncle."

"Ugh... this is just the worst," Slater mumbled, his mouth full of chocolates with some smeared around his mouth. However, no one paid attention to him.

"It’s getting late, so Renren and I will head home," Penny said, her words directed at Atlas as Haines and Hugo headed out of the dining room. "First Brother, let me know if... well, just keep me posted."

Seeing that Penny and Zoren were already standing, Atlas also stood up. "I’ll walk you out."

"That’s not necessary," Zoren remarked, but Atlas told them to just go and not argue.

With that, the three of them exited the dining room, leaving Slater all alone.

Slater huffed and shook his head, adding another piece of chocolate into his mouth. "I can’t believe how everyone is taking this."

"Third Young Master, should I bring out more chocolates?" asked Butler Jen, standing near Slater. The latter glanced at him, making the butler smile awkwardly. "I guess that’s a no?"

"Butler Jen, even if I’m on a break, I have to be careful with my diet."

"..." Butler Jen pressed his lips together and didn’t say anything. He only asked because Slater had already downed three chocolate bars throughout this brief "dinner."

A shallow breath escaped him as he offered Slater a gentle smile. "Third Young Master, I’m sure everything will be alright."

Initially, Butler Jen assumed Allison was upset because one of her children had married again. If not, then something else of equal gravity had happened. It was only when the children were having their warm soup that he learned about the family’s situation.

"I know, Butler Jen," Slater smiled. "If it’s that bad, then my family wouldn’t be so relaxed!"

Relax?

Butler Jen thought about it and then smiled. "You’re right, Third Young Master."

"Anyway, Butler Jen, I remember that I bought some candies not long ago. Instead of chocolates, just give me those. I heard even if I have a hundred of those, it’ll only amount to one piece of chocolate."

’Whoever sold those candies to him is probably a smooth talker,’

***

Outside the Bennet Mansion, Atlas stopped as the couple reached the car waiting for them outside. Penny and Zoren stopped and looked back at Atlas.

"Are you going to be alright?" Penny asked, and Atlas nodded. "Let me know if you need help."

Atlas shrugged. "I will, but not right now." He then cast Zoren a look, to which the latter responded with a slight nod. "Take care on your way."

"We will."

Having said that, Atlas caught Mark jumping out of the car to open the door for the couple. Benjamin was also in the car. As Atlas watched the couple, his eyes settled on Penny’s back.

"Penny," he called, and Penny looked back at him. "Are you alright?"

Her brows knitted. "Why wouldn’t I be?"

"Well, you had a drink today, and I didn’t see you rest," he pointed out. "Are you... sober?"

Considering what had happened, Penny had been very quiet today. It didn’t surprise him, but he was expecting his sister to say more than the few words she had uttered after everything.

Penny blinked, while Zoren glanced at his wife. After a second, the corner of her mouth hooked up slightly.

"Am I sober?" she repeated and laughed. "Of course, I am. After everything, who wouldn’t be sober?"

"You’re right." Atlas let out a shallow laugh, realizing his question had been a little off. "Alright then, take care."

Penny smiled back. "Good night, Atlas."

With that, Penny turned her back on him and jumped into the backseat. Meanwhile, Zoren blinked at his wife. Glancing up for a moment, he shrugged and got in. As for Atlas, he didn’t notice how his sister had addressed him until the car was already driving away.

"..." The slight smile on Atlas’s face faded as he realized Penny’s goodnight. "She... is not sober all this time, huh?"

The only time Penny addressed Atlas or any of her brothers by their first name was when she was drunk. That was the only time.

"I wonder if she’s just teasing me... or if it was a slip-up," he murmured to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. In the end, however, his lips curled up into a short smile. "At least, it seems even if she is drunk, she doesn’t do anything crazy anymore."

***

Meanwhile, as Penny and Zoren were in the car on their way home, Penny closed her eyes and stretched her neck from side to side.

"The soup didn’t help?" asked Zoren, watching his wife snap her eyes back to him. "You’ve been drunk longer than expected."

"The situation made me less drunk, but to sober up completely, I need to sleep."

"Makes sense." Zoren nodded. "Do you want to sleep on the way?"

His question only caused a mischievous grin to appear on her face. Seeing that smile, Zoren couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow.

"I have eye problems, but for some reason, I feel like... the night is still young," he remarked, only to hear his wife giggle.

Penny cleared her throat and turned to the driver’s seat. "Mark, let’s go elsewhere first."

"Where are we going?" her husband asked, and Penny just flashed him a grin.

"Shopping," she announced with an evil laugh. "The Miller Family is in luck. I’m buying them out."