PAMPERED

290 Choose your audience.

When Penny arrived at the mansion, her family was already waiting for her and Chunchun, Seeing them turn their heads in her direction and smile warmly at her made her feel safe. She smiled back at them, even though for some reason, her heart felt heavier.

Meow.

Penny raised her brows and gazed down at Chunchun. Without a word, she released her cat and let it saunter towards Hugo.

“Happy Birthday, Chunchun-” Hugo greeted warmly as he picked up the cat in his arms.

“Penny, what kind of walk did you do?” Slater quickly threw his entry, his hands on his hips, impatience in his eyes. “It felt like it was a marathon and not just a run!”

Atlas tugged his earlobe, finding Slater’s voice more annoying today.

“Slater, shut up!” Charles expressed, explaining why Atlas didn’t bother saying a word.

“Penny, your brothers prepared a simple celebration for Chunchun’s birthday,” Allison, who seemed to have just gotten home, walked up to her daughter. “Let’s celebrate it together, okay?”

Penny nodded, smiling. “Mhm.”

Having said that, the family gathered in the dining room. Hugo was the one who prepared everything with barely any help from Slater and Atlas. However, the other two were taking their rightful credits just because they could.

With party hats on, everyone, including Chunchun, they clapped slowly and sang Happy Birthday. The lights were off and only some dim lights were on to make the lit birthday candle appear warmer. Butler Jen and a few servants stood not far away to join the fun.

“Happy Birthday to you…”

Happy birthday to you…”

Although Penny was clapping and smiling, she couldn’t help but lower her eyes. Her smile turned bitter and her eyes softened.

That… fool,‘ she thought once again, reminded that Zoren might still be in that meeting spot right now.

“Blow the candle!” Slater exclaimed, and Hugo blew the candle for Chunchun.

As soon as the flame extinguished, the lights were quickly switched on. Everyone was clapping in joy, greeting their family member for another year in their lives. And while this was all happening, Slater glanced at Penny and furrowed his brows.

“Penny?” called Slater. “Are you crying?”

The moment everyone heard that, they redirected their attention to Penny. As soon as they did, they saw the tear that rolled down her check.

Penny smiled subtly. “I’m just moved, she whispered. “Very… touched. I can’t stop crying.”

200 Choose your audienen

It wasn’t a lie, but those uncontrollable tears were for something else, or rather, for someone

Knowing Zoren kept his promise all these years, the thought of him camping on that street every Thursday without fail unless he was hospitalized moved her to tears. Despite his terrible. health condition and the fact that he had such greedy family members who would scheme behind him at every turn, it was heartbreaking.

He was such a kind soul… just what sin did he do to deserve to be treated like that by his own family?

And that question brought a deep sense of familiarity into her heart. It clarified a lot of things. Penny, after all, used to ask that question in her previous life. Therefore, Penny knew more than anyone just how mind–breaking that question was.

Surely, he was a fool.

And because he was such a foolish man, she wanted to protect him. She wanted to make sure he could at least have some space to breathe because when Penny couldn’t breathe and had to

escape

the Bennet Mansion, he came into her life and gave her that space.

[Present Time]

Back to the elevator…

“Miss Penny, why did you hit me!? My boss is wrong with you! You’re violent, not sweet!”

Penny’s face darkened. “What did you say?”

“Nothing!” Benjamin cried out as he quickly reached the corner of the elevator. “But why did you hit me? You told me to give you a reason so you won’t like me!”

“I said that… but you choose your audience.” Penny briefly ran her fingers through her hair and cast him an apathetic look. She placed her hand on her hips, shaking her head in disappointment. “Those guys I deployed to protect Renren aren’t simple guys. They would’ve killed you if you spoke more.

Benjamin’s breath hitched, wide–eyed. “What?”

“I mean, they won’t do it in front of me, but you would’ve disappeared in the night and no one would ever hear you again.”

“Miss Penny! Seriously?! How can you say something so ominous?!” His complexion paled, now petrified at the thought that she sent them some real thugs. “Why would you send such a cruel bunch to us?! Would they even listen to my boss?”

“I’d like to see them try not to,” she muttered as she slowly turned her back on him. “Don’t judge the book by its cover, Mr. Vitt. The moment I left last night instead of approaching him means Renren is now under my wing. Anyone who calls themselves my people should know what that

200 Choose your audience Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.

means.

The fear plastered on Benjamin’s face subsided and was slowly replaced with amazement. He clasped his hand and went closer to her like a scam merchant approaching his next victim.

“Hehe. Miss Penny is so dependable, Benjamin giggled wickedly. “Miss Penny, I never doubted you, really! I knew it! Those guys are reliable despite their eccentric appearances, and we’re really in good hands.

Penny cast him a sidelong glance, speechless by this level of shamelessness. But then again, Penny used to be like this.

Benjamin cleared his throat. “Anyway, did everything go well with the chairwoman?”

“Hmm?” Penny arched a brow as she caught the triumphant gleam in his eyes. “You… you’re the reason Old Mrs. Pierson is here today?”

“Miss Penny, don’t be angry! I only want to make sure my boss doesn’t marry that vixen!” Benjamin grumbled on and on, telling Penny that Zoren was planning to resolve this by marrying a stranger just so as not to inconvenience Penny anymore. “I can’t let that happen! No letting that woman get in between my boss’s romance with you!”

Penny. His boss’s what?”

way I’m

Benjamin bit his tongue and laughed awkwardly, fluttering his eyelashes at her. “You understand me, right, Miss Penny? So, did it end well?”

“You.” Penny ran her tongue across her inner check. “Never mind.”

*Miss Penny? What were you trying to say?”

“Miss Penny, please don’t just ignore me.”

Penny ignored him until Benjamin started panicking, “Mr. Vitt, don’t worry about that anymore…

for now.”

“So, everything went well?”

“For now,” she repeated. “I’ll come over to the old residence for dinner.”

Benjamin grinned from ear to ear. “Really? Do you need anything? I’ll do anything you ask! If you want a list of things the chairwoman likes, I will send it to you right away!”

“No need, but I want you to answer something.” Penny glanced at him before she whispered, “Ist Blacky there?”

“Blacky?” he furrowed his brows. “Who’s that?”

“Never mind:

Benjamin tilted his head to the side while staring at Penny’s side profile. ‘Blacky… is she referring to Renny? Why did she say Blacky, though?”

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