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145 Precious

“Ali.” Charles checked on his wife in their room, catching his wife fold some already folded clothes. 00

When they left the school and reached home, Allison didn’t feel well. Charles let his wife rest, but now seeing her folding the already folded clothes, he knew his wife was trying to keep her mind busy.

Charles walked into the room and sat beside her. “Feeling better now?”

Allison didn’t reply immediately, lifting her eyes to her husband. “You knew, didn’t you? About what happened to Penny and Nina. Did you know about it?”

A shallow breath slipped past his nostrils, and he hummed.

“It’s alright. I understand why you didn’t tell me about it,” she muttered, placing the folded clothes to the side before picking up other clothes to fold.

“I’m sorry” he whispered. “I didn’t know how to tell you,”

Ever since Charles made some big decisions in the household that included Nina, he and his wife had been arguing more frequently. Allison felt like Charles seemed to ignore the thirteen years they had with Nina; she disliked the fact that he was acting as if he didn’t know Nina at all.

But after today, Allison was stricken with shame and remorse.

“Ali, I know it’s hard. I also didn’t want this to happen, but it happened,” Charles sighed. “We must do what we have to do.” Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“Nina’s not at fault,” Allison snapped her eyes back to him. “We’re the one who raised her and so, how she turned out like that is our fault.”

“I know.” He nodded. “That’s why, even if it’s hard, we have to do the right thing. For Penny’s

sake.

He lowered his eyes as his heart weighed on him.

As a parent, all he wanted was for his children to be good human beings once they were adults. Despite the unfortunate baby swapping, he didn’t want it to hinder them from having a happy family and a peaceful household.

What Nina had done, however, threatened that. Stirring trouble for Penny was mild, but trying to kill her that was an entirely different case.

“I told Penny that I’ll do my best, but all this time… I… A bitter smile turned up on Allison’s face as she laughed mockingly. “You’re right, Charles. In a way, I’m glad we weren’t the ones who raised Penny.

Deep in Charles’s heart, he wanted to comfort his wife with words. But alas, he couldn’t. Even if he tried, he knew that would be too shameful for them.

<

145 Precious

As the couple was filled with remorse and guilt, a knock was heard.

“Madam, Sir, the children have arrived, announced the maid meekly.

Charles nodded at her, and the maid quietly closed the door. He faced his wife squarely.

“Should we welcome them home?” he suggested, watching her smile bitterly. “We have to apologize to our daughter, All. No matter how shameful it is, it’s about time to become honest and admit our wrongs. Only then can we really say we’re trying to be proper parents for her.” Allison pressed her lips into a thin line, holding her husband’s gaze.

If there was any difference that made when Nina was with them and with Penny, it was Nina who would normally announce her arrival. She would sweetly say, “We’re home-” because she knew Allison would be waiting for them.

But with Penny, the one who announced they were home was Hugo or Atlas.

“We’re home,” Atlas announced emotionlessly as they strutted in.

When they arrived, Allison and Charles were still going down the stairs. The moment he saw Allison’s slightly swollen eyes, Atlas already knew his mother barely took the situation well. “You’re back?” Charles spoke, and the kids stopped midway through the entry hall. “Hmm?” Penny raised her brows when she noticed Allison’s eyes. Ah. I feel bad for her.” Since Penny was barely involved in the Flowerpot incident, she wasn’t called. Everyone knew the target was Lily or so she wanted to believe. Hence, Penny barely knew the details of what occurred in the headmaster’s office today.

However, she did have some guesses; one of them was Allison unable to take this matter bravely. Her mother had a faint heart, after all.

When their parents reached their vicinity, Allison and Charles showed a smile.

“Rest first, Charles suggested before his eyes fell on Penny. “And Penny, can we talk to you?”

Penny hummed but kept a smile. “Okay”

Pleased, Charles took his daughter and wife to the family room to talk. As for the boys, they followed their figure with their gazes.

They didn’t say anything until Butler Jen, who never falled to welcome them, spoke.

“Young masters, why not rest in your rooms first?”

The boys glanced at Butler Jen without saying anything in return.

145 Precious

In the family room, Penny and her parents sat on either side of her.

Allison opened and closed her mouth, but no words would come out of it. She didn’t know where to start. Her eyes, however, already stung, while the heaviness in her heart felt a lot more crippling.

“I’m sorry” was all Allison could manage to articulate, holding Penny’s hand. “I’m sorry that Mom has no idea you’ve been suffering not just in school, but also at home.”

Penny blinked, confused. “At home?”

“Penny, we know” Charles blurted out reassuringly. “We know that you and Nina hadn’t been getting along. Well, it’s not like we didn’t know about it, but we’re too stubborn to accept that there might not be a chance for the two of you to get along.”

At the end of Charles’s sentence, his slight smile also disappeared without a trace. More than the anger in his heart, he felt deeply disappointed in himself. They took their daughter from the Cortez Family with so much arrogance, thinking they were more capable of giving her a brighter future.

This incident was a slap to their faces.

Penny darted her eyes between her parents, a little bit surprised at their display of remorse. She wasn’t surprised about Charles since her brothers confessed the incident to him. But what surprised her the most was Allison.

How did Charles convince the stubborn Allison that Nina was guilty?

Regardless of the curiosity in her mind, Penny still smiled at them.

“I’m okay!” Penny stretched her lips from ear to ear. “Nina is the daughter you recognized and raised for thirteen years. Just like how my auntie and cousins fight for me, it’s the same for you. I’d be more disappointed if you quickly turn your back on the daughter you raised for over a decade just because she’s not blood–related.”

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