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Charles and Allison’s n to break the news about Nina to their children halted at Hugo’s remarks.
“Oh, As, I put my bet on you.”
“Huh?” question marks filled the couple’s thought bubble as they gazed at Hugo. “Hugo, what do you mean, a bet?”
Hugo smiled as he happily exined. “There’s a betting pool in the school now. All students are putting their bets on whether As will make it to the star section this semester or not.”
“What?” Allison and Charles gasped in unison as they instinctively gazed at As. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.
“As, is this true?” Charles blurted out.
As nced at them and nodded before he ate a spoonful. While the couple processed this, Hugo continued in the same
enthusiastic tone.
“ter’s in the bet too!” he eximed, making ter freeze. “He dered that he wouldn’t be at the bottom of his ss anymore. I bet on him, and the entire team also ced their bets on As just to spite Max.”
The couple was momentarily stunned. As’s goal was surprising, but ter too? Above all, they were most surprised that Hugo was putting on bets.
Penny also looked at Hugo incredulously. She heard about Max, who jumped from the 7th ce in the star section to the 5th rank.
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She didn’t know Hugo knew him that much.
<b><i>Also</i></b><i>, </i><i>what </i><i>did </i>he mean<i>, </i>the team <i>bet </i>on <i>As </i><i>just </i>to spite <i>someone</i>? <i>How did </i>he <i>make that </i><i>sound </i>less… <i>vicious</i><b><i>?</i></b><b><i>‘ </i></b>
“Hugo, howe there’s a betting pool in your school? Isn’t that another form of gambling? The school allows this?” Allison asked, worried their son would get caught by participating in such things.
<i>“</i><i>That’s </i><i>right</i>, Second Brother. How can <i>you </i>join the betting pool?‘ was what Penny wanted to say, but then, she wasn’t in the right ce because she was the only one who anonymously started the betting pool.
“Don’t worry,” Hugo reassured. “The betting system found
loopholes in the school policy and is legal. So even if the teachers already got wind of it, they can’t do anything. Moreover, they can’t put all students in disciplinary action. It’s a harmless betting and it will keep the students motivated.”
The couple was still ufortable with it, but then Hugo spoke enthusiastically.
“Say, First Brother, do you think you can be a star student?”
As ate his food elegantly before he said, “I have to.”
“As.” Allison sighed before Charles followed. “As, your mom and I are always proud of you. So, you don’t have to say you have to
“Penny’s monthly allowance on me, so I have to.”@
Penny choked on her food when she heard As’s reason,
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pounding her chest with her fist while reaching for a ss of water. She was quiet when Hugo mentioned the betting because she didn’t want to get dragged into this conversation. Was this As’s way of returning the favor because she roped him in the
bet?
“Penny, did what?” Charles gasped
“Penny ced her entire monthly allowance on me, so I have to enter the star section no matter what,” As rified
emotionlessly. “She’ll starve if I don’t.”
Allison’s and Charles’s mouths fell open while Hugo grinned from
ear to ear.
“Now, you really have to kick those guys from their high horses,” Hugo chuckled happily before his bright expression turned solemn
– almost deadly. “I’m serious. Penny’s allowance is on the line
here.”
–
Charles suddenly pounded the bottom of his fist against the table, making Penny jolt from her seat.
‘Is he angry <i>with </i>me now?!‘
“As…” Charles’s face darkened as he slowly shifted his glinting eyes to his eldest son. “Go get them! Tear the entire star section apart! Our Penny’s money’s on you! Don’t disappoint her!” 15
Penny: “Ah?”
Hugo nodded approvingly while As confidently shrugged.
“I’ll also ce our entire fortune on you!” Charles continued, taking this betting to the next level.
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“I think it’s better if parents also bet on this,” Hugo suggested. “It’s been a while since thest parents–teacher meeting. It’s a good <b>way </b>for parents to socialize too.”
“I see.” Charles nodded, having the idea of bringing this up without implicating himself. He had to think of the Be Family’s
reputation too, after all. “As long as this idea didn’te from
me…”
<i>‘</i><i>I </i><i>don’t </i><i>think </i>the headmaster <i>will </i>tolerate that<i>… </i>‘Penny sported a conflicted look as this conversation was getting out of hand!
“The Miller kids started this,” As hinted, giving his father a knowing look.
Upon hearing that, Charles raised a brow. “The Miller’s, huh?” the corner of his lips curled up into a wicked smirk.
Seeing this, Penny scoots away a little. Her father and her two brothers looked a little devious. ‘Oh, gracious <i>god</i><i>. </i>Please don’t let them <b><i>cross </i></b>the dark <i>side</i>!<i>‘ </i>
Allison darted her eyes between Hugo and Charles. She wanted to say something righteous, but she ended up sighing heavily. It was a rare asion for their eldest and second son to willingly engage in this type of conversation.
The couple simply epted it was part of the adolescent stage. But here they were, enthusiastically talking about a bet.
“Oh, you boys.” She shook her head, her eyes falling on Penny. She offered Penny a subtle smile and a slight nod, indicating she approved.
Now that Allison thought about it, since Penny came in here, their
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family seemed to be slowly reuniting. It wasn’t like they were not united before, but she often felt that the more her sons grew up, the more they were growing distant.
It felt nice to be having a normal dinner where everyone was
active.
“Oh, it seems everyone’s very active tonight.” Suddenly, Haines entered the dining hall. Seeing Charles and his two elder boys look at him, Haines immediately notices the determination in their
eyes.
Haines carefully sat down and asked curiously. “Is there a problem at school?”
“Haines, As made a bet that he’d enter the star section and
ter wouldn’t be at the bottom of his ss!” Charles summarized. “Penny fell into this betting pool and bet her entire allowance on
her brothers.”
Hearing that, Haines’s expression turned serious. “I’ll call for Professor Singh or one of his rmendations to help you.”
…
11
Penny was rendered speechless. Her hope that Haines wouldn’t participate in it had gone down the drain.
“Pfft-!” Allison couldn’t contain herughter anymore, covering her lips with the back of her hand. But even with her attempt to cover it up, she ended up bursting out inughter. “Oh, you silly boys.”
“Ali, what’s silly about this?” Charles frowned while everyone else
looked at her.
Haines was also not pleased to be called silly. “Penny puts her
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<b>entire </b>allowance on As because she believes in him. As
shouldn’t disappoint, and the adults should make sure he’d get the best support.”
“Mom, it’s not silly,” Hugo also defended themselves, while As just smiled subtly at his mother’sughter.
It had been a while since everyone saw Allisonugh out loud. Although she was always smiling, this was the first time sheughed – she was wheezing. As As continued his food, his eyes caught Penny.
She was looking at their mother with surprise, but at the same time, her eyes were soft with appreciation. One could tell Penny cared for Allison, and hearing their mother’sughter looked like Penny treated it as a blessing. The look in her eyes softened As’s heart.
<i>“</i><i>This </i>sister of mine… ‘As smiled in satisfaction, now more
motivated to enter the star section just for his little sister. <i>‘</i>Who would have thought <i>I </i><i>would </i>want <i>to </i><i>be </i><i>better </i>for another person’s <i>sake</i>?‘
While the family was engaged in dinner, they didn’t notice that Nina also entered the dining room. Standing by the entrance, Nina- stared at the family who were so lively despite her absence. Her mother was even wheezing whilst knowing Nina was on a hunger strike.
When her eyesnded on Penny’s seat, she balled her hands into a tight fist. Bitterness filled her eyes as she ran back into her room.
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