119 Expectation and reality
Penny’s ns for the day were… nothing.
Nina wasing home, and she wanted to give ter a short break to bond with her. They were the closest, and she didn’t want to be the viin in their story.
<i>‘</i>Mom and Dad <i>too </i>surely missed her, she thought, ncing around the dining table where they were eating breakfast. Everyone seemed serious, and she assumed it was because Nina wasing home.
Were they worried Penny would feel bad if they gave Nina a bit of attention?
<i>‘</i>Should I make an <i>excuse </i>and leave <i>today</i>?‘ she wondered. <b><i>If </i></b>I’m not around, they <i>wouldn’t </i>feel awkward, <i>right</i>?”
“That’s it. Suddenly, Charles’s enlightened voice shed through the still air. “Pennies or peonies.
“Huh?” Penny tilted her head to the side. “Yes, Papa?”
Charles slowly shifted his eyes to Penny and nodded. “That’s what your fans‘ club should be called.” a
“???”
“Penny, I told Dad about your fans‘ club, Hugo exined with a chuckle. “We’ve been thinking of any suggestions as to what to call the fans‘ club.”
Penny was small, but at this moment, she felt smaller. Why, even until now, she would have to hear this fan club? She didn’t want a fan club!
“Please stop with the fans‘ club…” she muttered helplessly, but her father shook his head adamantly.
“The world needs to see how great my daughter is!” Charles dered. “If you need more posters, just tell me! I got it handled:
“Dad, Penny isn’t campaigning for any government position, As frowned, only to feel this intense gaze from Penny. ncing at her, he arched a brow. Is she rooting for me to <i>stop </i>them?
As pondered about it before the corner of his lips curled up mischievously. “But the club will keep that in mind.” a
‘Does he have <b>a </b><i>grudge </i>against me?‘ Penny’s face nked and noticed the mischievous and brief smirk on her first brother.
“We’re just members of the club. So, that decision–making would fall to the leader of the club. Penny, who is that friend who founded this club?” ter chimed in more calmly than usual. “If she’s your ssmate, then we probably know them.”
“Lily…” she trailed off, gulping as she noticed how all their ears doubled. “Lily Smith.”
“Smith?” Charles’s brows rose. “The daughter of S&S Industries?”
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< 110 Expectation and reality
Penny nodded.
“Good!” Charles grinned excitedly. “Then I’ll give her father a call.”
“Charles.” Allison reached out to her husband. “I’m sure everyone is excited that Penny is having a fan club, but let the children handle this.”
Her husband quickly sulked. “But I want to cheer since I can’t sign up<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Just… be happy. I’m sure Penny appreciates that more. Allison cast Penny a look, winking at her.
“Oh, goodness!” Penny almost wept, thankful Allison noticed her distress. But after a brief internal drama, Penny nced at her mother once more. Did <i>she </i>just <i>notice</i>… me?”
Allison said nothing and just smiled, diverting the topic far away from the fan club so Penny could enjoy her meal without a problem.
After breakfast, Penny was about to go when ter asked her a question.
“Penny, are we going to meet in the library?”
“Huh?” She blinked, confused. “We’re not going to study today.”
ter cocked his head to the side. “Why?”
The children were still around the dining table while Charles went to make a call and Allison had to check the kitchen briefly.
“Because Nina ising home, and I <b>think </b>you might want some time with her,” was Penny’s answer, which should exin her decision. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to exin it to them, since they all frowned.
<i>Why </i>would they make such an expression?
“I don’t mind studying on the weekends. We barely have time until the final exam. Penny, let’s study!” ter <b>urged</b>. “There’s no time for me to be ying. I don’t want to end up as a bottom feeder at the end of the year.”
“Penny, I also need to study. Hugo raised a <b>hand </b>to get her <b>attention</b>. “I’ll wait for you in the library. If I get ten points today, As told me he’d treat me somewhere nice. I’ll take you.”
He showed her a thumbs <b>up </b>while a wide grin turned up on Hugo’s face. The side of his teeth even shone, making As furrow his brows.
<i>When </i><i>did </i><i>I </i>make <i>that </i>promise?” As wondered, but didn’t dwell on it. He cast Penny a look and said, “Nina is only away during the weekdays and there’s nothing much to anticipat
return. She’d understand we needed to study – she should study too.”
for her
“Oh.” Penny was speechless, scanning their nonchnt fronts. “Well, if that’s what you say,”
******
After over an hour on the road, Nina perked up when she finally caught the gates of the Be Mansion. Her excitement, however, was short–lived when she <b>heard </b>the twin’s amazement.
110 Expectation and reality
“Wow… so this is where Penny lives? It’s so huge!” Yuri was in awe as the vehicle slowed down toward the gates. “It’s like a castle. Mom, this neighborhood is so rich. Can we ever live in here?” Jessa smirked. “You kids. Just wait until your mom bes sessful. Even though she wasn’t doing anything else to have a career.
“Wow… this is amazing. Do they even walk here? How do they buy groceries with such arge driveway?” Yugi was also amazed. “We should bring our bikes here next time. I think it’ll be cool to ride a bike here.
As the twins blurted out everything that was in their minds, Nina couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.
They kept <i>saying </i>Penny <i>this </i>and Penny that- tch. She crossed her arms grumpily and looked away. <i>Let’s </i>see, once <i>you </i>see <i>how </i><i>my </i><i>family </i><i>dotes </i><i>on </i>me, <i>you’ll </i>know <i>blood </i>isn’t <i>always </i><i>thicker </i>
than water.‘ 1
But s, when the van pulled over in front of the mansion, Nina’s expectations were pped down the drain by reality. The person she was expecting to be waiting for her eagerly was nowhere in sight. Not her father, not her mother, and not even one of her brothers.
“Wee to our manor, Mrs. Cortez, Butler Jen politely greeted them. I’m d to see you again.”
Jessa arched a brow as she looked at Butler Jen up and down. “You’re the old butler who came with her thest time. Where’s my <b>niece</b>?”
“She’s still studying, but I’ve already asked someone to call for her. She didn’t know you wereing today – as per your request.
“Good!” Jessa grinned. “Very well! Kids, get our stuff.”
“I will do it.” Butler Jen offered, but Jessa simply waved a hand.
“It’s alright. This is my kids‘ exercise. Let them be. Moreover, if they spilled the food I prepared for Penny, I could scold them. But I can’t scold you.”
Butler Jenughed awkwardly and nodded, still he took the initiative to assist them.
Meanwhile, Nina stared out of the entrance nkly. <i>“</i>This isn’t right. Why… <i>didn’t </i>they wee
me back? a
Where was her grand and heartfelt wee–back reunion<i>? </i>
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