146 The real glue of the family
“I’m okay! 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–rted.
The smile <b>on </b>Penny’s face was bright and warm. There was no trace of deception or anything just to make her look good. If anything, all the words she said were quickly detected as genuine from the heart.
The couple’s hearts softened, but at the same time, they were stricken with more remorse. How could their Penny be <b>this </b>understanding?
They would understand Penny if she wouldsh out, or if she would cry her heart out. Penny had all the right to feel disappointed in them. If they were in Penny’s shoes, they would also feel a little horrible. It was awful: the school bullying and Nina’s attempt to stir trouble for her. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.
Not to mention, her brothers weren’t as forting in the beginning as they were now.
<i>en’t </i>
Anotheryer of tears coated Allison’s eyes until it blurred her vision. She pursed her lips and reached for Penny’s hand, sniffling as she tried to hold back her tears.
“I’m sorry, Penny. Mom is really, really sorry,” she whispered, squeezing Penny’s soft and plump
hand.
Charles’s eyes also softened, but he was more concerned. He knew Penny was mature, smart, and kind. However, in a situation like this, it was only normal for her to feel some sort of negativity. Yet Penny <b>was </b>more understanding than one would expect.
It wasn’t like he was doubtful, but he was genuinely worried.
“Penny, it’s okay to feel angry. Mom and Dad disappointed you and we’ve been, in a way, neglectful,” he expressed sincerely. “We won’t judge if you’re disappointed with us. We hadn’t known anything you’ve been going through. We kept saying when you came in here that we’ll protect you, but until now, we hadn’t done anything to do that.
Penny would be disappointed if she had expectations. But as mentioned before, Penny didn’t mind if they screw things up <b>as </b>many times as they liked.
mas
She shook her head mildly and smiled. “But I’m not angry. How can I be angry when it’s me who didn’t even say what’s going on with me in school? It’s not like Mom and Dad are in school too.
Moreover, I had fun while ying with the pranks! It made school a lot more eventful and colorful!”
“Also… hmm…” Penny rubbed her chin <b>as </b>she darted her eyes between them. Her face brightened up as she giggled. “I like that my parents admit their shorings. That’s <b>good </b>enough for me!”
For a moment, Allison and Charles could only stare at their daughter with a mixture of
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146 The real glue of the family
everything. They were prepared to hear Penny’s woes or if Penny wanted to leave them because of their ipetence. However, here she was,forting them instead of themforting
her.
“What did I do to deserve a daughter like you?” Charles blurted out under his breath. Now he couldn’t help but tear up.
Allison’s tears also flooded her face. “Oh, Penny. You are so precious.”
“Hehe.” Penny chuckled. “What Mom and Dad did is that they prayed day and night to have me. Maybe that’s why I’m cute?”
“Oh, haha!” Allisonughed amidst her crying, pulling Penny into her embrace. “My Penny. Mommy is really sorry.”
Despite beingforted, the couple still felt like they hadn’t apologized enough. How could they when their daughter was too precious?
“I’m sorry too.” Just then, As’s voice was heard.
The couple and Penny raised their heads, eyes falling on the door where As, Hugo, and ter were. They sauntered in and stopped several feet from where their parents and Penny were seated.
“We’re attending the same school and I should’ve heard about it,” As expressed solemnly, eyes on Penny. “But I chose to ignore the whispers around me.”
“Being in a different building isn’t an excuse for us not to know about what’s happening to our sister,” Hugo added sincerely with a tinge of guilt. “I’m sorry, Penny. We should’ve known.”
“If only we kept our eyes and cars open, things wouldn’t have to escte to this,” As continued and lowered his head. “I’m really sorry.”
ter pressed his lips <b>and </b>blurted out. “I’m sorry too. I should’ve known that even if you’re capable, some unreasonable kids would still target you. They make me angry!”
Slowly, Penny’s brows rose in surprise. She wasn’t surprised that Charles and Allison were apologizing to her and was stricken with remorse. Her parents, after all, were good people by nature. But for her brothers to say all this brought this different feeling into her heart.
Penny couldn’t point it out exactly, nor could she properly articte her feelings, but she knew it was aplicated feeling.
<i>‘I </i><i>didn’t </i>want to <i>jump </i>to conclusions after celebrating my <i>birthday</i>. After all, <i>it </i>could be <b>a </b>one–time <i>thing </i>she told herself. <i>‘</i>But now that I <i>think </i>about it, <i>they </i>were… <i>they </i>were <b>a </b><i>lot </i><i>less </i>insufferable.”
In all honesty, Penny could barely remember her brothers as children. They might look younger now, but in her heart, they were already adults who disappointed her repeatedly. In her heart, they were the people – As, especially was still that same man who never believed her, even
in the <bst </b>moments of her life.
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146 The real glue of the family
<b>him </b>as an adult because he was always on the base. Moreover, he died even before Penny.
But hearing them say this, hearing them apologize and own up their negligence, didn’t feel
bad at all. An apology, <b>an </b>admittance from them… was all she wanted to hear before. They might be apologizing over something different, but it still didn’t feel bad.
Her face softened, and her heart felt a lot warmer than normal. Her parents were also mildly surprised before they smiled in appreciation,
“We’ll do better, As uttered, this time with determination. “I’ll do better as the big brother.”
Hugo nodded. “Me too. I’ll do better<b>” </b>
“Penny, can you give us a chance?” ter frowned, almost as if he wanted to cry. “I know I always picked on you before, but I’ll share my choctes from now on! Just ask for permission… I’ll share,”
Allison and Charles looked at each other before they turned to Penny.
“Penny, can you give us a chance to do better?” Charles inquired.
Allison huffed faintly, “Can you?”
For a moment, Penny didn’t answer, as she just looked at them quictly. Slowly, her lips curled up, and nodded. a
Everyone smiled in satisfaction and heaved a sigh of relief. The boys then quickly took their spots in the family room just to talk about anything. As the family slowly moved on, Butler Jen, who was by the door, couldn’t help but smile.
<i>‘</i><i>She </i><i>really </i><i>is </i>the glue <i>of </i><i>the </i><i>family</i>, he thought. Back then, <i>they </i>were <i>also </i><i>like </i><i>this </i><i>until </i><i>the </i><i>young </i>madam gave <i>birth </i>to the <ist </i><i>child</i>.”
Butler Jen quietly closed the family room to give the family some time to bond more.
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