PAMPERED

239 Welcome Home

Time didn’t seem to affect the Bennet Mansion. It still looked the same as Penny remembered it. Although there were some improvements in certain parts of the house, they didn’t take away the feeling of home.

The family caught up over dinner, exchanging stories on anything they could broach. Even after the long meal, they continued talking over some wine, as though they had been holding back their stories until this day.

Looking at their children, Allison and Charles couldn’t help but tear up.

“You are all so grown now,” Charles said dramatically, wiping his eyes. “Even my princess now looks like an empress. I miss my chubby Penny. Haines! How dare you starve my daughter, huh?! Didn’t you retire to help her?!”

Haines, who had been the subject of Charles’s constant blaming all night, sighed. “She still eats. the same.

“Impossible!”

“Dad, didn’t you see how she ate everything?” Slater blurted out, looking at Penny in disbelief. “Penny, how? What’s the secret?”

Penny pursed her lips, nervously replying, “I don’t know. I think something body!”

is wrong with my

“I’ll call a doctor!” Charles nodded at his daughter reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Penny. Dad will take care of you from now on.”

“Why are you all acting as if losing weight is bad?” Atlas wondered, raising his brows when Penny and Charles glared at him. “I didn’t say anything wrong”

“It’s just that Penny didn’t want to lose weight,” Haines explained with a chuckle. “However, because of her hectic schedule and constant training, she eventually lost weight. She still has

the same appetite, though.”

“Now I’m jealous, Slater blurted out, thinking about how he sometimes had to undergo a strict diet to keep his image. “This is unfair!”

“You’re still healthy, Penny,” Hugo nodded. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter if you’re chubby or like this. You’re not petite, anyway. Most importantly, you’re healthy.”

If anything, he could see that underneath Penny’s skin were trained muscles. She wasn’t very petite, but her body was just right–curvy.

“Stop looking at my body!” Penny clicked her tongue as Atlas and Hugo shamelessly looked her up and down. “This doesn’t feel right. I’m your sister!”

“No malice,” Hugo smiled while Atlas shrugged.

“How come you two haven’t been dating?” she muttered, trying to divert attention away from her. “First Brother, you’re the oldest, yet you aren’t even getting married. Nina might beat us all

Welcome Home

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to it.”

When Penny mentioned the word “marriage,” everyone instinctively turned their eyes on her. All of them were aware of the elders‘ plans, and they had been opposing them like crazy, especially Atlas. That’s why, until now, the engagement hadn’t happened yet.

“Oh.” Her lips formed an “o” shape. “Right. Let’s not talk about marriage!

“Penny, don’t worry about it,” Atlas reassured. “I’m now the head of the family, and you’re not

getting married.”

“Yes. You will not get married, forever. Hugo’s remarks.

Slater waved his hand dismissively. “Bad mood, bad topic! Let’s not talk about this, since it doesn’t make sense at all!”

“That’s right.” Charles nodded. “Don’t worry, Penny. No one will force you to get married.”

“Let’s not talk about that for now,” Allison offered everyone a smile. “Let’s just enjoy this reunion and not dwell on our family dilemmas. It’s a happy occasion.”

“Mhm.” Penny smiled, feeling reassured by their remarks.

Although she knew Atlas had been against this arranged marriage nonsense the elders were talking about, it still annoyed her. After all, her immediate family wasn’t even forcing her to do anything. But alas, their elders seemed to think they had control over her.

And just like that, they enjoyed the night together, filled with laughter, shared stories, and love.

This was home, and Penny could finally say she was at home.

After a long night full of excitement and nonstop talking, Penny retired to bed. The flight had. exhausted her, and even though she still had the energy to indulge her family, her eyes were giving in. So, she excused herself to rest.

Opening the door to her room, Penny paused and looked around.

“It looks like time froze here, she whispered, listening to the click of the door as she closed it

behind her. Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.

Her eyes scanned the room, and it was still the same as when she left it. The design, the books, and even the sheets were the same. It seemed like Allison had perfectly preserved this room.

“How nice to be back,” she whispered and quietly sat down on the floor beside the bed. She rested her arms over her bent knees, her back against the side of the bed, eyes scanning the room. When her gaze fell on a particular part of the room, her smile cracked a bit.

“Now I’m a little sad, she whispered as her eyes softened, thinking of the pets she used to have as a kid. “I miss them. 2

A lump immediately formed in her throat as she stared at the area she used to call her pets‘

territory.

Knock Knock

Penny snapped her eyes to the door, watching it open. Her lips curled up when she saw Butler

Jen.

“Miss Penny” Butler Jen called before he bent over, letting the cat go. “Chunchun seemed to look

for you

when you left

Penny chuckled as she gazed at Chunchun, who sat on her lap and nestled in. Among her pets, Chunchun was the only one who remained. Tiana left her five years ago, while Mouse passed years before that.

“Are you alright, Miss Penny?” he asked, earning a look from her.

“Yes,” she said, casting her eyes on the corner of her room. “It’s just that, coming here and seeing my room as if it was frozen in time, I can’t help but remember Tiana and Mouse.”

Butler Jen’s eyes softened. “I’m very sure they had a good time with you.”

“We did.” Penny looked up at him again. “Thank you, Butler Jen.”

“Anytime, Miss Penny” Having said that, Butler Jen reached for the knob and slowly closed the door. But before he could, he stopped and cast Penny a look. “Miss Penny.”

Penny gazed back at him. “Yes?”

“Welcome home,” he smiled.

The corner of her lips hooked up as she nodded. “Mhm. Finally, I’m home.”

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