"What?" Penny frowned at the cashier. "There are no more cakes like that?"
The cashier sighed as she looked at Penny, who seed like she was about to cry. "Miss, our stock has already run out. However, we have a restock delivery today."
"What does that an?" Penny perked up, her eyes glimring a bit. "Does that an you might get it today?"
"Actually, the delivery is already on the way. If you can wait, it might arrive in an hour or two."
"..." Penny humd a long tune as she tapped her finger on the counter. "Say, is this cake your bestseller?"
"Yes, it is. That’s why it’s always low in stock."
Penny frowned, hesitating. An hour or two of waiting was a long ti. By then, Haines would be ho, and Slater would be there too. Not that she cared about Atlas—he would only co to spend dinner rambling about the security system in more detail. But she didn’t want Slater nagging her.
Just then, Penny heard the chi of the shop door as a custor walked in.
"Hello, do you have this cake?" The new custor held up their phone, showing a picture.
It was the sa cake Penny was after.
"Unfortunately, the delivery still hasn’t arrived. But if you’re willing to wait, it might co in an hour or two," the cashier said, repeating what she had told Penny.
"Aww... Can I reserve one?"
"We don’t have a reservation policy, unfortunately."
"I see—"
"I’ll wait!" Penny declared, making both the cashier and the other custor flinch in surprise. "Hey, I was here first, so no skipping line."
The custor frowned at Penny while the cashier smiled awkwardly. "If you’re willing to wait, then I’ll prioritize those first in line. I’m sorry, but our shop operates strictly on a first-co, first-served basis."
"That’s fine!" Penny grinned. "The cake is worth it."
She then cast the other custor a smirk. The latter frowned even more but ultimately ignored Penny, stepping back a few paces and typing on her phone. It was clear she was debating whether to wait, but after a few monts, she decided to stay.
Outside the shop, Mark, who had been waiting for Penny, stared at her through the window.
"What’s taking her so long?" he muttered, watching custors co and go while Penny remained inside. "Don’t tell she’s waiting for that cake?"
He checked the ti, his face twitching. "She wouldn’t actually wait that long... right?"
And thus began the long wait.
---
At the sa ti...
"Old Madam, are you sure we’re leaving now?" Butler Hubert asked as he rode in the backseat with Old Mrs. Pierson. "Don’t you want to make sure he drinks the soup?"
Old Mrs. Pierson smirked. "I already told their personal chef to serve it when he arrived," she chuckled.
"Did you at least tell the chef about its effects?"
"I didn’t have to!" Old Mrs. Pierson laughed louder—until she started coughing. "As long as he feeds it to Penny and Renren, no one needs to know."
"Old Madam..." Butler Hubert sighed, smiling wryly at her mischievousness. However, there wasn’t much he could do since they had already left the residence. "Well, I suppose there’s no harm in doing this."
"Haha! What harm?! Once Penny and Renren find out, they’ll be thanking !" she laughed enthusiastically. "And I’ll pray that their disappointnt when the pregnancy test cos back negative will break because of !"
Butler Hubert chuckled, humoring the old woman. "I guess they would be very happy to share the news... once it happens."
---
So ti later...
Haines arrived at Skyline Plaza just as a familiar car pulled up near his vehicle.
"Uncle Haines?" Slater furrowed his brows as he stepped out, spotting Haines.
"Slater." Haines nodded at him, not expecting to see him here. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, Penny promised to take out to dinner, but it seems she forgot," Slater grumbled, crossing his arms. "So, she invited over instead since First Brother is staying for dinner too."
Slater pouted, clearly displeased. If Penny promised to have dinner with him on his day off, he wanted that ti for himself—just him and Penny. After all, he had so much gossip to share.
"I see." Haines nodded in understanding, offering Slater a ek smile.
"What about you, Uncle Haines?" Slater tilted his head. "What are you doing here?"
"Well..." Haines forced a smile, thinking of an excuse. "I have sothing to discuss with Penny regarding Miller’s Company."
"Oh..." Slater nodded before grinning. "My sister is really a busy person. Hehe! Good thing she has a brother like who understands."
With that, Slater happily skipped ahead, while Haines turned on his heel, adjusting his grip on his cane. When Slater reached Haines’s side, he sniffed the air and furrowed his brows.
"Uncle Haines, you sll different today," Slater pointed out.
"I told you, Slater. I was testing perfus to gift soone. I must’ve accidentally sprayed so on myself."
"Right." Slater smacked his lips. "Where’s the store? I kind of like the scent—I want to buy so for Penny, and maybe for Nina and Yuri."
Haines wanted to ignore him, but he knew Slater wouldn’t let this go. Just as he was about to think of another excuse, they heard an engine approaching.
The two of them stopped and turned toward the sound.
A motorcycle pulled up. Riding it was Hugo. Behind him, several cars followed—no explanation was needed to know who was inside. Zoren and Atlas had arrived.
"Second Brother!" Slater called out as Hugo parked. "What are you doing here too?!"
Hugo took off his helt, his sharp gaze snapping to Slater. "I’m here for the cake."
"Huh?"
"He ans the cake Nina told him about," Atlas, who had just stepped out of his car, clarified. "Nina sent him a piece, and she ntioned Penny probably bought a few."
anwhile, Zoren’s focus shifted to Haines. He smiled, nodding at him. "Uncle Haines, I’m glad you finally visited us."
Haines shrugged. "I needed to discuss sothing important with Penny, so I told her I’d be stopping by. I hope I’m not disturbing anything."
"Not at all." Pleased, Zoren scanned the group and smiled in satisfaction. While he would have preferred Charles to be here too, having his brothers-in-law and Haines in one place wasn’t bad. "Please, let’s go in. Penny ntioned she was stopping by the bakeshop for the cake."
"Nice!" Hugo cheered as Slater moved closer to him.
"Second Brother, is this cake really that good?"
Hugo nodded sternly. "Chef Skylar’s pudding is still my number one, but this cake definitely made it into my top ten."
"I want to try it..."
With that, the n headed inside to wait for Penny. But little did they know, as they eagerly anticipated the cake, they were also getting closer to the real surprise waiting for them—the poisoned soup.
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