The twins and Penny nonverbally agreed not to talk about the little incident, thinking it was not important. It was a passing event they would eventually forget.
Jessa made a fuss about her purchases but didn’t dwell on it so much. So, after a long day, their day together ca to an end.
"Penny, today is fun. Let’s do this again soti!" Yuri enthusiastically remarked.
"Your birthday is in a week. How about we go then? Mom has to cancel our trip, but I think she can book it again. She said she has plenty of money." Yugi didn’t hold back despite Butler Jen and Hugo being present, who knew where his mother got the money. "We’ll have a lot more fun together!"
Penny smiled at the two, reminded that she would be officially thirteen in a week. But with the current situation, she couldn’t easily agree. "I don’t know about that yet..."
"Penny, don’t worry about that as well," Jessa spoke, and again, Penny looked up at her auntie with doubt.
Jessa kept saying not to worry, but the effect of Penny every ti was the opposite.
"We can always celebrate your birthday on other days. Fufufu~!" Jessa laughed evilly with the back of her hand covering the corner of her mouth.
Anyone would be worried about that gesture.
Hugo, who was standing behind Penny, couldn’t help but lower his eyes at his sister. ’Right... Nina’s birthday is in a week. That ans it’s also Penny’s birthday.’
Hugo felt bitter that this hadn’t crossed him yet.
"Auntie..." Penny sighed in defeat. "You’re scary."
Jessa laughed even more. "Niece, don’t be scared of . So should, though. Hah!"
"..."
"Anyway, take care on your way back." Jessa recomposed herself, specifically shifting her eyes to Butler Jen. "And you better take good care of her. If you don’t, you’re the first person I’ll rip apart!"
Penny choked at the bold warning Jessa spewed at Butler Jen. "Auntie!"
Butler Jen didn’t mind, though. "Yes, Mrs. Cortez. I’ll keep that in mind."
"Hmph!" Jessa raised her chin and arched a brow at Hugo.
Hugo intuitively straightened his back as his shoulders tensed up. She assessed him from head to toe, furrowing her brows at the little toad on top of his head, but then looked away.
"Anyway, it’s getting late. You should head back." Jessa shooed them away. "Niece, don’t miss us so much, okay? I’ll be sending you so ho-cooked side dishes and foods soon."
At the ntion of food, Penny’s eyes twinkled. The food in the Bennet Mansion might be delicious and prepared by the family chef and dietician, but nothing beats ho-cooked foods!
"Very well." Butler Jen cleared his throat. "I’ll get you a cab first —"
Jessa waved dismissively and cut him off with, "There’s no need for that. My husband is already on his way to pick us up. We have a car, you know?"
"You do?" Penny blurted out, only to realize the money Jessa got for sending her away was enough to buy at least four brand-new cars, fully paid.
"I see." Butler Jen nodded and walked a step. "Then, I will leave these..."
Again, Butler Jen trailed off because Jessa waved her hand vigorously. His brows rose, confused. He and Hugo were still carrying the boxes of Jessa’s purchases.
"Those boxes are for my niece." Jessa pointed at the boxes in their arms. "They’re my gifts to her. The one on the top is yours."
"For ?" Butler Jen repeated, a little doubtful if he heard her correctly.
Jessa nodded and cast Hugo a quick look. "I also got you sothing. You might look like a little delinquent, but be grateful you’re Penny’s brother. Don’t bully her or I’ll show you what a real delinquent is!"
Little... delinquent?
Penny, Butler Jen, and Hugo looked at Jessa blankly.
Which part of Hugo looked like he was a delinquent? Most importantly, why was she so judgental?! Hadn’t she heard the phrase of not judging the book by its cover?
"Consider it a bribe so you look after my niece," Jessa explained arrogantly, waving her hand as if shooing so sore eyes away. "Now, now, don’t thank . Off you go. Shoo."
Butler Jen recovered after a mont and offered them a smile. He assisted Hugo and Penny in the car, and the driver helped him put the boxes in the trunk.
In under five minutes, their car sped away.
Jessa and the twins remained standing in the sa spot and stared at the car’s rear. When the car was as tiny as an ant, Yugi looked up at his mother.
"Mom, did you and Dad buy a car? Do we have a car now?"
Yuri also looked up at her mother with the sa curiosity in her eyes. "Wasn’t Dad on a company trip in the countryside?"
"Of course, we don’t have a car!" Jessa scrunched up her nose.
"But why did you tell them we have one?" the twins asked in unison.
"Do you want your mother to owe them? If I did, they might use it to discredit as Penny’s aunt." Jessa clicked her tongue. "Moreover, where would we park a car? We might have the money now, but we can’t just spend it lavishly." That was why she always looked for stores that had huge discounts!
The twins’ lips ford an o-shape, nodding in understanding. "So, that’s why."
"Mom, you’re really smart!" Yugi quickly approved of his mother’s quick thinking. "Now, they won’t look down on us!"
"Mom, you should ask for days Penny can stay with us!" Yuri suggested, thinking Penny’s family wouldn’t look down on them now.
Jessa smirked, looking all evil once again. "Don’t worry about that, kids. Your mom got everything under control."
****
Back at the Bennet Mansion, Charles was sitting on the couch with Allison. His arms were resting on his legs, eyes fixated on the big cage and the mouse inside. The mouth has a long and dense brown and white hair, making it look fluffy. It was eating quietly inside its own spacious cage.
Allison darted her eyes between her husband and the mouse on the coffee table. "Charles, are you sure Penny asked for this kind of mouse?"
"Yes, hundred percent." Charles looked serious, keeping his observant eye on the mouse. "It looks cute, isn’t it?"
Allison glanced at the mouse and hesitatingly said, "I don’t know."
"I would’ve gotten her the hairless one, but this is the cutest I saw." Charles rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "Do you think Penny will like it?"
He peeled his eyes off the new pet in the house and turned to Allison. "Or should I get her another one, just in case?"
’Like a smaller one?’ Allison wondered.
"Charles, I think Penny will appreciate it." Allison still tried to cheer him up, patting his back mildly. "Regardless if you got her this one or the hairless one, your efforts are most important."
Charles sighed, still wasn’t comforted. His daughter was sweet and took pride in being his daughter. He didn’t want to disappoint her!
At the sa ti, Haines arrived at the mansion. When he saw the couple in the living area, he approached them. His eyes fell on the cage, lowering his head to see what was inside.
The mont Haines saw the pet Charles got for Penny, his face twitched.
"Haines, do you think she will like it?" The troubled Charles asked nervously, making Haines look at him in disbelief.
"Charles, is this... a rabbit?"
"What? No!"
"Then how co it’s bigger than her cat?" Haines gasped, sitting down to get a closer look. "This is a mouse?"
Charles sighed and explained his side of the story. "I don’t want Penny to have a hard ti looking for it, alright? Penny likes to let her pets play in the garden. Moreover, it’s best if the mouse is big so her cat won’t eat it. I was thinking of its survival when I bought it."
"..."
Haines and Allison were rendered speechless.
Reviews
All reviews (0)