There were many things Penny didn’t believe anymore: love, family, truth, innocence—they were just a few items on the long list she could no longer accept. However, if there was a little bit of truth to the letter, she wanted to test it and prove it.
She wanted to confirm that Hugo wasn’t just a vivid part of her imagination—especially Zoren. She didn’t want them to be part of a sick mind.
"Third Young Master." Butler Jen let out a sigh, staring at Slater, who was lying on the floor in the mansion’s lobby. "Shall I help you so you can rest on the sofa?"
Slater snapped his eyes at Butler Jen. "Butler Jen, what date is today?"
"You still have around three weeks, Third Young Master."
"Argh! Huhuhu!" Slater lamented, throwing a tantrum on the floor. "Why does time tick so slowly? I’ve run out of ideas for things to do!"
A shallow breath slipped past Butler Jen as he watched a grown man throw a fit. In his mind, he told himself he shouldn’t have watched all of Slater’s shows and interviews. After all, Slater in real life shattered his public image so ruthlessly.
"Third Young Master..." Butler Jen trailed off as he heard the faint sound of a motor outside.
"Huhuhu! I’m so bored! Penny hasn’t been answering my phone calls! What is she doing?! She didn’t even go to her office today! Is she that busy with her husband?! Unforgivable!"
While Slater continued, Butler Jen let him be and walked toward the glass door. He checked who was coming, assuming it was Hugo. After all, Hugo hadn’t been staying here and hadn’t told him where he had been. Much to Butler Jen’s surprise, it wasn’t Hugo.
"Miss Penny?" he whispered with furrowed brows. "What is she doing here at this hour?"
It wasn’t that late, but she also hadn’t said she was coming home. Setting aside his thoughts, Butler Jen walked toward the entrance to welcome her. As soon as he stepped out, a welcoming smile turned up on his face.
Penny took off her helmet and stopped upon hearing Butler Jen’s call. Turning her head in his direction, her eyes softened at the sight of him.
"Butler Jen?" she called back, jogging her steps to the entrance.
"Welcome back, Miss Penny," Butler Jen greeted politely and warmly. "You didn’t say you’d be coming home today. Have you eaten?"
Penny didn’t answer and just stared at him, pressing her quivering lips together. "I’m full," she said, taking a step closer and then wrapping her arms around him. "Butler Jen, I’m full."
"Miss Penny?" Butler Jen furrowed his brows, glancing at her in confusion. However, he ended up smiling and patting her back. "Is everything alright, Miss Penny?"
"Mhm," she hummed. "I just... I just missed you, that’s all."
Her eyes softened even more as she lowered her gaze. ’I’m sorry for not seeing you.’
It was no secret that Penny hadn’t had visitors in prison. What she meant by that was that there weren’t any people she wanted to see. That didn’t mean Butler Jen hadn’t come to visit her; it was just that she had refused to see him. She didn’t want him to see her in that place. Hence, she rejected all of his visits until her execution.
"Miss Penny." Butler Jen patted her back gently, letting her embrace him for as long as she wanted to. When she finally let go of him, he offered her a smile. "Then, I’m going to prepare you some desserts if you’ve already eaten."
"Thank you, Butler Jen."
"You’re always welcome, Miss Penny."
"Anyway, who is home?" she asked as they walked to the front door.
"The Third Young Master is in the lobby, throwing a tantrum. Sir Charles and the madam have already gone to bed. And then, Sir Atlas is in his room. Sir Haines is also in his room," Butler Jen explained as they approached the entrance, stopping when he reached for the knob. "Miss Penny, should I distract the Third Young Master?"
Penny pressed her lips into a thin line, looking back at him with curiosity. She didn’t ask, but Butler Jen already gave her another explanation.
"I just thought you wanted to avoid him."
’And since when did I start avoiding him?’ she wondered to herself, tilting her head, her eyes on Butler Jen. ’From what I recall, he’s the one who avoids me, not the other way around.’
Penny forced a short smile. "No need for that. I need to talk to him, so I guess there’s no need for distraction."
With that being said, Butler Jen opened the door and walked in. Penny followed behind, her eyes quickly catching sight of the grown man on the floor. This was the second time in one day she had seen a grown man throwing a tantrum on the floor—although the current Penny didn’t know that.
"Butler Jen, Second Bro—" Slater abruptly stopped when he looked up and saw the person walking with Butler Jen. "Penny!"
Penny flinched when Slater’s voice thundered, watching him jump up as if he weighed nothing. Slater quickly jogged in her direction, making Penny take a step back.
"Penny!" Slater spread his arms and legs, jumping in front of her. "You’re here! Did you miss me?!"
Slater blinked and blinked, grinning. "Did you?"
"..." Her face already gave her answer, but he ignored that because she always said the opposite of her expression. For a moment, Penny squinted and assessed the look on Slater’s face.
This was not something she had seen before—not even in front of Nina or their parents. If anything, the Slater she recalled was an entitled brat. Penny opened her mouth, but her voice didn’t come out immediately.
"What?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. "Penny, is it that hard to say you missed me? You don’t have to be shy, you know? The feeling is mutual! I missed you!"
Instead of answering, Penny just looked at him in disbelief. She leaned in a little, making his brows crease. Penny studied his face up close before she drew her head back.
The moment she called him, the smile on Slater’s face twitched. Penny saw this and recalled the look on Hugo’s face.
’Was it true?’ she asked herself. ’That I have a good relationship with them now?’
Penny pursed her lips and cleared her throat. "Third—third—bro... bruh..."
Slater deadpanned while Butler Jen sighed, thinking Penny was messing with Slater again. But before they could say anything, Penny smacked her lips and raised her chin.
"You... creature." She pointed at Slater, making him flinch. "Do you love me?"