Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

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In the eyes of a child, you will see the world as it should be... except this child.

Right this very moment, Penny was sure all her eyes were screaming was horror. Babies were meant to be innocent, free from worries and wonders of the world. They should be sleeping soundlessly, smiling innocently, and simply a delightful existence. Not a baby with the memory of her criminal record!

Was she reborn? Did she reincarnate so soon?

Myriads of questions crossed her newborn brain, but none of them were answered. Thinking back to the time before she woke up in this small body, Penny could vividly remember her time in prison and all the years she spent trying to be a part of the family she was rightfully a member of, like it was yesterday.

Just like that time when her so-called family found her, Penny felt this same exact sense of hope for a new beginning.

It happened sometime around winter.

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Penny rubbed her little hands together and blew on them to give herself some warmth. The tip of her nose was red, and some snowflakes clung to her cheeks. Her body shivered within the worn-out and short jacket she had since she was six years old.

"Auntie!" she called from the outside, knocking on the small gates with her bare fingers. "Auntie, I learned my

lesson now. Please let me in?"

Penny stood on her toes, barely catching sight of the house's small front yard through the small gate.

"Auntie?" she called, her eyes welling up. Her gaze veered to the small window, where she could see her auntie preparing warm soup for her children.

"Auntie, it's cold here..." her voice lowered as it shook

along with the mild breeze that blew past her. "... please let me in? I'll be good!"

Penny clasped the cold metal gates as she sniffed, wiping her tears with her sleeve that only reached half

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of her arm. She turned around and hugged herself, rubbing her shoulders and then her hands together while blowing on them. Looking around, snow already blanketed almost everything.

The houses were all closed to protect themselves from the unbearably cold season. Penny was just thirteen, but she knew if she stayed out of there, she would freeze to death. Looking back at the gate one more time, she realized her auntie's anger wouldn't cease

anytime soon.

With that thought in mind, Penny dragged her feet

away.

'Aunt Baby went to her husband's place,' she thought, thinking of the only neighbor who showed concern for her. If this neighbor was only here, Penny would've been in her place the minute her real auntie chased her away after Penny accidentally spilled soup in her

hand.

time being,' was what she told herself, reminded of a friend around the

walked on the side of the street,

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was glad she was already wearing this jacket while doing chores

whatever she had on.

her way to her friend's house, Penny slowed down at the sight of three

street.

that came into her

shiny black sedans and one big SUV. Unknowingly, her steps. slowed down even more, following the cars with her gaze until her neck was twisting.

if her auntie found herself in trouble again due to her bad gambling

didn't want to stop and postpone finding herself some warmth. However, since there were unknown people outside her auntie's house,

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was her chance

house.

a lavish black coat

side, he gazed down at her. Penny almost flinched when their eyes met. It was already cold, but his eyes were even

pointed at the gates, eyes on him. "By

my auntie?"

had white residue clinging to her face, indicating she had been out in this cold for quite some time now. Yet, despite her shivering shoulders, she looked at him with genuine. curiosity, as if this weather was something she could

name Penelope?" he asked in the same

tone.

on Penelope's

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Penny intuitively took a step back as all sorts of negative thoughts swirled in her mind. The

work in the restaurant owned by one of her auntie's mahjong buddies. If that person hadn't been arrested, Penny would still be working there. Considering these people seemed to be well-off, she was afraid this time around, doing labor wasn't the only

the middle-aged man while keeping his gaze on

Young Miss?

eyes before she saw a subtle smile turned up on the middle-aged man's face. His smile might be short, but for

shoulders.

Miss, we're here to bring you

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tone of

everything

auntie."

at her reassuringly. "You

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man was telling the truth. She was safe and

she thought she would never feel left out again. Her real family was taking her home. But alas, she was wrong. The warmth she felt from that man was short-lived, like a futile flame in this fiercely cold season. Penny never got out of that cold winter. It was just a different place, different people, and slightly different life but it was all

same.