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

265 splinter in my throat.

"See you at lunch" a

Benjamin's heart thudded upon hearing Penny's remark. That sounded more like a threat-hadn't she said she would stay away?! He opened his mouth to call her out, but at the same time, came into view.

He furrowed his brows as he watched Dean approach the strange woman.

Dean glanced at Benjamin briefly before stopping in front of Penny.

"Why are you here?" Penny frowned, only to receive a smile from Dean.

"I was worried.

"Oh." She nodded and nonchalantly strutted off.

Dean

Dean sighed faintly, glancing back at the deadly glare Benjamin was throwing in his direction. He returned it with a smile before following Penny.

In the elevator, Penny stood motionless beside him.

"Don't follow me next time," she said after a full minute of silence. "You know how much I hate

that."

Dean cast her a sidelong glance. "I can't help it. Sometimes following you helps, doesn't it?"

Penny didn't answer but finally gave him a sharp look. "Still with that?"

"Penny, I told you to stay away from him."

"Why?"

"Because he's dangerous."

shook her head once. "That's not

breathed out. "We're not together, and I don't mind if we will never be. But, Penny, date anyone else, but not him." "Why?" She blinked,

my enemy," he answered quietly but

her tongue across her inner check

away. "I'm not trying to get his attention. because I'm interested in him. I just

"What is it?"

replying, "None of your

"Penny."

deep breath and faced him squarely, looking him straight in

<

in

Haines from that incident. But that doesn't mean you

distance between them, her

decisive and cold. "Whatever I need from Zoren Pierson is none of your concern,

he nodded. "If you say so," he raised a hand in surrender. "Then I trust

"Good"

back and faced the elevator door. When the lift reached the ground floor, she quickly stepped out without sparing Dean another second of

to follow her but stopped in his tracks. Watching her retreating figure, a

[FLASHBACK]

her eyelids. She instinctively touched her head before slowly opening her eyes. The

turned to the

was a pair of worried eyes. The corners of his eyes were red, and a thin layer of tears made them shine. The dark circles under his eyes were evident, and he looked like

you're finally awake!" Dean smiled in relief, pressing a button to call the hospital staff. "God... I thought... you...

before a painful headache struck her again. Along with the pain came flood of memories from before she woke up in this

she had was of Wild standing by the entrance

"My Uncle Haines-"

and nodded reassuringly. "Uncle