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

324 First date

“This is crazy! No, it’s terrible!” Slater paced back and forth in the living area, biting the tip of his thumb nervously, “A date?! Why is she going on a date with someone she only met a few times?! Is she crazy!? Her big brothers aren’t even married or in a relationship, but the youngest is already dating! Unacceptable!”

The men, who were gathered in the living room, watched Slater pace back and forth. Although they all wanted to express their sentiments regarding this, they couldn’t. How could they? Slater was using all the words and was making sure the spotlight was on him.

“I am not ready for this,” Charles clasped his hands across his chest, head shaking. “My beautiful daughter is going to see a man. Even though she deals with men every single day, she always kicks their asses, not date them.”

Hugo nodded, sighing. “I should stop her.”

“Why?” Atlas tilted his head to the side, eyes on Hugo. “Hugo, I know you don’t have any experience, but that’s not a nice thing to do. Penny is already old enough to explore. Dating is part of growing up. Therefore, just like how we supported her when she accepted her apprenticeship with Professor Singh, the least we could do is support her”

Atlas said all that without a second’s hesitation. However, while speaking out loud, the stress ball in his hand deflated with how much he squeezed it. By the end of his remarks, the stress ball broke. 6

Haines chuckled as he shook his head. “It’s just a date,” he said. “Two people meeting, getting to know each other, eating together. She’s not getting married.” 4

“Uncle, how are you so sure this won’t end in marriage?!” Slater was quick to retort. “Didn’t she say she met him just not long ago?! What if they decide to get married after this one date?! Uncle Haines, I’ve seen so many in the industry who only worked on one project and got carried away!”

Everyone gazed up at Slater, who was the most distressed of all of them. He hadn’t even fixed his bed hair, and he was already clasping it in stress.

“Slater, that’s a little…” Haines trailed off as he noticed the look of dread on Charles’s and Hugo’s faces. “Oh, boy.”

The already deflated stress ball in Atlas’s hand shrunk even more in his trembling grip.

Haines massaged his temple. Not that he wasn’t worried, but his worry wasn’t about the date itself. Rather, this was the first time Penny would experience a possible first love. And what Haines was worried about was her getting her heart broken.

It worried him because Haines knew a breakup would not only leave one’s heart broken but

shattered.

Just as the thought crossed Haines’s mind, Slater went on with his craziness again.

knows? After their

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324 First date

to run away with the babies!” Slater dramatically gasped, covering his mouth in horror. “My sister would have to carry her twins all alone and raise

heard bad things about the entertainment industry. If I ever find out you’re

“What?!”

you read somewhere. If that is a script, I tell you, don’t star in it. It’s horrible,” Charles remarked, shaking his head

we’re worried about the date and the possibility that our sister might have her first love and first heartbreak. But you talk as though Penny is some kind of weak damsel in distress,” said Atlas, looking at Slater in disgust. “Your imagination surely

looking at them in disbelief. “Why are you ganging up on me!? We’re allies

of his mouth, Allison’s

to see

was Penny. Penny’s hair was tied in

wore light makeup, matching her casual dress paired with white sneaker boots. All of them, except Haines and Slater–who were already

simplicity, she was very refreshing to the eye. Normally, Penny looked a little older than her age because of the type of clothes she wore. Not that she looked

now, she looked… like she was in

were staring at a slim version of her

down. “My princess! Oh, no! I can’t let you go like this! You’re so pretty, and he

you!”

doesn’t want to let me go home, then I’ll teach him a lesson. I am

“My Penny…”

that.” Atlas shook his head. “You’re

chaperone?” Hugo suggested. “I can go–no, I’ll drive you, and I will keep a safe distance.

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324 First date

a date on Sunday?!” Slater, on the