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

Chapter 490: Mom, why do you hate me?

[FLASHBACK]

The night of Zoren's visit to the Bennet household...

A deep exhale escaped Allison as she wiped Penny's forehead. Penny had been sweating profusely in her sleep, so aside from trying to keep her temperature down, Allison had to wipe the sweat forming on Penny's forehead and back.

'I don't remember nursing her back to health like this,' thought Allison, her eyes softening as her lips curled bitterly. 'Did Haines have to look after her like this when they were abroad?'

To be honest, Allison felt jealous of Haines.

Although Allison and Charles never failed to fly out of the country to see their daughter, and Penny would fly back during her vacations, it wasn't enough. Penny hadn't spent the first thirteen years of her life with her real family. Adding to those twelve years, it felt like they hadn't truly looked after her.

It might have been Penny's insistence, and with a heavy heart, they respected her decision. Even so, these numbers lingered in Allison's mind until now.

Reaching out to Penny, she stroked her daughter's hair gently. "Penny, just how fast did you all grow up? I just blinked..." Now they were all adults.

Having all four of them in the house was a blessing.

'If not for Mama's, I would be very sad,' she thought, thankful that she had gone into business with Jessa. Otherwise, she would just be here, waiting for the time her children would come to visit.

Her eyes softened with affection, missing all the years they had lost together. Her worries for Penny dominated her heart, but at the same time, realizing how many things she had missed doing for her daughter brought a conflict into her heart.

"Get well, my dearest," she whispered, leaning in to kiss her daughter's forehead. "Mom's gonna be here, so don't worry."

Allison slowly drew away, sighing once again. She stayed in the chair beside the bed, fixing the already-used towels under the night lamp. As she squeezed the towel to dry it and get a new bowl, she sensed a stare from her side.

a gentle smile, but her smile cracked when a tear rolled down the bridge of

reach for her when Penny suddenly asked, "Mom, why do

barely above a

ears.

as the question took her off guard. "Honey,

have you

down the towel and moved from the chair to the edge

don't understand what you're talking about," said Allison with a worried smile, touching Penny's forehead with the back of her hand. Penny was burning up again. Assuming

"I hate myself."

attention back to her daughter, only to see tears welling up in Penny's eyes. Seeing her daughter in tears was enough to make her

her voice shaky and filled with grief. "... that

and baffled by her daughter's words. However, she couldn't deny the heaviness and sincerity in Penny's voice.

why are you saying this? I never hated you." Allison panicked a

Penny, though she didn't have to because Penny was already hugging her waist, crying.

a mix of worry and panic in her voice. "Why are you crying,

her mother's waist tighter. Her grip was so strong that Allison felt her daughter's hand starting to shake. She

hurts..." Penny whispered through her tears. "... that I can't

her face in

afraid to

sorry for not making you proud. I tried my best

you'd be proud of

I'm sorry, Mom. Please don't hate me. I'll

She gazed down at Penny, who was buried in her embrace, holding on as if begging. Before she knew

cheek as

wanted to tell her daughter she would never