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

Chapter 1552: This handwriting?

The day went by as usual, and like the past few days, Penny was already leaving hours before her usual time to go home.

As soon as she walked out of her office, Patricia jumped from her seat.

"Penny, are you leaving again?" Patricia asked, stepping in front of her.

Penny arched a brow, studying her. "What if I am?"

"Where are you even going?" Patricia demanded. "You've been leaving early these days. And you're even leaving me!"

Penny blinked, tilting her head slightly. "Patricia, even if I'm not here, the company isn't going to fall apart. So whatever it is that's worrying you, stop worrying."

She then planned to walk past her, but Patricia stepped in front of her again. "I'm not worried about the company. That's not going to happen."

"Oh?"

"You're Penny!" Patricia declared, clearly not in her right mind. "What I'm worried about is you."

She pointed at her dramatically. "Penny, I've known you long enough to know when you're being suspicious. Especially when you won't take me or Teddy with you."

"Mark's with me."

"But he doesn't care about you."

Mark, standing behind Penny, frowned.

"As long as you're alive, he's fine," Patricia added in a knowing tone.

Penny and Mark both opened their mouths, but no words came out. Patricia had a point, and Mark couldn't really deny it. He'd been Penny's bodyguard since his last real mission under Zoren, and had gotten used to this arrangement with her.

"And when you won't let anyone else in on your little secret, it's definitely suspicious." She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Now, where are you going?"

Mark: I thought she hired an assistant, not a mother?

Penny: This feels like Aunt Jessa all over again.

"Uh." Penny blinked, catching something out of the corner of her eye. "Oh?"

She slowly turned her head toward a small designer bag placed on the desk beside the computer. "That's a nice bag."

"Huh?" Patricia turned to where Penny was looking. The moment her eyes landed on it, her face brightened. "My dad just bought me hey!"

But by the time she turned around, Penny and Mark had already slipped past her and were halfway down the hallway.

Whatever this is, be careful!" Patricia

could-if she ran, she might catch up. But she didn't. She sighed and turned back,

doing?" she grumbled. "A part of me is

head, Patricia dragged herself back to her seat

home today and I will give him a

with Penny, the chances of her

Meanwhile...

the backseat. "For a second there, I

and buckled his seatbelt. "She's

"A bit?"

food lately, but her energy was a bit much. "Never mind her," she waved dismissively, taking off her blazer. "Let's just go." Mark didn't respond, but he quietly raised

---

arrived at

it had been for the

Professor Singh's a

the university and only his team had access to¶t. But with the professor focused on another

her beard

the stool and stretched briefly, letting her mind settle. She'd been coming here for days.

another trial," she murmured, clapping her hands and spinning toward

it to check the formulas she'd already tested. But the moment

she muttered, flipping

she'd carried over from her past life. There were formulas marked with big Xs indicating failed attempts.

Some she hadn't even tested were already marked

in. These weren't random

hers, half the new entries were marked as failed,

thinned. Quietly, she flipped through more pages, analyzing the

bickered constantly—not in a cute, teasing way,

most of their teen years together, they knew each other

This handwriting?

even

tongue with a sigh. "As much as I hate it, that jerk is really good at this. He better not

His notes were more helpful than the

of research, trial and

****

to the Prime

Patricia usually spends

hours in

—

just mentally agreed to let her

time she

vete