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

Chapter 1570: Which one: Zoren or Penny?

"If you knew she's with him, how come you're fine with it?"

A quiet wind blew past them, Ray's brows slowly rising in surprise.

"Didn't you also know?" Ray blurted out, tilting his head to the side. "He already introduced her to the family."

Zoren did - but Dean just hadn't wanted to believe it.

It took a moment for Ray to remember Dean's bad habit. For someone considered a genius, Dean had a terrible and stubborn streak of denial. Sometimes, it made people wonder if he was truly smart or just a fool trying to pretend otherwise.

"Hah..." A weak laugh escaped Ray as he rested his hands on the bench, leaning back slightly. "I liked Penny. Honestly, I still do."

His eyes softened, and the corner of his mouth tugged up as he gazed at the starless sky. "She's not just pretty. She's fun. She's direct and decisive. She knows what she wants, and when she doesn't want something, she makes it clear."

"Even when she rejected me over and over, I just... couldn't stop. Every rejection only made me want to try harder," he continued quietly, thinking back to the days he had chased after her.

Penny had only attended one year at the Summit School of Excellence, but it felt like she'd been there forever. She made Ray work ten times harder than before, pushing him to find what more he could do. When she graduated earlier than expected, her sudden departure blindsided everyone - no one had even noticed until her name appeared on the graduation list.

The school felt her absence the next year.

Not just Ray. Not just her friends. Everyone.

When Penny was there, life at the school had been different. Sure, there were bad days, but there were so many more good ones - the bets, the challenges, the fan club, the constant curiosity about what she'd do next.

She might not have realized it, but the entire school had missed her like waking from a vivid, beautiful dream and falling back into a dull reality.

Who wouldn't love someone like that?

Someone who could change an entire place just by existing.

So yes, Ray loved Penny. And yes, he still loved her more than he liked to admit.

murmured, a small smile playing on his lips, "I love her, but I also know she's not the most

his gaze back to Dean, his smile soft but

me, the most important thing is this school. Making sure it isn't just a playground for the rich and the bullies, but a place of opportunity - for everyone who deserves

deserves that much. If Penelope Bennett is the only

Ray could never be completely honest about

but he also knew he could never love her more than the school. Or more than

he never

upright. Picking up his briefcase,

and talk more, but then I remember I'm still angry at you," Ray said

walking

after a few steps, he stopped,

it was a choice: Penny or Zoren —not even

He paused.

-

"Which one would you pick? Zoren or Penny? Don't dare include yourself – doing so will cost you both. Maybe

linger. He walked off

there, staring at Ray's

Zoren or

cost you both. Perhaps,

words echoed in his

It didn't help.

felt at first. But his mind made

cast his eyes

his lips into

it weighed heavy on his chest. Because this wasn't just a test to ace. It was a question of what weighed

told, no one should ever have to make such

whispered, sadness flickering in his eyes, "...can't I just

down, he knew

had seen Zoren struggle.

to

had seen how