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

Chapter 1659: Do you... smoke?

When Slater stepped out, he spotted Penny already reaching the living area. He quickened his pace and caught up just as she reached the front door.

"Whoops!" Slater reached out and opened the door with a grin. "Let me get that."

Penny glanced at him but said nothing as she stepped outside. Slater held the door for her, then followed.

He took a small leap forward to walk beside her and cast a sideways glance.

"You okay?" he asked, his tone cautious.

Penny smiled and returned the look. "Why wouldn't I be?" She faced forward and shrugged. "We got clearance. Most of our questions were answered. I'm not over the moon, obviously. What we found out is... a lot. Bigger than I am, Third Brother."

She paused and gave him a wry smile. "I wasn't supposed to make it out of prison back then. But here I am. So, it's still something."

"We'll start small." Slater gave her a gentle pat on the back, making her glance back at him with a smile. "Compared to before, this is a much better place to start, don't you think?"

"Mhm." Penny nodded. "You're right."

A moment of silence passed as Slater continued observing her side profile. His brow furrowed slightly as he tilted his head.

"Penny," he said, earning a quiet hum from her. "Why do you look like... I don't know how to say it. Did she hurt your feelings or something?"

"What?" She stopped walking, her brows drawing together. "No. She didn't." "Then why do you look like that?"

She raised her brows, clearly confused. Slater sighed and shrugged.

"Never mind," he muttered. "Maybe it's just in my head. I guess... I was expecting something more?"

"More?" Penny snorted and resumed walking, Slater falling in step beside her. "Third Brother, we've both lived two lifetimes. Compared to before, our lives now are far better. Sure, the ghosts of our past still haunt us, still remind us of what we went through..."

She lifted her head and drew in a deep breath. Looking up at the sky, the corners of her lips lifted faintly.

"I'm not thankful for the things I had to endure. But at the same time, I can't help but think... if I hadn't gone through all that, I wouldn't be the Penny I am today." She turned to him with a gentle smile. "If you're wondering what was on my mind... I was just curious."

He raised a brow. "Curious about what?"

"Where was she all those years?" Penny shrugged. "That's all."

Slater pressed his lips together. The reaction didn't

what happened

nodded, his expression growing solemn.

"Oh?"

from what I heard, it was ugly. Her long struggle

murmured in understanding. "With her,

on it any further. It was a fleeting curiosity — one Penny allowed

all, they had bigger concerns

didn't know, however, was that while it was true Priscilla had died in their first

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[Short Flashback]

echoed in the dimly lit

into consciousness. Strands of hair clung to her

blinking open her swollen

to move - but her body didn't

she gasped, eyes

could make out the empty room. The windows were sealed. Clear plastic covered the

was muffled behind

rocking the chair violently. It eventually toppled over, crashing to the

entire

and battered.

the pain,

as her lungs fought for air it felt like

-

her chest had

clenched her jaw and endured.

spinning.

chair, just a few

before she heard footsteps approaching. Her heart pounded in her ears. She spotted polished black

down in the

Priscilla's breathing quickened. She

before she could, two men entered from the side and lifted her chair back upright They didn't speak. They just retied the ropes - tighter this time

the worst of the pain dulled, she forced herself to meet

dark eyes stared back, devoid

recognize him, but his presence