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

Chapter 1660: She's not my mother

[Bennet Mansion]

In the mansion's study room, Charles, Haines, Atlas, and Zoren sat tensely around the couches. Their expressions were grim, the tension in the room at an all-time high.

Hugo was also present, but he chose to keep his distance, leaning quietly against the window.

"That's impossible," Charles muttered after a prolonged silence.

His eyes were fixed on the photo laid out on the table. It wasn't the same one he had seen among Slater's things - this was a printed copy of an old family portrait. A family of four: an old woman, a boy, then a young couple standing behind.

Slowly, he lifted his dilated gaze to the person sitting across from him.

Zoren.

"That... that woman is your mother?" he asked under his breath.

Zoren nodded. "Like First Brother said, the photo you saw with Third Brother was

a portrait of my mother. He said he accidentally took it with him when my grandmother showed him some old pictures."

Atlas, seated beside him, cast a quiet glance in Zoren's direction. However, he said nothing they had to protect Slater's cover for now.

"But-" Charles began, then shifted his eyes toward Haines, who sat quietly in the single-seater armchair.

Haines's brows were furrowed, his gaze locked on the portrait, full of conflicting emotions. Even when he sensed Charles looking at him, he didn't look up. It took a few moments before he finally lifted his eyes and met theirs.

"That's impossible," Haines echoed. "How could... how could that happen?"

What both Charles and Haines meant was clear: they could never forget the woman from their past. For entirely different reasons, her face had been seared into their memories.

To Charles, she represented a tragedy - the devastation he felt after that operation, the trauma of being abducted and tortured. That face had nearly cost him his life.

If Charles hadn't been rescued, there would be no Atlas, Hugo, Slater, or Penny. He might never have met the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, much less married her. He wouldn't have this life, despite carrying such heavy scars from that incident.

who broke him, who haunted

person you both remember might be the same person — and that same person could very well be

Charles breathed. "That woman died before any of you

disappeared. That was before any of you came

reason, then, that the woman involved in Charles's operation and

case... why did she look exactly like Zoren's

and Haines turned

Haines. His mouth opened, but the words died on his tongue. The weight of the

at him, understanding

Zoren and Atlas.

off, and the sudden pause drew everyone's attention. It was as

again, shaking his head.

"What's impossible, Uncle?" Atlas

asked.

fyou remember anythinget

- please

the smallest detail mightful."

"

hesitated. Speaking it aloud would mean reopening old wounds. But

forced himself to swallow his

were times..." he began quietly, "when I felt like the woman with me wasn't

Everyone's brows furrowed.

I never really questioned it. I'd even joke about

sometimes... she'd contradict herself."

clenched as

fine with them. Sometimes she said she was

eat them

hesitation."

ever allergic to pollen?"

Haines froze.

shock