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.

his heart. The one who broke him, who haunted his thoughts every day and night for years. Confusion shimmered in their

Uncle Haines," Atlas spoke, his voice cold and clear, "the person you both remember might be the same person — and that

died before any of you

any of you came along before Charles was discharged

in Charles's operation and the one

if that was the case... why did

Haines turned to

toward Haines. His mouth opened, but the words died on his tongue.

him, understanding his

eyes flicking to Zoren and Atlas. "She never

pause drew everyone's attention. It was as if a

Haines whispered again, shaking his

"What's impossible, Uncle?" Atlas

asked.

fyou remember anythinget

- please

the smallest detail mightful."

"

it aloud would

himself to swallow his

felt like the

Everyone's brows furrowed.

never really questioned it. I'd even

sometimes... she'd contradict herself."

clenched as his

she'd be fine with them. Sometimes she said she was allergic to certain foods, but the

eat them without

hesitation."

she ever allergic to

Haines froze.

— but the shock on his