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.

of the woman he had once loved with all his heart. The one who broke him, who haunted his thoughts every day and night for years. Confusion shimmered in their eyes as they struggled to

and clear, "the person you both remember might be the same person — and

before any of you

shook his head. "No. She disappeared. That was before any of you came along before

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

was the case... why did she look exactly

turned to Zoren in

twin?" Charles blurted out, then hesitated, turning toward Haines. His mouth opened, but

glanced at him, understanding

Zoren and Atlas. "She

and the sudden pause drew everyone's attention. It was as if a realization had just dawned on

whispered again, shaking

"What's impossible, Uncle?" Atlas

asked.

fyou remember anythinget

please

the smallest detail mightful."

"

hesitated. Speaking it aloud would mean reopening old wounds.

himself to swallow

"when I felt like the woman with me wasn't the same

Everyone's brows furrowed.

often, so I never really questioned it. I'd

sometimes... she'd contradict herself."

hand clenched as

– always made that clear. But suddenly she'd be fine with them. Sometimes she said she was allergic to certain foods, but

eat

hesitation."

she ever allergic to pollen?"

Haines froze.

— but the shock