PAMPERED BY MY THREE BROTHERS: THE RETURN OF THE NEGLECTED HEIRESS

Chapter 1855: Things she disliked

When does life begin?

When you were born? When you take your first cry? Your first breath? Your first walk? Your first word?

When asked, the answer to that question differs from person to person. For some, life began as early as they can remember. For others? It took years—decades, even. But one thing’s for sure:

Life begins when you decide to live.

Whether at fifty or one, or even after an entire lifetime. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Life is life, and no one is ever too late for it.

—

[PRIME GROUP]

Months had passed since the incident on the island, and everything had seemingly gone back to normal. Just like in Prime Group… or so Penny wanted to believe.

Seated on the sofa in her office, enjoying a nice barbecue with Wild and Lily, the three of them froze mid-bite. Their eyes shifted to the entrance of the office as Penny’s assistants—Shawn, Teddy, Patricia, and Hayley—marched in and surrounded them.

“Uhh…” Wild cleared his throat, glancing at Penny. “Penny? What did you do this time?”

“Whatever it was, it’s not me,” Penny defended herself even before she heard anything else.

Lily then blurted out, “Penny, are your assistants getting scarier every time I come here?”

“Miss Penny.” Teddy huffed, placing a tablet on a small vacant spot on the table.

Confused, Penny picked up the tablet. Instinctively, Wild leaned to her side while Lily jumped from her seat to Penny’s other side.

[BREAKING NEWS!

Two business tycoons allegedly having an affair?!]

Penny, Lily, and Wild raised their brows as they read the article. It was just a blind item—again. The article claimed that two business tycoons, both married to their respective partners, were caught having an affair.

Pictures of Penny and Zoren taking a night walk while holding hands, and another where they appeared to be kissing, were attached. Though their faces were blurred, everyone knew it was them.

Penny blinked and muttered, “Oh.”

Wild and Lily pressed their lips together and nodded in understanding. Their minimal reaction only made the other four fume.

“Miss Penny, this isn’t the first time you and Mr. Pierson have been caught in a scandal,” Hayley finally said in frustration. “With all due respect, this is the umpteenth time you and Prime Group have been involved in such rumors.”

The case about Prime Group’s market manipulation had just subsided, but Penny’s alleged affair had been the talk of the town for weeks. It even took over the news of corruption, and some prominent figures were caught in this huge scandal involving Cassandra’s case.

“I respect you, but this needs to stop,” Hayley remarked. “We need the truth now. Are you and Mr. Pierson having an affair?”

Teddy nodded slightly, dismay on his face. Even though Teddy had seen Zoren present during the incident, he hadn’t thought much of it. After all, there were many people there, and Jonathan was Zoren’s fake “brother.” So, naturally, he’d be there.

Shawn, on the other hand, just smiled awkwardly. He wasn’t here to confront Penny about these scandals. He had come to stop his colleagues.

After the incident, Shawn had wanted to turn himself in. He knew he should pay for his involvement. However, since he hadn’t committed any other crimes in the last ten years, there wasn’t much to build a case against him.

Thus, he ended up back at Prime Group. Penny had accepted him with open arms, though not with the same salary grade. That, one could say, was Shawn’s punishment—along with some extra unpaid hours of work for the next year.

“Penny, this news is all so ridiculous,” Patricia spat, arms crossed. After a sigh, she dropped her arms, walked to the vacant seat, and picked up her barbecue to eat. “If it’s true, just say so. It’s not like I’m leaving—Hayley might, though.”

Hayley scoffed. “What?”

“Just saying,” Patricia shrugged. “And don’t get me wrong. I’m fine if you resign, since I’ll still see you. Once you and my brother get married next year. Whether I like it or not.”

After all, Theo already proposed to Hayley, and Hayley already gave her sweet “yes.”

“Miss Penny, the reason these rumors keep popping up is because you and Mr. Pierson keep your silence,” Teddy sighed heavily.

Penny pouted. “But I’m not having an affair with him.”

How could she have an affair with her husband?

“I’m sure once you release a public statement, this will stop,” Teddy continued, believing Penny’s claim that she wasn’t having an affair with Zoren.

The two of them were good friends. The Bennet and Pierson families shared ties stronger than anything. Even though Atlas had already stepped down, their bond remained unchanged. Teddy knew that, especially after everything the Bennet and Pierson families had gone through together.

Penny chewed her meat, her eyes scanning everyone’s faces.

“Just clear it up,” Wild cleared his throat, resuming his meal. “I think it’s about time.”

Lily, who had already started eating after reading the article, nodded. “Uncle BBQ is right. These things will keep appearing unless one of you finally releases a statement.”

“Fine,” Penny finally relented, eating the last piece of meat from her stick before tossing it in the trash. “I’ll do it, then!”

With that, Penny grabbed a tissue to wipe her hands and mouth before getting up. She started walking toward the door but paused when she was close.

“What are you guys doing?” she asked. “The four of you, come with me. And Shawn, bring me my keys.”

The four of them blinked, then Hayley blurted out, “Miss Penny, where are we going?”

“Where else?” Penny smirked. “You said you want me to clear things up, so I’m going to clear things up. Come on.”

With that, Penny resumed walking out. The four of them exchanged looks before Shawn jogged to her desk to get her bag and keys. They followed her quickly, leaving Wild and Lily still eating barbecue.

“She’s going out smelling like barbecue?” Lily mumbled, still enjoying her food.

Wild looked at the young lady, who only came here whenever Wild was grilling barbecue in Penny’s office. “Young lady, you’d better make sure once you’re done eating, you clean all this up.”

“Yes, sir!” Lily had no problem with that. “Anyway, Uncle Wild, what do you think she’ll do?”

“Beats me,” he shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. And stop eating the best barbecue!”

Lily pouted, putting down the stick of perfectly grilled barbecue and picking up another. As she did, she thought about pulling out her phone to check on the article. After all, it was keeping her entertained.

But just as she did, her face contorted.

“Uhh… Uncle BBQ,” she called, raising her phone to show him what was happening. “The clear pictures where their faces are blurred have been released.”

Her smile twisted into an awkward one. “And currently, I think some reporters are outside the building.”

Wild leaned in, his brows knitted in concern, staring at the live broadcast from outside Prime Group’s building.

“Uh oh.” His face twisted with worry. After all, there were very few things Penny disliked, and they were all very distinct.

The first was surprises. The second, the media. And third, camera flashes.

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