PAMPERED BY MY THREE BROTHERS: THE RETURN OF THE NEGLECTED HEIRESS Chapter 2: Safe

A child’s gaze usually reflects the world as it ought to be—pure and perfect. However, this infant was the exception.

At this moment, Penny felt certain that her eyes radiated nothing but sheer terror. Newborns are supposed to be innocent, shielded from the anxieties and complexities of life. They are meant to sleep peacefully and offer guileless smiles, existing only to be cherished. They certainly shouldn't possess the memories of a criminal record!

Countless questions swirled within her tiny, brand-new brain, yet answers remained elusive. Reflecting on the moments before she awakened in this fragile body, Penny could clearly recall her stint in prison and the grueling years she spent desperately trying to earn a place in her biological family. The memories felt as fresh as if they had occurred yesterday.

Just as she had felt when her so-called family first tracked her down, Penny was currently overwhelmed by a familiar, flickering hope for a fresh start.

That life-changing encounter had taken place during the winter.

***

Penny rubbed her small palms together, blowing hot breath onto them to ward off the biting cold. The tip of her nose had turned a bright red, and stray snowflakes clung to her cheeks. She shivered uncontrollably inside a tattered, undersized jacket that she had been wearing since the age of six.

“Auntie!” she cried out from the street, rapping her bare knuckles against the small metal gates. “Auntie, I’ve learned my lesson! Please, will you let me back inside?”

Standing on her tiptoes, Penny strained to catch a glimpse of the modest front yard through the gaps in the gate.

“Auntie?” she called again, her eyes beginning to sting with tears. She shifted her gaze toward the small window, where she could see her aunt inside, busy preparing hot soup for her own children.

“Auntie, it’s so cold out here...” her voice trailed off, trembling as a sharp breeze swept past her. “...Please let me in! I promise I’ll be good!”

Penny gripped the freezing metal bars and sniffed, using a sleeve that only reached her mid-forearm to wipe away her tears. Turning her back to the gate, she hugged herself tightly, rubbing her shoulders and blowing on her hands once more. A white blanket of snow already covered almost everything in sight.

Every house in the neighborhood was shuttered tight against the brutal season. Though she was only thirteen, Penny understood that staying outside meant she would likely freeze to death. Looking back at the gate one last time, she realized her aunt’s temper wasn't going to cool down anytime soon.

Resigned, Penny began to drag her feet away.

She thought of the only neighbor who had ever shown her any kindness. If that neighbor were home, Penny would have sought refuge there the moment her aunt kicked her out for accidentally spilling soup on her hand.

She tried to reassure herself by thinking of a friend who lived nearby in the community.

As Penny trudged along the edge of the road, she did everything possible to trap her body heat. She felt lucky she had been wearing this jacket while doing her chores; otherwise, her aunt would have thrown her out in whatever rags she had on at the moment.

On her way to her friend’s place, Penny’s pace faltered when she spotted three sedans navigating the street with caution.

The sight of the luxury vehicles immediately caught her attention. Penny watched in fascination as two polished black sedans and a large SUV approached. Without realizing it, she slowed down even more, her neck twisting to keep the cars in view. To her utter amazement, the procession came to a halt right in front of her aunt’s gate.

“Huh?” Her eyes widened with curiosity. She wondered if her aunt’s gambling habits or her loud mouth had finally landed her in serious trouble.

Penny didn't want to delay finding warmth, but the presence of these strangers drew her back. Whether they were important guests or officials coming to arrest her aunt, this was her chance to slip back inside the house.

“Uhm... excuse me?” she called out timidly as a middle-aged man wearing a sophisticated black overcoat stepped out of the lead vehicle. “Mister, are you looking for help?”

The man was quite tall, and as Penny stood beside him looking like a small, waif-like girl, he looked down at her. She nearly recoiled when their gazes met. The air was frigid, but his eyes held a piercing chill that felt even colder.

“I live in this house.” She pointed toward the gates, keeping her eyes on him. “Are you perhaps searching for my auntie?”

“No,” the man replied, observing the young girl. He noted the frost clinging to her face, a clear sign she had been exposed to the elements for a long time. Yet, despite her trembling frame, she looked back at him with a sense of genuine wonder, as if she possessed a spirit strong enough to endure the weather indefinitely.

“Is your name Penelope?” he inquired, his voice remaining flat and unreadable.

Penny’s brow furrowed deeply. Had her aunt used her as collateral for a debt again? She instinctively retreated a step as dark thoughts began to cloud her mind. The curiosity in her expression was quickly replaced by fear.

Not long ago, Penny had been forced to work off her aunt’s debt at a restaurant owned by one of her aunt’s mahjong partners. If that owner hadn't been hauled off to jail, Penny would still be trapped there. Seeing how wealthy these people appeared, she feared that simple labor wouldn't be enough this time. Perhaps they were after her organs!

“Get a coat for her,” the middle-aged man commanded, never taking his eyes off Penny. “The Young Miss is freezing.”

Penny squinted at him suspiciously, but then she saw a faint smile touch the man’s lips. It was a brief gesture, but for some reason, it sent a wave of warmth and comfort through her heart. The man took off his own coat and draped it around her shoulders.

“Young Miss, we have come to take you home,” he said softly, though his voice still carried an innate authority. “We will explain everything to you and your aunt.”

He paused, giving her a reassuring nod. “You are safe now.”

*******

Safe.

Oh, how comforting and warm those words had seemed back then. Penny truly believed he was telling her the truth—that her suffering was over and no one would ever mistreat her again. When the reality of the situation was explained to her and her aunt, Penny had been nearly overwhelmed with happiness.

In her mind, she believed she would never be an outcast again. Her biological family was finally reclaiming her. But she was tragically mistaken. The warmth she felt from that man was fleeting, like a tiny flame snuffed out by a blizzard. Penny never truly escaped that winter. It was merely a change of scenery and different faces; the underlying coldness of her life remained the same.

*

*

*

She heard a small hiccup escape her as she recalled her miserable past. Penny’s mind had been racing just a moment ago, but now a heavy drowsiness settled over her. As a newborn, it was only natural for her to succumb to sleep. As she drifted off, she noticed a nurse she didn't recognize entering the nursery, glancing around with a suspicious air.

Penny gave a small start when she felt her crib being moved. She struggled to focus on the figure, but her newborn vision remained blurred.

She wondered what was happening as the crib stopped and the figure moved about. Moments later, she heard the soft sound of something hitting the floor.

Before she could figure out the situation, Penny slid back into a heavy sleep.

***

“So, this is the brat?”

“Yes, and the—”

“Tch! Couldn’t you find anyone else to deal with that woman’s child?!”

The nurse offered a strained, apologetic smile. “Ma’am, I am sorry. But you are listed as the mother’s emergency contact...”

The nearby voices began to pull Penny out of her slumber. She forced her eyes open, her sight still hazy.

“Tch!” Another sharp, annoyed sound reached Penny’s ears, filling her with a sense of dread. “This is her kid?”

Penny blinked slowly, watching as the person leaned in closer. Once the face was near enough to see clearly, Penny’s heart plummeted, and she gasped in mental horror.

It was her aunt!