PAMPERED BY MY THREE BROTHERS: THE RETURN OF THE NEGLECTED HEIRESS Chapter 3: Starting her career at 3

[THREE YEARS LATER]

Penny had quickly come to terms with the reality of being reincarnated and starting her life over as someone else. However, the fact that she was forced to relive her original nightmare was a phenomenon that took her much longer to accept.

Gnawing on her pacifier, the three-year-old Penny observed her aunt's children as they yanked on each other's hair. These twin terrors were only a few months older than her. In her previous life, this pair had always conspired against her. Their bond was built on making Penny the scapegoat, ensuring she took the blame for everything to shield them from their mother's temper.

In the past, she had wept over it, harbored bitterness, and felt a profound envy for the affection they received. But not this time. The benefit of this strange second chance was that Penny understood exactly where she stood. There was no point in feeling bitter; from the start, she was a child her aunt never wanted to raise. Her aunt had been stuck with her simply because Penny’s mother had passed away during childbirth.

Consequently, the lack of love from them was entirely expected. Not that she yearned for their affection, warmth, or attention anymore.

If anything...

A small smirk played on the toddler's lips as her gaze shifted toward the snacks sitting on the table.

"Yugi," she called out, her voice high and adorable even with the pacifier clenched between her teeth.

Yugi, the three-year-old boy, looked over after shoving his wicked twin sister aside. Yuri began to whimper as her eyes filled with tears.

"What is this?" Penny asked, lifting a tiny finger. "The first one to give me the answer will grow up to be stronger."

"One!" Yugi shouted with excitement. "That is one!"

"And what about this?" This time, Penny held up five fingers on one hand and two on her left.

Yugi’s round face turned serious as he stared intently at her hands.

"Seven!" Yuri blurted out this time. "It is seven—one, two, three... seven!"

"Wow!" Penny clapped her hands in mock amazement. She watched as Yugi shot a murderous look at his sister while Yuri timidly looked away. "Yugi, why are you staring at Yuri like that? You were the first to get it right before, but she didn't look at you that way."

Yuri let out a hiccup and scrambled behind Penny for protection. "Penny, Yugi is so mean. He is a bully!"

"So what!?" Yugi hopped up and stood tall, placing his small hands on his hips. "What if I am mean? Yuri is too weak and younger than me! I should always be the first to answer everything!"

Penny blinked with feigned innocence, crossing her arms over her chest. "But I am even younger. Does that mean you should be my master?"

"What?"

"Yugi, it seems you have already forgotten your place." Penny’s expression soured as the arrogant look on Yugi’s face began to crumble. "Fine. I will have to remind you who the boss is around here."

Penny pushed herself up, nearly losing her balance under her own weight. Unlike her first life, Penny had put on quite a bit of weight. Back then, she barely ate, surviving mostly on the family's scraps. Now, however, Penny was no longer the pathetic child who relied solely on whatever her aunt decided to give her.

"Yugi, here I—"

"I'm sorry!" Yugi suddenly dropped to his knees, frantically rubbing his palms together. "I was wrong! Yuri, I am sorry too! I was wrong! Please do not hit me!"

Penny’s grin widened as she gave an approving nod. She shot Yuri a haughty glance, and the girl responded with a submissive smile.

"Penny, do you want my snacks?" Yuri asked sweetly. "I will go get them for you."

"No! I will do it!" Yugi cut in. "I'll get your snacks! Just wait here for me!"

With those words, Yugi bolted as fast as his little legs could carry him to fetch Penny something to eat. Penny was at her most terrifying when she was hungry. Meanwhile, Yuri looked at Penny with a look of pure gratitude.

"Penny... you are the best!" Yuri blushed. "I will give you half of my snacks every day forever. Just make sure Yugi doesn't pick on me."

Penny patted her shoulder in a reassuring manner. "Don't worry, Yuri. As long as I'm around, nobody is going to bully either of you again." Her comforting smile turned into a sharp grin. "Now, go get those for me while we wait for Yugi."

Yuri tilted her head, following the direction of Penny’s finger. Her eyes landed on the remaining snacks left on the table.

"Oh... those are your favorites!" Yuri hurried to grab the food, eager to keep Penny in a good mood.

This had been the pattern of Penny’s life for the last three years. Rather than striving for her aunt's acceptance or kindness, Penny had spent her time training the twins to be her devoted servants. Her aunt might be cold and indifferent toward her, but she truly cared for her own children.

That afternoon, Penny ate until she was full, fed by her loyal followers as a form of protection fee. Deep down, however, she realized that this alone wouldn't be enough to survive the first thirteen years of her life in this household.

*

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"What on earth are you doing?!"

Penny turned her head just as her aunt came storming toward her. Like she was handling a doll, her aunt seized her arm and yanked her away from the living room table.

Seeing that Penny was messing with mahjong tiles, the woman's eyes flared with fury.

"I told you these aren't playthings! You aren't supposed to touch them!" she screamed. "That's it! No dinner for you tonight!"

"But Auntie, I was just about to win!"

"What!?" The woman wrinkled her nose in confusion. "You're playing by yourself! What do you mean—"

She stopped abruptly when she heard the sound of the television. As she looked at the screen, deep furrows appeared on her brow; it was a broadcast of a professional mahjong match.

"You are..." she trailed off, her grip on Penny loosening as she stared at the child. She sat down quickly to inspect Penny’s tiles, glancing back and forth between the table and the TV until a wide grin spread across her face. The anger she felt previously vanished instantly. "I knew you were a bright one, but who would have guessed you'd be even more useful than I imagined?"

In a children's movie, such a moment would be perceived as frightening or tragic—a dark turning point. For Penny, it was indeed a turning point.

At the age of three, Penny began her professional career as a mahjong analyst.

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A/N: This is an entry for Webnovel's Cupid Quill. Support this novel by sending powerstones, leaving comments, and reviews. Thank you :)