Chapter 130: Ray’s numbered hours

In the library, Penny glanced at Hugo and then at Atlas. What her brothers spewed toward their grandparents was rude, and they knew it. It was something they would never do in their first life.

’Seriously. Was I reborn? Or was I transported to a parallel world?’ Penny didn’t know the answer to this anymore.

Her brothers were acting strangely.

’Though, I understand Second Brother for how he reacted,’ she thought, moving her observant eyes to Hugo. ’He is the type that when he doesn’t like something or someone, he stays away from it. So, everything that involves Nina, he’s prejudiced.’

It was how he stayed away from Penny in their first life. Although he was more passive before.

’But First Brother...’ Penny slowly moved her eyes to Atlas, flinching a bit when she caught him staring.

"Penny, that’s a lie, isn’t it?" he asked without beating around the bush.

"Huh?" Deep lines appeared between her brows. ’Is he asking about what I said to Nina just now?’

She didn’t have a problem telling him the truth, but before she could speak, Atlas continued;

"The notes. You didn’t lend her any notes yesterday, did you?"

"Ah?" Penny blinked, taken aback.

"I saw her sneak into your room yesterday and when I asked what she was doing, she said you lend her your notes," he explained. "I find it suspicious since I don’t think you’re doing your notes."

"First brother! I am a very diligent student!" Penny gasped defensively.

Atlas arched a brow. "Do you do your notes?"

"..."

Penny’s silence was enough for an answer.

"See?" Atlas shrugged. "And even if you write notes, I don’t think Nina would understand."

"How did you know that?"

Atlas once again raised an eyebrow. "We study together. Do you think I don’t notice things?"

"Oh." Her lips formed an o-shape, rendered speechless. "I didn’t think you’d notice."

"Not because I don’t say it, doesn’t mean I don’t see or notice things. Moreover, Hugo was angry with her for a reason. I’m trying to understand where his displeasure is coming from," he expressed. "Penny, tell me the truth. What is she looking for in your room?"

This time, Penny kept a tight lip.

"You can’t tell me?" he asked, and she simply slid her eyes to the corner.

How could she tell him? Penny already decided on what to do about the broken keychain. It was best that the news wouldn’t come from her.

’Even if you give me that patient look, I’m not going to say anything!’

"Do you... really not trust us?" After the prolonged silence, Atlas spoke once more. This time, his voice was laced with bitterness.

He knew Penny hadn’t fully opened her heart to them, and Atlas couldn’t fault her. They were the first who couldn’t accept the existence of another sister. Hence, they treated her indifferently when she arrived at the mansion.

If only he could turn back time...

"It’s okay, Penny." Hugo offered her a smile while nodding. "Trust is earned, and we haven’t done anything to earn that trust. So, it’s okay. We understand."

He paused and smacked his lips. "Though I want to know one thing, Penny. Is she giving you a hard time in school?"

That depends.

Nina once made Penny’s school life a living hell. Even with their real status revealed, it only ignited more comparisons between the "real" daughter and the "supposed" daughter.

Penny observed her brothers, who had been, somehow, redeeming themselves. They might not know this, but because she knew their personality very well, she was aware they were... trying.

Trying...

"Can I... really trust you?" she asked quietly, watching them raise their brows as if they finally had seen a faint sliver of hope peeking through the gray clouds.

A part of her screamed not to trust them; that she shouldn’t soften up just because she could see them trying. She wanted to listen to this side of her. After all, she lived an entire lifetime and a half and throughout that life, they never took her side.

At least, they never showed it, or perhaps she hadn’t seen it.

The other part of her urged her to take a leap of faith to see where this would take her. She wouldn’t know if this life would be the same if she held on to the past. Jessa changed, and the twins changed. Perhaps, in a way, she unknowingly did something to change how they see her as well.

Her lips pressed into a thin line before they parted. "She’ll be expelled... for trying to kill someone."

The brothers furrowed their brows. They were expecting the worst, but their imagination didn’t reach this far.

"And by someone... you mean...?" Hugo trailed off as he slowly balled his hands into a tight fist. "You?"

"I’m not too sure if it was me or Lily."

Atlas squinted. "How? Did she try to stab you?"

"First Brother, stabbing isn’t the only way to kill a person." She frowned. "She threw a flowerpot from the rooftop."

To clarify things, Penny summarized the incident and also included what was happening in building one last week. She also had to confess about the pranks and how she managed to deflect them. When she finished, Atlas and Hugo’s faces were as black as a kettle.

"This is all happening... in the same school?" Atlas breathed out.

BAM!

"Those good-for-nothing star section...!"

Penny jolted when Hugo suddenly pounded his fist against the table. Looking up, she gulped at the fire blazing in her brother’s eyes. At the same time, Atlas’s eyes glinted, which reflected from the corner of her eyes.

"Ha ha... First Brother, Second Brother, did you hear the part where I said the pranks are harmless?" Penny laughed nervously. "It’s okay now. The fans club and I are in a truce. I forgave them and they also apologized. No need to start another war."

"No." They answered in unison, making her breath hitch when their fiery eyes landed on her. Their brain was as if wired together as they spoke at the same time. "Nina and those girls aren’t the only ones who will be taught a lesson. That Ray is gonna get it."

Uh, no.

Thinking of how Hugo got expelled in her first life, Penny panicked. Now, she realized confessing the truth to them was the wrong decision!

"Tomorrow’s gonna be his doom’s day," said Atlas.

At the same time, Hugo spoke. "He’s not gonna sleep tomorrow without crying in agony."

"..."

Ray... may his soul rest in peace.

Penny immediately knew what to bring tomorrow at school: funeral clothes!