Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress

Chapter 23: It’s nice to know someone’s on my side, regardless.

“I’ve been on a diet and have been on constant training. I was very hungry, so when I saw the chocolates, I ate them.”

Everyone looked at Hugo with surprise.

“What?!” Slater quickly snapped out of his shock, gazing at his big brother with disbelief. “You’re the one who ate them!?”

Nina pursed her lips. “Second brother, are you sure they’re the same chocolates?”

Nina knew that it was Penny by heart. Hugo was known for his dedication and discipline. They had never seen him cheat, and he had always been upright. Their parents couldn’t even make him eat if he was fasting.

“Yes, they’re the same chocolates.” Hugo picked up one of the wrappers and examined it closely. “They’re yummy.”

“Second brother! Are you trying to cover for Penny!?” Slater frowned deeply, unable to accept this.

Just like Nina, he was so sure Penny was the one who ate his precious sweets. He glared at Penny, infuriated that she was making Hugo lie for her!

Butler Jen was also surprised upon hearing Hugo’s confession.

As for Penny, she gazed at Hugo with a conflicted look. ’Is he standing up for me?’

This wasn’t the first time Hugo covered for her. In their first life, he did it once. But alas, he wasn’t very pleased by it because he had to lie. After that, he slowly detached himself from her.

Thinking about it, there was this sense of heaviness in her heart.

’Just when I thought we were about to get along…’ she thought, sighing.

“Second Brother, thank —”

“If you think I’m covering for Penny, you probably see me as a liar,” Hugo spoke sternly, cutting off Penny.

“What?! That’s not what I meant!” Slater grumbled angrily. “I’m just saying why would I believe you?!”

Hugo blinked as if he didn’t expect that question. But the more he thought about it, the more his lips curved down. He had done everything with a clear conscience.

Butler Jen also frowned.

Hearing this, Penny’s ears clapped.

What did this brat say?

Penny’s eyes sizzled as a layer of frost coated them. “Slater, you of all people, how dare you say that to him when you know he had done everything in his life with a clear conscience?”

Slater flinched the second he met Penny’s sharp and cold eyes. “Wha — what did I say so wrong?” he stuttered nervously as his brain sent alarm bells in his head. “I’m just saying he got no evidence to prove he ate them!”

“Then do you have evidence that will prove he didn’t?!” Penny yelled, her heart constricting with rage.

She might be young, but she felt like Slater would give her an early onset of hypertension.

Slater almost choked with her rebut. He spoke without thinking.

“Second Brother already confessed yet, you’re making such a huge fuss about his confession and insinuating he is lying. This only means it’s not about the chocolates anymore.” Penny’s eyes were like shooting poisonous arrows at Slater. “It’s about who ate them. What’s the point of this when you already believed it was me who ate them?!”

Penny didn’t want Hugo to take the blame for her. However, if she revealed it now, that was just making things worse for him.

Hugo stared at Penny’s red face as if she wanted to give Slater some beating. If only he knew how Penny disciplined Yugi, he would be surprised at how lenient she was.

His initial displeasure slowly disappeared, sighing, and then smiling subtly. He felt like he was being protected, and somehow, it felt nice to be looked out for once in a while.

“Third Young Master, your second brother already admitted and apologized.” Butler Jen intercepted. “It’s your decision to forgive him. However, you also had to apologize to him for saying hurtful things.”

He sighed. “Third Young Master, the tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break a heart. The Second Young Master didn’t mean to eat your chocolates, but you judged his entire character solely based on that.”

After hearing this, Slater gradually softened up. Was his question that hurtful? He shifted his eyes to Hugo, pressing his lips together.

“That’s enough.” Hugo gave in, knowing Slater wouldn’t apologize. “Slater, I apologize again for eating your chocolates. And I also apologize that even after all this time, my words aren’t enough for you to trust them. It only means I’ve failed you as a big brother.”

He then got up from his chair and turned to leave. But before he walked away, he offered Penny a reassuring smile.