CHAPTER 26
26 A mouse!
“Professor Singh finds you exceptional, so he wants you to be his apprentice. Of course, this is only an offer, and it’s still your choice if you want to accept it.”
That was what Allison said.
Penny’s eyes widened upon hearing this. She simply solved one equation using the simplified method. Her thoughts, however, halted as she assessed Allison’s
eyes..
Allison carried a look of reluctance, expected from a mother who still wanted to care for her child. At the same time, she was trying to be supportive of her.
“Well, we’re not in a hurry,” Allison smiled. “Take as much time as you need to decide and until then, I’ll take care of you a bit more.”
Allison tucked her daughter in and kept the night lamp open. When Penny began to breathe deep breaths, she kissed her forehead and stroked her hair.
When Allison left, Penny slowly opened her eyes.
“Wow…” she was in disbelief. “I am being permitted to
leave this house.”
Her eyes shimmered because this was all she could
ever ask for! But the excitement in her eyes gradually faded.
Penny got up from the bed and went to her study desk. Checking the current events, she propped her chin with her hands.
“Even in this lifetime, Professor Singh still says he sees potential in me. Though, this time, it’s a lot earlier.” This made her happy, but alas. “Will I be stuck in one. place again?”
She spent all of her life studying and researching in her first life. Although there were upsides, Penny didn’t
want to get stuck in one place. Her plan was to retire early and then enjoy life, travel the world, and perhaps meet a whirlwind romance; she wanted a man who
could sweep her off of her feet!
Thinking about romance, her face turned sour. She’s an old lady with both her two lives combined and yet,
she still had no idea of what a real romance was like.
“Thinking about dating at thirteen… my parents would be worried if they knew that I’m thinking of my future
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romance. I’m too old for this.” She shook her head, refocusing her attention on her laptop.
She didn’t dwell on the idea of becoming an
apprentice of one of the most respected professors in his field. She already knew the answer to that. Even so, Penny knew if she would accept Professor Singh’s guidance, she needed to be prepared and
well–equipped for other things as well. After all, she didn’t want to put herself in the same situation as earlier when everyone found out it was she who resolved the core issue of the company. Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
It was very uncomfortable.
The night went by with Penny reading the current economic flow until she eventually fell asleep.
**
The next day, Penny was doing her usual routine when Charles suddenly ambushed her in the kitchen.
“Penny.” Charles rubbed his hands excitedly as he sat down opposite her.
She looked up at him; her round eyes blinking. “Papa?”
He had this beaming grin plastered on his face as he
14:03
26 Amouset
said, “Haines called. He used the resolution you did yesterday and our company is saved.”
‘Even if I didn’t do that, you and Uncle Haines would be able to find a way eventually. All I did was save Uncle Haines prolonged suffering,‘ was what she wanted to say. ”
“Not just that, but investors had been keeping our phones busy, wanting to do business with us,” he added excitedly. “All of this is because of you!”
Penny smiled awkwardly, clueless on how to react in such a situation. All she wanted to do was eat her
snacks.
“The chef Haines invited will land tomorrow. Do you want anything else?”
Some time alone?
Penny pursed her lips as she observed the twinkle in her father’s eyes. He looked so happy and excited, but at the same time, a tinge of uncertainty was behind them.
She pondered for a second, assuming her father wouldn’t stop bothering her until she asked for more reward. “Pana. I want a mouse.”
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49
25 A Po
“A mouse?” Charles’s smile stiffened, and he repeated it to make sure he heard correctly. “You want a mouse?”
“Yes! I need one!” for her laptop.
His eyes intuitively veered to the frog on top of her head and was reminded of her cat. He thought his daughter had a strange taste in pets.
“Okay!” Charles nodded. “I’ll find you a mouse then. The cutest one!”
Penny smiled, thinking this would save her more time to scroll down than her laptop’s touchpad. “Anything is fine!”
“No, anything is not fine. My daughter only deserves the best, so I’ll get you the cutest mouse there is!” he proudly announced, and she didn’t argue anymore.
Penny didn’t think much about it and enjoyed her snacks. She genuinely thought she and her father were on the same page.
Charles happily watched her until he had to make a call.
***
14:04
20 A mouse!
As Charles walked back to his study, he called Haines for Penny’s request.
“Haines, Penny wants another pet,” he said as soon as
Haines answered the call.
“Another one?”
Charles smiled helplessly. “I think my daughter is very
fond of animals.”
“What does she want this time?” Haines took this
matter just as seriously as Charles.
Penny was their savior, and because of her, he could
finally relax. They would give her anything she wanted if only she asked.
“A mouse.”
Haines froze in his office and furrowed his brows. “A
mouse? Didn’t she have a cat?”
Was she planning to feed it to her cat?
“It’s a strange combination, but that’s what she wants.” Charles sighed. “I promised her that I’d get her the cutest mouse, and I have to do it. This way, she’ll be
impressed by her father. Can you cover some meetings for me for a while?”
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26 Amoost
“Sure.”
“Thanks!”
Haines felt like Charles would end the call, so he spoke. “Charles.”
“Yes?”
“The investigation about the baby swapping…” Haines paused as he immediately felt the change of mood from the other end of the line. “I think it’s not just a
mistake.”
Hearing this, Charles carefully closed the door behind. him. “I’ve just arrived in the study. Speak.”
“Charles, I think the baby swapping is deliberate. The nurse’s lips are tight even with the pressure, but after looking into Nina’s biological mother, we saw some strange activities during her pregnancy. She received a huge sum before the delivery and I was told her due date was actually a few weeks after Allison. I think it’s the reason Nina was often sick when she was a child.”
At this point, Charles already reached his desk and sat down.
When they found out Nina wasn’t their child, they
26 Amouse!
immediately suspected that their real daughter was in
a wealthy family as well. After all, the hospital where Allison delivered their children was one of the most expensive private hospitals in Anteca.
Yet, the Reed Family was a bottom–middle–class family who barely managed to make ends meet.❤
“Keep digging, Haines.” Charles’s face darkened, his usual childishness in front of Penny gone without a trace. “Also, Allison and I will meet Jessa Cortez. I’ll see if she knows anything.”
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