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175 Operation: Future.

“Penny.”

Penny stopped and looked back, tilting her head curiously. Atlas stood in the mezzanine while looking in her direction.

“What is it?” she asked when he didn’t say anything even after their eyes met.

“Thanks.”

Her brows knitted. “For?”

“The book recommendation,” was his answer, assuming Penny would already figure it out. “It might be long overdue, but thanks.”

“Ah.” She smiled. “No biggie.”

And Penny quickly turned her back on him and went to her bedroom.

“Atlas stared at her retreating figure and frowned. “Did I thank her a little too late?”

Another deep exhale slipped past his lips, snapping his eyes up to her figure. “She’s being indifferent again.”

Penny was like hot and cold: some days she was appreciative, but most of the time, she was indifferent. She was especially nonchalant when taking credits, making one wonder if she was just not interested in the person or if she simply didn’t care.

“Tsk” Atlas pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head, walking away to his room. I think I need to make more effort. 2

Being verbal was one of Atlas’s biggest problems, thinking everyone should know things even when not being said. At least, he expected that people would naturally ask if they didn’t understand something for he would also ask questions on things he couldn’t figure out on his

own.

But toward his little sister, it felt even more tricky since Penny seemed to be worse than him in that area. Worse – but not in a bad way, though.

Meanwhile, Penny didn’t mind Atlas’s appreciation and quickly forgot about it. Her mind was more focused on something else.

When Penny came back to her room, she quickly ran to her closet and took out her small purple bag. She checked the contents once again, nodding to herself. After that, she reached out for a pair of black clothing. She quickly changed from her pajamas to her black suit, but alas, she realized it couldn’t fit her!

“Ah, ah, ouch!” Penny jumped while lifting the pants up but to no avail. It got stuck to her thigh!

12.03

175 Operation: Future.

Standing in front of the full–body mirror, her face twisted in dismay. “Didn’t I just buy this yesterday?” she gasped, thinking she even fit it yesterday.

How come it wouldn’t fit right now?!

Dismay spread all across her face, thinking she was gaining a ton of weight every day… or was it because she just had dinner?

A heavy sigh escaped her before she reluctantly took off her spy attire. How nice would it be to play superhero with full attire?

“This is silly,” she mumbled and gave up, taking out some casual outdoor clothes and wearing them easily. She then wore her pajamas over her outdoor clothes, knowing it was much better to be safe than sorry. Her mother might check on her or anyone; whoever it would be, they would surely find it suspicious if she wasn’t in her pajamas.

Penny had a plan.

She couldn’t sleep soundlessly tonight, knowing Grace was in danger. It wasn’t her business, but for her, she wanted to save Grave one way or another.

Tucking in the bed, Penny laid flat on her back and killed some time.

“If I can save Grace, then I can save this family from its impending doom, she murmured, staring at the high ceiling blankly. “From what I know…”

Grace would lead a horrible life in the crine world before she could even reach adulthood. Grace’s first crime was heavy and irreparable she should be punished for it, and Penny was aware of that. However, if she could make a change, then Grace might not be associated with a more violent environment of the crime world and wouldn’t end up

in priso

“I’m being nosy… I know,” she told herself, nodding. “But it can’t be helped. I need Grace to do something for me in the future.”

When Penny woke up as a baby, she had an entire infancy to think about her life in the future. The change she made in the Cortez Household was simply nothing compared to the life she was truly preparing herself for.

“Though there are also changes in these mansions and my family… I can’t just forget my future,” she told herself.

The changes in her brothers and parents were not enough for Penny to forget the plans she had for the first decade of her life. Not that that plan originated from hate, but more of the terms of how she wanted to live in the future. That includes the potential talent she had seen in people in her previous life and wanted to invest in early on.

The stocks weren’t the only thing she needed to invest in, but also in people. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Knock knock

Penny quickly closed her eyes and lay still when she heard a knock on the door. Shortly after, the door slightly creaked. Allison peeked inside the room, only to see Penny already on the bed.

A subtle smile appeared on her face. ‘She’s probably tired, considering we had a long day!‘

12:03

175 Operation: Future.

A shallow breath slipped past her lips, and she stared at her daughter for a while. So much guilt and frustration swirled in her eyes before Allison closed the door to check on Slater. One could tell she was having an internal crisis, realizing love wasn’t the only way to complete her children, nor was the only thing she had to do to be called a parent.

As soon as she closed the door, Penny opened her eyes and glanced at the door. Her eyes inevitably saw the clock on the bedside table.

“It’s still too early,” she muttered and set her eyes on the ceiling once more.

Two hours later, Penny sat up and checked the time. She almost fell asleep while waiting for everyone to resign to bed. It was already one and a half hour before midnight. Hence, she was, certain everyone was already in their beds, asleep.

And with that thought in mind, Penny put her tonight’s plan into motion.

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