PAMPERED BY MY THREE BROTHERS: THE RETURN OF THE NEGLECTED HEIRESS-Chapter 1826: Not defective Bennet

Charles was not the only one shocked by Slater’s participation in tonight’s operation. In fact, he was the last to be surprised, because the first ones whose jaws dropped were...

Haines, Lester, and Wild.

---

Meanwhile, at the top of the hill, all three of them stared at the screen. The soldiers with Charles carried body cams for many reasons, but right now, their purpose was to give a detailed account of what was happening inside the mansion so those outside would get a better idea.

They expected a lot of things. Heck, they’d even watched so many gruesome scenes that they simply didn’t look anymore. But they didn’t expect to watch Slater appear with Nathalie’s men and almost get shot down.

"How did he... get in there?" Wild blurted out after moments of confusion. He turned to Haines, only to see Haines’ blank expression. The latter shook his head, having no idea what Slater was doing in there.

As for Lester, he darted his eyes between the two, with Wild standing behind Haines’ chair.

"I was just about to say I didn’t know Slater was also here because he didn’t look like the type," he blurted out, now watching Haines and Wild slowly look in his direction. "But I guess you also have no idea."

How would they have any idea?

All this time, Slater was kept from any of these affairs solely because of Charles’ decision. Charles already thought his children were too involved in something dangerous. Therefore, as a father, he didn’t want to let something like this happen to Slater, as he believed it was better to have at least one child safe from such dangerous information.

But this?

Again, Haines and Wild set their eyes back on the screen, utterly confused.

"What in the world is going on?" Haines wondered under his breath.

---

Meanwhile...

Charles’ mouth was still agape, arms crossed, standing in the corner to talk to his son. His eyes were still wide, and Slater could even safely say his father only blinked once every ten seconds.

Slater frowned. "Dad," he grumbled. "You’re not going to scold me right now, are you?"

Charles didn’t answer immediately, but when he did, his answer was something else.

"What did you say?" he asked in disbelief. "You are, what? An agent in Homeland Security?"

"Yes," Slater sighed heavily. "You’ve asked that like four times now."

"Slater, I don’t think Homeland Security lets their people tutor stunt scenes."

Slater’s frown deepened as he deadpanned. Charles rubbed his chin, either mentally denying the information he had just heard or coming up with a different justification.

"Dad, don’t I look capable to you?"

"No." His face twisted at Charles’ quick response. "Who told you you ever looked capable of this stuff, huh?"

"Dad, seriously. Would you rather deny the truth than believe what I said?"

"Yes," Charles nodded. "And I say this because that’s impossible!"

"Impossible? I was working undercover!"

"For someone who works undercover, you sure are popular."

"What—"

"Also, you don’t work undercover in this family!" Charles gasped. "How could you—are you even my son?!"

Slater opened his mouth, but he stopped and shut it. All he did was scratch the back of his head and stomp one foot on the ground.

’So annoying,’ he mentally complained. ’It’s not like I wasn’t expecting him to be surprised, but what’s this? He just doesn’t believe me. Penny even said I’m reliable.’

But then, Slater looked up at his father, only to see the pure horror plastered on Charles’ face.

"What?" he asked. "Dad, you look like you’ve just seen a ghost."

Charles’ mouth was wide open this time, eyes wider than before. He just stared at Slater in pure horror because just now, he saw Slater stomp his foot. A habit Slater carried from when he was a kid and even into adulthood.

"You are Slater," he breathed out in realization, as if that was the first time he had heard that.

"Dad, who did you think it was?"

"A robot you?"

"..."

"Oh, my goodness!" Charles covered his mouth as something more troubling and horrifying crossed his mind. "Your mother—she’s going to leave me if she ever finds out what kind of sons we’ve raised."

Atlas—never mind him. That kid was neither a failure nor someone they could confidently brag about. Everyone already knew something was seriously wrong with him, and Charles took full responsibility for that.

Hugo, on the other hand—Charles didn’t even want to think about it. Especially that kid’s finances.

Penny was perfect. Just a little too selfish.

Then, Slater.

Nina was the only normal one, but Charles had to credit Jessa and Lester for that.

"I’ve raised a normal one?" he blurted out, making Slater scrunch up his nose. "All this time, I thought my sons were defective, but your defectiveness was intentional? Because you were working undercover?"

Slater should be happy because at least now, his father was trying to understand the situation. But somehow, he wasn’t.

"Dad, why do you look like raising a normal kid is a bad thing!?"

"I failed your mother," Charles clasped his chest dramatically while Slater hissed. "My dearest Allison will leave me if she hears this."

Surely, this wasn’t what Slater expected.

"I’ve always been normal, though," he whispered, thinking of his brothers and sisters. "Definitely the most normal one among all of them."

After a huff, Slater cast his "grieving" father a look.

"Dad, this is not the time for this." Slater set this aside for now. "There are still hostages left to die in the underground prison. I promised them I’d go back and get them, and I will. Otherwise, they will die."

Hearing this, Charles’ brows rose before he answered with a cold, "No."

"What—"

"You’re not going back in there, Slater."

"Why—why not?!"

"You, stay here." Charles pointed down, taking a step closer to his son. He reached out to him and squeezed Slater’s shoulder. "I haven’t even seen your brothers until now, so you stay here."

The two of them held each other’s gaze before Slater pressed his mouth into a thin line.

"I’m an agent of Homeland Security," he said. "And these people are a threat to our country. But above all, some people with those hostages were with Penny."

He paused, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I promised them I’d save these guys, and they will do their utmost best to protect my sister. But even without that, I... want to save these guys."

Charles didn’t answer and just stared at the clear determination in his son’s eyes.

"I’m a soldier," Slater hissed through gritted teeth. "Just like you, and right now, I am not your son. I’m a soldier just like you, Major. And I’m going back in there to fulfill my promise and to rescue my sister."

Charles still didn’t answer, but after another breath, he pulled his hand from his son’s shoulder.

"I’m coming with you."

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