After all, he’d always been told, Family matters. It must matter so much to her, judging by how hard she had cried.


    The triplets rushed to their mother’s side, trying to calm her down.


    "Mother, please calm down." Kean said calmly. Barry held his wife too. He understood why she was shocked, but it couldn’t be to this level.


    "Don’t look at me if I scare you," Osvaldo said gently. "Just stare at the floor and breathe through your nose. Ignore everyone. Ignore the noise. Focus on the tiles. The beautiful colours." His voice was deep, calming.


    Surprisingly, she did. Mary stared at the marble floor, inhaled through her nose, and slowly, her breathing steadied. The maids around were impressed.


    This man was truly the Adkins heir. The genius was not dead. He’s alive and well.


    Barry was impressed. He was begining to like the young man seated so calmly before them all. It’s shocking how wellposed he looks.


    If only he knew the man seated there is a tamed beast. The only reason Osvaldo was calm was because of his penguin. He wouldn’t do anything to upset her.


    He wanted to give her as much princess treatment as possible.


    Mary still couldn’t believe it. Was this a prank?


    "So... you really talk?" Barry asked, blinking in confusion.


    "Hey Uncle Barry. I’m Osvaldo Adkins, your niece’s husband. Great to finally meet you," Osvaldo said with a smile so casual it could’ve belonged to a prince.


    Xavier, however, looked like he’d swallowed a lemon.


    "How long has he been sane?" he asked Penny directly,pletely ignoring Osvaldo.


    "It’s not constant," Penny said sweetly.


    Xavier turned to re at Osvaldo. "Then I assume you heard our discussion. I don’t want Penelope married to you anymore. That marriage was a mistake. It should be undone."


    "I’m afraid I can’t grant your little wish, Mr. Bloodsworth," Osvaldo said calmly, tilting his head. Penny was his. His wife. His world. Even if the devil himself was her father, he still wouldn’t let her go.


    Xavier’s eye twitched. Keal, standing at the corner, was impressed.. No one... no one... talked back to his uncle like that.


    Except this so-called madman.


    "Let’s save the serious talk for after breakfast," Keal said peacefully. He knew where this was going to. If no one intervenes they might get physical and that’s thest thing neither of them wanted.


    "Keal’s right," Pascal added quickly. "Penny just got here. Can we not scare her off already with the marriage talk?"


    "Exactly," Lio chimed in. "Let’s just enjoy breakfast and celebrate her return."


    "Do not forget uncle, my baby sister had a life before now.


    Xavier sighed through his nose. "You’re right. I’m sorry if I startled you, princess. Let me make it up to you. How about a father, daughter date today? Just the two of us?"


    He forced a smile. Though forced, it still looked so real.


    "Of course," Penny said brightly. "But Osvaldo ising with us."


    "Stop pushing your luck, Penelope," Barry warned quickly.


    "That’s enough, Barry," Xavier cut in. "She gets whatever she wants. She’s my princess."


    This was his daughter, the same one he’d searched for nearly twenty years. He couldn’t mess it up now that she was home.


    What was he thinking fighting with her h... H... Friend?


    Xavier will never ept Osvaldo as his son inw. Never!!!


    "I’m not trying to cause trouble, Uncle," Penny said sweetly. "It’s part of the contract. I have to be with Mr. Osvaldo at all times."


    In truth, she hoped her father would warm up to Osvaldo, just like his family had epted her.


    Xavier let out a long, heavy sigh. "Fine. He cane. But he better not get in the way."


    Finally, everyone sat down for breakfast.


    Maids moved quietly to clean up the mess from earlier, but they were all secretly dying to gossip.


    Mary still couldn’t stop ncing at Osvaldo. He was peeling vegetables like a chef, cing them neatly on Penny’s te with the utmost care.


    It was official, the war between Osvaldo and Xavier over Penny had just begun.


    <fn0b8c> Get full chapters from f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn0b8c>


    Xavier’s eyebrow twitched every time Osvaldo ced something in Penny’s te. So, he grabbed the chicken leg and set it down proudly.


    "Eat this, it’s healthy," Xavier said with a rare softness. He has always wanted to do this. To feel like an old fufiled man.


    Penny smiled, touched by the gesture and was about to grab the meat, until another hand snatched it away.


    "You can’t eat the skin if you want to lose weight, Penguin," Osvaldo scolded sweetly. "Don’t ruin your diet."


    He peeled the crispy skin with surgeon-like precision and ced the chicken breast on her te.


    Xavier red. This man was stealing his daughter’s chicken.


    Not to be outdone, he grabbed his favorite dessert from the tray, a soft, creamy pudding, and handed it to Penny.


    "Try this, princess. It’s my favorite," he said, raising his brow in challenge.


    Penny reached for it... but Osvaldo’s golden eyes shot her a warning look so sharp, it could slice butter.


    She quickly pulled her hand back. "I’m on a diet, Father. I’ll have itter," she said politely, sending a silent prayer that her dad wouldn’t blow up.


    Thest thing she wanted was Osvaldo all over her again.


    "Here have this penguin, Ahhh." Osvaldo brought a spoonful of vegetable sd to her lips and she ate it.


    Keal, Lio, and Pascal jaw dropped.