PAMPERED BY MY THREE BROTHERS: THE RETURN OF THE NEGLECTED HEIRESS
Chapter 1686: Is Jonathan really that stupid?

Chapter 1686: Is Jonathan really that stupid?

"Ugh... this is not how I imagined myself to die," Dean grumbled, bumping the back of his head against the wall while slumped on the floor. His arms rested over his bent knees, his hair slightly disheveled from trying and failing.

He and Atlas had done their best in breaking the wall. They specifically focused on where they heard the hollow knock, thinking it was the weak spot. But nothing. Even that was all futile.

"And definitely..." Dean slid his eyes to where Atlas was, huffing. "...I never—not even in my wildest imagination—would I have expected that I’d die with you."

Just like Dean, Atlas was a little haggard. Even with enough daily exercise and a proper diet, breaking a wall with just stools was tiring. Atlas also sat on the floor, his back against the laboratory counter, facing the wall where Dean was leaning.

"The feeling is mutual," he said, eyeing the wall.

Atlas closed his eyes and stabilized his breathing, trying to calm himself down enough to think of a way out. Meanwhile, Dean just glared at the man. It wasn’t like he had given up completely, but he knew there was no way for them to get out.

Even if they tried to force their way out, it was impossible.

"Damn that Jonathan!" Dean hissed, dragging a hand along his face. "Fuck him!"

His frustration continued to rise with every passing breath.

"Of all the places he could... why a freaking underground!?" he grumbled. "And a vault that he couldn’t get out of if he was locked in?! Is he stupid or what?"

Atlas glanced at Dean, trying not to get affected by the latter’s growing frustration. It was a good thing he had learned not to be affected by the world’s mockery and nonsense, so it was easy for him not to think about Dean for now.

’With no reception here, it’s impossible to contact anyone,’ he thought, only to catch Dean pulling out his phone. "What are you doing?"

Dean glared at him. "Isn’t it obvious? Trying to find a spot with reception. I can’t just sit around here and die with you."

With that, Dean walked around with his hand up, staring at the signal icon. Even if it was just one bar, that was enough to call for help.

"Come on..." he muttered, wincing as he bumped his leg against the counter. "Damn it!"

He roared, kicking the counter, which rattled behind Atlas for a moment. But then Dean continued, and Atlas remained where he was.

Atlas just watched Dean, walking around like a snail, phone up, eyes fixed on the screen. Atlas shook his head, knowing what Dean was doing was futile. But then again, he couldn’t blame Dean for trying. After all, Atlas didn’t want to die here either—or die with this guy.

If Atlas was going to die, he wanted it to be alone. He didn’t want others mourning another person’s death at his burial.

Atlas let out a shallow breath, still hearing Dean’s grumbling.

’A vault that is only accessed from the outside...’ he thought, turning to the door.

Dean and Atlas had already checked the door earlier, but they were certain there wasn’t any secret lever or button on it. Also, they might not be vault experts, but that was already clear to them.

’Is Jonathan really that stupid?’ he wondered. ’Although I know he is, the man is cunning.’

Jonathan was scheming to the bone.

Considering this underground vault existed without anyone knowing only showed the level of cunning Jonathan carried. Not just that, but also Jonathan’s level of wariness and hostility.

’He wouldn’t just create a vault that is only accessed from the outside and not have any other entrance,’ he thought to himself, peeling his eyes from the vault. ’For sure, he has an emergency door for... emergencies.’

Because no matter what, the chances of being locked in this underground vault were high. Even if Jonathan was careful, the man should’ve put an emergency door, just in case.

"..." Atlas slowly gazed down at the keycard in his hand. ’What is it for?’

They had a few theories.

One of them was that this keycard would be used for the emergency door. After all, the entrance they came in was locked from the outside. Then, after the stairs, there was a space where the table and chairs were placed, while the vault was on the wall. Further beyond that was a dark corridor that seemed to be the exit of this place.

In other words, this keycard could be used for that exit door.

The second theory was that this keycard was to open something else inside the vault. Perhaps, a drawer or a secret compartment that held more information—information Jonathan would want to keep hidden forever.

Another heavy sigh escaped Atlas as he shook his head.

"It seems we’re truly stuck here," he muttered to himself. "I could only hope that Penny would be nosy enough to check our family app."

Dean scoffed and glanced at him. "A family app?"

"Prime Group is developing an app to track your loved ones or family. We’re using it for beta testing," Atlas explained, keeping it short and precise. "Even if there isn’t any reception here, I’m certain it’ll show where I was last."

"Does she always check that?"

Atlas didn’t answer immediately. "Only when she wants to ambush me and annoy me."

"So, you’re saying that we’ll just hope Penny might want to ambush you tonight and irritate you?" Dean clarified in disbelief. "Atlas, do you know it’s almost midnight? That woman is probably asleep or something, but I’m certain whatever she’s doing at this hour doesn’t include checking her phone."

"I don’t think we’ll be able to die tonight," Atlas returned. "She might check tomorrow."

"Tomo—" Dean touched the back of his neck, rendered speechless.

"Do you have any other ideas? I’m giving us hope," Atlas remarked. "So, either you cling to that hope or not—it’s not my problem."

He then set his eyes back on the wall. "If you don’t have anything else to do, try looking for a signal."

"Why don’t you help me?" Dean spat out, grumbling as he resumed what he was doing. "Such a useless thing to live—pwe!"

His snide remarks were ignored but remembered. Atlas didn’t mind them for now, his eyes still on the wall.

---

At the same time, armed men reached the space where a wooden table and chairs were placed. One man, who seemed to be calling the shots, eyed one of the chairs. Unlike the other chair, this one wasn’t placed properly. In fact, it was placed away from the table and near the vault.

Slowly, all of them set their eyes on the vault on the wall.

The man stood in front of it, scanning the lock before the vault.

"Get someone here," he ordered, his voice low. "We’re opening this vault."