[SKYLINE PLAZA: Zoren’s]
Zoren carefully pulled the sheet up over Penny’s shoulder. As he did, he leaned over and kissed her shoulder softly. Drawing back, his eyes softened as they settled on her sleeping face.
It was still early — at least, in his and Penny’s time at this hour. Every night, the couple would spend their time talking or just cuddling. But tonight, Penny fell asleep unusually quickly. Perhaps the previous days spent working on the antidote had taken a toll on her. Or maybe the emotional weight she had been quietly carrying had finally lifted, allowing her to rest as she deserved.
Either way, Zoren had no plaints.
He gently stroked her hair with his fingertips before deciding to sit up. He glanced at her once more, ensuring her fort, before reaching for his shirt on the floor. After dressing briefly, Zoren made his way out of the room and straight outside his home.
“Master.” A bodyguard from the night duty stood at the foot of the stairs, already waiting for him.
Zoren glanced at him. “Where is he?”
“We escorted him to the back patio.”
“Alright.” With that, Zoren strode off.
Upon reaching the back patio, Zoren scanned for his expected visitor for the night. Despite what the bodyguard had said, Zoren spotted his guest standing near the garden. Without a word, he approached the person and stopped a few feet away.
“Dean,” he called out, his eyes fixed on Dean’s back.
Being Dean’s family meant Zoren knew he would show up tonight. It was expected. After all, Zoren had caught Dean earlier in the lab, stumbling upon a situation he might not have wanted to see.
Dean raised his brows upon hearing Zoren’s voice behind him, his gaze fixed on the flowers before him.
He cleared his throat, exhaling softly. “I thought… I thought the marriage was just an agreement between the two of you.”
Zoren didn’t respond, but he understood. He knew Dean well enough to anticipate the explanation Dean sought to ease his mind. Belle had also approached Zoren with similar concerns.
“You know… Penny and I may not have gotten along, but that woman…” Dean’s voice trailed off, a bitter smile twisting his lips. “I really liked her, Uncle.”
“I know.”
Zoren’s quick, emotionless reply caused Dean to scoff. Slowly, Dean turned to face him, studying the expression on his face.
There was no change in Zoren’s demeanor or expression—unchanging and distant, as Dean was accustomed to.
“You should’ve told me,” Dean murmured. “I know you didn’t have to, but it would’ve been nice if you did. At least then, I wouldn’t have felt like such a fool.”
“The only person who made you look like a fool is yourself,” Zoren replied coldly. “If you knew me… you would have known it wasn’t just an agreement. It’s not something I would do.”
And Zoren was right.
If Dean hadn’t chosen to deny it, he would have known that a contractual marriage was something Zoren would never enter lightly. He wouldn’t have introduced his “fake” wife to the entire family if it hadn’t been real. Perhaps Zoren might have considered it for Old Mrs. Pierson, but the likelihood was low.
In other words, the moment Penny appeared at that family dinner, Dean should have realized Zoren was serious.
But Dean had been reluctant to see that.
Silence fell between them again, but this time, Zoren broke it first.
“Are you going to fight for her?” he asked.
“Will you let me?”
The response nearly made Zoren laugh. “You won’t be the first to challenge me.”
Already, many had challenged his position as her number one in Penny’s life: Benjamin, Renny, Chunchun, her four assistants, Old Mrs. Pierson, Mint, and even her work. Not to mention, the people—such as Finn and Charles—had e to challenge his title as the best husband.
“But I can assure you,” he added, “I’m not stepping down. I wouldn’t even care if I had to get my hands dirty.”
And Zoren meant it in every sense of the word. After all, Zoren wasn’t entirely good. If he wanted to play dirty, he would.
“I’m not,” Dean breathed, this time his eyes blazing with determination. “… as long as you tell me one thing. Do you… Do you really love her?”
“More than myself.” As expected, Zoren didn’t hesitate, his answer always ready. That question wasn’t really a question.
Dean studied Zoren’s expression, and for the first time, he saw something in Zoren’s eyes that he had never seen before. For someone who often wore a look of disinterest and distance, his eyes now appeared determined and unwavering.
Dean’s lips trembled as he exhaled sharply, nodding his head in understanding. “I see.”
For a moment, he had to collect his thoughts and momentarily set aside the heaviness in his heart. Dean licked his lips, attempting to appear posed.
“Well then, congratulations!” he scoffed. “But I’ll tell you this—hurt her even a little, and I’ll take everything from you. Not just Penny, but the entire Pierson Corporation you’ve held together all your life.”
And both knew that if Dean set his mind to it, he could achieve it. He hadn’t risen through the ranks of the first branch for no reason.
With that, Dean cleared his throat loudly and walked away. He shoved one hand into his pocket, not pausing for anything as he continued on. Despite his heart feeling like it was breaking into pieces, he moved away as quickly as he could.
Zoren watched as his nephew departed. Even though Dean did his utmost to appear unaffected, Zoren could see the effort Dean exerted to keep it all under control without making a scene. Besides, Zoren had seen this ing from a mile away.
He took another shallow breath. “I’m sorry, but I can’t give you this. Not this one.”
With that, Zoren pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The call rang a few times before being answered on the last ring.
“It’s me,” he muttered. “Dean just left. You might want to visit him tomorrow.”
Silence followed his statement before Belle’s soft voice came through. “I hope you weren’t too harsh on him. Thank you for letting me know. I’ll go talk to him.”
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