Chapter 1000: Love at first sight

"Goodness..." Penny sat on the side of the bed, glancing at the IV injected into Zoren to stabilize him. She breathed out another heavy sigh, clasping his hand while bending over the side of the bed. Penny buried her face in his hand, her heart still racing from the anxiety she had just experienced.

The doctor had already congratulated her for her successful treatment and reassured her. However, despite the relief their kind words brought to her heart, the anxiety and fear she carried beforehand still lingered.

Allison also sat beside Penny, reaching out to rub her daughter’s back. Her eyes softened as Penny turned her head, keeping the side of her head on top of the hand that was holding Zoren’s.

"It did become okay, Mom," Penny whispered, and Allison nodded with a smile. "Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?" Allison replied in a soft voice. "You don’t have to thank me, though I’m glad that the treatment was working and Zoren is getting better."

Slowly, Allison and Penny turned their attention to Zoren, who was sleeping. Their expressions softened as the corners of their mouths lifted into gentle smiles.

Charles was in the room with them but didn’t say anything. He stood a few steps behind his wife and daughter before quietly turning on his heel and walking away. His footsteps were light and almost inaudible. When he stepped out of the bedroom, he closed the door behind him just as quietly.

Outside stood Haines, Atlas, Hugo, and Slater.

Charles pressed his lips tightly together, scanning their faces, especially his sons. "You saw your sister earlier?" he asked under his breath, and their silence was enough of an answer for him. "Zoren Pierson is already a part of this family. So, do everything you can to protect him. Protecting him means protecting our Penny."

Charles paused, his mouth starting to quiver as he was reminded of the dimness in Penny’s eyes just moments ago. Any parent would be terrified to see their child lose the light in their eyes. It made him realize one thing he had been ignoring.

Zoren was Penny’s husband. Just like Allison and Charles, if something bad happened to Allison, Charles would probably be just as devastated just like how his daughter at the mere thought of losing her partner.

"Haines," Charles snapped, his eyes locking with Haines. "Penny mentioned that she bought the Miller’s Company."

Haines nodded in understanding. "She mentioned it to me. Don’t worry, Charles. I—"

"I’ll take charge of it," Charles said sternly, causing lines to form between Haines’s brows. "I know Penny has her plans for that, but I’ll talk to her. After all, she already has a lot on her plate with her company, the Pierson Corporation, and the Bennet Family. I can’t let her handle the Miller’s Company as well, on top of other things she has to manage."

He then shot a look at Atlas, but before he could speak, Atlas already did.

"I know what to do," Atlas said. "Don’t worry about that."

Atlas then slowly set his eyes on the door behind Charles and whispered, "I made a promise to her before, and I’m keeping it."

Charles nodded in satisfaction before turning his gaze to Hugo. "Hugo, the training. Not just for him, but you have to find a way to teach some tricks to all the guys here."

"I already did," Hugo replied, throwing his hands behind his head. "But to be fair, they’re all so skilled. Why don’t you teach them some tricks, Major? I’m sure they’ll learn from you."

"You better stop being lazy and shifting the responsibility to others," Charles spat out, but didn’t refuse the idea.

Right now, the Bennet Family was already under attack. Stephen was treading carefully so that Charles and the rest of the Bennets could move freely without attracting the enemy’s attention. Today’s distraction was a good one, and if they were being watched, it could also serve as a good distraction for their enemies.

The bottom line was that Charles and all of them needed to stay clear-headed.

"As for you, Slater..." Charles trailed off while Slater straightened his back, ready to hear whatever order his father wanted to give him. "You better stop aggravating your brother-in-law. Do you think I didn’t know that you weren’t being nice to him?!"

"Hah?!" Slater gasped in dismay. "Dad, what are you talking about?! How come First Brother and Second Brother sound like they’re getting serious missions and this is all you ask of me?!"

"Just agree," Hugo frowned. "Don’t argue."

"Do you think what Dad is asking of you isn’t serious?" Atlas added, arching an eyebrow at his third brother. "It’s the most important of all."

"Huh?"

Haines nodded. "I agree with Atlas. This might not sound serious, but it’s very important indeed."

"Really?" Slater hummed, a little swayed.

"Zoren’s condition is sensitive. That’s why Penny is being patient with him—because everything started psychologically. Your unpleasant comments could trigger him and cause him harm. Doesn’t that sound important to you?" Atlas continued, watching Slater’s affronted expression fade. "Treat it as assisting Penny."

"Like a nurse?"

All of them stared at Slater blankly before nodding. "Yes, like a nurse."

"Oh... okay." Slater smiled. "Nurses are the backbone of Anteca’s health care system. I like the sound of that."

"..." Everyone just watched Slater giggle while secretly biting their tongues. But since Slater agreed, that was all that mattered.

"Forget about the damn dates—you’re all hopeless about it anyway," Charles cleared his throat as he watched everyone set their eyes back on him. "Let’s just focus on this family—the Bennets and the Piersons—as we had already promised Grandma Pierson that this marriage is an extension for all of us. Let’s protect it."

*******

Hours later...

Deep lines appeared between Zoren’s brows as his eyes flickered beneath his eyelids. A short groan slipped past his lips, his throat a little scratchy and dry. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the warm dimness of the room.

"..." He stared at the ceiling for a moment before peeling his gaze away. The first thing he saw was the people sleeping in the bed in the other corner of the room. That bed hadn’t been there before, but he understood why it was now: because of the people sleeping on it—Allison and Charles.

When he moved his eyes to the couch, he saw Haines sleeping while Slater lay in a fetal position with his head on Haines’s lap. Zoren blinked, his eyes staying on them before catching sight of the cane beside Haines.

Moving his gaze away from the couch, he saw Hugo sitting on the floor with his back against the wall and his arm over his bent knee. His eyes were closed, making one wonder if he was actually asleep or just had his eyes closed. Who could sleep like that?

As Zoren moved his eyes from Hugo, he saw Atlas seated on the wing chair next to his bed. He didn’t expect Atlas to be there either, as he would usually stay on the couch whenever they were watching over Penny.

’I think... I just figured out why she got sick twice this year,’ he thought to himself, almost laughing. ’It was so she could see this scene. It’s so heartwarming to wake up, surrounded by family.’

Zoren glanced at the scene in the bedroom once more before smiling subtly. Usually, when he woke up, it was either just him or the doctors or a nurse until Penny came into his life. Thus, this was a sight to behold — a blessing.

’Penny, where is she...’ he trailed off, turning his head to the other side, only to see someone sleeping. She was seated on the floor, her arms over the edge of the bed, her head using her arms as a pillow.

The side of his mouth curled up as he reached out to gently brush her cheek with his fingertips. The warm light of the room shone on her face. His eyelids drooped as they softened, swirling with affection as he studied her sleeping face.

"She’s not... like how I imagined her to look," he whispered as his chest moved in and out heavily, different types of emotions swelling in his chest. His eyes glistened under the dim lights, a thin layer of tears coating them.

When a faint huff escaped his mouth, he breathed out, "God... she’s beautiful."

For the first time in his life, he could finally see what his wife looked like, and he had to admit, he just felt like he had fallen in love at first sight.