Chapter 1006: Would you… really die if he dies?

Meanwhile, outside the residence, on the wide greenery surrounding it, Penny and Slater lay flat on the grass. They were both panting from exhaustion, their hair disheveled, with dirt clinging to parts of their faces and bodies.

Earlier, Penny had chased after him.

Slater thought he was fast enough, but he had underestimated the size of the lot. He should’ve gone through the front door instead of the back door since his car was in the driveway. If only he had, Penny wouldn’t have caught up, and they wouldn’t have had to wrestle like children.

"I knew it. It’s the ink I was smelling earlier, not alcohol or medicine," she breathed out, her eyes still closed. "How dare you scribble on my face? Are you trying to ruin it?"

"I’ll pay for your clinic visit." Slater clicked his tongue. "Don’t you know I’m the face of the best aesthetic clinic in Anteca? One word from me, and they’d treat you like the first lady of the country?"

"Do you think I’m cheap?"

Slater rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue in irritation.

For a moment, the two of them stayed quiet, trying to gather their remaining energy. If they weren’t siblings, they would have hurt each other more. Thankfully, even though they wrestled, they knew killing each other wasn’t an option.

Slater squinted his eyes slightly, holding his hand over his face to shield his eyes from the brief rays of the sun. When the cloud moved to cover the sunlight, he dropped his hand to the side.

"Hey, Penny," he called quietly, his eyes still on the clear blue sky scattered with clouds. "Yesterday... what was going through your head while we were waiting for the doctor’s news?"

Penny slowly opened her eyes, her left brow arching in surprise. She glanced at his side profile. Her reaction yesterday had already been brought up in the room, for which she appreciated Atlas’ sensible words. However, she had to admit that none of them had asked what was going on in Penny’s mind in that situation.

All they knew was that she had quickly fallen into a very vulnerable state.

"That’s unexpected," she chuckled, snapping her eyes to the sky. "To be honest? I was just... scared."

Prior to the events surrounding Zoren’s emergency, Penny had suffered from a fever and this overwhelming guilt in her heart. She barely managed to pull herself together, only to be hit by such a traumatic event where she could have potentially lost Zoren.

"I was thinking... I failed him," she continued, smiling bitterly at the thought. "I promised him that he’d get better, that I’d treat him. So, I was scared because... this may sound a little too cheesy for you, but I can’t imagine this life without him anymore."

Her eyes softened. "I love him, and I don’t want to lose him. He’s a part of my life just as much as I am a part of his."

"Would you... really die if he dies?"

This time, Penny turned her head to Slater, only to find him staring at her. She smiled and nodded.

"Why?" he asked again. "Why would you die if he dies?"

"Because he would if I do," she returned with a smile. "And I think it’s only fair for me to be like that too."

"This is not a trade."

"It’s not, but what else can I do?" she shrugged. "I am foolish. Even if I come up with a different answer, it’ll only show just how foolish I am."

Slater secretly clenched his teeth, studying the pathetic yet proud look on his sister’s face. It annoyed him how she was smiling so happily despite knowing she had given Zoren ownership of her life. It reminded him of the foolish Penny, who would take all the jabs her family would throw at her but still foolishly smile when they spared her a tiny bit of kindness.

Upset, he looked away from her, unable to bear seeing that face she was making.

"Third Brother, why are you always so grumpy when it comes to Zoren?" Penny complained sweetly. "Don’t tell me you’re jealous of him? He’s my husband, and you’re my brother. Why would you be jealous?"

If Atlas had been there to hear this, he would love to ask her the same question.

Slater didn’t budge, still looking away from her. Even when Penny started poking at his side, he didn’t react.

"What if he treats you badly?" he asked after a prolonged silence, still not looking at her. "What if one day, Zoren Pierson says hurtful things to you? What if he does something that he knows would hurt you, but he does it anyway?"

Slowly, he turned his head and set his eyes back on her. "Will you stay with him?"

Her brows rose in confusion. Slater’s question caught her off guard, and the restrained look in his eyes made her pause.

"Haha." In the end, she laughed weakly. "I did say that I’d die if Renren dies. Although I’m a hundred percent sure that he would never do that, I still know what to do IF it happened. People’s hearts change, and that’s one thing I am sure of. Just like how I’m sure he wouldn’t change for the worse, but if the time comes that he does... then my heart would surely change as well."

A reassuring smile spread across her face. "I’d appreciate the time we were together, the memories we created, and the love we shared. However, I’m not foolish enough to stay in a place where I’m no longer needed, appreciated, and valued."

"So... don’t worry about me," she nodded at him reassuringly. "I know when to respectfully walk away." — but at the same time, she knew this marriage was worth fighting for till all her resources were exhausted.

"Do you... promise that?"

"Yes."

"Even when the day comes that your own brothers don’t treat you well?"

Penny furrowed her brows but still nodded, despite the puzzlement in her heart. "I say that in general."

"I see." Slater somehow calmed down, feeling a little reassured that his sister wasn’t spiraling back to how she used to be.

"That may or may not happen, but I’ll let fate decide. For now, I just want to enjoy this moment of peace, this present that I — all of us were granted, and be thankful for another day," Penny smacked her lips and gazed up at the sky, smiling. "I’m happy and content, Third Brother. Very much."

Slater studied her side profile for a moment, his lips drawn into a thin line. When he looked away from her to gaze at the sky, he said, "Okay."

"Hm?" Deep lines appeared between her brows as she glanced at him. "Okay, what?"

"Okay... I’ll help Zoren Pierson," he said, slowly looking back at her with a slight smile. "I’ll protect him for you."

"???" Confusion spread across her face for a brief moment, but she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, Penny chuckled and nodded, not thinking much about it. "Thanks."

"I’m serious."

"I know, that’s why I’m grateful."

"You don’t sound grateful."

"I am."

"It lacks emotion."

"This is all the emotion I could pour into that gratitude. Don’t be greedy."

Slowly, Penny and Slater threw another round of short banter as they moved on from the previous topic. Even so, Slater meant it when he said he would protect Zoren.

Initially, he had just planned to keep Zoren out of trouble. But if Zoren held so much space in his sister’s heart, then he had to do what any big brother would do for his little sister.