Chapter 1184: We and us, not just you and I.

Zoren went on to explain how he came to the conclusion that he, too, had been reborn, just like Penny and Finn. The brief trip down memory lane had been too vivid, and as a child, he had carried too much malice. His mother may have hated him, but he had loathed her just as much—perhaps even more.

Zoren didn’t remember anything past his father’s death. But he was almost convinced that his father’s death and the last thoughts he could recall before falling into a coma were clear evidence that he had been reborn.

"So, you’re telling me that because of my father-in-law’s death, you just shut down?" Penny repeated, simplifying everything in her own words.

Zoren nodded. "I don’t think ’shut down’ is the proper term, but yes."

"The trauma from the accident and then losing a loved one... it’s not impossible," Penny mumbled to herself, rubbing her chin. When she snapped her eyes back to him, she slowly covered her mouth. ’Does this mean he’d be able to answer whether we lost our first kiss in our first life, too? And to make it better, we were also each other’s first kiss in both lifetimes?!’

Zoren narrowed his eyes suspiciously as his wife seemed a little too excited. "Penny, talk to me. I feel like you’re thinking something very concerning. You’re blushing."

"Ahem! It’s not concerning at all!" Penny flashed him a smile, clearing her throat to hide the perverted thought she had just entertained. "So, let’s recap! First, you remember hating your mother."

"Yes."

"And you also remember that she was poisoning you and your father very slowly?"

"I think so, yes."

"So, to protect yourself, you used her allergy and anxiety against her."

"She was allergic to pollen, so I would take some flowers and powderize them. I would sprinkle some on her things—clothes, makeup, pillows..." Zoren trailed off and furrowed his brows, uncertain if he was remembering it correctly. But before he could think too much, he realized how it all sounded.

It was like confessing to a crime—well, it was a crime. Still, he was concerned about how she would react. Much to his surprise, Penny was looking at him with what could only be described as pride, as if what he had done was something to be admired.

"I wouldn’t lose you even if I killed someone, would I?" he blurted out, realizing just how foolish it was to think that she would abandon him at his worst. If anything, it seemed like Penny had a thing for violent men. It even seemed like she would help bury the body if the situation ever called for it. He deeply hoped that wasn’t the case—and that it would never come to that.

"On top of that, I replaced her medicine with sugar. So, she became worse and worse," he continued, summarizing without adding unnecessary details. "And then, the fire I orchestrated."

"She did stab you and leave you to die there, so I guess the narrative isn’t really exaggerated," Penny replied, quickly snapping out of her thoughts. "Besides, as a young boy, you could only do what you could to protect yourself and your father. If I had been bigger, I would’ve buried Aunt Jessa and the twins and taken advantage of the fact that a three-year-old wouldn’t be a suspect in a murder. But then I realized that if they were dead, I’d be sent to a shelter."

Zoren opened and closed his mouth, more shocked by his wife’s confession than his own.

"That’s all I remember. That’s why I think I was born with the memories of my first life. The malice I carried was unspeakable, and the desperation I felt as I watched my father run to save me... tells me I’m right."

Penny nodded in understanding. "And the main concern is that remembering your past life might not only uncover the truth behind the conspiracy that played out in our lives but also..."

"How I dealt with it," Zoren finished. "I would know who killed me, what I did, and what truth made me feel like another life was nothing but a curse."

"Well... that actually makes sense now."

"Hmm?" Zoren furrowed his brows. "Makes sense, how?"

"Renren, not long ago, Finn confronted you, remember?" she reminded him, making him freeze for a second as the memory of his conversation with Finn surfaced.

Then it hit him.

"I was the person who changed it," Zoren breathed out, and Penny nodded. "Not her."

"And I think that’s better than the other way around. Don’t you think?"

Silence settled between them as they held each other’s gaze. After a moment, Penny reached out and squeezed his hand with a smile.

"Renren, can you promise me one thing?" she hummed. "If the day ever comes when you remember everything and confirm our suspicion, can you promise that this marriage will not fall apart?"

"Never." He didn’t even need a second to answer. "That’s not going to happen. If anything, even if you wanted a way out, I’d lock you away somewhere only I know. I wouldn’t care if you hated me—just don’t leave me."

Penny scrunched up her nose and raised an eyebrow. "Renren, did you hear yourself just now?"

Only then did Zoren realize what he had just blurted out.

He flinched slightly upon the realization. He had spoken so casually, it was disconcerting. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it."

"Oh, I think you meant it from the bottom of your heart."

He pressed his lips together and looked away. "Intrusive thought."

"Hehe." A short giggle escaped her as she moved closer to him. With her squeezing him, Zoren leaned back against the headboard and kept his arm around her. Resting her head on his shoulder, Penny draped an arm over his waist.

"Either way, let’s face it together," she said. "Just like how you accepted drunk Penny, I’m sure our love for each other will tame whatever kind of devil you became in your first life."

A subtle smile appeared on his face as he rested his head atop hers. "Now that you’re saying all of that, I feel less threatened." Slowly, he closed his eyes, his entire body finally relaxing. "It feels... like it’s not as bad as I thought it would be."

"Because it’s not," Penny murmured, peeking up at him and meeting his gaze. "There’s ’we’ and ’us’now—not just you and I."

The corners of their mouths hooked up into wider smiles before they casually leaned into each other. For them, as long as they remembered that this marriage was a partnership, their worst moments would only be phases—phases they would overcome together.

And with peace finally settling over them again, the couple who couldn’t find the stillness to sleep eventually drifted off in each other’s safe embrace.

Now, that leaves Penny with one question: Slater.