Chapter 1292: She probably loves him

Zoren’s brows rose in surprise as he saw Penny’s reaction to what he had said. He didn’t need to tell them everything for her to know what he had just done.

"Darling, you just provoked him!" Penny gasped. "Why would you say that?"

"Isn’t that a little too risky?" Atlas commented, thinking about Zoren’s actions.

Zoren shrugged slightly. "Making him believe that I am also reborn, just like him, would surely put him in a tight situation. After all, if all the information we have is accurate, then I’m sure I didn’t just sit by in the previous timeline."

One thing he knew for sure was that he had fought for his wife, even though it might not have been out of love. Whatever his reason for meddling with Penny’s case in the past might have been, something he didn’t know. However, what he was certain of was that he had acted in what he thought was the right way.

In other words, Zoren was confident that he had contributed to Jonathan’s failure in the past.

"Besides, Jonathan Pierson has always been a part of the Pierson Family," Zoren explained. "I think it’s only right that I handle him. He’s my responsibility as the head of the family. Moreover, I’ve already received a lot of help from you."

Zoren studied the expression on Penny’s face and then Atlas’s. Unlike Penny, Atlas’s expression remained neutral.

"If you think that’s the best decision, then I understand," Atlas nodded. "I also think it’s not a bad idea."

After all, Atlas had had the same idea not long ago. However, he decided not to act on it. Why? Because for him, it was better if Jonathan thought that Atlas was clueless. People tend to lower their guards around those they consider weaker than themselves.

Penny, on the other hand, huffed and studied her husband. Leaning back, all she could do was shrug.

"What else can I say?" she remarked, glancing at the side-view mirror before resuming her driving. "What’s done is done. Hopefully, he changes his mind... or not. Doesn’t matter, since I’m going to kill him myself if he makes any moves."

Because Penny was ready.

Even though there were still many missing pieces to understand the entire picture of their situation, she would fight to the death if the worst came to pass. She already had a plan, and her traps were already set in place. All she was waiting for was the moment to spring them and watch whoever intruded on their family explode into smithereens.

*****

Meanwhile, in the city’s shopping mall...

Nina had been checking each boutique that caught her eye to see if there was anything she could buy. The family meeting was tomorrow, and she wanted to prepare something for Finn’s family, knowing they would be there.

But alas...

"There’s nothing good here," she sighed heavily, looking around the antique gift shop. "Even though Finn told me not to bother, I still want to buy his family a present."

It wasn’t like Nina hadn’t met his family. She had met them a few times. Although most of those meetings had been brief, with just exchanging greetings before his parents hurried off, talking on the phone. The longest time she had interacted with them was when Finn got into an accident. Though not much had been said back then, Nina still wanted to get his parents’ approval.

"I don’t even know what they actually like," she whispered, staring at a small music box in front of her. Nina pressed her lips into a thin line, huffing once more before telling herself to check some other stores. Perhaps, if she didn’t find anything in the mall, she could try another boutique outside.

With that thought in mind, Nina walked around the antique shop before leaving. There were still other shops she planned to check, so she didn’t waste time and went straight to the next one.

One of the challenges with buying gifts for her future in-laws was that she didn’t know what they liked. After all, Finn had no idea, and she was certain the things he had told her were just things he came up with at the moment. Another issue was that if she went with the usual gifts, she knew she couldn’t afford their standards of jewelry, bags, or even shoes.

"This is the last shop," she sighed heavily, glancing around, but she knew she wouldn’t find anything. "I guess I should just visit the shop Mom and Aunt Jessa recommended."

But... wasn’t that shop for secondhand goods?

Nina was a little reluctant to buy secondhand goods for her future in-laws. She was certain they never touched anything that had been used by someone else before.

"I’ll just check once," she muttered, shaking her head and going about her business, checking the shop’s products. Who knows? She might find something interesting if she looked thoroughly.

But alas, Nina didn’t find any good products that made her think, this is it.However, she did spot someone browsing through a variety of items in the other aisle.

’Why... do I feel like my path is getting narrower?’Nina wondered to herself, turning around carefully so as not to alert the person she had spotted. Unfortunately, it seemed her luck had just run out.

"Nina."

Nina winced as she briefly shut her eyes, sighing heavily upon hearing the woman’s call. When she opened her eyes, she reluctantly forced a smile and turned around.

"Cassandra," she called back, watching Cassandra walk toward her. "I didn’t expect to see you here."

"Me too," said Cassandra, amusement swirling in her eyes. "I was just looking for some gifts for my future in-laws, and I was told this shop is a good place to look."

"Ah..." Nina’s mouth fell open as she nodded her head. ’So, in the end, she and Mr. Russell made up?’

Considering what Cassandra had said the last time they talked, Nina was a bit surprised. Cassandra didn’t seem like the type of person who would tolerate someone’s bad qualities, and she seemed like someone who wouldn’t trust anybody that easily. However, it seemed that she truly loved Jonathan.

"Are you looking for gifts for your fiancé’s parents?" Cassandra asked, deliberately addressing them as such to create distance between herself and Finn’s family.

"Uh, yes."

"And seeing you look a little distressed, I assumed you haven’t been successful?" she guessed, watching Nina force a smile. Cassandra chuckled before proposing, "Need help?"

Seeing the reluctance in Nina’s eyes, Cassandra nodded. "Please. I insist."