Chapter 1317: Karma... I deserve that

Zoren watched as Finn stormed out of his office after hearing what had happened to Nina. Shrugging as Penny abruptly ended the call—since she was with a distinguished client—Zoren leaned in, ready to take a sip of his tea.

But before he could, another knock came at the door.

He paused and looked up just as the door opened, revealing Dean.

"..." Zoren blinked, then glanced at his tea. He lifted it again, only to stop once more.

"Can I come to your brother’s engagement with his beautiful fiancée?" Dean didn’t beat around the bush, still standing a few steps from the couches.

Zoren slowly looked up at him, maintaining eye contact as he leaned in for another sip. But then, Dean clapped his hands and walked closer, taking a seat on the couch beside him.

"Uncle, can I?" His eyes sparkled with excitement and hope—an odd combination for someone like Dean. Zoren knew his nephew well enough to recognize that whatever had put that light in his eyes was something... diabolical. It was not hope.

’Can I... take a sip of my tea first?’was Zoren’s first thought as he stared into those expectant eyes.

Karma, surely. Zoren had deliberately told Finn about what happened to Nina last night, even though Nina had wanted to wait until after the family meeting. But Zoren couldn’t risk Penny choosing to sleep in a different room, away from him. He would miss her. So, he had made a move, figuring he could ask for Nina’s forgiveness later. She was kind, after all.

And because of his vile thought process, karma had come for him swiftly. Now, it manifested as an inability to take a single sip of tea.

’I can’t drink tea if someone is looking at me like their entire world depends on my answer,’he mentally mused, still locked in an unwavering stare with Dean.

"I’ll let the senator know," Zoren finally replied, secretly sighing in relief when Dean leaned back.

He seized the moment, ready to take that long-awaited sip.

But then—clap!

Dean clapped again.

"Then, when is it?" he asked, just as enthusiastic. His grin widened—beaming, even.

Zoren pressed his lips into a thin line, holding his teacup and saucer awkwardly. "Tonight."

"Tonight?" Dean furrowed his brows before bursting into laughter, slapping Zoren’s armrest repeatedly.

"..." Zoren leaned away slightly, eyeing the armrest Dean was so casually abusing.

"Are you going?" Dean asked again, inching closer as if he had momentarily forgotten that he wasn’t supposed to get along with Zoren. But how could he ignore the fact that Cassandra had deliberately scheduled her engagement dinner at the same time as Finn’s?

Only the blind wouldn’t see what she was trying to do.

Since Zoren was, on paper, Penny’s husband, he was obligated to attend Nina’s family meeting as the Bennet family’s son-in-law. Though he technically didn’t have to, it was the right and decent thing to do. The Bennet family was a close-knit one—unlike the Piersons.

The only reason Zoren would ever miss the Bennet family dinner was if another, equally important event required his presence. And what could that be?

Jonathan and Cassandra’s engagement, of course.

As the head of the Pierson family, Zoren had to be there to represent them and give his blessing. Jonathan was a direct family member, after all.

It was a power play.

Without Zoren at Finn and Nina’s dinner, Bennet family would be at a disadvantage. The Davis family, after all, had more to offer in terms of wealth.

"I’m still thinking," Zoren replied, watching his tea grow colder as Dean continued to not realize what he was trying to do.

"Well, you have to be there," Dean remarked. "Though, I’m going to show my support for this union."

Zoren shrugged, deciding to ignore him. "I’ll just take a sip—"

"Or just don’t!" Dean cut in, stopping him altogether. This time, he reached over, took the teacup from Zoren’s hand, and placed it back on the table.

"Just don’t go. Let me handle it. I can handle it."

"It’s not just any family, Dean."

"And I’m not just any Pierson family member," Dean countered with a shrug. "Or does my lack of support from the family suddenly bother you?"

"I’m more bothered by the fact that you’re smiling," Zoren sighed faintly. "I might go just because you are going."

Dean chuckled, unfazed. "I’m just saying, Finn and Nina’s engagement is truly important. Sure, Jonathan’s future in-laws might be impressive, with the head of the family gunning for the presidency. But don’t you think the Bennets and Davises are just as significant?"

"..." Zoren rocked his head slightly. "I’m still thinking about it, but I already gave my word to Jonathan’s in-law, the senator."

"I see..." Dean hummed, rubbing his chin. Then, suddenly, his brow arched—a subtle but noticeable shift that Zoren caught immediately.

"Uncle, can you reschedule instead?"

"Reschedule?"

"Mhm. That way, you don’t get torn between the two. Besides, I want you there. The senator is intimidating, and I’m a little scared."

"Then don’t go."

"But I want to!" Dean intoned, grinning until his eyes squinted.

Zoren exhaled through his nose, resigned. "The senator and I agreed to put aside our familial grievances for this union," he explained, accepting that his tea was beyond salvation. "So, even though Jonathan is a child born out of a mistake, rescheduling would mean I couldn’t keep my word.

"Even if I don’t agree with this union, I still have to give my blessing," he added.

Dean frowned slightly—because he knew that. "Just a suggestion," he said. "But if you can’t reschedule, that’s fine. Just let me know when you’re leaving so I can tag along."

With that, he pushed himself up and took a few steps back. Then, lowering his head slightly, he gestured toward the tea.

"That tea’s cold now," he pointed out with a smirk, interrupting Zoren’s tea time for making Finn ran out of his office, crying. "Thanks for your time."

And with that, Dean happily walked out of the office—because, despite everything, he had gotten what he wanted.

Meanwhile, Zoren watched his nephew leave and shook his head mildly.

"I knew it," he muttered, eyes drifting to the abandoned teacup. "He did that on purpose. Now, the tea has truly gone cold."

How Zoren wished Dean had come with his usual hostility. At least then, he would’ve said a few sharp words and left within two minutes.

Instead...

"Karma," Zoren nodded to himself. "I deserved that."