Chapter 1372: Let’s stay out of prison, please.

"He’s not wrong. I’ll kill her—kill all of them."

Silence fell between Penny and Zoren as they locked eyes with each other. Though they hadn’t been together as long as it sometimes felt, Penny knew her husband well enough to understand he meant every damn word he just said.

"I..." Penny trailed off, considering his words. "...don’t like men who kill."

Zoren remained silent, watching her closely, searching her expression. "I haven’t done it. So you can’t dislike me."

She smiled. "That’s why I’m telling you beforehand—because I don’t want to dislike you."

But hadn’t she told him before that nothing he did could ever make her leave him?

"Renren." Penny stepped closer, looking up at him with a softer expression. She couldn’t match his fire when she knew he was barely holding himself back from punishing those who, in his eyes, deserved it.

Smiling, she reached for his hand and met his gaze. "Let’s stay out of prison, please."

"What do you suggest we do?" he asked. "Penny, I understand your plan, even if you don’t explain it. But there’s no way in hell I’ll let Grandma be within their reach."

Zoren agreed with her almost all the time—but not on this. Not even if he understood.

Old Mrs. Pierson was already too old for this.

"I know that." Penny nodded, her smile stretching. "That’s why we’re telling her."

"Hmm?" Zoren arched a brow, watching the glint in her eyes. "If that’s the plan, why did you...?"

Penny pressed her lips together, glancing briefly in the direction Butler Hubert had gone. "I know we all trust Butler Hubert. But people’s hearts change." She turned back to Zoren. "I believe we can trust him—but there’s no harm in making sure of that. I just want to confirm that his heart hasn’t changed... or been influenced. I’m sure this won’t be a problem. Unless, of course, he’s a mole."

A moment of silence stretched between them before Zoren nodded in satisfaction. Without a word, he reached for her arm and pulled her into his embrace.

Resting his chin atop her head, he held her tightly for a moment, the tension in his body slowly dissolving. "I missed you today," he whispered. "And I’m glad you’re trying to keep us out of prison as much as you can."

Otherwise, Zoren might have executed a few people tonight.

Penny smirked against his chest, sliding her hands up his back in a soothing motion. "It’s not a nice place to stay in. Trust me." She looked up, her grin widening.

"You can kiss me if that’ll make you feel better," she said, blinking innocently.

Zoren raised his brows, staring at her misplaced innocence. After a few seconds, a slow breath escaped him, releasing the remaining tension in his body. His wife was his calm—the only person who knew him, never judged him, but would correct him when they both knew his ways were too extreme.

"You... really make me a better person, darling," he murmured, lowering his head to claim her lips.

Penny smiled against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck as she rose onto her toes. She didn’t say it out loud, but she felt the same way. Being with him had made her better, too.

Because of him, her will to stay out of prison had never been stronger.

Even drunk Penny would think twice—because she wasn’t about to let some other woman take advantage of her absence.

---

Later That Evening...

Zoren sat at the edge of the bed, listening to the distant sound of running water from the bathroom. His eyes drifted to the door, staring at it for a full minute. Normally, he would have joined his wife by now. He never let an opportunity to make love with his wife slip away.

But tonight might be the first.

Pushing himself up, he quietly walked away—not to the main door, but to the adjoining room where Old Mrs. Pierson sleep. He dragged a chair beside her bed, watching her in silence.

Though her eyes were closed, even at her age, it took only a minute of Zoren’s stare to stir her awake. Slowly, her lids cracked open, turning toward the presence she felt beside her.

"Renren?" she murmured, blinking weakly. "What are you doing here, child?"

"Grandma..." He hesitated. "Are you already too old to keep a secret?"

A subtle smile touched Old Mrs. Pierson’s lips at the abrupt question. "Renren, you have no idea how many secrets I’ve kept—and still keep. Even you wouldn’t know them... at least, not from me."

With that, Zoren didn’t hesitate to say his reasons. "Then it’s safe to tell you—someone’s been poisoning you. And we suspect it’s what caused you to forget that certain time with William."

Silence settled between them. After a long moment, Old Mrs. Pierson exhaled a weak chuckle, shifting her gaze to the ceiling.

"People used to tell me money is the root of all evil," she mused. "And I always argued—it’s not money, but human greed. That insatiable hunger... from then to now, that’s the one thing that’s never changed."

She turned her eyes back to Zoren. "I hear you, Renren. But even if they succeed... all their efforts will be futile."

---

Meanwhile...

Mark sat in a dark room, the only source of light was coming from his computer monitor before him. He had just plugged in a flashdrive, transferring data—something Penny had personally asked him to retrieve.

This was the first time she asked him to do something worthwhile. It wasn’t a simple errand this time. So, he wanted to execute it perfectly.

While waiting, Mark idly skimmed through the records of the orphanage Jonathan had been visiting. At first glance, nothing stood out—just a long list of client files, children’s records, and staff details. The children’s files stretched endlessly, keeping the transfer time slow.

"I wonder what she’s looking for," he muttered, scrolling through the endless data.

Just as he was about to give up, something caught his eye—a file buried inside another folder. Strange. Every other folder was categorized by year.

Curious, he clicked on it. It was locked. Encrypted.

"..."

Mark frowned, trying a few common passcodes—each attempt failed.

"This must be important."

Fortunately, he had experience with this sort of thing. He might not be able to crack it open, but he could make a copy—ensuring the file stayed intact for Penny and her cyber-security team to decrypt later.

But just as he was busy working, his finger slipped, pressing an unintended key.

To his surprise, a new window popped up.

Mark froze.

The screen displayed something unexpected—something that stopped his breath mid-inhale.

His brows furrowed deeper the longer he stared.

"This is..."