Chapter 1620: Horrible is an understatement

[PIERSON CORPORATION]

Benjamin sat restlessly in his seat, sighing for the umpteenth time. His eyes flicked constantly to his phone, and he clicked his tongue in irritation.

Even when he managed to distract himself, the silent standoff between him and Mint gnawed at him.

"She still hasn’t reached out, even though she’s getting discharged today," he muttered, clicking his tongue again. Then again, he had blocked her number. Though he occasionally unblocked her throughout the day, she still hadn’t tried to contact him.

"Not even an apology," he grumbled. "Does she seriously think I don’t even deserve a half-hearted sorry?"

His frown deepened.

Benjamin was still angry with his cousin, of course. But even though he often blew up, his anger usually burned out just as fast.

He clicked his tongue once more and shook his head, reaching for his phone. Just then, he noticed the CEO’s office door open from the inside.

Benjamin stood up quickly, spotting Finn walking out.

"Sir Finn," he called, hurrying over and blocking Finn’s path. "Is my boss in a good mood?"

Finn paused, thinking about it. "I’m not... really sure."

"Huh?"

"Why don’t you check?" Finn offered a faint smile. "A part of me thinks he shouldn’t be fine, but somehow, he seems okay. Which honestly just makes me a little upset."

With that, Finn stepped aside and walked away.

Benjamin furrowed his brows, watching him go.

"What does that even mean?" he muttered, glancing toward the CEO’s office. He lingered in front of the door, hesitating.

"Just today," he whispered to himself, scratching the back of his head. "If he lets me go, I’ll go. If not—well, it’s not like that woman deserves it, anyway."

He convinced himself to accept whatever response he got. Either way, it’d be a good excuse not to show up for Mint’s discharge.

Knock knock.

Benjamin knocked twice—loud enough to be heard, but not too forceful. As expected, Zoren didn’t respond. Only a few people ever knocked on this door, and most of the time, it was Benjamin. Atlas never knocked.

He slowly opened the door and peeked inside.

"Sir?" he called, quickly spotting Zoren seated in an armchair.

Benjamin’s brows furrowed. Zoren was usually behind his desk, especially if Finn had just left. But today, he just sat there, deep in thought.

"Sir?" Benjamin repeated, stepping inside cautiously.

Still no response.

He stopped a few paces away from Zoren’s seat. "Sir, uh... the hospital called. They said Mint is being discharged today. Can I take a half-day off?"

Zoren remained silent, still staring across the room.

Perplexed, Benjamin followed his gaze to the wall—but there was nothing there.

"Sir—"

"Do what you want, Benjamin."

After a long silence, Zoren finally spoke.

He lifted his eyes to meet Benjamin’s with a stern look. "Go."

"Uh..." Benjamin cleared his throat awkwardly. "Are you saying that because you understand me? Or is that your way of saying: don’t you dare—"

"I’m also calling it a day," Zoren said, rising from his seat. "No reason for you to stay if I’m heading home."

"Huh?" Benjamin blinked. "You’re going home?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

He watched as Zoren returned to his desk, gathering a few items he’d likely finish working on at home.

Zoren didn’t answer, but the reason was clear.

Finn had reminded him—bluntly—that Penny had been involved in a past incident. One that neither she nor Haines ever detailed, for good reason.

Sensing Zoren wasn’t going to explain further, Benjamin gave a small nod, still confused.

"Then... I’ll head out," he said quietly, turning to leave.

Once outside, he let out a heavy sigh.

"I guess I do have to see that shameless, ungrateful cousin after all."

*****

Zoren and Finn’s discussion had been brief.

It revolved around Finn’s growing concern about Penny’s plan—and Nina’s involvement in it. While Finn trusted that Penny would never recklessly endanger Nina’s life, he also knew exactly what those people were capable of.

"If they could beat up a child, what gives me the guarantee they wouldn’t harm Nina?"

Those words from Finn halted Zoren’s entire world.

Zoren was aware of the incident. Penny had mentioned it in passing, and Haines had confessed to it more openly that night when Zoren had presented the Bennet family with his argument—that Penny was safer under his care. But even then, Haines hadn’t gone into detail.

All he said was that the incident was why he now walked with a limp.

He mentioned Penny had been there too, but beyond that, the full story was never told.

And just before leaving, Finn had said something that lingered heavily in Zoren’s mind:

"You should see them. Maybe then you’d understand why this makes me angry. It’s horrible, Zoren. ’Very’ is an understatement."

It made Zoren wonder just how much Penny and Haines had been downplaying all along.

Now, seated in the backseat of the car on the way to Prime Group, Zoren glanced at the front passenger seat.

"Angel," he called out, making him turn to look at him. "You knew Penny when she was a child, didn’t you?"

Confusion briefly flashed across Angel’s face, but he nodded. "Yes."

"Were you there when that incident happened? The one that... left Uncle Haines with a limp?"

"Sir, if you’re asking whether I was there during the abduction — no. But I was there at the hospital afterward. I was made aware of what happened."

"How bad was it?"

Angel hesitated.

"You don’t have to describe it," Zoren added. "I just need to know—how bad you thought it was."

He didn’t respond right away. His eyes quietly studied the growing fire in Zoren’s expression—so intense it made him hesitate, knowing that whatever he was about to say would only feed that flame. And yet...

"Horrible is an understatement, sir," Angel finally said, his voice growing colder. "If you want my advice, don’t look into it. Because even now, I still wish I hadn’t been a child back then. At least then I could’ve hurt them back—just as much as they hurt her and Uncle Haines."