Chapter 1711: Why I killed them all.

GASP!

Zoren gasped for air, just like someone resurfacing from drowning. Beads of sweat quickly formed on his forehead. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, moistening his dry throat.

When his eyes shifted, they quickly locked with Penny’s.

"Renren," she called softly, only to realize she still had to check his vitals. "Wait, I’ll just—"

But before she could put her plans into action or finish her remarks, Zoren reached out and grabbed her arm. He yanked her down into his embrace, his arms wrapped around her as tightly as he could.

Penny’s brows knitted slightly, feeling his arms and body tremble around her. She reached up to his shoulder, her fingers patting it gently.

"It’s okay," she whispered. "It’s... okay, Renren. You’re back."

Zoren didn’t answer. He didn’t even move. He simply held her as tightly as he could, closing his eyes as he hugged her closer.

"Just making sure," he whispered, his voice still shaken and low. "Just... just making sure... you’re with me."

Penny pressed her lips into a thin line, not moving an inch even when his hold was tight and almost suffocating. Instead, she let him calm down, her fingers still patting his shoulder gently.

Slowly, she closed her eyes and let her body rest on his. She still watched her weight, though. She didn’t even ask him right away, knowing whatever Zoren had seen in his memories was enough to shake him. Rushing him would not help either of them, and Penny agreed to this—not only for the sake of their dilemma.

If anything, Penny didn’t want Zoren to remember.

Penny was aware of how heavy the weight of remembering the past could be. She and Finn knew—Jonathan and Slater also carried that burden. It may have given them some advantages in some ways, but the burden was just as heavy. She didn’t want Zoren to carry the same burden, especially when she knew Zoren had gotten himself involved in something he shouldn’t have.

And unlike her, Zoren would surely know more and have done more.

If not for Zoren insisting, Penny wouldn’t have even agreed. But like how Zoren let her have her freedom in everything she wanted to do, she honored his insistence.

The couple stayed like that with Zoren still lying flat. In his arms was Penny.

Silence enveloped the room as neither of them spoke for the next couple of minutes. When his racing heart finally stabilized, his arms loosened around her.

Penny planted her hand on his side, pushing herself up slightly. Her face hovered over his, her eyes scanning the slight paleness of his face.

"You’re a little pale," she whispered. "I’ll get you water first. Then, we can talk."

Zoren shook his head mildly. Keeping his eyes on his wife, he reached out and caressed her cheek with his fingertips. He just looked at her, yet his silence was louder than any words he could say at the moment.

"I couldn’t save you," he whispered after another moment, his eyes softening with guilt and remorse. "Would you still love me, knowing that?"

The corner of her mouth curled up subtly. "We already know that, don’t we?"

Yes, they knew that Penny was executed.

But somehow, the question sounded more like a question from the Zoren of the first life.

Penny held the hand that was caressing her cheek, pressing her face into his palm. Her lips were still curled up, keeping her soft eyes locked with his.

"The past does matter, but the present is more important," she said quietly, before a faint gleam of playfulness flickered in her eyes. "The past only mattered because I wanted to know... did we kiss back then?"

Hearing her remarks added another layer of ease to his heart until a weak chuckle escaped him. His thumb stroked her cheek, smiling subtly.

"We didn’t, huh?" she guessed, since he wasn’t answering.

"I didn’t say that."

"So, we did?"

Zoren’s mouth parted, but he chose to close it again. Seeing this, Penny frowned deeply.

"Renren, that’s not fair. You should tell me," she complained with a pout. "I’m dying to know."

A low chuckle escaped him as he pulled her in and confined her in his arms again.

"We can now," he said, along with a deep exhale. "As many as we can, as long as we can."

Penny pressed her lips, still not convinced. However, she didn’t press on the matter because she could always ask him every time it crossed her mind.

After a while, she spoke softly again.

"Did you... uncover the truth?" she asked. "Or did I just put you through torture?"

Both.

Zoren brushed her back as he looked at the ceiling. "Mhm."

"Mhm?"

"I... I think I know now why everything is the way it is."

Penny pushed herself away to look at him. "Everything?"

"Everything." He nodded. "Naylani, the Bennet Family, the organization behind this, and... why I killed them all."

"..." Penny stared back at him, not replying while he studied her.

For some reason, she felt that Zoren said that not because of honesty, but rather, to see her reaction. Not as a test, but more like trying to gauge something.

"You killed them... all?" she repeated. "Who is all?"

"Jonathan, Nina, Atlas, Slater, Naylani... and everyone else."

Penny nodded slightly as she processed the names under his belt. When she locked eyes with him again, she cleared her throat.

"Maybe we can leave out what you did to the First Brother, something between us," she said. "He will kill you in this lifetime if he finds out what you did to him."

Zoren let out a defeated chuckle. "I didn’t kill First Brother. He killed himself. Still, I gave him the ammunition."

"Still better not to tell him," she forced a smile. "He’s already obsessed with making me a murderer. I’m not feeding that obsession."

"Whatever you say, wife."

Penny smiled at that, pushing herself more until she was seated beside him. "I’ll check everything first now, okay? But I’ll get you water first."

"Mhm."

With that, Penny fixed her indoor slippers. Her hands rested on either side of her, watching her feet slip slightly. But just as she rose to her feet, she stopped at Zoren’s call.

"Penny."

Penny looked back at him, seeing him already sitting up.

Zoren rested his arm on his bent knee, eyes on her. "I love you."