Chapter 242: Weird people these days are surely everywhere.

"Wow, Nina. Look at that ring." Penny’s eyes twinkled as she noticed the ring on Nina’s finger. "Your fiancé seems to be loaded. Is he rich?"

Nina chuckled as she glanced at her finger. "My fiancé’s family is rich. That’s why I’m a little pressured to make a name for myself."

"Huh?"

"You see, if you’re marrying into a wealthy family, you should also have something to bring to the table," Nina explained upon seeing the pure curiosity in Penny’s eyes. "Otherwise, I’m afraid they’d just bully me."

"Oh... that’s why?" Penny tilted her head. "Why does that sound so complicated?"

"It’s complicated because you’re a free spirit."

"Nina, you also have a free spirit. Are you sure you’re marrying into this family? They sound bad—complicated."

Nina rested her arms on the edge of the table and nodded with a smile. "It’s complicated, but I love him. Moreover, it’s not like I want a good career just because I’m marrying him. I want to do what I love and earn from it."

"Wow." Penny clapped. "Nina, you’ve really turned your life around. You used to be such a brat, but look at you now! Wow! Amazing."

"Penny, you’re teasing me again."

"Hehe."

"Anyway, I heard about the engagement from the elders," Nina brought up in a serious tone. "Are you planning on doing anything about it?"

Penny frowned deeply, looking at Nina with irritation. "Nina, is this really important right now? I haven’t even asked about Yuri and Aunt Jessa."

"You know what they’ve been up to, and Yuri would have joined us if she didn’t have a class. The children’s education is important—that’s what she always says." Nina sighed, thinking that Yuri wasn’t available on weekdays because Yuri was a kindergarten teacher.

"Also, this is important since it’s about you," Nina added. "And I heard Brother Atlas has been fighting them like crazy. There will be some internal strife in the company if Brother Atlas keeps resisting."

"What do you mean?" Penny narrowed her eyes as she leaned back.

"You don’t know? He didn’t tell you?" Nina furrowed her brows. "Because of the promise made by the two elders from both families, they came to an agreement to strengthen the family bond with marriage. But since the other side has no unmarried female descendants, First Brother said he’d have a same-sex marriage. Otherwise, they should leave you alone."

Penny’s face contorted as she imagined Atlas’s face while spewing such nonsense.

"Haha. Penny, I know what you’re thinking," Nina chuckled. "But he was a little embarrassed when he said that... according to Third Brother. His face was all red."

"Goodness." Penny shook her head.

"They initially thought of me, but since I’m engaged and I’m not an actual Bennet, I’m safe."

Penny glanced at her, noticing how happy she seemed. "Nina, are you happy that you’re not a Bennet?"

"In this situation? Yes." Nina didn’t hide her relief. "But that’s not the main point here."

"What is it?"

"With Dad and First Brother’s shares, and then Uncle Haines’s, First Brother currently has the largest share. However, the gap between First Brother and our cousin is very small since the majority of the board favors him. So if Grandpa gives his shares to this cousin, he’ll become the new head of the family," she explained in a matter-of-fact tone. "Grandpa wasn’t very happy with First Brother’s refusal of the engagement, after all."

Penny frowned as she crossed her arms, not pleased to hear all this information. "So, they’re pressuring First Brother just because he’s opposed to this engagement?"

"He probably didn’t want to tell you because he knew you’d feel burdened," Nina sighed. "Did I overshare?"

"Would you still have told me this if you thought of that beforehand?"

"Yes." Nina chortled. "I know you’d appreciate it more if you heard about it. Also, I’m very concerned. Although I’m not directly affected by the Bennet family’s affairs and it shouldn’t be my problem, I’m worried."

"Thanks." Penny pondered this. ’I thought they’d give up if First Brother kept resisting the arrangements. Dad also doesn’t approve of this. But it seems they’re really determined.’

But the main question Penny had in mind was, "What changed?"

In her first life, there was nothing like this. The elders didn’t propose any engagement nor did they force any of the Bennet children to marry someone because of this so-called promise.

What changed?

"The problem with this is because I am available, right?" Penny snapped her eyes up at Nina, watching the latter nod. "If I were married, do you think they’d have this idea?"

"Well, I don’t know, but if you were married, then there’s nothing they could do, I guess?" Nina shrugged. "I think they’d reconsider First Brother’s proposal if marriage is off the table."

"Got it."

Nina paused, raising her brows. "Penny, what are you planning?"

"Nothing."

"But that smile tells me it’s not nothing at all."

"Hehe." Penny giggled mischievously. "Don’t worry. What I’m thinking is very, very harmless."

Nina was still skeptical, but knowing Penny, she knew the latter wouldn’t do anything that would harm herself or the family. "Anyway, I sent you the designs for your office. Have you checked them?"

"Nope. Let me see."

With that, the two moved on to discuss the design Penny wanted for her office. After all, she hired Nina to do the interior design for the company because she needed someone she could trust to do the job.

Penny didn’t realize that she spent half of her day just gossiping with Nina and the other half checking the building. Nina was still with her since she wanted to see the place first and also needed more information about Penny’s preferences as her client.

So, it was almost dark when Penny reached the neighborhood of the Bennet Mansion.

Tapping her fingers against the steering wheel, Penny hummed. "I didn’t want to take Uncle Haines’s suggestion, but I guess it can’t be helped. Well, I think it’s best for me to do that as well."

Her lips curled up as she slowed down, entering a side street to avoid the main road. Slater’s car was too flashy, and she didn’t plan to put a dent in it. But as she drove slowly down the street, Penny noticed someone on the side of the road.

It was a man seated on a camping chair, drinking a cup of tea. He was alone, but he looked very relaxed.

Penny shook her head and scrunched up her nose. "Weird people these days are surely everywhere."

And with that thought in mind, she simply drove past the person who had been camping there every Thursday, waiting for someone he made a promise to.