Chapter 296: Charging toward its prey

Old Mrs. Pierson’s chuckles filled the home as she couldn’t contain her happiness throughout dinner. Looking at the almost empty table, she nodded approvingly.

"Thank you for the dinner, Grandma," Penny said, modestly wiping her lips with the cloth. "The food was great!"

"I’m glad you liked it. My child, I thought you were joking when you said you’re not a picky eater!" Old Mrs. Pierson laughed. "It made me feel that all that time in the kitchen was worth every second!"

Penny chuckled, slightly embarrassed. "I ended up eating more than I was supposed to."

"No, we told you to eat to your heart’s content! I’m just glad you liked everything, my child."

"It was... delicious." Penny couldn’t help but blush, warming the old woman’s heart.

"My little child," Old Mrs. Pierson reached out to Penny. "You are such a precious child. Grandma will try to make you more food and send it to your home."

Penny nodded with a smile until her face stiffened. ’Which house?’

"I’ll ask Butler Hubert to check your fridge once a week so I can make you more fresh food."

"Ha ha... thank you, Grandma," Penny kept her smile, but deep inside, she couldn’t help but panic.

"Madam." Just then, Butler Hubert approached the table and stood beside the old madam. He bent over slightly and said, "It’s time for your medicine and check-up."

Old Mrs. Pierson nodded, then turned her attention back to Penny and Zoren. "My little daughter, Grandma will just take her medicine and meet with the doctor. While I do, why don’t you and your husband take a walk around the house?"

"Zoren, take your wife for a walk and show her around," she suggested, this time directing her eyes at her grandson.

"Yes, Grandma." Zoren nodded.

"My little daughter, wait for Grandma, okay? Let’s have tea after this."

"Okay, Grandma."

Having said that, Butler Hubert offered his arm to the old madam and assisted her out of the dining room. Penny and Zoren stayed in their seats until Old Mrs. Pierson was out of sight.

"Shall we?" said Zoren as he set his eyes on her. "Come with me. I’ll show you around."

Penny wanted to decline, but a night walk didn’t seem bad after a heavy dinner. "Mhm."

*********

The Old Residence of the Piersons was vast and rich in pathways and various landscape designs. Compared to the house itself, the surrounding area was even bigger. It was not much different from a lone house situated at the top of a hill—almost designed to feel like that.

But aside from the reason behind the vast lot surrounding the residence, it also had its upsides. For instance, one could enjoy a quiet night walk within the space.

"You can throw up if you want." After a prolonged silence, Zoren’s voice pierced through the air.

Penny turned to the man walking beside her. "Huh?"

"You ate a lot," he explained. "If you forced yourself, you can try to throw it up. You can also complain. I won’t tell anyone."

"..." Did she look like she was forced?

If the servants heard his reasoning, they would ask if he was blind.

"Thank you, but I’m fine," she replied, inhaling the cold night breeze. "I told you earlier, I eat everything."

"Okay."

She glanced at him and smiled but said nothing. Another minute of quiet passed before his voice was heard again.

"Was it good?" he asked. "You can answer honestly."

"Mhm."

"Which one did you like most?"

Penny looked at him with slight confusion before she hummed. "The one Old Madam Pierson made!" she answered. "Knowing she is the one who prepared it made it ten times better than the rest!"

"I see," he nodded while Penny looked ahead. His next words, however, made her raise her right brow. "I helped."

"Yes, I know, Mr. Pierson," she replied, noticing the proud look on his face as if he deserved praise.

Penny pressed her lips, sneaking glances at him.

’He still is very pale... or perhaps, paler than I remembered him,’ she thought, and concern quickly shone in her eyes. ’But for some reason, he grew taller—taller than I expected him to be.’

Zoren reminded her of how Slater also sprouted magically. Among her brothers, Slater was the smallest. Even at fifteen, Slater looked like he was barely twelve! He was that short. But that third brother suddenly grew over one summer. Now, Slater was almost the tallest if not for Hugo, who beat him by a few centimeters.

But Zoren was a little—just a tiny bit—taller than Hugo. He truly had long legs, but it explained his stature, as Dean was also tall, and Old Mrs. Pierson was a big woman. Even so, the Renren she knew was very small.

’I guess this is what First Brother feels! Everyone keeps growing, but he was stuck—I am stuck!’ she mentally wept. ’Although I’m not as small anymore, I’m still small compared to everyone around me!’

Bzzt!

Unaware of Penny’s silent woes, Zoren fished his phone out.

[Incoming message from Assistant Vitt]

As soon as Zoren heard that, he quickly clicked his phone to stop it from reading the message aloud. Penny raised her brows and gazed at him.

"You can answer that," she said. "I don’t mind."

"It’s alright, Miss Penelope. I can answer it later."

"Oh..." Penny nodded, but then heard the phone ring. "Mr. Pierson, I’m alright. I don’t mind if you answer that. It must be important if Mr. Vitt is calling you at this hour."

Zoren paused in his steps and faced her. "Then, I’ll answer."

"Mhm." Penny nodded and took a slow step, only to stop when he spoke again.

"Don’t go too far," he said. "Stay where I can see you."

"But you can’t see."

"I can see your figure, though, blurry."

"Oh." Penny bit her tongue, realizing how bad she sounded with her response. "Don’t worry, Mr. Pierson. I won’t go anywhere and get myself lost."

Zoren simply gazed at her quietly. When she sensed that he was staring a little too long, he suddenly looked away and strode off to answer the call from a distance.

"What’s that about?" she murmured while watching him walk away. She didn’t think much about it, though. Penny shrugged nonchalantly and took a few steps, thinking she was still too close to hear Zoren’s voice.

When there was enough distance between them, Penny threw her hands behind her and enjoyed the night breeze. However, the peace she was indulging in was short-lived when she suddenly heard panicked shouts and frightened yells from the distance.

"Don’t let — Miss Penelope!!!"

Penny furrowed her brows and turned her head to the commotion, only to see Butler Hubert and some servants run out from another part of the mansion. Zoren’s attention was also drawn by the sound.

She squinted her eyes and caught sight of a huge black creature charging in her direction. "Huh?"

"Miss Penelope!" Butler Hubert gasped as he saw the black panther headed towards Penny.

Zoren also froze as he saw his panther leap high at what seemed to be its prey.

Watching the black panther charge at Penny with such aggressiveness, everyone’s heart stopped. When they saw that the black panther reached Penny, one servant could only scream with their eyes shut.

"Ahhhh!!!"