Chapter 300: Don’t forget about that fact

When everyone left, Zoren and Penny remained where they were, knowing there was no longer any danger. Penny stayed seated on the grass with Renny, while Zoren stood a few steps away.

"He likes you," Zoren said, earning a glance from her. "That’s strange."

"Is it?" Penny let out an awkward laugh. "Well, I guess it is."

She shrugged and looked away, focusing on the black panther beside her. Another shallow breath slipped past her as she rubbed its broad back.

’Twelve years ago, he was just a small cub. He was even lighter than Mouse,’ she thought, smiling at the memory. ’But now, he’s grown so big. I can’t carry him anymore.’

"I’ll take this call first," Zoren said after a moment, referring to his call having been interrupted earlier.

"Sure."

Penny watched him walk away with his phone in hand. He spoke the command aloud, so she heard the name of the person he was calling. She didn’t dwell on it, though.

"Blacky, look at him," she mumbled. "He acts like he doesn’t have a problem, but he can’t even see my face."

She gazed down at Renny, only to see the black panther meet her eyes. "Was he always like this when he left for treatment?"

The black panther moved its head closer to her leg.

"He probably worries you a lot too, huh?" she whispered, placing her hand on top of his head. "He worries me a lot as well. He’s surrounded by enemies, and they don’t even realize he’s been ill all his life."

How pitiful.

Whenever she thought of Zoren, her heart always felt heavy and vulnerable. Perhaps it was because, apart from caring for him as a friend, she saw the old Penny in him. Not that Zoren was chasing acceptance from his own family, but because even if he tried, there was no way they would see him as family and not as a threat to their power.

"It must be hard looking after him, huh? He’s stubborn and foolish. Do you know he goes to that place every Thursday?" she muttered, complaining to Blacky because she didn’t know where else to dump these emotions.

Penny pursed her lips as she slowly lifted her eyes in Zoren’s direction. "He... breaks my heart, Blacky."

Another sigh escaped her as she watched Zoren hang up and march back in her direction.

"He’s pitiful... he makes me want to cry," she whispered, her lips pursed again when Zoren reached her.

"I’m back."

"I know," she responded with a hint of annoyance. "I can see you clearly."

Zoren tilted his head slightly, detecting the displeasure in her voice. "I’m... sorry for making you wait."

"Tsk."

"Miss Penelope, did I do something wrong? You sound upset."

"Nothing," she waved dismissively. "I don’t want to walk anymore."

"What do you want to do?"

"To heal." Penny casually collapsed on top of Renny, hugging him while keeping her legs crossed.

Zoren could only make out their blurry figures, but he knew she was sulking. "Aren’t you a little too comfortable with Renny?"

’It’s Blacky,’

When Penny didn’t respond, Zoren furrowed his brows slightly. He slowly squatted in front of the two, who seemed too close to each other, as if she were the owner.

"Miss Penelope, did I do something wrong to upset you?" he asked gently, as if trying to coax her. "Tell me, so I won’t do it again."

Taking advantage of the fact that he couldn’t see her clearly, she glared at him. ’You worry me to death! That’s what you’re doing.’

"Or was it Benjamin?" he asked again. "Did he say something?"

Still, she gave no response.

"Fine." He nodded. "I’ll send him to the Arctic Ocean."

"What?" Penny’s face stiffened. "Mr. Pierson, it’s not Mr. Vitt. I’m just... tired."

"I see." Zoren nodded. "Then, should I drive you home?"

"I came here in my car, so you don’t have to."

"Please, I insist." He smiled slightly. "I’ve already bothered you enough with my carelessness and dragged you into this complicated situation."

"It’s alright."

"It is not," he sighed faintly. "I might not be able to see you clearly, but I can sense that you hate lying to my grandmother. Yet because of me, you have to. I hate it, but I still shamelessly let this go on, and plan to continue."

Penny pursed her lips, looking into his eyes. "Can you really not see me?"

"It’s a blur."

"How blurry?"

"Very."

"Can you tell how many fingers I’m holding up now?"

"Two."

Penny bit her inner bottom lip as she gazed at her fingers. There were three, but the index and middle fingers were together while the ring finger stood separately.

"So, you’re looking at things based on colors?" she asked, and he nodded. "It’s not two, it’s three."

"But I saw two."

"That’s because I put my middle and index fingers together," she remarked. "Be careful next time, Mr. Pierson. I know you and Dean aren’t on good terms and have been fighting a lot. He’s smart; if he has suspicions, he’ll quickly catch on. He’s that kind of person."

The space between his brows crinkled, a bit taken aback by what she said. "I thought you two were... together."

"Over my dead body," she snorted. "He’s a delusional man, but at the same time, what you guys have is yours — I’m out of it. I’m just saying this because you’re my client. If I was able to trick you, he can too."

The side of his lips curled up. "Thank you."

"You don’t have to..."

"I have to." A short chuckle escaped him. "Now, I’m less worried."

Penny furrowed her brows. "Worried? You were worried about...?"

"Being in a scandalous marriage."

"Huh?"

"If my wife is in a relationship with my nephew, that is scandalous, isn’t it?"

"That’s your worry?" she blurted out. "Did you hear the part about him tricking you?"

His smile stretched. "Don’t worry, Miss Penelope. Your husband might have poor health, but I’m the one seated at the helm despite that disadvantage."

Penny opened and closed her mouth, unable to feel awe when he casually referred to himself as her husband, as if they were in this marriage willingly.

"I hope you don’t forget that," he added. "Don’t worry too much about your husband. I’ll be fine."

For some reason, Penny couldn’t even focus on how confidently he called himself her husband. The reassurance and assertiveness in his words almost put her heart at ease.