Chapter 344: Let him keep her around.

Benjamin knew a thing or two about handling medical emergencies. However, this was beyond his expertise. All he could do was watch with bated breath, praying to all the gods he knew to spare his boss.

This wasn’t the first time Benjamin had found himself in such a situation. In fact, he had been in this situation far too many times. Even so, it was something he would never get used to.

Only when everyone seemed to have calmed down did Benjamin heave a sigh of relief.

After the doctors helped Zoren change and carried him back to bed, everyone watched as Penny administered medication to him. No one spoke a word, listening to Penny’s instructions before they were all sent away so she could monitor him. She needed their strength if another problem arose.

Which explains why Penny remained alone in the master’s bedroom with Benjamin.

Seated in the chair beside the bed, Penny stared at him and touched his forehead once again. "He’s still hot," she muttered, "but not like earlier."

Benjamin pressed his lips together, staring at her back. He opened and closed his mouth, but no words came out.

"He will be fine," she reassured him without looking at him, as if she could read what was going on in his mind. "As long as I’m here, Renren will be fine."

Benjamin held his breath, staring at her with slight shock. But the longer he kept his gaze on her, the more he felt a bit relaxed. For some reason, despite her petite frame, she appeared broad and strong.

"Thank goodness," he breathed out, almost in tears. "I thought he was going to die."

Benjamin dragged his feet to the couch, patting his chest in relief. His knees were still shaking, but he could finally breathe normally again.

"Though I’m not sure about his eyes," she added under her breath, making him look at her once more. Penny slowly raised a hand and stroked his cheek with her fingertips. "Renren, you said you’re going to get better. I will not forgive you if it’s a lie."

She pressed her lips together, staring at him with mixed emotions. Despite her fierce leadership earlier, her hands were trembling.

’Don’t scare me like this,’

Just today, everything was going well. Who would have thought their second date would come so soon?

"Mr. Vitt," she called. "Thank you for calling me tonight."

"Huh?"

"I’m glad I’m here," she said quietly and softly. "If his eyes don’t recover by tomorrow, I’ll find someone who can help him."

"Miss Penny, do you think he will recover his eyesight?"

"Renren’s problem is psychological. He was burning up, and even last time, he was also running a fever. The fever could have triggered his brain into thinking about his blindness," she explained. "I trust him. He said he doesn’t want to go blind, right?"

"Y—yes."

"Then he won’t go blind." Penny clasped Zoren’s hand, squeezing it. "Don’t go blind. Otherwise, let’s not date anymore."

"Miss Penny, don’t be too harsh on him," Benjamin muttered. "My boss might be sleeping and can’t hear you, but that’s still harsh."

"Then he should know I don’t date blind people," she glanced over her shoulder. "Unless, of course, he’s not that interested in me."

Benjamin opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could only look at Penny’s back and then at Zoren on the bed. She started wiping him down to keep his temperature down.

’She really cares for him,’

There was a distinct difference between how Penny was with Zoren before and after she found out about him. And there was also a difference in how she treated him after she discovered the truth and after their date.

Despite the subtle differences in those situations, one thing didn’t change: Penny cared for him deeply and genuinely. Her worry was undeniable, whether as a friend or something more special.

And this struck Benjamin with guilt.

"Miss Penny," Benjamin called, watching her back to see if she was listening. "My boss might kill me for this, and you might hate him... but I think it’s right to let you know."

Slowly, Penny turned her head in his direction. She didn’t say anything and simply waited for whatever Benjamin wanted to say.

Reluctance showed in his eyes as he glanced at his boss’s profile. Benjamin apologized to Zoren in his heart, but his conscience would kill him if he didn’t come clean.

"Miss Penny," he cleared his throat, mustering the courage to confess. "My boss is going to wrong you."

"Hmm?"

"I don’t know why... but he seemed very happy and satisfied when he came home. But all of a sudden, he asked me to contact Miss Miller, the imposter," Benjamin confessed with a heavy heart. "Although my boss often said Thursday Girl is simply a precious friend he treasures, I’m afraid of whatever scheme that woman is plotting."

He paused and sighed. "Miss Penny, I said this because I think you deserve to know that he’s calling another woman after your date."

Penny stared at Benjamin quietly before turning her gaze back to Zoren. "I think I finally understand why he was keeping you around despite your shortcomings."

"Huh?"

The corner of her lips curled up, her eyes back on Zoren. She didn’t speak for the next minute, carefully wiping his neck and the gaps between his fingers.

"Miss Penny, what do you mean by that?" he asked again, feeling like she wouldn’t explain her comment.

"Let him." Instead of answering Benjamin’s question, she focused on the matter at hand. "If Patricia Miller can make him happy, even temporarily, then let him keep her around."

"Miss Penny, are you being a martyr?"

"No." Her eyelids drooped as she cupped Zoren’s face. "I just want to hold on to his words, just like how he held onto mine. Our friendship... his friendship with Thursday Girl will not get in between us, and I want to believe that."

She paused and smiled wryly. "Also, don’t tell him I was here. His confidence would get hurt if he found out the woman he’s trying to impress ended up rushing here to take care of him."