Chapter 448: Planning to take her home

"Ugh! This is so frustrating!"

"How could they kick us out just like that?"

"Didn’t they have enough time last night that they want to continue today?"

"Boss, what’s that all about? How could Miss Penny act like she didn’t remember last night?"

"I know she was drunk, but after everything she did, it’s impossible for her to have no memory of it at all!"

"We also drink and sometimes end up in trouble, but we don’t forget about it!"

Though both Zoren’s and Penny’s men were capable and well-trained, there was a clear difference between the two groups — especially now that they were mixed together. Penny’s men were more vocal about their dismay. They kept quiet in front of Zoren and Penny, but with Angel, they couldn’t hold back their frustration.

Zoren’s men — Mark’s group — kept their thoughts to themselves, but their faces revealed their displeasure with the previous night’s events.

Mark glanced at his men. He had also been injured during his fight with Penny the night before. It hadn’t been a simple fistfight, where a winner was guaranteed. So, he understood his men’s feelings. However...

"Ahem!" Mark cleared his throat and faced his men. He gave Angel a look, and the latter nodded, stepping beside Mark. Both men stood tall, chest out, chin high.

"I know most of you are confused about what happened last night," Mark began in a stern voice. "Angel already explained the situation to me last night, but I thought it would be better if the boss explained it himself. I’m sure he has a lot to tell us. However, given the current situation, I’ll have no choice but to let Angel explain."

Mark cast another glance at Angel before stepping aside. Angel cleared his throat and stepped forward to explain. Everyone listened, their expressions changing with every new detail.

Even though Angel had given Mark a brief explanation the previous night, Mark still felt uneasy about it all. After all, the difference between the sober Penny and the drunk Penny was too wide.

"I didn’t mention it before," Angel began, "because Miss Penny, when sober, is usually mindful of her alcohol intake. She wouldn’t drink of her own volition or with the intent to get drunk. So, I didn’t think it was necessary. And the first time I saw her drunk, she wasn’t as... vicious as she was last night."

"Hah..." One of Penny’s long-serving men scoffed. "That’s ridiculous."

"So last night...? And today...?"

"That explains why she acted that way last night?"

"How come we’re only hearing this now?"

"Is this really real?"

Angel huffed, giving them time to process everything.

Meanwhile, Mark’s group, who had also been listening, had mixed emotions. Angel noticed the displeased looks on their faces before their eyes shifted to Mark. Their gazes briefly met before Mark turned his attention back to his own men.

"I let you all hear Angel’s explanation because, right now, that information is more crucial to us than to them," Mark said, his tone firm and solemn. "The boss already gave us a heads-up about his plans for the coming weeks."

Mark paused, scanning their faces. "Due to the complexity of the Prime Group’s contracts, neither Miss Penelope nor our boss can simply break the agreement, even at the insistence of Mr. Pierson, the client. So, Miss Penelope and our boss came to a mutual understanding."

"The men here today are the Prime Group’s best and were Miss Penelope’s personal soldiers," he continued. "In other words, she’s vulnerable to attacks right now. So, the boss will be sending us to her side temporarily to ensure her safety."

"Leader, what do you mean by ’vulnerable’? She’s clearly not defenseless!" one of the men blurted, and the others murmured their agreement.

Another man scrunched his nose in disgust. "Last night was proof enough that she’s more dangerous to us than to her enemies!"

"She doesn’t need a bodyguard!" another added. "Whoever goes after her needs to be careful!"

"Did you see how she threw me last night?" one man turned to his comrade, who had been there as well.

The other man raised his brows. "Oh, right. She somersaulted before kicking you in the head with her heel. It was kinda cool — felt like I was watching a movie."

"Haha. Yeah, I was knocked out right after."

Mark and Angel stared at their men, who were complaining about guarding Penny but, at the same time, complimenting her fighting skills. The more they listened, the more confused they became. After a while, they decided to let it go.

"They seem fine with it," Angel said.

Mark shrugged. "I still don’t approve of it, but I respect your moral code."

Though neither man said anything further, they shared the same thought. At that moment, they believed Zoren was sending them to Penny, not to protect her, but to make sure she didn’t hurt anyone else.

******

Meanwhile, in the manor’s dining area...

After the meal, Penny cupped her face, watching Zoren with a bright, beautiful smile. She maintained the graceful wife act, hoping to erase any unpleasant memories from the previous night.

"Does it taste okay?" she asked as he swallowed a pill.

Zoren snapped his eyes to her, squinting slightly to test his vision. "Yes," he said after a moment. "Are you staying here today?"

"Hmm?" She raised her brows in surprise. "Oh, right. I don’t live here. Well... do you want me to leave?"

"No, but I have a meeting today."

Penny frowned. "Are you going to work?"

"Not work, just a meeting."

"Oh."

"Do you want to know who it is?"

Penny smiled and shook her head. "There’s no need to tell me," she chuckled. "It’s not like I have to know—"

"It’s your brother."

"Ah?"

Zoren smiled subtly. "Your brother, Atlas, called while you were in the shower. He asked to meet me today. I figured it was only fair since I want to meet him—and your parents—soon."

Penny hadn’t even processed his first revelation when he added:

"I’ll also tell them I’m planning on taking my wife’s home."