Chapter 469: Something sweet, not spicy!

Never in her life had Atlas embraced Penny, not even when they were children. Unlike the emotional Slater and the affectionate Hugo, Atlas was allergic to any kind of physical closeness. Even a simple touch would make his eyes sharpen, wondering if the other person had sanitized their hands. The fact that he occasionally allowed Penny to cling to his arm was already a big step.

But here he was, hugging her.

"I’m sorry, Penny. I would’ve hated myself too in that dream."

The stiffness in Penny’s body slowly eased as her face reflected a mix of surprise and confusion.

"I was... I was talking about a dream I had," she stammered. "It’s not real."

Masking her past experiences as a dream had been her way of expressing how much her love for him — and the family — had overcome the hatred she once carried. She had only mentioned it to make a point, not for any other reason.

"I know it’s just a dream, but even so, I don’t like the idea of hurting you, even in a dream," Atlas responded quietly, his tone sincere. "You were right. As the eldest, I should’ve been the first to protect you, not the first to throw you into the fire."

Atlas patted her back gently and sighed. "I was a mean person in that dream. I deserved the punishment. I’ll accept it until your anger is quenched."

"First Brother..."

"And once you wake up, I’ll be a better big brother to you," he continued. "I’ll keep repenting, whether it’s in a dream or in reality."

The lingering surprise on her face softened into a smile. Her eyes became gentle, and her lips quivered slightly. There was this tension that formed in her throat, making her eyes sting a little.

Penny slowly placed a hand on his back, smiling. ’I’ve always thought he was cold and more logical than emotional. But... he’s surprisingly warm too.’

This was the unexpected twist of the night.

For years, Penny believed she had healed. She had let go of the pain and bitterness from her previous life. After all, everything was going well for her. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a hundred times better.

But hearing Atlas speak as if he were talking to that Penny — who had lived and died for others — felt like he was mending the unnoticed, lingering wounds in her heart. His words didn’t heal her completely, but they brought comfort to the existence of that pitiful Penelope Bennet, at least in some way.

***

The evening ended peacefully when they arrived home. However, for some reason, Atlas felt awkward after that hug. Regardless, Penny knew it was a night she would never forget.

"So, you went out with your First Brother?" Zoren’s voice from the phone snapped Penny out of her thoughts. He had called while she was in the middle of her night skincare routine, so he was on speaker.

"Was it nice?" he asked, and she hummed in response. "Sounds like a good date."

Penny giggled, glancing down at her phone. "Renren, I think I was born with a lot of luck in this lifetime."

"In this lifetime?"

"Hehe." She chuckled, brushing off how quickly he caught her slip-up. "I mean, my family really cares for me, and my brother just took me on an expensive date! Although it was a bit too romantic for a sibling dinner, it was nice overall."

Not to mention, she also had a wonderful boyfriend! Zoren was handsome, tall, smart, a good person, and a good kisser — a total package.

Cupping her face, Penny stared at herself in the mirror with a bright smile. Even though Zoren couldn’t see her, he could feel her good mood through the phone.

"Are you that happy?" he asked with a short laugh.

"Mhm." She blushed. "Very. I feel like celebrating. Should I drink?."

"Please don’t do that."

Penny furrowed her brows as she looked down at the phone. Zoren’s responses were always quick, but this one was almost instant, sounding as if he’d panicked.

"Renren, what’s so wrong with me drinking?" she mumbled. "I’m sure I won’t sneak out this time."

"..."

Unlike earlier, this time, Zoren didn’t respond right away. He didn’t seem to know what to say.

"Fine, I won’t," she conceded, though she didn’t feel like he was controlling her. Drinking was something she had never enjoyed in this lifetime, so it wasn’t a big deal to skip it. "I’ll just finish my night routine — Renren, why are you just calling me now?"

"Should I have messaged you?"

Penny blinked, her brows furrowing. "Uh... no? I mean, a video call would be nice. You won’t see me, but I can."

"Oh..." Zoren rocked his head as he blurted out, "There’s that option."

"Come on. Turn on your camera. I want to see you!" she urged, wanting to end her day with something sweet — like dessert. She picked up her phone, her face lighting up as the screen loaded. But her smile faded the moment she saw him.

"Renren, why are you drenched in sweat?" she asked curiously. "What are you doing?"

"I’m building up my stamina," was all he said, placing the phone on a treadmill in front of him as he continued to walk on it.

Her face contorted, and her thoughts instantly turned mischievous. Penny shook her head, reminding herself he was probably talking about literal stamina. To her surprise, Zoren suddenly stopped walking and leaned closer to the phone.

He spread his arms, placing his hands on the handle on either side of the machine. His sweat-drenched hair clung to his thick brows, nearly touching his dark eyelashes. With his head lowered, his face looked darker as shadows played across it. His lips curled into a devious smile, giving him an irresistibly intense look.

"I do get a reward for working hard, don’t I?" he asked, his voice suddenly low and seductive. "That dare... it’s still valid, right?"

His eyes gleamed mischievously, and Penny gasped. She instantly realized this video call was a bad idea! She wanted to end the night with something sweet, not something spicy!