Chapter 526: A guest at this hour?

[It’s not that I hate you, Dean. It’s just that... your very presence makes me uncomfortable. That’s the only thing I always feel around you—perhaps anger as well.]

[I appreciate the constant warnings and worry, but throw another threat my way again, and you’ll see what I do. Who knows? I might suddenly decide to become your aunt.]

[Now, off you go, and the next time you want to see me, set up an appointment. You have Yugi’s number, right?]

In the backseat of the car, Dean hissed as he glared out the window.

Ever since Dean left Penny’s office, all of her remarks replayed in his head like a broken record. Their relationship hadn’t been the best, but unlike now, it was much more tolerable. She had been direct, but not this repulsed.

It all started when she accepted Zoren’s application for Prime Group’s services.

’I’m just doing her a favor,’he thought, grinding his teeth, his eyes glinting. Definitely not the best mood to have so early in the morning. ’Auntie? Hah. Penny... don’t tell me you’ve found that guy...’

Another hiss escaped his mouth as he thought about all the reasons Penny was doing so much for Zoren. Initially, he believed Penny was simply making a business decision for her own company, but with everything that had been happening, it was clear Penny was doing more than she should.

Not that Penny had done a lot for Zoren that directly affected the Pierson Corporation, but what bothered him was that she was lingering around Zoren.

’Does she know? That kid in the past...’He stopped his thoughts with a shake of his head. ’That’s impossible. Zoren Pierson wasn’t the type to talk about her, no matter how much he trusted someone.’

Zoren wouldn’t even tell Penny’s name to his own grandmother, except when they came searching for her. Zoren was that type of person. Not that he was secretive, but rather, he was selfish—he liked to keep what he considered his property to himself. He was the type who wouldn’t share anything.

Dean knew that part of Zoren, having experienced it many times in the past. It didn’t matter if it was a pen, a toy, or even a rock he picked up somewhere. If Zoren deemed it his, then no one else could touch it except him.

’But...’Dean breathed out through his parted lips, scoffing. ’...but if somehow, they knew—if they figured it out, then...’

Another glint flickered across his eyes, his trembling fist calming down. ’I have no other choice but to make sure she doesn’t meddle more.’

At the end of the day, Penny was one of his goals. He hadn’t meant it to be like this. Having her or wanting her in his life was never part of his plan. But things happened—life happened. And Dean was not the type to stop.

People might’ve gotten impatient with him, but those were simply little things that didn’t bother him. But this bothered him.

"Sir, are you alright?" His assistant’s voice snapped Dean from his thoughts as she looked back at him. "We’re near the Old Residence. I don’t think your grandmother would be pleased to see you bringing bad energy into her home."

Dean slowly shifted his eyes to the front passenger seat, snickering. "Don’t worry about that. Even if Grandma minds, she wouldn’t say a word about it."

His assistant pursed her lips and lowered her gaze. She didn’t say anything further except, "I’m simply reminding you. The Old Madam might’ve aged a lot, but she still holds a lot of power and influence in the family."

"I know that. You don’t have to tell me the obvious," Dean said, leaning back and venting his irritation at her. "Since when did you start speaking out of turn? Do you also think I’m no longer capable?"

"No, sir. Apologies. I’m simply reminding you, just in case you needed it," was all the assistant said before she readjusted her seat, leaving Dean alone.

"Tsk." Dean clicked his tongue again, setting his gaze on the window beside him. Another deep exhale slipped past his lips as he leaned back. ’This is not healthy.’

Penny was occupying his mind and controlling his emotions. She was playing with them... and he didn’t like it.

"Zoren Pierson..." he spoke after five minutes of silence. "... did you confirm his marriage?"

"Yes."

"Did you find out who his wife was?"

"No, sir. Apparently, Zoren Pierson put an order in to keep it private."

"He did?"

"With the help of Prime Group, the document was sealed."

Another sharp huff escaped him as he shook his head, unsurprised that Penny was helping Zoren. Although Zoren could have done it on his own, with Penny’s help, securing the data just made it harder for any interested party. This was what Dean meant when he mentioned Penny’s involvement in Zoren’s affairs. They weren’t huge, but they were significant.

"So the only way we’d make his wife’s identity known is to pressure him to show her?" he remarked quietly, earning a short "yes" from his assistant. "Well... that won’t be difficult."

"With William Pierson at play, he’d surely do that, sir."

Dean nodded and snapped his eyes to his assistant. "I’ll give him the ammo he needs."

"I understand, sir."

"By the way, how’s Ramon?" Dean inquired once their previous conversation concluded. "Has he woken up yet?"

The assistant lowered her head and sighed. "He had a cardiac arrest this morning. Fortunately, he survived it. However, the doctors said another cardiac arrest would be fatal."

"Make sure his family is taken care of," Dean ordered as he slowly set his eyes on the window. "I’m not letting it slide this time."

The assistant glanced over her seat and smiled subtly. She lowered her head, knowing Dean wouldn’t let the driver who was in the accident with him suffer without justice. After all, Dean might have been hell to others, but he was loyal to those who were loyal to him.

In no time, they reached the Old Residence driveway. Even before Dean could get out, he spotted Butler Hubert standing outside the residence to welcome them.

"Welcome, Young Master Dean," greeted Butler Hubert as he opened the door for Dean, watching the latter step out.

Dean glanced at the butler and asked, "Where’s Grandma?"

"She’s in the courtyard, but she’s with another guest," Butler Hubert said. "She’ll come to meet you later."

"A guest at this hour? That’s quite an early visit." Dean scoffed, gazing down at the butler. "No, I’m meeting her now."

Butler Hubert slowly lifted his eyes, his demeanor humble, but his gaze sharp. "What can this old butler do if that is what Young Master Dean wants? This way, please."

Having said that, Butler Hubert led Dean to one of the drawing rooms. However, instead of following, Dean turned and headed straight to the courtyard to see his grandmother’s visitor. He didn’t want to disturb them; he simply wanted to get a glimpse of who it was.

Much to his surprise, it wasn’t anyone Dean or anyone else would expect.

There, in the courtyard, was Old Mrs. Pierson exercising with... Slater Bennet.