Chapter 599: You’d be safe now… and forever.

According to Nina, the only reason she still didn’t let her fiancé touch her was that she wanted to leave something for herself. But Jessa’s take on relationships and love was different, which confused Penny. On one hand, Nina’s reasoning was valid and reasonable; on the other, Jessa’s advice was just as valid.

It was probably different for everyone.

Some might want to hold on to something—whatever it was—because it would be unfair to give away everything and be left with nothing. But Penny was never like that. She wasn’t as practical as Nina or as daring as Jessa.

Be it in this life or in the previous one, Penny had always given her all when it came to love. She had given her all: time, energy, mental and physical health, and even her freedom for the people she loved. If Penny could do that for the undeserving without asking anything in return, what was stopping her from entrusting her all to the very person whose entire world was... her?

Initially, there was a strange uncertainty about confessing the truth behind her life. But eventually, the more she talked, the more naturally everything flowed from her mouth. She told Zoren everything—from start to finish.

"I... am not a genius," she muttered, almost laughing to herself, as she had been called a genius ever since she was a child. However, she knew that wasn’t the case. Penny excelled in everything because she had an advantage that no one else had.

"I just know... everything before it can even happen," she whispered, lifting her eyes to hold his gaze. "In a way, I feel like I robbed everyone because I got their favor, their love, their admiration because of that."

Another wave of silence echoed in the bathroom, filling the gaps in her voice. The two of them stared at each other. Zoren hadn’t spoken a word since she started telling her story, but she knew he was listening to every word, every breath, and every pause.

Now, all that was left was... how would he take it?

It would be nice if he just accepted it and played it cool, but she would understand if he needed time to process it. After all, Penny herself needed time to process this phenomenon. She couldn’t expect him to be fine with it when she hadn’t been fine with it in the first few years of her rebirth.

Zoren’s mouth slowly parted, making her hold her breath. But when he closed his lips again, her heart sank. He furrowed his brows and tilted his head as if there was something he couldn’t accept. She wondered what it was, only to hear him suddenly say,

"That’s not right." His calm voice carried dismay, making her knit her brows. "How come I’m not in the story?"

"Huh?"

"In your past, how come I wasn’t in it?" he clarified with genuine wonder in his voice. It wasn’t like he wasn’t aware of it; at least, he had a little bit of an idea. Penny, after all, had asked him last night where he was in her previous life.

Who would have thought he wouldn’t be in her story at all? How was that possible? He should be in her life, even if only a tiny bit. An encounter or something like that, but there was none. It was mortifying how his wife had lived two lifetimes and he was absent in one.

Unbelievable.

What was he doing?

Penny opened and closed her mouth, confused. "Renren, did you pay attention to everything I said?"

"Mhm."

"And your concern is...?"

"Not having an answer to what I was doing back then." Zoren let out a frustrated sigh, frowning. "I don’t like it."

For a second, Penny just stared at him before a short laugh escaped her. "That’s your thought? How about everything else that I said?"

"What about them? What else should I say?" The soft splash of water as he lifted his hand to reach out caressed their ears, pulling her closer. Looking her in the eye with a smile, he said, "I believe you, though I disagree with your thoughts about not being smart. You are smart."

"Hmm?"

His lips stretched into a smile. "You didn’t steal anyone’s achievements; rather, you skillfully used what you learned and applied it in this life. How is that cheating when everything you did this lifetime is based on the things you learned in the previous one through sheer hard work?"

"You are smart..." he continued, tucking her hair behind her ears with his fingertips. "...and just as lovely, amazing—wonderful. Even I can’t do that. I don’t think anyone else could do it like you did. Forgiveness after everything, letting them all into your life, changing their lives for the better, and helping them... what made you think that your confession is something I would dread, not admire?"

Zoren locked his hands around her waist tightly. "I’m truly lucky. Though I’m still upset that I’m not a part of your life." He cast her a look before his smile turned meaningful. "Would you get mad if I said the only consolation about it is that... you didn’t marry?"

Otherwise, if she had ever married in her previous life, he would have to make sure her former husband wouldn’t even see her shadow. Not in this lifetime, and the next one.

"..." Penny was rendered speechless, listening to everything he said despite her confession. After a moment, a dry laugh escaped her, shaking her head. Her reaction earned his curiosity, wondering where that came from.

"Right..." she whispered, fluttering her eyelashes at him. Slowly, Penny moved closer to him until she was sitting on his lap. Resting her arm over his shoulder, her eyes gleamed with appreciation.

"My heart... is beating so fast I feel like I’d soon catch my breath," she whispered, stroking his hair back, eyes on him. "Where you were back then is probably a question that would linger in my mind, but it’s a question of no importance. You’re here now."

Her lips quivered, and before she knew it, tears were already coating her eyes. Without further ado, a tear rolled down her cheek because now she knew she could cry at him, complain to him, and talk about all the things she couldn’t from her first life.

She didn’t have to hold it in or ignore them. She could talk about it freely with him because...

"I feel... safer now."

His face softened as he peeled his back from the tub and straightened his posture. He stretched his neck, tilted his head, and planted a soft kiss on her quivering lips.

"You’d be," he corrected with certainty. "You’d be safe now... and forever."

The overwhelming feeling in her heart swelled, creating tension in her throat. Closing her eyes, she basked in the warmth of his body and the reassurance of his kiss.

At this point, Penny only had one thought.

It was she who was lucky to have the chance to meet him in this lifetime. Because her world... was a lot better with him in it.

If only he could hear her thoughts; he would have replied, ’The feeling is mutual. My world is better with you in it.’