Chapter 643: A family visitor

Meanwhile, in the Bennet Mansion...

"Haha..." Penny chuckled as the family gathered in the dining area for dinner. Allison prepared a feast for everyone, especially focusing on Zoren’s palate since it was his first night staying over. She wanted him to feel welcome.

Thankfully, everyone was cooperating—except for Slater, of course. But that was the least of everyone’s worries, as the mood in the dining room was light and warm. Everyone was smiling and laughing, discussing any light topic.

"Wow..." Slater’s eyes twinkled as he watched the servants serve dessert. "Mom, did Aunt Jessa prepare this?"

Allison smirked, casting Zoren a knowing look. "It’s not Jessa. She was busy looking after Nina."

"Did you make it?" Slater snapped his eyes up at his mother, curiosity swirling in his gaze.

"Chef Skylar made it," Hugo answered with a shrug, tipping his head in Zoren’s direction. "He ordered a lot of them while Chef Skylar was in the country." — to appease his wife, though Hugo kept that detail to himself.

After all, Charles was here, and he was afraid he would berate Zoren for the reason that had angered Penny. Hugo would rather maintain the good mood.

"He did all of this?" Slater furrowed his brows, looking skeptical. He squinted at Zoren suspiciously. "Are you sure you’re not lying? Chef Skylar’s puddings are the best, but he doesn’t make them in bulk. That’s what makes them special."

Zoren smiled at his third brother and casually said, "I bribed him."

"Mom!" Slater yelled, pointing a finger at Zoren while turning his head to his parents. "He’s being shady! He bribes people! Red flag! Red flag waving!"

"I’m surprised you know that color when you’re waving it everywhere you go," Atlas remarked flatly, speaking his mind without intending to hurt his third brother’s feelings. His intention was to give him awareness, but the look on Slater’s face told him he didn’t succeed.

"Red also means emergency," Atlas added, trying to coax his brother, but that didn’t seem to work. "Stay away from the bull."

Penny shook her head as she darted her eyes between her first and third brothers. Obviously, Slater wouldn’t let this go and was making a huge fuss about it, but she chose to ignore it for her sanity. As she turned her head to Zoren, her eyes caught Haines near Hugo.

"Uncle Haines," she called, earning both Haines’s and Hugo’s attention. "Now that I think about it, you’ve come home early."

Slowly, everyone gazed at Penny, tilting their heads to the side. Even Haines looked confused by her remark.

"I didn’t leave," said Haines. "Of course, I’d be home."

"Weren’t you supposed to pick up Uncle Wild from the airport?" she asked, and pure silence followed.

Although the family wasn’t as close with Wild as Penny and Haines were, they had heard a lot about him. Allison even met him once when she visited Penny abroad. However, it had been a short encounter, making it difficult to draw a proper conclusion about what kind of person Wild was.

"Ahh..." Haines rocked his head as realization shone in his eyes. But instead of saying anything, he turned to Butler Jen and asked, "Butler Jen, what time is it?"

"It’s already eight in the evening, Sir Haines."

"Ah." Haines smiled brightly and faced the family. "It’s already eight."

"Aren’t you supposed to run now, Uncle Haines?" Slater blurted out, scrunching up his nose. "The poor uncle might still be waiting for you."

"Uncle Wild is not going to wait for him this long." Penny let out a shallow breath, giving Haines a conflicted look. "Uncle Haines, I’m sure Uncle Wild has already prepared a speech for you."

Haines maintained a smile, but he couldn’t deny the deep sigh that escaped him. "I’ll handle him."

"Haines, I’m so disappointed in you," Charles remarked. "How can you do this to someone who is basically family? You have a limp, but that doesn’t mean you should forget the promise you’ve made."

"Dad’s... right." Atlas nodded. "I’m sorry. I forgot to remind you."

"Let’s just hope he isn’t angry."

’Oh, he is...’was what Penny wanted to say, but bit her tongue. When she noticed Zoren looking at her, she leaned in and whispered, "Uncle Wild is the other uncle I told you about. You remember him?"

Zoren quietly nodded in understanding, appreciating his wife for ensuring he wasn’t left out of the conversation. Haines, on the other hand, maintained a smile as he spoke to everyone.

"If I’m late, it’s better not to show up at all," he reasoned, which didn’t make sense to them. "The saying ’it’s better late than absent’ doesn’t apply in this situation. Don’t worry. Wild has been in Anteca before, and he’s a reliable old man. So, I’m certain he can find himself a place for the night."

"Wow..." Slater was rendered speechless. "Uncle Haines, you’re cruel. How can you not take accountability?"

But Slater’s remarks were ignored, as he had no idea what he was talking about. With that, the family enjoyed the pudding Zoren brought to the Bennet Mansion, filling an entire fridge with it in case his wife wanted more. After all, Zoren had no idea how much pudding would appease her.

Overall, he was glad to share these puddings with her family, as it seemed they all liked it.

As the family was finishing their desserts and preparing to call it a night, a servant suddenly approached Butler Jen. The servant leaned in and whispered to Butler Jen, making the latter furrow his brows.

"What is it, Butler Jen?" asked Charles, quickly noticing the look on Butler Jen’s face.

Butler Jen faced the family, and everyone was already looking in his direction. "Sven Bennet is here, sir."

"That brat?" Charles’s face soured at the thought of his father’s favorite grandchild.

"Send him to the garden," Atlas answered, wiping the corner of his mouth as he got up. "I’ll see him."

He then faced his father and tilted his head slightly. Charles simply waved dismissively, knowing Atlas was now the head of the company and the Bennet family. If anyone should deal with Sven, it would be Atlas.

And just like that, they enjoyed the rest of the sweets before the family parted ways, while Atlas went to see his cousin, wondering what Sven had to say.