Chapter 756: Everything is about timing
Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress
Meanwhile...
William Pierson hissed as he glared daggers at Jonathan, who was sitting right beside him in the backseat.
"Why did you agree?" he grumbled, clearly displeased with how the meeting had gone down. "This isnât part of our plan!"
Jonathan offered William a smile. "If I didnât take it, Zoren Pierson would do everything to keep me an outsider."
"As if he had a choice if I bring it up to everyone!"
"Exactly. But then again, if youâre the one who brings it up, it would be a bad start for me and another hit to your reputation, Uncle."
"A bad reputation? Me?" William scoffed. "If thereâs anyone who has a bad reputation here, itâs that arrogant brat, Zoren."
"But he is Zoren."
"What?"
Jonathan stretched his mouth a little and chuckled. "Even with a bad reputation, no one would call him out about it because he is the one and only Zoren Pierson, the head of the great Pierson Family. His bad reputation has little to no value, and it has never affected his influence, has it?"
Williamâs face twisted into an ugly frown, but he couldnât retort what Jonathan had said. No matter how irritable it was, Jonathan was right. Regardless of Zorenâs bad reputation, it had never affected him. If anything, his bad reputation only gave him an advantage.
People already feared Zoren even before they met him because of his notorious reputation. It wasnât like everything was true, but who wanted to know the truth? Being the head of the Pierson Family gave credibility to whatever was said about himâbe it good or evil.
"Besides, having him introduce me himself is a good start!" Jonathan said happily. "Itâs like getting a recommendation for a raise from your boss to join the management. Zoren is credible, and although not many like him, they could never deny that heâs good at what he does. One word from him, and everyone would welcome me with open arms."
His mouth stretched into a grin, fully displaying his teeth. "Isnât that the plan to begin with? The only thing that changed is the starting point."
"Heâs bringing you along because he doesnât want to talk about his fake marriage!" William spat out, thinking Jonathan had forgotten that fact. "Marriage has always been a constant topic of argument at family gatherings, besides his health. But if he introduces you, then everyoneâs attention will move away from it."
"But that wonât be the last time people bring it up."
William shook his head and sighed. "You donât understand. Well, why am I surprised? Even though youâve managed to build a prosperous business all on your own, you have no idea how the Pierson Family works."
"In case you didnât know, timing is everything in the Pierson Family," he continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "Jonathan, if we donât create something tonight that will hurt Zorenâs standing in the family, then it will be over if he sits in the chair to replace the chairwoman."
"This is huge," he added. "I didnât force that old hag to consider leaving her seat just for Zoren to take it."
Williamâs face darkened even more as he thought about what he had done to Old Mrs. Pierson. After all, she was old and pro-Zoren. She wasnât helping anyone in the family except Zoren. Therefore, she should step down to make things fair for everyone.
Meanwhile, Jonathan just smiled while William continued to complain under his breath. Unlike what the latter was saying, Jonathan perfectly knew how the Pierson Familyâs fickleness worked.
âHeh.âJonathan slowly leaned to his side, propping his elbow on the window, eyes focused on the roadside. âZoren Pierson... what a nice thing to do for me.â
But then again, Jonathan knew Zoren didnât welcome him without question out of the goodness of his heart. Zoren would never do thatâespecially not to someone who claimed to be Enzoâs mistake. After all, Zoren had always seen his father as a role modelâhe looked up to him.
âBe it in this lifetime or the previous one, he always saw his father as some sort of idol,â Jonathan thought, smirking, his eyes narrowing at the mere thought of it. âSurely, despite the two lifetimes, heâs still the same predictably unpredictable.â
Leaning back, Jonathan couldnât help but think of the past and Zoren. âFor the first time in this lifetime, I donât know whatâs coming for me. How exciting!â
For someone who had always seen everything like a replay, not knowing what would happen next thrilled him. Even though Jonathan hadnât appeared in the Pierson Family until now, he had always kept up to date with their affairs.
âDid he get reborn too?âJonathan wondered to himself. âDid he? Or did he not? Oh, dear. I can never read him.â
At one point, Jonathan didnât mind if Zoren remembered their past life. It would surely make things exciting. However, there were so many details that told Jonathan the chances were unlikely. After all, if Zoren did remember what happened in the past, he wouldnât have treated Atlas with such generosity.
Unless, of course, Zoren had other plans in store for the Bennets, and that would explain it.
"What are you doing?" Suddenly, Williamâs voice snapped Jonathan out of his thoughts. "This isnât the time for you to be smiling like a fool!"
"Uncle, what do you want me to do?" Jonathan smiled helplessly. "Itâs not like I can change anything now, since Zorenâs reaction is far from what we both expected."
"Tss. You have to keep thinking!" William stressed. "Entering the family isnât the hardest part."
"Uncle, if youâre really worried about timing, I donât think itâs too late!" Jonathan suggested. "You can always bring it up tonight, but wouldnât it be better if you made me look good instead?"
William frowned at Jonathanâs simplistic suggestion, but that only made Jonathan chuckle.
"Zoren Pierson has always been alone, and even with a genius like Dean Pierson, he still couldnât overshadow him," Jonathan said. "Itâs not because Zoren Pierson is simply outstanding, but because of his father and grandmother."
"What are you saying?"
Jonathan smiled. "Arenât I also Enzoâs son now? And the chairwomanâs grandson? Once she announces her retirement, thereâs a bigger chance people will look in my direction, which is also where you stand."
"You..." He pointed at William, then motioned it to himself. "You in the chair, and I in the CEO seat. From another personâs perspective, that image looks better in the long term."