Chapter 796: Untouchable

Just when everyone thought the shocks were over, they realized they were wrong. All eyes followed Penny as she strolled toward the table, plucked a grape, and sat on Zoren’s armrest.

"As for me, I’m joining my new family for my first family dinner as a Pierson. It’s a little late, but hi?"

A sweet smile spread across Penny’s face as she popped the grape into her mouth, leaving everyone unsure whether she was savoring the taste of the fruit or their reactions.

"What did you say?" Karina, William’s daughter, blurted out, her disbelief plain. Her eyes darted between Penny and Zoren, who was casually looking up at Penny with a smile.

"This grape is good," Penny remarked to Zoren, who nodded at her. "We should take some home later."

"Sure." Zoren nodded again before tilting his head, looking at William over Penny’s torso. "You were saying?"

William’s face went blank. "Huh?"

"You mentioned earlier that you wanted a word with her husband," Zoren reminded him. "What was it you wanted to discuss with me..."

He trailed off, his lips curving upward as if a thought had suddenly lightened his mood. "... about my wife?"

Wife?

For a moment, silence fell over the dining hall, thick enough for them to hear their own heartbeats. All eyes turned to Penny, who was calmly munching grapes, while Zoren stared in William’s direction.

"Wife?" Belle whispered, almost falling off her chair. "Did he just say... she... is his wife?"

Belle’s voice was soft, but in the silence, it echoed in every corner of the room. Her remark left everyone holding their breath, wide-eyed, as they stared at Penny.

Mildred, on the other hand, nearly fell to her knees. Her complexion paled further, her eyes wider than ever.

"Wife?" she muttered in disbelief. "That young woman... is the matriarch of the family?"

Mildred’s shocked comment, like Belle’s, felt like a bucket of ice water poured over the crowd. Ashley, despite her shock, managed to hold Mildred steady. Meanwhile, even the kitchen staff, still peeking from the entrance, felt their knees go weak, with some of them giving in and slumping to the ground.

Thud!

"Now I’m definitely doomed," mumbled a young woman who had been in Penny’s kitchen group earlier. Her dazed eyes were fixed on Penny. "I’m dead... aren’t I?"

Thud!

Another person slumped to the carpet, defeated. "I said this and that to her... not knowing she was the wife of the patriarch."

As for Dean, his irises dilated, and his pupils constricted. "What did you say?"

This time, Penny paused, raising an eyebrow as she slowly turned her sharp gaze to him. A smirk played on her lips.

"Hi, nephew," she said with a wink, giggling as Dean’s shoulders shook.

"How?" he muttered under his breath, refusing to accept this turn of events. It felt like a nightmare, something he could simply shake his head to dispel—but no, he knew better. This was no dream.

How ironic, to hope this was just a nightmare.

"What is the meaning of this?!" William gasped, pointing a trembling finger at Zoren and Penny. "Zoren, what do you mean—this woman is—what’s going on?"

"William, calm down." Zoren cooed, his voice smooth. "There’s no need to be so shocked. I mentioned not long ago that my wife is a busy person, and it’s up to her whether or not she’d take an interest in our family. It seems your waiting didn’t last long. Lucky for all of you."

The corners of Zoren’s mouth lifted in a friendly smile. "Didn’t you say you were curious about what kind of woman could capture my heart? Now you know what kind of person she is."

He tilted his head, eyes at William. "Do you believe me now when I say she’s not someone to take lightly? That she’s not that easy?"

William’s breath hitched, his heart clenching slightly as he recalled his encounter with Zoren earlier today in the lift. Zoren had mentioned that William wouldn’t want Penny here, as she was "not that easy."

So this

"Now..." Zoren murmured, casting his gaze back to Penny, "...do you still want to press charges against the matriarch of this family, William?"

A dangerous glint flickered in Zoren’s eyes as he turned back to William. "Tell me."

"..." How could William possibly answer that now?

Earlier, he’d been so indignant, certain that Penny was an outsider. Even if she was in charge of Zoren’s security, that was all. She had no standing in the family beyond her duties. But if Penny was part of the family registry—as the matriarch of the Pierson family—then this was a completely different story.

This had taken a surprising turn... or perhaps a dreadful one.

Everyone sat in tense silence, barely breathing. They watched Penny eat, while Zoren, with a shake of his head, watched her and accepted a grape she offered. They knew Zoren well enough, but Penny... she was the CEO of Prime Group, and now that they thought about it, the Bennet family also owned Anteca’s largest shipping company.

All of this underscored Penny’s power even before joining the Pierson family. But she would gain little by being a Pierson—rather, it was the Pierson family that would benefit from her. Prime Group and Global Prime Logistics now strengthened the family’s influence, along with her second brother, a high-ranking military officer.

"This is insane..." muttered one of the kitchen staff, frozen like a statue with Renny the panther just steps away. His wide eyes darted between Penny and Zoren, repeating his thoughts internally.

Yes, this was insane.

No one even recalled Penny’s earlier actions in the kitchen; they were focused on the bigger picture. That bigger picture was: Zoren was now even more untouchable.

This realization struck William like a blow, and he suddenly slumped to the floor. "No way," he whispered in dread. ’This isn’t happening.’

Zoren, however, smirked subtly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He glanced up at Penny, pride filling his gaze.

’She should eat plenty tonight,’ he thought, ’our night will be very long.’