Chapter 803: She better stay dead

[FLASHBACK]

The sound of things crashing violently to the floor echoed through the CEO’s office at Pierson Corporation. Benjamin, who was standing outside the office, flinched at the noise coming from Zoren’s office.

"Oh, no!" he panicked, rushing toward the door with a few staff members and bodyguards to check what was happening. After all, there were only two people inside: Zoren and Dean.

Zoren had sent everyone away when Dean came to see him. Initially, Benjamin didn’t want to leave Zoren alone, given the heightened tension between Dean and Zoren. But he had no choice—he couldn’t ignore his boss’s orders.

Benjamin flung open the door, wide-eyed. The second his eyes fell on the scene inside, his mouth parted slightly.

"What..." he trailed off, his gaze falling to the floor where everything—papers, pens, small figurines, the telecom—everything that had been on Zoren’s desk — was now scattered around the room.

Slowly, Benjamin lifted his eyes to see Dean still standing in front of the desk. Zoren, however, remained seated behind it.

"Sir—"

"Get out," Zoren ordered without even glancing at Benjamin.

"But—" Benjamin stopped again when Zoren shot him a sharp look, one that was rarely seen. He closed his mouth and nodded reluctantly. "Yes, sir."

Reluctantly, Benjamin reached for the door handle, casting a glance at the others who had rushed in with him. They all took a step back, worry etched on their faces as they glanced at the chaotic scene inside until the door finally shut. Silence lingered for a moment as they all exchanged worried looks.

***

"Are you out of your mind?" Dean hissed the second the door clicked shut, balling his fists at his sides. His eyes burned with fury as he glared at the man behind the desk. "Do you know what you’re doing right now, Zoren Pierson?!"

Zoren’s expression remained unfazed as he studied Dean’s fiery face. "I do."

"Then why do you—" Dean’s breath hitched. He scoffed, feeling lost for words. Talking to Zoren felt like speaking to a wall. It was beyond frustrating.

Slamming his hands on the desk, Dean leaned in until his eyes were level with Zoren’s. "Do you know what this means, Zoren Pierson?"

"Change has always been what you wanted, Dean," Zoren replied indifferently. "I don’t want change. I want destruction... of this family."

"You..."

"If you don’t support my decision, then that’s up to you. However, I won’t change it—even if you jump out of this window right now," Zoren continued, his eyes locked with Dean’s. "My time is limited now. I don’t need to spend it doing things I don’t like."

"Meddling with a stranger’s affairs, marrying a corpse, and stepping down from your position... those are the things you want to do instead?" Dean scoffed. "Uncle, you’ve lost your mind."

"I have... or maybe not yet." Zoren blinked, still studying Dean’s face. "Though I thought you’d be happy to hear the news. I didn’t expect you to get angry."

Dean’s fury only intensified, his fists trembling with anger. The veins on his forehead stood out as he ground his teeth.

"You think I’d be happy with this?" he repeated, ridiculing Zoren. "What a joke."

Dean pushed away from the desk and spun around, only to face Zoren again. "You... haha! What a damn joke you are."

"..."

"Why do you think I’d be happy to get what I’ve been fighting for all my life because you gave up?" Dean spat out sarcastically, hoping to knock some sense into Zoren. "All my life, I’ve only wanted what you have, what you possess. I did everything I could—worked ten times harder than anyone—and studied so much just to surpass the unmoving and enormous mountain before me."

"Now you’re telling me I could’ve flown instead of climbing it?" Dean added with a scoff. "Are you insulting me, Zoren Pierson?!?"

The men of the Pierson family had always fought to maintain their positions or claim others. But for Dean, Zoren had always been the only one worth challenging. Zoren was the one person he’d always looked up to.

Despite the small age gap, Zoren had always been perfect in every way. Just imagine the pressure Dean had to face growing up in a family where someone his age seemed untouchable. He had to keep up. And no matter how exceptional Dean was, it was never enough because Zoren’s shadow loomed like that of a giant.

In many ways, Zoren had been Dean’s inspiration. Zoren was his greatest motivation. Zoren had been his goal.

Now, Zoren was saying he would retire and burn down the Pierson family. If Dean wanted, he could salvage what was left. Otherwise, everything they had worked for would vanish.

"I’m sorry," was all Zoren could say to Dean’s sentiments. "For disappointing you, I’m sorry."

"You—"

"Penelope Bennet..." Zoren spoke before Dean could say anything else. "She’s my wife now."

"She’s dead!" Dean yelled. "You didn’t even know her! Zoren Pierson, you must’ve been mad to think this marriage is legal or rational."

"This family killed her... they killed my wife."

Dean’s breath hitched. His words caught in his throat, and his eyes widened. His mouth parted in shock.

Zoren drew a deep breath and sighed, staring directly at Dean. "And they will kill me too. Once I’m dead, you’re next."

"What?"

"I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to the expectations you had of me," Zoren continued slowly, placing a hand on the desk to push himself up. As he stood, another shallow breath escaped him. "But I’ve always been proud of you."

Dean’s face twisted as his eyes glistened. He froze as he heard the words he never expected to want to hear from Zoren.

"I didn’t concede just because I don’t see you as a worthy opponent. In fact, I wouldn’t concede even when I knew you’d eventually win," Zoren expressed solemnly. "But this fight is not one I want to win. Winning means you’ve failed. And I never wished for you to fail, Dean."

Zoren paused, a glint flickering in his eyes. "However, I do want to win one battle. And that’s to prove my dead wife’s innocence; to let everyone know... she didn’t do it. It’s my first and last gift to her. I hope you respect that."

If only Dean could tell him respecting his decision wasn’t the hardest, but the fact that he couldn’t do anything when Zoren had decided to destroy himself.

"I’ll kill her," Dean whispered his threats. "Penelope Bennet... I’ll kill her if she ever dared rise from the dead. She better stay dead because I’m going to kill her."

He laughed, taking a step back before turning to leave. But just as Dean took three steps away, he stopped.

"Hah!" he laughed in mockery, looking back at Zoren. "Fine, if that is what you want, then so be it. However, don’t stop me from meddling with your affairs now, Uncle. If I prove her innocence first, I win. This is the new contest — whether or not you like it, I’m not letting you get away after making my life a living hell."