Chapter 806: Mark’s dread

"..."

For a while, Penny was rendered speechless. "You aren’t sure about inviting Ray, but you’re going to hold it at the place that he runs? Don’t you know he’s the headmaster there now?"

"Hehe. I know, but the Summit School of Excellence is a memorable place. If we’re going to hold a reunion, isn’t it better to do it where it was founded?" Lily argued in a knowing tone. "Anyway, I’m going to prepare now. I’ll send you the invite list. Check it when you have some free time today. Ciao~"

Penny’s response was a simple hum, and she heard the call end immediately. "As if I’m going. I’m sure Mark will beg me not to, as well," she murmured, not planning to attend that reunion. After all, she didn’t start it—she didn’t even want that fan club to begin with.

Why would she put any effort into it?

DING!

A second later, Penny heard her phone ring. Glancing at it, she reluctantly held the phone to her face and sent Lily a short reply. Knowing she wouldn’t have time today until her body recovered enough energy, she casually checked the long list Lily had sent her.

"This list is even longer than a class reunion," she whispered, arching a brow as she noticed the list was sorted by grade and section. When her eyes fell on the Star Section list, her brows furrowed.

"Cassandra?" her brow arched slowly. "Didn’t Finn say Jonathan and this woman are dating?"

For sure, Mark wouldn’t like the news Penny was about to give him. But now, there was a reason for Penny to attend the reunion.

---

[Prime Group]

And the most dreadful moment of Mark’s life had finally come.

Penny’s eyes shone with pity as she watched the color drain slowly but steadily from Mark’s face. His eyes were fixated on her, and she could just read his thoughts right now.

"Mark, you’ll get over this." She patted his shoulder as a consolation. "Lily asked me to come, but you should go in my stead. It’s much better if you get used to it from now on."

She offered him a smile, but it didn’t even cheer him up.

DING!

Just then, the elevator bell rang in her ears. Glancing at it, Penny gave Mark one last smile before she turned to take the lift to her office. But just as she took a step forward, a hand grabbed her arm. Looking back, she saw Mark standing beside her with a pitiful look plastered on his face.

"Miss Penny," he called under his breath, almost as though he was ready to beg her. "Please don’t do this to me."

"Trust me. I don’t want to go either, but there’s someone I’d like to have a word with there."

"I’ll arrange an appointment for you instead," he volunteered quickly. "Just... not this one, please."

Penny wasn’t so heartless as to be unaffected by his pleas. After all, Mark had always listened to her nonsense, even though those orders often put him in a bad light and earned him punishments from Zoren. Not once did Mark blame her for it; he took everything without complaint.

Therefore, Penny pitied him. Even so...

Penny reached out for his hand, peeling his fingers from her arm. "I’m sorry."

"Miss Penny, please." Mark clasped her arm tighter, though not enough to hurt her. "Anything but this."

"He... he..." Penny let out an awkward laugh, peeling his fingers off once again while saying, "I’m sorry."

This time, Mark didn’t hold on to her anymore. His heart sank into the pit of his stomach. He stood there listlessly, watching Penny enter the lift.

"Miss Penny..."

When Penny turned and faced him from inside the lift, she smiled wryly. She carefully clasped her hands into tight fists and lifted them to her side.

"Let me know how the fan club meeting turned out, okay?" she shook her fist a little. "Don’t worry about me. The other bodyguards are here for me, so don’t worry."

Mark still didn’t react, so all she could add was, "Fighting...?"

Penny maintained her awkward smile until the door slowly closed between them. As soon as the door shut, a deep sigh escaped her nostrils.

Snapping her eyes at the closed door, she shook her head slightly. "I feel sorry for him," she whispered, aware that Mark dreaded that part of his past as if it were something he’d like to forget. "But then again, I can’t blame him."

In the eyes of Mark’s people, he was the epitome of seriousness. In terms of skills, Mark was surely at the top of his game. If not for Penny’s ridiculous orders and warnings, he would’ve stepped into her business many times.

Mark had done that frequently when he first started as Penny’s head of security. It was the reason Penny kept sending him away or scolding him to make her point.

In other words, Mark wouldn’t mind if others witnessed him getting scolded by her or punished by Zoren. He would take it without question and wouldn’t complain. However, he still had a reputation he wanted to protect.

"I’ll just send the rest of the bodyguards away on the day of the reunion," she mumbled to herself, thinking of a way to salvage Mark’s reputation. "But then again, I can’t really send the shadow guards away, right?"

"Poor Mark," she whispered. "But well, he doesn’t have to feel too bad, because I don’t want to be there either."

Knowing Lily, Penny was most certain that Lily had some embarrassing and corny ideas. She could only hope that by sending Mark to the meeting, they would at least avoid that.

Penny shook her head to rid herself of the thought. She was just starting her day, so it was better to clear her mind of future distractions. With that in mind, Penny stepped out of the lift, prepared to do some work before visiting the Pierson Old Residence.

But just as Penny was almost at her office, she saw Yugi idling outside. Her steps slowed, her brows furrowing.

"Yugi, what are you doing outside my office?" she asked, getting his attention.

"Uhh..." Yugi scratched the back of his head and met her halfway. "There’s a person looking for you. I let her into your office because she’s pregnant."

"My office isn’t a priority lane or a priority waiting room."

"She said she’s your... errr... niece."

"Huh?"

"From your husband’s family," he clarified, making Penny furrow her brows.

Penny slowly glanced at her office, rocking her head. "Good work," was all she said, resuming her steps and walking past him. "Yugi, prepare an escort unit to escort her home once her business here is done."

After saying that, Penny didn’t wait any longer as she reached for her office. Once she opened the door, her eyes immediately fell on a stunning woman seated on the couch.

Belle Pierson.