Chapter 808: Can you do that?

"I don’t want to hand over the shares to the person who drove him to his death. Please buy my shares, Penny."

Last night, Penny asked Zoren’s opinion about Belle. As usual, Zoren’s opinion of others wasn’t much, but he had good comments about Belle. However, there was something Zoren added that Penny didn’t tell Belle.

It was: [Belle’s capabilities suit the family, but her views didn’t fit the family.]

And by that, he meant that if Belle operated the same way as the other members of the Pierson Family, she would hold significant influence. However, Belle wasn’t as ambitious as the others. If anything, she had an idea that didn’t seem realistic for a family like the Piersons.

Even so, that didn’t mean Belle didn’t have enough strength to hold her ground. After all, until now, Belle had held onto her shares and managed to keep them despite not being part of the family anymore. That already said a lot about her.

A glint flickered across Penny’s eyes as her facial features took on their usual sharpness. "You’re offering them to me?"

"On a silver platter," Belle nodded, making Penny smirk. "But Penny, before you think it’s a good thing, holding shares in the Pierson Family might not be a good idea."

"Are you afraid they’d shift their attacks from you to me?"

Belle pressed her lips together. "The chances are low, but it might happen. However, even Zoren doesn’t want them."

"He doesn’t?"

"He’s one of the reasons I haven’t sold them to any interested party," Belle explained, wanting to keep her thoughts to herself but ended up blurting them out. "That’s why I’ve always thought he hates me, because not only is he not interested, but he’s blocking me from giving them to others."

"Oh..." Penny’s mouth formed a round shape, nodding in understanding. "Well, I can’t blame him. Right now, the Pierson Family shares are equally divided—just as divided as the family itself. Giving yours to others, even though it’s just a small fraction, could affect the entire structure."

Having more shares than Zoren currently had would only incite more danger in his direction. So Penny understood why Zoren wouldn’t take Belle’s shares.

Belle sighed. "I know that, but at the same time, he has to understand that by keeping them, it’s affecting my life. Back then, it was okay since my husband and I had each other. But I’m pregnant now, Penny."

She rubbed her baby bump gently. "I don’t want my child to be exposed to this kind of environment."

"I understand." Penny’s eyes fell on Belle’s stomach, smiling subtly. She then slowly raised her gaze to meet Belle’s. "Don’t worry about Zoren. He won’t be able to do anything anyway once I decide."

"Will this not affect your marriage?" Belle asked, worried.

"How long will you be able to hold them?"

Belle shrugged. "I’m not sure, but I don’t think I can last long."

"I see." Penny rocked her head while humming a tune, watching Belle’s brows rise. "Fine."

"Really?" Belle smiled in relief, almost as if a thorn had been plucked from her throat. "Thank you, Penny."

"No, Sister Belle. Thank you." Penny nodded at her, keeping to herself that she was interested in Belle’s shares. It was the reason Penny wanted to visit Belle. After all, before the Pierson Family gathering, she had already been checking the Pierson Family stocks and their flow.

The two women smiled at each other appreciatively, nodding as if they had already signed the agreement in their minds. After a moment, Belle cleared her throat.

"Uhm, Penny," she called. "If you’re buying my shares, can I ask for another favor?"

"What is it?"

Belle pursed her lips. "Can you take care of them?" she blurted out with slight worry. "They’re the shares my father earned, working himself to the bone for the family. Please take care of them."

"Of course." Penny smiled while nodding. "Don’t worry about that. They’re in good hands."

"Thank you." Belle’s smile was meek, as if she wanted to say something else. Noticing this, Penny cocked her head to the side.

"Sister Belle, do you have anything else to say?"

"Uhh... no, it’s alright."

"What is it?" Penny returned, ignoring Belle’s denial. "Don’t worry. It’s fine. Moreover, it’s within my discretion if whatever you want to say is something that is within my scope of power."

Belle’s smile faltered slightly, hesitating. "I know I’ve already asked so much, but there’s another favor I want to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"Well..." Belle bit her inner lip, sighing. "I’m selling my shares for a penny."

"What?"

"I don’t want to earn from it, honestly. However, I can’t just give them away like that," Belle explained. "So, I’m selling them for a penny."

"???"

Seeing the confusion on Penny’s face, Belle chuckled faintly. "However, I’d price them to you like this if you do one thing for me."

"And that is...?" Penny wondered, half-jokingly thinking Belle was about to sell her soul to the devil. This deal sounded too good to be true, and there had to be a catch.

"Please tell the person who’s been giving me hell about it," Belle huffed, her eyes sharp and shining with determination. "Let them know that you got my shares for a penny and that I signed the transfer papers with a smile on my face."

A short smile crept up on Belle’s face, mixed with anger in her eyes. For a second, she revealed just how angry she was with the people who had been messing with her husband, but she couldn’t do anything about it... until Penny introduced herself last night.

"..." For a moment, Penny was rendered speechless. All she could do was stare at Belle, utterly stunned. It took a moment for Belle’s words to sink in.

"Pfft—" Penny then burst out in laughter, holding her stomach, and wiping her eyes with the side of her index finger. "What?"

Belle pressed her lips, but the corners were tempting to curl up. "After watching you last night, I thought you were the perfect person to do that. I don’t have the courage since I only have myself, my husband, and my child with me. Can you do that for me, Penny?"

"Can I do that for you?" Penny repeated, her lips stretching from ear to ear, her eyes shining like a cunning fox. "William Pierson should get ready with all his blood pressure stabilizers, because he’s in for another hell of a ride."

Hearing this, Belle finally smiled in relief, thanking the heavens for not leaving her side and for making her meet Penny just in time.