PAMPERED

263 Toast

“Don’t worry. I’m not interested in whatever family affairs you guys have. I don’t like complicated”

Dean assessed her nonchalant side profile before a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He nodded and turned toward the door, hearing the ‘ding‘ of the elevator and stepping out just in

time.

“Right, Penny, I actually wanted to discuss business…” He turned around, thinking she was following him. However, as soon as he turned, he saw the elevator door closing with her waving

from inside.

“Thanks for the free pass. See you!” she beamed.

Dean took a step forward, but the door closed. “What?” he whispered, glancing up at the numbers above the elevator. “She’s going up?”

Wasn’t the top floor his uncle’s office?

His smile quickly faded as he wondered what was going on between Penny and Zoren,

“She just said she’s not interested. What is she up to now?” he hissed, heading to the other

elevator.

Meanwhile, Penny smiled in satisfaction as the silence embraced her like a good friend’s hug. She had said she wasn’t interested in the Pierson family affairs, but now she was, unfortunately, a Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

part of it.

She was an unknown part of the family, and Penny wanted to keep it that way. She needed to keep this under wraps before things got out of control.

“After all, Dean’s attitude shows just how bad it is,” she whispered. “It’s worse than the Bennet

Family:

If Sven Bennet and his uncles and elders were already greedy for control, this family was of a different caliber. The brief exchange with Dean and the bodyguards had already shown her how bad it was. She had no intention of getting tangled up in such a mess.

“I worked hard and sacrificed my youth to live peacefully as an adult,” she whispered, leaning her side against the wall. “I’m not letting a stranger ruin all that.”

A glint flickered across her eyes as her determination to end this once and for all solidified.

Dean Pierson was already too much to handle. Dealing with another Pierson was the last thing she wanted. Her impression of Zoren Pierson was neither good nor bad, but her instincts told her he was trouble.

She had survived by trusting her instincts, and her Instincts had never failed her – not even

once.

283 Toast

Penny would never put herself between Dean and Zoren.

[CEO’S OFFICE]

“Sir, something’s wrong!” Benjamin intoned, standing in front of the desk where Zoren was seated. “Please tell me if there’s something I should be aware of. You wouldn’t make that mistake, nor would you have acted like that if nothing was wrong!”

Zoren winced slightly, his ears sensitive to the loud sound Benjamin was making.

“Sir-”

“I can’t see,” Zoren confessed, just to shut him up, snapping his gaze to the blurry figure standing across from him.

Benjamin’s breath hitched at his boss’s confession. “What?”

today’s worse, Zoren clarified, pointing to his eyes.

“I can’t see clearly. Everything’s a blur “That’s what’s wrong. Even if I saw the figure at the reception, my estimation failed me.”

Benjamin’s heart sank. He opened and closed his mouth, but no sound came out. The corners of his eyes reddened with worry as he looked at his boss in disbelief.

From the outside, no one would know something was wrong

With Zoren. After all, right now, Zoren was staring him straight in the eye. His nonchalant and plain tone made it sound as if he were joking.

But alas…

“Since when…?” Benjamin asked, knowing his boss’s health had been declining rapidly.

Zoren leaned back, now satisfied that Benjamin had “calmed down. “Since the accident”

“Oh, god…” Benjamin held his head as he staggered back. “What… oh my god… sir, let’s cancel all your appointments. I think it’s best if you get admitted and rest first.”

“It’s alright.”

“But-”

“My

visit to Doctor Tan surely reached the nosy ears and prying eyes of the family. If I admit myself to the hospital again, they’ll see it as an opportunity, Zoren explained. “As long as they don’t know what’s going on, they won’t be able to do anything.”

Benjamin’s heart clenched upon hearing that reasoning. It wasn’t that he didn’t know everything Zoren said was true. In fact, Benjamin knew it all too well. However, it broke his heart that despite Zoren’s worsening condition, he couldn’t show the slightest trace of weakness. Otherwise, his enemies would eat him alive like hungry piranhas.

BZZT!

Benjamin felt his phone vibrate and fished it out to check. His expression darkened.

<

263 Toast

“It’s the bodyguard.

We were right. Dean knows that woman and even let her into the b Benjamin’s face darkened further as he gripped his phone tightly That man… and that woman..”

“Just let them be.

“But, sir! Letting her in when she’s banned by the man at the helm of the company and family means he’s challenging your authority!”

Zoren closed his eyes to rest. “Let him challenge me.”

“Sir-”

“If I lose my eyesight, it’s time to pass the job,” Zoren casually remarked, as if it were no big deal. “Grandma will be a little worried, but there are many things I can’t do if I lose my sight.”

“I’ll find the best eye doctor-”

“It’s not the

eyes, Zoren murmured. “Drop it. Dean has shown his capabilities over the years. It’s why many in the family support him. If he can take me down fair and square, then he deserves to replace me. After all, I’m only here to protect my elders‘ hard work until another rises to do it.”

Benjamin’s face soured as he listened to this. “Do you think he’ll let you off if you simply pass the role?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

Zoren remained silent, his eyes still closed. “By the way, I want some toast for breakfast.”

“Huh?”

“It’s been a while since I had toast, and that woman smelled like toast. If only he knew there were even some crumbs around Penny’s mouth. “I’m craving some toast.”

Benjamin sighed, assuming this was Zoren’s way of dropping the subject. “I’ll get you some toast, then.”