Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 1065

Chapter 1065: Do what you see fit.
[OLD PIERSON RESIDENCE]

Butler Hubert dismissed the maids from the dining room as Old Mrs. Pierson was with Atlas Bennet.

“Oh, my dear, Atlas.” Old Mrs. Pierson held Atlas’s hand affectionately. “I heard about the good news. Thank you, my dearest. I know this is a heavy burden to carry, and I apologize for it.”

Atlas offered Old Mrs. Pierson a subtle, kind smile—a smile that would shock the entire world if they saw it. “It’s not a burden at all, Grandma. I told you I’d think about it.”

“The Pierson Family is such a headache. I’m sure they were all watching. They would never take their eyes off of you until they see you make a mistake.”

“Then, that only means I cannot make mistakes.”

“Mistakes happen, whether you want them to or not.”

“They do, but not for you,” he argued calmly. “Otherwise, I don’t know how you were able to stay so long disciplining all those troublemakers. Not to mention, for a woman—no offense—but I believe that during your time, having a woman lead such a big family was ten times harder than now.”

Old Mrs. Pierson laughed out loud, agreeing that her family was truly a bunch of troublemakers. “It wasn’t easy, and I used to fight a lot.” She grinned meaningfully. “But that doesn’t mean I didn’t make mistakes here and there.”

“And no one ever said a word about it?”

“No one.” She shook her head, leaning closer as she pulled his hand in tighter. “My dearest, the secret to lasting in the Pierson Family and the company is not avoiding mistakes. It’s making sure no one sees them or knows about them.”

“Oh.”

“I had many people watching me, especially during my peak. They were all waiting for me to make a mistake so they could attack me and bring me down, where they could trample me mercilessly. It doesn’t matter how many good things I’ve done—one mistake, and I’d find myself beaten to the ground. Thankfully, I also had people who covered for me. People who saw my mistakes, helped me fix them, and acted like nothing happened.” She tapped her hand, nodding at him encouragingly. “I heard you only won the vote by one, but I’m sure it won’t be the same at the next meeting.”

Her smile stretched. “Renren is there with you. That is why I am more confident that even if you miss something, he, Benjamin, and a few of my friends on the board will be there to back you up.”

“That’s very reassuring, Grandma.” Atlas nodded in satisfaction.

“It’s the least I could do, knowing I just sent Penelope’s eldest brother into the lion’s den.”

“You didn’t throw me into the den,” he corrected. “I walked in there on my own.”

Atlas squeezed her hand gently. “Grandma Pierson, I’m doing this for my sister. That time Zoren threw up blood… I was scared,” he confessed, lifting his eyes to meet hers. “It was the first time I felt petrified and couldn’t speak. I thought I’d lose my sister, and I don’t want to lose her—not on my watch.”

He didn’t say it, nor did he show it, but if anyone was more scared than his parents, it was Atlas. The look on his sister’s face that day was something already etched in Atlas’s mind. Hence, if keeping Zoren alive was another way of keeping his sister the way she was, he didn’t mind even if he had to run a small stall on the street.

“You are such a good brother,” Old Mrs. Pierson’s eyes softened. “Penelope… is very lucky to have you, Hugo, and then the adorable and sweet Slater as her brothers.”

“I doubt that.”

“And why is that?”

“Because my sister… changed our lives.” Atlas smiled subtly. “She fixed a company issue that had been depleting our resources since she was thirteen. She stood up against Slater’s bullies, encouraged Hugo to be kinder, and… she believed in me when I wasn’t even sure of myself or my capabilities. It’s not her who’s lucky, it’s us.”

Old Mrs. Pierson chuckled. “If you say it like that, I guess I understand your standpoint. I also feel lucky and blessed to have her in our lives. Ever since Penelope came into our lives, it just felt like even if things were going the wrong way, everything would eventually turn out fine.”

“I know.” Atlas let out a short chuckle, only able to express such thoughts to Old Mrs. Pierson. After all, she was easy to talk to about family. Not that his family wasn’t, but they usually didn’t take things seriously or just nitpicked. Hence, Atlas ended up nitpicking on them, even when he sometimes just wanted to compliment them. Especially his siblings.

“By the way, Grandma, I came here because I want to talk about something else,” Atlas broached after a momentary silence between them. He then slipped his hand from hers and took out a folded document from his suit pocket.

He slid it in front of her, saying, “Since I accepted the job and was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer, I’d like to return this. Grandma, I still feel that this is too much of a gift.”

That was right. The COO position was merely a request, not a gift. If it were a gift, Atlas wouldn’t have had to go through the hassle of dealing with everyone just to claim it.

“Do you feel burdened by this gift?” she asked, and he shook his head. “Then, keep it.”

She then slid the folded documents back to him. “I’ll do my very best so you don’t have to use it anytime soon. However, since I’m old and it seems I’m starting to lose my mind, I want everything in my name to be safe.”

“Still, naming me as heir as a gift doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Wealth, power, reputation… they’re worth nothing compared to my grandson’s happiness. When I first came to your house, I promised your parents that I’d take care of Penelope. And to show that sincerity, I’d give everything that’s in my name to her,” she clarified, because the last time they talked about it, they hadn’t gone into full detail about the gift Atlas received from her. “I’ve discussed it with Zoren, and he even thought it might not be enough. Even so, this is all I have. So, by the time I die or start losing my mind, I’m leaving my voice to you and Penelope.”

“All I ask in return is that you don’t turn your back on Zoren… and Penelope.”

This might sound foolish and reckless, but Old Mrs. Pierson gifted Atlas irreversible authority over everything in her name once she perished or became incapable of thinking for herself. All her assets, her shares, and everything in her name—Atlas was to be her guardian.

In other words, for the longest time, Atlas had been her legal guardian and the temporary chairman of the Pierson Corporation. Only five people knew about this: Old Mrs. Pierson, Atlas, Zoren, Butler Hubert, and Old Mrs. Pierson’s trusted attorney, who had notarized it and would prove it when necessary.

“I’m cleaning up the Pierson Corporation,” he said after a moment of silence. “Let me know if they come here begging you.”

Old Mrs. Pierson chuckled. “Do what you see fit.”