Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 410

Chapter 410: Fate is such a funny thing
“Penny!”

Zoren’s ears slightly perked up when he heard Ray’s voice outside the private dining room. He arched a brow, listening to Ray talking to someone.

“Penny?” he whispered, narrowing his eyes, a strange premonition settling over him. When he finally heard Penny’s voice, Zoren leaned back as realization struck him.

“I don’t think it’s fate, Ray. It’s definitely bad luck.”

‘So, the woman he’s been wooing so shamelessly…’ Zoren ran his tongue along his inner cheek, tapping his fingertip on the table. No one could tell what was going through his mind as he eavesdropped on the conversation in the hall.

Ray sounded like a desperate salesman, trying to convince a customer to buy something they didn’t want or need. It was clear why Ray had become a professor instead of a businessman—he would’ve been terrible at it. Penny didn’t sound even slightly interested. In fact, her lack of response made it clear she wasn’t.

This realization brought a satisfied smile to Zoren’s face.

After a moment, their voices grew closer as they stopped outside the private dining room.

“He’s going to cry a river,” Zoren muttered, shaking his head as he flipped through the catalog in front of him. Now, he was more interested in browsing the catalog, wondering if there was anything he could buy for his wife.

“Sure.”

A smirk tugged at his lips when he heard Penny’s voice. ‘She’s a troublemaker,’ he mused.

The sound of the sliding door opening didn’t faze Zoren. He remained as still as a lake, his attention fixed on the catalog. When he felt his cousin and Penny step into the room, he finally glanced up at them.

“Cousin!” Ray hurried over to Zoren’s side, tugging at his arm. Zoren looked down at Ray’s hand on his arm before lifting his gaze to him. “Cousin, this is the woman I was talking about. I invited her to join us for lunch. That’s alright with you, right?”

Zoren shifted his gaze to Penny. Though he didn’t see clearly, she winked.

“Sure,” Zoren replied, offering her a flirtatious smirk. “Why wouldn’t it be okay?”

“Hehe.” Ray, seemingly forgetting his cousin’s wife was also supposed to attend, quickly turned to Penny. “Penny, come sit, sit. Anyway, this is my cousin, Zoren Pierson. Ren—Zoren, this is the woman I was telling you about. Her name’s Penelope Bennet. Penny for short.”

‘That guy is bad luck, but this one… this is fate,’ Penny thought, smiling at Zoren. “I know him.”

Zoren rocked his head and gave Ray a look. “I know her as well.”

“Great!” Ray clapped happily, almost leaping over to pull out a chair for Penny, but she was quick to do it herself. He chuckled awkwardly, promising himself he’d be faster next time.

He cleared his throat and smiled. “Shall we order?”

Penny and Zoren both nodded.

Ray called for the server, and they quickly chose their lunch. Once the staff left, Ray moved his chair closer to Penny’s.

Zoren raised his brows, glancing at his cousin. Penny, on the other hand, observed Zoren’s reaction before smiling subtly. Before Ray could say anything, Zoren spoke up.

“Isn’t it a small world, Miss Bennet?” Zoren fluttered his eyelashes. “Who would’ve thought that the woman my cousin has been pursuing for twelve years happens to be you?”

Penny smirked. “It really is a surprise!” she intoned. “Fate has a funny way of doing things.”

“Indeed, it does,” Zoren agreed, turning his attention to Ray. “Ray, why didn’t you tell me the woman you were pursuing was Miss Penelope?”

“Hehe. Cousin, you wouldn’t even tell me the name of your Thursday Girl! Why would I tell you about my secret crush?”

‘Secret crush?’ Penny and Zoren both thought, wondering what part of Ray’s admiration had ever been a secret.

Ray leaned his arm against the table, smiling charmingly at Penny. He didn’t seem to care that Zoren and Penny already knew each other through business. In fact, Ray was convinced Penny didn’t regret accepting his offer, since his cousin was none other than Zoren Pierson!

‘Hehe. I’m sure she’s grateful to me. Not everyone gets to share a meal with my cousin. Even I, his cousin, have to set an appointment just to eat with him,’ Ray thought, grinning proudly, his tooth gleaming in the light.

“Anyway, I’m glad you and Penny already know each other,” Ray mused. “She may be feisty, but she’s really kind, cousin.”

“I know,” Zoren nodded.

“Penny, do you remember that time when…” Ray began, focusing on Penny as he tried to reminisce about the good old days. “And then you came to me in the star section to protect me? Even now, whenever I think about it, my heart starts pounding so loudly!”

Penny stared at poor little Ray, who was doing his best to soften her heart. She snuck a glance at Zoren, wondering what he was thinking. She didn’t dwell on it, though, and instead smiled at Ray, deciding to indulge him for a while, as compensation for breaking his delusions.

‘Ah… I feel sorry for him,’ she thought, sighing inwardly. ‘He’s not going to cry, is he?’

Part of her didn’t want to break the news to Ray just yet. She felt guilty, even though she had never reciprocated his feelings.

“Did something like that really happen?” Zoren chimed in. “Ray, you must really like Miss Penelope.”

Ray smiled and cast Penny a meaningful look. “Of course!”

“Please don’t like me anymore,” Penny blurted out, earning a faint chuckle from Zoren. Ray, however, didn’t seem to mind.

“It’s okay, Penny,” Ray reassured her. “I’ll keep pursuing you until your heart softens.”

“I promise you, it won’t soften at all. I’m married.”

But as usual, Penny’s remark seemed to fade like a breeze. It was as if everything she said didn’t reach Ray, who continued to chat with her and share memories with Zoren. Meanwhile, Zoren appeared genuinely interested in hearing it all.

‘Seriously.’ Penny shook her head. ‘I’m still curious how this guy graduated at the top of his class.’

And with Penny there, Ray completely forgot about Zoren’s wife, who was also supposed to arrive.