Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

Chapter 451: A rabbit among the wolves

[PRESENT TIME]

Atlas jolted awake, suppressing a memory he desperately wanted to avoid. "That was close." His body tensed, and a shallow breath escaped through his nostrils.

At that moment, he noticed a figure settling into the seat across from him. The lines between his brows deepened as he lifted his gaze to meet the man's pair of

dark eyes.

Atlas straightened. "Mr. Pierson."

"Mr. Atlas Bennet," Zoren responded evenly. "I hope you don't mind; I took the liberty of sitting down."

"It's alright. Thank you for accepting my invitation on such short notice."

"There's no need for thanks. I'm just glad I didn't have to wait long," Zoren trailed off, raising his brows. "...and the timing of your call was impeccable."

Impeccable timing...

Atlas studied Zoren's expression, wondering if Penny's drunken state had anything to do with his comment. Though Zoren still appeared paler than most, he didn't look as drained as the time he had picked up Penny for their first date.

"Last night..." Atlas paused, scrutinizing every subtle shift in Zoren's expression. The slight raise of Zoren's brow hinted that something indeed had happened the previous night. "...did my sister... happen to see you?"

Zoren hesitated, as though weighing the tone of Atlas's question. There was a carefulness, a trace of reluctance, something Atlas rarely displayed unless compelled by a powerful reason.

"Yes." Zoren nodded. "She... did."

Even Zoren noticed a similar hesitance in his own voice. Perhaps it stemmed from not wanting to disclose what Penny had done to him the previous night.

'Hang on,' Zoren squinted slightly. 'Could he also be harboring a memory he doesn't want to share?'

Zoren doubted Atlas's memory was remotely similar to his own-certainly not the kind that involved being blueballed, as they were siblings-but he sensed the weight of trauma in Atlas's unspoken past. Zoren's men would likely sympathize with him.

see..." Atlas murmured,

Neither seemed inclined to break it, unsure of what to say. It was Atlas

he asked, his

faint smile

scoffed lightly, scratching his temple with a finger. "I suppose that's good

my men might disagree," Zoren replied, arching his brows, pausing

tightened. "Was it... that

their line of work. But it's definitely

chaos Zoren had endured. "And you?" Zoren

before another heavy silence fell between

unison, took a sip, and placed them down simultaneously, sighing at the same time, casting

time," they said in unison, before another silence-this time lighter-settled

exchanged looks, then

again," Atlas said when the

Zoren nodded in agreement.

"I couldn't agree more."

I pictured

feeling is mutual,

you call me by

There was an unspoken

with Penny's drunken antics. Atlas didn't plan to delve into the details of his own past, but he suspected Zoren harbored his own stories_ones neither

a quiet

subtle smile. "Though I suppose we've built quite a rapport in an... unusual manner. Feel free to call me

slightly. "Had this been last

chuckled, picking up his cup again. "I'm sure

but I nodded off," Atlas admitted, glossing over

if you hadn't, I'm certain she would've found a way to sneak out," Zoren replied,

apologize for the trouble she

she

but you didn't have to. You're basically my

a brow at him, head tilted slightly. Zoren, still smiling, looked