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, nodding

stretched between them for several long minutes. Neither seemed inclined to break

you alright?" he asked, his

offered a faint smile in return.

with

Zoren replied, arching his brows, pausing

expression tightened. "Was

might imagine, given their line of work. But it's definitely not something they

see." Atlas's forced smile faltered, imagining the chaos Zoren had endured. "And you?" Zoren asked.

Atlas answered quickly, before another heavy silence

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

shouldn't drink next time," they said in unison, before another silence-this time

looks,

shouldn't drink ever again," Atlas

Zoren nodded in agreement.

"I couldn't agree more."

I pictured our first meeting," Atlas

feeling is

let you call me by my first name

There was an unspoken

to delve into the details of his own past, but he suspected Zoren harbored his own

quiet understanding between them

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

Atlas reached for his cup, shaking his head slightly. "Had this been last night, we'd be sharing a glass of

picking up his cup again. "I'm sure of

eye on her, but I nodded off," Atlas admitted,

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

taken. Still, I apologize for

take anything she throws my

the apology, but you didn't have to. You're basically my big

Zoren, still smiling, looked angelic,