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

Chapter 973: Penelope Bennet, what do you think?

Zoren's wife, Penelope Bennet, was someone he had never met while she was alive. How could his grandmother have met her? Even so, given Old Mrs. Pierson's condition, his fabricated marriage was the only thing that brought her happiness, no matter how many times he repeated the story.

"Tell me more about her!" Old Mrs. Pierson urged. "Or are you tired of repeating yourself?"

"No." Zoren moved his chair closer to the bed, holding her wrinkled hand between his own. "Penelope... she's brilliant. She has several Ph.D.s and was part of a research team working on miracle drugs."

"Oh!" Old Mrs. Pierson's eyes lit up. "Renren, she's a genius! I knew it! My granddaughter-in-law is amazing! What else?"

"She's from a good family, and despite her tight schedule, she always made time for her loved ones."

"What a filial daughter," she said with pride.

"She is."

"Not only is she beautiful and smart, but she's also kind."

"How I wish she weren't... perhaps she'd be a lot happier," he murmured, though his grandmother's weak hearing didn't catch it. "She's also fierce."

He had learned this while keeping tabs on her in prison. She often started fights, landing herself in isolation. Yet, her spirit never seemed to break, not surprising as her soul had long been shattered outside those prison walls. Her defiance had always clashed with his efforts to shield her from such harsh treatment. As a death row inmate, she was deemed a threat and denied the freedoms other prisoners had. Through his connections and at great expense, Zoren ensured she wasn't entirely isolated. It was his way of showing her there was still hope that even within those walls, she could imagine freedom.

"Hehehe." Old Mrs. Pierson giggled, picturing such a remarkable woman with her grandson. "You've hit the jackpot, Renren!" But as her gaze returned to him, she caught the look on his face. Concerned, she held his hand tightly.

"Renren, what's wrong, my child?" she asked gently. "You can always tell

Grandma your troubles. I'll always listen, like always."

A faint smile crossed his lips. "I know you would."

"And the best part is," she added with a chuckle, "I'll forget whatever it is afterward!"

Her joke lightened the moment, but Zoren's heart remained heavy. He hesitated before finally speaking, his voice low. "Is there anything I'm truly good at, Grandma? Because everything I really want to do—everyone I want to save— always seems to slip through my fingers."

save Penelope Bennet and his grandmother. Despite his wealth

lips curling into a bitter smile. "... and

how can you say that?" Old Mrs. Pierson sighed, patting his hand to draw

he wanted

"But taking care of me and protecting me doesn't mean you've failed. Even if my health continues to decline, that's not your fault. It

her voice tender but firm. "I've lived a life with equal parts of sorrow and joy. This is the cycle of life. We live, and then we reach the end.

want you to leave me," he confessed, his voice

hand. "I'll never leave you, my

my physical body isn't. I'm not saying it will happen today, but you must accept the

to walk beside you and build a good life with. When I'm gone, she'll console

his hand, her voice gentle. "Everything's going to be fine, Renren. One day, you'll understand. But for now, know this: I'm grateful. You've made this difficult life bearable, and I'm proud to have raised such a loving grandson. You've always

tightening with emotion. "Grandma..." "Yes, my

you have

softened. "I

"What are they?"

her gaze drifting to the family portrait on the

picture of just the two of them,

she broke the silence. "Renren... your wife

why did

off guard. He hesitated, prompting her

you love

thought for

proper funeral. He had been involved in her case and, after failing to save her, he wanted to at least grant her dignity in

It wasn't love.

he began hesitantly, meeting her eyes. "... I could have

her, if we'd had a chance... maybe we wouldn't have been so

Pierson tilted her head. "Renren, you're

"I am, Grandma."

you only visit me when it's

smiled bitterly as he patiently told her

marriage, about his wife, and about the life she