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 and

failed my wife..." he whispered, his lips curling into a bitter smile.

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

dead," he wanted to say,

protecting me doesn't mean you've failed. Even if

live, and then we

leave me,"

never leave you, my dear.

will happen today, but you must accept the inevitable." She smiled, her eyes warm

wife, Renren. She's not a replacement but someone to walk beside you and build a good life with. When I'm gone, she'll console you, just as you

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

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

you have any

smile softened. "I do. I

"What are they?"

gaze drifting to the family

of just the two of them, grandmother

silence. "Renren... your wife is smart, beautiful, and

why did you

him off guard. He hesitated,

you love her?"

for a moment.

claim her body or give her a 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.

hesitantly, meeting her eyes. "... I

we'd had a chance... maybe we wouldn't have been so sad.

Mrs. Pierson tilted her head. "Renren,

"I am, Grandma."

brat! How come you only visit me when it's convenient

repeated. Zoren smiled

and about the life she had