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

Chapter 1290: Slander them to shreds

"... not when I married her alive this time."

By the time Jonathan recovered, he tapped the open button, but the elevator had already started going down.

"What did he just say?" he breathed out, staring at the doors in horror. "Did... he remember?"

His mouth fell open and closed as he stumbled back a step. Instinctively, he gripped the railing, his entire body throbbing as Zoren's words replayed in his head over and over. He didn't even notice when the elevator reached his floor and the doors opened—if not for them starting to close again.

What Zoren said had truly turned his world upside down, because if there was one person Jonathan knew who could ruin his plans, it was Zoren. No one else. Not Penny. Not Finn.

Why?

Because of one thing Jonathan knew that no one else did. And Zoren had just warned him-for the first and last time. There would be no further warnings.

Sitting in his cubicle, Jonathan remained motionless. His eyes were unfocused, his mind drifting farther away.

'Was this the reason... that woman is not in the present?' he wondered, but somehow, that question felt like a missing piece that had been nagging at him all along.

After all, in this lifetime, Zoren was an orphan. He didn't have a controlling mother dictating his every move.

'But he wouldn't have killed her as a child...?' Jonathan's thoughts trailed off. '... or could he?'

******

Meanwhile, Zoren remained leaning against the wall, still waiting for Penny. However, unlike earlier, his mind drifted to his brief warning to Jonathan. He glanced over his shoulder, eyes lingering on the closed elevator doors.

After a second, he looked away and dismissed the thought. What he had told Jonathan was a calculated move. He had been thinking about it for quite some time now. Penny was being too careful. Atlas had his own plans, but Zoren didn't have the same patience. Hugo was investigating, and Slater had now openly begun helping them.

Finn, too, had grown paranoid about Nina's safety-and that was all because of Jonathan.

For a while, Zoren had stayed on the sidelines, trying to maintain harmony within this complicated family dynamic. But today, he was not in the mood to play along. He wasn't in the mood to be polite, especially to someone who should have been his responsibility.

Zoren's eyes darkened as he cast his gaze downward.

was slowly and quietly making its way into the parking lot. He had deliberately driven at a snail's pace near Pierson Corporation, not wanting to

still in disbelief, shaking her head. "That's

you think? Do you think he noticed us and just put

Atlas nodded. "However, based on what we've seen, he seems very familiar with the children. I'll look

it's okay! I'll do

head. "No need. I'll

"But-"

back-and-forth. "Do you two ever shut up? Goodness! If I were your personal driver, I'd quit

both fell silent-only to immediately

send someone to check the orphanage," Atlas reiterated firmly. "I'll let you know what

"I'll send someone

what you think

ignore them. They were already here, so he only had to endure them for a few more seconds. But just as he planned to drop

already," Penny remarked, noticing Dean's deliberately slow driving.

time, Dean didn't answer and continued toward his parking space. Penny frowned-only to feel Atlas's finger tapping her shoulder. She turned to him, only to

out her window, her expression twisting as she

her husband was

blessing-a daily miracle she

not when a metaphorical tropical

thunder and lightning. The

gaze made one thing

He was mad.

to Atlas for help. He merely arched a brow, utterly calm despite the ominous

"Why do you

blurted, desperate, "didn't you say you

odd sibling dynamic as Penny forced a sweet smile and grabbed Atlas's hand, tapping

"..."

Dean whispered, like the devil on Atlas's shoulder. "Don't let her

"Why are you scared? It's just

was Dean's