PAMPERED

286 Behind the scenes

[REPLAY]

“Penny? Can you come here for a second?”

Penny glanced at Butler Jen and offered him a subtle smile. She picked up Chunchun and went to see Haines in his study.

“Uncle?” she called as soon as she stepped inside, while Haines closed the door. “Is there a problem?”

Haines’s expression was solemn as he quietly said, “Your dad… he told me everything he knows.”

“Oh.” Clarity quickly shone in her eyes upon hearing that. Studying Haines’s expression, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “And you don’t want to tell me?”

“No, I will, but I think it should be Charles who tells you,” Haines replied. “But only when you’re ready, perhaps.”

“I am always ready, Uncle, she responded quickly, only to have another thought cross her mind. “Does knowing it will put me in danger?”

Haines nodded. “There are things that should remain a secret or unknown.”

Penny nodded. If her uncle said this, then whatever Haines had found out was probably dangerous. Although Haines knew she could keep secrets, he still wanted Charles to explain it to

her.

“I understand, Uncle,” she said after a moment. “Do you have any plans now?”

“I’ll contact Wild and put a hold on the investigation. I’ll do it in a less suspicious way. After all, stopping the investigation suddenly would only alert some people and draw attention.”

“Okay. Penny nodded in understanding with a smile. “If you’ve got it covered, then I’ll walk

Chunchun out first.”

“Penny,” Haines called just as she turned, his eyes brimming with worry. “Let’s be careful for now. The baby swapping and that incident ten years ago… were just warnings to Charles. The worst will come if we’re not careful.”

Penny remained quiet before she nodded. “Do you trust me, Uncle?”

“Just as much as you trust me, Haines replied, ruffling her hair. “But I also know sometimes you can be quite the daredevil.”

“Not at the expense of my loved ones.”

“But at the expense of yourself, he countered quickly. “I’m thinking of letting Hugo and Atlas know about this as well, but not until we’re off their radar.”

“I’ll be careful,” she let out a defeated laugh. “I’ll walk Chunchun out first. It’s her birthday today.”

Haines nodded. “Speaking of birthdays, I brought her some gifts. He then pointed at the couch where the gifts were stacked.

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286 Behind the scenes.

When Penny looked over, her entire face twitched at the sight of the stack of gifts on the coffee

table.

“Should we open them?”

“Hehe. Uncle, let’s open them later, Penny laughed awkwardly. “I really need to walk Chunchun out first!”

As soon as those words left her mouth, Penny bolted away to escape. Haines couldn’t even get another word out. She was so swift.

“That was quick, Butler Jen pointed out when he saw her sprinting out of the study.

“Uncle Haines just showed me his gifts to Chunchun,” she explained. “There are a lot, so I told him we’d open them later. I’ll walk Chunchun out first.”

He chuckled. “All right, then. Have a wonderful and warm walk”

With that said, Penny followed her schedule and casually walked out of the mansion. She released Chunchun as soon as they were on the long driveway of the estate.

Walking with Chunchun was no longer a problem because Chunchun loved exploring. As they walked, Penny couldn’t help but think of what Haines had just told her.

“So, we were right, huh? Everything that happened has something to do with Dad’s time in the military.” She nodded to herself, not noticing that she had already walked out of the gate and that her feet were taking her on the longer route, as if her body needed more exercise.

“Uncle Haines rarely wears that expression. It’s as if he dug up a chest, but instead of diamonds or gold, it contained a curse.” This alarmed her to the highest level. “Don’t tell me this has to do with my surprise marriage?”

But then again, why marriage with Zoren Pierson?

What would the enemy gain from this?

No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t think of anything that could tie her to

Zoren Pierson.

She could understand the baby swapping. After all, Charles and Allison had prayed day and night for a daughter. Swapping the baby without anyone’s knowledge hurt Charles and Allison just as deeply as the children involved.

Penny had seen the consequences of that in their miserable previous life.

“And then that incident, she whispered. “If Uncle Haines and I had died, I can already see how that would ruin my father?

“Setting my marriage aside, this also clarifies who was behind our family’s downfall,” she added under her breath, raising her brows when she heard Chunchun purr.

Penny looked down to see Chunchun nudging her feet. “Chunchun, are you tired?” She bent down and picked up her cat. “But we’re almost there…”

288 Behind the scenes

She trailed off as she looked around the street, her face contorting. She had been so deep in thought that she hadn’t realized she had taken a different route! The place where she first met Chunchun and Renren wasn’t that far from the mansion. Therefore, they should have reached the meeting place by now.

“No wonder you’re tired, Penny laughed nervously while coaxing her cat. “I won’t zone out anymore. I’ll take you there, all right?”

Penny smiled brightly and focused on getting to their destination. She didn’t think of going back since she was already halfway through the long route. Moreover, she really needed a long night walk tonight to clear her head.

She had to digest the situation first.

When Penny reached the other street leading to the meeting place, her steps slowed. There, close to the streetlamp, was a man seated in a camping chair. He was drinking what appeared to

be tea.

“That guy…” she whispered and advanced slowly.

At this point, she remembered seeing this person on the side of the street while driving home. When Penny took five more steps, she stopped. She squinted and caught a glimpse of the man’s face as he tilted his head back to drink, and the light shone on his features.

“Zoren Pierson?” she murmured in confusion. “What is Zoren Pierson doing…”

Penny trailed off as her heart suddenly thudded loudly. “Zoren…” she repeated under her

breath. “Ren… Renren?” 17

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