"Of course they have twisted beliefs. Bottom line: who the hell do we put in charge of the Zorken Family so our families don’t get obliterated?"
If they were going after Nathalie, they had to consider the aftermath—assuming the plan succeeded. After all, fighting Nathalie was already dangerous. The thought that another force might co after those responsible for taking her down ant not only their lives were at risk, but also the lives of those close to them.
Even so, choosing an heir for the Zorken Family was a problem in itself.
They needed soone they could trust. An ally. Soone who wouldn’t turn on them even after gaining such power.
"I can’t hold the code because, first, I haven’t married Penny," Mint remarked. "And if I got a hold of that, I’d definitely abduct her so she could marry . Then we live happily ever after."
Penny’s and Hugo’s expressions twisted as they stared at Mint, who had no qualms about declaring her greed. Zoren, on the other hand, rely glanced at her. He didn’t react, didn’t move, didn’t flinch.
Mint then snapped her eyes to Hugo. "You should use the code. You’re the only person I trust to hold that now."
"I can’t do that," Hugo replied, rubbing his chin. "If I fail the Zorken Family in the economic area, they’ll kill . Then my family. Then my friends. Including you."
"You’re right." Mint didn’t even take a second to agree. "I don’t think even a financial advisor will help you with that."
So the two of them looked at Penny and Zoren. Those two were good candidates—but that also ant they’d be living within a hidden society. And with how family-oriented this book was, it was doubtful they’d want that.
Zoren still had Old Mrs. Pierson. He could bring her with them, but she loved her ho—where the mories of her husband and son remained.
As for Penny, she had a company to run but loved her husband deeply. If he worried about her, she wouldn’t do it. Besides, neither of them would dare to take the other away from family and friends.
Silence settled over them as they all weighed the tricky decision of who could be placed in that seat.
"Now that I think about it..." After a long pause, Hugo humd.
Everyone turned to him, raising their brows.
"What?" Mint asked. "Any suggestions?"
"No, not that." Hugo waved dismissively. "I’m just thinking... isn’t it possible that Jonathan already knew about the code?"
Even Zoren furrowed his brow.
Zoren didn’t rember Jonathan knowing about the code, but it was possible. After all, Jonathan had been deeply entangled with Nathalie in both their past lives and this one.
"And that he knows where it is?" Hugo added. "It just occurred to —if he knew about the code and its rules, doesn’t that an he’s been after it all along?"
Penny and Zoren fell silent, reconsidering it. After a beat, Zoren nodded in understanding.
"It could be," Zoren said. "If he knew of the code’s existence, and assuming, he eventually tracked it down..."
That would also explain why Jonathan chose to introduce himself as Zoren’s half-brother and Enzo’s bastard. In their previous life, Jonathan had been William’s bastard. But after Zoren regained his mories, he rembered it was all arranged by the fake Naylani and William.
Naylani had offered William a bigger share in the company just to have Jonathan declared his bastard.
In other words, if Hugo’s theory was right, then Jonathan’s goal wasn’t just revenge—it was vengeance with a very specific endga. He was likely after the code, possibly already knowing where it was... but not yet able to claim it.
"I hope he dies," Mint muttered cruelly. "That bastard’s got too many layers. He’s better off dead."
Penny nodded quietly, and Zoren spoke again.
"That only makes this more important—and dangerous," Zoren said. "If the code, and the power of the Zorken Family, fall into the wrong hands, it could backfire on all of us."
Because if Jonathan got a hold of that code, they would be at his rcy.
Their expressions darkened. The re thought of it sent dread crawling down their spines.
"This can’t wait," Mint said, tilting her head. "We need to strategize properly."
"We still have ti," Hugo said, trying to reassure them. "You’ve got the code, right?"
He looked at Zoren, who nodded.
"If Jonathan suspects you have it, we need to move it," Hugo suggested. "If you already know the contents, should we burn it?"
"We can’t burn it. The other party needs proof," Zoren explained. "Besides, it’s not simple. You need to truly understand it."
The only ti Zoren had successfully convinced the leader of the private group without getting himself killed was by impressing him. Honestly, it was pure luck. So, in other words, they couldn’t just install a puppet.
They needed soone who could impress the other party and be seen as reliable—not soone easily manipulated. The group and the Zorken Family depended on each other. One provided military power, the other resources.
Without that balance, one would fall hard. Especially since not all of the Zorken Family’s inco sources were public.
"Then we still need to move it," Hugo insisted. "Even if they succeed in getting to Zoren, they can’t get the code."
Mint nodded, and although Penny disliked how he phrased it, she agreed.
"Then who should hold it for now?" Penny asked. Everyone turned to her. She raised a brow and pointed to herself. "?"
"Hugo and I will be busy, and we all suspect we’re being watched by a mole," Mint explained. "So it’s obvious. Between us three, if Zoren hands the code over, they’ll expect it to go to or Hugo. If they don’t find it on Zoren, they’ll co after us."
Penny blinked. "But isn’t it even more obvious they’d co to his wife first? I an, I’m closest to him."
"Does dad tell mom everything? Especially the dangerous stuff?" Hugo countered, silencing Penny on the spot. "I don’t like this either, but you should hold it for now. Besides, with all the scandal around you right now, it’s the perfect cover."
"Temporarily," Zoren stressed. "I don’t feel good about this. The code is dangerous. If soone finds out she’s holding it—"
"It’s okay!" Penny said with a smile. "I’m just surprised I’ll be holding it. But don’t worry. Worst-case scenario, I’ll fight. Still, I don’t think it’ll co to that since it’s temporary."
Zoren t her gaze, then sighed in surrender.
And so, they agreed: Penny would hold the code for safekeeping—for now.
What they didn’t know was that sowhere hidden in the office, a small device blinked red, recording or even listening to everything that had just been said.
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