"Where’s Grandma?" Zoren inquired as soon as he reached the front door of the Old Residence, where Butler Hubert was standing. "What happened? Is she alright?"
Butler Hubert nodded profusely. "The Old Madam is alright, but I don’t think she’s going to stay that way for long."
"What does that an?" asked Zoren, as Butler Hubert urged him to hurry inside.
"William Pierson is here," said Butler Hubert, leaning closer to Zoren’s side. "Young Master, he’s with soone who claims to be... a mber of the family."
Deep lines appeared between Zoren’s brows, and part of his mind told him he already knew this person. After all, a na had co up frequently in his recent conversations with Penny. According to his wife, this person was publicly known and had married Nina Reed in her previous life. Penny had also learned from Finn — she told him about that — that Jonathan Pierson was William’s illegitimate son.
"I see." Zoren nodded, letting out a dry laugh as he grasped the situation imdiately. "Lead to them."
"Yes, Young Master." Butler Hubert nodded, but there was sothing strange in his eyes, which didn’t go unnoticed.
"What else, Butler Hubert?" Zoren asked as Butler Hubert turned away. "Butler Hu."
Butler Hubert pressed his lips tightly, looking back at Zoren. Concern and worry swirled in his eyes, as though he couldn’t bring himself to say what he knew.
"What is it?" Zoren insisted. "Is there sothing else I need to know?"
"Young Master... the thing is..." Butler Hubert trailed off, telling himself Zoren needed to know everything before anything else. After all, Zoren wasn’t just the grandson of the Old Madam; he was the head of the family.
Any matters concerning the family should be reported to Zoren, the head of the Pierson Family.
"Butler Hubert, with all due respect," Zoren huffed faintly, "I don’t have ti for suspense. Tell now. What else should I know before joining them?"
Butler Hubert’s eyes filled with reluctance and bitterness. "He’s claiming to be your brother."
"My... what?"
"He claims he is your father’s son from another woman."
Zoren went silent, his eyes narrowing. "Is there anything else?"
Butler Hubert cleared his throat. "And that William Pierson found him."
"I see." As soon as he said this, Zoren took a step forward, stopping only when Butler Hubert, in a panic, grasped his arm. Zoren looked down at Butler Hubert’s hand, then up at him with furrowed brows. "What are you doing, Butler Hubert?"
"Young Master, please calm down," Butler Hubert said with a sigh. "I don’t believe the late master would have had a child with another woman. But please, be careful... whatever the truth may be."
"I am calm, Butler Hubert," Zoren chuckled, patting Butler Hubert’s hand gently. "I wasn’t expecting this, but the family eting is tonight. Anything can happen — be it the arrival of a bastard or soone’s death."
With that, Zoren gently pried Butler Hubert’s fingers away and continued, knowing where Old Mrs. Pierson was eting with William and the guest.
---
Silence filled the drawing room, and none of the people in it spoke. Old Mrs. Pierson’s wrinkled face twisted in an ugly frown, her eyes full of resentnt as they settled on the smug expression plastered on William’s face.
"Aunt — Chairwoman, I’m sure this has co as a surprise, but didn’t you ask for a DNA test?" William said, jerking his chin toward the docunt in front of Old Mrs. Pierson. "There’s the result you requested. It shows a ninety-nine-point-nine percent match. He is my nephew and Enzo’s son."
A smirk crept onto Jonathan’s face as he enjoyed the sight of Old Mrs. Pierson’s reaction. "He is Zoren’s brother."
Old Mrs. Pierson didn’t respond, simply holding William’s contemptuous gaze. She gripped the armrest tightly. There were many things she wanted to say, but she held back. It wasn’t out of fear of William or concern for a potential grandson.
She held her tongue because she couldn’t rember what William was referring to. Although Butler Hubert had confird that William Pierson had visited her so ti ago, she had no recollection of it. Unless Butler Hubert was lying — but she knew he wouldn’t do that. Butler Hubert would rather die than put her in this position.
In other words, if Old Mrs. Pierson couldn’t rember, then only her age and health were to bla. Thus, she remained silent, waiting for Zoren’s arrival. Otherwise, she had to be very careful with her words.
"You look nothing like my son," Old Mrs. Pierson finally said, a safe comnt about the situation. Her eyes landed on the young man, who appeared around the sa age as Zoren. It was hard to tell which of them was older. "What did you say your na was again, young man?"
"Jonathan, Old Madam," Jonathan smiled pleasantly. "My na is Jonathan Russel. I t Uncle William during one of my business ventures. I never imagined we were actually family."
’Jonathan?’ she furrowed her brows a bit. ’Wasn’t that the sa na Zoren asked about previously?’
Old Mrs. Pierson snorted, glancing between Jonathan and William. "Is that so? How convenient."
Jonathan rely smiled at the insinuation, while William appeared unfazed. Then, suddenly, a knock sounded at the door before it slowly creaked open.
There were only two people who would knock on Old Mrs. Pierson’s door without announcing themselves: Butler Hubert and Zoren. Given the situation, Old Mrs. Pierson knew her help had arrived.
With a sigh of relief, she held her chin high while Jonathan and William turned to the door. Entering the room was none other than Zoren. He said nothing as he closed the door, striding inside before stopping a few steps from them.
He stood in front of the n, like a mountain that would never budge or collapse.
"I heard what happened," said Zoren, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Old Mrs. Pierson. Then he raised a brow, shifting his gaze to et his grandmother’s guests.
Jonathan bead at him while William scowled. Jonathan stood up eagerly, while William rose more reluctantly.
Seeing them stand, Zoren unbuttoned his blazer and casually sat down across from the two. Leaning back, he glanced at Old Mrs. Pierson before turning his attention to the two guests with a smile.
"Welco to the family, Jonathan."
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