"Say, Allen... is my presence here causing too much trouble for my husband?"
Surprise imdiately appeared on Allen’s face as he slowly turned his head to et Lola’s eyes.
"If I asked Atlas, he would naturally tell I’m not," Lola continued. "And that I should focus on what I should focus on first. Although I know Atlas would tell directly if a problem arises, I’m also aware that his threshold is higher than most. So, his ’fine’ might not be fine for others."
For a few seconds, Allen could only stare at Lola. After a mont, he sighed in defeat and smiled gently.
"I wouldn’t call it ’causing too much trouble,’" he said. "However, there are a few who didn’t like that he got married and brought you back here."
"The Order?"
"Even the council," Allen replied without sugarcoating anything. He knew she would prefer honesty. "But that was already expected. The council, made up of the heads of each founding family of the secret society, shared the sa opinions when Sybil appointed my boss as the new head of the Order."
"But well..." He paused, taking a deep breath as he arranged his thoughts. "Not everyone in the Order likes the fact that you are the matriarch of the family. Though I believe it’s not because you’re an outsider or because of anything personal toward you."
"They don’t trust ," she finished for him, and he nodded with a smile.
The feeling was mutual, then.
"But don’t worry," said Allen. "As long as your husband sits at the helm of the Order, none of them will do more than whisper. What can they complain about? His family — your family, the Bennet family — prevented the Order from total annihilation. Then, the boss rebuilt the Order and unified the Zorken family."
"Now, the Zorken family stands equal to the other founding families," he added.
In other words, even if their displeasure toward Atlas’s marriage was strong, no one would dare openly oppose it. The results spoke for themselves.
"It would be different, though, if sothing happened to him," Allen blurted out, only to wince once the thought caught up to his mouth.
Fortunately, Lola’s expression remained calm. She was thinking the sa thing.
"I see." She rocked her head gently. "So... I have ti."
"Hmm?"
"I told Atlas when I first ca here that I’d like to learn more about the Secret Society — more than what’s on the surface. That includes the Zorken family and the Order," she explained. "I was just worried that I’m being a bigger burden than I thought."
Allen chuckled. "If you ever were, I assure you of one thing: I would co to you and let you know the situation myself."
"That’s actually reassuring to hear," she chuckled softly. "I hope you would, if things grow more troubleso around here."
"Miss Lola, you’ve been here for a month, and this is the first ti you’ve asked such a thing." Curiosity flickered in his eyes. "Miss Lola, did sothing bother you today?"
Not sothing, but soone.
Lola simply smiled and shrugged. "Nothing. Just making sure."
*****
Not long after, Atlas and Slater ca out of the room. They parted ways — Atlas and Lola heading back to the main residence while Slater and Allen returned to the other wing.
Chunchun and Renny would still be monitored by the in-house vets, but according to them, both cats were fine. Any signs that alard the family were simply due to age.
As Atlas and Lola walked side by side, he shot her a curious side-eye.
"What were you talking about with Allen?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious.
Her lips curled into a smile as she looked up at him. "I was asking if I’m being a deadweight to you."
His right brow imdiately arched.
"Atlas, I know your people don’t like ," she said, smacking her lips lightly as she set her gaze straight ahead. "I already knew that before I even t them. I already knew... since that night in the penthouse, that these people didn’t like being stationed to babysit ."
That ti, Izu’s group was punished — and Scarlet too.
Lola had already experienced it firsthand when she tried to stop Izu from running, yet was ignored. She’d been left with no choice but to run with them, even when her lungs were burning. So yes — she had already prepared herself ntally.
Atlas let out a shallow breath, almost like a short laugh. "I know."
"Gosh." She pouted, giving him a side-eye. "Look at you, enjoying others bullying ."
"They will like you," he said firmly, like it was absolute fact. "Izu and his team already do."
That was why Atlas wasn’t in a hurry. He was letting Lola move at her own pace. Because he knew that if this woman could srize him, she would eventually earn his n’s respect.
Just look at how she got Izu and those stubborn lads to listen to her. They hung around her so casually now. They would never be that relaxed around Atlas, no matter what. And yet, even then, they never crossed the line of disrespect.
Atlas wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. But before he could say what was on his mind, Lola spoke first.
"Atlas?" she called softly, choosing her words. "What’s Scarlet’s position in your life?"
He blinked, clearly not expecting that question. "She’s currently a rcenary."
"Huh?"
"She was demoted from being the head of security," Atlas explained. "And I haven’t thought of giving her another position yet. So she’s currently doing whatever she can."
In other words, Scarlet no longer had the sa authority she once wielded. Until she "regrew" her toes, Atlas had no plans of returning the security team to her. Besides, the security teams were doing well on their own, with Sybil temporarily handling them.
"That’s not... well, I guess I asked that strangely," Lola clicked her tongue faintly. "What I’m asking is... what do you think of her? Not as soone who works for you, but as a person."
"She is soone I trust."
"Huh?" Lola blinked, genuinely surprised. "You do?"
He nodded, slowing his steps until he stopped and faced her properly.
"I trust Scarlet with my life," he stated firmly. "And I would trust her with yours as well.
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