Hours later in Anteca...
Penny sat on a bench in the hallway leading to Charles’s room. She closed her eyes and let out a deep exhale, but when she opened them again, a cup of hot chocolate was already being offered to her.
"Thanks," she whispered, taking it from her husband’s hand. When she t Zoren’s eyes, he gave her a small nod.
"They’ll be here soon," he said.
"I know," she replied softly, holding the cup as her hands trembled despite her effort to steady them. Zoren gently wrapped his hands around hers, earning only a faint smile in return. "It just... it reminded of sothing."
And Zoren understood imdiately.
Charles was never ant to live this long.
According to Penny, in their first lives, Charles had died while they were still in high school. He would have been in an accident—left paralyzed, clinging to life for a short while before eventually passing away.
"I still rember it," she whispered, staring into the cup. "The day we buried him."
And with that mory ca another—one from when Penny had been much younger in that first life. A woman in a black veil and a young boy were looking at her from a distance while the burial was ongoing.
"I rember it more clearly than anything else," she continued. "Especially that empty look in that boy’s dark eyes."
An entire lifeti had passed since then. So much had changed. Penny had rewritten the story of her first, miserable life. She wasn’t incarcerated. She wasn’t hated by her brothers. She didn’t die for a cri she never committed.
In this life, she had sothing worth living for.
She had a successful career. She married a man who loved, adored, and cherished her. Together, they were raising four adorable children. Her relationship with her family had healed—stronger than she ever thought possible. She even had friends.
She had people who cared for her. She built a na for herself—one that could be respected or feared without the Pierson na attached to it. She got to watch her brothers find happiness and live better lives than before.
And yet, despite everything—despite the past feeling more like a bad dream now—this mory resurfaced without warning.
"Maybe it’s because I never thought I’d be in a hospital for this reason," she whispered, swallowing hard to suppress the fear climbing her throat. "Was it my fault?"
"Penny." Zoren placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "It’s not your fault."
She looked at him. "I know. But sohow... it feels like it is."
"If anyone should take the bla, it should be ," he said calmly. "I’m the one who put First Brother in that position."
"No," Penny shook her head. "First Brother took the Order for . Not for you."
"For both of us," Zoren corrected. "So if you’re blaming yourself, then bla too."
She bit her lip, the corners of her eyes reddening. Seeing the fear still lingering behind the strength she always showed the world, Zoren pulled her into his arms.
"It’s alright," he whispered, patting her back in a steady rhythm. "It’s going to be alright, Penny. Dad is fine. Everyone will be."
Her eyes softened as she rested her face against his shoulder. Their lives had changed, but the stakes were higher now. Penny had so much to lose.
Which ant this wasn’t just a random accident.
She knew whatever was happening on Atlas’s side was far bigger than Nathalie.
As Zoren comforted her, he caught movent in his peripheral vision. He glanced up and saw Atlas, Hugo, and Slater rushing toward them.
"They’re here," he whispered, releasing Penny as they both stood.
"How is he?!" Slater asked imdiately, before he even reached them. "How’s Dad?"
"Is he okay, Penny? How badly hurt is he?! Who did this?!" Hugo fired off, barely stopping for breath. "Tell —which station is the guy at?"
Atlas stopped in front of them. "Is he dead?"
The question stunned Slater and Hugo into silence as they stared at Atlas in disbelief. When they turned to Penny, the color drained from their faces.
"Is..." Slater choked. "Is he?!"
"Please, tell us no," Hugo blurted out in dread.
"No!" Penny snapped, glaring at them. "Do you really think so little of ?! First Brother already warned us that things might get complicated, so I increased security for everyone."
"Dad is fine," Zoren explained quickly. "He suffered injuries, but nothing life-threatening. He still had the energy to argue with Mom while she was nagging him."
Slater’s knees nearly gave out as he dropped back onto a chair, while Hugo braced himself against the wall.
As for Atlas, it felt as if the thorn lodged in his throat had finally been pulled free. They hadn’t been able to reach anyone during the trip. So, each minute had only worsened their anxiety.
"He’s resting now," Penny continued, watching Atlas closely. "Nina and Finn took Mom ho to rest. Mint is helping with the investigation—she’s grilling the truck driver. Grace managed to talk her way in."
Atlas took a few steadying breaths before asking, "What happened?"
"We don’t know yet," Penny shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. "All Dad knows is that he was driving slowly. He was on his way to pick up Finn and Zoren to go fishing with him."
She glanced to either side before eting Atlas’s eyes again, her expression tightening.
"First Brother, I know sothing serious is happening. And I know Yuri is in danger," she whispered. "But you have to tell the full extent of this crisis. It’s a good thing I increased security beyond protocol. Dad barely got hurt, but I don’t know next ti."
She inhaled deeply, steadying her voice. "First Brother... is everyone in danger? Are there more attacks coming?"
Silence fell over the hallway. Eyes shifted between Atlas and Penny, before settling squarely on Atlas.
Slater and Hugo already knew what was happening within the Order, how large the problem was, and how desperately they were trying to prevent it from becoming an all-out war.
After a long mont, Atlas finally spoke.
Those who knew him expected a simple answer. Yes. Or no. That was his way—short, controlled, decisive.
But what ca out of his mouth was sothing none of them had ever heard from the man who always claid everything was under control.
"I don’t know."
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