"Tada~!" Penny stood at the end of the long dining table, grinning happily as she looked at everyone gathered. "Dinner à la Penny! Enjoy, everyone~!"
The guests seated around the table exchanged puzzled glances before looking from the excited Penny to Zoren at the table’s head. When Zoren had come home, they had all received an invitation to join him and Penny for dinner — a surprising gesture, given Zoren’s usual reluctance to share anything Penny prepared.
Everyone knew how possessive Zoren could be over Penny. Be it her cooking or anything, he wouldn’t share. It was no secret that Zoren even didn’t want to share her name with his own grandmother until Old Mrs Pierson told him she wanted to look for Penny.
In other words, if she made dinner for him, he typically wouldn’t share it with anyone outside her immediate family. But from what they’d heard, the invitation had come from Zoren himself, which only deepened their suspicions.
"Wow..." Benjamin, seated closest to Zoren and across from Slater, took in the spread before him. He grinned, looking up at Penny with admiration. "Miss Penny, did you make all of this?"
Penny placed her fists on her hips and nodded proudly. "I promised my husband I’d make him dinner. With the successful board meeting the other day and the family meeting tomorrow, it’s more of a celebration!"
She added arrogantly, "You guys should be grateful my husband is willing to with all of you! But he’s right — you deserve a treat."
"A treat?" Mark murmured to himself, growing more suspicious. He glanced over at Angel, looking for answers since Zoren’s flat smile gave away nothing.
The second Mark saw the horrified expression on Angel’s face, his heart thudded. He had a bad feeling about this.
"Angel, what am I supposed to expect?" he whispered, elbowing Angel, who was seated beside him.
Slowly, Angel turned to face him. "Mark, is your boss this cruel?"
"I never thought he’d be the type to take everyone down with him if he’s going down."
Angel’s remark only confused Mark more. Initially, he’d suspected this dinner was a trap laid by Zoren to show off his magnanimity in front of Penny. Mark wasn’t the only one with this theory; several others around the table shared his guess—everyone except, perhaps, Benjamin and Slater.
But by the look of it, he’d been wrong.
As Mark eyed the feast before them, he was even more perplexed. Surprisingly, each dish looked delicious, as if Penny had taken culinary classes before. The presentation alone was enough to make them feel full.
"What are you guys waiting for?" Penny blinked, looking at them all innocently. "Dig in!"
Nathaniel gulped, a little apprehensive. He’d been dragged into this dinner for reasons unknown, having only been told by Zoren to join them. His last meal with Penny hadn’t left a good impression, so he felt skeptical.
’Since it’s not just me tonight but everyone else, perhaps... this is his way of welcoming me into the family?’ Nathaniel thought, trying to decide if he should feel relieved.
Everyone remained quiet, watching as Zoren picked up his cutlery. Out of respect, they waited for him to take the first bite, all holding their breath as he chewed slowly.
Penny, on the other hand, was all smiles, eyes sparkling with excitement as she awaited his feedback. After he swallowed, the corner of his mouth lifted, and he looked at his wife.
"Thank you for this dinner, Penny," he said. "It’s really good."
"Really?" She clasped her hands together as he nodded. "That’s great! Everyone, you should eat too! Enjoy everything—there’s plenty more in the kitchen if you want seconds. Hehe~!"
"Thanks, Penny~! You should join us too~!" Slater chimed, preparing to eat but wanting to wait for her to sit beside him. He’d even saved her a seat.
Benjamin glanced at Slater before calling out louder and more sweetly, "Miss Penny, I’ll savor every bite. You’re amazing and so generous!"
Slater frowned, casting Benjamin a look. ’Is he competing with me?’
’Heh,’ Benjamin grinned, sneaking a glance at Slater.
’Ahh... this guy... hah!’
"If I’m the chef, I don’t eat, okay?" Penny declared magnanimously, placing a hand over her chest. "Seeing you all enjoy my dishes is enough for me. Now, dig in!"
"Thank you for the food~!!" Benjamin and Slater chorused, only to glare at each other as they took a spoonful.
But as soon as they started chewing, both of them froze.
Slater hunched over, eyes wide, while Benjamin’s face stiffened as he held his breath.
"Huh?" Penny blinked innocently, tilting her head. "What’s wrong?"
Slater’s shoulders shook, and Penny’s brows knitted in concern. Meanwhile, Benjamin’s face flushed as he struggled to chew, his eyes watering.
"This is..." Benjamin began, but stopped as his breath hitched, feeling a foot step on him. Moving his gaze, he saw Zoren, who kept a straight face as he continued eating.
"This is... a–amazing!" Slater shouted, a tear rolling down his cheek. "Penny, you should be a chef! I’ve never tasted anything before! It’s so good I’m crying~!"
Penny’s heart softened, her eyes full of appreciation for her third brother’s support. Benjamin backed him up, tearing up as well.
"It’s so good..." Benjamin sniffed, taking another spoonful even though he hadn’t swallowed the first. "Thank you for this heavenly food! It’s incredible!"
"Yes! So good!" Slater echoed, stuffing another bite into his mouth.
Everyone else exchanged glances, even Mark looking uncertain.
’Aren’t they overreacting?’ he wondered, watching Angel’s trembling hand lift a spoon to his mouth. Mark kept his eyes on Angel as he finally took a bite.
The moment Mark tasted the food, he understood Angel’s earlier tremors and his remark about Zoren taking everyone down with him.
The food was horrible—entirely the opposite of its appearance.
Yet, by the end of the meal, everyone was tearing up, showering Penny with praise for her "amazing" dinner. Even Nathaniel quietly wept, vowing to fake an illness whenever Penny or Zoren invited him to share a meal.