PAMPERED BY MY THREE BROTHERS: THE RETURN OF THE NEGLECTED HEIRESS Chapter 1856: Zoren’s Beloved Wife.

Penny’s desire for anonymity wasn't just about privacy; she harbored a deep-seated aversion to the limelight. To her, the spotlight meant being trapped by aggressive media personnel and their intrusive camera lenses.

Her history with such attention was painful. The last time her image had been broadcast to the world, she had been in a state of desperation, weeping and pleading for assistance.

While she had learned to tolerate a certain level of media presence over the years, it was always under the condition that she was prepared for it.

As she reached the building's primary exit, deep furrows formed on Penny’s forehead.

"What is happening..." she whispered. The media members perked up the moment she neared the doors.

Like a horde of zombies, they surged toward the entrance, only to be held back by a perimeter of bodyguards stationed outside the property.

The chaotic noise finally hit Penny’s ears as she stepped out, her assistants following behind with equally bewildered expressions.

"Miss Penelope, can you confirm the rumors of an affair between you and CEO Pierson?"

"Do you feel no shame in pursuing a married man?!"

"How long has this secret relationship been going on?!"

The journalists shoved against the security detail, stretching their arms out to thrust microphones toward Penny’s face.

Penny halted for a moment, observing the mob of reporters demanding answers about the supposed scandal with her husband. She would have been crushed if not for the protective line of bodyguards. Her only thought at that moment was how out of control these people had become.

She was unaware of it yet, but the public now possessed definitive evidence.

Previously, it was all conjecture based on "blurry" images. Those earlier photos had been poor quality, but the current situation was different. A crystal-clear photograph of her and Zoren was now spreading across the internet.

"Is your family aware of this situation?"

"Have you heard from them? What is Slater's opinion on your conduct?"

"Miss Penny, aren’t you concerned that this will ruin your brother’s professional reputation?"

Penny tightened her lips into a thin line until she heard Mark’s voice at her side.

"Miss Penny, please return to the building," Mark urged, placing a gentle hand on her arm. "We will handle this immediately."

"He’s right, Miss Penny," Hayley added, her heart racing as she watched the crowd swell. "Let’s head back inside."

Teddy and Shawn nodded, preparing to lead Penny away, but she let out a heavy sigh.

"I suppose I really ought to settle this once and for all," she murmured, realizing they were right.

Though Penny cherished a private existence—a quiet world shared only with Zoren—her choices were impacting others. She decided that a public declaration was necessary.

Taking a deep breath, Penny raised her hand toward the reporters standing behind the guards.

"Please, stop pushing," she requested. "The men you are shoving are human beings, not inanimate barricades. I will speak, but please..."

The journalists went still, exchanging glances for a brief second. Following her request, they stepped back slightly, though their recorders and mics remained poised.

As the crowd focused on Penny, several vehicles arrived in the driveway. Those at the back of the pack turned to see people exiting the cars. Their eyes grew wide when a man stepped out from the rear of one vehicle.

"Hey, look!" A cameraman nudged his partner, who was occupied with his equipment. "Look over there!"

"What is it?!" the partner snapped, but his anger turned to shock as he followed his colleague’s gaze. His jaw dropped at the sight.

Meanwhile, Penny composed herself and addressed the assembly.

'I'm glad I practiced public speaking,' she thought with a sense of relief. "A certain article was brought to my attention this morning—"

Just as she began her statement, a sudden, blinding camera flash erupted in her direction. The light was so intense it momentarily took away her vision.

Instead of blinking, Penny froze, her eyes wide with shock. All the preparation she had done to face a crowd vanished in that single, piercing flash of light.

In that instant, her bitter past flashed before her eyes. She felt the weight of the crowd and heard the symphony of voices that sounded more like a trial than an interview.

With the crowd pressing in, she half-expected someone to throw an egg at her, just like before.

Penny’s mouth moved wordlessly as she struggled to push back the intrusive memories, still blinded by the light. But then—

Just as she fought to find her footing, a hand gripped her and pulled her in. The movement was forceful enough to spin her around, yet careful not to cause pain. Suddenly, a familiar scent filled her senses as she was pressed against a solid, warm chest.

A hand rested gently on the back of her head, shielding her from the predatory crowd.

"I often wondered... if I had come to your side back then," he whispered. "Would the outcome have been different?"

Slowly, Penny’s vision cleared. She looked up into those dark, affectionate eyes. As their gazes locked, her lips trembled and her eyes welled with tears.

"Renren," she choked out, her voice thin.

Zoren gave her a tender smile, holding her securely in front of the people who were hounding her for answers as if they had a right to her life.

"I don't wish to relive the past," he said softly, feeling her relax in his embrace. "But I will never let you endure that again."

She had already spent enough of her life begging for affection and fairness. Zoren would not permit a repeat of that—not while he was there.

Zoren turned his head, keeping his wife’s face hidden from the prying media. The warmth he showed her vanished, replaced by a malevolent glint as he glared at the assembly.

The crowd collectively swallowed hard.

The reporters standing behind the guards stared in stunned silence. It was as if time had stopped, but no one felt peace. The silence wasn't just because Zoren was embracing Penny publicly.

It was that terrifying look in his eyes!

The reporters weren't the only ones in shock. Penny’s assistants, particularly Hayley and Teddy, were stunned. Patricia, however, simply wrinkled her nose in annoyance.

"You want a statement?" Zoren’s voice was frigid and sharp. "Then record this. If anyone harasses my wife again, I won't just come for you. I will dismantle the company you work for. Take this as your only warning."

Zoren then looked down at Penny with a faint smile. "Let’s go. They aren't worth our time." He took her hand, and Penny kept her eyes fixed solely on him.

The shouting, the accusations, and the hostility all faded into nothingness.

Linked hand in hand, she allowed him to lead her away from the chaos and back into the safety of the building. Penny didn't look back; she realized she didn't need to explain herself to anyone. Not when she had a husband like Zoren.

"Gosh. I'm definitely wearing lingerie for you later," she giggled, leaning into his side with her arm hooked in his.

Zoren let out a soft chuckle.

Outside, the crowd remained frozen, watching the couple disappear.

"What?" Teddy shouted, his eyes wide. He looked at his colleagues, but noticed that Patricia, Shawn, and Mark didn't seem nearly as shocked as he and Hayley were.

"You all..." Hayley started. "...you knew?"

"Not for sure, but I had a feeling," Patricia said with a shrug, turning to Shawn. "How did you find out?"

Shawn rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward laugh. He had been spying on Penny, though he didn't want to admit it. "Maybe we should head inside first?"

Since the couple had already entered, Mark suggested they follow. They retreated, leaving the media to process the bombshell.

"Wi—wife...?" A reporter collapsed to the ground, his face drained of color. "So, it wasn't an affair—"

"They are married?!" someone else screamed in disbelief. "The secret Mrs. Pierson is actually... Penelope Bennet?!"

"Quick! Get that down! Hurry!"

"Call the office! Tell them to run the story right now!"

The reporters snapped out of their daze instantly, racing to be the first to publish. They didn't get a scandalized quote from Penny, but this revelation was far more explosive.

As soon as the news broke, [#MRS. PIERSON] shot to the top of the trending lists. The internet erupted when footage of Zoren and Penny outside Prime Group went live.

Penny had topped the charts twice before, but those times were for tragic reasons. In this life, things were different. They were better.

She was no longer known as the [Neglected Heiress]. She held many new titles now, but her absolute favorite was:

Zoren Pierson’s Beloved Wife.