Chapter 1839: How to start a new -
Chapter 1839: How to start a new Chapter
Hours later…
Zoren lay flat on the hospital bed, trying to ignore the booming snores coming from Hugo’s and Mint’s beds. The room was dimly lit to let them rest. But even if he tried, he couldn’t fall asleep. So he simply stared at the ceiling.
Thoughts of everything that had happened tonight circled in his mind like a broken record. Just one night—and yet so much had unfolded in quick succession. But what he still couldn’t quite believe… was that it was over.
This was how everything ended in his first life too.
And yet, somehow, this felt different.
Lost in thought, his brows furrowed when he noticed movement from his peripheral vision. Slowly, he turned his head and spotted his wife quietly sneaking out of her bed, clutching her IV pole.
Zoren blinked, watching her pause.
“Shh…” she whispered, holding a finger to her lips.
“…”
Penny tiptoed over to the side of his bed while he slowly sat up.
“Renren, want to go out?”
“We’re supposed to rest,” he replied quietly.
“I know,” she nodded. “But… do you want to go out with me?”
Zoren just looked at her for a moment… then nodded. “Of course.”
He would go anywhere with her, anytime.
Penny grinned and gestured for him to grab his IV pole. But instead of doing that, he simply removed the line.
“Huh?” she paused. “Why’d you take it out?”
“That bag’s just for dehydration,” he explained. “Nothing serious.”
Penny gave him a flat look, prompting him to add, “I’ve been in and out of hospitals—I know.”
“I’m a doctor—sort of,” she shot back. “I know.”
With that, she removed her own IV as well and beamed at him.
“Matchy-matchy,” she giggled, waving the back of her hand at him. “Meant to be.”
Zoren couldn’t help but chuckle. Penny led the way, tiptoeing toward the door with exaggerated care. Every step was light and quiet. Meanwhile, Zoren trailed behind her, amused. His brow arched as he watched his wife move like a ninja.
When she pressed her back against the wall beside the door, he instinctively did the same.
“What is it—?”
“SHHH!” Penny hissed, shooting him a sharp look.
Zoren obediently shut his mouth and gulped, watching her work. She reached for the door and slowly pushed it open. Just watching her made him hold his breath, afraid his breathing might be too loud.
She peeked out left, then right.
“No one’s here,” she said with a relieved sigh, turning back to him with a wide grin. Her smile stretched from ear to ear. “Let’s go.”
She grabbed his arm and yanked him outside.
Unlike their stealthy approach to the door, their exit was anything but subtle. The moment they stepped out, Penny took off sprinting, still holding onto him.
So, Zoren ran too.
He had no idea where she was taking him, or why they were even running, but he followed with a smile. He reached for her hand—the one gripping his arm—and held it tightly.
“Are we eloping?” he asked.
Penny looked over her shoulder and beamed.
“Nope. Something better!”
****
There wasn’t any place Zoren could imagine Penny dragging him to. After all, they were on an unfamiliar island. Sure, it was just the neighboring island where the chaos had happened, but it was still late at night. Even so, some theories floated through his mind.
Maybe she saw something interesting on their way here?
A place? A view?
But when they finally stopped at the place she claimed was “better” than eloping… Zoren could only blink.
The hospital cafeteria.
Seated across from her, he stared at the food on the table. His brows rose at the spread of soups, savory dishes, salty sides, and sweet desserts. Then he looked up and saw Penny licking her lips excitedly.
“I’m so hungry,” she muttered, eyes darting across the dishes like she didn’t know where to start. “Everything looks so good.”
Zoren pressed his lips together before speaking. “Sorry.”
“Hm?” Her brows lifted. “For what?”
“For ruining the hamburgers,” he said, making her blink. “I bought two on the way, but Nathalie’s men confiscated them when I entered the mansion.”
She blinked again. “You… bought me hamburgers?”
“Mhm,” he nodded. “I made a quick call, and we stopped to pick them up. First Brother said it was a reasonable detour.”
Her lips pressed together as her eyes turned slightly red. She was touched… and guilty. After all, she’d just told everyone her husband didn’t love her anymore and staged a dramatic concert in a truck.
“Gosh…” she muttered, dabbing her eyes and then smiling at her sweet, innocent husband. Reaching out, she took his hand. “Renren, I bought all this food for myself, but from now on, I’ll share it with you.”
“…” She didn’t plan to share all this with him?
She nodded solemnly. “Even Third Brother’s chocolates. I’ll share those too.”
Zoren tilted his head, smiling weakly. “I don’t think Third Brother will appreciate you giving away his chocolates.”
“He doesn’t have to know,” she said cheerfully, pulling her hand back. “Let’s eat? I bet you haven’t had dinner—I haven’t either. So let’s eat to our heart’s content, alright?”
Zoren chuckled and nodded. “Let’s eat to our heart’s content.”
And with that, they picked up their utensils and began to dig in. Penny, in particular, ate with the energy of a squirrel devouring a nut, while Zoren quietly enjoyed every bite, watching his wife with fond amusement.
To outsiders, it might have looked ridiculous. Maybe too simple for a celebration.
But for two people who had lived through so much—through two lifetimes—it was perfect.
’I’m just glad… we have a life to go back to,’ Zoren thought, his smile widening. “This food tastes better than I expected.”
In their first lives, everything had ended. There was nothing left to look forward to.
But now?
Their greatest trial might have ended… but their lives were only just beginning.
And the best part?
This time, they were together—eating a feast straight from the hospital cafeteria, marking the quiet beginning of their new Chapter.