Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 149: Penny

He looked down at the box in her grasp. "Do you have something for me?"

She bit her lip to fight a blush. "How prideful to think that it's for you."

Darren chuckled. "Well, isn't it?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, it is. I made you lunch."

He blinked. "Lunch?"

She nodded proudly and held up the box. "Since it's this late I think we'll have to call it dinner, right? And... I figured you wouldn't eat unless someone forced it down your throat."

Darren chuckled. "Guilty as charged."

He led the way and she turned around to follow. "Come on. Let's go to the park."

They started walking together, turning onto the path that led to their favorite park just a block away — a quiet little corner of Los Alverez lined with lavender bushes, wooden benches, and those elegant street lamps that clicked on with a warm hum when evening fell.

By the time they reached their bench, the sky had turned a watercolor orange and pink. Penelope unwrapped the lunchbox with delicate fingers and placed it on his lap.

"My mouth is watering out of curiosity of what it is," Darren said as he opened it.

"Now I'm worried that I'm going to disappoint you," Penelope pouted.

"No, don't say that. You could never disa—" Darren finished opening it and stopped, the words catching in his throat.

His eyes widened at what was before him.

Inside the lunchbox was an artfully arranged plate: lemon-herb chicken glazed in a honey-butter sauce, roasted vegetables arranged in a ring of color — carrots, purple cabbage, bell peppers — and beneath it all, a small stack of creamy garlic mashed potatoes garnished with parsley flakes.

The scent hit him like a dream — savory, warm, and impossibly comforting.

Darren gulped. Either the scent of the food or the fact that someone made this for him was causing his heart to melt.

"You made this... for me?" he asked her.

Penelope's fingers clenched shyly as she turned pink. "There were no lectures today so I had a lot of time in my hands and I wanted... to make you something nice."

"I love it." Darren muttered, still awestruck.

Her eyes met his. "You do?"

"Yes, I love it." He said again. "This is one of the nicest things anyone has done for me."

"Oh..."

He stared into her eyes. "Thank you."

Unable to hold his gaze any longer, Penelope lowered her head, still pink-cheeked. "You're welcome."

Darren looked at her for a while longer, then at the meal. He took a good, deep sniff. "Smells like heaven."

She laughed once. "I hope it tastes like it," she said, swinging her legs and watching him nervously.

Darren picked up the fork and took one bite.

"Ughhhh!" He groaned softly. "Penny… Penny, Penny, Penny. Marry me."

She turned red instantly. "Wha—!"

"I'm kidding," he said through a grin, "but seriously, this might be the best thing I've had all month."

She brightened. "Dad and I have been trying new recipes at the Cottage. Ever since the renovations started, it's felt like a real kitchen again. New ovens, real prep counters, even Dad's got a bit of that spark back. He's been humming when he cooks."

Darren smiled as he chewed. "That's good to hear. I've been meaning to come visit again. It's been too long."

"You should," she said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I think he misses you already."

He nodded. "I'll try this week."

She looked at him then, a bit longer than usual, and then said, "You've been looking… I don't know. Tired lately."

He raised a brow at her. "You don't say."

"I mean it," she continued. "Even your aura feels heavier. I can imagine. Being the CEO of a growing investment firm, handling everything, even the software company you just launched... It's a lot."

He paused mid-bite, surprised by her words.

"You can't keep doing everything," she said seriously. "That's why you've got employees. You trained them, right? Let them do it. Sit back. Make the money. Then complain when they don't give you what you want."

He laughed.

"No, really!" she insisted, poking his shoulder. "You're the CEO. You shouldn't be in the trenches. You should be up top, managing the politics, steering the vision. Don't break your back doing everyone else's job. You're already dealing with sabotage, corporate enemies, even—" she stopped herself, flushing.

Darren blinked, genuinely amused and a little impressed. "Where did all that come from?"

She fidgeted, looking away. "I just… I don't want you to burn out, that's all."

He smiled, scooping more chicken. "Look at you. Caring for me. I feel like a husband."

Her eyes went wide as plates. "H-Husband?!"

She squeaked, turning away and burying her face in her knees. "D-Don't say weird things like that! Geez!"

Darren laughed out loud this time. It echoed gently through the trees, dancing with the rustling of leaves and the distant sound of children playing near the park's fountain before their parents would eventually force them to leave.

They sat like that for a while, the soft hum of the street lamps filling the silence. The world around them seemed to pause — warm hues of the sun fading behind skyline silhouettes, birds heading home, the wind quiet and content.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

After a long moment, Darren looked sideways. "Penny?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't think I've ever asked... what college do you go to?"

"Oh," she said, blinking. "BUMH. Brookfield University of Medicine and Health."

Darren's head snapped at her direction. "…Eh?"

She raised an innocent brow. "Eh?"