Zachary acted on his idea. He sneaked around Serenity’s room and rummaged through her things like a thief.After searching all the places where Serenity might hide the agreement, Zachary still could not find her copy of the agreement.Where did she put it?Zachary stood in front of the dresser as he stared at it while trying to recall any corners which he might have left out.He had rummaged through all the drawers.Finally, his gaze landed on a piece of paper on the table with a golden hairpin drawn on it.He picked up the paper.Serenity’s drawing was excellent.Why did she draw this golden hairpin?Zachary could not guess Serenity’s intention of drawing a golden hairpin. He flipped it over and saw that it was the agreement he was looking for.Serenity doodled on the reverse side of her agreement.No wonder he could not find the agreement after he ransacked her room.Zachary folded Serenity’s copy of the agreement and stuffed it into his pants pocket. He then walked to th
Liberty’s mind went blank for a moment.She did not expect Jessica to answer Hank’s phone.Liberty then took the phone away from her ear and recorded the call.Zachary’s friend helped Liberty to investigate and collect evidence of Hank’s adultery. However, the evidence he had could only prove that Hank was emotionally cheating on her because Hank did not sleep with Jessica.At that moment, the cheating pair was probably together, so Liberty thought of recording the call first.“Who are you?”Jessica was smug when Liberty kept silent. Liberty’s reaction was just as Jessica had imagined it to be.After Liberty found out that Hank was cheating, she made a huge fuss. Hank was so annoyed that he wanted to divorce her regardless of his son’s custody.If Liberty did not cry or make trouble, Hank and his family would think that Liberty was looking forward to a divorce and would make her stay instead.“I’m Hank’s secretary, Jessica Yates. Who are you?” Jessica asked knowingly.“Who am
Liberty knew that she had to take care of her son and could not leave her son home alone at this hour just so she could catch the cheating pair in the act.Liberty was contemplating if she should call her sister.Should she disturb her sister at this time?After hesitating for a while, Liberty felt that it would be beneficial to her to seize this opportunity to capture more evidence of Hank’s adultery.Thus, she called Serenity.Serenity slept so soundly after drinking two bottles of beer that she did not know Zachary carried her upstairs.Liberty called Serenity repeatedly, which forced Serenity to wake up.Serenity took her phone and answered the call without looking at the caller ID.“Hello, who is it…?”“Seren, it’s me, Liberty.”“Liberty, what’s wrong?”Serenity, who was gradually regaining her senses, remembered that Liberty was going to bring up divorce to the scumbag Hank and thought they got into a fight again. Serenity’s sleepiness instantly disappeared. She sudden
Serenity removed a key from her bunch of keys and handed it to Zachary while she said, “This is the key to my sister’s house.”Zachary’s dark eyes flickered.He knew Hank was at a business entertainment.Since Zachary asked Josh to investigate Hank and collect evidence of Hank’s infidelity, the nosy Josh went above and beyond his task and sent someone to follow Hank discreetly.Therefore, Josh knew what Hank was doing as soon as Hank left his office.When Zachary was with Serenity in the evening, he took the time to send a message to Josh, telling Josh to look for an opportunity to fuel the flames so Hank and Jessica could make substantial progress. That way, they would have evidence of Hank betraying his marriage.This way, Liberty would get the upper hand from a moral point of view when she filed for divorce.Now that Hank and Jessica finally slept together, was it a natural course of events or was it the result of Zachary’s intervention?Zachary could not determine which one
Zachary locked the front door and pulled Serenity out. As he walked, he explained, “My friend found out that your brother-in-law is now at Grand Hotel, which is owned by the Stone Group. I work at York Corporation, and the two companies aren’t on good terms with each other. I don’t want people from the Stone Group to recognize me, so I painted half of my face black. No one will be able to recognize me now.”Serenity glanced at the birthmark that he drew.Even when they were in a rush, Zachary could think of this detail, which showed how meticulous he was.No wonder Zachary could be a white-collar executive at York Corporation.Serenity finally believed Grandma May’s praises for Zachary that he was a very attentive man.Of course, Zachary would only be attentive if he cared about someone.“Wash it off with soap water when we come back later.”Serenity ran a bookstore that sold stationeries, so she knew how to clean marker stains on the skin.Zachary wanted to say that she could
Jessica leaned against Hank’s chest and said softly, “Hank, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have answered that call. I was afraid she was looking for you for something urgent.”“It’s okay. I can’t keep this hidden from her forever and have to tell her about our affair sooner or later, anyway. Since she already has some doubts, I’ll bring up the divorce when I get home.”Hank did not want Jessica to suffer any grievances.His heart had long been biased toward Jessica, and he no longer had any affection for Liberty. However, Hank put up with Liberty because he was taking into consideration his parents and son. Otherwise, he would have kicked Liberty out long ago.“Hank, will she get a cut of your assets if you two get divorced?”Jessica did not want Liberty to get a cut of Hank’s property.She wanted to see Liberty leave empty-handed.Liberty was away from the workforce for a few years, and her child was only two years old. She wanted to return to the workplace, but that would be quite dif
Hank whispered in Jessica’s ear, which made her smile.Fortunately, he was smart.Jessica was relieved that she could enjoy a lavish lifestyle after marrying him.Of course, she also had to put her guard up. After marriage, she would hold his salary card. He also promised to add her name to the title deed, so she would make sure that he did as he promised. Anyway, she would not follow in Liberty’s footsteps.“It’s actually very easy to make Liberty leave without a penny,” Hank said.“How?”Although Hank only had that bit of money, it was still better not to give Liberty anything. As long as Hank did not share his property with Liberty, Jessica would be able to reap the benefits.“Just make her choose between Sonny and dividing the property. She will definitely choose Sonny and leave empty-handed.”Jessica was disappointed after hearing this and said, “Are you willing to give up your son’s custody? He’s the only paternal grandson your parents have. Even if you’re willing to give
“It’s so late. Who’s banging on the door?” Hank muttered as he went to open the door with an irritated expression.When he opened the door and saw the chubby woman standing there, he was dumbfounded and looked shocked.Liberty was here!How did she know where he was?The couple looked at each other.Liberty saw his naked torso and thought about their relationship in the past ten years. It turned out that men could betray a woman so easily and quickly.After Hank came to his senses, he immediately looked grim and questioned Liberty. “Why are you here? Where is Sonny? It’s the middle of the night, so why did you leave Sonny alone?”“Hank, who banged on the door?”Before Hank finished berating Liberty, Jessica sashayed over.Jessica was wearing lingerie, and her hair was messy. Liberty wondered if the two just had sex because Jessica looked charming and sexy. There were even traces of their infidelity on Jessica’s neck.Even a fool would know what was going on in this situation.
Zachary said those words, but in his heart, he was thinking that he had to keep an eye on the younger generations of the major families in Wiltspoon, particularly those who stood out. He would make note of any promising boys, so that when he had a daughter, he could arrange for that boy to grow up alongside her. If they became childhood sweethearts, she would not have to marry far away. Of course, once he had a daughter, he would not want her to get married too early. He would still be fine even if she was unmarried at thirty.Zachary drove his beloved wife to the Stone residence. Audrey was walking in the yard with Patrick. The weather was nice today, and the temperature had risen a few degrees. Patrick had been ordered by Audrey to stay inside and avoid the cold wind, but he was now finally able to get out and walk around.Elisa had gone to Annenburg with Remy to celebrate Christmas. Anthony, afraid of his parents’ constant nagging to settle down, had bought a plane ticket abroad
“Duncan is a good man. Being with him, you will definitely be happy, Liberty. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness, growing old together, and may you have children soon.” After a pause, Hank added, “Or maybe don't have children, I'm afraid that if you have your own kids, you might not love Sonny as much.”He was still quite selfish. He hoped that Sonny would be Liberty’s only child. As long as Liberty and Duncan did not have children, the fortune and empire Duncan built would eventually become his son's legacy. Then again, thinking about Liberty’s current status, Hank sighed quietly, knowing that his selfish prayer would never come true. Liberty would definitely have another child. She would need a daughter to take her place and eventually take over the Fisher matriarchy in Jensburg.What if Duncan had a biological child? Would he still treat Sonny well?Hank was actually quite worried that if Duncan had his own child, he might not treat Sonny well. That was why, when he last s
“Go cook some food. It's rare for Hank to be resting at home, so don't say those unpleasant things in front of him. Honestly, if he hadn’t gone after Jessica, she wouldn't have ended up like this. As a married man, Hank shouldn't have pursued a young, innocent girl in the first place. Everything that happened to him is his own fault—it’s all self-inflicted.”Ever since Hank divorced Liberty, and after seeing how Liberty had turned her life around and was living a better life, Luke had changed a lot because of regret. It made him realize many things and change a lot.Olivia opened her mouth as if to say something, but said nothing in the end. After a heavy sigh, she stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare food for her husband and son.In the past, when Liberty was still part of the Brown family, every time Olivia came to her son’s house, she never had to cook. She only had to mention what she wanted to eat, and Liberty would prepare it for her. All she had to do was eat and still
“She lost the child when she fell on her own. That was our family’s flesh and blood, too!”Since Sonny did not live with the Browns, and despite her many objections, Olivia did not voice her criticisms toward Jessica when she was pregnant, out of consideration that Jessica was carrying the Brown family’s child.It was Jessica’s bad luck that she fell and lost the child, which made Olivia lose a grandson. If she had just one more grandson, she would not be waiting so eagerly for Sonny to return. It was all karmic retribution! “Mom, that's all in the past. I'm doing fine now. If the child wasn't meant to be, then it wasn't meant to be. They just didn't want to come into our lives. Anyway, Jessica is still my wife. I should go and see her. If I hadn’t corrupted her, she wouldn’t have ended up like this. It’s my fault, I ruined her.”When Jessica first became his secretary, she was still innocent and never thought of seducing him. It was he who fell for Jessica, and it was also he wh
Unfortunately, their regret and realization came too late. “I heard from Sonny that you and Mr. Lewis are getting married soon. When will the marriage be?”Olivia tried to make herself sound calmer. “We’ll be heading to the City Hall to complete the procedures later.”Olivia went silent. After some time, she said, “Oh, today? Congratulations, Liberty. I wish you both a happy marriage.”“Thank you.”Olivia initially had a lot of things to say. However, upon discovering Liberty and Duncan were getting their marriage license that day, the words got stuck in her throat. Saying anything was meaningless.Soon, Olivia hung up. Once the call ended, Luke, who had been sitting beside his wife, asked, “How did it go? Did Liberty agree to Sonny staying with us for a few days?”Olivia was still stunned and did not immediately reply to her husband’s question. At that moment, Hank came out of his room in his pajamas. When he saw his parents sitting on the sofa, he yawned and asked, “Wha
Serenity asked, “Duncan has no comments about it, right?”“No. He said that Hank would always be Sonny’s biological father. Sonny’s surname won’t be changed to Lewis as well. He’ll remain a Brown. That’s part of Hank’s and my divorce agreement.”Since Liberty had signed the agreement, she would keep her promise. No matter Sonny’s surname, the fact that he was a member of the Brown family would not change. If so, there was no point in changing his surname. “Duncan is so easygoing.”At that moment, Liberty’s phone rang.It was Olivia. When Liberty recognized her voice through the phone, she whispered to Serenity, “Speak of the devil. Olivia is calling me.”“What did you say, Liberty?”Olivia heard Liberty whispering but could not hear her clearly. She asked Liberty to repeat herself.“I was talking to my sister, Olivia. Why did you call?”It was still early in the morning. “You’re back from Jensburg, right, Liberty?”“Yes.”“That was what I heard. Look. The year is almo
“He doesn’t even want kids and said having Sonny was enough.”Duncan did not care about blood relations. Liberty believed him. He only cared about her. If Liberty had not had to manage the Fisher family, she probably would have taken more time to consider whether she wanted a second child. However, Duncan's love for her ran deep. She decided to try for another child so that he could have a child of his own. Liberty did not want to be selfish. She could not prioritize only herself and Sonny. She had to be considerate of Duncan as well. “By the way, there’s something that I need your help with.”Serenity said, “Oh you, don’t sound like a stranger. We’re sisters. I’m ready to help with whatever you need.”“I have to go to Jensburg next year. I think I’ll leave Sonny here in Wiltspoon for his studies. I’ll ask for Sonny’s opinion again once my situation in Jensburg is stable. If he wants to move to Jensburg to live with me, I'll bring him over.“If he says no, I’ll need y
“Morning, Liberty. The housekeeper said you weren’t out yet, so I didn’t want to disturb you.”Serenity stood and smiled when she saw Liberty enter. “I woke up when you arrived.”Liberty whispered, “Sonny is still asleep. Let’s go downstairs. You can accompany me on a walk outside too.”“What time are you and Duncan meeting?”Serenity was worried that Liberty would be late. Liberty said, “We still have to wait until the City Hall opens. Duncan and I agreed to meet at nine. It’s still early.”The three adults exited the child’s bedroom and went downstairs. Zachary remained in the house while Liberty and Serenity went on a stroll in the garden. Liberty’s villa initially belonged to Zachary. Although he sold it to Liberty, it was also considered a gift. She was the one who insisted on paying and refused to accept it as a gift. Therefore, Zachary accepted some money from her so that she would take it. The villas Zachary owned were never small. They usually came with garden
“As expected of a child’s skin. It’s so smooth,” said Serenity. “Catch me if you can, Isaac…”Sonny spoke in his sleep and even giggled. He dreamt of him and Isaac playing tag. When Isaac started running after him, he quickly turned to escape while laughing. He did not realize that he was dreaming. “I have two dads, Isaac…”Sonny spoke again.Serenity laughed and told Zachary, “Sonny must’ve had a blast yesterday. Even his sleep talking is related to playing.”She pinched Sonny’s face lightly. “You do have two dads, Sonny. They love you a lot, so you have double the love.”Serenity spoke gently, regardless of whether he could hear her. She bent over and left a soft kiss on his cheek. “That’s why you must be happy. I wish you a carefree life ahead.”She hoped he would grow up healthily and be worry-free. Sonny was in a deep sleep and did not reply to her. Liberty watched them from the door with an affectionate gaze. She felt content. Zachary and Serenity had a st