After all, Duncan started noticing Liberty only because of Zachary.Zachary and Serenity suddenly got married, and Liberty became Zachary’s sister-in-law. For his friend’s sake, Duncan undercharged Liberty for the repair fee when she scratched his car.He knew that his friends had misunderstood him for having a crush on Liberty.However, he could not be bothered to offer an explanation. The more he tried to do so, the more suspicious he would appear; he would come off as defensive.When the men joined, Zachary ordered two bottles of wine. Duncan did not drink because he had to drive later while Josh and Zachary drank a little without getting themselves drunk.After their meal, everyone was ready to leave when Josh suddenly said, “Zachary, Duncan, how am I supposed to go home? I can’t drive ’cause I drank.”Duncan knew in an instant that Josh was doing this on purpose because the latter wanted Jasmine to bring him home.“I’m busy, so I’ll leave first,” Duncan quickly said and sli
“It might be my mom.”Zachary got up and said, “I called her after you fell asleep last night and asked her to come over to accompany you to buy an evening dress for the company’s annual dinner.”Upon hearing that, Serenity’s eyes snapped open. She sat up on the bed and said, “You go back to sleep. I’ll go get the door.”As she spoke, she quickly had a change of clothes and combed her hair.Zachary watched her as she moved swiftly and said, “When you go out, go to the kitchen first and put on an apron.”“Why?”“Just do as I say.”Zachary grinned. “Go on and get the door. Don’t keep your mother-in-law waiting.”Serenity turned to leave. After leaving the room, she followed Zachary’s instructions and went to the kitchen to get an apron. After putting it on, she jogged over to the door while calling out, “Coming.”The person standing in front of the door was indeed her mother-in-law, Tania.“Morning, Mom.”Serenity smiled sweetly and greeted her mother-in-law.Tania was carryi
“What time is it already? And he’s still not up?”“Zachary is always busy and has to work overtime for social engagements. Let him sleep a little longer.”Tania said, “It’s typical for him to work until midnight before coming home, and he still gets up early the next day for his morning run. He’s only lazy now because you’re here. Serenity, you shouldn’t spoil him. Whether it’s men or women, you’ll be the one suffering if you spoil them rotten.”“Mom, are you badmouthing me behind my back?”Zachary came out of the room dressed in a suit. He exuded a certain glow and looked dashing.However, he did not put on his suit jacket and his tie was not worn.He carried those in his hands.Tania got up and walked over. “You came out just as I called you lazy. It’s fortunate I wasn’t scolding you.“The weather has warmed up a bit these two days, but it’s still cold in the morning. Hurry up and put your jacket on so you don’t catch another cold, lest you tire out Serenity again.”Tania wa
Zachary’s words instantly ignited his mother’s anger.“Who said that a wife has to get up early to make breakfast for you? Who said that a wife has to clean up the house? It’s not natural at all. She doesn’t owe you anything and doesn’t need to serve you like a king. Zack, you said you learned from your father, but you couldn’t be more wrong about that.“You better correct yourself right now. Where did you learn those ideas from? All women who married into our family are spoiled by their husbands. You’re the only one who treats Serenity like a servant, and you dare say it’s only natural? Thank goodness I was the one coming over today. If your nana heard what you just said, she’ll knock you over with her cane and beat you half to death.“Serenity, Serenity!”After Tania scolded her son, she called out to Serenity, who was busy in the kitchen.Serenity quickly came out of the kitchen. “What’s wrong?”“Come here.”When Serenity approached Tania, the latter pulled off Serenity’s apr
Tania, who felt cheated by her son, deliberately treated Serenity well during breakfast. Her son got jealous and said bitterly, “Mom, was I adopted?”She gave him a sidelong glance and said, “This is how I treat my daughter and my son.”It was the brat’s fault for tricking her.Zachary was speechless.After the meal, Serenity sent Zachary off downstairs.“I actually have an evening dress, so there’s no need to buy a new one.”Serenity said to her husband, “Evening dresses are a little expensive, and I only wear one once a year. If I buy another, it’s just going to stay untouched at home. It’ll be a waste if I can’t wear it anymore. I think having one dress is enough, so there’s no need to buy a new one. We still need a lot of money to buy Christmas gifts.“You didn’t tell me about this earlier, and now you had Mom come over.”Zachary listened to his wife’s complaints. Before getting in the car, he gently brushed Serenity’s pretty nose and said, “Seren, I told you before that we
Tania had the intention to make her daughter-in-law the most dazzling woman in the room at the company’s annual dinner. The evening gown she selected for Serenity was the most beautiful one. Thanks to Serenity’s mien, she was able to flaunt the selling points of the dress.Tania stared at Serenity, who looked like a different person when she changed into the evening dress. She commented, “Seren, you bear a pretty decent aura. You’ll definitely become a celebrity if you’re willing to learn etiquette.”“Mom, my goal is to earn more money to buy a house. I’m not interested in becoming a celebrity. Celebrities have strong family backgrounds whereas I’m just a small bookseller who relies on collaboration with a school to earn a living. How would I dare dream of something that impossible?”“Zack already has two houses...”Honestly, Tania wanted to say but kept it to herself, ‘My son doesn’t have much of anything but money and houses.’“I want to buy a house in a school district in advan
Serenity and Tania got into the car with bags large and small before Serenity drove her mother-in-law home.Unbeknownst to Serenity, a luxury car came to a stop. The person in the car wound down the window to look at Serenity’s car in the distance now, and asked her daughter-in-law who was beside her, “Alice, was one of those two women Seren?”Alice nodded affirmatively.“It’s Seren.”“Was that woman with her the wife of the current head of the Yorks, Zachary’s mother?”Audrey’s eyes were very sharp.The York and Stone families did not see eye-to-eye. Audrey and Tania would oppose each other when they met, so Audrey could recognize Tania like the back of her hand.Just now, she saw her niece with Tania in the same car from a distance and urgently asked her daughter-in-law to stop so she could see clearly. It really was Tania!Why was her niece with Tania?“Mom, that person just looks like Mrs. York. She’s not her. I didn’t get a good look at her face since it’s a bit far away.
Tania rarely went out shopping. If she needed something, she would tell the brand to make a delivery straight to her home. However, the one time she came out today, she was seen by Audrey.Zachary could fool Serenity, but he could not fool Audrey.Serenity was still in the dark about these things and laughed when she heard Audrey’s words. “Could you give me a moment? I’m with my mother-in-law now. I’m sending her home first.”Audrey said, “You can ask your mother-in-law to join us since we haven’t met yet. Let’s get acquainted and have a meal together.”“I’ll ask what she thinks.”Serenity also felt that it was time to let her aunt and mother-in-law meet. The elder in her family who treated Serenity and her sister the best was their aunt.Tania kept an ear out for Serenity and her aunt’s conversation. Before Serenity could ask, she said, “Seren, it’s been a while since I shopped and we had a long day shopping today. My feet are sore from walking. I don’t want to stroll anymore. S
Despite this, lying in bed and enduring the pain, Caroline could not help but start to cry, feeling deeply wronged.When Darren came in and saw her crying, he walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently wiped her tears with a tissue.“They’re not worth your tears,” he said, his heart aching for her.Caroline sat up and buried herself in his arms. “Darren, you’re all I have now.”Darren held her tightly, his voice filled with tenderness. “I’ll always be by your side, no matter what happens, Ms. Caroline. Even if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you.“If you’re really hurting and need to cry, then cry. Let it all out.”It would also help her sever ties with the past and the family bonds that had caused her so much pain.Caroline did cry—a long, cathartic cry. It would be the last time. From now on, she and the Clarks would go their separate ways.Meanwhile, Hunter went to Justin’s house and called Jason’s wife, Ellie, over. He said to his two daughters-in-law, “By no
After a moment of silence, Hunter repeated the same line. “But you didn’t die, did you? You only got a little hurt, and it’s not even serious.”Caroline almost laughed in anger at this.Sure, she had not died. She had only been injured. Did that erase the fact that her brothers had tried to kill her, though?She retorted, “Dad, if I had tried to kill your three sons, but they didn’t die and only got a little hurt, would you say the same thing to them? Would you tell them it’s just a family dispute, ask them to forgive me, not to sue me, and not to send me to jail?”Hunter instinctively replied, "If you had the intent to kill, how could I let you continue down that path? Of course, I’d have to let you serve a few years in prison…“Carol, I’m old, really old. I only have the boys to rely on in my old age. Are you trying to leave me with no one to depend on in my later years?”Caroline said coldly, “I’ll provide for your living expenses. I’ll make sure you don’t starve. You can even
Darren did not let go even after being struck.Seeing Darren get hit, Caroline’s expression darkened. She coldly said to her father, “Dad, if you really want to kneel, go kneel at the hospital entrance and shout at the top of your lungs that your daughter is unfilial.“Tell everyone that your sons tried to kill your daughter, and your daughter refuses to forgive them, so you’re kneeling there to force her to forgive your sons.“Let’s see if I give in.”Hunter stopped struggling. After slapping Darren, he felt a pang of fear. He was afraid Caroline might retaliate by slapping him to avenge Darren. Fortunately, while Caroline was furious, she did not lay a hand on him.He began to cry. “Carol…” He wept bitterly.Darren released him, and Hunter sat on the sofa, sobbing, “Carol, I’m old. I have no income, my parents are long gone, and your mother is no longer here. I only have your three brothers to rely on.“If you send all three of them to prison, what will happen to me? Who w
Caroline hummed. “I do plan to visit Wiltspoon to see her sometime soon. I just don’t know if I’ll be kicked out when I get there.”“And I should visit Mr. Foster too. How is he, by the way?" Patrick was the longest-living person she had ever met. Back when she lived with her adoptive family in the countryside, the oldest people in town usually lived into their eighties, and few made it to ninety. Patrick was nearly a hundred years old. What was more, he could walk without support and even travel long distances with his old friends.Liberty replied, “He’s doing quite well. Aunt Audrey accompanies him on walks every day. When they don’t go out, he sits by the cradle and watches baby Elias for hours on end.”The bond between generations was strong. When Patrick looked at Clive’s son, Elias, he felt like he was looking at his great-grandson. As Tiara’s great-grandson, Elias was naturally like his own great-grandson, too.“Dr. Carden comes by periodically to check on him and adjus
Liberty had already called Audrey to inform her about what had happened and also mentioned it to Serenity.Knowing the Clark brothers had all been captured, Serenity felt thoroughly relieved and stopped worrying that her sister would run into trouble in Jensburg.She told Zachary that Caroline never let people down.Zachary did not comment.Caroline’s fever had completely subsided, but her coughing had worsened. The doctor had changed her prescription, but the effects were not immediate.When Liberty entered, Caroline was out of bed and walking around, supported by Darren.“Caroline, why are you out of bed?”Liberty scolded her, “Get back in bed and lie down. You’re injured. If you don’t rest properly and keep moving around, you’ll aggravate your wounds, and you’ll regret it.”She did not blame Darren, though. She knew Caroline always came first to him. He always followed her lead and was unable to influence her decisions.“I’ve been lying down all day. My back is sore, and I’m
The housekeeper replied, “Yes, sir.”They did not have much work in the first place, so they did not need to slack off. Once they were done with their work, they had tons of time to entertain themselves.Hunter rushed out the door with his car keys. Despite being over seventy years old, his driving skills were still quite good. Not needing to hire a driver, he drove himself straight to Jensburg.Upon arriving at the city, Hunter did not immediately go looking for Caroline. He was unaware that she had been injured.Instead, he went to meet his old friends to ask them to help him find out if anything had happened in relation to the Fisher family last night.After he finished speaking, one of his friends said, “We were about to ask you the same thing. Your three sons attacked your daughter with knives and even kidnapped her, intending to chop her up and feed her to the fish.“Luckily, that Mr. Fletcher, who works for your daughter, arrived with the police and rescued her, but she wa
The Queen family was well-educated and had few members. Sophia had heard of other families fighting over power, but Caroline’s experience shocked her the most. Maybe it was because the Queens was close to her. Sophia quite liked Caroline as well. “How could they… You’re their biological sister!”Caroline smiled bitterly. “Are you having a fever, Carol? Your face is red.”Sophia touched Caroline’s forehead. She said, “You’re burning up. Have you informed the doctor, Mr. Fletcher?”Darren replied, “The fever started at dawn. Ms. Caroline caught a cold. Her fever subsided after taking medication once, but it returned.“It’s time for her to take her medicine.”Sophia spotted the lunch boxes. She told Darren, “Go have your lunch, Mr. Fletcher. I can look after Carol.”“It’s okay, Mrs. Queen. I can eat on my own,” said Caroline embarrassedly. It was her first time feeling cared for by someone her mother’s age. Although Sophia was not part of her family, the lady treated her
Caroline looked toward Darren. She said, “In my younger days, I often caught colds and coughs when the weather was too cold. The coughing will last throughout the changing of seasons. Therefore, I’ve been looking after my health since I grew up.“My immune system strengthened a lot. I haven’t been coughing for years.“I’m not worried.”Caroline stared at Darren lovingly. “I have nothing to be worried about with you here.”Darren pinched her face lightly with affection. “I’m still sulking. I didn’t want you to risk yourself, yet I couldn’t stop you. I’ll only feel better once you recover.”He was Caroline’s assistant and had to heed her orders. Even if they were dating, he still had to follow her arrangements.“Okay. Don’t be angry. I won’t take risks like this again in the future. You’ll age quickly if you get angry frequently. If that happens, your hair might turn gray before I even grow old.“We promised to grow old together.”Under Caroline’s gentle coaxing, Darren’s expre
Darren became an orphan when he was only a few years old. After losing everything, he was collected and trained by the training center to be an all-rounder assistant. He could not remember how he lost his parents as he was too young back then. Since he had no memories, there was no pain.Nevertheless, he had seen others interacting with their parents. He knew parents should love their children. There were not many parents who would not shower their children with love. Ms. Caroline was too unlucky to have met one. “I don’t care. I don’t care about my dad at all.”Caroline asked, “Has my dad asked you to give him money? He doesn’t need money. He just wants to know about his sons’ conditions.“Having lived for so many years, he was probably aware of the consequences of his sons’ plan and had advised them not to do it. They didn’t listen to him, so he’s just hoping to get lucky and waiting for some news.”Hunter must have known that her brothers were going to murder her. Sinc