After calling Zachary, Serenity told her sister that she would be going back to Brynfield in the evening to have a talk with him before returning to the rented apartment.Liberty said, “That’s fine. It doesn’t matter how late you are. I’ll leave the door open for you.”After the phone call, Serenity did not go back to the store immediately. She walked alone on the streets along the river in front of the school.Her mind slowly calmed down as the cold wind blew.The most important problem in front of them was not the question of whether she was angry or not, but the reality gap between them.As she walked, she realized that she had walked quite a ways. She stopped and turned to walk back.When she turned around, she saw that Jasmine was following her from afar. She paused before walking toward her friend.“I’ll get over it.”Jasmine smiled. “I know you will. I just figured that I should follow you so I can hear you if you shout if you need anything.”Serenity looked at Jasmine
Serenity held the watering can in her right hand and raised it when she turned to look at him. She was showing him that she was using her right hand.She injured her left hand.“It’s tiring if you only use one hand too. I told Mrs. Lane to take good care of these flowers. You don’t have to worry about them.”Zachary took the watering can from her hand and did not allow her to water the flowers. He pulled her to the swing chair and pressed her down to the seat. “Here’s your favorite spot. Just sit here and swing. I’ll go into the house and get you a coat.”“I’m not cold.”However, Zachary went inside as if he did not hear her. He brought her a jacket and wanted to put it on her, but she refused, so he draped it over her legs instead. That way, she would not feel cold when sitting on the swing chair.“I’ll go cook now. Call me if you need anything. Don’t touch the water.”Zachary exhorted her again and returned to the kitchen to prepare their dinner.Serenity sat on the swing cha
“I was really angry when I first found out that you lied to me... Forget it. Let’s put that aside for now. Look at yourself. It’s like your hair is standing on end. I’m still angry, and I haven’t calmed down yet, but everyone is speaking up for you and pleading your case.”Even her best friend, who was on her side, spoke up for him.“You have the right to be angry, Seren. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have concealed it from you for so long. I couldn’t even confess to you in person and chose another way to let you find out... It was Remy who suggested that!”If Remy were here, he would say, “You were the one who came to me for advice.”After a moment of silence, Serenity said, “In the end, it’s because you don’t trust me enough.”“Seren, I admit that I used to distrust you and guard against you. I thought you were after my money. Now, I absolutely believe in your character.”Serenity was silent again and looked up at him. With a heart split between hesitance and certainty, she aske
“What I mean is, give me a little time. I’ll try to see if I can fit into your world. If I can’t, I won’t force myself, and you shouldn’t force me either. An unequal marriage won’t last.“You just fell in love with me, so your feelings are especially strong now. You think you can accept everything about me, and you don’t care what my status is.“As time passes, you’ll feel that I can’t help you with anything. We have nothing in common. I won’t understand if you talk about finance, stocks, and investment. If you take me to socialize with your friends, other ladies will be able to make conversation easily with you all, but what can I talk about to you?“Do I talk about the weather? Or ask what you had for lunch?“Eventually, you’ll feel that I’m a disgrace, and that I’m not as good as your friends’ wives. It’s because they’re on the same level as you with similar social circles, so they share similar insights and conversation topics.“You can say that no one will dare do anything to
Serenity also admitted that her in-laws were very good people. However, she could tell that her mother-in-law was not too satisfied with her.There was no conflict yet between Serenity and her mother-in-law, but as they spend more time together in the future, would she experience the same thing her aunt did in her youth?What Serenity wanted was to be truly acknowledged by her in-laws!“Let’s leave it at this, Zachary. It’s late now. You should rest early. I’m going back.”Serenity suppressed her anger and did not quarrel with Zachary. She could not convince him, and he could not understand what it was that she wanted.It was a waste of breath to continue the discussion.Serenity felt powerless.She felt that if they continued talking, they would just end up quarreling again. In fact, the fight would most likely escalate and worsen their relationship further.She came here to settle their issues, not to fight with him.Zachary stood up and grabbed her arm, saying in a low voic
No matter how slowly he drove, the car soon reached Liberty’s place.Liberty did not want to be too far away from her sister when she was looking for a rented place, so the apartment was nearby Brynfield.Zachary stopped the car.“We’re here.”Serenity opened the car door, said goodbye to Zachary, and got out of the car.“I’ll take you upstairs.”“No need. You go back. Drive safe and have a good rest at home tomorrow. You don’t look too good.”Zachary’s dark eyes burned into her, and he asked in a low voice, “Seren, you still care about me, right?”He tried to hold her hand, but she simply turned and entered the building.Zachary stood at the entrance and watched her go up. In the end, he did not walk her to the door.He had his pride too. He had bowed to her several times, but never once she accepted...After a long time, he turned and went back to the car. He called Josh and Duncan and asked them to go to Neon Nights for a drink.After the call, he drove away and went str
After Zachary swept away all the bottles and glasses, he slumped down on the table and mumbled, “Serenity, Serenity... It’s not like it has to be you...”Josh and Duncan did not hear what he said clearly at first.He murmured repeatedly, and it was only when Josh leaned into his mouth did he hear Zachary say, “It’s not like it has to be you, Serenity.”“What is he saying?” Duncan asked curiously when he saw Josh’s odd look.Josh stood up straight, looked at the drunken Zachary, and said to Duncan, “Since his sudden marriage, he has gotten drunk several times because of Serenity.”In the beginning, when Zachary and Serenity signed the agreement, Zachary was depressed at Serenity’s indifferent attitude. Back then, he also asked his two friends out for a drink and got drunk, and it was Jim who sent him home. That was also the first time Jim appeared in front of Serenity as a substitute driver.“He said ‘it doesn’t have to be Serenity’. Hah!”Josh laughed at his drunk friend. “Why d
“I’ll send him to Serenity’s place. She’ll take care of him.”Josh wanted to help his best friend out.Duncan reminded him, “Zachary is drunk and spewing nonsense. If he said those words he said earlier in front of Serenity, it would be adding insult to injury.”Josh paused. “I’ll send him to Wildridge Manor.”Duncan had no problem with that.The three of them left the bar. Duncan helped Zachary into Josh’s car, said a few words, and watched Josh drive away. Then, he called for a cab for himself.On the way back to York’s residence, Zachary occasionally yelled a few times. One moment, it was “Serenity, I love you. Don’t leave me.” The next moment, it was, “What else do you want from me? It’s not like I need you.”He kept repeating those words.It was a fight between his love and ego. His love prevailed one moment, and his ego the next.More than an hour later, Josh’s car arrived at Wildridge Manor.He called Grandma May in advance, so she waited for him at the entrance of the
“I just need your confirmation, Nana. Just one word. Is Imogen the Chameleon Fox?”“You should ask her. I’m not Imogen.”“Nana.”Dylan almost kneeled. “I regret my decision, Nana, okay? Can you tell me?”Grandma May poked his forehead. She said, “There’s nothing you can do to reverse time.“I might’ve been too bossy, Dylan. I chose you and your brothers’ wives without getting permission and forced you all to pursue them. I was in the wrong, not you.”Although she did it for the sake of her grandsons, it was considered overstepping. “Don’t say that, Nana. My brothers and I are willing to accept the choices you made for us. We’re blessed to have you to choose our future partners. Our parents are delighted as well.”His parents and uncles were glad and relaxed that they did not have to worry about the boys’ marriages. Grandma May had a good eye for people. The girls she chose were definitely outstanding. “Since you’re willing to accept my choice, why didn’t you do as I said
“I wasn’t this old when I chose Callum’s and Kevin’s wives. I still had energy, so I spent lots of time investigating the girls’ backgrounds. When it came to you, Peter, and Austin, I didn’t spend as much effort on background checks because I didn’t have the energy.“If Imogen is Silver’s student, it’ll only be more difficult to investigate her. It’s ‘the’ Silver we’re talking about. He’s in charge of the intelligence in the Imperial Force. He has the largest information network. Investigating his student is basically having a death wish.“Although he has retired, he has many successors. All of them have even surpassed him.“I’m bold, but I’m not gutsy enough to offend just anyone. How could I possibly offend the Imperial Force when I know just how formidable they are?“Now, we’re on good terms with the Imperial Force thanks to Zachary and Serenity’s close relationship with the Johnsons. Mr. Patrick is also the assistant of Serenity’s maternal grandmother. Those two connections gra
Dylan supported Grandma May as they walked back. He consoled her, “You have to look at it from another perspective, Nana. It’s only one day in the entire year that you’re unhappy, while you’re generally happy in the rest. Although you don’t have daughters or granddaughters, your sons and grandsons have married other families’ lovely daughters. “Don’t you feel great that other families’ daughters are accompanying you and treating you well?”Grandma May burst out laughing. “Now that you mention it, I do feel great. Your maternal grandmother must be the one who’s upset.”“Of course. Many people are envious of you, Nana.“For having such filial grandsons. The nine of us have never embarrassed you.”Grandma May smiled and said, “I feel like your lips are coated with honey, Dylan. Look at those sweet words coming out of them.”“I’m usually like this.”“Your words aren’t this sweet usually. Come. What do you want to tell me?”Grandma May knew everything, yet she pretended to be cluel
Since Serenity was also an owner of the villa, she assigned rooms to Hayden and Camryn before returning to the master bedroom. She kept feeling that something was missing as Zachary was not around.Carrying the baby bump around was tiring.Although Serenity was used to having Zachary by her side, she fell asleep quickly as she was exhausted. The night passed peacefully. New Year’s Eve had arrived. It was a busy day. After a family dinner in the evening, people who were close acquaintances of the Yorks went to Wildridge Manor to watch the fireworks. The atmosphere was lively. However, fun times would always go by quickly. Soon, it was the second day of the new year. It was the day when the York family’s daughters-in-law would visit their families. The fact that their families resided in Wiltspoon made the trip convenient. Zachary, Serenity, Liberty, and Duncan went to the Stones’ residence. Since Audrey was Serenity and Liberty’s aunt, they would visit the Stone
While Grandma May and her granddaughters-in-law had settled down, Zachary and his two brothers were still waiting for their wives. As the sky was getting darker, Zachary could not help but give Serenity a call. “Why are you and Nana not back yet, Seren?”“We won’t be going back tonight, babe. Nana said we’ll return after breakfast tomorrow. We’re staying in your villa in the high-end neighborhood now.”Zachary replied, “I already had a bad feeling when Nana brought you guys out.”As expected, Nana had “kidnapped” their wives.Serenity laughed. “Go to bed early. We’re singing now. Hayden is a pretty good singer.”“You should rest earlier. Don’t stay up too late. You’re still pregnant.”Zachary reminded her.“Mm. I will. I’ll hang up now. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”“Okay. Sonny came over this evening and asked where you were. I said you went shopping, and he said why you didn’t wait till he came and if you didn’t miss him.”Serenity smiled. “He called me afterward and told
Grandma May brought her daughters-in-law to Zachary's villa. The butler did not go home to celebrate the new year. Instead, he had brought his family over upon obtaining Zachary’s permission. Sam was a disciplined person. Although he had brought his family over, he would still watch over the house properly and not let his family enter the main house.He was Zachary’s butler and had his own quarters. He did not live in the main house. Sam was surprised to see Grandma May and her granddaughters-in-law coming over late at night.“Have you all come by yourself, missus?”Sam opened the gates for them and asked Serenity, who had lowered her window. He was worried that Mr. York might have made Mrs. York angry and that she had come over to escape him. It would be New Year’s Eve tomorrow. Logically speaking, Serenity should have been at Wildridge Manor. However, upon seeing Grandma May, Camryn, and the rest, Sam finally figured it out. Grandma May must have been feeling mischievo
“Dylan didn’t really disobey you, Nana. It’s simply because his partner is Imogen.“If it weren’t for Zachary telling me, I wouldn’t have thought Imogen would have that many identities. She hid all of them well. Dylan couldn’t find a thing even after investigating it for a long time.”Serenity smiled and added, “As expected of Silver’s best student. She’s definitely different.”Grandma May was being extremely nice to Dylan.She had chosen Silver’s student for him. The legendary masters and their students were the true big bosses. Any one of them could rival Julian. “Dylan was trapped by his dream. He couldn’t escape it.”Grandma May sighed. “I don’t know what happened. He never met Sugar before. I can’t believe he dreamt of her before I gave him a picture of her. He even had the same dream several times.“Maybe they were just fated to be together.”Camryn smiled. “It must be fate. Maybe they were husband and wife in their past lives.”“You’re amazing, Nana. How did you know
Once Dylan arrived home, he went looking for his nana first. Grandma May was not in the manor. She was in one of the houses at the foot of the hill. Dylan did not search the houses one by one. He simply gave her a call. Grandma May picked up the call after some time. “You’re back, Dylan? I thought you weren’t planning to come back.”She chuckled. “How are things going? Have you found your little fox? Your elder brothers have already succeeded in getting their women. The three of you are the only ones left.“Peter is quicker than you. He said he could bring his fiancée back in a few months. Austin is probably doing better than you too. They aren’t you.”“When are you coming back, Nana? I have something to tell you.”Dylan requested Grandma May politely as he did not want other people to be present.Grandma May could roughly guess what Dylan wanted to do. She said, “I’m not in the manor. I’m out shopping with Serenity and won’t be back so soon. If you have something to say,
“The wind is strong, Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Please return home. We’ll be heading back as well.”After Liberty took everything her ex-in-laws had prepared for Sonny, she said goodbye to them, and under their gazes, she walked toward Duncan and Sonny, who were waiting for her.Sonny had already gotten off Duncan’s shoulders.Duncan had also returned to his wheelchair and held Sonny in his arms. They waited for Liberty to return. When Duncan saw the bags in Liberty’s hand, he told Sonny, “Help Mom hold some of the stuff, Sonny.”“Okay.”Sonny slid down and went to grab his luggage. He could pull the luggage along since it had wheels.Liberty let him.On the other hand, Duncan took some bags from Liberty’s hands and placed them on his thighs. He said, “Why are there so many things? I remember there wasn’t this much when we sent Sonny over.”“Dad bought me new clothes and toys. I really can’t take all the toys, so some of them were left in Dad’s house. I can play with them the next t