Chapter 63
**Chapter 63 p>
Serenity informed her sister that she and Zachary would be joining them for dinner that evening.
Once Serenity hung up with Liberty, Zachary inquired, “How do you feel about your extended family p>
Serenity responded candidly, “Not well p>
She continued, “My parents tragically died in a car accident when I was just ten. After that, neither side of the family stepped up to care for my sister and me. Yet, all of them were eager to claim a portion of the insurance payout p>
“Since my uncles had no legitimate claim to the money, they pressured my grandparents to extract more from us p>
“My dad was the youngest son, which meant he didn’t receive much attention from the family. My grandparents consistently favored my uncles instead. They decided we didn’t deserve family support in exchange for a larger slice of the insurance payout p>
“In total, they took six hundred thousand dollars and signed a contract giving up any care or responsibility for us. My grandparents even moved into the two-story house that my parents had built shortly before their passing p>
“They argued that the house legally belonged to them now that my parents were gone p>
“My grandparents went as far as to say we wouldn’t need a house because we could simply find a man to rely on when we grew up. We were just kids at the time, and none of the adults supported us, so my grandparents occupied the house p>
“During our school holidays, we would occasionally return for short visits, but we were met with judgmental glares, as if we were there to take it away from them. Liberty mentioned that our parents’ names are on the title deed p>
“When our grandparents pass away, we will file a lawsuit to reclaim the property. We refuse to let our uncles have it p>
Zachary offered, “If you need any assistance for the court proceedings, just let me know. I have connections with many lawyers.” York Corporation had its own legal team, and Serenity felt a wave of gratitude wash over her.
“I’ll reach out if I need anything,” she replied. It would likely be necessary in the future.
A few years prior to her grandparents’ passing, Serenity and Zachary were likely facing divorce by the time the legal disputes unfolded. “Did your mom’s family support you at all?” It was common for maternal grandparents to have a softer spot for their grandchildren.
With a hint of bitterness, Serenity replied, “My mom had a tough life. She went through the system several times before being adopted. Since she wasn’t my grandparents’ biological child, they felt obligated to raise her without showering her with love p>
After her mother passed away, her grandparents seemed to believe they gained nothing from raising her. “So, they withdrew four hundred thousand dollars from the insurance payout, leaving Liberty and me with only two hundred thousand. Nobody looked out for us p>
“No one championed our cause. Everyone was just looking out for their own interests. If it weren’t for the village officials, Liberty and I might have ended up with nothing.” Serenity’s gaze drifted away as she reminisced, sadness washing over her. Tears began to roll down her cheeks; the passage of time had not been gentle. Even after fifteen years, she struggled to move past these memories. Blood ties can often complicate emotions.
Her maternal side of the family was distant, as her mother was adopted, but on her father’s side, the Hunts were her true relatives. Unfortunately, they showed no compassion towards the sisters.
It took Serenity a while to regain her composure. She spoke softly, “Now my Grandmom is ill. She’s in the early stages of liver cancer and wants to receive treatment at a hospital here in the city. My cousin even had the audacity to call me and ask if I could organize everything. He also told me to cover the medical expenses p>
Cancer treatment is notoriously expensive. “Even if I had the funds, I refuse to squander them on her. After everything they’ve done to Liberty and me, they expect me to pay? The most I can offer her is a thousand dollars for food.” She was firm in her stance; they would receive no more from her.
Zachary responded calmly, “You really don’t need to hand over a single penny if you don’t feel like it. They won’t appreciate your generosity p>
He continued, “Instead, they might label you as stingy and ungrateful. Honestly, you won’t feel at ease giving them anything more. It’s all for nothing, as you can’t come out on top in this situation. Just forget about them. They treated you poorly years back, so don’t allow them to act like they’re in the right p>
It was clear that Zachary had to be resilient to lead York Corporation effectively.