Chapter 652
Chapter 653
Alice showed Serenity around the residence before excusing herself for a nap.
“Go take your break, Alice. I’ll stay here and enjoy the view,” Serenity replied.
She didn’t want to return inside the house; she preferred the natural scenery of the yard over the lavishly furnished interiors.
Noticing a few garden patches along the fence, she guessed that her aunt must have done the gardening herself.
Although Mrs. Stone was the matriarch of a wealthy and powerful family, she grew up in an orphanage. It made sense that she would take a hands-on approach to gardening after experiencing poverty and retiring from a desk job.
“Are you cold? I can have someone fetch you a jacket if you are,” Alice offered.
Serenity and Liberty hadn’t brought extra clothes since they were only there for a meal, thinking they would return home afterward for a good chat.
However, Mrs. Stone had planned for them to stay for a few days, so Serenity would need to return later in the evening to bring a change of clothes.
“Thank you, Alice, but I’m not chilly,” Serenity assured her.
Alice smiled. “Well, enjoy yourself. I’m going for a nap; I’ll feel fatigued if I don’t stick to my routine p>
Serenity nodded in understanding, recognizing that she too had a similar daily routine.
Once Alice went back inside, Serenity pulled out her phone and opened WhatsApp. Upon seeing Zachary’s profile picture, she noticed he had changed it to a photo of their wedding rings.
Serenity chuckled as her frustration with him began to fade.
She pressed the button for a video chat.
Zachary answered quickly.
His deep, hoarse voice reached her ears, which somehow pained Serenity to hear.
and she went out for drinks at a bar while he was away on business. He hurried back the same day to check on her, then quickly returned to work afterward.
“Didn’t you sleep well?” he asked.
“It’s not that. I might have caught a cold,” she replied.
His health had suffered because he often took cold showers during winter. Serenity scolded him, “You better bundle up and eat your meals on time. I was fine. I just went out for a few drinks to unwind p>
Zachary stared at her for a moment before saying, “I’m sorry, Seren. This was all my fault. I was overly sensitive and self-centered, without considering your feelings. You’re an independent woman; I’ve known that from the beginning. Yet, I kept trying to make you depend on me completely to satisfy my pride as a man. That was my mistake p>
“I was being petty and narrow-minded. You should yell at me if I make the same mistake again, but please don’t go drinking at a bar, okay? You can’t handle your liquor well. You threw up and cried after getting drunk. I felt terrible and sorry that you were upset p>
“I’ve experienced the pain of a splitting headache after a night of drinking. It was so bad that I never want you to go through it p>
Serenity looked at him quietly through the video call. His apologies and reflections reminded her of their earlier phone call. Her voice softened. “Zachary, I thought I didn’t need to tell you everything since I could handle it myself, but your strong reaction shows that you care about me p>
“We can be a bit more patient and understanding with each other. We got married without truly knowing or loving one another. I can’t promise we won’t fight again, but I can assure you that we can take a few days to cool off and calmly discuss any issues when they arise p>
The fight had left the couple feeling mentally drained.
Scars and bruises. Marriage was intended to last a lifetime. The journey was lengthy, and along the way, conflicts, silent treatments, and misunderstandings often crept in.