Chapter 3


    “I will, Nana.”


    Serenity casually responded.


    Although Grandma May was nice to her, Zachary was her blood rtive while Serenity was only rted


    to the family by marriage. Serenity found it hard to believe that the Yorks would stand by Serenity during


    a conflict between the couple.


    Such was the case with her sister’s inws.


    Pre-marriage, the inws were nothing but good to Serenity’s sister to the point their birth daughter was


    jealous.


    It was a different story post-nuptial. Every time Serenity’s sister got into a disagreement with the


    husband, her mother-inw would get on Serenity’s sister’s case about being a bad wife.


    In short, the son was always family while the daughter-inw remained as an outsider.


    “You must be heading to work, so I should get out of your hair. I’ll get Zack to get you home for dinner


    tonight.”


    “Nana, I’m closing the shop prettyte at night. I probably won’t be able to make it. Can we reschedule


    for the weekend?”


    The school was off on weekends. Since the bookshop’s livelihood depended on students, business was


    slow on days when school was out. She would have time and no need to set up shop during such


    asions.


    “Sure.”


    Grandma May thoughtfully added, “The weekend, it is. Go on with your work then.”


    The olddy hung up the call.


    Instead of heading straight to the shop, Serenity sent a text message to her best friend, Jasmine Sox,


    that she would make it back before thest school bell rang.


    With one major milestone ticked off her list, Serenity had to let her sister know and move out of her


    ce.


    About ten minutester.


    Serenity arrived at her sister’s home.


    Her brother-inw had gone to work while her sister was hanging clothes out to dry on the balcony.


    Seeing that Serenity was home, her sister expressed her concern. “Why are you back at this hour,


    Seren? Is the shop closed today?”


    “I’ll go when it’s busy in the afternoon. Is Sonny awake yet?”


    Sonny was Serenity’s nephew. The boy was currently in his Terrible Twos.


    “Not yet. The house won’t be this quiet if he’s awake.”


    Serenity asked aboutst night as she helped with theundry.


    “Seren, your brother-inw isn’t trying to kick you out. He’s simply under a lot of stress. It’s not like I’m


    working.”


    Liberty rified for her husband.


    Serenity kept to herself, knowing well that it was her brother-inw’s covert attempt to throw her out.


    Her brother-inw earned a lot as a manager in a firm. Liberty met him in college and was working in the


    same firm when theyter got married. After marriage, the man lovingly said to Liberty, “I’ll take care of


    you. Just stay at home and rest. I don’t want you to be tired when the babyes around.”


    Believing she had found the right man; Liberty quit her job and became a housewife. She gave birth to a


    lovely son a year into the marriage and had no time to dress up between caring for a child and managing


    housework. Liberty paid no thought to watch her figure, nor could she break free from her routine and


    return to the workce.


    Fast forward three years, Liberty went from a young and beautiful woman to an overweight and unkempt


    housewife with no time to spare for herself.


    Serenity was five years younger than her sister. Their parents passed away from a car ident when


    Serenity was ten. Since then, Serenity and Liberty only had each other.


    Thepensation from their parents’ ident would have been enough for the sisters toplete their


    studies, but the grandparents from both sides of the family wanted a piece of it. With what was left, the


    sisters had to scrimp and save to pull through college.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Since the grandparents proceeded to hog the family home, Serenity and her sister resorted to renting.


    Their renting days were finally over when Liberty walked down the aisle.


    Liberty absolutely adored Serenity and talked to her then husband-to-be about the living arrangement


    before marriage. The man was quick to say yes about taking Liberty and Serenity as a one-package


    deal, but his resentment was beginning to rear its ugly head.


    “I’m sorry, Liberty. I’m a burden to you.”


    “No, Seren. Don’t think that way. Mom and Dad left us too soon. I’m all you got.”


    Serenity was deeply moved. As a child, Serenity could always count on her sister, but now it was her turn


    to be Liberty’s rock.


    After a brief silence, Serenity took out the marriage license and showed it to Liberty. She said, “I’m


    married, Liberty. I just signed the papers and came back to let you know. I’ll be packing up and moving


    out in a bit.”


    “You got married?!”


    Liberty’s voice turned high pitch, almost to a screech.


    Staring at Serenity in disbelief, Liberty snatched the marriage license for a closer inspection. There was


    her sister’s name alongside a stranger’s name on the papers. Attached was a photo of the newlyweds.


    “What’s this about, Serenity? I thought you didn’t even have a boyfriend.”


    The man in the photo was good-looking, but his piercing eyes and callous lines along his facial features


    were telltale signs that he would not be the easiest person to get along with.


    While on the way back, Serenity had a story all thought out. She answered, “I have been in a rtionship


    for quite some time. His name is Zachary. He was always busy with work, so he could never make time


    toe meet you.


    “He proposed, and I said yes. Then, we went to get our marriage license at City Hall. He’s a great man,


    Liberty. He’s good to me. Don’t worry. I’ll have my happily-ever-after.”


    Liberty had a hard time buying the story.


    She had never heard of a boyfriend in Serenity’s life. Yet, thetter was telling her now that she got a ring


    on her finger.


    Serenity must have overheard the fightst night. Upset, Liberty teared up and remarked, “Seren, I told


    your brother-inw you paid for groceries. Feel free to stay with us.


    “There’s no need to rush to marry or move out.”


    Liberty bet Serenity had not known her boyfriend for long. Otherwise, Serenity would not have waited


    until now to tell her.


    The sudden decision to get a marriage license was because Liberty’s husband believed Serenity


    overstayed her wee. Serenity was in a hurry to give herself away before Liberty’s marriage was on


    the rocks.


    With a smile, Serenityforted her sister. “Liberty, you got nothing to do with it. My rtionship with


    Zachary is very strong. I got my happy ending. You should be happy for me.”


    Liberty could not stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks.


    Serenity helplessly embraced her sister until Liberty cried her heart out and calmed down. Serenity made


    a promise to Liberty. “I’ll visit you often, Liberty. Zachary’s house is not far from yours in Brynfield. It takes


    me ten minutes on the e-bike.”


    “What’s the situation with his family?”


    As the marriage was sealed, Liberty had no choice but to ept it. She went on to dig further about her


    new brother-inw.


    Serenity did not know much about the Yorks. Although she had known Grandma May for three months,


    Serenity never pried into the family’s private affair and often lent an ear to Grandma May. All she knew


    was that Zachary was the oldest in the family and had a lot of younger brothers including cousins.


    Zachary had a job in one of Wiltspoon’s finestpanies. He was doing well for himself as he owned a


    house and car. Serenity told the little information she knew to her sister.


    Having heard that Zachary had no debt on the house, Liberty asked, “That’s his prenuptial property.


    Seren, can you get him to add your name to the title deed?”


    At least, Serenity would be covered if her name was on the deed.