Chapter 1169


    Elisa looked at Liberty. Once she was sure that the Browns were here to go on a family trip with Liberty


    and Sonny, Elisa’s straight face softened into a smile. The smile was for Sonny, not for the Brown


    family.


    The sight of the Browns made Elisa sick to her stomach.


    “Since you want to go to the zoo, I’ll go with you, Sonny.”


    Elisa readily said yes to her nephew’s invitation.


    It had not registered in Sonny’s head that his parents were divorced. Liberty had a heart of gold. She


    never spoke ill about Hank in Sonny’s presence despite her grievance with her in-ws.


    No matter what, Sonny and Hank were father and son.


    It would not do Sonny any good to hate his father. On the contrary, it would impede Sonny’s mental


    growth.


    Half an hourter, Serenity, Liberty, and Sonny took a ride in Elisa’s car as they set out for the zoo.


    Serenity’s two bodyguards took another car and tagged behind.


    The Browns were split into two cars, and they drove behind the bodyguards.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Jessica nagged the whole way, telling Hank off, “We’re trying to spend some time with Sonny, but your


    mom called your sister’s family to join us, and now Sonny invited a few more people.


    “Tell me. How are we supposed to bond with Sonny?”


    With the Hunt sisters around, Sonny would only hang around his mom and aunt.


    As a stepmother, Jessica had to step back and away from them.


    Sitting in the back seat, Mrs. Brown picked up on Jessica’s nagging and said, “What’s wrong with


    asking them to go on the family outing? We’re not spending your money. You can stay away from them


    if you don’t like them. You don’t have to make a fuss throughout the journey.”


    Jessica turned around and snapped back, “Remember what you said. Don’t let them spend Hank’s


    money. They have more money than Hank now.”


    “Even if we do spend money, it’s Hank’s and not yours. You’re spending my son’s money now, you


    know.” The thing Mrs. Brown could not get over was her son handing the purse strings to Jessica.


    “Hank and I are married. His money is my money.”


    “Your money should be Hank’s too then. Why didn’t you contribute to the home renovation? You were


    on a high ie when you were working. I bet your money went to your mom.”


    “It’s none of your business. I’m free to give the money to anyone and spend however I want.”


    “Spendthrift!”


    With the mother–inw and daughter–inw bickering, Hank cried in distress, “Cut it out, Jessica.


    That’s my mom. You don’t always have to win. Stop fighting. We’re going on a trip. We’re supposed to


    have some fun.”


    Hurt, Jessica said, “Babe, you’re taking your mom’s side, but it’s your mom’s fault. Can’t we just go on


    our family trip? Why must your sister’s family be involved too? Your sister always takes advantage of


    you. I bet we’ll foot the bill for her today.”


    “How much can the tickets cost? Just leave it.”


    Hank was annoyed.


    Jessica pouted and shut up.


    She looked out the window sulkily and refused to engage further with her inws.


    By the time everybody arrived at the zoo and parked the cars, Jessica still had a sour face. She tucked


    her purse under her arm when it came to getting the entrance tickets. Hank had to pay for his sister’s


    family.


    They could forget getting money out of her.


    Unlike the Browns, Serenity’s group did not experience any problems.


    They bought the tickets and took Sonny in.


    Sonny was over the moon. The moment he stepped into the zoo, he was running wild with the other


    children. He did not need his mother to hold his hand.


    The boy was amazed by people riding by in horse carriages.


    “Don’t take off so fast, Sonny. Don’t wander off on your own. Don’t leave your mom and aunts behind.”


    Catching up to her nephew, Serenity pulled Sonny back and urged, “There are a lot of people here.


    You’re a small boy. You never know when you’ll get lost in the crowd. Won’t you be scared if you can’t


    see your mom and aunts?”


    Sonny was too excited to process whatever his aunt was saying. With his eyes zoning in on a


    children’s yground nearby, he eximed, “Aunt Ser, I want to go there.”


    He then broke free from Serenity’s grasp and bolted right ahead.