“Mr. Lewis?”
With Duncan staring at Liberty without blinking, Liberty skeptically called him back to earth.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Duncan said with a smile, “I guess I see you every day, so I don’t see the difference. I’m only realizing now that you’ve lost a lot of weight. You look good. You can give Lily a run for her money.”
Duncan was stunned by what came out of his mouth. Why was he comparing Liberty to Lily?
Liberty answered with a grin, “Thanks for the compliment, but I’m just an ordinary girl. Ms.
Harmon is beautiful.”
“Liberty, Lily is… the daughter of my mom’s best friend. She’s staying with me for the time being as she’s here on business. My mom loves her like a daughter. You know, we only have boys in my family. My mom doesn’t have a daughter, so she really likes girls.
It’s like how Grandma May looks forward to having a great–granddaughter. That’s how much my mom likes girls too. They’re the same.
“Lily is a little younger than me. We met before when we were younger, but I don’t remember anything about it. Since she’s a guest, I would sometimes make time for her, no. I mean, I went to an event with my mom, and my mom brought her along, so I had a dance with her. That’s all.”
For some reason, Duncan felt the need to explain to Liberty what he did with Lily last night.
He did not want Liberty to think that he and Lily were an item.
Truth be told, Liberty had no idea Duncan attended an event with Lily, much less they shared a dance together.
Serena did not tell her sister about this, but it was not like she had the chance to yet.
Her sister expressed her disapproval of her drinking last night the moment Serena woke up. Liberty had taken strides downstairs before Serena had the chance to chat about the event.
Liberty replied to Duncan, “Mrs. Lewis really embraces Ms. Harmon. It sounds like you and Ms. Harmon get along well. You should spend some quality time together. Ms. Harmon is a decent and fine young lady. She’s smart and capable too. I can tell she’s a career woman.”
Ms. Harmon was a good fit for Duncan.
Duncan was honest. “That’s true. Lily is a career woman, and she’s smart too. We do get along. Wait, I mean, Liberty, what are you trying to say? Do you want me to spend quality time with her? Do you think we’re a couple?”
Liberty gleefully answered, “We’re adults, Mr. Lewis. I’ve been there. I know your mom has been nagging you to get married. Mrs. Lewis takes a shine to Ms. Harmon, and Ms. Harmon hits it off with you and is now living with you. I think you know what your mom wants.
“No need to feel embarrassed about it. You’re single, and so is Ms. Harmon. You should take your relationship to the next level if things are going well between you two. Don’t miss out on a girl who Is good for you.”
Liberty gave advice to Duncan as someone who had been there and done that. “Mr. Lewis, you’re not getting any younger. You’re thirty–six years old. What’s wrong with dating? Don’t be picky. Ms. Harmon is a great lady and a good match for you.”
Duncan looked at Liberty.
He had reasons to believe that his mother possessed Liberty because Liberty was trying to put him and Lily together.
Duncan had no hard feelings toward Lily, but there was no chemistry for him to take the step forward.
“Liberty, did my mom say something to you?”
With his mind harking back to when Liberty first met Lily, Duncan had to ask.
He had an inkling that Mom had seen Liberty.
“No. Mrs. Lewis passed by my diner the other day and dropped in for a visit. We chatted a little. As a mom whose thirty–six–year–old son is still single, she is keen to talk about her son and wants to find girls for him. I get it.
“I’ll probably be worried like Mrs. Lewis is if Sonny turns thirty–six, and there are no girls in his life.
“Don’t blame your mom for nagging you, Mr. Lewis. That’s generally how parents are. You’ll understand us parents when you get married and have children.”
Duncan was at a loss for words.
A while later, he said, “You’re younger than me. Don’t talk to me like you’re older.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare. I’m just saying as someone who has been there. I’ve been through marriage, but you don’t even have a girlfriend. You don’t have the experience of sharing a life with someone else.”
Duncan was speechless.
“Do you really think Lily and I are suited for each other? Don’t you think she’s out for my position and wealth?”
“Lily’s family has a huge business. She’s the vice president of her family’s company, so I doubt she’s after your money. You have status, but so does she. It’s hard to believe that she’s out for your position and wealth. You two together will only be a union of power and wealth.”
Liberty gave Duncan a look like he was out of his mind. That question was a bolt out of the blue.
Mrs. Lewis was such a proud lady with high standards. The girl Mrs. Lewis picked for Duncan must be beyond amazing.
“I mean, I might be the better pick out of all the men Lily knows. That’s why she wants to get. together with me. It’s not that she likes me. I don’t believe she isn’t scared or disgusted by the scar on my face.”
While fixating on his face, Liberty answered with a smile, “Once you fall in love with Ms. Harmon, you’ll wobble your way to get cosmetic surgery to remove the scar before she even makes that request.”
Duncan replied, “Liberty, can you not say ‘wobble‘… I’m not a penguin.”
Liberty burst into laughter.
She believed Duncan put up his walls and had not put himself out there when it came to women. Duncan was wary and suspected ill intentions even from an heiress and career woman like Ms.
Harmon.
It was likely he had been single thus far due to his distrust toward women.
Someone poor like Liberty could never understand the mind of the wealthy.
“Mom, Dunc.”
Sonny was on the bicycle. He called out to the adults while riding, leaving the pinwheel between the bike handles to spin quickly. He happily freed a hand to grab the pinwheel, only for the bicycle to flip over when he let go. He fell onto the grass by the road.
“Sonny.”
A bunch of people ran over.
Duncan’s tall build and long legs came in handy as he sprinted ahead of the rest.
He first scooped Sonny up.
The little man took a nasty tumble after falling off his bike. He was frowning and on the verge of tears when Duncan picked him up.
“Where did you hurt yourself?” Liberty and Serena anxiously asked as they gathered around the boy.
Sonny turned around and extended his arms to his mother. With Liberty taking over, he pursed his lips and uttered, “Mom, I fell.”
“Let me see where you hurt yourself.”
Liberty put her son down.
The sisters bent down to check Sonny for injuries.
He was unscathed.
The boy had too much fun on the bike and was embarrassed by the first tumble. Hence, the reason tears filled his eyes.
Duncan held Sonny’s bicycle up. The front wheel and basket were crooked from the crash.
“My bicycle is broken.”
Sonny, who managed to pull back the tears, could not stop himself from wailing when he saw the state of his bike.
Zack’s personal car drove into the villa.
He could hear Sonny’s crying before even getting out of the car.
Once the car was packed, Zack got out and took large strides to Serena.
Serena and her sister were trying to settle Sonny down. Seeing that Zack was back, Serena said to Sonny, “Sonny, your uncle is here. Your uncle is the best. He can help fix your bike.”
Tinkling with the bicycle, Duncan jumped in. “It’s okay, Sonny. I can fix your bike. No need to trouble your uncle.”
It was a tiny issue from the bike being overturned. It was an easy repair.
As Zack drew close, Sonny put his hands out to his uncle. With Zack holding him, he cried and asked, “Uncle Zack, my bicycle is broken. Can you fix it?”
Zack gestured for Serena to bring him a tissue.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.