Serena took Zack’s call.
“I’m not a hot water bottle! ”
The first thing that came out of Zack’s mouth was to correct what Serena called him.
Serena chuckled. “I’m feeling cold now, so I thought about you. You’re warmer than a hot water bottle.”
Zack’s voice was gruff. “So, you wouldn’t think of me if you weren’t feeling cold?”
Serena gladly admitted to that fact. “I probably would’ve gone right to bed if I weren’t cold. Oh, I’ll send you a goodnight gif.”
Zack was speechless.
Note: From this chapter on, to speed up writing, the writer uses “Serena” and “Zack” to replace “Serenity” and “Zachary”.
“Are you done with your work? You should carry on if you aren’t. I’m going to bed.”
Serena was about to hang up the call.
“Serena.”
Zack huskily asked, “Are your DNA test results with Mrs. Stone out yet?”
“The results are out. Mrs. Stone is my aunt. We’re related by blood.”
Although his heart sank, Zack did not show it in his face or tone. “Congratulations on finding your family.”
“Thank you.”
She only had her sister for fifteen years. Now that an aunt suddenly came into the picture, Serena wondered if she was in a dream as it felt surreal.
“That reminds me, Zack. Your nana moved back to the family home. Callum came tonight to pick her up.
“I wasn’t home. Ms. Lane told me about it.”
Zack could not believe how quickly Nana slipped away.
“She goes wherever her heart takes her. I’m used to her coming and going.”
Grandma May owned many properties, and she would often stay a couple of nights here and there. It was hard to locate the old lady unless she came looking for them.
“Did anything happen today? Did Shawn go to your shop?”
“Jesus. I can feel your jealousy all the way here. Shawn’s a busy man too. He probably won’t meet with me after I turned him down. You can relax and focus on your work. I promise I won’t cheat on you.”
After a pause, she bantered, “I’ll be waiting for you to come home and eat you up.”
Zack laughed. “I better fatten myself up, so you can have a delicious meal.”
Serena remarked after a brief pause, “Zack, you’ve changed.” “I changed because you changed me. I changed because of you.” He did not have a way with words albeit would come through sometimes. Serena thought it was cheesy at first, but she would feel all sweet and warm inside when thinking back.
“Serena.”
“Yeah?”
“Anything else you want to talk about?”
Serena yawned. “No. 1’11 talk to you in my dreams.”
Zack was lost for words.
“You must be busy. I’ll leave you to it and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy one for me. The term break starts after tomorrow.”
“Don’t strain yourself.”
“Everything’s worth it when the money comes in. That’s it now. I’m heading to bed, Zack. Goodnight.”
Serena ended the call after saying goodnight.
She had hung up before Zack could say more. Staring at his phone, Zack mumbled, “Serena, your attitude makes me feel insecure.”
He got the feeling that she was not in love with him.
Although Serena often talked about jumping him, the truth of the matter was, she had not given her heart fully to him.
Zack, on the other hand, became more addicted and fell deeper in love with Serena.
Ring ring ring…
Zack’s phone rang again.
He thought it was Serena, but then he saw the caller ID and it was Duncan.
“Duncan.”
Zack leaned back on the black swivel chair and asked indifferently, “Why are you calling me so late at night?”
“There’s something important I need to tell you. Do you know that your wife has an aunt? It’s Mrs. Stone. It turns out that the sister Mrs. Stone has been looking for is your mother-in-law.”
Duncan was not as gossipy as Josh, but he loved to watch drama and gloat on the sidelines.
He just felt that he should relay this news to his best friend.
“Stone Group and York Corporation have always been at odds.
Clive and you will never appear at the same place together. The relationship between the two of you is completely frozen… I just thought of something.”
Duncan muttered in hindsight, “When you treated Clive to that meal back then, did you already know that your wife was Mrs.
Stone’s niece? Is that why you tried patching up your relationship with Clive in advance?”
Zack was a little embarrassed and angry that his thoughts were read by his best friend. Fortunately, Duncan was thousands of miles away and did not know how he was feeling right now.
“I was in a good mood that day, and Clive rarely takes his clients to Wiltspoon Hotel for a meal, so I bought them lunch. I just wanted them to know that our Wiltspoon Hotel is worthy of its name.
That’s all.
“I’m not a god. How could I know in advance that my mother-in- law is the sister who Mrs. Stone has been looking for? I only found out just now when I asked Serena.”
That was also true.
However, he had a hunch that Mrs. Stone’s sister was his mother- in-law who died long ago.
That was why he generously invited Clive and his party to a meal when he met Clive that day.
“What are you going to do now that you know?”
Duncan asked with concern, “Are you going to reconcile with the Stones?”
“Serena and Mrs. Stone are aunt and niece. They have no influence on the decision-making of York Corporation. A great man cannot brook a rival. Between York Corporation and Stone Group, only one of us will remain standing.”
Duncan paused before adding. “You’re a businessman through and through. You only talk about profit and never about feelings.”
Zack said faintly, “In the business world of deceit, feelings will only be used by the opponent. You’ll be swallowed and everything will go up in smoke.”
That was unless the Stone Group intended to make peace with him.
Only when both sides took a step back would it be possible to ease relations.
“Elisa has been infatuated with you for years. If she finds out about your relationship with Serena and with her explosive personality, will your wife be in trouble?”
Duncan felt that this matter was a concern.
“They’ve become cousins, so maybe she won’t do anything to your wife, but your wife will definitely feel as if she robbed her cousin’s beloved man. She’ll kick you away.”
Zack paused before saying, “Duncan Lewis, can you speak a little more tactfully?”
He was overly straightforward.
Duncan laughed. “You know I’ve always been like this. I don’t like to beat around the bush. Do you think I can talk in circles like Josh?
“Serena and her sister are strong-natured. If she finds out the truth… I’m having a headache on your behalf just thinking about it.”
Zack’s expression darkened as he said, “There’s no need for that. I can handle it myself.”
“That’s good. I won’t be able to help you even if you ask for my help. You can call me if it’s a fight, but I’m not good at dealing with matters involving emotions.
“Zack, you can’t deal with emotional problems either, right?
You’re no better than I am in that regard.”
Zack was speechless.
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.