Mrs. Brown grabbed her purse and walked past Duncan with her chest out. She added. “My son will get back together with Liberty. You stand no chance.”
Duncan wanted to laugh. It was not like he was after Liberty. Duncan was fond of the little man and brought him a pinwheel. How did it turn into him pursuing Liberty and standing no chance?
Liberty would never get back together with a dirtbag like Hank even if Hank wanted to rekindle the relationship.
It was Hank who stood no more chance.
Duncan turned his head and watched Mrs. Brown open the glass door and enter the shop.
A brief moment later, he chose to take off.
He was not that close with Liberty. Duncan could care less unless Mrs. Brown was trying to raise hell.
“Sonny.”
Mrs. Brown entered the shop smiling and pulled up a toy car from her purse. She said to Sonny, “Look, Sonny. I bought you a toy.”
“Grandma.”
Sonny had no idea what happened among the adults, so he would still acknowledge his grandparents‘ and father’s presence.
Liberty held grudges against the Browns, but she was ready to move on after the divorce. So long as the Browns stayed out of her business, Liberty could keep her cool when meeting her ex–husband’s family.
She never spoke ill about her ex–husband’s family while Sonny was around.
No matter what, Hank was Sonny’s father.
Liberty put Sonny down.
Mrs. Brown crouched to get to Sonny’s eye level. She handed the toy car to Sonny in exchange for the pinwheel which was a gift from Duncan.
Call it her killer instinct but she had the feeling that Duncan was trying to get to
Liberty through Sonny.
For a divorced single mother to find a second chance in love, the most important thing was to see whether the man was willing to accept her child. Would the man see the child as his own?
Sonny was the grandson of the Brown family. There was no way he could call Duncan his father.
“I want this.”
Sonny did not care for the toy car Grandma gave him as he owned many of the same.
Aunt Elisa had given him so much that he had not gone through all the toys.
He preferred the pinwheel from Mr. Lewis.
It looked nice.
Sonny grabbed the pinwheel back.
“What’s fun about a pinwheel? Sonny, I can take you to get a new one if you like pinwheels. Just throw this one away.”
Mrs. Brown tried to take the pinwheel away, but Sonny refused and pouted his lips, a look he made when he was about to cry.
In the end, Mrs. Brown gave up on getting rid of the pinwheel.
She was displeased with Duncan’s shameless effort to steal her darling grandson’s heart with a measly pinwheel.
Picking Sonny up, Mrs. Brown rose to her feet and asked, “Did your boss come by just now, Liberty? Is he pursuing you?”
Liberty gave Mrs. Brown a look as if the latter was joking before faintly replying, “Mr. Lewis dropped by to give Sonny the pinwheel. Why do you think that? Besides, it’s my personal business and that has nothing to do with you.”
Mrs. Brown grinned awkwardly. “I was just asking. Fine, if he’s not. You’re a divorcee with a son. Who’s going to raise someone else’s child? Liberty, be careful of anyone who wants to pursue a romantic relationship with you. They’re just trying to trick you and get money out of you.
“You’re a millionaire now.”
It was her son’s money.
Liberty turned away to keep her hands busy and said, “I said it’s my personal business, and it’s none of your concern. You should be fussing over your son and Ms. Yates‘ wedding if you don’t have anything to do.”
“Don’t bring up that woman. She makes me mad.”
Mrs. Brown somehow started to complain about Jessica to her former daughter–in- law.
“What’s the point of being young and beautiful? She’s extravagant with her spending. I doubt her salary can keep up with her spending, so my son is footing all the bills.
“There are so many expenses involved with the wedding. The house needs renovation, and still, she demands Hank to pay for the wedding and her family support. Hank said that the Yates are asking for at least three hundred and eighty thousand dollars and jewelry. Hasn’t Hank given her enough gifts in the past?”
‘Jessica wants the reception to be at Wiltspoon Hotel. How much is that going to cost? We’re paying for the reception. Instead of marrying for love, Hank is marrying. himself into debt.”
Mrs. Brown whined, “It’s not like she can lay a golden egg.”
Liberty grabbed a cloth and wiped the table. All the while, she listened to whatever Mrs. Brown had to say without giving her two cents.
Her former mother–in–law came to her to vent about Jessica because the latter was demanding and did not hold back on splurging.
If Jessica was foolish like Liberty for paying for the renovations and refusing the Browns to pay for the wedding and family support, her ex–mother–in–law would probably brag about Hank marrying someone younger and more beautiful right after the divorce.
Mrs. Brown would laugh at her for being fat and ugly. No one would want Liberty after she left Hank.
“Liberty, have you been thrifty and skipping meals lately? You seem to have lost a lot of weight.”
“Mrs. Brown, I’m no longer married to your son. You’re not my mother–in–law anymore, so you don’t need to show me concern,” Liberty retorted, not in the mood for a conversation with Mrs. Brown.
Mrs. Brown laughed awkwardly. “I’m used to it. It’ll take some time to kick the habit. Don’t be too thrifty. You can put the money from Hank in the bank to get the interest, but you lost a lot of weight. Sonny’s heavier. It’s getting harder to carry him.
“Liberty, your aunt… I mean, is your aunt financially supporting you to set up the shop? Your aunt is wealthy and can offer you better help than we could.”
Mrs. Brown came here today because she missed her grandson, besides finding favor with Liberty and finding out how much help Mrs. Stone was giving to Liberty and her sister. Would the family get anything if her son rekindled his marriage with Liberty?
Hank had been whining about the work stress lately. Someone was out to get him. and undermine him at work. Hank’s boss was picking on every mistake to the point Hank was worried he might not be able to keep his job. He planned to hand in his resignation when he married Jessica the following year.
He would look for another job after his honeymoon.
Stone Group was only second to York Corporation. It would be great if her son could get a job at Stone Group.
“I am able and have the startup cash. Why do I need my aunt to finance me?”
That was all it took to shut Mrs. Brown up.
It took a while before Mrs. Brown found her voice again. “That’s foolish of you, Liberty. Your aunt had been looking for your mom for decades. You’re her only surviving relatives since your mom is gone. Your aunt is rich. She’ll be glad to help you financially now that she has you in the family.
“This is a chance of a lifetime. I can’t believe you didn’t ask your aunt for help.”
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.