“Jessica and I are picking a date for our wedding. With the wedding coming up, we have to spend money on food, décor, and entertainment. I’m strapped for cash right now
“Lend me the money. I’ll return the money once I find a new job. We have Sonny between us, so there’s no concern that I won’t pay you back the money.”
Turning on her heel, Liberty unlocked the restaurant door and carried a bucket of water out. She placed the bucket in front of Hank and said, “Bend over and look into the water”
“What am I looking at?”
It did not register in Hank’s head.
“Look at how shameless you are! Why should I lend my money to you? Don’t have a wedding if you don’t have money for it. Why does it have to do with me? Hank, do you think I’m still the same Liberty as before?
“You killed the woman who loved you, would do anything for you, and put up with your everything.
“Get lost! Go away and never come back!” Liberty said as she picked the bucket up to splash at Hank.
Swiftly retreating, Hank yelled, “Liberty, I’m still Sonny’s father. Sonny will find out the things you’ve done to me when he grows up. He will hate and blame you for being tough on his father.
“If you don’t want to lend me the money, I can take over your restaurant. I guarantee I can do a better job than you.”
Liberty advanced forward to splash the bucket of water on Hank. Hank was able to evade the attack.
Lifting her arms, Liberty threw the bucket at Hank.
This time, Hank’s quick reflexes could not save him from getting hit.
After hurling the bucket, Liberty picked up the broom by the door and whacked Hank with it.
Hank ducked and dodged a few times before slipping into the car and driving away.
While fleeing, he shouted, “B*tch! You’re a b*tch, Liberty! No man will ever want you now that I’ve left you!”
Hank fled away in his car.
On his way home, he could not stop cussing Liberty out. Jessica was the sweetest. and kindest little thing. Hank did not regret divorcing Liberty!
Back at his rented place, Hank saw a familiar car downstairs. Hank’s head was about to explode.
It was his sister.
Here came his sister again.
Hank ran his fingers along his hair in annoyance. He had better go home.
He and Jessica were out of work. It was clear that Zack was out to get him. Did Zack have something to do with his sister and brother–in–law losing their jobs too?
In that case, Hank had dragged his sister down with him.
Once outside the door, Hank could hear the arguments inside.
Since the company let Jessica and Hank go together, the couple left the office together. However, Hank told Jessica to get out and hail a cab mid–journey as he needed to blow some steam off.
Showing understanding, Jessica took a cab home.
She was not in a good mood either.
Hank always looked out for her when she was Hank’s secretary. She also enjoyed a good income, so to suddenly lose her job, Jessica had a lot of fury in her.
She came back to her rented home to find her sister–in–law and Lucas there. Jessica faintly said hello before turning to her bedroom.
Jessica walked into her bedroom turned upside down. Her cosmetic and skincare products were scattered all over the dressing table and floor. Her lipsticks were broken in halves, and her dressing table was covered in various skincare creams.
The walls, floor, and duvet cover had doodles of red. The red scribbles made her see red.
“Mom.”
Jessica shouted out loud.
Mrs. Brown came in and asked, “What’s the matter? Why do you have to scream so loud? I’m not deaf. I can hear.”
“Mom, look at my room. Did Lucas do this? Lucas is a naughty boy. I told you many times not to let him into Hank’s and my room. Look at what he did to my cosmetic and skincare products. He messed the room up.”
Chelsea entered the room and inspected her son’s handy work. She remarked without a care, “You can clean up. You’re an adult and an aunt. How can you fuss about it with a four–year–old child?
“Lucas is just a little boy. He doesn’t know any better. He played with your things, thinking they were toys. That’s how he plays when he comes here. Liberty never said anything.”
Liberty would lock the bedroom door to stop Lucas from entering.
Besides, Sonny had a lot of toys. Lucas would fight with Sonny over toys instead of wreaking havoc in Liberty’s room. Liberty would clean up after Lucas and never threw a fit over it.
Liberty had always been tolerant.
Sonny’s custody went to Liberty after the divorce. Plus, Jessica had not given birth to a child. Since there were no kids in the family, there were also no toys.
Four years old was an active and cheeky age. Toddlers at this age could not sit still for a minute. Without any toys around, Lucas could only look for his own. entertainment. Hank did not have the tendency of locking doors. Lucas simply turned the doorknobs and let himself in.
Chelsea came over to vent to her mother about finding a job. Now that she and her husband were jobless at home, they were spending more money than ever. Plus, the couple had been having fights–her criticizing her husband for taking so long to find a job and her husband accusing her of being useless.
George wanted to open his own construction material business. It cost around a hundred thousand dollars to rent a space and give it a facelift. Chelsea was reluctant to use her savings for her husband’s business setup now that the couple was no longer with an income. She would lose her savings if the business became a bust.
Nevertheless, Chelsea wanted her husband to try it out. She would become the boss’s wife if the business was up and running.
Accustomed to getting financial help from her family, Chelsea naturally came to her parents and brother for help.
“I’m not Liberty!”
Jessica broke down and yelled, “Go to Liberty if you like her that much. See if she even cares!”
She was most bitter when the Browns compared her with Liberty.
Before, the Browns often disgruntledly pointed out this and that about Liberty to Jessica.
Since the divorce and Jessica joining the family, the Browns were now fawning over Liberty.
“Chelsea, your son messed up my room, so you have to clean it up. You need to replace all the cosmetic and skincare products Lucas broke.”
Furious, Chelsea retorted, “Well, I didn’t do it, so why should I be the one to clean up? Sure, Lucas is at fault. You can ask the boy to tidy up his mess. He should take responsibility for his actions. Go look for Lucas.
“Didn’t my brother buy your cosmetic and skincare products? It’s not your money. You have no right to demand me to replace them. Bring out the proof that you paid for them. Then I’ll consider paying you back.”
Jessica picked up the pillow in rage and threw it at Chelsea. “Hank is my husband now! My husband’s gifts to me are mine to keep. You should replace them at full value, or you can forget ever stepping into this house so long as I am here.
“Better yet, take your mother home with you, so she can look after your child. She never helped me anyway. Don’t come looking for me when she’s immobilized, sick, and needs tending to! Don’t expect me to be nice when none of you have been nice to me!
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.