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 income 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–in–law and daughter–in–law 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 in–laws.
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, Serena’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, Serena 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 playground nearby, he exclaimed, “Aunt Ser, I want to go there.”
He then broke free from Serena’s grasp and bolted right ahead.
Serena had to chase after the little guy.
It was crowded in the zoo, and children like Sonny were everywhere.
Not in the mood to appreciate the scenery, Serena was exhausted just running after Sonny.
Sonny had been watching the shop with his mother day in and day out, and his mother would take him home for a rest after work. Liberty did not have time to take him out to play. Now that he was at the zoo, Sonny unleashed the unruly nature of children.
It was a good thing Serena had the habit of working out. At least, she could keep up with the child’s activeness.
Since Liberty had been jogging to lose weight, her stamina was at an optimum level. Only, Ms. Stone rarely engaged in such an activity. The long walk hurt her feet.
As for the Browns, God knew where they were.
Sonny had a great time at the playground, going several rounds at the age–appropriate facilities until he was sweating all over. His aunt then picked him up to see the animals.
The zoo was a huge place. It was lunchtime by the time they were done looking around the birds‘ area.
The group picked a restaurant to dine in.
“Where’s Dad?”
It was only now Sonny recalled his father.
Liberty answered with a smile, “You ran so fast and left your dad way behind.”
Sonny looked around and could not see his father.
He said, “Give Dad a call, Mom.”
Liberty acted like she dialed Hank’s number.
She then uttered, “Your dad and grandparents are dining somewhere else. We’ll see them later.”
Sonny believed his mother.
The Brown family had arrived where Serena’s group was. They were able to make up for the lost time by stopping Lucas from playing at the playground.
Jessica had a fight with Hank and sulkily ditched the Browns to go off on her own.
For once, Hank did not console her.
Sure enough, Jessica’s thoughts were confirmed. Hank no longer cherished her now that he got her.
Hank gave her everything when they were sneaking around. Now that Jessica went from mistress to wife, she started slipping into Liberty’s former shoes.
Jessica was turning into the former Liberty while Liberty was living her life to the fullest.
Liberty no longer had to tend to her in–laws or become her mother–in–law and sister–in–law’s punching bag.
She was free to spend her own hard–earned cash, and no one could have a say about it. The world was her oyster.
For the first time, Jessica regretted her choices.
She regretted coming between Hank and Liberty’s marriage.
Jessica thought she would not walk the same path as Liberty when she married Hank.
Yet reality gave her a slap in the face.
The pair had not even had their wedding, and Hank was already not as loving as before.
She thought it was because he did not get along with her family.
Someone bumped into her, nearly tipping her off balance.
“Watch where you’re going!”
Jessica yelled at the man
Seeing that the person was covered in a black mask and sunglasses, Jessica got a sinking. feeling in her stomach
The man murmured a quick apology before slipping a note into Jessica’s hand.
Jessica clutched onto the note, not having the nerve to open it in public.
She looked around and saw the sign for the nearest toilet. Following the signpost, she went into the ladies‘ room and opened the note for a look.
The note wrote, “We will cause a distraction during an aquarium show and take the child amid the chaos. Your task is to lure them to the aquarium.”
Jessica shredded the note and flushed the pieces down the toilet.
She thought those people would not carry on with the mission since a large group of the family came along. Plus, Serena brought two bodyguards to the trip.
It never occurred to Jessica that they had no intentions of giving up. They planned to strike during a show at the aquarium.
Would they succeed?
Jessica was not with the Brown family now, much less Serena and her sister.
Coming out of the ladies‘ room, Jessica gave Hank a call.
She told Hank to send his location to her. Holding herself back from throwing a fit, she met up with the Browns.
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.