Callum said cheekily, “It’s only a matter of time before she becomes my wife. I’m just doing this to practice for when it happens eventually. I wouldn’t want to end up like my brother who had trouble doing so.”
Serena chuckled, “That’s a strange lesson you took from brother.”
“Using my brother’s many mistakes as a guide allows me to avoid many pitfalls in my relationship.”
Serena was speechless.
When was the first time Zack addressed her as his wife?
She barely remembered. Perhaps it was not a very significant experience for her, which explained why it did not leave an impression. If it was something impactful, she would have remembered. Fortunately, Zack would never find out that this was her impression. Else, he would have countless sleepless nights thinking about it.
Serena walked away.
She was going to see her business partner.
Elisa took Jasmine with her to introduce Jasmine to her best friend Tasha. Tasha’s cousin was joining them as well.
When Elisa noticed Serena approaching, she took Serena’s arm and turned to Tasha, “Tasha, this is my cousin Serena, the one who claimed Zack for herself.”
Though Elisa could not lay her claim on Zack, she felt a sense of pride for her cousin who bagged the man.
Tasha greeted her with a warm smile, “Mrs. York, your reputation precedes you. I feel like I am ended meeting a mythical character. It’s no surprise to me that someone as beautiful as you up with Zack.”
Serena smiled. “You flatter me, I’m not as beautiful as you say I am. Besides, it’s not so much my charms that won Zack over. We just happened to attract each other; call it fate if you will.”
Everyone shared a hearty laugh.
With Elisa leading the way, Serena and Jasmine were introduced to many wealthy ladies.
They formed a lot of connections as well.
It opened up many potential business ventures going forward.
Although Zack was never the overprotective type and was fine with letting Serena roam free, he had always been paying attention to her every move.
Josh was with him at the moment. He noticed the way he looked at Serena and remarked candidly, “This is the perfect sort of environment for the missus. Look out how bold she is no matter who she’s talking to. She knows who she is and she is perfectly comfortable with her status.”
Zack looked at Serena with a tender glow in his eyes. “She hasn’t always been this confident woman you’re seeing today.”
Josh smiled and asked, “Zack, when you first married her, did you ever foresee a day like this?”
Zack answered with another question, “Did you ever think that you would fall in love with Jasmine?”
“No, I did not.”
“There’s your answer, I could never force any of this.”
Josh laughed.
“In a few days, I will be getting engaged with Jasmine.”
“Congratulations!”
“The wedding will be before May,” Josh replied.
Zack congratulated him once again. Suddenly, Josh asked with a candid smile, “As my boss and good friend, do you have anything to say to me?”
“Well, I’ll send you my bank details shortly.”
Josh was puzzled by this and asked, “Shouldn’t I be the one who gives you my bank details instead? Don’t worry, seeing as we are good friends, I wouldn’t want to give you too much pressure. I won’t expect you to break the bank for my wedding gift.”
Zack lowered his voice to a deep grumble, “Who was the one who introduced you two to each other?”
“You! Certainly.”
“Doesn’t that make me the matchmaker?”
Josh thought about it and answered, “Yes.”
“I’m giving you my bank details so you can send me a little token of appreciation for matching you two together. Come on, I’m not going to give you money as a wedding gift, I have better things in mind than something as impersonal as money. However, for my part, I would like some money because I am shallow. Consider it a thank–you gesture for my role as the matchmaker.”
Josh was struck speechless.
Serena had transformed Zack into a man who kept checks and balances even when it came to his interpersonal relationships.
This banquet continued well into midnight.
In the past, Zack would only show up for ten to fifteen minutes at most, just as a formality. After that, he would immediately excuse himself. Tonight was an exception. He waited until the banquet was over before leaving with his beloved wife. His actions were a testament to the love and affection he had for his wife.
This also served as a public affirmation of Serena’s position in the family. The rumors that she was not getting along with her mother–in–law were proven false, and the tales people spun about her having a tense relationship with the family were completely inaccurate.
The Yorks elders doted on her like they were her daughter, and the other members of the family respected her as much as they did Zack.
The set of jewelry she wore tonight to complement her outfit was a gift from her mother–in–law. Anyone with an eye for jewelry could tell that it was an exotic piece that was worth hundreds of millions–why would Tania even splurge so much on her daughter–in–law if she did not like her?
After tonight, the rumors circulating Wiltspoon about Serena’s tense relationship with her husband’s family were completely debunked.
Serena, the one who was at the center of these rumors could hardly be bothered about such talks. It had hardly crossed her mind at all for as far as she was concerned, she was just attending an ordinary banquet with her dear husband.
After Zack took her into the car, she tilted her body sideways to lean against Zack and began mumbling, “I’m not drunk…”
Zack playfully pinched the tip of her well–shaped nose and told her, “Look at you, you’re drinking like you are completely immune to alcohol. If your sister finds out, she’s going to lecture me about not keeping an eye on you again.”
Liberty had once told him to keep an eye on Serena when she was drinking. She mentioned that Serena liked drinking but could never hold her alcohol; even a bottle of beer was enough to knock her out.
She did manage to get some practice with Mrs. Stone and improved her alcohol tolerance slightly, but it ended up bolstering her confidence disproportionately. When she was chatting with people about potential future business deals, she ended up getting too much ahead of herself and drank. two more glasses than she should have.
It was only a short ten–minute period when Zack just happened to have his attention somewhere else.
“Good wine, good wine…”
Serena was still conscious enough to playfully slap Zack’s hand away. She began mumbling incoherently about the wine she drank.
Zack chuckled and said, “Well, the wine was pretty good, but I don’t think you could handle all that.”
He did not even take a sip of alcohol tonight, regardless of who came to give him a toast. He would tell them that his wife did not like it when he drinks and that he did not want to reek of alcohol. Everyone was very understanding and did not pressure him into drinking. They even complimented his devotion to his wife.
What they did not say out loud was that they thought his wife was too controlling and that he was a slave.
Zack did not care what people had to say about him.
He made a point of not getting drunk because he knew that his duty was to take care of his now-
drunk wife.
Serena could barely process Zack’s lecture. She heard nothing but loose strings of words in her head. She weakly pried her eyes open and took in the sight of the handsome face of her man before mumbling, “Zack, my head is spinning, I’m going to fall asleep.”
She raised her hand and brushed her fingers against Zack’s face. She then put her hand on Zack’s chest, burying her weight into him before shutting her eyes. She babbled incoherently before drifting off to sleep, “I’m going to sleep, I’m going to bed…”
“Remember to invite me if there’s good wine next time.”
Zack teased her, “Did you forget that we have a collection of wine at home?”
Serena was still muttering about something but Zack could barely hear her at this point. If he had to guess, she was probably complaining about him not letting her drink as much as she wanted.
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.