“Zack.”
A familiar voice called out.
Zack turned his head and saw Duncan with a fruit basket in one hand and a bouquet of flowers. in the other, walking toward him.
“Duncan, Liberty’s ward is already full of fruit baskets and bouquets.”
“Those are from other people.”
Duncan felt that he had to quietly fight for a place in Liberty’s ward.
“Why did you come again when it’s already nighttime? Are you going to compete with us for the night watch again? She won’t be able to rest if you stay to watch over her at night. It’ll affect her recuperation.”
Duncan could keep vigil last night because Liberty was still in a coma.
However, now that she was awake, Zack was not in favor of his friend keeping guard again.
His sister–in–law still did not know that Duncan had feelings for her.
Duncan said, “I just came over to have a look. I feel uneasy if I don’t see her.”
“And your mom allowed you to come here?”
Mrs. Lewis had looked down on Liberty for a long time.
Duncan walked side by side with Zack and made the latter help carry the fruit basket. “My mom can’t interfere with my affairs. She’s looking forward to my marriage, but she’s trying her best to stop me from getting together with the woman I like. I don’t know if she wants me to get married or remain a bachelor for the rest of my life.
“What’s wrong with me liking Liberty? She’s single, I’m single. We’re both free and have the right to love freely.”
Duncan did not care how unpleasant his mother’s expression was when he left the house.
He could do whatever he wanted.
He was already in his thirties. He was not a mama’s boy. Why would he need to follow his mother’s arrangements?
“My sister–in–law doesn’t think of you in that way!”
Zack reminded his friend.
It was too early to talk about marriage now.
Liberty’s relationship with Duncan was absolutely pure. To her, he was just a frequent customer of her store.
If one had to insist that there was a relationship between them, it would be a relationship between a landlord and tenant.
Duncan paused before saying, “Zack, can you help me? Put in a few good words for me in front of Liberty. I think it’s quite good if we went from best friends to being brothers–in–law.”
“I won’t help you. You can go after Liberty by yourself. If you manage to pursue her, Seren and I will support the two of you together. If you don’t, then stop pestering her. After all, your mother doesn’t approve of her.” 1
Zack did not stop Duncan, but he would not help him either.
“We’re good friends, Duncan. I know you’re a man worthy of lifelong commitment, but your mom. looks down on Liberty and doesn’t approve of you two together. Liberty already experienced one failed marriage. I don’t want her to be bullied by her in–laws again after remarrying.”
Duncan hurriedly said, “Zack, don’t you understand my temperament by now? When has my mom ever made my decisions for me? I’m in charge of my own life. I know my mom is biased against Liberty, but that’s because she doesn’t know Liberty well. She’ll accept Liberty after she gets to know her.
“Even if she doesn’t accept Liberty, it won’t affect us. I don’t live with my parents. I won’t let her suffer from my parents‘ anger.”
Zack glanced at Duncan and said, “You’re still naive, Duncan. When it comes down to it, you’ll realize that some problems are unavoidable. You’ll have to face them either way.
“If Liberty gets with you, won’t you still see your parents in the future? They’re your parents, after all. I suggest you wait a little longer. Maybe your mother will agree when Liberty’s career takes off.
“Besides, Liberty has no plans on remarrying now. She’s completely focused on her business and has no illicit thoughts about you. If you confess to her now, she’ll reject you without hesitation. She doesn’t have the confidence to stand by your side now.
“Give her some time to change. She’s right under your nose now, so you don’t have to worry about her being snatched away by other men.”
Without a second thought, Zack knew that Duncan would fail if he tried to pursue Liberty now.
Duncan was silent for a long time before saying, “I’ll think about it, Zack. Of course I won’t confess to Liberty now. I’ll wait and see when she recovers. I’m willing to wait. I’ve been single for thirty–six years. What’s a few more?”
The older he got, the more anxious his mother would be, which greatly increases his chances of being with Liberty.
The two men chatted as they walked and soon arrived at Liberty’s ward.
Serena raised her brows when she saw Duncan again, but she said nothing.
“Dunc.”
Sonny greeted Duncan sweetly when he saw the man come in.
Duncan responded with a smile, placed the items down, and asked Liberty with concern, “How are you feeling, Liberty? Does your wound hurt?”
“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lewis. I’ll live. The wound hurts, but it’s tolerable.”
Liberty did not notice Duncan when she just woke up. She did not know that he watched over her all night.
Serena did not tell her sister either. She planned to talk to Liberty about Duncan after she was discharged from the hospital.
“Okay.”
Duncan looked at Liberty deeply for a moment and said, “You’re still looking very pale. Did the doctor say whether you could eat?”
Serena answered, “She can only eat liquid food starting tomorrow.”
Duncan nodded again.
For a moment, he did not know what to say.
In the end, he could only say a few common pleasantries like other visitors did before bidding goodbye.
He could not stay and watch over Liberty tonight.
It would arouse her suspicion if he stayed too long.
In Liberty’s eyes, Duncan’s care for her was because she was Zack’s sister–in–law. 1
Thus, she was not surprised when he visited her. However, she would find it odd if he was overly concerned about her.
Zack saw Duncan out of the ward while Serena sat on the edge of the bed with Sonny, talking about stuff that would make her sister happy.
Liberty was still weak and soon fell asleep again.
Even Sonny fell asleep in Serena’s arms.
Serena placed her nephew on the sofa bed and covered him with a thin blanket. When she saw that her sister’s IV fluid was almost finished, she rang the bell to notify the nurse to come and change the IV.
After changing the IV drip, Serena watched for a few more minutes before turning around and quietly walked outside.
Zack pushed the door and entered.
He saw Serena sitting on the sofa in the small lounge, looking dazed.
He walked over, sat next to her, and touched her shoulder, asking softly, “What’s wrong? Is Liberty asleep?”
“Liberty and Sonny are both asleep.”
Serena leaned on her husband’s shoulder. “Babe.”
“Hm?”
Serena just called out to him and did not say anything else.
“Did you want to say something to me?” Zack asked warmly.
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.