Chapter 18
“I wasn’t at the shop tonight. My friend invited me to a dinner party, and I couldn’t say no. By the way, Mr. York, there’s something I’d like to ask you, but I’m not sure if it’s a topic you’re comfortable discussing.”
Seated across from Zachary, Serenity gazed at him with her bright, expressive eyes. He seemed distant and cold toward her, maintaining a barrier that kept everyone out but her. Despite his aloof demeanor, he was undeniably handsome, his features strikingly attractive, like a captivating piece of art.
“The dinner was at the Wiltspoon Hotel. I heard it’s owned by the richest family in the city. Guess what? The heir was there too! His last name is York, but I assume you’re not connected to that family, right?”
Zachary replied without so much as a flinch, “We were related five hundred years ago.”
Serenity let out a sigh of relief, smiling as she said, “I figured you had no ties to the wealthiest family in town.”
Noticing her happiness, Zachary felt compelled to ask, “Don’t you wish I were connected to them?”
“It’s nighttime now,” Serenity responded playfully, a smirk on her lips. “Stop daydreaming.”
“If you were linked to the wealthy Yorks, would you consider marrying someone like me? The Yorks are at the pinnacle of social status, while I’m just scraping the bottom. Even if you were a distant cousin, I’d still feel like I wouldn’t belong with you. I wouldn’t be comfortable living in that world.”
“Now that I know you’re not related to the Yorks, it feels easier to be around you since we’re in the same circle.”
Zachary remained silent, his lips pursed in thought.
“Your Nana mentioned you work at a significant corporation. Have you heard about the…”
“Is he really the heir to York Corporation? He was at the event tonight, and it felt like everyone was treating him like royalty. Jasmine and I had to stand on our tiptoes to catch a glimpse of his face, but it was impossible.”
Zachary’s expression remained tight-lipped, his brooding gaze icy.
“They say the heir always has bodyguards with him, making sure no women can get too close. Jasmine managed to find out that he’s single and not mixed up in any scandals. Apparently, he doesn’t even have a girlfriend.”
“Mr. York, do you think his single status might be related to his sexuality or is it something else? It seems odd for someone his age to remain unattached,” Jasmine pondered aloud.
Her question nearly caused Zachary to bite his tongue in surprise. The intensity of his stare could have burned right through Serenity; how could she dare to question his masculinity so directly?!
Taking his reaction as astonishment, Serenity elaborated, “For a man of his standing to avoid pursuing women, it suggests he might not be interested in them at all. It’s no wonder he’s still unmarried despite not being young anymore. People like us can hardly grasp the complexities of the wealthy.”
Suppressing the urge to lash out at her, Zachary replied coldly, “How do you know he’s not young? Just because he keeps his distance from women doesn’t mean he has a different preference.”
“He’s the head of the York family. We’re not living in a romance novel. It takes time for a successor to mature and prove they’re ready to take over the family business. They typically need to be at least thirty-five before that happens, which is practically middle-aged. To someone my age, that seems old.”
Zachary refrained from correcting her, knowing that the heir of the Yorks was only thirty, just five years her senior. He was hardly old by any standard.
After a moment of silence, he coldly asked, “You seem quite intrigued by the heir.”
“Not at all. This is the first time I’ve heard any insider gossip about a major CEO. Wherever there are people, there’s bound to be gossip. I was simply sharing my thoughts. Mrs. Lowe was really counting on Jasmine to win over the heir, but Jasmine has no desire to climb the social ladder. The realm of the wealthy and influential is far removed from our own.”
Serenity was aware of the struggles Mrs. Lowe encountered while trying to fit into a higher social class. The Sox family were multimillionaires who had built their wealth through savvy property investments. Despite their affluence, Mrs. Lowe faced numerous challenges as she worked to integrate into the cultured elite. Girls like them shouldn’t hold onto the illusion of fairytales.
“It’s getting late. I’m going to take a shower.”
Serenity and her husband exchanged a few words until the conversation dwindled, leaving them as mere strangers by the end of the day.
As she stood up, Serenity made her way to the balcony to collect her laundry. “When you were renovating, you should have asked the builder to put in two rails for drying racks.”
Zachary stayed quiet. He had purchased a property that was ready to move into. These minor details weren’t typically on his radar, so it didn’t occur to him that the balcony needed drying rails for clothes.
