Chapter 2

batteries for the bike? It would really be a shame not to take it out for a ride,” she thought.

“Um… Mr. York, are we splitting the bills?” Serenity inquired.

Although her sister and brother-in-law had married for love, her brother-in-law suggested going Dutch, almost as if he felt her sister might be taking advantage of him.

Caring for a child, grocery shopping, cooking, and managing household chores required a tremendous amount of time and effort. A man who had never experienced these responsibilities might mistakenly believe that his wife had it easy at home with the child-minding, cooking, and cleaning.

Since Serenity and Zachary had never met before signing the papers, she felt more comfortable proposing they share expenses.

Without hesitation, Zachary responded with a hint of sadness, “I have the means to support my wife and our little family. There’s no need to share the costs.”

Serenity smiled back, “Alright then.”

She wasn’t the type to take advantage without contributing. Whatever was needed for the house, Serenity intended to cover it herself. After all, she was already saving on rent.

For Serenity, it was all about mutual understanding, give-and-take, and living together harmoniously.

Zachary glanced at his watch before saying, “I need to get back to work. You can either take my car home or catch a cab. I’ll reimburse you for the fare. I’m taking Nana to my brother’s.”

“That reminds me, let’s exchange numbers so we can reach each other easily,” Serenity suggested.

She pulled out her phone and saved his contact information. “I’ll grab a cab. You should focus on your work.”

“Okay. Just call me if you need anything,” Zachary replied.

Before she left, he handed her two hundred dollars for the cab fare, which Serenity initially refused. However, she quickly accepted the money when he frowned at her.

Instead of stepping out of City Hall together as newlyweds, Zachary walked ahead, making a beeline for his car.

“Where’s my…?”

“Granddaughter-in-law?” Grandma May questioned, her skepticism evident as she glanced at her grandson. “You went in together. Why didn’t you leave together? Did you change your mind, or did Serenity change hers?”

Zachary, fastening his seatbelt, pulled out the marriage license and handed it to his grandmother. “We got the papers. I need to rush back for a meeting at the office. I gave her two hundred dollars to get a cab.”

“Gran, I’ll take you up to the crossroad ahead. The bodyguard will drive you home,” he continued.

“You shouldn’t just leave Serenity like that, no matter how busy you are. Wait! Don’t drive off until Serenity is out. You can go back to work after you take her home,” Grandma May insisted, trying to get out, but the door was locked.

“Gran, I married her as you wanted, but you can’t control everything I do. I’m the one living with her, so it’s my decision. I’ll observe her and judge her character myself. If she doesn’t pass the test, I won’t make the marriage official,” Zachary replied firmly.

Grandma May muttered, “…Divorce is not an option in our family!”

“Well, that depends on whether I’ve chosen a wife worth spending my life with,” Zachary shot back as he started the car.

“You’re being ridiculous! No husband would behave this way. How could you drive away and leave your bride right after getting married?” Grandma May expressed her frustration. She recognized that since her oldest grandson had made the significant concession of marrying Serenity, he was unwilling to compromise on anything else. There was little she could do; pushing him too hard might make Serenity a grass widow, leaving her as the real victim in all this.

Zachary let his grandmother vent her frustrations at him. He was determined to make Serenity happy if she earned it. However, if it turned out she had been deceiving Grandma May and putting on a façade, Zachary was prepared to part ways with her six months down the line.

to adjust to the idea that she was now married to a man who had kept their union under wraps and had no intentions of physical intimacy.

After driving for about ten minutes, Zachary decided to stop at an intersection. There were several luxury sedans parked nearby, including a striking Rolls Royce.

Zachary parked his car on the side of the road, stepped out, and tossed the keys to a waiting bodyguard. He instructed, “Take the old Mrs. home.”

“I’m not going back! I want to stay with you and spend time with my new granddaughter-in-law!” Grandma May protested.

Despite her vocal objections, Zachary climbed into the Rolls Royce, choosing to ignore her complaints. All Grandma May could do was watch as her beloved grandson drove off in the opulent vehicle.

Zachary was indeed a powerful figure within Wiltspoon’s corporate scene, being the heir to the wealthiest family in the area, with a staggering net worth of a hundred billion dollars!

“Ruthless b*stard!” Grandma May cursed, her bitterness evident. She muttered under her breath, “I can’t wait for karma to catch up with you when you fall for Serenity.”

No amount of frustration could bring her grandson back. By the time Grandma May reached for her phone to call Serenity, the latter was already in a cab heading home.

“Serenity, Zack is really busy with work right now. Don’t take it personally,” Grandma May said, trying to comfort her.

Feeling the marriage license crumpled in her pocket, Serenity replied, “I understand, Grandma May. I’m not upset at all, really. No need to worry. He’s covering my fare; I’m already on my way home.”

“Now that you’re married to Zack, am I still just Grandma May to you?”

Serenity paused, momentarily bewildered, then decided to call her gran.

The old lady joyfully embraced her new title.

“We’re family now, Serenity. If Zack ever gives you a hard time, just let me know. I’ll always support you.”

It felt like forever for her to fully process that she was not just a newcomer in the family but now an integral part of it.

Grandma May was determined that her grandson would find a wife. There was absolutely no chance she would let him mistreat Serenity.