Chapter 39

**Chapter 39**

Taking the pen in hand, Serenity rose from the swing and approached the balcony railing to sign her name on the contract against the solid concrete surface.

Zachary produced an ink pad for her to press her thumbprint, sealing the agreement. The couple retained one copy of the contract each for their records. Serenity casually folded the document and tucked it into her pocket.

Zachary felt a twinge of annoyance at her apparent lack of curiosity. Yet, who was he to criticize? After all, he was the one who had drafted the contract. Although the terms were heavily skewed against her, she made no attempt to negotiate for more favorable conditions.

“You’ve had a long day. You should get some rest,” he suggested.

“You too,” Serenity replied with a smile. “I’m going to stay here for a while and enjoy the flowers. It’s always been my dream to have a balcony filled with plants. Now that it has finally come true, I can’t seem to get enough of the view.”

She didn’t seem to hold any resentment towards him for the contract. Was it possible that she had married him without ulterior motives? Was he simply being paranoid?

How could he explain her calm demeanor, her lack of concern, and even her happiness?

Zachary observed her quietly for a moment before deciding to leave her be. He picked up his car keys and headed out the door. Serenity’s gentle voice called from the balcony, “Are you going out, Mr. York?”

“Yeah. Don’t wait up for me. Just leave the door unlocked,” he responded.

Serenity flashed him a grin. “I’ve never stayed up and waited for you.”

Zachary was taken aback.

Her response felt like a sharp jab, catching him off guard.

Flustered, he made a hasty exit.

He drove to the Lewis residence to unwind with Duncan over drinks, feeling quite irritable. Ironically, it was Serenity who should have felt humiliated and upset, yet she seemed completely unfazed. Meanwhile, Zachary was left grappling with his own tumultuous feelings.

Zachary was feeling a bit overwhelmed, likely because he sensed that this time, Serenity had brushed him off. Her casual dismissal of the strict terms in the contract reflected her overall attitude towards him. Although he was undeniably attractive, Serenity had no plans to fall for him. Even though he had an impressive physique, thoughts of getting intimate with him never crossed her mind.

What was he even complaining about? Zachary should appreciate that she recognized her boundaries. At least she wasn’t being forward with him. Despite his attempts to convince himself otherwise, Zachary had indulged a bit too much at Duncan’s place. Duncan, unfortunately, didn’t help matters by serving up the finest liquor, leaving Zachary quite inebriated by the end of the night.

It was surprising how much he had consumed since he was usually good at handling his drinks. That wine must have been exceptional! On the other hand, Duncan fared worse—he ended up collapsing unconscious while Zachary was still able to keep his balance.

His bodyguards arrived to assist him. As they drove, one of the bodyguards inquired, “Where to, Sir?”

“Uh, to Brynfield,” Zachary slurred. He felt it was only respectful to return home, especially since he and his wife had just met the parents today. The bodyguards dropped him off at Brynfield. Even though he could still walk, the bodyguard felt uneasy leaving him to navigate the stairs on his own and assisted him instead.

“Sir, should I wake the missus?” the bodyguard asked, knowing she would likely be asleep at this hour. As Zachary fumbled for his house keys, he replied, “No need.”