Chapter 65
Zachary firmly believed that Serenity should not spend even a single cent. Whether she chose to open her wallet or not, it was her decision entirely.
Serenity would undoubtedly be labeled ungrateful, so she might as well spare herself the heartache and refuse to pay her family anything at all.
The sisters had been minors when they tragically lost their parents. In a cruel twist, their relatives not only claimed a significant portion of the insurance payout but also took over the sisters’ family home, abandoning them in their time of need.
Fortunately, Liberty had the wisdom to navigate through those tough years and come out stronger.
Acknowledging Zachary’s perspective, Serenity pondered for a moment before responding, “You’re absolutely right, Mr. York. I’ll heed your advice and give them nothing. Their opinions of me mean nothing.”
Those relatives had shown no shame for their past actions, so why should she feel guilty now? Anyone who dared to criticize her because of her Grandmother’s age or their supposed family ties would soon feel the full force of Serenity’s anger.
Before anyone could judge her, they should try walking a mile in her shoes. She would only accept criticism from those who could forgive, forget, and respond to hurt with kindness, given what she had endured.
It’s crucial never to pass judgment on another person until you truly understand their experiences. Serenity had little patience for those who claimed to stand on moral high ground.
Before long, Zachary dropped Serenity off at the entrance of Wiltspoon School. Since classes were in session at that hour, the area around the school was relatively quiet.
Inside, Jasmine sat behind the cash register, engrossed in her phone. As soon as Zachary pulled up to drop off Serenity, she sprang to her feet.
“Mr. York,” Jasmine greeted him. Without exiting the car, Zachary rolled down his window, glanced into the shop, and responded with a nod and a faint smile.
“You need to get to work. Text me when you get to the office,” he instructed.
“Sure,” Jasmine replied, giving him an understanding nod.
He rolled up his window after exchanging a few words with the girls. Then, he shifted the car into reverse to navigate his way out and drove off.
“Where’s your bike?” Jasmine inquired with a playful tone, “Is your husband going to handle all the pick-ups and drop-offs now? Looks like you two are getting along quite well.”
“Yeah, we are,” Serenity replied, noting that things were smooth between her and Zachary as long as he respected her boundaries and avoided any confrontations. “Strangely enough, my bike broke down in the middle of the road. I was fortunate to bump into your cousin.”
“Shawn had my bike towed to the repair shop and even gave me a ride home,” she continued. “We should invite him out sometime so I can treat him to dinner. You can join us too.”
“What are friends for?” Jasmine replied.
“Still, he helped me out. The least I can do is buy him dinner,” Serenity insisted. “I don’t like being in anyone’s debt.”
Jasmine hesitated, wanting to say something but realizing that now that Serenity was married, it made sense for her to avoid feeling indebted to anyone, especially men. “Alright. You set up the date, and I’ll definitely be there. I’m all for anything that doesn’t cost me a dime,” she said with a grin.