Chapter 69

drive without answering immediately, focusing on the road ahead. The tension in the air was palpable as Serenity tried to decipher his intentions.

Finally, Zachary glanced at her, his expression serious. “You’ll see soon enough. Just trust me.”

Serenity couldn’t help but feel a mix of curiosity and concern. “Is it something important? I mean, I was just about to eat…”

“Trust me,” he repeated, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, though his eyes remained fixed on the road.

As they drove, Serenity’s mind raced with possibilities. What could be so urgent that they had to leave right away? She glanced at the takeout in her lap, feeling a pang of regret for not having had the chance to enjoy her meal.

Zachary’s focus remained unwavering as they navigated through the streets, each turn adding to Serenity’s anxiety. After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled up outside a quaint little café she had never noticed before.

“Here we are,” he announced, turning off the engine.

Serenity looked around, puzzled. “A café? You brought me here for coffee?”

Zachary chuckled softly. “Not just for coffee. Come on, let’s go inside.”

Reluctantly, Serenity stepped out of the car, her curiosity piqued once again. As they walked towards the entrance, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just a casual outing.

Inside, the café was cozy, filled with the warm aroma of fresh pastries and brewed coffee. Serenity’s initial irritation at being pulled away from her meal began to fade as she took in the inviting atmosphere.

Zachary led her to a table near the window, where the sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow. “I thought we could use a break,” he said as they settled down.

Serenity smiled, her heart softening. “This is nice. Thank you for thinking of me.”

He shrugged, a hint of bashfulness creeping into his demeanor. “I just wanted to spend some time with you. And I figured you could use a proper lunch.”

She laughed lightly, feeling a newfound appreciation for his gesture. “Okay, you win. This beats takeout any day.”

As they browsed the menu, Serenity realized that perhaps sometimes a little spontaneity was just what she needed.

“Let’s order something to share,” Zachary suggested, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“Sounds perfect!” she replied, feeling grateful for this unexpected detour in their day.

Serenity decided to withhold certain information. Since she couldn’t get anything out of Zachary, she shifted her focus to her lunch. By the time she had finished eating, Zachary had parked the car.

As she stepped out of the vehicle, Serenity realized he had brought her to a car dealership. “Buy a car? My bike is fixed,” she remarked. “Shawn arranged for my bike to be delivered to the shop. One of the wires short-circuited.”

After tossing the food packaging into a nearby trash can, Serenity noticed Zachary entering the dealership without a word. She mumbled to herself and followed him inside. Zachary had previously offered to cover the deposit for a four-wheeled vehicle for her, but she had turned down his generous gesture, as the shop was not far from Brynfield, and her e-bike was more than sufficient for her travels.

To her surprise, it hadn’t occurred to her that Zachary would take her here to help her buy a car. “I have a meeting at three, so let’s get to it. Choose what you like. I’ll handle the payment and then head back to the office,” Zachary instructed. “Don’t worry about the price. Just focus on whether you like the exterior and how it drives. Take it for a test drive. We can buy it if you feel good about it.”

Serenity leaned in closer and whispered in his ear, “What if I fall in love with a car that costs several hundred thousand dollars? The deposit on something that expensive would be significant. How much is yours? I might want the same brand.” Zachary’s national MPV was priced around a hundred thousand dollars. Although his dark eyes sparkled with excitement, his voice remained steady. “Just go for a sedan. Do you prefer black or white?”

“Black. White shows dirt too easily,” she replied.

“Alright,” Zachary agreed, revealing that he also favored black vehicles. They clearly had similar tastes. With the brand decided, choosing a model became much simpler. Serenity took a few sedans for a test drive but ultimately chose an SUV. After a quick spin, Zachary was satisfied with the vehicle as well. He headed straight to the payment desk, and she thought to herself that it might be days before…

The car was all set for collection following the initial payment. To Serenity’s astonishment, Zachary had covered the entire cost, allowing her to drive the car straight out of the dealership on the spot.