Chapter 74

**Chapter 74**

“Are you going to take the call?” Zachary inquired as he saw his wife fixated on her phone after loading the shopping bags into the car.

“It could be my money-hungry relatives,” she replied.

“You’ll find out who it is once you answer,” he encouraged. “You can’t avoid them forever. Don’t be afraid; you have me.” With Zachary by her side, she felt a sense of security that he would support her no matter what.

Warm tingles spread through Serenity at Zachary’s reassuring words. While he had his flaws, she recognized that she wasn’t perfect either. Zachary had gone above and beyond for her, especially considering they entered their marriage as strangers. This thoughtful gesture earned him another brownie point in Serenity’s eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Serenity accepted the call from the unidentified number.

“Serenity, it’s me. Granddad,” a slightly unfamiliar yet commanding voice came through the receiver.

Though she had lost touch with her family back in her hometown, Serenity quickly recognized her grandfather’s voice. She hummed a response, prompting him to continue.

“Mike called you this afternoon to inform you that your Grandmom is unwell and needs to be hospitalized in the city. You were supposed to make an appointment with a specialist, but you didn’t. We’ve come this far only to be told that we need to redo the examination before Grandmom can be admitted since we don’t have an appointment.”

“Where are you and your sister staying? We couldn’t find you at your last address. The people there said you moved away a long time ago. Couldn’t you have let your family know in advance? Do you have any respect for your family?”

“A lot of people came on this trip, so we don’t have a place to stay.” Serenity felt the weight of the situation. “Please hurry and text us your current address.”

“Accommodation for two days,” Serenity thought, her mind racing. “Get cooking now.” She realized they hadn’t even had dinner yet. “If you think we might be a bother at your house, you could always wire me some cash,” she suggested. Serenity was ready to explore other options. “We can stay at the hotel,” she added, feeling a surge of frustration.

As Serenity processed his words, she refused to let them overwhelm her. With a steady voice, she inquired, “How did you arrive here? Did you come by bus or drive yourself?” “Your cousins brought us in their cars,” he replied. “Speaking of which, don’t forget to reimburse your cousin for their gas. The trip wasn’t cheap.”

“Oh, so your beloved children and grandchildren are the topic of conversation, Serenity? Just because you and your sister have it easy in the city doesn’t give you the right to speak about your family like that,” he retorted, his tone sharp.

“Penniless and strapped for cash?” Serenity countered. “What are you implying?”

“Well, excuse me,” he shot back, clearly irritated. “You must be quite disappointed that your cousins are thriving in their careers. Your cousin, John, is making a million a year…” At that moment, Serenity interrupted him with a tap on the screen, knowing full well that Granddad tended to brag about every little accomplishment of his children and grandchildren. It was as if he needed the world to know how remarkable his family was, and it certainly fed his ego.

Despite having successful descendants like John, Granddad had the audacity to expect Serenity to cover the hotel and gas expenses. Did he think she was a pushover? Granddad’s eyes widened in disbelief as he found himself interrupted mid-rant, and anger quickly bubbled to the surface. Stifling the urge to smash his phone, he exclaimed, “That b*tch, Serenity, hung up on me!”

Mike chimed in, “She probably blocked my number.” Granddad continued, “Does she think refusing my calls absolves her from paying? Do you know where the sisters are working? They need to show up and contribute to your grandmother’s medical expenses.”