Chapter 84

**Chapter 83**

Serenity tilted her head, locking eyes with Zachary. They shared a moment of silence, gazing deeply into one another’s expressions. After a while, Zachary playfully flicked her forehead.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said.

“Are you questioning the sincerity of my words? Serenity, we will support your sister as long as she is in the right.” The York family held their values in high regard, with deep love and respect among the couples.

Throughout his upbringing, Zachary had never witnessed domestic violence. His father always asserted that men who mistreated their wives were simply losers.

“Mr. York,” Serenity inquired, her tone softening. “Can I lean on your shoulder?”

Zachary paused, a hint of hesitation in his response.

“Just for a moment,” Serenity continued, her head tilting forward as she found a comfortable spot on his shoulder.

In that instant, Serenity could feel Zachary’s body tense up. It was an unusual sensation for her, but in her current state, she craved companionship. Having a shoulder to lean on felt wonderful, helping to ease her tension.

Despite his discomfort with the sudden closeness, Zachary didn’t push her away. However, he was unsure of how to position his arms, which made Serenity smile at his awkwardness.

Suddenly, Serenity reached out to touch his face, causing Zachary to jerk back in surprise. Fortunately, she had braced herself for his reaction; otherwise, she might have fallen off the swing due to his abrupt movement.

“Serenity!” Zachary exclaimed, his expression turning serious. “Please remember our agreement and know your boundaries.”

His firm demeanor lightened Serenity’s mood. Relaxing in her seat, she took her time sipping from a glass of water, her bright eyes seemingly lost in thought as she stared into the distance.

Zachary’s soul was on display in that moment. For some inexplicable reason, Serenity’s gaze had the power to make him blush. He could sense the warmth creeping up his face, and he felt the flush intensifying.

“You’re thirty now, Mr. Zachary,” she teased playfully. “Have you never been this close to a woman before? It’s quite an exaggerated reaction to me simply touching your face.”

She chuckled to herself, thinking, ‘Grandma York has her reasons for nudging Zachary toward marriage. Without a little encouragement from family, he might still be single by the time he’s eighty.’

Despite herself, she found it amusing to flirt with him. A mere touch on his face elicited such a strong response. She wondered how he would react if she took things a step further and kissed him. The intensity of Zachary’s gaze felt like it could burn a hole right through her.

In a light-hearted mood, Serenity decided to challenge him. “Would you like to touch my face to even the score? You can go ahead and do it for twice as long,” she offered with a smile.

Zachary winced at her suggestion. He had to acknowledge that he was overreacting to such a simple gesture. An unfamiliar sensation washed over him when she leaned against his shoulder, but before he could fully process his feelings, she was gently caressing his face.

For a fleeting moment, Zachary thought she might escalate their intimacy. Her playful teasing irked him, yet his upbringing prevented him from engaging in any spiteful banter. Instead, he found himself silently calling her names in his head—“Cheeky girl!”

“Do you feel better now?” he asked, trying to regain some composure.

“Not bad,” she replied with a lightness in her voice. “I feel a lot better than before.”

Zachary gritted his teeth and hissed through clenched jaws, “You’re taking pleasure in the pain of others.”

“Ah, Mr. York, that’s quite the clever use of hyperbole,” she shot back, clearly enjoying the banter.