Romance

“Let’s go.” 

Zachary drew close and faintly uttered. 

“Kay.” Serenity went with him. 

As the couple walked together without a word, Serenity wanted to make conversation. However, that ever solemn and tensed face with an invisible “keep out” sign on that forehead of his was off-putting.  

His talent would go to waste if he did not become a school teacher. With a face like that, he could easily keep the children in check.  

A short while later, they arrived at the market. Serenity directed Zachary to park the car in an empty lot. After getting down from the car, she told him, “Come on. Let’s have breakfast.” 

Without a word, Zachary followed behind her. 

The great Zachary York was out of place for his first trip to the market, but he rolled with it and hid his discomfort from Serenity. 

The pair ordered a bagel sandwich each, and Serenity requested extra toppings for herself. Still

Zachary watched as Serenity picked the flowers and haggled with the florist. She lowered the price by half from fifty bucks for a potted plant. Not to mention, she made it seem like the florist would not get a better deal than what she was offering. It was intriguing, to say the least. 

He was not one to look at the price tag or bargain when shopping. 

Too bad for the florist though because his wife could drive a hard bargain. The look on the florist’s face was priceless. 

After paying up, Serenity carried the flowerpots one by one into Zachary’s car. 

At first, Zachary stood by the car and watched but later realized he was standing out for the wrong reasons as the girl was doing the heavy lifting herself. He then helped Serenity transport the flowers until his vehicle was filled to the brim. 

It was a good thing the florist gave them some flattened cardboard to lay on the seats. That was better than getting his seats soiled. 

“Do you need anything else?” Zachary asked his wife as he got into the car. 

“The car is too full to put anything else. That’s it for today. It won’t take a day or two to furnish a place. I’ll take my time to get the stuff and decorate our house.” 

With Serenity buckling up, she whipped out her phone to look at the time. She then said to Zachary, “Let’s head back. I need to make a trip to my sister’s later.” 

Zachary quietly started the car. 

“Mr. York.” 

“Yes?” 

“Nana and your parents are coming to visit on the weekend. Can I ask my sister to come along with her husband for dinner? My sister’s family is all I got. Even though we didn’t marry for love, we should meet each other’s family.” 

Otherwise, their families would be oblivious if they ever bumped into each other on the streets. 

Serenity had grandparents, aunts, and uncles living in the rural area, but they did not take too kindly to Serenity and Liberty as they were girls. After Serenity’s parents passed away in a car crash, none of the family members stepped up to take the sisters in. However, these family members did not hesitate to walk away with a share of the parents’ life insurance. 

The house left behind by Serenity’s parents was occupied by her grandparents. Serenity did not bother returning to her parent’s home, nor did she see the grandparents as family. 

Despite refusing to take in the girls when their parents passed away, the grandparents had the nerve to demand support funds when Liberty got married. The sisters called their grandparents out on hypocrisy while Liberty stood firmly on her ground, stopping her husband from paying the grandparents to make the problem disappear. 

In the end, the grandparents stormed off in a fuss without receiving a penny. They did not attend Liberty’s wedding either. 

In Serenity’s eyes, Liberty was her parent and guardian. 

Zachary did not refuse and replied faintly, “Yes, of course. Let your sister know to meet my family here on Saturday.” 

“Sure.” 

Soon, they were back at Brynfield. 

With the car parked downstairs, Serenity worked her muscles and started moving the potted plants upstairs while Zachary sought help from the neighborhood security guards. He gave the security guards a lump sum to move these potted plants up. 

There was no need to strain themselves if a problem could be solved with money. 

Although Serenity thought Zachary was careless with his money, it was not her place to point that out since they were still strangers to each other. In a way, she could take it as him trying to be nice and take the load off her. The money spent was kind of worth it, she guessed. 

One corner of the balcony was quickly filled with flowers. 

Zachary walked the security guards to the door while Serenity tried to visualize her concept at the balcony. The balcony was huge. Even though she bought a trunk full of plants, they only occupied a corner. The flower stands had not been put up, and she was running out of time. She would have to get to it after getting off work early later today. 

“What’s the matter?” 

“The balcony is too big. I’m not getting the picture I’m visualizing.” 

Zachary took a glance around. Yeah, she was right. His voice was flat. “What visuals are you expecting? Are you thinking about a mini garden?” 

Serenity bobbed her head. 

“Are you going to your sister’s now? You should head over. I’ll head back to the florist and get more flowers.” 

Serenity looked at the time and asked, “What time do you start work? 

“I can leave for work a little later.” 

“I’m taking a trip back to my hometown after meeting your parents this weekend. I want to chop down a few bamboos to make the rails.” 

Zachary replied faintly, “No need, I’ll get someone to install the rails tomorrow.” 

The lady of the York house wanted to go all the way to her hometown to chop down some bamboo and haul them back for laundry-airing purposes. The only person who could come up with this is Serenity. 

“Sure. Thanks.” 

“This is also my home.” 

“Yeah,” Serenity answered before carrying her laundry to her bedroom. She pushed open her bedroom door before turning around to look at Zachary, “If you want, you can leave your dirty clothes out after shower. I’ll wash your clothes when I’m doing my laundry.” 

“It’s fine. Thank you. I’ll get someone to deliver two washing machines tomorrow. It’d be easy to have a washing machine in each of our bathrooms.” 

“Alright. Tell me how much you pay for the washing machines. I’ll split with you.” 

Serenity could not let him foot the bill for the washing machines too since he had already given her a debit card for household expenses. 

Zachary faintly uttered, “Two washing machines won’t cost a lot. I can afford a little over ten thousand bucks. Besides, they’re white goods for our house.” 

In case she thought he was horrible with household planning, Zachary added. “I’m usually busy with work, so I send my clothes to the dry cleaners. That’s why I didn’t get a washing machine.” 

It was not a question of the incapability of managing a house, but simply because Zachary did not take a lot of things into account, nor is he knowledgeable about quotidian needs. For the past thirty years, he had lived in true fashion the comfortable life of an heir. Even so, Zachary would do as much as he could by himself. 

The laundry though, was something he had never attempted before. 

“Got it.” 

Serenity understood that highly skilled white collars often made do with life due to their busy schedule. They did not have time to think about their daily necessities. 

“Get some early rest, Mr. York.” 

Serenity entered her room before shutting and locking the door behind her. 

Zachary glowered at the click of the door locking. He believed she was keeping her guard up against him. Nevertheless, he soon realized that they were even, since he too locked his bedroom door and closed the window when he slept at night. 

In a way, they had a good system going on. 

Serenity set her boundaries while he set his. They respected one another and gave each other space to breathe. 

Most notably, Serenity never expected him to fulfill his part of the marital duty. 

A moment later, Zachary whipped out his phone to call Sam, the butler. With the call connecting, Zachary solemnly instructed, “Sam, get two washing machines delivered to Brynfield. You can decide on the brand. Don’t make it too expensive or too cheap.” 

Sam respectfully heeded the request. 

Zachary hung up and stared at the shut door. He then got up and returned to his room. 

The night passed amid the silence. 

The following morning at six o’clock, Zachary was woken up by a call. 

He grabbed his phone for a look. It was Serenity calling him. Although annoyed, Zachary sucked it up and took Serenity’s call. 

“Are you awake, Mr. York? We agreed to get flowers at the florist at six.” 

“I’m up.” 

“I’ll wait for you. If you could hurry up.” 

“Sure.” 

Since he said he would take her there yesterday, Zachary swiftly got up, got dressed, washed up, and went out the door despite his sleepiness. 

Serenity was holding a purse, containing her phone, keys, and the debit card given by Zachary. She was going to check the account balance at the ATM later. 

She had to buy things within her means after all.

“Let’s go.” 

Zachary drew close and faintly uttered. 

“Kay.” Serenity went with him. 

As the couple walked together without a word, Serenity wanted to make conversation. However, that ever solemn and tensed face with an invisible “keep out” sign on that forehead of his was off-putting.  

His talent would go to waste if he did not become a school teacher. With a face like that, he could easily keep the children in check.  

A short while later, they arrived at the market. Serenity directed Zachary to park the car in an empty lot. After getting down from the car, she told him, “Come on. Let’s have breakfast.” 

Without a word, Zachary followed behind her. 

The great Zachary York was out of place for his first trip to the market, but he rolled with it and hid his discomfort from Serenity. 

The pair ordered a bagel sandwich each, and Serenity requested extra toppings for herself. Still, the bagel sandwich did not quell Serenity’s hunger. 

Zachary took his time with his food, observi

Chapter 20