“The sun is getting hotter, and you risk sunstroke,” Duncan remarked as he raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow. “When I first arrived here, it was still shady.”

As time passed, the sun gradually moved to a position directly overhead, leaving them exposed.

“There are water and paper towels in the back of my wheelchair,” Duncan added.

Zachary quickly grabbed the bag hanging from the back of the wheelchair, opened it, and pulled out a bottle of water, which he handed to Duncan. He then took out a box of tissues, handed several to Duncan to help wipe his sweat, and advised, “If you want to practice walking, you need to choose the right time—preferably in the morning or evening when the sun isn’t as harsh and it’s cooler. Also, you shouldn’t be alone; if something happens, no one will know.”

The backyard of the Lewis mansion was filled with trees, providing some shade and relative coolness.

Duncan wiped his face, drank half the bottle of water, and said, “I have my mobile phone, but I can’t hold it anymore. I’ll call them to come push me back to the house.”

“Zachary, I want to recover quickly, stand up, and walk again. I want to pursue Liberty once more.”

Duncan’s anxiety stemmed from his feelings for Liberty.

Although Hank was in the ICU, Duncan felt secure knowing that no one would take Liberty from him since she was improving. However, he worried that while he was unwell, other complications might arise in Liberty’s life.

Duncan wouldn’t feel truly safe until he married Liberty.

“Duncan, I understand your desire to stand up and return to normal, but you can’t rush it. The doctor has advised that you need to rest before starting rehabilitation. If you push yourself too hard, it could backfire. And what about my sister? She’s doing well,” Zachary reassured him.

You don’t need to worry about new suitors for her right now; she’s focused on starting a business and making money. She doesn’t have the time or inclination to think about relationships and has repeatedly stated that she doesn’t want to remarry,” Zachary reassured his friend.

However, Duncan remained concerned. People’s feelings can change over time. Although she doesn’t want to marry again at the moment, what if she meets a man she genuinely likes, someone who would accept Sonny and treat him as his own child? That could alter her perspective.

“Why do you have the time to visit today?” Duncan shifted the topic. “Did your wife not join you?”

Duncan soon realized something was off with Zachary. He was known for being devoted to his wife, often working and spending time with Serenity. On weekends, when he wasn’t working, he was usually by her side, so it was unusual for him to visit Duncan alone.

With a somber expression, Zachary replied, “Don’t bring it up. My wife has been taken away from me. I feel as miserable as you do; the woman I love is not with me.”

Duncan turned to Zachary, astonished and incredulous. “Who could possibly be strong enough to take your wife away? Is he more handsome and interesting than you, and does he truly love Serenity?”

In Duncan’s eyes, Zachary was the man who loved Serenity the most.

Zachary offered a wry smile. “It’s not a man; it’s a woman. She’s incredibly strong and far better than I am, and she managed to take my wife away. Now, my wife has changed her phone number without informing me. She doesn’t respond to my messages and is completely ignoring me.”

From Liberty, Zachary understood why his grandmother would punish him. It turned out he had been consistently complaining about Serenity.

He angered his grandmother, who believed he didn’t understand right from wrong. To teach him a lesson about neglect, she kidnapped Serenity. He remarked, “Grandma doesn’t act without reason; there’s always a motive.” However, he was taken aback when he realized that his brief complaints led his grandmother to feel sympathy for Serenity. It became clear that, in his grandmother’s eyes, the granddaughter-in-law was of utmost importance. To her, the granddaughter-in-law warranted compassion, while the grandson required correction.