Chapter 868
Struck by a sudden thought, Zachary turned on the lights and rushed to Serenity’s bedroom. He flung the door open and surveyed the familiar décor, noticing her belongings still scattered about.
As he inspected her closet, he discovered a few pieces of clothing were missing. However, her suitcase remained next to the wardrobe, indicating she hadn’t taken everything with her.
Zachary let out a heavy sigh of relief.
For the first time, he realized the fear of losing someone weighed heavily on him.
He sat on Serenity’s bed, running his fingers over her sheets as if he could somehow connect with her through her possessions.
“Seren…”
He softly murmured her name.
“I will show you, through my actions, that you will never hear another lie from me again! You can ignore me for a year if I ever deceive or hurt you. Actually… a year seems too long. Perhaps three months would be better.”
After contemplating, Zachary realized he might go crazy after three months without communicating with Serenity. He muttered to himself, “A week should suffice. I nearly lost my mind when you didn’t talk to me for just one day. A week would definitely push me over the edge; it’s a tough enough punishment.”
If Serenity were present, she would be at a loss for words.
Zachary lingered in her room for a while before stepping out to close the main door. He chose not to lock the house, in case Serenity woke up in the middle of the night feeling cold and longed for his warm embrace. There was a chance she might run back to him.
Of course, that was merely wishful thinking and unlikely to materialize.
Even if Serenity were open to talking, their relationship couldn’t instantly revert to its former state.
That night, Zachary slept in Serenity’s bedroom.
It was a peaceful night.
The next morning, Serenity rose early to prepare breakfast for her sister and nephew, just as she had always done.
She was still staying with her sister. After breakfast, Serenity grabbed her car keys and phone and stepped out the door.
Today, she needed to return to the shop and expedite her orders, as her clients were already requesting updates. Heartbreak was insignificant; it wouldn’t interfere with her ability to earn money. A single day was sufficient for her to process her negative emotions.
Since it was early, traffic was manageable. Serenity navigated through the streets until she reached Wiltspoon School.
Upon arriving at the shop, Serenity exited her car and noticed Mr. Charles standing outside his store with a plate in hand. He greeted her with a wave and a smile.
“Good morning, Mr. Charles. Enjoying breakfast?”
“Good morning, Serenity. I just finished mine. Have you eaten?”
“I came after breakfast. I thought you’d only open for business on the first day of school.”
With a grin, Mr. Charles replied, “The school term starts the day after tomorrow. We came early to tidy up the place and prepare for the students’ return.”
Still holding the plate, Mr. Charles stepped closer and added, “I thought you’d be closed for business.”
He and the other neighbors were aware that Serenity was Mrs. York. Mr. Charles even boasted to his wife, “I told you Serenity is destined for greatness and will rise in life, but you thought I was just talking nonsense.”
Unable to tolerate her husband’s bragging, Mrs. Charles retorted, “Why don’t you tell my fortune if you’re so skilled at it? When will I hit the jackpot and get a new husband?”
“You might as well become a fortune teller or psychic. I bet your business would thrive, even better than ours.”
Mr. Charles replied hesitantly, “It’s just a hobby.”
Regardless, he was right about Serenity, and he would have bragging rights for a long time.
Even Jasmine would embrace a life of wealth and privilege. However, her family was already well-off, so her situation did not change significantly, unlike Serenity, who experienced a true rags-to-riches transformation.