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Novel Catalog
Chapter 36
Zachary refused to be associated with Hank, not only because he found people like Hank a pain, but also because of Hank’s disrespect toward Liberty. Sonny was thirsty, and the milk bottle containing water was right in front of Hank on the coffee table. Instead of grabbing it, Hank called Liberty over to feed their son. This was only their first encounter, yet Zachary could already sense Hank’s contempt for Liberty, and it bothered him. Hank seemed to believe that Liberty had it easy as a stay-at-home mom. Zachary had been raised to respect women, and he could not tolerate men who disrespected their wives. Though he and Serenity had married without any feelings involved, Zachary made sure to give her the respect she deserved.
Serenity smiled. “I see. That’s all right.” She continued, “Kevin’s very articulate. Hank won’t feel left out with Kevin around.” Zachary’s third cousin, Kevin, may seem harmless at first glance, but he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, capable of striking up conversations with anyone while secretly scheming. “You can be my kitchen assistant,” Zachary said. Though he was silent about it, he stepped into the kitchen to help.
Both families were pleased to see the young couple working together in the kitchen. Liberty thought Zachary was sweet toward Serenity. During lunch, everyone praised Serenity’s cooking. The families were used to finer foods, but they found the exotic home-cooked meals to be a delightful change. The day was full of laughter and energy. After dinner, the families left, and peace returned to the humble home.
Serenity walked back inside, flopped onto the sofa, and sprawled across it. “Ow, I can barely stand up straight,” she told Zachary, who had followed her inside. He remained silent. Serenity didn’t expect him to say anything kind—it would’ve felt fake to her. Zachary quietly tidied up the living room, cleaning the mess that Sonny had made. Afterward, he entered the kitchen and put on the apron that was hanging on the hook. His next task was to wash the dishes.
“Zachary might be a man of few words, but he’s very considerate. Seren, enjoy your married life,” Liberty had said. As Serenity relaxed, she recalled the conversation with Liberty, who had approved of Zachary. Just then, an idea struck her. She jumped off the sofa and dashed to the kitchen.
She stopped short when she saw the sink full of bubbles. “Just how much dishwashing liquid did you use?” Serenity couldn’t help but laugh. Zachary, clearly embarrassed, replied, “I poured half a bottle in by accident.” He avoided her gaze, his red face betraying his embarrassment. He really had used too much. It wasn’t that he was bad at washing dishes—it had just been a long time since he’d done any house chores. As the head of the York family, Zachary had been trained in everything, but he had become a bit rusty. He had tried to rinse out the bubbles countless times before Serenity caught him. And now, he had made a mess of it.
