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Chapter 58
Zachary, his face a shade of crimson, tried to hide his embarrassment, but it was clear to Serenity that his pride had taken quite a hit. His awkward attempt to downplay his feelings only made her more certain that he was trying to save face, not that he could admit to being flustered. “It was about a man’s pride!” he muttered defensively.
Serenity rolled her eyes, unable to hold back a scoff. She wasn’t buying his tough act. Zachary’s handsome face turned even redder, making Serenity almost want to laugh at how ruffled he was by a simple misunderstanding.
“I don’t like or love you, so why would I be jealous?” Zachary continued, his voice strained. “I couldn’t care less who you’re with unless it’s an affair.”
Serenity wasn’t having it. “You don’t need to emphasize that you don’t like or love me so many times, as if I’m somehow swooning over you. We’re roommates, pretending to be married. Honestly, I was just in a rush to move out and stop being a burden to my sister and her husband. I agreed to your nana’s plan to get a marriage license so I’d have a place to stay.”
Zachary’s expression faltered as the truth hit him like a cold wave. His house, not him as a person, was the key appeal. Serenity’s words weren’t just blunt—they were piercing.
“I mean, if you want to talk about ulterior motives, then sure, your house was a great option. Free accommodation, no rent, and my sister gets some peace of mind. But me? I don’t have any feelings for you, Zachary. None at all,” she added with an ironic tone.
Zachary was left speechless. For a moment, he just stared at her, his mind processing the blunt honesty. He never expected to hear it from her so plainly.
After a long silence, he finally managed to speak. “I stand by my marriage vows, Serenity,” he started. “But, honestly, maybe it’s better if I just stay in the house and drive the car you’d leave me after the divorce. At least then, I won’t be left with nothing.”
Serenity raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. Zachary was slowly realizing how much he had overestimated his value to her. Still, it wasn’t easy for him to admit he’d been wrong. He took a deep breath and, with some reluctance, muttered, “I’m sorry, Serenity. I misjudged you.”
She nodded, her expression softening slightly. “Just come to me if you have a problem next time, okay? Don’t lock me out like earlier. That kind of behavior will only ruin your future marriage. A relationship like that, full of silent treatments and misunderstandings, doesn’t last. Trust me, it’s only a matter of time.”
Zachary stiffened at her words but responded with a bit of tension in his voice. “I’m already in a marriage, Serenity. Our personalities don’t match.”
Serenity smirked. “I wasn’t talking about us. I meant your future marriage.”
Zachary was about to make a retort when Serenity’s words about his potential future seemed to strike him, leaving him to reflect on her advice. Even if he never admitted it aloud, her observations weren’t entirely wrong.
The thought of a divorce in six months loomed large in his mind, yet the terms of their contract hung over them both. It was clear Serenity had no feelings for him, and he had little love to offer her in return. But, despite all their differences, he had to admit that she could rely on him when it counted. He wasn’t blind to that.
“I don’t have feelings for anyone,” Serenity continued, breaking the silence between them.
Zachary’s eyes narrowed. “That sounds about right,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe if you got off your high horse for once, you’d see that there’s someone out there for you. You struck gold when you married me, you know?”
Zachary’s thoughts immediately took a turn. Gold? More like coal, he thought bitterly.
Serenity didn’t let it slide. “Well, you’re not wrong about that,” she said, not even pretending to hide her amusement. “Alright, Zachary, now that everything’s in the clear, go ahead and get some sleep.”
Though Zachary clearly disliked her mocking tone, he chose not to respond. Instead, he stormed off to his room, slamming the door behind him in frustration. Serenity, undeterred, couldn’t resist muttering under her breath, “I won’t feel bad if you break the door. This is your house, after all!”
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