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Novel Catalog
Chapter 7
Zachary stepped into the Rolls Royce, his mind still lingering on the events of the day. In a hushed but commanding tone, he instructed the driver, “Don’t forget to bring around the national car I bought.” This was all just a show, a way to deceive his new wife, but then again, what was her name? He snapped his fingers, trying to recall it. “Oh right, what was her name again?” He couldn’t be bothered to dig out the marriage license. It was probably still with Nana. Anyhow, the papers weren’t in his possession right now, and frankly, he didn’t have the energy to care. The bodyguard, always attentive, spoke up, “The young missus is Serenity Hunt. She’s twenty-five this year. You might want to remember that, Sir.” Zachary’s memory was sharp, but when it came to people he wasn’t fond of, especially women, he often blocked them out. He probably wouldn’t even recognize her name if they met every day. “Sure. Got it,” he replied, his tone nonchalant. The bodyguard, realizing he wouldn’t waste any more time explaining things, nodded and said no more.
The journey from Wiltspoon Hotel to Brynfield was a quick one, just ten minutes. The luxury sedan convoy made its way smoothly through the streets until it reached the neighborhood gate. Zachary, however, opted to drive the national MPV into the area himself. Even though he couldn’t remember his new wife’s name, he definitely remembered the property he had purchased. He knew this was his space. Soon enough, Zachary arrived at the entrance of the house, but as he got out, something caught his eye—a pair of slippers lying carelessly at the door. They looked familiar, and as his gaze lingered on them, a sense of realization washed over him. Those were his slippers. But why were they discarded like that? It could only have been Serenity.
His anger simmered beneath the surface. While Zachary had been grateful to Serenity for saving Nana, that initial goodwill had quickly faded. Nana’s constant praises of Serenity and her insistence on the marriage had made Zachary suspicious. At this point, he viewed Serenity as nothing but a scheming woman. Although he had reluctantly married her to please Nana, Zachary had made it clear that he would observe her behavior closely. He was determined to keep his identity hidden for a while. If she turned out to be a worthy partner, then he would accept her as his wife. But if she proved to be manipulative, he would ensure that she got what was coming to her. No one crossed Zachary and got away with it.
Frustrated, Zachary pulled out his keys and tried to unlock the door, but to his dismay, it wouldn’t open. He cursed under his breath. Serenity had locked him out of his own house! He had let her in, and yet she had locked him out. His temper flared, and without thinking, he kicked the door, the sound echoing in the still night. At the same time, he pulled out his phone and tried calling Serenity, his patience running thin. After their earlier encounter, he had saved her contact in his phone, adding “spouse” next to her name as a reminder. He wouldn’t forget her, even if he couldn’t recall her name right away. There was no way he was going to delete her contact again.
Inside the house, Serenity was jerked awake by the loud banging at the door. Her mind was foggy as she tried to process the noise. Who could be knocking on her door in the middle of the night like this? She was never a morning person, and being woken up by loud, persistent banging only made her more irritable. Throwing off the covers in frustration, she stormed out of her bedroom, still in her pajamas. Her phone, of course, was still in her room, so she had no idea Zachary had called. “Who is it? Why are you knocking on my door when you should be sleeping?” Serenity demanded, already annoyed. She swung the door open, ready to give whoever was on the other side a piece of her mind. But the moment she saw who it was, her words caught in her throat. Zachary stood there, his piercing gaze fixed on her. Serenity found herself staring at him for a moment, trying to make sense of what was happening. After a beat, she finally managed to put on a nervous smile, but it was clear that the sudden appearance of her new husband had thrown her off balance. “Oh, it’s you, Mr. York,” she said, embarrassed by the situation.
Zachary, his frustration already at a boiling point, didn’t even acknowledge her apology. His anger simmered as she failed to answer his call earlier. Without a word, he brushed past her and walked into the house, his face set in a scowl. Serenity, slightly dazed by the whole exchange, stuck her tongue out at his back. This was the aftermath of a marriage that had been forced upon her.
She stood there for a moment, watching him as he entered, before noticing the slippers by the door again. She bent over and picked them up, a little irritated. So, this was how things were going to be. She put the slippers inside the house and locked the door behind her.
