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Novel Catalog
Chapter 80
The family gathered together and enjoyed the watermelon in front of the TV, the atmosphere light and filled with casual chatter. Soon, the Browns retired to their rooms for the night, having spent a long day together. They were staying at Hank and Liberty’s place for a few days, now that Serenity had moved out, leaving an extra room for them to stay in. However, with Serenity no longer around to help with the housework while Liberty took care of the child, the house didn’t seem as organized as before. The kitchen, for example, was a little more cluttered, and there was a certain messiness in the air that hadn’t been there previously. Liberty, though, did her best to manage the groceries, cooking, and caring for Sonny, but the absence of Serenity’s help made it all feel much harder.
Before retreating to bed, Chelsea subtly pulled Hank aside, her voice low. “Serenity and her husband brought a lot of things tonight. Liberty was so angry she carried the bags into her room. I took a look inside, and there’s some good stuff in there.” Chelsea’s eyes glinted mischievously as she continued, “I saw cigarettes and alcohol. You should give some to your brother-in-law. Liberty doesn’t smoke or drink, and you don’t need them either. You can give the cigarettes to him, and the alcohol—well, Dad hasn’t tried that yet. You should give it to him.” Hank burst into laughter, clearly entertained by his sister’s words.
“Just take whatever you want, Chelsea,” he said with a grin. “Give your baby a bath and get to bed. I’m not working late tomorrow, so I’ll take all of you on a drive.” Chelsea’s face lit up at the suggestion, and she happily agreed before heading to her room.
By the time Hank entered his bedroom, Sonny was already asleep, his small figure nestled under the covers. Liberty was just getting out of the shower and gave Hank the cold shoulder as she sat on her side of the bed, turning in for the night. The tension between them was palpable. Hank approached the bed and sat down beside it, his gaze lingering on his son’s peaceful face. Despite the strain in his marriage, his love for his son remained unwavering.
“There’s something I need to discuss with you, Liberty,” Hank said, his voice laced with frustration. He couldn’t help but glance at Liberty’s figure, the sight of her making him think of Jessica’s slender waistline. It stirred up a mix of disdain and resentment in him. He exhaled deeply and focused on his son, stroking Sonny’s face with tenderness. “My sister wants to send her eldest two to a school here. They’ll be living at our place. You’ll help with the cooking, pickups, and drop-offs. You’re already cooking every day anyway, so what’s a few extra mouths to feed?”
Liberty didn’t even look up at him, her tone flat and dismissive. “What do you want?” she asked.
Hank continued, his voice indifferent but firm. “I’ll add a thousand dollars to your monthly allowance. The kids won’t take up much of the expenses, so that should be enough. We’re in the catchment area for Wiltspoon Wood High. We can either take guardianship of Chelsea’s kids or transfer the title deed to my sister’s name. Once the kids have graduated, the house will come back to my name. It’s my sister, Liberty. We can trust her. There’s no concern about her refusing to give back the house.”
Liberty had kept her resentment bottled up all night, but Hank’s words were the final straw. She had been willing to let go of the tension and avoid another fight with him, but his casual, matter-of-fact tone only stirred the anger that had been simmering inside her all evening. She could feel the walls closing in, the unfairness of it all making her blood boil. The tension in the room thickened, and she turned her back to him, her arms crossed as she lay down on the bed.
She had been expected to handle everything at home, while Hank didn’t seem to understand the challenges she was facing. Now, he was telling her how it would be, how she would take on even more responsibility—without any regard for her own feelings or what she was already doing.
