A moment later, Dylan said, “Are you hungry, Nana? Let’s head back for breakfast. Zack’s making it.“He truly treats Serenity well. Rarely do we have the chance to taste his cooking, but she can have it every day.”Dylan sounded jealous of Serenity. Zachary was really devoted to her. Grandma May stood up with Dylan’s support. She gestured for him to move the speaker back into the house. She said, “Are you jealous of Zack and Seren’s relationship? You can be the object of envy too.”Dylan followed Grandma May back to the main house along with the speaker. He said, “I’ve never seen the woman you picked for me, Nana. How will I know if I can get along with her? Besides, I’m involved with another woman in my dream.“I don’t know who I’ll marry in the end. If I marry the one you chose, I might betray her, because the woman in my dream isn’t her.“This is too hard, Nana.”Grandma May said, “Everything will fall into place eventually. You’ll know how to make your choice when the t
However, those ladies were not as healthy as Grandma May. Despite being old, she often traveled by plane to pick wife candidates for her grandsons. ‘We’re unfilial,’ Dylan thought. If his nana had not given them the task, he would have gotten married after he turned thirty-five years old instead of twenty-eight. Although he was envious of Zachary and Serenity’s happy marriage, he preferred freedom and being unrestrained. Grandma May had most likely guessed their thinking and knew they would only wed after hitting thirty. Therefore, she tasked them with pursuing their wives. “Nana can stay in shape by dancing. Besides, her dancing at home won’t disturb anyone.”Zachary was aware that Grandma May had learned dancing from the old ladies in group dancing sessions. The elderly had always led a carefree life, unrestrained by their status or identity. As her grandsons, they simply wished for her happiness and supported anything she did that brought her joy. “Why were you lookin
Zachary asked, “What is Nana’s take on the matter?” “Nana told me to verify it myself. She’s washing her hands off it.” Dylan murmured, “I’m starting to question whether I’m really her grandson. Is she trying to push me to become the first guy in the family to get divorced?“I bet Nana’s itching to beat someone with her cane. We’ve been very well-behaved, so she doesn’t have an excuse to discipline us. She would have a legit reason to beat me up by turning me into a cheater.” Zachary burst into laughter. He said with a smile, “Nana would make you feel sorry you ever said that.” “I’m not wrong.” “Can’t you combine Nana’s choice for you with the woman in your dreams?” “How can I do that? They are two different people. They don’t even look the same,” Dylan mumbled. Zachary replied, “Special effects makeup is a thing now. Cheryl, who married into the Johnsons, specializes in that. You might want to look into it. While you’re at it, you could consider a hyper-realistic mask too
Zachary went upstairs. He pushed the bedroom door and walked in to hear Serenity gagging in the bathroom. Today was no exception. As soon as Serenity woke up, she had to go and throw up in the bathroom. “Seren.” Zachary rushed over and approached Serenity from behind. He gave her gentle rubs on the back while feeling sorry for her. “Your morning sickness is happening every day. The baby’s not letting you rest.” The child might be a naughty one. “Pregnancy is a different experience for everyone. A difficult one with morning sickness does not dictate a child's personality.”Serenity stood up for her unborn child. After puking, Serenity washed her hands while Zachary grabbed a tissue to wipe her mouth. “I wish I could bear the morning sickness for you.” “If you can do that, you might as well take over the whole pregnancy and save us women from childbirth.” Zachary was speechless. He helped Serenity out of the bathroom and sat her down on the bedroom sofa. He then pour
Minutes later, Serenity changed her clothes and went downstairs with Zachary, hand in hand. Dylan and Grandma May were having breakfast in the dining room. As the couple entered the space, he stopped eating and rose to his feet. “Hi, Serenity.” “Morning.” Serenity was used to the respect she got from Zachary’s cousins and brothers. She knew that they respected her because of Zachary. She gestured for Dylan to sit down. “Nana,” Serenity greeted. Grandma May lovingly asked, “Do you feel better today?” “Same as always. I wonder if things will be better in a month.” “They will.” Grandma May looked at Zachary. Her grandson must feel bad about Serenity’s persistent morning sickness. “Seren, Zachary got up early and made you breakfast. Thanks to you, I get breakfast too.” Grandma May smiled. “Don’t make it as though I’m a bad grandson, Nana. We will always cook for you if you ask,” Zachary refuted. Dylan complained to Serenity, “Look at Zachary. He’s so petty. He d
Snapping out of his thoughts, Sam answered, “I’ll bring the car around, ma’am.” “Go on. I won’t be back for dinner. I’ll return tomorrow. Let Zachary know when he comes back,” Grandma May urged. “Got it, ma’am.” She was always out and about, so Sam was used to it. Grandma May did not have to pack to go home. Out she walked with only her phone.Sam had a car brought to the driveway. She wanted to drive, but Sam was not going to have it. Even though Grandma May was in good health, she was getting old. Sam could not afford her getting into accidents on the road. Moreover, Grandma May loved the adrenaline rush of speeding. Zachary and the rest of the family had warned Sam and his team that under no circumstances could Grandma May drive. “Alright. I just can’t wait to get home. I won’t fight you on this. I won’t drive.” Since Grandma May could not argue over Sam, she relented. The household helper was stubborn when it came to her safety, and it was under Zachary’s orders
Julian gleefully said hello to all the kids, then invited them to have a buffet breakfast at the hotel café. Since the kids had been staying at Wiltspoon Hotel for a few days now, they were familiar with the place. They walked ahead in droves, knowing where to get breakfast. Julian and Quinn followed behind the kids. Seeing the children happy, Quinn said with a smile, “I envy them. They are a lot happier than I was when I was a kid. I competed frequently at their age. My father wouldn’t take me anywhere for fun. “The best I got was a free trip to the park after the competitions. I would get ice cream there too. I had to go straight home after though.” Now, Quinn would pay out of her pocket to give the kids a fun experience. Of course, she was enjoying it too. It was a rare trip, and she wanted to make the most out of it for herself. “You’re a great coach. Your students respect you.” Julian complimented, “Your sacrifices won’t go unnoticed. Your students will remember
“Don’t worry. I will promote your family gym after I learn from you. I won’t do anything to break the law.” Julian, who was a good fighter, pretended like he was a defenseless man. He showed his interest in joining the Crawfords’ gym. That way, he could be with Quinn every day and she was bound to fall in love with him. Only Quinn could make him feel like a man again. He was determined to keep her for himself, and not lose her to someone else.Quinn tilted her head and looked at Julian. While walking, she said with a smile, “You’re a little old, so training can take time. If you’re interested in building strength and nothing else, you can ask my dad or my brother if they would accept you as a student.” Julian asked, “You’re not going to teach me?” “I usually teach kids. My dad teaches the adults. As I’ve told you, late learners usually take up self-defense for fitness. My dad can teach you the basics. “The basics go a long way. You always work behind the desk. You will fee
“A baby’s face changes almost every day. We’ll only know who he takes after when he’s a little older.”Serenity agreed. “I should call Elisa and share this news with her.”Jasmine probably did not have time to tell her friends about her newborn. Serenity also forgot to inform Elisa because she was too worried about Jasmine. Zachary told her to call Elisa only after they were inside the car. There were too many people in the hospital. Serenity held back her excitement and immediately called Elisa when she got in the car. Elisa was extremely busy at the company. She was the only one who could manage their joint company at that moment because Serenity and Jasmine were pregnant. Even if they wanted to return to the company to work, Elisa would not allow them. Rest was of utmost importance for pregnant women. Elisa was unmarried and not pregnant. She did not mind being busier. She only picked up Serenity’s call after some time.“Seren.”Elisa held the phone in her left h
“All that matters is that you’re okay, honey. Let’s not have more children. We’ll just have this one son.”Josh spoke while holding Jasmine’s hand.Women had to experience immense pain when giving birth. It came with many risks as well. Josh had heard other people saying that a woman usually had one foot in the grave during childbirth.He was genuinely shocked after accompanying Jasmine through her labor. He had been terrified and worried that something would happen to Jasmine.Luckily, everything ended well. Jasmine and their son were safe. However, Josh did not want to experience something like that again. Having one child was enough. There was no need for a second or third child. The Buchams were a big family anyway. He did not have to bear the responsibility of expanding the family alone.“Okay. We shall not have another baby.”Although Jasmine was brimming with motherly love and recovery from a vaginal delivery was quicker, she still thought childbirth was too
It was not just Camila. The rest of the people there also had the same thought. Josh and Jasmine had a great relationship. If something happened to Jasmine, Josh would be devastated and lose all hope of living.“Congratulations. The mother has given birth to a boy safely. The baby boy is six pounds and three ounces.”The people who brought Josh out were the anesthetist and nurse.The nurse instinctively reported the good news when she saw the crowd.Then, she explained, “The father probably fainted from shock after the baby was born. Come over and help bring him to the side to rest. The mother won’t be out that quickly.”Upon hearing her words, everyone’s mood brightened up.Camila, whose legs felt weak just now, was immediately filled with strength and stood up. Without Drake's help, she went to the nurse and asked, “Does the baby need to be in the incubator since he was born prematurely?”The nurse replied, “We’ll put the baby in the incubator and observe him for a while. If
Zachary was also worried that Serenity would go into premature labor out of shock. He also persuaded her to go for her checkup in a gentle voice. They could not do anything but wait anyway.Serenity finally decided to conduct her prenatal checkup first. Zachary accompanied her. Just moments after they left, the door to the delivery suite opened. A nurse stood there and shouted, “Is Jasmine Sox’s husband here?”“Yes. I’m her husband,” replied Josh quickly. He dashed to the nurse. “You must save Jas, doctor. Save the mother no matter what.”His family members behind him also echoed, “That’s right. No matter what happens, you have to save Jasmine.”The nurse said, “The mother is fine. It’s just that she wants her husband to accompany her as she’s in a lot of pain.”Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.Josh was about to rush inside but was stopped by the nurse.She asked him to change his clothes before taking him inside the delivery suite.Jasmine was wailing in pain. When
With advanced medical technology, a premature baby could still be healthy if taken good care of in the incubator. Serenity said, “Jasmine should be at thirty-five weeks. I just don’t understand why she would suddenly go into labor. Did she fall at home?“Or did she eat something that made her go into labor?”Zachary said, “That’s most likely not the case. Josh’s cousin is Jasmine’s dietician and keeps an eye on her food every day. There’s no way Jasmine would’ve eaten something bad unless she ate it secretly.”Serenity and Zachary suddenly went silent. Pregnant women had weird appetites. Once they had a craving, they could not go unsatisfied. Sometimes, they would even crave fruits that were not in season. Serenity herself was one of them. Once, she woke up in the middle of the night craving mac and cheese. Of course, Zachary, the ever-doting husband, had to satisfy her request. However, where could he find mac and cheese at that hour?Ultimately, he had to drive to the
People would reap what they had sown. They would have to bear the consequences of their actions. Sometimes, interfering in another person’s fate would backfire. After chatting for some time, Serenity said, “I have to go for my checkup now, Liberty. Let’s talk again when you’re free another day.“By the way, I’ll get someone to bring Sonny to you this weekend. He misses you.”“Okay,” said Liberty. After the call ended, Serenity put her phone into her bag and stood up. She told the man behind the office desk, “It’s almost time, babe. Let’s go.”“Okay. I’m almost done.”Zachary quickly signed and stamped a document before closing it. He walked over with the document in hand. Serenity and Zachary left the office together. He handed the document to his secretary. The secretary did not expect him to pass the document to him personally. He had thought of entering Zachary’s office to request it later. The secretary watched Zachary and Serenity leave. He could not believe
Lilian often messed with the medicinal herbs her master cultivated, which led to her being chased and scolded by him.It seemed her son had inherited her restless nature.“How’s Sonny been lately?”Liberty had been on edge these past few days because Caroline had been preparing to lure her three brothers into a trap and had not had time to call her son.“Same as usual, but it seems like things have soured again with the Browns.”Serenity added, “Sonny still answers when Hank calls him, but he doesn’t seem happy when his grandparents visit. He doesn’t like going to the Browns’ place, and he doesn’t want to take their calls either.“Hank’s mother and sister are truly incorrigible. They must have been badmouthing you and Duncan in front of Sonny again, which is why he’s upset with them.”During the holidays, Sonny had stayed with the Browns for a few days and started to warm up to them.However, who would have thought that the mother and daughter would start spouting nonsense in f
Once the baby was born, he would apply the knowledge he had learned over the past few months to care for the baby. He was determined to be a competent and responsible father.Serenity released her arms from around him and shifted to her side.Zachary let go, too, allowing her to turn.Then, she planted countless gentle kisses on his face.“Babe, with you here, the baby and I will be just fine. Don’t worry too much,” Serenity comforted softly after kissing him.“You are my rock. If even you are nervous, I’ll start feeling anxious too, and that won’t be good.”Hearing this, Zachary immediately said, “Seren, don’t worry. I’ll protect both of you. Alright, I won’t be so nervous anymore.”He gently touched her rounded belly again. “Lil’ Bun should be a calm kid. He’s not that mischievous.”He felt that the baby’s movements were not too intense.Serenity wanted to tell him that there were times when the baby kicked more vigorously, but she decided against it, knowing it would only m
“Just hit the gym a few more times. Lately, you’ve been spending less time there.”Every day after work, he would come home and orbit around her. As a result, he had less time to work out.It was normal to gain a few pounds eating well and exercising less. Did he really think he could eat anything without gaining weight?The reason he could maintain a model-like physique before was that he exercised daily.“Ow.” Serenity suddenly cried out in pain.This startled Zachary so much that he nearly jumped up, asking anxiously, “Is it stomach pain? Are you going into labor? Let’s go to the hospital right away.”He was about to pick her up, but Serenity stopped him by pressing his hand.“Don’t be so nervous, Zachary. It's not time yet. It’s not happening so soon. It’s just the baby kicking again. His kicks are getting stronger.”As she entered the later stages of pregnancy, the little one inside her was growing stronger. Sometimes, a couple of kicks from the baby could actually hurt.