Chapter 178

Liberty was downstairs waiting for her sister.

She carried Sonny in one arm while a diaper bag and a small rucksack hung off the other. Liberty kept looking around, but she didn’t spot any new car approaching car; she was expecting Serenity on her usual e-bike.

Serenity pulled up right in front of her sister and rolled down the window.
“Liberty.”

Liberty jumped slightly, then broke into a smile. “I thought you were riding your bike today.” She knew her brother-in-law had bought Serenity a car, but this was the first time she’d actually seen her sister drive it here.

Serenity hopped out, took the diaper bag from Liberty’s shoulder, and tossed it onto the back seat. “Is everything in there? Formula is the most important.”

“It’s all there.”

Liberty passed Sonny over. Serenity scooped the little boy into her arms while Liberty leaned in to kiss his chubby cheek. “Be good for Aunt Ser, okay, baby? Mommy will be back soon.”

Sonny was very attached to his aunt, so he didn’t fuss at all. He even waved his tiny hand and chirped, “Bye-bye, Mommy!

Liberty’s smile faltered for a moment. Her baby was only two years old. Her original plan had been to wait until he was old enough for kindergarten before she went back to work. Reality, however, had forced her hand.

“Liberty, has my brother-in-law come home yet?”

It’s been days since the fight.”

Liberty’s expression dimmed. “No. He sent me a text asking me to refund the living expenses for the days he hasn’t eaten at home. He wants his ‘share’ back.”

Every little thing Hank did now cut her to the core.

She felt nothing but pain and regret that she had been so blind, married him, and had his child, only to be repaid with disgust and violence less than three years later.

“Did you send the money back?”

After a beat of silence, Liberty answered, “I did. Since he wants to split everything fifty-fifty, I won’t touch a cent that isn’t mine.”

Serenity pressed her lips together, swallowing the scathing words she wanted to hurl at her brother-in-law. She simply asked with concern, “Do you have enough money right now?”

She pulled out the two thousand dollars of “hush money” Zachary had given her and tried to slip it into Liberty’s hand. “Take this. Just tell me if you need more. Think of it as a loan.”

Liberty immediately pushed the money back. “I’m okay. I took your advice and kept half of what you gave me over the years in investments. It’s not a lot, but it’ll tide me over until I find a job.”

She was grateful now that Serenity had once told her to always keep an emergency fund. Otherwise, she’d be completely broke the moment Hank cut her off.

Since Liberty refused, Serenity tucked the cash away again and gave her sister an encouraging smile instead. “Come to the shop for lunch later, okay? I brought groceries from home. I’ll cook there.”

Zachary had basically banned takeout and threatened to have Wiltspoon Hotel deliver food every day if she didn’t cook. A single plate of vegetables from that seven-star hotel cost more than an entire fast-food combo. If he really ordered for her every day, the bill would be astronomical.

The man threw money around like it grew on trees.

Squanderer!

Still… the gesture did make her feel warm inside.

“Alright,” Liberty said. “If I’m nearby, I’ll eat at your place. If I’m far, I’ll just grab something quick.”

“Sure.”

Serenity gave her sister one last reassuring look, then buckled Sonny into the car seat (a new one Zachary had silently installed without her noticing) and drove off toward the bookshop.

Liberty watched the car disappear around the corner, took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and headed to her first job interview in years.