“I’ll ask my parents to come over. They may not be able to do much, but they can help with clearing and washing the dishes, and looking after Sonny,” he said. Embarrassed, he added, “If you’re willing to pay them a little, that’s fine, but it’s not necessary. They’re Sonny’s grandparents, and family should support one another.”
Liberty immediately countered, “That’s not necessary. Seren and Mrs. Lane will be here to help.”
If it weren’t for Sonny, she wouldn’t have any interaction with the Browns at all.
“Who is Mrs. Lane?” Hank inquired.
“That’s none of your concern,” Liberty replied sharply.
Hank coughed and then addressed Liberty, “We’ve known each other for over a decade and were once in love. Yes, I made a mistake that many men make, and I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I don’t regret the choices I’ve made.”
“But please don’t treat me like I’m a criminal. At the very least, I am still Sonny’s biological father. I’m not neglecting my child support payments either. Compared to those who abandon their responsibilities after a divorce, I consider myself one of the better fathers.”
He intended to support Sonny while he was young, hoping that Sonny would care for him in his old age.
“Mr. Brown, since you know we are no longer married, please stop claiming we are a family. If your wife heard that, she might get upset. Now that we have nothing to do with each other, why should I share my personal matters with you?”
Liberty showed Hank no mercy.
She wanted to keep her life private, aware of his attempts to uncover any benefits she might be receiving from her sister.
Hank seemed eager to improve their strained relationship, but…
He shamelessly urged her to ask Zachary to release them from their predicament. Hank was aware that the reason he and Jessica had lost their jobs and struggled to find new ones was due to Zachary’s punishment. As long as Zachary kept them in this situation, securing employment would be impossible. He could not bring himself to return to his old home in the countryside to work the land, and he adamantly refused to do so. After mentioning it once, Jessica made such a scene that he felt overwhelmed. She reminded him that she had initially been drawn to him because he owned a house in the city, had a stable job with a good income, and could earn extra money on the side. Coming from a farming village herself, she had escaped that life only with great difficulty and was not willing to go back.