Chapter 12: Standing Beside Her

Monday morning began like any other.

Serenity unlocked the bookstore and switched on the lights.

Students slowly filled the aisles, browsing novels and textbooks before class.

For a while, everything felt normal.

Then the door opened.

Victoria Lang walked in again.

This time, she wasn't alone.

Three elegantly dressed women followed behind her.

Each carried an air of superiority.

"Good morning, Mrs. York," Victoria greeted with a fake smile.

"Back again?" Jasmine muttered under her breath.

"I only came to shop," Victoria replied sweetly.

"Sure you did," Jasmine whispered.

Victoria casually picked up several books before placing them on the counter.

"Wrap these for me," she ordered.

Serenity smiled politely.

"Of course."

As Serenity reached for the books, Victoria suddenly 'accidentally' knocked an expensive porcelain vase from a nearby display.

Crash!

The vase shattered across the floor.

Several customers turned toward the sound.

"Oh no," Victoria gasped dramatically.

"How careless of your staff."

Jasmine frowned.

"You knocked it over yourself."

"Did I?" Victoria asked innocently.

"I don't remember touching it."

Her friends immediately nodded.

"Neither do we."

"Maybe it was already unstable."

The customers began whispering.

Serenity looked at the broken vase.

Instead of arguing, she quietly picked up a broom.

"Whether it was an accident or not," she said calmly,

"Please step back so no one gets hurt."

Victoria frowned.

She had expected an argument.

Instead, Serenity remained composed.

"You're not going to accuse me?"

"Would that solve anything?" Serenity asked gently.

"Accidents happen."

"The important thing is making sure no one is injured."

Several customers exchanged impressed looks.

"She's handling this well," one student whispered.

"Very professionally," another agreed.

Victoria clenched her jaw.

Her plan wasn't working.

At that moment, another customer entered the bookstore.

It was Zachary.

He had taken an early lunch break after receiving a report from Ben.

The room immediately fell silent.

Victoria's expression brightened.

"Zachary!"

"Perfect timing."

"Your wife just accused me of breaking her property."

Serenity looked at him calmly.

"I never accused anyone."

Zachary glanced at the broken vase.

Then at the store's security camera mounted above the entrance.

"Ben," he said.

"Yes, Mr. York."

Ben stepped forward from outside.

"Please review the security footage."

"Immediately."

Victoria's confident smile disappeared.

"There's no need for that..."

"I think there is," Zachary replied coldly.

Within minutes, the footage played on a nearby monitor.

Every customer watched silently.

The video clearly showed Victoria intentionally knocking the vase onto the floor.

The bookstore became completely silent.

Jasmine folded her arms.

"Well... that's embarrassing."

Victoria's face turned red.

"It... it wasn't intentional!"

"The footage says otherwise," Zachary replied.

"You entered a private business.

Damaged property.

Then attempted to blame the owner."

His voice remained calm.

Yet every word carried authority.

"You'll compensate the bookstore for the damages."

"And you'll apologize to my wife."

Victoria stared at him in disbelief.

"You're choosing her over me?"

"There was never a choice," Zachary answered.

"She is my wife."

"You are merely an acquaintance."

The words struck Victoria harder than any insult.

Her eyes filled with humiliation.

Slowly, she turned toward Serenity.

"...I'm sorry."

Serenity simply nodded.

"Thank you."

"I accept your apology."

Victoria quickly paid for the damaged vase before storming out of the bookstore with her friends.

The moment they left, the customers burst into applause.

"Well handled!"

"Justice served!"

Jasmine laughed proudly.

"I wish every Monday ended like this."

After the bookstore quieted down, Serenity turned to Zachary.

"Thank you for coming."

"You didn't have to."

"Actually," Zachary replied softly,

"I did."

"My job isn't only to protect York Corporation."

"It's to protect my wife too."

Serenity felt her cheeks warm.

"You really meant that?"

"Every word."

For a brief moment, they stood smiling at one another.

Watching from the doorway, Jasmine quietly grinned.

"They're definitely falling in love," she whispered to herself.

Neither Zachary nor Serenity heard her.

But deep inside...

Both of them had already begun to realize...

That their marriage was no longer just an agreement.

It was becoming something real.