MY GORGEOUS WIFE IS AN EX-CONVICT

Part 9 Continue

Yes sir." Then... "Sir, are you interested in this woman?"

***

When she got off work, Claire got a call from her father asking her to go home. He said that since she had been released from prison, she should go home to pay her respects to her mother.

Claire 's mother died when she was three.

Dad had remarried only a few months after mom died, and her stepmother gave birth to another daughter, Alexis.

It was always clear that Claire's father favored his "new" family, which led to her being sent to live with her maternal grandmother in the countryside. Claire's grandmother cared for her until third grade, but had to leave her. Fortunately, her paternal grandfather stepped in and kept her by his side.

As she'd been in college and at the top of her class, her father finally warmed to her. He eventually started to show off to others that he had a smart daughter.

When she and Sean started dating, her home life

When she and Sean started dating, her home life became the best it had ever been. Her father regarded her as an honor, and her stepmother cared about her well-being, even if only out of pretense.
Even her half sister tried to get on her good side-something that had never happened before. From the moment Alexis was born, she'd taken the role of the favorite child, and she'd scarcely bothered to even acknowledge Claire.

Dating Hendrix had been the one act that had finally made her worthy of love in her family's eyes. She knew it was only because he was the heir of the Mayer's Corporation. However, at that time, she still couldn't help but long for familial affection. She'd just wanted to be accepted by them.

To be loved.

After the car accident, she realized that everything was just her wishful thinking.

Coming home, she stepped into her father's house.

The decor was mostly the same. Pictures of the three of them. Not a single photo of her in sight.

Same couches and tables.

The living room had been painted a bright red, and the kitchen was redone with all-white cabinets with stainless steel appliances.

Claire joined her "family" in the kitchen.

Her stepmother, Amanda Fox, smiled at her. That was something, she supposed.

But no hugs or kisses or welcome's home, around here.

She listened patiently as her father and stepmother made small talk. Alexis sipped her tea and remained silent.

After a few minutes, the conversation turned toward Alexis career.

"It's not easy for your sister to get roles these days," her stepmother said.

Claire took a sip of tea. "Oh?"

Truthfully, she'd had more important things to think about these last three years-like surviving and serving out her time, and staying sane while she'd been wrongfully prosecuted, imprisoned, and beaten.

"It hasn't been easy to re-enter the entertainment industry in the wake of ... things," her stepmother continued. "And it's vital that your sister only accept good roles."

"Hmm," Claire replied absently.

"You know that our family isn't very rich, but your sister just happens to need money right now. How about... you lend some money to us first, and when your sister becomes a big star in the future, we will return it to you after she makes a lot of money?"

The real reason for being summoned home presented itself... "I don't have any money," Claire answered succinctly.

Her stepmother's expression turned stiff, but then she smiled slightly and said, "You don't have money, but Sean does. You dated him before, but as soon as you had an accident, he broke up with you. Shouldn't he make it up to you somehow?"

Were they really expecting her to beg the man who'd deserted her for scraps of money? She couldn't believe their audacity. Claire pushed back from the table. "I'm sorry, didn't you, Father, and my sister pretend like you didn't know me back then and avoid me the entire time I needed my family?"

Her father said angrily from the side, "So what? Are you here to get even with me? If you hadn't killed someone back then, your sister would have already been cast as a main actress a long time ago and would've already become a big star by now!"

Claire smiled sarcastically. Back then, when Evelyn had been chosen as the leading actress in a television drama, it was because the Mayers Corporation had been one of the investors in the TV series, and Sean had specifically asked for Alexis to be the leading actress.

Later, after Hendrix broke up with her, Evelyn's role naturally went up in smoke.

"Sis, are you still resentful that we didn't do anything for you when you were in jail?" Evelyn asked quietly.

Her features were perfect, her skin smooth. Her long manicured fingers tapped on the table.

"Because I think that's very selfish of you. Your actions damaged our family's reputation. The Mayers family. The Landford family. The Beckett, Collins, Wong. Even the Griffin. Every prominent family in this city wanted your blood for what you'd done. What could our family even do? If back then, we had really stood by your side and helped you file a lawsuit, our whole family would've also offended them."

Because powerful, wealthy families were above the law and enabled to abuse whoever they wanted on a whim? To hell with justice and the entire judiciary system.

Claire shook her head. She wouldn't waste her words or even attempt to make these people see how their actions had pained her.

In their eyes, she was the villain, not the victim.

"How could an ordinary family like ours withstand their retaliation?" Evelyn asked.

"You're right," Claire said coldly.

She was nothing to them. A means to an end. They cared nothing for her pain, her suffering. Her heartbreak. It wasn't just her trial and sentencing to prison. This disconnect had been there from the moment her mother left this earth. She was through with trying to please them. She'd never strive for their love again because they didn't have it to give. Not to her, anyway.

Her eyes burned, and she had only to squeeze her fingers for the pain of her assault to give her strength.

Claire rose from the table and smiled gently. She looked straight at her sister. "Since you couldn't stand by me when I was at my lowest, why should I bother helping to make you rich?"