At the bottom of the file, I saw something that stabbed straight into my heart. It was Clara and Marvin’s wedding photo.
There they stood, an entire family of eight, with my in-laws and even my own parents in the picture. All of them were smiling and glowing with happiness.
I had taken the fall for her, carried the burden of a criminal record and willingly given up my freedom, only to become nothing more than a stranger, left with absolutely nothing.
I closed the file, my heart completely numb. At that moment, I finally made up my mind.
"Theo, help me overturn my conviction."
"Not only that, I'll go to the Stargazer Continent."
Theo had been a businessman before his arrest. He was imprisoned for excessive self-defense. Even back in prison, he had tried to recruit me multiple times.
However, at that time, my entire world had revolved around Clara.
Now that I had finally come to my senses, he was nothing but thrilled.
"It took you long enough! Women, especially the difficult ones, are the most worthless things in the world!"
On the day of my younger brother’s wedding, Marvin and all six of his children showed up.
He was dressed in a navy-blue suit. He looked energetic and proud.
His children were also wearing formal clothes. The girls were like miniature versions of Clara, while the boys bore an uncanny resemblance to Marvin.
Even Clara was wearing a luxurious apricot yellow evening gown. Her gown perfectly matches Marvin and the children's clothes.
I laughed bitterly to myself.
Clara had always claimed she hated wearing a luxurious evening gown. Now, I just realized that she did not hate it. She actually did not want to wear a matching outfit with me.
My in-laws hovered around the children, their eyes filled with love and affection.
They fussed over them because they worried the children would trip or bump into something. Although they were so tired that sweat covered their body, they kept making sure that the children stayed safe. However, it was clear, they enjoyed every moment of it.
Marvin handed my brother a bank card and said, "There is one hundred and forty-eight thousand and five hundred dollars in the card. I wish you and your wife a lifetime of happiness."
My mother’s eyes lit up as she quickly accepted the card on my brother’s behalf. "You're so generous! No wonder you were able to give the Jameson Family six grandchildren!"
As she spoke, she shot me a disdainful glance and snorted. "You're so different with someone. Although he had the same blood running in his veins he only gave the bride and the groom thirteen hundred and thirty-three dollars. He even said the important thing is the attention. What a cheapskate!"
My brother smirked, then pulled the money out of my red envelope right in front of me and after he tossed the empty envelope to the ground, he stomped on it a few times. "What’s this supposed to be? Do you take me as a joke?"
Their behavior chilled me to the bone.
Although thirteen hundred and thirty-three dollars was not much, it was everything I had secretly saved up through hard labor in prison.
Now, aside from that, I had barely fifteen dollars left to my name.
I frowned but said nothing.
Just then, the oldest boy walked up to me, stared at me for a full minute before letting out a mocking snort and said, "So you’re that ex-convict? You’re so ugly and you still had the nerve to steal my mom? Outrageous!"
Then he turned and waved at the other children. "Come quick! This is the bad man who made everyone call us bastards at school!"
Marvin crouched down. He used his hand to cover the boy’s mouth and chided, "Robert, don’t say that! Hurry! Apologize to your uncle!"
Though he rebuked the child, there was no sincerity in his expression at all.
Instead, his reaction only triggered the elders’ protective instincts. They immediately jumped in, pointing fingers at me as if I were truly the villain here.
Hearing the commotion, Clara, who was chatting with the other, finally walked over.
She stroked Robert Jameson’s head gently, her face filled with heartache as she apologized, It’s Mommy’s fault, sweetie, for making you go through this."
"However, from now on, in the eyes of the law, Uncle Luke will officially be your father. No one will ever dare call you an illegitimate child again!" she added.
A slightly smaller boy than Robert suddenly burst into tears.
My in-laws rushed to his side and their voices filled with affection. "What’s wrong, my precious baby? Grandma’s little Colin? Are you feeling sick?"
Between sobs, Colin Jameson pointed straight at me and said, "Our teacher said that only bad people go to jail."
