Filed to story: My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Novel by Anastasia Marie
After what happened, Lily held a press conference with a sickly appearance.
At the press conference, she apologized in public and said that because the ring was given to her by her boyfriend Sean, she cherished it very much. On that day, she had thought that had been the ring she was wearing when she went out. When she was outside, a friend had alerted her that the ring was not on her hand, so she thought that it had fallen off. Therefore, in a moment of anxiety, the situation of her asking people to help her find the ring emerged.
“I’m sorry. It was because of my carelessness that so many sanitation workers had to help me find the ring. I, on the other hand, stood to the side and did not look for the ring together with them. I sincerely acknowledge my mistake.”
Lily apologized with a sincere expression. She looked as if she was on the verge of collapse and gained a lot of sympathies.
After a pause, she continued, “I’ll go to the Sanitation Service Center to express my sincere gratitude to the sanitation workers who helped me. I’ll also donate all of my income from this year’s work and use it to set up a breakfast stall. The sanitation workers
can get a free breakfast every day with their work pass.”
Once the video of the press conference was uploaded on the Internet, many people felt that Lily’s crisis had been handled well. Even the fans kept posting endlessly to help Lily regain her previous ‘darling’ image.
As a result, many people felt that this had indeed just been a misunderstanding.
Lily’s gratitude towards the Sanitation Service Center was also very impressive and even attracted many reporters.
The director of the Sanitation Service Center arranged for the sanitation workers who had looked for the ring that day to shake hands with Lily one by one and to receive gifts that she had provisioned for each of them.
Each worker had to line up for a press release in which they’d accept Lily’s gift of gratitude.
Claire took the gift and was very happy. This gift, in addition to the check for ten thousand dollars, had come with a down jacket.
Looking at the label, she saw that it was a designer brand. She contemplated whether she’d keep it or sell it online for more money.
Claire came back into the center and was surprised to see Grace. “Hey, I was wondering where you were. Hurry and go outside. Everyone is lined up from the third shift. Lily is handing out gifts and cash compensation for her mistake. You worked harder than
anyone. Go get what’s due to you.”
Claire nudged Grace, who was sitting alone on the chair.
“I don’t need it.” Grace smiled.
“This down jacket costs more than a thousand dollars. And the check is for 10k. Are you crazy?!? Why don’t you want them?” Claire couldn’t mask her disbelief.
Grace shook her head.
“I’m not sure what you’re thinking right now. Just take the things and leave, you’ll be fine,” Claire said. She directly pulled Grace up and walked towards the door.
“There’s no need, Claire. There’s really no need,” Grace said.
However, before she could release herself from Claire’s grasp, her entire person had already been pulled outside.
“There’s still one left who didn’t receive the gift!” Claire called out.
All of a sudden, the cameras and the reporters were aimed at Grace.
Grace automatically used her hands to block them.
Those cameras made her think of the time when she had been outside the court being swarmed and photographed by the media. The reporters had all been holding microphones and persistently wanting to interview her.
And Sean at that time… Grace’s eyes spotted Sean standing outside the frame of the cameras.
Three years ago, in prison, that man had stood there coldly.
When Lily had said that she was going to impair her hand, he had looked down at her fingers, which were already stained with spots of blood, and said “good” in a frosty tone.
Three years later at the country club, when his bastard friend Gregory had accosted her, he’d also stood by.
There were some things that, even after three years, remained the same.
Grace put down her hand and her heart seemed to calm down a little.
It’s okay. You’re okay.
She breathed deeply.
Lily was the one in the crossfire today, not her.
This media circus wasn’t out to condemn Grace.
Sean stepped into her line of vision. He wouldn’t break her gaze.
Although Grace looked the same as before, she seemed to have weathered many storms. She was no longer wearing high-end fashion but a fluorescent uniform.
Sean was in a daze. The scene of her crawling to him in prison, begging him to believe her appeared before his eyes again.
Back then, her gaze had been eager, hopeful, and pleading… However, she looked calm at the moment.
Like she didn’t need him. Or anyone in this world.
Her strength was a force all its own.
Lily sensed it too and her smile slipped. She was terrified, he realized.
With the cameras and press closing in and snapping photos, what if Grace were to start railing about how they’d treated her and abused her? What if she attacked them for this ridiculous stunt with the ring?
The press would devour such a story and no one would believe that this ring episode that happened at the exact place where Jennifer Steven’s murderer worked was a coincidence.
As it was, it was a stretch for Lily to be anywhere near this neighborhood.
Sean held his breath, waiting to see what Grace would do next.
Lily glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, and he knew that she was thinking the same things as him.
She smiled amicably as she handed the gift box to Grace and said, “This is for you. I’m sorry for making you search for my ring the other day.” Her behavior was entirely different from how vicious she had been previously!
Grace quietly took the gift box without saying a word and turned to leave.
After Grace got back into the center, she handed the box to Claire, saying, “Here, you take it.”
“Oh? Don’t you want to keep the clothing?” Claire asked in amazement.
“I have enough clothes,” Grace replied.
“The check’s still in here…”
“I don’t want it,” Grace said.
She looked at the clock and saw that the lunch break was about to end. After picking up the tools, she headed toward the section
of a highway that she had been assigned to sweep.