My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict

Chapter 4

Evelyn’s face contorted with rage just as her father’s vicious slap connected with Grace’s face.

“What are you talking about!” her father screamed. “You drove a car into someone else and were locked up in jail because of it. Our entire family was shamed because of you. You don’t have a future anymore. Do you want to ruin your sister’s future as well?” His eyes were full of disgust for her.

“The one thing you did right was dating Sean Stevens and then you destroyed it all. We had so much respect from other businessmen and our relatives from that connection…”

Grace nodded, understanding that her father, Tony Cummins had been embarrassed.

Her relationship with Sean had afforded her dad the chance to claim a higher social ranking. When she fell… he did too. And her father resented her for it.

Her face burned and she knew she’d likely bear a bruise. But her expression remained calm as if she didn’t care at all.

“I originally just wanted to say a prayer for my mother—that was why you invited me back home, wasn’t it?—But now it seems there is no need for me to do it here. I won’t step foot in this house ever again.”

After saying this, Grace walked out of the house without looking back.

This place had never really been her “home,” and she should’ve stopped hoping for it to be a long time ago.

When Grace got to her apartment, the place was dark and the lights were off. When she turned on the lights, she was greeted by cold silence.

She could tell at a glance that there was no one else in the room.

Was Jason gone? Her heart suddenly felt a little empty. Which was silly, she knew. The man was a stranger. He’d helped her out, but he didn’t owe her anything, and she was very foolish to think he’d want to stay with her.

Grace let out a bitter laugh. She was alone. Again.

Something in her chest ached painfully at the thought as if acknowledging that even out of prison, she was still constricted, and destined to live out her existence without anybody.

Just as she was about to close the door, she saw a figure slowly walking towards her. She was stunned.

It was Jason.

He was still wearing those worn-out clothes of his from yesterday while he held a bag in his hand. His longish hair almost covered the entire upper part of his face, making it difficult for people to see him clearly at a glance, but she knew that under that mussed hair was a face that could easily take over people’s hearts.

If not for the clothes, she would’ve thought him an actor like her sister might work with on one of the TV series. He was that powerfully handsome.

was he really

Drugs, mental illness, violent tendencies? There were a number of causes that could set someone on the streets, and most of them carried elements of instability. She knew that taking him in like this was an impulsive decision and could put her in

tribal animals after all.

His voice was low and indifferent, but to her,

suddenly felt tight. “I… I thought you wouldn’t

“I just went

to one side, pulled him into the room, and closed the

her whole body seemed to be

family abandoned her, but some homeless stranger

before that, I… wanted to light a candle for my Grandpa and mother. Today is the anniversary

her. Her beloved grandpa and

her bag that she’d bought on the way home along

a man. The man in the photo was about sixty years

lit the candles and channeled

kissed the

pays well enough for me to feed myself. You can rest in peace, and in the future, I will only live

in front of him with a smile on her lips. However, her almond-shaped eyes looked misty. The light of the candle and the light of the lamp in the corner of the room mixed together and caused shadows to dance

small nose, and pink lips. She was not at all

then, Jennifer Atkinson, his fiancée, had been a rare beauty.

anniversary of her Grandpa’s death. He understood her to need to say some kind words and to acknowledge her Grandpa’s passing, but fresh out of prison and working in a sanitation center, to say she

her head and looked at

like his presence in and of itself was enough to bring her joy. After a moment, she turned to look at the man in the photo again. “So, I am doing really good, grandpa. You can

eyes and though her lips moved, whatever words she said were between her and her

eyes. “Alright, I’ll clean up and make some soup. Let’s

“Sure,” he responded easily.

hands and set out plates and utensils before sitting at the small table and watching

matched her name—graceful. And while she didn’t hum and there was no sound in the room, there was a

table between them and a plate of some egg frittata she’d mixed up with

It smelled delicious.

back and rather than eat them out of the back she set

at that. She’d been the one to give him

guest here. He should be the one thanking her if

and after a few minutes she asked, “Jay, what kind of work did you do