Life After Prison

“Yes, that sounds good. From today on, we’re a family!” When Judith heard Diane calling her ‘mom ‘, she felt overwhelmed with excitement in an instant. “Agh, I didn’t know that my daughter-in-law and my granddaughter were coming today, so I didn’t buy much groceries today. I’ll head out right. away and get some more!”

“Oh, sure!” Maurice could not have been happier too. Diane was a very beautiful woman, and she was also born as the eldest young miss to a well-known family in the Shanahans. It was truly a blessing that Severin had the chance to marry someone like her.

“You don’t need to go out again, Mom. We’ll be moving elsewhere anyway, so let’s eat out for dinner tonight!” Severin stopped her as soon as he saw Judith heading for the door.

That was when Judith finally reacted. “Yeah. We should eat out tonight! Wait…did you say we’re moving? Where are we moving to? And where did you get the money for this car?”

Severin went to the rear of the car, took out the woven bag, and opened it in front of Judith and

Maurice.

“Severin! Where did all this money come from?! Don’t frighten me like that!” Judith was terrified to see all that cash.

“I heard that someone caused trouble at Easton and Lucy’s wedding today. It wasn’t you, was it?”

Maurice asked.

Severin grinned and said, “It was me!”

“But that can’t be possible! How did they eventually let you go?” Maurice could not believe what he just heard.

Severin then explained, “Mom, Dad, remember the forty-thousand-dollar dowry that you gave the Orwells? And remember our house that was originally worth three hundred thousand but she sold it off to Easton for half that price? Well, the total comes to a-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars, so I told the Orwells to return the money to me!”

“But how? Your father was beaten up when he went to ask for the forty thousand, so how could they have been all right with returning more than three times that amount? I know Helga’s character. She’ll never return any money that was given to her.” Judith still could not believe that the Orwells would return the dowry as well as the balance for the price of the house.

Diane joined in the conversation from beside and explained, “Because Severin has medical skills, and he saved the life of the Longhorns’ Mister Henry. The Longhorns are a first-tier upper-class family, and he’s the head. With Henry there to speak up for Severin, the Loughs wouldn’t dare to object at all! Even the Shanahans would be afraid of crossing the Longhorns!”

After getting a rough idea of the situation, Maurice and Judith breathed a sigh of relief.

“There’s still eighty-five thousand left. It’s for you two to spend!” Severin smiled. “This is to make up for all the suffering you went through in the past few years!”

“No, no, no, we can’t possibly take all this money.” Judith hastily declined and explained her rationale for doing so. “Selene is almost ready to go to kindergarten, and you two also need to

spend a lot of money too. You should be keeping it for yourself!”

Diane felt a little emotional too, and she said to Judith, “You were in the same boat as I was in the past few years. I know that a lot of people look down on you behind your back, saying that your son is a criminal.” After some further thought, she then said firmly, “Mom, Dad… You should take it. It’s Severin’s way of showing his filial piety to his parents!” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Severin took Diane’s hand. “I promise I’ll give Diane the perfect wedding and make up for lost time!

Diane rolled her eyes at Severin. “What nonsense are you talking about? Our daughter is already four years old. It’s a little too late for it now!”

Although Diane did somewhat regret not having a wedding, she knew better than anyone that she would be the butt of jokes again if she organized one that was too simple and did not put much effort into it. After all, she was the Shanahans’ eldest young miss, and there were quite a few rich people who knew her. It was clear that Severin did not have the financial ability to give her a more luxurious wedding, so she did not put too much hope for one as a result!

“I can assure you that I’ll make everything up to you in the future. You have my word that I won’t embarrass your family!” Severin said firmly.