Chapter 326
“How dare you!” Clayton almost snarled through clenched teeth, his voice guttural. He didn’t understand why that gentle and vitious Valordi into a bottomless demon.
He took a few more steps away, fearing Wyatt and Alexa would overhear the call. “Riley is still a child. Don’t hurt her, Clayton’s tone sottense, torge with a hint of pleading
Valerie said coolly, “Transfer me 40 thousand dollars, and I’ll send her back.”
“I don’t have the money now,” Clayton said.
“But your brother does. I’ll only give you half an hour,” she replied.
Clayton stared at the phone, a flicker of gloom crossing his eyes.
“What did she say?” Wyatt chased after him, eyeing Clayton like a sworn enemy. “Where did she take Riley?”
Clayton said, “Riley is fine-”
Wyatt punched Clayton in the face. He lost his balance and fell into the nearby greenbelt.
Lillian ran over, complaining as she helped Clayton up.
Clayton had a leaf on his head, and his newly installed denture was slightly loose. He spat out a mouthful of blood, looked up at Wyatt, and said, “Riley will definitely be back before class tomorrow. I promise.”
Wyatt pointed fiercely at Clayton several times, then turned and left.
Alexa gave Clayton a cold stare and glanced at Lillian before leaving. Lillian shuddered, feeling that what awaited her was not just daily cold treatment but possibly cold leftovers and endless housework. Thinking of her future situation in Wyatt’s home, she couldn’t help but cry.
Lillian sobbed. “Everyone envied our family back then–envied that I had two good sons, envied your father’s rapid promotion. Why has our family
become like this…”
Clayton rubbed his cheek and asked in a muffled voice, “Mom, does Wyatt manage his own money or does Alexa?”
“Of course Alexa does. If Wyatt managed the family expenses, I wouldn’t have to pay Alexa for household costs. Most of my pension goes to her, and she
still humiliates me,” Lillian said.
Clayton laughed self–deprecatingly and continued, “Then when Dad was not imprisoned, did he manage his own salary or did you?”
“Of course I did. Not just his salary–his year–end bonuses and even those less legitimate incomes had to be handed over to me,” Lillian said.
“Then why did you insist I give all my money to you instead of Audrey when I married her?” he asked.
“That’s different.” Lillian raised her head, recalling the first time she met Audrey. “She was from out of town, with no family or background. What if she
ran off with your money?”
“That’s not what you said about the division of roles between men and women after marriage,” Clayton said, pushing himself up by his knees and walking out, ignoring Lillian’s startled expression/“You just looked down on Audrey and wanted to control her.”
Hearing Clayton’s questioning end with Audrey, Lillian asked nervously, “Why bring her up again?”
She hurried after him and grabbed his arm. “You still want to remarry her? She’s already married and has children.”
Seeing Clayton’s indifferent expression, Lillian compromised. “I never liked her, and I certainly won’t let her into the Patel family now.
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Chapter 326
“But I hear she’s made a lot of money. If she can buy our house back and support your law firm, I might consider accepting her the postte
Clayton looked up at the sky.
Lillian knew her request was excessive. When Clayton didn’t speak for a long time, she lowered her demands.
“If she treats you like before, she doesn’t have to buy the house back. You have a job now, so the law firm might not even be necessary. But I want to the with you, and she has to support me,” Lillian said.
Clayton said, “Mom.”
“What?” Lillian asked.
He said, “It’s getting late.”
“What are you talking about?” Lillian didn’t understand.
Clayton shook off her hand and walked to the car. “I mean you’re talking in your sleep.”
Hearing the sarcasm, Lillian turned green with anger, complaining as she followed him to the car.
Lillian said, “If only your wife had a family like Alexa’s, our family wouldn’t be in this mess. After your father was demoted, Wyatt stayed in the finance department only because of the Woodson family’s help.”
Lillian continued, “Your law firm’s income is unstable, and you married someone with no money, power, or family–how could I not worry? I controlled her for your own good. Besides, you kept half of that money! You’re the one who spent it on that bitch-”
“Enough!” Clayton suddenly raised his voice, making Lillian jump.
Clayton hit the steering wheel as he spoke, “You said we owed the Patterson family favors, that Dad’s position was being watched, that he couldn’t abuse power, that Alexa’s family was not to be messed with, so he had to avoid suspicion.”
“So I was the only one forced into an unstable job and made to repay the Pattersons–right?” he shouted.
With each word, Lillian flinched. Finally, she leaned against the car door. She wanted to get out, but Wyatt had already left, and the school was in the suburbs–she couldn’t get back alone..
Clayton gripped the steering wheel tightly and shouted brokenly, “Why do they benefit while I suffer? Dad can’t be targeted by political enemies, Wyatt can’t offend Alexa’s family, so you had to sacrifice me and destroy my marriage, didn’t you?”
After saying this, he crashed out and began to cry.
Watching Clayton weep, half of Lillian’s fear from his shouting faded. “You and Valerie dated before, didn’t you? I thought you wanted to take care of her.”
She continued, “B–Besides, when I asked you to care for her, I didn’t tell you to bully Audrey because of her-”
Clayton’s sobs stopped abruptly, so Lillian didn’t dare finish her sentence. He suddenly asked, “How much money do you have left?”
The sudden shift in topic left Lillian stunned.
He roughly wiped away his tears and composed himself. “Audrey started a face mask brand. My colleague became an agent and is doing well, so I want to do the same–to pay off debts faster and reconcile with her.”
Lillian clutched her pocket.
Seeing Lillian’s wariness, Clayton continued explaining, “She has wide connections. Even if we can’t be husband and wife, we ca me, I can turn things around quickly.”
Lillian wasn’t fully convinced.
friends. If she helps
Chapter 326.
Clayton then told her that John’s rapid promotions and Wyatt’s favor were both due to Audrey’s friends pushing behind the scenes that’s why John and Wyatt were investigated after his divorce from Audrey.
Lillian asked hesitantly, “How much money do you need?”
“More money for a city–level agency, less for a county–level one. The more you invest, the more you earn,” Clayton said.
After much hesitation, Lillian finally decided. “I only have 80 thousand dollars. Half is your father’s housing trust fund, and the other half was just repaid to me.”
As soon as the money reached Clayton’s account, he transferred 20 thousand dollars to Valerie,
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
