Chapter 3

When Serena brought the news of her divorce from Liam back home, the Lloyd family erupted in jubilation!

To an outsider, it would seem as though the Lloyd family had hit the jackpot.

Hailey Allen, Liam's former mother-in-law, was ecstatic and could hardly contain her joy. "Oh, this is wonderful! Finally, the marriage is over!"

"Yes, it wouldn't even take that long if it weren't for Serena insisting on waiting until Liam was released from prison."

"If Serena hadn't divorced that ex-convict, he would have continued to burden our Lloyd family! This time, Serena finally made the right choice!"

Sam Lloyd, Serena's uncle, and other relatives like Charice Lloyd were present, all filled with excitement and chatter.

It was hard to imagine that four years ago, when Liam was imprisoned, it was the same crowded room, but everyone looked sad and grateful, as if Liam were their savior!

In just four short years, everything had changed. Whether it was ironic or resigned was unclear.

"Serena, did Liam agree so quickly because there are conditions?" Suddenly, Sam thought of something, furrowing his brow as he looked at Serena.

"Serena plans to give Liam a villa, cash, and a cafe at the High Peak Shopping Mall in exchange for the divorce," Grace replied for Serena.

"What? So much!"

The whole Lloyd family jumped up in astonishment.

Hailey widened her eyes, slamming the table. "Serena, what were you thinking? For these four years, that waste sat in prison doing nothing! Why should he get so much? There's no such thing as a free lunch! No, there's no way we're giving all of that to him!"

Hailey paced anxiously, muttering to herself, "Why should that ex-convict get so much?"

"Serena, are you out of your mind? All of this belongs to our family. Why should you give it to him!" Serena's younger brother, Etchen, was flushed with anger. "And I've been wanting that coffee shop for so long. Mom promised to give it to me. Why should you give it to that ex-convict? It's just outrageous!"

Serena furrowed her brow as she watched on.

Even if it was not ideal, Liam had also sacrificed a lot!

This whole family seemed to have forgotten everything Liam had done!

Especially Etchen, who seemed to have completely forgotten that Liam took the blame for him and went to jail!

They could turn red with anger from just that little property.

Serena sighed, feeling a bit resentful inside.

"All the property is still there. Although I suggested compensating Liam at the time, he didn't ask for anything," she interrupted the crowd's clamor.

"Nothing at all?" Hailey was taken aback, then looked at Serena suspiciously. "Really? Serena, tell me the truth; don't lie to comfort me."

Serena frowned. "Liam didn't want anything, but I did leave him the cafe at High Peak Shopping Mall in the end!"

"The cafe at High Peak Shopping Mall?" Hailey raised her eyebrows and said, "I know that coffee shop is worth at least two or three million. Why did you give that to the ex-convict..."

Before Hailey could say anything else, Serena abruptly interrupted harshly, "Mom! Liam spent four years in prison for our family! It was only after he went to prison that our family's business thrived! It's already outrageous enough that we asked for a divorce on his first day out of prison. If we don't leave him with any property, how is he supposed to live after his release?"

"What does his life have to do with me? You're divorced now. Moreover, he never brings me any gifts or money to shows his respect. Why should I care for him now?" Hailey's expression turned sour.

Just then, Etchen spoke up, full of resentment, "Mom, you're right! The coffee shop belongs to us! Liam has hands and feet. He won't starve! Why should we give the coffee shop to an outsider? He voluntarily took the blame and went to prison. What does that have to do with us?"

He was extremely unhappy with Liam taking the cafe.

Serena's expression immediately darkened. She turned to look at Etchen.

As the leader of the Lloyd family's blooming business, she naturally carried an air of authority. Just one glance at Etchen, and he begrudgingly fell silent.

However, just from the discontent on Etchen's face, it was apparent he had not given up.

The atmosphere at home made Serena uncomfortable. She turned around, preparing to go upstairs. "I have a meeting later. I'm going to get prepared."

Suddenly, Hailey remembered something. Her eyes lit up as she said, "Yes, yes! Serena, are you going to meet with Mister Corona? Hurry up! Before you go, remember to put on some makeup and look beautiful! Oh, finally rid of that ex-convict Liam, Serena, you can openly go out with Mister Corona now. If he takes another step forward, it'll be another cause for celebration!"

Hailey's face lit up with excitement. "If Mister Corona calls me 'mom,' I'd be over the moon!"

It was hard to gauge just how satisfied Hailey was with this Mister Corona.

However, Serena did not react to what Hailey said. After a brief tidying up, she left home directly.

After Serena left, Hailey's expression darkened.

The more she thought about it, the more unacceptable it became. "I didn't say you couldn't give him anything, but the coffee shop is worth two or three million! You can't just let that ex-convict take such a valuable thing away?"

"Mom! I also think it's very inappropriate!" Etchen leaned in beside Hailey, his face full of defiance as he whispered, "Why should Liam, that ex-convict, take away our family's things? If you ask me, the cafe should be given to me!

"Isn't handing it over to an outsider just like throwing money away? Spend four years in prison and get a two- or three-million-dollar cafe. What kind of good fortune is that?"

"You're right!" Hailey's eyes suddenly sharpened, and she stood up abruptly. "That ex-convict held Serena back for four years! Now, he wants to take a share of our property? No way! Our family doesn't owe him anything!"

"I'm going to reclaim what belongs to our Lloyd family!" Hailey declared indignantly!

Seeing this, Etchen immediately joined in, shouting, "Mom! I'll go with you! Liam just came out of prison. After all, he's an ex-convict. It's not safe for you to go alone!"

"You're truly a good son! When we get the cafe back, I'll give it to you!" Hailey looked at Etchen with gratification.

Then, she turned to look at Grace beside her and said, "Do you have the contact information for that ex-convict? I want to talk to him!"

Grace was still there since she did not leave with Serena.

Grace hesitated for a moment and said, "Auntie, I do have Liam's contact information here, but is it appropriate for us to confront her this way?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Hailey frowned and waved her hand to interrupt Grace, assertively saying, "I'm just going to talk to Liam about reclaiming what belongs to our Lloyd family. What's the problem with that? You don't need to worry about this!"

As she said this, she seemed to remember something and added emphatically to everyone present, "But none of you are to mention this to Serena!"

After receiving the unanimous agreement from everyone there, including Grace, not to tell Serena, Hailey nodded in satisfaction.

Then, she called out to Etchen, and they both left the house with determination.