Chapter 141 Where is the Problem?
I glanced at the clock; it was only 3 AM, but I was wide awake. To keep my mind from wandering, I decided to find something to do. My eyes landed on the broken vase still lying quietly on the floor, mirroring my shattered love and life. Taking a deep breath, I pulled myself together and decided to tidy up the house, hoping to find some order amid the chaos.
Since I didn't have to go to work or wake up early anytime soon, I decided to clean the house thoroughly inside and out. During the cleaning, I made an unexpected discovery. Hidden under the TV cabinet in the living room and in the gap behind the painting in the bedroom were cameras.
A chill ran down my spine. The only person besides me with access to this apartment was Edward. I didn't install these hidden cameras, so could it have been Edward? Despite our long-standing issues, he had always behaved like a gentleman. How could he install these devices in my home?
I didn't dare to think further and quickly removed all the surveillance equipment. By the time I finished, the sky was already lightening. I was exhausted but still wide awake, sitting on the couch in a daze, a chaotic mix of guesses and fears crashing over me like waves. I felt as if I were caught in a huge conspiracy, the air around me turning cold and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
I thought of those online rumors. The surveillance devices I had thrown on the floor could very well continue to provide material for Internet trolls. But since I had already cleared out the trash, the next step was to contact the websites spreading the rumors.
Soon, I found the contact information at the bottom of the news page, which appeared to be a legitimate customer service email. I carefully wrote an email, explaining in detail that the news was completely false and attached relevant evidence, such as past case verdicts and testimonials from clients, hoping they would quickly remove the false information and clear my name. After sending the email, I anxiously awaited a response, each minute feeling like an eternity.
However, days passed without any reply. Growing anxious, I checked my email again to confirm it hadn't bounced back, then decided to try other methods. I called the website's customer service number. When the call finally connected, the automated voice prompt made the long wait even more frustrating. At last, when a human representative answered, I hurriedly explained the situation. They responded coldly, saying they needed to verify the information, and asked me to wait.
A few more days passed, and I called again. This time, a different representative answered. When I explained my request again, they told me they had no record of my previous complaint and asked me to resend the email.
Suppressing my anger, I resent the email, emphasizing the previous communication. This time, the response was that they needed more evidence to prove the news had caused me substantial harm. I gathered more materials, including recent data showing a decrease in my business and emails from clients canceling their contracts, and sent them again.
But the result was still disappointing. A new reason emerged. They said the news might involve third-party platforms, and they needed to coordinate with them, which could be a lengthy process.
I argued that as the website operator, they had a responsibility to verify the authenticity of the content and couldn't keep passing the buck. But they remained unmoved, repeating the same standard excuses.
It wasn't until I revealed my identity as a lawyer and warned them that I would sue their website if they didn't remove the posts that things changed. Soon, the defamatory information about me disappeared from the internet, which brought me some relief.
After being cooped up at home for so long and dealing with a bunch of issues, I figured it was time to check in on Lila at Stellar Legal Advisors. I had to admit, Lila was a top-notch lawyer, but when it came to running a business, she was a bit out of her depth. I'd always worried about how she was managing things over there.
When I walked into Stellar Legal Advisors, I was floored by what I saw. Half the workstations were empty, and a lot of familiar faces were missing. Even the office supplies had taken a hit. The once neatly arranged file racks were now practically bare. It was clear something serious had gone down.
As I made my way in, I noticed two young lawyers exchange a quick look before darting off to the break room, looking pretty flustered. They were definitely avoiding me, which only made me more curious. So, I decided to follow them, trying to be as stealthy as possible. Normally, I'd hate myself for eavesdropping, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
From their conversation, I managed to piece together what had happened. While I was away, Stellar Legal Advisors hadn't landed a single new case, and business was tanking. The financial strain had driven many lawyers to jump ship, and these two had already lined up new gigs. They talked about their new jobs with a mix of excitement and regret over the current state of Stellar Legal Advisors.
I couldn't help but think back to when Nolan was running the show. Back then, the office was buzzing with energy. Everyone worked together on cases, and even though we were swamped, it was rewarding.
The place was always filled with laughter and lively debates, making it feel like one big, happy family. How had things gone so wrong in just a few months? I could only imagine the pressure Lila had been under. She'd worked so hard to build her own firm; it was her dream. But if all the lawyers left, she'd be all alone. Well, except for me, the colleague who seemed to bring nothing but trouble.
Feeling pretty down and confused, I decided there was no point in eavesdropping any longer and headed back to my office.
As I reached the door, I saw Lila sitting there alone, looking lost in thought. When she noticed me, she seemed surprised at first, then tried to smile, but it was weak and forced, like a flower wilting in winter.
"Diana, are you feeling better?" she asked softly, with a hint of concern in her voice.
I couldn't believe that even with everything she was dealing with, she still thought of me. A warm feeling washed over me, and I felt my eyes start to well up. I quickly nodded and said, "I'm fine; don't worry about me. But what's going on with Stellar Legal Advisors?"
Lila sighed, her eyes filled with confusion. "When I first took over, we had plenty of cases thanks to the firm's reputation, and everyone was busy. But lately, I don't know why, the cases have been drying up. Not only that..."
she paused, frowning, "A lot of clients who had already signed contracts decided to cancel, even paying the penalty fees. I've gone over everything; our win rate hasn't dropped, and the lawyers are still top-notch. So what's the problem?"
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