Chapter 255
Haley had spent over an hour in the law firm.
Her conversation with Garrett had been a reality check, revealing the situation to be less optimistic than she had imagined. Jeremy, the biological father, had the edge in the eyes of the court—especially since Haley had concealed the birth of the children. Jeremy’s public image as a devoted father and husband, complete with a stable family life, was a strong card in his legal hand.
In contrast, Haley was alone, stretched thin between work and childcare, prone to inevitable oversights. If she were a member of the jury, without insight into the full story, she might very well award custody to Jeremy.
Now, it seemed that marrying a man might be her only strategy. With a stable family life, all of Jeremy’s advantages would evaporate. They would be evenly matched, greatly increasing her chances of winning.
“A stable relationship could also sway the jury’s opinion,” Garrett added gently. “And the trial, if it comes to it, is at least a month away. There's no need to rush, Haley.”
Haley nodded, then brought up another immediate concern, “Jeremy is planning to pick up the kids from preschool with his lawyer today. Is there any way I could prevent them from meeting?”
The last thing she wanted was for her children to discover the kind of man their father truly was.
Having an unscrupulous father was surely more burdensome than having none at all. Garrett casually glanced at Ivan sitting not far off. He was just sitting there the whole time Garrett was conversing with Haley. Just yesterday, when he tried to catch a meal with the guy, Ivan was too “busy” to make time.
Yet here he was, idly waiting for so long. Clearly, Haley meant a lot to Ivan. This meant Garrett couldn’t just go through the motions.
Pushing up his glasses, Garrett said, “It’s the perfect time to drop in on Jeremy Chase. I’m your lawyer. After you meet with Jeremy’s lawyer, leave the talking to me.”
Haley was genuinely touched. “Thank you, Garrett.”
After tidying the documents on his desk, Garrett stood up. “Shall we head out together then?”
Ivan also rose to his feet, and the three left together. Haley had her own car, as did Ivan. Garrett hopped into Ivan’s car without hesitation. “Haley, please lead the way.”
Haley nodded and started off, pulling onto the street first.
Garrett reclined leisurely in the passenger seat, a stark contrast to his usually polished courtroom demeanor. Teasingly, he pressed, “Ivan, are you having thoughts about Haley?”
Ivan kept his gaze fixed on the road. “Want to get thrown out of the car?”
“Hey, I’m just speaking the truth—it’s not easy for a woman like Haley. Raising two kids on her own and just as things start looking up, the kids’ father comes back into the picture.” Garrett shook his head. “I can’t be completely sure we’ll win this case. My plan is to persuade her to find a boyfriend fast, preferably someone influential and wealthy...”
He felt Ivan’s icy stare and continued, half-joking, “You know what, I think I’d be quite the catch. The media has labeled me as a highly eligible bachelor. If I posed as her fake boyfriend, we might win the case without stepping foot in court.”
Ivan’s gaze was sharp. “Enough of your nonsense.”
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