Chapter 196: Not Generous to That Extent Yet
When the cakes arrived, Fred was already gone.
Ashley sat there alone, staring blankly at her cup.
Kathy set the pastries down and gently asked, "What's wrong?"
Ashley shook her head. "Nothing."
The store was empty. Kathy sat next to her and patted her arm. "Everything will be okay. I've been through tough times, too. I thought my life was over, with no hope in sight. But someone saved me. He said as long as you have a breath left, you can create miracles."
Ashley didn't get why she was saying this; they'd only met once before. "That person?"
Kathy smiled, her eyes crinkling. "The person you had dinner with last time. He saved my life."
So that's how it was.
Ashley forced a smile. "You must be very grateful to him and think he's a good person."
Kathy said, "I haven't interacted much with Mr. Hearst, but I believe he's not a bad person. Bad people wouldn't help strangers and plan out their future."
Yeah, if he could be so considerate to strangers, why couldn't he be the same to her?
Ashley smiled bitterly. "Thanks for the cakes and your words, but everyone has different standards for judging good and bad."
With Damian's people involved and the FBI joining the search for evidence, a supplementary indictment was submitted to the Supreme Court in City M within a week, and the trial was set for the following week.
Ashley sat alone in her room, holding documents that showed Fred's data on fund transfers, channels, and anonymous accounts over the years.
The amount involved was close to a hundred million. If it were in Rochester City, he wouldn't leave prison for fifteen years.
In Eirondia, trials involve a jury, and the exact sentencing remained uncertain.
But one thing was certain: Fred was doomed this time.
In the second week, Ashley kept getting new evidence, not just financial but also about Fred's personal dealings with the Astor Group and his grudge against the Hearst family. These testimonies were bad news for Fred but gold for KM Group's case.
During this time, Ashley had an idea: maybe Fred could get back to Eurostan before the court issued a restriction order. At least bringing Fred back from Eurostan would require extradition.
Fred said, "Ashley, if I were a coward who avoided responsibility, I wouldn't have come back to Eirondia. I proposed this, and Henry was just doing my bidding. If I don't stand up, he will have to bear all the responsibility."
Ashley was anxious. "Fred, I can arrange an out-of-court settlement between you and Damian. Maybe he..."
Fred insisted, "No need! The Astor family and I will never beg the Hearst family! I'd rather go to jail than bow to him!"
It had been half a month since the last call with Damian. Ashley hadn't reached out to him, nor had she heard any instructions from KM Group's higher-ups through Dante or anyone else.
It seemed they were gearing up to handle the case by the book.
Fred had a strong character, and he must have been ready to face legal consequences for going after KM Group. Even if Damian accepted a settlement, Fred wouldn't agree, and KM Group wouldn't back down either.
Ashley scratched her head vigorously. Long-term sleeplessness had left her eyes bloodshot. The anxiety and stress had made her unable to sleep well for three days.
Cheryl knocked and came in, startled by her appearance. "Ashley, are you sick? You look terrible."
Ashley held her coffee cup. "What is it? Go ahead."
Cheryl hesitated to hand over the documents, stammering, "Ashley, maybe you could say something nice to Mr. Hearst and ask for leniency. He might withdraw the lawsuit for your sake. If he withdraws the lawsuit and settles out of court, returning the money should be fine."
Ashley and Fred's relationship was no longer a secret. Cheryl had heard plenty of rumors from Kevin, saying things like deliberate revenge and that Mr. Hearst wanted to crush Fred completely as a warning to others.
The legal team had also made harsh demands, not only asking Fred to return the money but also stripping him of his right to return to Rochester City on the grounds of endangering safety, and then there was the prison sentence.
Ashley reached out. "Give it to me."
Cheryl hesitated, feeling sorry, her eyes reddening. "Ashley, if you ask Mr. Hearst for leniency, there might still be a chance. Please, Ashley, it's heartbreaking to see you like this. Others might not know, but I do. You haven't eaten well or slept soundly for half a month. You've lost so much weight."
Ashley repeated, "Give it to me."
Cheryl's tears fell. She couldn't bear to look at the emaciated Ashley. "Ashley, do you really want to face Fred in court?"
Ashley opened the folder and quickly read through it. Sure enough, they were out to completely destroy Fred. "Everyone has to pay for their mistakes. The law is equal for everyone."
Equal? KM Group's demands were clearly meant to destroy Fred.
Cheryl bit her lip and held back her tears. "What can I do?"
Ashley replied, "Get a good night's sleep. There will be a lot to do in court tomorrow."
After sending Cheryl away, Ashley repeatedly reviewed the documents.
Ashley leaned against the sofa in the empty room, her nails dug into the printed paper, tearing the chaotic characters. She wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.
When Damian finished the meeting and returned to his office, Thomas immediately followed and asked him, "Mr. Hearst, the court session is at 9 A.M. Eirondia time tomorrow."
Damian nodded. "Got it."
The legal department had already faxed over the defense plan. Thomas felt that the plan was too harsh after reading it.
Thomas sighed softly, "Tomorrow will be tough for Ashley. I heard she's lost a lot of weight and looks haggard, like she's been seriously ill. It's understandable, having to help the opponent while her uncle is being sued."
Damian, sitting behind his large desk, shot him a sharp look. "What are you trying to say?"
Thomas gritted his teeth and voiced his thoughts. "If Fred can return the money and publicly apologize, even if he doesn't go to jail, it wouldn't have much impact. He's now a Eurostan citizen and probably won't return to Rochester City."
Damian looked at his silent phone and then looked away. "Are you pleading for him?"
Thomas took a step forward and bowed respectfully. "Mr. Hearst, if Ashley personally sends Fred to jail, will you and Ashley still be able to see each other in the future?"
Damian sneered, "She's not in a hurry, so why are you?"
He had waited half a month, thinking Ashley would at least call to say something nice and soften up. Then he could give Fred a way out.
But she hadn't. Even with the legal department's increasing demands, she remained unmoved and calmly participated.
Did she expect him, the victim, to let the perpetrator go?
He wasn't that magnanimous.
Thomas cautiously asked, "Maybe Ashley is too embarrassed to ask. After all, her uncle is at fault. I'll call and ask."
"Put it down."
Thomas had just taken out his phone when Damian's stern command made him retract it. "Mr. Hearst, if you take a step back now, you two can still get along in the future."
Damian threw the document onto the desk. "Does she still want to see me? It seems to me she wants to cut ties completely."
The phone, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly rang.
Damian's eyes were immediately drawn to it.
