Chapter 230 Women Are Really Crazy
Ashley said, "Thanks for the invite, Mr. Hearst, but today's not a good day for a visit. I'll treat you to a meal another time to thank you for all your help lately, whether you like it or not."
She didn't give Damian a chance to respond. No way was she stepping into his house today.
Being alone with a guy in a closed space can lead to bad decisions, especially for women. Once the mood is right, it's easy to get swept up, and she wasn't completely immune to Damian yet.
Damian stood by the car door, calmly noting her resistance. "Alright, I'll look forward to that thank-you dinner."
He was testing her limits, figuring out how to get along with her.
Ashley forced a smile. "Goodbye, Mr. Hearst."
She turned the car around and drove out of Imperial Residence. The air outside felt freeing, and the sunlight on her face was warm. April's best days had passed, and late May was heating up, but it didn't dampen her good mood.
Saying no, like compromising, got easier after the first time.
After a quick tidy-up at home, Ashley drove to the law firm.
"Ashley!" Harold called as she walked in. "Come to my office."
Juliana gave her a look, and Ashley sensed something was up. Her gut told her it wasn't good.
Sure enough, Harold started scolding. "You've got some nerve, going to the countryside alone to gather evidence is one thing, but staying out all night, not answering calls or texts? Ashley, are you trying to tell me I can't manage you anymore?"
Her phone had no signal in the cellar yesterday, so she missed the messages. Today, she reported her safety as soon as she could, but still got an earful.
Ashley admitted her mistake. "Harold, don't be mad. It's my fault for being careless and bold. I promise to follow your instructions from now on."
Harold had been so worried he couldn't sleep and even contacted a friend at the police station. Today, he heard Ashley had made a statement, and his anger flared up again.
"You," Harold stammered, "Any leads?"
Ashley tried to smooth things over by pouring him water. "Yes, we caught a small fry."
Harold admired Ashley's flexibility. She knew when to be soft and when to be tough. Drinking the water she poured, his anger subsided a lot. "I heard there was a tall, handsome guy with you?"
Ashley smiled. "You could say that."
Harold twitched his mouth. "Ashley, don't say I didn't warn you. Getting too close to Damian will only get you hurt. You're not stupid, so I won't say more."
Ashley accepted his advice. "I know my limits. Besides work, I'll try not to interact with him privately. He's a big shot, and I'm a small fry. Sometimes I'm passive, so give me some time."
Harold didn't press further and handed her a file. "Lynn wants to take this case. Take a look."
Everyone at the firm admired Lynn's dedication despite her personal troubles. Many saw her as a professional benchmark.
Ashley scanned the file. "A divorce case, right up her alley. If it's suitable, let her take it."
Harold said, "Look closely. There's also a property dispute. The couple co-owns a publicly traded company. They each invested ten million early on, and now it's worth over a billion. The wife wants to split the assets, but the husband says she didn't manage the company after marriage and only deserves alimony. Plus, he wants custody of their son. The tricky part is, they don't have a prenuptial agreement."
Ashley asked, "Is Lynn representing the wife?"
Harold added, "She can't handle this case alone. If we take it, you'll need to get involved."
Divorce cases with big property disputes mean big legal fees. If they win, the firm gets a hefty cut, and the lawyer earns a significant fee.
With no other cases on her plate, Ashley agreed. "Sure, who says no to money?"
Harold's eyes twinkled. "Think it through. Can you and Lynn work together peacefully?"
Ashley closed the file. "If she can stay professional, why can't I?"
Harold's face twitched. "You guys are something else."
After discussing business, Ashley asked softly, "How did you explain things to your parents? Should I treat them to a meal and explain properly?"
Harold rubbed his forehead. "My parents are a long story."
After the last dramatic dinner, Harold thought his parents had given up on Ashley as a daughter-in-law. But they did the opposite, pulling him aside for a long talk that night.
The gist was: Ashley was a good girl. She must have been coerced by Damian. The more this was the case, the more Harold couldn't give up easily. Harold had to save her from Damian! They couldn't offend the Hearst family, but they couldn't go against their conscience either!
Ashley's eyes warmed, and she touched her nose. "Harold, your parents are really nice."
Harold was exasperated. "Enough, don't act with me. Just let me know when you need help, and don't get fooled."
Ashley nodded heavily. "Got it!"
"Get out!"
Half an hour later, Lynn came to the office. "Ashley, Mr. Brin said we should team up on this case."
Ashley pointed to a chair. "Have a seat."
They hadn't worked together before, and today Ashley realized Lynn was quite capable.
Lynn continued, "The client's requests include dividing assets evenly, gaining custody of her son, transferring the villa they live in to her name, and receiving $20,000 monthly in child support from her ex-husband."
Ashley said, "It's not easy. In a publicly traded company, all decisions must be approved by the board—it's not solely up to the founder. If she wants to win, she may need to make concessions. I'll advocate for her to secure the best possible financial outcome."
Lynn insisted, "The law states that marital property is split equally, and the party raising the child gets priority for the residence."
Ashley smiled. "Lynn, you're a professional. Is the law the same as practice? Don't you need to consider subjective factors?"
Divorce cases stood out from the rest due to the intense personal emotions at play. It was easier when the parties were willing to leave with nothing or provide enough financial compensation. But when emotions ran high and they fought over assets, it was a different story.
Lynn got angry. "Ashley, just because you don't like me doesn't mean you have to oppose me at work. What's your problem?"
Ashley calmly said, "We're simply analyzing the scenario. The wife only worked at the company for a year after marriage. For the next six years, she stayed home with the child, living a luxurious life with huge expenses covered by her husband. Of course, that's his duty, but in court, she won't easily gain sympathy."
Lynn was unconvinced. She had finally gotten a lucrative case, and if she won, she could earn millions in legal fees. She had to win!
After thinking for a moment, Lynn slowly said, "What if the husband had an affair?"
