Chapter 231 Quite a Few Tricks
If a guy cheats during marriage, it's a big deal, and the woman can take legal action. In a divorce, she gets financial compensation and usually gets priority for child custody.
Ashley said, "Special circumstances can change things."
Lynn smirked, "I'll get to the bottom of it."
Successful men often had sketchy relationships with other women. If the defendant's private life was shady, it benefited the plaintiff. Ashley nodded. "I'll have someone look into it."
After thinking for a bit, Lynn smiled. "Ashley, thanks for helping me. I thought you wouldn't want to get involved in this case."
Ashley replied, "Work and personal life are separate. Plus, I'm not helping you; I'm doing it for myself. Winning the case brings fame and money. Why not?"
Lynn was a bit surprised. "Ashley, you're really decisive."
Ashley said, "Just to be clear: don't use illegal means to gather evidence. It has to hold up in court. Otherwise, it will ruin our reputation and get the law firm in trouble."
Lynn smiled. "Of course."
After work, Ashley stayed at the firm to handle paperwork and got a call from Thomas.
"Ashley, Patrick's been taken to Rochester City. Mr. Hearst has him in a safe place without alerting the local police. When will you see him?"
Ashley was stunned.
How powerful was Damian to get Patrick, who was detained by the police, and keep him in a private location?
He could even leverage connections with the police. Was he really untouchable in Rochester City?
Ashley calmed down and thought for a moment. "Patrick is an important clue. Please ask Mr. Hearst to keep a close watch on him to prevent any suicide attempts and to guard against his boss secretly killing him."
Thomas said, "Don't worry, Ashley. No one dares to pull any tricks under Mr. Hearst's watch."
Thinking about it, Ashley figured Patrick might be safer with Damian than in prison.
Ashley added, "It's too late today. I'll go over tomorrow morning since I have the day off."
Thomas hung up and asked Damian, who was working late. "Mr. Hearst, Ashley said she'll come over tomorrow morning, but you have a meeting at the Seacity branch at the same time."
Damian replied, "Let Victor go to Seacity for the meeting."
Thomas was shocked and stammered, "Did the chairman give the order?"
Victor Hearst, the VP of KM Group, was Evelina's older brother and Damian's cousin.
Victor was low-key, steady, and reserved, which was his public image.
Since Damian didn't reveal his identity publicly and never appeared in public, Victor handled all media and official affairs.
The Hearst family members had movie-star looks, and Victor attracted a lot of female attention, gaining many fans.
More importantly, Victor never took credit for himself. Whenever there were significant achievements, he always emphasized, "It's President Damian's vision and wise decisions, along with the cooperation of the entire company."
From an outsider's perspective, Victor seemed like the perfect heir and an ideal husband.
But the company's top executives knew that Victor lacked bold talent, broad-mindedness, and vision.
He was a good executor but not a decision-maker.
In other words, he was best suited to be the second-in-command.
'Could it be that because Damian refused to marry Trinity, Anthony got angry and decided to push Victor to the top?' Thomas pondered.
Thomas anxiously awaited Damian's response.
Damian calmly said, "Since Anthony wants to groom Victor, how could I hold him back? Whether Victor is a qualified heir in Anthony's mind, we'll see."
Thomas uneasily said, "But the people behind Victor might take the opportunity to win support."
Damian lightly tapped the table with his fingers and said, "People who can be swayed were never really mine."
Thomas got the hint: Damian wanted to see who was truly loyal.
Thomas nodded. "Got it, Mr. Hearst!"
Damian thought for a moment. "What's Ashley up to?"
Thomas quickly shifted gears. "She's been busy at the law firm. She's teamed up with a female lawyer on a divorce case. The defendant is Robert Walker, Brown Path's cousin."
"Brown Path from the prosecutor's office?"
Thomas nodded. "Yeah, he was the lawyer for Mark's case. After losing to Lucien from Sky Balance Law Firm, he might hold a grudge."
Damian smiled. "Interesting."
Thomas wiped his sweat, thinking, 'You have time for everyone else's drama but not your own.'
Then he said, "Mr. Hearst, Anthony wants you back for dinner."
Dinner? That could be tricky.
Damian said calmly, "Get the car."
Anthony rarely called his grandsons for family dinners. Damian was one of the few he often invited. Seeing Victor and Nathan Hearst at the same table was even rarer.
When Damian arrived, Victor and Nathan were already there, playing chess with Anthony in the yard.
"Damian's here," Victor smiled first. His refined look and meticulous attire matched the image of a noble gentleman.
Nathan was more casual, in home clothes and sneakers. He was shorter than his brother, with a youthful face still showing traces of immaturity. "Hey, Damian."
Damian assessed the scene. "Quite lively."
Anthony clapped his hands. "Just in time. I'm tired of sitting. You finish this game with Victor."
Victor complained, "Grandpa, Damian's chess skills are better than yours. I can't even beat you, let alone him."
Anthony stood with his hands behind his back, ready to watch. "How long has it been since you played chess? Haven't you improved at all?"
Victor humbly said, "I'll give it a try then."
Damian sat down, glanced at the board, and started playing. "Quite a few tactics, very intense."
Victor had a natural fear of Damian, probably because he was always overshadowed by him as a child. He had tried to resist but faced even harsher retaliation. After joining the company, Damian was his leader. He handled big and small matters cautiously, never venting his long-standing grievances.
Holding the chess piece, Victor's hand trembled. "Grandpa cornered me. I had no choice but to push forward."
Damian placed a piece, blocking his path. "The chase makes the game interesting."
The board reached a stalemate, and Victor hesitated. "Your moves are harsher than Grandpa's. This move will cost me many pieces. I give up."
Anthony sternly said, "Go on! A man should die on the battlefield, not in the camp. There's still a way out!"
Anthony knew Victor's character. Sometimes Victor just lacked courage. If he had a third of Damian's ruthlessness, KM Group's future would be secure.
Nathan chimed in, "It's just a game. At worst, start over!"
Nathan had just graduated from college and hadn't officially joined KM Group. He was probably called today to discuss his position in the company.
Damian sneered inwardly. Anthony was indeed well-intentioned.
Victor placed a piece and said, "I lost."
Anthony didn't comment, just said, "Let's go for a walk."
Victor nodded. "Yes."
Walking to the garden, Anthony stopped and touched a budding purple orchid. "What's with the company's stock price recently? It was fine before. Why did it drop?"
