Chapter 291 Creating a Sense of Crisis
Hannah walked ahead, pushed the door open, and said, "Ashley, after you."
Ashley felt a warm sense of gratitude at Hannah's perfectly timed gesture.
As soon as she stepped in, Ashley spotted the man sitting next to Tina. She had a hunch Tina had brought in some backup, but she never expected it to be Steven, the chairman of Smart Wing Technology.
Ashley hadn't contacted Steven since they parted at the party, and now they unexpectedly met again this way.
How did Tina know Steven? And just how close were they?
Steven was equally surprised to see Ashley. He hadn't expected the lawyer Tina mentioned to be her. Seeing Ashley in her sharp suit, Steven's eyes lit up like he'd found the fountain of youth.
Hannah rolled her eyes in disgust, thinking, 'Gross! He could be my dad, and he's still giving that creepy look!'
Ashley smiled, "Mr. Rogers, fancy seeing you here."
Steven chuckled, "Tina's dad was a good friend of mine. He passed away a few years back, and seeing her getting bullied by her in-laws, I had to step in."
Tina nodded, her eyes filled with admiration and a hint of envy for Ashley's poise, "Nice to meet you, Ashley."
Ashley shook her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, "Hey, Tina. I believe Lynn has already filled you in that this case involves a lot of marital property. We're here to fight for you."
Tina nodded. Her first impression of Ashley was positive, not as harsh and cunning as Lynn had described. "Got it, Ashley. Please, have a seat."
Ashley introduced, "This is my assistant, Hannah. She may be young, but she's got plenty of experience. We're confident we can get you a substantial settlement so you can breathe easy."
Tina glanced at Steven in disbelief, then turned to Ashley, "But how do we make him completely give in? Forget the property; he won't even agree to a divorce. He hasn't been home for days, like he's avoiding me."
Ashley thought it over. It was probably because Robert and Alexander's issues were too tangled up, making it hard for him to break free. After the divorce, he'd lose the support of his wife's family, so he was stalling.
He wasn't avoiding Tina; he was busy pulling strings for Alexander.
Ashley said, "I've got my ways."
Tina wanted to ask how, but Ashley cut her off. "Tina, I need to confirm something first. If your husband gets into trouble and asks for your help, would you go bankrupt to save him?"
"In his dreams! I wish he'd go to hell. How could I help him? I must've been blind to fall for him! Before we got married, he promised to pamper and love me, to make me a little princess for life, but after just a few years..." She broke down, recounting the miseries of her marriage.
Ashley was glad she wasn't a divorce lawyer; she couldn't handle these long, sorrowful complaints.
Finally, Tina finished, wiping her tears and sniffling, "Ashley, do you think I'd still help him? I want to take my child and run far away!"
Ashley said, "I get it. A bad marriage is like a rotten piece of flesh; you need to cut it off in time to let new flesh grow. Otherwise, it'll fester and cause unbearable pain. I support you."
She was also saying this to herself.
Human joys and sorrows were sometimes interconnected.
Steven sighed sympathetically, patted Tina's shoulder gently, and said, "You silly girl, why didn't you tell me sooner? I promised your dad I'd take good care of you. How am I supposed to explain this to him when I see him again?"
Tina shook her head, "Don't say that. It's not your fault; I just didn't feel like sharing it with everyone."
Steven turned to Ashley, eager, "Ashley, you said you have a way to win. Do you have some evidence?"
Ashley replied, "I can't disclose the evidence before presenting it to the judge. I hope you understand, Mr. Rogers."
Steven squinted with a smile. Today's Ashley was straightforward and calm, like a lotus in the snow, different from the stunning beauty of that night but with a unique charm.
Hannah coughed, and several pairs of eyes turned towards her simultaneously.
She rubbed her throat, embarrassed. "Sorry. I'm allergic to dust. When there's something dirty in the air, my throat hurts."
Ashley laughed inwardly, 'You really know how to make things up.'
After a while, another person entered the room.
Hannah thought to herself, 'Amazing! Ashley is right!'
The newcomer was someone she didn't recognize, but Ashley did. It was Victor's assistant, Jack.
Jack was there on Victor's behalf to invite Steven and then saw Ashley.
Jack was surprised, "Ashley?"
Ashley remained composed, "Jack? Is Victor here too?"
Jack nodded, "Victor has some matters to discuss with Mr. Rogers, but since you are still talking, it can wait."
Steven quickly stood up, afraid of missing his appointment with Victor, "Sorry, everyone, I'm really busy. You continue your conversation; I'll be back shortly."
Tina and Ashley stood up and watched him leave.
After he left, Ashley's tone became serious, "Tina, did you specifically invite Steven today because you were wary of me?"
Tina smiled awkwardly, "Because..."
Ashley didn't trouble her for an excuse and said calmly, "If there is no basic trust between a lawyer and a client, how can we fight the case?"
"It's not like that, Ashley. I didn't know you before. I'm sorry." Tina said.
Hannah clenched her fist, cursing inwardly, 'Lynn! Just wait, I'll get you!'
Ashley's face remained stern. She wanted Tina to understand the seriousness of the situation, "Tina, your husband is not as simple as he seems. He has been involved in some illegal activities, and part of your marital property will be confiscated by law."
"What?" Tina stood up in shock when she heard that the money would be gone.
Ashley's face was as cold and hard as ice, "I can help you get a divorce quickly and secure a substantial alimony, but you need to be flexible about the division of marital property."
Tina, a housewife who had been out of the workforce for a long time, turned pale. "What has he done?"
Ashley said, "He colluded with foreign criminals to make huge profits. This is a secret, and you must keep it to yourself, not even telling Mr. Rogers. Otherwise, we will lose the case, and you will lose everything."
Tina was so scared that her legs went weak, and she didn't dare to have any more opinions, "I'll listen to you; I'll do whatever you say."
The atmosphere was just right, and Ashley finally revealed the main point, "Your husband cheated, and I have a video. With this, the court will grant you a divorce immediately. Follow my instructions and do the following things, and I guarantee you won't have to worry about your livelihood for the rest of your life."
Tina nodded blankly, "I'll do as you say, Ashley. Please go ahead."
Hannah was excited, thinking, 'Ah! Ashley, your way of creating a sense of crisis and controlling people is so awesome!'
Ashley took out a document from her bag, clearly listing some tasks, "Read it carefully, and ask me if you don't understand."
