Chapter 4 Strict And Impartial Judgments

My grandfather and your grandfather were lifelong friends. During Graham Group's crisis, my family reached out to me. I advised them to offer as much help as possible to foster a bond of goodwill.” “Yvie, we've known each other for so long. How come you've never mentioned this?” Brandon was deeply moved when he heard Yvonne speak of this for the first time. Even though she was the one who had done the good deed, she chose to remain silent, allowing Roseanne to reap the praises. Yvonne averted her gaze. “I'm not the type to claim credit for things. If Roseanne hadn't crossed the line, I wouldn't have even mentioned it.” Brandon held her hand tightly, his eyes filled with deep emotion. “Yvie, you're truly amazing. Grandpa was only misled by Roseanne because he was confused. Once we're married, he'll definitely come to adore you.” With confidence, Yvonne raised her eyebrows. “I know.” During his two years abroad, Brandon stayed consistently informed about the company's affairs. His uncle, a doctoral student at a prestigious foreign university, had joined the company at the same time as Roseanne. Every time he successfully negotiated a project, he reported it to Brandon. With assistance from the Scott family, Graham Group managed to sign the contracts so effortlessly. Even though it was the Scott family who extended a helping hand and his uncle who put in the effort to secure the project, their intention was merely to help Roseanne find her footing by letting her sign the contracts. Unexpectedly, she shamelessly claimed all the credit for herself. Before long, Brandon received a message from the butler, detailing the entire conversation between Kayden and Roseanne. Overwhelmed with emotion, he embraced Yvonne. “Grandpa has agreed to my divorce with Roseanne. We can live together now.” Yvonne, brimming with self-assuredness, smiled and said, “I knew it all along.” Brandon sighed. “A lawsuit is inevitable. Grandpa offered Roseanne seven hundred million, but she refused. She insisted on taking away one point five billion Azanian currency.” Yvonne let out a cold, scornful laugh. “She is truly insatiable! Don't worry, even if it goes to a lawsuit, I'm not afraid. Her money must have been earned illegally. We could hire Jeffrey Parker as our lawyer. He has an excellent reputation and is known in the legal field for his strict and impartial judgments. We've met a few times before. If we can get him on our side, victory is assured!” A wave of joy washed over Brandon as he embraced her tightly. “Yvie, I'm so fortunate to have you.” As soon as Roseanne got home, she received a phone call from Arthur. “Roseanne, what have you been up to lately? Do you have some free time to come and visit me?” Roseanne switched on her laptop and began searching online for a reliable lawyer in the country. “Mr. Xanthos, I might be quite busy soon.” “I know, and I heard about what happened with Brandon. I have a friend who's a top-notch lawyer. I can ask him to handle the lawsuit for you.” The lawyer recommended by Arthur was undoubtedly excellent, which saved time. Roseanne didn't refuse and responded with a smile, “Thank you, Old Mr. Xanthos. I will definitely visit you another day to express my gratitude.” Arthur was so thrilled that he almost leaped with joy. He blurted out, “I'll give you my grand—” Nearly revealing his intention to introduce her to his grandson, he quickly corrected himself, “I'll give you my friend's number. You two should start chatting first.” “Thank you, Old Mr. Xanthos. I'll definitely come by to express my gratitude when I have the time.” “There's no need to rush. Once you win the lawsuit, we can celebrate at my place.” “All right.” The call ended, and Arthur quickly sent over the lawyer's contact number. Roseanne saved the number and texted: Hello, Mr. Grand. I would like to consult with you on a matter. Meanwhile, at Triumpus Advocates, Jeffrey had just finished his work when he received a message from Arthur, asking him to assist a friend with a divorce case. He had just replied with an “okay” when his phone buzzed. A new message appeared on the screen. “Mr. Grand? Did she get the wrong person?” Upon confirming that she was Arthur's friend, he replied: You're Ms. Roseanne? Roseanne: Yes, hello, Mr. Grand. Jeffrey: A pleasure meeting you, Ms. Roseanne. She was consulting a lawyer, but she got the surname wrong. Roseanne thought the lawyer sounded elderly. She figured he must be in his forties or fifties if he was a friend of Arthur. She continued typing: Nice to meet you too, Old Mr. Grand. Old Mr. Xanthos highly recommended you to me, mentioning your exceptional expertise in handling business dispute cases. When Jeffrey saw the term “Old Mr. Grand,” he was momentarily bewildered, then burst into laughter. He hadn't even had a single romantic relationship, and his peers were already calling him old. He didn't bother to explain much. After a ten-minute conversation, he had a clear grasp of the situation. Post-marriage, her husband's company encountered a crisis, prompting her to invest a significant amount of money. Now, the stock price had surged more than twenty-fold. Her husband had cheated and was seeking a divorce. Given she had signed a prenuptial agreement and her investments were made after their marriage, her husband's family was fixated on this point, aiming to seize her shares while only returning her initial investment. Jeffrey: May I ask, what's the estimated value of the shares you're holding? Roseanne: One point five billion. Jeffrey was surprised. That's quite a sum of money! Roseanne: Azanian currency. Jeffrey: Ms. Roseanne, if it's convenient for you, let's have a detailed discussion at Triumpus Advocates. With this, Jeffrey was certain of Roseanne's identity. She was the daughter-in-law of the Graham family who was often praised by his mother. The following day, Roseanne headed straight to Triumpus Advocates. As luck would have it, she ran into Brandon and Yvonne at the entrance once again. Yvonne's sharp eyes looked her over, and she let out a scoff. “Ms. Roseanne, are you here to ask for Mr. Parker's help too? Sorry to tell you, but Mr. Parker would never take on a case for someone who uses illegal means to get others' money.” With an impassive expression, Roseanne asked, “Ms. Scott, are you so certain that Triumpus Advocates will take on your case, considering your position as a mistress?” Having said that, she turned around and walked in. Yvonne's face turned red with embarrassment as she reached out to grab Roseanne. To her surprise, Roseanne seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. She swiftly sidestepped, grabbed Yvonne's wrist, and disdainfully flung her hand away. Roseanne cast a warning glance at Brandon and said, “Control your hound. If she snaps at me again, I won't be as forgiving next time.” A group of people rounded the corner just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation. The chatter abruptly ceased, and as if by an unspoken agreement, all eyes shifted toward the entrance. Brandon gently cradled Yvonne in his arms, shooting a glare at Roseanne. “Roseanne, your words are harsh. Yvie has always had your best interests at heart, urging you to steer clear of a dangerous path. I didn't expect you to be so stubbornly blind. Since you're a woman, I'll let this slide for now. But if it happens again, don't expect me to be so courteous.” After Brandon stood up for her, Yvonne didn't say anything more. She wouldn't lower herself to argue with a woman who lacked both education and employment. Engaging in such a quarrel would only demean her status. Ignoring his words, Roseanne turned and walked toward the stunned receptionist at a measured pace. “Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Grand. We have an appointment.” Jeffrey watched the scene unfold, his gaze settling on Roseanne. Indeed, just as his mother had said, she was quite attractive. His first impression of Roseanne was that she was no ordinary woman. It was no surprise that she had managed to single-handedly save Graham Group. However, when he heard her mention that she was looking for Mr. Grand, he couldn't help but rethink his initial impression. The receptionist paused for a moment, then looked toward the large group. She pointed at a middle-aged man dressed in a suit. “Mr. Grand is over there.” “Thank you.” Jeffrey stepped forward, prepared to reveal his identity. However, just as he was about to speak, the girl walked right past him without a second glance and headed straight to Owen Grand. She extended her right hand politely. “Hello, Mr. Grand. I am Roseanne.” Jeffrey was rendered speechless. Owen paused for a moment before returning the handshake. “Hello, may I ask what this is about?” With a professional smile, Roseanne replied, “Old Mr. Xanthos recommended you to me. He said you're an expert in this field and suggested I hire you to handle my legal case.” A look of surprise and joy flashed in Owen's eyes. He could hardly believe it. Old Mr. Xanthos knows me? And even introduced a client to me? Initially, Owen was the most experienced lawyer at Triumpus Advocates. However, upon Jeffrey's arrival, he promptly assumed the role of lead attorney. Jeffrey was formidable and capable, leaving him no choice but to concede defeat. “Oh, so it's you, Ms. Roseanne.” Owen couldn't suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. As he spoke, he sent a challenging glance toward Jeffrey. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Jeffrey held his forehead. “Ms. Rose—” “Mr. Parker.” A grating female voice interrupted his words.