Chapter 5 I Will Take Your Case

Yvonne approached, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her face breaking into a warm smile. “I'm Yvonne Scott.” Only then did Roseanne notice Jeffrey. She looked at him and saw the man frowning, stepping back. “I'm sorry, I'm not used to shaking hands with people. And you are?” Yvonne froze momentarily but swiftly regained her composure. “Mr. Parker, I also graduated from Yolham University, three years your junior. We even co-hosted an event together.” After introducing herself, she got straight to the point. “So, here's the thing, I was hoping you could assist us with a lawsuit.” Jeffrey, with his sharp and cold features, epitomized a stoic judge in the world of law. His brows and eyes radiated a frosty aura. Standing at a towering height of six feet two, his presence was impossible to overlook, even when he was tucked away in a corner. He radiated an overwhelming presence, making Brandon feel threatened. As Yvonne's official boyfriend, he stepped forward and said, “We are about to engage in a divorce lawsuit, Mr. Parker. There will be plenty of benefits for you.” Attorneys from the same law firm can't represent both parties in the same case. If he takes on Yvonne's case, Roseanne will have to switch law firms. Roseanne turned her head and asked, “Mr. Grand, may I ask, between you and Mr. Parker... who holds a higher position?” Yvonne let out a sarcastic laugh upon hearing this. “Ms. Roseanne, my senior is the lead attorney at Triumpus Advocates. He doesn't take on cases involving fraudsters.” Just as Roseanne was about to speak, someone beat her to it. “A fraudster? Do you have any evidence, Ms. Scott?” Jeffrey lowered his gaze, giving the two of them an irritated look. “Spreading rumors can have legal repercussions.” Yvonne explained, “You see, two years ago...” She recounted the entire sequence of events, claiming that Roseanne had deceived her way into marriage and used an untraceable five hundred million investment in Graham Group as a method for money laundering. “We weren't intentionally trying to make things difficult for her. Old Mr. Graham offered her seven hundred million, but she scoffed at it and demanded one point five billion Azanian currency instead!” By the end of her speech, a hint of frustration tinged her voice. She looked as if she had the other person's best interests in mind, but they simply failed to appreciate her efforts. Due to the negative implications of the prenuptial agreement, Yvonne decided not to bring it up. Upon hearing the amount, Owen felt a wave of tension. One point five billion Azanian currency was such a staggering figure. Roseanne was certainly bold in her demands. The chances of winning this case now seemed incredibly slim. If he didn't fully understand the case, he wouldn't dare to take it on. “Ms. Roseanne, may I ask, how did you earn the five hundred million?” Owen voiced the question that was on everyone's mind. Everyone turned to Roseanne, awaiting her explanation. A glint of sarcasm sparkled in Roseanne's eyes, and her smile turned into more of a sneer. “Whoever makes the claim should provide the proof. If the Graham family wants to seize my shares, claiming my investment was financed by fraud, they need to provide evidence of my alleged deceit, not me proving where my money came from. Mr. Parker, that's what the law stipulates, right?” Instead of questioning Owen, she aimed to gauge Jeffrey's attitude toward Yvonne. Jeffrey's gaze swept over her clear eyes, and he nodded in agreement. “Yes, both of you need to present evidence of Ms. Roseanne's fraud. If it's confirmed, there will be no need to repay this sum of money. It should be handed over to the police.” Brandon couldn't understand the logic behind that. “Why—” Yvonne held Brandon's hand, stopping him from continuing. She said softly, “Two years ago, a massive fraud case occurred in our country. Countless families were shattered and the perpetrator vanished without a trace. It was during this time that Ms. Roseanne generously offered five hundred million...” She didn't finish her sentence, but it was enough to arouse suspicion among everyone present. “Five hundred million is a sum even you might struggle to come up with, Mr. Parker. How could a girl in her early twenties possibly manage that? Coincidentally, all these events occurred two years ago, making it difficult not to suspect her as the mastermind behind the scenes.” After hearing the entire story, the janitor suddenly rushed toward Roseanne, collapsing to her knees and sobbing uncontrollably. She clung to Roseanne's trousers, pleading, “Ms. Roseanne, I beg you to return the five hundred thousand to me. That's the money I had saved for my husband's life-saving surgery. Without it, he won't survive! I still have a child to support. I beg you, please return my money.” The sudden incident left everyone stunned, giving them no time to react. They stood there, watching the scene unfold in complete astonishment. Roseanne stepped back as the janitor wailed. Jeffrey's expression grew colder and colder. “Security, take her away.” Two security guards swiftly arrived and escorted the janitor away. She was gone, but her desolate voice lingered in the air. The crowd's gaze toward Roseanne grew increasingly complex, interspersed with sporadic doubts. Yvonne hadn't expected the tide to turn in their favor, her eyes brimming with joy. The atmosphere was tense. Jeffrey looked at the crowd. “Without evidence, it's merely rumor and slander. We are all engaged in legal professions. If I hear anyone spreading falsehoods, the legal community will never employ you.” Jeffrey's indifferent words weighed heavily on everyone present, and no one dared to cast a skeptical gaze at Roseanne again. Yvonne furrowed her brows, puzzled by Jeffrey's continuous defense of Roseanne. Do they know each other? With a calm expression, Roseanne acted as if she wasn't the one the janitor had pleaded to. “Mr. Grand, regarding this case—” “I'm not taking it anymore,” Owen interrupted her. “Ms. Roseanne, I will report today's events honestly to Old Mr. Xanthos. If I take on your case, I will be your attorney. However, you're still unwilling to disclose where this five hundred million came from. On top of that, you're demanding one point five billion Azanian currency. You're asking for the moon, and I can't act against my conscience.” Rather than being forcefully dissuaded from handling Roseanne's case, he preferred to decline it himself. A smile spread across Brandon's face. “Mr. Grand, you've made the right choice. With Mr. Parker on our case, it's only a matter of time before we win the lawsuit.” He then looked at Roseanne with a cold expression. “Roseanne, I advise you to stop being stubborn. Take the seven hundred million and go.” Roseanne pursed her lips. Her eyes glinted with mockery as she said, “Being louder doesn't make you right. Not only will I reclaim my money, but I also intend to sue both of you for defamation, slander, and tarnishing my reputation. If Triumpus Advocates won't take it, I'll find someone else. Sorry for bothering you.” Without any hesitation, she walked away at a steady pace. “Ms. Roseanne.” A slow, clear voice echoed from behind. Roseanne halted her steps, turned around, and asked, “Is there something else?” The man studied her intently and said, “I'll take your case.” As soon as these words were spoken, the lobby fell into a deathly silence. Only the sound of the wind whistling outside the window broke the stillness. “Mr. Parker!” Brandon was the first to break the silence, his face filled with disbelief. “Didn't you agree to take on our case? How could you accept someone else's?” Jeffrey furrowed his brows. “When did I agree to take your case?” Brandon choked up, instinctively turning his gaze toward Yvonne. Yvonne frowned, convinced that the two knew each other. Otherwise, Jeffrey wouldn't have taken on Roseanne's case. With a serious expression, she advised, “Mr. Parker, even though you know Ms. Roseanne and took her case out of compassion, this matter is of great importance. The employees of Triumpus Advocates were also defrauded. As a lawyer, you should stand on the side of justice.”