Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 39: Starting Over

The circle of lawyers was always pathetically small.

Soon, the news that Stella Sterling and Jasper Hawthorne might confront each other in court rapidly made its way back to Clearstone Law Firm.

Everyone was stunned.

Most of them were recruited by Stella herself and groomed at the firm. They had a unique affection for Stella, who was capable, down-to-earth, and always defended her subordinates.

But now, they might have to stand on the opposing side, assisting Attorney Hawthorne to tackle her?

What... what does this mean?

"How could this happen..." a young assistant murmured, "Stella is suing Grace Quinn? That Grace even drugged Stella? This is too malicious!"

"Attorney Hawthorne, he... he actually wants Stella to withdraw the lawsuit?" Another person’s tone was filled with confusion and anger, "Clearly, Stella is the victim here!"

"If this case really proceeds, won’t we be going against Stella?"

"What should we do? Should we be involved in this case?"

Everyone exchanged glances.

They admired Jasper for his professional prowess but cared more about Stella’s friendship.

To help Jasper with this case and confront Stella?

Their conscience could not allow it.

Jude Kensington watched the gloomy office and sighed heavily.

He stood hesitantly at Jasper’s office door, but ultimately knocked and entered.

"Old Hawthorne, you see... wouldn’t it be better not to take this case? Let another lawyer..."

Jasper didn’t even lift his head, interrupting coldly, "I’ll personally handle Grace Quinn’s case."

"But..."

"No buts." Jasper finally looked up, "Do your job."

Jude noticed his stubborn stance, knew persuasion was futile, and withdrew helplessly.

...

By noon, Grace Quinn arrived at Clearstone Law Firm with a delicate lunch box.

She had deliberately dressed up today in a white dress, looking pure and innocent.

"I’m here to bring Jasper lunch, where is he?"

However, what greeted her was silence.

No one looked up, no one greeted her.

A few lawyers in the break area, upon seeing her, promptly returned to their desks with their coffee cups, as if she were a plague.

Some even audibly snorted as she passed by.

The smile on Grace’s face froze, her fingers gripping the lunch box until their knuckles turned white.

Had she ever been treated like this?!

Whenever she visited the firm before, she was always praised and flattered.

Even if some resented her, they’d had to be courteous on the surface!

Now, just because that bitch Stella sued her, these lowlifes dared to show her such attitude?!

Suppressing her anger, she hurried to Jasper’s office without knocking and barged in.

"Jasper!" she cried out, placing the lunch box on the desk, "Look at your firm’s people! They... they’re giving me attitude!"

Jasper looked up from his files, brows furrowing slightly, "I’m working."

Grace looked aggrieved, "I know you’re working, and that’s why I’m here to bring you lunch..."

Jasper replied coldly, "The firm provides lunch, you don’t need to bring it."

"But..."

Jasper closed his eyes, suppressing his irritation, "Leave, I need to work."

Seeing his cold expression, Grace realized it was pointless to stay, stomped her foot in frustration, and left the office.

Outside, numerous glances - some overt, some covert - fell upon her, full of undisguised disdain and contempt.

Grace felt her face burning with embarrassment, her steps quickening, almost fleeing.

...

In Kenton, in the hotel room where Stella was staying.

She was focused on her computer, meticulously organizing the evidence chain, preparing for any possible situation.

Her phone rang; it was her friend from Kenton Courthouse.

"Stella, there’s something you need to know..." her friend’s voice was somber, "The audio recording of the waiter’s testimony and some surveillance evidence you submitted have been challenged by the opposition lawyer for non-compliant collection methods..."

Stella’s heart sank, "What? Non-compliant methods? At that time..."

"You should know, the opposing lawyer is Jasper Hawthorne." Her friend sighed, her tone equally helpless, "He’s too aware of procedural loopholes. He pointed out that during your questioning of the waiter, there was no third party present, and the questions had clear leading tendencies, not complying with evidence rules. Moreover, he’s filed a very professional procedural objection application, citing intricate legal statutes... The judge has accepted their arguments."

Stella clenched her phone tightly—Jasper Hawthorne...

He really took action.

And once he did, it struck straight to the core, nullifying her most crucial direct evidence!

"Additionally..." her friend hesitated, "That waiter has just recanted."

"Recanted?" Stella could hardly believe her ears.

"Yes, he’s found a new lawyer, claiming that he was threatened and coerced by you to give false testimony. He says he doesn’t know Grace Quinn and didn’t help her drug anyone."

Stella felt a cold chill sweep from her feet to the top of her head.

Overnight, key witness testimony and audio evidence were nullified!

The trump card in Stella’s hand turned to waste paper in an instant!

A massive sense of defeat and anger almost overwhelmed her.

"Understood, thank you." Stella’s voice was dry, ending the call, feeling icy all over.

She sat in the hotel room, staring at the painstakingly organized materials on the table, feeling powerless.

She knew Jasper Hawthorne too well; he wouldn’t make a move easily, but once he did, it was unstoppable, leaving no room.

He was determined to protect Grace Quinn at all costs!

"Ding dong—"

Just as Stella was consumed by chaos, the doorbell rang.

Stella took a deep breath, walked to the door, and unsurprisingly, it was Jasper Hawthorne.

She abruptly opened the door, staring coldly at him.

Jasper’s eyes flickered with a hint of complex emotion but quickly returned to calm.

"I see you’ve received the news." He spoke steadily, "The waiter recanted, key evidence excluded. Stella, you can’t win this case."

"Did you orchestrate this?"

Jasper pressed his lips, "You were too hasty. I taught you before, even if you have a hundred percent chance of winning, never ignore one percent of the details..."

Stella snorted coldly, remaining silent.

"Stella, stop..."

Jasper pressed his lips, "I know you’ve been wronged, regardless of Grace’s actions, I’ll ensure she apologizes and compensates you. Let’s end this matter here."

He took out the familiar velvet box from his pocket, opened it, revealing the carefully selected engagement ring Stella once chose...

"Let’s start over as if nothing happened. I’ll make it up to you in the future."

Stella looked at the ring and suddenly laughed.

Laughed so much that tears almost formed.

She finally stopped laughing.

"Jasper Hawthorne," her voice was cold, "How confident are you to think, after all this, that I’d still want this broken ring? Still want to start over with you?"

She suddenly raised her hand and knocked the ring box out of his hand!

"Plop!"

The box fell to the ground, the ring rolled out, bouncing on the shiny floor a few times, rolling into a corner...