Give Up, Mr. Lawyer! This is Not Your Child-Chapter 202: Negotiation

The afternoon sun lazily streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows of the coffee shop, casting bright patches of light across the dark wooden floor.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee, and soft jazz music played in the background.

Justin Holden sat alone in the farthest corner, where he had a clear view of the entrance and most of the coffee shop.

He arrived fifteen minutes early.

His custom-designed navy blue suit was immaculate without a single wrinkle, the collar of his white shirt crisp, casually leaving the first button unfastened.

His posture remained as upright as ever, a half-drunk cup of black coffee placed in front of him.

His long fingers gently tapped on the tabletop unconsciously, eyes gazing out at the bustling streets, his profile cold and sculpted as if chiseled from stone.

Thick eyelashes cast faint shadows below his eyelids, his thin lips pressed tightly, exuding an aura of aloofness that warned strangers to keep their distance.

The door of the café opened, the bells above jingling crisply.

Jean Ellison walked in, her steps somewhat hurried, with beads of sweat dotting her temples.

She paused slightly at the entrance, scanning the room, quickly locking eyes with Justin Holden in the corner.

Taking a deep breath, she tidied up her slightly disheveled hair and walked toward him.

Justin Holden turned his head, his gaze calmly settling on her.

He didn’t stand up, merely nodding slightly, indicating for her to sit across from him.

Jean took a seat opposite him, placing her beige handbag on the inner side of the chair.

She didn’t call the waiter to order and instead took out a prenuptial agreement from her bag, placing it on the table and gently pushing it toward Justin.

Justin’s eyes lingered on the agreement for a moment, then looked up at her, his voice steady and emotionless, "You’re late."

"Traffic jam," Jean answered briefly, her voice somewhat hoarse. She instinctively avoided his gaze, looking out the window.

Justin’s long fingers opened the agreement, flipping directly to the last page.

His eyes paused at the signature line, which was still blank.

He closed the agreement, leaned back in his chair, took a sip of coffee, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, "Not signed, is there a problem?"

Jean met his gaze, trying to keep her voice steady, "There are a few places in the agreement that need revision."

Justin put down the coffee cup, the ceramic clinking crisply against the table.

He gestured for her to continue, his eyes sharp, "Go on."

"The first clause," Jean’s fingertip lightly tapping on the agreement, "Regarding Jesse’s custody, the agreement states joint custody, but I demand it be changed to sole custody by me." Her tone became firm, "You’re not her biological father, I can’t trust leaving her with you."

Justin’s eyes turned colder, his jawline tightened a bit, but he didn’t interrupt her.

"The second clause," Jean continued, her fingertip moving to the next provision, "About the wedding, I disagree with holding any form of wedding, just getting a marriage certificate will suffice, everything else kept simple." Her voice lowered slightly, "I don’t have the time or energy to deal with these now."

Justin was silent for a few seconds, his fingers rhythmically tapping lightly on the table, "Just as well, I’m quite busy too."

His eyes remained fixed on her face, "This point can be done as you say."

His tone paused, "Are there any other issues?"

Jean took a deep breath, addressing the point that made her most hesitant, "The third clause, regarding living arrangements, I request that we do not live together. You can keep your apartment, and Jesse and I will continue living where we currently are."

"That’s not possible." Justin’s refusal was decisive, leaving no room for negotiation, "We are husband and wife, we must live together."

His tone became more assertive, "You, me, and Jesse, we’re a family of three, there’s no reason to live apart."

Jean frowned, her fingers unconsciously twisted together, "But even if we live together, your work is very busy, don’t you often sleep at the law firm? How is that any different from living apart?"

Justin’s mouth curled into a barely noticeable smile.

"After we marry, I will naturally come home every day."

His tone was firm, as if stating an established fact, "This point doesn’t need discussion."

Just then, a graceful female voice interrupted their conversation, "Lawyer Holden, what a coincidence."

Both turned their heads to see a woman standing by the table, dressed in a cream-colored professional suit.

She looked about twenty-five or six, her makeup delicate, her chestnut hair neatly tied in a bun at the back.

She held a cup of latte in her hand, her smile courteous, yet her eyes held a probing intent.

Justin’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, his voice cold, "Doctor Shaw."

Laura Shaw’s sharp gaze fell on the prenuptial agreement on the table, her eyes widened slightly, her face showing just the right amount of surprise.

"Congratulations, Lawyer Holden, getting married so soon."

Her gaze shifted to Jean, her smile becoming even more amiable.

"This must be Miss Ellison? Long time no see."

Jean looked at her in confusion, sitting up a bit straighter, "You know me?"

Laura chuckled lightly, naturally taking a seat in an empty chair beside them, placing her latte on the table.

"Of course, I know you."

Her eyes moved between the two, her tone laden with deeper meaning.

"I’m Lawyer Holden’s psychologist, how could I not know Miss Ellison?"

She paused deliberately before continuing to speak.

"It’s all thanks to Miss Ellison, otherwise Lawyer Holden’s condition wouldn’t have improved so quickly."

Jean Ellison felt a twinge of unease in her heart.

She had never heard Justin Holden mention seeing a psychologist, nor did she know why this doctor knew her and said something so puzzling.

Justin Holden’s face darkened, his tone cold: "Doctor Shaw, we’re in the middle of a discussion." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Laura Shaw seemed oblivious to the implicit dismissal in his words, still smiling warmly at Jean Ellison.

"Remember to send me an invitation to the wedding, I’ll be there."

She stood up, smoothed her skirt, and nodded to Justin Holden, "I won’t disturb you any longer, Lawyer Holden."

She turned and left, the sound of her high heels tapping on the floor was exceptionally clear in the quiet cafe, gradually fading into the distance.

Jean Ellison watched Laura Shaw’s departing figure, her confusion deepening.

She turned to Justin Holden, noticing his unusually unpleasant expression, his fingers gripping the coffee cup were slightly pale.

"Who is she?" Jean asked, her voice filled with irrepressible curiosity and concern, "Why did she say it’s thanks to me that your condition improved quickly? What illness did you have?"

Justin Holden didn’t answer, he just picked up the agreement on the table, his knuckles whitening from exertion.

His tone returned to its previous calmness, but with a subtle tension.

"Regarding the custody terms, I can compromise. Jesse’s custody will be with you, but if we divorce, I need visitation rights and the right to be informed and participate in her major decisions."

Jean Ellison stared at him for a few seconds, knowing that he didn’t want to discuss Laura Shaw right now, so she had to temporarily suppress the questions in her heart.

"That’s acceptable, but I must arrange the visitation times so as not to disrupt Jesse’s normal life and studies."

"Reasonable." Justin Holden nodded, quickly jotting down notes on the agreement, "Regarding the living arrangements, my stance remains unchanged. After marriage, you and the child must move in with me."

His gaze was sharp, "This is my bottom line."

Jean Ellison was silent for a moment, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of the cup.

She knew that on this issue, Justin Holden would not compromise.

Thinking of Jesse and the criminal record that could be exposed at any time, she finally nodded, her voice so quiet it was almost inaudible.

"Alright. But I need time to pack and arrange the move."

"I’ll give you one week." Justin Holden’s tone was non-negotiable, "At this time next week, I’ll send someone to pick you both up."

He took out a pen, quickly writing down some amendments on the agreement, then pushed it in front of Jean Ellison.

The pen nib scratched against the paper, making a rustling sound.

"If there are no other issues, you can sign now."

Jean Ellison took the pen, the cold metal touch making her shiver slightly.

She knew that once she signed her name, her life would be completely altered.

She glanced at Justin Holden, his gaze steady and calm, as if everything was under his control.

She took a deep breath and signed her name on the last line of the agreement.

The ink spread on the paper, the signature appearing particularly weighty.

Justin Holden put away the agreement, carefully placing it back into his briefcase.

He stood up, his posture tall and straight like a pine tree: "See you next week."

He didn’t say another word, not even glancing at her again, turning to leave the cafe.

Jean Ellison sat alone, watching Justin Holden’s retreating figure out the window until he disappeared around the corner.

She picked up her phone, looking at the smiling photo of Jesse on the screen, softly sighing, her fingers unconsciously brushing over her daughter’s face on the screen.

Meanwhile, Laura Shaw sat in her car, quickly composing and sending a text message.

"Justin Holden and Jean Ellison plan to get married."

The recipient was Simon Sterling.

After a long while, the phone screen lit up with only a brief three-word reply: "I know."

Laura Shaw looked at the reply, her lips curling into a meaningful smile, thinking that her senior could finally escape this twisted love triangle; she heard that his family was recently encouraging him to get to know his teacher’s daughter, who was a very sweet girl.

She started the car, merging into the bustling traffic, quickly disappearing into the skyline at dusk.

Jean Ellison sat in the cafe a while longer, slowly finishing the now cold water in front of her.

The ice cubes melted in the glass, making soft popping sounds.

She took out her phone, checked her bank account balance, and then dialed the moving company’s number.

"Hello, I’d like to schedule a moving service for next week."

Her voice was calm, with no emotion detectable, "Yes, it’s a move from Alerion to Westerlyn."

After hanging up, she sat in the cafe for a long time, leaving only when the setting sun dipped low.

As she pushed the door, the wind chimes rang again, as if bidding her farewell, or perhaps welcoming an unknown tomorrow.