After leaving jail, I had nowhere to go. I extracted the recording of my conversation with Zachary and sent it to Cindy.
Once she heard the recording, she would understand that there was no other path for her but to proceed with the tr as planned.
I told her that if she didn’t want to appear in court, I could handle it myself. She replied that she needed to think it over and see how her health would be next month.
“If my health allows me to, I would like to see him one more time.”
Of course, I respected her decision, but her words almost made me lose my composure. She said, “Perhaps that meeting will be the last time I ever see him in this life.”
The sun had dipped below the horizon, and dusk didn’t last long. After I hung up the phone, the neon lights on the street flickered to life. I had planned to go straight back to Coral Villa, but then Yasmine called.
Recently, I had taken on Cindy’s divorce case, and due to the celebrity effect, discussions about me on the internet had not ceased.
Yasmine was worried that the pressure might be getting to me, so she suggested we meet to relax. I readily agreed.
At home, Nicholas was probably trying his best to comfort Claudia. I wasn’t sure if four hours would be enough today, so I decided not to go back and disturb them.
Feeling the weight of my emotions, I wanted to indulge a little. I spared no expense and arranged to meet Yasmine at the most
luxurious nightclub in the city. I was prepared not to leave until I was thoroughly drunk.
At this point, there were some things I needed to be open with her about, and I would need her help with them.
“Hey! I finally get to see you, you busy bee! If I hadn’t, I might’ve started to think you were cutting ties with me,” Yasr
said.
She walked into the private room with her arms crossed, pouting her lips in a way that perfectly mimicked a spoiled brat.
I knew she was just trying to cheer me up, so I didn’t waste any time.
I pulled out the resignation letter I had prepared from my bag and handed it to her.
“Please give this to Mr. Harmon for me. Once the trials of the cases that I’m handling are completed, I’ll officially resign.”
Silas wouldn’t work for Nicholas, so neither would I. Besides, I hadn’t left myself any room to back out of my plan. Continuing in this job wasn’t an option.
The smile on Yasmine’s face froze as she entered the room. Her large, round eyes quickly welled up with tears, and she was on the verge of crying.
“The firm just reopened, and thanks to Nicholas‘ influence, business hasn’t declined. It’s actually on the rise. Now that Silas is leaving, and you’re resigning too, what’s the point of me staying there alone?”
I couldn’t help but laugh softly. To be honest, the only reason I begged Nicholas to reopen Jay Caldwell & Co. was for Yasmine’s sake.
“I’ll figure out a way to take control of Jay Caldwell & Co. and give it
to you as a birthday present next month.”
At these words, she immediately tossed my resignation letter aside as if it were something unlucky. “What do I need Jay Caldwell & Co. for? I’m fine just being a regular lawyer!”
I had the waiter bring in some drinks before saying, “Isn’t it every lawyer’s ultimate goal to become a partner? You can pend your entire life on the front lines, arguing with judges in court every day.”
After Yasmine’s parents retired, many of the resources she once had access to began to dwindle. She never mentioned these things to me, but how could I not know?
Even Deena Clarke, who was studying abroad, knew that after Yasmine went on a blind date with a guy and dated him for three months, he broke up with her because he thought her family. background was too ordinary.
If she had her own law firm, it would give her more options in life.
I added, “Playing weak is just a way to make good use of resources. Lately, I’ve been staying home, trying to appease Nicholas, but
Claudia is losing patience.
“I’ve thought through most of the ways she could retaliate against me. When the day comes that she can’t hold back anymore and spills everything, there will be no way out for me and Nicholas.
“So right now, I’m taking everything I can. It’s not a bad deal.”
“Ari!” She suddenly hugged me, causing me to spill the drink that was in my hand. “Why does it feel like you’re making arrangements.
for the end…”
She looked at me with a pained expression. “Ari, why haven’t I ever
-25 BORAS
seen you cry?”
Cry? I didn’t want to. I replied, “In the past, I thought that a couple’s fight was a game of strategy. Between him and me, I was always the loser. But now, I want to give it a try.
“I have nothing left to lose. I’m going to give them a huge gift so that they can taste the pain too.”
“Don’t do anything foolish!” she warned.
“I won’t.”
Yasmine and I drank a bit more until we were a little tipsy. Then, I called Nicholas. On the phone, I pretended to be in pain, letting out a pitiful whimper mixed with sobs.
“Honey, why haven’t you even called me? Do I still have a home to go back to?” I cried.
“Where are you? I’ll come get you!”
