Chapter 31 Retaliation
Chapter 31 Retaliation
Claudia found a quiet corner to return the call.
“What is it, Gloria?”
653%
+5 Free Coins
After a long silence, a hoarse voice finally came through. “Claudia, I’m sorry. I can’t take on your divorce case.”
Claudia’s grip on her phone tightened, her heart jolting.
“It’s fine. Did Alan come to you? Did he do anything? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“No, he didn’t lay a hand on me–he never even showed up!”
Gloria’s mood sank for barely two seconds before she exploded.
“That bastard! He used the business ties between Holland Corp and Moore Corp to pressure the firm into pulling all my cases. I’m basically half–suspended now. And not just that—he even went to my father, pushing him to force me to stop. He’s insane!”
Listening to her friend’s voice, Claudia’s heart plummeted.
She knew Alan was ruthless, but she never expected he would go this far, striking directly at her friend instead of just her.
How could he be so cruel and heartless?
The thought that her troubles had dragged her best friend into this left Claudia suffocated, her eyes turning red.
“I’m sorry, Gloria. I’ll go find Alan and talk to him about this…”
She was about to hang up when Gloria stopped her.
“What are you apologizing for? It’s that lunatic Alan–mixing business with his personal grudges. This has nothing to do with you. Besides, I was the one who promised to help you with this case. If it blows up in my hands, then worst–case, I’ll quit law and go home to inherit the family business. You’re the one in real trouble here.”
Gloria sighed. “Alan’s message couldn’t be clearer. With the Moore family’s influence, no lawyer in the entire Capital City will dare take your case. What are you going to do?”
Her voice trembled with both pity and fury.
“How can Alan be such a jerk? After everything you’ve done for him, after all those years, you ask for nothing but scraps as divorce compensation, and he still won’t give it. Instead, he pulls this. Your marriage…”
She truly felt it was unfair for her friend, yet there was nothing she could do.
After all, Alan’s crush had returned, and his affair was so blatant–divorce should have been simple.
53%
Chapter 31 Retaliation
+5 Free Coins
Claudia hadn’t even demanded the rightful half of the marital property. She only asked for a few minor assets–less than what Alan had already given Summer. He had even set up a company just for his crush.
Seven years of marriage meant less than a woman who had just come back from overseas. There wasn’t a shred of decency left in this.
Claudia took a deep breath, her eyes red, her voice straining to stay steady.
“I’ll find another way. Don’t worry about your firm, I’ll take care of it as soon as I can… this was my oversight.”
Gloria let out a long sigh. “Claudia, this is exactly what he wants–to force you to back down. Don’t lose your footing because of me. I’ll reach out to my mentor and classmates; we’ll figure something out.
“And honestly, if the whole legal field only bows to money and power, then maybe I don’t want to be a lawyer anymore. You don’t need to worry about me–I’ve still got wealthy parents to fall back on.”
After some words of comfort on both sides, the call finally ended.
Claudia stood before the office tower window, staring at the blazing red clouds on the horizon, dazed for a long time.
Gloria had said she didn’t care about being suspended, that she could just go home and enjoy her family’s. fortune.
But if she truly didn’t care about law, would she have endured six years of such exhausting work?
Being a lawyer was Gloria’s dream.
And because of Claudia, that dream was now being destroyed. All of it was her fault.
Claudia’s eyes burned as she ground out through clenched teeth, filled with hatred, “Alan!”
That evening, before the company was even off work, Claudia left early.
The Moore Corp was a massive group with many branches; Alan might not be at headquarters. She reached out to Nathan, the one who knew Alan’s schedule best.
This time, he didn’t try to cover for Alan–he told her the location directly.
N Laugh Pub, a private club.
When her car pulled up to the club entrance, Nathan was already waiting at the steps, tall and straight- backed, his expression as cold and distant as ever.
“Madam.”
He stepped forward to open her car door, intending to help her out, but she slapped his hand away.
Claudia glared at him, her tone icy. “Where’s Alan?”
2/8
06:07 Mon, 1 Sept_TO
Chapter 31 Retaliation
+5 Free Coins
The back of his hand burned where she had struck it, his fingers twitching slightly, but his face remained expressionless, as if nothing had happened.
“Madam, the boss is in poor spirits today. Please, try to speak calmly with him.”
“…Ha.”
Claudia let out a sharp laugh and strode into the club.
N Laugh Pub.
Inside a lavish private room on the second floor, more than a dozen elegantly dressed young men and women sat drinking, their suits and gowns gleaming under the lights.
11
ub.07 Mon, 1 Sept T
