Chapter 32
All the lawyers at Chase & Associates were renowned. Although Cedric had
snatched away their top attorney, without his connection, the Preston family would have struggled to secure another high-profile lawyer. Liliana found herself constantly backed into a corner.
That was the power of Cedric Forrest. He occupied the very pinnacle of society’s pyramid. He had a reputation for philanthropy and never looked down on those less fortunate. Yet now, he was pushing his own wife into an abyss, watching her struggle without lifting a finger.
But he wouldn’t let her drown completely. He would throw her just enough of a lifeline to keep her head above water.
Liliana met the lawyer lan recommended, Attorney Kerr, one of the firm’s top litigators, a man in his fifties.
Attorney Kerr, who already had a case, looked surprised. “I thought you were taking this one,” he said to lan. “I’ve already signed the retainer for my other case p>
“Let it go. I’m not experienced enough for something with this much public scrutiny. You’re better suited for it,” lan said, taking the retainer from Kerr’s hands. “Tell your client you’re handing it off and reduce their fee p>
“Fine,” Attorney Kerr agreed, doing as he was told.
Liliana knew “not experienced enough” was just an excuse. The real reason was Sylvia’s case. But she had no other choice.
Attorney Kerr spent the next two hours familiarizing himself with the case, including the dashcam footage Liliana had brought. When he was done, he let out a heavy sigh.
“Miss Preston, cases involving staged accidents are common, but winning them is not. In my thirty years as a lawyer, I’ve only won two. You need to be prepared for the worst,” Kerr said, laying out the harsh reality. “If we lose, I hope you’ll understand. But now that I’ve taken the case, I will give it my all p>
He handed a retainer agreement to Liliana.
She took it and nodded. “Okay. Thank you p>
They both signed.
Once the paperwork was done, Attorney Kerr began to strategize. “We’ll approach this from two angles, handle the investigation into the deceased. Your family should focus on distracting their family-negotiate compensation, offer condolences. Firstly, because someone has died and an apology from our side is appropriate. Secondly, to prevent public opinion from turning completely against us p>
Public opinion was a powerful weapon that could easily sway a judge. Without ironclad evidence, they were destined to lose. The
dashcam hadn’t perfectly captoet
impact
the moment am and the
nearby traffic cameras had a blind
spot, so there was no direct proof that the deceased had intentionally run into the car.
Attorney Kerr’s brow remained furrowed, and a knot of anxiety tightened in Liliana’s stomach.
“If you have the time and energy, Miss Preston, you could also investigate the deceased yourself. If you find anything significant, contact me immediately.” Kerr gathered his files and handed her his business card. “Stay in touch p>
Liliana stood up, took the card, and shook his hand. “I will. Thank you, Attorney Kerr p>
As she left his office and waited for the elevator, two junior lawyers walked by.
“I don’t get rich people. Who files a lawsuit over a dog p>
“It’s not what they think that matters, it’s what Attorney Chase thinks. If word gets out that he’s handling a dog case, his rivals will have a field. day. They’ll say he must be desperate for work to take on
ve
something so ridiculous p>
“But it’s Cedric Forrest, the CEO of Zephyr Group! Who would dare say no to him p>
Their conversation drifted into Liliana’s ears, tangling the already chaotic knot of her thoughts.