Chapter 609 A <b>Way </b>to Fall Asleep


    Ashley hummed in response. She could feel the stiffness in her back from sitting too long. She leaned against Elias forfort but said little, as she still Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    had work to finish.


    Elias quickly scanned the case. In summary, the incident was a ssic <b>case </b>of self–inflicted consequences.


    There was a middle school <b>and </b>a technical school separated by Just a street in the west of Capebatt City. Most of the students at the technical school were, to put it mildly, troublemakers with one foot in the underworld.


    One such student, Theo Ellis, was notorious for getting his gang together to extort money from the middle school students across the street.


    For the past year, they had been targeting Marco Marley, a shy secondary school student, regrly demanding money from him. Too scared to resist<b>, </b>Marcoplied.


    One day, Marco was walking with a female ssmate and was blocked again. The gang found his female ssmate attractive and tried to harass her. Marco, driven by both a desire to protect his ssmate and his own frustration, could no longer stand it and finally fought back


    Marco grabbed a brick and hit Theo in the middle of this one–on–four mayhern, and little did he low, Theo died just like that.


    As both parties were over the age of fourteen and, therefore, legally responsible, the case went to court.


    “Isn’t it obvious? Theo brought this on himself, and Marco was merely acting in self–defense. What’s his fault?” Elias asked, making a sound of disapproval


    What a bunch of social scum. They were still young but were already rotten.


    Ashley took the file back. “Yes, the case is about arguing self–defense. However, the opposingwyer ims that both parties were minors and were just fooling around. But the situation didn’t justify the use of deadly force. So, it’s excessive self–defense and not a case ofplete innocence.


    Elias rested his chin on her shoulder. “What about the girl? Isn’t she a witness?”


    “She ims she was hiding and didn’t see anything, but I suspect she’s afraid of retribution.”


    Elias sighed. “Pour M


    Marco<b>. </b>He’s really out of luck.”


    Ashley replied calmly, “She’s just a fifteen–year–old girl. Considering what happened, she’s probably terrified. Don’t be too hard on the <b>victim</b><b>. </b>She’s innocent too.”


    “Well, then I’ll be hard on the perpetrator. Theo’s father really had the nerve to <b>cause </b><b>trouble </b>in your firm. I’ll find someone to beat him up.”


    Ashley shrugged. The puppy’s head was so heavy. She patted her lower back, and Elias noticed and helped her. She added, “Don’t make it harder for me. This case ended up on my desk because it was difficult to handle.


    “Marco’s family can’t afford awyer. Moreover, it’s a legal aid case. It was initially handled by one of my attomeys, but since they had othermitments, it was passed on to me. Thave some experience in cases where victims of bullying fight back“.


    Es nced at the time, and it was already eleven at night. “Are you done then?”


    Ashley shook her head. “The trial is in two days. I need to review the case further.”


    Knowing she would be busy for at least another two hours, Elias stopped ying the considerate husband and lifted her, “You’ve worked all night. It’s time you get some sleep<b>,</b>”


    Ashley, who disliked being managed and having her ns interrupted, grabbed his pajama and struggled to break free. “Elias! Put me down!”


    Elias carried her to the bed and gentlyid her down. cing his hands on either side of her head, he leaned forward and <b>said</b>, “You stayed uptest night, and you want to stay up again tonight. Your body can’t take it.”


    His baggy <b>pajamas </b>exposed his well–defined abs, which caught Ashley’s eye. She looked away. “I’m aware of my limits.”


    “I’m more aware of that than you are,” Es sald, pulling the nket over her.


    Ashley frowned. “I’m not sleepy yet. I want to review the file a bit more.


    “You’re not sleepy, huh? Then, you should have said something earlier.” Elias leaned closer to her. His brown eyes reflected her face with a predatory glint. It was as if he was a docile dog who had turned into a prowling wolf. “I can help you sleep.”


    Ashley was distracted by his face, and she instinctively asked, “How can you help me get to sleep?”


    She regretted it as soon as she asked. Sure enough, Elias, who had been looking for an opportunity to kiss her, pressed his lips to hers,


    After all, what could be more effective at inducing sleep <b>than </b>a bit of