Autumn fretted, her maternal worry creasing her brow as Estre offered words of reassurance. “Mom,


    we can’t shrink away just because things get tough. I mean, look at us-we live a charmed life,


    surrounded by all thisfort. It’s only right that we give something back to society, don’t you think?”


    Estre had won life’s lottery with parents like hers, but she knew most folks weren’t so lucky. They


    could toil away their whole lives and never get a sniff of thefort she took for granted. Some didn’t


    even get a shot at trying. If fortune had smiled on her, then it was only fair she spread some of that


    goodwill around.


    Before Autumn could voice her concerns, Estre cut in with a grin. “If everyone had this mindset,


    fleeing at the sight of adversity or danger, how could our family have such peaceful days for doing


    business?”


    “The good life we’re living? That’s all thanks to the sacrifices of those who came before us-the ones


    who fought for it, some with their very lives. So, you see, Mom, with all the privileges we have, it’s even


    more important that we lend a hand to those less fortunate. To create opportunities for them, to help


    make their lives a bit better, or at least a bit


    fairer.”


    Estre had never fancied herself a world-changer, but she always believed in doing her part, whether


    it was Ryan’s case, Lexi’s, or any of the cases she’d taken on abroad. Her goal was simple: to nudge


    society a smidge closer to fairness.


    The pollution issue at Glimmering Lake was a case in point. Herst visit there with Logan had left an


    indelible mark-sickly children with jaundiced skin, vigers in their forties losing teeth. It was a travesty.


    What was utterly iprehensible was how Gctic Enterprises could pass inspection after


    inspection, year after year, and maintain their foothold at Glimmering Lake for over a decade.


    As Autumn knotted her brows in concern, Estre took her hand gently. “Mom, just picture it-what if we


    were the ones living in Glimmering Lake? What if Isaac had to grow up there? What would you do


    then?”


    Estre used Isaac as an example, leaving Autumn at a loss. With a sigh, Autumn said, “I’m just


    worried about you.”


    Estre squeezed Autumn’s hand reassuringly. “Nothing will happen to me, Mom. I promise. And


    besides, I’m doing this for Isaac’s future too.”


    When Autumn fell silent, out of arguments, Estre just patted her mother’s shoulder. “I’m going to go


    spend some time with Isaac now.”


    Watching Estre climb the stairs, Autumn exhaled a helpless sigh, musing that maybe all


    00.30 s


    those books and lectures on justice weren’t entirely beneficial.


    The very next day.


    No sooner had Estre stepped into thew office than Logan approached her with an update.


    “Estre, word from the top is that if we don’t drum up new evidence or make headway with the


    Glimmering Lake case soon, we’re going to have to wrap it up. The local council’s itching to close the


    case too-says it’s putting a strain on themunity’s purse strings.”


    The more pressure they felt from above, the more everyone sensed the need for a thorough


    investigation-even if it meant working under the weight of that pressure.


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    The problem was, too few hade forward as victims. So far, only one household had spoken up.


    The rest were uncooperative, keeping their distance, seemingly more worried about losing their


    livelihood if the factory shut down than about the poisons invading their homes.


    Hearing Logan’s words, Estre said, “Keegan and I will head to Glimmering Lake. Maybe we can get a


    couple more families to take a stand. That might buy us some time-or turn up something new.”.


    Logan furrowed his brow. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”


    Estre nodded. “Keegan can drive. I’ll be fine.”


    With that, Estre grabbed a voice recorder and notebook and set off for Glimmering Lake with


    Keegan. But door after door mmed in their faces as soon as the factory was mentioned-not a single


    word before the resounding bang of rejection.


    Finally, at a dpidated bungalow with a yard, Estre spotted a young girl tending to a toddler with an


    oversized head and unsteady gait. She walked over.


    The girl exchanged pleasantries with Estre until the factory came up. Then, clutching her child, the


    girl made to retreat indoors.


    Estre, driven by a blend of urgency andpassion, reached out and took the girl’s arm. “Listen, I’m


    sure you don’t want your child to have a life-like yours, or worse, or to grow up nursing a sick body,


    right?”


    At the mention of her child, the young girl’s eyes brimmed with tears, and she hesitated on the


    doorstep.