Estre coolly stated, “Why would I do that? Thest thing I need is a custody battle with them.”


    Jason didn’t respond. This was typical Estre always poised, always in control.


    When the car pulled up outside the Dorvold residence, Autumn was already waiting for them, her left


    ankle wrapped in a bandage. Two servants were by her side for support.


    As Estre got out of the car and was about to lift Isaac out of the safety seat, Jason opened the car


    door a step ahead of her. He bent down and lifted Isaac out first, then carefully wrapped him in a thin


    nket.


    Autumn, hobbling closer, said with a hint of embarrassment, “Jason, I’m so sorry. Here you are, having


    just rescued Estre, and now you’re taking care of Isaac.” She then asked with concern, “How are


    your injuries? You’re not straining yourself, are you?”


    “It’s nothing,” Jason replied.


    Autumn quickly instructed one of the servants, “Martha, take Isaac inside right away. Mr. Jason is


    injured. We can’t keep imposing on him.”


    Autumn’s words,ced with concern for Jason created a subtle distance. Now, Autumn’s demeanor


    towards Jasoncked the usual warmth, but she didn’t feel awkward about it. She had done her fair


    share of advising and had pressed Estre when needed. As far as Autumn was concerned, this


    marriage had run its course, and she harbored no regrets.


    The servant rushed to take Isaac, “I’ll take Isaac inside so you can rest, Mr. Jason.”


    Jason was prepared for Autumn’s attitude, and he had already noticed it yesterday at the hospital.


    Although Autumn came to see him, things indeed felt different.


    After exchanging a few words with mother and daughter, Jason got back into the car and drove away.


    Watching Jason’s car disappear into the distance, Autumn turned to Estre and asked, “Estre, there


    isn’t something going on between you and Jason again, is there?” Estre had note home the


    night before, and when Autumn tried to call, it was Jason who had answered.


    Estre reassured her, “Mom, you’re overthinking it. Besides, Isaac was with us. What could possibly


    happen?”


    1


    Over the next few days, Autumn visited Jason in the hospital daily, while Estre was less frequent,


    pouring her energy into the Glimmering Lake case instead.


    The second court date, set by the judiciary, was fast approaching. Estre had managed to gather


    medical reports from nine families in the vige, all with children, who hade forward after the


    mothers had convinced their families.


    08:21


    Estre had also obtained reports proving the soil and water of Glimmering Lake were contaminated,


    but the source of the pollution remained unverified.


    One morning, after an early breakfast with Isaac, Estre drove to the courthouse.


    ChemiSphere had enlisted a well-known, highlypetent attorney to represent them-a man in his


    forties, far more experienced than Estre, with a legacy of numerous


    sessful cases.


    “Ms. Estre, a pleasure to meet you.”


    “I look forward to learning from you today,” Estre said politely, remembering his lectures from her


    college days.


    “Let’s learn from each other.”


    Outside the courtroom, they shook hands and entered.


    “intiff, do


    you have


    any new evidence in the case of the environmental contamination


    of Glimmering Lake?” the judge asked.


    Estre stood up, holding the new evidence, and addressed the court, “Your Honor, regarding the


    contamination of Glimmering Lake, we’ve received health reports from nine vige families.”


    “Every member of these families is suffering from calcium depletion, malformation of bones, tooth loss,


    and abnormal development in children, consistent with fluoride poisoning. Independent testing has


    revealed significant fluoride contamination of the soil and water in Glimmering Lake.


    “The primaryponent of ChemiSphere’s wastewater is fluoride. Therefore, we suspe that


    Chemisphere is responsible for the pollution of Glimmering Lake and requestpensation for the


    vigers’ poisoning, as well as medical ountability, and demand that Chemisphere withdraw from


    the area.”


    Estre presented her case and evidence with confidence, but the opposing attorney remained


    composed.


    After reviewing the new evidence, the judge turned to ChemiSphere’s counsel and asked, “Defendant,


    do you have anything to say?”


    Thewyer, calm and collected, stood up and responded, “We acknowledge and respect the intiff’s


    presentation of the vigers’ health reports and hospital records. We admit that the people of


    Glimmering Lake have been affected by fluoride pollution and that it has had significant health impacts.


    We sympathize deeply with the vigers of Glimmering Lake and understand the intiff’s desire to


    find someone to hold


    ountable.”


    As the defense attorney concluded, a shadow passed over Estre’s face. What did he mean by


    ‘finding someone to hold ountable? Anyone with eyes could see the link


    08:21


    between the pollution in Glimmering Lake and Chemisphere.


    The opposing attorney’s gaze drifted away from Estre as he continued, “What I don’t get is how the


    fluoride contamination in Glimmering Lake has anything to do with ChemiSphere. My investigation has


    shown that ever since ChemiSphere set up shop by theke, all of its wastewater has been treated


    with state-of-the-art equipment before being discharged.”


    “Furthermore, ChemiSphere’s environmental and emissions inspections have always been up to code


    each year, and the soil and water quality around the facility have shown no signs of pollution. So I must


    ask, why didn’t you ept the reports from the relevant authorities and instead insisted on third-party


    testing?”


    After the attorney finished, a viger sitting next to Estre shot up from his chair with indignation. “Our


    vige has only one factory, and that’s yours, and it’s the only ce where the wastewater has fluoride


    in it. If it wasn’t your factory polluting ournd and water, then who on earth could it be?”


    The attorney looked at the angry viger and replied with a smirk, “The burden of proof lies with the


    user. If you suspect Chemisphere of contaminating the soil and water of -Glimmering Lake, then


    please present concrete evidence linking us to the contamination.”


    “You-you’re being unreasonable. You’re bullying us,” the viger who apanied Estre


    stammered, his face pale with anger. The lot of them were just twisting words and shirking


    responsibility.


    “Order in the court,” the judge said sharply, giving his gavel a firm rap. He turned to Estre and asked,


    “Counsel for the intiff, do you have evidence of ChemiSphere’s pollution?”


    Estre replied with a steady voice, “Not at this time.” She added, “We will present evidence of the


    source of contamination at the next hearing.”


    Today’s oue was expected by Estre, so she didn’t bbor the point, merely requesting a


    continuation of the trial.


    “Very well, court is adjourned for today. Please present your evidence at the next session,” the judge


    granted Estre’s request to reconvene, and ChemiSphere’s hope for an immediate closure was


    silently quashed.


    As the session concluded, the judge reminded Estre to bring new evidence next time. Estre knew


    all too well that without concrete proof linking Chemisphere to the pollution, the case might as well be


    closed.


    Outside the courtroom, several vigers from Glimmering Lake clustered around Estre, worry etched


    on their faces. “Ms. Estre, are we going to lose? Are we going to continue suffering at the hands of


    ChemiSphere, maybe even getting sicker?”


    “These people are just vile, with wastewater clearlying from their facility, yet they have the gall to


    deny it.”


    08-21


    Chapter 248 Chapter


    “Ms. Estre, please, you have to help us bring them to justice. Without that, we won’t have a leg to


    stand on


    Initially, the vigers were hesitant to cooperate with Estre, worried about losing jobs and ie if


    ChemiSphere left their vige. But after doing the math, they realized that their wages had gone


    straight to medical bills and even into debt, while their health had


    deteriorated.


    Rather than continue living a life marred by illness and constant trips to the hospital, they would prefer


    to rely on their own crops and sell grain to make a living.


    After ChemiSphere’s earlier insistence on self-incrimination, the vigers were even more outraged.


    Estre listened to their concerns and reassured them, “We haven’t reached the end just yet. As long


    as a verdict hasn’t been handed down, there’s still a chance. I’ll do everything in my power to find the


    evidence.”


    Her determination gave the vigers a glimmer of hope. At this moment, they had no other option but to


    ce their faith in Estre.


    “Ms. Estre.”


    ”?


    “Professor.” Estre addressed the opposing attorney with a polite nod, despite his role.


    The man nced at the vigers encircling Estre and said with a patronizing smile, “I truly


    sympathize with the people of Glimmering Lake. Even if you lose this round, we’ll still offer $20,000 in


    constion to each household with a hospitalized family member. Consider it Shawn doing good deeds


    for his own karma.”


    He then turned to the vigers and added, “If you drop thewsuit, even if no one in your family is


    hospitalized, we’ll give you $20,000 as a goodwill gesture.”


    The opposingwyer’s speech nearly made Estre burst intoughter. It was evident that he was, in


    front of her, enticing the vigers with interests to persuade them to withdraw theirwsuit. This would


    just make it easier for ChemiSphere to y the victim and paint themselves as the injured party.


    Damn it, how can someone with such ack of conscience manage to run apany and make


    money?


    The vigers exploded in anger, one young woman snapping back at the opposingwyer while her


    husband, barely restrained by the older vigers, was ready to throw a punch. Several people stopped


    them before things could escte. ChemiSphere was known for not letting go easily; any confrontation


    could lead to more trouble.


    Estre stepped in front of them, facing down the opposingwyer Leo. “Don’t worry, professor. We’ll


    find the evidence we need. You might want to tell your clients to enjoy their peaceful nights while they


    still can.”


    08-21


    The man’s face darkened. “Estre, in our line of work, it’s wise to always have a backup n.”


    Estre shed a defiant smile. “I’ve always been one to ze new trails.”


    The man left without another word, casting a cold look at the vigers before turning on his heel.


    As Leo’s silhouette faded, Estre’s gaze returned to the present. After calming the vigers who had


    come to the courthouse, she had them driven back to the vige. The case needed a breakthrough,


    and fast. Chemisphere’s defenses were tight, and the vigers still working there hadn’t realized the


    gravity of the situation and weren’t willing to cooperate.


    As the business van disappeared into the distance, Estre’s phone buzzed-it was Bryce. She


    answered the call. “Where are you?”


    “On my way to the airport,” Bryce’s voice came through the phone. “ne takes off in forty minutes. I’ll


    come to you as soon as Ind.”


    Estre sighed, a sound heavy with unspoken troubles. Bryce, ever theforting presence, said,


    “Hey, don’t be such a downer, big boss. I’ve got faith in you. There’s nothing you can’t handle.”


    “I’ll head back to the office. We’ll touch base once you’re on the ground,” Estre replied, her voice void


    of its usual vigor.


    “Alright then,” Bryce said.


    Hanging up the phone and putting the mobile back into her pocket, Estre suddenly saw a sleek ck


    Maybach pulling up in front of her. She lowered her gaze, and the window of the car slowly opened,


    revealing Jason’s face. Get in,” he said, his voice a mix ofmand and concern.


    Estre hesitated, hands buried in her pockets as she studied Jason for a moment longer. Eventually,


    she relented and climbed into the car.


    As they drove off, silence hung between them until Jason broke it. “You were all fire and brimstone


    during our divorce, pulling every trick in the book. Now, just after the second hearing, you’re deted?”


    Estre’s recent court battle had not gone unnoticed by Jason, who had sat silently at the back of the


    courtroom. So engrossed had Estre been in her case that his presence had gone undetected.


    Resting her right hand against her forehead, she massaged her temples. “Can’t get into ChemiSphere,


    and none of the workers are willing to cooperate. Plus, they’ve had plenty of time to cover up the


    pollution source. It’s a real headache this time.”


    Estre used to share everything with Jason. Now, with Bryce and Jesse absent, she


    08:21


    found herself opening up to him, if only a little.


    Jason reached over, his hand gently kneading the tense muscles of her neck. “There’s always a way


    through if the problem exists. Just rx a bit, don’t stress yourself out.”


    “The higher-ups are pressuring for a quick resolution, and without solid evidence of the pollution


    source, this case might just end up going nowhere.”


    “Let’s get some food first, then we can figure it out,” Jason suggested, steering the conversation away


    from work.


    He drove them to a quaint diner, and it wasn’t until they were seated at a table, with Jason carefully


    cing fish fillets onto her te, that Estre snapped back to the present. “Why aren’t you at the


    hospital today?”


    “Had a meeting this morning. Wrapped that up and came straight here,” Jason answered,dling some


    hearty soup into her bowl.


    For the rest of the meal, Jason said little, content to simply sit with Estre, offering silent support in the


    way he used to. The familiarity of his calm presence wasforting. Estre found herself watching


    him, lost in memories from years gone by.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.