Chapter 85
Chapter 85:
Aaron, usually known for his good nature, felt his mood darken under the weight of the James family’s ridicule and threats.
As a respected figure in Inewood’s legal circles, even the distinguished Campbell family treated him with respect. For the James family to threaten him was nothing short of reckless!
Tristan, now somewhat calmer, noticed his parents mocking Ashton and impulsively decided to join in. However, just as he was about to speak, Phillip quickly covered his mouth and pulled him aside.
Phillip urgently whispered to Miriam and Matthew, “Miriam, haven’t I told you before? That man is Aaron, the top lawyer in Inewood. Even the head of the Campbell family speaks to him with courtesy. We really can’t afford to offend him p>
Phillip’s revelation about Aaron’s stature visibly shook the James family.
Matthew and Miriam, who had been openly mocking and threatening Aaron, suddenly turned pale with fear.
Miriam’s voice shook as she cautiously inquired, “Is he truly that influential? How does he compare to you? You’re a top lawyer too p>
Seeing Miriam still failing to understand the severity of the situation, Phillip’s anxiety turned to frustration.
He clenched his teeth and hissed, “In front of Aaron, I’m less than nothing! If he wishes to ruin me, no law firm in Inewood would dare hire me. Even if I were to open my own firm, it would be boycotted! And he could have Tristan thrown back in jail in an instant if he so chooses p>
Upon hearing Phillip’s stark warnings about Aaron’s power, the James family was thrown into utter panic. If Aaron took offense at their earlier remarks, having Tristan sent back to jail would be just the beginning of their troubles.
Realizing the gravity of their mistake, the expressions of the James family members transformed instantly. Matthew, who had navigated the cutthroat business world for years, quickly replaced his haughty demeanor with a flattering smile.
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He patted Ashton on the chest and pleaded, “Ashton, we were merely jesting. Why take it so seriously? We were family once, after all. Let’s not act like enemies, shall we? Also, be sure to keep that compensation agreement safe. Losing it could mean a loss of over a million for you p>
Ashton, clearly unimpressed by their sudden shift to friendliness, scoffed dismissively.
Aaron was about to interject, but Ashton shook his head and began to leave. Aaron nodded in agreement and followed him, leaving the James family staring after them, bewildered but relieved that the situation hadn’t escalated further.
Though they couldn’t recover the money, at least no additional complications had arisen.
Emalee, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, had never intended to reclaim the money; she just couldn’t muster the courage to speak up for Ashton in front of her family and boyfriend. She had resolved to quietly compensate Ashton later.
However, Emalee was taken aback to discover that Ashton’s friend possessed such formidable clout.
This realization filled her with unease.
Eventually, she couldn’t hold back any longer and, biting her lip, chased after them.
She stepped in front of Ashton, blocking his path, and asked, “Ashton, wait! Why didn’t you ever mention you had such influential connections p>
Ashton halted and regarded her with an indifferent expression, as if she were a stranger.
He responded coldly, “I did attempt to introduce my friends to you once. Do you recall how dismissive you were of them at that time p>
Emalee paused, memories from their past slowly surfacing.
She vividly remembered that Ashton had indeed once tried to introduce his friend Isaac to her.
At that time, Emalee harbored deep contempt for Ashton, viewing him merely as a freeloader exploiting the James family.
Under this misconception, Emalee assumed that Ashton’s intent was to exploit her connections to bring his undeserving friends closer to the James family. Using the excuse of being exhausted from work, she had curtly declined Ashton’s invitation.
Now, reflecting on her past actions, Emalee realized with bitterness that she had not only completely overlooked Ashton’s hidden talents, but also failed to recognize that he was well-connected and had many remarkable friends.
Looking at Ashton now, Emalee felt utterly defeated, her heart heavy with overwhelming regret.