Wife You Discarded is a Billionaire's Crush novel Chapter 31

"A taxi is too slow!" Vida grabbed a set of car keys from the entryway table and pressed them into her hand. "Every second you delay is another second your brother suffers. Now go!"

A taxi would be inconvenient.

Thinking of Hale's situation, Liliana ignored the throbbing in her arm, took the keys, and hurried down the steps.

An hour later, at Chase & Associates, Liliana had just stepped out of her car when she saw a familiar figure standing at the entrance of the law firm.

Cedric, who had left in such a rush he hadn't even grabbed his coat, stood with the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up to his forearms, revealing the taut muscles beneath. The picture of casual power. At his side, Sylvia clung to his arm, her face pale.

Across from them stood Ian Chase, the firm's founder and a legal titan. He and Cedric were old friends, a friendship that often gave Ian a headache.

"Cedric, don't do this to me. I've already reviewed the case for Miss Preston's brother."

"You reviewed it, you haven't signed a retainer," Cedric said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're handling Sylvia's case personally."

Ian pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "What did I do in a past life to deserve a friend like you?"

"Cedric, maybe we shouldn't trouble Attorney Chase," Sylvia said, her voice soft and sweet. "Any lawyer will do. It's not a major case, and we don't even know if we can win."

"He's the only one who can guarantee a win," Cedric said, clapping Ian on the shoulder. "I appreciate it."

Those three words shut down any further protest from Ian. Cedric then turned, his arm around Sylvia, and started to leave.

Liliana stood at the bottom of the steps, looking up at them. She had heard every word. She was too late.

The document clearly stated the nature of the case: Sylvia's pet dog had suffered broken ribs after being kicked by a neighbor. She was suing. Apparently, the dog was a rare and valuable breed.

So valuable, in fact, that in Cedric's eyes, it was more important than her brother's life.

He knew she was waiting for Ian to take Hale's case, yet he had brought Sylvia here and handed this trivial matter to him instead.

Liliana didn't know what to feel anymore. She was furious, but her anger was impotent. She couldn't fight Cedric. Besides, the firm had never explicitly promised that Ian Chase himself would take the case.

A wave of despair washed over her. "Attorney Chase, my brother's case is incredibly complex. You're the only one who can save him." She looked at him pleadingly, clinging to one last sliver of hope.

Ian sighed. "I've reviewed Young Master Preston's case file. From a legal standpoint, the other party does appear to have staged the incident. But these cases are notoriously difficult to win. It's already all over the news, which has drawn a lot of public attention. The fact that he was driving a luxury car puts us at a significant disadvantage. Rest assured, the lawyer I'm assigning has extensive experience with this type of case…"