Chapter 12

"Alright," Natalie muttered begrudgingly before rising to her feet and retreating into the kitchen. Taylor reclaimed her seat, his gaze lingering on the plate bearing a perfectly cooked but half-eaten egg. His eyebrow arched slightly in surprise. This woman surprisingly exhibited traits of a dutiful wife and mother. Fifteen minutes later, the coffee finished brewing on schedule. Natalie endured another ten minutes in the kitchen, listening to the hum of the coffee machine. In the remaining five minutes, she fried another egg and plated it all. When Natalie returned to the dining room with an identical plate, Taylor was nowhere to be seen. The egg on her breakfast plate was also missing. Natalie wondered why Taylor didn't mind that she had eaten the egg. Perhaps he was as indiscriminate about his meals as he was about his choice of women. ... The client had yet to show up when Natalie arrived at the law firm. When she went to Matthew's office, Matthew motioned for her to sit on the couch and poured her a glass of water. "It's a divorce case. According to the client, she's been married for two years. Her husband's been cheating on her, even resorting to domestic violence. She wants him out with nothing." "Sounds like a typical divorce scenario. Why did you call it a big case?" "This divorce involves a substantial amount of money. The client's husband is the founder of Malique Corporation, with numerous assets—stocks, funds, properties, even some offshore holdings." "I see. Does the client have any stake in her husband's company?" "No, and the company predates their marriage." "It sounds challenging to strip him of everything." "Exactly, but challenges present opportunities. Can you guess who the client is?" "Who?" "Her ex-boyfriend is a notorious wealthy heir known for his tumultuous personal life." Natalie's smile faded. A sense of foreboding washed over her as she cautiously asked, "Who's the heir?" "Taylor Jones." Natalie's expression froze. Was the client Bethany Powel? "Taylor, the second son of the Jones family, commands respect in the business world. However, he's never been serious about relationships. I wonder if his attitude changed after the breakup two years ago," Matthew inquired, his usual neutral tone laced with a hint of curiosity. After their marriage two years ago, Taylor forbade Natalie from revealing their union or using the title of Mrs. Jones. Hence, Matthew was unaware of her connection to Taylor. Lost in her thoughts, Natalie was brought back to reality by Matthew's voice. "Why are you looking so serious? Have you started thinking about your defense strategy?" She smiled awkwardly and said, "Mr. Quint, perhaps you should get another associate to take on this case?" "It has to be you, Natalie." "But I'm afraid—" Matthew leaned forward and said thoughtfully, "You've honed your skills on countless smaller cases these past two years. This, however, presents a unique opportunity. The client's husband is the founder of Malique Corporation, and her ex-boyfriend is the CEO of Jones Group. "A victory here would be a turning point in your career." Natalie, unwilling to disappoint him, nodded in agreement. "Very well. As long as the client consents, I'll take the case." They continued their conversation for a while longer until the gentle click of the door interrupted them. Natalie glanced up and saw Bethany walking into the room with her signature Chanel coat draped over her shoulders. Her shoulder-length hair, styled in loose curls with delicate bangs framing her face, seemed untouched by time. She slipped off her sunglasses, her gaze locking onto Natalie for two seconds. "Is that you, Natalie Lopez?" "Yes. It's me, Ms. Powel." "It has been two years since we last met. You've matured a lot. Are you a lawyer now?"