Chapter 616: Chapter 616 Suppressing and Tempting at the Same Time_1
Riley Montgomery pursed her lips tightly and stopped talking.
When in doubt about how to respond, it’s better to remain silent. That’s what Purple Summers had told her.
Marcel Jefferson glanced at Purple Summers and said to the female lawyer, “By that logic, could I conclude that Mr. Douglas is unfit for marriage? His first wife died unexpectedly, his second wife was injured and became disabled in the legs despite having servants and nannies to help, can Mr. Douglas be sure he is fit for a third wife?”
“That’s completely different, Mr. Jefferson,” the female lawyer laughed. “Ms. Montgomery is a fully capable adult, not an infant in swaddling clothes.”
Marcel Jefferson also smiled, “Let’s end this sophistry, don’t waste our time. It was you who said Ms. Montgomery was ill, couldn’t take care of herself, and was incapable of raising the child. Now, it’s also you saying she’s capable!”
“Yes, clearly Ms. Montgomery cannot take good care of herself. She has been living in luxury for six years with the Douglas family since her marriage to Mr. Douglas. Now, suddenly leaving the Douglas Family and raising the child alone, Mr. Douglas is of course very worried.”
The lawyer turned her head towards Riley Montgomery and continued, “Forgive my bluntness, but you are no longer young, without a high level of education or substantial work experience. If a few more years pass, it will only be harder to re-enter society. Plus, your relationship with Mr. Douglas isn’t beyond repair. Why take the step to divorce? In fact, if you are dissatisfied with the Douglas Family’s environment, Mr. Douglas is willing to purchase another property for you and the child to live in.”
She was being pressured and tempted at the same time.
At times , neither Purple Summers nor Marcel Jefferson could help Riley Montgomery.
In fact, one of the reasons divorce cases are tough is that the parties often have second thoughts during the final negotiation process, choosing to continue the marriage for the sake of the child or other interests.
Lawyers often ended up looking like villains who break up marriages.
Holding her child, Riley Montgomery said softly, “He just needs a wife, any woman will do, but I… I need a husband, not a ‘judge’.”
That was the only sentence Riley Montgomery said of her own volition, after meeting today.
The marriage that initially fell into her lap like a pie from heaven hadn’t brought her much happiness. Her husband was ten years older than her, logical and rational in all his actions. Even knowing that the private tutor harbored feelings for him, because she didn’t act inappropriately and was diligent in teaching the young master, Norman Douglas never dismissed her.
The same was true of the servants.
He knew the old servant looked down on the new mistress of common birth, but considering the servants did their jobs diligently and made no mistakes, Norman Douglas still did nothing.
Regarding the child’s accident, he acted like a fair judge, listened to the testimonies from the servants in the house, and made what he thought was the most just and reasonable decision.
This made Riley Montgomery feel particularly cold.
She had thought that she would have a special place in her husband’s heart, but Norman’s impartiality deeply disappointed her.
What followed was a battle of wits between Marcel Jefferson and the female lawyer, a back-and-forth that saw no concessions made. The two parties involved, however, appeared remarkably calm.
At one point, Little Baby began crying loudly, apparently due to hunger, and Marcel Jefferson arranged for someone to take Riley Montgomery to another room to breastfeed.
Purple Summers, who had been silent from the start, finally spoke.
She looked up at Norman Douglas, who had a gloomy expression, “Mr. Douglas, may I have a word with you?”
Marcel Jefferson gave her a surprised look.
The discussion had been going on for a while with little progress. Though Purple Summers hadn’t said much, every time Marcel Jefferson glanced at her, Norman knew that the control of the negotiation actually lay in Purple Summers’ hands.
“Certainly,” Norman Douglas stood up, straightening his collar, “I’m all ears.”