"You!" Charlotte Vaughn was so furious she could barely breathe. But with Julian Lawson right next to her, she couldn’t lose her composure. She could only curse inwardly.

That little bitch, Eve Vaughn, really knows how to hit someone where it hurts—how to twist the knife right in your heart.

The elevator arrived. Eve Vaughn walked straight in without even glancing at Julian Lawson. But even after the elevator doors closed, Julian Lawson’s gaze didn’t waver.

"Julian!" Charlotte Vaughn called out to him, saying indignantly, "Why should we be the ones to avoid her? We should have just gotten in with her. Now we have to wait for another elevator."

Julian Lawson frowned, seemingly blaming her for nitpicking. "How long can it possibly take to wait for another elevator?"

...

After entering the office of Keystone Law Firm, Eve Vaughn said, "You must be Mr. Jonah Spencer? I’m Eve Vaughn. I made an appointment with you yesterday."

Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Jonah Spencer’s eyes held a hint of inquiry. So this is the Eve Vaughn that Eric Kendall was talking about in the group chat.

If he weren’t a little curious about what kind of person would dump Julian Lawson, a lawyer of his stature would never take a case with a value of only twenty million.

"Miss Vaughn, I have a general understanding of your situation. Now, let’s talk about solutions." Jonah Spencer said concisely, "Based on your current situation, ownership of the villa is definitely yours. There’s no dispute there. However, regarding the company your father left behind, we need to determine the current share ratio. Your uncle has been with the company for so many years; there’s no guarantee he hasn’t diluted or transferred the shares that belonged to your father."

Eve Vaughn knew the company’s books were likely a mess, and finding evidence would be difficult. So she said to Jonah Spencer, "In that case, Mr. Spencer, can you first help me get the villa back?"

At the very least, she needs to kick that greedy family out!

Jonah Spencer smiled. "My legal fees aren’t cheap."

He had fair skin and a gentle smile, which made Eve Vaughn trust him a little more.

She nodded quickly. "I know. You’re a very famous lawyer in Rivaster. I’ve prepared the legal fees, but I don’t know if it’s enough. Could you... Tell me your approximate fee structure?"

"Ten percent of the case value," Jonah Spencer explained. "If the property is appraised at twenty million, then I’ll need to charge two million in legal fees."

Eve Vaughn almost fainted when she heard that. "Two... two million..."

She discreetly felt the bank card in her bag, which only had a few tens of thousands on it. Thank goodness she didn’t say anything earlier, or she would have died of embarrassment.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Eve Vaughn asked meekly, "Is it possible to take the case first and get paid later? Once I get the house back, I’ll have the money."

Jonah Spencer’s smile deepened. He seemed to find the girl before him quite naive.

No matter how you look at it, she doesn’t seem like the type to be fickle and abandon ship when things get tough.

Just then, his secretary knocked on the door. "Mr. Spencer, your clients are here. They’re in the conference room."

"Okay, I’ll be right there." Jonah Spencer had already stood up. He said to Eve Vaughn, "Miss Vaughn, I’m sorry, but our firm’s policy is payment before service."

With that, he didn’t want to waste any more words on her and hurried to the conference room.

This time, Mason Lawson had brought him a huge case, one with a value of 20 billion. If he took it, he could earn at least 2 billion.

Seeing that number, Jonah Spencer found the encounter with Eve Vaughn even more interesting.

He must have been bored, letting Eric get his curiosity piqued and wasting so much time talking to a young girl.

Mason Lawson sat there like a major benefactor. Seeing Jonah Spencer spacing out, he tapped the table with his index finger. "Can you focus? Are you taking this case or not? Give me a straight answer."

Jonah Spencer replied, "Of course, I can take it. You’re the reliable one! Way more reliable than that guy Eric Kendall!"

Mason Lawson’s brow twitched, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Jonah Spencer then recounted how he had just turned down Eve Vaughn, not forgetting to complain, "If it weren’t for Eric, I wouldn’t have gotten so curious and met Julian Lawson’s ex-girlfriend. I figured that twenty million is a small case value; I could take it, or at worst, pass it to a junior lawyer. I never expected that the girl couldn’t even afford the ten-percent fee. What a waste of time."

Mason Lawson couldn’t help but say, "Forget the legal fees. She can’t even afford her tuition."

Jonah Spencer was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Mason Lawson didn’t explain, simply stating coolly, "Put her legal fees on my tab."

Jonah Spencer chuckled, instantly understanding. "When did this happen? How could you keep it from us so well? Are we even brothers anymore?"

Mason Lawson lit a cigarette, took a drag, and said flatly, "I just... see that she’s having a hard time. Thought I’d do a little charity, that’s all."

Jonah Spencer had higher emotional intelligence than Eric Kendall and Hamilton Hale. He didn’t expose the lie, merely saying meaningfully, "You have a rather unique way of doing charity."

Jonah Spencer wanted to dig for more gossip, but Mason Lawson cut him off. "Don’t tell anyone about this. I don’t want those two blabbermouths, Hamilton and Eric, to find out."

"Got it!"

Looks like among all the guys, Mason still trusts him the most!

...

Meanwhile, Charlotte Vaughn returned home to the Vaughn family villa, dejected after signing the prenuptial agreement.

Lana Chambers hurried over to her. "Did you really sign it? Didn’t Julian Lawson say anything? And what about Mrs. Lawson?"

Charlotte Vaughn said hatefully, "With Mason Lawson there, what could they say? I heard Mason has the final say in the Lawson family now; no one else’s opinion matters. Julian’s parents went to see him personally, but it was useless."

Lana Chambers fumed, "What is with that Mason Lawson? Why does he have to make things difficult for us? We never provoked him. Could it be that we’re caught in the middle of the Lawson family’s internal strife?"

Charlotte Vaughn snapped irritably, "Don’t ask me about that, I don’t know anything! All I know is that Julian Lawson has no say in the Lawson family. Even his parents can’t make decisions when Mason is around. What’s even more infuriating is that little bitch, Eve Vaughn!"

"Eve Vaughn?" Lana Chambers asked in surprise. "What does this have to do with Eve Vaughn? Don’t tell me Julian suspects something?"

Charlotte Vaughn scoffed. "No, not that. The point is, when Julian and I were discussing the prenup today, Eve Vaughn overheard us. That little bitch actually dared to laugh at me! The implication was that even if I marry into the Lawson family, none of their assets will have anything to do with me!"

Lana Chambers seethed with hatred. After all, long ago, when Eve Vaughn’s father was making his fortune, Jason Vaughn’s family was still impoverished in a small fishing village.

Back then, Lana Chambers had been incredibly jealous of Eve Vaughn’s family.

It wasn’t until something happened to Eve’s parents that they were able to move into the main house, turn their fortunes around, and grind Eve firmly under their heel.

Who would have thought that after all these years, just when Charlotte Vaughn was finally about to marry into Rivaster’s most prominent family, she would be mocked by Eve Vaughn again.

Lana Chambers gave a sinister smile. "That wretched girl’s just jealous of you. I remember her and Julian Lawson were making eyes at each other back in high school, right? Mrs. Lawson couldn’t break them up, their teachers couldn’t break them up, but what happened in the end? It was all for nothing, wasn’t it? Not only did she lose half her liver, but she also got dumped by Julian! How could she not be jealous?"

Charlotte Vaughn gritted her teeth. "But I just can’t swallow this! It’s one thing for the Lawson family to look down on me; I admit our family’s status is a huge step down from theirs. But what right does Eve Vaughn have? What right does she have to look down on me? No matter what, I’m the future young mistress of the Lawson family. What does that make her? Nothing!"

Lana Chambers soothed her, "Sweetheart, don’t you worry. Mom won’t let that wretched girl get away with this. Don’t forget, her comatose mother is still in my hands! It’s been a long time since we paid the hospital bills. The moment we cut off the payments, she’ll have to come begging to us. When that happens, we can even make her kneel and beg us!"

Charlotte, however, was a bit uncertain. "Will that work? The other day, didn’t Dad look for her, only to get an earful? That wretched girl is up to something, I just don’t know what!"

Lana Chambers said with full confidence, "It doesn’t matter what she’s up to. She has no money, no background, and no one to back her up. Sooner or later, she’ll have to beg us."

After saying this, she immediately ordered the driver to take them to the hospital where Eve Vaughn’s mother was staying.

On the way, Lana Chambers admired her new manicure and said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, "All we have to do is tell the hospital that from now on, we won’t be renewing the payments for Eve Vaughn’s mother. Do you think the hospital will still keep her? That little bitch, Eve Vaughn, actually dared to laugh at you like that. It’s time I taught her a lesson!"

And so, they went to the hospital together, heading to the department where Eve Vaughn’s mother was, and found the doctor.

"We’re the family of Aurelia Quinn, the patient in bed 39. The hospital called last time asking us to renew the payments. Sorry, we won’t be renewing them, and we’re not continuing treatment. After all, her condition isn’t improving, and it’s a heavy burden on our family."

Lana Chambers deliberately used harsh words, hoping to provoke the doctor.

To her surprise, the doctor checked the computer and said, "Aurelia Quinn? This patient’s medical fees were just renewed two days ago for a hundred thousand dollars. That should cover her for at least several more months."

"What?" Lana Chambers and Charlotte Vaughn froze simultaneously, their faces paling in shock. "How is that possible?"

Besides them, who else would pay the fees for Eve Vaughn’s mother?

Charlotte Vaughn said, "Could it have been Dad who paid?"

Lana Chambers immediately denied it. "Impossible! Your dad said the company isn’t doing well lately, and funds are tight. He was the one who told me not to waste any more money on that little bitch’s mother. Why would he pay it?"

Charlotte was even more confused. "Then where did Eve Vaughn get so much money to pay her mother’s medical bills?"

Lana Chambers forced a stiff smile and asked, "Doctor, is there any way you can check who paid this hundred thousand?"

The doctor replied coldly, "Sorry, I can only see the payment amount, not the specific details. Besides, our hospital is required to keep patient payment information confidential. Even if you ask at the billing office, you won’t get an answer."

Lana Chambers and Charlotte Vaughn left the doctor’s office, utterly dejected. They couldn’t figure out where Eve Vaughn had gotten so much money.

Without that financial leverage, it would be much harder to control that damned girl in the future.

As they were leaving the ward, they happened to run into Eve Vaughn coming in.

Seeing them, Eve Vaughn immediately became vigilant. "What are you doing here?"

Lana Chambers hid her guilt and said matter-of-factly, "What? I’ve spent so much money on this living corpse you call a mother. Now I can’t even come to take a look?"

Eve Vaughn’s gaze sharpened instantly. She glared at them and said, "You’d better watch your tone! And from now on, don’t come and bother my mother again."

Lana Chambers sneered. "Why would I listen to you? Do you own this hospital? Well, I’m going to come anyway. I’ll come every single day to see just when that little bitch’s mother is going to die!"

With a cold expression, Eve Vaughn walked over and slapped her across the face.

Lana Chambers couldn’t believe it.

Charlotte Vaughn immediately shrieked, "Eve Vaughn, you bitch! You slapped me last time, and now you dare to hit my mother! I’ll kill you!"

With that, the mother and daughter started grappling with Eve Vaughn while screaming for help, drawing all the security guards over.

In the middle of the scuffle, Eve Vaughn accidentally hit the answer button on her phone without even realizing it.

On the other end of the line were Mason Lawson and Jonah Spencer.

Jonah Spencer had been about to tell Eve Vaughn, under Mason Lawson’s instruction, that her legal fees would be waived.

But unexpectedly, when the call connected, all he heard was chaos.

A shrill, screaming curse nearly pierced their eardrums. "Eve Vaughn, if I don’t teach you and that living corpse of a mother a lesson today, you’ll never know who you’re messing with!"

Mason Lawson’s brow furrowed so tightly it formed deep lines.

Jonah Spencer, however, found it quite interesting. "Sounds like the little lady is being bullied."

"Tell her about the legal fees some other time. I have something to do, I’m leaving."

With that, he grabbed his jacket and strode out with his long legs.

Jonah Spencer pursed his lips and muttered to himself, "He’s just going to rescue his little darling, yet he has to act all serious and say he has something to do."