Chapter 33
Emily Windsor's POV
Carl's phony performance made my stomach turn, but as I stared at the horrifying statistics in the file and the photographs of residents whose faces had been ravaged by chronic illness, something deep inside me—that stubborn part that made me become a lawyer in the first place—stirred to life.
Wasn't this why I became a lawyer?
To use the law to seek justice for those who couldn't speak for themselves.
Even though I knew the odds were stacked against us.
"Fine. I'll take the case."
Carl's face lit up. "Thank you, Emily!"
I carried the heavy box of documents back to my office.
I spent the entire afternoon combing through every single page.
The more I read, the heavier my heart grew.
Just as I'd suspected, most of this thick stack of files was worthless.
Beyond sensationalized media reports and emotional but legally useless oral testimonies from residents, there was almost nothing that could serve as solid evidence.
No internal pollution discharge data from Kingsley Chemical Plant. No medical reports establishing a direct link between their emissions and the residents' cancer rates. And certainly no internal documents proving their discharge was illegal.
The news could make all the noise it wanted, but in a courtroom, this material would crumble like wet paper.
Carl had handed me a hot potato—an almost impossible task.
All he wanted was for me to stand in front of cameras, make some high-minded statements on behalf of the firm, and rake in publicity and prestige.
Anger flared in my chest.
I irritably tossed the files onto my desk and slumped back in my chair, exhausted, closing my eyes.
Luke's face flashed unbidden through my mind.
He'd said different enemies require different weapons.
He'd said the law is the sharpest blade a businessman can wield.
Wasn't Kingsley Chemical a business, too?
An idea sparked in my mind.
My eyes snapped open, and I grabbed my phone, dialing Luke's number without a second's hesitation.
The phone rang for a long time before he picked up. The line was quiet except for the sound of his steady breathing.
"Yeah."
"It's me." My voice came out hoarse.
"I know." His tone was low, unreadable.
I took a deep breath, like I was making some kind of decision, and cut straight to the point. "Luke, I need your help."
Silence stretched on the other end, then came a faint laugh, tinged with knowing amusement. "My lawyer finally remembers I exist?"
His teasing made my face heat up, but I didn't have time for that now.
"The Preston District case. You've heard about it." I got straight to business. "I need internal documents from Kingsley Chemical. Everything they have on illegal discharge."
I expected him to ask why, or to use this as leverage, demanding something in return.
But he didn't.
He simply asked, matter-of-factly, "Dead or alive?"
I froze. "What?"
"Do you want them bankrupted and liquidated, or just financially crippled with settlements and bad press?"
His tone was casual, as if he were asking whether I wanted steak or salad for dinner.
This man had a gift for saying the most outrageous things in the calmest voice imaginable.
I didn't hesitate. "Alive. I want them broken, not destroyed. The residents need compensation, not a bankrupt shell company."
A low chuckle came through the line, dark and pleased. "As you wish."
After hanging up, I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the endless stream of traffic below.
Luke's promise was both a shot of adrenaline and a catalyst. He could topple Kingsley Chemical's foundation from the top, but I still needed to build an ironclad case from the ground up.
The evidence Luke could provide would be explosive in court, but it wouldn't be enough on its own.
I needed to go to Preston District myself. To meet the people who'd been harmed and silenced. To hear their stories. To find the voices buried beneath poverty and despair.
I immediately started booking flights and hotels for a city near Preston District.
Just as I was entering my information to confirm the reservation, my office door burst open.
"Emily!"
Jade stood in the doorway, exhaustion still evident on her face but her eyes unusually bright. She was carrying a thermos.
"I made you soup. You—" Her words died the instant she saw the booking screen on my computer.
"Preston District?" Her face drained of color, her voice shooting up several octaves. "What are you going there for?!"
I closed my laptop, trying to calm her down. "Just a business trip. I need to gather information for a case."
"The Kingsley Chemical case?" Jade's reaction was more intense than I'd expected. She rushed over and grabbed my arm, her eyes filled with terror. "You can't go! That place is dangerous!"
I was taken aback by her vehemence. "Jade, calm down. I'm just going to..."
"I can't calm down!" She cut me off, her eyes welling up. "Emily, do you have any idea what David stole from me? That file he took—it was about Preston District!"
My heart lurched.
"What file?"
Jade's lips trembled. "After graduation, I interned at an environmental NGO doing data analysis. I spent six months secretly compiling a report on the correlation between Preston District residents' health conditions and local environmental pollution over the past decade. I even collected water and soil samples for preliminary lab testing! It wasn't strong enough for court evidence, but it was enough to prove how severe the contamination really was!"
Her voice broke into a sob. "David didn't just get close to me because of you. Lowe Family wanted that report—not for some noble cause, but to blackmail Kingsley Chemical so they could win a bidding war over another piece of real estate!"
So that was it.
All the pieces suddenly clicked into place.
Lowe Family had wanted to use that report as leverage. And now, that report had likely fallen into Kingsley Chemical's hands, becoming a tool to silence anyone who spoke out.
A chill crept through me, layer by layer.
"Emily, do you understand now?" Jade gripped my hand so tightly it hurt. "They set up that whole trap just for an incomplete report. Now the case has blown up and you're the lead attorney walking right into their territory. You'll be a walking target. They won't let you walk away!"
I looked at her frightened face, a sharp pain twisting in my chest. I took her cold hands in mine. "That's exactly why I have to go."
"You're insane!"
"I'm not," I said, meeting her eyes, my voice clear and unwavering. "Jade, those people—the ones suffering, the ones who've died—this lawsuit is their only hope. If even I back down, who's going to fight for them?"