Chapter 171 Ms. Smith, Now, the Person I Protect
"William, are you addicted to meddling in our family's business? Don't forget you're just a lawyer."
Chase reached out to shake William off, but his wrist was grabbed, unable to move.
After trying to pull away a few times without success, Chase felt a bit intimidated. The inherent sense of dominance made it impossible for him to escape. After all, there was a huge gap between a self-made first-generation rich man and a second-generation heir who was burning through money.
What's more, the first generation's capital exceeded the second generation's original wealth.
William's reputation in Emerald City's business circles was truly thunderous.
He was decisive and ruthless, playing hard to get, willing to sacrifice anyone for his goals. Chase knew clearly that if he went against him, he wouldn't gain anything.
"Mr. Smith, calm down. If you get beaten up in a place like this, you'll just have to swallow it."
"What do you mean?" Chase was furious. Though intimidated, he still had his pride.
William looked around, then his gaze fell back on Chase: "Friendly reminder - this hotel is under Thalia's name."
In other words, if you cause trouble on her turf, she has plenty of ways to make you eat your losses.
William held a cigarette in one hand and gently patted Chase's shoulder with the other, saying in a low voice: "One more reminder for Mr. Smith - Ms. Smith is now under my protection."
Chase's heart tightened sharply, looking at William with disbelief.
Were they together?
William pushed away, stubbed out his cigarette on a pebble above a nearby trash can, and glanced at the angry Thalia.
"Leaving?"
........
"William is so hot, that bad-boy elite vibe is so addictive. Compared to those Emerald City men who claim to be gentlemen, his unique style makes me feel like I'm watching a TV show."
"He looked so cool handling that guy while holding a cigarette."
"Thalia, weren't you impressed by him?"
Evelyn, as if discovering a new world, started gushing excitedly as soon as she got in the van, giving Thalia a headache.
Thalia pulled at the corner of her lips and shook her head: "No."
"Looks like Mr. Brown still needs to work harder."
Hearing this, Thalia's face turned red, something in her mind inexplicably overlapping with that phrase.
She and William had always been quite indulgent in their intimate life. Whenever she wasn't satisfied afterward, William would look at her meaningfully and say: "Looks like I need to work harder."
"What are you thinking about? Your face is as red as a pig with blush on." Seeing her silence, Evelyn lightly tapped her with her toe.
"Can you use a different comparison?"
"Is comparing Emerald City's number one beauty to a pig with blush on appropriate?"
Evelyn couldn't help but laugh: "Do you believe what Indigo said today?"
"Half of it."
"You believe half and still let her go?"
"Lock her up and wait to get killed?" If they dared to bring her back, they were prepared to abandon her.
If she locked her up, wouldn't that just give someone the chance to kill her?
Evelyn said nothing, glancing at Thalia: "Back to the Smith Villa or to Mistwood Hill?"
"The Smith Villa." Hayden had just died, she needed to go back and keep Grace company.
........
The Wood Villa.
Wesley had just returned from a business dinner and hadn't even sat down when the security guard came in, saying someone wanted to see him.
"Who?"
"He says he's from a law firm."
Wesley was displeased: "A law firm?"
"Yes."
"Let him in."
Angelina walked in wearing a haute couture suit, carrying a bag. When she saw Wesley, she politely addressed him with respect.
"Ms. Jolie? What brings you here?" Wesley, who had been looking impatient, brightened up considerably upon seeing Angelina.
"I'm here because I was commissioned by the Smith family. I imagine Mr. Wood will want to kick me out in a moment."
"The Smith family?"
"Yes, Mr. Wood may not know yet, but Mr. Smith passed away a week ago, and the funeral was completed this morning."
Wesley: "So sudden?"
Angelina pulled at the corner of her lips: "Not really sudden, after all Mr. Smith had been in a coma for a long time."
Wesley vaguely guessed the purpose of Angelina's visit.
"So Ms. Jolie is here to...?"
"This is the lawsuit document. Please take a look. Mr. Brown's intention seems to be that since Mr. Wood is also a prominent figure in Emerald City, we must consider all aspects before doing anything, so today I personally came to explain the situation to you."
Wesley didn't take the document Angelina handed over. Angelina wasn't bothered and casually placed it on the table.
"Sue us? On what grounds?"
"Negligent homicide."
"Ridiculous," Wesley laughed in anger: "Hayden came to our home and insulted us, then collapsed on his own, and now you're blaming us? Isn't this absurd?"
"The Smith family has been careful with their wording, saying negligent homicide, not intentional homicide. As for what happened and why, everyone knows in their hearts. I'm not here to argue with Mr. Wood today, but to inform you to prepare for court. I'll leave the documents here."
After speaking, Angelina prepared to leave. Just as she stood up, she remembered something and turned back to look at the pale-faced Wesley: "Oh, by the way, I should inform Mr. Wood that Mr. Brown will personally handle this case."
As soon as Angelina reached the door, she heard someone flip a table inside, things scattering everywhere.
At the second-floor stairway, Aria turned back to the bedroom.
In the bedroom, Walter was lying in bed playing games. Seeing Aria return, he said impatiently: "Didn't I tell you to get water? Why are you back?"
Aria looked at Walter lying in bed. Before Wesley cut off his money supply, he used to spend all his time partying outside with money, never home.
Now without money to go out and play, he stayed home every day, lying in bed playing games on his phone, listless and dejected, like a stray dog.
She had no idea how Thalia could have been interested in someone like this.
And maintained a relationship with him for a whole year.
"Hayden is dead. The Smith family is going to sue us."
Walter was absorbed in his game and didn't react at all to this: "Dead is dead."
Suddenly, Walter, who had been lazily leaning on the bed, shot up: "Who did you say died?"
"Hayden, Thalia's dad."
"How do you know?"
Just as Walter finished asking, someone knocked on the door: "Mr. Walter Wood, Mr. Wesley Wood is calling you downstairs."
Aria looked at him, giving him a look that said "good luck."
Before going downstairs, Walter was still asking Aria how she knew.
As soon as he came downstairs and saw the document on the coffee table, he understood.
Walter stood at the stairway, unsure whether he should go forward.
"Dad."