My husband ch 69

Emilia really didn’t say it out.
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Clayton had never taken on criminal defense cases before. When Emilia brought up this consultation, it was more to see if he’d be willing to change his approach to help the firm out of its current slump.
Besides, Emilia was just asking for his input. The final decision on whether to take the case was entirely up to Clayton.
He wondered, ‘If he doesn’t want to take it, then don’t take it. What’s with the attitude? Is it that he can’t get past his conscience, while at the same time,
he is just reluctant to give up the fat paycheck being offered?’
Emilia’s silence only made Clayton feel even more stifled. He buried his face in his hands and, after a long pause, finally said, “Just leave me alone. I need
to think it over.”
The door to the meeting room closed softly behind her. He didn’t see the mocking smirk that flickered across Emilia’s face as she left.
Clayton wanted the money, but he didn’t want to face the public backlash.
He needed an excuse—or better yet, a shield—to make himself look like the professional lawyer who had no choice but to take the case and fulfill his duty by defending the suspect. He was really greedy.
Brooke’s gut feeling turned out to be spot on. It wasn’t long before the child’s family showed up at her door.
The two-year-old boy had a bandage on his forehead and a fresh scrape near his eye. His mother held him tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.
Next to them stood a burly man with a rough face, narrow eyes, and a black leather bag tucked under his arm; he looked just like a loan shark enforcer.
Brooke felt a chill run down her spine. Her hand trembled as she gripped the doorframe. “W-who are you looking for?”
“Does Ivan live here?” the man asked gruffly.
“Yes, he does.” Brooke glanced nervously at the injured child in the woman’s arms and forced a smile. “Oh no, did my son hurt your child? I swear, I only looked away for a second, and he’s already causing trouble.”
The man’s frown deepened, his expression growing darker.
Panicking, Brooke rushed inside and came back with 3,000 dollars. “Here, this is for the child’s medical bills and recovery. I’m so sorry. I’ll make sure my son learns his lesson. I promise, this won’t happen again.”
The man brushed her hand aside with his leather bag, his face hardening further. “Bring him out now.”
“H-he’s just a kid. He doesn’t know any better,” Brooke pleaded, her eyes darting to the little boy. “Does it hurt? Oh, you’re such a brave little one. I will make sure he learns his lesson. He won’t bother you again.”
Ignoring her completely, the man stepped forward with a looming presence. “Stop wasting time. Get Ivan out here.”
“Wait? You can’t just barge in. Let’s talk this through. If the medical expenses aren’t enough, I can pay more. Just don’t get physical.” Brooke was forced to keep stepping back.
Audrey heard the commotion first and decided to step outside to check. Ivan followed her out. “Who’s looking for me?” Ivan asked calmly.
“Who told you to come out here? Get back to your room.” Brooke rushed over, her eyes red as she tried to shove him back inside. “I’ll handle this. You just focus on your studies.”
Ivan, though still a teenager, was surprisingly strong. He stood firm in the doorway, and Brooke couldn’t move him.
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Her voice trembled with urgency, almost breaking. “Go back inside. I’m just a woman-they won’t do anything to me. And you, stop causing trouble from now on. Do you hear me?”
“I didn’t cause any trouble,” Ivan replied indifferently.
“You dare say that? Look at what you’ve done to that kid,” Brooke snapped.
Back in the day, kids were treated like precious gems. Every family member doted on them, especially the grandparents.
That kid’s face was bruised so badly, and now his parents were here demanding answers. Ivan hadn’t learned how harsh the world could be; he didn’t even realize the mess he had made.
The mother and son’s shoving match was interrupted by Audrey. “Brooke, calm down. Let’s figure out what happened first.”
“What’s there to figure out?” Brooke shot ivan a disappointed look, then pointed at the injured child. “He hurt that kid. The poor thing must’ve been so scared he wet himself. You saw him when he came back, didn’t you? Not a shred of guilt on his face.”
Audrey worried Brooke might say, “Ivan, apologize to them.” She couldn’t stand hearing that.
Before Brooke could say anything, Audrey stepped in. “Are you sure Ivan hurt your kid? He’s not the type to bully anyone. Maybe there’s been a misunderstanding?”
The burly man raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to size up Audrey. “And who are you to him?”
“I’m sort of his tutor, and also a friend,” she replied calmly.
“And her?” The man gestured toward Brooke with his leather bag.
“My mom,” Ivan answered.
The woman holding the child looked visibly surprised. She exchanged a glance with her husband, her expression turning peculiar.
“Your biological mom?” the burly man asked, as if needing confirmation.
“Yeah.” Ivan nodded.
The man let out a mocking snort, tossing the cash Brooke had handed him back to Ivan. “Blaming your own kid right away? Seriously? I thought you were his dad’s mistress.”
Brooke was stunned for a moment. Once everyone was seated in the living room, the truth of the matter finally came to light.
The woman explained that she had been playing with her son near the neighborhood entrance. When the boy saw his father’s car, he got excited and ran toward it. However, because he was so small and in a blind spot, his father didn’t see him.
The boy tripped and fell in the middle of the road, just as the car was about to run him over. It was Ivan who rushed in and pulled the child to safety.
The injury on the boy’s face happened when he fell.
The parents weren’t here to demand justice; they had come to thank Ivan. Ivan had already refused a reward, but they insisted on showing their thanks.
The burly man pulled out 6,000 dollars from his black leather bagChapter 69
Emilia really didn’t say it out.
21%
Clayton had never taken on criminal defense cases before. When Emilia brought up this consultation, it was more to see if he’d be willing to change his approach to help the firm out of its current slump.
Besides, Emilia was just asking for his input. The final decision on whether to take the case was entirely up to Clayton.
He wondered, ‘If he doesn’t want to take it, then don’t take it. What’s with the attitude? Is it that he can’t get past his conscience, while at the same time,
he is just reluctant to give up the fat paycheck being offered?’
Emilia’s silence only made Clayton feel even more stifled. He buried his face in his hands and, after a long pause, finally said, “Just leave me alone. I need
to think it over.”
The door to the meeting room closed softly behind her. He didn’t see the mocking smirk that flickered across Emilia’s face as she left.
Clayton wanted the money, but he didn’t want to face the public backlash.
He needed an excuse—or better yet, a shield—to make himself look like the professional lawyer who had no choice but to take the case and fulfill his duty by defending the suspect. He was really greedy.
Brooke’s gut feeling turned out to be spot on. It wasn’t long before the child’s family showed up at her door.
The two-year-old boy had a bandage on his forehead and a fresh scrape near his eye. His mother held him tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.
Next to them stood a burly man with a rough face, narrow eyes, and a black leather bag tucked under his arm; he looked just like a loan shark enforcer.
Brooke felt a chill run down her spine. Her hand trembled as she gripped the doorframe. “W-who are you looking for?”
“Does Ivan live here?” the man asked gruffly.
“Yes, he does.” Brooke glanced nervously at the injured child in the woman’s arms and forced a smile. “Oh no, did my son hurt your child? I swear, I only looked away for a second, and he’s already causing trouble.”
The man’s frown deepened, his expression growing darker.
Panicking, Brooke rushed inside and came back with 3,000 dollars. “Here, this is for the child’s medical bills and recovery. I’m so sorry. I’ll make sure my son learns his lesson. I promise, this won’t happen again.”
The man brushed her hand aside with his leather bag, his face hardening further. “Bring him out now.”
“H-he’s just a kid. He doesn’t know any better,” Brooke pleaded, her eyes darting to the little boy. “Does it hurt? Oh, you’re such a brave little one. I will make sure he learns his lesson. He won’t bother you again.”
Ignoring her completely, the man stepped forward with a looming presence. “Stop wasting time. Get Ivan out here.”
“Wait? You can’t just barge in. Let’s talk this through. If the medical expenses aren’t enough, I can pay more. Just don’t get physical.” Brooke was forced to keep stepping back.
Audrey heard the commotion first and decided to step outside to check. Ivan followed her out. “Who’s looking for me?” Ivan asked calmly.
“Who told you to come out here? Get back to your room.” Brooke rushed over, her eyes red as she tried to shove him back inside. “I’ll handle this. You just focus on your studies.”
Ivan, though still a teenager, was surprisingly strong. He stood firm in the doorway, and Brooke couldn’t move him.
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Her voice trembled with urgency, almost breaking. “Go back inside. I’m just a woman-they won’t do anything to me. And you, stop causing trouble from now on. Do you hear me?”
“I didn’t cause any trouble,” Ivan replied indifferently.
“You dare say that? Look at what you’ve done to that kid,” Brooke snapped.
Back in the day, kids were treated like precious gems. Every family member doted on them, especially the grandparents.
That kid’s face was bruised so badly, and now his parents were here demanding answers. Ivan hadn’t learned how harsh the world could be; he didn’t even realize the mess he had made.
The mother and son’s shoving match was interrupted by Audrey. “Brooke, calm down. Let’s figure out what happened first.”
“What’s there to figure out?” Brooke shot ivan a disappointed look, then pointed at the injured child. “He hurt that kid. The poor thing must’ve been so scared he wet himself. You saw him when he came back, didn’t you? Not a shred of guilt on his face.”
Audrey worried Brooke might say, “Ivan, apologize to them.” She couldn’t stand hearing that.
Before Brooke could say anything, Audrey stepped in. “Are you sure Ivan hurt your kid? He’s not the type to bully anyone. Maybe there’s been a misunderstanding?”
The burly man raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to size up Audrey. “And who are you to him?”
“I’m sort of his tutor, and also a friend,” she replied calmly.
“And her?” The man gestured toward Brooke with his leather bag.
“My mom,” Ivan answered.
The woman holding the child looked visibly surprised. She exchanged a glance with her husband, her expression turning peculiar.
“Your biological mom?” the burly man asked, as if needing confirmation.
“Yeah.” Ivan nodded.
The man let out a mocking snort, tossing the cash Brooke had handed him back to Ivan. “Blaming your own kid right away? Seriously? I thought you were his dad’s mistress.”
Brooke was stunned for a moment. Once everyone was seated in the living room, the truth of the matter finally came to light.
The woman explained that she had been playing with her son near the neighborhood entrance. When the boy saw his father’s car, he got excited and ran toward it. However, because he was so small and in a blind spot, his father didn’t see him.
The boy tripped and fell in the middle of the road, just as the car was about to run him over. It was Ivan who rushed in and pulled the child to safety.
The injury on the boy’s face happened when he fell.
The parents weren’t here to demand justice; they had come to thank Ivan. Ivan had already refused a reward, but they insisted on showing their thanks.
The burly man pulled out 6,000 dollars from his black leather bag and pushed it toward Ivan. “This is just a small token of my appreciation. Don’t think it’s too little.”
“Sir, I really can’t accept this.” Ivan tried to refuse.
“Take it.” The man’s tone was gruff and commanding, leaving no room for argument.
As the conversation unfolded, Brooke sat quietly, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
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She had assumed her son had caused trouble again, but it turned out he had done something heroic. ‘I give him everything, but he never appreciates it. He just thinks I’m annoying,’ she thought bitterly. ‘But how could he show such compassion to strangers, even risking his own safety to save a child?’
Even with the family’s gratitude, Brooke still found it hard to believe.
“You’re being too kind. Ivan just happened to be there and did what anyone would do. If it were someone else, they would’ve helped too,” Brooke said, feeling her son deserved praise but thinking the money was unnecessary. After all, he was just a student, and their family wasn’t in need of money.
The burly man turned to Brooke, his sharp, triangular eyes making her uneasy. “I don’t know if others would’ve helped, but Ivan saved my son, and I have to thank him. Kids are precious, but you talk about your own son like he’s trash.”
Brooke was at a loss for words and looked to Audrey for help. ‘Surely, she would understand my intentions, right?’ she wondered.
It wasn’t that Brooke wanted to deny Ivan’s actions, but as a parent, showing a cooperative attitude made resolving conflicts easier. If she had sided with her son from the start, it could’ve escalated the situation.
The burly man followed her gaze and glanced at Audrey. “Even a tutor like her had the sense to ask if there was a misunderstanding.
“But you, his mother, didn’t even bother to find out the truth before throwing money at us. Do you think I need your measly cash?”
The woman, sensing her husband was going too far, hurriedly tugged at his sleeve. It was, after all, their family matter.
“Actually, I’m at fault. I wasn’t watching my child closely, and that’s how he ended up running into the road. We’re lucky Ivan was there,” she said.
The fierce-looking man who had been barking orders moments ago suddenly turned into a docile puppy under his wife’s gaze, his demeanor softening entirely.
and pushed it toward Ivan. “This is just a small token of my appreciation. Don’t think it’s too little.”
“Sir, I really can’t accept this.” Ivan tried to refuse.
“Take it.” The man’s tone was gruff and commanding, leaving no room for argument.
As the conversation unfolded, Brooke sat quietly, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
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Chapter 69
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She had assumed her son had caused trouble again, but it turned out he had done something heroic. ‘I give him everything, but he never appreciates it. He just thinks I’m annoying,’ she thought bitterly. ‘But how could he show such compassion to strangers, even risking his own safety to save a child?’
Even with the family’s gratitude, Brooke still found it hard to believe.
“You’re being too kind. Ivan just happened to be there and did what anyone would do. If it were someone else, they would’ve helped too,” Brooke said, feeling her son deserved praise but thinking the money was unnecessary. After all, he was just a student, and their family wasn’t in need of money.
The burly man turned to Brooke, his sharp, triangular eyes making her uneasy. “I don’t know if others would’ve helped, but Ivan saved my son, and I have to thank him. Kids are precious, but you talk about your own son like he’s trash.”
Brooke was at a loss for words and looked to Audrey for help. ‘Surely, she would understand my intentions, right?’ she wondered.
It wasn’t that Brooke wanted to deny Ivan’s actions, but as a parent, showing a cooperative attitude made resolving conflicts easier. If she had sided with her son from the start, it could’ve escalated the situation.
The burly man followed her gaze and glanced at Audrey. “Even a tutor like her had the sense to ask if there was a misunderstanding.
“But you, his mother, didn’t even bother to find out the truth before throwing money at us. Do you think I need your measly cash?”
The woman, sensing her husband was going too far, hurriedly tugged at his sleeve. It was, after all, their family matter.
“Actually, I’m at fault. I wasn’t watching my child closely, and that’s how he ended up running into the road. We’re lucky Ivan was there,” she said.
The fierce-looking man who had been barking orders moments ago suddenly turned into a docile puppy under his wife’s gaze, his demeanor softening entirely.