Chapter 19
The sunlight streamed in through the floor–to–ceiling windows of the Houston Notary Office as Owen’s slender fingers gripped the pen, solemnly signing the final document.
The scratching sound of the pen tip on the paper was particularly clear in the quiet room.
“Mr. Hayes, do you confirm that you want to transfer all of your assets. including shares in the law firm, real estate, and investments totaling 270 million, to the ‘Amy Legal Aid Fund“? The notary confirmed repeatedly.”
His pen did not pause, and it glided over the paper in a perfect arc: “Yes. I confirm.”
As he walked out of the Notary Office, the assistant caught up with him, her eyes red with worry. “Mr. Hayes, what are you going to do now?”
Owen stopped in his tracks, his gaze scanning past the bustling traffic to the distant spire of the courthouse, as if he could see his former self, full of vigor and ambition.
“Three years ago, when I won my first lawsuit here, he said softly, as if speaking to himself, “I only had five hundred dollars in my pocket.”
Now, it’s just a return to the starting point.
He looked at his assistant and said, “You can go back now, the law firm is busy at the moment.”
“And what about you? Are you not going back?”
Owen let out a sigh, he had very important things to do.
At the entrance of the Legal Aid Center, Owen was getting ready to submit his application materials. He had just closed the car door, still holding a bulging paper bag in his arms. Suddenly, the sound of tires screeching loudly echoed in his ears.
Owen turned around, his pupils suddenly shrinking.
An unlicensed car. like a wild beast out of control, was charging towards. him! Behind the windshield was Melissa’s contorted face.
In the blink of an eye, he instinctively protected the folder containing the information of the person he was helping in his arms, but he was violently knocked out by a huge impact.
In a daze. he saw Melissa’s crazy smile in the car that caused the accident.
“Let’s go to hell together…”
Her mouth moved to say this.
I went to the store yesterday and bought some groceries. After that, I met up with some friends for lunch. We had a great time catching up and reminiscing about old times. Later in the evening, I watched a movie at home before going to bed. It was a relaxing day.
Inside Phantom Law Firm, Amelia had just finished a cross–border meeting. She rubbed her furrowed brow, when suddenly her phone started vibrating like crazy.
‘Amelia! Mr. Hayes was attacked and seriously injured, he is now being treated at Houston Medical Center!”
She stood still, the urgent voice of her assistant blurring into a jumble of noise in her ear.
Half an hour later, she stood outside the ICU, taking the critically ill notice handed to her by the doctor.
“The patient had a skull fracture, internal bleeding, and a survival rate of less than 30%, the doctor whispered. “We need a signature from a direct
relative.”
Amelia stared at the “spouse” column, the pen hovering for a long time.
In the end, she dialed Owen’s parents‘ phone number.
The waiting time was infinitely prolonged, she sat at the door of the operating room waiting, her eyes fixed on the electronic clock on the wall, not knowing what she was thinking.
At that moment, the nurse handed Owen his personal belongings.
A cowhide paper bag soaked in blood.
Amelia stood frozen in place after opening the door.
Inside were the profiles of the beneficiaries of the legal aid provided by their law firm.
She flipped through the pages one by one, and finally, there were Owen’s property deeds and donation records.
I went to the store yesterday and bought some groceries. After that, I met up with some friends for lunch. We had a great time catching up and reminiscing about old times. Later in the evening, I watched a movie at home before going to bed.
Three months later, Fairness Public Interest Law Firm was established in New York.
Under the flashing lights of the camera, the journalist held up a
microphone and asked, “Can you tell us the reason for establishing this law firm? And why did you choose this name?”
Amelia looked into the camera, her voice clear and firm: “Because the law
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is fair, it should always maintain balance. Regardless of identity, status, wealth.”
The applause thundered from the audience, and no one noticed the tall, thin figure wearing a mask in the corner. Owen leaned on his cane, quietly gazing at her dazzling figure on the stage.
Over the next two years, they became the most familiar strangers in the legal world.
When she was fighting to recover tens of millions of unpaid wages for migrant workers, he was next door in the court using sign language to defend a deaf–mute defendant.
When she was pushing for the revision of the “Domestic Violence Protection Order“, he was providing legal assistance to women who had been trafficked in the countryside.
Occasionally meeting at the Bar Association meetings, she nodded slightly while he lowered his gaze to avoid her.
Like two parallel lines, they are always close but never intersect.
I went to the store yesterday and bought some groceries. After that, I met up with some friends for lunch. We had a great time catching up and reminiscing about old times. Later in the evening, I watched a movie at home before going to bed.
In late autumn, the gingko leaves in Houston Court were as golden as
ever
Amelia stood at the spot where she had been attacked by Fernando years ago, and she heard footsteps behind her.
Owen stood ten meters away, his black overcoat fluttering in the wind.
They stood facing each other across a ground covered with fallen leaves,
neither of them spoke.
In the end, she turned and walked towards the steps, while he bowed his head and passed through the archway.
As they brushed past each other, a ginkgo leaf fell onto her shoulder, only to be swept away by the corner of his coat.
