Ruby Grant had always had a small appetite.
She’d asked Julian Crestwood to order less, and in the end, she only ate a little.
Julian Crestwood had chosen a table right by the window, which looked out over Kincaid’s largest lake.
The water shimmered under the twilight sky.
Ruby Grant set down her knife and fork, her attention captivated by the beautiful scenery outside.
Julian Crestwood’s gaze involuntarily followed her, pausing on the scar on her cheek.
A pang went through his heart, and his expression softened with sympathy.
He remembered how Lawyer Grant had once told him with a radiant smile that being a lawyer was her life’s passion.
But now, she claimed she hadn’t been a lawyer for a long time.
‘What exactly did she go through during that year in detention?’
Julian Crestwood’s throat tightened.
The exquisite food in his mouth suddenly tasted bland.
Beneath the table, his hand slowly clenched into a fist.
Julian Crestwood glanced at his phone on the table, then furrowed his brow and said apologetically, “Ms.
Grant, a sudden emergency meeting just came up at the company.
I have to be there.”
Ruby Grant nodded in understanding.
“Of course.
I’m finished eating anyway.”
“It’s a real shame,” he said.
“I booked a private screening room for a movie at the Kincaid Cinema near my office, and it’s non-refundable.”
Julian Crestwood gave Ruby Grant a troubled look.
Ruby Grant hesitated, and Julian Crestwood spoke again.
He glanced at his watch.
“The meeting should take about an hour.
How about I drop you and Ceci off first?
I can pick you up from the theater after I’m done.”
Ruby Grant wasn’t particularly interested in the movie, but when she met Julian Crestwood’s pleading, puppy-dog eyes—
She suddenly realized this was his way of trying to help her move on from her past.
“All right.”
Hearing her agree, Julian Crestwood breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Julian Crestwood walked Ruby Grant all the way to the cinema entrance and pressed two movie tickets into her hand.
“Be a good girl, Ceci.
Uncle will be back to pick you and Mommy up soon.”
He smiled, gently squeezing Ceci’s little hand.
Then, as if by magic, he produced a shawl for Ruby Grant.
“It’s getting chilly tonight.
Don’t catch a cold.”
Ruby Grant did feel a chill on her arms from the night breeze, so she didn’t refuse it.
The mother and daughter turned and went into the theater, but Julian Crestwood didn’t head directly to his office.
He got in his car and drove off in the other direction.
His phone sat on the passenger seat, its muted work group chat showing no notification about any meeting.
「The top floor of the Lawford Group building.」
The Lawford Group employees were a little surprised to see Julian Crestwood.
“Leo Crestwood?
What are you doing at the office at this hour?”
After all, Leo Crestwood had been promoted by the former Lawyer Grant.
Now that The Lawford Group’s chief counsel was Miss Yana Grant, the two of them didn’t quite see eye to eye.
Following a request to President Lawford, Leo Crestwood had rarely been seen at the company since.
“Is President Lawford still in his office?
I have a document that needs his signature.”
Julian Crestwood shook the thick folder in his hand.
“He hasn’t left.
Just go on in, you’ll see him.”
Julian Crestwood nodded his thanks, then turned and knocked on Caleb Lawford’s office door.
“Come in.”
“President Lawford, this is an urgent document that requires your signature.”
At the unexpected voice, Caleb Lawford looked up.
He frowned slightly upon seeing Julian Crestwood.
“What document is so important that you have to deliver it yourself?”
His voice was deep, tinged with hoarseness from a long day of work.
A fine, clammy sweat broke out on Julian Crestwood’s palms, making him feel uncomfortable.
He lowered his head, avoiding Caleb Lawford’s gaze.
“I just remembered it and didn’t want to bother my staff.”
As he finished speaking, Caleb Lawford’s gaze fell to the folder Julian had presented.
“Just leave it.
I’ll have Ben Linden send it over before he leaves for the day.”
“It’s quite urgent.
I’ll just wait here for you to sign it and take it with me.
No need to trouble Assistant Linden.”
Julian Crestwood’s odd behavior made Caleb Lawford look at him a few more times.
His gaze shifted to the folder on his desk, his expression growing suspicious.
“Leave it.”
Caleb Lawford’s patience had run out.
He rubbed his temples and spoke coldly.
Julian Crestwood could hear the displeasure in Caleb Lawford’s voice.
Biting his lip, he had no choice but to leave for now.
The moment he closed the office door behind him, he could hear his heart pounding in his chest.
‘He’d actually dared to sneak out the divorce agreement Lawyer Grant had drafted and put it right in front of President Lawford!’
The full weight of what he had just done hit Julian Crestwood with a delayed shock.
‘But he had to do it.
He had to help the Lawyer Grant he once knew—the one who was as radiant as a spring day—get away from this terrifying man for good!’
He shot a wary glance at the closed door before nervously sitting on a nearby sofa to wait.
‘Knowing Caleb Lawford’s personality, he would never let Lawyer Grant be out on her own, let alone with his child.’
‘The only possibility is…
Lawyer Grant ran away.
Caleb Lawford might not even know he has a child!
And she clearly doesn’t want him to find her!’
Julian Crestwood’s mind raced, replaying his own theories.
He clenched his fists.
‘Lawyer Grant wants to be free of President Lawford…’
‘Besides, he had his own selfish reasons…’
‘He just had to hope President Lawford wouldn’t notice anything amiss.’
Meanwhile, Caleb Lawford paused, his pen hovering over a signature line.
He couldn’t help but glance at the folder he had set aside.
‘Julian Crestwood’s behavior was too strange.’
He opened the so-called “urgent file.” A quick scan revealed they were just normal contracts requiring his signature.
He set his suspicions aside for the moment and began signing them one after another…
…until the tip of his pen paused on a page that stuck out slightly from the rest.
Caleb Lawford casually pulled the page out.
The next second, his pupils constricted as he stared intently at the signature at the bottom.
‘Ruby Grant!’
His eyes narrowed.
Gripping the hard cover of the folder, he scanned the page from top to bottom.
‘A divorce agreement.’
A jolt went through Caleb Lawford.
‘How does Julian Crestwood have a divorce agreement signed by Ruby Grant?
And why would she draft and sign one in the first place?!’
‘He recalled Julian Crestwood’s strange behavior since he’d walked in, how he’d kept stressing the urgency.’
Caleb Lawford’s breathing grew heavy.
His already dark eyes deepened as if soaked in ink, turning grim and ice-cold.
‘So, the reason he couldn’t find her was because she’s been with Julian Crestwood all this time?’
‘She won’t come home, but she’ll hide herself away with Julian Crestwood?’
Caleb Lawford’s gaze shifted downward, pausing on the two words “Ruby Grant.” He glared at the name, wishing he could burn a hole through the paper.
‘So, did Julian Crestwood bring this divorce agreement by accident, or was this a deliberate attempt to trick him into signing it and agreeing to the divorce?’
‘Or…
was this Ruby Grant’s idea all along?’
“Ben Linden.”
Caleb Lawford buzzed his assistant’s line, his voice dangerously low and harsh.