CHAPTER 2: CHAPTER 2: EX-GIRLFRIEND SENT TO PRISON

After Lawyer Warner hung up the phone, she had just returned to her temporary rented house when a burst of phone ringing came from her bag.

She hurriedly answered the phone, and a familiar low male voice came through, still as cool and calm as she remembers.

"Miss Ellison, I’m Justin Holden, and I’ll be handling your case moving forward."

Jean Ellison bit her lower lip; she had already paid a deposit to Keystone Law Firm and had no money left to hire another lawyer.

"Okay, thank you, Lawyer Holden." Her voice was weak, sounding very tired.

Perhaps too familiar with Justin Holden, she felt he was already suspicious.

The man’s narrow eyes, skilled at seeing through people’s hearts, with the allure of peach blossom eyes yet the coolness of phoenix eyes, appeared in front of her and wouldn’t fade away.

As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately hung up the phone, sensing that the man on the other end of the line probably had more to say.

The bathroom was just to the right of the entrance; the room was very small, only about twenty square meters, and downstairs was a construction site where dust was flying.

This was the best house she could rent.

She splashed her face, glanced at herself in the mirror, and saw features that had never been more delicate, her long eyelashes naturally curled, and her face a bloodless pale with a malnourished yellow hue.

Her skin was naturally white, her features beautiful, and even when she weighed up to one hundred and sixty or seventy pounds before, she couldn’t be considered ugly.

Jean Ellison walked over to the table in the living room, took an old model iPhone with a cartoon case from a clutter box, the tempered glass screen protector had a fractured corner.

She hesitated for a long time but took out the charger and connected it to the phone. When the phone screen lit up, only WhatsApp email notifications popped up.

She had spent five years in prison without a single living person sending her a message; everyone avoided her.

She felt no emotional ripple inside — indifferent to whether it was sad or not — casually clicked open the mail inbox, dozens of unread messages, all advertisements and subscription reminders.

Just as she was about to turn off the phone, a new email caught her eye.

"Kingswell University’s 75th Anniversary Invitation."

Jean Ellison’s fingers tightened around the phone, the words Kingswell University stabbing into her eyes like a knife.

Her father had been a trustee of Kingswell University; on the day she was taken away by the police, he leaped from the 27th-floor rooftop of the school’s office building, dying instantly.

She was no longer Claire Caldwell; Claire Caldwell had died in the women’s prison.

She was Jean Ellison, and this celebration had nothing to do with her.

Her long, slender fingers lightly swiped across the screen, clearing the inbox.

Meanwhile, Justin Holden received a phone call just the second after Jean hung up his call.

"You must come to the school celebration the day after tomorrow; the school wants you to give a speech as a distinguished alumnus, do me a favor."

The speaker was Justin Holden’s college roommate; they had a very good relationship.

"I don’t have time; find someone else."

Justin Holden’s tone was consistently cool and serious, his right ear fitted with a white Bluetooth headset, exuding an intensely elite aura from within.

He was cold-blooded, indifferent to emotions, meticulous and stable — naturally suited to be a lawyer.

These exact words were said by Jean Ellison’s father, who had recommended him to intern at the prestigious law firm. Justin was just eighteen at the time, having just gotten into Kingshill University.

This internship opportunity changed his life.

"Come on, I’ve emailed everyone; the schedule says you’ll be giving a speech. That day is Sunday; why don’t you take it as a day off?"

Justin Holden rarely took vacations, always working from seven in the morning to ten at night. This working mode had long become his lifestyle, known to all around him.

"Everyone?"

His hand paused on the keyboard, his distinct fingers lightly tapping the keys, hidden undercurrents silently surging in his eyes as if contemplating something.

"Yeah, the school has switched to new software that allows for one-click sending, very convenient."

"Hey, are you still there? Can you hear me?"

Justin Holden sat with his spine straight, a single hand pulled open the drawer beside him, taking out a man’s gold ring, surrounded by small diamonds.

He closed his eyes, crossing his legs, leaned naturally against the chair back, fingers repeatedly rubbing the golden ring.

Reopening his eyes, his deep and narrow eyes grew even cooler, his profoundly sculpted features flawless under the light.

"I’ll attend on time."

If the woman who came to the law firm today is Claire Caldwell, she too will surely be present.

On the day of the school celebration.

The area outside Kingswell University filled with luxury cars; most attendees were individuals thriving in various industries.

An open-air festival, fresh green lawns, a blue sky, ground strewn with colorful confetti, fireworks all set off perfectly.

"Thanks to all alumni for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend; now we move to our final segment: a speech by our distinguished alumni, esteemed graduate, brilliant Harvard Law School scholar, and founder of Keystone Law Firm, Lawyer Justin Holden — give him a warm welcome."

After the host finished speaking, Justin Holden hadn’t seemed ready to rise.

He was dressed in a dark suit, the gemstone cufflinks the only hint of color. The trousers had a rich drape, the fabric close-fitting and crisp.

With broad shoulders and narrow waist, standing at six-foot-two, his proportions imposing, almost sinking into the single-seater sofa.

His long legs crossed, one hand resting on the armrest, his eyes behind rimless glasses coolly indifferent.

"It’s your turn." His friend beside him noticed his mind wasn’t on the ceremony, nudging his arm with an elbow.

Justin Holden retracted his gaze from a man and woman in the distance, stood up from his seat, and strode onto the stage.

Not far from the seating area, Jean Ellison clutched a microphone, with the photographer accompanying her outside, carrying a camera in front of her.

She caught sight of Justin Holden’s back as he took the stage. His figure was always striking in a crowd, tall and formidable, his well-tailored dark suit surging with muscles.

A scholar’s face, a warrior’s build — this phrase used to describe the standout star of the law department, Justin Holden, on the school forum.

The cool, handsome boy in her memory perfectly merged with the mature man now giving a speech; he hadn’t changed much, even the strands of hair on his forehead remained unchanged.

He seemed to glance at her, and she hurriedly dodged his gaze; her head bowed, the fringe tucked behind her ear falling to cover the side of her face.

"Miss Ellison, the last take wasn’t great; let’s go again."

"Alright."

As the festive occasion wound down, a group of suited men and women gathered together, wine glasses in hand, occasionally whispering and sometimes laughing behind covered mouths.

With a photographer trailing her, Jean Ellison navigated the crowd, clutching a handheld mic, smiling as she interviewed them.

Justin Holden stood among several people.

"Do you all still remember Claire Caldwell, the female classmate who got caught for fraud involving disaster relief supplies? I hear she’s about to be released from prison."

"What classmate? Can we consider someone like her, who’s so heartless, a classmate? So many people died in that fire; isn’t she afraid of being haunted by evil spirits when she’s out, haha."

The woman sneered, heavy eye makeup exposing entirely disdain and contempt.

"I heard that Claire Caldwell was Lawyer Holden’s ex-girlfriend. Lawyer Holden, you didn’t actually date a female inmate, did you?"

The man’s tone was mocking, sipping champagne, anticipating a spectacle.