CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 101: INSOMNIA

Simon Forrester escorted them downstairs, watching Sienna Thornton get into Zion Quincy’s car. Only after the white Range Rover disappeared into the distance, becoming just a white dot, did he return home.

He changed his shoes in the hallway and habitually glanced at the lounge chair. Sienna Thornton sitting there, drying her hair while enjoying the view, seemed so fresh in his memory, as if it just happened moments ago.

He shook his head hard, but he still couldn’t help but accept the fact that Sienna Thornton had left.

A week later.

Three in the morning.

Sienna Thornton tore off her eye mask, unlocked her phone, squinted at the time, and then turned over gloomily, burying her face into the pillow.

She had been suffering from insomnia for a week, going to bed promptly at nine every night, but usually only falling asleep at dawn.

No, that couldn’t even be called sleeping. It was just her body being too exhausted, forcing her brain to rest briefly to avoid crashing.

At nine in the morning, Sienna Thornton dragged herself to the law firm with panda-like dark circles under her eyes.

Rochelle Linwood thoughtfully brought her coffee and reminded her that Thomas Reed would be at the firm today.

Sienna Thornton mumbled a drowsy "hmm" in response. After seven consecutive days of only sleeping two or three hours a night, she was on the verge of a breakdown. All she could think of was Thomas Reed, who had been tirelessly working on Mrs. Reed’s case and was likely at the firm to consult with the criminal department about trial strategies.

Thomas Reed was indeed there for Mrs. Reed’s case today, but it wasn’t to consult anyone. Instead, it was Simon Forrester who had arranged to meet him at the firm.

When Simon Forrester arrived, Thomas Reed was still on his way, so Leanne Norton led him to the guest room to wait.

The guest room at "Vantage" was adjacent to the pantry, likely designed this way for client convenience, resulting in clients and staff sharing the same refreshment area.

As one of the top three law firms in the country, with branches abroad, such a design seemed rather petty, failing to meet Simon Forrester’s standards.

However, despite finding it unimpressive, since he was a guest today and felt thirsty, he still needed to get some water. There was tea brought by Leanne Norton on the table, but he didn’t drink it.

He went next door to the pantry, brewed himself a cup of Da Hong Pao tea, and sat on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, sipping tea while waiting for Thomas Reed.

He stared unblinkingly at the lawyers coming and going in the hall, wondering if he might run into Sienna Thornton. But he knew deep down that the department Sienna worked in was downstairs, and she had no reason to be on this floor.

Simon Forrester chuckled self-deprecatingly and took another sip of tea.

In the meantime, staff members came in small groups to brew tea and chat, taking note of his unfamiliar face but not caring much beyond lowering their voices, continuing with their gossip.

Simon Forrester had no intention to listen until the words "Lawyer Thornton" suddenly struck his ears, prompting him to perk up.

"I heard Lawyer Thornton from the international department took a month off, and Partner Reed instructed the finance department to continue issuing her base salary!"

"No way! The firm’s policy is to deduct both base salary and year-end bonus proportionately based on leave days!"

"Exactly! Partner Reed is too blatant this time, as if he’s not afraid of people knowing. Everyone knows the finance department is under Partner Linwood’s supervision, haha..."

"Do you think Lawyer Thornton might be Partner Reed’s mistress? I heard Partner Reed is going through a divorce with his wife..."

The women laughed while chatting, their faces twisted in grotesque smiles, making Simon feel nauseated.

"Don’t speak without evidence, or Lawyer Thornton might sue you for defamation," a clear, warning voice suddenly interrupted the gossip. A woman in a white professional suit, black stilettos, with long curly hair tied into a ponytail, walked in gracefully, her features stunning and her figure impressive.

The women gossiping about Sienna Thornton hesitated, then awkwardly greeted the newcomer, "Hello, Lawyer Jefferson."

Simon Forrester raised his eyebrows and looked at her.

The woman referred to as Lawyer Jefferson casually walked to the coffee machine and made a fresh cup of coffee.

While the machine ground the coffee beans, she elegantly turned around, leaned against the countertop, and smiled, saying, "Lawyer Thornton was Partner Reed’s student at Braden University and became his apprentice in the United States. Partner Reed introduced her to the practice and the firm; it’s quite natural for him to look after her. How does it relate to Partner Reed’s divorce?"

The others exchanged knowing looks, smiling without speaking.

After finishing the coffee, she picked up a white porcelain cup, took a sip of the black coffee, and then continued with a smile, "Although her BMW Mini is registered under the firm’s name, it was brand new when she started driving it. Why? Because companies don’t buy Minis for corporate vehicles; it’s just because she liked it, so Partner Reed made a special request to the logistics department."

Mentioning Sienna Thornton’s car set off complaints from the other female employees.

Lawyer Jefferson drank her coffee nonchalantly and added, "Thanks to Partner Reed, she got to go to the United States and was exposed to various cases over the years, so ’experienced’ enough to rival a lawyer with ten years in the field."

She deliberately stressed the words "experienced," causing knowing chuckles to ripple through the group.

Simon Forrester couldn’t take it anymore and was about to stop these women from spreading rumors when he heard Lawyer Jefferson say, "I’m telling you all this just to show that Lawyer Thornton and Partner Reed share a mentor-student relationship. Besides, her professional abilities are indeed outstanding, justifying special treatment. Stop being so cynical!"

After saying this, she put down the coffee cup, smiled, and left, and the rest dispersed like birds and beasts.

Although she seemed to be clearing rumors for Sienna Thornton, Lawyer Jefferson was actually fueling the fire with her insinuations, more insidious than those directly mocking Sienna.

Simon Forrester fell into deep thought, instinctively feeling that this person would one day harm Sienna Thornton.

...

Thomas Reed arrived shortly after and felt relieved when Simon Forrester mentioned that Sienna Thornton didn’t plan to pursue charges of aggravated assault against Mrs. Reed. But the relief was short-lived as Simon added, "However, for illegal trespassing into private residence, she could still get three years," which immediately reignited Thomas’s suppressed anger.

His pent-up rage exploded fully, even invoking Theodore Fordham, head of the Forrester Family, proved futile.

Simon Forrester hadn’t come today to negotiate but rather to see Sienna Thornton, using an excuse to make the trip.

Thus, he didn’t bother much with Thomas Reed, exchanged a few pleasantries, and headed straight to the international department.

Sienna Thornton was handling a tricky case, and due to sleep deprivation, she felt irritable and anxious, carelessly tying her long hair into a bun.

Upon hearing a knock on the door, she looked up from the thick files, her gaze focusing on the door, and immediately met a pair of deep amber eyes.

She paused for a moment, then stood up from her chair with delight, "Hi! What brings you here? Come in, come in."

Simon Forrester leaned his tall frame against the doorframe, curving his lips into a faint smile, his eyes intensely fixed on her.