30 Days Till I Divorce My Husband

Chapter 248

Estrella coolly stated, “Why would I do that? The last thing I need is a custody battle with them.”

Jason didn’t respond. This was typical Estrella always poised, always in control.

When the car pulled up outside the Dorvold residence, Autumn was already waiting for them, her left ankle wrapped in a bandage. Two servants were by her side for support.

As Estrella got out of the car and was about to lift Isaac out of the safety seat, Jason opened the car door a step ahead of her. He bent down and lifted Isaac out first, then carefully wrapped him in a thin blanket.

Autumn, hobbling closer, said with a hint of embarrassment, “Jason, I’m so sorry. Here you are, having just rescued Estrella, and now you’re taking care of Isaac.” She then asked with concern, “How are your injuries? You’re not straining yourself, are you?”

“It’s nothing,” Jason replied.

Autumn quickly instructed one of the servants, “Martha, take Isaac inside right away. Mr. Jason is injured. We can’t keep imposing on him.”

Autumn’s words, laced with concern for Jason created a subtle distance. Now, Autumn’s demeanor towards Jason lacked the usual warmth, but she didn’t feel awkward about it. She had done her fair share of advising and had pressed Estrella when needed. As far as Autumn was concerned, this marriage had run its course, and she harbored no regrets.

The servant rushed to take Isaac, “I’ll take Isaac inside so you can rest, Mr. Jason.”

Jason was prepared for Autumn’s attitude, and he had already noticed it yesterday at the hospital. Although Autumn came to see him, things indeed felt different.

After exchanging a few words with mother and daughter, Jason got back into the car and drove away.

Watching Jason’s car disappear into the distance, Autumn turned to Estrella and asked, “Estrella, there isn’t something going on between you and Jason again, is there?” Estrella had not come home the night before, and when Autumn tried to call, it was Jason who had answered.

Estrella reassured her, “Mom, you’re overthinking it. Besides, Isaac was with us. What could possibly happen?”

Over the next few days, Autumn visited Jason in the hospital daily, while Estrella was less frequent, pouring her energy into the Glimmering Lake case instead.

The second court date, set by the judiciary, was fast approaching. Estrella had managed to gather medical reports from nine families in the village, all with children, who had come forward after the mothers had convinced their families.

Estrella had also obtained reports proving the soil and water of Glimmering Lake were contaminated, but the source of the pollution remained unverified.

One morning, after an early breakfast with Isaac, Estrella drove to the courthouse.

ChemiSphere had enlisted a well-known, highly competent attorney to represent them-a man in his forties, far more experienced than Estrella, with a legacy of numerous successful cases.

“Ms. Estrella, a pleasure to meet you.”

learning from you today,” Estrella said politely,

from each

they shook hands and

case of the environmental contamination of

and addressed the court, “Your Honor, regarding the contamination of Glimmering

malformation of bones, tooth loss, and abnormal development in children, consistent with fluoride poisoning. Independent testing has revealed significant fluoride contamination of

that Chemisphere is responsible for the pollution of Glimmering Lake and request compensation for the villagers’ poisoning, as well as medical accountability, and demand that Chemisphere

evidence with confidence, but the opposing attorney remained composed.

the judge turned to ChemiSphere’s counsel and asked, “Defendant, do

Glimmering Lake have been affected by fluoride pollution and that it has had significant

did he mean by ‘finding someone to hold accountable? Anyone with eyes could

to do with ChemiSphere.

have always been up to code each year, and the soil and water quality around the facility have shown no signs of pollution. So I must ask, why didn’t you accept the reports from the

finished, a villager sitting next to Estrella shot up from his chair with indignation. “Our village has only one factory, and that’s yours, and it’s the only

replied with a smirk, “The burden of proof lies with the accuser. If you suspect Chemisphere of contaminating the

pale with anger. The lot of them

giving his gavel a firm rap. He turned to Estrella and

with a steady voice, “Not at this time.” She added, “We

so she didn’t belabor the point, merely requesting a continuation of

is adjourned for today. Please present your evidence at the next session,” the judge granted Estrella’s request to reconvene, and ChemiSphere’s hope for an immediate closure was

next time. Estrella knew all too well that without concrete proof linking Chemisphere to the pollution,

Estrella, worry etched on their faces. “Ms. Estrella, are we going to lose? Are we going to continue suffering at the hands of

clearly coming from their facility, yet they have the

us bring them to justice. Without that, we won’t

were hesitant to cooperate with Estrella, worried about losing jobs and income if ChemiSphere left their village. But after doing the math, they realized that

to the hospital, they would prefer to rely on their

insistence on self-incrimination, the villagers were even more outraged.

their concerns and reassured them, “We haven’t reached the end just yet. As long as a verdict

determination gave the villagers a glimmer of hope. At this moment, they had no

“Ms. Estrella.”

attorney with

a patronizing smile, “I truly sympathize with the people of Glimmering Lake. Even if you lose this round, we’ll still offer $20,000 in consolation to each household with a hospitalized family member.

added, “If you drop the lawsuit, even if no one in your family is hospitalized,

in front of her, enticing the villagers with interests to persuade them to withdraw their lawsuit. This would

can someone with such a lack of conscience manage to