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.”

Estrella said politely, remembering his lectures from her

from each other.”

shook hands and

of the environmental contamination

new evidence, and addressed the court, “Your Honor, regarding

calcium depletion, malformation of bones, tooth loss, and abnormal development in children, consistent with fluoride poisoning. Independent testing has revealed significant fluoride contamination of the soil and water in Glimmering

Lake and

presented her case and evidence with confidence, but the

turned to ChemiSphere’s counsel and asked, “Defendant, do you have

have been affected by fluoride pollution and that it has had significant health impacts. We sympathize deeply with the villagers of Glimmering Lake and understand

over Estrella’s face. What did he mean by ‘finding someone to hold accountable? Anyone with eyes could see the link between

continued, “What I don’t get is how the fluoride contamination in Glimmering Lake has anything to do with ChemiSphere. My

the facility have shown no signs of pollution. So I must ask, why didn’t you accept the reports from the relevant authorities and instead

attorney 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 place where the wastewater has fluoride in it. If it wasn’t your factory polluting our

with the accuser. If you suspect Chemisphere of contaminating the soil and water of -Glimmering Lake, then please present concrete

pale with anger. The lot

rap. He turned to Estrella and asked,

“Not at this time.” She added, “We will present evidence of

didn’t belabor the point, merely requesting a continuation

the judge granted Estrella’s request to reconvene, and ChemiSphere’s hope for

Estrella knew all too well that without concrete proof linking Chemisphere to the pollution, the case might as well be closed.

around Estrella, worry etched on their faces. “Ms. Estrella, are we going

vile, with wastewater clearly coming from their facility, yet they have the gall to deny it.”

have to help us bring them to justice.

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 their wages had gone straight

they would prefer to rely on their own crops and sell grain to make a

earlier insistence on self-incrimination, the villagers were

to their concerns and reassured them, “We haven’t reached the end just yet. As long as a verdict hasn’t been handed down, there’s still a chance. I’ll do everything in my

gave the villagers a glimmer of hope. At this moment, they

“Ms. Estrella.”

attorney with a polite nod, despite his role.

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. Consider it Shawn doing good deeds for

then turned to the villagers and added, “If you drop the lawsuit, even if no one in your family is hospitalized, we’ll give you $20,000 as a

in front of her, enticing the villagers with interests to persuade them to withdraw their lawsuit. This would just make it easier for ChemiSphere to play the victim and paint themselves as the injured

of conscience manage to run a company and