Chapter 264

Autumn reluctantly agreed to Jason’s proposal for a Saturday get-together with a forced smile, despite her reluctance. “Sure, Saturday it is.”

And just like that, plans were made.

No sooner had Jason left than Estrella noted Autumn’s discontent. “I’ve told you before not to make promises you can’t keep. Now you’ve gotten yourself into a pickle.”

Over the past few weeks, each time Jason dropped them off, Estrella never invited him inside, despite his inquiries about when he might come in for a visit. Estrella always deftly changed the subject. It wasn’t the right time.

But this time, Autumn had done the inviting herself, and Estrella felt it wasn’t her place to comment. She didn’t make the invitation anyway.

Hearing Estrella’s words, Autumn sulked, “How was I to know Jason would be so presumptuous?”

Estrella replied matter-of-factly, “He’s never been one for pleasantries.” With that, Estrella retreated to her bedroom.

Not long ago, her father had suggested that Isaac should start sleeping in his own room to foster independence and give Estrella a break. Estrella couldn’t bear the separation, so mother and son continued to share a room. Upon entering, Estrella found the nanny had already bathed Isaac and tucked him into bed.

The nanny whispered with a smile, “Miss, little saac is such an angel. Slept through his bath just like you used to.”

“Thanks, Judy,” Estrella said, approaching the crib and gently stroking Isaac’s peaceful

face.

After a brief chat with Judy, Estrella took her own shower and finished up some work before finally settling into the large bed next to Isaac’s.

Come Friday, the day of the third hearing for the Glimmering Lake case, Estrella woke up early, had breakfast with Isaac, and then drove to the courthouse. Upon her arrival, Jason was already there.

The roadblock incident involving Estrella and Keegan, along with the alarming number of Glimmering Lake villagers falling ill, had captured public interest, drawing a sizable crowd of onlookers to the courtroom.

As Estrella stepped out of her car, Jason approached her, tucking away a stray lock of her hair and straightening her coat’s collar. “Just do your best and don’t stress,” he encouraged.

Estrella appreciated his acknowledgment of her hard work. After a brief exchange with

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Jason, Estrella entered the courthouse.

Some Glimmering Lake villagers had arrived, and seeing them, Estrella’s mind shifted completely to her work, pushing thoughts of Jason aside.

with the judge and ChemiSphere’s attorneys taking their places. The villagers seethed with

to pacify them with offers of

turned to Estrella, inquiring about new evidence. Estrella stood up from her position representing the plaintiffs, “Your Honor, in addition to more medical reports of poisoning among the villagers, we’ve secured

blanched at the mention of an employee’s testimony, cursing the failed attempt to silence

to present the new evidence, leaving the opposing counsel

ChemiSphere purchased wastewater treatment equipment, it was merely outdated machinery

of this machine in treating sewage for now, from these testimonies and data, it is clear that ChemiSphere has not used or operated the machine for sewage treatment since its purchase. The high operational costs meant that Chemisphere only acquired this outdated

equipment was acquired from another company, it’s

nearly new and fully meets

processor is a 20-year-old model, long outdated by current standards. As for your claim of its near-new condition, one must question whether it was ever properly utilized by

counsel’s face darkened, “Ms. Estrella, your assumptions are baseless

on the history of the equipment. Surely, counsel, you’re well aware of the operational costs

of graphs and charts,

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“Your Honor, according to our extensive research, it’s evident that ChemiSphere’s power usage doesn’t even come close to half of what’s typical for factories of its size

wastewater processor, let alone the entire factory’s activities, as well as the processor itself. If there’s any doubt about

question was a relic from years past-an antiquated behemoth that was not only costly to run but also

ChemiSphere, they swiftly and surreptitiously filled their wastewater discharge channels with concrete grout, hastily constructing an alternate channel. This new channel supposedly leads from the treatment

sealed segment, the pollution levels in the accessible parts of the channel are consistent with one another. “We can now state with certainty that for the past decade, ChemiSphere has been discharging untreated wastewater directly

these are photographs documenting ChemiSphere’s workers filling in the discharge channel overnight. There are even villagers who’ve been hospitalized due to severe poisoning. We implore the court to deliver justice for the people of Glimmering

Lake.”

from the gallery. A villager stood up, his voice breaking through the courtroom’s tense silence, “I was one of the workers ChemiSphere hired to plug the old channel and dig the new one. I can attest

can also confirm that the machines at Chem Sphere were never

access to clean water and food. Her dedication and

bringing a semblance of order, “Please, everyone remain calm.

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words, a hush fell over the crowd.

the offense, including the loss of fertile land and the pollution of a vital waterway, we hereby sentence the legal representative of ChemiSphere, Jace, to 10 years of imprisonment. Additionally, Jace is to cover medical expenses of 600,000 yuan per villager severely afflicted by the contamination, with additional compensation of 60,000 yuan per villager affected by fluoride poisoning, amounting to a total

lawyer in a panic, “Say something! Aren’t you supposed to be the best? How could you let us lose to this young woman? I can’t go to jail. I

of!”

indignation, “Your family’s lives matter, but what about

“Do something! What good is hiring you if you can’t fix this?”

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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