Lawyer

After the hectic past few days, George Busman and his team finally left Blackwell Island, walking away with a hefty bonus of ten million dollars for their work. Alexander Blackwell sat in his office, his gaze fixed on the ocean outside the massive window. His mind wasn't on the view, though. The looming legal battle demanded his full attention. If he didn't get this sorted, he stood to lose half his company—and there was no way he was going to let that happen.

"Sir," Sebastian said, stepping into the room with his usual crisp efficiency. "Baldwin and Patterson are asking for a sit-down."

Alex leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm on the polished desk. "So, they're ready," he said, his voice calm but sharp. "What about the list of law firms I asked for?"

Sebastian handed over his tablet. "Here it is, sir. The top ten firms in the world, with their pros and cons listed for comparison."

Alex's eyes scanned the list, stopping at one name that caught his attention. "Harrison & York," he read aloud. His gaze narrowed as he noticed a detail. "Harvey Lancaster. Never lost a case, huh?"

Sebastian nodded. "That's correct, sir. Harvey Lancaster is one of their top partners."

Alex smirked faintly, a memory surfacing. "Wait. Isn't he the one who beat my father in the Johnson & Johnson case? The one where Dad tried to buy controlling shares?"

"Yes, sir," Sebastian confirmed, standing straight. "Though, to be fair, your father didn't walk away empty-handed. He lost the case, but he still managed to strike a massive deal with the shareholders and got the shares in the end."

Alex's smirk grew into a small, amused smile. "Classic Cassius Blackwell. Still, Baldwin and Patterson were on the losing end of that fight, weren't they?"

Sebastian nodded again. "Yes, sir. Lancaster has a history of beating them."

That was all Alex needed to hear. He set the tablet down and stood, his decision made. "Contact Harrison & York. Tell them we're hiring them to represent us. And make it clear—I want Harvey Lancaster on this case. No one else."

"Understood, sir," Sebastian said, already typing on his phone as he left the room.

Meanwhile, in the art room of the island mansion, Susan Beaumont stood quietly, admiring the stunning collection of paintings. The room was filled with history and beauty, but her mind was far away.

The soft creak of the door drew her attention. She turned to see Elisabeth Usher enter, her elegance undiminished by age.

Susan smiled faintly. "Elisabeth."

Elisabeth returned the smile as she approached. "I've decided to leave," she said gently. "The staff will move all of this to the Hamptons house soon. You're welcome to visit anytime."

Susan's smile faltered as she nodded. "Thank you."

Elisabeth placed a comforting hand on Susan's arm. "Don't look so worried, dear. He'll come around."

Susan shook her head, her voice low. "I doubt it. Like Godfrey said, Alex is far too much like his father."

Elisabeth's expression softened, and she sighed. "Being like Cassius isn't a bad thing. They're both loving, fiercely protective, and loyal to what they care about. The perfect man in so many ways." She paused, her tone growing wistful. "The problem is the ambition—it has no limits."

She glanced at one of the paintings, her eyes distant. "I didn't leave Cassius because he wasn't a good husband. I left because, when he hit a trillion dollars, I thought he'd finally slow down. I thought it meant fewer trips, fewer meetings, more time for us. But instead, it just drove him harder. He became obsessed, and I couldn't keep up." She turned back to Susan, her gaze steady. "But you... you're stronger than I ever was."

Susan gave a bitter smile. "I don't think so. Once you leave, I'm going to visit Caroline at her friend's house. I want to see her before my operation next week."

Elisabeth's expression softened even more, but she didn't press. "Take care of yourself, Susan. And don't give up on Alex. He might be his father's son, but he's not Cassius. He might surprise you yet."

Susan didn't reply, her gaze drifting back to the paintings. Deep down, she hoped Elisabeth was right. But for now, hope felt like a luxury she couldn't afford.