Marry Ex's Billionaire Uncle After Divorce (Aurora and Jasper) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 26: The Subpoena–1

(Author’s POV)

Jasper strode into his top–floor office at Aether Life Sciences. His face was a mask of thunderous gloom.

He stared at the document Ethan held out.

“Let me see it,” Jasper commanded.

Ethan’s hand trembled slightly as he passed the thick legal file across the mahogany desk. “Sir, please take a look.”

Jasper snatched the papers. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the edges. His gaze swept down the page and locked onto the plaintiff’s name.

*Aurora.*

His breath hitched. The air in the room seemed to freeze.

“What does Legal say?” Jasper’s voice was ice–cold. “She is still an employee of this company. How can she sue us for patent infringement?”

Ethan looked up, eyes wide with surprise. He couldn’t help but interrupt. “Sir, the Madam… I mean, Aurora, resigned ages ago. Did you forget?”

Jasper looked up, his expression blank with shock.

Ethan swallowed hard, forcing himself to continue under that intense glare. “Her resignation letter. You signed it yourself. About ten days ago.”

The atmosphere in the room turned deadly. Jasper’s hand tightened, crumpling the subpoena into a jagged ball.

“Ten days?” he hissed through gritted teeth. “Why wasn’t I told she actually left?”

“You… you approved it, Sir,” Ethan whispered.

Jasper’s eyes were dark pools of ink, flickering with the rage of a man who realized he had been played.

He waved a hand dismissively. “Get out.”

Ethan scrambled for the door.

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Chapter 26. The Subpoena–1

Claim

Jasper sank into his leather chair. She resigned ten days ago. She moved out. And now this

lawsuit.

*It’s a tactic,* he thought bitterly. *She’s trying to force my hand. She wants me to beg her to come back.*

He grabbed his phone and dialed her number.

“You have reached the voicemail of…”

He slammed the phone onto the desk. The image of her pale, trembling figure at the hospital flashed in his mind. Was she actually sick? Or was that part of the act too?

The company’s general counsel entered moments later.

“The risk assessment, Mr. Everett,” the lawyer said, looking grave. “It’s not good. Our odds are fifty–fifty at best.”

“She’s a nobody,” Jasper scoffed. “We have the best legal team in Los Angeles.”

“She has Gavin Sterling,” the lawyer replied.

Jasper froze. “Sterling? The Shark?”

“The very same. He hasn’t lost a case in a decade. And he only takes clients from the top tier of society. Money isn’t enough to hire him.”

Jasper leaned back, a headache forming behind his eyes. How did Aurora know someone like Gavin Sterling?

A wave of irritation washed over him. If he had just taken her to Aspen for that ski trip, none of this would be happening. She was punishing him.

His phone buzzed again. It was Sienna.

“Jasper?” Her voice was thick with tears. “Rosie is crying for her daddy. She won’t sleep.”

The anger in his chest deflated, replaced by exhaustion. “I’m coming.”

(Aurora’s POV)

I plugged my phone into the charger. As soon as the screen lit up, it flooded with notifications.

*15 Missed Calls: Jasper.*

I stared at the flashing name. A cold sneer curled my lips. I pressed the reject button without

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<Chapter 26 The Subpoena–1

a second thought.

Claim

I scrolled past his desperate attempts to reach me and found the sss I was looking for. Gavin

Sterling.

I dialed his number immediately.

“Mrs. Everett,” Gavin’s smooth voice answered. “Or should I say, Ms. Caldwell?”

“Aurora is fine,” I said.

“We have a date,” Gavin said. “The hearing for the patent rights is set for next Friday.”

“I’ll be there,” I said firmly. “That research belongs to me. I’m taking it back.”

“Excellent. Get some rest.”

I hung up. The subpoena was just the first strike. The next document Jasper would receive wouldn’t be about patents. It would be about divorce.

I looked around the luxurious clinic room. I felt better. Weak, but stable. I couldn’t afford to start my new life on sick leave.

I packed my bag and processed my discharge against the nurse’s advice.

(Author’s POV)

Later that evening, Phineas walked into the private suite at Dr. North’s clinic. He carried a discreet paper bag from a Michelin–starred bistro, smelling of truffle and roasted duck.

He stopped. The bed was stripped. The room was empty.

Dr. Patrick Sloan leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. A smirk played on his lips.

“She checked out an hour ago,” Patrick said. “Stubborn patient.”

Phineas set the bag down on the table, his expression unreadable. “She should be resting.”

“You’re awfully concerned for a simple employee,” Patrick teased. “Bringing dinner yourself? That’s not the Phineas Everett I know.”

Phineas turned to leave, his face like stone. “She is a valuable asset to the company. I protect my investments.”

“Is that all?” Patrick pushed off the doorframe, his voice dropping the humor. “The blood work came back, Phineas. She didn’t just faint from low blood sugar.”

Chapter 26 The Subpoena–1

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