The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 501

501 /520

Stella nodded repeatedly. "Yeah... okay. I really don't want to go home carrying all this bad energy. Oh, by the way, when they gave me back my belongings just now, I already texted Oliver to let him know I was safe. Having you with me is enough."

Suzie squeezed Stella's hand tightly and said softly, "Okay. Let's go."

Once they arrived at the hotel, Stella took a hot bath, ate a solid meal, and curled up comfortably on the sofa. Only then did Suzie finally ask, "Stella, what exactly happened?"

Stella ground her teeth. "I was careless when I signed the documents. I didn't double-check the figures. My subordinates colluded with the client to embezzle funds and planned to pin the whole thing on me. Damn it, I've been in the corporate world for years, and I never expected to get played like this. If I hadn't gotten a top-tier lawyer, I would've wasted the best years of my life behind bars..."

Suzie listened to Stella's curse-filled explanation and frowned. "Stella, which lawyer did you hire? I couldn't get any information when I went to the precinct. Plus, I heard you were taken away so suddenly—how did you even manage to get a lawyer?"

Stella froze for a second. She quickly grabbed her beer and took a long swig to hide her expression. A moment later, she said with forced casualness, "Speaking of that, I don't really understand the specifics myself. I just kept saying I was innocent. I've heard about white-collar crime cases before, and if the amount is huge, the sentencing is terrifying. I was terrified of going to prison, so I begged them to find me the best defense attorney. I told them I'd sell my house, my car, and empty my savings to afford it. That's how the lawyer showed up."

As she explained, Stella's heart hammered anxiously against her ribs.

Ever since she got out, she'd been trying to figure out how to explain this to Suzie. It would be best if Suzie—who knew little about the legal system—just bought her excuse and let it go.

Because... her lawyer was the top corporate defense attorney in the city, and also one of the chief legal advisors for the Baylor Group.

Yes, Jamie Baylor had hired the lawyer for her. Not only that, but Jamie seemed to have pulled some major strings to uncover the truth in record time.