Chapter 194: The Granddaughter-in-law Takes Heed

Chapter 194: Chapter 194: The Granddaughter-in-law Takes Heed

The next day, after seeing Jared Hawthorne off, Vesper Grayson had just finished watering the newly planted saplings in the backyard.

Miss Joan came over. "Ma’am, Lawyer Yates is here."

Vesper was surprised; she hadn’t expected him so early. She casually set the watering can on the ground and turned to enter the villa.

A man stood silently in the living room.

He wore a meticulously tailored, custom-made dark gray suit, completely free of wrinkles. It accentuated his tall, slender frame, and his shoulders were as sharp as if carved by a knife, projecting the calm confidence of a corporate elite.

Hearing the sound, the man slowly turned to look at her. Only then did Vesper get a clear look at his face.

He was exceptionally handsome, with narrow eyes and light, ink-brown pupils that held a sharp, perceptive gaze.

"Mrs. Hawthorne, I am Leo Yates, chief counsel for the Hawthorne Group. I’ve come today to take your deposition for the upcoming trial. Considering your current physical condition and your personal wish to not appear in court, I will complete the entire deposition process here. All you need to do is cooperate by providing a verbal statement for confirmation."

"Thank you for making the trip, Lawyer Yates. Just tell me whatever you need me to do."

She had briefly looked into Leo Yates’s background yesterday. He was twenty-six, had a perfect record in his legal career, and was famously known in the legal world as the "Undefeated Champion."

Leo Yates nodded slightly and sat down in an armchair to the side, his movements elegant and proper. He then took out a tablet, a recording pen, and two copies of the deposition documents from his black leather briefcase. He arranged them neatly, his actions fluid and effortless, showcasing his professionalism.

"First, I need to confirm the core facts of this case, including the details of the incident you experienced and what you are seeking. I will be recording our entire conversation for the record. The contents of the deposition will be reviewed word for word. Once you confirm its accuracy, you just need to sign it. I will take all the materials back to organize and submit them directly to the court. You don’t need to worry about the subsequent court appearances at all. President Hawthorne has already entrusted me to handle all legal proceedings on your behalf."

His tone was calm and his speech methodical. Every word was precise and appropriate. He was neither overly friendly nor distant, perfectly maintaining a lawyer’s professional demeanor.

Vesper looked at the neatly arranged documents in front of him and breathed a sigh of relief. ’Jared is always so thoughtful,’ she mused. ’He’s even taken care of such small details to spare me the trouble of a public appearance.’

She answered Leo Yates’s questions, explaining the situation point by point. He listened with extreme focus, his fingertips occasionally tapping rapidly on the tablet. His brow was furrowed in concentration, and his handsome profile appeared even gentler in the sunlight, yet it also radiated the unique rigor and certainty of a man of law.

Once the core information was recorded, Leo Yates pulled up the deposition document and read it to Vesper word for word, confirming that every detail was accurate.

"Miss Grayson, that is the entirety of the deposition. Please see if there are any omissions or discrepancies. If not, you just need to sign and provide a thumbprint here. I will represent you and make the full statement at the subsequent hearing. You can rest and recover with peace of mind."

"There are no issues. Thank you for your hard work, Lawyer Yates." Vesper took the pen, smoothly signed her name, and pressed her thumbprint onto the document.

Leo Yates collected the deposition materials, placed them carefully into his briefcase, and zipped it shut in one crisp, clean motion. He gave a slight nod as he stood, his etiquette impeccable.

"If you have any other legal questions or need to add any materials later on, please feel free to contact me. I won’t disturb your rest any further. I’ll take my leave now."

With that, he turned and strode away. His posture was ramrod straight and his gait unhurried, radiating an elite aura. Even his departing figure exuded competence and propriety.

Not long after Leo Yates left, Zachary Hawthorne walked in with Ian Bell.

"My girl!"

The patriarch’s booming voice filled the living room, carrying with it an air of authority.

"Grandpa, what brings you here?"

Vesper quickly rose to greet him, carefully helping him to a seat on the sofa before turning to instruct a servant.

"Miss Joan, please bring up a pot of good tea."

Once the tea was brewed and served, Vesper smiled warmly and said in a soft voice, "Grandpa, you could have just called if you needed something. Why make the trip yourself?"

"It’s boring being cooped up at home all day. I had nothing to do, so I brought Bell out for a change of scenery. We happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d drop in to see you."

Zachary Hawthorne picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and set it down. His gaze fell upon Vesper, studying her carefully for a moment before his tone grew more somber.

"I’ve already heard about the absurd thing that Garland girl did. You must have had quite a scare."

Vesper’s face was a mask of astonishment, her heart filled with surprise.

She never imagined the old master was so well-informed that he even knew she had been kidnapped by Sheryl Garland.

Jared had clearly ordered a blackout on the news and hadn’t mentioned a word of it to the family estate. ’How on earth did Grandpa find out?’

Unable to contain her curiosity, she blurted out, "Grandpa, how did you know about this?"

"Casey Nash came to me yesterday with her daughter to plead for mercy." Zachary Hawthorne snorted coldly. "Does she really think a few sweet words can erase what happened? She dared to touch my grandson’s wife. There’s no way I’m letting this slide."

The old master’s unreserved favoritism and protection instantly warmed Vesper’s heart.

"Grandpa, I’m fine." She gently stroked her belly, her expression soft and gentle. "I was lucky enough to run into someone who helped me along the way, which is how I escaped. Maybe it’s true that motherhood makes you strong. This little one in my belly must have been protecting me in its own way."

At the mention of his great-grandchild, a kind, gentle smile spread across Zachary Hawthorne’s face.

"You’re right. This child is destined to be a fortunate one."

As the saying goes: Surviving a great disaster is a sign of future blessings.

Vesper bit her lip and asked softly, "Grandpa, do you think I’m being too unreasonable by refusing to back down?"

"You’ve done nothing wrong," Zachary Hawthorne said with conviction. "The Hawthornes are not a family of pushovers for anyone to manipulate. I hear this isn’t the first time Sheryl Garland has deliberately targeted you, is it?"

Vesper nodded slightly. "Yes. She’s in love with Elias, which is why she targets me."

"That depends on whether Elias likes her back! Acting so impulsively just causes trouble for everyone else! Vesper, the Hawthorne family has stood strong for this long not by being soft-hearted and relying on kindness, but by using decisive, forceful measures. That is how you make others wary and too afraid to provoke you."

"I understand, Grandpa."

’One should never be indecisive,’ she thought, ’much less leave an opponent an opening to strike back.’

"I watched that boy, Noah Nash, grow up. He’s a sensible person by nature, not someone to hold grudges or be narrow-minded." Zachary Hawthorne reassured her. "You don’t need to worry that this will create a rift between him and Jared. The Hawthorne family is not so desperate that we need to rely on the Nash family to get by! You are my grandson’s wife and the future matriarch of the Hawthorne family. You can never let anyone bully you as they please."

These words were the patriarch’s complete endorsement and support. Vesper’s nose tingled, and an indescribable wave of emotion washed over her.

"I will remember your teachings, Grandpa."

"How are the wedding preparations coming along?" Zachary Hawthorne changed the subject, his tone becoming lighter.

"Everything is proceeding in an orderly fashion. The invitations have been printed, and the wedding dress has been chosen."

The old master’s face beamed with satisfaction. He laughed heartily and said, "Good. Then I’ll just wait for the wedding celebration."

After lunch, Zachary Hawthorne and Ian Bell finally took their leave.

Once in the car, Ian Bell said in a low voice, "Master Hawthorne, Mrs. Hawthorne’s temperament is still too kind and soft. You’ll need to guide her more in the future so she doesn’t go easy on those with malicious intent."

"She’s still young, and her nature is pure and kind. There’s plenty of time ahead to teach her slowly." Zachary Hawthorne closed his eyes slightly and asked in a faint voice, "I hear Jared has already had the legal team formally file a lawsuit against Sheryl Garland?"

"Yes, the trial begins in one week. Before coming to you, Casey Nash went to Grayson Corporation twice to see Mrs. Hawthorne in person, but she was turned away both times. She had exhausted all her options and, in desperation, finally came to you."

"Casey Nash herself is a decent person. She just failed to raise her own daughter properly."

"In her early years, she was focused on helping her husband build his business, so she did indeed neglect her daughter’s upbringing."

Zachary Hawthorne scoffed. "She chose that path herself. She turned down a perfectly good marriage between families of equal standing, insisting on marrying a cook."

Ian Bell gave a helpless little cough. "Master Hawthorne, he’s a renowned culinary artist."

"At the end of the day, isn’t he still just a cook?"

Ian Bell was momentarily speechless.

’If Casey Nash hadn’t insisted on marrying down to that Korean Chef back then,’ he thought, ’Master Nash wouldn’t have gotten so furious that he cut her off without a single share of the family assets.’

’If she had just followed her elders’ arrangements and settled down as a wealthy, full-time wife, she could have collected tens of millions in dividends every year without lifting a finger. Why would she have needed to struggle to open her own stores?’

’Then again, that Korean Chef was genuinely capable. He now has over a thousand restaurants in his chain, and his annual revenue is enormous. But in the end, they could never break into the true upper echelon of high society.’

Zachary Hawthorne slowly opened his eyes and gave a quiet order. "Let’s make a trip to White Horse Manor. Mr. Forrester has been in Northolme Capital for over half a month. I’ve been too busy, so it’s about time I paid him a visit."