Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 116

If it had been right after I found out about Lawrence's affair, any one of these comments might have pushed me over the edge. But I made it through the worst of it.

During that live stream, I almost died, but maybe that was my rebirth through facing death. I survived, and my life opened up. I became fearless.

"I'm fine. This stuff can't hurt me, and I know I'm not wrong!" I said confidently.

As long as one believed in oneself, one wouldn't be swayed by the outside world.

Seeing me like this, Paula relaxed and couldn't help but praise me, "Melinda, you're incredible. If it were me, I might not have made it through, but you did, and you're getting stronger every day."

I chuckled lightly. Paula said I was strong, but I thought she was the strong one. She got through those tough days, working multiple jobs. She made it through just fine. We were both amazing!

"Ms. Ellis, Ms. Turner." At that moment, Fallon arrived.

She led us to the car and then said, "Mr. Collins asked me to communicate with them in advance. We'll take the internal route to avoid those waiting reporters and influencers."

Paula knocked on her head. "I've been so busy lately that I almost forgot about this. I nearly dragged Melinda into danger."

I grabbed Paula's hand and smiled. "It's not your fault. I didn't even know about my own situation. With so many people talking about it online, it feels like someone did it on purpose."

"Some people will seize any opportunity to attract attention, especially when it involves something unusual. They won't miss a chance to draw traffic." Fallon nodded. She had seen too many cases and understood human nature well.

As we got into the car, Paula couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Collins isn't coming?"

Fallon replied, "Mr. Collins called last night and asked me to take you through the internal route today."

I understood what she meant. She hadn't seen him.

As his assistant, I knew Christopher's schedule, so I guessed, "Mr. Collins is still on a business trip."

Paula nodded but couldn't help but admire, "Mr. Collins is so busy, yet he still remembers your situation, Melinda. I almost forgot. If I had taken you through the main entrance, you would have been in trouble."

She wasn't meticulous, so Paula felt guilty.

But I didn't think so. She was great. She had done her best for me in her own way. Even if she didn't cover everything, it didn't matter. Her heart was in the right place.

"It's not your fault. I didn't pay attention to my own situation either," I comforted her.

Fallon smiled and explained, "Ms. Turner, I didn't think to communicate with you in time last night, but it's still early enough."

"We should be thanking you and Mr. Collins, and Mr. Cook," I said sincerely.

Fallon then mentioned Lawrence's possible next move, "If Lawrence loses, he might appeal."

I nodded. "He's not one to give up easily. He'll definitely appeal."

Paula was a bit agitated. "He dares to appeal? That scumbag! The evidence is solid. He admitted it during the live stream, his mother's testimony, the evidence of him switching your dad's medication, and the proof of him transferring assets. Any one of these could ruin him. Even if he appeals once or twice, it won't change his fate."

Paula was still fuming. "Let him appeal. He won't get a good result. But every time he waits for the appeal result, it's torture for him. Watching his hopes shatter again and again, he deserves it. And we can't let him be too comfortable in prison. He needs to suffer."

I got what Paula meant. She wanted to make Lawrence's life in prison a living hell, but not kill him—just make him wish he were dead.

"I'll do it!" Compared to Paula, I hated Lawrence even more, so I wanted to make him suffer.

Paula shook her head, not wanting me to get involved in such matters.

She probably felt that since I was the first person to share my relationship with Lawrence with her, and she was the family member who met Lawrence the most, she should have seen through his facade. But she didn't, and she felt guilty after I got hurt.

So Paula tried her best to help me and to get back at Lawrence for me.

"You don't have my methods!" Paula clenched her fists, her eyes sharp.

I knew she had ways I didn't know about, so I obediently listened. As long as it relieved my anger, it didn't matter if it was me or Paula. We were in this together.

We thought Lawrence would appeal, but the result surprised us all.

The court session was at nine in the morning. We arrived a little before nine.

As we gathered, Lawrence, in his prison uniform and handcuffs, was brought to the defendant's seat.

In almost a month since I last saw Lawrence, he had become gaunt, losing all his previous warmth and charm, replaced by gloom and hostility.

When he saw me in the plaintiff's seat, he appeared calm, but his eyes were filled with a dark intensity, as if he wanted to leap over and tear me apart.

I smirked and was about to look away.

A shadow fell beside me, and before I could look up, Lawrence's emotions suddenly became very agitated.

His eyes were filled with venom, and he looked like he wanted to attack the person who had just appeared.

There were only two people who could provoke such a reaction from Lawrence: Clara or Christopher.

Clara wouldn't be sitting next to me. So it could only be Christopher.

I looked at him in shock. It really was him! But wasn't Christopher still on a business trip? How did he manage to get back? Judging by the weariness on his face, he must have just arrived.

For some reason, my eyes felt a bit teary, like I was about to cry.

Maybe I was staring at Christopher too intently, which fueled Lawrence's anger. His gaze returned to me, filled with emotions I couldn't quite understand.

Even now, I still didn't fully grasp why Lawrence harbored such animosity towards Christopher. His previous explanations seemed only partial. There were other reasons Lawrence didn't want to disclose.

I coldly met Lawrence's gaze. He was a criminal who had hurt me. What right did he have to glare at me and Christopher?

As I stared at Lawrence, Christopher suddenly tapped my hand to get my attention.

I looked at him in confusion, and he pushed a small box towards me. I didn't understand.

But Lawrence suddenly became extremely agitated, even trying to grab the box. Fortunately, the guards restrained him, or he would have lost control.