Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 330

"From the way you're talking, it sounds like you have a real issue with Jason. Weren't you a huge fan of his before? He's practically a legend in the legal world."

I had noticed Paula had been bringing up Jason a lot lately. There was something weird about their relationship.

Paula didn't catch my drift and instead shook her head, complaining, "It's not that I have a huge problem with him. It's just that the shine has worn off, and he doesn't seem so untouchable anymore."

"What do you mean by that?" I looked at Paula, puzzled.

Paula seemed a bit exasperated by my innocent, clueless expression. She tapped my forehead and added some food to my plate. "Stop staring at me. Eat your food and we'll talk."

I started eating, going along with her suggestion. "I gotta say, this restaurant's food is really good."

Paula nodded, taking a bite before continuing, "I used to think Jason became a lawyer because he had ideals and ambitions. But it turns out his ambitions were all for Marlowe."

She seemed a bit emotional, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Marlowe's had a lot of bad luck, but meeting Jason was her stroke of luck."

I didn't catch that last part. I wanted to ask more, but Paula seemed to want to change the subject. "It's a shame, though. Jason's such a brilliant lawyer, but he's probably going to be stuck dealing with Marlowe's mess forever."

I couldn't help but sigh. "Life's full of unexpected challenges. Sometimes things happen out of the blue, and you don't even get a chance to fix them. Jason's been stuck in this predicament for over ten years, unable to bring Lyric to justice. He'll probably never find peace."

Mentioning Lyric made Paula scoff. "Lyric's quite the character, managing to keep Jason from finding any dirt on her. But dealing with those guys who got out of prison, Jason couldn't come up with a plan? That seems pretty dumb to me."

Her comment piqued my interest. "Paula, do you have a plan? Tell me!"

Paula looked at me, amused. "Melinda, you look like you really want to help. Are you doing this for Jason or Marlowe? Is Marlowe even worth your concern? Maybe they enjoy the chase."

"Who would enjoy that?" I retorted.

Paula laughed knowingly. "Jason, of course!"

"Alright, get to the point!" I was eager to hear her idea.

Paula raised her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, I'll tell you. It's all about strategy. Those guys got jobs thanks to the Owens family. If their lives get too comfortable, they'll get restless. Just a little hint or nudge, and they'll start causing trouble. Once or twice, Lyric might help them out because they took the fall for her. But she's not patient or kind. If it happens too often, she'll get fed up."

"When that happens, there'll be conflict. If things escalate, Lyric might slip up. Jason's been watching her for so long. He should pretend to give up, let her think she's safe, and then she'll show her true colors. Her mistakes will come to light."

Even without Paula spelling the hint or nudge out, I understood her plan. "You're brilliant, Paula!"

Paula looked confident. "It's because I'm a lawyer. I can't get involved directly. Jason should know this too. But Marlowe, who loves playing dirty, can't figure it out? She's usually so sharp, but when it comes to her own issues, she's clueless."

Paula's disdain for Marlowe was clear. Her words made me think. It seemed like Marlowe was deliberately avoiding this approach, almost like she had an unspoken agreement with Lyric. It was odd that Jason was the one most invested in this matter, not Marlowe.

I felt there was something more to it. 

"I wonder if her illness will leave her with regrets." As Paula spoke, her phone rang. She glanced at it and immediately hung up. But the caller was persistent, calling again. Paula set her phone to silent and continued eating with me.

After dinner, we left the restaurant. Our car was parked by the curb. As we walked over, I noticed someone standing by the car. It was Jason.

Curious, I asked, "Mr. Cook, are you here for dinner too?"

"No."

Jason's response was cold and distant, but his gaze was fixed on Paula. I sensed a shift in his emotions.

"Ms. Ellis, can we talk?"

Paula, though much shorter than Jason, stood with her hands in her pockets, exuding confidence. Her sharp features, red blouse, and tailored pants made her look smart and formidable.

"Mr. Cook, I think you have the wrong person. We have no business together."

Paula started to walk past him towards her car. Jason seemed desperate and reached out to grab her. Paula quickly sidestepped, her tone sarcastic. "Mr. Cook, you're a lawyer. Harassing me like this isn't right. Do you think you can win a case if I decide to report you?"

What was going on? I understood each word, but together, they made no sense. Jason harassing Paula? Was Paula's recent exhaustion because of Jason?

Feeling guilty for not noticing Paula's distress, I stepped in front of her. "Mr. Cook, you're out of line. If you keep this up, I won't hold back."

"Melinda, you're so sweet. I'm touched!"

I was warning Jason, but Paula was moved to tears, hugging me tightly. "Paula, I'm not that great. If I were, I'd have noticed you were being harassed. Why didn't you tell me? Aren't we best friends?"

I patted Paula's back, feeling protective. I glared at Jason and pulled out my phone to call the police. Paula stopped me, explaining, "Melinda, you misunderstood. It's not what you think. It's not that kind of harassment."

Paula tried to explain, but there seemed to be more to the story, something she couldn't fully disclose.