A SON IN LAW TURNS BILLIONAIRE AFTER DIVORCE

Chapter 12

Thomas nodded slowly, a deep, respectful understanding in his eyes. “Alright. I understand your position completely, Mr. Buck. And I am more than willing to take your case.”

Leonard, however, had a few very specific, unusual additional requests.

“First,” Leonard said, holding up a finger, “I want you to drag this litigation out for as long as legally possible—stretch it out, but make sure it doesn't go past three months. Second, I want you to bleed them for every single penny you can extract. And third, make sure the judge knows right from the start that I plan to donate every cent we recover to charity. I don’t want anyone in this city thinking I’m doing this just to shake them down for cash.”

Thomas blinked in surprise. The longer the lawsuit dragged on, the longer the Miller family would have to live in agonizing suspense, terrified of what was coming. But it couldn’t go beyond three months because after that, the apocalypse would arrive and money would lose all meaning anyway. Leonard wanted them to suffer the psychological torture first, and then feel the crushing pain of watching all their hopes vanish.

Thomas found the bizarre timeline request fascinating. Besides, a longer, complex case meant thousands of extra billable hours and a fatter paycheck for his firm. Why on earth would he say no?

Within minutes, the legal paperwork was underway.

Thomas went through the files, and immediately instructed his media team to start anonymously leaking juicy rumors about Susan’s long-term affair onto Sydvale’s largest online forums.

Before Leonard left, Thomas assigned a sharp junior associate to handle his day-to-day files and keep him constantly updated on the case.

Her name was Sophia Dean.

She was tall—easily five-foot-seven—with long, elegant legs, striking facial features, and a polished, professional figure that drew more than a few appreciative glances as she escorted Leonard through the firm's busy lobby. A pair of stylish black-framed glasses only sharpened her cool, intimidating appearance.

At the glass entrance doors, she turned and handed Leonard her business card.

“Mr. Buck, I’m Sophia Dean. I’ll be assisting Mr. Stone directly with your asset recovery case. If you ever need an urgent update, you can contact me on my personal line anytime.”

“All right. Thanks, Sophia.” Leonard pocketed the card.

Sophia hesitated for half a second, her professional composure slipping just a fraction.

“And... it doesn’t just have to be about the lawsuit.”

Leonard stopped and looked up, raising an eyebrow.

Sophia instantly realized how recklessly suggestive that had sounded. Her cheeks flushed bright crimson.

“I mean... anything legal! If you have any other random legal questions, you can contact me about those too!”

If anything, the frantic explanation only made her earlier words sound ten times more suggestive than before.

Sophia frantically adjusted her black-framed glasses, her face burning like a live wire with absolute embarrassment.

Leonard looked at her flustered expression, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips. He couldn’t quite tell whether she had genuinely misspoken…

or whether she had said exactly what she meant all along.

“I mean... anything legal! If you have any other random legal questions, you can contact me about those too!”

If anything, the frantic explanation only made her earlier words sound ten times more suggestive than before.

Sophia frantically adjusted her black-framed glasses, her face burning like a live wire with absolute embarrassment.

Leonard looked at her flustered expression, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips. He couldn’t quite tell whether she had genuinely misspoken…

or whether she had said exactly what she meant all along.