In a bedroom on the second floor of a luxurious vi, men’s and women’s clothingy scattered across the floor. A pair of torn ck stockings hung haphazardly over the edge of the sofa.
Tom Malfoy reclined against the headboard,zily drawing on a post–coital cigarette, his expression one ofplete satisfaction.
Beside him, a young woman gazed at him through seductive eyes, still basking in the afterglow.
His phone vibrated. Tom took another drag of his cigarette before answering with unhurriedposure.
“Sir,” Jerry reported respectfully, “the Winters family has just held a press conference announcing the termination of their engagement with the ckwood family. Additionally, Twitter is aze with photos of Asher ckwood entering a hotel with a famous actress, suggesting he’s been unfaithful.”
“Hmph.” Tomughed derisively. “And here I thought he was some great romantic. Turns out he’s just another phnderer, exactly like his father.<b>” </b>
“About the Winters family…” Jerry began.
Tom lowered his eyes, considering for a moment. “Keep monitoring them. This could be a false breakup designed to
throw us off the scent.”
“Understood, sir.”
“Pay particr attention to Thalia Winters‘ movements. Report any developments to me immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
After a day’s rest at home to collect herself, Thalia returned to work at Sinir & Klein<b>, </b>resuming her normal
schedule.
These past two days had been remarkably peaceful, with no mysterious incidents befalling her or her family
members.
Thalia’s lips curved into a bitter smile. Apparently, dissolving the engagement did have its advantages–at least Malfoy wouldn’t be targeting her or her family anymore.
As she entered thew firm, colleagues greeted her warmly.
Thalia responded with polite smiles, her ck mid–heeled court shoes clicking against the floor as she made her way to her office.
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Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress
The firm had a strict dress code requiring professional attire and ck leather shoes. Today, Thalia wore a tailored ck suit with her hair neatly pinned back. Concealer masked the dark circles under her eyes, while ssic red lipstick brightened herplexion. She appeared markedly different from the woman she’d been two days ago–no one would have guessed she’d just experienced heartbreak.
Sarah, the litigation department head, assigned three new cases, and Thalia quickly immersed herself in analyzing
them.
After the previous head, Sara Thompson, had resigned, Sarah had taken over the position. Unlike her predecessor, Sarah harbored no personal grudges against Thalia nor was she acting on anyone’s instructions to target her, making Thalia’s work life considerably more pleasant.
That evening, after workingte toplete her pending tasks, Thalia switched off her office light and prepared to leave when she heard faint sobbing from somewhere outside.
Frowning slightly, she closed her office door and went to investigate.
The sound wasing from the paralegals‘ workspace.
Unlike the solicitors, paralegals didn’t have private offices but worked in an open area with dividers between their
desks.
As Thalia approached, she discovered the source of the crying was none other than Lucy Jenkins.
“Lucy, what’s wrong?<b>” </b>Thalia asked with concern. “Has something happened?”
Lucy hastily grabbed some tissues and wiped her tears. “Thalia, I’m… I’m fine…”
Thalia pulled up a chair from a nearby desk and sat down. “Come off it. No need for the brave face with me. Tell me what’s happened–perhaps I can help.”
The young woman’s eyes were red–rimmed. After a moment’s hesitation<b>, </b>she began haltingly, “It’s nothing serious,
I<b>…</b>”
At that moment, two colleagues walked past, and Lucy quickly fell silent, reluctant to be overheard.
Thalia immediately understood. “Would you prefer to discuss this elsewhere? Any ns this evening? If not, why don’t we grab dinner together?<b>” </b>
“No ns at all.”
“Brilliant. Gather your things, and we’ll head out.”
Knowing Lucy’s preferences, Thalia chose a Korean barbecue restaurant.
14:48
Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress
The establishment had a stylish interior with dim lighting, creating an intimate atmosphere.
Lucy had heard of this ce–an upscale barbecue restaurant where the average bill reportedly ran into hundreds
of pounds.
The young woman looked somewhat embarrassed. “Thalia, isn’t this ce rather expensive?”
Thalia smiled warmly. “It’s my treat. Come on, we’re friends–no need to stand on ceremony with me.”
After the incident with Mark and Teresa Bormen, Thalia and Lucy had grown closer. They were no longer merely colleagues but genuine friends.
Lucy still seemed ufortable. “Are you… are you quite sure?”
“You’re feeling down, and I, as your friend, am taking you out for a proper meal to cheer you up. What’s wrong with
that?<b>” </b>
The young woman gently pressed her lips together, appreciating Thalia’s kindness. “Thank you, Thalia.”
Thalia chose a window seat with an excellent view. “The nightscape from here is quite spectacr.”
“Yes, it is,” Lucy agreed, sitting somewhat stiffly across from Thalia.
“Order whatever you fancy,” Thalia said, passing the menu to Lucy.
-Lucy shook her head. “Please, you order. I’m happy with anything.”
Understanding the young woman’s hesitation, Thalia nodded and took back the menu, ordering several signature barbecue dishes and some vegetables.
The raw meat arrived promptly, with the staff doing all the cooking at their table.
After the server had grilled the meat and ced it on their tes, Thalia thanked him politely and dismissed him.
“Now, tell me what’s happened,” Thalia prompted.
In the private atmosphere of the restaurant, Lucy finally opened up. “It’s nothing major, really. I was just bollocked by Amanda Carter today.”
“Amanda Carter?<b>” </b>
“Yes.”
Amanda Carter was Lucy’s supervising solicitor. Thalia hadn’t interacted with her much, but she’d heard colleagues mention that Amanda had a vtile personality. When in good spirits, she could be exceptionally kind, but when moody, she tended to take out her frustrations on the paralegals.
14:48 O
Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress
Previously, a young man who had started at the firm the same day as Lucy had quit immediately after being on the receiving end of Amanda’s temper twice.
That young man hadn’t passed the Legal Practice Course yet and had been hired as a paralegal without needing toplete a training contract at the firm, making it easy for him to leave. Lucy’s situation was different–she had passed her LPC and had been admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in April. She needed toplete her first year of practice before she could move elsewhere.
This meant she was bound to the firm until next April.
“What did she chastise you for?” Thalia asked.
“We have this divorce case with an absolutely nightmare client who’s practically impossible tomunicate with.”
Lucy sighed, her face clouded with worry. “She ignores my requests for documentation, barely responds to my calls, and is generally uncooperative. Amanda used me of poormunication skills. Then the petition I drafted didn’t meet the client’s approval–she keeps banging on about including ￡30,000 for emotional distress.”
“The problem is, her circumstances don’t warrant any im for emotional distress whatsoever. Not only would the im fail, but the higher amount would increase her court fees. I exined this repeatedly, but she wouldn’t listen and insisted I include it. I’d never encountered such a situation before, so I sought Amanda’s advice. Instead of helping, she berated me for being ‘thick as two short nks‘ and ‘waffling on‘ and used me of not knowing how tomunicate with clients.”
“Later, Amanda called the client herself and exined exactly what I had already told the client. She then drafted a petition herself, but the client remained dissatisfied and made several ridiculous demands.”
“I’d warned Amanda that this client was particrly difficult, but she didn’t believe me and kept insisting the problem was mymunication skills. When she herself grew frustrated with the client, she took it out on me, summoned me to her office, and absolutely tore into me. I felt it was unfair and tried to exin myself, but she used me of talking back and berated me again.”
As she recounted the story, Lucy’s eyes welled up with fresh tears.
Thalia handed her some tissues. “There, there, no more crying. Why don’t you be my paralegal? I’ll have a word with Sarah about it.”
Lucy looked up suddenly. “Is that possible?”
“Of course. Your training contract is with the firm, not with Amanda specifically. You can work with any supervising solicitor.”
Hearing this, Lucy broke into a genuine smile. “Thank you so much, Thalia.”
“That’s better. No more tears, all right? Let’s enjoy our meal.”
“Yes, let’s.”
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Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress
Chapose 114
After they finished eating. Thalia rose to settle the bill.
She had taken only a few steps when a couple approached from the opposite direction.
Thale Winters? The man, with alluring almond shaped eyes greeted her with a smile.
Thalia looked at him, confusion evident in her expression. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”