Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 38: Jasper Hawthorne, See You in Court

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Jasper Hawthorne, See You in Court

Meanwhile, in the VIP hospital room.

Jasper’s face was dark as he looked at Grace, sitting across from him, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

He held the copy of the lawsuit Stella had left behind, his fingertips turning white from gripping it tightly.

"Grace, I’m asking you for the last time," his voice was as cold as ice, void of any warmth, "Is it true that Stella is accusing you of drugging her?"

"Jasper! How can you not believe me?!" Grace’s tears flowed even harder, "Stella is framing me! Those pieces of evidence must be fabricated by her!"

Audrey Quinn timely covered her chest, coughing twice, "Jasper... Grace is timid, how could she do such a thing? This must be a misunderstanding... Miss Sterling, she... Did she get upset because of the breakup with you?"

Jasper irritably loosened his tie.

Reason told him Stella was not the type to fabricate charges or forge evidence out of thin air.

She was a lawyer who understood the consequences of falsifying evidence better than anyone.

Besides, the lawsuit materials were logically sound, with a complete chain of evidence, especially the hotel surveillance and the testimonies of the attendant, which were very clear.

"Jasper," Audrey observed his expression and softened her tone, "Auntie knows this is difficult for you. But... think about how Auntie nearly lost her life for you back then, help Grace, okay? She’s still so young, she can’t be ruined like this..."

She said, starting to shed tears again, "If you don’t help her, our lives will truly be hopeless..."

Jasper closed his eyes, his brain like a high-speed operating precision instrument, trying to find the best solution amid chaos, only to find that all logical paths led to a dead end.

"I will contact Stella." He finally spoke hoarsely, "I’ll try to persuade her to withdraw the lawsuit. But the prerequisite is that you must show sincerity, formally apologize to her, and make adequate compensation."

This was the only compromise he could think of, protecting Grace while providing Stella an explanation.

"Apologize? Compensate?" Grace was instantly displeased, "Why should I apologize to her?! I’m innocent!"

"Grace!" Audrey sternly stopped her and then forced a smile as she turned to Jasper, "It’s necessary, it’s necessary... As long as Miss Sterling is willing to forgive, we’ll do anything... Jasper, we’re counting on you..."

Jasper stood up, "I’m leaving now, wait for the news."

...

Jasper practically called in every favor he could to find out which hotel Stella was staying at.

He drove directly there, identified himself at the front desk, and used a mix of persuasion and pressure to get Stella’s room number.

Standing at the door of room 2808, Jasper took a deep breath, straightening his slightly disheveled tie and sleeves before raising his hand to ring the doorbell.

Inside the room, Stella was flipping through relevant documents. Hearing the doorbell, she walked over to the door and looked out through the peephole —

Jasper?

How did he find this place?

Stella’s eyebrows furrowed instantly, with a surge of annoyance rising from the bottom of her heart.

She didn’t want to see him.

The doorbell kept ringing, persistently with an unyielding determination.

Stella took a deep breath and yanked open the door.

"Attorney Hawthorne, is there something you needed?" Her tone was distant and cold, with clear impatience.

Jasper looked at Stella inside the room.

She was wearing the hotel’s white bathrobe, her hair wet and draped over her shoulders, her face still misted, bare-faced and yet stunningly radiant.

But the eyes looking at him no longer had the warmth and sparkle they used to, only frozen indifference.

"We need to talk," Jasper’s voice was dry.

"I thought we discussed everything clearly at the hospital." Stella leaned against the doorframe, showing no sign of letting him in, "If it’s still about withdrawing the lawsuit against Grace, then don’t even bother bringing it up."

"Stella!" Jasper’s tone carried urgency, "I know you’re angry, but there’s no need to take this to court! Auntie Quinn has just woken up, her body can’t withstand stress. If Grace really... Auntie won’t be able to take it!"

Again, Auntie Quinn!

Stella nearly let out a cold laugh.

"What does her condition have to do with me?" Stella’s voice was calm but penetrating, "Jasper, have you forgotten? I’m the victim! Did Grace consider whether I could handle it when she drugged me?"

"That might just be a misunderstanding! Grace said she didn’t do it..." Jasper tried to explain but found his words so feeble.

"Misunderstanding?" Stella seemed to have heard the biggest joke, "Jasper, where’s your reasoning? Where’s your logic? Did a dog eat them? The evidence is right here, yet you still want to defend her?"

She stepped closer, glaring at Jasper, her eyes sharp as blades, "Jasper, you keep saying Auntie Quinn did you a favor, that you have to repay her. What about me? I’ve stayed by your side for five years, giving you everything, and what do I get?"

Her voice slightly raised, filled with suppressed anger and grievance, "Now, Grace is suspected of a crime, and you come to ask me, the victim, to withdraw the lawsuit? Jasper, what do you take me for? A tool to be sacrificially trampled at will?!"

"I didn’t mean that..." Jasper was unnerved by the pain and questioning in her eyes; he instinctively reached out to grab her, "Stella, I..."

"Don’t touch me!" Stella stepped back abruptly, avoiding his touch, her eyes showing undisguised disgust, "Jasper, keep your act to yourself! Your apologies, your compensation, I don’t need them! I only need justice from the law!"

She looked at Jasper’s instantly pale face, announcing word by word, "I’ve made up my mind to fight this case. Grace must pay for what she did. As for you—"

She paused, the corner of her lips curving into an extremely sarcastic smile, "If you want to defend your ’childhood sweetheart,’ go right ahead. We’ll see the truth in court!"

After speaking, she no longer gave Jasper any chance to speak, slamming the door shut.

"Bang!"

The door slammed heavily in front of Jasper, ringing in his ears and leaving his body cold and numb.

He stood there, Stella’s last words echoing repeatedly in his mind—

She wasn’t just making empty statements.

The lawsuit, the evidence... She was serious.

She really intended to confront him in court.

This realization filled Jasper with a suffocating panic.

He knew Stella; seemingly gentle on the surface, once she decided, her inner persistence and decisiveness were beyond imagination.

But... why did things come to this?

All he wanted was to solve the problem, just to protect Auntie Quinn from distress...

Why couldn’t Stella understand?

Why did she insist on being so aggressive, leaving no room for compromise?

Jasper took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.

Rationality began to regain control.

Now wasn’t the time to dwell on these questions.

The pressing matter was resolving Grace’s trouble.

If Stella was determined to sue, with the evidence she currently holds, Grace’s situation would be very unfavorable.

He couldn’t bear to watch Grace go to prison.

Publicly, he’s a lawyer, skilled in defense.

Personally, he owes Auntie Quinn his life and has the responsibility to protect Grace.

As for Stella...

Jasper’s eyes darkened.

He would find a way to make her withdraw the lawsuit.

No matter what method it takes.