Give Up, Mr. Lawyer! This is Not Your Child-Chapter 148: Hiding from Uncle Holden

In the Rose Garden Villa District, the trees provided ample shade.

The living room of Samual Pryce’s house was spacious and bright.

Wendy Wallace was carefully peeling an apple, her pregnant belly quite pronounced, while Samual Pryce sat beside her reading a newspaper.

The doorbell rang, and Samual Pryce got up to answer it. Standing outside, full of energy, was Holly Flora.

"Mom, you’re here."

Samual Pryce took the fruit bag from his mother’s hand.

Holly Flora walked in with a smile, giving Wendy’s belly a gentle touch.

"I came to see my grandchild."

The three of them sat down on the sofa.

Holly Flora took a sip of water and casually mentioned, "Someone moved into the empty house across from ours."

Wendy looked up, "New neighbor?"

Holly Flora nodded, "A young woman. Even Paxton has a girlfriend now, and he didn’t say a word."

Samual Pryce put down the newspaper, "Philip Paxton? He’s got a girlfriend?"

Holly Flora laughed, "He sure does, and the girl is quite pretty."

Philip Paxton was Holly Flora’s apprentice; when he first joined the police force, it was Master Flora who took him to crime scenes and guided him on cases.

Samual Pryce asked, "What does she look like?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Holly Flora thought for a moment, "Tall and thin, very fair, with a ponytail, like a student."

Samual Pryce frowned.

The description reminded him of someone.

Holly Flora continued, "She doesn’t go out much and doesn’t like to talk when she sees people."

Samual Pryce’s heart beat a little faster.

He tentatively asked, "Mom, have you seen her face-to-face?"

Holly Flora shook her head, "Only saw her from a distance a few times. Paxton, on the other hand, visits often."

Wendy interjected, "Officer Paxton has finally come to his senses."

Holly Flora turned to Wendy, "After you give birth, I’ll come over to help you with the baby."

Wendy smiled, "Thank you, Mom. We have a nanny; don’t wear yourself out."

Holly Flora waved her hand, "It’s no trouble at all. I’ll be happy watching my grandchild."

Samual Pryce seemed a bit distracted, picking up a shrimp and starting to peel it.

Holly Flora and Wendy were discussing parenting tips.

Samual Pryce finished peeling the shrimp and absentmindedly put it in his mouth.

Wendy looked at him, and Samual Pryce quickly realized, peeled another one, and placed it in her bowl.

"What are you thinking about?" Wendy asked.

Samual Pryce shook his head, "Nothing, just work stuff."

Holly Flora began talking about grocery shopping, and Samual Pryce responded absent-mindedly.

He was still thinking about the woman across the street; she looked too much like Jean Ellison.

At dinner, Samual Pryce placed food on Wendy’s plate, while Holly Flora talked about old times at the police station.

"Paxton is a sincere kid," Holly Flora said, "and that girl seems quite a match for him."

Samual Pryce paused with his chopsticks.

"Philip Paxton visits often?"

Holly Flora nodded, "Yes, sometimes he brings groceries over. They seem to be getting along well."

Wendy laughed, "That’s great news. Officer Paxton should settle down."

Samual Pryce kept his head down, eating. He needed to confirm something.

After dinner, Samual Pryce walked Holly Flora to the door, glancing over at the villa across the street.

The curtains were drawn, all was quiet.

"Mom, next time you see that girl, take a good look," Samual Pryce said.

Holly Flora gave him a curious look, "Why?"

Samual Pryce smiled, "No reason, just curious."

After sending Holly Flora off, Samual Pryce returned to the living room, where Wendy was resting on the sofa.

"Who do you think lives across the street?" Samual Pryce asked.

Wendy, eyes closed, replied, "Whoever it is, just hope they’re not trouble."

Samual Pryce walked over to the window. In the darkness, a light flickered on in the villa across the street.

A vague silhouette passed by the window, a ponytail, tall and thin.

Samual Pryce’s pupils narrowed; it really looked like her. The description uncannily matched Jean Ellison.

Didn’t Philip Paxton have feelings for Jean Ellison?

He turned to Wendy, "I’m going out for a walk."

Wendy acknowledged softly, and Samual Pryce grabbed his coat and went out.

He stood in his own yard, looking across the street, the light had gone out again.

In the night wind, the leaves rustled; Samual Pryce stood there for a long time.

Finally, he turned and went back inside, perhaps he was overthinking it.

But that silhouette lingered in his mind.

The next day, in the law firm office.

Samual Pryce was staring at the computer screen, his fingers unconsciously drumming on the desk, picking up his phone several times only to put it back down.

Eventually, he dialed Justin Holden’s extension.

"Justin, got a moment? There’s something I need to discuss."

Justin Holden’s distant voice came through, "Go on."

Samual Pryce hesitated a bit, "Yesterday, I heard from my mom that Philip Paxton seems to have a girlfriend now."

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

"So?"

"That girl’s description is very similar to Jean Ellison." Samual Pryce lowered his voice, "She lives right across from us."

Justin Holden’s voice was calm.

"Since when did you become so chatty? I’m very busy here, no time to chat about this."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Samual Pryce sighed.

He really has let go. In the past, he would have flown back to take a look.

In the evening, Justin Holden walked into the elevator expressionless.

He started the car and drove towards the bar.

He intended to have a drink at the usual bar.

But at an intersection, he suddenly turned the steering wheel, and the car veered onto another road.

By the time he realized it, the car was already parked below Philip Paxton’s work dormitory.

He sat in the driver’s seat, his hand slightly tightening on the steering wheel.

How did he end up driving here?

He looked up at the familiar window on the third floor.

The curtains weren’t fully drawn, and the kitchen light was on.

The light revealed two blurred figures. One tall, one short, one standing up, seeming busy.

Justin Holden stared at that window, motionless.

The only sound inside the car was his steady breathing.

The night deepened, and the lights upstairs went out.

Justin Holden still sat there, for several hours.

Finally, he opened the car door and walked up the dim staircase, his footsteps exceptionally clear in the silence.

He stood in front of the dark green iron door, raised his hand, and knocked.

Footsteps came from inside, and the door lock turned.

The door opened.

Justin Holden looked at the person who opened the door, his brows suddenly furrowed.

Isabel Dalton stood inside the door, wearing a fitted camisole and jeans, her hair casually tied up, with a few strands hanging by her neck, looking very homely.

She was holding a freshly washed apple, just taking a bite, and upon seeing Justin Holden, she clearly paused for a moment, then revealed a look of surprise on her face.

"Lawyer Holden?" Isabel Dalton swallowed the apple in her mouth and leaned against the door frame, her tone slightly teasing, "What a rare guest. How did you find your way here? Still trying to ask about Claire Caldwell?"

She tilted her head, "I don’t mind telling you about her inside again, with abundant details."

Justin Holden’s gaze swept coldly over her, looking past her shoulder into the room.

From the kitchen came the sound and smell of cooking, a tall figure in an apron busy at the stove, it was Philip Paxton.

"No." Justin Holden’s voice was devoid of warmth, "I’m here to find someone."

Isabel Dalton raised her eyebrows, took another bite of her apple, and asked vaguely, "Find who? It’s just me and Paxton in this room right now."

She deliberately pronounced "Paxton" with intimacy.

Justin Holden’s gaze returned to Isabel Dalton, with scrutiny: "Why are you here?"

A slight blush of bashfulness appeared on Isabel Dalton’s face, she glanced toward the kitchen and lowered her voice, enough for Justin Holden to hear.

"I’m in my boyfriend’s work dormitory, what’s so strange about that?"

As she spoke, she subconsciously adjusted her not-at-all-messy camisole strap.

Justin Holden looked at her silently, and then glanced again at the kitchen where Philip Paxton’s back was.

Samual Pryce’s words echoed in his mind.

"Philip Paxton seems to have a girlfriend."

"Lives right across from us."

The scene before him seemed to confirm this statement.

"Is it convenient for me to come in and sit for a while?" Justin Holden suddenly asked, his tone flat.

He wanted to confirm whether there was a third person in this room, especially that small figure.

Isabel Dalton’s smile faded slightly, she stood upright and blocked the doorway, shaking her head.

"I’m afraid it’s not convenient, Lawyer Holden. We’re about to have dinner, and besides..."

She paused, a suggestive smile on her face.

"There are other plans after dinner, need to rest early, no time to entertain you, you see..."

Justin Holden stared at her for a few seconds, Isabel Dalton unwaveringly returned his gaze, her eyes carrying a hint of dismissal.

Eventually, Justin Holden nodded slightly, his tone still cold: "Sorry for the disturbance."

After speaking, he turned decisively and walked down the stairs.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty staircase, gradually receding.

It wasn’t until the footsteps completely disappeared that Isabel Dalton finally let out a long breath, her back almost soaked with cold sweat.

She quickly closed the door, locked it, and leaned against the door panel, breathing heavily.

Philip Paxton in the kitchen heard the door close, turned off the stove, walked out, and frowned slightly: "Who was that just now?"

Isabel Dalton patted her chest, still in shock: "Justin Holden, scared me to death, he actually found his way here."

Philip Paxton’s face tensed: "What did he say?"

"He said he came looking for someone. I lied and said I’m your girlfriend, and blocked him from coming in." Isabel Dalton quickly said, "He seemed to believe it, didn’t insist on coming in."

Philip Paxton walked to the window, carefully lifted a corner of the curtain, looked down, and saw Justin Holden’s black car slowly driving away.

He let go of the curtain, his expression serious.

At this moment, the door to the inner bedroom was gently pushed open a crack.

Jean Ellison led Jesse, cautiously poking their heads out, faces still bearing unshaken nervousness.

"Is he gone?" Jean Ellison’s voice trembled slightly.

Isabel Dalton nodded: "He’s gone, luckily I reacted quickly."

Jesse clutched Jean Ellison’s hand tightly, asked softly, "Mom, why are we hiding from Uncle Holden?"