“It’s okay, Anne. Ms. Yates is really kind-she won’t mind at all. Just relax.”

Jasmine reached out to gently pat Anne’s head.

Due to chemotherapy, Anne had lost all her hair and always wore a soft pink hat whenever she went out. Jasmine knew how much that hat meant to her-it was a gift from Lucas, and she treasured it deeply.

A wave of sadness tightened Jasmine’s chest, and her eyes welled up. Her hand lingered in the air for a moment before it settled on Anne’s hat.

“Don’t worry, Anne. Ms. Yates will do everything she can to help Lucas.”

“Okay.” Anne’s anxious expression softened, revealing a bright, grateful smile. “Thank you, Ms. Jasmine, and thank you, too, Ms. Yates!”

Listening from the driver’s seat, Tessa let out a quiet sigh.

Sometimes, fate felt unbearably cruel.

Why did misfortune always seem to find those who were already suffering?

With her deep empathy for others, Tessa felt her chest tighten as she absorbed Anne’s story, her eyes beginning to shimmer with unshed tears.

After taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned toward the backseat. “Jasmine, could you help Anne with her seatbelt?”

“Of course.”

…

Lucas and Anne were both in the same hospital, a modest public facility where the small room was cramped with four beds.

It was early winter, and the cold wind howled outside, causing the temperature to plummet. The hospital had sealed the windows tightly, trying to keep the chill at bay.

As soon as Tessa stepped into the room, a sharp, sour odor assaulted her senses. The man closest to the door hadn’t bathed in days, and the stench was enough to make her stomach churn. She fought to suppress the urge to gag.

Frowning, she pushed through the discomfort and followed Anne further into the

room.

At the far end, Lucas lay on a hospital bed, propped up against his pillow. His eyes were fixed on the window, watching the autumn leaves fall to the ground.

“Hey, Lucas,” Anne called out brightly.

Lucas turned his head at the sound of her voice. “Anne, you’re here. Have you eaten?”

Anne nodded with a faint smile. “Yes, I just ate.”

It was a lie.

She had spent the entire morning sneaking out of the hospital to seek Jasmine’s help and hadn’t had time to eat.

However, she couldn’t let Lucas worry, so she lied.

“Jasmine, you’re here too,” Lucas greeted her.

His gaze then turned to Tessa. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “And this is…”

“She’s a lawyer from our firm. You can call her Ms. Yates,” Jasmine chimed in.

Tessa greeted him with a nod.

“Hello, Mr. Granger. I’ve already been

informed of your situation by

Jasmine. Let’s go over the details. I can help you pursue compensation

from your former employer.”

swnów

Lucas’ expression shifted to one of discomfort, his voice wavering slightly. “I… I’m

sorry, Ms. Yates, but I don’t have the money to pay for legal fees…”

He forced out a nervous chuckle. “As you can see, I’m just scraping by with my medical bills. I really don’t have the funds for a lawyer… I’m sorry for taking up your time

Tessa looked at him with a steady

gaze. “It’s not an issue, Mr. Granger.

You can pay the legal fees once.

you’v

I’ve received compensation. I’ll

take on your case on a contingency basis.”

Lucas frowned, clearly puzzled. “Contingency basis? What does that mean exactly?”

“If we lose the case, you won’t have to pay me a dime,” Tessa clarified.

Lucas’ gaze wavered with uncertainty. “Is that truly possible?”

“Definitely,” Tessa responded firmly.

“Alright… then let’s go ahead with it.”

“Perfect,” Tessa said, giving him a reassuring nod. “Now, let’s go over the details of your case.”

Jasmine chimed in, “Ms. Yates, you two continue. I’ll take Anne back to her room.”