It was indeed an enormous conflict of interest.

Lemira looked at Stella. "Do you know any top-tier lawyers?"

"I'll ask around for you, but finding someone on Mr. Alfred's level who can step in immediately and has a clear schedule won't be easy."

"I know. Just do your best. Money is no object."

Lemira simply refused to rely on the Langston family. Any lawyer they hired would likely be bought off by the Sinclairs before the ink on the contract dried. She couldn't trust them.

At that moment, Caleb walked out of the kitchen carrying two massive, steaming bowls of ginger soup. "Drink."

Lemira took one sip and her eyes instantly watered from the intense, burning spice.

She gasped, "Did you put literally zero brown sugar in this?"

Caleb's face was completely deadpan. "We're out."

Stella took a cautious sip, and her entire face scrunched up in disgust. "This is awful."

Caleb glanced at her. "I'll go buy some."

The moment the door clicked shut behind the bodyguard, Lemira burst out laughing.

"I complain it's awful, and he says we're out. You complain, and he immediately

leaves to buy some. The sheer difference in treatment is staggering."

Stella blushed furiously. "You'll find someone who treats you just as well!"

Lemira's smile faltered slightly. "When all this is over... yeah, I'll definitely find someone who treats me right."

Realizing she had stepped on a sore subject, Stella hurried to correct herself. "There are plenty of great guys out there anyway!"

Lemira nodded, lifted the bowl, and chugged the violently spicy ginger soup in one long gulp.

She stood up, wiping her mouth. "I'm going to bed. I won't be out until morning, so don't worry about me."

Stella stared at Lemira's retreating back in awe. Didn't she just say it tasted awful? And she still downed the whole thing.

Thinking about Lemira's shattered relationship with Orion, Stella sighed quietly, wondering how much worse things would get once the trial began.

A short while later, Caleb returned. He noticed Lemira's empty bowl on the table.

He glanced at Stella's untouched soup. "Why haven't you finished yours?"

"It's awful. I can't force it down."

Stella noticed him staring at Lemira's empty bowl and quickly explained, "Lemira is going through a terrible breakup. Her tastebuds are practically numb to everything else right now if I were in her shoes, I'd probably chug it too."

Caleb sat down across from her, his gaze intense. "And what's your excuse? Who broke your heart?"

His burning stare made Stella look away. "That jerk."

Caleb's jaw tightened. "Who are you calling a jerk?"

"Whoever feels guilty enough to answer to it." Caleb, "..."

Knowing he was fighting a losing battle, he grabbed her bowl, stirred in a generous scoop of the brown sugar he had just bought, and handed it back. "Try it now. Is it sweet enough?"

Stella took a sip. It was quite sweet. She offered a reluctant compromise. "I suppose it's no longer a biohazard."

After finishing her soup, she picked up her phone and made a call. "I need the best criminal litigator available. Money is absolutely not an issue. They need to be able to take the case right this second."

Caleb narrowed his eyes. "Why are you looking for a lawyer?"

"Not me. Lemira needs to replace hers."

Hearing this, Caleb casually pulled out his phone and texted Thaddeus the update.

Considering he had just extorted an incredibly expensive car out of Orion, he figured throwing them a bone was the least he could do.

The very next day, Stella forwarded a lawyer's profile to Lemira.

"This guy is Mr. Alfred's former protégé," Stella explained. "He runs his own firm now, completely independent of the Everhart Group. He's got a massive ego and a difficult personality. Whether you

can convince him to take your case

is entirely up to you."

Lemira felt a flicker of hesitation. "If he's Alfred's apprentice, is that really a smart move?"

"It's the smartest move. He's

brilliant, and he absolutely cannot be bought. If he cared about money over pride, he would have stayed at Everhart Group instead of gending, i it out on his own. He's pissed off half the billionaires in the city with his attitude, but his win rate is flawless."

Lemira understood.

She headed straight to the man's law firm to meet the legendary rebel apprentice.

Sebastian Bennett wore a sharply tailored dark suit. He was tall, striking, and the gold-rimmed glasses resting on his nose gave him a ruthlessly elite aura.

He was, undeniably, very handsome.

He turned to Lemira, his eyes sweeping over her with a predatory, analytical gaze. "So, you're Orion Everhart's girlfriend?"

Lemira, "?"

Why did it feel like this man already had a personal vendetta against her?