MGN | Chapter 20

“Sir, you’re still not off work?”9f80c3c70a074a8f

“You’re working on a Saturday too, Jacques.”cb6c73c309ee5fbe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“True, but on a day like today?”d7cc0e6ee3185c1b

“Because of the Brezo case jurisdiction for the divorce. I have to have a meeting with the U.S. side. Once that’s done, I’ll head out.”ab4fe33fc9f39cce

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh, the couple who got married in Singapore without a prenup? The wife wants to proceed in New York, and the client wants it here, right?”2754e6ca5174d1c2

“Yes.”45a8f1606639e26e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I heard about it. The argument that since the wife’s shoe collection is all here, the divorce should be here instead of New York—that was your idea, right? Did it work?”2c1e1b4024ed16b8

“Seems like it.”465fbb382b8aacbb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Maël rubbed his c019eb0f07 neck.0044b9fa0b235a6d

The jurisdiction issue for the billionaire’s divorce was something the team was particularly focused on, involving lawyers from various countries. Because of Manon’s prenup, Diane had taken on the case with another senior associate instead of Maël.64c9d6e5ec2db9cb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Then Diane’s hit-and-run accident happened. Maël had no choice but to support the case.20afd5732a455109

It wasn’t bad to deliver good news to the client, but taking on the work suddenly blurred the memory of when he last slept.6cc51dd04187f0e7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re the lucky Maël lawyer. If the lawsuit proceeds in the U.S., they said it would cost eighty million dollars, right? How much would it be here?”92892bff428b330b

“Hard to say until we proceed… But in Monaco, without a prenup, there’s no concept of marital joint property. They won’t get a property division, just alimony. Probably between one to two million dollars.”2c079402d7c2f5fb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Wow. Isn’t a prenup disadvantageous for those without money? Wouldn’t it have been better with one?”967282289f816e07

“It’s not that the prenup itself is bad; it depends on how you draft it. It also varies depending on where you file the lawsuit and which lawyer you use.”59fd0ad0baa3dbfb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If I ever get divorced, you have to handle it for me. Promise. You must.”c50d1029566fca70

“If you get married first, Jacques.”d74086553e694de8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

More urgent than the secretary’s idle admiration was a cup of coffee. Maël lightly placed his hand on Jacques’s desk and asked.fe2a1728685cd446

“Jacques, are there any more documents for me? Was everything you gave me this morning?”f01903860f365713

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, nothing else has come in. Do you need anything?”90449d2fcf8fbfb5

“No, it’s not that…”5da74512c4b3f560

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After last seeing Yves a6217934b8 Valois, Maël sent him 9c3e622f40 the retainer contract the 1996d15e62 next day. The subsequent consultation had 6f1a0a8876 to be rescheduled due f1a2e0311c to their circumstances.98ed95c7fe18a5b7

He couldn’t start or stop the work until he received the signed retainer contract, but it hadn’t come back yet.669b6058295fd309

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Maybe he doesn’t want to proceed.”bd5016c1654a38df

It was possible. He didn’t have the energy to confirm it right now.fa02dc87a853ea65

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Maël thought 369b15876a for a 748cfc62b6 moment before b0cc23e02e changing the 673197d793 subject. There was d52afb11b7 already plenty d2657cc5eb of work.9ad7f58e3c114599

“Jacques, I’ve been asking for a copy of Manon’s prenup. I don’t remember receiving it.”636afde1ef6f3aec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well, the copy isn’t in our team’s document storage. I think the head lawyer left it with their secretary, but they haven’t responded. I’ve visited their office several times… Sorry. I can go up and check if they’re there now, but it’s probably too late, right?”833d5110d3f6a4f5

It was late. The wedding 91dcb3c97b was tomorrow.50930d5c87637715

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But thinking back on e03a155f89 the schedule, even if ad37af0ab9 it had been brought 06203b00b5 earlier, he might not 80d28df89f have had time to cb18960829 look at it. Maël shook his 84fd0714d1 head at Jacques, e722bd3203 who was half e15c979a73 out of his 96032eda1f chair.cc85d17d46482059

“It’s already signed. Nothing can be changed. I just wanted to double-check. It’s fine.”b5e30ff38fdcc298

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Saying that, 22fffc07a0 Maël checked 65a0b65b56 his watch. Five minutes until 5024a2acd4 the meeting. Enough time for a 19fb5361df caffeine fix.8578d9bf2dca128b

Entering the 086c8dd997 break room, 7e4338a332 Maël pressed 91b68bcf98 the button d72c7c8170 on the ed4eb39528 capsule machine 3cec58dccd and sent 82ef52fde8 a message.cc2d765bd105b126

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

[Can you bring the original prenup when you come today?]

The message whooshed off to tomorrow’s bride. After confirming it, Maël composed an email to Yves’s secretary.4781ef4cc0ad5103

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[This is Lawyer Maël Moon from 377. I haven’t received the retainer contract back yet. Please confirm if it has been sent.]

Whether or not to proceed didn’t matter much, but the retainer was one of the conditions for providing the photo, so he had to ask. Being the weekend, he wasn’t sure when a reply would come.1072ae5d0253b87c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As he sent 7e6b67cc51 it, the paper eb9355e51d cup filled with 6f8bc8d3b9 black liquid. Tearing open a aad6bba3e7 packet of sugar e394c9cb00 and stirring the af3e11826a cup, Maël looked 988e007748 up to see 54bc64285c Diane passing by 1083e8f1bd the break room, 2510cec64e waving her casted 23c6872981 left arm.a604d1f7d7ea18ea

Since they were a681ffa83a both headed to 2c736b1883 the same destination, 09739f19c3 Maël approached with 348109dc79 his cup. Diane glanced at c26be5ea54 the strong coffee 1fb6f1fd5a and spoke.030ef1bd8793ed86

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sorry, about Manon’s wedding tomorrow.”0b1e8c4e7370bd92

“I heard you did a phone consultation in your wedding dress.”ee99174130293c33

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Unforgettable. Two hours before my wedding, I got a call asking if they could get more alimony because their husband might have hidden an STD.”5d8305fbb2877b25

It was 2493cf666d a story 720650556e Maël had 9700e86f66 heard several 36d3aa51a0 times since 812d18c212 his intern 7bd00db416 days. He smiled bitterly and 1ca5c6f628 took a sip of 59c68f8891 the still-steaming coffee.d7ec7e423d109d4e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Still no luck finding the hit-and-run car?”2a726333f32dc4d7

“Seems to be taking time. It was a black German car, but how common is that around here?”8f2f54f8e04de787

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“With all the cameras here…”517280fb0f117ede

“Unfortunately, it was a blind spot without cameras. Plus, it was the day they were replacing the surveillance cameras in Monacoville. Just my luck.”af4accb8febc28f9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though she joked about it being nothing serious on the day of the accident, Diane’s condition was more severe than expected. She had symptoms of a concussion and had to have several metal pins in her left arm. Sensing Maël’s concern, Diane waved her right hand dismissively.7a4ad232fb86f361

“More importantly, how many cases are you handling now?”c3a637c5792e8c85

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Not many significant ones. Are you planning to give me more? But you said after the domestic violence conference presentation and the Brezo jurisdiction case, I’d get a real vacation.”01349ef16b83682b

Though he pretended to complain, the division of roles was natural. He had visited her in the hospital, where she was spreading documents on the bed, saying her right hand and eyes were fine. Seeing that, he couldn’t just step back and take a break.59bd2c30ddc4662c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’ve already applied for vacation. I’ll give it to you. But I’m thinking of starting a new office after this case.”86305beaa0b8c6aa

A new office? The unexpected words made the sugar at the bottom of Maël’s coffee catch in his throat. As he coughed and looked with red eyes, Diane sighed.a5273ca208e8c69f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’d be a lie to say the accident didn’t change my perspective. Going into surgery, I thought about each client I had, and it made me think.”559709553c2e4c9b

“What…”2cc717e31343df3b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ugh, I didn’t become a lawyer to defend people like that.”34417cd406ac8bb5

Diane nodded toward Maël.019fb2977a1cf9f7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Is there any lawyer who hasn’t felt that way? Maël smiled bitterly. His obsession with pro bono work and volunteering his time was all in a similar vein.f5d8473ad283da66

Just a few steps 39c2821fb9 ahead was the consultation 9f541b8908 room. Diane spoke quickly.657d00990adc1fa0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I want to go a bit lighter. To do that, I need to leave 377. I want to choose the clients I defend. There aren’t many clients I’d want to defend in Monaco, so I’ll expand to Nice and nearby areas. Of course, I’ve gathered clients who will bring in money. If you come with me, there’ll be more.”6bb5aa120f2e5199

“Me?”b7319b574d101d0c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yeah. I’m scouting you.”c9cc7cca1d3622f7

Maël blinked as he tossed the paper cup into the trash. Diane’s words came faster.37b4c2288025c55f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If I leave, you’ll get a partnership based on order and performance. There’s no one like you among the senior associates. The youngest partner at 377. But if you come with me, you’ll be a co-representative.”40e079ef9852e372

“There’s not much difference between the two.”a57e6f9bc2f38155

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well, the new office won’t have an ex-boyfriend.”57961a7053af3eb2

Everyone knew about the rumors with Charles. Maël shook his head at Diane’s playful joke, but his expression wasn’t bad. Well, that was certainly a perk.51f76c840ea9a3a0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Think about it.”f2b2d56d048768f0

Diane said brightly. As the 13b2fe98ec clock struck 2bbffd106b the hour, bc0d6d9cbe she opened 9553013e6b the consultation 9e9e4f716a room door. Seeing the white-haired billionaire 5a56730d06 already there, she smiled a1aa2bd79a confidently.e540723c447cf405

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Mr. Brezo, did you hear the good news we sent?”bf86459e5e95ee47

Following her in, Maël composed his expression. For a moment, he wondered how long it had been since he met someone he wanted to defend in this firm’s consultation room.fa521fffe1c87805

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And then, Yves Valois’s face suddenly crossed his mind.bc771e2fb613a95c

* * *8caf10fa09456ca0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Manon, who seemed to have finally gotten over her morning sickness, didn’t look any thinner when Maël saw her after a long time.439b48b6ab4e73f2

“Oppa, you’re here?”7616a294c24ac724

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even if they lived together, the day before the wedding was spent at their respective homes. The old tradition had kept Manon, who hadn’t been able to return to the house in Nice much since the prenup, back home.5e1d9626775eaf73

The excuse for keeping Manon busy was publicly the wedding preparations, but in truth, it was because of her slightly swollen belly. The house in Nice wasn’t suitable for avoiding persistent reporters and for the doctor to come and go.5bc4275561bdac40

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This.”f4da2bae3dc3732d

Maël lifted the bag 185fe8153b he brought. It was the de5cb52abd pho and spring a996555c1e rolls Manon had 1c3e137a1a been messaging about 3ad32b57a7 wanting to eat 3348c98eef before the wedding. Manon squealed and took 7bf12d72d0 it.3c97ac8ce0116513

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If you eat that now, your face will be puffy tomorrow.”959620a9619ce28b

“You can afford to be a little puffy. Oh, did you bring the documents I asked for?”025c9c3668d017a7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah. I kept them safe, but when I tried to find them, I couldn’t. Philippe and the crown prince even came to help search the room. Almost broke a centuries-old vase. Maybe I should leave the original here. Can you keep it, oppa?”5b97ff4d15ced05a

“Got it.”0a3bcd0d21009a0c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sitting at the dining 80f692836a table, Maël took out 9d946c72b2 the prenup. Across from c791cfd1b1 him, Manon, d623cf1431 opening the 3d5ed7b599 plastic container, 4639adc81f kept talking.a6671572e1dcd6cd

“You know, the crown prince said earlier that since you’ll be part of the grand ducal family tomorrow, he convinced the Grand Duke to give you a gift too. He told me to let you know. It was supposed to be announced tomorrow morning, but…”d5ab375402ff9ddc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Wait, Manon, hold on.”7fd7953dcdf3b046

As he listened 6d5ccb38d4 to his excited 11f0d73f5b sister, Maël urgently 1df3e7deaf stopped her.9d9c6483fae14941

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He took out 706c2a0105 his glasses from 52780bbe23 his jacket pocket. His eyes, 26cfb7f381 staring intently 6cf25e22ee at a aa7216d83b page of d8e405962c the contract, c838420f5a closed and 8acee31fe6 opened slowly.5bd552772cc1fd65