Chapter 24

&#lt;p&#gt;&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt; Are You Angry
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Cynthia brought Queenie to her younger brother, Jason’s law firm.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“You must help me, Uncle Jason. I can’t go to prison! I have plans to join the national team.” I would
have even less of a chance with Cyro if I were in prison.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Jason asked for a brief understanding of the situation.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“All right,” he said with brisk confidence when she was done, “I think I got it. I’m a pretty famous lawyer,
you know. You won’t be going to prison.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Having founded his law firm after graduating from university, Jason had been unbeatable ever since.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;He did not take an insignificant conflict between high school students seriously.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“You’re the best, Uncle Jason.” Queenie hugged him coyly.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I have work to do,” Jason announced, too busy to chat with them. “It would be best if you go home
first. Let me handle it.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;When the women emerged from the office, Queenie threw the card given to her by Sophie into the
trash.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I don’t care who Sophie hires,” she declared haughtily, “nobody will do anything to me with my uncle
here.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Who does Sophie think she is? Other than Josiah, none of the Tanners treat her as family. I have pull in
Horington and can hire any lawyer I want. Does she think that I am so easily intimidated?
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Sophie personally sent Josiah back to the Tanner residence.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I want you to tell me no matter what happens to you, Soph,” Josiah said distressedly. “Do you
understand? I can’t bear the thought of you facing it all alone.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;How has my poor Soph suffered in my absence!
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I won’t allow myself to be stepped on, Grandpa. I have been too foolish in the past, and I won’t be
allowing anybody to hurt me again.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Josiah felt another twinge of pain at her words and pulled her close to him.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Let me find you somebody you can lean on, Soph.” I know I don’t have much longer to live. What will
happen to her when I die?
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Don’t worry about me, Grandpa. I can take care of myself. Your well-being is more important to me.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Grandpa has grown so old. His hair is all white now.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“You shall have my shares, Soph. It’s the only thing that I can give you.” He had initially planned to
hand the Tanner family over to Soph as she was his only worthy heir.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Hold on to them, Grandpa. I don’t need them yet.” Her reason for those words was to deny Willow
satisfaction. She had her own money; it was not something she lacked.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Come back often to see me, won’t you?” He dared not allude to his mortality lest he upset her.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I will come back often to spend time with you,” Sophie promised with a sweetness she reserved only
for Josiah.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“How is your lawyer, by the way? Would you like me to find you a better one?” Her reassurances did
not convince Josiah. He was worried as the Lane family was one of the most influential in Jipsdale.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I have faith in my representation. I won’t embarrass you.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;If this is how Queenie wants to pick a fight, I won’t back down. I’m not afraid of her.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Sophie stayed behind at noon for lunch with Josiah and took a cab to school when he took his siesta.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Ysabelle arrived later that afternoon. She pulled Sophie aside when she saw the latter heading for the
classroom.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I heard the police are here looking for you, Soph. This has nothing to do with you. I’ll have Uncle
Tristan deal with it.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Queenie is too much. Being the one at fault, how dare she turn it around?
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“There’s no need to tell your uncle. I can handle this.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;By then, Queenie arrived at school as well.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Do you know who my uncle is, Sophie?” Queenie was beside herself with glee.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Sophie did not deign to spare her a glance. What does her uncle’s identity have to do with me?
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Have you heard of Jason Chandler? He is the best lawyer in Jipsdale. Just wait and see.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Jason Chandler?”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Now you’re afraid, aren’t you? Just wait. I will put you in prison this time.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Is this Jason Chandler a good lawyer?” Sophie turned to Ysabelle.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Ysabelle shook her head. “Never heard of him.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;She was not lying. The name was new to her.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Queenie chuckled coldly at their ignorance.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Look at you two idiots. It’s fine if you haven’t heard of him. You will get to know him very well when the
trial starts.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Jason Chandler was a newcomer to the legal industry and the most gifted member of his family. He
was also Queenie’s uncle.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Have you never heard of Jason?” asked an acquaintance of Ysabelle’s. “My father says he’s excellent
and on a hot streak with some prickly cases recently.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;They, too, heard that the police had come for Sophie. What’s more, Queenie has gotten herself such a
good lawyer.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Is he really that good?” Ysabelle was considering hiring a better lawyer.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Why don’t you apologize to Queenie, Sophie?” the acquaintance suggested. “We’re all classmates,
after all. There’s no need to make a scene.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Ysabelle bristled. “Apologize to her? You must be joking.” I have been too nice that everybody now
thinks I’m a pushover. ”She kidnapped me. Why should Soph apologize?” Ysabelle was so angry she
laughed in disbelief.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Jason is not one you should pick a fight with!”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Enough, girls. We should go in. Class is about to start.” Sophie was not in the least bothered about
what Queenie said about Jason.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;She was interested to see how true it was for herself.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;It’s such an obvious case. How is he going to fight us?
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Queenie ran into Willow after their lesson, who sneered at her swollen nose inwardly but put on a show
of concern.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Are you all right, Queenie? How are you so badly injured? What did the doctor say?”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“My nose is broken. I’m not going to forgive Sophie for this.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’m sorry.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Why should you apologize, Willa? This has nothing to do with you. It’s all the little b*tch’s fault. I’m not
going to let her off the hook.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Sophie has always been a troublemaker.”&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“She is! Stay away from her, Willa. Sophie is not the same as she was five years ago. She’s much
crueler now.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I know.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;With a simpleton like Queenie acting on my behalf, I don’t even need to lift a finger.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan was approached by his niece upon his return to Wisteria Apartments that night.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Help me hire a lawyer, Uncle Tristan.” Ysabelle was incensed by the mere thought of Queenie’s
triumphant expression.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Why?”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“That b*tch Queenie has hired a famous one. She intends to put Soph behind bars.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Haven’t I told you before, Ysabelle?” Sophie interjected. “I’ve got this handled.” It’s a simple task of
hiring a lawyer. I think I can handle it.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“This isn’t just your battle, Soph. I was the one Queenie kidnapped.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I know. Rest assured, she is going to pay for it.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;There is no need to get Tristan involved as it’s a feud between us girls. Why should we bring out the big
guns for something so trivial?
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’d mention before to come to me if you need help, Sophie. You never seem to remember that.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan’s gaze was a little frightening. Even Ysabelle did not dare speak.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’ve got this handled,” Sophie repeated. It’s not a big deal.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Are you mad at me?” she added uncertainly.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;