Give Up, Mr. Lawyer! This is Not Your Child-Chapter 143: This Time, She Really Left

Justin Holden almost immediately rushed back to Kingswell City.

As soon as the plane landed, he didn’t even go home but headed straight to the hospital where Simon Sterling was.

On the way, his heart was beating erratically, with chaotic thoughts intertwining.

The hospital lobby was bustling with people, the smell of disinfectant heavy in the air.

Justin swiftly weaved through the crowd, his eyes scanning every corner for that figure etched in his mind.

Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Not far ahead at the payment window, a woman in a light blue dress, tall and slender, was standing with her back to him, slightly bending to speak to a little girl beside her.

The style and color of the dress, even the arc of her long hair falling, looked just like Jean Ellison.

And the little girl she was holding, with two pigtails, was about the same height and build as Jesse.

What made Justin’s heart contract was the young man standing beside the woman, dressed in a casual shirt, who was affectionately and naturally touching the little girl’s head, looking exactly like a family of three.

A cold chill instantly spread from his feet throughout his whole body.

That man, he was the reason Jean Ellison stayed in the country, the biological father of Jesse.

Had they reconciled?

This realization was like a blunt knife, harshly tearing at his nerves.

He didn’t even have time to think it through; his body acted before his reason, striding towards that "family of three."

His pace was swift, with an urgency and panic he hadn’t even noticed himself.

Just as he was about to catch up, his fingers almost touching the woman’s shoulder, she seemed to sense something and turned her head.

A completely unfamiliar face, with a hint of confusion and wariness.

Justin’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

It wasn’t her.

The little girl also turned her head, looking at him curiously, another unfamiliar face.

The young man immediately stepped forward, shielding the woman and child behind him, watching Justin cautiously.

"Sir, is there something you need?"

Justin stood there in a daze, looking at this unfamiliar face, then at the equally unfamiliar little girl and the wary man, his Adam’s apple bobbed once, and he forced out two words.

"I’m sorry."

He withdrew his hand, turned expressionless, his steps slightly unsteady as he walked towards the elevator, pressing the button for the neurology ward. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

His back exuded a strong sense of disappointment and self-mockery. It was ridiculous that he had made such a mistake.

The elevator reached the neurology floor.

As the door opened, Justin almost collided with someone outside.

"Lawyer Holden?"

The other voice spoke in surprise.

Justin looked up to find Doctor Sterling, wearing a white coat and holding a file, looking at him in astonishment.

"Doctor Sterling."

Justin barely managed to calm himself, greeting him.

Simon Sterling adjusted his glasses, looking at him with confusion.

"Lawyer Holden, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be downstairs at the obstetrics and gynecology department?"

"Obstetrics and gynecology?" Justin frowned, his tone indifferent, "What would I, a grown man, be doing at the obstetrics and gynecology department?"

Simon Sterling was even more puzzled: "I just saw Miss Zoe Holden downstairs accompanying a pregnant lady to the obstetrics and gynecology department for a check-up. That lady looked like Miss Sutton? I thought you came to see them."

Justin’s face instantly darkened, eyes icy.

"I’m not here for them." He paused, directly asking, "Where is Jean Ellison? I’m looking for her."

Simon Sterling was taken aback for a moment, then a look of realization and regret appeared on his face.

"You came to find Jean? Unfortunately, you’re a step too late."

Justin’s heart sank abruptly: "What do you mean?"

"She’s already left," Simon Sterling said calmly, "After Aunt Kingston’s condition stabilized, she immediately changed her flight. The plane should have taken off an hour ago; she’s really gone to Gresten this time."

Justin felt a buzzing sound in his ears, as if his blood had frozen.

An hour ago, he was still on his way back to the hospital.

"Why..." his voice was hoarse, "Why change the flight suddenly again?"

Simon Sterling looked at his suddenly pale face, sighed, and explained: "It was because of her mother, Susan Kingston’s condition. Shortly after you left last time, Aunt Kingston’s condition suddenly worsened and was very critical, so Jean was urgently called back. But now, after rescue and treatment, she’s out of life-threatening danger, but she will need long-term professional rehabilitation."

He pushed his glasses again and continued: "When Aunt Kingston’s condition allows for long-distance travel, I’ll personally escort her to Gresten, where they have better rehabilitation facilities. As for Jean and Jesse..."

Simon Sterling looked at Justin, his tone definitive, "They won’t be coming back, this departure is a final farewell."

Won’t be coming back, a final farewell...

These words hit Justin’s heart like a heavy hammer, making him almost unable to stand.

In the end, he was still too late, no, perhaps from the very beginning, he was already out.

At this moment, the elevator door opened again. Zoe Holden supported Leah Sutton as they walked out, Leah holding a freshly obtained test report.

Leah’s face lit up with delight the moment she saw Justin standing in the hallway, almost running towards him with a sweet and soft voice.

"Justin! What brings you back? Did you come especially to see me and the baby?"

She reached out to hook Justin’s arm.

But Justin, as if touched by something filthy, abruptly stepped back, avoiding her touch.

His expression was so dark that water could drip from it, his gaze icy as it swept over Leah and Zoe without a hint of warmth, nor did he acknowledge Leah’s question.

Leah’s hand froze in mid-air, her smile stiffening, while the surrounding nurses, patients, and family members curiously looked over, whispering and pointing.

Zoe’s expression also turned a bit grim.

Justin seemed completely oblivious to everything around him.

He took out his phone straight away, dialed his subordinate, and his voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

"Book me the earliest flight back to the United States. Yes, right now."

His voice was not loud, but in the quiet hospital corridor, it was exceptionally clear.

Leah Sutton’s face instantly turned pale, her body swayed, almost unable to stand. Zoe Holden quickly supported her, looking at Justin Holden with displeasure.

"Justin, what kind of attitude is this; Leah is still carrying your child."

It was fine when she didn’t speak, but as soon as she did, the surrounding passersby all looked over.

Those gazes scanned Leah Sutton’s face, and ashamed, she lowered her head, her cheeks burning.

After Justin Holden finished his call and put away his phone, he didn’t even bother to give them a glance and turned to leave.

"Justin."

Leah Sutton called out with a tone choked with sobs, her voice filled with grievance and sorrow.

More and more people stopped to watch.

Several doctors and nurses who knew Justin Holden and Zoe Holden whispered quietly.

"Isn’t that Lawyer Holden and the eldest daughter of the Holden family?"

"Who’s that pregnant woman? Never seen her before."

"Heard she’s carrying Lawyer Holden’s child, trying to rise in status through the child?"

"Tsk, look at Lawyer Holden’s attitude; he’s completely ignoring her. How pitiful..."

"Enter a wealthy family isn’t that easy; probably won’t happen..."

These whispers pierced Leah Sutton’s ears like needles, filling her with shame and anger.

The dignity she had carefully maintained shattered on the ground in the face of Justin Holden’s ruthless indifference.

She bit her lips hard, her nails digging deep into her palms, barely maintaining her composure on the spot.

Justin Holden seemed oblivious to any of the discussions and didn’t see Leah Sutton’s miserable state.

He walked past Simon Sterling with a straight back and an expressionless face, heading directly for the elevator. His back was resolute, without a trace of reluctance.

Simon Sterling watched Justin Holden’s disappearing back at the elevator, shook his head slightly, and turned to walk towards his office.

He closed the door, shutting out the noise from outside.

He took out his phone and dialed a number.

The call was quickly answered, and Jean Ellison’s calm voice came through: "Doctor Sterling?"

"Miss Ellison," Simon Sterling walked to the window, looking at the hustle and bustle at the hospital entrance below, "he came and just left."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Jean Ellison’s voice came, with no emotion discernible.

"Hmm, what was his reaction?"

"As you instructed, I told him you both had already flown to Gresten and wouldn’t be coming back."

Simon Sterling adjusted his glasses, "He seemed very upset. I heard that after you left, he immediately called to book a flight back to New York. It seems he won’t be coming back for a while."

Jean Ellison on the other end of the phone sighed softly, as if relieved of something, yet with a trace of indescribable regret.

"Thank you, Doctor Sterling, sorry to trouble you."

"It was nothing." Simon Sterling paused, sounding a bit concerned. "What are your plans now? With Jesse, you need a place to stay. I have an empty apartment in the city. It’s relatively quiet. If you don’t mind..."

"No need, Doctor Sterling, really thanks for your kindness." Jean Ellison interrupted, her tone gentle but firm, "I’ve already found a place to stay. Settling down temporarily won’t be a problem."

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Simon Sterling didn’t insist further.

"Alright then, take care of yourself. Don’t worry about Aunt Kingston, I’ll take good care of her. We’ll get in touch when the time is right."

"Okay, thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Simon Sterling gazed out the window, letting out a gentle sigh.

Meanwhile, in another comparatively older district of the city,

Philip Paxton parked the car steadily in front of a somewhat aged unit dormitory building.

He got out of the car first, went around to the back seat, and opened the car door.

Jesse had already fallen asleep, softly lying in Jean Ellison’s arms.

Philip Paxton carefully took the child, holding him gently and skillfully, afraid of waking up the little one.

Jean Ellison got out of the car, taking out one large and one small suitcase from the trunk.

The suitcases weren’t new, but they were clean.

"Let me take it." Philip Paxton, with one hand free, reached out to take the suitcase from Jean Ellison.

"No need, it’s not heavy, I can manage myself."

Jean Ellison shook her head, pulling up the suitcase handle.

Philip Paxton didn’t insist either and led the way with Jesse in his arms.

The corridor was a bit narrow, the lighting not very bright, with walls showing the mottled marks of time, but it was kept clean.

"This was the dorm assigned by the company when I just started working."

Philip Paxton explained in a low voice as they went upstairs, afraid of waking the child.

"It’s not big, the conditions aren’t the best, but it’s close to the police station where I work. But I usually stay at home, so this place is empty. You can make do here for now. Although it’s a bit old, everything essential is there, and those living here are either old policemen or police families, so it’s quite safe."

Jean Ellison followed behind, seeing the man’s broad and reliable back, a warmth and gratitude surged in her heart.

In her most helpless moments, it was always this person who unhesitatingly extended a helping hand.

"It’s already great, Officer Paxton, really, thank you so much." Jean Ellison’s voice was slightly choked, "Sorry for troubling you again."

"Don’t say such distant words." Philip Paxton stopped at a dark green iron door on the third floor, took out the key from his pocket, "Let’s go inside first."

The door opened to a small living room, simply furnished with an old sofa, a coffee table, and an old-fashioned TV, but the windows were clear and the place was obviously cleaned with care.

Though simple, it had a reassuring sense of solidity.

Philip Paxton carried Jesse into the only bedroom inside, gently putting the child on a small bed covered with clean sheets and tucking him in with a quilt.

Jean Ellison stood at the living room door, watching the scene, her eyes slightly misty.