Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 156: Let’s Get to Know Each Other First

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Let’s Get to Know Each Other First

The Lockwood Matriarch, seeing him taking such a keen interest in something outside of work for the first time, took a photo and sent it to Claire Hale, asking if she liked it.

At this moment, Claire Hale was handling a case involving a woman who had given birth to a non-marital child and was seeking child support from the father.

"He tricked me into thinking he was single. I didn’t take any precautions when I was with him. But when I got pregnant, he insisted I have an abortion, and that’s when I found out he had a family."

Crystal Warren said worriedly:

"All these years, I haven’t asked him for a penny, but now the child is sick, and I’m really out of options. Lawyer Hale, I chose to have this child myself. When I approached him, he claimed ignorance and said he had no obligation to provide child support. What should I do?"

"Don’t worry, the decision to give birth is exclusively a woman’s right. As long as the child is his, he is naturally obliged to provide child support," Claire Hale said, "However, the main focus should be on proving the child is his and determining the amount of child support."

Crystal Warren quickly nodded and said she would go back and think about it seriously.

After seeing off the client, Claire Hale noticed the photo sent by The Lockwood Matriarch.

She wasn’t that keen on blind dates, but since her grandmother liked it, she didn’t want to dampen the mood, so she replied: They can get to know each other first.

Soon, Claire Hale received a WeChat friend request: "Hello Miss Hale, I’m Stanley Sawyer, introduced by Grandma Lockwood."

She clicked accept.

Stanley Sawyer immediately sent over a cute greeting emoji.

Claire Hale: "Hello."

Stanley Sawyer: "Is Miss Hale busy? At this time in the domestic market, you should still be working, right?"

Claire Hale: "Hmm, are you abroad?"

Stanley Sawyer: "Yeah, it will be a few months before I return to meet Miss Hale."

With that statement, Claire Hale felt more at ease.

No need to meet immediately; it’s possible their conversations might fizzle out before long.

They exchanged a few casual remarks before getting back to their own work.

On the other end of the phone, Tristan Lockwood stared at the chat box for a while before exiting and making a phone call.

"Young President Lockwood?"

"If the matriarch asks about your progress with Claire Hale, you know what to say, right?"

"Of course, whatever Young President Lockwood arranges, I promise there won’t be any mistakes," Stanley Sawyer assured, "However, about the project in the west of the city that you promised..."

"You won’t be shortchanged."

"Thank you, Young President Lockwood!"

...

Early in the morning, Claire Hale received a call from Crystal Warren, saying she hoped to resolve the child support issue through settlement, if possible.

"All I want is for him to cover some of the child’s medical expenses. This is urgent; I can’t afford to wait for a lawsuit," Crystal Warren said anxiously.

Claire Hale agreed and simultaneously received the information about the man from Crystal Warren.

The father of Crystal Warren’s child was named Shawn Sykes and currently worked in the real estate industry, at a company called the Lockwood Group...

Claire Hale paused briefly before swiftly driving over.

Even though she had been with the Lockwood Family for many years, this was her first time at the Lockwood Group headquarters.

Despite the real estate industry’s slump in recent years, this high-end and beautiful office building of the Lockwood Group still exuded the luxurious aura of capitalists.

Claire Hale asked the receptionist if she could visit Shawn Sykes.

"I’m sorry, ma’am, Mr. Sykes’s schedule is fully booked today," the receptionist apologized after checking the line.

This was the response Claire Hale received for three consecutive days when she visited.

It was blatantly obvious that Shawn Sykes was avoiding acknowledging the child support, deliberately refusing to see her.

On the fourth day, Claire Hale skipped the reception and waited in the underground garage for the entire day. As expected, it was long after dark when Shawn Sykes leisurely appeared from the elevator hall.

"Mr. Sykes."

Claire Hale got out of the car and jogged over.

"Can we discuss your child’s support?"

Shawn Sykes halted, looked at her indifferently, and said, "My own child is well taken care of. Who are you to talk to me about child support?"

Claire Hale took a document out of her bag: "This is the DNA test report of your child with Ms. Crystal Warren."

Shawn Sykes didn’t even bother to glance at it: "That woman is a con artist, fooling around and getting pregnant by someone else, trying to pin it on me. You’re a lawyer, yet you can’t see through such a small trick?"

The disdain filled the man’s eyes.

Claire Hale, remaining composed and courteous, said, "Your point is not entirely unreasonable. How about this: let’s make an appointment for you and the child to go to the hospital for testing. If it’s not your child, Ms. Warren and I will not bother you further."

Upon hearing this, Shawn Sykes grew impatient: "Who do you think you are to arrange my time? Can you, as a lawyer, afford the money I lose in one minute?"

Claire Hale furrowed her brows and said, "Mr. Sykes, if you refuse to cooperate, be prepared to receive a court summons. I think it would not be beneficial for you if such a matter reaches your company."

"Do as you please." Shawn Sykes smirked ambiguously, "Tell that woman not to give up on suing me. By the time the case is over, her child might not even be around anymore."

Hearing this, Claire Hale felt an urge to slap the person.

But out of professional restraint, she held back.

It was no surprise that someone like Shawn Sykes, with his position in the Lockwood Group, would be so brazen, knowing full well that Crystal couldn’t afford to wait and thus employing delay tactics without fear. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Seeing Claire Hale silent, Shawn Sykes finally took the time to scrutinize the woman in front of him.

Upon doing so, he was quite taken aback.

Over the years, he had a fair number of flings behind his wife’s back, but this elegant and beautiful type hit just the right spot for him.

"Since Mr. Sykes refuses to acknowledge this, we’ll see you in court."

Claire Hale was already contemplating other methods and didn’t plan to continue the conversation with Shawn Sykes. She was ready to leave.

"Lawyer Hale."

Shawn Sykes suddenly stepped in front to stop her.

Claire Hale frowned and looked up at him.

With a smile on his face, Shawn Sykes said, "I suddenly think you make a lot of sense. Lawsuits are troublesome; why don’t we find another place to chat privately?"

Sean Lockwood emerged from the elevator right in time to hear this.

The underground garage was almost deserted, so any normal conversation echoed prominently in the empty space.

He lifted his eyes toward the direction of the voice, seeing Sean Lockwood from the company’s marketing department with his hand on Claire Hale’s waist.

Sean Lockwood’s eyes slightly narrowed, ready to intervene.

Just then, Claire Hale swung her bag at Shawn Sykes’s face.

Immediately following this was a kick aimed at Shawn Sykes’s particular area.

"Mr. Sykes, has anyone ever told you not to mess easily with a lawyer?" Claire Hale glared at Shawn Sykes with a half-smile, "What you just did constitutes sexual harassment."

She pointed to the security camera behind her: "I can go collect evidence right now."

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