A Matter of Wife and Love
Chapter 160

Chapter 160

"I'm here to help you, but this tone you're using when you speak to me doesn't quite sit well," the figure spoke to Elyse.

His towering figure blocked the light, making it impossible to see his face clearly. All that was left was the menacing sound of his voice, sending chills down Elyse's spine.

She furrowed her brow, "So, Mr. Albert from earlier..."

"Smart." The figure snapped his fingers, even this simple gesture exuding a malicious aura. "I made the call to Mr. Albert, using his family to threaten him to make him cooperate with you. So, how do you plan on showing gratitude for this favor?"

"Gratitude?" Elyse was far from grateful. Instead, she was fired up. "Who gave you the right to take matters into your own hands? I am who I am, Elyse Clayton."

Whenever she remembered that she was merely Amelie's stand-in, Elyse felt like her pride was trampled in the

mud.

It was nothing but humiliation!

Instead of becoming enraged as he listened to her words, the figure let out a low chuckle that was sarcastic and ironic, just like before.

Elyse was so frustrated that she was ready to start fuming. "It's easy enough to say that you don't want to be Big Eyes. All you have to do is tell Leo now that you are Elyse, not the Big Eyes that had been stuck in this run-down place with him for a year.”

Elyse sprang up from her bed when she heard those provocative words. "You think I won't dare? Don't underestimate me. Even without Leo, I, Elyse, can still live well."

With that, she headed towards the door.

At this moment, she was finally being true to herself. The title of Amelie's stand-in was a knife to her heart. The man didn't stop her, and his voice was unwavering as he said, "Think carefully. Once you're no longer Amelie's stand-in, all the wrongs you've done will come to light, including what you did to Leo tonight with the spiked drink."

Her steps forward felt like they were suddenly cursed, unable to move another inch. Elyse stiffened, letting the embarrassment wash over her. The courage that had just flared up was now gone, shrinking back to what it previously was.

The man approached her slowly, gently gripping her shoulder. "You're a smart person and should understand the importance of this title. Oh, and don't forget to use this title to tighten the leash on Leo. Never let him escape this cage."

"What What's your purpose?" Elyse wasn't foolish, knowing the man wouldn't help her for no reason.

He chuckled, his voice dark, making Elyse's chest feel tight. "My purpose is not important. What's important is that you're dependent on Leo in every way right now, aren't you? Without the title of the Big Eyes, why would Leo help you? Who do you think you are? To be blunt, with your current situation, even if you were to be a walk-on, it's unlikely anyone would want you. Isn't it because Leo is supporting you from behind that you're still the glamorous Elyse Clayton?"

Those straightforward words hit Elyse like a barrage of arrows, piercing her with pain, embarrassment, and anger. Each word hit its mark, leaving her fuming. Then, in a fit of rage, she grabbed whatever she could replace and hurled them at the person. But it was all nimbly dodged.

Elyse threw with every ounce of energy she had until she was gasping for air like a fish about to suffocate. Toward the end, she even had to use her hands to support herself.

Yet, the man had disappeared without a trace, slipping away unnoticed. She clenched her jaw, her eyes filled with a fiery hatred, which all finally coalesced into a determined resolve. She tightened her fists, ready to face whatever was to come.

The next day, Amelie woke up utterly exhausted. The previous evening had been spent in a grueling meeting with her legal team, followed by hours of online research that had bled into the wee hours of the morning. Given the looming court case, she had decided to stay put in the same house instead of returning to the city.

As she rubbed her tired eyes, thoughts of the pending trial filled her mind and a knot of anxiety formed in her gut. She had heard that Melissa had hired none other than the top divorce lawyer in town, the legendary Lori Walker, who was renowned for never losing a case of this nature. The thought only added to her already frayed

nerves.

As she peered into the mirror, she was not surprised to see dark circles under her eyes, a testament to her exhaustion. Nevertheless, it was not the weariness that scared her but the thought of losing custody of her child. The thought alone was like a hot iron branding her heart with pain.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, her phone rang.

She assumed it was her company, so she immediately picked it up and put it to her ear.

The voice on the other end was polite, "Is this Miss Dillon? I am from Mr. Oconnell Law Firm. Our boss is very interested in your divorce case. Can we talk about it in detail?"

"Mr. Oconnell?" Amelie was momentarily stunned.

The name of the boss of Oconnell Law Firm, Mr. Oconnell, was on par with that of Lori Walker.

Mr. Oconnell isn't intimidated by the Alstons' influence and is willing to help me?

She nodded and answered okay without hesitation, then swiftly scheduled a meeting with Mr. Oconnell and

She stood in the room, deep in thought.

Although the Alstons had no reach beyond the country's borders, Julia had already reached out to foreign lawyers. However, they knew that bringing in foreign lawyers would take time, and their legal practices were vastly different from those in the country, making it difficult for even the most skilled lawyers to make an

impact.

At this moment, Mr. Oconnell's help was like a lifesaver in a blizzard.

Amelie wasted no time, and after greeting Julia, she headed straight to Oconnell Law Firm to meet the man

himself.

For an entire morning, the two of them talked about the case. Mr. Oconnell's grasp of the law and his insightful analysis of the case left a lasting impression on Amelie, who promptly signed a partnership agreement on the spot.

As the meeting came to a close, Mr. Oconnell personally saw Amelie out. "Mr. Oconnell." Amelie asked, "Can you tell me who brought you on board to help me with this case? And, with my lawsuit against the Alstons, aren't you worried that your law firm will get caught up in the crossfire?"

These questions had been weighing on her mind throughout the meeting, but there simply wasn't enough time

to address them.

Mr. Oconnell smiled. "Mrs. Alston, you're a sharp one. I knew you would be curious about this; even Toby predicted it and asked me to keep it under wraps. But, as the person involved, I believe you have the right to

know."

"Toby?" Amelie was trying to figure out who may be behind this when she heard the name. "Could it possibly be Toby Walsh?"

She could only think of one person who fit the bill and was close enough to make it happen. But he was... A

friend of Leo.

"Yes, that's him," Mr. Oconnell confirmed, "Toby may seem friendly and approachable, but he's not the kind of person to lend a hand to just anyone. The fact that he's helping you shows how important you are to him."

Mr. Oconnell seemed to be hinting at something, but he didn't make it clear. So, when he said those words, he left her to her thoughts and immediately took his leave.

Amelie stood stiffly in front of her car, her hand frozen on the doorknob as she struggled to process the complex emotions of gratitude, uncertainty, and worry churning within her.

Toby had stepped in to help her, and she couldn't pretend she didn't know, After she gave it some consideration. she gave him a call.

When he heard that she specifically called to thank him, his grin was as warm as a ray of sunshine. "It's

With Toby going out of his way like that, a simple meal was the least she could do in return.

She eagerly nodded, "Sure."

"Why wait for another day when we can do it today? How about lunch? Let me know where you are, and I'll come to pick you up." he suggested.

Amelie had no objections, but she couldn't help asking, "You and Leo are friends, won't helping me like this affect your relationship?"

"I'm helping you replace a lawyer to ensure a fair trial. It saves us all the time and frustration of an appeal and is ultimately better for both parties, isn't it?"

Her worries were alleviated after hearing his explanation and stance.

It was exactly noon, and she picked a quaint restaurant to have lunch with Toby.

As the meal was coming to an end, Toby was handed a contract by Amelie to sign. The agreement stated that his future collaboration with Starlight Media would receive a 20% discount off their current rate. Of course, this was a generous offer, but Toby couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed as he knew that Amelie did not want to owe him a favor.

Toby graciously signed his name and didn't try to wriggle his way out of her offer by awkwardly declining. He understood that women like Amelie could easily be driven away if he stuck onto her like gum.

After they finished their meal, the two stepped outside and continued to discuss their collaboration. Suddenly a mischievous child rushed by and almost knocked Amelie down the stairs. Toby quickly reached out to steady her, which caused Amelie to stumble into his embrace.

Just then, a snide remark echoed nearby, "Oh, look at the lovebirds getting cozy in public."