Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism
Chapter 572 Old Names, New Battles

She thought she must have misheard. "Who? Who did you say?"

"Shirley Tillery. A top lawyer at Goldspire Law Associates."

Zelena never imagined she'd hear that name again.

Shirley? Wasn't she supposed to be scraping by at the bottom of society?

And now she's a lawyer?

That wretch is still around and doing well? Unbelievable.

It must've taken years of clawing her way up.

Zelena couldn't help but replace it ironic as she recalled the frail, pitiful girl from their past.

"I need to see her myself."

Zelena hadn't planned on getting directly involved, but knowing Shirley was the opposing lawyer sparked her curiosity.

Just how much had Shirley changed?

After all, they were old classmates-there was no harm in a reunion.

The next day, after Celeste was released following 24 hours of cooperation with the investigation.

Zelena sent someone to pick her up and then went to meet Shirley in person.

Shirley had anticipated this.

She wasn't at all surprised when Zelena walked in.

Zelena sat across from Shirley and slowly removed her sunglasses. "It really is you, Shirley.

"Before today, I couldn't believe it. I thought, how could that pitiful girl who couldn't even finish school suddenly become a big-shot lawyer? My, my, what a surprise." Shirley ignored Zelena's mocking tone, meeting her gaze with calm resolve before delivering a sharp retort.

"You go by Zelena Blake now? I don't think we've met. I don't know any celebrity named Zelena Blake. I only remember a little delinquent named Zelena Cooke." Zelena Cooke.

The surname from her days with her adoptive father, before she returned to the Blake family.

It had been a long time since anyone called her that.

Shirley didn't hesitate. "So, are you speaking to me as Zelena Cooke or Zelena Blake?" Zelena's hand clenched under the table, but she forced a smile. "You really have changed."

"Everyone changes," Shirley replied coolly. "You've changed too-gotten prettier Money's a wonderful thing, isn't it? But while your looks may have improved, your heart's still as filthy as ever."

Zelena's temper flared.

"You! No wonder you're a top lawyer-sharp-tongued as always. I wonder if your clients know who they've hired-that their

high-powered attorney was once a pathetic little nobody."

She sneered, expecting to provoke Shirley, to make her lose control.

But Shirley remained unfazed, her voice steady. "Yes, I was poor, pitiful, and bullied. But I never had a black heart.

"As a lawyer, I've worked hard to get where I am. My clients are just like I was-troubled, oppressed-and I'm glad I can help them.

"It's been years since we last met, and I thought you'd have improved your tricks. But you're still the same cruel and pathetic. "I'm not who I used to be, but clearly, you haven't changed at all."

With that, Shirley stood up.

"If there's nothing else, I need to get back to work. I've already briefed your lawyer. If you want to defend

Celeste, the best place to

in court."

that is

Without waiting for a response, she walked out, not once looking back.

Zelena sat in silence for a moment, then slammed her hand down on the table in frustration.

"Wretch! I should've finished you off when I had the chance."

It was clear Shirley wouldn't settle.

No matter how much money Zelena threw at the problem, it wouldn't just disappear.

Later that afternoon, after Celeste was released, Zelena canceled her appointments to meet with her and discuss the case with her lawyer. "If we go to court, how long will it take?"

"It depends. A typical defamation case might take a month and a half. If there's theft involved, it could be about five months before trial."

And that's if everything went smoothly.

If not, it could drag on even longer.

Lawsuits took time, and public interest wouldn't last that long.

Zelena had already succeeded in labeling Polly a "thief" in the public eye.