CHAPTER 649: CHAPTER 638: VICIOUS VILLAIN

When the younger daughter told Luo Sitian she had asked Ye Qiu for help, Luo Sitian had a moment of distraction and helplessness.

"She really agreed?" Luo Sitian asked, her voice trembling.

"Mmm, my sister will help." Jiang Miaomiao looked at her mom with concern, "Mom, don’t worry, everything will be alright. We will move out and live on our own, no longer having to put up with Wen Xiao’s abuse."

"Us? Miaomiao, you’re going to follow Mom?" Luo Sitian immediately objected, "No, even if I divorce your father, I won’t get much money. Following me, you’ll only suffer."

"Mom, don’t you know what kind of person Dad is? Yes, he has never shortchanged me with money since I was young, but all his love was given to my elder brother. What’s the point of staying in this family? Once you’re gone, nobody in this house will care about me anymore."

"Miaomiao..." Luo Sitian looked at her daughter in pain, not understanding how things could have gotten to this point.

She couldn’t help but think back to Ye Qiu’s father. Although they were poor at that time, that man never mistreated her, and he brought all the money he earned back home. It was her who was not content, despising the poverty at home, pushing him to work overtime and drive. If she hadn’t nagged every day, maybe he wouldn’t have...

Sigh, it’s too late for regrets now. She thought that marrying Jiang Hongcai would lead to a better life, and to curry favor with Jiang Hongcai, she could even ignore her eldest daughter. Until now, the only one who can help her turns out to be this eldest daughter.

"How is your sister doing now?" After several years, Luo Sitian asked with a guilty conscience.

Jiang Miaomiao looked at her and said softly, "My second brother said she went abroad and that everything is pretty good. Mom, I’ve grown up, I’ll take care of you in the future, let’s not trouble my sister, okay?"

Seeing the cautious look in her daughter’s eyes, Luo Sitian let out a bitter smile. It turns out that in the eyes of her most beloved daughter, she is also such a biased mom, fearing that she might go find Ye Qiu again.

After experiencing so much, she had come to a realization. If the eldest daughter didn’t want to see her, then she would stay as far away as possible from now on. After all, she was the one who did wrong by her.

Looking at her own dry, wrinkled hands, she blamed herself over and over again. If an adult like her could be so worn out, how much more so for her young eldest daughter at the time? No wonder her academic performance was poor - all her time was spent on household chores, leaving no time for studying.

Back then, she was even reluctant to buy her a decent piece of clothing, and she must have endured a lot of scorn and gossip at school.

"Miaomiao, your sister probably won’t want to answer my calls. Next time you contact her, please tell her I’m sorry on Mom’s behalf, okay?"

"Okay!"

Over the years, Ye Qiu had met quite a few people, and quickly helped Luo Sitian find a top divorce lawyer.

The lawyer’s last name was Zhang. He didn’t go to court to sue right away, instead, he first took the evidence of asset transfers and credit borrowings to negotiate with Jiang Hongcai.

Jiang Hongcai and Luo Sitian were both in their second marriage. Although Jiang Hongcai’s company was established before their second marriage, its growth and expansion happened afterward, so Luo Sitian should rightfully have a share of it.

Now that he’s transferred all the company’s assets to Jiang Yi, leaving behind a considerable amount of debt, there’s no way to justify it. What Lawyer Zhang needs to discuss with him is precisely the issue of assets and debts.

If Jiang Hongcai is willing to negotiate properly, Lawyer Zhang will be spared the trouble of going to court. However, if the other party is not cooperative, he will have no choice but to be blunt.

"Mr. Jiang, these are some documents I have gathered. As far as I know, the debts you have incurred were used for the company’s operations. Now that my client wishes to dissolve the marital relationship with you, it stands to reason that she should also bear a portion of these debts. However, she should also be entitled to a share of the company stocks. You have now transferred everything in the company to your eldest son, which seems rather inappropriate," Lawyer Zhang calmly negotiated with Jiang Hongcai.

Jiang Hongcai’s face turned ashen: "Where is Luo Sitian? I want to talk to her personally."

"Sorry, Mr. Jiang, my client has entrusted all matters of her divorce to me. If you have any questions, you can discuss them directly with me," Lawyer Zhang said in good temper.

"The company was founded before I married her. What does it have to do with her? I’ll give it to whoever I want," Jiang Hongcai stubbornly retorted.

"Mr. Jiang, assets are not divided this way. My client, Ms. Luo, has been married to you for fifteen years. Fifteen years ago, your company was not as big as it is now. According to my client’s request, if you insist on splitting half of the debt with her, she is entitled to at least thirty percent of the company shares. Of course, if you do not wish to divide the company’s shares, she can also forgo her claim, but you should bear the debts alone and additionally pay her twenty million in cash."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hongcai’s veins popped in anger: "She is talking nonsense."

"Mr. Jiang, my client’s demands have been professionally assessed. If you disagree with the negotiation, we will proceed through legal channels. We’ll see how the judge decides after reviewing these documents. Oh, by the way, Ms. Luo mentioned that your eldest son is soon to marry Lady Wen. We wish them a happy marriage and hope the Wen Family won’t mind the lawsuit between the groom’s father and stepmother at this crucial time."

Jiang Hongcai looked over sharply, his tone dark and threatening: "Are you pressuring me?"

"How could that be, I am simply conveying my client’s message." Lawyer Zhang neatly packed his documents, nodded politely to Jiang Hongcai, and then departed.

After leaving Jiang Hongcai’s company, Lawyer Zhang went to Luo Sitian’s new residence where both she and Jiang Miaomiao were nervously awaiting him.

"How did it go?"

"Mr. Jiang seems somewhat unable to accept our proposal. However, it doesn’t matter. The information provided by Ms. Ye Qiu is quite comprehensive; even if we go to court, we won’t lose. It just might take some time," Lawyer Zhang explained.

Relieved, Luo Sitian exhaled, "That’s fine; it’s actually okay if there’s less money. I just don’t want to take on debt, nor do I want to stay in that household anymore."

"Ms. Ye Qiu told me that since what belongs to you should be obtained as much as possible, I checked, and since the current company of Jiang Hongcai was indeed founded with his first wife, you cannot claim half of his assets. If we go to formal litigation, you might not even get thirty percent of the shares. Besides, Ms. Ye Qiu mentioned that even if you did receive shares, Jiang Yi might find a way to dispose of them, so the demand was changed directly to twenty million in cash," Lawyer Zhang said.

"That’s fine; twenty million is already beyond my imagination. My question is about the custody of my younger daughter. She won’t be awarded to Jiang Hongcai because I do not work, right?"

"Since Miss Jiang Miaomiao is already fourteen years old and has a certain capacity for independent thought, the judge will most likely listen to her wishes. Also, even though you have no job, you have assets and are fully capable of supporting Miss Jiang Miaomiao, so this is not something you need to worry too much about," Lawyer Zhang assured her.

Hearing Lawyer Zhang say this, Luo Sitian and Jiang Miaomiao finally put their minds at ease.