CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 173: SHE REALLY IS BOLD—SHE SOLD YOU OUT DIRECTLY!

"Let me be honest with you, this morning I ran into Summer Nolan with a man discussing a lawsuit at a cafe, so I bribed the waiter to spike her coffee.

Attorney Spencer fired me out of concern for Summer Nolan, that’s why he was upset." Iris Lynn made no attempt to hide her nefarious behavior.

"Then why did he defend you last time, choking Summer Nolan?" Raymond Dawson asked again.

"Because last time I deceived him into thinking Summer Nolan was bullying me... Director Dawson, you have to believe me, those two have definitely slept together long ago!

They must have been plotting for a while on how to kick you out of the firm!

We have to strike first, even if we don’t have photos, we can still tail them.

If that doesn’t work, we can set them up, snap some photos secretly, and then get them kicked out!" Iris Lynn sneered at him.

Raymond Dawson didn’t expect this assistant to be so devious, but it suited his taste.

"Alright, I’ll trust you this once. You follow them, and if you can’t get any photos, set them up..."

"Okay." Iris Lynn’s eyes flickered with malice. Hmph, trying to kick me out of the firm? Let’s see who gets kicked out first!

-

In the Chinese restaurant downstairs from the law firm.

Summer Nolan deliberately called Ian Sterling to have lunch here, and many employees passing by the display window saw them together.

Ian Sterling didn’t anticipate her calling him and served her food, asking, "Did you forgive me?"

"In your dreams, you’re still on probation. I just didn’t want to eat alone." Summer Nolan wasn’t ready to forgive him so quickly; men needed to be kept guessing, not treated too kindly.

"Alright, you can assess me as you like. I can definitely withstand any test." Ian Sterling told her.

Just then, Raymond Dawson and Iris Lynn entered the restaurant. They immediately spotted the pair and approached deliberately, asking:

"Attorney Nolan and Mr. Sterling are dining here too? What a coincidence, shall we join tables?"

"Have a seat." Summer Nolan glanced at him, just as well letting him know her current relationship with Ian Sterling.

Since it was a two-person sofa, Raymond Dawson sat down next to Ian Sterling. When Iris Lynn was about to sit beside Summer Nolan, she was suddenly met with a cold, piercing glare:

"Do you think you’re worthy to eat with us?"

Iris Lynn’s face turned somewhat awkward as she glared at Summer Nolan fiercely, suddenly raising her hand to slap her... considering they were outside the law firm, why not teach her a lesson?

Did she really think she was easy to bully?

Suddenly, both Raymond Dawson and Ian Sterling were taken aback at her daring to lay hands on Summer Nolan.

Quick as a flash, Summer Nolan grabbed her wrist, rose, and returned a heavy slap across her face: "Smack!!!"

She then delivered three more consecutive smacks!

This morning she was already displeased with Iris; now she was walking right into a confrontation? Iris brought it upon herself.

"Summer! Nolan!" Iris Lynn spat her name through gritted teeth, burning with the desire to kill her.

"What, still want to be hit?" Summer Nolan raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Attorney Nolan, let’s not get like this, we’re all colleagues here, you’re a famous lawyer, why bother with a little assistant?" Raymond Dawson laughed and tried to mediate.

"Get lost to where it’s cool." Summer Nolan challenged coldly at Iris Lynn.

Iris Lynn squinted slightly, committing herself to remember this grudge, waiting for the day she’d return it! She stormed off.

"Attorney Nolan, why did you have lunch with Mr. Sterling today?" Raymond Dawson casually asked with a curious tone.

"Attorney Nolan and I are dating now, isn’t having lunch together normal?" Ian Sterling replied.

"Are you two really together? When did this happen?" he asked, probing in surprise. It couldn’t be that Summer Nolan had Ian acting to make a show for him?

"Just a few days ago."

"Well, congratulations, this morning Assistant Lynn was even saying publicly around the firm that Attorney Nolan was with Attorney Spencer," Raymond Dawson said, trying to gauge the man’s reaction.

Summer Nolan immediately looked nervously at Ian Sterling, wary of him saying something wrong—

Ian Sterling glanced at her, understanding why she had hit Iris Lynn so hard earlier, but he didn’t expose her past with Elias Spencer,

"How could those two be together? I met Summer Nolan as soon as I got back to the country and had been pursuing her from then on. If they had anything, why would I chase her?"

Hearing his words, Summer Nolan relaxed, looking at him with gratitude.

Raymond Dawson smiled and nodded, noncommittal—the identity of the woman as someone’s girlfriend didn’t matter; if evidence couldn’t be found, it would have to be fabricated.

-

In another restaurant.

Elias Spencer was having lunch with his close friend. He originally intended to eat with Summer Nolan, but now couldn’t be too blatant about dining alone with her.

"This morning, your trio really put on a show!" Julian Rivers commented as he casually picked at his food with a grin.

Elias Spencer glanced at him without a word, sipping lightly from his wine glass.

"Iris Lynn really opened my eyes, she was bold enough to sell you out! Quite a slap in the face, wasn’t it?" he asked with a knowing smile.

"She played her act too well these past two years," Elias Spencer was equally taken aback. Throughout the period, she maintained a facade of obedience, being dutiful and loyal, and today even he was astounded.

"Regretting laying hands on Summer Nolan because of her now, aren’t you?" Julian Rivers asked mischievously, mocking him playfully.

"Can we drop it already? Can we just have a nice meal?" He snapped, his regret eating away at him.

-

Before finishing work in the afternoon, Elias Spencer left the firm first, followed later by Summer Nolan. When she arrived home, she found him sitting on her sofa.

"Why are you here?"

"To discuss our next move," he replied.

Summer Nolan laughed, deliberately mocking him, "Attorney Spencer should consult with your assistant on plans, not come to my house. Go make sure she behaves and doesn’t go against you."

Elias Spencer frowned, "Can you stop with the sarcasm?"

"Your assistant surely won’t be sarcastic with you," she quipped, raised her eyebrows, poured herself instant coffee, and sat down near the sofa for a sip.

He pulled a USB drive from his pocket, speaking to her gravely:

"If I handed this over to Raymond Dawson, do you think he’d still trust you? He’s always wanted sole control over the firm and wouldn’t tolerate anyone else,"

Summer Nolan glanced at him, her demeanor turning serious, gazing deeply while sipping more coffee; it’s indeed time to deal with Raymond Dawson,

"I do have a way to teach him and Iris Lynn a lesson, but won’t you pity your dear assistant?"

"Why would I pity her? Get on with it, what’s the plan?" Elias Spencer asked in frustration, feeling furious enough to want to strangle her, let alone pity her.

"Since Raymond Dawson and Iris Lynn claim we’re in a relationship and want evidence against us, why not orchestrate the two of them to make their own sheet rumble?" Summer Nolan suggested with a wicked grin.