Chapter 276: Suing Justin
Chloe immediately searched for the orphanage using the address she found online. Located in the northern district, it wasn’t far from where they lived. Years ago, she had stolen Bianca’s daughter and abandoned her at a garbage station. Over two decades had passed, and that garbage station was now a site for high-rise buildings. Chloe was unclear about the fate of the baby girl she had left behind.
After confirming the address, Chloe drove directly to the orphanage.
Meanwhile, the online scandal continued to escalate. Aubrey Owens, in her quest for more viewers, had recklessly reported stories that led to several women’s suicides, and this too was now coming to light. Aubrey was bombarded with criticism, and her company, unable to withstand the public backlash, fired her citing negligence at work. As Aubrey left her office carrying a box of her belongings, some passionate readers threw eggs at her.
“You heartless woman, for a few likes, you pushed those women into such despair!”
“How could you be so cruel? You’re a woman too.”
“Can you sleep at night knowing those you drove to suicide might be out for your life?”
“Trash, a blight on society!”
“Utterly shameless, disgusting!”
These fervent readers, who located the journalist’s workplace, acted extremely, their behavior bordering on madness. Terrified, Aubrey hurried back inside her office, too scared to venture out again. Having once reported extensively on Justin’s ordeal, Aubrey now found herself in a similar situation, effectively homeless and unable to show her face, hiding like a rat from the street.
Despite the outcry in his favor online, Justin felt no joy. How could he, when the brief months of familial connection had ended so bitterly?
Mrs. Thatcher, after dropping Gemma off at school, returned home only to find it empty and her family gone. She phoned Mr. Thatcher and found him and Tristan under a bridge, their belongings scattered around them, bearing injuries from being beaten by local thugs who mistook them for troublemakers. With Mr. Thatcher aged and Tristan paralyzed, they were no match for the gang.
Seeing Mr. Thatcher battered and bruised, Mrs. Thatcher couldn’t hold back her tears. “What happened? Why aren’t you at home?”
Unaware of the headlines as she couldn’t read or use the internet, Mrs. Thatcher was clueless about the online storm.
“Justin that bastard threw us out with some men,” Mr. Thatcher fumed. “Look at what your son has achieved. He kicked his own father and brother out. Just watch, I’m his father, and if he doesn’t take care of me, I’ll sue him. Look after Tristan; I’m going to the police right now to press charges against Justin.”Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.
Mr. Thatcher had no intention of going back to his hometown now. He was determined to fight Justin to the end, believing it his right as Justin’s father to be supported by him.
“Ainsley threw you out?” Mrs. Thatcher, tear-streaked and hesitant, looked between Mr. Thatcher and Tristan, wiping her tears. “Let’s just go back.”
“You can go back if you want,” Mr. Thatcher snapped. “Go back for what? To farm? Why should I farm when I have a son like that?”
Weakly, Tristan asked, “Mom, Gemma went to school, right? Now that Justin has kicked us out, what about Gemma’s schooling? We must find Justin and make him take responsibility. How else are we supposed to live? Mom, do you want us to beg? Do you want Gemma to stop going to school? You know where Justin lives, right? Is he staying at his friend’s place?”
Mrs. Thatcher, thinking of her granddaughter and her paralyzed son, wiped away tears. “I’ll go talk to Ainsley. We’re family; how can we end up like this?”
Naively hopeful, Mrs. Thatcher simply wished for things to return to how they were before, for Justin to continue supporting them.
Mr. Thatcher asserted boldly, “Tell Justin, he either gives me ten million, or he provides for me in my old age. Otherwise, I’ll take him to court. I’m his father; he has to support me. That’s the bottom line.”