Since I live at my uncle's house, I get up early every morning, and today is no exception.
These days, after getting up, I always habitually hit a few notes on the piano in my cousin's room, knock out a string of notes from "Flight of the Bumblebee", and then run to help my aunt prepare breakfast.
Leave the room and walk to the kitchen as usual.
My uncle was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper when he noticed her coming out and said hello casually: "Good morning, Jenny."
"Good morning, uncle," he came to the kitchen and kissed his aunt affectionately on the face: "Good morning, aunt."
"Morning," my aunt said with a smile, "I've been listening to you play the piano these days. Are you interested in music again?"
Helping her aunt divide the prepared salad, she shook her head and said, "No, did I disturb you?"
"Of course not. Lisa and Clark have moved out. I really hope there can be more noise in the house."
"Haha, isn't there also Karl?"
"Carl is just too shy and doesn't like to interact with people. By the way, has he gotten up?"
"Didn't see it."
So the aunt asked the uncle in the living room to wake up the little cousin Carl.
After being so busy for a while, the family of four sat around the restaurant and started eating breakfast.
After her aunt poured the milk for her and handed it over, she asked the uncle opposite: "Who called so early this morning?"
The uncle said: "Janet Johnston, a very important client, asked me to help her handle a case."
"I remember that woman," my aunt thought for a while and said, "I always felt that something was not normal about her."
"Is this the prejudice of you women? Why didn't I feel it?"
The little cousin who had lowered his head to eat suddenly interrupted: "Dad, this means you are not normal either."
She laughed immediately.
The aunt pretended to be angry and hit her little cousin on the head: "What did you say about your father?"
The uncle just smiled, but then turned to her: "Jenny, this is a very interesting case. Come and take a look at it with me later."
She is studying at Yale Law School and will get her doctorate in law next year. She has already confirmed that she will intern at her uncle's firm. When her uncle said this, she immediately nodded: "Okay."
After breakfast, I changed into a light gray women's business suit with plaid, simply tied a ponytail, said goodbye to my aunt and cousin, and left the Bel Air community with my uncle in the car.
Only on the way did her uncle tell her the general situation of the case: "This incident happened in Santa Monica last night. Five young men surrounded a boy who came off work late at night. Jenny, guess what the result was?"
Five against one, what else can be done
She was thinking to herself, but she was worried that she would have to represent those five bastards who beat people today.
The uncle noticed the change in her expression and clearly saw her thoughts, and said: "Jenny, if this is the case, it will be difficult for you to become a qualified lawyer. However, we are representing the boy who was beaten today. "
Then he felt relieved and asked, "Uncle, what's the result?"
"The result," the uncle said with a smile, "all five young men had one of their legs broken, severely comminuted fractures, and one of them lost seven teeth. The boy who was attacked was Just some minor injuries.”
Originally she was still worried about the beaten boy, but now, hearing what her uncle said, she suddenly opened her mouth with an expression of disbelief and said, "He, is he Bruce Lee?"
"Oh, we'll find out when we go over and take a look."
Then, at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, she once again saw the focused figure holding the guitar on Venice Beach.
"Simon, this is lawyer George Norman. He is very powerful. He will definitely help us clean up those trash. Oh, George, this is Simon, Simon Westeros."
Simon Westeros.
I immediately remembered the name.
The uncle shook hands with the boy, turned around and introduced her again.
Then she stepped forward ladylikely, stretched out her hand to him, and said shyly: "Hello, I am Jennifer Raybould."
Simon smiled and shook hands with the girl with a ponytail in front of him, and said: "Raybould, I know, this means rainbow, right?"
Jennifer Raybould nodded, with some surprise, and said, "Yes."
Raybould is a variant of Rainbow.
I didn't expect him to know this little bit of uncommon knowledge. However, he didn't know the origin of 'Westeros'. It seemed that he had to check it out when he got back.
However, he obviously didn't remember himself at all, and he couldn't help but feel a little lost.
With this in mind, he continued to shake hands and say hello to Janet Johnston next to him. Suddenly he remembered that this was probably the woman who tried to steal money from his piano case that day. It turned out that not only did they know each other, but they were also so close. Ordinary friends would obviously not be so dedicated to staying with each other when he was in the hospital.
After the pleasantries, George Norman sat down next to Simon's bed, took out his notebook, and began to ask for more specific details about last night's incident. Jennifer Raybould was also holding a notebook and sitting next to her uncle with a serious expression.
Simon also cooperated as much as possible.
After chatting like this for more than half an hour, George Norman temporarily said goodbye and left, intending to have some communication with the police responsible for the case.
Simon and Janet were the only two people left in Simon's ward for the time being.
However, before it had been quiet for long, there was a knock on the door, and in response, a tall middle-aged man wearing rimless glasses walked in.
"Mr. Westeros?" The middle-aged man confirmed, then took the initiative to hand over his business card and said, "I am the attorney representing Derek Wheeler, Mark Stein and others."
Janet, who was still smiling, suddenly lost her face when she heard the introduction.
Simon, however, remained calm and said, "Hello, Mr. Wheeler."
Derek Wheeler didn't care about Janet's indifference, but he didn't sit down either. He still stood beside Simon's bed, and said with a bit of condescension: "Mr. Westeros, after communicating with my client, I found that, When they had lost the ability to resist, you still violently injured them. This is a very serious crime of intentional injury. If this matter is brought to court, you will also face jail time. Moreover, I also know that you You are a very promising film screenwriter who has just signed a contract with Fox Pictures. If things get serious, this matter may ruin your personal career."
As soon as Derek Wheeler finished speaking, Janet was already dissatisfied and said: "Sir, the threat is over, you can go out, we will state the threat you just made in court."
Derek Wheeler was in a daze. He didn't expect that he had just started a foreshadowing and was about to be kicked out. He had to turn to Simon on the hospital bed, hoping that the boy would have some ideas.
Simon thought for a moment, and just as he was about to speak, the door was knocked again, and lawyer George Norman rushed back with Jennifer Raybould.
When Derek Wheeler saw George Norman, he had an obviously surprised expression on his face, and Simon even noticed a hint of obvious guilt on the other man's face.
George Norman was also a little surprised, but then there was a hint of ridicule in his tone: "Derek, are we going to be opponents again this time?"
Derek Wheeler's expression froze, and after a moment he said: "George, this is really surprising. However, I only represent my client and want to resolve this matter in a peaceful way. Although your client He was beaten first, but there was also a very serious act of defensive misconduct. Therefore, my client hopes that this matter can be settled."
Janet heard this and immediately said: "Reconciliation? Ha, that's not what the woman said last night. Aren't they going to pursue it to the end? Do I still want to accompany you to the end?"
After Derek Wheeler finished explaining, he ignored the others and looked at Simon again.
In the final analysis, this matter still lies with the boy in front of him.
Simon lowered his gaze and was silent for a moment, then said to Derek Wheeler: "$500,000, I want to see the check before noon, and then the matter will be over. Otherwise, I will sue them for murder."
When Simon said this, everyone in the ward was stunned.
Janet reacted first, rushed over and pinched Simon's face hard, and said very dissatisfied: "You little bastard, you are looking for money, we don't want money, we want to send those losers to prison."
George Norman also looked very surprised, but did not speak.
Jennifer Raybould looked at the boy on the bed, her expression a little disappointed.
Simon ignored the changes in everyone's expressions. After speaking, he turned to George Norman and said, "Mr. Norman, can I sue them for murder?"
George Norman paused and nodded: "Of course."
Derek Wheeler's expression changed when he heard Simon's request.
He originally hoped to obtain a settlement result for his client that neither party owed anything to, but he didn't expect that the boy asked for $500,000, which was not a small amount of money. However, this is precisely within the scope of another customer of mine.
The client now prefers that the matter be settled quickly.
Moreover, if the boy starts to accuse Mark Stein and others of murder, the five young men will obviously not be willing to bear such a serious crime, and the client may also be implicated.
Things will get even more serious by then.
After hesitating for a moment, Derek Wheeler smiled and nodded: "Okay, Mr. Westeros, I will convey your request to my client."
With that said, Derek Wheeler said goodbye and left Simon's ward.
Then, the atmosphere in the room became tense.
George Norman did not expect that things would turn so fast. Looking at Janet sitting on the other side of the hospital bed with her back to Simon like a little girl trying to breathe, he could only say: "Miss Johnston, in this case, let's take our leave first." If necessary, we will come back at noon."
Janet said nothing.
Simon could only say: "Thank you for coming here, Mr. Norman."
"This is my job," George Norman nodded, pulled his niece beside him, and the two left Simon's ward together.
The room became completely quiet. Simon waited patiently for a while. Seeing that Janet still didn't say a word, he had to take the initiative: "Jenny, do you want to hear a joke?"
“…”
"How about I sing a song to you?"
“…”
"I'm planning to make a movie recently. Do you want to make a cameo?"
“…”
After coaxing for a while, there was no result, so Simon had no choice but to give up.
Near noon, Catherine came to the hospital again after resting for a few hours. Janet, who had not said a word to Simon for more than an hour, immediately began to complain, accusing Simon of being a pathetic man who only wanted money but no spine.
Before Catherine could ask more questions, Derek Wheeler returned, and sure enough he brought a check for $500,000 and a settlement agreement.
Although she was very dissatisfied with Simon's behavior, Janet called lawyer George Norman over again. However, this time only George Norman was left.
Attorney George Norman carefully confirmed the settlement agreement brought by Derek Wheeler and said there was no problem before Simon signed his name.
After Derek Wheeler left, Janet casually threw the check left by him to Simon, and did not forget to mock: "Okay, you are a rich man now, are you satisfied?"
Simon didn't say anything. He picked up the check on the sheet and looked at it silently for a moment. Then he handed it to the woman sitting next to him and said, "Catherine, find a charity and donate this."
Catherine took the check blankly: "Huh?"
As Simon said these words, Janet, who was leaning on the end of the bed with her back to him, also turned around again.
George Norman, who wanted to leave, temporarily swallowed his farewell words.
Simon looked at Janet across the hospital bed and said with a smile: "I can't ask for the money, otherwise Janet will never pay attention to me again."
Janet curled her lips in dissatisfaction: "Then why are you going through all this trouble?"
Simon lowered his gaze again, his thoughts seemed a little sluggish, and he whispered: "I just want to confirm something."
Janet felt that Simon's voice was a little low, and leaned forward: "Are you sure?"
"Confirmed."
"What are you confirming?"
Simon looked up again, with the same harmless smile, but with a strange indifference in his tone, and said lightly: "There is still one leg left."