novelapdf Chapter 292: Judge Vance Visits
Chapter 292: Judge Vance Visits
Two days after Patrick Beaumont’s visit, another guest arrived at Damian’s mansion. Just like Patrick, Judge Helena Vance came alone.
The visit happened late in the evening after Damian had spent several hours reviewing motions, witness statements, media reports, and financial disclosures related to the Victor Hale case.
Outside the mansion, Chicago glittered beneath the night sky while a gentle rain fell over the city. Countless lights reflected across the wet streets below, transforming the skyline into a sea of gold and white. The rain struck the glass walls of the study in soft rhythmic taps that somehow made the room feel quieter than usual.
Damian sat behind his desk with several open case files spread before him. A cigar rested between his fingers while faint purple smoke drifted lazily toward the ceiling. Just with one glance, he already knew every detail inside those documents.
His demigod perception allowed him to absorb information faster than any mortal judge ever could. Yet he still read them. Partly out of habit. Partly because there was comfort in maintaining pieces of his old life.
The study door opened quietly and Loth entered first.
"Judge Helena Vance is here."
Damian looked up briefly.
"Send her in."
Loth nodded and stepped aside. A moment later Helena entered and the door closed behind her.
Unlike every visitor before her, Helena did not immediately sit. She simply stood there.
Watching him.
For several seconds neither spoke. The silence stretched naturally between them.
Helena’s expression was unusually complicated.
Judge Helena Vance had always considered Damian exceptional, brilliant and ambitious. He was handsome enough to make all the women in the legal profession forget their train of thought whenever he entered a room. Yet none of those things were what bothered her tonight.
Standing before him now, she noticed something, he felt different. As though something fundamental had shifted.
Not physically, something deeper. Something impossible to explain.
The Damian sitting before her no longer looked like a young attorney preparing for the next stage of his career.
He looked like a man who had already moved beyond such concerns.
"You’ve become difficult to reach."
Her voice finally broke the silence.
Damian glanced up from the file in his hand.
"I’ve been busy."
Helena folded her arms.
"Apparently."
A small smile touched Damian’s lips.
That response only made her shake her head. Eventually she pulled out a chair and sat across from him.
For several moments neither spoke. The atmosphere felt strangely comfortable and almost familiar.
Eventually her gaze drifted toward the mountain of documents on the desk.
"Victor Hale?"
Damian nodded.
"Victor Hale."
Helena sighed heavily.
"I should have guessed."
Damian quietly closed the file and set it aside. Unlike the others, he already knew she wasn’t here to negotiate.
Helena wasn’t that kind of person. Especially considering the nature of their relationship.
She had too much pride to play messenger for somebody else and she loved him enough to pick him over everyone else.
"Then why are you here?"
Helena stared at him quietly and then she smiled.
"Because everyone else is here for Victor."
Damian raised a brow despite not feeling surprised at all.
"And you’re not?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
"I’m here for you."
The room fell silent. Rain continued tapping softly against the glass walls and Damian leaned back in his chair.
Now she had his attention.
Helena folded her hands together.
"Do you know what people are saying?"
Damian exhaled smoke toward the ceiling.
"I’ve heard plenty."
"I’m not talking about the public."
Her expression hardened slightly.
"I’m talking about judges."
That immediately caught Damian’s attention.
Of all professions in America, the judiciary was one of the few he genuinely respected.
"What are they saying?"
"They’re scared of you." Helena took a slow breath.
Damian laughed and the response immediately irritated her.
"I’m serious."
"I know."
"Then stop laughing."
Damian stopped and Helena rubbed her temple. She couldn’t understand why he was being reckless now. Doesn’t he know how dangerous this entire situation is?
"You don’t understand how unusual your rise has been." She pointed toward him.
"Three months." Her voice carried genuine disbelief. "Three months ago you were the hottest attorney in Chicago."
She pointed again.
"Now you’re one of the most recognizable judges in the country."
"I’ve been busy." Damian shrugged.
Helena immediately rolled her eyes.
"See? That’s exactly what I’m talking about."
She leaned forward.
"Normal people don’t talk like that. Normal judges certainly don’t."
Damian remained silent and Helena continued.
"You walk into a courtroom and nobody knows what you’re going to do."
"You don’t belong to any faction. You don’t owe anybody favors. You don’t attend political dinners. You don’t attend judicial conferences. You don’t network or don’t build alliances."
The more she spoke, the deeper her frown became.
"You exist completely outside the system."
Damian smiled faintly. "That sounds like a compliment."
"It isn’t. It makes you dangerous and now you have proven them right."
The answer came immediately but the smile on his face remained.
"For years people complained about politics influencing the courts." Helena leaned back.
"They complained about corruption, favoritism and money."
"Then you arrived." Her eyes narrowed.
Damian remained silent.
"You are exactly what they claimed they wanted and now they’re terrified."
She laughed bitterly.
That made Damian pause. Not because he disagreed because he understood exactly what she meant.
People loved justice until justice arrived at their own doorstep. Helena noticed the realization.
"You’re starting to understand."
"A little."
She noded and rose to her feet.
"I didn’t come here to convince you to save Victor."
Damian looked up.
"I know."
She adjusted her jacket.
"I actually think he’s guilty."
That made Damian chuckle.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because it’s true."
She shrugged. Then her expression grew serious.
"What worries me isn’t Victor. What worries me is what comes after."
Damian remained silent but his expression revealed nothing less of confidnece. Seeing this Helena slowly understood he had already made up his mind and probably has a plan. She began walking toward the door.
Just before leaving, she stopped. For several seconds she hesitated. The reason she fell in love with Damian from the start was because he was a free bird who did whatever he wanted however he wanted.
It pained her that he was under pressure to become just another tool. She was just scared of what might happen to him if he resists.
Then she finally spoke.
"Don’t let them turn you into what they think you are." She muttered.
Helena silently hoped the Faceless would be able to protect Damian from what as about to come.
Damian frowned.
"What do they think I am?"
Helena looked directly into his eyes.
"You’re still young enough to choose what kind of man you become. Don’t let them reduce you to a tool."
Then she left and door closed softly behind her.The room fell silent once more.
Damian remained seated long after she was gone.The cigar between his fingers continued burning. Its ash eventually grew too long and collapsed into the tray below.
For the second time since the Victor Hale case began, someone had visited without asking him for anything.
Just a warning. They were simply worried about his safety.
Across the room, a burst of purple smoke appeared atop a bookshelf. Rin materialized quietly and sat watching him.
"You look troubled."
Damian didn’t answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the rain beyond the glass.
Eventually he exhaled.
"It’s nothing."