Liliane glanced at the courtroom one last time, clenching her teeth before leaving. Outside the courthouse, a taxi awaited her."Ms. Anstey, your bags are ready." the taxi driver said.Confused, Liliane opened an LV travel bag in the taxi's backseat. Surprisingly, it held all her ID documents and bank cards."Who are you?" she asked.The taxi driver explained, "I'm just following orders, Ms. Anstey. I'll get you safely to the airport."Liliane texted the mysterious man but got no response, as before.With time before reaching the airport, she decided to watch the divorce trial between Bradley and Esther on her phone.-In the courtroom, Clark, Esther's witness, presented damning evidence against Bradley, including videos of him imprisoning her. Clark's testimony heavily favored Esther, swaying the trial.Bradley appeared cold, restrained by Jonathan's reminders not to disrupt the trial.Jonathan leaned over, whispering, "Mr. Warner, let's change our strategy.""Go on," Bradl
Tanya realized that Jonathan wanted to put all the blame on Esther. He was trying to show everyone that Bradley turned into a ruthless man because of the harm Esther caused him."Objection, Your Honor. My client disputes the opposing counsel's misleading arguments. At the time Felix was kidnapped, my client was taking him to Mr. Warner and Ms. Anstey's wedding."My client's household nanny can testify on this matter. During the time when Mr. Warner was married to Ms. Quill, he had a wedding with Ms. Anstey. After my client learned of her husband's betrayal, her decision to take Felix abroad for some peace was natural."Additionally, my client only discovered Felix was alive after her rescue from the sea. Furthermore, Your Honor, we're submitting another piece of evidence."This evidence can fully demonstrate that Mr. Warner is an unfit father."The evidence Tanya submitted was the video of Bradley forcibly taking Felix away and Felix jumping from the car in Primus Mansion's underg
Esther and Bradley watched their respective lawyers engage in a war of words for their own interests.Bradley's gaze was cold as he looked at Esther, his expression filled with killing intent. Esther sat elegantly, looking toward Bradley from a distance. Her gaze had a strong determination to win."Your Honor, this is a report from the foreign program Frontline Scoop. After faking her death, Ms. Quill went abroad and saved a girl named Pixie."Esther frowned and instinctively looked at Tanya, quietly asking, "Why are they mentioning Pixie?""Your Honor, Ms. Quill did not bring Pixie back when she returned to the country. Is this not due to her concern that my client would contest for her custody?"Esther looked at Bradley with a mocking smile.Tanya pulled out a DNA test report from a stack of documents and handed it over."Your Honor, this DNA test was conducted by an authoritative foreign institution. The DNA test proves no blood relation between Pixie and my client, Ms. Quill
After the judge and the jurors reviewed Tanya's latest evidence, she continued. "Your Honor, my client's request in this case is to divorce Mr. Warner and gain custody of Felix. Regarding Felix's custody, I propose we let him decide for himself. Since Felix is currently injured and in the hospital, we can arrange a video call to ask him who he wants as his guardian."Bradley thought he had treated Felix well and saw no reason for Felix to prefer Esther over him. Thus, he leaned toward Jonathan and said, "Let's go along with the video call."Jonathan nodded. He rose from his seat and declared firmly, "Your Honor, we agree.""Granted."After sitting down, Jonathan turned to Bradley and asked, "Mr. Warner, how confident are you that Mr. Felix will select you? When it comes to cases involving child custody like this, the child's preference usually holds sway. If the child picks you as the guardian, our chances of winning are high. However, if Mr. Felix doesn't choose you, our prospects
Upon seeing Felix's youthful innocence, the judge's demeanor softened, shedding its previous sternness. "Felix, your parents are going to live separately. As their child, you must choose one of them as your guardian. Do you understand?""Yes, Your Honor! I want to live with Mommy!"Before the judge could pose his intended question, Felix preemptively declared his choice.Felix's decision caused Bradley to rise abruptly in the courtroom, disregarding his surroundings. His anger was evident, and his words were threatening. "Felix, I'll give you until three to reconsider. Think carefully! Who do you want to live with?"Jonathan closed his eyes in despair, realizing their carefully constructed plans were crashing down. With Bradley's authoritative tone directed at Felix, it was becoming unlikely that the judge and jurors would grant him custody."Mr. Warner, please try to stay calm," Jonathan urged Bradley, regaining his composure.Brushing off Jonathan's hand, Bradley replied almost
Tanya glanced at Jonathan, well aware of the tactics he was using. She had predicted the possible strategies they might employ and had prepared reasonable countermeasures.She stood up firmly, produced a new psychological evaluation report, and handed it to the judge and jurors."Your Honor, this is the latest psychological assessment of my client. This evaluation fully demonstrates her psychological stability and suitability for raising a child. Ms. Quill will also regularly meet with a psychologist and can provide Mr. Warner with the latest psychological evaluation reports whenever necessary."Bradley's legal team had assumed that even if they could not win the divorce case, they would at least secure custody of Felix. That would not be considered a loss. They never expected there would be so many surprises during the trial.To change the current situation, they would need stronger evidence in Bradley's possession.Jonathan said, "Your Honor, I'd like to make the final statement
Esther rose to her feet, her eyes gleaming like stars. The video continued to play.As one video concluded, the next unveiled Liliane removing Thomas' oxygen mask in the hospital room.Upon the appearance of this particular clip, chaos ensued. This divorce case had been a spectacle from the start, captivating both online viewers monitoring the trial and those in the courtroom. All bore witness to Liliane's act of removing Thomas' oxygen mask."Five years ago, Bradley dragged me into court. I repeatedly claimed I was innocent, but Bradley still used a fake video to convict me."Now, Bradley, I implore you to scrutinize the truth behind that video from five years ago."The video promptly stopped as Esther made her plea, revealing a somewhat blurred face."Bradley, this is a snapshot from that video five years back. Study it closely. In the video from five years ago, can you confirm that the individual in the hospital bed is indeed Grandpa Thomas?"This video has spread across the
Tanya hadn't expected Esther to present such compelling evidence. It made sense why Esther had kept the evidence secret, not revealing it prematurely to maximize its impact. This proved her innocence!"Your Honor, this video is enough to show my client's innocence. Please consider her situation..."Esther and Bradley were once close, but with the emergence of this exonerating video, they seemed miles apart. Bradley's long-held anger toward Esther now seemed trivial.Esther glanced at Bradley, sitting across from her, still handsome but no longer stirring her heart. Her only focus was on proving her innocence and regaining custody of her child. From now on, she and Bradley were better off as strangers."The court is adjourned," the judge said.During the recess, Tanya held Esther's hand, saying, "We're definitely winning!"To Esther, relaxation couldn't happen until the final verdict was delivered. "The final verdict is yet to come. We can't lower our guard."Oliver, a reassuring
Bradley's brazen words made Gabriel raise an eyebrow, and his scrutinizing gaze on Bradley intensified.Unfazed by Gabriel, Bradley calmly stated, "Mr. Sinclair, when I visited Shane recently, he handed me some video footage. It showed Esther being assaulted and abused in prison, with the perpetrators claiming it was my order. I've always dared to own up to my actions. What I've done, I won't shirk from. What I haven't done, I won't admit."Gabriel had seen the videos online. Even though Bradley had obscured the protagonist's face in the footage, he knew it was Esther. He had believed entrusting Esther to Thomas would ensure her safety, only to discover how fate twisted things."Bradley, I'll assume your words are true," Gabriel began. "Then tell me, if those people who assaulted Esther in prison weren't influenced by someone else, who put her in prison? Have you forgotten how you, in your irrational madness, expected a woman carrying your children to pay the price? Or do you believ
When Bradley brought up his grandfather again, he felt utterly unfilial as a grandson."Your grandfather's greatest wish before he passed was for you and Esther to live peacefully and happily. Sadly, all he witnessed was discord and enmity between you as a couple."Gabriel understood better than anyone that Bradley, in his youthful arrogance, felt that everything and everyone should conform to his desires. When Thomas compelled Bradley to marry Esther, almost like an arranged marriage, his rebellious nature surfaced."I've failed my grandfather's hopes," Bradley admitted with a bitter taste in his mouth.During quiet, solitary nights, he revisited memories of the past repeatedly.He hadn't desired that marriage back then. However, since he had promised his grandfather to marry Esther, he should have genuinely treated her as a wife.Despite the subsequent events not aligning with his wishes, he was painfully aware that if he hadn't been arrogant and unwilling to listen to Esther's
Esther wasn't pleasant toward Bradley. If she had evidence, she would gladly send him to prison to experience the joy of life behind bars.Bradley gazed blankly at Esther's stunning face, a hint of indescribable sorrow in his eyes. Those deep eyes resembled a chilly cold spring."Not only do you want to chop off my hand, but you also want my life, right?"Esther gestured a slice across her neck at Bradley with her hand, then turned away to tell Logan, "Let's go. Don't waste time on this.""Okay."With languid steps, Esther walked into the elevator. Once they were inside, the elevator doors shut.Outside the elevator, Bradley watched Esther and Logan like they were two puzzle pieces that matched perfectly. Instantly, he felt an unbearable heartache, as if his heart was being torn apart.He instinctively reached out to steady himself against the wall, observing the numbers on the elevator panel decrease until it stopped at the ground floor.It took a while before Bradley recovere
Throughout the entire night, neither Esther nor Logan had shut their eyes.Feeling their eyes strain, they applied eye drops. It wasn't until Esther noticed someone who shouldn't have been there on the surveillance footage."Logan, take a look at this."Perplexed, Logan asked, "What's going on?""Do you think this person looks like Shirley?"Esther was particularly sharp in discerning a woman's physique. She could immediately tell that the woman being supported by a man due to her intoxication bore a striking resemblance to Shirley."Let me see."Logan zoomed in on the surveillance footage, carefully comparing it with the footage containing Shirley. Physically, the two women indeed looked very similar.There was just one question... How would they confirm if she was Shirley?"Esther, stay here and keep watching the surveillance. I'll retrieve other surveillance footage.""Okay."Logan and Esther divided their tasks. Suspecting that the intoxicated woman might be Shirley, Est
Logan and Esther exchanged a glance. They fixed their intense gazes on Jason's face, unable to discern if he was smirking or provoking them."Mr. Taft, the evidence you seek will come."Jason scoffed. He seemed to transform into a different person as he put his glasses back on."Even if Shirley deceived me, I never wished harm upon her, let alone her death."I can consider your suspicions toward me as part of the investigation, but I hope that once everything is revealed, you can restore my innocence."I've said my piece. As long as Shirley hasn't divorced me, she remains my wife. I am obliged to cooperate in the investigation, and I hope you find her soon."Logan and Esther sensed something amiss with the first confrontation. They didn't say anything untoward until they exited the elevator and looked up at Jason's balcony outside.Jason stood on the balcony, looking at Logan and Esther and waving toward them.Logan and Esther looked at Jason before they turned and got into the
"She blocked me on all forms of contact at that time. I even tried contacting her through my colleagues' phones but found out she had blocked them, too. I thought she might be angry, so we should both calm down."Logan didn't speak and just listened quietly as Jason recounted the events of the case."I was angry that she blocked me. At my age, what's wrong with wanting a child? My parents were pushing for it, and I wondered if this marriage was what I wanted."Shirley is very beautiful. My friends and classmates say I'm lucky to have married her, but they don't know that beauty comes at a price."While my colleagues were buying properties, my wife kept changing bags. Her clothes, skincare products, shoes—everything was designer. To support her lifestyle, I work diligently, even taking extra freelance jobs to afford it."I thought I was a good husband and just wanted a child. What did I do wrong? If she had said that she didn't want a child after marriage in the first place, it wou
Gabriel took a long look at Esther, realizing more than anyone that Esther seemed to be heading toward a different extreme now. He wasn't certain if this shift in Esther's demeanor was good or bad.However, one thing was clear to him—the intersection of Esther and Bradley's lives resembled two lines crossing. After intersecting, they would drift further apart."Esther, you can investigate Bradley's criminal evidence. I won't object to that," Gabriel said with a stern face, emphasizing, "But ensure you complete your tasks on time and with quality.""Grandpa Gabriel, rest assured, I won't neglect my work."Gabriel nodded. "Go on then.""Alright." Esther stepped out of the office and approached Logan. "We can set off now.""Okay."Logan didn't inquire about Esther's conversation with Gabriel. Although they pretended to be engaged, Logan maintained a respectful distance from Esther. He wouldn't interfere much in her matters. However, he was aware that if she needed his help, he woul
Gabriel stated, "According to her husband, they argued before she went missing. He assumed she had returned to her parents' home and didn't inquire further since they often had cold spells for ten days to half a month. Their relatives and friends can testify to this."However, the cold spell extended to a month this time, which alarmed him. When he called her parents, they told him his wife never went home."Esther knew that the husband was often the first suspect when the wife went missing in cases like this."The wife bought a high-speed train ticket to her parents' home but didn't take the train back. The police traced her taking a ride-hailing car, and the driver claimed to have dropped her off on the street. The dashcam recording is proof. However, after that point, there's a blind spot in the surveillance footage. Usually, surveillance is kept for a certain period and gets overwritten after that."Logan asked, "What about the investigation on the missing woman's husband?""T
Esther rose, fixating on the distant scenery with clear eyes. "As long as he commits a crime, he'll leave traces."Logan was on the verge of speaking but was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone."Hello, Mr. Sinclair."Gabriel's voice sounded grave. "There's a new lead.""Alright, we'll be right there."Logan stood up, turning to Esther. "We'll meet at the locker room entrance in ten minutes.""Is there a new development?""Yes."For most girls, ten minutes might not suffice even for basic grooming. For Esther, it was just right. The only issue was her long hair. Time was too short, and she lacked the opportunity to blow-dry it. Her damp hair draped over her shoulders, slightly soaking her T-shirt.Logan kept his eyes on the road. "I'll drive. You can use a towel to dry your hair.""Okay."As Logan drove, Esther sat in the car, patting her hair dry with a towel. Her hair was thick, posing a challenge to dry with just a towel.Nevertheless, Esther refrained from openi