Case Accepted

Isabella~

"Miss Luis, did the renowned criminal lawyer Xavier Thompsan come to meet you?" As soon as Xavier left my office, my next client came in.

"Yes, he is." I nodded and peered through the large glass window of my office reception. I noticed him walking sadly in the direction of the main gate. I am well aware that no one wants to fight his case because of all the evidence against him.

When I first saw his appointment request in my mail, I wanted to turn it down right away, but something inside of me restrained me from doing so. It took me three months to mentally be ready to see him again. But my heart forced me to meet him once so that he could realize what he had lost in his life. That wasn't the only reason I invited him to meet me; I was also genuinely interested in taking on his case, as I found it to be quite challenging.

"Did you take his case, Miss Luis?" My client's voice broke my thought bubble.

"No." I firmly shook my head.

But why did I turn down his case when I knew it would be extremely difficult and may mark a significant turning point in my legal career? I questioned myself.

"It's all a game of timing, Miss Luis. Rumor has it that he divorced his first wife to wed her stepsister. It is now clear how his involvement in his wife's murder case manifested his karma." Mr. Lorence sighed profoundly, expressing his conflicted emotions about Xavier.

At one point, he appeared to sympathize with Xavier, but it was clear from his words that Xavier deserved this outcome. But it's a good thing that no one recognizes me as his wife anymore. I'm pleased that I changed my identity to Veronica Luis from my previous one as Xavier's Thompson wife.

However, my heart still harbors the memory of my past, and when I see Xavier in front of me today, my thoughts revert to the day of our wedding anniversary years ago. Since the day his wife was discovered dead in her own home, her murder has been widely reported in the media. I looked into it carefully to try to solve the mystery surrounding her death, but it proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated.

I had convinced myself for years that I had forgotten about Xavier, but today, when I saw him in person, my heart was overflowing with feelings. I saw regret in his eyes and felt a tremendous need to sympathize with him, but I quickly hid my feelings behind my expression. No longer in love with him, but that murder case intrigues me enough to investigate it.

"Mr. Lorence, how about we prove that you weren't in the city on the day of your brother's murder?" I glanced over this case file and gave him my new suggestion to keep him out of the investigation into his brother's death.

I have decided to assist Mr. Laorence, a well-known businessman, in avoiding the murder allegations against him since his former spouse deceived him into being involved in his brother's murder case in an attempt to seize control of his property.

"That's incredible, Miss Luis." When he heard me, a wide smile appeared on his face.

"I'll see you in court at the next hearing, Mr. Lorence." I shook hands with him and smiled, glad that I had solved yet another case—or rather, that I had prevented yet another individual from suffering the consequences of a false charge.

Sitting by myself in my office, my thoughts drifted back to Xavier. Xaviers's case is similar to Mr. Lorence's case. However, given that he has already assured me that he has no doubts about anyone, I wonder who could kill Alicia. There is one thing I know for sure: Xavier can not, under any circumstances, murder Alicia, and even if he did, he would never act in a way that would implicate him. He most definitely never left any trail leading to her death.

Ever since I was unable to piece together Alicia's murder, I have been restless when thinking about Xavier's case. If Xavier hadn't murdered Alicia, then who could? Since he has already discussed his bankruptcy, I'm certain that her murder was not motivated by property. What may be the motive? Who was it that she frequently spoke with on the phone? Is Alicia the only victim of this crime, or is Alicia being used as a target to trap Xavier?

Why didn't I accept his case? I want to solve this mystery. I raked my fingers through my hair in frustration because, while I couldn't bear to see him in front of me for even a second, his mysterious case piqued my interest, and I couldn't resist challenging myself by taking on this case.

I looked down at reception to see him, but he was nowhere in sight. I called my assistant, instructed her to bring Xavier Thompson back into my office, and informed him that I was prepared to fight his case.

Though, in my heart, I wanted to see him pay for his actions, I couldn't let my emotional turmoil compromise my career.

"Isa..no, Veronica, did you call me?" Xavier's voice broke my internal conflict.

When he called me by my old name, a small part of me remembered the innocent Isabella I had hidden behind all these years.

"Indeed, Mr. Thompson, I am ready to fight your case." I motioned for him to sit in the front seat.

"What's the reason for this sudden decision change? Do you want to exact revenge on me under the guise of supporting me, or do you have sympathy for me?" He looked at me with confused eyes. His intensely blue eyes locked on my face, making me feel uneasy on the inside, but over the years, I've gotten excellent at hiding my true feelings beneath a neutral expression.

"Your both options are wrong, Mr. Thompson. I chose to take up your case because I am determined to unravel the mystery behind it." On the table, I rolled the paperweight.

"Bella, is this only about the case?" He fixed his gaze on mine, looking for something tender, but right now, I have no feelings for him.

"Yes, Mr. Thompson, this is all about this case, and once again, I am reminding you that it's Veronica, not Isabella anymore." I firmly said to him and began the formalities to take his case into my hands.