Handle My Case

Xavier~

"Isa..Isabella..." When I saw Isabella in front of me, my initial thought was that I had come to the wrong place for help. But my heart knows very well about her polite nature, so despite my doubts about getting help from her, I forced myself to seek it.

"Isa... Isabella, how are you doing?" I gulped down my saliva to moisten my throat. Upon seeing her sitting in the front chair, my eyes already widened in shock, and I did not understand how to react at that moment. All the scenes where I did wrong with her in the past flashed back in front of my eyes.

"Mr. Thompson, it's Veronica Luis, not Isabella anymore." Her sharp voice pierced my ears.

I always saw her as a shy, fear-filled woman who walked around me in hopes that I would accept her love proposal. However, when I saw her sitting in such a powerful position, I regretted rejecting her love. I wouldn’t have seen this if I hadn’t insulted her on our wedding anniversary and divorced her.

"How may I help you?" Her eyes narrowed and locked on my face.

"Isa... Isabella—I mean Veronica—I want you to fight my case." My voice faltered as I struggled to steady it.

"My mother-in-law accused me of killing her daughter and filed a lawsuit against me."

I hesitated to tell her about Alicia’s murder case. My thoughts abruptly flashed back to the moment she caught me having an affair with Alicia, a time when I felt neither shame nor guilt about cheating on Isabella.

"Yes, go on; I am listening." She sat leisurely in her chair and gestured for me to continue.

"After our divorce, I married Alicia." I began sharing with her the full story of the hardships I endured while she was away.

"Mr. Thompson, I am not interested in hearing your love story or your betrayal story; please come to the point. As you already know, my time is extremely valuable." Her confident, sharp voice once again struck a chord with me.

I was expecting her to be sympathetic to my situation, but after observing her professionalism, I wasn't sure if this was the same Isabella who was once willing to give her life for my love. For a split second, something flashed in her eyes—was it hesitation, or am I just desperate to believe she still cares? Before I could dwell on it, her face returned to the impenetrable mask of professionalism.

Observing her emotionless face, I sensed a change in her, yet my heart still harbored little hope for a glimpse of sympathy for me in her deep brown eyes.

"My married life was not fulfilling, and Alicia persistently insisted that I sell my law firm. Since we were on the verge of going bankrupt, we argued over money. That day, we also argued over the same issues. When I returned home, I discovered her dead on the floor with a knife wound to her chest."

I recounted all the events that occurred on the day of Alicia's demise.

"It's intriguing that Mr. Xavier Thompson, a skilled criminal lawyer, found himself involved in his own wife's demise." With a long sigh, she leaned back in the chair and gave me a sarcastic look.

I know she will enjoy seeing me in this pitiful condition, but I don't have another option to save my life. Only Veronica Luis can save me from this fake case. Deep down, I know I deserve her mocking; in the past, I didn't leave any chance to insult her for her educational background.

"Mr. Thompson, do you have any suspicions?" She asked in a calm tone.

I'm uncertain if she will take my case, but her curiosity about every detail of it instills a sense of hope within me.

"No, I don't have any suspicions about anyone since my family cut all ties with me after my divorce from my first wife, and Alicia's mom lived in a different city and barely paid us a visit." I made every effort to jog her memory of our past interactions, hoping to evoke a softer side, but her impassive expression never fails to confound me.

"Mr. Thompson, focus your thoughts and ask yourself if there is anything odd about Alicia's actions," she sharply questioned, leaving me wondering again if she was the same Isabella I once knew or someone entirely different. How can she change so much that I cannot see a glimpse of her old version even a little?

Numerous questions about her new identity flood my mind, and all I could think about was how she got there. My focus shifted from my case to her life. I wanted to question her about her changed identity, but her cold behavior prevented me from doing so. I couldn't help but wonder about her journey to this point. How could a shy woman transform into a confident, well-educated, intelligent professional like this? I felt terrible for not appreciating the value of jewels like Isabella's. My chest tightened with each word she said. The air felt thinner, and for the first time in my life, I felt truly helpless. I needed her more than I had ever needed anyone—and she knew it.

"Mr. Thompson, please answer me quickly since your appointment is about to end and my other clients are waiting to meet me."

My fixed gaze on her face seemed to irritate her, so I quickly averted it and refocused it on the table.

"Alicia's actions abruptly changed after receiving a call from an unknown number. Despite my repeated attempts to ask her about the phone call, she answered none of my questions." I fidgeted with my fingers nervously, unsure whether she'd accept my case or not.

"Can you provide any additional information about this case to prove your innocence as her murderer?" She studied the documentation intently, accessed my case file, and asked me pointed questions.

"No, I don't have any evidence or proof. That's why I've come here, pleading with you to defend my position." I again moved my saliva to moisten my throat, desperately hoping she’d offer a solution.

"Well, Mr. Thompson, I checked your case details, and every piece of evidence is against you, so I don't think I can help you with this case." She closed the file and slid it in my direction.

"Thank you for your time."

Hearing her say "no" for the first time broke my heart. She had never turned me down for anything, yet today, when I needed her help the most, she turned me down. Maybe it's because of how much she's changed, but why schedule this meeting if she wasn't interested in the case? Did she just call me here to insult me?

To leave, I rose from my chair and walked toward her office door. Despite my disappointment, I was relieved she didn't insult me outright, even though she easily could have. Today, she had the perfect opportunity to exact revenge on me, but behaved professionally. I wanted to apologize for all my mistakes, but her bitter expression made it impossible for me to mention anything about our past.

I was about to exit the building when her assistant shouted my name.

"Mr. Thompson, Miss Luis is calling you back into her office to see if she can take of your case."

Her assistant’s words filled my heart with joy, but doubts clouded my mind. Having already declined to take my case, why would she reconsider? Is she expressing sympathy for me, or is this an attempt at revenge disguised as defense? I once again walked toward her office, my mind full of questions.