Xavier~"Bella, please don't say this; I am genuinely sorry for my behavior." I held her hand to stop her from leaving the courtroom. My heart was drowning in guilt after seeing the real face of Lincon. I never imagined that he would go to such extreme measures to achieve success and financial gain, such as joining Jordan Lucas' drug supply company."Xavier, sorry isn't enough for the wounds you caused on my heart." She turned to face me, but her eyes remained fixed on the floor instead of my face."I understand that apologizing is insufficient, Bella, and I am willing to accept any form of retribution for my errors." I lowered my head in embarrassment.Her slow, painful voice was like a needle piercing my heart. "Don’t think any penalty is sufficient for the hurt you caused me; therefore, if that’s the case, I want to cause you the same suffering." Suddenly, a hint of malice crept into her tone."Bella, you already know that I am not as strong as you are, so please don't even consid
Isabella~"Mama, Dad wants to talk to you." When I noticed the call from my home landline, I assumed it was Alan, but when I heard him mention that Xavier needed to speak with me, I let out a disappointed sigh. Why is he repeatedly using my son as a pawn in his cheap game?"Xavier, I am already done talking with you. Now I don't have anything to talk about with you." Before listening to him, I told him my decision, my tone sharp, before hanging up."Please listen to me just once, Bella. I know you're upset with me and don't want to see my face, but please don't hang up."I paused the call and placed my phone against my ear."Ok, I am listening." I gripped the phone tightly because it would be difficult for me to ignore him, particularly when he was genuinely apologizing for his behavior."Dad wants you to come home, Bella. He is deeply upset about Lincon's situation, and he feels deeply guilty for not trusting you." The weight he held on his chest was evident in his tone."Tell your d
Xavier~"Xavier, did you call Bella and ask her to return home?" Dad questioned me about Bella as we sat at the dining table for breakfast. His swollen, puffy eyes gave me the impression that he didn't sleep well last night. I don't want to aggravate him further by informing him about Bella's response. How can I explain to him that she broke off all contact with us and now refuses to even meet her son?I don't believe that she could be so angry with me that she refused to meet even Alan. I don't think I made such a severe mistake that she couldn't forgive me and return home.Dad's voice carried a sadness that stung. "Xavier, why are you quiet? Didn't you talk to her?" His voice brimmed with eagerness.I don't want to break his heart by telling him the truth, but I can't lie to him anymore."Dad..." I fidgeted with my fingers nervously, trying to gather the courage to tell him the truth."Mama, finally you have returned!" Alan's excited voice broke through the silence. I turned to lo
Isabella~"Isabella, where’s Xavier? Call him to the party hall. All the guests are waiting for the cake-cutting ceremony." Mr. Donald Thompson, my father-in-law, requested that I find my spouse. With trepidation, I nodded and spun around to search for Xavier in the massive party hall. At this grand party, seeing him felt like an impossible task.All the important guests, clutching their wine glasses, enjoyed the evening in the beautifully designed hall, its floral arrangements, and colorful lights creating a breathtaking display. The wealth of the Thompson family was evident in every detail of the decor, which reflected the Thompson family's wealth, leaving everyone in awe. They were America's richest family, not just the town's richest.Holding the shimmering folds of my heavy gown, I navigated through the crowd like a lost puppy, trying to spot my husband, Xavier Thompson. This was only the second time I’d attended such an extravagant event. The first had been my wedding reception,
Isabella~"Bella, what happened? Why are you looking so sad?" Victor gave me a worried look."I'm all right. Let's go to the party; Dad must be waiting for us." I put more effort into forcing a fake smile on my face, trying to hide my tears."But my brooch, you said my appearance looks incomplete," he grumbled as he glanced at the locked door to my room."You look perfectly fine; you don't need a brooch." I grabbed his hand, stopping him from entering my room. I couldn’t bear for him to step into the nightmare I had just witnessed. My hand trembled slightly as I held onto his, the weight of Xavier and Alicia’s betrayal pressing on my chest like a boulder.Victor let out a soft sigh. "All right, if you say so." His eyes searched mine, and I quickly averted my gaze, tugging him toward the party hall. It became impossible to face anyone alone.As we walked, my world crumbled in my mind, replaying Xavier and Alicia’s intimacy over and over. How had I been so blind to their relationship? E
Isabella~"What are you saying, Dad?" Xavier's frustrated voice echoed through the silent party hall following Mr. Thompson's shocking announcement. I still couldn’t believe it. There had to be a mistake. How could he choose me as his firm’s new heir? I’m not qualified—I’m not even worthy to be a lawyer’s assistant."Dad, how can Bella—" Victor’s voice broke through the confusion, his shock mirroring the one I felt."You all heard me," Mr. Thompson said, his voice firm, cutting through the whispers that started spreading through the crowd. "Isabella Thompson, my daughter-in-law, is the new successor to my legal practice."My blood froze as his words sunk in. It wasn’t a dream. The whispers grew louder. People’s gazes landed on me—questioning, doubting, almost judging. I could feel their stares like I was a cheap cloth draped across a rich carpet. Grayson and Dixie exchanged glances of disapproval, and Victor looked utterly stunned, still trying to process what his father had said.I
Xavier~"Oh, so you want a divorce from me, huh?" I raise my brow at her. I always wanted to get rid of her, but the idea of asking her for a divorce in exchange for returning my firm to me hurt my ego. How can a low-standard woman insult me in this way? My dad's announcement has already angered me, and now she's fueling my already simmering rage. "Yes, Xavier Thompson, you heard me right—I want divorce." As she stared right into my eyes, her voice challenged me. I never thought she would suddenly be that fearless. Her eyes were typically kind toward me, but now they were blazing with something that looked like anger. I looked at the legal papers for the company that were on the ground. Did I accept her demand? I own this company, so she can't ask for anything in exchange for giving it back to me. But all she's asking for is a divorce, so it's a win-win for me. I turned to face the party guests and my family members. They were all looking at me with dissatisfaction. Will taking a
Xavier~"I asked you not to get involved in Mr. Johnson's case; why did you accept to take it on, Xavier?" I was reviewing Mr. Johnson's case file while seated in my office. That's when Alicia entered my office. I looked up from the paperwork to see her red, irate face. "Sorry, Alicia; I can't say no to him because he is our old client and my dad's best friend." I took her hand and ran a thumb over it to soothe her rage. "Xavier, how could you ignore my decision? Did my opinion not matter to you?" Her eyes beamed with dissatisfaction. "It's not like that, my love; I value your opinions greatly, but I must handle this case on my own to strengthen our finances due to the firm's financial situation." I begged her to give me her permission to handle this case. "Xavier, I don't know anything; if you don't say no to him in this case, then I will never talk to you again." With rage, she jerked my hand. "But darling, it's an important case for this firm since we are running out of financ
Xavier~"Xavier, did you call Bella and ask her to return home?" Dad questioned me about Bella as we sat at the dining table for breakfast. His swollen, puffy eyes gave me the impression that he didn't sleep well last night. I don't want to aggravate him further by informing him about Bella's response. How can I explain to him that she broke off all contact with us and now refuses to even meet her son?I don't believe that she could be so angry with me that she refused to meet even Alan. I don't think I made such a severe mistake that she couldn't forgive me and return home.Dad's voice carried a sadness that stung. "Xavier, why are you quiet? Didn't you talk to her?" His voice brimmed with eagerness.I don't want to break his heart by telling him the truth, but I can't lie to him anymore."Dad..." I fidgeted with my fingers nervously, trying to gather the courage to tell him the truth."Mama, finally you have returned!" Alan's excited voice broke through the silence. I turned to lo
Isabella~"Mama, Dad wants to talk to you." When I noticed the call from my home landline, I assumed it was Alan, but when I heard him mention that Xavier needed to speak with me, I let out a disappointed sigh. Why is he repeatedly using my son as a pawn in his cheap game?"Xavier, I am already done talking with you. Now I don't have anything to talk about with you." Before listening to him, I told him my decision, my tone sharp, before hanging up."Please listen to me just once, Bella. I know you're upset with me and don't want to see my face, but please don't hang up."I paused the call and placed my phone against my ear."Ok, I am listening." I gripped the phone tightly because it would be difficult for me to ignore him, particularly when he was genuinely apologizing for his behavior."Dad wants you to come home, Bella. He is deeply upset about Lincon's situation, and he feels deeply guilty for not trusting you." The weight he held on his chest was evident in his tone."Tell your d
Xavier~"Bella, please don't say this; I am genuinely sorry for my behavior." I held her hand to stop her from leaving the courtroom. My heart was drowning in guilt after seeing the real face of Lincon. I never imagined that he would go to such extreme measures to achieve success and financial gain, such as joining Jordan Lucas' drug supply company."Xavier, sorry isn't enough for the wounds you caused on my heart." She turned to face me, but her eyes remained fixed on the floor instead of my face."I understand that apologizing is insufficient, Bella, and I am willing to accept any form of retribution for my errors." I lowered my head in embarrassment.Her slow, painful voice was like a needle piercing my heart. "Don’t think any penalty is sufficient for the hurt you caused me; therefore, if that’s the case, I want to cause you the same suffering." Suddenly, a hint of malice crept into her tone."Bella, you already know that I am not as strong as you are, so please don't even consid
Isabella~"Point to be noted, My Lord, Lincon Thompson, not only secretly engaged with Ms. Jennifer also promised her marriage after his divorce from Dixie Thompson." I thanked Jennifer for coming to court by blinking my eyes. She is a well-known television actor, and testifying in this case could damage her reputation in public, but she consented to assist me after I informed her of Lincon's reality."Defense, do you need to interrogate Ms. Jennifer?" The judge questioned Dad.I turned to look at Dad's face in the hope that now he recognized Lincon's true colors."Thank you, my Lord." Dad rose from his chair, scrutinized my face, and then proceeded to question Ms. Jennifer. I could see his inner agony in his eyes, even though his countenance was emotionless."Since when did you know Lincon Thompson, Miss Jennifer?" He is attempting to keep his cool, as seen by his taut jaw and white knuckles."From the last three years." Jennifer glanced at me before turning to face Lincoln. After w
Xavier~"James, what are you doing here in the court? Where is Bella?" I questioned him in confusion as I noticed him seated in Bella’s chair.When Bella failed to return from her lunch break, the courtroom erupted into murmurs and uneasy glances. This time, I was sure the judge would penalize her for her tardiness. The judge entered, her stern gaze sweeping across the room, and gestured to begin the proceedings. Her frown deepened when she noticed Bella’s absence."My lord, we will be jointly prosecuting this case for the remainder of the hearing session, as my colleague was forced to leave due to an emergency." James rose from Bella’s seat, his voice steady as he requested permission to proceed.My chest tightened as I saw Victor sitting next to him, dressed in a lawyer’s suit. What’s he doing in court? Upon seeing him, my eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. Before presenting the evidence to prove Jonathan's guilt, Victor glanced at me, his expression heavy with frustration and disapp
Isabella~"My lord, I believe the prosecution has withdrawn from this case." Xavier's voice echoed in my ear as I opened the door to the courtroom."No, my lord, I am not the one backing out." I swiftly put on my lawyer coat and tied my disheveled hair into a bun, preparing to present myself in front of the judge."Miss Luis, what kind of behavior is this? Do you understand how important punctuality is in court?" The judge’s voice thundered as I stepped into the room."I am sorry, my lord. I was caught in an emergency. I promise this will not happen again." I bowed my head in apology."All right, enough wasting time. Begin the proceedings," the judge said, his voice softening.Before starting the judicial process, my gaze instinctively flicked toward Xavier. I never intended to face him as an adversary in this case. We were supposed to stand together, supporting one another, not at odds. Promises, affection—everything seemed to have vanished. Was love truly a force that could be overs
Xavier~"Xavier, what are you doing here? Let's go." I was standing in the car parking lot and watching Bella's car leave the court premises."Did you ask the judge to schedule the hearings for both cases on the same dates, Dad?" I questioned him as I got in the car."Do you think that I need to use such a cheap trick?" He lifted his eyebrows in my direction."No, Dad, I didn't mean to offend you; I am just asking you to confirm." I gave a shoulder shrug."No, I don't know, but I am glad she has to choose one case now. She is entangled in a big, complicated situation now that she has to miss one court hearing that day." Even though his smile did not extend to his eyes, Dad still tried to fool himself as his lips curled into a smile.I am well aware that Dad is not happy with this complicated situation at all, but he is compelled to protect Lincon, and like him, I am also compelled and trapped in my own words. Her eyes showed me the broken pieces of her heart, but even if I wanted to,
Isabella~"What did he just say?" I stared incredulously at Xavier's face, my breath catching in my chest."Bella, please calm down; the court session is about to begin." Victor kept me from falling by holding me in his arms, his grip firm yet gentle. Seeing no remorse on Xavier's face, my eyes welled up with tears. Is this how he hurts me now? I never thought he would go to such lengths to force me to withdraw from Lincoln's case. How could he defend murderers in court? The news hit me like a bomb, shattering every ounce of resolve I had left."Take me to my hotel, Victor." My voice trembled as I struggled to keep my emotions in check."They wanted to see you broken, Bella, which is why Xavier decided to stand up for Jonathan. You must keep your vulnerability hidden from them," Victor said, his tone laced with disappointment as he glanced at Xavier. I noticed the shadow of pain in Victor's eyes—pain for me, for what I was enduring, and for the betrayal that hung heavy in the air.
Xavier~"My lord, Miss Luis is attempting to divert attention from this case." Dad stood up from his chair in anger upon witnessing Bella's intense interrogation of Lincon. "She used Lincon's statements against him in court to entangle him and has not provided any evidence in the court till now," he added, his voice brimming with frustration. I'm worried that Dad might lose this case at his first hearing if she doesn't quit immediately. "Objection overruled." The judge’s stern voice echoed in the courtroom. Additionally, the judge forbade Dad from interfering with Bella's questioning of Lincon. "So, Mr. Thompson, according to your wife, you take her on vacation by telling her that this was your private tour, right?" Bella raised her brow, her sharp gaze fixed on Lincon. "Yes." Lincon shook his head and said yes, his voice barely audible. "What are your friends doing on that cruise, then? Are all of your buddies traveling together, or is it just a coincidence?" Bella’s unwaverin