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 finances and nearly bankrupt." I made one last attempt to convince her. "You have to decide between this company and me, Xavier. I'm sick of this company because, in all these six years, it hasn't helped us in any way." In her fit of rage, she sprang from her chair, causing it to topple over into the floor. "Alicia, that's enough. Lower your voice. That's not our house where you can shout at me; it's my office, so show some respect to me." These days, I find it harder and harder to contain my wrath. I've seen her true colors over the past six years. I never knew she was a wolf under sheep's skin. Her love so captivated me that I ignored her stubbornness and complied with all her demands, but now I find myself unsure of how to handle her manipulation. Because of her counsel, my company is on the verge of bankruptcy. My family members left me alone because Alicia never allowed me to contact any of them in all these years. I've tried to control my anger, but it's becoming increasingly difficult for me to control myself. "Do you think that I'm to blame for everything that happened, Xavier? Everyone is aware that your shortcomings and inabilities are the reason this entire situation occurred." "Alicia, mind your tongue." Her words hurt my ego so deeply that I raised my hand to slap her. "Xavier Thompson, don't dare use your power over me; I am not Isabella, who bears your physical abuse and mental torture silently. I will sue in court in case of domestic violence." She held my hand in the air and threatened me. "You're correct—you can never be as kind-hearted as Isabella is, so you can not be her." My heart pinged with regret at remembering Isabella. I only came to understand her value, her affection, and her care for me after she departed my life. After discovering the truth, I felt bad about every wrong thing I did with her. She didn't leave her education in the middle of her own will; Isabella had to do that because of Alicia so that she could finish her law degree. Over the past six years, I have learned about the cruel side of Alicia and her mother. I not only saw their evil faces but also came to know how Alicia's dad got killed under the pretext of a heart attack. Even though I looked for her desperately, I was never able to locate her. I wish I could see her again in my lifetime to ask for her forgiveness and tell her the truth about her dad's passing. Since I never heard anything about her from anyone after our divorce, I am concerned that she has passed away by now. "Alicia, you crossed all your limits today. Now, I will file a divorce with you." My office staff is peeking through the glass window to see what's going on inside my office. She has no right to insult me in front of my staff. "What have you just said? Do you want a divorce from me? Do you not remember that I was the only one who supported you when everyone else abandoned you?" Her anger grew even more when she learned about the divorce. "That's all happened because of you; if I saw your true colors earlier, then I never divorced Isabella." She opened her mouth to argue with me further, but her phone rang, and she silently left my office. When she noticed her phone ringing, her expression of wrath turned to terror. I frequently observed that when someone called her, she would either leave the house or lock herself in the room for a while. Her altered behavior only heightened my suspicions about her. After finishing my work, I made my way to the house, where, as usual, we fought over money and ownership of the company. She insisted that I sell the company and seek employment with another organization, which led to numerous disputes between us. I didn't argue much with her today because I was so exhausted, but instead, I went outside to enjoy some peace and some fresh air. After two hours, I went back home and rang the doorbell, but Alicia didn't answer. This is her old habit of taking her revenge on me by not opening the house door after our argument, so, like always, I entered the house through the window. As I stepped into the house today, a heaviness settled in my chest, a reminder of an unresolved issue within me. My steps froze when I saw blood flowing out of my bedroom. "Alicia? What kind of joke is this?" I opened my room door, and I was shocked to see her dead body covered in blood lying on the floor. My stomach twisted as I stepped closer, my eyes locked on Alicia’s pale, lifeless face. Her skin was cold, death already settled in, and the sight of the crimson pool beneath her sent a chill down my spine. I dropped to my knees beside her, the reality of what had happened crashing over me in waves. I touched her body to wake her, but she was dead. Someone had stabbed her with a knife. I took the knife out of her body, and within a few minutes, the police arrested me for the murder of my wife. The overwhelming evidence against me completely changed my life, as no attorney was willing to take my case. I am also a criminal lawyer, but I feel helpless at this moment because I was not prepared for this unexpected turn in my life. Who will now defend me against this unfounded murder accusation? One of my acquaintances recommended that I meet with Veronica Luis, the top criminal defense attorney in the nation, and ask her to take my case. Even though all of the evidence in this case pointed against me, and I had already given up hope of getting bail, I decided to try my luck and meet that lawyer. I was eventually able to meet her after waiting for an appointment with her for three months. I met her with special permission from the jail by utilizing my political connections. Before our meeting, I harbored a glimmer of optimism that she would be prepared to defend me, but the sight of Isabella sitting in Veronica Luis's chair dashed my last chance of escaping these baseless murder accusations. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight of her—Isabella. The woman I had wronged, the one I had discarded so easily, was now sitting where I had expected a lifeline to be. My chest tightened as a thousand regrets crashed over me. Veronica Luis wasn’t just a name—it was my past, staring me in the face, demanding justice for every sin I had committed.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 narrowe
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
Xavier~"Thank you, Veronica." I extended my hand for a handshake, expressing my happiness. I didn’t know the specific reason for her to agree to handle my case, but I was relieved she accepted. At least I had a chance to let her lead my defense. Hope surged within me—perhaps, with her skill, the court could grant me bail."Best of luck, Mr. Thompson." Her handshake was firm, her eyes meeting mine with confidence. As her hand touched mine, my heart raced unexpectedly. That touch sparked memories of a past I had long tried to bury, but it also brought feelings of shame."How dare you touch me? I never thought you'd take advantage of my drunken state and seduce me into sleeping with you." The memory of my cruel words came rushing back. I could still hear the echo of that cold, bitter tone. When I had woken up next to her, naked in the same bed, rage consumed me."No, Xavier, I didn’t seduce you. It was you who..." Her words, panicked and terrified, had done little to soothe my fury."Yo
Isabella~"You arrived so early today, Miss Luis, that there was time for attorneys to see their clients in the cell." After noticing the wall clock, the police officer stared at me with surprise. He was right; I came so early today to meet Xavier. After seeing him yesterday, I couldn't concentrate on my other tasks because all I could think about was him. I took on this case as a challenge to myself, but it also seemed to be a test of my feelings and the emotions I had long since buried deep within me. I always wanted to know the reason behind his betrayal, his backstabbing, how he met Alicia, and why he never told me that he loved my stepsister. I had been asking myself these questions for years, and yesterday, I finally had all the answers I needed. After hearing his story, I became resentful of him due to his deceit and insult towards me. However, I also respected him for being open and truthful with me. Accepting their errors is a challenging task, particularly for an egocentr
Xavier~"Does providing homemade food to every client stem from a place of compassion, or is it just your work ethic?" I felt a wave of joy come over me when I saw her give me the lunch box. "I just offered you food because you missed breakfast due to my early visit, and I feel bad for keeping you hungry. You don't need to give up hope." Her icy gaze remained focused on the lunchbox. "Well, whatever the reason, I am thankful to you for giving me a chance to eat homemade food. It's been a while since I've had homemade cuisine. Since Alicia detests cooking, we have lunch and dinner outside most of the time." I tore open the lunchbox right away and devoured all of the delectable food within. Did she still have a memory of my preferences? When I saw my favorite egg curry with noodles, I eagerly glanced back at her face. "Please don't view me in this manner; my maid prepared the meal and packed it for me to eat for lunch." My stare seemed to annoy her. "It's ok; I am still thankful to
Isabella~"Veronica Luis, do you think you can save Xavier Thompson from a death sentence?" As soon as I exited my car in front of the courtroom, Derrick Merchant's taunting stopped me. "Mr. Merchant, good morning." I turned to look at him with a smile. This high-profile case had already caught the attention of the media and all of the town's lawyers. Everyone has been talking exclusively about this case on crime channels since last week."Miss Luis, I finally saw you today after hearing so much about you." With arrogance, he holds out his hand to me. "It's my pleasure, sir." I give him a handshake. "After losing this case, you are always welcome to join my law firm, along with all your clients." His conceit is overpowering his experience. It is true that throughout his legal career, he never lost a single case, and even my father-in-law, who is a well-known attorney, was never able to defeat Derrick Merchant in court."Mr. Merchant, we are lawyers, and we do not have the authori
Xavier~"My Lord, we can not believe what Miss Luis is claiming by showing us the CCTV footage since there is a 15-minute gap between the timing of Alicia's murder and the footage. The food store is about five minutes away from Mr. Thompson's residence. Therefore, it's equally conceivable that he killed her after going to that supermarket." Derrick countered Bella's argument with his characteristic arrogance.I glanced at the judge, noting how deeply he was contemplating Derrick’s statement. A wave of dread crept over me. Derrick was known for twisting facts so convincingly, and I knew how easily he could steer things in his favor. I threw a fleeting look at Bella. How does she stay so calm, even under such direct attacks? Does she feel nothing when Derrick mocks her? Her silence under his verbal blows irked me. How could she endure such taunting without flinching?"Would you like to respond to Mr. Merchant’s statement, Miss Luis?" The judge’s voice broke through the tension."Of cour
Isabella~"Thank you, but I'm sorry, Mr. Thompson, because I'm not hungry right now." I didn't want to spend time with him because it was difficult for me to maintain my hard look for an extended period. Knowing what he had endured over the years made me feel sorry for him, and as a result, I find it increasingly harder to keep up my professional relationship with him. That day, I saw him eating food like a hungry animal, and I felt pity for his condition. I was taken aback when I observed him licking the lunchbox cover, which was smeared with gravy. He no longer resembled the Xavier Thompson I knew, a man known for his discerning taste in food. I vividly remember how, because of his dislike for cilantro, I adorned the dinner table with it, only to have him hurl the plate in a fit of rage. My heart compelled me to cook food for him every day so that he could have homemade meals. I don't know why I lied to him. Every day, I prepared meals for him and asked my assistant to bring him t
Xavier~"Please don't give me to the police. I'll tell you everything." That boy held my hand and pleaded with me, desperation dripping from every word."Tell me the truth, or I will report you to the police." I threatened him again. Although I was thankful for him saving my life, my mind was filled with doubts after seeing him living in this deserted place. Because of the unexpected flood, the government had strictly forbidden people from residing close to the river. Those who disobeyed faced severe penalties and fines for violating the regulation."Tell me, what’s your connection with Jordan Lucas?" Seeing his quietness, I threatened him once again."Jordan Lucas?" He gave me a perplexed expression, genuinely confused."Don't lie. I know he sent you here to keep your eye on us." I narrowed my eyes and gave him a doubtful glance, every nerve on edge."Sir, I don't have any idea who you’re talking about. I’m a student doing my research on submarine life." He quickly handed me his iden
Isabella~The cold water felt like an ointment to my burned skin, but soon I found myself flowing with the river's current. My hands felt numb in the chilly water as I attempted to swim against the stream. I had trouble breathing as water began to fill my nose. I looked around in search of Xavier, but I was unable to find him in the violent current.My body was still in shock from witnessing the car blast. I had never been this close to death before—never felt it breathe against my neck the way it did now. I made every attempt to locate the riverbank so that I could escape the current, but I was unable to do so since my hands and feet were not functioning properly.I heard the roar of the rushing water grow louder, and my swimming became more desperate. I was about to plunge into the waterfall ahead if I didn't exit the river's grip. This river would plummet vertically off the edge. If I didn't get out now, I would tumble down the cliff and that would be the end.I fought the river wi
Xavier~“Bella, what did you do? I am now sure he will not show any mercy to us.” Jordan Lucas' threats rattled my body. His eyes blazed with anger and retaliation. The moment he saw us in the court, he was fuming with anger. I am well aware of Jordan Lucas' nature. Once he decides something, he will not back out of it, no matter how far he has to go to achieve the desired outcome.“Bella, why did you discuss another case in this court when we already have difficulty handling Victor's murder case?” I looked at her with a complaint-filled gaze. I am well aware that she is not doing anything wrong, but I don't think messing with Jordan Lucas in every situation is a good idea.“Xavier, I didn't have any choice at that time. Can't you see how Andrew argued with us in today’s court session? He is one step ahead of us. He came here well prepared, and we would have lost this case in today's hearing if I hadn't diverted the court's attention to the recent crimes of Jordan Lucas.” She sits on
Isabella~“My lord, Jordan Lucas not only killed Victor Thompson but he also killed two of my staff by burning them alive. He not only took the lives of those two innocent people but he also burned my costly property.” I turned to look at Jordan Lucas with hate-filled eyes. Now he has to pay a high price for his sins. I waited for the perfect opportunity to enter the court so that I could see this fear-filled expression on his face. When I saw Jordan Lucas, I felt retaliation and rage in every cell of my body. How could he burn those two innocent individuals so viciously? I saw no trace of regret in his eyes. His brutality went beyond all bounds.“Objection, my lord, Mrs. Thompson is trying to mislead the case. She is attempting to squander the court's valuable time by involving my client in her latest baseless charges, even though we are here to discuss Victor's case.” Andrew rose from his seat and gave me a furious glare.“Andrew is correct, Mrs. Thompson; your statements seemed un
Xavier~"Bella, what are we going to find in this dusty area?" I looked at her with confusion. The house was covered with black dust. A shiver ran down my spine as I saw the state of the house. We would have been buried under the ground by now if we hadn't left this house on time. I am afraid of losing Bella while trying to send Jordan Lucas to jail."Take off your shoes and don't touch anything in the home, Xavier." She handed me the gloves after removing them from her suitcase."What are you saying, Bella? How am I supposed to remove my shoes on this dusty floor?" I gave her a perplexed look."Xavier, do what I am saying."I removed my shoes and shook my head in disappointment when I saw her demanding gaze. "Bella, please stop using the magnifying glass; we are not detectives." She took the magnifying glass out of her bag and then began to look at the burned items available in the house.I don't understand what new hobby she developed as a detective. She carries everything with he
Isabella~"What are you going to do now, Bella?" Xavier's eyes brimmed with curiosity. "I don't know, Xavier; I only have to win Victor's case by hook or crook." I sighed deeply and fixed my gaze on the laptop screen. My attention was drawn to my phone's buzzing sound. "Are you okay, Bella?" I heard James' anxious voice on the call. "Yeah, we are all right, but why did you sound so worried?" I asked him. "I watched the news on TV." After listening to him, I became aware of the impact this news had on my family. They had no idea what was going on here. "Don't worry about us, James; everything is OK." His worry is evident in the weight of his voice. "I feared we lost you both, Bella." I heard him sobbing. "It was part of my plan, James. I am well aware of Jordan Lucas' cruelty. That's why I have already moved out of that house. I don't want any of you to get into problems, so please don't contact me again." I cautioned him once more. "Bella, everyone is concerned about you and
Xavier~"What are you doing here, Bella?" I got up from my bed when I didn't find her in our bedroom. I looked for her in the kitchen but she's not there. Where has she gone on such a late night? I looked in the study room, the hall, the terrace, and the balcony, but she wasn't there. My worry increased about her even more when she did not receive her phone. She is so upset because of Jordan Lucas' case. He destroyed all the evidence of his crime, and the next court hearing is in one week. I am afraid that she didn't take any dangerous steps due to depression. "Xavier, why do you look so tense? Is everything okay?" She put her file inside and looked at me casually as if nothing had happened. Upon seeing her in the old file storage room, I felt a sense of relief. "What are you doing in this room?" I turned my face to look at that dirt-filled room with confusion. "Xavier, we were worried about the evidence, but we forgot that we had the hidden treasure in this house." She got up f
Isabella~"Bella, why are you so silent? You know I'm scared of your silence."Xavier stopped the car in front of our house and looked at me, concern evident in his eyes."I can't live in this house, Xavier. We have to find some other place to live," I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to face him.His brows furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong with this house, Bella?""He will attack us at any time to remove us from his path. I don't want to take any risks." My heartbeat was still erratic from the near-fatal accident earlier. The image of the truck speeding toward us replayed in my mind like a nightmare.Xavier let out a frustrated sigh. "Sometimes I don't understand you, Bella. On one hand, you're so brave—boldly challenging Jordan Lucas, standing firm in court—and on the other, you're terrified of him?" He held my hand, searching my eyes for an answer.I tightened my grip on his fingers. "No, Xavier. I am not afraid of him. I am afraid of losing you." My voice cracked with emotion.
Xavier~"Bella, let's go." I held her hand and gestured for her to leave the courtroom."I will kill this man," she seethed, clenching her fist as she locked eyes with Andrew."Calm down. Avoid wasting your time on him." I held her wrist tightly, stopping her from following him."Xavier, you surprised me today. Why didn't you tell me about this proof before?" As we sat in the car, she arched a brow at me, suspicion flickering in her eyes."Bella, I didn't hide anything from you. I was also unaware of this evidence; it was a last-minute idea, and I'm pleased it succeeded." I shrugged my shoulders, watching her reaction."Xavier, what are you saying? How is this possible? I saw your confidence in the courtroom—no one could tell this was last-minute." Her eyes widened in disbelief."Mrs. Thompson, Andrew was the one who inspired me to provide this evidence." A small smirk played on my lips."Andrew? How?" She crossed her arms over her chest, demanding an explanation."My blood was boilin