Chapter 2

The woman was the mother of the victim from the Crestwood Estate case.

She wasn’t alone—she was accompanied by a swarm of reporters.

The blinding flashes from their cameras made Yara feel dizzy.

The woman shoved and struck Yara as she screamed, "I told my daughter not to sue! I told her we couldn’t fight against the rich. But this woman said she had the confidence to win!

"And what happened? My daughter was labeled a prostitute and jumped to her death. And now look at her—she’s out of prison! Why didn’t she die? She’s the one who deserves to die! I want her to pay for my daughter’s life!"

Yara stumbled backward from the woman’s push and fell to the ground.

Elena caught her, then forced Yara’s face toward the cameras, exposing the jagged scar on her forehead.

"The Crestwood Estate case was my sister’s fault, but she’s already paid the price. Look at her scar. The victim was just a waitress, while my sister is the heiress of a wealthy family. How could her lowly life compare to my sister’s?"

...

That night, Yara became the subject of the prime-time news.

On camera, Elena addressed her affectionately as "sister" and delivered her carefully crafted remarks, making it appear as though Yara shared the same sentiments.

When the news aired, the internet exploded with outrage aimed at Yara.

"A disgrace to the legal profession. No wonder she got a year in prison. One year was too light. She should’ve gotten life."

"Props to her cellmates for bullying her. She deserved to be disfigured. From a high-society heiress to a tabloid scandal."

"Does anyone know this shameless lawyer’s address? I’ll send her a little ‘gift’ to show my appreciation."

The comments didn’t just insult Yara. They began to escalate into threats against her safety.

After much thought, Yara decided she needed to set the record straight.

She recorded a video to clarify everything and was about to send it to the media when Westley suddenly stormed in.

He snatched her phone away and demanded angrily, "Do you even know what you’re doing?"

"I’m going to clear my name.”

"Clear your name? Do you realize how much this will hurt Elena?"

Yara stared at the man she had been married to for five years, the light in her eyes slowly dimming with each word he spoke.

This was the man who once held her hand and swore with absolute certainty that he would protect her for a lifetime.

Now, for the sake of another woman, he was demanding that she bear all the blame.

"What about the pain I’ve endured? Westley, whose husband are you supposed to be?"

"Yara, I’m your husband, but I’m also Elena’s brother-in-law. I have to stand on the side of what’s fair," Westley said, his voice laced with self-righteousness.

“Elena has been defending you wholeheartedly, and now you want to turn against her?"

Yara found it laughable.

"Turn against her? Who caused me to be hated by everyone? Has Elena really ever stood up for me? Westley, are you blind or just heartless?"

"Yara, you’re being unreasonable."

"Unreasonable? That’s you! Westley Langston, give me back my phone!"

Yara stood on her toes, reaching for the phone.

Westley raised it high above his head and, without hesitation, deleted the video.

Yara froze, her hand suspended mid-air.

"Westley Langston, what gives you the right to delete my video?"

Westley’s face was cold and unyielding.

"Yara, stop dreaming. There’s no going back for you now. Besides, one top-tier lawyer in the Cullen family is enough. From now on, just focus on being a housewife."

Yara stared at the man before her, and the last glimmer of light in her eyes finally extinguished.

She didn’t want to cry for him. He wasn’t worth it. But the tears fell uncontrollably.

"Westley, I graduated as the top student from Hudson University’s law program. I worked for five years without losing a single case. Every senior in the field said I had talent...

"And now you’re asking me to be a housewife, just so Elena can take my place!"