Lawyer Husband's Forced Tragedy for His Childhood Sweetheart

The day after my younger brother was confirmed as a recipient of a governmentfunded study abroad program, he was arrested by the police on charges of violating women.

I was desperate to get home, but the flight was suspended because of the extreme weather.

I called my husband, and it took an hour before I reached him.

Just as I was relieved, I heard a familiar female voice.

"Who is it? Jeff is busy. What can I help you with?"

In the quiet night, the sound of water in the bathroom was so clear.

I heard my own voice, which was cold and desperate.

"What is he busy with so late?"

On the other end of the phone, Kay Barlow sneered, "Collecting evidence, of course. After all, it takes some effort to convict a genius teenager.

"But I believe in his professional ability. He will surely bring justice to my daughter.

"Jeff said he'd do everything in his power to make sure that man rot in prison."

I didn't know when my phone dropped until someone tapped on my shoulder.

"Ma'am, do you need any help?"

I shook my head and picked up my phone in a daze, feeling lightheaded.

Repeating in my ears was Jeff Burke's cold voice.

"What important thing could she have? Just hang up.

"If you get any irrelevant calls these days, hang up. For us, every second matters.

"Kay, go to the police station again. It's cold outside. Remember to bring your coat."

As if possessed, I mechanically pressed the numbers repeatedly.

Jeff finally picked up.

Before I could even speak, he impatiently interrupted me.

"Ella, I told you I'm busy. I don't have time for your nonsense!"

"I..."

He hung up the phone before I could say another word.

My mind suddenly went blank.

In a daze, I remembered that the reason I went abroad was because Jeff and I had a fight a week ago.

I had made a reservation at the restaurant and wanted to share the most important good news in my life with him, but he went to Kay's place to fix her water pipe.

I had no idea how long he spent on fixing the pipe. Anyway, when I pushed open the door of her house, she was smiling and filling Jeff's glass with wine.

Her daughter on the side, who was very young and beautiful, was putting food on his plate.

They looked so sweet and warm as if they were family, and I, Ella Wade, was like an intruder.

"Ella, why are you here? Have you eaten? Ava, go grab the cutlery for her!"

I was disgusted by Kay's act, so I turned over the table.

Jeff's expression changed drastically as he clutched my hand and said, "Ella, what the hell? Apologize!"

"Stop it, Jeff. I'm sure Ella just got us wrong. We can explain to her."

"I can never explain anything to her!"

Jeff suddenly let go of my hand. The sudden force made me bump into Kay, and I fell down in a sorry state.

My hand was pierced by the broken dishes.

The excruciating pain made my face pale.

Jeff held the stumbling Kay and angrily said, "Ella, that's enough! It's just a meal. Do you really have to make a fuss?"

"You can't even distinguish right from wrong. You don't get to be with Mr. Burke at all!" Ava Cobb glanced at my bloodstained palm, and I saw a smile flash across her eyes.

She dares to talk to me like this.

I sneered inwardly.

Kay had just come back, and Jeff had already become so close with her and Ava, her daughter.

"Ava!" Kay said sternly. "Go back to your room! Stop saying nonsense!"

Instead of Ava, I figured I was the one who should leave.

I endured the pain and propped myself up, smiling weakly, "Jeff, if you wanna fulfill your wish when you were young, just tell me. It's just a divorce. I can handle it."

During the five days abroad, I constantly wondered why I had taken on such a selftorturing emotion.

It was five days, 120 hours. He never texted or called me.

But I picked up my phone thousands of times.

It was always an unequal relationship.

And things only got worse after Kay came back.

The flight was delayed again and again due to the heavy rain.

I changed my phone number and finally got to reach Jeff.

"Jeff, Spike is my younger brother."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then he said, his voice indifferent, "Ella, think before you lie."

"I'm not lying." I tried to steady my breath. "A week ago, I made a reservation at a restaurant just to tell you that I had found my brother. I wanna talk to you about holding a..."

"You really have to go all out just to deal with Kay?" he interrupted me coldly. "Ella, be kind, OK? You're a mom, too, and you have a daughter. Don't you know how unfortunate it is for a girl to experience such a thing?

"The abuser should be punished by law, no matter how old he is, how good he is in school, and how bright the future is, still, it cannot hide the fact of his crime."

I listened to his increasingly angry tone, pinching my palm.

"What right do you have to convict him? What evidence do you have to prove it? Are you going to reverse right and wrong based on a few words from Kay and Ava?"

"No girl will falsely accuse someone at the cost of her reputation, let alone Ava.

"The law will do her right.

"Whether he's your brother or not, it doesn't change anything. Stop wasting your time."

His cold voice made me instantly speechless. I couldn't utter a word at all.

I looked at the scars on my palm that hadn't completely healed yet.

I actually forgot the pain before the scars healed.

Why am I still thinking about going to Jeff?

Because he's my husband?

Because we've been together for so many years and are family?

No. None of these are important.

What's important is his client is Kay, the one he loved when he was young.

I know what he did for her back then.

I can't believe I still have hope. I think that given we've been married for years, at least he will be fair and impartial.

I'm so delusional.

Of course, he's gonna seek justice for his Kay. Of course, he believes in Ava, her daughter. Of course, he will do everything for them.

He has promised Kay.

Spike Wade, my brother, will rot in jail.

He's a top lawyer who has never failed, and I'm sure he can do it.

But Spike doesn't deserve it.

He is such an outstanding young man.

He works so hard, and he is so excellent, sensible, and kind.

Why should he be sacrificed just so Kay can be with Jeff?

Kay wants Jeff, doesn't she?

Fine. She can have him!

I called Kay.

I told her that as long as she withdrew the lawsuit, I'd divorce Jeff.

She could be his wife.

"Ella, what are you talking about?" Kay said righteously, "Ava is the victim. I won't accept any exchange conditions.

"You got me and Jeff wrong. He is my lawyer.

"Ella, I know you don't have confidence in your marriage, but can you look at yourself for reasons? Stop thinking the worst of me again and again. I've got limited patience, you know. I'm not some pushover.

"I'm just asking Jeff to help me with the lawsuit. Please, Ella, I..."

"Why are you pleading with her?" I heard Jeff's voice.

"Ella, don't make things difficult for Kay.

"Stop making things up. I know he's not your brother. And don't use this as an excuse to obstruct justice. And don't harass my client time and time again.

"Ella, this is my final warning. If you cause trouble again, I will show no mercy. I will get back at you with the law."

"Jeff, this is the first and last time I warn you. Keep your hands off Spike, or I will never forgive you!"

Jeff seemed stunned, and I hung up the phone first.

I suddenly felt dizzy.

Overwhelming despair engulfed me, and I couldn't suppress the panic no matter what.

I knew what Jeff was capable of.

He could break down a criminal's psychological defense with his words.

He could use various inducements to make one fall into his trap.

But Spike was just an innocent teenager.

His foster parents were an honest and kind rural couple. All he wanted in life was to study well and earn money to pay for his mother's medical treatment.

I knew why he was falsely accused.

He took away Ava's opportunity to study abroad.

And Kay wanted to become Mrs. Burke.

Both Kay and Ava would be beneficiaries.

Yet Jeff was suddenly no longer that professional lawyer. He chose to take Kay's side because she was the one he loved.

The plane finally could take off.

I boarded the plane with a high fever, and all the way, I was in a daze, with a strong palpitation.

A bad feeling kept me frightened and uneasy.

I had a nightmare.

In the nightmare, Jeff was cunning and treacherous, with a sharp tongue, pushing Spike into a desperate situation, and in the end, Spike couldn't even speak incoherently.

Spike's face turned pale, and large beads of sweat rolled down. He was staggering.

Kay and Ava sat in the audience, feeling relieved and vindicated.

Jeff took advantage of his victory and continued to ruthlessly question Spike.

Spike was pushed to the point of emotional breakdown, and he confessed.

Jeff loosened his tie and looked at Kay in the seat.

Their affectionate eyes met.

The judge found Spike guilty of aggravated assault and sentenced him to life in prison.

"Jeff, thank you," Kay said with red eyes. "I'm so grateful to you."

"Mr. Burke, thank you. My mom and I want to invite you to a meal," Ava said.

Jeff smiled and agreed.

At the same time, Spike jumped down from the roof.

The scream got stuck in my throat, and I opened my eyes abruptly, drenched in cold sweat.

It was a dream.

Fortunately, it was just a dream.

I found a lawyer who was more famous than Jeff. His name was Alban Castro, and he had arrived in Seattle and had met Spike.

He said he was very confident about this case.

Maybe everything would work out for the best.

I kept comforting myself.

But the fear deep in my soul kept overwhelming me.

I arrived in Seattle after the long trip and went straight to the detention center.

As soon as I arrived at the door, I saw Kay and Ava walking out with Jeff, chatting and laughing.

They looked like a happy and harmonious family of three.

"Jeff, thank you so much. I'm beyond grateful to you."

"Mr. Burke, thank you. My mom and I would like to invite you for a meal." Ava saw me and raised her voice. "Mr. Burke, you are so amazing. You easily crushed someone as intelligent as Spike, and he finally pleaded guilty."

Spike pleaded guilty?

How come?

Why would he?

He met Alban the night before and knew everything would work out for the best.

Why would he plead guilty while knowing there was hope?

What despicable means did Jeff use to force him to plead guilty?

A sweet teenager like him won't make it after he pleads guilty.

The scene in my nightmare suddenly became true.

I felt that there was a big hand tightly gripping my heart. I couldn't breathe, my vision was going dark, and my hand holding the tree trunk was bleeding.

In a daze, I saw Jeff walking towards me.

His thin lips were moving, and he looked righteous and disgusted again.

But I couldn't hear what he was saying at all.

I desperately suppressed the surging panic and fear in my heart, wanting to take a step forward.

But a loud noise rang out.

Someone fell from the sky.

He landed on the ground one meter away from me.

Blood and his brains were everywhere.