Isabella~
"Bella, please think again before making any decision since it's not only about you, but your entire family will be affected by your decision." James asked me to reconsider my decision to leave this house as soon as I got into his car.
"I have made up my mind; I will not take my steps back." I looked at the closed door of the house and gestured to him to drive the car. The pain from Xavier's forceful slap on my face is still searing my cheek. His slap not only hurt me physically but wounded my soul, too.
"Where do you want to go now?" he asked me since he had no idea where I wanted to go at this point. After careful consideration, I asked him to drop me off at the hotel.
"Bella, you can stay with me if you want. I am a friend to both you and Xavier." He looked at me with sympathetic eyes.
"James, I know you are a good friend of mine, but I am sorry I can't live with you since I don't want to create any misunderstanding between you and Xavier because of me," I explained to him why I couldn't stay with him.
"Okay, but if you need anything, don't hesitate to call me." He drove off after dropping me off in front of the hotel.
At the hotel reception, the television was playing the news channel, which was broadcasting the news of the Lincon and Dixie divorce case. The news reporters took great advantage of my involvement in this case. As I checked in at the hotel, the receptionist looked at me with surprise.
"Are you the same, Veronica Luis?" After seeing the current events on TV, she gazed at my ID card in awe.
"Excuse me." I gathered my room keys and hurried to the elevator.
"Where are you, Bella?" My phone buzzed with Uncle Jorawar's number.
"I am fine, Uncle; don't worry about me." I've been ignoring his calls since the evening so he wouldn't worry about me, but I'm sure James called and told him everything that had happened between Xavier and me.
"Why don't you tell me anything about this, Bella? Do you not think of me as a member of your family?" Uncle Jorawar's voice was full of grumbling.
I unlocked the door to the room and sat down on the couch.
"If you think of us as family, why did you stay at the hotel?" Aunt Lily spoke from the other side.
"Please don't misunderstand; I don't want to further complicate family dynamics," I explained to her why I couldn't stay at her house.
"Okay, Bella, I accept your choice, but I would like you to promise me that you will not hesitate to let us know if you need anything," Aunt Lily asked me.
"All right, Aunty, now take a rest; I will see you tomorrow."
After a long, busy day, I lay down on my bed with a heavy sigh. My phone buzzed, and I looked at the screen in surprise.
Dixie? Why is she calling me at such a late hour of the night?
"Is everything all right?" I questioned her in a concerned voice.
"Bella, I didn't expect this from you. Even with your knowledge of that bastard's reality, how could you possibly defend him in court?" She questioned me between her sobs.
"Dixie, I never consented to defend Lincon in court; that was merely a misunderstanding." I made an effort to clear up her confusion.
"However, that news?" she questioned me in a confused voice.
"That was just a mistake." I tried to calm her anxiety.
"Bella, I am unable to endure one more deception. Therefore, if you violate my trust in the same manner as Lincon, I will perish." She threatened me.
"Dixie, calm down; I am not doing anything as you heard on the news. Right now, my body and mind are exhausted, and I don't want to think about anything."
"Okay, then stand up for me in court to show your allegiance to me and bring me justice." Despite the blackmailing tone in her speech, I could appreciate the intense anguish that lay beneath her tenacity.
"I can't be involved in this matter, Dixie; it will cause chaos in our family. I will find a reputable attorney for you if you'd like." I became even more tense because of her persistence.
"No, Bella. I've decided to withdraw the complaint and then end my life if you don't prosecute it." Her threat left no room for me to argue.
While I support Lincon's punishment for his transgressions and prison sentences, I also wish to avoid escalating my father's anger by intervening in this case. However, I'm confident that Dad will do all in his power to defend Lincon, including hiring the best attorney if I don't assist Dixie in this matter. I found myself once again torn between my personal and professional spheres.
"Stop sobbing, Dixie; I'll handle the prosecution." I closed my eyes and forced myself to make this decision because it has a profound impact on our lives. However, I will stop at nothing to achieve justice, and this sacrifice pales in comparison to what I have battled for.
"Bella, thank you." She hung up.
I closed my eyes, and my mind reminded me once more of all the things I had risked for the sole purpose of pursuing justice. First Xavier, then my dad, and now I have to live apart from Alan, too.
Initially, my dad provided me with emotional support during my challenging times, and later, Xavier's love turned into my source of strength. However, I am currently tackling the two most significant cases of my life on my own, without their assistance. My phone buzzed with Victor's number in the morning.
"Victor, don't ask me to return home because I will not." I received his call and informed him about my decision before he could speak.
"We'll talk about it later, Bella. First, put on the TV and watch the most recent news." As soon as I heard the urgency in his voice, I immediately turned on the television.
"Oh my god." I never imagined that this situation would escalate my difficulties even further. My jaw fell open when I saw the news on television.
Following the withdrawal of his daughter-in-law, Veronica Luis, Richard Thompson has taken over as the defense attorney in Lincon's divorce case.
Watching the news made me feel as though someone had placed a burning coal on my chest. This is the worst possibility I have imagined. I can't stand against the man who taught me to argue in court.
Richard wasn't just my father-in-law; he was my mentor, the one who shaped me as a lawyer. How could I face him now, knowing he'd see me as a traitor?
Does he only want to protect Lincon, or is there another reason he's taking on this case? However, I have already assured Dixie that I will be by her side in this case regardless of the repercussions.
I came out of my room to begin preparing for Dixie's divorce case. My heart was racing with so many emotions, but my head was steady and focused on getting ready for the two major cases of my life.
No matter what it costs me, I'll fight for justice. Even if it means standing against the man who taught me everything I know.