Isabella~
"Bella, why are you putting your love relationship at stake in this case?" Uncle Jorawar questioned me when I was about to fill out the case reopening application.
"Don't worry about it, Uncle. I am aware of my actions. I can not let injustice happen to Laila just because Xavier is not here to support me."
I was heartbroken that neither Xavier nor my father was supporting me, but I remained steadfast in my choice.
"But who will fight this case in the absence of Xavier?" Uncle Jorawar expressed his worry.
"Uncle, since you are a well-known attorney, why don't you take this case to court?" I pondered for some time and then suggested he fight this case.
"No, I can't; I don't want to mix my emotions into this case. I can't reopen that old wound, which I am still trying to heal." His eyes were filled with pain as he shared with me his reason for not fighting Laila's case.
How much pain must he still carry after all these years? I thought to myself, realizing the burden he bore.
"Hmm, to whom should we entrust such a significant responsibility?"
"Bella, why don't you take this responsibility? You are the one person I can trust in Laila's case." His eyes were optimistic as he stared at me.
"No, Uncle, how could I... My knowledge about her past is limited."
"I am very confident in your abilities, Bella. My heart is telling me that only you can bring justice to my daughter." With teary eyes, Aunt Lily asked me to take this case into my hands.
Her unwavering trust in me was more than I could bear. Could I truly do this alone?
I wanted to support Xavier in this case by all means possible, but now that Xavier has backed out, I don't have any other options.
"Okay, Aunt, I will stand up for Laila's case," I reassured her and proceeded to submit the application form.
After finishing my work, I decided to meet Dixie before returning home.
"Oh my god, what happened to you, Dixie?" When I saw her swollen face, I was filled with disbelief.
"Bella, I don't want to live now. I am sick of this life." She hugged me and sobbed uncontrollably.
"Who did this to you?" I questioned her. I never expected that Lincon could do this to her.
"It all happened because of Lincon. He concealed his brutal nature behind a façade of innocence. He took me on a vacation and forced me to share his friends' beds." She started crying uncontrollably again.
What? After listening to her, my eyes widened in surprise. In my nightmare, I never imagined Lincon would harm Dixie in this way. He always struck me as a kind man.
Although I didn't trust Dixie's statements, I felt compelled to do so after witnessing her swollen face and wounds. I consoled her by patting her back and then leaving her house.
I chose to meet Lincoln before coming to any conclusions to be sure that Dixie was telling the truth and that this was not Jordan's dirty trick.
I was shocked to see a blonde half-naked woman opening the main door of his house. She gazed at me like she was staring at something dirty, and she appeared intoxicated.
"Darling, who's at the door?" Lincon's voice, echoing from the hallway, confirmed my suspicion. He trailed behind the blonde, who was only wearing his boxers.
"What the hell is this, Lincon?" I closed my eyes as soon as I saw them in such a state.
"No, Bella, this is not what you are thinking." He tumbled on the floor as he tried to stop me.
How could this be the man who vowed to love Dixie? How could Lincoln live such a double life? And how could Xavier, the man I trusted, not see the truth? I had to make them understand—even if it meant tearing our family apart. My thoughts spiraled into disgust and disappointment as I left the house.
During my journey back home, Lincon and Dixie dominated my thoughts. Dixie bore so much pain silently and never complained about Lincon to anyone. My heart was filled with disgust as I contemplated the torment he inflicted on Dixie.
Although Dad doesn't want their divorce to occur, I do not doubt that he would ask the police to put Lincoln in jail once he learns the truth.
After parking, I went into the hall to explain Lincon's actual character to them.
"Can you believe what I witnessed today, Dad?" Dad was watching TV while seated on the couch.
"Mama, check out what I've done for my school project." Alan ran towards me, eager to show me his school project, but I ignored him and moved to stand in front of Dad.
"I don't want to talk with you. Let me watch my favorite show." He seemed upset with me.
"Dad, please listen to me once, and then you have every right to be angry with me." To convince him, I knelt in front of him.
"Veronica Luis is going to defend Lincon Thompson in his case."
Dad pushed the TV remote to change the channel, and that's when the news started playing on the television.
"What? How did this occur?" With disbelief, I turned to face the TV, who, without my consent, proposed my name to defend Lincon. I was furious and confused as I stared at my father's face.
"Sorry, Bella, I suggested your name without discussing it with you first." Xavier entered the house and looked at me nervously.
"How could you do this? You should at least ask me first." My eyes widened in surprise.
"What's such a deal in this, Bella? Lincon asked me to represent him in court, and since I believe you are the most qualified attorney for this case, I suggested your name without consulting you first." Xavier gave a shoulder shrug.
"Now you have a problem defending Lincon in this case; first, you went against me by reopening Laila's case." Dad looked at me with a disdainful expression.
"Yes, Dad, I can't defend a criminal in court, so I have trouble defending Lincon," I argued with Dad.
"Bella, watch your words." Xavier gave me a furious look.
"I am fully aware of the situation, Xavier, but it seems that you have become blinded and are unwilling to see the true face of Lincon, which I have already witnessed a few hours earlier. I have never witnessed such a characterless man who coerced his wife into sleeping with his friends." My anger overcame me, and I felt compelled to reveal the truth.
"That's enough, Bella."
Before I had a chance to share further details about him, Xavier violently slapped me on my cheek.
"What are you doing, Xavier?" Victor protected me from Xavier by standing between us.
His unannounced smack rocked my soul. No matter how many times he hurt me, this time, he used his strength to assert his authority over me.
"Thank you, Xavier." I looked at Xavier with tear-filled eyes. He clenched his fist in rage and stood with his head bowed.
I looked at Dad. He stood like a statue, seemingly oblivious to what was going on in front of him.
The house air felt so poisoned to me that it was hard for me to breathe, so I grabbed my car keys off the table and left the hall. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I couldn't stay here. Not when the man I loved had turned against me. Not when the family I'd fought for was crumbling before my eyes."
"Where are you going, Mama?" Alan ran behind me to stop me.
When I heard him crying, I paused before getting into my car.
"Alan, let her go." Alan started to come toward me, but Xavier stopped him.
I turned to look for any sign of regret on his face, but when I saw none, my heart broke.