Lawyer Husband's Forced Tragedy for His Childhood Sweetheart

The day after my younger brother was confirmed as a recipient of a government-funded 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 light-headed.

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 blood-stained 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 self-torturing 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.