Leonel and I were university classmates—we both studied law. He was diligent, driven, and eventually passed the bar exam to become a licensed attorney. I passed too, but instead of pursuing a legal career, I chose to marry Derek and assist the Ortiz family with their legal affairs.
Both Leonel and I knew the stakes of taking the fall for someone else. Once the verdict was sealed, if there wasn't overwhelming evidence to overturn it, you're doomed to spend the rest of your life behind bars—unjustly and in silence.
Thinking about it now, I sighed. I had always known how difficult and dangerous this road would be. And yet... I still chose to listen to Derek.
I lowered my head, falling into silence.
My mother noticed the red-rimmed corners of my eyes and leaned closer, whispering in a trembling voice,
"Sweetheart, did Derek threaten you with something? Tell me—we'll stand up for you no matter what. Or... is it that you really love him that much? So much that you're willing to throw your life away for him?"
I gave her a faint smile and shook my head helplessly.
Derek and I had been married for seven years. We had known each other for almost ten. He had become a part of my life I couldn't imagine being without. After a long pause, I slowly nodded.
Seeing she couldn't change my mind, my mother gave up and instead began to remind me of all the little things.
"Don't get into fights in there, protect yourself and the baby. No matter what it takes—no matter if we lose everything—your father and I will get you out. Ariel, you must..."
Before she could finish, a staff member glanced at the digital clock on the wall and gave a few deliberate coughs, stepping forward to take me away.
As they pulled me along, my mother clung to my hand with all her strength. But the moment I was pulled from her grasp, she lost her footing and fell hard to the ground.
She wept silently on the cold floor.
Across the hall, Jade, who had been eavesdropping from around the corner, smugly retracted her head. She was beaming with satisfaction. In the end, I hadn't exposed Derek—not even once. That alone made her feel victorious.
My father stood rigidly before her, fists clenched, grinding his teeth in helpless fury.
Derek's brows twitched slightly as he watched me part with my mother, especially after he'd picked up the divorce papers I'd tossed aside earlier.
He hadn't expected me to actually sign.
In our seven years together, he'd always thought of me as the understanding, dutiful wife—never clingy, never overbearing, but always there when he needed me. In his mind, I had always been the thoughtful, devoted wife.
He never imagined that just a few words would be enough to make me agree to a divorce.
He said nothing, but inside, he was thrilled. Still, in front of so many people, he kept up appearances—head lowered, wearing a carefully crafted look of guilt.
But when he looked up, he met my father's glare.
My father stormed over and snatched the agreement from his hands. When he saw that I had really signed it, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"If you have even an ounce of decency left, then take care of Cody. From now on, don't you dare meddle in anything to do with Ariel again!"
He flung the signed agreement onto the floor and turned back to help my mother up.
Jade, unfazed by my father's fury, simply smiled sweetly. The matter was settled—nothing else mattered.
Looping her arm through Derek's, she said with delight, "That went even smoother than I expected. Come on, Derek—let's go. You can move all my things into Ortiz's house now."
My son, Cody, clung to Derek's leg, whining about wanting new toys. Too young to understand where he was or what had just happened, he only found the adults' conversation boring.
Jade bent down and stroked his hair dotingly.
"Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you want, Mommy will buy it for you."
Cody beamed and threw himself into her arms.
Derek tightened his hold on Jade's hand and prepared to leave with them—his "new" family.
