Chapter 98 Successful Divorce
I had no idea how long I'd been out when the creak of the door woke me up. The sky outside was beginning its subtle transition from night to dawn, casting a gentle, muted light across the room. I opened my eyes and saw Edward, shoes in hand, about to head out.
"Hey, babe," I called out.
Edward turned around, looking a bit surprised. "Did I wake you?" he asked.
I gripped the bedsheet tightly and stayed quiet.
He went on, "There's an emergency at work, and I have to go back. I tried to be quiet, but I still woke you up. Just get some rest this morning, and I'll send a driver to pick you up and take you back to the villa this afternoon." He'd already made all the plans without even asking me.
Before the trial, I had planned to meet with Alice one last time to go over everything. But her condition deteriorated unexpectedly, and she was rushed to the ICU. The doctor, prioritizing her fragile state, imposed a strict no-visit policy, leaving me with the sole option of a phone call. Not wanting to disturb her, I kept it short and just told her to rest up.
On the phone, Alice said, "Ms. Cooper, thank you for your help. No matter what happens, I'll make sure you get a good reward."
"I'll do my best in court," I promised her.
In my line of work, I usually avoided making promises to clients to dodge any future issues, but this time I couldn't help it. Even though her voice was weak, Alice kept thanking me.
On the day of the trial, I got to the courthouse early. Today was a big deal for me, not just for Alice's case; it marked a significant milestone in my career, a declaration that Diana, the rising star in law, was back.
In the prep room, I unexpectedly ran into Lila and Nolan. Lila grabbed my hand, cheering me on, while Nolan quietly organized my documents. Noticing Nolan's serious look, Lila pulled me aside and whispered, "Diana, did you know? Nolan was handling a case out of town and rushed back to Wind City late last night just for your trial."
I felt both surprised and touched, and Nolan happened to overhear us.
Without looking up, Nolan, eyes glued to the documents, said, "Diana, don't worry about it. Just focus on the case. I was just doing a favor for someone."
I was a bit taken aback. "Did Dr. Reed ask you to look after me?" I asked.
Nolan didn't answer, still reviewing the documents.
Lila patted my hand and said, "Diana, don't worry about it. Just do your best today."
Soon, it was time for the trial. To my surprise, Alice showed up. She was wrapped in a long coat, hiding her frail body. Despite her makeup, she couldn't hide how sick she looked.
"Alice? Why are you here? Are you feeling okay?" I asked, worried.
Alice nodded. "Ms. Cooper, it's not that I don't trust you, but this might be my last chance to see him."
Alice's voice trembled. Her assistant adjusted her collar and said, "The doctor doesn't want you out of the hospital for too long. Let's just take a look and then go back."
Alice nodded. Just then, Eric and his lawyer walked into the courtroom. He glanced our way but didn't notice Alice, then turned and went inside.
Alice got agitated and started coughing uncontrollably. Her body shook with each violent cough. The assistant gently patted her back, and Alice covered her mouth with a handkerchief. When she pulled it away, there was a spot of fresh blood in the center. Both the assistant and I were shocked.
The assistant explained, "This isn't the first time Ms. Baker has coughed up blood, and it's been happening more often lately."
Then she turned to Alice and said, "Since you've seen him, let's go back now."
Alice silently nodded and got into the car with the assistant's help. Watching the car slowly drive away, I felt a lump in my throat and tears started to well up in my eyes.
As I stepped into the courtroom, a wave of seriousness and gravity hit me.
Eric, his lawyer, and his assistant were already at the defendant's table. Lila and Nolan were seated in the gallery. Since both Alice and Eric were public figures, the case had drawn a lot of attention online, and many people were following it closely. The gallery was packed, but I didn't see Edward. I felt a pang of disappointment; his promise to watch my court hearing now seemed frivolous, a hollow gesture that had meant too much to me.
The judge's bench stood like a sacred fortress.
As the trial time approached, the clerk and jurors entered. Then, a familiar figure caught my eye. Edward, still in his sharp suit, took large strides, with Albert almost jogging to keep up. Noticing me looking at him, Edward gave me a thumbs-up and leisurely sat in the front row of the gallery.
My heartbeat echoed loudly in the silent courtroom, each beat filled with tension and unease.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Then I nodded and smiled at Edward. Ever since I decided to pursue Edward, I had developed the habit of performing well in front of him. With Edward there, I would do even better.
The trial began, and the prosecutor spoke first. Then the judge announced, "This case is the trial of plaintiff Alice versus defendant Eric. The trial is now in session."
His voice was loud and powerful, each word striking my heart like a hammer. As the gavel fell, I refocused and entered battle mode.
I listened quietly to their statements, continually thinking of how to respond.
The courtroom was filled with the majesty and solemnity of the law, yet also with the breath and vitality of life. Time seemed to pass slowly in the courtroom, each minute feeling like a long century. I tried to stay calm, and fortunately—everything went smoothly from reading the complaint to both sides presenting evidence.
Since Alice didn't attend the trial, I represented her fully. To my surprise, Eric indeed used their child as leverage, refusing to agree to the divorce. I listened quietly to their statements, constantly thinking of countermeasures. Fortunately, I was prepared, and this hurdle wasn't difficult to overcome.
Finally, the trial neared its end. The judge announced a recess, awaiting the final verdict.
As I expected, the trial's outcome was clear. When the judge announced the verdict, the courtroom seemed to fall silent, and time seemed to freeze. The judge ruled that Alice and Eric were divorced, and I let out a deep breath.
I instinctively looked at Eric. In that brief moment, he seemed to have aged significantly. This verdict was undoubtedly a heavy blow to him, and his suddenly aged appearance would forever remain in my memory.
Seeing Edward in the gallery gave me a proud look, seeing Lila and Nolan applauding for me, and seeing others in the gallery clapping and sighing, I immediately sent the news to Alice.
Her assistant helped her post on Facebook: [Life is long, the past was good, and may the future be better.]
Information spread quickly online, but it would take some time for the public to accept it. Soon, the news of Alice and Eric's successful divorce became a trending topic. Of course, I only found out about this later.
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