Chapter 2

Simon and I used to be the legendary couple everyone talked about in law school.

He was the ace of the debate team. His logic was flawless, his words razor-sharp, and whenever he took the stage, all eyes were drawn to him.

I was the student council president, always at the top of my class, calm and confident. I was the teachers' pride and joy.

We started as a campus couple and ended up getting married. After graduation, I joined the prosecutor's office, and Simon landed a spot at a top law firm.

In five years, I became the youngest chief prosecutor, while Simon became the star partner at his firm.

To outsiders, we were the legendary couple—a perfect pair of legal trailblazers everyone admired.

I thought we'd always walk side by side, growing old together.

But then Lydia came back home.

She was Simon's high school classmate, the one he always called "someone who used to mean a lot to me".

They had a shy, unspoken thing going on back then, but it fizzled out when Lydia's family moved overseas.

I always knew about her, but Simon said it was all in the past. He told me I was the one he loved now.

I believed him.

But after Lydia came back, everything changed.

Lydia would call Simon at midnight, crying about how she couldn't fall asleep.

She'd show up unannounced outside our place, waiting for Simon after work, just to hand him a bowl of soup she'd made herself.

She'd even post cryptic messages on her social media, along with old photos of her and Simon from years ago.

I wasn't happy about it, but whenever I complained, Simon would dismiss me, saying, "She's just back and still adjusting. She's an innocent woman. Don't take it to heart."

Simon always insisted there was nothing between him and Lydia—just friends, nothing more.

To keep things easy for him, I kept letting things slide.

I thought that by compromising, I could keep our family peaceful.

But when Frank's case appeared, I finally realized that all my tolerance was a big joke.

*****

It was already eleven at night when I got home.

The living room lights were on, and Simon was sitting on the couch, the ashtray in front of him overflowing with cigarette butts.

Two plates of food sat on the coffee table, cold and untouched.

When he heard the door open, he looked up at me, his eyes full of complicated emotions.

"You're back," he said, his voice a little hoarse.

I ignored him and headed straight to the bar, pouring myself a glass of ice water.

"Let's talk," Simon said, standing up and walking over to me.

"There's nothing to talk about," I said, taking a sip of water. The cold liquid slid down my throat, but it did nothing to cool the fire burning inside me.

"Sarah," Simon said, gripping my wrist tightly. "I know you're upset, but Lydia is innocent. Please, you have to believe me."

"Whether I believe you or not doesn't matter," I said, shaking off his hand. "What matters is the evidence. Simon, you're a lawyer. You should know better than anyone that the law only cares about evidence."

"Evidence can be faked," Simon said, his voice rising. "Frank made enemies everywhere in business. Who's to say someone isn't trying to frame Lydia and use her as a scapegoat?"

"So now you're the one they're using?" I sneered. "Simon, do you even realize what you're doing? You're trying to clear a suspect in a major criminal case!"

"I'm after the truth here!" Simon insisted.

"The truth?" I sneered, as if he'd just cracked the biggest joke ever. "Here's the truth. Lydia was the only person who went in and out of Frank's office that night.

"The truth is, the police found deadly poison in her car. So tell me, Simon, how are you going to overturn all this ironclad evidence?"

Simon was completely stumped by my questions, his face flushing bright red.

After a long moment, he finally forced out through clenched teeth, "I'll find a way."

"Is that so?" I locked eyes with him. "Are you planning to fabricate evidence? Or maybe bribe a witness? Simon, don't forget who you are, and don't forget who I am.

"Any attempt to obstruct justice, I won't tolerate it, not even if it's you."

My words cut him to the core, like a knife plunged deep into his heart.

Simon stared at me, disappointment and pain written all over his face. "Sarah, I never thought you'd become like this."

He spoke each word slowly, his voice icy. "Cold-blooded and heartless. You're so wrapped up in your so-called 'justice' that you'd even suspect your own husband."

My heart twisted painfully, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Cold-blooded? Heartless?

So in his eyes, sticking to my principles made me the cold and heartless one?

"And what about you?" I shot back, my eyes red with anger. "You're willing to risk our marriage and your career for your precious first love. Does that make you noble?"

"It's not like that between me and Lydia," Simon protested.

"So what is it then? Is it like when you swore you'd protect her forever?"

I shot back, mimicking his tone with biting sarcasm. "Simon, hand on your heart, can you really say you don't have even a shred of feelings for Lydia?"

Simon went quiet.

He couldn't even look at me.

In that moment, I understood everything.

All my self-deception and all those forced smiles crumbled to nothing in that instant of silence.

Turned out, I wasn't overthinking it.

Turned out, Simon never stopped loving Lydia.

My heart was utterly broken.

"Fine." I nodded, my smile uglier than tears. "Simon, I'll let you have it. You want to protect Lydia? You want to clear her name? Go ahead."

I stepped right up to him and stared him down, my words cutting through the air. "When we're in court, you'll see just how flimsy your so-called 'protection' really is.

"I'll make sure she's locked up with my own hands. And when that happens, I hope you don't regret any of it."

I didn't look at Simon again. I headed straight for the guest room and slammed the door shut.

From outside the door came the unmistakable sound of glass smashing.

I leaned against the door, my body slowly sliding down to the floor as the tears I'd been holding back finally burst out.