Chapter 1
After working in the fashion capital Milan for 3 years, I returned home with my daughter, hoping to give Wilson Todd a surprise.
But I found that there was already a new mistress in the house.
I angrily accused the jackass of cheating.
But he pointed at me fiercely and said.
"You are the one who cheated..."
In the hotel staff dormitory, I caught Wilson cheating on me.
He doubted his own eyes, because just 14 hours ago, I was still overseas, making video calling him and saying goodnight to him.
"Annie, why did you suddenly come back?"
"I specially took annual leave to come back and give you a surprise.
"But I didn't expect you to give me such a big gift."
When I saw Wilson at the hotel, I felt like someone poured cold water on me from head to toe.
I couldn't believe that the man I devoted myself wholeheartedly would treat me like this.
Just now, I was hesitating whether to expose him in public and break up with him.
Wilson hurriedly put on his clothes and started questioning me after the mistress left under his cover.
"Annie, don't you feel embarrassed when you come to find me?"
"Do you think I don't know what you've been doing abroad for these years?"
As he said that, he threw a stack of photos on the table.
It was a "couple" having an intimate date. In the photos, they were holding hands, patting heads, whispering in each other's ears, shopping, riding horses, picking up and dropping off from work together, entering and leaving the house together... Except for that they were waking up in the same bed, they did almost everything together.
The woman in the photo was naturally me.
The man, with neat short hair and a well-dressed suit, was handsome and androgynous.
Wasn't that the exclusive model of our magazine?
"Wilson Todd, are you secretly investigating me?"
"Yes! You didn't expect that, did you?
"You thought you could go abroad without anyone noticing?
But actually, I found it out."
"Humph."
I sneered and continued.
"Indeed, I didn't expect that.
"Is this evidence all you've collected?
"The private detective you hired is really rubbish."
"So, what if he's rubbish? These are all solid evidence."
"Solid evidence? You cheated on me and secretly sold my property without my consent. That's what I call solid evidence."
"I was protecting my own property."
"Your property? Did you buy anything in this house with your own money?"
When it came to money, Wilson seems to be cut to the quick, and he pointed at me fiercely and said,
"Just wait, I will make you leave with nothing.
"Let's meet in court!"
Leave with nothing?
"Are you kidding? Every penny in this house is earned by me, okay?"
After a heated argument, Wilson left, leaving me in shock and panic for a long time without coming back to my senses.
I had been lacking love since I was young.
In the university, I met Wilson.
We studied together and worked together.
We spent the most passionate and energetic years of our lives together.
Later, he followed his parents' wishes and joined the army of taking the examination, eventually successfully getting a job in a state-owned enterprise.
As for me, after a temporary stay at a law firm, I chose the fashion magazine industry that I liked.
Since falling in love, I have been wholeheartedly devoted to Wilson.
After marriage, I tried my best to take care of his family.
Unexpectedly, while I was working hard for our small family, he secretly sold our marital home and used the money to buy a property that belonged only to him.
Now, he was threatening to kick me out.
After seeing through the true colors of the scumbag, I hired a private detective to investigate him.
I discovered it while I was working day and night.
Wilson not only cheated on me, but also gambled heavily, and he even owned a huge gambling debt.
Unexpectedly, before I even started suing him, I received a subpoena from the court.
Wilson was really shameless
It seemed that he was certain that I had cheated on him a long time ago.
It was time to go back to the law firm.
Chapter 2
I went to the best law firm in New York and found my senior brother and old partner, Karen Chambers.
"Annie, it's a long time. So, you're back in the country."
"Yes! Mr. Chambers, how have you been in recent years?"
"Come on, I'm flattered.
"If you hadn't left the White Law Firm back then, I wouldn't have become the chief lawyer."
"I was just lucky to win a few lawsuits at that time, unlike my senior brother who has always been steady and your gold medal lawyer name is well-deserved."
"Ha-ha, you still know how to make people happy."
"Tell me! What can I help you this time?"
"Wilson has appealed for a divorce lawsuit, and I want you to be my defense lawyer."
"You've got a divorce as soon as you come back to the country, that's too fast!"
"I've no way out, Wilson has long broken his faith.
"He cheated and secretly sold the family's fixed assets."
"This useless person is really living off someone else's hard work.
"No problem, I shall take full charge of the matter and just watch me expose the scumbag."
"Okay, thank you in advance, senior."
"It's okay, Annie.
"First, tell me the details."
"Okay, this is what I think.
"Let's wait for the court hearing and the judge's verdict before I file for divorce and kick him out..."
"So, I will help you fight two lawsuits. I'll be firstly your defense lawyer and secondly as your authorized representative."
"Yes, is that okay? This small lawsuit is a bit beneath you, senior."
"How could I not be happy to have the chance to help you?"
…
I studied law at a top university in the country, and I excelled in my studies during my time there. After graduating, I joined the White Law Firm for an internship.
Because my parents passed away early, I was fostered by my aunt.
My aunt chose to adopt me because of the large inheritance and support fees left by my parents.
At first, she pretended to care about me because of the money, but later on, she lost her conscience, and I became the punching bag for their family.
I endured constant blame and mistreatment at my aunt's house. Anyone who was unhappy would come and kick me or curse at me.
My uncle and sister started a 7-year-long mental abuse towards me.
They said I brought bad luck to my parents and that no one would want me. Anyone who stayed with me would be unlucky.
When I was young, I also believed that everything bad was my fault.
If it wasn't for me, maybe my parents wouldn't have died.
If it weren't for me, would Aunt's family have a better life?
Therefore, I had always been introverted and unwilling to socialize with others.
Later, it was Wilson Todd who encouraged me all the time and helped me get rid of the shadow of my childhood.
After starting work, the first thing I did was to sue Aunt's family and take back my own property.
Because of the large amount of property embezzlement, as well as the long-term mental harm and abuse towards me, I personally sent my uncle to prison and he was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
As for my aunt and cousin, who relied on my parents' inheritance to support themselves, they lived in poverty and couldn't even support themselves after my uncle went to prison
After winning the lawsuit, the inheritance left by my parents had been squandered by my aunt, and there was only enough left for me to buy a three-bedroom and two-living-room apartment in New York.
Considering Wilson's family situation, I didn't ask for a dowry after we got married, but also paid for the full amount to buy a house and bought him a car.
This gave them a sense of superiority.
But I was just lacking love, not stupid.
Once Wilson hurt me, I would take back everything I had given him.
Chapter 3
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the trial.
I deliberately woke up early, put on light makeup, changed into a decent shirt and a fitted fishtail skirt, and even styled my daughter with two beautiful braids.
Just as I entered the courthouse gate, I bumped into Wilson Todd.
He called a large group of relatives, friends and colleagues to come and cheer for him, wanting to overpower me with his momentum.
My mother-in-law Katy Walter walked ahead angrily and couldn't help but mock me for going alone with my daughter.
"Annie! Look at you, back then I told you to give up your job and be a good wife and mother at home, and give birth to a grandson for our Todd family.
"My son can do everything at home.
"But you didn't listen and insisted on going abroad.
"Unfortunately, Wilson Todd doesn't need you anymore."
"It's already good enough that your son can support himself.
"Do you want me to give birth to a grandson for you at home, and then our whole family will starve?"
Katy seemed to be caught off guard by my unexpected retort in front of the relatives since I used to be gentle, and she instantly got angry.
"Come on, what are you talking about?
"I kindly remind you, but you still argue back, you're really a ungrateful person."
"Yes, but what about you?"
"Think about it, everything we've used for food and clothes were all from me in the past few years.
"If I were you, I would be a good harmonizer and not dare to say anything disrespectful.
"From now on, there won't be such good days anymore.
"You'd better find a job of cleaning toilets early! So that one day you won't go hungry and won't starve."
When Katy saw that I didn't back down and raised her hand to hit me.
I grabbed her hand tightly:
"What are you doing? This is a court, not a place for you to make a scene.
"What a bitch! Today, my son Wilson will surely kick you out with nothing."
"Let's wait and see!"
Seeing that I was wronged, my daughter couldn't help but cry softly.
"Mom, why did grandma scold us?"
I had to squat down and comfort her:
"It's okay, Eve, don't be afraid, I will protect you.
"We don't want this dad and grandma anymore, okay?"
"I hate them, I only need mom."
"Okay, we don't want them anymore.
In the future, I will be with you. But don't cry anymore, okay?"
…
During the trial, Wilson Todd pretended to be a victim.
His attorney Kenny listed my infidelity, abandoning the family and went to Milan, and not fulfilling the duties as a wife after marriage as charges.
He also complained for his client who was living alone for a long time, not being able to see his daughter, no one taking care of the house, and being no different from a single man even after marriage, saying that he even endured silently for the sake of the family.
But the truth was that his wife was enjoying herself with other men abroad, with solid evidence and tearful words provided.
It made the unaware people in the audience think that I was such a shameless and despicable woman.
Even the judge was furious.
Wilson raised his eyebrows triumphantly and looked at me provocatively.
But the next second he was eating a humble pie.
My defense lawyer, Karen Chambers, retorted in a clear and forceful manner.
"To prove that the plaintiff's words are all false.
"Now let our witness testify."
Karen glanced at Moka and her boyfriend sitting in the witness stand and continued.
"Respected Judge,
"This is Moka, 28 years old, from New Zealand. She is my client Annie's colleague and good friend, and also the person accused by the plaintiff of being the third party in the affair.
"The evidence shows that my client Annie did have intimate behavior with her, but Miss Moka here is just a normal woman with a normal sexual orientation!"
For a moment, there was a burst of laughter from the gallery, even the judge's assistant couldn't help but chuckle.
After so many years of court sessions, it was the first time I've seen a husband accusing his wife of having an affair with another woman.