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.

The flight was delayed again and again due to the heavy rain.

I changed my phone number and finally got to reach Jeff.

"Jeff, Spike is my younger brother."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then he said, his voice indifferent, "Ella, think before you lie."

"I'm not lying." I tried to steady my breath. "A week ago, I made a reservation at a restaurant just to tell you that I had found my brother. I wanna talk to you about holding a..."

"You really have to go all out just to deal with Kay?" he interrupted me coldly. "Ella, be kind, OK? You're a mom, too, and you have a daughter. Don't you know how unfortunate it is for a girl to experience such a thing?

"The abuser should be punished by law, no matter how old he is, how good he is in school, and how bright the future is, still, it cannot hide the fact of his crime."

I listened to his increasingly angry tone, pinching my palm.

"What right do you have to convict him? What evidence do you have to prove it? Are you going to reverse right and wrong based on a few words from Kay and Ava?"

"No girl will falsely accuse someone at the cost of her reputation, let alone Ava.

"The law will do her right.

"Whether he's your brother or not, it doesn't change anything. Stop wasting your time."

His cold voice made me instantly speechless. I couldn't utter a word at all.

I looked at the scars on my palm that hadn't completely healed yet.

I actually forgot the pain before the scars healed.

Why am I still thinking about going to Jeff?

Because he's my husband?

Because we've been together for so many years and are family?

No. None of these are important.

What's important is his client is Kay, the one he loved when he was young.

I know what he did for her back then.

I can't believe I still have hope. I think that given we've been married for years, at least he will be fair and impartial.

I'm so delusional.

Of course, he's gonna seek justice for his Kay. Of course, he believes in Ava, her daughter. Of course, he will do everything for them.

He has promised Kay.

Spike Wade, my brother, will rot in jail.

He's a top lawyer who has never failed, and I'm sure he can do it.

But Spike doesn't deserve it.

He is such an outstanding young man.

He works so hard, and he is so excellent, sensible, and kind.

Why should he be sacrificed just so Kay can be with Jeff?

Kay wants Jeff, doesn't she?

Fine. She can have him!

I called Kay.

I told her that as long as she withdrew the lawsuit, I'd divorce Jeff.

She could be his wife.

"Ella, what are you talking about?" Kay said righteously, "Ava is the victim. I won't accept any exchange conditions.

"You got me and Jeff wrong. He is my lawyer.

"Ella, I know you don't have confidence in your marriage, but can you look at yourself for reasons? Stop thinking the worst of me again and again. I've got limited patience, you know. I'm not some pushover.

"I'm just asking Jeff to help me with the lawsuit. Please, Ella, I..."

"Why are you pleading with her?" I heard Jeff's voice.

"Ella, don't make things difficult for Kay.

"Stop making things up. I know he's not your brother. And don't use this as an excuse to obstruct justice. And don't harass my client time and time again.

"Ella, this is my final warning. If you cause trouble again, I will show no mercy. I will get back at you with the law."

"Jeff, this is the first and last time I warn you. Keep your hands off Spike, or I will never forgive you!"

Jeff seemed stunned, and I hung up the phone first.

I suddenly felt dizzy.

Overwhelming despair engulfed me, and I couldn't suppress the panic no matter what.

I knew what Jeff was capable of.

He could break down a criminal's psychological defense with his words.

He could use various inducements to make one fall into his trap.

But Spike was just an innocent teenager.

His foster parents were an honest and kind rural couple. All he wanted in life was to study well and earn money to pay for his mother's medical treatment.

I knew why he was falsely accused.

He took away Ava's opportunity to study abroad.

And Kay wanted to become Mrs. Burke.

Both Kay and Ava would be beneficiaries.

Yet Jeff was suddenly no longer that professional lawyer. He chose to take Kay's side because she was the one he loved.