Trouble in Paradise

Seemingly having forgotten that Claudia was still asleep, Nicholas slammed the door shut behind him. However, it didn't matter.

The moment I entered the room, I had already realized that she wasn't even asleep. Her eyes were closed, yet her lashes kept trembling out of anger, or perhaps something else.

I couldn't be bothered to speculate about her feelings. I had been desiring Nicholas for the past five days, and my suppressed desires burst forth like a dam breaking that night. Amidst his increasingly hard thrusts, I eventually lost consciousness.

I had arranged to meet with Cindy on Friday night. She was my client, a renowned actress who had been retired for three

years.

It was already her second appeal when I took over her case, as her first appeal for divorce had failed. At that time, her husband produced a receipt for a tie that my client had bought him, claiming that their relationship was not broken. The divorce did not go through. Now, we had to meet at a hospital for her second appeal.

"Ms. Jones, Mr. Harmon recommended you to me. He said you're as remarkable as he is, but I don't care about your age or experience.

"Just because you are a woman, I believe you can empathize with me more than those experienced men, who only know how to win cases. I trust that as long as you understand me, you will spare no effort to help me win the case." A gentle smile spread across Cindy's face. She certainly ticked all the boxes for a classic beauty, and she had also starred as the female lead in many classic films I watched as a child.

Even at 40 years old, she didn't look old. Her physique remained impeccable, and she carried herself with a refined air.

But due to her frail frame, she was swimming in her loose hospital gown. In fact, she'd also put on some light makeup to conceal her sickliness upon our meeting.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Cindy got straight to the point.

Ms Jones, I hope you can help me win this case. You will be paid handsomely."

"But you and your husband seem very loving

There were still photos of them from their youth by her bedside. If she had to spend every day gazing at her husband's photo despite her condition, I didn't believe she would cheat

Cindy flashed me a faint smile.

"I kept something from Mr. Harmon before, but I can't hide it anymore," she said calmly. Thave cancer and don't have much time left.

"It's precisely because I love my husband that I don't want to break the news to him. I chose to end my mamage with him this way.

"After our divorce, I will immediately go abroad. I'll go somewhere where he won't be able to find me and quietly wait for my life to end."

Cindy spoke slowly, and she was panting slightly after saying so much in one breath.

"I can't imagine how sad my husband would be if he knew I was sick. I don't want him to live on with memories of me. I want him to think that I was unfaithful. It's best if he remarries a healthy wife and continues living a content life." Taking my hand, Cindy grew tearful and gasped, "Ms. Jones, can you understand me?

"I do," I said softly.

How could I not understand? My situation was no different from hers, after all.

If love could be compared to a terminal illness, I was also undergoing it. I had driven everyone around me away and taken the scalpel myself, not knowing whether my course of action would lead to recovery or self-destruction. My response was like the antidote to her redemption.

It had been a year since Cindy's first lawsuit. During that year, she had gone through the agony of her sickness and losing her husband.

Overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions, Cindy grabbed my hand and cried out loud. Her tears made my entire body ache.

"Thank you, Ms. Jones. Thank you for your understanding."

I didn't advise her to trust her husband or to face their difficulties together. As an outsider and her representative, I couldn't tell her what she should do.

Having planned this for so long, it had to be the best solution she could come up with. My job was only to help her. Whether she and her husband could successfully divorce was up to the court.

After Cindy gradually regained her composure, she said, "Although I'm retired, I still have a management company of my own. In the future, my health might not allow me to engage in prolonged negotiations with you. My studio can fully represent me. "Also, my husband..." Cindy faltered. "If he does something thoughtless, don't blame him. His emotions are a bit unstable because of me."

Such words seemed to make her heart ache. As she clutched her chest, a tear trickled down her cheek.

"I feel so bad for my husband. I broke the vow we made at our wedding to stay together through sickness and health. I broke our promise," she sobbed.

As she wept, I was somehow affected by her grief, and gloom stole over me.

"Even if you two are separated and you no longer contact or interact with each other, I don't think this is the end of your love. You are just protecting each other differently. You have chosen to continue loving each other in another form!" Feeling a sense of empathy for her, I couldn't help but sigh. "Ms. Carlson, you are being loved, and so is your husband. Both of your love is selfless."

The only flaw was that they weren't parting peacefully. They had to go to court, but neither was at fault. One was a staunch supporter of love, and the other sacrificed herself for her husband's future peace.

Cindy's eyes were filled with tears. "Ms. Jones, you truly understand me."Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I responded with a reassuring expression.

Cindy collected herself and continued, "And also, my image has plummeted because

I chose to publicly expose myself for infidelity. I didn't let my studio intervene.

because I didn't want my husband to draw too much attention.

"If you take on my case, you may need to tolerate some of this. But don't pay attention to the public's opinion. I will make sure that you'll be satisfied with the payment."

To my surprise, she trod around the topic despite being a legendary actress who had been on top for decades.

"Don't worry, I don't mind at all." After all, I had nothing to lose and I never considered going easy on myself.