Eight Lawsuits for a Dog and Divorce

My lawyer husband, Evan Henderson, has sued me for the eighth time over the custody of our pet dog. During the trial, Evan finally yields to me by texting me on the phone. "You can name any condition you want as long as you agree to give the dog to Minnie." Evan used to be a fair and just person. After all, he stood by and watched my dad get framed and thrown into prison just to avoid any suspicion of favoritism. To think that he has gone ahead and fabricated up to 26 pieces of evidence just so he can help Minerva Henderson steal the custody of our pet dog… Not only has he fabricated the dog's birth certificate, but he's also forged the purchasing history of the dog. I refuse to let my dog go, which is why I've argued with him about this matter seven times. But what stuns everyone is the fact that I choose not to make a statement. "I'm not going to fight for custody anymore." After that, I send Evan a text. "My only condition is that you reopen my dad's financial crime case for me." Evan heaves a sigh of relief from the plaintiff's podium. But what he doesn't know is that there's a divorce agreement included in the pile of custody-transfer paperwork he signed earlier. Chapter 1 "Hand over the account's password to me. I'm going to terminate the account right now," Evan said to me in a commanding tone after catching up to me outside the court. He kept thinking that the reason I managed a pet-based account was so that I could earn more views. But what he couldn't see was that my shots were filled with his presence. I merely wanted to capture more of our happy moments together. I handed over my phone and watched as Evan tapped on the "account deletion" button without hesitation. Just like that, the account that had almost a million fans was terminated. "If you were to keep this account around, those die-hard fans of yours would definitely cause trouble for Minnie. Prevention is better than cure, you know." After that, Evan dangled the forged evidence in front of my eyes before tossing it into a nearby trash can. His lips curled into a smug smile, as though he had just won a battle. Unfortunately, I was the loser in this battle. Minerva Henderson, who was holding Peachie's leash, ducked into Evan's arms at that moment. She looked so sweet, docile, and utterly lovable. "Ev, I promise that this is the last time I shall act so wilfully." Then, she blinked at me pleadingly. "I really, really love Peachie with all my heart! Surely you won't blame me, right Syrena? Why don't you forgive me, then?" Minerva tilted her head tauntingly at me afterward. Obviously, she didn't feel guilty in the slightest. Peachie was the Samoyed that Evan and I had raised since its puppy days. He was present throughout our eight-year relationship—from when we were still acquaintances to when we got married. Evan once told me, "Syrena, we'll keep Peachie with us forever. You're the mom, and I'm the dad." I can't help clenching my fists tightly at the memory. But Evan patted Minerva on the head dotingly, his voice now gentle. "You'll get whatever you want, much less a dog." After the account got deleted, my fans went berserk on the Internet. "The account owner is the one raising Peachie all this time! How could he belong to someone else?" "Could this be a publicity stunt?" "That woman plans on stealing the dog from the account owner, and yet the lawyer insists on helping her?" Minerva's expression twisted into one of awkwardness, so Evan immediately got her out of the muddy situation by clarifying things on the Internet. "My wife lost her mother when she was young. Now, her father is in prison. It's only normal for her to yearn for love, which is why she refuses to return my adoptive sister's dog to her." Just like that, Evan spilled the beans on my humiliating background to the fans in a righteous manner. Soon, my phone was flooded with hate messages. Meanwhile, Evan wrapped an arm around Minerva's shoulders while steering her forward. Both of them were chatting animatedly as well. "Peachie's white fur mirrors your pale skin." "How dare you call me a dog! You're the actual dog here!" Evan walked even further after that. It was only natural that he didn't notice me texting the hospital. "Hi, I'd like to book an appointment for a medical abortion." Chapter 2 The next day, Evan and I had already promised that we'd discuss the matter of reopening Dad's financial crime case. But I ended up waiting for him outside his office for three long hours. That was when Evan's secretary walked over to me, her expression conflicted. "Mr. Henderson said he won't be able to make it back for quite some time due to urgent matters on his end, so…" I had been carrying a stack of evidence papers that was half my height. Upon hearing the secretary's words, I felt strength drain from my arms, causing the papers to scatter across the floor. There were only three days left before the statute of limitations on my dad's case expired. Wretchedly, I sank down on my knees to pick up the papers. That was when a notification popped up on my phone, telling me that Minerva had uploaded a new post on her social media feed. The background in the photo she just uploaded was a vet clinic. Apparently, Evan was keeping her company there while Peachie got dewormed by the vet. "I told him that I could make this trip on my own, and yet he insisted on skipping out on his work just to stay with me. Is this what it feels like to be cared for?" Last year, Evan refused to step into the hospital when my appendicitis acted up. All he told me was, "I hate the smell of disinfectants." I could only grip my phone so tightly that my fingertips turned white. After that, I tried contacting other lawyers, only to get turned down tactfully. "Mr. Henderson told us before that since you're his wife, us helping you means that you're taking the easy way out. I don't think this is a good idea…" As I carried the stack of evidence that I had spent many sleepless nights collecting, I walked home on my own while bracing against the wind. Evan only came home in the evening. I was already sitting on the couch by then. "Didn't you promise me that you'd agree to my condition to reopen my dad's case?" Evan took off his jacket before pinching the spot between his brows tiredly. "Although your dad is framed, the plaintiff has an assortment of evidence in his sleeve. The evidence might be forged, but it's also undeniably flawless. "Besides, I'm very busy during this period. Can't you let me catch my breath before bringing this topic up?" I felt my words lodge in my throat. Just now, I came across the couple-run pet account that Evan and Minerva had created. The latest video featured them taking Peachie to the lake, where they rode bicycles together. Then, they watched the sunset together before going home. The comment section was filled with nothing but praise. "Look at how bright the guy's smile is! He looks nothing like his depressed-looking self from the previous account! Now this is what I call a real couple!" "I bet he was just partnering up with the other lady in the previous account. Their interactions looked fake as hell." "Real couples are the real deal, yo! Thank goodness he already terminated his contract with the owner of the previous account!" In any case, Evan didn't seem busy in the slightest. I carried the heavy stack of evidence papers and plopped them onto the table loudly. Doing my best to suppress the bitterness in my heart, I said, "You can deal with your matters in the next two days. Just make sure to show up at the court on the day after tomorrow." Evan rejected me immediately. "The day after tomorrow is a no-go for me. It's Minnie's birthday that day." Before I could say anything, Evan added, "Tomorrow is a hell-no for me too. I already promised Minnie that we'd shoot the next video together. In fact, I need to write the script in advance." I couldn't help but choke out, "My dad can't wait this long! He has heart disease, you know!" Evan just closed his eyes in exasperation. "Syrena, don't blame me for being blunt with you. Honestly speaking, your dad's case is all about a financial dispute. A few years later, he'll be free from prison. There's absolutely no need for you to waste my time with his case." I raised my head to stare at Evan in shock. A short while later, I finally realized that he was the one telling me such cruel things. Before I could retort, Evan's phone started ringing abruptly. Right after he answered the call, his expression shifted dramatically. "What? Your gastritis is acting up again? Okay, I'll be right there!" When Evan was about to leave, I quickly gripped him by the hem of his shirt. "I want to let you know that I'm—" The next thing I knew, Evan shoved me away violently. "You can tell me whatever it is tomorrow! Minnie is in so much pain right now that she can barely speak! She's in critical condition right now!" Just like that, Evan walked away without looking back. Thanks to his shove, my belly crashed into a corner of the table. Warmth instantly seeped through my pants. It was a smear of bright red. "Evan…" As soon as I started calling for help, I saw the door getting slammed right in front of my eyes. Chapter 3 The next time I opened my eyes, I found out that I was lying in a hospital ward. "Thank goodness the maid who's hired to clean your home took you to the hospital, Ms. Fairfield. I've just performed the D&C procedure on you, so you should rest." As the doctor read my report, his brows knit together into a deep frown. "Also…" He lowered his voice. "Your constitution is weak, making it very difficult for you to get pregnant, to begin with. But because of this ordeal, it'll be impossible for you to get pregnant from now on." I could only grip my blanket as my heart throbbed in pain. The surprise baby whom I had yet to introduce to this world ended up becoming the remnants of my nightmare. The doctor paused. "Where's your husband? I'd like to give him some medical advice regarding your condition." I merely shook my head silently. I had called Evan three times earlier, so he had already turned off his phone. … That night, I returned home. As soon as I stepped through the front door, Peachie shook off the leash and came barreling into me. Minerva covered her mouth in surprise. "I'm so sorry, Syrena! I was in the middle of training Peachie to keep watch at home against home invaders! I didn't think that you'd come back at this time!" I propped a hand against the wall, feeling pain erupting from my wound. Since it wasn't healed yet, it got torn apart again. To me, it felt as though someone was scraping my insides with a knife. Evan didn't even bother glancing at me. Instead, he patted Minerva on the head. "It's the dog's fault, not yours. Don't take it to heart." Peachie's white fur floated everywhere in the apartment. Evan was germaphobic, so he used to demand that I keep Peachie locked up in a cage throughout the years. "If I ever see a strand of fur at home, you can forget about keeping Peachie." But now, everything was a mess at home, and yet Evan didn't think much about it. Instead, he frowned at me. "Why didn't you clean up the spilled ketchup? Do you have any idea that Minnie almost slipped after stepping on it? What the hell were you doing?" As I stared at the puddle of blood on the floor, which Evan had mistaken for ketchup, I could only clutch my stomach. "It's none of your business." Evan's expression froze on his face momentarily. But soon, he cleared his throat. "Minnie wants to record videos at home. I've been busy with the recording and the editing, so I don't have time to deal with you." My dad's case had been tormenting me to no end. On top of that, I just lost my baby. Meanwhile, Evan spent all his time with Minerva while editing her videos for her. In the past, he kept claiming that he didn't know how to edit. He didn't even want to put in effort just to learn that skill. Ironically enough, he was also the one who stayed up all night editing every frame and shot in Minerva's videos. I didn't argue with Evan, nor did I bother starting a fight. Instead, I slowly limped back to my room, where I dug out the evidence folder. Evan followed me into the room. "I'll start the trial next week, if you can afford to wait. I'll have time by then." I didn't bother glancing at him. "I can't wait that long." There were only two days left. Once the statute of limitations was over, Dad would have to spend the next three years in prison. He had a pre-existing heart condition that could flare up at any moment. Evan's expression darkened instantly. "Can't you be more understanding? Minnie is still young, so I can't leave her alone. I'm her adoptive brother; is it my fault for wanting to take care of her?" I found myself starting to choke on my words. "My dad is still in prison despite his old age. He needs someone to take care of him too!" Evan was starting to lose his patience. "Honestly speaking, it's precisely due to his old age that he should be serving time in prison. In a way, he's not causing us any trouble at all!" I was stunned, to say the least. Before Evan could apologize to me, I grabbed my stuff and left immediately. But Minerva moved to stand in my way. She stuck out three fingers and connected them, making a cheeky swear gesture. "Syrena, I swear that I will never disturb you two next week no matter how big my plight is! Even if Ev insists on keeping me company, I'll definitely turn him down!" I let out a bitter chuckle at her words. "There's no need for that. I refuse to believe that I can't seek out a lawyer who's not connected to you in this whole wide world, Evan Henderson." After that, I turned on my heel and left. "Syrena Fairfield!" Evan called out to me loudly. Still, I never looked back. The moment I walked into an elevator, my cousin, Barney Wiles, who worked in the prison, suddenly called me on the phone. "Syrena, the guy who framed your dad insisted on extending his prison sentence to five years! Because of that, your dad went into cardiac arrest earlier!" Chapter 4 When I reached the prison's entrance, I was trembling uncontrollably. In fact, I almost sank down to my knees right outside the prison. Barney hurriedly approached me. "He's fine for now. A doctor's treating your dad as we speak. But the thing is, he's in a bad spot mentally. If his sentence were to get extended by five years, I think he…" Almost immediately, I felt my blood turning into ice in my veins. There wasn't time for me to contact other lawyers, so I had to swallow my pride and call Evan. "My dad got framed by the same jerk again. You know everything about his case. Please defend my dad at court, okay? Please, I'm begging you…" But Evan's voice was glacial. "As soon as you run into problems, your first instinct is to ask someone for help. Didn't you mention that you could find lawyers other than me? "And here I am, thinking that you've finally learned to stand on your own feet instead of relying on me." My fingers were trembling the whole time. This time, I was outright begging Evan. "Just this once, okay? If you do that, I owe you one!" Evan remained silent for a long moment. Finally, he gave me an audible response. "I'm just throwing out what-ifs here, so don't call me heartless. But what if your dad really embezzled the company's funds back then? You have to be careful, Syrena. Don't drag both of us into the mud because of him." After that, the phone call got disconnected. The recurring dial tone extinguished the last trace of hope I still clung to. I slumped onto the pavement helplessly. There, I kept dialing different numbers on my phone. I had tried calling all the law firms in the city, but… "I'm so sorry, Ms. Fairfield." "We don't know much about this case. It'll take us at least one week just to get acquainted with this case's details. We wouldn't be able to make it to the trial if the case were to be reopened right now." When I was on the brink of breaking down, I saw a text message from Evan popping up on my phone screen. "Send me your coordinates. I'm coming over right now." Elation washed over me instantly. After sending my coordinates to Evan, I turned down all the other lawyers who had taken the initiative to reach out to me. At the same time, I kept praying deep down that Evan would be able to win the case for me later. But I ended up waiting for Evan for the next three hours. Yet, he never showed up. I called him twice during the period, only for him to reject my calls. Instead, a text message popped up on my screen. "Minnie got hurt because Peachie bit her. I'm keeping her company while she receives a rabies injection, so I can't go to you right now." I heard my mind buzzing loudly. Next, I saw another message. "I'll introduce a few lawyers to you. They are all pretty decent at their job. Why don't you reach out to them instead?" A list of phone numbers was texted to me right after. Evan never texted me back since then. I could feel my blood starting to freeze in my veins. At that moment, I received more news from a staff member working at the prison. "Mr. Fairfield's heart condition acted up all of a sudden. Unfortunately, the treatment administered to him didn't work, so he passed away in the infirmary. You have our condolences, Ms. Fairfield." In the infirmary, I saw Dad's wrinkled face being covered by a white sheet. His body lay on the bed stiffly. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The next thing I knew, I crashed down on my knees heavily. The sobs which were stifled in my throat escaped from my lips in a guttural fashion. After all, the only family member I had in this world left me… Some time later, I wiped away my tears and produced the divorce agreement which bore Evan's signature. Then, I signed the document quietly before blocking all of Evan's contact information. … [Third Person's POV] When Evan finally returned to his office, he belatedly recalled that he still had Syrena's dad's case to deal with. "Bring me my father-in-law's case files. I'd like to see if I can get the case reopened and taken to court again." His assistant, Paul Miller, however, lowered his head. A few moments later, he stammered out, "Mr. Fairfield couldn't withstand the stress of getting framed. The surgery meant to save his life ended up in failure, and he passed away as a result." Upon hearing Paul's report, Evan sprang to his feet. "Also…" Paul handed over a miscarriage report. "Mrs. Henderson wants you to have this." All it took was one glance at the report for Evan's expression to change drastically.