Justice Denied

My mother spent decades fighting for justice for my father. On the day of the final hearing, my husband, the city's top lawyer, ignored her trembling hands.

Lex Jordon walked away without a second thought. He was heading to a five-year reunion with his ex-girlfriend.

I knelt on the cold pavement, begging him to stay. "Please, Lex, just this once. Help my mother."

He kicked me away with an impatient scowl. "It's not the first time she's lost a case. It's just one trial. She won't die from losing it. Get lost!"

Later that day, the verdict came back against us. That night, my mother ended her life in despair.

I finally gave up on him.

But then, he was the one who ended up kneeling before me. He was drenched in tears, screaming that he was wrong.

In the silent funeral hall, my eyes were bloodshot as I knelt before my mother's altar.

My back slowly bent until my forehead hit the floor. My entire body was shaking.

Just last night, the only family I had left was gone.

There was blood everywhere. My mother lay in a red pool, gripping my hand with her last bit of strength.

"Naya, I failed your father. I'm useless. I have to watch his killers walk free. I'm so useless..."

She died with her eyes wide open, unable to find peace.

Her voice was still echoing in my ears.

I stayed in that position for a long time.

Suddenly, a phone rang. The sound was piercing in the empty hall.

"Hello?" I whispered.

"Naya Lynch, Sia's clothes are ruined. Buy a new set in your size and bring it to the Riverview Hotel. Now!"

Lex Jordon hung up before I could say a word.

His tone was commanding, as usual. He acted like I would never dare to say no to him.

I looked at my phone. There was a photo sent to me last night.

Sia Blanche was wearing a tiny bikini, leaning against Lex's shoulder.

I let out a low, hollow laugh. It was a sound filled with pure misery.

I closed my eyes, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the phone. My heart was throbbing with a dull, constant ache.

Sia Blanche was the ex-girlfriend he treated like a goddess.

For her, Lex had ignored my mother, the woman who raised him like her own son.

Five minutes before the trial, everything was ready.

The case was old and difficult. Not many lawyers were brave enough to take it.

But it was Lex's specialty. He had never lost a case in his life.

Yet, he preferred a date over my mother's life.

I had thrown away my pride. I knelt at the courthouse entrance, clutching his leg.

"I'm begging you, Lex. If she loses, she'll break. I'll do anything you want if you just finish this trial."

He struggled to pull away, but I wouldn't let go.

I remember it clearly. He got so angry that he ground the tip of his leather shoe into my chest.

"Let go of me! You have no shame!" he spat.

"Your mother has lost before. Will one case really kill her? If she wants to die, let her! Now get out of my way!"

I crawled back to him like a desperate stray, ignoring the pain in my chest. My eyes were red.

"Think about how she treated you like a son. Please, have some mercy. She can't handle another loss..."

He swung his briefcase and hit me hard on the head. Then he shouted to the crowd of onlookers.

"Look at this woman! She's cursing her own mother to die just to stop me from leaving. She's an animal!"

The people around us started pointing and whispering. They called me trash and a monster.

Lex used the chaos to push through the crowd.

"Lex! Lex!"

I lay on the ground in despair. I saw him look back with a smug smirk. He mouthed two words at me.

"You're trash."

I didn't scream or cry. I just watched him disappear without looking back. Tears fell silently down my face. My eyes went dark.

Of course, the case was lost.

My mother was so calm afterward that it terrified me. Despite my efforts to watch her, she found a way while I was out buying groceries.

She was too tired. Ten years of fighting for justice had drained her soul.

Lex's abandonment was the final blow that crushed her.

A text message pulled me back to reality.

"If you aren't here in thirty minutes, you'll regret it."

I let out a cold laugh, pushing down the bitterness in my heart.

To him, I was just a dog. A loyal pet he could control.

If I was even a second late, I'd get a slap at best. Once, in the dead of winter, he pushed me into a lake.

I had a high fever for four days after that.

He didn't even look at me. He flew across the country to celebrate Sia's birthday.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me.

I had given him six years of my life. I had nothing left to give.

I wanted to let him go. I wanted to save myself.

I grabbed the divorce papers I had prepared and headed to the hotel.

Just as I was about to knock, I heard their voices.

"You really made Naya come here with clothes? Aren't you afraid she'll get triggered and actually divorce you?"

Lex laughed casually. "It's been six years. I'm bored of her. No matter what I do, she doesn't have the guts to leave me."

"She's a dog I trained myself. She can't live without her master."

My fists clenched until my bones popped. The pain in my heart felt like needles.

I thought I was ready, but hearing it still hurt.

My face went pale, and the veins on my hands stood out.

A moment later, the door opened.

Sia was leaning against Lex, their laughter stopping abruptly.

When she saw me, Sia quickly pulled her hand back. She wiped her mouth as if trying to hide something.

She was clearly trying to make sure I noticed they had been intimate.

"I'm sorry, Naya. It's not what it looks like. We just haven't seen each other in so long..."

Lex snorted. "Why are you explaining anything to her?"

He looked me up and down, frowning. "Where are the clothes? Are you stupid? You can't even handle a simple task."

"Sign this."

I handed him the divorce papers, my face completely blank.

He glanced at them, and his expression shifted instantly.

He snatched the papers, tore them into shreds without reading a word, and threw them in my face.

"You want to divorce me? Who do you think you are? You should be grateful I even look at you!"

"Don't try this pathetic way of getting my attention!"

I watched him scream in silence.

He was the rising star of the legal world. I was just a regular designer.

He looked down on me before, and he looked down on me even more now.

His pride would never allow a "dog" to dump him.

"Fine. Sign the papers and send them to me later."

I turned around and walked away without looking back.

I just wanted a clean break.

Lex's furious voice echoed behind me.

"Naya Lynch! Do you think I actually need you?"

"Don't you dare regret this! You're nothing without me!"

Sia whispered, "Maybe you should go after her."

He gave a confident sneer. "Why bother? This is just a show to get my attention. In a few days, she'll be back on her knees begging for me to come home."

I smiled to myself. I tightened my grip on my bag and hurried toward the elevator.

Back at the house, I packed my things.

Lex had bought this place. He hated our old, small apartment, so we moved here.

Since it was over, I had no reason to stay.

I pulled a suit out from the bottom of the closet.

I had spent a year designing it for him. Every stitch was filled with my love.

What a waste. I tossed it into a trash bag.

Keeping it would only hurt my eyes.

My gaze fell on the safe in the corner.

It didn't hold legal files or deeds. It was filled with sketches of the woman he missed. Lex's secret, obsessive love for Sia.

I had found out by accident.

It was funny, really.

A millionaire lawyer who wore a cheap, old red string on his wrist every single day.

Sia had given it to him.

On our wedding day, I accidentally broke that string. He didn't hesitate to slap me in front of everyone.

I pushed the memories away. I took off my wedding ring and left it on the table.

I walked downstairs with my small suitcase.

I was finally leaving the house that held too many bad memories.

That night, I went to a bar. Maybe I had been holding it in for too long.

I downed drink after drink, trying to go numb.

Suddenly, a young guy crashed into my arms.

"Help me, please save me..."

When he looked up, my head spun.

For a split second, he looked like Lex from years agoDback when I saved Lex from some thugs.

Before I realized what I was doing, I grabbed a glass bottle from the table.

I smashed it over the head of the man chasing him.

I didn't stop. I kept swinging until there were no more bottles left.

"Get out!" I screamed.

The man, who was a head taller than me, clutched his bleeding head. He called me a psycho and ran away.

I panted, my nerves finally relaxing. I looked back at the boy.

"I'm Naya..."

He stared at me with bright eyes and suddenly gave a deep bow. "Thank you, Ms. Lynch."

I froze. No one had called me that in a long time.

I recognized him, though he probably didn't know how.

Myles Vance.

He was the new assistant Lex had hired this year. Lex had shown me his photo once, calling him a moron.

But I could see the boy wasn't stupid. He was sharp, just a bit innocent.

Because I saved him, he actually followed me all the way home.

I stood at my door, feeling helpless. "It's late. Why aren't you going home? Why are you following me?"

"I have nowhere else to go. Can you let me stay for a bit, Ms. Lynch?"

He put his hands together, blinking his puppy-dog eyes. They looked misty.

He reminded me of a stray puppy I once found.

Lex had allergies, though.

I had quit smoking for Lex. I didn't let my friends smoke around him.

Once, I brought a freezing stray dog home.

Lex was so angry he slapped me. He asked if I was trying to kill him.

I apologized and gave the dog to a friend.

Thinking of that, my heart softened. I stepped aside to let Myles in.

Once inside, he disappeared into the kitchen.

Thirty minutes later, there were three dishes and a soup on the table.

I was shocked. I took a small bite and couldn't stop.

I hadn't had a home-cooked meal in years.

Lex almost never ate at home. I usually just ordered takeout.

I got up to grab a drink, but Myles handed me a glass of warm milk instead.

He looked at me carefully. "I saw a lot of stomach medicine on the table. Maybe try some milk?"

His concern made me freeze.

So, someone actually noticed.

I used to think I wasn't being obvious enough about my pain.

I felt ridiculous for my past efforts to get Lex to care.

I gripped the warm glass. It felt like the only bit of kindness I had received in years.

"Thanks."

His eyes turned into crescents as he smiled. He had cute dimples. He started piling food into my bowl.

"Eat up, Ms. Lynch. Think of this as my rent!"

I looked down to hide my smile.

The darkness in my chest seemed to lift a little.

Unlike Lex, who was cold and arrogant, Myles loved to smile.

When he smiled, his whole face lit up. He looked like a proud, silly cat looking for affection.

He was healing me without even trying.

So, I didn't hide anything. I told him I was getting a divorce. I told him my husband was his boss, Lex Jordon.

He jumped out of his chair, looking shocked and conflicted.

I stayed calm, but my hand gripped the spoon tightly.

Suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table. My spoon fell into the bowl.

"How could Lex let you go? If you were mine, I'd hide you away so no other man could ever find you!"

"Losing you is the biggest mistake he'll ever make!"

I looked at him in surprise. He was puffing out his cheeks in anger.

I laughed, though my throat felt tight. "Am I really that good?"

Lex had never said that to me.

The words he used most were: "You're useless. Marrying you was my biggest regret."

He forgot that I was the one who used my money and connections to start his career.

Myles looked me straight in the eyes. He was dead serious.

"Ms. Lynch, you are incredible!"

He suddenly grabbed my hand and slid a handmade bracelet onto my wrist.

"This is my lucky charm. It's protected me since I was a kid. I want you to be safe and happy."

My heart skipped a beat.

His smile was so bright it almost felt like it was burning my skin.

I stared into his eyes. They were clear and honest.

I saw my reflection in them. I was the only thing he was looking at.

It felt like a ray of light was finally shining into the cracks of my soul.

I couldn't help but lean closer to him.

He looked shy, but his eyes were full of joy.

"Ms. Lynch, I'd like to be more than just your guest."

I was about to make a joke.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open.

"Naya Lynch! You've got some nerve blocking my number and hiding here..."