My Lawyer Wife Defended Her Lover So I Took Her Every Cent

The college student next door hit my car with his bike for the thirteenth time.

He was flushed, his worn-out sweatshirt emphasizing his status, his hands rubbing together nervously.

In the past, Id always been lenient. I'd waved it off.

But this time, he barely glanced at me.

Guys should be cool about stuff like this, right? Its just a scratch. Youre rich, you wouldnt seriously stick it to a poor student like me, would you?

Suddenly, I felt a deep, profound sense of exhaustion.

Lets go through the legal channels, I said, my voice flat.

Full compensation, including the previous nine incidents. Total: three million dollars.

He froze, then his face contorted. He pointed a shaking finger at me.

Three million? Youre just trying to take advantage of me because Im poor!

My girlfriends a lawyer. Im not scared of you.

I didn't think much of it until the day of the preliminary hearing.

A perfectly manicured woman was cooing, stroking his arm.

My baby finally decided to announce my official status as his girlfriend, did he?

As a reward, how about I send him and his corporate stooge of a lawyer straight to the cleaners? Sound good?

The woman speaking was my wifeVeronica Stonethe undefeated litigator, who was supposed to be in Zurich on a high-stakes case.

1.

Seriously? But hes so loaded, and he acts like such an arrogant prick. Cody spoke with a heavy, performative self-pity. Im just a student. How could I ever win against him?

Veronica leaned in and pressed a loud kiss to his cheek.

You dont trust anyone else, but you trust your girlfriend, right, hmm?

Who is your girlfriend? Im the Veronica Stone. The most feared litigator in the city. Ill make him grovel, baby. How about that?

Cody finally cracked a smile. Deal.

Take down that pretentious old guy!

Anything for my man. Im utterly obsessed with you, my love.

I watched the two of them for a long moment, then slowly reached for my phone.

Veronica saw my name flash on her screen and instinctively frowned. She waited a beat, then moved slightly away from Cody and answered.

What is it, Grant? Did you miss me already? I just left. Her voice was sickeningly sweet.

Where are you? I cut straight to the chase.

She paused for a fraction of a second.

In Zurich, of course. I text you every day, dont I? she said, her tone suddenly clipped.

I have to go. My client will throw a fit if I keep him waiting.

I watched her smile vanish, her expression snapping back to stone-cold professionalism as she hung up.

Cody immediately leaned in. Who was that?

Veronica gave him a quick peck. No one important. What, are you jealous?

I stood there, just out of their line of sight, watching them play the part of two smitten young lovers. My heart seized up, a cold, heavy ache settling in my chest.

I didn't show up in court that day. I sent my assistant instead.

That evening, I went home.

I sat on the sofa, scrolling through old photos of Veronica and me, every memory of our life together turning to ash in my mind.

Veronica graduated top of her class and rocketed to the top of her field. Everyone called us a power couplethe golden boy and the brilliant barrister.

Until that day, I had believed them.

I gave a short, self-mocking laugh.

Then, a text notification flashed on my phone.

Cody. He was gloating.

Whats the point of having so much money, you ugly bastard? No one even loves you.

My girlfriend is beautiful and she adores me.

Following the text were a dozen intimate photos: hands intertwined, faces pressed together, the easy, comfortable familiarity of a true couple.

The final image was the official verdict. Hed won.

I stared at the judgment slip. Every word on it felt like a direct, personal sneer.

Before I could process it, Veronica called.

Grant Harrington, what is wrong with you? A man almost thirty trying to ruin a nineteen-year-old kid? Her voice was laced with moral outrage.

How could you be so vicious as to demand three million dollars?

I smiled then. So, she knew the opposing party was me. She knew the entire story, yet she still chose to use her formidable skill to secure his victory. A true tier-one lawyer.

I hung up without a word and called my company attorney.

Im sorry, Mr. Harrington, but we simply couldnt beat your wife.

Thats fine, I said.

I have another case. I might need your help again.

My attorney paused. What case? Why not go through Veronica?

I spoke slowly, deliberately.

A divorce case.

She is the opposing party.

2.

Veronica finally came home three days later.

I gave her a cold look, then turned to walk away.

Oh, come on, honey. Are you still mad?

I know my temper was bad the other day, and I apologize. It was just an impulse. Seeing Cody reminded me of when I was in college, struggling just to afford food. I felt sorry for him.

She carefully avoided any mention of her relationship with Cody.

We dont need that money, Grant. Think of it as charity. We helped a poor kid.

I simply stood there, watching her.

She tugged my hand and insisted we go out. As a peace offering, she wanted to buy me the expensive watch Id been considering.

I didnt want to go, but I had been cooped up in the house too long.

We walked into The Chronos Gallery. The sales associate rushed over.

Mr. Harrington, great to see you! And Mrs. Harrington, welcome back!

She enthusiastically showed me the new limited-edition timepieces.

Veronica hooked her arm through mine. Honey, I know this is your favorite brand. Pick anything you want. Its on me. My way of saying sorry for being such a pain.

The associates were whispering nearby.

Veronica is so good to you, Mr. Harrington.

You two are always featured in Town & Country as the citys ultimate power couple.

A power couple?

I let out a short, cynical laugh.

My desire to shop had vanished. I just grabbed the closest watch I saw.

Just then, Cody appeared, rushing over with an expression of manufactured delight. He threw his arms around Veronica.

Winnie, what are you doing here?

Wow, that watch is gorgeous!

He reached out and immediately grabbed the one in my hand.

The sales associates froze, exchanging uneasy glances.

I looked at Codys face. He clearly knew who I was nowVeronicas husbandyet he showed zero inhibition.

No. He probably knew from the start.

I chuckled, then pulled the watch from his grasp and held it out to him.

Nice, right? Half a million dollars. You couldnt earn this if you worked yourself to death for ten years.

Codys smile faltered, and his eyes dropped. He didnt say anything, just stared at Veronica with a look of wounded, self-pitying vulnerability. After a moment, he spoke.

I cant afford it. I know that.

But you dont have to look down on me, Mr. Harrington. So what if Im poor? Do the poor not deserve to live?

Ill go. I wont bother you rich, high-and-mighty people anymore.

Veronicas brows furrowed. The patience shed used to placate me was gone.

Who says he cant afford it? Ill buy this watch for him.

She reached into her purse and threw a cheap plastic novelty watchthe kind youd find in a vending machineinto my lap.

You wear this instead.

Go home and think about yourself. When did you become such a snob, looking down on people just because theyre struggling?

Youre just a parasite, Grant, riding on the back of your familys money. Ten years from now, Cody will be twice the man you are.

She turned and chased after Cody, leaving me alone in the gallery.

The sales associates looked at me with a mixture of pity and awkwardness.

I watched her back, and my heart gave a strange, small contraction. It was a dull, persistent ache, like being pricked with thousands of tiny needles.

I lowered my eyes, masking my expression, then pulled out my phone. I took photos of the watchs purchase record and a picture of Veronica and Cody hugging in the street below.

Attorney Palmer, I texted. Adultery evidence.

3.

Received.

I saw the confirmation from Attorney Palmer, then dropped my gaze and put the phone away.

The store associate timidly approached me.

Mr. Harrington, that watch is a global limited edition. Its gone now. Do you do you still want to keep your photo up?

My eyes drifted to the photo displayed on the shelf near the register.

It was a picture of Veronica and me, taken right after college graduation. I had spent my first three months salary, saved from eating instant noodles, to buy her the cheapest watch in that store.

When I gave it to her, she had cried and hugged me, saying:

Grant, I swear I will love you forever. We are going to have the most successful, most beautiful future together, I promise.

Years later, Veronica no longer wore that watch, but it remained in my closet. Every time I saw it, I was transported back to that moment, utterly immersed in the future she had promised.

Now, we were both successful and wealthy. That photo felt like a physical slap across my face.

Mr. Harrington? the assistant prompted.

Her voice yanked me back from the memory. My gaze fell on the smiling, clueless man in the photothe man who never imagined a day like this.

Tear it down, I said.

It doesnt matter anymore.

A useless photo. Just like a useless relationship.

I turned away, twirling my phone in my hand, and walked out of the store without looking back.

I spent three hours by the ocean, watching the tide roll in and out.

Seven yearsfrom our first date in college to our weddingplayed out in slow motion in my mind. The dull ache in my heart, which had been churning like the water, finally subsided into a cold, complete stillness.

I sent her a text.

Tomorrow is our seventh anniversary. I think we need to talk.

Veronica didnt reply.

Cody, however, posted a story.

He showed off the limited-edition watch Veronica had just given him, with the caption:

The one who truly loves you will cross any obstacle to bring you joy.

In love, only the unloved one is the side piece.

A moment later, I saw Veronicas like underneath the post.

I gave a bitter laugh. She had time for social media but no time to answer my text.

It didn't matter. I no longer cared.

Just then, my phone rang with a video call request. It was Cody.

Guess where I am, Grant?

You rich people are something else. Your dog eats better than I do. Why should an animal live better than me?

In the video, Cody was standing inside my villa. My Siberian Husky, Snowball, whom I had raised since he was a puppy, was being held tight in his arms.

What are you doing? Let him go.

Snowball was aggressive with strangers. He struggled violently in Cody's arms, perhaps recognizing my voice. He thrashed harder. Cody clamped down on his neck. Snowball twisted his head and bit Codys hand hard.

I watched Codys triumphant expression warp into a sneer of rage.

Stupid mutt.

Humans look down on me, and now you look down on me too.

Cody violently slammed Snowball down, then kicked the dog hard in the ribs.

I grabbed my keys and ran like a madman.

Dont you touch him!

The ten-minute drive from the ocean to my house took me five.

But I was still too late.

I burst through the front door and saw Snowball lying on the marble floor, his eyes wide with tears, whimpering softly. It was the sound he made only when he was in excruciating pain.

My heart was instantly pierced.

Cody! Let him go! Get away from him!

Cody turned and grinned at me.

Mr. Harrington is home. Your place is huge, man. But your dog is a little naughty.

Oh, right. You came rushing back like that just for this dog, didnt you?

He looked down at Snowball, his eyes turning cold and vicious. He laughed at me.

Hold on. Ill send him down to you right now.

The look on his face filled me with a sudden, suffocating sense of dread.

No

4.

But it was too late. Cody stood on the second-floor balcony and, right in front of me, tossed Snowball over the railing.

Thump.

I watched, helpless, as the dog I had raised and loved like family hit the ground and lay there, lifeless.

Snowball! I screamed, a raw sound of sheer despair.

I saw his eyes. They were slowly closing. His paw was stretched toward me, as if he wanted one last hug.

But he was too far. The place he fell was too far away for me to reach him.

Then, his eyes finally closed.

The immense pain blanked my mind for a few seconds. Hatred and sorrow twisted into a single, overwhelming knot.

Cody looked from the corpse of Snowball to me, and he began to laugh maniacally.

Hes dead? Good, the bastard deserved it.

Why should an animal live better than me? I didnt mean to kill him at first, but

I sprinted up the stairs, pure animalistic rage driving me. I lunged at Cody, my hand raised high.

Who told you to touch him? Who gave you the right?

My fist never landed. A figure slammed between us.

Veronica glared at me, her face a mask of cold fury. In all our years together, I had never seen her look at me that wayfor another man.

What are you doing, Grant!

I was shaking, barely able to speak. I pointed a trembling finger at Snowballs corpse below.

Who let this man in my house? He just threw my dog to his death!

Cody shook his head at Veronica.

Im sorry, Winnie. The dog suddenly went crazy and bit me, then it jumped over the railing on its own.

He held up his hand, exposing the puncture marks from Snowballs teeth.

Veronicas eyes hardened. She shoved my shoulder hard, forcing me to stumble back.

Your dog! If Cody is seriously hurt, I swear Ill make you pay.

The sharp corner of a decorative coat rack caught me in the gut. The pain doubled me over.

Veronica didnt even glance at me. She grabbed Codys hand.

Are you okay?

Cody shook his head, looking pitiful.

I didnt mean it, Winnie. Ive just never been in such a big house, and I was looking around.

The dog just lunged at me. II

He was cut off by Veronica, who called her driver to take him to the hospital immediately.

I grabbed at her pants, trying to suppress the nausea and the searing pain in my stomach, clinging to one last, desperate hope.

Maybe Snowball could still be saved.

Take Snowball to the vet. Emergency. Please.

She didnt look at me. Her voice was flat, emotionless.

Its just an animal. Its dead. Good riddance.

Watching them leave, the tears finally fell. They were not for Veronica. They were for Snowball, and for the seven years of my life I had wasted on a lie.

Before Cody turned the corner, he looked at me, a victorious sneer plastered on his face. He mouthed two words.

I understood them perfectly.

Side piece.

The unloved one is the side piece.

5.

I woke up in the hospital three days later. My assistant was sitting beside the bed.

He looked like he wanted to say something but held back.

Boss

Veronica hadnt visited. Not once in two days.

I closed my eyes and spoke, my voice raspy.

Call the police.

Assistant: Yes, sir.

Veronica arrived soon after the police left.

Her face was dark, her eyes burning with irritation. Her first words were a reprimand.

Hes a college student, Grant. He hasnt even graduated. You called the police? What about his future?

I looked at her, my expression blank.

The moment he killed my dog, he chose his future.

I want him to be held accountable for what he did.

Her voice was cold. I never thought youd become this kind of man. You rich people really have no souls.

Im here, Grant. You cant touch him.

You know what Im capable of. I never lose a case. And I wont let Cody lose this one.

She turned and left.

A day later, I received a court summons.

Veronica, acting on Codys behalf, was suing me for willfully allowing my pet dog to injure a person.

For any other lawyer, this case would be impossible to win.

But she was Veronica Stone.

She had never lost a case. She was the standard-bearer for the entire legal profession.

People used to envy me for having such a brilliant wife.

I never imagined she would weaponize that brilliance against me.

Sure enough, the verdict came down. I lost. Completely.

The court ordered me to pay Cody 0-000,000 for mental distress, medical bills, and emotional trauma. Furthermore, I was found guilty of allowing a pet to intentionally injure a person, and if the plaintiff did not forgive me, I could face a fifteen-day detention.

I stared at the judgment notice. Although Id convinced myself I was over her, a faint, cold pain still registered in my chest.

I hadn't believed Veronica could be so utterly ruthless toward me.

She was so concerned about protecting Codys reputation that she never considered the consequences for mine.

If thats how it is, then so be it.

Veronica, I want absolutely nothing to do with you ever again.

I called Attorney Palmer and sent over the final piece of evidence of Veronicas infidelity.

........

Veronica smiled when Attorney Palmer came to see her.

Grant realized his mistake, didnt he? I only did this to teach him a lesson. I wouldnt actually let him get detained.

Tell him Ill be home tonight. As for what happened before

Attorney Palmer interrupted her before she could finish.

Ms. Stone, this is from Mr. Harrington. Please take a look.

Veronicas smile widened. Is he trying to surprise me?

Oh, Grant. He didnt need to go through all this trouble. He just needed to

Her voice stopped as the documents slipped out of the envelope and onto the floor.

She stared at the papers, frozen.