When Justice Becomes the Victim

My father-in-law Paul was killed by my wife's male assistant who ran a red light, but the verdict ruled that my father-in-law was committing fraud by staging an accident.

I filed lawsuits three times, and lost all three times.

Just as I was preparing for my fourth appeal, I discovered that my father-in-law's body had been stolen.

I was about to call the police when my wife Corinna, a lawyer, suddenly came to me and threw twenty thousand dollars at me:

"You should know I've never lost a case. No matter how much evidence you have, you'll never win this lawsuit. You keep appealing just to squeeze out more compensation money. I already had someone sell your dad's body to the black market. Got twenty thousand totalat least his life was used to its fullest potential."

"Stop harassing Anthony endlessly. He's being merciful by not making you pay for the car repairs."

I finally understood why Corinna had been defending the perpetrator all alongshe thought the person who was killed was my dad.

I pushed the money back to her:

"You'd better keep this money. I have no right to take it."

Corinna thought I was refusing. Her voice shot up:

"Twenty thousand isn't enough for you?"

"James, get it through your headyour dad was just an unemployed bum. Being able to earn twenty thousand with his life is already a great deal. Don't push your luck!"

I shook my head:

"You've got it wrong. What I mean is, this is money you earned from your family member. Only you have the right to take it."

Corinna frowned deeply, her face full of disgust:

"This is money from selling your dad's body. What does that have to do with me?"

"You think I'm like you, needing this kind of blood money?"

Corinna came from a single-parent family.

Her mother died early, and Paul raised her from infancy, feeding and caring for her through everything.

To fulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer, Paul worked multiple jobs a day, wearing his body down with all kinds of ailments.

Corinna saw it all and had always been extremely devoted to Paul.

At first, I didn't understand why Corinna stopped coming home the moment Paul died, focusing all her energy on being the defense lawyer for Anthony, the perpetrator.

Turns out it was because she thought the person who died was my dad.

I looked at Corinna with complete seriousness:

"Corinna, I advise you to return this twenty thousand dollars and get your dad's body back. He worked so hard to raise you."

I thought I'd been obvious enough, but Corinna still didn't understand. She said angrily:

"Are you out of your mind? When did your dad ever raise me?"

"And you think the black market is some kind of place where you can just redeem things you sold?"

"By now your dad's body has definitely been chopped into pieces. How could you possibly get it back? Just take the money and stop making a scene!"

Paul wasn't my biological father.

But he was a perfectly good person who was killed for no reason, forced to bear the label of fraud, and even had his body sold to the black market by his own daughter to be dismembered.

Thinking of his tragic fate, my eyes reddened.

"Corinna, you know how the black market handles bodies, yet you had the heart to sell Dad's body there to be desecrated? Are you even human?"

Corinna smirked: "It's your dad, not mine. Why wouldn't I have the heart?"

"Besides, dead people can't feel pain. Being able to sell to the black market for money at least gave your dad some value."

"Who told him not to watch where he was walking? Getting hit was bad enough, but he also gave Anthony nightmares for days!"

Looking at Corinna's self-righteous attitude, I found it hard to imagine what her reaction would be if she knew the dead person was her father.

Seeing I hadn't responded, Corinna continued:

"Honestly, I always thought your dad had the face of someone who'd die young. Even if he hadn't been hit, he wouldn't have lived long anyway."

"Getting twenty thousand nowyou should be satisfied!"

"Take the money and go to the office tomorrow with some gifts to apologize to Anthony. Then we can put this behind us."

With that, Corinna left the money and turned to leave.

Watching Corinna's resolute departing figure.

I suddenly realized that the great lawyer who once fought for justice had now rotted through completely.

This marriage should end too.

The next day, I drafted divorce papers and went to her law firm.

As soon as I entered the office, I saw Corinna, who had severe germophobia, kneeling on one knee, gently massaging Anthony's feet with tender movements.

In her eyes was a tenderness I'd never seen before.

The moment Anthony saw me, he immediately acted panicked:

"James, don't misunderstand. I, I twisted my ankle, and Corinna was kind enough to massage it for me."

As he spoke, he pulled his foot back and tugged at Corinna, his tone urgent:

"Corinna, explain quickly! I don't want to lose my job..."

Corinna affectionately patted his back, softly reassuring him:

"Don't worry, he's here to apologize to you."

Then she looked at me with disgust, her tone cold:

"Didn't I tell you to bring some gifts? Why are you empty-handed?"

"At your age, you don't even know how to apologize properly?"

Too lazy to argue with her, I coldly pulled out the divorce agreement from my bag and handed it to Corinna:

"Sign it. We're getting divorced."

Corinna looked at the divorce agreement and froze for a moment.

Then she frowned in anger: "What are you up to now?"

"You know my dad only recognizes you as his son-in-law. He'd never agree to us divorcing."

"You're pulling this stunt just to get my dad to scold me, aren't you?"

So she still had her father in her heart after all.

I pulled a bitter smile and said coldly: "Your dad will never scold you again."

Corinna's expression changed slightly. She asked: "What do you mean?"

I looked grave: "Go home and see for yourself."

Corinna glared at me impatiently: "Stop being so cryptic with me."

"So what if your dad died? Why are you still going on about it?"

"Get lost. Don't embarrass yourself at my office. I'm not divorcing you!"

Seeing this, Anthony, who had been watching the whole time, suddenly wiped away non-existent tears and sobbed theatrically:

"James, even though I bought my license and I'm not a good driver, that day really wasn't my fault!"

"Are you bringing up divorce now to threaten Corinna into sending me to prison?!"

Anthony spoke as if he were the real victim who'd suffered the greatest injustice.

That tearful appearance broke Corinna's heart.

She pulled Anthony into her arms:

"Anthony, don't cry. As long as I'm here, you'll never go to prison."

Then she glared at me furiously:

"James, Anthony is still a kid. Do you have to target him like this?"

"You think threatening me with divorce will make me stop defending Anthony? Dream on!"

"Let me tell you, your dad died for nothing, and you won't get a penny in compensation, let alone harm a single hair on Anthony's head!"

Watching Corinna stand against me to protect the perpetrator who killed her own father.

I couldn't help but feel sad for my father-in-law again.

Forget it. Since even his own daughter had taken this stance, what was there for me, an outsider, to say?

I took a deep breath and said word by word:

"I'm getting this divorce no matter what."

Corinna angrily tore up the divorce agreement on the spot, threw the pieces in the air, and said through gritted teeth:

"You want a divorce that badly?"

"Fine! I'll grant your wish!"

"But let me tell you, even if we divorce, I'll be the one drafting the agreement. I'll make you lose all reputation and leave with nothing!"

"And I'll make my dad see clearly that the son-in-law he liked is nothing but a vicious man who uses his own father's death to scam money and sue for profit!"

Through the fluttering paper scraps, I saw Corinna's ruthless, determined eyes.

And the barely noticeable triumphant smile at the corner of Anthony's mouth.

In the end, I said nothing and turned to leave the law firm.

After returning home, I silently began packing my belongings.

Just as I was dragging my suitcase downstairs to the apartment complex.

A large group of people suddenly swarmed toward me.

They each held cameras or phones, frantically filming me:

"Look, it's him! He taught his elderly father to commit fraud by staging accidents!"

"After his dad was killed committing fraud, he used his father's death to greedily extort money. When extortion failed, he filed lawsuits to scam money! He drove a college graduate to depression, and the poor guy nearly committed suicide several times!"

"Fortunately his wife is a righteous lawyer who helps the right side regardless of family ties, always fighting for justice and defending the innocent victim. Otherwise who knows what would have happened to that young man!"

"Now he blames his wife for not going along with his schemes, so he's threatening her with divorce. He's even packed his bags and is about to leave!"

Sharp accusations rang out endlessly.

Through the crowd, I saw Anthony and Corinna's gloating faces behind them.

So this live broadcast was Corinna's method to destroy my reputation?

The response was indeed massive. The on-site hosts hurled accusations non-stop, and various live streaming channels were filled with constant abuse:

"This man is truly despicable! For money, he'd even sacrifice his own father's life?"

"What parent could live long with such garbage for a son?"

"Like father, like son. His dad getting hit was divine justice!"

"Right, why wasn't anyone else hit, but specifically his dad? That proves his dad must not have been a good person either!"

Public opinion fermented quickly. In moments, my photo topped trending searches across the internet.

Labels like "scumbag" and "trash" all became synonyms for my identity.

As these hosts fanned the flames.

The onlookers who gathered at the scene couldn't help but start throwing eggs and rotten vegetables at me.

I walked through the garbage on the ground, passed through the crowd, and approached Corinna:

"Corinna, do you really have to be this ruthless?"

Corinna frowned slightly. Before she could speak, Anthony tearfully jumped in:

"James, even though your father died, I haven't had it easy either!"

"I'm begging you to let me go. Stop going after me!"

A flash of heartache crossed Corinna's eyes, then she looked at me resolutely:

"James, you brought all this on yourself."

"Your dad getting hit by a car was entirely because he was trying to commit fraud. You shouldn't have kept suing and harassing Anthony over this."

"Anthony's new car was damaged by your dad. He didn't make you pay for repairs because he's kind, yet you keep going on and on. With such a malicious son like you, no wonder your dad died young!"

As soon as she finished speaking.

My dad suddenly emerged from the crowd, looking at Corinna:

"Who died?"