Xavier~
"Dad. Please forgive me; I know I caused you so much pain and insult. You always protected us like a shield, and I was unaware of your value in my life until you cut ties with me." When I saw my father's lifeless body resting on the hospital bed, I started crying.
His heartbeat indicator beeped, displaying a slow heartbeat line, and the sight of these lines on the heartbeat meter filled my heart with sadness. I never saw my dad in such a weakened condition. Despite his extensive experience as a criminal lawyer, I never noticed any signs of tension on his forehead. However, his unexpected heart attack deeply affected me. Indeed, we don't realize the true worth of a person in our life until we lose them.
At some point, I began to feel responsible for my father's condition. My father never wanted me to interfere with Jordan Lucas, but at that time, I was so passionate and arrogant about my lawyerliness that I overlooked the potential consequences of my actions. Victor's secret would have remained private if Jordan Lucas hadn't attempted to exact revenge on me.
I am confident that Bella will eventually convince Dad to approve of Victor's homosexuality, but my one rational decision has already made my life extremely miserable, and now all I can do is lament my painful life.
"Xavier, have you seen the latest news?" Bella entered the ICU room and whispered into my ears.
"No, I don't have any idea." I nodded my head in perplexity.
I am well aware that Jordan didn't hire any ordinary lawyer for this case. He will undoubtedly select one of the most formidable attorneys, such as James Williams or Derrick Merchant.
"Come with me." She held my hand and took me out of the room.
"What the hell? That's unbelievable." Jordan Lucas would go to extreme measures to exact revenge on me, a level of retaliation I never would have imagined. He chose Jorabar Thompson, my dad's younger brother. He is the new lawyer in this case. After watching the news and realizing my uncle's involvement in this case, I sat down on the hospital bench with a heavy heart.
Jordan Lucas is causing me immense distress by interfering in my relationships. After killing Alicia, Jordan Lucas exploited my strained friendship with James and now my uncle, Jorawar Thompson, to his advantage. My dad and uncle Jorabar had a long-standing conflict, which prevented my uncle from reaching out to us. I don't understand why Uncle Jorabar, the best lawyer of his era, decided to return to the legal profession in this case, given that he had retired years ago.
Jordan Lucas undoubtedly coerced him into selecting this case through some form of manipulation.
"Miss Luis, your father has regained consciousness, and we are preparing to move him into a private room." The doctor's voice jolted me out of my thoughts. After hearing the news, we sighed with satisfaction, but my body shook in disbelief when I saw Uncle Jorawar on TV.
How will Dad react to this news?
No, we can not share this news with him, as he is not in a condition to withstand any more shock.
"Bella, please be sure that Dad will not find out about this news now." I warned her before she went to meet Dad.
"Humm, I understand." She nodded and then entered the ward.
I also wanted to see my dad, but I restrained myself from doing so since I knew he didn't want to see my face. Victor also glanced at Dad through the glass window, unable to summon the courage to face him at that moment.
"You should take a rest for some time." I suggested Victor go back home after observing his pale complexion and swollen red eyes.
"No, I am all right." He shook his head weakly; his words felt like a mere whisper to my ears.
"You need to appear in court for the hearing on Monday, so make sure you look presentable."
"Don't worry about Dad; the doctor informed us that he was all right and soon got discharged from the hospital." I made an effort to calm the tension that was rising inside of him, but I knew Victor did not feel as at ease with me as he did with Bella.
When we got married and Bella joined my family, she initially felt like an outsider. However, as time went on, she became a more integral part of my family than I was, and now I, too, feel like an outsider. Even though she bears no direct blame, my actions have made me feel like an outsider in my own family.
"Xavier, don't worry about the court hearing because I am thinking of accepting all the charges against me and am ready to bear the punishment." He bowed his head defeatfully.
"What? How could you say such nonsense, Victor?" I stared at them in disbelief.
"Given that Uncle Jorawar is an opposition party lawyer, will anyone take my case?" His question filled the gaze fixed on my face.
Victor's concern is genuine, as, aside from my dad, Uncle Jorawar has never lost a single case to any other lawyer in his entire legal career.
"Don't worry, Victor, we will work together to find a solution. First, you should go home and rest for some time." I walked toward the hospital parking lot while holding his hand. Reporters gathered us and barraged us with their pestering inquiries before I could get him to sit in the car.
"Mr. Thompson, why did you hide your homosexuality from this world?"
"Do you want to keep us in the dark for a lifetime?"
Victor, unprepared for the journalist's questions, gripped my hand tightly out of fear.
"Mr. Thompson, how many relationships have you had in the past?"
"Have you asked all your co-workers for sexual favors?" The questions from journalists are cutting deep into our hearts and ears.
"We apologize, but he is currently not feeling well." I tried to push them away to make way for Victor, so I made him reach for his car, but the journalist wasn't ready to clear our path.
"Mr. Thompson, who is the lawyer from your side, your ex-partner already declared Jorabar Thompson as his lawyer."
Their intense interrogation also left me taken aback and alarmed.
"Yes, Victor made his attorney choice, and with my unwavering faith in our attorney, we will soon uncover the truth together." Journalists rushed toward Bella with their cameras and microphones in hand after hearing her assured voice.
"Will you be defending Mr. Thompson, in this case, Miss Luis?" They questioned her.
"No, I am currently handling numerous cases, so I won't be defending Victor in this particular case." She calmly replied to them. V
ictor and I exchanged bewildered glances, as we had no idea who she was talking about.
"Could you please let us know who will be defending Victor Thompson in this case, Miss Luis?" The journalists' anxiety increased upon hearing Bella's statement.
"Xavier Thompson is going to defend his younger brother Victor Thompson in this case." The journalist crew swiveled their camera to face me as she gestured.
"What?" Bella had hammered us with this shocking information, and Victor and I both looked at each other in disbelief. The journalists' questions were entirely directed at me, and I stared at Bella's face in shock, trying to comprehend the impact of her single statement on my mind.