Chapter 05
Clients are good, but I really hope I never have to deal with men like that again.
Especially those who claim that a family exists only through sacrifice.
“Might as well sprinkle some salt on him.”
Just then, as I muttered angrily, Khan came over.
He pushed up his small glasses slightly and tilted his head thoughtfully. I preferred his intelligent face over a handsome one.
A sharp jawline, long hair tied low, and a stylish name—Khan. Seeing gentle Khan, I quickly softened my expression.
“Ms. Rabiel, is something wrong?”
“Something wrong? Yes. Khan, did you see the man who just left?”
“The man in the hood?”
“Yes. Which family does he belong to?”
Khan shrugged.
“I could only see the hood from my seat… I don’t know. Why? Did he say anything?”
“Just very annoying things.”
Thanks to the daily expensive gifts I gave, Khan was now completely on my side and wore a serious expression.
“If you want, I can dig up some information on him.”
“No need. I just… have a feeling I’ll see him again.”
But that man didn’t appear until much later.
I began working seriously on Iz’s divorce case. Truthfully, her divorce wasn’t difficult.
Since our meeting at the temple, Baron Stoke had immediately assigned people to watch both Iz and her husband, Devon Reddick.
When it was confirmed that Devon Reddick had been physically abusing Iz, Baron Stoke visited a doctor to verify the multiple injuries caused by the violence.
But humans rarely know how to reflect on themselves.
“You can’t divorce!”
In court, Devon shouted endlessly.
“Why not?”
“A couple may have arguments and sometimes minor violence—how can that justify divorce? By that logic, every couple would be divorced!”
He, thinking it ridiculous that a female lawyer was confronting him, didn’t even hire a lawyer for himself and continued to shout. I calmly set the documents I was holding onto the desk.
“Arguments may occur in a marriage. But who said violence is allowed? Devon Reddick, are you saying that it would be fine if Iz Reddick hit you right now?”
“Men and women are not the same! A man is the head of the household who builds the family. A woman who stays home doing chores is like the difference between heaven and earth!”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Devon Reddick. Have you ever properly fulfilled your role as the head of the household? You quit your work the moment you married. Wasn’t that all just a scheme to take money from your wife’s family?”
His face instantly went pale.
“That’s slander! And what does that have to do with this case?! Is it reasonable to attack me based on what might have happened? Judge! Please stop this malicious behavior!”
The judge had been visibly displeased since I entered as a female lawyer. As expected, he shook his head at Devon’s outburst.
“Avoid making claims about a household without solid evidence, lawyer.”
“…Yes, understood.”
Iz looked at me with worry, but this level of resistance was expected.
“There is a minimum legal duty in marriage to maintain the household. Of course, merely not working doesn’t violate that duty. But if someone intentionally quit their work, especially to extract money from their wife, the situation changes. Moreover… according to your own words, a man has the responsibility to maintain his household. You have clearly neglected that duty.”
“I’m not… not at fault! It’s… there were circumstances…”
Devon tried to act pitiful, mumbling excuses.
“What circumstances?”
“I… I was dismissed under orders from my superiors. I was embarrassed to tell anyone.”
Whether in my past life or this one, men facing divorce always tell the most shameless lies.
“Dismissed?”
“Yes! Can’t you understand? Judge! This lawyer is just attacking me without evidence to ruin my household!”
He kept pointing at me, the lawyer representing Iz. I tapped the documents down with a precise motion.
“But after reviewing the records, it seems you voluntarily quit your work immediately after marriage?”
“Who said that?!”
He raised the stack of papers at the judge, who already disliked my presence.
“We obtained documents from the knight order where Devon Reddick worked. Furthermore, witness testimony confirms that after marrying Iz Stoke, he encouraged marriage to wealthy women to live lavishly, expecting her family’s money.”
“Th-That’s a misunderstanding!”
Sometimes, the truth is harsh. Divorce is not a walk in a garden.
It’s revisiting the thorny path of one’s life, reliving every hardship endured—and mentally cutting oneself to pieces in the process.
Yet, for happiness, one must face the truth. Iz, who chose divorce over enduring abuse, held my hand tightly as I raised my voice to support her.
Her trembling hand steadied quickly.
“You claim it’s a misunderstanding. But didn’t he abuse Iz Reddick, using her family’s wealth as an excuse? Simply to get money from her household?”
“That’s just speculation!”
Iz whispered, forcing herself to speak:
“I heard it every time. ‘If you don’t want to get hit, go ask your family for money.’ That’s what he said. He said I was useless… that he didn’t love me, only pretended to.”
Devon shook his head violently, crying out in protest.
“He’s just trying to discredit me! He thinks that way I’ll agree to divorce!”
The judge, who had been stern throughout the hearing, asked formally:
“So, the defendant husband wishes to maintain the marriage?”
“Yes. I love Iz.”
Watching him lie without a blink, I smiled slightly.
“Love, huh. Then one question: Devon Reddick, if the Stoke family offered a large sum of money right now to divorce quickly, would you refuse?”
“…What?”
“Answer me. Love or money?”
He paused, thinking, then finally, after some hesitation, revealed his true colors. His chubby hands rubbed nervously as his eyes widened.
“How much?”
“When I say as much as you want.”
Perhaps no longer caring to hide himself, he answered foolishly:
“I… I want my wife to be happy.”
“So that means you don’t need the money?”
“Since she wants a divorce, not divorcing would make her unhappy. I will gladly divorce for her happiness.”
At those words, I looked at the judge. He must have understood that the husband’s initial motive wasn’t love, but money.
“That’s all, Your Honor.”
“…Seems a conclusion has been reached.”
“Will you approve the divorce?”
“Yes. Since both parties agreed, the divorce between Devon Reddick and Iz Reddick is hereby officially recognized.”
Instantly, Devon’s face twisted in disbelief.
“Then what about my money…?”
“Your Honor, as you’ve heard, Devon Reddick repeatedly used violence against Iz Reddick, regardless of reason. Such behavior cannot be tolerated. Evidence and witnesses are presented. Let’s submit the evidence first.”
All the evidence gathered by Iz and Baron Stoke was handed to the judge.
“Wh-What is this…?”
Both Devon and the judge looked shocked.
