Chapter 1The Verdict of Ashes

In our fifth year of marriage, Liam Davies, a District Attorney known for his stoic restraint, spoke the longest sentence he had ever said to me in his entire life.

"Stella, are you done causing trouble out of nowhere? If you are, then stop annoying me."

What he considered "causing trouble out of nowhere" included:

Me being hospitalized for a bleeding ulcer, to which he replied, "I'm sequestered for a major case and can't be contacted. Be more careful next time."

On the night of my birthday, his female intern had an acute appendicitis attack, and he stayed by her side at the hospital all night.

When I found out I was pregnant, he had his female intern specifically deliver prenatal vitamins. I ended up hospitalized with a severe allergic reaction after taking them.

Only after checking the ingredients did I find mango extract listed on the label.

Unable to tolerate it any longer, I called him.

He just sighed helplessly.

"All this over a bottle of vitamins?"

"Mia was just playing a joke on you. She was trying to help you build up a tolerance."

Then came the day my father was framed for murder. It was a case that should have resulted in a life sentence at worst, but Liam personally pushed for the death penalty.

"It is exactly because he is my father-in-law that I must recuse myself to ensure absolute impartiality. I will absolutely not show favoritism or bend the rules."

Yet, his intern Mia posted on her Instagram:

[Thank God my mentor was here, otherwise my brother would be going back to prison again. He got off completely clean!]

[It's true what they say, a man's greatest charm is his ability to solve problems. It's not my fault I fell in love with him~]

After reading that, I took the miscarried, four-month-old fetus and placed it right in front of him.

"Liam, let's get a divorce."

"This isn't me causing trouble out of nowhere. It's a notification."

...

"Sign it. Since you refuse to care, I'll overturn the verdict myself."

The divorce agreement and the gift box containing our child sat on his desk.

Liam didn't even glance at them. His tone was placating.

"It's not that I don't care. If your father walks free, what will people think of me? I have to put justice before family. The harsher the sentence, the better."

"Stella, once some time passes and you forget about this, things will go back to the way they were."

A sharp, agonizing pain ripped through my chest.

"How am I supposed to forget? It's my father who's going to die, not yours! Is that why you can say it so easily?!"

"In your heart, is your reputation really more important than my father's life?!"

Liam looked exhausted, staring at me as if I were an unreasonable, hysterical relative of a defendant.

"Stop letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Do you know how many people are already gossiping about a District Attorney marrying the daughter of a murderer? My reputation has already been dragged through the mud because of—"

Before he could finish, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

Five years ago, it was his unwavering commitment to his principles that made me fall for him. I stood by his side as he climbed from a junior prosecutor to the youngest, most promising District Attorney in the city.

I thought our life would always be this peaceful.

Until I saw Mia's Instagram posts.

Only then did I realize that someone else could be important enough for him to shatter the principles he had always rigidly defended.

Back then, my father used every connection he had to pave the way for Liam's career.

But now, Liam was willing to let my father die in vain for another woman, even despising my very existence for dragging him down.

A sharp cramp shot through my recently emptied womb. I bent over, clutching my stomach in agony.

Liam asked nervously, "What's wrong?"

I ignored him. A knock sounded at the door.

Mia pushed the door open and walked in.

"Mrs. Davies, please don't blame him. He just got out of court, he's exhausted and stressed."

"Instead of fighting with him, you should be convincing your father to plead guilty and hope for leniency..."

I raised my hand, and the sound of another slap echoed through the room.

Liam grabbed my wrist, his grip shockingly tight.

"She was just trying to help! Why are you taking your anger out on her?!"

Hearing those words, I laughed so hard tears fell from my eyes.

Without wasting another word, I logged directly into his work account on his computer.

Then, I dumped every single piece of evidence I had gathered into the main department group chat.

To get that evidence, I had been beaten, threatened, and had even sold off all my real estate at bargain-basement prices.

All to obtain the proof that exonerated my father and proved that the real killer was Mia's brother!

"Liam, only you could twist covering up for a murderer into 'trying to help'!"

Seeing the "Read" receipts multiplying rapidly in the chat, Mia was the first to speak up, her voice choking with tears.

"I know you're desperate to save your father, Mrs. Davies, but you can't just forge evidence..."

"My mentor even recused himself and demanded the maximum penalty for his own father-in-law. Why would he destroy his own career to cover for me?"

The prosecutors in the group chat immediately exploded.

"Stella, we are so disappointed in you."

"You're trying to use Liam's career as a stepping stone to save your dad's life."

I stared at the screen in disbelief, trembling with rage.

"She sheds a few tears and you all just blindly believe her?"

Mia stood up straight, her voice ringing with feigned righteousness:

"I am formally requesting immediate suspension pending a full investigation!"

After sending that message in the chat, she flashed a quick, provocative smirk and whispered to me:

"Mad? Don't worry, I'm about to make you truly despair."

Just as she finished, my phone rang.

[Family of Robert Smith: Your father's execution has been moved up. It will be carried out in one hour. Please arrive on time to collect the remains.]

My brain exploded with a deafening roar. I shoved Mia aside and turned to run.

She let out a piercing shriek, collapsing and curling into a ball on the floor, clutching her stomach tightly.

"Mrs. Davies, you know I just had appendix surgery! How could you hit me right on my incision?!"

Liam's face changed drastically. He immediately scooped her up in his arms.

"Stella, that is enough!"

He called for security, and they roughly pinned my arms behind my back.

"Take her to a holding cell to cool off! She doesn't come out until she admits she was wrong!"