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Home / Attorney for My Own Heart / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Attorney for My Own Heart: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

19 Chapters

Chapter 1

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. It took me a moment to find my voice. "What does that mean?"Daniel struggled upright and put himself between Jessica and me. "Cal, whatever this is, take it out on me. It was an accident."He paused for a couple of seconds, as if trying to figure out how to word it. "A month ago. That case Jessica was handling. The defense wanted to talk and see if they could settle it privately. Neither of us thought they'd put something in the drinks."I closed my eyes. A month ago was when I'd been away on a business trip. Jessica had called every night to check in.After she hung up, Daniel would call. He told me about his game stats, the strays around the complex, and every single thing Jessica did."Relax. Your boy is watching her for you. She hasn't so much as talked to another man." That was what he said every time.There had only been one night when neither of them called. Jessica had claimed she had a work dinner. Daniel had said he hadn't been

Chapter 2

I had just gotten into the taxi when my mother's call finally came through. From the silence on the other end, it sounded like she had spent a long time figuring out how to start."Cal, did... Did something happen?"I leaned against the window and watched the night blur past outside. My throat tightened, and my voice came out hoarser than I expected. "Mom, Jessica is pregnant. The baby is Daniel's."The line went quiet for a long time. Eventually, my mother let out a soft sigh. "Come home, Cal. Your father and I are both here."My nose stung, and my voice came out thick.The driver reached back without a word and handed me a tissue. He didn't say anything, but somehow, it felt like he'd said everything there was to say.I didn't manage to steady myself until I got out of the car. I pulled out my phone, opened the company app, and typed a few words into a resignation letter before hitting Confirm. Only then did I step into the elevator and head upstairs.The apartment was dark. I

Chapter 3

Something in my head short-circuited.Right then, Jessica's voice rang out. "Today, I'd like everyone to meet our new colleague."I looked over. Daniel stood beside her, watching me carefully."Let's give him a warm welcome!"Our coworkers broke into applause. I was the only one who didn't move.Once the clapping died down, I walked over to Jessica with the file in hand. "Why did you take my case?"Jessica glanced up and lowered her voice. "Danny needs to go full-time as soon as possible. I'll give you a high score at the review at the end of the month. You don't need this one case to make team lead. Besides, it's better for both of us. We can get married sooner."I stared at her, unable to force a smile. Daniel got to go full-time, and my case, the one I'd spent two months working on, was the sacrifice.When I said nothing, Daniel quickly waved his hands. "Cal, if it bothers you, I can take longer to go full-time. That's fine too."Something inside me finally caught fire. I s

Chapter 4

My mind went blank for a second.A fresh intern straight out of law school could have won a straightforward case like that, yet Daniel had lost it.The backup file was still under my name. This was not just about my professional reputation going forward. It was about the courage it had taken for Jack Wilson to trust me in the first place.When I said nothing, Daniel looked even more aggrieved. "Cal, I really did try my best."Jessica waved a hand as if it were nothing. "It's a trial. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That's normal. I looked over the case. It was just a divorce. So he lost. It happens. Worst case, I'll cover the winning bonus out of my own pocket and give it to you."Bonus? I had taken a case nobody else wanted. It had never been about the bonus.I opened my mouth to respond, but my phone rang. The front desk told me someone was outside asking for me.I stood, glanced at the two of them, and walked out.Jack was waiting for me by the door.He was my client

Chapter 5

By the time I tracked Jack down again, he was already preparing to take his daughter back to his hometown."The school in the village isn't much, but at least it doesn't charge tuition. Mr. Walton, I really don't have any other choice," he said.I opened my mouth, but the words were hard to force out. "We're refiling. This time, I'll argue the case myself."He paused for a few seconds before he looked up at me. A bitter smile crossed his face. "But I don't have any money left to pay you.""I don't want your money." I held his gaze. "I don't want a cent."…The second hearing was scheduled for two mornings later.This time, I came far better prepared. I had a complete chain of evidence, proof of his wife's affair, and a full breakdown of the marital assets. I had covered every angle I could think of.Jack brought his daughter to court with him. Her name was Tina, and she had just started third grade. She was thin and timid, and she stayed tucked behind her father's back.Across

Chapter 6

The judge declared the hearing over, and the bailiffs quickly restored order.I was escorted out under restraint.The moment we entered the corridor, Jessica appeared in my path. She stared at me, her voice icy. "The whole firm is talking about the rumors involving Danny right now. Do you want to explain yourself?"I held my head high and met her gaze. "Explain what? I never had time to set him up."Jessica's face darkened further. "Are you saying you had nothing to do with it? So he did it to himself? Don't think I don't know. You're the one who told Mr. Sutton all of that."I had told Hank my private reason for quitting. That much was true. But he would never repeat it, and I certainly had not spread it around either."If someone happened to overhear us and word got out, is that my fault too?" I argued.Jessica clenched her fists. "Whatever the case, you're the one who said it first. If you don't apologize publicly, you can expect to get sued. And it won't stop with this case.

Chapter 7

The next hearing was set for three days later.The moment Jessica got word, she took Daniel straight to Hank. "Mr. Sutton, with Mr. Walton caught up in this controversy right now, we need to put someone else on the case, if only for the sake of the firm's reputation."Why not let Mr. Jonasson argue at the hearing? It'll give him valuable hands-on experience, and if we win, it'll be good for the firm's reputation too."She gave a small gesture, and Daniel immediately stepped forward and bowed his head. "Mr. Sutton, I didn't perform well last time. It had been a while since I'd argued a case, so I was rusty. Please give me one more chance. I've prepared thoroughly this time, and I'm confident I can win."Hank did not so much as glance at either of them. He finished signing Callum's resignation paperwork before he finally looked up. "No."Daniel immediately grew anxious. "Why not? I can do better than Callum. When he first started here, he spent a full year as an intern before going

Chapter 8

Jessica froze. For a second, nothing else mattered. She rose from her seat and looked around the courtroom.Jack still occupied the plaintiff's seat, exactly as before. His ex-wife sat at the defense table beside her original lawyer. Only the seat for plaintiff's counsel had changed. A woman sat there now, and the nameplate in front of her read Lyanna Houth.The name sounded familiar, but Jessica could not place it. Callum was nowhere in the gallery either.Jessica started toward the door to confirm the hearing schedule and case roster, but a bailiff stopped her. "Two minutes until the hearing starts. If you leave now, you won't be allowed back in."Jessica froze again, then slowly returned to her seat. Court had always been a battlefield she navigated with complete ease, but every second of this hearing felt like agony.She sent message after message and made dozens of calls. Nothing came back. Not until the hearing was nearly over did the messaging screen finally change. A red e

Chapter 9

It was the dress they had chosen together.When they were kids, their parents used to joke about pairing them up someday, only half-seriously. Jessica had pointed at her mother's wedding dress and declared that she wanted one just like it when she got married.Later, after she and Callum got together, he confessed his feelings to her.They happened to be walking past a bridal shop when she pointed at the cheapest dress in the window. "Buy me that one, and I'll be with you."Years later, when they were finally preparing to marry, Callum took her to a bridal boutique and had the most expensive design custom-made for her."I told you. I'd make you the most beautiful bride there ever was."His eyes had shone as he looked at her that day. He had smiled like the happiest man alive.Jessica stared at the design sketch for a long time. So long that she almost forgot Callum did not want her anymore.She unlocked the door and stepped inside. The keychain on the cabinet immediately caught

Chapter 10

A ringing crack exploded in Jessica's ears, as if something had detonated right beside her.She had spent all this time assuming Callum was behind the rumors about Daniel. After all, they really had betrayed him.It had not been intentional, not exactly, but that did not change what they had done. She had thought Callum could not stomach the betrayal and wanted to get back at Daniel.But she had forgotten that Callum was not that kind of person. He had always been open and aboveboard.He never worked in the shadows. If he had been the type to go after Daniel behind his back over something like this, he never would have reached out to a boy with no one else in his corner twenty years ago.A real man did not stoop to petty schemes.Jessica felt as though she had taken a blow to the chest. She stood frozen in place for a long moment.Then her phone rang. Hank wanted her in his office.The moment she pushed open the door, Hank got straight to the point. "Jack's divorce case has cau

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