Judge Boston Legal

On the six-year anniversary of my relationship with my girlfriend, Sheila Loom, I buy some groceries with the intention to surprise her with a home-cooked meal. After I'm done, I head over to Sheila's place right away. That's when the reel I was watching automatically skips to the next one. It's a live stream where people call in to discuss legal matters. A familiar feminine voice drifts to my ears at that moment. "My boyfriend shelled out 500 thousand dollars to put me through school. I've already paid ten thousand back to him. "At first, I wanted to clear the debt before breaking up with him, but I don't want to wait any longer. If he insists on taking me to court after the breakup, can I still pay the debt off slowly?" Almost immediately, comments flood into the comments section, chewing her out and calling her a heartless wench. But the voice replies calmly, "If I truly were heartless, I wouldn't have paid him back to begin with. I no longer have feelings for him. Are you saying that I should sacrifice the rest of my life just so I can pay 500 thousand dollars back to him?" My heart skips a beat at that moment. It's true that I've spent 500 thousand dollars putting Sheila through school over the years. But I feel that I'm overthinking it, seeing as she's never brought up the matter of wanting to pay me back before. After I call Sheila repeatedly for half an hour, she finally answers my latest phone call. At the same time, the woman's phone call that's connected to the live stream is cut off. "It's my birthday today, Sheila—" "Have you secretly come looking for me again? Didn't we agree that we'll only meet up after you've successfully gotten into college?" I don't get to finish the rest of my sentence. Suddenly, I catch a glimpse of the notebook sitting on the corner of Sheila's table. The first page shows "debt repayment ledger". Some of the details are as shown. "The SAT study materials I bought for him: 188 dollars." "The Uber fees I've paid for him: 35 dollars." "The cologne I've gifted him on his birthday: 380 dollars." "Total: ten thousand dollars now paid."

“Huwag ka ng umasa na tatanggapin pa kita ulit. Dahil hindi ko masisikmurang magmahal ng isang tulad mong may dugong kriminal.” Si Rocky Bouchard ay isang ulila sa Canada na inampon ng mag-asawang Mary at Roen Bouchard noong sampung taong gulang pa lamang. Hindi nila alam kung sino ang tunay na magulang ni Rocky dahil wala rin naman itong maikwento sa kanila sa tuwing tinatanong nila. Kalaunan, naging legal na Bouchard si Rocky na siyang lumaki sa isang mayaman at respetadong pamilya sa Canada. Pagkalipas ng ilang taon ay isa na siyang successful na corporate lawyer. Sa hindi inaasahan, nahulog ang loob niya sa pamangkin ng kanyang foster mom na siyang nakatadhana na rin sa iba. Napagdesisyunan niyang ibaon na lamang sa limot ang nararamdaman at mag-focus sa career. Sa kabilang banda, si Cristianna Erica Rowanda ay lumaking breadwinner simula noong hindi na bumalik mula sa Canada ang OFW niyang ama. Wala na silang naging balita rito na para bang naglaho gaya ng isang bula. Dahil dito, kinailangan niyang magtrabaho para mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya niya. Sa kasamaang palad, siya ay napagbintangang magnanakaw ng pera ng kumpanya na siyang naghatid sa kanya sa rurok ng kahirapan. Wala siyang kapera-pera dahil ang araw na inaasahan niyang unang sahod niya ay nauwi sa pagkakakulong. Nang kunin ni Rocky ang kanyang kaso, nagawa niya itong ipanalo at patunayan ang kainosentehan ni Cristianna. Gayunpaman, pagkatapos ng dalawang buwan ay muli silang nagkita bitbit ang kani-kanilang problema—si Cristianna na hindi makahanap ng trabaho at si Rocky na pressured ng parents na magkaroon ng asawa. Isang kontrata. Dalawang taon. Nag-iisang krimen na akala nila ay nabaon na sa limot. Magagawa kaya nilang ipanalo ang kanilang pagmamahal kung gayong ang dugo na nananalaytay sa kanilang katawan ay siyang hahatol sa isang ipinagbabawal na pag-ibig?

Lumaking puno ng pagmamahal si Jayda ng kanyang mga magulang.Mahirap man sila ay naibibigay naman sa kanya ang kanyang mga pangangailangan at naigapang siya sa pag-aaral.Nakapagtapos siya ng kursong edukasyon at sa awa ng Maykapal ay naipasa niya ang board exam ng maluwalhati.Sa paghihintay niyang makapasok ng trabaho sa gobyerno bilang isang pampublikong guro ay napagpasyahan niyang magpartime bilang isang tutor ng isang 6 year-old na batang lalake na nirekomenda sa kanya ng kanyang propesora sa universidad kung saan siya nakapagtapos. Ang inaakala niyang simpleng bata lang ang kanyang tuturuan magbasa ay isa pa lang napakakumplikadong trabaho dahil sa tiyuhin nitong ubod ng strikto,dominante at walang puso kung umasta.Mukhang hindi lang ang bata ang kanyang magiging tutee pati na rin ang tiyuhin nito, paano niya kaya mapapalambot si Jethro Montenegro, na isang kilalang tycoon monster na walang puwang ang pag-ibig sa puso nito kung hindi poot at galit? Mahuhulog kaya sa kanya si Jethro na sa unang pagkikita pa lang nila ay nagpakita na ito ng disgusto sa kanya? Jethro Montenegro Isang kilalang eligible bachelor na business tycoon.Sa edad na 30 ay nanatili itong binata at walang planong mag-asawa dahil na rin sa responsibilidad na naiwan sa kanya ng kanyang yumaong bunsong kapatid, ang anak nitong si Timothy. Siya ang nagsisilbing legal guardian ng bata dahil ulila na rin siya sa magulang.Binuhos niya ang kanyang oras sa pagpapalago ng naiwang negosyo ng mga magulang na minsan hindi niya nabibigyan ng oras ang pamangkin.Naghire siya ng tutor ng bata upang matuto itong magbasa ngunit hindi niya inakala na pati siya matuturuan matibag ang pusong matigas pa sa bato.Mapapaglabanan niya kaya ang namumuong pagtangi niya kay Loren o magpapatangay na lang kaya siya sa kakaibang alindog ni Jayda sa kanya?

Aku adalah penasihat terbaik Keluarga Hara, otak di balik semuanya. Hari ini, aku memutuskan untuk pergi, menyerahkan pembukuan dari semua bisnis legal yang selama ini aku kelola dan memutuskan ikatan terakhirku dengan mereka. Anak didikku tidak mengerti. "Kamu masa depan keluarga ini, Aurel. Kamu nggak bisa pergi begitu saja." Aku menggeleng dengan senyum getir. Mereka tidak tahu kalau aku sudah diam-diam menikah dengan sang bos mafia, Viktor Hara, selama tiga tahun. Aku kira penampilanku, kecerdasanku, dan semua yang sudah aku berikan kepadanya cukup untuk mendapatkan seluruh cintanya. Tiga bulan lalu, sebuah serangan di pelabuhan menunjukkan kenyataan yang sebenarnya. Aku tertembak. Keadaan sedang genting dan aku butuh dokter bedah keluarga, yang hanya bisa dipanggil dengan perintah langsung dari Viktor. Aku meneleponnya lebih dari belasan kali. Saat akhirnya dia mengangkat, yang kudengar justru suara lembut yang terengah-engah di seberang sana. "Viktor, kita belum memotong kue ulang tahunku. Kamu mau pegang tanganku dan memotongnya bersama?" Suara itu .... Itu sahabat terbaikku. Wanita yang dulu pernah disukai Viktor. Karina. Di rumah persembunyian, tubuhku melemah karena kehilangan banyak darah. Aku mencabut peluru itu sendiri, lalu menyuruh anak buahku membawaku ke klinik keluarga secepat mungkin. Tepat sebelum aku didorong masuk ke ruang operasi, Viktor menerobos masuk, sambil menggendong Karina. Pergelangan kakinya terkilir dan dia butuh dokter secepat mungkin. Dokter bedahku dibawa pergi. Antibiotik datang terlambat dan lukaku pun terinfeksi. Aku berjuang antara hidup dan mati selama seminggu. Saat akhirnya aku sadar, aku menatap ponselku. Tidak ada satu pun pesan. Air mataku pun akhirnya menetes. Aku mengerti sekarang. Aku hanyalah wanita yang terpaksa dia nikahi setelah dia dibius dan tidur denganku. Sebuah skandal yang harus ditutup. Yang dia pedulikan hanyalah nilai diriku dan reputasinya. Sedangkan aku? Putri rahasia Keluarga Suwandi, yang sudah mengorbankan segalanya untuk membangun kekuasaan suaminya. Semua itu menjadi sia-sia. Jadi, aku menyiapkan empat hadiah perpisahan. Sebuah perayaan atas kehancuran kami bersama. Setelah itu, dia tidak akan pernah melihatku lagi.

"Sir, the system doesn't have any data on your marriage records with Ms. Lydia Payne." I can feel my knees starting to go weak beneath me as I clutch the gastroscopy report. Five years ago, Lydia was recruited by a top-tier law firm all the way in Starbrough. I made the ultimate decision to travel thousands of miles across the sea with her to start a new life there. She had told me, "Once I've garnered enough wealth and a solid reputation, I'll help you apply for a PR card right away." But it has been five years, and yet my Permanent Resident Card is still in the process of being approved. On the other hand, Lydia's assistant, Philip Wilder, who has traveled to Starbrough with us, has already received his own PR card thanks to Lydia vouching for him. When I received news back then, I wanted to break up with Lydia and fly back to Luxoria. Lydia, who had always prided herself on being cool and calm at all times, panicked for the very first time. She gripped my hand as she said, "It's difficult for Philip to hold down a career in another country, so I view it as my responsibility to help him out. "You're my husband, Nathaniel. You'll have your own PR card sooner or later. My job is a sensitive one, you see, so I need to avoid showing favoritism to you. Please be more understanding toward me." Well, I've been understanding toward Lydia for five whole years. My phone suddenly rings. When I answer the call, I can practically hear the smile dripping off Lydia's tone. "Phillip has successfully passed his citizenship exam! We're celebrating the occasion tonight. Hurry up and come home so that you can get dinner started." I feel my heart going stone-cold as I stare at the marriage certificate in my hand. Well, it's more like a piece of useless paper now. It turns out that I'm not Lydia's legal husband at all. I don't have an identity here, which means I can't receive any benefits. Heck, I can't even get started on the medical insurance that's needed for my follow-up treatments. After ending the call, I book an appointment for a keyhole surgery. Then, I book a ticket on the quickest flight back to Luxoria. This time, I won't go back to Lydia ever again.