Web Fic
Chapter 161
“Eighteen years ago, Jackson and I were arranged to be married by our parents. At that timé, we were not familiar with each other, even strangers. However, after getting married, I discovered that Jackson had never let go of his first love.
“Three years ago, the ghost of his past returned to haunt our present. His first love came back to town, a widow burdened with grief. Jackson, hearing of her plight, became a man possessed. He helped her relentlessly, with a fervor and dedication I had never seen in him, not even for his own family.
“Last year, her brother was involved in a hit-and-run, facing a demand for a staggering settlement of two million dollars. Jackson paid it without batting an eye. He bought her a new house, a new car, and took personal charge of her child’s education. Our own daughter never received such diligence from him.
“I used to believe Jackson was emotionally detached, but that detachment, it turned out, was reserved for me, our daughter, and the family we built together. His heart belonged to another woman and her child.
“However, that child wasn’t his. Before our marriage, his family paid a substantial amount to ensure she left Ravenwood, erasing her from our lives-or so they thought. These secrets only surfaced to me much later.”
Megan sighed deeply, her smile tinged with bitterness. “Our daughter started college this September, and that’s when Jackson started clamoring for a divorce. He said now that our child was grown, we could finally set each other free.” The mention of divorce brought a crimson tide to Megan’s eyes.
Estrella slid some tissues across the table. “So, Ms. Megan, you want me to handle your divorce case, and to fight for everything you’re entitled to?”
Marriages that reached such an impasse left little but separation and division of assets. Men, once their minds are set on divorce, are as stubborn as mules-especially with their hearts claimed by another. Jackson’s decades-long infatuation was relentless.
Megan’s story was all too familiar to Estrella, echoing her own journey, possibly foreshadowing her future. If that was the case, then perhaps it was best to let go. Their daughter was grown, and there was no need for Megan to cling to a loveless partnership. Megan met Estrella’s gaze, took a tissue and wiped away the wetness from her eyes. “Ms. Estrella,” she began, swallowing against the lump in her throat, “I’m not out to win the greatest prize.”
Stunned by Megan’s words, Estrella simply watched her. Megan continued, her voice shaking, “Jackson has made it clear. He’d give up half his holdings, half his wealth, even half his business, if I just agree to a divorce. He’d let me decide the terms, just as long as I
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agree to end our marriage…”
Megan’s husband was willing to sacrifice everything, just for a chance to be with his first love. For a woman like Estrella who understood the depth of emotions, the hurt was
almost unbearable.
“Ms. Megan,” Estrella said softly, after Megan had declined the offer of seeking maximum financial gain. “What exactly do you want?”
Megan looked up, her gaze resolute. “Ms. Estrella, I don’t want a divorce. I want you to fight for me, to win this case, and to persuade Jackson not to leave.”
The man mentioned by the woman was 45 years old at the time and was the CEO of a company, with a decent wealth. Estrella hadn’t expected that a man who thrived in the business world would also have a romantic side, especially at his age.
Estrella explained the stark reality, “Ms. Megan, marriage is a voluntary commitment; there’s no winning or losing here. Even if you win this battle, Jackson can simply file again, and the court will likely grant the divorce.”
“As for persuading Jackson not to divorce, Megan, you need a counsellor, not a lawyer,” Estrella remarked. “Lawyers are about law and cold hard facts, not about emotional disputes.”
Listening to Estrella’s advice, Megan stated, “Ms. Estrella, I understand all that. I’ve sought therapy, I’ve tried different approaches but to no avail, and that’s why I came to you. Ms. Estrella, could you please help me out? Please help me keep my marriage intact in the first hearing. Can you just buy me some more time? Maybe Jackson will have a change of heart and will come back to the family and leave that woman behind.”
Jackson had proposed divorce just as their daughter’s final exams ended. Megan, however, had not given her consent. She had attempted various strategies to salvage their relationship, but this only served to fortify Jackson’s resolve. He even lodged a divorce case when she continued to postpone necessary paperwork.
Estrella questioned, “Megan, your husband has come this far. Can you really live like this
Can
you
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Megan forced a bitter smile. “Ms. Estrella, you’re so young, and there are many things you won’t understand. When we first got together, there wasn’t much emotion between us, but over the years I’ve truly fallen for Jackson.”
Fearing Estrella would look down on her, Megan further explained, “He is good-looking, well-educated, and successful. He has a strong business acumen and takes his work responsibilities seriously. How could anyone not fall for such a man?”
“Over the years, Jackson has had no shortage of women vying for his attention, but never did he waver. I just hadn’t expected Julia’s return to shake him to his core, to drive him to such madness.”
“But I can’t accept this truth. I don’t want to leave him, I’m still in love with him,” Megan confessed. “in love, the one who falls first always loses. So, even if he doesn’t love me anymore, I still don’t want to divorce. I want to be with him, even if it’s just to occasionally catch a glimpse of him. Ms. Estrella, I am truly frightened. I’m scared that once we divorce, we’ll have nothing tying us together.”
As Megan confided in Estrella, the pain within her was palpable. Jackson was loyal, but his loyalty and steadfastness were for another woman, not Megan. She had mistaken his deep love for his first love as devotion to their family, which led her to love him quite deeply.
It wasn’t until Julia’s return that Megan recognized the reason why Jackson named their daughter Julie. He was using their daughter as a keepsake of his past love.
She was heartbroken and struggled to accept this, but she couldn’t comprehend, and more so, wasn’t willing to let go.
As Megan expressed her melancholy, Estrella, in turn, experienced an inexplicable ache in her heart, like a glimpse of her own future.
Megan was too naive, still filled with hope that Jackson would return, when Jackson’s heart was never really with them.
Taking in Megan’s desperate plea, Estrella replied, “Megan, if your husband remains adamant about divorce, eventually, you will have to part ways.”
Estrella initially wanted to advise Megan to accept things as they were, but she saw something else. Megan was not after Jackson’s wealth. She was genuinely and deeply in love with her husband.