Margret did not believe in luck or accidents. That was why she was good at her job as a lawyer.
When she saw the news about Jude again and again his arrest, the story, the same details she felt something was wrong. She didn't just see a headline. She noticed things that didn't make sense.
She sat at her desk. The TV was on, showing Jude being pushed into a police car.
"…the suspect tried to run away…"
Margret turned off the sound. She kept looking at the screen.
"Something is not right," she said softly.
Across from her, her friend Tola looked up from her phone. "Not right? He ran from the police with a gun. That means he's guilty."
Margret shook her head. "It looks that way. But sometimes what looks clear isn't true."
Tola raised her eyebrows. "You watch too many crime shows."
Margret ignored her. "A man about to get married wakes up with a dead woman, runs away, gets caught, and everything is wrapped up quickly. That's too simple."
Tola shrugged. "It happens."
"No," Margret said. "It's too easy."
Tola leaned back. "So you think he didn't do it?"
"I think I don't believe the story yet."
They were quiet for a moment.
Then Margret picked up her phone. "Who is his lawyer?"
Tola checked her phone. "Doesn't look like he has one yet."
Margret frowned. "That's strange."
"He just got arrested," Tola said.
"No, with a case this big, someone should already be helping him," Margret replied.
Tola looked again. "Wait… it says his fiancée is a lawyer."
Margret paused. "So why isn't she his lawyer?"
Tola laughed. "Maybe because he cheated on her and got someone killed before their wedding."
Margret stood up. "I'm going to see her."
Ada's apartment was very quiet. The wedding decorations were still there, like a party frozen in time.
When Ada opened the door, she looked tired and sad. Her face was cold.
"My name is Margret," she said. "I'm a lawyer. I'm here about Jude."
Ada's face got harder. "I have nothing to say about him."
"You're his best chance," Margret said.
Ada gave a small, bitter laugh. "I was supposed to be his wife."
Margret didn't move. "Then why aren't you helping him?"
Ada's eyes filled with tears. "Because I can't stand in court and defend a man who cheated and maybe killed someone."
"What if he's innocent?" Margret asked.
"I saw the evidence," Ada said quickly. "The watch. The bag. The police. I loved him. But now, I don't know him."
"I do understand," Ada said, her voice shaking now. "I saw him. I saw the way he looked at me. I saw the evidence the watch, the bag, the police."
She wiped her face, angry and sad at the same time.
"I can't be the woman who stands beside a cheater and a killer in court," Ada said. Her words were final.
Margret looked at her for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"I see," Margret said.
Ada's voice dropped to a whisper. "If you want to defend him, do it alone. Because I won't."
Margret didn't argue. She just turned and walked away.
The police station smelled like sweat, metal, and long days.
Margret walked in, calm and confident. Her shoes made a soft sound on the floor as she walked up to the desk.
"I'm here to see Jude Lawson," she told the officer.
The officer looked up. "What's your relationship to him?"
"Lawyer," Margret answered.
The officer nodded and made a call.
A few minutes later, Margret was led down a narrow hallway. There were cells on each side.
Jude sat on a metal bench inside one of the cells. He looked up when Margret came close.
For a moment, he didn't know who she was.
Then he stood slowly. "Who are you?" he asked.
"My name is Margret," she said. "I'm a lawyer. I want to help you."
Jude gave a short, dry laugh. "No."
Margret didn't react. "You haven't even heard what I want to say."
"I don't need to," Jude said. "I know your type."
Margret raised her eyebrow. "And what type is that?"
"Someone looking for a big case. Someone who wants attention. Someone who thinks defending me will make her famous."
Margret crossed her arms. "You're wrong."
Jude shook his head. "No, I'm not. I've seen it before."
He stepped closer to the bars. "I already have a lawyer."
Margret looked at him calmly. "No, you don't."
"I will," Jude replied.
"Who?"
Jude hesitated. "My fiancée."
Margret's face didn't change. "She said no."
Jude's face tightened. "No."
"I met her," Margret said. "I asked her to take the case. I even said we could work together."
Jude gripped the bars harder. "And?"
"She said no."
The word made Jude look away.
"No," he said again, but his voice was weaker.
"She won't defend you," Margret said. "Not now."
Jude shook his head slowly. "She will. She just needs time."
Margret didn't argue with him.
"Time is something you don't have," she said.
Jude looked at her. "I don't need you."
"You need someone," Margret said.
"I'll wait," Jude said.
"For what?" Margret asked. "For the case to get worse? For more evidence against you? For the court to decide before you have a chance?"
Jude stayed quiet.
Margret stepped back. "I'm not here to use you. I'm here because something about your case feels wrong."
Jude breathed out slowly. "That's not enough."
"It's a start," Margret said.
Jude shook his head. "I want someone who knows me. Someone who believes me."
Margret looked at him for a long moment.
"I hope she changes her mind," Margret said softly.
She turned and walked away.
Jude watched her leave. For a second, doubt showed on his face, but he didn't say anything.
Margret left the police station, knowing one thing for sure:
Whether Jude wanted her help or not, she was not done with his case.
Margret looked at her and nodded. "Then I'll take the case."
Ada said nothing.
Margret turned and left.
At the police station, Jude sat alone in his cell. He stared at the wall. Time moved slowly. Every second felt heavy.
After Margret left Ada's apartment, her words stayed with Jude. She said no. She refused to help.
Jude couldn't believe it. Ada would not leave him, not now, not when his life was falling apart.
He stood up and called for the guard. "Officer!"
A tired guard came over. "What is it?"
"I need to make a call."
The guard looked at him, then handed him a phone. "Be quick."
Jude's hands shook as he dialed Ada's number.
It rang. Once. Twice. Three times.
Then she answered. "Hello?"
Jude closed his eyes. "Ada… it's me."
Silence.
Then Ada's voice sounded cold. "How did you get this number?"
"I need to see you," Jude said quickly. "Please. Just come. Let me explain."
Another pause.
"You already explained enough," she said without emotion.
"No, I didn't," he begged. "You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"I can't do it on the phone," Jude said.
Ada sighed. "You have five minutes. I'll come."
The meeting room at the police station was small and plain. There was only a metal table and two chairs.
Jude sat on one side. His hands were shaking.
When Ada came in, Jude's heart hurt. She looked different. Not just sad, but distant, like she was already letting go.
She sat down and said nothing.
Jude spoke first. "I didn't do it."
Ada looked at him. "Start from the beginning."
Jude nodded. "I went to the club with Daniel. We drank. I met a girl. I don't even know her name. I woke up and she was dead. I panicked. I called Daniel. He said we needed to"
"Hide the body?" Ada interrupted.
Jude stopped. "That's what we did. We ran. We hid evidence. We escaped from police."
Ada leaned forward. "So you admit all that?"
Jude nodded. "Yes, but it doesn't mean I killed her."
Ada looked at him for a long moment. "You want me to stand in court and defend that?"
Jude's voice broke. "Ada, you know me."
Ada's voice was steady. "I thought I did."
They were quiet.
Jude leaned closer. "We made so many plans. Do you think I would throw all that away?"
Ada's eyes filled with tears, but her voice stayed calm. "You already did."
Jude shook his head. "No. Someone set me up."
"Who?" Ada asked.
Jude opened his mouth, then closed it. "I don't know."
Ada leaned back. "So your defense is… you don't know."
Jude ran his hand through his hair. "I'm trying to find out."
"And until then?" Ada asked. "You want me to risk my job, my name, and my future on 'I don't know'?"
Jude didn't answer.
Ada opened her bag and took out something small. She put it on the table.
It was Jude's ring.
She placed it in front of him.
"Our love was special," she said softly. "Do you remember?"
Jude nodded, his throat tight.
"We built everything carefully, trust, respect, a future," Ada went on. "And on the day we were to start that future, it all ended."
She started to cry.
Jude reached out. "Ada"
She pulled away. "Don't."
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," Jude said.
"But it did," Ada replied.
They sat quietly for a moment.
Ada stood up. "I can't do this. I can't be your lawyer. I can't be your wife."
Jude felt empty inside.
"Ada, please."
"I hope the truth comes out," she said, voice shaking. "I really do. And I hope justice is done."
She looked at him one last time, then walked away.
Jude stared at the ring on the table. He didn't move. He didn't speak. He could hardly breathe.
Outside, a guard waited to take him back to his cell.
Down the hall, Margret stood quietly, having seen enough to know one thing:
Jude had lost everything.
Now, he had no one left to fight for him.