As for property division, that will take more work, but we’ll figure it out. Evelina felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in weeks. Thank you, Roland, for helping me and for renting me the apartment, she said.
This is just the beginning, Evelina. Let’s stay in touch and work through everything together, he replied. Meanwhile, back at the house, Clara continued to pressure Graham.
She insisted they move into the house despite Graham’s initial reluctance, arguing that she didn’t want to raise their baby in her small apartment. Graham eventually gave in to her demands, but his real motivation for fighting for custody wasn’t love. It was anger and spite toward Evelina for filing for divorce.
Graham wanted everything to stay the same. To live with Evelina and their children while financially supporting Clara and her child. However, Clara had her sights set on more than that.
She wanted the house for herself. And he didn’t mind. It didn’t matter to him at all where Evelina would live after being left on her own.
Confident in his good lawyer, he prepared for the children to live with him. The thought that Evelina might win custody never crossed his mind. After all, she didn’t have the money or the connections he had built over years of work.
But everything turned out very differently. Roland approached the case very seriously. He thoroughly researched Alexander’s background.
In his circles, Graham was known as a cunning, bold, and highly resourceful person. Roland had a good acquaintance in the IT company where Graham worked, someone who held a managerial position in a neighbouring department. Roland arranged a meeting with this acquaintance, Hugh, who agreed to meet him.
Hugh. Thank you for meeting with me, Roland began. I’m handling a case for a young woman whose husband wants to take her children.
He’s started an affair at work and is now fighting for custody. He works in your company. Do you know Graham Whittaker? I do, Hugh replied.
That guy. Ever since he got involved with that Clara, he’s changed for the worse. So, you know Clara too? Roland asked.
Of course. Who doesn’t? She works in HR. Quite the character, always looking for her next target.
Now she’s with Whittaker. I’ve heard rumours that she had connections with the CEO himself, but that’s unverified. She’s certainly attractive on the outside, but inside.
A real piece of work, Hugh commented. Recently, I’ve heard Alexander’s relationship with the CEO has soured significantly, though I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because of Clara? No, I doubt that.
The CEO has a wife, and when she found out about his affair, she caused such a scandal that people are still gossiping about it, Hugh explained. Our CEO might look serious, but he’s completely under his wife’s thumb. So, the Clara story is definitely over.
After a pause, Hugh added. Again, just rumours, but Graham has been leaking company data to a competitor. However, no one has been able to prove it.
This information was crucial for Roland. He understood that unravelling this story would be a significant challenge, but he was determined not to let his client down. He had a reputation for working honestly.
Two weeks later, the first hearing to determine the children’s living arrangements was scheduled. Roland was confident about this issue. He had gathered all the necessary documents and was prepared to prove in court that his client was a good mother.
He had personally observed Evelina’s care for Ivy and Miles during their first meeting at a cafe, noticing her genuine affection and dedication to her children. The two weeks flew by, and the day of the court hearing arrived. Evelina was very nervous, knowing that her life could change drastically that day.
Surprisingly, the session went smoothly. Graham appeared without Clara and didn’t cause a scene. Evelina, who knew her ex-husband well, could see from his appearance and behaviour that he was facing difficulties.
However, she didn’t rush to comfort him. After all, it wasn’t her who had started this ridiculous game that turned her and her children’s lives upside down. The court ruled in favour of the children staying with their mother.
Evelina was overjoyed she could now take Ivy to school in peace, knowing her daughter would be with her in the evening as well. Graham was allowed to visit the children whenever he wanted, but only by prior arrangement, which seemed to suit him fine. After all, with the major problems at work, he had other things to worry about.
Graham had been working at the company for a long time and realised he needed either a promotion or at least a salary increase. When that didn’t happen, he began looking into the competitor that had quickly grown into a formidable modern firm. This irritated his company’s CEO, who demanded his employees outperform the competition.
Frustrated by the lack of a raise, Graham approached the competitors and offered to sell them sensitive company information. Although initially sceptical, they eventually agreed, paying him a substantial sum. However, when the CEO discovered the leak, he couldn’t determine who the traitor was as everyone remained silent.
Only Graham knew the truth. While the rival company thrived with the stolen information, Graham waited for them to offer him a job. But the competitor’s leadership adhered to the principle that someone who betrays once will betray again.
They never hired him. Work became increasingly unbearable for Graham as he failed to get the recognition he craved. At home, things were no better.
A pregnant Clara constantly complained about money, space in the house, and needing a housekeeper. Her nagging only added to his irritation. After the court’s favorable ruling, Evelina felt relieved.
She now had the stability to care for her children without interference, while Alexander’s life began to unravel further. Roland invited Evelina to celebrate the case at a cafe. She agreed, and the man took her to a small, cozy restaurant on the embankment.
Evelina chose the most delicious items on the menu, deciding that today she deserved to treat herself. She had earned it after so many sleepless nights and frayed nerves. Everything had been worth it in the end.
Evelina noticed that Roland wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but didn’t directly ask about his marital status. He shared the details on his own. Evelina, looking at you reminds me of my wife.
Well, my ex-wife, the lawyer corrected himself. So you’re divorced too, like me, Evelina asked. Yes, I hope your divorce was more civilized than mine, he replied.
As a lawyer, you probably know how to settle conflicts peacefully. Well, it wasn’t exactly peaceful, Roland admitted. My ex-wife and I lived like roommates for a long time.
We didn’t communicate much at home, neither of us wanted to. This went on for years until one evening she told me she wanted a divorce. She had met someone else, attentive, caring, and she was happy with him.
She said she wanted to live with him and wanted a divorce to make everything official. She told me, I could have lied to you, spent days with him and nights with you, but I can’t live like that. I didn’t take it well.
My pride was wounded. I refused to give her a divorce and said our only son would live with me. Those words hurt her deeply, though I only realize that now.
Looking at you, I understand that children should stay with their mother and men shouldn’t let their egos get in the way. And how did it all turn out? Evelina asked, curious about Roland’s story. My ex-wife married the man she met while we were still together.
Our son stayed with her. I had to do a lot of self-reflection. The court ruled in her favor.
I argued that my son should live with me, but the judge didn’t agree. The apartment you live in with your children now was ours. I look back at that time and realize how happy we were there.
That’s where our son was born. Later, we saved up to buy a bigger apartment, but we didn’t sell this one. I thought my son would live in it someday, but he moved to another city for university, so I rented out now.
Looking back, I’ve learned that happiness isn’t in square meters. It’s in the people who are close to you, Roland added. Let’s toast to that, Evelina said.
They decided to order a bottle of wine to celebrate the case they had won. To your happiness, Evelina, and to your children, Roland said, raising his glass. They sipped their wine and didn’t stay long, as Evelina had to pick up her son from daycare.
On her way home, Evelina couldn’t stop thinking about Roland’s comment regarding her ex-husband. He had hinted that Graham might be in serious trouble at work. The thought of him ending up in jail worried her, but she didn’t let it show in front of Roland.
She wondered what her ex-husband could have done for things to escalate so far, but there was no one she could ask. Roland, meanwhile, discovered a temporary position at a competing company through an online job posting. He applied, and the next day, he was invited for an interview.
Although the interview was challenging, Roland managed to impress the company’s leadership. He was later offered the position of an external consultant, which suited him well, as it allowed him to continue his private practice. During his work at the company, Roland became friends with Helena, the secretary to the CEO.
Helena was a bright young woman who had recently graduated from university. She had been working part-time at the company since her third year in college, so she was familiar with its inner workings. One day, Roland decided to leverage his friendship with her.
Helena, do you know all the employees here? He asked casually. Pretty much. There are only two big IT companies in our city, and the other one is going downhill, though, she replied.
Why do you think so? Roland asked. Employees are leaving it in droves and sharing their secrets with us, she said. Roland was stunned.
What did you just say? He asked, barely believing his ears. Realizing her slip, Helena quickly added, please, Mr. Carrington, don’t tell anyone I said that. The CEO would fire me if he knew.
What exactly shouldn’t I say? Roland pressed. That Graham Whitaker, the head of a department at our competitor, leaked information about his company to us for a lot of money. It all happened at night.
I was called in to document everything. This revelation confirmed Roland’s suspicions. Armed with this information, Roland arranged a meeting with Alexander.