Versailles Series Book 9: The Lawyer [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 21

H E R A

Hinayaan kong buhatin ni Ryan ang mga papel na kailangan namin para sa consultation na pupuntahan namin. We actually have an interesting case today. A concerned mother wanted me to come over for a consultation about her daughter's case.

"Bakit po ayaw noong anak niya na pumayag na mag-file ng annulment?" Tanong ni Ryan sa akin habang lulan kami ng sasakyan ko.

"She loves her husband. As her mother said, 'She's blinded by her love even if it hurts her every day'"

Raya Santillan has been married for fifteen years with one child. Their only child died of drowning when he was ten years old. The marriage deteriorated from then on. Raya looked away for a bit and the next thing she knew, she was doing CPR on her child who passed away when they got to the hospital. The mother said that the couple went through couple's therapy and grief counselling but it didn't help repair the relationship. The husband became indifferent and they are living in one house like strangers.

Ryan sighed. "That's hard."

I nodded. "The husband has not filed for a petition either. He could have because his wife doesn't need to consent to it."

"Maybe he wants to keep her like that. Like it's some sort of punishment, you know?"

"Probably. Raya is emotional whenever it is brought up. I don't expect we'll start with the procedure after this meeting."

I parked in a blue house inside a known subdivision. The family is wealthy so money isn't really an issue. Raya's mother's concerns stem from seeing her daughter wither away every day.

"Good morning. I'm Attorney Hera Marquez. This is my associate, Attorney Ryan Gonzaga."

Kinamayan namin ang ginang na nagbukas ng pintuan para sa amin. Tinungo namin ang hardin ng mga ito. Napakaganda ng bahay ng mga ito. Nasa parehong subdivision ang bahay ng mag-asawa kaya dito nila napag-desisyunan na kausapin kami.

Nang makita kami ni Raya ay napatayo ito. Nang magpakilala kami ay tinignan nito ang ina. "Ma. We've discussed this already."

"Let's hear them out, anak. Please. Look at you. Sa tingin mo ba hindi ako nag-aalala sa kalagayan mo?" Lumambot ang ekspresyon ng ginang. "Sige na anak. Kumalma ka muna at umupo. Kakausapin lang natin si Attorney Marquez. Tutulungan niya tayong mag-desisyon."

Tumikhim ako. "I've read the case and it isn't something uncommon. May mga mag-asawa talagang nagbabago pagkatapos mamatay ng anak nila. Some were not able to reconcile after the death. Lahat ng kaso na nahawakan ko ay maayos na nakapaghiwalay."

Raya's eyes were teary. "Ayokong hiwalayan ang asawa ko, Attorney. Mahal ko si Zeke. Hindi ko siya iiwan."

"Naiintindihan ko ang sinasabi ng nanay mo. But you are right. The final choice still lies in your hands. You can choose to file the annulment soon or not at all. Or your husband may file his petition too."

"H-hindi ba dapat ay pumayag ako para ma-annul kami?"

Umiling ako. "Your husband can file for a petition without your consent. If the petition is finalised and is assigned to a judge, you will just be notified by the court on the updates."

"Mahal ko ang asawa ko, Attorney. Ayoko siyang hiwalayan."

"Raya! Hindi ka na nakakakain ng tama. Hindi ka na niya tinatrato bilang asawa! Iyan ba ang pagmamahal na sinasabi mo?!" I have seen Raya's older pictures and she has lost a lot of weight. Her mother isn't exaggerating.

Nakayuko na si Ryan sa tabi ko habang nakatingin sa tablet nito. I sat tall while witnessing the back-and-forth confrontation in front of me with a blank expression. I've seen worse than this and it helped me maintain composure in moments where my clients lose control over their emotions.