Adele in Love "The woman in the crowd"

45|| lawyer

They were curled up together on the sofa, trying to find comfort in each other's presence. The soft glow of the lamp created a gentle atmosphere, but the weight of Adele's situation hung heavily in the air.

"I don't want you to see me like this..." Adele whispered, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes and began streaming down her cheeks. She looked deeply into Isy's blue eyes, seeking solace.

"I know, baby," Isy said softly, brushing a tear from Adele's cheek. "I don't want to see you like this either. It breaks my heart just to think about it. But we need to do this to make sure Evan gets the justice he deserves. I'm here for you, every step of the way."

"But what if it's been too long?" Adele's voice was barely above a whisper. "What if all of this is for nothing?"

Isy took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "I'll call Paul right now and explain everything. I'm sure there's still something we can do. We have to believe there's a chance."

Adele nodded slowly, her distress still evident. "Okay. Thank you."

"Do you want to take a bath?" Isy offered gently. "It might help you relax a bit."

Adele gave a small, grateful nod, and Isy went to prepare the bath. She added calming lavender bubbles to the water and adjusted the temperature to make it soothing. Once everything was ready, she helped Adele to the bathroom and then returned to the sofa.

As Adele settled into the bath, Isy picked up the phone and dialed Paul's number. The phone rang a few times before Paul answered.

"Hello, Paul. It's Isy," she began, her voice tense with urgency. "I need to update you on Adele's situation. Her ex, Evan, has resurfaced, and we've discovered that he abused her severely twelve years ago. He filmed everything, and Adele still has the footage."

Paul's voice was calm but firm. "I see. This is serious. It's a good thing you have the evidence. We can still take action. What I need from you is to start by reviewing the videos and photos. Identify and sort out the most critical pieces. Transfer these onto a USB stick so I can review them when I come by next week."

Isy nodded, even though Paul couldn't see her. "Understood. We'll start going through everything right away. Is there anything else we should do?"

Paul replied, "Make sure you keep the evidence secure and organized. This will help strengthen the case. I'll look into the legal options once I've reviewed the material."

After ending the call, Isy let out a deep sigh. She knew that the coming days would be incredibly challenging for Adele.

Meanwhile, Adele was lying in the bath, her eyes closed as she tried to relax. However, every touch of the water seemed to remind her of Even, and she felt an overwhelming sense of revulsion. The memories were so vivid that they made her skin crawl, and she struggled to shake off the sensation of his presence, even as she soaked in the warm water.

Isy called Adele's mother and confirmed that Archie could stay with her for the next few days. After settling everything, she made her way to the bathroom where Adele was immersed in the bath, her face reflecting a deep emotional strain.

"Archie will be with your mother for the next few days. Everything's sorted," Isy said softly as she approached the tub.

"Thank you..." Adele replied, her voice faint and tinged with exhaustion.

Adele looked up at Isy with a look of desperation. "Isy, could you come in here with me? I need you close."

Isy hesitated for a moment, sensing the depth of Adele's need. "Are you sure you want that?"

"Yes, please," Adele said, her eyes pleading. "I need to feel you near me."

Isy understood and quickly undressed. She eased herself into the bath, the warm water enveloping her as she settled beside Adele. The space in the tub was tight, but she moved closer to Adele, who was visibly seeking more contact.

Adele shifted, pressing her body closer to Isy. She leaned in, resting her head on Isy's chest, her arms wrapping around her tightly as if trying to anchor herself. Isy instinctively placed her arms around Adele, holding her gently but firmly, offering the physical reassurance that Adele so desperately needed.

"I feel him everywhere," Adele whispered, her voice breaking. "Even though I'm here with you, it feels like he's still touching me."

Isy's heart ached at Adele's words. She stroked Adele's wet hair and whispered softly, "You're safe with me. I promise, he can't hurt you anymore. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Adele's voice was almost a sob. "What did Paul say? Is there still hope?"

Isy took a deep breath, trying to stay calm for Adele's sake. "Paul said there's still a chance. We need to start going through the videos and photos and select the most important ones. We'll put them on a USB stick for him to review. He believes we have a strong case."

Adele's grip on Isy tightened, her body trembling slightly. "So, there's hope? We might still be able to do something?"

"Yes," Isy assured her, her voice steady and comforting. "There's hope, and we're going to fight for justice together. I'll be with you through every step."

Adele closed her eyes, finding solace in the warmth of the water and Isy's closeness. "Thank you for being here. I need you more than ever."

Isy pressed her cheek against Adele's head, holding her tightly. "I'm always here for you. I'll be by your side, no matter what."