DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE

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"Choose, Mrs. Rodriguez." The man's voice, thick with self-satisfaction, hung in the air. A mischievous glint sharpened his fat-bellied face. "Your husband or your career." He rose abruptly, the rustle of his expensive suit filling the sudden silence. Turning back, his gaze pinned her. "You are a very smart woman, Arianna. I trust you'll choose wisely." A spurious smirk flickered across his lips. "I await your decision, Barrister Arianna Rodriguez." He turned and left the office, leaving the weight of his words behind.
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> ARIANNA RODRIGUEZ. At twenty-eight, she commanded a room with her presence, her sharp wit often masking a deep-seated idealism. A successful barrister known for her unwavering commitment to justice, she fought tirelessly for the oppressed, unafraid to challenge corruption at the highest levels. The woman who brought down a governor, her name resonated with authority and respect, even reaching the President's ears.
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> But now, Arianna faced a choice that threatened to shatter her carefully constructed world. Her husband, the man who had always been her steadfast support and love, stood accused of a serious crime, the evidence stacked against him. Could she uphold the very principles she had so fiercely defended, even if it meant standing against the man she loved unconditionally?
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> Beneath the formidable exterior lay a deeply human heart. Perhaps, just this once, bending her own rigid beliefs would set everything right again. The temptation was a dangerous whisper in the sudden quiet.