I Ruined my Ex-husband and my Best Friend after a Divorce

I supported my husband, Rhett Mason, until he finished his PhD program. But on the day he graduated, I received a court summons. He was suing me for "fraudulent marriage."

He claimed that I had concealed a rare hereditary disease in my family history.

My best friend, Emeline Graham, was a somewhat renowned lawyer. She offered to defend me for free. However, she "accidentally" presented the wrong crucial medical records in court.

So I lost the case. She hugged me tightly and said with sobs, "I'm sorry. It was all my fault. I'll help you appeal to the very end."

Rhett wrapped his arm around her shoulders and said to the judge, "I am willing to forgo all assets. I just want to dissolve this malformed relationship as soon as possible."

I was divorced with nothing. When I went to the law firm to see Emeline, I only overheard their conversation outside the door.

"Dr. Mason, it's all thanks to your girlfriend. Otherwise, getting rid of that country girl wouldn't have been easy for you this time. You divorced her without giving her anything. This case was handled perfectly."

Rhett said, "What do you know? If I have to give her some assets, how would I have money to pay you the lawyer's fee? We just have enough money to pay our son's educational fee when he goes to school abroad. That fake medical record had to look real enough. Otherwise, how would she believe it and never dare to get married and give birth to children again for the rest of her life?"

...

In the courtroom, the cold air from the air conditioner made my bones ache.

I looked at Rhett, who was sitting at the plaintiff's table in his new doctoral gown, a ceremonial robe worn at graduation. So he must have come straight from his graduation ceremony.

I had spent my three months' salary to have that gown custom-made for him, but it was like a cruel reminder of my sacrifices at that moment.

The judge's voice echoed in the empty courtroom, and each word was like a cold hammer.

"The plaintiff, Rhett Mason, has filed a lawsuit against the defendant, Kristy Wright, on the grounds of marriage fraud due to concealment of hereditary family medical history, seeking to nullify the marriage.

My mind went blank.

Did I have a family medical history?

I was twenty-eight years old, but I didn't know I had any family medical history at all.

I looked at Rhett, but he never glanced at me. His handsome profile was as cold as stone.

For seven years, I had stood by him as he rose from a penniless student to the highly acclaimed Ph.D. he was now.

I had thought we had finally overcome the worst.

But he brought me a summons.

"Kristy, don't be afraid." My best friend, Emeline, held my hand tightly. She was my defense lawyer. "With me here, you will be fine."

The determination in her eyes gave me some strength.

Rhett's lawyer presented a lot of evidence, stating that a distant cousin in my family had died from a rare disease called Huntington's chorea, a rare genetic disorder affecting movement.

He claimed that Rhett had consulted medical experts for our future, and the disease had a fifty percent inheritance rate.

Rhett said, "I cannot accept that my descendants might live in the fear of having such a disease at any moment."

Rhett's voice was somber and righteous, and he sounded like the victim.

It was my turn.

I faced the judge and said, word by word, "I did not. I have no idea what Huntington's is. Each member of my family is very healthy."

Emeline stood up and presented evidence to the judge. "Your Honor, this is a full family health report from my client's hometown clinic. It proves that Ms. Kristy Wright and her immediate family are healthy. They have no hereditary disease history."

But Rhett's lawyer merely glanced at it and laughed. "Your Honor, please look at the name on the report."

The judge picked up the report and frowned deeply.

A moment later, he looked at Emeline and said seriously. "Ms. Graham, the name on this report is Emily Wright, not your client Kristy Wright."

Emeline's face turned ashen. She rushed to grab the report, and her face was covered with shock and panic. "How could this... How could this happen? I... I must have taken the wrong one. The clerk must have made a mistake."

She was on the verge of tears. "Your Honor, please give me more time to verify this."

But the judge shook his head and struck the gavel.

A major error in the key evidence rendered my defense weak and ineffective.

The final verdict was that the marriage was invalid, and I was at fault for "fraud."

Rhett said in court, "I voluntarily forgo any property, just to dissolve this malformed relationship as soon as possible."

He appeared selflessly generous and earned a wave of approval from the audience.

But we didn't have any property.

The apartment was assigned to him by the university during his PhD. The car was a gift from his mentor. All the money I earned from working three jobs was used up to pay for his education fees and our living expenses.

I was sentenced to divorce him without giving a penny.

As I left the court, Emeline hugged me, crying. She repeatedly said, "I'm sorry, Kristy. It's all my fault. I was too careless. I will help you appeal. I will..."

Rhett walked over and naturally wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her into his arms and comforted her softly. "Alright. Don't cry. It's not your fault."

The scene pierced my eyes with pain.