Chapter 4

The scandal at Verity & Cross spread across the internet.

The former gold-standard attorney had become a legal disgrace everyone wanted to condemn.

I turned off my phone, ignored the insults and slander, and plunged into a mountain of testimony.

The day Sterling Group's commercial fraud case opened, the sky was bright and clear.

The courthouse was surrounded by media. The most closely watched case in Harbor City had finally begun.

Sterling Group had hired Nolan Ashford from Candid Law, an old rival of mine.

Before court, Julian's eyes burned with fanatical confidence.

"Caroline, I'm giving you one last chance. Withdraw the suit now while you still can.

"If you lower your head, I'll cover the three hundred million in damages from the Horizon case for you.

"Otherwise, after today, not only will your undefeated legend be shattered, you will also learn what it's like for a lawyer to rot in prison."

I stared at his false face, the corner of my mouth lifting in mockery.

"Julian, the word lose is not in my dictionary. Neither is run."

Beside him, Celia held Rosie Sterling in her arms, her expression ugly.

After all, once today passed, the Sterling family would collapse completely.

Rosie suddenly hurled her melting ice cream at my chest.

"Bad woman! You bullied Mommy and Daddy! Go die!"

Sticky cream slid down the front of my white suit jacket.

I looked at the little face that resembled Celia so strongly and felt an absurd kind of amusement.

"Little girl, you think the person defending justice is the villain?

"Then what is your mother, who killed my child and forced my mother to her death?"

Celia's face went deathly pale. She screamed.

"Caroline, shut up!"

Julian lost all composure.

He grabbed my wrist so hard it hurt.

"What child? Explain yourself!"

I flung off his hand and straightened my stained collar.

"Mr. Sterling, when a defendant grabs the plaintiff's attorney before trial, people may misunderstand.

"As for the rest, you can ask that pure and kind wife beside you. Ask her how much blood is on her hands."

With that, I turned and walked into the restroom.

After cleaning the stain from my suit, I looked at myself in the mirror.

My gaze was firm and calm.

I took a deep breath and pushed the restroom door.

It did not move.

Only the sound of a lock clicking came from outside.

Then a cleaner's trembling voice.

"Miss Eckhart, don't blame me... Mr. Sterling said that if I kept you in here for half an hour, he'd move my husband into the best hospital ward.

"I can't afford to offend the Sterling family. I'm sorry!"

Her footsteps faded away.

The opening bell rang at exactly the right moment.

I looked around and fixed my eyes on the only window in the restroom, locked tight.

The next second, I grabbed the wooden mop nearby and smashed it into the glass.

Crash.

The window shattered. Sharp shards cut a deep gash across the back of my hand.

I kicked off my heels, gripped the edge of the frame with bare hands, ignored the glass slicing into my palms, and forced myself over.

...

Inside the solemn courtroom, the opening bell rang again and again.

Reporters' flashes kept bursting toward the empty plaintiff's table.

"Caroline Eckhart really ran!"

"I knew she didn't dare fight the Sterling family."

"Fleeing before trial. Now she's finished for good."

At the defense table, Julian straightened his tie, the corner of his mouth curving.

Ashford raised a hand.

"Your Honor, the plaintiff and the plaintiff's attorney are both absent without cause, in serious violation of courtroom procedure. The defense moves to dismiss this case."

The judge looked at the clock and sighed helplessly, slowly raising the gavel.

"The plaintiff and counsel being absent, this court hereby declares the hearing now-"

"Wait."

The courtroom doors were shoved open with force.

I stood against the backlight, my right hand braced on the doorframe, blood dripping from my fingertips onto the polished marble floor.

My once crisp white suit had been torn apart by glass, and my cuffs were stained a stark red.

The entire courtroom fell silent. Only camera flashes kept exploding.

Step by step, I walked to the plaintiff's side, stopped, and raised my bloodied right hand.

My voice was not loud, but every word struck the floor like iron.

"Your Honor, I am counsel for the plaintiffs, Caroline Eckhart."

Julian shot to his feet.

The smile on his face vanished completely.