All Chapters of Second Life: Lessons for the Nepotism Junior: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

"I... I don't know..." Xenia, standing as the defense counsel, suddenly broke down and burst into tears in open court.Seizing the advantage, the plaintiff's attorney pressed on, relentlessly targeting the gaps and contradictions in her responses.Her face grew increasingly pale, and at last she turned to seek help from Zayne, who was sitting in the gallery. "Zayne, wh-what should I do?" In my past life, Xenia's misspoken words had given the opposing counsel an opening. Her subsequent meltdown in court sent our case into a downward spiral. The defendant, who should very likely have been acquitted, was instead sentenced to ten years in prison. The client's family came to our firm repeatedly, making scenes and demanding answers. To placate them, Zayne threw me under the bus without a second thought. He used me to take the blow for Xenia. I was forced to shoulder the blame and resigned in disgrace, facing a ruinous lawsuit from the family. Desperate, I turned to Hugo, whom I

"But I see no need for this suspension or self-criticism report," Mr. Ziegler declared. His tone was mild, yet with just a few words, he shifted all blame squarely onto me. The smile drained from my face, and I addressed him directly. "Mr. Ziegler, are you suggesting that my handling of the situation was improper?" Hugo jumped in before Mr. Ziegler could reply. "Mr. Ziegler is right. Xenia had done extensive preparatory work despite it being her first time in court. It was just nerves that got the better of her. Yet you stepped in and erased all her efforts." Zayne quickly piled on. "A junior surely won't handle things with your level of polish. But you once stood where she stands now. Stealing her credit was bad enough, but forcing her to write a self-criticism report is too much." After abandoning their earlier blind defense of Xenia, the two of them now echoed Mr. Ziegler's stance. They were trying to claim the moral high ground to condemn me. My tone turned icy. "I've nev

The office fell into heavy silence. Everyone wore uneasy expressions. Quinton, however, stood apart as a detached observer. There was a look of visible satisfaction on his face. "Didn't I say this trial recording was worth studying? It's rare to find a case that showcases both brilliant examples and utter disasters in one sitting." As he spoke, his eyes flicked deliberately toward Xenia. She bristled instantly. "Every junior slips up in court. Why single me out? Even if the case had been lost—hasn’t Ms. Sullivan lost cases too? Why is all the blame on me?" Her voice cracked as she spoke, and she began crying. Her pitiful look was practically begging for sympathy.Quinton laughed outright. "The audacity of some people. While others clean up her mess, performing miracles with a hopeless situation, she parades the outcome around as if it were her own accomplishment. "Ms. Sullivan may have lost cases, but she lost with dignity. You, however? You abandoned your post in the midd

Maverick Tower was located in the heart of the city. Since I had already informed the police and arranged for them to come along, the situation seemed to hold little real danger. "Let's go," I said, snapping my laptop shut and motioning for Hugo to follow me in search of Xenia. But the moment I slid into the car, a sharp pain exploded in the back of my head, and everything went black. …When I regained consciousness, I was tied hand and foot in a rotting shack. Hugo sat across from me. His expression was dark and sullen. The moment he saw that I was awake, his expression twisted into a cruel sneer. "Samantha Sullivan, I've put up with you bossing me around for years. But you've bullied Xenia again and again. Today, I'm going to teach you a real lesson." I looked up in disbelief. I never imagined he had seen my guidance as cruelty. "What are you trying to do?" I asked, keeping my voice calm while secretly maneuvering my hands to search inside my pocket. My phone was con