4 MONTHS LATER

Y/N

"Y/n, can I have a word with you in my office?" My boss's stern voice echoed through the hallway, sending shivers down my spine. I reluctantly followed him into his office, knowing that this conversation wouldn't be pleasant.

"I'll cut straight to the point. You've lost the last two cases you were representing, and I'm sure you're aware of the stakes here," he said, his gaze fixed on me.

"I understand, sir. I'm doing my best, but it seems like luck isn't on my side recently," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I appreciate your honesty, but the truth is, the firm is facing increased pressure to deliver results. If you can't turn things around soon, I'm afraid there won't be a place for you here," my boss explained, his expression grave.

I felt a surge of defiance rise within me. "But sir, the cases I've been given are all one-sided," I protested. "It's hard to make a case when the odds are stacked against you from the start."

My boss fixed me with a steely gaze, his expression unreadable. "I don't need excuses, Y/n. I need results. You either shape up or ship out."

I felt the weight of his words sink in as I realized that my entire career as a lawyer was hanging by a thread. Taking a deep breath, I nodded and excused myself from his office, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. I had lost the last two cases I had represented, and the pressure to succeed was now greater than ever.

------------------------

As I was returning to my apartment, I kept cursing my boss under my breath. The old hag had surely been bribed against me; there was no other explanation for the one-sided cases he kept assigning me.

"He is such a sick old idiot," I muttered under my breath, not caring who heard me. The lack of humility he displayed was astounding. How could a man with such a lack of morals hold a position of power over me?

"I can't believe he's doing this to me," I muttered to myself, the bitterness in my tone matching the bitterness in my heart. Each step I took echoed my frustration, the streetlights flickering above casting shadows that mirrored the turmoil within me.

The latest case he had handed me was a perfect example of his disdain for me. A seemingly one-sided dispute with no chance of winning. "Of course," I thought sarcastically, "the universe must be against me, and my boss is its vessel."

"He must have a grudge against me, that old hag," I thought to myself, shaking my head. "Or maybe he's just a sick idiot with no sense of justice whatsoever."

I could almost imagine the conversation that must have taken place between him and whoever bribed him. "Hey, listen, I need you to make sure that Y/n never wins a case again, okay? She's getting too good at this whole lawyer thing, and it's making me look bad."

As I entered my apartment and slumped down on the couch, my mind raced with different scenarios. Could I confront him directly and demand an explanation for his actions? Or should I start looking for another job, one where my talents would be appreciated?

"Ah, there you are, sulky pants," Sana teased, handing me a box of steaming noodles. "Tell me all about your day. Did the old hag of a boss give you more grief?"

"Sana, you won't believe the latest stunt my boss pulled," I ranted as I collapsed onto the couch beside her. "I swear, someone must have bribed him to make my life a living hell. These cases he keeps throwing my way have 'defeat' written all over them from the start."  I grumbled, taking a forkful of the food she had brought.

Sana listened attentively, her eyes filled with understanding. "Oh, come on, don't be too hard on the poor old hag," she teased, poking fun at my exaggerated frustration. "Maybe he's just trying to challenge you to bring out your inner legal superhero."

"I swear, that old hag of a man must have it out for me. He's deliberately trying to make me fail, I just know it. Probably got some hefty bribes from my enemies," I ranted, gesturing dramatically with my hands.

Sana's eyes widened as she listened to my rant, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter. "Oh, for sure. He's definitely in cahoots with the entire office against you. The nerve of that man to target such a sweet, innocent soul like yours," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Yes, that exactly!" I exclaimed, glad as if she understood my plight. "He sits there behind his desk, probably twirling his evil mustache when I'm not looking, plotting my downfall."

Sana burst into laughter, shaking her head, "Poor you, stuck with the worst boss in the world."

------------------------

TAEHYUNG

After completing the routine check on the criminals in the cell, my colleague and friend, Jungkook, pulled me aside with a serious expression on his face. "Hey, did you know about Jongsuk?" he asked, his voice low.

I furrowed my brows, shaking my head in response. "No, what's up with him?"

Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He's been here for a year and a half now. People say he's mentally unstable, even psychotic. They call him a danger to society."

My heart sank as I remembered the details of Jongsuk's case - a brutal murder that shook the entire city. "I do remember him. He's the one who mercilessly killed someone, right?"

He nodded gravely. "Yeah, that's him. You know, he was sentenced to death a few days ago. But his mother... she's trying to get that changed. She's pleaded with the court to spare his life."

I shook my head in disbelief. "What do you think will happen?"

Jungkook sighed, his expression troubled. "I'm not sure. But if Jongsuk does get his sentence reduced, it will send shockwaves through the community. People will question the justice system and wonder if he truly deserves another chance."

I could see Jongsuk sitting in the corner, his gaze fixed on a spot on the floor. Despite the cacophony of sounds echoing through the prison halls, he appeared lost in his own world, oblivious to his surroundings.

I stood quietly for a moment, observing him, his eyes had a vacant look, devoid of any emotion, as if he had given up on everything around him. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his mind.

Jungkook tapped on my shoulder, I looked at him as he motioned to go. I nodded at him as we both went towards our desks.

------------------------------

Y/N

I sighed heavily and looked down at the stack of papers on my desk, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. Lee Jongsuk. The name echoed in my mind like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over my already hectic workday. My boss had just dropped the bomb on me - I was to handle the case of the infamous criminal, knowing well that there was hardly any hope of winning.

I cursed under my breath, my frustration mounting. Why me? Why this case? I knew my boss had some personal animosity towards me, but to throw me into the lion's den like this...it felt like a setup, a trap waiting to be sprung.

"Why me?" I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair in exasperation.

As I delved deeper into the case, sifting through piles of evidence and witness testimonies, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. It seemed like every lead I pursued ended in a dead-end, and the walls were closing in on me with each passing day.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up the phone and dialed my boss's number, preparing myself for what was to come.

"Hello?" came my boss's voice on the other end.

"Sir, about the Lee Jongsuk case," I began, choosing my words carefully. "I understand that you've assigned it to me, but I can't help but feel that there may be a conflict of interest given our history."

There was a moment of silence before my boss replied, his tone cold and calculating. "You're a professional, and I expect you to handle this case with the utmost diligence. Lee Jongsuk is a dangerous criminal, and we cannot afford any missteps in this matter."

I clenched my jaw, the tension in the air thickening with each passing second. It was clear that my boss had no intention of changing his decision, leaving me with no choice but to steel myself for the challenge ahead.

"Understood, sir," I said finally, my voice betraying none of the turmoil raging inside me. "I will do everything in my power to represent our client to the best of my abilities."

-----------------------