"What?" he asked, his voice raspy from disuse, but the shock coming through clearly, making it obvious to Phayu that Rain had been clueless about it. So Phayu moved ahead. "According to the will Rain, only you have the authority to collect your parents' bodies and perform any and all last rites that is due to them," he said. Rain stared at him in shock, his mind completely blank, expression reflecting that. Suddenly, his eyes filled with tears as he dropped his face into his hands and began sobbing in earnest, almost as if a dam had broken inside him. Sky rushed to him, putting his arms around the boy but letting him cry. "Let it out baby. Let it all out," he crooned. Phayu watched the two of them, seeing how Sky was completely there for Rain, made him think of his group and how they were always there for each other.

Finally Rain sat back, wiping his tears, with Sky helping him. "You okay baby?" he asked. Rain nodded. "Okay, you sit here. Let me get you some water," Sky said. Rain leaned back when Sky left. "I am sorry Khun," he said, sounding absolutely fatigued. "It's quite alright Nong. You have been through a life altering event. I am quite surprised you did not break down before this," Phayu said. "And what were you saying about my parents' will Khun?" Rain asked, just as Sky handed him a glass of water. "Well, your parents' bodies are still in the Medical Examiner's office. Only you have the authority to get them released. These were strict instructions given that you have to complete their rites," Phayu said. "Will my sisters let me do that?" Rain asked. "I really don't think they would have much choice Rainy," Sky said, looking at Phayu. He nodded. "They do not. It is not upto them. If it is in the will, it is pretty obvious it is your parents' last wish Rain. No one has the legal or moral right to contradict it," he said. "I don't know what to do," Rain whispered, sounding broken and desperate.

"You don't have to do anything right away baby. We will figure something out. Together. Okay?" Sky said. Rain nodded. "Rain, I know all this is too much, but there are a few questions that I need to ask you. Are you upto answering them?" Phayu asked, deciding not to tell Rain about the other contents of the will. Rain straightened. "Will it help you find out who killed my Appa and Mae? he asked. "That is something I cannot answer. I am lawyer, and I am responsible for ensuring that you are acquitted of a crime that you have not committed. If I have enough to prove your innocence, then automatically the cops will have to look for the actual guilty party," Phayu said. Rain pondered for a moment, then nodded decisively. "Whatever you want to know," he said. Phayu ran him through some simple questions and then some really hard ones. Rain was beyond breaking point by the time he was done. Sky glared at Phayu. "I am sorry Sky. I know you think I have put your friend through the wringer. But the truth is, it could get worse in court. The Public Prosecutor is not going to be even half as kind," Phayu said. "He is right Sky," Rain said, before Sky could say anything. He looked at Phayu. "Thank you Khun. You took up my case just because P'Fah and Sky asked you to. I am grateful," he said. "I trust my brother's judgment implicitly, and I also know Sky is not someone who gets shaken easily. So if the two of them were disturbed enough, there is nothing I wouldn't do to ensure they are at peace," Phayu said. Soon, he bid goodbye and left, leaving Sky and Rain alone.

"Stop is going to kick up a fuss about the judges panel, that's for sure," Pam said. "We won't know who they are until the day of. So what can he complain about?" Mhok asked. "I know one thing from sure. He doesn't have any grounds to change any judges. Moreover, this one is going to be a tough one for both the teams. There is a lot of 'he said, she said'," Chai said, looking around the room. "Agreed. Which means that most of the evidence is definitely not iron clad. We need to find every single loophole we can," Phayu said, as he pushed up his glasses and continued to read the document he was holding. "Jao nai, the case starts in three days. The witnesses and evidence have been registered in the courts. Do you not have to prep Rain as to what kind of questions may come his way?" Chai asked. "No, I do not. And I don't want to. When I questioned him, I asked him the worst possible questions. He answered them well. I don't there is anything that Stop won't ask that I haven't already. But yes, I don't trust Stop. No matter what happens, I want you to keep an eye on him Chai. He is overconfident about this one," Phayu said, looking at his investigator. Chai nodded, understanding his boss completely.

Rain looked out of the window of the police car that was taking him to court. They had come to pick him up earlier that day. He had been ready since his lawyer had already given him the heads up. His lawyer. He thought of Phayu. Was it weird that he was attracted to the man? Strange time to be thinking about such things. Sky and the others would meet him at court, or that's what they said. Maybe they would come, maybe not. He was not sure of anything. He wondered whether they would stay with him after all this was over. Would he be allowed to become a doctor? He could feel his thoughts spiralling. His heart trembled at idea of losing everyone he cared about. He was tired now, tired of being strong, tired of pretending that everything was wonderful. Sometimes, he wondered if it would be better if he lost the case. That way, he would just stop being a burden on everyone.

He was jolted out of his thoughts when the car stopped. They had stopped behind the courthouse, because apparently, the press was out in droves in the front. Rain didn't care either ways, but the cops had been given strict instructions about following protocol. Rain had been surprised when he had not seen any interviews or social media posts from his sisters, who constantly had the need to be the centre of attention. That's when Pai had told him that Phayu had ensured that they would not be allowed to approach the press in any manner and vice versa. It had shocked him a bit that Phayu had that kind of control and presence. But he had wisely kept quiet, unable to comprehend the power people held. He had no idea what was going to happen today, but he hoped that there would be some respite from his dreary existence.

"Rain, I am not going to prepare you too much, because I want your answers to be as natural as possible. But I am going to give you one advice as your lawyer. Never lose your calm, whatever is being said about you. You can be angry and curse anyone you like inside your heart and mind, but you need to show a façade so strong that no one will be able to touch you. The more we complicate things, the worse the situation will become. Tell the truth as you know it, that's all," Phayu said. Rain nodded, indicating that he understood, but stayed quiet. Phayu wondered what was going through his head. He had often been called stoic by his brother and his friends, but Rain beat him at that expression. The boy was a vault, and Phayu had understood that from every dealing he had with the boy so far.

The whole court stood up when the three judges, Khun Bhumibol, Khun Chen, and Khun Marie, walked onto their designated seats and waiied. "You may begin the proceedings," Khun Marie spoke up. "I would like to call Lee Eun-ji on the witness stand," Stop said. Rain didn't bother to look up, knowing what exactly he would see, and he couldn't care less. "Could you state your name and profession for the record?" Stop asked. "I am Lee Eun-Ji, and I am the Head of Marketing with Airan Enterprises," she said. "What is your relation with the deceased?" Stop asked. "They were my father and step-mother," she said, slightly tearfully. "Were you close to them?" Stop asked. "Yes. They were wonderful people with so much love in their hearts," she said. Rain could hear the artifice in her voice, but continued to sit with his head bowed. The interrogation went on for a while. "I am done. You may question the witness Khun Phayu," Stop said, as he sat down. "No questions," Phayu said.

Sky and his friends looked at each other, surprised, but trusted the process. Numerous witnesses came up and Phayu didn't get up to ask a single question. "What the fuck is your best friend, the top lawyer doing Phi?" Sky hissed. Pai shook his head, just as confused. "I am confused too, but let's just wait and watch, okay?" he said. Sky nodded. The court soon went into recess for lunch. Post that, the first witness was Khun Kiet Suwannarat, the lawyer who had made the wills for Rain's parents. "Khun Kiet, please tell us the terms of the wills created by Khun Lee and Khun Rae?" Stop asked. Rain's head snapped up for the first time. "Well, according to both their wills, all their properties, movable and immovable, would be divided into three parts. One part for each of their daughters and one part for their son," Khun Kiet said. "And how much would each child get?" Stop asked. "All inclusive, after all the taxes have been paid, close to 50 million baht," Khun Kiet said, sending the court twittering. "Order to the court," one of the judges said. Everyone quieted down. "Which means that the accused would get close to 100 million baht?" Stop asked. "That's correct," Khun Kiet said. "Pretty good motive. Your witness Khun Phayu," Stop said, smirking, thinking Phayu would let this one go as well.

Instead, Phayu got up. "Khun Kiet, when was this will made?" he asked. "Almost 6 years ago," Kiet said. "And were the accused and his sisters aware of this will?" Phayu asked. "No. They were not. Six years ago, when the will was made, Khun Lee's daughters were still in Korea, Khun Chareonsuk's daughters were travelling away, and Khun Rain was still a minor," Kiet said. "I see. What would happen to Rain's share of the money if something happened to him?" Phayu asked. "It would be equally distributed amongst his four sisters," Khun Kiet said. "And that means each of them would get 25 million baht, so each of their shares would be 75 million baht each," Phayu said. "Yes, that's correct," Khun Kiet said. "Alright. And are you sure that no one knew about the contents of the will?" Phayu asked. "I am," Kiet said. "Objection! I don't understand the relevance of this Your Honour," Stop said. "Phayu, I agree," Khun Bhumibol spoke up. "I am coming to it. I was just ensuring whether Khun Kiet was sure that the will was not leaked," Phayu said. "Okay, objection overruled. Khun Kiet, please confirm what Phayu wants to know," Khun Chen said. "I am sure. I trust my staff completely, and I absolutely did not say anything to anyone," Kiet said. "Well in that case, thank you very much," Phayu said. "Permission to call Khun Aroon Wirawat please," he added, turning away from where Kiet was seated and looking towards the judges. They nodded.

"Iwas not informed of this witness," Stop stood up immediately. "The request forthis witness was placed through the proper channels well before the proceedingsof the court began," Phayu said. "Can you verify this?" Khun Marie asked. "KhunPhayu placed the request a week ago," the officer of the court said. "Well, inthat case, we see no reason why this witness cannot give his testimony. You maycontinue Phayu," Khun Bhumibol said. "Khun Aroon, could you state yourprofession for the court?" Phayu asked. "I am a clerk at Khun Kiet's law firm,"Aroon said. "Khun Kiet just said that no one knew about Khun Lee and Khun Rae'swills. Is that correct?" Phayu asked. "It is correct," Aroon said. "And is italso correct that you are the one who files all these kind of documents withthe court?" Phayu asked. "Yes, I do," Aroon said. "In that case, what is thenature of your relationship with Lee Eun-ji?" Phayu asked. The entire courterupted with an uproar!