~Author's POV~

The entire courtroom gasped in shock as the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Moments ago, the magistrate had been calm and composed, but now he was filled with rage

Jackson, caught off guard, spat out the water he had been drinking. What had just unfolded before him was too shocking to process.

"Ms. Min, I don't believe this is the proper way to make your point!" the magistrate yelled, his voice rising as he watched you splash water in your own client's face.

This was completely out of the ordinary. The courtroom had never seen such reckless behavior from a lawyer, especially one who appeared to be bullying her own client.

"Ms. Min, please maintain the decorum of this court!" the magistrate continued, giving you repeated warnings. But you seemed to ignore him, your focus unwavering.

Your client gasped; eyes wide with shock as water drenched her face. Without missing a beat, you reached into your pocket and calmly pulled out a handkerchief, gently wiping her face dry."I deeply apologize, Your Honor," you said, bowing respectfully before standing tall in front of the magistrate.

"What exactly was the point of this stunt, Ms. Min?" His voice dripped with frustration, as he demanded an explanation.

"My point should be clear now, Your Honor," you replied, motioning towards your client. "Please take a look at her face."

The magistrate's gaze shifted to the elderly woman, whose face was now fully visible, revealing a series of nasty, purple bruises.

"The condition of my client's face is evidence enough. She was assaulted and threatened, forced into a situation where she felt she had to withdraw her plea," you explained, your tone firm and your hands clasped behind your back.

"Ms. Min, do you have any evidence to support this claim?" the magistrate asked, leaning forward with a serious expression.

"Indeed, Your Honor," you said with a faint smile. You walked over to the advocate's bench where your best friend, Jackson, was waiting. With a nod, he opened a folder and handed you a small flash drive. You passed it to the courtroom deputy to be played.

"This footage comes from a camera outside a shop near Mrs. Han's home," you explained.As the video played in grainy black and white, the courtroom watched intently. The footage showed a group of masked men forcefully trying to break into a metal gate, belonging to Mrs. Han's apartment. The men harshly pushed the elderly woman aside as they forced their way through.

The footage ended with a burst of static, leaving a tense silence in its wake.The magistrate remained quiet, scribbling notes on his pad, his expression unreadable."I object!" Mr. Seong, the opposing lawyer, suddenly shouted.

"There's no proof that this footage is authentic!" Mr. Seong argued, his glare directed straight at you.

The magistrate let out a deep sigh, clearly unimpressed by the weak objection. The prosecution had already anticipated this challenge and prepared accordingly.

Jackson chuckled softly, retrieving a stack of papers from the folder and passing them to you. With a confident smile, you approached the courtroom deputy, handing them the documents.

"Your Honor, these reports, verified by a video expert, confirm that the footage is genuine," you said, locking eyes with Mr. Seong, who was starting to look increasingly nervous.

Mr. Seong shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his confidence crumbling as the weight of the evidence mounted.

"I have no further comments, Your Honor," you concluded, bowing once more before returning to your seat beside Jackson.

Jackson gave you a playful nudge, winking at you as he leaned back in his chair. You chuckled, returning the gesture with a subtle wink of your own.

Several minutes passed as the magistrate carefully reviewed the evidence and reports. Finally, he straightened up and made his decision.

"After reviewing the evidence and witness testimonies, the court rules in favor of Mrs. Han Sera. The evidence proves that on the night of March 24th, Mrs. Han was assaulted by known criminals in an attempt to intimidate her into altering her testimony. Mr. Han Soojung will be detained for the illegal manipulation of this case and for charges of domestic violence. The court is now adjourned. Documentation of this case will be finalized tomorrow, with both the prosecution and defense present."

The magistrate stood, signaling the end of the session. Relief washed over you as Jackson threw his arms around you in celebration.

"We won!" he shouted excitedly into your ear.

You laughed, patting him on the back as he squeezed you tightly. "Yes, we did," you whispered, the weight of victory settling in.

"Congratulations, Ms. Min." A voice called from behind, laced with bitterness. It was Mr. Seong. You pulled away from Jackson's victory hug and turned to face the defeated man, forcing a polite smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Seong," you responded, your tone courteous, though your smile held a tinge of bitterness, mirroring the man before you.

Without another word, Mr. Seong stormed out of the courtroom, his client Han Soojung in tow. Soojung was now being arrested for his crimes, led away by the authorities.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Min," your client, Mrs. Han Sera, whispered, tears streaming down her face as she clutched your hand tightly. "I can't express how happy I am."

Mrs. Han, a 45-year-old woman, had suffered through years of domestic violence. For a decade, she endured her husband's abuse, tolerating it for the sake of her family, until he began targeting their children. That was when she'd found the strength to leave, seeking a divorce. But her husband wasn't willing to let her go and had resorted to violence, sending criminals to threaten her into changing her mind.

You cupped her trembling hand in both of yours, giving her a reassuring smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Han. It was your courage and willpower that helped us win this case."

Mrs. Han smiled back, though her bruised face made the expression seem painful. Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded. "T-Thank you, dear. You saved my life."

You could still see the physical toll the abuse had taken on her, yet there was light in her smile, a relief that victory had brought.

"Lawyers are here to help, Mrs. Han. Trust us. And if anything happens again, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm always here for you." She nodded and hugged you warmly, her embrace filled with gratitude, before finally making her exit.

As she left, Jackson slipped his arm around your shoulder, pulling you closer to him. "So... party?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.

You chuckled softly and tapped his cheek. "Party," you agreed, grabbing his hand as you headed out of the courtroom.

"Yay!" Jackson squealed, his excitement making him seem like a five-year-old.

"Woo-hoo!" Jackson shouted as he popped open a bottle of champagne, spraying it across the room in celebration.

You couldn't help but laugh at his wild antics. "Congratulations to you too, cutie," he teased, pinching your cheek—perhaps a bit too hard.

Swatting his hand away, you pinched him right back. "Right back at you, Mr. Wang!"

Jackson rubbed his cheek, pretending to be offended. "No need to return the favor," he grumbled, taking a large sip from his champagne glass.

Two Hours Later

Both of you were thoroughly drunk, basking in the joy of your victory.

"Y/N," Jackson slurred, resting his head on his hand as he gazed at you sentimentally. "Look how far we've come."

You nodded; a bit misty-eyed. "We've worked so hard for this day, Jax... All our efforts finally paid off." Your mind drifted back to your college days, remembering late nights studying with Jackson, the challenges you'd faced together, and the bond that had only grown stronger over the years.

"You're my sunshine, Jackson Wang," you giggled, reaching out to cup his cheeks.

Jackson grimaced dramatically at your drunken sentiment. He knew this side of you well. Once a bit of alcohol hits your system, you tend to get overly emotional, the type to turn any moment into a heartfelt ballad.

"Eww, Y/N, you're so drunk," he groaned. "Let's get you home before you start crying."

You giggled again and collapsed onto the couch at the restaurant, refusing to get up. Jackson sighed, grabbing your arm and pulling you to your feet. "Come on, let's get you to the cold house."

Together, you stumbled out into the night, arms wrapped around each other as you made your way to the car. Jackson opened the passenger door and practically tossed you inside before making his way to the driver's seat.

"Jax! You're drunk!" you exclaimed as you watched him buckle his seatbelt.

"If I don't drive, your father's going to kill me for leaving you stranded," he said with a sigh, starting the car. Despite your concerns, Jackson was only tipsy and still capable of driving safely.

You grinned and repeated dramatically, "Cold house..." referring to your family home.

Your "cold house" was home to four people: your older brother, your mother, your father, and you. Despite the warmth a family is supposed to bring, it always felt cold—thanks to the chilly attitudes of your mother and brother.

Your mother, always distant, showed little emotion. And your older brother, Min Yoongi, was even more reserved, barely speaking unless necessary. Both of them carried an air of indifference, as if expressing any warmth would come at too high a cost.

Only your father treated you normally, though even he was often preoccupied with his business. The house, despite being your home, often felt like a place of ice.

As Jackson drove, you glanced at him and felt a swell of gratitude. In this strange, cold world of yours, Jackson had always been your constant source of warmth.

"We've arrived at your *cold house*, Miss Nini," Jackson teased, snapping you out of your thoughts.

"Why?" you fake cried, trying to hide yourself in the passenger seat of his car.

"Y/N, get your butt out of my car before your dad kills me for getting you drunk and bringing you home this late." Jackson hurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt and used the switch to open the automatic door.

"I never thought Jax would betray me like this," you groaned dramatically.

Jackson just stuck his tongue out at you in response, then drove off, leaving you standing in your driveway.

You stumbled carefully into the house, relieved to see that all the lights were off, meaning everyone was asleep. You'd sobered up just enough to navigate without tripping over your own feet.

As you tiptoed towards your bedroom, you nearly jumped out of your skin when a hand landed on your shoulder.

"Holy shi—!" You stopped yourself just in time, clutching your chest in panic, but exhaled in relief when you realized it was your dad.

"Dad, you scared the life out of me!" you whisper-yelled, trying to calm your racing heart. He just smiled sheepishly, clearly amused.

Your dad was the only one in the house who wasn't 'cold.' He was always warm and supportive, a comforting presence in your otherwise chilly home.

He chuckled softly and gestured for you to meet him outside in the garden. "I'll be waiting," he whispered before heading out.

"I'll be there in 20 minutes," you whispered back, running off to your room.

After a quick freshen-up, you made your way to the garden. The night was calm, the stars twinkling overhead. Your dad sat on the bench, quietly admiring the peaceful night, waiting for you.

"How was the hearing today?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation as soon as you sat down beside him.

You knew he had been anxious all day. He hadn't been able to focus on his work because he knew his daughter had a big case today, one she'd been preparing for over three months."Dad, I won the case!" you exclaimed, jumping up and hugging him tightly.

A wide, proud smile spread across his face as he embraced you. "I knew you would, my princess," he said softly, running his hand through your hair before kissing your forehead."Thank you, Dad," you said, pulling away and sitting back down beside him.

You spent the next few minutes happily recounting the details of your day, telling him all about the case and the courtroom drama. He listened with pride, genuinely happy that his daughter had triumphed in a case that had consumed so much of her time and energy.

"I'm so proud of you, Y/N," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

You hummed in contentment, still talking excitedly with him, completely unaware that someone was watching your sweet interaction with a soft smile.

Yoongi, who had just returned home after dealing with a last-minute issue at his company, paused outside in the shadows. He listened quietly as you shared your joy with their father, your voice filled with excitement. A small smile tugged at the corners of his usually stoic face, lingering on his pale cheeks.

"Well done, my sister," he thought to himself, proud but too reserved to show it openly.Smiling to himself, he quietly slipped back into the house, leaving you and your dad to your conversation, carrying his own silent pride for you back to his room.

______________________________

TBC

Thank you so much for reading!

Thank you yours_truly347 for commenting. Your comment really boosts up my motivation

Thank you so much -togguk and -koiboy for voting on my story

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Words count: 1956

[Edited ✔]

Published on: 30.06.22