| CHAPTER 11 |


It was 9:00 AM, and the Min siblings were gathered around the dining table, enjoying breakfast prepared by Yoongi. Everything seemed peaceful until the sudden chime of the doorbell echoed through the villa.

You frowned, wondering who could possibly be visiting this early. Yoongi paused mid-bite; his brow raised. He gestured to you to check the door.

Reluctantly, you pushed your chair back and made your way to the door, opening it to find someone unexpected standing there.

"Park Jimin?!" You blinked in shock.

Jimin laughed innocently, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hehe... Surprise?"

Before you could process the situation, a voice came from behind him. "Guess your last meeting left quite an impression," a soft, playful tone commented.

You peered past Jimin to see a woman, probably around Yoongi's age, with a light smile on her face. She stepped forward, extending her hand.

"Hi, I'm Park Mirae, and this is my brother, Jimin," she introduced warmly.

You blinked, a little caught off guard but quickly recovered, offering a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Mirae. I'm Min Y/N," you replied, shaking her hand.

"We're your neighbors from the adjacent villa," Mirae said, offering a basket filled with a mix of fresh flowers.

You took the basket, glancing at the beautiful arrangement before smiling back at her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Park, I'm staying here with my brother," you replied warmly.

Mirae's smile softened. "The pleasure is all mine, Y/N. Please, call me Mirae."

Meanwhile, Jimin grinned and extended his hand toward you, eyes sparkling with playful mischief. "You already know me, Ms. Min," he said, taking your hand. In a bold move, he kissed the back of it before adding, "It's nice to see you again."

You felt an awkward chill, quickly pulling your hand back just as a strong, protective presence stepped in front of you—your brother, Yoongi.

"I'm Min Yoongi, Y/N's older brother," he introduced himself in a cold, steely tone, making Jimin noticeably shiver under his gaze.

Mirae, maintaining her composure, extended her hand toward Yoongi with a gentle smile. "It's lovely to meet you, Yoongi."

"Glad to meet you Yoongi" Mirae's smile had a playful, flirtatious undertone, and it was clear that both Park siblings shared a certain charm.

You thought to yourself, both siblings are flirty.

"It would be more appropriate if you addressed me by my surname, Ms. Park," Yoongi said coldly, his tone leaving no room for familiarity.

Mirae's confident smile faltered for a second, turning a bit awkward.

"I guess that's our cue," Yoongi added, and without waiting for another word, he shut the door right in their faces.

You gasped, slapping his shoulder in disbelief. "Oppa!" you exclaimed, quickly reopening the door.

Yoongi rolled his eyes and leaned casually against the doorframe beside you, arms crossed.

"I'm really sorry for my brother, Mirae," you apologized sincerely, flashing her an apologetic smile. "But thank you so much for the flowers. See you later, have a nice day."

Mirae smiled back, still a bit taken aback but understanding. "No worries, Y/N. Have a great day too!"

As you turned to wave at Jimin, he winked at you with a cheeky grin, making your cheeks flush slightly. You quickly waved back and closed the door, shooting a side-eye at your brother, who had witnessed the whole thing.

Yoongi gave you a disapproving look. "I don't like him," he muttered.

You couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, I could tell."

"Brother, show some kindness for once!" you whined, grabbing onto his arm in an attempt to soften him.

Yoongi just muttered under his breath, "Yeah, after what that Park did to my car, huh?" His eyes narrowed as he thought back to the incident.

You couldn't help but laugh at his grumpiness. "You're holding a grudge over a little fender bender?"

He shot you a look but didn't say more, clearly still bothered.

With that, you both sat down to finish breakfast. Unfortunately, the food had gone cold—just like Yoongi's mood.

"Great," Yoongi muttered, taking a bite. "Cold, just like me, huh?"

You laughed again, shaking your head at your brother's never-ending complaints, even as you both shared a warm moment at the table.

The atmosphere in your office was tense, the weight of the discussion pressing heavily on everyone present. You leaned forward, your voice steady but serious.

"We need the autopsy report of Byun Baekho," you stated firmly, focusing on Byun Byun-jae, the grieving father sitting across from you.

Byun-jae's shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh. "We don't have them," he said sadly, eyes filled with regret.

"Why not?" you asked, frowning.

"The police officers at the time... They didn't even let us see my son's body. They claimed it was already disposed of," Byun-jae explained, his voice filled with pain.

A sharp sense of injustice surged through you. "And your previous lawyer? Did he make any efforts to investigate this?" you pressed, already having a bad feeling about the answer.

Byun-jae clenched his fists, anger flickering in his eyes. "Lee Jaemin, my previous lawyer, was bribed by Kim Ja-Kyung to manipulate the case," he said, bitterness lacing every word.

Your eyes narrowed. "How can you be so sure of this, Mr. Byun?" you asked, needing something solid.

"I saw it with my own eyes," he answered gravely. The weight of his words only intensified the gravity of the situation, and you knew this case was going to be far more complicated than you had anticipated.

You watched as Byun-jae stood up, his expression still heavy with grief and frustration, but there was also a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Where is he now?" you asked, referring to the corrupt lawyer.

"I don't know. After the last verdict, he disappeared. I guess he fled," Byun-jae gritted his teeth, clearly angered by the betrayal.

You sighed softly, feeling the weight of the case pressing down. "Mr. Byun, this case is a lot more complicated than it seems, but I'll help you in every way I can," you said, offering him some comfort.

Byun-jae nodded gratefully, and you continued, "Did Baekho ever mention anything unusual he noticed in that warehouse he was working at? Even something minor?"

Byun-jae shook his head. "Baekho was very close to his older brother, Baekhyun. He's on his way here, but Baekho... he never really told me much," he said, his voice tinged with sadness.

"Is there any particular reason he wasn't close to you?" You asked gently, curious about the family dynamic.

Byun-jae hesitated before shaking his head again, "No... no special reason. He just shared more with Baekhyun; I suppose."

You nodded understandingly. "Thank you, Mr. Byun. I'll speak to Baekhyun when he arrives. Hopefully, he can provide more insight." You offered him a reassuring smile.

Byun-jae gave you a small nod, then quietly left your office. You leaned back in your chair, already thinking ahead about what Baekhyun's arrival might reveal. The pieces of this puzzle were still scattered....

You and Jackson were in the middle of lunch, the clatter of chopsticks and quiet conversation filled the office. You had been reviewing case notes between bites, the tension of the morning hearings fading just a bit.

Jackson was halfway through a story when the door swung open, and an unfamiliar figure stepped inside. You exchanged glances with Jackson, who immediately put down his lunch.

"I'm Byun Baekhyun, the older brother of Byun Baekho," the man introduced himself abruptly, his tone sharp.

Jackson quickly gathered your lunch boxes and set them aside, standing beside your chair with a protective posture. You noticed the intensity in Baekhyun's eyes as he approached your desk.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Byun. We've been expecting you," you said calmly, motioning toward the chair opposite you.

Instead of sitting, Baekhyun stormed over and slammed his hands down on your desk. The lunch boxes rattled slightly, but you remained composed.

"I'm not here for your service" he pressed his words with anger, but you still stayed calm and composed 

"Mr. Byun," you said, meeting his gaze, "I understand your frustration, but we are working tirelessly to bring justice for your brother."

"I'm not here for my brother's justice. I'm here for you to drop this case this instant," Baekhyun gritted his teeth, his eyes locking onto yours with a sharp intensity. His words cut through the room, making the tension even more palpable.

You stared at him, disbelief washing over you. "How can you say that?" The question left your lips before you could stop yourself. How could he not want justice for his own brother's death?

Baekhyun's jaw clenched, and his gaze darkened. "I can say that because I know," he said with unnerving calmness. "His death was an accident, and you won't be able to find anything to prove it was murder."

His words were like a slap, and you felt the weight of them settle uncomfortably in your chest. "So, you're just giving up? You're telling me to give up?" Your voice was rising in frustration, disbelief clouding your thoughts.

"I'm telling you there's nothing left to fight for," he replied coldly, leaning back in his chair. "No evidence, no witnesses. They've erased everything."

You took a deep breath, trying to rein in your frustration. "What if you're wrong?" you asked quietly, your eyes meeting his. "What if there's something they missed, some piece of truth that could bring justice to your brother?"

Baekhyun shook his head slowly, as if he had already fought this battle in his mind and lost. "There's no point in fighting ghosts, Ms. Min."

 "You're telling me to drop this case just because they might have erased the evidence? You think that's enough reason to give up?" you reasoned; the word might be like a cold slap over his anger

Baekhyun sat in the chair, his anger evaporating, replaced by a helpless look as he ran his hands through his hair. He avoided your piercing gaze.

"Do you have any idea what your brother went through?" you continued, your voice both stern and filled with emotion. "Do you even want to know? Or are you just too scared to face the truth?"

Baekhyun's shoulders slumped. "I just don't want to lose again," he muttered, his voice cracking. "They control everything. They killed my brother, and now they will kill my father too. There's nothing left to fight for."

You softened your tone slightly, but your resolve remained strong. "That's where you're wrong, Baekhyun. They might think they've erased everything, but there's always something. Always."

Jackson, calmer now, added, "Giving up means they win, and your brother's death will be nothing but a footnote in their victory. You want that?"

Baekhyun stared at the floor, his expression torn between resignation and determination. You leaned forward, resting your hands on the table as you spoke softly but firmly.

"Baekhyun, I'm not just fighting this for your brother. I'm fighting it for you, for justice, and for the truth. I will dig until I find something, no matter how small. But I need you to trust me, and I need you to stop thinking like a victim."

Baekhyun looked up at you, eyes filled with uncertainty but also a flicker of hope. He sighed deeply, then nodded.

"Fine," he whispered, "but I still think you're crazy for believing we can win this."

You smiled, finally seeing a crack in his defenses. "I am crazy. But that's exactly what we need to fight people like them."

Jackson smirked beside you. "She's right. So, buckle up, Baekhyun. It's going to be a wild ride."

Baekhyun leaned back in the chair, exhaling slowly. "Alright, I'm in. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

"Deal," you replied, your resolve as strong as ever. The case had just gotten even more complicated, but you were ready to face whatever came next—no matter how powerful the enemy might be.

"Tell me... did they threaten you?" You asked, your tone laced sudden curiosity, eyes narrowing as you studied Baekhyun's reaction.

He hesitated for a moment, his anger wavering, then finally nodded. "They sent me letters... saying they'd kill my father if I didn't back down."

The revelation hung heavy in the room. You glanced at Jackson, exchanging a knowing look. This was the break you needed.

"We've got the lead, Mr. Byun," you said confidently, a small smile playing on your lips. Baekhyun looked up at you, surprise and confusion etched across his face.

"H-How...?" he whispered, his voice barely audible, disbelief coloring his words.

"Bingo," you replied, leaning back in your chair with a triumphant smile. 

"The threats tie it all together. This isn't just about your brother's death anymore—it's about covering up a much larger crime. Now, we can really start digging."

__________________________

TBC

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[EDITED ✔]

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