Chapter 4

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes, gathered my things, and walked out of the courthouse.

A livestream of the proceedings was playing on my phone. A reporter was asking Julian why I had taken the case, asking if, as netizens claimed, I had truly forgotten my original principles.

Julian spoke with an indifferent expression, “I don’t know if Anastasia has forgotten her original principles, but she took this case of her own will.”

The comment section was a toxic mess:

[She’s absolutely heartless! How dare she make money off something like this? She must be insane!]

[People like that deserve to get hit by a car and die!]

[I’m begging you, Anastasia, just get out of the legal profession.]

My hand trembled slightly as I held the phone. As I stepped outside, a swarm of reporters rushed toward me.

“Miss Bennett, did you take on this case voluntarily?”

“Do you have any comments on losing to a fresh law school graduate?”

“What do you think of the idea that Ms. Crawford might become the next ‘you’, someone who stays true to their original ideals?”

I gritted my teeth, grabbed a microphone from a nearby reporter, and spoke, “Regarding this case, I can tell you quite clearly: it wasn’t a case I wanted to take. And another thing, I—”

“Anastasia!” Julian’s voice rang out from behind me, laced with suppressed rage. Before I could react, he snatched the microphone right out of my hand.

“Sorry everyone, Miss Bennett hasn’t been in the best state of mind lately.” He shot me a warning glance, then pulled Eleanor forward. “Let us answer these questions instead.”

His sudden move made me stumble, and just then, a powerful force yanked me away into a small alley outside the courthouse. The back of my head slammed against the ground; blood streamed down, and a searing pain shot through me.

I forced my eyes open; everything was a blur of crimson, yet I still recognized them. It was my mother, my best friend, and my older brother.

“Anastasia.” My mother’s eyes were cold. She coldly asked, “Are you trying to ruin Eleanor?”

My brother looked impatient and asked scornfully, “Anastasia, do you really have to make such an ugly scene?”

My best friend’s voice was icy. “Eleanor has had a hard journey to get here. Do you really resent a junior colleague doing better than you?”

Facing their barrage of accusations, I found it almost laughable.

“And what about me?” I asked, my eyes red-rimmed. “Who ever had an easy time studying law?”

They knew full well about the nights I’d spent burning the midnight oil. Did the fact that Eleanor had struggled mean the path I had walked had to be erased?

My question left them stunned and speechless. Just then, Eleanor’s voice came from behind me.

“Anastasia,” she spoke tentatively. “Are you coming to my victory celebration?”

The reporters had long since dispersed. Looking at her, I suddenly burst into laughter. Before I could speak, Julian reached out and blocked Eleanor.

“Leave her be.” He cast a cold glance at me and coldly said, “She’s lost her mind. Let her cool off.”

“Exactly.” My best friend stepped past me and linked her arm with Eleanor’s. She said heartlessly, “Wouldn’t it ruin the mood if we let her come along?”

My mom walked over to stand beside her and said without a care in the world for me, “We’ll just go together.”

My brother spoke lightly. “Eleanor, you’re too kind.”

How ironic. The people I loved were all standing by Eleanor’s side. She looked so radiant, while I stood there in a wretched state...

After they left, I sat there for a long time. As the sun began to set, I took out my phone and bought a high-speed train ticket to Riverton.

The moment the purchase confirmation popped up, a call came in from Julian. “Anastasia, what did you post on social media?!”

My voice was hoarse as I asked cluelessly, “What post?”

“Enough!” The man’s voice held a trace of anger. “You’re still making excuses at a time like this? Don’t blame me for what happens next!”

The call ended, and with trembling fingers, I opened the social media. A hashtag appeared: #Up-and-coming lawyer Eleanor Crawford actually rose to the top through connections#

The comments section was filled with hatred, but just then, Eleanor’s trending topic began to drop visibly. In its place, a new hashtag appeared: #Anastasia was actually one of the victims of that sexual assault case#

The moment I saw the headline, I froze in place.

Julian, my best friend, my brother, and even my mom had posted on social media to clear Eleanor’s name.

With trembling hands, I tried to call Julian back. But just then, the harsh roar of an engine erupted behind me.

Before I could react, a massive, brutal force slammed into me, sending me tumbling across the rough asphalt. My entire body burned with searing pain.

My vision turned a bloody red as I struggled to look at the person emerging from the car. I widened my eyes.

It was the defendant from that pink hair girl case!

The defendant, his face twisted in a savage snarl, slammed his foot onto the accelerator. “You threw the case on purpose! Don’t blame me for being ruthless!”