Hugo stepped forward, trying to defend Xenia.

"Samantha, it was her first time in court. She was just nervous."

"You be quiet too!" I yelled.

Hugo froze where he stood, stunned. It was the first time I had ever raised my voice at him.

"Samantha, do you really have to blow this out of proportion?" he questioned.

A cold laugh escaped me. "She had a meltdown on the stand, showing zero professional integrity, and all you can think about is making excuses for her? If I hadn't stepped in when I did, do you honestly think our client would have received a fair trial?

"Instead of holding Xenia accountable, you point the finger at me. Must someone be wrongfully convicted before you feel any remorse?"

Hugo took a step closer. "Samantha—"

I cut him off and pulled him before the court seal mounted on the wall.

"Look at it. Did you take your oath to uphold the Constitution only to betray it? Can you really defend her with a clear conscience?"

A flicker of doubt crossed Hugo's and Zayne's expressions, yet still they stood at Xenia's side.

I continued, "Don't give me that 'first time' excuse. If she claims to be such a prodigy, then how could a genius make such a mistake? You've all lost your grip. Have you forgotten your duty to respect the law and defend justice?"

I turned my cold gaze on Xenia, who was nestled pitifully in Zayne's arms.

"This will not be brushed aside. If any of you dare to plead her case again, don't expect me to show any mercy."

…

I was blazing with rage, every inch of me telegraphing a danger best avoided. Seeing me like this, Zayne and Hugo held their tongues.

I fixed my eyes on Xenia and declared, "For the next three months, I'll have the firm suspend your case assignments. You'll assist other attorneys with research and documentation. Watch how real attorneys fight for their clients' rights. And at next week's review meeting, I expect a thorough self-criticism report from you."

With that, I turned on my heel, unwilling to waste another word on them.

"Wait!" Zayne called out with a stern expression. "Xenia participated in the defense. Since we won, her name belongs on the credit list."

I glanced dismissively at Xenia's tear-streaked face and snorted, "A sobbing attorney in the court? I'm sure the client would thank her profusely."

"Samantha, you… She needs successful cases to build her reputation—"

I cut him short. "Does our victory have anything to do with her? She couldn't even manage the basic evidence presentation in court, let alone cross-examination. If she wants to beg, try a street corner with a cardboard sign. It won't work on me."

Zayne was left sputtering. He was reduced to glaring at me in furious silence.

Xenia's sobs intensified, and she slumped against Zayne as if all strength had left her.

"Samantha, how can you say that? You've gone too far."

I scoffed. "If I hadn't stepped in, the client's family would already be tearing you apart. Riding on someone else's work to land big cases? A title unearned is a curse waiting to fall. If your skills don't improve, Xenia, forget about ever handling another case at this firm."

…

Back at the firm, I had barely sat down in my office when my assistant, Faith Reyes, knocked on the door and hurried in.

"Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Ziegler wants to see you."

I frowned and asked, "Didn't he have a community legal seminar today?"

"I heard Mr. Scott and Mr. Wilkinson called him back. And... he doesn't seem to be in a good mood," Faith explained cautiously.

Christopher Ziegler was the firm's founder and a highly respected figure in the legal community. He had been my mentor when I first started and had supported me throughout my career. Even now, as a senior partner, I regarded him with the utmost respect.

Puzzled, I made my way to the conference room.

Xenia, Zayne, and Hugo were already there. Their expressions were tight with anger.

"Samantha, come in and have a seat," Mr. Ziegler said warmly with no trace of displeasure on his expression.

Then, without preamble, he began, "Xenia was in court for the first time. She cried, yes, but you can't say she was entirely at fault. If you hadn't intervened, she might have pulled herself together, and the case might not have been lost.

"Samantha, you handled things too rashly. But of course, I'm not criticizing you."

"But I see no need for this suspension or self-criticism report," Mr. Ziegler declared. His tone was mild, yet with just a few words, he shifted all blame squarely onto me.

The smile drained from my face, and I addressed him directly. "Mr. Ziegler, are you suggesting that my handling of the situation was improper?"

Hugo jumped in before Mr. Ziegler could reply. "Mr. Ziegler is right. Xenia had done extensive preparatory work despite it being her first time in court. It was just nerves that got the better of her. Yet you stepped in and erased all her efforts."

Zayne quickly piled on. "A junior surely won't handle things with your level of polish. But you once stood where she stands now. Stealing her credit was bad enough, but forcing her to write a self-criticism report is too much."

After abandoning their earlier blind defense of Xenia, the two of them now echoed Mr. Ziegler's stance. They were trying to claim the moral high ground to condemn me.

My tone turned icy. "I've never once broken down crying on the stand. I've never once wailed for help. Don't you dare compare me to that level of incompetence. Xenia is under my supervision, so keep your hands out of matters that aren't yours. Her punishment is non-negotiable."

"Enough!" Mr. Ziegler's face darkened as he cut me off.

"Samantha, you may be a senior partner, but don't think you can run this firm like a tyrant. I am the founder of this firm, and while I'm alive, my word is final. I say Xenia is not at fault, and that's the end of it.

"I think you'd better cool off for a few days. The 200-million-dollar case you're leading will be temporarily handed over to Zayne and Hugo."

That case was the core of my current work. My entire team and I had poured ourselves into it. To hand it over meant they would continue working on it, while I was left stripped of authority, reduced to a commander without an army.

With that, Mr. Ziegler turned to leave.

…

The suddenness of it left me reeling.

Mr. Ziegler's inexplicable favoritism toward Xenia was baffling. To protect her, he was willing to smear me with false accusations and effectively suspend me.

Setting aside our years of mentorship, the value I brought to the firm far exceeded what ten Xenias could offer. Yet the mentor I respected most was now brazenly lying to my face.

"Mr. Ziegler!" I chased after him, desperate to defend myself.

Zayne, however, blocked my path. "Samantha, Mr. Ziegler has guided you for years. His mentorship has been a profound kindness. Are you really going to turn against him over something so trivial?

"He's pointing out your impulsiveness as a seasoned attorney should. Why can't you just admit it? You've grown too arrogant!"

I could handle the betrayal from Zayne and Hugo. But Mr. Ziegler was the cornerstone of my legal career. He was the one who had repeatedly encouraged me to stay true to myself and to fight for justice during my moments of doubt. And now, he was trampling on those very principles he had instilled in me.

Trembling with rage, I forced my voice to remain steady. "Mr. Ziegler, I cannot accept this. I reject your assessment of the responsibility for what happened in court. I stand by how I handled the case."

Mr. Ziegler's pleasant mask fell away, revealing a steely expression beneath.

"I've always known you were ambitious, but I never realized you could be this petty. Xenia has talent. Why must you hoard the spotlight and refuse to let her shine? If your jealousy runs so deep you can't tolerate others' success, perhaps you should consider resigning."

Our colleagues, who were unaware of the details from the court, were swayed by Mr. Ziegler's skewed accusations. Whispers rippled through the office.

As a seasoned attorney, Mr. Ziegler had masterfully painted me as the villain in a few sentences.

I clenched my jaw, ready to explain, when a voice, laced with a hint of amusement, suddenly cut through the tension.

"Instead of trading accusations, why not look at the objective evidence? After all, isn’t ‘evidence over testimony’ the principle every competent attorney claims to follow?"