No Gods But Me

The year I became one of the country's top defense attorneys, I received a case request from my ex-boyfriend, Julian Sterling. We'd loved each other for four years, yet I couldn't marry him, couldn't have children with him, and couldn't even meet his family. All because the Sterling family had a rule: whoever cast nine blessed oracle blocks in a row would be the daughter-in-law recognized by their ancestors. I begged for that blessing a thousand times. Every cast came back cold. Everyone in Harbor City laughed and said I was born without the fortune to marry into wealth. Then my adopted sister returned from overseas, casually cast nine blessed blocks, and became engaged to Julian Sterling. At last, he told me the truth. "I weighted those oracle blocks with lead. No matter how many times you cast them, they were never going to bless you. "Celia had a difficult background. I had to do this to win her the dignity and status she deserved." So the humiliation I endured for four years had all been his way of paving a road for another woman. On the day of the Sterling family's century wedding, I left Harbor City for Capital City and joined a law firm. Now I was a top attorney with a perfect win rate. Julian Sterling, trapped in a legal crisis, sat across from me and pushed over a check. "You're the only one who can win this case. "Take it, and fifty million is yours." I gave a soft laugh. Then I opened my drawer, took out a pair of oracle blocks, and set them in front of him. "The Sterling family has Sterling rules. I have mine. "If you can cast nine blessed blocks in a row, I'll take your case." Chapter 1 Julian Sterling's gaze landed on the two red oracle blocks on the desk. Carved into them was the Sterling family crest. They were the same two blocks he had once tampered with. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he rubbed his brow wearily and gave a bitter smile. "Stop messing around, Caroline. You know how big this case is. If you don't take it, the Sterling family's mainland operations are finished. "Celia's your sister. We're practically family. Why keep clinging to what happened three years ago?" I pinched the edge of the case file and did not look at him. "Sterling is your name. I'm an Eckhart. "My answer is still the same. I won't take the Sterling family's case." For one frozen second, the air went still. The smile faded from Julian Sterling's face inch by inch. "Is the money not enough? "Name your price. Fifty million, eighty million. The Sterling family can afford it. "I remember your mother's illness... cost a lot." The tip of my pen paused lightly. Julian's eyes flickered, as if he had found my weakness. "Mrs. Eckhart's medical expenses for the rest of her life will be covered by the Sterling family. I'll even bring in the top specialists from overseas to consult on her case. All you have to do is say yes..." I capped my pen, slipped the documents into my bag, and finally glanced at him. Three years had stripped the last of the boyishness from him. He looked calmer now, steadier. But he was still wearing that ridiculous red polka-dot bow tie. Celia's favorite. I looked away again, my voice even. "Mr. Sterling, my mother is already dead. "She died on the day of your wedding to Celia Eckhart." Julian looked as if someone had struck him in the skull. "How could..." I walked around him and headed for the door without hesitation. My colleagues had been craning their necks toward the office, eager for gossip. The moment I stepped out, they all lowered their heads and pretended to work. My assistant, Lena Price, hurried after me with my bag, her voice anxious. "Caroline, the Sterling family runs Harbor City. They have ties to a lot of powerful people in Capital City too. "If you turn down their commission, and if they survive this crisis, will the firm..." "They won't." I stopped and looked back. The sign for Verity & Cross Law gleamed in the sunlight. I spoke softly. "The Sterling family won't survive this crisis." Lena stared at me in confusion. "Because I'm representing the plaintiffs in this case." With that, I opened the car door and got into the back of the Bentley. "Lena, take us to the Economic Crimes Unit. I want to meet the victim representatives." The Sterling case was a massive commercial fraud case. There were more than three hundred victims, and the amount involved reached three hundred million. If it was framed as a technical compliance violation, the entire matter would be whitewashed as an ordinary civil dispute. The Sterling family would pay a little money and walk away clean. But Verity & Cross had one mission: to speak for those who couldn't speak for themselves. This was what Julian Sterling owed those victims. It was also what he owed me. Lena froze completely. After a long moment, she finally recovered and got into the driver's seat. The car sped through the city streets. By the time the meeting ended, it was already past midnight. When I got home, a familiar vehicle was parked downstairs. It was Julian's car. He was holding Celia's hand. Between them stood a little girl in a princess dress. Chapter 2 My eyes fixed on the little girl, and my fingers clenched without thought. If my baby had grown up safely, he would have been about her age by now. Celia's greeting drifted into my ears, but I did not catch a single word. Only after a long while did I force myself to look away. "I said I won't take the Sterling case. Stop wasting your effort." Celia stepped forward and gripped my hand, tears falling in streams. "Caroline, I know what happened before was my fault. I shouldn't have taken Julian from you. "If you have any resentment, hit me, curse me, do whatever you want. "But if the Sterling family collapses, Rosie is only three. Can you bear to watch her suffer with us?" Three. Julian and I had only broken up three years ago. I looked at Celia's tearful face. She really had changed over the years. When I first met her at the orphanage, she had been curled in a corner, timid and frightened, like a startled deer. I was the one who took her into high society, poured the best resources into her, and even sent her overseas for further study. Even when Julian confessed that he had fallen in love with Celia, I was naive enough to believe she had been innocently dragged into it. Until I found them in bed together. Until the Eckhart family's business secrets were leaked. Until the day I uncovered the mole inside Eckhart Holdings. Celia had knelt at my feet, sobbing as if her heart were breaking. "Caroline, I just love Julian too much. "You're so strong. You can live without anyone. "But I only have Julian. Please give him to me, all right?" Proud as I was, I chose to let go. What she gave me in return was cutting off every cent of my mother's medical funding on the day of the Sterling family's century wedding. Because the account was overdue and the medication stopped, the specialist team halted the surgery and all treatment. By the time I received the news, my mother had already passed away. In that grief, I miscarried as well. From that day on, I fled Harbor City for Capital City, and my heart died completely. Only then did I understand. Celia Eckhart was no fragile innocent. She was a venomous snake that could kill without paying the price. The younger me would have screamed and demanded answers. I would have cursed her shamelessness. Now, only silence remained. I did not look at her again. I turned to leave. But Julian grabbed the strap of my bag and yanked hard. "Caroline, we've already lowered ourselves to beg you. Know when to stop!" The case files scattered across the ground. Tagged pages and notes covered in red markings spilled everywhere. On the top sheet, the words "Sterling Group Commercial Fraud Case" stood out sharply. Julian froze. His tense expression loosened at once, and a smug smile even rose on his face. "So you really are the same as before. You say one thing but mean another." He seemed to think the notes I had stayed up all night studying were meant to help him escape conviction. I did not explain. I simply bent down, picked up each file one by one, and went upstairs. When I opened my door, I did not turn on the light. In the dark apartment, only two candles flickered faintly on the memorial table near the entryway. On the left stood a photo of my mother, Lily Eckhart. On the right stood a small, unmarked frame. Julian Sterling and Celia Eckhart had long since started a new life. I was the only one still trapped in the hatred of three years ago. I lit the candles and bowed my head before them. "Mom. Baby. I saw them again. "Julian Sterling thinks I'm going to save him." I gave a cold laugh. "This time, I'll send them to hell with my own hands." Chapter 3 Even after taking double the usual dose of melatonin, I still tossed and turned until four in the morning. Since that day three years ago, insomnia had become routine. Even in my dreams, I saw those thugs chasing me again and again. The next day, my head throbbed so badly it felt split open, but I still forced myself to go to the firm. The moment I stepped through the door, my colleagues looked at me strangely. I frowned, not understanding. Lena Price came over, her face pale. She lowered her voice. "Caroline, something happened. "Early this morning, Sterling Group officially announced that you would be appearing as their defense counsel. They also said..." "They said the victims were maliciously extorting them, and since Verity & Cross only takes righteous cases, your willingness to take theirs proves Sterling Group is innocent. "Now people are calling you a soulless lawyer who only cares about money..." She handed me her phone. The screen was filled with abuse. Sterling Group's statement had not only pushed me to the opposite side of the victims, it had also put Verity & Cross's reputation on a pyre. I opened my messages. Ninety-nine plus unread. The voice messages from the plaintiff representatives were full of despair and rage. "Ms. Eckhart, we trusted you, so we handed you the evidence. And it turns out you were a mole for the Sterling family?" "For money, you don't even want your conscience anymore?" My face went completely cold. Julian Sterling was still the same as before. He could destroy everything I had without blinking. I lifted my head, my voice ringing through the entire Verity & Cross office. "Lena, issue a statement immediately under the firm's name. I will be acting as counsel for the victim-plaintiffs and filing suit against Sterling Group. "From this moment on, reject every call from Sterling. Block every communication channel. "Also, book me a flight to Bayport. For the next few days, I'll be visiting every victim in person." The moment the statement went out, public opinion exploded. I rushed to Bayport overnight and threw myself into preparing the case. Another night, when I was still working past midnight, my phone lit up in the dark. "Caroline, come back from Bayport. Something happened at the firm." When I reached Verity & Cross, the office was packed. Julian Sterling, who had no reason to be here, stood off to the side looking perfectly composed. A thick stack of documents lay on the conference table. The firm's partners looked livid. One of them spoke in a low voice. "The original data for the Horizon Group case has been leaked." My heart sank. That was Verity & Cross's most important case this year. My team and I had worked on it for six months. It was set for trial in two weeks. Once the core data leaked, not only would the case be lost, but the firm would face up to three hundred million in compensation claims. Julian walked to my side, smug and smiling. "Caroline, as long as you agree right now to take the Sterling case, I'll help you solve this problem. "Otherwise, no matter how brilliant you are, Verity & Cross won't be able to protect you. Your legal career ends here." He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Be good. Stop fighting." I ignored him and turned to the silent Lena. Aside from me, she was the only person with access to that core data. She panicked at once, her voice trembling as she began to cry. "Caroline, don't blame me... my father needs money for surgery. "And going against the Sterling family won't end well. I was doing this for your own good..." The case had not originally been assigned to Lena. I had seen her ability and wanted to cultivate her, so I made an exception and allowed her access to the original data. I never expected betrayal to be what my sincerity bought me. I laughed at myself. Caroline Eckhart, you really did fall twice for the same kind of person. Once with Celia Eckhart. Once with Lena Price. "Julian, do you think I stayed at Verity & Cross because I needed its protection?" Under everyone's stunned gaze, I removed the badge from my chest and placed it gently on the table. "No. I stayed because Verity & Cross reached out a hand when I was at my lowest. I will never let you drag this firm down because of me." I looked around the room, my voice calm. "Due to my personal mistake at work resulting in a data leak, I am submitting my resignation effective immediately and withdrawing from Verity & Cross. "All compensation and liability will be borne by me alone." Julian's face changed sharply. "Caroline!" I looked one last time at the Verity & Cross sign. "These three years of growth were enough. "Even without Verity & Cross, I am still Caroline Eckhart, a gold-standard attorney. "Mr. Sterling, I'll see you in court." Chapter 4 The scandal at Verity & Cross spread across the internet. The former gold-standard attorney had become a legal disgrace everyone wanted to condemn. I turned off my phone, ignored the insults and slander, and plunged into a mountain of testimony. The day Sterling Group's commercial fraud case opened, the sky was bright and clear. The courthouse was surrounded by media. The most closely watched case in Harbor City had finally begun. Sterling Group had hired Nolan Ashford from Candid Law, an old rival of mine. Before court, Julian's eyes burned with fanatical confidence. "Caroline, I'm giving you one last chance. Withdraw the suit now while you still can. "If you lower your head, I'll cover the three hundred million in damages from the Horizon case for you. "Otherwise, after today, not only will your undefeated legend be shattered, you will also learn what it's like for a lawyer to rot in prison." I stared at his false face, the corner of my mouth lifting in mockery. "Julian, the word lose is not in my dictionary. Neither is run." Beside him, Celia held Rosie Sterling in her arms, her expression ugly. After all, once today passed, the Sterling family would collapse completely. Rosie suddenly hurled her melting ice cream at my chest. "Bad woman! You bullied Mommy and Daddy! Go die!" Sticky cream slid down the front of my white suit jacket. I looked at the little face that resembled Celia so strongly and felt an absurd kind of amusement. "Little girl, you think the person defending justice is the villain? "Then what is your mother, who killed my child and forced my mother to her death?" Celia's face went deathly pale. She screamed. "Caroline, shut up!" Julian lost all composure. He grabbed my wrist so hard it hurt. "What child? Explain yourself!" I flung off his hand and straightened my stained collar. "Mr. Sterling, when a defendant grabs the plaintiff's attorney before trial, people may misunderstand. "As for the rest, you can ask that pure and kind wife beside you. Ask her how much blood is on her hands." With that, I turned and walked into the restroom. After cleaning the stain from my suit, I looked at myself in the mirror. My gaze was firm and calm. I took a deep breath and pushed the restroom door. It did not move. Only the sound of a lock clicking came from outside. Then a cleaner's trembling voice. "Miss Eckhart, don't blame me... Mr. Sterling said that if I kept you in here for half an hour, he'd move my husband into the best hospital ward. "I can't afford to offend the Sterling family. I'm sorry!" Her footsteps faded away. The opening bell rang at exactly the right moment. I looked around and fixed my eyes on the only window in the restroom, locked tight. The next second, I grabbed the wooden mop nearby and smashed it into the glass. Crash. The window shattered. Sharp shards cut a deep gash across the back of my hand. I kicked off my heels, gripped the edge of the frame with bare hands, ignored the glass slicing into my palms, and forced myself over. ... Inside the solemn courtroom, the opening bell rang again and again. Reporters' flashes kept bursting toward the empty plaintiff's table. "Caroline Eckhart really ran!" "I knew she didn't dare fight the Sterling family." "Fleeing before trial. Now she's finished for good." At the defense table, Julian straightened his tie, the corner of his mouth curving. Ashford raised a hand. "Your Honor, the plaintiff and the plaintiff's attorney are both absent without cause, in serious violation of courtroom procedure. The defense moves to dismiss this case." The judge looked at the clock and sighed helplessly, slowly raising the gavel. "The plaintiff and counsel being absent, this court hereby declares the hearing now-" "Wait." The courtroom doors were shoved open with force. I stood against the backlight, my right hand braced on the doorframe, blood dripping from my fingertips onto the polished marble floor. My once crisp white suit had been torn apart by glass, and my cuffs were stained a stark red. The entire courtroom fell silent. Only camera flashes kept exploding. Step by step, I walked to the plaintiff's side, stopped, and raised my bloodied right hand. My voice was not loud, but every word struck the floor like iron. "Your Honor, I am counsel for the plaintiffs, Caroline Eckhart." Julian shot to his feet. The smile on his face vanished completely.