LOVE is a poison to a woman brimming with ambition.
Eight years in Canada may have clarified my choices, but that clarity came at a cost. She could not bear it and disappeared. No matter how much I searched, I could never find her. Even on the night of my flight to Canada, I hoped she would show up.
She didn't.
I chose the opportunities that awaited me. Worse, I failed to include her in my life when she was the only one who truly cared for me during my lowest moments. That part was on me. I was selfish, and I deserved the silence she left behind.
At first, the weight of that loss haunted me so deeply that I drowned myself in my studies, then in my internship at Tristan's firm. Eventually, like so many memories we choose not to confront, I forgot about her—or at least convinced myself I did. Now, standing at the prime of my career, everything felt hollow. I was left with nothing again, back in a place I once swore I would never return to.
It had been a month since I started working at Leandra's firm, handling small cases for now. The last time I took on something big, I ended up jobless.
My brows furrowed when I saw guards lined up in the firm's lounge on a Monday morning. A sharp pang of unease ran through me, dragging memories of Mr. Carson's bodyguards in Canada to the surface.
Had he followed me?
"Good morning, Attorney Schuett," Yaina greeted as she held a stack of folders, clearly on her way to prepare for the day's cases. "You have a visitor in your office."
"Good morning." My gaze lingered on the men in black as the back of my neck tightened. Only one person came to mind. "What's with the bodyguards?"
She glanced toward them as well, curiosity evident. "They came in with the man who's currently in your office." She shrugged, adjusting her glasses. "Leandra's inside, entertaining the guest."
"Okay. Thanks, Yaina." I forced a smile. She nodded and went on her way.
I walked toward my office, my steps heavier with every stride. Still, I reached for the doorknob. Whoever it was, I needed to see for myself.
Relief filled me the moment I stepped inside when I saw Luke sitting across my desk with Leandra. Dressed impeccably in a tailored corporate suit, he carried himself with calm assurance—the kind that filled a room without effort.
They had been mid-conversation, but both turned toward me as I entered. Luke stood immediately, a reflexive acknowledgment of my presence.
"Hello, Lauren," he greeted, his charming smile unchanged. "How have you been?"
I took a breath, steadying myself. Before I could think better of it, I smiled and pulled him into a tight hug. It had been a long time since I last saw him. Canada would never have been possible without him—the scholarship arranged through his father's company; the quiet support he gave me when I was barely holding myself in that foreign country.
"I'll leave you two to catch up," Leandra said, her voice laced with teasing. She grinned as she exited. I rolled my eyes in response.
When we pulled apart, I studied him. "You look... different," I said.
"More handsome?"
I smiled, nodded in agreement, and gestured for him to sit down. Luke complied, smoothing his suit as he took the chair across from me. He rested his elbows lightly on his knees, fingers clasped together, his eyes wandering around my office as if committing the details to memory.
There was something off in the way he carried himself. Not stiff, not overly composed—just restrained. The kind of calm people wore when they had already rehearsed what they were about to say.
I waited for him to speak first.
As I watched him, a thought crossed my mind. People only came to law firms for two reasons: to report a crime or to be cleared of one.
He inhaled, then exhaled slowly when he noticed me staring for too long. The warmth from earlier dulled into something more measured. We had been friends since college. He was my senior, long enough for me to know when something weighed on him.
"You've done well for yourself," he said. "Leandra speaks highly of you."
I nodded, though the compliment felt misplaced.
"Praise usually comes before a request," I directly stated. "I can see through you, Luke. You didn't come here just to catch up."
"As expected of the great attorney," he chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood. "I was hoping we'd have more time before I brought it up, but I guess we don't—at least, on my part."
My hunch was right.
Luke had always been the type to keep to himself. Even in college, he rarely caused trouble—not when his family carried expectations heavy enough to crush a man. The Thorne family was not something normal people messed with. One of the wealthiest clans in the city, with business interests that reached everywhere. I am somehow grateful that I am in good terms with one of them.
"What is it?" I asked after a brief silence. Worried that he might be in trouble this time.
"I want you to handle a case." He leaned back. "Not mine," he added immediately, reading my mind.
"Luke—"
"It's my cousin's," he cut in gently. "And it's complicated."
Of course it was. Being part of a powerful family meant mistakes were never private. The public always found a way in.
I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms loosely as if that could steady the unease crawling under my skin. High-ranking families never came with simple problems. They came with influence, pressure, and consequences that extended far beyond courtrooms.
The last time I handled a case like that, it cost me everything.
"I'm handling small cases now for a reason," I said. "You know what happened the last time I took on something big."
The memory surfaced uninvited—drowned in curses and hatred for telling the truth. One wrong move was all it took to destroy everything I had built for myself. I had been confident then. Too confident. And when it collapsed, it did so quietly, leaving me disposable.
"I know you weren't wrong," sighing heavily. "I've always known you would never defend someone who was guilty, Lauren."
"That principle didn't save me," I replied.
He leaned forward to convinced me more "This case isn't going away. If it's not you, it'll be someone who turns it into a spectacle." His desperation surprised me. This cousin of his must be very important to him "Someone who won't hesitate to sacrifice people just to protect names."
I studied him, my fingers tapping lightly against the armrest as I weighed the debt I owed him against the risk he was asking me to take. If it were him, I wouldn't hesitate as I owe him big—but we're talking about someone else.
"You and your family are people of status," I said, exhaling slowly. "People with power."
"Yes."
"And that would put a target on my back if I were to associate with you."
"Our family can give you the protection you need, Lauren," hope flickering in his eyes"Just help clear my cousin and prove her innocence."
I closed my eyes briefly. I had promised myself I wouldn't do this again—that I wouldn't gamble the little stability I had left on cases that demanded more than they ever gave.
Yet here I was.
"I need the details," I said finally. "No promises."
Relief crossed his face before he smiled. "That's enough."
I nodded once, already feeling the weight settle on my shoulders.
Some cases don't just test your skill; they remind you why you once believed you were capable of more—and how much you stand to lose if you're wrong again.
I DROVE toward the outskirts of the city, following the address Luke had given me--his cousin's. I needed to speak with her myself to understand the case beyond secondhand explanations. The charges had only been filed a week ago, and she still hadn't secured an attorney because she didn't trust anyone.
All I knew so far was what Luke had told me. She had been accused of drug trafficking and of killing one of the alleged suppliers when a transaction went wrong; some of the men involved had even gone missing. For someone from a prominent family, it was an explosive accusation. She had been detained immediately, but as the investigation continued, the authorities found insufficient evidence to hold her. By the end of the day, she was released.
But it didn't end there. After her release, threats started coming in, and there were even attempts on her life. That was why Luke wanted me involved, to follow the case closely and prove her innocence completely. He did not trust the police investigating his cousin. He believed bribes were being taken by business rivals who wanted the Thorne name dragged through the mud.
I glanced down at the address again, then back up at the towering walls in front of me. As expected of the wealthy, these were residences built to keep their lives hidden behind concrete and steel, far from the eyes of people like me.
My car was stopped by guards stationed at the gate.
"Attorney Lauren Schuett," I said through the open window, handing over my licensed identification card. "I'm here to visit my client from the Thorne household."
"Please wait a moment, Attorney," one of the guards said. He checked the monitor, scanned my ID, then returned it with a nod. "Welcome to the Thorne residence."
He gestured to the other guard inside the guardhouse, who pressed a button on the wall. The tall gate slid open with a smooth, deliberate motion.
I drove in slowly, momentarily overwhelmed by the view. The neighborhood felt unreal, like a setting pulled from the pages of a Regency romance novel, except that it is more modern, and unmistakably real.
My gaze settled on the sprawling white Western-style mansion at the end of the expansive lawn. Its façade gleamed in the soft sunlight, perfectly symmetrical and commanding, with tall columns framing the grand entrance. Neatly trimmed hedges lined the edges of the property, and vibrant flowerbeds—reds, purples, and yellows—added bursts of color along the walkways. A circular driveway curved elegantly toward the front doors, centering on a tiered fountain whose water sparkled in the sunlight, spilling into the wide basin below. Classic black lanterns punctuated the drive, their design timeless against the manicured greenery. Everything about the estate spoke of careful planning and wealth, the kind of perfection meant to impress without effort.
Everything about it radiated power and privilege. Every hedge, every flower, and every curve of the driveway spoke to the status of the family living there.
The Thorne's really succeeded in their way of living.
Maids were immediately lined up alongside the butlers outside the mansion as I parked. Standing in front of the grand entrance were a woman in her mid-forties, smiling gently, and a man of the same age with the rigid posture of a well-respected gentleman, there to greet me. I felt a bit embarrassed by the grand welcome.
I knew Luke came from a wealthy family, but I had no idea they were this rich.
"Attorney Lauren Schuett," the woman greeted me. I froze for a moment, as if I'd seen a ghost. Stepping out of the car, I got a clearer view of her—she resembled someone I knew, only older. "It's nice to finally meet you through the stories of my nephew, Luke," she said, moving forward to kiss me on both cheeks—a Western gesture I hadn't expected.
"I hope it's all good," I joke as I chuckle nervously, feeling like I'd wandered into a place I wasn't quite meant to be.
"You are far more beautiful than his stories made you sound," she added, scanning me in a way that left me slightly flustered. Compliments were one thing, but coming from them, it felt different. "Oh, my apologies. I'm Lena Thorne, and this is my husband, Vincent Thorne," she continued.
Her gaze lingered on me with a warmth and adoration that made me uneasy. In that shimmer, I saw a reflection of someone—Megan—and it unsettled me more than I expected. Opposite her, Vincent extended his hand for a formal introduction, which I accepted.
"I hope your travel was smooth." From the sound of it, he is the man who normalized being stern but not dangerous.
Shaking his hand, I replied politely,"I had no problems, sir."
"Let's continue this conversation inside," Mrs. Thorne said, motioning to one of the butlers to park my car. Before we entered, the woman clung to me as if we'd known each other for years. The gesture felt strange—I had never been received this way by a client.
As I glanced around, I couldn't help but reconsider my decision. I was completely overwhelmed by their place. If the exterior had been imposing, the interior was even more so. Every detail spoke of concentrated power.
The room exuded a grand and luxurious atmosphere, defined by soaring ceilings and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that bathed the space in natural light. Classical details—fluted columns with ornate capitals and intricate crown moldings—added a neoclassical elegance. Warm, polished hardwood floors and cream-colored sofas created a sophisticated yet inviting feel, complemented by traditional furnishings like carved wood tables and a richly patterned Persian rug. Subtle ambient lighting from chandeliers and lamps enhanced the refined mood, while carefully placed decorative accents conveyed orderly luxury. The space balanced formality with comfort, making it both impressive and welcoming.
I felt the weight of power pressing down on me as we walked to the living area to discuss why I was here. My feet froze, weakening as my eyes landed on a large family portrait hanging in the living room. I stopped in my tracks--stunned, as Mrs. Thorne's confused gaze softened when she realized what I was staring at.
"Those are my children," she said proudly. "Luke told us that you and Megan were close back in college."
I wasn't able to answer her; at that moment, my world was spinning, flooded with confusion and questions. A mix of nervousness and pressure pressed against me, and I wished it was all just a dream. My ears went numb as the echoes of stilettos clicked across the tiled floor behind us. Mr. Thorne, who had been at the front, turned his head, confirming the source of the sound.
"Megan, where have you been?" Mr. Thorne asked firmly. "Come meet your attorney."
My body refused to move. I prayed the ground would swallow me whole. I wasn't prepared for this—fucking Luke, not even a heads-up or a fucking hint. Wait—she is Luke's cousin?
The heels drew closer. Somehow, I found the strength to turn, though everything felt hazy. My eyes settled on her, and the world seemed to blur around us.
"No need for introductions, Daddy. Attorney Schuett and I know each other more than by name." Her lips curved into a small smile at her father before she met mine.
"Right, Lauren?" tilting her head as her smile curves into a grin.