Chapter 3

Fourteen years ago, she'd built a fortress to protect herself. Now, she could still rely on her own strength to get through this.

Athena returned to the firm and, for the first time in her career, drafted a lawyer's letter for herself.

As a lawyer, she knew better than anyone that when facing rumors and slander, the strongest counterattack wasn't silence, but the law.

[Hereby, regarding the dissemination of false information and the unauthorized disclosure of Ms. Athena Morton's personal information on online platforms, I make the following formal statement.]

[I have secured relevant evidence against those responsible for leaking my private information and fabricating and spreading false statements. I will pursue their administrative, civil, and criminal liability in accordance with the law.]

Once she finished, she posted it on her verified account, Athena Morton Law.

The lawyer's letter blew up the internet in seconds, stirring up a frenzy.

[I support Ms. Morton in defending her rights! Privacy violations should never be tolerated!]

[Can we stop blaming the victim already? She was sexually assaulted when she was just fourteen, and now you all are cyberbullying her? Have some decency.]

[That's what I expect from a lawyer. Cool, calm, and totally on point. I'm with you!]

But the backlash was just as fierce.

[She really posted a legal statement about this? Is she just begging for attention? Doesn't she feel ashamed?]

[Is this just some publicity stunt? Are lawyers trying to get famous by being controversial now?]

[Honestly, the more drama she makes, the worse it is for her. Who'd want to hire a lawyer with all this negative publicity?]

Athena turned off her phone, expressionless, and started gathering her stuff.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Cullen.

Before she could even say a word, he was already shouting, "Athena, what are you doing? Didn't I tell you to let me handle this? Why did you send out that lawyer's letter?"

Athena found it ridiculous.

Nothing was more like a thief crying “stop thief” than this.

She swallowed her anger, her voice eerily calm. "As a lawyer, I have my own way of handling things."

Cullen was silent for a couple of seconds, clearly caught off guard by her response.

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity. "By the way, didn't you say you'd help me figure out who leaked the files? Got any leads yet?"

Cullen's voice settled back into its usual cool. "Not yet. There are a lot of people who had access to the file, so tracking it down will take some time. But don't worry, as soon as I find anything, I'll let you know."

Athena almost laughed out loud.

Of course he needed time, time to craft an airtight story that would let him walk away clean.

"Alright, I'll wait."

Early the next morning, Athena had just arrived at the firm when the receptionist stopped her at the front desk.

"Ms. Morton, Mr. Hogan wants to see you."

"Take a seat," Nicolas Hogan said, his usual warmth gone, a deep frown on his face. "I saw that post online, and your lawyer's letter. Do you have any idea what this is doing to our firm's image?"

Athena sat down, her back straight as a board. "I know. But that was my private life when I was fourteen, and someone maliciously leaked it. I didn't do anything wrong. I'm simply protecting my legal rights."

Nicolas let out a sigh, his tone a little softer, but his meaning unchanged. "Athena, I get where you're coming from. But you know as well as I do. Reputation is everything for us lawyers. With all this mess online, people are starting to doubt your professionalism, no matter who's actually at fault. What I'm saying is..."

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I don't think you should be taking on any cases right now. Until this blows over, you should take some time off. I'll have Sasha handle your cases for the time being."

Athena's fingers tightened slightly.

From college to now, Sasha's name had always been a shadow she just couldn't shake.

Back in her freshman year, she walked into class wearing a shirt she'd bought from a street vendor in her hometown. Sasha was sitting in the front row, gave her a once-over, then covered her mouth and laughed to her friend, "Who's this? Since when does our school start admitting the families of migrant workers?"

The laughter around her stabbed into her ears like needles.

Later, she found out that Sasha's father was a big-shot real estate tycoon in Zavala. The library at their university was even donated by her family. From day one, Sasha was the center of attention. She was beautiful, loaded, and always surrounded by admirers.

Meanwhile, Athena was the quiet, reserved girl, always dressed in shabby clothes, and always sitting in the corner.

After graduation, Athena had to fight hard just to get a foot in the door at this top law firm in Zavala.

She started at the very bottom, sorting through case files, and it took her three whole years before she finally landed her first solo case.

But the moment Sasha came back from abroad, she just went straight in as if it was nothing.

Now, because of Cullen, the major cases Athena had fought so hard to earn were being taken from her.

Athena stood up, her gaze calm. "I accept the firm's decision."