Pov: Vik

  Vik: “Yes, what she did in that moment was right. But to understand this fully, we need to hear another perspective on the story, or perhaps the hidden truth.”

  The judge looked confused and said, “Mister Vik, please be clear. Don’t speak in riddles.”

  I replied, “Yes, your honor. If the prosecution doesn't interrupt me, I can continue my story.”

  After saying this, I caught a glare from the prosecuting lawyer, but I ignored it and continued.

  Vik: “Let’s start from the beginning.”

  “This story begins when Miss Layla’s son, Lu Xiaoran, got injured in an accident. He decided to go to another city for better medical care. At the same time, his father, who is Miss Layla’s husband, went missing. His last message indicated he was searching for a cure for Lu Xiaoran.”

  Vik: “Your honor, everyone knows this, but there is something you may have overlooked.”

  Recken: “Could you explain what we are ignoring in this story?”

  Vik: “Coincidences, yes, your honor, coincidences. We hear this as a tragic tale, but we keep ignoring the coincidences. Can you imagine the odds of one of the strongest families in the city suddenly facing such hardship? First, Lu Xiaoran gets injured, then his father goes missing while seeking a cure, and then a bandit group attacks Lu Xiaoran. News of his death reaches his mother, even though he survived. Yet, false information about his death spreads across the city.”

  “Now, the last coincidence is Layla's presence in the witness box, charged with the attempted murder of Lin Chen. Can you believe all these coincidences? This isn’t just another tragic story; it seems like a plan to attack and destroy a major family in this city.”

  Hearing my argument, everyone present, including the judge, looked thoughtful, as if they were finally piecing together a puzzle that had been before them all along. But the prosecution, now impatient, interrupted.

  Hecken: “Mister Vik, stop making up stories. Your claims have no relevance to this case. Even if Miss Layla faced a conspiracy, it doesn’t give her the right to kill.”

  His argument held some merit, but I wasn’t finished yet. I continued, “Your honor, the prosecution is correct. None of these conditions justify murder. But what if I told you that the attack against Mr. Lin Chen was an act of self-defense?”

  This time, even the prosecution seemed taken aback. The judge asked, “Mister Vik, can you explain how Miss Layla attacking Lin Chen was self-defense?”

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  Vik: “Yes, I can. As you folks ignored the coincidences in this story, Miss Layla also overlooked them, attributing everything to bad luck. Eventually, she connected the dots and realized that someone was plotting against her from the shadows.”

  “Once she made this realization, she concluded that she might be the next target. For her safety, she summoned the loyal security guards of the Lu Family. This was purely for her protection. She originally planned to leave the city and seek help from her brother’s family.”

  “However, during this time, she encountered Lin Chen, the same person who had injured Lu Xiaoran before. This fueled her hatred for him. False news about Lu Xiaoran intensified her anger.”

  “At first, she kept her feelings under control, but then Lin Chen mocked her regarding Lu Xiaoran’s supposed death. This made her furious, and she responded harshly. Yet Lin Chen acted strangely, ignoring her warnings, as if he had everything under control and didn’t fear her security.”

  “The situation made Miss Layla suspicious, leading her to fear for her life. She attacked Lin Chen in an attempt to escape. If she had aimed to kill him, she could have done so easily—the Lu Family security included several experts. But Lin Chen only suffered slight scratches on his arms.”

  In response, Hecken objected, saying, “Your honor, Mister Vik is just creating stories. Miss Layla only wanted to kill my client, Lin Chen.”

  Vik: “Then, Mister Hecken, how did Lin Chen survive against multiple Golden Core and one Soul Forming Realm expert?”

  My argument was too strong for him to counter, so he played his last card. “Mister Lin Chen survived because another expert, Miss Sherry, who is in the Nascent Soul Realm, was nearby. Upon seeing Miss Layla attempting a crime in broad daylight, she intervened and responsibly informed the authorities. We can also have her statement if needed.”

  Vik: “There’s no need to hear further statements because my next evidence will clarify this case. To present this evidence, I want to invite Miss Sherry to the witness stand.”

  Upon hearing this, Hecken looked surprised, not expecting me to call Sherry. Nonetheless, everything was going according to my plan.

  After Sherry took the stand, I began my questioning.

  Vik: “Miss Sherry, did you see Miss Layla trying to kill Lin Chen that day?”

  Sherry: “I only saw one of Miss Layla’s guards pushing Lin Chen back.”

  Vik: “Now tell us, was your presence there a coincidence, or were you invited?”

  Sherry: “No, Lin Chen told me to follow him closely but to stay hidden.”

  Vik: “Now the case is clear. This was all a trap to frame my client, Miss Layla. I hope you can now deliver your verdict.”

  Hearing my words, Hecken attempted to object with many arguments, but I countered with one simple question: “Mister Hecken, if Mr. Lin Chen is telling the truth, then why isn’t he present today? Where is he now? The absence of a victim isn’t normal in any case.”

  After this, he fell silent, accepting his defeat. The judge then delivered the verdict: “Finding insufficient evidence against Layla, this court dismisses the case against her and finds her innocent. I order her immediate release and instruct the police to file a case against Mr. Lin Chen for providing false evidence and misleading the court.”

  After the verdict, small tears welled in Lu Xiaoran’s eyes as Layla smiled. Without waiting for her handcuffs to be removed, he rushed to her, hugging his mother and breaking the cuffs with his hands.

  My plan worked, and I was happy about it. However, it went too flawlessly. I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. It seems as though Lin Chen wanted us to win this case. My intuition tells me there is something off.