The courtroom was alive with chatter as lawyers and clerks prepared for the next round. Papers shuffled, heels clicked, and the faint hum of conversation echoed through the marble halls.
Jay entered first, carrying her usual stack of files. Percy and Jane followed behind her, chattering about minor things—Percy making exaggerated predictions about the case, Jane rolling her eyes at his antics. Jay barely listened, her focus already on the courtroom ahead.
Across the aisle, Keifer entered with his brothers, Keigan and Keiren. His eyes immediately scanned the room—not for evidence, not for opponents—but for her.
Jay noticed him looking, but chose to ignore it. She didn't need to think about him right now.
Keifer's gaze flickered again to the corner of the courtroom near the window.
Something—or someone—had caught his attention.
A man in a dark coat lingered near the back row, hands folded, watching Jay carefully. Keifer's jaw tightened slightly. He didn't want to alert Jay; she'd just think he was being overprotective again.
He shifted in his seat, staying close enough to her that he could intervene if anything happened, but not so close that she'd notice.
Jay adjusted her notes on the table. Her eyes met Keifer's across the aisle for a fraction of a second. He gave her nothing—no smile, no wave. Just a quiet, attentive look. She interpreted it as judging her strategy, not realizing he was scanning for threats.
Luke Reyes banged the gavel lightly from his bench.
"Counselors, let's continue."
Jay and Keifer simultaneously rose.
"Your Honor, may I present my argument—"
"Your Honor, if I may—"
Luke raised a hand, cutting them off with a wry smile. "I see the rivalry is still strong. Proceed, one at a time."
The room fell silent as Jay delivered her argument, each point precise and deliberate. Keifer listened, noting not only her logic but the subtle moments where she hesitated—tiny pauses that hinted she wasn't expecting danger lurking outside the courtroom.
When it was his turn, Keifer spoke clearly, firmly, and without hesitation. Every statement carefully countered her points while keeping his eyes flicking subtly to the suspicious man at the back.
Luke watched, intrigued, but he didn't comment.
After Keifer sat down, Jay shot him a sharp glance.
"You're watching me too closely," she whispered under her breath, loud enough for him to hear.
Keifer's eyes didn't meet hers. "I'm… watching the courtroom."
Jay frowned. "Uh-huh. Sure. Watching the courtroom."
Her mind immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion: he was still acting all protective and condescending, like last night. She didn't know about the letter. She didn't know about the man outside.
Keifer noticed her expression change. He wanted to explain.
I can't tell her yet, he thought. Not until I know who's behind this.
Instead, he stayed silent, tightening his grip slightly on his pen.
During a brief break, Keifer stood just outside the courtroom. He spotted the man in the dark coat moving down the hallway.
Keifer followed at a distance, careful not to be noticed.
Inside, Jay turned to Percy and Jane.
"Keifer is acting weird," she muttered.
Percy grinned. "Yeah, he's always weird."
Jane smirked. "I think he's… worried about you."
Jay blinked. "Worried? No. He's probably just… plotting his next win."
Percy shrugged, unconvinced.
Outside the Courtroom
Keifer finally lost sight of the man for a moment. He pulled out his phone and checked the photo of the first letter.
Drop the case.
A new thought hit him. Someone was escalating.
He clenched his jaw. Jay didn't know.
And she couldn't know yet.
But he would do everything to make sure she stayed safe.
Even if she misunderstood him completely.