Chapter 69 The Tense Courtroom.

The courtroom was a cold, sterile place, far from the warmth of our home where Kai and I had spent countless hours planning our defense. Sitting there, surrounded by the solemn faces of lawyers, court officers, and onlookers, the reality of our situation hit me harder than ever. This wasn’t just a legal battle—it was a war for our future. Marcus sat across the aisle, flanked by his team of high-powered attorneys, looking as smug as ever. His confidence was unnerving, a silent taunt that dared us to falter. I had seen that look in his eyes before, years ago, when he tried to strong-arm us into turning the school into a profit-making machine. Back then, we had stood our ground, and we would do the same now. But this time, the stakes were much higher. Kai sat beside me, his expression unreadable. He was calm, composed, a picture of stoic determination. But I knew him better than anyone, and I could see the strain in the tightness of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders. This wasn’t jus