Chapter 2 Ethan's Trial

5 Years Ago

After satisfying the desire caused by the drug's influence, Ethan lay weakly in the car seat. His breath was ragged before he finally lost consciousness, unaware of the cruelty he had just committed.

Meanwhile, Grace could only cry. Her heart was shattered, her body weak, and her tears flowed endlessly. Her dignity had been mercilessly taken by a man she didn't even know. Overcome with fear and deep shame, Grace struggled to get out of the car, her steps unsteady. Her body felt as if it had been pierced by a thousand needles, but she had no choice but to leave that place as quickly as possible.

She didn't want to remember or even see the face of the man who had destroyed her.

Staggering along the dark streets, she tried to endure the pain spreading through her body. Her sobs grew louder, but the place was too deserted-no one could hear her cries. That night bore witness to her profound sorrow.

The next morning, in the same car, Ethan opened his eyes, his head throbbing painfully. He massaged his temples, trying to make sense of what had happened.

"What happened? My head... it hurts so much," Ethan muttered hoarsely. His vision gradually cleared, and the surroundings became sharper. He turned his head and saw bloodstains on the car seat-his heart pounded violently. Panic gripped his mind.

His gaze then fell on a piece of women's underwear lying nearby. Suddenly, vague memories from the previous night began to surface. Something terrible had happened, and he was the cause of it.

"Damn!" he gasped in fear. "Who did I take? Why can't I remember anything?" His mind raced, trying to piece together the events, but everything remained blurry.

Ethan looked down, his eyes catching sight of a small, glimmering object on the floor of the car. A broken bracelet. He picked it up carefully, inspecting it more closely. Engraved on the bracelet was a single word: Shin.

"Is this hers?" he murmured, guilt creeping into his heart and mind. Ethan stared at the bracelet that bore the name Shin.

"Shin? Is that her name? Is she Asian?" he whispered, barely audible.

"Shin... sounds like a surname," he continued, still fixated on the bracelet that now felt heavy in his grasp.

---

5 Years Later

The Courtroom

Tension filled the courtroom, growing heavier with each passing second. Bright lights illuminated the face of Ethan Christoper, the man seated in the defendant's chair. His hands were shackled, and the prison uniform he wore added a darker aura to his already menacing presence. His gaze never left Prosecutor Shin, a young woman who stood firmly in her convictions.

The gallery was packed with spectators whispering amongst themselves, speculating about the outcome of the trial.

Prosecutor Shin stood tall before the judge, her voice unwavering as she presented the charges against the accused. Every word she uttered was like a sharp blade, piercing through the courtroom.

"Prosecutor Shin, do you have evidence that the suspect committed assault and murder against the victim?" the judge asked sternly, asserting his authority.

Without hesitation, Prosecutor Shin took out several documents and presented them. "Your Honor! The murder weapon found at the scene contains the suspect's DNA and fingerprints," she stated with absolute certainty, her eyes unyielding.

Ethan, who had been silent all this time, finally lifted his head, glaring at Prosecutor Shin with an intimidating gaze.

"Grace Anderson Shin," he said in a low, menacing tone. "Everything you're saying is false. When I arrived, they were already dead. Do you really think I'd be stupid enough to kill someone inside my own nightclub?" His words carried defiance, as if daring anyone to doubt his innocence.

But Prosecutor Shin remained composed. She met Ethan's glare with unwavering determination.

"Ethan Christoper, anyone can deny their crimes," she replied firmly. "But the evidence speaks for itself."

Among the crowd, Raymond Scott smirked maliciously. His face reflected unmistakable delight, as if he relished Ethan's suffering. That smug smile didn't escape Ethan's attention.

Ethan turned his furious eyes toward Raymond. "Raymond Scott," he growled, his voice laced with rage. "You were there that night." His accusation was filled with venom.

"Order in the court!" the judge commanded, striking his gavel to restore order.

But Ethan didn't stop. He turned to the judge, his expression fierce. "Are you refusing to suspect him just because he's a government official?" he challenged, his voice dripping with suspicion.

Prosecutor Shin remained unfazed despite the rising tension. "Ethan Christoper, every criminal claims innocence," she stated coldly. "You are the owner of the nightclub, and yet you had the heart to assault and murder your own customers." Her words were like daggers, stabbing straight into Ethan's chest.

Ethan clenched his shackled fists, his eyes burning with hatred. "Believe it or not, I will kill you too!" His voice carried a lethal promise, making the entire courtroom freeze.

Prosecutor Shin and Ethan locked eyes, the intensity between them suffocating. The defendant had just issued a direct threat to the prosecutor without hesitation.

Yet, no one in that courtroom knew the truth.

Five years ago, they had shared a night together-strangers caught in a cruel twist of fate.

Now, an inexplicable tension lingered between them, something neither of them could fully understand.