Chapter 16 Courtroom
Getting to the courthouse, the tension hit me before the cold air-conditioning even had the chance to brush over my skin. The building was quieter than I expected for a weekday morning, its beige walls and polished floors giving off that sterile, heavy feel that every courthouse seemed to have. Eric walked beside me with his hands tucked in his pockets, eyes lazily glancing around though I knew nothing ever escaped his notice.
When we pushed the courtroom door open, both my lawyer and the defendant’s lawyer were already inside, seated and whispering something to each other. Their expressions were grave, almost too grave, as if the weight of the entire world rested on the outcome of today’s hearing.
Walking in further, I immediately spotted Rudy. He sat at the far right side, leaning back in his seat with that casual confidence he always carried, like he was at a bar and not in a courthouse with tension thick enough to choke on. I moved toward him and sat down. Eric slid into the chair beside me, his sharp eyes scanning every corner of the courtroom.
Rudy turned to me the moment I settled. “Why were you late?” he whispered, raising a brow like he was my schoolteacher.
I shot him a look. “Why didn’t you wait for me if you were going to come here anyway?”
Rudy blinked. “Ah. My bad.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I had something important to attend to earlier. When I was done, I thought it made more sense to come straight to the courthouse instead of heading to the estate.”
His explanation actually made sense, so I nodded at him. “Alright, fair enough.”
He grinned. “Good. I didn’t want us to fight before the judge even shows up.”
“I don’t fight with clowns,” I muttered under my breath.
Rudy widened his eyes. “Oh? I haven’t said anything disrespectful—.”
“If you want to be pushed out of your chair in court, keep talking,” I warned.
Eric let out a soft snort beside me. “Please push him. It will brighten my day.”
Rudy slapped my knee. “Don’t listen to him. He wants chaos. What a bad guard.”
Before I could reply, Eric tapped my thigh lightly—once, and leaned closer. “Turn your head slowly boss,” he whispered. “Look behind.”
The seriousness in his voice made me obey instantly. I turned… and froze.
There she was. Diana.
At first, I almost didn’t recognize her. She wore a simple black gown and oversized deep-black sunglasses that practically swallowed half her face. A scarf wrapped tightly around her head and neck, covering everything except her jaw and… those lips. Those unmistakable filler-inflated lips that stuck out even from a mile away.
Rudy turned too, and his eyebrows shot up. “Oh damn. That’s her.”
I whispered, “Eric… how in the world did you even notice her?”
He smirked smugly. “Her lips. They’re outstanding. I could pick them out in a hurricane.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing too loudly. Rudy didn’t bother hiding his snicker.
“Honestly,” Rudy nodded, “even with all that covering, she’s still easily recognizable. Those lips are like a spotlight.”
Eric shrugged. “I just stated the truth.”
Before I could steady my expression, Rudy suddenly straightened up and raised his hand. “Diana!” he called out loudly, waving enthusiastically.
I slapped his arm. “Why are you calling her like that?!”
“What? I’m calling my sister,” he whispered.
Across the room, Diana jolted as if someone slapped her. Her head whipped in our direction, shock painted across what little of her face we could see. For a moment, she visibly panicked, her hands clutching her bag tighter, like she genuinely couldn’t understand how the hell she’d been identified.
But she quickly schooled her features, stood up, and made her way toward us. Her walk was stiff, cautious. Her heels clicked softly but rhythmically, almost like she was marching to her doom. When she reached our row, she sat beside Rudy, her smile so forced it looked ugly and painful with her massive lips.
“Oh! I didn’t know you guys were already here,” she said quickly. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Mmm. Really?” I answered with a matching fake smile.
“Yes!” she replied too eagerly.
“Well, thanks for caring about me,” I said in a tone as sweet as vinegar.
“You’re welcome,” she said, her smile tightening even more.
The air between us turned awkward enough to slice with a knife. She kept fiddling with her fingers, her shoulders hunched high as she tried to act normal but failed miserably.
Rudy cleared his throat. “So… why are you dressed like you’re hiding from the FBI?”
Diana blinked behind her sunglasses. “I—I… well… I was scared. You know, since we are… Mafias.”
Rudy burst out laughing, loud enough that a few people turned. “Me? I’ve committed more crimes than I can count and I’m probably on a wanted list somewhere, yet even I don’t cover my face this much. Not to mention—” he pointed at me, “—our lovely leader here. She didn’t disguise herself at all.”
Diana’s face flushed slightly. “I… I just wanted to be on the safe side.”
“That’s understandable,” Rudy conceded, still grinning.
But before he could tease her again, the courtroom doors opened.
Everyone went quiet instantly.
The judge walked in.
And oh… oh my God.
He was tiny.
Like, unbelievably tiny.
An extremely short man, maybe 4’5” at most, entering with all the seriousness in the world. His robe was slightly oversized, the sleeves nearly swallowing his hands, and he had to take small, quick steps to reach the bench. The moment he arrived at his chair, he struggled a bit, trying to climb onto it and adjust himself. The sight was so unexpected that even Eric pressed his lips together to stop a laugh.
But the courtroom remained dead silent. Everyone was still standing, waiting.
The judge finally managed to sit properly. He cleared his throat, a surprisingly deep sound for such a small man.