ALL FOR LOVE (SLOW UPDATE)

two - [ˈtuː]

"Underneath the Surface"

< Giselle >

Giselle took a deep breath as she stepped out of her car, eyes fixed on the grand facade of the courthouse. The imposing building was both a challenge and a sanctuary, a place where she could fight for justice while hiding her own insecurities behind her polished exterior.

Today, she was defending Corey Carter —a young man branded as a murderer, but in her gut, she felt there was more to the story.

She adjusted her tailored blazer and glanced at her reflection in the courthouse doors, confirming that every detail of her look was perfect. She couldn't afford any cracks in her image. In her world, even the slightest flaw would be seen as weakness.

As she walked up the steps, her phone buzzed. It was Marcus, her husband, his timing perfect as always.

"Hey, I'm just about to go in," she said, her voice softening at the sound of his familiar tone.

"Thought I'd catch you for a second," Marcus replied. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," she replied, her voice a touch too quick, too rehearsed. She could almost feel Marcus raise an eyebrow on the other end of the line.

"Giselle, come on. I know you. This case—it's getting under your skin, isn't it?"

Giselle paused, searching for the right words. "It's just... different, Marcus. I feel like Corey's been failed by everyone, like he never had a fair shot. It's eating me."

Marcus sighed, his voice warm and steady. "I know. That's why you're good at what you do. Just remember you can't fix everything, Giselle. And don't lose yourself trying."

She managed a small smile, even though he couldn't see it. "I know. I'll be careful."

"Good luck, babe. Call me later, okay?"

"Will do," she promised, hanging up as she steeled herself and pushed open the courthouse doors.

Inside, the courthouse buzzed with a low hum of voices and footsteps.

Just as Giselle was heading toward the courtroom, her mother called.
Tina was a force of nature, impeccably dressed and sharp-tongued, with high expectations for her only daughter.

"Giselle, tell me you're not actually defending that Carter boy," her mother said, without so much as a greeting.

Giselle took a deep breath, counting to three before answering. "Yes, Mother. I'm defending Corey Carter. He deserves a fair trial."

Tina's sigh was loud and exasperated. "Sweetheart, he's accused of killing his own father! The press is already all over it, and you know how that can affect your reputation."

"This isn't about reputation," Giselle replied, her tone firm. "It's about justice. He's been branded as a monster, but he's just a young man who was in a terrible situation."

There was a pause before Tina spoke again, softer but no less stern.
"Giselle, I know you have a big heart, but you don't need to carry every stray cause you come across. You're talented, beautiful—you could work on any case, represent any client, and yet..."

"And yet, I choose cases that matter," Giselle interrupted, surprising herself with the sharpness in her voice. "Dad taught me that the law is about fighting for people who don't have anyone else."

Tina sighed again, the disapproval heavy in her tone. "Your father had ideals, yes. But those ideals didn't always pay the bills, did they?"

"Goodbye, Mother," Giselle said, hanging up before her mother could respond.