Because it's been so long, I decided to give you two updates. I hope you deserve it and just know Court is just getting started lol. Remember to Vote! Its important!


The morning light streamed through the window as Mercedes stood before her mirror, adjusting her blazer. She smoothed down the fabric of her purple pencil skirt, the deep color contrasting sharply with the black tailored blazer she'd chosen.

Beneath it, a lavender silk blouse peeked out, adding a soft touch to the power she intended to project in court today. Her black heels clicked against the hardwood floor as she turned slightly, her hair cascading over her shoulder in soft waves, parted neatly to one side. Every detail had been carefully thought through; it was time to face Mayfield head-on.

With Sam by her side, Mercedes made her way to the courthouse.

As Mercedes stepped out of the car in front of the courthouse, she was immediately greeted by the flashing cameras and a flurry of reporters crowding the sidewalk.

The air buzzed with questions, and microphones were shoved toward Mercedes as journalists pressed in closer. Feeling Mercedes tense up, Sam held her close, assuring her he had her and wouldn't let anyone hurt her.

"Mercedes! What are your thoughts going into today's trial?" A blonde reporter asked.

"Do you think you can win this case?" that came from a brunette.

"Any comments on Mayfield's defense strategy?" A burly man asked.

The chaos surrounded her, but Mercedes kept her posture firm, walking steadily toward the courthouse entrance. Sam, Blaine, and Sebastian flanked her as she took the stairs, their towering presence acting as a buffer between her and the sea of reporters. Sam's eyes scanned the crowd, his hand resting on the small of her back as they made their way forward.

Blaine's jaw was set in a hard line, his eyes forward, while Sebastian stayed composed. His suit was immaculate, but his focus was on her as well.

Mercedes paused just a few feet from the steps leading inside, turning to face the reporters. She raised a hand, signaling for quiet, and slowly, the chatter died down.

The crowd pressed in a little closer, cameras flashing once more, but all eyes were on her now.

Taking a steadying breath, she spoke clearly and with purpose. "Today, we stand in court to fight for everyone who has been hurt, harmed, or silenced by Walter Mayfield. This case isn't just about me; it's about justice for all of his victims, those who have suffered because of his greed, his corruption, and his cruelty."

Her voice grew stronger as she spoke, the weight of her words carrying through the crowd. "I trust the justice system, and I trust that the Jury will be fair and deliberate in their ruling. My team and I are prepared, and we're here to ensure that justice is served."

She paused for a moment, letting her gaze sweep over the crowd before nodding slightly. "Thank you all for your support."

Without waiting for further questions, Mercedes turned on her heel and ascended the courthouse steps with Sam, Blaine, and Sebastian by her side. The reporters called after her, eager for more, but she had said what needed to be said.

As they passed through the courthouse doors, the weight of the trial ahead settled over her again. Inside, the air was quieter and more controlled, but the anticipation was thick. This was it—the beginning of the end.


Mercedes placed her notes, laptop, and brief on the table. As she reviewed her opening statement, she chewed her bottom lip, praying for strength.

Sebastian stood nearby, flipping through his legal pad as he adjusted the cuffs of his pinstriped suit. His sharp appearance reflected the seriousness of the day, but when he glanced up at her, he gave her a small, reassuring smile. "You look ready to win this."

Mercedes gave a soft smile in return, her nerves buzzing beneath the surface, but she remained focused. "Thanks, Bas. Let's hope so."

Sam and Blaine had already taken their seats directly behind her in the courtroom. She could feel Sam's calming presence; it gave her more strength with his protective energy.

Blaine sat beside him, looking stoic and strong as always. His arms crossed, his gaze set toward the front of the room.

Mercedes set her took a seat at the table, going over her notes out in front of her.

Her eyes flicked over them, scanning each page for the points she needed to hammer home today. Her mind was racing with how the Jury would react, how to counter Mayfield's defense, and how to ensure a win. She remained calm, letting her preparation guide her.

The sound of heavy doors creaking open pulled her attention away. Mayfield walked in, his gray suit pressed perfectly, his expression smug.

His sharp eyes cut across the room, landing directly on her. He gave her a pointed look, filled with thinly veiled contempt, before turning toward his own table.

Before she could react, she felt a familiar warmth behind her; Sam's hands gently gripped her shoulders, a silent show of support.

She inhaled deeply, feeling the strength of his touch seep into her, grounding her. He leaned forward just enough for her to hear his low, reassuring voice.

"You've got this."

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak just yet but grateful for his presence. The weight of the day felt just a bit lighter with him here.

The quiet hum of the courtroom settled as more people began to fill the seats. From the corner of her eye, she spotted her parents entering. Her mother and father made their way down the aisle, their faces showing a mix of worry and pride.

They took seats just behind Sam and Blaine, and not far behind them were Sam's parents, who nodded at her with encouraging smiles. Their collective presence filled her with a sense of purpose. It wasn't just her fight anymore. It was theirs, too. They were fighting with her, standing with her.

She straightened in her seat, flipping one last page of notes before looking toward the Judge's bench.

Court would begin soon, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Today wasn't just about justice. It was about her proving to herself that she hadn't lost her edge, that she could do this even though she was recovering and still hadn't regained her full memory.

Mercedes stood as the Judge entered, and they were told to rise. She smiled as a familiar feeling came over her, a memory of her entering the courtroom and standing before the Jury. That is when she knew that and the Judge. No matter what Mayfield tried to pull, she would be ready.

The tension in the courtroom was palpable as Richard Lawson rose from his seat with a smirk. His slick black hair was combed back, gleaming under the lights, and his beady, shifty eyes scanned the room, lingering briefly on Mercedes before he turned to address the jury.

His tailored suit and practiced confidence gave off an air of arrogance, as though he already knew how the trial would end.

As bad as Anthony was, Richard was worse, but he had never won against Mercedes. That memory was loud and clear in her mind, giving her hope.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," Lawson began, his voice smooth and rehearsed, "what we are witnessing here today is nothing short of a witch hunt. My client, Walter Mayfield, stands accused of crimes so outrageous, so baseless, that I'm almost surprised we're all here. But let me make one thing clear from the very beginning: the prosecution will not be able to prove a single thing."

He paused, giving the jury time to absorb his words before continuing. "They will throw accusation after accusation at Mr. Mayfield, trying to paint him as some sort of villain. But the truth is, he is innocent. This trial, this spectacle, is nothing more than a vendetta. A vendetta led by Mercedes Jones, the district attorney, who is using this case to further her career to make a name for herself. And that's what this is really about. Not justice, but ambition."

Lawson's gaze flicked to Mercedes briefly before he returned his attention to the jury, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "But when all is said and done, you will see that the evidence does not support their claims. Walter Mayfield is an innocent man, and we will prove that."

With a final, self-assured nod, Lawson returned to his seat beside Mayfield, who watched the proceedings with a smug expression, as though he had already won.

Mercedes felt the familiar wave of anticipation as she stood, a feeling that brought her back to her first day in court all those years ago. She gasped as she remembered the excitement, the nervousness, and most of all, the pure joy of fighting for justice.

That feeling surged through her now, grounding her in the moment as she approached the jury.

She stood tall, her shoulders square, facing the twelve jurors who held the future of this trial in their hands. The courtroom was silent, every eye on her as she prepared to speak.

"Good morning," she began, her voice steady and confident. "Today, you are going to hear a lot of things. You will hear about Walter Mayfield's wealth, power, and influence. You will hear his attorney claim that this is all some sort of vendetta, a personal grudge for what he did to me. But what you will not hear from the defense is the truth. He started us our with a lie, stating that I am using this case to further my career, I don't need to use this to further my career, my career was made already with cases like this. What I need to do is seek justice, as my record speaks for itself."

She took a deep breath, letting her gaze sweep over the jury. "The truth is, Walter Mayfield is guilty. He has lied under oath. He has stolen from the innocent. He has kidnapped, and he has killed. And all of it was done to keep himself at the top. To maintain his power, his wealth, and his control."

Mercedes felt the weight of the moment as she let her words hang in the air. "But today is the day that changes. Today is the day Walter Mayfield finally faces justice for everything he's done. I will prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that he is guilty of the crimes he stands accused of. And today, history will be made because today, the bad guy will have his day in court. And he will go down."

She paused, meeting the eyes of each juror, her voice strong and unflinching. "Thank you."

With that, she returned to her seat, her heart steady and her focus unwavering. This was the moment she had been waiting for, and she was ready.

Sebastian leaned over, his voice low and filled with admiration. "You were great."

Mercedes nodded slightly, keeping her eyes forward. "Thanks," she murmured, but her focus was already shifting. Richard Lawson had just called his first few witnesses, all of whom were employed by Mayfield. Each one spoke of him as though he were a saint, painting a picture of a man who was generous, loyal, and upstanding. The portrait they were trying to create couldn't have been further from the truth, and Mercedes couldn't help but chuckle to herself, shaking her head at the lies.

As witness after witness claimed that Mayfield was nothing short of amazing, it became harder to keep the frustration from showing on her face. She knew the jury saw through it, but it still irritated her to hear so many falsehoods about a man who had destroyed countless lives.

Finally, Richard Lawson stood, adjusting his tie with a smirk. "Your Honor, I move for a mistrial. It's clear that the people who know my client best have testified to his character, and yet the prosecution continues this baseless witch hunt."

Judge Carter's gavel hit the bench with a firm thud. "Motion for mistrial denied, and please stop wasting the court's time with these games," he said coolly, his gaze cutting over to Mercedes. "Ms. Jones, you may call your first witness."

Mercedes rose smoothly, a sense of anticipation flooding her as she called, "The prosecution calls Mike Chang to the stand."

There was a stir in the courtroom as Mike, Walter Mayfield's longtime right-hand man, stepped forward. His testimony had been kept under wraps for this very moment, ensuring the element of surprise. Mercedes could feel the weight of the room shift as he took his place, his eyes not quite meeting Mayfield's. She hoped he would stay true to his word. This was the moment they had been waiting for.

As she approached the stand, she kept her voice steady and direct. "Mr. Chang, can you please tell the court how you know Walter Mayfield?"

Mike shifted slightly, his hands fidgeting before he answered. "I was hired by him as security ten years ago. Over time, I moved up the ranks and eventually became his right-hand man."

"And how did you come to replace his other number one?"

Mike swallowed. "I was number two, behind Will for a long time, until Will was tasked with taking out Emma."

"Thats Emma Pilsbury?"

Mike nodded.

Mercedes kept her tone calm but firm. "Did Mr. Mayfield ever ask you to do anything illegal during your time in his employment?"

There was a pause. Mike inhaled sharply before speaking, his voice steady, but heavy with the weight of his confession. "Yes. Over the years, I did a lot for Mayfield. One of the first things was trying to take out Will and Emma after Will refused to kill her. I wasn't tasked with the job, but I was in the room when Mayfield had my guy Dave make his old Attorney Biff take his own life. I killed Tina Cohen-Chang after Mayfield had her kidnap you, Ms. Jones...and I was there when he told Anthony Rashaad, his last Attorney before this one, to attack and make you disappear if you show up after you escaped."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the courtroom. Mercedes remained composed, nodding as if Mike's words weren't piercing her heart with their sharpness.

"Go on," she encouraged gently.

Mike swallowed, his eyes darting around the courtroom. "Mayfield also ordered hits on so many other people, and I have proof. I kept receipts and did everything I could to ensure that I wasn't a pawn like everyone else."

The courtroom was stunned into silence, but that didn't last. Walter Mayfield jumped to his feet, his face red with fury. "Mike, you're dead! Do you hear me? Dead!"

Mike turned in his seat, locking eyes with Mayfield for the first time. "I'm not scared of you anymore."

Lawson jumped up from his seat. "Your Honor, I request that the court strike Mr. Mayfield's outburst from the record."

But Judge Carter shook his head. "Request denied. The jury will hear everything."

Tension crackled in the air, but Mercedes remained unfazed. This was their moment, and it was playing out exactly as she'd hoped. Lawson knew he was losing control, and in a desperate move, he stood.

"The defense calls Walter Mayfield to the stand," Lawson declared, and all eyes turned to Mayfield.

As Mayfield rose to testify, Mercedes glanced over at Mike. His face was pale, but there was a sense of relief there like he had finally unburdened himself. Whether or not this would be enough to sway the jury remained to be seen, but Mercedes knew one thing: the truth was finally out.