Chapter 81

Kara and Jennifer stayed at Wayne Manor until around noon, when they got a call from Harvey Dent, who was on his way.

Typically, court sessions are held in the morning, giving Jennifer time to prepare for upcoming cases. Additional information about recent crimes was still with the serious crime unit, so they planned to visit the station for further investigation.

As Kara and Jennifer prepared to leave, Bruce walked them to the door. Though he wanted them to stay, he struggled to find the right words.

Seeing Harvey was still en route, Bruce tentatively suggested, "Why don't you stay and finish lunch before heading out? I'll have Alfred prepare something."

Alfred immediately responded, "I'll get started right away."

Jennifer shook her head, smiling graciously. "Mr. Wayne, we've already intruded enough, and you have so much to do. Gotham needs you now; don't waste your time on me when you could be helping more people."

There was a certain spark in Jennifer's eyes—she already knew Bruce was Batman. She couldn't help but add, "Unlike Ms. Rachel, I think I prefer the Dark Knight to Gotham's most eligible bachelor."

Bruce gave a small nod, about to respond when Harvey's car pulled up.

"Jennifer, are you alright?" Harvey asked as he approached, his concern apparent.

Jennifer found it amusing that everyone suddenly seemed concerned for her. But she also understood that the only one who truly cared was Kara. Bruce, for all his stoic protectiveness, was mostly concerned for the unexpected child she carried. Harvey, while kind, was focused on whether she could manage the upcoming trial.

Only Kara, however, was sincerely and selflessly concerned about Jennifer's health and well-being.

Jennifer took a deep breath, her expression turning serious as she met Harvey's gaze. "I'm fine. Let's go."

With that, she got into Harvey's car without looking back.

"Kara…" Bruce murmured as he watched her. She glanced back at him, gave a slight nod, and quickly followed Jennifer.

Harvey exchanged a few words with Bruce, but Bruce's gaze stayed on Jennifer, his mind elsewhere.

Inside the car, Jennifer and Kara sat together in the back seat.

"Didn't you bring your suit?" Jennifer asked Kara, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Kara rolled her eyes. "Is that really the first thing you want to talk about?"

Jennifer just stuck out her tongue, making a playful face.

Although they were both in their thirties, their playful charm hadn't faded one bit—they were as endearing as ever.

Jennifer had been on edge since morning, excitement building up. After all, she'd always been a fan of Batman and Oracle, and she could hardly believe she was now working alongside Gotham's legends. Where did one even buy Batman merchandise, anyway?

Do royalties apply to fan merchandise? Kara mused inwardly. Maybe we should be charging for this…

Jennifer's conversation continued circling around Batman. To her, if Rachel's love for Bruce depended on him giving up his vigilante alter ego, then she preferred Bruce as the Dark Knight. In her eyes, Bruce Wayne was the real mask.

Women's intuition, perhaps—or was it real love? Jennifer seemed to see right into Bruce's heart, recognizing that the playboy persona was merely a cover.

Most saw only the superficial Bruce Wayne, never suspecting that this frivolous playboy might be the very man who fought Gotham's criminals by night.

Rachel had fallen for Bruce's charm and the person he projected to the world. Jennifer, though, loved Bruce's true self—the man behind the mask, his soul, and his mission.

She recalled a moment from a comic book, where Wonder Woman bound herself, Superman, and Batman with the Lasso of Truth to reveal their true identities. When Diana introduced herself, she said, "My name is Diana." Superman gave his real name as Clark Kent. But Batman, when it was his turn, simply stated, "I am Batman."

Asking him to give up Batman would mean asking Bruce to abandon his very being—his ideals, his purpose, and everything he strove to achieve.

Jennifer, realizing this, was drawn back into her feelings for Batman—just as she thought she'd let go, she was pulled right back in.

As they drove away from Wayne Manor, Jennifer leaned against Kara's shoulder.

Kara sighed, giving her friend a gentle pat on the head. There were few people Jennifer would let this close.

"Are we going to the hospital?" Kara asked softly.

Jennifer knew what she meant, and she shook her head silently.

Harvey, overhearing, suggested, "There's no need to rush. If you're still feeling unwell, you should go to the hospital."

Kara gave Jennifer a sympathetic look. "The hospital can't fix everything, Harvey. Some wounds are deeper than that."

Realizing the depth of Jennifer's struggle, Harvey watched the two women through the rearview mirror. He felt both admiration and disappointment towards Bruce. It seemed Bruce always had women around him, yet he couldn't truly hold onto any of them.

As they reached the serious crime unit at the Gotham Police Department, the silence lingered. Jennifer took a moment to compose herself before stepping out.

While she technically didn't need to be directly involved in gathering evidence, Jennifer was not an ordinary judge—she preferred to seek out the truth herself.

"Come on, Harvey," she said with resolve. "Let's gather all the evidence we need to put these criminals away for good."