"Where did you go last night?" Kim Dong-Woo asks him.
"Someone gave me shelter for the night." Do Sejin smokes a cigarette. "Do we have lectures today?"
"Why? Do you need to attend?" Kim Dong-Woo rolls his eyes. "Whether you go or not, you are always the topper. I think that all the students are jealous of you. How do you manage to have this lifestyle and still top the exams?"
"I am not dumb." Do Sejin answers him with a straight face. "When I have fun, I am having fun. When I study, I study hard. I don't mix studies with fun or fun with studies. That's the only secret."
"Basically, you are telling me that you are a genius." Kim Dong-Woo would never accept that simple explanation. "It's Professor' Man lecture today. Do you want to go?"
"Yes, I like seeing how he doesn't like seeing me." Do Sejin throws the cigarette on the ground. He and Kim Dong-Woo barely make it to the lecture in time. They take the seats at the back. Do Sejin leans back when he sees the professor enter the classroom. His eyes pop out when he sees the woman following the professor.
"Who is that?" Kim Dong-Woo stares at an elegant woman. "She has a sexy body. I wonder what it's like to fondle those breasts."
Do Sejin slaps the back of Kim Dong-Woo's head. Kim Dong-Woo nearly screams, but his mouth is covered by Do Sejin. Ahn Hana hasn't noticed him yet.
"Everyone, she is my best student so far." Professor Man looks at the young students proudly. "The best criminal lawyer in her field. She works at the Theseus Firm. She hasn't lost a single battle in the courtroom. Ahn Hana, Thank you for coming here today."
"Professor Man, you flatter me too much." When she smiles, a few gasps and sighs are heard from the students. Whether it's man or woman, they are dazzled by that smile.
Do Sejin takes this opportunity and slides down under the desk to hide. Kim Dong-Woo looks at him with a puzzled expression. He asks Do Sejin in a low voice, "Why are you hiding there?"
Do Sejin puts his finger on his lips, signalling him to become quiet and not attract attention. He doesn't want to be caught by this lawyer.
"Don't tell me..." Kim Dong-Woo knows that expression. "You know her?"
Do Sejin glares at him. "Be quiet."
"You are one lucky man. I am so jealous of you." Dong-Woo whispers before he turns his attention back to Ahn Hana. He doesn't even bother paying attention to her words. She is dressed in a tight black skirt and a loose white top. Her clothes are modest, but they are also showing off her curves at the right places. Kim Dong-Woo is jealous of his friend's luck.
"Getting a field experience is better for your future. You will get to observe the competitive lawyers and learn from them. We can only offer three internship positions during the summer season. If anyone is interested in doing an internship at our firm, contact professor Man to refer you."
Ahn Hana looks at the future lawyers. That evil Jung Kwang-Soo has wanted her to attract some students from the top university. It's his way to attract the best minds to his firm after they graduate. She knows that Professor Man will only send the best students to the firm.
"How is Jung Kwang-Soo?" Professor Man asks her after they reach his office. "Your friendship was famous in the entire university."
"He is doing well." Jung Kwang-Soo and she have been friends since they met in the first year. It was like both of them were highly competitive spirits with screwed morals. She is sure that he is the only one who understands the most. She is also aware of each of his veins. After graduation, they were separated for a time because they were hired at different places. When he started his law firm, he contacted her first for the job. Just like that, she became his first employee.
Do Sejin, who has been listening from his hiding spot, wonders who this Jung Kwang-Soo is. It seems like they are really close. Her ex name was Ong Han Bin. Then, who is Jung Kwang-Soo in her life?
Professor Man looks at her with concern. "I thought that you would become someone who fights for justice after what happened to your parents."
Everyone in the field knows what kind of lawyer she is. Nobody can dare point a finger on her.
"My parents didn't fight for justice. They fought for the thrill of rebelling against powerful people. They lived a long time, considering they were playing with fire." There is not a tinge of pain in her eyes. "I am not like them. I don't fight for the thrill. I am a lawyer. I fight for money."
"Did you feel nothing when you sent the people who killed your parents to the prison?" Professor Man asks her with a grave tone.
"I didn't feel happy after taking revenge. It didn't bring them back." She takes a sip of tea. "Evidence is only a fact. They can't lie or speak the truth. Only a lawyer can show what they are. I am just following your words."
"I didn't think that you would use my words like this." Professor Man sighs. "You and Jung Kwang-Soo were always different. I never underestimated you. I never dared to. I guess that you want me to send the students who can digest working under you and Jung Kwang-Soo?"
"I don't care whether they can top the exams or not. It's better if they have a strong mind. Jung Kwang-Soo doesn't need the one who wants to be the hero." Her voice is calm. "It's only for a few months. If they do well, they will get job offers."
"I have some people in mind who will suit that place." Professor Man sighs when he recalls a certain boy. "Some of them are hard to handle."
"We were all like that at some point."
Ahn Hana chats with him for another five minutes. Then, she goes to the journalism department of the university. The university has barely changed. Nobody recognizes her. Her pace is neither fast nor slow. She is walking confidently like she owns the place. All the eyes are gravitating toward her. Some are even treating her with respect and giving her a bow as she passes by them.
Can anyone really believe that this woman was abandoned two hours before the wedding yesterday?
Do Sejin is stealthily moving behind her. He doesn't know why he is doing this. Usually, he isn't interested in people. But, he didn't expect her to turn up at the university like this. At first, he thought that she came to beat him. Things have turned out differently. This woman is still clueless about his identity. For someone who is the best in the field, she is dumb to believe his words this morning.
Everyone has a moment when their brains don't work properly. Do Sejin is sure that she will doubt his identity. He needs to come up with some things.
Ahn Hana stops in front of an empty lecture room. She dials a number and waits. After five long rings, the other person picks up the phone.
"I am Lee Jang Sik's lawyer. Meet me in front of the lecture room 101."
She enters the room and sits in the front row. She starts typing something on her phone. Do Sejin quietly enters the room from the back door and hides behind a desk. After two minutes, a girl enters through the front door. She is gasping for breath. She must have run all the way.
"Take a seat." Ahn Hana points at the empty chair in front of her. The girl nervously takes the seat. He watches them quietly, wondering what's going on.
Ahn Hana breaks the tension in the air by asking, "Miss Song, how have you been?"
"You didn't come to ask me that." Though the girl is nervous, she can't hide the hate and disgust in her tone. "I won't give in."
"If you won't give in, why are you here?" Ahn Hana chuckles. "You could have said that you didn't want to meet. You could have ghosted me. You didn't have to run here. Tell me, Miss Song, why are you talking to me now?"
"I wanted to see who the new lawyer is." The girl crosses her arms. "His friends boasted that you are the best in the field."
"They aren't wrong. I don't care what you do to the others. I am here for the Lee family." Ahn Hana looks down at her phone and reads the text. It's done. The video has been wiped out completely. There are no traces left. "Let's talk about your options first."
Miss Song looks at her hatefully. "Lee Jang Sik has to go to prison for doing what he did to me."
"After he goes to prison, what will happen to you?" Ahn Hana turns off her phone. "The Lee family won't let you go or your family if their youngest son goes to prison. To be honest, they couldn't care less about their youngest son. But, they can't let their youngest son's mistake harm the family reputation. Even if it means wiping your existence, the Lee family will do anything to keep their pristine reputation."
The girl clenches her fists. "Are you threatening me?"
"No, I am just warning you of the wrong consequences." Ahn Hana glances at her skirt's pocket. "The Lee family can hold grudges. Even if you send every member of the Lee family to the prison, are you sure that your wrong decision won't come back to bite you later?"
The girl becomes quiet. It's been two months since Lee Jang Sik wronged her at his house for days. He invited her in the pretext that he needed help with his studies. She had been a fool to go to his house. She has nightmares at night. Her body still has wounds. Her family isn't supporting her because they are afraid of the Lee family. They want her to settle, but she can't forget those days.
"You are also a woman." She whispers as she looks down at her feet. "Are you unable to feel my pain?"
"I can't undo what happened to you." Ahn Hana looks at her without any emotion. "You went to his house. A lot of people have seen you hanging out with him at the university. You have talked on the phone frequently."
"I didn't say anything like that." Her eyes are filled with tears. "I never liked him. My professor is the one who wanted me to help him with his studies."
"That's not what your professor is saying now." Ahn Hana lets out a small sigh. "Miss Song, you can fight until you die. But, is it worth it? The Lee family is ready to pay for your grievances. They will pay for your entire university fees and living expenses until you graduate. You don't have to do tuitions ever again. Take the money. Study hard and become a powerful person. You are studying journalism, right? You will get many chances to get back at Lee Jang Sik in the future. Right now, don't be a fool. Take what you are getting. It's not the money to make you quiet. Think of this as a small instalment of the payment that they are paying for wronging you. Work hard. Make contacts. Become someone that can even scare the devil back to hell."
The girl blinks twice when she hears her words. She stares at Ahn Hana for a long time. They don't exchange any other word. She signs the papers and leaves the lecture hall.
Ahn Hana turns on her phone and calls Jung Kwang Soo. "Ask the Lee family to send their son somewhere away. It is better if he doesn't attend this university anymore."
[Was it hard to convince her? The Lee family would have lost even if they had won in the court. Their eldest son is preparing to join politics. It would have bitten them back in the future.]
"It took a long time to convince her. She is determined to get back at him. The Lee family will have a powerful enemy in the future."
[You like creating heroes. She must have potential if you are complimenting her.]
"Only the future can tell whether I am right or not." She chuckles. "Power is an illusion. It comes and goes like seasons."
[Come back soon. I am starving.]
"I am not eating lunch with you." She stands up. "There is another case that I have to patch up. I am going home straight after that."
[It's a pity. See you tomorrow.]
She hangs up the call and leaves the lecture room. Do Sejin brings out his phone. He finds out that the video has been deleted from his phone. "You are interesting, Ahn Hana."
At night, Ahn Hana is reading the case on her laptop. She is studying the case that might make or break her future. She will gain a lot of enemies after this. But, if she manages to win, she will become a legend in her field. The case is complicated. The odds are against her. It is no wonder that Jung Kwang-Soo has asked her to represent this chaebol heir. Why do rich people have weird tastes?
After the horrible dinner, Do Sejin waits on the bed. He goes through her phone like a curious cat. She has a lot of contacts. Boss Jung is also listed in the contact list. There are some work-related pictures and videos. She has no social media account. She is not on messenger either. She texts in an old fashioned way, but she prefers calling.She’s so different
"Isn't the criminal already caught?" Do Sejin knows about this murder case. The murderer liked to kill every 100th day after the birthdays or some other special occasions that were important to him. His victims could be anyone between the age of four and forty. The victims were either murdered at their house or left in some isolated place. The way of murder was simple. There wasn't exactly a noticeable pattern in location or method. The total estimated number of victims is nearly thirty-six, but the authorities think that there are more.
The Do family, cooks, and the servants stare at Do Sejin who is hogging down the food as if he has never eaten before. Do Seol Ah pushes her plate to his side when he finishes his food. Do Sejin picks up her plate and starts eating. After the last night meal at Ahn Hana's house, he has finally understood the value of cooks at his home."Will you teach me how to cook th
They manage to sneak out of the hospital. Do Sejin realizes that he can't take her in his car. But, that doesn't become a problem. He makes her wear his hoodie and hides her face well. They take a taxi to her house. Luckily, there is no one waiting for her in front of her apartment."Finally, I am back." Ahn Hana lays down her bed. "They kept me a prisoner at the hospi
Next day, Do Sejin wakes up to the sound of clinking. His lips curl up in a smile when he recalls the last night. He walks out of the bedroom and finds Ahn Hana preparing for the breakfast. It's 9 of the morning. She didn't wake him up.Then, he remembers that it is the weekend. He watches her move around the kitchen. Her movements are smooth and fluent. She tastes the
[District Park]"It's the last victim." Jung Kwang-Soo puts his hands in the pocket. It has been three years. This last victim was twelve years old boy. He was Baek Han Sol's neighbour. They have been seen together a few times on the CCTV. There is no evidence at the spot. The authorities can't find any link between the location or the victims. That's why this case is o
"Ha! You want me to plead guilty." Baek Han Sol looks at her with disbelief. "I didn't kill them. However, I wouldn't mind doing it at this point in my life. I want my family to give up on me and stop taking money from my family."This man do
Why is he anxious?Do Sejin keeps glancing at the rearview mirror. So he can keep an eye on Im Jihoon, who is staring out of the window with half-closed eyes. The former prosecutor’s face is flushing red after the drinks.He didn’t drink much. Tonight, the woman was also missing. Do Sejin can’t even remember what they chatted about. He accelerates the car toward Im Jihoon’s apartment, wondering what Ahn Hana may be doing at home. They are still living together. He hasn’t received a call from Jung Kwang Soo either. Can he trust Jung Kwang Soo though?Who will Jung Kwang Soo go to? Ahn Hana is back. He is also there.They finally reach the apartment building. Do Sejin calls Im Jihoon’s name a few times. “Prosecutor Im?”
As usual, Im Jihoon goes to the motel where he is staying. He has stopped going to his apartment that he shared with Kim Min Seo and their children. When he is finally alone, he turns on the laptop and puts on the headphones.After a few seconds, a woman shows up on the screen. She gives a polite smile to him as she adjusts the camera to focus on the child in her lap.The child has dark brown eyes that light up when she sees a familiar face. She lets out a loud squeal as she tries to reach the screen, albeit her efforts are thwarted by the woman."Haneul." Im Jihoon gives her a soft smile. "Did you miss me, my love?"The child coos, mimicking his lips. But she is too young to speak.
[Im Jihoon]It’s been a while since he went to see Ahn Hana or Do Sejin. Im Jihoon wants to see them, but it’s not the right time.After what had happened last time, he cannot take any steps without thinking about it three times. Last time, he took an emotional step that had resulted in him being found out by Ahn Hana.He knows that Ahn Hana knows. She had said it in the hospital ward loudly. But she is quiet. Till now, she hasn’t come to him and asked about Haneul.She wants him to go to her.Im Jihoon taps his fingers on his desk, studying the case file on the table. How can one killer not know about another killer? He can easily tell who it is, b
After Song Joo Hee is gone, Do Sejin stares hard at Ahn Hana.“What?” She stares back. “What did I do?”
Baffled, Do Sejin looks at Ahn Hana. Why would she hire this Song Joo Hee?Sensing his gaze, Ahn Hana turns upper half of her body in his direction and says with a straight face, “You said I can hire anyone.”
But she can’t recall who this girl is. But the girl has the look that she knows her. Ahn Hana frowns a bit, but she remains quiet.“Miss Song Joo Hee,” Do Sejin picks up her curriculum vitae and says, “
In the conference room, she only finds Do Sejin. Ahn Hana sits down a few seats away from him, keeping more than three metres distance between them. On the long table, there are already copies of CVs and a notepad. It’s been a long time since she has done this. Usually, she left it on Jung Kwang Soo to decide.
Embracing him is impossible.A creature like him will also destroy her daughter. She can’t trust him.
Ahn Hana takes a quick look into her laptop. She can tell that Do Sejin has tried to snoop. She shakes her head and checks her emails, then proceeds to check the news. The news about her has died down a little. But the national channels have started different talks shows. Her emails are spammed with invites.