Chapter 10

The black car stopped in front of her, and the man who stepped out was Taein.

“…Why is he here again?”

Half surprised and half cautious, Jaei looked at him. He spoke without a hint of emotion.

“You said yesterday this wasn’t your house.”

“Yesterday?”

“Yes. Yesterday.”

She couldn’t say she didn’t remember at all, but it wasn’t crystal clear either. She just couldn’t remember exactly when she’d said it, and her brows furrowed slightly.

“Who on earth said that.”

Taein let out a quiet laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it. He almost said ‘You did,’ but stopped himself. Instead, he opened the passenger door.

“Get in.”

“No. Someone’s on their way to pick me up.”

She had barely finished her sentence when Junseo’s car pulled in. She shot him a triumphant look that said, See, someone’s coming.

Taein’s face hardened when he saw the car.

Ah. That car again. What is he, Yoon Jaei’s little lackey or something.

His eyes fixed on Junseo behind the wheel.

As expected, Junseo froze for a moment when he saw her, then pretended not to and turned the car as if to leave. But when she glared at him through the windshield, he gave in, stopped, and cracked the window down.

“Noona, why are you here?”

“Why are you here?”

“Me? Dad…”

His puzzled eyes darted toward her. She smiled.

“Yeah. I’m the reason. Unlock the door.”

“Ha. You’re all in on it.”

With a sigh, Junseo unlocked the door.

“Well then, I’ll get go—”

She turned to Taein, ready to say she’d go, but he leaned down past her toward the window and met Junseo’s eyes.

“You look busy. Right?”

Junseo blinked at the unexpected question.

“…Who are you?”

His eyes swept over Taein, then widened in realization.

The suit, immaculate and clearly tailored, wasn’t something off the rack. The watch on his wrist was a rare model, barely imported into Korea. From head to toe, the value of what he was wearing easily exceeded hundreds of millions. Then Junseo noticed the luxury foreign car behind him.

No way. No way…

He can’t be her boyfriend. Or someone she’s seeing. Or did she get blackmailed? Who’s threatening who? Is Yoon Jaei blackmailing him, or is it the other way around? Why…?

Junseo’s gaze flicked between them, filled with suspicion, while Taein answered calmly.

“I know Ms. Yoon Jaei. And you are?”

‘Oh, just acquaintances. Acquaintances, of course.’ Relieved in more ways than one, Junseo replied.

“Ah, acquaintances. I’m just passing by.”

Similarly, Taein’s expression softened a little.

“Then go ahead and pass by.”

“Should I? But from the looks of it, you’re here to see Jae… Noona, right?”

Jae noona? The kid was clearly younger, just like she’d thought. A little lackey.

He was sharp, though. The way he spoke, there wasn’t a hint of possessiveness in it. Which meant he really was just Yoon Jaei’s lackey.

“Good observation.”

“Glad to hear it. I’ll be on my way then.”

While Junseo brightened up, Jaei, who had been listening to their conversation, let out a stunned huff.

“Hey, Park Junseo.”

“Ms. Yoon Jaei will be in good hands with me, so you can keep driving.”

“Ah, then I’ll leave her to you.”

“Hey!”

Even as she shouted, Junseo pretended not to hear, turned his car, and drove away. Her sharp glare shifted from him to Taein.

“Hey, Mr. Han Taein.”

“What are you going to do. The passerby left. Isn’t it better to ride in a car of someone you know?”

She was left speechless.

* * *

In the end, she got in. While staring out the window, she glanced sideways at him. He looked like he could walk into a board meeting right this second.

He had dropped her off late last night. Did he sleep at all? He’d have had to leave early to show up like this again.

Her curious gaze lingered, and Taein briefly turned his head toward her before looking back at the road.

She looked away, pretending she hadn’t been staring, but he had clearly noticed.

“Do you have something to say?”

“No. Not really.”

“Then forget it.”

She looked at him again. The corner of his mouth curved faintly as he drove.

“Excuse me.”

“Go on.”

‘Because you said this wasn’t your house.’

There was no way that was the only reason he came here. She was sure there was another.

“Why did you come all the way here? Weren’t you supposed to have business with Gangsan Tech?”

All the way. Here. Why.

He repeated the words in his head, piecing together an answer.

“I did come for business. But not with Gangsan Tech. With Ms. Yoon Jaei. How long are you planning to keep dodging?”

His words were too sharp and clear. She answered firmly.

“That’s not something I can tell you.”

“Ah. So that’s off-limits.”

His offhand reply made her look at him again.

They’d already had one legal conversation with TS Electronics’ lawyers. So why come to her in person?

She was still puzzling over it when he spoke again.

“Gangsan Tech must be busy these days. I imagine your schedule’s tight.”

“And why is that your concern, Mr. Han Taein.”

“I had dinner with the S Home Shopping planning director.”

The tips of her ears twitched.

Why did that sound like a threat.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Does it sound like that?”

“It does.”

“Then that’s unfortunate.”

She bit her lip.

If this were a legal fight, she’d have something to work with. But this was outside her reach.

“You’re being more petty than I expected.”

“Let’s just say I’m using different methods.”

“No. It’s just petty.”

Her nerves were on edge, and she bit her lip harder. Her already red lips were now flushed like blood.

Taein glanced at her.

“Then petty works for me.”

It felt like a bolt of lightning struck the back of her head.

Why is he like this.

Every word he said rubbed her the wrong way.

Before she knew it, they’d reached the neighborhood where her law office was located.

When familiar buildings came into view, she said,

“Let me out here.”

“It’s still a ways to go.”

“Sorry, but I’m not nice enough to ride next to you any longer than I have to.”

She unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed the door handle.

Seeing that she looked ready to jump out, Taein laughed incredulously.

“Fine. I’ll stop.”

“Hurry up.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The moment the car stopped, she swung the door open. Before getting out, she turned and glared at him.

“Don’t ever do me a favor again.”

“Did I?”

“I must have misunderstood.”

She slammed the door and frowned.

She should have known. Every one of his actions had a clear motive. She’d been stupid to mistake any of it for kindness, to let her guard down against someone who was only looking for a way to take Moderato.

* * *

“If they retaliate privately, the penalty increases. In more severe cases, you can file a report, so don’t worry too much. They probably know that too, which is why they only came and left. I’ll file a complaint with their legal team.”

“Thank you, lawyer. And I’m sorry. I had nowhere else to turn.”

“It’s fine. My staff will contact you soon and give you information on places that can provide practical support. They’ll probably be more helpful than I can.”

“Thank you so much.”

After receiving the defendant’s repeated thanks, she stepped out of the shabby house.

The defendant’s children were waiting outside.

They bowed deeply and thanked her, and she stopped.

Turning back, she pulled some cash out of her bag and handed it to one of them.

Their eyes went round with surprise. She smiled.

“Get something tasty with your dad on the sentencing day, okay?”

“Thank you.”

They bowed again. She smiled brightly and handed them her business card when they asked. When one said they wanted to become a lawyer like her, she patted their head.

She watched them go back inside before walking down the hill. Her smile faded slowly.

She’d started this work out of a desire to help the vulnerable. But the reality was that this was a job where you couldn’t afford to be swayed by emotion.

Her friend Yuna’s voice suddenly echoed in her head.

‘If that’s what you want, you should’ve just joined a volunteer group. Why become a lawyer?’

Law was her mother’s dream. It was also hers.

When she was young, she’d once said to her mother, ‘I’ll make it happen for you, Mom!’

Now her mother’s memory surfaced again.

She pushed the emotion down and raised a hand to hail a taxi. Just then, a black car pulled up in front of her, and a man stepped out from the driver’s seat.

“Lawyer Yoon Jaei.”

It was a familiar face. Taein’s secretary.

He gave a polite bow. She returned it curtly, her wariness clear.

“Representative Han Taein would like to meet with you.”

“Why?”

“He had dinner with the S Home Shopping director today and has something to discuss regarding that.”

She let out a short, breathy laugh and narrowed her eyes.

So he’s really going to keep playing dirty.