Chapter 6

“Your Honor, the defendant has two young children who still need their father’s care. We ask the court to take this into consideration and show leniency.”

When Jaei stepped out of the courtroom after the hearing, the defendant’s family approached her. He had been sued for defaulting on debt caused by excessive interest rates.

The children were barely in middle school.

If their father was imprisoned, there would be no adult left to take care of them.

“Thank you so much, ma’am.”

“Don’t mention it. The sentencing is this Friday. My staff will be there, so make sure you remember and go in with your father.”

“Yes, we will.”

When the courtroom doors opened again and the defendant was led out, the children gave Jaei a deep bow before rushing over to their father.

Watching them silently, she gave the man a slight nod and turned to leave.

As she walked toward the parking lot, her phone buzzed. She checked the screen.

How did he always know the exact moment the hearing ended.

“Yes, sunbae.”

– It’s hard to even see your face these days, Attorney Yoon. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to catch you?

At Seonjun’s grumbling tone, Jaei laughed and got into her car.

“How have you been.”

– Oh, so you’re curious now.

“A little.”

– Well, I guess I’ll take that as a good sign. Let’s have dinner tonight. I’ll come to you.

“Hmm… I should check my schedule first.”

– Are you really going to keep doing this.

“I think I didn’t have anything planned afterward, if I remember correctly.”

– Perfect. Neither do I. So let’s meet up.

“Alright, I’ll call you. How about Yuna.”

– I’ll ask her too. See you later…

She heard someone calling his name on the other end. Pretending not to hear, Seonjun ended the call with a quick “See you later.”

As she started the car to head back to her office, her phone buzzed again. A new message.

When she opened it, her face hardened.

[Let’s see if Attorney Yoon Jaei can stick to her principles to the end.]

It was an unsaved number, but she had no doubt. It was Han Taein.

Without hesitation, Jaei turned the car toward Gangsan Tech.

* * *

Just like the first time they met, Taein and Junghoon sat across from each other at the sofa table.

“He really came alone.”

“He’s the CEO of a major conglomerate affiliate. And people are saying he’s been chosen as the successor. Think about what we’ve been doing to someone like that.”

Behind Junghoon, Executive Director Baek, Manager Kim, and Section Chief Park whispered among themselves. Their demeanor was very different from last time.

“You’re really not going to reconsider.”

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer won’t change. So there’s no need for the CEO to keep coming here.”

Junghoon’s firm tone left no room for negotiation. Taein had been quietly watching him, and finally spoke.

“Understood. Once the lawsuit starts, I won’t have to keep coming in person.”

Junghoon, who hadn’t budged an inch all this time, widened his eyes slightly.

“A lawsuit. What lawsuit are you talking about.”

“We reviewed the fact that you neglected Moderato for years. We’re filing for trademark invalidation.”

The startled faces behind Junghoon made Taein smile leisurely.

“Attorney Yoon hasn’t told you. We’ve been reviewing the case.”

He stared straight at Junghoon.

A moment ago, Manager Kim and Section Chief Park had worn similar expressions. It all lined up.

Junghoon’s weakness wasn’t money. It was his daughter.

Taein smiled faintly, and Junghoon’s expression hardened further. He was just thinking that he needed to call Jaei to understand what was going on when hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

Taein slowly rose from his seat.

“Then I’ll take it as your final answer and excuse myself.”

He bowed more politely than ever and turned to leave. As the door opened, Jaei appeared, breathing heavily as if she’d run all the way.

“Haa… haa… What’s going on.”

“You could’ve taken your time. The conversation’s already over.”

Her uneasy eyes flicked from Taein to the staff behind him.

There was a strange, subtle tension in the room.

The moment she looked their way, Manager Kim and Section Chief Park quickly avoided her gaze. Baek looked visibly unsettled.

…What is this.

Junghoon’s face was tense. Her gaze snapped back to Taein.

“What exactly is going on. I told you to contact me directly regarding Gangsan Tech matters.”

“I did. Earlier.”

He meant the message asking if she could stick to her principles.

Jaei let out a short, incredulous laugh.

“That message wasn’t exactly professional.”

“Then how did you know to come here.”

“Because you didn’t need to come here in person…”

“Jaei.”

Junghoon’s voice came from behind Taein. Her lips pressed together. That was his way of telling her to stop.

“It seems the president wasn’t aware of the lawsuit. Please explain it to him properly, Attorney Yoon.”

With that, Taein gave a small nod and walked past her.

A faint citrus scent brushed her nose as he passed.

She stared at his retreating back before stepping fully into the office. Junghoon turned to her.

“What’s this about a lawsuit. You told me before there was no need for one.”

“Ah…”

Back then, that was true. TS Electronics hadn’t shown any signs of exploiting the three-year gap at the time.

“They found a gap to sue us.”

Silence filled the room, but Jaei continued calmly.

“It’s okay. Our sales were low during that time, but if we prepare properly…”

“Don’t prepare anything. If they file a lawsuit, I’ll hire another lawyer.”

“You’re hiring someone else when your own daughter is a lawyer. Who knows Gangsan Tech better than I do.”

She pouted in frustration, clearly unhappy, but Junghoon’s tone was firm. His mind was made up.

Executive Director Baek tried to ease the tension.

“Jaei’s not wrong. She knows this company best. Your father’s just worried you’ll get hurt.”

“Emotions can cloud judgment. You’re not handling this.”

Junghoon rose from his seat and walked to his desk. Manager Kim, Section Chief Park, and Baek quietly slipped out.

Still confused, Jaei followed him.

“Dad, what do you mean emotions will get in the way.”

“I’m saying nothing good will come from getting tangled up with that side. You have your own work.”

“I’m not that busy. I can handle it.”

But Junghoon shook his head. She studied him silently.

Normally, he would laugh and say, “If my Jaei wants to, she should.”

Seeing him so resolute now meant there was a reason.

Is there something else…

“I get what you’re saying. But I can’t just hand this case to someone else.”

“That stubbornness… who did you get that from.”

She rolled her eyes at his muttered words.

“I got the stubbornness from you. My face is from Mom.”

Junghoon lifted his gaze.

She was the spitting image of his late wife. His beautiful daughter.

There was something oddly charged between her and Taein earlier. He pushed the thought away and said,

“You’re just like your dad.”

“Oh, come on. I look like Mom.”

“You can insist a hundred times. I’ll still say you look like your dad.”

“This is so unfair. Mom, if you heard this, please show up in Dad’s dreams and scold him.”

She called out toward the window dramatically, making Junghoon’s lips twitch upward.

No matter how firm he was, he could never win against his daughter.

“Get to work. Why do you keep stopping by the factory every day.”

“I wanted to see you, obviously.”

“Yeah, right. You don’t even blink when you lie now.”

She’d clearly come because of Taein’s message.

Grinning, she opened the office door.

“Take it easy, Dad. I’ll get going.”

“Yeah. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Eat dinner, okay.”

“Yeah.” He lowered his eyes back to the documents. She smiled faintly and left.

As she walked toward her car, she overheard Manager Kim and Section Chief Park talking seriously behind a large forklift.

She hadn’t planned to eavesdrop, but her feet stopped on their own.

“He’s on a different level. Even the way he throws money around is something else.”

“Yeah. I didn’t really get it at first, but when he threw out that number, I realized. This guy’s really a successor candidate.”

Her heart sank, then filled with shock and disbelief.

So he couldn’t convince Dad, and now he was going after the people around him.

She bit her lip hard and got into her car. The sound of the door closing made them glance her way, but she didn’t give them a chance to speak.

What did he offer them. Money. Did he ask them to help persuade Dad. Or to stay quiet.

The real question was whether her father knew.

Still reeling, she pulled out of Gangsan Tech.

As she drove onto the newly built road, she spotted a car parked on the roadside.

Han Taein.

The moment she recognized his car, she pulled in right behind it. Her body moved before her head did.

He turned his head when he heard her door slam. He’d been leaning against the guardrail, looking into the distance.

As she walked up, he spoke in a dry voice.

“You’re going to break the door.”

She was confused and upset, while he looked perfectly composed. It annoyed her.

Her eyes sharpened.

“What are you doing here.”

“If you show up out of nowhere and ask that, what do you expect me to say.”

He straightened up slowly, his gaze fixed on her.

“Mr. Han Taein. You approached my dad’s people, didn’t you.”

“Approach sounds a bit strong. Let’s call it making a request.”

“What, did you offer them money. Tell them to convince my dad for you. Or keep their mouths shut.”

He didn’t deny it. He just looked down at her calmly.

She was the only one fuming.

“Mr. Han Taein.”

With a soft laugh, he crushed the cigarette in his hand and said,

“You catch on fast. Then do you also know this.”

“…”

“Which of them took the offer, and which didn’t.”

Her head spun.

Who had caved. Who had resisted. And was it really just Manager Kim and Section Chief Park he’d approached.

Her thoughts spiraled when he spoke again.

“You’re curious.”

She bit her lip and glared at him. He spoke slowly.

“If you’re curious, have a drink with me tonight.”

“What.”

“You never know. Maybe after a few drinks, I’ll tell you who took the offer and for what.”

She was about to snap at him, to ask if he was trying to mock her.

But he tilted his head slightly, meeting her gaze.

“Are you good at drinking.”

The deep, obsidian-black eyes locked onto hers. Her lips parted slightly.

“I kind of hope you’re not.”