It was already a known fact.

That it was Chairman Tae who had shaken the elite legal professionals to obstruct the appointment of his own lawyer. From this, it was sufficiently deducible that the person trying to ruin me was Tae Seo Jun.

All because of that insignificant girl, Eom So Yeon.

A relationship that I had hoped would go well had become so severely twisted. It was truly a foolish act, clinging to a slim possibility. Yet if he still couldn’t give up on Tae Seo Jun, wouldn’t that make him the biggest fool of all?

Now, as she painfully realized that Tae Seo Jun had become an irreversible past and an eternal enemy, Yoo Jung Hwa was with Han Seung Jae in his officetel.

Those who had something were all busy looking out for themselves, trying to avoid Chairman Tae’s iron fist. At such a time, she knew all too well that Han Seung Jae was her only lifeline and ally.

The man who had been holding Yoo Jung Hwa in his arms suddenly sat up, tossing her aside as if discarding her, and perched on the edge of the bed.

“About Tae Seo Jun. If he doesn’t come back even after you’ve tried so hard, it seems he’s not your man. Can you still not let go?”

“Are you crazy? Just the mention of Tae Seo Jun now makes my teeth clench.”

“Huh……”

Seung Jae put a cigarette in his mouth and snickered as he blew out white smoke into the air.

Keukeukeu…

Han Seung Jae’s bare chest heaved slightly as he chuckled lightly while smoking.

Four years ago, after being demoted from the company headquarters, he approached Yoo Jung Hwa out of boredom. He thought she was high and mighty, but her eyes changed as soon as he showed her some money. What was even funnier was Jung Hwa’s misguided actions, not knowing who Tae Seo Jun really was and looking elsewhere.

He didn’t bother mentioning that it was Tae Seo Jun who had turned the project he had poured his all into into a piece of trash.

I only found out by chance while following Chairman Chae, but at that time, no one knew that the top-class actor Tae Seo Jun had such an impressive background and considerable wealth.

If she had known what kind of person she was holding onto at the time, the cunning Yoo Jung Hwa would never have thought of meeting me.

It was quite entertaining to watch Jung Hwa talk about that bastard’s private matters, not knowing any better. But without much gain, before I could even plan my revenge, that bastard had enlisted in the military.

But thanks to Tae Seo Jun’s return just when I was about to forget, things got interesting again for me.

This was the only reason Han Seung Jae was helping Yoo Jung Hwa.

He had no intention of messing with Chairman Tae, known as the number one in the business world and the tiger of the grey jungle. He simply wanted to watch how Yoo Jung Hwa would try to get one over on Tae Seo Jun, the chairman’s son.

If done well, it could be like wiping one’s nose without using hands.

Seung Jae stubbed out the cigarette butt that had burned red in the ashtray, put on his robe, and handed Jung Hwa a business card he took out of his pocket.

“A chief judge I know through an acquaintance will be switching to become a lawyer in a few days. The person who can help you in court isn’t the current lawyer, but this person, so give them a call tomorrow.”

“You even thought of the preferential treatment for former officials?”

“I suppose that’s the case?”

“I really didn’t expect you to take care of me like this.”

Jung Hwa’s eyes sparkled as she closely examined the judge’s name on the business card. She felt a newfound expectation for him, who seemed like he wouldn’t help but was meticulously taking care of things without being asked.

“I don’t care what Yoo Jung Hwa does, but be careful not to leave any tracks. It’s troublesome if Chairman Tae keeps interfering. Moreover, remember that if our old man finds out what I’m doing, I won’t be able to help you even this much.”

“You said you’d ruin everything. But you’re still watching out for Chairman Han?”

“Well. No matter how much you hate it, blood ties aren’t so easily severed, are they?”

That was true.

Although he was currently pushing Han Seung Yul, who was particularly skilled in business, as the successor to , he hadn’t abandoned his first son, Han Seung Jae, yet. Chairman Han was still weighing which of his two half-brothers to make the final successor.

Therefore, Han Seung Jae still had to be his father’s loyal dog.

“I still have things to gain from my father.”

Since he hadn’t been abandoned by Chairman Han yet, and he had just gotten divorced, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make Han Seung Jae her man at this point. That’s why the corners of Yoo Jung Hwa’s mouth instantly turned up.

“Anyway, thank you.”

Jung Hwa said with a smile.

As sweetly as possible.

Willingly, even knowing it was a deal with the devil.

Attending the inauguration ceremony of the Minister of Economy was the first official schedule since returning from Canada. After finishing that event, Chairman Tae declined to join the ministers and headed straight to the Supreme Court, entering the Chief Justice’s office.

The Chief Justice, who had recently received criminal evidence related to Yoo Jung Hwa through the legal office of Hotel Elstella, was surprised by Chairman Tae’s unusual visit, but knew that what was bound to come had arrived.

“Oh my, you’ve come.”

The Chief Justice, who had abruptly stood up from his heavy swivel chair, approached Chairman Tae.

“I see you’ve gotten more grey hair since we last met.”

“To think that you, Chairman, would personally come to this humble place! Is this for real?”

“Hey, you! A Chief Justice using young people’s slang! Isn’t that too novel to hear?”

As the Chief Justice led Chairman Tae to the sofa with a joking tone, Chairman Tae, lowering himself onto the black leather seat, laughed heartily and returned the joke in kind.

Though they were close enough for such banter, the Chief Justice couldn’t help but recognize that Chairman Tae’s boisterous laughter was a sharp rebuke and questioning. He called someone on the intercom.

As of today, all four warrant-dedicated judges had been dismissed. They were the judges who had withdrawn Yoo Jung Hwa’s arrest warrant. Shortly after, one of them, a chief judge with the worst offenses, entered the Chief Justice’s office with his head bowed.

“You called for me.”

As he bowed to Chairman Tae and the Chief Justice and sat on the sofa, it happened.

“Even garbage would be better than you.”

“……!”

When Chairman Tae narrowed his eyes and didn’t hesitate to speak harshly, the chief judge lowered his head even more with a stung expression. It was a self-admission of being materialistic for leading the withdrawal of Yoo Jung Hwa’s detention.

“If you didn’t want to get caught, you should have used your head. Who was it that stupidly threw bundles of cash into your car?”

“……!”

The chief judge couldn’t say anything to Chairman Tae’s second direct hit.

Although Chairman Tae Seok Ho was the ultimate alpha with unlimited power across both the business and political worlds, betraying the other side would put even his innocent family in danger. That was the deal. So, exercising his right to remain silent and taking the fall alone was the best he could do.

Chairman Tae, who had been staring at the judge’s awkward expression, frowned and said,

“I heard you used your right to remain silent to hide the person who instigated you. I came here in person because it’s pathetic to see a legal professional who speaks of the law walking around with his head held high after breaking it. Tsk tsk……”

Although Chairman Tae was just clicking his tongue, the judge’s bangs trembled like aspen leaves, unable to lift his head as if hit by a strong wind.

Chairman Tae was a man who knew everything. Even if he didn’t know, if there was something he wanted to know, Chairman Tae Seok Ho was someone who could find out anything within the bounds of the law.

He knew in detail about the strained relationship between Tae Seo Jun and Yoo Jung Hwa, and how that vixen dared to harass Eom So Yeon due to the resulting ill feelings, using the same method.

However, the circumstances under the dark water are only known when the water is drained and the bottom is revealed. For this reason, Chairman Tae couldn’t shake off an uneasy premonition and continued to keep an eye on Yoo Jung Hwa.

“So, was it good?”

Chairman Tae, frowning, asked again.

“Pardon…?”

“I’m asking if it was that good to have a meal with that vixen. And that’s not all, is it?”

The evening before, when the bundle of cash had slipped into the judge’s car, there had been a secret meeting.

Chairman Tae was rebuking the lavish entertainment the judge had received then. Without needing to say more, the judge, who immediately understood what he meant, folded half of his body as if prostrating himself.

“I, I’m sorry, if I had known Chairman Tae would find out, I would never have accepted that request! Please, your anger……”

“Damn it! Are you saying it’s okay to do such things as long as it doesn’t involve me!”

“Ah, no, I just……”

“Enough!”

Chairman Tae raised his open palm forward. It meant there was no need to listen to obvious excuses.

“I hear that when a chief judge becomes a lawyer, they receive preferential treatment as a former official? You’re planning to defend that vixen.”

“What? How did you even know that……”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know? Birds of a feather flock together! You suit each other well!”

Chairman Tae went on to reveal that Eom So Yeon, who was to become his daughter-in-law, was the victim of that fire. Hearing this, the judge’s face turned completely pale, as if he had become a living corpse.

“Ah, yes, I’ll immediately withdraw from that case I was assigned by a friend……”

“No. You do nothing.”

“Pardon?”

“If you’re in the same boat, you should go down together. Just watch how your so-called preferential treatment or custom for former officials crumbles helplessly. It will be quite something to see!”

“……!”

The judge tightly closed his eyes. This wasn’t a warning. It was like a death sentence handed down to an unjust legal professional. Therefore, with the future so clearly predictable, he couldn’t bear to keep his eyes open.

“You’ve had your fun. How dare you waste a busy person’s time like this. I’ll be going now.”

Tae Seok Ho, who had risen from his seat and stood in front of the door, was in the process of meticulously carrying out the words he had spoken himself: ‘I’ll personally crush it for you.’

So today was just the beginning of that course of action.

“I’m utterly ashamed, Chairman. Please take care on your way.”

As soon as Chairman Tae left the office, the Chief Justice coldly looked at the judge who was still trembling.

“What are you doing? Hurry up now.”

“What do you mean……”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

How did he become a judge being this slow-witted? The Chief Justice, hardening his expression as if finding it pathetic, spoke sharply to the judge.

“I mean, prepare to take off your judge’s robe and put on a prisoner’s uniform!”

Saturday afternoon.

The color of the black eyes looking down at the hotel scenery spread out through the window was even deeper than usual.

Since reuniting with Eom So Yeon, his heart that had lost its usual pace suffered from a more severe heat and throbbing than when having a bad cold. However, Seo Jun now was experiencing a completely different world, his heart pounding wildly with overwhelming joy for the first time.

He suddenly took notice of the scenery that had been unremarkable before. Even the waiting, which should have been boring and irritating, felt just good. The crisp sunlight transitioning from summer to fall felt very pleasant. Seo Jun was standing by the window where that light shone through, side by side with his son who looked just like him.

Taking or discarding had never been anything but my choice. But Eom So Yeon broke that obvious rule. Even the child bouncing up and down beside me stirs my firm emotions into something soft.

The touch of the child in his hand was indescribably precious and lovable.

“Dad, when is Mom coming out?”

Holding onto his father’s pinky finger and constantly jingling it, Hyun Woo tilted his head back to look up at the tall Seo Jun.

“Soon.”

Seo Jun answered, looking down at the small face of the child dressed in an identical tuxedo with an extremely affectionate gaze. The answer was short, but the gaze at his son was endlessly long.

“Soon?”

“Yes.”

Seo Jun’s chest tightened again at Hyun Woo’s cute smile, and he too smiled slightly as if not minding it.

“Wow!”

Finally, as the chiffon curtain was drawn back and So Yeon appeared in her lovely form, Hyun Woo’s eyes grew twice as big. So Yeon’s figure in a light pink dress was truly dazzling. Enough to make her look like an angel even in the child’s eyes.

“Mom, you’re so pretty!”

“She was always pretty.”

The quiet voice that followed the child’s made So Yeon even more embarrassed.

She, beautifully embodying her hair, makeup, and dress, stood before her son and future husband. Although it was an engagement ceremony with only the minimum of relatives and close acquaintances invited, So Yeon couldn’t help but feel nervous as it was a place where maximum formality and courtesy had to be observed.

Tae Seo Jun’s perfect visuals as he escorted So Yeon through the lobby of Hotel Elstella and walked to the annex where the ceremony hall was located were even more elegant and handsome today.

Hyun Woo, excitedly walking side by side with his mom and dad, was also a dashing little gentleman with his bangs neatly arranged with pomade.

“What kind of party are we going to?”

“An engagement ceremony. Mom and Dad are getting engaged today.”

“Aha! So that’s why Mom and Dad are so pretty and handsome today?”

“Son is too.”

Hyun Woo didn’t really know what an engagement was. But the child’s cheeks kept twitching, unable not to know that it was a special and good day.

“Hehehe……”

Tae Hyun Woo’s characteristic bright smile was filled with more loveliness than ever.