Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Ratio Changes Depending on the Judge
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The ratio changes depending on the judge.
The long silence was broken by Ji-su's mother.
She rose from her seat and grabbed Ji-hoon's pant leg.
"Ji-hoon... please... just forgive Ji-su this once... She's young and immature... She made a huge mistake..."
At her pleading, Ji-su snapped out of it and dropped to her knees on the floor.
Ji-su began groveling, tears and snot streaming down her face.
"Oppa, I was wrong... I'm really sorry... It was just a mistake...!"
Then she spotted Min-jun standing in the corner of the room.
In that instant, the last lifeline flashed in her mind.
She pointed at Min-jun with her finger and screamed.
"That... that bastard...! He forced himself on me! I was drunk... He raped me!"
It was a shocking claim.
But Ji-hoon showed no change in expression.
He just stood there with his arms crossed, silently watching the soap opera unfold.
Mistaking his silence for agreement, perhaps.
Ji-su's father, having lost all reason, jumped up from his seat.
He charged straight at Min-jun and grabbed him by the collar.
"You dog worse than a dog! How dare you touch my daughter!?"
Thwack! Thwack!
His father-in-law's fists slammed into Min-jun's face repeatedly.
Min-jun couldn't even make an excuse; he just took the one-sided beating.
His mother-in-law hugged her daughter, wailing, "What do we do, what do we do with our girl..."
Glasses shattered, food spilled everywhere.
The fancy hotel room turned into a total wreck in an instant.
Perfect chaos.
And at the center of it all,
Ji-hoon stood utterly still.
He gazed at the scene his scheme had created, his eyes brimming with satisfaction.
In truth, Ji-hoon had an easier path.
A few photos from the PI agency.
With those alone, he could have crushed his wife Ji-su like a rat and divorced her as the at-fault spouse without breaking a sweat.
But a simple divorce wouldn't quench his rage.
The betrayal from the collapse of two years of trust.
The disgust toward his wife for deceiving and brazening it out.
All that couldn't end with a few court papers.
So he resolved himself.
To expose her affair and humiliate her in front of the parents she trusted and relied on most.
For that, he needed patience.
He acted nonchalant, like the same husband as always.
And today, Ji-hoon's design bore perfect fruit.
The wailing mother-in-law.
The father-in-law swinging his fists in blind rage.
The wife groveling, sensing it was all over.
And the affair partner dragged in and getting beaten.
Watching the whole mess, Ji-hoon's heart was eerily calm.
He had endured everything for this moment.
Indeed, nothing thrilled like a revenge plot meticulously planned.
I took a moment to savor the chaos.
Then I spoke to Ji-su's father.
"Father-in-law."
He was still gripping Min-jun's collar, huffing and puffing.
"Take Ji-su home as is. I'll have someone send her stuff over."
I turned to leave, as if I had no more business there.
"Then I'll be going."
I was just about to exit the room.
When Ji-su screamed my name like a banshee and grabbed my leg.
"Oppa! I was wrong! Please, just this once...!"
She groveled on the floor, hands clasped in plea, but I shook off her hand without a flicker of emotion.
I lightly shoved her aside and stepped into the hallway. Her screams echoed behind me, but they didn't stop my steps.
It's really over now.
Whatever, she'll remarry that guy or find another. She'll manage.
Waiting for the elevator, I called my father.
The line connected after a few rings.
"Dad, it's me. Please cancel the card you gave Ji-su right now."
My father's flustered voice came through the receiver.
"...Yeah. I'll explain everything when I get home. Yes. Yes... Heading there now."
I hung up and boarded the elevator.
Now I had to tell my family.
After all, it was a marriage I stubbornly pushed for.
I started it with my hands, so I should end it with them too.
Cleaving through the cold night air, I headed to my parents' house.
Late at night, I arrived at my parents' home.
Only my father and mother were in the living room.
My younger sibling was still a student, probably asleep, and my older brother had moved out after marriage.
They looked at me with worried faces the moment they saw me.
I sat on the sofa and calmly opened my mouth.
"...She cheated? Ji-su?"
My father and mother's stunned voices filled the living room.
"Yes. So, I'm getting a divorce."
At those words, they both clutched their heads.
"See! I told you from the start not to do it!"
Mom shouted in frustration.
I had nothing to say to that.
"...I'm sorry. I didn't expect this."
"Enough, honey. Who's to blame now."
Dad stopped Mom.
"Hmph... Never saw that coming..."
Dad clicked his tongue with a displeased look.
I cautiously brought up the main point.
"Um... Uncle's a lawyer, right? Could you ask him to help?"
Mom let out a deep sigh at my words.
"Ugh... This is infuriating. I'll talk to him first thing tomorrow morning, so you get your head straight from now on. They say you hate the person like crazy during divorce. Listen to Uncle and prepare thoroughly."
"Yes, Mom."
After finishing the talk, I returned to our house.
The newlywed home my father had provided.
The space filled with short memories of Ji-su now felt hollow, like an empty shell.
Truth be told, I wasn't too worried about the divorce suit.
Of course, Ji-su wouldn't agree to a clean divorce easily.
Once split, she's just another ex.
She'd cling desperately to squeeze out property.
But I thought simply.
'We lived together just 2 years, she came empty-handed with no dowry. What does she have to take? I should be the one getting compensation. She cheated.'
With that, I washed up, lay in bed, and fell asleep.
And from the next day, I began preparing the divorce suit in earnest with Uncle.
I firmly believed then that everything would go smoothly as I planned.
As expected, things went just as I thought.
Ji-su didn't agree to a clean divorce.
Instead, claiming she wanted to maintain the marriage, she countersued.
Probably panicked when the card from her dad got canceled.
She hired a lawyer too, and I prepared for the legal battle with Uncle's help.
The biggest issue was the apartment.
The newlywed home worth 600 million won, gifted by my father.
I asked Uncle.
"Uncle, we've only lived there 2 years. Does it get split?"
Uncle flipped through law books and said.
"In principle, short marriage and clear gifted property make it hard to split. But prepare just in case. Family courts are going crazy these days; results vary by judge's leanings."
I nodded at the explanation.
What did I know?
Uncle the expert knew best.
That day, I listed the house with a realtor.
For 550 million, a bit under market.
Cheap price drew buyers fast.
Since it was solely in my name, I signed the contract without hesitation.
Then I found a solo officetel nearby and moved right away.
I sorted and culled the stuff from our two-person home.
All the household items from our honeymoon dreams sold cheap to a used goods dealer.
Ji-su's clothes and such, I had someone send to her parents' house.
We prepared perfectly for trial.
First, Ji-su had no economic activity during marriage.
Second, clear at-fault reason: betraying spouse's trust with adultery.
Third, apartment was gifted special property from parents, not bought with my earnings.
With all evidence and logic, we headed to court.
The first trial began.
In a mediation room at Seoul Family Court.
The air was cold and heavy.
Both lawyers, Ji-hoon, and Ji-su sat facing each other.
The stiff wooden table and chairs, and the "Fairness" plaque on the wall felt ironic.
All eyes were on the female judge at the front.
The judge adjusted her glasses and read the verdict in a flat voice.
"Judgment is pronounced. The marriage between plaintiff Kim Ji-hoon and defendant Kim Ji-su is recognized as irreparably broken; divorce is granted. Further, primary responsibility for the breakdown lies with the defendant, so defendant Kim Ji-su shall pay plaintiff Kim Ji-hoon 30 million won in damages."
At those words, relief briefly crossed Ji-hoon and Uncle's faces.
But the judge's next words shattered it.
"Defendant's fault is acknowledged, but plaintiff also neglected efforts to restore the marriage, and defendant contributed significantly to the home through housework over the 2-year period.
Thus, property formed and maintained during marriage shall be split 50-50, deeming contributions equal."
In that instant, all sound in the courtroom stopped.
Uncle beside Ji-hoon gaped.
Even Ji-su's lawyer looked dazed, doubting his ears.
A face saying he couldn't believe his win.
He'd never seen such an absurd verdict.
Ji-hoon broke the silence.
He shot up from his seat.
All the pent-up rage erupted across his face.
"What... did you just say? Is that a proper judgment?"
He glared straight at the judge and yelled.
"Giving half the property to the cheating bitch? Fuck! Just 2 years! She just ate and played! Why split a gifted apartment! Is that the law!? Are you even a judge!?"
His scream, near a howl, filled the courtroom.
At Ji-hoon's outburst, the judge's brow furrowed unpleasantly.
"Plaintiff, be quiet! Court contempt!"
Court officers approached to restrain him, but he had already lost reason.
In his eyes, only the judge looking at him pitifully, and Ji-su shrugging with a smile.
Dragged out by the court officers.
The judge had already left with a sour face.
Down the hall, Ji-su and her lawyer walked with victorious smirks.
In my hollow state, I asked Uncle.
"No way, Uncle. Is this... right?"
Uncle rubbed his dry face.
"Right? What right. Total bullshit verdict. How could this happen? Totally against divorce law I know. Max 10% normally. That's standard."
I'd braced for that much.
Can't get zero split, so maybe 10%.
Think of it as payoff for 2 years together, mental win.
But... 50%? My world crumbled.
Uncle sighed deeply, staring at his phone.
After searching a while, he sighed again, earth-shatteringly.
"Haah... I get why the verdict went this way. The judge."
I asked puzzled.
"...Huh? Law changes by judge?"
Uncle nodded bitterly.
"Family court especially, judges' biases vary big. We drew the short straw today."
Uncle showed me an article on his phone.
"Looked it up: 2 years ago, similar case. Woman lied about degree for scam marriage, lazed at home like yours, still 50% split. Difference: no cheating then... But law treats fault and property separate anyway."
I was dumbfounded.
"Even scam marriage... 50%?"
A hollow laugh escaped.
"Wow... Divorce is a woman's office job."
Having to give half my property to the cheater? I felt like I'd die of rage.
Uncle continued.
"And... key fact."
"What?"
"Appeal won't overturn first instance. Near impossible. And..."
Uncle trailed off.
Frustrated, I pressed.
"And what!?"
Uncle grinned rottenly.
"The judge..."
"...?"
"She's Dongduk alum."
Ah.
That one word explained it all.