Fragment: The Lawyer's Breaking Point
Choi Jong-hoon's family home. Choi Jae-o, Lawyer Choi's father. As always, he'd drunk himself into a stupor until dawn the night before, but for an alcoholic like him, it was never enough. He rose late, chased hangover soup with two bottles of soju, and staggered home dead drunk.
The ever-polite Jong-hoon made an exception for his father. From childhood, he'd gazed at the loathsome man with eyes full of contempt.
"I busted my ass working my bones to the marrow to make you a lawyer at a big firm... What the hell's with those eyes?"
Jong-hoon gave no reply to the subhuman creature. Sensing the unusual tension in the house, his father turned to survey the scene.
"What the hell are you up to, you bitch?"
His eldest son had appeared out of nowhere, looking at him like he was a bug. His wife and youngest son were packing bags.
No matter how drunk, he could still grasp this much. Tilting his head, the father asked his son,
"Gonna abandon your old man now?"
"How much more do you need to torment us before you're satisfied?"
"You little shit... Think words are everything?"
"Don't you even pity Mom, who's endured you all this time?"
"Talk about raising kids for nothing... Fine, all of you get out. Let's see how well you live without me."
Clinging to the last thread of reason, Jong-hoon spoke calmly.
"One thing I should tell you."
"Who the hell are you to lecture your father?"
"This house is in my name. I'm selling it next week. Better find a new place ahead of time."
"You... You done talking?"
"Not yet. That 100 million you blew at the gambling den last month. I'll cover it with your body."
If even his family turned their backs, Choi Jae-o had nowhere to go. As always, he raised his hand to slap Jong-hoon.
"Seen a more worthless punk? Threatening me with those axe eyes?"
In the old days, Jong-hoon would've shielded his face and begged. But now, Lawyer Choi was a full-grown adult. His gaze at his father overflowed with hatred beyond mere hostility.
Without flinching, he said coolly,
"Hit me if you want. It'll be the last time you see me anyway."
Why did Lawyer Choi hate his father so much?
*
Choi Jae-o's gambling addiction had ruined the business he'd built over a lifetime overnight. Desperate to recoup his losses, he went back—but lost not just his principal but their spacious two-story home. Debts piled up endlessly, with no way out. In the end, hounded by creditors, he fled under cover of night to a dank, lightless one-room shack.
From respectable company president to debtor scum overnight, Choi Jae-o drowned his sorrows in booze every day. Then one night, it happened.
He picked a fight with his wife, home late from her restaurant job.
"You! Poured drinks for some guy, didn't you?"
"Honey, you're drunk. Go to sleep. Don't you know I work in the kitchen? What drinks?"
"Can't even tell it straight! Selling smiles 'cause no woman's work?"
"How many times do I have to say no?"
"You dare! Glaring at your sky-like husband and talking back?"
Once a gentle father, Choi Jae-o became a daily wife-beater from then on. He grabbed his wife like a rat, beating even his two sons when they intervened.
"Damn wife and kids only listen after a beating!"
The human trash couldn't resist the gambling itch when drunk. He ransacked the house for cash.
"Hey, you bitch! Hand over the money! Huh? What happened to your paycheck?"
As he thrust his hand into the quilt in the wardrobe, his wife clutched his ankle, pleading.
"Honey, that's for Jong-hoon's high school uniform. You can't take that!"
"You! Hide money again and you're done. Got it?"
Just as he headed for the gambling den, young Jong-hoon stood at the door, knife in hand.
"Oh? Look at this brat. Head grown big enough for knives? Where'd you learn that manners? Drop it now!"
Resolved to commit the worst act a child could against a parent, Jong-hoon aimed the blade not at his father—but his own wrist. Red blood dripped.
A normal father would've rushed him to the hospital on his back. But heartless Choi Jae-o didn't even see his bleeding son.
"Threatening me? Get out and die! Drop dead!"
He kicked the bleeding boy and sauntered off to gamble. From that exact moment, Jong-hoon erased "father" from his mind, replacing it with "that bastard." To hide the scar, he even wore a watch to bed.
*
No way good feelings could survive such a father. Jong-hoon said sharply once more,
"You can find a room in Changsin-dong shantytown. If you have money, that is."
"You cozy up in the warm spot while I rot in a shack?"
"After feeding and housing you this long, that's more than you deserve."
Decision made, Jong-hoon unleashed his barbs.
"You little shit!"
Furious, the father swung at his son's right cheek. But this wasn't the child of old. The old man's hand was weak and slow. Jong-hoon caught his right arm lightly and twisted.
"Ow! Ah... You punk, let go!"
"Now... I'm stronger... got more money... Just leave quietly."
"You! Where'd you learn this shit manners!"
Still not grasping the situation, the father raised his left hand for a slap. That triggered painful childhood memories—Jong-hoon snapped, rationality gone. He lunged, throttling his father's neck with all his strength.
"Gambling, drunk driving, domestic violence... Cleaning up your messes wore me out... Ruining my life was just bonus."
The old Choi Jae-o couldn't fight back. His legs buckled; he crumpled. Teeth gritted, Jong-hoon squeezed harder with his right hand.
"Yeong-hoon, stop your brother! He'll kill your father!"
Sensing danger, the younger brother rushed in, prying desperately.
"Bro! Let go! You'll kill Dad!"
Jong-hoon was eerily calm. Staring straight into his father's eyes, he said,
"Let him die. Only way I get peace... You're head of the family now—take care of Mom..."
No matter how hard the brother bit and pulled, the arm held firm. Pleas and sobs fell on deaf ears. More white showed in Choi Jae-o's eyes; the pupil crept toward noon.
"Bro! You know this is wrong! Stop! Please!"
It was dire. Any longer, and disaster was certain.
"Bro, stop! Please!"
The brother's desperate cries reached no one. Jong-hoon, lost to reason, heard nothing.
At the critical moment, the door burst open. Min-ho and the Moon butler entered.
***
The crisis was obvious at a glance. As the Moon butler moved to intervene, Min-ho shook his head.
"Hold still for a moment."
Only now grasping Lawyer Choi's plight, Min-ho didn't rush. Calmly placing a hand on the right arm, he said the one thing needed most.
"You've suffered so much. This is enough. Relax now."
It wasn't the adult Choi Jong-hoon throttling his father—but the boy who'd endured beatings. He needed just a word of comfort.
Min-ho patted his back, gripping the arm. Hot tears streamed as the arm slowly lowered.
"I told you before. Revenge feels good, but you'd rot in prison for life."
"Yes... Young master..."
Choi Jae-o clutched his throat, coughing violently before staggering up. Gratitude was in order, but the shameless man knew no shame. The sudden intruder irked him; he barked,
"Who the hell are you, barging into my house! What manners!"
The quietly waiting Moon butler grabbed Choi Jae-o's collar and hoisted him up.
"Mr. Choi Jae-o. This is JK Group Chairman Kang Jin-gwang's grandson. Mind your words."
"What? JK?"
"Nod if you understand."
No deadbeat ignored JK Group. Eyes bulging, he nodded.
Humiliated, Choi Jae-o muttered to save face.
"Goddamn bad luck... Ugh..."
He snatched his car keys and left.
Min-ho pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Lawyer Choi's tears.
"Sorry. I found out too late. If I'd stepped in sooner, this could've been resolved."
"No, young master. It's my personal matter. How did you even get here when you're so busy?"
"You know you're the most important person to me. What could be more urgent?"
"Sorry for showing such an unsightly side."
"No. Have some water and wait. I'll greet your mother."
Min-ho approached the mother and bowed politely.
"Hello, ma'am. Sorry for the late introduction. I'm Kang Min-ho, working with your son."
"My son's boss... I've heard so much. Ashamed to show you this mess on first meeting."
"Not at all. Pack just essentials. Stay at a hotel a few days; I'll arrange a good house. I'll handle all legal measures to keep him away for good."
"What can I say... thank you so much."
"It's nothing compared to what you've given me. Anything you need, just say."
"I'm embarrassed, but thank you."
"We'll head out first then."
To avoid disturbing, Min-ho and Lawyer Choi stepped outside. Back to his usual gaze, Lawyer Choi bowed his head.
"I'm sorry, young master."
"I'd have helped if I'd known sooner."
"It was personal, so I didn't mention it. How did you find out?"
The Moon butler silently handed over documents.
"Had someone tail Choi Jae-o just in case. Saw the repaid debt and DUI record recently."
"Sorry for the unsightly display."
"I'll hurry and wrap up, then head to work."
"Take your time. Legal team's filed a restraining order. Family to the hotel first; we'll find a house together."
"Thank you."
"Now go help pack."
In the car heading back after wrapping things up, the wheel-gripping Moon butler asked casually,
"When we entered, it looked desperate. May I ask why you stopped me?"
Min-ho, staring out the window, replied,
"If he'd really meant to kill, it'd have happened before we arrived. There was tension in his grip, but not enough to kill."
"First time seeing something like this, so I was honestly startled."
"Somehow... I noticed he wears a watch even to sleep. Should've realized then. Good we weren't later. Let's grab a meal first."
"Understood."
That evening, as Lawyer Choi's long personal saga concluded, Secretary General Jeong Dong-gyun tilted glasses with the JD Morgan rep at a high-end bar.