Chapter 96
I couldn't answer easily.
Jeong Yeongjun wouldn't have told Go Jin-ah about it first. Even if he had, he would've come to me before any contact from Taegwang. That meant Go Jin-ah had dug up the information herself, and it was hard to judge whether I should casually affirm it when the client hadn't wanted this situation.
"Attorney Cha Juhan. It's almost May already. It's been nearly two months since Jeong Yeongjun's video blew up. I don't know when he first hired you, but we need to at least start talking. We think we've waited long enough for him. Please consider our client's position—she's suffering betrayal from her husband's broken trust, and now facing social damage on top of it."
I let out a long sigh. Kang Minjae stared at me in bewilderment, and even Taesik, forgetting his anger, was watching my reaction.
"If I may, hasn't Jeong Yeongjun informed his side about hiring counsel yet? How did you contact our office?"
"Since Jeong Yeongjun seems to be avoiding rather than resolving the case, we had no choice but to take the initiative. I hope you understand."
"……Understood for now. I'll consult with the client and get back to you. Is this number fine?"
"Yes. We eagerly await your prompt reply. Please remember that Go Jin-ah has been waiting a very long time."
The call ended, and Kang Minjae hurried over.
"What's going on? Taegwang?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Looks like it leaked somewhere. Jeong Yeongjun hired us."
"……Did Jeong Yeongjun say something?"
From Go Jin-ah's perspective, Jeong Yeongjun must seem to be dragging his feet endlessly, but we'd planned to use that time to gather proof the video was fabricated before meeting her. No need to meet without solid evidence and risk damage.
But now that her side knew he'd hired lawyers, there was no excuse to dodge discussions. Even pointless talk meant we had to meet.
"Taesik."
"Yeah?"
"Double-check if Jeong Yeongjun's contacted anyone up to today."
We hadn't yet received today's report from Sanggil, who was still watching him. He'd have called immediately if there was contact, but better safe than sorry.
Taesik grabbed his phone, made a quick call, and shook his head.
"Still at home."
"……Kang. Call Jeong Yeongjun. Hard to discuss the case at his place with family around. Bring him to the office."
"Got it."
Two hours later, Jeong Yeongjun arrived with Kang Minjae. His face was ashen. He clearly hadn't told Go Jin-ah about the lawyers himself.
"You heard from Kang on the way, but Go Jin-ah's side knows you've retained us."
"Yes. How on earth……."
A few thoughts had crossed my mind while Kang brought him over. I looked at Jeong Yeongjun. We couldn't keep hiding what we half-suspected forever. We'd just been waiting for him to stabilize.
"Probably when you and Kang went to Yangjin F&B headquarters."
"……What do you mean? We spotted reporters and left, contacting Jin-ah much later. We weren't seen by them either. She said she couldn't keep tabs."
"Yes, but she didn't stop checking entirely."
Jeong Yeongjun tilted his head, puzzled.
"What……."
"Remember, before heading out, you told Go Jin-ah you'd visit headquarters. She warned strongly not to get caught by reporters and cause her trouble."
"Yes, of course. Even when I called from the basement garage and left without going in, she said she didn't know I'd arrived but was relieved we weren't spotted……."
I hadn't known she'd said that. Brazen attitude.
"Someone desperate to avoid you being exposed to reporters—it seems odd she wouldn't keep getting updates on whether they were in the basement garage you planned to enter."
"……That's,"
"If she truly wasn't checking as she claimed, it means she didn't see your exposure as a risk to her. No reason to say that then. She wouldn't mention telling security without offering help—just 'handle it yourself' if she didn't care."
"……."
"Reporters weren't hiding; they were blatant. Security would've reported to her. So she deliberately didn't tell you. Even if late, proper protocol would've been to call and say not to come."
"……."
"Go Jin-ah kept watching the garage entrance for your car. Then, at the appointed time, a car with unfamiliar plates entered. Seeing you and Kang inside, she knew you'd handed the case to us."
Jeong Yeongjun clutched his head in confusion after hearing me out. After a long silence, he spoke.
"So Jin-ah deliberately tried to expose me to the reporters?"
"That's our take."
"Why? Why…… Did she think the stress would break me, so I'd agree to divorce?"
"Probably."
"Wh-why would Jin-ah go that far? Attorney, that's too much. I know you don't think highly of her, but this is excessive speculation, isn't it?"
Jeong Yeongjun turned his anger on me. Expected reaction. He desperately looked to Kang for agreement, his face screaming Listen to this lawyer—does that make sense?
But Kang bowed his head.
"……I agree, Jeong Yeongjun."
"Why? Why—"
"Sorry to say this……but we suspect Go Jin-ah knows the video was Chairman Go Sang-kyung's doing. Not certain yet, but high possibility."
Kang Minjae put it mildly. Jeong Yeongjun rolled his eyes in turmoil, clawing his hair. His neck flushed red as he swallowed dryly.
"There must be other reasons for thinking that? I-I mean, judging from just that one incident seems premature……."
"The 15 billion won property division she proposed in negotiations is excessively high. Likely inflated to preempt a lawsuit where you'd contest it, aiming to settle consensually even at a loss."
Jeong Yeongjun gripped the sofa arm with trembling hands. Kang Minjae looked at him pityingly, hand on his shoulder, but he showed no sign of calming.
"Go Jin-ah's avoiding litigation intensely. Strong intent to end the divorce quickly. Probably factoring that if it goes to trial through three instances, time would reveal the video as Chairman Go's work."
"……."
"To cover her parents' misdeeds—"
"Stop, please stop."
Jeong Yeongjun plugged his ears and shook his head violently.
"No way. How could she……betray me like that……."
Tears began streaming down his face. He wiped them with shaking hands, but his face was soon soaked. Kang Minjae offered tissues, but he ignored them.
"How could Jin-ah do this to me…… She shouldn't……."
He repeated himself for a long while before bursting into sobs. Kang Minjae hesitated, then carefully pulled a small pill pouch from his pocket. On it was written,
As Needed (Sedative)
That Kang Minjae—not Jeong Yeongjun—had the meds suggested family had prepared them for him.
Kang Minjae bent down, looking at me over Jeong Yeongjun's back as he wailed. What now? But I had no better ideas. Jeong Yeongjun had to face this eventually. No path in this case to preserve his family as he wished. Go Jin-ah had chosen her vicious parents over her wronged husband. Even if all cleared up, he'd lose her. To help him bear that loss, we needed to slowly detach his feelings now.
"Ha……."
An hour passed like that. We sat frozen as when we'd started. Changes: Jeong Yeongjun stopped crying, and he'd taken Kang Minjae's pills.
"……I think I get it now."
Jeong Yeongjun broke the long silence, staring vacantly with sunken voice.
"I've wondered why Jin-ah's gone this far……some actions didn't make sense……."
He drew a deep breath, biting his lip.
"If you're right, it all fits."
"Jeong Yeongjun……."
"Preserving the family……was just my delusion. If she knows I'm innocent yet insists on divorce……."
He smiled bitterly.
"Guess we divorce then……."
He let out a hollow chuckle, utterly deflated, everything surrendered.
I knew what he'd say next. Agree meekly to her terms. The man who'd tried understanding over resenting the wife who never trusted him despite his love.
"Jeong Yeongjun."
"Yes."
"Too early to decide. Go home, think it over carefully, then contact us."
"……Understood."
He agreed readily. Kang Minjae grabbed the car keys, mouthing I'll be back. He supported the limp Jeong Yeongjun and headed out.