Criminal Judge

Chapter 4: Attorney Kim

After purchasing everything on his list, Ethan returned to the motel and carefully unpacked his belongings. Once he was done, the realization hit him—he was jobless. Sitting idle all day wasn't an option. Determined to find purpose, he decided to visit the courthouse, where Sun-deok was handling an appeal. Without hesitation, he left.

---

Outside the Courthouse

"Hey, look! A Lamborghini!" a girl exclaimed, pointing at the sleek car zooming into the court's parking lot.

"It's so cool! I'd love to be the owner's girlfriend," another girl said dreamily.

"Cut the crap. What if it's a woman driving? Would you rather be her boyfriend?" a boy scoffed, silencing her. Meanwhile, a crowd gathered, snapping pictures with their phones.

"Che," Ethan snorted coldly as the Lamborghini's doors swung open. He stepped out, taking a moment to glance around. The air carried a calm serenity, but he paid little attention to the murmurs of admiration. Draping his suit over his arm, he strode into the courthouse.

---

Inside the Courthouse

The atmosphere was tense. Sun-deok, representing the defense, faced off against Prosecutor Park, who seemed determined to ensure the accused, Mr. Jim, was imprisoned.

"Prosecutor Park, please call your witnesses," the judge said, adjusting his glasses with a neutral expression.

"Mr. and Mrs. Williams, please come forward," Prosecutor Park announced. A middle-aged couple approached the stand.

"Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?" the judge asked.

"Yes," they responded in unison.

"Proceed," the judge instructed.

"Mr. and Mrs. Williams, could you describe what you witnessed on the night of February 3rd, 2023?" Prosecutor Park asked, a confident smirk tugging at his lips.

"The… the accused, Mr. Jim," Mrs. Williams stammered, her voice quivering. "He came into our house that night and stabbed our daughter while she slept." Tears streamed down her face.

"We begged him to stop, but he wouldn't listen," Mr. Williams added, his voice steady but laced with sorrow.

"And do you have any evidence to support this claim?" the judge asked.

"Yes," Mr. Williams replied, handing over a USB drive. Prosecutor Park inserted it into a laptop, and the court watched security footage that appeared to show the accused stabbing the Williams' daughter.

The courtroom erupted in shocked murmurs.

"I didn't do it! I wasn't even in the country that night!" Mr. Jim cried, his voice breaking. "I was in the United Kingdom. Please believe me!"

"Order in the court!" the judge bellowed, slamming his gavel. Silence fell once more. "Attorney Kim, your response?" he asked, turning to Sun-deok.

Sun-deok rose to her feet, calm and composed. "Your Honor, after thorough investigations, we discovered that the DNA of the person who stabbed the Williams' daughter does not match that of my client, Mr. Jim. I have the test results to prove it." She handed the documents to the judge.

"Objection, Your Honor!" Prosecutor Park shouted.

"Objection overruled," the judge replied, signaling for Sun-deok to continue.

"We also retrieved the full security footage from the Williams' residence," Sun-deok explained. "In the video, as the attacker attempted to flee, Mr. Williams managed to injure him, leaving a small cut. DNA analysis of that wound does not match Mr. Jim's. Additionally, embassy records confirm that Mr. Jim was in the United Kingdom on February 2nd, 2023."

She submitted the evidence, and the judge nodded in approval.

"Very well, Attorney Kim," the judge said. "However, can you provide proof that the attacker wore a mask to frame the accused?"

"I will need additional time to gather that evidence, Your Honor," Sun-deok requested.

"This case is adjourned and will resume in two weeks," the judge declared, slamming his gavel.

---

Outside the Courthouse

As the crowd dispersed, Ethan prepared to leave when he heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Ethan!" Sun-deok called. He stopped and turned around.

"You can't just show up and leave without a word," she complained, catching up to him.

"Last I checked, I owned my legs," he replied, his tone as cold as ever.

"Why did you come?" she asked.

"Maybe I just wanted to see how great you are," Ethan said, a faint smile touching his lips.

"And? What do you think?"

"You were brilliant," he admitted with a nod before heading toward the parking lot.

"Wait! You brought a car? Which one?" Sun-deok asked, following him.

Ethan smirked and pressed a button on his key fob. The Lamborghini emitted a soft chime, its doors opening automatically.

Sun-deok's jaw dropped. "Who… who are you, Mr. Ethan?" she stammered, staring at the car in disbelief.

"What? Are you just going to stand there?" Ethan asked, snapping her out of her daze.

"I… I'm getting in," she mumbled, carefully stepping inside the luxurious vehicle.

The engine purred to life like a content machine before roaring as Ethan sped out of the parking lot.

— –

"Are you headed back to the motel?" Ethan asked, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, his voice steady but detached.

"No. I'm still at work, so I'll be going to the Jin Woo Corporation," Sun-deok replied, stealing a glance at him. For all his coldness, there was something beneath that icy exterior—a quiet care she couldn't ignore. Her father's words came to mind: Unlocking that heart is up to you.

"Okay." Ethan gave a small nod and continued driving.

A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of a towering glass building.

"So, this is where you work?" Ethan asked, his eyes scanning the structure. The sheer transparency of the building seemed almost intrusive, as if privacy were an afterthought.

"Apparently," Sun-deok said with a small shrug. She unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle, struggling with it for a moment.

"Hey, don't force it. Just flick it gently," Ethan advised, watching her with a faint trace of amusement.

"Okay." She followed his advice, and the door opened effortlessly.

As she stepped out, a voice called from the front entrance.

"Hey, Little Kim!"

Sun-deok looked up and waved. "Mr. Hu!"

The man approached with an easy grin, his sharp suit offset by an unbuttoned collar that gave him a carefree air.

"You found a boyfriend? And with a Lamborghini, no less. Girl, you're on fire," Hu teased, laughing as he reached them.

"Meet Hu. He's my colleague," Sun-deok said, turning to introduce him to Ethan.

Ethan gave Hu a once-over before nodding curtly. "Nice to meet you, Hu. I'll be on my way." Without waiting for a response, he got back into the car and drove off.

Inside the Jin Woo Corporation building, Sun-deok walked briskly alongside Hu, who was grinning like he'd just won the lottery.

"So," Hu began, nudging her with his elbow, "is the mystery guy just a chauffeur, or is there something else you're not telling me?"

Sun-deok sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. "He's... a friend. Let's leave it at that."

"A friend with a Lamborghini?" Hu teased, his tone exaggerated. "I've been your colleague for two years, and I'm still driving a second-hand Hyundai. Meanwhile, you've got a 'friend' who's practically dripping in luxury. Life really is unfair."

"Maybe if you spent less time gambling and more time working, you'd be closer to that Lamborghini," Sun-deok quipped, smirking.

"Touché." Hu laughed but quickly glanced over at her. "Seriously, though. He doesn't seem like the friendly type. The guy didn't even crack a smile. What's his deal?"

Sun-deok hesitated, her gaze drifting to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows as they entered the elevator. "He's... complicated."

Hu raised an eyebrow. "Complicated? Sun-deok, I know your type. You like to fix broken things. But trust me, some things can't be fixed."

"I don't think he's broken," she said softly, more to herself than to him.

Hu didn't press further, though the skeptical look on his face spoke volumes. As the elevator dinged and the doors opened, he gave her a small pat on the back. "Just don't let him drag you down, Little Kim. You're better than that."

Sun-deok offered him a faint smile before stepping out. "Thanks for the unsolicited advice, Mr. Hu."

---

Meanwhile, Ethan parked his car in an inconspicuous lot on the outskirts of the city. The sleek Lamborghini looked out of place among the rows of rusty sedans and old pickup trucks, but Ethan paid no attention. He turned off the engine, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes.

The memory of Sun-deok's gentle smile flashed in his mind, and for a moment, he felt the familiar pang of guilt. She didn't belong in his world. Her warmth, her kindness—they were wasted on someone like him. Yet, despite himself, he couldn't seem to pull away.

With a frustrated sigh, he opened the glove compartment and retrieved a burner phone. A few taps later, he was on a call.

"Update," Ethan said, his voice cold and clipped.

A gravelly voice answered on the other end. "The men are still sniffing around Busan. They haven't caught your trail yet, but it's only a matter of time."

"Then make sure they don't. Double the decoys and redirect them. I don't want them anywhere near Seoul."

"Yes, sir."

Ethan ended the call and tossed the phone back into the compartment.

---

Back at the Jin Woo Corporation, Sun-deok sat at her desk, scrolling through reports on her computer. Despite her focus, her thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan. She'd seen glimpses of the man behind the icy facade—brief flashes of humanity that intrigued her.

Her father's words echoed in her mind: "People like him don't show their hearts easily. If you want to reach him, you'll have to work for it."

But was it worth it?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she stared at her unfinished report. Deep down, she already knew the answer.