{Three hours earlier}
The chief judge had carried out the verdict."Ms. Lily Cho, we acknowledge your pain and courage. The verdict offers a pardon to the accused while recognizing the complexity of the situation as it is based on miscommunication and misunderstanding.""What! Pardon?!" Alyson yells."Prosecutor, if you want to press on, provide substantial evidence and request a retrial."The judge knocks the gavel."All rise!"{Present}.{Mr. Chae's house}."I am sorry, Father. I am stupid for that," Lee says, still on his knees as he crawls forward to him.Mr. Chae kicks him back."I know you intentionally did that. You think you won the case? No! Even if it's the dumbest attorney, the case is already sealed with the chief judge, yet you caused that drama. That is the reason you will become a lowlife forever.""I am sorry, Father... please forgive me.""Dad, must you do this? He's just trying to protect your reputation," Sydney intervenes, yelling at her father.Mr. Chae scoffs, "Shut the hell up, Sydney. Who the hell wants his protection from this rags?""Truly, I don't think it was necessary bowing down... you just dramatize it. You were doing well until then," Dylan says."You don't even have the right to talk, since you're the one that caused all this. How could you rape someone?" Sydney hurls at her brother.Without hesitating, Mr. Chae slaps her. "You don't talk like that to your brother, and what if someone heard you?" Sydney holds her cheeks, gazing at her father in disbelief.This time, Mrs. Chae intervenes. "You don't have to create more drama than it is. Let's just punish him for that."Eden, the youngest of the family, also states, "That would do. Enough of this drama.""You punish him by yourself," Mr. Chae says and heads upstairs."Go do the dishes, then go buy the foodstuff, and no food for you today," Mrs. Chae states."Yeah, Mom... that's great," Eden says, smirking at Sydney. Lee immediately stands up and rushes to the kitchen to do the dishes. Sydney looks at her family, exhausted by their predatory act. She storms to the kitchen to meet her husband."I'm sorry... you did your best to get them out of their cheat, and this is what they paid you," she says, hugging him from behind while he focuses on the washing."You don't have to be... I'm the one to blame. I shouldn't have done that; it was unnecessary," he says."I know you're trying hard to get acknowledgment, and you will eventually get it. I know my father is still angry that I married you."Even after five years of marrying without Mr. Chae's consent, he still hasn't acknowledged him, despite all his participation. He turns to her and gives her a deep kiss."Thanks, but you better go now and let me concentrate. You know I still have to go to work.""Is that necessary? We're already in the middle of the day, and you still have a ton of work to do," Sydney says with concern."You know I can't escape it. You better go."Sydney leaves him, and he hurriedly washes the dishes, then runs to the market to buy the foodstuffs.He hides some fruit in his small nylon. It's already late in the afternoon, and Mrs. Chae has already left for work, which he knows he will be scorned and yelled at for.He prepares for work and rushes on his way, not even having cab fare. He arrives at Cheabok Firm Group, owned by Mr. Chae, his father-in-law, with Mrs. Chae as the president.As he enters and rushes to his department, his team leader, Rex, is furiously waiting for him and attacks him, saying, "Why are you just coming?""I... I'm sorry," he says, trying to catch his breath. Rex pinches his ear, saying, "I'm tired of hearing that. Aren't you tired of saying it, dumbass?" He adds, "Anyway, input all this into the system and send it to the president."He hands over a mountain of files that will take four hours to finish."Okay, I will," he says, collects the files and goes straight to his desk. He's about to start work when another colleague calls out, "Mr. Lee, come dispose of this for me."He rushes up to take the coffee cup on the table and tosses it into the trash. He sits back down, attempting to focus on his work when Rex drops another stack of files in front of him, saying, "Deliver this to the president.""Okay, I will after I finish this," he replies."She wants it now," Rex prompts. Lee gets up, carrying the file, and at the same time, he discreetly carries the small nylon with him. On his way to the president's office, he spots the cleaner by the exit door, ensuring no one is looking, and hands her the nylon."I know you haven't eaten. Give some to my mother," he says. Sharon, his sister, looks at him with empathy."It's okay, I am fine," he assures her, and she accepts the food.Just then, they hear a cough beside them. It's Mrs. Chae, the president, along with her secretary and personal assistant."What are you doing here when you're supposed to deliver that to me? Meet me in my office," she says and takes the elevator."Brother, you better take this back," Sharon stretches the fruits back to him. He ignores her and also takes the elevator.The sound of a slap resonates in the office."How dare you! So this is what you've been doing, giving my foodstuff to your wretched sister?" Mrs. Chae scolds.He kneels down, stammering, "I am... sorry. She hasn't eaten, and..."She cuts him off, "And so? Go back to your work. I'll know what to do when you get home." He leaves the room and heads straight to his work, focusing on the tasks Rex had given him. After several hours, around evening, he finally finishes, and his stomach grumbles with hunger.Then Rex drops another file in front of him, saying, "Deliver this to the destination on the file. Be quick.""But I just finished this...""Are you refusing?" Rex challenges.He exhales deeply and reluctantly agrees, "Okay," picks up the file, checks the address, and goes on his way. The address indicates a hotel. While rushing, he accidentally bumps into someone, causing the file to slip from his hand. As he bends to pick it up, the person calls out, "Attorney Lee?"He turns to see Prosecutor Alyson, who scoffs, "Is this what
"Dad!, how could you do that!" Sydney yells at her father."what are you saying Sydney, what did I do, hope you are not telling me to get him out of there, I will even make sure he rots in there," he hurls back at her.The others watch."You know very well what I am saying, you know Dylan raped that girl!""What!, what are you saying?" Dylan intervenes, shouting.She scoffs, "so, you all want to be playing innocent huh? Lee has his shirt button, the one he wore yesterday… he has it, and he found it at the scene."Mr. Chae and others face Dylan, "is that true?" Mrs. Chae asks."No, he is lying," Dylan claims, but in his voice, one can tell he is lying."Dylan!" his father yells.He immediately gets on his knees, "please father, I didn't know she would pass out, all we wanted was to have fun.""Fun? Again? We just got you out from one case, and you're now in another... you just sent the person who should help you to jail," Mrs. Chae scolds.Dylan starts crying."You are so timid, yet yo
Lee can't bear it and shouts, "No, I'm not the one!""Any proof to back it up?" the judge inquires.Lee shouts, "Here! This is the button I found at the crime scene. It's not mine; it belongs to the real culprit. I am not the one!" Tears fill his eyes.Alyson promptly objects, "My lord, I would like you to reject that. Why didn't he submit it until now? He didn't cooperate with the police and held onto this inadmissible evidence. He didn't even inform his attorney. As I told you, the only thing he can spew is lies."Lee continues to plead, "No, I swear I am not!"Suddenly, the courtroom door opens, and all attention shifts toward the unexpected entrant – the girl, the victim. She has awakened. Lee smiles, hopeful that this development will bring resolution to his situation."I am Anne, the victim," she announces, "and I want to stand as a witness to who really raped me." Her revelation sends shockwaves through the courtroom. The judge calls for order and allows her to testify. Alyso
As the morning sun creeps into his cell, one of the wardens opens it, saying, "9004, come out." Lee follows the warden to the head warden's office, unable to believe what's happening."We are to release you on parole," the head warden informs him, pointing to the clothes in front of him."What... did you say?" Lee asks, a sense of disbelief filling him."Yes, you heard me right. The Minister of Justice chooses one prisoner in each district randomly to be released on parole, and it happens that you are one of them," the head warden explains. At that moment, Lee realizes that the system he encountered is indeed at work. He's about to be released.As soon as he steps out of the prison, the mysterious voice surges in his mind.{Congratulations on your release... now you have the opportunity to prove your innocence}."Wow... where are you talking from?" Lee wonders.{I am in your head, and you can communicate with me through your thoughts. No need to speak out loud}, the voice replies.Lee
"Lee is back!" Dylan exclaims as he enters the room, and the hot tea instantly falls from Sydney hand, spilling on her leg. ..."Lee is back!" Dylan exclaims as he enters the room, and the hot tea instantly falls from Sydney hand, spilling on her leg. She doesn't even notice the burning sensation."Are you for real?" Mr. Chae exclaims, his surprise evident."Yes, Dad, you know the property theft case that Mom appointed Rex for? Everything was going smoothly until the chief judge said we should go for a short break," he swallows and continues, "Then, the attorney of those 'rags' didn't return, only to be replaced by Lee. And he won the case! He presented all the evidence we destroyed."Mr. Chae's anger flares. "Why would they free him? How could they?" He angrily picks up the phone to make a call, clearly unhappy about the turn of events."Are you that unhappy to know that he is free?" Sydney utters, challenging her father. Mr. Chae frowns at her. "How could you speak to your father
After the woman left, Mrs. Chae calls for Rex, who enters the room and takes a seat. Mrs. Chae hands him the form."I want you to be in charge of the case. Do anything within your capacity to have her son released. I will ensure that the chief judge and the prosecutor are on our side, favoring us. You do the subtle work," she instructs.Rex goes through the form, and as he does, he adds, "Attorney Lee is back."Mrs. Chae raises her chin in surprise, asking, "What? He's back? How? When?""I am asking myself that same question. I lost today's case to him, and I don't know how he managed to get all the evidence we destroyed," Rex explains."He's also back in the court? I'm sure someone is backing him up. I must call the Minister of Justice," Mrs. Chae declares.Rex leaves the office. After Lee spent all those years in the prison, Rex has become a star attorney, seemingly winning every case. However, his victories are not a result of his own legal prowess or luck; they are all carefully
"Who sent you?" Lee asks with unwavering confidence. "You don't need to know," the driver responds, pulling the trigger swiftly. But Lee's instincts kick in, and he subtly shifts his head, causing the bullet to miss its mark and shatter the back glass.In the blink of an eye, Lee performs a remarkable maneuver, deftly twisting his hand. Before the driver can even register what's happening, the gun is now in Lee's hand."Now tell me, who sent you?" Lee demands, his voice commanding respect.The driver remains silent, but Lee isn't one to be deterred. He presses, "I won't ask again. Who sent you?" His hand hovers menacingly over the gun's safety."Mr. Chae... he sent me," the driver finally confesses, realizing the futility of resistance.Lee can't help but burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the car. "Tell him we should meet more appropriately next time. Thanks for the gun," he says casually as he exits the vehicle.{two days later}. The trial for the boy's death begins
"You must win today case, If not, consider yourself gone" Mr. chae says with a stern voice."yeah, father... I will surely make it" lee nods repeatedly.******In a dimly lit courtroom, the prosecutor, Alyson Kim, stands up and moves to the center, causing a hushed murmur among the onlookers. The victim, Lily Cho, sits in the witness box, her head bowed in embarrassment, unable to meet anyone's gaze. The accused, Dylan Ray, appears defiant, with his head held high.Alyson Kim begins her impassioned speech, addressing the grave accusations, "Today, we gather to address the alleged rape of our sister and daughter by the accused, Mr. Dylan Park. He lured the victim to a hotel under the pretense of helping her financially and studying together. However, he seizes this opportunity to assault her against her will. This trial commences on the 28th of August 2023."She glances at the chief judge for approval and continues, "Go on, prosecutor," urges the judge.Alyson Kim turns back to the au