Chapter 54: Manager (2)

This never happened in my previous life.

Still, was it serious enough to lead to divorce? That was hard to say.

It’s not like he drank every day and stayed out all night.

Her husband, a doctor, had only recently finished his Resident Training and claimed he was just blowing off steam a few times out of a sense of newfound freedom.

‘Sure, Resident workloads are brutal, I’ll give him that.’

Most of all, he was aiming to become a Professor, so he was currently in the Fellowship Course, which meant regular night shifts.

‘This is just him working late…’

Above all, my sister herself didn’t think much of it.

She only met with me to vent about her husband, not because she thought he had any serious problems.

‘If I didn’t know the future, I’d probably just let it go, too.’

Divorce, huh.

Isn’t that breaking up someone else’s family?

And I’d be urging her to leave a husband with a promising medical career.

That’s no easy thing.

The problem was, by the time they divorced, they’d been married well over ten years.

Even if he cheated and caused trouble, the long marriage meant all the assets her parents had given her would be subject to division.

If the husband’s contribution was valued highly, especially since he’s a doctor, she could end up losing more than 40%.

Just the Gangnam Apartment and the seven-story Hongdae Building alone would be worth at least several billion won.

‘What should I do?’

I couldn’t just come out and say that in the future, that jerk would bleed her dry and then cheat and divorce her.

And the timing was uncanny.

It happened not long after my sister’s mother became a full Professor at the hospital where she worked.

“So he didn’t just take her money, huh!”

He even made full use of her mother’s prestige before divorcing her.

As the thought hit me, my legs started trembling nervously before I knew it.

“Huh? Took her money?”

“Oh, I just know someone like that—a real jerk.”

I meant to say it to myself, but it slipped out.

But who am I?

Even counting my past life, I’m a Secretary with 22 years’ experience.

I managed to smooth things over with a natural expression.

“Oh, if you’re this angry, he must be a real piece of work.”

Yeah, that’s your husband, sis…

If only I could say it out loud.

Feeling frustrated, I clenched my fist tightly.

I also felt a bit guilty.

I’d been so focused on Revenge that I’d completely forgotten about my sister’s situation.

“Yes, he’s really the worst.”

If I’d known, I would’ve listened more closely back then.

But after my parents died, I wasn’t in any state to talk at length.

For a long time after, I cried myself to sleep every night.

Maybe it’s just an excuse, but I don’t even remember how I made it through those days.

‘They were on that package tour I arranged when it happened.’

I can’t count the days I was torn apart by guilt.

That’s why I buried myself in work.

I just couldn’t bear to stay at home.

‘But this time, I can change things.’

There are still six months before my sister quits.

If I can do something before then…

As I pondered, my sister’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Actually, I’m thinking of quitting work next year.”

Huh? She was planning to quit already?

I stared at her in surprise.

“My husband always wanted a daughter. I thought maybe if we had a second child, things would get better.”

So there’s more to this.

Just what kind of person is her husband?

I sipped my strawberry latte and listened closely.

“Ijun’s dad has only ever known studying. He’s always been a bit blunt. He’s so busy at the hospital that he doesn’t really have any hobbies. I thought if we had a daughter, he’d find some joy in raising her. So I’m planning to quit work next year and focus on having a second child.”

So that’s why she quit the next year.

But the plan for a second child never worked out.

Even nine years later, my sister only had Ijun.

‘Looks like her husband didn’t really cooperate.’

“Of course, he says he doesn’t want another child, but I think he’d be happy if we actually had one.”

“What about your job?”

“Huh?”

“Sis, you love your job. That’s why you have the nanny watch the baby so you can work.”

“I can always go back to work later, right? But if I wait past next year, it might be too late for a baby.”

She never did go back to work.

Something must have happened while she was trying for a second child after quitting her job.

But my sister didn’t work because she needed the money.

She truly took pride in her work.

“So you don’t actually want a second child?”

“…Honestly, I’d rather keep working.”

There it was—her real feelings.

So what should I do now?

There’s no future where she has a second child.

“Sis, but you’re quitting next year, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then let’s eat.”

“Huh? Eat what?”

“Lunch. Didn’t you say you wanted to eat with me?”

“I’d love to! But what’s gotten into you? You always refused when I asked before.”

“I was worried people would talk if you hung out with me. But if you’re quitting next year, it won’t matter for long.”

“Hehe, I told you, I don’t care about that!”

I cared, you know.

But now, I have a reason to eat lunch with her.

‘If I eat lunch with her, I can look for an opportunity.’

Her husband definitely has issues.

Just from what I’ve heard, that much is clear.

If we keep eating together and talking, I’m sure I’ll find something.

Something that can save her from that jerk.

A little gossip isn’t a big deal.

“I like you best in the company, Yoo-hee. You remind me of myself.”

“Because I’m the pushover around here?”

“Hahaha, pushover? I’d like to deny it, but I can’t, and that makes me a little sad.”

“Sis, you need to get a little tougher. I’ll help you with that.”

“Oh, just hearing that makes me feel stronger already.”

No, seriously.

Project for Reinforcing Jang I-eun’s Life.

It starts now.

“Ugh, I’ve got my own problems, though.”

After enjoying lunch with my sister and coming home in a good mood, a miracle happened—the next day, my workload doubled.

But I can’t say I hate it.

That just means I have one more person to save in this life.

‘It’s not like we’ll eat together every day.’

If things go well, my sister might keep working at the company.

After all, she only wanted to quit because of her husband.

If that factor disappears, she might stay longer than anyone else.

That means there’s no need to limit her social life.

Even just having lunch together once or twice a week is fine.

“Yoo-hee, your problems have always been long-standing, haven’t they?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you for pointing out the obvious.”

“Hehe, I’m good at stating facts. It’s a natural talent for a Lawyer.”

“Lawyer, then why don’t you use that talent on this lawsuit here…”

“Ah! Right, Cheon Lawyer just called me. I completely forgot.”

Huh, that was sudden.

I lowered the trial record I’d been holding and watched as Yoon Yi-hoon, the Lawyer, sped away at the speed of light.

I didn’t really expect help, but seeing him disappear so fast left me a little empty.

‘How much credit has he gotten thanks to me?’

And I still haven’t received the success fee for the Cha Kang-hyuk case.

Ah, just thinking about it warms my heart…

“Oh, come to think of it, it’s about time to get up.”

I pulled my laptop over from the side of my desk.

I pressed the power button and waited for the start screen.

‘Cha Kang-hyuk case—complete court records.’

As I silently recited the search term, the list of Cha Kang-hyuk’s case records from my previous life appeared on the laptop.

Cha Kang-hyuk Court Case Records

1. Indictment

2. Defense Statement
3. Trial Record
4. Witness Examination Record
5. Prosecution Statement

From next year on, I was in charge of Ko Jong-tak’s cases, so I had all the records.

First, I read the First Trial Judgment.

“As expected, a prison sentence.”

But that’s not the important part.

I quickly searched for the Seoul High Court’s appellate records.

“Found it.”

One of the Defense Statements we submitted at the second trial.

I skimmed through the statement until I found the list of evidence on the last page, my eyes lighting up.

There it was—exactly what I was looking for.

‘Exhibit No. 15, Settlement Agreement.’

I silently repeated the search term.

Sure enough, the Settlement Agreement we submitted as the fifteenth piece of evidence popped up.

What is it?

It’s a handwritten Settlement Agreement drafted by the victim after regaining consciousness.

“Wow, this turned their fate around.”

The amount was different from what I remembered.

I knew it was a lot, but this would’ve easily bought an apartment in Seoul in 2004.

Cha Kang-hyuk’s image was ruined by this case—he never recovered.

But the very person who provoked Cha Kang-hyuk’s punch got up and walked away with a nice payout.

In any case, a settlement was necessary for a favorable result at the appellate trial.

But what about now?

Now that the whole country knows the truth, is a settlement really necessary?

Yes, it is.

But it’ll be very different from last time.

‘I’ll have to call Managing Director Cha Kang-hyuk when winter starts.’

That’s about when the victim will wake up.

I read through the Defense Statement again, confirming when the victim regained consciousness.

“Around the end of the year.”

It’s almost autumn now, so not much time left.

Normally, the first trial would have finished by now, but in this life, we’ve been dragging things out as long as possible so we can hold out until the victim wakes up.

With the court now aware of the truth, the judges are much more sympathetic to us than in my previous life.

Feeling hopeful, I closed the laptop, but as I stood up, I hesitated.

“Hmm, but Managing Director Cha Kang-hyuk isn’t someone we can just summon, is he?”

At the start of the case, things were urgent, so he came on his own, but now that most of it’s resolved, we can’t just call him in for every little thing.

And at the beginning, he showed up on his own anyway, so there was hardly any need to call him.

“Are you talking about me?”

“That’s what I mean, Managing Director Cha—huh?”

What’s this? It feels so real.

I smirked and poked Cha Kang-hyuk’s shoulder.

It’s not like it’s really him, so even if I poke—

“Waaah!”

My fingertips could feel the texture of his suit.

And it was very high quality.

Shocked, I screamed as loud as I could.

With Cha Kang-hyuk, looking like death, standing right in front of me.

“It’s really Cha Kang-hyuk!”

“Would it be a fake?”

Can’t it be a fake?

That thought stuck in my throat.