With a heavy heart, I tidied the conference room after Mr. and Mrs. Lee Kang-ho left.
Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun, organizing the meeting materials, subtly said to me,
“There’s little chance Mr. Lee Chil-hong will be investigated for a while.”
“Yes, Attorney. He’s also receiving treatment right now.”
Although not as much as Joon-yeo, Mr. Lee Chil-hong is currently unable to move freely.
This was understandable, considering the passenger seat of the car Mr. Lee Chil-hong was driving was practically totaled.
“Yoo-hee, I plan to drag this case out as much as possible.”
“I see.”
“Yes, because Mr. Lee Chil-hong needs to at least recover physically. More importantly, his granddaughter and the victim, Lee Ha-eum, might miraculously wake up… Then Mr. Lee Chil-hong will have a slight advantage.”
I know a future where that doesn’t happen.
Therefore, I won’t be able to drag it out as long as Attorney Ahn intends.
But gaining time is correct.
To gain time for me to create the public opinion we need.
And Ha-eum will give us that time.
‘In fact, Ha-eum holding on right now is a miracle…’
According to Mr. Lee Kang-ho, the doctor said it’s a miracle Ha-eum is even breathing.
‘Ha-eum, are you enduring this for your grandfather…?’
Young Ha-eum reportedly followed her grandfather more than her parents.
That was probably thanks to her grandfather raising her on his back since she was in diapers and crawling.
He lost his wife young and wanted to repay his regret towards his grown son with love for his grandchildren.
And especially, Lee Chil-hong particularly cherished and lovingly cared for his youngest granddaughter, Lee Ha-eum, among his two grandchildren.
“Of all days, the accident happened then. Heaven is truly heartless.”
“Yes…”
The day of the accident was Ha-eum’s picnic day.
Her very first picnic, at that.
Her grandfather was on his way to school early in the morning with his granddaughter, who had just started.
With lunchboxes of gimbap meticulously prepared since dawn with his rough hands, placed in the back seat.
“Did you see the scene photos, Yoo-hee?”
“I did.”
According to Mr. Lee Chil-hong’s interrogation record I saw in the past, a roaring engine sound was heard from outside the car, which was functioning normally.
Soon after, the car’s speed surged, and he continuously pressed the brakes, but they didn’t work.
Ultimately, Mr. Lee Chil-hong, even in that urgent situation, steered towards the side with the least human damage.
The sloping road outside the road.
It was a judgment made because if he had turned the wheel towards the sidewalk where people walk or the road where cars were driving, more people could have been injured.
And as a result, Ha-eum, who was sitting in the passenger seat on the sloping road side, was severely injured.
‘I killed her. I killed our Ha-eum!’
Mr. Lee Chil-hong’s blood-curdling scream from my last life still rings in my ears.
‘I should have died instead. I should have crashed into my side, regardless of whether others got hurt!’
Mr. Lee Chil-hong was badly injured because he threw his body to hug Ha-eum at the very last moment of the accident.
But even so, he couldn’t prevent his beloved granddaughter from being seriously hurt.
This was because the road structure installed on the sloping path from outside the passenger seat crashed down.
“Mr. Lee Chil-hong wanted to protect both the people and his granddaughter.”
“Yes, otherwise, he wouldn’t have thrown his body like that.”
“This is clearly a vehicle defect. We’ve also obtained several road CCTV footages that can prove sudden unintended acceleration.”
What was captured on the road CCTV was numerous brake light footages.
The bright red brake lights repeatedly turned on and off incessantly.
But the car only got faster, never stopping.
“But you know well, Attorney, that it’s difficult to prove innocence with just that…”
“So Ha-eum must wake up. We all hope she lives for our sake.”
Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun knows it well from the start.
That it’s difficult to get an innocent verdict for a sudden unintended acceleration accident.
Even if Ha-eum wakes up, the charge of ‘negligent injury’ doesn’t disappear.
He suffered such a tragic accident, yet he became a criminal suspect instead of receiving compensation from the manufacturer.
“Attorney, I have the key to solving this case.”
“What? Does such a thing exist?”
“Probably.”
The only case of sudden unintended acceleration that was recognized was a Supreme Court Justice’s traffic accident.
Compared to this case, they were mildly injured, but the manufacturer swiftly paid for treatment and replaced the expensive car the Justice was in with the latest model of the same kind.
This happened even before there was any dispute over proof.
And since then, 0 cases.
Even that couldn’t be seen as a legal victory.
The manufacturer immediately settled it, not leaving any court precedent at all.
“Unless a miracle happens and the National Assembly amends the law, we can’t win this legally.”
“Yes, Attorney, I know that well. The method I’m thinking of is also not a fight using legal principles.”
Even the President cannot immediately create a law that doesn’t exist.
No matter if it’s my second life, that’s not within my scope of control.
But what about this?
‘Chaebol brat.’
Soon, a third-generation chaebol will visit Lee & Yeon with an incident that will shake South Korea.
At that time, we just need to catch that brat right away.
No, in fact, such effort isn’t even necessary.
Because the incident is so amazing that no one will want to take it on.
“Uh.”
‘It’s like hugging a huge bomb whose defeat is confirmed the moment you take it on, who would want to self-destruct?’
In fact, even in my last life, a prison sentence was handed down in the first trial.
‘Would that brat endure that?’
No one can save this, no matter who comes.
It incurred tremendous public anger.
But what if I can do it? I am currently the only person who knows the truth of that case.
“Let’s use public opinion, Attorney.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? But we don’t have the power for that. And even if we had such connections, they wouldn’t step forward for something like this, would they?”
No one in high places would pay attention to the unjust story of a powerless person.
‘If there’s no interest, then we’ll create it.’
Or make a deal.
A deal and interest. I think I can create both.
“You said you hoped for a miracle, Attorney.”
“Of course. That’s all we can hope for now.”
If a miracle doesn’t happen, then we’ll just create it.
And that miracle needs some time.
The precious time Ha-eum is buying us.
Perhaps it’s Ha-eum’s last gesture of affection for her grandfather.
After finishing my day’s work, I sat blankly in my seat.
My heart felt so heavy that I couldn’t bring myself to stand up.
Just then, my flip phone vibrated loudly.
[Mom]
I checked the name on the screen and answered the call with an effort to sound cheerful.
“Yes, Mom.”
-Are you still at the office?
She didn’t ask where I was. Mom just assumed I’d be at the office.
“Well, yeah.”
-What’s so good there that you’re stuck to it every day?
“No, it’s just that there’s still work to be done.”
-Will the world end if you don’t do it today?
“…Not really.”
Most of the urgent tasks were done. If I finished up for about 30 more minutes, the rest could easily wait until tomorrow.
“Anyway, you’re like a ghost, Mom.”
-If you know that, hurry home. I made your favorite kimchi jjigae today.
“Kimchi jjigae?!”
How much I had missed Mom’s kimchi jjigae since my parents passed away.
My mouth watered without me even realizing it.
-I put in plenty of sliced pork shoulder, and stewed kimchi that’s been aged since last winter. It’s really delicious. You’ll really regret it if you don’t eat it today!
“Then I’d better go home quickly.”
-Yes, my child. Finish up quickly and come home soon~
“Okay, got it.”
I quickly hung up the phone and cracked my wrists.
“Then I’d better show off my skills quickly and leave.”
I made one decision when I died unjustly in my last life.
If there was a next life, I would live like a human.
More than anything, I wanted to see Mom’s face even more today.
Time flew by busily.
Thanks to the prominent medical school professor that Attorneys Seo Il-hwa and Ahn Gyeong-hun brought in, my argument gained more momentum.
“According to the opinion of the professor from Kang-ahn Medical School, it’s impossible to intentionally add benzene to improve the inherent color, aroma, taste, and viscosity of oil.”
“That’s right, Yoo-hee. Then even if benzene was intentionally added, the defendants wouldn’t gain any benefit, would they?”
“Yes, Attorney Yoon. So, are we submitting this opinion at the next hearing date and, if necessary, requesting the professor as a witness?”
“That would be good, Yoo-hee. What do you think, Attorney Ahn?”
“I agree.”
“Oh, we’re really on the same page!”
Attorney Yoon Yi-hoon clapped with delight.
Since I had been leading the case from the beginning, its progress had somewhat shifted to me.
This meant less work for the associates, so Attorney Yoon, who was in the thick of a busy period, couldn’t help but be pleased.
“Then, since Yoo-hee seems to be an expert in the food sector, if necessary, even the witness examination questions…”
“I’ll draft the preliminary version, Attorney.”
“Yes!”
“Hey, aren’t you being a bit too obvious, Attorney Yoon?”
“Was I that obvious?”
“Yoo-hee is busy with more than just this. So don’t even think about passing off work carelessly.”
“Oh, she’s my secretary too, no way.”
Attorney Yoon Yi-hoon skillfully retorted with feigned innocence.
Regardless of Attorney Yoon’s intention, I liked him passing the work to me.
After all, considering future matters, I needed to prove my capabilities.
“I’m fine, Attorney Ahn. I started this case, so I’ll do what I can.”
“I’m indebted to you repeatedly, Yoo-hee.”
“I agree with Attorney Ahn! Thank you every time. You’re truly my late-night work buddy.”
“I told you I don’t do that anymore.”
“Oh, come on. You were working late every day last week except for one.”
“That’s because there was work to do, of course.”
Having a search bar on a laptop doesn’t reduce the work.
Because I still have to do my original secretarial duties.
Revamping my past life was no easy feat.
“It’s all my fault.”
I wish I had lived a little less diligently. Why did I live so foolishly?
It was the moment my heart began to ache, recalling my past life.
Attorney Yoon gave me a thumbs up, praising me.
“No way. It’s all thanks to you, Yoo-hee.”
“That’s right, Attorney Yoon. We chose a good secretary.”
Still, it seems I didn’t live completely in vain.
I looked at the two attorneys alternately and spoke powerfully.
A proposal that might become the foundation to take over this firm.
“In that sense, shall we create one more piece of work?”
No matter how much future information I hold, I can’t do everything alone.
To put it elegantly, a shareholder war.
To take control of a law firm, a battle of wits is inevitable.
That is Lee & Yeon.
As the company name suggests, there are two founders.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.