The courtroom — the air thick with tension and the faint rustle of papers.
The judge delivered the final verdict, his voice clear and echoing through the room.
"After a thorough review of all evidence and arguments, the court rules in favor of the plaintiff."
A wave of satisfaction spread across the faces of the plaintiff's lawyers.
"Attorney Han Ji-hoon, you've won this case."
Han Ji-hoon showed no expression. His face remained as unreadable and calm as ever. But his eyes were fixed directly on Kim Min-suli, who stood across from him — defeated. Her face was drowned in deep despair. This was one of the biggest cases of her career. In her eyes, a visible resentment burned toward Ji-hoon — a mix of bitterness from loss and personal disappointment.
Everyone else had already left the courtroom.
Min-suli quietly began collecting her documents into her expensive leather bag, touching each file as if feeling every wound imprinted upon them.
Suddenly, a sharp and confident voice came from behind.
"Miss Kim, do you enjoy losing to me more than working beside me? It would be better if you joined my firm. The doors of Daehan Legal are always open for you. It would only benefit you."
Min-suli looked up. A forced yet confident smile appeared on her lips.
"Oh, Mr. Han, are you offering me a position?" she asked with sarcasm. "But I'm sorry. I can't accept your offer. My work at Jung Min Law Associates is going quite well. And yes, my boss there is far better than you."
Ji-hoon's expression shifted for a moment — a flicker of irritation passed his face.
"Your boss is a coward. He keeps sending you to face me. You've barely been in that firm for four months, and yet he dares to make you my competitor! Even after knowing everything!"
Min-suli's eyes gleamed. "You have no right to insult my boss! He's far better than you!"
Saying that, she clutched her files tightly and walked away with her head held high.
Ji-hoon clenched his fist, disappointment glinting in his eyes.
In a low, cut-off whisper, he muttered, "Jung Min… you shouldn't have turned her against me."
---
Public Humiliation and Social Scorn
Min-suli sat on a bench outside her office, exhausted.
Her eyes fell upon the woman whose case she had fought — her client.
The woman's face was filled with rage and hopelessness.
As soon as the woman spotted her, she stormed toward her like a furious wind. Without saying a word, she slapped Min-suli hard across the face.
"Because of you, my son went to jail! How are we supposed to survive now?" the woman screamed — her voice trembling with both grief and fury.
Min-suli's cheek went numb, but she pressed her lips together.
"I'm sorry… but I tried everything possible to win this case. It was as important to me as it was to you," she replied, her voice trembling with pain.
Just then, a group of boys passing by stopped to watch.
"Hey, look! That's the girl who lost our guy's case," one of them mocked.
The others laughed loudly.
"So young and already making such big mistakes — what a shame," another jeered.
Min-suli turned to her client. "You're upset right now. Let's go inside and talk, please. Don't create a scene here," she said, trying to keep her composure.
But the woman, eyes now blazing with bitterness, grew even more aggressive.
She pulled out a few crumpled bills from her hand. "Because of you, my son went to prison! He was our only support! Now pay for our expenses!" she shouted, throwing the money in Min-suli's face.
Min-suli froze, her heart pounding with panic. She knew very well that as a lawyer — and one who respected the law — she could not accept or offer any illegal settlement.
In a calm but firm voice, she replied,
"I can't make any illegal payments. If you have new evidence or any legal claim, the court is open to you. I'll help you there — but not with money."
Her words ignited the crowd even more.
Some people started shouting, others clapped mockingly.
"Law? The law betrayed her too!" someone yelled.
"That's why she lost to Mr. Han!" another shouted.
Holding her documents tightly, Min-suli tried to stay calm.
"Please listen — I never intended to ruin anyone's life—"
But before she could finish, a pair of sharp footsteps echoed.
A young woman appeared, neatly dressed, her face carrying quiet confidence and humility.
"Excuse me," she said quickly, a slight nervousness in her tone. "I'm from Jung Min Law Associates. I apologize on her behalf. She's new… inexperienced… and she's our boss's favorite. Please forgive her. I'll personally try to make up for the damage caused."
Min-suli looked at her furiously, silently questioning why she had made the situation worse for her.
All eyes turned toward the new girl.
Some people nodded approvingly. "Wow, how professional!" someone said.
"Look at her — so mature for her age!" another added.
The client glared at Jia Yi, then at Min-suli.
"This girl is so professional, isn't she? And you — you survive not by talent, but by using others! Aren't you ashamed? Getting close to your boss to get favors — disgusting!"
The crowd erupted again.
Some supported the accusation; others called her "shameless."
Every word pierced through Min-suli like thorns.
She looked at the girl — emotions swirling inside her: pride, anger, and a strange pity.
Just then, a calm but commanding figure parted through the crowd — Han Ji-hoon.
Adjusting his coat collar, his cold gaze silenced everyone for a moment.
He said to the woman, "The law always sides with what's right — not what's wrong. Your son deserved his punishment."
The woman, hysterical, pointed at Min-suli.
"See? This girl first trapped her boss and now even the best lawyer in the country! She's a witch!"
Min-suli glared at Ji-hoon. "This is my matter. Stay out of it!"
She stormed away, almost running — but the moment haunted her deeply.
It was already 10 p.m.
Min-suli sat at the dinner table with her parents and elder brother. The silence was suffocating.
Just as she was about to take a bite, her father slammed his chopsticks on the table.
The sound echoed through the room.
"We never asked you to become a lawyer! If you had become a doctor like your brother, your life would've been better!" he shouted. "What happened today should be a lesson. There's still time. Change your career and be like your brother!"
Holding back tears, Min-suli said, her voice shaking,
"If you can't comfort me, at least don't compare me to him! I'm tired of being compared! Why can he choose his dream, and I can't? Just because you both are doctors, do I have to be one too?"
Her father's anger flared. "How dare you raise your voice at me!"
Min-suli slammed her chopsticks down.
"You never supported me, Dad! I just wanted your and Mom's support, but all you've ever done is find my faults!"
Her brother tried to calm her. "Dad's just trying to help. Don't shout."
She looked at him, eyes full of tears and anger. "That's not how you help someone, brother! Why does everyone have a problem with me being a lawyer? Mom, didn't you want me to become one?"
Her mother lowered her voice. "Yes… but I didn't want you to become a lawyer who keeps losing cases — especially to Han Ji-hoon."
Tears welled up in Min-suli's eyes.
"So, you think that too? You all have no idea what I'm going through! I have insomnia! And it's all because of you!"
Her parents were shocked. "You… have insomnia?"
Min-suli said nothing. She stormed out of the house.
Her mother panicked. "It's freezing outside! You shouldn't have shouted at her!"
Her father asked worriedly, "Where could she have gone?"
Her brother got up. "I'll go look for her."
Her father stopped him. "No. She'll be at her favorite restaurant… or near the river. She'll come back soon."
---
The Bridge and the Darkness
Walking with her hands in her coat pockets, Min-suli cried silently.
She sat in her favorite restaurant, ordered ramen, and watched happy faces around her.
"My fate doesn't include love," she whispered. "I just wanted to be a good daughter, friend, and lawyer… but I failed. I'm nothing but a loser."
She lifted a bottle of soju. "Here's to being a loser."
She finished three or four bottles, her world spinning in a drunken haze.
She stumbled out, muttering, "I hate those who are better than me… hate? No — I envy them."
She saw a poster of Han Ji-hoon and threw a stone at it.
"This is all your fault! Because of you, I lost the case! You've always been my biggest rival! In school, you were always first, and I was second! I hated you — I still do!"
Then she wandered to the Han River. Standing on the bridge, she listened to the quiet waves. Her short hair fluttered in the wind.
"I wish I were a character in a novel," she murmured.
Her phone rang — her mother.
She ignored it once, but when it rang again, she picked up.
Her mother's voice was tense.
"Where are you? Your father's worried after hearing about your insomnia! He hasn't even eaten! Your brother's out looking for you!"
Min-suli spoke in a drunken, broken voice, "Now you care? When I was hurting, you only made it worse!"
Her mother's voice broke into tears. "Your father only wants your good! Please come home, honey! We'll help you!"
Min-suli stayed silent for a moment. "Fine… I'll come."
Her mother said, "No! Just tell me where you are. Your brother will come get you."
"I'm under the Han River Bridge," Min-suli said.
Her mother sighed in relief. "Okay, stay there. Don't move! Your brother will be there soon."
Min-suli took a deep breath and hung up.
She began walking away — but then stopped.
A strange, whispering voice echoed behind her… like someone was calling her name.
She turned around, uneasy.
And then — out of the darkness — someone pushed her hard!
She couldn't understand what happened.
She tried to see who it was, but all she saw were shining eyes in the dark.
A figure in a long black coat and a historical-style hat — its coat fluttering in the wind.
Suddenly, a bright light flashed across the water!
Min-suli fell into the river, struggling desperately to stay above water.
Her lungs began to burn.
Her breath faded, her body sinking slowly.
In her final moments, she saw a vision —
her family, and Namjoon her beast friend, celebrating her birthday with joy.
She smiled faintly, whispering, "Is this the end of my life?"
But then, her heart screamed inside —
"No… I don't want to die. I want to live."
Her eyes closed. The water swallowed her completely.
[Suspenseful Ending Hook]
As the waves settled, a shadow stood silently on the bridge — watching her drown.
The wind carried a faint whisper…
"She was never supposed to know the truth."
And then — a silver ring slipped from the figure's hand, falling into the same dark water where Min-suli had disappeared.