You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 367

You Have Been Defended – Episode 367

[Ko Yun-ho and Ko Yun-seok Brothers Indicted on Charges of Manslaughter…]

[The Ko Brothers’ Manslaughter Charge, Maximum Sentence of 2 Years?]

One month later, Ko Yun-ho and Ko Yun-seok were indicted on charges of manslaughter.

According to Park Young-ki, he tried to indict them on murder charges, but the circumstances didn’t allow it.

I had expected it to end with manslaughter from the beginning, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

After all, even if they were tried for murder in the first trial, it would definitely be changed to manslaughter in the second trial.

I’m a lawyer.

There’s nothing I can do about a trial I can’t enter.

Fortunately, the prosecutor Park Young-ki chose is someone I can trust, based on my previous life’s experiences.

I’ve stirred up public opinion as well, so I’ve done all I can.

Park Young-ki also said that public opinion is bad for Ko Yun-ho and Ko Yun-seok, and there are strong demands to discipline the police and prosecutors who handled the initial investigation, which will likely have a significant impact on the trial.

“But I still don’t understand.”

During lunchtime, while walking near the busy Seoul National University of Education Station, Kang Min-jae spoke up as I was lost in thought.

“What?”

“I understand the motive, but why did they try to pin it on Kim Hwa-young? That’s the last piece.”

“That’s right.”

“But I don’t understand why they beat the butler, no matter how much I think about it. Do you know, Attorney?”

“…….”

When I didn’t answer, Kang Min-jae quickly stepped in front of me, blocking my path and shouting.

“Wow, do you know? You knew but didn’t tell me?”

Kang Min-jae acted as if he had been betrayed.

“No, I don’t know.”

“Oh, what is it……. But why aren’t you answering? So meaningfully.”

“I’m not answering because I don’t know.”

I’m curious too.

Now that Ko Yun-ho and Ko Yun-seok have been indicted, I hope the prosecution can reveal it, but those brothers will definitely keep their mouths shut about the affair between Kim Hwa-young and Ko Sang-jun, so it might not be revealed.

The most likely explanation they’ll give is that they were very drunk that day, and when the butler provoked them first, they couldn’t control their anger and a fight broke out, but they didn’t know the butler would die… something like that?

With the intention of getting a reduced sentence due to diminished responsibility.

That’s why it’s important which prosecutor Park Young-ki assigned.

It’s true that I’ve been diligently fighting against Taekwang [a powerful corporation] until now, but Taekwang is not an opponent to be taken lightly.

They must be aware that it would be a big problem if the sons of their biggest client, Ko Sang-jun, get a prison sentence even after receiving their defense.

“Just in case, we should record a video of Ko Yun-ho and Ko Yun-seok when they drink.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ll probably try to get a reduced sentence for diminished responsibility. We need to record that their tongues are twisted when they’re drunk so we can compare it to their voice at the time and prove they weren’t drunk.”

“Diminished responsibility is crazy……. I didn’t think of that.”

“They’ll probably be lying low for a while, but they’ll try to get a suspended sentence, and if they don’t get it in the second trial, they’ll go to the third trial, which will take several months. They’re not the kind of people who can stay still during that time. Won’t they drink at least once during that time?”

“That’s true. But Attorney.”

“What?”

“Your vocabulary has been a bit harsh since earlier? ‘Cheo-meok-neun-da [a vulgar way of saying ‘eat’]’, ‘Cheo-meok-neun-da [a vulgar way of saying ‘eat’]’.”

I stared at Kang Min-jae.

“Do I have to be polite to criminal bastards?”

“……That’s not it. I just asked because you seemed unusually manly, Attorney.”

* * *

It’s already been over a month since Kim Chan-young ostensibly cut off contact with Kim Hwa-young.

Kim Chan-young came out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel.

Looking at the darkened living room, he saw an image of his mother sitting on the sofa, looking back at him and smiling.

He’s been in contact with his uncle every day to check on his mother’s condition, but it’s frustrating not being able to see her in person.

“Haa…….”

Since Kim Hwa-young entrusted the case to Cha Joo-han, Kim Chan-young has been outwardly estranged from Kim Hwa-young.

Outwardly, Kim Chan-young has taken Ko Sang-jun’s side, and Kim Hwa-young is in conflict with her son, feeling betrayed that he is supporting his father, who is trying to make her a murderer, rather than supporting her.

That’s how Kim Chan-young can avoid being abandoned by Ko Sang-jun.

That’s how Kim Chan-young can plan for the future.

He knew from the beginning that it wouldn’t be easy.

Even Cha Joo-han asked him repeatedly if he would be okay, as it would be a difficult path.

But right now, Kim Chan-young himself cannot make even a single scratch on Ko Sang-jun.

That doesn’t mean there’s no way at all.

After all, three of the sons are as good as out.

All that’s left is the eldest son, Ko Yun-soo, and the only daughter, Ko Yun-joo, but Ko Yun-joo has said from the beginning that she will only focus on managing the foundation, so if he can get rid of Ko Yun-soo, he might have a chance.

Of course, he doesn’t know how Ko Yun-joo will react in this situation, but even if he has to get rid of Ko Yun-joo as well, he thinks he might still get a turn.

Everything is only possible if he receives Ko Sang-jun’s complete trust.

“Haa…….”

Kim Chan-young changed into new clothes and picked up the phone he had turned over for a while.

He had a message from his uncle.

[I went to the spa with your mother. The spa staff asked for her autograph, and Hwa-young seemed happy. Hwa-young wants to set a date to see you next week, is that okay?]

Even his mother, whom he used to see at home every day, now has to make an appointment and meet cautiously.

Ko Sang-jun has probably put people on him, thinking that Kim Chan-young might be putting on a show, so he has to move more secretly to avoid being caught.

The hassle has increased, but Kim Hwa-young understood the path Kim Chan-young was taking.

─If I can suffer for a few years and see Ko Sang-jun collapse, I think I can suffer as much as I need to. I feel a little relieved if you’re working with Attorney Cha. I’m just worried that our son will have a hard time.

Kim Hwa-young’s last words when he saw her flashed through his mind.

He only mentioned Attorney Cha to reassure his mother; in fact, he doesn’t know if Attorney Cha has any intention of getting involved with him.

He wants it, but he doesn’t know Cha Joo-han’s intentions.

Kim Chan-young sat down on the sofa and sighed.

Anyway, he can’t despair about the situation forever.

First, he sent a reply to his uncle saying he understood, and then checked the next message.

[Chan-young, let’s meet at Daehwajeong [a high-end restaurant] at 7 PM tonight. I have something to say.]

The message was sent by Ko Sang-jun.

He didn’t even ask if he was available in the evening and unilaterally notified him of the time, which hasn’t changed.

Of course, in a position where he has to act like a tongue in Ko Sang-jun’s mouth, he can’t express any dissatisfaction.

[Yes, Father. I’ll see you at 7 PM.]

6 PM. Kim Chan-young put on a suit and went down to the parking lot.

It takes 30 minutes to get to Daehwajeong, the meeting place, but he has to go 30 minutes early in case Ko Sang-jun arrives early.

He left the car at valet parking and went inside the restaurant, telling them Ko Sang-jun’s secretary’s name, and was guided to the innermost room.

And the moment the door opened, Kim Chan-young saw Ko Sang-jun, who had arrived early and was sitting down.

Kim Chan-young made a flustered expression, stood opposite Ko Sang-jun, and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry I’m late, Father.”

“No. You came early too. I just came first. Sit down.”

“Yes.”

A suffocating meal followed.

He had heard the news that Ko Yun-ho and Ko Yun-seok had been indicted a while ago, so Ko Sang-jun’s mood wouldn’t be too good.

He didn’t know what he was called for, but he was thinking about asking as much as he could without upsetting him.

“I don’t know if your mother is doing well.”

“……My uncle contacts me occasionally. He says she’s doing well.”

He thought that Ko Sang-jun could find out enough if he wanted to know that he was in contact with his uncle, so he thought it would be better not to hide this.

Of course, he’s using a burner phone when he contacts them, but you never know.

“I see.”

“My mother seems to resent me a lot. She still hasn’t contacted me.”

“That’s understandable. Your mother thinks I abandoned her…….”

Ko Sang-jun picked up the bottle to wet his throat with alcohol, and Kim Chan-young hurriedly picked up the bottle and poured it into Ko Sang-jun’s glass.

Ko Sang-jun stared at Kim Chan-young for a long time.

“I’m sorry for causing you concern, Father, who is already busy, because of me and my mother.”

“It’s not your fault. Isn’t it because of your mother and that bastard Cha Joo-han?”

“It was an unexpected variable. I didn’t think my mother would go to him…….”

When Kim Chan-young trailed off, Ko Sang-jun put down his glass and picked up the bottle.

When Kim Chan-young knelt down and raised his glass, Ko Sang-jun filled the glass and put down the bottle.

“I actually thought you might have told your mother to go to Cha Joo-han.”

……You’re disgustingly quick-witted.

Kim Chan-young didn’t answer, keeping his head down.

It had been about a month since Kim Chan-young had received a call from Ko Sang-jun.

Ko Sang-jun had probably been watching until he was sure what stance Kim Chan-young was taking and whether he was putting on a show.

Rather than saying no here, it’s not too late to answer after listening to what he wants to say until the end.

“But I was very surprised to hear that you didn’t even attend your mother’s trial after that. I know very well how much you care about your mother, but I didn’t think you wouldn’t even show up there.”

“……Attorney Cha Joo-han is someone who continues to cause concern to Father, and I didn’t want to see my mother being defended by such a person.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But since my mother went to my uncle and didn’t return home, I’m very embarrassed. If my mother continues to be swayed by Cha Joo-han’s nonsense, I think that could happen. Anyway, to Cha Joo-han, my mother is nothing more than Father’s disgrace, and she has no idea that she’s being used.”

“Disgrace……. Yes, my disgrace. I didn’t think that way until that incident.”

Ko Sang-jun put the drink in his mouth and rubbed his forehead.

“Father, I’m curious if my brothers are okay. They must be very upset…….”

“Taekwang is working on it. I can’t send all my sons to jail, so I have to make them get a suspended sentence. Taekwang is talking about getting a reduced sentence for diminished responsibility. The prosecutor is quite strong, so it doesn’t seem easy……. The chief prosecutor isn’t friendly to us. That’s why he assigned a strong prosecutor. He doesn’t listen even if the president tells him to handle it gently. It’s become a nuisance.”

“I’m glad there seems to be a way. I hope there are no more troubles in the family…….”

As Kim Chan-young said, fiddling with his glass, Ko Sang-jun smiled pleasantly.

“I’m glad there’s a smart one among my sons. It’s a pity. It would have been nice if you were from the main family line…….”

Kim Chan-young smiled faintly.

It’s not the first time he’s heard this.

But I think it’s quite significant that I heard it again after this incident.

It was read as meaning that even if he couldn’t trust Kim Hwa-young, he didn’t doubt him at least.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he can let his guard down.

He can’t be sure that Ko Sang-jun’s suspicion has completely disappeared, and he can’t rule out the possibility that this seat is also a place to test him.

Ko Sang-jun is a person with a compulsion to control.

If people under his influence move in a direction that is not his intention, or try to deviate from the position he has designated, he will inevitably try to control them.

Perhaps this time, Ko Sang-jun was more angry about the fact that his sons had killed the butler of the Ahn family than the fact that they had dared to infringe on his privacy, which no one could touch.

The fact that Kim Hwa-young dismissed Taekwang was also annoying because she had deviated from the situation he had designed and went to another lawyer.

The problem is that it happened to be Cha Joo-han, which turned into anger.

To win Ko Sang-jun’s heart, you have to act according to that personality.

“Father, I don’t want that. Father’s shadow is wide enough. I think Yun-ho and Yun-seok also thought that my mother was a threat to the main family, so they did that. Of course, I’m very angry that they tried to put the crime on my mother……. Anyway, the main family is the backbone of Wooshin [the family’s company], and I agree with my brothers that it shouldn’t collapse. I’m not a member of the main family, but I’m proud to be a Wooshin bloodline. I’m well aware that my mother’s existence will be an unsettling factor for my brothers and sisters in the main family. It’s my fault. I should have taken good care of my mother……. It was hard to control my sick mother.”

At Kim Chan-young’s words, which could not be heard without tears, Ko Sang-jun laughed like a sigh.

“You must be curious too. How this happened.”

Ko Sang-jun received the drink that Kim Chan-young poured and stared at him straight.

“If you think it’s something I can know, Father, I’d like to ask.”

“Listening to Yun-ho and Yun-seok, they said they were worried that I would divorce your stepmother and marry your mother, as you said. So they went to that house to meet your mother and warn her…….”

Saying that, Ko Sang-jun shook his head as if he was pathetic.

“But the butler said that no one except your mother and me can enter the Ahn family, and that they can’t bring in outsiders without your mother’s or my permission. So the two of them got twisted and slapped the butler, asking if he was in cahoots with your mother. That’s how it started, and they committed such an act. He said he was dumbfounded that the butler was using the Ahn family like his own house and saying such things……. It’s pathetic.”

So that’s why.

Kim Chan-young was dumbfounded because he now knew what had happened between the butler and the two brothers, which he had not known until now.

Did they make a person like that for such a reason?

“Did you say that your brothers went to see your mother and were rejected by the butler?”

“Yes.”

From now on, it’s like a test.

You shouldn’t take the brothers’ side rashly.

Ko Sang-jun considers the brothers pathetic.

The only answer Ko Sang-jun wants here.

“It’s a big problem that the butler used the Ahn family like his own house, but he was still faithful to his duty to protect Father’s privacy. ……It’s a pity.”

“Do you think so?”

Kim Chan-young nodded at Ko Sang-jun’s question.

“That’s what the butler should do. Father didn’t want the main family members to meet my mother, and wasn’t that what the Ahn family was for? If the butler had been scared of my brothers and let them meet my mother……. He wasn’t capable of managing Father’s privacy. It’s a bit much to say something about someone who’s already dead…….”

“Yes. I think so too. So I compensated the bereaved family enough. The bereaved family won’t cause a riot in the future.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ko Sang-jun seemed to like Kim Chan-young’s answer, so he put a piece of meat in front of him on Kim Chan-young’s rice.

“The rice is cold. Eat it quickly.”

“Yes, Father. Please eat a lot too.”

After the meal, Ko Sang-jun checked his watch and got up first, saying he had a schedule.

Kim Chan-young came out to where he was getting in the car and bowed to the car that was moving away.

And he muttered in a voice that no one would hear.

“You son of a bitch…….”