TPDC CHAPTER 1

Episode 1

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Plaintiff and defendant hereby divorce.

It had been far more grueling than anticipated. As Jiwon—representing the plaintiff—finally emerged from the courtroom victorious, her eyes brimmed with gratitude. The front of the Family Court was gridlocked with swarming press.

Flashes burst in unison as the reporters waited for her exit. Just as she was about to step into the blaze of cameras, a man unexpectedly grabbed her hand. Jiwon turned—though she didn’t need to confirm his identity. He was the man she loved most in the world.

“You’ve done so well,” he said gently, holding her.
In his arms, after the storm of the lawsuit, she felt the comfort she’d missed.

“We’re finally divorced.”
“Congratulations.”

At the long-awaited word, both faces lit up in smiles.

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“You know what? Let’s just get divorced.”

Hearing the man’s statement, Jiwon froze. It had been an astonishing thirteen days since she’d last seen a client walk into her modest law office.

From his first step in, she thought he didn’t belong there—yet to propose divorce out of nowhere was absurd.

As she blinked at him in confusion, he cracked a knowing smirk.

“How about it, the divorce of the century, one year from now?”

“I… don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Assuming he was crazy, Jiwon stayed calm and replied softly.

“I’m serious. You’d be headline‑making divorce lawyer after working on my divorce.”

He said plainly: she would win his divorce case, and her reputation would skyrocket.

Jiwon forced a polite smile.

“I’m Dong Ji‑won. And I handle divorce cases. I’m a first‑year lawyer from a provincial law school, with no big firm backing, no senior shepherding me—just my own practice.”

“Well, then this is perfect,” he continued. “It’s excellent exposure for you.”

“My fees? I need my salary.”

“I’ll cover all your debt.”

Smiling, she tried to nudge him with realism.

“I’m not exactly stunning, and I have a worse-than-terrible personality. My dream is to marry a chaebol heir and live in comfort. Being a lawyer is more like a hobby.”

“How about a chaebol? Me?”

He slid a business card across the desk.

Moon Tae‑jeong
Executive Director, Sunil Trading

Could it be real? He had the sharp brow, refined nose, and immaculate suit you’d expect from someone in a top-tier conglomerate—not from a rural law office.

She suspected a scammer. Perhaps another schemer who’d seduce her with sweet talk and reveal he’s a hidden heiress… only to demand money later.

She folded her arms in frustration.

“It’ll be a divorce over my alleged infidelity.”

“Infidelity?” He quirked his eyebrow.

“If you sue me, I’ll deny it all. Then you’ll scramble desperate to find evidence.”

This was nonsensical. Rather than argue, she remained still.

“But at the climactic moment, you uncover the truth—And I win. Then the press heralds you as the divorce-lawyer sensation.”

Even as she filled in her negative experience, he persisted.

“If you don’t want to marry, that’s fine. Neither do I. That’s why I’m offering 1 year of marriage—on public record.”

She reached for her phone.

“Aside, I’ve got emails—”

Feigning distraction, she quietly texted emergency services:

“Incident: 312 Jeongwoo Plaza, Room 312, Attorney Dong Ji-won’s office. Suspicious intruder asking for divorce.”

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Tae‑jeong sat at the local police station impassively — as calm as a high-ranking official visiting a precinct.

“So you came to hire her for a case?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The officer raised an eyebrow, and Jiwon, arms crossed, joined him beside the man.

“Why propose divorce to me?” she demanded.

“Because you’re Attorney Dong Ji-won,” he smirked.

She stared at him incredulously. Definitely not sane.

Just then, a sleekly-dressed lawyer entered.

“Good afternoon. I’m attorney Seo Jaeguk.”

Jiwon recognized him—she beamed. Tae‑jeong’s composure flickered.

“Seo, get a hold of yourself.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jiwon realized something: this man wasn’t just a random charlatan. There was an aura of class, something money couldn’t buy.

Seo Jaeguk approached and turned to her.

“Did the executive really come here, for you?”

Jiwon exhaled sharply.

“He did.”

Seo shook his head, quietly muttering admiration.

Suddenly, Jiwon noticed the faint curve at the corner of Tae‑jeong’s lip—almost a smirk.

 

It was just the beginning of a very strange story.