Kim Miyeon had been suffering from her abusive boyfriend for months. She had wanted to leave him for a long time, but she was blackmailed into it by the threat that if she did, he would release all those humiliating photos of her, photos that she had no idea were being taken.
She never told anyone, not even her colleagues at the Eastern District Prosecutor's Office. She was too embarrassed and afraid to tell them. But only one person saw all the signs, only one person saw that every minor cut and bruise on her weren't just "accidents"... Do Ji-han, Department Eight's senior prosecutor.
~~~~~
"Let me see," Ji-han said as he was finally left alone with Miyeon at their office that night. Even though the weather wasn't particularly cold, he noticed she was wearing a scarf. He was aware that she was concealing something from him.
"What do you mean, Mr. Do?" Miyeon paused, her gaze drawn away from him as she carefully placed her hand on her scarf. Ji-han notices her wince, and he immediately realizes that she has recently been abused. Anger welled up inside the senior prosecutor, hurting that he was seeing the woman he secretly cared about in this state, but he tried to remain calm and knelt beside her.
"Just...let me see, Miyeon."
Finally, she lowered her hand and looked her senior in the eyes, expressing her complete trust in him. Then he reached for her scarf and carefully peeled it off her neck. When he was finally able to remove the item of clothing, he had a shocked expression on his face.
"Did he do it?" He said this as he reached out to touch the deep purple marks around her neck, but he quickly retracted when she winced again, this time with a tear escaping her eye. Those severe bruises would've killed her if she'd been choked for a little longer, and the thought made him hurt even more for her. "Oh, Miyeon...how could you have let him get this far?"
"Ji-han..." she said quietly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I...I didn't have a choice. I didn't realize he-"
She abruptly cut herself off, but he figured it out. "Did he secretly take pictures you?"
He doesn't need to hear anything else from her. He was determined to put an end to it all from that point forward.
"I promise," he said quietly as his hand began to shake in rage. "I'm going to get that son of a bitch."
~~~~~
Miyeon arrived at her apartment later that night, but as she opened the door, someone grabbed her and pulled her inside.
"You little whore!" Miyeon's abusive boyfriend, Lee Dong-pil, had her pinned to the wall. "You didn't think I'd see you with another man, did you?"
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Miyeon said helplessly as she struggled to free herself from his clutches.
"Miyeon, don't mess with me. I know you're having an affair with that prosecutor behind my back!"
The doorbell rang just as Dong-pil was about to slap Miyeon across the face. "I'll get you later, bitch," he grumbled as he let go of her.
When he opened the door, a furious Ji-han confronted him. "I'm not going to let that happen."
Before Dong-pil could react, his face collided with Ji-han's fist. Dong-pil grabbed his hand and punched him on the lip as Ji-han was about to land another punch. The force was so intense that blood trickled down the prosecutor's chin.
"You're not as tough as I thought you were." The brute was about to land another punch when he was surprised by another punch to the face. "Wait a minute, what the fuck-"
Yang Soo-dong, Ji-han's partner, was already by the prosecutor's side when he looked up. "Are you okay, Mr. Do?"
Ji-han nodded as Mr. Yang assisted him in standing up. "You think you can get me?" smirked Dong-pil.
"Yes, I can," Ji-han replied, returning the smirk.
Four police officers, including Lieutenant Cha Soo-ho, stormed the apartment at that moment. Soo-ho's gaze was drawn to Miyeon, who was sitting against the wall, watching the events unfold. Seeing his friend in such a state enraged him, and he exclaimed, "Do you think Mr. Do would go up against you if he didn't have a plan? He's more intelligent than you think."
Ji-han began, "Lee Dong-pil," as Soo-ho placed handcuffs on Dong-pil. "You have been arrested in accordance with Criminal Law Acts Nos. 10261 and 5487. You have the option of remaining silent. Anything you say or do is going to be used against you..."
Miyeon watched as Ji-han read Dong-pil's rights to him. It's finally over, she thought, tears welling up in her eyes. As Dong-pil was being led away, Ji-han rushed to Miyeon's side and cradled her in his arms.
"Mr. Do, you shouldn't have gone up on your own like that," scolded Soo-dong, as he always did. "Why didn't you tell us sooner, Ms. Kim? We could have helped you before it got this bad. I swear, you two are so obstinate-"
"Mr. Yang," Ji-han said, looking into Miyeon's eyes as he tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "I believe you should postpone your reprimand for the time being. Ms. Kim must be tired from all that's happened tonight."
Soo-dong cast a glance at Miyeon, who was already looking at him with a small smile. "Thank you," she said, and he bowed slightly to her.
"I guess I'll just go ahead. Mr. Do, Ms. Kim," Soo-dong then left.
Finally, Ji-han took Miyeon in his arms and gently placed her on the bed. He locked his gaze on her for a long moment before turning to leave, but she caught his wrist and gently drew him to sit beside her.
She wiped the remaining blood from his lip with her thumb and rested her hand on his cheek.
"Your lip's swollen," she said sadly as she observed the fresh cut on the prosecutor's lower lip. "I'm sorry..."
He had a reassuring smile on his face as he shook his head. "I'd rather get hurt again and again if it's worth saving you."
"Do you really have to leave so soon?" She asked quietly, her gaze never leaving his. He returned her gaze with the same intensity, leaning into her warm touch.
"I'll have to make sure he never comes near you again," he said, reaching for her hand and lovingly caressing it. "Would you like me to stay?"
"I'd feel safer if you did."
Ji-han then leaned in and kissed Miyeon on the lips briefly but gently. It didn't seem like enough for the senior prosecutor, so he leaned in again, this time for a longer and more passionate kiss.
"I'll come back to you as soon as I can."
"I'm sure you will."
