Chapter 9

The Red Notebook — Episode 9: (The Mrs.Han Case)

Yuri couldn't stop thinking about the sentence in the notebook.

“8:40 PM — ASK WHY HE WAS THERE.”

She needed answers.

And this time, she wasn't going to wait.

That evening, she waited until her parents were both in the living room.

Yuri walked in and sat across from them.

“Tell me about Mrs. Han.”

Her father looked up.

“Yuri…”

Her parents exchanged a quick glance.

Her mother looked away.

Her father stayed silent.

Yuri's voice became firmer.

“You know her, don't you?”

Her father's expression changed.

“Why are you asking about her?”

“Just answer me.”

He sighed.

“Yes. I know Mrs. Han.”

Yuri leaned forward.

“How?”

Her father hesitated.

“She was my client.”

Yuri's eyes widened.

“Your client?”

He nodded.

“Years ago.”

“What was the Han case about?”

Her father looked down.

“Mrs. Han was accused of something she didn't do.”

Yuri frowned.

“So she was innocent?”

“Yes.”

“Then why was there a case against her?”

Her father remained silent for a moment.

“Someone wanted to punish her.”

“For what?”

Her mother quietly answered,

“She refused to do what they wanted.”

Yuri's eyes narrowed.

“Who?”

Neither of them answered.

Her father stood up.

“That is enough, Yuri.”

“No.” Yuri stood too. “You were her lawyer. You investigated the case. And you were with her in Room 214.”

Her father's face went pale.

“Where did you hear about Room 214?”

Yuri held his gaze.

“So you remember.”

Silence.

Finally, her father said,

“Mrs. Han and I discovered something important during the investigation.”

“What?”

“We found proof that the case against her wasn't what it seemed.”

Yuri waited.

“And Room 214?”

Her father looked toward the window.

“That was where Mrs. Han and I met to discuss what we'd found.”

“At 8:40?”

He didn't answer.

Yuri's eyes narrowed.

“What happened at 8:40?”

Her father finally looked at her.

“That is the part you should leave alone.”

Yuri stared at him.

“Why?”

“Because after that night, everything changed.”

Before Yuri could ask another question, her mother quietly said,

“Your father quit the case.”

Yuri turned toward her.

“Why?”

Her mother didn't answer.

Yuri picked up her bag and walked toward the stairs.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number.

“Now you know what the Han case was.”

Yuri stopped.

Another message appeared.

“But you still don't know what happened at 8:40.”

Yuri stared at the screen.

Then a final message arrived.

“Ask your father what he saw when the door opened.”

Yuri's expression changed.

The door opened?

She looked back toward her parents.

Her father was watching her.

And for the first time, Yuri realized—

he wasn't afraid of the case.

He was afraid of what happened that night.

To be continued…