Chapter 5 – Separate Property

The client hesitated for a moment.

Attorney Seo In-ja also blinked, as if she did not understand what he meant.

“What do you mean by 1.8 billion won for divorce this year and 1.5 billion won for next year?”

‘The most important thing in a divorce lawsuit is the division of property. There is no one in the world who is relaxed enough to just let time drift in front of money.’

Geum Nae-yeong picked up the certified copy of the register from the stack of documents he held out. And he pointed to one place.

Section A (Ownership)

Purpose of Registration

Transfer of Ownership

Cause of Registration

August 23, 20**

Inheritance

──────

“Calculating the acquisition time, standard market value, and contribution rate··· with a slight difference, the estimated loss will be about 300 million won.”

“······.”

“If you file the lawsuit within this month, I can help you not lose even a single penny of the 1.8 billion won building.”

At those words Geum Nae-yeong threw out, the atmosphere in the office changed in an instant.

The one who was surprised more than anyone was Attorney Seo In-ja.

‘He calculated the estimated loss right here, on the spot, just by looking at those documents?’

Surely, it must be the first time Geum Nae-yeong had seen the documents. Because she, who was in charge, was also seeing them for the first time.

She knew the client was a meticulous man, so he was the type to keep living expenses and tax arrangements clean. But Geum Nae-yeong’s analysis was on a completely different level.

“···What do you mean by that?”

Seo In-ja asked, adjusting her glasses as if asking him to explain.

“Looking at the register, you inherited the building from your parents about the year before last?”

The client nodded slowly.

“Yes··· I have been living on the rental income of that building. Since I retired last year.”

‘Considering the time of inheritance, age, income structure, and expenditure patterns of keeping a meticulous household account book, at this point, the client will instinctively try to avoid losses. Thinking about the inheritance tax and the loss.

Loss aversion. That is his greatest motivation right now.’

Geum Nae-yeong picked up the documents and continued speaking.

“Inherited property is, in principle, separate property, so it is not subject to property division.

However, there are exceptions. If the couple managed it together or used it as a basis for livelihood, a portion of the contribution can be recognized.”

He lightly tapped the documents and continued.

“Currently, the two of you are covering living expenses with the income from this building, and although you say your wife is not managing it, you are dividing and depositing the rental income into your accounts.

Under these circumstances, there is a high possibility that the opposing party will claim that they ‘utilized it like common property.’”

After closing the documents briefly, he added firmly.

“When calculating the contribution rate, the core is how much one contributed to the maintenance or increase of the property through management, operation, and housework.

Therefore, if you file a lawsuit at this point, it is about three years since the inheritance, so the other party’s claim of contribution will be accepted only in a very limited manner.

However, if you drag it out, the situation changes.

The other party will also hire a lawyer, and they will surely tell them to drag out the time.

While telling them to maintain the communal life and manage the building even then. Because the contribution period will increase in the meantime.

As the period of maintaining communal life lengthens and they accumulate evidence of management contribution in the meantime··· the court will certainly reflect that circumstance.

If it is a 1.8 billion won building··· more than 300 million won could go to your spouse. Since it is a building, if it becomes subject to property division, ownership registration issues will also arise.”

At his words, the client’s expression froze.

As if he had imagined the invisible hand of the other party quietly taking away his 300 million won property right now.

“If you file the lawsuit this year, you can organize the entire building in your name during the mediation stage without recognizing division.

If that is your retirement asset, now is the most appropriate time.”

Geum Nae-yeong still did not blink an eye. Neither his voice nor his expression wavered.

“···You are saying··· I can organize the building entirely in my name?”

The client gasped for a moment.

A precious property left by his parents, he had lived by pouring water into a bottomless vessel, dragging along with or without affection.

But to think that just delaying it a little could make such a huge difference in the amount.

If it were not for this young employee, he would have suffered a truly irreversible loss.

The client’s eyes changed.

There was no reason to endure any longer.

“Okay. I will go into the lawsuit immediately. I only tolerated and lived with that woman out of pity··· if I am going to get divorced anyway, I shouldn’t lose up to 300 million won.”

The client, whose attitude changed in an instant, nodded with a face full of conviction. And he smiled toward Geum Nae-yeong next to him.

“Your staff member is very smart. Then please proceed with the lawsuit quickly.”

Seo In-ja corrected with a smile.

“He is not a staff member, but a lawyer. The one who newly joined this time.”

At those words, confusion passed through the client’s face for a moment, and soon his gaze shifted back to Geum Nae-yeong.

This time, unlike before, it was a gaze filled with conviction and trust.

Seo In-ja thought while following that gaze.

‘With just a brief consultation, he calculated the client’s disposition, the possibility of immediate lawsuit, and even what cards the other party would play if they went to trial?

He looks several steps ahead at once. He must have just put on his lawyer badge···

Yun Ho-jae said he was good at litigation, and it wasn’t just a groundless rumor.’

At the corners of Attorney Seo In-ja’s mouth, a smile spread without her realizing it.

‘A real piece of work has come in···’

***

Lunchtime.

When it was time to eat lunch, Attorney Geum Nae-yeong came out of his office.

The office was quiet. The staff seemed to have already gone out for lunch.

“Hmm···”

While looking around the office a bit, a small conversation leaked out from the consultation room.

“So Mom, do you know what Yubin··· said to the teacher?”

“What did she say?”

He opened the door slightly. The consultation room was simply decorated. On one side, a sofa.

And on the other side, a mini fridge and a round table. That was all.

Currently, at that round table, Accounting Manager Kim Mi-yeong and Office Manager Ju Yong-hae were sitting face-to-face and eating. Between them sat a girl wearing a school uniform who looked like a high school student.

Ju Yong-hae with a sullen face, and Accounting Manager Kim Mi-yeong who seemed to have an active and cheerful personality contrary to him.

Perhaps they brought side dishes from home, as a few ordinary side dishes. Side dish bowls containing sesame leaves, radish green kimchi, pickled chili peppers, and stir-fried anchovies were placed on the table.

“You were having a meal.”

When Attorney Geum Nae-yeong spoke, the three stood up from their seats in surprise.

“Ah, Attorney···”

Accounting Manager Kim Mi-yeong, unable to swallow the food in her mouth, replied while covering her mouth with her hand.

“My daughter, who goes to school nearby, finished early today. We were going to eat together.”

“Ah, yes.”

At that moment, the girl sitting between them spoke, her smart eyes shining.

“Who is he, Mom? Wow··· he is really handsome. Does this oppa work here too?”

“He is a lawyer. The one who newly arrived.”

At her mother’s introduction, the girl smiled brightly as if she liked Geum Nae-yeong.

“Seriously handsome! He looks completely like a celebrity.”

“Hmm···”

In times like this··· what kind of expression was he supposed to make? Geum Nae-yeong stood like a statue in his spot, unable to do this or that.

“Oh, my mind. Have you eaten? Would you like to eat with us, Attorney?”

Kim Mi-yeong suggested, but Attorney Geum Nae-yeong declined.

“No, thank you. I brought my own lunch. But does Office Manager Ju Yong-hae also eat with you?”

“Ah··· yes. Well, I eat together occasionally.”

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae replied reluctantly, as if something were uncomfortable and awkward.

“What do you mean by occasionally, Dad? You eat here almost every day. Sometimes eat alone. There are not enough side dishes.”

The girl snapped at the office manager.

“···Dad? Then by any chance, are you two married?”

When Attorney Geum Nae-yeong asked, the office manager’s face turned red and he waved his hands, saying.

“A-ah, no. We are not.”

“What do you mean we are not! We divorced a few years ago, but since the firm is the same, we are forced to attend the same firm. But they still bicker a lot.

Anyway, putting that aside···

Oppa looks like that but is a lawyer, so you must have been seriously good at studying, right? Wow··· a balance-breaking cheat character.”

The girl babbled excitedly and began to look at Geum Nae-yeong with sparkling eyes.

“···I see. Then I have a lunchbox, so I will be on my way.”

Geum Nae-yeong replied briefly, then turned around immediately and left the consultation room.

When the consultation room door closed, Accounting Manager Kim Mi-yeong looked at Office Manager Ju Yong-hae and urged him with her eyes.

“I mean, the person who drank and cried saying he was going to farm because he got fired··· how on earth did you suddenly get in under such a handsome young lawyer?”

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae muttered while eating a pickled chili.

“Ah. You didn’t see him during the interview because you went to the tax office, right? Attorney Geum Nae-yeong. It felt like he suddenly fell from the sky. He doesn’t really fit the atmosphere here.”

Kim Mi-yeong began to interrogate him. Ju Yong-hae only showed a subtle smile.

“But why did he specifically come here? There must be many good law firms nearby··· By the way, how much salary did he say he’d give? Do you receive four million a month?”

“You don’t need to know. Why are you curious about someone else’s salary?”

“I handle the accounting anyway, so what are you hiding. Well, if it’s five million, I’m truly grateful. If you receive more, it would be nice to send our Ha-yul to a K-pop broadcasting dance academy.”

“Mom! Are you really sending me?”

Ha-yul, who was eating, sparkled her eyes.

“No, it’s obvious. Even if your dad earns, at most it would be four or five million. That’s tight, so I’ll think about it when my salary rises next year.”

Taking another spoonful of rice, Kim Mi-yeong suddenly lowered her voice.

“But how much is the salary? If it has decreased, ask for a bit more. Tell him you’ll bring in work from other places. Since he seems like someone who doesn’t know the ways of the world, he might give you more.”

“Hey, what do you mean he doesn’t know the ways of the world. Looking at his resume, he is extremely gifted.”

“What do the gifted know? If they don’t have social experience, they don’t know the ways of the world.”

Then suddenly, Ju Yong-hae spoke as if he had recalled something.

“By the way, that dream”

“Dream? Did you have another prophetic dream?”

“A week ago when I was sleeping···. I opened my eyes and I was alone in the middle of a vast ocean. My throat was dry and oh dear, I thought I was going to die like this, so I stretched my hand toward the sky······suddenly!”

“Suddenly?”

“The seawater parted and a very sharp-looking dragon flew down and glared at me. After looking at me this way and that, suddenly it jumped right into my arms! It was a golden dragon! A gold dragon!”

“What? A gold dragon embraced you? Since Ju Yong-hae dreamed it, is it real? What is this. Oh, it gives me goosebumps.”

Kim Mi-yeong suddenly shivered as if getting goosebumps.

Although they bicker and spend time like they are divorced but not divorced because of their child, she, the ex-wife, knows Ju Yong-hae well.

Her ex-husband Ju Yong-hae’s dreams have a hit rate almost like a shaman.

‘Attorney Geum Nae-yeong··· is there really something about him?’

***

At that time, returning to the office, Geum Nae-yeong pulled out the lunchbox his mother packed.

Opening the lid, well-grilled beef bulgogi was contained.

While eating the beef bulgogi deliciously and looking at his phone, a post uploaded on social media caught Geum Nae-yeong’s eye.

─ I’m scheduled to get married next month, and the bride-to-be says she will give me half of the apartment in her name in a few years if I don’t cheat on another woman in the future.

It’s a prime Gangnam apartment. Can I just write a written pledge?

The comment section was in chaos.

└ She says she’ll give the name, so it’s a sweet deal.

└ You just have to not get caught. Write it.

└ Just write it. No reason not to accept.

Geum Nae-yeong thought for a moment, then soon left a comment.

└ According to the contents of the written pledge, it is a condition precedent, so it is disadvantageous to the prospective groom. – Attorney Geum Nae-yeong

After a short while, a reply was posted.

└ Oh, a lawyer brother appeared lol

└ Really? Then what should I write?

Geum Nae-yeong typed a reply with an expressionless face.

└ Come to the office. If you come for a consultation, I will tell you exactly. It is free.

Soon, another comment was attached.

└ Please share the location.

In this way, Geum Nae-yeong’s first consultation reservation was set.