Ex, not the current wife

[Yeishhh! I felt a chill run down my spine after she finished that sentence. Will she also kill me if I give half of the custody to him? But then, after all the facts she stated, it would look suspicious if I did. Damn! I hate this job of mine.]

She looked at me, then turned to Jungwoo. [Poor thing, God just had to make you go against the devil himself. Being humiliated like this in court, not having a place to lay your face on — that is truly a misfortune.] She regarded him with a pitying expression.

"According to the law, it is only right if the babies stay with their mother, but she has to share custody with the father if he is present. However, after reviewing the evidence shared, it proves that the father is unfit to be in their lives, so an exception will be made in this case. The mother will be granted full custody of the twins, and no visitation rights shall be given to the father. Court is adjourned."

THUD! She slammed the gavel, preparing to stand when the defense lawyer suddenly called out.

"Yes, Lawyer Lee?" she said as she sat back down, waiting.

"Your Honor, the decision was made based on evidence presented by the plaintiff's counsel, but it was never presented before the court. How do we know the evidence is strong enough for the plaintiff to be granted full custody?" he asked as he approached.

The judge narrowed her eyes. "Lawyer Lee, are you questioning my decision as the judge? It seems you need more training, as you don't understand courtroom law. To avoid wasting everyone's time, I will now present the evidence." She leaned forward, voice clear and firm.

"Three days ago, the twins were hospitalized after being sent to the Park family house for a visit. The cause was a rose perfume worn by Mr. Park's ex-wife and the mi-eum fed by Madam Park. This caused an allergic reaction and food poisoning. The plaintiff revoked visitation rights after clearly informing the family about the babies' allergies, diet, and not to let strangers near them, but they ignored her instructions. Is that enough to clarify how the decision was reached?"

"But Your Honor, Ms. Gyuri is no stranger," Lawyer Lee argued, desperate to find a flaw.

"May I ask, Lawyer Lee, is Ms. Gyuri related to the twins?"

"No, Your Honor."

"Is she related to the plaintiff?"

"No, Your Honor."

"Is she related to the Parks?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

"How so?"

"She is the ex-wife of the defendant."

The judge's voice sharpened. "Ex — not the current wife. The moment you said 'ex,' it should be clear she is no longer part of the family. That makes her a stranger. The plaintiff clearly told them not to bring strangers near the twins. Do you see where this is going?

"How can your client prove he will follow the instructions of the person who brought him to court with difficulty, when he failed to follow them the first time? We are talking about human lives here, not test subjects to experiment on. Your client endangered the twins' lives the first time he met them. How do we know he won't do it again, especially if he has to choose between his children and his ex-wife?

"The very ex-wife he neglected — the woman who carried his own bloodline. Do you think he would choose them? After all, these are the children of the wife he neither loved nor cherished. Will you choose them, Mr. Park?"

She turned to him, waiting.

Jungwoo was silent, then glanced at Gyuri behind him.

"There is your answer, Lawyer Lee. Anyone who values the lives of their children would choose them without hesitation. Lawyer Lee, you should attend a month of training, as it's clear you don't understand the laws of the courtroom. Court is adjourned."

THUD! The gavel came down again as she stood and left the courtroom.

Jiyeon rushed to hug me. Hand in hand, we walked out, excitement and relief filling our hearts.