Episode 11 of *Beyond the Bar* opens with Seok-hoon arriving at the vet to pick up Hash. However, Yeon-a’s partner, Jung Won-jun, is already present. He wastes no time in challenging Seok-hoon, grilling him over the words he’d shared with Yeon-a—particularly his declaration about letting her go—and asserting his dominance in the situation. Won-jun casually mentions that they’re relocating to Singapore soon for his job and hints that Hash might come along with them. Seok-hoon, far from pleased, firmly points out that any shared custody arrangement over Hash simply wouldn’t work, dismissing Won-jun’s flippant suggestion of allowing weekend visits as absurd. Naturally, this does not sit well with the lawyer.
Seok-hoon doesn’t mince his words, threatening to pursue legal action with a strong emphasis on obtaining primary custody. He even enlists Jin-woo to oversee the case, signaling just how serious he is about this fight.
Meanwhile, Hyo-min’s mother pays a visit to the cat shelter with the intention of adopting a feline companion. Choi Eun-hee spots a cat that is deaf, and the sight stirs up poignant memories of her time with Hyo-ju from 28 years ago. Upon learning that the cat cannot be adopted due to its special needs, she quietly leaves, her emotions clearly unsettled.
This moment is beautifully contrasted with a heartfelt conversation between Min-jeong and Hyo-min about motherhood. They discuss the challenges of nurturing a mother-daughter relationship, acknowledging its inevitable highs and lows. Hyo-min’s history with her mother has been complicated, but Min-jeong, viewing things from a maternal perspective, encourages her to understand that building such a bond takes patience—“one brick at a time”—and gently urges Hyo-min lacks the nerve to tackle this particular challenge, so Seok-hoon steps up to the plate, deciding to handle it alone. The crux of the matter lies in the fact that, though abusing animals is undeniably illegal and reprehensible, the very video evidence used to accuse the perpetrator was acquired through unlawful means.
Seok-hoon, who clearly harbors a deep affection for dogs, speaks his mind candidly and refuses to represent Wu-sol. In fact, he goes as far as to align himself with the prosecution if Wu-sol persists in trying to enlist Seok-hoon's support. Regrettably, this sociopathic individual does not respond kindly to rejection, and his presence even sends shivers down Hyo-min's spine in the elevator.
Upon witnessing Hyo-min's visible fear, Seok-hoon springs into action, forcibly ejecting Wu-sol from the building and instructing security to keep him at bay. Hyo-min's harrowing encounter leaves her shaken, yet it also serves to deepen her bond with Seok-hoon.
When Ho-yeon finds herself in a minor car accident (rest assured, it's nothing serious!), she needs someone to look after the twins. She reaches out to Hyo-min for assistance, who, in turn, contacts Seok-hoon to see if he's available. They end up having a delightful time together and decide to head off to a lodge for some relaxation that evening. Better still, Hash will be joining them too—what a pleasant surprise!
That night, as the twins drift off to sleep, Hyo-min and Seok-hoon find themselves discussing Hash and his significance to Seok-hoon. Seok-hoon is clearly torn; on one hand, this dog is a cherished companion, akin to a son. Hash has been a constant presence in Seok-hoon's life, alleviating his loneliness. However, the thought of keeping Hash away from Yeon-a and Won-jun weighs heavily on his mind, as he fears it might inadvertently lead to Hash feeling lonely as well.Hyo-min to treat her mother with greater kindness.
Later, Hyo-min and Seok-hoon encounter a new, unsettling client at Yullim: Jung Wu-sol, an unhinged psychopath with a bone to pick. Wu-sol intends to file a privacy violation lawsuit against TK Telecom. The issue arose when he transferred data to his new phone but forgot to log out of his cloud account. An employee stumbled upon his videos and reported him. Among these videos is footage of Wu-sol brutally abusing his dog, Dubu. Wu-sol, however, is entirely unrepentant, brushing off the incident as merely a part of his “private life.”
In the end, Seok-hoon makes up his mind to file an injunction that prohibits the transfer of possession of Hash. Essentially, this legal move halts any attempts to take Hash away. Meanwhile, Won-jun arrives at Yullim, accompanied by his lawyer. Jin-woo, never one to back down, puts on quite a show, even going so far as to threaten Won-jun with a travel ban and additional legal action if he persists in his current course.
Back at the cat shelter, Eun-hee decides to adopt the deaf cat. It's clear she's trying to make amends for what happened with Hyo-ju, and this act serves as the first step in her journey toward reconciliation with her daughter.
Meanwhile, Na-yeon catches Choi Yun-geon in the company of Seok-hoon. She can tell he's been coerced into his current position and offers him a chance to escape punishment if he cooperates with them. Interestingly enough, Seok-hoon and Yun-geon have a history; they've worked together before, and Seok-hoon even gave the younger man some words of encouragement during that time.
However, Yun-geon is caught in a web of blackmail. He used to work as an adult entertainer, and his seniors have been using this past against him. He was involved in overseeing the Hynic Core case years ago and has been ensnared in this mess ever since. Seok-hoon assures him that he'll be given a fair chance if he cooperates, though he warns that Mr. Ko and the others could still blacklist him from the industry if Seok-hoon's plan doesn't pan out and he's not cautious. Nevertheless, Yun-geon agrees to help and even possesses some confidential documents from the past deal with Bluestone.
Yun-geon knows exactly what they're looking for, and his information leads to a lawsuit being filed against Bluestone Fund for breaching the seller's representations and warranties. When Ko Seung-cheol learns of this, he's far from pleased but decides to try and distance himself from the unfolding drama.
As it turns out, Du-sik has recorded the entire conversation. However, his testimony alone isn't enough to bring down Mr. Ko. The real game-changer comes from Lee Seong-bin. He has all the crucial details about his company's framework memorized, including financial records and the specific coding required to make Hynic Core operational. Without this information, what Bluestone acquired is essentially a hollow shell of a company, which is why Optalyn has filed the lawsuit.
Realizing they have solid grounds for a lawsuit with this newfound information and evidence, Seok-hoon and the others spring into action. But first, they need to meet with the asset management company to make their plan a reality.
That night, as Hyo-min makes her way home, she discovers her mother in a state of distress, weeping and fussing over the frightened kitten, who curls up trembling inside an adorable cat bed. Touched by the scene, Hyo-min agrees to cook dinner for her mother and even promises to bring Ji-eun over to lend a helping hand.
While she tends to the kitten, Hyo-min offers comforting words to her mother, who laments being a terrible parent and recounts how she used to be an overprotective "helicopter parent" to Hyo-ju. In her preoccupation, she had neglected Hyo-min, who once suffered a tragic fall down the stairs, resulting in a broken right arm and left leg. The incident plunged Eun-hee into a profound well of guilt.
This guilt was the driving force behind her decision to entrust Hyo-ju's care to her sister, an act she believed was rooted in love. However, fate had a cruel twist in store when her sister's child was born deaf, a prospect Eun-hee had once scoffed at, advising her sister against having children for fear of such an outcome.
The irony was not lost on Eun-hee when Hyo-ju herself was born deaf. She questioned whether this was some form of divine retribution. Yet, witnessing the deep bond between Hyo-ju and her sister made her wonder if she had ever truly taken the time to understand her own daughter. This introspection culminates in a heartfelt mother-daughter conversation between Hyo-min and Eun-hee, with the former internalizing Min-jeong's poignant words.
However, the tranquility is shattered at the veterinary clinic when the malevolent abuser, Jung Wu-sol, makes an appearance and forcibly takes Hash for himself. Seok-hoon is left reeling upon learning of this development. To make matters worse, Hash is subjected to a brutal beating, the footage of which is sent to their lawyer as a means of coercing Seok-hoon into representing Wu-sol. Shocked and struggling to maintain his composure, Seok-hoon enlists Hyo-min's help and takes charge of the situation.
Upon confronting Wu-sol, Hyo-min manages to break through his defenses. Despite his difficulty in trusting others, Hyo-min's persuasive words convince him, and she vows to represent Wu-sol and help him evade jail time. Though he eventually returns Hash, he does so with a menacing warning that their ordeal is far from over.
At the vet's office, it is revealed that Hash has sustained a hairline fracture to his ribs but is expected to recover. Unfortunately, the poor pup also suffers from psychological trauma following the ordeal. Furious, Seok-hoon resolves to track down Wu-sol on his own.
In the shadowy confines of the narrow alleyway, Seok-hoon unleashes a torrent of violence upon Wu-sol, forcing him to choke down mouthfuls of cat food. All the while, Seok-hoon's malevolent intent lingers, hinting at further cruelty he's about to inflict upon innocent animals. As fate would have it, a group of police officers, engaged in a covert stakeout, witness the entire harrowing scene unfold right before their eyes in that dim alleyway.
Seizing the moment, they apprehend Wu-sol, whose previous heinous act of beating an elderly, family-less individual nearly to death justifies the arrest. Meanwhile, they subtly urge Seok-hoon to make a hasty retreat, cleverly exploiting the camera blind spots in the alley to shield themselves from any unwanted scrutiny.
Upon returning home, Seok-hoon finds himself engaged in a candid, emotionally charged conversation with Yeon-a. The unspoken tension hanging in the air is finally addressed as Yeon-a bravely opens up about her pregnancy and the heart-wrenching decision to undergo an abortion. Their exchange is marked by a raw, unfiltered honesty that leaves both of them feeling exposed yet strangely connected. Eventually, the weight of their words compels Seok-hoon to seek solace in the bottom of a bottle, drowning his sorrows in a haze of alcohol.
Just then, Hyo-min arrives at the bar, her presence a beacon of compassion amidst the gloom. She tends to Seok-hoon's bleeding knuckles with gentle care, her hands deftly applying ointment as their eyes meet in a moment of shared understanding and unspoken empathy.
