Episode 4 of "Beyond the Bar" kicks off with an intriguing scene: Hyo-min ventures out to meet Seok-hoon, who stands drenched in the rain, his hand smeared with blood, prompting curiosity about his plight. To unravel this mystery, we take a nostalgic leap backward in time.
Seok-hoon finds himself entrusted with a high-stakes case involving a prominent CEO. Victory in this legal battle promises Yullim not only a pivotal investment opportunity but also the chance to overshadow Lee & Seo. At the heart of this legal quagmire lies Choi Cheol-min, the CEO and founder of COMO fund, who seeks Seok-hoon's discretion in tandem with the Head of Litigation, amidst negotiations for a lucrative financial deal.
Separately, a personal dilemma lands on Seok-hoon's desk — a defamation suit brought by his housekeeper, Yeong-suk, against Cheol-min for allegedly abusing his daughter, In-yeong. Disturbing images of In-yeong, a six-year-old with visible injuries, paint a grim picture. Yet, Cheol-min dismisses these as mere fabrications, attributing them to his hectic schedule and speculating they might be the result of makeup or a mischievous plot. Convincing? Hardly.
Eventually, Seok-hoon, to everyone's astonishment, agrees to take on the case, a decision that defies his stringent principle of avoiding child abuse cases. Meanwhile, Hyo-min joins him in this endeavor, while the rest of the team, who were notably absent in the previous episode, embarks on a trip to Pohang to tackle a contentious case involving insurance companies disputing claims for earthquake victims.
With the law firm's corridors echoing with silence during their week-long absence, Hyo-min and Seok-hoon delve into the personal turmoil of the CEO. Hyo-min's first assignment is to visit Yeong-suk, who resides in a humble abode perched high above the bustling city in a deprived neighborhood.
Yeong-suk, her voice tinged with emotion, recounts how she witnessed In-yeong's gradual decline. The once lively child often gazed vacantly out the window, lost in her thoughts. Although Cheol-min was never seen striking his daughter, Yeong-suk reveals instances where his handling of In-yeong bordered on roughness, painting a picture far from idyllic.
The daycare center remained oblivious, and no hospital reports existed because In-yeong's injuries were addressed at home, shrouded in secrecy. The police report had been cleared as well, despite Yeong-suk's undisguised disdain for Cheol-min, whom she labeled the devil and recounted her relentless nightmares since resigning from her job. Hyo-min was deeply moved by her testimony, but Seok-hoon remained unconvinced. Upon returning to the office and voicing her sentiments, she was promptly reprimanded by her superiors. Part of the reason was that Yeong-suk had subsequently sent threatening messages to the CEO, boasting about his impending downfall and attempting to extort him.
As the full narrative unfolds, it transpires that Yeong-suk had a history of stealing from him. Cheol-min had overlooked some of her thefts due to the exceptional care she provided for his daughter, despite her notorious reputation as a fraudster and criminal, evidenced by her past record. After composing herself, Hyo-min apologized to Seok-hoon for her earlier behavior. Seok-hoon, engaging in damage control, also apologized to the CEO but remained confident that they would act justly.
Seok-hoon also had a gift for In-yeong, but she was incredibly timid, flinching at the merest touch. Cheol-min's temper was equally short, and he shouted at her. Seok-hoon was less than impressed by the scene.
The following day, Yeong-suk sets off for the office, her heart heavy as she recounts how her criminal record stemmed from an ill-fated marriage that forced her into perpetrating fraud. Unbeknownst to her, her dismissal was a cunning setup orchestrated by Cheol-min. During the pivotal meeting, Yeong-suk unleashes her fury on the accused, her words like barbs aimed at Cheol-min. Meanwhile, Cheol-min lounges with a smug grin plastered across his face, while Seok-hoon, ever the realist, reminds Yeong-suk that the evidence stacked against her paints a grim picture—prison time and exorbitant fines loomed under the guise of blackmail and extortion.
Seok-hoon presents her with a binding agreement, explaining that if she affixes her fingerprint, she must desist from leveling any further accusations against Cheol-min. Breaching this contract would triple her liabilities. With her options dwindling, Yeong-suk signs, her tears staining the paper. Hyo-min watches in dismay, but Seok-hoon remains tight-lipped, his thoughts buried deep within. Indeed, he vanishes from work for several days, leaving Hyo-min worried sick until she finds herself dozing off in his office chair.
When Seok-hoon finally reappears, Hyo-min is taken aback, only to be quickly ushered out by him. His absence has clearly been a time of profound contemplation, yet the case lingers unresolved. A call from Cheol-min interrupts his reverie, revealing that someone has once again reported him to the authorities. With a mixture of arrogance and defiance, Cheol-min admits to abusing his child but asserts that due to the impending financial merger, Seok-hoon had no choice but to defend him, making Cheol-min feel invincible.
Seok-hoon and Hyo-min rush over as Cheol-min insists on avoiding police scrutiny of In-yeong's precarious state. She is far from well, and as Seok-hoon assesses the situation, he proposes a drastic solution—to "eradicate the evidence." Cheol-min, thrilled by this proposition, watches as Seok-hoon ascends the stairs, determined to see this dark chapter through to its conclusion.
In-yeong, cowering within the confines of her closet, finds herself in a harrowing condition. Her cheek is sliced open, and her body trembles uncontrollably. Seok-hoon, cleverly feigning a gesture of goodwill towards Cheol-min, intervenes and whisks her away, ultimately steering her towards the sanctuary of a hospital—a commendable act cloaked in deception.
In-yeong's fragile state necessitates immediate surgical intervention, leaving Seok-hoon and Hyo-min anxiously perched outside, their hearts poised in hopeful anticipation. Fortunately, their prompt arrival proves crucial, turning the tide in her favor. Yeong-sik's presence adds another layer to the scenario, revealing his involvement after Seok-hoon approached him for assistance, driven by fears that confronting the CEO could exacerbate In-yeong's plight, following her signing of the fateful covenant.
Seething with rage, Seok-hoon storms back to the CEO's lair, where he unleashes a tempest of blows upon the unsuspecting Cheol-min. Yet, his vengeful spree is curbed just in time by Hwang Tae-seong and his entourage. It transpires that Cheol-min, for years, has been siphoning funds clandestinely, a secret Seok-hoon has uncovered.
Seok-hoon strikes a pact with Tae-seong, brokering a deal that promises justice for Cheol-min's misdeeds and a brighter future for his daughter, in exchange for recovering Tae-seong's embezzled funds. The retainer Cheol-min had earlier deposited, unbeknownst to him, finds its way into In-yeong's trust account, while Cheol-min himself faces the brutal retribution meted out by those he once betrayed.
The agonizing torture he endures, meticulously concealed from the public's gaze, pushes him to the brink, plunging Cheol-min into the depths of PTSD and overwhelming anxiety. Compounding his woes, other investors lodge complaints against him, ultimately leading to his financial ruin and incarceration for fraud and embezzlement. Custody of In-yeong reverts to his mother, who had earlier divorced following years of domestic abuse. While it's evident that the abuse once directed at her has now shifted to her son, there appears to be a semblance of resolution to their ordeal.
Upon returning from their business trip, the rest of the group finds Hyo-min brimming with spirits. Seok-hoon is also among them, and Hyo-min's perception of him has undergone a transformation. As she tends to Seok-hoon's bloodied hand, Hyo-min begins to harbor feelings for him, her demeanor becoming increasingly flustered in his company.
Seok-hoon receives an urgent call and dashes to the vet's clinic to check on Hash, his ailing dog suffering from an upset stomach. However, his arrival is met with an unexpected shock—his ex, Yeon-a, appears, revealing her pregnancy to his astonishment.
