Episode 13 of "Good Partner" unfolds with a haunting flashback, where Eun-kyung, filled with foreboding, entrusts Yu-ri with a solemn task: to wait outside a client's abode, poised to dial the police if she fails to emerge within ten fateful minutes, her suspicions of domestic turmoil lurking heavily. Inside the confines of that house, Eun-kyung discovers the wife sprawled lifelessly on the floor, a ghastly sight that momentarily stirs to a desperate plea for aid before slipping back into stillness. The husband's despair at her lingering life morphs into a twisted refusal to summon help, and soon, the woman's spirit slips away forever.
Stricken with horror, Eun-kyung steadfastly refuses to be complicit in the client's dark deeds, announcing their withdrawal from the case. Realizing the weight of Eun-kyung's newfound status as a witness, the enraged man turns on her, his intent clear—to silence her as he had his wife. But Eun-kyung, barefoot and trembling, manages to elude his grasp, echoing the helpless escape of the woman he'd brutalized.
Meanwhile, Yu-ri's swift call to the authorities sets in motion the man's capture, her bravery shielded by a lie—claiming sole witnesshood to shield Eun-kyung, a public figure caught in the crossfire. Woo-jin arrives, a beacon of comfort, to escort her away from the chaos.
Back at home, Eun-kyung's mind is besieged by the man's chilling threats against Jae-hui, her daughter's safety a constant, paralyzing fear. The following day, news of the man's manslaughter charge—a concession to the prosecution's lack of intent evidence—ripples through the public, casting a pall over the firm for defending such a heinous figure. Yu-ri's anonymity is shattered in the process, exposed to the harsh glare of public scrutiny.
In the courtroom, the man's presence is a palpable blow to Eun-kyung, her composure frayed beneath the weight of his gaze. Both Eun-kyung and Yu-ri bear the emotional burden of their harrowing experience, their souls scarred by the darkness they've witnessed.
Later that evening, as Jae-hui indulges in karaoke with her friends, leaving Eun-kyung unable to reach her, a veil of paranoia descends upon the latter. However, her anxiety dissipates when she finally locates Jae-hui, unharmed, and guides her safely home. Jae-hui, with reassuring words, implores Eun-kyung to have faith in her discernment, reminding her of a string of prudent decisions that have marked her path. This solace emboldens Eun-kyung, solidifying her resolve to stand as a witness in the looming legal battle.
Concurrently, Woo-jin ascends to the helm of Daejong as its CEO, defying his father's wishes by terminating the MOU with the medical foundation. Though this move incurs financial repercussions, Woo-jin's conviction that rectifying past injustices supersedes monetary gains earns him Eun-kyung's admiration for his courageous decision-making.
At the subsequent hearing, Eun-kyung takes the stand, courageously putting her professional future on the line by testifying against her own client. Amidst public criticism, she unveils evidence that incontrovertibly proves the accused's intention to murder his spouse. This damning testimony, bolstered by a covert recording she had made with a spy pen prior to the fateful encounter, seals the man's fate as he's convicted of murder and sentenced to a lengthy 15-year imprisonment.
Parallel to this, Yu-ri mounts a passionate protest against the skewed divorce laws that ensnare victims in abusive marriages, rallying support from the law firm's divorce team. Through Eun-kyung's fearless testimony, Yu-ri's vociferous advocacy, and subsequent interviews shedding light on the case, the law firm gradually recovers from the public relations quagmire it had found itself in.
As the episode draws to a close, Eun-kyung announces to Yu-ri with poise that she intends to depart from the firm, leaving Yu-ri to helm their shared cases with renewed determination and solo responsibility.
