In the eighth episode of Pro Bono, Jin-hui expresses her profound gratitude to the lawyers with a heart overflowing with emotion. The following day, Ji-hwan's gossip platform unleashes the shocking news that Eliyah's boyfriend is cheating on her, a tip straight from Jin-hui's own mouth.
Da-wit and Gi-ppeum confront their mother, who justifies her actions by claiming that she's only looking out for her daughter's best interests. Eliyah, however, is furious, tired of people making decisions for her. Gi-ppeum comments on the idol's string of unlucky relationships, each ending with her boyfriend abandoning her. Da-wit senses something is off and threatens to sue Ji-hwan. In exchange, Ji-hwan reveals his deal with Jin-hui: whenever Eliyah has a boyfriend, Ji-hwan hires a man to claim an affair with her, chasing away the real boyfriend.
As Jin-hui flirts with a young and handsome salesman, Da-wit tells Eliyah of her mother's betrayal. She decides to sue EK Entertainment and end her oppressive contract with them. The Pro Bono team delves into the agency's ledgers and uncovers something damning against Kim Ju-won, the director and Eliyah's brother.
There's an offshore paper company called HOPE, where he reported "failed investments." He also took out life insurance for Eliyah, with his sick daughter So-yeon as the beneficiary and nominee of HOPE. Jin-hui herself has been embezzling, but she's fuming at Ju-won for getting caught.
Meanwhile, Eliyah finds herself rooming with Gi-ppeum. She helps out at Gi-ppeum's cafe with her deaf parents and even gifts Ji-hye with merchandise as a fan. When she hears about Ji-hye's abuse at the hands of her uncle, she sees herself in the girl, filled with empathy and understanding.
With a heart heavy with resolve, Da-wit decides to take legal action against Ju-won, only for Jin-hui to step in and bear the brunt of the situation. It's all thanks to the perplexing Exemption of Crimes by Family law, a legal quirk that seemingly favors the powerful over the innocent. Myeong-hun, Jin-hui's stalwart defender, plays a masterful hand in this legal chess match, reminding us of the intricate web of family dynamics and the law.
Dr. Oh, on the other hand, delivers a sharp rebuke, reminding Da-wit that any lawsuit would count as a failure in their wager. He even belittles Jung-in when she dares to challenge his authority. Jun-u, hesitant to be branded as a failure on his record, echoes Dr. Oh's sentiment, claiming that Eliyah's case is not a matter of public interest but rather a vital part of their careers.
The icing on the cake is when Ji-hye's lawsuit is dismissed despite her uncle's heinous crimes against her—a shocking reminder that family crimes often go unnoticed. Yeong-sil, with a past of his own—running away from a wealthy family where his father's abuse was a daily occurrence—vows to change this by using Eliyah as a beacon of hope for victims like Ji-hye.
On Da-wit's mother's birthday, he makes a heartfelt apology for going against her wishes and decides to take on a fight that seems insurmountable. The team, touched by his change of heart, teases him for being less cocky—a side they seemingly prefer—but Jun-u, despite his fear, agrees to see it through to the end.
Dr. Oh, feeling the heat from Jung-in's threat to expose his rigged appeal trial of CEO Jang Hyeon-bae (remember him from the first episode?), reluctantly agrees to let her "play," impressed by her persistence and cunning.
As the National Assembly loomed on the horizon, Jin-hui wove a web of deceit around Eliyah, even revealing Ju-won's true colors, portraying her as a saintly mother who embraced her children's imperfections. Predictably, the internet turned against Eliyah like a swarm of angry bees.
The day of the National Assembly's attendance dawned, and Myeong-hun painted Eliyah as heartless for altering a law to legally punish a mother who shielded her from an abusive father. Da-wit speculated that Eliyah knew Jin-hui was using her, but her gratitude for her love and protection blinded her. Eliyah's tears fell like rain, shocking Jin-hui that her daughter knew of the exploitation.
To prove her exploitation, Da-wit introduced Min-ha, the handsome salesman from the VIP store who had now become Jin-hui's lover. And, well, he was cooperative because Da-wit had threatened to sue him as an accomplice. Why? Jin-hui had purchased his apartment with Eliyah's money and given him a black card linked to the company account, profiting off Eliyah's career. Ji-hye and other fans, who were victims of the Family Exempt law, showed up as a show of support.
Eliyah finally spoke, thanking her mother for her love. She was saddened that money had changed Jin-hui, but she didn't want to be an ATM all her life. She just wanted to end her contract and leave. The law change wasn't just for her but for her fans. She felt guilty for not doing more and this way, she could use her influence to help them. Da-wit added that the law should adapt with the times to ensure there was no lawless chaos, not even in the home. The session ended on a promising note. Myeong-hun dropped Jin-hui for lying to him about Min-ha. The team celebrated, but Da-wit didn't mind if they lost, as it would be a stepping stone for change.
One month later, the Constitutional Court shared its ruling – due to exploitation, the Exemption of Crimes by Family law was removed. Jin-hui was arrested. At the end of the episode, Jae-beom visited Gi-ppeum, claiming that Da-wit had abused his power as a judge and killed his father by manipulating the trial.
