Chapter 474 310: Next Time for Sure
"Were you the one who called earlier?" he asked, looking at Jin Heon.
"I was."
"This domestic violence situation you reported—is anyone injured?"
"Not at the moment," Jin Heon said. "But my father just tried to get physical. My mother can testify to that."
Her mother kept her head down, saying nothing.
"Ma'am?" The middle-aged police officer looked at her mother.
"He didn't hit..." her mother said in a low voice. "He was just a little loud."
Jin Heon didn't contradict her mother. She knew this would be the outcome.
The two officers exchanged a glance. They knew exactly what was going on.
A case like this wasn't a big deal. Since no actual assault had occurred, they couldn't be bothered to get involved in a family squabble.
The young, white female officer suddenly sized up Jin Heon, her eyes lingering on the Chanel bag in her hand.
She suddenly asked, "Excuse me," her gaze shifting to the window, "whose Porsche is that downstairs?"
"It's mine," Jin Heon said. "Why? Is there a problem with where I parked?"
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I saw the donation certificate for the New York City Police Patrolmen's Benevolent Association hanging on the front windshield."
This was something Li Wei had gotten from a deputy chief at the New York City Police Department. He had put one in every car, and unexpectedly, it had actually come in handy today.
After the female officer spoke, she exchanged a look with her partner.
'Should've just said you were one of us. We almost had a misunderstanding.'
The middle-aged Black officer took out his notebook again. "Alright, let's get the details then," he said, looking at Jin Heon. "Can you describe what happened, Miss?"
Jin Heon briefly explained that her father had long-term drinking and gambling problems, constantly asked the family for money, and had a record of domestic violence. She had come back today to resolve the matter face-to-face.
After she finished, she looked at the two officers.
"I have a proposal," she said. "I'd like to reach a verbal agreement with my father, with you as witnesses."
This wasn't really police business, but the two officers looked at each other and agreed anyway.
"Go ahead."
Jin Heon turned to her father on the sofa.
"Under the laws of the United States of America, adult children have no obligation to support their parents," she said. "You can look it up, or you can ask these two officers."
The Black officer nodded. "She's right. New York has no such legal obligation."
Her father's lips moved, but he made no sound.
"Mom," Jin Heon said, turning her head. "Do you want to come live with me?"
Her mother finally raised her head, looking at Jin Heon, then back at her father on the sofa.
"I... I won't go," her mother said with a nod. "He's here all alone... If I leave, what will he do?"
Jin Heon nodded, not showing any disappointment.
She had already anticipated this outcome on her way over.
"In that case, Dad," Jin Heon continued, "I'll give you 3,000 USD a month for living expenses."
Her father looked up.
"The money will be transferred to Mom's bank account," Jin Heon said. "How you two negotiate its distribution is up to you. If you want any of that money, you'd better start treating her better."
"The conditions are—"
She paused to make sure her father was listening.
"First, you are not to contact me in any way. No calls, no texts, and no messages through other people. Second, you are not to show up near my workplace or my home. Third, you are not to inquire about my income, address, or any of my personal information."
"If you violate any one of these conditions, you won't get a single cent of the 3,000, and I will immediately file for a restraining order."
"Is that any way to speak to your father?" After a long silence, he finally forced the words through his teeth. "You... I'm your father! How can you treat your father like this!"
"Sir," the middle-aged officer interjected calmly, "what she just said is perfectly legal and reasonable. Your daughter has no legal obligation to give you money. The arrangement she's proposing is quite generous."
"I suggest you consider it carefully," he added.
Her father opened his mouth, looked at the police, then at Jin Heon, and then at his wife, who still had her head down, silent.
"Do whatever you want," he said, turning his face away with a huff, his voice muffled.
Jin Heon hugged her mother. "Take care of yourself. I'll transfer the 3,000 to you at the beginning of every month."
"If Dad treats you badly again," she said, glancing at her father and deliberately raising her voice, "I'll come and get you myself."
"Okay..." Her mother grasped her arm, then let go. "Be safe on your way."
Jin Heon grunted in acknowledgment and turned toward the door.
"Thank you," she said. "Sorry for the trouble."
"You're welcome," the middle-aged Black man said, stepping forward. "If you have any more problems, you can call this number."
'You sly Old Black Ghost.'
The white female officer shot her partner a glare. Not to be outdone, she also stepped forward and said, "You can call my number, too. If there are some... things that are inconvenient for a male officer, like if you need some company or something... you can contact me."
Two business cards were handed over. Jin Heon smiled and put them both in her pocket.
Jin Heon walked out of the apartment without looking back.
The broken fluorescent light in the hallway was suddenly working. 'It's been broken for as long as I can remember, why is it suddenly fixed?'
Jin Heon stepped outside and stretched luxuriously.
The night was deep. It was time for her to leave.
...
「The next day.」
Inside Dolores's boutique.
"...So, that's what happened," Jin Heon said with a shrug. "I think this should keep my dad in line for a while. At least he'll be a little nicer to my mom."
"Oh," Emma said, clicking her tongue with a hint of regret. "Well, alright then."
"Thanks for offering to help," Jin Heon said. "I'm planning to move out now."
"Congratulations," Emma said. "You've grown up."
"I have to go. Mr. Don Quixote called me into a meeting, said there might be a problem with a contract." Jin Heon picked up her iced Americano and stood up. "Let's go shopping together when you're free next time. You can help me pick out some bedding."
She was planning to move out of the dorm and rent her own apartment. As a moving-out present to herself, she decided she would get a nice set of bedding.
She happened to be in the Upper East Side today and passed by Dolores's boutique. Remembering what Emma had said to her before, she dropped in for a chat.
"Okay," Emma nodded, but she couldn't help adding, "Um... but if you run into any trouble, you can still contact me. You know that, right?"
"I know," Jin Heon said, smiling as she took Emma's hand. "Next time for sure. But I know a good lawyer now, so I can handle things myself."
"A lawyer?" Emma blinked. "What... lawyer?"
"When you offered to help, wasn't it because you knew a good lawyer?" Jin Heon asked, confused. "Did I misunderstand?"
"Oh, right, right, right," Emma nodded. "Exactly. I was originally planning to introduce you to a good lawyer."
Miles away, Jin Heon's father suddenly shivered, feeling as if he had just dodged a bullet.
Jin Heon was about to say something else when her phone started ringing again.
"Mr. Don Quixote is rushing me," she said, pushing open the door to Dolores's boutique. "Okay, I'm really leaving now. See you next time."