(Episode 9)
So this...
This was it?
This is why...
you couldn't return?
Jin can't walk.
- Honey. - Dad.
Dad, are you all right?
- Mom, keep an eye on him. - Honey.
Honey. Honey!
Hwan, shouldn't we call for an ambulance?
Honey!
Honey. Honey? Are you all right?
What am I going to do?
- Honey. - Dad, sit up.
Dad, it'll be okay. It'll be fine. Come here.
Here. Slowly. Breathe slowly.
Here. Breathe.
What's going on? What did Ms. Kim say?
Hey, can you tell us too?
We need to unpack for now.
Can you give me a hand?
What's his current condition?
He just can't use his lower body?
Has he become paraplegic?
Is there a chance he'll get better?
You should read over the analysis.
He should get reexamined in Korea,
but I received all of the papers from there.
You'd know...
more about this than I do.
He must've given up and didn't do any rehabilitation for a while.
You need to persuade him.
Don't you think you would be his biggest comfort...
as a living witness who overcame his condition?
Is that what you thought of me?
You took it like that?
I wanted to give up every single moment of my life.
I wanted to kill myself so many times too.
But...
do you know what's more tormenting?
That my son is...
going through the same exact pain now.
I didn't want anyone to find out.
I didn't want anyone to know.
Do you think that was the case for Jin?
Is that why he couldn't show himself to us?
It's because of me.
He must have hidden because of me.
Let's go home.
Your father is waiting for you.
And you need to see Hwan too.
How can I...
show up in this condition?
I'm the one who did that to Dad.
I can't return like this.
It wasn't your fault.
It just...
It just happened.
Do you know what we hoped for...
as we waited dearly for those long years?
We only hoped for one thing.
That you'd still be alive.
But you're still alive.
That's enough.
Let's go home.
Let's be together from now on.
Don't be alone.
I'll protect you.
Trust me.
I've missed you.
(Ms. Oh)
Hey.
Come here and convince your brother. He's not listening to me.
He vehemently refuses to go home. He doesn't want to see his family.
I can't dare to see my father and Hwan.
How long will you make them wait?
Weren't the past seven years painful enough?
Why are you so hesitant to see your own family?
Don't you think you're being too selfish?
That's who I am.
No matter how much pain my family is in,
I won't do anything that I don't want to do.
That's me.
I'll go there.
Don't.
- Jin? - I'll call you when I'm ready.
Don't come right now.
Jin.
(Hwan)
How could you...
not even say hi?
How have you been all this time?
Where were you?
Do you even know how desperately we searched for you?
How painful was it?
Are you still in pain?
One at a time.
Let's take it slowly.
I have thousands of questions I want to ask.
I want to know so many things.
Did you...
not think of me?
Throughout the race,
when my car was underwater,
when I had to get another surgery because things weren't looking up,
when my body suffered from complications,
and when I wanted to give up on my rehabilitation...
because it was too painful...
During all those moments,
I endured with the thought of you.
You saved me.
I wanted to be completely healed...
and return to you on my own.
You fool.
You may have gotten injured, but you're still Seo Jin.
You're still my husband.
You may have gotten injured,
but that doesn't change who you are.
You just couldn't trust me.
You didn't trust the love I had.
I wasn't enough for you.
That's not true.
Then how long were you going to make me wait?
Were you never planning to return?
Jin.
Jin!
Don't open it.
Tell him to leave.
Jin.
Move aside.
I don't want you to see me like this.
Take her back home.
Jin.
What are you afraid of?
I'd like to speak with him in private.
A long time ago,
when Dad was still hospitalized...
I think it was a picnic day.
I wasn't in the mood to chat with my friends...
over some gimbap,
so I decided to visit him instead.
But...
that day,
he had slit his wrist with a knife.
The white bed sheets were drenched with blood.
The doctors hurriedly came over and treated him.
I was terrified...
that he'd do it again.
I didn't think he'd stop there.
I knew how much agony he was in,
so I couldn't tell him...
to stop.
But I begged him...
to give me...
at least one year.
I told him that I only survived because of him...
and that I'd be devastated if he left me.
I told him that if he thought about our family...
and held out for a year,
that I wouldn't stop him anymore.
That's how he pulled through that year...
and then the next year.
He endured those agonizing years...
and finally came back to us.
If you don't want to go home,
then don't.
If you want to flee to the U.S. or somewhere else,
then do so.
Just...
don't die.
If you ever change your mind,
you can come back then.
We were in pain while we waited for you,
but that's incomparable to the pain you must've felt.
We can wait even longer now...
since we know that you're alive.
Hello, Chairman Bang.
We've encountered an unexpected surprise.
But I'm not sure...
if this will affect...
our plan or not.
It seems like delightful news for your family...
who must've gone through a lot.
But there's no need to change our plan.
We'll go as planned.
Or perhaps, we may need something more extraordinary.
It's okay.
I can manage on my own.
Welcome home.
I'm sorry.
It was tough, wasn't it?
Let's go inside.
You can lean on me.
I won't go upstairs.
It's going to be tough.
How about the room I had previously used?
Since the first floor is catered to me,
it'll be more convenient for him.
I'll move my belongings and clean the room.
I'll stay here by myself.
Let me stay by myself for the time being.
His room is cleaned, right?
Yes.
If you need me to carry anything, let me know.
I think he feels awkward around me.
He's just not used...
to showing his weakness.
You're right.
Even I haven't gotten used to it just yet.
Don't feel hurt.
You won't be able to tend to him by yourself.
At least three people need to help out.
All of us need to pitch in.
You know this since you've done it before.
I didn't think...
I'd have to go through this again.
I do understand...
everything.
But I still can't help...
but feel hurt.
In the beginning,
he probably denied the reality himself.
After that,
he probably couldn't dare to let us see him.
Because he'd hurt those...
who loved him.
He gave me much more pain.
I had to wait endlessly.
I felt despair, thinking that he may not have been alive.
He probably thought it would've been better that way...
because...
he had experienced that pain before.
And...
please forget everything I said.
I'm going to do my best to help him adapt.
I'll make sure I behave so you won't have to mind me.
You can trust me on that.
It's a bit small,
but you'll be staying here by yourself anyway.
I shouldn't have trusted you.
This was bound to happen anyway.
Rest up for several days. After that, get hospitalized.
Let's run the tests all over again.
That's useless.
Do you think I haven't tried?
I did everything I could.
I didn't ask for your permission.
Just do as I say.
Now that I look like this,
do you think you can get your way?
You'll have to just accept it.
I can still end my life if I want to.
If you had wanted to die, you would've done so already.
I know you wanted to live no matter what.
Weren't you in hiding...
because you wanted to get better and return home?
We were in excruciating pain for years because of you.
You should at least listen to us now.
You should get your hair dyed now.
You don't need to pretend to be heartbroken anymore.
How had he been living all this time?
Why weren't we able to find him?
There was someone who helped him forge his identity.
Keep this a secret from Ye Ji.
Don't tell me...
Send over the boys after a few days.
I should take him to the hospital.
What do you mean?
You're speaking nonsense.
How could he have possibly left on his own?
Find out whether he has left the country or not.
Find out whether he's in Korea or somewhere else!
You need to put these...
within his arm's reach.
It's okay. I can give them to him.
He needs to do it himself.
If you do everything for him, it won't be helpful.
I didn't think that through.
Do you want to give it a try? See if this height works for you.
You can just hang those. I'll manage.
You should still give it a try.
I'll adjust the height if it's too high.
My arms are fine. I'll manage.
What about taking a bath? Do I need to help you?
I can do it by myself.
I'll run the bath.
I won't be overprotective, but ask for help when you need it.
I heard you were in a nursing home in the U.S.
We'll get a resident nurse if you need someone.
Whatever makes you more comfortable.
I'll think about it.
Darn it.
How can you do this...
without saying a word to me, who had been looking after him?
Abduction and neglecting a patient.
You aren't his guardian. You're a criminal.
Before you claim the ownership over my son,
you should find an attorney first.
He would've been dead if it wasn't for me.
If it wasn't for you,
I would've found out that he's alive much faster.
He wanted me not to tell his family.
Isn't that what you wanted?
Do you know why I accepted that penniless girl as a daughter-in-law?
Because of you.
I was afraid he'll want to marry someone who's garbage like you.
I thought a poor orphan was much better than garbage.
And you stole my son away while his life was...
hanging by a thread?
Back then, that was the best for him.
And now, this is my best.
I can't back down like this.
Do you know how much work I put into this?
Do you know how much his family had been looking for him?
I wouldn't be satisfied even if I ripped you into pieces.
But I'll hold myself back for looking after my son...
in a foreign country to this day, just as you said.
I couldn't say goodbye. I didn't know he was leaving.
I'll let him know you said bye.
Don't ever appear before my son...
or us.
I'll kill you.
Get lost.
It has been a while since you got into the accident.
Let me take a look.
No.
You don't have to.
I just need acupuncture.
I've done everything I can in the U.S.
I haven't tried oriental medicine, so I came just in case...
it could help relieve my pain.
Hey.
Where do you feel the pain?
From the back to my knees on the right side.
How many days have you gone without any pain...
in the last three months?
Not even a day.
Get him hospitalized as of today.
I made an appointment to get him examined.
Aren't you going to answer me?
He's showing a lot of resistance.
Shouldn't we persuade him first?
His thoughts and your opinions don't mean anything to me.
Who's the one that ignored me when I told her to put on a show...
to kill herself or something to stop him from racing?
I don't need to do that.
Do you think you're a doctor?
Some people can get back up even after 10, 15 years.
- Maybe in films. - Jin.
I fractured the 8th thoracic and the 3rd lumbar vertebra.
Permanent paraplegia due to lumbar cord damage.
I can't afford...
to have any hope.
And what you're doing right now...
is very cruel to me.
I received hundreds of reports that said my son is probably dead.
So are you dead?
Yet you call me cruel?
Stop being a baby.
I do not plan on letting you off.
Make sure he finishes getting examined.
The reports were horrific.
It felt like I was getting stabbed whenever I looked at it.
Mother got stabbed countless numbers of times,
but she never gave up.
And she ended up finding you.
As you said, the examinations might be meaningless.
It'll be very tough. And you'd be sick of it too.
But she made this appointment with her love for you as a mom.
So please accept it as her son.
Just this once.
Please?
(Seo Jin)
One second.
Come in.
Do you need anything?
Are you hungry?
I don't eat much at night. I can't digest food too well.
Then I'll go wash up.
You can...
go back to Yangpyeong and sleep.
It's probably more comfortable to sleep in your room.
You have a guest room here.
I'll sleep there.
Call me if anything happens.
Or text me.
Good night.
Dad, why are you drinking by yourself?
Just because. I'll sleep after this one.
Let's go inside.
I'll make some food, and we can drink together.
I always thought I couldn't ask for more...
if Jin could just return.
He couldn't return because he knew you'd be like this.
You need to stay strong...
so that Jin won't get any weird ideas.
I lived and stayed strong because of you.
What could...
Jin hold onto in order to stay strong?
He has his wife.
And us.
Breakfast delivery.
Here.
Try some coffee first.
I made it fresh, so it smells wonderful.
I'm not a patient.
You don't have to treat me like a patient just because I'm disabled.
You don't have to bring food to my bed.
I can bring myself to the table,
even though I won't be able to walk.
If you don't want to eat in bed,
you can come out.
I'll set it up again on the table.
But you know,
even if you didn't get hurt,
I would've made this breakfast on a day like this.
I made coffee, toasted bread,
put a flower in this vase, and brought these to you in bed...
as a token of my consideration...
and love.
Tell me.
As you waited,
did you ever imagine we'd meet again like this?
I'm sure you didn't expect to see me like this.
I imagined all kinds of situations.
Do you think there is a situation I haven't thought of?
Did he hit his head and lose his memories?
Is he unable to move because he's vegetative?
Did he get abducted?
Did he get shot by a gang?
I had countless numbers of nightmares about you.
Does he hate me now?
Is he with another woman?
Did he leave me because he wanted to be free?
Standing in the midst of the sea of awful and tormenting imagination,
I desperately hoped that you'd just be alive,
that I just need you to stay alive.
Do you think I wasn't hurt?
I was almost driven insane with anger.
As glad and relieved I was to see you,
I hated you so much too.
But I couldn't even be angry at you.
Do you...
Do you have any idea how I feel right now?
Vent.
Tell me everything you wanted to say.
Why did you abandon me?
You promised that...
you'll never leave me alone.
How...
How can you be so selfish?
If I got sick...
or got hurt and became disabled,
were you going to abandon me?
How can you live in hiding...
and make your family live in agony?
You abandoned me. You betrayed me!
I tried my hardest to return!
I thought, "Let's hold out for a few more months."
"If I can get up again,"
"I'll stay strong a little longer."
I needed to look presentable before I came back.
I lived through the pain...
of my flesh getting ripped and breaking my bones.
Another month. Just one more!
That turned into a year, two years,
then it ended up like this.
You said you loved me.
But how is it love if you went through that alone?
I trusted you...
that you would wait for me.
And you wouldn't forget about me.
I knew you would.
I won't forgive you.
Don't forgive me.
Don't forgive me for a long time.
So you're going to demolish the empty lots and warehouses...
to build something?
We won't be building anything new. We're just remodeling it.
What's the point of having a parking lot and a delivery service?
- No one comes to the markets now. - Right.
Is there anything you don't like here?
The owner of the building.
- Right. - That's right.
Now, we must have a smoking room.
Every corner is prohibited from smoking nowadays.
The restroom is too far.
It's not inconvenient because ours is in the building.
But it's inconvenient for the street vendors.
Right. That's why we don't have a lot of customers.
(Parking lot and delivery service, need a smoking room, )
(check the route to the restroom, survey for the street vendors)
- She was out. - Welcome back.
Instead of just talking about this here,
let's go down and talk to the street vendor ladies.
- Yes. Let's go. - That's a great idea.
- Yes. - Let's go.
- What are you doing? - Come on down.
- We don't have much time left. - Let's get going.
- Let's hurry. - Hurry downstairs now.
- Go. - Okay.
Work hard.
- I hope the project goes well. - Thank you.
- Bye. - Good work today.
To be honest, I'm pretty surprised.
You interviewed so many people at the market.
I've been to a lot of other markets.
But I've never met this many people.
- Ma'am. - Yes?
There's one more interview I need.
You still have one more?
I'll go to the center tomorrow.
Okay. I'll get the materials for the meeting ready.
- Bye. - Okay.
That's all we have here.
It's all right.
I like instant coffee.
When I was in the States, I really missed this.
So you're Ye Ji's brother-in-law.
Before she married my brother, I was her student.
She was my student teacher.
I still call her Ms. Oh.
What do you want to know?
I have nothing to tell you.
I can't answer any of your questions.
My father...
walks with a limp.
When I was young, we went hiking.
He injured his leg...
while trying to save me.
He sacrificed his life for me, his son,
because he was my father.
I know the sacrifice only parents...
can make.
But the love between parents and children isn't unilateral.
The love is mutual.
My father's sacrifice...
hurt so much.
It pained me my whole life,
so it was difficult to be happy.
Children love their parents too.
I just wanted to tell you that.
It's something I've never told my father.
I can understand...
why Ye Ji didn't move out and decided to build her life...
with your family.
I'm sure all of your family is very warmhearted.
Everyone cherishes her.
I see.
It seems like it.
But...
I hope nothing happened to Ye Ji.
My brother...
is back.
Your brother?
Then, Ye Ji's husband?
He was alive all along?
How...
Where and what did he do all this time?
Why didn't he come back?
How serious is it? How badly did he hurt his legs?
He can't walk at all.
He's in a wheelchair.
But her father-in-law also...
I think that's why he wasn't able to come back sooner.
He also ended up in a wheelchair just like his father.
If he was scared that badly, he should've just died.
Why did he come back now?
He put everyone who waited for him through pure torment.
Does he want to shock them to death now?
Why would you say something like that?
Whatever! Move.
Honey. Honey!
What was that? What's wrong with her?
People might get the wrong idea that she actually cares.
How could Ye Ji end up with such a horrible fate?
Shouldn't she just divorce him?
Do you think she will divorce him?
She stayed with his family for years without her husband.
My gosh. That stupid girl.
Hey.
If he's in a wheelchair, it means he's paralyzed from the waist down.
Does that mean he can't have children?
We don't know that for sure.
Some people are still able to conceive and live happy lives.
My gosh, she drives me crazy.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
There's nothing for you to apologize.
That's just her fate.
I thought it was the right thing...
to tell you.
Thank you.
Be it a happy or bad occasion.
All parents want to know how their children are doing.
Your parents must be heartbroken.
I can't imagine the pain your father must be experiencing.
But now that we know he's alive...
and he's with us,
we have hope even if it will be a tough road ahead.
Thank you.
I'm back.
Are you just coming back home? Did you eat?
I did.
Jin, are you done with all of your tests?
They said there's more left.
But the house in Seoul is a bit uncomfortable.
It'd be better to stay here even if the hospital is far from here.
That's our plan.
Now that you have another helper, can I be excused?
I can clean this up by myself.
Go and get changed.
I'll clean up.
Give them to me.
What is it? Do you need anything?
It's not that.
I went to the market to interview people at the market this afternoon.
And I met your mother.
I told her that Jin was back.
Why?
I thought your mother should know.
She's not interested in me...
unless it's about money.
Why would you think that?
Isn't this ridiculous?
How you're defending her to me?
Can you spare me some time later?
It's not about your mother.
It's about work. I need your help.
Hwan.
What is it?
Come downstairs.
So everything in here was created by your sister-in-law?
Yes.
Tell me...
how she had been while I was gone.
I don't know.
I've been in the States the whole time.
I only came back recently.
Are you telling me you never came back to visit?
I didn't have a chance to come back. I was busy looking for you.
For the first year of your disappearance,
Mom and Ms. Oh...
came to the States and frantically looked for you.
Afterward,
she stayed here with Dad, worked on ceramics...
and waited for you.
That's everything I know.
Was there a man?
You don't know about that?
Jin. Don't you know her?
She stayed here even without you. Don't you get how loyal she is?
I'm not asking because I suspect her.
She was alone for a very long time.
And I thought it might have organically happened.
How could that organically just happen to you?
Why are you so upset?
Don't you ever ask such a ridiculous question to Ms. Oh.
I have my own project.
I know that.
Then, I don't understand you.
There's nothing I can do here.
We always need help with the company.
Are you afraid we don't have a project for you?
Jin is back.
That's why I'm asking.
I'm sure he will do a fantastic job...
even in a wheelchair.
But it looks like he still needs some time.
If you set it up for him,
it will be much easier for him to come back and continue.
I won't ask you to work here permanently.
Just until Jin gets himself together.
Please?
I'll give you an office.
Continue your project there.
And help your brother come back to work.
Please?
Do you remember this place?
I brought you here.
After that, I came here a lot by myself.
I came here to see the lotus flowers when they were in bloom.
And when they wilted, I came here to reminisce.
I remember you telling me to be careful...
even with the softest raindrops and making me promise that...
I wouldn't hurt myself.
You even wrote that in the poem too.
You read it.
I was wondering if he had seen it.
I really wanted to know if you did.
There were so many things we wanted to do back then.
We were going to visit the River Market and the brewery.
Let's do all of those things that we didn't get to do yet.
Stay here. I'll go and buy some drinks.
Coffee? Juice?
Anything.
Is that Jin?
Hey, I'll go talk to him. You go ahead without me.
- Okay? - Okay.
Jin.
My gosh. I heard about your injury. And that was true.
So you can't use your legs, then?
Yes.
Gosh. How can you be so unlucky?
This won't do anything to subdue the love scandal.
You haven't heard yet, right?
While you were gone,
there was a love scandal between Hwan and Ms. Oh.
Before she married you,
you knew Hwan had a crush on her.
And when you were gone,
Hwan must have thought it was his chance.
It was quite the talk of the town.
You're still rash with your tongue.
If you don't want to, don't take my word for it.
Well, I only told you because I'm looking out for you.
There were photos too.
And you didn't take them?
You know, you used to stalk my wife when you were in school.
I didn't stalk her.
Hwan took it to the extreme.
I still don't think you can beat Hwan now.
Unless your goal is to get beaten up like before,
watch your mouth.
You're not a minor anymore.
So you will be legally responsible for your actions.
The price you pay for your rash tongue...
is heavier than you'd think.
My gosh. You still got it.
Even in a wheelchair,
your charisma is still intact.
I give you that.
If you're interested in their love story,
call me.
I'm the only one who can tell you the truth.
Bye.
- Hello. - Hi.
I'm sorry for the long wait.
The line at the cafe was long.
Iced Americano or latte. Have your pick.
Let's go.
I'm tired. I want to go back in and rest.
Okay. Sure.
I'm back.
Did you make a lot of money?
What about Jin and Ms. Oh?
They are at the house.
Dad, actually,
I was going to ask Ms. Oh to supervise...
the workshop street when she was moving out.
But she won't want to work for a while, right?
She has to take care of Jin.
Actually, working on a project can help her.
Ye Ji has to live her life to the fullest to be of help to Jin.
Staying with him all day every day...
won't help either one.
(Is this normal for a sister-in-law and a brother-in-law?)
(Why was my previous post deleted? I don't understand.)
(Was your previous post deleted?)
(- It was deleted. - I took a screenshot.)
("Call It a Romance, But It's Still an Affair")
(A screenshot of the sister-in-law and the brother-in-law)
Jin, I'm here.
Is something wrong?
Do you not feel well? Are you in pain?
I'm not always in pain just because I'm like this.
You just didn't look too happy.
I thought about how much my little brother...
has grown up.
Do you have a girlfriend?
What girlfriend?
You know I just came back to Korea.
But you managed to get involved in a scandal.
You must've been busy.
Who told you what?
Do you...
still like Ye Ji?
Did you keep your feelings for her over those long years...
while I was gone?
I wonder how you felt...
when I returned.
Jin.
And looking like this.
- Jin. - Tell me.
You're an adult too.
Let's have an honest talk.
(When I was the Most Beautiful)
Tell me. Did Hwan protect you...
while I was gone?
Did you two spend the night together?
What are you thinking?
Are you insane?
I've never heard you call her your sister-in-law.
You hated that Ye Ji became your sister-in-law.
I'm an adult now.
I don't have to back down from any kind of competition.
You better pay attention.
If you don't do that, I'll end up doing that too.