Episode 14 of "Buried Hearts" kicks off with the tragic demise of Il-do, despite Dong-ju's valiant attempts to rescue him. At Il-do's solemn funeral, Dong-ju coldly informs Yeom Jang-seon of his unwelcome presence and summarily dismisses him.
Meanwhile, Deok-hui's preoccupation lies elsewhere—with the inheritance. She confides in Guk-hui and her spouse, unveiling the truth and voicing her apprehension that Dong-ju might reclaim Il-do's stake in Daesan.
Dong-ju pays a visit to Chairman Cha and Yeong-su, first requesting Yeong-su's departure. He then confronts Chairman Cha head-on, accusing him of orchestrating the plot against him and Il-do. Dong-ju warns the chairman to desist from harassing him, threatening to ensure Seon-u's exile from Daesan if he doesn't comply. He also issues a stern admonition against attending the funeral.
After stepping out momentarily, Dong-ju re-enters with Seon-u by his side, demonstrating that he has swayed Seon-u's mindset. Once indifferent to academics, Seon-u is now eager to pursue a business degree and even addresses the chairman as "Father."
Dong-ju exits the room to find Eun-nam awaiting him, and he unburdens himself by revealing the truth about his parentage. This revelation conflicts deeply within her, given her lingering animosity towards Il-do. Dong-ju ponders whether they can ever escape the entangled web spun by their parents.
Later, Dong-ju pays his respects at Il-do's funeral, where a poignant flashback unfolds. Dong-ju and Il-do reminisce about the past, with Il-do entrusting Dong-ju to scatter his ashes over the sea where Dong-ju once saved him. Il-do expresses his heartfelt wish to live long enough to hear Dong-ju call him "father."
Currently, Dong-ju brings the urn containing Il-do's ashes back to their home. At the Cha residence, the chairman's anger boils over at the family for allowing Dong-ju to take possession of the urn. He singles out Deok-hui for a private conversation, urging her to safeguard Seon-u and thereby maintain the family's unity.
Meanwhile, Jang-seon receives a call from The Elder, informing him that Dong-ju's accident has been incriminated to him. The Elder issues a stern warning to Jang-seon to steer clear of any further association with such incidents.
At Daesan, Chairman Cha discovers that the code Dong-ju provided him was a decoy, igniting his fury towards Dong-ju. At this juncture, Jang-seon enters the office, leading to a tense exchange between the two. Following a heated argument, Dong-ju storms out. Jang-seon then cautions the chairman that they cannot afford to let Dong-ju continue acting as their gatekeeper for much longer.
Later, Dong-ju encounters Ma Jae-yeol, a journalist he knew was delving into the Dandelion files. Unbeknownst to them, Gu-ho captures a picture of their meeting and recognizes the journalist from his previous visit to Jang-seon.
Elsewhere, Jang-seon meets with Sang-cheol, a subordinate of The Elder. With a generous offer of cash and gold bars, Jang-seon attempts to bribe Sang-cheol into severing Dong-ju's ties with The Elder. Meanwhile, the Administrator, now fully recovered, steps out of the hospital. He confronts Dong-ju, expressing his gratitude for his assistance.
That evening, Dong-ju inquiries Won-bae about his relentless support. Won-bae responds by stating his desire to not be outdone by someone like Jang-seon and his eagerness to see the Dandelion files bring him down. Subsequently, journalist Ma Jae-yeol pays a visit to Dong-ju and his colleagues' hideout at Tae-geum's instrument shop, where they pour over the files pertaining to Yeom Jang-seon.
With Jang-seon's consent, Gu-ho delves into the journalist's affairs and crosses paths with Jae-yeol. Amidst their conversation, one of Gu-ho's associates surreptitiously retrieves the dashcam from his vehicle. They pinpoint the location of the musical instrument shop and launch an assault, overpowering Won-bae and seizing the documents. Later, however, Gu-ho informs Jang-seon that the original file remains elusive.
Returning to her shop, Tae-geum perceives the disturbance and promptly dials Dong-ju, who in turn seeks assistance from the Administrator. The Administrator enlists his men, and when Dong-ju inquiries about the Dandelion files, he reveals the existence of a recording that Jang-seon desperately wishes to keep concealed.
The Administrator's men commence a thorough search through Jang-seon's desolate warehouses and apartments. Meanwhile, Dong-ju unexpectedly receives a call from The Elder, Lee Cheol-yeong. He requests Dong-ju to memorize a list and, as a gesture of goodwill, Dong-ju asks Cheol-yeong to intervene with Jang-seon for the release of his friend. Cheol-yeong complies, yet Dong-ju only receives a harrowing image of Won-bae, battered and bruised. Reluctantly capitulating, Dong-ju surrenders the Dandelion tapes to Jang-seon atop a building, where Jang-seon incinerates them all. Their confrontation escalates over money, and Dong-ju's sister's demise resurfaces, prompting Jang-seon to order his men to cast Dong-ju from the rooftop. Just then, a drone, remotely controlled by Tae-geum, intervenes.
The drone's footage, coupled with visuals from a covert camera embedded in Dong-ju's watch, broadcasts on a nearby building's screen — a masterpiece of Dong-ju's scheme with Ma Jae-yeol, now splashed across the news. The world bears witness to Jang-seon confessing to Dong-ju's sister's murder, marking a dramatic climax to Buried Hearts Episode 14.
