Episode 3 of "Buried Hearts" unfolds with Dong-ju, his hands trembling, picking up the assassin's discarded phone and hesitantly accepting an incoming call. The scene shifts to him, bloodstained and battered, sittingalone in his car, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the caller. Enter Cheon Gu-ho, a loyal dog-like follower of Yeom Jang-seon. Dong-ju, with determined resolve, escorts Gu-ho to Jang-seon's residence for a confrontation that is bound to stir up trouble.
Gu-ho, initially resorting to pleading for his life, switches tactics when begging falls flat. He spills the beans about stealing a whopping 39 billion won from the national patriotic slush fund. In exchange for his life, he promises to return every penny and vanish into thin air. Dong-ju, seeing an opportunity, agrees to return a portion of the money immediately and vows to send the remainder once his safety is assured. Just as he's about to exit, he crosses paths with Eun-nam and, unable to resist, plants a tender kiss on her lips.
Upon returning home, Dong-ju discovers a tracker concealed beneath his car, a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows. He swiftly dials a woman's number, requesting an exorbitant sum of money. With a plan forming in his mind, he ventures out once more, leaving the tracker behind in the parking lot as a decoy.
Dong-ju arrives at Myeong Tae-geum's office, revealing that he's downloaded a sophisticated hacking program from her website and managed to install it onto Jang-seon's laptop undetected by either Jang-seon or Gu-ho. They hatch a daring scheme to siphon funds from Jang-seon's national patriotic fund using this hidden software.
Armed with two disposable phones from Tae-geum, Dong-ju dials Jang-seon's number. He informs Jang-seon of another substantial money transfer, baiting him into logging into his account to verify. As Jang-seon types in his password, Dong-ju, watching from afar, captures the crucial credentials.
With newfound information in hand, Dong-ju sets his sights on Ji Seon-u and Ji Yeong-su's place. He breaks the news to Yeong-su that the chairman intends for Seon-u to adopt his surname, a move Dong-ju is more than eager to facilitate. He assures her of his support should she need any assistance. Unbeknownst to Dong-ju, Seon-u decides to tail him after he leaves.
Later on, he presents Chairman Cha with a couple of selfies featuring him and Seon-u, reminiscing about the time they shared. He then broaches the subject of taking a brief leave, to which Cha warmly responds by extending an invitation to join his family for lunch. Arriving with a bruised visage, Eun-nam's appearance stirs concern among everyone present. However, the air of worry dissipates somewhat when Hui-cheol enters with a bandaged foot, hinting at a reciprocal altercation—Eun-nam had retaliated just as fiercely. Hui-cheol urges her to return home, grasping her hand so forcefully that the bracelet Dong-ju had gifted her snaps, revealing a tattoo on her wrist that mirrors Dong-ju's, bearing her name. Hui-cheol appears to recognize the significance. Sensing the undercurrent of tension, Chairman Cha subtly encourages Dong-ju to depart, and then confides in Eun-nam alone, informing Hui-cheol that she will remain there temporarily. Unbeknownst to them, Dong-ju hasn't really left and, once Hui-cheol has stepped out, slips back in to embrace Eun-nam, handing her one of the disposable phones.
Eun-nam's parents visit her, and she confides in them that her altercation with Hui-cheol stemmed from Dong-ju's suspicious behavior. She had disclosed the truth to Dong-ju, who had sensed something was amiss. Her parents attempt to persuade her to reconcile with Hui-cheol. After Eun-nam's departure, someone sends Deok-hui snapshots of Dong-ju and Seon-u together.
Back at his place, Dong-ju receives a call from Tae-geum, who announces she is prepared. Dong-ju then calls Jang-seon to confirm that the remaining 39 billion won has been transferred back. Jang-seon acknowledges receipt and urges Dong-ju to let go of the past. Once off the call, Dong-ju exploits his access to alter the account password. He subsequently informs Tae-geum that her fee has been settled. We eaves assuredrop on another call where Dong-jus Eun-nam that he will be awaiting her.
The scene transitions to a vessel adrift in the vast ocean. Dong-ju, fresh from a dip in the sea, dons his clothes aboard the boat and embarks on his journey back toward the mainland. Time stretches on as he waits patiently, engaging in a friendly basketball game with a young lad to pass the hours. Meanwhile, Eun-nam watches from the confines of a cab parked at a discreet distance. When Dong-ju reaches out to her, she reluctantly informs him of her intent not to join him. Despite her words, she sets off to meet him, only to be intercepted by Cheon Gu-ho and his henchmen, who force her back into the cab and speed away. Oblivious to this turn of events, Dong-ju returns to the boat, donning the wedding suit he had meticulously selected.
He then proceeds to record a poignant video of himself playing the violin, a tradition he intended to uphold for their wedding. He even holds up the camera to showcase her bracelet, which he had meticulously repaired. As he settles down for a refreshing drink, another boat looms into view, its captain opening fire on Dong-ju without hesitation. Dong-ju, in a desperate bid for survival, attempts to swim away, but the boat's captain, revealed to be Huh Il-do, accurately hits his mark.
Later, Jang-seon commends Il-do for eliminating Dong-ju, emphasizing that it was done "in the service of the fund," albeit Dong-ju's body remains unrecovered. Jang-seon agrees to transfer funds to Il-do as compensation for his deeds. However, when Gu-ho attempts to access the fund, he discovers the grim reality. Jang-seon, losing his composure, scolds Il-do and demands accountability. In a dramatic twist, Jang-seon possesses drone footage of Il-do committing the murder, which he now leverages as blackmail.
Elsewhere, a fisherman stumbles upon Dong-ju lying seemingly lifeless on a raft and, mistaking him for deceased, steals his watch. Miraculously, Dong-ju is still alive and manages to stumble to the fisherman's house, where he collapses.
After a moment of soul-searching, Huh Il-do reveals to Jang-seon that he has a way to access Chairman Cha's slush fund. If that fails, Jang-seon warns that they may be forced to sell Daesan Energy. At the Cha residence, it becomes apparent that Chairman Cha himself orchestrated Eun-nam's forced return.
The episode concludes with Huh Il-do sneaking back into the chairman's office during a family meal, stealing a book containing the code to an inner safe. When he attempts to open the safe with the code, it proves incorrect. In a moment of manic laughter followed by desperate prayer, Il-do pleads for Dong-ju's return to life. Meanwhile, in the fisherman's humble abode, Dong-ju's eyes flicker open, signaling a glimmer of hope amidst the turmoil.
