Embarking on our recap of "Good Partner's" enthralling episode 3, we are transported back in time through a poignant flashback, where Eun-kyung's husband unexpectedly joins her company as a distinguished medical expert. The celebratory dinner that follows veils a subtle undercurrent of strangeness as her husband and her secretary inexplicably excuse themselves to procure additional libations, leaving Eun-kyung perplexed by their odd camaraderie.
Later, amidst a shared drive, her husband's phone lights up with a message from Director Choi, a name that mystifies Eun-kyung even further when she fails to uncover any trace of such a director within his workplace. Meanwhile, Choi Sa-ra's routine luncheons and Eun-kyung's realization that her husband has forsaken his afternoon hospital shifts paint a disquieting picture.
Fate intervenes when, by chance, Eun-kyung stumbles upon wedding photographs, a damning evidence of her husband's secret union with Choi Sa-ra.
Shifting gears to the present, Eun-kyung's resolute stance against divorce echoes through her conversation with Yu-ri, a testament to her unwavering commitment. Yet, the confrontation at the hotel with her husband reveals a harsh truth: he urges her acquiescence to the divorce, his words laced with contempt, reducing her to a mere nobody in his eyes. The scene unfolds with poignant intensity, mirroring the complexities of a shattered heart and the depths of betrayal.
At the bustling office, Eun-Kyung implores Yu-ri to persuade a hesitant new client to abandon her divorce proceedings. Despite the client's wavering commitment, Yu-ri remains steadfast, fueling her resolve to escape her abusive marriage. However, Eun-Kyung, with a seasoned eye, forecasts that the client's indecisiveness will ultimately lead her to withdraw from the case.
Unbeknownst to Yu-ri, her serendipitous lunch break is disrupted by an unexpected sight of Eun-ho on a blind date. He nonchalantly reveals his rationale behind these swift encounters—a tactic to secure an early escape from work. Amidst their casual conversation, he cunningly elicits information about Eun-Kyung's marital dynamics, though Yu-ri, wary of the revelation, compels him to swear secrecy.
As the divorce proceedings unfold, Yu-ri's client vacillates between hope and despair, her daughter's urging to leave her father countered by her own doubts. Calls from the client at ungodly hours reveal her inner turmoil, each filled with the familiar litany of excuses that hover on the brink of giving up.
Seeking guidance, Yu-ri confides in her seasoned colleagues, who share a somber insight: some souls are incapable of standing alone, a bond that ties them to their partners, regardless of the circumstances.
One fateful day, a drunken call from the client's husband shatters the tranquility, his voice laced with desperation and a threat of self-harm should Yu-ri not retract the divorce notice. Unfazed, Yu-ri promptly ends the call, her resolve unshaken.
In a twist of fate, Yu-ri discovers that Choi Sa-ra, who resides in the same apartment complex, has crossed paths with her mother. Through their intimate exchanges, a disturbing realization dawns on Yu-ri—Eun-Kyung's husband might be sharing a life with Sa-ra, painting a complex and intriguing picture of intertwined relationships.
The following day, amidst the aftermath of Yu-ri's earnest plea to her client to refrain from returning home, a shocking revelation unfolds: the client's husband, driven to desperation, has attempted suicide and now lies hospitalized. The client, overcome with emotion, lays the blame solely on Yu-ri's shoulders, accusing her of being the catalyst for her husband's plight. Eun-Kyung, intervening with wisdom, reassures Yu-ri that the man's fate is not hers to bear; she had merely discharged her professional duties, untethered from the consequences of his personal choices.
Yet, Yu-ri's heart is heavy with remorse, haunted by the turn of events. Eun-ho, perceiving her distress, endeavors to comfort her, suggesting that such individuals often resort to self-harm as a dramatic gesture. Amidst this turmoil, a glimmer of hope arises when Yu-ri discovers the husband's survival in the hospital, prompting the client to reconsider and ultimately withdraw her case.
Eun-Kyung, undeterred, visits the client anew, planting seeds of resilience: should the client's resolve firm, she pledges to revive their legal partnership. When Yu-ri confronts Eun-Kyung over her earlier advice to abandon the case, Eun-Kyung philosophizes, "There are moments when one must embrace the present and focus solely on the path ahead," predicting a future where the client will inevitably choose divorce, freeing herself from the shackles of her troubled marriage.
Profoundly moved by this emotional quagmire, Yu-ri announces her intention to resign, confessing to Eun-Kyung that she finds it impossible to disentangle her compassionate self from the cold logic of her profession. Furthermore, she divulges a personal insight, hinting at Eun-Kyung's husband's possible cohabitation with Sa-ra, accompanied by their address.
As the day draws to a close, Eun-Kyung's world is rocked by a chance encounter with the cheating couple, a revelation that stirs something profound within her. Returning to the office, she halts Yu-ri's resignation in its tracks, beseeching her to reconsider and take on her own divorce case, marking a turning point in both their lives and the intricate web of relationships that bind them.
