Episode 3 of "Heavenly Ever After" kicks off with a poignant scene where the president guides Hae-suk into the self-reflection room, the culminating chapter of the orientation journey where new inhabitants contemplate the tapestry of their lives. Within these sacred confines, we uncover the tragic tale of Hae-suk's mother, who supposedly perished in a tank, while fleeting fragments of Hae-suk's life unfold: from awkward blind dates with elderly suitors to the relentless courtship of Nak-jun.
As Hae-suk delves into introspection, the weight of her life's hardships becomes acutely apparent. The president then proceeds to illuminate the myriad healing pathways available to the residents of heaven. Upon concluding her session, Hae-suk and Nak-jun embark on their return journey, pausing to witness heartwarming reunions between pets and their beloved owners. However, upon reaching their abode, an unexpected twist unfolds as a woman, recognizing Nak-jun, embraces him, plunging Hae-suk into a tempest of jealousy and sparking a commotion.
Indoors, Nak-jun clarifies that during his duties, which encompass subway commutes across realms, he encountered this woman and rescued her from the clutches of hell. Her memory, bar Nak-jun's name, is a blank slate. Despite her amnesia, her unexpected presence stirs deep uneasiness in Hae-suk, who relentlessly advocates for her expulsion from their home.
The following day, Hae-suk's anxieties escalate when she notices the appearance of four grape-like orbs, each symbolizing a rule she violated the previous day. With but two more transgressions separating her from hell, her tension is palpable. Meanwhile, Nak-jun escorts the enigmatic woman to the service center, where he discovers she might be a fugitive from hell. In heaven, fugitives often suffer memory loss, and if caught, face the dire punishment of eradication from existence.
Tensions escalate further when Nak-jun christens the woman Som-I, fueling Hae-suk's irritation to boiling point.
Later on, Hae-suk is summoned to attend reformation classes as a penalty for her four grape infractions, but she opts instead to seek solace in a church. However, overwhelmed by her relentless stream of questions, the pastor dismisses her prematurely, leaving her to fend for herself. Upon returning home, she discovers Som-I still there, and the accumulated frustrations between her and Nak-jun bubble over into an argument. Fed up, Hae-suk decides to leave and heads to the service center to inquire about her mother's whereabouts. Unfortunately, due to the stringent policies of heaven, which mandate mutual consent for a meeting, the staff are powerless to assist her. In her desperation, she subtly threatens the staff, only to be caught in the act by the president.
Moved by Hae-suk's heartfelt plea, the president grants her a special dispensation to board a bus that travels back to the 1950s version of heaven. There, in a heart-wrenching reunion, Hae-suk embraces her mother in tears.
Meanwhile, it transpires that Nak-jun's job involves retrieving memories of residents' loved ones from Earth, a role he took specifically to remain close to Hae-suk after his demise. The president gently reminds Nak-jun of the sincerity with which he once pursued her, urging him to remember that passion.
During her time with her mother, Hae-suk uncovers a shocking truth: the woman she had believed to be her birth mother was actually her adoptive mother, her father's first wife. Her biological mother had been a mistress who was brought into the household, and both her biological parents had passed away at an early age. This revelation leaves Hae-suk reeling, her world turned upside down by the sudden burst of long-buried family secrets.
Though unconnected by the bonds of blood, her adoptive mother had stood sentinel over her from afar throughout her entire lifetime. Their hearts eventually mended, as they reconciled in a heartfelt embrace, tears mingling as they drifted into a shared slumber. Upon awakening the next dawn, Hae-suk discovers Nak-jun awaiting her outside her mother’s abode. Together, they depart, sharing a poignant, tender moment that sealed their bond. Elsewhere, however, a malevolent figure resembling a devil emerged, assaulting Som-I, leaving the episode on a chilling cliffhanger.
