The tenth episode of "Motel California" kicks off with Soon-ja frantically rushing to Chun-pil's side, breathlessly informing him that Yeon-soo and Kang-hee have made an unexpected trip to Seoul. As if on cue, Yeon-soo's call interrupts their conversation, prompting both parents to hastily make their way to the hospital. There, Kang-hee lies unconscious, despite the doctors' assurances of her physical well-being.
In a heart-wrenching moment, Soon-ja unexpectedly turns on herself, castigating her harsh curses directed at Kang-hee. It's then that Kang-hee's eyelids flutter, slowly opening to reveal her awakening form.
Upon returning to the motel, Kang-hee and Chun-pil find Mr. Kwon engrossed in prayer for Kang-hee's recovery. Kang-hee confides in her father, revealing that the accident site was the very same place where her mother met her untimely demise. She recounts her haunting hallucinations, and Chun-pil comfortingly suggests that her mother had intervened to save her. Chun-pil, with a hint of regret, explains that he had a crucial engagement but admits to having acted foolishly.
A flashback unfolds, depicting Chun-pil in a heated altercation with a man who had lost his entire savings, intended for a family trip. Mia and Kang-hee wait anxiously for hours, but Chun-pil never shows up; he is incarcerated for assaulting the desperate man.
Fast forward to a somber time when both Mia's and Yeon-soo's father pass away. The children, driven by an insatiable curiosity, sneak into Chun-pil's car as he navigates towards the haunting accident site. Kang-hee's world shatters as she catches a glimpse of her mother's lifeless body, prompting her to flee in sheer terror.Currently, Kang-hee departs from the motel in the wee hours of the morning, bound for the very same locale where she once fled in haste. Yeon-soo catches up with her swiftly, and she recounts a hazy recollection of Yeon-soo searching for her in that very vicinity. He, however, dismisses any such memory as non-existent. They resume their duties and, just as Yeon-soo prepares to depart to meet Kang-hee, his phone rings; it's Min-jung, Han-woo's former lover.
Meanwhile, at the library, Ah-reum finds herself in a heated exchange with a man, presumably the suitor her father has chosen for her. He attempts to physically coerce her into his vehicle, but Seung-eon arrives on the scene, intervening and halting the altercation. Empowered by Kang-hee's encouragement, Ah-reum and Seung-eon resolve to plead their case with Ah-reum's mother, hoping she will sanction their relationship. To their dismay, Ah-reum's mother reacts with a slap and flatly refuses to embrace an orphan like Seung-eon into her family.
A memory flashback reveals the harrowing tale of Seung-eon being deserted at the motel by a woman who, in leaving, penned a note pledging her return. Seeking refuge, Chun-pil inquiries with the police about the possibility of Seung-eon residing with him. The young Kang-hee, sensing an opportunity for companionship, promptly embraces him as her own flesh and blood.
In the present day, Seung-eon confides in Kang-hee that he cannot venture to Seoul for fear that his mother might return. He unveils a cherished photograph of himself and Mia from his childhood days, where Mia embraced him as one of her own. Kang-hee, duty-bound, travels to Seoul where she encounters a melancholy and uncommunicative Seok-kyung. She discerns his melancholy stemming from his awareness of Victor's infidelity towards Esther and his resultant concern for her wellbeing. Kang-hee assures him that Esther is already cognizant of Victor's betrayal.Han-woo storms into the vet clinic, scolding Yeon-soo for divulging his phone number to Min-jung, who is now insistent on meeting him. Nan-woo, eavesdropping on the conversation, rushes over to Ah-reum, eager to uncover the details of Han-woo's and Min-jung's connection. Ah-reum promptly dials Han-woo's number to ascertain his whereabouts. Meanwhile, Nan-woo bolts towards the bus station, where Han-woo awaits with Min-jung. Nan-woo frantically informs Han-woo of a fictional illness affecting his cow, urging him not to depart. However, it transpires that Han-woo has no intention of leaving; Min-jung had merely summoned him to inform him of her impending nuptials.
Elsewhere, Kang-hee engages in housecleaning when she stumbles upon a tiny teddy bear nestled beneath her bed. This discovery serves as a catalyst, unleashing a cascade of disjointed flashbacks from her past. Concurrently, Chun-pil engages in a heartfelt conversation with Yeon-soo, confessing that his opposition to their relationship stemmed from his role as a protective father, desiring only Yeon-soo's happiness. As Kang-hee's father, he entrusts Yeon-soo with the responsibility of looking after Kang-hee, adding that her memories are gradually resurfacing. He expresses gratitude for Yeon-soo's unwavering support.
Subsequently, Yeon-soo ventures to Kang-hee's Seoul residence, only to find it empty. In reality, Kang-hee is at the columbarium, where her mother's ashes rest. A flashback unfolds, depicting Mia informing Kang-hee of their impending journey to California, her birthplace. However, Chun-pil's absence prompts them to return to the house for the night. Kang-hee, enveloped in anxiety, ties a red string from her mother's ashes to her wrist for solace. Upon waking the next morning, Kang-hee finds her mother missing but cradles a small teddy bear in her hands, a poignant reminder of her lost loved one.
A montage of scenes unfolds, interspersing with a pivotal moment where Kang-hee crudely shoves the tiny teddy bear into the muffler of a car. Upon witnessing her mother's lifeless body, Kang-hee flees to a dilapidated shack, where she collapses into unconsciousness. Yeon-soo and their companions swiftly locate her.
Returning from the columbarium, Kang-hee discovers Yeon-soo patiently awaiting her outside her abode. Yeon-soo's face beams with joy upon seeing her, but Kang-hee abruptly suggests they part ways. Contrary to her wish, Yeon-soo vows to wait patiently until she is ready to confide her troubles.
The following day, Seung-eon and Chun-pil capture poignant funeral portraits of the elderly in town. Chun-pil then persists that Seung-eon snap a picture of him too, evoking a hint of melancholy in Seung-eon. Could it be that Chun-pil's end is drawing near?
Later that evening, Kang-hee ventures into Chun-pil's room, where he strums a guitar. They engage in heartfelt conversation, and Chun-pil once again apologizes for the hardships she has endured. Kang-hee commands Chun-pil to lead a healthy life until she can accept his apology and offer one of her own.
Soon-ja reconvenes with the monk from the Buddhist temple and is astounded to receive a call from Kang-hee. They convene at a restaurant, where Kang-hee tenderly apologizes before taking her leave. Subsequently, Kang-hee meets Yeon-soo. Before she can utter a word, he begins to articulate how she is the alpha and omega of his existence. His very essence is intertwined with her, and his love for her remains steadfast. Kang-hee then unburdens her heart, confessing her recollections. She reveals that she was the cause of the accident that claimed their parents' lives and recounts her mother's heartfelt declaration of love before bidding her farewell forever. With a declaration of her own love for Yeon-soo, Kang-hee exits, concluding Episode 10 of Motel California.
