Episode 1 of *The Girlfriend* erupts into chaos as it opens with a heated argument between two women. The clamor escalates, but suddenly everything falls silent after a knife flashes and someone plunges into the water. The scene abruptly shifts to Laura, who is engrossed in a phone conversation with Harriet. She then senses an unsettling presence in the house and calls out. It turns out to be her mischievous cat, which had knocked over a vase downstairs.
After tidying up the mess, Laura decides to take a refreshing swim in her pool. To her surprise, her son, Daniel, joins her. She's delighted to see him and they catch up on each other's lives. The conversation soon veers towards Daniel's current romantic situation. He confides that he's dating someone new, a woman who stands out from his previous partners. Interestingly, she reminds him of his mother.
A few days flash by, and Daniel brings his new girlfriend, Cherry, over to meet his parents. Cherry laughs off the incessant teasing about her name and makes a concerted effort to impress Laura. She showcases her knowledge of art, hoping to make a good impression. However, Laura begins to notice a few fibs slipping from Cherry's lips. Meanwhile, Howard, Daniel's father, is overjoyed for his son.
Before dinner, Daniel offers to give Cherry a tour of the house. Laura feels a twinge of offense when she catches them engaging in oral sex. As dinner progresses, it's revealed that Daniel had a sister who passed away at a young age. Cherry, attempting to fit in, lies about having attended an elite school, but Laura's keen eye catches the deception.
Laura is also displeased to learn that Daniel is planning to pursue a career as a trauma surgeon. They had envisioned and even made plans for him to become a pediatrician. As Daniel explains his rationale, Laura accidentally spills a hot beverage on Cherry. In a gesture of apology, she offers to have Cherry's dress cleaned and follows her to the washroom to assist. Cherry, however, politely declines the offer.
On her way back, Laura's eyes are drawn to Cherry's open bag, where she spots a golden bracelet that bears a striking resemblance to her own.
The following day, Laura arranged a meeting with her friend Isabella and recounted the eventful dinner to her. Laura was convinced that Cherry was keeping something from her and suspected that she might have been the one who took her bracelet. Just then, Brigitte, Isabella’s daughter, arrived to remind her mother about their scheduled appointment with a divorce lawyer.
The conversation then shifted to Laura’s upcoming art exhibition. Laura casually mentioned that Daniel would be bringing Cherry along, and there was still some uncertainty within the art circle about whether Cherry would be well-received.
At the exhibition, Laura felt slightly unsettled by the overt displays of affection between Daniel and Cherry. Isabella, noticing Laura’s discomfort, reminded her that their annual holiday in Spain was just around the corner, and Laura would finally have Daniel all to herself. As they chatted, Laura received a message from the head of the school that Cherry had claimed to have attended.
According to Henry, the headmaster, there was no record of Cherry ever being a student at his school. Eager to share this revelation with Daniel, Laura hurried over, only to discover that Daniel and Cherry had already left.
Later that night, Laura was taken aback to find Howard at home, as she had assumed he was on a date with his mistress. Howard brought up Daniel’s abrupt departure from the party, and they both agreed that it was odd. However, they quickly dismissed their concerns, made love, and even came to an agreement that Howard should continue seeing his mistress.
The next day, Laura set out to post flyers around the neighborhood in search of her lost cat, which had gone missing during the dinner with Cherry. Determined to find some clues, she decided to stop by Cherry’s office and take a look around. Before heading out, she called Isabella to seek her opinion on whether it was a good idea.
On her way, Laura happened to witness Cherry engaged in a heated argument with a man. The tension escalated rapidly, and to Laura’s shock, Cherry suddenly punched the man with a violent outburst.
The scene unfolds with Cherry strolling to work when her eyes catch sight of Daniel, accompanied by his rowdy bunch of friends. They are inebriated, unruly, and Cherry can't help but flash a suggestive gesture in Daniel's direction. Upon arriving at the office, she finds her colleague, Pandora, nursing a pounding hangover.
Cherry, ever the helpful soul, offers to lend a hand with a property listing. It's during this exchange that Pandora casually drops the bombshell about her promotion. Cherry's temper flares; she marches straight to her boss's office, fuming about being overlooked, convinced that Pandora's advancement was undeserved. Her boss, with a tone of regret, explains that Pandora's family boasts wealth and influential connections. He offers a sympathetic apology, urging Cherry to bide her time for the next opportunity.
Days slip by, and Cherry attempts to channel her energy into self-improvement, until news of her ex's impending nuptials hits her like a ton of bricks. Just then, Daniel pays a visit to her office, scouting for real estate. He extends an apology for his earlier antics with his friends, but Cherry remains unresponsive, her gaze averted.
Together, they embark on a tour of several properties, yet Daniel's quest seems to be for something intangible. Their banter simmers with flirtation, and Cherry suggests viewing one more place. The moment Daniel lays eyes on the property, it's love at first sight. In a whirlwind of passion, they consummate their attraction and officially embark on a romantic journey.
It's in this intimate setting that we uncover a hidden chapter of their past: Cherry and Daniel were ensconced in Laura's residence on the fateful day the cat toppled the vase. Laura, almost catching them in a compromising position in the closet, inadvertently pocketed a bracelet Cherry had been admiring. In a desperate bid to divert his mother's attention and grant Cherry a chance to flee, Daniel caused the vase to shatter.
We also discover that Cherry has been grappling with financial woes. The dress she donned for a dinner extravaganza nearly bankrupted her. It appears she had intended to return it, but Laura's mishap with a spilled drink thwarted her plans. Moreover, Cherry was acutely aware that Laura had witnessed their steamy encounter in the room.
From Cherry's perspective, Laura had been relentlessly grilling her throughout the entire dinner, a barrage of questions that left her feeling cornered and uneasy. Perhaps it was this incessant interrogation that drove Cherry to the edge, prompting her to fling open the window and let the cat slip out into the night. After the meal concluded, Cherry's mother, with a tone of concern laced with warning, urged her daughter to reconsider her penchant for dating wealthy suitors.
At the art exhibition, Cherry stumbled over her words while discussing the pieces with Laura, her usually sharp tongue betraying her nerves. The evening took a dramatic downturn when, amidst the crowd, Cherry's eyes locked onto a familiar face—her ex's new girlfriend, standing there as if to mock her past heartache. Seizing the moment, Cherry employed all her feminine wiles to coax Daniel away from the gathering, their departure marked by a seductive allure. They retreated to his apartment, where passion ignited and love was made.
Cherry, often portraying herself as shy and reclusive, found solace in Daniel's compassionate embrace. In a heartfelt exchange, they professed their love for each other, their words weaving a tapestry of affection and commitment. Daniel, ever the gentleman, extended an invitation for Cherry to join his family on their upcoming vacation to Spain, a proposal met with Cherry's hesitant but eventual acceptance.
Fast forward to the day Laura witnessed an unexpected scene outside her office: Cherry, in a fit of righteous fury, landing a punch on a man. The man in question was none other than Cherry's ex, who had accused her of stalking him and his new girlfriend, his words dripping with condescension and cruelty. In truth, the man's behavior had been nothing short of demeaning. Once he had stormed off, Laura approached Cherry, exchanged a few words, and then continued on her way. Later, Cherry paid a visit to her mother's butchery, where she concocted a sinister plan—a bloody surprise for her ex's wedding day.
The episode culminated in a scene of chaos and vengeance, as Cherry, having infiltrated the wedding, watched with a mix of satisfaction and detachment as her carefully orchestrated sabotage unfolded. The wedding cake, once a symbol of joy and celebration, now lay tainted, a testament to Cherry's resolve to settle the score. With a steely gaze, she turned and walked away, leaving behind a trail of destruction and a story that would linger long after the last guest had departed.
