Episode 3 of *The Girlfriend* opens with a scene of someone receiving medical treatment at the hospital, setting a tense tone from the start. Once again, we are plunged into Cherry’s perspective. The episode kicks off with Laura visiting the house that Daniel intends to purchase. Naturally, Cherry is present, and Laura attempts to maintain a cordial demeanor. However, the moment Daniel steps out of earshot, Laura's friendly facade drops, and she confronts Cherry head-on. Cherry stands her ground, insisting she has no intention of leaving Daniel and advising Laura to come to terms with the situation.
At work, Cherry is visibly preoccupied, leading her to call her mother for some comfort. Later, Tracey pays Cherry a visit, and Cherry cautions her to remain tight-lipped about her if anyone inquires. Tracey, sensing trouble, expresses concern that Cherry might have gotten herself into another mess but vows to remain loyal. Daniel makes a surprise appearance, seizing the opportunity to meet Tracey.
After Tracey leaves, Cherry confesses her anxiety to Daniel, fearing he might dislike her after meeting Tracey. Daniel, ever-supportive, reassures Cherry of his unconditional love.
A few days pass, and Laura drops by again, this time to discuss plans for Daniel’s birthday. Laura hopes to continue their tradition of attending a musical together. In a bold move, Cherry falsely claims to have organized a surprise rock-climbing adventure. Both women turn to Daniel, asking him to choose his preference. Daniel opts for Cherry’s idea, prompting Laura to depart, visibly disappointed. Later, Cherry finds herself sinking deeper into debt as she proceeds to book the climbing trip.
Meanwhile, Nicolas calls Cherry, threatening to report her to the police for sabotaging his wedding. He casually mentions Laura’s name during the conversation. Cherry, not one to back down, retaliates by threatening to call Nicolas’s wife and reveal something damaging. After the call, Cherry enlists her mother's help to serve as her alibi on the day of Nicolas’s wedding.
Tracey, growing increasingly worried, confides in Cherry that her recent behavior is alarming and reminiscent of her past mistakes. This prompts Cherry to question Daniel about whether he thinks she is a bad person. She lies to Daniel, claiming that Nicolas is spreading false rumors about her.
Before the climbing trip, Cherry confronts Laura, accusing her of conspiring with Nicolas. She spots Daniel approaching and stages a dramatic scene, pleading with Laura to cease her investigation into her life. As expected, Daniel sides with Cherry, and they set off on their trip. During the hike, Daniel, eager to impress Cherry, makes a spontaneous marriage proposal, which Cherry accepts with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the joy is short-lived as Daniel suffers a hiking accident in his attempt to woo Cherry further.
Laura's perspective begins as she watches Howard meticulously preparing for a rendezvous with his mistress. Her gaze then shifts to the pool, where she spots Daniel and Cherry skinny-dipping. With a hint of exasperation, she admonishes Daniel to at least show some respect for her home. It's at this pivotal moment that Daniel breaks the news about their new house and extends an invitation for her to come and see it together. He also reveals his intention to move in with Cherry, a revelation that doesn't sit well with Laura at all. Yet, she remains silent, her emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Over the ensuing days, Laura attempts to reconnect with Nicolas and his wife, only to be rebuffed by Nicolas. According to Laura, Cherry has become increasingly possessive of Daniel, flaunting their affection by kissing him right in front of her. Feeling isolated, she confides in Isabella and Brigette, but their response is unsympathetic; they accuse Laura of overreacting.
After numerous attempts, Nicolas and his wife finally relent and agree to meet with Laura. They come armed with a stark warning: Cherry is volatile and dangerous. Nicolas recounts how Cherry spiraled out of control after their breakup, revealing her explosive temper. He even mentions having to obtain a restraining order against her. This revelation only fuels Laura's growing anxiety.
Before Daniel embarks on his climbing expedition, Laura tries to warn him about Cherry. However, Daniel interprets her concerns as suffocating and an attack on his girlfriend. Furious, he storms off and enlists his father's help to reason with Laura. Howard confronts her, urging her to abandon what he perceives as her irrational behavior. He acknowledges that Laura's relationship with Daniel is unusual and needs to be reined in.
From Howard's vantage point, Laura is terrified that Cherry is usurping her place in Daniel's life. Feeling utterly alone and misunderstood, Laura pays a visit to Lilith, an old friend. They reconnect after years apart, and Lilith invites her to stay the night so they can delve deeper into the Cherry conundrum. Lilith counsels Laura to outmaneuver Cherry at her own game, suggesting that Laura let Daniel uncover Cherry's deceptions for himself.
The conversation then veers towards Lilith's artistic talents, with the ladies marveling at her drawings. Just as they're about to share a tender moment, Laura's phone rings with the harrowing news of Daniel's accident from Cherry.
Laura rushes to the hospital, where she promptly ejects Cherry from Daniel's room. Daniel's condition is graver than anticipated, prompting the doctors to rush him into surgery to stanch a brain hemorrhage. Howard ushers Cherry out, promising to keep her informed. Reluctantly, Cherry departs but continues to pester Laura for updates, which Laura studiously ignores.
Meanwhile, Daniel's prognosis worsens, and the doctors caution his family to brace for the worst. As Laura spends her final precious moments with her son, Cherry calls again. Laura coldly informs her that Daniel passed away that morning. But then, against all odds, Daniel begins to regain consciousness, defying the grim prognosis.
