The Story of Park's Marriage Contract (2023) Episode 3

Episode 3 of The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract starts with Tae-ha calling Secretary Hong and getting a car ready for him. As you’ll remember, he crashed his car in the parking lot at the end of the previous chapter. However, he’s unaware that there’s a shadowy hooded figure watching from afar.

He shows up at the apartment just as his mum reaches out to touch Yeon-woo. However, Tae-ha is cold toward her and points out that his real mum passed away a long time ago. And now he wants her to leave. Before she does, she asks Yeon-woo to show up to Tae-ha’s grandfather’s birthday. However, Hye-sook scathingly tells Yeon-woo she needs to dress “more appropriately” for that encounter.

While Yeon-woo gets to grips with the local etiquette, Hye-sook is hung up over her daughter-in-law. She points out that Yeon-woo recognized her but she’s not quite sure why. They haven’t been able to find anything on her online but that won’t stop this troublesome woman. Instead, she focuses on Secretary Hong and those who have been brought in and out lately.

Yeon-woo continues to try and find a way back home, including jumping back into the swimming pool again with the flowers. It doesn’t work, naturally, and an exasperated Tae-ha also shows up. He tells her how his routine has been destroyed these past few days. Yeon-woo though, bites back that her entire life has been turned upside down and she’s struggling to deal with it.

On the way back inside, Yeon-woo catches sight of some paintings  that look similar to those from the honeymoon room she and her husband stayed it during their first night. She doesn’t get long to ponder over it though, as Tae-ha hurries her along so he can give her a ride.

Tae-ha has a tight relationship with his grandfather, who promised that they would be “one team” until the end. They’ve always had a close bond, and this promise at a funeral is enough to tie the bonds between them.

In the present, Tae-ha decides that he and Yeon-woo need a proper marriage contract. Tae-ha has a whole bunch of rules, including not mentioning Joseon and for this to be going on for around a month. Yeon-wo has her own terms. She wants his help in getting back home no matter what, feed her snacks and not treat her badly either. Instead of a handshake, she has him make a promise. However, his heart starts beating rapidly as a result.

Tae-ha is brought in to the hospital for some tests, where he mentions his irregular heartbeats. The doctor wants him to keep track of exactly when this happens so they can work out what triggers it. However, we know that the trigger is actually Yeon-woo!

Back home, Yeon-woo finds herself trying to make sense of the new technology on offer. The portable vacuum eats her snacks and she’s shocked. And even more so when she’s stuck outside as the door locks.

At work, the Hwajeopdo exhibit is the big talking point here. There’s some bickering over who’s going to take the lead but a new team leader is chosen and CEO Min appears to be out. Hye-Sook learns that the pictures they have for the exhibit appear to be fakes. Given she’s been kicked out the project, she shrugs it off and decides she’s not going to bother telling Tae-ha.

When Tae-ha heads home, he finds Yeon-woo outside. He thankfully explains the vacuum cleaner to her and they head out to get some food. Tae-ha does tellingly reveal that the full moon is still a few days away. Could this be linked in to getting Yeon-woo home?

Either way, after this Yeon-woo walks in on Tae-ha getting changed. She’s absolutely amazed by his body and heads into her bedroom and begins praying, trying to calm herself down.

After, Tae-min shows up and tkes Yeon-woo out. He brings her to the shopping center that her husband is working at and she’s shocked to see the size of it. She notices that Tae-min’s hand is cut open so she decides to help him out.

It’s only a brief moment though and after letting her hair down, she races up to see Secretary Hong. However, she happens to stumble upon the exhibit about to get underway. She recognizes Yoon Ahm’s drawings and knows instantly that it’s a fake given the seal.

Tae-ha verifies that with the hired help too who admit the truth about Min. As for Yeon-woo, she realizes that one of the paintings is definitely real – the one she saw earlier. In order to get it, Tae-ha buys some time with the international guests kept busy by Secretary Hong.

Unfortunately, CEO Min shows up and undermines all this, deciding to lead them away from the cultural area. Thankfully, Tae-ha manages to save the exhibit from total disaster by showing off the real thing.

So how did Yeon-woo know it was a fake? Well, it turns out she used to be friends with Yoon Ahm. She saw the woman’s talent and she cherished the pictures she made. Her seal is special and she’d recognize it anywhere.

After dinner together, Yeon-wo and Tae-ha sit outside and discuss the rabbit moon. It’s only a brief chat though given she’s super full and tired. He falls asleep on his shoulder, so he gives her a ride back to the apartment.

While Tae-ha is gone, Yeon-woo needs water so she helps herself to a bottle from the fridge. She looks at the plug switch and sees a face so she decides to try and hit it with a fork. Tae-ha comes back and grabs her, just as the electrics short-circuit. Naturally, she ends up falling on top of him and she leans forward and kisses Tae-ha!

The Episode Review

This episode is another good one as we learn more about CEO Min’s trickery and the extent that Hye-sook will go to undermine Tae-ha and get that position of power for herself. She slips into that “evil mother in law” role really well and it opens up all sorts of tantalizing questions for the future. Most notably is whether she has any connection with this shadowy guy in the parking lot.

While this is going on, we also have more drama involving Ye0n-woo and seeing her adjust to modern day Seoul is a delight. The vacuum is a great touch, while the subtle hints toward the full moon could be a crucial clue going forward to getting her back to the Joseon period.

Either way, this is another good episode and this weekend drama is just starting to settle into a consistent groove!