With Jang Hyun away, Gil Chae is being bombarded by marriage proposals from Woo Mon, who fell in love with her on the island, but she keeps turning him down, even when he lets her believe that he was the one who saved them back then. She tells him that she always put off men by her character, but she doesn’t want to change for none. But when Woo Mon confesses to her that he is willing to marry her even if she has feelings for someone else, and with Gi Chae believing Jang Hyun to be dead, after confirming it with his friend, Ryang Eum, she eventually agrees.
Jang Hyun finally comes back, carrying a chest full of shoes for Gil Chae and dreaming of presenting them to her, when he discovers that she is about to get married. He gets angry, but then he finds out the circumstances of her agreeing to the marriage. He admits to her that he was the one who saved her on the island, but he also feels guilty because he was the one who told her to go there in the first place, thus, putting her in danger. However, Gil Chae still refuses to end her engagement, because she feels obligated to carry it throw due to the wedding gifts she has already accepted.
Yet, Jang Hyun doesn’t give up, especially since he was informed of how much Gil Chae suffered thinking that he is dead. Eventually, he convinces her to run away with him, and she does, but, right before they hail a boat and fly away together, she visits her father one last time. But, Woo Moo, having discovered that Gil Chae has run away, uses her father to make her stay. And it works, as Gil Chae sends a letter and the pair of shoes she received from him to Jang Hyun, who was waiting for her at the dock. In the letter she explains that she can’t give up on her life there, as she doesn’t really trust him or her own feelings. Thus, Jang Hyun goes away bittered, while Gil Chae, back at her house, invites Woo Moo to eat with them, indicating that their engagement is back on.
Two years later, Jang Hyun saves some runaway captives who were being chased down by some bandits. At that venture, he runs into a masked bandit, who ends up being a woman who apparently captures his attention.
The first part of the Korean Drama My Dearest was full of emotions and melodrama. It had enough heartbreak and heartache, some heartwarming moments, some light comedy, and intense romantic scenes. It also paved the way for a much-anticipated second half.
K&J Reviews 