Flames of Desire (Flames of Ambition / Yokmangeui Bulkkot / 욕망의 불꽃)

Flames Of Ambition

Episode 24

It's me.

What did you just do?

What did you meet Yang Insuk for?

I'm having a drink with Minjae. Let's talk later.

So Minjae saw you? You and Yang Insuk together.

Minjae will be out soon, let's hang up.

She could barely hold her excitement, what were you doing when he saw you?

Say something!

I went there to ask what she wanted from us.

Why, you don't know that?

She only wants to get her revenge, so that she can get Minjae back.

Sorry for screaming at you.

Fine.

I'll tell you everything.

It was right before you and I came back to Seoul.

I went to school to drive Minjae back home,

and I found him talking with Yang Insuk.

She took a glance at me, and ran away immediately.

I let that slide.

But not long after, she took him out for a hamburger.

So I finally met her,

and told her that I'd give her all the money she wanted,

as long as she stopped meeting Minjae.

But she told me that she couldn't live without him.

No... Without you.

I was scared.

It felt like nothing I told her would make any difference.

What if she told Minjae everything?

I don't care what happens to me.

But wouldn't Minjae go crazy if he heard all that?

How could he possibly understand?

So I had to kill her,

it's all I could think of.

For Minjae's sake.

That's right... I went there to kill her.

I waited outside her door for a few nights.

Honey...

And then an opportunity presented itself.

I saw Yang Insuk walking on the road, completely drunk.

So I pushed the accelerator with all the strength I had.

The car was racing towards her in clouds of smoke, blinding me.

Right at that moment, Minjae's face came to mind.

- Minjae's... - Stop it!

I regained my senses and looked ahead,

and there she was, staring straight at me.

I must have hit the brakes without even realizing it.

Thank God...

She was laughing at me.

I still can't forget that smile of derision painted on her face.

"You can't hurt me."

"Since I'm Minjae's mother."

"Since I am his mother."

It felt as if she was whispering that to me.

How could I possibly kill her?

She's Minjae's birth mother.

I'm not asking you to believe me.

Since I'm responsible for her suffering, anyway.

I took her son away from her, so I've already killed her in a way.

I'll accept any punishment.

If you want me to, I'll even leave.

But Minjae can never find out.

If he does, it might drive him crazy.

If he learns that I'm not his real mother,

think of how that'll make him feel.

Honey.

I don't care what happens to me.

As long as Minjae can grow up without suffering,

I don't care what consequences I'll have to face.

Honey.

Are you listening to me?

Say something.

You despise me, don't you?

Then again....

It's not like you ever loved me, anyway.

I'd... presumed so.

You did?

I bet.

So that's why you met her again.

Since you believed her when she said I tried to kill her.

I did try to tell you more than once.

But I never found the courage.

Since I was afraid I would lose both Minjae and you if I did.

You don't even believe me, what excuses could I possibly make?

Minjae is your son.

No matter what anyone else says, he is your son.

Got it?

Minjae is your son.

Thanks...

Thank you, Honey.

Minjae should be here any minute, let's hang up.

Minjae, what are you waiting for?

Who have you been on the phone with for so long?

It's you...

I wanted a word with you,

but seeing how you were on the phone, I just waited outside.

Who was that?

My sister.

The one running that restaurant?

How do you know that?

Since Youngjun's wife keeps prattling on about her.

Serves her right, always acting so haughty.

And then she lets some hick in the provinces steal her husband?!

Oh my... Look at me...

I kind of spoke ill of your sister, didn't I...

Then again, she must be just as pretty as you are?

Here.

Let's see if our Minjae can handle the bottle.

What were you doing in your room all that time?

I suddenly fell asleep while getting changed.

So you really got drunk after all.

They just kept filling my glass all night.

They must be envious.

Since Grandpa seems to have only eyes for you.

Yes... I guess so.

If you're tired, just go to sleep.

Yes... I better.

I've been up all day running places, so I'm a little tired.

I'll go, then.

Yeah.

What?

Dad.

I'll do my best at work.

Is it bearable?

Yes.

Since I've started,

I want to win Grandpa's respect like you did.

You do that.

Have a good night.

Insuk.

Ajumma...

Dad!

What is it, again?

Can I come there right now?

- I need... - All right.

Call me when you get here.

Didn't you just hear the door?

I didn't hear anything, President.

Come on in.

I was about to close, so we're alone.

Do you want a cup of coffee?

What did you tell my wife on the phone?

I wasn't the one who called, she did.

How do you like your coffee?

You told her that Minjae saw us together?

Is that what she told you?

Anyhow, she sure is peculiar.

What are you trying to accomplish?

You and Yoon Nayoung keep asking the same thing?!

To get back my son before I die.

To what?

I had no intention to do so until a while back,

but I suddenly changed my mind.

Is that why you asked me to meet? So that I'd come when Minjae usually shows up?!

You're the one who was holding my hands, not me.

- Is that the kind of woman you were? - Yes.

What do you think I seduced a chaebol for, after parading the streets of New York?

Be my guest.

Still beats getting run over by a car, don't you think?

Don't you try to mess with Minjae.

Meet him just one more time,

and then I will be the one who'll make you pay.

But if you want me dead, you better hurry up.

And do it before Yoon Nayoung kills me.

Stop staring at me like that.

I let that look fool me long enough to let go of Minjae.

But you're not going to fool me twice.

You have no right to become Minjae's mother.

I'm the one who gave birth to him!

Minjae is my son!

Minjae.

Sorry.

I had to wait for Jinsuk Eonni to fall asleep.

Aren't you cold?

I see we've got Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer here?!

I always spent Christmas alone,

but I finally broke that record today?!

That's sad.

Let's drink.

So what did you want to talk about?

You just called because you missed me?

I don't really know why I hated her so much.

She raised me, after all.

Maybe I just needed someone to hate.

So that would help me feel more at ease with myself.

But now I'm just going to forget about it.

I don't even want to know who abandoned me anymore.

I'm sure they had their reasons. For not raising me.

The way I see it is this.

My mother probably fell in love with this man, but then was abandoned.

So that's why she left me at that orphanage.

Because I'd remind her of him every time she looked at me.

Maybe it's because she was too poor to provide for me,

or she was too young to be my mother.

But it's all right, really.

Since I've still made it here.

I'm no longer going to resent anyone.

Instead, I won't love anyone, either.

Since I can't have a daughter like me.