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

Episode 31

She's never been the kind of woman who could become my wife.

- Yes... - Stop trying to get in my way, Minjae.

Your growth solely depends on me.

If I gain nothing, the same goes for you.

I know that.

I know that you get rid of everything that gets in your way.

I know.

And I guess you'll do the same to me.

That's what scares me.

No... What I hate.

And that's why I can't forgive you.

I'm not looking for forgiveness here, I'm showing you how to get out of that jungle!

Mark my words.

Leave me again, and I'll never take you back.

Make your choice, Minjae.

Either live as my son, or run back inside that jungle.

I'll give you time to choose.

But my patience won't last forever.

I've already chosen!

Don't hold your breath.

I told you I'm not scared.

Minjae...

And your father?

Did he leave?

Yes.

What did he tell you?

Minjae...

He did nothing wrong.

- Mom. - Yes, tell me.

Go ahead.

Speak to me, Minjae...

Uncle Youngshik said he grew up without even knowing who his father was.

And why are you bringing that up?

He only found out he was grandpa's son when he started college.

His mother finally told him the truth on her deathbed.

Let's go talk at home.

Minjae...

I told you, didn't I?

That I was going to tell you everything, when you were a little older.

- Mom. - Yes, Minjae.

Speak to me.

My name is not Kim Minjae...

I'm Song Minjae, right?

What are you talking about?

I'm not Dad's son.

And who says that?

Answer me.

Who told you that ridiculous nonsense?

It's all right, I don't really mind.

Whomever my father and my real mother might be, it doesn't matter.

Minjae, you're his son!

You're the fruit of your father's love for your mother, Minjae.

I won't forget you.

I know how much you love me.

And I never questioned that even once.

Minjae...

Mom.

If there is any reason why I'm still alive,

you're the only one.

I'm still in this world thanks to your love for me.

Minjae... What on earth are you talking about?

Don't you ever forget me, Mom.

If you abandon me as well,

I'm scared to even think about what will happen.

So scared, I couldn't even contemplate death.

Minjae.

Should I give Baek Ingi a call?

I'll call and have her come here.

Let me give her a call.

Wait here a moment, I'll be right back.

Mom.

Remember? The promise you made with me.

You told me you'd give me the entire world, remember?

A world without tears or sadness.

But there is no such thing.

There is no such thing as that kind of world.

Minjae.

Come here to me.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Mom.

Minjae...

I'll create that world for you.

We're almost there.

Minjae...

Minjae!!

Minjae!!

Get in, you won't be able to reach him on foot.

Wait for him at home.

You shouldn't worry too much.

No one with so many tears to shed would ever commit suicide.

If you just wait for him at home, he'll come back for sure.

From tomorrow onwards, stop working at that department store.

For the time being, just stay at home.

What did you tell Minjae?

I just made myself clear.

Saying what?

I just told you what!

Couldn't you just calm him down and bring him back home?

- What could you possibly have told him... - Wait until he comes back on his own.

How do you think he feels now?

Is the fact you're not his real mother really the end of the world?

Honey. But then Minjae...

What I was saying!

Is that you should let him overcome this on his own.

I can't do that. What if he ends up committing suicide?

Are you out of your mind? You have the guts to say that?

It's because you keep acting like this that he's getting weaker by the minute!

Minjae needs help, and if you ignore him when he asks for a helping hand...

you never know what the consequences might be.

Did Yoon Nayoung love him that much?

Say what?

I guess foster mothers do feel affection as well.

Sometimes much more than real mothers would.

But you never really loved anyone.

I guess you're just telling yourself that you love him,

since that will give you the strength to go on.

Minjae means to me more than my own life.

I could do everything for his sake. Even it meant dying for him!

Let me go!

I'll show you what kind of woman you really are.

Let go! What's wrong with you?

I said let go!

Take a good look.

Look at the Yoon Nayoung inside that mirror.

What do you see?

Take a good look and tell me what you see.

Look back at how your life has gone all these years!

"I'm not human, I'm a monster."

"A heartless beast with no blood flowing in my veins!"

Take a look inside that mirror and say it.

See if you really love him more than your own life!

Say it!!

Yes.

I love him.

More than my own life.

Where are you going?

To look for Minjae.

Look at what I risked doing.

How could I come home, leaving him all alone in this cold?!

Go to sleep first. I'll go find Minjae.

Did anything happen to Minjae?

I was wondering if he came here.

He didn't.

Why don't you try to call him?

Then again... You don't trust me, anyway.

Sorry about the other day. I wanted to make the president pay, for once...

Nothing happened. He quietly slept on my sofa all night long.

This was the only place I thought he could turn to.

Would you like to come in?

You don't look well... So come in and have a cup of tea.

I'll take Minjae inside.

Minjae...

I had nowhere else to go.

Let's go in.

You could at least have protected her.

Mom died a miserable death because of you!

That woman wasn't your mother. She merely gave birth to you!

That woman abandoned you the moment you were born.

She didn't abandon me, you abandoned her!

If she protected you until the end, I would have done the same with her!

Stop lying!

You forced her to do so.

You forced her to abandon me and leave.

You're right. I guess I'm the one who abandoned her.

Because all she was to me was an obstacle threatening my future.

She's never been the kind of woman who could become my wife.

To beat my brothers and earn my father's confidence, I kept a low profile for 20 years,

while trying to tame the flames of ambition that were raging inside me.

Yes... Those were your true colors.

You trampled on everyone and everything to gain what you wanted!

So I can't respect a father like you.

And neither can I understand nor love you!

The real monster is not you, it's me.

That beast is not Yoon Nayoung,

it's Kim Youngmin.

Are you leaving now?

You're shooting all night, so what about him?

Just let him sleep, and don't bother him.

Sleep tight until tomorrow morning.

Nayoung.

Nayoung.

Nayoung!

Nayoung!

Open the door, Nayoung!

Nayoung!

Nayoung!

You could at least have turned on the heater.

You were freezing in there.

Get up and have this. I brought you some ginger tea.

- Nayoung. - Just leave me here, Eonni.

- When did you get here? - In the early morning.

How did you find out I moved here?

I told you that you couldn't run away from me no matter what.

- How can you talk to me that way? - Eonni.

I was just worried, that's all. That you'd disappear.

Go back to sleep. You'll feel much better, then.

Eonni.

Just stay by my side.

Is anything wrong?