Tension Rises in 'Intimate Ripley' as Characters Face Deception and Betrayal

KBS 2TV's daily drama 'Intimate Ripley' sees Lee Il-hwa shedding her image as the perfect wife and mother, as she embraces a 'cold inner resolve,' heightening the tension.

The 13th episode, aired on Monday, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 8.4% according to Nielsen Korea, maintaining its top spot across all channels in its time slot, and proving its increasing engagement with viewers.

In this episode, Han Hye-ra (Lee Il-hwa) is led to believe the lie that her abandoned daughter Cha Jeong-won (Lee Si-ah) has died, sparking suspicion towards Choi Jong-hwan. Meanwhile, Joo Young-chae (Lee Hyo-na), who had left Cha Jeong-won to assume a false identity, returns, crossing paths with Jin Se-hoon (Han Ki-woong), setting the stage for upcoming turmoil.

During a fashion show attended by Han Hye-ra, Jin Se-hoon, and Cha Jeong-won, Cha Jeong-won is shocked to see her ex-boyfriend Park Kyung-shin (Kim Hyun-jae) on stage. After the show, she seeks him out backstage to talk, but Han Hye-ra interrupts, asking Park Kyung-shin, "How do you know my daughter-in-law, or rather, Young-chae?" leaving both Cha Jeong-won and Park Kyung-shin flustered.

After Han Hye-ra leaves to take a call from Jin Se-hoon, Park Kyung-shin confronts Cha Jeong-won about pretending to be Joo Young-chae, expressing resentment over being forced into a fake suicide to help Young-chae escape. Cha Jeong-won, frustrated by Park Kyung-shin's refusal to lower his voice, slaps him, shocking him into silence.

Upon hearing of Park Kyung-shin's presence, Gong Nan-sook (Lee Seung-yeon) rushes in, startled by Park Kyung-shin's plea to Cha Jeong-won for help. Grabbing Park Kyung-shin by the collar, Gong Nan-sook insists, "She's not Jeong-won, she's Young-chae, my daughter Joo Young-chae," escalating the tension. Ignoring Jin Se-hoon's offer to escort her home, Cha Jeong-won returns, haunted by Park Kyung-shin's words and Gong Nan-sook's threats. Meanwhile, Gong Nan-sook takes Park Kyung-shin to a secluded basement, ordering her henchmen to beat him for betraying Young-chae.

Joo Ha-neul (Seol Jeong-hwan) arrives just in time to stop Gong Nan-sook, who then coerces Park Kyung-shin into denying any meeting with Cha Jeong-won or Joo Young-chae before leaving.

Han Hye-ra, having confirmed the fake burial site of her supposedly deceased daughter Soo-ah, confronts Jin Tae-seok (Choi Jong-hwan) in private, tearfully revealing her meeting with Cha Ki-beom and Soo-ah's death. She pushes Jin Tae-seok away, accusing him of interference, but soon apologizes, blaming her outburst on temporary insanity. However, she secretly vows not to forgive him if he lied.

Joo Young-chae, who had previously orchestrated a romantic escape by having Cha Jeong-won impersonate her, now declares a 'silent declaration of war' against Cha Jeong-won, intensifying the drama. Observing Cha Jeong-won with Han Hye-ra and Jin Se-hoon at the fashion show, Joo Young-chae is shocked to see her mother Gong Nan-sook threatening Park Kyung-shin to protect Cha Jeong-won's false identity.

Determined, Joo Young-chae resolves to "deal with Park Kyung-shin first and reclaim my place," glaring at Cha Jeong-won with steely determination. Later, she encounters Jin Se-hoon in the hallway, remarking with a sly smile, "His looks are my type," hinting at the impending storm.