The Trunk- Episode 3
Episode 3 Recap: The Trunk
The emotional layers of The Trunk deepen in Episode 3, as past wounds and present complications collide in unexpected ways. The episode opens with a flashback to In-ji’s first fake marriage, revealing her initial cynicism about the institution. Her perspective shifts when her terminally ill “husband” admits he simply doesn’t want to die alone—a poignant glimpse into her guarded heart.
In the present, tensions rise when In-ji calls out Seo-yeon for being a high school bully whose actions drove a classmate to suicide. Seo-yeon doesn’t deny it, instead leaving Jeong-won with a cryptic message: stick with In-ji for now. This only fuels his confusion over why Seo-yeon handpicked her old classmate for the role of his fake wife.
In-ji visits a private investigator hunting for her elusive ex-fiancé, Do-ha, but remains cagey about why she wants to find him. Meanwhile, Seo-yeon rattles Jeong-won by reminding him of their unborn child’s death anniversary. A heartbreaking flashback reveals a difficult pregnancy that ended tragically in a car accident. When Seo-yeon offers to return an old vinyl record of his, it briefly rekindles their shared history, but Jeong-won’s focus shifts back to In-ji as he takes her to get her stitches removed.
Their relationship takes on unexpected depth when In-ji calms Jeong-won during a claustrophobic elevator ride, though she deflects his questions about her lack of emotion. She suggests a fake wedding to solidify their arrangement, leaving Seo-yeon simmering in her own frustration.
The fake wedding proceeds under Lee Seon’s officiation, complete with a binding contract: breach the rules, and they’ll never speak again. Jeong-won notices In-ji is the only one wearing a ring, a subtle detail that adds a layer of intrigue to their dynamic. They share a surprisingly lighthearted “honeymoon” watching soccer and debating the loneliness of fake marriages, though Jeong-won’s growing trust in In-ji is tested by his own insecurities and Seo-yeon’s lingering influence.
As Jeong-won wrestles with nightmares and nearly succumbs to the pills Seo-yeon left him, In-ji takes charge, secretly sending the pills to a lab for testing. Meanwhile, a baking class brings Seo-yeon, Yun-a, and Tae-song into an unexpected clash of personalities, hinting at more tangled relationships to come.
The episode crescendos at a double date orchestrated by Seo-yeon. The dinner is fraught with tension as Seo-yeon’s passive-aggressive jabs escalate, targeting everything from Jeong-won’s separate beds with In-ji to his phobia of chandeliers. In-ji quietly defends him at every turn, finally snapping when Seo-yeon mocks his trauma. Ji-o, visibly irritated by Seo-yeon’s antics, abruptly ends the night.
In the aftermath, Jeong-won finds himself grateful for In-ji’s loyalty. Their bond strengthens as she introduces him to the Milonga dance she once taught. A tender, clumsy lesson ends with a surprising kiss—a moment of unexpected vulnerability that Seo-yeon secretly witnesses through a spycam installed in the new chandelier. Her reaction? A flash of anger followed by a cryptic smile as the episode closes, leaving us wondering what her next move will be.
Episode 3 continues to weave an intricate web of love, betrayal, and unspoken truths, all while teasing out deeper mysteries surrounding the trunk and the tangled pasts of its characters. With tensions simmering on every front, the stakes only keep climbing.
DramaZen's Opinion
Oh wow, Seo-yeon really took her villain arc to the next level in Episode 3 of The Trunk! The pills, the spycam—it’s all so calculated and cruel. I mean, we knew she had a dark side, but finding out she was a high school bully who literally drove someone to suicide? Yikes. And how much do you want to bet that In-ji was either a victim herself or somehow connected to the girl who died? There’s definitely something deeper going on there.
And can we talk about the weird vibes between Seo-yeon and Tae-song? Him popping up as the instructor of her baking class feels way too convenient. Plus, why was she throwing all those snarky comments at him? And let’s not forget how she clocked In-ji noticing Yun-a’s cupcakes—Tae-song’s cupcakes. It feels like another thread in a much bigger web, and I am dying to know how it all connects.
But that spycam in the chandelier? That’s next-level twisted. Seo-yeon claims she loves Jeong-won, but this is obsessive behavior, plain and simple. She even knows about Mr. Han’s whole chandelier-spycam drama, so she’s doing it on purpose. At least Jeong-won and In-ji are starting to get closer, even if the kiss at the end was a total surprise. Sure, Jeong-won might regret it later, but for now? Let’s just enjoy this sweet moment before everything inevitably blows up!
