The ninth episode starts with Jae-rim aiming to assist Cha-min in finding closure. He goes back to his mother and agrees to hear the entire tale. After finishing, he returns to Jae-rim and requests a hug.
They return to the club and have a meal. He is delighted to reunite with his mom but holds a grudge because she harmed his dad. The conversation shifts to their aspirations, and Jae-rim discloses that her original aspiration was to become an artist. Now all she desires is to be like Cinderella and marry someone wealthy because she has nothing else. He holds a different opinion and continues to praise her as she remains immersed in her own sadness.
Upon parting, they are constantly on each other’s minds and are eagerly looking forward to meeting again the next day. While at work, a child throws water at them, but Cha-min shields Jae-rim using his umbrella. Before requesting the umbrella, she playfully mocks him because he is now capable of moving without it. He pauses before handing it to her but appears happy when she compliments him.
Dan-a’s honeymoon period is short-lived when she sees Cha-min purchasing presents for Jae-rim. To prevent her from destroying Jae-rim, he consents to marry her. She revels in front of a heartbroken Jae-rim. Do-hong arrives at the perfect moment and suggests taking Jae-rim to Berlin for a new beginning as an artist.
While Dan-a drags Cha-min to her wedding gown fitting, he sulks the entire time. When he lacks excitement, she has a fit, but he still acknowledges her beauty silently. She goes to her dad in tears, leaving him confused. She eventually understands that she is attractive enough to find someone who will reciprocate her love.
In another place, Jae-rim is occupied mourning over Cha-min while Su-jin returns home with Dr. Gu. She explains that he wasn’t flirting with other women but rather refining his skills on them prior to asking her to marry him. Although Hwa-jin maintains her strong exterior, she still sees him as a member of her family.
Jae-rim sulks in her room by herself because she is upset that Cha-min’s behavior towards her is inconsistent. Gu invites her to dinner and she inquires about his success in winning over Su-jin. He states that she was the woman of his dreams, then jokes that he is a kind individual.
The following day, Cha-min informs the staff about a holiday and Jae-rim is puzzled. Encouraged by Secretary Heo, she pays a visit to Cha-min. Her intention to express her emotions to him is discarded when she notices that Cha-min has been physically assaulted.
Their argument escalates as he remains distant and she questions if he would be okay with her departing with Do-hong. He alleges he never truly cared for her and was simply assisting in fulfilling her Cinderella fantasy. He takes it a step further by kissing her to show he is a player, which prompts her to slap him before she runs away.
A flashback reveals that the ring was the gift he had bought for Jae-rim. At that moment, Dan-a’s father and his gang show up and destroy Chungdam. The father also physically attacks Cha-min for causing his daughter to cry. Following his departure, Cha-min’s father shows up. During Mr. Moon’s “I told you so” speech, Cha-min refuses to believe it as he emphasizes that Lily still loves them.
Mr. Moon believes he is being deceived and chooses to show Cha-min a lesson – he instructs Cha-min to sever connections with him, leading to no further financial support or access to Chungdam. Next, they will determine whether Lily will accept her financially struggling son. Mr. Moon thinks she will not and claims that Cha-min is now unloved by everyone.
Currently, Cha-min notices Jae-rim forgot her shawl and tears up because he just wants her to be happy. Meanwhile, Jae-rim thinks that she is incapable of being loved. In the final scene of Episode 9 of Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale, she receives a package from Cha-min that he had sent prior to Dan-a’s ultimatum. He took Cinderella painting from baby Jae-rim’s old house and had it fixed. He sends it to her and includes a letter stating that she is not Cinderella, she is a fighter.
Why is Cha min hurting Jae Rim like this?