Ominous Dreams and Lingering Suspicions: Episode 4 of “Heavenly Ever After” opened with a poignant yet unsettling scene: a photoshoot of an elderly couple whose final portrait was destined for their funeral. Meanwhile, Young-ae was plagued by a disturbing dream of Hell’s workers coming for her, leaving her with a sense of unease that lingered into her waking hours.

Softening Stances and Marital Distrust: Later in the episode, Hye-suk displayed a slight softening in her demeanor towards Som-i. However, her suspicions regarding Nak-jun’s fidelity resurfaced, leading to a direct confrontation about his alleged affairs. Nak-jun vehemently denied any involvement with other women, earnestly trying to convince Hye-suk that he had no personal connection to Som-i. A flashback revealed a past opportunity for Nak-jun to become an actor, an offer he initially accepted while a director was drunk but later declined upon the director sobering up, realizing it was a mistake.

Curious Observations and Animal Justice: The following morning, Hye-suk and Nak-jun observed Som-i and Sonya playfully chasing butterflies, noting Sonya’s comfortable interaction with Som-i. In a parallel storyline, a group of abandoned and mistreated dogs rallied other abused animals to establish their own version of Hell, specifically for human abusers. The President of this unique afterlife took notice and invited the three leading dogs, Jjajang, Jjamppong, and Mandu, to explain that their system of punishment was thorough and demanded atonement for those who harmed living creatures.

Church Visits and a Familiar Protector: Hye-suk’s attempts at reformation continued with another visit to church, though she inadvertently fell asleep during the pastor’s sermon, much to his annoyance. Her reformative class concluded with her making two servings of ramen. On her way home, she encountered Som-i, who instinctively protected her from a flying badminton shuttlecock, mirroring a protective gesture Young-ae used to make. That night, Young-ae, troubled by another nightmare of Hell’s workers, sought comfort in Hye-suk’s bed, again echoing Young-ae’s past behavior. The next day, Som-i accompanied Hye-suk to church, where they were greeted by a new male attendee, much to the pastor’s pride. Meanwhile, the President enlightened the three dogs on how deceased pets assist their owners in overcoming grief by appearing in hallucinations or dreams. This revelation prompted Jjamppong to question his initial harsh judgment of humans, considering the genuine desire of pets for their happiness.

A Runaway’s Scent and a Misguided Conclusion: Later, the dogs encountered Som-i outside the church, mentioning their intention to visit Hell before heading to the service center. At the center, Hell’s workers were actively trying to apprehend a runaway spirit. Staff members noted that these spirits had a distinct scent detectable by pets, allowing them to blend in with Heaven’s residents otherwise. The dogs then realized that Som-i was the runaway spirit they had noticed earlier, having mistaken her unusual scent for that of another animal. Meanwhile, Hye-suk brought Som-i to the service center, inquiring about Young-ae. She was informed of Young-ae’s death and assignment to Hell. Overjoyed by this news, Hye-suk jumped to the conclusion that Som-i must be Young-ae and excitedly shared this with a concerned Nak-jun. Despite Nak-jun’s reservations, Hye-suk encouraged Som-i to embrace her supposed identity as Young-ae, a role Som-i readily accepted, enjoying the affection and sense of belonging.

Infiltration Plans and an Unexpected Allergy: Meanwhile, Jjajang devised a plan to infiltrate the family and trap Som-i. However, his plan hit an unexpected snag when he realized Hye-suk was allergic to dog fur (earning him another grape as punishment for his internal cursing). Consequently, he decided to get rid of his fur to avoid detection.

Shared Stories and a Revelation: Later, at the church, Hye-suk again encountered the old man. Noticing a bag of soybeans, she suggested making soy milk instead of attending the service. Joined by the pastor, the three shared their poignant life stories: the pastor recounted being abandoned by his parents, while the old man shared the tragic tale of living with his ill wife in a truck, selling small items, until he developed cancer. Fearing he would die and leave her alone, he drove the truck off a cliff, killing them both. It was then revealed that the old man was the runaway spirit the Hell’s workers were searching for, just as the President and the workers arrived at the church.

Hostage Crisis and a Moment of Redemption: The old man, desperate, took Hye-suk hostage, demanding to know whether his wife had made it to Heaven or Hell. The President, bound by the rules of the afterlife, refused to answer a sinner’s demand. Meanwhile, Nak-jun, working as a postman, received a muffler knitted by the old man’s wife. Learning of the commotion at the church, he rushed there and presented the muffler to the distraught old man, subtly reassuring him that his wife had indeed reached Heaven. Nak-jun’s compassionate intervention led the old man to release Hye-suk and peacefully surrender, ready to atone for his actions in leading his wife to her death without her consent. Nak-jun and Hye-suk returned home to find a terrified Som-i hiding in a closet, with Hye-suk calling her “Young-ae.” In Hell, the episode concluded with a glimpse of the real Young-ae walking towards her ultimate fate.