The narrative unfolds with Detective Jo, who, after the passing of his mother, finds himself back on the job. Unfortunately, he faces serious accusations of accepting illicit funds to cover his mother's medical expenses. Though he staunchly denies these claims, the whispers of disgrace follow him, leaving a shadow of doubt over his innocence.
As Jo delves deeper into his work, he is assigned the urgent case of a serial killer notorious for gruesomely amputating the limbs and severing the heads of victims, skillfully blending their body parts together in a macabre jigsaw. The chilling investigations lead him to Chae Soo-yeon, a strikingly beautiful young woman and the daughter of a famous painter. In a twisted turn of events, it becomes clear that Soo-yeon has connections to each victim, having dated them all in the past.
As the layers of Soo-yeon's life are peeled back, her troubling history emerges through interactions with her only confidant, Seung-min, a doctor who has stood by her side since high school. Seung-min reveals that Soo-yeon has faced numerous suicide attempts, hinting at her fragile mental state. Her vulnerability is artistically captured in a haunting painting that she possesses at her countryside retreat, which depicts her as Ophelia submerged in water—a striking homage to the classic Pre-Raphaelite work by Millais.
As the murder count rises, Soo-yeon moves into Jo's apartment for safety, intensifying their relationship. However, the air thickens with suspicion when it becomes known that her father, who has been absentee for years, is a figure of abuse in her life, raising alarms that Jo might become the next target as his bond with Soo-yeon deepens.
In a gripping twist, Jo's colleague, Detective Oh, stumbles upon the original crime scene but sadly pays the ultimate price. Before his demise, he manages to secure a vital photograph that serves as a critical clue in unraveling the case. Tensions peak during a final confrontation where both Soo-yeon and Jo narrowly escape danger. In their emotional farewell, she expresses gratitude towards Jo, setting off for Paris with hopes of a new beginning.
However, the shocking truth comes to light when Jo comprehends that Soo-yeon is not the victim, but rather the perpetrator—crafting a grotesque work of art by sewing together the limbs of her victims. In a haunting moment, Jo discovers her chilling creation suspended within a tall aquarium in her apartment. When he breaks the glass, the cascading water mirrors his own fall, placing him in a disconcerting portrayal reminiscent of Ophelia's sorrowful pose. As Soo-yeon boards her flight to Paris, she remarks to her seatmate that it will be her first visit, despite previously claiming she had studied there, further blurring the lines of truth and deception.
