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00:00No idea. I was 10 years of marriage. My husband had no idea. I was about to transfer the company
00:07to him. Then came the medical checkup. I'm blood type O. My husband is O. Our daughter
00:13is type A. An impossible result. I looked at her, a little version of Michal. I didn't
00:20say a word, but I did two things. One, I secretly took a strand of her hair. Two, I tore
00:26up
00:26the company transfer papers. After watching her walk into school, I went straight to a
00:31DNA testing center. When's the fastest result if I pay extra? Regular takes five days. Rush,
00:39by 4 p.m. today, triple price. My hand shook giving the sample. After collecting my own
00:44cells, I sat staring at the clock. I also contacted a private investigator. I needed to know Michal's
00:51movements recently. At 3.40 p.m., my phone rang. The results were in. I opened the report,
00:58scrolled to the end. The DNA analysis was clear. The chance I'm her biological mother? 0.0001%.
01:07Genetic markers don't support it. I had expected this, but reading those words, my legs gave out.
01:14She's not my child. I've raised a child that's not mine for nine years. So, where is my real child?
01:21I rushed to the hospital where I gave birth nine years ago. I met my old obstetrician. Now he's
01:27the head of the department. I didn't waste time. Dr. Lee, I want to check my delivery records from
01:32back then. His smile froze. It's been so long, the files may have been archived. After some effort,
01:39the records room brought me a folder. I opened it. The records were extremely brief. Only admission
01:45and discharge dates, delivery method, and baby's weight. No detailed delivery notes. No nurse
01:51handover records. No pediatrician reports. Is that all? He looked apologetic. This is all the system
01:58has. Delivery records are kept for 10 years. Yours is almost up. What about newborn footprints?
02:07Blood test records? They should be in the newborn files. But we couldn't find them. Too obvious.
02:14A file too simple. A missing newborn record. And a daughter who isn't mine, but looks just like
02:21Michal. Then my phone rang. Michal. Where are you? I picked up Lily. I suddenly realized school was
02:29already over. Luckily, I told the teacher earlier. I'm outside taking care of something. I'll be back
02:36soon. After dinner, I faked a headache and went to my room. Michal stayed in the living room with Lily,
02:42helping with homework. I could hear their quiet voices. Dad, is mom upset? Mom's just tired.
02:50Finish your homework and go to bed. Once they were asleep, I quietly searched the whole house.
02:55Master bedroom, living room, Lily's room. I found nothing. Finally, my eyes landed on the computer
03:01in the study. The truth had to be there. Footsteps approached. I quickly exited the document.
03:09Michal pushed the door open. I was straightening papers on the desk. He glanced at the screen.
03:14Just the desktop. Our photo from three years ago. Still not asleep? He asked. Just organizing some old
03:20files. He stood there a moment. Seemed like he wanted to speak. Then just nodded. Go rest early.
03:28I lay in the dark that night, hearing his footsteps fade away. I didn't touch the computer again.
03:34My mind was a mess. The next morning, I let Michal take Lily to school. He looked at me,
03:40picked up the car keys. As soon as they left, I rushed to the study, opened the computer,
03:47typed the password. Our wedding anniversary? Wrong. Their birthdays? Wrong. Lily's birthday?
03:54Still wrong. I tried the day we first met. His mother's birthday. Even the company's founding date.
04:00Nothing worked. The system locked me out. Try again in 15 minutes. I sat there staring at the login screen.
04:07The computer we bought together now locked me out. That evening, Michal came home. Taking off his coat,
04:14he said. Tomorrow I have to go on a trip to City A. Not sure for how long. I came
04:20out from the kitchen,
04:21holding dishes. So suddenly, with who? He set his briefcase on the table. This is last minute, Vivian.
04:27Can you not do this? I just stared, confused. Why did a simple question make him react so strongly?
04:33Everything I notice, everyone's under up suspicion. I'm just going to work.
04:39I turned back to serve dinner, hands shaking. Just asking. I said. He said nothing, went straight to
04:45the bedroom. Dinner was quiet. Lily seemed to sense something. She didn't even pick at her food.
04:52Later, Michal came out of the shower, picked up his coat. A receipt fell to the floor. After he left,
04:58I picked it up. A perfume. Expensive. Bought yesterday afternoon. Name unfamiliar. I knew it
05:04wasn't for me. Ten years of marriage, Michal hadn't given me gifts. I always excused him. Too busy. Not
05:10romantic. Practical. Now I realized, he knows romance. He just didn't give it to me. I noted the receipt
05:17carefully. Next morning, after Michal left for the airport, I called the store. I want to check this
05:24receipt. Yes, yesterday afternoon. Found it. Purchased by Mrs. Casey. Casey, the name rang a bell.
05:31Michal's secretary. Hired six months ago, in her 30s. Divorced. Driving to the airport, I didn't know
05:38what I wanted to confirm. Was the perfume for a client? Or was I imagining things? I waited outside
05:45the international departures hall for half an hour. Finally, I saw Michal walking with her. At the airport,
05:51I finally saw them. Casey wore a beige coat. She pulled a small suitcase. She walked beside my
05:57husband, Michal. He was smiling. Relaxed. Happy. Like I hadn't seen in years. Right before the security
06:04gate, Casey stopped. She reached out, fixed his collar gently. Michal didn't move away. He leaned
06:10down, whispered something in her ear. Casey laughed softly. Then she stood on her toes and kissed him.
06:17Michal's hand rested on her waist. They stayed like that for a moment. Like it was natural. Like
06:22something they did all the time. At that moment, the last lie I told myself vanished. All those late
06:28nights at work. All those impatient looks he gave me. I finally knew why. Then a thought hit me.
06:34The child I raised for nine years. Who isn't mine. Could he be connected to this woman? On the drive
06:41home, I called the private investigator. Help me check one more per daughter. Her name is Casey.
06:47I want to know everything, especially if she has a child.
06:53The next afternoon, the report arrived. Casey, 32 years old, divorced five years ago. She has a 10-year-old
07:00daughter. Her name is Emma. And when I saw her birth date, my blood ran cold. She was born only
07:06one
07:06week apart from Lily. 10 years. For the first time in 10 years. A terrifying thought formed in my mind.
07:14I ran into the study. My fingers hovered over the keyboard. Then I typed Casey's birthday. The
07:20computer unlocked. Only one folder. Work backup. Inside were dozens of folders, organized by year,
07:26starting 11 years ago. I opened the oldest folder. Photos appeared on the screen. Michal and Casey in
07:32school uniforms. Standing under a tree. Young Michal had his arm around her. Casey looked up,
07:38smiling at him. Next photo. College library. They were sitting together. Then graduation photo. Caps
07:44and gowns. Holding hands. That year, Michal said his company struggled. We canceled our anniversary trip.
07:51My stomach turned. 10 years of lies. At 3 p.m., I drove west. The elementary school bell rang.
07:57Children rushed out. Then I saw her. A girl walking alone. No one came for her. She looked around.
08:04Slowly walking down the sidewalk. I held my breath. That girl. Emma. No. That's my child.
08:12The way she walked. It was a little like me. A slight turn of her feet. She lifted her hand
08:18to fix
08:18her hair. I saw a birthmark on her wrist. In the exact same spot I have mine. Dust on her
08:24eyelashes.
08:25Chapped lips. Her shoes were falling apart. Her eyes are empty. Not like a 10-year-old child.
08:32I covered my mouth. She wouldn't hear me. She walked away. Disappeared around the corner.
08:38I collapsed on the steering wheel. Cried like I'd never cried before. For the child walking home alone.
08:44For 10 years of a life out of place. For living like a fool in a life someone else had
08:49scripted.
08:50I wiped my tears and started the car. At the law office I placed a USB drive on the table.
08:59It had all the photos, the DNA report, hospital files, the perfume receipt, and Casey and Emma's
09:05records. I want a divorce. I want him to leave with nothing. I want full custody of my child and
09:10I want
09:10him to pay. Walking out of the office I remembered Michal's words 10 years ago. Vivian, I will give
09:18you a lifetime of stability. Turns out his lifetime was only 10 years. No, maybe less than 10. I took
09:26out my phone. Called the company's second largest shareholder. Uncle James, about next week's board
09:32meeting I need to discuss something first. Michal probably forgot. This company belongs to my family,
09:38the Lynn Group. He became CEO because of me. I convinced my father to give him a chance. I can
09:45make him rise. And I can make him fall hard. Two weeks after Michal left, I started liquidating
09:51everything I could. Every afternoon I went near the elementary school in West City. One rainy day,
09:57she forgot her umbrella. I waited under the store awning. Half an hour passed. Finally, she ran back,
10:03soaked from the rain. On a Friday afternoon, I arrived early. When Emma came out, I got out of
10:09the car. Pretended to just pass by. I accidentally dropped the folder. She froze, then bent down.
10:17Thanks, little guy. Your mom isn't here? She shook her head. Mom's working late. I took out a sealed
10:24water bottle, handed it to her. How do you get home? By bus. She hesitated, then whispered. Thanks.
10:30I noticed her habit of pressing lips together, just like me. Her eyes are like mine, too.
10:38Does your mom often work late? She nodded. Sometimes. What about your dad? She didn't answer,
10:45staring at her shoes. Her sneakers were falling apart. The left shoelace was broken. I didn't ask
10:50more. I pulled out $200, put it in her hand. Go buy new shoes.
11:00She stepped back. No, I can't take it. Just think of it as thanks for helping me pick up
11:06the folder. I slipped the money into her backpack. I walked away a few steps, then glanced back.
11:12Her eyes looked lost, but something inside me stirred.
11:17That night, I stood at Lily's bedroom door. She was playing with her new Barbie set, a limited
11:23edition dream castle. Very expensive.
11:27Mom, what's wrong? I walked in and patted her head.
11:31Finished your homework? Yeah, I finished it. She said, showing me Barbie.
11:36Happening! Dad said if I get an A this year, he'll take me to Disney.
11:41That's nice. But as I turned away, the smile left my face. Michal treats these two kids
11:49differently. My real daughter wears broken shoes, rides the bus alone. This child gets
11:56everything. Two weeks later, Michal returned from his trip. He put down his suitcase.
12:02Where's Lily? Why is it so quiet?
12:06I signed her up for tutoring, two hours a day.
12:08How suddenly? She's only in fourth grade. I didn't answer. I noticed the perfume on him.
12:14He stepped closer to hug me. I moved away.
12:17Why do you smell like perfume? Who did you have dinner with?
12:20He looked surprised, annoyed.
12:21Vivian, you're doubting again. It's from a client dinner. Can you stop?
12:25I laughed at his bad acting, handing him the envelope containing photos of him and Casey.
12:32Michal's face turned dark. He grabbed a photo, then threw it back on the table.
12:37You've been following me?
12:38Does it matter? I smiled.
12:40What matters is, what happens if these photos show up in the board meeting?
12:45Or get sent to your clients?
12:47He slumped on the sofa, hands covering his face.
12:51What do you want?
12:52I stared at him, my voice calm.
12:55First, fire Casey. Never let her near us again.
12:58Second, tell me what happened at the hospital ten years ago.
13:00You're crazy! All because of a few photos?
13:03Michael, don't forget. This company belongs to the Lynn family. You're here today because of me. I can give, and
13:10I can take away.
13:11I almost softened, but then I remembered Emma, her broken shoes, waiting alone in the rain.
13:16For ten years of marriage and our child. Do what I say, and we can keep going.
13:23I turned to the bedroom and handed him a file. A pregnancy report. Five weeks pregnant.
13:29Michal stared, stunned.
13:31You're pregnant?
13:34Five weeks. Doctor says it's stable.
13:37His expression kept changing. His throat moved nervously. His eyes kept flicking between me and the report.
13:43I continued, calm but firm.
13:46You cut ties with Casey. She leaves the company. Our lives. Do that, I won't bring up the past.
13:52We still have Lily. And now this baby.
13:55Michal's gaze fell on my belly. I saw the struggle in his eyes.
13:59I... I... I need to think.
14:01His voice hoarse. He turned and went into the bedroom.
14:05That night, his light stayed on late.
14:07The next morning, I sipped coffee as Michal came out, dark circles under his eyes.
14:13I pushed a glass of water toward him. He took it silently without looking at me.
14:17I've made my decision, Vivian. We...
14:19No need.
14:20I interrupted, pulling the divorce papers from the folder and placing them on the table.
14:26What do you mean? We have a child now!
14:28I said coldly.
14:34I told you I was pregnant, so you'd spend the night thinking about leaving her.
14:38What about the baby? What about Lily?
14:41I laughed. Sharp.
14:42You mean the child I raised for ten years was actually yours and Casey's?
14:46How did you know? When did you find out?
14:49Thanks to your file. Password was Casey's birthday. Ten years. You've used it all along, right?
14:56His breathing quickened.
14:57Let me explain.
14:59I stayed calm, mocking.
15:00Explain how you switched my baby. How you let Casey into the company. How you laughed at me for ten
15:04years.
15:05The funniest part? The guilt you show around that child. Is it guilt for tricking me or guilt for not
15:10treating your daughter right?
15:13Emma? Where's Emma? I want to see her!
15:17It's too late!
15:18You can't do this.
15:20Your daughter. No, our daughter. Is now somewhere you can't find her. The girl you and Casey had is upstairs.
15:28She's asleep, unaware of what's happening.
15:31Vivian! You can't do this! That's my child!
15:35Mikal rushed, grabbed my arm. I pulled away.
15:39From the day you switched our baby. You stopped being a father. Now leave my house.
15:45I closed the door. He pounded on it. Then the sound of a car leaving. I knew where he went.
15:50To find Casey. To find the daughter he lost ten years ago.
15:55Three days ago, my investigator gave me Casey's info. I met the girl again. I told her the truth. She
16:01stayed calm. Those eyes, like mine, had wisdom beyond her years.
16:05I held her hand. I'll take you away. We'll start over. She was silent, then nodded. Yesterday afternoon, her assistant
16:12took her abroad. Good schools, a home, new friends. Once I finish here, I can finally be with my daughter
16:19again.
16:20Divorce papers sat there. Three full days. Then Mikal finally showed up. He stood at the door. Dark circles under
16:28his eyes, stubble on his face. I hadn't seen him this broken.
16:32Vivian. Vivian, we need to talk. I leaned on the door frame, still in my pajamas. I didn't let him
16:38in.
16:39The agreement is clear. There's nothing to talk about. I can't divorce you. Ten years of marriage. And we have
16:50a child.
16:53That child? Which one? The one in the videos? Or the one upstairs?
17:00His face went pale. One week ago, Casey sent me files. I opened them. Video after video. Emma crying. Emma
17:08getting beaten. Locked in a dark room. The email had one line.
17:12Thanks for raising my daughter for ten years. I watched it all night. By morning, I threw up three times.
17:19Mikal tried to explain.
17:20Casey, sometimes she loses control. That's your daughter. You visit every week. You notice her perfume? Her new nails?
17:34But you never notice the bruises on your child. Mikal said nothing.
17:40Dad lifted me up and set me on his shoulders. I could see so far away. I laughed out loud.
17:47It was my first time being up this high. Mom was worried and kept checking Dad's leg. She was afraid
17:54he would get too tired.
17:55After a while, Dad bought me some toys. He also bought hair clips and brooches for me and Mom.
18:02Brother, your wife and daughter are beautiful. These brooches from the city suit them perfectly.
18:07Both Dad and Mom blushed at the same time.
18:10On the way back, we sat on the tractor. I hugged my red socks tightly. This was the happiest day
18:17of my life.
18:18As we passed the Hudson Ranch, I saw Grandmother. She was feeding the cows in the yard. My uncle was
18:24lounging under the eaves in the sun. He still had no job and no wife. He just ate, drank, and
18:31wasted his life.
18:32After selling us to Rick, he had that money. Now he worked even less. He said he was preparing for
18:37a blind date.
18:38Grandmother always called us lazy, but I never dared to say that my uncle was the laziest one.
18:44I gripped my red socks and stared at them. Grandmother and my uncle noticed us. Their eyes widened in disbelief.
18:51Then, their faces turned into a hateful scowl.
18:54You two shrewd!
18:57Early morning, my plane took off. My assistant met me at the airport. She whispered,
19:02Emma is doing better this week. She started talking again. Yesterday, she even asked when you'd arrive.
19:09My heart raced. The car stopped in front of a white house. In the garden, a thin little girl crouched,
19:15watching ants.
19:17Emma?
19:18She looked better than in the videos, but still too thin. I walked closer and knelt down.
19:23I'm your mom.
19:25She stared at me for a long moment. Then, she nodded slowly. I held her gently. She didn't pull away.
19:31I'm sorry. Mom came too late.
19:34Her body trembled in my arms. After that, I stopped working. I stayed with her every single day. I took
19:40her to the park.
19:41Her first carousel ride, she held the rail tight. At the library, I learned she loves books about stars.
19:48At night, after she slept, I would gently touch her hair. She still spoke little, but sometimes, she smiled at
19:55me.
19:55Then, one night, at 3 a.m., my bedroom door opened slowly. A quiet, sobbing sound filled the hall.
20:02It pierced my ears like a needle. I woke instantly, and I knew.
20:07It was Emma.
20:09I opened her bedroom door. Moonlight came through thin curtains. Shadows danced on the floor.
20:14She was curled up, tiny and scared. Her hands gripped the blanket tight. Cold sweat on her forehead.
20:21Mom, no. Don't lock the dark room. There are rats.
20:26I rushed over, sat carefully on the bed, held her icy shoulders gently. Her body stiffened, then jumped in my
20:32arms.
20:33She cried quietly, desperate. Tears soaked my pajamas fast.
20:37Mom, I'm scared. That storage room is so dark.
20:42My heart ached like it was cut. I patted her back again and again, shaky but trying to be steady.
20:49Emma, it's okay. Mom's here. I'll protect you.
20:56Tears fell silently on her hair.
20:58I remembered the videos Casey sent. The little girl shaking in the dark. The old and new bruises.
21:04I wished I could tear apart everyone who hurt her.
21:08That night, I held her on the sofa. We stayed there until morning.
21:12I told her stories from my childhood.
21:14How I was scared of thunder. Dad held me, counting stars, singing wellabies.
21:19How I cried in the stairwell when old employees were mean.
21:22Then I wiped my tears and went back to negotiate.
21:25How silly interns spilled coffee on important contracts.
21:28She listened quietly. Sometimes she looked up, eyes like mine, and asked,
21:33Mom, weren't you scared?
21:35Yes, I was scared. But I knew if I held on, things would get better.
21:41And now I have you, Emma. I can't be scared anymore.
21:46She nodded slowly. Her tiny hand held my finger.
21:49A few days later, I took her to a countryside observatory.
21:53We drove past fields of wheat, wind carrying the sweet smell.
21:58Emma pressed her face against the car window.
22:01Her eyes were wide, full of wonder. Night fell.
22:04The observatory dome slowly opened.
22:06The sky filled with stars like tiny diamonds on deep blue.
22:10The guide pointed at Orion. He told the story of the hunter.
22:14Emma's eyes sparkled like stars. A small smile appeared on her lips.
22:18On the way home, the bus rocked. She leaned on my shoulder.
22:22Mom, the stars are so far. But seeing them makes me feel safe.
22:27I held her hand tight, feeling her warmth.
22:30I knew her deep scars wouldn't vanish with one visit.
22:33Old wounds leave marks.
22:35But as long as I'm here, loving her,
22:37the starlight will pierce the darkness and light the path ahead.
22:43That afternoon, we baked cookies. The doorbell rang. The nanny went to open it. I heard her say,
22:51Mikhail?
22:52Flower spilled from my hands. Through the glass door, I saw Mikhail standing there.
22:56His hair was messy, eyes sunken. He dragged an old suitcase.
23:02Vivian, I've been looking for you for two weeks.
23:05I wiped my hands, walked out, closed the door behind me. Now you know. You can leave.
23:13I want to see the child.
23:15He looked at the small figure in the kitchen.
23:17I've been dreaming. Dreaming of her as a baby. Dreaming of Casey hurting her. I didn't know.
23:23You knew. You just chose to ignore it.
23:26I cut him.
23:27The baby is still there?
23:29He looked at my belly. Of course.
23:32The baby is here.
23:33I smiled, feeling light for the first time.
23:36The doctor says everything's fine.
23:38She'll be born next spring.
23:40His face darkened.
23:42Suddenly, he rushed toward me.
23:44I sidestepped.
23:46He stumbled into the cabinet, shouting,
23:49Vivian!
23:50I want to see my daughter!
23:52You can't do this!
23:57I looked at him and laughed coldly.
24:00Mial, the thing you should worry about isn't my daughter.
24:04It's your son.
24:05Will he be born safely?
24:07To keep your son safe, you need to deal with Casey first.
24:13Settle your mess with her yourself.
24:15After saying that, I kicked him out.
24:17Even now, thinking of him makes me sick.
24:20When I closed the door, I saw Michal sitting on the floor, messing with his hair.
24:25He looked pathetic.
24:27Soon, my lawyer called.
24:28Miss Vivian, it's messy, but things aren't going well.
24:32Michal and Casey had divorced and sued each other.
24:35In court, Casey yelled, revealing how Michal used his power to transfer money and promised to divorce her to marry
24:42her.
24:42I gripped my phone, listening calmly.
24:46Michal blamed everything on Casey, said she forced him to switch the baby.
24:51In the end, Casey was sentenced.
24:53Three years in prison.
24:55Charges, child kidnapping, fraud, multiple crimes.
25:00Michal, he walked free.
25:03Cried in court.
25:04Claimed he was a victim too.
25:06Controlled by Casey for ten years.
25:08It sounded ridiculous.
25:10But the judge believed him.
25:11Or maybe his lawyer was just that good.
25:14Before hanging up, my lawyer whispered,
25:17Miss Lynn, I'm sorry.
25:19This result isn't ideal.
25:21If you want, we can plan the next step.
25:24Enough.
25:25At least my child is back.
25:27Emma was doing homework.
25:29Emma, I made the bad people face justice.
25:33But maybe not enough.
25:34Do you blame me?
25:36Mom, I know who treated me well, who didn't.
25:40I covered my mouth, tears falling.
25:42You cry so ugly.
25:45I laughed through my tears.
25:49These days, I tried my best to make up for ten lost years of love.
25:53I transferred all my company shares to her name.
25:56She's still little, but this is her security.
25:58Her school?
25:59The best local international program.
26:01The principal frowned at her old report cards.
26:04Casey barely cared about her studies.
26:06Let her struggle alone.
26:07I hired several tutors.
26:09Emma worked hard every day, catching up on ten years of knowledge.
26:13One night, I brought her milk and found her asleep at her desk, hands still holding a pen.
26:18I didn't wake her, just covered her with a blanket.
26:20On Friday afternoon, I went to pick her up from school.
26:23The gate was crowded with parents.
26:25Emma ran out with her new backpack, face flushed from activity.
26:29Mom, I got an A on today's math test.
26:32I hugged her tightly.
26:33Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure in the coffee shop across the street.
26:37How many of you am?
26:37I'm going to see them, but I figured out how many people can do that.
26:37He must be absolutely distracted and I was like,
26:38when I was the only con AGY in there was a eyedre on camera,
26:38but I was the only one being back of my bath.
26:38And if that's their own graphics and了吧,
26:39When I saw a bird there in the am ple電 Abstoy,