- 2 days ago
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00:00My husband, Julian, didn't know I'd decided to transfer 15% of the company shares to him a gift for
00:06our 10th anniversary, until the day of my son's health checkup.
00:10The doctor smiled as he handed me the results.
00:14My husband and I, both type O.
00:17Our son? Type A.
00:20I looked at the boy sitting beside me, a miniature version of Julian.
00:24I didn't make a sound.
00:26I simply calmly did two things.
00:30First, I pulled a strand of hair from my son's head when he wasn't looking.
00:34Second, I tore up the share transfer agreement I'd prepared.
00:37I watched my son walk through the school gates before turning the car around.
00:41The DNA testing center was across town.
00:44I need express results. How fast can you do it?
00:47The technician glanced up from her paperwork.
00:50Standard processing is five business days.
00:53Rushes today by 4 p.m.
00:55Triple the cost.
00:56Rush it.
00:57My hands trembled slightly as I handed over the sample.
01:00After they swabbed my cheek cells, I sat in the waiting area, staring at the clock on the wall.
01:05Every second felt like an hour.
01:08I pulled out my phone and made another call.
01:10I need you to investigate my husband, Julian Robinson.
01:14I want to know everywhere he's been, especially in the last few months.
01:19The private detective's voice was professional, detached.
01:22Understood.
01:24At 3.40 p.m., my phone buzzed.
01:26I opened the electronic report, skipped straight to the end.
01:30DNA analysis indicates a 0.0001% probability of biological relationship between Vivian Hart and Alex Robinson.
01:43Based on genetic marker analysis, evidence does not support Vivian Hart as the biological mother of Alex Robinson.
01:50Even though I'd prepared myself, seeing those words made my vision blur for a moment.
01:57I leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor.
02:00Not my child.
02:02I'd raised a child who wasn't mine for nine years.
02:06So where was my child?
02:07I drove straight to St. Mary's Private Hospital, the same place where I'd given birth nine years ago.
02:14Dr. Soucy was still there.
02:16She'd been promoted to department head.
02:19Dr. Soucy, I need to access my delivery records and hospitalization files from nine years ago.
02:25Her smile froze for a moment.
02:27That was so long ago.
02:29The files might already be archived.
02:31It took some effort, but eventually someone from the records room brought over a folder.
02:37I flipped it open.
02:38The documentation was shockingly sparse.
02:41Only basic informations.
02:44Admission time, discharge time, delivery method, newborn wait, no detailed labor notes, no nurse handoff records, no pediatric examination reports.
02:55Is this everything?
02:57She looked apologetic.
02:59That's all we have in the system.
03:01Paper records are usually kept for ten years.
03:04You're right at the edge of that window.
03:06What about the newborn footprints?
03:08The blood samples?
03:10She shook her head.
03:12Those should be in the newborn records, but we couldn't locate them.
03:17It was obvious there was something wrong.
03:20An abnormally simple medical file.
03:23Missing newborn records.
03:24A child who wasn't mine, but looked exactly like my husband.
03:29The pieces were starting to form a picture I didn't want to see.
03:34My phone rang.
03:35It was Julian.
03:37Where are you?
03:37I already picked up Alex.
03:40I'd completely forgotten about school pickup time.
03:43At least I'd warned the teacher ahead of time.
03:45I'm out running business.
03:46I'll be home soon.
03:48I hung up.
03:49After dinner, I claimed a headache and retreated to the bedroom early.
03:54Through the closed door, I could hear Julian helping Alex with homework in the living room.
04:00Their voices drifting through the house.
04:05Dad, is mom upset?
04:08Mom's just tired.
04:09Finish your homework and get to bed early.
04:11I waited until they were both asleep.
04:14Then I started searching.
04:16The master bedroom.
04:17The living room.
04:19Alex's room.
04:20I went through everything.
04:22Looking for...
04:24I didn't even know what.
04:25I found nothing.
04:28Finally, I turned to the computer in the study.
04:30The truth had to be in there.
04:33Footsteps in the hallway.
04:36I quickly closed out of the files I'd been opening.
04:39When Julian pushed the door open, I was straightening papers on the desk.
04:44He glanced at the computer screen.
04:46It had returned to the desktop.
04:49A photo of the three of us at the beach from three years ago.
04:54Still up?
04:56Just organizing some old documents.
04:59I reached over and turned off the monitor.
05:01He stood there for a moment like he wanted to say something.
05:05In the end, he just nodded.
05:07Get some rest.
05:09I sat in the darkness, listening to his footsteps fade down the hall.
05:14That night, I didn't touch the computer again.
05:17I lay in bed, thoughts racing, unable to find sleep.
05:23The next morning, I still let Julian take Alex to school.
05:28He looked at me, picked up the car keys.
05:31All right.
05:32The moment they left, I went straight to the study.
05:35I turned on the computer and tried the password.
05:39Our wedding anniversary.
05:41Wrong.
05:42His birthday.
05:43Wrong.
05:44Alex's birthday.
05:46Still wrong.
05:47I tried the date we first met.
05:48His mother's birthday.
05:50The day the company was founded.
05:52All wrong.
05:52The system locked me out.
05:55Please try again in 15 minutes.
05:57I sat there, staring at the login screen.
06:00This computer we'd bought together, now locked against me.
06:05That evening, Julian came home from work.
06:08He was barely through the door when he said,
06:11I'm going to Italy tomorrow.
06:13Business trip.
06:14Not sure how long I'll be gone.
06:15I came out of the kitchen carrying a dish.
06:19That's sudden.
06:20Who are you going with?
06:22He set his briefcase on the table and turned to look at me.
06:24Just someone.
06:25It was a last minute arrangement.
06:27Vivian, can you not do this?
06:29I stared at him, confused.
06:32I stared at him, confused.
06:32It was just a casual question.
06:34Why was he reacting like this?
06:36You question everything.
06:38You suspect everyone.
06:40I'm just going to work.
06:42I turned back to serve the rice.
06:44My hands were shaking slightly.
06:47I was just asking.
06:49He said nothing more.
06:51Walked straight to the bedroom.
06:53Dinner was silent.
06:54Alex must have sensed something was off.
06:57For once, he didn't complain about the food.
07:00After his shower, Julian grabbed his coat from the sofa to hang it up.
07:05A receipt slipped from the pocket and fell near my feet.
07:08After he left the room, I picked it up.
07:10A perfume purchase.
07:12Expensive.
07:13Bought yesterday afternoon.
07:15A brand name I didn't recognize.
07:17But I knew it wasn't for me.
07:20I thought about our marriage.
07:22Ten years.
07:23Julian hadn't bought me a gift in all that time.
07:26Not since our first anniversary.
07:29A scarf.
07:30I still had it somewhere.
07:32After that, nothing.
07:33No birthday gifts.
07:35No anniversary gifts.
07:37No just-because gifts.
07:39I told myself he wasn't romantic.
07:41He showed love in other ways.
07:43He was practical and focused on providing.
07:46On his career.
07:47I'd made excuses for him.
07:49But now, holding this receipt, I understood.
07:53He wasn't unromantic.
07:55He wasn't too busy.
07:56He wasn't too practical.
07:58His romance just wasn't for me.
08:00It was for someone else.
08:02Someone who wore expensive French perfume.
08:05I wrote down the information from the receipt.
08:07The next morning, after Julian left for the airport, I called the boutique.
08:14I need to verify a purchase.
08:17A receipt from yesterday afternoon.
08:19One moment.
08:19Yes, I have it here.
08:21The buyer was Chloe Williams.
08:23Chloe Williams.
08:24I knew that name.
08:26Julian's secretary.
08:28Hired six months ago.
08:29Early thirties.
08:30Divorced.
08:31I drove to the airport.
08:33I didn't know what I was hoping to confirm.
08:36Maybe the perfume was for a client.
08:38Maybe I was overthinking this.
08:40I waited outside the international departures hall for half an hour.
08:44Then I saw them.
08:46Julian and her.
08:48Chloe wore a beige trench coat, pulling a small suitcase behind her.
08:53She walked beside Julian, laughing at something he'd said.
08:57Julian's face carried an expression I hadn't seen in years.
09:01Relaxed.
09:02Genuinely happy.
09:04At the security checkpoint, Chloe stopped.
09:07She reached up, casual and familiar, to straighten Julian's collar.
09:12He didn't pull away.
09:13He leaned down and whispered something in her ear.
09:17She smiled.
09:19Then she stood on her toes and kissed him on the lips.
09:23Julian's hand rested on her waist.
09:26They stayed like that for a moment before separating.
09:29Like they'd done it a thousand times before.
09:33The last shred of self-deception evaporated.
09:36All those late nights.
09:38Working.
09:39All those times he'd been irritable with me.
09:43All of it finally made sense.
09:46I watched their intimate silhouette disappear through security.
09:51A new thought crystallized in my mind.
09:53That child who wasn't mine.
09:56And this woman.
09:58Could they be connected?
10:00On the drive back, I called the private detective I'd hired.
10:05I need you to look into someone else.
10:07Chloe Williams.
10:09I want to know everything about her.
10:11Especially whether she has any children.
10:13The detective worked fast.
10:15By the next afternoon, I had the report.
10:19Chloe Williams.
10:2032 years old.
10:22Divorced five years ago.
10:24One son.
10:25Nine years old.
10:26Name.
10:27Alan.
10:28Attending a public school in the West End.
10:31The date jumped out at me.
10:33Chloe's son was only one week older than Alex.
10:36For the first time in ten years, I felt my blood run hot.
10:40I sat on the sofa, holding the detective's report.
10:44Then, a thought struck me.
10:46I ran to study.
10:47My fingers hovered over the keyboard.
10:49Then, slowly, I typed in Chloe's birth date.
10:53The desktop opened.
10:55There was only one folder.
10:57Named, Work Backup.
10:59I clicked it open.
11:01Inside were subfolders organized by year.
11:04Starting 11 years ago.
11:05The earliest folder contained scanned photographs.
11:09Julian and Chloe in high school uniforms, standing under a locust tree.
11:1419-year-old Julian, smiling, his arm around Chloe's shoulders.
11:18She had her hair in a ponytail, looking up at him.
11:21The next photo was from college.
11:23The two of them in the library.
11:25Then, their graduation photo.
11:27Both in cap and gown, holding hands.
11:30That was the year Julian told me the company was struggling financially.
11:34We'd canceled our anniversary trip.
11:37Instead, he bought a scarf for me.
11:39I closed the folder.
11:41The screen behind the closed folder is our wedding photo.
11:46I stared at our wedding photo and felt bile rise in my throat.
11:50Me in my white dress, lace sleeves, and long train.
11:54Holding a bouquet of white roses, Julian in his black suit, gray tie.
12:00Boutonniere.
12:01Both of us smiling at the camera.
12:03The photographer had made us laugh.
12:05Said something stupid.
12:07We'd both cracked up.
12:08And the photo captured that moment.
12:10Pure.
12:12Happy.
12:12I stared at it.
12:14At my face.
12:15So happy.
12:16So naive.
12:17So trusting.
12:19I didn't know who that woman was anymore.
12:21That woman who'd believed her husband.
12:23Who'd made excuses for him.
12:25Who'd convinced herself everything was fine.
12:29That woman was gone.
12:31Had to close my eyes.
12:33Put my hand over my mouth.
12:35The perfect couple.
12:37The perfect lie.
12:39Sick at the photos I'd just seen.
12:41Sick at the years of deception.
12:44Sick at myself for not seeing it sooner.
12:46For believing him.
12:48For trusting him.
12:49For raising a child who wasn't even mine while my real son was somewhere else.
12:54At 3 p.m., I drove to the West End.
12:58The elementary school looked even more run down than the detective had described.
13:04The dismissal bell rang.
13:06Children poured out through the gates.
13:09I sat in my car, hands gripping the steering wheel.
13:13He walked out alone.
13:14No one there to pick him up.
13:16He looked left.
13:18Then right.
13:19Then started walking slowly along the sidewalk.
13:22I held my breath.
13:24That child.
13:26Alan.
13:27No.
13:28My child.
13:29The way he walked reminded me of myself.
13:31A slight pigeon toe.
13:33When he raised his hand to push hair out of his face.
13:36I saw it.
13:37A birthmark on his wrist.
13:40The same place I had mine.
13:43I could see dust on his eyelashes.
13:45His lips were chapped.
13:47His sneakers were coming apart at the seams.
13:50His eyes looked empty.
13:52Not like a nine-year-old's eyes at all.
13:55I covered my mouth to stop myself from making a sound.
13:59He walked away.
14:01Disappearing around the corner.
14:02I collapsed over the steering wheel and broke down completely.
14:06For that child.
14:08Walking home alone.
14:10For ten years of living in the wrong life.
14:13For being such a fool.
14:16Dancing in a play someone else had written.
14:18Then I wiped my tears and started the car.
14:21At the law office, I placed a USB drive on Attorney Morrison's desk.
14:27Inside, backup copies of all the photos.
14:30The DNA test results.
14:32Scanned hospital records.
14:34The perfume receipt.
14:36Files on Chloe and Alan.
14:38I want a divorce.
14:40I want Julian to leave with nothing.
14:42I want custody of my child.
14:45I want him to pay for what he's done.
14:48Walking out of the attorney's office.
14:50I remembered what Julian had said when he proposed ten years ago.
14:55Vivian, I will give you a lifetime of stability.
14:59Turns out, his lifetime was only ten years.
15:02No, probably less than that.
15:05I pulled out my phone and called the company's second largest shareholder.
15:10My father's old colleague.
15:13Mr. Aaron, about next week's board meeting,
15:16I'd like to discuss a few things with you first.
15:18Julian seemed to have forgotten something important.
15:21This company's name is Hart.
15:23He became general manager because I convinced my father to give him a chance.
15:27I put him in that position.
15:29I could take him down just as easily.
15:32Two weeks after Julian left,
15:34I liquidated every asset I could convert to cash.
15:38Every afternoon, I went to that elementary school in the West End.
15:42One day, it rained.
15:45Alan didn't have an umbrella.
15:47He waited under the awning of the corner store for half an hour,
15:50then finally ran home through the downpour.
15:53I sat in my car, rain blurring the windshield.
15:57Friday afternoon, I arrived at the school early.
16:01When I saw Alan coming out,
16:03I got out of the car and walked past like a stranger.
16:06I accidentally dropped my folder in front of him.
16:09He froze for a moment,
16:11then bent down to pick it up for me.
16:13Thank you, sweetheart.
16:15Is your mom not here yet?
16:18He shook his head.
16:20Mom's working late.
16:22How are you getting home?
16:24I'll take the bus.
16:26I pulled an unopened bottle of water from my bag.
16:30Have some water.
16:31He hesitated, then took it, and said,
16:36I noticed he had a habit of pressing his lips together when he spoke.
16:41Just like me.
16:42His eyes were shaped like mine, too.
16:45Inner double eyelids.
16:47The outer corners slightly downturned.
16:50Does your mom work late often?
16:52He nodded, then shook his head.
16:55Sometimes.
16:57What about your dad?
16:58He didn't answer.
17:00Just looked down at his shoes.
17:02Those sneakers, the soles were separating.
17:05The left shoelace was broken.
17:08I didn't ask anything more.
17:10I pulled $200 from my wallet and tucked it into his hand.
17:14Buy yourself some new shoes.
17:16He stepped back.
17:18No, I can't take this.
17:21Consider it a thank you for helping me with my folder.
17:25I slipped the money into the side pocket of his backpack and walked away.
17:29After a few steps, I glanced back.
17:33He stood there looking lost.
17:35That evening, I stood in the doorway of Alex's room.
17:38He was playing with a new Lego set Julian had bought him.
17:42A limited edition space shuttle.
17:45Expensive.
17:46Mom?
17:47What's wrong?
17:49I walked in and touched his hair.
17:51Did you finish your homework?
17:54Finished ages ago.
17:55He held up his model.
17:57Dad said if I get A on my midterms, he'll take me to Disneyland.
18:02I smiled.
18:03That's wonderful.
18:05The moment I turned away, the smile vanished.
18:10Julian's different treatment of the two children stabbed at my heart like a thorn.
18:13My biological son wore torn shoes and rode the bus alone, while this child enjoyed everything.
18:20After two weeks away, Julian finally came home.
18:24He set down his suitcase.
18:26Where's Alex?
18:29Why is it so quiet?
18:31I enrolled him in piano lessons, two hours every evening.
18:34Since when?
18:35He's only in fourth grade.
18:38I didn't answer.
18:40I could smell that perfume on him.
18:42He moved closer, trying to put his arms around me.
18:46I stepped aside.
18:47Why do you smell like perfume?
18:49Who were you having dinner with?
18:52His expression flickered with irritation.
18:55Vivian, here you go again with the suspicion.
18:57I had a business dinner with a client.
19:00Can you not be like this?
19:02It was almost funny.
19:04Only now could I see how terrible his acting had always been.
19:09I walked to the coffee table, opened the drawer, and pulled out an envelope.
19:14Slowly, I laid the photographs across the table, one by one.
19:19Julian's face turned ugly.
19:21He grabbed one photo and threw it back.
19:23You had me followed?
19:26Does it matter?
19:27I smiled slightly.
19:29What matters is, what happens when these photos show up at the board meeting?
19:35Or get sent to your clients?
19:37He collapsed onto the opposite sofa, hands covering his face.
19:42What do you want?
19:43I stared at him.
19:44My voice was flat.
19:45First, fire Chloe Williams.
19:48Guarantee you'll never see her again.
19:50Second, tell me what happened at the hospital nine years ago.
19:54He stood up angry now.
19:55You're crazy.
19:56For a couple of lousy photos?
19:59My voice turned cold.
20:02Julian, don't forget my father built this company from the ground up.
20:07You have everything you have because of me.
20:10What I gave, I can take back.
20:13I almost wavered.
20:15Then I thought of Alan's torn shoes.
20:18I thought of him waiting alone in the rain.
20:21For the sake of our ten years together, and for the sake of our child, if, if you do what
20:27I'm asking, we can move forward.
20:29After all, we still have Alex.
20:32I turned toward the bedroom and returned with a document.
20:35A pregnancy test report.
20:37It showed I was five weeks pregnant.
20:41Julian stared at the report.
20:43Then he looked up at me.
20:45You're pregnant?
20:47I nodded, placing my hand on my stomach.
20:51Five weeks.
20:52The doctor says everything looks stable this time.
20:55His expression shifted constantly.
20:58His throat worked.
21:00His eyes moved between me and the report.
21:04I continued.
21:05So, as long as you cut things off with Chloe completely, make her leave the company and
21:11our lives, I can let the past go.
21:14We still have Alex.
21:16And now, we have this baby.
21:19Julian's gaze fell to my stomach.
21:21There was obvious conflict in his eye.
21:24I need, I need to think.
21:27His voice was hoarse.
21:29He turned and went into the bedroom.
21:31The next morning, I drank my coffee and watched Julian emerge with dark circles under his eyes.
21:37I pushed a glass of water toward him.
21:40He took it silently, but didn't look at me.
21:43I've thought it over, Vivian.
21:45We...
21:46Don't bother.
21:48I cut him off, pulling divorce papers from a folder and placing them on the table.
21:53His expression turned furious.
21:56What is this supposed to mean?
21:57We're having another child!
22:00I said coldly.
22:02I told you I was pregnant.
22:04And you needed an entire night to decide whether to break up with her?
22:08Julian stood.
22:11We have a child on the way.
22:13Won't you think about the baby?
22:14Think about Alex?
22:17The child?
22:18I suddenly laughed.
22:19You mean the child I raised for nine years.
22:22Who turns out to be yours and Chloe's.
22:25Julian's face went white.
22:26He stumbled backward, hitting the table.
22:29How did you...
22:30When did you find out?
22:32I held up my phone.
22:34The screen showed a photo of the DNA test results.
22:39I should thank you for that folder on your computer.
22:42Password is Chloe's birthday.
22:44You've been using that for three years, haven't you?
22:47His breathing quickened, taking on a panicked edge.
22:51Let me explain.
22:53My voice stayed calm, edged with mockery.
22:58Explain how you switched the babies when I was giving birth?
23:03Explain how you got Chloe hired at the company?
23:05Or explain how the two of you have been laughing at me behind my back for ten years?
23:10I stepped closer.
23:13The funniest part?
23:14The guilt I sometimes saw in your eyes when you looked at Alex.
23:18Were you feeling guilty for deceiving me?
23:21Or guilty for not treating your real son better?
23:25Alan.
23:26Julian suddenly remembered.
23:28His voice dropped to a whisper.
23:31Where's Alan?
23:32I need to see him.
23:34Too late.
23:35I turned and opened the door.
23:38Your son.
23:39No.
23:40My son is somewhere you'll never find him.
23:42Chloe's son is still upstairs asleep, unaware of the choice his real father is facing.
23:47Julian rushed forward and grabbed my arm.
23:50Vivian.
23:51You can't do this.
23:52That's my son.
23:53I shook him off.
23:55From the day you switched those babies, you lost the right to be called a father.
23:59Now get out of my house.
24:00After I closed the door, I heard him pounding on it from outside.
24:04Then the sound of a car engine started.
24:07Driving away, I knew where he was going.
24:10To find Chloe.
24:12To find Alan, he'd lost for nine years.
24:14But he wouldn't find Alan.
24:17Three days ago, when the private detective gave me Chloe's file, I'd already met with Alan again.
24:23I told him the truth.
24:25Alan was surprisingly calm.
24:27Alan, those eyes that looked like mine held a maturity far beyond his years.
24:33I always felt like I wasn't her child.
24:37Otherwise, why would she be willing to just leave me here to fend for myself?
24:44I took his hand.
24:46I told him I would take him away.
24:48We could start over.
24:49He was silent for a long time.
24:52Then he nodded, just slightly.
24:55Yesterday afternoon, he flew out of the country.
24:59My assistant went with him.
25:01There's a good school there.
25:03A house.
25:04New friends waiting.
25:06Once I finish dealing with things here, I can join my son.
25:10The divorce papers sat on the table for three days.
25:13Finally, Julian came back.
25:15He stood outside the door, dark circles under his eyes, unshaven.
25:21I hadn't seen him look like this in a long time.
25:26Vivian, we need to talk.
25:28I leaned against the door frame in my loungewear.
25:31I didn't let him in.
25:33The agreement is very clear.
25:35There's nothing to talk about.
25:37He looked defeated.
25:39I can't get divorced.
25:40For the sake of our ten years together.
25:42For the sake of our child.
25:46Which child?
25:47I cut him off with a cold laugh.
25:49The one in those videos?
25:51Or the one upstairs?
25:53Julian's face went white.
25:55A week ago, Chloe had sent me a pile of files.
25:58Videos.
25:59One after another.
26:01Alan crying.
26:02Being beaten.
26:03Locked in a dark room.
26:05In one clip, he was only five or six years old.
26:08He'd spilled milk.
26:10Chloe hit him across the back with a coat hanger.
26:12The email had only one line.
26:16Thank you for raising my son all these years.
26:19I'd watched them all night.
26:21By dawn, I'd thrown up three times.
26:24Julian seemed like he wanted to explain.
26:27Those videos.
26:29Chloe.
26:30She sometimes couldn't control herself.
26:32I laughed coldly.
26:34Alan is your son.
26:36You went to see Chloe every week.
26:38You noticed her new perfume.
26:40Her fresh manicure.
26:42But you never saw the bruises on your son's body?
26:45He had no answer.
26:47I said flatly.
26:48I've already retained a lawyer.
26:51If you won't sign, we'll go to court.
26:54The evidence of the baby switch.
26:56Photos of your affair.
26:58Those videos.
27:00All of it becomes part of the legal record.
27:02His voice dropped.
27:04Are you insane?
27:05The company's about to go public.
27:07Now is not the time.
27:10Before I closed the door, I said one last thing.
27:14So sign.
27:15While I'm still leaving you with some dignity.
27:18The door shut.
27:20He stood outside for a long time before finally leaving.
27:24Three days later, Julian signed the papers.
27:28Four days after the divorce, I saw their wedding photo on Instagram.
27:32Chloe in a white wedding dress.
27:35Julian with his arm around her.
27:37But his expression looked stiff.
27:39The caption read,
27:54The bank transfers from when they switched the babies.
27:59Communication records between him and Chloe.
28:02The abuse videos.
28:04And medical records.
28:06It's enough to file charges.
28:08Thank you for your work.
28:11Of course.
28:13Are you sure you don't want to see Julian one last time?
28:16He came by the office yesterday.
28:19Asked me to tell you he knows he was wrong.
28:22Too late.
28:23Early the next morning, my plane took off.
28:26My assistant met me at the airport.
28:29Alan's been doing better this week.
28:31He's starting to talk more.
28:34Yesterday, he even asked when you'd arrive.
28:37My heart beat faster.
28:39The car stopped in front of a white house.
28:42In the garden, a thin child was crouched on the ground, watching ants.
28:47Alan.
28:48He looked better than in the videos.
28:51But he was still too thin.
28:53Not enough meat on his bones.
28:56Meanwhile, Alex had grown healthy and strong under my careful care.
29:01The thought cut through me like a knife.
29:04I walked over and knelt in front of him.
29:07I'm your mother.
29:09He looked at me for a long time.
29:11Then nodded, just slightly.
29:14I carefully put my arms around him.
29:16He didn't pull away.
29:18I'm sorry.
29:20Mom came too late.
29:22He trembled slightly in my arms.
29:25For the next two weeks, I didn't work.
29:28I devoted all my time to him.
29:30I took him to the park.
29:32The first time on the carousel, he gripped the pole so tightly his knuckles turned white.
29:37I took him to the library.
29:39He loved books about stars.
29:41At night, after he fell asleep, I'd gently stroke his hair.
29:46He still didn't talk much.
29:48But sometimes, he'd smile at me.
29:51At 3 a.m., the bedroom door creaked open, caught by the wind.
29:55The sound of muffled sobbing pierced through me like needles.
30:00I jolted awake.
30:01I knew immediately it was Alan.
30:04I pushed open his door.
30:06Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains,
30:09casting shadows across the floor.
30:11His small figure was curled up on the bed.
30:14His hands clutched the blanket, knuckles white.
30:18Cold sweat covered his forehead.
30:20His brow was furrowed deeply.
30:23He kept murmuring.
30:25Mom, no.
30:27Don't lock me in the dark room.
30:29There are rats.
30:31I crossed the room quickly and sat carefully on the edge of the bed.
30:35I gently put my arms around his ice-cold shoulders.
30:38His body went rigid for a moment.
30:40Then he threw himself into my arms like a frightened deer.
30:43His crying was suppressed, desperate.
30:45Tears instantly soaked through my pajamas.
30:48Mom, I'm scared.
30:50That storage room was so dark.
30:53I begged again and again, but no one answered.
30:58The rats crawled on my feet.
31:01My heart felt like it was being cut with a dull knife.
31:05Alan, don't be afraid.
31:06I patted his back again and again, my voice trembling but trying to stay steady.
31:11Mom's here.
31:12No one can lock you up anymore.
31:14The rats won't come.
31:16Mama will protect you.
31:17Silent tears fell onto his hair.
31:19I thought of the videos Chloe had sent.
31:22That child trembling in the darkness.
31:24The marks on his body.
31:25Old scars and new wounds layered together.
31:29I wanted to tear apart everyone who'd ever hurt him.
31:32When his crying finally exhausted itself, his breathing gradually steadied and gently lifted
31:39his sleeve.
31:40Brownish scars on his arm, ugly as centipedes.
31:44The marks from being hit with a coat hanger.
31:47On his back, a faint bruise.
31:50From when he'd been shoved against the corner of the storage room wall as a small child.
31:55I traced those scars with my fingertips.
31:58My touch is light as if I were afraid of breaking something fresh.
32:02This makes me feel rude.
32:03Alan shook his head.
32:04Tears still clung to his lashes.
32:05He bit his lip and said quietly,
32:07It doesn't hurt now.
32:09Sometimes I dream about it.
32:10I dream I'm locked on there again.
32:13I'm calling for Mom, but Mom isn't there.
32:15I'm sorry.
32:16I held him tighter.
32:17Mom came too late.
32:18But from now on, Mom will never let anyone hurt you again.
32:22I crossed the room quickly and sat carefully on the edge of the bed.
32:25I gently put my arms around his ice-cold shoulders.
32:29His body went rigid for a moment.
32:31Then he threw himself into my arms like a frightened deer.
32:34His crying was suppressed, desperate.
32:36Tears instantly soaked through my pajamas.
32:39Mom, I'm scared.
32:41That storage room was so dark.
32:44I begged again and again, but no one answered.
32:48The rats crawled on my feet.
32:52My heart felt like it was being cut with a dull knife.
32:55Alan, don't be afraid.
32:57I patted his back again and again, my voice trembling but trying to stay steady.
33:02Mom's here.
33:03No one can lock you up anymore.
33:05The rats won't come.
33:07Mama will protect you.
33:08Silent tears fell onto his hair.
33:10I thought of the videos Chloe had sent.
33:12That child trembling in the darkness.
33:15The marks on his body.
33:16Old scars and new wounds layered together.
33:19I wanted to tear apart everyone who'd ever hurt him.
33:23When his crying finally exhausted itself, his breathing gradually steadied and gently lifted
33:29his sleeve.
33:31Brownish scars on his arm, ugly as centipedes.
33:34The marks from being hit with a coat hanger.
33:38On his back, a faint bruise.
33:41From when he'd been shoved against the corner of the storage room wall as a small child.
33:46I traced those scars with my fingertips.
33:49My touch as light as if I were afraid of breaking something precious.
33:52Doesn't it hurt?
33:53Alan shook his head.
33:54Tears still clung to his lashes.
33:56He bit his lip and said quietly,
33:58It doesn't hurt now, but sometimes I dream about it.
34:01I dream I'm locked in there again.
34:03Calling for mom, but mom isn't there.
34:06I'm sorry.
34:06I held him tighter.
34:08Mom came too late.
34:09But from now on, mom will never let anyone hurt you again.
34:12That night, I held him on the sofa until dawn.
34:16I told him stories.
34:18About how I used to be afraid of thunder when I was little.
34:22How my father would hold me and count the stars while singing nursery rhymes.
34:28I told him about when I first took over the company.
34:30How the old employees gave me a hard time.
34:33How I cried in the stairwell.
34:36Then dried my tears and went back to negotiate.
34:39I told him about the clumsy intern who spilled coffee all over an important contract and turned poor out of
34:46fear.
34:47He listened quietly.
34:50Occasionally, he'd lift his head and look at me with those eyes so much like mine and ask,
34:56Were you scared, mom?
34:58Terrified.
34:59Touching his hair.
35:00But I knew that if I just held on, things would get better.
35:03And now I have you, Alan.
35:06I can't afford to be afraid anymore.
35:08He nodded slowly, seeming to understand.
35:11His small hand quietly gripped my finger.
35:14A few days later, I took Alan to the observatory on the outskirts of the city.
35:19We rode a bus through fields of wheat.
35:21The wind carried the scent of grain.
35:23Alan pressed his face against the window, his eyes full of wonder.
35:28When night fell, the observatory dome slowly opened.
35:31The sky filled with stars like scattered diamonds across deep blue velvet.
35:37So brilliant you couldn't look away.
35:39The guide pointed at Orion and told the legend of the hunter.
35:44Alan's eyes lit up like stars themselves.
35:47The corner of his mouth slowly curved into a shallow smile.
35:51On the bus ride home, the vehicle swayed gently.
35:55He leaned against my shoulder and said quietly,
35:58Mom, the stars are so far away.
36:01But being able to see them, it makes me feel safe.
36:05My heart felt soft.
36:07I knew the trauma buried deep inside him wouldn't disappear after one trip to an observatory.
36:13Like those old scars, no matter how much care they received,
36:17they'd always leave faint marks.
36:19But as long as I stayed with him,
36:21warming him bit by bit with love and patience,
36:25the starlight would eventually pierce through the darkness
36:28and illuminate the road ahead.
36:30in the park.
36:30when the night�� council heard
36:30that she died,
36:30from Gorg,
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