- 2 days ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:02Ryan Carter, the famous Playboy heir, openly declared that he only dated women on short-term
00:07arrangements. However, there were still lots of women eager to be his temporary girlfriend,
00:12because if he was in a good mood, he'd reward them with a villa. If he wasn't,
00:16they'd still walk away with a million-dollar breakup fee. People all laughed at me,
00:21saying I was the most miserable wealthy wife in history. They all thought I'd endure it for the
00:26rest of my life. I was going to, until Ryan brought a college student named Kelly Smith home.
00:32The girl looked ordinary, yet she was the first woman he kept longer than a month.
00:37Ryan gave me two choices, agree to an open marriage and let Kelly be on equal terms with me,
00:43or just divorce him, split the assets evenly, and go our separate ways for good.
00:48His friends were there, watching the show. They were sure I'd just keep being a pushover,
00:52putting up with everything. But to their surprise, I chose the latter without hesitation.
00:58In my previous life, I chose to endure, and what I got in return was Kelly pushing her luck further
01:04and further. She forbade Ryan from touching me or giving me any of his assets. In my later years,
01:10I couldn't help but envy Kelly, who ended up with everything—money, children, the whole package.
01:17Even after Ryan died, his will didn't grant me anything. All his inheritance was left under Kelly's
01:23control. I had been his lawful wife, but ended up with nothing at last. Reborn into this life,
01:30I finally figured everything out.
01:35This time, I just wanted to take the money and leave. I picked up the divorce agreement,
01:40read it carefully from beginning to end, and was about to sign my name. Ryan finally spoke.
01:46Anna Taylor, think this through. Once you sign, there's no turning back.
01:51I didn't stop. I quickly wrote my name down. I'll pack my things and leave right now.
01:58In my previous life, I thought bringing Kelly home was just another one of his tricks to mess with me.
02:04Naively, I believed that after all these years of marriage, he must have had at least a little
02:09affection for me. I was a fool. He and Kelly had kids one after another and grew old together in
02:15love. And I, in that house, was like an awkward outsider, mocked and ridiculed by everyone around
02:23me for my whole life. Not until my later years did I hear him talking with Kelly in a hospital
02:28room.
02:29He said that back then, the dramatic scene of catching a guy in my bed had been arranged by him
02:35personally. I was just tired of her and didn't want things to get too ugly. So I staged the whole
02:42thing. There wasn't a shred of guilt in his clouded eyes. That way, all I did later seemed completely
02:49defensible. So that was it. No wonder every time I desperately tried to explain, all I got was his
02:56cold disbelief. Because from beginning to end, he knew the truth. He didn't love me, yet he used a
03:03fabricated crime to trap me for 50 years. He could have ended it cleanly with one stroke, but instead
03:10chose to slowly torture me to death. Looking at the young yet still cold face before me, I felt nothing
03:16but hatred. He stared blankly at the signed agreement, his eyes filled with shock. Outside
03:25the door, the faint sounds of whispering abruptly stopped. The next second, my distinguished
03:31parents-in-law rushed in cheerfully. Oh my, look at her. So young and so energetic. My father-in-law,
03:39who had always treated me with hostility, was smiling kindly at this moment. Finally, we can send away
03:45that useless one. It's been so many years, but there's no kid at all. Sir, madam, please don't
03:54say that. I don't want to disrespect Anna, especially since I'm not much younger than
04:01madam Anna. Actually, I'm already one month expecting. It's just still early, so I plan to
04:07tell you about it later. As expected, still the same familiar sarcasm, the same nauseating
04:12tone. All these years, in order to be a useful wife, I worked myself to the bone at Carter
04:17Group during the day. At night, I still had to serve these two picky bastards. Just past
04:24thirty, yet plenty of white hair had already crept into my temples. I did look kinda old.
04:33I turned back to my room and began packing my pitiful little bit of luggage. And I was already
04:38planning where I should go first to properly relax after getting the money. Didn't notice
04:43Ryan following me in.
04:46It's so late. There's no need to move out immediately. Leave tomorrow.
04:53Isn't the villa in the west of the city still empty?
04:56You can stay there for now. I'll visit you when I'm free.
05:02Anna, you're just being emotional. Calm down. I know how much you love me, okay?
05:10But I really can't let you be my legal wife anymore.
05:14I can't let my child grow up being labeled as illegitimate.
05:17I didn't respond. I just picked up my suitcase, walked past him, and headed straight for the
05:23door.
05:24There's nothing left to say between us. I'm very happy we're divorced.
05:29If you really still have a conscience, hurry up and pay me what you owe.
05:34The night wind carried fine snow as it rushed toward me,
05:37biting cold yet unable to extinguish the fire burning in my heart.
05:42Ryan's efficiency was, as always, impressive.
05:46When I woke up, three billion was already in my bank account.
05:49With the money, the first thing I did was book Harbor City's most luxurious private club.
05:54Haircut, full-body spa, and everything.
05:57The haggard woman with graying temples in the mirror was gone.
06:00In her place stood a sharp-eyed beauty with flamboyant red hair.
06:04Just as I finished changing, my best friend Iris Allen called.
06:08Anna Taylor! What's going on between you and Ryan?
06:11Have you lost your minds?
06:13What the hell happened?
06:15What's wrong?
06:16And you still ask what's wrong?
06:18Haven't you seen the news yourself?
06:20The headlines are full, are full of Ryan and that woman at some banquet.
06:25He said in front of all the reporters,
06:28that woman is his only wife.
06:31He even said they're holding a wedding soon.
06:34Your stuck-up in-laws were right there too,
06:37saying that girl had it coming.
06:38Are you okay?
06:40I never got such public acknowledgement, such recognition.
06:44Ryan had now given it to her.
06:46I'm fine.
06:47We're already divorced.
06:48What?
06:51Divorced?
06:51She'd watched me love Ryan for more than ten years.
06:54She watched me bend over backward for this marriage.
06:57Give up myself like a servant begging for scraps.
07:00Begging for scraps of affection.
07:01Are you few-free tonight?
07:05Let's go get a drink.
07:06My treat.
07:09In Harbor City's most extravagant bar,
07:11the booths were piled high with the priciest wine.
07:14Several young, handsome male models surrounded me,
07:17attentively pouring drinks for me.
07:19Holy shit, I believe it now.
07:22You really have let go.
07:24You were never like this before.
07:26Back then, to prove to Ryan that I wasn't after money,
07:29I calculated cost performance for everything.
07:32I had been afraid he'd think I was wasteful
07:34or didn't care about the family.
07:36Now, sitting in this luxurious private room,
07:38I looked at the woman reflected in the mirrored glass.
07:41The flamboyant red hair,
07:43the perfectly tailored haute couture dress,
07:46was strange, yet familiar.
07:49Iris raised her glass and clinked it hard against mine.
07:52You look a bit like that once-in-a-century genius beauty
07:55from the finance department at Ace University.
07:58She downed a huge gulp of wine and then complained.
08:02Back then, so many venture capital firms
08:05were fighting to invest in you.
08:06If you'd started your own group,
08:08you'd have crushed Carter Group long ago.
08:10Spending over a decade being a servant for his family?
08:13And after the divorce, you only got this much money.
08:16Girl, I really think you deserve better.
08:19I had been a servant for them for more than a decade.
08:21In my previous life,
08:23Carter Group, under my control,
08:25once dominated the national rankings
08:26as the strongest enterprise.
08:28Yet in my old age,
08:30I couldn't even afford a box of painkillers.
08:32In the end,
08:33I was thrown out by Kelly's children
08:34and died of illness beside a trash heap
08:36on a winter night.
08:37The business empire I built with my entire life
08:39went to Kelly and her children.
08:41Thinking of this,
08:42I drained the wine in my glass in one go.
08:44The spicy liquid burned down my throat,
08:47yet ignited the fire deep in my heart.
08:49I swore I would get back at them.
08:52Without me,
08:53could they really live so well?
08:55The very next day,
08:57news of my group registration spread like wildfire,
09:00stirring the entire circle.
09:01Some people sensed opportunity
09:03and rushed overnight with proposals,
09:05hoping to invest.
09:06But more people mocked
09:08and waited on the sidelines,
09:09waiting for the Carter family's reaction.
09:12Someone clearly gave instructions to the media,
09:14so paparazzi articles were all belittling me
09:17for overestimating myself.
09:18I looked at the push notifications on my phone
09:21and swiped them away expressionlessly.
09:22I just didn't expect to receive a call from Ryan.
09:26Anna,
09:27can't you be a bit more understanding?
09:29I've just found true love.
09:32Besides,
09:33instead of starting some small,
09:35broken group,
09:37wouldn't it be better to stay at Carter Group?
09:39That Southern District merger
09:40you were handling before?
09:42I hung up the phone directly,
09:43as expected.
09:44He had just remembered that I was still useful.
09:47That Southern District project
09:49was a tough nut I'd been working on
09:50for over half a year.
09:52I drank until my stomach perforated for it.
09:55Without me,
09:55Carter Group wouldn't even know where to start.
09:58At Carter Group,
09:59although I was the president,
10:00my monthly salary was only $1,000.
10:04All because my distinguished father-in-law
10:06said we were family
10:06and shouldn't be so calculative.
10:08I once naively believed
10:10that was his test for me.
10:12Now it seemed I was nothing more
10:14than an exceptionally capable,
10:15yet ridiculously cheap housemaid
10:18they had recruited.
10:19The more I thought about it,
10:20the angrier I became.
10:22I made up my mind at that time,
10:24I would take over all those projects
10:26I brought to Carter Group
10:27in my previous life.
10:28Even if my new group
10:30couldn't deal with them,
10:31I would personally hand them over
10:32to Carter Group's deadliest rivals.
10:35After the call was cut off,
10:36Ryan slammed his phone
10:37to the ground in fury.
10:38All these years,
10:40he had grown used to my obedience,
10:41expecting me to show up on command
10:43and disappear at his whim.
10:45Now that I'd hung up on him
10:46so decisively,
10:47he felt really mad.
10:49At that moment,
10:50his special assistant awkwardly came in
10:52holding a stack of documents
10:53he couldn't even understand,
10:55asking him to sign them.
10:56Days of exhaustion,
10:58plus years of unfamiliarity
10:59with group affairs,
11:00had left him truly overwhelmed lately.
11:02Kelly followed the assistant in,
11:04took Ryan's hand,
11:05and said with eyes full of concern,
11:08Ryan, don't work yourself too hard.
11:11I'm your wife now.
11:13Let me help share your burden.
11:15He hesitated, somewhat uneasy.
11:17You're still young
11:18and unfamiliar with group operation.
11:21Go rotate through the department first.
11:23Anna Taylor could be the president.
11:27Why can't I?
11:29Ryan subconsciously wanted to say
11:30that at least Anna was a top graduate
11:32from Ace University's finance department.
11:34But the moment he met Kelly's eyes,
11:36all his rationality was thrown away.
11:38His heart softened,
11:40and he just nodded.
11:41Kelly broke into a smile through her tears,
11:44hugged him,
11:44and said affectionately,
11:46I'm just worried about you.
11:48Look at you,
11:49you've lost so much weight lately.
11:51Less than half a month
11:52after my group started up,
11:54everything was already running smoothly.
11:56During this time,
11:57Kelly sent people over more than once
11:58to cause trouble.
12:00Just some petty tricks,
12:02all of which I brushed aside with ease.
12:04After all these years,
12:05the connections I'd built
12:06were far beyond
12:07what a little girl like her
12:08could compare to.
12:09Those senior employees at Carter Group
12:11whom I personally trained
12:13had long wanted to leave
12:14after hearing I'd gone solo,
12:16especially since after Kelly
12:18started working there.
12:19She kept suppressing them,
12:20making their days suffocating.
12:22I didn't rush to bring them over.
12:24I had them stir up a little chaos
12:26before they left,
12:27a small token of allegiance to me.
12:29Kelly thought losing a few people
12:30was no big deal,
12:32even secretly rejoicing
12:33that she'd cleared out
12:34some remnants of me.
12:35But she didn't understand.
12:37Some of them were critical
12:38for the group.
12:40Projects fell through
12:41one after another,
12:43and Carter Group's stock price
12:44plunged again and again.
12:46Meanwhile, on my side,
12:48with capable team members,
12:50we unleashed astonishing power,
12:52consecutively landing
12:53several deals
12:54worth tens of millions.
12:56Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window
12:58in the conference room,
12:59looking at the jubilant team below,
13:01Tonight at OTK Club,
13:04it's all on me!
13:05No one leaves sober!
13:07Amid the thunderous cheers,
13:09I led everyone out of the group building
13:11in a grand procession.
13:13At the entrance,
13:14a familiar black Rolls Royce
13:15was parked quietly
13:16by the roadside.
13:17The car door opened,
13:19and Ryan stepped out
13:20with an arrogant look,
13:21waving at me.
13:22I didn't even glance his way,
13:24leading my people straight ahead.
13:26Anna Taylor?
13:27What do you mean?
13:28Didn't you see me?
13:30You've really grown bold now.
13:33A little impatient,
13:34I looked at him coldly and said,
13:36Sir,
13:37do you need something?
13:39He seemed slightly taken aback
13:40by my attitude,
13:41but still got straight to the point,
13:43issuing an order.
13:44Shut down your group
13:45and come back to Carter Group.
13:47I was so angered
13:48by his self-righteousness
13:49that I laughed.
13:50He took my laughter as hesitation,
13:51and his tone softened a little.
13:53Anna,
13:54I've really been exhausted lately.
13:56Don't keep fighting with me,
13:58all right?
13:58He paused,
13:59as if making a huge concession.
14:01If you really mind,
14:02Kelly,
14:02I can have her move
14:03somewhere else for now.
14:06Looking at this pompous man
14:07before me,
14:07I couldn't help but question
14:08my own judgment back then.
14:09I'm not throwing a tantrum.
14:12I cut him off coldly.
14:13Mr. Ryan,
14:15we're already divorced.
14:16Please don't interfere
14:17with my life anymore.
14:20His patience ran out,
14:22his voice suddenly rising.
14:24I've already compromised.
14:27What more do you want?
14:28The group needs you right now,
14:30and you choose this moment
14:32to put on airs?
14:34I suddenly felt
14:36there was no reasoning
14:36with him at all.
14:37In his world,
14:38everyone was supposed
14:40to revolve around him.
14:42If you've got any issues, sir,
14:44why don't you go bother
14:45your precious wife?
14:47Kelly Smith?
14:48I'm just an outsider.
14:50I have no obligation
14:51to clean up your mess.
14:53You care about the status?
14:56Anna,
14:57once Kelly gives birth,
14:58I'll think about it.
15:03But you have to promise me,
15:05no going public.
15:07I don't want Kelly to be hurt.
15:09I stared at him,
15:11enunciating every word.
15:13I'll say it one last time.
15:14Get lost.
15:15Don't let me see you again.
15:20I'm never getting back together
15:22with you.
15:23Ever.
15:25Anna Taylor,
15:26don't push your luck.
15:28Don't forget this is Harbor City.
15:31If I want to crush
15:33a low-tier little group like yours,
15:35it's easy as pie.
15:36Just then,
15:37a clear, slightly lazy male voice
15:39put in.
15:40Oh?
15:42Mr. Ryan sure has a bad temper.
15:44Not only openly harassing my fiancé,
15:47but also threatening to destroy her group.
15:51Ryan turned his head
15:52and was totally stunned.
15:53It was Alex White,
15:54another rich young man,
15:56and Ryan's nemesis.
15:58Alex strolled over lazily
15:59and naturally wrapped an arm
16:00around my waist.
16:02Leaning his head
16:03intimately against my shoulder,
16:04he whined.
16:07Darling,
16:08I've been waiting
16:09in the parking lot forever.
16:11Turns out you were here
16:12stopped by a bastard.
16:14Anna Taylor!
16:15Give me an explanation!
16:17Why did you betray me?
16:19Then,
16:19as if he suddenly figured something out,
16:21he put on a smug,
16:22all-knowing expression.
16:23I get it now.
16:25You're acting,
16:26aren't you?
16:27You deliberately found out
16:29Alex to piss me off.
16:31Alex rolled his eyes dramatically
16:33and dragged me away.
16:34Let's just not waste time with him.
16:42Stop right there!
16:44Ryan tried to chase after us,
16:46but he was too agitated.
16:47And with his recent chaotic schedule,
16:49his abdomen suddenly seized
16:51with sharp pain.
16:52Damn.
16:54He doubled over in pain,
16:56clutching his stomach,
16:57cold sweat beating on his forehead.
17:00Anna,
17:02my stomach hurts.
17:04I didn't slow down.
17:05In fact,
17:05I walked even faster,
17:07not turning my head even once.
17:09Behind me
17:10were his suppressed groans of pain
17:11and his assistant's
17:12panicked screams.
17:15Alex didn't give me
17:16any chance to look back.
17:17He directly shoved me
17:18into the passenger seat
17:19of his flashy red Ferrari.
17:21The sports car
17:22roared out of the parking lot,
17:23only then
17:24did he take off
17:25his sunglasses
17:26and smile at me sideways.
17:28Well,
17:29not bad acting, right?
17:31I didn't speak.
17:32Just watch the cityscape
17:33speeding past
17:34outside the window.
17:35Hey, Anna,
17:36don't be so indifferent.
17:39I helped you out,
17:40I helped you out,
17:40you know,
17:41not even a thank you.
17:43I kept it brief.
17:45He pouted,
17:46clearly dissatisfied
17:47with my coldness.
17:48But he didn't say more,
17:49only turned up
17:50the volume of the car music.
17:51That very night,
17:53the headlines of
17:53Harbor City's
17:54financial and entertainment
17:55sections were
17:56all dominated
17:56by Ryan Carter.
17:58Carter Group president,
17:59chasing former love,
18:01suffers stomach spasms
18:02and is hospitalized.
18:03The accompanying photos
18:05showed him being taken
18:05into an ambulance
18:06by his assistant
18:07and bodyguards.
18:08The comment section
18:09exploded.
18:10Some mocked Ryan
18:11for bringing it on himself,
18:12saying he should have
18:13expected this day
18:14back when he flaunted
18:14his mistress.
18:16Others claimed Kelly Smith
18:17was inferior to me,
18:18which is why Ryan
18:19turned back,
18:19and that the two of us
18:21would soon remarry.
18:23In the VIP ward
18:25of Harbor City First Hospital,
18:27Kelly Smith,
18:29eyes bloodshot,
18:30grabbed the glass cup
18:31from the bedside table
18:32and smashed it viciously
18:33onto the floor,
18:34shards flying everywhere.
18:36Why did you go
18:37to find her?
18:38Why?
18:38Didn't you say
18:39having me alone
18:40was enough?
18:40The sharp,
18:41shattering sound
18:42startled Ryan,
18:43and a dull ache
18:44crept through his abdomen.
18:46He rubbed his temples
18:47tiredly,
18:48even opening his eyes,
18:49feeling like an effort.
18:50His voice was very light,
18:52heavy with irritation.
18:54What are you yelling for?
18:55I went to see her
18:57for Group Matters.
18:58Are Group Matters
18:59more important than me?
19:00I don't care!
19:01You swear right now,
19:03promise you'll never
19:04go see Anna Taylor again!
19:05Never!
19:06She was shouting
19:07too loudly
19:08with a suffocating pressure.
19:09Shut up!
19:10He suddenly shoved her away.
19:12If you hadn't
19:13messed the group up
19:14so badly,
19:15would I need to lower
19:16myself to go beg her?
19:19Kelly still wanted
19:20to say something,
19:22but then the ward door
19:23was pushed open.
19:24Ryan's mother walked in
19:26carrying a thermal
19:27food container.
19:28When she saw the mess
19:29all over the floor
19:30and her son's pale face,
19:31her anger instantly flared.
19:34Kelly Smith,
19:35you're really becoming
19:37more and more outrageous.
19:38She slammed the container
19:39heavily onto the table
19:40and pointed at Kelly's nose
19:42as she scolded.
19:43Can't you see Ryan
19:44isn't feeling well?
19:45Why are you still
19:46yelling at him?
19:47The more she spoke,
19:48the angrier she became.
19:50If Anna were here,
19:51she'd have Aldi gone home
19:52to make dinner for Ryan
19:53by now.
19:54You only know how
19:54to make a steam.
20:11Anna Taylor?
20:12You're talking
20:13about her again?
20:15Kelly instantly bristled,
20:17letting out a cold snort.
20:18I'm not her.
20:19I don't want to do
20:20that kind of servant work.
20:22She crossed her arms
20:23over her chest
20:24and stubbornly talked back.
20:26What do you mean?
20:27There are so many
20:28servants at home.
20:29Why do I have
20:30to cook myself?
20:31I think you're just
20:32picking a fight on purpose,
20:33deliberately using her
20:34to put me down.
20:35I'm carrying your grandson.
20:36You don't want him anymore?
20:38How dare you talk back?
20:40Ryan's mother
20:41was shaking with anger.
20:42What have you ever
20:44done for Ryan?
20:45Other than spending money
20:47and causing trouble?
20:49What else did you do?
20:51What trouble did I cause?
20:56A sharp roar
20:57instantly drowned out
20:58all the arguing.
21:00Ryan forced himself upright,
21:02grabbed the pillow
21:02by the bed,
21:03and hurled it at them
21:04with all his strength.
21:05Get out!
21:06Now!
21:06The ward fell into
21:07dead silence in an instant.
21:09Ryan's mother and Kelly
21:10were both stunned.
21:12Ryan collapsed
21:13weakly back onto the bed,
21:14burying his face
21:15into the blanket
21:16as suppressed sob
21:17seeped out muffled.
21:18This was the first time
21:19he regretted it.
21:21Regretted divorcing Anna.
21:23When Anna was around,
21:24the group never had
21:25any problems,
21:26and the household
21:27was always in perfect order.
21:29Anna would arrange
21:30everything properly,
21:31and Ryan could just
21:32enjoy his life.
21:34But now,
21:35because of several
21:36useless relatives Kelly
21:37had stuffed into the group,
21:38accidents happened again
21:39and again,
21:40and several projects
21:41had already been cancelled.
21:43By the time he realized
21:44something was wrong,
21:46most of the capable
21:47backbones in the group
21:48had already left.
21:49And his parents,
21:50who once praised Kelly
21:51non-stop,
21:53now constantly complained
21:54and expressed dissatisfaction.
21:56Life seemed to have
21:57gone back to years ago,
21:58when his group
21:59was on the brink
22:00of bankruptcy,
22:01besieged on all sides.
22:03The difference was,
22:05back then,
22:06when he turned around,
22:07I was always there.
22:09And I would gently tell him,
22:10Don't be afraid.
22:11You've got me.
22:12But now,
22:14behind him,
22:15there was no one at all.
22:22A few days later,
22:23the contract with the White group
22:24was officially signed.
22:25This was the biggest deal
22:27I'd landed since
22:27leaving Carter Group.
22:29It meant my small group
22:30had finally gained
22:31a firm foothold.
22:33Alex White attended in person.
22:36President Anna,
22:37to celebrate
22:38our successful cooperation,
22:40how about dinner together?
22:41I looked at his handsome face
22:43and declined politely.
22:45No,
22:46I still have something
22:47to do tonight.
22:48His smile faded.
22:49He leaned forward,
22:50bracing his hands on the table,
22:52staring straight at me.
22:52Anna Taylor,
22:53how long are you
22:54going to keep running?
22:56You clearly know what I mean.
22:58Ever since that day
22:59in the parking lot
23:00when he helped me out,
23:01Alex White had launched
23:02a fierce pursuit.
23:04Flowers,
23:05gifts,
23:05and endless invitations.
23:07It was impossible to ignore.
23:09But I remained distant
23:10the entire time.
23:11I frowned and said,
23:13Mr. Alex,
23:14if you're just trying
23:16to provoke Ryan,
23:17there's really need
23:18combated Shin-o-nem-or-neen.
23:19Alex looked at me
23:20with his big eyes.
23:21He suddenly smiled.
23:23I'm not that boring.
23:26I really do like you.
23:28His gaze was far too intense.
23:30I subconsciously stepped back,
23:31but he grabbed my sleeve.
23:33Alex's fingers
23:34were long and warm.
23:36He gently shook my arm
23:38and softened his voice,
23:39his tone full
23:40of coquettish pleading.
23:42Come on,
23:43just give me a chance.
23:45Have dinner with me,
23:47okay?
23:47He winked playfully at me
23:48and lowered his voice.
23:49A secret about Ryan.
23:51I wanted to say no,
23:53but unconsciously agreed.
23:55Alright.
23:56With a loud bang,
23:58both of us were startled.
24:00The receptionist
24:01then hurried in anxiously.
24:03President Anna,
24:04I'm sorry this gentleman
24:05insisted on barging in.
24:06We couldn't stop him.
24:07I waved my hand,
24:09signaling her
24:09to step out first.
24:11The uninvited guests
24:12were right behind
24:13the receptionist.
24:14The one in front
24:14sat in a wheelchair,
24:15which was Ryan.
24:17Only a few days had passed,
24:18yet he looked as if
24:19all vitality
24:20had been drained from him,
24:21his face sallow
24:22and his eye socket sunken.
24:25Anna,
24:25I'm here to take you home.
24:26I looked at him,
24:28not feeling sorry for him,
24:29but only mad at him
24:31for interrupting me.
24:32I reached out
24:33and pressed the internal line
24:34on the desk.
24:35Security,
24:36come here
24:37and take these
24:38uninvited people out.
24:39Ryan looked kind of stunned.
24:41He probably hadn't expected
24:43me to be this ruthless.
24:44His eyes instantly reddened.
24:46Anna Taylor,
24:47how can you treat me like this?
24:50I've already thought it through
24:51these past few days.
24:52We're the most suitable
24:54for each other.
24:54I've already brought up
24:55divorce with Kelly Smith.
24:57Come back to my side,
24:59okay?
25:00If this were my previous life,
25:01I probably would have
25:02softened after seeing this.
25:04But now,
25:05I only found it noisy.
25:07Don't have any feelings
25:08for you anymore.
25:09Who you marry or divorce
25:11has nothing to do with me.
25:13My voice was cold as ice.
25:16Please don't come disturb
25:17my life again.
25:19I don't want to be
25:20your servant anymore.
25:22The decisiveness in my words
25:23left his face full of hurt.
25:26We've been married
25:26for so many years, remember?
25:29You won't even give me
25:30one chance.
25:33He stared at me in disbelief
25:35until he confirmed
25:36that there was only
25:37indifference left in my eyes.
25:39Only then did he understand.
25:41I wasn't saying this
25:42out of spite.
25:43He stopped faking tears
25:45and his eyes were filled
25:45with fierceness.
25:47Anna Taylor,
25:48don't forget.
25:49If I hadn't sponsored you
25:50back then,
25:51you would even have been able
25:52to go to college.
25:54Now you're leaving me
25:55after your achievements?
25:58I don't want much.
26:00Just help me hold
26:01Carter Group together
26:02for five years.
26:04Alright?
26:05At last,
26:06he pulled out this trump card.
26:07The so-called debt of gratitude
26:09had weighed me down
26:10for a full ten years.
26:11I fell silent.
26:13At the moment I hesitated,
26:15a warm hand
26:16covered the back of my hand.
26:17Alex had somehow
26:18come to stand beside me.
26:21Ryan Carter,
26:22do you have no shame at all?
26:25His voice was clear,
26:26with undisguised contempt.
26:28Using my credit
26:29to blackrail others?
26:33How can you be
26:34so utterly shameless?
26:36Ryan's expression
26:37changed abruptly.
26:38Alex White,
26:39why are you here?
26:40Alex laughed and said,
26:41Why can't I be here?
26:43If I weren't,
26:44I wouldn't have known
26:45that you've been
26:46taking my to my credit,
26:48using my kindness
26:49to threaten the woman
26:50when I love.
26:52You're talking nonsense!
26:54Shut up!
26:55I did sponsor her!
26:58Is that so?
27:00Alex took out his phone
27:01and presented it to me.
27:04Anna,
27:04see for yourself.
27:07These are all the records
27:08of payments I made back then
27:09through an anonymous
27:10charitable organization
27:11to your accounts
27:12from high school
27:13through university.
27:14The one who sponsored you
27:16was always me.
27:18My mind buzzed,
27:20turning completely blank.
27:21On the screen,
27:22rows of transfer records
27:24were displayed
27:24with crystal clarity.
27:25Dates and amounts.
27:27Every single one
27:28matched exactly
27:29the scholarships
27:30I had received back then.
27:31The recipient account
27:33was my high school
27:33financial aid fund account
27:35and the designated beneficiary
27:37was Anna Taylor.
27:38In both my past
27:39and present lives,
27:41I had always believed
27:42it was Ryan.
27:43In my freshman year,
27:45he had taken the initiative
27:46to find me
27:46and told me
27:47he was the anonymous sponsor.
27:49Because of that debt
27:50of gratitude,
27:51I was deeply thankful
27:52to him
27:52and,
27:53after graduation,
27:55threw myself
27:55into his group
27:56without hesitation.
27:57It was also because
27:58of that gratitude
27:59that I developed
28:00feelings for him.
28:01Even when he trampled
28:02my dignity
28:03time and time again,
28:04I endured it
28:05because of that
28:06supposed kindness.
28:07I thought it was
28:08something I owed him.
28:09So from the very beginning,
28:11it had all been a lie.
28:13Ryan looked terrible,
28:14but he still wanted
28:15to make a final
28:16desperate struggle.
28:17I stayed by your side
28:19for four years
28:20in college
28:21and always encouraged you.
28:24Doesn't that count
28:25as emotional support?
28:29Yeah,
28:29I didn't sponsor you
28:30financially.
28:32But we were husband
28:33and wife for ten years.
28:35Isn't that bond enough
28:37for you to help me
28:37just once?
28:40Have you forgotten
28:41how much you used
28:41to love me?
28:43I promise I won't care
28:44about your past affair
28:45anymore.
28:46You forgive me
28:47this once too.
28:48We can still live
28:49a happy life together,
28:51okay?
28:52I almost laughed
28:54from sheer anger.
28:55At this point,
28:56he was still trying
28:56to bind me
28:57with his twisted logic.
28:59Ryan Carter,
29:00do you really think
29:01I'm an idiot?
29:02My voice wasn't loud,
29:04but it froze the air
29:05in the entire conference room.
29:07Back then,
29:07after I sobered up
29:09from drinking,
29:10the man in my bed
29:12was sent by you.
29:14Even the drugged
29:14glass of water I drank
29:16was prepared
29:17by you personally.
29:18Ryan's face
29:19instantly turned
29:20deathly pale.
29:21I shook my head
29:22in disappointment,
29:23the last shred
29:24of lingering feeling
29:25in my heart
29:25turning to ashes.
29:27The thing I regret
29:28most in this life
29:29is being with a man
29:31like you,
29:32full of lies.
29:34Those words
29:35became the final straw
29:36that crushed him.
29:37He slumped weakly
29:38in his wheelchair,
29:39tears rolling down
29:40in big drops.
29:42It's not like that.
29:44How can you regret it?
29:45You love me.
29:46You clearly love me.
29:47You clearly love me.
29:49He muttered to himself,
29:50looking deranged.
29:51You clearly love me.
29:54At that moment,
29:55the security guards
29:56who had arrived late
29:57finally broke through
29:58Ryan's black-suited bodyguards.
30:00Together with the wheelchair,
30:02they pushed the whole group out.
30:03The world finally
30:04became quiet.
30:06In the conference room,
30:07only Alex White
30:08and I remained,
30:08and it was super awkward.
30:10He didn't look at me,
30:11his gaze drifting
30:12to the patterns
30:13on the carpet.
30:16Well,
30:17I still have some things
30:19to deal with
30:19at my group.
30:20I'll head out first.
30:22After saying that,
30:23he turned around,
30:24about to slip away.
30:26I grabbed his wrist.
30:28Didn't you say
30:29we were going to have dinner?
30:30He looked a little annoyed
30:31and said,
30:32I didn't use this
30:33to pressure you.
30:34Don't misunderstand.
30:36If you don't like me,
30:38you don't have to force yourself
30:39to be with me
30:42just because I sponsored you.
30:44Seeing his awkward
30:46yet proud demeanor,
30:47I wasn't so upset anymore.
30:48I couldn't help
30:49but laugh a bit.
30:51I won't, Alex.
30:52I softened my tone,
30:54still holding his wrist.
30:55I just really, really
30:58want to have a meal with you.
30:59I looked into his eyes
31:01and asked again seriously.
31:03So, Mr. Alex,
31:05would you like to?
31:07Under my gaze,
31:08his cheeks grew
31:09redder and redder
31:10and then he nodded gently.
31:15To prevent Ryan
31:16from coming back
31:17to pester me again,
31:18I threw a few obstacles
31:19into some of
31:20Carter Group's
31:20overseas projects.
31:22I didn't intend to do
31:23anything drastic
31:23to Carter Group.
31:24I just wanted
31:25to keep him busy,
31:26keep him from bothering me.
31:28But the foundation
31:29of Carter Group
31:29had long rotted.
31:30My small move
31:32was merely
31:32the first domino to fall.
31:34Carter Group's
31:35stock price
31:35plunged without warning.
31:37Several major projects
31:38under negotiation
31:39blew up
31:39one after another.
31:41Partners withdrew
31:42their investments
31:42and the capital chain
31:43snapped on the spot.
31:45When the first domino fell,
31:47the whole thing
31:47wouldn't last for long.
31:49Bank collection notices
31:50piled up like mountains
31:51and every day
31:52there were creditors
31:53blocking the gates
31:54of the Carter family villa.
31:55Kelly Smith,
31:56the once gentlewoman
31:57who had obeyed Ryan
31:58in everything,
31:59realized that Carter Group
32:00was absolutely going down.
32:02She immediately
32:03turned around
32:04and filed a lawsuit
32:05demanding a divorce
32:06and division
32:07of Ryan's assets.
32:08The two of them
32:09made a huge scene.
32:10The former lovers
32:11faced each other in court
32:12hurling accusations.
32:14All of Harbor City
32:15was watching Ryan
32:16make a fool of himself,
32:17laughing at how he
32:18ditched his good wife
32:19only to marry that bitch.
32:20I saw this news
32:22while on dates with Alex
32:23through push notifications
32:24on my phone.
32:25I only glanced at them
32:26before immediately
32:27locking the screen.
32:28It had nothing to do
32:29with me anymore.
32:30What I cared about more
32:32was Alex
32:32sitting across from me.
32:34Our relationship
32:35slowly became better
32:36through dinners,
32:37movies,
32:38and visits to art exhibitions.
32:41On Christmas Day,
32:42Harbor City saw
32:43its first snowfall
32:44of the winter.
32:45I booked out
32:46the mountaintop
32:46revolving restaurant.
32:48Through the huge
32:49floor-to-ceiling windows,
32:50we could overlook
32:51the dazzling lights
32:52of the entire city.
32:53Alex,
32:54dressed in a bespoke suit,
32:56sat quietly across from me.
32:57The snowy glow outside
32:58reflected on his face,
33:00making him look
33:01kinda unreal.
33:02Amid the gentle sound
33:03of violin music,
33:04I knelt on one knee.
33:05He froze for a moment,
33:07a hint of panic
33:08in his eyes.
33:10I looked up at him,
33:11holding his cold hand.
33:13These past few months,
33:14every day I've spent
33:15with you has made me
33:16very happy.
33:17I wanna turn this happiness
33:19into a lifetime.
33:20So,
33:21would you be willing
33:22to be my boyfriend?
33:24His eyes instantly
33:25turned red,
33:26his lips trembling,
33:27unable to utter
33:28a single word.
33:29The surrounding diners
33:30had gone quiet,
33:31all watching us.
33:33After a long while,
33:34he finally lowered
33:35his hand in disbelief
33:36and nodded hard.
33:38Thunderous applause
33:39erupted throughout
33:40the restaurant.
33:41I put the ring
33:42on his finger
33:43and threw myself
33:43into his arms.
33:45My phone vibrating
33:47on the table,
33:47but I ignored it.
33:49The person I was holding
33:50was my whole world.
33:53Only later
33:54did I find out
33:54that those notifications
33:55were the final headlines
33:56of that night.
33:58Carter Group officially
33:59announces bankruptcy
34:00and liquidation.
34:01former Carter Group
34:03president's lover
34:03Kelly Smith
34:04suspected of commercial
34:05embezzlement
34:05and leaking trade secrets,
34:07now arrested by police.
34:08Does anyone know
34:10Which means
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