- 12 hours ago
Abandoned at the Altar — This Time, I Walked Away - FULL EP 2026
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The night before my wedding, I walked in on my fiancé entangled with his savior's younger sister.
00:05The woman was wrapped in my wedding blanket, a lingering look of passion still in her eyes.
00:09I threw the pregnancy test result in his face and asked,
00:12Do you still want this child?
00:14He smoked half the night.
00:16At dawn, stubbing out his cigarette, he said,
00:19I have a duty to her, but I love you.
00:22Hearing that, I put on my wedding dress, deciding to give him one last chance.
00:26However, what I got was,
00:28Sorry, Mrs. Southwell, Mr. Vox says the wedding is cancelled.
00:32Mrs. Woods has suffered a heart attack and is undergoing emergency resurgitation.
00:36My bouquet dropped to the ground, my dignity shattered.
00:39I ran outside just in time to see his car speeding away.
00:43Julian! If you dare to go to her today, I'll be at the hospital tomorrow.
00:47You'll lose your child!
00:49He was silent for a moment, and then hung up.
00:52Only the dial tone remained in my ear.
00:54I stood at the hotel entrance, still in my wedding dress.
00:58The guests around me whispered as they stared.
01:01The host froze on stage, unsure what to say.
01:04Julian's mother, Lydia Finch.
01:07Sophia, go inside first. Don't let them see it.
01:11The wedding is off.
01:13The wedding is off.
01:14Nonsense!
01:15Julian just had a momentary merry lapse of judgment.
01:18Vivian's situation is critical.
01:21He couldn't ignore her.
01:22So he could ignore me?
01:24You're going to be his wife.
01:26Don't make a scene.
01:32I'm done being his wife.
01:34Leave today and forget being a Borg ever again!
01:42In the dressing room, I took off the wedding dress and changed into my own clothes.
01:47The makeup artist carefully removed all hair accessories.
01:50Mrs. Southweal, your makeup...
01:52Leave it.
01:53I picked up my bag and left.
01:55Outside the hotel, the sky was overcast.
01:58I hailed a taxi.
02:00Trinity Hospital, please.
02:02My phone vibrated in my bag.
02:04It was Julian's assistant, Daniel Bright.
02:06Mr. Vogt is handling an emergency.
02:07I didn't answer.
02:08Mr. Vogt is handling an emergency.
02:08I knew what he would say.
02:10Mr. Vogt is handling an emergency.
02:12Mr. Vogt didn't mean it.
02:14Mr. Vogt will explain to you later.
02:17Such words sounded in my mind.
02:19I'd heard excuses like this for 10 years.
02:21Vivian had been Julian's responsibility ever since her brother, Leonard Woods, died saving him five years ago.
02:28This responsibility had weighed on Julian for five years.
02:32I used to think it was right for him to take care of Vivian.
02:35Today, I realized just how far he'd let that responsibility go.
02:39The taxi stopped at the hospital entrance.
02:42I paid and walked into the emergency building.
02:44Julian was sitting on the long bench outside the emergency room.
02:48Head down, elbows propped on his knees, hands dug into his hair.
02:52He sat there with his suit jacket tossed carelessly to one side.
02:56Hearing my footsteps, he looked up and stood up when he saw me.
02:59Oh, Sophia, why are you here?
03:02I'm sorry.
03:04How is she?
03:05The doctor said it was acute heart failure.
03:08They're still trying to stabilize her.
03:09She's in critical condition.
03:15I see.
03:18Sophia, please don't be like this.
03:21Leonard died because of me.
03:24I can't abandon Vivian.
03:26She has no family in this world.
03:31Julian, I'm not doing anything.
03:33I just feel our wedding doesn't seem as important as a girl you've known for five years.
03:38No!
03:38Sophia, you're the most important to me!
03:41The doctor didn't say she's dying.
03:43But she's dying!
03:46Just then, the emergency room door opened.
03:49Family of Vivian?
03:52I am.
03:54The patient's heart rate spiked due to excitement.
03:56It's stable now, no danger.
03:58She'll be transferred to a regular vord for observation for two days.
04:03Julian heaved a sigh of relief.
04:06See?
04:08She's so pitiful.
04:10Can't you be a little understanding?
04:14I said nothing.
04:15The hospital bed was wheeled out.
04:18Vivian was lying on it, pale and with her eyes closed.
04:21As she passed me, her eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes opened a slit.
04:26Seeing me, she soon got tears welling up.
04:28Julian immediately held her hand.
04:30Vivian, don't be afraid.
04:32I'm here.
04:36I turned and walked out of the hospital.
04:38The cold wind hit my face.
04:40Only then did I realize my heart was pounding wildly.
04:49The next day, Julian didn't come home.
04:52The house was deathly silent.
04:54I called a real estate agent to list the house.
04:57Yes, we need to sell it right away.
04:59In the afternoon, Julian came back.
05:02Sophia, I apologize on Vivian's behalf.
05:05She didn't mean it yesterday.
05:08Can't she apologize herself?
05:12She's still very weak.
05:13Julian, don't talk about her.
05:15Let's talk about us.
05:17What about the wedding?
05:18How do we explain to our relatives and friends?
05:21He was silent for a while.
05:23Once things settle down, we can have the wedding again.
05:28Again?
05:30You think this is something that can be done again?
05:33Then what do you want me to do?
05:34It already happened.
05:37Sophia, I know you have endured a lot,
05:40but Vivian just came back from the brink of death.
05:42Can't we be a little more understanding?
05:48Again, understanding.
05:48I went into the bedroom, pulled out a suitcase,
05:51and started packing.
05:53What are you doing?
05:57His face darkened,
05:59folding my clothes neatly into the suitcase.
06:02I'm selling this house.
06:04Sophia, have you had enough of this scene?
06:06I'm not making a scene.
06:08I just don't want to live here anymore.
06:11Don't you dare sell it!
06:13This is our home!
06:15May is right.
06:17The moment you abandoned it for another woman,
06:20it stopped being our home.
06:22You're being utterly unreasonable!
06:26At this moment, his phone rang.
06:28He answered, and soon his tone shifted.
06:31What's wrong?
06:31Another nightmare?
06:33Don't be scared.
06:34I'm coming right now.
06:36After hanging up,
06:37he released me with impatience on his face.
06:39Sophia, stop this.
06:41Vivian's still shaking.
06:45I need to check on her.
06:46We'll talk when I get back.
06:48He thought I would compromise like before.
06:51If you leave,
06:52then don't come back.
06:58Sophia,
07:00my patience has limits.
07:01Then he left anyway.
07:03Listening to the door slam shut,
07:05I placed the last item in the suitcase,
07:07and zipped it shut.
07:13I moved back to my studio.
07:15A small loft,
07:16design work downstairs,
07:18living space upstairs.
07:20Julian never contacted me again.
07:22I didn't contact him either.
07:24A week later,
07:25Lydia asked to meet me.
07:27In a coffee shop,
07:28she slid a check across the table.
07:3210 million.
07:34Leave Julian.
07:36Lydia,
07:37it's not about money
07:38between him and me.
07:40I know.
07:41You two have been together for 10 years,
07:43but you must understand
07:44the Vogue family needs a wife
07:46who is understanding
07:47and can share Julian's burdens,
07:48not a troublemaker
07:49who only causes trouble.
07:52Vivian is understanding?
07:53Vivian is simple and kind.
07:56Her brother saved Julian's life.
07:59It's only right Julian protects her.
08:01As his fiancée,
08:03you should support him,
08:04not oppose him.
08:05I understood.
08:06In their eyes,
08:08all my grievances were causing trouble.
08:10I don't want the money,
08:12and I don't want Julian either.
08:15May he and Vivian
08:16have a lifetime of happiness.
08:20Stepping out of the coffee shop,
08:22I blocked all the Vogue's contacts.
08:24The world grew quiet.
08:29I began focusing on preparing
08:31for Milan Jewelry Design Competition
08:33three months later.
08:35That was my highest aspiration
08:36as a designer.
08:38My days were fulfilling and peaceful.
08:40Until that day,
08:41an uninvited guest
08:42showed up at my studio.
08:46Sofia,
08:47I came to apologize.
08:50On the wedding day,
08:51it was my fault.
08:52I shouldn't have
08:53get to the point.
08:55Julian
08:56has been in a terrible mood
08:57these past few days,
08:58drinking heavily.
08:59I know it's all because of me.
09:01Sofia,
09:01this is the card Julian gave me.
09:03I've saved all the money,
09:04never used it.
09:05I'm giving it back to you.
09:07Please don't be angry
09:07with him anymore, okay?
09:09Please?
09:09Please?
09:10Vivian,
09:11do you think this is funny?
09:13I don't know what you're talking about.
09:15Vivian's still shaking.
09:16I'm coming right now.
09:18Every time you got sick
09:19or had an accident,
09:20it coincided with crucial moments
09:22for him and me.
09:24Vivian,
09:24you planned this,
09:26didn't you?
09:27I didn't.
09:29Take your card
09:30and get out of my place.
09:33Sofia,
09:34I know you hate me,
09:36but if the person
09:37who died five years ago
09:38was Julian
09:39instead of my brother,
09:40what would you have done?
09:41Believe it or not,
09:42I never meant to break you two up.
09:44I'm just so terribly lonely.
09:46She left.
09:47I threw the card in the trash.
09:49Sofia!
09:50What did you do to Vivian?
09:54Sofia!
09:55What did you do to Vivian?
09:58She slid her wrist
09:59after she went home
10:00if the housekeeper
10:00hadn't found her in time.
10:01She'd be dead.
10:02Are you satisfied now?
10:03I did nothing to her.
10:04Still lying.
10:05She's so kind,
10:06even giving you all her savings
10:07to pay you back.
10:08Why did you still provoke her?
10:09Julian,
10:10do you believe her or me?
10:15I'm taking you to the hospital.
10:17Apologize to her.
10:18I'm not going.
10:19You have no choice.
10:21Julian,
10:21you're crazy.
10:22You're the crazy one.
10:24You weren't like this before.
10:25When did you become so vicious,
10:27so unreasonable?
10:28Yeah,
10:29I wasn't like this before.
10:31The old me believed
10:31his every word,
10:32understood his life,
10:33his every difficulty,
10:34and took his responsibilities
10:35as my own.
10:37When did I change?
10:38Probably from the moment
10:39he kept choosing
10:40another woman over me.
10:42He dragged me
10:43all the way downstairs.
10:44His car was parked
10:45right at the door.
10:46He opened the door,
10:48trying to shove me inside.
10:49I used all my strength
10:51to break free.
10:53We're over.
10:54What did you say?
10:56I said we're breaking up.
10:57From now on,
10:58you and Vivian
10:59have nothing to do with me.
11:00Sofia,
11:01don't regret this.
11:01The thing I regret most
11:03is pulling you out of the mind
11:04ten years ago
11:04and spending another ten years
11:05watching you push me back in.
11:07I went upstairs,
11:08locked the door,
11:09and then leaned against it,
11:11listening to him
11:11pounding on the door.
11:13Then the car's engine started.
11:16He left.
11:17I slid to the floor,
11:18hugging my knees.
11:19A sharp pain
11:20stabbed through
11:21my lower abdomen.
11:22I looked down.
11:24Blood was trickling
11:24down my thigh.
11:28Seven weeks pregnant.
11:30Signs of threatened misnarriage.
11:32Your emotional state
11:33is too volatile.
11:34Can my baby be saved?
11:35You need to be hospitalized
11:36for observation.
11:37As for saving your baby,
11:39we need a family member's consent.
11:40Where is your husband?
11:41He's away on business?
11:43Then have another relative come.
11:45I had no relatives.
11:47My parents passed away
11:48when I was very young.
11:50I was raised by my grandfather,
11:51who had also passed away
11:53five years ago.
11:54In this world,
11:55I thought I still had Julian.
11:57Now, I had no one.
11:59I sat on a bench
12:00in the hallway
12:01for a long time.
12:02My phone lit up.
12:04It was a photo from Daniel.
12:06Miss Southwield,
12:07Mr. Vox says
12:08he will come find you
12:08once Ms. Wood's
12:09condition stabilizes.
12:11Then I stood up
12:12and walked back
12:12to the doctor's office.
12:13Doctor,
12:16made a decision?
12:17I don't want this child.
12:19Then I lay on
12:20the operating table.
12:22The anesthesia
12:23coursed through my body.
12:24In the last second
12:25before my consciousness faded,
12:27I thought,
12:28Julian,
12:29we're even now.
12:32The day I was discharged,
12:34it was raining.
12:35I didn't return
12:36to the studio.
12:38Instead,
12:38I went to the airport.
12:40I bought a one-way ticket
12:41to Milan.
12:42Before leaving,
12:44I sent Julian
12:44a final text.
12:46My lawyer will send
12:47you the divorce papers.
12:48I don't want the house
12:49or the car.
12:50Just sign it.
12:51After sending it,
12:53I deactivated
12:54my phone number.
12:56As the plane took off,
12:58watching the city
12:58grow smaller
12:59beyond the window,
13:00I told myself,
13:01Sofia,
13:02you are reborn.
13:03you are reborn.
13:04Life in Milan
13:05was harder than I had imagined.
13:07Language barrier,
13:08no friends,
13:09no money.
13:10I lived in the cheapest
13:11apartment,
13:12ate the simplest food.
13:13By day,
13:14I audited classes
13:15at a jewelry institute,
13:17and by night,
13:18I washed dishes
13:19in a small restaurant.
13:20It was tough.
13:21But my heart
13:22was at peace.
13:23I devoted
13:24all my energy
13:25into designs.
13:26I poured all the love
13:27and pain of those
13:2810 years into the drawings.
13:30Three months later,
13:31I stood on the stage
13:32of the Milan jewelry
13:33design competition
13:34with my entry,
13:35Caged Bird.
13:36I got the gold medal.
13:38That day,
13:39under the spotlight,
13:40I smiled at the sea
13:41of flashbulbs below.
13:43I was no longer
13:44for the Sophia
13:44who needed Julian
13:45to survive.
13:46Now I was a designer,
13:48Sophia Southwell.
13:49Three years later,
13:50I returned to my country
13:51with my personal brand,
13:53Glimmer Snow.
13:54My first major show
13:55was set in Rivermore.
13:57The runway
13:57was star-studded.
13:59Backstage,
14:00I watched models
14:01wearing my jewelry
14:02creations step onto the stage.
14:04My assistant,
14:05Anna,
14:05approached and handed
14:06me a glass of champagne.
14:07Mrs. Southdale,
14:09Julian Voth,
14:10the president of Voth Group
14:11is here too.
14:11I swirled the liquid
14:13in my glass
14:13without responding.
14:15He's in the front row.
14:16Hasn't taken his eyes
14:17off you.
14:18Is that so?
14:21He's lost a lot of weight.
14:23Looks haggard.
14:26I took a sip of champagne.
14:28Anna,
14:28go prepare the showstopper.
14:31Yes,
14:32Mrs. Southwell.
14:34Ladies and gentlemen,
14:35let's put our hands together
14:36for the jewelry designer
14:37of tonight's show,
14:39Sophia Southbury.
14:51Our gaze is locked
14:53for three seconds.
14:54I gave him a faint smile,
14:56then left the stage.
14:57Backstage,
14:58Anna told me Julian
14:59wanted to see me.
15:01Tell him I'm busy.
15:03He says he'll wait.
15:06Then let him wait.
15:08I changed out of the dress.
15:10I left through a side entrance
15:11and got into my car.
15:13Thanks, Mia.
15:14Hello, miss.
15:15Hi.
15:16As we drove away,
15:17I glanced back.
15:18He was still standing there.
15:21Anna was right.
15:22He was thinner and older,
15:23no longer the vibrant man
15:25I remembered.
15:26The car radio
15:26played an old song.
15:27I finally learned
15:29how to love,
15:31but sadly you,
15:33you had long
15:35vanished into
15:36the crowd.
15:38I turned off the radio.
15:42My brand became
15:44an overnight sensation
15:45domestically.
15:46Orders poured in
15:47like snowflakes.
15:48I was swamped with work.
15:50Julian tried many ways
15:52to see me.
15:53He bought the coffee shop
15:54downstairs from my studio
15:55and sat by the window
15:56every day.
15:57He purchased the billboard
15:58opposite my company,
16:00displaying my photos
16:0024 hours a day.
16:02He bought every single
16:03one of my designs.
16:05I ignored him completely.
16:07The more he acted like this,
16:08the more ridiculous
16:09I found it.
16:11Hindsight was always 20-20.
16:13One day,
16:14I had just finished a meeting
16:15when Anna came in.
16:17Miss Southwield?
16:19There's a lady downstairs
16:20asking to see you.
16:21She says her name
16:21is Vivian Woods.
16:22My pen paused.
16:24Let her come up.
16:25Years had changed
16:26Vivian a lot.
16:27She wore exquisite makeup
16:29and a designer suit
16:30with a hint of malice
16:31in her eyes.
16:32No longer the delicate,
16:34pitiable girl
16:35she once was.
16:36Sophia,
16:37long time no see.
16:39She sat down
16:39in my office.
16:40What do you want to say?
16:42I come to ask you
16:43to leave Rivermore.
16:48I laughed.
16:49Why?
16:51Julian loves you now.
16:52Ever since you came back,
16:54he changed.
16:55He wants to send me away
16:56and break up with me.
17:00Isn't that good?
17:02You two never should have been together.
17:04No.
17:08It's me who stayed by his side
17:10these past three years.
17:12I took care of him
17:13at his lowest.
17:14How dare you take him away from me?
17:16I looked at her,
17:18feeling ridiculous.
17:20Vivian,
17:20have you forgotten?
17:21He was originally mine.
17:23You gave up on him.
17:24He gave up on me first.
17:27She was speechless
17:28with her face flushed red.
17:30Finally,
17:31she pulled a stack of photos
17:32from her bag
17:33and slammed them onto my desk.
17:35Sophia,
17:36don't get cocky.
17:37You think he really loves you?
17:39It's just guilt.
17:40Look at this.
17:44I picked up a photo.
17:46It showed a tombstone.
17:47The name on it
17:48was Leonard Woods.
17:50Next to it stood
17:50a smaller tombstone,
17:52bearing no name.
17:53Only a date.
17:54The date of my surgery.
17:56Below it was engraved
17:57two words,
17:58my son.
17:59With the signature,
18:01Father,
18:01Julian Voight.
18:02My mind exploded.
18:04He had actually set up
18:05a tombstone
18:06for our unborn child.
18:07Seeing my deathly pale face,
18:09Vivian laughed triumphantly.
18:11He told me the child
18:12was his greatest regret
18:13so he wanted to make amends.
18:14He wanted to get you back.
18:17Sophia,
18:17you're just a tool
18:18he's using
18:19to compensate
18:19for that child.
18:21My hands shook so badly
18:22that I couldn't hold the photos.
18:24They scattered
18:25all over the floor.
18:26Get out!
18:27Get out?
18:30Sophia,
18:31you can't win against me.
18:32As long as my brother's
18:33favor remains,
18:34Julian can never
18:35truly ignore me.
18:36I walked up to her
18:37and slapped her face.
18:39She covered her face,
18:40staring at me
18:41in disbelief.
18:42You dare slap me?
18:43This slap
18:45is for my unborn child.
18:47I picked up the phone.
18:49Security,
18:50throw this person out.
18:51Being held
18:52by two security guards.
18:54Sophia,
18:55just wait!
18:56I'll make you pay!
18:58Yeah.
18:59The office door closed.
19:00I crouched down,
19:02picking up the photos
19:03one by one.
19:04Looking at that
19:05small tombstone,
19:06my tears finally fell.
19:11I fell ill with a
19:13persistent high fever.
19:14Anna took me
19:15to the hospital.
19:16Lying in a hospital bed,
19:18I drifted in
19:19and out of consciousness.
19:20It felt like I was back
19:21in that cold operating room
19:23three years ago.
19:24I kept having nightmares.
19:26A tiny infant
19:27was crying out to me.
19:28Mommy,
19:28why didn't you want me?
19:30I woke up sobbing.
19:31The moment I opened my eyes,
19:33I saw Julian.
19:35He sat at my bedside,
19:36holding my hand,
19:37with his jaw shadowed
19:38by rough stubble
19:39and his bloodshot eyes.
19:41Sophia,
19:42you're awake.
19:43His voice was hoarse.
19:45I pulled my hand back
19:46and turned away,
19:47not wanting to see him.
19:48He said behind me,
19:50I'm sorry
19:51about the child.
19:53I'm sorry.
19:54Back then,
19:56I thought you ended
19:57the pregnancy
19:57because you hated me.
19:59I didn't dare ask,
20:00didn't dare look for you.
20:02I was afraid
20:03you'd hate me
20:03even more.
20:05I visit him every year.
20:07I named him
20:08Sasha Valk.
20:09My body stiffened.
20:11I looked for you
20:12for three years.
20:14Sophia,
20:14I know I was wrong.
20:15Give me another chance,
20:16please.
20:17I didn't turn around,
20:19nor did I speak.
20:20I'll handle things
20:21with Vivian.
20:22I swear,
20:22from now on,
20:23my world will only have
20:24you and the child.
20:25The child he spoke of
20:27was the one long gone.
20:29How laughable.
20:31Julian?
20:33Leave.
20:38I won't.
20:40He came to face me
20:41and tried to hug me.
20:42I avoided him.
20:44Sophia.
20:45You're right.
20:47I ended the pregnancy
20:48because I hated you.
20:50I hated you
20:51for abandoning our wedding,
20:52for abandoning our ten years,
20:54for choosing her
20:55again and again,
20:56so I abandoned your child.
20:58No, that's not true.
21:00You're not that kind of person.
21:01I am that kind of person,
21:02so it's impossible
21:04between us now.
21:06The person you see now
21:08is not the fool
21:08who loved you enough
21:09to give up everything.
21:12That fool died
21:13on the operating
21:14played three years ago.
21:16The hospital room door opened.
21:18Anna entered with medicine.
21:20Seeing Julian,
21:21she paused.
21:24Mrs. Southwin,
21:25time for your medication?
21:28I nodded and told Julian.
21:31I need to rest.
21:32Please leave.
21:33He stood there,
21:34lips trembling.
21:36Finally,
21:37he gave me one last deep look
21:38before walking out.
21:40His back was hunched,
21:41looking ten years older.
21:45After I was discharged
21:47from the hospital,
21:48Julian didn't come
21:49to bother me again.
21:50He must have finally given up.
21:53I poured myself into work.
21:55My brand grew larger and larger,
21:57expanding worldwide.
21:58I spent most of my time abroad.
22:00My returns to Rivermore
22:02were brief and hurried.
22:03News of Julian came
22:04from financial reports,
22:06resulting in heavy losses.
22:07Vogue Group's investment failed
22:09and it stocked back.
22:10Vogue Group's investments failing.
22:11It seemed his luck
22:13ran out after I left.
22:14Anna once shared
22:15some gossip with me.
22:17I heard Julian kicked Vivian out,
22:19didn't give her a cent.
22:22Vivian isn't an easy person either.
22:25She's been telling the media
22:26Julian is ungrateful,
22:27even that he has a love child.
22:29But no one believes her.
22:31She's in a bad way now.
22:32I just listened,
22:34having no feelings.
22:35None of it concerned me anymore.
22:37A year later,
22:38my retrospective exhibition
22:40opened at Rivermore Art Museum.
22:41All my representative works
22:43from my debut until now
22:44were on display.
22:45Many people attended
22:47the opening ceremony.
22:48I was preparing my speech
22:50in the lounge.
22:51Anna suddenly rushed in.
22:53Miss Southfield,
22:53something's happened.
22:55What happened?
22:56Vivian is here.
22:57She's making a scene
22:58in the exhibition hall
22:59saying your breakthrough work
23:00is a copy of hers.
23:01Is she mad?
23:02She showed the so-called
23:03original design draft
23:04almost identical to yours
23:05with just minor difference.
23:06Now the reporters
23:07are all gathered around.
23:09This piece was designed
23:11in my brother Leonard Woods.
23:12It's his final work.
23:13Sophia was an assistant
23:14in my brother's studio.
23:15She stole my brother's draft.
23:19Mrs. Woods,
23:20do you have any evidence?
23:21The evidence is my manuscript.
23:23It has my brother's signature.
23:26Vivian.
23:28Sophia.
23:29You thief.
23:30How dare you show up?
23:32You say this work
23:33was designed by you
23:34and your brother together?
23:35Yes.
23:35When?
23:36Six years ago.
23:39Everyone.
23:40The inspiration for this work
23:41did come from one person.
23:43But it wasn't Leonard Woods.
23:44It was Julian Vault.
23:45I created this work
23:46during the most painful period
23:47after our breakups.
23:48It symbolizes my trapped love
23:49and my longing for freedom.
23:50As for Mrs. Woods' evidence,
23:52if I'm not mistaken,
23:53it was drawn by Julian, right?
23:54You're lying!
23:55Whether I'm lying or not,
23:56a handwriting expert
23:57can verify it.
23:58Julian has been painting
23:59for ten years.
24:00I can recognize his brush strokes
24:02even with my eyes closed.
24:03I don't know what you're talking about.
24:04This is my brother's.
24:05Is this?
24:05A deep voice came from
24:07behind the crowd.
24:08Julian walked in.
24:09He wore a black suit,
24:11looking more gaunt
24:12than the last time I saw him.
24:13It was drawn by me,
24:14not by Leonard.
24:15I drew it to atone to Sophia.
24:16I gave it to you to pass to her,
24:18not for you to frame her with.
24:21I didn't...
24:22I really was...
24:23Enough!
24:24I come here to tell you a thing.
24:26Leonard did not die saving me.
24:31The entire exhibition hall
24:33was deathly silent.
24:35Everyone was stunned
24:36into speechlessness.
24:37What...
24:38What did you say?
24:39I've been investigating
24:41the car crash
24:41from five years ago.
24:43I found several people
24:44to recover the dashcam footage
24:46at that time.
24:47A car was driving along
24:48a winding mountain road.
24:50Julian was the driver,
24:51and Leonard was sitting
24:52in the passenger seat.
24:54Suddenly,
24:55a large truck
24:55veered toward them.
24:57A second before impact,
24:59Leonard unbuckled
25:00his seatbelt
25:00and shielded Julian
25:01with his own body.
25:04See it clearly?
25:06That truck had brake failure.
25:07It wasn't a premeditated murder.
25:10As for Leonard,
25:11he was drowning
25:12in 30 million
25:13in gambling debt.
25:14He couldn't go on living anyway.
25:17He didn't die saving me.
25:19He just wanted to use his life
25:20to give you a secure future.
25:22He wrote it all clearly
25:23in his will,
25:24asking you to live well
25:25with my guilt,
25:26not to use that guilt
25:27to hurt the one
25:28I love the most.
25:29I was held hostage
25:30by this so-called kindness
25:31for five years.
25:33I lost my love,
25:34my child.
25:35I've become a laughing doc.
25:37Vivian,
25:38if your brother
25:39could see you now,
25:40would he get peace?
25:46No!
25:46It's not true!
25:48It's not!
25:54The farce finally came to an end.
25:56Julian turned to look at me.
25:58Sofia,
26:00the truth is finally out.
26:02I no longer owe anyone anything.
26:06Can we
26:07start over?
26:09Julian,
26:10it's too late.
26:14With that,
26:15I walked back to the lounge,
26:16leaving everything behind me.
26:21After that day,
26:23Julian vanished.
26:24Voight Group announced
26:25bankruptcy liquidation.
26:26He dismissed all employees,
26:29liquidated all assets,
26:30and paid off all debts.
26:31Then he left Rivermore alone.
26:33No one knew where he went.
26:35My life finally returned to calm.
26:38My brand went public in Paris,
26:40becoming truly international.
26:41I lived mostly in Paris.
26:44Occasionally,
26:45Anna mentioned Julian.
26:47She said someone saw him doing volunteer work,
26:49and someone saw him teaching in a mountain village.
26:52He seemed to be punishing himself like an ascetic.
26:55While listening,
26:56I felt nothing.
26:57We ultimately took different paths in life.
27:00Five years later,
27:01I returned to my country and settled down.
27:04I bought a house with a garden in Rivermore.
27:06I adopted a little girl named Ava.
27:08She was adorable,
27:10with two dimples when she smiled.
27:12I loved her dearly.
27:14We lived happily together.
27:16One winter afternoon,
27:17I took Ava to a park.
27:19It was snowing heavily.
27:21Ava was building a snowman.
27:23I sat on a bench,
27:24watching her.
27:26Not far away,
27:27a man in a janitorial uniform
27:28was sweeping snow slowly and laboriously.
27:31He wore a hat and mask,
27:33his face obscured.
27:34He seemed to have a leg issue.
27:36A slight limp.
27:38Ava's snowball rolled to his feet.
27:40She ran over to retrieve it.
27:42The man stopped sweeping,
27:43bent down,
27:44and picked it up for her.
27:45When he looked up,
27:47his mask slipped down slightly.
27:49I saw his face.
27:53It was Julian.
27:55His hair was much grayer,
27:57his face weathered.
27:58Seeing me,
27:59he froze.
28:00The snowball fell from his hand
28:01and was shattered.
28:03Ava looked up,
28:04asking in a babbish voice,
28:05Sir, what's wrong?
28:07He didn't answer,
28:08and just looked at me
28:09with so many emotions in his eyes.
28:11I stood up and walked toward them
28:12while waving to Ava.
28:14Ava, come here,
28:16we're going home.
28:17Ava ran to me,
28:18taking my hand.
28:20Mom, he's crying.
28:21I glanced back.
28:23Julian remained motionless
28:25where he stood.
28:26His tears rolled down his face,
28:28mingled with snowflakes,
28:29and fell to the ground.
28:31A man nearing 40 cried like a child.
28:34Holding Ava's hand,
28:35I didn't look back.
28:36We walked into the snow,
28:38getting further and further away.
28:40I knew he was watching,
28:41until we vanished from sight.
28:43Just like many years ago,
28:45I watched him leave without hesitation.
28:47We both had stood at life's crossroads.
28:49He chose his so-called responsibility,
28:52and I chose myself.
28:53Now, the dust had settled.
28:55We keep moving forward.
28:57Ava's laughter filled the way.
28:59The sun was shining,
29:00and the breeze was gentle.
29:03Ava's laughter filled the way.
29:07Ava's laughter filled the way.
29:08Ava's laughter filled the way.
29:10Ava's laughter filled the way.
29:10Ava's laughter filled the way.
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