Dad, Why Wont You Save Me - Full Movie - video Dailymotion

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00:00:00My son died in a hotel fire. My husband was on that rescue team. He's a firefighter, but he ran

00:00:07past our room. He went straight to his first love in the next room. Right before my son died,

00:00:12he looked at me and said, Dad saves strangers? Why won't he save me? I had no answer. At my

00:00:20son's

00:00:21funeral, I called my husband. He picked up. Sounded annoyed. Lauren and her son got burned.

00:00:27They're in the hospital. Can you just stop making everything about your jealousy? Don't

00:00:31call me unless it's important. Then he hung up. I sat in my wheelchair, my skin burning under the

00:00:37bandages. My son's name was carved into the stone right in front of me. That was when I knew my

00:00:42marriage was over. I'll never forget that night. Dad, I'm here. Nate, cover your mouth. Don't talk.

00:00:54By the time my son and I realized the house was on fire, it had already spread across half the

00:00:58floor. We were trapped in the room. My husband, Gavin Reed, was the captain leading the response

00:01:03that night. When I saw him down below, I thought we were saved. So did my son. Before this trip,

00:01:09I had texted Gavin the hotel name and the room number, so he knew exactly where we were. But

00:01:14when he came upstairs, he didn't stop at our door. He passed us. He went next door to save Lauren

00:01:19Blake

00:01:20and her little boy. That was when my son broke down. He started crying so hard he could barely

00:01:24get the words out. Mom, Miss Lauren is here too. Dad only cares about them, right? He's leaving us

00:01:31again. I, I, I can't breathe. It hurts so much. Mom, I, I don't want to go. The room was

00:01:41full of smoke.

00:01:42My boy was only five. His tiny body was giving out. My hands were shaking. I grabbed a wet towel

00:01:48and

00:01:48pressed it over his nose and mouth. Then I picked him up and stumbled to the door.

00:01:53Gavin, Nate can't breathe. Please save us. Gavin, please. I begged him, please, just this time. But

00:02:01he passed right by our door. I screamed until my throat tore open. He didn't even stop. Over the

00:02:08fire, I heard his voice, soft, tender. Don't worry, Lauren. I got you. You and your boy are going to

00:02:15be

00:02:15fine. Okay. The smoke was thick. My head stopped working right. I tried to cover Nate's ears. His

00:02:21eyes were full of tears. His pupils were starting to drift. My little boy murmured in desperation.

00:02:27Dad, why, why won't you see me? I yelled so loud. I tried. Mom, I'm so scared. I, I can't

00:02:35stay.

00:02:36Please, next time. Can you get me a different dad? That was the last thing my son ever asked me.

00:02:43Then his little hand dropped. Just like that. I lost him forever. Something inside me blew apart.

00:02:50My brain went blank. My chest felt like someone was driving nails into it. I forced myself up and

00:02:56held him tight. Okay. Okay, my boy. I hear you. Nate, don't fall asleep. Stay with me. Please,

00:03:05I'm getting you out. I swear I'm getting you out. The smoke got thicker. I couldn't even see his face

00:03:11anymore. The floor was burning. The door handle too. Then the fire hit me. My arms. My legs. Then

00:03:19it caught on him too. My poor boy. He must have suffered a lot. I beat at the flames with

00:03:24my hands.

00:03:25I cried and begged and hit and clawed. But the smoke got heavier. The heat got worse. I couldn't walk

00:03:31anymore, so I dropped to the floor and crawled. But that hallway would not end. It just kept going.

00:03:37And going. By the time another crew came through to clear the floor. Nate and I were barely there.

00:03:43They pulled us out. Took us to the hospital. Gavin was in the room next to mine. Lauren and her

00:03:49son

00:03:49were with him. And just like in that fire. There was only one wall between us. One wall. Still,

00:03:56he never came to see us. His whole world was still Lauren. Her and that child. The doctors tried to

00:04:03take me away to treat my burns. I dropped to my knees and begged them not to. Please save my

00:04:08son.

00:04:09He's just tired. He just passed out. Please, you have to save him. They took Nate into the ER.

00:04:16They shocked him again. And again. And again. His little body jerked every time. But he never opened

00:04:23his eyes. Finally, the doctor looked at me and said, He suffered enough while he was alive. Don't make

00:04:28his body suffer more. He was right. My boy hated pain. I should let him rest in peace. I had

00:04:35burns

00:04:36all over my body. Bad ones. I called my brother to handle the funeral. And the divorce. The papers

00:04:42were drafted the same day I got burned. I signed them. But Gavin wouldn't pick up. Just like that

00:04:48night in the fire. He had blocked me again. Every time he was with Lauren and her son. He blocked

00:04:54my

00:04:54number. He said my calls were annoying. Then when he felt like it, he'd unblock me. Like I was a

00:05:01notification he could mute. I lived like that for 6 years. But this time, something in me was done.

00:05:07Not angry. Not screaming. My brother had gone to the funeral home to make arrangements for Nate.

00:05:13Only the aide was with me. I asked her to help me into my wheelchair. Then I rolled myself next

00:05:19door.

00:05:19Toward Gavin, the man I should have left years ago. This marriage was a joke. I was done with it.

00:05:26The room next door was private too. My family has money. And I made good money on my own.

00:05:32I never needed Gavin to support me. On his salary alone, he could barely cover his own life. There

00:05:38was no way he could afford a private room for Lauren and her son. They came out of that fire

00:05:42with soot on

00:05:42their faces and a few small blisters. That was it. But Gavin looked at them like they'd been through war.

00:05:48Like one more scratch might break them. Then I thought about Nate. About what was left of my

00:05:53little boy's body. And my chest caved in all over again. That's the difference. Love. Or none at all.

00:06:00Gavin? I said his name through my teeth. He turned and looked at me. The second he saw me,

00:06:06the smile dropped off his face. His brows pulled tight.

00:06:09Claire, why are you here? Get out!

00:06:11I had on a hat and a mask. I didn't want to scare anybody with my burns. But I was

00:06:17in a hospital gown.

00:06:18In a wheelchair. Gavin saw none of it. He got up at once. Grabbed my wheelchair. Shoved me straight

00:06:26into the hallway. Lauren and I are just friends. I've told you a hundred times. Her husband's dead.

00:06:31She has nobody. She's been through enough. I'm just giving her a little support.

00:06:36I'd heard that speech a hundred times before. I was sick of it. Lauren didn't have a husband.

00:06:42But she had Gavin. I had a husband. And somehow I was the one alone. When a pipe burst at

00:06:48home,

00:06:49he was fixing Lauren's light. When I got in a car crash, he was shopping with her. When Nate had

00:06:55a

00:06:55fever, he stayed with her son. That was my marriage. A complete joke. When I looked at the

00:07:01shameless bastard standing in front of me. I felt sick. I didn't want to waste another breath on him.

00:07:07Sign the divorce papers. And I'm out of your life. I held the papers out. He didn't even take them.

00:07:14He thought I was bluffing again. You done yet? Once Lauren and Liam are better, I'll come home.

00:07:19He'd said that before. A hundred times. And stupid me. I always believed him. Not anymore.

00:07:26If you won't sign, my lawyer will file. I looked straight at him.

00:07:30Nate's funeral is in six days. You. From inside the room, Lauren let out this soft little cry.

00:07:36Gavin, it really hurts. He turned fast. All panic. All tenderness. That was it. He walked right back

00:07:45into the room. I stared at the closed door. It felt like something was tearing through my chest.

00:07:51I don't even remember how I got back to my room. I just know I couldn't breathe. Like the air

00:07:56had left

00:07:57the world. Up until the day of the funeral, Gavin never asked about Nate once. When the service was

00:08:03about to start, the boy's own father still wasn't there. Guests had started whispering.

00:08:08Where's his dad? I heard he's at the hospital with some woman and her kid.

00:08:13His ex, right?

00:08:15Even so, missing his own son's funeral?

00:08:18What a bastard!

00:08:19People looked at me with pity. A few came over and tried to comfort me. But my mind was all

00:08:25about

00:08:26Nate. The way he used to wait by the window for his dad. The way his whole face lit up

00:08:31over the

00:08:31smallest promise. My throat felt full of thorns. I clenched my hands so hard my nails tore open the

00:08:37blisters in my palms. The pain helped. Barely. Today was my son's goodbye to the world. I would not let

00:08:44Gavin ruin that too. I turned to my brother. Call him. He blocked me again. My brother's face went

00:08:51dark. He pulled out his phone and called. Gavin picked up fast. Gavin! My brother said. Today is

00:08:58Nate's funeral. But Gavin cut him off. Claire, are you serious? Lauren and her son were hurt in that

00:09:04fire. They're infected. Still in the hospital. I'm here taking care of them because someone has to.

00:09:09And now you're saying Nate is dead? Wow. You've really crossed a line.

00:09:15Then he hung up. Suddenly it all made sense. That day, when I told him Nate was gone, he barely

00:09:21reacted.

00:09:22Not because he didn't hear me. Because he thought I was making it up. He had accused me of a

00:09:27lot over

00:09:27the years. But this time? This time I shook so hard that I couldn't speak. My brother had heard every

00:09:34word. He grabbed my phone, found Nate's death certificate photo, and sent it to Gavin.

00:09:39Then he called him back. When Gavin answered, my brother's voice came out low and raw,

00:09:44like each word had to rip its way free. Do you see it now? Nate's been dead for a week.

00:09:50You're his father. But you never even showed up. Then he snapped. What kind of man does that,

00:09:55Gavin? What kind of father ignores his own son's funeral? But Gavin cut him off. Claire,

00:10:01are you serious? Lauren and her son were hurt in that fire. They're infected. Still in the hospital.

00:10:06I'm here taking care of them because someone has to. And now you're saying Nate is dead?

00:10:13Wow. You've really crossed a line. Then he hung up. Suddenly it all made sense. That day,

00:10:19when I told him Nate was gone, he barely reacted. Not because he didn't hear me. Because he thought

00:10:24I was making it up. He had accused me of a lot over the years. But this time? This time

00:10:30I shook so hard

00:10:31that I couldn't speak. My brother had heard every word. He grabbed my phone, found Nate's death

00:10:37certificate photo, and sent it to Gavin. Then he called him back. When Gavin answered,

00:10:43my brother's voice came out low and raw, like each word had to rip its way free. Do you see

00:10:47it now?

00:10:48Nate's been dead for a week. You're his father. But you never even showed up. Then he snapped.

00:10:54What kind of man does that, Gavin? What kind of father ignores his own son's funeral?

00:10:58My brother said it clearly. I thought Gavin would finally get it. I thought once the truth hit him,

00:11:05he'd say he was sorry. He'd feel something. Guilt. Shame. Regret. But he said nothing. He just hung up.

00:11:14I held myself together the whole time. Or maybe I didn't. People came. People hugged me. But I don't

00:11:21remember any of it. I just remember sitting there in my wheelchair, staring at Nate's picture carved

00:11:26into stone. In my head, all I could hear was his voice. Mom, Miss Lauren is here too. Dad only

00:11:34cares

00:11:34about them, right? He's leaving us again. I, I can't breathe. It hurts so much. Mom, I, I don't want

00:11:44to go. And his last words. Dad, why, why won't you see me? Can you get me a different dad?

00:11:51Those words

00:11:52kept looping in my mind. Again and again. Like a endless nightmare. When the funeral was over, my

00:11:59brother took me straight to the ER. I had burns all over my body. The infection got bad. My fever

00:12:05shot

00:12:05up. Everything after that blurred. Dreams. Voices. Needles. White lights. I couldn't tell what was real

00:12:14anymore. I only remember one thing for sure. Somebody kept holding my hand. Over and over,

00:12:21I heard a voice saying, Claire, stay with me. Don't fall asleep. When the fever finally broke and they

00:12:28moved me to a regular room, ten days had passed. Gavin was sitting by my bed. Dark circles under his

00:12:35eyes. Stubble all over his jaw. Clothes wrinkled. He looked wrecked. Nothing like himself. The second he

00:12:43saw my eyes open, his whole face changed. Claire, you're awake. The second I saw him, everything came

00:12:49back. The fire. Nate's voice. That closed door. That empty seat at the funeral. All of it hit me at

00:12:57once. Like my chest was being crushed from the inside. I sat up and slapped him. Hard. How dare you

00:13:04show your face here. His cheek turned red right away. He looked at me with this hollow, bitter kind of

00:13:10pain.

00:13:10Gavin's voice was quiet. I should have been at Nate's funeral. I know. I screwed up. Then Lauren

00:13:16rushed in, pale, wide-eyed. Like always, she dropped to her knees beside my bed like we were in some

00:13:21cheap

00:13:21TV drama. The second she blinked, tears spilled. Claire, I'm so sorry for what happened. This is all

00:13:29my fault. Liam had a heart episode that day. I panicked. Gavin was worried about us. That's why he

00:13:35missed the funeral. Please don't blame Gavin. Don't divorce him because of me. She grabbed my hand and

00:13:42pressed it to her cheek. Eyes wide and trembling. The same trick she'd used before, daring me to hit

00:13:47her. Playing weak. Playing helpless. Setting the trap. Before, I used to freeze. But this time, I slapped

00:13:54her. Hard. Then I hit her again. Still not enough. You shameless bitch. What's wrong with you? There are

00:14:02millions of single men out there. So why do you keep going after someone else's husband? You got

00:14:08no shame? No self-respect? I raised my hand again. Gavin grabbed my wrist. His face went cold. Enough.

00:14:16I told you. Lauren and I are just friends. She's alone. She has a kid. Her life is hard enough.

00:14:23He glared

00:14:23at me. Do you have to twist our relationship? I yanked my hand free. I didn't even want to fight

00:14:29anymore. I pointed at the door. Get out. Claire, how can you talk to Gavin like that? He... I grabbed

00:14:39everything I could reach and hurled it at both of them. A cup. A tissue box. A remote. Get out!

00:14:46Both of you! Get the hell out! Gavin took a glance at me. A second later, he turned and pulled

00:14:52Lauren

00:14:53behind him. Then he walked her out. There was a time that would have destroyed me. Watching him choose her.

00:14:58Now, I felt nothing. I was born with doors that opened for me. Private schools. Summer houses. A

00:15:06last name that mattered. Gavin had none of that. He's just a firefighter from a normal family.

00:15:12A man who should have stayed out of my world. Gavin and I met by accident. One night, my best

00:15:18friend

00:15:18got dumped and dragged me out drinking. The bar caught fire. In the worst moment of my life,

00:15:23when I thought I was going to die on that filthy floor. Gavin found me. He carried me out. He

00:15:29nearly

00:15:30died doing it. He was handsome. Calm under pressure. And he saved my life. I fell for him hard. I

00:15:38found

00:15:38out he was single. I went after him. Persistent. Relentless. Finally, he said yes. Then, he proposed.

00:15:47Gavin was a gentle man. Always smiling, steady and calm. When you first met him, he felt warm

00:15:54and easy to talk to. But the longer you knew him, the more you realized something. He was polite to

00:16:00everyone. Even to me. Everybody said I'd married a good man. That I'd hit the jackpot. After we got

00:16:07married, he gave me every paycheck. He cooked. He cleaned. He handled the house. They didn't live

00:16:14in my marriage. They didn't feel the distance. The politeness. Even in bed, he felt, elsewhere.

00:16:21Like a man finishing a task. There is a wall between us. Invisible. Unbreakable. At first,

00:16:29I thought that was just who he was. Quiet. Closed off. Then Lauren came back. She had just gotten

00:16:35divorced and moved back with her son. The day she returned was our anniversary. Gavin took the day off.

00:16:42Not for me. For her. He didn't go to work. He didn't come home that night either. That's

00:16:49when I found out. Lauren wasn't just a friend. She was his ex. They'd been together since middle

00:16:55school. Ten years. First love. Their families forced them apart. That was the story. Gavin

00:17:02told me he helped her. We're just friends. I'll never betray you. Because she was a single mom.

00:17:08He looked me in the eye and said. I believed him. A big mistake. After he left my hospital room,

00:17:15Gavin started texting me. Long messages. I didn't read a single one. I blocked his number.

00:17:22Then I called my brother and told him to fire Lauren. Before all this, I didn't know she was

00:17:27Gavin's ex. I'd only heard she was a divorced mom with one kid, trying to start over, and that she

00:17:32worked in media. My family owns the company. I was the one who got her the job. Looking back,

00:17:38I'm sure people laughed behind my back the whole time. The rich wife. The fool. Lauren got fired the

00:17:45next day. And Gavin showed up right after. He walked in already angry. Jaw tight. Brows down.

00:17:52It's my fault, okay? I'm sorry. But that's none of her business. I stared at him. We're just friends.

00:17:59She has a little boy. That's it. And you had your brother fire her? Why are you being so harsh

00:18:05to a

00:18:05single mom? I gave her the job. Of course I can take it back. Listen, that's not the end. Every

00:18:10single

00:18:10dollar you spent on her, I'm taking it all back. Being harsh to a single mom? I nearly ended up

00:18:16letting

00:18:16her sleep in my bed. Gavin's face went dark. Claire, I'm saying this one more time. I've never done

00:18:22anything to betray you. Yes, she's my ex. But now, just a friend. A fucking friend. I was so sick

00:18:33of

00:18:33this cliche. And the hypocrite in front of me. I ground out through my teeth. Friend more important

00:18:39than your wife and your son? Nate's? Nate's funeral was 10 days ago. If you cared even a little about

00:18:47me or your son, you'd know he died just next door to Lauren. Gavin didn't move. I could feel every

00:18:53nerve

00:18:54in my body screaming. Nate screamed for you. He gasped. He choked. He begged. And you? You stood there.

00:19:01Broke every rule. Passed our door. Picked her and her kid over us. I shouted. My hands shook. My chest

00:19:09burned. My son is dead because of you. I'm not asking you to save us as first. You wanted to

00:19:15save her first? Fine. But when you dragged her out, carried her son out? Did it ever cross your mind

00:19:20your wife and son were trapped in the same damn hotel? Did you tell your crew to check? Did you

00:19:25even care? If you thought for one second, my boy wouldn't have died in that fire. My voice turned raw.

00:19:33I was screaming by then. Years of rage. Humiliation. Grief. All of it came out at once.

00:19:40Gavin just stood there. For the first time, the anger drained out of his face. He looked wrecked.

00:19:46His lips parted, but no sound came out. Every time Gavin ever lost control, it was over Lauren and her

00:19:53son. This was the first time I had ever seen that much pain on his face because of me and

00:19:57Nate.

00:19:57He stared at me, lost, pale, shaking. Claire, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I swear to God,

00:20:07I didn't know you and Nate were there. I didn't mean it. I texted you everything. The hotel,

00:20:17the room number, more than once. You texted Lauren what to pack. You reminded her to be careful,

00:20:23but me and Nate going on a trip? You completely forgot about us? His face turned pale. He grabbed

00:20:31his phone and started scrolling through our messages with shaking fingers. I used to text him

00:20:36everything. Photos. Updates. Bits of life. But he hardly answered. The night before Nate died,

00:20:43he said he missed his dad. He wanted to FaceTime him, but Gavin was on a video call with Lauren's

00:20:49son,

00:20:49Liam. So he declined Nate's calls for three times. I couldn't stand seeing that look on his face.

00:20:55So I told him we'd make a little video for dad instead. I said, he'll watch it. He'll love it.

00:21:01Nate lit right up. He smiled into the camera and showed off every place we'd been that day.

00:21:06Then he gave the hotel name, the room number, and in the sweetest voice, full of hope, he said dad

00:21:13should

00:21:13come join us if he had time. Gavin opened the video. He watched it. His eyes went red fast.

00:21:20Then the tears came, just poured down his face. His throat made this awful broken sound,

00:21:26like he was choking on it. I had never seen him look like that. But his tears can't bring my

00:21:31boy back.

00:21:32Gavin held the phone so tight his knuckles went white. His voice was wrecked.

00:21:36It's all my fault. I failed Nate. I'm not a good dad. But please, don't blame Lauren and Liam. They

00:21:45didn't do anything wrong. I grabbed the water glass by my back. It hit his forehead. I was shaking so

00:21:52badly I could barely breathe. You want to protect the ones you love? Then you better see if you're

00:21:58man enough to pull it off. Get out! I was done. Done talking. Done explaining. He didn't deserve to

00:22:06be Nate's father. The room got loud enough that people came running. My brother came in with Wes

00:22:11and a couple of nurses. They pushed Gavin out. I had just gotten out of ICU. My body was wrecked,

00:22:18but my head was clear. My brother had barely been to the office for two weeks. Work was piling up.

00:22:24He told me to rest, left Wes with me, and rushed back downtown. Wes is his best friend. A smartass

00:22:31who

00:22:31never seemed to grow up. Then he became a lawyer. Shocked all of us. Now he was

00:22:36handling my divorce. He dropped into the chair by my bed, grabbed an apple off the tray, took

00:22:41a bite, and looked at me. Tell me how far you want to take this. Every dollar Gavin spent on

00:22:47Lauren and her son while he was married to me, I want it traced and clawed back. He used

00:22:50all of his income on them, and he used 200 grand of mine. I want the money back. And the

00:22:55divorce. Done. Now. And file a complaint with his department. He broke rescue protocol. He delayed

00:23:02help to our room. That delay. It killed Nate. And it left me burned half to hell.

00:23:07I was dizzy from the fight. But my mind was sharp as a blade. This wasn't about the money. I

00:23:14wanted

00:23:14Gavin and Lauren to feel my pain. And his team? They deserved to know the truth. That his negligence

00:23:20cost a life. That this was the kind of man he really was. Wes didn't waste time. He said he'd

00:23:26start

00:23:27on the financial claim and the filing that day. That night, Gavin came back. Bandage wrapped

00:23:32around his forehead. Thermos in one hand. Sorry I'm late. Got caught up at work. I made

00:23:39some food for you. Easy on your stomach, but still good for you. He opened the lids one by

00:23:45one. Soup. Rice. Soft vegetables. Gavin got 10 vacation days a year. Nine went to Lauren and

00:23:52her son. The last half? He saved it for them too. I looked at the food. It actually looked good.

00:24:00For one second, I just stared at it. Then I shoved the tray. Everything hit the floor. Food. Broth.

00:24:08Containers. All of it. I looked at him and felt sick. You bring over all this food here for what?

00:24:14So I dropped the claim? So you can keep sending money to your side spit? Gavin stared at the food

00:24:19on

00:24:19the floor. His face went hard. Claire, can you quit talking like that? Nothing ever happened

00:24:25between me and Lauren. That money was just a loan. His voice sharpened fast. I don't get why you hate

00:24:30her so much. I had heard that speech so many times it made me choke. A cough tore out of

00:24:35me before I

00:24:36could stop it. Gavin froze. The anger dropped right out of his face. He came over and reached for my

00:24:42back,

00:24:42trying to steady my breathing. Before Lauren came back into his life, people thought we were the perfect

00:24:48couple. So sometimes I caught myself wondering, how did we end up here? Gavin let out a slow breath.

00:24:54You're weak right now. Can we not fight? When he spoke again, his voice was softer.

00:25:00You're a mom. You get how tough this is for Lauren, right? I just stared at him. He kept going.

00:25:07She lost her job. If I make her pay that money back now, what does that make me? Try putting

00:25:12yourself in

00:25:12her shoes. That was the moment I knew there was nothing left to say. I was too tired to argue.

00:25:18Get out. My voice was flat. If you don't want to leave here with more injuries, get out now.

00:25:24He frowned, acting like I was crazy. Then his phone rang. Lauren. Wait, any Lauren? Of course.

00:25:30He picked up, and I heard enough to know what it was. Liam kept calling for him. Just like that,

00:25:36he was done fighting with me. Claire, you're upset right now. Calm down. We'll talk later.

00:25:41That was always his move. Whenever I got angry over Lauren, he never fixed it. He'd blame me for

00:25:47getting upset. Then leave me alone with the damage. He probably thought this would go the way it always

00:25:53had. That eventually I'd stop pushing. Move on. What he still didn't understand was this.

00:25:59The second Nate died, whatever was left between us died too. That same evening, I completed the

00:26:05procedures for transferring to another hospital. I wasn't going to stay there another day and let him

00:26:09and Lauren keep circling my room like vultures. The next morning, Gavin couldn't reach me. So he

00:26:15started asking our mutual friends to check on me. Hey, Claire. You just got out of the hospital.

00:26:19Where are you? Gavin's been freaking out about you. Ask Gavin this. If he was so worried about me,

00:26:25why did he pick a fight the day I left ICU just to defend his ex? And ask him this

00:26:31too. If he was so

00:26:32worried, why did he spend less than 10 minutes in my room before running back to Lauren?

00:26:37One of them called and said, I hung up. Then I went into the group chat we all shared,

00:26:43friends, co-workers, the whole fake little group, and tagged both Gavin and Lauren.

00:26:47Stop pretending everything's fine. Stop asking me to help you two play this game.

00:26:54Do you really think no one sees it? Gavin, just admit it. You're still in love with your ex.

00:27:02At least be honest about it instead of this crap. And ladies, I typed. The group chat went dead. No

00:27:11one

00:27:11replied. Silence in public. Chaos in private. A little later, Gavin texted me from a new number.

00:27:18You can hate me all you want. You can take it out on me. Leave Lauren and Liam out of

00:27:24this.

00:27:24They didn't do anything. How many times do I have to tell you? Didn't do anything? Ridiculous.

00:27:31I used to keep quiet. Out of pride. Out of mercy. But now my son was gone. All my mercy

00:27:38was buried

00:27:39with him. I called Gavin right away. When he answered, I didn't wait. Don't worry. You're on

00:27:46the list too. Do you really have to do this? No doubt. Yes. No pause. You're acting so crazy,

00:27:52I don't even know you anymore. He said something that almost made me laugh again. I closed my eyes.

00:27:58Funny. I guess I never knew you at all. If I had known what he really was. How weak. How

00:28:05blind.

00:28:05How messed up inside. I never would have married him. Nate wouldn't have been compared to Liam.

00:28:11He wouldn't have been called too sensitive, too clingy, not enough. He wouldn't have had to shrink

00:28:16himself for a father who always chose someone else. And maybe, he wouldn't have died still hoping that

00:28:22man would change. Wes moved fast. The money case came through first. The court ordered Lauren to

00:28:28pay me back 1.85 million. Wes warned me. He said the divorce wouldn't be easy. I didn't have hard

00:28:34proof Gavin had physically cheated. Without that, the court said the marriage was not legally beyond

00:28:40repair. So they denied the divorce. Gavin was furious that I forced Lauren to pay. He tried to borrow money

00:28:46and cover it for her himself. I shut that down immediately. I had Wes pass the message straight

00:28:52to him. Gavin. Want to raise your mistress and her kid? Fine. Once we're divorced, do whatever you want.

00:29:00But every dollar you spent on her? That's my money. So get it back. Now. I thought he'd agree. I

00:29:08thought

00:29:08there was no way he'd let Lauren suffer if he could stop it. But I was wrong. Gavin asked to

00:29:13meet.

00:29:13I said no. Wes came back later and told me. He won't sign. He says the marriage is fine. He

00:29:20says

00:29:20you're overreacting. He says you don't get him. I almost laughed. I realized I never really knew

00:29:26Gavin. For years, he gave everything to Lauren and Liam. His time. His care. His patience. And me?

00:29:32Shorter. Colder. Meaner. Some days, he treated strangers better than his own wife. I couldn't figure it out.

00:29:39Why drag this out? Why hold on? Then I stopped trying. I was done playing nice. He wanted to drag

00:29:46this out? I'd make him beg for the divorce. The complaint letter was already in. The review was

00:29:51moving. A few days later, someone from internal review called. I said yes. They showed up in a

00:29:57group. Too many suits. Too many fake smiles. They even brought health supplements. Like that would fix

00:30:03any of this. What I didn't expect. Gavin walked in with them. One of the senior men gave me a

00:30:08grave

00:30:08little smile. Gavin has already explained the situation. He knows he made a serious mistake.

00:30:13Then he turned to Gavin. Go on. Apologize now. Gavin looked thinner. Dark circles. Hollow cheeks.

00:30:20Like grief had finally found his address. He stepped up to me. His voice was rough.

00:30:25Claire, I'm sorry. I promise this will never happen again. I stared at him. My hands were clenched so

00:30:31tight it hurt. And what good is that now? Nate is dead. Does saying sorry bring him back? You didn't

00:30:37even show up to your own son's funeral. What kind of man does that? What kind man if you bout?

00:30:43Gavin swallowed hard. For once, he didn't look calm. He wasn't steady. He looked scared. I failed

00:30:50Nate. I know that. But Liam had a cardiac episode that day. He doesn't have a dad. Lauren didn't know

00:30:55what to do. I couldn't just leave. I- I cut him off so fast he flinched. Was she the

00:31:00only person in

00:31:00the world? She's 35, Gavin. Not a kid you have to babysit. If you didn't want to come, just say

00:31:06so.

00:31:06I looked around the room. The suits. The fake smiles. The men hoping I'd make this easy.

00:31:11You all came here to talk me out of this, didn't you? You really think that sounds okay?

00:31:17Nobody answered. Because nobody could. Once I got so caught up in all this,

00:31:21I even ran paternity tests. More than once. Gavin and Liam. Never father and son. Then it hit me.

00:31:29Love someone. You take everything with them. That was Gavin. He loved Lauren so much. He treated her

00:31:34kid like a saint too. The room went stiff. Everybody looked embarrassed. Finally, one of the leaders

00:31:40cleared his throat and tried again. Claire, you gotta think this through. Gavin's one of our top guys.

00:31:46People are already talking promotions. He's got a huge future ahead. And if you push this,

00:31:52you could ruin it for him. You still think you deserve to wear that uniform?

00:31:57When you ran off with your girlfriend and grabbed Liam, did you know my son was a doorway?

00:32:02Crying for you? Saying, Daddy, it hurts over and over? If anyone else had been on that call,

00:32:08he'd still be alive. You're the only one who let this happen.

00:32:12Gavin went white. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out. Then he turned and walked out. Ran. Almost.

00:32:19I looked past the window. The sky was dark and heavy. Storm colored. Like rain was coming. The next

00:32:25day, the department called. Their decision was in. Major disciplinary mark. Demotion. Removed from

00:32:32command. By then, my body had started to heal. Enough that I could go see Nate. It had only been

00:32:38a

00:32:38month since he died. One month. But it felt like years. Time had gotten strange after him. At night,

00:32:44I still woke up from dreams of him crying. Once I was up, I couldn't go back to sleep. Every

00:32:50minute

00:32:50dragged. I brought flowers to the cemetery. When I got there, I saw I wasn't alone. Gavin was already

00:32:56there. Flowers lined Nate's grave. A superhero figure. A little cake. Candy. Snacks. I kicked them all aside.

00:33:06Claire, whatever your problem with me, take it out on me. Don't do this here. He was my son too.

00:33:11No. That's not what Liam likes. I pulled out Legos, a Rubik's Cube, and Nate's favorite spicy snacks.

00:33:18Nate hated sweets. He didn't care about superheroes. I'm sorry. I thought all boys liked this stuff.

00:33:25If you don't care, don't fake it. Doesn't this embarrass you? He could remember Liam. Not Nate.

00:33:30Not one favorite toy or snack. Indifference. I just wanted more time with him. I was busy. I didn't

00:33:37get enough time. But Nate said he wanted a different dad next life. Gavin staggered. Kneeled. He whispered.

00:33:44It felt empty. Fake. Too late. If you really feel sorry, honor his wish. Stop showing up in front

00:33:50of him. His phone rang. Lauren. He answered, face changing instantly. Gil- Claire. Lauren and Liam

00:33:57are innocent. Blame me. Not them. You're a mother too. How can you be this cruel? You wouldn't even

00:34:03leave them the house? Don't worry. I'm coming. Lauren knew Gavin had her back. Even with cash in hand,

00:34:09she refused to pay. I had Wes file for court enforcement. The property under Lauren and Liam's

00:34:14name was put up for forced sale. This morning, they were evicted. Gavin kept hovering, trying to calm

00:34:20her down, anxious and tense. I knew the truth. He wasn't sorry. Later, I remembered how he once

00:34:26risked his life to save me. He said that's the job. I asked if he was scared. Maybe it's how

00:34:31I grew up.

00:34:32His father, a firefighter, died when Gavin was 7. His mother sick. Died when he was 15. Crew and friends

00:34:39kept him alive. He grew up giving, helping, optimistic. That was the part one loved most. And the part one

00:34:46came to hate. Every time Lauren called, he answered, always softer, faster, more completely than me. I

00:34:52stayed calm at first. Then uneasy. Then furious. He never got it. You've never complained when I

00:35:00helped other people. So why are you obsessing over Lauren and Liam? I've never crossed a line with

00:35:05them. Stop making this about jealousy. Then I came back from the memory empty. I stayed with Nate for

00:35:12over an hour. Then left. Not sure if it was just my luck today. Or some cosmic joke. Later, outside

00:35:18downtown, I saw them again. Lauren on the roof ledge. Liam in her arms. Police. Firefighters. Gavin

00:35:24trying to calm her. A crowd had gathered. Cameras flashing. She saw me. Screamed.

00:35:31Claire! Will you only stop when me and my son are dead?

00:35:34My phone rang. Blocked number. Gavin borrowed someone else's phone.

00:35:39Stop. Don't push her. Whatever you need to say. Not her. Say it to me.

00:35:44I gripped the phone. Enough. Then I looked at Lauren on the ledge. At the hotel, she knew I was

00:35:49next

00:35:49door. So did Liam. We need to do in sakes there. But they's never were stunning. They knew we were

00:35:57there. But they never told you. Gavin froze just for a second. Then he said, too fast, too panicked.

00:36:05That's not possible. Lauren would never do that. She has a good heart.

00:36:09Of course. Men like him only believe what they want to. I hung up and shouted at Lauren on the

00:36:14ledge.

00:36:15You wanna jump? Then jump. Can't do it with your kid? Fine. Go by yourself.

00:36:21Cops and firefighters rushed toward me immediately. Hands raised. Voices loud. Trying to stop me. The

00:36:26crowd stared. I laughed. A megaphone appeared. Wes. He raised an eyebrow.

00:36:31Use this. Save your voice. Your brother made me promise I'd keep you in one piece.

00:36:36I took it. She's not jumping!

00:36:39She wasn't leaning, shaking, or letting go. Wes muttered about my height.

00:36:43You're too short. Then brought a chair. I stepped up. Lifted the megaphone higher.

00:36:47Since we're all watching, here's the truth. That woman up there? My husband's side swash.

00:36:52The guy behind her? My husband.

00:36:54My husband gave her 1.85 millions during our marriage.

00:36:58I sued. She refused to pay. So the court moved to sell her house.

00:37:03She doesn't want to pay. Doesn't want to lose the house.

00:37:06Today, she pulled this stunt, hoping you'd pressure me into backing down.

00:37:10Still recovering from Major Burns. My son is dead.

00:37:14And now I'm supposed to be the cruel one? Because I won't let my husband's mistress bully me in public?

00:37:19If you still think I'm the villain here, fine.

00:37:22The crowd erupted. Voices from all directions.

00:37:25Shameless!

00:37:26Arrest her!

00:37:27The wife is the real victim.

00:37:29That's outrageous!

00:37:30Wes steadied me and drove me home.

00:37:32By nightfall, the story was everywhere. Lauren had made too much noise.

00:37:36Reporters dug into the fire.

00:37:38Fire captain altered rescue order to save ex-girlfriend and her child first.

00:37:42Delay allegedly led to death of 5-year-old son and severe burns to wife.

00:37:46Dead child identified as captain's son, wife and child in room next to ex-girlfriend.

00:37:50Gavin and Lauren were dragged online.

00:37:52Lauren couldn't rent anywhere.

00:37:53Gavin's career took a hit.

00:37:55If he failed his own child, what could people trust him with?

00:37:58Gavin tried to contact me repeatedly.

00:38:00No luck.

00:38:01Finally, he hired a lawyer.

00:38:03He wanted a divorce.

00:38:05Wes handled the back and forth.

00:38:06He says Lauren panicked and forgot you and Nate were next door.

00:38:09He thinks you misjudged her.

00:38:11He's disappointed in you and wants a divorce.

00:38:13I looked at Wes.

00:38:14Tired.

00:38:15Done.

00:38:15I didn't care to untangle excuses anymore.

00:38:18Come with me.

00:38:18I want the divorce done face to face.

00:38:21Today.

00:38:22At my house.

00:38:23After Nate died, I couldn't go home.

00:38:25His shoes.

00:38:26His cups.

00:38:26His half-built toys everywhere.

00:38:28I couldn't live under the same roof as Gavin.

00:38:31But now the house was mine.

00:38:32Every memory of Nate stayed.

00:38:34Gavin would take only himself out.

00:38:36We arrived.

00:38:37Opposing counsel called.

00:38:38House not ideal.

00:38:39Moved to coffee shop.

00:38:41Fine.

00:38:41I just wanted it done.

00:38:43Since I was already there, I wanted Nate's favorite Lego set.

00:38:46I keyed the door.

00:38:47Wrong code.

00:38:48Again.

00:38:49Wrong.

00:38:49Then a voice.

00:38:50Who is it?

00:38:51My blood ran cold.

00:38:53The door opened.

00:38:54Lauren.

00:38:54Lauren was in my house.

00:38:56Wearing pajamas.

00:38:58Liam was right behind her.

00:38:59Dressed like he lived there too.

00:39:01One look past the door and I knew.

00:39:03The furniture had been moved.

00:39:05The decor was different.

00:39:07Their things were everywhere.

00:39:09They had settled in.

00:39:10But this was my house.

00:39:11My house with Gavin.

00:39:13We weren't even divorced yet.

00:39:15How the hell did he let another woman move in here with her kid?

00:39:18My blood went hot so fast my vision blurred.

00:39:21Lauren saw me and panicked.

00:39:23She tried to slam the door.

00:39:25Wes gave an annoyed click of his tongue and kicked the door back open.

00:39:29You can't go in there.

00:39:30Out of my way.

00:39:31I shoved her aside and went in.

00:39:34Then I saw the bedroom.

00:39:35Clean.

00:39:36Reset.

00:39:37Different.

00:39:38There was nothing left of Nate.

00:39:40My mind went blank.

00:39:41I turned and grabbed Lauren by the shirt.

00:39:44Where are Nate's clothes?

00:39:47His shoes?

00:39:49His toys?

00:39:50His pictures?

00:39:51Where are they?

00:39:53I was one second from falling apart.

00:39:55Lauren wouldn't look at me.

00:39:57But Liam answered for her.

00:39:59Mom said keeping dead people's stuff is creepy.

00:40:01So she threw it out.

00:40:03I screamed and grabbed a fistful of Lauren's hair.

00:40:05Then I hit her.

00:40:06Once.

00:40:07Twice.

00:40:08Twice.

00:40:08Over and over.

00:40:10She fell.

00:40:11I went down with her and kept swinging.

00:40:13I wanted to tear her apart.

00:40:15My son was already dead.

00:40:18Wasn't that enough?

00:40:19Why did she have to erase every trace of him too?

00:40:22Gavin kept saying Lauren and Liam were innocent.

00:40:25Then what about Nate?

00:40:26What about me?

00:40:27Claire!

00:40:28What the hell are you doing?

00:40:30He tried to yank me off her.

00:40:32Wes stepped in front of him.

00:40:33Let's not do that.

00:40:34Breaking up a fight between women?

00:40:36Bad look for you.

00:40:37Wes looked lean.

00:40:38But he could fight.

00:40:39He'd competed at the national level.

00:40:42Gavin couldn't get past him.

00:40:43So he did what men like him always do when they lose control.

00:40:46He called the cops.

00:40:48Lauren didn't do anything to deserve that.

00:40:50She let the last time slide.

00:40:52And now you're attacking her again?

00:40:53I know you're hurting Claire.

00:40:55But that doesn't give you the right to go after her.

00:40:58I have never met a lower man than you.

00:41:01When the police got there, I didn't say much.

00:41:04Wes had already called a lawyer who specialized in cases like this.

00:41:07Lauren's injuries were minor at best.

00:41:09A few thousand dollars, maybe.

00:41:11So I had Wes go to the nearest ATM.

00:41:14He came back with cash.

00:41:15I threw it straight at Lauren.

00:41:17There.

00:41:18You've been paid.

00:41:20Now let's talk about unlawful entry into my home.

00:41:23Lauren burst into tears.

00:41:26Gavin stepped in front of her at once.

00:41:28I gave her permission to be here.

00:41:30You seem to have forgotten something.

00:41:32I own this house.

00:41:34Gavin didn't come from money.

00:41:37You called the police, Gavin.

00:41:39You helped kill Nate.

00:41:40You let them throw away every last thing he left behind.

00:41:44Now you say I'm going too far?

00:41:47You two are the ones who crossed the line.

00:41:49You threw Nate's things away?

00:41:50I told you not to touch anything in this house.

00:41:55Everything she threw out was worth at least 50 grand.

00:41:59Unlawful entry, destruction of property, that's enough to press charges.

00:42:03I was done wasting oxygen on them.

00:42:05I turned and walked out.

00:42:07Gavin ran after me.

00:42:09For once, he looked scared.

00:42:11Claire, I'm sorry.

00:42:12I moved out after she moved in.

00:42:14I was trying to avoid any appearance of...

00:42:18You better pray I get Nate's things back.

00:42:20Because if I don't, I'll make your lives hell.

00:42:22My brother had already handled it.

00:42:25He hired a crew to dig through the landfill for Nate's things.

00:42:28Wes and I drove out there fast.

00:42:30You're still recovering, Claire.

00:42:33Go home.

00:42:34Get off your feet.

00:42:36I'll find everything.

00:42:37I swear to God I will.

00:42:39I didn't even spare him a glance.

00:42:41Wes handed me a pair of work gloves.

00:42:43I pulled them on and climbed into the mountain of trash.

00:42:45If Nate had anything left in this world, I was the one taking it home.

00:42:49Gavin just stood there, useless.

00:42:52Looking like a man who'd shown up too late and knew it.

00:42:55What exactly are we looking for?

00:42:56That almost broke me.

00:42:58Because there was a time he knew every single thing that mattered.

00:43:01When Nate was born, before Lauren came back, Gavin showed up.

00:43:05For those first three years, he was all in.

00:43:07He changed diapers, made baby food, sat on the floor for hours building block towers that

00:43:13always ended in laughter.

00:43:14When he wasn't on shift, he was all about Nate.

00:43:17People used to tell me I was the lucky one.

00:43:20They said I'd married the best man in the world.

00:43:22And Nate?

00:43:23Nate adored him.

00:43:24Then Lauren came back.

00:43:26After that, Gavin was never really home.

00:43:29He was either at the station or at her place.

00:43:31If you asked him about Liam, how tall he was, what snacks he liked, what size shoes he wore,

00:43:37he'd talk for days.

00:43:39But ask him where Nate went to preschool?

00:43:41Silence.

00:43:42Ask him which toy Nate couldn't sleep without.

00:43:45Blank.

00:43:46It was over a hundred out.

00:43:48The stink from the landfill hit like a wall.

00:43:51I kept digging.

00:43:52I didn't say a word.

00:43:54At one point, Gavin had to ask the crew what Nate's things even looked like.

00:43:58They had to show him pictures.

00:44:00That told me everything.

00:44:01He wasn't there for my son.

00:44:03He was there to quiet his own guilt.

00:44:05By early afternoon, the heat took him down.

00:44:09He collapsed right there in the middle of the trash.

00:44:12EMS had to take him out.

00:44:13Later, after they got him stable, he came back.

00:44:17Still pale.

00:44:18Still shaky.

00:44:19Still digging.

00:44:20Claire, Lauren wants to make a deal.

00:44:22She'll pay for all of it.

00:44:23She just doesn't want criminal exposure.

00:44:25Tell her this.

00:44:26If she wants mercy, she can start by saying my son's name in public.

00:44:30She can stand in front of every camera she's been dodging and admit what she did.

00:44:34She can do it at his memorial, and she can stay there until every last thing that belonged to him

00:44:38is found.

00:44:38If she agrees, I won't do anything to keep this in the headlines.

00:44:41Her lawyer can take the rest up with the DA.

00:44:44Lauren crossed a line this time.

00:44:47What she did was wrong.

00:44:49But she didn't mean...

00:44:52You can stand right beside them.

00:44:53You go with them.

00:44:54Or she goes to jail.

00:44:56As for Nate's things, I didn't need Gavin.

00:44:58He'd already missed the last two years of my son's life.

00:45:01And now Nate didn't need him anymore either.

00:45:04I shoved past him and kept digging.

00:45:06For the next two days, Wes kept me updated.

00:45:10I meant every word I said.

00:45:12If they did what I told them to do, they were staying there.

00:45:15Day and night.

00:45:16Whether their bodies could take it?

00:45:18Not my problem.

00:45:20It wasn't even a fraction of what my boy went through.

00:45:23It took two full days to find everything.

00:45:25When the last box was finally pulled out, my knees nearly buckled.

00:45:29I held it in my arms, filthy, stinking, covered in ash and rot.

00:45:33I cried so hard I could barely see.

00:45:35Come on.

00:45:37Let's go home.

00:45:38Nate would hate seeing you like this.

00:45:40When I got back to the house, I wanted to throw up.

00:45:43Everything Lauren had touched felt contaminated.

00:45:46I hired a crew on the spot.

00:45:48I told them to haul every single thing they'd brought into that house out to the curb.

00:45:52The furniture.

00:45:54The decor.

00:45:55The kitchen junk.

00:45:56All of it.

00:45:57Anything that smelled like them.

00:45:59They'd been out there for two days and two nights.

00:46:02Gavin too.

00:46:03Lauren saw her things being hauled out and almost lost it.

00:46:06How?

00:46:07How could you do this?

00:46:10Gavin, do something!

00:46:11Her voice bored straight into my skull.

00:46:14I grabbed a framed photo and hurled it at her.

00:46:16It shattered right by her feet.

00:46:17In this city, money buys more than just silence.

00:46:21It buys me the pleasure of watching you crawl.

00:46:24And I've got very deep pockets.

00:46:27She just stood there, teary-eyed, looking at Gavin like he was going to save her.

00:46:34We did what you asked.

00:46:36You can drop the case now.

00:46:38Right?

00:46:39Of course.

00:46:41But Gavin?

00:46:43I changed my mind.

00:46:45I'm not divorcing you.

00:46:47Not yet.

00:46:48I'm going to drag this out for as long as I can.

00:46:51And I'm going to make sure all three of you know what it feels like to live inside a nightmare.

00:46:55I had their things thrown out.

00:46:58Gavin's, too.

00:46:59Clothes.

00:47:00Shoes.

00:47:01Tools.

00:47:01Every last trace of him.

00:47:03Then I changed the door code.

00:47:05Before he could speak, I hit him where it hurt.

00:47:08You borrowed 200 grand from me, and you promised to pay it back.

00:47:12You were ready to chop up nearly 2 million for Lauren.

00:47:15So don't even think about dragging your feet.

00:47:18You were payment successful!

00:47:20He transferred the money.

00:47:22Every cent he had.

00:47:24Then he tried one last time.

00:47:26You can hate me, Claire.

00:47:27I deserve it.

00:47:28But Lauren and Lemus, all they did was take the help I offered.

00:47:32They didn't do anything wrong.

00:47:33There it was again.

00:47:34The same blind spot that killed my son.

00:47:37I walked inside and slammed the door in his face.

00:47:39Hard.

00:47:40Wes was waiting.

00:47:42The reporters still want that interview about the fire.

00:47:44You want me to cancel?

00:47:45No.

00:47:46Let him come.

00:47:47I'd spent weeks covering for him.

00:47:49Staying quiet while people online came up with excuses for why he wasn't there.

00:47:53Where's Nate's grave?

00:47:55While he was alive, you barely acted like a father.

00:47:57Now that he's dead, don't you dare taint his rest.

00:48:01I will never let you see him again.

00:48:03I'm sorry.

00:48:04I swear I didn't mean to.

00:48:07Don't break yet.

00:48:09We're just getting started.

00:48:10That afternoon, the reporters came.

00:48:13I sat in front of the cameras.

00:48:14He knew exactly where we were.

00:48:16He just chose to stop listening.

00:48:19But he had blocked me.

00:48:20He wouldn't answer my calls or my sons because he was busy.

00:48:26Busy with work, with Lauren and with her son.

00:48:31He didn't want us bothering him.

00:48:37When he pulled them out, he walked right past our door.

00:48:45My boy, Nate, was screaming for his dad.

00:48:49He marked that floor clear while my son was still inside.

00:48:52He didn't make a mistake.

00:48:54He made a choice.

00:48:56And that choice killed my son.

00:49:08The video exploded.

00:49:12The department put him on leave first.

00:49:14Then the investigation started.

00:49:16By the end of the week, his position, his reputation, his future there, gone.

00:49:21I pulled every mutual contact into one group chat.

00:49:24This is Claire, Gavin's wife.

00:49:26If he asks for money, it's for Lauren Blake.

00:49:29I am no longer his safety net.

00:49:32He has no savings, no assets, and now, no future.

00:49:36I was done paying for the other woman.

00:49:38People backed off.

00:49:40Fast.

00:49:41Whenever they moved, I found them.

00:49:43And once I did, they got the message.

00:49:46Filth at the door.

00:49:48Funeral flowers.

00:49:49Red words across the walls.

00:49:50Rotten food.

00:49:52Public shame.

00:49:53Fear.

00:49:54Everywhere they went, it followed.

00:49:56Grief had hollowed me out and left something mean in its place.

00:50:00By then, I wasn't trying to be good.

00:50:02I was trying to make them hurt.

00:50:04I knew what I was becoming.

00:50:06I just didn't care.

00:50:08Rotten hell.

00:50:09You home-wrecking bitch.

00:50:10A life for a life.

00:50:12Watch your son pay for your sins.

00:50:14Gavin, can you feel his eyes on you?

00:50:16They called the cops.

00:50:18I didn't care.

00:50:19As long as I had resources, they were never going to outrun the consequences.

00:50:23If they moved, I followed.

00:50:25New house.

00:50:26Same nightmare.

00:50:27Every week, Wes gathered the proof.

00:50:29Every cent Gavin spent on them, we filed to claw back.

00:50:32If Lauren didn't have cash, we took her car.

00:50:35We froze her accounts.

00:50:37Gavin used to say I was going after her.

00:50:39That I was being cruel.

00:50:41Fine.

00:50:42He hadn't seen cruel yet.

00:50:44Wes usually handled the big fish.

00:50:46Cases worth hundreds of millions.

00:50:48Now, he was spending his days tearing my marriage apart.

00:50:52One filing at a time.

00:50:53It felt like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

00:50:56Your brother and his wife, they're still torn up about Nate.

00:51:01They feel like they failed him.

00:51:03They told me, don't let anyone pick on Claire again.

00:51:06If I even think about walking away, they'll have my head.

00:51:10Besides, big law is exhausting.

00:51:12Helping you tear these two down?

00:51:14It's the most fun I've had in years.

00:51:16One month.

00:51:17That's all it took for Lauren to break.

00:51:19Her son's condition got worse with every scare.

00:51:22The ER visits piled up.

00:51:24She couldn't even pay the bills.

00:51:26Liam was a child.

00:51:27I knew that.

00:51:28I just didn't have mercy left for anyone connected to her.

00:51:32Gavin showed up at my door.

00:51:34He looked at me like I was the monster.

00:51:38Do you have any idea what you're doing?

00:51:40You keep pushing like this, Claire.

00:51:43And you're gonna have blood on your hands.

00:51:45Is that what you want?

00:51:49Why would I be scared, Gavin?

00:51:51Because if someone dies, Claire, that's it.

00:51:56You're looking at prison time.

00:51:58Real time.

00:51:59Then I'll just go.

00:52:03Nate is gone.

00:52:05What's the difference to me now?

00:52:07Let's be real.

00:52:08All I did was lean on Lauren.

00:52:11If something happens to her kid, that's on her.

00:52:14Maybe one day I pay for how far I've gone.

00:52:16At that point, I didn't care.

00:52:19But if that buys you and Lauren a lifetime of pure hell, totally worth it.

00:52:26Claire, how could you do this to me?

00:52:28You made me.

00:52:29You made me.

00:52:30That was the God-honest truth.

00:52:32He helped kill my son.

00:52:34I was stuck in a hole I couldn't climb out of.

00:52:37So why should he and Lauren get to find peace?

00:52:39Why do they get to sleep?

00:52:41Why do they get to eat and breathe and have a life?

00:52:44Gavin opened his mouth to speak.

00:52:46Nothing.

00:52:48Just that same hollow, pathetic look.

00:52:50When he finally turned to go, he looked heavy.

00:52:53Like every step was a goddamn chore.

00:53:01I wanna see you.

00:53:04Fine.

00:53:05The coffee shop then.

00:53:06When she walked in, she looked old.

00:53:09Not years damaged.i.

00:53:10Like life had just worn her face down.

00:53:13The second she saw me, her eyes turned sharp.

00:53:15Pure hate.

00:53:19You know, I really did envy you.

00:53:22I didn't say a word.

00:53:24I just let her keep digging her own grave.

00:53:27You had everything I didn't.

00:53:28The money.

00:53:30The family.

00:53:31The kind of life that always has a safety net.

00:53:34I had none of that.

00:53:36You were born with a silver spoon, Claire.

00:53:38I had to scratch and claw for every scrap of attention Gervin gave me.

00:53:45I'm not here for the sob story, Lauren.

00:53:47That shut her up.

00:53:49For a second, anyway.

00:53:51See, that's the thing.

00:53:53Her parents might have been monsters.

00:53:55But that had nothing to do with me.

00:53:57I wasn't Gavin.

00:53:59She wasn't going to cry and watch me fold.

00:54:03I've been holding this in a long time.

00:54:06I've loved Gavin since middle school.

00:54:08Even after my divorce, I thought he'd hate me for marrying someone else.

00:54:14But he was so damn good to me.

00:54:16And I started thinking, maybe he still loved me too.

00:54:24Sometimes I'd say things, little things, just to set you off, just to see what happened.

00:54:31And when he'd get pissed at you, get pissed at you, because of me, because of Liam, God,

00:54:37that felt good.

00:54:38Look, Claire, Gavin never actually cheated.

00:54:42He just felt sorry for me.

00:54:44That's it.

00:54:45I tried.

00:54:47God, I tried.

00:54:47But he never let it happen.

00:54:52We've both paid enough now.

00:54:53I'm leaving town.

00:54:58So, stop.

00:54:59Just stop going after him.

00:55:02He's hurting too, Claire.

00:55:04After what happened to the kid, he's suffering.

00:55:07She kept talking.

00:55:09And talking.

00:55:10Confessional garbage.

00:55:11I didn't say a word.

00:55:13I just flipped my phone.

00:55:15Then, ding.

00:55:17Her screen lit up.

00:55:21Did you really think a few soft words would save you?

00:55:24You don't get to torture me and my son for two years?

00:55:28Then sit for coffee and ask for grace?

00:55:30She went ghost white.

00:55:32Her knees gave out.

00:55:33She hit the floor.

00:55:35I didn't help her.

00:55:36I didn't even look back.

00:55:38I just walked out.

00:55:40She made my son's life hell for two years.

00:55:42Fine.

00:55:43Now she can live inside my revenge for two.

00:55:46If the stress wrecks her kid?

00:55:48If she never sleeps again?

00:55:50Not my problem.

00:55:51What would Gavin do when he saw it?

00:55:53I got my answer sooner than I thought.

00:55:55Both of them were catching hell for weeks.

00:55:58No sleep.

00:55:59Harassment.

00:56:00What the problem is?

00:56:01Runs for Liam.

00:56:02You're damn right against me!

00:56:02Lawyers.

00:56:03Pressure.

00:56:04Gavin looked wrecked.

00:56:05He didn't just look tired.

00:56:07He looked used up.

00:56:09He smelled like whiskey.

00:56:11Bloodshot eyes.

00:56:17Claire.

00:56:19Claire, listen to me.

00:56:20I swear.

00:56:21I didn't know Lauren felt that way.

00:56:23I didn't know.

00:56:24I just thought your brother had your back.

00:56:27Your friends were there.

00:56:28You were the strong one.

00:56:29And she had nobody.

00:56:30Her parents used her.

00:56:31She had nothing.

00:56:32No one.

00:56:33I thought she needed the help more.

00:56:36That's all it was.

00:56:38I swear.

00:56:40I never loved her.

00:56:42I never betrayed you.

00:56:43I crossed lines.

00:56:44I messed up.

00:56:45I know that now.

00:56:47But I never slept with her.

00:56:48I never touched her.

00:56:50From now on, she's dead to me.

00:56:52Cut off.

00:56:53Completely.

00:56:53I'll do whatever you want, Claire.

00:56:55Anything.

00:56:56Please.

00:56:56Just one more chance.

00:56:58From the day we met, Gavin was the center of my universe.

00:57:02I was the one giving.

00:57:03He was always the one in control.

00:57:05But this?

00:57:06This was the first time I'd seen him this low.

00:57:09This desperate.

00:57:10This small.

00:57:12Okay.

00:57:14What did you say?

00:57:15She said okay, man.

00:57:16If you're hearing shots, see a specialist.

00:57:18You're too young for this.

00:57:20I'm dying of thirst, by the way.

00:57:22You gonna let me in for a drink or what?

00:57:24Come on in.

00:57:25I walked in right beside him.

00:57:27Gavin followed us fast.

00:57:28His hands were shaking as he poured the water.

00:57:31It was only two in the afternoon.

00:57:33I took a sip and set the glass down.

00:57:35Wes has been helping me nonstop.

00:57:37He's staying the night.

00:57:39You're a good cook, aren't you?

00:57:40Then cook?

00:57:41Depends.

00:57:42Does the husband mind?

00:57:44No.

00:57:45Fridge is empty.

00:57:46Can you grab some groceries?

00:57:48And Wes and I need some private time to unwind.

00:57:51I bought those ties for you.

00:57:53And the cufflinks.

00:57:54They should be here in a day or two.

00:57:57Usually that's girlfriend territory.

00:58:01Ties and cufflinks.

00:58:03You sending a message, Claire?

00:58:04You're my brother's best friend.

00:58:06You're family.

00:58:07Didn't you say you had a headache?

00:58:08You look exhausted.

00:58:10Lean back.

00:58:11It's easier this way.

00:58:14Your husband's standing right there.

00:58:15So?

00:58:16If you've got a dirty mind, Gavin, that's your cross to carry.

00:58:19Don't project your filth on us.

00:58:20Gavin just stood there.

00:58:22Watching.

00:58:23Still.

00:58:24Silent.

00:58:25His face was a wreck, flickering between shock, pain, and pure jealousy.

00:58:30He looked exactly the way I used to look.

00:58:34If you don't want to make dinner, just say it.

00:58:39Wes and I can just head out.

00:58:40We can afford it.

00:58:41No.

00:58:42It's fine.

00:58:43I'll go.

00:58:45Between the store and the stove, he was gone four hours.

00:58:48By the time he came back, Wes and I were in the living room, laughing over some messy

00:58:53divorce case he'd handled.

00:58:54Gavin brought the food out like it was glass.

00:58:57Everything looked perfect.

00:58:59Too bland.

00:59:00Wes won't like this.

00:59:01We're going out.

00:59:03I didn't even look at the expression on his face.

00:59:05I just grabbed Wes's arm and walked out.

00:59:07Like Gavin wasn't even in the room.

00:59:10We didn't get back until late.

00:59:12The house was spotless.

00:59:13Clean counters.

00:59:15Folded blankets.

00:59:16Dishes done.

00:59:18For a split second, it felt like the start of our marriage.

00:59:21Back when Gavin made everything feel safe.

00:59:24I killed the thought.

00:59:25It's late.

00:59:26Just crash here tonight, Wes.

00:59:28Look at you.

00:59:29All grown up.

00:59:30Taking care of people.

00:59:32You take such good care of me, Wes.

00:59:35Someone's got to appreciate you, right?

00:59:37And you know I always look after my favorites.

00:59:41Claire!

00:59:41Are you doing this to get back at me?

00:59:43Get back at you?

00:59:45Hilarious.

00:59:45He's staying because driving late sucks.

00:59:48Why are you making it weird?

00:59:50Come on.

00:59:50You're finishing the show with me.

00:59:52Gavin never watched anything but the news.

00:59:54I'd try to tell him about a series I loved.

00:59:57He'd just nod.

00:59:59Uh-huh.

01:00:00Never heard a word.

01:00:01Wes was different.

01:00:03He lived for the drama.

01:00:04Half his job was divorce law, and he always had a story that topped the script.

01:00:08We sat there for hours, laughing, talking, completely tuned in.

01:00:13Gavin tried to jump in once or twice.

01:00:16Nobody bit.

01:00:17He just sat there.

01:00:18Getting quieter.

01:00:20Smaller.

01:00:21By midnight, he gave up and went to the master bedroom.

01:00:24Alone.

01:00:25I waited a few minutes.

01:00:27Then I went to my room, changed, and came back out in silk.

01:00:31Gavin was still awake.

01:00:32The second he saw me, he flinched.

01:00:35Where are you going?

01:00:37Wes is taking the guest room.

01:00:39He's had a long day.

01:00:40Don't make it ugly just because that's where your mind goes.

01:00:42You're going in there dressed like that?

01:00:44He's a man for God's sake.

01:00:46You really think this is appropriate?

01:00:48Gavin, we're practically siblings.

01:00:50Don't make it weird just because your mind goes there.

01:00:52Everything I did that day, I'd already lived through the original version.

01:00:56He'd said those exact words to me.

01:00:58About Lauren, boundaries, my crazy jealousy.

01:01:01About how gross it was that I'd even think such a thing.

01:01:05I was just returning the favor.

01:01:07That wasn't cruelty.

01:01:09That was consequence.

01:01:10Honestly?

01:01:11I thought Gavin would last longer.

01:01:13A month, maybe two.

01:01:15He was always too stubborn, too proud to break.

01:01:18But it only took two days.

01:01:21Two days.

01:01:22That was it.

01:01:23He showed up with the divorce papers.

01:01:25Dark circles under his eyes.

01:01:27No sleep.

01:01:28No fight left.

01:01:29He looked like absolute hell.

01:01:32He held the papers out, his hand trembling slightly.

01:01:35He said sorry.

01:01:36Then he stopped.

01:01:37Because the rest of the words just wouldn't come.

01:01:40For years, he acted like as long as he didn't sleep with her, he was a saint.

01:01:45Like I was being dramatic.

01:01:47Like Nate and I were just too much.

01:01:49Too needy.

01:01:50He thought all his choices lived on the right side of the line.

01:01:53Now?

01:01:54He couldn't even say the words.

01:01:56Good.

01:01:56At least shame finally caught up with him.

01:01:59I looked over the papers.

01:02:01He was giving me everything.

01:02:03No fight over the assets.

01:02:05No claim on the house.

01:02:07Nothing.

01:02:08I signed.

01:02:09Fast.

01:02:10Clean.

01:02:11No second thoughts.

01:02:12We filed, waited the mandatory days, and finalized it.

01:02:16Just like that.

01:02:18I was free.

01:02:19Gavin used to be a guy who never touched a drop.

01:02:22Now?

01:02:22He drank like it was his job.

01:02:24Every single night.

01:02:26He looked wrecked.

01:02:27Nothing like the man I married.

01:02:29After the ink dried, he told me he was quitting the department.

01:02:33Said he was heading out to some rural district to teach.

01:02:36He called it doing something for Nate.

01:02:38Trying to balance the scales, I guess.

01:02:41He said he was leaving the next day.

01:02:43From the second I met him, fire defined us.

01:02:46He saved my life in one.

01:02:48Then he took my son in another.

01:02:50Fire was what made me love him.

01:02:52It was also what took everything from me.

01:02:54Now the revenge was done.

01:02:56I won, if that word even means anything in a story like this.

01:03:00And still.

01:03:01Looking at him, all hollow and half gone.

01:03:03I didn't feel a thing.

01:03:05Not satisfied.

01:03:07Not even a little.

01:03:08Just heavy.

01:03:09Because once, before the world broke, we were real.

01:03:13A real family.

01:03:14A real life.

01:03:15A real love.

01:03:16I didn't say any of that.

01:03:19I just turned around and got in the car.

01:03:21Lauren and Liam?

01:03:23The world hounded them for a long time.

01:03:25Their life turned ugly.

01:03:27Small.

01:03:28Hard.

01:03:29Gavin went off to the middle of nowhere, living on pennies.

01:03:32Later, I heard he tried to help some woman out there.

01:03:35She'd been trafficked into a forced marriage.

01:03:38The locals beat him so bad they snapped his leg.

01:03:41The woman got out, eventually.

01:03:43Gavin had to leave and start over again somewhere else.

01:03:46Everyone who hurt Nate paid for it, one way or another.

01:03:49But it didn't lift the weight.

01:03:51His death stayed in me.

01:03:53Heavy.

01:03:54Permanent.

01:03:55I couldn't sleep.

01:03:57Couldn't focus.

01:03:58So I started volunteering.

01:04:00Charities.

01:04:01Shelters.

01:04:02Disaster relief.

01:04:04Anything to keep moving.

01:04:06Sometimes, helping someone else gave me a second to breathe.

01:04:09A moment where the emptiness didn't swallow me whole.

01:04:12Maybe one day, I'll be able to put Nate down gently in my heart.

01:04:16Instead of carrying him like an open wound.

01:04:19Maybe one day, I'll have a life that isn't just grief.

01:04:22I'm not there yet.

01:04:23But maybe one day.

01:04:25Saving Claire was an accident.

01:04:27Meeting her?

01:04:28An accident, too.

01:04:30She was gorgeous.

01:04:31Sharp.

01:04:32Warm without even trying.

01:04:34The kind of woman people notice the second she walks into a room.

01:04:38I never meant to get close.

01:04:39A girl like that?

01:04:41From a family like hers?

01:04:42She wasn't supposed to be for a guy like me.

01:04:45I was just a guy in a uniform with a hero complex and an empty bank account.

01:04:50No money.

01:04:51No family.

01:04:52No safety net.

01:04:53Even Lauren's family, and they were regular people, thought I wasn't good enough.

01:04:58So a woman like Claire?

01:04:59No shot.

01:05:01That's what I told myself.

01:05:02Didn't matter.

01:05:03The more time I spent with her, the harder it got to stay away.

01:05:07Lauren and I, we'd been together forever.

01:05:10Years.

01:05:11What we had was real.

01:05:12But she used to say the same thing, over and over.

01:05:16Save more.

01:05:17Think about us.

01:05:18Stop giving your money away.

01:05:20She wasn't wrong.

01:05:21There are too many people in this world who need help.

01:05:24You can't save them all.

01:05:25You just end up broke and alone.

01:05:27But after my dad died, people carried us.

01:05:30When I was 15, my mom died, too.

01:05:33After that, everything I had came from the kindness of strangers.

01:05:37Food.

01:05:38Clothes.

01:05:39A place to sleep.

01:05:40People just stepped in.

01:05:42Did right by me.

01:05:43Asked for nothing.

01:05:44My mom used to tell me.

01:05:46You're a kid right now.

01:05:47Your job is to study.

01:05:49But when you're grown, you give back.

01:05:52That's how you honor the people who kept us alive.

01:05:54So that stuck.

01:05:56When I got older, when I finally had a job and some skin in the game,

01:06:00helping people didn't feel optional.

01:06:03It felt like a debt.

01:06:04I tried to ignore it.

01:06:06Tried walking away.

01:06:07But I couldn't do it.

01:06:09If I knew someone was hurting and I turned my back, I wouldn't sleep that night.

01:06:13Later, Lauren's family made demands I couldn't even touch.

01:06:17Money I didn't have.

01:06:18That was the end for us.

01:06:20I figured that was the lesson.

01:06:22Maybe a man like me wasn't built for marriage.

01:06:24Maybe I was never going to be enough for it.

01:06:27And then, Claire showed up.

01:06:29She started coming with me.

01:06:31Helping kids who couldn't even afford a backpack for school.

01:06:34Dropping off groceries to seniors living all by themselves.

01:06:38Writing checks for people drowning in medical bills.

01:06:41The longer I knew her, the worse it got.

01:06:43I wanted her.

01:06:45Bad.

01:06:45But I also knew I didn't belong in her world.

01:06:48Not in a million years.

01:06:50So before we got in too deep, I laid it all out.

01:06:53My family.

01:06:54My past.

01:06:55The fact that I gave away half of every paycheck.

01:06:58And the fact that I probably always would.

01:07:01I thought that would be.

01:07:02The catch.

01:07:03I thought she'd finally see the real me.

01:07:05The guy with nothing.

01:07:06And walk.

01:07:07Instead, her eyes lit up.

01:07:09Like I just told her she'd won the lottery.

01:07:12Do you know how rare that is, Gavin?

01:07:14Most people can't see past their own front door anymore.

01:07:18How is that a flaw?

01:07:20My family has money.

01:07:22I'm doing fine on my own.

01:07:24So go help people.

01:07:25I'm not stopping you.

01:07:27Claire's parents were already gone.

01:07:29It was just her brother and his wife.

01:07:31They weren't exactly thrilled about me.

01:07:33I got it.

01:07:34But they loved her.

01:07:35And they respected her enough to let her choose.

01:07:38So we got married.

01:07:39And for a while, it felt like a dream.

01:07:42Like I'd somehow slipped into someone else's life by mistake.

01:07:46I married the woman I loved.

01:07:48She believed in me.

01:07:49She backed me.

01:07:50She saw me as a hero.

01:07:52Even when I felt like a ghost.

01:07:54I didn't know what to do with that much happiness.

01:07:56So I did the only thing I knew.

01:07:59I tried to earn it.

01:08:00I worked.

01:08:01I cooked.

01:08:02I cleaned.

01:08:03I handled every little detail at home.

01:08:05If I wasn't on shift, I was with her.

01:08:08I figured if I loved her hard enough.

01:08:10If I just showed up and carried the weight.

01:08:13Maybe I could become the kind of man she deserved.

01:08:16Then Nate came.

01:08:17And for a little while, life got even better.

01:08:20Just the three of us.

01:08:21Quiet mornings in our tiny apartment.

01:08:24Late night feedings.

01:08:25Baby toys scattered everywhere.

01:08:27That was happiness.

01:08:29Real, bone deep happiness.

01:08:31But it didn't stay simple.

01:08:32The first couple of years were good.

01:08:34And then the shift started.

01:08:36Little things at first.

01:08:38People cracked jokes.

01:08:39Friends.

01:08:40Co-workers.

01:08:41The guys down at the station.

01:08:43They'd see me helping someone or hear where my paycheck went.

01:08:46And just laugh.

01:08:48So, all your cash just goes out the door, huh?

01:08:51Guess it's easy when your wife's loaded.

01:08:54Must be nice.

01:08:55The wife bought the cars.

01:08:56The whole setup.

01:08:57No pressure.

01:08:59Man, I'd do community service too if I'm married as well as Gavin.

01:09:02They laughed.

01:09:03I laughed too.

01:09:05Sometimes.

01:09:06But those comments, they stuck.

01:09:08Not all at once.

01:09:09Just bit by bit.

01:09:11Like sand in a shoe.

01:09:12Everyone meant it as a joke.

01:09:14But after a while, something started to turn inside me.

01:09:18I'd come home to Claire and I could feel it.

01:09:20This weird edge.

01:09:22Something ugly I didn't want to name.

01:09:24Sometimes I'd be trying to figure out how to help someone.

01:09:27How to cover a bill.

01:09:28And I'd realize I was short.

01:09:30Claire would just smile.

01:09:32Are you really stressing over that, Gavin?

01:09:34If you need the cash, just ask me.

01:09:37I've got it.

01:09:38She meant it.

01:09:39At first, I loved that.

01:09:41That generosity.

01:09:42That ease.

01:09:43That total.

01:09:44Unshakable faith in me.

01:09:46But later, it started landing differently.

01:09:49It felt harder.

01:09:50Like every time she solved a problem I couldn't solve myself.

01:09:54I shrank.

01:09:55I got a little smaller.

01:09:57And then, there was her family.

01:09:59Especially her brother.

01:10:00Every time I went over there, it was only a matter of time.

01:10:04He'd pull me aside.

01:10:06I get it.

01:10:07You want to save the world.

01:10:08That's great, Gavin.

01:10:09But even people like us can't save everyone.

01:10:12And you?

01:10:13You're not us.

01:10:15You're just a firefighter.

01:10:18A man living in a house he didn't pay for.

01:10:20You have a wife.

01:10:22A kid.

01:10:23Start thinking about your own for once.

01:10:26You can't keep leaning on Claire forever.

01:10:28Other people had said it, but from her brother, it burned.

01:10:32Because some part of me knew he was right.

01:10:34I tried to stop.

01:10:36Tried to look away when people were hurting.

01:10:38I couldn't do it.

01:10:39At night, I'd just stare at the ceiling, feeling like I was rotting from the inside out.

01:10:44So I tried to fix it.

01:10:46Make more money.

01:10:48Be more useful.

01:10:49Be enough.

01:10:50But I was just a firefighter.

01:10:52That was it.

01:10:53I still came home.

01:10:54I still cooked her favorites.

01:10:56Still cleaned.

01:10:57From the outside, I'd probably looked the same.

01:11:00Inside, I was gone.

01:11:02By the time Nate turned three, I was coming apart at the seams.

01:11:06And then, Lauren came back.

01:11:08She showed up bruised and shaking, holding Liam.

01:11:11Everything in me snapped to attention.

01:11:13Claire was beautiful.

01:11:15Strong.

01:11:16Successful.

01:11:17She could solve anything.

01:11:18She didn't need me.

01:11:20Not really.

01:11:20But Lauren?

01:11:21She was a wreck.

01:11:23She cried.

01:11:24She froze up.

01:11:25She needed help with every little thing.

01:11:27And the sick part?

01:11:29Being needed felt good.

01:11:30I got used to being needed by her.

01:11:32Then I started needing it.

01:11:33The pressure in my chest started to ease.

01:11:36The shame faded.

01:11:37The feeling of being useless.

01:11:39It just went away.

01:11:41And Claire got angry.

01:11:42At the time,

01:11:43I honestly didn't get it.

01:11:45I told myself I was just being me.

01:11:47Just helping people.

01:11:49I told her again and again.

01:11:51I'm not cheating.

01:11:52I haven't crossed any lines.

01:11:54I knew Lauren was trying.

01:11:56The looks.

01:11:57The timing.

01:11:57The touches that lasted a second too long.

01:12:00But I told myself it didn't count if I didn't pull the trigger.

01:12:04As long as I didn't sleep with her, I was clean.

01:12:07I didn't understand then that you can betray your family without ever touching another woman.

01:12:11I lived inside that delusion for two years.

01:12:14While my family slowly bled out.

01:12:16Then Nate died.

01:12:17And Claire just broke open.

01:12:20Maybe she had let too much slide for too long.

01:12:23Maybe I had just gotten too used to being forgiven.

01:12:26Because when she finally blew up, I understood something way too late.

01:12:30You don't have to cheat to tear a family apart.

01:12:33I knew Nate died because of me.

01:12:35After that, the nightmares came every night.

01:12:37But even then, some sick part of me thought we could survive it.

01:12:41That if I just stayed.

01:12:43If I apologized.

01:12:45If I suffered enough.

01:12:46Maybe.

01:12:47Then I watched her in that house with Wes.

01:12:49Two days.

01:12:50That was all it took for me to feel like I was losing my mind.

01:12:54And then it hit me.

01:12:55Pain doesn't care about your excuses.

01:12:58Or your reasons.

01:12:59Or what you say you didn't do.

01:13:01I finally understood what I'd put her through.

01:13:04Every single day.

01:13:05For two damn years.

01:13:06By then, it was already over.

01:13:09Nothing I said mattered.

01:13:10Nothing I gave up mattered.

01:13:12Not even how much I hated myself for all of it.

01:13:15I lost my boy.

01:13:17And Claire.

01:13:17I'd lost her too.

01:13:19After that.

01:13:20I couldn't look at fire the same way.

01:13:22Every flame turned into that hallway.

01:13:24That door.

01:13:25I could still hear his voice.

01:13:27Dad!

01:13:28I still hear it.

01:13:29I started freezing up on calls.

01:13:32Every time I smelled smoke.

01:13:33Every time I felt the heat.

01:13:35I just stopped.

01:13:36So I quit.

01:13:37I wanted to do something for Nate.

01:13:39So I tried to pay a blood debt with community service.

01:13:43Thought if I saved enough strangers.

01:13:45The universe would forgive me for the one person I actually owed.

01:13:49In the 10th year.

01:13:50I tried to get a woman out of a forced marriage.

01:13:53The men there didn't like that one bit.

01:13:55They beat me so badly my leg broke in three places.

01:13:58I don't regret helping her.

01:14:00Not for a second.

01:14:01I only regret.

01:14:02I spent my whole life saving strangers.

01:14:05And I still couldn't save my own son.

01:14:07I couldn't save my marriage.

01:14:09I heard Claire stayed on Lauren and Liam for two years before finally backing off.

01:14:14Later, Lauren got involved with another guy.

01:14:16His wife found out.

01:14:18Things turned ugly.

01:14:19Liam got so scared his heart just gave out.

01:14:22Right there in the hospital.

01:14:24He didn't make it.

01:14:25Lauren lost the house, the money, and eventually, her mind.

01:14:29She ended up exactly where she started.

01:14:32Screaming at a world that no longer cared if she existed.

01:14:36In the 11th year.

01:14:37I heard Claire was getting married again.

01:14:39Not to Wes.

01:14:41Some guy I'd never met.

01:14:42I took two weeks off and just started moving.

01:14:45Bus.

01:14:46Train.

01:14:47Whatever was headed her way.

01:14:4958 hours straight just to get back to the city.

01:14:51I told myself I just wanted to give her my blessing.

01:14:55To wish her well.

01:14:56That was true.

01:14:57Mostly.

01:14:57Maybe another part of me just wanted to see her in the light one last time.

01:15:02I got lucky.

01:15:03I saw her almost the second I hit town.

01:15:06She was outside.

01:15:07Laughing with a man in a dark coat.

01:15:09He was handsome.

01:15:11Put together.

01:15:12Easy.

01:15:12He looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered in the room.

01:15:16No hesitation.

01:15:17No divided loyalty.

01:15:19He was the man I was supposed to be before I traded my soul for a hero complex.

01:15:24He reached out and tapped the tip of her nose.

01:15:26She smiled up at him.

01:15:28And the look in his eyes.

01:15:30It was soft.

01:15:31Warm.

01:15:32Full.

01:15:33The kind of look I should have given her.

01:15:35Claire!

01:15:36I shouted her name.

01:15:37But I was too far away.

01:15:39She didn't hear me.

01:15:40She got into the car with him.

01:15:42I started after them.

01:15:44Fast as I could.

01:15:45I never hated my bad leg more than I did in that moment.

01:15:49Then a car cut across the street.

01:15:51Way too fast.

01:15:52I didn't even see it coming.

01:15:54Just the impact.

01:15:55The ground came up hard.

01:15:57Pain everywhere.

01:15:58White hot and blinding.

01:16:00Then, the sound of something small skidding away.

01:16:03The ring box.

01:16:04It rolled right out of my hand and into the gutter.

01:16:07I'd saved for ten years to buy that ring.

01:16:09The one I should have given her the first time.

01:16:12The one she was never, ever going to wear.

01:16:14I reached for it.

01:16:16Couldn't move.

01:16:17I couldn't feel my hand and my leg.

01:16:19Blood filled my mouth.

01:16:21Everything just stopped.

01:16:23She'll never know about the ring.

01:16:25She'll never know I finally tried to be the man she deserved.

01:16:28Through the blur, I watched her car keep going.

01:16:31Smaller.

01:16:32Farther.

01:16:33Gone.

01:16:33And for the first time, I felt it in my bones.

01:16:37That horrible ache.

01:16:38That awful longing.

01:16:40That desperate need to do something.

01:16:42When Claire begged me in that fire.

01:16:43When Nate called out for me.

01:16:45Is this what it felt like?

01:16:47I coughed and tasted copper.

01:16:49The sky started to bleed into black.

01:16:52Nate.

01:16:52Then, a whisper.

01:16:54Claire.

01:16:54Maybe I'm finally going to see my boy again.

01:16:57I just hope Nate doesn't look at me the way his mother did at the end.

01:17:01And Claire.

01:17:02I hope your new life is beautiful.

01:17:04I hope someone loves you the way I should have.

01:17:06You deserve that much.

01:17:08Claire.

01:17:08I hope your wedding day is everything you wanted.

Dad, Why Wont You Save Me - Full Movie

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