When innocence is shattered, vengeance is born. After the cradle falls, grief turns into a relentless pursuit of justice. Vengeance After the Cradle Fell is a dark and emotional short drama about loss, rage, and a path of no return.
#shortdrama #revenge #tragedy #justice #darkdrama #dramashorts #emotionaldrama #loss #anger #plottwist
#shortdrama #revenge #tragedy #justice #darkdrama #dramashorts #emotionaldrama #loss #anger #plottwist
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:02i was thrashing on the delivery bed contractions ripping through me one after another
00:09my husband damien was gripping my hand looking at me with this sickeningly sweet gentle expression
00:17just hang in there a little longer alexia we're gonna meet our baby so soon i was sweating bullets
00:23practically blinded by the pain but i still managed a weak smile for him then a nurse walked
00:28him holding a syringe i thought it was just my epidural but damien suddenly dropped my hand and
00:34took a massive step back the second that needle pierced my skin i heard damien mutter get the
00:38dosage right we need to stall her labor until vivian gives birth my eyes snapped wide open
00:44staring at him in pure horror but he just casually checked his rolex vivian six centimeters dilated
00:51they just keep her drugged for another two hours i wanted to scream to rip the four out but the
00:57drugs were already flooding my veins the violent tearing contractions in my stomach were suddenly
01:02choked out by this invisible hand everything just stopped dead they wheeled me down to the
01:07hospital's creepy ass basement dumping me in what looked like a makeshift cell damien's spoiled brat
01:12of a sister bella was leaning against the doorframe casually twirling a surgical scalpel don't be mad
01:18at my brother alessia vivian is carrying my late brother's baby the first actual heir a boy for our
01:25family's new generation who cares if you deliver first you're just popping out a girl it's totally
01:31worthless i clutched my giant belly as a fresh rogue wave of contraction started violently fighting off
01:37the drugs the pain was so blinding my vision literally went black get a doc the baby's coming
01:43i gasped out bella just let out this wicked psychotic little laugh give birth who said you're
01:53giving birth those meds are gonna keep you locked up tight for another three hours vivian's already
02:00in the delivery suitie once her son is born safe and sound you can push all you freaking want
02:05she stood up brushing off her designer jeans and shot a glare at the muscle standing by the door
02:11watch her if she screams gag her the heavy metal door slammed shut i rise on the freezing concrete
02:17floor a pool of blood already soaking right through my hospital gown damien had confiscated my phone the
02:22exact second we pulled up to the emergency room he fed me some bs about radiation being bad for the
02:28baby
02:28looking back he just didn't want me calling the cops i curled into a tight agonizing ball desperately
02:35trying to breathe through the blinding pain but all i could picture was the look in damien's eyes
02:39stone cold calculating like he was looking at a broken piece of furniture not his wife not the
02:47woman literally carrying his child three months ago his older brother alan died in a horrific car crash
02:53he left behind vivian his widow who was three months pregnant at the funeral damien's dad the family
02:59patriarch george was bawling gripping vivian's hands like a lifeline you have to deliver this baby safely
03:05our bloodline cannot end here back then i actually felt bad for vivian i even stepped up and said
03:11don't worry dad damien and i will make sure our baby takes care of you too the old man george
03:17just
03:17gave me this dead blank stare and said nothing it suddenly clicked from that exact moment my baby was
03:23already marked as collateral damage another contraction ripped through me a hundred times more brutal than the
03:30last the delay drugs were wearing off my baby was coming out now i dragged myself to the door
03:37clawing and pounding on the metal with everything i had somebody help the baby is coming please save my
03:43baby dead silence from the hallway i screamed until my vocal cords literally bled only to hear one of the
03:49guards grumble impatiently shut the hell up blair said to wait so you wait but my baby if it dies
03:57it
03:57dies blame your own crappy luck for not carrying a boy i slumped back against the freezing wall ice
04:03running through my veins this wasn't bad luck they actively intentionally wanted my baby dead i have no
04:09idea how long i survived in that pitch black basement the bleeding wouldn't stop i was practically swimming in
04:15a dark red puddle just as i started blacking out the door violently swung open it wasn't bella it wasn't
04:22the goons it was the family's private physician dr vance alexia what the hell are you doing down here
04:29damien told everyone you were resting up in the penthouse vip suite i tried to scream but my throat was
04:35totally paralyzed all i could do was point at my swollen stomach sobbing uncontrollably the second his
04:42hands felt my abdomen he sharply sucked in a breath you're 10 centimeters your water's completely broken
04:48we have to get you to a hospital now he tried to scoot me up but the slightest movement sent
04:53a
04:53horrifying hot gush between my legs blood so much damn blood dr vance's hands were shaking
05:00uncontrollably as he screamed out the door help get in here now she's hemorrhaging the hallway was a
05:07ghost town damien's family basically owned this private hospital they had cleared out the entire
05:12building tonight just for vivian's delivery every single doctor and nurse was on standby up on the
05:17third floor dr vance whipped out his phone swearing when he saw there was zero cell service down here
05:22i'm carrying you up just hold on gritting his teeth he lifted my dead weight and stumbled frantically
05:28toward the exit that stairwell felt like an endless nightmare every single jolt was pure
05:34unadulterated torture i could feel my baby dropping pushing down but unable to actually come out
05:40those sick delay drugs were still messing with my system making my contractions totally erratic
05:45it was the most lethal scenario possible dr vance save the baby please just save my baby don't talk
05:52like that you're both gonna make it he finally hit the ground floor sprinting straight for the primary
05:59operating room but when we got to the doors we both just froze the or double doors were propped
06:05wide open and the room was completely utterly gutted the overhead surgical lights gone the operating
06:12table gone the fetal monitors the oxygen tanks every single piece of life-saving equipment had
06:18straight up vanished all that was left was an empty echoing room and some exposed wall outlets
06:23dr vance stood there paralyzed he let out this choked horrified sound like someone was literally
06:29strangling hell how is this possible i personally checked all this equipment at 3 p.m suddenly the
06:36sharp click of heels echoed from down the hall bella strolled over with two nurses trailing her like
06:41lap dogs dr vance the hell are you doing down here vivian's up on the third floor why did you
06:48leave
06:48your post where is the equipment where did everything go we moved it up to the third floor
06:54obviously vivian needs a c-section so she gets the absolute premium gear what if there's an emergency
07:02a regular old or wouldn't cut it for the air oh is alessia about to pop well she's gonna have
07:12to hold
07:12it in vivian's not done yet just suck it up and tough it out a little longer i stared up
07:17at her
07:17flawlessly contoured face a sick memory flashed from six months ago her linking arms with me at
07:22prada batting her eyelashes and going the best alexia you're more like a real sister to me than
07:27anyone looking back now what a twisted pathetic joke dr vance sprinted into the nurse's station
07:34like a madman violently tearing through the supply cabinets but they were wiped clean where are the
07:40meds give me something we sent it all up to the third floor damien ordered that every single
07:47resource must be strictly prioritized for vivian dr vance slammed his fist so hard
07:54i'm so sorry god i'm so sorry alessia
07:59there's nothing i can do bella sauntered over condescendingly patting his shoulder relax doc
08:05take a breath she hasn't even pushed the kid out yet once vivian is finished we'll send the scraps
08:11back downstairs for her and honestly even if she pops it out it's just a worthless girl if it dies
08:18good riddance our family doesn't need trash like that i stared a hole straight through her skull
08:23looking at the girl i had treated like my own flesh and blood for three straight years
08:27you sick bitch bella's smug little smile instantly vanished keep barking call me whatever you want
08:35once you're completely drained from giving birth i have plenty of ways to shut you up for good
08:41and then vivian is going to officially take your place as the lady of the house as for you
08:47we might just spare your pathetic life you know as a favor to my brother
08:54blair you are literally murdering her murder watch your mouth doc you're on thin ice
09:03women die from childbirth complications every day it's perfectly natural besides this is internal
09:10family business you're just an employee on our payroll back the hell off she flicked her wrist at
09:15her goons escort dr vance to the break room i'll take excellent care of alessia myself
09:20two massive bodyguards immediately grabbed the doctor by the arms and started dragging him away
09:27alexia press your acrobacere points your ankles the webbing of your hands
09:32it'll force the contractions don't give up you can still save the baby
09:37his voice echoed down the hall until it faded into nothing
09:40bella casually kicked the nurse's station door shut and turned back to face me
09:43she pulled out her iphone and started a facetime call
09:46hey damien alessia is about to pop wanna watch
09:51damien's face popped up on the screen he was pacing outside a luxury delivery suite
09:56a swarm of elite doctors buzzing in the background
09:58cut the crap alessia
10:01things are getting complicated with vivian
10:04the baby's heart rate is dropping
10:06bella flipped the camera to show my bloody writhing body on the floor
10:09look at all this blood she's losing do you think she's gonna croak too
10:13damien frowned at the screen for half a second before aggressively looking away
10:17just make her wait once vivian's done i'll send a doctor down
10:22blair just keep an eye on her i can't leave this floor right now
10:25the call disconnected bella shrugged shoving the phone into her back pocket
10:30hear that my brother only gives a damn about vivian
10:34i slammed my eyes shut refusing to look at her smug face
10:37but i slowly secretly slipped my hand behind my back
10:40sewn into the fabric was a tiny button-sized device
10:43i dug my fingernail under the device's protective cap and flipped it open
10:47and i pressed down hard
10:49no beep
10:50no flashing red light
10:52but i knew the distress signal was already bouncing off a satellite
10:55my dad robert promised that the second i hit that button
10:58his people would crash through the doors in under 30 minutes
11:01but 30 minutes did my baby even have 30 minutes left
11:05a panic button my dad robert gave me
11:07he told me
11:08alessia that family is full of vipers
11:11if things go south press this
11:13dad chill
11:14damien treats me like a queen
11:16his whole family adores me
11:17god i was so incredibly fatally stupid
11:20my grip on reality was slipping
11:22bella was just lounging in a chair
11:24scrolling through her phone
11:25occasionally glaring down at me like i was roadkill
11:28i mean seriously what were you thinking marrying into our family alexia
11:32did you just want damien for his looks
11:34his money
11:36you're literally a nobody from a middle-class family
11:39you never belonged with us
11:40i didn't say a single word
11:42i just kept desperately pressing the pressure points dr vance told me about
11:46my ankles
11:47the webbing of my hands
11:49pushing down with everything i had
11:51even if it was a total long shot
11:53bella just kept running her mouth
11:55we figured hey if you spit out a son
11:57you'd at least have some use
11:59then the ultrasound showed it was a girl
12:01the old man was absolutely furious
12:04thank god vivian is having a boy
12:06otherwise our bloodline would be screwed
12:08she stood up
12:09walked over
12:10and literally kicked my leg
12:11so do us all a favor
12:13and know your place
12:14stop clinging to things that aren't yours
12:16i forced my eyes open
12:18and stared dead at her
12:19damien know you're talking to me like this
12:23duh
12:23my brother literally sent me down here to prep you
12:26he said you were stubborn and might do something crazy
12:29so i needed to talk some sense into you
12:32another massive wave of agony ripped through my stomach
12:35worse than all the others combined
12:37the meds were completely gone
12:39the baby was crowning
12:42i couldn't hold back the scream anymore
12:44bella jumped back
12:46looking totally disgusted
12:47so annoying
12:49she yanked the door open and yelled down the hall
12:52hey
12:53somebody get in here and check if she's finally popping
12:55a terrified nurse scrambled in
12:57took one look between my legs
12:59and went chalk white
13:02she's fully dilated
13:03the head is cloning
13:05but she's losing way too much blood
13:07we have to deliver right now
13:10then catch it
13:11genius
13:12the nurse was on the verge of tears
13:16we have no equipment
13:17no meds
13:18doing it like this
13:20the mother and the baby could die
13:23then let them die
13:25they're dead weight anyway
13:26who gives a crap
13:27after dropping that sick line
13:29bella literally just walked out to find damien
13:32leaving me to bleed out
13:33the nurse was too terrified to speak
13:35she just squatted down and tried to help me manually dilate
13:39but i was totally tapped out
13:41the extreme blood loss had drained every last ounce of my energy
13:44every single passing second
13:46was pure, agonizing hell
13:48then, out of nowhere
13:50rapid, heavy footsteps echoed down the hall
13:52a lot of them
13:54the synchronized, thunderous thud of tactical combat boots
14:00who is that?
14:01the heavy metal door was violently kicked off its hinges
14:04a squad of women in full black tactical gear swarmed the room
14:08assault rifles raised
14:12the second his eyes locked onto my bloody body
14:15they went completely red
14:18miss alessia
14:20alessia
14:21i just weakly reached my bloody hand out to him
14:23the nurse started shrieking hysterically
14:25who the hell are you?
14:27how did you get in here?
14:29how did you get here?
14:30security! security!
14:32the leader didn't even glance at her
14:34he sprinted over and dropped to one knee right beside me
14:38i should have protect you
14:40he scooped me up into his arms and barked at his squad
14:43clear the perimeter
14:45prep the mobile med bay now
14:47yes sir
14:55you can't do this!
14:57this hospital belongs to damien's family!
15:00the leader paused and slowly turned his head
15:02he gave her a look that could freeze hell itself
15:05damien's family?
15:06they're already dead to us
15:10they rushed me into a heavily modified armored medical van
15:13the inside was literally a state-of-the-art mobile operating room
15:16elite trauma docs and nurses were already inside
15:19instantly starting resuscitation
15:21bp dropping
15:2260 over 40
15:24hemorrhagic shock
15:25fetal distress is critical
15:27we need to perform an emergency c-section
15:30but the mother's vitals are crashing
15:32the surgery risk is
15:33cut her open
15:34i'll take the bullet if anything goes wrong
15:37save! save the baby first!
15:39boss please don't speak!
15:41save your energy!
15:42the don is already on his way
15:44he'll be here any minute
15:45you and the baby are going to make it
15:48you have to
15:49before he could even finish
15:50the heart monitor let out a piercing
15:52continuous scream
15:53she's flatlining
15:54grab the paddles
15:56clear
15:56the fetal heartbeat is crashing too
15:58scalpel
15:59we're cutting now
16:00they strapped my arms down
16:02and a heavy anesthesia mask was clamped over my face
16:05right before the darkness swallowed me whole
16:07i heard the surgeon scream
16:09we're too late
16:09the baby
16:10the baby has no pulse
16:14darkness
16:14pure
16:15suffocating darkness
16:16i don't know how much time passed
16:18i slowly peeled my eyes open
16:21i was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling
16:23the sharp smell of antiseptics burning my nose
16:26she's awake
16:27the boss is awake
16:28someone shouted in pure relief
16:30several faces instantly crowded around my bed
16:33all faces i grew up with
16:35my dad robert's top enforcers
16:37the ruthless uncles who basically raised me
16:39where's my baby
16:40the entire room went dead silent
16:43a few seconds later
16:44the man standing at the foot of the bed slowly turned around
16:47it was my dad robert
16:49the dawn
16:50a man in his 50s
16:51alessia
16:52he couldn't even get past my name before his voice broke
16:55looking into his bloodshot shattered eyes
16:58i already knew the answer
16:59the baby's gone isn't it
17:01massive hemorrhaging
17:02placental abruption
17:04the oxygen deprivation was just too long
17:07the doctors did absolutely everything they could
17:09i closed my eyes
17:11i didn't cry
17:12i didn't scream
17:13i just felt this massive gaping black hole open up in my chest
17:17the tiny life that had been growing inside me for nine months
17:21the baby that kicked me every day
17:23the one i whispered secrets to
17:24gone
17:25where's damien
17:27he's with vivian
17:28she gave birth
17:29to a boy
17:30his entire family is popping champagne
17:33celebrating
17:33not a single one of them even asked about you
17:59i let out a laugh
18:00a sick full body tremor of a laugh
18:03perfect
18:05absolutely perfect
18:06my dad robert squeezed my hand tight
18:08alessia
18:09we're going home
18:10that family doesn't deserve you
18:12and that bastard definitely doesn't
18:14dad
18:15i need you to do something for me
18:17name it
18:17i need a body double
18:19a hyper realistic fake corpse
18:21make it look exactly like me
18:23post delivery
18:24bled to death
18:25my dad robert totally froze
18:27you're planning to
18:28i want them to think i'm dead
18:30and then
18:31i am going to sit back and watch exactly how they celebrate
18:34watch them throw a party for their new air over my dead body
18:38then
18:39he firmly nodded
18:40done
18:41i'll make the call
18:42the body double was terrifyingly realistic
18:45medical grade silicone skin
18:47pumped full of fake blood bags
18:49complete with a core temperature simulator
18:51shoved into a freezer in the morgue
18:53you literally couldn't tell the difference from an actual corpse
18:56i was chilling in the hospital security room
18:58any regrets
18:59about what
19:00marrying that piece of trash
19:02nope
19:02at least it showed me exactly what kind of monsters they are
19:06on the screen
19:07damien finally strutted out of the vip delivery suite
19:10he was holding a swaddled newborn
19:11his face absolutely glowing with that a proud new dad energy
19:15vivian was being wheeled out on a hospital bed
19:17looking pale but flashing this massive
19:19the old patriarch george hobbled over on his cane
19:22bawling his eyes out the second
19:23and he laid eyes on the kid
19:25a grandson
19:25i finally have a grandson
19:27our bloodline is secure
19:29the whole damn family crowded around the baby
19:32laughing and celebrating
19:33not a single person asked about me
19:36no one remembered the other pregnant woman
19:38who was literally fighting for her life downstairs
19:40mr damien
19:41what about your wife
19:42damien frowned
19:43looking like he literally just remembered i existed
19:46how's she doing
19:47no updates yet
19:48dr vance is down there with her
19:50i'll go check
19:51i'm coming with you
19:53he handed his golden boy off to the nanny
19:55and headed for the elevator
19:57bella scrambled after him
19:58the two of them hopped into the elevator
20:00i switched the camera feed to the ground floor
20:03dr vance was leaning against the wall outside the gutted door
20:06looking like an actual ghost
20:08seeing damien
20:09he shot up straight
20:10mr damien
20:12where's my wife
20:13he just slowly stepped aside
20:15and pointed a shaking finger down the hall
20:17toward the morgue
20:18damien's face dropped
20:19what the hell does that mean
20:42alessia
20:42dr vance choked out staring at the floor
20:46massive hemorrhage
20:47we couldn't resuscitate her
20:48we lost the baby too
20:50the air in the hallway completely froze
20:53damien just stood there
20:55paralyzed
20:55like his brain couldn't process the words
20:58bella was the first to snap out of it
21:00bullshit she was completely fine a minute ago
21:03she lost way too much blood
21:05we had zero equipment
21:06zero meds
21:08i tried literally everything
21:09but i'm so sorry
21:11i swear to god i tried
21:13damien suddenly snapped
21:15grabbing the doctor by the collar
21:16and violently hoisting him up
21:18what the f u c k did you just say
21:20my wife is dead
21:21dr vance just nodded
21:23tears streaming down his face
21:24damien dropped him
21:26stumbling backward until his back hit the wall
21:28no
21:29that's impossible
21:30she was perfectly healthy
21:32how could she
21:32bella frantically grabbed his arm
21:35damien wait
21:36let me go check
21:37she practically sprinted toward the morgue
21:39on the cameras
21:40i watched her yank open the freezer drawer
21:42and stare down at the corpse
21:44the silicone face was permanently frozen
21:46in a mask of agonizing pain
21:48the white sheet underneath was entirely soaked
21:50in dark red blood
21:51bella stared for all of five seconds
21:53before clapping a hand over her mouth
21:55and bolting out of the room
21:56damien it's real
21:58damien stormed into the morgue
22:00the feet caught him standing over the open freezer
22:02completely paralyzed
22:03he stood there so long it freaked bella out
22:06she tiptoed in and tugged his sleeve
22:09damien
22:09suddenly snapped his arm back
22:11and punched the concrete wall
22:12with everything he had
22:13why
22:14why didn't anyone tell me sooner
22:16why didn't you wait for me
22:17dr vance
22:18standing out in the hall
22:20muttered quietly
22:21your phone was off
22:22you didn't allow calls in the vip suite
22:24then why the hell didn't you run upstairs and get me
22:27it's two flights of stairs
22:29how long would that take
22:30you just stood there and watched her die
22:33his eyes totally bloodshot with rage
22:35dr vance went dead silent
22:37dropping his head as his shoulders shook
22:39bella tried to run damage control
22:41i was the one who stopped him from going upstairs
22:44vivian was in a critical state
22:45i didn't want to interrupt
22:46smack
22:47he slapped her across the face
22:50hard
22:51did you just hit me
22:52were you the one who locked her in the basement
22:54bella wouldn't meet his eyes
22:55i just told her to wait
22:57wait for what
22:58that was my wife
22:59that was two human lives
23:01i told you to take care of her
23:03is this how you take care of people
23:05bella burst into tears
23:06i was doing it for the family
23:08vivian was having a boy
23:09she was having a girl
23:11do the math
23:12grandpa george said the boy is the only air that matters
23:15an air
23:16so
23:17her life just didn't matter anymore
23:19it was like that word literally stabbed damien in the chest
23:22he froze
23:23the rage completely washed out of his face
23:25replaced by this hollow
23:27blank look
23:28an air
23:29the only sound in the morgue was the low hum of the freezer and bella's muffled sobbing
23:33damien dragged my corpse back to the family estate
23:36they didn't even let me in the main house
23:38they set up a cheap memorial in the guest wing
23:40meanwhile vivian and her golden boy moved straight into the master suite
23:44swarmed by nannies and night nurses
23:46the old patriarch george laid down the law
23:48keep the funeral quiet and cheap
23:50we don't want bad energy around the new baby
23:53just find a day to cremate her and get it over with
23:56pick a decent plot though she was still married into the family
23:59damien didn't say a word
24:00he just sat in that dark memorial room
24:03guarding the casket
24:04three days and three nights
24:06didn't eat
24:07didn't drink
24:07bella tried to comfort him and got violently kicked out
24:10vivian finally waltzed in holding the baby
24:12playing the sweet widow
24:14damien
24:15i'm so sorry for your loss
24:16alessia wouldn't want to see you like this from heaven
24:19he stared at her for a long time before asking
24:21what she was thinking when she died
24:23i was in labor i don't
24:24she was thinking about why her husband wasn't there
24:27about why everyone was celebrating your baby while leaving her to literally bleed to death
24:31damien
24:32what the hell is that supposed to me
24:34i almost died giving birth to
24:36the heart rate dropped so many times
24:38yeah it was rough for you
24:40but she actually died
24:41two lives
24:42gone
24:43did she deserve to die just because she wasn't carrying a boy
24:47damien stood up
24:48walking over to the casket
24:49i keep thinking
24:50if i had just been with her would things be different
24:53if i hadn't hoarded all the medical equipment for you
24:55would she still be alive
24:57if only
24:58his voice cracked unable to finish the sentence
25:00vivian bit her lip spun on her heel and stormed out
25:04right before she left she threw one last dagger
25:07don't forget damien
25:08i'm the one who gave this family a son
25:10that corpse in there is completely useless to us now
25:13the door slammed shut
25:14damien slumped against the casket
25:16sliding down to the floor
25:17burying his face in his hands
25:18through the hidden camera feed
25:20i watched his shoulders shake violently
25:21i shot a text to my dad robert
25:24are we cleared to go
25:25my dad robert replied instantly
25:27green light
25:27suddenly the family business started bleeding out
25:30first
25:31their oldest suppliers entirely cut off their supply chain
25:34the excuse
25:35quality control issues
25:37damien sent his fixers to smooth it out
25:39but they got slammed doors in their faces
25:41then the banks pulled their credit lines
25:44guaranteed multi-million dollar loan renewals
25:46were suddenly rejected for high risk
25:48their cash flow choked instantly
25:50and then the clients started dropping like flies
25:52massive contracts were ripped up overnight
25:55instantly handed over to their biggest rivals
25:57within 30 days
25:58their total market value plummeted by 30%
26:01the old patriarch george stressed himself into a hospital bed
26:04damien was running himself ragged
26:07bouncing between the icu and the crumbling corporate office
26:09vivian sitting comfortably with the baby
26:12constantly whined
26:13oh yuri literally never home
26:15you don't even care about the baby
26:17my dad is dying and the company is imploding
26:19what do you want me to do
26:20so what if the company crashes
26:22we're loaded
26:23we have enough cash for a lifetime
26:25she rolled her eyes
26:26damien looked at her like he was seeing a complete stranger
26:29do you have any idea how this family built its empire
26:32my grandfather george
26:34my dad
26:35my brother alan
26:36three generations bled for this
26:37it didn't just fall from the sky
26:39well you still can't just abandon me and your nephew
26:43he's not even a month old
26:44and you're m.i.a. every single day
26:47damien slammed the door on her
26:49and drove straight back to the memorial hall
26:50my casket was still sitting there
26:52he refused to bury me
26:54because he couldn't find the perfect plot
26:56he leaned against the polished wood
26:58muttering into the void
26:59alessia
27:00if you were here
27:01what would you tell me to do
27:02you'd probably tell me to just breathe
27:05take it one step at a time
27:06you were always so level-headed
27:08so damn smart
27:10his voice dropped to a broken whisper
27:12but i don't have anyone to talk to anymore
27:15my dad just screams at me
27:17vivian only wants my credit cards
27:19bella is entirely self-obsessed
27:22you were the only one who never asked for a dime
27:24who just wanted to help me
27:26he took a drag and started violently coughing
27:28coughing so hard literal tears streamed down his face
27:31i'm so sorry
27:33god i am so sorry
27:35i didn't know it was gonna end like this
27:37if i could do it all over again
27:39i swear i would
27:40before he could finish his pathetic confession
27:43his phone blew up
27:44it was his executive assistant
27:46sounding absolutely panicked
27:48boss
27:49we have a massive crisis
27:51customs just seized our entire shipping fleet
27:54they're claiming we're smuggling contraband
27:56the payload is huge
27:57the feds are opening a criminal investigation
28:00contraband what the hell are you talking about
28:02we run a legitimate import business
28:04it's real
28:05the feds are literally raiding the lobby right now asking for you
28:09damien slammed the phone down and bolted out of the memorial hall
28:12he jumped in his car speeding toward the corporate hq
28:16halfway there his phone rang again
28:18unknown caller id
28:19he picked up
28:20and a man's voice ice cold and deadly deep spoke through the speakers
28:24did you enjoy my little gift damien
28:26who the hell is this
28:27my name isn't important all you need to know is that this
28:31this is just the appetizer
28:33you owe a massive debt
28:34and i'm going to rip your entire family apart to collect it
28:37the line went dead
28:39damien scrambled to redial
28:41but the number was already disconnected
28:43his hands gripped white knuckled on the steering wheel
28:46started to violently shake
28:47the federal investigation dragged on for two brutal weeks
28:51they eventually dropped the charges due to insufficient evidence
28:54but the entire cargo was seized millions of dollars instantly gone
28:58their family's reputation absolutely tanked
29:01and business partners started tearing up their contracts left and right
29:04the company's stock flatlined
29:06the stress triggered a second massive stroke for the old patriarch george
29:10and this time he didn't make it
29:12right before he kicked the bucket
29:14he gripped damien's hand gasping out
29:16family
29:19and then he flatlined
29:20the funeral was pathetic and cheap
29:22barely anyone showed up
29:24and the ones who did were only there to watch the train wreck
29:26vivian stood by the casket holding the baby
29:29crying her perfectly manicured crocodile tears
29:32honestly couldn't tell if she was crying for the old man
29:34or crying because her sugar daddy was dead
29:36damien just stood there the entire time
29:39completely dead inside
29:40it wasn't until the funeral ended
29:42and the guests cleared out that he finally turned to vivian
29:45pack your stuff
29:46get out
29:46vivian completely fro
29:49excuse me
29:51take the kid and get the hell out of my house
29:53i'll cut you a check
29:54it'll be enough to keep you comfortable for the rest of your life
29:57damien
29:58what the hell are you talking about
30:00i'm your brother's widow
30:02his baby is his own flesh and blood
30:04grandpa george literally said he's the heir
30:07the heir
30:09our entire empire is turning to dust
30:12what exactly is he inheriting
30:14our crippling debt
30:16vivian took a step back
30:17panicked
30:18you're just gonna abandon us
30:20i'm paying you
30:21damien deadpanned
30:23that's me not abandoning
30:25main estate
30:27i'm keeping it
30:29it holds all my memories with alessia
30:34memories?
30:35stop lying to yourself damien
30:37you never loved that woman
30:38you're just drowning in guilt
30:40she died a horrific death
30:42and now the guilt is eating you alive
30:44if she was still breathing
30:46you would have dumped her
30:47and married me ages ago
30:49damien's face went deadly
30:50shut your mouth
30:53i'm gonna say it
30:54totally lost it
30:55completely unhinged
30:57you only married her
30:58because she was a clean
30:59basic girl
31:00you could easily manipulate
31:01you literally told me
31:03that once she pushed the kid out
31:04you'd find an excuse to divorce her
31:05now that she's dead
31:06she did you a massive favor
31:08you should be thanking me
31:10thanking my son for getting her out of the picture
31:13smack
31:14another slap
31:15infinitely harder than the one he gave bella
31:17vivian was literally knocked to the floor
31:19the baby instantly bursting into terrified wells
31:22damien loomed over her
31:24his eyes like daggers of ice
31:26get out
31:27right now
31:28leave
31:28if i ever see your face again
31:30you won't get a single damn cent
31:32vivian scrambled up
31:33clutching the screaming baby
31:35and shot him a lethal glare
31:36i'm going to regret this
31:38she stormed out
31:40taking the kid
31:40and a massive seven-figure settlement check with her
31:43damien stood alone in the empty memorial hall
31:45staring up at his dad george's portrait
31:47he suddenly looked so incredibly
31:49fundamentally exhausted
31:51too exhausted to even stand
31:53he dropped to his knees
31:55dad
31:55i can't hold on anymore
31:57the empire is collapsing
31:59and it's all my fault
32:00total silence
32:01nobody answered him
32:03just the cold draft sweeping through the hall
32:05violently flapping the white morning drapes
32:07i was chilling in my italian estate
32:09watching the cctv feeds on my ipad
32:12my dad robert strolled in
32:13and tossed a dossier onto the table
32:16damien's company
32:17valuations barely holding at a fraction of what it was
32:20and they're drowning in debt twice that's
32:22filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy is only a few days away
32:26i picked up the file and skimmed the pages
32:28that was way faster than i expected
32:31my dad robert sat down and let out a heavy sigh
32:36alessia do you really need to personally watch him burn to the ground
32:39i looked up at him
32:40dad do you seriously expect me to forgive him
32:43he shook his head immediately
32:45no
32:46the bastard deserves it
32:48i'm just worried about you
32:49i don't want you getting stuck in this dark headspace
32:52i slapped the folder shut and gave him a faint smile
32:55the exact moment my baby died i completely detached from him
32:59right now i'm literally just collecting a debt
33:02my dad robert looked at me
33:04his eyes full of conflict
33:06you've changed
33:07you used to smile so much
33:09now even your smiles look completely hollow
33:12i stood up
33:13walked over to the floor to ceiling windows
33:15and stared out over the vineyards
33:17everyone grows eventually
33:19some people just take years to do it
33:21and some of us grow up overnight
33:23after one brutal betrayal and a brush with death
33:25my dad robert didn't say anything back
33:28he just stood there with me in comfortable silence for a while
33:31then quietly left the room
33:33suddenly my burner phone buzzed
33:35it was damien
33:36the absolute nerve of this guy to call me
33:39well technically he was calling my dead alias's number
33:42i answered it but kept my mouth completely shut
33:45his voice incredibly hoarse and broken
33:48crackled through the speaker
33:50alexia
33:50i know you can't hear this
33:52but i just really re-needed to talk to you
33:54the family is finished
33:56my dad is dead
33:57vivian walked out and bella completely cut cuz with me
33:59right now i have absolutely no one left
34:01sometimes i think
34:02if i had just treated you better
34:04maybe everything would be different
34:05if i wasn't so insanely greedy
34:06wanting the sun
34:08wanting the empire
34:08wanting total control over everything
34:10maybe
34:12maybe you'd still be alive
34:14but what ifs are useless
34:15you're dead
34:16our baby is dead
34:18and it's 100% my fault
34:21i could spend my entire life
34:23trying to pay off this debt
34:24and it wouldn't be enough
34:26so
34:29he took a massive shuddering breath
34:31i liquidated everything left of the company
34:34i split the cash three ways
34:36one third went to charity
34:37in your name
34:39one third went to vivian and the kid
34:41as a final payout for my brother alan
34:43and the last third
34:46i kept it
34:47to buy myself a burial plot
34:49right next to yours
34:50in the next life i'd give you my soul
34:52to make it up to you
34:53the call abruptly ended
34:55i sat there gripping the phone
34:57completely motionless for a long time
34:59until the screen went black
35:01reflecting my stone cold
35:02expressionless face
35:03damien actually kept his word
35:06he liquidated every single asset real estate
35:08stocks
35:09art collections
35:10he even listed the main family mansion
35:12he downsized to a tiny
35:14crappy apartment
35:16his entire routine was just getting blackout drunk
35:18and haunting the cemetery
35:20just sitting in front of my headstone
35:22talking to himself like a crazy person
35:24sometimes rambling about the bankrupt company
35:26sometimes bringing up childhood memories
35:29sometimes he didn't say a word
35:31just sat there staring into space
35:33four hours on end
35:35literally all day
35:36bella actually tracked him down once
35:38screaming that he'd lost his damn mind
35:40you blew the entire family fortune for a corpse
35:43how can you face dad
35:45how can you face our brother alan
35:46damien just looked at her with totally hollow
35:49dead eyes
35:50and who's gonna make it right for lesia
35:52who makes it right for the child we killed
35:54bella choked on her words
35:56finally running off crying
35:57she never came back
35:59by the third month of watching this live stream of misery
36:02i was officially bored
36:03the adrenaline rush of revenge
36:05had completely worn off the second his company went under
36:07all that was left was this empty void
36:09and a tiny sliver of pity that i hated to admit i felt
36:13my dad robert asked me
36:16have you seen enough
36:17if you're done playing games snap out of it
36:19i need you to take over the syndicate's operations
36:21i nodded
36:22i'll be back at the office tomorrow
36:23but tonight i'm taking a trip to the cemetery
36:27my dad robert frowned
36:28that's way too risky
36:30he's a desperate man with nothing left to lose
36:32if he figures out you're alive
36:34he won't notice
36:34i assure him i'm literally just going to watch from the distance
36:37one last look
36:38and i'm closing this chapter permanently
36:39my dad robert stayed quiet for a minute
36:42then nodded
36:43detail
36:45call it in if anything goes south
36:47the cemetery was dead silent at night
36:49i stood back in the shadows of the trees
36:52watching damien slumped in front of my headstone
36:54he looked practically emaciated
36:56his hair had gone gray
36:58the guy wasn't even 40 yet
37:00but he looked like he was pushing 50
37:02he was clutching a bottle of liquor
37:04taking swigs and slurring his words
37:07alexia i finally went to see a shrink today
37:10he diagnosed me with clinical depression
37:14tried to shove pills down my throat
37:16i told him to screw off
37:18i'm not depressed
37:19i just
37:20i just miss you
37:21i miss your cooking
37:23i miss you nagging me about drinking too much
37:26i miss you rubbing your belly
37:28and complaining the baby was kicking me
37:30he took another burning swig and started hacking
37:32coughed for a solid minute
37:33when he finally stopped
37:35his voice was even more wrecked
37:37but the scariest part
37:38i'm forgetting
37:39your face
37:41your voice
37:42it's all getting so blurry
37:43i'm absolutely terrified that one day i'm gonna totally forget you
37:46and when that happens
37:48what the hell am i supposed to do
37:49he collapsed against the cold stone
37:51his shoulders violently shaking
37:53he was fully sobbing
37:54i turned around
37:56completely done
37:57ready to leave
37:58but my designer heel accidentally kicked a loose stone
38:01damien's head whipped up
38:03who's there
38:04i completely froze
38:05he stumbled to his feet and started marching toward the shadows
38:09my security chief tried to pull me back
38:11but i shook my head
38:12i'd played the ghost long enough
38:14it was time to face the music
38:16damien stopped dead in his tracks right at the edge of the shadows
38:19the moonlight hit my face perfectly
38:22he stared at me
38:23his pupils shrinking to pinpricks
38:25looking like he literally just saw a gun
38:27you
38:28it's me
38:29i broke the silence
38:31not dead
38:32surprise
38:33damien's jaw was practically on the floor
38:36he couldn't form a single word
38:37he just stared at me like a madman
38:40his eyes flipping from shock
38:41to confusion
38:42to absolute
38:43unbeaten joy
38:44he runs forward
38:46trying to grab me
38:47my head of security instantly stepped in front of me
38:50shoving him back
38:53alessia
38:53you're really alive
38:56i tried to physically push past my guard
38:59but the guy didn't even budge
39:01that's when it finally dawned on him
39:03i was flanked by four heavily armed men
39:05and in tailored black
39:06who the hell are they
39:07damien stammered confused
39:10my muscle
39:11i answered coolly
39:12the psychotic joy on his face slowly melted into dread
39:15he looked me up and down
39:17really looked at me
39:18the custom tailored designer suit
39:20the flawless mafia boss glam
39:22the absolutely stone cold expression
39:24a total 180 from the sweet
39:27submissive little housewife
39:28he thought he married
39:29who
39:30who exactly are you
39:33let's reintroduce ourselves
39:35alessia
39:36heiress to the family
39:37current head of the corioni mafia syndicate
39:43bullshit
39:44you told me you were from a boring middle class family
39:46i lied to you
39:48i cut him off
39:50my dad
39:51explicitly told me not to marry you
39:53said i couldn't handle your toxic games
39:55i was stupid
39:56and stubborn
39:57i married you anyway
39:59looking back
40:00he was 100 percent right
40:03wait
40:04so my company going completely bankrupt
40:07that was you
40:08yep
40:09i didn't even blink
40:11my dad
40:12robert pulled the trigger
40:13he said anyone who touches his daughter pays the ultimate price
40:16honestly
40:17i agree with him
40:20damien's eyes flushed with furious red tears
40:23then why the hell didn't you tell me from the start
40:29damien stop being so pathetic
40:31from day one you only loved me because you thought i was a nobody you could easily control
40:35if you knew i had a mafia hit squad behind me you wouldn't have even looked my way
40:39or worse you'd have found a way to quietly murder me to absorb my family's empire
40:44completely speechless
40:46he glared at me
40:47his pathetic grief mutating into pure venomous hatred
40:52so you played me this whole time
40:55you just watched me act like an absolute idiot while my entire world fell apart
41:00all the while you could have stopped it
41:03why
41:03not really
41:05watching you suffer didn't bring me joy
41:09i just think it's exactly what you deserve
41:11karma
41:13alexia drop the self-righteous act
41:15if you had just been honest about who you were none of this would have ever happened
41:19yeah i screwed you over
41:20but you lied manipulated me and destroyed my entire life
41:24you're a hundred times sicker than i am
41:26he lunged at me like a rabid dog
41:28my guards didn't hesitate
41:30they slammed him face first into the dirt in two seconds flat
41:34damien thrashed against the dirt screaming like a maniac
41:37alexia rot in hell
41:41i'm gonna make you pay for this
41:43i swear to god
41:44before he could finish his villain monologue
41:45my guard punched his lights out
41:46what do we do boss
41:47my security chief looked up at me
41:48i stared down at his unconscious body
41:52jump him back at his crappy apartment
41:53and make sure i never have to look at his pathetical face again
41:57i flew back to italy and officially took the throne of the family empire
42:00my dad formally retired
42:01now he just gardens, feeds the birds, and acts like your average sweet grandpa
42:05though occasionally he still asks me
42:07do you still hate him?
42:10no
42:12holding on to that much hate is exhausting
42:14i don't have the energy for it
42:17then
42:18do you miss him?
42:21dad, really?
42:23do you think i'm that stupid?
42:26i just feel like you've completely shut down your emotions
42:29it's been three years
42:32i've barely seen you crack a real smile
42:34and you haven't let a single man within a ten mile radius of you
42:38dad, i'm perfectly fine on my own
42:41i have my empire
42:42i have insane wealth
42:43and i have my family
42:44i don't need a man complicating my life
42:48the itentionary for the u.s trip next week finalized?
42:51yes, it's done
42:52great, i'm gonna go prep for it
42:54i stood up and walked out of his office
42:56just as i hit the doorway
42:58i heard him whisper
43:01my footsteps completely halted
43:03i didn't look back
43:04just forced myself to keep walking
43:06the hallway was endlessly long
43:08lined with oil portraits of past syndicate bosses
43:11right at the very end was a portrait of my mother
43:14she died from childbirth complications
43:16hemorrhaged giving birth to me
43:18and the doctors couldn't save her
43:20my dad never remarried
43:21never even dated
43:22i never understood why
43:23but now, i finally get it
43:26some wounds literally never heal
43:28some pain is so deep
43:30that not even time can
43:31my phone buzzed in my pocket
43:34my assistant's voice came through
43:36boss, damien is in italy
43:39he's outside the estate gates
43:40he's demanding an audience
43:41i'm not seeing him
43:43he's literally on his knees
43:44says he's not moving until you come out
43:47i walked over to the nearest window
43:49and pulled back the heavy velvet curtains
43:52way down at the front gates
43:53damien was kneeling in the dirt
43:55holding up a pathetic cardboard sign
43:57it read
43:58i'm so sorry
43:59i was wrong
44:00please
44:01just see me once
44:02i stared down at him for a few seconds
44:05then
44:06i sharply yanked the
44:07my assistant hesitated for a second
44:09boss
44:09are you sure that won't be too
44:11just do it
44:12i hung up the phone
44:13i sank onto a leather sofa
44:15and closed my eyes
44:16but my traitorous brain
44:17flashed back to a memory from years ago
44:19the very first time we ever met
44:21at the university library
44:23i was carrying a massive stack of books
44:26bumped straight into him
44:27and dropped them everywhere
44:28he immediately knelt down to help me pick them up
44:30flashing me this bright smile
44:32you've got a lot of books there huh
44:33the afternoon sunlight was streaming through the library windows
44:36hitting his face perfectly
44:38he looked so sweet
44:39so completely pure
44:41but it was all fake
44:42a complete sick illusion
44:44so why the hell does my heart still ache
Comments