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00:11When I found out Julian had extended his out-of-town project for another seven years, I didn't call. I
00:18didn't text.
00:19I left New York and traveled hours to reach his project site, only to be stopped at the gate by
00:24an older guard.
00:25Hello? Does Julian work here?
00:31What do you want with my son-in-law?
00:33The words hit me like a thunderclap. I told myself it was a coincidence.
00:37Relax, Mr. Miller. Everyone around here knows Julian is totally whipped.
00:41Other guys might mess around, but your son-in-law wouldn't dare.
00:45She's probably here on business from corporate.
00:47I kept my composure and pulled up a photo of Julian on my phone.
00:51I am here on business. Is this the Julian you're talking about?
00:54The old man relaxed.
00:56Yeah, that's him. That's my son-in-law.
00:59The blood in my veins froze. Before I could process a single word, a woman appeared, well-dressed, smiling.
01:07You here to talk business with my man?
01:11Come wait at our place. Our son's got a fever. He took him to the hospital in town.
01:16I stared at her. Thunderstruck. Barely able to breathe.
01:21I'm Julian's wife. Just call me Mia.
01:24She was warm and talkative, smile never leaving her face.
01:28There's nothing but rough guys around here, and half of them don't know how to act.
01:32A woman shouldn't be standing around alone out here.
01:35Come on back to the house. He'll be a while.
01:37And I followed her. I watched her as we walked.
01:40Her foundation was uneven, powder caked at her eye corners.
01:44But she was clearly over ten years younger than Julian, who'd just turned 37.
01:49Lord, you women from New York really are something else.
01:54Look at that skin. Smooth as a baby's bottom.
02:00Her eyes were full of admiration.
02:02My man's got skin just like yours. All soft and clear.
02:05She laughed.
02:06You city girls really do have it all.
02:07I forced a smile.
02:08She wasn't wrong. Julian and I both had good skin.
02:12I was older than Mia by a fair margin, but I'd taken care of myself.
02:16I still looked like I was in my mid-twenties.
02:18No one would guess I'd been married for 12 years.
02:21But what did any of that matter?
02:22I had a career, raised our son, cared for his parents, and handled everything alone.
02:27But my husband still built an entirely different life here behind my back.
02:32Mia talked the whole way.
02:33She didn't seem to need a response.
02:35At some point, a couple on a motorcycle slowed as they passed him.
02:38The woman on the back held out a small paper bag.
02:41Your man thinks of everything, takes the kid to the doctor,
02:44and still remembers you wanted roasted peanuts, asked me to drop these off.
02:47He worries too much.
02:49Your husband really does take care of you.
02:51That man does whatever she says, no questions asked.
02:54Doesn't matter how tough he acts out here.
02:56One look for Mia and he folds.
02:58One tear and he's completely hers.
02:59Oh, stop it.
03:00A bitter ache welled up inside me.
03:02My husband, the man who spent 12 years talking to me about equality, respect, and partnership.
03:09That man had come out here and willingly turned himself into another woman's lapdog.
03:14Mia's house stopped me in my track.
03:21My man built it.
03:22Nobody else around here has anything like it.
03:26And he's the first guy in town to move in with his wife's family.
03:30Takes care of my parents like they're his own.
03:35Moved in with her family, the moment I stepped into the living room, I saw it.
03:40We had a photo just like it.
03:42Only ours had just three people, no daughter.
03:45The year Julian first left for this project.
03:49Two years max.
03:50I'll get transferred back.
03:52And when I do, if you want, we'll try for a second baby.
03:57After that, we'll never be apart again.
04:01Two years turned into seven.
04:03He came home for a few days every Christmas, and that was it.
04:09Last year, while he was back for the holidays, I casually said I still wished we'd had a daughter.
04:14Honestly, with the way things are, smart people aren't having more kids.
04:19One's enough.
04:21Why put yourself through it?
04:23I thought he'd simply changed his mind.
04:25Turns out he already had his daughter.
04:27He just hadn't had her with me.
04:30We've got Wi-Fi.
04:33Password's 990913.
04:37Something jolted in my chest.
04:39Dot Julian had told me there was no reliable internet signal out here.
04:43That was why I could never reach him directly.
04:45He always had to be the one to contact me first.
04:48I connected to the network.
04:50Full bars, one lie after another.
04:53Each one like a knife sinking in deep.
04:55You two seem really happy.
04:57Does it worry you that he might get transferred back to New York someday?
05:00Not really.
05:01Between us, they almost called him back earlier this year.
05:03My chest tightened.
05:04He used every favor he had just to stay.
05:06My heart dropped.
05:08It wasn't the company keeping him here.
05:10He'd asked to stay.
05:11He'd fought to stay.
05:13He'd done that knowing his mother had suffered a stroke and couldn't care for herself.
05:17He'd done that knowing his father had broken his leg in a fall and needed help.
05:22He'd done that knowing our son had cried over and over about missing his father.
05:27He'd done that knowing I'd been worn down by work and family until I'd ended up in the
05:32hospital more than once, and he'd stayed anyway dot comfortably dot a thousand miles away.
05:41A chill ran through me, my shoulders trembling slightly.
05:44Mia crossed the room and switched on the air conditioning, thinking I was cold.
05:49It'll warm up in a minute.
05:51My man got me a good one.
05:52A big brand name.
05:54Didn't even blink at the price.
05:59Nobody else in town has one.
06:01I didn't even want it.
06:03I told him it was too much.
06:05But he insisted.
06:07Said he was worried I'd be cold in the winter.
06:09I kept the smile on my face.
06:11He's quite a bit older than you.
06:13I said.
06:14Is this his second marriage?
06:15Ten years older.
06:16We're both getting married for the first time.
06:19Mia smiled.
06:20I'm the lucky one.
06:22A girl like me, barely finished high school.
06:24Ending up with a man who has a master's degree.
06:29He's the project manager for the whole development.
06:33Basically second in command under the owner.
06:35I never imagined I'd end up married to someone like that.
06:38He says meeting me was the best thing that ever happened to him.
06:42The age gap's a good thing, honestly.
06:44Older men know how to take care of you.
06:46He's responsible at work and at home.
06:49Every paycheck goes straight to me.
06:51I give him a little spending money and that's it.
06:53Bitterness welled up in my chest.
06:56For years, Julian had been sending money back to our joint account every month.
07:00Only left $1,000 for himself.
07:02He told me his housing and meals were covered.
07:04That he barely spent anything out here.
07:07I had a college roommate who worked in his company's payroll department.
07:11Years ago, I'd quietly checked his monthly salary once $11,000.
07:15And let myself be believe him.
07:17I didn't believe him anymore.
07:19He takes good care of the whole family.
07:22God, yes!
07:23She gestured around the room.
07:25My mom has a bad back.
07:26He bought her that massage chair without blinking.
07:29My dad likes his whiskey.
07:31So Julian keeps cases of the good stuff stocked for him.
07:34And he gives me a separate allowance every month.
07:37For whatever I want.
07:40I heard it.
07:41And I knew.
07:42Julian had been taking bribe.
07:43The bitterness turned colder.
07:45Not just for myself, but for his parents.
07:48Who had no idea.
07:50Three months ago, his mother had nearly died.
07:53A severe stroke.
07:55Julian, please.
07:58She's in critical condition.
08:00She keeps asking for you.
08:01Please come home.
08:02I'm so sorry, Chloe.
08:03The project is at a critical stage right now.
08:06I really can't leave.
08:07She'll be okay.
08:08So many nights like that, his phone unanswered.
08:11Or always some excuse he couldn't come.
08:13He never came back.
08:15He ignored his own family, his parents, his son.
08:18And the whole time, he was here being a good husband.
08:21A good father.
08:23A good son-in-law.
08:24The irony was sickening.
08:26Mia's phone rang.
08:28She didn't step away or lower her voice.
08:30She just answered it right there.
08:32Hey, baby.
08:33Close enough that I heard every word.
08:35Julian's voice.
08:36The same warm tone he used to use with me.
08:39Our son still hasn't broken his fever.
08:41The doctor wants to keep him overnight.
08:43I'm a little short on cash.
08:45Can you transfer me some?
08:46$300 should cover it.
08:47Of course.
08:48I'll send it now.
08:50I laughed inwardly.
08:52The devoted family husband.
08:54Then Julian's voice softened.
08:56I can't hold you tonight, baby.
08:58Stay warm, okay?
08:59Don't kick off the blankets.
09:00It's one day away from you and I already feel off.
09:03Those words stabbed at my chest like sharp blades.
09:0612 years of marriage.
09:08And the last time he'd said anything like that to me felt like a lifetime ago.
09:12These days, he didn't even show that warmth toward our own son.
09:16Time had turned us an old married couple in name only.
09:26I just realized I never asked your name.
09:29Chloe.
09:31What a pretty name.
09:32She was as cheerful as ever.
09:34Even now, I was still giving her the benefit of the doubt.
09:37There was a good chance she had no idea.
09:40That she was just as deceived as I was.
09:44Since Julian won't be back tonight, why don't you just stay?
09:49You can talk to him about the work stuff tomorrow.
09:52That evening, Mia cooked a full dinner.
09:55A proper, generous spread.
09:57I met their daughter for the first time.
09:59She had Julian's eyes.
10:01Mr. and Mrs. Miller were polite to me, but barely.
10:04There was a wariness in their gaze that I noticed, but didn't mention.
10:08At the table, the conversation kept circling back to Julian.
10:11The way they talked about him, he wasn't a son-in-law.
10:15He was their son.
10:16Mia was an only child.
10:17In a town like this, that had always meant something for her parents.
10:21They'd spent their whole lives looked down on for not having a son.
10:25Then Julian arrived, moved in, supported the whole family, treated them like his own.
10:30And for the first time, they held their heads up.
10:34Julian is the rock of this family.
10:37We can't do without him.
10:39Something stuck in my throat, like a thorn I couldn't pull out.
10:44The rock of our family, gone for seven years, had been holding up someone else's family all along.
10:51Mia put me in the guest room for the night.
10:53After the lights went out, I lay awake, unable to sleep.
10:58Through the wall, I could hear Mr. and Mrs. Miller talking quietly for a long time.
11:04I made two decisions.
11:05I filed a report, with documentation, with proof, to Julian's corporate headquarters.
11:11Then, I texted my brother.
11:13He was a police officer.
11:14I'm going to need you to make an arrest.
11:16Neither decision felt satisfying.
11:18But both were right.
11:19Justice for my life.
11:21A consequence he'd earned.
11:23The next morning...
11:25It's cold and you're not dressed for it.
11:27Um, my man just bought this for me.
11:29Only been washed once, never worn.
11:31A designer label I'd spent an entire winter eyeing, adding to my cart, removing it, telling
11:37myself there were more important things to spend money on, parents to care for, a son
11:42to raise.
11:43I used to say things like that to Julian.
11:45Other husbands buy their wives things.
11:47In all these years, you've never once picked something out for me.
11:49In all these years, he always had the same answer, calm and easy.
11:53The money's yours.
11:55Buy whatever you want.
11:57I wouldn't know what to choose anyway.
11:59I'm no good with that kind of thing.
12:02He wasn't no good.
12:03He just didn't care enough to try.
12:06Not for me.
12:06Thank you so much.
12:08It was beautiful.
12:10It was warm.
12:11Mia blinked.
12:12A flash of surprise crossing her face.
12:14She'd clearly expected me to refuse politely.
12:17At breakfast, she was back to her usual self.
12:20Cheerful.
12:21Talkative.
12:21Dropping Julian's name into every other sentence.
12:24She asked me questions too.
12:26What was New York like?
12:27What did I do for work?
12:28At one point, she looked at me and asked,
12:31Are you happy?
12:32It's fine.
12:33My husband just isn't as attentive as yours.
12:36She smiled widely at that.
12:38Then just before noon, the front door swung open.
12:42Honey, I'm home.
12:43Julian's voice filled the house.
12:45He walked in carrying their five-year-old son.
12:47The moment his eyes landed on me, he went rigid.
12:51I looked at him steadily.
12:52Which honey are you talking to exactly?
12:56Julian's face locked up.
12:58He stood there holding the boy and said absolutely nothing.
13:01I held his gaze.
13:02My eyes said everything I didn't speak aloud.
13:05Why?
13:06How could you?
13:07Do you have any idea what you've done to your son?
13:10To your parents?
13:11He was an only child.
13:12His whole life, they had sacrificed everything for him.
13:16And he had walked away from all of it.
13:18And quietly become the son of someone else's family.
13:21I would never understand it.
13:23I would never forgive it.
13:25Mia broke first.
13:27I...
13:28I...
13:30What...
13:30What does that mean?
13:31She grabbed my arm, then turned to Julian.
13:34Julian?
13:35Julian, look at me.
13:36What is going on?
13:39I...
13:39I don't understand.
13:40Why...
13:40Why would she call you that?
13:42Why is she calling you that?
13:44The paralysis broke from Julian's face.
13:46He quickly set the boy down.
13:48He took a few steps forward, then stopped.
13:51Caught exactly halfway between us, unable to choose a direction.
13:55I'll explain everything.
13:56Explain what?
13:58That our 12-year marriage is nothing but an empty shell?
14:01That you have no parents?
14:03No son?
14:04Or that you, a married man, have been living out here as another woman's husband,
14:07and you're ready to file for divorce so she can finally have your last name?
14:10Every word landed.
14:11He had no answer.
14:13He looked like a man caught with nowhere to run.
14:16I know I don't deserve forgiveness.
14:18He finally said.
14:18I'm sorry.
14:20Mia fell apart.
14:21Sorry?
14:22What does that mean for me?
14:23She was crying now, fully.
14:25You said I was everything to you.
14:27You said I was your life.
14:28Say something.
14:29Tell me what's happening right now.
14:30And then Julian turned away from me and moved to pull her into his arms.
14:34My heart was bleeding.
14:36Fury rose through me.
14:38Then what are you saying?
14:39I demanded.
14:40He let go of her.
14:41He didn't dare hold her again.
14:43He stood there looking cornered, miserable, caught between two directions with no good move left.
14:48In the silence, my phone rang.
14:51Julian's father.
14:52A video call.
14:53I answered without hesitating and switched to the rear camera.
14:56Have you found Julian yet?
14:58The old man's voice was full of hope.
15:00He hadn't seen his son in almost two years.
15:02I walked the phone slowly across the living room until the camera landed on the family portrait on the wall.
15:07All six of them, all smiling.
15:09Found him.
15:10Along with his new wife.
15:13His new son.
15:14His new daughter.
15:16His new family.
15:18This is other home.
15:21He moved in with her family.
15:22He's been taking care of them for years.
15:24I heard my father-in-law's sharp intake of breath.
15:28For a moment, he was too furious to speak.
15:29I turned the camera to Julian and Mia.
15:32Dad, meet the new family.
15:37Julian!
15:38Is this what you've been doing?
15:39This.
15:40You have no regard for your mother and me.
15:43No regard for your wife and son.
15:44Are you trying to put me in the grave?
15:47Turn it off.
15:48Stop filming.
15:50Just stop.
15:52I no longer have a son.
15:55Do you hear me?
15:57I have no son.
15:59In the middle of it all, Mr. and Mrs. Miller walked through the front door.
16:03The moment Mr. and Mrs. Miller understood who I was.
16:07If Julian chose to marry my daughter and have children with her that tells you everything about where he stands,
16:14end it clean, and move on, we're not giving him up.
16:19I've treated Julian like my own son from the day he walked into this house.
16:24He and Mia love each other.
16:26That's not going to change.
16:27And what do you say?
16:29He had been staring at the floor.
16:31When my eyes finally forced his head up, he hesitated, then asked me slowly,
16:35Do you still want me back?
16:38Before I could answer, Mia flew across the room.
16:40She dropped to the floor in front of him and grabbed his collar.
16:44What kind of question is that?
16:45If she still wants you, does that mean you'll throw me away?
16:48Julian, if you dare leave this family, I'll take the kids and end it all.
16:52I mean it.
16:54She gave you one child.
16:56I gave you two.
16:57I have given you more.
16:59You can't just-
17:00Julian pulled her up and tried to calm her.
17:02I just need to know what she-
17:05I laughed hollowly to myself.
17:07Then deliberately I said-
17:08I want you to come home.
17:09Cut everything here off.
17:11For good.
17:12I knew exactly what he was doing.
17:14He was waiting for me to make the choice for him.
17:16Sure that someone like me, with my standards, would never accept a man who had done this.
17:20He expected me to say-
17:21I want a divorce!
17:23...and hand him his exit.
17:24When I didn't, surprise flickered across his face.
17:26Even a trace of disappointment.
17:28I stared at him.
17:29Now it's your turn to choose.
17:31His lips moved.
17:31Nothing came out.
17:32Mia shook him by the arm, crying.
17:34Say something!
17:35You said I'm the love of your life!
17:36You said you'd grow old with me!
17:38Say it to her face!
17:39Julian had no choice.
17:40He looked at me with pleading eyes.
17:42Could we...
17:44just keep things the way they are?
17:46The way they are?
17:47I stared at him, cold.
17:48He wanted to keep both of us.
17:50My look made him too ashamed to repeat himself.
17:52You stay out here and keep playing husband?
17:54I go back to New York?
17:55Take care of your parents?
17:57Raise our son alone?
17:58Run your whole life from the background?
18:00Enjoy this one?
18:01He had nothing to say.
18:02But I could see it in his face.
18:03That was exactly what he'd hoped for.
18:05Mia grabbed his arm again, sobbing.
18:07If you don't choose this family,
18:09I'll take these kids and die in front of you.
18:11You promised me we'd grow old together.
18:15You can't abandon us!
18:17She pulled both children over to her, crying.
18:19I'm just staying in...
18:23Ask your daddy, she said to them.
18:26Ask him if he's going to keep you.
18:28The two children didn't understand what was happening.
18:31But seeing Mia cry, they cried too.
18:33Crowding into Julian's arms.
18:34Daddy, please don't leave us.
18:37Daddy, mommy's crying.
18:38You always said you can't stand to see mommy cry.
18:41Please?
18:41Julian finally broke.
18:43He pulled all three of them into his arms.
18:45His eyes went red.
18:46Then he looked at me.
18:47He had made his decision.
18:51Chloe, I'm sorry.
18:53I know you can manage on your own.
18:54I know you'll be okay.
18:57She can't.
18:58She has nothing without me.
19:00He glanced at Mia and the children,
19:01then back at me.
19:04Take everything in the house.
19:06I won't fight you for custody.
19:08But this is the choice I have to make.
19:13I'm asking you to let us go.
19:15I laughed.
19:15Not from humor.
19:16From the absurdity of what I was hearing.
19:19She's the one to be pitied?
19:21What about your mother?
19:22Who had a stroke and can't care for herself?
19:25Who wants nothing more than to see her own son?
19:27What about your father?
19:28Who broke his leg and needed you home
19:30and never once said a word about the fact that you didn't come?
19:33What about your son?
19:34Who gets mocked at school for not having a father around?
19:37Who has cried more times than I can count?
19:39As I spoke, tears fell from my eyes.
19:42Not for him.
19:43Never again for him.
19:45Only because a man like this
19:46was never worth everything our family had given him.
19:49Julian stood there in silence.
19:51Shame was written across his entire face.
19:54Mia filled the gap.
19:55Don't worry.
19:56I'll bring his parents here.
19:58I'll take care of them myself.
19:59You don't need to concern yourself with any of it.
20:01Then her eyes hardened.
20:03And you?
20:04You knew who I was from the very beginning, didn't you?
20:07You sat there and let me talk and talk
20:09and you were just collecting evidence.
20:11I smiled at her.
20:12Contemptions.
20:13Then I called Julian's parents back right there
20:15and told them in front of everybody what Julian had said.
20:19His mother's voice shook up with her.
20:21If you divorce Chloe, you're not my son.
20:24Do you understand me?
20:26While you were gone, she gave everything to this family.
20:28To us.
20:29And you want to throw her away?
20:30I will never accept that woman.
20:32And those children, I don't know them and I never will.
20:35Julian's father said the same.
20:36Mia broke down crying.
20:39Julian was at his breaking point.
20:40I ended the call.
20:41He wiped his eyes, couldn't look at me, and finally said,
20:46Chloe, I have no right to ask anything of you.
20:49But name your terms.
20:51Whatever I can give you, I will.
20:53Mia knelt down in front of me.
20:59Please.
21:02Please.
21:04You're educated.
21:05You're capable.
21:06You're beautiful.
21:07You'll find someone better than him.
21:11I can't.
21:13He is all I have.
21:15She pulled both children over.
21:21Kneel down.
21:25Ask her to let your daddy stay.
21:27Two small faces turned up toward me.
21:29Please, madam.
21:30Don't take our daddy.
21:32Our family needs a daddy.
21:34Otherwise, it won't be whole.
21:36She was using the children to work on my conscience.
21:38Anger surged through me.
21:40Your children need a father.
21:42And mine doesn't?
21:43Your child is older.
21:45Mine are still small.
21:47I laughed and stood up from the couch.
21:53The truth is, none of these children, yours or mine, will have a father from here on out.
22:00Both Julian and Mia looked up sharply, not understanding.
22:04Not until my brother walked through the door with local police officers behind him and Julian's boss and two company
22:10directors right after.
22:14The sight of so many strangers sent both children into tears.
22:21An officer quietly asked Mrs. Miller to take them to another room.
22:25Julian stood still, calm, as if he had always known this day would come.
22:30Mia was anything but.
22:31What is this?
22:33Hides!
22:34You have no right to come in here and take my husband!
22:37When no one responded to her satisfaction, she turned all of it on me.
22:42Her pointing finger trembled.
22:44You call yourself a decent person?
22:46He already told you.
22:47You can have everything.
22:50What more do you want from him?
22:52He's your son's father.
22:54How can you be this heartless?
22:57Julian touched her arm.
22:58Stop.
22:59She didn't stop.
23:00I looked at her and said plainly,
23:02Everything you've been wearing, living in, eating, that money didn't just come out of my pocket.
23:07It was dirty.
23:08It came from fraud and corruption.
23:11You told me yourself what he was giving you every month.
23:15That figure is exactly what I used as evidence.
23:18You handed it to me yourself.
23:20Julian turned to stone.
23:21His boss stepped forward.
23:23His disappointment total.
23:24I trusted you with this entire project.
23:27Bribery, kickbacks, substandard materials, embezzlement of public funds.
23:34I gave you everything.
23:37And this is what you did with it.
23:38Julian kept his eyes on the floor and said nothing.
23:41Mia spun toward the officers and grabbed one by the arm.
23:44We'll pay it all back.
23:46Every cent.
23:47Just please.
23:49He's a father.
23:50We have children.
23:51Please.
23:52Give him one more chance.
23:56Ma'am.
23:56The officer's voice was firm.
23:58This is a criminal investigation.
24:00Repayment is not the issue.
24:02And while that's being sorted out,
24:04Mia, you should probably find yourself a lawyer.
24:06What you and Julian have constitutes bigamy.
24:09That's a separate charge.
24:10She went white.
24:11Julian finally looked up.
24:12His control snapped.
24:13Everything I did, I'll take responsibility for all of it.
24:16But she had nothing to do with any of it.
24:18She didn't know.
24:19Why are you going after her?
24:20I smiled, cold and contemptuous.
24:22Inside, the hatred was overwhelming enough
24:24that I wanted to strike him across the face.
24:27And then, right at the peak of it,
24:28I felt it all drain away into something vast and empty.
24:32None of this is worth anything.
24:34She didn't know?
24:35I said.
24:36She knew I was your wife.
24:39She brought me home deliberately to force the confrontation.
24:43To pressure you into a divorce.
24:45And if she hadn't bragged about the 50,000 a month,
24:51I wouldn't have had the evidence I needed.
24:55Julian stared at Mia, stunned, demanding the truth.
24:58Mia shook her head frantically.
25:00I didn't know she was going to report you.
25:03I never thought she would.
25:05I played a recording.
25:07Julian's face drained of color at the first two sentences.
25:10Julian's going to have to go back and deal with his wife eventually.
25:13Even if he drags his feet,
25:15Mia will raise hell until he files.
25:17She's not the type to share.
25:19Look at that woman.
25:20She sat here and took it all without a word.
25:23Either she has no backbone,
25:24or she's playing a very long game.
25:27Oh, she's playing a game.
25:29But it won't matter.
25:31Julian has no feelings for her anymore.
25:34Mia just has to cry and he'll sign the papers.
25:37You know why Mia brought her home, right?
25:39To light the fuse herself.
25:41Julian's expression moved from shock to disbelief
25:44to a deep, exhausted disappointment.
25:46He looked at Mia.
25:48So you knew all along that I was married.
25:51You brought her here on purpose.
25:53To force my hand.
25:55Mia couldn't argue her way out of it.
25:57She broke down and admitted it through tears.
25:59I just wanted you to belong to me completely.
26:02What's wrong with that?
26:03I never thought she'd go this far.
26:06I never thought she'd actually...
26:09Mr. Miller, who had said nothing and immediately began deflecting blame.
26:13If you weren't so spinless and indecisive, none of this would have happened.
26:18Now you've brought this on yourself.
26:20What happens to the children?
26:23What happens to Mia?
26:25Mia, what are we supposed to do?
26:28How do we ever show our faces around here again?
26:30As he laughed, tears slipped from the corners of his eyes.
26:34His face was full of helpless, exhausted disbelief at how stupid Mia had been.
26:39For a moment, he genuinely didn't know who to blame.
26:43He kept his head down the entire walk to the police car.
26:46Outside, people had gathered.
26:48Then more from neighboring streets.
26:50I brought them there to see the most famously devoted husband in town taken away.
26:55His wife back in New York is beautiful, educated, a professor I heard.
27:00And he threw all of that away for this.
27:02Men are never satisfied.
27:04Doesn't matter how good things are at home.
27:06Mia said.
27:08Never questioned her once.
27:09And he was rotten the whole time.
27:12Not knew he was married.
27:14Brought his wife here himself to force a divorce.
27:18Backfired, didn't it?
27:19Tried to steal another woman's husband.
27:23Burned her own life down.
27:25The police car door, Julian stopped.
27:27He turned and found me in the crowd.
27:29Take care of yourself.
27:30I'm sorry, Chloe.
27:33Find someone who deserves you.
27:34I looked at him.
27:35I said nothing.
27:36He got in.
27:37Mia ran after the car.
27:39Stumbling, falling, picking herself up and running again.
27:43Pounding on the windows.
27:44Julian!
27:44Julian!
27:45Screaming his name.
27:46Until it turned the corner and disappeared.
27:48She came back and collapsed at my feet.
27:53She was on her knees, in front of everyone.
27:55Past caring who saw.
27:57Please.
27:58Please help him.
27:59You're educated.
28:00You understand how this works better than I do.
28:03I don't care about anything else anymore.
28:05I just need him not to go to prison.
28:07She held onto the hem of my coat.
28:08Believe me or don't.
28:10But I did love him.
28:12That part was real.
28:13I looked at her calmly.
28:15The hatred I had carried into this situation was gone.
28:18She kept going.
28:19Her voice breaking.
28:21I genuinely didn't know he was married when we first got together.
28:24I found out when our son was almost a year old.
28:27I found a photo of you on his phone.
28:29By then I was already in too deep.
28:31The children, this house, my parents, we were all depending on him.
28:36I didn't know what to do.
28:40I know nothing I say matters now.
28:42I'm only asking if there's anything you can do.
28:47She didn't get up.
28:49She just stayed there on the ground.
28:51In front of everyone.
28:53Her hand clutching my coat.
28:55Not caring about the stairs.
28:57I reached down and removed her hand.
28:59I looked at her.
29:01You know what your tears mean to me?
29:04I said quietly.
29:07Crocodile tears.
29:09She blinked up at me.
29:10Then she folded over and wept into the ground.
29:13And I walked away.
29:15I did not soften.
29:16I pressed forward with every charge.
29:18Including bigamy.
29:20Julian's parents never blamed me.
29:21They supported every decision I made.
29:24My son did not take it well.
29:26He spent months in therapy.
29:27Struggling to accept that his father had another family out there.
29:31Other children.
29:32Living a parallel life.
29:34It took a long time.
29:35Six months later.
29:36Mia was sentenced to one year for bigamy.
29:39Julian's sentencing came three months after that.
29:42The court found that he had embezzled nearly $97 million.
29:45Taken over $10 million in bribes.
29:47Paid out $60 million in kickbacks.
29:50Misused $20 million in public funds.
29:52Violated construction regulations.
29:54And committed bigamy.
29:55Multiple charges.
29:57Concurrent sentencing.
29:5811 years.
29:59He asked to see me the day he was taken in.
30:02I didn't go.
30:02I sent my lawyer to handle the divorce.
30:05Julian's parents were good to me and my son until the end.
30:08Before they passed, they transferred both of their properties into my son's name and left everything they had to us.
30:14I kept my promise to them regardless.
30:16I cared for them.
30:17And I was there when they left.
30:19In the seventh year of Julian's sentence, they both passed.
30:22His mother went first.
30:24Another stroke.
30:25Too severe to...
30:26His father followed the next day.
30:27They had been devoted to each other their entire lives.
30:30He simply could not face a mourning without her.
30:33I arranged a proper funeral for both of them.
30:35I had my lawyer notify Julian.
30:37He sent back one message through the attorney.
30:41Can I see you?
30:42I didn't respond.
30:43My son was accepted to an Ivy League school the following year.
30:47That, more than anything, let me breathe.
30:49I heard Mia remarried about three years after her release.
30:53A divorced man with two children of his own.
30:55She moved on.
30:57I moved on too.
30:58My son played matchmaker.
31:00He introduced me to the single father of one of his college friends.
31:04By then I wasn't looking for anything grand.
31:06What I found instead was someone steady.
31:09Someone present.
31:10Someone who picked up when I called.
31:12We agreed from the start.
31:13No children together.
31:15We weren't starting over from scratch.
31:16We were two people who chose to share the rest of the road.
31:20Three years into that marriage, Julian was released.
31:24He came to find me.
31:25Eleven years had not been kind to him.
31:27He looked far older than a man his age should.
31:30Worn down.
31:31Diminished.
31:32Nothing left of the confidence he used to carry.
31:34He stood at my door and asked, quietly,
31:37Chloe, is there any way I could come home?
31:41I looked at him.
31:42I took your advice.
31:46I found someone good.
31:47I married him.
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