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After the Deep My Family Begged Me Home - FULL Reelshort
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00:01I used to be a professional salvage diver, one of the best on the east coast, then I was convicted
00:07of murder, they said I cut my partner's air hose, said I killed for money, I did 8 years for
00:13a murder I didn't commit, now I gut fish for a seafood wholesaler in a run down warehouse by the
00:19docks, that day my family came tearing down the pier like the world was ending, my mom and dad collapsed
00:25onto the filthy ground, right into the blood, melt water and fish slime underfoot.
00:30Ethan, your brother went diving 2 hours ago, he still hasn't come back up, something happened to him, you're the
00:37best diver we know, get in the water and bring him up, my ex-wife Vanessa rushed up next, she
00:44pulled out the wedding ring from years ago, then she forced it onto my finger, I swear to you, if
00:49you go down there and bring Jason back, I'll marry you again, I said nothing, I just reached up, and
00:56touched the hearing aid on my ear, had they really forgotten, 8 years ago,
01:00Jason, the son they chose, over and over again, instead of me, he fought with his dive partner underwater, over
01:07gold bars, hidden in a sunken ship, after it happened, Vanessa wanted to protect him, so she forced me to
01:13sign a confession, my dad went even further, he slapped me so hard, he ruptured my eardrum, that one hit
01:19left me half deaf, and now, with the condition I'm in now, if I go back underwater, the pressure could
01:25trigger a brain bleed, I could die down there,
01:27Ethan, shut your damn mouth and do what they say, that was David, the doc manager, just now, he was
01:35all smiles, sucking up to them, the second he turned to me, his face filled with disgust,
01:40The Lane and Cole families practically own this town, I always thought you knew your place, didn't expect you to
01:46get so full of yourself, just say yes already, you save a life, you get money, it's your shot at
01:53redemption, so why are you still rotting here, slinging guts on this pier?
01:58People nearby had no idea what was going on, but that didn't stop them, yeah, what's wrong with this guy?
02:13Every word landed hard, the one they dragged out to take the fall for Jason, was me, the one whose
02:18life got destroyed, was me, so why, why was I still the one standing here, getting cursed at like I
02:24was garbage?
02:25I pulled the ring off, set it back in Vanessa's hand, then I pointed at my hearing aid, and shook
02:30my head, it's not that I won't save him, my ear is shot, if I go underwater, I'll die, my
02:36mom, Susan, froze for a second, then she threw herself into the filthy water on the ground, fish scales stuck
02:42to her clothes, she slapped the puddles with both hands, crying so hard her voice cracked,
02:48Ethan, Ethan, it's been eight years, how are you still this cold, this cruel, this heartless to get out of
02:53this, that you'd actually fake an injury?
02:56That's Jason, that's your brother, my dad Victor stared at me in pure disappointment, his whole hand was shaking, how
03:04did we end up with a monster like you, standing there while your own brother dies, and now you're making
03:09up lies, you're a goddamn disgrace,
03:13Vanessa's eyes were bright red, she dug through her purse with trembling hands, then she yanked out a bank card,
03:19and shoved it into my palm,
03:21Ethan, I'm begging you, there's five million on this card, that's enough for you to live on forever, just go
03:26down there now, bring Jason back, you want money, fine, take it, you want something else, just name it!
03:32A hot tear fell from her face, it landed on the back of my hand, and burned, burned so badly
03:38it felt like it went straight through me, eight years in prison, she never visited me once, not one time,
03:44and now this was our reunion,
03:46she was humbling herself for the same man she once protected by forcing me to confess, and even now, she
03:52was still using money to grind what was left of my dignity into the dirt,
03:55I didn't want to keep arguing with them, not anymore, so I swallowed the pain, my hand shook as I
04:01pulled a medical report from my pocket, a diagnosis, severe eardrum perforation,
04:05I tried to show it to her, Vanessa didn't even look, she slapped my hand away, the paper flew out,
04:11Are you done yet? You're still waving around some stupid piece of paper? Isn't money what you want? Ira doesn't
04:16have time for this!
04:17Jason doesn't have time for this, then David charged over, he grabbed my fish table and flipped the whole thing,
04:22Fish crashed to the ground, ice scattered everywhere,
04:26Ethan! You murderer! Get the hell out! Don't bring your bad luck onto these docks! If you won't save him
04:31today, then don't ever think about coming back here!
04:35The crowd joined in at once, people passing by, everybody, some even spat at me,
04:40Get out, murderer!
04:42A piece of trash like you deserves to rot in hell.
04:46I looked down, the medical report Vanessa slapped away was lying on the floor, soaked, stepped on,
04:52And in that moment, the whole thing felt absurd.
04:55All I wanted was to live like a normal person, quietly, alone, in some forgotten corner.
05:02That was it.
05:03I was even that too much to ask, did they really have to push me all the way to death?
05:07That feeling, like the whole world was pointing at me, it crushed the last of my defenses.
05:12I didn't want to stay there one more second.
05:14I turned and ran.
05:15I don't even know how I made it back to my rental.
05:17I just remember the voices.
05:19People on the street yelling after me, cursing me.
05:22I barely got inside.
05:24I hadn't even caught my breath yet.
05:25Then my phone started going insane.
05:27Alert after alert.
05:29Hashtag the murderer who let his brother drown.
05:31Hashtag rich family drama.
05:32The adopted son versus the real one.
05:34Desperate heiress.
05:36Begs her prisoner.
05:37Ex to help.
05:38I tapped one of the alerts.
05:39It opened straight into Vanessa's livestream.
05:41On camera, my mom, Susan, sat there trembling.
05:44She was trying to hold back tears.
05:46I'm so sorry, everyone.
05:47We know we're taking up public attention.
05:50But as a mother, I have nowhere else to turn.
05:52She covered her mouth and sobbed.
05:54It's our fault.
05:55We failed to raise him right.
05:56Back then, he killed for gold bars.
05:58He robbed people.
05:59He took a life.
06:01He served eight years for it.
06:02I thought prison would change him.
06:04But I was wrong.
06:05He's rotten to the core.
06:07Her tears streamed down harder.
06:09Now his brother's trapped underwater.
06:11His life is hanging by a thread.
06:13Ethan could save him.
06:14He could.
06:14But he just ran away.
06:16Victor held her up like she might collapse.
06:18Then he turned to the camera.
06:20I'm begging everyone to help us.
06:22If anyone can bring Ethan back, I'll pay seven figures.
06:25The comments exploded.
06:26They flooded so fast I could barely read them.
06:29Trash like that deserves exposure.
06:31I know where he lives.
06:32West Side Apartments.
06:34This kind of garbage should die.
06:36Anyone in Harbor City?
06:37Go block him in.
06:38Come on, guys.
06:39Go teach that freak a lesson.
06:41I stared at the screen.
06:42My whole body went numb.
06:44Then it happened.
06:45A violent pounding hit my door.
06:47Over and over.
06:49Like they were trying to break it down.
06:50I barely had time to react.
06:52My landlord stormed in first.
06:54Behind him was a crowd of people.
06:55Phones up.
06:56Flashlights on.
06:57Cameras shoved in my face.
06:58Oh, look at you.
06:59You hit it pretty well.
07:01A damn killer living in my building?
07:04They rushed inside like looters.
07:06One man smashed my bowls.
07:08Another kicked over my pots.
07:09Plates shattered across the floor.
07:11Everything I had got torn apart in seconds.
07:13I tried to stop them.
07:14Two huge men grabbed me instantly.
07:16One slammed my head down.
07:18The other locked my arms.
07:19Hold still.
07:20Apologize to the camera.
07:21Say it now.
07:22Tell them you're trash.
07:23You don't deserve to breathe.
07:25Humiliation drowned me.
07:27It hit like a wave.
07:28Someone yanked my hair back.
07:30A phone was jammed right in my face.
07:32The live comments kept flying by.
07:34I couldn't move.
07:35Then the crowd suddenly split apart, making a path.
07:38My parents walked in.
07:39For one stupid second, I thought they were here to stop this.
07:42I was wrong.
07:43Victor's face was dark, cold.
07:45He handed someone a thick coil of rope.
07:47It was so heavy it sagged.
07:48He pointed at me through clenched teeth.
07:51Please, help me tie him up.
07:52If he won't go, then drag him there.
07:55I snapped my head up.
07:56I stared at him like I didn't know him.
07:58Dad?
07:58Do you even hear yourself?
08:00I told you, I can't dive.
08:02I'll die.
08:03Then I looked at my mother.
08:04Mom, do I even matter to you?
08:07I'm your son.
08:08For Jason.
08:10Are you really gonna force me to death?
08:12Susan's eyes were red.
08:13For one second, she looked away.
08:15Like something inside her shook.
08:17But it vanished almost instantly.
08:19What came back was ice.
08:20Shut up!
08:22Jason may not be blood, but he's a thousand times better than you know.
08:25Ten thousand!
08:26You spent eight years in prison!
08:27Who took care of us during those years?
08:29Jason did!
08:30Who stayed by our side?
08:31Jason did!
08:32And now he's in trouble.
08:34You're his brother.
08:35You should be saving him.
08:36You're just gonna let him die?
08:38Can your conscience live with that?
08:40My chest felt ripped open.
08:42I was already in pieces.
08:43But that still hurt so bad I could barely breathe.
08:46So that was it.
08:47Blood never mattered to them.
08:48Not once.
08:49To them, I was a stain.
08:51Something disposable.
08:52Something they could throw away whenever they needed.
08:54I'm not going.
08:55I didn't kill anyone.
08:57The case back then wasn't what you think.
08:59Why won't any of you believe me?
09:01I fought like hell.
09:03Twisting.
09:03Kicking.
09:04Trying to break free from the rope.
09:06But nobody cared what a convicted killer had to say.
09:08Not one person.
09:10Just when I was about to break.
09:12Vanessa walked in.
09:13One of her bodyguards handed her something.
09:14A stunned baton.
09:15She took it without blinking.
09:17Then she stepped into my room.
09:18Her face was cold and hard.
09:20Ethan.
09:21Don't make me do this.
09:22For Jason.
09:24There is nothing I won't do.
09:26She didn't hesitate.
09:27She jammed the stun baton straight into my back.
09:30A brutal crack of electricity tore through me.
09:33My whole body convulsed.
09:35Then everything went black.
09:37When I opened my eyes again, I was sprawled across the deck.
09:40Like something the tide had spit back out.
09:42All around me was open ocean.
09:44Nothing but water.
09:45Waves slammed against the boat.
09:47The sound made my heart seize up.
09:50Ethan, stop playing dead.
09:52Get in the water.
09:53Bring Jason back.
09:54When I still didn't move.
09:55I promise you.
09:57If you bring Jason back up.
09:59Clenched her teeth and said.
10:00I'll think about marrying you again.
10:02And you'll never have to do that filthy job again.
10:05Filthy?
10:06That word hit me like a knife.
10:07Half a year ago, right after I got out, I went back to the Cole mansion once.
10:12I was stupid enough to think maybe, maybe there was still a little love left for me there.
10:16But that night, through the mansion's floor to ceiling windows, all I saw was a house blazing
10:21with light.
10:22My mom and dad were inside.
10:24Vanessa was too.
10:25They were all gathered around Jason.
10:27The son they always chose over me.
10:29They were eating a big holiday dinner.
10:31Roast turkey on the table.
10:32Steak.
10:33Lobster.
10:33Wine.
10:34Everything rich and perfect.
10:36Glasses raised.
10:37Laughter everywhere.
10:38They looked like the perfect family.
10:40And me?
10:41I was standing outside in the freezing wind.
10:44A convict who had done eight years for someone else.
10:46Half deaf.
10:47Broken.
10:48Shaking from the cold.
10:49That was the moment I finally woke up.
10:51My hell had never been prison.
10:53My hell was them.
10:55They built it with their own hands.
10:57In that house, I was never family.
10:59I was just an outsider.
11:01My thoughts snapped back to the boat.
11:03Then my eyes locked on something in Vanessa's hand.
11:06A photograph.
11:07She was gripping it tight.
11:09It was a candid shot from a beach volleyball game.
11:11Jason was shirtless, standing out among a group of dive team members.
11:15And the thing that hit me hardest was the scar on his right shoulder.
11:19The second I saw that scar, my whole body went cold.
11:22Like I'd been struck by lightning.
11:24My mind got dragged back ten years.
11:26Back then, I was captain of the dive team.
11:30Vanessa was on the team.
11:31Jason was too.
11:33That day, the sea turned bad fast.
11:36The current got vicious.
11:37I saw the danger right away.
11:39So I pointed up, signaling everyone to head back.
11:42But before we could surface, everything went sideways.
11:46In the chaos, I used almost every ounce of strength I had to shove Vanessa and Jason towards safer water.
11:52And I got caught instead.
11:53The current took me.
11:54I should have died.
11:55By some miracle, I didn't.
11:57I washed up on a deserted island.
11:59Passed out there for three full days.
12:01Then I was rescued.
12:02When I finally got home, Jason ran straight at me.
12:05He grabbed me hard.
12:06Held on like he'd never let go.
12:08And he started crying.
12:09Ethan, you're back.
12:11This is all my fault.
12:12I was useless.
12:13If I'd stopped you from making us go down, if I'd just been stronger, then I wouldn't have only saved
12:18Vanessa and watched you get swept away.
12:20So that was it.
12:21I finally understood.
12:23No wonder my wife had been willing to force me to take the fall, to send me to prison, and
12:27to let me die for another man.
12:28For ten whole years, she had believed Jason was the one who saved her.
12:32In the three days I disappeared, he became her hero.
12:35The man who risked everything for her.
12:37And me?
12:38I became the reckless one.
12:39The glory-hungry idiot who almost got everybody killed.
12:43What a sick joke.
12:44My throat was dry and raw, but I still forced the words out, shouting with everything I had left.
12:49I told you!
12:50I can't go underwater!
12:51My ear can't handle the pressure!
12:53If I go down there, my brain could hemorrhage!
12:55Do you people want me dead?!
12:57Vanessa's eyes flickered, just for a second, a flash of panic, gone almost instantly.
13:03Then Victor charged at me in a rage.
13:05He rushed over and kicked me hard.
13:06I hit the deck and rolled.
13:08Keep lying!
13:09Go ahead!
13:10Keep pretending!
13:11Ethan, you're rotten to the core!
13:12At a time like this, you're still faking a disability just to get out of it?!
13:17Off to the side, my mom collapsed to the deck, wiping her tears, sobbing like her heart was ripping apart.
13:23Oh God!
13:24Jason was an angel!
13:26He's always been so sweet!
13:28He did everything for us!
13:30If we lose him, I can't go on!
13:34Then the boat captain, Adam, walked over.
13:36He tapped his watch.
13:38Ms. Lane, this is where Jason went under.
13:40Based on the time, his tank has maybe 30 minutes left.
13:44That one sentence shattered whatever reason Vanessa still had.
13:48Her pretty face twisted from panic.
13:50She spun toward me and screamed.
13:51You heard him!
13:52Move!
13:53Now!
13:53Gear him up!
13:55I stared at her, and something in me finally went cold.
13:59Fine.
13:59I'll go.
14:00But I have one condition.
14:02I want the best deep-water gear you've got.
14:05If they were really going to shove me into hell, then I was grabbing whatever slim chance I had.
14:09No matter how small.
14:11If the gear was strong enough, maybe I could survive the pressure.
14:14The second I gave in, Vanessa's shoulders dropped, like she could finally breathe again.
14:18She rushed over and grabbed my hand tight.
14:20Ethan, I knew it.
14:22I knew you still cared.
14:24I knew you wouldn't just let him die.
14:27Then the next second, guilt flashed across her face.
14:29She pointed to a pile of junk in the corner.
14:32But there's no other option.
14:34This is the only diving gear on the boat.
14:36You used to be the best diver in the business.
14:39A little problem like this?
14:41You can handle it, right?
14:42She said it so casually.
14:44Like it was nothing.
14:46I followed her finger.
14:47And my blood went cold.
14:49It was an old dive suit.
14:51The rubber was cracked in places.
14:53The air valve was rusted.
14:55That kind of gear should have been scrapped years ago.
14:57There was no way it was safe.
14:59A chill shot straight up my spine.
15:01I yanked my hand away, then backed up in panic.
15:04Vanessa, are you out of your mind?
15:06You know diving!
15:07If I go down in that thing, that's the same as killing me!
15:10Adam looked at the suit, too.
15:11His face tightened.
15:13Mrs. Lane, this gear really is too old.
15:16The risk on a forced deep dive is way too high.
15:19If something goes wrong...
15:21Before he could finish, Vanessa's face went cold.
15:23She cut him off without hesitation.
15:25At a time like this, who the hell cares about that?
15:28Get over here!
15:29Put it on him!
15:31A few bodyguards rushed me at once.
15:33They slammed me onto the deck, pinned me down hard.
15:35In the struggle, someone stomped down.
15:37My hearing aid flew off.
15:38It cracked apart.
15:39Then got crushed under a shoe.
15:41Shattered.
15:42The one thing that had stayed with me for years.
15:44Gone.
15:45In the end, they forced the suit onto my body anyway.
15:48And Vanessa strapped a heavy industrial weight belt around my waist.
15:52Sixty pounds of lead, enough to make sure I sank.
15:54Then they shoved me toward the edge of the boat.
15:56In that last, desperate moment, I turned and looked back at this family.
16:00Victor stood there with his arms crossed.
16:02Coldly.
16:03Like none of it had anything to do with him.
16:05There wasn't one shred of pity in his eyes.
16:08Not for his own son.
16:09And my mother, Susan?
16:11She had her hands clasped tight.
16:12Eyes shut.
16:13Praying into empty air.
16:15Her lips trembled as she whispered,
16:17Please!
16:18Please let him be safe.
16:20Please, God, let Jason come back, okay?
16:23At a moment like this, with my life hanging by a thread,
16:26she was praying for him.
16:28For Jason.
16:29Not her own flesh and blood.
16:31It was grotesque.
16:32It was pathetic.
16:33It was almost funny.
16:35Then suddenly, a huge force slammed into my chest.
16:37Someone shoved me.
16:38Hard.
16:39The second the deck vanished under my feet.
16:41Ethan!
16:42If you bring Jason back, we'll get married right away.
16:45I'll be right here waiting for you.
16:47Then the ocean swallowed me whole.
16:48The freezing water wrapped around my body instantly.
16:51The weight belt dragged me down.
16:53Fast.
16:54Way too fast.
16:55Straight into the deep.
16:56The pressure hit my ears like a sledgehammer.
16:58My right eardrum was already hanging by a thread.
17:01Now it tore.
17:02A dull, ripping burst exploded inside my head, like a balloon popping in my skull.
17:07Pain.
17:08Blinding pain.
17:09So much pain, my whole body seized up.
17:11I opened my mouth to scream.
17:13A mouthful of seawater rushed in instead.
17:15My lungs felt like giant hands were crushing them.
17:17My vision turned red.
17:18Then darker.
17:19Then worse.
17:20My mind started slipping away.
17:21And just when I was drowning,
17:23just when the dark was closing over me,
17:25just when I gave up trying to live,
17:26A pair of soft hands reached for me.
17:29Fast.
17:29Strong.
17:30And grabbed me.
17:31Susan pressed a hand to her chest.
17:32Her face was pale.
17:34She leaned against the railing.
17:35Her eyes stayed locked on the water.
17:37Victor had his hands behind his back.
17:39He kept pacing.
17:40Back and forth.
17:42Jason will be fine.
17:44He's lucky.
17:45He has to be okay.
17:47Ethan was a diving champion.
17:49He'll bring Jason back up.
17:50She kept saying it over and over.
17:52Like if she said it enough, it would come true.
17:54Like it could calm the fear inside her.
17:56But her fingers were shaking.
17:58And that gave her away.
17:59Then suddenly,
18:00a sharp alarm shattered the dead silence.
18:03A Coast Guard boat was speeding toward them.
18:05Fast.
18:06A few officers jumped onto the deck.
18:08The man in front scanned everyone with hard, sharp eyes.
18:10I'm Owen with the Harbor City Coast Guard.
18:13Who's in charge here?
18:15Victor hurried over at once.
18:16He pulled out a business card and handed it over.
18:18We're with Cole Group.
18:20My son went missing while diving.
18:23We came out here to look for him ourselves.
18:26Owen took the card.
18:28Rescue.
18:29Then he looked them over coldly.
18:31We pulled him out three hours ago.
18:36The whole deck went dead silent.
18:38Then Owen pulled up footage from his body cam.
18:40He opened a video and held it up.
18:41Three hours ago, during patrol, we recovered a man from the water.
18:45It was Jason Cole.
18:47We tried contacting his family.
18:49No answer.
18:51Never thought you came all the way out here.
18:54There's no signal.
18:55The doctor on board examined him.
18:57He'd been exposed to a marine toxin.
18:58A sea barrier.
18:59A kind of sea slug.
19:01That toxin can trigger severe hallucinations.
19:03In serious cases, it can be fatal.
19:05He might have touched one while diving.
19:07He's already been taken to the hospital.
19:08He's been stabilized for now.
19:09The second they heard Jason was alive, my parents and Vanessa lit up with joy.
19:13Like they had all just been handed their lives back.
19:15And not one of them cared about the word hallucinations.
19:19Not one.
19:20Victor nearly started crying on the spot.
19:22He was so excited he could barely stand still.
19:24I knew it!
19:25I knew Jason was blessed!
19:27He's always had luck on his side!
19:29Vanessa, did you hear that?
19:32Jason's okay!
19:33We have money.
19:34As long as he's still breathing, we can save him.
19:37We'll spend whatever it takes.
19:39Vanessa finally let out a long breath.
19:41A smile of pure relief broke across her face.
19:43Like she had just survived a nightmare.
19:45Then the smile froze.
19:47Right there on her face.
19:48Because suddenly she remembered.
19:49Half an hour ago she had shoved her ex-husband into the ocean.
19:52With her own hands.
19:53Forced him down there.
19:54To save Jason.
19:55He was lying in a hospital.
19:57Alive.
19:57So where was Ethan?
19:59I had already been underwater for over 30 minutes.
20:01And there was still no sign of me.
20:02Not even a trace.
20:03A terrible thought started rising in her mind.
20:05But before she could think it through,
20:07Owen took a file from one of his officers.
20:09His expression turned strange.
20:11Cold.
20:11Sharp.
20:12Almost mocking.
20:13Then he looked straight at them and spoke again.
20:17Well, if you're his family, that actually makes this easier.
20:21He opened the document.
20:22Then announced it on the spot.
20:24As of this moment, Jason Cole is in custody.
20:27He is suspected of stealing protected underwater artifacts.
20:31And suspected of murder.
20:34That landed like a thunderclap.
20:36The next, they were dragged straight into the dirt.
20:39The smile on my dad's face froze.
20:40Then his whole face turned dark.
20:43Pointed right at Owen.
20:44What the hell are you talking about?
20:46Stealing artifacts?
20:48Murder?
20:48Our company practically built this town.
20:51My son Jason is one of the most well-known philanthropists.
20:54He's still lying in a hospital bed.
20:56And you people dare dump this kind of filth on him?
20:58My mom rushed up too.
21:00She tried to shove Owen.
21:02That's right.
21:03Do you even know how many schools Jason has donated to?
21:06He won't even hurt a fly.
21:09How could he possibly steal anything?
21:12How could he kill anyone?
21:14Vanessa stepped up too.
21:15Putting on that cold, untouchable CEO act.
21:18Officer, watch what you say.
21:19You can't just throw accusations around.
21:22I'm the chair of Lane Group.
21:24Jason is my husband.
21:25If you try to set him up with fake charges, one phone call and your career is over.
21:31They were shouting, threatening.
21:33But Owen only got colder.
21:35He didn't argue.
21:36He just tapped open another video.
21:38Jason scrambled backward from empty air.
21:40Like something horrifying was standing right in front of him.
21:43His whole body was shaking violently.
21:45His face was twisted with pure terror.
21:49He had been down dozens of feet underwater when the toxin hit.
21:52The hallucinations were strong.
21:54Don't come over here!
21:55Ah!
21:55Don't come near me!
21:57Zach, I know I messed up!
21:59Don't kill me!
22:00My parents went white.
22:01Their lips trembled.
22:02Their eyes stayed glued to the screen.
22:04I got greedy!
22:06I never should have cut your air hose!
22:08I'm so sorry!
22:10I'll do whatever it takes to make it right!
22:12No, no, don't take me with you!
22:14He started smashing his forehead against the deck.
22:16Over and over.
22:20Then all at once, the fear vanished.
22:23His face changed, turned vicious.
22:24A grin spread across it, twisted, like a demon laughing.
22:28He gestured into the empty air and cackled.
22:31Ethan, you idiot!
22:32You never saw this coming, did you?
22:35That idiot, Vanessa.
22:36She actually thought I was the one who saved her.
22:38All I did was show her a little scar.
22:40And she fell for me completely!
22:41She played those two old fans like a fettle.
22:44She got me into that house.
22:45My dad forced his neck straight, still trying to fight it.
22:48I just played the victim.
22:49And they treated me like a king while they threw you away.
22:53Sent your pathetic ass to rot!
22:55Ha ha ha ha!
22:56God, that felt damn good!
22:57You can rot in prison forever!
22:59Everything from the coals and everything from the lanes will be mine!
23:03Dead silence.
23:04Only Jason's crazed laughter kept echoing from the video.
23:07Across the deck, Vanessa stumbled back two steps.
23:10She almost fell right there on the deck.
23:12That was their precious son.
23:13Her precious husband.
23:15The man they defended like he was gold.
23:17And now he was on video.
23:19Grinning like a devil.
23:20Mocking them for being fools.
23:22No.
23:23That's impossible.
23:24You said...
23:26He was poisoned.
23:30He was hallucinating.
23:31He was talking nonsense.
23:34Exactly.
23:35That's all this is.
23:36He was hallucinating.
23:38He didn't know what he was saying.
23:40Yes!
23:43It was the toxin!
23:45That sea salt toxin made him ramble!
23:48Owen's voice turned firm.
23:49I figured that's what you'd say.
23:51Which is exactly why we move fast.
23:54This involves a major attempted murder case.
23:57So we already formed an investigation team.
24:00And verified everything he said.
24:06We found that the statements Ethan gave after his arrest eight years ago did not match the physical evidence from
24:13the scene.
24:15And there's more.
24:17Ethan's defense attorney turned on him at trial.
24:19The day before the trial, a large payment hit his account.
24:24We traced the source.
24:26It came from one of your offshore accounts, Vanessa.
24:28Vanessa's face went white.
24:30And Jason's private account received multiple large wire transfers after the incident that year.
24:35The source was hidden.
24:36But we now have strong reason to believe that money came from selling stolen artifacts.
24:40We believe the case was not what it seemed.
24:42Please cooperate with the investigation.
24:44You're coming with us.
24:45The Coast Guard officers were just about to move in.
24:48Then Adam finally broke.
24:50He swallowed hard.
24:52Then stammered out.
24:53Officer.
24:55Wait.
24:56This still isn't over.
24:59Ethan.
25:00Ethan Cole.
25:02He's still down there.
25:04He never came back up.
25:07What did you just say?
25:09Owen whipped around.
25:10His eyes widened instantly.
25:13There's still someone underwater?
25:15Adam's legs nearly gave out.
25:17He started spilling everything.
25:19About half an hour ago, Ms. Lane pushed Ethan into the water.
25:23He said his ear was injured.
25:25He said he couldn't handle the pressure.
25:27But Ms. Lane insisted.
25:29She forced him to go down.
25:31And now, he still hasn't surfaced.
25:34Three days later.
25:36Harbor City Hospital.
25:37Jason finally woke up.
25:39His body was still weak.
25:40He twitched his fingers.
25:42Then realized the bed was surrounded.
25:44Mom.
25:45Dad.
25:46Vanessa.
25:47And several police officers in uniform.
25:49A flash of joy hit him.
25:50With all these people here, they had to be worried sick about him.
25:53He quickly changed his expression.
25:55Forced tears into his eyes.
25:56Then weakly reached for Susan's hand.
25:58Dad.
26:00Mom.
26:00Mom.
26:01Vanessa.
26:02I was so scared.
26:03I had the worst nightmare.
26:07I dreamed I was trapped underwater.
26:10I thought I'd never see you again.
26:11Before, that would have worked.
26:14Susan would have rushed over already.
26:16She would have held him.
26:17Cried over him.
26:17But today, the room was terrifyingly quiet.
26:20No one spoke.
26:21Only the monitor kept beeping.
26:23Steady.
26:23Cold.
26:24Jason's hand hung there in midair.
26:26Awkward.
26:27Stiff.
26:28That was when he realized something was wrong.
26:30Victor wasn't fussing over him.
26:31The man who had always spoiled him was standing at the foot of the bed.
26:34His face was f***ing black with rage.
26:37And the way he looked at Jason now, there was no warmth left.
26:40No love.
26:41Dad?
26:42What's wrong?
26:43Dad?
26:45What's wrong?
26:45He pulled out a tablet.
26:47Tapped the screen.
26:48Then threw it onto Jason's chest.
26:49Jason grabbed it.
26:50Looked down.
26:51And instantly went pale.
26:53On the screen was him.
26:54Laughing like a maniac.
26:56Spilling everything.
26:57Confessing.
26:58Mocking the people who raised him.
26:59Calling them idiots.
27:00Every ugly word.
27:01Every filthy truth.
27:02All of it was there.
27:03His face went ghost white.
27:05Cold sweat poured down his forehead.
27:07This...
27:07Jason panicked.
27:08This isn't real.
27:09He struggled to sit up.
27:09Dad!
27:10Mom!
27:11Vanessa!
27:12Listen to me.
27:13That was the sea hair toxin.
27:15It made me hallucinate.
27:16It made me say crazy things.
27:18How could I ever hurt Ethan?
27:19That wasn't me.
27:20It was the poison talking.
27:22Vanessa, believe me.
27:23Reached for her.
27:24I love you.
27:26Everything I did.
27:28I did it so we could be together.
27:29Vanessa's expression turned complicated.
27:31Owen cut in from the side.
27:33Jason Cole.
27:34Drop the act.
27:35We've already confirmed the evidence.
27:38You framed Ethan for the theft.
27:40And you murdered Zach.
27:43The jig is up, I guess.
27:45But don't act so high and mighty, Dad.
27:48You're the one who threw your son to the wolves.
27:50I just watched.
27:52Then he turned to Vanessa.
27:53His eyes dragged over her in that disgusting, sticky way.
27:57And you...
27:59Stop acting innocent.
28:02For the last eight years.
28:05Wasn't I good enough for you in bed?
28:07What?
28:09Suddenly found your conscience?
28:13A little late, don't you think?
28:14He laughed again.
28:15Ugly, slow, mocking.
28:18Ethan's not coming back anyway.
28:21So, why not let it go?
28:23I can still take care of you two.
28:27We can all stay one happy family.
28:30Still living the dream.
28:32Isn't that what you want?
28:40The second those words came out, the whole room turned freezing cold.
28:43The shamelessness of it.
28:45The evil of it.
28:46It was beyond human.
28:47My parents were shaking so hard they could barely stand.
28:50They stared at the boy they had raised for eight years.
28:53This was the son they had treated?
28:55Like their own flesh and blood?
28:57What?
28:57Susan finally broke.
28:59What?
28:59She remembered my face.
29:00The look in my eyes when they shoved me into the sea.
29:03That dead, hollow, hopeless look.
29:05She remembered pointing at me.
29:07Cursing me.
29:08Calling me heartless in filth.
29:09The pain hit her so hard she almost stopped breathing.
29:11She collapsed to the floor.
29:13Both hands clawing at her hair.
29:15Then she let out a raw, broken scream.
29:26The second my mom said that, Victor seemed to wake up.
29:29Like he had just been struck across the face.
29:31He lowered his head, stared at his own trembling hands.
29:35Those hands.
29:36I slapped my eardrum open eight years ago.
29:38Had handed over the rope to tie up his own son.
29:44He let out a howl like a wounded beast.
29:47Then he raised his hand and started slapping himself across the face.
29:51Hard.
29:52Again.
29:53And again.
29:54Smack.
29:55The sound of those hits echoed through the hospital room.
29:58His face swelled almost instantly.
29:59His cheeks turned red and purple.
30:01Blood ran from the corner of his mouth, but he acted like he couldn't feel any of it.
30:04He just kept hitting himself.
30:06Over and over.
30:07Like a madman.
30:08This is karma.
30:10This is all karma.
30:12I thought I could see through anyone.
30:15But I killed my own blood.
30:17And Vanessa.
30:18By now, the mental wall she had spent three days holding up finally collapsed.
30:22Completely.
30:23She didn't want to think about that dive.
30:25The underwater current.
30:27The day I disappeared.
30:28Those three days after I went missing, Jason had stayed by her side.
30:32Again and again, he described what happened underwater.
30:34Every detail.
30:35Every danger.
30:36Every second.
30:37He painted the whole thing for her.
30:38However, she still remembered it.
30:40Jason standing in front of her.
30:41Taking off his shirt.
30:43Pointing at the scar on his shoulder.
30:44Telling her he got it saving her.
30:46And she believed him.
30:47She actually believed him.
30:48Later, after the underwater murder case, she had bribed my lawyer.
30:51Paid him off to switch sides at the last second.
30:53Helped send me to prison for eight years.
30:55Then she married the man who had really killed someone.
30:57And three days ago, she used money to humiliate me.
31:00And then, she pushed me into the abyss.
31:03The same man who nearly died saving her.
31:05No!
31:08It wasn't supposed to be like this!
31:11Vanessa dropped to her knees.
31:12Her hands shook as she pulled something from her pocket.
31:15The broken pieces of my hearing aid.
31:17She had picked them up from the deck of the boat.
31:19The cracked plastic shell still carried the salt and stink of the sea.
31:23Her vision blurred with tears.
31:24Still, she tried to fit the pieces back together.
31:26One by one.
31:28Even though it was already smashed beyond repair.
31:31Ethan!
31:33I'm sorry!
31:35I'm so sorry!
31:38She kept trying to piece it together.
31:40Crying harder and harder.
31:42The sharp plastic cut into her fingers.
31:44Her nails split.
31:45Blood smeared across the broken hearing aid pieces.
31:48Please!
31:49Come back!
31:50Come back!
31:52I'll give you anything!
31:53We'll remarry!
31:54No more lies!
31:55Ethan, please!
31:58Oh, please come back to me!
32:00The ice queen who looked down on us all, the cold, untouchable CEO, was now on the floor
32:06like a stray dog, crying, begging.
32:08In a hospital overseas, I opened my eyes slowly and met Claire's gentle eyes.
32:15Ethan.
32:19You finally made it back.
32:21She sat by my bed, with a bowl of chicken soup, feeding me one spoonful at a time.
32:28The warmth slid down my throat and settled in my chest.
32:32I hadn't felt that in eight years.
32:34The feeling of being cared for.
32:36Like I actually mattered.
32:37Like someone was protecting me.
32:39Claire was Zach's younger sister.
32:41Zach had been on my dive team.
32:43The three of us grew up together.
32:44Best friends.
32:45Like family.
32:46Back then, me, Zach, and Jason went diving together.
32:49That was when we found the gold.
32:51Hidden in a sunken wreck.
32:53Jason got greedy.
32:54He cut Zach's air hose, then pinned it on me.
32:57Vanessa didn't believe me.
32:58My parents didn't either.
33:00Not for one second.
33:01They even destroyed my eardrum.
33:02Forced me to take the fall.
33:04Only Claire believed I was innocent.
33:05But she had no proof.
33:06She couldn't clear my name.
33:08And she couldn't avenge her brother.
33:09For eight years, she came to see me every month in prison.
33:12Never missed.
33:13After I got out, I stood outside the coal mansion.
33:15And saw them all inside.
33:17Laughing.
33:18Eating.
33:18Living like a perfect family.
33:20That was the night I made my choice.
33:21I was going to get revenge.
33:23So, I went to Claire.
33:24And asked for her help.
33:25Jason killed for gold.
33:27And sold me out for greed.
33:28All for the money.
33:29Fine.
33:30Then, I decided to give him exactly what he wanted.
33:33Two months earlier, I started feeding Jason exactly the kind of story a greedy man couldn't ignore.
33:37Rumors, planted articles, fake salvage chatter.
33:39Over and over.
33:40All of it pointing to one patch of ocean.
33:43A newly discovered wreck.
33:44And the chance it was loaded with gold?
33:46At first, he didn't buy it.
33:47Why would he?
33:48He had the coals and the lanes backing him.
33:50Money was everywhere around him.
33:51Every time he saw the alerts, he just swiped them away.
33:53But greed is greed.
33:56And it always comes back.
33:57After seeing it enough times, he started wondering if it was real.
34:00Then he started searching.
34:01That was the step I was waiting for.
34:02I had already planted spyware on his phone.
34:04The second he started digging, it triggered everything.
34:07All the planted information.
34:08All the fake confirmations.
34:09Everything we had prepared started feeding right into him.
34:12So he believed it.
34:13He took the bait.
34:14But private salvage without approval is illegal.
34:16Especially if it involves protected wrecks, artifacts, historic sites.
34:20He couldn't let too many people know.
34:22So he used diving as cover.
34:23Went down there several times to check it out.
34:26And that part was real.
34:27There really was a wreck in that area.
34:29The moment I found out he had secretly contacted a salvage boat, I knew my chance had come.
34:33After that, the rest fell into place.
34:35Before one of his dives, his breathing gear was contaminated.
34:38Just a trace amount.
34:39Sea hair toxin.
34:40Once he was underwater, it hit.
34:41And everything unfolded exactly how we want it.
34:44Back in Harbor City, two elderly people shuffled down the street.
34:47Each of them carried a ripped plastic sack.
34:49They limped badly.
34:50Step by step.
34:51Then they stopped in front of a giant LED screen in the city square.
34:54Their bodies shook.
34:56Their eyes lifted.
34:57On the screen, a global live broadcast was playing.
35:00I was there.
35:01Wearing a custom suit.
35:02Standing tall.
35:03Calm.
35:03Confident.
35:04Receiving a major UN environmental award.
35:06The camera panned wider.
35:08Claire stood beside me.
35:09One hand looped through my arm.
35:11Her baby bump was showing.
35:12And she was smiling like sunlight.
35:15Susan burst into tears.
35:16The tears ran down her filthy face.
35:18She slowly raised one grimy hand.
35:20Reached toward the screen.
35:21Like she could touch me from where she stood.
35:23Ethan.
35:26That's my boy.
35:28A security guard from the mall rushed out at once.
35:30What the hell are you doing, you filthy beggars?
35:32Get away from there!
35:35He shoved her hard.
35:36She fell straight to the ground.
35:38Victor was crying, too.
35:39But he didn't dare fight back.
35:41He just kept slapping himself across the face, again and again, muttering through tears.
35:45This is karma.
35:50We were blind.
35:51Then the two of them held each other up and disappeared into the alleys of the city.
35:54As for Vanessa, she was detained and deported.
35:57After that, she completely lost her mind.
35:59The shock broke her for good.
36:01She had no money left for proper treatment.
36:03So she got dumped into the cheapest mental institution they could find.
36:06Out on the shimmering blue water, I lay stretched out on the deck of a yacht.
36:11Warm sea breeze across my face.
36:13Claire walked over with a plate of cut fruit.
36:15Then curled it up in my arms.
36:19Honey, what are you thinking about?
36:21I looked out at the deep blue sea.
36:23The same sea that had almost buried me.
36:25The same sea that gave me a second life.
36:28Then I smiled.
36:29And shook my head.
36:32I was just wondering...
36:34Do you think our baby's a boy or a girl?
36:37Then I started the yacht.
36:38And left every betrayal, every wound, every bit of that old life behind us in the rolling wake.
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