- 6 hours ago
Leech Vengeance Ep 2026
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00My daughter's swimsuit was filled with leeches, and the bastard who did it, he was smiling.
00:04He and his daughter slapped me, forcing us to our knees.
00:07Apologize to my daughter!
00:09A poor kid thinks she can beat the Vance heir?
00:11I can ruin your life with one phone call.
00:14I just raised an eyebrow.
00:15The Vance family?
00:15As far as I knew, my daughter Mia was the only heir.
00:18I wiped the blood from my lip and dialed my wife.
00:20Serena, I'm hearing rumors that my family has a secret child out there.
00:25Is that true?
00:28A strange woman answered.
00:29Who the hell is this?
00:31You think you can just cold call the CEO of Apex Group?
00:34I'll have our legal team sue you into the ground!
00:36I froze for a second.
00:3730 years.
00:38And Serena didn't even have my number saved.
00:42The woman on the phone kept yelling.
00:44But I wasn't listening.
00:44My eyes were locked on the man standing in front of me.
00:47The emerald pendant on the man's chest.
00:48The Vance family crest.
00:49And the girl next to him.
00:51She was wearing the pink diamond bracelet.
00:53I gave Mia for her birthday.
00:54At that point, what was left to guess?
00:56If I hadn't come back from overseas early,
00:58I never would have found out.
00:59Serena was playing house with another man.
01:01And treating his daughter like her own.
01:03Behind my back.
01:04Looks like my wife got tired of her five-star dinners.
01:06She was ready for her last meal.
01:08I hung up.
01:09The race official saw how the call went and smirked.
01:11See?
01:12No one's coming to save you.
01:15This is Mr. Chadwick, sir.
01:16He's Serena Brent's partner.
01:18The CEO of Apex.
01:20Do the right thing.
01:21Tell your daughter to drop out.
01:22Now!
01:24Exactly.
01:25A scholarship kid trying to steal the spotlight.
01:27Everyone knows Ruby is the favorite to win anyway.
01:29Honestly, I get nervous when my kid has to swim in the same lane as her.
01:33You never know what kind of diseases poor people carry.
01:36Their words were like knives.
01:38Mia was trembling in my arms.
01:39She grabbed my shirt, shaking her head.
01:42Daddy, I wasn't making trouble.
01:43I heard the prize was $1,000.
01:46I wanted to buy you a present.
01:48And if I win, I get a scholarship to the academy.
01:51They cover everything.
01:52Food.
01:53A place to live.
01:54It wouldn't cost you anything.
01:56I looked at her pale face.
01:58My heart broken, too.
02:01Three years ago, I went abroad to expand the business.
02:04Before I left, I told Serena explicitly.
02:07Give Mia a million dollars a month for pocket.
02:09And now, my daughter was bleeding in a pool.
02:11Just for $1,000.
02:13A pair of swimming goggles hit Mia's face.
02:15Ruby did it and snarled.
02:16Mia!
02:17You knew my mom's the grand for my victory party!
02:19They're waiting for me to bring home the trophy!
02:22How dare you try to take it from me!
02:24Since your daughter wants to be famous so bad,
02:27I'll give her the full celebrity treatment.
02:30He snapped his fingers.
02:31A bunch of sports bloggers rushed over.
02:33Cameras flashed right in Mia's face.
02:35Elementary schoolgirl cheats with leeches to win swim meet!
02:38That's tomorrow's headline!
02:40I stared at the blinding lights.
02:41My voice dropped to absolute zero.
02:43If a single one of these photos gets out,
02:45your entire media outlet will be gone.
02:48The authority in my voice made them all freeze.
02:51Mia was sobbing.
02:52Daddy, it hurts so much!
02:54I frantically pushed up her sleeve.
02:56The leeches were burrowing deeper,
02:57leaving a trail of bloody, swollen holes.
03:00I could only imagine the agony where I couldn't see,
03:02because I made another call.
03:03Mrs. Davis, Mia's been hurt.
03:05Get the best medical team in New York to the club now!
03:08And one more thing.
03:10Suspend all of Serena's access.
03:12Bring her to me.
03:13On the other end, a car engine board.
03:15Understood, sir.
03:16I'm on my way.
03:17Before I could even lower my phone.
03:20Chad swatted it from my hand.
03:22He sneered down at me,
03:23his voice dripping with contempt.
03:25Still trying to call for backup?
03:26You really have a death wish.
03:28Apologize to my Ruby right now.
03:31Or you and your daughter can't walk out of here.
03:34I let out a cold, sharp laugh.
03:36You hurt my daughter first,
03:37and you want us to apologize?
03:39Ruby crossed her arms, rolling her eyes.
03:41Everyone at school knows she's my little pet.
03:44I make her crawl on her hands and knees for me.
03:47She's a very good dog.
03:51Mia wrapped her arms around her head.
03:53Her face screwed up in fear.
03:55I rubbed her back.
03:56Don't be scared, Mia.
03:57Daddy's here.
03:58Just hold on a little longer.
03:59The doctors are coming.
04:00Doctors?
04:01You still think doctors are getting in?
04:03Let me show you what real power looks like.
04:05He gave a signal.
04:08Outside, security guards moved into position.
04:11They blocked every exit,
04:13every road leading to the club.
04:14No one in, no one out.
04:15Mia's skin was getting high,
04:16burning up by the second.
04:19With every second that passed,
04:21the leeches burrowed deeper into a flash.
04:25My rage finally exploded.
04:27I swung.
04:28My fist connected to Chad's jaw.
04:31Satisfied.
04:34You worthless piece of trash.
04:36You dare stand in my way?
04:38Every major hospital in New York reports to the Vance family.
04:42Who the hell do you think you are to stop my daughter from getting medical care?
04:45The whole place went dead silent.
04:51I scanned the crowd.
04:52My name is Grant Vance.
04:53I own Apex Group.
04:55If there are any doctors or nurses here,
04:57I need your help now.
04:58The Vance family will reward you.
05:00Chad finally recovered.
05:02Clutching his red sheet,
05:03he shrieked at his security detail.
05:05What are you waiting for?
05:06Get this bastard!
05:07Seven or eight bodyguards swarmed me.
05:09They slammed me to my knees.
05:10Make him bow to me.
05:1299 times.
05:16They grabbed me in my hair
05:17and smashed my head into the hard floor.
05:19Again and again,
05:20warm blood trickled into my eyes,
05:22blurring everything.
05:23Chad watched.
05:24Enjoying the show,
05:24Serena's assistant heard his voice,
05:26rushed the call through to Serena.
05:27Hi.
05:28Who is in a meeting, honey?
05:30Honey, someone's bullying us.
05:31Someone's bullying us.
05:32He even said his name was...
05:33I don't care who he is.
05:35Any man who can bully my man
05:37hasn't been born yet.
05:38You hit him back.
05:40I'll be there to clean it up
05:41as soon as this meeting is over.
05:42The other parents looked openly delighted.
05:45Wow, he really sold that Grant Vance act.
05:48Turns out the current CEO,
05:49Ms. Brent,
05:49doesn't even know him.
05:50He's insane.
05:51He actually hit Chad?
05:53Everyone knows Serena spoils him rotten.
05:55This is going to be good.
05:57Suddenly,
05:58Mia crawled over to Ruby.
06:01I'm sorry.
06:03I'll be your dog.
06:04I'll crawl for you
06:05for as many laps as you want.
06:07Please,
06:08just let my daddy go.
06:10Ruby just kicked her hard.
06:11The heel of her shoe ground
06:12into Mia's cheek.
06:14Too late to beg now?
06:16Suddenly,
06:17Back the hell off!
06:18An older woman with silver hair,
06:20impeccably dressed,
06:21walked calmly through the party crowd.
06:23Mrs. Davis.
06:24She's been a Vance family's head housekeeper
06:26since my grandfather's time.
06:27In New York,
06:28everyone knows her name.
06:29Everyone shows her respect.
06:32Mrs. Davis,
06:33what brings you here?
06:35Mrs. Davis didn't even glance at him.
06:36She walked straight to me.
06:37The second she saw the blood on my face,
06:40her eyes filled with guilt.
06:41Mr. Vance,
06:42forgive me.
06:42I should have sent a full security detail
06:44to meet you.
06:45Then she saw Mia's arms,
06:46covered in bloody holes.
06:47Who did this?
06:48Chad took an involuntary step back.
06:50Mrs. Davis,
06:51the doctor is here.
06:52She hesitated.
06:53Ms. Brent,
06:54she blocked my request.
06:55Her voice heavy with frustration.
06:57She played me a recording from her phone.
06:59Mrs. Davis,
07:00I've spoken to the school.
07:01Mia's perfectly fine.
07:02You should stay at the retirement villa and rest.
07:04I'll come waste our medical resource
07:05in a few days after Grant gets batters.
07:07Mrs. Davis looked down ashamed.
07:10Sir,
07:11for the past three years,
07:12Mrs. Brent has used my failing health
07:14as an excuse to sideline me
07:16from all company operations.
07:17If I had known
07:18Miss Mia was being treated like this,
07:20the more I heard,
07:21the colder I felt.
07:22It wasn't just another family.
07:23It wasn't just a secret kid.
07:25While I was overseas,
07:26Serena was gutting my power piece by piece.
07:28Years ago,
07:29to protect her pride,
07:30we never changed her family name.
07:31People still call her Ms. Brent.
07:32I was the one who built the empire.
07:34I stayed behind the scenes for her.
07:35I let her be the face,
07:37the CEO.
07:37Made room for her ambition.
07:39And she repaid my loyalty
07:40with betrayal.
07:41Sir,
07:42don't worry.
07:42I already called the Grant Guard.
07:44Seeing the look on my face,
07:45Mrs. Davis added quickly,
07:47that steadied me a little.
07:47The Grant Guard had one rule.
07:48They only leave
07:49three things in their wake.
07:51People on their knees,
07:51people on the ground,
07:52and people who can't talk anymore.
07:54Right then,
07:54a team in white coats,
07:55rushed in.
07:56Mrs. Davis' eyes lit up.
07:57Maybe Ms. Brent still loves you.
07:59But the medics went straight to Chad.
08:03Mr. Thompson,
08:04Mrs. Brent heard you were injured.
08:05She ordered us to come immediately.
08:07Chad blinked,
08:08confused.
08:09Then one of the medics
08:10handed him a document.
08:11As he read it,
08:12his confidence came flooding back.
08:13He flicked the papers toward us.
08:15Mrs. Davis,
08:16latest company order.
08:17You're fired for misuse
08:19of the medical team.
08:20Mrs. Davis' eyes went wide.
08:21She scoffed.
08:22You don't have the authority
08:23to fire me.
08:24Let's be real.
08:24You're just a glorified maid.
08:26A dog Serena keeps on a leash.
08:28She can fire you in a word.
08:30Oh, I get it now.
08:31No wonder this guy acts so tough.
08:33He's your little boy toy,
08:34isn't he?
08:34Insolent fool.
08:35You cannot speak about Mr. Vance
08:36that way.
08:37Chad let out a high-pitched laugh.
08:39Oh, I can.
08:40And I can do more.
08:41I can have both of you
08:42thrown out of New York
08:43with a snap of my fingers.
08:45The giant screen behind him
08:46flickered on,
08:47showing me his school picture.
08:48I'm putting your daughter
08:49on the dark web blacklist.
08:51Her life is over.
08:52Is that so?
08:53Go ahead.
08:54Try it.
08:57I stared at him,
08:58seeing that I wasn't scared.
08:59Chad's face twisted in rage.
09:00You clueless hick!
09:02People on that list
09:03end up maimed or dead!
09:05This is what you get
09:05for crossing me!
09:06You really won't learn
09:07until you're in your own coffin.
09:09Chad, loud a sharp laugh.
09:11Watch closely.
09:12I'll teach you something.
09:14He typed my name
09:15and Mia's name
09:16into the blacklist interface
09:17on his phone.
09:18The room was silent.
09:19Everyone held their breath.
09:21A robotic voice
09:22came from his phone.
09:23Error.
09:24Insufficient permissions.
09:25Chad's eyes widened.
09:26He muttered to himself,
09:27That's impossible.
09:29The last guy I put on that list
09:31is probably feeding sharks
09:32in the Pacific by now.
09:34How is this not working?
09:36He started typing again,
09:38frantically.
09:39But each time,
09:40the same cold reply.
09:41Error.
09:42Insufficient permissions.
09:43Sweat beaded on Chad's forehead.
09:45Of course, he didn't know.
09:46My Diddy and Mia's
09:48are encrypted
09:48at the top security tier.
09:50His clearance level
09:51didn't even qualify him
09:52to see our names.
09:54Oh my God, Chad can't touch them.
09:55I knew it.
09:56Grant has a different air about him.
09:58That quiet confidence,
10:00that's real power.
10:02Old money.
10:03Chad's just a loud mouth
10:04with a new credit card.
10:07It's a glitch in the system!
10:08You just...
10:09Hearing the murmurs,
10:10Chad smashed his phone
10:12against the screen.
10:13The main doors burst open.
10:14A woman in a power suit
10:16strode in,
10:17flanked by bodyguards
10:18in black suits.
10:19Who the hell
10:19is messing with my man?
10:21Chad's eyes brightened.
10:22The winning smile came back.
10:40Woo!
10:41Pointed at me,
10:41Serena didn't even glance at me.
10:43She waved to her guards.
10:44Take them away.
10:45Mommy?
10:45Mia's forced her heavy eyelids to Lee.
10:47Mommy?
10:49Are you here to save us?
10:50Serena stopped dead in her tracks.
10:52What are you doing here?
10:53Her brow furrowed in annoyance.
10:55The room erupted.
10:56Mia is Serena's daughter?
10:57No way!
10:58Look at how Robie's dressed!
11:00If they're both her daughters,
11:02why is one treated like a princess
11:03and the other like...
11:04trash?
11:05Serena looked down
11:06at Mia's blood-soaked swimsuit.
11:09Chad,
11:10did you do this to her?
11:12This is gonna be a PR nightmare.
11:14She tapped her chin,
11:14thinking,
11:15not one ounce of pain
11:15for her own child.
11:16Only calculation.
11:19The last piece of my heart shattered.
11:20With Mrs. Davis' help,
11:21I got to my feet.
11:22I walked towards Serena,
11:23step by step,
11:24even covered in blood and dirt.
11:25She recognized me instantly.
11:27Grant.
11:27She started stammering.
11:29You...
11:30You're back early.
11:31How long were you planning
11:33on hiding this?
11:34If I'd come back a day later,
11:36my daughter might have been dead!
11:37Mia's being treated
11:38like a poor kid at school.
11:40They're humiliating her,
11:41teasing her like a dog.
11:43You'd better have
11:44a good explanation,
11:44or you know the consequences.
11:46Chad looked completely baffled.
11:48What the hell
11:48is he talking about?
11:50You've been hiding
11:50a husband and a daughter from me?
11:52You lied to me?
11:54You start talking right now,
11:56or you'll never see
11:57me or Ruby again.
11:58For a split second,
11:59I saw a flicker of conflict
12:00in Serena's eyes.
12:01It was gone.
12:02Grant,
12:02what nonsense
12:03are you talking about?
12:04Your daughter is just
12:05a poor student
12:06whom I sponsor.
12:07You're delusional
12:07trying to lash
12:08onto my family.
12:09She reached for Chad's hand,
12:10the picture of loyalty.
12:19Chad, baby,
12:20you have to believe
12:21you're the only man I want.
12:24Ruby is the only child
12:25that matters to me.
12:27No.
12:28Mommy, you said...
12:30She couldn't believe it.
12:31The mother who used to hold her,
12:32to read her bedtime stories,
12:34was denying her
12:34in front of everyone.
12:35Mia looked like
12:36she'd been struck by lightning.
12:37Ruby clapped her hands,
12:39laughing.
12:39You hear that?
12:40You're just a parasite
12:41living off our family's charity.
12:45Serena,
12:45you ungrateful snake,
12:47after everything
12:48the Vance family did for you.
12:50Business is war.
12:51I've cleaned house at Apex.
12:53Everyone on the board,
12:54every executive,
12:55they're loyal to me now.
12:56What can you
12:57and those old
12:57Vance Fonkses do?
12:58My blood ran cold.
12:59Now I understood
13:00why her assistant
13:01didn't recognize my voice.
13:04Serena leaned in close to me.
13:06Grant,
13:07if you sign over
13:08your remaining shares,
13:09I might consider
13:09letting you and your daughter
13:11be my dirty little secret.
13:13I turned and looked at Mia.
13:14Her face was chocolate.
13:15Her eyes were empty.
13:17I spoke each word
13:18like a hammer blow.
13:19Not a chance.
13:21Serena didn't get angry.
13:22She just smiled.
13:24Fine.
13:26If you don't want
13:27the easy way.
13:28She turned to the guards.
13:30Burn the bugs out.
13:31My head snapped up.
13:32You wouldn't dare.
13:34The guards dragged us.
13:36Dubbed us
13:37into the blazing sauna
13:38and locked the door.
13:39Chad hit the remote.
13:40The temperature
13:41instantly shot up
13:42to 160.
13:43Within minutes,
13:43the sauna was an oven.
13:44Blistering heat
13:45radiated from the walls,
13:47the floor,
13:47the ceiling.
13:48Sweat poured off me,
13:49soaking my shirt.
13:50Chad stood outside,
13:50shaking the remote.
13:51Enjoy the steam.
13:52Let's see how pretty
13:53you look when you're cooked.
13:54The temperature
13:55kept climbing.
13:56From the sauna
13:56next to mine,
13:57I heard Mia scream.
13:58Daddy!
13:59It hurts!
14:00The intense heat
14:01drove the leeches mad.
14:02She rolled on the floor
14:03in agony.
14:04My heart tore apart.
14:04I pounded on the door.
14:05Serena!
14:06The Grant Guard
14:07is on their way!
14:07Let us out now
14:08and I'll let this go!
14:09I heard her laugh
14:09on the other side.
14:10Grant, you're getting better
14:11at making up stories.
14:13I grew up in the Vance house.
14:14I've never heard
14:15of any Grant Guard.
14:16A folded document
14:17slid under the door.
14:18Sign this
14:18and I'll let you both out.
14:20My shaking hands
14:21opened it.
14:21A divorce settlement.
14:22She wanted me out
14:23with nothing.
14:24And every Vance holding
14:24transferred to her for free.
14:26That's highway robbery.
14:27You're disgusting!
14:28Serena leaned
14:29against the door
14:29casual as can be.
14:31Don't take too long.
14:32I seem to recall
14:32you have a little problem
14:33with small dark spaces.
14:35Claustrophobia, isn't it?
14:36Let's see how long
14:37you last.
14:38And then the lights
14:38went out.
14:39Total darkness
14:40flooded the tiny room.
14:41Swallowing me whole.
14:42It pulled me back
14:43to the nightmare.
14:45I was eight years old.
14:46Kidnapped.
14:47They locked me
14:48in a suitcase.
14:48I've carried that scar
14:49ever since.
14:50My parents hid my identity
14:51from my safety and sanity.
14:53And it was Serena
14:54who saved me.
14:54She was the one
14:55who promised
14:56to stay by my side forever.
14:58She was just a kid herself.
14:59But she stood between me
15:01and the bullies.
15:02Trying to shake me down
15:03for my lunch money.
15:04She sent me to class
15:04every single day,
15:05rain or shine.
15:07She looked into my eyes
15:07and swore,
15:08Grant,
15:09as long as I'm here,
15:10you'll never have
15:10to be afraid again.
15:11And now,
15:12the person who was
15:13once my safe harbor
15:13had just personally
15:14thrown me back
15:15into the abyss.
15:16The heat and the darkness
15:17were crushing me.
15:18My vision started to tunnel.
15:19Just as I was about
15:20to pass out,
15:20I heard a commotion outside.
15:21Who the hell are you?
15:22Get your hands off me!
15:24A crisp snap of bones
15:25split the silence.
15:26The sound of door
15:27got kicked in.
15:28A tall man dropped
15:28to one knee.
15:29Sir, I'm late.
15:30Forgive me.
15:30I forced myself
15:31to stay awake.
15:32Kevin, Mia,
15:33get the medics to Mia now.
15:35Kevin,
15:35the captain of my car,
15:36spoke quietly
15:37into his wrist column.
15:38He helped me to my feet.
15:40When I stepped back
15:41into the pool area,
15:42the scene was locked down.
15:43Serena, Chad, Ruby,
15:45and their entourage
15:46were on their knees
15:46in a line on the cold tide.
15:50The medics had already
15:51set up an emergency tent.
15:52A doctor pulled
15:53the first leech
15:53from Mia's arm.
15:54Everyone gasped.
15:55That thing was as thick
15:56as a ball in the air.
15:57And there were hundreds more.
15:58A medic shouted,
15:59She's lost too much blood.
16:01We need a transfusion now!
16:03My gaze fell on Ruby,
16:04who was shivering
16:05on the floor.
16:05Chad,
16:06one arm hanging
16:07in an impossible angle,
16:08was still screaming.
16:09You bastard, Grant!
16:10You touch my daughter
16:11and I'll kill you!
16:12I lifted one finger.
16:13Ruby got dragged off
16:14at once like a dead fish.
16:16Chad's bloodshot
16:16eyes looked like.
16:17They wanted to tear me apart.
16:18Serena tried to sound composed,
16:20but I could hear
16:20the tremor in her voice.
16:21Grant,
16:21I control Apex Group now.
16:23The board will crucify you
16:24for this!
16:25Let us go
16:25while you still can.
16:27Or I'll burn
16:28everything to the ground
16:29and we'll both go down
16:30in the ashes!
16:31I started to laugh.
16:32A low, soft sound.
16:34Serena,
16:35did you really think
16:36I came back on impulse?
16:37I leaned down
16:37and patted her cheek.
16:38Remember this,
16:39no matter what you do,
16:40New York belongs
16:41to the Vance family,
16:43not you.
16:44Serena went stiff.
16:45All the color
16:45left her face.
16:46What did you say?
16:47I met her gaze.
16:48You really think
16:48the top of Apex
16:49changed that easily?
16:50I let you see
16:51those weak spots.
16:52I handed you bait.
16:55I was gonna leave
16:56you a way out,
16:57but you made one mistake
16:58you could never afford.
17:00You touched Mia!
17:01A bitter laugh
17:02escaped my lips.
17:03I couldn't believe
17:04my own foolishness.
17:05I actually thought
17:05there was still
17:06a shred of humanity
17:07left in her.
17:08Even monsters
17:09don't devour
17:09their own young.
17:10She let our daughters
17:11suffer for years.
17:12Every time Mia smiled
17:13on her video calls,
17:14telling me everything
17:14was fine,
17:15her fake smile
17:15was a knife stuck
17:16in my heart now.
17:17Serena shook her head.
17:18No, you're bluffing.
17:20You're trying to scare me!
17:22The next second,
17:22her phone buzzed crazily.
17:24On the screen,
17:24her top assistant
17:25was hanging upside down
17:26from a beam,
17:27blood all over his face,
17:28begging for mercy.
17:29The rest of her inner circle
17:30looked no better.
17:31One was tied to railroad tracks.
17:33Another was locked
17:33in a walk-in' room.
17:34Serena's legs gave out.
17:36She dropped her knees.
17:37A nurse rushed over to me.
17:38Sir, Mia has significant
17:40internal injuries.
17:41We need to get her
17:41to the hospital immediately.
17:42I started to move.
17:44Sir, what are your orders
17:45for the rest of them?
17:46You know my rule.
17:47Suddenly,
17:47Chad started screaming.
17:48Grant, you're nothing!
17:50You're a pathetic kept man
17:51who moochies off his wife!
17:52And your daughter
17:53was my kid's dog
17:55for three years!
17:56I didn't even have
17:57to turn around.
17:59Serena scrambled
18:00to her feet
18:01and slapped him
18:02across the face.
18:03Chad stared at her,
18:03his eyes wide
18:04with disbelief.
18:05Serena,
18:06you hit me?
18:07For him?
18:08Her face was a mask
18:08of pure rage.
18:09She hit him again.
18:10Grant is my husband!
18:12You don't get to insult him!
18:14Then she hit Chad again,
18:15more than 20 slaps,
18:16right there in public.
18:17He lunged at her,
18:18clawing at her face.
18:19You bitch!
18:20You told me
18:21you loved me forever!
18:22Now you're hitting me
18:23over that bastard!
18:24The two of them
18:25rolled on the floor.
18:26Designer clothes
18:26ripped apart,
18:27hair in disarray,
18:28screaming filth louder
18:29every second.
18:30I had no interest
18:31in watching them
18:31tear each other apart.
18:32I turned to leave.
18:33Serena broke free
18:34and threw herself
18:35at my legs.
18:36Grant, don't listen to him!
18:37He's insane!
18:38He seduced me!
18:39He got in my head!
18:40I was wrong!
18:41Please,
18:41just give me one more chance!
18:44I looked down at her.
18:45The person you owe
18:46is Mia, not me.
18:47The doctors wheeled Mia
18:48out on a gurney.
18:49Serena let go of me
18:49instantly,
18:50crawling to Mia.
18:51She grabbed me his hand,
18:52tears,
18:52and snot streaming
18:53down her face.
18:54Mia, my sweetheart,
18:55Mommy is so sorry!
18:56I'll take you to Disneyland!
18:58We'll get ice cream!
19:00I'll be there, baby,
19:01I promise!
19:02No one will ever
19:03hurt you again!
19:04Mia calmly pulled
19:05her hand away.
19:06Her eyes were blank,
19:07like she was looking
19:07at a stranger.
19:08You're Ruby's mom,
19:09not mine.
19:09My mom died three years ago.
19:11And she looked at me.
19:12Daddy, I'm tired.
19:13I took her small,
19:13cold hand in mine
19:14and gave Kevin
19:15a final nod.
19:15I know, baby.
19:16Daddy's taking you
19:17somewhere safe.
19:17After a long night,
19:18Mia was finally
19:19out of the woods.
19:20But when the doctor
19:21handed me her report,
19:22my heart seized up.
19:23Not just the leech wounds.
19:24The report listed
19:25bruise after bruise.
19:27Scars old and new.
19:28A three-year history
19:29of torture
19:29written on my daughter's body.
19:33For three years,
19:34I had been blind.
19:35Kevin knocked
19:35and came into the ward
19:37with a tablet.
19:38Sir, it's done.
19:39The event organizers
19:40and the race officials
19:41have all been sued.
19:42As for the parents
19:42who just stood by
19:43and watched,
19:44Apex Group
19:44has blacklisted them
19:45permanently.
19:46Their kids
19:46have been expelled.
19:47He paused.
19:48What do you want
19:48done with those three?
19:49On the surveillance feed.
19:50After a night
19:51in Kevin's care,
19:52Serena,
19:52Chad,
19:53and Ruby,
19:53they were barely conscious.
19:55Pile every piece
19:55of evidence
19:56on Serena's financial crimes.
19:57The embezzlement,
19:58the fraud,
19:59all of it.
19:59Hand the files
20:00over to the feds.
20:01That would get her
20:0220 years.
20:02Minimum.
20:03But that was just
20:03the beginning.
20:04When she got out,
20:05everyone she'd ruined
20:06would still be waiting.
20:08My fingers tapped
20:08on the armrest.
20:10As for Chad,
20:11he enjoyed putting people
20:12on the dark wet blacklist.
20:14It's time he got a taste
20:15of his favorite idea.
20:19A week later,
20:20a video landed in my inbox.
20:22Chad got thrown
20:23into a fast-moving river.
20:25Leeches swarmed him
20:25like a living tide.
20:27He screamed
20:27and slapped at the water.
20:28Get off me!
20:29Get off!
20:30Pain never means much
20:32until it's your own skin
20:33on the line.
20:33He survived,
20:34but the face he was
20:34so proud of,
20:35gone forever.
20:38Daddy,
20:38I'm all packed.
20:40Mia stood in the doorway,
20:41holding her little suitcase.
20:42Thanks to the best
20:43medical team money
20:43could buy,
20:44the scars on her skin
20:45were already fading,
20:46but I knew the ones
20:46on the inside
20:47would take much longer
20:48to heal.
20:48I ruffled her hair.
20:49My mind was made up.
20:50We were leaving.
20:51A new life,
20:52somewhere far away
20:53from all this.
20:53As long as I was with her,
20:55no one would ever
20:56hurt her again.
20:57Three years later,
20:58I came back to cut the ribbon
20:59for an anti-bullying foundation.
21:01On the drive back
21:02to the airport,
21:03I passed a remote village,
21:04and I saw it.
21:05A child,
21:06chained to a post.
21:09Outside a run-down shack,
21:10a few local kids
21:11were laughing,
21:12throwing rocks at her.
21:13Bark for us, doggy.
21:14Come on,
21:15one more time.
21:16She suddenly lunged,
21:17biting one of the boys
21:18on the leg.
21:18He screamed,
21:19and the others rushed at her.
21:20A heavy brick smashed
21:21against her head.
21:22Blood streamed down her face.
21:23Ruby started crying.
21:24What are you crying for?
21:25The shack's broken door
21:26flew open.
21:27Chad stumbled out,
21:27filthy and gaunt.
21:28He kicked Ruby hard
21:29in the ribs.
21:30If it wasn't for you,
21:31you little curse,
21:31I'd still be living
21:32the wonderful life!
21:33He dumped a lump
21:34of moldy slop
21:35into a chip bowl.
21:36Waste of my goddamn food!
21:37I slowly rolled up the window.
21:39I pressed the accelerator.
21:40I drove toward the open road,
21:42leaving all that misery
21:43in the dust.
Comments