- 2 hours ago
Apologize To My Dead Body Ep 2026
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I fought with wild dogs for food and prayed to them, but it was useless, and in the end, I
00:05still died.
00:06I was Manhattan's most spoiled heiress, until my award-winning actor brother sent me to a reality show called Rich
00:13Girls Reformed.
00:14I slept in a pig pen covered in manure for three months, fighting dogs for scraps of food.
00:20Any resistance meant being dunked in water tanks, or worse, electroshock.
00:25The only thing keeping me alive was the mute old man who delivered the meals.
00:29He'd snuck me medicine, listened to me cry, and begged my brother to save me.
00:34He even promised to help me escape.
00:36I swore that once I got out, I'd tell my brother I'd learned my lesson.
00:40Until that day, when my high fever triggered a heart attack, and I collapsed in the mud, convulsing.
00:46I saw the mute old man I'd clung to as my lifeline reach up and tear off his mud-caked
00:51wig and mask, revealing my fiancé's face.
00:55This is what you get for drugging Sophia, even if it was just a laxative.
01:00These three months in the pig pet should make up for the scare you gave her.
01:04Director cut the cameras.
01:06Sophia says she can't bear watching me act and suffer.
01:08She feels bad.
01:10I watched my fiancé walk away with his arm around the scholarship girl.
01:14My heart stopped beating.
01:16Sophia finally got what she wanted.
01:18From the moment we met, she made it clear.
01:20Girls like me didn't deserve what we were born into.
01:24Too rich.
01:25Too spoiled.
01:26Too empty-headed, in her words.
01:28One day, she said, she would take it all.
01:31And she did.
01:32It didn't take schemes or grand plans.
01:34Just two years of quiet performances.
01:37A stumble here.
01:38A trembling voice there.
01:40A well-timed tear.
01:41Every time, it ended the same.
01:43My brother at her side.
01:45My fiancé just behind him.
01:47Both looking at me like I was something rotten.
01:49All she ever had to do was make it seem like I hurt her.
01:53And really, who would believe otherwise?
01:55A rich heiress bullied by a scholarship girl who was gentle and hardworking?
02:00Of course not.
02:01In their eyes, it could only ever be the other way around.
02:04I floated above, looking down at myself lying in the filth.
02:08Covered in pig shit, fingernails caked with mud.
02:11Cut!
02:13Perfect.
02:14Absolutely perfect.
02:16That dying look in her eyes is incredible.
02:19Quick, get a close-up!
02:20A dozen cameras instantly zoomed in on my face.
02:23A pair of fancy leather shoes stopped beside my face.
02:26Lucas Carter, my fiancé.
02:29All right, stop pretending.
02:30The director called cut.
02:32Why are you still lying there?
02:33Getting addicted to acting?
02:34Seeing no reaction from me, he casually nudged my face with his foot.
02:38The corpse swayed with the force of his nudge, but didn't respond.
02:42Lucas frowned, then crouched down to check if I was still breathing.
02:45What the heck?
02:48Vivian, are you holding your breath this long just to get sympathy?
02:53Looks like these three months in the pig pen weren't wasted.
02:55Your lung capacity's really improved.
02:57I'm not pretending!
02:59Lucas, I'm actually dead!
03:01Look at me!
03:04Don't be so harsh on her.
03:09She worked really hard this time to make it up to me.
03:12Look at her makeup.
03:13So dirty.
03:14If you didn't know better, you'd think she actually lived in the countryside.
03:17Applause came from nearby.
03:19My brother, award-winning actor Ethan Ashford, emerged from behind the monitors.
03:25Not bad.
03:27These three months weren't wasted.
03:29Use this fake death scene in the trailer.
03:32Title it, The Mean Girl's Repentance.
03:35This final scene, she acted better than she ever has before.
03:39I almost believed it.
03:41Ethan, this isn't acting.
03:44I'm really in pain.
03:46I'm really, really dead.
03:49Mr. Ashford, should we wake Miss Ashford now?
03:54Don't let her bring those filthy clothes into my car.
03:56It's disgusting.
03:58Sophia hasn't been feeling well lately.
03:59She can't handle the smell.
04:02Then, find a trash bag.
04:03Throw her in the trunk.
04:05Since she likes playing dead so much, let her play dead all the way home.
04:08At least it'll spare me from listening to her fake crying.
04:11Yes, sir.
04:12I watched two stagehands lift my stiff corpse and stuff it into a trash bag.
04:17Lucas was wiping raindrops from Sophia's hair.
04:20He didn't look at me once.
04:21The trunk slammed shut.
04:22The car started.
04:24A trail of blood silently drenched the bag.
04:27I floated nearby, almost wanting to laugh.
04:29I remembered when I was 18, I accidentally bumped my head in the car.
04:33Ethan didn't say a word.
04:35He smashed the first one.
04:36He'd said,
04:37Why keep something that hurt our Vivian?
04:39But now, my corpse was being knocked around in the trunk.
04:43Ethan, were you acting back then too?
04:45Or is it that once Sophia appeared, your own sister deserved to be thrown away like this?
04:50Ethan, do you think Vivian will be mad at us for putting her in the trunk when she wakes up?
04:55Ethan drove with a cold snort.
04:57She doesn't get a choice.
05:00Once we're home, I have ways to keep her from throwing a tantrum.
05:04Tomorrow's apology press conference is already arranged.
05:07If she dares to mess it up, I'll send her right back to these mountains for another three months.
05:13She'd better know her place.
05:16Sophia was hospitalized for three days because of that laxative.
05:20These three months of suffering barely make up for it.
05:23I floated above the car, watching these three people.
05:25I never put laxatives in that drink.
05:28Sophia stole my heart medication, then accused me of trying to poison her.
05:32No one believed me, and I can't explain anymore.
05:35The car bumped along the road, my corpse rattling in the trunk the whole way.
05:39Ethan got out without calling the servants.
05:42He opened the trunk and grabbed the trash bag with one hand, dragging it out.
05:46My head hit each step as he dragged me up the stairs.
05:49My soul trembled.
05:50I reached out to protect my head.
05:53Ah!
05:54Ethan!
05:54Be gentle!
05:55That's my head!
05:58Really heavy.
05:59Playing dead pretty thoroughly.
06:01Not making a sound.
06:02He dragged the trash bag into the living room and dropped it on the rug.
06:06The zipper opened, revealing my mud-covered face.
06:09Eyes closed.
06:10Lips purple.
06:11All right, we're home.
06:14Stop pretending.
06:16Get up and wash yourself off.
06:19Don't dirty the carpet.
06:20Is she really unconscious?
06:22Her face looks so scary.
06:25That's special effects makeup.
06:27Weren't you there on set?
06:28She fakes passing out all the time to get out of work.
06:30The doctor said she's in perfect health.
06:32This level of cold won't kill her.
06:34Ethan lost his patience.
06:35He walked over to the thermostat and turned it down to the lowest setting.
06:39Want to play dead?
06:39Then lie there.
06:40No one gives her a blanket tonight.
06:42Let's see how long she can keep it up.
06:44With that, all three went to their rooms, leaving only the cold air blowing over my corpse.
06:49I floated in mid-air, looking at my body lying alone on the floor, watching the lividity
06:55spread across my neck and the back of my arms.
06:57Early in the morning, the Ashford family's styling team arrived.
07:01Today was the apology press conference Ethan had arranged for me, live-streamed to the whole
07:06country.
07:06The makeup artist touched my hand.
07:09Oh, Jesus!
07:10So cold!
07:11She looked at Sophia.
07:13Miss White, Miss Ashford's temperature?
07:15Is she really okay?
07:16Oh, she spent three months freezing in the mountains.
07:19Of course she's cold.
07:20Plus, she trained herself to withstand cold for the pathetic effect.
07:24Don't make a fuss.
07:26Just put more blush on her.
07:27That complexion is awful.
07:29Put these purple marks on her skin.
07:31Those are bruises from falling in the mountains.
07:33Cover them with foundation.
07:35Today's theme is rebirth.
07:37Don't let people see her looking like a corpse and embarrass the Ashford family.
07:40The makeup artist didn't dare argue.
07:42She grabbed concealer and started smearing it on my face.
07:45I watched from the side, finding it almost funny.
07:48Concealer could cover lividity, but not the smell of death.
07:52This outfit reeks.
07:53Change her clothes.
07:54Put her in this one.
07:55It was the style Sophia had rejected.
07:58A size too small.
07:59Two assistants came over to help change my clothes.
08:02But there was a problem.
08:03Because of rigor mortis, my limbs were stiff.
08:06Mr. Ashford, Ms. Ashford is too stiff.
08:09She won't cooperate.
08:10Like, she is dead.
08:13She won't cooperate.
08:14We can't bend her arms.
08:16Ethan's face darkened.
08:18Vivian!
08:18How long are you going to keep this up?
08:20Won't even put on clothes?
08:21Do you want to apologize naked?
08:23The corpse naturally didn't answer him.
08:25Lucas frowned and strode over.
08:26Since she wants to be stubborn, don't blame me for not being gentle.
08:32He grabbed my stiff left arm and yanked it outward.
08:35I floated in midair, instinctively clutching my arm and screaming.
08:40Then I remembered.
08:40I was dead.
08:41My body couldn't feel pain anymore.
08:46Strong grip.
08:48Playing the virtual Merton?
08:50Hurry up and dress her!
08:51The assistants trembled as they pulled the pink dress onto my corpse.
08:54To hide the twisted arm, they folded my hands across my abdomen.
08:58After all the manipulation, I'd been handled like a doll with no dignity.
09:02Lipstick covered my purple lips.
09:04Foundation hid my pallor.
09:05A ribbon bow concealed the dog collar marks on my neck.
09:09That's better.
09:10Looks like these three months weren't wasted.
09:12Knocked that nasty temper right out of her.
09:15As long as she doesn't talk, she's still the good little sister she used to be.
09:20When we get to the venue, if you dare mess up or say the wrong thing,
09:24I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.
09:27Don't worry, Ethan.
09:28I'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life anyway.
09:31And I'll never speak again.
09:33Let's go.
09:34Don't keep the reporters waiting.
09:35The sunlight was blinding, but I felt no warmth.
09:38The ballroom backstage was packed with reporters.
09:40Sophia had changed into a white haute couture gown.
09:43She had the makeup artist give her a pitiful victim look.
09:46While Ethan and Lucas were schmoozing with the media,
09:49Sophia walked over to my wheelchair.
09:51Vivian, you're so quiet today.
09:54I like it.
09:55Didn't you love calling me a bitch before?
09:57Why so quiet now?
09:58Running out of energy?
10:00Don't worry.
10:01There's an even bigger surprise waiting for you on stage.
10:03Seeing no reaction from me,
10:05Sophia pouted.
10:06You can really take it.
10:08But I guess you should behave.
10:09You're about to lose your engagement anyway.
10:11Lose my engagement?
10:13I jerked my head up to look at Lucas.
10:14He was standing in the spotlight,
10:16turning to say something to Ethan.
10:17I floated over and heard it clearly.
10:20Today's perfect.
10:21With the live stream,
10:22the whole country can witness it.
10:24I'm cutting this stain loose, complete.
10:27Ethan was silent for a moment,
10:28glancing at me in the corner.
10:30She brought this on herself.
10:31Can't blame anyone else.
10:32My soul felt that sharp pain again.
10:35So, in your minds,
10:36I'm not even worth a title.
10:37I don't even deserve basic human dignity.
10:40Three, two, one, action.
10:43The spotlight came on.
10:44I was wheeled onto the stage.
10:46Because I was strapped in,
10:47I sat perfectly straight.
10:49That's the Ashford heiress?
10:50She looks like a model.
10:52Heard she slept in a pig pen for three months,
10:54probably brain damaged.
10:55They say she was so arrogant before,
10:56even drugged the scholarship girl.
10:58Those vicious whispers drilled into my ears,
11:00every single one.
11:01Ethan picked up the microphone,
11:02his face full of regret.
11:04Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
11:05everyone online,
11:06hello.
11:07I'm Ethan Ashfield.
11:09Today's live stream has only one purpose,
11:11repentance.
11:12My sister Vivian,
11:13out of jealousy and selfishness,
11:15caused tremendous harm to our company's artist,
11:17Sophia White.
11:18After three months of reconformation,
11:19she's deeply recognized her mistakes.
11:22Today, she's here in front of the entire country
11:24to apologize to Sophia.
11:25The comments exploded.
11:26Ethan Ashford standing up to family,
11:28so inspiring.
11:30This is proper elite family discipline.
11:32Ethan turned around,
11:33walked up to me,
11:34blocking half the cameras.
11:36With his back to the audience,
11:37he hissed,
11:38Stop playing dead.
11:41Speak.
11:42Tell everyone what you did wrong.
11:44I didn't respond,
11:45so he reached out
11:46and pinched the soft flesh of my arm.
11:49The corpse swayed with the force.
11:51Ethan, don't be like this.
11:53She's probably too ashamed to speak.
11:54It's okay.
11:55I forgive her.
11:56She picked up a glass of red wine
11:58and forced it into my broken hand.
12:02Vivian,
12:03drink this,
12:04and we'll still be sisters.
12:06The wine glass tilted,
12:07wine falling into my dress.
12:09I'm sorry.
12:11Sophia looked hurt toward the camera.
12:12I guess she still won't forgive me.
12:15Too much.
12:16Sophia's being so humble,
12:17and she's still putting on airs.
12:19This woman's hopeless.
12:20Mr. Ashford,
12:21send her to a psych room.
12:24Lucas took the microphone
12:25and strode to center stage,
12:27standing beside my wheelchair.
12:29Since Miss Ashford insists
12:30on protesting with silence,
12:32I don't need to save face
12:33for you anymore.
12:35He pulled a velvet box
12:37from his pocket.
12:38For a moment,
12:39my heart flickered with hope.
12:40Was it our engagement ring?
12:42He opened the box.
12:43Inside was a brand new
12:45pink diamond ring.
12:46Lucas turned around,
12:47and in front of me,
12:48in front of tens of millions
12:50of viewers online,
12:51he knelt on one knee
12:52before Sophia.
12:54Miss Sophia White,
12:55for the past three years,
12:57you've been by my side.
12:59Your kindness,
13:00your purity,
13:01that's what the lady
13:02of the Carter family
13:03should be like.
13:04Oh!
13:05This vicious,
13:06unrepentant woman
13:07who only knows
13:08how to put on an act
13:09doesn't deserve
13:09to enter the Carter family.
13:11Every word lashed my soul.
13:13He stood beside my corpse
13:15and proposed
13:16to another woman.
13:17He trampled my dignity
13:18into the dirt
13:19in front of the entire country,
13:21then ground it in deeper.
13:24Lucas!
13:25The reporter started chanting.
13:26Lucas pulled out
13:27the simple engagement ring
13:28that had been mine.
13:29He casually tossed it.
13:31Clang!
13:32The ring fell
13:32into a nearby trash can.
13:34From today on,
13:35Sophia is my only fiancé.
13:37He took Sophia's hand
13:38and slid the pink diamond
13:39onto her finger.
13:40Then,
13:41he lowered his head
13:42and kissed her deeply.
13:45Three years ago,
13:46Lucas had knelt in the snow
13:48for three days and nights
13:49to propose to me.
13:52Vivian,
13:53this ring is my life.
13:55Once you wear it,
13:56my life belongs to you.
13:58Turns out your life
13:59is pretty worthless.
14:00After Sophia came along,
14:01you kept saying I'd changed.
14:03But I didn't change.
14:05You just gave her
14:05all the patience
14:06and love you used to give me.
14:08The ring in the trash,
14:09along with the Lucas
14:10who once said he loved me,
14:11both rotting here together.
14:13The number of online users
14:14is still rising
14:15and has already broken
14:16the platform record.
14:17The live stream
14:17had broken the platform's record
14:19for viewership.
14:20Hairpash Carter Luca public.
14:21Hairpash when Kuj
14:22refuses to apology.
14:23Ashwin Sophia White takes over.
14:25All three hashtags
14:26instantly dominated
14:27the top trending topics.
14:36Move!
14:37Everyone move!
14:38Get out of my way!
14:41It was Dr. William.
14:42The Ashford family doctor
14:44who'd watched me grow up.
14:45Dr. William,
14:46what are you doing here?
14:48Mrs. Ashford,
14:49she told me to check on Vivian!
14:51Why hasn't she moved at all?
14:52Is she sick?
14:53Sick?
14:54What's sick?
14:55She's just pretending to sleep.
14:57I've seen this
14:58attention-seeking act
14:59a thousand times.
15:01Dr. William,
15:02don't let her fool you.
15:03Give her a shot
15:04and make her get up right now.
15:06Lucas,
15:06with his arm around Sophia,
15:08added,
15:08Perfect timing,
15:09Dr. William.
15:10Expose her act
15:11in front of everyone
15:12and let them see
15:13just how shameless
15:15this Miss Ashford can be
15:16clinging to an engagement.
15:18Dr. William froze,
15:19staring at the figure
15:20in the wheelchair.
15:21His face changed.
15:22I need to examine her first.
15:25Under pressure
15:26from Ethan and Lucas,
15:27Dr. William had no choice
15:29but to walk shakily
15:30onto the stage.
15:31Everyone waited
15:32to see the spectacle,
15:33to see the evil woman
15:34get jabbed with a needle
15:35and wake up humiliated.
15:37Dr. William approached
15:38the wheelchair
15:39and called out,
15:40no response.
15:41He reached out
15:41to feel the wrist
15:42resting on my abdomen.
15:44The moment he touched
15:45that ice-cold skin,
15:46his face turned white.
15:48His hands started
15:49trembling.
15:49No heartbeat.
15:50He moved from the wrist
15:51to the pulse.
15:52No heartbeat.
15:53This, this,
15:54Dr. William couldn't believe it.
15:56What's wrong?
15:57Did you find her acting
15:58too convincing,
15:59even fooling you?
16:00Stop the act,
16:01Dr. William.
16:02Just give her the shot.
16:03Lost your voice?
16:04Speak.
16:04Tell everyone
16:05she's faking.
16:08Faking?
16:09She can't fake anymore.
16:11Mr. Ashfield,
16:12Mr. Carter,
16:13can't you see?
16:14She's already dead.
16:18This is liberty.
16:20This is rigor mortis.
16:22You,
16:22you've been forcing
16:23a corpse to apologize
16:24this whole time?
16:26Dead?
16:27Dr. William,
16:28you've lost your mind.
16:29Lucas let go
16:30of Sophia's hand.
16:31Stop playing along
16:32with Vivian's sick games.
16:33Livesey?
16:35I think she just put on
16:36special effects makeup.
16:38Vivian,
16:38stop pretending!
16:40Get off!
16:40Don't touch her!
16:41Are you blind?
16:43Feel her hand?
16:44Look at her eyes!
16:46What living person
16:47looks like this?
16:49Dr. William's tears fell
16:51as he untied the bow
16:52at my neck
16:52with shaking hands.
16:54Under the bow,
16:54a circle of purple-black
16:56ligature marks
16:57around my neck.
16:58As the concealer rubbed off,
17:00slight, giant cell formation
17:01appeared on the side
17:02of my neck.
17:03A female reporter
17:04in the front row
17:04covered her mouth,
17:05dry heaving.
17:06The livestream chat exploded.
17:08Holy shit!
17:10That's actual lividity!
17:11I'm a forensic student!
17:13That's definitely not makeup!
17:14That neck...
17:15My god,
17:16what did she go through?
17:17Is Ethan insane?
17:18He made a corpse
17:19apologize on livestream.
17:21They killed her!
17:22The elites killed someone!
17:24Ethan stared
17:25at the black marks
17:26on my neck.
17:26No.
17:28Impossible.
17:30He staggered backwards,
17:32knocking over
17:32the champagne tower.
17:34She was alive yesterday!
17:35When I dragged her home yesterday,
17:37she groaned!
17:37I heard it!
17:38I really heard it!
17:38I floated above,
17:40watching him.
17:40Tears streaming,
17:42watching him.
17:43Ethan,
17:43that wasn't me groaning.
17:45That was the sound of air
17:46being forced from my lungs
17:48when my head hit the stairs.
17:49Someone call the police!
17:51Get an ambulance!
17:52Hurry!
17:52Workers sprang into action.
17:54Lucas, what do we do?
17:56If she's really dead,
17:57then we...
17:58Cut the livestream!
17:59Security!
18:00Get these reporters out!
18:01I dare anyone to move!
18:03Ethan Ashford,
18:04Lucas Carter,
18:05I think you need to come with us.
18:08He collapsed among the broken glass.
18:10He stared at my lifeless face,
18:12the sister he'd doted on
18:13for 20 years.
18:14Yesterday,
18:15he'd dragged her home like trash.
18:17Today,
18:17he'd forced her to kneel
18:19and apologize to someone else.
18:20And now the police were telling him
18:22she'd been dead all along.
18:23When the coroner took me away,
18:25Ethan tried to rush forward
18:26but was held back by two officers.
18:28Vivian!
18:29Vivian, don't sleep!
18:30I was wrong!
18:32Please open your eyes
18:33and look at me!
18:34My parents rushed back that night
18:35When they saw the body in the morgue,
18:37my mom fainted on the spot
18:39and was rushed to the ER.
18:41Lucas and Sophia were detained
18:42in the interrogation room.
18:44The coroner paused,
18:45looking at Ethan.
18:46The deceased suffered severe external abuse.
18:49Stomach contents showed only small amounts
18:51of pig feed and mud.
18:52Most critically,
18:53we detected large quantities
18:54of powerful hallucinates
18:56in the deceased system.
18:57This drug makes people feel pain magnified
19:0010 times while conscious.
19:01The deceased died of a heart attack
19:03caused by long-term malnutrition,
19:06extreme physical abuse,
19:07and massive doses of hallucinarians.
19:10Ethan's head snapped up,
19:11bloodshot eyes wide.
19:13What did you say?
19:15Hallucinotics?
19:16Yes.
19:16That's why her acting seemed so real
19:18when she was being tortured.
19:19Because she was really in pain.
19:21In so much pain,
19:22she wanted to die,
19:23but didn't even have the strength to beg.
19:25What you thought was acting
19:26was her instinct to survive in hell.
19:31Ethan rushed to the toilet,
19:33violently vomiting bile.
19:39He remembered those three months.
19:41He'd sat behind the monitors,
19:43watching me convulse in the mud pit,
19:45watching me get dunked in water tanks
19:47until I couldn't breathe.
19:49What had he been doing then?
19:52He'd been laughing.
19:53He'd clinked glasses with Lucas
19:55and said,
19:58Finally knocked some sense into the brat.
20:02She was just too spoiled before.
20:06Turns out it wasn't being spoiled.
20:09It was pain magnified ten times over.
20:14It was also this.
20:15The captain walked in with a USB drive.
20:18We found this in the director's safe
20:19when we searched the production company,
20:20the unedited raw footage.
20:22Mr. Ashford,
20:23you might want to brace yourself.
20:26The projector turned on,
20:27casting images on the white wall.
20:30The screen showed a mountain pig pen.
20:32The instructor poured spoiled rice on the ground
20:35and stepped on it.
20:37Eat.
20:38Miss Ashfield,
20:39isn't this how you used to feed stray dogs?
20:41You can give it a try today.
20:43I was chained by the neck,
20:44crawling on the ground.
20:46I was so delirious with hunger,
20:48I crawled over
20:48and licked the rice off the ground with my thumb.
20:52The instructor laughed
20:53and kicked me in the ribs.
20:55Disgusting.
20:56If that Ethan saw you like this,
20:58his face would surely turn green.
21:00Ethan gripped the table edge so hard,
21:02his nails broke off,
21:03blood dripping.
21:04The scene changed to Sophia.
21:06She wore a hazmat suit,
21:07holding a cattle rod.
21:09Vivian,
21:09this electric current is a bit strong.
21:12Try to bear it, okay?
21:12I convulsed violence,
21:14foaming at the mouth.
21:16Sophia smiled.
21:17Oh, Lucas,
21:18look how beautifully she dances.
21:20Record it,
21:20send it to that idiot Ethan.
21:23Tell him she's practicing breakdancing.
21:25Lucas patted her head.
21:26As long as you're happy,
21:28play however you want.
21:30Ethan signed the liability waiver anyway.
21:32As long as she doesn't die,
21:33any torture counts as program content.
21:34The final scene showed my last moments before death.
21:37Ethan dropped to his knees,
21:39hands over his head,
21:40wailing.
21:42He'd lost his mind.
21:43He'd personally sent his sister to hell.
21:46Not only had he signed the waiver,
21:48he'd provided all the funding.
21:49He was the murderer.
21:52When police were clearing out my belongings,
21:54they found something hard
21:55in the lining of my cotton coat.
21:57It was a small recording pen,
21:59wrapped in three layers of plastic bags,
22:01and sewn into the deepest part of the garment.
22:04The detective captain pressed play
22:05in front of Ethan and my parents,
22:07who had just regained consciousness.
22:09After a crackling sound,
22:11Lucas and Sophia's voices came through.
22:13Sophia.
22:14Lucas, why won't she just die already?
22:16We already doubled the dose.
22:19Be patient.
22:21Once she's dead,
22:22the inheritance goes to Ethan.
22:24Then we follow the...
22:25What plan?
22:25The recording continued with Lucas's voice.
22:28That idiot Ethan sure is ruthless with his sister.
22:30Once Vivian dies,
22:31go comfort him through his grief for a few days.
22:32Then slip him some slow-acting neurotox.
22:34It's tasteless and odorless.
22:35It'll just make him look like
22:37he had a mental breakdown for grief.
22:39Aw, that's so sad.
22:41But for the Ashford family's billions,
22:43we'll have to sacrifice Ethan.
22:45He's just an actor anyway.
22:47He has no clue how to run a business.
22:50The Ashford empire will be ours.
22:52As long as we get Vivian to sign that post
22:54to me as stock transfer,
22:56then Ethan becomes useless.
22:57I pretended to be the mute old man
22:59to give her hope,
22:59just to watch her fall from heaven into hell.
23:02I'm sorry.
23:02That's the fun part.
23:04The sound of kissing came through the recording.
23:07You are still the smart one.
23:08That frame job was brilliant.
23:09Taking laxatapes to frame Vivian,
23:11that turned Ethan the sister conflict into our knife.
23:13If Vivian knew her brother sent her to die
23:15just to defend you,
23:16she'd never forgive him even as a ghost.
23:18Sorry!
23:19My dad clutched his chest,
23:21spat out a mouthful of blood,
23:22and collapsed.
23:24What a disaster.
23:25We invited wolves into our home.
23:28Invited wolves?
23:30Mom pounded on Ethan.
23:31It was you.
23:33You killed Vivian.
23:34She was protecting you.
23:36She stayed there to get evidence.
23:38You monster!
23:39Give me back my daughter!
23:41Ethan let mom beat him.
23:43He'd thought I was evil,
23:45jealous of Sophia.
23:46He'd thought he was educating me,
23:49reforming me.
23:50In reality,
23:51I was trading my life
23:53for a chance to expose their true faces.
23:56During those three months,
23:58every time they stepped on my face,
24:00every time Sophia jabbed me with the cattle prod,
24:04I repeated to myself,
24:06hold on, Vivian.
24:07Just hold on.
24:09Once you get the recording,
24:11Ethan will be safe.
24:12I did it.
24:14I protected my brother.
24:15I protected the Ashford family.
24:18The price was rotting in the dirt,
24:20treated like garbage by the person I loved most.
24:24I'm a monster.
24:25Ethan suddenly started laughing,
24:27laughing while crying.
24:29He grabbed the fruit knife from the table
24:31and stabbed it toward his neck.
24:33Stop him!
24:34The captain shouted and knocked the knife away.
24:36Ethan collapsed on the floor,
24:38slapping himself over and over.
24:40Don't stop me.
24:42Let me die.
24:43Let me go apologize to Vivian.
24:45Let me die.
24:47Die?
24:48Death would be too easy for you.
24:50Your sister gave her life
24:52to protect the Ashford family.
24:54Instead of figuring out how to defend it
24:56and make the killers pay,
24:58you just want to die?
25:00Ethan Ashford,
25:01that life of yours belongs to your sister.
25:04You have to live with it and suffer.
25:07The evidence was irrefutable.
25:09When Sophia was arrested,
25:11she fought desperately.
25:13I'm innocent.
25:14Lucas forced me to do everything.
25:16I'm a victim.
25:17I have a heart condition.
25:19You can't arrest me.
25:20Heart condition?
25:21Ethan pulled out a document.
25:23Sophia White,
25:25your medical records from abroad
25:26show your heart is stronger than a bull's.
25:29Your so-called congenital myocarditis
25:32was completely fabricated for sympathy.
25:35Sophia's face went deathly pale.
25:38No.
25:39Ethan.
25:40Let me explain.
25:41Don't call me that.
25:43Ethan's voice was hoarse.
25:45You don't deserve it.
25:46And that laxative.
25:48Ethan threw a restored surveillance video in her face.
25:51The footage showed Sophia putting laxatives in the yogurt herself,
25:54then drinking it.
25:55Vivian never tried to hurt you.
25:57Never.
25:58Each word was agonizing for Ethan.
26:00You were always the one hurting her.
26:02And I, I was your accomplice.
26:05Ethan suddenly reached out and grabbed Sophia by the throat.
26:08Help.
26:08Help.
26:09Sophia rolled her eyes, clawing at Ethan's hands.
26:12Police rushed forward and pulled Ethan off.
26:14Mr. Ashford, the law will judge her.
26:17You can't take matters into your own hands.
26:19Sophia collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.
26:23Hair disheveled, makeup smeared.
26:24She was handcuffed and dragged to the police car.
26:28Before getting in, a rotten egg hit her face.
26:30It was thrown by one of Ethan's fans who used to curse me endlessly.
26:34Give Vivian Ashford back, you witch!
26:37Sophia screamed as she was taken away.
26:40Waiting for her was a murder conviction and the death penalty.
26:44To save the family business, Lucas's father issued an overnight statement,
26:48disowning his son and freezing all of Lucas's assets.
26:51But that wasn't enough.
26:52Ethan used every connection he had to get Lucas sent to the most violent cell block in detention.
26:57And he told the cell boss,
26:59This man loves abusing women and making people eat rotten food.
27:03On Lucas's first day inside, he was forced to eat a bucket of food scooped from the toilet.
27:08When he refused, they broke two of his ribs.
27:11He tried to call for help, but his voice had been poisoned mute.
27:14Ethan had sent in the extra meal.
27:16Just like the mute old man Lucas had pretended to be on the show,
27:20This time, he really became mute.
27:22On trial day, Lucas was carried into court.
27:25He was skeletal.
27:26Old injuries layered with new ones.
27:28Seeing Ethan in the gallery, his eyes showed beating.
27:31He opened his mouth wide, making abba-abba sounds.
27:34But no one could understand.
27:36The judge announced the verdict.
27:38The defendant, Lucas Carter, with multiple counts,
27:41is sentenced to death with immediate execution.
27:43Hearing death penalty, Lucas's eyes rolled back and he wet himself.
27:48He was dragged out.
27:49Before execution, Ethan requested one final visit.
27:53Through the glass, Ethan held up my portrait.
27:55In the photo, I smiled brightly, eyes full of light.
27:59Vivian says she doesn't forgive you.
28:01Ethan looked into Lucas's terrified eyes, enunciating each word.
28:05She says hell is too cold.
28:07She wants you to go down there and be her dog.
28:09Lucas kowtowed frantically, head bleeding.
28:12But Ethan simply turned and left.
28:14In that moment, Lucas finally understood despair.
28:17Lucas died.
28:18Sophia got life imprisonment.
28:20The Ashford family built a memorial garden for me on the Mountain Village site.
28:24They planted it full of sunflowers I loved.
28:26Award-winning actor Ethan Ashford retired at his career peak and disappeared from public view.
28:32He moved into the basement of the mansion.
28:34It had been renovated into a one-to-one replica of the pig pen.
28:38Late at night, he would hallucinate.
28:40To experience my pain, he even injected himself with the same hallucinogens.
28:45Vivian, he murmured in his dreams, forehead drenched in cold sweat, body convulsing in pain.
28:52It hurt so much.
28:54It hurt this much.
28:56How did you bear it?
28:58How did you bear it?
29:00He reached out, grasping at empty air, trying to grab my hand.
29:04I shouldn't have sent you away.
29:06I deserve to die.
29:08I watched his increasingly gaunt face.
29:11Watched the white hair appearing at his temples.
29:14I sighed.
29:15Ethan, I don't hurt anymore.
29:18Really.
29:19I tried to reach out, to smooth his furrowed brow.
29:23The instant my fingertips touched his forehead, Ethan's eyes snapped open.
29:28He stared at the empty space where I floated, his gaze focusing.
29:33Vivian, is that you?
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