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