- 3 hours ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:03One, two, three, four, five.
00:10I lay completely still, staring at the ceiling, my mind going blanker with every number.
00:15He finally set down the probe.
00:18Mrs. Shaw? Eight! Eight embryo sacs, all developing normally.
00:23My hand slowly drifted to my stomach, still flat, but somehow, eight lives were already there.
00:30The Shaw women had always been famously fertile.
00:32My mother delivered twins. My aunt had triplets in one go.
00:36But no one could have predicted that when it came to me, I'd skip straight to eight.
00:41The clinic was warm, but I felt only a cold gray settling over everything ahead of me.
00:46Would Lucian even want these children?
00:48He could barely stand to look at me on a normal day.
00:51And the Ford family? Would they ever acknowledge children I carried?
00:56Eight children.
00:58Formula, diapers, nannies, school fees.
01:02Every single item on that list was an astronomical figure.
01:07My own family was ordinary.
01:09I had no allies.
01:11What did I have to raise them with?
01:12The more I thought, the heavier it got.
01:15I walked back through the doors of the Ford estate.
01:18Then Leo appeared, Lucian's assistant.
01:20The CEO has spoken.
01:23Give you $200 million.
01:24Sign, and never return.
01:32$200 million.
01:34I could raise eight children in luxury, send every one of them to private school, and still have plenty left
01:41over.
01:41What did I care about the title of Mrs. Ford?
01:44What did I care whether Lucian liked me?
01:47I had Leo arrange the transfer right then and there.
01:50And right in front of him, I signed the divorce papers, without a single moment of hesitation.
01:55I went back upstairs, packed only what was mine.
01:58The couture gowns, jewelry, and designer bags from the Fords.
02:02I left every piece untouched, right where it was in the dressing room.
02:07What wasn't mine, I didn't want.
02:09I collected the check and the divorce papers, wheeled my suitcase to the door,
02:14walked out of the Ford estate with my head held high.
02:16That wealthy world I once thought so far beyond my reach,
02:21looking back, it was all just a passing illusion.
02:24From this moment on, there was no more Mrs. Ford.
02:27There was only Aria Shaw and the eight little lives she was carrying.
02:31Later, word spread across the entire city.
02:35Lucian Ford, the man who never hesitated, never wavered, had suddenly lost his mind.
02:43Immediately mobilize all lemping and resources.
02:46Find her for me.
02:47You find her, don't expect any of you to be okay.
02:50He was hellbent on finding her, his ex-wife.
02:54The one who'd taken his money, run off carrying eight of his children,
02:59and never once looked back.
03:01I walked out of the Ford estate and flagged down a car straight to the private bank.
03:05I converted Lucian's check into a card I could access anytime.
03:09With that done, I booked a first-class flight to Savannah.
03:12Then I stopped at a luxury car rental and got their best vehicle.
03:17Once I was in the car, I went straight to my parents' place.
03:22Then they noticed I was alone with a suitcase, and the smiles froze.
03:26They knew immediately that something was wrong.
03:29When I told them Lucian and I were divorced, Mother teared up at once.
03:32She took my hands and couldn't stop crying.
03:35Father slammed his hand on his knee, grabbed his cane by the door, and headed for the Ford estate,
03:40his whole body shaking with fury.
03:43That heartless man.
03:45Even if he didn't care for you, he had no right to treat you this way.
03:51I'm going over there right now.
03:53This is outrageous.
03:56Dad.
03:57Mom.
03:57Don't.
03:58Leaving him is a relief for me, not a loss.
04:01He gave me $200 million.
04:04That's more than enough for all of us, for the rest of our lives.
04:08I'm carrying eight children.
04:12I can't put them at risk.
04:15Besides, Lucian's been overseas on business.
04:19He's not even in the city.
04:21If we go over there now, we'll only make a scene for nothing.
04:24Hearing the octuplets, they stood there stunned for a long moment, not quite able to process it.
04:30But their love for me, and for the children I was carrying, won out over their anger.
04:35My parents had spent their whole lives running a small diner.
04:38They asked for nothing more than peace and quiet.
04:42Now I had money, and a family on the way.
04:44Leaving this city that had drained me so much was the best thing for all of us.
04:48We packed the few belongings, got into the rented car, and drove to the airport.
04:53The city's glitter and its games had nothing to do with me anymore.
04:57Back at the Ford estate, a very different scene was playing out.
05:01The divorce papers and the check had never come from Lucian.
05:05They had come from Camille Sutton.
05:08Camille shared no blood with Lucian.
05:10She had been taken in by Eleanor as a child and raised in their home.
05:15She had loved Lucian for as long as she could remember,
05:18and she had always seen me as a thorn in her side.
05:22She knew Lucian was away on an overseas project.
05:25She knew Eleanor was the one running the estate in his absence.
05:29She knew I was just a girl from an ordinary family.
05:32She convinced herself I'd clung to Lucian by any means necessary.
05:37To her, our marriage was nothing but a face-saving arrangement for both families.
05:42So she had made her move.
05:44She had someone mimic Lucian's tone and send me the message.
05:48She had paid off Leo to deliver the divorce papers.
05:52She was certain I had married into the Ford family only for money and status.
05:57She was sure that once I got divorce papers, I would fall apart, cry, beg, refuse to leave.
06:05Then she would step in and play the gracious peacemaker to show everyone how generous she was
06:12and turn the whole family against me for good.
06:15But she had calculated wrong.
06:17At that moment, she was drinking tea with Eleanor in the garden.
06:21Don't worry, Mrs. Ford.
06:23Aria fought so hard to marry into this family.
06:26She's probably in her room, throwing a fit and refusing to leave.
06:32I'll go calm her down later.
06:34It'll show everyone how gracious the Fords are.
06:40A nobody from a nobody family, and she thought she deserved to be Mrs. Ford.
06:46Getting thrown out is exactly what she brought on herself.
06:50Just then, the housekeeper Martha hurried across the garden.
06:53Mrs. Ford, Miss Camille, Miss Camille, Miss Shaw is gone.
06:58She packed only a few of her belongings.
07:01She didn't take a single piece of jewelry or designer clothing.
07:03She just left.
07:05Camille's hand paused on her teacup.
07:07Her lips curved into a faint smirk.
07:10She told herself I was playing hard to get.
07:12Running away to make Lucian chase, but Eleanor's face drained of color.
07:17The crystal teacup slipped from her hand.
07:20What did you say?
07:21She just left?
07:23All those valuables in this house, and she didn't take a single thing?
07:27It's true, Mrs. Ford.
07:28We all saw it clearly.
07:31Miss Aria only took her own luggage.
07:33She didn't touch a thing that belonged to the family.
07:35Eleanor stood up abruptly.
07:37She hurried straight to the master bedroom I'd been staying in.
07:40Camille followed close behind.
07:43Composed on the surface, something uneasy stirring underneath.
07:46My room had always been simple and tidy.
07:50Now, it was just empty.
07:52Every item that belonged to the Fords was still hung in the walk-in closet.
07:57Only my few casual clothes and a small stack of old books were gone.
08:02Eleanor had the rest of the estate checked immediately.
08:05The staff came back with the same answer.
08:08Miss Aria had taken only what belonged to her.
08:10Not a single item from the Ford family had been touched.
08:14Eleanor stood in the middle of the empty room.
08:17Her face paled, then turned ashen.
08:20Rage and something unnameable churned inside her.
08:25Ungrateful girl.
08:26Fine! She left!
08:28What's she proving putting on such a holiest-than-though act?
08:32But she knew better than anyone what she thought of me.
08:35That I had stayed for the money.
08:37That I had clung to the Ford name because I had nowhere else to go.
08:41And now, I had walked away without taking a thing.
08:45It felt like a slap across the face.
08:47The household staff stood with their heads down, not daring to breathe.
08:52No one had expected that kind of dignity from me.
08:55They had all quietly looked down on.
08:58Camille moved quickly to Eleanor's side.
09:00Mrs. Ford, please don't upset yourself.
09:05Aria's leaving just shows she didn't belong in this family.
09:08I'm here.
09:09I'll always be here for you.
09:20You're the thoughtful one.
09:22A hundred times better than that Aria ever was.
09:25She made a pretty speech about not wanting anything from us.
09:28But didn't she walk out with two hundred million dollars of Lucian's money?
09:31Deep down, she's just as greedy as everyone else.
09:35Two hundred million dollars?
09:37She stood frozen where she was, the blood draining from her face.
09:42She had only paid off Leo.
09:44She had only mimicked Lucian's tone.
09:47Sent the message.
09:48Had the papers delivered.
09:50She had never had any access to Lucian's accounts.
09:54Two hundred million dollars was something she couldn't have touched if she'd tried.
09:58So who had sent that money?
10:01A terrible thought detonated somewhere deep in her chest.
10:05A wave of cold dread swept through her entire body.
10:09Her plan had been simple.
10:11Make me fall apart after the divorce.
10:13Make everyone despise me.
10:16Clear the path for herself.
10:18But instead, I had walked out clean and calm, carrying the money, and vanished completely.
10:25None of this was what she had planned.
10:27Camille kept the smile on her face, but her fingertips were ice cold, and her heart had dropped.
10:34By then, I had already arrived in Savannah with my parents.
10:37Warm.
10:38Unhurried.
10:39No pressure.
10:41No scheming.
10:42Nothing that seeped into New York's walls.
10:44It was exactly the kind of place I had been longing for.
10:48I bought a penthouse right in the heart of the city.
10:51Generous light.
10:52Open space.
10:53More than enough room for eight children to grow and run and make noise.
10:58The interiors were warm and comfortable.
11:00Heated floors.
11:02The whole place breathing ease.
11:09Outside, the city moved.
11:11Inside, my parents' voices were low and easy.
11:15No cold rules.
11:17No judgment.
11:18Just warmth and calm.
11:22My mind clear for the first time in ages.
11:25When the babies came, I would be here.
11:28I would watch them grow.
11:30I would take them everywhere and give them everything.
11:33I would never have to answer to anyone again.
11:37I would never have to shrink myself to survive in someone else's home.
11:42A life like this was worth more than the Ford name could ever have been.
11:47Six months passed.
11:48I settled quietly in Savannah, my belly growing rounder each week as all eight babies thrived.
11:55Every day, I walked, read, and picked out tiny outfits and little shoes.
12:00The days were simple yet full.
12:03Back in New York, Lucian had finally returned after six months abroad.
12:07Sharp eyes.
12:08Not a single wasted movement.
12:11Mr. Ford, welcome back.
12:14Lucian got into the car and spoke without looking up.
12:18Six months.
12:19Tell me what happened at home.
12:21Leo stiffened head to toe.
12:23Mr. Ford, your wife, she...
12:27Speak.
12:29She signed the divorce papers!
12:31Lucian's eyes went dark.
12:33He had never intended to divorce her.
12:36He had never sent any papers.
12:39Drive.
12:40Faster.
12:41He went straight to the study.
12:42On the desk, folded neatly, was the divorce agreement.
12:46Lucian looked down at it.
12:47At the bottom of the page, the signature was clean and certain.
12:51Aria Shaw.
12:53Someone explain to me what happened.
12:55Mr. Ford, it was Miss Kimiel.
12:58She used your name to send Mrs. Ford the message.
13:01She used your identity to trick her into leaving.
13:03I had no choice.
13:06The temperature in the room dropped another degree.
13:11Lucian hurled the divorce agreement to the floor.
13:14The pages landed at Leo's feet with a sharp crack.
13:19Get out.
13:21Go to HR and submit a written statement.
13:24Your annual bonus is gone.
13:26You're on warehouse duty until I say otherwise.
13:29Leo fled.
13:31The room went silent.
13:34Lucian stood alone, surrounded by the weight of it all.
13:38Camille's scheming.
13:39Eleanor's blind favoritism.
13:42Leo's betrayal.
13:43All of it made his blood run cold.
13:46But none of it was what was pressing against his chest right now.
13:51That was Aria.
13:53The fact that she was gone.
13:56Three years ago, at a charity gala, he'd walked into the wrong hotel room.
14:02Spent the night with her.
14:08By morning, she stared at him.
14:10Panic in her eyes.
14:12But her chin held high.
14:14He'd been caught in a scandal at the time.
14:17A rival had paid someone to photograph him and spread rumors about his private life.
14:24Marrying her had put an end to it.
14:27After the wedding, she never demanded anything.
14:29Never competed for his attention.
14:31She simply took care of everything, quietly.
14:35Never making him feel she wanted anything in return.
14:39Before every business trip, she packed his bags overnight,
14:43tucked his antacids, and reminded him to take care of himself.
14:50Her eyes always gave away more than her words.
14:55At the annual gala, he hadn't been drunk.
14:58He had used it as an excuse to do what he'd wanted to do for a long time.
15:04To get closer to her.
15:06To break through the wall between them.
15:11And now she was gone, carrying his children, taking the money he had set aside for her.
15:20That $200 million had been sitting in a private account for months.
15:25He had planned to transfer it to her name once things between them warmed up.
15:29Something to make her feel secure.
15:31Camille had turned it into a weapon.
15:33It had become the reason Arya left.
15:36Lucien pressed his hand to his chest.
15:39Something ached there.
15:40Heavy and hollow at the same time.
15:42He understood it now.
15:44What he felt for her hadn't been cold civility for a long time.
15:49He had fallen for her.
15:51Slowly.
15:52Without realizing it.
15:53And by the time he understood that, she was already gone.
15:58Camille.
15:59Dawn had barely broken when the mood inside the Ford Estate hit rock bottom.
16:03Eleanor sat at the head of the main hall.
16:06Both hands wrapped around her string of pearls.
16:09Camille stood nearby.
16:11Fingers twisted in her skirt.
16:15Eyes full of panic, she was working hard to hide.
16:19Lucien sat across from them in a black suit.
16:22Cold-eyed.
16:23Still.
16:24Grandmother.
16:26She schemed against your grandson's wife.
16:29Against my children.
16:31This needs to be settled today.
16:33Eleanor looked at his face and said nothing.
16:35She had watched this boy grow up.
16:38He'd run Ford Group for years with precision.
16:41No room for sentiment.
16:43When he was angry, he didn't spare anyone.
16:46Not even family.
16:48Lucien, I know I was wrong.
16:50I lost my mind.
16:51I just...
16:54I love you so much.
16:56Watching Arya take the place that should have been mine,
16:59I couldn't stand it.
17:01Please.
17:02Just this once.
17:04I swear I'll never do it again.
17:06Lucien looked at her from his chair.
17:10You love me?
17:11Not a flicker of feeling in his eyes.
17:14Then why'd you impersonate me?
17:18You took the money I put aside for my wife
17:22just to trick her into leaving.
17:27Camille, that's not love.
17:28That's cheap.
17:30Vicious, even.
17:32You spent years throwing your weight around in this house
17:35because my grandmother dulled you.
17:38Belittling the staff.
17:40Making Arya's life difficult.
17:48Did you think I didn't notice?
17:50Did you think I didn't notice?
17:51He paused.
17:53His voice dropped another degree.
17:55I let it go because you were raised here.
17:58I gave you that much.
18:00But you took it too far.
18:02You went after my wife.
18:04You went after my children.
18:06Camille's crying stopped.
18:07She thought Lucien was only playing around with Arya
18:11or putting up a front because of the rumors.
18:14But from his words,
18:15she heard something different.
18:17He'd actually fallen for her.
18:19For real.
18:21No!
18:22That's not possible!
18:26Lucien!
18:27How could you love someone so, so ordinary?
18:30She doesn't deserve you!
18:32She never did!
18:34Whether she deserves me
18:36is not your call to make.
18:38I am revoking every position you hold at Ford Group.
18:42Freezing every asset tied to this family.
18:45And sending you back to your hometown.
18:48You will not set foot in this house again.
18:51Not once.
18:52Not ever.
18:54Camille completely fell apart.
18:56I don't want to go back!
18:58I'll do anything!
18:58Please!
19:00Lucien shook her off.
19:01Hard.
19:02She hit the floor.
19:03Her forehead caught the edge of the table.
19:06A thin line of blood appeared at her hairline.
19:09Remove her.
19:10He didn't look at her again.
19:12The security moved in at once,
19:13lifted her off the floor,
19:15and dragged her out of the parlor.
19:17Her cries faded down the hallway
19:19and disappeared.
19:20Lucien.
19:22It was my fault.
19:24I should never have taken Camille's side.
19:27I should never have treated Arya the way I did.
19:30Grandmother, what's done is done.
19:32The frost in his expression eased,
19:34just barely.
19:35But the warmth didn't follow.
19:37There's no point in saying this now.
19:40Arya is gone.
19:42She took my children.
19:45What I need to do is find her
19:47and bring her home.
19:49Put out the word.
19:51Use every resource the Ford family has.
19:54Find Arya Shaw.
19:55Arya Shaw.
19:56Wherever she is,
19:59bring her back.
20:00Yes, Mr. Ford.
20:01The six months after I left New York
20:03were the most peaceful of my life.
20:06My father spent his free afternoons
20:08fishing by the lake.
20:10My mother tended to the flowers
20:12she'd planted around the house.
20:14The days were quiet and good.
20:16I thought it would stay that way forever,
20:18that I'd simply wait for the babies to arrive,
20:21watch them grow,
20:22and build a small, steady life.
20:24I wasn't expecting what came next.
20:27One afternoon,
20:28I took my parents to a fine restaurant
20:30by the waterfront.
20:31My mother's bracelet shifted
20:33as she reached for her glass.
20:35The restaurant owner stopped mid-sentence.
20:37Ma'am, that bracelet.
20:40Is that a Marley family heirloom?
20:42My mother's face changed instantly.
20:44She pulled her sleeve down
20:46and looked away.
20:46That bracelet had been with her
20:48as long as I could remember.
20:49She wore it every day,
20:51close to her skin.
20:53She had never once explained
20:54where it came from.
20:55I pressed her until she finally spoke,
20:58eyes red from years of held back tears.
21:01My mother was the only daughter
21:03of Charles Marlow.
21:05The Marlow family was old money in Savannah.
21:08Deep roots, considerable wealth.
21:10Years ago, she had been visiting New York
21:13when she met my father.
21:14They fell in love immediately,
21:17but the Marlows refused.
21:18My father was ordinary.
21:20The gap between their families
21:22was too wide.
21:23They would not allow it.
21:25My mother chose my father anyway.
21:27She cut ties with her family,
21:29left Savannah,
21:30and spent the next decade
21:32living under a different name.
21:34She never went back.
21:35She never told anyone who she was.
21:38She had missed home every day,
21:40but she was afraid her family
21:42was still angry,
21:43afraid of walking back
21:44into the same walls of judgment
21:46so she kept it buried.
21:48The restaurant owner
21:49was a distant relative of the Marlows.
21:51He had seen the heirloom years ago
21:53and recognized it immediately.
21:55He told us that Charles Marlow
21:57had never stopped looking for his daughter.
21:59Every year, he sent people to search.
22:02He was nearly 70 now,
22:03his health declining,
22:04and his only wish
22:06was to find her,
22:07to make up for the time they'd lost.
22:09It's my fault.
22:10You gave up everything for me.
22:13Your family, your name, your home,
22:15all these years carrying it alone.
22:17I'm so sorry.
22:20Mom, Dad, let's go see him.
22:23Whatever he feels,
22:25he's still family.
22:26Blood is blood.
22:27You've both carried this too long.
22:29It's time to go home.
22:30They nodded.
22:31The restaurant owner guided us
22:32to the Marlowe estate.
22:34My grandpa was nearly 70,
22:35white-haired,
22:37but still sharp,
22:38still present.
22:39The moment he saw my mother,
22:41the man who'd held himself together
22:43for half his life,
22:45finally broke.
22:46My, my girl.
22:48Dad!
22:50My mother ran to him
22:52and cried like a child.
22:54My girl.
22:55I'm sorry all this time.
22:57I'm so sorry.
22:59He looked at my father.
23:01The resentment was there,
23:02but so was the evidence
23:04of 30 years of care.
23:05My mother was loved.
23:07The resentment softened,
23:08then faded.
23:09Eight!
23:10Eight babies!
23:12My granddaughter!
23:13You don't have to worry
23:14about a single thing.
23:16Your grandfather
23:17has more than enough.
23:19You and the babies
23:20will want for nothing.
23:22He bought the surrounding properties
23:24and merged them
23:25into his estate.
23:26He assigned the Marlowe's
23:27private doctor
23:28to check on me every day.
23:30He brought my father
23:31into the family business.
23:33My father had good instincts for it.
23:35With Grandpa's guidance,
23:36he found his footing quickly.
23:38He soon became one of the family's
23:40most trusted advisors.
23:41And I,
23:42as Charles Marlowe's
23:44only grandchild,
23:45his most treasured person,
23:47became the natural heir
23:49to the Marlowe name.
23:50Half the family's holdings
23:51passed into my hands.
23:53The girl who once lay awake
23:55worrying about raising eight children
23:57was now one of the wealthiest women
23:59in Savannah.
24:00A family at my back.
24:02My parents beside me.
24:04Eight lives growing inside me.
24:07I had everything.
24:09I thought I would simply stay here,
24:11grow old in this warm city
24:13with my children and my family.
24:16But this would be the end of the story.
24:18I didn't expect Lucian to find me.
24:20Savannah was softly raining
24:22the day Lucian found me.
24:23Nothing like the cold nights
24:25I remembered from New York.
24:26I was lying on the sofa.
24:28It was peaceful.
24:29Then,
24:29I heard noise from outside the gate.
24:32A familiar figure stood in the rain.
24:34Black suit,
24:35straight posture,
24:36the same sharp edges in his face.
24:39But his eyes held something different now.
24:42Exhaustion.
24:43Something I couldn't quite name.
24:45He stood in the rain
24:46with his hair wet against his forehead.
24:49Lucian.
24:49I felt nothing stir in my chest.
24:52Not even surprise.
24:53With the Ford's power and connections,
24:56finding someone wasn't a question of if.
24:59Only when.
25:00He walked toward me.
25:01Each step a little too quick.
25:03A little too deliberate.
25:05His suit was soaked.
25:06Fabric pressed against him by the rain.
25:09He stopped in front of me.
25:10His eyes dropped to my stomach.
25:12The visible swell of it.
25:14Eight lives inside.
25:16A flicker of tenderness,
25:18pain,
25:18and regret
25:19crossed his eyes
25:20before they went still.
25:22Aria.
25:22It was the first time
25:23he had ever said my name like that.
25:26I didn't answer.
25:27I signaled the housekeeper for a shawl.
25:29Mr. Ford.
25:30This is unexpected.
25:31What brings you all the way out here?
25:33Aria, I-
25:33He opened his mouth,
25:35closed it,
25:35opened it again.
25:36This man who'd run boardrooms
25:38and moved markets
25:39stood before me.
25:41Speechless.
25:42I came to bring you home.
25:45Home.
25:46Mr. Ford,
25:46I think you're confused.
25:48I'm not Mrs. Ford anymore.
25:52We're divorced.
25:53We're nothing to each other.
25:54I'm doing well here.
25:56I don't need your concern.
25:58And I'd like you to stop coming here.
25:59The divorce wasn't real.
26:01Camille sent that message
26:02pretending to be me.
26:03She forged my signature on the papers.
26:05None of it came from me.
26:06I never wanted to divorce you.
26:07Not once.
26:08And the 200 million,
26:09that wasn't Camille's money to give.
26:10It was already yours.
26:11I had this set aside
26:12calmed down months ago.
26:13I was just waiting for things
26:14between us to calm down
26:14before putting it in your name.
26:15Camille told you it was a settlement.
26:17She used it to get rid of you.
26:17She's been dealt with.
26:18All her positions are gone.
26:19Her assets are frozen.
26:20She'll never set foot in New York again.
26:21The staff who made your life
26:22Marable are gone too.
26:24My grandmother knows she was wrong.
26:26She's been waiting to apologize
26:27to you in person.
26:29He reached toward my face.
26:32His hand stopped in the air between us.
26:34It has nothing to do with me.
26:37What Camille did,
26:38how she was punished,
26:39that's Ford family business.
26:42It stopped being mine
26:44the day I walked out.
26:45I didn't leave New York
26:46because of Camille.
26:48I didn't leave because of your grandmother
26:50or the staff.
26:52I left because of you, Lucien.
26:56It was your three years of coldness.
26:59It was the warmth you never gave me.
27:02It was you who made me feel
27:04like I wasn't in a home
27:05but a cage.
27:07I could barely breathe inside it.
27:09I watched every word.
27:12I weighed every step.
27:15And now I'm out
27:16and you want me to go back?
27:20Aria, I know.
27:21I know I was wrong.
27:23For three years,
27:23I just refused to see
27:25what was right in front of me.
27:26I told myself I didn't know
27:28how to reach you,
27:28that I needed more time.
27:30At the gala that night,
27:31I wasn't even drunk.
27:35I used that as an excuse
27:36to get close to you.
27:38I thought I'd have more time.
27:39I thought you'd still be there
27:41when I finally worked up
27:42the courage to say it.
27:45The guilt in his eyes was real.
27:47I could see that.
27:48Had I ever felt something for him?
27:50Maybe.
27:51The time he stepped between me
27:53and the rude housekeeper,
27:54the morning he quietly took
27:55the antacids I'd left for his trip,
27:57the way he looked at me
27:59at the gala,
28:00just a moment,
28:01before things got complicated.
28:03Maybe there had been
28:04something there,
28:05but three years of cold
28:07had worn it down to nothing.
28:09Lucien,
28:11it's too late.
28:12I have everything I need right here.
28:14My parents,
28:15my grandfather,
28:16more money than I could ever spend.
28:20And eight children on the way.
28:23I'm not missing anything.
28:25Please leave.
28:27Don't come back.
28:29Don't disturb my life
28:31or my children's lives.
28:36On the other side of it,
28:38Lucien stood in the rain
28:39and looked at a closed door.
28:42He didn't leave.
28:43He just stood there,
28:44still getting soaked.
28:47After that day,
28:48Lucien bought a house near mine.
28:50He didn't try to force his way back in,
28:52but he didn't disappear either.
28:54He simply stayed close
28:56in his own quiet way.
29:00Every morning at dawn,
29:01fresh white peonies
29:03were delivered to my door.
29:04I'd once mentioned in passing
29:05that they were my favorite flower
29:07in New York,
29:08never thinking he'd heard.
29:10The dew-covered blooms
29:11filled the house
29:12with a soft,
29:13clean fragrance.
29:14Every afternoon,
29:15a prenatal tonic
29:17made by his own hands arrived.
29:19I heard he'd hired a nutritionist
29:21and spent days perfecting it.
29:23Temperature,
29:24taste,
29:25balance,
29:26all tailored just for me.
29:27Every bottle came
29:28with a short,
29:29handwritten note,
29:30firm yet gentle,
29:32always telling me
29:33to eat well,
29:34rest,
29:34and not overwork.
29:37Every evening,
29:38he stood outside my gate,
29:40staring at the window lights
29:42for hours.
29:43He only left
29:43once my bedroom lamp went out.
29:45He never entered,
29:47just watched quietly from afar,
29:49asking for nothing in return.
29:51Word spread through Savannah.
29:53The CEO of Ford Group
29:55had come all the way from New York
29:56to wait outside his ex-wife's house
29:59every night.
30:00The woman who had taken his money,
30:02run off with eight of his children,
30:04and shut the door in his face.
30:06Some people called it devotion.
30:08Some people said he had it coming.
30:10He didn't seem to care
30:11what anyone thought.
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