- 2 hours ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:00On our first wedding anniversary, my husband, Dante Ricci, handed me divorce papers.
00:04Hung out with your two ex-husbands yesterday. We played Truth or Dare.
00:07I lost, so they dared me to get you to sign them.
00:09Bet you wouldn't have the guts to go through with it.
00:11Babe, you're not gonna let them get away with that, are you?
00:14I have two ex-husbands.
00:15My childhood friends, Marco Rosotti and Luca Barbieri.
00:19But those first two marriages were just business.
00:22To help their families out of a jam.
00:24Only my marriage to Dante was for love.
00:26I thought I'd finally found my home.
00:28Until I overheard the three of them talking.
00:31Kiara's sick. Her dying wish is for the three of us to spend one whole month with her.
00:34Just the three of us. Dante, you can handle that, can't you?
00:37Of course. I'll get Isabella to sign the divorce papers.
00:40I'll just tell her it's a dare.
00:42And we'll get remarried after the month is up.
00:44I heard everything. I didn't let on.
00:46I just calmly signed the papers.
00:48Then I texted my father, the godfather of the Romano family.
00:52Father, I'm divorced.
00:54That arranged marriage you mentioned?
00:56Is the offer still on the table?
00:57I was standing outside our front door, holding a gift from Chicago.
01:01Dante loves.
01:02The conversation inside continued.
01:05Will Isabella go for it?
01:07Of course she will.
01:08She knows the rules.
01:10Besides, Bella's a pushover.
01:11Never makes waves.
01:13Exactly.
01:14She's gotten us out of so much trouble.
01:16This time will be no different.
01:18Ever since we got married, Dante had always acted like he hated Marco and Luca.
01:22I thought he was jealous.
01:23I was even a little smug about it.
01:24Now I knew the truth.
01:26The three of them were close.
01:27So close they could plot its knee against together.
01:30I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
01:32So that's all I was to them.
01:34My feelings, my dignity, my marriage.
01:36Just tools for them to use.
01:38I turned around, got back in my car and sat for a full hour just letting the cold seep in.
01:42My phone buzzed.
01:42A text from Dante.
01:43I stared at the words and almost laughed.
01:46I got out of the car, tossed the box of chocolates in the trash and pushed open the front door.
01:50Bella.
01:51Dante shot up from the sofa, a perfect smile on his face.
01:55You're back.
01:56How was the road?
01:58He came up to me and gently kissed me on my face.
02:01He'd done it for a year.
02:03It always made me feel warm.
02:05Now, it just made me sick.
02:08I subtly wiped my cheek.
02:09Bella.
02:10Bella, I need to talk to you about something.
02:12Dante said, sitting next to me, his expression suddenly serious.
02:17Here we go, I thought with a cold smile.
02:21But I kept my face a mask of confusion.
02:24Taking my hand and rubbing his thumb over the back of it.
02:27The lawyers are suggesting a temporary divorce.
02:30Just on paper.
02:31It's to protect you, keep you from getting getting dragged into this.
02:35A temporary divorce?
02:37I raised an eyebrow, playing dumb.
02:39It's just a formality.
02:41As soon as I clean up the family business, we'll get remarried.
02:45Then his face fell into a wounded look.
02:47And I was playing truth or dare.
02:50With Marco and Luca yesterday, those bastards.
02:52They lost and dared me to do this.
02:55Said you'd never have the nerve to get divorced again.
02:57Said you didn't have the guts.
02:59He was a damn good actor.
03:00If this were the Oscars, he'd take home best actor.
03:03How could they say that?
03:05I said, faking a flash of anger.
03:07I know.
03:08And I wasn't going to take that.
03:10Dante said, his eyes shining with anticipation.
03:13I know my wife is the bravest woman there is.
03:15You're not afraid of anything.
03:16So.
03:17He pulled the papers out from under the coffee table and handed them to me.
03:21Tomorrow, we'll give them the shock of their lives.
03:24Most of his property.
03:25His stocks.
03:25His real estate.
03:26It was all going to me.
03:27I almost laughed out loud.
03:28He was so damn sure of himself, so certain we'd be remarried soon, that this was all
03:32just for show.
03:32I picked up the pen on the table and signed my name at the bottom of the agreement with
03:35a clean, sharp stroke.
03:37Dante froze for a second.
03:38Clearly not expecting me to sign so quickly, so decisively.
03:42Done.
03:43You should call them now.
03:44I want to hear it when their jaws hit the floor.
03:47I knew you'd understand.
03:48You're the best wife in the world.
03:50Then he took his phone and walked into the study.
03:52She signed.
03:53Yeah, didn't even hesitate.
03:54We'll file tomorrow.
03:55Ha ha ha, I told you Bella was easy.
03:57She's still so gullible.
03:58After you're done with Chiara, make it up to Isabella.
04:00Don't let her get too bent out of shape.
04:02Of course, she's my wife after all.
04:03A moment later, my own phone lit up with two messages.
04:06The first, from Marco.
04:07The second, from Luca.
04:08I used to think our friendship was the most important thing in the world.
04:11I used to think our friendship was everything.
04:13Marco asked me to marry him to secure his inheritance.
04:15I did.
04:16Luca asked me to marry him to escape an arranged marriage.
04:19I did that too.
04:20And what did I get for it?
04:21I didn't reply.
04:22I just flipped my phone face down on the table.
04:26Honey, Marco and Luca, those idiots, they still don't believe we actually signed the papers.
04:31They insist on seeing us, to confirm it in person before they'll drop it.
04:35So annoying.
04:36I looked at his handsome, lying face in the mirror, my heart turning to ice.
04:40Fine.
04:41Let them see.
04:42I'd love to know what their faces look like when they're finally convinced.
04:49I knew you were the understanding one.
04:51Kissing my forehead with satisfaction.
04:54The meeting was at a private bar they always went to.
04:57All dim lights and moody music.
05:00As I followed Dante into our booth, I saw them immediately.
05:03Marco and Luca were lounging on the sofa.
05:06And between them, holding court like a queen, was Chiara Fontana.
05:11She was wearing a fire-red slip dress.
05:13Her beauty so sharp, it was almost a weapon.
05:16The second she saw Dante, her eyes lit up.
05:27Dante!
05:29I missed you so much.
05:31What took you so long?
05:34Dante's body went stiff for a second.
05:38He glanced at me, but Chiara's embrace was too tight.
05:42And he could only pat her back awkwardly.
05:45All right, all right.
05:46Isabella's still here.
05:48I had to laugh.
05:49The way he said it, you'd think I was the third wheel.
05:52Chiara pulled Dante down onto the sofa,
05:55squeezing in between him and Marco,
05:57and immediately launched into stories about their school days.
06:01Marco, do you remember that time you got into a fight
06:05with the basketball captain from the other campus for me?
06:09You needed three stitches above your eye.
06:13And Dante, that Latin exam?
06:17If you hadn't secretly passed me that note,
06:19I would have failed for sure.
06:23Every story she told was a memory I wasn't a part of.
06:26She was proudly showing off how close she was with them,
06:30effortlessly pushing me to the outside.
06:32I picked up my drink and took a quiet sip,
06:35an outsider at my own table.
06:37Back then, we were the only people in the world we could trust.
06:41We were in Duttered Whirly-Cumber's Mew,
06:43Mr. Winglet of the Vine.
06:44She came to Chicago from Italy when she was 15,
06:48all bold and fiery.
06:50She became the center of everyone's world,
06:52including Marco's and Luca's.
06:55They started revolving around her,
06:57forming a new circle.
06:59I was slowly pushed to the sidelines,
07:02only remembered when they needed the Romano family
07:05to solve a problem.
07:09The cracks were always there.
07:11I just chose to ignore them.
07:14Only today was I willing to face the ugly truth.
07:17Oh my God, look at me,
07:19getting so caught up in old times.
07:20I've been ignoring Isabella.
07:22Why don't we play truth or dare?
07:24It's been forever.
07:25A cold laugh echoed in my head.
07:29They really had a thing for this game.
07:32Sure.
07:43Dare!
07:48French kiss the person of the opposite sex
07:50to your left for 30 seconds.
07:55Isabella, you don't mind, do you?
07:57In that moment,
07:59every eye was on me,
08:01waiting.
08:02Waiting for me to scream
08:03or to force a pained smile.
08:06Of course not.
08:08We're divorced, aren't we?
08:10Dante clearly hadn't expected me to be so calm,
08:13to drop the word divorced so easily
08:15in front of everyone.
08:17Marco's brow furled.
08:18He looked like he was about to step in
08:20and stop this farce.
08:23Marco.
08:25A bet's a bet.
08:27Those are the rules of the game.
08:29Can't break them.
08:30Chiara, now with backup,
08:32looked even more smug.
08:33She turned her head,
08:35looking up at Dante
08:36with a look of pure invitation.
08:38He lowered his head and,
08:40right in front of me,
08:41kissed her.
08:4730 seconds.
08:48I watched them,
08:49my mind silently counting down.
08:511-2.
08:52Time had never felt so long.
08:54When they finished,
08:56Chiara looked triumphant.
08:57She licked her swollen lips
08:59and gave me a defiant smirk.
09:01Since you're divorced,
09:02shouldn't you give me my ring back?
09:04I froze.
09:05My eyes dropping to the diamond
09:07on my ring fender.
09:16What do you mean?
09:19Take the look at the inner band.
09:21My name is still engraved on it.
09:24My hands started to tremble.
09:26Slowly,
09:27I twisted off the ring
09:29that had once made my heart leap
09:31and turned it over.
09:33Among the delicate filigree,
09:35I saw our names Dante and Isabella,
09:36but in a tiny,
09:37almost hidden spot
09:38was a line in Italian.
09:39In that moment,
09:40the world started to spin.
09:41I looked at Dante
09:42desperate for him to explain,
09:44to deny it,
09:44to tell me it was all a mistake.
09:46But he wouldn't meet my eyes,
09:47he just stood there,
09:48silent.
09:48I remembered the day he proposed.
09:50He was on one knee,
09:51looking at me with so much love.
09:52I had this ring custom made
09:53just for you.
09:54It's one of a kind in the world,
09:55just like you are in my heart.
09:57I cried,
09:57thinking I was the luckiest woman alive.
09:59It turned out the ring
10:00was never meant for me.
10:01It belonged to Chiaca.
10:03It had her name on it.
10:04It was a promise of his love
10:05for her and me.
10:06I was just the placeholder.
10:07Right then,
10:08I was so glad I had signed them.
10:10Chiola's eyes lit up.
10:11She snatched the ring,
10:12slipped it onto her own finger,
10:14and admired it.
10:15Thank you, Isabella.
10:16It really does suit me.
10:18Dante stepping forward
10:19to grab my hand.
10:22Isabella, let me explain.
10:24Don't bother.
10:25Since we're divorced,
10:26I shouldn't be living here anymore.
10:27My office.
10:289 a.m. tomorrow.
10:29We'll finish the paperwork.
10:31Isabella, wait!
10:32Please!
10:33Nice one, Dante.
10:34She fooled even faster
10:35than when Luca and I
10:36got her to sign our marriage contracts.
10:38I heard him call my name behind me.
10:39His voice laced with panic.
10:40I didn't stop.
10:42Chiara can't wait much longer.
10:43Let's head out tomorrow.
10:44In the elevator,
10:45I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
10:47No tears.
10:48Just a dull ache in my chest.
10:52Once the car was moving,
10:53my phone buzzed.
10:54Isabella,
10:54I will explain about the ring.
10:56Find a place to stay for now,
10:57and I'll come get you in a few days.
10:59Be good.
10:59Don't overthink things.
11:01I looked at the message,
11:02a sneer playing on my lips.
11:04He still thinks I'm coming back.
11:06I deleted the text
11:07and sent one to my father.
11:09Father, I am divorced.
11:10That arranged marriage you mentioned
11:11is the offer still on the table.
11:13He replied almost instantly.
11:14Of course, my dear daughter.
11:15I am glad you finally made a wise decision.
11:18A year ago,
11:19after my second divorce,
11:20my father had suggested
11:21an arranged marriage
11:22to a man from a powerful allied family.
11:24But I was lost in my fantasy
11:25of being in love with Dante
11:26and refused.
11:27How stupid I had been.
11:28Half an hour later,
11:29I got a new friend request on my phone.
11:31The message read,
11:32Time to meet your fiancée.
11:34The next morning at nine,
11:35I arrived at my downtown office
11:37with the Romano family's private lawyer.
11:40Dante was already there,
11:41looking exhausted and anxious.
11:43He clearly hadn't slept.
11:44Isabella,
11:45about the ring,
11:46I have to explain.
11:47The jeweler messed up the engraving.
11:49I was going to get it replaced,
11:50but there wasn't time,
11:51and I didn't want to upset you
11:53over something so small.
11:54I listened silently,
11:55feeling nothing.
11:56I figured I'd quietly get you
11:57a new one after the wedding.
11:58Isabella,
11:58I know this hurt you,
11:59but you have to believe me,
12:00what I feel for you is real.
12:01After this month,
12:02after I handle things with Chiara,
12:04we'll get remarried.
12:04I promise I'll make it up to you
12:06with the most beautiful wedding ring
12:07in the world.
12:07One month.
12:08He meant that after he finished
12:09his romantic duet with Chiaga,
12:10he expected to remarry me
12:11like nothing happened.
12:13I understand.
12:14Let's just get this done.
12:21Chiara looked stunned,
12:22probably not expecting me
12:24to be so cooperative.
12:25The whole process was quicker
12:26than I thought.
12:28Signatures,
12:28witnesses,
12:29a legally binding contract.
12:31In less than half an hour,
12:33our marriage was officially over.
12:35The moment we stepped out of the office,
12:38Dante's phone rang.
12:39He glanced at the caller ID,
12:41and his whole face softened.
12:42He answered,
12:43his voice gentle.
12:44Chiara,
12:45okay,
12:45I'm on my way.
12:46Don't worry,
12:46I'll take care of you.
12:47Wait for me,
12:48I'll be right there.
12:50Isabella,
12:50Chiara isn't feeling well.
12:51I have to go check on her.
12:52Wait here for me,
12:53and I'll be back to take you
12:54wherever you're staying.
12:54Then he rushed off
12:55without a second glance.
12:56I stood in the lobby,
12:58watching his hurried retreat,
12:59a wave of sadness and relief
13:01washing over me.
13:02That was the man
13:03I once loved so deeply.
13:05Not one minute
13:06after our divorce was final,
13:08he was already running
13:09to another woman.
13:10I turned and walked
13:12toward a conference room
13:13at the other end of the hall.
13:14My new fiancé was waiting.
13:17Meanwhile,
13:17after waiting by the building's entrance
13:18for nearly 10 minutes
13:20and seeing no sign of Isabella,
13:22Dante decided to go back up
13:23to remind her about the plan.
13:25Just as he reached the entrance,
13:26he slammed right into a man
13:28walking out,
13:28papers scattered across
13:29the marble floor.
13:31Dante's divorce decree
13:32mixed with the other man's documents.
13:34A gust of wind
13:35from the revolving door
13:35flipped open the cover
13:36of one file.
13:37It was a marriage contract.
13:39As Dante bent down
13:40to grab his papers,
13:41he caught a glimpse
13:41of the photo
13:42on that contract.
13:43He froze.
13:44He only saw a small part of it,
13:45but that profile,
13:46the side of that face.
13:48Excuse me.
13:49The man said politely,
13:50quickly gathering his files.
13:52Dante looked up,
13:53trying to get a clear look
13:54at the man's face,
13:55but he'd already put on
13:56a pair of sunglasses,
13:58revealing only a sharp jawline
13:59and thin lips.
14:00There was an aristocratic air
14:02about him
14:02that felt strangely familiar
14:03to Dante.
14:04It's fine.
14:05Dante replied,
14:06but his eyes were glued
14:07to the marriage contract
14:08in the man's hands.
14:09The man finished collecting
14:11his things
14:11and headed for the exit.
14:13Dante stood rooted
14:13to the spot.
14:14That picture
14:15on the marriage contract.
14:16Even just a corner of it.
14:18Why did it look so familiar?
14:19And he felt like
14:20he'd seen this man
14:21somewhere before.
14:22That calm,
14:23imposing aura,
14:24that air of old world power.
14:26An absurd thought
14:27flashed through his mind.
14:28Hey, wait!
14:29He yelled,
14:30chasing after the man
14:31who was about to get into a car.
14:33Just as Dante called out
14:34to the man,
14:35his phone rang.
14:36It was Luca.
14:37He hesitated,
14:38then picked up.
14:39Dante,
14:40where the hell are you?
14:41We're all waiting.
14:42Luca's voice was urgent.
14:44When Dante looked up again,
14:45the man was gone.
14:47A black Rolls Royce
14:48peeled around the corner.
14:50Shit!
14:51He muttered.
14:52A second later,
14:53a text from Marco
14:54came through with coordinates.
14:56Get a move on.
14:57We need to be on the private island
14:59in the Bahamas
15:00before sunset.
15:01Chiara is waiting.
15:02Dante stared at the screen,
15:04and a memory hit him.
15:05A promise he'd buried
15:07for years.
15:08It was Chiara's dream
15:09back when they graduated
15:11high school.
15:12She wanted to take everyone
15:13to that secret private island
15:15and party for three days straight,
15:17watch the most beautiful sunset,
15:20and drink the strongest shit
15:21they could find.
15:23Security on the island was tight.
15:24He was the only one
15:26with an invite.
15:27This was something
15:28only he could do for her.
15:29He glanced back
15:30at the building,
15:31wondering if he should go up
15:32and give Isabella
15:33a heads up.
15:34But time was short.
15:35It was just for a month.
15:37When he got back,
15:38everything would go back
15:40to normal.
15:42Dante shook his head,
15:43pushing the thought
15:44of the mysterious man
15:45out of his mind,
15:46and drove to the private airfield.
15:48When he got there,
15:49everyone was already waiting.
15:51Chiara was in a red dress,
15:52the sea breeze blowing
15:53through her long hair.
15:54The diamond necklace
15:55around her neck
15:55glittered in the setting sun.
15:57He'd bought her that necklace
15:58for her 17th birthday
15:59with six months
15:59of his allowance.
16:00She was still wearing it.
16:01Dante stood at the bottom
16:02of the jet stairs
16:03looking at her,
16:04and it was like
16:05they were kids again,
16:06ten years ago.
16:07Back then,
16:07Chiara had just moved
16:08to Chicago from Italy,
16:10wearing the same kind
16:11of red dress,
16:11looking at them
16:12with a shy
16:13but hopeful expression.
16:14As he was lost
16:15in the memory,
16:16a pang of guilt hit him.
16:17He hadn't given
16:18Isabella many gifts.
16:20The Romano family
16:21had everything.
16:21She didn't need luxury.
16:23He'd only given her
16:23a simple diamond bracelet
16:24for her birthday,
16:25but she'd worn it
16:26every single day
16:27like a treasure.
16:28He suddenly remembered
16:29signing the divorce papers today.
16:31Isabella's wrist
16:32had been bare.
16:33The bracelet was gone.
16:34The realization
16:35made his stomach drop.
16:36Dante,
16:37what are you thinking about?
16:38We've been waiting forever.
16:40You're late,
16:41so you have to take
16:42three shots as punishment.
16:44Chiara ran over
16:44and hooked her arm
16:45through his,
16:46her voice a playful whine.
16:47The warmth of her arm
16:48and the sparkle in her eyes
16:49as she looked up at him
16:50threw him back
16:51to their teenage years.
16:52His voice soft,
16:53a fond smile on his face.
16:55All right,
16:55I'll take my punishment.
16:57The guys saw the vibe
16:58and started whooping
16:59and hollering,
17:00a knowing glint
17:00in their eyes.
17:02Dante still got it bad
17:03for Chiara.
17:04By the time they reached
17:05the island villa,
17:06the sky was dark.
17:07On the terrace,
17:08a party was in full swing.
17:10A gentle sea breeze
17:11blew as stars glittered overhead
17:12and glasses clinked.
17:14Just as Dante was about
17:15to hand Chiara
17:16a glass of champagne,
17:18Marco intercepted,
17:19swapping the flute
17:20in her hand
17:20for a glass of juice.
17:22You're sick.
17:23No booze.
17:23Marco said,
17:24his eyes full of concern.
17:25Chiara took the juice.
17:26What are you talking about?
17:28The air froze.
17:28Everyone stared.
17:29Dante's champagne glass
17:30hung in midair.
17:31His eyes locked on Chiara.
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