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Short filmTranscript
00:00When I found out Julian had extended his out-of-town project for another seven years,
00:04I didn't call. I didn't text.
00:06I left New York and traveled hours to reach his project site,
00:10only to be stopped at the gate by an older guard.
00:13Hello? Does Julian work here?
00:19What do you want with my son-in-law?
00:20The words hit me like a thunderclap.
00:22I told myself it was a coincidence.
00:25Relax, Mr. Miller.
00:26Everyone around here knows Julian is totally whipped.
00:29Other guys might mess around, but your son-in-law wouldn't dare.
00:32She's probably here on business from corporate.
00:35I kept my composure and pulled up a photo of Julian on my phone.
00:39I am here on business.
00:40Is this the Julian you're talking about?
00:42The old man relaxed.
00:44Yeah, that's him. That's my son-in-law.
00:47The blood in my veins froze.
00:49Before I could process a single word, a woman appeared, well-dressed, smiling.
00:55You here to talk business with my man?
00:59Come wait at our place.
01:00Our son's got a fever.
01:02He took him to the hospital in town.
01:04I stared at him.
01:05Thunderstruck.
01:06Barely able to breathe.
01:09I'm Julian's wife.
01:10Just call me Mia.
01:12She was warm and talkative,
01:13smile never leaving her face.
01:16There's nothing but rough guys around here,
01:17and half of them don't know how to act.
01:20A woman shouldn't be standing around alone out here.
01:23Come on back to the house.
01:24He'll be a while.
01:25And I followed her.
01:27I watched her as we walked.
01:28Her foundation was uneven,
01:30powder caked at her eye corners,
01:31but she was clearly over ten years younger than Julian,
01:35who'd just turned thirty-seven.
01:37Lord, you women from New York really are something else.
01:42Look at that skin.
01:45Smooth as a baby's bottom.
01:48Her eyes were full of admiration.
01:50My man's got skin just like yours.
01:51All soft and clear.
01:53She laughed.
01:53You city girls really do have it all.
01:55I forced a smile.
01:56She wasn't wrong.
01:58Julian and I both had good skin.
02:00I was older than Mia by a fair margin,
02:02but I'd taken care of myself.
02:04I still looked like I was in my mid-twenties.
02:06No one would guess I'd been married for twelve years.
02:09But what did any of that matter?
02:10I had a career, raised our son,
02:13cared for his parents,
02:14and handled everything alone.
02:16But my husband still built an entirely different life here behind my back.
02:20Mia talked the whole way.
02:21She didn't seem to need a response.
02:23At some point, a couple on a motorcycle slowed as they passed up.
02:26The woman on the back held out a small paper bag.
02:29Your man thinks of everything,
02:31takes the kid to the doctor,
02:32and still remembers you wanted roasted peanuts,
02:34asked me to drop these off.
02:35He worries too much.
02:37Your husband really does take care of you.
02:39That man does whatever she says,
02:41no questions asked.
02:42Doesn't matter how tough he acts out here.
02:44One look for Mia and he folds.
02:46One tear and he's completely hers.
02:47Oh, stop it.
02:48A bitter ache welled up inside me.
02:50My husband,
02:52the man who spent twelve years talking to me about equality,
02:55respect, and partnership.
02:57That man had come out here
02:58and willingly turned himself into another woman's lapdog.
03:02Mia's house stopped me in my track.
03:09My man built it.
03:10Nobody else around here has anything like it.
03:14And he's the first guy in town to move in with his wife's family.
03:18Takes care of my parents like they're his own.
03:23Moved in with her family,
03:24the moment I stepped into the living room.
03:27I saw it.
03:28We had a photo just like it.
03:30Only ours had just three people,
03:32no daughter.
03:33The year Julian first left for this project.
03:37Two years max.
03:38I'll get transferred back.
03:40And when I do,
03:41if you want,
03:42we'll try for a second baby.
03:45After that,
03:46we'll never be apart again.
03:49Two years turned into seven.
03:51He came home for a few days every Christmas,
03:53and that was it.
03:57Last year,
03:58while he was back for the holidays,
03:59I casually said
04:00I still wished we'd had a daughter.
04:02Honestly,
04:03with the way things are,
04:04smart people aren't having more kids.
04:07One's enough.
04:09Why put yourself through it?
04:11I thought he'd simply changed his mind.
04:13Turns out he already had his daughter.
04:15He just hadn't had her with me.
04:18We've got Wi-Fi.
04:20Passwords 990913.
04:25Something jolted in my chest.
04:27Dot Julian had told me
04:28there was no reliable internet signal out here.
04:30That was why I could never reach him directly.
04:33He always had to be the one
04:35to contact me first.
04:37I connected to the network.
04:39Full bars.
04:40One lie after another.
04:41Each one like a knife sinking in deep.
04:43You two seem really happy.
04:45Does it worry you
04:46that he might get transferred
04:47back to New York someday?
04:48Not really.
04:49Between us,
04:49they almost called him back
04:50earlier this year.
04:51My chest tightened.
04:53He used every favor he had
04:54just to stay.
04:54My heart dropped.
04:56It wasn't the company
04:57keeping him here.
04:58He'd asked to stay.
04:59He'd fought to stay.
05:01He'd done that
05:02knowing his mother
05:03had suffered a stroke
05:04and couldn't care for herself.
05:05He'd done that
05:06knowing his father
05:07had broken his leg
05:08in a fall
05:09and needed help.
05:10He'd done that
05:10knowing our son
05:11had cried
05:12over and over
05:13about missing his father.
05:15He'd done that
05:16knowing I'd been
05:16worn down
05:17by work
05:18and family
05:18until I'd
05:19ended up in the hospital
05:20more than once
05:21and he'd stayed
05:22madeanyway.comfortably.1000 miles away.
05:29A chill ran through me.
05:31My shoulders trembling slightly.
05:33Mia crossed the room
05:34and switched on
05:34the air conditioning
05:35thinking I was cold.
05:37It'll warm up in a minute.
05:39My man got me a good one.
05:40A big brand name.
05:42Didn't even blink at the price.
05:47Nobody else in town
05:48has one.
05:49I didn't even want it.
05:51I told him it was too much
05:53but he insisted.
05:55Said he was worried
05:56I'd be cold in the winter.
05:57I kept the smile on my face.
05:59He's quite a bit older than you.
06:01I said.
06:02Is this his second marriage?
06:03Ten years older.
06:05We're both getting married
06:06for the first time.
06:07Mia smiled.
06:08I'm the lucky one.
06:10A girl like me
06:11barely finished high school
06:12ending up with a man
06:14who has a master's degree.
06:17He's the project manager
06:19for the whole development.
06:21Basically second in command
06:22under the owner.
06:23I never imagined
06:24I'd end up married
06:25to someone like that.
06:26He says meeting me
06:28was the best thing
06:29that ever happened to him.
06:30The age gap's a good thing.
06:32Honestly.
06:32Older men know how
06:33to take care of you.
06:34He's responsible at work
06:36and at home.
06:38Every paycheck
06:38goes straight to me.
06:40I give him a little
06:40spending money
06:41and that's it.
06:42Bitterness welled up
06:43in my chest.
06:44For years Julian
06:45had been sending money
06:46back to our joint account
06:47every month.
06:48Only left $1,000
06:49for himself.
06:50He told me his housing
06:51and meals were covered
06:52that he barely spent
06:54anything out here.
06:55I had a college roommate
06:56who worked in his company's
06:57payroll department.
06:59Years ago
06:59I'd quietly checked
07:01his monthly salary
07:02once $11,000
07:03and let myself be
07:04believe him.
07:05I didn't believe him anymore.
07:07He takes good
07:09good care
07:09of the whole family.
07:10God yes!
07:11She gestured
07:12around the room.
07:13My mom has a bad back.
07:15He bought her
07:15that massage chair
07:16without blinking.
07:17My dad likes his whiskey
07:19so Julian keeps cases
07:20of the good stuff
07:21stocked for him
07:22and he gives me
07:23a separate allowance
07:24every month
07:25for whatever I want.
07:28I heard it
07:29and I knew
07:30Julian had been
07:31taking bribe.
07:32The bitterness
07:32turned colder
07:33not just for myself
07:34but for his parents
07:36who had no idea.
07:38Three months ago
07:39his mother had nearly died
07:41a severe stroke.
07:43Julian please
07:46she's in critical condition
07:48she keeps asking for you
07:49please come home.
07:50I'm so sorry Chloe
07:51the project is at a critical
07:53stage right now.
07:54I really can't leave
07:55she'll be okay.
07:56So many nights like that
07:57his phone unanswered
07:59or always some excuse
08:00he couldn't come.
08:01He never came back.
08:03He ignored his own family
08:04his parents
08:05his son
08:06and the whole time
08:08he was here being
08:09a good husband
08:09a good father
08:11a good son-in-law.
08:13The irony was sickening.
08:15Mia's phone rang.
08:16She didn't step away
08:17or lower her voice.
08:18She just answered it
08:19right there.
08:20Hey baby.
08:21Close enough that I heard
08:22every word.
08:23Julian's voice.
08:25The same warm tone
08:26he used to use with me.
08:27Our son still hasn't
08:28broken his fever.
08:29The doctor wants to
08:30keep him overnight.
08:31I'm a little short on cash.
08:33Can you transfer me some?
08:34Three hundred dollars
08:35should cover it.
08:36Of course.
08:37I'll send it now.
08:38I laughed inwardly.
08:40The devoted family husband.
08:42Then Julian's voice softened.
08:44I can't hold you tonight baby.
08:46Stay warm okay?
08:47Don't kick off the blankets.
08:49One day away from you
08:50and I already feel off.
08:51Those words stabbed at my chest
08:53like sharp blades.
08:55Twelve years of marriage
08:56and the last time
08:57he'd said anything like that to me
08:58felt like a lifetime ago.
09:00These days
09:01he didn't even show that warmth
09:03toward our own son.
09:04Time had turned us
09:05an old married couple
09:06in name only.
09:14I just realized
09:15I never asked your name.
09:17Chloe.
09:19What a pretty name.
09:20She was as cheerful as ever.
09:22Even now
09:23I was still giving her
09:24the benefit of the doubt.
09:26There was a good chance
09:27she had no idea
09:28that she was just as deceived
09:29as I was.
09:32Since Julian won't be back tonight
09:35why don't you just stay?
09:37You can talk to him
09:38about the work stuff tomorrow.
09:41That evening
09:42Mia cooked a full dinner
09:43a proper generous spread.
09:45I met their daughter
09:46for the first time.
09:48She had Julian's eyes.
09:49Mr. and Mrs. Miller
09:50were polite to me
09:51but barely.
09:53There was a wariness
09:54in their gaze
09:54that I noticed
09:55but didn't mention.
09:57At the table
09:57the conversation
09:58kept circling back to Julian.
10:00The way they talked about him
10:01he wasn't a son-in-law
10:03he was their son.
10:04Mia was an only child.
10:06In a town like this
10:07that had always meant
10:08something for her parents.
10:09They'd spent their whole lives
10:11looked down on
10:12for not having a son.
10:14Then Julian arrived
10:14moved in
10:15supported the whole family
10:17treated them like his own
10:18and for the first time
10:20they held their heads up.
10:22Julian is the rock
10:23of this family.
10:26We can't do without him.
10:28Something stuck in my throat
10:29like a thorn
10:30I couldn't pull out.
10:31The rock of our family
10:33gone for seven years
10:35had been holding up
10:37someone else's family
10:38all along.
10:39Mia put me in the guest room
10:41for the night
10:41after the lights went out
10:43I lay awake
10:44unable to sleep.
10:46Through the wall
10:47I could hear Mr. and Mrs. Miller
10:49talking quietly
10:50for a long time.
10:52I made two decisions.
10:54I filed a report
10:55with documentation
10:56with proof
10:57to Julian's corporate headquarters.
10:59Then I texted my brother.
11:01He was a police officer.
11:03I'm going to need you
11:03to make an arrest.
11:04Neither decision
11:05felt satisfying
11:06but both were right.
11:08Justice for my life.
11:09A consequence he'd earned.
11:11The next morning
11:13It's cold
11:14and you're not dressed for it.
11:15Um
11:16my man just bought this for me.
11:18Only been washed once
11:19never worn.
11:20A designer label
11:20I'd spent an entire winter eyeing
11:22adding to my cart
11:24removing it
11:25telling myself
11:26there were more important things
11:27to spend money on
11:28parents to care for
11:29a son to raise
11:31I used to say things like that
11:32to Julian.
11:33Other husbands buy their wives things.
11:35In all these years
11:36you've never once
11:36picked something out for me.
11:38In all these years
11:38he always had the same answer
11:40calm and easy.
11:42The money's yours.
11:43Buy whatever you want.
11:45I wouldn't know
11:46what to choose anyway.
11:47I'm no good
11:48with that kind of thing.
11:50He wasn't no good.
11:52He just didn't care enough to try.
11:54Not for me.
11:55Thank you so much.
11:56It was beautiful.
11:58It was warm.
11:59Mia blinked
12:00a flash of surprise
12:01crossing her face.
12:02She'd clearly expected me
12:03to refuse politely.
12:05At breakfast
12:06she was back to her usual self
12:08cheerful
12:08talkative
12:09dropping Julian's name
12:11into every other sentence.
12:12She asked me questions too.
12:14What was New York like?
12:16What did I do for work?
12:17At one point
12:18she looked at me and asked
12:19Are you happy?
12:20It's fine.
12:21My husband just isn't
12:23as attentive as yours.
12:24She smiled widely at that.
12:26Then just before noon
12:28the front door swung open.
12:30Honey I'm home.
12:32Julian's voice filled the house.
12:33He walked in
12:34carrying their five-year-old son.
12:36The moment his eyes
12:37landed on me
12:38he went rigid.
12:39I looked at him steadily.
12:41Which honey
12:41are you talking to?
12:42Exactly.
12:45Julian's face locked up.
12:46He stood there
12:47holding the boy
12:48and said absolutely nothing.
12:49I held his gaze.
12:51My eyes said
12:52everything I didn't speak aloud.
12:54Why?
12:54How could you?
12:55Do you have any idea
12:57what you've done
12:57to your son?
12:58To your parents?
12:59He was an only child.
13:01His whole life
13:02they had sacrificed
13:03everything for him
13:04and he had walked away
13:05from all of it
13:06and quietly become
13:07the son of someone
13:08else's family.
13:09I would never understand it.
13:11I would never forgive it.
13:13Mia broke first.
13:15I...
13:16I...
13:18What...
13:19What does that mean?
13:19She grabbed my arm
13:20then turned to Julian.
13:22Julian?
13:23Julian, look at me.
13:25What is going on?
13:27I...
13:27I don't understand.
13:28Why...
13:29Why would she
13:29call you that?
13:31Why is she calling you that?
13:32The paralysis
13:33broke from Julian's face.
13:35He quickly set the boy down.
13:36He took a few steps forward
13:38then stopped.
13:39Caught exactly halfway between us.
13:41Unable to choose a direction.
13:43I'll explain everything.
13:45Explain what?
13:46That our 12 year marriage
13:48is nothing but an empty shell?
13:49That you have no parents?
13:51No son?
13:52Or that you,
13:53a married man,
13:54have been living out here
13:54as another woman's husband
13:55and you're ready to file for divorce
13:57so she can finally have your last name?
13:58Every word landed.
14:00He had no answer.
14:01He looked like a man
14:02caught with nowhere to run.
14:04I know I don't deserve forgiveness.
14:06He finally said,
14:07I'm sorry.
14:08Mia fell apart.
14:09Sorry?
14:10What does that mean for me?
14:12She was crying now fully.
14:13You said I was everything to you.
14:15You said I was your life.
14:16Say something.
14:17Tell me what's happening right now.
14:19And then Julian turned away from me
14:21and moved to pull her into his arms.
14:23My heart was bleeding.
14:24Fury rose through me.
14:26Then what are you saying?
14:27I demanded.
14:28He let go of her.
14:29He didn't dare hold her again.
14:31He stood there looking cornered,
14:33miserable,
14:34caught between two directions
14:35with no good move left.
14:37In the silence,
14:38my phone rang.
14:39Julian's father.
14:41A video call.
14:42I answered without hesitating
14:43and switched to the rear camera.
14:45Have you found Julian yet?
14:46The old man's voice was full of hope.
14:48He hadn't seen his son
14:49in almost two years.
14:50I walked the phone slowly
14:51across the living room
14:52until the camera landed
14:54on the family portrait
14:55on the wall.
14:55All six of them,
14:56all smiling.
14:57Found him.
14:59Along with his new wife,
15:01his new son,
15:03his new daughter,
15:04his new family.
15:07This is other home.
15:09He moved in with her family.
15:11He's been taking care of them for years.
15:14I heard my father-in-law's
15:15sharp intake of breath.
15:16For a moment,
15:17he was too furious to speak.
15:18I turned the camera
15:19to Julian and Mia.
15:20Dad,
15:21meet the new family.
15:25Julian,
15:26is this what you've been doing?
15:27This.
15:28You have no regard
15:30for your mother and me.
15:31No regard for your wife and son.
15:33Are you trying to put me in the grave?
15:36Turn it off.
15:37Stop filming.
15:38Just stop.
15:40I no longer have a son.
15:44Do you hear me?
15:46I have no son.
15:48In the middle of it all,
15:49Mr. and Mrs. Miller
15:50walked through the front door.
15:51The moment Mr. and Mrs. Miller
15:53understood who I was.
15:55If Julian chose to marry my daughter
15:58and have children with her
16:00that tells you everything
16:01about where he stands,
16:03end it clean,
16:04and move on,
16:05we're not giving him up.
16:08I've treated Julian
16:09like my own son
16:10from the day he walked
16:12into this house.
16:13He and Mia love each other.
16:14That's not going to change.
16:16And what do you say?
16:18He had been staring at the floor.
16:19When my eyes finally
16:20forced his head up,
16:22he hesitated,
16:23then asked me slowly,
16:24Do you still want me back?
16:26Before I could answer,
16:28Mia flew across the room.
16:29She dropped to the floor
16:30in front of him
16:31and grabbed his collar.
16:33What kind of question is that?
16:34If she still wants you,
16:35does that mean you'll throw me away?
16:37Julian,
16:37if you dare leave this family,
16:39I'll take the kids
16:40and end it all.
16:41I mean it.
16:42She gave you one child.
16:44I gave you two.
16:46I have given you more.
16:48You can't just-
16:48Julian pulled her up
16:49and tried to calm her.
16:50I just need to know
16:51what she-
16:54I laughed hollowly to myself.
16:56Then deliberately I said-
16:57I want you to come home.
16:58Cut everything here off.
17:00For good.
17:01I knew exactly
17:01what he was doing.
17:02He was waiting for me
17:03to make the choice for him.
17:04Sure that someone like me
17:06with my standards
17:07would never accept
17:07a man who had done this.
17:09He expected me to say-
17:10I want a divorce!
17:11...and hand him his exit.
17:13When I didn't,
17:13surprise flickered
17:14across his face.
17:15Even a trace of disappointment.
17:17I stared at him.
17:17Now it's your turn to choose.
17:19His lips moved.
17:20Nothing came out.
17:21Mia shook him by the arm,
17:22crying.
17:22Say something!
17:23You said I'm the love of your life!
17:25You said you'd grow old with me!
17:26Say it to her face!
17:27Julian had no choice.
17:28He looked at me
17:29with pleading eyes.
17:31Could we...
17:32just keep things
17:34the way they are?
17:35The way they are?
17:36I stared at him,
17:37cold.
17:37He wanted to keep both of us.
17:39My look made him
17:39too ashamed
17:40to repeat himself.
17:41You stay out here
17:42and keep playing husband?
17:43I go back to New York?
17:44Take care of your parents?
17:45Raise our son alone?
17:46Run your whole life
17:47from the background?
17:48Enjoy this one?
17:49He had nothing to say,
17:50but I could see it
17:51in his face.
17:52That was exactly
17:53what he'd hoped for.
17:54Mia grabbed his arm again,
17:55sobbing.
17:56If you don't choose
17:57this family,
17:57I'll take these kids
17:58and die in front of you.
18:00You promised me
18:01we'd grow old together.
18:04You can't abandon us!
18:05She pulled both children
18:07over to her,
18:07crying.
18:08I'm just saying it.
18:12Ask your daddy,
18:13she said to them.
18:15Ask him if he's going
18:16to keep you.
18:17The two children
18:18didn't understand
18:18what was happening.
18:19But seeing Mia cry,
18:21they cried too,
18:22crowding into Julian's arms.
18:23Daddy,
18:24please don't leave us.
18:25Daddy,
18:26Mommy's crying.
18:27You always said
18:28you can't stand
18:28to see Mommy cry,
18:30please?
18:30Julian finally broke.
18:31He pulled all three
18:32of them into his arms.
18:34His eyes went red.
18:35Then he looked at me.
18:36He had made his decision.
18:38Chloe,
18:40I'm sorry.
18:41I know you can manage
18:42on your own.
18:43I know you'll be okay.
18:45She can't.
18:47She has nothing without me.
18:48He glanced at Mia
18:49and the children,
18:50then back at me.
18:53Take everything in the house.
18:54I won't fight you
18:55for custody.
18:56But this is the choice
18:57I have to make.
19:01I'm asking you
19:02to let us go.
19:03I laughed.
19:04Not from humor.
19:05From the absurdity
19:06of what I was hearing.
19:08She's the one
19:09to be pitied?
19:10What about your mother
19:11who had a stroke
19:12and can't care for herself?
19:13Who wants nothing more
19:15than to see her own son?
19:16What about your father
19:17who broke his leg
19:18and needed you home
19:19and never once said a word
19:20about the fact
19:21that you didn't come?
19:22What about your son
19:23who gets mocked at school
19:24for not having a father around?
19:26Who has cried more times
19:27than I can count?
19:28As I spoke,
19:29tears fell from my eyes.
19:31Not for him.
19:32Never again for him.
19:33Only because a man like this
19:35was never worth everything
19:36our family had given him.
19:38Julian stood there in silence.
19:40Shame was written
19:40across his entire face.
19:42Mia filled the gap.
19:44Don't worry.
19:44I'll bring his parents here.
19:46I'll take care of them myself.
19:48You don't need to concern yourself
19:49with any of it.
19:50Then her eyes hardened.
19:52And you?
19:53You knew who I was
19:54from the very beginning,
19:55didn't you?
19:55You sat there
19:56and let me talk and talk
19:58and you were just
19:58collecting evidence.
19:59I smiled at her.
20:01The contemptuous.
20:02Then I called Julian's parents
20:03back right there
20:04and told them
20:05in front of everyone
20:06what Julian's parents is.
20:08His mother's voice
20:09shook up with her.
20:10If you divorce Chloe,
20:11you're not my son.
20:13Do you understand me?
20:14While you were gone,
20:15she gave everything
20:16to this family,
20:17to us.
20:18And you want to throw her away?
20:19I will never accept that woman
20:20and those children.
20:21I don't know them
20:22and I never will.
20:23Julian's father said the same.
20:25Mia broke down crying.
20:27Julian was at his breaking point.
20:29I ended the call.
20:31He wiped his eyes,
20:32couldn't look at me
20:32and finally said,
20:34Chloe,
20:35I have no right
20:36to ask anything of you.
20:38But name your terms.
20:40Whatever I can give you,
20:41I will.
20:42Mia knelt down
20:43in front of me.
20:48Please.
20:51Please.
20:53You're educated.
20:54You're capable.
20:55You're beautiful.
20:56You'll find someone
20:57better than him.
21:00I can't.
21:02He is all I have.
21:03She pulled both children over.
21:10Kneel down.
21:14Ask her to let your daddy stay.
21:16Two small faces turned up toward me.
21:18Please, madam,
21:19don't take our daddy.
21:20Our family needs a daddy.
21:23Otherwise,
21:23it won't be whole.
21:25She was using the children
21:26to work on my conscience.
21:27Anger surged through me.
21:28Your children need a father.
21:30And mine doesn't?
21:32Your child is older.
21:34Mine are still small.
21:35I laughed
21:36and stood up from the couch.
21:42The truth is,
21:43none of these children,
21:45yours or mine,
21:46will have a father
21:48from here on out.
21:49Both Julian and Mia
21:50looked up sharply,
21:51not understanding.
21:52Not until my brother
21:53walked through the door
21:54with local police officers
21:56behind him
21:56and Julian's boss
21:58and two company directors
21:59right after.
22:00Only then
22:00did Julian understand.
22:01I had never intended
22:02to give him a choice
22:03and I was certainly
22:04not going to let them
22:05walk away clean.
22:06The sight of so many strangers
22:08sent both children
22:09into tears.
22:10An officer quietly asked
22:11Mrs. Miller
22:11to take them
22:12to another room.
22:13Julian stood still,
22:15calm,
22:16as if he had always known
22:17this day would come.
22:18Mia was anything but.
22:20What is this?
22:22Hides!
22:23You have no right
22:24to come in here
22:25and take my husband!
22:26When no one responded
22:27to her satisfaction,
22:29she turned all of it on me.
22:31Her pointing finger trembled.
22:32You call yourself
22:34a decent person?
22:35He already told you.
22:36You can have everything.
22:39What more do you want
22:40from him?
22:41He's your son's father.
22:43How can you be
22:44this heartless?
22:46Julian touched her arm.
22:47Stop.
22:48She didn't stop.
22:49I looked at her
22:50and said plainly,
22:51Everything you've been wearing,
22:52living in,
22:53eating,
22:54that money didn't just
22:55come out of my pocket.
22:56It was dirty.
22:57It came from fraud
22:58and corruption.
22:59You told me yourself
23:01what he was giving you
23:03every month.
23:04That figure is exactly
23:05what I used as evidence.
23:07You handed it to me yourself.
23:09Julian turned to stone.
23:10His boss stepped forward.
23:12His disappointment total.
23:13I trusted you
23:14with this entire project.
23:16Bribery,
23:17kickbacks,
23:19substandard materials,
23:21embezzlement of public funds.
23:23I gave you everything
23:25and this is what you did with it.
23:27Julian kept his eyes
23:28on the floor
23:29and said nothing.
23:30Mia spun toward the officers
23:31and grabbed one by the arm.
23:33We'll pay it all back.
23:35Every cent.
23:36Just please.
23:38He's a father.
23:39We have children.
23:40Please.
23:41Give him one more chance.
23:44Ma'am.
23:45The officer's voice was firm.
23:47This is a criminal investigation.
23:49Repayment is not the issue.
23:51And while that's being sorted out,
23:53Mia,
23:53you should probably
23:54find yourself a lawyer.
23:55What you and Julian have
23:56constitutes bigamy.
23:57That's a separate charge.
23:58She went white.
24:00Julian finally looked up.
24:01His control snapped.
24:02Everything I did,
24:03I'll take responsibility
24:04for all of it.
24:05But she had nothing
24:05to do with any of it.
24:06She didn't know.
24:08Why are you going after her?
24:09I smiled,
24:10cold and contemptuous.
24:11Inside,
24:11the hatred was overwhelming enough
24:13that I wanted to strike him
24:14across the face.
24:15And then,
24:16right at the peak of it,
24:17I felt it all drain away
24:18into something vast and empty.
24:20None of this is worth anything.
24:23She didn't know?
24:24I said.
24:25She knew I was your wife.
24:28She brought me home
24:29deliberately to force
24:30the confrontation.
24:32To pressure you
24:32into a divorce.
24:34And if she hadn't bragged
24:36about the 50,000 a month,
24:40I wouldn't have had
24:41the evidence I needed.
24:44Julian stared at Mia,
24:45stunned,
24:45demanding the truth.
24:47Mia shook her head frantically.
24:49I didn't know
24:50she was going to report you.
24:52I never thought she would.
24:54I played a recording.
24:56Julian's face drained of color
24:57at the first two sentences.
24:59Julian's going to have to go back
25:00and deal with his wife eventually.
25:02Even if he drags his feet,
25:04Mia will raise hell
25:05until he files.
25:06She's not the type to share.
25:08Look at that woman.
25:09She sat here
25:10and took it all
25:11without a word.
25:12Either she has no backbone,
25:13or she's playing
25:15a very long game.
25:16Oh, she's playing a game.
25:18But it won't matter.
25:20Julian has no feelings
25:21for her anymore.
25:23Mia just has to cry
25:24and he'll sign the papers.
25:26You know why Mia
25:27brought her home, right?
25:28To light the fuse herself.
25:30Julian's expression
25:31moved from shock
25:32to disbelief
25:33to a deep,
25:34exhausted disappointment.
25:35He looked at Mia.
25:37So you knew all along
25:39that I was married.
25:40You brought her here
25:41on purpose.
25:42To force my hand.
25:44Mia couldn't argue
25:45her way out of it.
25:46She broke down
25:47and admitted it
25:47through tears.
25:48I just wanted you
25:49to belong to me completely.
25:50What's wrong with that?
25:52I never thought
25:53she'd go this far.
25:55I never thought
25:56she'd actually...
25:58Mr. Miller,
25:59who had said nothing
26:00and immediately
26:01began deflecting blame.
26:02If you weren't
26:03so spinless
26:04and indecisive,
26:05none of this
26:06would have happened.
26:07Now you've brought
26:08this on yourself.
26:09What happens
26:10to the children?
26:12What happens
26:13to Mia?
26:14What are we supposed
26:15to do?
26:17How do we ever
26:18show our faces
26:18around here again?
26:19As he laughed,
26:21tears slipped
26:22from the corners
26:22of his eyes.
26:23His face was full
26:24of helpless,
26:25exhausted disbelief
26:26at how stupid
26:27Mia had been.
26:28For a moment,
26:29he genuinely
26:30didn't know
26:31who to blame.
26:32He kept his head
26:33down the entire walk
26:34to the police car.
26:35Outside,
26:36people had gathered.
26:37Then more
26:38from neighboring streets.
26:40But I went there
26:40to see the most
26:41famously devoted
26:42husband in town
26:43taken away.
26:43His wife back
26:44in New York
26:45is beautiful,
26:47educated,
26:48a professor I heard.
26:49And he threw
26:50all of that away
26:50for this?
26:51Men are never satisfied.
26:52Doesn't matter
26:53how good things
26:54are at home.
26:55Mia said.
26:56Never questioned
26:57her once.
26:58And he was rotten
27:00the whole time.
27:01Not knew
27:01he was married.
27:03Brought his wife
27:04here himself
27:04to force a divorce.
27:07Backfired,
27:08didn't it?
27:09Tried to steal
27:09another woman's husband.
27:12burned her own
27:13life down.
27:14The police car door,
27:15Julian stopped.
27:16He turned
27:16and found me
27:17in the crowd.
27:18Take care of yourself.
27:20I'm sorry, Chloe.
27:22Find someone
27:23who deserves you.
27:24I looked at him.
27:24I said nothing.
27:25He got in.
27:27Mia ran after the car.
27:28Stumbling,
27:29falling,
27:30picking herself up
27:31and running again.
27:32Pounding on the windows,
27:33screaming his name.
27:35Until it turned
27:36the corner
27:36and disappeared.
27:38She came back
27:39and collapsed
27:39at my feet.
27:42She was on her knees
27:43in front of everyone,
27:44past caring who saw.
27:46Please.
27:47Please help him.
27:48You're educated.
27:49You understand
27:50how this works
27:51better than I do.
27:52I don't care
27:53about anything else anymore.
27:54I just need him
27:55not to go to prison.
27:56She held onto
27:56the hem of my coat.
27:57Believe me or don't,
27:59but I did love him.
28:01That part was real.
28:02I looked at her calmly.
28:04The hatred
28:05I had carried
28:05into this situation
28:06was gone.
28:07She kept going,
28:09her voice breaking.
28:10I genuinely
28:11didn't know
28:11he was married
28:12when we first
28:13got together.
28:13I found out
28:14when our son
28:15was almost a year old.
28:16I found a photo
28:17of you on his phone.
28:18By then,
28:18I was already
28:19in too deep.
28:20The children,
28:21this house,
28:22my parents,
28:23we were all
28:23depending on him.
28:24I didn't know
28:25what to do.
28:29I know nothing
28:30I say matters now.
28:32I'm only asking
28:34if there's anything
28:35you can do.
28:36She didn't get up.
28:38She just stayed there
28:39on the ground,
28:40in front of everyone,
28:42her hand clutching
28:43my coat,
28:44not caring about
28:45the stairs.
28:46I reached down
28:47and removed her hand.
28:49I looked at her.
28:50You know what
28:51your tears mean to me?
28:53I said quietly,
28:56crocodile tears.
28:58She blinked up at me.
28:59Then she folded over
29:01and wept into the ground.
29:02And I walked away.
29:04I did not soften.
29:05I pressed forward
29:06with every charge,
29:07including bigamy.
29:09Julian's parents
29:09never blamed me.
29:11They supported
29:11every decision I made.
29:13My son did not
29:14take it well.
29:15He spent months
29:16in therapy,
29:17struggling to accept
29:18that his father
29:18had another family
29:19out there,
29:20other children,
29:21living a parallel life.
29:23It took a long time.
29:24Six months later,
29:26Mia was sentenced
29:26to one year
29:27for bigamy.
29:28Julian's sentencing
29:29came three months
29:30after that.
29:31The court found
29:32that he had embezzled
29:33nearly 97 million,
29:34taken over 10 million
29:36in bribes,
29:36paid out 60 million
29:38in kickbacks,
29:39misused 20 million
29:40in public funds,
29:41violated construction
29:42regulations,
29:43and committed bigamy,
29:44multiple charges,
29:46concurrent sentencing,
29:4711 years.
29:48He asked to see me
29:49the day he was taken in.
29:50I didn't go.
29:52I sent my lawyer
29:53to handle the divorce.
29:54Julian's parents
29:55were good to me
29:56and my son
29:56until the end.
29:57Before they passed,
29:58they transferred
29:59both of their properties
30:00into my son's name
30:01and left everything
30:02they had to us.
30:03I kept my promise
30:04to them regardless.
30:05I cared for them
30:06and I was there
30:07when they left.
30:08In the seventh year
30:09of Julian's sentence,
30:10they both passed.
30:11His mother went first,
30:13another stroke,
30:14too severe to...
30:15His father followed
30:16the next day.
30:17They had been devoted
30:18to each other
30:18their entire lives.
30:20He simply could not
30:20face a mourning
30:21without her.
30:22I arranged a proper
30:23funeral for both of them.
30:25I had my lawyer
30:26notify Julian.
30:27He sent back one message
30:28through the attorney.
30:30Can I see you?
30:31I didn't respond.
30:32My son was accepted
30:33to an Ivy League school
30:35the following year.
30:36That, more than anything,
30:37let me breathe.
30:38I heard Mia remarried
30:40about three years
30:41after her release.
30:42A divorced man
30:43with two children
30:44of his own.
30:45She moved on.
30:46I moved on, too.
30:47My son played matchmaker.
30:49He introduced me
30:50to the single father
30:51of one of his college friends.
30:53By then,
30:53I wasn't looking
30:54for anything grand.
30:55What I found instead
30:56was someone steady.
30:58Someone present.
30:59Someone who picked up
31:00when I called.
31:01We agreed from the start.
31:02No children together.
31:04We weren't starting over
31:05from scratch.
31:06We were two people
31:07who chose to share
31:08the rest of the road.
31:10Three years into that marriage,
31:11Julian was released.
31:13He came to find me.
31:14Eleven years
31:15had not been kind to him.
31:16He looked far older
31:18than a man his age should.
31:19Worn down.
31:20Diminished.
31:21Nothing left of the confidence
31:22he used to carry.
31:24He stood at my door
31:25and asked, quietly,
31:26Chloe, is there any way
31:27I could come home?
31:30I looked at him.
31:31I took your advice.
31:35I found someone good.
31:36I married him.
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