- 7 minutes ago
- #full
- #shortfilm
- #high
#FULL EPISODE #shortfilm
FULL VERSION #High Quality
#FULL EP
- FULL EP 2026
FULL VERSION #High Quality
#FULL EP
- FULL EP 2026
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00On April Fool's Day, my husband, Blaio, handed me divorce papers.
00:04Your two exes called me yesterday, talking shit.
00:07They said you're too uptight, can't take an April Fool's joke.
00:11Said you'd never have the guts to sign divorce papers.
00:16Honey, you wouldn't make me look bad in front of them, would you?
00:19I have two ex-husbands, my childhood friends, Marco and Leo.
00:23But those first two marriages were just business to help their families out of a jam.
00:27Only my marriage to Blaire was for love.
00:30I felt I'd finally found my home, until I overheard the three of them talking.
00:36Lucy is sick.
00:37Her dying wish is for the three of us to spend one whole month with her.
00:41Just the three of us.
00:43Blaire, you can handle that, can't you?
00:45Of course.
00:46I'll get Eliana to sign the divorce papers.
00:48I'll just tell her it's an April Fool's joke.
00:51And we'll get remarried after the month is up.
00:53I heard everything.
00:54I didn't let on.
00:55I just calmly signed the papers.
00:57Then, I texted my father, the godfather of the Moretti family.
01:01Father, I'm divorced.
01:03That arranged marriage you mentioned, is the offer still on the table?
01:06I was standing outside our front door, holding a gift from Chicago handmade candies from that
01:12century-old chocolate shop Blaire loves.
01:14The conversation inside continued.
01:16Will Eliana go for it?
01:18Of course she will.
01:20She's a Moretti.
01:21She knows the rules.
01:22Besides, Ellie's a pup over.
01:24Never makes waves.
01:26Exactly.
01:27She's gotten us out of so much trouble.
01:29This time will be no different.
01:31Ever since we got married, Blair had always acted like he hated Marco and Leo.
01:35I thought he was jealous.
01:36I was even a little smug about it.
01:39Now I knew the truth.
01:40The three of them were clues.
01:42So close, they could plot against me together.
01:45I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
01:47So that's all I was to them.
01:49My feelings, my dignity, my marriage, just tools for them to use.
01:54I sat in the car for an entire afternoon, letting the chill seep through my whole body.
01:59My phone buzzed.
02:00A text from Blair.
02:01Babe, how was the trip?
02:03Got home soon.
02:04I miss you.
02:05I stated the words, I miss you, and almost laughed.
02:08I got out of the car, tossed the box of chocolates in the trash, and pushed open the front door.
02:13Blair shot up from the sofa, a perfect smile on his face.
02:17Ellie, you're back.
02:20How was the road?
02:21He walked over, smoothly taking my coat and handbag, and gave me a light kiss on the cheek.
02:27He'd done it for a year.
02:28It always made me feel warm.
02:30Now, it just made me sick.
02:32I subtly wiped my cheek.
02:34Blair sat down next to me, his expression suddenly serious.
02:39Ellie, I need to talk to you about something.
02:42Here we go.
02:44I fought with a cold smile, but I kept my face, a mask of confusion.
02:49The commission is auditing the family's assets.
02:52The lawyers are suggesting a temporary divorce, just on paper.
02:57It's to protect you, keep you from getting dragged into this.
03:01A temporary divorce?
03:02He explained eagerly.
03:04Then his face fell into a wounded look.
03:07It's just a formality.
03:09As soon as I clean up the family business, we'll get remarried.
03:11And yesterday, those bastards Marco and Leo called me.
03:15They said since you've been married twice, you'd never dare to divorce again.
03:18That you can't take an April Fool's joke.
03:20He was a damn good actor.
03:22If this were the Oscars, he'd take home best actor.
03:25How could they say that?
03:27I know.
03:27And I wasn't going to take that.
03:30I know my wife is the bravest woman there is.
03:32You're not afraid of anything.
03:34He pulled the papers out from under the coffee table and handed them to me.
03:39I took the file and skimmed it.
03:41It detaileded the division of assets.
03:43Most of his property, his stocks, his real estate.
03:47It was all going to me.
03:49Tomorrow, we'll give them the shock of their lives.
03:52I almost laughed out loud.
03:55He was so damn sure of himself.
03:57So certain we'd be remarried soon.
03:59That this was all just for show.
04:01I picked up the pen on the table and signed my name at the bottom of the agreement.
04:05With a clean, sharp stroke.
04:07Done.
04:08You should call them now.
04:10I want to hear it when their jaws hit the ground.
04:12Blair froze for a second.
04:13Clearly not expecting me to sign so quickly.
04:16So decisively.
04:17I pushed the papers back to him with a sweet smile.
04:19He looked a bit dazed as he collected the agreement.
04:22Then planted a soft kiss on my forehead.
04:24I knew you'd understand.
04:26You're the best wife in the world.
04:28Then he took his phone and walked into the study.
04:31I sat in the living room.
04:33Through the half-open study door,
04:35I clearly heard his hushed voice.
04:37She signed.
04:39Yeah, didn't even hesitate.
04:40We'll file tomorrow.
04:43In a month we can...
04:45I told you Ellie was easy!
04:47She's still so gullible!
04:49After you're done with Lucia,
04:50make it up to Alana.
04:51Don't let her get too bent out of shape.
04:53Of course.
04:54She's my wife after all.
04:56A moment later,
04:58my own phone laid up with two messages.
05:00The first, from Marco.
05:02Long time no see.
05:03When I get together.
05:05The second, from Leo.
05:07Ellie, how are you getting divorced again?
05:09Don't be sad.
05:10I always said that guy wasn't good enough for you.
05:12How about I buy you a drink?
05:14I used to think our friendship was the most important thing in the world.
05:18Marco asked me to marry him to secure his position as heir to the Falcone family.
05:23I did it.
05:24Leo asked me to marry him to get out of and arrange marriage.
05:27I did that too.
05:28And what did I get for it?
05:30I didn't reply.
05:31I just flipped my phone face down on the table.
05:33Back in the bedroom,
05:34I silently pulled the suitcase from the closet.
05:37After a year of marriage,
05:39I didn't have much.
05:40The clothes and jewelry Blair had given me,
05:43I left them all behind.
05:44Just as I was zipping up the suitcase,
05:46the doorbell rang.
05:47It was Lucia.
05:48I sat at the door and watched as she stumbled in,
05:51drunk,
05:52and threw herself into Blair's arms.
05:56Blair,
05:56I missed you so I came over.
05:59Blair instinctively glanced back at me,
06:02a flash of panic in his eyes.
06:04Lucia's drunk.
06:05She insisted on coming to see an old friend.
06:07We couldn't stop her.
06:08Alicia's still here.
06:09Have some respect.
06:10You think it's okay for a drunk woman to be hanging all over you?
06:13Blair immediately pushed Lucia away.
06:15You knew that and you still brought her to my house?
06:18Who's the one with no respect?
06:22We're protecting Lucia's reputation.
06:24That's better than some guy who's getting cozy with another woman
06:27in front of his wife.
06:28All right, all right.
06:30Let's not fight over something so small.
06:32Lucia's just had too much to drink.
06:34She doesn't mean any harm.
06:36Then he looked at me,
06:37his eyes searching my face.
06:39You don't mind, do you, Ileana?
06:42Of course not.
06:43I watched their perfectly rehearsed little play unfold.
06:47Leo, the righteous accuser.
06:49Marco, the peacemaker.
06:51Blair, the wronged husband defending his honor.
06:54If I hadn't heard them celebrating on the phone earlier,
06:57I might have actually believed they couldn't stand each other.
07:00I thought about our old friendship.
07:02Marco, Leo, and I, we grew up together.
07:06We were the three musketeers, closer than blood.
07:09My father was always busy with family business.
07:12And everyone else kept their distance because of the Moretti name.
07:17Only Marco was willing to teach me how to shoot,
07:20taking me to the range every weekend.
07:22Leo even took a bullet for me from a rival family.
07:25He still has the scar on his left shoulder.
07:27Back then, we were the only people in the world we could trust.
07:31But that all changed when Lucia showed up.
07:34She came to Chicago from Italy.
07:36All bold and fiery.
07:38She became the center of everyone's world, including Marco's and Leo's.
07:42They started revolving around her, forming a new circle.
07:45I was slowly pushed to the sidelines,
07:47only remembered when they needed the Moretti family to solve the problem.
07:52The cracks were always there.
07:53I just chose to ignore them.
07:55Only the day was I willing to face the ugly truth.
07:58Lucia finally seemed to notice me, the lady of the house.
08:02Ileana?
08:03Long time no see.
08:05I've always felt so bad.
08:08I know you think I stole Marco and Leo from you,
08:11but I really didn't mean to.
08:13Marco's heart instantly melted.
08:15He gently steadied her,
08:16and the look he gave me was sharp with annoyance.
08:20What are you talking about?
08:21Nobody stole anybody.
08:22That's right, Lucia.
08:23Anything that can be stolen wasn't really mine to begin with.
08:27You all came at the perfect time tonight.
08:30There's something I want you all to see.
08:31I walked to the coffee table and picked up the signed divorce papers.
08:35I want to make this clear in front of everyone.
08:38These are my divorce papers with Blair.
08:40I've already signed.
08:41Blair looked panicked for a second,
08:43clearly not expecting me to announce it like this,
08:46but he recovered quickly.
08:47He took a step forward,
08:48his voice dripping with fake concern.
08:52Eliana,
08:54you don't have to do this.
08:55Well, if you're divorced,
08:56then I guess you'll be giving me my ring back.
08:58Afros,
08:59my eyes dropping to the diamond on my ring finger.
09:02What do you mean?
09:03My voice was dry.
09:04Lucia smiled smugly.
09:05Take the ring off and look at the inner bang.
09:08My name is still engraved on it.
09:09Slowly,
09:11I twisted off the ring that had once made my heart leap and turned it over.
09:15Among the delicate filigree,
09:17I saw our names,
09:18Blair and Eliana,
09:20but in a tiny,
09:21almost hidden spot,
09:22was a line in Italian,
09:24per sempri,
09:25mia Lucia.
09:26In that moment,
09:28the world started to spin.
09:29I looked at Blair,
09:30desperate for him to explain,
09:32to deny it,
09:33to tell me it was all a mistake.
09:35But he wouldn't meet my eyes.
09:36He just stood there,
09:38silent.
09:38I remembered the day he proposed.
09:41He was on one knee,
09:42looking at me with so much love.
09:45I had this ring custom made just for you.
09:47It's one of a kind in the world,
09:48just like you are in my heart.
09:49I cried,
09:50thinking I was the luckiest woman alive.
09:52It turned out,
09:53the ring was never meant for me.
09:55It belonged to Lucia.
09:56It had her name on it.
09:58It was a promise of his love for her.
10:00And me,
10:00I was just the placeholder.
10:02I looked down at the divorce papers,
10:04and suddenly,
10:05I smiled.
10:06Right then,
10:07I was so glad I had signed them.
10:09I said,
10:10placing the ring on the coffee table,
10:12If it has your name on it,
10:17then it's yours.
10:18Lucia's eyes lit up.
10:20She snatched the ring,
10:21slid it onto her own finger,
10:23and admired it.
10:24Thank you, Eliana.
10:26It really does suit me.
10:27Eliana,
10:28let me explain.
10:29Blaise finally said,
10:31stepping forward to grab my hand,
10:33but I had already turned
10:35and was walking toward the stairs.
10:37Don't bother.
10:39Since we're divorced,
10:40I shouldn't be living here anymore.
10:41My office,
10:439 a.m. tomorrow,
10:44will finish the paperwork.
10:45I dragged my suitcase out the door,
10:47with Blair calling my name behind me.
10:49Full of panic,
10:50I didn't stop.
10:51From behind me,
10:53I heard Marco's low chuckle.
10:55Nice one, Blair.
10:56She folded even caster
10:57than when Leo and I got her
10:58to sign our marriage contracts.
11:00Lucia can't wait much longer.
11:01Let's head out tomorrow.
11:03Once the car was moving,
11:05my phone buzzed.
11:06A text from Blair.
11:07Eliana,
11:07I will explain about the ring.
11:09Find a place to stay for now,
11:11and I'll come get you in a few days.
11:13Be good.
11:13Don't overthink things.
11:15I looked at the message,
11:16a sneer playing on my lips.
11:18He still thinks I'm coming back.
11:19I gave my dad a call.
11:21Father,
11:22I'm divorced.
11:23That arranged marriage you mentioned,
11:25is the offer still on the table?
11:26Of course,
11:27my dear daughter.
11:28I'm glad you finally made a wise decision.
11:31A year ago,
11:32after my second divorce,
11:34my father had suggested
11:35an arranged marriage
11:36to a man from a powerful allied family.
11:39But I was lost in my fantasy
11:41of falling in love with Blair
11:43and refused
11:44how stupid I had been.
11:46Half an hour later,
11:47I got a new friend request on my phone.
11:49The message read,
11:50Time to meet your fiancé.
11:52The next morning at 9,
11:54I arrived at my downtown office
11:56with the Moretti family's private lawyer.
11:58Blair was already there,
12:00looking exhausted and anxious.
12:02He clearly hadn't slept.
12:03Ileana,
12:04about the ring,
12:05I have to explain.
12:06The jeweler messed up the engraving.
12:07I was going to get it replaced,
12:09but there wasn't time,
12:10and I didn't want to upset you
12:11over something so small.
12:12I figured I'd quietly get you
12:13a new one after the wedding.
12:15Ileana,
12:15I know this hurt you,
12:16but you have to believe me.
12:18What I feel for you is real.
12:20After this month,
12:20after I handle things with Lucia,
12:22we'll get remarried.
12:23I promise I'll make it up to you
12:25with the most beautiful wedding ring
12:26in the world.
12:27One month,
12:28he meant that
12:28after he finished his
12:30romantic getaway with Lucia,
12:32he expected him to remarry me
12:33like nothing happened.
12:34I understand.
12:36I was done listening
12:37to his shameless excuses.
12:38I turned to my lawyer.
12:40Let's just get this done.
12:41Blair looked stunned,
12:43probably not expecting me
12:44to be so cooperative.
12:45The whole process
12:46was quicker than I thought.
12:48Signatures,
12:49witnesses,
12:50a legally binding contract.
12:52In less than half an hour,
12:53our marriage
12:54was officially over.
12:55The moment we stepped
12:57out of the office,
12:58Blair's phone rang.
13:00He glanced at the caller ID
13:01and his whole face softened.
13:03He answered,
13:05his voice gentle.
13:06Lucia,
13:08okay,
13:09I'm on my way.
13:11Don't worry,
13:11I'll take care of you.
13:14Wait for me,
13:14I'll be right there.
13:15He hung up
13:16and turned to me,
13:17the tenderness
13:18from the call
13:19still lingering
13:20in his eyes.
13:21He tried
13:22to look conflicted.
13:23Ileana,
13:24Lucia isn't feeling well.
13:25I have to go check on her.
13:27Wait here for me
13:28and I'll be back
13:28to take you
13:29wherever you're staying.
13:30Then he rushed off
13:31without a second glance.
13:33I stood in the lobby
13:34watching his hurry retreat,
13:35a wave of sadness
13:37and relief
13:38washing over me.
13:39That was the man
13:40I once loved so deeply.
13:41Not one minute
13:42after our divorce
13:44was final,
13:44he was already
13:45running to
13:46another woman.
13:47I turned
13:48and walked toward
13:49a conference room.
13:50at the other end
13:51of the hall,
13:52my new fiancée
13:53was waiting.
13:54Meanwhile,
13:55after waiting
13:56by the building's
13:57entrance for nearly
13:57ten minutes
13:58and seeing no sign
13:59of Ileana,
14:00Blair decided
14:01to go back up
14:02to remind her
14:02about the plan.
14:03Just as he reached
14:04the entrance,
14:05he slammed right
14:06into a man
14:07walking out.
14:08Papers scattered
14:09across the mobile floor.
14:11Blair's divorce decree
14:12mixed with
14:13the other man's documents.
14:14A gust of wind
14:15from the revolving door
14:17flipped open
14:18the cover
14:18of one file.
14:19It was a marriage contract.
14:21As Blair bent down
14:22to grab his papers,
14:23he caught a glimpse
14:24of the photo
14:25on that contract.
14:26He froze.
14:27He only saw
14:28a small part of it,
14:29but that profile,
14:30the side of that face.
14:31The man sat politely,
14:33quickly gathering
14:34his files.
14:35Excuse me.
14:36Blair looked up,
14:37trying to get a clear look
14:38at the man's face,
14:39but he had already
14:40put on a pair
14:40of sunglasses,
14:41revealing only a sharp
14:42jawline
14:43and thin lips.
14:44There was an
14:45aristocratic air
14:46about him
14:46that felt strangely
14:48familiar to Blair.
14:50It's fine.
14:51Blair replied
14:51that his eyes
14:52were glued
14:53to the marriage contract
14:54in the man's hands.
14:55The man finished
14:56collecting his things
14:57and headed for the exit.
14:59Blair stood there,
15:00a ridiculous thought
15:01growing stronger
15:02in his mind.
15:03Who signs
15:04a marriage contract
15:05on April Fool's Day
15:06and a photo
15:07on that contract?
15:08Even though he only
15:09saw a corner of it,
15:10why did it look
15:11so familiar?
15:12He felt like
15:13he'd seen this man
15:14somewhere before.
15:16That calm,
15:17commanding presence.
15:18That natural air
15:19of old wild power.
15:21Hey, wait!
15:22Just as Blair
15:23called out to the man,
15:24his phone rang.
15:25It was Leo.
15:25He hesitated,
15:26then picked up.
15:27Blair, where the hell
15:28are you?
15:29We're all waiting.
15:30When Blair looked up again,
15:31the man was gone.
15:32A black rose rose
15:33peeled around the corner.
15:34Shit.
15:35A second later,
15:36a text from Mako
15:37came through
15:38with correspondence.
15:39Get a move on.
15:40We need to be
15:41on the private island
15:41in the Bahamas
15:42before sunset.
15:44Lucia's waiting.
15:45Blair stared at the screen
15:46and a memory hit him.
15:47A promise he'd buried
15:49for years.
15:50It was Lucia's dream
15:51back when they
15:52graduated high school.
15:53She wanted to take everyone
15:54to that secret private island
15:56and party for three days straight,
15:58watch the most beautiful sunsest,
16:00and drink the strongest shit
16:01they could find.
16:02Security on the island
16:03was tight.
16:04He was the only one
16:05with an invite.
16:06This was something
16:07only he could do for her.
16:09He glanced back
16:10at the building,
16:11wondering if he should
16:12go up and give
16:13Ileana a heads up.
16:15But time was short.
16:16It was just for a month.
16:17When he got back,
16:18everything would
16:19go back to normal.
16:20Blair shook his head,
16:22pushing the thought
16:22of the mysterious man
16:24out of his mind
16:25and drove
16:26to the private airfield.
16:28When he got there,
16:29everyone was already waiting.
16:31Lucia was in a red dress,
16:33the sea breeze
16:34blowing through her long hair.
16:35The diamond necklace
16:36around her neck
16:37glittered in the setting sun.
16:39He had bought her that necklace
16:41for her 17th birthday.
16:42With six months
16:43of his allowance,
16:44she was still wearing it.
16:46Blair stood at the bottom
16:47of the jet stairs,
16:49looking at her,
16:50and it was like
16:50they were kids again,
16:5110 years ago.
16:52Back then,
16:53Lucia had just moved
16:54to Chicago from Italy,
16:56wearing the same kind
16:57of red dress,
16:58looking at them
16:58with a shy
16:59but hopeful expression.
17:00As he was lost
17:01in the memory,
17:02a pang of guilt hit him.
17:04He hadn't given
17:05Eliana many gifts.
17:06The Moratti family
17:07had everything.
17:08She didn't need luxury.
17:10He'd only given her
17:11a simple diamond bracelet
17:12for her birthday,
17:13but she'd worn it
17:14every single day
17:15like a treasure.
17:16He suddenly remembered
17:17signing the divorce papers today.
17:19Eliana's wrist
17:20had been bare.
17:21The bracelet was gone.
17:22The realization
17:23made his stomach drop.
17:25Why wasn't she wearing it?
17:27Was she angry?
17:28Or,
17:28Lucia ran over
17:29and hooked her arm
17:30through his.
17:32Blair!
17:33What are you thinking about?
17:35We've been waiting forever.
17:36You're late,
17:37so you have to take
17:38three shots as punishment.
17:39The want of her arm
17:41and the sparkle in her eyes
17:42as she looked up at him
17:44threw him back
17:45to their teenage years.
17:46All right,
17:47I'll take my punishment.
17:49The guys saw the vibe
17:50and started whooping
17:51and hollering
17:52and no one glint
17:53on their eyes.
17:54Blair still got it
17:55bad for Lucia!
17:57What, you jealous?
17:58By the time
17:59they reached
18:00the island villa,
18:01the sky was dark.
18:02On the terrace,
18:03a party was in full swing.
18:05A gentle sea breeze blew
18:06as stars glittered overhead
18:08and glasses clinked.
18:10Just as Blair
18:11was about to hand Lucia
18:13a glass of champagne,
18:14Marco intercepted,
18:15swapping the flute
18:16in her hand
18:17for a glass of juice.
18:18Marco said,
18:19his eyes full of concern.
18:22You're sick.
18:23No booze.
18:25Lucia took the juice,
18:26blinked her wide,
18:27innocent eyes
18:28and asked.
18:29The air froze.
18:31Everyone stared.
18:32Sick.
18:33What are you talking about?
18:34Blair's champagne glass
18:36hung in midair,
18:37his eyes locked on Lucia.
18:39In the stunnedness silence,
18:41Lucia suddenly burst out laughing,
18:43covering her mouth,
18:44her eyes dancing with mischief.
18:47April Fools!
18:49Raising her juice glass,
18:51almost doubled over
18:52with laughter.
18:52I'm not dying!
18:54I just needed an excuse
18:56to get everyone together
18:58for a wild party!
19:01Blair froze solid.
19:02The sound of waves
19:04crashing against the rocks
19:05seemed suddenly louder.
19:07The distant cries of seabirds
19:09mocking his stupidity.
19:11Lucia wasn't sick.
19:12This was all a joke.
19:13He thought about how he divorced
19:15Eliana for this joke.
19:17He thought about Eliana's
19:19unnervingly calm expression
19:20as she signed the papers
19:22about the missing diamond bracelet
19:24on her wrist.
19:25A hot flash of anger
19:27shot through him.
19:28His voice was rough.
19:30What did you say?
19:32Seeing his face,
19:34Lucia's smile faltered,
19:35but she was still defiant.
19:37Oh, don't be so serious.
19:39It's not like you lost anything.
19:40You get to hang out with me
19:42on this beautiful island.
19:43Lucia,
19:44even for an April Fool's joke,
19:46that was a little much.
19:49Yeah,
19:49we were all really worried.
19:52Blair just stood there,
19:54the champagne foot
19:55trembling in his hand.
19:58Seeing his dark expression,
20:00Lucia immediately put on
20:02her best,
20:02innocent,
20:03hurt look.
20:05She walked up to him,
20:07tugging lightly on his sleeve,
20:08her eyes welling up.
20:10Blair,
20:11are you mad at me?
20:12I just,
20:13I just missed the days
20:14when we were all together.
20:16Her eyes were red
20:17as if she was about to cry.
20:20I know you have
20:20your own life now,
20:21you have a wife,
20:23but our friendship,
20:25all the good times we had,
20:28that was all real,
20:29wasn't it?
20:30That fragile,
20:32helpless look
20:33hit Blair
20:33right in his weak spot.
20:35He remembered
20:36the 17-year-old Lucia,
20:38the first time she'd cried
20:40and asked him for help,
20:41and the fierce,
20:43protective urge he'd felt.
20:45That feeling
20:46had never completely disappeared.
20:49The others
20:50started chiming in.
20:52Some cousin
20:53from a pissing family
20:54snickered.
20:55Someone we know
20:56could never stay mad at her.
21:00Damn right!
21:01Back in school,
21:02anyone who messed with Lucia
21:04had to answer to Blair.
21:05He would have put a guy
21:06in the ground for her!
21:10Everyone laughed,
21:11and the tension
21:12started to fade.
21:14Blair looked at Lucia
21:15at the verge of tears,
21:16and finally caved.
21:19I'm not angry,
21:20just surprised.
21:22Lucia's face
21:23broke into a smile.
21:24She pushed a drink
21:26into his hand.
21:26Her cheeks flushed
21:28as she looked up at him.
21:30Thank you for coming out
21:30with me,
21:32for remembering my dream.
21:34Her voice was soft,
21:35calming his frayed nerves.
21:37Blair raised a glass,
21:39looking at the radiant woman
21:40in front of him,
21:41and the anger and suspicion
21:43began to mount away.
21:45Screw it,
21:46he thought.
21:47Let's just call it
21:48a perfect send-off
21:49to their younger days.
21:52The party ignited again,
21:54laughter and clinging glasses
21:56filling the air.
21:57As the night hit its peak,
22:00Hey, Blair's divorced,
22:01and Lucia's single!
22:03It's perfect!
22:08Everyone knew you two
22:10were crazy about each other
22:12back in the day!
22:13Now's your chance!
22:16Get together!
22:17Get together!
22:18Get together!
22:19Yeah!
22:21Blair even divorced
22:21the Moretti princess
22:22for Lucia!
22:23It's on you now, Lucia!
22:25The crowd went wild,
22:27cheering and whistling,
22:28the sound echoing
22:29across the island.
22:31Lucia's face
22:32turned beet red,
22:33and she shyly looked down,
22:35but the slight curve
22:36of her lips
22:36showed she didn't mind
22:37one bit.
22:38Blair stood frozen,
22:41the deafening chance
22:42ringing in his ears,
22:43but his mind flashed back
22:45to Eliana's eyes
22:46in the office that day,
22:48so calm,
22:49so final.
22:51He'd thought she was calm
22:52because she knew
22:53the divorce was fake.
22:55Now,
22:55he wasn't so sure.
22:57The look in her eyes,
22:59it was like she was
23:00looking at a stranger,
23:01not the husband she loved.
23:04Lucia whined,
23:05a hint of complaint
23:06in her tone.
23:07Blair?
23:08You're not gonna join in
23:10their teasing,
23:11are you?
23:12Blair snapped back
23:13to reality.
23:14He looked at the girl
23:16who had been
23:17his first love,
23:18opened his mouth
23:19to say something,
23:20but the words got stuck.
23:23He couldn't figure it out.
23:25Wasn't this exactly
23:26what he wanted?
23:27This escape?
23:29This freedom?
23:30So,
23:31why did he feel
23:32so damn empty?
23:32The party ended
23:33in a blur.
23:35Blair was blackout drunk.
23:36He vaguely remembered
23:37someone helping him upstairs,
23:39unbuttoning his shirt.
23:40Soft fingers traced his neck.
23:42He tried to push them away,
23:43but he had no strength.
23:44He mumbled in the haze
23:46between sleep and waking.
23:47Eliana.
23:50Blair, I'm here.
23:52I've always been here.
23:54He woke up the next morning
23:56to sunlight streaming
23:57through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
23:59His head was pounding.
24:01The hangover made his thoughts
24:03feel like sludge.
24:04He slowly opened his eyes
24:06and saw a spill of black hair
24:08on the pillow next to him.
24:09Not Eliana's wavy chestnut hair.
24:11This was straight and jet black.
24:13He shot up,
24:14suddenly half sober.
24:16It was Lucia.
24:17The sheet had stepped down
24:18to her waist.
24:19Her shoulders were bare.
24:20Fragments of the night before
24:21flashed in his mind.
24:23Lucia crying,
24:24saying she was scared
24:25of being alone,
24:26that she'd always loved him.
24:27She kissed him,
24:28and then...
24:29God.
24:30Blair cursed,
24:32rubbing his temples hard.
24:33He instinctively grabbed his phone.
24:35No messages from Eliana.
24:37That wasn't right.
24:38Usually,
24:39if he was gone for half a day
24:41on business,
24:42she'd text him,
24:43asking what he was doing,
24:44what he'd eaten,
24:45if he missed her.
24:46Sometimes,
24:47a dozen messages a day,
24:48just all that little stuff.
24:50He used to find it
24:51a little annoying.
24:52Now,
24:53the silence was unnerving.
24:54Why hadn't she sent
24:55a single text this time?
24:57Did she really not care
24:58about the divorce?
24:59Just then,
25:00Lucia stood beside him.
25:02She slowly opened her eyes,
25:03and a satisfied smile
25:05spread across her face
25:06when she saw him sitting there.
25:08Good morning, Blair.
25:11Lucia, I'm sorry.
25:12I was drunk last night.
25:13We shouldn't have...
25:14What the hell
25:15is that supposed to mean?
25:16I mean...
25:18Last night was a mistake.
25:20We were both drunk.
25:21A mistake?
25:22You're trying to brush me off with that?
25:23She tried to get out of bed,
25:25but her legs gave out,
25:26and she nearly fell.
25:27Blair instinctively caught her,
25:29then immediately let go,
25:30as if he had been burned.
25:31That small action
25:32was the final straw.
25:33Blair Russo,
25:35how long are you
25:35going to keep up this act?
25:37The devoted husband act?
25:38Did you forget?
25:40It was Alana's old man
25:41who put a gun
25:42to your family's head
25:42to make you marry her.
25:44No, that's not how it was.
25:45I was the one
25:46who went after Alana.
25:47You don't even love her.
25:49She didn't believe in love,
25:50was only willing to do
25:51a contract marriage
25:52for a friend's sake.
25:53I was the one
25:54who pursued her,
25:55who convinced her
25:56to give me her heart.
25:57You're lying!
25:59You told me
26:00I was the one you loved.
26:01You wrote me a love letter,
26:03didn't you?
26:04His words
26:04stabbed Lucia like a knife.
26:06Her face went pale,
26:07her eyes filling with tears.
26:09Blair stood rooted
26:10to the spot,
26:11his palms slick
26:12with cold sweat.
26:13A love letter.
26:14He had never written
26:15her a love letter.
26:16The only one
26:16he had ever written
26:17was for Alana,
26:18but he never gave it to her.
26:20He had no idea
26:21how it ended up
26:22in Lucia's hands,
26:23but he couldn't say that.
26:24Not now.
26:25Lucia, listen to me.
26:27I don't want to hear
26:27your excuses.
26:28You're divorced now.
26:30Why can't you be with me?
26:33Do all those years
26:34mean nothing?
26:35She started sobbing,
26:37hysterically,
26:38her whole body shaking.
26:39Suddenly,
26:40she runs for the vanity
26:41and grabs the fruit knife.
26:43Lucia,
26:43what are you doing?
26:46She didn't answer.
26:47She pressed the blade
26:48to her own throat.
26:49The sharp edge
26:50left a thin red line
26:51on her pale skin.
26:53If you don't do what I say,
26:54I'll kill myself.
26:55All right, all right.
26:55Just calm down, okay?
26:57If you leave me,
26:58I'll die right here.
26:59Okay, okay.
26:59I won't leave.
27:00I'll stay.
27:01I'll stay with you.
27:02Just put the knife down.
27:03Hearing that,
27:04the crazed look
27:05in her eyes
27:06slowly faded.
27:07She lowered the knife
27:08then collapsed
27:09into his arms,
27:10crying like a child.
27:11I know I'm terrible.
27:13I'm selfish,
27:14but I really do love you.
27:15Just stay with me
27:16for a while.
27:17Just until you figure out
27:18what you really want.
27:19Please?
27:20Okay, I'll stay.
27:21Lucia's tears
27:22tinned to a smile.
27:24She immediately
27:24grabbed his phone.
27:26Before Blair could react,
27:27she had his contacts
27:28open
27:29and was deleting a name.
27:30What are you doing?
27:31Deleting everything, Aliana.
27:33This way you can be
27:34with me in peace.
27:35No distractions.
27:36Blair watched
27:37Aileen's phone number,
27:39her private messages,
27:40her email address,
27:41all of it
27:41disappeared
27:42one by one.
27:43A strange panic seized him
27:45that he'd already
27:46given his word.
27:46He could only watch
27:48as her name
27:48was erased
27:49from his life.
Comments