- il y a 4 heures
The Bride’S Second Life New
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Court métrageTranscription
00:00The night before my wedding, three masked men broke into my house.
00:04They killed my parents in front of me.
00:07Then they took turns raping me and spread the footage across the internet.
00:11And before they left, they shoved my father's baseball bat inside me and left me bleeding on the floor.
00:18I survived, but I lost the chance to ever be a mother.
00:22Overnight, I went from bride to damaged goods.
00:25Then I opened my eyes.
00:27I was back in my living room, ten minutes before it all began.
00:32This time, I won't beg for mercy.
00:35They will.
00:36It was June 28th, the night.
00:38The night I died the first time.
00:40I'll never forget the exact details of that night.
00:43The sweet scent of white roses choked the living room.
00:46Mom and I were on the couch, packing wedding favors.
00:50Dad was pacing in his study down the hall.
00:53I could hear him softly rehearsing his father of the bride toast.
00:57Everything was picture perfect.
01:00A heavy knock rattled the front door.
01:04Mom and I traded a confused look.
01:06I checked my phone.
01:08It was past midnight.
01:10We definitely didn't order anything.
01:12We didn't order anything!
01:14I yelled through the thick oak door.
01:17Dead silence.
01:18No footsteps walking away.
01:21Then, a muffled, raspy voice came back.
01:25No mistake.
01:26Orders under Julian.
01:27Julian, my fianc.
01:29I relaxed.
01:30It was Julian, or so I thought.
01:32I unlocked the door and opened it.
01:35That was the moment my life ended.
01:39Look at you, my little girl.
01:41Mom smiled, tying a perfectly crisp ribbon.
01:45Her warm eyes locked onto mine.
01:47A beautiful bride tomorrow.
01:49The shockwave of reality hit me all at once.
01:52I stared at her for a second.
01:54She was alive.
01:55So was I.
01:56Then, I threw myself into her arms.
01:59I inhaled sharply.
02:01Chanel, number five.
02:03God, I was actually alive.
02:05Mom paused, gently rubbing circles into my back.
02:08Cold feet, sweetie.
02:09She whispered.
02:10Julian's estate is just across town.
02:13We'll see you all the time.
02:15I shook my head, fighting back choking sobs.
02:18Every single day of my miserable last life,
02:21I asked myself the exact same question.
02:23Why was I so stupid?
02:25Why did I open that damn door?
02:26In my past life, the second the lock clicked open,
02:29cold steel pressed against my throat.
02:31Mom screamed.
02:32She lunged forward to pull me away from the masked man.
02:36The hunting knife plunged deep into her chest.
02:40I had shrieked.
02:42Dad burst out of his study, eyes wild.
02:45He saw the pooling blood.
02:47He saw her lifeless body.
02:49He grabbed his heavy ash,
02:51Dan Wood baseball bat from the corner.
02:53He didn't even hesitate to charge,
02:55but he never saw the second guy.
02:57The bastard was already inside,
02:59waiting in the pitch, Dan Black shadows of the foyer.
03:02A tattooed arm locked around Dad's neck from behind.
03:06Adrenaline spiked through my veins.
03:08I ripped myself away from the blade at my throat.
03:11I reached out for Dad.
03:13A deafening gunshot rang out.
03:15My father dropped in front of me,
03:17a bullet between his eyes.
03:19There was a third man,
03:20a shooter in the dark.
03:22Dad dropped dead right at my feet.
03:24My parents were gone, just like that.
03:27But the nightmare was just starting.
03:30Never had a trust bunk bitch before.
03:33The leader grinned, showing rotting teeth.
03:35They tore my expensive silk loungewear off,
03:38right there on the floor,
03:40centimeters away from my parents' bleeding corpses.
03:44Look at this pretty little rich girl.
03:50We hit the rag pot, boys.
03:52I fought back.
03:54I clawed at their eyes.
03:55I bit their hands.
03:57They answered with brutal fists.
04:01When they finally finished,
04:03they cleaned out our wall safes.
04:05The skinny thug racked his gun,
04:07ready to put a bullet in my brain.
04:09But the huge thug stopped him.
04:11Save the bullet.
04:15I got a better idea.
04:17He picked up Dad's baseball bat.
04:20It was still slick and dripping with Dad's blood.
04:23He walked slowly toward me,
04:25and he shoved my father's bloods
04:26and slick baseball bat into me.
04:28I prayed for death.
04:30I begged God to let my heart stop.
04:32But the darkness never came.
04:34A night patrol security guard
04:36found the bloodbath at 10 a.m.
04:38Paramedics rushed me to the ER.
04:40I was bleeding out.
04:42My vitals were crashing.
04:43To save me,
04:45the doctors made a choice I could never take back.
04:48Twelve agonizing hours of surgery later,
04:50I woke up alive.
04:51But my uterus was gone.
04:53I thought losing that was the cruelest part.
04:56I was wrong.
04:56Julian's parents visited the ICU two days later.
05:00They stood by my bed
05:01and promised the killers would pay.
05:03But the disgust in their eyes said everything.
05:06Evelyn,
05:07the wedding is officially off.
05:10Don't look at me like that.
05:12Julian's the face of this family.
05:14And you're
05:15empty.
05:16Ruined.
05:17We can't let a scandal like this drag him down, Evelyn.
05:20I already knew the answer.
05:23Julian never even showed his face at the hospital.
05:25Not once.
05:26He thought I was dirty.
05:28Tainted.
05:29I rotted in that living hell for eight long years.
05:32The cops never caught the crew.
05:34They vanished like ghosts.
05:36But now,
05:37I swallowed my rising panic
05:39and locked it deep inside my chest.
05:41I won't be the victim again.
05:43I checked the grandfather clock.
05:46Right now,
05:47one of them is already inside the house.
05:49The scout.
05:50He is hiding in the hall closet.
05:53I have less than 10 minutes
05:54before his heavily armed buddies show up.
05:57I need to take him out first.
05:59I remember him vividly.
06:01He was short,
06:03smelled like garbage,
06:04and carried a thick rope instead of a gun.
06:07Three against one,
06:08we had a real chance of taking him.
06:10I leaned my face right against mom's ear.
06:13There's a man hiding in the closet.
06:21There's a man hiding in the closet.
06:23Her spine went rigid.
06:25She subconsciously tried to turn her head.
06:27I hugged her tighter,
06:29digging my nails into her arm.
06:31Don't move, mom.
06:33He has armed backup outside.
06:36If we spook him now,
06:37we all die.
06:38Listen to me.
06:39Keep packing the boxes.
06:41Act natural.
06:42I pulled away
06:43and plastered a fake smile on my face.
06:45I'll miss you so much, mom.
06:47You're still my baby.
06:49She played along,
06:49her vils trembling.
06:51Her hands shook so violently,
06:52she dropped a handful of candy.
06:54While keeping her talking
06:55to distract the freak in the closet,
06:57I slipped my phone out.
06:59I quickly texted dad in the study.
07:01Intruder in the hall closet,
07:03bring the bat.
07:04Do not make a sound.
07:05He read it.
07:06He replied instantly with a single dot.
07:09I had to neutralize this threat.
07:11Now, thank God my parents trusted me blindly.
07:15Dad silently slipped out of his study.
07:17He held his heavy Ashton wood bat.
07:20He gave me a nod.
07:22I grabbed my own bat from the umbrella stand.
07:24I marched to the closet
07:26and threw the doors open.
07:27A dark shadow lunged out with a guttural yell.
07:30I didn't flinch.
07:32I swung the bat with everything I had.
07:35Crack.
07:36The wood connected solidly with his ribs.
07:38Dad charged in,
07:40kicking the guy hard in the kneecap.
07:42The thug crashed to the floor.
07:44Mom bolted past us
07:45and slammed the front door deadbolt.
07:48Click.
07:48Dad pinned the struggling guy down with his knee.
07:51He ripped the thick rope from the freak's own belt.
07:54In seconds,
07:56Dad had him tied tight to a dining chair.
07:58Let me go, you rich pricks!
08:01The guy spit,
08:02struggling against the knots.
08:04When my boys get here,
08:06they're gonna carve you up into pieces!
08:08I grabbed a handful of his greasy hair
08:10and yanked his face into the light.
08:13He had deep acne scars,
08:15rotting yellow teeth,
08:16and the same foul breath I remembered.
08:18He was the first one to touch me last time.
08:21He tore at my skin like a starved animal.
08:24I raised my hand
08:25and slapped him across the face.
08:27Hard enough to make my palms sting
08:29and his lips slit.
08:31I'm going to bury you.
08:33I said quietly,
08:34and I'm going to bury your boys.
08:36You crazy bitch!
08:38Just wait!
08:39I shoved a filthy dish rag
08:41deep down his throat
08:42to shut him up.
08:47Evelyn, how did you know?
08:48I thought you were joking.
08:49He was right there.
08:50Mom was hyperventilating,
08:52clutching her chest.
08:53My eyes burned with unshed tears.
08:56They didn't even question me.
08:57They just trusted me
08:59and followed my lead.
09:00Dad stayed calm.
09:01I dialed 911.
09:03He was already thinking
09:03like a man at war.
09:05Cops are 15 minutes out.
09:06Dad said,
09:07checking his watch.
09:08The others will hit that door
09:09in less than five.
09:10I said,
09:13If we run out the back,
09:14we're dead out there.
09:15They have a perimeter.
09:16Then we hide.
09:17Mom cried,
09:18tears streaming down her face.
09:20Let the cops handle it.
09:22No.
09:23I shook my head firmly.
09:24They're psychotic.
09:25They're heavily armed.
09:27If they see cops pulling up,
09:29they'll just take us out with them.
09:31I closed my eyes.
09:32I forced myself to go back
09:34through the trauma of my own death.
09:37I replayed that night in my head.
09:40Every single detail.
09:41Wait.
09:42I got it.
09:43The shooter.
09:44My eyes snapped open.
09:46He's got a bad leg.
09:47He limps.
09:48That is why he stayed entirely
09:49in the shadows last time.
09:51That is why he shot Dad
09:53from the back of the hallway.
09:57Food delivery.
09:59My blood ran cold.
10:00Time's up.
10:01Delivery.
10:02Open the damn door.
10:03The banging grew frantic.
10:06He was losing patience.
10:08I looked at Mom and Dad.
10:09We gripped our bats tighter.
10:11Our knuckles turned white.
10:14Coming!
10:15I yelled toward the door.
10:16The heavy pounding stopped.
10:18I walked slowly toward the foyer.
10:20Every single step felt like
10:22walking to the electric chair.
10:24My heart was pounding so hard
10:26I thought my ribs would crack.
10:28Then, a warm hand grabbed mine.
10:31I looked up.
10:32Mom mouthed the words to me.
10:34Don't be afraid.
10:35She was right.
10:36What was I afraid of?
10:38They were breathing.
10:39My family was alive right now.
10:41I stepped up to the door.
10:43Last time, opening that door
10:45killed my family.
10:46This time, I opened it anyway.
10:48I checked the peephole,
10:50blocked with black electrical tape.
10:52Just like last time,
10:54I took a deep breath,
10:55grabbed the deadbolt,
10:56and ripped the door open.
10:58The huge thug charged in instantly,
11:01hunting knife raised high.
11:03Mom hurled a massive glass jar
11:05of cayenne pepper
11:06directly into his face.
11:08The red dust exploded in his eyes.
11:10He howled in agony,
11:12dropping his weapon
11:13to claw blindly at his face.
11:14I didn't hesitate for a microsecond.
11:17I swung the bat downward.
11:19A sickening crunch
11:20echoed through the foyer
11:21as the wood connected
11:23with his wrist.
11:24His hunting knife
11:25clattered uselessly to the floor.
11:27But we weren't safe yet.
11:29From the dark shadows
11:30of the front porch,
11:32the second man
11:32stepped into the light,
11:34the pronounced limp,
11:35the black glock in his hand.
11:37My whole body locked up.
11:39For one second,
11:40I was right back in that night.
11:42I couldn't breathe.
11:43Evelyn!
11:43Mom grabbed my shoulder,
11:46shaking me.
11:47I snapped back to reality.
11:49My jaw clenched tight.
11:51Now!
11:51I screamed at the top of my lungs.
11:55The entire house
11:57plunged into absolute darkness.
11:59Dad killed the main electrical breaker.
12:02The shooter couldn't see
12:03a damn thing in the dark.
12:05But I wasn't done.
12:06I brought the bat down
12:08on the heavy guy's ribs
12:10over and over
12:11and hit him
12:12with eight years of rage
12:13behind every swing
12:14until he stopped twitching.
12:16Evelyn, stop.
12:18The guy with the gun is moving.
12:19Mom whispered,
12:20pulling me back
12:21by my shirt.
12:22The rage inside me
12:23was blinding.
12:24I wanted to beat him to death.
12:26But we didn't have time.
12:28Mom dragged me back
12:30and slammed the front door shut.
12:32A bullet blew straight
12:34through the brass deadbolt.
12:35The door was kicked open.
12:37The shooter was inside.
12:39My heart stopped beating.
12:42You messed up my boy.
12:44He growled into the pitch
12:45to in black darkness.
12:47Come out.
12:47I'll make it quick.
12:49We pressed our backs
12:50against the wall
12:51and held our breath.
12:52Just a few more minutes
12:54until the police sirens.
12:55Total suffocating silence.
12:58Then my ringtone
12:59shattered the silence.
13:00The shooter laughed.
13:03Found you.
13:04He aimed his Glock
13:05directly at the sound.
13:07Someone groaned
13:08in agonizing pain
13:09from the corner.
13:10The shooter paused.
13:12Rick?
13:13You dumb bastard.
13:14Was that you?
13:15Muffled grunts
13:16echoed near the hallway.
13:18He just shot his own guy
13:20tied to the chair.
13:21Damn it!
13:22The bitch set us up!
13:24The shooter roared.
13:25He limped heavily over
13:27to the chair in the dark.
13:28He ripped the dish rag
13:30out of Rick's bleeding mouth.
13:32They knew we were coming!
13:34Someone on the inside
13:35ratted us out!
13:36Rick coughed up blood.
13:38No way.
13:38Our inside guy
13:40is in this with us.
13:41Just untie me!
13:42When I find her,
13:44I'm gonna skim her alive!
13:46Rick screamed.
13:48Shut up.
13:49You're useless.
13:51Keep it in your pants
13:52and do the job.
13:53Rick shut his mouth immediately.
13:54The shooter fumbled
13:56with the knots
13:57in the pitch black.
13:58Suddenly,
13:59a shadow darted
14:00past the hallway.
14:01The shooter spun around
14:02instantly.
14:04The shadow dropped
14:05to the floor,
14:06satisfied.
14:07He went back to the knots,
14:08cursing under his breath.
14:10Man, you suck at this!
14:12They're too tight!
14:13It's pitch black,
14:15you idiot!
14:15Use your damn phone light!
14:17The shooter grunted.
14:19He reached into his pocket
14:21and pulled out his phone.
14:22His phone light snapped on.
14:24But he didn't look down
14:26at the knots.
14:27He froze.
14:28A massive shadow
14:29was looming right behind him.
14:31Behind you!
14:33Rick screamed in panic.
14:34The shooter spun around
14:36and pulled the trigger
14:37on reflex.
14:38The phone light
14:39hit his face.
14:40It was Dad.
14:41Dad!
14:42I lunged out of the dark.
14:44I dove straight at the gun.
14:45I waited for the shot.
14:47Nothing came.
14:48Just a hollow,
14:49pathetic click.
14:51Son of a bitch.
14:52I'm out.
14:54Dad stepped out
14:54of the shadows
14:55towering over him.
14:57My turn.
14:58Dad swung a solid
14:59oak dining chair
15:00directly into the guy's skull.
15:02The wood splintered.
15:03The shooter dropped
15:05to the floor like a stone.
15:06Then,
15:07sirens wailed
15:08in the distance.
15:09Red and blue lights
15:10flooded through
15:11the living room windows.
15:12Feverly armed cops
15:13kicked the door
15:14all the way in.
15:15Police!
15:16Drop your weapon!
15:19It was finally over.
15:21I collapsed
15:22to the floor.
15:23My legs
15:24simply gave out.
15:25Mom dropped
15:26to her knees
15:27and pulled me
15:27tightly against her chest.
15:29You're safe.
15:34The nightmare
15:35was finally over.
15:36I changed
15:37the timeline.
15:38The heavy guy
15:39was dead,
15:40killed by his own
15:41partner's stray bullets
15:42in the dark.
15:44The cops dragged
15:45the bleeding shooter
15:46and Rick out
15:46in tight handcuffs.
15:48Detectives later
15:49sat in our living room
15:51and confirmed
15:52the truth.
15:53They were serial
15:54home invaders.
15:55They'd left bodies
15:57across three states.
15:58They never left survivors.
16:01which meant
16:02my survival
16:03last time
16:04wasn't luck.
16:05Someone had
16:06wanted me
16:07left alive.
16:08Part of someone's
16:09sick plan.
16:10But right now
16:11I only cared
16:12about one thing.
16:13I looked up
16:14at dad.
16:15He was covered
16:15in sweat
16:16and panting.
16:17Are you crazy?
16:18He had a loaded gun.
16:21Dad knelt down
16:22and kissed
16:22my forehead tenderly.
16:24I counted his shots,
16:25Evelyn.
16:26A standard Glock 19
16:28holds 15 rounds.
16:30He emptied his magazine
16:31shooting at shadows.
16:33I waited until
16:35he ran out.
16:36I'm not dying today.
16:39I have a family
16:40to protect.
16:42I broke down.
16:44I buried my face
16:45in his shirt
16:45and bawled like a child.
16:47They were alive.
16:48They were really
16:48truly alive.
16:49Hours later,
16:51once the adrenaline
16:51faded and the cops left,
16:53mom sat me down.
16:54With everything
16:55that happened tonight,
16:56maybe we should
16:57delay the wedding?
17:01Julian.
17:02Just hearing his name
17:03made my stomach
17:04turn violently.
17:05In my last life,
17:06he never even visited
17:07the hospital
17:08to check if I was alive.
17:10Once my horrific
17:11assault video
17:12went viral
17:13on Twitter and Reddit,
17:14he publicly
17:15dumped me.
17:16Then,
17:17he used the scandal
17:18to launch a hostile
17:19corporate takeover
17:19of Dad's company.
17:21He left me
17:22with absolutely nothing.
17:23Homeless and bankrupt.
17:25I remembered
17:26tracking him down
17:27to his shiny
17:27corporate lobby.
17:29I stood there
17:29in cheap clothes,
17:30begging him for help.
17:32He was making out
17:33with my best friend
17:34by the elevators.
17:35He had just laughed
17:36in my face.
17:37Look at yourself,
17:38Evelyn.
17:39You're trash.
17:40He spoke loud enough
17:42for the entire lobby
17:43to hear.
17:43Even hookers charge,
17:45Evee.
17:45You went viral
17:46for free.
17:47You completely
17:48embarrassed me.
17:50I still remembered
17:51his employees
17:52whispering and pointing
17:54at me.
17:55She is the girl
17:56from the video.
17:58Gross.
17:58Who knows what kind
18:00of diseases
18:00she caught from them.
18:01Those vicious rumors
18:03destroyed me.
18:04I lived like a rat
18:05in the gutter.
18:07Then, standing
18:08in my living room,
18:09the realization
18:10hit me.
18:11The fake delivery
18:12guy's exact words.
18:13Orders under Julian.
18:15Julian orchestrated
18:16the entire hit.
18:17He hired the
18:18professional crew
18:19to wipe out my family
18:20so he could take over
18:21everything my family
18:22owned.
18:23I looked up
18:23at my parents,
18:24my eyes dead serious.
18:26Dad,
18:26I'm not marrying
18:28Julian.
18:29Ever.
18:30Dad didn't blink.
18:31He didn't ask
18:32for an explanation.
18:33Okay.
18:34The wedding
18:35is permanently off.
18:37Tears of gratitude
18:38welled up in my eyes.
18:39You're not going
18:40to ask why?
18:42You don't think
18:42I'm just traumatized
18:44and freaking out?
18:45Dad put a hand
18:45on my shoulder.
18:46You're my daughter,
18:47Evelyn.
18:48If you've decided,
18:50I'll stand by you.
18:51I felt a massive
18:53rush of warmth.
18:54No matter what happened,
18:55they always had my back.
18:56We made the calls.
18:58The merger was over.
19:03Julian absolutely flipped.
19:05He blew up my phone
19:06with 50 calls.
19:08I blocked his number
19:09instantly,
19:10so he showed up
19:11at our front security gate.
19:13By then,
19:14local press
19:14had already picked up
19:15the story.
19:16He played the perfect
19:17fiancé for the cameras.
19:18Evelyn, please!
19:20I know you're traumatized.
19:22Let me help you
19:23through this.
19:24Dad wanted him
19:25off our property,
19:26but I stopped him.
19:27If Julian really was
19:29behind what happened
19:29that night,
19:30I wanted to hear him
19:32lie to my face.
19:33I agreed to meet Julian
19:35at a high-zen-end
19:36downtown caf.
19:37His eyes lit up
19:38with fake relief
19:39when I walked in.
19:40Evelyn,
19:42you actually came.
19:44He reached out
19:44to take my coat.
19:45I stepped back sharply,
19:47leaving his hands
19:48hanging awkwardly
19:49in the air.
19:50He froze,
19:51masking his irritation
19:52quickly.
19:54Looking at him right now
19:55messed with my head.
19:56He looked so incredibly gentle,
19:59so deeply concerned.
20:00But all I saw
20:01was the monster
20:01who ruthlessly laughed
20:03at my assault video.
20:04He was after
20:05my family's trust fund
20:06from day one.
20:07I was convinced
20:08he hired that hit squad
20:10to wipe us out.
20:11But I had zero hard proof.
20:13You agreed to meet.
20:14That means we still
20:15have a chance, right?
20:16Don't kid yourself.
20:18I came here
20:19to tell you to your face.
20:20The engagement is off.
20:22I'm not asking
20:23for your permission.
20:24I'm telling you.
20:26Lose my number permanently.
20:28Why?
20:29We were perfect last week.
20:31Is this about
20:31the home invasion?
20:32Evelyn, I'm here for you.
20:34We can get through
20:35this together.
20:37Whatever you need,
20:38I'm here.
20:39He almost sounded sincere.
20:40He was playing
20:41the perfect heartbroken
20:42Fionk to perfection.
20:44If I hadn't already lived
20:45through his ultimate betrayal,
20:47I would have bought
20:48every single word.
20:49The invasion.
20:51I narrowed my eyes
20:52and watched his face.
20:53Or did you already know
20:55exactly what was going
20:56to happen that night?
20:57He was still suspect
20:58number one on my list.
21:00He had the clear
21:00financial motive.
21:02He had the money
21:02to bury it.
21:03Julian looked horrified
21:05by the accusation.
21:06How could you even
21:07say something like that?
21:08If I knew you were
21:09in any danger,
21:09I would have taken
21:10a bullet for you.
21:11Are you punishing me
21:12because I wasn't there
21:12to protect you?
21:13You know it's bad luck
21:14to see the bride
21:15the night before the wedding.
21:16That's the only reason
21:16I stayed away.
21:17I'm so sorry, Evelyn.
21:21I swear on my life.
21:22I'm not walking
21:23away from you now.
21:24It was flawless.
21:25No slip in his voice.
21:27No flicker of panic
21:28in his eyes.
21:29The cops already
21:30had the shooters.
21:31If Julian had really
21:32sent them,
21:33he should have been
21:33lawyering up,
21:34hiding money,
21:35and covering his tracks.
21:36But he wasn't.
21:37He looked blindsided.
21:39He didn't flinch,
21:40didn't panic,
21:41and didn't look guilty.
21:42And suddenly,
21:43I had a worse problem.
21:44What if Julian
21:45wasn't the one?
21:46The shooter
21:47specifically mentioned
21:48they had an inside guy.
21:49But the cops
21:50hadn't dragged Julian
21:51in for questioning once.
21:53Was I looking
21:54at the wrong guy?
21:55I took a deep breath,
21:57staring at Julian's
21:58perfectly styled hair.
22:00My parents were safe.
22:02The hitmen
22:02were securely locked up.
22:04I just needed
22:05to be patient.
22:06The rat would
22:07eventually expose
22:08themselves.
22:09Then,
22:10without warning,
22:11a splash of
22:12freezing iced coffee
22:13hit me right in the face.
22:14Who the hell
22:15do you think
22:16you are, Evelyn?
22:17I gasped,
22:18wiping the sticky liquid
22:19from my eyes.
22:20It was Tessa.
22:22The girl I used
22:23to call my best friend.
22:24In my last life,
22:26the second my family's
22:27estate was attacked,
22:28she ghosted me.
22:30A month later,
22:31she was officially
22:32Julian's new woman.
22:33I still vividly remember
22:35her visiting my
22:36bleak hospital room.
22:37She came just
22:38to flash her massive,
22:39upgraded diamond ring
22:40in my face.
22:41She had smirked,
22:42looking down
22:42at my bandages.
22:43I won, Evelyn.
22:45Look at you.
22:46Pathetic.
22:47I never understood
22:48why she hated me
22:49so deeply.
22:50We grew up together.
22:51I shared everything
22:52with her,
22:52until right now,
22:54looking at the hatred
22:54in her eyes.
22:55She hated my trust fund.
22:57She hated my fiont.
22:58She hated my entire life.
23:01Wait,
23:01Tessa had motive too.
23:03She hated my life,
23:04my money,
23:05and Julian.
23:06Maybe I'd been looking
23:07at the wrong person
23:08all along.
23:09Tessa,
23:10what the hell
23:10are you doing?
23:12I'm doing
23:13what you never could.
23:14I'm getting rid of her!
23:15The whole cafty
23:16went quiet.
23:17Phones came up.
23:18People started recording.
23:20I grabbed my purse
23:21and turned to leave.
23:22I wasn't doing this
23:24in public again.
23:25Tessa caught my wrist.
23:26Her nails bit
23:27into my skin.
23:28You don't get to walk away!
23:29Tessa,
23:30let her go!
23:31Julian snapped.
23:32She looked at him,
23:33then at me,
23:34and something
23:35in her face broke.
23:36As long as you're alive,
23:38he'll never choose me!
23:39She reached
23:40into her bag.
23:41Steel flashed
23:42under the caffy lights.
23:43Then die!
23:44She lunged.
23:45My right arm
23:46was pinned.
23:46I couldn't move.
23:47The blade
23:48came straight
23:49at my chest.
23:49And this time,
23:50I couldn't dodge.
23:52I squeezed my eyes shut,
23:53bracing for the blade,
23:54but the impact
23:55came from the side.
23:56A heavy weight
23:57slammed into me,
23:58knocking me back
23:59to the floor.
24:00I opened my eyes,
24:01disoriented.
24:02Caleb was looking
24:03down at me.
24:04He was smiling gently,
24:05despite his face
24:06being dead pale.
24:07Thank God.
24:09I made it.
24:09His eyes rolled
24:10back into his head.
24:11He collapsed
24:12dead weight
24:12right on top of me.
24:14Tessa screamed
24:14in absolute horror.
24:15She dropped
24:16the bloody knife
24:17on the tiles
24:17and bolted for the door.
24:19I hit the floor hard,
24:20pulling Caleb with me.
24:21My hands scrambled
24:22frantically
24:23over his chest.
24:24Dark crimson blood
24:25was pouring out
24:26of his shirt.
24:27I pressed down
24:27as hard as I could
24:28on the wound.
24:29The fabric was soaked
24:30through in seconds.
24:31I yanked my phone out
24:32with trembling fingers.
24:34911!
24:34I need an ambulance
24:36at the Main Street Cafe!
24:38Now!
24:39My hands were shaking
24:40so violently.
24:41I almost dropped
24:42the phone in the blood.
24:43Not again.
24:44I absolutely refused
24:45to let someone else
24:46die for me.
24:47Caleb,
24:48my family's
24:48dependable groundskeeper,
24:50the one everyone overlooked.
24:51He grew up
24:52in abusive foster homes
24:53until my dad
24:54gave him work.
24:55In my last life,
24:57when everyone else left,
24:58Caleb stayed.
25:00I'm sorry.
25:01He worked himself
25:02to the bone
25:03just to help
25:04cover my bill.
25:04When the horrific
25:05night terrors hit,
25:07he sat by my bed
25:08till sunrise.
25:08When I was so depressed
25:10I wanted to swallow
25:11a bottle of sleeping pills,
25:13he grabbed my hands,
25:14holding them tight.
25:16It wasn't your fault.
25:17His voice so gentle.
25:18It was the monsters.
25:19You survive.
25:20You wait for justice.
25:22That's how you win.
25:23He was my anchor.
25:24And now,
25:25he was bleeding out
25:26on the tile floor
25:27of that fancy cafe
25:28because of me.
25:30Caleb, stay with me.
25:31Don't you dare
25:32close your eyes.
25:33I pressed down harder,
25:35my hands slick
25:35and covered in his blood.
25:37Panic tightened my throat.
25:38I'm cursed.
25:39Everyone who gets close to me
25:41ends up in a body bag.
25:42My parents last time,
25:43Caleb this time.
25:45I choked out,
25:45tears blurring my vision.
25:47You are not dying on me.
25:48Do you hear me?
25:49You stay.
25:50Four agonizing hours
25:51in surgery.
25:52The surgery was successful.
25:53Caleb finally pulled through.
25:54The cops called me
25:56in the sterile waiting room.
25:57Tessa was booked
25:58for attempted murder.
25:59She was looking at
26:00Syria State prison time.
26:02Everything was finally
26:03falling into place.
26:04She barely missed
26:05your main artery.
26:06I said softly.
26:08I was sitting by
26:09his hospital bed,
26:10slowly peeling an apple.
26:12My hands were still
26:13a little shaky.
26:15Don't ever pull a reckless
26:16stunt like that again,
26:17Caleb.
26:17He looked at me,
26:19his dark eyes
26:20incredibly soft
26:21and devoted.
26:22I couldn't let her hurt you.
26:24I knew exactly
26:24how he felt.
26:25In my last life,
26:26he stayed faithfully
26:27by my side
26:28for eight long years.
26:29Nobody does that
26:30just to repay
26:31a rich family's kindness.
26:32Back then,
26:33I was too obsessed
26:34with revenge
26:35to see his feelings.
26:36But I owed him my life.
26:38Twice now.
26:39Hey,
26:39you're bleeding
26:40through the chest bandage.
26:42I stood up quickly.
26:44I'm gonna get the nurse.
26:46He reached out
26:46and caught my wrist.
26:48It's fine.
26:48Just stay.
26:51Talk to me.
26:53He looked down,
26:55his thumb brushing
26:55against my pulse point.
26:57I don't get to talk to you
26:58like this very often.
27:01Just stay a little longer.
27:02He wasn't wrong.
27:03Before the attack,
27:04we practically lived
27:05in two totally different worlds.
27:07He was the invisible groundskeeper.
27:09I was the untouchable heiress.
27:11But I still had
27:12eight years of memories
27:13from my last life.
27:14I knew exactly
27:15who he was at his core.
27:16I sat back down,
27:18letting him hold my wrist.
27:19I looked him right in the eye.
27:21Relax.
27:22I'm not going anywhere.
27:24I'll visit you
27:25every single day.
27:26I prayed to you
27:27I won't have a
27:27I went anywhere.
27:28If you,
27:30I haven't rozed him right in the aisle.
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