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00:03On April Fool's Day, my husband, Bleyo, handed me divorce papers.
00:07Your two exes called me yesterday, talking shit.
00:10They said you're too uptight, can't take an April Fool's joke.
00:15Said you'd never have the guts to sign divorce papers.
00:19Honey, you wouldn't make me look bad in front of them, would you?
00:23I have two ex-husbands, my childhood friends, Marco and Liu.
00:26But those first two marriages were just business to help their families out of a jam.
00:31Only my marriage to Blair was for love.
00:33I felt I'd finally found my home, until I overheard the three of them talking.
00:39Lucy is sick.
00:41Her dying wish is for the three of us to spend one whole month with her.
00:45Just the three of us.
00:47Blair, you can handle that, can't you?
00:49Of course. I'll get Eliana to sign the divorce papers.
00:52I'll just tell her it's an April Fool's joke.
00:54And we'll get remarried after the month is up.
00:57I heard everything. I didn't let on.
00:59I just calmly signed the papers.
01:01Then, I texted my father, the godfather of the Moretti family.
01:05Father, I'm divorced.
01:07That arranged marriage you mentioned, is the offer still on the table?
01:10I was standing outside our front door,
01:12holding a gift from Chicago handmade candies from that century-old chocolate shop Blair loves.
01:18The conversation inside continued.
01:21Will Eliana go for it?
01:23Of course she will.
01:24She's a Maradi.
01:25She knows the rules.
01:27Besides, Ellie's a pup over.
01:28Never makes waves.
01:30Exactly.
01:31She's gotten us out of so much trouble.
01:33This time will be no different.
01:35Ever since we got married,
01:36Blair had always acted like he hated Marco and Leo.
01:40I thought he was jealous.
01:41I was even a little smug about it.
01:43Now I knew the truth.
01:44The three of them were clues.
01:46So close, they could plot against me together.
01:49I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
01:52So that's all I was to them.
01:53My feelings, my dignity, my marriage.
01:57Just tools for them to use.
01:58I sat in the car for an entire afternoon,
02:01letting the chill seep through my whole body.
02:03My phone buzzed.
02:05A text from Blair.
02:06Babe, how was the trip?
02:08Got home soon.
02:09I miss you.
02:10I stated the words,
02:11I miss you,
02:12and almost laughed.
02:13I got out of the car,
02:14tossed the box of chocolates in the trash,
02:16and pushed open the front door.
02:18Blair shot up from the sofa,
02:20a perfect smile on his face.
02:22Ellie, you're back.
02:25How was the road?
02:26He walked over,
02:27smoothly taking my coat and handbag,
02:30and gave me a light kiss on the cheek.
02:32He'd done it for a year.
02:34It always made me feel warm.
02:35Now, it just made me sick.
02:38I subtly wiped my cheek.
02:40Blair sat down next to me,
02:42his expression suddenly serious.
02:44Ellie,
02:45I need to talk to you about something.
02:48Here we go.
02:49I fought with a cold smile,
02:51but I kept my face,
02:53a mask of confusion.
02:55The commission is auditing the family's assets.
02:58The lawyers are suggesting a temporary divorce,
03:02just on paper.
03:03It's to protect you,
03:04keep you from getting dragged into this.
03:07A temporary divorce?
03:08He explained eagerly.
03:10Then his face fell into a wounded look.
03:13It's just a formality.
03:14As soon as I clean up the family business,
03:16we'll get remarried.
03:18And yesterday,
03:19those bastards Marco and Leo called me.
03:21They said since you've been married twice,
03:22you'd never dare to divorce again.
03:24That you can't take an April Fool's joke.
03:26He was a damn good actor.
03:28If this were the Oscars,
03:29he'd take home best actor.
03:31How could they say that?
03:33I know.
03:34And I wasn't going to take that.
03:36I know my wife is the bravest woman there is.
03:38You're not afraid of anything.
03:41He pulled the papers out from under the coffee table
03:44and handed them to me.
03:45I took the file and skimmed it.
03:47It detailed it to the division of assets,
03:50most of his property,
03:51his stocks,
03:52his real estate.
03:53It was all going to me.
03:55Tomorrow,
03:56we'll give them the shock of their lives.
03:59I almost laughed out loud.
04:01He was so damn sure of himself.
04:03So certain we'd be remarried soon.
04:06That this was all just for show.
04:07I picked up the pen on the table
04:09and signed my name
04:10at the bottom of the agreement
04:12with a clean, sharp stroke.
04:14Done.
04:15You should call them now.
04:16I want to hear it
04:17when their jaws hit the ground.
04:18Blair froze for a second,
04:20clearly not expecting me
04:21to sign so quickly,
04:22so decisively.
04:23I pushed the papers back to him
04:25with a sweet smile.
04:26He looked a bit dazed
04:27as he collected the agreement,
04:29then planted a soft kiss
04:30on my forehead.
04:31I knew you'd understand.
04:33You're the best wife in the world.
04:35Then he took his phone
04:37and walked into the study.
04:38I sat in the living room.
04:40Through the half-open study door,
04:42I clearly heard his hushed voice.
04:44She signed.
04:46Yeah, didn't even hesitate.
04:48We'll file tomorrow.
04:50In a month, we can...
04:52I told you, Ellie was easy!
04:54She's still so gullible!
04:56After you're done with Lucia,
04:58make it up to Alana.
04:58Don't let her get too bent out of shape.
05:00Of course.
05:02She's my wife, after all.
05:04A moment later,
05:05my own phone laid up with two messages.
05:08The first,
05:09from Marco.
05:10Long time no see,
05:11when I get together.
05:12The second,
05:13from Leo.
05:14Ellie,
05:15how are you getting divorced again?
05:16Don't be sad.
05:17I always said that guy
05:18wasn't good enough for you.
05:20How about I buy you a drink?
05:21I used to think
05:22our friendship
05:23was the most important thing
05:25in the world.
05:26Marco asked me to marry him
05:28to secure his position
05:29as heir to the Falcone family.
05:31I did it.
05:32Leo asked me to marry him
05:33to get out of
05:34and arrange marriage.
05:35I did that too.
05:36And what did I get for it?
05:38I didn't reply.
05:39I just flipped my phone
05:40face down on the table.
05:41Back in the bedroom,
05:42I silently pulled the suitcase
05:44from the closet.
05:45After a year of marriage,
05:47I didn't have much.
05:48The clothes and jewelry
05:49Blair had given me,
05:51I left them all behind.
05:52Just as I was
05:53zipping up the suitcase,
05:54the doorbell rang.
05:55It was Lucia.
05:56I sat at the door
05:57and watched
05:58as she stumbled in,
05:59drunk,
06:00and threw herself
06:01into Blair's arms.
06:04Blair,
06:05I missed you
06:06so I came over.
06:07Blair instinctively
06:09glanced back at me,
06:10a flash of panic
06:11in his eyes.
06:13Lucia's drunk.
06:14She insisted on coming
06:15to see an old friend.
06:16We couldn't stop her.
06:16Alicia's still here.
06:17Have some respect.
06:19You think it's okay
06:19for a drunk woman
06:20to be hanging all over you?
06:21Blair immediately
06:22pushed Lucia away.
06:24You knew that?
06:25And you still brought her
06:26to my house?
06:27Who's the one
06:28with no respect?
06:30We're protecting
06:31Lucia's reputation.
06:33That's better than
06:34some guy who's getting
06:34cozy with another woman
06:35in front of his wife.
06:37All right, all right.
06:38Let's not fight
06:39over something so small.
06:41Lucia's just had
06:42too much to drink.
06:43She doesn't mean
06:44any harm.
06:45Then he looked at me,
06:46his eyes searching my face.
06:48You don't mind,
06:49do you, Illyana?
06:51Of course not.
06:52I watched their
06:53perfectly rehearsed
06:54little play unfold.
06:56Leo, the righteous accuser.
06:58Marco, the peacemaker.
07:00Blair, the wronged husband
07:01defending his honor.
07:03If I hadn't heard them
07:04celebrating on the phone
07:05earlier,
07:06I might have actually believed
07:07they couldn't stand each other.
07:09I thought about
07:10our old friendship.
07:12Marco, Leo, and I,
07:14we grew up together.
07:15We were the three musketeers,
07:17closer than blood.
07:18My father was always
07:19busy with family business,
07:22and everyone else
07:23kept their distance
07:24because of the Moretti name.
07:27Only Marco was willing
07:28to teach me how to shoot,
07:29taking me to the range
07:30every weekend.
07:31Leo even took a bullet for me
07:33from a rival family.
07:34He still has the scar
07:36on his left shoulder.
07:37Back then,
07:38we were the only people
07:39in the world
07:39we could trust.
07:40But that all changed
07:42when Lucia showed up.
07:44She came to Chicago
07:45from Italy,
07:46all bold and fiery.
07:47She became the center
07:49of everyone's world,
07:50including Marco's and Leo's.
07:52They started revolving around her,
07:53forming a new circle.
07:55I was slowly pushed
07:56to the sidelines,
07:57only remembered
07:58when they needed
07:59the Moretti family
08:00to solve a problem.
08:01The cracks were always there.
08:03I just chose to ignore them.
08:05Only today was I willing
08:06to face the ugly truth.
08:08Lucia finally seemed
08:10to notice me,
08:11the lady of the house.
08:12Ileana?
08:13Long time no see.
08:16I've always felt so bad.
08:18I know you think
08:19I stole Marco and Leo
08:20from you,
08:21but I really didn't mean to.
08:23Marco's heart
08:24instantly melted.
08:25He gently steadied her,
08:27and the look he gave me
08:28was sharp with annoyance.
08:30What are you talking about?
08:31Nobody stole anybody.
08:33That's right, Lucia.
08:34Anything that can be stolen
08:35wasn't really mine
08:36to begin with.
08:37You all came
08:38at the perfect time tonight.
08:40There's something
08:41I want you all to see.
08:42I walked to the coffee table
08:43and picked up
08:44the signed divorce papers.
08:46I want to make this clear
08:47in front of everyone.
08:48These are my divorce papers
08:50with Blair.
08:51I've already signed.
08:52Blair looked panicked
08:53for a second,
08:54clearly not expecting me
08:55to announce it like this,
08:56but he recovered quickly.
08:58He took a step forward,
08:59his voice dripping
09:01with fake concern.
09:03Ileana,
09:04you don't have to do this.
09:06Well, if you're divorced,
09:07then I guess you'll be
09:08giving me my ring back.
09:09Afros,
09:09my eyes dropping
09:10to the diamond
09:11on my ring finger.
09:13What do you mean?
09:14My voice was dry.
09:15Lucia smiled smugly.
09:16Take the ring off
09:17and look at the inner bang.
09:19My name is still
09:20engraved on it.
09:21Slowly,
09:22I twisted off the ring
09:23that had once made
09:24my heart leap
09:25and turned it over.
09:26Among the delicate filigree,
09:28I saw our names,
09:29Blair and Ileana,
09:31but in a tiny,
09:32almost hidden spot
09:34was a line in Italian.
09:36Per Semperi,
09:37mea Lucia.
09:38In that moment,
09:39the world started to spin.
09:40I looked at Blair,
09:42desperate for him
09:42to explain,
09:43to deny it,
09:44to tell me
09:45it was all a mistake,
09:46but he wouldn't
09:47meet my eyes.
09:48He just stood there,
09:49silent.
09:50I remembered
09:51the day he proposed.
09:52He was on one knee,
09:54looking at me
09:55with so much love.
09:56I had this ring
09:57custom made just for you.
09:58It's one of a kind
09:59in the world
09:59just like you are
10:00in my heart.
10:00I cried,
10:01thinking I was
10:02the luckiest woman alive.
10:04It turned out,
10:05the ring was never
10:06meant for me.
10:07It belonged to Lucia.
10:08It had her name on it.
10:09It was a promise
10:10of his love for her.
10:11And me,
10:12I was just the placeholder.
10:14I looked down
10:15at the divorce papers,
10:16and suddenly,
10:17I smiled.
10:18Right then,
10:19I was so glad
10:20I had signed them.
10:21I said,
10:22placing the ring
10:22on the coffee table.
10:24If it has your name on it,
10:28then it's yours.
10:30Lucia's eyes lit up.
10:32She snatched the ring,
10:33slid it onto her own finger,
10:35and admired it.
10:36Thank you, Eliana.
10:38It really does suit me.
10:39Eliana,
10:40let me explain.
10:42Pleia finally said,
10:43stepping forward
10:44to grab my hand,
10:45but I had already turned
10:47and was walking
10:48toward the stairs.
10:50Don't bother.
10:51Since we're divorced,
10:52I shouldn't be living
10:53here anymore.
10:54My office,
10:559 a.m. tomorrow,
10:56will finish the paperwork.
10:57I dragged my suitcase
10:59out the door,
10:59with Blair calling
11:00my name behind me.
11:02Full of panic,
11:03I didn't stop.
11:04From behind me,
11:05I heard Marco's
11:06low chuckle.
11:07Nice one, Blair.
11:09She folded even caster
11:10than when Leo and I
11:10got her to sign
11:11our marriage contracts.
11:12Lucia can't wait
11:13much longer.
11:14Let's head out tomorrow.
11:16Once the car was moving,
11:18my phone buzzed.
11:19A text from Blair.
11:20Eliana,
11:21I will explain
11:21about the ring.
11:22Find a place to stay
11:23for now,
11:24and I'll come get you
11:25in a few days.
11:26Be good.
11:26Don't overthink things.
11:28I looked at the message,
11:29a sneer playing on my lips.
11:31He still thinks
11:31I'm coming back.
11:32I gave my dad a call.
11:34Father,
11:35I'm divorced.
11:36That arranged marriage
11:37you mentioned,
11:38is the offer still
11:39on the table?
11:39Of course,
11:40my dear daughter.
11:41I'm glad you finally
11:42made a wise decision.
11:44A year ago,
11:45after my second divorce,
11:46my father had suggested
11:48an arranged marriage
11:50to a man from
11:51a powerful,
11:52allied family.
11:53But I was lost
11:53in my fantasy
11:54of falling in love
11:55with this Blair
11:56and refused
11:57how stupid I had been.
11:59Half an hour later,
12:00I got a new friend request
12:02on my phone.
12:02The message read,
12:03Time to meet
12:04your fiancé.
12:06The next morning,
12:07at nine,
12:08I arrived at my downtown office
12:10with the Moretti family's
12:11private lawyer.
12:12Blair was already there,
12:13looking exhausted
12:14and anxious.
12:15He clearly hadn't slept.
12:17Ileana,
12:18about the ring,
12:19I have to explain.
12:20The jeweler messed up
12:21the engraving.
12:21I was going to get it replaced,
12:23but there wasn't time,
12:23and I didn't want to upset you
12:25over something so small.
12:26I figured I'd quietly get you
12:27a new one after the wedding.
12:29Ileana,
12:29I know this hurt you,
12:30but you have to believe me,
12:32what I feel for you is real.
12:33After this month,
12:34after I handle things
12:35with Lucia,
12:36we'll get remarried.
12:37I promise I'll make it up to you
12:39with the most beautiful
12:40wedding ring in the world.
12:41One month,
12:42he meant that
12:43after he finished his
12:44romantic getaway with Lucia,
12:46he expected him to remarry me
12:47like nothing happened.
12:49I understand.
12:50I was done listening
12:51to his shameless excuses.
12:52I turned to my lawyer.
12:54Let's just get this done.
12:56Blair looked stunned,
12:57probably not expecting me
12:58to be so cooperative.
13:00The whole process
13:01was quicker than I thought.
13:03Signatures,
13:04witnesses,
13:04a legally binding contract.
13:06In less than half an hour,
13:08our marriage was officially over.
13:10The moment we stepped
13:11out of the office,
13:13Blair's phone rang.
13:14He glanced at the caller
13:15ID and his whole face
13:17softened.
13:18He answered,
13:19his voice gentle.
13:21Lucia,
13:23okay,
13:23I'm on my way.
13:25Don't worry,
13:26I'll take care of you.
13:28Wait for me,
13:29I'll be right there.
13:30He hung up
13:31and turned to me,
13:32the tenderness
13:33from the call
13:34still lingering
13:35in his eyes.
13:36He tried to look conflicted.
13:38Ileana,
13:39Lucia isn't feeling well.
13:40I have to go check on her.
13:42Wait here for me
13:43and I'll be back
13:44to take you wherever you're staying.
13:45Then he rushed off
13:46without a second glance.
13:48I stood in the lobby
13:49watching his hurry retreat,
13:51a wave of sadness
13:52and relief
13:53washing over me.
13:54That was the man
13:55I once loved so deeply.
13:57Not one minute
13:58after our divorce
13:59was final,
14:00he was already running
14:01to another woman.
14:03I turned
14:03and walked toward
14:04a conference room
14:06at the other end
14:07of the hall.
14:08My new fiance was waiting.
14:10Meanwhile,
14:10after waiting
14:11by the building's entrance
14:12for nearly 10 minutes
14:14and seeing no sign
14:15of Ileana,
14:16Blair decided
14:16to go back up
14:17to remind her
14:18about the plan.
14:19Just as he reached
14:20the entrance,
14:21he slammed right
14:22into a man walking out.
14:24Papers scattered
14:25across the mobile floor.
14:26Blair's divorce decree
14:28mixed with
14:28the other man's documents.
14:30A gust of wind
14:31from the revolving door
14:33flipped open
14:34the cover
14:34of one file.
14:35It was a marriage contract.
14:37As Blair bent down
14:38to grab his papers,
14:39he caught a glimpse
14:40of the photo
14:41on that contract.
14:42He froze.
14:43He only saw
14:44a small part of it,
14:45but that profile,
14:46the side of that face.
14:47The man sat politely,
14:49quickly gathering his files.
14:51Excuse me.
14:52Blair looked up,
14:53trying to get a clear look
14:54at the man's face,
14:55but he had already
14:56put on a pair of sunglasses,
14:57revealing only a sharp jawline
14:59and thin lips.
15:00There was an aristocratic air
15:02about him
15:03that felt strangely
15:04familiar to Blair.
15:06It's fine.
15:07Blair replied,
15:08but his eyes were glued
15:09to the marriage contract
15:10in the man's hands.
15:11The man finished
15:12collecting his things
15:14and headed for the exit.
15:15Blair stood there,
15:16a ridiculous thought
15:18growing stronger
15:18in his mind.
15:19Who signs a marriage contract
15:21on April Fru's Day
15:23and a photo on that contract?
15:25Even though he only
15:26saw a corner of it,
15:27why did it look so familiar?
15:29He felt like he'd seen
15:30this man somewhere before.
15:32That calm,
15:33commanding presence,
15:35that natural air
15:36of old wild power.
15:37Hey, wait!
15:38Just as Blair called out
15:40to the man,
15:40his phone rang.
15:41It was Leo.
15:42He hesitated,
15:43then picked up.
15:44Blair, where the hell are you?
15:45We're all waiting.
15:46When Blair looked up again,
15:47the man was gone.
15:48A black rose rose
15:49peeled around the corner.
15:51Shit.
15:52A second later,
15:53a text from Mako
15:54came through
15:54with correspondence.
15:55Get a move on.
15:57We need to be
15:57on the private island
15:58in the Bahamas
15:59before sunset.
16:01Lucia's waiting.
16:02Blair stared at the screen,
16:03and a memory hit him,
16:04a promise he'd buried
16:06for years.
16:07It was Lucia's dream
16:08back when they
16:09graduated high school.
16:10She wanted to take everyone
16:11to that secret private island
16:13and party for three days straight,
16:15watch the most beautiful sunsast,
16:17and drink the strongest shit
16:18they could find.
16:20Security on the island
16:21was tight.
16:22He was the only one
16:23with an invite.
16:24This was something
16:25only he could do for her.
16:26He glanced back
16:27at the building,
16:28wondering if he should
16:29go up and give Eliana
16:31a heads up.
16:32But time was short.
16:33It was just for a month.
16:35When he got back,
16:36everything would go back
16:37to normal.
16:38Blair shook his head,
16:39pushing the thought
16:40of the mysterious man
16:41out of his mind,
16:43and drove to the
16:44private airfield.
16:45When he got there,
16:46everyone was already waiting.
16:48Lucia was in a red dress,
16:51the sea breeze blowing
16:52through her long hair.
16:53The diamond necklace
16:54around her neck
16:55glittered in the setting sun.
16:57He had bought her
16:58that necklace
16:58for her 17th birthday.
17:00With six months
17:01of his allowance,
17:02she was still wearing it.
17:04Blair stood at the bottom
17:05of the jet stairs,
17:07looking at her,
17:07and it was like
17:08they were kids again
17:0910 years ago.
17:10Back then,
17:11Lucia had just moved
17:12to Chicago from Italy,
17:14wearing the same kind
17:15of red dress,
17:16looking at them
17:16with a shy
17:17but hopeful expression.
17:18As he was lost
17:19in the memory,
17:20a pang of gout hit him.
17:22He hadn't given
17:23Eliana many gifts.
17:25The Moratti family
17:26had everything.
17:27She didn't need luxury.
17:28He'd only given her
17:29a simple diamond bracelet
17:30for her birthday,
17:31but she'd worn it
17:32every single day
17:33like a treasure.
17:34He suddenly remembered
17:35signing the divorce papers
17:37today.
17:38Eliana's wrist
17:38had been bare.
17:39The bracelet was gone.
17:41The realization
17:42made his stomach drop.
17:43Why wasn't she wearing it?
17:45Was she angry?
17:46Or Lucia ran over
17:48and hooked her arm
17:49through his.
17:50Blair!
17:52What are you thinking about?
17:53We've been waiting forever.
17:55You're late,
17:56so you have to take
17:57three shots as punishment.
17:58The warmth of her arm
17:59and the sparkle
18:00in her eyes
18:01as she looked up at him
18:02threw him back
18:03to their teenage years.
18:05Alright,
18:05I'll take my punishment.
18:08The guy saw the bug
18:09and started whooping
18:10and hollering
18:11and knowing
18:12claimed on their eyes.
18:13Blair still got it
18:14bad for Lucia!
18:16What, you jealous?
18:18By the time
18:18they reached
18:19the island villa,
18:20the sky was dark.
18:21On the terrace,
18:22a party was in full swing.
18:24A gentle sea breeze
18:25blew,
18:26a star glittered overhead
18:27and glasses clinked.
18:29Just as Blair
18:30was about to hand Lucia
18:32a glass of champagne,
18:33Marco intercepted,
18:35swapping the flute
18:36in her hand
18:36for a glass of juice.
18:38Marco said,
18:38his eyes full of concern.
18:41You're sick.
18:43No booze.
18:44Lucia took the
18:45juice,
18:45blinked her wide,
18:47innocent eyes
18:48and asked.
18:49The air froze.
18:50Everyone stared.
18:51Sick.
18:52What are you talking about?
18:54Blair's champagne glass
18:55hung in midair,
18:56his eyes locked on Lucia.
18:59In the stunnedness silence,
19:01Lucia suddenly burst out laughing,
19:03covering her mouth,
19:04her eyes dancing with mischief.
19:06April fools!
19:09Raising her juice glass,
19:10almost doubled over with laughter.
19:13I'm not dying!
19:14I just needed an excuse
19:16to get everyone together
19:18for a wild party!
19:21Blair froze solid.
19:22The sound of waves
19:24crashing against the rocks
19:25seemed suddenly louder.
19:27The distant cries of seabirds,
19:29mocking his stupidity.
19:31Lucia wasn't sick.
19:32This was all a joke.
19:34He thought about how he divorced
19:35Eliana for this joke.
19:37He thought about Eliana's
19:39unnervingly calm expression
19:41as she signed the papers
19:42about the missing diamond bracelet
19:44on her wrist.
19:45A hot flash of anger
19:47shot through him.
19:48His voice was rough.
19:51What did you say?
19:53Seeing his face,
19:54Lucia's smile faltered,
19:55but she was still defiant.
19:57Oh, don't be so serious.
19:59It's not like you lost anything.
20:01You get to hang out with me
20:02on this beautiful island.
20:04Lucia,
20:05even for an April Fool's joke,
20:06that was a little much.
20:09Yeah,
20:10we were all really worried.
20:13Blair just stood there,
20:15the champagne foot
20:16trembling in his hand.
20:19Seeing his dark expression,
20:21Lucia immediately put on
20:22her best,
20:23innocent,
20:24hurt look.
20:26She walked out to him,
20:27tugging lightly on his sleeve,
20:29her eyes welling up.
20:31Blair,
20:32are you mad at me?
20:33I just,
20:34I just missed the days
20:35when we were all together.
20:37Her eyes were red
20:38as if she was about to cry.
20:40I know you have
20:41your own life now,
20:42you have a wife,
20:44but our friendship,
20:47all the good times we had,
20:49that was all real,
20:51wasn't it?
20:51That fragile,
20:53helpless look
20:54hit Blair
20:55right in his weak spot.
20:56He remembered
20:57the 17-year-old Lucia,
20:59the first time she'd cried
21:01and asked him for help,
21:03and the fierce,
21:04protective urge he'd felt.
21:07That feeling
21:08had never completely disappeared.
21:10The others
21:12started chiming in.
21:13Some cousin
21:15from a pissing family
21:16snickered.
21:17Someone we know
21:18could never stay mad at her.
21:21Damn right!
21:23Back in school,
21:24anyone who messed with Lucia
21:26had to answer to Blair.
21:27He would have put a guy
21:28in the ground for her!
21:32Everyone laughed,
21:33and the tension
21:34started to fade.
21:35Blair looked at Lucia
21:37at the verge of tears,
21:38and finally caved.
21:44Lucia's face
21:45broke into a smile.
21:46She pushed a drink
21:47into his hand.
21:49Her cheeks flushed
21:50as she looked up at him.
21:52Thank you for coming out
21:53with me,
21:54for remembering my dream.
21:56Her voice was soft,
21:57calming his frayed nerves.
22:00Blair raised a glass,
22:01looking at the radiant woman
22:02in front of him,
22:03and the anger and suspicion
22:05began to mount away.
22:07Screw it,
22:08he thought.
22:09Let's just call it
22:10a perfect send-off
22:12to their younger days.
22:14The party ignited again,
22:16laughter and clinking glasses
22:18filling the air.
22:19As the night hit its peak,
22:22Hey, Blair's divorced,
22:23and Lucia's single!
22:26It's perfect!
22:31Everyone knew you two
22:33were crazy about each other
22:34back in the day!
22:36Now's your chance!
22:38Let's together!
22:39Let's together!
22:41Let's together!
22:42Yeah!
22:43Blair even divorced
22:44the Moretti princess
22:45for Lucia!
22:46It's on you now, Lucia!
22:48The crowd went wild,
22:49cheering and whistling,
22:51the sound echoing
22:52across the island.
22:54Lucia's face
22:55turned beet red,
22:56and she shyly looked down,
22:58but the slight curve
22:59of her lips
22:59showed she didn't mind
23:00one bit.
23:02Blair stood frozen,
23:03the deafening chance
23:05ringing in his ears,
23:06but his mind flashed back
23:08to Eliana's eyes,
23:09in the office that day,
23:11so calm,
23:12so final.
23:14He'd thought she was calm
23:16because she knew
23:17the divorce was fake.
23:18Now,
23:19he wasn't so sure.
23:20The look in her eyes,
23:22it was like she was looking
23:24at a stranger,
23:25not the husband she loved.
23:27Lucia whined,
23:28a hint of complaint
23:29in her tone.
23:30Blair?
23:32You're not gonna join
23:33in their teasing,
23:34are you?
23:36Blair snapped back
23:37to reality.
23:38He looked at the girl
23:40who had been
23:40his first love,
23:41opened his mouth
23:43to say something,
23:44but the words
23:45got stuck.
23:46He couldn't figure it out.
23:49Wasn't this exactly
23:50what he wanted?
23:51This escape?
23:53This freedom?
23:54So,
23:55why did he feel
23:55so damn empty?
23:57The party ended
23:57in a blur.
23:59Blair was blackout drunk.
24:00He vaguely remembered
24:01someone helping him upstairs,
24:03unbuttoning his shirt.
24:04Soft fingers traced his neck.
24:06He tried to push them away,
24:07but he had no strength.
24:09He mumbled in the haste
24:10between sleep and waking.
24:11Eliana.
24:14Blair, I'm here.
24:17I've always been here.
24:18He woke up the next morning
24:20to sunlight streaming
24:22through the floor-to-ceiling windows
24:23his head was pounding.
24:25The hangover
24:26made his thoughts
24:27feel like sludge.
24:29He slowly opened his eyes
24:30and saw a spill of black hair
24:32on the pillow next to him.
24:34Not Eliana's wavy chestnut hair.
24:36This was straight
24:37and jet black.
24:38He shot up,
24:39suddenly half sober.
24:40It was Lucia.
24:41The sheet had stepped down
24:42to her waist.
24:43Her shoulders were bare.
24:45Fragments of the night before
24:46flashed in his mind.
24:47Lucia crying,
24:49saying she was scared
24:49of being alone,
24:51that she'd always loved him.
24:52She kissed him
24:53and then
24:55Blair cursed,
24:57rubbing his temples hard.
24:58He instinctively grabbed his phone.
25:00No messages from Eliana.
25:02That wasn't right.
25:03Usually,
25:04if he was gone for half a day
25:06on business,
25:07she'd text him,
25:08asking what he was doing,
25:09what he'd eaten,
25:10if he missed her.
25:11Sometimes,
25:12a dozen messages a day,
25:13just all that little stuff.
25:15He used to find it
25:16a little annoying.
25:17Now,
25:18the silence was unnerving.
25:19Why hadn't she sent
25:20a single text this time?
25:22Did she really not care
25:23about the divorce?
25:24To a stand,
25:25Lucia stood beside him.
25:27She slowly opened her eyes
25:29and a satisfied smile
25:30spread across her face
25:32when she saw him sitting there.
25:34Good morning, Blair.
25:36Lucia, I'm sorry.
25:37I was drunk last night.
25:38We shouldn't have...
25:39What the hell
25:40is that supposed to mean?
25:42I mean...
25:44Last night was a mistake.
25:45We were both drunk.
25:46A mistake?
25:47You're trying to brush me off
25:48with that?
25:49She tried to get out of bed,
25:50but her legs gave out
25:52and she nearly fell.
25:53Blair instinctively caught her,
25:54then immediately let go
25:55as if he had been burned.
25:57That small action
25:57was the final straw.
25:59Blair Russo,
26:00how long are you
26:01going to keep up this act?
26:03The devoted husband act?
26:04Did you forget?
26:06It was Alana's old man
26:07who put a gun
26:08to your family's head
26:08to make you marry her.
26:10No, that's not how it was.
26:11I was the one
26:12who went after Alana.
26:13You don't even love her.
26:14She didn't believe in love,
26:16was only willing
26:17to do a contract marriage
26:18for a friend's sake.
26:19I was the one
26:20who pursued her,
26:21who convinced her
26:22to give me her heart.
26:23You're lying!
26:25You told me
26:26I was the one you loved.
26:28You wrote me
26:28a love letter,
26:29didn't you?
26:30His words
26:31stabbed Lucia
26:31like a knife.
26:32Her face went pale,
26:33her eyes filling with tears.
26:35Blair stood rooted
26:36to the spot,
26:37his palms slick
26:38with cold sweat.
26:39A love letter.
26:40He had never written
26:41her a love letter.
26:42The only one
26:43he'd ever written
26:43was for Alana,
26:44but he never
26:45gave it to her.
26:46He had no idea
26:47how it ended up
26:48in Lucia's hands,
26:49but he couldn't say that.
26:51Not now.
26:52Lucia, listen to me.
26:53I don't want to hear
26:54your excuses.
26:55You're divorced now.
26:56Why can't you be with me?
26:59Do all those years
27:00mean nothing?
27:01She started sobbing,
27:04hysterically,
27:04her whole body shaking.
27:06Suddenly,
27:07she runs for the vanity
27:08and grabs the fruit knife.
27:10Lucia,
27:10what are you doing?
27:12She didn't answer.
27:14She pressed the blade
27:15to her own throat.
27:16The sharp edge
27:17left a thin red line
27:18on her pale skin.
27:19If you don't do
27:20what I say,
27:21I'll kill myself.
27:22All right, all right.
27:22Just calm down, okay?
27:24If you leave me,
27:25I'll die right here.
27:26Okay, okay.
27:26I won't leave.
27:27I'll stay.
27:28I'll stay with you.
27:29Just put the knife down.
27:30Hearing that,
27:31the crazed look
27:32in her eyes
27:33slowly faded.
27:34She lowered the knife,
27:35then collapsed
27:36into his arms,
27:37crying like a child.
27:39I know I'm terrible.
27:40I'm selfish.
27:41But I really do love you.
27:42Just stay with me
27:43for a while.
27:44Just until you figure out
27:45what you really want.
27:46Please?
27:47Okay, I'll stay.
27:49Lucia's tears
27:50tend to a smile.
27:51She immediately
27:52grabbed his phone.
27:53Before Blair could react,
27:55she had his contacts
27:56open
27:56and was deleting a name.
27:58What are you doing?
27:59Deleting everything, Aliana.
28:01This way you can be
28:01with me in peace.
28:03No distractions.
28:04Blair watched
28:05as Aileen's phone number,
28:06her private messages,
28:07her email address,
28:08all of it
28:09disappeared one by one.
28:10A strange panic seized him
28:12that he'd already
28:13given his word.
28:14He could only watch
28:15as a name was erased
28:17from his life.
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