- 10 hours ago
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00:02I don't know what's coming over me
00:05I don't look into the mirror by me
00:09The moment I got rid of everything
00:11I realized that I was never gonna leave
00:15Hey, I had to break it
00:18Let me break it
00:19I turned into a beautiful one, baby
00:22I saw a problem
00:24I had to save it
00:26I left my sadness and cracked it
00:28Like porcelain, porcelain
00:31I had a piece on the floor
00:34Like porcelain, porcelain
00:39I had to save it, triple A's
00:41It's a clear one thing
00:44Porcelain, yeah
00:45I let it happen because I had a porcelain
00:51Porcelain
00:52It's never stronger than I ever
00:54I'm telling my let things be
00:57And I'll bring new doors without key
01:01Time I'll let things be
01:04Forgive me
01:08I had to break it
01:10Let me break it
01:12Pretend into a beautiful one, baby
01:15I saw a problem
01:17I had to change it
01:18I left my sadness and cracked it
01:21Porcelain, porcelain
01:25I had to save it from the floor
01:27Like porcelain, porcelain
01:32Can't you stand it from the lid
01:34Just to fill my skin
01:37Porcelain
01:37I made it happen because I had a porcelain
01:43Porcelain
01:45I was younger than I ever been
01:48So tonight, now I'm going to care
01:51I'm still glad that I'm never here
01:54I don't need to play if it's ever here
01:57And now I'm stronger than I ever been
02:03My husband Julian didn't know I decided to transfer 15% of the company shares to him a gift for
02:10our 10th anniversary
02:11Until the day of my son's health checkup
02:14The doctor smiled as he handed me the results
02:17My husband and I
02:19Both type O
02:20Our son?
02:22Type A
02:24I looked at the boy sitting beside me
02:26A miniature version of Julian
02:28I didn't make a sound
02:29I simply, calmly
02:31Did two things
02:33First, I pulled a strand of hair from my son's head when he wasn't looking
02:37Second, I tore up the share transfer agreement I'd prepared
02:41I watched my son walk through the school gates before turning the car around
02:45The DNA testing center was across town
02:48I need express results
02:50How fast can you do it?
02:51The technician glanced up from her paperwork
02:53Standard processing is five business days
02:56Rushes today by 4 p.m.
02:58Triple the cost
02:59Rush it
03:01My hands trembled slightly as I handed over the sample
03:04After they swabbed my cheek cells
03:06I sat in the waiting area, staring at the clock on the wall
03:09Every second felt like an hour
03:11I pulled out my phone and made another call
03:13I need you to investigate my husband, Julian Robinson
03:17I want to know everywhere he's been
03:19Especially in the last few months
03:22The private detective's voice was professional
03:24Detached
03:26Understood
03:28At 3.40 p.m.
03:29My phone buzzed
03:30I opened the electronic report
03:32Skipped straight to the end
03:34DNA analysis indicates a 0.0001% probability of biological relationship between Vivian Hart and Alex Robinson
03:47Based on genetic marker analysis, evidence does not support Vivian Hart as the biological mother of Alex Robinson
03:53Even though I'd prepared myself, seeing those words made my vision blur for a moment
04:00I leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor
04:04Not my child
04:05I'd raised a child who wasn't mine for nine years
04:10So where was my child?
04:12I drove straight to St. Mary's Private Hospital
04:14The same place where I'd given birth nine years ago
04:17Dr. Soucy was still there
04:20She'd been promoted to department head
04:23Dr. Soucy, I need to access my delivery records and hospitalization files from nine years ago
04:28Her smile froze for a moment
04:31That was so long ago
04:33The files might already be archived
04:35It took some effort
04:36But eventually, someone from the records room brought over a folder
04:40I flipped it open
04:42The documentation was shockingly sparse
04:45Only basic informations
04:47Admission time
04:48Discharge time
04:50Delivery method
04:51Newborn wait
04:52No detailed labor notes
04:54No nurse handoff records
04:56No pediatric examination reports
04:59Is this everything?
05:01She looked apologetic
05:02That's all we have in the system
05:04Paper records are usually kept for ten years
05:07You're right at the edge of that window
05:10What about the newborn footprints?
05:12The blood samples?
05:13She shook her head
05:15Those should be in the newborn records
05:18But we couldn't locate them
05:21It was obvious there was something wrong
05:23An abnormally simple medical file
05:26Missing newborn records
05:28A child who wasn't mine
05:30But looked exactly like my husband
05:33The pieces were starting to form a picture
05:36I didn't want to see
05:38My phone rang
05:39It was Julian
05:40Where are you?
05:41I already picked up Alex
05:43I'd completely forgotten about school pickup time
05:46At least I'd warned the teacher ahead of time
05:49I'm out running business
05:50I'll be home soon
05:52I hung up
05:53After dinner, I claimed a headache
05:56And retreated to the bedroom early
05:58Through the closed door
06:00I could hear Julian helping Alex with homework
06:03In the living room
06:04Their voices drifting through the house
06:09Dad, is mom upset?
06:11Mom's just tired
06:12Finish your homework and get to bed early
06:15I waited until they were both asleep
06:17Then I started searching
06:19The master bedroom
06:21The living room
06:22Alex's room
06:24I went through everything
06:26Looking for...
06:27I didn't even know what
06:29I found nothing
06:31Finally I turned to the computer in the study
06:34The truth had to be in there
06:37Footsteps in the hallway
06:39I quickly closed out of the files I'd been opening
06:43When Julian pushed the door open
06:45I was straightening papers on the desk
06:47He glanced at the computer screen
06:50It had returned to the desktop
06:52A photo of the three of us at the beach from three years ago
06:58Still up?
07:00Just organizing some old documents
07:02I reached over and turned off the monitor
07:04He stood there for a moment
07:07Like he wanted to say something
07:08In the end
07:10He just nodded
07:11Get some rest
07:13I sat in the darkness
07:15Listening to his footsteps fade down the hall
07:18That night
07:19I didn't touch the computer again
07:22I lay in bed
07:23Thoughts racing
07:25Unable to find sleep
07:27The next morning
07:28I still let Julian take Alex to school
07:31He looked at me
07:32Picked up the car keys
07:35Alright
07:35The moment they left
07:37I went straight to the study
07:39I turned on the computer
07:41And tried the password
07:42Our wedding anniversary
07:44Wrong
07:45His birthday
07:47Wrong
07:48Alex's birthday
07:49Still wrong
07:50I tried the date we first met
07:52His mother's birthday
07:53The day the company was founded
07:55All wrong
07:56The system locked me out
07:58Please try again in 15 minutes
08:01I sat there
08:02Staring at the login screen
08:04This computer we'd bought together
08:06Now locked against me
08:09That evening
08:10Julian came home from work
08:12He was barely through the door
08:13When he said
08:15I'm going to Italy tomorrow
08:16Business trip
08:17Not sure how long I'll be gone
08:19I came out of the kitchen
08:20Carrying a dish
08:23That's sudden
08:23Who are you going with?
08:25He set his briefcase on the table
08:27And turned to look at me
08:28Just someone
08:28It was a last minute arrangement
08:30Vivian can you not do this?
08:33I stared at him
08:34Confused
08:35It was just a casual question
08:37Why was he reacting like this?
08:40You question everything
08:41You suspect everyone
08:44I'm just going to work
08:45I turned back to serve the rice
08:48My hands were shaking slightly
08:50I was just asking
08:52He said nothing more
08:54Walked straight to the bedroom
08:56Dinner was silent
08:58Alex must have sensed something was off
09:00For once
09:02He didn't complain about the food
09:04After his shower
09:05Julian grabbed his coat
09:07From the sofa to hang it up
09:08A receipt slipped from the pocket
09:10And fell near my feet
09:12After he left the room
09:13I picked it up
09:14A perfume purchase
09:16Expensive
09:17Bought
09:17Yesterday afternoon
09:19A brand name
09:20I didn't recognize
09:21But I knew it wasn't for me
09:23I thought about our marriage
09:25Ten years
09:27Julian hadn't bought me a gift
09:29In all that time
09:30Not since our first anniversary
09:32A scarf
09:33I still had it somewhere
09:35After that
09:36Nothing
09:37No birthday gifts
09:38No anniversary gifts
09:40No just because gifts
09:42I told myself he wasn't romantic
09:44He showed love in other ways
09:47He was practical and focused on providing
09:49On his career
09:50I'd made excuses for him
09:52But now
09:54Holding this receipt
09:55I understood
09:56He wasn't unromantic
09:58He wasn't too busy
10:00He wasn't too practical
10:01His romance just wasn't for me
10:03It was for someone else
10:05Someone who wore expensive French perfume
10:09I wrote down the information from the receipt
10:11The next morning
10:12After Julian left for the airport
10:14I called the boutique
10:18I need to verify a purchase
10:20A receipt from yesterday afternoon
10:22One moment
10:23Yes
10:24I have it here
10:24The buyer was Chloe Williams
10:26Chloe Williams
10:28I knew that name
10:29Julian's secretary
10:31Hired six months ago
10:33Early thirties
10:34Divorced
10:35I drove to the airport
10:36I didn't know what I was hoping to confirm
10:39Maybe the perfume was for a client
10:42Maybe I was overthinking this
10:44I waited outside the international departures hall
10:46For half an hour
10:47Then I saw them
10:49Julian
10:50And her
10:51Chloe wore a beige trench coat
10:54Pulling a small suitcase behind her
10:56She walked beside Julian
10:58Laughing at something he'd said
11:01Julian's face carried an expression
11:03I hadn't seen in years
11:04Relaxed
11:06Genuinely happy
11:07At the security checkpoint
11:09Chloe stopped
11:10She reached up
11:12Casual and familiar
11:13To straighten Julian's collar
11:15He didn't pull away
11:17He leaned down
11:18And whispered something in her ear
11:20She smiled
11:22Then she stood on her toes
11:24And kissed him on the lips
11:27Julian's hand
11:28Rested on her waist
11:29They stayed like that for a moment
11:32Before separating
11:33Like they'd done it
11:35A thousand times before
11:36The last shred of self-deception evaporated
11:40All those late nights
11:42Working
11:43All those times he'd been irritable with me
11:46All of it finally made sense
11:49I watched their intimate silhouette
11:51Disappear through security
11:54A new thought crystallized in my mind
11:57That child who wasn't mine
12:00And this woman
12:02Could they be connected?
12:04On the drive back
12:05I called the private detective I'd hired
12:08I need you to look into someone else
12:11Chloe Williams
12:13I want to know everything about her
12:15Especially whether she has any children
12:17The detective worked fast
12:19By the next afternoon
12:20I had the report
12:23Chloe Williams
12:2432 years old
12:25Divorced 5 years ago
12:27One son
12:299 years old
12:30Name
12:31Alan
12:31Attending a public school in the West End
12:34The date jumped out at me
12:37Chloe's son was only one week older than Alex
12:39For the first time in 10 years
12:42I felt my blood run hot
12:43I sat on the sofa
12:45Holding the detective's report
12:47Then
12:48A thought struck me
12:49I ran to study
12:51My fingers hovered over the keyboard
12:53Then
12:54Slowly
12:54I typed in Chloe's birth date
12:57The desktop opened
12:58There was only one folder
13:00Named
13:02Work Backup
13:02I clicked it open
13:04Inside were subfolders
13:06Organized by year
13:07Starting 11 years ago
13:09The earliest folder contained
13:11Scanned photographs
13:12Julian and Chloe
13:14In high school uniforms
13:15Standing under a locust tree
13:1719 year old Julian
13:18Smiling
13:19His arm around Chloe's shoulders
13:21She had her hair in a ponytail
13:23Looking up at him
13:24The next photo was from college
13:26The two of them in the library
13:28Then their graduation photo
13:31Both in cap and gown
13:33Holding hands
13:33That was the year Julian told me
13:36The company was struggling financially
13:38We'd cancelled our anniversary trip
13:40Instead
13:41He bought a scarf for me
13:43I closed the folder
13:45The screen behind the closed folder
13:47Is our wedding photo
13:49I stared at our wedding photo
13:51And felt bile rise in my throat
13:53Me in my white dress
13:55Lace sleeves
13:56And long train
13:58Holding a bouquet of white roses
14:00Julian in his black suit
14:02Gray tie
14:03Boutonniere
14:04Both of us smiling at the camera
14:06The photographer had made us laugh
14:09Said something stupid
14:10We'd both cracked up
14:12And the photo captured that moment
14:13Pure
14:15Happy
14:16I stared at it
14:17At my face
14:19So happy
14:20So naive
14:21So trusting
14:22I didn't know who that woman was anymore
14:24That woman
14:25Who'd believed her husband
14:27Who'd made excuses for him
14:29Who'd convinced herself
14:30Everything was fine
14:32That woman
14:33Was gone
14:34Had to close my eyes
14:36Put my hand over my mouth
14:39The perfect couple
14:40The perfect lie
14:42Sick at the photos I'd just seen
14:45Sick at the years of deception
14:47Sick at myself
14:49For not seeing it sooner
14:50For believing him
14:52For trusting him
14:53For raising a child
14:54Who wasn't even mine
14:55While my real son
14:57Was somewhere else
14:58At 3pm
14:59I drove to the West End
15:02The elementary school
15:03Looked even more run down
15:05Than the detective had described
15:08The dismissal bell rang
15:09Children poured out
15:11Through the gates
15:12I sat in my car
15:14Hands gripping the steering wheel
15:16He walked out alone
15:18No one there to pick him up
15:20He looked left
15:21Then right
15:23Then started walking slowly
15:25Along the sidewalk
15:26I held my breath
15:27That child
15:29Alan
15:30No
15:31My child
15:32The way he walked
15:33Reminded me of myself
15:34A slight pigeon toe
15:37When he raised his hand
15:38To push hair out of his face
15:40I saw it
15:41A birthmark on his wrist
15:43The same place I had mine
15:46I could see dust on his eyelashes
15:49His lips were chapped
15:50His sneakers were coming apart
15:53At the seams
15:53His eyes looked empty
15:56Not like a 9 year old's eyes at all
15:59I covered my mouth
16:01I covered my mouth
16:01To stop myself from making a sound
16:02He walked away
16:05Disappearing around the corner
16:06I collapsed over the steering wheel
16:08And broke down completely
16:09For that child
16:11Walking home alone
16:13For 10 years of living in the wrong life
16:17For being such a fool
16:19Dancing in a play someone else had written
16:22Then I wiped my tears
16:24And started the car
16:25At the law office
16:26I placed a USB drive
16:28On Attorney Morrison's desk
16:30Inside
16:31Backup copies of all the photos
16:33The DNA test results
16:36Scanned hospital records
16:38The perfume receipt
16:39Files on Chloe and Alan
16:42I want a divorce
16:43I want Julian to leave with nothing
16:45I want custody of my child
16:49I want him to pay for what he's done
16:52Walking out of the attorney's office
16:54I remembered what Julian had said
16:56When he proposed 10 years ago
16:59Vivian
17:00I will give you a lifetime of stability
17:02Turns out
17:03His lifetime was only 10 years
17:06No
17:07Probably less than that
17:09I pulled out my phone
17:11And called the company's
17:12Second largest shareholder
17:13My father's old colleague
17:16Mr. Aaron
17:17About next week's board meeting
17:19I'd like to discuss a few things
17:21With you first
17:22Julian seemed to have forgotten
17:24Something important
17:25This company's name is Hart
17:27He became general manager
17:29Because I convinced my father
17:30To give him a chance
17:31I put him in that position
17:33I could take him down
17:34Just as easily
17:35Two weeks after Julian left
17:38I liquidated every asset
17:40I could convert to cash
17:41Every afternoon
17:43I went to that elementary school
17:45In the West End
17:46One day
17:47It rained
17:48Alan didn't have an umbrella
17:50He waited under the awning
17:52Of the corner store
17:53For half an hour
17:54Then finally ran home
17:55Through the downpour
17:56I sat in my car
17:58Rain blurring the windshield
18:01Friday afternoon
18:02I arrived at the school early
18:04When I saw Alan coming out
18:06I got out of the car
18:08And walked past
18:09Like a stranger
18:09I accidentally dropped
18:11My folder in front of him
18:13He froze for a moment
18:14Then bent down
18:16To pick it up for me
18:17Thank you sweetheart
18:19Is your mom not here yet?
18:21He shook his head
18:24Mom's working late
18:25How are you getting home?
18:28I'll take the bus
18:30I pulled an unopened bottle of water
18:32From my bag
18:33Have some water
18:35He hesitated
18:36Then took it
18:37And said
18:38Thank you
18:39I noticed he had a habit
18:41Of pressing his lips together
18:43When he spoke
18:44Just like me
18:46His eyes were shaped like mine too
18:48Inner double eyelids
18:50The outer corners
18:52Slightly downturned
18:54Does your mom work late often?
18:56He nodded
18:57Then shook his head
18:59Sometimes
19:01What about your dad?
19:03He didn't answer
19:03Just looked down at his shoes
19:05Those sneakers
19:07The soles were separating
19:08The left shoelace
19:10Was broken
19:11I didn't ask anything more
19:13I pulled $200 from my wallet
19:16And tucked it into his hand
19:17Buy yourself some new shoes
19:20He stepped back
19:22No
19:23I can't take this
19:25Consider it a thank you
19:26For helping me with my folder
19:29I slipped the money
19:30Into the side pocket
19:31Of his backpack
19:31And walked away
19:33After a few steps
19:34I glanced back
19:37He stood there
19:38Looking lost
19:38That evening
19:39I stood in the doorway
19:41Of Alex's room
19:42He was playing
19:43With a new Lego set
19:44Julian had bought him
19:45A limited edition
19:47Space shuttle
19:49Expensive
19:49Mom?
19:51What's wrong?
19:53I walked in
19:54And touched his hair
19:55Did you finish your homework?
19:57Finished ages ago
19:58He held up his model
20:01Dad said if I get A
20:02On my midterms
20:03He'll take me to Disneyland
20:05I smiled
20:07That's wonderful
20:08The moment I turned away
20:10The smile vanished
20:13Julian's different treatment
20:14Of the two children
20:15Stabbed at my heart
20:17Like a thorn
20:17My biological son
20:19Wore torn shoes
20:20And rode the bus alone
20:21While this child
20:23Enjoyed everything
20:24After two weeks away
20:25Julian finally came home
20:27He set down his suitcase
20:29Where's Alex?
20:33Why is it so quiet?
20:35I enrolled him in piano lessons
20:36Two hours every evening
20:38Since when?
20:39He's only in fourth grade
20:42I didn't answer
20:44I could smell that perfume on him
20:46He moved closer
20:47Trying to put his arms around me
20:49I stepped aside
20:51Why do you smell like perfume?
20:53Who were you having dinner with?
20:56His expression flickered with irritation
20:59Vivian, here you go again
21:00With the suspicion
21:01I had a business dinner
21:03With a client
21:04Can you not be like this?
21:06It was almost funny
21:08Only now could I see
21:10How terrible his acting
21:11Had always been
21:12I walked to the coffee table
21:14Opened the drawer
21:15And pulled out an envelope
21:18Slowly
21:18I laid the photographs
21:20Across the table
21:21One by one
21:23Julian's face turned ugly
21:25He grabbed one photo
21:26And threw it back
21:27You had me followed?
21:29Does it matter?
21:31I smiled slightly
21:33What matters is
21:34What happens when these photos
21:37Show up at the board meeting
21:39Or get sent to your clients?
21:41He collapsed onto the opposite sofa
21:43Hands covering his face
21:46What do you want?
21:47I stared at him
21:47My voice was flat
21:49First
21:49Fire Chloe Williams
21:51Guarantee you'll never see her again
21:54Second
21:54Tell me what happened
21:56At the hospital nine years ago
21:57He stood up angry now
21:59You're crazy
21:59For a couple of lousy photos?
22:03My voice turned cold
22:05Julian
22:07Don't forget my father
22:08Built this company
22:09From the ground up
22:10You have everything you have
22:12Because of me
22:14What I gave
22:16I can take back
22:17I almost wavered
22:19Then I thought of Alan's torn shoes
22:21I thought of him waiting alone
22:23In the rain
22:25For the sake of our ten years together
22:27And for the sake of our child
22:29If
22:30If you do what I'm asking
22:31We can move forward
22:33After all
22:34We still have Alex
22:36I turned toward the bedroom
22:37And returned with a document
22:39A pregnancy test report
22:41It showed I was five weeks pregnant
22:44Julian stared at the report
22:46Then he looked up at me
22:48You're pregnant?
22:51I nodded
22:52Placing my hand on my stomach
22:54Five weeks
22:55The doctor says everything looks stable this time
22:59His expression shifted constantly
23:02His throat worked
23:03His eyes moved between me
23:06And the report
23:08I continued
23:09So
23:10As long as you cut things off
23:12With Chloe completely
23:13Make her leave the company
23:15And our lives
23:15I can let the past go
23:17We still have Alex
23:19And now
23:20We have this baby
23:23Julian's gaze fell to my stomach
23:25There was obvious conflict in his eye
23:28I need
23:29I need to think
23:30His voice was hoarse
23:32He turned and went into the bedroom
23:34The next morning
23:36I drank my coffee
23:37And watched Julian emerge
23:39With dark circles under his eyes
23:41I pushed a glass of water toward him
23:43He took it silently
23:45But didn't look at me
23:47I've thought it over, Vivian
23:49We
23:50Don't bother
23:51I cut him off
23:53Pulling divorce papers from a folder
23:55And placing them on the table
23:57His expression turned furious
24:00What is this supposed to mean?
24:01We're having another child
24:04I said coldly
24:05I told you I was pregnant
24:08And you needed an entire night
24:10To decide whether to break up with her?
24:12Julian stood
24:14We have a child on the way
24:16Won't you think about the baby?
24:18Think about Alex?
24:20The child?
24:22I suddenly laughed
24:23You mean the child I raised for nine years
24:25Who turns out to be yours and Chloe's?
24:29Julian's face went white
24:30He stumbled backward
24:31Hitting the table
24:33How did you
24:34When did you find out?
24:36I held up my phone
24:37The screen showed a photo
24:40Of the DNA test results
24:43I should thank you for that folder
24:45On your computer
24:46Password is Chloe's birthday
24:47You've been using that for three years
24:50Haven't you?
24:51His breathing quickened
24:53Taking on a panicked edge
24:54Let me explain
24:57My voice stayed calm
24:59Edged with mockery
25:01Explain how you switched the babies
25:04When I was giving birth?
25:06Explain how you got Chloe hired at the company?
25:09Or explain how the two of you
25:11Have been laughing at me
25:12Behind my back for ten years?
25:15I stepped closer
25:16The funniest part?
25:18The guilt I sometimes saw in your eyes
25:21When you looked at Alex
25:22Were you feeling guilty for deceiving me?
25:25Or guilty for not treating your real son better?
25:29Alan
25:30Julian suddenly remembered
25:32His voice dropped to a whisper
25:34Where's Alan?
25:36I need to see him
25:37Too late
25:39I turned and opened the door
25:41Your son
25:42No
25:43My son is somewhere you'll never find him
25:45Chloe's son is still upstairs asleep
25:48Unaware of the choice his real father is facing
25:51Julian rushed forward
25:52And grabbed my arm
25:54Vivian
25:54You can't do this
25:56That's my son
25:57I shook him off
25:58From the day you switched those babies
26:00You lost the right to be called a father
26:02Now get out of my house
26:04After I closed the door
26:05I heard him pounding on it from outside
26:08Then the sound of a car engine started
26:11Driving away
26:12I knew where he was going
26:14To find Chloe
26:15To find Alan
26:16He'd lost for nine years
26:18But he wouldn't find Alan
26:20Three days ago
26:22When the private detective gave me Chloe's file
26:24I'd already met with Alan again
26:26I told him the truth
26:28Alan was surprisingly calm
26:30Those eyes that looked like mine
26:33Held a maturity far beyond his years
26:37I always felt like I wasn't her child
26:41Otherwise why would she be willing to just
26:45Leave me here to fend for myself
26:48I took his hand
26:49I told him I would take him away
26:51We could start over
26:53He was silent for a long time
26:55Then he nodded
26:56Just slightly
26:59Yesterday afternoon
27:00He flew out of the country
27:02My assistant went with him
27:04There's a good school there
27:06A house
27:07New friends waiting
27:09Once I finish dealing with things here
27:12I can join my son
27:14The divorce papers sat on the table
27:16For three days
27:17Finally Julian came back
27:19He stood outside the door
27:21Dark circles under his eyes
27:24Unshaven
27:25I hadn't seen him look like this
27:27In a long time
27:29Vivian
27:30We need to talk
27:31I leaned against the door frame
27:33In my lounge wear
27:34I didn't let him in
27:36The agreement is very clear
27:38There's nothing to talk about
27:40He looked defeated
27:42I can't get divorced
27:44For the sake of our ten years together
27:46For the sake of our child
27:50Which child?
27:51I cut him off with a cold laugh
27:53The one in those videos?
27:54Or the one upstairs?
27:57Julian's face went white
27:58A week ago
27:59Chloe had sent me a pile of files
28:01Videos
28:02One after another
28:04Alan crying
28:05Being beaten
28:06Locked in a dark room
28:08In one clip
28:09He was only five or six years old
28:12He'd spilled milk
28:13Chloe hit him across the back
28:15With a coat hanger
28:16The email
28:17Had only one line
28:19Thank you for raising my son
28:21All these years
28:23I'd watched them all night
28:25By dawn
28:26I'd thrown up three times
28:27Julian seemed like
28:29He wanted to explain
28:30Those videos
28:33Chloe
28:33She sometimes couldn't control herself
28:35I laughed coldly
28:37Alan is your son
28:39You went to see Chloe every week
28:41You noticed her new perfume
28:44Her fresh manicure
28:46But you never saw the bruises
28:48On your son's body
28:49He had no answer
28:50I said flatly
28:52I've already retained a lawyer
28:54If you won't sign
28:56We'll go to court
28:57The evidence of the baby switch
29:00Photos of your affair
29:01Those videos
29:03All of it becomes part of the legal record
29:06His voice dropped
29:07Are you insane?
29:09The company's about to go public
29:11Now is not the time
29:14Before I closed the door
29:15I said one last thing
29:17So sign
29:19While I'm still leaving you with some dignity
29:21The door shut
29:23He stood outside
29:25For a long time
29:26Before finally leaving
29:27Three days later
29:29Julian signed the papers
29:31Four days after the divorce
29:33I saw their wedding photo
29:34On Instagram
29:35Chloe
29:36In a white wedding dress
29:38Julian with his arm around her
29:40But his expression looked stiff
29:43The caption read
29:44Ten years of waiting
29:47Finally together
29:50I took a screenshot
29:51Then I turned off my phone
29:53That afternoon
29:55Attorney Morrison called
29:58Mrs. Hart
29:59We have everything we need
30:00The bank transfers
30:01From when they switched the babies
30:02Communication records
30:04Between him and Chloe
30:05The abuse videos
30:07And medical records
30:10It's enough to file charges
30:11Thank you for your work
30:15Of course
30:17Are you sure
30:18You don't want to see Julian
30:19One last time
30:20He came by the office yesterday
30:23Asked me to tell you
30:24He knows he was wrong
30:25Too late
30:27Early the next morning
30:28My plane took off
30:29My assistant met me
30:31At the airport
30:33Alan's been doing better
30:34This week
30:35He's starting to talk more
30:37Yesterday
30:38He even asked
30:39When you'd arrive
30:40My heart beat faster
30:43The car stopped
30:44In front of a white house
30:45In the garden
30:46A thin child
30:47Was crouched on the ground
30:49Watching ants
30:51Alan
30:52He looked better
30:53Than in the videos
30:55But he was still too thin
30:56Not enough meat
30:58On his bones
31:00Meanwhile
31:01Alex had grown healthy
31:03And strong
31:04Under my careful care
31:05The thought cut through me
31:07Like a knife
31:07I walked over
31:09And knelt
31:10In front of him
31:10I'm your mother
31:12He looked at me
31:13For a long time
31:15Then nodded
31:16Just slightly
31:17I carefully put my arms
31:19Around him
31:20He didn't pull away
31:22I'm sorry
31:23Mom came too late
31:26He trembled slightly
31:27In my arms
31:28For the next two weeks
31:30I didn't work
31:31I devoted all my time
31:33To him
31:34I took him to the park
31:35The first time
31:37On the carousel
31:38He gripped the pole
31:39So tightly
31:40His knuckles
31:40Turned white
31:41I took him to the library
31:42He loved books
31:44About stars
31:45At night
31:46After he fell asleep
31:47I gently stroke his hair
31:49He still didn't talk much
31:52But sometimes
31:53He'd smile at me
31:54At 3am
31:55The bedroom door
31:56Creaked open
31:57Caught by the wind
31:59The sound of muffled sobbing
32:01Pierced through me
32:02Like needles
32:03I jolted awake
32:05I knew immediately
32:06It was Alan
32:07I pushed open his door
32:09Moonlight
32:11Filtered through
32:12The sheer curtains
32:12Casting shadows
32:14Across the floor
32:15His small figure
32:16Was curled up
32:17On the bed
32:18His hands
32:19Clutched the blanket
32:20Knuckles white
32:21Cold sweat
32:22Covered his forehead
32:24His brow
32:25Was furrowed deeply
32:26He kept murmuring
32:28Mom
32:29No
32:30Don't lock me
32:32In the dark room
32:33There are rats
32:35I crossed the room
32:36I crossed the room quickly
32:36And sat carefully
32:37On the edge of the bed
32:38I gently put my arms
32:40Around his ice cold shoulders
32:42His body went rigid
32:43For a moment
32:44Then he threw himself
32:45Into my arms
32:45Like a frightened deer
32:46His crying was suppressed
32:48Desperate
32:49Tears instantly soaked
32:50Through my pajamas
32:51Mom
32:52I'm scared
32:53That storage room
32:55Was so dark
32:57I begged again
32:59And again
32:59But no one answered
33:00The rats
33:02Crawled on my feet
33:05My heart felt like
33:06It was being cut
33:07With a dull knife
33:08Alan
33:09Don't be afraid
33:10I patted his back
33:11Again and again
33:12My voice trembling
33:13But trying to stay steady
33:15Mom's here
33:16No one can lock you up anymore
33:18The rats won't come
33:19Mama will protect you
33:21Silent tears fell onto his hair
33:23I thought of the videos
33:24Chloe had sent
33:25That child trembling
33:27In the darkness
33:27The marks on his body
33:29Old scars
33:30And new wounds
33:31Layer together
33:32I wanted to tear apart
33:34Everyone who'd ever hurt him
33:36When his crying
33:37Finally exhausted itself
33:39His breathing
33:40Gradually steadied
33:41Bull and gently
33:42Lifted his sleeve
33:44Brownish scars
33:45On his arm
33:46Ugly as centipedes
33:48The marks from being
33:49Hit with a coat hanger
33:50On his back
33:52A faint bruise
33:54From when he'd been
33:55Shoved against the corner
33:56Of the storage room
33:57As a small child
33:59I traced those scars
34:01With my fingertips
34:01My touch as light
34:03As if I were afraid
34:04Of breaking something
34:05Creshing
34:06Alan shook his head
34:07Tears still clung
34:08To his lashes
34:09He bit his lip
34:10And said quietly
34:11It doesn't hurt now
34:12Sometimes I dream about it
34:14I dream I'm locked in there again
34:16Calling for mom
34:17But mom isn't there
34:19I'm sorry
34:19I held him tighter
34:20Mom came too late
34:22But from now on
34:23Mom will never let
34:24Anyone hurt you again
34:25That night
34:26I held him on the sofa
34:28Until dawn
34:29I told him stories
34:31About how I used to be
34:33Afraid of thunder
34:34When I was little
34:35How my father would hold me
34:37And count the stars
34:38While singing nursery rhymes
34:40I told him about
34:42When I first took over
34:43The company
34:43How the old employees
34:45Gave me a hard time
34:46How I cried in the stairwell
34:48Then dried my tears
34:50And went back to negotiate
34:52I told him about
34:54The clumsy intern
34:55Who spilled coffee
34:56All over an important contract
34:58And turned pale out of fear
35:00He listened quietly
35:03Occasionally he'd lift his head
35:04And look at me
35:05With those eyes
35:06So much like mine
35:07And ask
35:09Were you scared mom?
35:11Terrified
35:11Touching his hair
35:13But I knew that
35:14If I just held on
35:15Things would get better
35:16And now I have you Alan
35:18I can't afford
35:20To be afraid anymore
35:21He nodded slowly
35:22Seeming to understand
35:23His small hand
35:25Quietly gripped my finger
35:27A few days later
35:28I took Alan to the observatory
35:30On the outskirts of the city
35:32We rode a bus
35:33Through fields of wheat
35:34The wind carried
35:35The scent of grain
35:36Alan pressed his face
35:38Against the window
35:39His eyes full of wonder
35:40When night fell
35:42The observatory dome
35:43Slowly opened
35:44The sky filled with stars
35:46Like scattered diamonds
35:48Across deep blue velvet
35:49So brilliant
35:51You couldn't look away
35:52The guide pointed at Orion
35:54And told the legend
35:55Of the hunter
35:57Alan's eyes lit up
35:58Like stars themselves
36:00The corner of his mouth
36:02Slowly curved
36:03Into a shallow smile
36:04On the bus ride home
36:06The vehicle swayed gently
36:08He leaned against my shoulder
36:10And said quietly
36:11Mom
36:12The stars are so far away
36:14But being able to see them
36:15It makes me feel safe
36:18My heart felt soft
36:20I knew the trauma
36:21Buried deep inside him
36:23Wouldn't disappear
36:24After one trip
36:25To an observatory
36:26Like those old scars
36:27No matter how much care
36:29They received
36:30They'd always leave
36:31Faint marks
36:32But as long as
36:33I stayed with him
36:34Warming him
36:35Bit by bit
36:36With love and patience
36:37The starlight
36:38Would eventually
36:39Pierce through the darkness
36:41And illuminate
36:42The road ahead
36:43That afternoon
36:44We were making cookies
36:45In the kitchen
36:46When the doorbell rang
36:47Jenny went to answer it
36:49I heard her say
36:50Mr. Robinson
36:51The flower sifter
36:52Slipped from my hands
36:53And clattered onto the table
36:54Through the glass door
36:56I saw Julian
36:57Standing at the entrance
36:59His hair was disheveled
37:01His eyes were sunken
37:02He was dragging
37:03An old suitcase
37:04Vivian
37:05I've been searching
37:06For half a month
37:06I wiped my hands
37:08And walked out of the kitchen
37:09Closing the door behind me
37:11Now you know where we are
37:12You can leave
37:13I want to see the child
37:15Our child
37:16He looked toward
37:17The thin figure
37:18In the kitchen
37:18I keep having dreams
37:20Dreams of when he was small
37:21Dreams of Chloe hitting him
37:22I never knew
37:23You should have known
37:24I cut him off
37:24You just chose not to know
37:26His gaze dropped to my stomach
37:27Is the baby still?
37:28I smiled
37:29For the first time in days
37:30I felt genuinely light
37:32The baby?
37:33Of course
37:33I placed my hand
37:34On my lower abdomen
37:35The doctor says
37:36Everything's fine
37:37Due next spring
37:39His face turned ugly
37:40His emotions suddenly became agitated
37:43He lunged toward me
37:44I stepped aside
37:45He stumbled and crashed
37:47Into the entryway cabinet
37:48Vivian
37:49I need to see my son
37:50You can't do this
37:51I looked at him
37:52And laughed coldly
37:53Julian
37:54What you should be worrying about
37:56Isn't where Alan is
37:57It's whether your son
37:59Can even be born safely
38:01If you want your son born safely
38:03Deal with Chloe first
38:04Settle your mess yourselves
38:06I shoved him out the door
38:07Just looking at him now
38:09Made me feel sick
38:10As I closed the door
38:11I saw Julian slumped on the ground
38:13Hands pulling at his hair
38:15He looked truly pathetic
38:17Fine
38:18Let them tear each other apart
38:20Let the dogs fight it out themselves
38:22Soon after
38:23Attorney Morrison called
38:24Mrs. Hart
38:25It's gotten ugly
38:26The result isn't ideal
38:27Apparently
38:28Julian and Chloe
38:29Had already divorced
38:30And now they were facing
38:32Each other in court
38:33Chloe was hysterical on the stand
38:35Exposing everything
38:36How Julian had used his position
38:39To transfer money to her
38:40Over the years
38:41How he'd promised
38:42To divorce me
38:43And marry her
38:45How his attitude had changed
38:46The moment he learned
38:48I was pregnant
38:48I gripped my phone
38:50Listening
38:50My expression
38:51Stayed calm
38:52However
38:53Julian managed to pin
38:55All the blame on Chloe
38:56He claimed she coerced him
38:58Into switching the babies
38:59The trial lasted two full days
39:01In the end
39:02Chloe was convicted
39:04Of child abduction
39:05Document forgery
39:06And corporate fraud
39:08Multiple charges
39:09Sentenced to three years
39:11Julian, meanwhile
39:12Came out clean
39:13He cried in court
39:15Claiming he too
39:16Was a victim
39:17That Chloe
39:18Had manipulated him
39:19For ten years
39:20It sounded absurd
39:21But the judge
39:23Believed it
39:23Or rather
39:24Julian's lawyer
39:26Was that good
39:27Before hanging up
39:28Attorney Morrison
39:30Said softly
39:30Mrs. Hart
39:32I'm sorry
39:33This wasn't the result
39:34We hoped for
39:34If you'd like
39:37We can proceed
39:38To the next phase
39:39Of planning
39:40I cut him off
39:40It's enough
39:41At least I have
39:42My child back
39:42Alan was doing homework
39:44I walked over to him
39:45Alan
39:47Mom made the bad people
39:48Pay for what they did
39:52He looked up
39:54Mom
39:55I know who treated me well
39:56And who didn't
39:57I keep track
39:59I keep track
40:00I covered my mouth
40:02I covered my mouth
40:02Tears spilled over
40:03He lowered his head
40:05And went back to his writing
40:07Then added quietly
40:08You look ugly when you cry
40:10I laughed through my tears
40:13These past days
40:14I'd been desperately trying to make up
40:17For ten years of missing maternal love
40:19I transferred company shares
40:21Into a trust fund in his name
40:23He was still young
40:24But I knew what that security meant
40:27I enrolled him in the best international academy in the city
40:31The principal frowned when he looked at Alan's previous report cards
40:35For ten years Chloe had barely supervised his studies
40:39She'd practically left him to fend for himself
40:42His coursework had fallen far behind his peers
40:46I hired three private tutors
40:48Math, language arts, technology
40:51Rotating in shifts
40:52Alan worked hard
40:54Studying late into the night
40:56Every night
40:57One night past midnight
40:59I brought him warm milk
41:01I found him asleep at his desk
41:03Pens still clutched in his hand
41:06I didn't wake him
41:07I just gently draped a blanket over his shoulders
41:10Friday afternoon
41:11I went to pick up Alan from school
41:14Parents crowded the school gates
41:17Alan ran out with his new backpack
41:19His face flushed from exercise
41:22Mom! I passed my math quiz today
41:25I was reaching for his test paper
41:27When I caught a glimpse of a figure through the cafe window across the street
41:31Julian, sitting in the corner
41:33His chin covered in dark stubble
41:35Haggard
41:35Nothing like the confident company executive he used to be
41:38Alan followed my gaze
41:39I squeezed his hand
41:42Let's go home
41:43We'd barely turned around when I heard rushed footsteps behind us
41:47Julian had crossed the street
41:49And now stood blocking our path
41:52Vivian, can we talk?
41:53I gestured for Alan to get in the car first
41:56Then I looked at the man in front of me
41:58We have nothing to talk about
42:00I've dealt with everything
42:02He spoke urgently
42:03Like he was trying to prove something
42:06I've dealt with everything
42:07I've cut ties with her completely
42:10I couldn't help but laugh
42:12Julian
42:14Chloe's in prison because my lawyer put her there
42:17What does that have to do with you?
42:20A canchulisman of anagult
42:23Weren't you the one crying on the witness stand?
42:26Playing the victim?
42:27His face darkened
42:28I know I was wrong, Vivian
42:31For the sake of our child
42:33For the sake of our child
42:35Please forgive me this once
42:38Our child?
42:40His gaze fell to my stomach
42:43Yes, our child
42:45I smoothed the wrinkles in my coat
42:47Taking my time
42:48Oh, that
42:50That was fake
42:52Julian froze
42:53His eyes went wide
42:54I met his stare calmly
42:56Pregnancy report report was forward
42:58I just wanted to see
42:59What choice you did make
43:01I stepped forward
43:01Letting him get a clear look
43:03At my flat abdomen
43:04It's been months
43:06If I were really pregnant
43:07I'd be showing by now, wouldn't I?
43:09His gaze lingered on my stomach
43:11For a long time
43:12It doesn't matter
43:13We don't need that baby
43:14We still have Alan
43:15We still have 10 years of history between us
43:17I cut him off
43:17Wake up, stop dreaming
43:18He acted like he hadn't heard me
43:20Suddenly, he seemed to remember something
43:22He pulled a velvet box from his briefcase
43:24Look, this is the gift I bought for your 30th birthday
43:28The company was struggling financially that year
43:30I couldn't bring myself to give it to you
43:31Then a second box
43:32A third
43:34He laid them all on the ground
43:36This one's from our 7th anniversary
43:38This one's from when we first moved into the house
43:41This one
43:42This one?
43:43The small velvet boxes formed a line on the pavement
43:46I bought one every year
43:47I just never gave them to you
43:48Now I'm giving them I'm them all to you
43:50He looked eyes red
43:51Please, give me one more chance
43:53I crouched down and opened the nearest box
43:55Inside was a diamond necklace
43:57The pendant shaped like an iris
43:59My favorite flower
44:01Once upon a time
44:02I would have been overjoyed by a gift like this
44:05I would have worn it proudly
44:06Holding his arm at every gala
44:08Showing off my happiness
44:09Now, I just felt sick
44:11I stood up
44:12And placed the necklace back in the box
44:15Julian, I loved you once
44:17When I didn't hear from you
44:18I would lie awake all night
44:20When I cooked soup
44:22And delivered it to your office
44:23When you were working late
44:24When you said, baby
44:25Thank you for everything you do for me
44:27At that moment
44:28I felt it was all worth it
44:29I set the box at his feet
44:30That one who loved you most
44:32She's long gone
44:35These gifts are no different
44:36From garbage to me now
44:37Something in his expression shifted
44:39The desperation vanished
44:41Replaced by something darker
44:43You think you've won?
44:44His voice turned sharp
44:45Bitter
44:45Do you know how hard I've worked
44:47To get where I am?
44:48Enlavened?
44:48Love, that's you know
44:49Hard I've worked to get where I am?
44:51I came from
44:52Talks your skull to me
44:53He
44:53And knoweth this love me
44:55I came from nothing, Vivian
44:57Nothing
44:58I didn't say anything
44:59The man who pretended to be
45:01A devoted husband
45:02Finally revealed his true colors
45:05I'm married into your family
45:06Do you know what that's like?
45:08Being called the man who married up?
45:10Having everyone whisper
45:11That I'm living off my wife?
45:13His hands clenched into fists
45:14I worked myself to the bone
45:16For that company
45:17For you
45:18For this family
45:19Are you finished?
45:21My voice stayed flat
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