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Tre ex mariti, una truffa | Nuovo film |. episodi completi in italiano. #FilmCompleto #DramaItaliano #SerieCompleta
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▶ Three Ex Husbands, One Scam | New Movie |
Tre ex mariti, una truffa | Nuovo film |. episodi completi in italiano. #FilmCompleto #DramaItaliano #SerieCompleta
#FilmCompleto #DramaItaliano #SerieCompleta #ShortDrama #ReelShort
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00:00On April Fool's Day, my husband, Blaio, handed me divorce papers.
00:04Your two ex's called me yesterday, talking shit.
00:07They said you're too uptight, can't take an April Fool's joke.
00:11Said you'd never have the guts to sign divorce papers.
00:16Honey, you wouldn't make me look bad in front of them, would you?
00:19I have two ex-husbands, my childhood friends, Marco and Leo.
00:23But those first two marriages were just business to help their families out of a jam.
00:27Only my marriage to Blaire was for love.
00:30I felt I'd finally found my home, until I overheard the three of them talking.
00:36Lucy is sick.
00:37Her dying wish is for the three of us to spend one whole month with her.
00:41Just the three of us.
00:43Blaire, you can handle that, can't you?
00:45Of course.
00:46I'll get Eliana to sign the divorce papers.
00:48I'll just tell her it's an April Fool's joke.
00:51And we'll get remarried after the month is up.
00:53I heard everything.
00:54I didn't let on.
00:55I just calmly signed the papers.
00:57Then, I texted my father, the godfather of the Moretti family.
01:01Father, I'm divorced.
01:03That arranged marriage you mentioned, is the offer still on the table?
01:06I was standing outside our front door, holding a gift from Chicago handmade candies from that
01:12century-old chocolate shop Blaire loves.
01:14The conversation inside continued.
01:16Will Eliana go for it?
01:18Of course she will.
01:20She's a Moretti.
01:21She knows the rules.
01:22Besides, Ellie's a pup over.
01:24Never makes waves.
01:26Exactly.
01:27She's gotten us out of so much trouble.
01:29This time will be no different.
01:31Ever since we got married, Blair had always acted like he hated Marco and Leo.
01:35I thought he was jealous.
01:37I was even a little smug about it.
01:39Now I knew the truth.
01:40The three of them were clues.
01:41So close, they could plot against me together.
01:45I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, so that's all I was to them.
01:49My feelings, my dignity, my marriage.
01:52Just tools for them to use.
01:54I sat in the car for an entire afternoon, letting the chill seep through my whole body.
01:58My phone buzzed, a text from Blair.
02:01Babe, how was the trip?
02:03Got home soon.
02:04I miss you.
02:05I stated the words, I miss you, and almost laughed.
02:08I got out of the car, tossed the box of chocolates in the trash, and pushed open the front door.
02:13Blair shot up from the sofa, a perfect smile on his face.
02:17Ellie, you're back.
02:20How was the road?
02:21He walked over, smoothly taking my coat and handbag, and gave me a light kiss on the cheek.
02:27He'd done it for a year.
02:28It always made me feel warm.
02:30Now, it just made me sick.
02:32I subtly wiped my cheek.
02:34Blair sat down next to me, his expression suddenly serious.
02:40Ellie, I need to talk to you about something.
02:42Here we go.
02:44I fought with a cold smile, but I kept my face, a mask of confusion.
02:49The commission is auditing the family's assets.
02:52The lawyers are suggesting a temporary divorce, just on paper.
02:57It's to protect you, keep you from getting dragged into this.
03:01A temporary divorce?
03:02He explained eagerly.
03:04Then his face fell into a wounded look.
03:07It's just a formality.
03:09As soon as I clean up the family business, we'll get remarried.
03:11And yesterday, those bastards Marco and Leo called me.
03:15They said since you've been married twice, you'd never dare to divorce again.
03:18that you can't take an April Fool's joke.
03:20He was a damn good actor.
03:22If this were the Oscars, he'd take home best actor.
03:25How could they say that?
03:27I know, and I wasn't going to take that.
03:30I know my wife is the bravest woman there is.
03:32You're not afraid of anything.
03:34He pulled the papers out from under the coffee table and handed them to me.
03:39I took the file and skimmed it.
03:41It detaileded the division of assets.
03:43Most of his property, his stocks, his real estate.
03:47It was all going to me.
03:49Tomorrow, we'll give them the shock of their lives.
03:52I almost laughed out loud.
03:55He was so damn sure of himself, so certain we'd be remarried soon,
03:59that this was all just for show.
04:01I picked up the pen on the table
04:02and signed my name at the bottom of the agreement
04:05with a clean, sharp stroke.
04:07Done.
04:08You should call them now.
04:10I want to hear it when their jaws hit the glown.
04:12Blair froze for a second,
04:13clearly not expecting me to sign so quickly, so decisively.
04:17I pushed the papers back to him with a sweet smile.
04:19He looked a bit dazed as he collected the agreement,
04:22then planted a soft kiss on my forehead.
04:24I knew you'd understand.
04:26You're the best wife in the world.
04:28Then he took his phone and walked into the study.
04:31I sat in the living room.
04:33Through the half-open study door,
04:35I clearly heard his hushed voice.
04:37She signed.
04:39Yeah, didn't even hesitate.
04:40We'll file tomorrow.
04:43In a month, we can...
04:45I told you, Ellie was easy!
04:47She's still so gullible!
04:49After you're done with Lucia, make it up to Alana.
04:51Don't let her get too bent out of shape.
04:53Of course.
04:54She's my wife, after all.
04:56A moment later,
04:58my own phone laid up with two messages.
05:00The first, from Marco.
05:02Long time no see, when I get together.
05:05The second, from Leo.
05:06Ellie, how are you getting divorced again?
05:09Don't be sad.
05:10I always said that guy wasn't good enough for you.
05:12How about I buy you a drink?
05:14I used to think our friendship
05:16was the most important thing in the world.
05:18Marco asked me to marry him
05:20to secure his position as heir to the Falcone family.
05:23I did it.
05:24Leo asked me to marry him
05:26to get out of and arrange marriage.
05:27I did that too.
05:28And what did I get for it?
05:30I didn't reply.
05:31I just flipped my phone face down on the table.
05:33Back in the bedroom,
05:34I silently pulled the suitcase from the closet.
05:37After a year of marriage,
05:39I didn't have much.
05:40The clothes and jewelry,
05:42Blair had given me,
05:43I left them all behind.
05:44Just as I was zipping up the suitcase,
05:46the doorbell rang.
05:47It was Lucia.
05:48I sat at the door and watched
05:50as she stumbled in,
05:51drunk,
05:52and threw herself into Blair's arms.
05:56Blair,
05:57I missed you so I came over.
05:59Blair instinctively glanced back at me,
06:02a flash of panic in his eyes.
06:04Lucia's drunk.
06:05She insisted on coming to see an old friend.
06:07We couldn't stop her.
06:08Alicia's still here.
06:09Have some respect.
06:10You think it's okay for a drunk woman
06:11to be hanging all over you?
06:13Blair immediately pushed Lucia away.
06:15You knew that?
06:16And you still brought her to my house?
06:18Who's the one with no respect?
06:22We're protecting Lucia's reputation.
06:24That's better than some guy
06:25who's getting cozy with another woman
06:27in front of his wife.
06:28All right, all right.
06:30Let's not fight over something so small.
06:32Lucia's just had too much to drink.
06:34She doesn't mean any harm.
06:36Then he looked at me,
06:37his eyes searching my face.
06:39You don't mind, do you, Ileana?
06:42Of course not.
06:43I watched their perfectly rehearsed
06:45little play unfold.
06:47Leo, the righteous accuser.
06:49Marco, the peacemaker.
06:51Blair, the wronged husband
06:52defending his honor.
06:54If I hadn't heard them celebrating
06:56on the phone earlier,
06:57I might have actually believed
06:58they couldn't stand each other.
07:00I thought about our old friendship.
07:02Marco, Leo, and I,
07:05we grew up together.
07:06We were the three musketeers,
07:08closer than blood.
07:09My father was always busy
07:11with family business
07:12and everyone else kept their distance
07:14because of the Moretti name.
07:17Only Marco was willing
07:18to teach me how to shoot,
07:20taking me to the range
07:21every weekend.
07:22Leo even took a bullet for me
07:24from a rival family.
07:25He still has the scar
07:26on his left shoulder.
07:27Back then,
07:28we were the only people
07:29in the world we could trust.
07:31But that all changed
07:32when Lucia showed up.
07:34She came to Chicago from Italy,
07:36all bold and fiery.
07:38She became the center
07:39of everyone's world,
07:40including Marco's and Leo's.
07:42They started revolving around her,
07:44forming a new circle.
07:45I was slowly pushed
07:46to the sidelines,
07:47only remembered
07:48when they needed
07:49the Moretti family
07:50to solve the problem.
07:52The cracks were always there.
07:53I just chose to ignore them.
07:55Only today was I willing
07:56to face the ugly truth.
07:58Lucia finally seemed
08:00to notice me,
08:01the lady of the house.
08:02Ileana?
08:03Long time no see.
08:05I've always felt so bad.
08:08I know you think
08:09I stole Marco and Leo from you,
08:11but I really didn't mean to.
08:13Marco's heart instantly melted.
08:15He gently steadied her,
08:16and the look he gave me
08:18was sharp with annoyance.
08:20What are you talking about?
08:21Nobody stole anybody.
08:22That's right, Lucia.
08:23Anything that can be stolen
08:25wasn't really mine
08:26to begin with.
08:27You all came
08:28at the perfect time tonight.
08:30There's something
08:30I want you all to see.
08:32I walked to the coffee table
08:33and picked up
08:34the signed divorce papers.
08:35I want to make this clear
08:36in front of everyone.
08:38These are my divorce papers
08:39with Blair.
08:40I've already signed.
08:41Blair looked panicked
08:42for a second,
08:43clearly not expecting me
08:44to announce it like this,
08:46but he recovered quickly.
08:47He took a step forward,
08:48his voice dripping
08:50with fake concern.
08:52Ileana,
08:53you don't have to do this.
08:55Well, if you're divorced,
08:56then I guess you'll be
08:57giving me my ring back.
08:58Afros,
08:59my eyes dropping to the diamond
09:00on my ring finger.
09:02What do you mean?
09:03My voice was dry.
09:04Lucia smiled smugly.
09:05Take the ring off
09:06and look at the inner bang.
09:08My name is still engraved on it.
09:10Slowly,
09:11I twisted off the ring
09:12that had once made my heart leap
09:14and turned it over.
09:15Among the delicate filigree,
09:17I saw our names,
09:18Blair and Ileana.
09:19but in a tiny,
09:21almost hidden spot
09:22was a line in Italian.
09:24Per Semperi,
09:25Mia Lucia.
09:26In that moment,
09:28the world started to spin.
09:29I looked at Blair,
09:30desperate for him to explain,
09:32to deny it,
09:33to tell me it was all a mistake.
09:35But he wouldn't meet my eyes.
09:36He just stood there,
09:38silent.
09:38I remembered the day he proposed.
09:41He was on one knee,
09:42looking at me with so much love.
09:45I had this ring custom made
09:46just for you.
09:47It's one of a kind in the world
09:48just like you are in my heart.
09:49I cried,
09:50thinking I was the luckiest woman alive.
09:52It turned out,
09:53the ring was never meant for me.
09:55It belonged to Lucia.
09:56It had her name on it.
09:58It was a promise of his love for her.
10:00And me,
10:00I was just the placeholder.
10:02I looked down at the divorce papers,
10:04and suddenly,
10:05I smiled.
10:06Right then,
10:07I was so glad I had signed them.
10:09I said,
10:10placing the ring on the coffee table,
10:12If it has your name on it,
10:17then it's yours.
10:18Lucia's eyes lit up.
10:20She snatched the ring,
10:21slid it onto her own finger,
10:23and admired it.
10:24Thank you,
10:25Eliana.
10:26It really does suit me.
10:27Eliana,
10:28let me explain.
10:29Blair finally said,
10:31stepping forward to grab my hand,
10:33but I had already turned
10:35and was walking toward the stairs.
10:37Don't bother.
10:39Since we're divorced,
10:40I shouldn't be living here anymore.
10:42My office,
10:439 a.m. tomorrow,
10:44will finish the paperwork.
10:45I dragged my suitcase out the door,
10:47with Blair calling my name behind me.
10:49Full of panic,
10:50I didn't stop.
10:51From behind me,
10:53I heard Marco's low chuckle.
10:55Nice one, Blair.
10:56She folded even caster
10:57than when Leo and I got her
10:58to sign our marriage contracts.
11:00Lucia can't wait much longer.
11:01Let's head out tomorrow.
11:03Once the car was moving,
11:05my phone buzzed.
11:06A text from Blair,
11:07Eliana,
11:07I will explain about the ring.
11:09Find a place to stay for now,
11:11and I'll come get you in a few days.
11:13Be good.
11:13Don't overthink things.
11:15I looked at the message,
11:16a sneer playing on my lips.
11:18He still thinks I'm coming back.
11:19I gave my dad a call.
11:21Father,
11:22I'm divorced.
11:23That arranged marriage you mentioned,
11:25is the offer still on the table?
11:26Of course,
11:27my dear daughter.
11:28I'm glad you finally made a wise decision.
11:31A year ago,
11:32after my second divorce,
11:34my father has suggested
11:35an arranged marriage
11:36to a man from a powerful allied family.
11:39But I was lost in my fantasy
11:41of falling in love with Blair
11:43and refused
11:44how stupid I had been.
11:46Half an hour later,
11:47I got a new friend request on my phone.
11:49The message read,
11:50Time to meet your fiancé.
11:52The next morning,
11:53at nine,
11:54I arrived at my downtown office
11:56with the Moretti family's private lawyer.
11:58Blair was already there,
12:00looking exhausted and anxious.
12:02He clearly hadn't slept.
12:03Eliana,
12:04about the ring,
12:05I have to explain.
12:05The jeweler messed up the engraving.
12:07I was going to get it replaced,
12:09but there wasn't time,
12:10and I didn't want to upset you
12:11over something so small.
12:12I figured I'd quietly get you
12:13a new one after the wedding.
12:15Eliana,
12:15I know this hurt you,
12:16but you have to believe me.
12:18What I feel for you is real.
12:19After this month,
12:20after I handle things with Lucia,
12:22we'll get remarried.
12:23I promise I'll make it up to you
12:25with the most beautiful wedding ring in the world.
12:27One month,
12:28he meant that after he finished his romantic getaway with Lucia,
12:32he expect him to remarry me like nothing happened.
12:35I understand.
12:36I was done listening to his shameless excuses.
12:38I turned to my lawyer.
12:40Let's just get this done.
12:41Blair looked stunned,
12:43probably not expecting me to be so cooperative.
12:45The whole process was quicker than I thought.
12:48Signatures,
12:49witnesses,
12:50a legally binding contract.
12:52In less than half an hour,
12:53our marriage was officially over.
12:56The moment we stepped out of the office,
12:58Blair's phone rang.
13:00He glanced at the caller ID,
13:02and his whole face softened.
13:03He answered,
13:05his voice gentle.
13:06Lucia,
13:08okay,
13:09I'm on my way.
13:11Don't worry,
13:11I'll take care of you.
13:14Wait for me,
13:14I'll be right there.
13:15He hung up and turned to me,
13:17the tenderness from the call still lingering in his eyes.
13:21He tried to look conflicted.
13:23Ileana,
13:24Lucia isn't feeling well.
13:25I have to go check on her.
13:27Wait here for me,
13:28and I'll be back to take you wherever you're staying.
13:30Then he rushed off without a second glance.
13:33I stood in the lobby,
13:34watching his hurry retreat,
13:36a wave of sadness and relief washing over me.
13:39That was the man I once loved so deeply.
13:41Not one minute after our divorce was final,
13:44he was already running to another woman.
13:48I turned and walked toward a conference room at the other end of the hall.
13:52My new fiancé was waiting.
13:54Meanwhile,
13:55after waiting by the building's entrance for nearly 10 minutes and seeing no sign of Eliana,
14:00Blair decided to go back up to remind her about the plan.
14:03Just as he reached the entrance,
14:05he slammed right into a man walking out.
14:08Papers scattered across the mobile floor.
14:11Blair's divorce decree mixed with the other man's documents.
14:14A gust of wind from the revolving door flipped open the cover of one file.
14:20It was a marriage contract.
14:21As Blair bent down to grab his papers,
14:24he caught a glimpse of the photo on that contract.
14:26He froze.
14:27He only saw a small part of it,
14:29but that profile,
14:30the side of that face.
14:32The man sat politely,
14:33quickly gathering his files.
14:35Excuse me.
14:36Blair looked up,
14:37trying to get a clear look at the man's face,
14:39but he had already put on a pair of sunglasses,
14:41revealing only a sharp jawline and thin lips.
14:44There was an aristocratic air about him
14:46that felt strangely familiar to Blair.
14:50It's fine.
14:51Blair replied that his eyes were glued to the marriage contract in the man's hands.
14:55The man finished collecting his things and headed for the exit.
14:59Blair stood there,
15:00a ridiculous thought growing stronger in his mind.
15:03Who signs a marriage contract on April Fool's Day
15:06and a photo on that contract?
15:08Even though he only saw a corner of it,
15:10why did it look so familiar?
15:12He felt like he'd seen this man somewhere before.
15:16That calm, commanding presence.
15:18That natural air of old, wild power.
15:21Hey, wait!
15:22Just as Blair called out to the man,
15:24his phone rang.
15:25It was Leo.
15:25He hesitated,
15:26then picked up.
15:27Blair, where the hell are you?
15:29We're all waiting.
15:30When Blair looked up again,
15:31the man was gone.
15:32A black rose rose pealed around the corner.
15:34Shit.
15:35A second later,
15:36a text from Mako came through with correspondence.
15:39Get a move on.
15:40We need to be on the private island
15:42in the Bahamas before sunset.
15:44Lucia's waiting.
15:45Blair stared at the screen,
15:46and a memory hit him.
15:47A promise he'd buried for years.
15:50It was Lucia's dream back when they graduated high school.
15:53She wanted to take everyone to that secret private island
15:56and party for three days straight,
15:58watch the most beautiful sunset,
16:00and drink the strongest shit they could find.
16:02Security on the island was tight.
16:04He was the only one with an invite.
16:06This was something only he could do for her.
16:09He glanced back at the building,
16:11wondering if he should go up and give Eliana a heads up.
16:15But time was short.
16:16It was just for a month.
16:17When he got back, everything would go back to normal.
16:20Blair shook his head,
16:22pushing the thought of the mysterious man out of his mind,
16:25and drove to the private airfield.
16:28When he got there, everyone was already waiting.
16:31Lucia was in a red dress,
16:33the sea breeze blowing through her long hair.
16:35The diamond necklace around her neck glittered in the setting sun.
16:39He had bought her that necklace for her 17th birthday.
16:42With six months of his allowance, she was still wearing it.
16:46Blair stood at the bottom of the jet stairs,
16:49looking at her, and it was like they were kids again 10 years ago.
16:52Back then, Lucia had just moved to Chicago from Italy,
16:56wearing the same kind of red dress,
16:58looking at them with a shy but hopeful expression.
17:00As he was lost in the memory,
17:02a pain of gout hit him.
17:04He hadn't given Eliana many gifts.
17:06The Moratti family had everything.
17:08She didn't need luxury.
17:10He'd only given her a simple diamond bracelet for her birthday,
17:13but she'd worn it every single day like a treasure.
17:16He suddenly remembered signing the divorce papers today.
17:19Eliana's wrist had been bare.
17:21The bracelet was gone.
17:22The realization made his stomach drop.
17:25Why wasn't she wearing it?
17:27Was she angry?
17:28Or Lucia ran over and hooked her arm through his.
17:33Blair, what are you thinking about?
17:35We've been waiting forever.
17:36You're late, so you have to take three shots as punishment.
17:39The warmth of her arm and the sparkle in her eyes,
17:42as she looked up at him, threw him back to their teenage years.
17:46All right, I'll take my punishment.
17:49The guy saw the vibe and started whooping and hollering and no one glint in their eyes.
17:54Blair still got it bad for Lucia!
17:57What, you jealous?
17:59By the time they reached the island villa, the sky was dark.
18:02On the terrace, a party was in full swing.
18:05A gentle sea breeze blew, as stars glittered overhead, and glasses clinked.
18:10Just as Blair was about to hand Lucia a glass of champagne, Marco intercepted,
18:16swapping the flute in her hand for a glass of juice.
18:18Marco said, his eyes full of concern.
18:22You're sick.
18:23No booze.
18:25Lucia took the juice, blinked her wide, innocent eyes, and asked.
18:29The air froze.
18:30Everyone stared.
18:32Sick, what are you talking about?
18:34Blair's champagne glass hung in mid-air, his eyes locked on Lucia.
18:38In the stunnedness silence, Lucia suddenly burst out laughing, covering her mouth,
18:44her eyes glancing with mischief.
18:47April Fools!
18:49Raising her juice glass, almost doubled over with laughter.
18:53I'm not dying!
18:54I just needed an excuse to get everyone together for a wild party!
19:01Blair froze solid.
19:02The sound of waves crashing against the rocks seemed suddenly louder.
19:07The distant cries of seabirds, mocking his stupidity.
19:11Lucia wasn't sick.
19:12This was all a joke.
19:13He thought about how he divorced Eliana for this joke.
19:17He thought about Eliana's unnervingly calm expression as she signed the papers,
19:22about the missing diamond bracelet on her wrist.
19:24A hot flash of anger shot through him.
19:28His voice was rough.
19:30What did you say?
19:32Seeing his face, Lucia's smile faltered, but she was still defiant.
19:37Oh, don't be so serious!
19:39It's not like you lost anything!
19:40You get to hang out with me on this beautiful island!
19:43Lucia, even for an April Fools joke, that was a little much.
19:49Yeah, we were all really worried.
19:52Blair just stood there, the champagne foot trembling in his hand.
19:58Seeing his dark expression, Lucia immediately put on her best innocent, hurt look.
20:05She walked up to him, tugging lightly on his sleeve, her eyes welling up.
20:10Blair, are you mad at me?
20:12I just, I just missed the days when we were all together.
20:16Her eyes were red, as if she was about to cry.
20:19I know you have your own life now, you have a wife.
20:23But our friendship, all the good times we had, that was all real, wasn't it?
20:30That fragile, helpless look hit Blair right in his weak spot.
20:35He remembered the 17-year-old Lucia, the first time she'd cried, and asked him for help.
20:42And the fierce, protective urge he'd felt.
20:45That feeling had never completely disappeared.
20:49The others started chiming in.
20:52Some cousin from a pissing family snickered.
20:55Someone we know, could never stay mad at her.
21:00Damn right!
21:01Back in school, anyone who messed with Lucia had to answer to Blair.
21:05He would have put a guy in the ground for her!
21:10Everyone laughed, and the tension started to fade.
21:13Blair looked at Lucia at the verge of tears, and finally caved.
21:19I'm not angry, just surprised.
21:22Lucia's face broke into a smile.
21:24She pushed a drink into his hand.
21:27Her cheeks flushed as she looked up at him.
21:29Thank you for coming out with me.
21:32For remembering my dream.
21:34Her voice was soft, calming his frayed nerves.
21:37Blair raised a glass, looking at the radiant woman in front of him.
21:41And the anger and suspicion began to melt away.
21:45Screw it, he thought.
21:47Let's just call it a perfect send-off to their younger days.
21:52The party ignited again, laughter and clinging glasses filling the air.
21:57As the night hit its peak...
22:00Hey, Blair's divorced, and Lucia's single!
22:03It's perfect!
22:08Everyone knew you two were crazy about each other back in the day!
22:13Now's your chance!
22:24The crowd went wild, cheering and whistling, the sound echoing across the island.
22:31Lucia's face turned beet red, and she shyly looked down,
22:35but the slight curve of her lips showed she didn't mind one bit.
22:38Blair stood frozen, the deafening chants ringing in his ears.
22:43But his mind flashed back to Eliana's eyes, in the office that day, so calm, so final.
22:51He'd thought she was calm, because she knew the divorce was fake.
22:55Now, he wasn't so sure.
22:57The look in her eyes, it was like she was looking at a stranger.
23:02Not the husband she loved.
23:04Lucia whined, a hint of complaint in her tone.
23:07Blair?
23:08You're not going to join in there teasing, are you?
23:12Blair snapped back to reality.
23:14He looked at the girl, who had been his first love.
23:18Opened his mouth to say something, but the words got stuck.
23:23He couldn't figure it out.
23:25Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?
23:28This escape, this freedom.
23:30So, why did he feel so damn empty?
23:32The party ended in a blur.
23:35Blair was blackout drunk.
23:36He vaguely remembered someone helping him upstairs, unbuttoning his shirt.
23:40Soft fingers traced his neck.
23:42He tried to push them away, but he had no strength.
23:44He mumbled in the haze between sleep and waking.
23:47Eliana.
23:50Blair, I'm here.
23:52I've always been here.
23:54He woke up the next morning to sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
23:59His head was pounding.
24:01The hangover made his thoughts feel like sludge.
24:04He slowly opened his eyes and saw a spill of black hair on the pillow next to him.
24:09Not Eliana's wavy chestnut hair.
24:11This was straight and jet black.
24:13He shot up, suddenly half sober.
24:16It was Lucia.
24:17The sheet had stepped down to her waist.
24:19Her shoulders were bare.
24:20Fragments of the night before flashed in his mind.
24:23Lucia crying, saying she was scared of being alone.
24:26That she'd always loved him.
24:27She kissed him.
24:28And then...
24:29God.
24:30Blair cursed, rubbing his temples hard.
24:33He instinctively grabbed his phone.
24:35No messages from Eliana.
24:37That wasn't right.
24:38Usually, if he was gone for half a day on business,
24:42she'd text him, asking what he was doing, what he'd eaten, if he missed her.
24:46Sometimes a dozen messages a day.
24:48Just all that little stuff.
24:50He used to find it a little annoying.
24:52Now, the silence was unnerving.
24:54Why hadn't she sent a single text this time?
24:57Did she really not care about the divorce?
24:59Just then, Lucia stood beside him.
25:02She slowly opened her eyes, and a satisfied smile spread across her face when she saw him sitting there.
25:08Good morning, Blair.
25:11Lucia, I'm sorry.
25:12I was drunk last night.
25:13We shouldn't have...
25:14What the hell is that supposed to mean?
25:16I mean...
25:18Last night was a mistake.
25:19We were both drunk.
25:21A mistake?
25:22You're trying to brush me off with that?
25:23She tried to get out of bed, but her legs gave out, and she nearly fell.
25:27Blair instinctively caught her, then immediately let go as if he had been burned.
25:31That small action was the final straw.
25:33Blair Russo, how long are you going to keep up this act?
25:37The devoted husband act?
25:38Did you forget?
25:40It was Alana's old man who put a gun to your family's head to make you marry her.
25:44No, that's not how it was.
25:45I was the one who went after Alana.
25:47You don't even love her.
25:49She didn't believe in love, was only willing to do a contract marriage for a friend's sake.
25:53I was the one who pursued her, who convinced her to give me her heart.
25:57You're lying!
25:59You told me I was the one you loved.
26:02You wrote me a love letter, didn't you?
26:03His words stabbed Lucia like a knife.
26:06Her face went pale, her eyes filling with tears.
26:09Blair stood rooted to the spot, his palms slick with cold sweat.
26:13A love letter.
26:14He had never written her a love letter.
26:16The only one he'd ever written was for Alana, but he never gave it to her.
26:20He had no idea how it ended up in Lucia's hands, but he couldn't say that.
26:24Not now.
26:25Lucia, listen to me.
26:27I don't want to hear your excuses!
26:28You're divorced now, why can't you be with me?
26:33Do all those years mean nothing?
26:35She started sobbing, hysterically, her whole body shaking.
26:39Suddenly, she runs for the vanity and grabbed the fruit knife.
26:43Lucia, what are you doing?
26:46She didn't answer.
26:47She pressed the blade to her own throat.
26:49The sharp edge left a thin red line on her pale skin.
26:53If you don't do what I say, I'll kill myself!
26:55All right, all right, just calm down, okay?
26:57If you leave me, I'll die right here!
26:59Okay, okay, I won't leave. I'll stay, I'll stay with you. Just put the knife down.
27:03Hearing that, the crazed look in her eyes slowly faded.
27:07She lowered the knife, then collapsed into his arms, crying like a child.
27:12I know I'm terrible, I'm selfish, but I really do love you.
27:15Just stay with me for a while, just until you figure out what you really want. Please?
27:20Okay, I'll stay.
27:21Lucia's tears tend to a smile.
27:23She immediately grabbed his phone. Before Blair could react, she had his contacts open and was
27:29deleting a name.
27:30What are you doing?
27:31Deleting everything, Aliana. This way you can be with me in peace. No distractions.
27:36Blair watched as Aileen's phone number, her private messages, her email address,
27:41all of it disappeared one by one. A strange panic seized him that he'd already given his word.
27:47He could only watch as her name was erased from his life.
27:50After a week of partying on the island, Marco and Leo headed back to New York.
27:55Lucia was stuck to Blair like glue, and they were sick of watching the happy couple.
27:59Besides, tonight was the Moretti family's annual dinner.
28:02In past years, Aliana would have been excited to invite them.
28:07Even though their own families weren't major players in the New York underworld,
28:11they assumed this year would be the same until they were stopped at the gate by security.
28:17Sir, your invitation.
28:19Invitation? We come every year. We've never needed an invitation.
28:23Sorry, sir. All guests require an invitation tonight. If you don't have one, you need to leave.
28:27Do you know who we are? I'm Leo Gallo. This is Marco Falcano. We're friends of Eliana.
28:32The guard checked the list on his clipboard and shook his head.
28:37Sorry, your names aren't on the guest list.
28:39The words hung in the air. Other guests arriving at the estate slowed down.
28:44Their curiosity peaked. Soon, they were recognized.
28:47Isn't that the Gallo kid? Why is he getting held up at the gate?
28:50And the Falcone playboy. What a scene.
28:55Both ex-husbands, right? Showing up at the ex-wife's family party. Trying to get back together?
29:03Get back together? You haven't heard. Don Moretti is supposed to be announcing some good news tonight.
29:10The whispers reached Marco's ears and his face turned to stone. He hated being called a playboy.
29:17Since becoming friends with Eliana, he had never been humiliated like this.
29:21Just then, the Moretti family's old majodomo, the head of the household staff, appeared.
29:27He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. A polite, professional smile on his face.
29:33Mr. Gallo. Mr. Falcone. I'm very sorry, but you are not on the guest list tonight. Please, leave.
29:39That's impossible. We've come to this dinner every year. We've never been turned away.
29:43That was then. And you will not be welcome here in the future.
29:47The words hit them like a physical blow. Marco and Leo were speechless. The murmuring
29:53from the crowd grew louder. They were the butt of the joke. Finally, they had no choice but to live
29:59in disgrace. Back in the car, they sat in silence for a long time. What the hell just happened?
30:05You think, you think Eliana knows? Knew what? That they had pitched Blair to divorce her? That they had
30:10dished her for some stupid party? Marco's knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Three days after
30:15being rejected from the dinner. Marco was at his family's company offices when his father called,
30:21screaming. You useless piece of shit! What the hell did you do? Dad, what's wrong? The port
30:26authority just informed us our shipping lane at the south port was shut down. Some bullshit about
30:32security concerns. That route has been running for 10 years without a single problem. How does it
30:38suddenly have security concerns? Marco understood instantly. He had secured the shipping route when he
30:44got engaged to Eliana. Don Moretti had greased the wheels. The influence of the Moretti family
30:49was the only reason it had gone through. The massive profits from that single route
30:54has solidified Marcos's position in his own family, making him the one to take over. Now,
31:00with the road cut, it wasn't just a financial loss. It was an attack on the foundation of his power.
31:06I'll handle it. But, sitting in his office chair, he knew there was only one way to handle it. Ask
31:14Eliana for help. For the first time, a cold hard truth landed on him like a ton of bricks. Without
31:21Eliana, he was a nobody. Everything he had, his status, his wealth, his respect, was built on his
31:27connection to the Moretti family. And now, his old man had to clean up his mess. After a long hesitation,
31:34Marco finally dialed Eliana's number. He had to explain, to apologize, to fix this. But all he heard
31:41was a robotic female voice. The number you have dialed is no longer in service. Marco stared at the
31:47phone. He'd been blocked. A hollow feeling opened up in his chest. He remembered when the fight for
31:52his family's inheritance was at its most vicious. He had asked Eliana for help. She had taken his hand
31:59and agreed without a second thought. Just like she said she would. She would always support him.
32:05Back then, he thought Eliana was the most important person in his life. He thought the whole world could
32:11change. But Eliana never would. He would always be there. Always protect him. Always have his back.
32:17Now, he couldn't even get her on the phone. Marco had no idea what to do.
32:21Leo sat in his office, staring at three contract termination notices on his desk. His fingers
32:27trembled. Three companies, the backbone of his family's business, had pulled out on the same day,
32:32citing risk assessment. They said the news that you were turned away from the Moretti dinner has
32:37spread through the five families. Everyone's worried we've crossed on Moretti. They're afraid to keep
32:42doing business with us. The words struck Leo like lightning. He never imagined that that night's
32:48humiliation was more than just losing face. It was a direct hit to his family's bottom line.
32:53In the New York underworld, the Moretti family's word was law. Leo kicked over the coffee table
32:58in a fit of rage and hurled his phone against the wall. The screen spiderwebbed but remained lit.
33:04He stared at Eliana's picture on the screen, a storm of anger and self-pity brewing inside him.
33:11He couldn't understand how she could be so ruthless, giving him no warning at all. She used to be so
33:16good
33:16to him. Years ago, his father had tried to arrange a marriage for him with the daughter of an Italian
33:22mob boss to secure an arms deal. Leo wanted nothing to do with the notoriously spoiled brat
33:28and was desperate for a way out. Just for show. We'll divorce in a year. You'll be free. I'll be
33:34free. But in his heart, it was never just for show. From the first time he saw her as a
33:39kid,
33:40he was captivated. He remembered waking up in the hospital once, and she was sitting by his bed,
33:45her eyes red and swollen. Leo, thank you. You'll always be my best friend.
33:51Friend, that's all she ever saw him as. When he tried to delay the divorce, all she said was,
33:57there wasn't a trace of affection in her voice. So, he grew to despise Blair. He was eaten up with
34:03jealousy that Blair was the one who had won Eliana's love. If he couldn't have her,
34:08why should Blair? Leo had been the first one to plant the fake divorce idea. He knew it was cruel
34:15to Eliana, but he thought it would show her who really loved her. Once she was single,
34:20he'd have his shot. He'd make her see him. He never imagined that once she was divorced,
34:26she wouldn't even look back in his direction. She just cut them all off. It was late when Leo got
34:31home. The butler told him Don Gallo was waiting in the study. He pushed open the door and saw his
34:36father sitting on the sofa, his face a sundercloud. Dad, I know what you want to talk about. You know?
34:43Do you know how much money the company lost today? Do you have any idea how much damage
34:49you've done to this family's reputation? Years ago, you said you wanted to marry the Morelli girl.
34:55I supported you because it was good for the family. Now you've divorced her,
34:59pissed her off and run this family into the ground. What's your plan? I'll figure something out.
35:06Figure something out? What can you figure out? Don Maramoretti has made his position clear. We're
35:13being shut out by the five families. He put a file from a drawer and threw it on the desk
35:19in front of Leo.
35:20This is the file on the eldest daughter of the Benedetti family. 23 years old Stanford business
35:26degree. Easy on the eyes too. Dad, what are you saying? The engagement is next month. You're married
35:32in six. This alliance will get our family through this crisis. And this time there's no one left to
35:38save you. Leo wanted to argue, but the words died in his throat. It was true. There was no one
35:43left to
35:44save him. Eliana was gone. After his father left, Leo sat alone in his study, feeling completely
35:50hollowed out. He went to the safe, entered the combination, and from the very back, he pulled out
35:55a photograph. It was a candid photo he had secretly taken over a decade ago. Eliana, at 15, laughing in
36:02a garden. She was wearing a white dress, sunlight filtering through the leaves onto her face. She was
36:07looking down, smiling at a small kitten. Leo stared at the photo, his heart twisting in his chest. He
36:13finally understood a brutal, simple fact. For him and Eliana, it was over. There was nothing left.
36:20Take me around the world, will you? It's been my dream since I was a little girl to see the
36:26whole
36:26world with the person I love. Leo looked at her hopeful smile, and a wave of disgust washed over
36:32him. But the memory of her suicide attempt was still fresh. He forced a nod. Okay. And so their long
36:38journey began. From the islands of Southeast Asia, to the ancient cities of Europe, from the savannahs
36:44of Africa, to the rainforests of South America, Lucia was as excited as a child, insisting they do
36:50all the things couples do. But Blair's mind was a million miles away. Every sunset, every sunrise,
36:57every beautiful landscape only made him think of Eliana. Would she have liked to hear? Would she be
37:01taking pictures excitedly like Lucia? The thoughts were a constant torment. He had told himself he
37:07needed space from Eliana, time to think. It's human nature, he guessed. You get used to what you have,
37:13and you start thinking about what you lost. For him, that was Lucia, the one that got away,
37:18the ghost he could never shake. They had been close, real close. This was all before Eliana.
37:23Then Marco and Leo introduced him to her, and he found out she was the Eliana Moretti, the princess
37:28every guy in their world wanted. Back then, with his family being small time, she was completely out
37:34of his league. He was jealous as hell of Marco and Leo. They got to be close to her, treated
37:39her like
37:39one of the guys, so he fought his way into their circle. The chase was everything, and when he finally
37:45got her, his family's power started to grow too. For the first time, he felt like he was on her
37:51level,
37:51but comfort turns into boredom. Even the best story gets old, if you read it enough times. So this
37:59whole April Fool's thing, it was his out. A way to finally keep his promise to Lucia, and maybe just
38:06a
38:06way for him to breathe. But now that it was done, it didn't feel like the easy escape he'd imagined.
38:12The thrill of betrayal was real, but it left a strange taste in his mouth, an emptiness he couldn't
38:17explain. He tried to break it off with Lucia several times to tell her how he really felt,
38:23but every time he was about to speak, she would conveniently get sick, allergies, high fevers.
38:29Each time, she would look at him with those big, beautiful eyes.
38:33Blair, I'm so glad you're here. What would I do without you?
38:38Defeated, Blair would put out the breakup and take care of her. The trip dragged on like this for three
38:43months until Blair overheard Lucia on a video call with a friend.
38:47You have no idea. Blair is completely wrapped around my finger. I have the doctor write fake
38:53medical notes. Every time he tries to break up with me, I get sick and he turns into a puddle.
38:59I've already sent all our pictures together to Alana. I told her Blair chose me and that she
39:05should stop bothering him. She should have given up for good by now.
39:09Lucia, you're amazing. You even stole a man from a Moradi?
39:13What good is being born into a powerful family? She still couldn't keep her man. I just wanted
39:19her to know that Blair dumped her for me. Next step is to get pregnant. I'll drug him again,
39:26just like that first night. Then he'll have to marry me.
39:28Listening to this vicious scheming, Blair's mind went blank. The sicknesses were fake. Her innocence was
39:34fake and she had a contact to Eliana, torturing her with those photos. A blind rage took over.
39:40He threw the door open and stormed in. What did you just say?
39:44Blair, you're back? I was just joking around. Joking? You drugged me? Use fake doctor's notes
39:52to lie to me? You sent pictures to Eliana to torture her? Was that all a joke too?
39:57Blair, let me explain. I only did it because I love you so much. I was afraid of losing you.
40:02Enough! Blair, where are you going? He sped to the airport. Only one thought in his mind,
40:08get back to New York, find Liana and explain everything. During the long flight, Blair replayed
40:13the last three months in his head. Every time Luchelle was sick, every pitiful look now seemed
40:18disgusting. And because of those lies, he had wasted three months. The next evening after landing,
40:23Blair's first stop was a jeweler. He bought a diamond ring. He hadn't forgotten his promise to Eliana,
40:30that he would give her a ring that was hers alone. Then, he drove to the Moderati family estate.
40:36He knew she would be there. The whole way, he rehearsed what he would say, how he would beg for
40:42her forgiveness. Finally, he pulled up to the familiar gates. He practically beat on the massive door.
40:48Open up! Eliana! I know you're in there! He pandered for what felt like an eternity before the door
40:56finally opened. Eliana stood there in a loose silk robe, her hair pinned up carelessly. She looked
41:02relaxed, happy. But what made Blair freeze? What turned his blood to ice was the side of her slightly
41:07rounded belly, barely hidden by the flowing fabric. She looked to be about four months along. Seeing Eliana
41:13pregnant, Blair was first shocked, then filled with a wave of joy and crushing guilt. He did a math.
41:19Four months. The timing was perfect. The baby had to be his. His heart hammered against his ribs,
41:26and his eyes burned. My god, she's pregnant with my child, and I've been traveling the world with Lucia.
41:33Ellie, I'm here to take you home. We'll get married again. I know I was wrong. I-
41:38Before he could finish, a man's hand reached out from inside the doorway, planting itself firmly on
41:44his chest, stopping him. Eliana took a step back, and the man beside her wrapped a protective arm
41:49around her waist. The movement was so natural, so practiced, as if they had done it a thousand times.
41:56Blair's words died in his throat. He stared in shock at the man who had appeared from the shadows.
42:01He was handsome, maybe in his early thirties. Dressed in a tailored navy blue robe,
42:06He stood with the easy confidence of a man born to power. But what Joe Blair insane with jealousy
42:12was the look in Eliana's eyes when she looked at the man. It was a tenderness he had never seen
42:16before. Elena leaned into the man's embrace, a look of pure bliss he'd never seen on her before.
42:22She looked at Blair, her tone light.
42:25Get married again? Why don't you ask my husband if that's okay with him?
42:31Blair was completely stunned. His eyes dotted between Eliana, the man beside her,
42:36and her pregnant belly. His brain couldn't process the information. Husband, he looked closely at the
42:41man, and the memory sparked. This was the man in the dark gray suit he had bumped into outside the
42:47lawyer's office on the day of the divorce. He also remembered who he was, Lorenzo DeLuca.
42:54The DeLuccas were one of the few families on the same level as the Morettis in New York.
43:00The baby, is it mine? What do you think? Lorenzo didn't speak, but the look he gave Eliana's stomach
43:09was filled with the soft joy and protectiveness of a father-to-be. His hand gently rubbed her back.
43:15Blair's face went ashen. He understood. The baby wasn't his. It couldn't be. In the three months he
43:21was traveling the world with Lucia, Eliana hadn't just remarried. She was pregnant with another man's
43:27child, and she looked happy. No. That's impossible. Ellie, we had a deal. It was a fake divorce. It was
43:34an April Fool's joke. Sorry, Blair. In our world there are no jokes. Only contracts. And ours has
43:40been terminated. But, since you seem to enjoy holidays, allow me to wish you one. Happy April Fool's, Blair.
43:48The heavy door swung shut in his face. Blair stood before the closed door, his entire world collapsing.
43:54He finally understood the look in Eliana's eyes when she signed the papers. It wasn't calm. It was
44:00finality. It was acceptance. It was the look of someone who had completely given up. She never had
44:06any intention of getting back together with him. From the moment she signed that paper, she had deleted
44:13him from her life. Blair stood outside the gate all night until security forced him to leave at dawn.
44:19The months that followed were a downward spiral for all three men. Shanned by the Moretti family,
44:24Marco and Leo quickly lost their standing in their own families. Without the Moretti connection,
44:29the networks they had built vanished. But the blow to Blair's Russo family was fatal.
44:35The scandal of forcing his wife into a fake divorce for his mistress was leaked and it spread like wildfire
44:41through the upper crest. This story was so absurd, so pathetic that the Russo family became a laughing
44:47stock. Their influence evaporated overnight. Blair didn't care. He was living in a fantasy. Convinced
44:55that Eliana's baby was his, that she was just angry and would come back to him eventually. Then,
45:02Lucia delivered the final blow. She secretly drained the lust of Marco's, Leo's and Blair's savings and
45:09disappeared. Blair was forced to move out of his family's estate and into a small apartment on the
45:15other side of the city. He printed out every picture he had of him and Eliana and covered an
45:21entire wall with them. He spent his days looking at the few things he had left of their life together,
45:27including the ring he never got to give her. At night, he would stare at the photos and mutter to
45:32himself. She still loves me. I know she still loves me. A few months later, he heard a news report
45:39on the TV at the convenience store. Mr. Lorenzo DeLuca and his wife, Mrs. Eliana Moretti,
45:46attended a charity gala this evening. Blair lunged toward the TV. His eyes glued to the screen. There
45:53she was. Lorenzo was gently helping a radiant Eliana. Dressed in an elegant evening gown,
45:59walked the red carpet. She was dazzling, her smile so bright it was hard to look away. Lorenzo would
46:05lean down to whisper in her ear and she would laugh. They looked so perfect together, so in love.
46:11The camera zoomed in and Blair saw the brilliant diamond ring on Eliana's hand and the priceless
46:16necklace around her throat. They were from Lorenzo. Blair stumbled back to his apartment in a daze,
46:22collapsed to the floor and stared at the empty room. He started to laugh, a wild unhinged sound. Then the
46:28laughter turned to tears. He killed it up on the floor, his back against the wall of photos,
46:34and sobbed, loud and broken, like a little boy. He had lost everything, his family, his status,
46:40his money, and most importantly, his Eliana. Annie was all his own damn thought.
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