- 51 minutes ago
Apologize to My Dead Body
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00I was Manhattan. I fought with wild dogs for food and prayed to them, but it was useless, and in
00:05the end, I still died.
00:07I was Manhattan's most spoiled heiress, until my award-winning actor brother sent me to a reality show called Rich
00:13Girls Reformed.
00:14I slept in a pig pen covered in manure for three months, fighting dogs for scraps of food.
00:20Any resistance meant being dunked in water tanks, or worse, Electroshock.
00:25The only thing keeping me alive was the mute old man who delivered the meals.
00:30He'd snuck me medicine, listened to me cry, and begged my brother to save me.
00:34He even promised to help me escape.
00:36I swore that once I got out, I'd tell my brother I'd learned my lesson.
00:40Until that day, when my high fever triggered a heart attack, and I collapsed in the mud, convulsing.
00:46I saw the mute old man I'd clung to as my lifeline reach up and tear off his mud-caked
00:52wig and mask, revealing my fiancé's face.
00:55This is what you get for drugging Sophia, even if it was just a laxident.
01:01These three months in the pig pet should make up for the scare you gave her.
01:05Director cut the cameras.
01:06Sophia says she can't bear watching me act and suffer.
01:09She feels bad.
01:09I watched my fiancé walk away with his arm around the scholarship girl.
01:15My heart stopped beating.
01:16Sophia finally got what she wanted.
01:18From the moment we met, she made it clear, girls like me didn't deserve what we were born into.
01:24Too rich, too spoiled, too empty-headed in her words.
01:29One day, she said, she would take it all.
01:31And she did.
01:32It didn't take schemes or grand plans.
01:35Just two years of quiet performances.
01:37A stumble here, a trembling voice there, a well-timed tear.
01:42Every time, it ended the same.
01:44My brother at her side, my fiancé just behind him, both looking at me like I was something rotten.
01:50All she ever had to do was make it seem like I hurt her.
01:53And really, who would believe otherwise?
01:55A rich heiress bullied by a scholarship girl who was gentle and hardworking?
02:00Of course not.
02:01In their eyes, it could only ever be the other way around.
02:05I floated above, looking down at myself lying in the filth, covered in pig shit, fingernails caked with mud.
02:12Cut!
02:14Perfect!
02:15Absolutely perfect!
02:16That dying look in her eyes is incredible!
02:19Quick, get a close-up!
02:20A dozen cameras instantly zoomed in on my face.
02:23A pair of fancy leather shoes stopped beside my face.
02:27Lucas Carter, my fiancé.
02:29Alright, stop pretending.
02:31The director called cut.
02:32Why are you still lying there?
02:33Getting addicted to acting?
02:34Seeing no reaction from me, he casually nudged my face with his foot.
02:38The corpse swayed with the force of his nudge, but didn't respond.
02:42Lucas frowned, then crouched down to check if I was still breathing.
02:45What the heck?!
02:48Is Ashford now?
02:50Don't let her bring those filthy clothes into my car.
02:53It's disgusting.
02:54Sofia hasn't been feeling well lately.
02:56She can't handle the smell.
02:58Then, find a trash bag, throw her in the trunk.
03:01Since she likes playing dead so much, let her play dead all the way home.
03:04At least it'll spare me from listening to her fake crying.
03:07Yes, sir.
03:09I watched two stagehands lift my stiff corpse and stuff it into a trash bag.
03:13Lucas was wiping raindrops from Sofia's hair.
03:16He didn't look at me once.
03:18The trunk slammed shut.
03:19The car started.
03:20A trail of blood silently drenched the bag.
03:23I floated nearby, almost wanting to laugh.
03:26I remembered when I was 18, I accidentally bumped my head in the car.
03:30Ethan didn't say a word.
03:31He snatched the clip.
03:33He'd said,
03:34Why keep something that hurt our Vivian?
03:36But now, my corpse was being knocked around in the trunk.
03:40Ethan, were you acting back then too?
03:42Or is it that once Sofia appeared, your own sister deserved to be thrown away like this?
03:47Ethan, do you think Vivian will be mad at us for putting her in the trunk when she wakes up?
03:52Ethan drove with a cold snort.
03:54She doesn't get a choice.
03:57Once we're home, I have ways to keep her from throwing a tantrum.
04:01Tomorrow's apology press conference is already arranged.
04:04If she dares to mess it up, I'll send her right back to these mountains for another three months.
04:10She'd better know her place.
04:12Sofia was hospitalized for three days because of that laxative.
04:16These three months of suffering barely make up for it.
04:19I floated above the car, watching these three people.
04:22I never put laxatives in that drink.
04:25Sofia stole my heart medication, then accused me of trying to poison her.
04:29No one believed me, and I can't explain anymore.
04:32The car bumped along the road, my corpse rattling in the trunk the whole way.
04:37Ethan got out without calling the servants.
04:39He opened the trunk and grabbed the trash bag with one hand, dragging it out.
04:43My head hit each step as he dragged me up the stairs.
04:47My soul trembled.
04:48I reached out to protect my head.
04:51Ethan!
04:52Be gentle!
04:53That's my head!
04:55Really heavy.
04:56Playing dead pretty thoroughly.
04:58Not making a sound.
04:59He dragged the trash bag into the living room and dropped it on the rug.
05:03The zipper opened, revealing my mud-covered face.
05:06Eyes closed, lips purple.
05:08Alright, we're home.
05:11Stop pretending.
05:14Get up and wash yourself off.
05:16Don't dirty the carpet.
05:18Is she really unconscious?
05:19Her face looks so scary.
05:22That's special effects makeup.
05:24Weren't you there on set?
05:26She fakes passing out all the time to get out of work.
05:28The doctor said she's in perfect health.
05:29This level of cold won't kill her.
05:31Ethan lost his patience.
05:32He walked over to the thermostat and turned it down to the lowest setting.
05:36Want to play dead?
05:37Then lie there.
05:38No one gives her a blanket tonight.
05:40Let's see how long she can keep it up.
05:41With that, all three went to their rooms.
05:44Leaving only the cold air blowing over my corpse.
05:47I floated in mid-air, looking at my body lying alone on the floor.
05:51Watching the lividity spread across my neck and the back of my arms.
05:55Early in the morning, the Ashford family's styling team arrived.
05:58Today was the apology press conference Ethan had arranged for me.
06:02Live-streamed to the whole country.
06:04The makeup artist touched my hand.
06:06Oh, Jesus!
06:07I'm so cold!
06:09She looked at Sophia.
06:10Miss White, Miss Ashford's temperature?
06:12Is she really okay?
06:13Oh, she spent three months freezing in the mountains.
06:16Of course she's cold.
06:18Plus she trained herself to withstand cold for the pathetic effect.
06:21Don't make a fuss.
06:23Just put more blush on her.
06:25That complexion is awful.
06:26With these purple marks on her skin.
06:28Those are bruises from falling in the mountains.
06:31Cover them with foundation.
06:32Today's theme is rebirth.
06:34Don't let people see her looking like a corpse and embarrass the Ashford family.
06:38The makeup artist didn't dare argue.
06:40She grabbed concealer and started smearing it on my face.
06:43I watched from the side, finding it almost funny.
06:46Concealer could cover lividity, but not the smell of death.
06:49This outfit reeks.
06:51Change her clothes.
06:52Put her in this one.
06:53It was the style Sophia had rejected.
06:55A size too small.
06:56Two assistants came over to help change my clothes.
06:59But there was a problem.
07:00Because of rigor mortis, my limbs were stiff.
07:03Mr. Ashford, Miss Ashford is too stiff.
07:06She won't cooperate.
07:07Like, she is dead.
07:11She won't cooperate.
07:13We can't bend her arms.
07:14Ethan's face darkened.
07:16Vivian!
07:17How long are you going to keep this up?
07:19Won't even put on clothes?
07:20Do you want to apologize naked?
07:21The corpse naturally didn't answer him.
07:23Lucas frowned and strode over.
07:25Since she wants to be stubborn, don't blame me for not being gentle.
07:30He grabbed my stiff left arm and yanked it outward.
07:33I floated in mid-air, instinctively clutching my arm and screaming.
07:38Then I remembered.
07:39I was dead.
07:40My body couldn't feel pain anymore.
07:42Hm.
07:45Strong grip.
07:46Playing the virtual Merton?
07:48Hurry up and dress her!
07:49The assistants trembled as they pulled the pink dress onto my corpse.
07:53To hide the twisted arm, they folded my hands across my abdomen.
07:56After all the manipulation, I'd been handled like a doll with no dignity.
08:00Lipstick covered my purple lips.
08:02Foundation hid my pallor.
08:04A ribbon bow concealed the dog collar marks on my neck.
08:07That's better.
08:08Looks like these three months weren't wasted.
08:10Knocked that nasty temper right out of her.
08:13As long as she doesn't talk, she's still the good little sister she used to be.
08:18When we get to the venue, if you dare mess up or say the wrong thing, I'll make sure you
08:23spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.
08:25Don't worry, Ethan.
08:27I'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life anyway.
08:29And I'll never speak again.
08:32Let's go.
08:32Don't keep the reporters waiting.
08:34The sunlight was blinding, but I felt no warmth.
08:36The ballroom backstage was packed with reporters.
08:38Sophia had changed into a white haute couture gown.
08:42She had the makeup artist give her a pitiful victim look.
08:45While Ethan and Lucas were schmoozing with the media, Sophia walked over to my wheelchair.
08:49Vivian, you're so quiet today.
08:52I like it.
08:53Didn't you love calling me a bitch before?
08:55Why so quiet now?
08:56Running out of energy?
08:58Don't worry.
08:59There's an even bigger surprise waiting for you on stage.
09:02Seeing no reaction from me, Sophia pouted.
09:04You can really take it.
09:06But I guess you should behave.
09:07You're about to lose your engagement anyway.
09:10Lose my engagement?
09:11I jerked my head up to look at Lucas.
09:13He was standing in the spotlight, turning to say something to Ethan.
09:16I floated over and heard it clearly.
09:18Today's perfect.
09:20With the live stream, the whole country can witness it.
09:23I'm cutting this stain loose, completely.
09:25Ethan was silent for a moment, glancing at me in the corner.
09:28She brought this on herself.
09:30Can't blame anyone else.
09:31My soul felt that sharp pain again.
09:34So, in your minds, I'm not even worth a title.
09:36I don't even deserve basic human dignity.
09:39Three, two, one, action!
09:42The spotlight came on.
09:43I was wheeled onto the stage.
09:45Because I was strapped in, I sat perfectly straight.
09:48That's the Ashford heiress?
09:49She looks like a model.
09:51Heard she slept in a pig pen for three months.
09:53Probably brain damaged.
09:54They say she was so arrogant before, even drugged the scholarship girl.
09:57Those vicious whispers drilled into my ears, every single one.
10:00Ethan picked up the microphone, his face full of regret.
10:03Ladies and gentlemen of the press, everyone online, hello.
10:06I'm Ethan Ashfield.
10:07Today's live stream has only one purpose.
10:10Repentance.
10:11My sister Vivian, out of jealousy and selfishness,
10:13caused tremendous harm to our company's artist, Sophia White.
10:16After three months of reconformation, she's deeply recognized her mistakes.
10:20Today, she's here in front of the entire country to apologize to Sophia.
10:24The comments exploded.
10:25Ethan Ashford standing up to family.
10:27So inspiring!
10:29This is proper elite family discipline.
10:31Ethan turned around, walked up to me, blocking half the cameras.
10:35With his back to the audience, he hissed.
10:37Stop playing dead.
10:40Speak.
10:41Tell everyone what you did wrong.
10:43I didn't respond, so he reached out and pinched the soft flesh of my arm.
10:48The corpse swayed with the force.
10:50Ethan, don't be like this.
10:51She's probably too ashamed to speak.
10:53It's okay.
10:53I forgive her.
10:55She picked up a glass of red wine and forced it into my broken hand.
11:01Vivian, drink this.
11:03And we'll still be sisters.
11:05The wine glass tilted.
11:06Wine falling into my dress.
11:08I'm sorry.
11:10Sophia looked hurt toward the camera.
11:11I guess she still won't forgive me.
11:14Too much.
11:15Sophia's being so humble and she's still putting on airs.
11:18This woman's hopeless.
11:19Mr. Ashford, send her to a psych room.
11:22Lucas took the microphone and strode to center stage, standing beside my wheelchair.
11:27Since Ms. Ashford insists on protesting with silence, I don't need to save face for you anymore.
11:34He pulled a velvet box from his pocket.
11:37For a moment, my heart flickered with hope.
11:39Was it our engagement ring?
11:41He opened the box.
11:42Inside was a brand new pink diamond ring.
11:45Lucas turned around and in front of me, in front of tens of millions of viewers online,
11:50he knelt on one knee before Sophia.
11:53Ms. Sophia White, for the past three years, you've been by my side.
11:57Your kindness, your purity, that's what the lady of the Carter family should be like.
12:05This vicious, unrepentant woman who only knows how to put on an act, doesn't deserve to enter the Carter family.
12:10Every word lashed my soul.
12:13He stood beside my corpse and proposed to another woman.
12:17He trampled my dignity into the dirt in front of the entire country, then ground it in deeper.
12:23Lucas!
12:24The reporter started chanting.
12:26Lucas pulled out the simple engagement ring that had been mine.
12:29He casually tossed it.
12:30Clang!
12:31The ring fell into a nearby trash can.
12:34From today on, Sophia is my only fiancé.
12:36He took Sophia's hand and slid the pink diamond onto her finger.
12:40Then, he lowered his head and kissed her deeply.
12:44Three years ago, Lucas had knelt in the snow for three days and nights to propose to me.
12:52Vivian, this ring is my life.
12:54Once you wear it, my life belongs to you.
12:57Turns out your life is pretty worthless.
13:00After Sophia came along, you kept saying I'd changed.
13:03But I didn't change.
13:04You just gave her all the patience and love you used to give me.
13:07The ring in the trash, along with the Lucas who once said he loved me, both rotting here together.
13:12The number of online users is still rising and has already broken the platform record.
13:16The livestream had broken the platform's record for viewership.
13:19Hairpash for Carter Luca public.
13:21Hairpash when Kuj refuses to apology.
13:23Ash when Sophia White takes over.
13:24All three hashtags instantly dominated the top trending topics.
13:35Move! Everyone move!
13:38Get out of my way!
13:40It was Dr. William, the Ashford family doctor who'd watched me grow up.
13:45Dr. William, what are you doing here?
13:47Mrs. Ashford, she told me to check on Vivian.
13:51Why hasn't she moved at all? Is she sick?
13:53Sick?
13:54What sick?
13:55She's just pretending to sleep.
13:57I've seen this attention-seeking act a thousand times.
14:01Dr. William, don't let her fool you.
14:04Give her a shot and make her get up right now.
14:06Lucas, with his arm around Sophia, added,
14:09Perfect timing, Dr. William.
14:10Expose her act in front of everyone and let them see just how shameless this Miss Ashford can be clinging
14:17to an engagement.
14:18Dr. William froze, staring at the figure in the wheelchair.
14:21His face changed.
14:23I need to examine her first.
14:25Under pressure from Ethan and Lucas, Dr. William had no choice but to walk shakily onto the stage.
14:31Everyone waited to see the spectacle.
14:33To see the evil woman get jabbed with a needle and wake up humiliated.
14:37Dr. William approached the wheelchair and called out, no response.
14:41He reached out to feel the wrist resting on my abdomen.
14:44The moment he touched that ice-cold skin, his face turned white.
14:48His hands started trembling.
14:50He moved from the wrist to the pulse.
14:52No heartbeat.
14:53This, this, Dr. William couldn't believe it.
14:56What's wrong?
14:57Did you find her acting too convincing, even fooling you?
15:00Stop the act, Dr. William.
15:02Just give her the shot.
15:03Lost your voice?
15:04Speak.
15:05Tell everyone she's faking.
15:08Faking!
15:09She can't fake anymore!
15:11Mr. Ashfield!
15:12Mr. Carter, can't you see?
15:14She's already dead!
15:19This is liberty.
15:20This is rigor mortis.
15:22You, you've been forcing a corpse to apologize this whole time?
15:26Dead?
15:28Dr. William, you've lost your mind.
15:30Lucas let go of Sophia's hand.
15:32Stop playing along with Vivian's sick games.
15:35Livesey?
15:36I think she just put on special effects makeup.
15:39Vivian, stop pretending!
15:41Get home!
15:41Don't touch her!
15:42Are you blind?
15:44Feel her hand?
15:45Look at her eyes!
15:47What living person looks like this?
15:50Dr. William's tears fell as he untied the bow at my neck with shaking hands.
15:54Under the bow, a circle of purple-black ligature marks around my neck.
15:59As the concealer rubbed off, slight giant cell formation appeared on the side of my neck.
16:04A female reporter in the front row covered her mouth, dry heaving.
16:07The livestream chat exploded.
16:09Holy shit!
16:11That's actual lividity!
16:12I'm a forensic student, that's definitely not makeup.
16:15That neck.
16:16My god, what did she go through?
16:18Is Ethan insane?
16:19He made a corpse apologize on livestream.
16:22They killed her!
16:23The elites killed someone!
16:25Ethan stared at the black marks on my neck.
16:27No.
16:29Impossible.
16:31He staggered backwards, knocking over the champagne tower.
16:34She was alive yesterday!
16:36When I dragged her home yesterday, she groaned!
16:38I heard it!
16:39I really heard it!
16:39I floated above, watching him.
16:41Tears streaming, watching him.
16:44Ethan, that wasn't me groaning.
16:46That was the sound of air being forced from my lungs when my head hit the stairs.
16:50Someone call the police!
16:51Get an ambulance!
16:53Hurry!
16:53Workers sprang into action.
16:55Lucas, what do we do?
16:56If she's really dead, then we...
16:59Cut the livestream!
17:00Security!
17:01Get these reporters out!
17:02I dare anyone to move!
17:04Ethan Ashford, Lucas Carter, I think you need to come with us.
17:09He collapsed among the broken glass.
17:11He stared at my lifeless face, the sister he'd doted on for 20 years.
17:15Yesterday, he'd dragged her home like trash.
17:17Today, he'd forced her to kneel and apologize to someone else.
17:21And now the police were telling him she'd been dead all along.
17:24When the coroner took me away, Ethan tried to rush forward but was held back by two officers.
17:29Vivian!
17:30Vivian, don't sleep!
17:31I was wrong!
17:33Please open your eyes and look at me!
17:35My parents rushed back that night.
17:37When they saw the body in the morgue, my mom fainted on the spot and was rushed to the ER.
17:42Lucas and Sophia were detained in the interrogation room.
17:45The coroner paused, looking at Ethan.
17:48The deceased suffered severe external abuse.
17:50Stomach contents showed only small amounts of pig feed and mud.
17:54Most critically, we detected large quantities of powerful hallucinates in the deceased system.
17:59This drug makes people feel pain magnified ten times while conscious.
18:03The deceased died of a heart attack caused by long-term malnutrition, extreme physical abuse, and massive doses of hallucinarians.
18:11Ethan's head snapped up, bloodshot eyes wide.
18:14What did you say?
18:16Hallucinotics?
18:17Yes.
18:18That's why her acting seemed so real when she was being tortured.
18:21Because she was really in pain.
18:23In so much pain, she wanted to die, but didn't even have the strength to beg.
18:27What you thought was acting was her instinct to survive in hell.
18:32Ethan rushed to the toilet, violently vomiting bile.
18:41He remembered those three months.
18:43He'd sat behind the monitors, watching me convulse in the mud pit.
18:47Watching me get dunked in water tanks until I couldn't breathe.
18:51What had he been doing then?
18:54He'd been laughing.
18:56He'd clinked glasses with Lucas and said,
19:00Finally knocked some sense into the brat.
19:04She was just too spoiled before.
19:08Turns out it wasn't being spoiled.
19:11It was pain magnified ten times over.
19:16It was also this.
19:18The captain walked in with a USB drive.
19:20We found this in the director's safe when we searched the production company.
19:23The unedited raw footage.
19:24Mr. Ashford, you might want to brace yourself.
19:28The projector turned on, casting images on the white wall.
19:32The screen showed a mountain pig pen.
19:34The instructor poured spoiled rice on the ground and stepped on it.
19:39Eat.
19:41Miss Ashfield, isn't this how you used to feed stray dogs?
19:44You can give it a try today.
19:46I was chained by the neck, crawling on the ground.
19:49I was so delirious with hunger.
19:50I crawled over and licked the rice off the ground with my thumb.
19:55The instructor laughed and kicked me in the ribs.
19:57That's disgusting.
19:59If that Ethan saw you like this, his face would surely turn green.
20:03Ethan gripped the table edge so hard his nails broke off, blood dripping.
20:07The scene changed to Sophia.
20:09She wore a hazmat suit, holding a cattle rod.
20:12Vivian, this electric current is a bit strong.
20:14Try to bear it, okay?
20:16I convulsed a violin, foaming at the mouth.
20:19Sophia smiled.
20:20Oh Lucas, look how beautifully she dances.
20:23Record it?
20:24Send it to that idiot Ethan.
20:26Tell him she's practicing break dancing.
20:28Lucas patted her head.
20:30As long as you're happy, play however you want.
20:33Ethan signed the liability waiver anyway.
20:35As long as she doesn't die, any torture counts as program content.
20:38The final scene showed my last moments before death.
20:41Ethan dropped to his knees, hands over his head, wailing.
20:45He'd lost his mind.
20:47He'd personally sent his sister to hell.
20:50Not only had he signed the waiver, he'd provided all the funding.
20:53He was the murderer.
20:56When police were clearing out my belongings, they found something hard in the lining of
21:01my cotton coat.
21:01It was a small recording pen, wrapped in three layers of plastic bags and sewn into the deepest
21:07part of the garment.
21:08The detective captain pressed play in front of Ethan and my parents, who had just regained
21:13consciousness.
21:14After a crackling sound, Lucas and Sophia's voices came through.
21:18Sophia.
21:18Lucas, why won't she just die already?
21:20We already doubled the dose.
21:24Be patient.
21:25Once she's dead, the inheritance goes to Ethan.
21:28Then we follow the plan.
21:29What plan?
21:30The recording continued with Lucas' voice.
21:32That idiot Ethan sure is ruthless with his sister.
21:34Once Vivian dies, go comfort him through his grief for a few days.
21:37Then slip him some slow-acting neurotoxic.
21:39It's tasteless and odorless.
21:40It'll just make him look like he had a mental breakdown since three fingers.
21:43Aw, that's so sad.
21:45But for the Ashford family's billions, we'll have to sacrifice Ethan.
21:49He's just an actor anyway.
21:51He has no clue how to run a business.
21:54The Ashford empire will be ours.
21:56As long as we get Vivian to sign that post to be a stock transfer,
22:00Ethan becomes useless.
22:01I pretended to be the mute old man to give her hope, just to watch her fall from heaven
22:05into hell.
22:06I'm sorry.
22:07That's the fun part.
22:08The sound of kissing came through the recording.
22:11You are still the smart one.
22:12That frame job was brilliant.
22:13Taking laxatives to frame Vivian, that turned Ethan the sister complicate to our knife.
22:17If Vivian knew her brother sent her to die just to defend you,
22:20she'd never forgive him even as a ghost.
22:23Sorry!
22:23My dad clutched his chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and collapsed.
22:28What a disaster.
22:30We invited wolves into our home.
22:33Invited wolves?
22:34Mom pounded on Ethan.
22:36It was you!
22:38You killed Vivian!
22:39She was protecting you!
22:41She stayed there to get evidence!
22:43You monster!
22:44Give me back my daughter!
22:46Ethan let mom beat him.
22:48He'd thought I was evil, jealous of Sophia.
22:51He'd thought he was educating me, reforming me.
22:55In reality, I was trading my life for a chance to expose their true faces.
23:01During those three months, every time they stepped on my face, every time Sophia jabbed me with the cattle prod,
23:08I repeated to myself,
23:10Hold on, Vivian.
23:12Just hold on.
23:14Once you get the recording, Ethan will be safe.
23:17I did it.
23:19I protected my brother.
23:20I protected the Ashford family.
23:23The price was rotting in the dirt, treated like garbage by the person I loved most.
23:28I'm a monster.
23:30Ethan suddenly started laughing, laughing while crying.
23:34He grabbed the fruit knife from the table and stabbed it toward his neck.
23:38Stop him!
23:39The captain shouted and knocked the knife away.
23:42Ethan collapsed on the floor, slapping himself over and over.
23:46Don't stop me.
23:47Let me die.
23:48Let me go apologize to Vivian.
23:51Let me die.
23:52Die?
23:53Death would be too easy for you.
23:56Your sister gave her life to protect the Ashford family.
23:59Instead of figuring out how to defend it and make the killers pay, you just want to die?
24:05Ethan Ashford, that life of yours belongs to your sister.
24:09You have to live with it and suffer.
24:12The evidence was irrefutable.
24:14When Sophia was arrested, she fought desperately.
24:18I'm innocent.
24:19Lucas forced me to do everything.
24:22I'm a victim.
24:22I have a heart condition.
24:24You can't arrest me.
24:25Heart condition?
24:27Ethan pulled out a document.
24:29Sophia White, your medical records from abroad show your heart is stronger than a bull's.
24:34Your so-called congenital myocarditis was completely fabricated for sympathy.
24:40Sophia's face went deathly pale.
24:43No.
24:44Ethan.
24:45Let me explain.
24:47Don't call me that.
24:49Ethan's voice was hoarse.
24:50You don't deserve it.
24:52And that laxative.
24:53Ethan threw a restored surveillance video in her face.
24:56The footage showed Sophia putting laxatives in the yogurt herself, then drinking it.
25:01Vivian never tried to hurt you.
25:03Never.
25:04Ethan.
25:04Each word was agonizing for Ethan.
25:06You were always the one hurting her.
25:08And I, I was your accomplice.
25:11Ethan suddenly reached out and grabbed Sophia by the throat.
25:14Help, help.
25:15Sophia rolled her eyes, clawing at Ethan's hands.
25:18Police rushed forward and pulled Ethan off.
25:21Mr. Ashford, the law will judge her.
25:23You can't take matters into your own hands.
25:26Sophia collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.
25:28Hair disheveled, makeup smeared.
25:31She was handcuffed and dragged to the police car.
25:34Before getting in, a rotten egg hit her face.
25:37It was thrown by one of Ethan's fans who used to curse me endlessly.
25:41Give Vivian Ashford back!
25:42You witch!
25:44Sophia screamed as she was taken away.
25:46Waiting for her was a murder conviction and the death penalty.
25:50To save the family business, Lucas' father issued an overnight statement disowning his son and freezing all of Lucas' assets.
25:58But that wasn't enough.
25:59Ethan used every connection he had to get Lucas sent to the most violent cell block in detention.
26:04And he told the cell boss,
26:06This man loves abusing women and making people eat rotten food.
26:09On Lucas' first day inside, he was forced to eat a bucket of food scooped from the toilet.
26:15When he refused, they broke two of his ribs.
26:17He tried to call for help, but his voice had been poisoned mute.
26:21Ethan had sent in the extra meal.
26:23Just like the mute old man Lucas had pretended to be on the show, this time he really became mute.
26:29On trial day, Lucas was carried into court.
26:32He was skeletal. Old injuries layered with new ones.
26:35Seeing Ethan in the gallery, his eyes showed beating.
26:38He opened his mouth wide, making ABBA ABBA sounds.
26:41But no one could understand.
26:43The judge announced the verdict.
26:44The defendant, Lucas Carter, with multiple counts, is sentenced to death with immediate execution.
26:51Hearing death penalty, Lucas' eyes rolled back and he wet himself.
26:55He was dragged out.
26:57Before execution, Ethan requested one final visit.
27:00Through the glass, Ethan held up my portrait.
27:03In the photo, I smiled brightly, eyes full of light.
27:06Vivian says she doesn't forgive you.
27:08Ethan looked into Lucas' terrified eyes, enunciating each word.
27:12She says hell is too cold. She wants you to go down there and be her dog.
27:17Lucas kowtowed frantically, head bleeding.
27:19But Ethan simply turned and left.
27:21In that moment, Lucas finally understood despair.
27:25Lucas died. Sofia got life imprisonment.
27:28The Ashford family built a memorial garden for me on the Mountain Village site.
27:32They planted it full of sunflowers I loved.
27:34Award-winning actor Ethan Ashford retired at his career peak and disappeared from public view.
27:39He moved into the basement of the mansion.
27:42It had been renovated into a one-to-one replica of the pig pen.
27:46Late at night, he would hallucinate.
27:48To experience my pain, he even injected himself with the same hallucinogens.
27:53Vivian, he murmured in his dreams.
27:56Forehead drenched in cold sweat, body convulsing in pain.
28:00It hurt so much. It hurt this much. How did you bear it? How did you bear it?
28:08He reached out, grasping at empty air, trying to grab my hand.
28:13I shouldn't have sent you away. I deserve to die.
28:16I watched his increasingly gaunt face. Watched the white hair appearing at his temples. I sighed.
28:23Ethan, I don't hurt anymore. Really. I tried to reach out, to smooth his furrowed brow.
28:31The instant my fingertips touched his forehead, Ethan's eyes snapped open.
28:36He stared at the empty space where I floated, his gaze focusing.
28:41Vivian, is that you?
28:43I smiled. Even though he couldn't see me, I still gave him a long lost smile.
28:48Just like when I was little, hiding behind him after getting in trouble, asking for help.
28:53Ethan, I'm leaving now, I said silently in my heart.
28:56This life was too painful. Next life, I won't be your sister.
29:00I want to be a cloud in the sky, wind in the mountains, free and easy, where no one can
29:05lock me up again.
29:06Tears streamed down Ethan's face. He knelt on the straw mat, kowtowing heavily to the empty air.
29:12Okay, he choked out. Next life, don't meet me. Don't meet our family.
29:17My soul grew lighter, rising bit by bit.
29:19Before fading away, I looked back one last time. Ethan was still kneeling there.
29:24The recording pen played my final words.
29:27Tell Ethan, I learned my lesson, it was a lie, and my final punishment for him.
29:32For the rest of his life, he would live imprisoned in this lie, trapped in a cage of his own
29:37making, until death.
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