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