From Broken Wife To Billionaire’s Fiancée - FULL | Reelshort
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Short filmTranscript
00:03This is the third time my husband caught me cheating in bed.
00:07Sebastian stormed in, expecting me to fall apart like the last two times.
00:11Mrs. Caldwell, this is your third violation.
00:13Under the agreement, you waive any claim to marital assets and agree not to contest custody.
00:19Sebastian threw the divorce papers onto the table in front of me.
00:23First time, you claimed you didn't know the guy.
00:26Second time, you had no idea how you end up in that hotel room.
00:31Third time, Quinn. What's your excuse now?
00:34I picked up the pen and signed.
00:36No tears, no begging, no explanation.
00:40Just my name at the bottom of the page.
00:42I gave him everything he wanted.
00:45The divorce, the house, even our daughter.
00:49So why did he look like I was the one who had just destroyed him?
00:53It's done, Mr. Caldwell.
00:56Sebastian kept staring at me.
00:58Because last time, I had gotten on my knees and begged him.
01:02I grabbed his arm and wouldn't let go.
01:06Please, for Ava.
01:11Just believe me this once.
01:17I'll clear out my things as soon as possible.
01:19As for visitation rights...
01:21You don't deserve to be her mother.
01:22The agreement is clear.
01:23You have no rights to Ava.
01:25Not anymore.
01:27That's actually what I was going to say.
01:29I don't want visitation rights either.
01:31He couldn't figure me out, and it showed.
01:33For four years, Sebastian and Ava were my entire world.
01:37I used to fall apart just watching Ava reach for Kara's hand instead of mine.
01:42And now I was walking away without blinking.
01:45Even Sebastian could tell something was off.
01:51Typical.
01:52You'd throw your own kid away for some guy.
01:55But didn't you work so hard to trap me?
01:58Got pregnant on purpose just to lock me down?
02:01So what was all that about?
02:03I let him talk.
02:04I was done explaining myself to this man.
02:07I had been done for a long time.
02:09The first time Sebastian stormed in, my mind went totally blank.
02:13I didn't know that man.
02:15I had never seen him in my life.
02:17I cried.
02:18I begged.
02:19I swore I had no idea what had happened.
02:22Sebastian had always assumed I could never leave him.
02:26That arrogance worked in my favor.
02:28The guy had already disappeared.
02:30Nothing left on the security footage but a shadow.
02:32So Sebastian let it go.
02:35But he still took Ava from me.
02:37I got one visit a month, and even that had to be booked through Kara a week in advance.
02:43Every toy, every piece of clothing I bought for her had to go through Kara first.
02:47If Kara said no, Ava never saw it.
02:51I was falling apart, so I found a job just to keep myself together.
02:55Then the second time happened.
02:58I was on a work trip.
03:00I woke up in a hotel room I didn't book, next to a man I didn't know.
03:05Both of us barely dressed.
03:07I called the police immediately.
03:09The female officer examined me and confirmed I hadn't been assaulted.
03:13But Sebastian had already decided.
03:16To him, I was guilty.
03:18I just got caught before anything happened.
03:21After that, I wasn't allowed at Ava's school events.
03:24Kara went instead.
03:26I was told to stay home and stop embarrassing everyone.
03:29Our four-year-old looked me in the eye and called me a bad woman.
03:34Sebastian stood right there and said nothing.
03:37So the third time?
03:39I was done playing their game.
03:41I gave them exactly what they wanted.
03:44And now he had the nerve to ask me why I was walking away from my own child.
03:51Mr. Caldwell, in my years of practice, I have never seen a mother give up her child that quickly.
03:57She's been cheating multiple times.
03:59She probably planned this from the start.
04:02A baby was always just an inconvenience to her.
04:04Don't waste your breath.
04:06She glanced over at me as she said it.
04:08Something crossed her face.
04:09Just for a second.
04:10Then it was gone.
04:12I almost laughed.
04:13Because she seemed to forget.
04:14Four years ago, she was the one who drafted that prenup.
04:17The one that spelled out exactly how many times I'd have to cheat before losing everything.
04:22She wrote the rules of this game.
04:24Now she was shocked I was done playing.
04:26Sebastian looked at me like I'd just said something stupid.
04:30You better mean it.
04:31Don't come crawling back.
04:33I watched him disappear through the door.
04:35I won't, Sebastian.
04:36Not this time.
04:37I spent months talking myself into loving him.
04:40Ignored every red flag.
04:42Told myself it was meant to be.
04:44Funny how that turned out.
04:46Quinn.
04:47Wouldn't want to ruin your little reunion.
04:49The door clicked shut.
04:50The room went quiet.
04:51I looked down at the man still passed out in the bed.
04:54My stomach turned.
04:55I had woken up before him.
04:57I could have left before Sebastian ever showed up.
04:59But I was tired of running.
05:01Tired of being the mouse in this game.
05:03So I stayed.
05:04And I let them come.
05:05I grabbed my coat and walked out without looking back.
05:09The next evening I went back to pack my things.
05:12I pushed open the bedroom door and stopped.
05:15Everything was gone.
05:16My clothes.
05:17My shoes.
05:18All of it.
05:19Ma'am, your things were moved to the storage room out back.
05:22Ms. Ellick gave the instructions.
05:23She said the room needs to be ready soon.
05:25I smiled.
05:26Four years.
05:27And I didn't even get a proper goodbye.
05:30I walked out to the storage room and pushed the door open.
05:33Boxes stacked on boxes.
05:35Bags shoved into corners.
05:37I got down and started going through them one by one.
05:40Everything else could stay.
05:42I just needed one thing.
05:44Mom's antique enamel locket.
05:46Her grandmother had given it to her and she had passed it down to me.
05:49It was the only thing in this house that had ever truly belonged to me.
05:52I found it at the bottom of the last box.
05:55I pressed it into my palm and finally exhaled.
05:58I was reaching for a few pieces of clothing when a small voice came from the doorway.
06:03What are you doing?
06:05I turned around.
06:06Ava.
06:06Standing in the doorway, arms crossed.
06:09She had Sebastian's face, but that stance.
06:11That look down her nose.
06:13Pure Kara.
06:15Getting my things.
06:16I turned back and kept packing.
06:19Any other day I would have pulled her into a hug.
06:21Even if she squirmed away.
06:23Not today.
06:24Those aren't your things.
06:26Then she stepped directly onto the pile of clothes on the floor.
06:29Auntie Kara said everything in this house belongs to Dad.
06:32You can't take any of it.
06:37This belonged to me before I ever set foot in this house.
06:40You spent Dad's money.
06:42Dad paid for it, so it's his.
06:44You don't live here anymore.
06:46Don't touch it.
06:48Not family anymore.
06:50I looked up at her.
06:52Four years old.
06:53Standing in front of me like I was a stranger who had broken in.
06:57She looked at me the way Sebastian never could.
06:59I'm only taking one thing.
07:02Everything else can stay.
07:04No!
07:05Auntie Kara said you're a thief!
07:07Ava.
07:09Move.
07:10No!
07:11Auntie Kara said if you come back you're a bad person.
07:14You're a thief!
07:14Put it back!
07:15I'm going to say it one more time.
07:19Move!
07:20Put it down!
07:21She lunged at me and snatched the pendant hanging around my neck.
07:25I staggered back.
07:26The pendant slipped off.
07:29The antique enamel locket hit the hardwood floor.
07:32A sharp crack split the room.
07:34I stood frozen.
07:35Mom's voice echoed in my head from the day she gave it to me.
07:38Six generations.
07:40My grandmother to me.
07:42Me to you.
07:44And one day, your daughter.
07:47I did have a daughter.
07:48And she had just destroyed it.
07:50Six generations of history.
07:52Shattered on the floor by my own flesh and blood.
07:57Your fault.
07:59You wouldn't let go.
08:01I told you.
08:02That locket was your grandmother's.
08:05Do you even know why she's stuck in a care center right now?
08:09I don't have a grandma.
08:11Auntie Cora said she's just a leech draining daddy's bank account.
08:15The room went dead silent.
08:17I took one slow step toward her.
08:20Say that again.
08:21Ava flinched.
08:22She bit her lip.
08:23But she was too used to getting away with it.
08:25I said!
08:26Auntie Kara said she's just burning through daddy's money
08:29and she's never getting better.
08:31I shoved her.
08:32She stumbled.
08:33Went straight down on her backside.
08:37She sat there, blinking.
08:39One second.
08:40Two.
08:40Then she let out a wail.
08:42Daddy!
08:44I stood there, my palms numb.
08:46I watched my daughter kick her legs on the floor.
08:49A leech.
08:51A burden.
08:53That woman she was talking about was my mom.
08:55Her grandmother.
08:56The woman who spent months knitting Ava a blanket from that exact, useless bed.
09:01Her frail hands shaking the entire time.
09:04The woman who every single birthday made a nurse dial my number.
09:07Just to whisper,
09:09Happy birthday, baby girl.
09:11And that's all she was to Ava.
09:13A waste of money.
09:14A jagged piece of the broken locket bit into my palm.
09:18The pain pulled me back, just barely.
09:20Sebastian came charging in.
09:22He saw Ava on the floor crying and scooped her up instantly.
09:26Ava, hey.
09:28What happened?
09:29Ava buried her face in his chest, gasping between sobs.
09:32Daddy, she pushed me.
09:34Make her leave.
09:35I want Auntie Kara.
09:39Quinn.
09:40Have you lost your mind?
09:42She's four years old.
09:44I didn't hit her.
09:45I pushed her.
09:46Same thing.
09:47I looked down at the broken locket in my palm.
09:50No, hitting her would have been discipline.
09:52Pushing her?
09:53She earned it!
09:54Sebastian went still.
09:56He looked down at the little girl in his arms.
09:59Ava sniffled against his shoulder.
10:02I just told the truth.
10:04Auntie Kara said she's a broken old lady taking up space.
10:09She's a child.
10:10Let it go.
10:11Kara runs the household finances now.
10:13Ava overheard one comment and ran with it.
10:15Don't turn this into a whole thing.
10:16You know everything she does for this family.
10:18His eyes dropped to the broken locket in my hand.
10:22He went quiet for a second.
10:25I brought Ava here so you two could talk.
10:27But the other thing, not in front of her.
10:30I knew exactly what the other thing was.
10:32The divorce.
10:34I didn't say anything.
10:35Talk.
10:36About what exactly?
10:37Four years of marriage?
10:39The time Sebastian and Ava spent talking to me
10:41wouldn't add up to half the time he spent with Kara.
10:44And he had been the one who chased me.
10:47Back in college.
10:48Step by step.
10:49Pulling me in.
10:50Making me believe in something everyone around us
10:53had already given up on.
10:54I held onto that for so long.
10:57Waiting.
10:58Hoping.
10:59Until the day I finally got the answer I'd been waiting for.
11:02Maybe it was better.
11:03It never came.
11:05Mom was still at the care center waiting for me.
11:07I grabbed my bag and walked out.
11:09In the living room, Kara was crouched in front of Ava, murmuring softly.
11:14Why won't she look at us?
11:16She's so mean!
11:18She was used to me caving.
11:19Used to me coming back red-eyed.
11:21I'm sorry, baby.
11:22Mommy was wrong.
11:23So when I didn't even glance back,
11:25it felt like the cruelest thing I'd ever done to her.
11:28Sebastian said nothing.
11:29But I felt his stare like ice on the back of my neck.
11:32I kept walking.
11:33My hand touched the front door.
11:35Then he finally snapped.
11:36Don't you dare walk out that door!
11:39I stopped.
11:40Get over here.
11:41Apologize to Ava.
11:42You pushed her.
11:43You scared her.
11:44I stood there for a moment.
11:45This was probably the last time I'd ever see her.
11:48I had nothing left to fight about.
11:50I'm sorry.
11:51Mommy shouldn't have pushed you.
11:53Ava sniffled.
11:54And then she spat in my face.
11:56I felt it land on my cheek.
11:58Warm.
11:59Sliding down slowly.
12:00You're disgusting.
12:02You got what you deserved.
12:03Even a four-year-old knows trash when she sees it.
12:07I raised my hand and wiped my cheek.
12:10A smile crossed my face.
12:12I'm the one who's been cheating?
12:13Every setup had been sloppy.
12:15Obvious.
12:16Either he didn't see it, or he didn't want to.
12:18Fine.
12:19Four years, Sebastian.
12:20You had her in our lives for every single one of them.
12:23You put her in my home.
12:25You let her raise my daughter.
12:27So who's really the problem here?
12:30We're done pretending.
12:31We both know it.
12:33Kara's face drained.
12:34Her eyes filled instantly.
12:36How dare you say that?
12:38Sebastian, I swear, I never-
12:40Four years, Quinn.
12:42Are you done?
12:43You want to go there?
12:45Fine.
12:45Let me show you what that actually looks like.
12:48He told the nanny to take Ava out.
12:51Then he grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the bedroom.
12:54The door shut behind us.
12:56He used his tie to bind my wrists and shoved me to the floor.
13:02Then he turned, jerked her close, and buried his face in her neck.
13:08You want this?
13:09Kara hesitated for just a second.
13:12Then she wrapped her arms around him.
13:13Sebastian, I've been waiting so long for this.
13:17He pulled her in and they crashed together, hands everywhere.
13:21Clothes hit the floor.
13:23Sebastian.
13:24My voice scraped out of my throat.
13:26We're already getting divorced.
13:28Did you have to do this right in front of me?
13:33Humiliate you?
13:34Quinn, you think you're still worth that much to me?
13:37Kara curled around him from behind.
13:39She looked at me over his shoulder.
13:41Don't get distracted, baby.
13:43I closed my eyes.
13:44The tears came without a sound.
13:47Then the phone buzzed against the floor.
13:49Mom's number.
13:50Ms. Bennett, you need to come now.
13:51Your mother found out about the divorce.
13:53She's completely hysterical.
13:54She's out of her mind.
13:56She's on the roof.
13:57What?
13:58She said she wants to-
13:59The line went dead.
14:01Sebastian, something happened to my mom.
14:04Please, let me go.
14:05Funny timing, Quinn.
14:07A second ago, you wanted proof.
14:09Now you're desperate to run.
14:10I'm not making it up.
14:11That was the care center.
14:12She found out about the divorce and she's on the roof.
14:15She's going to-
14:16Enough!
14:17We just signed the papers today.
14:19How would she even know?
14:21You knew she couldn't handle stress.
14:23If you told her, that's on you.
14:25He turned back to Kara.
14:28Sebastian, I never told her.
14:30Please, just let me go.
14:32There's still time.
14:33She's the one who got hit by that car for you and Ava.
14:36Please don't do this.
14:37What is it this time, Quinn?
14:38Your mom again?
14:40You always pull the same card.
14:42Every time.
14:43Either it's that Ava is too young,
14:44or it's what your mom sacrificed for us.
14:47This is real.
14:48Please.
14:49Everyone knows your mother only jumped in front of that car because of Ava.
14:53Would she have done it for you alone?
14:56You've more than repaid that debt, Sebastian.
14:59Don't let her ruin this.
15:01Something shut off behind his eyes.
15:03He wasn't going to help me.
15:04I knew that now.
15:05I threw myself at the door.
15:07My head hit the wood.
15:08Something split open at my hairline.
15:10He crossed the room in three strides and grabbed me.
15:13You wanted proof.
15:14Fine.
15:15You're not going anywhere.
15:17He tore off a strip of tape and pressed it over my mouth.
15:20Then he picked me up and shoved me into the closet.
15:23Listen closely.
15:24This is what the truth sounds like.
15:27The last sliver of light disappeared.
15:29In the dark, I listened.
15:31Once and again.
15:35The next evening, Sebastian came home late.
15:38He stood in the living room for a moment, pressing two fingers to his temple.
15:41Quinn, I've got a headache.
15:43Can you make something for me?
15:44Silence.
15:45He frowned.
15:46Turned to the housekeeper.
15:47Where is she?
15:48Mr. Caldwell, I was about to ask you the same thing.
15:51Ava's been running a fever since this morning.
15:53A hundred and two.
15:54She keeps calling for her mom.
15:55And the care center called last night.
15:58Your wife's mother jumped from the roof.
15:59Her body is still there.
16:01No one has come to claim her.
16:02What did you just say?
16:03Did you let her out?
16:05Let her out of what?
16:06He was already moving.
16:07Up the stairs.
16:08Faster with every step.
16:10He threw open the closet door.
16:12Staggered back.
16:13The tape ripped apart.
16:15Blood smeared the door hinges where I had literally sawed myself free.
16:20He thought I'd been playing him.
16:23The whole time.
16:25The tears.
16:26The screaming.
16:27My mom on the roof.
16:28All of it.
16:29Nice performance.
16:31Mother and daughter running the same con.
16:33All of this just to squeeze money out of me.
16:36He pulled out his phone.
16:37Called me.
16:39Straight to voicemail.
16:40Keep an eye on Ava.
16:41I want to see exactly what game these two are running.
16:44Yes, sir.
16:45The morgue.
16:46A few nurses recognized Sebastian the moment he walked in.
16:50Their expressions shifted.
16:52You're Quinn's husband?
16:53Where have you been?
16:56She didn't come here?
16:58If she'd come, her mother wouldn't be dead.
17:00Last night, that woman stood on that roof for 30 minutes.
17:03We talked her down.
17:04Told her she had to see her daughter one last time.
17:06That worked.
17:07She stepped back.
17:08We called Quinn.
17:09We kept calling.
17:10She never picked up.
17:11Not once.
17:13Last night.
17:14He had thrown me into that closet.
17:16My phone had been on the floor across the room.
17:19Out of reach.
17:20I had heard every call and couldn't answer a single one.
17:24Her mother jumped because she found out about the divorce.
17:26It completely broke her.
17:28She went into a state of shock and wandered up to the roof.
17:30Came all the way down from that height.
17:32And her own daughter couldn't even show up for the last goodbye.
17:35What kind of person does that?
17:37Sebastian said nothing.
17:39He wanted to explain.
17:40But the words wouldn't come.
17:42The body can't stay here.
17:43You're her family.
17:44Sign the paperwork.
17:46And tell your wife this.
17:47Her mother's last words were,
17:49Tell my Quinn I love her.
17:50It wasn't her fault.
17:52She died defending her daughter.
17:53Make sure Quinn knows that.
17:55Who told her about the divorce?
17:56I never even signed.
17:57We don't know.
17:58Quinn hadn't been here in days.
18:00But a woman came to see her recently.
18:02Said her name was Kara.
18:04After that visit, she wasn't with the same.
18:06Kara.
18:07She came here.
18:09Of course she did.
18:10I never brought bad news home.
18:13Never.
18:14My mom was the last person I'd tell about the divorce.
18:17But Kara would.
18:19He took one step back.
18:21And Quinn's voice came back to him.
18:24My mom got hit by that car because of you and Ava.
18:28Please don't do this.
18:29Three years ago.
18:30Father's Day.
18:31He'd been walking with Ava along the sidewalk when the truck lost control.
18:35My mom had shoved them both out of the way.
18:37Took the full impact herself.
18:39Six steel pins in her leg.
18:42A permanent limp.
18:43Long-term care for the rest of her life.
18:45Mom.
18:46I'll take care of you.
18:47I promise.
18:48And at first, he had.
18:50But then the visits got shorter.
18:52Then stopped.
18:53He told himself the care center was no place for a child.
18:57The truth was simpler than that.
18:59He just forgot.
19:01The lights were on when he got home.
19:03Ava was on the couch.
19:04Cheeks flushed red.
19:06Daddy.
19:07Where's mommy?
19:09Why isn't she back?
19:11Mom's dealing with something.
19:12I don't care.
19:14I'm sick.
19:15I want mommy.
19:16She always stays with me when I'm sick.
19:18She tells me stories and gives me my medicine and holds me all night.
19:22She's so mean.
19:24Why won't she come back?
19:26Mommy.
19:28I want my mommy.
19:30It hit him all at once.
19:32The woman Ava cursed and the mother she was crying for were the same person.
19:36Every time Ava got sick, I had shown up.
19:39No matter what.
19:40I'd stay up all night watching her, holding her until the fever broke.
19:44Ava knew it without ever being told.
19:46Good days?
19:47Fun days?
19:48She ran to Auntie Kara.
19:50Sick days?
19:51Scared days?
19:52Nightmares in the dark?
19:53She called for mom.
19:54And now mom was gone.
19:56He picked her up, whispered something, and handed her to the housekeeper.
20:00He walked to the study and closed the door.
20:03The divorce papers were on the desk.
20:05My signature already on the line.
20:07His side still blank.
20:08He'd never intended to sign.
20:10He'd been furious when I signed so easily.
20:13More than furious.
20:14He thought I was the one who cheated.
20:16That I blew this apart.
20:17So why was I the one walking away clean?
20:20The first two times, I begged.
20:22Cried.
20:23Told him I couldn't do it.
20:24That's how it always went.
20:26Not this time.
20:27I signed without blinking.
20:29Left without looking back.
20:30Didn't even fight for Ava.
20:32And now, I couldn't even show up for my own mother's body.
20:36Four years.
20:37And I walked out like none of it happened.
20:40Like there was nothing left worth taking.
20:42He stared at my name on the paper.
20:44It made him sick.
20:46He opened our chat.
20:47Typed slowly.
20:48I took care of your mom's arrangements.
20:51No reply.
20:52He typed again.
20:54Ava has a fever.
20:55She keeps asking for you.
20:56Nothing.
20:57The study was quiet.
20:58Just the clock on the wall.
21:00Then the housekeeper screamed from down the hall.
21:02Well, Ava's having a febrile seizure.
21:05Sebastian burst into Ava's room.
21:08He scooped her up and ran.
21:09In the car, Ava was barely conscious, mumbling against his chest.
21:14Hera said mommy was horrible.
21:17She said just pull the plug and the old lady dies.
21:21Ticara said if I pulled the tube, the old lady would die.
21:25But grandma wasn't bad.
21:27She made things for me.
21:29Mommy, I'm sorry.
21:32Don't leave me.
21:34He looked down at her.
21:35Pull the plug.
21:37It came back to him.
21:38He remembered the night my mom's oxygen got disconnected.
21:42She had nearly died.
21:44I was so devastated that he finally caved and let Ava move back in with me.
21:49But shortly after that, he caught me in bed with another guy.
21:52That was the third time.
21:54And just like that, I gave up the kid.
21:57Walked away without a fight.
21:59Yesterday, Ava spat in my face.
22:01And somehow, that had become normal in his house.
22:05When?
22:06When did that become normal to her?
22:09They reached the hospital.
22:11The doctors rushed Ava into the ER.
22:14Sebastian leaned against the wall in the corridor, hands still shaking.
22:18He pulled out his phone and stared at the messages he'd sent.
22:21If Ava's fever couldn't bring me back, nothing would.
22:24The hallway was quiet.
22:25He closed his eyes.
22:27All he could see was me.
22:29Crying.
22:30Begging.
22:31The first time.
22:32The second time.
22:33The night my mom collapsed.
22:35Kara came rushing down the corridor, face tight with panic.
22:38How is she?
22:39Is Ava okay?
22:40Sebastian opened his eyes and looked at her.
22:42Kara basically grew up in his house.
22:44Her dad managed their money.
22:46He trusted her.
22:47He swore she cared about his family.
22:49But what Ava mumbled in the car changed everything.
22:53What have you been telling her?
22:54What?
22:56My daughter.
22:57Waste of money.
22:59Pull the plug.
23:00Was that you?
23:01I was just looking at the facts.
23:04The facts?
23:05She's four.
23:07You taught a four-year-old to spit at her own mom because of facts?
23:10Sebastian, listen.
23:11Get out!
23:13I'll pay you for last night.
23:14After that, you're done here.
23:16Don't ever come back.
23:17Kara's eyes filled with tears.
23:19Years of playing the long game.
23:20Just for it to end like this?
23:22She didn't say another word.
23:23Just turned and left.
23:25Sebastian leaned back against the wall.
23:27Sure, he let Kara cross some lines.
23:30But they never slept together.
23:32Honestly, he didn't realize she was throwing herself at him until yesterday.
23:35He pulled out his phone and called his assistant.
23:40Pull everything.
23:41January last year, the 8th of last month, and the hotel.
23:44I want every single detail on those three guys.
23:47Okay.
23:47Kara used to handle these background checks.
23:49But if she was setting me up this whole time?
23:52He opened our chat and typed,
23:54Quinn, I'm sorry.
23:56Five minutes.
23:58Ten minutes.
23:59Nothing.
23:59He tried again.
24:01Ava is asking for you.
24:02Please come back.
24:03He dropped to the floor, head in his hands.
24:05He couldn't stop thinking about last night.
24:08Me trapped inside that closet, hands bound, mouth taped shut.
24:12Forced to lie there in the dark and listen to him and Kara going at it right on our bed.
24:16He remembered me screaming that my mom was on the roof.
24:19And he just told me to stop acting crazy.
24:22His stomach violently heaved.
24:24For the first time in four years, he realized,
24:27he might be the monster in this story.
24:30Sebastian's phone buzzed against the floor.
24:32It was his assistant.
24:34What did you find?
24:35Mr. Caldwell.
24:36The men from the second and third incidents both received large transfers from the same account.
24:41Sir, it looks staged.
24:45He stared at the screen, his grip tightening around his phone.
24:48He thought back to the first affair.
24:51I was on my knees crying, swearing I didn't know the guy.
24:54He refused to believe me.
24:56The second time, I said I had no idea how I ended up in that hotel room.
25:00He still didn't believe me.
25:02The third time, I didn't say a single word.
25:05And he took my silence as guilt.
25:07Every single time, he let Kara handle the investigation.
25:11The evidence was always too perfect.
25:13He had his doubts, but he needed an excuse.
25:16He wanted to punish me for that pregnancy trap.
25:19For forcing him into this marriage.
25:21Back then, having Kara draft that prenup was just a sick way to humiliate me.
25:26Even he thought the clause about losing everything after three affairs was ridiculous.
25:30How could he ever let me cheat three times?
25:32He wouldn't even tolerate it once.
25:34But in the end, he was the one who practically set me up for it.
25:38He had destroyed his wife over a crime I didn't commit.
25:41Call the cops.
25:42Give them everything.
25:43And add everything you can on coaching a child to tamper with medical equipment.
25:47For the next few days, he stayed by Ava's hospital bed.
25:51Waiting for just one message from me.
25:55Ava kept waking up, mumbling,
25:58Where's mommy?
26:01He never had an answer.
26:03I had really done it.
26:04I had wiped them from my life.
26:06Not long after that, he got an urgent call from her kindergarten.
26:10When he rushed over, he found Ava huddled in a chair in the nurse's office.
26:14Busted lip.
26:15Bruised cheek.
26:16What happened?
26:17Ava refused to talk.
26:19Some kids said she didn't have a mom.
26:21Ava fought them.
26:26On the drive home, Ava looked at him in the rearview mirror.
26:29Daddy, did mommy throw me away because I spit at her?
26:34She wiped her nose.
26:35Auntie Kara told me if I spit at her, mommy would get scared and stay.
26:40She was packing her bags.
26:42I didn't want her to leave.
26:44Sebastian's hands gripped the steering wheel.
26:46He wanted to tell her.
26:47Mommy didn't abandon you.
26:49Daddy pushed her away.
26:50But his throat just locked up.
26:52It took two weeks to nail Kara.
26:54Not for the setup.
26:55There wasn't enough proof for that.
26:57So he set a trap.
26:58He had her dad investigated for cooking the books on the Caldwell accounts.
27:02Embezzlement.
27:03Millions.
27:04And Kara, as his lawyer, helped forge the documents.
27:07Slam dunk.
27:08When the cops kicked her door in...
27:10I gave you years of my life.
27:12This is how you treat me?
27:16You think locking me up brings her back?
27:18You're dreaming.
27:20Her mom is dead.
27:21She's never gonna forgive you.
27:23The cop cars drove off.
27:25He pulled out his phone and opened my chat.
27:27Hundreds of texts over the last two weeks.
27:30I'm sorry.
27:31Ava misses you.
27:32I was wrong.
27:33Not a single reply.
27:35Not blocked.
27:36Just ignored.
27:37He shoved the phone in his pocket and went to pick up Ava.
27:40She held his hand, their shadows stretching on the sidewalk.
27:43Daddy, did I make Mommy mad because I liked Auntie Kara better?
27:50No, baby.
27:51Daddy drove her away.
27:52Then just say sorry and bring her back.
27:55When Tommy broke my eraser, he said sorry and we were friends again.
28:00Sebastian didn't answer.
28:02He wanted to say sorry now, but I wasn't listening anymore.
28:07His mind flashed back to college.
28:09I was gorgeous, but I kept dodging him.
28:13Said our backgrounds were too different.
28:14He told me he'd handle the rest if I just gave him a chance.
28:18Then came graduation night.
28:20He drank a glass of wine, blacked out, and woke up in bed with me.
28:24Our clothes everywhere.
28:27He thought it was a trap.
28:28He thought I played the innocent card just to drug him and force a marriage.
28:33Then I got pregnant and his parents pushed hard for the marriage.
28:36That only made him resent me more.
28:39He hated me for it.
28:40For four years, he punished me.
28:43But after seeing how desperate Kara was to get in his bed last week,
28:47a sick realization hit him.
28:49A detail he'd ignored for years.
28:52That glass of wine on graduation night?
28:55Kara was the one who handed it to him.
28:57It wasn't me trying to trap him.
29:00It was Kara.
29:02I just walked into the wrong room at the wrong time.
29:05I took the fall.
29:07He had spent four years punishing the wrong woman.
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