- 8 hours ago
Rebirth - Her Life Swap at the Adoption day
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Short filmTranscript
00:02In my previous life, I was adopted by the struggling Rivers family, while my sister
00:08Abby went to the Old Money Sterlings. However, Abby got cut off by the Sterlings in five years,
00:14and was soon found dead on the street. Me? I clawed my way to a full scholarship at Stavison
00:19High School, got into Wharton together with my foster brother Caleb Rivers, and after graduation
00:24built a fintech empire with our bare hands. Then, we had two beautiful kids and the happy
00:29life continued. This time around, when everything went back to the very beginning, the adoption
00:34day, Abby made the opposite choice. She ran toward the Rivers family, which was my family
00:39from our previous life. Bro. Anna, this time, you will have the Old Money suffering. That
00:46place eats people alive. I couldn't stand another second. I looked at Caleb Rivers, my husband
00:51from the previous life, expecting him to say something, only to find him pull Abby behind
00:56and shield her from my sight. His gaze turned ice cold. Stay away from my sister. Eventually,
01:02under her victorious stare, I walked toward the black Cadillac Escalade ESV. Abby's words
01:07told me everything I needed to know. The second time life chants, she had it just like I did.
01:12Reading her expression, I understood exactly what she thought she'd won. The Sterlings hadn't
01:17sent anyone except a chauffeur. Get in, miss. Crisp uniform, white gloves. Same as last life,
01:23when the director of St. Agnes Children's Home let us choose. Abby moved first. Back then,
01:29she'd been so arrogant then too. I can't live poor, Anna. You can have that struggle. She went
01:35to the Sterlings chauffeur, got her Upper East Side mansion life, but her smile faded a little
01:39more each day. This time, she swapped the choice, and I was the one walking to the escalade. The
01:45chauffeur briefed me on house rules for the Sterling estate as we drove. Did you get all that?
01:49Yes, sir. We arrived quickly. I followed the chauffeur through. A Georgian revival mansion.
01:55That looked like a palace. Mrs. Sterling, she's here. A beautiful lady looked up from her earl grey
02:01in the sunroom. She looked me over, waved me closer. You. What's your name? Anna. Anna. The name
02:07the St. Agnes director gave me, hoping my life would be filled with grace and favor. Good. From now on,
02:14you're Anna Sterling. Albert, take her up. Yes, ma'am. I followed the house manager, Albert,
02:21step by step. Mahogany banisters, Calicata marble floors, luxury everywhere. I'd earned all of this
02:27myself in my previous life. Nothing here impressed me. Albert glanced back, something like surprise
02:33flickering across his face. He opened a door. A massive princess suite lay beyond. Miss, this is
02:39your room from now on. Rest a while, I'll return later. I entered, studying my surroundings. Excellent
02:45taste. The Sterling spared no expense for their adopted daughter. Old money refinement everywhere.
02:51Fret linens. Lalite crystal. A Monet sketch on the wall that most people would miss. A wave of
02:56exhilaration crashed through me. Last life. Without powerful family backing, I built a successful life
03:02with my own two hands. This life. With the Sterling name behind me, I'd forge a path entirely my own.
03:08While I was pondering, shouts erupted behind me and the door suddenly burst open.
03:18Hey country bumper, get my ball. If I remembered correctly, this was Ethan Sterling. The Sterling's
03:24only son. Street racing and base jumping lover. Classic trust fund kid. Couldn't care less about the
03:30family private equity firm. Last life. He crashed during an illegal street race at wild track,
03:36resulting in compression injuries to his lower body. After that, with no way escaping from being
03:41paralyzed for life, his temper turned explosive. Yo, you spacing out? You deaf or something? I snapped
03:47back, picked up the basketball, handed it over. Remembering the chauffeur's advice, I called out
03:52lightly. Bro, here you go. Pretty good at sucking up. You think that's gonna get you a piece of Sterling
03:58trust? He scoffed and walked out. The next few days, I barely saw Mrs. Sterling. Ethan was even
04:05more elusive. Albert showed me around the mansion. Massive place. When the tour finished, he handed me
04:11a schedule. This is your curriculum from tomorrow. One-on-one tutoring in corporate finance, investment
04:17strategy, and estate management. Mrs. Sterling arranged everything. Study hard, and there'll be
04:22unexpected benefits. Can you handle it? I'd learned all of this when I started my company last life.
04:29Getting it at 15, I couldn't be happier. Absolutely. To keep me from falling behind in middle school,
04:35Mrs. Sterling hired a tutor for that too. Now that I'd already mastered everything last life,
04:40this would be just child's play. Within a year, I'd absorbed it all and started applying it.
04:45This kid is amazing. Not only has she mastered all the middle and high school corculum,
04:51but she's actually absorbing those sophisticated corporate finance courses. At this rate,
04:57she won't even need high school. She could go straight to a gap year program abroad.
05:02But Mrs. Sterling had other plans. She wanted me to accompany Ethan through Hawthorne Preparatory Academy,
05:08then apply to Ivy's or European Prestigious Together. For mutual support, she would euphemize it.
05:14Come here. She took my hand, sat me down, and handed me an acceptance letter.
05:19Ethan can't get his grades up. I need you help him. The bar is low. Just get him to pass.
05:25Once you graduate from Hawthorne, I'll send you both to Ivy's or abroad. How's that?
05:30I didn't hesitate and sealed the deal. Thank you, mom. Good girl.
05:34As a reward, Mrs. Sterling gave me an Amex black card. For my one day hanging out,
05:39the chauffeur dropped me in bustling. Fifth Avenue, and I stepped out alone.
05:43Abby, standing in the blazing sun, handing out flyers.
05:49The rivers were broke, barely scraping by, so that her working made no surprise for me.
05:55After all, I'd done the same in my previous life. Summer breaks. Three jobs daily.
06:00Dunkin' Donuts morning shift. Target stocking. Uber eats nights. While keeping up with schoolwork.
06:06Plus endless chores for my foster parents. They claimed to treat us equally.
06:10They never made Caleb lift a finger for the labor. I found out later that the rivers adopted me not
06:15because they wanted a daughter, but because they wanted free labor. More importantly,
06:20foster care stipend plus child tax credit would suffice the broke family a decent income.
06:25Hi, would you like to check it out? A flyer thrust toward me.
06:29Abby's voice died when she looked up.
06:36Anna?
06:37Noticing my low-rope and a cashmere sweater and my well-maintained skin, jealousy flashed in her face,
06:43but smile replaced it very soon.
06:45You're living the good life now, huh? But don't blame I didn't warn you.
06:48The Sterlings are way more twisted than you think.
06:50Mrs. Sterling? She's a horrible dragon lady. You'll find out soon enough.
06:54Oh, the rivers are so good to me. I'm living a fulfilling life. Caleb even tutors me in math.
07:01Oh, and we got into Hawthorne Prep on full scholarship this year.
07:05Hawthorne Prep. The same acceptance letter Mrs. Sterling just gave me.
07:09Those admitted were legacy kids and donor families, mostly.
07:12Of course, there were some exceptional vacancies for merit scholarship students.
07:17In my previous life, Caleb and I were the exceptional admits.
07:20Our future is only going up. And you? You're going to be cut off by the Sterling and end up
07:25dead in the street.
07:26So certain she was.
07:28Abby!
07:28My lips parted to respond when a male voice interrupted.
07:32Bags in hand, I went back to the Sterlings.
07:35In fact, none of the bags was for me, and most were for Mrs. Sterling and Ethan.
07:40Yo, you've been here, what, five minutes? Already shopping on our dime? You think Sterling money is yours?
07:45Ethan!
07:46She's your sister.
07:47She's no sister of mine. I don't have some trailer park sister. I'd be embarrassed to be seen with her.
07:53Ethan and I never got along, so I didn't go looking for trouble to confront.
07:58Mom, this is for you.
07:59Oh, it's beautiful.
08:01I hope you like it.
08:03Please, you think some gifts buy loyalty? Who do you think?
08:09Bro, this is for you.
08:11I heard mom said you're into street racing. Saw this at the mall and thought of you.
08:16Soon, it was the first day of school. I'd planned to call Uber, but when I stepped outside, I find
08:22the Sterling car still waiting.
08:24It was waiting for me.
08:26Bro!
08:27Who are you calling bro? Told you I'm not your bro. Hurry up, you're wasting my time. My time is
08:31valuable.
08:31Oh, okay.
08:33Who eats breakfast?
08:35Mom said, one for each.
08:37Cool boy outside. Good boy indeed, apparently.
08:41Listen up. At school, you don't know me. We are not related. Got it? Or else, I'll make you regret
08:47it.
08:48Miss, please don't mind this. Master Ethan just acts like this, but he never means harm.
08:52I'm fine.
08:55What a coincidence.
08:56Immediately when I got off, I saw two familiar figures at the school gate.
09:00Oh my god, isn't that the valedictorian from Jefferson Middle?
09:03I heard he's a National Merit Scholarship winner. And his sister, too. She's in the top percentile.
09:09By placement test scores, I landed in AP track. Coincidentally, the same homeroom as Caleb and Abby.
09:16Ethan got dumped in the lowest standard track class.
09:19What a coincidence, sis. Didn't expect us to be in the same class.
09:23Then again, the Sterlings have enough pull to get anyone in. Unlike Caleb and me, we had to grind for
09:27our scores.
09:28Oh, where's that useless Sterling son? I, knowing Mrs. Sterling, she must have bought his way in, too.
09:34I told you to stay away from her.
09:35Bro, Anna's not a bad person.
09:37How do you know she's not?
09:39With the school-packed schedule all day, I had no time for their drama time.
09:44Pulled out investments theory. I threw myself into learning.
09:47Class ended. Ethan and I had agreed to meet at the school gate.
09:51Going home together, he'd refused initially.
09:53However, his mother, Mrs. Sterling, forced it. Days passed.
09:57He still looked reluctant, but started bringing me food from the campus food trucks.
10:02Seeing a cupcake from a local bakery appeared in front of me. I froze.
10:06I see other girls in class eating these. You don't like it?
10:09Like it? I love it.
10:11The next weekdays, there were different snacks daily.
10:14Philly cheesesteak, acai bowl, Korean corn dog.
10:17He was working through every food truck near campus.
10:20A semester passed and our relationship improved significantly.
10:24That day, I rushed to the school gate as usual, full of anticipation.
10:29No sign of him.
10:30I searched the entire campus, only to hear the voices reach.
10:34Yo, you heard? Ethan Sterling agreed to a race up at Wild Track.
10:38For real?
10:40Yeah. It should be starting right about now.
10:42My heart dropped as I remembered.
10:44In my previous life, Ethan got goaded into accepting a street racing challenge where his Mustang GT got sabotaged.
10:51At the complex canyon terrain, the crash was catastrophic.
10:55No timely rescue in Ethan was rendered paralyzed for life.
10:58No. It must not happen this time.
11:01I ran for Wild Track Canyon like a madwoman.
11:04When I arrived, the race had already started.
11:08Crowds everywhere.
11:09Screams and cheers deafening.
11:12Modified cars whipped past, kicking up dust.
11:15Then, a massive crash.
11:17The red Mustang GT lost control right in front of me, slamming into the guardrail.
11:22The crowd scattered like birds.
11:26Bro!
11:26I rushed forward, almost reached him.
11:29The very moment I almost pulled him out, a force grabbed me from behind and threw me down.
11:34That's your brother?
11:37Call 911! My brother's dying!
11:39I looked at Ethan, crushed in the driver's seat.
11:42Barely any space to survive.
11:46Your brother dissed me.
11:48You think I'm gonna let you save him?
11:49Keep dreaming.
11:50A massive hand slapped my face back and forth, mockingly.
11:54I shoved him off, slapped him hard, screamed.
12:00This is attempted murder!
12:02This is a felony!
12:03I won't let you get away with this!
12:05Trying to intimidate them, I fumbled for my iPhone.
12:09Phone snatched.
12:11Thrown away.
12:12A brutal slap sent me sprawling.
12:17Little girl, who do you think you are talking to?
12:20A foot pressed into my face.
12:22Agony exploded.
12:23Through the haze, I saw a familiar figure.
12:27Caleb.
12:28Bro, help me!
12:30Caleb started towards me.
12:32Then Abby grabbed his arm.
12:33Bro, what are you looking at?
12:34Let's not get involved.
12:35Those guys are bad news.
12:36I watched Caleb's expression shift from struggle to compliance.
12:39He looked at me deeply.
12:43Okay.
12:44Finally turned and left.
12:47The man pulled a tire iron from his car.
12:53Nobody's ever slapped me.
12:55Today, you'll learn the price of that slap.
12:57He raised the iron, brought it down.
12:59I squeezed my eyes shut at impact.
13:02A grunt sounded beside me.
13:03I snapped my eyes open.
13:05Ethan shielded me.
13:06Blood dripped from his mouth.
13:08Splashed onto my face.
13:10Panic seized my heart.
13:11Bro, bro!
13:13Ethan, don't scare me!
13:14I watched Ethan collapse before me.
13:17Heart dropping.
13:20Bro, don't scare me!
13:22Wake up!
13:23So noisy!
13:24The man grabbed my hair, yanked me up.
13:26Keep screaming.
13:27I'll sew your mouth shut and make you mute for life.
13:31Urgency overwhelmed fear.
13:33I grabbed his hand.
13:35This is attempted murder.
13:38I've already called 911.
13:39You better let us go now or else.
13:41Neck seized.
13:42Choking.
13:43No air.
13:44I couldn't speak.
13:45911?
13:47You think that scares me?
13:49Even if they come, I ain't scared.
13:52I'll show you what happens to people who cross me.
13:56Watched his face twist.
13:58Threw me aside.
13:59I crashed down.
14:00Before I recovered, he strode to Ethan.
14:03Kicked him.
14:04Ethan curled on the ground.
14:06Struggling in pain.
14:08Bro!
14:09Don't hit my bro!
14:11Screamed with all my strength.
14:13Still couldn't stop his kick.
14:15I went flying.
14:18You say don't hit, then I don't?
14:20Where's my rule then?
14:22The man waved and his crew swarmed.
14:24Surrounding Ethan.
14:26Fists and feet rained down.
14:27Blood sprayed dirt.
14:30I spotted a crowbar on the ground, lunging for it.
14:34Get away from him!
14:36Hit one.
14:36Hit two.
14:37They scattered from my frenzy.
14:42Once they backed off.
14:43I grabbed Ethan.
14:45Pulled him up.
14:46Blood poured from his mouth.
14:47My hands shook.
14:49Bro, you okay?
14:50Hold on.
14:51Please don't die.
14:52Let me get you out of here.
14:54I lifted him.
14:56Dragged toward the exit.
14:57Down the canyon.
14:59I gritted my teeth.
15:00Step by step.
15:06Where are you going?
15:08You really think you two are getting out of here today?
15:13Yeah, you hit our boss and think you can walk away?
15:16Ask us first.
15:17A muscle-bound thug stepped forward.
15:20Even with Mrs. Sterling's professional MMA coach.
15:23Facing this monster in more than one no confidence.
15:26Oh, Mike.
15:27Just go.
15:29Weak voice in my ear.
15:31Ethan tried to push me away.
15:32His strength nothing compared to mine now.
15:36No, we leave together.
15:38I'm not leaving you behind.
15:41My first defiance of him since I came to the Sterlings.
15:44Applause.
15:46How touching.
15:47Then the man's eyes turned vicious.
15:49But it's over.
15:50Unprepared, I went down.
15:53Ethan were all with me.
15:54They closed in slowly.
15:56Guys, get her.
15:58Whoever hits hardest gets the biggest cut.
16:00They surged like floodwaters.
16:02Bro!
16:03Instinctively, I shielded Ethan first.
16:06Can't let him get hurt.
16:08Absolutely cannot.
16:09Gunshot.
16:11No pain came.
16:14Freeze!
16:15Hands up!
16:17NYCPD.
16:18The cavalry.
16:19Finally.
16:21The triumphant crew scattered in panic.
16:24I grabbed an officer's sleeve, begged them to get Ethan to the hospital.
16:28Stretcher arrived.
16:30Watching Ethan loaded into the ambulance,
16:32My heart finally settled.
16:34I blacked out.
16:37When I woke up the next afternoon,
16:39Mrs. Sterling at my bedside.
16:43Anna, you're awake.
16:45Red-rimmed eyes.
16:46Anxious face.
16:47Yeah.
16:49Where's Ethan?
16:50How is he?
16:51At Ethan's name,
16:52Mrs. Sterling wiped tears.
16:55Ethan, he's out of surgery.
16:57Still in post-observation.
17:00The doctor told us.
17:02Rest assured, we saved his legs.
17:05It was a close call any later, and we might not have been able to.
17:08He needs rest now.
17:09His bast.
17:09His back took a severe hit, but luckily, no spinal cord damage.
17:14Ethan woke two days later.
17:18His eyes found me.
17:21Sis, you okay?
17:22First time since I'd arrived.
17:24First time he'd called me sister.
17:27What did you call her?
17:29Sister.
17:32Mrs. Sterling patted my shoulder.
17:34I knew what it meant.
17:36They accepted me.
17:37Good girl.
17:39No more street racing.
17:40You behave.
17:41Study hard with Anna.
17:42Once you graduate from Hawthorne, I'll arrange your uni path.
17:47Okay, with sis.
17:49Mrs. Sterling held my hand tight.
17:51Warmth flowed from her palm.
17:53At that moment, I knew I had family.
17:55I will protect you and never let this happen again.
17:58Don't be so stupid next time.
17:59Rushing in alone like that.
18:01You got me?
18:02I agreed.
18:03Yeah, what?
18:04Inside, I knew next time.
18:06Every time, same situation, same choice.
18:09Three months in the hospital.
18:11I applied for homeschooling and independent study, taking care of Ethan for three months.
18:16Meanwhile, I start tutoring him through junior year material.
18:20Ethan's first month after recovery, we returned to school, and we caught the first midterm exam.
18:25Leaving the exam hall, I ran into two long unseen faces.
18:29Caleb and Abby.
18:30Abby paused.
18:31Fane surprised.
18:32Anna, when did you come back to school?
18:34I heard you got hurt.
18:35Was it serious?
18:36I thought you dropped out.
18:37I read the schadenfreude and her exaggerated expression.
18:40Ignored her.
18:42Walked past.
18:44Anna.
18:44Caleb stopped me.
18:46Rarely, no disgust on his face.
18:49You okay?
18:50Remembering that day, my helplessness up his decisive abandonment, which was unacceptable
18:54because even a stranger would do better.
18:56I held not any slice of former affection toward Caleb, my foster brother and later husband
19:01in my former life.
19:02I'm fine.
19:03I turned to leave.
19:04He blocked me again, grabbed my hand.
19:07What do you think you're doing?
19:08When I was about to break free, a backpack whistled through the air, hitting Caleb squarely.
19:14What are you doing grabbing my sister like that?
19:17Bro, don't mind them.
19:18Let's go.
19:20What's his problem?
19:22Next time he touches you, you tell me.
19:23I'm fine.
19:24Let's go home.
19:25Sis, I'm telling you, my midterm grades are going to be insane.
19:27I'm definitely making it into AP track, sitting next to you.
19:30Believe it?
19:30I believe you.
19:32So dismissive.
19:33I'm not.
19:34I'm serious.
19:35I'd never doubted Ethan's intelligence.
19:37He was smart, just unwilling to learn in the past days.
19:41After three months of tutoring, I'd felt him progressing.
19:44My instincts were right.
19:46A week later, midterm results were released.
19:48Ethan shot from remedial track to honors track.
19:50Met AP track requirements.
19:52My GPA stayed steady at 4.0 unweighted.
19:54What shocked me, Caleb and Abby, formerly top 5%, had fallen out of top 30%.
20:00They were demoted to standard track.
20:02How is this possible?
20:04How?
20:06Anna, you must have cheated!
20:09Bro, what are you doing here?
20:10Abby lit up, threw herself into Caleb Rivers' arms.
20:14Mom asked me to bring you lunch.
20:15It's scorching out here.
20:17Why don't I take over for a bit?
20:18Nah, bro.
20:19I got this.
20:19The Rivers' parents would grit their teeth, paying for Caleb's expensive Kaplan SAT prep,
20:24thanks to which Abby had to run busy over part-time jobs.
20:28Last life.
20:28They'd squeeze all my spare time, too.
20:31You're working too hard.
20:32Bro, this is my sister, Anna.
20:34You saw her at St. Agnes.
20:36Stay away from people like that.
20:37Let's go.
20:38Bro, why so harsh?
20:39You'll scare others.
20:40Silly sis, that girl looks trouble.
20:42You stay away from her, or she'll take advantage of you someday.
20:44Their voices faded.
20:45My heart rippled, but barely.
20:47Seeing me coming out with bags.
20:49Abby's face turned green.
20:50Whatever.
20:51You're gonna die soon.
20:53Unlike me and Caleb, we're gonna build a unicorn stead-up someday.
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