- 8 hours ago
Three Ex Husbands, One Scam👑🔥 drama
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00:00On April Fool's Day, my husband, Blaio, handed me divorce papers.
00:04Your two exes called me yesterday, talking shit.
00:07They said you're too uptight, can't take an April Fool's joke.
00:11Said you'd never have the guts to sign divorce papers.
00:16Honey, you wouldn't make me look bad in front of them, would you?
00:19I have two ex-husbands, my childhood friends, Mako and Liu.
00:23But those first two marriages were just business to help their families out of a jam.
00:27Only my marriage to Blaire was for love.
00:30I felt I'd finally found my home, until I overheard the three of them talking.
00:36Lucia's sick.
00:37Her dying wish is for the three of us to spend one whole month with her.
00:41Just the three of us.
00:43Blaire, you can handle that, can't you?
00:45Of course. I'll get Eliana to sign the divorce papers.
00:48I'll just tell her it's an April Fool's joke.
00:51And we'll get remarried after the month is up.
00:53I heard everything. I didn't let on.
00:55I just calmly signed the papers.
00:57Then, I texted my father, the godfather of the Moretti family.
01:01Father, I'm divorced.
01:03That arranged marriage you mentioned, is the offer still on the table?
01:06I was standing outside our front door,
01:08holding a gift from Chicago handmade candies from that century-old chocolate shop Blaire loves.
01:14The conversation inside continued.
01:17Will Eliana go for it?
01:18Of course she will.
01:20She's a Moretti.
01:21She knows the rules.
01:23Besides, Ellie's a pup over.
01:24Never makes waves.
01:26Exactly.
01:27She's gotten us out of so much trouble.
01:29This time will be no different.
01:31Ever since we got married,
01:32Blair had always acted like he hated Marco and Leo.
01:35I thought he was jealous.
01:36I was even a little smug about it.
01:39Now I knew the truth.
01:40The three of them were clues.
01:41So close, they could plot against me together.
01:45I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
01:47So that's all I was to them.
01:49My feelings, my dignity, my marriage.
01:52Just tools for them to use.
01:54I sat in the car for an entire afternoon,
01:57letting the chill seep through my whole body.
01:59My phone buzzed.
02:00A text from Blair.
02:02Babe, how was the trip?
02:03Got home soon.
02:04I miss you.
02:05I stated the words,
02:06I miss you,
02:07and almost laughed.
02:08I got out of the car,
02:10tossed the box of chocolates in the trash,
02:12and pushed open the front door.
02:13Blair shot up from the sofa,
02:15a perfect smile on his face.
02:17Ellie, you're back.
02:20How was the road?
02:21He walked over,
02:23smoothly taking my coat and handbag,
02:25and gave me a light kiss on the cheek.
02:27He'd done it for a year.
02:29It always made me feel warm.
02:30Now, it just made me sick.
02:32I subtly wiped my cheek.
02:35Blair sat down next to me,
02:36his expression suddenly serious.
02:40Ellie, I need to talk to you about something.
02:43Here we go.
02:44I fought with a cold smile,
02:46but I kept my face,
02:48a mask of confusion.
02:49The commission is auditing the family's assets.
02:53The lawyers are suggesting a temporary divorce,
02:56just on paper.
02:58It's to protect you,
02:59keep you from getting dragged into this.
03:01A temporary divorce?
03:03He explained eagerly.
03:04Then his face fell into a wounded look.
03:07It's just a formality.
03:09As soon as I clean up the family business,
03:10we'll get remarried.
03:12And yesterday,
03:13those bastards Marco and Leo called me.
03:15They said since you've been married twice,
03:17you'd never dare to divorce again.
03:18That you can't take an April Fool's joke.
03:20He was a damn good actor.
03:22If this were the Oscars,
03:23he'd take home best actor.
03:25How could they say that?
03:27I know.
03:28And I wasn't going to take that.
03:30I know my wife is the bravest woman there is.
03:33You're not afraid of anything.
03:35He pulled the papers out from under the coffee table
03:38and handed them to me.
03:39I took the file and skimmed it.
03:41It detailed it to the division of assets.
03:43Most of his property,
03:45his stocks,
03:46his real estate.
03:47It was all going to me.
03:49Tomorrow,
03:50we'll give them the shock of their lives.
03:53I almost laughed out loud.
03:55He was so damn sure of himself.
03:57So certain we'd be remarried soon.
03:59That this was all just for show.
04:01I picked up the pen on the table
04:03and signed my name at the bottom of the agreement
04:05with a clean, sharp stroke.
04:08Done.
04:08You should call them now.
04:10I want to hear it when their jaws hit the ground.
04:12Blair froze for a second,
04:14clearly not expecting me to sign so quickly,
04:16so decisively.
04:17I pushed the papers back to him with a sweet smile.
04:19He looked a bit dazed as he collected the agreement,
04:22then planted a soft kiss on my forehead.
04:25I knew you'd understand.
04:26You're the best wife in the world.
04:29Then he took his phone
04:30and walked into the study.
04:31I sat in the living room
04:33through the half-open study door.
04:35I clearly heard his hushed voice.
04:38She signed.
04:39Yeah, didn't even hesitate.
04:41We'll file tomorrow.
04:43In a month we can...
04:45I told you Ellie was easy!
04:47She's still so gullible!
04:49After you're done with Lucia,
04:50make it up to Alana.
04:51Don't let her get too bent out of shape.
04:53Of course.
04:55She's my wife after all.
04:57A moment later,
04:58my own phone laid up with two messages.
05:01The first, from Marco.
05:03Long time no see.
05:04When I get together.
05:05The second, from Leo.
05:07Ellie, heard you're getting divorced again.
05:09Don't be sad.
05:10I always said that guy wasn't good enough for you.
05:12How about I buy you a drink?
05:14I used to think our friendship
05:16was the most important thing in the world.
05:19Marco asked me to marry him
05:20to secure his position
05:21as heir to the Falcone family.
05:24I did it.
05:24Leo asked me to marry him
05:26to get out of and arrange marriage.
05:28I did that too.
05:29And what did I get for it?
05:30I didn't reply.
05:31I just flipped my phone face down on the table.
05:33Back in the bedroom,
05:35I silently pulled the suitcase
05:36from the closet.
05:37After a year of marriage,
05:39I didn't have much.
05:41The clothes and jewelry
05:42Blair had given me,
05:43I left them all behind.
05:44Just as I was zipping up the suitcase,
05:47the doorbell rang.
05:48It was Lucia.
05:48I sat at the door
05:50and watched as she stumbled in,
05:51drunk,
05:52and threw herself into Blair's arms.
05:56Blair,
05:57I missed you so I came over.
05:59Blair instinctively glanced back at me,
06:02a flash of panic in his eyes.
06:05Lucia's drunk.
06:06She insisted on coming to see an old friend.
06:08We couldn't stop her.
06:08Alicia's still here.
06:09Have some respect.
06:10You think it's okay for a drunk woman
06:12to be hanging all over you?
06:13Blair immediately pushed Lucia away.
06:15You knew that?
06:16And you still brought her to my house?
06:19Who's the one with no respect?
06:22We're protecting Lucia's reputation.
06:24That's better than some guy
06:26who's getting cozy with another woman
06:27in front of his wife.
06:29All right, all right.
06:30Let's not fight over something so small.
06:33Lucia's just had too much to drink.
06:34She doesn't mean any harm.
06:36Then he looked at me,
06:37his eyes searching my face.
06:39You don't mind, do you, Ileana?
06:42Of course not.
06:44I watched their perfectly rehearsed
06:46little play unfold.
06:47Leo, the righteous accuser.
06:49Marco, the peacemaker.
06:51Blair, the wronged husband defending his honor.
06:54If I hadn't heard them celebrating on the phone earlier,
06:57I might have actually believed
06:59they couldn't stand each other.
07:00I thought about our old friendship.
07:03Marco, Leo, and I,
07:05we grew up together.
07:06We were the three musketeers,
07:08closer than blood.
07:09My father was always busy with family business,
07:13and everyone else kept their distance
07:15because of the Moretti name.
07:17Only Marco was willing to teach me how to shoot,
07:20taking me to the range every weekend.
07:22Leo even took a bullet for me from a rival family.
07:25He still has the scar on his left shoulder.
07:28Back then, we were the only people in the world
07:30we could trust.
07:31But that all changed when Lucia showed up.
07:34She came to Chicago from Italy,
07:37all bold and fiery.
07:38She became the center of everyone's world,
07:41including Marco's and Leo's.
07:42They started revolving around her,
07:44forming a new circle.
07:46I was slowly pushed to the sidelines,
07:48only remembered when they needed the Moretti family
07:51to solve a problem.
07:52The cracks were always there.
07:54I just chose to ignore them.
07:55Only the day was I willing to face the ugly truth.
07:59Lucia finally seemed to notice me,
08:01the lady of the house.
08:03Ileana?
08:04Long time no see.
08:06I've always felt so bad.
08:08I know you think I stole Marco and Leo from you,
08:11but I really didn't mean to.
08:13Marco's heart instantly melted.
08:16He gently steadied her,
08:17and the look he gave me was sharp with annoyance.
08:20What are you talking about?
08:21Nobody stole anybody.
08:23That's right, Lucia.
08:24Anything that can be stolen
08:25wasn't really mine to begin with.
08:28You all came at the perfect time tonight.
08:30There's something I want you all to see.
08:32I walked to the coffee table
08:33and picked up the signed divorce papers.
08:36I want to make this clear in front of everyone.
08:38These are my divorce papers with Blair.
08:41I've already signed.
08:42Blair looked panicked for a second,
08:44clearly not expecting me to announce it like this,
08:46but he recovered quickly.
08:48He took a step forward,
08:49his voice dripping with fake concern.
08:54Ilyana, you don't have to do this.
08:56Well, if you're divorced,
08:57then I guess you'll be giving me my ring back.
08:58Aphros, my eyes dropping to the diamond on my ring finger.
09:02What do you mean?
09:03My voice was dry.
09:05Lucia smiled smugly.
09:06Take the ring off and look at the inner bang.
09:08My name is still engraved on it.
09:10Slowly, I twisted off the ring that had once made my heart leap and turned it over.
09:16Among the delicate filigree, I saw our names,
09:19Blair and Eliana,
09:20but in a tiny, almost hidden spot was a line in Italian.
09:25Per Semperi,
09:26Mia Lucia,
09:27In that moment,
09:28the world started to spin.
09:29I looked at Blair,
09:31desperate for him to explain,
09:33to deny it,
09:34to tell me it was all a mistake.
09:35But he wouldn't meet my eyes.
09:37He just stood there,
09:38silent.
09:39I remembered the day he proposed.
09:41He was on one knee,
09:43looking at me with so much love.
09:45I had this ring custom made just for you.
09:47It's one of a kind in the world,
09:48just like you are in my heart.
09:50I cried,
09:51thinking I was the luckiest woman alive.
09:53It turned out,
09:54the ring was never meant for me.
09:55It belonged to Lucia.
09:57It had her name on it.
09:58It was a promise of his love for her.
10:00And me,
10:01I was just the placeholder.
10:03I looked down at the divorce papers,
10:05and suddenly,
10:06I smiled.
10:07Right then,
10:08I was so glad I had signed them.
10:09I said,
10:10placing the ring on the coffee table,
10:13If it has your name on it,
10:17then it's yours.
10:19Lucia's eyes lit up.
10:20She snatched the ring,
10:21slid it onto her own finger,
10:23and admired it.
10:25Thank you, Eliana.
10:26It really does suit me.
10:28Eliana,
10:28let me explain.
10:30Blair finally said,
10:32stepping forward,
10:33to grab my hand,
10:34but,
10:34I had already turned,
10:36and was walking toward the stairs.
10:38Don't bother.
10:39Since we're divorced,
10:40I shouldn't be living here anymore.
10:42My office,
10:439 a.m. tomorrow,
10:44will finish the paperwork.
10:45I dragged my suitcase out the door,
10:48with Blair calling my name behind me,
10:50full of panic.
10:51I didn't stop.
10:52From behind me,
10:53I heard Marco's low chuckle.
10:55Nice one, Blair.
10:57She folded even caster,
10:58than when Leo and I,
10:59got her to sign our marriage contracts.
11:00Lucia can't wait much longer.
11:02Let's head out tomorrow.
11:04Once the car was moving,
11:05my phone buzzed,
11:06a text from Blair.
11:08Eliana,
11:08I will explain about the ring.
11:10Find a place to stay for now,
11:12and I'll come get you in a few days.
11:13Be good.
11:14Don't overthink things.
11:15I looked at the message,
11:17a sneer playing on my lips.
11:18He still thinks I'm coming back.
11:20I gave my dad a call.
11:22Father,
11:22I'm divorced.
11:23That arranged marriage you mentioned,
11:25is the offer still on the table?
11:27Of course,
11:28my dear daughter.
11:29I'm glad you finally made a wise decision.
11:31A year ago,
11:33after my second divorce,
11:34my father had suggested,
11:36an arranged marriage,
11:37to a man from a powerful,
11:39allied family.
11:40But I was lost in my fantasy,
11:42of falling in love with Blair,
11:44and refused.
11:45How stupid I had been.
11:46Half an hour later,
11:48I got a new friend request on my phone.
11:50The message read,
11:51Time to meet your fiancé.
11:53The next morning,
11:54at nine,
11:55I arrived at my downtown office,
11:57with the Moretti family's private lawyer.
11:59Blair was already there,
12:00looking exhausted,
12:01and anxious.
12:02He clearly hadn't slept.
12:04Eliana,
12:05about the ring,
12:05I have to explain.
12:06The jeweler messed up the engraving.
12:08I was going to get it replaced,
12:09but there wasn't time,
12:10and I didn't want to upset you,
12:12over something so small.
12:13I figured,
12:13I'd quietly get you a new one,
12:15after the wedding.
12:15Eliana,
12:16I know this hurt you,
12:17but you have to believe me,
12:18what I feel for you is real.
12:20After this month,
12:21after I handle things with Lucia,
12:23we'll get remarried.
12:24I promise I'll make it up to you,
12:26with the most beautiful wedding ring,
12:27in the world.
12:28One month,
12:28he meant that,
12:29after he finished,
12:30his romantic getaway,
12:32with Lucia,
12:32he expected him to remarry me,
12:34like nothing happened.
12:35I understand.
12:36I was done,
12:37listening to his shameless excuses.
12:39I turned to my lawyer.
12:41Let's just get this done.
12:42Blair looked stunned,
12:43probably not expecting me,
12:45to be so cooperative.
12:46The whole process,
12:47was quicker than I thought.
12:49Signatures,
12:50witnesses,
12:51a legally binding contract.
12:53In less than half an hour,
12:54our marriage,
12:55was officially over.
12:56The moment,
12:57we stepped out of the office,
12:59Blair's phone rang.
13:00He glanced at the caller ID,
13:02and his whole face softened.
13:04He answered,
13:05his voice gentle.
13:07Lucia,
13:09okay,
13:10I'm on my way.
13:12Don't worry,
13:12I'll take care of you.
13:14Wait for me,
13:15I'll be right there.
13:16He hung up,
13:17and turned to me,
13:18the tenderness,
13:19from the call,
13:20still lingering,
13:21in his eyes.
13:22He tried,
13:22to look conflicted.
13:24Ileana,
13:25Lucia isn't feeling well,
13:26I have to go check on her.
13:28Wait here for me,
13:29and I'll be back,
13:29to take you wherever you're staying.
13:31Then he rushed off,
13:32without a second glimpse.
13:33I stood in the lobby,
13:35watching his hurry retreat,
13:36a wave of sadness,
13:38and relief,
13:38washing over me.
13:40That was the man,
13:40I once loved so deeply.
13:42Not one minute,
13:43after our divorce,
13:45was final,
13:45he was already running,
13:47to another woman.
13:48I turned,
13:49and walked toward,
13:50a conference room,
13:51at the other end of the hall.
13:53My new fiance was waiting.
13:55Meanwhile,
13:56after waiting by the building's entrance,
13:58for nearly 10 minutes,
13:59and seeing no sign of Ileana,
14:01Blair decided to go back up,
14:02to remind her about the plan.
14:04Just as he reached the entrance,
14:06he slammed right into a man walking out.
14:09Papers scattered across the mobile floor.
14:11Blair's divorce decree,
14:13mixed with the other man's documents.
14:15A gust of wind,
14:16from the revolving door,
14:18flipped open the cover,
14:19of one file.
14:20It was a marriage contract.
14:22As Blair bent down to grab his papers,
14:24he caught a glimpse of the photo,
14:26on that contract.
14:27He froze.
14:28He only saw a small part of it,
14:30but that profile,
14:31the side of that face.
14:32The man sat politely,
14:34quickly gathering his files.
14:36Excuse me.
14:37Blair looked up,
14:38trying to get a clear look,
14:39at the man's face.
14:40But he had already put on,
14:41a pair of sunglasses,
14:42revealing only a sharp jawline,
14:44and thin lips.
14:45There was an aristocratic air,
14:47about him,
14:47that felt strangely familiar,
14:49to Blair.
14:51It's fine.
14:51Blair replied,
14:52that his eyes were glued,
14:54to the marriage contract,
14:55in the man's hands.
14:56The man finished,
14:57collecting his things,
14:58and headed for the exit.
15:00Blair stood there,
15:01a ridiculous thought,
15:02growing stronger in his mind.
15:04Who signs a marriage contract,
15:06on April Fru's Day,
15:07and the photo on that contract?
15:09Even though he only saw a corner of it,
15:11why did it look so familiar?
15:13He felt like,
15:14he'd seen this man,
15:15somewhere before.
15:17That calm,
15:18commanding presence.
15:18That natural air,
15:20of old wild power.
15:22Hey, wait!
15:23Just as Blair called out to the man,
15:25his phone rang.
15:26It was Leo.
15:26He hesitated,
15:27then picked up.
15:28Blair, where the hell are you?
15:29We're all waiting.
15:30When Blair looked up again,
15:32the man was gone.
15:33A black rose rose,
15:34peeled around the corner.
15:35Shit.
15:36A second later,
15:37a text from Mako,
15:38came through with correspondence.
15:40Get a move on.
15:41We need to be on the private island,
15:42in the Bahamas,
15:43before sunset.
15:44Lucia's waiting.
15:46Blair stared at the screen,
15:47and a memory hit him.
15:48A promise he'd buried for years.
15:51It was Lucia's dream,
15:52back when they graduated high school.
15:54She wanted to take everyone,
15:55to that secret private island,
15:57and party for three days straight,
15:59watch the most beautiful sunset,
16:01and drink the strongest shit they could find.
16:03Security on the island was tight.
16:05He was the only one,
16:06with an invite.
16:07This was something,
16:08only he could do for her.
16:10He glanced back at the building,
16:12wondering if he should go up,
16:13and give Ileana a heads up.
16:16But time was short.
16:17It was just for a month.
16:18When he got back,
16:19everything would go back to normal.
16:21Blair shook his head,
16:22pushing the thought of the mysterious man,
16:25out of his mind,
16:26and drove to the private airfield.
16:29When he got there,
16:30everyone was already waiting.
16:32Lucia was in a red dress,
16:34the sea breeze blowing through her long hair.
16:36The diamond necklace around her neck,
16:38glittered in the setting sun.
16:40He had bought her that necklace,
16:41for her 17th birthday.
16:43With six months of his allowance,
16:45she was still wearing it.
16:47Blair stood at the bottom of the jet stairs,
16:50looking at her,
16:50and it was like they were kids again,
16:5210 years ago.
16:53Back then,
16:54Lucia had just moved to Chicago from Italy,
16:57wearing the same kind of red dress,
16:58looking at them with a shy but hopeful expression.
17:01As he was lost in the memory,
17:03a pain of gout hit him.
17:05He hadn't given Eliana many gifts.
17:07The Moratti family had everything.
17:09She didn't need luxury.
17:11He'd only given her a simple diamond bracelet for her birthday,
17:14but she'd worn it every single day,
17:16like a treasure.
17:17He suddenly remembered signing the divorce papers today.
17:20Eliana's wrist had been bare.
17:22The bracelet was gone.
17:23The realization made his stomach drop.
17:26Why wasn't she wearing it?
17:28Was she angry?
17:28Or,
17:29Lucia ran over and hooked her arm through his.
17:33Blair!
17:34What are you thinking about?
17:36We've been waiting forever.
17:37You're late,
17:38so you have to take three shots as punishment.
17:40The warmth of her arm and the sparkle in her eyes
17:43as she looked up at him
17:45threw him back to their teenage years.
17:47Alright,
17:48I'll take my punishment.
17:50The guy saw the vibe
17:51and started whooping and hollering
17:53and knowing glint in the eyes.
17:55Blair still got it bad for Lucia!
17:58What, you jealous?
18:00By the time they reached the island villa,
18:02the sky was dark.
18:03On the terrace,
18:04a party was in full swing.
18:06A gentle sea breeze blew,
18:08a stars glittered overhead,
18:09and glasses clinked.
18:11Just as Blair was about to hand Lucia
18:14a glass of champagne,
18:15Marco intercepted,
18:16swapping the flute in her hand
18:18for a glass of juice.
18:19Marco said,
18:20his eyes full of concern.
18:23You're sick.
18:25No booze.
18:26Lucia took the juice,
18:27blinked her wide,
18:28innocent eyes,
18:29and asked.
18:30The air froze.
18:31Everyone stared.
18:33Sick.
18:33What are you talking about?
18:35Blair's champagne glass hung in mid-air,
18:38his eyes locked on Lucia.
18:40In the stunnedness silence,
18:42Lucia suddenly burst out laughing,
18:44covering her mouth,
18:45her eyes dancing with mischief.
18:48April fools!
18:50Raising her juice glass,
18:51almost doubled over with laughter.
18:54I'm not dying.
18:55I just needed an excuse
18:57to get everyone together
18:59for a wild party.
19:02Blair froze solid.
19:03The sound of waves crashing against the rocks
19:06seemed suddenly louder.
19:08The distant cries of seabirds,
19:10mocking his stupidity.
19:12Lucia wasn't sick.
19:13This was all a joke.
19:14He thought about how he divorced Eliana
19:17for this joke.
19:18He thought about Eliana's
19:20unnervingly calm expression
19:21as she signed the papers
19:23about the missing diamond bracelet
19:25on her wrist.
19:26A hot flash of anger
19:28shot through him.
19:29His voice was rough.
19:31What did you say?
19:33Seeing his face,
19:35Lucia's smile faltered,
19:36but she was still defiant.
19:38Oh, don't be so serious.
19:40It's not like you lost anything.
19:41You get to hang out with me
19:43on this beautiful island.
19:44Lucia,
19:45even for an April Fool's joke,
19:47that was a little much.
19:50Yeah,
19:50we were all really worried.
19:53Blair just stood there,
19:55the champagne foot
19:56trembling in his hand.
19:59Seeing his dark expression,
20:01Lucia immediately put on
20:03her best innocent,
20:04hurt look.
20:06She walked up to him,
20:08tugging lightly on his sleeve,
20:09her eyes welling up.
20:11Blair, are you mad at me?
20:13I just,
20:14I just missed the days
20:15when we were all together.
20:17Her eyes were red
20:19as if she was about to cry.
20:20I know you have
20:21your own life now,
20:22you have a wife,
20:24but our friendship,
20:27all the good times we had,
20:29that was all real,
20:31wasn't it?
20:31That fragile,
20:33helpless look
20:34hit Blair
20:35right in his weak spot.
20:36He remembered
20:37the 17-year-old Lucia,
20:39the first time she'd cried,
20:41and asked him for help,
20:43and the fierce,
20:44protective urge he'd felt.
20:46That feeling
20:47had never completely disappeared.
20:50The others
20:51started chiming in.
20:53Some cousin
20:54from a pissing family
20:55snickered.
20:56Someone we know
20:57could never stay mad at her.
21:01Damn right!
21:02Back in school,
21:04anyone who messed with Lucia
21:05had to answer to Blair.
21:07He would've put a guy
21:07in the ground for her!
21:11Everyone laughed,
21:12and the tension
21:13started to fade.
21:15Blair looked at Lucia
21:16at the verge of tears,
21:17and finally caved.
21:20I'm not angry,
21:21just surprised.
21:23Lucia's face
21:24broke into a smile.
21:26She pushed a drink
21:27into his hand.
21:28Her cheeks flushed
21:29as she looked up at him.
21:31Thank you for coming out with me,
21:33for remembering my dream.
21:35Her voice was soft,
21:36calming his frayed nerves.
21:38Blair raised a glass,
21:40looking at the radiant woman
21:41in front of him,
21:42and the anger and suspicion
21:44began to mount away.
21:46Screw it,
21:47he thought.
21:48Let's just call it
21:49a perfect send-off
21:50to their younger days.
21:53The party ignited again,
21:55laughter and clinging glasses
21:57filling the air.
21:58As the night hit its peak,
22:01Hey, Blair's divorced,
22:02and Lucia's single!
22:04It's perfect!
22:10Everyone knew you two
22:11were crazy about each other
22:13back in the day!
22:14Now's your chance!
22:16Get together!
22:18Get together!
22:19Get together!
22:21Yeah!
22:22Blair even divorced
22:23the Moretti princess for Lucia!
22:24It's on you now, Lucia!
22:26The crowd went wild,
22:28cheering and whistling,
22:29the sound echoing
22:30across the island.
22:32Lucia's face turned beet red,
22:34and she shyly looked down,
22:36but the slight curve of her lips
22:37showed she didn't mind one bit.
22:40Blair stood frozen,
22:42the deafening chance
22:43ringing in his ears.
22:44But his mind flashed back
22:46to Eliana's eyes,
22:47in the office that day,
22:49so calm,
22:50so final.
22:52He'd thought she was calm
22:53because she knew
22:54the divorce was fake.
22:56Now,
22:57he wasn't so sure.
22:58The look in her eyes,
23:00it was like she was
23:01looking at a stranger,
23:03not the husband she loved.
23:05Lucia whined,
23:06a hint of complaint
23:07in her tone.
23:08Blair?
23:10You're not going to join in
23:11their teasing,
23:12are you?
23:13Blair snapped back
23:14to reality.
23:16He looked at the girl,
23:17who had been his first love,
23:19opened his mouth
23:20to say something,
23:21but the words got stuck.
23:24He couldn't figure it out.
23:26Wasn't this exactly
23:27what he wanted?
23:29This escape?
23:30This freedom?
23:31So,
23:32why did he feel
23:33so damn empty?
23:34The party ended
23:35in a blur.
23:36Blair was blackout drunk.
23:37He vaguely remembered
23:38someone helping him upstairs,
23:40unbuttoning his shirt.
23:41Soft fingers traced his neck.
23:43He tried to push them away,
23:44but he had no strength.
23:46He mumbled in the haze
23:47between sleep and waking.
23:48Liliana.
23:51Blair, I'm here.
23:53I've always been here.
23:55He woke up the next morning
23:57to sunlight streaming
23:58through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
24:01His head was pounding.
24:02The hangover made his thoughts
24:04feel like sludge.
24:06He slowly opened his eyes
24:07and saw a spill of black hair
24:09on the pillow next to him.
24:10Not Liliana's wavy chestnut hair.
24:13This was straight and jet black.
24:15He shot up,
24:16suddenly half sober.
24:17It was Lucia.
24:18The sheet had stepped down
24:19to her waist.
24:20Her shoulders were bare.
24:21Fragments of the night before
24:23flashed in his mind.
24:24Lucia crying,
24:25saying she was scared
24:26of being alone.
24:27That she'd always loved him.
24:28She kissed him.
24:29And then,
24:32Blair cursed,
24:33rubbing his temples hard.
24:35He instinctively grabbed his phone.
24:36No messages from Eliana.
24:38That wasn't right.
24:40Usually,
24:40if he was gone for half a day
24:42on business,
24:43she'd text him,
24:44asking what he was doing,
24:46what he'd eaten,
24:46if he missed her.
24:47Sometimes,
24:48a dozen messages a day.
24:49Just all that little stuff.
24:51He used to find it
24:52a little annoying.
24:53Now,
24:54the silence was unnerving.
24:55Why hadn't she sent
24:56a single text this time?
24:58Did she really not care
24:59about the divorce?
25:00Just then,
25:01Lucia stood beside him.
25:03She slowly opened her eyes
25:05and a satisfied smile
25:06spread across her face
25:08when she saw him sitting there.
25:10Good morning, Blair.
25:12Lucia, I'm sorry.
25:13I was drunk last night.
25:14We shouldn't have...
25:15What the hell
25:16is that supposed to mean?
25:18I mean...
25:20Last night was a mistake.
25:21We were both drunk.
25:22A mistake?
25:23You're trying to brush me off
25:24with that?
25:25She tried to get out of bed,
25:26but her legs gave out
25:27and she nearly fell.
25:29Blair instinctively caught her,
25:30then immediately let go
25:31as if he had been burned.
25:32That small action
25:33was the final straw.
25:35Blair Russo,
25:36how long are you
25:37going to keep up this act?
25:38The devoted husband act?
25:40Did you forget?
25:41It was Alana's old man
25:42who put a gun
25:43to your family's head
25:44to make you marry her.
25:45No,
25:45that's not how it was.
25:47I was the one
25:48who went after Alana.
25:49You don't even love her.
25:50She didn't believe in love,
25:51was only willing to do
25:52a contract marriage
25:53for a friend's sake.
25:55I was the one
25:55who pursued her,
25:56who convinced her
25:57to give me her heart.
25:58You're lying!
26:00You told me
26:01I was the one you loved.
26:03You wrote me
26:04a love letter,
26:04didn't you?
26:05His words
26:06stabbed Lucia
26:07like a knife.
26:07Her face went pale,
26:09her eyes filling with tears.
26:10Blair stood rooted
26:11to the spot,
26:12his palms slick
26:13with cold sweat.
26:14A love letter.
26:15He had never written
26:16her a love letter.
26:17The only one
26:18he had ever written
26:18was for Alana,
26:20but he never gave it to her.
26:21He had no idea
26:22how it ended up
26:23in Lucia's hands,
26:24but he couldn't say that.
26:26Not now.
26:27Lucia,
26:27listen to me.
26:28I don't want to hear
26:29your excuses.
26:30You're divorced now.
26:31Why can't you be with me?
26:34Do all those years
26:35mean nothing?
26:36She started sobbing,
26:38hysterically,
26:39her whole body shaking.
26:41Suddenly,
26:41she runs for the vanity
26:42and grabs the fruit knife.
26:44Lucia,
26:45what are you doing?
26:47She didn't answer.
26:48She pressed the blade
26:49to her own throat.
26:50The sharp edge
26:51left a thin red line
26:53on her pale skin.
26:54If you don't do what I say,
26:55I'll kill myself.
26:56All right,
26:57all right,
26:57just calm down,
26:58okay?
26:58If you leave me,
26:59I'll die right here.
27:00Okay,
27:01okay,
27:01I won't leave.
27:02I'll stay,
27:02I'll stay with you.
27:03Just put the knife down.
27:04Hearing that,
27:05the crazed look
27:06in her eyes
27:07slowly faded.
27:08She lowered the knife,
27:10then collapsed
27:10into his arms,
27:12crying like a child.
27:13I know I'm terrible,
27:14I'm selfish,
27:15but I really do love you.
27:16Just stay with me
27:17for a while,
27:18just until you figure out
27:19what you really want.
27:20Please?
27:21Okay,
27:22I'll stay.
27:23Lucia's tears
27:24tanned to a smile.
27:25She immediately
27:26grabbed his phone.
27:27Before Blair could react,
27:29she had his contacts
27:30open
27:30and was deleting a name.
27:32What are you doing?
27:33Deleting everything,
27:34Aliana.
27:35This way you can be
27:35with me in peace.
27:37No distractions.
27:38Blair watched
27:39as Aileen's phone number,
27:40her private messages,
27:41her email address,
27:42all of it
27:43disappeared one by one.
27:44A strange panic seized him
27:46that he'd already
27:47given his word
27:48he could only watch
27:49as her name
27:50was erased from his life.
27:51After a week
27:52of pottying on the island,
27:54Marco and Leo
27:55headed back to New York.
27:56Lucia was stuck
27:57to Blair like glue
27:58and they were sick
27:59of watching the happy couple.
28:00Besides,
28:01tonight was the
28:02Moretti family's
28:03annual dinner.
28:04In past years,
28:05Aliana would have been
28:06excited to invite them.
28:08Even though their own families
28:10weren't major players
28:11in the New York underworld,
28:13they assumed this year
28:14would be the same
28:15until they were stopped
28:16at the gate
28:17by security.
28:19Sir,
28:19your invitation.
28:20Invitation?
28:21We come every year.
28:23We've never needed
28:23an invitation.
28:24Sorry, sir.
28:25All guests require
28:26an invitation tonight.
28:27If you don't have one,
28:28you need to leave.
28:29Do you know who we are?
28:30I'm Leo Gallo.
28:31This is Marco Falcano.
28:33We're friends of Aliana.
28:33The guard checked the list
28:35on his clipboard
28:36and shook his head.
28:38Sorry,
28:39your names aren't
28:40on the guest list.
28:41The words hung in the air.
28:43Other guests arriving
28:44at the estate
28:44slowed down.
28:45Their curiosity peaked.
28:47Soon,
28:47they were recognized.
28:49Isn't that the Gallo kid?
28:50Why is he getting
28:51held up at the gate?
28:52And the Falcone playboy.
28:55What a scene.
28:57Both ex-husbands, right?
28:59Showing up at the
29:00ex-wife's family party.
29:02Trying to get back together?
29:04Get back together?
29:06You haven't heard?
29:07Don Moretti is supposed
29:08to be announcing
29:08some good news tonight.
29:12The whispers reached
29:13Marco's ears
29:14and his face
29:15turned to stone.
29:16He hated being
29:17called a playboy.
29:18Since becoming friends
29:19with Aliana,
29:20he had never been
29:21humiliated like this.
29:23Just then,
29:23the Moretti family's
29:24old majodomo,
29:26the head of the
29:26household staff,
29:28appeared.
29:28He was dressed
29:29in a perfectly tailored
29:30black tuxedo.
29:31A polite,
29:32professional smile
29:33on his face.
29:34Mr. Gallo,
29:35Mr. Falcone,
29:37I'm very sorry,
29:37but you are not
29:38on the guest list tonight.
29:40Please, leave.
29:41That's impossible.
29:42We've come to this
29:42dinner every year.
29:43We've never been
29:44turned away.
29:44That was then,
29:46and you will not be
29:47welcome here in the future.
29:49The words hit them
29:50like a physical blow.
29:52Marco and Leo
29:53were speechless.
29:54The murmuring
29:55from the crowd
29:55grew louder.
29:56They were the butt
29:57of the joke.
29:58Finally,
29:59they had no choice
30:00but to leave
30:01in disgrace.
30:02Back in the car,
30:03they sat in silence
30:04for a long time.
30:05What the hell
30:06just happened?
30:07You think,
30:07you think Alana knows?
30:09Knew what?
30:10That they had pitched
30:10Blair to divorce her?
30:11That they had dished her
30:12for some stupid party?
30:13Marco's knuckles
30:14were white
30:15on the steering wheel.
30:16Three days after
30:17being rejected
30:17from the dinner,
30:19Marco was at his
30:19family's company offices
30:21when his father
30:22called,
30:22screaming.
30:41Marco understood instantly.
30:43He had secured
30:44that shipping route
30:45when he got engaged
30:46to Alana.
30:47Don Moretti
30:47had greased the wheels.
30:49The influence
30:49of the Moretti family
30:50was the only reason
30:52it had gone through.
30:53The massive profits
30:54from that single route
30:56had solidified
30:57Marco's position
30:58in his own family,
30:59making him the one
31:00to take over.
31:01Now,
31:02with the road cut,
31:03it wasn't just
31:03a financial loss.
31:05It was an attack
31:06on the foundation
31:07of his power.
31:08I'll handle it.
31:10But,
31:10sitting in his office chair,
31:12he knew
31:13there was only one way
31:14to handle it.
31:15Ask Alana for help.
31:17For the first time,
31:18a cold,
31:19hard truth
31:19landed on him
31:20like a ton of bricks.
31:22Without Alana,
31:23he was a nobody.
31:24Everything he had,
31:25his status,
31:26his wealth,
31:27his respect,
31:28was built
31:28on his connection
31:29to the Moretti family.
31:31And now,
31:31his old man
31:32had to clean up his mess.
31:34After a long hesitation,
31:36Marco finally
31:37dialed Alana's number.
31:38He had to explain,
31:40to apologize,
31:41to fix this.
31:42But all he heard
31:42was a robotic female voice.
31:44The number you have dialed
31:46is no longer in service.
31:47Marco stared at the phone.
31:49He'd been blocked.
31:50A hollow feeling
31:51opened up in his chest.
31:52He remembered
31:53when the fight
31:54for his family's inheritance
31:55was at its most vicious.
31:57He had asked Alana for help.
31:59She had taken his hand
32:01and agreed
32:01without a second thought.
32:03Just like she said she would,
32:05she would always support him.
32:06Back then,
32:07he thought Alana
32:08was the most important person
32:10in his life.
32:11He thought the whole world
32:12could change.
32:13But Alana
32:14never would.
32:15He would always be there,
32:16always protect him,
32:17always have his back.
32:18Now,
32:19he couldn't even get her
32:20on the phone.
32:21Marco had no idea
32:22what to do.
32:23Leo sat in his office,
32:25staring at three contract
32:26termination notices
32:27on his desk.
32:28His fingers trembled.
32:29Three companies,
32:30the backbone of his family's business,
32:32had pulled out
32:33on the same day,
32:34citing risk assessment.
32:36They said the news
32:36that you were turned away
32:37from the Moretti dinner
32:38has spread through
32:39the five families.
32:40Everyone's worried
32:41we've crossed on Moretti.
32:43They're afraid
32:43to keep doing business with us.
32:45The words struck Leo
32:47like lightning.
32:47He never imagined
32:49that that night's humiliation
32:50was more than just losing face.
32:52It was a direct hit
32:53to his family's bottom line.
32:55In the New York underworld,
32:56the Moretti family's word
32:58was law.
32:58Leo kicked over the coffee table
33:00in a fit of rage
33:01and hurled his phone
33:02against the wall.
33:03The screen spiderwebbed
33:05but remained lit.
33:06He stared at Eliana's picture
33:08on the screen,
33:09a storm of anger
33:10and self-pity
33:11brewing inside him.
33:12He couldn't understand
33:13how she could be so ruthless,
33:15giving him no warning at all.
33:17She used to be so good to him.
33:19Years ago,
33:20his father had tried
33:21to arrange a marriage for him
33:22with the daughter
33:23of an Italian mob boss
33:25to secure an arms deal.
33:27Leo wanted nothing to do
33:28with the notoriously spoiled brat
33:30and was desperate
33:31for a way out.
33:32Just for show.
33:33We'll divorce in a year.
33:34You'll be free,
33:35I'll be free.
33:36But in his heart,
33:37it was never just for show.
33:39From the first time
33:40he saw her as a kid,
33:41he was captivated.
33:42He remembered waking up
33:44in the hospital once
33:45and she was sitting by his bed,
33:47her eyes red and swollen.
33:48Leo, thank you.
33:51You'll always be my best friend.
33:53Friend,
33:53that's all she ever saw him as.
33:55When he tried to delay the divorce,
33:57all she said was
33:58there wasn't a trace
33:59of affection in her voice.
34:01So,
34:01he grew to despise Blair.
34:03He was eaten up
34:04with jealousy
34:05that Blair was the one
34:06who had won Eliana's love.
34:08If he couldn't have her,
34:10why should Blair?
34:11Leo had been the first one
34:12to plant the
34:13fake divorce idea.
34:15He knew it was cruel to Eliana,
34:17but he thought
34:18it would show her
34:19who really loved her.
34:21Once she was single,
34:22he'd have his shot.
34:23He'd make her see him.
34:25He never imagined that
34:26once she was divorced,
34:28she wouldn't even look back
34:29in his direction.
34:29She just cut them all off.
34:31It was late
34:32when Leo got home.
34:33The butler told him
34:34Don Gallo was waiting
34:35in the study.
34:36He pushed open the door
34:37and saw his father
34:38sitting on the sofa.
34:40His face,
34:41a sundercloud.
34:42Dad,
34:42I know what you want
34:43to talk about.
34:44You know?
34:45Do you know how much money
34:47the company lost today?
34:49Do you have any idea
34:50how much damage
34:50you've done
34:51to this family's reputation?
34:53Years ago,
34:54you said you wanted
34:55to marry the Morelli girl.
34:56I supported you
34:57because it was good
34:58for the family.
34:59Now you've divorced her,
35:01pissed her off,
35:02and run this family
35:03into the ground.
35:04What's your plan?
35:07I'll figure something out.
35:08Figure something out?
35:10What can you figure out?
35:12Don Maramoretti
35:13has made his position clear.
35:14We're being shut out
35:16by the five families.
35:17He put a file
35:18from a drawer
35:19and threw it on the desk
35:20in front of Leo.
35:22This is the file
35:23on the eldest daughter
35:24of the Benedetti family.
35:2623 years old,
35:27Stanford business degree.
35:29Easy on the eyes, too.
35:30Dad,
35:31what are you saying?
35:32The engagement
35:32is next month.
35:33You're married in six.
35:35This alliance
35:36will get our family
35:37through this crisis.
35:38And this time,
35:39there's no one
35:40left to save you.
35:41Leo wanted to argue,
35:42but the words
35:43died in his throat.
35:44It was true.
35:44There was no one
35:45left to save him.
35:46Eliana was gone.
35:47After his father left,
35:49Leo sat alone
35:50in his study,
35:51feeling completely hollowed out.
35:53He went to the safe,
35:54entered the combination,
35:55and from the very back,
35:56he pulled out a photograph.
35:58It was a candid photo
35:59he'd secretly taken
36:00over a decade ago.
36:02Eliana,
36:02at 15,
36:03laughing in a garden.
36:04She was wearing
36:05a white dress,
36:06sunlight filtering
36:07through the leaves
36:07onto her face.
36:08She was looking down,
36:09smiling at a small kitten.
36:11Leo stared at the photo,
36:12his heart twisting
36:13in his chest.
36:14He finally understood
36:16a brutal,
36:17simple fact.
36:18For him
36:19and Eliana,
36:20it was over.
36:21There was nothing left.
36:22Take me around the world,
36:23will you?
36:24It's been my dream
36:25since I was a little girl
36:27to see the whole world
36:28with the person I love.
36:30Leo looked at her
36:31hopeful smile
36:32and a wave of disgust
36:33washed over him,
36:34but the memory
36:34of her suicide attempt
36:36was still fresh.
36:37He forced a nod.
36:38Okay.
36:39And so their long journey began,
36:41from the islands
36:42of Southeast Asia
36:43to the ancient cities
36:44of Europe,
36:45from the savannas
36:46of Africa
36:46to the rainforests
36:48of South America.
36:49Lucia was as excited
36:50as a child,
36:51insisting they do
36:52all the things
36:53couples do.
36:54But Blair's mind
36:55was a million miles away.
36:56Every sunset,
36:57every sunrise,
36:58every beautiful landscape
36:59only made him think
37:01of Eliana.
37:01Would she have liked it here?
37:03Would she be taking pictures
37:04excitedly like Lucia?
37:05The thoughts
37:06were a constant torment.
37:08Peter told himself
37:09he needed space
37:09from Eliana.
37:11Time to think.
37:11It's human nature,
37:13he gasped.
37:13You get used to
37:14what you have
37:15and you start thinking
37:16about what you lost.
37:17For him,
37:18that was Lucia,
37:19the one that got away,
37:20the ghost he could never shake.
37:21They had been close,
37:22real close.
37:23This was all before Eliana.
37:25Then Marco and Leo
37:26introduced him to her
37:27and he found out
37:28she was the Eliana Moretti,
37:29the princess
37:30every guy
37:31in their world wanted.
37:32Back then,
37:33with his family
37:33being small time,
37:34she was completely
37:35out of his league.
37:36He was jealous as hell
37:38of Marco and Leo.
37:39They got to be close to her,
37:41treated her like
37:41one of the guys.
37:42So he fought his way
37:43into their circle.
37:45The chase was everything
37:46and when he finally got her,
37:48his family's power
37:49started to grow too.
37:50For the first time,
37:51he felt like he was
37:52on her level
37:53but comfort
37:54turns into boredom.
37:56Even the best story
37:57gets old
37:58if you read it
37:59enough times.
38:01So this whole
38:01April Fool's thing,
38:03it was his out.
38:04A way to finally
38:05keep his promise
38:06to Lucia
38:07and maybe
38:07just a way
38:08for him to breathe.
38:09But now that it was done,
38:11it didn't feel like
38:12the easy escape
38:13he'd imagined.
38:13The thrill of betrayal
38:15was real
38:15but it left a strange taste
38:17in his mouth
38:18an emptiness
38:18he couldn't explain.
38:20He tried to break it off
38:21with Lucia
38:22several times
38:23to tell her
38:24how he really felt
38:25but every time
38:26he was about to speak,
38:27she would conveniently
38:28get sick,
38:29allergies,
38:30high fevers.
38:31Each time,
38:32she would look at him
38:33with those big
38:34pitiful eyes.
38:35Blair,
38:35I'm so glad you're here.
38:38What would I do
38:39without you?
38:40Defeated,
38:41Blair would put out
38:41the breakup
38:42and take care of her.
38:43The trip dragged on
38:44like this for three months
38:45until Blair overheard Lucia
38:47on a video call
38:48with a friend.
38:49You have no idea
38:50Blair is completely
38:52wrapped around my finger.
38:53I have the doctor
38:55write fake medical notes.
38:56Every time he tries
38:57to break up with me,
38:58I get sick
38:59and he turns into a puddle.
39:01I've already sent
39:02all our pictures together
39:03to Alana.
39:04I told her Blair chose me
39:06and that she should
39:07stop bothering him.
39:08She should have given up
39:08for good by now.
39:11Lucia,
39:12you're amazing.
39:13You even stole a man
39:14from a Moradi?
39:15What good is being born
39:16into a powerful family?
39:17She still couldn't
39:19keep her man.
39:20I just wanted her to know
39:21that Blair dumped her
39:22for me.
39:23Next step
39:24is to get pregnant.
39:26I'll drug him again
39:27just like that first night.
39:29Then he'll have to marry me.
39:30Listening to this
39:31vicious scheming,
39:32Blair's mind went blank.
39:34The sicknesses were fake.
39:35Her innocence was fake
39:36and she had a contact
39:37to Alana,
39:38torturing her
39:39with those photos.
39:40A blind rage took over.
39:42He threw the door open
39:43and stormed in.
39:44What did you just say?
39:46Blair,
39:46you're back?
39:48I was just joking around.
39:50Joking?
39:51You drugged me?
39:53Used fake doctor's notes
39:54to lie to me?
39:55You sent pictures
39:56to Alana to torture her?
39:57Was that all a joke too?
39:59Blair,
39:59let me explain.
40:00I only did it
40:01because I love you so much.
40:02I was afraid of losing you.
40:03Enough!
40:04Blair,
40:05where are you going?
40:06He sped to the airport.
40:08Only one thought
40:09in his mind.
40:10Get back to New York.
40:11Find Alana
40:12and explain everything.
40:13During the long flight,
40:14Blair replayed
40:15the last three months
40:16in his head.
40:17Every time
40:17Luchel was sick,
40:18every pitiful look
40:19now seemed disgusting
40:20and because of those lies,
40:22he had wasted three months.
40:23The next evening,
40:24after landing,
40:25Blair's first stop
40:26was a jeweler.
40:27He bought a diamond ring.
40:29He hadn't forgotten
40:30his promise to Alana
40:32that he would give her a ring
40:33that was hers alone.
40:35Then,
40:36he drove to the
40:37Moderati family estate.
40:38He knew she would be there.
40:40The whole way,
40:41he rehearsed
40:42what he would say,
40:43how he would beg
40:44for her forgiveness.
40:45Finally,
40:46he pulled up
40:47to the familiar gates.
40:48He practically
40:49beat on the massive door.
40:51Open up!
40:52Eliana!
40:54I know you're in there!
40:55He pandered
40:56for what felt like
40:57an eternity
40:58before the door
40:58finally opened.
40:59Eliana stood there
41:00in a loose silk robe,
41:02her head pained up carelessly.
41:04She looked relaxed,
41:05happy.
41:05But what made Blair freeze?
41:07What turned his blood to ice
41:08was the sight
41:09of her slightly rounded belly,
41:10barely hidden
41:11by the flowing fabric.
41:12She looked to be
41:13about four months along.
41:14Seeing Eliana pregnant,
41:16Blair was first shocked,
41:17then filled
41:18with a wave of joy
41:19and crushing guilt.
41:20He did a math.
41:21Four months,
41:22the timing was perfect.
41:23The baby
41:24had to be his.
41:25His heart hammered
41:27against his ribs
41:28and his eyes burned.
41:29My God,
41:30she's pregnant
41:31with my child
41:32and I've been traveling
41:33the world with Lucia.
41:35Ellie,
41:36I'm here to take you home.
41:37We'll get married again.
41:38I know I was wrong.
41:40I...
41:40Before he could finish,
41:41a man's hand
41:42reached out
41:43from inside the doorway,
41:44clamping itself
41:45firmly on his chest,
41:46stopping him.
41:47Eliana took a step back
41:49and the man beside her
41:50wrapped a protective arm
41:51around her waist.
41:52The movement
41:53was so natural,
41:54so practiced,
41:55as if they had done it
41:56a thousand times.
41:57Blair's words
41:58died in his throat.
42:00He stared in shock
42:01at the man
42:01who had appeared
42:02from the shadows.
42:03He was handsome,
42:04maybe in his early thirties.
42:06Dressed in a tailored
42:07navy blue robe,
42:08he stood with the easy confidence
42:10of a man born to power.
42:12But what Joe Blair
42:13insane with jealousy
42:14was the look in
42:15Eliana's eyes
42:15when she looked at the man.
42:17It was a tenderness
42:18he had never seen before.
42:19Elena leaned into
42:20the man's embrace,
42:21a look of pure bliss
42:23he'd never seen on her before.
42:24She looked at Blair,
42:26her tone light.
42:27Get married again?
42:29Why don't you ask
42:30my husband
42:31if that's okay with him?
42:33Blair was completely stunned.
42:35His eyes dotted
42:35between Eliana,
42:37the man beside her,
42:38and her pregnant belly.
42:39His brain
42:39couldn't process
42:40the information.
42:41Husband,
42:42he looked closely
42:43at the man
42:44and the memory sparked.
42:45This was the man
42:46in the dark gray suit
42:47he had bumped into
42:49outside the lawyer's office
42:50on the day of the divorce.
42:52He also remembered
42:53who he was,
42:55Lorenzo De Luca.
42:56The De Luccas
42:57were one of the few families
42:59on the same level
43:00as the Morettis
43:01in New York.
43:02The baby,
43:04is it mine?
43:06What do you think?
43:07Lorenzo didn't speak,
43:09but the look
43:09he gave Eliana's stomach
43:11was filled with the soft joy
43:12and protectiveness
43:13of a father-to-be.
43:15His hand gently rubbed her back.
43:17Blair's face went ashen.
43:18He understood.
43:19The baby wasn't his.
43:21It couldn't be.
43:22In the three months
43:23he was traveling the world
43:24with Lucia,
43:25Eliana hadn't just remarried.
43:27She was pregnant
43:27with another man's child
43:29and she looked happy.
43:30No.
43:32That's impossible.
43:33Ellie,
43:34we had a deal.
43:34It was a fake divorce.
43:36It was an April Fool's joke.
43:37Sorry, Blair.
43:38In our world,
43:39there are no jokes.
43:40Only contracts.
43:41And ours has been terminated.
43:43But,
43:44since you seem to enjoy holidays,
43:46allow me to wish you one.
43:48Happy April Fool's, Blair.
43:49The heavy door
43:51swung shut in his face.
43:52Blair stood before the closed door,
43:55his entire world collapsing.
43:56He finally understood
43:58the look in Eliana's eyes
43:59when she signed the papers.
44:01It wasn't calm.
44:02It was finality.
44:03It was acceptance.
44:04It was the look of someone
44:06who had completely given up.
44:08She never had any intention
44:09of getting back together with him.
44:11From the moment she signed that paper,
44:14she had deleted him from her life.
44:16Blair stood outside the gate all night
44:18until security forced him to leave at dawn.
44:21The months that followed
44:22were a downward spiral
44:23for all three men.
44:24Shammed by the Moretti family,
44:26Marco and Leo
44:27quickly lost their standing
44:28in their own families.
44:30Without the Moretti connection,
44:31the networks they had built vanished.
44:33But the blow to Blair's Russo family
44:35was fatal.
44:36The scandal of forcing his wife
44:38into a fake divorce
44:40for his mistress was leaked
44:41and it spread like wildfire
44:43through the upper crest.
44:44This story was so absurd,
44:46so pathetic that the Russo family
44:48became a laughingstock.
44:50Their influence evaporated overnight.
44:52Blair didn't care.
44:54He was living in a fantasy,
44:56convinced that Eliana's baby was his,
44:59that she was just angry
45:01and would come back to him eventually.
45:03Then, Lucia delivered the final blow.
45:06She secretly drained the lust
45:08of Marcos, Leo's,
45:09and Blair's savings
45:10and disappeared.
45:11Blair was forced to move out
45:13of his family's estate
45:14and into a small apartment
45:16on the other side of the city.
45:18He printed out every picture
45:20he had of him and Eliana
45:21and covered an entire wall with them.
45:24He spent his days
45:25looking at the few things
45:27he had left of their life together,
45:29including the ring
45:30he never got to give her.
45:31At night,
45:32he would stare at the photos
45:33and mutter to himself,
45:35She still loves me.
45:37I know she still loves me.
45:38A few months later,
45:40he heard a news report
45:41on the TV
45:42at the convenience store.
45:44Mr. Lorenzo De Luca
45:45and his wife,
45:47Mrs. Eliana Moretti,
45:48attended a charity gala this evening.
45:51Blair lunged toward the TV.
45:53His eyes glued to the screen.
45:55There she was.
45:56Lorenzo was gently helping
45:58a radiant Eliana,
45:59dressed in an elegant evening gown,
46:02walk the red carpet.
46:03She was dazzling,
46:04her smile so bright
46:05it was hard to look away.
46:07Lorenzo would lean down
46:08to whisper in her ear
46:09and she would laugh.
46:10They looked so perfect together,
46:12so in love.
46:13The camera zoomed in
46:14and Blair saw
46:15the brilliant diamond ring
46:16on Eliana's hand
46:18and the priceless necklace
46:19around her throat.
46:20They were from Lorenzo.
46:21Blair stumbled back
46:22to his apartment
46:23in a daze,
46:24collapsed to the floor
46:25and stared at the empty room.
46:27He started to laugh,
46:28a wild, unhinged sound.
46:30Then the laughter
46:31turned to tears.
46:32He carried up on the floor,
46:34his back against the wall of photos
46:36and sobbed.
46:37Loud and broken
46:38like a little boy.
46:39He had lost everything,
46:40his family,
46:41his status,
46:42his money
46:43and most importantly,
46:44his Eliana.
46:45And it was all
46:46his own damn thought.
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