00:00Fell ill with a persistent high fever. Anna took me to the hospital. Lying in a hospital bed,
00:06I drifted in and out of consciousness. It felt like I was back in that cold operating room three
00:11years ago. I kept having nightmares. A tiny infant was crying out to me.
00:16Mommy, why didn't you want me? I woke up sobbing. The moment I opened my eyes,
00:21I saw Julian. He sat at my bedside, holding my hand, with his jaw shadowed by rough stubble and
00:27his bloodshot eyes. Sophia, you're awake. His voice was hoarse. I pulled my hand back and
00:34turned away, not wanting to see him. He said behind me, I'm sorry about the child. I'm sorry.
00:42Back then, I thought you ended the pregnancy because you hated me. I didn't dare ask,
00:48didn't dare look for you. I was afraid you'd hate me even more. I visit him every year.
00:55I named him Sasha Valk. My body stiffened. I looked for you for three years.
01:02Sophia, I know I was wrong. Give me another chance, please. I didn't turn around, nor did I speak.
01:08I'll handle things with Vivian. I swear, from now on, my world will only have you and the child.
01:14The child he spoke of was the one long gone. How laughable. Julian, leave.
01:26I fell ill. I won't. He came to face me and tried to hug me. I avoided him. Sophia.
01:35You're right. I ended the pregnancy because I hated you. I hated you for abandoning our wedding,
01:43for abandoning our ten years, for choosing her again and again, so I abandoned your child.
01:48No, that's not true. You're not that kind of person.
01:51I am that kind of person. So it's impossible between us now.
01:57The person you see now is not the fool who loved you enough to give up everything.
02:02That fool died on the operating plate three years ago.
02:06The hospital room door opened. Anna entered with medicine.
02:10Seeing Julian, she paused.
02:14Mrs. Southwin, time for your medication.
02:19I nodded and told Julian.
02:22I need to rest. Please leave.
02:24He stood there, lips trembling.
02:26Finally, he gave me one last deep look before walking out.
02:30His back was hunched, looking ten years older.
02:38After I was discharged from the hospital, Julian didn't come to bother me again.
02:43He must have finally given up.
02:46I poured myself into work.
02:47My brand grew larger and larger, expanding worldwide.
02:51I spent most of my time abroad.
02:53My returns to Rivermore were brief and hurried.
02:56News of Julian came from financial reports.
02:58Resulting in heavy losses.
03:00Vogue Group's investment failed and it stocked back.
03:03Several major investments failing.
03:05It seemed his luck ran out after I left.
03:07Anna once shared some gossip with me.
03:10I heard Julian kicked Vivian out, didn't give her a cent.
03:15Vivian isn't an easy person either.
03:18She's been telling the media Julian is ungrateful, even that he has a love child.
03:23But no one believes her.
03:24She's in a bad way now.
03:26I just listened, having no feelings.
03:28None of it concerned me anymore.
03:30A year later, my retrospective exhibition opened at Rivermore Art Museum.
03:35All my representative works from my debut until now were on display.
03:39Many people attended the opening ceremony.
03:41I was preparing my speech in the lounge.
03:44Anna suddenly rushed in.
03:46Miss Southfield, something's happened.
03:48What happened?
03:49Vivian is here.
03:50She's making a scene in the exhibition hall saying your breakthrough work is a copy of hers.
03:54Is she mad?
03:56She showed the so-called original design draft, almost identical to yours, with just minor difference.
04:00Now the reporters are all gathered around.
04:03This piece was just designed in my brother Leonard Woods.
04:05It's his final work.
04:07Sophia was an assistant in my brother's studio.
04:09She stole my brother's draft.
04:14After I...
04:15Mrs. Woods, do you have any evidence?
04:18The evidence is my manuscript.
04:19It has my brother's signature.
04:22Vivian.
04:25Sophia, you thief.
04:27How dare you show up?
04:29You say this work was designed by you and your brother together?
04:32Yes.
04:32When?
04:33Six years ago.
04:37Everyone.
04:37The inspiration for this work did come from one person.
04:40But it wasn't Leonard Woods.
04:41It was Julian Vault.
04:42I created this work during the most painful period after our breakup.
04:45It symbolizes my trapped love and my longing for freedom.
04:48As for Mrs. Woods' evidence, if I'm not mistaken, it was drawn by Julian, right?
04:51You...
04:51You're lying!
04:52Whether I'm lying or not, a handwriting expert can verify it.
04:55Julian has been painting for ten years.
04:57I can recognize his brush strokes even with my eyes closed.
05:00I don't know what you're talking about!
05:01This is my brother's!
05:02Is this...
05:03A deep voice came from behind the crowd.
05:05Julian walked in.
05:07He wore a black suit, looking more gaunt than the last time I saw him.
05:10It was drawn by me, not by Leonard.
05:12I drew it to a tome to Sophia.
05:14I gave it to you to pass to her, not for you to frame her with.
05:19I didn't...
05:20I really was...
05:20Enough!
05:21I come here to tell you a thing.
05:24Leonard did not die saving me.
05:29Mrs. Woods.
05:31The entire exhibition hall was deathly silent.
05:34Everyone was stunned into speechlessness.
05:37What...
05:37What did you say?
05:39I've been investigating the car crash from five years ago.
05:42I found several people to recover the dashcam footage at that time.
05:46A car was driving along a winding mountain road.
05:49Julian was the driver, and Leonard was sitting in the passenger seat.
05:53Suddenly, a large truck veered toward them.
05:56A second before impact, Leonard unbuckled his seatbelt and showed at Julian with his own body.
06:03See it clearly?
06:05That truck had brake failure.
06:07It wasn't a premeditated murder.
06:09As for Leonard?
06:11He was drowning in 30 million in gambling debt.
06:14He couldn't go on living anyway.
06:16He didn't die saving me.
06:18He just wanted to use his life to give you a secure future.
06:22He wrote it all clearly in his will.
06:24Asking you to live well with my guilt.
06:26Not to use that guilt to hurt the one I love the most.
06:29I was held hostage by this so-called kindness for five years.
06:33I lost my love, my child.
06:35I've become a laughing doc.
06:37Vivian, if your brother could see you now, would he get peace?
06:44The entire exhibition...
06:48No! It's not true!
06:56The farce finally came to an end.
06:59Julian turned to look at me.
07:01Sophia, the truth is finally out.
07:04I no longer owe anyone anything.
07:08Can we start over?
07:12Julian, it's too late.
07:16With that, I walked back to the lounge.
07:19Leaving everything behind me.
07:25After that day, Julian vanished.
07:28Voight Group announced bankruptcy liquidation.
07:30He dismissed all employees, liquidated all assets, and paid off all debts.
07:35Then he left Rivermore alone.
07:37No one knew where he went.
07:39My life finally returned to calm.
07:42My brand went public in Paris, becoming truly international.
07:46I lived mostly in Paris.
07:48Occasionally, Anna mentioned Julian.
07:51She said someone saw him doing volunteer work, and someone saw him teaching in a mountain village.
07:56He seemed to be punishing himself like an ascetic.
07:59While listening, I felt nothing.
08:01We ultimately took different paths in life.
08:04Five years later, I returned to my country and settled down.
08:08I bought a house with a garden in Rivermore.
08:10I adopted a little girl named Ava.
08:13She was adorable, with two dimples when she smiled.
08:16I loved her dearly.
08:18We lived happily together.
08:20One winter afternoon, I took Ava to a park.
08:23It was snowing heavily.
08:25Ava was building a snowman.
08:27I sat on a bench, watching her.
08:30Not far away, a man in a janitorial uniform was sweeping snow slowly and laboriously.
08:35He wore a hat and mask, his face obscured.
08:38He seemed to have a leg issue.
08:40A slight limp.
08:42Ava's snowball rolled to his feet.
08:44She ran over to retrieve it.
08:46The man stopped sweeping, bent down, and picked it up for her.
08:50When he looked up, his mask slipped down slightly.
08:53I saw his face.
08:58After that day, Julian...
09:00It was Julian.
09:02His hair was much grayer.
09:03His face weathered.
09:05Seeing me, he froze.
09:07The snowball fell from his hand and was shattered.
09:10Ava looked up, asking in a babbish voice.
09:12Sir, what's wrong?
09:14He didn't answer, and just looked at me with so many emotions in his eyes.
09:18I stood up and walked toward them while waving to Ava.
09:21Ava, come here, we're going home.
09:24Ava ran to me, taking my hand.
09:27Mom, he's crying.
09:29I glanced back.
09:30Julian remained motionless where he stood.
09:33His tears rolled down his face, mingled with snowflakes, and fell to the ground.
09:38A man nearing 40 cried like a child.
09:41Holding Ava's hand, I didn't look back.
09:43We walked into the snow, getting further and further away.
09:47I knew he was watching, until we vanished from sight.
09:50Just like many years ago, I watched him leave without hesitation.
09:54We both had stood at life's crossroads.
09:56He chose his so-called responsibility, and I chose myself.
10:00Now, the dust had settled.
10:02We keep moving forward.
10:04Ava's laughter filled the way.
10:06The sun was shining, and the breeze was gentle.
10:12It was Julian.
10:18Raymond, where are you?
10:23Julian has a high fever, and she just had a seizure.
10:27Julian.
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