- 5 minutes ago
His Secret Woman Got the Ring, I Got His Heart
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Short filmTranscript
00:02I'd been with Luca Russo for six years. Suddenly, he handed me a contract. I had thought that was
00:08a prenup. I was ready to sign. But what I saw was… Mistress agreement. Three years. On call
00:1324-7. Renew if satisfied. My finger trembled. Luca, what does this mean? Luca leaned back on
00:21the sofa, smoking a cigar. He looked at me with cold eyes. My father is pushing hard. He chose a
00:26marriage alliance for me. Serena, the daughter of the Vitoli family. They hold the entire
00:31Adriatic arms line, and I need that. My voice trembled. And what about me? Luca looked up,
00:36sneered. Tesoro, give me a break. Your dad had left you with gambling debts, and I had paid
00:42for his care. Your ex stole your identity and left you with thugs. My men threw them into
00:46the Hudson River. I'm just asking you to be my secret lover. Is that too much? I looked
00:51at the sharp black text written on paper. Party B must be on call 24-7. Party B shall
00:57not appear at any family events or social gatherings. If Party B gets pregnant, she must handle it
01:02herself. The Russo family will not acknowledge the child. I stared at the last one, and my
01:07hand instinctively touched my belly. My fingers were ice cold. Sign it. Luca flicked the ash
01:12from the cigar. Why are you just staring at it? I put down the contract. My voice trembled.
01:19Luca, we've been together for six years, he laughed. So what? Did we ever plan on getting
01:25married? Those words stabbed me like a knife. For six years, he took me to every gala, and all the
01:31unmarried women looked at me with calculating eyes. But he always introduced me as his assistant.
01:36His mother, Rosa, had implied more than once,
01:39Mia Cara, you should find a good man to marry. I thought she was teasing us. Now I realized
01:44she was politely telling me to get out. What were these six years to you?
01:51Luca crushed the cigar and walked to me. It was a fair trade. I supported you for six years. I
01:57paid
01:58for your dad's nursing home. I cleared your ex's debt. I gave you a job. You've managed the Russo
02:02family's accounts for six years. If you leave, who would dare to hire you? He paused, then smiled.
02:08Tezora, be reasonable. You didn't hesitate to use me when you were in trouble. Now I'm using
02:13you. It's just business. I felt my eyes burn, but I didn't shed a single drop of tears. He never
02:19mentioned these things, though I knew he was telling the truth. He was right. My father was
02:24a loser. He walked out on us to gamble, then spent over a decade rotting away before showing up at
02:29my
02:29door with broken legs. I was soft, so I took him in. As for my ex, we only dated for
02:35a month. I didn't
02:36even know he used my identity to get a loan until three men with machetes showed up at my door.
02:41It was Luca's men who came and cleared the trouble. I knew I owed him, but I never thought he
02:45was
02:46keeping a ledger of every cent. So I pushed his hand away. There was no love? Only investment? Luca
02:52laughed. Don't be silly. You call this an investment? I've got nothing back from you, haven't I? Luca
02:58dropped a black card on the table. Sign, and it's yours. In three years, if you want to stay,
03:03we will renew. If not, keep the money. 500k, enough to buy 10 lives, but not enough to buy me.
03:10I wanted to say something, but it was caught in my throat, because I remembered the nursing
03:14home's call. If I don't pay, they'll kick my father out. Luca knew I needed money, so he just
03:19dropped that card in front of me, like feeding a treat to a dog. Is it not enough? I get
03:24it.
03:25Six years for 500k isn't much. But that's mistress money, not girlfriend money. As of now,
03:31this is exactly what you're worth. He paused again and smiled. Of course, you can refuse.
03:38But then… But then, you need to move out of this apartment. My heart felt like it was being
03:44crushed. Over the past six years, I have treated this place as my home. I planted the roses on the
03:50balcony myself. In the kitchen, my favorite vinegar always sat next to his jar of olives. Our travel
03:55photos are still on the nightstand, but in the end, I was just a tenant who could be kicked out
04:00at any
04:00time. Luca, my voice was still trembling. If you don't love me, let's say goodbye. You don't have
04:06to humiliate me like this. Love? He crushed the cigar, leaned in, put his hands on either side of
04:12the armrest. Did your father love you? Did your ex love you? Does anyone in this world truly care
04:18about you? He whispered, looked into my eyes. I paid your debts. I protected you. I can't give you a
04:25marriage, but I'm giving you a way to survive. My tears fell eventually, because at some point,
04:30I realized he's right. He handed me the pen, clearly running out of patience. Well, are you signing it or
04:36not? I opened my mouth. I looked at the pregnancy rule again. I swallowed my words. If my mother and
04:41I had
04:42planned to get married early next month, would you still have made me sign this? Married? He laughed.
04:48Planned with whom? Your drowned mother? Even without these changes, I never planned to marry you.
04:54You have quite an imagination. I closed my eyes. Six years. This marriage was never meant to be.
05:01I opened my eyes and picked up the pen. I signed my name on the last page, Vittoria DeLuca. My
05:07hands
05:07had stopped trembling. Luca collected the contract. Good girl. Everything stays the same.
05:13But from now on, in public, you call me Mr. Russo. He kissed my forehead coldly. Be good.
05:21Luca left. The door closed. He was gone. I looked down at the black card in my hand. I slowly
05:26squatted
05:27down on the floor, burying my face in my knees. I didn't know how long I'd been sitting here. My
05:32legs
05:32were numb, and my tears had finally dried up. I stood up unsteadily and walked into the bathroom.
05:38I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face repeatedly, until I finally calmed down.
05:43I picked up my phone and made a call. Mom, you were right. I've lost. That thing you mentioned before?
05:49Get it started. I'm ready. The person on the other end paused.
05:53Are you sure? There's no turning back.
05:56I looked out at the cathedral. The bells were tolling like a funeral. It's Ave Maria.
06:00Maria? I'm sure.
06:04The next morning, I went to the nursing home. My father was in a wheelchair,
06:09being pushed into the yard by a nurse. He looked very old, like a hollow tree.
06:13His hair was completely white. Both his legs were gone. They had been crushed by a van six years ago.
06:20His lips trembled. Something lit up in his murky eyes. I handed him that black card.
06:25There's 500k euros in here. It's enough for the best care and the best nurses.
06:29From today on, I won't see you again.
06:32Where are you going?
06:34I'm going back to her, with a clean slate.
06:38I took out a photo and put it in his hand. It's a photo of my mom when she was
06:42young.
06:43Wearing a white dress, standing in a lemon grove, smiling brightly.
06:47She asked me to give you a message. I said,
06:50What message?
06:51La morte è troppo buona per te.
06:53He burst into tears, touching the photo with shaking hands. He had thought she had committed suicide.
06:59He had no idea she was actually alive. But he didn't know she was alive.
07:03She was saved by the Moretti family. It had all been a play she had staged to fake her death.
07:08She waited six years for me. She waited for me to lose everything, to wake up, and to finally call
07:14her.
07:15I turned to leave, but I stopped at the corner.
07:18Dad, that car back then? Was it your doing?
07:21The air went silent. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Tears streamed down his wrinkled face.
07:27No. Victoria, really, no. I didn't know that car was coming.
07:34I just saw it heading for you. And I...
07:38And you pushed me out of the way?
07:41Yes. I wanted to save you, even if it cost my life. I'm a deadbeat. I owe you and your
07:47mother too much.
07:48I closed my eyes. I believed him. A bastard father who abandoned his wife and daughter actually acted like a
07:55father in that moment.
07:57But that didn't mean I forgave him. That money is to pay you back for my life. We're even now.
08:02I walked out of the nursing home. I heard him crying and laughing behind me.
08:08She's alive. She's not dead. Good. Good. Good. Go now. Don't ever come back.
08:14I didn't look back.
08:17After that, I went back to work in the casino as usual.
08:21The Russo family owned many businesses, and the casino was just one of them.
08:25All the dirty money from weapons, smuggling, and loans was laundered through those accounts.
08:33And I was the one who kept the books.
08:35Luca walked in while I was organizing the monthly statements.
08:38He looked at me with no expression.
08:40When this quarter's books are done, bring them to my office.
08:43Yes, Mr. Russo.
08:44I replied naturally. Luca paused, looking surprised.
08:47You've adapted quickly.
08:49He whispered and moved his finger across the back of my hand on purpose.
08:53I didn't move, nor react.
08:55Our relationship wasn't a secret.
08:57For six years, he picked me up from work and took me everywhere.
09:01The inner circle had always known, an unspoken truth among them.
09:05But he never officially announced us.
09:07Since we were never official, calling him Mr. Russo now actually made things look more professional to others.
09:14At night, Luca sent me a location.
09:16I took a taxi here.
09:18I opened the door to a suite.
09:19The floor was covered in rose petals.
09:21A silk nightgown was hanging on a rack.
09:24The air was thick with the scent of Gorlam.
09:26That's the brand Serena liked.
09:28Seen enough?
09:29His voice came from behind.
09:31Luca leaned against the doorframe, looking at me with a half smile.
09:35The engagement party is next week.
09:38You're coming to help.
09:41Help with what?
09:42I channeled the calmness I had spent the last few days cultivating.
09:45They hired the best planning team in Sicily for their engagement party.
09:49They didn't need an ex-girlfriend getting in the way.
09:52Hosting guests and Serena feels you must witness our happiness.
09:57I let out a short laugh.
09:59That last part was the real reason.
10:02Fine.
10:02I will confirm the details with Mr. Russo tomorrow.
10:06If that's all, can I go?
10:07His future wife just left.
10:09So he wouldn't need me to stay.
10:11After all, a mistress was only used for one thing.
10:15He squinted at me.
10:16You aren't upset at all?
10:17Does Mr. Russo want me to be upset?
10:19He walked over and grabbed my chin.
10:21You've changed a lot lately.
10:23You've become a bit annoying.
10:24How does Mr. Russo want me to be?
10:26I can change.
10:28Years ago, he had been attracted to me because I was the closest person to him.
10:32Yet, I never asked for anything.
10:35Back then, he called it integrity.
10:37Now, he calls it annoying.
10:38It had never been me who changed.
10:40He stared at me for a long time and let go.
10:44Forget it.
10:45Go home.
10:46As I turned to leave, he suddenly hugged me from behind.
10:49He rested his chin on my shoulder.
10:51His voice muffled.
10:52Do you know why I won't let you leave?
10:54He meant the agreement.
10:56Because you are a good girl.
10:58You never make things difficult for me.
11:00You don't fight with me or ask where I've been.
11:03Not like her.
11:04She checks on me every day.
11:05He tightened his arms around me.
11:07Sometimes I think, if only you had a decent family background, I wouldn't have to marry
11:13someone else.
11:13I almost let out a laugh.
11:15In the end, he was blaming me for not having a high-class background.
11:19But he forgot that he was the one who came after me first.
11:23Mr. Russo.
11:24I gently pulled Luca's hands away.
11:27What color should I wear to the engagement party?
11:30I need to prepare in advance.
11:32His hands froze in midair.
11:34I ignored him and turned to leave.
11:36After I walked out of the hotel, I realized my palms were bleeding from my own fingernails.
11:42Hmph.
11:44The day of the engagement party.
11:46It's held in Villa Ikea Royal Hotel, the most luxurious place in Sicily.
11:50The guests were all powerful figures from the underworld.
11:53I had hidden my pregnancy report in his desk drawer.
11:56I had thought that when he found it, he would naturally propose to me.
12:00So, you are the Miyakata?
12:01I froze for a second, then nodded.
12:04Luca mentioned you.
12:05He said you've been with him for many years and you're very capable.
12:08Oh, by the way, we've chosen a new wedding house near the apartment.
12:11It won't be convenient for you to stay there anymore.
12:12You should look for a new place.
12:14Okay.
12:15I'll take care of it.
12:16Suddenly, Serena grabbed the champagne glass next to my hand and poured it over her white wedding dress.
12:22You-how could you throw wine on me?
12:25A loud slap hit my face.
12:27Everyone looked over.
12:28Luca walked up, frowning.
12:30What happened?
12:31Luca!
12:31I was just kindly telling her that you won't be living in the apartment anymore,
12:35and she threw wine at me!
12:37I-I didn't-
12:38Are you saying she poured it on herself just to hit you?
12:41No one would believe a bride would ruin her own dress at her own engagement party.
12:45Don't make this difficult for me.
12:47You know what day it is.
12:48Apologize or don't come to work tomorrow.
12:50He looked at me.
12:51Six years ago, he had picked me up from the rain.
12:54Six years later, he held the person who bullied me and demanded I apologize.
12:58I'm sorry.
12:59I shouldn't have poured the wine on you.
13:02It's just a misunderstanding.
13:04Please go back to the party.
13:07Yes, it was embarrassing.
13:08But the most embarrassing part was that the man I loved for six years found me guilty without
13:13even asking questions.
13:14I took out my phone and sent a message.
13:16Mom, I want to end this now.
13:19I walked out of the bathroom, having already schooled my face into a blank mask, come to
13:25room 306 on the third floor.
13:27It was from Luca.
13:29Since I signed that agreement, he only wanted me for one thing.
13:33But today was his engagement party.
13:36He had just finished toasting every guest with his fiancee, and now he wanted me in a private
13:41room?
13:42What was I to him?
13:44Or did he find it more exciting because of the occasion?
13:48Another message popped up.
13:50It didn't matter anyway.
13:52After this night, everything would be over.
13:55The door to room 306 was ajar.
13:58Mr. Russo?
13:59I told you I wasn't available these few days.
14:02Suddenly, the door slammed shut.
14:04A man smelling of heavy alcohol appeared.
14:07I knew him.
14:08Tony Bianchi, also known as the King.
14:11He was the top thug for the Vitali family.
14:14A man with blood on his hands.
14:16Oh, you're here?
14:19He was grinning, bearing yellow-stained teeth.
14:22Russo said some woman messed up today.
14:24Sent her here for me to teach a lesson.
14:26Didn't expect you'd be this fiery.
14:28Tony lunged at me.
14:29I backed away, but knocked over the coffee table.
14:32He grabbed my wrist in a tight grip.
14:34Let go of me!
14:35Scream all you want.
14:38Tonight, you belong to me.
14:40He ripped open my collar in a brutal motion.
14:43Infuriated, Tony swung his arm and slapped me hard across the cheek.
14:46Tony swore coarsely and crawled over me, his hands squeezing my neck tightly.
14:51At this moment, the door was kicked open with a thunderous crash.
14:55The tip was right!
14:56They're caught in the act!
14:56Keep taking pictures!
14:57Mr. Rosso's ex-girlfriend can't stay lonely!
14:59Caught in bed at the engagement party!
15:01Trying desperately to hide myself with my torn clothes.
15:06I saw them clearly.
15:07In the hallway, Luca had Serena in his arms, turning away.
15:10Tears slid down the corners of my eyes and into my hair.
15:13Oh my god!
15:14What's that blood?
15:15There's so much blood!
15:16Call an ambulance!
15:17I looked down, beneath my skirt, bright red blood was winding down my thighs.
15:22My vision started to blur, again and again, like the lights of Judgment Day.
15:29A black Maybach slowly drove out of the Villa Igea Royal Hotel.
15:34Who did this?
15:34It's so shameless!
15:36If my father hadn't called us, I would have gone to that room to see for myself.
15:38Luca kept his eyes closed.
15:40His mind was filled with the image of me standing at the desk.
15:43He even started to find the woman beside him annoying.
15:46Don't get too interested in other people's business.
15:48Suddenly, his phone vibrated.
15:52His assistant...
15:53Boss, you need to come back to the hotel immediately.
15:55Someone... someone is dying.
15:56Then call the police.
15:57Why call me?
15:58I'm not a cop.
15:59But boss...
16:00He hung up.
16:01Who was that?
16:03Marco.
16:04He's making a fuss out of nothing.
16:05He said someone died at the hotel.
16:07Luca's phone vibrated again.
16:09He ignored it.
16:10Serena pulled his sleeve.
16:12You really not going back to check it out?
16:14There's nothing to see.
16:15Tori is still in the hall cleaning up.
16:17Do you think she'd do something crazy because I slapped her?
16:21Serena, why the sudden care?
16:23It's not that.
16:24She's your ex-girlfriend.
16:25If something happens to her because of me, the media will go crazy.
16:27I won't know what to tell your father.
16:29Then why did you insist on her coming today?
16:30I just wanted her to give up on you for good.
16:33Who knew she'd actually throw wine at me?
16:35Don't worry.
16:35She'll be fine.
16:36She had survived much harder days.
16:39Six years ago, she had been scammed by an ex.
16:41Had been hounded by her father for money.
16:43She survived all of that.
16:45Today was just a slap.
16:46She might cry, but she'll be at work tomorrow.
16:48She needed this job.
16:49And she needed him.
16:51Luca rolled down the car window and lit a cigarette.
16:53Serena watched his face.
16:55Luca's phone vibrated again.
16:56Is this Mr. Luca Russo?
16:57Your partner is in critical condition.
16:59My partner is sitting right next to me.
17:01Are you trying to scam me?
17:02You've got a death wish.
17:04But in this lady's phone, you are saved as husband.
17:07Get lost.
17:08He hung up and blocked the number.
17:10His anger came out of nowhere.
17:11He lit another cigarette to calm down.
17:13Then, he sent a message to Tori.
17:16We had lived in that apartment for six years.
17:19It was in the heart of Palermo, right next to the theater.
17:22Every morning, you could see the sun rising over the sea.
17:25Serena wanted to renovate this place for the wedding, but he refused.
17:29The message had been sent, but with no reply.
17:31He didn't mind.
17:32Besides, she was humiliated today.
17:34She had the right to be upset.
17:36He stayed late in the Vitali family's house.
17:38It was already two in the morning when he arrived at the apartment.
17:41When he climbed the stairs, he was thinking,
17:43Should he go easy on her when he sees her?
17:46After all, Serena's slap was out of line.
17:49He didn't help Tori, but he knew the truth.
17:52Tori always knew her place.
17:54But that was his engagement party.
17:55If he didn't support his future wife,
17:57the Vitali family would find him weak,
17:59and the alliance he had sacrificed so much for would crumble.
18:02Once he controlled the Adriatic weapon lines,
18:04he wouldn't be afraid of the Vitalis anymore.
18:06Then, no one could tell him who to marry.
18:09He opened the door.
18:10It seemed nothing had changed.
18:12But the apartment was empty.
18:13He found a black suitcase in the corner.
18:15He opened it, and her things were in it.
18:17It turned out she had already packed everything.
18:20She was just waiting for the final step.
18:22Luca felt a surge of anger.
18:24So she was planning to leave him without even saying goodbye.
18:28Tori, don't forget you signed that agreement!
18:29He stormed into the study, looking for the contract,
18:32only to find a hospital report.
18:36Before he could make out the contents of the report,
18:39Tori, I was just gonna...
18:40Boss?
18:40What are you doing here?
18:41What the hell are you doing here?
18:42Tori isn't answering her phone.
18:44So I thought I'd drop by her apartment.
18:46You're here looking for her too?
18:47She's not here.
18:48Why do you need her?
18:49Boss, you hung up on me several times.
18:50I know you're engaged now, and you don't want to hear about Tori.
18:52I'll leave right away.
18:53Stop right there.
18:53Spit it out.
18:54What happened to her?
18:54Tori had been by his side for six years.
18:57Marco always kept him updated on her.
18:59Never dared keep anything from him.
19:02After the engagement party ended, I called you a dozen times.
19:04You didn't pick up.
19:06Your calls were about a casualty at the hotel.
19:08What does that have to do with Tori?
19:10He stopped mid-sentence.
19:12Something clicked.
19:14Gosh.
19:14No way.
19:17Boss, the person involved in the incident in room 306 tonight was Tori.
19:21What the hell are you talking about?
19:22Remember Tony Biacci?
19:23The one who had been fighting you over the Adrianic arms line?
19:25He went into 306 too.
19:26When reporters rushed in after getting tipped off,
19:28she was already lying in a pool of blood.
19:30I kept calling you.
19:31You said call the police.
19:32By the time I got back, she'd already been taken to the hospital.
19:34I couldn't track her down anywhere.
19:35Do you think it's funny to make this up?
19:37You know what she means to me.
19:39How the hell would she end up with another man?
19:41Boss, it's true.
19:42Enough.
19:43She's just hiding from me for a few days.
19:44Stop making a fuss.
19:46He picked up the report and flipped it open casually.
19:50Early intrauterine pregnancy.
19:52Approximately six weeks.
19:53Fetal development normal.
19:57His heart skipped a beat.
19:58A strange feeling surged through him.
20:01He thought it was panic.
20:02She was carrying his child.
20:05That was before the contract.
20:07It didn't count as a violation.
20:09The priority now was finding her and setting her up.
20:12He called Tori, but her phone was off.
20:14He thought for a moment, then sent a message.
20:17The message had been sent, but there was no reply.
20:20Boss, we got something.
20:22One of my guys tracked down a private hospital.
20:23A doctor there said he took in a woman earlier tonight.
20:25Severe hemorrhage, pregnancy loss.
20:27The doctor said they tried the first emergency contact and her phone saved as a husband.
20:30They got through, but he hung up.
20:31The number ended in 8867.
20:32Boss, did you get a call from any hospital today?
20:35He had.
20:35Not only did he answer, he cursed them out.
20:38The second contact they dialed was saved as mom.
20:40That call went through, and she was picked up shortly after.
20:43Whose mom?
20:44No idea.
20:45The doctor said the woman claimed to be Tori's mother.
20:47Impossible.
20:48Her mother's been dead for years.
20:49Who the hell picked her up?
20:50I'll ask them myself.
20:51Go pull the hotel's security footage right now.
20:54I want to know exactly why those two ended up in 306 together.
20:58Tori would never humiliate herself like that.
21:01He knew that better than anyone.
21:02The woman who took Tori, what did she look like?
21:04Did she leave any information?
21:05You're the patient's husband?
21:07When Tori was hemorrhaging, we called.
21:08You hung up.
21:08Then we called her mother.
21:09Within 10 minutes, three black SUVs pulled up outside.
21:12A whole team got out.
21:13Doctors, bodyguards, two men in chutes.
21:14Since when had Tori had connections like that?
21:17No one ordinary could do that.
21:21When he got back to the apartment, Luca was like a man who'd lost his soul.
21:25He sat through the night.
21:26He had just found out about the child, thinking he was going to be a father.
21:30Yet overnight, he lost them both.
21:32Boss, the footage from the third floor corridor, the hard drive just happened to crash.
21:38Crashed.
21:41You really expect me to believe that?
21:43Marco kept his head down.
21:44He dragged Tony Bianchi out of the party and threw him into the casino basement.
21:49Luca, we can talk this out.
21:52Tony curled up, screaming in agony.
21:55Who sent you to 306?
21:57You texted me.
21:59You told me to take care of her.
22:00Said not to hold back.
22:01The afternoon of the engagement party.
22:04Look, it's right here.
22:05He remembered.
22:06Serena had borrowed his phone at the party.
22:10Tori.
22:12What did she say?
22:14She didn't say much.
22:15She came in and called out Mr. Russo.
22:18Serena was the interruper.
22:20Tori is my only true fiancé.
22:21Vitali family stormed out in rage.
22:24Before the conference even ended, his father called in.
22:27Without the Vitalis, we are finished.
22:30Luca didn't argue.
22:32This was the only thing he could do for Tori now.
22:34She had never been just a mistress.
22:36Within hours of the announcement, the internet was on fire.
22:40Said it was all a ploy for power.
22:42Then someone anonymous leaked screenshots of the mistress contract he'd forced Tori to sign.
22:47Before Luca could trace the leak, the Vitali family retaliated.
22:51They pulled funding.
22:52Territory was chipped away.
22:54Key members defected.
22:55His father and the family elders pushed Luca to move fast.
22:59Cut losses.
23:00Do something.
23:01He couldn't hear a word of it.
23:02They didn't know.
23:03The only reason he'd ever agreed to marry Serena was to use the Vitali arms line.
23:08He searched for Tori like a madman.
23:10But he'd vanished from the room.
23:11Not a single trace left for him to follow.
23:14He went to the nursing home.
23:16Found her useless father.
23:17Said there's someone she needs to go see.
23:19Clean and pure.
23:20It's her mom.
23:21Must be her mom.
23:21Didn't her mother die?
23:23I know is.
23:23I'll never see her again.
23:25Two months later, just as Luca hit a dead end, a notification popped up on his phone.
23:30Driven by instinct, he clicked it.
23:33The photo shows a man and woman.
23:35Luca stared at the familiar face.
23:37His pupils contracted sharply.
23:41It all made sense now.
23:42When she said she'd discussed with her mother about the marriage next month, this was what
23:48she meant.
23:48The Russos had looked down on her for her background and her gambler father.
23:53Her mother was the runaway daughter of the Moretti family.
23:56All those years when Vittoria was struggling in the mud, she wasn't without a way out.
24:01Her mother had paid the price for marrying beneath her once.
24:04She would never let her daughter walk the same path.
24:07Vittoria had waited six years.
24:09She never left.
24:10What had he done?
24:11What did he do?
24:12Why didn't you tell me?
24:14Luca booked a flight to Los Angeles.
24:16He waited in the Moretti group lobby for three days.
24:20She wouldn't see him.
24:22On the fourth day, a document was delivered to him.
24:25Moretti was moving to absorb the last piece of the Russo territory.
24:28He couldn't take it anymore.
24:29He stormed into the elevator and went straight to the top floor.
24:32Inside the CEO's office, Vittoria Moretti was signing papers.
24:38Vittoria.
24:40Security, someone broke in.
24:42Vittoria, do you really have to leave me no way out?
24:45The mistress agreement isn't the only leverage I have.
24:47I have 20 records of money laundering from your casinos.
24:50That's enough to keep the FBI busy.
24:52If you bother me again, I won't go easy on you.
24:56Sign it.
24:57Then you still have a way out.
24:58So, this was your plan from the start?
25:02So, this was your plan from the start?
25:04You let me humiliate you.
25:05You signed the contract.
25:06You stayed at the casino.
25:07Not because you couldn't let go of six years.
25:09You were there to get your hands on the core financial records
25:11to hand them to the Morettis on a silver platter?
25:13Vittoria didn't deny it.
25:15With a clean slate.
25:16That was her mother's only condition.
25:18Her mother had wanted Vittoria to destroy Luca Russo herself.
25:23By the way, that Tony Bianchi is my mother's man.
25:27She arranged for him to play a part to turn you and the Vitalis against each other.
25:31She just didn't expect that I was pregnant.
25:34The news was contained.
25:35No one knows.
25:36If you want to make this public, I don't mind releasing the footage from 306
25:40along with the message you sent to Tony.
25:43You didn't tell your mother about the pregnancy, did you?
25:45Because you knew she'd make you get rid of it.
25:47So the trap they set, they didn't tell you and that's why you lost the baby, right?
25:51Vittoria's fingers curled slightly.
25:53You still cared.
25:54Even though you hate me, you could have used the baby to blackrail me, but you didn't.
25:59You wanted that child, didn't you?
26:00You came all the way to Los Angeles just to tell me this?
26:05No.
26:05I came to tell you I had reasons for what I did.
26:07I thought marrying Serena would give me the power to marry you eventually.
26:10I was just taking a short-
26:11You never once asked if I was willing to wait.
26:13You only thought about how to maximize your gains at the minimum cost.
26:16Including you coming here.
26:18It's not because you love me.
26:19It's because you can't stand being outplayed by a woman you look down in.
26:22She stood up and walked past him toward the door.
26:24Luca Russo, you once thought I wasn't good enough for you.
26:28Now, it's my turn to look down on you.
26:30The acquisition went faster than expected.
26:33The casino, the docks, the money laundering channels, all changed hands.
26:37Old Russo had a heart attack and was hospitalized.
26:40The board demanded that Luca give up what was left.
26:44Mr. Russo, if you ever need anything, give me a call.
26:47Give her back to me.
26:50She was never yours.
26:51How can I give her back?
26:53Luca stood there, as if all his strength had been drained from him.
26:57Dante was right.
26:58He had never truly had her.
27:00And because of her, he had lost everything.
27:05Six months later.
27:07Winter came to Sicily again.
27:09Luca sat inside a cheap apartment in Palermo.
27:12The sky outside veiled in dull gray.
27:15The old Russo died in the hospital.
27:17His last words were a curse.
27:19Black sheep.
27:21Luca didn't argue.
27:22For six months, he'd tried everything.
27:25Sent messages through intermediaries.
27:27Wrote letters.
27:28Even stood outside the Moretti's territory for an entire night.
27:32All he got was being chased away by bodyguards.
27:35And a warning from Dante Moretti.
27:37He knew he needed to let go.
27:39But every time he closed his eyes, that pregnancy test report kept haunting his mind.
27:44If that night hadn't happened, his phone rang.
27:48An unknown number.
27:50Luca Russo.
27:51I'm her mother.
27:53I'm not calling for her sake.
27:55She doesn't know about this call, and I don't want her to.
27:57Then why?
27:59There's something you should know.
28:01The baby survived.
28:03She knows.
28:04She's always known.
28:06I wanted to keep it from her, but the first thing she asked when she woke up was whether
28:10the baby was still there.
28:12I couldn't lie to her.
28:13So she kept that child and married Dante.
28:15My adopted son is an excellent man.
28:17He's loved Tori for years.
28:18They're very happy now.
28:19I'm not telling you this because you're worthy of knowing.
28:20It's because she wants me to pass you a word.
28:22What does she want to tell me?
28:23She said,
28:34The call ended.
28:36The light from his phone screen illuminated his tear-streaked face.
28:40This was his punishment.
28:44Three years later, Los Angeles, Sunny, in the gardens of the Moretti estate, a little girl
28:48with pigtails chased butterflies across the lawn.
28:51She looked pretty, round cheeks, gray eyes.
28:54Nana!
28:54Nana, look!
28:56A butterfly!
28:57All right, sweetheart.
28:59Go find your mama.
29:00The little girl hopped back toward the house.
29:03What's up, my little butterfly?
29:05Then to the beach we go.
29:08Dante stepped out of the study, a file still in his hand.
29:12When he saw this scene, he smiled lightly.
29:15Sunlight fell on her, and her white skirt fluttered in the wind.
29:18She looked relaxed and totally at ease, smiling as if nothing had ever hurt her.
29:24Same day, Palermo, a city street.
29:26Luca stood at the entrance of an Italian restaurant.
29:29A cigarette clamped between his fingers.
29:31He'd lost a lot of weight, with heavy dark circles under his eyes.
29:34Dressed in a plain jacket, he looked ordinary.
29:37The Russo family was history.
29:39Now he was just a nobody, making a living as an accountant.
29:42In his phone was a photo, one he'd spent all his savings to buy from a paparazzo.
29:47It's a photo of a little girl running across a lawn, a small dimple at the corner of her mouth
29:51when she smiled.
29:52He looked at it every day, and every time, he smiled first, then cried.
29:58If there had never been that mistress agreement, if he hadn't been so greedy and cowardly,
30:03if only when she'd said,
30:04If I said I planned to, he'd let her finish.
30:08Perhaps the story wouldn't have ended this way.
30:10But there are no what-ifs in this world, only consequences.
30:15You live what you choose.
30:17He chose betrayal, so he suffered loss.
30:19And she chose to endure pain, so she finally found freedom.
30:24The only regret left was the little girl with grey eyes.
30:27She would never know that on a street somewhere in New York,
30:30there was a man who cried over her photo every day.
30:33Nor would she ever know that her existence was the only pure thing
30:37between two people who owed each other far too much.
30:40all the way back.
30:41Um...
30:41the gosh,
30:42the awhile true.
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