- 8 minutes ago
He Slapped Me at the Wedding, Then Begged Me to Stay
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00At my wedding, my fiancé slapped me across the face.
00:03All for his bridesmaid, right in front of our parents.
00:07That same day, I threw my ring away and called off the wedding.
00:10Everyone thought I was just throwing a tantrum.
00:13After all, Caleb and I had grown up together.
00:15I'd been in love with him since we were kids.
00:17I followed him around like a shadow for 20 whole years.
00:22But this time, I was dead serious.
00:24Later, when he finally tracked me down...
00:26Why?
00:27Just because of one slap?
00:29Yes, just because of one slap.
00:33The second his hand connected with my face,
00:36a sudden metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.
00:39After the sharp, echoing crack of the slap,
00:42the entire ballroom fell dead silent.
00:45The left side of my face went numb.
00:47Then it burst into a burning pain.
00:50I looked up at him.
00:51My fiancé, Caleb Westbrook.
00:53All because I caught Natalie Hawthorne trying on my wedding dress
00:57without permission.
00:58All because I refused to let her be my bridesmaid.
01:02Even Caleb looks stunned by what he'd done.
01:05Enough, Vanessa.
01:07Stop making a scene.
01:08The ceremony's starting.
01:10Can you just be reasonable for once?
01:13Natalie stood right beside him,
01:14biting her lip,
01:15her eyes turning glossy and red.
01:18Oh my god, Caleb, don't.
01:19It's my fault.
01:21I shouldn't have tried it on without asking.
01:23I just loved it so much.
01:24I'm so sorry.
01:25I didn't mean it.
01:26Just step down as your bridesmaid.
01:28Please, can you guys just stop fighting?
01:30Caleb shot her a look.
01:33Vanessa, if you don't want to do this, then leave.
01:35We have guests waiting out there.
01:37This is not the place for your tantrums.
01:40Humiliation, hurt, fury.
01:42They all surged up at once, lodging themselves in my throat.
01:45Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
01:49In front of all the guests, I slid the diamond ring off my finger,
01:53then turned around and walked away.
01:55I was done explaining myself,
01:57and I sure wasn't staying there to be humiliated in front of everyone.
02:02Honestly, Caleb had never been Prince Charming,
02:04but that was the first time he hit me.
02:07More than that, in my entire 25 years of life,
02:10that was the first time anyone had ever struck me.
02:14Caleb and I went way back.
02:16His grandpa, Walter, and my grandpa served in the army together.
02:20We grew up in the same neighborhood, literally next-door neighbors.
02:23I had been in love with him since I was a little girl.
02:26When I was five, a boy at the playground snatched my toys.
02:30He pulled my hair, dumped bugs straight into my backpack.
02:34I ran crying to my mother, Eleanor.
02:36She went to confront the boy's parents,
02:38but they just brushed it off as,
02:40kids will be kids.
02:41Grandpa Walter was having dinner at our house that night.
02:44When he heard what happened, he called Caleb over.
02:47He told him to watch my back out there from now on.
02:50Caleb was two years older than me.
02:51When he heard I'd been bullied,
02:53he caught that boy by the playground slide,
02:55pinned him to the dirt, and beat him up.
02:58Caleb had always been big for his age.
03:00He had this mean, untouchable edge to him.
03:03By the time he was done,
03:04that boy and his two friends were bawling their eyes out.
03:08Anyone touches Vanessa, they deal with me.
03:12That was the exact moment I fell for him.
03:15From that day on, I became his shadow.
03:18I followed him every single day.
03:21Wherever he went, I was right behind him.
03:24Caleb hated it at first,
03:26but I never stopped trailing after him.
03:28Eventually, he got used to it and stopped telling me to leave.
03:31He would carry my backpack,
03:33tilt the umbrella toward me when it rained,
03:35and whenever I called his name,
03:36he'd turn around right away.
03:38At my 18th birthday party, Walter joked around,
03:41Well, if these two are this inseparated,
03:44maybe we should just make it official one day.
03:46I saw his ears turn red.
03:49And I'm marrying Caleb.
03:53But six years ago, everything shattered.
03:56That fall, Natalie Hawthorne arrived.
03:59She was the daughter of his mother's friend.
04:01She had just moved back from London
04:03and was staying at his house temporarily.
04:05She was gorgeous,
04:07with perfect natural curls
04:09and a soft, breathy accent.
04:11The very first day she moved in,
04:14Caleb brought her along to pick me up from campus.
04:16Oh my God.
04:18So this is your little sister, Vanessa?
04:20She's so cute.
04:22Literally covered in pink.
04:23Wait, how old are you again?
04:25You're in college, right?
04:26You still dress like a little girl
04:28and no one's ever said anything?
04:30My face instantly burned red.
04:32I loved pink.
04:34I was obsessed with it.
04:36My clothes, my tumbler, my hair clips,
04:39my jewelry, my phone case,
04:41even my fingernails were pink.
04:43People had teased me for it plenty of times,
04:45but no one had ever talked down to me like that before.
04:49With such fake, over-the-top pity,
04:52my face burned.
04:53I just stood there, completely tongue-tied.
04:57Relax, I'm just super blunt.
04:59Don't tell me I offended the princess already.
05:02Seeing my reaction, Natalie just smiled and winked.
05:05All right, that's enough.
05:07Caleb cut through the tension impatiently.
05:09I turned around.
05:10He was staring at Natalie, brows drawn tight,
05:13clearly annoyed.
05:15Ooh, the princess knight in shining armor?
05:18What, I can't even make a joke?
05:20Seriously?
05:21What's your problem?
05:22That night, Caleb told our parents what happened.
05:25Diana smoothed it over immediately.
05:27She told Natalie to lay off the jokes,
05:29and she pushed Caleb to take us both out on weekends
05:32so we could bond.
05:34From that day on, Natalie was always around.
05:37I didn't know exactly when she and Caleb got so close.
05:41Every afternoon, Caleb used to bring me
05:43a strawberry milkshake after class.
05:45But one day, he handed me an iced Americano.
05:48I barely drink coffee.
05:50You know that.
05:51I stared at the iced coffee, my chest tightening.
05:54Come on, you only like the milkshake because it's pink.
05:57That stuff's basically melted sugar.
06:00Try drinking something healthier.
06:02Across from him, Natalie lifted an identical iced Americano.
06:06Oops, sorry, shortcake.
06:08I was craving coffee, so I told Caleb to grab these.
06:11But honestly, milkshakes are kind of a lot.
06:16Do girls like you seriously drink that stuff every day?
06:20Do you always give people nicknames?
06:22For a second, she froze.
06:24Then came the wounded expression.
06:26Why are you making it such a big deal?
06:28I was joking.
06:30You're being way too sensitive, don't you think?
06:33Am I sensitive?
06:34Or did you do it on purpose?
06:36Enough, Vanessa.
06:38Caleb cut in sharply.
06:39She just moved here.
06:40Sometimes she speaks without thinking.
06:46Stop taking it so personally.
06:47My blood was boiling.
06:49Then maybe she should think before she talks.
06:53Hey, hey.
06:54All right.
06:55My bad.
06:57How about this?
06:58Tomorrow, I'll get you a Vonta strawberry milkshake.
07:01Deal?
07:02My little princess?
07:04Hearing that, Natalie's smile disappeared.
07:06She stared dead at me.
07:08From that day on, Natalie actively targeted me.
07:12Whenever I pulled out a pink pack of tissues,
07:15she would gasp dramatically.
07:17Wow.
07:18Even your tissues are pink?
07:20What?
07:21Are you trying to turn yourself into Barbie?
07:23At dinner, whenever I wiped down my silverware before evening,
07:27there it is.
07:28Princess mode activated.
07:30During summer break,
07:31I was hauling suitcases down from my dorm.
07:34Aw, the princess can't carry her own luggage.
07:37Someone get this girl a night.
07:39Every single time she did this,
07:42her friends would crack up.
07:44At first, Caleb actually stepped in.
07:47He would tell her to knock it off.
07:50Relax.
07:50I'm kidding.
07:52Vanessa's too guarded.
07:56I'm helping her loosen up and actually bond with people.
08:00She's a bit high maintenance.
08:03Is that just a girl thing?
08:05Natalie punched his shoulder playfully.
08:07Hey, Caleb, don't lump me in with those girls.
08:09I'm definitely not like them.
08:12Caleb laughed.
08:13It was such a gentle smile.
08:15My chest tightened with a sour ache.
08:18I always knew he thought I was spoiled and through little tantrums.
08:22Maybe to guys like him,
08:24liking pink,
08:26hating germs,
08:27and not being physically strong
08:28just meant you were a high maintenance princess.
08:31But finally,
08:33I snapped.
08:34It was a friend's birthday party.
08:36I wore a fitted pink button-down
08:38over a white cami to the club.
08:40When Natalie saw me,
08:42she practically shrieked.
08:44Oh.
08:45My.
08:46God.
08:47Vanessa,
08:48are you serious right now?
08:49Pink with a white cami?
08:51What's this,
08:51a teen drama?
08:52No, seriously,
08:53I'm dying.
08:55Do you think you're the main character?
08:57Look at you.
08:58You look like,
09:00what's the word?
09:01One of those girls trying way too hard to look cute.
09:04Like a Barbie doll
09:05that wandered onto the wrong set.
09:08Hilarious.
09:09She cracked up with a few guys
09:12who'd been mocking me since we were kids.
09:14Even Caleb seemed genuinely amused.
09:17The corner of his mouth twitched.
09:19A tidal wave of humiliation and shame
09:21swallowed me alive.
09:23While they were laughing,
09:24I grabbed my glass
09:25and tossed my drink right into her face.
09:28Natalie gasped,
09:30wiping furiously
09:31at her wet face.
09:32Her makeup melted.
09:33Black mascara completely
09:34streaked down her cheeks.
09:36She coughed violently.
09:38What the hell is wrong with you?
09:40Are you insane?
09:42Oh.
09:43My God.
09:44I mocked her tone perfectly.
09:46Look at your heavy contour,
09:47fake lashes,
09:48and that dress that barely covers your ass.
09:50What are you,
09:50a hooker?
09:51Some trashy little club princess?
09:53Caleb scowled
09:54and stepped between us.
09:55He yanked the glass
09:56right out of my hand.
09:58Vanessa.
10:00Apologize.
10:01He looked down at me,
10:02his brow furrowed.
10:04My eyes burned
10:04as I stared dead at him.
10:06Didn't you hear what she said to me?
10:08She mocked me first.
10:10That's not the point.
10:11You already insulted her back.
10:12Now apologize for throwing the drink.
10:15When you do something wrong,
10:16you own it.
10:18Stop acting like a child.
10:20He said it with such casual authority.
10:23Just say sorry.
10:24She won't hold it against you.
10:27Fuck off.
10:29Vanessa, what's gotten into you?
10:30You leave for college
10:31and suddenly this is how you talk?
10:33Apologize right now.
10:35I scoffed,
10:36turned on my heel,
10:38and walked straight out of the club.
10:40Three days later,
10:40Caleb showed up.
10:41He brought my favorite
10:42strawberry milkshake to campus.
10:44It had pink whipped cream on top
10:46with my favorite flamingo straw
10:48sticking out of it.
10:49He stood below the balcony
10:50of my dorm building.
10:51Vanessa,
10:53come down.
10:54I owe you an apology.
10:56I stood on the balcony,
10:57looking down at him.
10:58The wind made my eyes sting.
11:00I went downstairs
11:01and took the shake from him.
11:03I took a sip.
11:04It was sweet,
11:04but my chest still felt tight
11:06and heavy.
11:08Do you actually think I'm spoiled,
11:10petty,
11:10and making a big deal
11:11out of nothing?
11:12He fell silent for a long time.
11:15Natalie's just blunt.
11:16She doesn't mean any harm.
11:17Just let it go.
11:18You take everything
11:19way too personally,
11:20Vanessa.
11:21That's probably why
11:22you have no friends.
11:24The milkshake sat heavy
11:25in my throat.
11:26I couldn't swallow it.
11:27Couldn't spit it out.
11:28So that was it.
11:29No matter how badly
11:31I was hurt,
11:31I was always the petty one
11:33with Caleb.
11:34Always too sensitive.
11:35Too dramatic.
11:37From that day on,
11:38our relationship
11:38just went on autopilot.
11:40We were together,
11:41but something between us
11:43had gone cold.
11:44After we finished grad school,
11:45our parents started bringing up
11:47marriage more and more.
11:49They thought it was time
11:50we settled down.
11:51Caleb didn't object,
11:52so the wedding was set
11:54for my 25th birthday.
11:56On the big day,
11:57Natalie was already standing
11:58in the bridal suite,
11:59wearing my wedding dress.
12:01She said she just wanted to see
12:02how it looked on her.
12:03I let out a disbelieving laugh.
12:06She glanced at the red reception
12:07dress I had just changed into,
12:10wrinkled her nose.
12:11Honestly,
12:12red is definitely
12:13not your color, Vanessa.
12:14It looks hideous on you.
12:16Take it off.
12:17If you want to try on
12:18a wedding dress so badly,
12:19go rent one.
12:21That one is mine.
12:22But she just did
12:23a little twirl in front of me.
12:25Oh, come on.
12:26You've already worn it
12:27for the ceremony.
12:28Caleb said he didn't mind.
12:31Why are you being
12:31so possessive?
12:33That was it.
12:33I reached out
12:34and grabbed the fabric.
12:36It's my wedding dress.
12:37Give it back.
12:38As we struggled,
12:40her foot caught on something.
12:41She tripped
12:42and fell hard onto the floor.
12:44Her carefully styled hair
12:46tumbled into a messy heap.
12:48At that exact moment,
12:49the door flew open.
12:51Caleb rushed in.
12:53His eyes landed on Natalie.
12:54And without a single second
12:56of hesitation,
12:57he raised his hand
12:58and slapped me
13:00straight across the face.
13:02It was raining
13:02when I walked out of the ballroom.
13:04A brutal August storm.
13:06Heavy drops smashed
13:07against the pavement.
13:08I walked step by step
13:10into the freezing rain,
13:12still wearing
13:13that red reception dress
13:14Natalie had just mocked.
13:16Behind me,
13:17my mother's voice
13:18tore through the storm.
13:20Vanessa, Vanessa, come back!
13:23Oh, for God's sake!
13:25What is wrong with her?
13:26Throwing a tantrum?
13:28Throwing a tantrum
13:29at her own wedding?
13:30This is so embarrassing!
13:31I didn't look back.
13:33My heel caught in a puddle,
13:35my ankle twisted,
13:36and I nearly fell.
13:37So I yanked off both heels,
13:39walked barefoot
13:40on the soaking wet pavement.
13:43The muddy water
13:44was freezing and filthy,
13:45but I couldn't care less.
13:47When I walked past
13:48the main gates,
13:49the hotel security guard
13:50stared at me
13:51like I'd lost my mind.
13:53Well, a barefoot bride
13:55walking into a thunderstorm.
13:57I probably did look insane.
13:59My phone buzzed
14:00non-stop in my purse.
14:02I pulled it out.
14:03Dozens of texts
14:04from relatives and friends.
14:06What happened?
14:07Is everything okay?
14:09Why did you leave?
14:10I powered the phone off
14:12and flagged down a cab.
14:13The driver hesitated
14:14when he saw me dripping wet,
14:16but eventually
14:17unlocked the doors.
14:18Where to?
14:19I gave him an address,
14:21an old apartment
14:21I shared with a friend
14:22back in college.
14:23She had moved to San Francisco,
14:25but she kept the lease
14:27and left me a spare key.
14:28The ride took 40 minutes.
14:30I shivered the entire way.
14:32I wasn't sure
14:33if it was from the cold
14:34or something else.
14:36When I arrived,
14:37I dug through my soaked purse.
14:39I only had $200 in cash
14:41and a debit card.
14:43My phone was completely dead.
14:46My phone buzzed
14:46non-stop in my purse.
14:48I pulled it out.
14:50Dozens of texts
14:50from relatives and friends.
14:52What happened?
14:53Is everything okay?
14:55Why did you leave?
14:56I powered the phone off
14:58and flagged down a cab.
14:59The driver hesitated
15:00when he saw me dripping wet,
15:02but eventually unlocked the doors.
15:05Where to?
15:05I gave him an address,
15:07an old apartment
15:08I shared with a friend
15:09back in college.
15:10She had moved to San Francisco,
15:12but she kept the lease
15:13and left me a spare key.
15:14The ride took 40 minutes.
15:16I shivered the entire way.
15:18I wasn't sure
15:19if it was from the cold
15:20or something else.
15:22When I arrived,
15:23I dug through my soaked purse.
15:25I only had $200 in cash
15:27and a debit card.
15:29My phone was completely dead.
15:32I climbed the stairs
15:33and unlocked the door.
15:34The apartment was dead empty.
15:37Just a bare mattress
15:38and a single folding chair.
15:41I peeled off the heavy,
15:42soaked dress,
15:44crawled into an old blanket
15:45she had left behind,
15:47curling into a tight ball.
15:49Finally,
15:50the tears started falling.
15:52It wasn't even heartbreak anymore.
15:54It wasn't anger either.
15:56It was just
15:57a suffocating emptiness.
15:59I'd loved Caleb
16:01for almost my entire life.
16:03When I was five,
16:04he beat up the boys
16:05who bullied me.
16:06I thought he was
16:07the bravest person
16:08in the world.
16:09When I was eight,
16:11I scraped my me.
16:12He crouched down
16:13and put a Band-Aid on it.
16:14His hands had been clumsy,
16:16but so careful.
16:18When I was 15,
16:19I bombed a test.
16:21He stayed on the phone
16:22with me for hours,
16:24saying,
16:25It's one test, Vanessa.
16:26You'll be fine.
16:27When I was 18,
16:29I got accepted into college.
16:31He bought me
16:32a pink crystal bracelet.
16:34My little princess
16:35finally grew up.
16:38But when did everything change?
16:40Was it the day Natalie showed up?
16:42Or was it even earlier than that?
16:45Maybe he'd never loved me.
16:46Maybe I was just
16:48a needy friend
16:48he had to look after.
16:50A shadow
16:51he just couldn't shake off.
16:53He treated me well
16:55not out of love,
16:56but out of habit.
16:58He was used to me
16:59following him around,
17:01used to my clinginess.
17:02But Natalie was different.
17:04She was independent,
17:06fiercely opinionated,
17:08and bluntly outspoken.
17:09She didn't need him
17:11to act as her knight
17:12in shining armor.
17:13She even challenged him.
17:15To Caleb,
17:16maybe that was a mature,
17:18equal relationship,
17:19not a childish,
17:20high-maintenance princess
17:22who needed constant coddling.
17:24Those thoughts spiraled
17:25until I eventually
17:26passed out from exhaustion.
17:28In my dreams,
17:29I was five years old again.
17:32After he finished
17:33beating up those boys,
17:34he turned his head
17:35and looked at me.
17:37Sunlight hit his face.
17:39Anyone touches Vanessa,
17:40they deal with me.
17:42But the very next second,
17:43the dream shifted.
17:45He was standing
17:46in the grand ballroom,
17:47staring at me
17:48with an ice-cold face
17:50before slapping me
17:51across the cheek.
17:52I jolted awake.
17:54Sweat slicked my skin.
17:56The storm had passed.
17:57The sky was starting
17:58to turn pale.
18:00I plugged in my phone,
18:01powered it on.
18:02It vibrated
18:03for three straight minutes,
18:05flooded with messages.
18:08Most were from my mother,
18:10starting from a panicked,
18:11Vanessa, where are you?
18:13To, please answer me.
18:16And finally,
18:17do you have any idea
18:19what this has done
18:20to both families?
18:22Then there were
18:23a few texts from Caleb.
18:25Where are you?
18:26Vanessa, are you done
18:27with this yet?
18:28Pick up.
18:30The very last one
18:31was sent at 2 a.m.
18:33Just one line.
18:35Are you happy now?
18:36I stared at that text.
18:38A bitter laugh
18:39escaped my lips.
18:41He slapped me
18:42across the face.
18:43And now,
18:44he actually had the guts
18:45to text me,
18:47are you happy now?
18:48Just like always.
18:50To him,
18:51this was totally my fault.
18:53I was being unreasonable.
18:55I ruined our perfect wedding.
18:57I didn't reply to anyone.
19:00I opened DoorDash
19:01and ordered some hot chicken soup.
19:03The buzzer sounded.
19:05I assumed it was the chicken soup.
19:07I pulled open the door.
19:09But it wasn't the delivery guy.
19:11It was Caleb.
19:12He was still wearing
19:13the same gray wedding suit.
19:15Dark circles bruised the skin
19:17beneath his eyes,
19:18like he hadn't slept all night.
19:21He took one look
19:22at my pale face
19:23and froze.
19:24I knew exactly
19:26how pathetic I looked.
19:28I was drowning
19:29in a baggy old t-shirt
19:30someone left behind.
19:31And I still had
19:33the faint red handprint
19:34on my left cheek.
19:36He stared at me
19:37for a few seconds.
19:38His throat bobbed.
19:39You stayed here last night?
19:41I didn't answer him.
19:42Just turned
19:43and walked back inside.
19:45He followed me inside,
19:46scanning the completely bare room,
19:48his brows drawing together.
19:50You're staying here?
19:50You're staying here?
19:51There's not even a bed.
19:53None of your business.
19:54I sat down on the mattress,
19:56picked up a cup,
19:57and took a sip of water.
19:58He walked over
19:59and towered above me,
20:01looking down.
20:03Come home.
20:05Let's finish the wedding.
20:07We can pretend
20:08yesterday never happened.
20:10I slowly looked up at him.
20:12His face was so incredibly calm.
20:15Caleb, do you honestly think
20:16I can't live without you?
20:20I said,
20:22I'm not marrying you.
20:24We're done.
20:26His brow furrowed
20:27into a tight knot.
20:29Vanessa,
20:30do you even hear yourself?
20:31I do.
20:32I'm perfectly clear.
20:34Why?
20:35Just because of one slap?
20:38I didn't mean it.
20:40Given the situation...
20:42What situation?
20:44You saw Natalie
20:45on the floor
20:46and you hit me.
20:48You didn't ask why.
20:49You didn't ask
20:50what she did to me.
20:51You didn't even give me
20:52a chance to explain.
20:53You just hit me.
20:57Do you even know
20:58what she did?
20:59She wore my wedding dress.
21:01On my wedding day,
21:03she put it on
21:04without my permission.
21:06I told her to take it off
21:07and she refused.
21:09We argued.
21:10I tried to pull it off her.
21:12Then you walked in
21:13and you hit me
21:14for no reason.
21:17Tell me, Caleb.
21:18What did I do wrong?
21:20She'd never worn one before.
21:22She was just curious.
21:23Did you really have to make
21:24such a huge deal out of it?
21:27Did you really have to hit me?
21:31Caleb,
21:32I chased you for 20 years.
21:33I loved you for 20 years.
21:36I've been your loyal shadow
21:38for 20 years.
21:39I thought you were just bad
21:41at expressing yourself.
21:44I thought you loved me
21:45and didn't know how to say it.
21:47But that slap yesterday
21:48finally woke me up.
21:50You never loved me.
21:51You got used to me.
21:53I'm just an accessory to you.
21:55Someone you could snap
21:56your fingers at
21:57whenever it suited you.
21:58But Natalie?
22:00You'll back her up in public?
22:01You'll hit me for her
22:03because deep down, Caleb,
22:05she is more important to you.
22:07Not true.
22:07Say it, Caleb.
22:09Tell me what it actually is.
22:11He couldn't say a single thing.
22:14I let out a bitter laugh.
22:17Get out.
22:18I already threw the ring away.
22:20The wedding is canceled.
22:22I'll deal with our families
22:23and the fallout.
22:24From now on,
22:25we're completely done.
22:26Don't ever reach out to me again.
22:29He didn't move.
22:31He stood there for a long time.
22:33Finally, he muttered,
22:35Cool off for a few days.
22:36I'll come back when you've calmed down.
22:38Then he turned around
22:40and walked out.
22:41The second the door shut,
22:42my legs gave out.
22:44I sank to the floor,
22:46burying my face in my arms.
22:48I was the one who initiated the breakup,
22:51who canceled the wedding.
22:52But why,
22:53why did my chest still hurt this much?
22:58For the next three days,
22:59I locked myself in that empty apartment.
23:02Ignored every call.
23:04My mother was losing it.
23:06She texted me that she and my father
23:08were already on their way.
23:10I just replied,
23:11I'm fine.
23:12Please don't come.
23:13On the third afternoon,
23:15the doorbell rang.
23:16I checked the peephole.
23:17It was her.
23:18With no choice left,
23:19I opened the door.
23:21When she stepped inside,
23:23her eyes welled up with tears.
23:25Oh, sweetheart.
23:27You've lost so much weight.
23:29You look so pale.
23:30Have you even eaten anything?
23:33As she scolded me,
23:35she started pulling thermoses
23:36out of her tote bag.
23:38I know you're hurting.
23:40I know what happened humiliated you.
23:42But starving yourself won't fix it.
23:46My nose stung.
23:48Tears threatened again.
23:49My father stood in the doorway.
23:52His face was dangerously grim.
23:56I've already talked to Caleb's parents.
23:58If you want to call the whole thing off,
23:59just say the word.
24:00I have your back.
24:03Drop it, Arthur.
24:06What?
24:07Laying a hand on my daughter
24:09right in front of me?
24:10Who the hell does he think he is?
24:11I didn't raise her to be his punching bag.
24:15She let out a heavy sigh
24:16and didn't argue back.
24:18I knew this had hurt them too.
24:21Decades of friendship between our families.
24:23And now they were stuck in the middle of this mess.
24:26The wedding ruined everything.
24:29Mom.
24:30Dad.
24:31I'm sorry.
24:32I'm sorry for putting you through this.
24:36Stop talking nonsense.
24:38I don't care about any of that.
24:39I only care that you're okay.
24:42I only care that you're okay.
24:45That night, my mother stayed with me.
24:47And my father checked into a hotel nearby.
24:50She lay next to me on that bare mattress.
24:53Just like when I was little.
24:55Vanessa, be honest with me.
24:58Okay.
24:59Do you still love him?
25:01I stayed quiet for a long time.
25:05I loved him for 20 years.
25:07You don't just turn that off overnight.
25:11But Mom, I don't want to love him anymore.
25:14I know, sweetie.
25:16Then take it slow.
25:17I'm right here with you.
25:19Staring into the dark,
25:20I cried without making a sound.
25:23On the fourth day, Caleb came back.
25:25But this time, he wasn't alone.
25:27Natalie was with him.
25:29I'm sorry.
Comments