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Fools's Day, Fools' Love HD 720p ASM
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00:00divorce agreement out of nowhere. Your two ex- on April Fool's Day, Grayson handed me a divorce
00:05agreement out of nowhere. Your two ex-husbands called to taunt me yesterday. Said you're too
00:10uptight to take an April Fool's joke that there's no way you'd actually sign divorce paper. I'd been
00:15married twice. Before we got married, I'd explained everything to Grayson. The first time I helped
00:19Spencer secure his family trust inheritance. The second time I helped Ethan dodge an arranged
00:24marriage. Both times, clean breaks, no feelings, no baggage. If that bothers you, we don't have to-
00:30I trust you. The past is the past. From now on, I'm the only one you see. After we got
00:36married,
00:37he and my two ex-husbands were like oil and water. But with me, he was gentle, attentive. I thought
00:43I'd finally married the right man. Then one day, I came home early from a business trip and heard him
00:48laughing and chatting with those two ex-husbands like old friends in the living room. The second
00:52before the key turned in the lock, I stood outside the door, catching every single word of the
00:57scheming going on in the living room. Relax. I'm definitely divorcing her. She's already been
01:02divorced twice. She's a joke all over the Upper East Side. There's no way she'll dare go through
01:07a third divorce. It was Grayson's voice stripped of the tenderness he always lavished on me. Smart move,
01:13picking April Fool's Day to hand her the divorce papers. Even if she loses it later, you just tell her
01:17it was an April Fool's jokes. Vivian's wedding is next week. Her bachelorette party starts before
01:22that. Three of us have to be single. I escaped into the coffee shop across the street. I thought
01:28about the past. My first marriage, I did it to help my childhood friend Spencer Knox secure his family
01:35trust. My second marriage, I did it to help Ethan Sinclair dodge an arranged marriage his family was
01:40forcing on him. I never imagined everything I'd done for them would become the very reason they
01:45thought they could manipulate me. I sat in that cafe for a solid hour before I finally headed home.
01:52Why didn't you call? I would have picked you up. You eat yet? Already did. Babe, there's something
01:58I wanted to tell you. The company's hit a bit of a snag lately. We need to do some asset
02:03separation.
02:04The lawyer suggested we file for divorce first, just to pro forma process.
02:11Once the crisis were over, we'll remarry. A few months tops. I know this is a bit out of nowhere,
02:16but Spencer and Ethan called today and was like, you used to help them without a second thought. But
02:20now for me, it's a different story. Just taking digs the whole time. They even said,
02:24Grayson, a woman who's been divorced twice, wouldn't dare go for a third. Josephine definitely
02:28couldn't handle it. I've got it all figured out. Tomorrow's April Fool's. We go that day, get the
02:32papers, then throw right in their faces, freak them the hell out. See if they ever dare look down on
02:35you
02:36again. Babe, you wouldn't want them thinking I can't even handle something this simple, right?
02:42I won't. Then get some rest. Tomorrow we'll sign the papers and head to the...
02:50Give them a call. So they can stop chattering about it.
02:59Babe, you're the best.
03:02She signed. Told you, Josephine's always the easiest to handle.
03:06All right, take care of Viviana's. I'll wrap up here and head over.
03:14Long time no see. Want to grab a drink?
03:17Before, I would have replied, sure. I would have carefully picked out what to wear,
03:22what makeup to put on. I would have thought about how to make Grayson look good in front of them.
03:26But now, I couldn't even be bothered to reply. I set my phone face down on the coffee table,
03:32got up, and walked to the kitchen. Passing by the study, Grayson was still on the phone. His voice
03:37was low, but carried a kind of ease I'd never heard before. The kitchen faucet was still running. I
03:42stood at the sink, washing the glasses one by one, setting them in the drying rack. As I finished the
03:47last one, my phone lit up again. This time, a message from Spencer. Heard you're getting divorced
03:52again? Grayson's a real piece of work. He doesn't deserve you. Don't be upset. In a few days,
03:58your grandpa's 80th birthday party is being held at the Quinn Estate. Ethan and I are coming to
04:03celebrate. Let's all catch up. What a sweet talker. Suddenly, I really wanted to know, what kind of
04:09person was Vivian, exactly? This home. This man. None of it would have anything to do with me.
04:16The person standing outside had a flush in her cheeks. Clearly, she'd had more than a few drinks.
04:21Knew you'd still be up. What are you doing here? She didn't answer, just swayed her way inside. It
04:26wasn't until she spotted me standing in the living room that she paused. Josephine's home too.
04:32Josephine, she's had too much to drink. We were taking her home, but she insisted on swinging by
04:36here. Grayson, your wife's right there. You ever heard of keeping things appropriate? You got her
04:40wasted and dropped her off at my place, and now I'm the one who needs to mind appearances?
04:43I got her drunk? You're the one posting on Insta about being newly single. Fine. You're a saint.
04:48You're the upstanding one. I delivered the girl who got drunk over you. Handle it however you want.
04:52The air felt frozen over. Spencer, caught in the middle.
04:56Alright, alright. Knock it off. Vivi just wanted to swing by on the way.
05:00I stood in the middle of the living room, watching the whole show from start to finish. Way too insane.
05:07All this time, I thought the bond between me, Spencer, and Ethan was unbreakable. I'd even
05:12married both of them. When I was little and got hurt or upset, Spencer was always the one
05:17by myself. Ethan once even shielded me from a kidnapper with a knife. To me, they were closer
05:22than family. When Vivian showed up, bit by bit I became the afterthought. They only remembered
05:27I existed when they needed something from me. I walked to the coffee table and picked up
05:31the divorce agreement. Good timing, all of you. There's something I'd like you to witness
05:37in person. I've signed both copies. Since everyone's here, why not take a good look?
05:43Grayson's expression shifted slightly, but he recovered fast.
05:47Josephine, we can talk about this in private. You don't have to...
05:50Josephine's already put it out there. Mind if I ask, when are you moving out?
05:57This house is under my name, after all. You're not planning to stay here forever, are you?
06:05The house in her name? He didn't deny it. In that instant, a flood of images rushed through
06:11my mind. This is our home. I'll handle the paperwork. Don't worry about it.
06:15And me, happily picking out the curtains, the couch, the dining table. Every single piece
06:20of furniture in this place, I'd picked out myself. Trip after trip to the store. I never cared
06:26whose name was on the deed, but it never crossed my mind that the home we built together would
06:30be under another woman's name. I'll leave right now. Josephine, tomorrow, 9am. See you at the
06:34courthouse. Waiting for the elevator, I could still hear voices from inside. Nailed it! She was even
06:42more cooperative than the day I asked her to marry me. The reflection in the mirror looked calmer
06:47than I expected. Come get me in a few days? Like I'd just stepped out for some air and
06:53would be back any minute. No need, Grayson. Don't bother coming for me.
06:599am the next morning. When I arrived, Grayson was already there.
07:05Where'd you go last night? Grandpa's.
07:10Josephine, you backed me up in front of Spencer and Ethan. I know that, and I appreciate it.
07:14As for the house, Vivian needed to handle some paperwork at the time and needed a property
07:18under her name. I figured it was just putting her name on it, that's all. You've never been
07:23short on anything. I didn't think you'd care, so I didn't mention it.
07:26Wouldn't you care? He put our home under another woman's name. And brushed it off with,
07:30you've never been short on anything. He didn't think I wouldn't care. He just didn't care whether
07:35I cared or not. Anyway, you still have the right to live there. After the divorce, you stay somewhere
07:39else for a while, and once I've sorted things out on my end, I'll come get you.
07:45Let's go. Time to file.
07:48The process was quicker than I expected. The divorce papers in my hands, just a few thin pages,
07:54almost identical in format to the ones we'd signed when we got married.
07:57I need to take a call. Wait here. I'll drive you back later.
08:02Vivi. It's me.
08:04Something came up. Head back on your own for now. I'll talk to you later.
08:14April Fool's Day. Right? Today.
08:18He picked up, and the two talked for nearly ten minutes.
08:21Why hadn't Josephine come out yet?
08:27Sorry.
08:28The two sets of documents lay tangled together on the ground. One, his divorce decree.
08:32It's fine.
08:32The other, a marriage certificate.
08:34Congrats. Getting married today?
08:36Congrats to you too.
08:38Today was April Fool's Day.
08:40Who gets married on April Fool's Day?
08:43And that voice, that build, he could swear he'd seen this man somewhere before.
08:47Wait.
08:50Have we?
08:56He was about to head back inside to find Josephine when his phone buzzed again.
09:00This time, a location pin from Spencer, with a message attached.
09:05He thought back to graduation day at prep school.
09:08She said that before she got married, she wanted everyone to go to that island and go wild for three
09:13days and three nights cash in the last of their youth.
09:15Now she was actually getting married.
09:17And it was time to make good on that promise.
09:20The resort on the island was private invite only for members.
09:24Among their whole group, the only one with that kind of access was him.
09:27So, he couldn't be late.
09:29Grayson glanced at the dress and paused.
09:31It was the one he'd bought her for her 17th birthday, three months of odd jobs to save up for
09:35it.
09:36Grayson! What took you so long? We've been waiting forever.
09:38Three penalty drinks, no backing out.
09:42Fine. I'll drink.
09:44Grayson still spoils Vivi like crazy.
09:47What, jealous?
09:48By the time they reached the resort, the sky had gone dark.
09:51Speaking of which, Vivi, you're getting married next week, and none of us have even met the groom.
09:56Groom. You've been keeping this pretty tight.
09:58The groom? What groom?
10:00Aren't you getting married next week?
10:03April Fools!
10:07After all these years, how do you guys still fall for it every single time?
10:11All right, all right. You got us. Fooled us and everything.
10:14Oh, come on. I just needed an excuse to get everyone together.
10:16Don't tell me you can't take a joke.
10:17We can take it. We can take it.
10:19We should be thanking you. We'd never have made it onto this island without you.
10:23For real, somebody has been playing favorites.
10:26You've been working on getting access to this island ever since you announced your engagement.
10:29Well, your dreams officially come true now.
10:32Go nuts. Three days, three nights, all yours.
10:39Thanks for still remembering my dream.
10:44Hey, wait a minute.
10:46Vivi's not getting married and Grayson just got divorced.
10:49So doesn't that make everyone single right now?
10:54After all these years, you two are still out here pretending to be just friends?
10:57Everyone knew what was going on back in school.
10:59The two of you acted like you'd die without each other.
11:02You're drunk.
11:03I'm not drunk. I'm serious.
11:06One of you never got married. The other just got divorced.
11:08If that's not perfect timing, what is?
11:09You two should just this.
11:11Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
11:12Come on! Grayson divorced his wife for Vivi!
11:16If Vivi doesn't step up, who will?
11:19Grayson stood there, listening to the chorus of egging on all around him.
11:23But a scene that didn't belong here flashed through his mind.
11:26That look in her eyes too calm.
11:28So calm that even after he'd gotten on the island, he'd replayed it in his head a thousand times.
11:32Before, he'd had a perfectly reasonable explanation for her composure.
11:36She knew it was a fake divorce, so there was nothing weighing on her.
11:39But now, suddenly, he wasn't so sure.
11:42Grayson? You're not gonna gang up on me with them, are you?
11:45He's not teasing! He means it!
11:47He clearly wanted to say something, but it caught in his throat and never came out.
11:51What was wrong with him?
11:53Wasn't this... exactly the wild night he'd wanted?
11:58No one remembered when the party ended.
12:00All Grayson remembered was drinking, glass after glass.
12:03By the end, the string lights had blurred into hazy halos.
12:06After that just fragments the hotel hallway lights.
12:08Too bright, the bed too soft.
12:11Someone loosening his tie.
12:12He thought he'd been calling out a name the whole time.
12:14It wasn't until a sliver of white light fell across his eyelids that Grayson opened his eyes.
12:19He turned his head and saw long hair splayed across the pillow beside him.
12:23He shot upright.
12:24Something detonated inside his skull.
12:26He closed his eyes, trying to piece it together.
12:29Last night came back in shards drinking, cheering, the hotel, the bed, and then...
12:34Morning.
12:36Grayson stood by the bed, instinctively reaching for his phone, looking for some kind of comfort.
12:40But there wasn't a single message from Josephine.
12:42She hadn't asked where he was last night.
12:44Hadn't asked why he never reached out.
12:46It wasn't like the other two times when he and Spencer, and then Ethan, had...
12:50Divorced.
12:51Air.
12:51Back then, she'd still text to check on them.
12:54Ask if they were okay.
12:55Ask how things went.
12:56Follow up on the aftermath.
12:58But this time her own divorce she hadn't asked a thing.
13:02Grayson?
13:06Last night...
13:07I'm sorry.
13:09You're apologizing to me?
13:19See?
13:20I can't even stand up straight.
13:24Grayson.
13:25How much longer are you going to keep up the act?
13:29Back in school, her grandfather used his sponsorship of you as leverage.
13:32That's the only reason you got with her.
13:34You've made it to where you are now.
13:36You really still scared of some retired old man from the Quinn family?
13:41Her grandfather didn't force me into anything.
13:44I went after her.
13:46Back then, that girl had dyed her hair some trendy color and wanted nothing to do with marriage.
13:51Her parents had divorced, then died one after another.
13:54She grew up under her grandfather's wing.
13:55She'd seen too many relationships fall apart to think marriage meant anything at all.
13:59She was a ride or die.
14:00She'd sign a marriage certificate for the guys she grew up with without blinking twice.
14:04But she never put an equal sign between love and marriage.
14:07To her, they were two different things.
14:09Love was freedom.
14:11Marriage was a cage.
14:12She'd put on the cage for her friends but never for her own love.
14:15It was him.
14:16He went after her, again and again.
14:18Proving over and over that he was different.
14:21He told her...
14:22I won't let you regret this.
14:24He told her...
14:25Our marriage won't be a grave.
14:27He tore himself open and laid every piece bare for her to see.
14:30Until she finally said yes.
14:32She placed her love in his hands, careful as glass.
14:35Signed a marriage certificate that, this time, actually meant something.
14:39And now, what the hell had he done?
14:44Vivian didn't expect him to say that.
14:46Then I was reading too much into it.
14:48Go.
14:52Grayson felt like he'd finally been let off the hook.
14:56What the hell happened last night?
14:57Dude, you crossed a line.
14:59Don't forget.
15:00You and Josephine's divorce is fake.
15:03I'll take responsibility for her.
15:06Responsibility?
15:06With what?
15:07You got divorced yesterday and today you're talking about being responsible for someone else?
15:11How is that fair to Josephine?
15:13Then what do you want me to do?
15:15Ethan didn't answer.
15:16Just looked at him.
15:17Alright, alright.
15:18Enough, both of you.
15:19Grayson, cool off first.
15:20In the state you're in right now, any decision you make is the wrong one.
15:23I need a smoke.
15:24He really did need a moment to figure out where things stood between him and his wife.
15:28That obsession with Vivian from back in school, it was like a thorn lodged deep in his chest.
15:32Didn't really hurt.
15:33Didn't really itch.
15:34But it had never truly been pulled out.
15:36At 17, he really had been close with Vivian.
15:40Back then, he didn't know Josephine yet.
15:42It wasn't until Spencer and Ethan brought that girl into his world that he realized Josephine's grandfather had been funding
15:48more than half the students at the school.
15:50Including him.
15:51The circle he'd been fighting tooth and nail to break into she'd been born at its center.
15:55He'd done everything he could to become part of that circle.
15:58And eventually, he won her over.
16:00He clawed his way onto the Forbes 30 under, 30 top 10.
16:03But the end of every marriage is the same monotony.
16:06This time, he really had planned to use April Fool's as an excuse to end the marriage to honor his
16:11promise to Vivian and to give himself room to breathe.
16:14In that moment, it hit him, he should go back to her.
16:17Even if she was furious, even if she wanted to tear into him, at least.
16:22Grayson!
16:25Vivian was standing on the windowsill, half her body leaning out.
16:28Don't come any closer!
16:30Get down first! We can talk about this!
16:32Back in school, you wrote me a love letter.
16:36He'd never written her one.
16:38The only letter he'd ever written was for Josephine.
16:40He just never sent it.
16:41Then she showed up, and you didn't want me anymore.
16:46Now you've divorced her, and you still don't want me.
16:49There's nothing to talk about.
16:51I'm not leaving. I'm staying with you.
16:56Really?
16:57Really.
17:05When you figure out what your heart really wants, and you want to leave, I won't stop you.
17:11Okay.
17:12Every trace of Josephine's contact info had been wiped clean.
17:16There. Now you can keep your promise and really be with me.
17:21Do you remember my other dream?
17:25With things turning out the way they did, Spencer and Ethan had no choice but to play dumb.
17:30After three days on the island, they showed up at Grandpa Quinn's 80th birthday party like nothing had happened.
17:35As Josephine's closest friends, they'd been there every single year.
17:38This year's party was held at the Quinn Estate.
17:40I'm sorry. Your names aren't on the guest list.
17:43Take another look. Josephine and I grew up together.
17:46I've been coming to the Quinn Estate every year for the last ten years.
17:49I'm sorry. Your names aren't on the guest list.
17:51Aren't those the two losers from the Knox and Sinclair families?
17:54Married into the Quinn family, then ran their own businesses into the ground.
17:57Get back together. You haven't heard? The old man's announcing some happy news today.
18:00We've got more right to be in there than anyone else here.
18:03The guard glanced at him, calmly tapped his earpiece, and two minutes later, Butler Harrison walked out.
18:11Stop. Neither of you needs to come back here. Please leave.
18:15He opened his mouth to say something, but Harrison had already turned and was walking back inside.
18:25Guests filtered past them in twos and threes, heading inside.
18:29Let's go. Why the hell?
18:31As they walked by, their eyes carried curiosity and pity.
18:34Josephine and I, we go back to...
18:36Ethan's expression darkened.
18:38Back to growing up together.
18:40Back to being the closest people in each other's lives.
18:43He couldn't finish.
18:45Wait, move on.
18:46Who the hell did you piss off recently?
18:48The permits for the Brooklyn project just got frozen.
18:51They said it's some new regulations.
18:53That project's been running for three years!
18:56Nobody ever said a word about new regulations!
18:58Spencer gripped the phone.
18:59He couldn't get a single word out.
19:01He knew exactly who.
19:03That plot of land was something he'd locked down back when he and Josephine were.
19:08He scrolled to Josephine's number, hesitated for a long time.
19:12Must be her.
19:14The same recording came back.
19:17The number you have dialed is no longer in service.
19:20Other than being born a Knox, he had no real skills to his name.
19:24And now, his aging father was the one running around cleaning up his mess.
19:29I'll be the daddy and I'll be the mom.
19:31Something inside him just caved in.
19:36The person he'd always assumed would be standing right where he left her waiting for him to come
19:40back whenever he was ready had vanished over these three days as if she'd never existed in
19:44this world.
19:45If his family's business hadn't gone completely under, if his parents hadn't been turned away
19:49everywhere they went for help, he probably wouldn't have even had a way to hear anything
19:53about her.
19:53He set the phone down.
19:55Suddenly, a memory surfaced a winter, many years ago.
19:58That year, his family was in crisis.
20:00Josephine grabbed his hand and said,
20:02Don't be scared.
20:03You've got me.
20:05Back then, he believed the whole world could change, but Josephine never would.
20:09That was the kind of trust that Ethan, Grayson, and Vivian could never compare to.
20:13The rest of them loved to play around, and he he was reckless.
20:16So, on certain things, they ran in the same circles.
20:19But if he was ever down to one last way out, it would always be Josephine.
20:23And now, suddenly, he had no idea what to do.
20:26Ethan wasn't doing any better.
20:28Three major clients, ones his logistics company had partnered with for five years, all terminated
20:33their contracts on the same day.
20:35The official reason was polished.
20:36Business restructuring.
20:38But when he had someone make a few calls, the other side hemmed and hawed before finally
20:42saying,
20:43Word about you being turned away at Grandpa Quinn's birthday party.
20:46It's made the rounds across the entire circle.
20:48Everyone's reassessingating the stability of doing business with your family.
20:52Ethan hung up and slammed his phone on the desk.
20:54He had no idea why Josephine had suddenly done this.
20:57She hadn't given him a second to react.
20:59He wanted to explain, wanted to say something, but he didn't even know where to begin.
21:04Back then, when she married him, it was to help him dodge the arranged marriage his family
21:07was pushing.
21:08The day they signed the papers, he played it cool and said,
21:11It's just a formality.
21:12Don't stress about it.
21:14But deep down, he never wanted it to be just a formality.
21:18He'd been in love with her since the very first time Spencer brought her around.
21:21He'd taken a knife for her during a kidnapping.
21:24He thought she'd never forget him for the rest of her life.
21:29But she only ever saw him as a brother.
21:31Once the arranged marriage situation was over, she simply said,
21:35Time to end this.
21:36He stalled for three months, made up every excuse to avoid meeting, refused to sign.
21:41Until she finally said,
21:43Ethan, don't make this hard for me.
21:45But then the woman who had always run from marriage,
21:47who wanted nothing to do with it actually married Grayson.
21:50For love.
21:50What did Grayson even have?
21:52Back in school, the guy was clearly into Vivienne.
21:55Then Spencer and Ethan introduced him to Josephine, and he just switched targets?
22:00How the hell could she choose a two-timing Grayson over someone who'd been devoted to her all along?
22:04So, from the moment Vivienne announced her,
22:07Engagement.
22:08Ethan had been planning.
22:09He was the first to come up with the idea use April Fool's Day to get Josephine to sign the
22:13papers without a fight.
22:14Once she was divorced, once she was single, he'd finally have his shot.
22:18His phone buzzed again.
22:20A message from his father.
22:24Tomorrow we're going to the Quinn residence to apologize in person.
22:28You're coming with me.
22:30Ethan stared at the screen for a long time, then replied with a single word.
22:34Okay.
22:35He put down the phone and dug out an old photograph from the very back of the drawer.
22:39In the picture, Josephine was 15, hair in a ponytail, standing under a magnolia tree, smiling.
22:45He'd taken it without her knowing, kept it hidden for over a decade.
22:49Vivienne loved the ocean.
22:51She wanted to visit every coastal city that was her other dream.
22:54In the past, Grayson would have told Josephine he was, going on a business trip.
22:59Then he'd take Vivienne on a getaway he'd have the time of his life, riding that thrill.
23:04And then, out of guilt, he'd come home and be twice as good to his wife.
23:08But this time was different.
23:09This time, he was.
23:11Single.
23:12The car traced the coastline south.
23:14They'd seen the ocean a thousand times over, and Vivienne's excitement never wavered.
23:19Grayson, though, was growing more and more distracted.
23:21By the second month, he wanted to go back.
23:24The moment he brought it up, Vivienne got sick.
23:26He had no choice but to stay a while longer.
23:29A few days became a week.
23:31A week became two.
23:32Two weeks dragged into a month.
23:34One afternoon, a friend on a business trip nearby asked to meet at a cafe.
23:38He was halfway there when he realized he'd left his phone behind and turned back.
23:44The bedroom door was slightly ajar.
23:47Vivienne's voice drifted through the crack she was on FaceTime with a friend.
23:50Girl, you've had the man to yourself for months and you still haven't sealed the deal?
23:54Don't tell me he's actually some kind of saint.
23:58Grayson's feet stopped dead.
24:01Faking sick and hurt.
24:02Can't really do much else.
24:05But, even though I haven't sealed the deal, I sent all our photos together to Josephine Quinn.
24:10If she has any self-awareness at all, she should know it's time to go.
24:14What did you send to Josephine?
24:19You didn't think I'd find out?
24:21Grayson, you...
24:22Why are you back?
24:24I...
24:24I was just joking around with my friend.
24:27So you were never actually sick?
24:28It was all just to keep me here?
24:30Grayson didn't stay to hear the rest.
24:32He turned and stormed out.
24:33The car tore all the way back to New York.
24:36On the road, he tried to message her.
24:38The truth was, these past few months, it wasn't that he'd never thought about reaching out.
24:42It was that every time he picked up his phone, he'd remember what he'd promised Vivian.
24:47He was afraid that one reply from Josephine would break him afraid he'd see.
24:50He typed out a message and sent it.
24:53The screen read,
24:54Undelivered.
24:56Josephine, it's me.
24:57Let me know you got this.
24:58Still undelivered.
24:59His fingers slowly tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white.
25:03The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable.
25:08It's fine.
25:09She's probably just busy.
25:11Maybe her phone died.
25:12The next evening, the car finally turned onto that familiar road.
25:16He knew she was close with her grandfather after the divorce.
25:19She'd be staying at the Quinn estate for sure.
25:21He jumped out of the car, practically pounding on the door.
25:24The door opened.
25:26Josephine stood behind it.
25:27She was already carrying my child when we signed the papers?
25:32She didn't say anything, not because she didn't care,
25:35but because she was waiting for him to come back on his own.
25:37She was carrying his child.
25:39Josephine, let me take you home.
25:41Let's remarry.
25:42Remarry?
25:44Why don't you ask my husband first if he's okay with that?
25:47A hand dropped him square at the chest.
25:49Josephine took a step back.
25:51Grayson froze.
25:52It's you?
25:53He remembered the day of the divorce.
25:55You two?
25:56The baby?
25:57Is it mine?
25:59What do you think?
26:01Frederick's hand rested on her shoulder.
26:02He didn't say a word.
26:04He just looked at her belly.
26:05Grayson suddenly understood.
26:07It wasn't his.
26:08It had never been his.
26:10Josephine, what are you doing?
26:11Did you forget what we agreed on?
26:13The fake divorce?
26:14The April Fool's...
26:16Sorry, I don't celebrate April Fool's.
26:18His mind exploded.
26:19But if you want to celebrate it, I can wish you the best.
26:24Happy April Fool's!
26:26Grayson stood there, staring at that door for a long time.
26:29The shadow of the magnolia tree by the entrance fell across his feet.
26:32He suddenly remembered the way she'd looked up at him when she signed the divorce papers.
26:36Now he got it.
26:37That wasn't calm.
26:38That was the look of someone who'd given up.
26:39He leaned against the wall by the door and slowly slid down to the ground.
26:43This time, it was really over.
26:44Spencer and Ethan, after the Quinn family publicly announced they were cutting all ties with both
26:49their families, found themselves struggling to stay afloat in the business world.
26:52Both companies shriveled into hollow shells.
26:54Grayson had some real ability, but the truth behind the divorce slowly leaked out.
26:58Asset separation, April Fool's joke it had all just been a cover for forcing his wife
27:02into a divorce so he could be with another woman.
27:04Once the news spread, several major deals fell through one after another.
27:08Carter Technology's IPO plans stalled.
27:10Investors pulled out, one by one.
27:12And his head wasn't in the company anyway.
27:14He kept telling himself Josephine was just upset once she cooled down.
27:18She'd come back.
27:19He even convinced himself that Frederick was just some opportunist who'd swooped in.
27:22The baby had to be his.
27:24She was just being stubborn, refusing to admit it.
27:27He went through her old photos over and over, scrolled through their old text threads,
27:31until the screen of his phone was practically worn smooth.
27:33He was certain she was still waiting just too proud to say so.
27:36Vivian watched the three men she'd leaned on most fall apart, one by one losing themselves
27:40over Josephine.
27:41Watching their family businesses crumble until her heart finally went cold.
27:44At their lowest point, she swept up the last of all three men's savings, and quietly flew
27:49off to Europe.
27:50When Spencer tried calling, the number was already disconnected.
27:53Grayson would occasionally see the Ashworth group in the Forbes headlines.
27:56Youngest billionaire attends charity gala with wife and daughter.
28:00In the photo, Frederick was in a deep navy suit, with Josephine beside him in a champagne-colored
28:05gown.
28:05In her arms a little girl with tiny braids, eyes crinkled up in a smile.
28:09Then he saw Frederick's name in Bloomberg again.
28:12Business person of the year, attending a foundation gala with his wife and daughter.
28:16In the photo, Josephine wore a dark green gown, standing beside Frederick.
28:21The little girl in her arms, eyes crinkled up in the same smile.
28:24That smile he'd seen it a long, long time ago.
28:27The streetlights outside flickered on, lighting up the small apartment he was renting alone
28:31in Queens.
28:32Empty.
28:33His phone screen lit up, then dimmed.
28:35No new messages.
28:37There never would be again.
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