- 10 minutes ago
Too Late To Beg HD
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Short filmTranscript
00:00his first love to spend three nights with him before the wedding my fiance's mother invited
00:05his first love to spend three nights with him it's the moretti way before the wedding my son
00:11spends three nights with his past love a gesture of gratitude a proper goodbye the absurdity hit
00:18me like a slap i turned to marco he didn't push back it's tradition bella you want the moretti
00:25name you play by moretti rules he just leaned back on the couch lit a cigarette and smirked besides
00:32you waited eight years for this ring it's three nights you can handle it everyone in that room
00:36expected me to lose it i just nodded fine i respect the moretti tradition because one second earlier
00:43my phone had buzzed luca castellano head of the castellano empire the oldest and most powerful
00:49crime family on the east coast also the man i personally burned eight years ago when i turned
00:54down our arranged marriage to be with marco bella say the word i'll make this disappear three days
00:59later on what was supposed to be my wedding night the groomsmen shoved marco through the bedroom door
01:05they froze the second they saw the bed i wasn't alone i was lying there with a powerful muscular man
01:11under everyone's shocked gazes i lazily wrapped my arm around the man's waist oh i forgot to mention
01:16my family has a tradition too on the wedding night the bride has a man of her choosing test the
01:22bed first
01:22to make sure her groom actually measures up as marco's mother declared their ridiculous custom
01:29before the guests i said fine without a word of hesitation marco left me and moved in with vanessa
01:35three full days not a single call not a single text the night before the wedding i tracked him
01:41down at the morelli family's private club in lower manhattan vanessa tucked under his arm the whole
01:45mouth loud and loop i pushed the door open every voice in the room cut out at once what are
01:49you doing
01:50here am i interrupting the reunion bella don't read into it a lot of the old families do this
01:55a clean goodbye before the wedding is a sign of respect the boss is 100 yours after tonight i know
02:00like i told you i get it damn boss really has her trained no training involved she loves me too
02:07much
02:07to do a damn thing about it she's mine she knows it seeing i still hadn't moved someone got bold
02:14boss last night before the wedding
02:21let's make it interesting
02:26go ahead
02:29start with a deep french kiss vanessa right here right now
02:36marco smiled he grabbed vanessa by the back of the neck and kissed her
02:44deep slow deliberate right in front of me the whole booth erupted i watched for exactly three
02:52seconds my voice cut through the noise the wedding is tomorrow marco don't be late i turned and walked
02:58out behind me tony's voice carried over the laughter boss your girl just watched you make out with your
03:03ex and didn't even flinch you know how rare that is lucky bastard doesn't know what he's got i stopped
03:07walking of course she's been with me eight years and she survived three miscarriages
03:13she can handle a little kiss the deepest pain of my life and he just used it as a punchline
03:18the first time we were still in college marco was just a runner for the family a kid right now
03:25is a
03:25liability bella so i walked into that clinic alone and made a choice i never recovered from
03:31the second time he'd just been promoted to capo we were in brooklyn for a meeting when a rival crew
03:38hit us i was two months along i lost the baby on a hospital hallway floor the third time was
03:44two
03:44years ago ectopic pregnancy internal bleeding emergency surgery they took one of my fallopian tubes
03:55afterward marco knelt at my bedside and slapped himself across the face he cried he swore he'd spend
04:02the rest of his life making it up to me now he's underboss he's made it and he's decided that
04:08means
04:09i have nowhere else to go he thinks i can't live without him he's about to find out how wrong
04:15he is
04:16i got home and went straight to bed then marco called his voice was slow relaxed that particular
04:22kind of satisfied that told me everything i needed to know about his night were you upset about earlier
04:27no you've been so agreeable lately bella it's honestly starting to throw me off look vanessa
04:32flew all the way back from palermo just because she heard i was getting married don't read too much
04:36into it she's the past you're the one i'm marrying it's a family tradition i have to honor that's all
04:41fair enough you respect your legacy and i'll respect mine tomorrow i hope you're ready to
04:46honor the serrano tradition too of course what kind of tradition marco last night don't get
04:50distracted tell me who feels better me or your little fiance bella weddings tomorrow be there be
04:55good i stared at the screen after the call ended funny thing about reaching your limit it doesn't
04:59feel like pain anymore it just feels like nothing something inside me went quiet not broken just done
05:05i turned my phone off and went to sleep the first message on my phone that morning was from
05:11gina grainy video low light two bodies the caption read coming back to the states was worth every
05:18minute didn't stop all night eight years apart and he's still just as addictive as i remember
05:23vanessa made sure i saw her staking her claim vanessa and marco celebrated too soon
05:29what they didn't know was i'd already set things in motion
05:34i put my phone away got in the car and drove to my own wedding calm dry eyed like i
05:40was running an
05:40errand by the time i sat down in the makeup chair gina was already shaking madama what is wrong with
05:47him this isn't tradition this is just cheating with extra steps in front of the whole city you cut
05:53off your entire family for this man bella you went to war with your father and marco stood before god
06:01and swore he'd never hurt you now he's in bed with that sicilian bitch the night before your wedding
06:06does he feel anything at all you know the first child would it make stress to boss if you weren't
06:12in a
06:12game probably not when marco and i got together the moretas were a second new family at best
06:19he was nobody a street level runner trying to climb my father said bella you are a serrano
06:26you do not throw yourself away on a thug with ambition luca castellano that is the man you married
06:34i told my father no i walked away from the arranged marriage walked away from my family walked away from
06:41everything they'd built and marco he knelt before an icon of the virgin mary and swore on his life he
06:48would
06:48never betray me i've thought about when exactly i lost him i think it was six months ago a call
06:54from
06:54palermo vanessa freshly out of a relationship coming home that was it that one phone call
07:00eight years three losses every sacrifice i made and all it took was her voice on a line to pull
07:04him
07:04back bella please tell me you're not actually going through with this why are you still marrying him
07:10i looked at her i reached up and wiped the tear from the corner of her eye you've known me
07:14your whole
07:14life so you already know the answer in this family women don't cry he just makes me sure the debt
07:21gets
07:22paid blood for blood 20 minutes before the ceremony that's when marco finally showed up his crew
07:29practically applauded boss seven rounds last night we weren't sure you'd make it out of bed almost sent
07:36someone in your place you really don't give me enough credit then his eyes found me for just a
07:41second something crossed his face surprise maybe even guilt damn bella you almost make me feel
07:49guilty don't listen to those idiots seven rounds they're joking vanessa had a stomach ache this
07:54morning things ran a little late that's all i smiled back and said nothing then a face popped
07:59out from behind him grinning like the cat that got the green happy wedding day bella so happy for you
08:04both vanessa she was a mess this morning begged to come i didn't see the harm don't worry the
08:11tradition's done i'll keep my distance after today beside me gina went sturdy i put my hand on her arm
08:17before she could open her mouth she came all this way she's a guest vanessa looked me over slowly head
08:24to toe bella your dress is lovely very understated not every girl can pull off something so simple
08:33then she turned to marco with a playful pout wait didn't you get her a vera wang because i remember
08:39when we were 18 you told me our wedding to have a custom limited edition vera wang the plaza the
08:45morelli family diamonds 300 guests minimum you said a million dollar wedding was the only thing good
08:50enough so what happened the whole room went silent every bridesmaid stopped breathing eyes moving back
08:56and forth between us marco cleared his throat bella and i have been together so long we're past needing
09:03all the fanfare right i'd always known in his heart the scale was never level it was always tipped
09:09toward her the photos the tears the dj started warming up the ballroom the big screens came alive
09:15with photos marco and me eight years of moments on a loop vanessa watched for maybe 30 seconds
09:21then she started crying bella i'm so jealous she said it to me her eyes went straight to marco i
09:28don't
09:28think i'll ever get this the doctors found something lupus no cure i just wanted to know what it felt
09:35like to have a wedding of my own just once before the end he watched her like she was the
09:42only person
09:42in the room then he turned to me bella let vanessa take your place for the ceremony are you out
09:49of
09:49your goddamn mind you can't just swap out a bride who are you actually marrying marco her or bella
09:56it's symbolic we give her this one moment bella still signs the papers at city hall tomorrow
10:02nothing changes he crouched down to my eye level his voice went soft his usual appeasing tone bella you
10:10made it through three days what's one more hour i promise you vanessa gets the vows but the one in
10:15my bed tonight is you a ceremony is just words tonight is what actually counts isn't it then he
10:21raised his hand and made the sign of the cross over his heart the same gesture the same hand the
10:29same
10:29man who once swore before the virgin mari he would never betray me from the ballroom i could hear guests
10:34starting to murmur wondering where the bride was the bridesmaids were looking at me like i was
10:39already pathetic i didn't care fine marco exhaled he reached over and ruffled my hair the way you'd pet
10:46a dog that finally sat on command that's my girl go up to the honeymoon suite i'll be there the
10:52second
10:52the vows are done honestly i didn't want to say those vows anyway i was more than happy to skip
10:57straight
10:58to the wedding night because i'd already prepared my wedding night surprise downstairs the ballroom was
11:05loud with music and toasts up here it was just me
11:11this penthouse was the first thing marco bought after he made capo i was the one who decorated it
11:16the bedding the candles the white rose petals scattered across the floor every detail chosen by
11:22my hands i sat there looking at all of it and thought what a waste gina came through the door
11:27like
11:27she was trying to knock it off its hinges you give a stapey on your wedding she was shaking
11:32that son of bitch the second you left they killed the slideshow don for the wedding replace every
11:40photo of you with pictures of him and vanessa and the dress you're not gonna believe this
11:47he had a million dollar wedding gown ready for her all along
11:55they even brought in a whole new guest list
11:59now half the room was vanessa's family and friends
12:03this was never your wedding bella he used you to throw one for her he did it because your father
12:09wasn't there he saw no one watching your back so he took the shot and he burned it all down
12:13with a
12:14smile it's fine gina i'm keeping a very careful tab every single thing gets paid back he showed up
12:21around eight drunk enough to sway slightly satisfied enough to smile about it bella ceremony's done
12:29vanessa's gone from here on out there's nothing between us i mean it this time he dropped on ted
12:36beside me and pulled me against his shoulder you're not mad about today are you no he let out a
12:46long
12:46breath god you are something else starting tonight it's just you and me i'm gonna spend the rest of
12:53my life his phone rang the second he picked up i could hear vanessa on the other end muffled ragged
12:59crying marco hello i didn't mean to bother you but i fell down the stairs there's so much blood
13:05vanessa what happened are you okay his face changed completely he was already standing up
13:11marco loaned to not in whirl bella i have to go you just said i know this is the last
13:16time i swear
13:17he raised his hand and made the sign of the cross over his heart third time he'd done that same
13:22hand
13:22same chest different lie 30 minutes i'll be back what a joke how much is his promise even worth
13:30go once a man's heart wanders nothing can hold him back he grabbed his jacket and walked out without
13:37looking back the suite fell silent a moment later the door creaked open a tall silhouette filled the
13:44doorway the man i'd been waiting for was finally here 30 minutes later the hallway exploded with noise
13:51the groomman the bruisman hammered into howling boss told us not to stir shit up that's rich he
14:00spends all night with vanessa seven rounds no less and now he's got nothing left for bella bella's been
14:04loyal to him for eight years i'm the first one calling bullshit exactly we're raising hell tonight
14:07however it goes boss owes bella her seven rounds
14:12the laughing stopped like someone cut the power every one of them frozen in the doorframe
14:17marco cleaned it up put a bandage on it and stood you're fine just a scrape on your thigh
14:24vanessa i have to go i'm bella's husband now this has to stop all of it marco grabbed his jacket
14:32off
14:32the chair you need something you call tony he'll take care of you he meant it for the first time
14:38in a
14:38long time he actually meant it vanessa's eyes filled immediately she grabbed his sleeve with
14:44both hands marco please one more night i don't have anyone here i'm alone in this whole country and
14:53i'm scared and i just he pulled his arm free
15:01i can't he checked his watch an hour he'd promised me 30 minutes he'd been gone a full hour
15:11his phone was going insane
15:17racked fuzzy for true minutes the crew back to back four calls in two minutes
15:24he figured it was the usual noise guys drunk at the party wanting him back
15:29he hit declined marco frowned that wasn't party noise in the group chat the first one stopped him
15:37cold boss holy shit your wife's in bed with another man the second one marco man answer your phone and
15:46get
15:46back here now marco scrolled down the image was blurry shot fast bad lighting someone's shaking
15:54hand but the background was unmistakable his penthouse his honeymoon suite the bed he'd told
15:59bella to wait for him in and in the middle of that bed another man marco ripped his phone to
16:06his ear
16:06and called back the background of the call was pure chaos what the hell is going on
16:13tony's voice came through hesitant and shaky we don't know boss
16:18we came up to pull a wedding night prank like we said before
16:21and the second we burst in there's a guy he's half naked lying right there in your bed
16:29and bella she looks like she's pretty damn comfortable with him
16:32boss you're being played get back here now marco gripped the phone so hard his knuckles turned white
16:38his eyes were bloodshot bella had been with him for eight years she loved him so much she'd set her
16:44own family on fire just to stay by his side how could she cheat in his mind it didn't matter
16:49how far
16:50he would never leave him they had spent years together she was there when he was a nobody she'd
16:55endured three miscarriages without a single complaint she'd even kept her cool when he moved
16:59in with his ex right before their wedding there had to be a mistake she couldn't be cheating
17:03right then vanessa leaned over his shoulder and peeked at the screen she let out a sharp gasp
17:09marco your wife is sleeping around how could she it's your wedding night how does she have the
17:17nerve to bring some stray man into your honeymoon suite are you really gonna let her get away with
17:22this marco couldn't breathe he couldn't wait another second
17:28he grabbed his jacket and sprinted out the door
17:35when he slammed into the suite the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife
17:39his crew was standing in a circle around the bed surrounding the man
17:43tony stepped forward his face twisted with anger boss finally don't worry we've been guarding the place
17:51this bastard hasn't had the chance to touch bella yet you got here just in time
17:55give us the word and we'll take him for a ride marco's gaze shifted to the bed
18:00luca castellona was lying there right where marco was supposed to be
18:04he looked completely relaxed as if he owned the room
18:08he didn't even bother to look up when marco walked in
18:14marco you're finally home
18:17you said 30 minutes i've been waiting over an hour
18:20waiting waiting for me to catch you in the act
18:23bella you better start explaining who the hell this guy is right now
18:26of course
18:28that's exactly why i waited for you to come back
18:30so i could explain it to your face
18:32i reached out and pulled back the duvet
18:35slowly right in front of everyone
18:37i let my hand slide over luca's firm chiseled abs
18:41as marco's face turned a violent shade of purple
18:44i let out a soft laugh
18:46this is what i told you about marco the serrano family tradition
18:49on the wedding night the bride chooses a man to make sure the groom measures up
18:53right in front of her husband
18:54marco froze for two seconds his jaw twitching in pure rage
18:59bella are you fucking kidding me
19:00what tradition
19:03i have never heard of any family having a rule this insane or disgusting
19:08if a marati groom gets three nights with his ex
19:13a serrano bride gets a man of her own choosing
19:18i let out a cold sharp laugh
19:20marco it doesn't work that way
19:23you demanded that i stay quiet and accept your bullshit tradition
19:26the least you can do is respect mine
19:29the room went deathly silent
19:34that's when gina came charging in
19:38what's the matter marco
19:40you only follow morelli rules
19:42the serrano family name doesn't mean anything to you
19:44she stared him down with a mocking smur
19:47you spent three days in bed with your first love
19:50seven rounds right
19:52bella doing this once on her wedding night
19:54that seems pretty fair to me
19:56besides a man's word is his bond
19:59you gave her your word before the wedding that you'd accept this rule
20:02you're not a liar are you
20:03she started grabbing the groomsmen by their arms
20:06and shoving them towards the hallway
20:08all right the groom is here
20:10the show is about to start
20:12let's go boys
20:14the husband needs some privacy to watch his bride
20:17and her ex-lover get down to business
20:19clear out
20:21enough
20:24marco finally snapped
20:25he let out an animalistic roar that shook the room
20:28bella you're doing this on purpose
20:30just to get back at me
20:31this is revenge for me staying with vanessa
20:34for the last three days
20:36you found some random guy just to fuck with me didn't you
20:40yes
20:40since he decided to say it out loud
20:42i wasn't gonna pull any punches
20:45i stared directly into his bloodshot eyes
20:47a mocking smile playing on my lips
20:50marco you were the one who betrayed us first
20:53you took my dignity
20:54and you dragged it through the dirt for everyone to see
20:58you cheated in broad daylight and expected me to just take it
21:01why on earth did you think i would stay silent while you spit in my face
21:05and honestly you gave your whole wedding to vanessa
21:08as far as the world is concerned she's your wife
21:10so who i sleep with really isn't any of your business is it
21:14marco suddenly went quiet
21:15fine
21:16i admit it
21:17the tradition was a lie
21:20the wedding was for vanessa
21:21vanessa i lied to you
21:22but i had a reason bella
21:24i had a reason for all of it
21:26vanessa has lupus
21:28the doctor said there's no cure
21:30she just wanted to feel loved one last time before she dies
21:33she was on her knees bella
21:35she was sobbing begging me
21:36i didn't have the heart to say no
21:38he looked at me
21:39his voice trembling with a mix of desperation and guilt
21:42i told you i was done with her
21:43and i meant it
21:44i made it clear today
21:45from this second on i am yours
21:47i will be loyal
21:48i will never speak to vanessa again
21:50so stop this game
21:51send this man away
21:52and i'll pretend tonight never happened
21:54pretend it never happened
21:55it was almost funny
21:56almost
21:57he cheated on me
21:58he spent three days in bed with another woman right under my nose
22:02and now he was acting like he was doing me a favor by forgiving me
22:05the audacity was staggering
22:07marco's crew started chomping in
22:09trying to smooth things over
22:10come on bella
22:11don't do this to the boss
22:12he only said yes to vanessa
22:14because he felt sorry for her
22:15you know you're the only one he loves
22:17you guys have eight years of history
22:19you can't just throw that away over a misunderstanding
22:21exactly
22:21it's your wedding night
22:23kick this guy out so we can all move on
22:25don't let this become a joke
22:26that's when luca finally spoke
22:27you want to kick me out
22:29his voice was slow and smooth
22:30like he was savoring a fine glass of bourbon
22:33then make me
22:34luca got out of bed with a deliberate slow grace
22:37he walked over and wrapped a heavy possessive arm around my shoulders
22:41he looked at marco with a look of pure satisfied laziness
22:44bella
22:44you promised me tonight was mine
22:47you're not gonna break your word are you
22:48get your hands off her
22:50marco lunged forward
22:52ripping luca's hand away from my shoulder
22:54his eyes were burning with a manic fury
22:56who the fuck are you to touch my wife
22:58who the hell do you think you're talking to
23:00luca just brushed his sleeve where marco had touched him and let out a soft mocking huff
23:05i'm bella's ex and according to the serrano family tradition i'm the one spending the wedding night with her
23:11bella never dated anyone before me i'm her first her only she doesn't have an ex
23:18you're a fake you're just some guy she hired to piss me off
23:22busted luca's lips curled into a lazy dangerous smirk
23:26you're right i'm not bella's ex-boyfriend actually i'm her fiance
23:29what are you talking about i'm her fiance i'm the one she's marrying
23:33marco i cut him off my voice cold and lethal
23:37don't forget you already got married today
23:39your wife is vanessa the two of you stood in front of 300 guests and exchanged vows
23:43you and i we're done
23:45i looked him straight in the eyes as the realization started to sink in
23:48luca is the man my parents chose for me years ago
23:50serroni and castellino families had this plan since we were kids
23:53so yes he's my actual fiance and if i want to spend a little time reconnecting with him
23:57what business is it of yours
23:59marco froze every bit of color drained from his face
24:03until he looked like a ghost
24:04luca let his gaze sweep across the room looking at the crew like they were ants
24:08all right i'm going to spend a wonderful night with my bride-to-be
24:12unless you guys are planning on staying to watch
24:14this is my house i bought this place
24:16this is my honeymoon suite my bed
24:19gotta look in a treat best down
24:21you don't get to come into my home and act like you own the place
24:25luca looked around the room with fake curiosity
24:27you know what you're right this place is quaint
24:30he turned back to me pulling me close and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear
24:34let's go bella i'm taking you home
24:36i promise you'll forget this pathetic little room ever existed before the sun comes up
24:40he tightened his grip on my waist and started leading me toward the door
24:43marco threw himself in front of us grabbing my wrist with a desperate crushing grip
24:48let her go i'm not letting you take bella anywhere
24:52she's my wife you have no right
24:55let go of her
24:56luca's eyes finally turned cold marco refused to budge
25:01the standoff lasted less than three seconds before the door was kicked open
25:05a group of men in sharp black suits
25:11formed the room the light caught the holsters beneath their jackets
25:16before marco could even blink two soldiers had him pinned by the arms
25:21he thrashed against them his voice rising to a frantic grief-stricken howl
25:25get off me who the hell are you you can't do this
25:29hurry bella just take my wife you can't just take my wife
25:33as luca led me toward the door marco's screams started to break
25:39the rage turned into a pathetic choked up sob
25:42bella please don't go come back
25:44i'm sorry i'm so sorry i shouldn't have lied
25:48it's you bella you're the one i really love
25:51you're the only one i wanted to marry
25:53please don't leave with him
25:55i felt nothing his love was so cheap i didn't even look back
25:59as i walked out of the room
26:01once we were gone the soldiers tossed marco onto the floor like a piece of trash
26:05he stayed there on his knees
26:07his entire body shaking with a mix of fury and heartbreak
26:12why why bella how could you do this to me
26:18his crew was finally starting to snap out of their shock
26:21tony swallowed hard his face going pale as he looked at the retreating soldiers
26:25boss i thought that guy looked familiar
26:28those weren't just hired muscle those were castelloni soldiers
26:31that man that was luca castellano the head of the castellano empire
26:36finance real estate weapons they own the whole east coast
26:40even the politicians are in their pocket
26:42boss this isn't a fight this is an execution we can't win this
26:47after we left marco's penthouse luca drove me straight back to the serrano estate
26:53the moment my parents saw me walk through the door with luca
26:56their eyes filled with tears there were no lectures
27:00no i told you so
27:02my father just pulled me into a hug
27:05his voice thick with emotion
27:06your home that's all that matters
27:08seeing how much older my parents looked how the gray had settled into their hair
27:13i couldn't hold it back anymore
27:15mom dad i'm so sorry i was wrong
27:19eight years ago i was obsessed with marco
27:21he was a nobody back then
27:23my parents tried everything to stop me
27:26but i wouldn't listen to anyone
27:28i remember my father told me
27:30marco isn't for you bella
27:32one day you're gonna come back here in tears
27:35it took eight years
27:36but he was right
27:37i had lost everything
27:39my mother squeezed my hand
27:40her eyes soft
27:42it's okay baby
27:43we were all young and stubborn once
27:46you found your way back
27:48that's enough for me
27:49my father looked over at luca
27:51a proud smile touching his lips
27:53now that she's home we should get the wedding back on schedule
27:56this kid has been in love with you since he was a teenager bella
27:59after all these years he finally got his wish
28:02i saw the tips of lucas's ears turn bright red
28:05looking uncharacteristically flustered
28:07mr serrano mrs serrano
28:09i should probably head out and let you have some family time
28:12bella go walk luca to his car
28:16my mother nudged me
28:18i walked him out to the porch
28:20and for a long moment
28:21neither of us said a word
28:22i'd always known luca liked me
28:25our families were close
28:27and we grew up together
28:29but luca was a nightmare back then
28:31he was a troublemaker
28:32and he expressed his feelings by being an absolute jerk
28:35in high school he intimidated every guy who tried to get close to me
28:38on the night of our senior prom
28:40he actually put out a warning that nobody was allowed to ask me to dance
28:43i ended up sitting in a corner alone all night
28:46the laughing stout of the school
28:47i was so furious i told him i'd never speak to him again
28:50after that i hated him
28:52then i met marco fell head over wills and stopped looking at anyone else
28:55over the years i wiped luca out of my life entirely
28:57but i never imagined that while i was busy building a life with marco
29:00the man i hated most was actually waiting for me the whole time
29:03i thought back to the text he sent me that morning
29:06he had heard from somewhere that my wedding with marco was falling apart
29:10almost instantly he sent that message
29:12bella if you need me
29:13i'm ready to settle the score for you
29:15i didn't take it seriously at first
29:17because of everything that happened in the past
29:20he was the last person on earth i wanted to call
29:23but standing here on the porch
29:25looking up at this tall silent man
29:27i felt a wave of confusion mixed with guilt
29:30were those jerky things he did when we were kids because he hated me
29:33or because he just didn't know how to speak the language of love
29:36what does he want from me now
29:38a new game to play
29:40or is this actually the devotion of a dawn
29:45after what marco did to me
29:47i don't think i can ever truly believe in a man's heart again
29:49but regardless of the future
29:51right now castellino backing is the best thing we could have
29:55luca
29:58i don't think this is fair to you
30:01i spent eight years with marco
30:02i gave him everything
30:04i lost three babies for him
30:07someone like me
30:08i'm not good enough for you
30:10you deserve someone better
30:12stop
30:12luca reached out
30:14his thumb gently pressing against my lips to quiet me
30:17bella
30:18that was your past
30:19it isn't a stain on who you are
30:21you gave your heart
30:23to someone who didn't deserve it
30:25you were the victim
30:27that isn't a crime
30:28why on earth would that mean you don't deserve to be happy
30:30you owe that man nothing
30:32you owe yourself everything
30:34he looked at me
30:35his gaze burning with a fierce
30:36solemn sincerity
30:37i've loved you for a long time bella
30:39which means i accept every single part of you
30:41let the past be the past
30:43his eyes were full of hope and honesty
30:44give yourself a chance
30:45and give me one too
30:46okay
30:47before my mind caught up
30:48i nodded
30:50my wedding with luca was set for next month
30:54the invitations went out almost immediately
30:56the night marco heard the news
30:58he came looking for me
31:01it had only been a few days
31:02but he looked like a ghost of himself
31:04he was gaunt
31:05his eyes were sucking and dark
31:06and his face was covered in a messy unshaden stubble
31:09his suit was wrinkled
31:10and his hair
31:11usually perfectly slicked back
31:12was a disaster
31:17he reached out and grabbed my hand
31:19i fucked up
31:20i know i did
31:21but i'm done with vanessa
31:23she's gone
31:24i swear on my life
31:26i'll never see her again
31:29just please
31:31don't marry luca castelloni
31:33we were together for eight years
31:34you were willing to turn your back on your own parents for me
31:37why are you being so cold now
31:39how can you just walk away without giving me a single chance
31:42bella
31:43this is cruel
31:44i ripped my hand out of his grip
31:47i was so tired of the drama
31:49marco i gave you eight years of chances
31:52i waited nearly a decade for you to decide i was worth a ring
31:55i endured everything
31:57but you crossed the line when you brought her into our bed before the wedding even started
32:01go away
32:02it's over
32:03in that moment
32:04i was just grateful we hadn't made it to city hall to sign those papers
32:07i turned around and walked away without looking back
32:10marco stood there in the street
32:11looking like a man who had lost the entire world
32:14he had nowhere to go
32:15no one to turn to
32:17he ended up stumbling into his private club
32:20ordering the strongest grappa they had
32:22and knocking back glass after glass like he was trying to drown himself
32:25his crew couldn't stand to watch it
32:27they took turns trying to talk sense into him
32:31boss stop it
32:32you're gonna kill yourself at this rate
32:34bella is marrying someone else
32:35drinking yourself into a coma won't bring her back
32:38she's gone
32:39but no one could get through to him
32:42finally
32:43tony and the guys tracked down vanessa and brought her to the club
32:47find vanessa
32:48hoping she could calm him down
32:50but it only made things a thousand times worse
32:53vanessa snatched the bottle out of his hand
32:56her lips twisted in a pow
32:57marco stop it already
32:59look at you
33:00it's not worth it to ruin yourself over a woman like her
33:03honestly she's not even that great
33:06if she had the nerve to bring a stray man into your bed on your wedding night
33:10it means she's been sleeping around for a long time
33:13she's trash marco
33:15you should be happy you're finally rid of her
33:18marco snapped
33:19he lunged forward
33:21grabbing vanessa by the collar and shaking her
33:23his face twisted in a mask of pure agony
33:26you don't get to talk about bella like that
33:29do you hear me
33:29she is not trash
33:31she gave me eight damn years of her life
33:34i know who she is
33:36better than anyone
33:37vanessa how do you even have the balls to show your face
33:39this is all your fault
33:41you're the one who manipulated me into that tradition
33:44you're the reason bella left
33:46you destroyed my life
33:47why won't you just leave me alone
33:49suddenly his eyes caught something on her skin
33:52his expression shifted from rage to icy
33:55dawning horror
33:56he reached out and ripped her collar open
33:59what the hell is that on your neck
34:01what are those red spots
34:03vanessa panicked
34:04she tried to pull away
34:05her voice stammering
34:06marco
34:07i told you
34:07i have lupus
34:08that's just a symptom
34:10no
34:10that's not lupus
34:11a sickening realization began to crawl up marco's spine
34:15he didn't care about her protests and screaming
34:17he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the door
34:20hell bent on getting her to a hospital
34:22vanessa fought back like a cornered animal
34:25her long acrylic nails clawed at his face
34:27leaving deep bloody gashes across his cheek
34:29marco didn't even flinch
34:31he just turned around and backhanded her across the face with everything he had
34:34the two lovers who had been tangled together in bed just days ago now looked like bitter sworn enemies
34:40the secret vanessa had been fighting so hard to bury was finally coming to light
34:45every gift from the gods comes with a hidden price tag
34:48and some debts are more than one person can afford to pay
34:52at the hospital marco didn't give her a choice
34:55under his terrifying threats vanessa was forced to undergo a full battery of tests
35:00when the results finally came back
35:02the truth was worse than anything he could have imagined
35:04she didn't have lupus
35:06she was in the late stages of syphilis
35:08marco felt like he'd been struck by lightning
35:10in that second
35:11his whole world came crashing down
35:14you
35:15bitch
35:16he lunged at her his hands clamping around vanessa's throat
35:19his eyes nearly popping out of his head with rage
35:22you were sleeping around in europe and caught a goddamn disease
35:26you told me it was lupus
35:28you tricked me into your bed
35:29just to rob me from the inside out
35:31i'll kill you
35:32i'll fucking kill you
35:34because of her he had lost the woman he loved
35:36and now his body was likely tainted
35:39too
35:40his entire life was in ruins
35:42and it was all because of her
35:44what are you screaming about
35:45you were the one who cheated
35:47you were the one who couldn't stay out of my bed
35:49you thought bella was weak
35:50you thought she was a doormat who would let you do whatever you wanted
35:54don't you dare pin this on me you selfish coward
35:57you wanted to call me your true love
35:59while keeping bella around to wait on you
36:01i saw right through you from day one
36:03the words pushed marco over the edge
36:05he lost every ounce of reason
36:07squeezing her throat harder and harder
36:09determined to watch the life leave her eyes
36:11it took three hospital security guards to pull him off her
36:14vanessa didn't wait around
36:16she stumbled out of the hospital
36:17bruised and gasping
36:19and caught the very first flight out of the country
36:22she vanished back to europe before the sun even went down
36:24marco wandered out of the hospital like a hollow shell of a man
36:27he drifted through the streets
36:28his mind a chaotic blur
36:30he saw flashes of bella's smile from years ago
36:33the warmth of their life together
36:34then the memory of his heat with vanessa
36:36and finally
36:37this is exactly what you deserve
36:38his legs finally gave out
36:41marco marco
36:42exhausted broken
36:44and terrified of the poison in his blood
36:46marco collapsed on the sidewalk as the world
36:49when marco opened his eyes again
36:52he was back in the hospital
36:54for a moment
36:55he didn't remember how he got there
36:59boss
36:59the doctor is here
37:07mr moretti
37:08your test came back positive
37:11we need to begin treatment immediately
37:14there it was
37:15the price of vanessa's lie
37:17had finally reached his blood
37:19the first face that flashed through his mind
37:21wasn't vanessa's
37:22it was mine
37:25bella
37:26give me my phone
37:31i need to call her
37:35boss
37:37today is her wedding
37:43while marco was drowning in the wreckage of his choices
37:47i was standing in front of a mirror
37:49wearing white for a second time
37:51you look beautiful baby
38:06are you ready sweetheart
38:08i am
38:15luca was waiting at the end of the aisle
38:18for once
38:18the man who had waited for me
38:20his whole life
38:21didn't look smuck at all
38:23he looked nervous
38:29my father walked me down the aisle
38:34this time i wasn't walking towards humiliation
38:38i was walking away from it
38:41i don't want the version of you
38:43the world thinks is easiest to love
38:47i want all of you bella
38:49the broken parts
38:51the angry parts
38:53the parts still learning how to breathe
38:57i can't promise i'm healed
39:00but i can promise i'm done living for the man who broke me
39:04if you'll walk beside me luca
39:07i'll try
39:14boss it already started
39:15you can't make it in time
39:18i have to see her
39:26he should have stayed in that hospital bed
39:32but regret has a way of making dying men run
39:36please
39:48you may kiss the bride
39:52and just like that
39:54i became mrs castellino
40:00marco arrived just in time to see the ending
40:04no
40:07not the ending he wanted
40:09the ending he deserved
40:11by noon
40:12every family on the east coast knew
40:14bella serrano was no longer the discarded almost wife of marco moretti
40:18she was mrs castellino
40:19and the ring on my finger was not just a wedding ring
40:22it was a warning
40:23the morning after the wedding
40:24luca took me downstairs for breakfast
40:27the entire castellino household stood waiting in perfect silence
40:32soldiers house staff advisors captains
40:35every eye lowered the second i entered the room
40:44good morning donna castellino
40:47for eight years i had been treated like marco's shadow
40:50now men twice my age bowed their heads because i walked beside luca
40:54i should have felt powerful
40:56instead i felt strangely calm
40:58power didn't make noise
41:00power simply entered a room and changed the temperature
41:03luca pulled out my chair himself
41:05a few captains exchanged surprised looks
41:08he noticed
41:10his voice went cold
41:12my wife does not stand while any man in this house sits
41:15every chair scraped back at once
41:18luca
41:19yes wife
41:20i don't need them scared of me because you ordered it
41:23then make them scared of you for their own reasons
41:25before i could answer
41:27the butler stepped in
41:29donna
41:30don serrano is here
41:33and the moretti family has requested an emergency meeting
41:36a slow smile touched my lips
41:38of course they had
41:39the morettis had laughed when i had no one standing behind me
41:42now that the castellino crest was on my hand
41:44they suddenly remembered respect
41:46tell them i'll see them tonight
41:47you don't have to
41:48i know
41:48i lifted my coffee cup
41:49that's why i'm going
41:51the meeting was held at the old serrano cigar room
41:54my father sat on one side
41:56luca sat beside me on the other
41:57across the table were marco's father
42:00his mother tony and three moretti elders who looked like they had aged 10 years overnight
42:05marco was not there
42:06his mother tried to smile
42:08bella sweetheart
42:09surely we can handle this like family
42:12family
42:12you were with marco for eight years we all loved you
42:15no
42:15you used me for eight years
42:17you used my name when the morettos needed legitimacy
42:20you used my money when marco needed backing
42:22you used my silence when he humiliated me
42:25and on my wedding day you gave my dress
42:27my ceremony
42:28my
42:28my
42:29my vows
42:29and my
42:29my
42:30my
42:30my vows
42:31to another woman
42:32we admit mistakes were made
42:33marco's father lowered his eyes
42:35mistakes
42:36my voice stayed soft
42:38that word is for spilt wine
42:40not public humiliation
42:41one elder cleared his throat
42:45what do you want donna castellina
42:48there it was
42:50not bella
42:51not sweetheart
42:56donna castellina
42:57i placed a file on the table
42:59the moretti waterfront contracts
43:01the brooklyn trucking routes
43:03the three shell companies registered under marco's name
43:06that would cripple us
43:08marco's father went pale
43:11no that would keep you alive
43:14no that would keep you alive
43:15marco's mother slammed her hand on the table
43:17this is extortion
43:19i turned to her
43:20no extortion is when a weak person begs for mercy from someone stronger
43:27this is repayment
43:28i smiled
43:29tony looked sick
43:31marco's father swallowed hard
43:34marco
43:36marco loses
43:37his seat as underboss
43:39publicly
43:40for the first time
43:42my smile disappeared
43:45his mother gasped
43:47marco arrived twenty minutes late
43:49for once no one applauded
43:51he looked thinner than he had at the gate
43:53the arrogance was gone from his face
43:56what remained was worse
43:57need
43:58regret
43:59a man suddenly realizing that love was not a door he could keep unlocked forever
44:04bella
44:06he said my name like a prayer
44:08luca's hand rested against the back of my chair
44:11not touching me
44:12not controlling me
44:14just there
44:17marco saw it and flinched
44:18i didn't know they were meeting with you
44:20i came as soon as i heard
44:22we are removing you as underboss
44:25his father didn't look at him
44:28marco froze
44:30what
44:36his mother burst into tears
44:37because of her
44:39because she couldn't handle one mistake
44:45one mistake
44:48i stood
44:49the room seemed to shrink around us
44:52you gave your ex my wedding
44:53you left me alone on our wedding night
44:55you lied about tradition
44:57you let your friends mock my miscarriages
44:59then you begged me to forgive you
45:01because the woman you chose was sick
45:02marco's face crumpled
45:04bella please
45:06no
45:06that one word stopped him
45:09i begged for your love for eight years
45:11quietly
45:13patiently
45:16pathetically
45:16i kept this because i thought maybe one day it would mean something again
45:20i slid it toward him
45:22he reached for it with shaking hands
45:24i can fix this
45:26now it means nothing
45:28you can't even fix yourself
45:32his knees hit the floor
45:33everyone stared
45:34i love you
45:35marco morelli
45:36once the proud golden sun
45:38kneeling in front of the woman
45:39he thought would never leave
45:40i looked down at him
45:41no marco
45:42my voice was almost gentle
45:44you loved being loved by me
45:48that night
45:49vanessa resurfaced
45:50not in new york
45:51not in palermo
45:52online
45:53a video spread through every private group chat in the city before midnight
45:57vanessa sat in a dim hotel room
45:59face bruised
46:00hair messy
46:01eyes wide with fake terror
46:04my name is vanessa ricci
46:07if anything happens to me
46:12if anything happens to me
46:14blame bella serrano and luca castellino
46:18i watched the video from luca's studio
46:29she's desperate
46:30she knows the morettis can't protect her anymore
46:33on screen vanessa pressed a trembling hand to her chest
46:36vanessa continued her performance
46:38marco loved me
46:39bella couldn't accept it
46:41she sent luca's men after me
46:43she ruined my life because marco chose me first
46:46luca's expression darkened
46:48i'll have it taken down
46:50no
46:53bella
46:53leave it up
46:55he looked at me
46:57gina stopped pacing
47:00are you insane
47:01no
47:02vanessa wants attention
47:04so let's give her a stage
47:06luca studied me for a long moment
47:08then his mouth curved faintly
47:10what are you planning
47:11i looked back at the screen
47:13at vanessa's tearful performance
47:16for eight years i swallowed humiliation because i thought dignity meant silence
47:20i was wrong
47:21sometimes dignity meant letting your enemy talk long enough to hang herself
47:25i closed the laptop
47:27she wants to be the tragic woman in this story
47:29fine
47:29tomorrow night we host a charity gala
47:32a gala
47:33yes
47:33i turned to luca
47:35invite the press
47:36invite every family
47:37invite the morettis
47:38and vanessa
47:38my smile sharpened
47:40especially vanessa
47:44the gala was held in the castellino conservatory
47:47glass ceilings
47:49white orchids
47:50champagne towers
47:52a room full of powerful people pretending they had never enjoyed watching me suffer
47:58i wore black
47:59luca stood beside me
48:01one hand resting at my waist
48:02his face unreadable
48:03when i stepped onto the small stage
48:05the room quieted
48:06tonight
48:07the castelloni and serrano families are launching a protection fund for women abandoned threatened or exploited by criminal households a
48:16ripple
48:16moved through the crowd
48:17i saw marco at the back
48:19pale
48:19hollow
48:20watching me like i was the last light in a burning city
48:26then the doors opened
48:28vanessa walked in wearing a white dress and a black veil
48:31dramatic
48:32predictable
48:33perfect
48:34she stumbled forward
48:36you hypocrite
48:37you talk about protecting women
48:40you destroyed me because marco loved me
48:43every head turned
48:43vanessa pointed at me
48:45marco's face twisted
48:46vanetta stop
48:47she ignored him
48:48i was dying
48:49i had lupus
48:50i just wanted one wedding before the end
48:53i looked at gina
48:54she pressed a button
48:55the screen behind me lit up
48:58you wanted belly waiting at home while you called me your true love
49:01this is exactly what you deserve
49:04hospital security footage
49:06vanessa screaming at marco
49:07then came the medical report
49:09not lupus
49:10the room exploded into whispers
49:12i stepped down from the stage
49:13you weren't dying vanessa
49:15my voice was calm
49:16you were lying
49:18she lunged at me
49:20before she came close
49:22luca caught her wrist
49:26touch my wife and you lose the hand
49:31you wanted my wedding so badly
49:33congratulations
49:36everyone is looking at you now
49:40vanessa was dragged out
49:42but not before she laughed
49:43it was sharp
49:44ugly
49:45almost victorious
49:46you still don't know do you
49:48i stopped
49:49that brooklyn attack
49:53the one where you lost your baby
49:56she looked straight at me
49:57the room went silent
49:58the room went silent
49:58my breath caught before i could stop it
50:00vanessa smiled through her tears
50:03it wasn't random
50:05marco staggered forward
50:06what did you say
50:08vanessa's eyes flicked toward his mother
50:11ask her
50:12every person in the room turned
50:14marco's mother went white
50:28that girl is diseased and hysterical
50:33vanessa laughed harder
50:34oh please
50:35you paid people to make sure marco came home scared
50:38you didn't want bella pregnant with his child
50:40you said a serrano baby would put a leash around your son's neck forever
50:43she said nothing
50:45the silence answered for her
50:48something inside me went cold
50:51i remembered the hospital hallway
50:53the blood
50:54marco had held me afterward
50:56he had cried
50:57he had sworn it was just bad luck
50:59the sound of my own voice
51:01begging someone to help
51:02i turned away because if i looked at his mother any longer
51:05i might forget every rule i had learned
51:06luca moved beside me
51:08his voice was soft
51:09say the word
51:10for the first time since marrying him
51:13i understood exactly how dangerous devotion could be
51:16i looked at marco's mother
51:17no
51:18everyone stared
51:19i lifted my chin
51:20death is too easy
51:21for three days
51:23luca's men tore through the past
51:24old phone records
51:25cash transfers
51:26a warehouse security log from brooklyn
51:29a hospital intake delay
51:30that had always been explained away as chaos
51:32by the fourth morning
51:33gina placed the final file in front of me
51:36tony's name was on it
51:37i found him in the chapel behind the old moretti club
51:40he was drunk pale and praying
51:42like god still answered men like him
51:45bella
51:46i didn't know she was pregnant
51:48he stood too fast
51:49i said nothing
51:50tony began shaking
51:51i swear on my mother
51:53i didn't know
51:53marco's mother told us to leak the meeting location
51:56he said it was just to scare him
51:57to remind him family came first
51:59and after
52:00his eyes filled
52:01after the hospital
52:03i figured it out
52:04said marco
52:05tony looked away
52:05that was all i needed
52:06my fingers tightened around the pew
52:08he knew
52:09not at first
52:10tony's voice broke
52:10years later
52:11when he became underboss
52:12his mother told him enough
52:14not everything
52:15but enough
52:15chapel blurred for half a second
52:17marco had known
52:18maybe not that day
52:19maybe not while i bled on the floor
52:21but later
52:21he had known his family's ambition
52:23had cost me a child
52:24and he had still let me sit at their table
52:25still let his mother call me daughter
52:27still let me plan a wedding in their name
52:29tony fell to his knees
52:30i'm sorry
52:31i looked at him
52:32you're not sorry
52:33my voice was empty
52:34you're just finally afraid
52:36marco came to the serrano estate before sunset
52:39no guards
52:40no crew
52:40no pride
52:41just him
52:42standing outside the gates
52:43like a man waiting for judgment
52:45i agreed to see him in the courtyard
52:47luca didn't stop me
52:48he only said
52:49i'll be close
52:49for once
52:50that was enough
52:51marco looked destroyed
52:52i found out two years ago
52:53he said before i could speak
52:55his voice was rough
52:56almost dead
52:57after i became under voice
52:58my mother was drunk
52:59she said she had saved me from being trapped
53:01i didn't move
53:02i asked her what she meant
53:03she told me pieces
53:04not all of it
53:05i swear i didn't know everything
53:06not everything
53:07but you knew enough
53:08tears slipped down his face
53:09yes
53:10the honesty was too late to matter
53:12i hated her for it
53:12he whispered
53:13i hated myself
53:14but
53:15but if i exposed her
53:16the family would collapse
53:17i told myself it wouldn't bring the baby back
53:19i told myself protecting the future mattered more than digging up the past
53:22our child was not the past
53:24he flinched like i had struck him
53:25i stepped closer
53:26you didn't just cheat on me marco
53:29you buried me alive inside your family and called it love
53:32he sobbed
53:33tell me what to do
53:34anything
53:34i'll do anything
53:35i looked at the man i once would have died for
53:37then i finally saw him clearly
53:39small
53:40weak
53:41late
53:41live
53:42what
53:42he blinked
53:43live with it
53:43i turned away
53:44that's the only punishment you deserve
53:46the commission gathered two nights later
53:48five families
53:50one long table
53:51no raised voices
53:52that was how real power worked
53:54the loud men were usually the ones about to lose
53:57marco's mother sat at the far end
53:59dressed in black lace like a grieving saint
54:01most admired the performance
54:04almost
54:05luca stood behind my chair
54:07my father sat to my left
54:08marco sat across from me
54:10hollow-eyed and silent
54:11the head of the romano family spoke first
54:13donna castellino
54:15you asked for this hearing
54:16state your claim
54:17i placed the evidence on the table
54:19the moretzi family ordered that led to the brooklyn attack eight years ago
54:22the attack caused the death of my unborn child
54:25a heavy silence fell
54:26this is a family matter
54:28no
54:30this is a blood debt
54:31the old men looked at one another
54:33they understood that language
54:35i continued
54:36i am not asking for her death
54:37marco's mother looked relieved
54:39for the rest of her life
54:40she will have no family protection
54:43no access to moretti funds
54:45no seat at any table
54:47and no right to use the moretti name
54:50her relief vanished
54:52you can't erase me
54:54i'm not erasing you
54:56i leaned forward
54:57i'm making sure everyone remembers exactly what you are
55:01then i looked at marco
55:03as for marco moretti
55:04he keeps his life
55:05nothing else
55:06his father closed his eyes
55:08the vote was unanimous
55:10marco's mother screamed
55:12as they stripped the ring from her hand
55:15marco never moved
55:16he only looked at me and whispered
55:18i'm sorry
55:19this time i didn't answer
55:21some apologies deserved silence
55:24three weeks later
55:25the moretti empire collapsed quietly
55:27no war
55:28no street bloodshed
55:29just frozen accounts
55:30broken alliances
55:31missing contracts
55:32and doors that no longer opened
55:34people called it merciful
55:35they were wrong
55:36mercy would have been quick
55:38this was precision
55:39marco sold his penthouse first
55:41then the private club
55:42then the car i once helped him choose
55:45i heard he moved into a small apartment above an old booker shop in queens
55:48i didn't visit
55:49i didn't ask
55:51i didn't care
55:52at least
55:53that's what i told myself
55:54one rainy afternoon
55:55luca found me in the library staring at nothing
55:58thinking about him
55:59i looked up
56:00thinking about who i was with him
56:02and
56:04i don't hate that girl anymore
56:06his expression softened
56:08she got you here
56:09she survived
56:10no
56:11she fought
56:13for a long moment
56:14neither of us spoke
56:15then luca placed a sealed envelope on the table
56:18what is that
56:19one of my men found it in vanessa's luggage
56:21when she was caught trying to leave through the docks
56:23i opened it
56:25inside was a ledger page
56:27old
56:27names
56:28dates
56:28payments
56:29my eyes moved down the list
56:31moretti
56:32ricci
56:33and then
56:33castellino
56:35my blood went cold
56:36luca saw my face change
56:38bella
56:38bella's voice
56:40i turned the page toward him
56:41his expression frozen
56:43at the bottom was a signature
56:44his uncle
56:45salvatore castellano
56:47the man who had raised luca after his father died
56:50i looked at my husband
56:52how long has your family been lying to me too
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