- 11 hours ago
When I Stopped Loving Him
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:06To be continued...
00:30...and stared at the hospital bed beside me at my best friend.
00:33Lying there, eyes closed to sleep.
00:35I was twenty years old when I took fifteen stab wounds...
00:38...to save her life.
00:40She told me she would owe me that debt forever Ethan stepped in front of me calm...
00:44...as ever blocking life.
00:46Don't worry. Natalie won't compete with you.
00:48We'll all live together from now on.
00:50Mrs. Foster, that's still you.
00:52You free drop of blood in my body turned to ice the cold voice of the system echoed through my
00:56mind.
00:57Host, do you choose to abandon redemption of the villain and exit this world immediately?
01:04My eyes fell on Natalie's wrist, the silver was on me.
01:07She was wearing I had knelt on the cathedral floor for five hours praying with it.
01:11The day Ethan nearly died in a car accident.
01:13He never took it off, but when Natalie and I were both rushed into delivery...
01:18...he didn't hesitate.
01:19He gave it to her.
01:23Ethan quietly tucked Natalie's hand beneath her blanket, then turned and used his thumb to wipe the tears from my
01:29cheek.
01:30You're a mother now. Why do you still cry this easily?
01:34I slapped his hand away.
01:37Why her?
01:38She had a boyfriend and you chased after her shamelessly!
01:41Have you no dignity?
01:43He glanced at the red mark blooming on the back of his hand.
01:46Even now, you still think the boyfriend she's been hiding is someone else?
01:49He laughed out loud like he remembered something funny several times.
01:53Several times when you called, we were right in the middle of it.
01:56She'd be trembling all over, too scared to make a sound.
01:59Her face in those moments.
02:01I'll never forget it.
02:03He let out a small sigh of regret, Shane.
02:05Shame we won't get to do that anymore.
02:08I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood the metallic taste spread across my tongue.
02:12My throat felt stuffed with cotton.
02:15No sound came out after a line of silence.
02:16Why did you have to lie?
02:19If you told me sooner, I would have stepped aside willingly.
02:24I would have walked away early.
02:27I wouldn't be standing here now shredded from the inside out.
02:30Who told us to feel guilty about you?
02:33That night when you were attacked.
02:34Trying to save Natalie beaten and violated until you miscarried it.
02:39I was in the car around the corner with her.
02:41She was terrified.
02:42I was trying to calm her down.
02:45We got carried away.
02:47That's why we forgot to call for help.
02:53That night, Natalie and I were walking home from a movie.
02:56We ran into someone in the parking garage.
02:59I threw myself in front of her.
03:01Gave her a fighting chance.
03:04I was certain she would go get help.
03:06I held on grinding through the pain telling myself she was coming.
03:10When I woke up, I was in the hospital.
03:12Ethan was holding me, shaking violently, swearing he would make them pay.
03:16And he did.
03:17He actually followed through.
03:19But staring at him now, so calm, so untouched, I finally understood even the deepest love can
03:25be a performance.
03:25Even tears can be rehearsed.
03:27If a stranger hadn't stepped in that night, I would have died.
03:30I grabbed the soup bowl from the nightstand and hurled it at him.
03:33It crashed to the floor and shattered.
03:35Broth spilled everywhere he had made that soup himself last night.
03:39He'd added peanuts, Natalie's favorite.
03:41He'd forgotten entirely that I'm allergic to peanuts.
03:44All the signs were there.
03:45I never once doubted.
03:47Ethan stood perfectly still.
03:49The broth dripped from his hair, ran down his face, soaked his collar.
03:52He didn't get angry.
03:54He let out a long, slow breath.
03:56Hate me, blame me, that's fine.
03:58I only ask one thing.
03:59Don't take it out on Natalie.
04:00She just gave birth.
04:01She's at risk for postpartum depression.
04:03She cares about you deeply.
04:05Please be understanding.
04:06I dug my fingernails into my palms until the trembling stopped.
04:09He knew I needed rest after delivery.
04:11He knew I needed to keep my emotions steady.
04:13He simply didn't care enough to matter.
04:15Host, do you choose to abandon redemption of the villain and exit this world immediately?
04:20If no choice is made within 24 hours, it will be treated as fair kitchen.
04:25Host will remain in this world permanently.
04:28Countdown begins.
04:30Tears broke free.
04:32Natalie, wait!
04:33How long are you going to keep pretending to sleep?
04:38Tell me, was sleeping with my husband really that good?
04:42Natalie opened her eyes.
04:44Her face was chalk.
04:46White, she couldn't look at me.
04:47She grabbed her pillow and hurled it at Ethan.
04:50How could you tell her?
04:52How dare you hurt her like this?
04:55I told you I never wanted any claim on you.
04:58I was going to leave after having the baby.
05:00Ethan lunged forward and pulled her fiercely into his arms.
05:03Because I can't bear to let you go.
05:07That's why I had to tell the truth.
05:09Don't leave me, Natalie.
05:11It's all my fault.
05:12Don't move.
05:13You'll tear your stitches.
05:14Those same words he had once said then, to me too.
05:17He lost his mother, young.
05:19His father was always away for work, growing up.
05:22The only constant in his house was the housekeeper who happened to be a monster.
05:26She waited until no one was watching.
05:28She heard him waiting.
05:30She had nearly beaten him to death.
05:33And I burst through his front door and dragged him out.
05:36I pulled him up from the dark.
05:41Later the housekeeper retaliated, but she hired people to kidnap me at the last moment.
05:46Ethan refused to let go of my hand.
05:48They beat him bloody.
05:49He didn't release me.
05:50Adults finally arrived and saved us both.
05:53Even in the hospital, he never let go of my hand.
05:56Don't leave me, Eli.
05:58The way he held me then, like I was something irreplaceable.
06:01It looked exactly like this moment.
06:03Only the person he was holding had changed.
06:07I had thought about it before.
06:09If the seven-year itch ever came for us, what would I do?
06:13I'd thought it through to the end.
06:15At worst, I'd take Natalie out and we'd drink ourselves senselessly for a few days then.
06:20Dry my eyes and keep loving him.
06:22But why did it have to be Natalie?
06:24Now who do I call when I need someone to drink with me through the night?
06:29Natalie struggled free of Ethan's arms and collapsed at the edge of my bed, sobbing.
06:35Eli, please don't cry.
06:38I'll leave tomorrow.
06:40You two can go back to the way things were.
06:43Natalie had once been a girl from Wealth, at five years old.
06:47Her whole family died in a car crash, and only she survived.
06:52The estate was carved up by others.
06:55The relatives who called themselves family shipped her off to an orphanage.
07:00She was bullied every day.
07:03When we met, I begged my parents to adopt her.
07:09My parents treated her like their own daughter.
07:12She cried in front of her birthday cake.
07:15Everything I have, I'll share half with you.
07:18Half of the good food, half of the fun, half of mom and day.
07:22I never imagined she would want half of my husband, too.
07:25I clenched my jaw.
07:27My voice came out low-raw.
07:29Get out.
07:30I don't want to look at you.
07:32You're a homewrecker with no shame.
07:37The baby startled at our screaming, they cried, faces going red.
07:40I lifted mine and held it close, whispering softly.
07:43My tears fell on its cheek, whether I wanted it to or not.
07:46Natalie buried her face in her hands, sobbing.
07:48I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
07:48Saying, over and over, Ethan's expression.
07:51Darkened, he picked up the crying child from that.
07:54Ali sighed and turned on me with barely.
07:56Contained, fearing-
07:57Natalie has always tried to protect you.
07:59She couldn't bear to hurt you by a single hair.
08:01And Natalie has been my fiancée from the very beginning.
08:04You were the other woman.
08:06You always were.
08:08I went rigid, Ethan had mentioned a fiancée.
08:10Once but he told me himself she died in a car accident.
08:13And when I first intro, deuced them.
08:16They acted as though they'd never met.
08:18They even bickered constantly more than once.
08:20I begged Ethan to be nicer to Natalie for my sake.
08:23I secretly congratulated myself their relationship when we warmed up because I worked so hard in the middle.
08:28Now I saw it I had been the complete fool the whole time.
08:31I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
08:33My eyes blurred with tears.
08:35Even through the laughter I reached out and ripped the rosary off.
08:38No.
08:39Tally's wrist, the beads scattered and rolled across the floor.
08:41These are mine!
08:43You two don't deserve them.
08:45I gathered my child and pushed myself to my feet every step.
08:48Felt like walking on the edge of a blade pane, shuddering through my entire body.
08:54But there wasn't a single moment of hesitation behind me.
08:57Natalie sobbed Ethan's rage.
08:59The system's voice came again.
09:01Eighteen hours remaining.
09:03Please make your choice promptly.
09:06I wandered the hospital corridor with my baby in my arms feeling nothing but cold.
09:11I should hate Ethan for his betrayal.
09:13I should hate Natalie for her treachery.
09:16But the thing I hated most was that they made me lose both of them at once.
09:20In a daze I opened my phone and scrolled through my photos images flooded back.
09:25One after another Ethan and me hiking.
09:28Two.
09:28A mountaintop at four in the morning to watch the sunrise kissing in a field of lavender.
09:32Scuba diving in Bali.
09:34And in every photo every single one there was Natalie.
09:36What I thought was a love story between two people had always already been three.
09:40I never noticed I deleted over ten thousand photos looking at the system panel.
09:44I laughed bitterly to myself.
09:47What wrong had Ethan really done?
09:49He simply didn't love me.
09:50That is all I held my baby tighter my vision blurred again.
09:53I am sorry.
09:55Baby mom can only leave you behind in this world.
09:58Just let me have a few more hours with my child.
10:01Ethan's expensive dress shoes appeared in my field of view.
10:04I looked up he was staring at me his eyes full of hurt.
10:07And remorse the next second I was pulled into the warmth of his arms.
10:14The familiar tenderness shattered me instantly against my will.
10:18I thought maybe he still loves me just a little.
10:21I'm sorry Eli.
10:22I said things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have.
10:25You have to believe me.
10:26I never wanted to hurt you.
10:28I was just so worried about Natalie.
10:30Afraid she'd actually take the baby and leave.
10:34Don't be difficult, okay?
10:36After you walked out Natalie wouldn't stop crying.
10:38Natalie, Natalie.
10:38His eyes held only one name now.
10:40The last shred of hope he crushed it himself.
10:43The air felt full of blades each breath.
10:45Left me bleeding after a long silence.
10:47I cut him off for you to take care of the baby.
10:50No matter what.
10:51With him paused he relaxed visibly.
10:52As if a weight had.
10:54Lifted he cupped my face in both hands his tone like-
10:56Eli, of course I'll be good to you.
10:59I'll be good to the baby.
11:01You just gave birth.
11:01You have to take care of yourself too.
11:03His phone rang before he could finish the second.
11:06He answered.
11:08His entire face changed.
11:10Don't panic.
11:11I'm on my way right now.
11:12When he hung up, all the softness was gone.
11:14His expression was stone.
11:16His eyes black and terrifying.
11:18He erupted at Man-
11:19Natalie's baby was diagnosed with a congenital heart deceased.
11:22There's no compatible donor.
11:24She's already unstable.
11:26Then you went and deleted all the photos.
11:28She's convinced you'll never forgive her.
11:30Now she's on the roof.
11:32Are you satisfied?
11:34Come with me, roof.
11:36Now!
11:37He grabbed my arm and dragged me without a word.
11:40The jostling tore something open.
11:42Below a hot, wet sensation spread through me.
11:45Dizziness rolled through me in the depths.
11:47I bit through the inside of my cheek to stay upright on the rooftop Natalie.
11:51Stood outside the railing, the wind caught her loose hospital gown and whipped it against her.
11:55She looked like she could vanish in a blink when she saw me.
12:00Her eyes lit just for a second.
12:02Then they went dark again.
12:03Her face was streaked with tears.
12:06Eli, my baby's dying!
12:08And you're never gonna forgive me, are you?
12:11I have nothing left!
12:13I have nothing left!
12:15Natalie, don't.
12:16Before I could speak, Ethan broke into a cold sweat and stepped forward.
12:20Eli knows she was wrong.
12:22That's why she came to ask for your forgiveness.
12:24She turned and stared at him, stunned beyond words.
12:27But Natalie didn't believe it.
12:29Her eyes were distant and focused.
12:32You're never gonna forgive me.
12:34If you knew it was me who arranged for those people to attack you that night, you'd want me dead.
12:39Something split open inside my chest.
12:42Estai lunged forward, a hand seized me and yanked me back hard.
12:45I spun around, Ethan's eyes were cold as stone.
12:49Natalie was young when she did that.
12:52She didn't understand what she was doing.
12:55Afterward, the guilt nearly drove her to suicide more than once.
12:59If I hadn't stayed with her through all of that, you might never have seen her again.
13:03I stopped moving every part of me went cold.
13:06He knew he had known the truth all along.
13:09I, the victim, had been drowning in that darkness alone.
13:12And he had watched without reaching in while Natalie...
13:15The biggest regret of my life is saving either of you!
13:21A few pain crossed Ethan's face.
13:23Then Natalie let out a sudden piercing shriek and wept it.
13:27It's all gone.
13:29Everything's gone.
13:31The guilt on Ethan's face vanished immediately.
13:33What's the point of dredging all this up now?
13:35It's been years!
13:37Let it go!
13:38You only have yourself to blame for playing hero.
13:41He reached over and took my baby out of my arms, Natalie.
13:44Natalie, see?
13:45She's forgiven you.
13:47Look, she even brought the baby.
13:49She came to donate the heart.
13:50I stared at him in horror and grabbed for my child.
13:53A heart is one!
13:56If she needs one, she waits for a compatible donor.
13:59My daughter is not an option.
14:01My voice broke trembling and somewhere underneath a plea so raw,
14:04I hadn't even noticed it leave me.
14:06You promised me you would take care of this baby!
14:11His eyes slid away.
14:12He exhaled.
14:13The baby was unlucky, that's all.
14:16We'll have other children later.
14:18Natalie worried you'd mind so she had herself sterilized.
14:22She can't have any more children.
14:24You're a mother too.
14:26Surely you don't want to push her over the edge?
14:28I was shaking so hard I could barely stand.
14:30I reached for my baby again.
14:32Tally leaped over the railing, stumbled toward me,
14:35and grabbed me with both hands holding me in place.
14:37Eli, none of this is your fault!
14:39But the baby is innocent!
14:41His only mistake is having me as his mother!
14:43Please, save him!
14:45She looked up at me every trace of fragility.
14:48Gone her eyes were pure venom silent, she mouthed.
14:50He always chooses me.
14:52You are nothing.
14:53I was stunned by the hatred burning behind those eyes.
14:56She had hated me this deeply all along the next second.
14:59She let herself drop pretending to fall,
15:01and threw herself to her knees,
15:03slamming her forehead against the floor again.
15:05Hit me!
15:06Curse me!
15:06Take my life if you want!
15:09Just please save the baby!
15:11Aliyah, that is enough!
15:14He shoved me to the ground.
15:16He swept Natalie up, took the baby,
15:18and walked away without looking back.
15:19No!
15:20I lay on the floor sobbing until I had nothing left the wound below.
15:24Tore open wider blood soaked through.
15:26I didn't feel it.
15:28I scrambled after them,
15:29and found out the baby had already been taken into the operating room.
15:33I ran to the door's Ethan,
15:35signaled, and someone pinned me to the floor.
15:37I screamed helpless.
15:43Ethan, let her go, please!
15:46I'm begging you!
15:48Ethan didn't even flinch.
15:49His voice was flat impatient.
15:51The baby isn't guaranteed to die.
15:53I authorize the best artificial heart on the market.
15:55I really don't see why you're making such a scene.
15:58I clawed at his pant leg until my fingertips split and bled.
16:01She's so small.
16:04How can a baby survive an artificial heart?
16:07If it's viable, then why won't you use it for Natalie's son first?
16:11He pressed his lips together silence.
16:13Please.
16:13The only sound left was my begging a long time later.
16:16The operating room doors swung open.
16:18The surgeon's voice was gentle and regretful.
16:20The girl was too small.
16:22She didn't survive the surgery.
16:24But the boy's operation was a success.
16:27Natalie's face flooded with relief.
16:29She couldn't quite hide the triumph in her eyes.
16:31Ethan exhaled slowly.
16:32He walked over and helped me to my feet, Eli.
16:35Eli, if you want another child, we can try again.
16:38And Natalie took my hand, performed her sorrow beautifully.
16:41Eli, my son is your son too.
16:43The system's voice came down.
16:45Down one minute, host must die promptly or remain in this world permanently.
16:49My mind went blank, nothing but white noise.
16:51I turned, I stepped past the surgeon.
16:53I took the scalpel from the instrument tray.
16:55I didn't hesitate, I drove it into my carotid artery.
16:58Warm blood, sprayed across Ethan's face, across Natalie's.
17:02The system's spoke host is exiting this world.
17:07My body crumpled into a pool of blood.
17:09My soul lifted light and weightless drifting up near the ceiling, Natalie.
17:13Stared at my body, stunned her legs, gave out beneath her.
17:16She hit the floor, grabbed her head and screamed.
17:18Ali!
17:19Lethan went pale.
17:20He threw himself down beside me, not caring about the blood.
17:23Soaking into his clothes, he pressed.
17:25Both.
17:26Hands against the wound at my throat, trying to hold back what was already flowing out.
17:29Doctor!
17:30Someone help her now!
17:32The surgeon snapped back to himself.
17:35Chaos.
17:36Erupted, I was rushed into surgery, Ethan.
17:38And Natalie were left in the hallway.
17:40Natalie turned and grabbed his sleeve.
17:42Her eyes were readily won.
17:44Eli won't die, right?
17:45She's always been scared of pain, scared of dying.
17:48Why would she ever?
17:49Her Ethan didn't answer.
17:50His expression was somewhere far away.
17:52Was I really afraid of dying?
17:53Not entirely.
17:54I think if I had truly been such a coward,
17:56I never would have stood in front of those men for Natalie in the first place.
18:02After that night, he couldn't sleep for months.
18:04He knew several times.
18:06He watched me pick up a knife and hold it against my wrist.
18:09Then set it down, watched me climb halfway over the windowsill, then climb back.
18:13Each time he'd broken into a cold sweat, he wanted to stay with me.
18:16But Natalie was struggling, too plagued by guilt by nightmares.
18:19She couldn't sleep unless he was there.
18:21He couldn't leave her, and he couldn't trust me alone.
18:23So he had cameras installed in the house I climbed out of the dark.
18:26On my own, Natalie recovered slowly with his help.
18:29It was during this time that he learned the truth about what Natalie had done one night.
18:33She talked in her sleep and let it slip.
18:35He had been furious, shaking, screaming at her.
18:37And Natalie cried, cried so hard, then said bitterly,
18:40I couldn't stand it.
18:42Why does everything come to her so easily?
18:44And I have to claw and beg for the smallest scrap.
18:48Why does she get the world handed to her while I'm down here begging for crumbs?
18:55He felt sorry for her, but he also knew bringing it up again would only pour salt into my wounds.
19:00So he kept his mouth hot.
19:03He thought of my face on the rooftop, that look of total despair, something tore from his chest.
19:08He stared at the operating room doors, and found himself asking for the first time.
19:12Was the choice I made really right?
19:13A long silence, the doors opened.
19:15Is anyone here for Eliza Stone?
19:17Ethan and Natalie rushed forward.
19:19We are.
19:19Her blood type is rare.
19:21The blood bank doesn't have enough.
19:23We'll need a donor immediately.
19:24Ethan didn't pause for a second.
19:26He grabbed Natalie by the shoulder.
19:27Her, she can do it.
19:28And pushed her toward the surgeon.
19:29They have the same blood type.
19:31Natalie's eyes went wide.
19:32Ethan, I just gave birth.
19:35How can I donate blood?
19:38The surgeon looked uncomfortable.
19:39Ethan cut him off.
19:41So what if she donates?
19:42Last time Natalie was in a car accident, Eliza donated blood for her.
19:46Donating blood won't kill you.
19:47But if there's no blood, Eliza will die.
19:51I floated near the ceiling watching them.
19:53Argued genuinely confused, I turned to the system.
19:56I already died.
19:59Why are the doctors still trying to save me?
20:02You have died.
20:03But the resuscitation was fast.
20:05Your body is holding on briefly.
20:07That is why your soul is still here, unable to leave.
20:11Ethan shoved Natalie toward the blood driver without waiting for her answer.
20:15Then he stopped in the corridor.
20:17He called his assistant.
20:21Go to the West Side Bakery.
20:23Get a strawberry cake.
20:25Bring it to the hospital.
20:26Now.
20:27He hung up murmured to himself.
20:29She loves their strawberry cake.
20:32If she wakes up and it's the first thing she sees, she'll be happy.
20:36Listening, it was almost funny.
20:38I did love that bakery strawberry cake he used to buy it every day somewhere.
20:43Along the way he stopped started buying mango cake from the East Side instead.
20:48Because that was Natalie's favorite.
20:50I had stopped eating strawberry cake.
20:52Long before I realized why he thought I was still the same person.
20:56I'd always been easy to please grateful for a pebble.
20:59As if it were gold.
21:02Both Natalie and I were moved to the ICU side by side.
21:05I curved my lips into something that might have been a smile I watched.
21:08The heart monitor beside my bed.
21:11The line tracing slowly steadily.
21:13Almost like being alive.
21:14No wonder Ethan hadn't given up.
21:19He didn't spare a glance.
21:21For Natalie, he sat by my bed.
21:23And didn't move.
21:24He took out a clean handkerchief.
21:26And carefully wiped the blood from my face.
21:29His fingers were trembling.
21:31Betraying how far from calm he actually was.
21:34His hand.
21:35Paused, he raised his thumb.
21:36And pressed it softly against my eyebrow.
21:40The scar there.
21:41The day I pulled him from the housekeeper's hands.
21:44She slashed her knife across my brow.
21:46And left that mark.
21:47Luckily it missed my eye.
21:49Luckily the scar stayed small.
21:51He traced it slowly back and forth.
21:53Then a drop of water landed on my face.
21:55Then another Ethan's hand moved frantically to wipe them away.
21:59He was crying.
22:01But there were too many tears he couldn't keep up.
22:03Finally.
22:03He gave up.
22:04He bent forward and buried.
22:06His face in my chest.
22:07And sobbed without sound.
22:09Until there was nothing left when he finally went quiet.
22:12He straightened.
22:13He reached for the strawberry cake.
22:15His assistant had brought.
22:17And held it out like an offering lip.
22:19I got you your favorite cake.
22:20Because you haven't had it in so long.
22:22But I lay there without moving.
22:23Without answering.
22:24He set the cake down.
22:26He gripped my hand.
22:27He pressed my palm against his cheek and leaned into.
22:30It'll lie.
22:30I am sorry.
22:31Please wake up.
22:32I can't lose.
22:33You please wake up.
22:35I chose the best cemetery plot for the baby.
22:38When you wake up.
22:39We'll go together.
22:40We'll go together.
22:43I floated overhead watching his performance.
22:45I felt nothing but revulsion when he mentioned the baby even as a soul.
22:49The pain drove through me like a needle.
22:51I couldn't pull my hand back.
22:52I couldn't do anything.
22:54I could only drift there.
22:56And watch a bitch.
22:57I grew more and more confused by his behavior.
23:00Now I was almost gone.
23:02No one stood between him and Natalie anymore.
23:05Shouldn't they be free now?
23:06But that wasn't what was happening.
23:07Something had F.
23:08He sat at my bedside.
23:10And never left.
23:11For hours he didn't give Natalie a single glance.
23:14After a while.
23:15Natalie's eyelashes fluttered.
23:16She opened her eyes, barely conscious Ethan watered.
23:19Ethan.
23:20Ethan.
23:21Water.
23:22He didn't turn.
23:23Ethan, are you blaming me?
23:25I'm not blaming you.
23:27I'm blaming myself.
23:30I didn't think she'd be that resolved.
23:32If I'd known earlier.
23:33And Natalie closed her eyes and swallowed whatever was behind them.
23:37She'll forgive us.
23:38No, Natalie.
23:39We're finished.
23:40I promised Eli if she wakes up I'll stay with her.
23:43I'll give you a settlement.
23:44You and the baby.
23:45I'll send you abroad.
23:49Ethan finally looked at her.
23:51But his eyes held regret guilt.
23:53Even contempt.
23:54Not one trace of love.
23:55She stared at him.
23:56She understood everything was over.
23:58She said nothing more made up some excuse about feeling unwell.
24:02And closed her eyes.
24:04The room went dark as night.
24:07Well, she opened her eyes again.
24:10Ethan wasn't by my bedside.
24:12Her pulse hammered she hated him so much.
24:15Her teeth ached this.
24:16Wasn't what she wanted if I died.
24:18Everything would go back to how it should be.
24:20She would be Mrs. Foster basking in everyone's envy.
24:23Her son would grow up adored the way she never was.
24:26As a child, she got up.
24:27Without thinking a wave of dizziness hit.
24:29She nearly went down.
24:30She gripped the bed frames slowly inch by inch.
24:33She moved toward me.
24:34I floated overhead.
24:35Watching my heart was already still.
24:37The system had told me I was almost fully gone.
24:39Her right hand crept toward my oxygen tube.
24:42Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
24:43You blame yourself for being too bright.
24:45This isn't my fault.
24:48You brought it on yourself.
24:49She said it like it was meant for me or maybe for herself.
24:52Her voice sliced through the room.
24:55What do you think you're doing?
24:59She spun around Ethan stood in the doorway.
25:02Furious.
25:03No beyond furious.
25:05Natalie stumbled hit the floor.
25:07Her wound split open.
25:09Put away your ugly little thoughts.
25:11If anything happens to Elisa, I will hold you responsible for every last bit of it.
25:18Ethan Foster, what gives you the right to treat me this way?
25:24That's impossible!
25:28She faked it.
25:29She faked all of it.
25:31Eliza, all of it.
25:35Eliza, wake up!
25:37I didn't do it.
25:39You can't accuse me of this, please.
25:42Please, Ethan lost all reason.
25:44He locked both hands around Madder's throat.
25:48How dare you!
25:54Natalie clawed at his hands.
25:56Struck his arms thrashed with everything she had.
25:59She was nearly gone, the nurses.
26:00And doctors finally rushed in to pull him off Natalie.
26:04Collapsed on the floor.
26:05Gasping she looked up at him with helpless burning hatred she had been so close.
26:09So close to having everything to being happier than me.
26:11And then Ethan.
26:12As though he had taken back every feeling he had ever given her.
26:15Looked at her now like a stranger.
26:18Why?
26:20I was your fiancé first!
26:22You loved me, I know you did.
26:26Why?
26:28You think I actually loved you?
26:30Even rats crawl towards the light.
26:32No rat falls in love with another rat.
26:34She heard exactly what he meant she would always lose to me.
26:39The wife of the man who attacked Elisa that night.
26:42She was crying, explaining.
26:44Said someone had paid her husband.
26:47That the target was already pregnant.
26:49That the instructions were to beat her until she miscarries to end the killer.
26:53He told me they were just supposed to rough her up.
26:56But the man went too far on his own.
27:00Remember that?
27:01She couldn't form a single word.
27:06Ethan looked at her and understood everything his eyes burned.
27:10He was shaking with something too vast.
27:12Natalie White!
27:13You lied to me!
27:15I'm sure you told yourself you could handle my rage.
27:18That's why you dared.
27:20Am I right?
27:21You'd better hope so.
27:22Because if not, I will make absolutely certain you understand what hell looks like.
27:28She scrambled toward him.
27:30Panic grabbed his pant leg and begged.
27:32Ethan, you can't do this to me.
27:34I'm the mother of your child.
27:36He needs me.
27:37I lied before about the sterilization.
27:40I didn't do it.
27:41I can still give you children.
27:43I'm still useful to you.
27:44The image flashed through Ethan's mind knee on the floor.
27:47Clawing at his leg, begging a fresh wound.
27:48Opened.
27:49You lied about that too.
27:51Fine.
27:52White, you should have jumped when you had the chance.
27:55As she wailed sob.
27:57Until she couldn't breathe.
27:58And while all of that was unfolding on her side.
28:00I was already gone in the moment of my final death.
28:03A tremendous force seized me.
28:05I'm moving into darkness.
28:08Mom's warm hand held mine so tightly.
28:10My heart slowly warmed.
28:12After a long time, my eyes finally opened.
28:16And her face appeared above me blurred.
28:18Behind tears, her hair had gone gray.
28:20She had always cared about her appearance.
28:22But there was no thought left in her for dying it.
28:25She had lost so much weight.
28:26My throat tightened.
28:28My tears came before I could stop them.
28:29I looked at my parents' faces wrapped.
28:31Ed and Radiant at the same time.
28:33Several doctors came in.
28:34And examined me, shaking their heads in disbelief.
28:37A miracle.
28:38An absolute miracle.
28:40Excellent.
28:41After they finished.
28:42I lay there trying to find my voice.
28:45Finally, slowly.
28:47Mom, Dad, I'm back.
28:48Mom wiped her eyes.
28:49My foolish girl, what did you put yourself through?
28:54It's your father's fault.
28:56He insisted on rushing you home to meet that match.
28:59That's why the accident happened.
29:01The doctor said the best case was a vegetal state.
29:05We got the critical notifist so many times.
29:08Dad's eyes went red through.
29:09The child's awake.
29:10Stop saying these things.
29:12He cut her off.
29:12My girl is perfectly fine.
29:14I tried to move my arm and wince.
29:16What are you doing?
29:17Mom stopped me immediately.
29:18You're still injured.
29:20You need to rest.
29:22I opened my mouth.
29:24My voice came out hoarse.
29:26How long was I out?
29:31Dad said,
29:32Ten days.
29:34Only ten days I was almost afraid to think about it
29:36if my parents had been pulled into that other world.
29:39The way I had lived through decades.
29:41Maybe we would never have had found each other again.
29:43I thought I'd never see you again.
29:47Dad's voice broke.
29:49It's over now.
29:51Everything will be alright.
29:52You just rest.
29:54I'll go make you that soup you love.
29:56The doctor just said no greasy food and you've already forgotten.
29:59Listen to me.
30:00I just kept thinking she'd lost weight.
30:01I wanted to build her back up.
30:05I held onto both of their hands without letting go something settled in my chest.
30:09The people who loved me were always right here waiting.
30:12I just hadn't been looking a year after I left the hospital.
30:15I was lying in a garden chair sunning myself when the system appeared again host after your departure.
30:26The villain fully descended into darkness.
30:28The world within the novel is collapsing.
30:31He only asks for one thing to see you once more.
30:34Sure enough before I could answer, Ethan Foster appeared.
30:41He saw me.
30:42His pupils contracted sharply.
30:43His whole face ignited.
30:44He rushed toward me.
30:45Arms open wanting to pull me in.
30:47I passed right through me.
30:48The joy on his face caved in.
30:51Like a ghost he stood there.
30:52Eli, you're alive!
30:53I knew it!
30:54I let out a quiet breath.
30:56You've seen me now.
30:57You can go back.
30:59His eyes reddened when he finally spoke.
31:02His voice was stripped of everything but humility.
31:05Ethan's expression faltered.
31:07You still won't forgive me.
31:09I know and I deserve that.
31:12What I did was unconscionable.
31:14I don't have words for it.
31:17I knew from the beginning we were different.
31:19You were always sunshine, open, warm, bright.
31:23And I was something that lived in the gutter, stealing whatever light it could find and calling that enough.
31:28Having the whole sun, it burns.
31:30Natalie was like me.
31:31I thought I'd found my kind.
31:33Someone I didn't look patetiful next to.
31:35But I forgot.
31:36Without the sun, I die.
31:37I looked at him cold, tired of all of it.
31:41Ethan, you are not just despicable.
31:47You are a coward.
31:53You wanted me.
31:54You wanted Natalie.
31:56You failed both of us.
32:00And now, standing there with that look on your face, it disgusts me.
32:05He stared at me like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
32:07I had always been soft with him.
32:09I had never once spoken to him like this.
32:12He didn't know that the moment you stop loving someone, you finally see them clearly.
32:16Only the heart that no longer loves can tell the truth.
32:19Leave.
32:20I never want to see you again.
32:23I turned my back on him and walked away.
32:25He stayed where he was watching my retreating figure without moving.
32:30I never saw when he left the...
32:33The system appeared again.
32:35The villain had been fully redeemed.
32:37He had stopped descending into darkness.
32:41He killed Natalie and...
32:43The child with his own hands stepped off the rooftop.
32:53As for what happened to Ethan and Natalie, I found that I had not one feeling left about it.
32:58The system quickly moved on to the good news.
33:01World Order of Steel.
33:02Mission complete.
33:04Reward 10 million dollars.
33:08I accepted without hesitation.
33:10Outside the sun was brilliant mom.
33:13And dad came laughing through the gate back from the walk.
33:15I smiled and went to meet them.
33:16I smiled and went to meet them.
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