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00:00I was born with a curse.
00:02Whoever I doom dies exactly as I say.
00:05When I was five, the trafficker who kidnapped me beat me half to death because I wouldn't stop crying.
00:11You'll be crushed into meat paste by a truck.
00:14The words barely left my lips when a runaway assembly barreled through the gate and flattened it so thoroughly.
00:21Later, at the orphanage, the director embezzled our food and locked me in the punishment closet for days.
00:27You will choke to death on your own greed.
00:30That very noon, he died at the dinner table, a chunk of expensive steak lodged in his throat.
00:36After that, I became the monster everyone feared.
00:40So I learned to shut my mouth and play mute until the day the Sterling family found me and brought
00:46me home.
00:47You're doing very well. The past studies in your six months.
00:49You're going to start learning how to do business. In the future, you'll become an outstanding giz.
00:53Your younger sister you get would learn from you.
00:55By the way, our family is engaged in a marriage with the Blackstone family, and your fiancée's name is Julian.
01:03But I'd only been there one day when I pushed open the front door and saw Lydia, the adopted sister,
01:09sobbing in my fiancée's arms.
01:11Julian, does Everly hate me now?
01:13She whimpered.
01:15She's been spreading rumors at the office, claiming I slept with Mr. Harrington to secure the Westside Development deal and
01:22that I caught syphilis from him.
01:24My mother stormed over and slapped me hard across the face.
01:27Your sister is innocent! How dare you spread such vile lies about her!
01:32I knew it.
01:33You grew up poor and bitter and now you're rotting from jealousy.
01:37Get to your room and don't come out until I say so.
01:40I covered my face, saw the smug look in Lydia's eyes, and sneered.
01:44You think I'm spreading rumors?
01:47Fine. Then you'd better be ready with the consequences when I open my mouth.
01:52Mom! Dad! Look! Evelyn's laughing!
01:56My mother's chest heaved with fury, and she grabbed the teacup from the table and hurled the scalding liquid straight
02:02into my face.
02:03You cursed brat! I should never have brought you back!
02:07We gave you everything. Food, clothes, a home, and this is how you repay us?
02:13Slandering your own sister at the company? How can you be so vicious?
02:17I bit down hard on my tongue until I tasted iron.
02:21Evelyn, I told you from the start. You don't belong in the Sterling family, and you sure as hell don't
02:26deserve to be my fiancée.
02:27If Lydia hadn't begged me to give you a chance, I would have called off this engragement ages ago.
02:31Now get on your knees and apologize to her, or I'm ending this farce right now.
02:36I lowered my head, staring at the puddle of tea soaking into the marble floor, and said nothing.
02:41My curse has always been absolute. Once I speak, fate obeys without fail.
02:46In the six months since they brought me home, the Sterlings gave me something I'd never had before.
02:51Warmth.
02:51When I had a fever, my mother stayed up all night, changing cold compresses on my forehead.
02:56My father, who never cooked, clumsily made me pork chops and gave me the first piece.
03:01Even my brother, who swore he'd never accept me, started sneaking pastries into my bag.
03:06My mother would stroke my face with tears in her eyes, and whisper that she was sorry for the years
03:12I'd suffered alone.
03:13My father even drove me to the office himself, saying I needed to start building connections because one day, the
03:19entire Sterling empire would be mine.
03:21To protect this fragile sliver of warmth I'd finally found, I sealed my lips shut.
03:27Seeing my silence, Lydia's sobs grew louder.
03:31Does Evelyn think she can just play dumb and get away with this?
03:35She's been spreading those disgusting lies.
03:37It's about me all over the company.
03:39Everyone's looking at me like I'm dirty now.
03:41How am I supposed to show my face in this industry again?
03:44Julian's face twisted in rage, and he stormed over and grabbed the fine chain around my neck, yanking hard.
03:50Pain seared across my skin.
03:53Six months ago, my mother had recognized me because of this necklace.
03:56She said she'd put it on me the day I was born, a mark of my identity as the sole
04:01legitimate heir.
04:02I lunged forward, trying to grab him.
04:05Give it back!
04:05Julian sidestepped and stopped, letting me crash to the floor.
04:09Don't touch me!
04:10If you come near me again, I'll call the cops and tell them you assaulted me!
04:12Then, right in front of you, he placed the necklace around Lydia's neck.
04:19A treasure this priceless should only be worn by someone pure and kind like Lydia.
04:25A vicious, foul-mouthed nobody like you would only taint it.
04:29Before I could get back on my feet, my brother came charging down the stairs and grabbed me by the
04:35collar.
04:36I knew we shouldn't have brought you back, you filthy charity case!
04:42It was Lydia who begged to be kind to you.
04:45She even gave up her own bedroom to you!
04:48And for the past six months, she's handed you every good thing she's ever had!
04:53And this is how you repay her?
04:55You ungrateful snake!
04:58Butler!
04:59Lock this trash in her room right now!
05:01No one gives her a single drop of water without my permission, understood?
05:05Two security guards rushed forward, dragged me upstairs.
05:09I was locked in that room for seven days straight.
05:13Every night, the maid would slide a single bowl under the door.
05:16Inside was nothing but cold leftovers and scraps.
05:19Outside, I could hear laughter echoing through the halls.
05:22Before, a perfect little family.
05:24Lydia made sure to parade Julian past my door every single day.
05:29Julian, this watch is too expensive.
05:31Why don't you give it to Evelyn instead?
05:33Ben, I know you love me, but Evelyn is their real daughter, and she's the one you're technically engaged to.
05:38Maybe we should just end this.
05:40As long as I can see you happy from afar, I'd die a thousand deaths and it would still be
05:44worth it.
05:45Stop talking nonsense.
05:46That piece of trash they dragged back from the gullet isn't even worth carrying your shoes.
05:50Just looking at her pathetic face makes me sick.
05:52Why the hell would I give her something this expensive?
05:56Don't worry, Lydia.
05:57Even if I marry her, I'll never lay a fender on her.
06:00You're the only one I'll ever love.
06:02I leaned against the door.
06:04Wearing something that expensive to bed?
06:06Better be careful.
06:07You might wake up with a stiff neck.
06:10The next morning, Lydia's shrieks tore through the hallway.
06:13It hurts!
06:14My neck!
06:15I can't move it!
06:21Then came my sister's panicked voice, followed by the frantic footsteps of the household staff, scrambling to help.
06:28I sat in the dark, eyes closed, a slow smile spreading across my face.
06:32On the eighth day, the lock finally clicked open.
06:35Lydia stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
06:38Oh my god, Evelyn, you look like death.
06:41Did you really starve yourself just to guilt trip us?
06:44Come on, get up.
06:46Mom and Dad want you at the company.
06:48All you have to do is stand in front of everyone and admit you lied, apologize to me, and we
06:52can all move on.
06:53I pushed myself to my feet and walked toward the door.
06:57The moment I reached the top of the stairs, Lydia leaned in close and whispered in my ear,
07:03You poor little bastard.
07:05Did you really think you could steal my parents and my man?
07:10I froze mid-step and turned to look at her.
07:12Lydia let out a blood-pourting scream.
07:15Evelyn, no!
07:16I swear I won't take the inheritance from you!
07:19Then she threw herself backward and tumbled down the stairs.
07:22Julian bolted toward the staircase.
07:24Lydia!
07:25And my parents and sister came running from every direction.
07:29Lydia lay crumpled at the bottom.
07:31Julian, don't blame Evelyn.
07:33Julian, I just lost my balance.
07:36You've lived in this house for over 20 years and never once fell down these stairs.
07:41There's no way this was an accident!
07:43My mother flew up the steps and landed two brutal slaps across my face.
07:47I was so weak from starvation that the force sent me crashing to the floor.
07:51How did we ever give birth to a monster like you?
07:54I pressed my hand to my burning cheek and stared back at them.
07:57I let out a cold, humorless laugh.
08:00If I really wanted to hurt her, I wouldn't need to lift a finger.
08:03My brother's entire body shook the floor.
08:06And he kicked over a decorative handstand.
08:07Mom!
08:08Do you hear this?
08:10Do you hear what she's saying?
08:12Lydia's lying there in pain.
08:14And Evelyn has the audacity to double down on her threats!
08:18You're still refusing to admit what you've done?
08:20Stop pretending you have some kind of supernatural power, you delusional freak!
08:24My father turned his face away, as if even looking at me disgusted him.
08:28Get her out of my sight.
08:29Lock her back in her room, now.
08:31I struggled against the guard's grip and let out a sharp, bitter laugh.
08:36You're all playing your parts so well.
08:38Just make sure she doesn't actually break a bone and pass out from the pain.
08:41Lydia suddenly went rigid.
08:43Her head lolled forward, and she slumped, unconscious.
08:46My mother screamed.
08:48Someone get her in the car!
08:50We need to get to the hospital, now!
08:51The guard scooped Lydia up and sprinted out the door,
08:55with my parents and brother racing after them.
08:57The roar of engines filled the courtyard, and within seconds, they were gone.
09:01I was thrown back into my room like garbage.
09:05A few days later, Lydia was discharged from the hospital.
09:08My parents shoved me into the car and dragged me straight to the Sterling Group headquarters.
09:12The normally spacious lobby was packed, wall-to-wall, with employees.
09:16My parents had summoned the entire company to publicly clear Lydia's name.
09:21On the massive LED screen in the center of the room, a video played on loop.
09:25Footage of Lydia handing out backpacks to underprivileged children in remote villages,
09:29and late-night shots of her working tirelessly on the West Side Development Project.
09:34My father stepped onto the platform, microphone in hand, his voice booming across the lobby.
09:41Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great misfortune to announce that we brought home a daughter of such rotten characters.
09:50Out of pure jealousy, she spread vicious, slanderous rumors about Lydia throughout this company.
09:56She has not only damaged our family's reputation, she has committed an unforgivable moral crime.
10:02The employees, not knowing the full story, began whispering amongst themselves.
10:07Once trash, always trash. Doesn't matter if you put her in a mansion.
10:12I heard she grew up in some backwater foster home.
10:16People from places like that are all liars and thieves.
10:18If she's willing to slander her own sister, there's nothing she wouldn't do.
10:22Lydia, supported by Julian, walked up to me and held out a piece of paper.
10:26A printed confession titled, Statement of Guilt and Apology.
10:31Evelyn, I know why you did this.
10:33All you have to do is sign this, admit you lied, and apologize to me in front of everyone.
10:38Then I'll forgive you.
10:39I stared at her smug face, my chest heaving with barely restrained rage.
10:44I never said those things.
10:46But if I had said you slept with Mr. Harrington...
10:49Before I could finish, Julian's polished oxford slammed into the back of my knee.
10:54I collapsed onto the marble floor with a sickening crack.
10:58The employees around me erupted in laughter.
11:01Some even pulled out their phones, snapping photos and recording videos of my humiliation.
11:06Karma's a bitch!
11:07Shane tore through me like a serrated thing.
11:10And then...
11:11Stop! Evelyn didn't lie! I can prove it!
11:14Everyone froze.
11:15A young woman shoved her way through the crowd.
11:17Stop! Evelyn didn't lie! I can prove it!
11:18She is the intern I'd comforted on my first day at the office,
11:22who'd been crying in the break room after getting chewed out by her supervisor.
11:26She planted herself in front of me, her voice shaking but firm as she pointed at Lydia.
11:31I saw it with my own eyes that night when we were working late!
11:35Lydia got into Mr. Harrington's car, and they were in the back seat together.
11:39The entire lobby went dead silent.
11:42Lydia's face drained of color.
11:44But she recovered quickly, throwing herself into Julian's arms and wailing at the top of her lungs.
11:50Julian!
11:51How much did Evelyn pay this girl to lie for her?
11:54First she makes up disgusting rumors, and now she's bribing people to back her up?
11:59What kind of month is anymore?
12:00I just want to die.
12:02The crowd's shock instantly morphed into contempt.
12:05Julian's expression darkened, glaring at the intern with pure hatred.
12:09He stepped forward and backhanded her across the face.
12:13The intern lost her balance and hit the floor hard, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
12:18You've gone too far!
12:21Throw this traitorous little bitch out of my building!
12:24Fire her immediately!
12:26Blacklist her from every company in the industry!
12:28I want her name ruined!
12:30Four security guards swarmed the intern,
12:33raining fists and kicks down on her fragile body.
12:36She crawled into a ball on the floor.
12:38I knelt on the cold floor, watching the girl who'd been beaten half to death for telling the truth.
12:43I bit down on my lower lip so hard that blood streamed down my chin, but I didn't even feel
12:49it.
12:49My trust in them shattered completely.
12:53Mom, Dad, Evelyn must be doing this because she's terrified I'll steal her inheritance.
12:59I know she hates me.
13:01She's always hated me for taking away the life that should have been hers all these years.
13:05She clutched my father's pant leg.
13:07As long as you let me stay by your side, I'll be happy even if it kills me.
13:11Julian strode over, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and yanked my head up.
13:16Everyone, take a good look at this vile excuse for a human being.
13:22Today, I, Julian Blackstone, am officially calling off my engagement to her!
13:28Next month, Lydia and I will be having the grandest wedding this city has ever seen.
13:33My father stood on the platform like a judge, passing sentence.
13:37If you don't confess and apologize right now, I will disown you in front of this entire company.
13:43You won't see a single share of Sterling Group stock. Not one.
13:48Julian's designer shoe pressed down on the back of my hand, grinding my bones into the marble.
13:53The sickening crunch was followed by a wave of agony that shot straight to my skull.
13:58Around me, the crowd roared with laughter, camera flashes exploding in my face.
14:02My parents' disgusted voices echoed in my ears.
14:05I closed my eyes.
14:07The last fragile thread of affection I'd held for the Sterling family snapped.
14:11I opened my eyes slowly and spoke.
14:13I'm going to ask you one last time.
14:15Are you absolutely certain you want me to stand in front of all these people and confess that I spread
14:20those rumors?
14:21Of course, you did it. Now own up to it.
14:25My parents and Julian chimed in impatiently.
14:28Stop wasting our time. Apologize already.
14:31Fine. I confess.
14:34I looked at their eager, self-righteous faces.
14:37I said Lydia secured the West Side Development deal by sleeping with Mr. Harrington.
14:41And I said she contracted syphilis from him.
14:43Not only that, but Lydia is now pregnant.
14:46And the baby is Mr. Harrington's.
14:49The entire lobby fell deathly silent.
14:53Lydia froze for a split second.
14:55You all heard that, right?
14:56She finally admitted it!
14:58She made it all up!
15:00Julian let out a cold, mocking laugh.
15:03What are you waiting for? Get on your knees and apologize now!
15:06But just as she reached the peak of her victory,
15:08Lydia let out a blood-curdling scream and collapsed to the ground, clutching her groin.
15:14Blood began pouring down her legs.
15:16Lydia!
15:17Julian's face went white as a sheet, and he rushed to her side.
15:20The company's front doors exploded in them, glass and wood splintering everywhere.
15:26Mr. Harrington's wife, a massive and muscular woman with a crew of bodyguards, stormed into the lobby.
15:32Where the hell is that home-wrecking whore, Lydia Sterling?
15:35He charged forward, grabbed her by the collar, and ripped her out of Julian's arms.
15:40Then he started throwing punches, one after another.
15:45You disgusting slut!
15:47You seduced my husband!
15:49He pulled a stack of medical reports from his jacket, and slammed them onto the floor.
15:53Everyone, look at this!
15:55My husband caught syphids from this filthy parasite!
15:58The lab results scattered across the marble.
16:00The words, stage two syphilis, glaring up at the crowd in red ink.
16:05Julian's face turned ashen, and he staggered backward, staring at the papers in disbelief.
16:09Lydia was already barely conscious from the beating, blood streaming from her mouth.
16:15Julian!
16:15It's not true.
16:17I don't have any disease.
16:18This is all Evelyn's doing!
16:20She hired actors to destroy me!
16:23She even faked these medical records!
16:25She's a monster!
16:26She'll do anything to frame me!
16:28She sobbed hysterically.
16:30He looked at the medical reports, melted into pure rage.
16:33Then at Lydia's tear-streaked face, and his doubt vanished entirely.
16:37Get the hell off her!
16:38Julian kicked Mr. Harrington's wife in the chest, and a swarm of security guards surrounded him.
16:44If you touch my fiancée again, you're a dead man.
16:48Then Julian spun around, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at me.
16:53Evelyn, do you ever stop?
16:56You went so far as to hire actors and forge medical documents just to prove your disgusting lives?
17:03Lydia is clean.
17:05There's no way she'd ever catch something that vile.
17:07My father's voice shook with rage.
17:10This is unforgivable!
17:12How did we ever raise such a venomous snake?
17:17You thought of something this despicable?
17:19Something this evil?
17:21My mother was on her knees beside Lydia, stroking her bloodied face.
17:26My little baby, how did you end up with such a cruel sister?
17:29This is all my fault.
17:31Mom, it hurts so much.
17:34Suddenly, Lydia let out another agonized scream and went well, collapsing in a pool of her own blood.
17:41The puddle beneath her was growing larger by the second.
17:44Julian's face went white.
17:46Lydia!
17:47And he barked orders at the guards.
17:49Get the car!
17:50We're going to the hospital!
17:51Now!
17:52My parents stumbled after them, their faces twisted in panic.
17:56The lobby descended into chaos.
17:58My brother appeared out of nowhere, grabbed me by the collar, and started dragging me toward the exit.
18:03You're coming with us.
18:05If anything happens to Lydia, you're going to pay for it with your life.
18:10He shoved me into the back seat of the car, and my head slammed against the window.
18:14Through the glass, I watched Julian's car speed away, running red lights, and swerving through traffic like a scene from
18:22a disaster movie.
18:22A cold smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
18:26The hospital emergency room hallway was silent.
18:28The only sound was my mother's muffled sobbing.
18:31Finally, the red light above the door went dark, and the doctor stepped out, his expression grim.
18:36Julian and my family immediately swarmed him.
18:39Doctor, how is she?
18:41The doctor sighed.
18:44The patient experienced severe rectal bleeding due to acute ternal hemorrhahalride rupture.
18:50Additionally, there are visible signs of blunt force trauma to the genital area.
18:54She'll need to remain on bed rest.
18:56What? Hemorrhite bleeding? And trauma?
18:59Julian's face went slack with shock, and my parents and brother looked equally stunned.
19:05A nurse wheeled Lydia into a VIP room, and we followed.
19:08Lydia's eyes fluttered open, and when she heard the nurse repeating the doctor's instructions, even she looked genuinely shocked.
19:14But within a second, her brain recalibrated.
19:17She grabbed Julian's hand, tears welling up in her eyes.
19:21Julian, you're not gonna think less of me because I have hemorrhings, are you?
19:27But I swear, I'm innocent.
19:30The injuries down there are because I fought back when Mr. Harrington tried to force himself on me, and his
19:35people beat me up.
19:37This is proof that I stayed loyal to you, that I resisted with everything I had.
19:42Julian's entire body went rigid.
19:44Lydia, you really went through all that for me?
19:46Lydia nodded pitifully.
19:48Of course it was for you.
19:51I didn't want to use this to guilt you into marrying me.
19:54I was going to wait until you'd completely ended things with Evelyn.
19:57Julian was utterly convinced.
19:59He grabbed her hand tightly, his earlier doubts completely erased.
20:02He turned to look at me, his expression twisted with disgust.
20:06Evelyn, what do you have to say for yourself now?
20:11Lydia fought them off to stay faithful to me.
20:13She's devoted her entire heart to me.
20:15How could she possibly be sleeping with Mr. Harrington?
20:19Those people who barged in here were obviously hired by you.
20:23My father let out a long sigh of relief.
20:26He called his assistant.
20:28Send out an internal memo immediately.
20:30Announce that Lydia and the Blackstone family will be moving forward with the engagement.
20:34As for that ridiculous slander my daughter spread.
20:36It's been completely debunked.
20:37And send those thugs who stormed the building to the police.
20:39My mother clutched her chest dramatically.
20:42Tears of joy streaming down her face.
20:44Do you hear that?
20:44Lydia is devoted to Julian.
20:46Julian, you tried to curse your own sister with lies?
20:51You're not even human!
20:52Julian helped Lydia settle into the hospital bed.
20:55Then strode over to me, his gaze ice cold.
21:00Evelyn, I gave you a chance.
21:02And you threw it away.
21:04Once Lydia recovers and is discharged,
21:08I'm personally escorting you to prison.
21:10Faced with their accusations, I started laughing, unsettling them.
21:14I shook off the guard's grip and locked eyes with Lydia.
21:17My voice, sharp and cold.
21:20Whether or not she stayed faithful to you,
21:22the syphilis rash on her body will tell you the truth soon enough.
21:26A flicker of panic flashed across Lydia's face.
21:28But she quickly now...
21:29You're lying!
21:30You psychopath!
21:32You're just jealous that I won Julian's heart!
21:34You couldn't get mom and dad to love you!
21:37You couldn't get Julian to want you!
21:39So now you're cursing me with some disgusting disease!
21:41Julian was about to slap me again.
21:43When the hospital room door swung open,
21:46the attending physician walked in,
21:47holding a stack of blood work results, his face grave.
21:50His eyes swept over everyone in the room,
21:52and he took a deep breath.
21:54Who here is the patient's family?
21:56Julian stepped forward immediately.
21:58I'm her fiancé.
22:00Doctor, she's gonna be okay, right?
22:01The doctor glanced at him, his expression complicated.
22:05During the routine blood draw,
22:07we ran a full infectious disease palette as per protocol.
22:12He handed the lab results to Julian.
22:18The patient, Lydia Sterling, has tested positive for stage 2 syphilis.
22:23The titer levels are extremely high,
22:25indicating she's in a highly contagious stage.
22:28The room plunged into complete silence.
22:31Julian staggered backward,
22:32his legs giving out beneath him as he collapsed onto the floor.
22:36He stared at Lydia,
22:37who just moments ago had seemed so pure and innocent,
22:41with a look of absolute horror.
22:44No, that's impossible!
22:46You're lab made a mistake!
22:48I know what happened!
22:50The needle you used to draw my blood must have been contaminated!
22:53You infected me!
22:55Julian, you have to believe me!
22:58Miss Sterling, that's medically impossible.
23:00The infection didn't occur from the blood draw.
23:03He glanced down at his clipboard and continued.
23:05Your tiler levels indicate you've been infected for at least two months.
23:09Additionally, regarding the fetus...
23:11Ah! My stomach!
23:13Doctor, it hurts so much!
23:14Please help me!
23:15Something's wrong!
23:16The doctor was interrupted and was not able to mention Lydia's pregnancy.
23:20I leaned against the doorframe,
23:23arms crossed,
23:24watching the whole scene unfold with detached amusement.
23:27Mr. Blackstone,
23:29if you want to know the truth,
23:30why don't you call your ojing?
23:33How'd him look into whether Mr. Harrington has also been diagnosed of syphilis?
23:37Julian's hands shook as he pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant.
23:40The moment the call connected...
23:42Mr. Blackstone, it's confirmed!
23:44Mr. Harrington has been diagnosed with stage two syphilis!
23:46And sir, there's more!
23:48Miss Sterling is pregnant!
23:49The whole industry is saying the child is Mr. Harrington's.
23:51The entire Westside Development Project has been shut down.
23:54Saying the child is Mr. Harrington's!
23:55The phone slipped from Julian's hands and platted on the tile floor.
23:58Julian's face went from shock to confusion
24:01to realization
24:02and finally
24:03to pure, murderous rage.
24:06You're pregnant?
24:08Lydia's face turned deathly pale.
24:10Yes.
24:11The patient is approximately eight weeks pregnant,
24:14as I was trying to mention earlier.
24:15You lying piece of shit!
24:18Julian died from a bloodshot
24:20and he lunged at the hospital bed.
24:22He grabbed Lydia by the shoulders,
24:24shaking her violently.
24:26We haven't even slept together!
24:27You said you wanted to wait until the wedding night!
24:29Whose child is it?
24:31How many men have you been with?
24:32Lydia gasped for air,
24:34tears streaming down her face.
24:36But she had nowhere left to run.
24:38Realizing there was no way out,
24:40she gave up the act entirely
24:42and started playing the victim card.
24:45Julian, please!
24:46I was forced!
24:47I only did it to help you secure the Westside Investment!
24:50Mr. Harrington got me drunk and took advantage of me!
24:53But the baby!
24:54The baby is yours!
24:56I swear it's yours!
24:58I know you never wanted the burden of fatherhood.
25:02So?
25:03I made arrangements to carry your child myself,
25:06using your frozen samples!
25:08Julian's hand flew across her face,
25:10slapping her so hard she slammed back into the pillows.
25:14Then he climbed onto the bed and started beating her,
25:17slap after slap,
25:19over and over,
25:20until her face was unrecognizable.
25:23My parents and brother stood frozen in place.
25:25They looked at Lydia,
25:27bruised,
25:28bloodied,
25:28pregnant,
25:29carrying of the nereal disease,
25:31and then turned to look at me,
25:33leaning calmly against the doorway.
25:35In that moment,
25:36they finally understood one thing.
25:39I hadn't lied.
25:40Every single word I'd said was true.
25:43My brother stared down at his own trembling hands.
25:46He remembered how he'd used those same hands to beat me,
25:50to call me ungrateful.
25:51All for this disease-ridden liar.
25:54The weight of his guilt nearly crushed him.
25:56His legs buckled,
25:58and he had to grab the wall to keep from collapsing.
26:00Julian finally stopped his assault on Lydia.
26:04You said the bastard in your belly is mine?
26:06Fine.
26:07Since she claims she's carrying my child,
26:10we'd better make sure the baby gets proper prenatal care.
26:12Watch them both.
26:13I don't care how much it costs.
26:15Make sure that thing gets born alive so we can run a paternity test.
26:18Both Lydia and Mr. Harrington were placed under house arrest.
26:22Julian stationed bodyguards and private nurses in the hospital room,
26:25on rotating 24-hour shifts.
26:28During her confinement,
26:29Lydia tried multiple times to push herself down the stairs,
26:32to induce a miscarriage.
26:33But every single time,
26:35the nurses caught her before she could succeed.
26:37Meanwhile,
26:38my father and brother finally started digging into Lydia's past.
26:41She hadn't just slept with Mr. Harrington.
26:44Her private life was a disaster of entanglements and scandals.
26:48The truth slapped them across the face,
26:50one revelation after another,
26:52until they were dizzy with shame.
26:55Three days after I moved out of the Sterling Mansion,
26:57my brother cornered me outside my new apartment.
27:00He was holding a bakery box from an upscale patisserie.
27:03The moment he saw me,
27:04his eyes turned red,
27:05and he rushed forward.
27:07Evelyn,
27:08I brought you those French macaroons from that place you used to love.
27:12I waited in line for two hours.
27:14They're still fresh.
27:15Please,
27:16just have one.
27:17Please?
27:17I took the box from his hands,
27:19and for a split second,
27:20hope flared in his eyes.
27:22Then I flipped my wrist.
27:23The delicate macaroons tumbled out onto the dirty pavement,
27:26their pastel shells cracking against the concrete.
27:30I don't like macaroons.
27:31I like pancakes.
27:33But no one in the Sterling family ever bothered to make me a single stack.
27:36My brother stood frozen in place
27:39as tears streamed down his haggard face.
27:41My father,
27:42desperate to make amends,
27:44reinstated me at the company.
27:45The employees who had once mocked me
27:47now fell silent whenever I passed,
27:49heads bowed,
27:50eyes averted.
27:51Everyone assumed I,
27:53a girl dragged back from poverty,
27:55would crumble under the pressure of salvaging
27:57the disastrous West Side Development Project.
28:00But it only took me one week.
28:02I scheduled meetings with every single landowner
28:05involved in the West Side Zone
28:07and sat across from them at the negotiation table.
28:09Gone was the silent, cowering girl they thought they knew.
28:13I was sharp, ruthless,
28:15and surgically precise
28:16in dismantling their objections.
28:18When I walked back into Sterling Group headquarters,
28:20with signed contracts in hand,
28:23my father's hands trembled
28:24as he took them from me.
28:26Tears rolled down his weathered face.
28:28Evelyn,
28:30your father was blind.
28:32I was so, so blind.
28:34The company is yours now.
28:36All of it.
28:37Please,
28:38forgive me just this once.
28:40I didn't even look at him
28:42as I walked past toward my new office.
28:44That's when Julian appeared.
28:46The once arrogant heir of the Blackstone Empire
28:49now looked hollowed out,
28:51his eyes red-rimmed and exhausted.
28:53He stared at me,
28:54and his expression twisted with regret.
28:56Evelyn,
28:58I broke off the engagement with Lydia.
29:01I was an idiot.
29:02I was blind.
29:03She manipulated me,
29:05and I fell for it.
29:06His voice cracked.
29:07Give me one more chance.
29:08A marriage between Sterling Group
29:10and Blackstone Holdings.
29:11I'll have my family transfer 30%
29:13of Blackstone's shares as a wedding gift.
29:15Just say yes.
29:16I sank into the chair
29:17that had once belonged to my father.
29:19Casually twirling a pen between my fingers,
29:21I looked up
29:22and met his desperate gaze.
29:25Wait for the baby.
29:28Julian's face turned ashen.
29:30In the days that followed,
29:31my mother appeared at the office,
29:33carrying a container of homemade beef stew.
29:36Evelyn, please.
29:38I failed you.
29:40I'm your mother,
29:41and I failed you.
29:43I think about it every single day.
29:45Save the stew for your beloved Lydia.
29:48After all, with her condition,
29:50she's the one who needs the nutrition.
29:52My mother's sobs cut off abruptly.
29:54She crumpled to the floor,
29:56staring at my retreating figure.
29:58The day Lydia went into labor,
30:00the hospital waiting room was thick with dread.
30:03My parents, my brother, and Julian,
30:05all of them sat in tense silence,
30:07waiting for the final verdict.
30:08The delivery room doors swung open,
30:10and a nurse emerged carrying a sickly, underweight infant.
30:14Julian didn't even glance at the child.
30:16He merely gestured toward the DNA lab director
30:19who'd been waiting on standby.
30:22Rush it.
30:23I want results in three hours.
30:24Those three hours were Lydia's last desperate scramble for survival,
30:28and my family's eternal humiliation.
30:31For me, it was just another afternoon.
30:34I leaned against the window,
30:36calmly running the sapphire necklace,
30:38now returned to me through my fingers.
30:40When the lab director finally emerged with the report,
30:43the entire hallway went deathly quiet.
30:46Mr. Blackstone,
30:47paternity has been excluded.
30:49Additionally, the infant shows signs of congenital abnormalities,
30:52likely caused by in vitro syphilis exposure.
30:55Julian's face went blank.
30:57Then he turned and stormed into Lydia's recovery room,
31:00ripping the blanket off her bed.
31:02Congratulations.
31:03You played me for a fool long enough
31:05to become the laughingstock of the entire city.
31:08He raised his hand and delivered one final, vicious slap.
31:12Enjoy the rest of your life in prison.
31:15With a snap of his fingers,
31:16his security team swarmed Lydia,
31:19dragging her out of the bed and beating her as she screamed.
31:22My parents didn't even try to stop them.
31:24They stood there,
31:25staring at the damning paternity report,
31:27and then slowly turned to look at me.
31:30The regret in their eyes was bottomless.
31:32I'm a little happy.
31:33My mother stumbled toward me and collapsed at my feet,
31:36her knees hitting the tile with a painful crack.
31:39She clutched the hem of my coat,
31:41sobbing uncontrollably.
31:42I was so blind.
31:45How could I have treated you that way?
31:49Hit me.
31:51Please, hit me.
31:52I deserve it.
31:53I'm the one who made you suffer.
31:56She raised her own hand
31:57and began slapping herself across the face over and over.
32:00Mrs. Sterling,
32:01the floor is cold.
32:03You're getting older.
32:04Save the performance.
32:06My father stepped forward,
32:07his hands shaking
32:08as he pulled a document from his briefcase.
32:11Evelyn,
32:11I know I was wrong.
32:13This is the share transfer agreement for Sterling Creek.
32:16I've already signed it.
32:17Everything,
32:18all of it,
32:19goes to you.
32:21Just leave.
32:23Please come home.
32:26Let me spend the rest of my life making this up to you.
32:29I took the document
32:30and signed my name at the bottom.
32:32Fine.
32:33From today forward,
32:35Sterling Group becomes Hale Enterprises.
32:37My mother grabbed my bag,
32:39trying to carry it for me like a servant.
32:41Evelyn,
32:42please stay at the house tonight.
32:43I'll cook for you myself.
32:44I walked past her without a word.
32:46From that day on,
32:47my brother resigned from his VP position
32:50and became the hardest working project manager in the company.
32:53Two weeks later,
32:55he collapsed at his desk from exhaustion.
32:57When the medics revived him,
32:59Is Evelyn,
32:59is she still angry at me?
33:01Julian, meanwhile,
33:03threw Blackstone Holdings into chaos
33:05by forcibly diverting billions in company resources to support my projects,
33:10ignoring protests from his own board of directors.
33:13At the celebratory banquet after my latest acquisition,
33:16he approached me with a glass of wine.
33:19Evelyn,
33:20I was arrogant and stupid.
33:22If you can forgive me,
33:23I'll spend the rest of my life working for you.
33:26Whatever you need.
33:28Let's move forward with the merger.
33:30Please.
33:30I swirled the wine in my glass,
33:34looking at the man who once stood above me.
33:36Mr. Blackstone,
33:38I'm open to business partnerships,
33:41but marriage?
33:44You should probably get tested for syphilis first.
33:48One year later,
33:49under my leadership,
33:50Sterling Group,
33:51now Hale Enterprises,
33:53didn't just recover.
33:54It devoured several of Blackstone Holdings' key projects
33:57and became the most feared name in the industry.
34:01I was no longer the scared,
34:03silent girl they'd dragged back from the gutter.
34:05I was Evelyn Hale,
34:07and people crossed the street when they saw me coming.
34:10I used part of my fortune to buy the entire block
34:13across from the company headquarters
34:15and opened a flower shop.
34:17I tracked down the intern
34:18who'd been beaten and blacklisted for defending me,
34:21and I brought her back.
34:23Starting today,
34:24you're the store manager.
34:25Your salary is ten times what you made before.
34:27You saved my life.
34:30She'd stand among the flowers,
34:32eyes bright,
34:34and ask me questions like,
34:36Miss Hale,
34:37are you sure you don't want to move back into the estate?
34:40My brother,
34:41determined to atone,
34:43had requested a transfer
34:45to the harshest project site in the Northwest.
34:47He spent his days in sandstorms and brutal heat,
34:51the spoiled air finally stripped of his privilege.
34:54Every single day,
34:56he sent me a photo of the barren landscape
34:58with the same caption.
35:00I never replied.
35:02Not once.
35:05One quiet afternoon,
35:06I sat by the shop window,
35:08trimming flowers.
35:09The freedom felt better than any amount of power.
35:12A group of kids ran past the shop,
35:14laughing and shoving each other.
35:16One little girl tripped and scraped her knee,
35:19bursting into tears.
35:21I walked over and gently patted her head.
35:24Don't cry.
35:25Something wonderful is about to happen to you.
35:27She sniffled and looked up at me.
35:30A second later,
35:31she spotted her lost kitten
35:33hiding behind a planter box.
35:35She squealed with joy
35:36and threw her arms around the cat
35:38and turned and gave me the brightest smile.
35:41My curse had finally transformed.
35:45The bell above the door chimed softly.
35:48A tall, striking woman
35:50in a crisp police uniform stepped inside.
35:53She walked toward me,
35:55her face flushed pink,
35:57looking almost shy.
35:58Evelyn, do you remember me?
36:00I froze.
36:01She was the girl from the orphanage,
36:04the only one who ever shared her food with me,
36:06the one who got her leg broken
36:08by the director for protecting me.
36:11I'd like to buy a bouquet of roses
36:13for someone I've loved for 20 years.
36:15I selected the most beautiful roses in the shop
36:19and handed them to her.
36:22She took the bouquet
36:23and then held it out to me.
36:25These are for you.
36:26I want the rest of your life
36:28to be full of flowers
36:29and endless spring.
36:31She took my hand
36:33and led me to her car.
36:35We drove to the highest peak
36:36overlooking the city
36:38where the lights below
36:39sparkled like fallen stars.
36:41I closed my eyes.
36:43From today forward,
36:44may everyone I love
36:45live in peace and joy
36:46and may everyone I hate
36:48never get what they desire.
36:49to be your air.
36:51I love you.
36:52I love you.
36:53I love you.
36:56I love you.
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