- 10 hours ago
- #shorts
- #short_drama
After My Husband Cheated, I Left Him with Nothing - New Movie 2026
#Shorts
#Short_Drama
#Shorts
#Short_Drama
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Hi, this is Mrs. Hudson. I'm here to swipe my card for the $3,000 a table 10-year-old
00:05birthday party I reserved.
00:06I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Hudson. This card has less than $500 available credit.
00:11I poured everything I had into helping my husband build his tech startup from nothing,
00:16turning it into one of Silicon Valley's red-hot unicorns.
00:20After that, I stepped back from the spotlight without a second thought and became a full-time mother.
00:25On my daughter Ava's 10th birthday, I wanted to throw her a grand party
00:30and booked a luxury banquet package at the Hotel Bel Air in Beverly Hills at $3,000 per table.
00:36But when I swiped the card, the front desk staff apologized.
00:40Mrs. Hudson, I'm very sorry, but the available balance on this card is less than $500.
00:46Embarrassed, I went home and confronted my husband. He put on an apologetic face and said,
00:52The company is bidding on the Silicon Valley Corley Tech Park, a competitor militially stirring up trouble,
00:56so I advanced a huge amount of money for compartments guarantees and I'm a cash flow exemplary tut.
01:00When the funds come through, I promise to throw Ava the most decent birthday party Los Angeles has ever seen.
01:05I considerately expressed my understanding, then immediately turned around and started liquidating our assets.
01:11Because the new chair of the review panel leading this bidding project is none other than my father,
01:16and I had just spoken with him on the phone last night.
01:18He made it clear, there have been no recent requests for any private financial transactions.
01:24The entire process is open and compliant.
01:28I'm going to find out exactly who he's been spending the money on.
01:32This black card was our family's joint account.
01:35Just last month, it still had over $2 million in it.
01:39The transaction history had been deliberately deleted,
01:42so I went to the bank specifically and requested the full statement.
01:45The single largest charge was, incredibly, at the very same Hotel Bel Air I had just been to, $140,000.
01:54And the details read, private birthday party all-inclusive package.
01:58Daddy must be planning a surprise for us, right?
02:04Mommy, let's hurry over and give Daddy a surprise too.
02:08Looking at my daughter Ava's innocent eyes, I couldn't bring myself to think badly of Liam.
02:14When we rushed to the hotel banquet, I spotted him immediately Liam, sharply dressed in a suit,
02:20standing at the entrance, laughing and chatting with guests.
02:23A woman in a red evening gown was intimately holding his arm, looking just like a perfect golden couple.
02:30She was Sophia, Liam's chief assistant, and practically a company veteran.
02:34Liam, your son looks exactly like you, so outstanding.
02:39Who wouldn't envy you? Still so in love with a child this old.
02:43Listening to the guests' flattering words, I then noticed a little boy standing between them,
02:48with a striking resemblance to Liam around the eyes and brows.
02:52My daughter suddenly wrenched her hand free from mine and ran toward Liam.
02:57Daddy, the name up there is wrong!
02:59My name is Ava, not Noah!
03:02That was when I realized she had seen the welcome sign nearby,
03:06which boldly read,
03:08Happy 7th birthday, to our beloved son, Noah Hudson.
03:13Before I could even begin to process this,
03:15I heard a loud thud Sophia had reached out and shoved my daughter to the ground.
03:20Where did this child come from?
03:22No manners at all.
03:24I rushed forward and scooped up my daughter.
03:27The moment I saw the blood beating on her scraped knee,
03:30rage, completely overpowered reason.
03:33Liam Hudson!
03:34You used our family money to keep a woman and an illegitimate child on the side.
03:39And now you're letting her hurt Ava?
03:41My voice trembled with fury as I held my sobbing daughter tightly.
03:45Sophia muttered under her breath,
03:47What joint property?
03:48Every single penny of this company was earned with me fighting by his side.
03:52Some people have been playing housewife for so long,
03:55they actually think they're the company's owner.
03:58The surrounding guests buzzed with discussion,
04:00their eyes swiveling back and forth between us.
04:03Is this the mistress coming to stir up trouble?
04:06How dare she crash the real partner's party?
04:09Absolutely outrageous.
04:11Had nothing but a daughter and still tries to make a scene truly pathetic.
04:15Those probing, contemptuous, mocking stares fell on my daughter and me,
04:20piercing like countless needles.
04:22I said angrily,
04:24Are you kidding me?
04:26Sophia is the mistress!
04:27This boy is the dirty little secret no one was supposed to know about!
04:31A few snickers rippled through the crowd.
04:33A man with a beer belly swirled his wine glass and said,
04:36Sophia and Liam have been together for ages.
04:40Everyone knows she's the one who holds everything together for him.
04:44Another woman chimed in.
04:45Liam and Sophia have such a great relationship.
04:48This woman clearly just wants to scam him because he's loaded.
04:52I turned my gaze to Liam and said icily,
04:55Liam, tell me, who am I?
04:58Liam finally spoke.
05:00Wearing a helpless smile, he turned to the guests.
05:03My apologies for this little scene, everyone.
05:06This is Claire, our household assistant.
05:08She spends all her time reading romance novels and has a hard time telling fantasy from reality.
05:14He then turned to look at me, his eyes filled with warning.
05:17Claire, take your daughter Ava back to rest.
05:21Stop embarrassing yourselves here.
05:23I felt as if I had been struck by lightning.
05:25I couldn't believe that the man who had shared my bed for 12 years
05:29would actually slap such an absurd identity onto me right to my face.
05:34Seeing that Liam had taken her side, Sophia immediately found her confidence, her voice rising.
05:40Claire, I know it's not easy raising a daughter on your own,
05:43but you can't try to extort money like this.
05:48Tell you what, why don't you go back for now and I'll have the butler pay you an extra three
05:52months' salary.
05:53Bursts of mocking laughter erupted from the guests.
05:56Oh, so the assistant is trying to move up?
05:58That's a joke.
06:00People do anything for money these days.
06:04That poor little girl, stuck with a mother like that.
06:07A mother who acts like that, the child is bound to pick it up.
06:11She's probably going anywhere in life.
06:14Sophia smiled smugly.
06:16She crouched down and said to Noah,
06:18You see? Study hard, so you won't become a laughing out.
06:24Noah jutted out his chin, his eyes full of a meanness far beyond his years.
06:29How dare you shout at mom like that?
06:32He reached out and shoved me hard.
06:35Caught completely off guard, I staggered back two steps,
06:39nearly falling down together with my daughter.
06:41Noah said arrogantly,
06:43My dad said the tech company will be mine to control someday.
06:48You don't deserve to take my dad from me!
06:53You'll end up just like your mom,
06:56a servant assistant.
06:58The guests mocking laughter are even more patient.
07:02The young master has such ambition!
07:05Just then, several hotel waitstaff in uniform passed by carrying trays,
07:10and one of them was the front desk manager who had assisted me last time.
07:14When he saw me, he deliberately raised his voice,
07:18and sent to the colleague beside him.
07:20Well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Hudson,
07:22the one who reserved a 3,000-a-table birthday party,
07:24but couldn't even get $500 out of her card.
07:27Told you!
07:27Some people just love to put on airs,
07:30pretend to be a rich wife,
07:31and they have to slink off with their tail between their legs.
07:34Sophia's purpose and went out of scum.
07:36Broke is a joke!
07:38Can't even scrape up 500 bucks?
07:39No surprise, she's throwing a fit.
07:42The bear-bellied man Richard from earlier also swayed forward,
07:45his greasy gaze sizing up Ava and me,
07:48his tone frivolous.
07:50You have to admit that Nancy at Liam's place is actually quite good-looking,
07:54and the little girl is kind of cute, too.
07:56You definitely don't stand a chance with Liam,
07:58so why not come with me?
07:59I'll give you $3,000 a month,
08:01plus room and bear for you and your daughter.
08:03What do you say?
08:03You won't have to worry about $500 anymore.
08:06I'm willing to be the one to take over.
08:07Pretty decent of me, don't you think?
08:09Hearing this, the other guests laughed even harder.
08:12Richard, you're so generous!
08:14But seriously, isn't $3,000 a bit too much for someone like her?
08:19Sophia nestled up to Liam and joined the crowd in the jury.
08:23I demanded sharply,
08:24Liam, are you just going to stand there
08:26and watch them insult me and Ava like this?
08:29Liam looked at me expressionlessly,
08:31as if I truly were a complete stranger.
08:34After everyone had laughed their fill,
08:37he finally spoke again, his tone cold and impatient.
08:40Claire, stop embarrassing yourself here.
08:42This is my son's birthday party.
08:45Take your daughter and go back or I'll call security.
08:48Ava trembled even more violently in my arms.
08:51Her tiny hands clutched tightly at the hem of my clothes,
08:54and she buried her face against my chest,
08:57too afraid to look at those malicious faces.
09:00Mom, is it really like what they said?
09:03Hearing my daughter's terrified question,
09:05my heart ached so fiercely I could barely breathe.
09:09Twelve years of devotion and sacrifice,
09:11and what I got in return was being trampled and humiliated
09:15by my own husband in public like this.
09:18No, no, Ava.
09:20I covered Ava's ears.
09:22My heart filled with bitterness.
09:24How was I supposed to explain this to her?
09:26Back when Liam first started his business,
09:29we were crammed into a run-down garage of less than 100 square feet.
09:33The company couldn't afford to hire anyone,
09:35so I took on multiple roles.
09:38Admin,
09:39bookkeeper,
09:40order tracking.
09:41To help him bring in clients,
09:42I cast aside every shred of dignity
09:45and begged every single person I knew.
09:48I remember the day he signed his first million dollar contract.
09:51He excitedly spun me around in circles
09:54and then used that money to buy me a very expensive dress.
09:57I saw the sparkle in Liam's eyes,
09:59and in the end,
10:00I never told him that the big client
10:02was actually a long-time business partner of my uncle.
10:06Later,
10:06the company gradually got on track,
10:08and I became pregnant with Ava.
10:10Liam,
10:11out of concern for me,
10:12had me go home to rest
10:14and take care of the pregnancy in peace.
10:16From now on,
10:17I'll take care of you.
10:18You've suffered so much for me.
10:20Now it's turn to give you the life of a princess.
10:22But now,
10:23I looked down at the old dress I was wearing,
10:25the one I had worn for three years.
10:28Meanwhile,
10:29Liam was in a sharp suit,
10:30and Sophia was draped head to toe in designer brands.
10:34The two of them stood together,
10:36basking in everyone's flattery,
10:38looking perfectly matched.
10:39And I was called the assistant,
10:41and no one even doubted it.
10:43Ma'am,
10:44I know life hasn't been easy for you,
10:46but children at this age already understand things.
10:49If you don't care about your own dignity,
10:51at least don't embarrass the child.
10:53As Sophia spoke,
10:55she pulled a small stack of green bills
10:57out of her exquisite designer wallet.
10:59She held it out to me with utter arrogance.
11:02Dergar Zion,
11:03the D-Dawa Man's Hand.
11:04I don't have much cash on me,
11:06and I don't know what kind of trouble you're in,
11:07but take these $2,000.
11:11Buy a one-way ticket
11:12to the Midwest,
11:13then go see a psychiatrist
11:14and get your head examined.
11:15As she leaned in close,
11:17Sophia said in a voice so low,
11:18only the two of us could hear,
11:20Claire,
11:21what does it matter that you met Liam first?
11:23The one not loved
11:24is the one who doesn't belong.
11:28Right in front of everyone's watching eyes,
11:30she suddenly let out an,
11:32oh dear,
11:33and her fingers loosened.
11:34The bills smacked across my face
11:36and scattered all over the floor.
11:38Sophia smiled without a trace of apology,
11:41her gaze condescending.
11:43Sorry,
11:44my hand slipped.
11:46The pot-bellied vice president
11:47immediately chimed in.
11:49What a classy lady Sophia is!
11:52No wonder she's Liam's most trusted partner.
11:56Liam glanced at me indifferently
11:57and commanded,
11:58Pick it up and hurry along.
12:00I was so enraged
12:01that I actually left.
12:03$2,000 trying to get rid of me?
12:06Liam,
12:07do you think back then
12:09your crappy garage company,
12:10what made you think
12:11you could get those
12:12multi-million dollar defense contracts?
12:14Every penny you've spent on Sophia
12:16and this illegitimate child
12:18over the years
12:18is our marital property.
12:20If I want,
12:21I can take it all back.
12:23That's quite a story, Claire.
12:25With that imagination,
12:26you should try writing
12:27some rich family romance for fun.
12:29Times have changed.
12:31No need to be so hung up
12:32on being the original wife.
12:34But Liam was clearly hit
12:35where it hurt.
12:36His face instantly turned ashen
12:38and he was just about to shout,
12:40Claire, stop it!
12:42A crisp sound of a slap cut him off.
12:44Liam,
12:44if you dare slander me one more word,
12:46if you dare call me an assistant again,
12:48I'll take you to court immediately.
12:50I'll make Hudson Technology
12:51vanish from Silicon Valley for good.
12:55Liam was stunned by the slap.
12:57The moment he registered
12:58what had happened,
12:59fury ignited in his eyes.
13:01He grabbed me by the throat,
13:02his knuckles turning white from the force,
13:05his tone vicious.
13:06You think I wouldn't hit a woman?
13:08Don't push your luck.
13:10In a corner where no one could see,
13:12he suddenly clamped down on my neck.
13:14His grip grew tighter and tighter,
13:16and I felt the air
13:17being slowly squeezed out of me.
13:19My vision began to darken,
13:21and I could only claw helplessly
13:23at his wrist.
13:24Just when I thought
13:25I was truly going to die right there,
13:27Sophia stepped forward
13:28with feigned concern to intervene.
13:30Liam,
13:31it's not worth getting angry
13:32over someone like that.
13:34What if you end up hurting yourself?
13:36Only then did Liam release his grip.
13:38I collapsed to the floor,
13:40gasping for breath,
13:41tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.
13:44The ruthlessness in his eyes
13:45just moments ago
13:46made me understand in that instant,
13:48his gaze was filled with pure rage,
13:50and he struck without the slightest regard
13:53for the bond we once shared.
13:54Sophia tenderly stroked the red mark
13:56on Liam's face,
13:57and then,
13:58right in front of everyone,
14:00she stood on her tiptoes
14:01and kissed his cheek.
14:02All right,
14:03don't be upset.
14:05Today is Noah's birthday.
14:07Don't let people like that
14:09ruin our good mood.
14:11Liam's expression softened slightly,
14:12and he wrapped an arm
14:13around Sophia's waist.
14:15Just then,
14:16the banquet hall lights
14:17suddenly dimmed.
14:19The timed projector flickered on,
14:21and photos began to play
14:23across the screen.
14:24There,
14:24on the screen,
14:25in vivid detail,
14:27were the moments of Noah's life
14:28from birth to now.
14:29His birth,
14:30his first birthday,
14:31his first day of school.
14:33All were recorded,
14:34and in every single one,
14:36Liam and Sophia were there by his side.
14:39Yet in my daughter Ava's life,
14:41Liam as a father was always absent.
14:44My daughter and Noah share the same birthday.
14:46So after Noah turned three,
14:48meaning from the very year Noah was born,
14:50my daughter never saw her father
14:51on her birthday again.
14:53Noah made
14:53a face at my daughter
14:55and taunted.
14:56So you say he's your father?
14:58Then take out the photo and let us see.
15:01Mom,
15:02does Daddy not care about me at all?
15:05Am I just an unwanted child?
15:07I shook my head,
15:08but photos of them started playing on the screen,
15:11seeing several familiar backgrounds.
15:13I couldn't help but freeze.
15:15The backgrounds were the deck and the ocean,
15:17the two of them cheek to cheek,
15:19intimately.
15:20I remembered that cruise ship.
15:22It was the luxury cruise I had booked
15:23for my fifth wedding anniversary with Liam.
15:26So Liam had booked a ticket for Sophia too.
15:28And that family photo at the amusement park.
15:31Liam and Sophia tightly embracing the date
15:34stamped on the photo
15:35was the very same day Liam had been at the park
15:37with me and our daughter.
15:39Finally, I understood why.
15:41Every time we went out,
15:42Liam always had some urgent,
15:44unavoidable meeting.
15:45The happy marriage I had cherished in my heart
15:48was already full of cracks,
15:50rotten on the inside.
15:51While I was still lost in shock,
15:53Noah suddenly rushed over,
15:56slapped Ava hard across the face,
15:58and shouted,
15:59Because your mom isn't a mom attack where I'm dadded.
16:03Your mom just dared to hit my dad,
16:05so I'm going to bully you.
16:06My daughter's head was struck to the side,
16:09her cheek instantly flushing bright red.
16:11She was a head taller than Noah,
16:13and at an age where children are naturally competitive
16:16and eager to stand their ground.
16:18So her instinct was to hit back.
16:20But Sophia immediately grabbed hold of Ava's hands,
16:23squeezing her wrists forcefully,
16:25and scolded her harshly.
16:27Acting so insilent at such a young age,
16:30you truly lack manners and upbringing.
16:33Seeing my daughter restrained,
16:35Noah rushed forward at once
16:36and began kicking and hitting her.
16:38Children strike without any sense of restraint,
16:41and soon bruises and marks
16:42appeared all over my daughter's body.
16:44She was in so much pain
16:46that tears streamed down her face,
16:48but she stubbornly bit her lip
16:49and refused to let herself cry out loud.
16:52Stop!
16:54Desperate, I tried to pull Noah away,
16:56but Liam seized my arm in a death grip.
16:58They're just children playing.
16:59Why are you getting involved?
17:00Noah's very sensible.
17:01He knows his limits.
17:02Nothing will happen.
17:03I had reached my breaking point
17:05and screamed almost hoarsely,
17:07Liam Hudson, that is your own daughter!
17:10How can you just stand by
17:12and watch others bully her?
17:13How can you be so heartless?
17:16But Noah's my son.
17:18But Noah's my son.
17:20His voice was very soft,
17:22yet every word pierced my heart like a blade.
17:25But Noah is my son.
17:26Just then,
17:27Noah kicked Ava viciously in the stomach.
17:30My daughter immediately doubled over in pain,
17:32her little face turning deathly pale.
17:35AVA!
17:36I shrieked,
17:37my heart nearly stopping.
17:40Ava tried to shield her stomach with her hands,
17:42but Sophia was still clamping down on her tightly,
17:45leaving her utterly unable to protect herself.
17:47Seeing this,
17:49Noah grew even more smug
17:50and raised his foot again,
17:52aiming straight for Ava's already scraped and injured knee.
17:56I finally wrenched myself free from Liam,
17:59threw myself forward and shoved Noah aside,
18:02gathering my daughter protectively into my arms.
18:04Ava was trembling violently in my embrace.
18:07Her tiny hands clutched tightly at the hem of my clothes,
18:11and her voice was feeble.
18:12Mommy, it hurts so much.
18:15Noah, having been pushed away,
18:17knocked into a nearby table
18:19and started wailing loudly in pain.
18:21Sophia was beside herself with distress.
18:25My precious son!
18:27Our Noah is going to inherit
18:29the entire Hudson Technology Empire one day!
18:31Can you even afford it if you break him?
18:34Seeing Sophia and her son crying in each other's arms,
18:38Claire, how could you be so vicious?
18:40Liam couldn't hold back and raised his hand.
18:42Just as his slap was about to land on me,
18:45the sound of synchronized footsteps
18:47suddenly rang out from the entrance
18:48of the banquet hall.
18:49A middle-aged man in a dark, bespoke suit,
18:52exuding an aura of commanding authority,
18:55strode in.
18:56His eyes were razor sharp,
18:58and his entire presence radiated
19:00a quiet, intimidating power.
19:02Flanking him were a bodyguard
19:04and a senior assistant.
19:05The pot-bellied Richard,
19:07who had made those insolent remarks to me earlier,
19:10instantly switched to a fawning expression.
19:12He trotted over to greet the newcomer,
19:15bowing and scraping obsequiously.
19:17Mr. Anderson,
19:18your presence here is a true honor
19:20for the entire banquet.
19:22Liam, come over here.
19:23Let me introduce you.
19:25This is Silicon Valley's top angel investor,
19:28the lead investor in the tech company's first round,
19:30Mr. Robert Anderson!
19:31Liam stared at the newcomer in utter disbelief,
19:35his face instantly turning deathly pale.
19:38Father-in-law?
19:40Holding my injured daughter in my arms
19:43and gazing at that familiar face,
19:45my tears finally burst forth uncontrollably.
19:48I called out through my sobs,
19:50Dad!
19:53Mr. Robert ignored Richard,
19:55who had rushed up to him first
19:56and didn't even glance at Liam,
19:59whose face was as pale as paper.
20:01He walked straight through the crowd
20:03and stopped in front of me.
20:04When his eyes fell on Ava in my arms,
20:07her face pallid,
20:08her arms and calves covered in purplish bruises
20:11and then swept over the clear,
20:13glaring strangulation marks on my neck.
20:16The temperature in the entire banquet hall
20:18seemed to plummet to freezing in an instant.
20:21What's going on here?
20:23His voice was not loud,
20:24but it carried an unquestionable authority
20:26that struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.
20:29Richard, who had been so unbearably arrogant moments ago,
20:32was now drenched in sweat,
20:34the back of his shirt soaked through with cold perspiration.
20:37He stammered, trying to explain.
20:40Mr. Anderson,
20:41this is all a misunderstanding.
20:42This mother and daughter are Liam's household elders.
20:45They came to Noah's birthday party
20:46trying to extort money and cause bus blanks.
20:48And I'm so embarrassed that you have to see this.
20:49And next time you come,
20:50please your assistant notify me in advance
20:52and I'll suddenly pick you up at the airport.
20:53Are you saying that my daughter and grandbotter
20:57are extorting money and causing trouble?
21:01His gaze slowly swept over Liam and Sophia's arms,
21:05still tightly intertwined,
21:06and finally came to rest on Ava.
21:08His tone softened considerably.
21:11Ava, tell grandpa who hit you.
21:14Dad, let me explain.
21:16Things are not as you think.
21:17Ava, speak.
21:19Mr.
21:20Robert's tone was firm
21:21and brooked no argument,
21:23giving Liam no chance to defend himself whatsoever.
21:26Ava timidly peeked out from my arms.
21:29Her little finger pointed first at Noah,
21:31still sniffling in Sophia's arms.
21:33Then at Sophia,
21:35tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
21:37It was him.
21:39He hit my face,
21:40kicked my stomach,
21:42and she held my hand so I couldn't die.
21:44Listening to Ava's tearful accusation,
21:47fine beads of cold sweat broke out on Liam's temples.
21:50He quietly pulled Richard aside,
21:52ducking away.
21:54Richard, is this really the newly a director
21:56of the fine patroker department?
21:57Are you sure you've got the right person?
21:59Richard was now utterly terrified.
22:02He kept wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief,
22:05his voice trembling.
22:06Absolutely.
22:07He invested in Google, Tesla.
22:09He's a titan of Silicon Valley.
22:11How could I be mistaken?
22:15This is really your father-in-law?
22:17Liam, you never told me you had such a big shot as a father-in-law.
22:20Why didn't you tell me?
22:21Our father is top Silicon Valley investor.
22:26How was I supposed to know?
22:28I thought he was just some reclusive retired old man who only goes fishing and reads books
22:31every day.
22:32He never talks about who he really is.
22:35And he rarely asked about Claire's affairs, so I assumed...
22:38I thought.
22:39While the two were still whispering, Noah, sheltered in Sophia's arms, had absolutely no inkling
22:44of how tense the atmosphere had become.
22:46He had just bumped his head and was already feeling full of grievance.
22:50Now, seeing this strange old man siding with Ava and even letting Ava tattle, his anger
22:55flared instantly.
22:57Hey, you old man!
22:59How dare you meddle in my business!
23:01Believe me, I'll have my dad call the security guards to throw you out!
23:06My dad is a billionaire!
23:10As he spoke, he even reached out his little hand to shove his father's leg, but the assistant
23:15swiftly stopped him with sharp reflexes.
23:17Sophia was scared out of her wits.
23:20She rushed forward in a panic, wrapped her arms around Noah, and clamped her hand tightly
23:25over his mouth, forcing a smile that was worse than a grimace onto her face.
23:29Please don't take it to heart, sir.
23:31The child is young and doesn't know what he's saying.
23:34Yes, Dad.
23:35He's just a little boy with no filter.
23:37Please don't hold it against him.
23:38It seems Mr. Hudson has a rather unique approach to disciplinating his child on a regular basis.
23:44But Noah was still struggling, making muffled sounds through the hand over his mouth, his
23:50eyes still glaring fiercely at Mr. Robert.
23:52Clearly, he didn't regard this old man as anyone important at all.
23:57Sophia, frantic, secretly pinched his arm several times before he finally settled down
24:03a little, yet he still kept his neck stiff, wearing a defiant, unyielding expression.
24:11Seeing his son's reckless arrogance, and catching the increasingly cold look on Mr. Robert's face,
24:17a surge of fury ignited within Liam.
24:20It's all thanks to the way you've raised your son!
24:22Look at what you've spoiled him into!
24:25Sophia's head was knocked sideways by the blow, her hair falling loose in disarray,
24:30and clear finger marks surfaced on her face.
24:33She covered her face in disbelief, her eyes instantly reddening.
24:37Liam Hudson, you actually hit me?
24:39Ask yourself, don't you bear any responsibility for the way no one has turned out?
24:43Dad, it was this woman who seduced me.
24:45Noah only exists because of her careful scheme.
24:47You're a man too.
24:49What man doesn't make mistakes?
24:51But Claire has always been the one I truly love.
24:53From now on, I'll cut all ties completely with this mother and son.
24:57You promised me you'd divorce Claire!
24:59Now that your father-in-law is here, you want to kick us out?
25:03There's no way I'm letting this go!
25:05So what if her dad is a big shot?
25:07You're a wealthy boss too.
25:09Take this opportunity, they everything out on the table and divorced her!
25:12Crazy woman!
25:13How could I possibly divorce Claire for you?
25:16Don't even dream about it!
25:17You're so heartless.
25:19Liam, with you all these years, gave you a son and this is how you treat me?
25:24The two of them were completely heedless of the setting.
25:27Tangled in an all-out brawl,
25:28the scene utterly unsightly.
25:31The surrounding guests watched in stunned disbelief.
25:37Some quietly took out their phones to record videos,
25:40while others stepped backward,
25:42afraid of getting caught in the fray.
25:44Noah's earlier arrogance had vanished entirely.
25:47He stood rooted to the spot, wailing loudly.
25:50Just as the two of them were locked in their ugly, inextricable fight,
25:54the doors of the banquet hall were pushed open once again.
25:57Several police officers in Los Angeles Police Department uniforms walked in.
26:02The lead officer scanned the room and asked in a deep voice.
26:05We received a report that someone here is suspected of intentional assault,
26:09child abuse, and disturbing public order.
26:13Who is Liam Hudson?
26:14Who is Sophia Miller?
26:16Liam and Sophia instantly froze in place.
26:18Liam frantically straightened his twisted tie.
26:21Officer, this is all a misunderstanding.
26:24Dad, please put in a good word for me.
26:26No amount of pleading will help.
26:28Misunderstanding or not,
26:30you're coming to the station with us for investigation.
26:33Mr.
26:34Robert's assistant stepped forward and said calmly,
26:37Officer, I'm the one who called the police.
26:39I'll cooperate and go back to give a full statement.
26:42Fully cooperate with the police investigation.
26:44Submit all collected evidence truthfully and completely,
26:46leaving nothing out.
26:50Under the shocked stares of the entire banquet of guests,
26:54Liam and Sophia were handcuffed and taken away.
26:57Noah stood there where he was,
26:59his face smeared with tears and snot,
27:02but he no longer dared to cry or throw a tantrum.
27:05He just stood there timidly, like an abandoned child.
27:08Off to the side,
27:09Richard remembered his own earlier behavior,
27:11how he had jeered and mocked me so brazenly,
27:14and his face instantly turned ashen as death.
27:17He hunched over and bowed his head in utter terror,
27:20apologizing profusely with deep regret.
27:23Mrs. Hurtson,
27:24my previous words and actions were rude and offensive.
27:27I sincerely ask for your forgiveness.
27:30All those disrespectful remarks were my fault.
27:32It was my lack of insight and failure to see the truth.
27:35Watching him grovel with the tide like this,
27:38I felt nothing but disgust.
27:40I turned my face away,
27:42unwilling to look any longer.
27:43My father merely cast him a cold glance,
27:46then carefully took Ava from my arms.
27:48His eyes were filled with heartache.
27:50Ava, be good.
27:53Grandpa is taking you to the hospital for a checkup and treatment.
28:00After a few days of quiet recuperation in the hospital,
28:03Ava's complexion improved considerably,
28:06but her spirit was still somewhat listless.
28:08She would often startle awake from nightmares,
28:11so I stayed at the hospital with her the whole time.
28:14In this sordid drama,
28:16all the blame had been pinned on Sophia.
28:18Liam did not bear the primary responsibility
28:21and was quickly bailed out of jail before long.
28:23Soon after,
28:25Liam appeared at the door of the hospital room,
28:27carrying an exquisite fruit basket
28:29and a bouquet of Ava's favorite pale pink daisies.
28:32He was wearing a simple shirt and trousers,
28:35with a shadow of bluish stubble on his chin
28:37and prominent dark circles under his eyes,
28:40his whole appearance considerably haggard.
28:42He stood at the doorway,
28:44his voice carrying a cautious, testing tone.
28:47Honey,
28:48Ava,
28:48I've come to see you.
28:50Ava,
28:51who had been leaning against me reading a book,
28:53saw Liam,
28:54and her eyes flickered faintly.
28:56She called out softly.
28:59I could see clearly that in her heart,
29:01my daughter still longed for fatherly love.
29:07Even after being hurt,
29:09she hadn't completely let it go.
29:11As if granted redemption,
29:13Liam immediately walked into the room
29:15and placed the flowers in Ava's hands.
29:17Do you like it, sweetie?
29:19Daddy has always remembered.
29:21Your favorite flowers are light pink daisies.
29:23Ava took the flowers and nodded lightly,
29:26but her eyes were full of evasiveness,
29:28tinged with unmistakable timidity.
29:30I didn't know what you'd like,
29:32so I also bought your favorite mango pudding,
29:35the signature dessert from that trendy sweet shop
29:38you always go to.
29:39Claire, it's your favorite flavor, too.
29:42I sat quietly to the side,
29:43not uttering a single word.
29:45The damage from that day
29:47had nearly upended my daughter's entire worldview.
29:50I didn't want to provoke her further
29:51and could only remain silent for the time being.
29:54Over the following half month,
29:56Liam came to the hospital on time
29:58every single day to visit.
30:00Sometimes he brought carefully prepared meals,
30:03sometimes new toys,
30:04and sometimes he would just sit quietly by the bedside,
30:08chatting with Ava to cheer her up.
30:09He never once mentioned Sophia or Noah,
30:12as if that unbearable, ugly farce had never happened.
30:16Seeing that I showed no obvious resistance,
30:19Liam grew bolder.
30:20He probed gently.
30:21Claire, I know I've made unforgivable mistakes.
30:24Please, for Ava's sake,
30:26give me another chance to turn over a new sheaf, will you?
30:31With Ava right beside us,
30:33I gave no response,
30:34simply lowering my head
30:36and quietly peeling an apple in silence.
30:39My silence gave Liam a glimmer of hope.
30:42Starting the next day,
30:43rare and expensive flowers,
30:45haute couture clothing,
30:47and designer jewelry poured into the hospital room
30:49in an endless stream,
30:50piling up in every corner.
30:52I accepted every single item
30:54without the slightest hesitation.
30:55By the time Ava was discharged from the hospital,
30:59Liam showed up holding two exclusive invitations
31:01to a top-tier fashion show,
31:03his eyes earnest and tinged with excitement.
31:07Claire, do you remember
31:08when I landed my first business order?
31:11I bought you your first affordable luxury dress.
31:15Back then I told you,
31:16once I made it big,
31:18I'd book the entire fashion show
31:19and give you every hauteur gown.
31:22Now, this show is specially prepared for you.
31:25It wasn't that he was incapable
31:26of being thoughtful and considerate,
31:28nor that he had forgotten his past promises.
31:31It was simply that, before,
31:33he had never been willing to put in the effort for me.
31:36I finally spoke,
31:37my tone flat and unruffled.
31:40Liam, do you really think doing all this
31:42can erase all the hurt and make up for everything?
31:45He immediately stepped forward
31:46and clutched my hand,
31:47urgent and earnest.
31:49Claire, I know this is far from enough,
31:51but I'm willing to spend the rest of my life
31:53making it up to you and Ava.
31:55I'll completely cut off all ties with Sophia
31:57and arrange for her and her son to go abroad.
32:00They will never come had to disturb our lives as anyone.
32:06Just as he was envisioning the future
32:08with a heart full of hope,
32:09I directly pulled out a divorce agreement
32:11I had long since drafted
32:13and placed it in front of him.
32:15The moment Liam saw the agreement,
32:16the invitations in his hand fell to the ground.
32:19He stared at me blankly.
32:21Nobody can go through life without making mistakes.
32:24I was just confused for a moment.
32:26Claire, do you have to be so heartless?
32:28Let's part on good terms
32:30and not make things awkward for each other in the end.
32:33Liam quickly scanned the contents of the agreement
32:35and his face instantly turned ashen and contorted.
32:39Claire, you're so heartless!
32:40Why should I have to give up
32:40the vast majority of my property and assets?
32:42Then see you in court.
32:44Liam took a deep breath,
32:45suppressing the fury rising in his heart.
32:47I can give you all the family assets,
32:49but not the company.
32:50This is the enterprise I built with my own hand,
32:52my life's work,
32:53I can't give it to you.
32:54As for the shares you hold,
32:55I'm willing to buy them all back
32:56at full market price.
32:57I looked at him.
32:59My words deeply meaningful.
33:01Okay.
33:02Landry, you recover all the dzechents
33:04of the Wendidgin Sophia
33:05and her Urzen Express.
33:06I will never interfere with your company.
33:11Liam agreed on the spot
33:12and his execution was swift.
33:14The very next day,
33:16he retained a top-tier law firm
33:18and formally filed a lawsuit against Sophia,
33:21demanding the return of all property
33:23gifted to her during the marriage.
33:25In the courtroom,
33:26Sophia's face was streaked with tears.
33:29She sobbed emotionally,
33:31making every possible excuse.
33:33All the money was voluntarily paid by Liam
33:35as living expenses and child support,
33:37which constitute voluntary gifts
33:39and do not need to be returned.
33:40Over the years,
33:42the total value of the property
33:43Liam had lavished on
33:44and gifted to Sophia and Noah
33:46amounted to $3 million.
33:49In the end,
33:50the court ruled that Sophia must return $140,000.
33:55Although not all the money was recovered,
33:57this sum was enough to completely bankrupt her
34:00and leave her with nothing.
34:02The moment the verdict was handed down,
34:04Sophia completely lost control in the courtroom,
34:07screaming hysterically.
34:11Liam!
34:13You are cold and heartless
34:15with no trace of affection!
34:19I worked hard by your side for years,
34:21gave you a son,
34:23and this is how cruelly you treat me?
34:25These things were never yours to begin with.
34:27Walking out of the courthouse,
34:29Liam quickly caught up to me,
34:30a trace of hope and wishful thinking in his eyes.
34:34Claire,
34:35I've made up my mind.
34:36I can't lose you and Ava.
34:38I'll spend the rest of my life proving my sincerity.
34:41Just give me one more chance.
34:43All right.
34:44We'll talk after you've got the company running smoothly.
34:48Not long after,
34:49Liam still showed up at my door.
34:51This time,
34:52his eyes were bloodshot,
34:53his hair a disheveled mess.
34:55The spirited air of a Silicon Valley young entrepreneur
34:58had been completely stripped away,
35:00leaving him looking utterly wretched and defeated.
35:03Claire!
35:03Was this your scheme all along?
35:05I've already returned all of Sophia's money
35:08and given you all the marital assets as you demanded!
35:11Why won't you just let me go?!
35:13The company has recently lost three key clients in a row.
35:16All our partners have annually terminated cooperation
35:18without even giving a reason.
35:19No thanks to the Wall Street banks we worked
35:20have thrown like Titan all set in lines
35:22and are completely squeezing our Subint Len.
35:24You've pushed me a boopy dead in Ted's end.
35:26You determined to drive a corner with no way out.
35:31Take a good look.
35:32Every major client and every core investment
35:35that has kept you standing in Silicon Valley all these years,
35:37who do you think has been paving the way behind the scenes?
35:40If I didn't win them on my own merit,
35:42what, you handed them to me as charity?
35:44Claire, don't go too far.
35:46Sure, you have a father in a high position,
35:48but Hudson Technology?
35:50I built it myself working countless nights!
35:53Do you remember that first Lifeline order
35:54in the early days of the company?
35:57You always thought it was because
35:58your business proposal brilliant enough, didn't you?
36:01That was my uncle's longtime business friend.
36:04Back then, to secure that opportunity,
36:07I went to their door every day for a month,
36:09curting favor with their family
36:11and swallowing all my pride.
36:13Just to buy you a Lifeline for your startup.
36:16And what about Mr. White,
36:17the company's biggest venture partner?
36:19In Silicon Valley circles,
36:21he's always been notoriously tough
36:22and rarely willing to collaborate.
36:24I went to his door three times
36:26and got rejected every time.
36:27I had to ask my father's former colleague
36:30from the Defense Department
36:31to make the introduction,
36:32using that kind of top-line connection
36:34to get you that $10 million venture capital.
36:36Without me,
36:37who would have given your tiny startup,
36:38which had nothing at the time,
36:40the time of day?
36:41All these years,
36:42Liam had been completely immersed
36:44in his own myth of building a business from scratch,
36:47priding himself on his achievements.
36:49A faint bitterness rose in my heart.
36:52Do you know why my father
36:53has never meddled in our family affairs
36:56or interfere in your career
36:57all these years we got Heman?
36:59Throughout his life,
37:01he has always adhered to his principles
37:03and acted with integrity.
37:06He can't bear the most,
37:08is watching his own daughter
37:10set aside all her pride and dignity,
37:13running around begging for favors
37:14and clinging to connections
37:16just to help her husband get ahead.
37:19Every night he had stayed up
37:20battling through the grind.
37:22I had been there the whole time,
37:24silently supporting him.
37:25Back then,
37:26I always felt that as long as I could help him
37:28steady his career
37:29and hold together our little family,
37:31all the sacrifice was worth it.
37:34Liam opened his mouth as if to argue,
37:36but his throat tightened
37:37and he had no words.
37:38Did I orchestrate this scheme
37:40to trap you?
37:41Liam,
37:42without me,
37:43you're nothing.
37:47He collapsed weakly onto the floor,
37:49every shred of his arrogance
37:51and confidence dissolving in an instant.
37:53A moment later,
37:54Liam,
37:55utterly shattered,
37:56got to his feet.
37:57He stumbled toward the door,
37:59his back hunched and bent,
38:01as if he had aged 10 years overnight.
38:03Just as he raised his hand
38:05to push the door open,
38:06a figure burst out suddenly
38:08from around the corner of the villa block
38:10and blocked his path with deadly determination.
38:12It was Sophia.
38:14So you two really got back together?
38:16Sophia's hair was disheveled,
38:18her eyes shot through with blood-red veins.
38:21Haggard and wretched,
38:22she had long since lost the polished,
38:24capable look she once wore.
38:26Seeing Liam walk out of my villa,
38:28she completely lost control of her emotions,
38:31screaming hysterically,
38:32Liam!
38:33Then what am I to you?
38:34What does our son Noah count for?
38:37Now I'm drowning in debt
38:38with nothing left.
38:41You turn around
38:42to cozy up to this woman?
38:45Haven't you caused enough trouble?
38:47What happens between me and her
38:48is none of your business.
38:51Where are you to tried?
38:53You're the one who insisted on clinging to this.
38:55Ending up like this?
38:56You deserve it.
38:58Deserve it?
39:00When I risked everything to give you a son,
39:02you didn't call me deserving back then.
39:04Now you want to go back and beg for her forgiveness
39:07and you're tossing us away like garbage?
39:09Liam, let me tell you,
39:11don't you dare think you'll get away with it!
39:16Her shouting grew louder and louder,
39:18drawing passers-by in the villa community
39:21to stop and watch,
39:22whispering among themselves.
39:24Liam's face cycled from ashen to pale,
39:27wanting nothing more than to escape
39:29this farce.
39:29He gave Sophia a hard,
39:31impatient shove.
39:32Don't make unreasonable trouble here
39:34and disturb public order!
39:36That shove thoroughly ignited
39:38the despair and hatred
39:39that had been festering inside Sophia.
39:41She stared deathly at Liam's
39:43cold, merciless face
39:45and a crazed, ferocious ruthlessness
39:47suddenly surged in her eyes.
39:49Having completely lost all reason,
39:51she abruptly pulled a portable sharp knife
39:54from her handbag.
39:54If I can't have a good life,
39:57none of you will either!
40:01Sophia, don't do anything rash!
40:03But it was already too late.
40:05Sophia raised the knife high
40:07and stabbed it viciously
40:08into Liam's chest.
40:10Liam let out an agonized cry of pain.
40:12He collapsed to the ground,
40:14clutching the gushing wound tightly,
40:16the bright red blood instantly soaking
40:18through his light-colored shirt.
40:19In the very moment she struck,
40:21Sophia was also utterly stunned.
40:24She stood frozen in place,
40:26the knife clattering from her hand
40:27onto the ground.
40:28I calmly and immediately dialed
40:30emergency services and the police.
40:33Through the courtyard fence,
40:34I watched Liam's breathing
40:36grow weaker and weaker.
40:38He struggled to lift his eyes.
40:40All that was left in them
40:41was bone-deep remorse.
40:42His breath fading to a whisper,
40:44he murmured,
40:56Those were the last words
40:58he ever spoke to me.
41:00Police cars and ambulances
41:02quickly arrived at the scene,
41:03but Liam had lost too much blood
41:05and succumbed to his injuries
41:06en route to the hospital.
41:08Sophia was arrested on the spot
41:10by police for intentional assault
41:11resulting in death.
41:13Years of tangled love and hatred
41:15ended at last in tragedy,
41:16one dead,
41:17the other behind bars.
41:19The bonds of love and entanglement
41:21that had bound us for 12 years
41:22were thus completely and utterly severed.
41:25I turned and went back inside the house,
41:27tightly embracing my daughter,
41:29who had rushed out
41:30upon hearing the commotion.
41:31Ava had just been startled
41:33awake from her sleep.
41:34Rubbing her drowsy eyes,
41:36she said softly,
41:37Mom, I think I heard Dad's voice.
41:40I was silent for a moment,
41:41then spoke gently.
41:42Dad has gone to a place
41:43far, far away,
41:44and he'll never come back.
41:47Ava, will you miss Daddy?
41:49My daughter hesitated
41:50for a few seconds,
41:51then reached out
41:53and wrapped her arms
41:54tightly around my waist.
41:55Her voice was soft and sweet,
41:57yet utterly resolute.
41:59I don't.
42:00Actually, Ava understands everything.
42:02Daddy is a bad daddy.
42:04He loves his little brother more.
42:06I don't want Daddy.
42:08I only want Mommy and Grandpa.
42:10I know.
42:11We only want each other and Grandpa.
Comments