The Girl Who Refused To Be A Victim Episode ENGSUB Strong Female Lead

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Transcript

00:00:00Everyone at the University of San Francisco's law school knew me, striking, bold, and passionate.

00:00:08I was also a scholarship winner year after year.

00:00:15Then a link about me went viral from the dark web.

00:00:20Overnight, it spread across campus.

00:00:24Everyone who clicked and signed up could earn points to do certain things with me.

00:00:32A thousand points would secure a movie date with me.

00:00:35Three thousand points would unlock a video of me in a suggestive bunny outfit, moaning and cooing.

00:00:43Ten thousand points would earn a passionate night with me.

00:00:49This trended on the campus network for three straight days, and my reputation was left in tatters.

00:00:56Girls stormed into my classes, calling me shameless and demanding that the school expel me, while guys took every chance

00:01:03to grope me.

00:01:06Blinking back tears, I clicked the trending link.

00:01:09Every video in the reward list was real.

00:01:15The only person who could have gotten those videos was my boyfriend, Ezekiel Willard, who was also my classmate.

00:01:24My heart aching, I ran to Ezekiel's place to confront him.

00:01:32Outside the door, I heard one of his friends say,

00:01:35Hey Zek, you're a legend.

00:01:37Now all my friends are asking for the link, talking about the fastest way to rack up points.

00:01:40Not only do you get revenge for Aaliyah, but you also get all that free labor.

00:01:43Another guy said,

00:01:45Come on, Zek is a trust fund kid. He doesn't make bad deals.

00:01:48Serves her right for stealing Aaliyah's scholarship.

00:01:50True.

00:01:51She deserves to be destroyed.

00:01:53But damn, her voice and her body, top treat.

00:01:58Every time I watch her video on my screen, I'm about to lose it.

00:02:02But Zek, her mom is a murderer.

00:02:05Aren't you worried she'll figure out it's you and cause trouble?

00:02:08Ezekiel swirled his wine glass, his gaze cold and detached.

00:02:12She's boring.

00:02:14Once this is over, you can have your fun with her.

00:02:16As for trouble,

00:02:17She has severe depression and always gets on her knees begging me not to leave after every fight.

00:02:22What kind of trouble can she possibly cause?

00:02:25Find some place to go die?

00:02:26Who'd feel sorry for trash like her?

00:02:29With a murderer mother and a stepdad who almost assaulted her?

00:02:37Just keep your mouth shut.

00:02:41No one leaks anything until I'm finished.

00:02:44Got it?

00:02:48My whole body went cold.

00:02:50I slumped to the floor, my clothes was soaked with cold sweat.

00:02:55Years ago, after my mother remarried, my stepfather started harassing me.

00:03:03On my birthday, he spiked my drink.

00:03:14When I realized what was happening, the heat was already spreading through my limbs.

00:03:25I bit his ear hard enough to break free and fled the house.

00:03:33Half conscious, I collapsed into Ezekiel's arms.

00:03:37I was tearing at my own clothes, desperate for relief.

00:03:41But he held me tight, his voice soft.

00:03:44A girl's reputation is everything.

00:03:47Hang on.

00:03:48I'm taking you to the hospital.

00:03:52The whole way there, I was in such torment that I bit his arm until it bled.

00:04:01He never made a sound and stayed by my hospital bed all night.

00:04:08Finally, as dawn broke and my mind cleared, I saw his tired, bloodshot eyes.

00:04:14I knew right then I was gone for him.

00:04:18We started dating after that.

00:04:25He treated me like I was the most precious thing in the world,

00:04:28tending to my every need and slowly helping me heal from my trauma.

00:04:34I thought I'd finally found happiness.

00:04:38Instead, I'd walked straight into something even more twisted.

00:04:44Every moment we'd shared,

00:04:47he'd been using it to get back at me for another woman.

00:04:53A crack of thunder split the sky.

00:04:56The power went out, plunging everything.

00:05:03I curled on the dark floor.

00:05:05I didn't know how I got home.

00:05:10When my senses returned,

00:05:13I realized my palms were bleeding from where my nails had dug in.

00:05:19Blankly, I opened my phone.

00:05:24The screen showed several missed calls.

00:05:28With trembling fingers, I called back.

00:05:31Mr. Smithson, I've changed my mind.

00:05:34I'll join the legal department at Rodway Group in New York after graduation.

00:05:42I didn't go back to school that day.

00:05:45And instead, I locked myself in the bathroom and scrubbed my skin raw,

00:05:49ten times over,

00:05:51trying to wash away every trace of him.

00:05:54But he wouldn't just let me disappear.

00:05:59Later that evening,

00:06:01Ezekiel came back to our apartment.

00:06:05He didn't even ask why I had skipped class.

00:06:08He was only desperate to cover his own tracks.

00:06:11About the dark web listing,

00:06:13he brushed it off with a flimsy explanation.

00:06:15Lena, listen.

00:06:17I sent my laptop in for repair.

00:06:19Some intern there must have stolen the hard drive and sold it.

00:06:22It's all my fault.

00:06:23I promise I'll do everything to find whoever leaked that link and make this right.

00:06:26He sounded so sincere.

00:06:28But the hidden videos I had already copied onto my USB drive

00:06:32made a complete mockery of his words.

00:06:34I remained completely silent the whole time,

00:06:37just watching him put on his little show.

00:06:43My suffocating silence was broken by a sudden ding from my laptop.

00:06:48It was an email from the Rodway group,

00:06:50confirming my start date in New York in exactly one week.

00:06:54It was the escape route I desperately needed.

00:07:01What's that?

00:07:03Ezekiel was annoyed by my silence and indifference.

00:07:07Just scram.

00:07:12I wouldn't tell him my decision,

00:07:14and there was no need to.

00:07:16He pushed me onto the couch,

00:07:19murmuring against my ear as he kissed it.

00:07:22Lena,

00:07:23it's been days.

00:07:25I want you.

00:07:32His voice was as tender as ever,

00:07:34but his hands were rougher than I'd ever felt.

00:07:38I pushed him off with force.

00:07:43Not tonight.

00:07:44I can't.

00:07:45Ezekiel froze.

00:07:46It was the first time I had ever refused him so bluntly.

00:07:50His brow frowdled.

00:07:52Still upset about the trending thing?

00:07:55Don't worry.

00:07:56I'll always love you.

00:07:57A shiver ran through me,

00:07:59my stomach turning with nausea.

00:08:02But I couldn't let on that I knew.

00:08:04Who knew what this lunaturg would do then?

00:08:08I stood and straightened my clothes.

00:08:11I really don't feel well.

00:08:12I'm going to bed.

00:08:15Ezekiel studied me for a long moment,

00:08:17but found nothing in Smith's.

00:08:20About tomorrow's law school debate,

00:08:22you think you could take it easy on them?

00:08:24The negative team has a friend of mine.

00:08:28I already told her you'd go easy on them.

00:08:30You wouldn't let me look bad, right?

00:08:33I knew instantly who that friend was.

00:08:37My hands clenched into fists behind my back.

00:08:42Fine.

00:08:44I'll send you my prepared arguments.

00:08:46Your friend can use them to figure out how to counter.

00:08:49I just knew you loved me the most.

00:08:52Getting what he wanted,

00:08:53Ezekiel planted a loud kiss on my cheek.

00:08:56I'll forwards it now.

00:08:58Can't wait to watch you kill it tomorrow.

00:09:01Without another word,

00:09:02he grabbed his car keys and left the apartment.

00:09:06I let out a bitter laugh,

00:09:08my eyes falling on the box of gifts I'd left by the door.

00:09:13If he had paid just a little more attention,

00:09:15he would have noticed and sensed what I was planning.

00:09:26Ezekiel never truly cared about those things,

00:09:28just as he had never truly cared about me.

00:09:51For the affirmative team.

00:09:55Soon, the negative team entered.

00:09:58A bright, smiling female student was at the center,

00:10:01flanked by Ezekiel.

00:10:04She said something,

00:10:05playfully punching his chest,

00:10:07and he caught her fist.

00:10:11That was Felicia Veer.

00:10:16I forced my eyes down to my debate notes.

00:10:21The debate began.

00:10:24I'd just finished presenting my point.

00:10:26When Felicia rose from her seat,

00:10:29a smug smile curling her lips.

00:10:31Does the affirmative team have no respect for this debate?

00:10:35Why else would you decide to let a student with no morals compete?

00:10:41This wasn't the first time Felicia had come after me.

00:10:46A spoiled, trust fund kid from San Francisco,

00:10:49Felicia skipped class and barely studied.

00:10:53Once, her father promised her a sports car if she won a scholarship.

00:10:58So, she paid off a professor for the exam answers.

00:11:04The top place still went to me.

00:11:08As a student council member,

00:11:10when I gave her standard de menis for misconduct,

00:11:13Felicia saw it as a personal attack.

00:11:16That's when the bad blood started.

00:11:20This is a formal debate.

00:11:23Besides, there's no proof for those online rumors.

00:11:32I couldn't let my anger cost my team the win,

00:11:35but wouldn't let it go.

00:11:37With a cold snort, she stood.

00:11:39I refuse to talk to a cheap slut.

00:11:42It's disgusting.

00:11:44The audience erupted.

00:11:48The head judge stood up,

00:11:50slamming his hand on the table.

00:11:53Order!

00:11:55Order in the hall!

00:11:57Miss Vale,

00:11:59personal attacks and foul language

00:12:01are strict violations of debate rules.

00:12:04Sit down immediately,

00:12:06or your team will be disqualified.

00:12:12Felicia pouted,

00:12:13her eyes red,

00:12:15shooting me a hateful glare

00:12:16before finally sitting back down.

00:12:19Just then,

00:12:21Ezekiel stood from the audience

00:12:22and spoke to the school dean.

00:12:24Mr. Yatin,

00:12:25I think Felicia has a point.

00:12:27There are videos of Paulina circulating,

00:12:30and no one has confirmed

00:12:31the words cut me deeper.

00:12:38I tried to defend myself.

00:12:41Those videos were...

00:12:42Ezekiel cut me off

00:12:44before I could finish.

00:12:45He held up his phone to the dean.

00:12:48See for yourself.

00:12:49Felicia isn't lying.

00:12:51I'm concerned for the school's reputation.

00:12:53Then he looked at the other judges.

00:12:55The Willard family

00:12:57was one of USF's major donors.

00:12:58A lot of the faculty

00:13:00had reasons to stay

00:13:01in Ezekiel's good graces.

00:13:03They were quick to chime in.

00:13:06One said,

00:13:09Mr. Yatin,

00:13:11our law school has been strict.

00:13:14This sort of scandal invites criticism.

00:13:17Another chimed in.

00:13:18We've all heard rumors

00:13:20about this student's conduct.

00:13:23Some even say she

00:13:26engages in compensated dating.

00:13:29I got caught in the teeth of the storm,

00:13:32feeling hurt.

00:13:34The dean said to me,

00:13:37In that case, Paulina,

00:13:39please step down now.

00:13:42You're graduating soon anyway.

00:13:45Finish this week's specialized courses

00:13:47and leave before the school ends.

00:13:49Under the hostile stares of hundreds,

00:13:51I stumbled out of the auditorium.

00:13:53Someone held up their phone,

00:13:55showing one of the screenshots

00:13:57from the viral post,

00:13:58waving it at me.

00:14:00Better run,

00:14:01or we'll project it

00:14:02on the big screen.

00:14:06I broke into a frantic run.

00:14:09Every last shred

00:14:10of my dignity violated.

00:14:11My foot caught

00:14:12on a loose piece of pavement.

00:14:14I crashed down hard,

00:14:16skinning my palm.

00:14:18Blood dripped onto the ground,

00:14:20but I felt no pain.

00:14:24Tears streamed down my face

00:14:25as I silently talked to myself.

00:14:27Just hold on a little longer,

00:14:29Paulina.

00:14:29Hang in there.

00:14:31You're leaving soon anyway.

00:14:32It can't get any worse.

00:14:33You're about to start over.

00:14:37I had no idea

00:14:38this was only

00:14:39the beginning of the storm.

00:14:42I returned to the dormitory

00:14:44in the afternoon,

00:14:46humiliated and dejected.

00:14:48In the hallway,

00:14:49Felicia was insulting me

00:14:50before a crowd.

00:14:52Look at her!

00:14:53A slut and a disgrace

00:14:54to our university.

00:14:55She even tried to seduce

00:14:57that professor

00:14:57for exam answers.

00:14:59Everyone knows

00:15:00what she does at night.

00:15:01Trash like her

00:15:02doesn't belong here.

00:15:04She spoke with utmost spite

00:15:06and made things up.

00:15:10Watching from a distance,

00:15:12I felt like I had been thrown

00:15:13into the snow naked.

00:15:15Fed up,

00:15:16I darted over,

00:15:17shoved Felicia,

00:15:18and roared hysterically.

00:15:19Liar!

00:15:20I didn't do it!

00:15:23Seeing me,

00:15:25she dashed to me

00:15:26with a sneer,

00:15:27grabbed my hair,

00:15:28and conned my head

00:15:29against the wall.

00:15:31A thud came,

00:15:33and blood was everywhere.

00:15:37I felt woozy instantly.

00:15:39It hurt like hell.

00:15:40You didn't do it?

00:15:42Who cares?

00:15:43Felicia geed

00:15:44and strutted away,

00:15:45laughing.

00:15:47Right.

00:15:48It was the rich kid's words

00:15:50against mine.

00:15:51Although it was slander,

00:15:53I didn't stand a chance

00:15:55of winning this battle.

00:16:01In the evening,

00:16:02the university released a notice.

00:16:04I was punished

00:16:05for attacking a classmate

00:16:07and broken campus rules.

00:16:09The students present

00:16:11all witnessed Paulina

00:16:12hitting Felicia.

00:16:13What Felicia did

00:16:14was self-defense.

00:16:15It wasn't a fight.

00:16:17So,

00:16:18Paulina must apologize openly,

00:16:19or she'll be expelled.

00:16:21Downstairs at the dormitory,

00:16:22over 10 department directors

00:16:24and university leaders

00:16:26surrounded me

00:16:27and looked at me

00:16:27disdainfully.

00:16:28Holding Felicia's hand,

00:16:30Ezequiel announced loudly,

00:16:32Professors!

00:16:33I took Felicia

00:16:34to the infirmary.

00:16:35Her Achilles tendon

00:16:36was almost broken.

00:16:38Paulina's behavior

00:16:38was on the border

00:16:39of a severe assault.

00:16:42I looked at him.

00:16:43I couldn't believe my ears.

00:16:45The hurt was unbearable.

00:16:48Bumped into the wall,

00:16:49my forehead was lacerated.

00:16:50The injury was plain.

00:16:52Anyone with eyes

00:16:53could see it.

00:16:54It didn't take a doctor

00:16:55to tell them that.

00:16:58On the other hand,

00:17:00Felicia was standing there intact.

00:17:02Yet I was severely assaulted?

00:17:05It was absurd.

00:17:07The director of their department

00:17:09listened to Ezequiel

00:17:11with a grim face

00:17:12and said,

00:17:13In this case,

00:17:15Paulina deserves

00:17:16harder punishment.

00:17:17Wait!

00:17:18I interrupted him.

00:17:20My phone camera

00:17:20was on when it happened.

00:17:22I recorded everything.

00:17:24You'll know the truth

00:17:25after watching the video.

00:17:27The gloat on Felicia's face

00:17:28froze.

00:17:29She stomped her feet

00:17:30anxiously and pulled hard

00:17:32at Ezequiel's clothes.

00:17:35He patted her head gently

00:17:37and comforted her

00:17:38in a soft voice.

00:17:40I'm here.

00:17:42Don't worry.

00:17:46Slowly,

00:17:47he walked to the director

00:17:48and smiled.

00:17:51Sir,

00:17:52I know how adept she is

00:17:54at video splessing

00:17:55and editing.

00:17:56Her so-called evidence

00:17:57is dubious.

00:17:58I, on the other hand,

00:17:59can prove the attack

00:18:00was premeditated.

00:18:01She's always jealous

00:18:03of Felicia.

00:18:04We both know the law.

00:18:06I believe you value

00:18:07the validity of evidence

00:18:08more than I do.

00:18:10What evidence do you have?

00:18:12The director asked.

00:18:14Looking at me,

00:18:15Ezequiel said slowly,

00:18:18Paulina works outside

00:18:20the university

00:18:20as an escort.

00:18:22Felicia caught her

00:18:23in the act.

00:18:24She's been holding

00:18:25a grudge since.

00:18:27Everyone present

00:18:28was dumbfounded.

00:18:29The students passing by

00:18:30walked over

00:18:31and talked about it,

00:18:32causing an uproar.

00:18:35Everyone look.

00:18:36This is the video.

00:18:39The screen displayed

00:18:40the muddle-headed me

00:18:41snuggling in a man's arms

00:18:43in a dim private room

00:18:44of a bar.

00:18:46It looked like

00:18:47I was drunk.

00:18:50The man took out

00:18:51a wad of banknotes

00:18:52from his wallet,

00:18:53counted them,

00:18:54and put them

00:18:55in my school bag.

00:18:57The next second,

00:18:59Felicia flung the door open,

00:19:01pointed at them,

00:19:01and said,

00:19:02Paulina!

00:19:03You're such a disgrace

00:19:05to our university!

00:19:07That was all

00:19:08the video showed.

00:19:09It was brief,

00:19:09but it turned my heart

00:19:11into an ice cellar.

00:19:15I remembered the background

00:19:17of the video,

00:19:18of course.

00:19:19It was Ezekiel's birthday

00:19:20several months ago.

00:19:23That day,

00:19:24he kept urging me

00:19:25to drink.

00:19:26Now I knew why.

00:19:28He set me up

00:19:29to fabricate this video.

00:19:33As much as I had seen

00:19:34through Ezekiel,

00:19:35I still felt my heart

00:19:37being wrung and torn.

00:19:38It hurt so much

00:19:39I couldn't breathe.

00:19:41People were pointing

00:19:42and calling my names.

00:19:44Under such humiliation,

00:19:46I just wanted to run.

00:19:48If only the ground

00:19:49would crack

00:19:50and give me a way out.

00:19:54In the end,

00:19:55I was to write

00:19:56a 5,000-word

00:19:57self-critical

00:19:58and apologetic letter

00:19:59and read it

00:19:59at the assembly.

00:20:03Finally,

00:20:04the crowd disperted.

00:20:06I was left alone.

00:20:09I couldn't go to the dorm.

00:20:11More humiliation

00:20:12would await me.

00:20:16I could only go back

00:20:17to my apartment.

00:20:19Hardly had I walked

00:20:20out of the gate

00:20:20when a vehicle

00:20:21sped over

00:20:22from the opposite direction

00:20:23and almost hit me.

00:20:29Terrified,

00:20:29I slept onto the ground.

00:20:31The angry driver

00:20:32craned his head

00:20:33out of the car window

00:20:34and cursed.

00:20:35Unable to take it anymore,

00:20:37I sobbed.

00:20:38All this was too painful.

00:20:41What was I living for,

00:20:42anyway?

00:20:43My life was meaningless.

00:20:45Looking through

00:20:46my blurry vision

00:20:47at the heavy traffic,

00:20:48I stood up

00:20:49and walked

00:20:50toward the middle

00:20:50of the road.

00:20:55Are you out of your mind?

00:20:56Someone suddenly

00:20:57grabbed my arm

00:20:58and pulled me away

00:20:59from the speeding vehicles

00:21:00and into a firm chest.

00:21:01A familiar refreshing scent

00:21:03wafted into my nostrils.

00:21:05What's the big deal?

00:21:06You were giving up

00:21:07on your own life

00:21:08because of such a trifle?

00:21:11Ezekiel glossed it over,

00:21:12as if the torment

00:21:13from a while ago

00:21:14was just my delusion.

00:21:16Pinching my cheek,

00:21:17he pressed his nose

00:21:19against mine.

00:21:20Knock it off.

00:21:21I'm taking you

00:21:22to your favorite restaurant,

00:21:23all right?

00:21:23How could he?

00:21:24How could he pretend

00:21:25nothing had happened

00:21:26after hurting me deeply

00:21:27and making me miserable?

00:21:28I broke free from him,

00:21:30took several steps back,

00:21:31and glared at him.

00:21:33Ezekiel,

00:21:33are you happy now?

00:21:35He shrugged,

00:21:37looking relaxed,

00:21:38but his face dartened.

00:21:45I was only telling the truth.

00:21:48You were hurting someone innocent.

00:21:51I couldn't be biased in your favor

00:21:53just because you're my girlfriend.

00:21:56The truth?

00:21:57I sneered,

00:21:59trembling all over with rage.

00:22:01You mean the video

00:22:02you forged

00:22:03by setting me up?

00:22:05You're shameless!

00:22:06With a livid face,

00:22:08Ezekiel stared at me,

00:22:09his eyes sinister.

00:22:11Paulina,

00:22:12enough is enough.

00:22:14I must have indulged

00:22:15you too much.

00:22:17I wouldn't have released

00:22:18the video

00:22:19if you hadn't attacked

00:22:19Aaliyah like a crazy woman.

00:22:23It was just a final.

00:22:25Would it have killed me

00:22:26if I had let Felicia

00:22:27come first?

00:22:28He didn't understand

00:22:30why I made such a fuss

00:22:31over it.

00:22:33As a result,

00:22:35there was still tension

00:22:36between Felicia

00:22:37and her father

00:22:37to this day,

00:22:38and there was no way

00:22:39to easy it.

00:22:45Lena,

00:22:45you know what?

00:22:46Elia's mother

00:22:47passed away

00:22:48when she was little.

00:22:49Her stepmother

00:22:50is never nice to her.

00:22:51Her family

00:22:52doesn't give her

00:22:52birthday presents

00:22:53unless she does well

00:22:54on exams.

00:22:55But you killed her hope.

00:22:57She's so devastated

00:22:58she doesn't want to live.

00:23:00Ah!

00:23:00Why doesn't she die?

00:23:02Isn't it my fault

00:23:03that she don't work hard?

00:23:05Everyone earns

00:23:06what they want.

00:23:07Why do I have to

00:23:08give her what she wants?

00:23:10I shouted hysterically,

00:23:12unleashing the

00:23:13penned-up anguish

00:23:14in my chest.

00:23:15Losing control,

00:23:16I ran toward Ezekiel

00:23:17and showered him

00:23:18with punches.

00:23:20Ezekiel,

00:23:21leave me alone!

00:23:22I don't want you anymore!

00:23:24Stay the hell

00:23:25out of my life

00:23:26with Felicia!

00:23:27He had never seen me

00:23:29in such despair.

00:23:34Graduation is around

00:23:35the corner.

00:23:38Even though your reputation

00:23:40is ruined in the law industry

00:23:41in San Francisco,

00:23:43you still have me.

00:23:46I can help you get a job

00:23:48at my family's company.

00:23:49Okay?

00:23:50Too exhausted

00:23:51to argue,

00:23:52I just wanted

00:23:53to stay away from him.

00:23:55Unaware of this,

00:23:56Ezekiel took my hand

00:23:58and continued,

00:23:59Are you done

00:23:59with your tantrum?

00:24:00Shall we go

00:24:01to the restaurant?

00:24:03I withdrew my hand

00:24:04and declared,

00:24:09Ezekiel,

00:24:10I wasn't joking,

00:24:12nor was I throwing

00:24:13a tantrum.

00:24:16Let me rephrase it

00:24:17if you don't understand.

00:24:21I'm breaking up with you.

00:24:22Dumbstruck,

00:24:23Ezekiel stared at me,

00:24:25irritation tensifying

00:24:25inside him.

00:24:26He scratched his hair

00:24:28irritably and said,

00:24:29Okay, Paulina,

00:24:30good for you!

00:24:31You'll crawl back to me

00:24:33and ask for my forgiveness

00:24:34sooner or later!

00:24:40With that,

00:24:41he left.

00:24:42Blank-minded,

00:24:43I crouched

00:24:44and hugged my knees.

00:24:45I didn't take

00:24:46his threat seriously.

00:24:48However,

00:24:49a mere few days later,

00:24:50I realized that

00:24:51Ezekiel was serious.

00:24:56At the assembly,

00:24:57I walked to the Dawes

00:24:59like a zombie

00:24:59and read my letter

00:25:00of confession

00:25:01in a mechanical voice.

00:25:05Before long,

00:25:07an egg was thrown at me.

00:25:10Then came

00:25:11decaying vegetable leaves,

00:25:12red paint,

00:25:14bottles of toilet water.

00:25:16The event became chaotic.

00:25:18Everyone was pointing

00:25:19and yelling at me.

00:25:21Get out!

00:25:23Go away!

00:25:25Go away!

00:25:26Drop out!

00:25:26I was flustered.

00:25:28Even the management

00:25:28of the university

00:25:29lost control

00:25:30over the scene.

00:25:31Only then did the person

00:25:33who had started

00:25:33the tinker shout it.

00:25:34Apologize to Mr. Willard

00:25:36or you can't graduate!

00:25:37Although Ezekiel

00:25:38was just a student,

00:25:39with his wealthy family

00:25:41as a sponsor

00:25:41of the university,

00:25:43he was too important

00:25:44for any of them

00:25:44to trifle with.

00:25:45Unnerved by the scene,

00:25:47one of the university's

00:25:48leaders said to me,

00:25:49Paulina,

00:25:50what are you waiting for?

00:25:51Go apologize now!

00:25:52Don't you want your diploma?

00:25:53Of course I wanted

00:25:54my diploma.

00:25:55Without it,

00:25:56I wouldn't be able

00:25:56to join the Rodway group

00:25:57in New York

00:25:58and leave this hellish place.

00:25:59Left with no choice,

00:26:00I went to the stadium

00:26:02and found on the

00:26:02basketball court,

00:26:04Eziel,

00:26:05how will you have

00:26:05those people

00:26:06stop making trouble for me?

00:26:07What do you want me to do?

00:26:09I stood in front of him,

00:26:11clenching my hands.

00:26:15Fine,

00:26:16I said in a reiki voice.

00:26:17I'll apologize to you.

00:26:18Please ask them to stop.

00:26:20I said in a shaker voice,

00:26:22holding at Felicia

00:26:23in his arms,

00:26:25glanced at me indifferently.

00:26:28Apologize?

00:26:29Like this?

00:26:31How sincere.

00:26:32Felicia stood up,

00:26:34pinching her nose.

00:26:35She eyed the filth

00:26:36covered me

00:26:36and pursed her lips

00:26:37thromphantly.

00:26:38Paulina,

00:26:38there you go.

00:26:39This is your style.

00:26:40It suits you perfectly.

00:26:42Trash belongs with trash.

00:26:43Don't daydream again.

00:26:45Then,

00:26:45she poured the hot water

00:26:46from her thermos cup

00:26:47all over me.

00:26:52Scalded,

00:26:52my skin was burned

00:26:53and I shrieked.

00:26:54Felicia slapped me

00:26:55across the face

00:26:56and said,

00:26:56thanks to you,

00:26:57my dad whipped me.

00:26:59Ten lashes,

00:27:00Paulina.

00:27:01You think I'll forget

00:27:02about it just because

00:27:03you apologize?

00:27:04No way!

00:27:06Ezekiel peered down

00:27:07at me with a wicked smile

00:27:08and crooked his fingers

00:27:09to summon his guys.

00:27:13You want forgiveness?

00:27:14No problem.

00:27:16Clean their sneakers.

00:27:17Looking at him silently,

00:27:19I felt as if a blunt knife

00:27:20was slicing my heart

00:27:21bit by Adit.

00:27:22Okay,

00:27:23I'll do it.

00:27:23I nodded with a bitter smile.

00:27:25I turned around,

00:27:26squatted down

00:27:27and cleaned the sneakers

00:27:28with a wet napkin

00:27:28one by a one.

00:27:33Overwhelming humiliation

00:27:34flooded my heart.

00:27:35Nevertheless,

00:27:36this wasn't good enough

00:27:37for Felina.

00:27:39She pushed me forcefully

00:27:40and made me kneel.

00:27:42Down on your knees!

00:27:43Squatting!

00:27:44How can you see

00:27:45the smerges?

00:27:49Finally,

00:27:50the last pair

00:27:51was cleaned.

00:27:51I had lost feeling

00:27:52in my knees.

00:27:54Okay.

00:27:55I forgive you.

00:27:56Ezekiel said slowly

00:27:58in an apathetic voice.

00:28:00Now,

00:28:00apologize to Aaliyah

00:28:02on your knees.

00:28:03The whole thing

00:28:04will be over.

00:28:05I raised my head

00:28:07mechanically.

00:28:08I didn't know

00:28:09whether my heart

00:28:10or my knees

00:28:11irked more.

00:28:13Apologize to her!

00:28:14Not gonna happen!

00:28:16I had done

00:28:17nothing wrong

00:28:18and Felicia

00:28:19had been hurting me.

00:28:20Why should I apologize?

00:28:23Taken aback,

00:28:24Ezekiel looked

00:28:25at my red,

00:28:26swollen eyes.

00:28:27Panic seized him again

00:28:28as it had the other night.

00:28:30Why not this?

00:28:31Paulina,

00:28:32what do you want?

00:28:34Wise up!

00:28:35Remember the videos online?

00:28:36You don't want

00:28:38to be stripped naked

00:28:39and act those things out

00:28:41in front of my

00:28:42basketball teammates,

00:28:43do you?

00:28:45Don't push me.

00:28:49Don't push him?

00:28:50I had to laugh.

00:28:52I didn't do anything

00:28:53to Felicia.

00:28:53She slacked off

00:28:54and couldn't get

00:28:55full marks

00:28:56even after memorizing

00:28:57the answers.

00:28:57How is it my fault?

00:28:59Ezekiel,

00:29:00I will not

00:29:01apologize to her.

00:29:02No!

00:29:03Never!

00:29:04A loud bang came.

00:29:06Ezekiel smashed

00:29:07the bottle in his hand

00:29:08on the floor

00:29:08and hunt.

00:29:10Bravo,

00:29:11Paulina.

00:29:12Don't blame me

00:29:13for what I'm about

00:29:14to do.

00:29:14You asked for it.

00:29:16Hardly had he

00:29:17finished speaking

00:29:18when the boys

00:29:18surrounded me

00:29:19and knocked me

00:29:20down to the floor.

00:29:22Wearing a sinister

00:29:23smile,

00:29:24Felina tore my

00:29:25clothes with one hand

00:29:26and struck me

00:29:27mercilily

00:29:27with a ball picker

00:29:28with her other hand.

00:29:31Bitch!

00:29:32I'll destroy you

00:29:33today!

00:29:36I resisted

00:29:37with all my strength

00:29:38and screamed,

00:29:39but it was useless.

00:29:40They made me bend

00:29:41over a stool

00:29:41on my knees.

00:29:42As if chained

00:29:43with shackles,

00:29:43I couldn't move at all.

00:29:44My clothes were torn

00:29:45and ripped,

00:29:46revealing my fair skin.

00:29:47No!

00:29:48Get off me!

00:29:50Get off,

00:29:50Ezekiel!

00:29:51You can't do this to me!

00:29:52Just then,

00:29:53Felina swung

00:29:54the ball picker

00:29:55and hit me hard

00:29:56in the head.

00:29:57Bitch!

00:29:57You're too loud!

00:29:59Just then,

00:30:00Felina swung

00:30:01the ball picker

00:30:01and hit me hard

00:30:02in the head.

00:30:05Guys,

00:30:06fun time.

00:30:07Take pictures

00:30:08of her.

00:30:09My head was spinning.

00:30:11Kicks landed on me

00:30:12one after another.

00:30:13It was excruciating,

00:30:15as if my body

00:30:16were falling apart.

00:30:18I wanted to hug myself,

00:30:20but I couldn't budge.

00:30:23Fluid was coming

00:30:24out of my eyes.

00:30:26I didn't know

00:30:27whether it was

00:30:28blood or tears.

00:30:31I couldn't open my eyes.

00:30:36At last,

00:30:37someone grabbed my hair

00:30:38and dragged me

00:30:39around the court.

00:30:41Take pictures, guys!

00:30:43Aunt Paulina

00:30:44looks like a stray dog

00:30:46standing there.

00:30:47Ezekiel watched

00:30:48nonchariately.

00:30:49He didn't stop them

00:30:51or say anything.

00:30:53The trace of softness

00:30:54that surfaced

00:30:55was repressed

00:30:56at once.

00:30:59I was too stubborn.

00:31:03He thought I would

00:31:04stay by his side

00:31:05and forget about

00:31:06breaking up with him

00:31:07only if my dignity

00:31:08was crushed.

00:31:10My consciousness

00:31:11became bloody

00:31:12as the pain aggravated.

00:31:15everything before

00:31:16my eyes

00:31:17was turning.

00:31:18It seemed

00:31:19I was going to die

00:31:20here in these

00:31:21people's hands.

00:31:23Ezekiel,

00:31:24check this out!

00:31:25Someone got

00:31:2610,000 points.

00:31:27The guy just called

00:31:28and wanted you

00:31:28to deliver your promise.

00:31:30My mind cleared up

00:31:32immediately

00:31:32as immense fear

00:31:33engulfed me.

00:31:34Ezekiel walked

00:31:35to the door

00:31:36with the others

00:31:36to learn more

00:31:37about the person

00:31:38who had scored

00:31:3810,000 points.

00:31:43This was a golden

00:31:44opportunity for me.

00:31:46I stood up

00:31:47with all my might

00:31:48and ran toward

00:31:48the exit.

00:31:51She is running!

00:31:53Away!

00:31:54Catch her!

00:31:56Rapid and chaotic

00:31:58footstamps

00:31:58came from behind me.

00:32:00I ran like crazy

00:32:02when I was about

00:32:03to reach the exit.

00:32:04I staggered

00:32:06from exhaustion

00:32:06and fainted.

00:32:07Before my lingering

00:32:09consciousness

00:32:09left me completely,

00:32:11I seemed to hear

00:32:11Ezekiel's panicky voice.

00:32:13Then,

00:32:13the security guards

00:32:14came.

00:32:15Succuly,

00:32:16it was just a fracture.

00:32:17My life was

00:32:18out of danger.

00:32:19Ride Smitherson

00:32:20returned from abroad

00:32:21in advance.

00:32:22When he knew

00:32:23what had happened

00:32:23to me,

00:32:24he was furious.

00:32:25He knew me well.

00:32:26I would never

00:32:27act like that.

00:32:31The university leaders

00:32:32who had forced me

00:32:33to apologize

00:32:34all received

00:32:35a warning privately.

00:32:37Reet prepared

00:32:38my diploma quickly

00:32:39and helped me

00:32:40as much as he could.

00:32:44When I woke up,

00:32:46Reet was sitting

00:32:47by my bed.

00:32:49Kid,

00:32:50I'm sorry

00:32:50you've suffered

00:32:51so much.

00:32:52I've contacted

00:32:53the Rodway group.

00:32:54You can start

00:32:54your job earlier.

00:32:55They'll send someone

00:32:56to pick you up today.

00:32:58Tears ran down

00:32:59my face.

00:33:03I sobbed

00:33:04in Reet's arms,

00:33:05letting out

00:33:06all my sadness.

00:33:08Three hours later,

00:33:10I got on the plane

00:33:11bound for New York.

00:33:14Outside the window,

00:33:16the clouds

00:33:17were getting thicker.

00:33:18Nothing could hold

00:33:19me back here.

00:33:20A new life

00:33:21awaited me ahead.

00:33:24During my stay

00:33:25in the hospital,

00:33:26the school head staff

00:33:27stationed at my room

00:33:28around the clock,

00:33:29keeping outsiders at bay.

00:33:34With Reib's intervention,

00:33:36many students

00:33:37came forward

00:33:38and admitted

00:33:38that I didn't attack

00:33:39Felicia in the hallway

00:33:40that day.

00:33:41Because the incident

00:33:42involved an injured student,

00:33:44the school handled it privately

00:33:46and did not announce

00:33:47the outcome.

00:33:48In the apartment,

00:33:49Ezekiel had been

00:33:50on edge all day.

00:33:52Ever since he watched

00:33:53me fall down the stairs,

00:33:55nightmares of me

00:33:56lying in a pool of blood,

00:33:58plagued him every night.

00:34:00His heart throbbed

00:34:01painfully,

00:34:02like it was rotting

00:34:03from the inside.

00:34:04He tried calling me,

00:34:05but my phone

00:34:06was turned off.

00:34:12He even went

00:34:13to the hospital

00:34:13to see me,

00:34:14but the teachers

00:34:15blocked him

00:34:16at the door.

00:34:21Later,

00:34:21he heard that

00:34:22I had left the hospital,

00:34:23yet I never

00:34:24sought him out

00:34:25and nobody knew

00:34:26where I had gone

00:34:27as if I had vanished

00:34:29into thin air.

00:34:30Ezekiel's fidgetness

00:34:31escalated

00:34:32into full-blown panic

00:34:34because he knew

00:34:35I had no one

00:34:36to rely on

00:34:37in San Francisco.

00:34:38Besides this apartment

00:34:39and the school dorm,

00:34:40I had no place to stay.

00:34:42He was desperate

00:34:43to find me,

00:34:44though even he

00:34:44couldn't explain why.

00:34:46Just then,

00:34:47the doorbell rang.

00:34:49Ezekiel's heart

00:34:50leaped with joy.

00:34:51He rose

00:34:52and sprinted

00:34:53for the door.

00:34:53His calf

00:34:54slammed into

00:34:55the coffee table

00:34:56and the pain

00:34:57doubled him over,

00:34:58but he clenched

00:34:58his teeth

00:34:59and staggered on.

00:35:00To his shock,

00:35:01the person

00:35:02standing outside

00:35:03the door

00:35:03was Felina.

00:35:05She pouted,

00:35:06tears welling

00:35:07in her eyes.

00:35:09Ezekiel,

00:35:10I have no idea

00:35:11what that bitch

00:35:12Felina did

00:35:13to turn the whole

00:35:14school against me.

00:35:15You're accusing me

00:35:16of framing her.

00:35:17I can't face this alone.

00:35:19I need your help.

00:35:21As she spoke,

00:35:22she threw herself

00:35:23into Ezekiel's arms.

00:35:26In the past,

00:35:27Ezekiel would always relent

00:35:29and take care

00:35:29of everything for her.

00:35:31But this time,

00:35:33he stood

00:35:34moatmanless,

00:35:35gazing at the

00:35:36beautiful girl

00:35:36in front of him,

00:35:37yet all he could

00:35:38think of was

00:35:39that diaphiled

00:35:40face of me,

00:35:42as radiant

00:35:43and stunning

00:35:44as a fiery rose.

00:35:47He gently

00:35:48pulled Felina's

00:35:48hands away

00:35:49and said,

00:35:53Ezekiel,

00:35:54you should go.

00:35:55I still have

00:35:56other things

00:35:57to deal with.

00:35:59Felia was stunned.

00:36:02She stubbly

00:36:03gripped his hands,

00:36:04her voice

00:36:05sharp.

00:36:09Ezekiel,

00:36:09you're not

00:36:10abandoning me,

00:36:10are you?

00:36:11You promised

00:36:12you would always

00:36:13look out for me.

00:36:14How can you

00:36:14go back on your word?

00:36:17How can you

00:36:18leave me high

00:36:19and dry?

00:36:19If my dad

00:36:20hears those lies,

00:36:21he'll beat me

00:36:22to death.

00:36:24Felicia was

00:36:25guilt-tricking

00:36:25him again.

00:36:27For the first

00:36:29time,

00:36:29Ezekiel

00:36:30could commiserate

00:36:31with me.

00:36:32And I was...

00:36:33He could not

00:36:34understand

00:36:35what right

00:36:35Felicia had

00:36:36to use her

00:36:37misfortunes

00:36:38as a weapon

00:36:39and him

00:36:39to her will.

00:36:42Yet he didn't

00:36:43say anything

00:36:43and patiently

00:36:44soothed her.

00:36:47All right,

00:36:47Elia.

00:36:48Go home.

00:36:50Just give me

00:36:51some time.

00:36:52I promise

00:36:53I'll handle it,

00:36:54okay?

00:36:55Hearing him,

00:36:57Felicia finally

00:36:57simmered down

00:36:58and left

00:36:59reluctantly.

00:37:00As Ezekiel

00:37:01watched her

00:37:02disappear into

00:37:03the elevator,

00:37:04he breathed

00:37:05out a long

00:37:05sigh.

00:37:07A dull pain

00:37:08still lingered

00:37:09in his calf.

00:37:11Once again,

00:37:12a wave of

00:37:12frustration

00:37:13weighed on

00:37:14his heart.

00:37:19Ezekiel

00:37:20could no

00:37:20longer

00:37:20stay at

00:37:21home.

00:37:25He grabbed

00:37:26his phone,

00:37:26threw on a

00:37:26coat,

00:37:27and headed

00:37:27out.

00:37:27Walking into

00:37:28his favorite

00:37:28bar,

00:37:29he was

00:37:29immediately

00:37:30greeted

00:37:30by a

00:37:30ruckus.

00:37:32But the

00:37:33moment he

00:37:33saw the

00:37:34person being

00:37:34teased,

00:37:35his jaw

00:37:36dropped.

00:37:41Amid the

00:37:42red and

00:37:42green lights

00:37:43of the

00:37:43bar,

00:37:44a man

00:37:44and a

00:37:45woman

00:37:45were

00:37:45passionately

00:37:46kissing.

00:37:50They were

00:37:51Felina and

00:37:52Ezekiel's

00:37:52best friend.

00:37:53It was

00:37:54also him

00:37:54who first

00:37:55suggested that

00:37:55Ezielli

00:37:56design a

00:37:56link targeting

00:37:57me.

00:37:58So now he

00:37:59knew I would

00:37:59be completely

00:38:00ruined socially,

00:38:01all to

00:38:02vent Felicia's

00:38:03anger.

00:38:09Everyone

00:38:10applauded,

00:38:11and the

00:38:11sound of

00:38:12whistles was

00:38:12deafening.

00:38:14The lively

00:38:15atmosphere seemed

00:38:16to ignite the

00:38:16air around

00:38:17them,

00:38:17but Ezekiel

00:38:19felt as

00:38:19cold as

00:38:20if he

00:38:20had fallen

00:38:20into an

00:38:21ice cave.

00:38:23At that

00:38:24moment,

00:38:24the kiss

00:38:25ended.

00:38:26Felina raised

00:38:27her bottle and

00:38:28shouted to the

00:38:28crowd,

00:38:32order whatever

00:38:33you want

00:38:33tonight.

00:38:34Ezekiel the

00:38:36idiot will

00:38:37pay for

00:38:37everything.

00:38:39Someone laughed

00:38:40and asked.

00:38:43Elia,

00:38:44aren't you

00:38:44the one who

00:38:46likes Ezekhesirad

00:38:47the most?

00:38:48Aren't you

00:38:48afraid he'll

00:38:49get angry if

00:38:49he finds out

00:38:50you that?

00:38:53Unexpectedly,

00:38:54Felicia sneered

00:38:55out loud.

00:38:56Angry?

00:38:58Am I

00:38:59supposed to

00:38:59be afraid

00:38:59of him

00:39:00getting angry?

00:39:01Now that

00:39:01Paulina,

00:39:02that bitch,

00:39:03is gone,

00:39:04he's completely

00:39:04useless to

00:39:05me.

00:39:07He really

00:39:07thinks I

00:39:08like him?

00:39:09To hell

00:39:09with him.

00:39:10Arrogant

00:39:11and conceited.

00:39:12He's not

00:39:13even the

00:39:13first and

00:39:14sayer of

00:39:14the Willard

00:39:14family,

00:39:15yet he

00:39:15acts like

00:39:16he's

00:39:16some

00:39:16treasure.

00:39:19I only

00:39:20used him

00:39:21to deal

00:39:21with Paulina,

00:39:22that annoying

00:39:23bitch.

00:39:24everyone

00:39:25burst into

00:39:26laughter.

00:39:33The

00:39:34sharp

00:39:35laughter

00:39:35pierced

00:39:36Ezekiel's

00:39:36heart like

00:39:37a sword.

00:39:38But the

00:39:39conversation

00:39:39did not

00:39:40end.

00:39:41Felicia,

00:39:42drunk,

00:39:43raised her

00:39:44bottle and

00:39:44climbed onto

00:39:45the table,

00:39:46boasting.

00:39:48Do you

00:39:49know why

00:39:50Ezekiel has

00:39:51always been

00:39:52so good

00:39:53to me?

00:39:53Everyone

00:39:54was intrigued

00:39:55and

00:39:55corred.

00:39:56Go!

00:39:57Fight!

00:40:02Felicia

00:40:03raised her

00:40:03hand to her

00:40:04mouth in a

00:40:04mysterious

00:40:05gesture,

00:40:06as if she

00:40:06was about

00:40:07to whisper.

00:40:08Her voice

00:40:09did not

00:40:10lower at

00:40:10all,

00:40:11because he

00:40:12thinks that

00:40:13three years

00:40:14ago at

00:40:14Twin Peaks,

00:40:15the person

00:40:16who saved

00:40:17him was

00:40:18me.

00:40:19Me!

00:40:22Actually,

00:40:23it wasn't

00:40:24me at

00:40:25all.

00:40:26He would

00:40:27never imagine

00:40:28that it

00:40:28was Paulina,

00:40:29but that

00:40:30woman pretends

00:40:31to be so

00:40:31noble,

00:40:33so I just

00:40:34borrowed the

00:40:35title of

00:40:35savior for

00:40:36myself.

00:40:37Ezekiel was

00:40:38completely

00:40:39stunned,

00:40:40standing there

00:40:40in a daze,

00:40:42unable to

00:40:43recover for

00:40:44a long time.

00:40:45Three years

00:40:46ago,

00:40:46he had

00:40:46been tricked

00:40:47into going

00:40:47up the

00:40:48mountain,

00:40:48only to

00:40:49fall into

00:40:50a trap

00:40:50set early

00:40:51in the

00:40:51morning.

00:40:52His legs

00:40:53were severely

00:40:54injured,

00:40:54and he

00:40:55could not

00:40:55move,

00:40:57almost dying

00:40:58in the

00:40:58forest.

00:40:59A girl

00:41:00had saved

00:41:00him,

00:41:00using her

00:41:01frail

00:41:01shoulders to

00:41:02carry him

00:41:02down the

00:41:03mountain and

00:41:03take him

00:41:04to the

00:41:04hospital.

00:41:06When he

00:41:07opened his

00:41:07eyes,

00:41:09Aunt Felicia

00:41:09was sitting

00:41:10beside him.

00:41:14I was

00:41:14the one

00:41:15who saved

00:41:15him,

00:41:16but in

00:41:16fact,

00:41:17she was

00:41:18nothing but

00:41:18a shameless

00:41:19imposter.

00:41:24And Ezekiel

00:41:25had been

00:41:25used by

00:41:26her,

00:41:26personally

00:41:27hurting his

00:41:27true savior.

00:41:32As Ezekiel

00:41:33felt like he

00:41:33was going

00:41:33insane,

00:41:34he grabbed

00:41:35a nearby

00:41:35bottle of

00:41:36liquor and

00:41:37rushed it

00:41:37at Felicia,

00:41:38who was still

00:41:38laughing.

00:41:39He smashed

00:41:40it hard

00:41:40against her

00:41:41head.

00:41:42Blood mixed

00:41:42with the

00:41:43liquor dripped

00:41:43down and

00:41:44she screamed,

00:41:45clutching her

00:41:45head.

00:41:50When she

00:41:51saw Ezekiel

00:41:52clearly,

00:41:52all color

00:41:53instantly drained

00:41:54from her

00:41:55face.

00:41:57Zach?

00:42:00Let me

00:42:01explain.

00:42:03It's not

00:42:03what you

00:42:04think.

00:42:04I drank

00:42:05too much.

00:42:05I was

00:42:06talking nonsense,

00:42:07really just

00:42:08nonsense.

00:42:10Ezekiel's

00:42:10eyes were

00:42:11cold and

00:42:11fierce,

00:42:12like a

00:42:12ghost crawling

00:42:13out of

00:42:13hell.

00:42:14He stepped

00:42:15forward,

00:42:15grabbed her

00:42:16hair,

00:42:16and forced

00:42:17her face

00:42:17up to

00:42:18look at

00:42:18him.

00:42:23Felina,

00:42:24answer

00:42:25me.

00:42:25Who was

00:42:26the one

00:42:26who saved

00:42:26me back

00:42:27then?

00:42:29Felicia

00:42:29had never

00:42:30seen Ezio

00:42:31like this

00:42:31before and

00:42:32was completely

00:42:32terrified.

00:42:33Her tears

00:42:34and snot

00:42:35mixed with

00:42:35the blood

00:42:36on her

00:42:36head,

00:42:37dirty and

00:42:37smeared

00:42:38all over

00:42:38her

00:42:38cheeks.

00:42:42It was

00:42:43Paulina.

00:42:44But

00:42:44Zach,

00:42:45I really

00:42:46like you.

00:42:47I lied

00:42:48because I

00:42:48wanted to

00:42:49be with

00:42:49you.

00:42:52Ezekiel

00:42:52looked coldly

00:42:53at the

00:42:53woman in

00:42:54front of

00:42:54him,

00:42:55whose mouth

00:42:55was full

00:42:56of lies,

00:42:57and threw

00:42:57her heart

00:42:58onto the

00:42:58ground.

00:42:59The guests

00:43:00around were

00:43:00all stunned,

00:43:01and when

00:43:01they saw it

00:43:02was Ezekiel,

00:43:03they even

00:43:03didn't dare

00:43:04to breathe.

00:43:07The person

00:43:08who had

00:43:08just kissed

00:43:09Felicia's

00:43:09legs went

00:43:10weak and

00:43:10knelted on

00:43:11the ground.

00:43:14Ezekiel,

00:43:15I was

00:43:15wrong.

00:43:16It was

00:43:16this woman

00:43:17who seduced

00:43:17you.

00:43:18Please

00:43:18forgive me.

00:43:20Ezekiel

00:43:20coldly curled

00:43:21his lips.

00:43:22His eyes

00:43:23were filled

00:43:24with extreme

00:43:24cruelty.

00:43:28Forgive

00:43:29you?

00:43:31How could

00:43:31you do

00:43:32that after

00:43:32you risked

00:43:33your life

00:43:33so recklessly?

00:43:35Ezekiel

00:43:36left the

00:43:37bar.

00:43:40He

00:43:40searched

00:43:41frantically

00:43:41through

00:43:41every place

00:43:42I might

00:43:42have gone

00:43:43but found

00:43:43nothing.

00:43:46In the

00:43:46end,

00:43:47exhausted,

00:43:48he collapsed

00:43:49on the

00:43:49playground.

00:43:52Staring

00:43:52blankly at

00:43:53the field

00:43:53across from

00:43:54him,

00:43:54his heart

00:43:55ached as

00:43:56if it

00:43:56were being

00:43:57cruelly

00:43:57squeezed by

00:43:58a pair

00:43:58of invisible

00:43:59hands.

00:44:06He

00:44:06collapsed

00:44:07in agony

00:44:07on the

00:44:08pavement

00:44:08nearby.

00:44:13Tears

00:44:14streaming

00:44:15controllably

00:44:15down his

00:44:16face as

00:44:17he called

00:44:17out again

00:44:18and again.

00:44:19Lena,

00:44:19where are

00:44:20you?

00:44:22Please

00:44:23come out

00:44:23and see

00:44:24me,

00:44:24will you?

00:44:30I was

00:44:31wrong.

00:44:31I truly

00:44:32knew I

00:44:33was wrong.

00:44:37The

00:44:37students

00:44:37passing by

00:44:38all looked

00:44:39at him

00:44:39as if he

00:44:39were some

00:44:40kind of

00:44:40monster.

00:44:41They

00:44:41pointed

00:44:41and talked

00:44:42about him.

00:44:47Ezekiel

00:44:47did not

00:44:47know how

00:44:48much time

00:44:48had passed

00:44:49before he

00:44:50finally dried

00:44:50his eyes.

00:44:51Numbly,

00:44:52he got up,

00:44:53took out his

00:44:54phone and

00:44:54dialed a

00:44:55number.

00:44:59Donate

00:45:00two million

00:45:01dollars to the

00:45:01University of

00:45:02San Francisco.

00:45:03Have them

00:45:04thoroughly investigate

00:45:05how Felicia

00:45:05obtained the

00:45:06final exam

00:45:06questions in

00:45:07advance and

00:45:08cheated.

00:45:08And also

00:45:09investigate her

00:45:10framing of

00:45:10classmates and

00:45:11her extremely

00:45:12vicious acts

00:45:13of campus

00:45:13bullying.

00:45:14Hand the

00:45:15case over to

00:45:16the judicial

00:45:16authorities and

00:45:17expel her from

00:45:18school.

00:45:20Also,

00:45:21help me find

00:45:22someone.

00:45:23Even if you

00:45:24have to dig

00:45:24three feet

00:45:25into the

00:45:25ground,

00:45:26you must

00:45:27find her.

00:45:29Ezekiel

00:45:30returned to

00:45:30his apartment,

00:45:31deleted all

00:45:32the back-end

00:45:33data of that

00:45:33post,

00:45:34then opened

00:45:35the campus

00:45:35forum,

00:45:36published a

00:45:37statement,

00:45:37and lay down

00:45:39on the big

00:45:39bed that no

00:45:40longer carried

00:45:40any trace of

00:45:41Paulina,

00:45:42breathing

00:45:42greedily.

00:45:46He tried

00:45:47in vain to

00:45:47find even

00:45:48the slightest

00:45:48trace.

00:45:50But there

00:45:50was nothing.

00:45:52He did

00:45:53not sleep

00:45:53at all that

00:45:54night.

00:45:55The next

00:45:55day, the

00:45:56campus forum

00:45:57of the

00:45:57University of

00:45:58San Francisco

00:45:59exploded.

00:46:00The top

00:46:00trending news

00:46:01was Ezekiel's

00:46:02statement.

00:46:04I am

00:46:05Ezekiel from

00:46:05the law

00:46:06department,

00:46:06also Paulina's

00:46:07boyfriend.

00:46:08I was the

00:46:09one who framed

00:46:10Paulina and

00:46:10used our

00:46:11intimate photos

00:46:12taken during

00:46:12our normal

00:46:13relationship to

00:46:14create the

00:46:14viral post

00:46:15online.

00:46:15In fact,

00:46:17she never

00:46:17did any of

00:46:17the things

00:46:18reported in

00:46:18the news.

00:46:21Immediately

00:46:22after was the

00:46:22disciplinary

00:46:23decision regarding

00:46:24Felicia.

00:46:31Felicia from

00:46:32the law

00:46:32department for

00:46:33bribing teachers

00:46:34before the

00:46:34exam, cheating,

00:46:36and committing

00:46:36severe campus

00:46:37bullying, is

00:46:38ordered to

00:46:38withdraw and is

00:46:39expelled from

00:46:40the university.

00:46:41The legal

00:46:42issues involved

00:46:43will be further

00:46:43handed over to

00:46:44the relevant

00:46:45authorities for

00:46:46processing.

00:46:47For a time,

00:46:48the entire

00:46:49University of

00:46:50San Francisco

00:46:51was in an

00:46:52uproar.

00:46:52The students

00:46:53who had once

00:46:53hurt me were

00:46:54all in a

00:46:55panic, afraid

00:46:56of retaliation.

00:47:01Others, just

00:47:02as they had

00:47:03once cursed

00:47:04me, now

00:47:04turned all

00:47:05their anger

00:47:06towards Felicia.

00:47:09When Felicia

00:47:10packed her

00:47:10things and

00:47:11was taken

00:47:11away from

00:47:11the school

00:47:12by the

00:47:12Vail family,

00:47:14everyone hurled

00:47:14ridicule and

00:47:15insults at

00:47:16her.

00:47:16No one knew

00:47:17who threw

00:47:18the first

00:47:18bottle, but

00:47:19soon a

00:47:19barrage of

00:47:20trash and

00:47:20debris was

00:47:21thrown at

00:47:21her.

00:47:22You bitch,

00:47:23get out of

00:47:23the University

00:47:23of San

00:47:24Francisco!

00:47:25You're

00:47:25nothing but

00:47:25a troublemaker!

00:47:26Go to

00:47:26hell!

00:47:26It's all

00:47:26because of

00:47:27you that

00:47:27Paulina left

00:47:28the school!

00:47:29I still

00:47:29had so many

00:47:30case studies

00:47:30I wanted

00:47:31to ask her

00:47:31about!

00:47:33Felicia

00:47:34covered her

00:47:34head and

00:47:35fled in

00:47:35panic.

00:47:37But she

00:47:37knew very

00:47:38well that

00:47:39an even

00:47:39more brutal

00:47:39storm from

00:47:40the

00:47:40Vilek family

00:47:41was waited

00:47:42for her.

00:47:46As she

00:47:47walked out

00:47:47the school

00:47:48gate,

00:47:48Ezikarni

00:47:49happened to

00:47:50be coming

00:47:50in.

00:47:54She rushed

00:47:54over in

00:47:55tears,

00:47:56melt at

00:47:56his feet,

00:47:57and clung

00:47:58tightly to

00:47:59his pant

00:47:59leg.

00:48:01Zach,

00:48:01please save

00:48:02me!

00:48:02I know

00:48:03I was

00:48:03wrong!

00:48:04I really

00:48:04know I

00:48:05was wrong!

00:48:05please save

00:48:06me!

00:48:09Ezekiel

00:48:10lifted his

00:48:10foot and

00:48:11kicked her

00:48:11hard to

00:48:12the ground,

00:48:12his eyes

00:48:13devoid of

00:48:14any warmth.

00:48:21Felicia,

00:48:22I was the

00:48:23one who

00:48:23asked the

00:48:24school to

00:48:24deal with

00:48:24you strictly,

00:48:25so how

00:48:26could I

00:48:26possibly save

00:48:27you?

00:48:30And by

00:48:31the way,

00:48:31I just

00:48:32spoke to

00:48:33your father

00:48:33on the

00:48:33phone and

00:48:34told him

00:48:34that I

00:48:36the useless

00:48:37second young

00:48:37master of

00:48:38the Willard

00:48:38family wanted

00:48:39him to

00:48:40teach you

00:48:40a good

00:48:40lesson.

00:48:46Do you

00:48:46think it

00:48:47will work?

00:48:49When Felicia

00:48:50heard this,

00:48:51her whole body

00:48:51trembled like a

00:48:52leaf, all the

00:48:53color drained

00:48:54from her face,

00:48:55and her eyes

00:48:56rolled back as

00:48:57she fainted on

00:48:57the spot.

00:49:00The plane

00:49:01landed at

00:49:01JFK airport,

00:49:03I followed

00:49:03behind the

00:49:04staff of the

00:49:04Rodway group,

00:49:05walking quickly

00:49:06toward the

00:49:07parking lot,

00:49:08I felt a bit

00:49:09excited, but

00:49:10even more

00:49:10uneasy.

00:49:15The

00:49:15Rodway group

00:49:16in New York

00:49:17was an

00:49:17existence that

00:49:18even the

00:49:18Willard family

00:49:19in San

00:49:20Francisco

00:49:20could not

00:49:21compare to,

00:49:22and their

00:49:23legal department

00:49:23was famously

00:49:24known as

00:49:25the strongest

00:49:26on earth.

00:49:31Of course,

00:49:32I did not

00:49:32doubt my

00:49:33own abilities,

00:49:33but I

00:49:34worried whether

00:49:35my future

00:49:35work and

00:49:36life would

00:49:36go smoothly,

00:49:37and whether

00:49:38my boss would

00:49:39appreciate my

00:49:39working style.

00:49:41Lost in my

00:49:41thoughts, I

00:49:42failed to see

00:49:43the road ahead,

00:49:44and accidentally

00:49:45bumped straight

00:49:46into a broad

00:49:47chest.

00:49:51I looked

00:49:52up in

00:49:52surprise, just

00:49:53about to

00:49:54apologize, when

00:49:55I saw a

00:49:56familiar gentle

00:49:56smile.

00:49:59Kieran?

00:50:03Kieran

00:50:03Rodway was

00:50:04my direct

00:50:04senior, and

00:50:05also the one

00:50:06who had

00:50:06partnered with

00:50:07me to win

00:50:08the San

00:50:08Francisco

00:50:09Legal Model

00:50:09Competition

00:50:10three years

00:50:11in a row.

00:50:12After he

00:50:12graduated last

00:50:13year, we had

00:50:14not seen each

00:50:15other again.

00:50:15Had he really

00:50:17come to New

00:50:17York?

00:50:18Wait a minute,

00:50:19Kieran Rodway,

00:50:20Rodway.

00:50:21Kieran looked

00:50:22at me with

00:50:22amusement as my

00:50:23expression changed

00:50:24several times, and

00:50:26as the confusion

00:50:27in my eyes

00:50:27gradually turned

00:50:28to surprise, he

00:50:29finally spoke.

00:50:31Paulina, you

00:50:33are as observant

00:50:34and analytical as

00:50:35ever.

00:50:36That's right.

00:50:37I am your

00:50:38new boss, the

00:50:39president of the

00:50:40Rodway group.

00:50:42Welcome to my

00:50:43world.

00:50:43I looked up,

00:50:45staring at him

00:50:45in a daze.

00:50:47The last bit

00:50:48of coldness in

00:50:49my heart

00:50:49completely melted

00:50:50away in that

00:50:51dazzling smile.

00:50:54Kieran must

00:50:55have learned

00:50:55about my

00:50:56situation and

00:50:56taken the

00:50:57initiative to

00:50:58ask Rhett,

00:50:59reaching out

00:50:59to help me

00:51:00just when I

00:51:00was about to

00:51:01fall into

00:51:01utter despair.

00:51:05At this

00:51:06moment, my

00:51:07eyes turned

00:51:08red, and

00:51:09only one

00:51:09voice remained

00:51:10in my

00:51:10heart.

00:51:14Kieran, it

00:51:15was truly

00:51:15wonderful to

00:51:16see you.

00:51:19In the

00:51:20following half

00:51:20year, my

00:51:21work in the

00:51:22Rodway group's

00:51:23legal department

00:51:23made me feel as

00:51:24if I had come

00:51:25back to life.

00:51:29I quickly

00:51:30developed perfect

00:51:31rapport with my

00:51:31colleagues.

00:51:32Everyone here was

00:51:33as easy to get

00:51:34along with as

00:51:35Kieran, and

00:51:36they often teased

00:51:37me.

00:51:39Paulina, if you

00:51:40keep this up, us

00:51:41old folks will be

00:51:42outshined by you.

00:51:43But as the new

00:51:44generation surpasses

00:51:45the old, seeing

00:51:47such outstanding

00:51:48newcomers, we feel

00:51:49comforted.

00:51:50With you and the

00:51:51Rodway group's legal

00:51:52department, we are

00:51:53all at ease about

00:51:54its future.

00:51:59Kieran also often

00:52:00found various

00:52:01reasons to come

00:52:02see me.

00:52:03Showing concern

00:52:04and care, everyone

00:52:05noticed what was

00:52:06going on.

00:52:07So they deliberately

00:52:08left us space to

00:52:09be alone, intentionally

00:52:10helping us along.

00:52:13That day, the

00:52:14legal department had

00:52:15a dinner gathering,

00:52:16to everyone's

00:52:17surprise, Kieran,

00:52:19the big boss, also

00:52:20attended.

00:52:21He sat right

00:52:22next to me, listening

00:52:24to everyone's

00:52:25conversation throughout

00:52:26the evening, not

00:52:27saying much himself,

00:52:28but taking care of

00:52:30those around him at

00:52:31just the right

00:52:32moments.

00:52:34I turned to look at

00:52:36him and was

00:52:37immediately startled by

00:52:38the burning intensity

00:52:39in his deep eyes.

00:52:41I quickly looked away, my

00:52:43heart pounding like a

00:52:44drum.

00:52:45After the gathering

00:52:46ended, Kieran, as

00:52:47usual, drove me

00:52:48downstairs as I

00:52:49pushed open the car

00:52:50door to get out.

00:52:51I blurted out, almost

00:52:53involuntarily.

00:52:54Would you like to come

00:52:56up for some tea?

00:52:57I have the green tea

00:52:58you like.

00:52:59We started kissing as

00:53:00soon as we entered the

00:53:01elevator, fueled by the

00:53:03alcohol.

00:53:04I poured out the last

00:53:05bit of concern I had been

00:53:06hiding in my heart.

00:53:08Kieran, I'm not the

00:53:10same pure Polina I

00:53:11used to be you.

00:53:12My words were

00:53:13completely sealed by

00:53:14his kiss.

00:53:16He kissed me even

00:53:18more fiercely than

00:53:19before, stealing my

00:53:20breath.

00:53:23Lena, I love you.

00:53:25I loved you since

00:53:26college.

00:53:30I loved you.

00:53:33For the three years I

00:53:35knew you, and every

00:53:37day after I left, I

00:53:39regretted not confessing

00:53:41earlier.

00:53:42But at that time, my

00:53:43family was in the

00:53:44middle of internal

00:53:45strife.

00:53:46I couldn't give you a

00:53:47future.

00:53:50I thought I would

00:53:50wait until everything

00:53:51settled down to find

00:53:52you, but by then,

00:53:54someone else was

00:53:55already by your side.

00:54:01Finally, when we

00:54:03reached the door,

00:54:04Kieran suddenly

00:54:04stopped.

00:54:05Kieran pressed me

00:54:06against the door,

00:54:07breathing heavily.

00:54:10Lena, I'm giving you

00:54:11one last chance.

00:54:13Will you be with me?

00:54:15I don't care about

00:54:16your past.

00:54:16I just feel sorry

00:54:17for you.

00:54:18But let me tell you,

00:54:20once you're with me,

00:54:22breaking up is not

00:54:23allowed.

00:54:26I'm very possessive.

00:54:28I can't stand you

00:54:29leaving again.

00:54:30Yes!

00:54:31Before he could

00:54:31finish, I spoke

00:54:32first.

00:54:34I want to!

00:54:35I want to be with

00:54:37you!

00:54:40Our passion ignited

00:54:42instantly.

00:54:43It was unstoppable.

00:54:45We moved from the

00:54:46doorway to the

00:54:47living room.

00:54:48From the sofa to

00:54:49the balcony.

00:54:51From the bedroom to

00:54:52the bathroom, again

00:54:53and again.

00:54:54Over and over.

00:54:57Insatiable and

00:54:58tireless.

00:55:02When the surging

00:55:03tide finally calmed,

00:55:05the sky was already

00:55:06turning pale,

00:55:07Kieran held me in

00:55:08his arms and gently

00:55:09kissed the top of

00:55:10my head.

00:55:13Lena, I love you.

00:55:16On the other side,

00:55:18after Ezekiel graduated

00:55:19and left school,

00:55:21he joined the

00:55:22Willard group.

00:55:26Yet he still did not

00:55:27give up searching for

00:55:28me, but no matter how

00:55:29many people he sent out,

00:55:31he could not find me.

00:55:32He was like a furious,

00:55:34trapped beast that had

00:55:35lost its way,

00:55:36turning all of San

00:55:37Francisco upside down.

00:55:39He even mobilized all

00:55:41the connections the

00:55:42Willard family had

00:55:43accumulated over the

00:55:44years, both in the

00:55:45underworld and the

00:55:46upper world, among all

00:55:48walks of life, and

00:55:49set a reward of $10

00:55:50million, but his

00:55:52hopes were still

00:55:53dashed.

00:55:55He planted informants

00:55:57everywhere, at the

00:55:58docks, stations, and

00:56:00airports.

00:56:01From the initial

00:56:01notices to the

00:56:02current city with

00:56:03search, I once again

00:56:05became the talk of

00:56:06San Francisco.

00:56:08My photos kept

00:56:09spreading, and the

00:56:10information was

00:56:11repeatedly filtered.

00:56:16But after a full six

00:56:18months, I still could not

00:56:19be found.

00:56:20It was as if Paulina

00:56:21had vanished into thin

00:56:23air from Ezekiel's

00:56:24world.

00:56:24Late at night, Ezekiel

00:56:26did not return to the

00:56:27Willard family villa, but

00:56:28still lived in the

00:56:29apartment where he and

00:56:30Paulina had spent so

00:56:31much time together.

00:56:32He sat at the bedside,

00:56:34downed an entire bottle

00:56:35of strong liquor, and

00:56:36let his tears fall

00:56:37silently.

00:56:38In half a year, he

00:56:40had lost four pounds,

00:56:41becoming so haggard and

00:56:42dispirited that he

00:56:43seemed like a different

00:56:44person.

00:56:44He stared fixedly at my

00:56:46photo still on his

00:56:47phone, confusion flashing

00:56:48in his eyes before it

00:56:49turned into obsession.

00:56:53I won't give up,

00:56:55Lena.

00:56:56Even if I have to go to

00:56:57heaven or hell, no

00:56:59matter what the cost, I

00:57:00will find you.

00:57:05Thinking of this, he

00:57:07dialed his assistant

00:57:08again.

00:57:08Make arrangements.

00:57:09Starting tomorrow, expand

00:57:11the search to the mainland

00:57:12and raise the reward to

00:57:13$20 million.

00:57:14After speaking, he

00:57:16thought for a moment and

00:57:17then asked.

00:57:20How is Felicia?

00:57:22Is she dead yet?

00:57:24Since graduating and

00:57:26joining the Willard group,

00:57:27apart from work and

00:57:28searching for me, the

00:57:30most important thing for

00:57:31him was taking revenge

00:57:32on Felicia.

00:57:35After she was bailed out

00:57:36of prison, she was

00:57:37beaten and scolded by

00:57:39her father every day,

00:57:40with not a single

00:57:41uninjured spot left on

00:57:43her body.

00:57:45But Ezekiel still felt it

00:57:47was not enough.

00:57:48Tell Mr. Veal, send her

00:57:50to Mexico, and I'll let

00:57:52him handle the South Bay

00:57:53project.

00:57:57Three days later, a

00:57:58shocking murder case

00:58:00broke out in San

00:58:01Francisco.

00:58:05Miss Felicia of the

00:58:07Veal family poised in the

00:58:08food, causing the

00:58:09deaths of all 15 members

00:58:10of the Veal family, and

00:58:12she is now on the run.

00:58:18The assistant held a

00:58:20tablet and reported to

00:58:21Ezekiel at his desk,

00:58:22constantly observing his

00:58:24reaction out of the

00:58:25corner of his eye.

00:58:27On the run!

00:58:29As Ezekiel slammed his

00:58:30fist on the desk.

00:58:32What are those useless

00:58:33people doing?

00:58:34They can't find Lina!

00:58:35And now?

00:58:36And now they've let

00:58:37Felicia escape too?

00:58:39Catch her.

00:58:41Send her to the police.

00:58:43Hire the best lawyers.

00:58:45I want her to never

00:58:46leave prison for the

00:58:46rest of her life.

00:58:51As soon as he finished

00:58:52speaking, the door to

00:58:53his office was suddenly

00:58:54pushed open, a person

00:58:55dressed as a cleaner

00:58:56walked in.

00:58:57And before Ezekiel could

00:58:58react, pulled out a gun

00:58:59and fired at him.

00:59:00Bang!

00:59:01At the moment the

00:59:02gunshot rang out.

00:59:04Ezekiel was shot in the

00:59:05chest, the tremendous

00:59:06impact made him stagger

00:59:08and fall to the ground,

00:59:09blood gushing out

00:59:10instantly.

00:59:11The cleaner also took

00:59:12off her mask,

00:59:13revealing Felicia's

00:59:14scarred face, and

00:59:15charged at him

00:59:16viciously, ready to

00:59:17fire another shot.

00:59:18The assistant reacted

00:59:18quickly, grabbing the

00:59:20marble stand nearby and

00:59:21smashing it hard against

00:59:22her head.

00:59:24With that blow, her

00:59:26brains splattered

00:59:27everywhere.

00:59:30The handgun fell to the

00:59:32ground, and she

00:59:33collapsed in a pool of

00:59:34blood.

00:59:38The blood flowing from her

00:59:40body snaked forward, mixing

00:59:42with Ezekiel's.

00:59:45Ezekiel's vision darkened,

00:59:47the pain and blood loss

00:59:48blurring his sight.

00:59:49Before losing consciousness,

00:59:50he was still thinking,

00:59:52What bad luck, getting

00:59:53myself stained with her

00:59:53blood.

00:59:57Felina was imprisoned and

00:59:59sentenced to life in

01:00:00prison.

01:00:03Ezekiel was hospitalized

01:00:04with serious injuries.

01:00:07After a full day and

01:00:08night of emergency

01:00:09treatment, his life was

01:00:11barely saved.

01:00:12However, his limbs and

01:00:14body were still affected,

01:00:15and he could only sit in a

01:00:17wheelchair for the time

01:00:18being.

01:00:20Ezekiel's grandfather,

01:00:21Peter Willard, heard that

01:00:23there was a sanatorium in

01:00:24New York specializing in

01:00:26severe paralysis cases like

01:00:28his, and immediately

01:00:30arranged for him to be

01:00:32transferred there by

01:00:33private jet.

01:00:34Yet during the long

01:00:35rehabilitation, Ezekiel simply

01:00:37could not calm his mind to

01:00:39cooperate with the

01:00:40treatment.

01:00:40His heart and thoughts were

01:00:42filled with the hope of

01:00:43finding me as soon as

01:00:44possible.

01:00:46On this day, his

01:00:47assistant pushed him out of

01:00:49the sanatorium for a walk

01:00:50in the marina district, and

01:00:52a couple walking hand in

01:00:54hand nearby instantly stung

01:00:55his eyes.

01:01:01He looked at me and

01:01:02Kylan.

01:01:03I held a large bouquet of

01:01:05roses in my arms, leaning

01:01:07against Kylan.

01:01:12Unconsciously, Ezekiel's heart

01:01:14skipped a beat, but then it

01:01:17sank heavily, for at

01:01:20Kieran's face was all too

01:01:21familiar to him.

01:01:26Kieran, president of the

01:01:28Broadway Group in New York.

01:01:29Kieran appeared on the front

01:01:31page of financial news every

01:01:32day, and a single word from

01:01:34him could cause a financial

01:01:35earthquake in the country.

01:01:36Kieran had also once been a

01:01:38prodigy in the law department

01:01:39at the University of San

01:01:41Francisco, a top student.

01:01:42No wonder, no matter how

01:01:44many methods Ezekiel used or

01:01:46how much money he offered as

01:01:47a reward, he could never find

01:01:49me.

01:01:49It turned out that someone had

01:01:51protected me well, completely

01:01:53sheltering me under his

01:01:54invincible wings.

01:01:55Izayel, who had once feared

01:01:57nothing and commanded the

01:01:58winds and clouds at the

01:01:59University of San Francisco and

01:02:01throughout San Francisco, for

01:02:02the first time felt

01:02:03uncontrollable fear in front of

01:02:05the one he loved.

01:02:06I already had another lover.

01:02:08Healthy, successful in his

01:02:09career, academically outstanding,

01:02:12each quality so exceptional that

01:02:14ordinary people could only look

01:02:15up to him.

01:02:16Even Ezekiel himself had to admit

01:02:18that he simply could not compare

01:02:20to Kieran.

01:02:21It was not until my figure

01:02:22gradually disappeared into the

01:02:24distance that he, like a

01:02:25stranded fish, clinged to the

01:02:27armpit of his wheelchair and

01:02:28gasped for breath.

01:02:29The assistant saw everything

01:02:31and tentatively asked,

01:02:32Mr. Willard, why be flying out to

01:02:34Mrs. Quincy?

01:02:35Ezekiel let out a self-mocking

01:02:37laugh, and as he spoke, tears

01:02:39welled up in his eyes.

01:02:40In the past six months, he had

01:02:42almost shed all the tears of his

01:02:44life, all for me.

01:02:51Call out to her?

01:02:54On what grounds?

01:02:57Because I've become a cripple?

01:03:01Or because that man

01:03:04with a flick of his finger

01:03:06could make all my efforts over

01:03:08the past six months amount to

01:03:09nothing, leaving me unable to

01:03:11find a single trace of Lina?

01:03:14He was not discouraged.

01:03:15He hated himself.

01:03:19After returning, Ezekiel began

01:03:21to have an intense revelation in

01:03:23Regine.

01:03:25He trained like a madman, as if he

01:03:28wanted to exhaust himself to death

01:03:30on the rehabilitation equipment.

01:03:35Finally, on the day he could stand

01:03:36up on his own again, he went to

01:03:38the building of the Rodway Group

01:03:40and waited quietly in his car.

01:03:43He waited until nightfall as groups

01:03:46of employees left the company.

01:03:51Only then did that familiar figure

01:03:53finally appear at the entrance.

01:04:00I carried my laptop bag, looked

01:04:03exhaustedly toward the exit of the

01:04:05underground parking lot, and slowly

01:04:07walked to the roadside.

01:04:09Ezekiel opened the car door and finally

01:04:11called out my name.

01:04:13Lina.

01:04:15I had lost weight, but my complexion was

01:04:18remarkably good.

01:04:19My fair skin still glowed with a moist

01:04:23radiance under the moonlight, tinged

01:04:25with a faint blush.

01:04:27Yet my gaze showed not the slightest

01:04:29ripple, unusually calm.

01:04:32Those lively eyes, now unperturbed,

01:04:35resembled a deep, bottomless cold pool,

01:04:39without joy or sorrow, love or hate.

01:04:44Instead, they reflected his current

01:04:47embarrassment and agitation with even

01:04:50greater clarity.

01:04:52That look was clearly directed at a

01:04:55stranger.

01:04:57Ezekiel suddenly recalled every late

01:05:00night in the past when my heart and

01:05:02eyes had been filled with his presence.

01:05:04Now, however, I was so distant and

01:05:07indifferent.

01:05:15He spoke with a hossy voice, cautiously.

01:05:20I've been looking for you for so long.

01:05:22I even went to the hospital to see you,

01:05:24but I was blocked every time.

01:05:27I called you countless times, from your

01:05:29phone being turned off at first to

01:05:31eventually being disconnected.

01:05:34I...

01:05:36Ezekiel was somewhat incoherent.

01:05:38He was too agitated and too fearful.

01:05:41He was terrified I would disappear

01:05:43again.

01:05:44I'm sorry I miss you so much.

01:05:48I really miss you.

01:05:50For more than half a year, not a

01:05:52moment passed without me thinking of

01:05:55you, searching for you.

01:05:58I found out the person who saved me on

01:06:00the mountain was you.

01:06:03Lena, I was wrong.

01:06:05It was because Felicia lied to me,

01:06:08saying she was the one who saved me,

01:06:10that I helped her hurt you.

01:06:12I finally lifted my eyes and looked

01:06:14directly at him.

01:06:16But it was not because I was moved.

01:06:19It was because, behind him, Kieran's

01:06:22car had already driven out of the

01:06:24underground garage and was approaching

01:06:26slowly.

01:06:26Yet this reaction, in Ezekiel's eyes, took

01:06:31on a different meaning.

01:06:34He was greatly encouraged and

01:06:36continued.

01:06:38I've already punished myself.

01:06:40I had the hacker delete the link from

01:06:41the push notification, and at school, I

01:06:44also did things for you.

01:06:46However, he did not finish his

01:06:48sentence.

01:06:49I suddenly smiled, waved behind him, and

01:06:53walked around him, leaving straight

01:06:55away.

01:06:58I did not leave a single word.

01:07:02Ezekiel watched my departing figure, and

01:07:05involuntarily pressed his thin lips

01:07:07together.

01:07:07He hurried forward, trying to grab my

01:07:10arm.

01:07:12Lena, don't go!

01:07:14I still have something to say!

01:07:19However, just as he was about to touch

01:07:21me, the car door nearby slowly opened.

01:07:24Kenan stepped out and tightly embraced

01:07:25me.

01:07:26Mr. Willard, it's not very appropriate

01:07:29for you to cumulically pestle my

01:07:30girlfriend.

01:07:31At what my place is, is it?

01:07:33Kieran's expression was indifferent,

01:07:35without any emotion.

01:07:36In contrast, at Ezekiel's face was

01:07:38filled with urgency and panic.

01:07:40Kieran used his tall figure to shield

01:07:42me behind him, his eyes carrying an

01:07:44undisguised warning.

01:07:45Ezekiel quickly calmed down, his brows

01:07:48tightly frowned as he sized up the cold

01:07:49and stern man before him, refusing to

01:07:51back down.

01:07:53Mr. Rodbay, this is between Lena and

01:07:55me.

01:07:56It has nothing to do with you.

01:07:58He was confident that as long as he

01:08:00sincerely apologized, I would surely

01:08:01forgive him.

01:08:02After all, I had loved him so deeply.

01:08:05However, at Kieran Rodway let out a low

01:08:07laugh.

01:08:09Out Lena's matters are my matters.

01:08:12Besides, do you need me to remind you

01:08:14what you've done?

01:08:14If I were you, I'd wish to smash my

01:08:17head and die.

01:08:19He took a deep breath before

01:08:21continuing.

01:08:21The Willard family is truly unfortunate

01:08:23to have a son like you.

01:08:25If you keep pestering Lina, I won't

01:08:27mind having your family come over to

01:08:29properly enforce the family rules.

01:08:30There was already a hint of threat in

01:08:32Kieran's words, but at Ezekiel Willard

01:08:34did not care at all.

01:08:35Even if you can use your power to

01:08:37force me back, you can't change the

01:08:38fact that's most beloved person is

01:08:41always me.

01:08:42I made mistakes.

01:08:43I can punish myself however I want,

01:08:45but I will never give up on her.

01:08:48Kieran Rodway, do you dare to compete

01:08:51with me fairly?

01:08:52We.

01:08:53He did not finish his sentence as I

01:08:56suddenly interrupted him.

01:08:57Ezekiel, there's no need to compete.

01:09:01Both men looked at me at the same

01:09:02time.

01:09:03The person I love now is at Kieran.

01:09:06No one can compete with him.

01:09:08As for you,

01:09:10I feel utterly disgusted

01:09:11and regretful for ever loving you.

01:09:13That is the greatest shame of my life!

01:09:16Ezekiel was struck,

01:09:17as if by lightning.

01:09:19He staggered back several steps,

01:09:21almost collapsing to the ground in

01:09:22embarrassment.

01:09:23It was as if all his strength had been

01:09:24instantly drained from his body,

01:09:26and even maintaining the last bit of

01:09:28dignity was becoming a luxury.

01:09:30Impossible.

01:09:33I don't believe it.

01:09:34You clearly love me so much,

01:09:35you said you would love me for your

01:09:37whole life.

01:09:40Lena, this joke isn't funny at all.

01:09:42I was wrong.

01:09:43I really was wrong.

01:09:45Please forgive me.

01:09:46Don't be so cruel to me.

01:09:48I swear.

01:09:50I will spend the rest of my life

01:09:51making up for what I owe you.

01:09:53I won't let you suffer any more harm.

01:09:56I'm begging you, Lena,

01:09:57don't treat me like this.

01:09:59As he spoke,

01:10:00he reached out to grab my hand,

01:10:01but his hand was slapped away harshly.

01:10:03I looked at him coldly,

01:10:05my eyes completely unherherbed.

01:10:07Ezekiel, go back.

01:10:09Your very presence makes me sick.

01:10:11If you truly feel sorry for me,

01:10:14then please get out of my world completely

01:10:16and never bother me again.

01:10:19In the days that followed,

01:10:21I briefly regained a period of peace.

01:10:24On this day,

01:10:25I was invited to Columbia University

01:10:27to participate in a month-long teaching seminar.

01:10:30The transition from student to teacher

01:10:32felt novel to me.

01:10:33And the gloom that Ezekiel had cast over my mood

01:10:36was swept away.

01:10:37After the first day ended,

01:10:38a student ran over and said,

01:10:40Miss Quincy,

01:10:41there's someone waiting for you

01:10:42outside the lecture hall.

01:10:43He's a very handsome man.

01:10:45I thought it was Kieran,

01:10:47so I quickly packed my things

01:10:48and ran outside.

01:10:49I had to admit that

01:10:51I was relying in more and more on Kieran.

01:10:53No matter what I did,

01:10:54I wanted to share my feelings with him first.

01:10:57But when I saw At Ezekiel standing before me,

01:11:00all the blood in my body turned cold.

01:11:01He really was like a lingering ghost.

01:11:04I turned to leave,

01:11:05but At Ezekiel caught up with me

01:11:06in a few quick steps.

01:11:08He hugged me tightly from behind.

01:11:10His eyes filled with obsessive emotion.

01:11:12Don't go, Lena.

01:11:13Let's talk, please.

01:11:15I really can't live without you.

01:11:18I know you've been wronged,

01:11:19so why don't you hit me?

01:11:20Use a knife or a stick,

01:11:22anything you want.

01:11:24Even if you want to kill me,

01:11:25that's fine.

01:11:27Just don't ignore me, please.

01:11:29Since you left,

01:11:29I haven't had a single good night's sleep.

01:11:32It took me so long to find you,

01:11:33but now there's another man by your side.

01:11:36Do you know I'm about to lose my mind?

01:11:38I felt a wave of nausea rise in my heart.

01:11:42During those days

01:11:43when I couldn't control my feelings for him,

01:11:45when I hoped he would give me a little love,

01:11:47I had imagined countless times

01:11:48that he would truly love me,

01:11:49but from beginning to end,

01:11:51all gave me was cruel hurt.

01:11:55From the moment I walked out of the campus,

01:11:57the Paulina of the past had already died.

01:11:59I had died on on the basketball court

01:12:02on the third floor of the school gymtasium.

01:12:04I broke free from Adzekiel's embrace with disgust,

01:12:07looked at him indifferently,

01:12:08and spoke coldly.

01:12:09Ezekiel,

01:12:10if you keep pestering me,

01:12:12I'm going to call the police.

01:12:14Ezekiel's eyes suddenly turned red.

01:12:16He had searched for me for such a long time

01:12:18and never once had he thought about giving up.

01:12:21He ignored my resistance,

01:12:22trapping me tightly with his arms

01:12:24and tried to kiss my ear and hair.

01:12:26Lena,

01:12:28please don't treat me like this.

01:12:30Didn't we agree to get married after graduation?

01:12:32I can marry you right now.

01:12:34I've already bought the engagement ring.

01:12:36You left me without a word

01:12:37and I really corned me with this.

01:12:39Are you still blaming me?

01:12:41I know I'm sorry I didn't understand my own heart,

01:12:43but I really will change.

01:12:45His hot breath poured over the back of my ear,

01:12:47made me so uncomfortable that my hair stood on Ed,

01:12:50but his disgusting behavior continued.

01:12:52I know you've already found out about the push link thing.

01:12:54I admit I did it,

01:12:56but now I've erased them all.

01:12:58Even the ones others got,

01:12:59I destroyed them with one click.

01:13:00I was so furious that I shook.

01:13:02I bit at Ezekiel's arm hard,

01:13:04and while he was in pain,

01:13:06I quickly turned around and saw him hard across the face.

01:13:09Ezekiel,

01:13:09no matter what you do to make up for it,

01:13:12I will never love you again.

01:13:14In my eyes,

01:13:15you are a complete bastard.

01:13:16You disgust me.

01:13:17You make me hate you.

01:13:18And even hearing your name makes me sick.

01:13:23To me,

01:13:24the at Paulina of the past died long ago,

01:13:27died at the University of San Francisco,

01:13:29died in your abuse and harm.

01:13:30What gives you the right to ask for my forgiveness?

01:13:33Why should I come back?

01:13:34Just because you regret it.

01:13:36Tell me,

01:13:37why?

01:13:38Early spring in New York was still a bit coley,

01:13:41and I curled up my body.

01:13:42Then,

01:13:43as if I remembered something,

01:13:45I slowly rolled up my sleeve.

01:13:47The exposed skin was covered with Chris's crossing scars.

01:13:50Who knew how many years it would take to fully heal,

01:13:52or perhaps it would never heal at all.

01:13:54I pointed at those scars,

01:13:55and said word by word,

01:13:57Ezekiel,

01:13:58these are your crimes,

01:13:59and they will never be erased.

01:14:00You should stay as far away from me as possible.

01:14:03If you had even a shred of guilt,

01:14:05you wouldn't be so self-righteous

01:14:07as to harass my hard-won peaceful life

01:14:10and make it a mess again.

01:14:11You are just so selfish and shameless.

01:14:16Ezekiel stood frozen in place,

01:14:19unable to move for a long time.

01:14:21Kiran suddenly launched an attack.

01:14:23Kiran precisely targeted

01:14:25all the projects of the Willard family.

01:14:27The family crisis was all because

01:14:29Ezekiel went to harass someone else's girlfriend.

01:14:32Peter was furious

01:14:33and immediately sent people to bring him Welkai.

01:14:35But Ezekiel seemed bewitched

01:14:37and would still sneak off to New York.

01:14:39Although Kiran had already arranged bodyguards around me,

01:14:42they would drive him away before he could get close.

01:14:45Yet he only wanted to see me from afar.

01:14:47It was only at this very moment

01:14:48that Ott Ezekiel finally understood

01:14:50the inexplicable panic

01:14:52that had suddenly arisen in his heart back then.

01:14:55It turned out that from that time on,

01:14:57he had been afraid of losing me.

01:14:58He had also become clearly aware

01:15:00that his actions might make it impossible to win my back.

01:15:05So I was right.

01:15:06He deserved it.

01:15:07He was shameless.

01:15:08He knew the outcome but still did it,

01:15:10simply because he was convinced

01:15:11my love would never change.

01:15:13He publicly announced his separation

01:15:15from the Willard family,

01:15:16gave up all inheritance rights,

01:15:18and stayed alone in New York.

01:15:19He could not succeed in anything in New York

01:15:22because Kiran's people were always watching him.

01:15:24So he could only take odd jobs everywhere,

01:15:27living a miserable life,

01:15:29all just to catch a glimpse of Paulina from time to time.

01:15:32On the day I got married,

01:15:34Ezekiel waited early in the grass

01:15:36outside the Rodway mansion.

01:15:37He watched helplessly as I gave my hand to Kiran.

01:15:40He went mad.

01:15:41He rushed back to his rented room

01:15:43and stabbed himself again and again.

01:15:45Just before losing consciousness,

01:15:47he dialed the emergency center and said,

01:15:51Please, I'm about to die.

01:15:54Please let me see Lena.

01:15:56Just let me see her one more time, please.

01:15:58When woke up again,

01:15:59he was already laying in a ward

01:16:01at New York Pristerian Hospital.

01:16:03He had previously suffered a gunshot wound

01:16:05and his body had long been severely weakened.

01:16:07After this ordeal,

01:16:08he seemed completely broken.

01:16:10I filed a lawsuit against him.

01:16:12I personally served as my own attorney,

01:16:15accusing him of violating citizens' privacy,

01:16:17distributing obscene materials.

01:16:19Intentional injury

01:16:20and several other charges.

01:16:22In court,

01:16:23I fought wore my lawyer's robe,

01:16:25spoke clearly and logically,

01:16:27and Spreard novitically presented

01:16:28all the evidence in detail.

01:16:30Over the years,

01:16:31I had never given up

01:16:32seeking justice for myself.

01:16:34Now that I was married,

01:16:35I had the strongest support

01:16:36and no longer had any worries.

01:16:38And the chain of evidence

01:16:39was finally completely intact.

01:16:42Ezekiel did not hire a lawyer,

01:16:44nor did he apply to defend himself.

01:16:46He cooperated silently with all the procedures.

01:16:48He pleaded guilty in court

01:16:49and would not appeal.

01:16:51He was subsequently convicted

01:16:52of multiple crimes

01:16:53and sentenced to seven years in prison.

01:16:56On the day he entered prison,

01:16:58Ezekiel knelt on the ground

01:17:00and begged the prison guard

01:17:01to let him see me.

01:17:02But I replied,

01:17:03you will never see me again

01:17:05in this lifetime.

01:17:06Seven years had passed

01:17:08in the blink of an eye.

01:17:09I had given birth to a daughter

01:17:10named Emily Roadway.

01:17:12I gently raised the high-old,

01:17:13nurturing her to be independent

01:17:15and obstinous,

01:17:16my heart overflowing

01:17:17with Fortis eyes.

01:17:18Kieran accompanied me

01:17:19back to San Francisco

01:17:20to pay respects to my mother.

01:17:22The three of us

01:17:23bowed before the gravestone.

01:17:25Mom,

01:17:26I am very happy now.

01:17:28My family is harmonious

01:17:30and blissful.

01:17:31All the pain from the past,

01:17:33I have already forgotten.

01:17:35Please rest assured.

01:17:36Emily hopped around,

01:17:38earnestly wiping the gravestone

01:17:39for her grandmother,

01:17:40her little face shrouded in solemnity.

01:17:42With her childish voice,

01:17:44she said,

01:17:45Grandma,

01:17:46I will take good care of mom,

01:17:48so don't worry.

01:17:49Kieran and I were amused

01:17:50and burst into laughter.

01:17:53It was not until the sun slanted west

01:17:55and the cemetery was about to close

01:17:57that the three of us

01:17:58left hand in hand.

01:18:00We did not notice that,

01:18:01not far away in the bushes,

01:18:03two pairs of eyes were watching us,

01:18:05one burning with intensity,

01:18:07the other cold and sinister.

01:18:09Before returning to New York,

01:18:10I visited the University of San Francisco

01:18:13to see Reet.

01:18:14Seeing Reet,

01:18:15whose hair had long since turned white,

01:18:17my eyes could not help but grow moister.

01:18:19Mr. Smithison,

01:18:21there is something I have never told you

01:18:22all these years.

01:18:23I came here today,

01:18:24especially to tell you,

01:18:25thank you.

01:18:27Truly,

01:18:28thank you.

01:18:28If you hadn't contacted Kieran back then,

01:18:31there would be no Paulina today.

01:18:33You are like a second parent to me.

01:18:35Reet was moved to tears as well

01:18:36and we talked for quite a while.

01:18:38When I left,

01:18:39it was already noon,

01:18:40the students had gone to lunch

01:18:42and there were not many people on campus.

01:18:44I walked alone along the familiar path

01:18:46and a message from Kieran popped up on my phone.

01:18:49My work is finished

01:18:50and I am almost at the University of San Francisco.

01:18:53I smiled softly,

01:18:54my face full of tenderness.

01:18:56Just then,

01:18:56a figure suddenly darted out from behind a tree,

01:18:59blocking my way.

01:19:01Paulina,

01:19:02after all these years,

01:19:04I have finally waited for you.

01:19:06I looked up and saw at Felicia.

01:19:08I was utterly shocked

01:19:09and took two steps back,

01:19:11my eyes wide with caution.

01:19:12Weren't you sentenced to life imprisonment?

01:19:14How are you here?

01:19:15Felicia let out a bitter laugh,

01:19:17her voice completely horny.

01:19:19Inside,

01:19:19I lived a life of utter darkness,

01:19:23tortured until I developed cancer.

01:19:26So I applied for medical parole.

01:19:30Also,

01:19:31I could find a chance before I die

01:19:33to drag you to hell with me.

01:19:35I kept retreating,

01:19:36trying hard to stay calm.

01:19:38Felicia,

01:19:38I never wronged you.

01:19:39In fact,

01:19:40you have always hurt me.

01:19:42Why do you hate me so much?

01:19:44Felicia's eyes glinted with ferocity.

01:19:46The knife in her hand waved ceaselessly.

01:19:50Of course I hate you!

01:19:52You are an orphan.

01:19:53You should have lived like a worm in the mud.

01:19:56So why are you better than me in every way?

01:19:59You were always top of the class.

01:20:01Teachers liked you.

01:20:02And even when you went hiking,

01:20:04you managed to save the youngest son

01:20:05of the most powerful Willard family in San Francisco.

01:20:08Why, Paulina,

01:20:10why is your luck so good?

01:20:11How could I not hate you?

01:20:14I just want to destroy you

01:20:15to make you fall into the abyss with me.

01:20:18With that,

01:20:19she lunged straight at me with the knife.

01:20:23Just as the sharp blade

01:20:24was about to pierce my body,

01:20:26a stern shout rang out from nearby.

01:20:29Kiran and the recently released Ezekiel

01:20:31were running toward me at the same time.

01:20:34Felicia saw Ezekiel

01:20:35and her eyes grew even redder.

01:20:37She suddenly turned the knife

01:20:38and stabbed fiercely

01:20:40at the charging Ezekiel.

01:20:41Ezekiel,

01:20:42I didn't kill you last time,

01:20:43so this time we'll die together!

01:20:46The sound of the blade-piercing skin

01:20:48echoed and Ezekiel's heart

01:20:50was strapped through.

01:20:51He did not even have time

01:20:53to say a word before he collapsed.

01:20:55Even in death,

01:20:56he was still looking in my direction.

01:20:58Felicia wildly turned her head,

01:21:00her body covered in blood

01:21:01as she looked at me.

01:21:02Paulina,

01:21:03I really dislike you,

01:21:05but I also envy you.

01:21:07As soon as she finished speaking,

01:21:09she plunged the blooded knife

01:21:10into her own heart.

01:21:13Kiran raised his hand

01:21:15to cover my eyes,

01:21:16holding me tightly in his arms.

01:21:18Don't be afraid, Lena.

01:21:20I'm here.

01:21:21I'm here.

01:21:22This was the most beautiful

01:21:23love conflation I had ever heard.

01:21:25My heart, too,

01:21:26settled into peace.

01:21:28A week later,

01:21:29Kiran and I returned to New York.

01:21:31When we got off the plane,

01:21:33the evening glow

01:21:34happened to be in the sky.

01:21:36We held hands

01:21:37and gazed into each other's eyes.

01:21:40We were surrounded

01:21:42by the radiant cease

01:21:43of happiness.

01:21:49We were surrounded

01:21:51by the radiant cease of happiness.

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