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