- 11 hours ago
Ten Stolen Years: Escaping My Toxic Family Episode Golden Scene Media
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00:00At 3 a.m., I checked my wife's phone and found a text.
00:05If I put your husband's staltector veil behind bars, do I get to be the one who marries you?
00:10I shoved the screen right in her face.
00:14Celestine Voss barely looked at it.
00:16He's my late mentor's son. It was just a stupid joke.
00:23From that night on, I started keeping an eye on her.
00:27On her and Lucian Thorne.
00:30And then the bridge I designed collapsed.
00:33A lot of people died.
00:38My parents called me a murderer and cut me off on the spot.
00:42An angry mob of the victims' families nearly beat me to death outside the courthouse.
00:51I lost 10 years behind bars for a crime I didn't commit.
01:00When I finally got out, the man I used to be was dead.
01:05I buried my past, took a fake name, and disappeared into a new town.
01:12I got a job in a coffee shop and kept my head down.
01:15For a while, it almost felt peaceful.
01:18Then my ex-wife found me.
01:20And the second she stepped into my cafe, every reporter in the city shoved a microphone in my face.
01:27Mr. Vail, is it true Miss Voss has postponed her wedding for 10 years because she's still waiting for you?
01:31Ten years ago, she let Lucian into my team.
01:35He approved substandard materials for a kickback.
01:38After the bridge collapsed, she protected him and let me take the blame for all those deaths.
01:44Celestine stood in the middle of it.
01:46Flawless as ever.
01:47My boss lost his mind.
01:49Hey, Aiden, get over here.
01:50Take a picture with Mrs. Voss.
01:53She's one of the top CEOs in the country.
01:55If we post this, this place is going to go viral.
01:58I'll even give you a raise.
02:01My hand froze around the cup I was washing.
02:05The reporters noticed anyway.
02:09So this is where you've been hiding, Mr. Vail.
02:11You used to be one of the biggest names in architecture.
02:13Now you're washing dishes in a cafe.
02:15How does that feel?
02:16We've heard your ex-wife has waited for you all these years and keeps postponing her wedding to her fiance.
02:22Steningle Tamp.
02:24Any comment?
02:25I knew what Celestine was capable of.
02:28I'd seen it with my own eyes.
02:30If she was here, she wanted something.
02:33This is between me and my former husband.
02:37No interviews.
02:38Leave.
02:39Now.
02:43She looked at me.
02:45Adrian Vail.
02:46She paused.
02:48Quietly, she added.
02:49Don't be like that.
02:50Hearing her say my real name after ten years hit harder than I expected.
02:56My fingers twitched.
02:57A cup slipped.
02:59Still so careless?
03:02Marco, I'm sorry.
03:05I'll clean it up.
03:06Just take it out of my pay.
03:09And before anyone else could say a word.
03:12Celestine.
03:13You left without saying a word.
03:15My parents and I were worried sick.
03:18Lucian Thorne walked in.
03:20He put an arm around Celestine's waist and kissed her temple.
03:26Ten years ago, he was the reason that bridge came down.
03:30Now he was her fiance.
03:32And behind him came my parents.
03:34Oh, right.
03:35Your parents took me in like family.
03:38So I guess that makes me your brother now.
03:40I looked past him at my mother and father.
03:43They had aged a decade in all the worst ways.
03:49And somehow, that hurt more than the insults ever did.
03:53We only have one son.
03:55And it's Lucian.
03:56A man who traded human lives for money makes me sick.
04:02Celestine, why would you even come looking for someone like him?
04:05He should have been left to die wherever he crawled off to.
04:10Every customer stared at me.
04:12Even Marco.
04:15Don't blame them.
04:17What happened back then destroyed them too.
04:23I owe you more than I can ever repay.
04:25If you ever need anything, call me.
04:28I stared at the card in her hand.
04:30Because women like Celestine Voss never showed up out of guilt.
04:34They showed up when something worse was coming.
04:38I didn't refuse Celestine's card.
04:40Or more accurately, I took it the exact same way I would take any customer's card.
04:46I set it aside.
04:47I didn't care how she found me.
04:50And I had zero intention of ever seeing her again.
04:53Until three days later when Marco called me.
05:06Adrian, I'm really sorry.
05:08I had no idea who you used to be.
05:10A guy like you working in my shop.
05:12It doesn't make sense.
05:16Look, I'm paying you for the rest of the month.
05:20But starting tomorrow, don't come back.
05:23Before I could say a word, he hung up.
05:30I immediately tried to call him back.
05:32Blocked.
05:33A second later, a payment notification hit my phone.
05:37$4,500.
05:40Marco had sent me an extra thousand.
05:42There was a note attached.
05:44The extra thousand is an apology.
05:46My place is small.
05:48I can't afford this kind of trouble.
05:50Please, don't come back.
05:52I already knew who was behind this.
05:54And right on cue, Celestine called.
06:00Adrian, there's no way for me to clear your name about what happened ten years ago.
06:05I need you to understand that.
06:07But I'll make it up to you in every other way.
06:11Pouring coffee is beneath you.
06:17So I took care of it.
06:19I also bought you a house in Bayhaven.
06:22You can move in immediately.
06:24Lucien is still young.
06:26There are a lot of complex projects he can't handle the way you do.
06:32Help him out.
06:39I'll pay you $200,000 a month.
06:41My fists clenched until they literally started to ache.
06:45Why?
06:45Why did she get to throw me into hell?
06:48Strip me of everything.
06:49And then waltz back into my life acting like my savior.
06:53What gave her the right to dictate my future?
06:55Help Lucien.
06:57What she really meant was simple.
06:59She wanted me to be his ghost architect.
07:01After Marco fired me, I spent the whole day looking for work.
07:04I tried every cafti, every restaurant, every small business with a help wanted sign in the window.
07:10But it didn't matter where I went.
07:11It didn't matter how badly they needed staff.
07:14The second I walked in, their attitude changed.
07:17Every single one of them was polite.
07:19Almost too polite.
07:20They treated me like I was someone important.
07:22And then every single one of them refused to hire me.
07:25By the time the sun went down, I had no choice but to head back to the tiny place I
07:29was renting.
07:29But when I got there, my landlady was already waiting outside.
07:33Mrs. Eleanor Hayes.
07:34She was a sweet older woman.
07:35When I first moved into town, I was completely broke.
07:38She gave me my first month rent-free, just so I could get back on my feet.
07:43And whenever she cooked something good, she always brought me a plate.
07:47But that night, her eyes were red from crying.
07:50She rushed over and grabbed my hand.
07:53Adrian, thank God you're back.
07:55I'm so sorry.
07:57I can't rent this place to you anymore.
08:00Please don't blame me.
08:03I don't have a choice.
08:04Someone very powerful.
08:06They made it very clear.
08:09If I let you stay here, my son would lose his job.
08:15She couldn't finish the sentence.
08:18She just broke down crying.
08:20I didn't want to make things harder for her.
08:22So that same night, I packed everything I owned and moved out.
08:26That was Celestine's version of compensation.
08:29Destroy the life I had left.
08:30Then offer me a golden cage.
08:33It would have been funny if it wasn't so cruel.
08:35Thanks for the offer, Mrs. Voss.
08:38But I have my own life now.
08:40So please, stop interfering with it.
08:42Adrian Vale, don't be stubborn.
08:45A man like you was born to build.
08:47You were only ever happy when you were designing.
08:50I'm giving you a chance.
08:52What exactly are you complaining about?
08:54There was a heavy silence on the other end when Celestine finally spoke.
08:59Fine.
08:59I have other ways of making this happen.
09:05A cold knot formed in my stomach.
09:07By that afternoon, I found out exactly what she meant.
09:11The day I was forced out of my rental,
09:15Celestine showed up in my town.
09:22She looked worse than she had a few days ago.
09:25Dark circles under her eyes.
09:27But that didn't stop her.
09:30She brought a moving crew with her.
09:34Standing there calmly.
09:37Directing them to pack up my things.
09:43By the time we got to the house she had bought for me,
09:46everything was already set up.
09:49She poured a glass of neat scotch and set it in front of me.
09:52You always used to run hot.
09:54This takes the edge off.
09:57I took the glass from her quietly.
10:00Then I took a small sip.
10:02It burned going down.
10:05It made my whole body tense up.
10:08Just like her so-called compensation.
10:11I set the glass down and looked at her.
10:14Mrs. Vosk, what happened in the past is over.
10:17If you really want to make it up to me,
10:19you should have stayed out of my life.
10:22Celestine froze for half a second.
10:25But I still caught it.
10:26That tiny flicker of disappointment in her eyes.
10:29Adrian.
10:30Don't do this.
10:32I know you're bitter.
10:35I know you still can't accept what happened.
10:39But this is only the first step.
10:41I'll find a fall guy for the bridge collapse.
10:43Once that's done, I'll rebuild your reputation.
10:45Piece by piece.
10:46I know you don't like Lucien.
10:48I'll make sure he stays out of your way.
10:50For now, just rest.
10:52She wasn't asking.
10:53She wanted control.
10:55She wanted me where she could watch me.
10:57Cage me.
10:58And call it protection.
10:59But Lucien was never going to stay away.
11:02The very same day I moved in,
11:04Celestine had barely been there an hour before he showed up.
11:07With a pack of reporters trailing right behind him.
11:10Celestine!
11:11I heard Adrian was here!
11:13Why didn't you call me?
11:14Then he turned straight toward the flashing cameras.
11:17What happened ten years ago was a tragedy.
11:20Mr. Vail made mistakes.
11:22And innocent people paid the ultimate price.
11:24But everyone deserves a chance to survive.
11:27I just hope he's learned from it.
11:29And that from now on, he'll try to be a better man.
11:36This is just a small gesture.
11:38You used to be a legend in this industry.
11:39And you're my fiancé's ex-husband.
11:42Please, don't refuse.
11:43If you're struggling to survive, just say the word.
11:48He played his part perfectly.
11:50By that afternoon, the headlines were everywhere.
11:53Disgraced Architect returns.
11:56Billionaire ex-wife offers a second chance.
11:58The killer gets a free ride.
12:00Can the victim's families ever rest?
12:03Just like that, Celestine became the devoted, forgiving business queen.
12:08Lucien became the reasonable, big-hearted fiancé.
12:12And I, I got dragged right back into the fire.
12:15Again.
12:17Then, somehow, my new address got leaked.
12:21From that day on, victims' families and angry strangers
12:25started protesting outside the house every single day.
12:28And three days later, my parents came too.
12:32It was the first time in ten years that they had come to see me on their own.
12:36The moment I saw them standing on the porch, something in my chest still lit up.
12:41Mom.
12:41Dad.
12:43You came.
12:45Come inside.
12:46But my father didn't move.
12:48He just glared at me and let out a sharp snort of disgust.
12:52We're not here to visit.
12:53My mother held onto the porch railing, her face pale and tired.
12:58Adrian, what you did back, we still can't forgive you.
13:02But you can't keep making mistake after mistake.
13:05Your father and I are begging you.
13:09Lucien truly loves Celeste.
13:12You're divorced.
13:14Stop clinging to her.
13:16I stared at her in dead silence.
13:19Lucien is a good man.
13:21He's too decent to say this himself, so we're saying it for him.
13:25Then her voice hardened, just enough for me to hear the threat underneath it.
13:29You need to leave Bayhaven.
13:31Immediately.
13:33And if you refuse...
13:36She paused.
13:37My father stepped forward.
13:39His eyes were pure ice.
13:41Then your mother and I will find a way to make you leave.
13:44Ten years ago, I lost my name.
13:47Now I was about to lose the last thing I had left in the world.
13:50And this time, my own parents were the ones holding the knife.
13:54I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
13:56Dad.
13:57Mom.
13:58Did you really never believe me?
14:00What if I told you Lucien framed me?
14:03My father stepped forward and punched me hard in the jaw.
14:06You ungrateful son of a bitch!
14:09Even now, you still try to blame Lucien?
14:14You stick!
14:15Blade him to the eye!
14:16At that exact moment, Celestine was walking up with a few shopping bags.
14:21She saw what happened and rushed over, looking like she was about to intervene.
14:25Mrs. Voss, it's an emergency.
14:27Mr. Thorne crashed his car.
14:28He's at the ER right now.
14:30The second they heard Lucien's name, everything changed.
14:33Celestine froze.
14:35My parents panicked.
14:36And just like that, they forgot I was even standing there.
14:39The three of them turned, got into Celestine's car, and sped off.
14:43I stood there watching them leave.
14:45I laughed so hard.
14:46My eyes filled with tears.
14:48The last ten years had already taught me one thing.
14:51Never expect anything.
14:53But I was still wrong about how far they would go.
14:56My parents' solution came fast.
14:59One evening, I was out picking up groceries when a group of the victim's relatives cornered me in an alley.
15:04I didn't even have time to react.
15:06Someone hit me in the back of the head with a tire iron.
15:09Everything went flat.
15:11When I woke up, my hands were zip-tied behind my back.
15:14I had a rough canvas hood pulled over my head.
15:17My mouth was duct-taped shut.
15:19I could hear the water moving nearby.
15:20A river.
15:21Someone kicked me hard in the ribs.
15:23Piece of shit.
15:25We left you alone, and you still had the nerve to show your face again?
15:29Give me back my son!
15:31He was 19!
15:32He just started college, you animal!
15:35It was you!
15:36You cut corners and my mother died!
15:38You should pay with your life!
15:40I tried to speak.
15:42Tried to tell them the truth.
15:43But with the tape over my mouth, all I could make were muffled sounds.
15:47No one listened.
15:48They beat me until they got tired.
15:50Then the man in front crouched beside me.
15:52You killed our families.
15:55Ten years in prison wasn't enough.
15:58Today, you don't get to walk away.
16:01They kept going.
16:02I could feel my ribs cracking.
16:04By the end, I could barely tell if I was breathing.
16:07My consciousness faded beneath the hood.
16:09My body didn't even feel like mine anymore.
16:11You get it!
16:13Half conscious, I felt them tie a heavy cinder block to my legs
16:18and shove me into the river.
16:20The water was freezing.
16:22I couldn't breathe.
16:23My lungs felt ready to burst.
16:25Maybe this was better.
16:26I was so damn tired of hurting.
16:29If this was the end, let it end.
16:31But just before I blacked out, a pair of strong hands grabbed my collar.
16:36A second later, I broke the surface and air rushed back into my lungs.
16:40When Lucian told my parents that a few victims' relatives just wanted to
16:45talk to me, they were uneasy.
16:47No matter how angry they were, I was still their son.
16:51I knew they hated what they believed I had done, hated the shame it brought to the family.
16:57But underneath all of that, they still cared about me.
17:01That was part of why they came to see me in the first place.
17:05They wanted me out of Lucian and Celestine's lives and out of the way of their wedding.
17:11But they were also afraid I was being too visible.
17:14Afraid the victims' families might actually hurt me.
17:17Lucian saw exactly what they were feeling.
17:20So he put on that calm, reassuring face of his.
17:24Mom, Dad, don't worry.
17:28I looked into these people.
17:29They're decent, ordinary people.
17:32They won't do anything serious to Adrian.
17:36If anything, this little scare might finally teach him to lie low and protect himself.
17:42My parents believed him.
17:44They gave up my daily schedule.
17:47But after they did, the unease didn't go away.
17:51It got worse.
17:53After days of dead silence, my mother finally spoke.
17:58My stomach has been in knots for days.
18:01We haven't heard anything from Adrian.
18:04Do you think we should look for him?
18:06Maybe even call the police?
18:07My father was worried too.
18:09He just couldn't admit it.
18:13Look for him.
18:14Why?
18:14And call the cops to protect a killer.
18:16Let him deal with the consequences.
18:18He looked away when he said it.
18:21If he's gone quite good, a man like him disappearing might be the best thing for everyone.
18:27My mother bit her lip, but said nothing.
18:30Celestine felt it too.
18:32For three straight days, every time she tried to come see me, Lucien found a way to stop her.
18:38If she pushed it, he would play the victim, letting out a wounded sigh.
18:44I knew it.
18:53Celestine always ended up calming him down, always choosing to keep the peace.
18:58But the dread in her chest kept growing.
19:00Until finally, while Lucien was away, she got in her car and drove straight to my house.
19:06She came for one reason, to make sure I was still alive.
19:10But when she arrived, the house was completely empty.
19:13And standing inside, with the exact same fear on their faces, were my parents.
19:19The three of them looked at each other.
19:21No one said what they were really thinking.
19:23After a stiff greeting, they spread out and started searching the house.
19:29It has to be Adrian!
19:32My mother heard it first.
19:35She rushed to the front door and pulled it open.
19:38But the people standing outside weren't me.
19:41They were two uniformed police officers.
19:43My mother froze.
19:46You-who are you looking for?
19:48My father and Celestine came over the second they heard the door.
19:51The moment they saw the police, they both froze.
19:54My father was the first to speak.
19:56Officer?
19:57Is this about Adrian?
19:59Did he get himself into trouble again?
20:02If he broke the law, take him away.
20:04We have nothing to do with him.
20:05The officer looked at him, his face completely grim.
20:08Sir, please.
20:09Are you Adrian Vale's parents?
20:11And his ex-wife?
20:13He took a slow breath.
20:15I need you to sit down.
20:17There is strong evidence to believe Mr. Vale is deceased.
20:20We have several suspects in custody.
20:25Search and recovery teams are currently dragging the river for his body.
20:29He paused.
20:29I'm deeply sorry for your loss.
20:31The words hit all three of them at once.
20:33My mother's knees buckled and she almost went down.
20:37My father caught her at the last second, his face turning the color of ash.
20:43Celestine stared at the officer.
20:45Tears started falling before she even realized it.
20:48She tried to step forward to deny it, but her legs gave out.
20:52She made it one step before collapsing.
20:54In the end, two officers had to help her up and escort her, along with my parents, down to the
21:00precinct.
21:00At the police station, they were walking down the hallway when officers escorted a group of handcuffed suspects out of
21:07an interrogation room.
21:08It was the victim's relatives.
21:10The moment they saw my parents, one of the suspects lunged forward.
21:14Your son destroyed our families.
21:18You gave us his routine yourselves.
21:22What the hell, you hell, did you think was gonna happen?
21:25His own parents handed him over.
21:28Now you're putting this all on us?
21:32Now are you, God!
21:34Now what he wants!
21:35After that, my parents and Celestine barely heard anything else.
21:39Celestine turned to my parents, her entire body shaking with anger.
21:43Adrian is your son.
21:45How could you hand him over to strangers?
21:48How could you be this stupid?
21:51We didn't know.
21:53We really didn't know.
21:55Lucian told us they only wanted to confront him.
21:58He said they just wanted to scare him.
22:00So he'd leave town and lay low for a while.
22:03The second she said Lucian's name, everything locked into place for Celestine.
22:08Lucian.
22:09Again.
22:09He had orchestrated the whole thing.
22:12Celestine's face turned ice cold.
22:14The blood drained from my parents' faces.
22:16Now they were replaying everything in their heads.
22:20Everything about Lucian's kindness suddenly made terrifying sense.
22:24And while they were still trying to process the horror of it,
22:27Lucian walked through the precinct doors.
22:29When he saw the sheer devastation on my parents' faces
22:32and the look in Celestine's eyes,
22:34something ugly finally slipped out into the open.
22:37You're all this upset over him?
22:39The man you all claim to hate?
22:41He looked at my parents, his voice dripping with venom.
22:44You said I was the only son that mattered now.
22:47Then he looked at Celestine.
22:51And I'm the one you're supposed to be building a future with.
22:57He got people killed ten years ago.
23:00If someone finally came after him, why the hell are you acting surprised?
23:04Celestine shouted.
23:06How could you do this?
23:07Lucian still glared back at her, his eyes bloodshot.
23:09I'm not wrong.
23:12A man like him ruined people's lives.
23:16Ten years later, he was still a stain on everyone around him.
23:20He stopped.
23:21His face changed.
23:23Celestine let out a single bitter laugh.
23:25I live with that nightmare every single day.
23:29I protected you.
23:30And it destroyed the only man I ever loved.
23:34Even the officers escorting the handcuffed suspects had stopped in their tracks.
23:39The hallway went dead still.
23:41You know exactly what happened ten years ago.
23:43You were my mentor's son.
23:46He built my career.
23:48So I paid him back by protecting you.
23:50I let my own husband take the fall for your corruption.
23:55That landed like a bomb.
23:56No one moved.
23:57No one spoke.
23:58The rest of the world didn't know the truth.
24:01Celestine cried.
24:02But you did.
24:04You were the one who cut those corners.
24:07You brought that bridge down.
24:09My father finally found his voice.
24:11Celestine, what did you just say?
24:14You mean Adrian wasn't the one responsible?
24:18We blamed our own son and took in the man who...
24:22Celestine didn't deny it.
24:24My mother rushed at Celestine and slapped her across the face.
24:28Celestine just stood there and took it.
24:30Mr. and Mrs. Vail, I'm sorry.
24:34My mother didn't answer.
24:35My son!
24:37My son!
24:38The handcuffed suspects went pale, visibly shaken.
24:42One of them stared at Lucian and whispered,
24:45We went after the wrong man?
24:46No one answered.
24:48There was only my parents' grief.
24:50When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a soft bed.
24:53I tried to sit up, but the pain hit so fast it sent a cold sweat down my back.
24:58Don't move.
24:59Lie back down.
25:00A woman's voice came from the doorway.
25:02A woman in a soft sweater walked in, holding a steaming bowl of soup.
25:06When she saw I was awake, her face lit up.
25:09Thank God.
25:10The doctor said you'd probably wake up soon, so I've been keeping this warm and waiting.
25:15You can't eat anything heavy yet.
25:17When you're better, I'll take you out for real food.
25:20She adjusted the pillows for me, until I was sitting up without hurting as much.
25:25Only then did she lift the spoon and bring the soup to my mouth.
25:28That was when I finally saw her clearly.
25:31There was something incredibly familiar about her.
25:34Familiar enough that my usual defenses just melted away.
25:38When the spoon reached my lips, I took a small sip.
25:41The second it touched my tongue, I froze.
25:44I knew that taste.
25:45It was exactly the way my grandmother used to make it.
25:48I stared at her.
25:49For a long moment, I couldn't say anything.
25:51Then I finally asked,
25:53Who are you?
25:54Something dimmed in her eyes.
25:55Then she offered a soft smile and said,
25:58Grandma's chicken soup had a very specific recipe.
26:02Other than her, only one person knew how to make it.
26:07Don't tell me you really forgot.
26:09And just like that, the memory came back.
26:11When I was a kid, there was an older girl who lived next door and used to look after me.
26:16I had a sensitive stomach back then,
26:18so I practically lived on clear broth.
26:21So she learned how to make my favorite kind from my grandmother.
26:24Yvonne?
26:26She beamed.
26:27You finally remembered?
26:29That was when Yvonne told me everything.
26:31After my family moved away, her biological parents finally tracked her down.
26:36She was the long-lost daughter of the Hart family, one of the wealthiest families in Northgate.
26:41But through all of it, she never forgot me.
26:43She had been looking for me the whole time.
26:45When she saw me become a well-known architect, she was happy for me.
26:49But by then, I was already married to Celestine.
26:52She didn't want to intrude on my life.
26:54When the scandal exploded ten years ago, she said she never believed I was guilty.
26:59She had been investigating in private ever since, collecting proof.
27:03But even by the time I got out, she still hadn't found enough.
27:07At the end, she looked at me with real caution.
27:11I only found out what that mob was planning.
27:14Because I had people keeping an eye on you.
27:16I know I crossed a line.
27:18I know it was an invasion of your privacy.
27:22So, are you mad at me?
27:25I laughed.
27:26Not because it was funny.
27:27Because after everything that had happened, this was the first real kindness I had been shown.
27:33Thank you, Yvonne.
27:35When I saw Lucien being led away in handcuffs on the news, I honestly couldn't believe it.
27:41Yvonne and I looked at each other.
27:44Yvonne had spent ten years clawing after the truth for me.
27:47And somehow, the truth we bled for had come out in public almost all at once.
27:54On the screen, Celestine looked like a ghost.
27:59My parents looked completely shattered.
28:01Watching from the bed, I felt no satisfaction at all.
28:06Just emptiness.
28:07And a deep, heavy exhaustion.
28:10My name had been cleared.
28:12Everyone who had ever hurt me started offering apologies to the version of me
28:17they believed was dead.
28:19When Yvonne saw all of that, she looked over at me and asked,
28:23What are you going to do?
28:26Are you going to tell them you're alive?
28:29The moment she said it, I saw their faces in my head.
28:32My parents.
28:33Celestine.
28:34I already knew what would come next.
28:36Their version of love had already ruined my life once, so I shook my head and smiled at Yvonne.
28:43Let this be my second life.
28:45If the world believes Adrian Valls is dead, maybe that version of me really is.
28:51Six months later, I was fully healed.
28:53The next spring, the trees outside my window came into bloom.
28:57I stared at the falling petals for a long time.
29:04Yvonne, let's go somewhere.
29:07So we left the city.
29:09She set her company to run remotely, cleared her schedule, and came with me.
29:14Just like that, we started traveling.
29:17We saw the world together, and somewhere along the way, I realized Yvonne had become home to me.
29:25In the end, standing by the Thames, I looked at her and said,
29:32Yvonne, I think I'm in love with you.
29:35A soft, beautiful smile broke across her face, and a second later, she kissed me.
29:44Yvonne and I opened a small, independent bookstore in England.
29:48Life became quiet.
29:50Now and then, news from back home still found its way to me.
29:55After my death, Celestine changed.
29:58She took control of her company with ruthless precision, and removed everyone connected to Lucien.
30:04She also never stopped looking for me.
30:09She convinced herself I had to be alive somewhere.
30:12One Christmas Eve, London was buried in snow.
30:15I closed the shop early, ready to head home and make Christmas dinner with Yvonne.
30:21But when I reached our building, I saw a familiar figure standing downstairs.
30:27Celestine.
30:29When she saw me, her hollow eyes suddenly lit up.
30:32Adrian!
30:34She ran toward me and grabbed my hand.
30:37Yvonne and I opened a small, independent bookstore in England.
30:41Life became quiet.
30:43Now and then, news from back home still found its way to me.
30:47After my death, Celestine changed.
30:50There's impression jar in extra basin.
30:52Celestine changed me with ruthless precision, and removed everyone connected to Lucien.
30:56She also never stopped looking for me.
31:00She convinced herself I had to be alive somewhere.
31:04One Christmas Eve, London was buried in snow.
31:08I closed the shop early, ready to head home and make Christmas dinner with Yvonne.
31:13But when I reached our building, I saw a familiar figure standing downstairs.
31:19Celestine.
31:20When she saw me, her hollow eyes suddenly lit up.
31:25Adrian!
31:26She ran toward me and grabbed my hand.
31:28A week later, my parents showed up too.
31:31They looked so much older.
31:33My mother was carrying a tin of the pastries she used to bake when I was a kid.
31:38The moment she saw me, her lips parted.
31:41But the tears came first.
31:44I looked at them and felt that old ache rise in my chest.
31:50Come upstairs.
31:52I turned and led the way.
31:54My father spoke first.
31:56Adrian, we were wrong.
31:59Come home with us.
32:01I took a deep breath and said,
32:04Mom, Dad, just accept that I'm gone.
32:09This is my home now.
32:11I'm not going back.
32:14I don't hate you anymore.
32:17But I can't go back to what we were.
32:20Between us, there are ten stolen years.
32:23And a death that was almost real.
32:26The best ending we can have is to just let each other go.
32:30I didn't take the tin of pastries.
32:33They cried for a long time.
32:36But in the end, they finally left.
32:39And after they were gone, I cried too.
32:44Celestine and my parents never came back after that.
32:47Sometimes, funds would be wired into my account.
32:50I never touched the money.
32:52Now and then, postcards with no return address arrived from back home.
32:56I knew they were from Celestine.
32:58I never answered them.
32:59I didn't even read them.
33:01Life moves forward.
33:08Do you regret it?
33:11I shook my head.
33:12Never.
33:14This quiet little bookstore and Ivan.
33:17This is my life now.
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