- 2 days ago
My Mafia Husband Begged Me Back EPISODE
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The day my daughter died, my husband was standing right there.
00:03The railing gave way.
00:05Kelly and Madeline slipped at the same time.
00:06He grabbed Madeline, without hesitation.
00:09And Kelly fell.
00:10She fell right in front of us.
00:12After that, his family blamed me for her death.
00:15His mother held me over a ventilation shaft,
00:17and pushed me to the edge again and again,
00:19just to make me feel what Kelly felt in her last seconds.
00:23That was the day I learned I never mattered.
00:25Not to him, not to his family.
00:27And my husband.
00:28His response was to offer me 30% of his company shares.
00:31If I took the blame.
00:32Whatever, I don't care.
00:34Those were the last honest words I ever said to him.
00:36Because after that, I divorced him.
00:38Uploaded the recording that proved everything to the dark web.
00:41And boarded a helicopter out of his world forever.
00:44Finally, I was free.
00:46What he didn't know, was that I'd taken more with me.
00:49Enough to burn his empire to the ground.
00:52After my daughter Kelly died,
00:53I erased every habit my arms dealer husband had ever disliked.
00:59I stopped asking where he went.
01:01I slept just fine when he didn't come home.
01:05Even after I was injured in an explosion,
01:08the medic told me to notify my family.
01:10I just replied calmly.
01:11I don't have any.
01:12A nurse recognized me.
01:15Mrs. Curran, right?
01:18Mr. Curran is right next door.
01:20Should I inform him?
01:22I shook my head.
01:23That won't be necessary.
01:26Thirty minutes later,
01:27Everett showed up anyway.
01:29His sharp eyes carried their usual oppressive intensity.
01:32Why didn't you tell me you were injured?
01:34I lowered my gaze.
01:36Just shrapnel scratches.
01:38Nothing serious.
01:40My indifference irritated him.
01:42He was about to speak.
01:44When the guard's voices drifted in from outside.
01:47Mr. Curran really cares about Mrs. Finley.
01:50She only twisted her ankle.
01:52He called in a helicopter and carried her on and off himself.
01:56He wouldn't even let her feet touch the ground.
01:59Everett panicked.
02:00He glanced at me,
02:01waiting for me to make a scene like I used to.
02:03But I didn't even blink.
02:06I simply leaned back against the pillow
02:08and closed my eyes.
02:13The air around Everett grew heavy.
02:16Don't listen to them.
02:19Madeline is a specialist in the company.
02:22If she's hurt, it affects operations.
02:26I'm just doing it for the greater good.
02:28I nodded without a word.
02:30His temper flared.
02:31You don't believe me?
02:33I do.
02:35You personally trained Madeline to keep personnel,
02:38and you're her superior.
02:41It's only natural you look out for her.
02:43My calm response unsettled him,
02:45more than anger ever could.
02:47A loud crash echoed from outside.
02:51Madeline staggered into view
02:53and collapsed right in front of my ward.
02:56Everett strode over
02:57and swept her into his arms.
02:58What are you doing here?
03:00Didn't I tell you to stay in bed?
03:04I heard Mrs. Curran got hurt.
03:07I came to check on her.
03:09She shrank into his embrace,
03:10as if I were something to fear.
03:13Mrs. Curran,
03:14please,
03:15don't blame me.
03:18I never meant for Kelly to die.
03:21In the past,
03:21I would have seized him by the collar.
03:23I would have demanded to know
03:25why he was shielding the woman.
03:26Responsible for our daughter's death.
03:29But now?
03:33I just stared at the ceiling in silence.
03:35I'm taking Madeline back to her ward.
03:37I'll be right back.
03:39Everett turned and carried her away.
03:41It was midnight.
03:42He still hadn't come back.
03:45Instead,
03:46I got a call from the
03:47Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
03:49Mrs. Simpson,
03:50are you absolutely sure you want to join
03:52the Welkin Shield Project?
03:53This is a classified initiative
03:54at the highest level.
03:56Once you're in,
03:56you'll be stationed at the base
03:57for a minimum of 20 years.
04:00Completely cut off
04:00from the outside world.
04:01That includes your husband.
04:03Yes.
04:05I'm sure.
04:07The person on the other end hesitated.
04:10If you change your mind,
04:11you have three days to withdraw.
04:14After all,
04:15you used to care so much
04:17about Mr. Curran.
04:18I won't regret it.
04:20Because I don't love him anymore.
04:28The next second,
04:29the door slammed open.
04:31Everett stood there,
04:32his gaze icy.
04:35You don't love me anymore?
04:38I dare you to say that again, Alicia!
04:43I quietly ended the call
04:45and closed my eyes,
04:46fending sleep.
04:47Everett approached.
04:48His presence cold and commanding.
04:50But he paused
04:51when he saw my tightly shut eyes.
04:53He thought I'd been talking in my sleep.
04:55His frown eased slightly,
04:57yet somehow that only fueled
04:58his anger further.
05:02He couldn't stand the thought
05:03of me leaving him,
05:04even in dreams.
05:05He grabbed my wrist
05:06and unshook me awake.
05:10Allie,
05:11did you have a nightmare?
05:12I lowered my eyes.
05:13I dreamed about Kelly.
05:15I dreamed about Kelly.
05:15I dreamed about Kelly.
05:18The words struck him
05:19like a blade.
05:20He pulled me into his arms.
05:23Allie will have more children.
05:26Lots of them.
05:29I said nothing.
05:31My heart was damaged
05:33beyond odd repair,
05:34and even my tears
05:35had long since run dry.
05:42Kelly was gone.
05:43Did he really believe
05:44another child
05:45could erase that?
05:49Everett,
05:50it's the middle of the night.
05:51Why are you here?
05:52He looked caught off guard.
05:54Allie,
05:55Maddie's stomach is bothering her.
05:57She's craving that soup you make.
06:02My body went ice cold.
06:07I just survived an explosion.
06:09Shrapnel was still
06:10embedded in my body.
06:11And here was
06:12at Everett,
06:13waking me in the dead of night
06:14to make soup for Madeline.
06:15Give me a pen and paper.
06:17I'll write down the recipe.
06:18Everett signaled
06:19one of his men
06:20to bring them.
06:24As I handed him the paper,
06:25his fingertips trembled.
06:29Recognition dawned on him.
06:33Once,
06:34long ago,
06:35he'd asked me
06:36for that recipe.
06:37Back then,
06:38I'd told him,
06:39I'll give it to you
06:40the day we part ways.
06:41As long as we're together,
06:43I'll always make
06:44the soup for you myself.
06:46Now I'd handed it over
06:47without a second thought.
06:48Mr. Curran,
06:50Ms. Finley is in
06:50considerable pain.
06:51She's been asking for you.
06:52He frowned and strode out
06:53without a backward glance.
06:55I was accustomed
06:56to this by now.
06:57I closed my eyes
06:58and tried to rest.
07:01But I barely drifted off
07:03when a brutal force
07:04pulled me up.
07:05Alicia,
07:06Maddie coughed up blood
07:07after drinking that soup.
07:08Why?
07:10This grip on my chin
07:11was punishing.
07:14What did you put
07:15in that recipe
07:15you gave me?
07:18I glanced at him flat.
07:22You think it's off?
07:23Let the medics check it!
07:27Allie,
07:28if you're upset,
07:28just say so.
07:30Don't shut me out like this!
07:32I'm your husband,
07:32not your enemy.
07:33I closed my eyes.
07:35I have nothing more
07:36to say to you.
07:37For a moment,
07:38he thought he'd
07:39stopped breathing.
07:40What is that supposed to mean?
07:41I fell silent,
07:42as if he weren't
07:43even standing there.
07:44Outside,
07:45his subordinate's voice
07:46filtered through.
07:46Mr. Corrin,
07:48Mrs. Finley's stomach
07:48has been humped.
07:49She's out of danger,
07:50but she's terrified.
07:51She keeps calling for you.
07:52I see.
07:53He turned back
07:53to give me one deep look.
07:55Get some rest, Allie.
07:56I'll drive you back tomorrow.
07:58That night stretched on
07:59like an endless winter.
08:01Allie,
08:02my daughter,
08:02who'd grown inside me
08:03for ten months,
08:04would be reduced
08:06to ashes tomorrow,
08:07sealed in a cold earth
08:09and lay to rest
08:10in dark earth.
08:11The next day,
08:12Everett drove me
08:13to the country town.
08:14Hidden deep in the mountains,
08:16leaning on my crutch,
08:17I made my way
08:18into the funeral home,
08:19desperate,
08:20for one last glimpse
08:21of my little girl.
08:22But the instant
08:22I crossed the threshold,
08:24Beverly Curran lunged at me
08:25like a woman possessed.
08:26You vile bitch!
08:28You actually have the nerve
08:30to come back?
08:33Beverly slapped me twice
08:35across the face.
08:36Kelly died because of you!
08:38You knew she was afraid of heights.
08:40Why did you take her
08:41to that observation deck?
08:43You wanted her to die.
08:45I went cold.
08:46All over.
08:48Madeline was the one
08:49who took Kelly
08:50to the observation deck.
08:51Why was Beverly
08:52saying it was me?
08:53I turned to look at Everett.
08:55He looked away.
08:56The other friends
08:56stood forward,
08:57joining memory
08:58as they struck me
08:59in the cold.
09:00Peter!
09:01Kill her!
09:01She murdered
09:02her own daughter!
09:03You don't deserve
09:04to see Kelly
09:05one last time!
09:07Sticks of batons
09:08rained down on me
09:08without mercy.
09:10Someone threw a rock
09:10that split my forehead open.
09:12My crutch was grabbed
09:14and used as a weapon
09:14against me.
09:15I collapsed to the floor,
09:17blood and dust
09:18smearing across my face.
09:20Enough!
09:22After what felt
09:23like an eternity,
09:25Everett pushed through
09:25and shielded me
09:26with his body.
09:29Kelly's death
09:29was an accident.
09:31Allie isn't to blame.
09:33Anyone who touches her again
09:34will be dealt with
09:34according to family rules.
09:39His razor-sharp gaze
09:40swept the room
09:41until the crowd
09:42slowly dispersed.
09:43Only then
09:44did his expression soften.
09:49He lifted me into his arms
09:51and carried me back
09:52to our bedroom.
09:53He retrieved the first aid kit
09:54to tend to my wounds,
09:55but my eyes
09:56remained utterly cold.
09:58Everett,
09:59Madeline took Kelly
10:00to that observation deck.
10:02So why did Beverly
10:03say it was me?
10:04His hand holding the gauze paused.
10:06Allie,
10:07Maddie is the weapons expert
10:08the family invested in.
10:09Her identity
10:10is sensitive.
10:12If anyone finds out
10:13she was indirectly
10:14responsible for Kelly's death,
10:16she won't have a place
10:17here anymore.
10:18You're different.
10:19You're my wife
10:21under my protection.
10:24Take the blame
10:25for her this once,
10:26okay?
10:27I'll transfer 30%
10:28of Curry Defense Industries
10:30shares to you
10:31as compensation.
10:32He watched me
10:32with barely concealed unneeds.
10:34He thought I'd break down
10:35crying or lash out,
10:36but my expression
10:37stayed so calm.
10:37It sent panic
10:38seeping into his chest.
10:40I nearly glanced
10:40at him flatly.
10:41Whatever,
10:42I don't care.
10:45He should have felt relieved.
10:47Instead,
10:48something in his chest
10:49tightened painfully.
10:52Allie,
10:52don't overthink it.
10:54Maddie is talented,
10:55and that's why
10:56I look out for her.
10:57That's all it is.
10:58I understand.
10:59I lowered my head.
11:01You don't need to explain.
11:03Only someone
11:04still in deep love
11:05needed explanations.
11:07I didn't love him anymore,
11:08so none of his words
11:09meant anything to me.
11:11Utterly irritated,
11:12Everett was about
11:13to say something.
11:15But before he could,
11:16a guard burst in.
11:18Bad news,
11:19Mr. Curran.
11:20Mrs. Finley went to pay her
11:22respects and ran into
11:23Miss Curran.
11:24They're fighting.
11:25Diane Curran was
11:26the family's
11:26true-blooded heir.
11:28Everett's expression
11:29changed drastically.
11:30Allie,
11:31bandage yourself.
11:32I have to handle this.
11:33He strode out hastily.
11:35The moment he left,
11:37Beverly barged in
11:38with several of her
11:38trusted people.
11:40Alicia,
11:42no one's here
11:43to protect you now.
11:44Her gaze was pure malice.
11:46Kelly's dead
11:49because of you.
11:51I'm going to make sure
11:52you understand
11:53what it feels like
11:54to fall.
11:56She signaled her men
11:58to drag me
11:59to an abandoned
11:59ventilation shaft.
12:01Deep,
12:01dark,
12:02with cold wind
12:03howling up
12:04from the bottom.
12:05Kelly fell from
12:06that observation top
12:0730 stories high.
12:10Do you have any idea
12:12how terrifying
12:13that fall was?
12:15Beverly grabbed my hair
12:16and forced my upper body
12:18over the shaft's edge.
12:20You were right there.
12:22Why didn't you
12:23catch her?
12:25Dizziness overwhelmed me.
12:26The darkness below
12:27gaped like a monster's mouth.
12:30Beverly pushed me
12:31to the edge
12:31time and again,
12:33yanking me back
12:33only at the last second.
12:35Breathe!
12:36You know how to breathe,
12:37don't you?
12:38When Kelly fell,
12:40she didn't even
12:40have time to cry!
12:42After several rounds
12:43of this torture,
12:44a sharp pain
12:46tore through my chest.
12:47A metallic taste
12:48flooded my mouth.
12:49Blood trickled
12:50from the corner
12:51of my lips.
12:52Her internal organs
12:53might be damaged.
12:55If this keeps up,
12:56she could die.
12:58Only then,
12:58did Beverly let go?
13:00I slumped to the ground,
13:01my consciousness fading.
13:03When I woke,
13:05I was in the ward.
13:07Everett sat by the bed.
13:08You're awake, Ellie.
13:09He held my hand,
13:11his eyes bloodshot.
13:13I'm sorry I didn't
13:14protect you well enough.
13:16Don't worry,
13:17I've dealt with
13:18everyone who hurt you.
13:19I warned Mom, too,
13:21she won't lay a finger
13:21on you again.
13:22A deep chill
13:23ran through me.
13:24I'd nearly died,
13:25and all he did
13:27was warn her.
13:28He still hadn't
13:28told her the truth.
13:30He never failed
13:31to disappoint me.
13:32Okay.
13:33I closed my eyes,
13:34unwilling to say
13:35another word.
13:37Ellie,
13:37I know you're upset
13:38about Kelly.
13:39I promise I'll make
13:40it up to you.
13:42We have a long
13:43future ahead.
13:46I'll make you
13:47fall for me again.
13:49He stood and left.
13:50The moment the door
13:51closed,
13:51two encrypted messages
13:53arrived on my phone.
13:54The first was
13:55from the courthouse.
13:56Miss Simpson,
13:57your divorce from
13:58Mr. Curran
13:59has been finalized.
14:00The second was
14:01from DARPA.
14:02Miss Simpson,
14:03the Welkin Shield
14:04project launches
14:05tomorrow.
14:06Your helicopter
14:06is ready.
14:08I stared at the
14:09screen for a long
14:10time.
14:11Finally,
14:12I let out
14:12a relieved smile.
14:14At last,
14:15the day had come.
14:16But before I left,
14:17I had one last
14:18thing to do.
14:19I braced myself
14:20on my crutch
14:21and walked
14:22to Madeline's room.
14:23Alicia?
14:25What are you
14:26doing here?
14:27The usual
14:27fragile act
14:28vanished from
14:29her face,
14:29replaced by
14:30contempt.
14:31Here to look
14:32for Rhett?
14:33How pathetic.
14:34Look at how
14:35badly you're hurt.
14:36and he hasn't
14:37spared you
14:38a second glance.
14:39But me?
14:40I twisted my
14:41ankle and he
14:42stayed by my
14:43side around
14:44the clock.
14:45I felt nothing.
14:46These petty
14:46games over
14:47attention no
14:48longer concerned
14:48me.
14:49I asked only
14:50one question.
14:51Madeline?
14:52That day on
14:53the observation
14:53deck?
14:55Did Kelly fall
14:56on her own?
14:57Or did you
14:58push her?
14:59Madeline's face
14:59split into a
15:00wild grin.
15:01Alicia, you know
15:02what?
15:03Rhett was there
15:03that day too.
15:04The railing
15:05gave way.
15:06Kelly and I
15:07slipped at the
15:07same time.
15:09Rhett grabbed
15:09me without
15:09hesitation, and
15:11Kelly fell.
15:12She fell right
15:13in front of us.
15:14Everett had
15:14been there the
15:15day Kelly died.
15:16He chose to
15:17save Madeline.
15:18He let her
15:19daughter fall.
15:21You want to
15:22know the funniest
15:22part?
15:24Rhett knows I'm
15:25trained in
15:26climbing.
15:26He knows my
15:27balance is
15:28perfect.
15:29But his first
15:30instinct was
15:31still to save
15:31me.
15:33Tears
15:34blurred my
15:34vision.
15:35I swore this
15:36would be the
15:36last time I
15:38ever cried for
15:39Everett.
15:40I wiped my
15:40eyes, picked
15:42up my crutch,
15:42and walked
15:43out.
15:44I moved
15:44slowly, but I
15:46never looked
15:46back.
15:48Everett, we
15:49no longer have
15:49a future.
15:51From now on
15:52we won't see
15:53each other again.
15:54Not in this
15:54life, not in
15:56the next.
15:56I took a
15:57vehicle to the
15:57courthouse and
15:59picked up my
15:59divorce decree.
16:00Before getting
16:01on the
16:01helicopter, I
16:03uploaded the
16:03complete recording
16:04of my conversation
16:05with Madeline to
16:06the dark web.
16:07Kelly's death
16:08was an accident?
16:09The law
16:10couldn't touch
16:10them?
16:11Then let the
16:12truth burn in
16:13the shadows.
16:14That was the
16:14last thing I
16:15did for my
16:15daughter.
16:16I threw away
16:17my phone.
16:18The helicopter
16:18lifted me into
16:19the clouds.
16:20Finally, I
16:22was free.
16:24The helicopter
16:25punched through
16:25layers of
16:26clouds.
16:27Below me, the
16:27company town
16:28shrunk rapidly
16:29until it
16:29disappeared behind
16:30rolling mountain
16:31regions, I
16:32leaned against
16:32the cabin wall
16:33as the sky
16:34out slowly
16:34brightened.
16:47My heart no
16:47longer beat
16:48for Everett.
16:50By the time
16:51we landed at
16:51the northwest air
16:52base, dusk had
16:53settled over the
16:53desert.
16:55The base sat
16:56like a steel
16:56fortress embedded
16:57in the earth.
17:01Welcome at
17:02Mrs. Simpson.
17:10I'm Vernon
17:10Lynch, base
17:12commander.
17:13As of today,
17:14you're the lead
17:15systems engineer
17:16for the Weldon
17:16Shield project.
17:18This will be
17:18your home for
17:19the next 20
17:19years, or
17:21longer.
17:22Home?
17:26The place
17:27I'd once
17:27called home
17:28had long
17:29become a hell
17:29that consumed
17:30me.
17:32Uh, thank
17:34you, Commander
17:35Lynch.
17:36My voice was
17:37calm as I
17:37accepted the
17:38non-disclosure
17:38agreement and
17:39ID badge.
17:40Here, I
17:43wasn't Mrs.
17:43Curran.
17:47I was Mrs.
17:48Simpson.
17:50That
17:50realization
17:51brought me
17:51an almost
17:52cruel sense
17:53of relief.
17:55The days
17:56blurred into
17:57a rhythm
17:58of intense
17:58work and
17:59isolation.
18:03No
18:04internet,
18:05no personal
18:06communication,
18:07only encrypted
18:08internal lines
18:09and mountains
18:10of blueprints
18:10and data.
18:12I poured
18:13everything into
18:13Welton Shield.
18:15Each problem
18:16I solved
18:16felt like
18:17stripping away
18:17another layer
18:18of who I
18:19used to be.
18:20Occasionally,
18:21in the dead
18:22of night,
18:22Kelly's face
18:23would flash
18:23through my
18:24mind.
18:27The dimples
18:28when she
18:29smiled.
18:31The soft
18:32way she
18:32called for me
18:33when she
18:33threw herself
18:34into my
18:34arms.
18:35My heart
18:36would seize,
18:37suffocating
18:38me with pain.
18:41But I'd
18:41force myself
18:42back to
18:43the flickering
18:44screen.
18:47work was
18:48the best
18:48sedative.
18:50My deputy
18:51at Damon
18:52Jenking
18:52seemed to
18:52sense
18:53something
18:53my
18:53silences,
18:54but he
18:54never
18:55pried.
18:57He just
18:58pushed
18:58warm energy
18:59drinks my
18:59way after
19:00I'd worked
19:00ten hours
19:01straight.
19:02One night,
19:03I stood
19:03alone in
19:04the corridor,
19:04staring at
19:05the stars
19:05through the
19:06reinforced
19:06glass.
19:07Damon
19:08appeared
19:08beside me.
19:12he held
19:13out a cup
19:14of hot
19:14coffee
19:14without a
19:15word.
19:16Then,
19:17he walked
19:18away.
19:20I wrapped
19:21my hands
19:21around the
19:21warmth,
19:22and for a
19:23moment,
19:23the night
19:23didn't feel
19:24quite so
19:24endless.
19:25Three years
19:26slipped by
19:26before I
19:27realized it.
19:29Welgel Shield's
19:30Phase 1 test
19:31platform was
19:32about to
19:32undergo its
19:33inaugural orbital
19:33deploy-in.
19:34It was the
19:35project's most
19:36critical and
19:37dangerous stage
19:37yet.
19:38The entire
19:39base hummed
19:40with high
19:41pressure mixed
19:41with barely
19:42constrained
19:42thrill.
19:45Sometime
19:45during my
19:46eighth month,
19:46Vernon called
19:47me into his
19:47office.
19:50He handed
19:51me a
19:51classified
19:52briefing
19:52document,
19:53his expression
19:53grave.
19:55Something's
19:56happened to
19:56current defense
19:57industries.
19:58I scanned
19:59the contents.
20:00An anonymous
20:01source had
20:02leaked their
20:02covert overseas
20:04trading channels,
20:05exposing a
20:06web of black
20:07market weapons
20:08deals.
20:09The information
20:10had been released
20:11in carefully
20:12timed batches
20:13to international
20:13regulators.
20:15Each leak
20:16landed like a
20:17precision strike.
20:20Curry defense
20:21industries had once
20:22seemed like an
20:23unsinkable juggernaut.
20:27Now it was
20:28sinking at
20:29astonishing speed.
20:30very professional
20:32work.
20:33Pinpoint
20:34intel.
20:38Feels like
20:39someone on
20:39that side.
20:41Vernon's gaze
20:42carried both
20:43scrutiny and a
20:44hint of probing.
20:48I set the
20:49briefing down,
20:50my face
20:51revealing nothing.
20:52Commander
20:52Lynch,
20:53right now,
20:53all I care
20:54about is
20:54whether we
20:54can push
20:55Weldok
20:55Shield's
20:55efficiency by
20:563%.
20:58Current
20:59defense
20:59industry's
21:00situation is
21:00none of my
21:01concern.
21:06I see.
21:07Get back
21:08to work.
21:13In the
21:13dead of
21:13night,
21:14when I
21:14faced the
21:14stars alone,
21:15I'd think
21:16about the
21:16recording I'd
21:16uploaded before
21:17I left.
21:18That was
21:18just the
21:19spark.
21:22The
21:23information
21:23that followed
21:24was more
21:24fatal,
21:25more precise.
21:27I'd collected
21:28it during my
21:29years with
21:29the Curranton
21:29family.
21:31An Everett
21:32study in
21:32encrypted server
21:33logs beside
21:34weapons designs
21:35he thought I
21:35didn't understand.
21:38Like a trapped
21:38animal,
21:39I'd subconsciously
21:40gathered it
21:40all.
21:41The day I
21:41left,
21:42together with
21:42that recording,
21:43I set it
21:44all as a
21:44timed release
21:45gift.
21:46I wondered
21:47if Everett
21:48appreciated my
21:49parting gesture.
21:5272 hours
21:53before launch,
21:54I'd practically
21:55moved into
21:56mission control.
21:57The entire
21:57base held
21:58its breath.
22:02During the
22:02final full
22:03system integration
22:04check,
22:04an unexpected
22:05alert flashed
22:06across the
22:06main display.
22:09a minuscule
22:10anomaly in
22:11the orbital
22:11parameters.
22:13Probably
22:14background
22:15radiation
22:15interference
22:16or minor
22:16sensor drift.
22:19I'm not
22:19bashta.
22:20It's within
22:21acceptable
22:22tolerarity.
22:23But Damon
22:24kept comparing
22:25the data,
22:26frowning.
22:27Miss Simpson,
22:29the fluctuation
22:29pattern is
22:30unusual.
22:30I don't think
22:31it's natural
22:31interference.
22:35Looks more
22:35like some
22:36kind of signal
22:36injection.
22:41my heart
22:42tightened.
22:42I immediately
22:43pulled all
22:44relevant logs
22:44and ordered a
22:45full investigation.
22:47Something wasn't
22:48right.
22:51Someone had
22:52touched the
22:53system.
22:59A few hours
23:00later, the
23:01investigation results
23:02came back,
23:02sending a chill
23:03straight through me.
23:04three days ago,
23:05someone had
23:05used a brief
23:06maintenance window
23:06to implant
23:07malicious code
23:08into the
23:08core navigation
23:09substabray.
23:10The code
23:11wasn't designed
23:11to cause
23:12immediate destruction.
23:14It was
23:15programmed to
23:16trigger cumulative
23:17errors under
23:18specific conditions,
23:19eventually causing
23:20the platform to
23:21drift off course
23:22or fail
23:23completely.
23:25Luckily, we'd
23:26caught the
23:27injurgeon in
23:27time and
23:28purged the
23:28code before
23:33it could do
23:33any real
23:34damage.
23:34The
23:35Weckl
23:35Shield
23:35project was
23:36classified at
23:37the highest
23:37level.
23:41An
23:41external
23:42cyber attack
23:43was practically
23:44impossible.
23:45This had to
23:45be an inside
23:46job or
23:47someone with
23:48extremely high
23:49level access.
23:50Security launched
23:51an immediate
23:52investigation.
23:54The trail
23:55went cold
23:56when they
23:56traced it to
23:57a young
23:57technician
23:57responsible
23:58for a
23:58peripheral
23:59data
23:59interface.
24:02He'd gone
24:03missing the
24:04day before
24:04the incident.
24:07They found
24:07his abandoned
24:08vehicle out
24:09in the
24:09desert.
24:14The car
24:14yielded no
24:15useful leads.
24:16Just a faint,
24:17distinctive scent
24:18that lingered in
24:19the air.
24:20A mixture of
24:21gunpowder and
24:21fur.
24:25My fingernails
24:26dug into my
24:27palms as I
24:28recognized it
24:29instantly.
24:30It was Everett's
24:32signature custom
24:32blended cologne.
24:33The scent unique
24:35and long-lasting.
24:37He'd once
24:37mentioned casually
24:38that the scent
24:39helped to maintain
24:40absolute calm.
24:43Was it him?
24:44Had he found
24:45this place?
24:46Or had he
24:47sent one of
24:48his men?
24:50Vernon's face
24:50turned livid.
24:52He immediately
24:52elevated the
24:53base's security
24:54alert level and
24:55reported directly
24:55to higher
24:56command.
24:57The instructions
24:59came back
24:59swiftly.
25:00Proceed with
25:01the launch as
25:01scheduled, but
25:02activate the
25:03highest emergency
25:04protocols.
25:05Launch day
25:06dawned bright
25:07and clear over
25:07the desert.
25:08The massive
25:09launch tower
25:10stood upright
25:11against the
25:11sky.
25:17inside mission
25:18control, the
25:19atmosphere was
25:20heavy with
25:20tension.
25:21Everyone remained
25:22glued to their
25:23workstations.
25:26Focus, absolute.
25:31I sat in the
25:32chief engineer's
25:33seat, facing
25:33multiple screens
25:34displaying different
25:35data.
25:36My heartbeat
25:37stayed steady.
25:39Everything else.
25:40memories, the
25:41tangled thoughts, the
25:42painful memories, even
25:44the recent security
25:45breach, was
25:47forced to push to
25:48the periphery of my
25:49mind.
25:50For now, my
25:52entire world consisted
25:53of jumping data
25:54points and flowing
25:54curves.
25:56One minute to
25:57launch.
26:0010, 9, 8, 3, 2, 1,
26:06ignition.
26:11The roar reached us
26:12through the ground
26:13itself.
26:14On the screens, the
26:16rocket lifted off
26:17steadily.
26:20first stage separation
26:21nominee, second stage
26:24ignition nominee, orbit
26:26insertion phase.
26:27The platform successfully
26:28entered its designated
26:29orbit.
26:31The solar panels began to
26:33deploy.
26:37launch of
26:37crashed ships erupted
26:39throughout
26:39mission control.
26:41We've done it.
26:43I leaned back in my
26:44chair and let out
26:45a long breath.
26:49In the middle of a
26:50glass of water.
26:53Miss Simpson, we
26:56actually did it.
26:56His eyes met mine
26:57for a single, bright
26:59moment, and he
27:00looked away first.
27:05I accepted the
27:06glass and nodded
27:08at Damon.
27:09But deep down, I
27:10couldn't shake the
27:11unease that clung to
27:13me like a second
27:13skin.
27:14The security breach
27:16remained unsolved.
27:17The celebration was
27:18brief.
27:19I retreated to my
27:20office and pulled up
27:22every report related
27:23to the intrusion.
27:24Night fell.
27:26The base settled
27:26into silence.
27:27I rubbed my
27:28throbbing temples.
27:29Finally ready to
27:30call it a night, I
27:31powered down my main
27:32system and was about
27:34to stand.
27:34Then the screen of my
27:35dedicated terminal, the
27:37one used for top, secret
27:38work, physically air
27:40gapped from every other
27:40network.
27:41Flickered to life on
27:42its own.
27:43No login interface.
27:45No system prompt.
27:46Against the black
27:47background, a single
27:48line of white text
27:49floated, like something
27:51risen from the depths.
27:52Let's talk, Allie.
27:56My blood turned to ice.
28:00The words lingered for
28:01perhaps five seconds
28:03before vanishing.
28:05The screen went back to
28:06sleep mode, as if nothing
28:08had happened.
28:09But I knew, with absolute
28:11certainty, that I hadn't
28:13imagined it.
28:13My terminal had the
28:14highest possible security
28:15clearance.
28:16Theoretically, external
28:18intrusion was impossible,
28:19unless someone on the
28:20inside had cooperated, or an
28:22unknown vulnerability had
28:23been exploited.
28:24My mind flashed back, to
28:26the malicious code from
28:27days ago, Everett.
28:28He'd actually extended his
28:29reach this far.
28:30Rage ignited inside me,
28:32burning hot enough to
28:33freeze my hands.
28:34How dare he touch
28:35Welkin's shield.
28:36This wasn't just personal
28:37anymore.
28:38It was a direct threat to
28:39national security.
28:40I hit the internal
28:41emergency communication
28:42button immediately.
28:44Vernon and the head of
28:45security arrived within
28:47minutes.
28:49The tech experts conducted
28:50a thorough sweep of the
28:51terminal.
28:55They found an extremely
28:56sophisticated, deeply
28:58hidden access point.
29:00Its source, untraceable.
29:05Implemented with a level
29:06of professionalism that
29:08only a handful of people
29:09in the world could achieve.
29:14Full sweep of every
29:15internal network and
29:16physical port.
29:17Now!
29:20Vernon's expression was
29:22darker than I'd ever
29:23seen it.
29:23Mrs. Simpson, it's clear
29:25you're the target.
29:27You need to know what he
29:28wants and how you plan to
29:29handle it.
29:30I sat in silence for a
29:31moment, thinking.
29:33Everett had gone to these
29:34lengths to find me.
29:37He already knew about my
29:38involvement in Welkin's
29:39shield.
29:40He might also have
29:41discovered my role.
29:44In the leaks against
29:45current defense industries.
29:47What did he want?
29:50Revenge?
29:51Threats?
29:53Or something else
29:54entirely?
29:58I'll talk to him.
29:59My voice was calmer than I
30:00felt.
30:01Completely devoid of
30:02warmth.
30:03Vernon pondered for a
30:04moment.
30:05Then he exchanged a look
30:06with the security chief.
30:08And finally nodded.
30:11Okay.
30:13We'll set it up.
30:15But Miss Simpson,
30:16remember who you are
30:17now.
30:23I'm at his gaze without
30:24flinching.
30:25I know exactly who I am.
30:27I'm the chief engineer of
30:28Welkin's shield, the
30:29project lead.
30:30That comes before
30:30everything else.
30:31But it has to be in a
30:32completely controlled
30:33environment.
30:33I need an isolated one-way
30:35communication channel,
30:36fully transparent with no
30:37possibility of traceback or
30:38additional infiltration.
30:40The entire conversation
30:41must be monitored and
30:42recorded.
30:44They arranged the
30:45communication in a
30:47special isolation bay.
30:48The room contained only
30:49the most basic audio
30:50equipment.
30:52All signals were
30:53encrypted and filtered
30:55through multiple layers.
30:57At the appointed time, I
30:59sat down in the bay.
31:00A microphone in front of
31:02me.
31:03The communication went
31:04through.
31:05No video.
31:06Just the faint static
31:07hum of electrons.
31:12Then that voice reached
31:13me.
31:14Through the speakers.
31:15The voice I thought I'd
31:16long buried in the past.
31:18It was deep.
31:19Rough around the edges.
31:21Hearing an exhaustion I
31:22couldn't quite place.
31:23And something that almost
31:25sounded like urgency.
31:27Allie?
31:33That single word.
31:34Pierced my ears.
31:35I clenched my hands against
31:37my knees.
31:39Fingernails digging deep
31:40into flesh.
31:42Using the pain to anchor
31:44myself in absolute calm.
31:48Mr. Corrin.
31:49My voice came out steady
31:50and flat.
31:51You've illegally breached a
31:53national level classified
31:54base communication system.
31:57Do you have any idea what that
31:58means?
32:00Several seconds of silence
32:01passed.
32:03Then an almost imperceptible
32:04sigh filtered through.
32:06Yes.
32:07I know exactly what it means.
32:09But...
32:11I needed to see you.
32:13Or at least hear you.
32:14For the sake of those shady
32:15deals you've been running?
32:17Or to make things right
32:18for your beloved Madeline?
32:19I let icy mockery
32:20seep into my tone.
32:23The recording
32:24and those files?
32:26Did you enjoy them?
32:27Those.
32:28His voice turned rough.
32:29Fractured.
32:31I deserved every bit of that.
32:34But that's not why
32:35I'm reaching out to you.
32:40Oh?
32:41Then what?
32:42To catch up?
32:47I'm sorry Mr. Corrin
32:48but there's nothing left
32:49between us
32:50to catch up on.
32:52Allie!
32:53His voice rose
32:55carrying suppressed agony.
32:57Please don't be like this.
33:00I know I was wrong.
33:01I was ridiculously wrong.
33:04I've spent every day
33:05of the past three years
33:07repenting.
33:09I cut him off.
33:10The absurdity of it
33:11almost making me laugh.
33:13What good does that do?
33:15Can it bring Kelly back?
33:17Can it undo the choice
33:18you made that day?
33:19Can it make up for the fact
33:20that Beverly nearly killed me?
33:22Or whitewash those shady deals
33:24you built your empire on?
33:25My barrage of Keston
33:26left him trapped
33:28in a long silence.
33:29When he finally spoke again
33:30his voice was utterly wrecked.
33:33Without Kelly
33:33I got to the bottom of it.
33:36It was Madeleine.
33:37She used to be the screws
33:38on that old railing.
33:40Back then I thought
33:41it was just an accident.
33:42I was afraid that if my family
33:44found out it was her
33:44they'd deal with her
33:45so I...
33:47So you made me the scapegoat?
33:50You let your mother
33:51and your entire family
33:52torture me
33:52like I was the one
33:53who killed my own daughter?
33:56My voice trembled uncontrollably.
33:58Not from sorrow
33:59but from pure fury.
34:04Everett, your devotion to talent
34:06your protective instincts
34:07how impressive.
34:08I should probably applaud you.
34:11Do you have any idea
34:12what Beverly did that day?
34:13She nearly threw me down
34:15that ventilation shaft.
34:16She said she'd make sure
34:17I experienced exactly
34:18how desperate Kelly
34:19must have felt.
34:20I didn't know she'd go that far.
34:21I warned her!
34:23His words came out rushed.
34:24Desperate.
34:25Allie, I'm sorry.
34:26I'm so sorry.
34:29I'll make it up to you
34:30with everything I have.
34:31I'll give up
34:32current defense industries.
34:33I'll do anything!
34:34Save it!
34:35I cut him off sharply.
34:37All the emotions
34:37I'd suppressed
34:38surged up
34:39cracking through
34:40my carefully constructed calm.
34:41Everett, nothing you do
34:42means anything to me anymore.
34:44Not your compensation
34:46not Curry defense industries
34:47not a single thing
34:48you have to offer.
34:51From the moment
34:52you chose to save Madeline
34:54and let Kelly fall
34:55the only thing left between us
34:57was Hatred.
35:02Listen to me carefully.
35:04Hatred.
35:05Tears welled up uncontrollably
35:06but I wiped them away instantly
35:08my voice turning
35:09even colder, harder.
35:10You risked everything
35:11to contact me today.
35:14If this is what you wanted to hear
35:16congratulations
35:17you've heard it.
35:19If you had some other agenda
35:21take my advice.
35:23Stop while you still can.
35:25Weldl Shield
35:26is not something
35:27you can touch.
35:29Those little games
35:30you've been playing
35:32they've already caught
35:33the attention of people
35:34far above my pay grade.
35:36Keep going
35:37and business sanctions
35:38will be the least
35:39of your worries.
35:41I drew a deep breath
35:41using the last ounce
35:43of my strength
35:43to form each word.
35:45Everett
35:46you and I were finished
35:47a long time ago.
35:50we were done
35:51the moment I left
35:51that company town
35:52and uploaded that recording.
35:56No, that's not right.
36:04We were done
36:05even before that.
36:07We were done
36:08for good
36:09the moment Kelly died
36:10the moment you chose
36:11to protect her killer.
36:14Don't come looking
36:15for me again.
36:19Don't ever show up
36:20in my world again.
36:22If you have even
36:23the slightest trace
36:24of conscience left
36:25stay away from me
36:26and my project.
36:27Otherwise
36:28I won't hesitate
36:29to put you
36:30exactly where you belong.
36:34I cut the connection
36:35without waiting
36:36for his response.
36:38My finger trembled
36:39slightly as I pressed
36:40the disconnect button.
36:44The isolation bay
36:46door opened.
36:48Vernon and the
36:49security chief
36:50stepped in
36:50their expressions
36:51complicated.
36:52They clearly
36:53heard everything.
36:59What's this?
37:02Vernon hesitated.
37:06I looked up.
37:11The tears on my face
37:12had already dried
37:13leaving only exhaustion
37:15and absolute calm
37:17in their wake.
37:19Commander Lynch
37:20I'll submit a detailed
37:21report on this incident.
37:23I recommend
37:24we report this
37:25immediately
37:25and conduct
37:26a full assessment
37:27of the base's
37:28security system.
37:30You!
37:31The security chief
37:33looked at me.
37:34Are you alright?
37:34I'm fine.
37:38The orbital calibration
37:39data for
37:40Welkin Shield
37:41still needs review.
37:42I'm heading back
37:43to mission control.
37:46I turned and
37:47walked out
37:47my foot
37:48stemped steady
37:49not a tremor
37:50only I knew
37:51that somewhere
37:51deep inside
37:52in that corner
37:52of my heart
37:53where I'd stored
37:53the last fragile
37:54fragments of my past
37:55something had
37:55finally died
37:57along with
37:58that conversation.
38:00After that exchange
38:01the base entered
38:02an unprecedented
38:02state of
38:03heightened alert.
38:05security systems
38:06underwent
38:06complete upgrades.
38:08Everett hadn't
38:09tried anything else.
38:10No further
38:11communication attempts.
38:12No new signs
38:13of malicious activity.
38:15It almost felt
38:16as if my
38:17resolute declaration
38:18had actually worked.
38:19But no one
38:20dared relax.
38:21The collapse
38:22of current
38:22defense industries
38:23accelerated faster
38:25than anyone predicted.
38:26The once mighty
38:27empire had
38:28crumbled to fragments.
38:29I threw myself
38:30back into
38:30Welcom Shield.
38:31Work became
38:32the sole purpose
38:33of my existence.
38:34The most solid
38:35barrier I could
38:36build between
38:36myself and
38:37the past.
38:40Damon grew
38:42quieter
38:42and also
38:43more devoted
38:44to the work
38:45in those days.
38:46He was no longer
38:47just my deputy.
38:49He developed
38:50into someone
38:51with remarkable
38:51talent.
38:53We developed
38:53a shorthand
38:54that didn't
38:55require words.
38:56Sometimes a single
38:57glance was enough
38:58to communicate
38:59exactly what
39:00needed to be done.
39:03still,
39:04I kept
39:04my distance.
39:05The emotional
39:06wounds of the
39:07past
39:07still haunted
39:08me.
39:15Any intimacy
39:16beyond professional
39:17collaboration
39:17made me
39:18instinctively
39:18pull back
39:19until the night
39:20the storm came.
39:33a rare
39:34violent tempest
39:35swept across
39:35the desert.
39:38Damon and I
39:39worked late
39:39into the night
39:40in the lab
39:41trying to
39:42dedock a critical
39:43energy relay
39:43algorithm.
39:44Lightning tore
39:45through the sky
39:46as thunder
39:47crashed and rolled,
39:48wind howled
39:49as it hurled
39:50sand and gravel
39:51against the
39:51reinforced glass.
40:03Suddenly,
40:04the emergency
40:04lights kicked on.
40:05Backup power
40:06kicked in
40:06immediately.
40:10But some
40:10non-essential
40:11systems were
40:12still affected,
40:13including the
40:13lab's door locks.
40:20we were trapped
40:21inside.
40:24A voice
40:25crackled
40:26through the
40:26communicator
40:27from the
40:27duty room.
40:42lightning had
40:43struck the
40:43external power
40:44lines.
40:52Repairs would
40:53take time.
40:54We had to
40:55wait where
40:56we were.
41:01The lab
41:02existed now
41:03in near-ness,
41:04illuminated by
41:05darkness,
41:06illuminated only
41:07by the emergency
41:08lights' dim
41:09glow and the
41:10occasional flash
41:11of lightning.
41:12Damon and I
41:13sat side by side
41:14on the edge
41:15of a lab table.
41:16For a long
41:17moment,
41:17neither of us
41:18spoke.
41:21Mrs. Simpson.
41:22His voice
41:23emerged softly,
41:24almost swallowed
41:25by the dim
41:26space and the
41:26thunder.
41:27Have you ever
41:28thought about
41:28what you'll do
41:29after Well and
41:30Shield is
41:30completely
41:30finished?
41:33The question
41:34caught me
41:34off guard.
41:35No.
41:36I admitted
41:37honestly.
41:38Doing my job
41:38well right now,
41:39that's enough
41:40for me.
41:41I fell silent
41:42for a moment,
41:43then turned
41:43to look at me.
41:51Sometimes I
41:52think maybe
41:53when this is
41:54all over,
41:55I'll go see
41:56the ocean.
42:00The real one.
42:04I want to
42:05know what it
42:05feels like to
42:07be surrounded
42:08by seawater.
42:13Is it really
42:14true what they
42:14say?
42:15That it can
42:16wash away
42:16your troubles?
42:25It will.
42:27I said
42:28only take
42:28Everett.
42:29You should
42:30go.
42:31After the
42:32project succeeds.
42:34Will you
42:35come with me?
42:36His question
42:37came suddenly,
42:38his tone
42:39careful.
42:39I froze,
42:41unsure how
42:42to answer.
42:42A brilliant
42:43flash of
42:44lightning
42:44illuminated
42:45the entire
42:45lab.
42:47In that
42:48stark
42:48momentary
42:49light,
42:49I saw
42:50it clearly,
42:51the affection
42:52and anticipation
42:53in his eyes,
42:54there for me
42:54to read before
42:55he could conceal
42:56it.
43:00I stood
43:01abruptly
43:01and walked
43:02to the
43:02large
43:03observation
43:04window.
43:04In the
43:05distance,
43:06pale streaks
43:07of dawn
43:07pushing through
43:08the dark-nit
43:09darkness
43:09that had
43:09held us
43:10all night.
43:11I gazed
43:11eastward
43:12as the sky
43:12brightened.
43:13Darkness
43:14would soon
43:14be gone.
43:16Above me,
43:17the stars
43:18and the sky,
43:20the ones
43:20I had sworn
43:21to guard,
43:22were embracing
43:23a new dawn.
43:24I didn't turn
43:25around,
43:25but my fingers,
43:27which had been
43:27clenched tight
43:28at my sides,
43:30slowly uncurled.
43:36And just barely,
43:38they brushed
43:38against the hand
43:39Damon had rested
43:40on the windowsill
43:41beside me.
43:42I wasn't ready.
43:45But for the
43:46first time
43:47in three years,
43:53I thought
43:54maybe
43:55someday
43:56I could be
Comments