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He Slapped Me At The Wedding, Then Begged Me To Stay - Ep - FULL ✅
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Short filmTranscript
00:00At my wedding, my fiancé slapped me across the face.
00:04All for his bridesmaid, right in front of our parents.
00:07That same day, I threw my ring away and called off the wedding.
00:11Everyone thought I was just throwing a tantrum.
00:13After all, Caleb and I had grown up together.
00:16I'd been in love with him since we were kids.
00:18I followed him around like a shadow for 20 whole years.
00:22But this time, I was dead serious.
00:25Later, when he finally tracked me down.
00:27Why? Just because of one slap?
00:30Yes. Just because of one slap.
00:34The second his hand connected with my face,
00:37a sudden metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.
00:40After the sharp, echoing crack of the slap,
00:43the entire ballroom fell dead silent.
00:45The left side of my face went numb.
00:47Then it burst into a burning pain.
00:50I looked up at him.
00:51My fiancé, Caleb Westbrook.
00:54All because I caught Natalie Hawthorne
00:56trying on my wedding dress without permission.
00:59All because I refused to let her be my bridesmaid.
01:02Even Caleb looks stunned by what he'd done.
01:06Enough, Vanessa.
01:07Stop making a scene.
01:09The ceremony's starting.
01:11Can you just be reasonable for once?
01:13Natalie stood right beside him,
01:15biting her lip,
01:16her eyes turning glossy and red.
01:18Oh my god, Caleb, don't.
01:20It's my fault.
01:21I shouldn't have tried it on without asking.
01:23I just loved it so much.
01:24I'm so sorry.
01:26I didn't mean it.
01:27Just step down as your bridesmaid.
01:29Please, can you guys just stop fighting?
01:31Caleb shot her a look.
01:34Vanessa, if you don't want to do this,
01:35then leave.
01:36We have guests waiting out there.
01:38This is not the place for your tantrums.
01:40Humiliation, hurt, fury.
01:42They all surged up at once,
01:44lodging themselves in my throat.
01:46Tears burned in my eyes,
01:47but I refused to let them fall.
01:50In front of all the guests,
01:51I slid the diamond ring off my finger,
01:54then turned around and walked away.
01:56I was done explaining myself,
01:58and I sure wasn't staying there
02:00to be humiliated in front of everyone.
02:02Honestly, Caleb had never been Prince Charming,
02:05but that was the first time he hit me.
02:08More than that,
02:08in my entire 25 years of life,
02:11that was the first time anyone had ever struck me.
02:15Caleb and I went way back.
02:17His grandpa, Walter, and my grandpa
02:19served in the army together.
02:20We grew up in the same neighborhood,
02:22literally next-door neighbors.
02:24I had been in love with him since I was a little girl.
02:27When I was five,
02:28a boy at the playground snatched my toys.
02:30He pulled my hair,
02:32dumped bugs straight into my backpack.
02:34I ran crying to my mother, Eleanor.
02:36She went to confront the boy's parents,
02:38but they just brushed it off as,
02:40kids will be kids.
02:42Grandpa Walter was having dinner at our house that night.
02:44When he heard what happened,
02:46he called Caleb over.
02:47He told him to watch my back out there from now on.
02:50Caleb was two years older than me.
02:52When he heard I'd been bullied,
02:54he caught that boy by the playground slide,
02:56pinned him to the dirt,
02:57and beat him up.
02:58Caleb had always been big for his age.
03:00He had this mean,
03:02untouchable edge to him.
03:04By the time he was done,
03:05that boy and his two friends
03:07were bawling their eyes out.
03:09Anyone touches Vanessa,
03:10they deal with me.
03:13That was the exact moment I fell for him.
03:16From that day on,
03:17I became his shadow.
03:19I followed him every single day.
03:22Wherever he went,
03:23I was right behind him.
03:25Caleb hated it at first,
03:26but I never stopped trailing after him.
03:29Eventually,
03:29he got used to it
03:30and stopped telling me to leave.
03:32He would carry my backpack,
03:34tilt the umbrella toward me when it rained,
03:35and whenever I called his name,
03:37he'd turn around right away.
03:39At my 18th birthday party,
03:41Walter joked around,
03:42Well,
03:43if these two are this inseparated,
03:44maybe we should just make it official one day.
03:47I saw his ears turn red.
03:50And I'm marrying Caleb.
03:54But six years ago,
03:56everything shattered.
03:57That fall,
03:58Natalie Hawthorne arrived.
04:00She was the daughter of his mother's friend.
04:02She had just moved back from London
04:04and was staying at his house temporarily.
04:05She was gorgeous
04:07with perfect natural curls
04:10and a soft, breathy accent.
04:12The very first day she moved in,
04:15Caleb brought her along
04:15to pick me up from campus.
04:17Oh my God.
04:19So this is your little sister, Vanessa?
04:21She's so cute.
04:23Literally covered in pink.
04:24Wait,
04:25how old are you again?
04:26You're in college, right?
04:27You still dress like a little girl
04:29and no one's ever said anything?
04:31My face instantly burned red.
04:33I loved pink.
04:34I was obsessed with it.
04:36My clothes,
04:37my Tumblr,
04:38my hair clips,
04:40my jewelry,
04:41my phone case,
04:42even my fingernails were pink.
04:44People had teased me for it plenty of times,
04:46but no one had ever talked down to me like that before.
04:50With such fake,
04:51over-the-top pity,
04:52my face burned.
04:54I just stood there,
04:55completely tongue-tied.
04:57Relax,
04:58I'm just super blunt.
05:00Don't tell me I offended the princess already.
05:03Seeing my reaction,
05:04Natalie just smiled and winked.
05:06All right,
05:07that's enough.
05:08Caleb cut through the tension impatiently.
05:10I turned around.
05:11He was staring at Natalie,
05:12brows drawn tight,
05:14clearly annoyed.
05:16Ooh,
05:16the princess knight in shining armor?
05:19What,
05:19I can't even make a joke?
05:21Seriously?
05:22What's your problem?
05:23That night,
05:24Caleb told our parents what happened.
05:26Diana smoothed it over immediately.
05:27She told Natalie to lay off the jokes,
05:30and she pushed Caleb to take us both out on weekends so we could bond.
05:35From that day on,
05:36Natalie was always around.
05:38I didn't know exactly when she and Caleb got so close.
05:42Every afternoon,
05:43Caleb used to bring me a strawberry milkshake after class.
05:46But one day,
05:47he handed me an iced Americano.
05:49I barely drink coffee.
05:50You know that.
05:51I stared at the iced coffee,
05:53my chest tightening.
05:55Come on.
05:56You only like the milkshake because it's pink.
05:58That stuff's basically melted sugar.
06:01Try drinking something healthier.
06:02Across from him,
06:04Natalie lifted an identical iced Americano.
06:07Oops.
06:08Sorry,
06:08shortcake.
06:09I was craving coffee,
06:10so I told Caleb to grab these.
06:12But honestly,
06:13milkshakes are kind of a lot.
06:17Do girls like you seriously drink that stuff every day?
06:21Do you always give people nicknames?
06:23For a second,
06:24she froze.
06:25Then came the wounded expression.
06:27Why are you making it such a big deal?
06:29I was joking.
06:31You're being way too sensitive,
06:33don't you think?
06:34Am I sensitive?
06:35Or did you do it on purpose?
06:37Enough,
06:38Vanessa.
06:39Caleb cut in sharply.
06:40She just moved here.
06:41Sometimes she speaks without thinking.
06:46Stop taking it so personally.
06:48My blood was boiling.
06:50Then maybe she should think before she talks.
06:54Hey,
06:55hey,
06:55all right,
06:56my bad.
06:58How about this?
06:59Tomorrow I'll get you a Vanta strawberry milkshake.
07:02Deal?
07:03My little princess?
07:04Hearing that,
07:05Natalie's smile disappeared.
07:07She stared dead at me.
07:09From that day on,
07:11Natalie actively targeted me.
07:13Whenever I pulled out a pink pack of tissues,
07:16she would gasp dramatically.
07:18Wow,
07:19even your tissues are pink?
07:20What,
07:22are you trying to turn yourself into Barbie?
07:24At dinner,
07:25whenever I wiped down my silverware before evening,
07:28there it is,
07:29princess mode activated.
07:31During summer break,
07:33I was hauling suitcases down from my dorm.
07:35Oh,
07:36the princess can't carry her own luggage.
07:38Someone get this girl a night.
07:41Every single time she did this,
07:43her friends would crack up.
07:45At first,
07:47Caleb actually stepped in.
07:48He would tell her to knock it off.
07:51Relax,
07:52I'm kidding.
07:53Vanessa's too guarded.
07:57I'm helping her loosen up
07:58and actually bond with people.
08:01She's a bit high maintenance.
08:04Is that just a girl thing?
08:06Natalie punched his shoulder playfully.
08:08Hey,
08:08Caleb,
08:08don't lump me in with those girls.
08:11I'm definitely not like them.
08:13Caleb laughed.
08:14It was such a gentle smile.
08:16My chest tightened with a sour ache.
08:19I always knew he thought I was spoiled
08:22and through little tantrums.
08:23Maybe to guys like him,
08:25liking pink,
08:26hating germs,
08:28and not being physically strong
08:29just meant you were a high maintenance princess.
08:33But finally,
08:34I snapped.
08:35It was a friend's birthday party.
08:37I wore a fitted pink button down
08:39over a white cami to the club.
08:41When Natalie saw me,
08:43she practically shrieked.
08:45Oh.
08:46My.
08:47God.
08:48Vanessa,
08:49are you serious right now?
08:50Pink with a white cami?
08:52What's this,
08:52a teen drama?
08:53No,
08:54seriously,
08:54I'm dying.
08:56Do you think you're the main character?
08:58Look at you.
08:59You look like,
09:01what's the word?
09:02One of those girls
09:03trying way too hard to look cute.
09:05Like a Barbie doll
09:06that wandered onto the wrong set.
09:09Hilarious.
09:11She cracked up
09:12with a few guys
09:13who'd been mocking me
09:14since we were kids.
09:15Even Caleb seemed genuinely amused.
09:18The corner of his mouth twitched.
09:20A tidal wave of humiliation and shame
09:23swallowed me alive.
09:24While they were laughing,
09:25I grabbed my glass
09:26and tossed my drink
09:28right into her face.
09:30Natalie gasped,
09:31wiping furiously at her wet face.
09:33Her makeup melted.
09:34Black mascara
09:35completely streaked down her cheeks.
09:37She coughed violently.
09:40What the hell is wrong with you?
09:41Are you insane?
09:43Oh,
09:44my God.
09:45I mocked her tone perfectly.
09:47Look at your heavy contour,
09:48fake lashes,
09:49and that dress
09:49that barely covers your ass.
09:51What are you,
09:52a hooker?
09:52Some trashy little club princess?
09:54Caleb scowled
09:55and stepped between us.
09:56He yanked the glass
09:57right out of my hand.
09:59Vanessa,
10:01apologize.
10:02He looked down at me,
10:04his brow furrowed.
10:05My eyes burned
10:05as I stared dead at him.
10:07Didn't you hear
10:08what she said to me?
10:09She mocked me first.
10:11That's not the point.
10:12You already insulted her back.
10:14Now apologize
10:14for throwing the drink.
10:16When you do something wrong,
10:17you own it.
10:19Stop acting like a child.
10:21He said it with such
10:22casual authority.
10:24Just say sorry.
10:25She won't hold it against you.
10:28Fuck off.
10:30Vanessa,
10:30what's gotten into you?
10:31You leave for college
10:32and suddenly this is how you talk?
10:35Apologize right now.
10:36I scoffed,
10:38turned on my heel,
10:39and walked straight
10:40out of the club.
10:41Three days later,
10:42Caleb showed up.
10:43He brought my favorite
10:44strawberry milkshake
10:44to campus.
10:45It had pink whipped cream
10:47on top,
10:47with my favorite
10:48flamingo straw
10:49sticking out of it.
10:50He stood below the balcony
10:51of my dorm building.
10:52Vanessa,
10:54come down.
10:56I owe you an apology.
10:57I stood on the balcony,
10:58looking down at him.
10:59The wind made my eyes sting.
11:02I went downstairs
11:02and took the shake from him.
11:04I took a sip.
11:05It was sweet,
11:06but my chest
11:07still felt tight
11:08and heavy.
11:09Do you actually think
11:10I'm spoiled,
11:11petty,
11:11and making a big deal
11:12out of nothing?
11:13He fell silent
11:14for a long time.
11:16Natalie's just blunt.
11:17She doesn't mean any harm.
11:18Just let it go.
11:19You take everything
11:20way too personally,
11:21Vanessa.
11:23That's probably why
11:24you have no friends.
11:25The milkshake sat heavy
11:27in my throat.
11:27I couldn't swallow it,
11:29couldn't spit it out.
11:30So that was it.
11:31No matter how badly
11:32I was hurt,
11:33I was always the petty one
11:34with Caleb.
11:35Always too sensitive,
11:37too dramatic.
11:38From that day on,
11:39our relationship
11:40just went on autopilot.
11:41We were together,
11:42but something between us
11:44had gone cold.
11:45After we finished grad school,
11:47our parents started
11:48bringing up marriage
11:48more and more.
11:50They thought it was time
11:51we settled down.
11:52Caleb didn't object,
11:53so the wedding was set
11:55for my 25th birthday.
11:57On the big day,
11:58Natalie was already
11:59standing in the bridal suite
12:00wearing my wedding dress.
12:02She said she just wanted
12:03to see how it looked on her.
12:05I let out a disbelieving laugh.
12:07She glanced at the red
12:08reception dress
12:09I had just changed into,
12:11wrinkled for nose.
12:12Honestly,
12:13red is definitely
12:14not your color, Vanessa.
12:15It looks hideous on you.
12:17Take it off.
12:18If you want to try
12:19on a wedding dress so badly,
12:21go rent one.
12:22That one is mine.
12:23But she just did
12:24a little twirl
12:25in front of me.
12:26Oh, come on.
12:27You've already worn it
12:28for the ceremony.
12:29Caleb said he didn't mind.
12:32Why are you being
12:33so possessive?
12:34That was it.
12:35I reached out
12:35and grabbed the fabric.
12:37It's my wedding dress.
12:38Give it back.
12:40As we struggled,
12:41her foot caught on something.
12:43She tripped
12:44and fell hard
12:45onto the floor.
12:46Her carefully styled hair
12:47tumbled into a messy heap.
12:49At that exact moment,
12:50the door flew open.
12:52Caleb rushed in.
12:54His eyes landed on Natalie.
12:56And without a single second
12:57of hesitation,
12:58he raised his hand
12:59and slapped me
13:01straight across the face.
13:03It was raining
13:04when I walked out
13:04of the ballroom.
13:05A brutal August storm.
13:07Heavy drops smashed
13:08against the pavement.
13:10I walked step by step
13:12into the freezing rain.
13:13Still wearing that
13:14red reception dress
13:16Natalie had just mocked.
13:18Behind me,
13:19my mother's voice
13:20tore through the storm.
13:21Vanessa!
13:22Vanessa!
13:22Come back!
13:24Oh, for God's sake!
13:26What is wrong with her?
13:28Throwing a tantrum?
13:29Throwing a tantrum
13:30at her own wedding?
13:31This is so embarrassing!
13:33I didn't look back.
13:34My heel caught in a puddle,
13:36my ankle twisted,
13:37and I nearly fell.
13:39So I yanked off both heels,
13:41walked barefoot
13:42on the soaking wet pavement.
13:44The muddy water
13:45was freezing and filthy,
13:47but I couldn't care less.
13:48When I walked past
13:50the main gates,
13:51the hotel security guard
13:52stared at me
13:53like I'd lost my mind.
13:54Well,
13:55a barefoot bride
13:56walking into a thunderstorm.
13:58I probably did look insane.
14:01My phone buzzed
14:02non-stop in my purse.
14:03I pulled it out.
14:05Dozens of texts
14:06from relatives and friends.
14:07What happened?
14:09Is everything okay?
14:10Why did you leave?
14:12I powered the phone off
14:13and flagged down a cab.
14:14The driver hesitated
14:16when he saw me dripping wet,
14:17but eventually
14:18unlocked the doors.
14:20Where to?
14:20I gave him an address,
14:22an old apartment
14:23I shared with a friend
14:24back in college.
14:25She had moved to San Francisco,
14:27but she kept the lease
14:28and left me a spare key.
14:29The ride took 40 minutes.
14:31I shivered the entire way.
14:33I wasn't sure
14:34if it was from the cold
14:36or something else.
14:37When I arrived,
14:38I dug through my soaked purse.
14:40I only had $200 in cash
14:43and a debit card.
14:44My phone was completely dead.
14:47My phone buzzed
14:48non-stop in my purse.
14:49I pulled it out.
14:51Dozens of texts
14:52from relatives and friends.
14:54What happened?
14:55Is everything okay?
14:56Why did you leave?
14:57I powered the phone off
14:59and flagged down a cab.
15:01The driver hesitated
15:02when he saw me dripping wet,
15:04but eventually
15:04unlocked the doors.
15:06Where to?
15:07I gave him an address,
15:08an old apartment
15:09I shared with a friend
15:10back in college.
15:11She had moved to San Francisco,
15:13but she kept the lease
15:14and left me a spare key.
15:16The ride took 40 minutes.
15:18I shivered the entire way.
15:20I wasn't sure
15:21if it was from the cold
15:22or something else.
15:23When I arrived,
15:25I dug through my soaked purse.
15:26I only had $200 in cash
15:29and a debit card.
15:30My phone was completely dead.
15:33I climbed the stairs
15:34and unlocked the door.
15:36The apartment was dead empty.
15:39Just a bare mattress
15:40and a single folding chair.
15:43I peeled off the heavy,
15:44soaked dress,
15:45crawled into an old blanket
15:47she had left behind,
15:48curling into a tight ball.
15:50Finally,
15:52the tears started falling.
15:53It wasn't even heartbreak anymore.
15:56It wasn't anger either.
15:58It was just
15:59a suffocating emptiness.
16:01I'd loved Caleb
16:02for almost my entire life.
16:04When I was five,
16:06he beat up the boys
16:07who bullied me.
16:08I thought he was
16:09the bravest person
16:10in the world.
16:11When I was eight,
16:12I scraped my me.
16:14He crouched down
16:15and put a band-aid on it.
16:16His hands had been clumsy,
16:18but so careful.
16:19When I was 15,
16:21I bombed a test.
16:23He stayed on the phone
16:24with me for hours,
16:25saying,
16:26It's one test, Vanessa.
16:28You'll be fine.
16:29When I was 18,
16:30I got accepted into college.
16:32He bought me
16:33a pink crystal bracelet.
16:35My little princess
16:37finally grew up.
16:39But when did everything change?
16:42Was it the day
16:43Natalie showed up?
16:44Or was it even
16:45earlier than that?
16:46Maybe he'd never loved me.
16:48Maybe I was just
16:49a needy friend
16:50he had to look after.
16:52A shadow
16:52he just couldn't shake off.
16:55He treated me well
16:57not out of love,
16:58but out of habit.
17:00He was used to me
17:01following him around,
17:02used to my clinginess.
17:04But Natalie was different.
17:06She was independent,
17:08fiercely opinionated,
17:09and bluntly outspoken.
17:11She didn't need him
17:13to act as her knight
17:14in shining armor.
17:15She even challenged him.
17:17To Caleb,
17:18maybe that was a mature,
17:19equal relationship,
17:21not a childish,
17:22high-maintenance princess
17:23who needed constant coddling.
17:25Those thoughts spiraled
17:27until I eventually
17:28passed out from exhaustion.
17:30In my dreams,
17:31I was five years old again.
17:33After he finished
17:34beating up those boys,
17:36he turned his head
17:37and looked at me.
17:38Sunlight hit his face.
17:40Anyone touches Vanessa,
17:42they deal with me.
17:44But the very next second,
17:45the dream shifted.
17:46He was standing
17:47in the grand ballroom,
17:49staring at me
17:50with an ice-cold face
17:52before slapping me
17:53across the cheek.
17:54I jolted awake.
17:56Sweat slicked my skin.
17:58The storm had passed.
17:59The sky was starting
18:00to turn pale.
18:01I plugged in my phone,
18:03powered it on.
18:04It vibrated
18:05for three straight minutes,
18:08flooded with messages.
18:09Most were from my mother,
18:12starting from a panicked,
18:13Vanessa, where are you?
18:15to, please answer me.
18:17And finally,
18:19do you have any idea
18:21what this has done
18:22to both families?
18:24Then there were
18:25a few texts from Caleb.
18:26Where are you?
18:28Vanessa,
18:28are you done
18:29with this yet?
18:30Pick up.
18:32The very last one
18:33was sent at 2 a.m.
18:35Just one line.
18:36Are you happy now?
18:38I stared at that text.
18:40A bitter laugh
18:41escaped my lips.
18:42He slapped me
18:44across the face.
18:45And now,
18:46he actually had the guts
18:47to text me,
18:48are you happy now?
18:50Just like always.
18:52To him,
18:52this was totally
18:54my fault.
18:55I was being unreasonable.
18:57I ruined
18:58our perfect wedding.
18:59I didn't reply
19:00to anyone.
19:01I opened DoorDash
19:03and ordered
19:03some hot chicken soup.
19:05The buzzer sounded.
19:06I assumed it was
19:08the chicken soup.
19:09I pulled open the door.
19:11But it wasn't
19:11the delivery guy.
19:12It was Caleb.
19:14He was still wearing
19:15the same gray wedding suit.
19:17Dark circles
19:18bruised the skin
19:19beneath his eyes.
19:20Like he hadn't slept
19:22all night.
19:23He took one look
19:24at my pale face
19:25and froze.
19:26I knew exactly
19:28how pathetic I looked.
19:30I was drowning
19:31in a baggy old t-shirt
19:32someone left behind
19:33and I still had
19:35the faint red handprint
19:36on my left cheek.
19:38He stared at me
19:39for a few seconds.
19:40His throat bobbed.
19:41You stayed here last night?
19:43I didn't answer him.
19:44Just turned
19:45and walked back inside.
19:47He followed me inside,
19:48scanning the completely
19:49bare room,
19:50his brows drawing together.
19:52You're staying here?
19:52You're staying here?
19:53There's not even a bed.
19:55None of your business.
19:56I sat down
19:57on the mattress,
19:58picked up a cup
19:59and took a sip of water.
20:00He walked over
20:01and towered above me,
20:03looking down.
20:05Come home.
20:07Let's finish the wedding.
20:09We can pretend
20:10yesterday never happened.
20:12I slowly looked up at him.
20:14His face was
20:15so incredibly calm.
20:17Caleb,
20:17do you honestly think
20:18I can't live without you?
20:21What?
20:22I said,
20:24I'm not marrying you.
20:26We're done.
20:28His brow furrowed
20:29into a tight knot.
20:31Vanessa,
20:31do you even hear yourself?
20:33I do.
20:34I'm perfectly clear.
20:36Why?
20:37Just because of one slap?
20:40I didn't mean it.
20:42given the situation.
20:44What situation?
20:46You saw Natalie
20:47on the floor
20:48and you hit me.
20:50You didn't ask why.
20:51You didn't ask
20:52what she did to me.
20:54You didn't even give me
20:54a chance to explain.
20:55You just hit me.
20:59Do you even know
21:00what she did?
21:01She wore my wedding dress.
21:03On my wedding day,
21:05she put it on
21:06without my permission.
21:07I told her to take it off
21:09and she refused.
21:11We argued.
21:12I tried to pull it off her.
21:14Then you walked in
21:15and you hit me
21:16for no reason.
21:19Tell me, Caleb.
21:20What did I do wrong?
21:22She'd never worn one before.
21:24She was just curious.
21:25Did you really have to
21:26make such a huge deal
21:27out of it?
21:29Did you really have
21:30to hit me?
21:33Caleb,
21:34I chased you for 20 years.
21:36I loved you for 20 years.
21:38I've been your loyal shadow
21:40for 20 years.
21:41I thought you were just bad
21:43at expressing yourself.
21:46I thought you loved me
21:47and didn't know
21:48how to say it.
21:49But that slap yesterday
21:50finally woke me up.
21:52You never loved me.
21:53You got used to me.
21:55I'm just an accessory to you.
21:58Someone you could
21:58snap your fingers at
21:59whenever it suited you.
22:01But Natalie,
22:02you'll back her up in public.
22:03You'll hit me for her.
22:05Because deep down, Caleb,
22:07she is more important to you.
22:09Not true.
22:10Say it, Caleb.
22:11Tell me what it actually is.
22:13He couldn't say a single thing.
22:16I let out a bitter laugh.
22:19Get out.
22:20I already threw the ring away.
22:22The wedding is cancelled.
22:24I'll deal with our families
22:25and the fallout.
22:26From now on,
22:27we're completely done.
22:29Don't ever reach out
22:30to me again.
22:32He didn't move.
22:33He stood there
22:34for a long time.
22:35Finally,
22:36he muttered,
22:37Cool off for a few days.
22:39I'll come back
22:39when you've calmed down.
22:41Then he turned around
22:42and walked out.
22:43The second the door shut,
22:45my legs gave out.
22:46I sank to the floor,
22:48burying my face
22:49in my arms.
22:51I was the one
22:51who initiated the breakup,
22:53who cancelled the wedding.
22:54But why,
22:56why did my chest
22:57still hurt
22:58this much?
23:00For the next three days,
23:01I locked myself
23:03in that empty apartment,
23:05ignored every call.
23:06My mother was losing it.
23:08She texted me
23:09that she and my father
23:10were already on their way.
23:12I just replied,
23:13I'm fine.
23:14Please don't come.
23:16On the third afternoon,
23:17the doorbell rang.
23:18I checked the peephole.
23:19It was her.
23:20With no choice left,
23:22I opened the door.
23:23When she stepped inside,
23:25her eyes welled up
23:26with tears.
23:27Oh, sweetheart.
23:29You've lost so much weight.
23:31You look so pale.
23:33Have you even eaten anything?
23:35As she scolded me,
23:37she started pulling thermoses
23:38out of her tote bag.
23:40I know you're hurting.
23:42I know what happened
23:43humiliated you.
23:45But starving yourself
23:46won't fix it.
23:48My nose stung.
23:50Tears threatened again.
23:52My father stood in the doorway.
23:54His face was dangerously grim.
23:58I've already talked
23:59to Caleb's parents.
24:00If you want to call
24:01the whole thing off,
24:02just say the word.
24:02I have your back.
24:06Drop it, Arthur.
24:08What?
24:10Laying a hand on my daughter
24:11right in front of me?
24:12Who the hell
24:13does he think he is?
24:14I didn't raise her
24:15to be his punching bag.
24:17She let out a heavy sigh
24:19and didn't argue back.
24:20I knew this had hurt them, too.
24:23Decades of friendship
24:24between our families,
24:25and now they were stuck
24:27in the middle of this mess.
24:28The wedding ruined everything.
24:31Mom, Dad,
24:33I'm sorry.
24:35I'm sorry for putting you
24:36through this.
24:38Stop talking nonsense.
24:40I don't care about any of that.
24:41I only care that you're okay.
24:44I only care that you're okay.
24:48That night,
24:49my mother stayed with me,
24:50and my father checked
24:51into a hotel nearby.
24:52She lay next to me
24:53on that bare mattress,
24:55just like when I was little.
24:57Vanessa,
24:58be honest with me.
25:00Okay.
25:01Do you still love him?
25:03I stayed quiet
25:04for a long time.
25:07I loved him
25:08for 20 years.
25:10You don't just turn
25:11that off overnight.
25:13But, Mom,
25:14I don't want to love him anymore.
25:16I know, sweetie.
25:18Then take it slow.
25:19I'm right here with you.
25:21Staring into the dark,
25:23I cried
25:23without making a sound.
25:25On the fourth day,
25:26Caleb came back.
25:27But this time,
25:29he wasn't alone.
25:30Natalie was with him.
25:31I don't want to love him anymore.
25:32I don't want to love him anymore.
25:32I don't want to love him anymore.
25:32I don't want to love him anymore.
25:32I don't want to love him anymore.
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