A powerful full drama movie filled with love, secrets, and unexpected twists.
Follow a powerful story where relationships are tested, hidden truths are revealed, and lives change forever. From romantic moments to shocking surprises, this drama keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
Featuring stories about CEO, billionaire lifestyles, family connections, and life-changing decisions, this movie delivers strong emotions and unforgettable scenes.
Watch the full movie and discover what happens in the end.
New full drama movies uploaded regularly. Stay tuned for more captivating and trending stories.
#drama #fullmovie #lovestory #dramatic #billionaire #ceo #family #relationships #movie #story
Follow a powerful story where relationships are tested, hidden truths are revealed, and lives change forever. From romantic moments to shocking surprises, this drama keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
Featuring stories about CEO, billionaire lifestyles, family connections, and life-changing decisions, this movie delivers strong emotions and unforgettable scenes.
Watch the full movie and discover what happens in the end.
New full drama movies uploaded regularly. Stay tuned for more captivating and trending stories.
#drama #fullmovie #lovestory #dramatic #billionaire #ceo #family #relationships #movie #story
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Art et designTranscription
00:01I hadn't spoken to my parents in 10 years, not since the day they screamed at me to get lost
00:05and never come back, so when my business partner told me the Brit Group, my father's company, had requested me
00:10personally as their wedding photographer, I almost laughed, then I saw the groom's name, Jeffrey Beasley, the boy who used
00:17to climb over my backyard fence with candy in his pocket, the one who promised, when we grow up, I'll
00:24take you away from here, we'll see the world, he's marrying my sister, at the reception, my mother marched into
00:29my dressing room,
00:30with tears in her eyes, Elin, we raised you for 18 years, how can you be so heartless, I looked
00:37up at her, calm as ice, Mrs. Brit, please release me, I have work to do, her face went ghost
00:43white, good, let her feel a fraction of what I felt at 12 years old, when they packed my bags
00:48and sent me to live alone in an old house, while my sister took my bedroom, my piano, my parents
00:52love, but what they don't know yet, what none of them know, is that I'm not adopted at all, I'm
00:56their biological daughter, and today, I'm bringing the DNA proof to
01:00to destroy a wedding, at a wedding shoot, I ran into my parents, I hadn't spoken to them for a
01:06decade, they were mingling with other guests, their smiles freezing the instant their eyes landed on me, once the reception
01:13ended, they marched straight into the backstage dressing room,
01:16why haven't you come home for the past 10 years, mom blurted out her accusation, her eyes were rimmed red
01:22as she glared at me, I didn't answer or look up, I focused on cleaning my camera lens,
01:26the next second, she stepped forward and seized my wrist, her voice rose to a raw pitch,
01:31Elan, we're your parents, we raised you for 18 years, how can you be so heartless, I lifted my head
01:37with a frown, I was confused by her outburst, 10 years ago, they were the ones who told me to
01:42get lost and never come back, I done exactly that, so what were they upset about now,
01:47dad stood behind mom, his eyes darted between my face and my camera equipment, he was clearly torn, after a
01:53moment he spoke, as if grasping for a neutral topic,
01:56that's quite the camera, Eileen, it must have cost a lot, right, it's a tough business for a young woman,
02:03you must be struggling,
02:05there was hesitation in his voice, I remained silent, I screwed the lens cap on firmly, infuriated by my lack
02:11of response, mom tightened her grip on my wrist, her voice rose further,
02:14Eileen, are you even listening, 10 years, not a single call or message, what is wrong with you, even a
02:24pet would show more gratitude,
02:26I studied her contorted expression, a sharp pain shot through my wrist,
02:31a decade had passed, yet their method of interrogation remained the same,
02:36I lifted my gaze, I spoke with deliberate calm,
02:39Mrs. Britt, please release me, I have work to do,
02:43Mrs. Britt?
02:44She released my wrist as if burned, she staggered back, all color draining from her face,
02:48I'm your mom, how dare you,
02:52That's enough,
02:53Dad stepped in, he steadied her trembling shoulders,
02:56he frowned at me, exhaustion and reproach heavy in his tone,
03:00Eileen,
03:01how can you speak to your mom like that,
03:04we realize,
03:06there may have been misunderstandings back then,
03:09but she hasn't stopped missing you,
03:11for the past 10 years,
03:13she's,
03:13there were no misunderstandings,
03:15I cut him off,
03:17my voice was soft as I placed the camera in its case,
03:20I followed your instructions,
03:22get lost and never come back,
03:25I did exactly as you told me,
03:28I fixed my eyes on them with cold indifference,
03:30I stayed away for 10 years,
03:34just as you demanded,
03:36so what is this about,
03:38they stood frozen,
03:39their faces were ghastly pale,
03:42mom's lips quivered,
03:43but before she could speak,
03:44dad tightened his hold on her arm,
03:48dad drew a shaky breath,
03:50he forced a strained conciliatory smile,
03:53Eileen, sorry,
03:54we shouldn't have said that back then,
03:57but we are family,
03:58Mel is getting married next month,
04:00you'll be there, right,
04:03if you don't want to attend as her sister,
04:05maybe you could photograph the wedding,
04:07the last words were a hesitant,
04:09hopeful whisper,
04:10I stared at them,
04:11I was struck by the sheer absurdity of it all,
04:14my schedule is booked,
04:17please give Melanie my best wishes,
04:20I won't be intruding,
04:22with that,
04:22I turned and pushed open the door,
04:24the sound of mom's broken accusations,
04:26and dad's frantic attempts to calm her faded behind me,
04:29I walked straight to the elevator without looking back,
04:32only when the doors closed,
04:33did I breathe a sigh of relief,
04:34I leaned against the cold metal wall,
04:36a dull ache began to throb at the base of my skull,
04:39it was a lingering aftereffect of a severe fever years ago,
04:42it always flared up on rainy days,
05:13back at my temporary apartment,
05:14non-negotiable collaboration request,
05:16from the Brit group,
05:17they're insisting you personally photograph a high-profile wedding,
05:21the Brit group was owned by my dad,
05:23my heart sank,
05:24a crushing sense of helplessness washed over me,
05:27Kimberly sounded worried,
05:28I'm afraid,
05:30we can't turn it down,
05:31I gripped the phone until my knuckles turned white,
05:3410 years,
05:35I had thought I'd gone far enough to escape their shadow,
05:38yet with a single move,
05:39they could still disrupt the life I had fought so hard to build,
05:42understood,
05:43send me the details,
05:44I said,
05:45my throat tight,
05:47okay,
05:47Kimberly replied softly after a pause,
05:49the wedding itinerary arrived a few minutes later,
05:52when my eyes landed on the groom's name Jeffrey Beasley,
05:55the tears I'd held back all day finally fell,
05:57Jeffrey was the boy who had been my only comfort during the darkest years of my youth,
06:01Kimberly's message flashed again,
06:03Eileen,
06:04are you okay,
06:05do you want me to come over,
06:06I took a deep breath,
06:08I wiped my face,
06:09I typed back,
06:10I'm fine,
06:12please compile the client's specific requests,
06:14we'll discuss tomorrow morning,
06:17she replied quickly,
06:18okay,
06:19Eileen,
06:20whatever you decide,
06:21I'm with you,
06:22I put the phone down and walked to the window,
06:24the night air was cool against my skin,
06:26it helped to clear the chaos in my mind,
06:28Jeffrey and I were so close once,
06:30he lived next door,
06:32we grew up together,
06:33whenever I got scolded by my parents or pushed aside by Melanie Britt,
06:37I'd hide in the backyard and cry,
06:39he'd always climb over the low fence,
06:41he'd pull a piece of candy from his pocket like a magician,
06:44don't cry Eileen,
06:45have this,
06:57Jeffrey was the only person who showed me kindness and care,
07:00he was the only one who,
07:02when the whole world made me feel worthless,
07:04would look me in the eye and say,
07:07you're good enough Eileen,
07:11you always have been,
07:12but now he was marrying Melanie,
07:14memories long held back,
07:15came rushing in,
07:17until I was seven,
07:18I was the happiest child,
07:20when I was five,
07:21I got into a fight at preschool over a swing,
07:23I bit the other kid's arm,
07:26terrified of getting in trouble,
07:27I hid under the slide in our complex after school,
07:30dad found me,
07:31he wasn't angry,
07:32he actually whispered tips on how to win a fight next time,
07:36that evening when mom found out,
07:37she made us both stand in the corner,
07:39dad winked at me when she wasn't looking,
07:41I thought that warmth would last forever,
07:43then when I was seven,
07:45Melanie came home,
07:48I went from being their only child to being the adopted one,
07:51Melanie was three years older,
07:53she'd been kidnapped when she was three,
07:55with her return,
07:56my world was never the same,
07:58my parents had kept my adoption a secret,
08:00but afraid Melanie would feel insecure,
08:02they told her the truth,
08:04one afternoon,
08:05she stood before me,
08:06her voice was young but cold,
08:09Aline did you know,
08:10you're not their real daughter,
08:12they adopted you because I was gone,
08:14they were so sad without me,
08:16so they got you to take my place,
08:19they're my mom and dad,
08:20not yours,
08:22for a moment,
08:22I was too shocked to move,
08:24then I ran,
08:25I had to find my parents,
08:26and hear them say it wasn't true,
08:28I prayed they would hug me and say,
08:30don't listen to her nonsense sweetheart,
08:32you're our baby girl,
08:34but mom looked away,
08:35dad was silent for a long time,
08:36before he confirmed it,
08:38his voice was hoarse,
08:40Eileen,
08:40it's true,
08:41we adopted you,
08:42because we missed Mel so much,
08:45but we love you too,
08:46I hated that word in that moment,
08:48after that,
08:49nothing was the same,
08:52The carefree,
08:53mischievous girl vanished,
08:55I became quiet and cautious,
08:57I stopped laughing loudly,
08:59I stopped asking for things,
09:01at meals,
09:02I only took the food closest to me,
09:04I studied relentlessly,
09:06I brought home one award after another,
09:08I believed good girls didn't get abandoned,
09:11I learned to please them,
09:13and Melanie,
09:14I gave her the new hair clip mom bought,
09:16I handed over the cool toy dad brought back from a business trip,
09:20but Melanie's eyes held nothing but resentment,
09:23no matter what I did,
09:24she saw me as the one who had stolen her life,
09:27and my parents attention and affection poured almost entirely into their returned biological daughter,
09:32they worried she might feel insecure and neglected,
09:35so I,
09:36the adopted daughter,
09:37naturally became the one who could be overlooked,
09:40the atmosphere at home grew tense and heavy,
09:43I never stood in the corner with dad again,
09:45I was too afraid to make any mistake,
09:48I lived like a frightened bird,
09:50I was constantly terrified of being cast aside once more,
09:54then,
09:54when I was 12,
09:56my worst fear came true,
10:01I got back from school that day to find Melanie in my room,
10:05she was holding my diary,
10:07what are you doing,
10:08I rushed to grab it back,
10:10she easily sidestepped me,
10:12a faint smirk played on her lips,
10:14just seeing what my dear little sister writes about every day,
10:17she began to read my diary,
10:19I wish things were like before,
10:23why don't mom and dad love me anymore,
10:25it's so unfair,
10:27my voice trembled,
10:29give it back,
10:30that diary held all my secrets and my fragile side,
10:33she stood up,
10:34she held it above her head,
10:36maybe mom and dad should see what their adopted daughter complains about every day,
10:42with that,
10:43she darted out of the room,
10:44the diary was in her hand,
10:47Mel,
10:47I chased after her,
10:49in the rush she stumbled,
10:51her foot caught,
10:52she tumbled down the stair,
10:56her scream echoed through the house,
11:00my parents burst from the study at the same time,
11:04Mel,
11:05mom reached her first,
11:07when she saw Melanie's leg bent at an unnatural angle,
11:10her own shook,
11:12Melanie wept dramatically,
11:14she pointed a shaky finger straight at me,
11:16I was still standing at the top of the stairs,
11:19she pushed me,
11:22she blames me for everything in her diary,
11:25and now this,
11:27that's not true,
11:28I didn't,
11:29I rushed to explain,
11:30enough,
11:31dad's roar was louder than I'd ever heard,
11:34mom's gaze was icy,
11:36it frightened me,
11:37I tried to explain,
11:38diary,
11:39she read my diary without,
11:41so you pushed her,
11:42mom cut me off,
11:43alien,
11:43how could you be so cruel,
11:46I didn't push her,
11:48the tears finally spilled over,
11:50she fell,
11:52mom's hand came up,
11:53still lying,
11:54she struck my face hard,
11:56the sting on my cheek,
11:57was nothing compared to the ache in my chest,
12:00dad stood behind her,
12:02his gaze was full of disappointment,
12:04Ely we always thought you were a sensible girl,
12:09even though you're not our blood,
12:11we never treated you poorly,
12:14but you,
12:19I said it wasn't me,
12:21my voice rose to a shout,
12:24why won't you ever believe me,
12:26believe you,
12:27mom's laugh was cold,
12:28a liar,
12:29the ambulance arrived,
12:32as the paramedics carried Melanie down on a stretcher,
12:36she was still sobbing,
12:38mom,
12:39I'm scared,
12:40does Ely hate me,
12:44don't be afraid sweetheart,
12:47I'm here,
12:47mom held her hand tightly,
12:49she didn't once look back at me,
12:51my parents returned from the hospital late that night,
12:53I heard their footsteps stop outside my door,
12:58pack your things,
13:00mom pushed the door open,
13:02her tone was frighteningly calm,
13:04you're moving to the old house tomorrow,
13:06I stared frozen,
13:08then I dropped to my knees,
13:10no,
13:11please mom,
13:12dad,
13:13don't send me away,
13:14I'm sorry,
13:15I'll be good,
13:16I promise,
13:17mom looked down at me coldly,
13:18Mel needs peace to recover,
13:22seeing you will upset her,
13:24I won't bother her,
13:26I cried,
13:26I clutched at her legs,
13:28I can stay in the storage room,
13:30I can come home after you're all asleep,
13:35please don't make me leave,
13:43dad sighed,
13:45Ely this is for the best,
13:46for you,
13:47and for this family,
13:49I won't go,
13:51this is my home,
13:53I was sobbing uncontrollably now,
13:57mom pried my hands away,
13:59the housekeeper will bring meals each week,
14:01we'll transfer an allowance on time,
14:05I don't want money,
14:09I want you,
14:11I turned to dad,
14:12I grasped his sleeve,
14:15dad,
14:15you used to love me most,
14:17you said you'd always protect me,
14:20he turned his face away,
14:22his voice was choked,
14:24be reasonable Ely,
14:27once Mel is feeling better,
14:29she'll never better,
14:31she's lying,
14:32I screamed in despair,
14:34why won't you believe me,
14:36mom's voice cut through sharply,
14:39Ely,
14:39if you make another scene,
14:41you can leave right now,
14:43I knelt on the floor,
14:44I looked at their distant looks,
14:47I finally understood,
14:48what true hopelessness felt like,
14:50no matter how much I begged,
14:52they didn't want me anymore,
14:56the first night I moved into the old residence,
14:59I had a high fever,
15:00my forehead was burning,
15:02I shivered all over,
15:04I grabbed my phone and called my mom,
15:06mom,
15:07I'm having a fever,
15:08I was so weak that my voice was hardly audible,
15:10the other end of the line was silent for a while,
15:13then my mom replied,
15:15there are fever reducers in the old house,
15:17find them,
15:18Melanie has just undergone surgery,
15:21she needs a good rest,
15:23knock it off,
15:24with that,
15:25mom hung up,
15:26listening to the hang up beeps,
15:28I felt a chill all over,
15:30it started raining outside,
15:31the rain splattered the window as if weeping for me,
15:35for the next week,
15:36I was invalid on the bed alone,
15:38the fever went back and forth,
15:40the housekeeper found something was wrong with me,
15:42when she came to cook,
15:43she took me to the hospital,
15:45I lived all alone since I was 12 till I was 18,
15:52for parent teacher conferences,
15:53the seat with my name on it was always empty,
15:56Melanie went to the same school as I did,
15:58yet my parents always showed up for her,
16:01sometimes I ran into them in the hallway,
16:04mom would look away with embarrassment,
16:06dad would pretend he didn't see me,
16:08in those six years,
16:09Jeffrey was the only light ray in my life,
16:12he would secretly climb over the short wall of the old house and bring me snacks,
16:16don't worry,
16:18everything will be okay,
16:19he had comforted me,
16:21Ely,
16:22let's apply to New York University together,
16:25in New York,
16:27no one can separate us,
16:28I had believed him,
16:30I studied as hard as I could,
16:32after the set,
16:33I walked past a downtown hotel,
16:35I saw a large,
16:37striking banner,
16:38congratulations on Melanie Britt's good grades,
16:41nicely dressed,
16:41my parents were receiving guests at the entrance,
16:44they were beaming,
16:45Melanie stood between them like a real princess,
16:48standing in a corner across the street,
16:51I watched this celebration that had nothing to do with me,
16:53I had thought I was dead inside,
16:56but why did it still hurt so much,
16:58it didn't matter though,
16:59I'd be gone soon anyway,
17:10The day I received the acceptance letter from the university,
17:13I opened it swiftly with excitement,
17:15but it was the badge of the USC that I saw,
17:18my blood turned cold instantly,
17:20I recalled my parents odd behavior from several days ago,
17:23it dawned on me that they had altered my application form,
17:26without hesitation I barged into the so called home,
17:30it was the home from which I had been away for a long time,
17:33I slammed the letter on the coffee table,
17:36why USC?
17:37I demanded,
17:38what's wrong with it?
17:39mom replied nonchalantly,
17:40it's close?
17:42in a trembling voice I snapped,
17:44why did you change my application?
17:46why?
17:47because we're your parents,
17:49just then,
17:50dad walked out of the study,
17:52he explained,
17:53Melanie also applied to New York University,
17:55with you around she'll feel insecure,
17:58it's because of her again,
18:01the years of pent up anger in my chest erupted,
18:04her insecurity is the reason for everything,
18:07you said she read my diary because she felt insecure,
18:11she fell down the stairs because she felt insecure,
18:14now I have to go to a different university,
18:17because she feels insecure,
18:23Elin mind your tone,
18:24mom sprang to her feet,
18:26what about my tone?
18:28what tone should I speak in?
18:29tears streamed down my cheeks,
18:31I tried to hold them back,
18:33you kicked me out of the house when I was 12,
18:38you've neglected me,
18:39for the past 6 years,
18:42now,
18:43you're trying to destroy my future,
18:46what kind of parents are you?
18:48we've raised you for 18 years,
18:50dad said,
18:51his face livid,
18:52raise,
18:53it was more like charity,
18:56my voice became hoarse from anger,
18:59in your eyes,
19:01only Melanie is your daughter,
19:04I'm only an unwanted substitute,
19:06I wish you'd never adopted me,
19:09out of the blue,
19:10dad slapped me hard across the face,
19:13get out,
19:14mom hissed with red eyes,
19:15she pointed at the door,
19:18since you hate us so much,
19:19don't ever come back again,
19:21I ran out,
19:22I sobbed in the rain,
19:23until I was soaking wet,
19:25why didn't they love me?
19:28why was I adopted?
19:30where were my biological parents?
19:32I cried and cried,
19:47we shouldn't have told Mel,
19:49that Eileen was adopted,
19:50mom cried,
19:51but what's the point of being regretful now?
19:53I was too sad,
19:55after Mel got lost,
19:57I didn't find out,
19:58I was pregnant with Eileen,
19:59dad sighed,
20:00Mel was so sensitive,
20:02when she returned,
20:04we could only lie,
20:05I that Ellie was adopted,
20:07at least,
20:08Eileen was loved,
20:09and happy,
20:11before she was seven,
20:13but Mel couldn't be,
20:15she owes Mel,
20:18stunned,
20:19I had to press my hands,
20:20against the wall for support,
20:22my back slid down along the wall,
20:24it turned out I was their biological daughter,
20:26it turned out I had never stolen,
20:28anybody's happy childhood,
20:29it was mine,
20:31then,
20:31why did I have to suffer these years,
20:34that day,
20:35I left home and never came back,
20:37after I reached USC,
20:38I changed my phone number,
20:40I put my parents contact information,
20:42on the block list,
20:43Jeffrey and I went to different universities,
20:46due to the distance,
20:47our relationship was nipped in the bud,
20:49afterward,
20:50I heard that he had a girlfriend,
20:52now,
20:53it seemed he was dating Melanie back then,
20:55I opened my eyes,
20:57I wiped my tearful face,
20:58the sight of the message stung,
21:00I wondered if Melanie knew the truth,
21:03but it didn't matter,
21:05I went to the drawer,
21:07I took the DNA test report done many years ago,
21:10since they'd invited me,
21:11I'd go to the wedding,
21:12they destroyed my life for Melanie's happiness,
21:16I'd see how happy she was,
21:22The light from the glaring chandelier on the ceiling of the hotel hall spilled on the lens of my camera,
21:27it reflected my tense side face,
21:30my employee Fiona Blevins was crouching to open the device case,
21:34the clear clicking of the plastic clip couldn't ease my fidget,
21:37this was Melanie's wedding,
21:40of course,
21:41the whole team should be here,
21:43I should have known better,
21:46Elin,
21:47came a female voice,
21:49as sharp as a needle,
21:50my hands paused while holding the camera,
21:53when Melanie turned around,
21:55the skirt of her wedding dress swept across my feet,
21:58the pearls on the decoration hurt,
22:01lifting her skirt with pale hands,
22:03she stared at me in disbelief,
22:05as if I were something filthy that had barged into her life,
22:10Jeffrey stood behind her,
22:13one of the buttons on the cuff of his sleeve was loose,
22:17upon seeing me,
22:18he swiftly shifted his gaze to the dessert table far away,
22:22who asked you to come?
22:24Melanie raised her voice and took a step forward,
22:29the guests all turned their heads to watch,
22:32you don't even have a decent job,
22:35you think you're good enough to be the photographer of my wedding?
22:43Frowning,
22:44Fiona attempted to step forward and make a retort,
22:49I pulled at her blouse gently,
22:51the coolness calmed me down a bit,
22:54my fingertip touched the camera belt,
22:57the host invited me,
23:00the host?
23:01Melanie scoffed,
23:02you mean my parents?
23:03why would they invite an ingrate who refused to come home in the past 10 years?
23:08her remarks hammered my heart,
23:10they caused a dull pain,
23:12the past flashed across my mind,
23:14and one day when I was 12,
23:15I had begged her on my knees not to tell on me,
23:19she had also smirked like that and said,
23:23you're unwelcome in this family anyway,
23:27familiar footsteps came from the door,
23:29my parents walked over,
23:31mom was in a crimson dress,
23:33she was oblivious to the fact that her pearl necklace was askew,
23:38dad wore his tie loosely,
23:41at the sight of me mom stopped in her tracks,
23:45she had a complicated look in her eyes,
23:48your dad and I invited Ellie,
23:50she's a good photographer and her price is fair,
23:53she said to Melanie,
23:55Melanie turned around abruptly and glared at mom,
24:00mom,
24:01are you out of your minds?
24:08she's your younger sister,
24:09dad interrupted Melanie,
24:11his tone was lukewarm,
24:13he didn't spare a look at me,
24:15it was as if I were just an insignificant stranger,
24:20the wedding is about to begin,
24:23knock it off,
24:25with a livid face,
24:27Melanie stared at me malevolently,
24:30she's a good photographer,
24:32she barely gets by with a camera,
24:35mom and dad raised you for 18 years,
24:38and you were away for 10 years,
24:40now that you have a little money,
24:42you think you're better than us,
24:43who bought dresses for you when you were a child,
24:46who took you to kindergarten,
24:48did you forget,
24:49the guests talked with each other,
24:51as she spoke louder and louder,
24:53I tightened my grip on the camera,
24:56the blood drained from my knuckles,
24:59how I wish mom and dad could interfere,
25:02even if it was as simple as stop it,
25:06to my dismay,
25:07mom just turned her head,
25:08to look at the McCarrons on the dessert table,
25:12dad took out a pack of cigarettes,
25:13from his pocket,
25:15then he tucked it back in restlessly,
25:18Mel,
25:18the wedding first,
25:19he urged,
25:21there was no explanation,
25:23neither of them defended me,
25:25nor did they display a tinge of guilt,
25:28I looked down at my reflection in the mirror,
25:31I realized how pathetic I was,
25:3410 years had passed,
25:35and I was still expecting them to be fair,
25:38Fiona handed a cloth to me,
25:40I took it and wiped the lens slowly with it,
25:43I tried to repress the surging sadness,
25:48I'd come to work,
25:49not to settle accounts with them,
25:51I told myself,
25:57after shooting the first section of the wedding,
26:00I drank water in a corner of the lounge,
26:03the warm water in the plastic bottle was bland,
26:07like the meager concern my parents showed at this time,
26:10mom walked over with a glass of orange juice,
26:15beads of juice clung to the body of the glass,
26:19she handed it to me,
26:20the beads fell onto my pants,
26:23they left wet marks on them,
26:28Eileen,
26:29don't take what Mel said to heart,
26:32she was nervous about the wedding,
26:35instead of taking the glass of orange juice,
26:38I took out my phone to transfer money,
26:41I'd calculated the amount countless times,
26:45$80,000,
26:48including tuition from primary school to high school,
26:53monthly allowances,
26:56occasional meals the housekeeper made for me in the six years,
27:01money couldn't buy back my youth,
27:04it couldn't make my altered application for university right,
27:09but at least the accounts between us were even now,
27:13the notification for the successful transfer sounded particularly loud in the quiet lounge,
27:20mom's face colored as she read the notification,
27:24her hand shook,
27:25the juice stained her dress,
27:27but she paid no heed to it,
27:30staring at me,
27:31she asked,
27:32Eileen,
27:33what do you mean?
27:35we raised you for 18 years,
27:37you think we're even now?
27:43what else?
27:44I put my phone back into my pocket,
27:47in a calm yet cold voice,
27:49I continued,
27:52you raised me for 18 years,
27:54and I repaid you with $80,000,
27:58the extra is the interest,
28:01with the account settled,
28:04now we're square,
28:07square?
28:08mom said in a choking voice,
28:12her eyes read,
28:13she attempted to touch my arm,
28:15I took a step back to move away,
28:18her hand froze in midter,
28:20tears ran down her face,
28:22they dropped on the floor,
28:25do you hate us so much?
28:30is there no familial finishing,
28:32for us at all in your heart?
28:34you had a fever,
28:36when you were five,
28:37your dad carried you on his,
28:40or electors three,
28:41can take you to the hospital,
28:44the first time you won a prize eyes,
28:47I took you out,
28:48to buy you a new dress,
28:51did you forget all about this?
28:54scenes from the past,
28:55flashed across my mind,
28:56like an old movie,
28:58carrying me on his back,
29:00dad ran in the rain,
29:02but his back felt extremely warm,
29:05there were floral patterns,
29:06on the rim of the pink dress,
29:08mom bought me,
29:10sadly,
29:10these warm memories,
29:11had waned,
29:12after Melanie returned,
29:15yes,
29:17looking her in the eye,
29:18I declared slowly,
29:20I hate you,
29:21for driving me,
29:22into the old house,
29:23when I was 12,
29:26I hate you,
29:27for altering my application,
29:28when I was 18,
29:30I hate you,
29:31for asking me,
29:32to knock it off,
29:33when I had a fever,
29:34of 39 degrees,
29:42mom stopped crying,
29:44her face,
29:45was as pasty as death,
29:48dad took her arm,
29:50to support her,
29:51he looked at me,
29:52his eyes dripped,
29:54with disappointment,
29:55Ely,
29:56we were wrong,
29:58but what you're doing,
29:59is ruthless,
30:01suddenly,
30:01Melanie marched over,
30:03she pointed at me,
30:05and yelped,
30:06dad and mom,
30:07raised you,
30:08for 18 years,
30:10first,
30:11you left,
30:12without saying goodbye,
30:14now,
30:15you want to cut ties,
30:16with them,
30:17as an adopted daughter,
30:18you should be grateful,
30:19that they didn't let you starve,
30:22how dare you,
30:23talk about fairness,
30:24with them,
30:27what in great,
30:29an adopted daughter,
30:32I turned to my parents,
30:35my heart was racing,
30:37finally,
30:37the right time had come,
30:40is that what I am,
30:41in your eyes,
30:42mom's lips moved,
30:44but no words came out,
30:46dad nodded with a sigh,
30:47Ely,
30:48we were wrong,
30:49but you're indeed adopted,
30:52don't fixate on it,
30:53laughing snidely,
30:55I took a step forward,
30:56I looked them in the eye,
30:59in which children's home,
31:00did you find me,
31:02where are the adoption formalities,
31:06can I have a look,
31:07a deathly silence ensued,
31:10a deathly silence ensued,
31:10the blood drained,
31:11from mom's face,
31:13dad clenched his fists tightly,
31:16his knuckles went pale,
31:20dumbfounded,
31:21Melanie shook mom's arm,
31:24mom,
31:26tell her where you adopted her,
31:28show her the formalities,
31:30neither mom nor dad spoke,
31:32they just stared at me,
31:34panic was plain in their eyes,
31:37the last tad of hope in my heart,
31:39was shattered as I met their gaze,
31:42they couldn't even come up,
31:43with a good lie,
31:45but they'd fooled me,
31:47for 10 years,
31:54my fingers trembled,
31:55as I fumbled the laminated,
31:56DNA test report in my purse,
32:00I'd kept it for 5 years,
32:03I cried in bed,
32:04every time I read the result,
32:08the possibility of paternity,
32:10is in excess of 99.999%,
32:17I wasn't a substitute for Melanie,
32:20I was their biological daughter,
32:22that was the truth,
32:24however,
32:25they wouldn't admit it,
32:27you can't say it,
32:29I will,
32:31I handed the report to my parents,
32:34under the light,
32:35the plastic cover glared,
32:37they couldn't open their eyes,
32:39mom was breathing rapidly,
32:42dad wanted to take the report,
32:46but he withdrew his hand,
32:47on second thought,
32:53you claim,
32:54I'm adopted,
32:55I continued in a flat voice,
32:57it expressed my 10 years of sadness,
33:01then why is the possibility,
33:02of paternity 99.999%,
33:06why does the DNA test report,
33:08say you're my biological parents,
33:11Melanie dashed over,
33:12and snatched the report away,
33:15her fingers trembled violently,
33:17as she read it,
33:20no,
33:23this can't be true,
33:27this report must be a forgery,
33:29you're using it to take everything away from me,
33:32a forgery,
33:36I looked at my parents,
33:39ask your parents,
33:44tears streamed down mom's cheeks,
33:47they stained the report,
33:49dad's face was as pale as paper,
33:51his lips were trembling,
33:54he was too emotionally overwhelmed to speak,
33:58afraid to hurt Melanie's feelings,
34:00you told her I was adopted,
34:02I believed you,
34:05I thought you'd love me all the same,
34:07as long as I was obedient and humored her,
34:12however,
34:12you turned my bedroom into a sunroom for her,
34:16you moved my piano into the storage room,
34:20you changed my application in university to U.S. behind my back,
34:26when I was furious you couldn't be bothered to check on me,
34:30you asked me to find the medicine on my own,
34:34more and more guests gathered around us,
34:36they whispered to each other,
34:39some of them took photos of this scene,
34:42others pointed at my parents,
34:44they're playing favorites,
34:47how could they treat their own daughter so horribly,
34:50poor girl,
34:52for 10 years,
34:53she didn't know her adoptive parents were her biological parents,
34:56suddenly mom dropped to her knees,
34:59she clutched the leg of my pants,
35:04Ely,
35:04I was wrong,
35:06we all were,
35:08your dad and I,
35:10were confused,
35:13we felt sorry for Mel and neglected you,
35:19will you forgive us,
35:23we'll give you the house,
35:24the company,
35:25anything you want,
35:30I brushed mom's hands away,
35:33I took a step back,
35:35her hands were cold and calloused,
35:38however,
35:40the touch failed to invoke the familial affection inside me,
35:43my heart could never be warm again,
35:46I don't want your house,
35:48or company,
35:50I announced in a hoarse voice,
35:53I want the truth,
35:55why did you lie to me,
35:57I'm also your daughter,
36:00why do you only love her,
36:05dad also knelt tearfully,
36:08Ely,
36:09I'm sorry I let you down,
36:11when Mel just came back,
36:13she cried every day,
36:16she was afraid that we wouldn't like her,
36:21out of options,
36:23we told her you were adopted,
36:28we thinking things would turn around when she grew up,
36:31sadly that didn't happen,
36:36we never meant to put you through all this,
36:39you never meant to,
36:41I laughed,
36:43but tears streamed down my face,
36:46at 12,
36:47I had to live alone in the old house,
36:50and I was too terrified to sleep,
36:54I could have been admitted to NYU,
36:56but I had to go to UCLA,
37:01you know why I was away for a decade,
37:04because you told me to never come back,
37:08not because I didn't want to return home,
37:14you think you can undo all this by your simple apology,
37:27suddenly Melanie tore the DNA test report,
37:32she tore it once,
37:33then again,
37:35shreds of paper scattered across the floor like snow,
37:40she shrieked,
37:43I don't believe it,
37:44I'm your daughter,
37:46she's not,
37:47the wedding is off,
37:50her face was twisted with rage and terror,
37:53for 18 years,
37:54she had been the real daughter,
37:57the cherished one,
37:59the one they sacrificed everything for,
38:02and now,
38:03in one moment,
38:04she had become the lie,
38:06she pulled off the veil,
38:08she tossed it onto the floor,
38:11she ran off,
38:12after a dazed moment,
38:14Jeffrey went after her,
38:16the director of the wedding ran to my dad in a fluster,
38:22Mr. Britt,
38:23the wedding,
38:24it's cancelled,
38:26holding the camera,
38:28I said to Fiona,
38:29put away the devices,
38:31we're done here,
38:33when I walked out of the lounge,
38:34mom's sobs came from behind me,
38:38the guests were whispering,
38:40but I didn't look back,
38:43the years of agony were finally off my chest today,
38:47it might have happened too late,
38:50but at least I was no longer the adopted daughter,
38:57at the entrance to the hotel,
38:59the cold autumn wind blew in my face,
39:02it brought a sense of desolation,
39:06Fiona carried the devices for me,
39:09she walked briskly,
39:10afraid to bother me,
39:13as soon as I reached the roadside,
39:15urgent footsteps came from behind me,
39:17Aline,
39:18Aline,
39:19someone called,
39:21I turned around,
39:22it was Jeffrey,
39:24he had his suit jacket hanging from his arm,
39:27his hair was a mess,
39:29his forehead was sweaty,
39:31he ran to me,
39:32he was huffing and puffing,
39:34his chest was heaving violently,
39:37his eyes were full of guilt,
39:38I'm sorry,
39:40he apologized in a husky voice,
39:45I'm sorry I didn't go to find you back then,
39:47I'm sorry,
39:49I got together with Melanie,
39:51I gazed at him,
39:54under the sunshine,
39:55the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were obvious,
40:00when we were little,
40:02he was always saying I had big doe eyes,
40:06now the glitter in his eyes was gone,
40:09one day in my senior year in high school,
40:12he climbed over the tall wall with a candy in his hand,
40:15he said to me,
40:17Ely,
40:18after we're both admitted to New York University,
40:20I'll take you to the sea,
40:22the sweetness of the candy was vivid in my mind for many years,
40:32why were you with her?
40:34my low voice faded in the wind,
40:37when I was in college,
40:39she found me one day,
40:40she told me you'd forgotten me,
40:42she said you'd gone to Los Angeles and would never come back,
40:46Jeffrey clutched his jacket,
40:48his knuckles were pale,
40:52she said you hated me for not putting in a good word for you,
40:56I panicked,
40:59I looked for you but you'd changed your phone number,
41:02and the old house was empty,
41:11An unbearable pang ran through my heart,
41:16the day I enrolled at USC,
41:18I came to New York University,
41:21I assumed he'd be waiting for me at the entrance,
41:24to my disappointment,
41:26I waited there all day,
41:28he never showed up,
41:29afterward,
41:31I learned that he was already with Melanie back then,
41:38I wanted to be with you,
41:41Jeffrey's eyes reddened,
41:43they brimmed with tears,
41:46After the SST,
41:49I went to the old house to find you,
41:52your parents told me you'd left and would never come back,
41:56I waited at the gate to the old house all night,
42:00the candy in my hand melted,
42:06melted,
42:08like our terminated,
42:10long gone relationship,
42:13Melanie and I have broken up,
42:15the wedding is off,
42:16he took a step forward to hold my hand,
42:19I retreated and moved away,
42:22Ely,
42:23can we start over,
42:25I was wrong,
42:27I'll cherish you all the more,
42:34I looked at Jeffrey calmly,
42:38my youth adoration for him and expectations of our future had elapsed with time,
42:44they had worn out in lies,
42:49Jeffrey were not meant to be,
42:51he stiffened to hear my words,
42:54his face gradually went pale,
42:56all the color drained away,
42:58like a photograph left too long in the sun,
43:01his lips parted slightly,
43:03but no words came out of his mouth,
43:06he just stood there,
43:07he looked at me,
43:09despair was plain in his eyes,
43:12the boy who used to climb over my fence with candy in his pocket,
43:17the teenager who waited all night at the gate of the old house with a melting sweet in his hand,
43:24and the man who was about to marry my sister,
43:28they were all the same person,
43:32and none of them were the person I needed anymore,
43:35I didn't eat the candy,
43:39I turned around,
43:40I said to Fiona,
43:42let's go,
43:43I left resolutely without looking back,
43:49Ely,
43:49I regret it,
43:50he said softly in the wind,
43:52I knew that,
43:53but what difference did it make,
43:55some things were lost forever,
43:57like New York University,
43:59like the teenager himself,
44:04over the next few days,
44:06my phone kept ringing nonstop,
44:09all calls were from my parents,
44:12I set my phone to silent,
44:15I put it in the drawer,
44:17I didn't want to hear their apologies,
44:19it was too late,
44:21I didn't need them anymore,
44:23Kimberly would tell me about their situation every day,
44:27this morning,
44:28your mom was crying downstairs at the studio,
44:31she was holding a photo of you as a child,
44:36your dad came too,
44:38he was leaning on a cane,
44:40he looked much older,
44:42I just nodded,
44:44I asked her to keep them outside,
44:46I didn't let them in to disturb my work,
44:48on Friday night,
44:50after working overtime,
44:51I left the studio,
44:52as soon as I turned into the alley,
44:55I heard familiar sounds of arguing,
44:56it was Melanie and my parents,
45:00why do you get to apologize to her,
45:02why do you give her the house,
45:04I'm your daughter,
45:05Melanie's voice was choked with tears,
45:08it was sharp as nails scraping glass,
45:11she was the one who pushed me down the stairs,
45:13she wrote in her diary to insult me,
45:15have you forgotten,
45:16how can you take her side,
45:20she didn't push you,
45:22dad's voice was louder than ever,
45:23it was filled with exhaustion and anger,
45:27you fell on your own,
45:28you admitted it just yesterday,
45:30you even lied to us,
45:32saying she changed your homework,
45:35saying she stole your necklace,
45:36how many things have you kept from us,
45:39I hid around the corner of the alley,
45:41I felt nothing in particular,
45:44just a sense of irony,
45:46after all these years,
45:47they finally learned the truth,
45:49but I stopped caring long ago,
45:52so what if I admit it,
45:54Melanie screamed,
45:57she took my place for seven years,
45:59if not for her,
46:00all your love would have been mine,
46:01I wanted her to suffer,
46:03changing her college choices,
46:04driving her away,
46:05it was all me who made you do it,
46:07why blame me now,
46:08you spoiled me,
46:10you said you'd love me forever,
46:14mom's sobs came through,
46:16they were suppressed,
46:18Mel how could you say that,
46:20we thought you were just sensitive,
46:22we never imagined you'd be so cruel,
46:26Ely has suffered so much over the years,
46:28and we never knew,
46:30suffered,
46:30what did she suffer,
46:34Melanie sneered,
46:36she lived in the old house,
46:37but I was kidnapped by traffickers,
46:40I've had it much harder than her,
46:43you should make it up to me,
46:45dad sighed,
46:46his voice was hoarse,
46:47we were wrong,
46:50wrong to always favor you,
46:52wrong not to trust Ely,
46:54we owe her an apology,
46:56I didn't listen to the rest,
47:00I turned and went back to my apartment,
47:04I took out the severance agreement,
47:06I had prepared long ago from the drawer,
47:11I had spent a long time writing that agreement,
47:15it clearly stated,
47:17from now on,
47:18I have no familial relationship with Patrick Britt,
47:20Lella Valdez or Melanie Britt,
47:23we will not interfere in each other's lives,
47:26nor bear any obligation of support or care,
47:30the Britt family's assets have nothing to do with me,
47:36the next day,
47:37I had my lawyer deliver the agreement to dad's company,
47:41when the lawyer returned,
47:42he told me,
47:45Mr. Britt's hands were shaking as he read the agreement,
47:49Mrs. Britt cried and tore it up,
47:51then she picked up the pieces and carefully glued them back together before signing,
47:55Maloney didn't sign and cursed you a few times,
47:57I nodded without saying anything,
47:59whether she signed or not didn't matter,
48:02my parents' signatures were enough,
48:05Kimberly brought me a cup of hot coffee,
48:08she said it in front of me,
48:10Ely,
48:11do you really not regret it?
48:12After all,
48:13they're your parents,
48:14I looked out at the trees beyond the window,
48:17their leaves were scattered all over the ground,
48:20bleak and desolate,
48:21no,
48:22I picked up the coffee and took a sip,
48:25it was bitter,
48:27I'm no longer the little girl who longed for their love,
48:30cutting ties is better for all of us,
48:33all those years of grievance were like a cup of bitter coffee,
48:37once swallowed you can never spit it out,
48:39from now on,
48:40I only want to live for myself,
48:43three months after signing the severance agreement,
48:45I packed my bags and left Los Angeles,
48:49this city carried too many memories for me,
48:53some good,
48:54some bad,
48:54and now it was time to let them go,
48:58I went to a small town in the south,
49:02I rented an apartment with a balcony,
49:06outside the balcony stood an old locust tree,
49:09it bloomed with many fragrant white flowers in summer,
49:14every morning I took photos of the street,
49:20in the evenings I sat on the balcony reading,
49:26occasionally I accepted a few photography jobs from out of town,
49:32life was very peaceful,
49:39Kimberly would regularly send me messages about Los Angeles,
49:44Melanie was kicked out by your parents because she secretly took the family's money to gamble,
49:50she racked up a lot of debt,
49:55later she went to find Jeffrey and the two of them still got married,
50:01but they argue every day,
50:06Jeffrey messed up his job too,
50:08he got fired by the company,
50:12now he spends every day drinking at home,
50:15when he's drunk he yells at Melanie,
50:18and Melanie cries,
50:20their life is a complete mess,
50:23I looked at the messages,
50:25I felt nothing inside,
50:28whether their days were good or bad,
50:30it no longer had anything to do with me,
50:33I only occasionally thought of my childhood,
50:37dad teaching me to ride a bike,
50:43mom braiding my hair,
50:45those warm scenes flashed through my mind like old movies,
50:49but quickly faded away,
50:54two years later I held a solo photography exhibition in the small town,
50:58most of the photos on display were street scenes,
51:02elderly people sitting at their doorsteps basking in the sun,
51:06they held palm fans,
51:08children running through the alleys,
51:10they clutched ice cream in their hands,
51:13some featured couples holding hands and smiling sweetly under the old locust tree,
51:19none of the Brit family appeared in these photos,
51:23nor was there any trace of Los Angeles,
51:26only my life as it is now,
51:29on the day the exhibition opened many people came,
51:34I was signing my name in a corner of the gallery when someone gently tapped my arm,
51:41I looked up,
51:42I was stunned it was my parents,
51:46mom's hair had turned much grayer,
51:48it was neatly combed,
51:51she was still wearing that dark red dress from years ago,
51:56though it had faded from many washes,
52:00dad leaned on a cane,
52:02his back was hunched,
52:04deep wrinkles were etched into his face,
52:07he looked much older,
52:09they stood in front of one of my photos,
52:11it showed an old house,
52:14it was very much like the one I used to live in,
52:17dad's fingers gently brushed the photo,
52:20his eyes were full of nostalgia,
52:23I said nothing,
52:25I continued signing my name,
52:27my heart was beating a little fast,
52:29but I felt very calm inside,
52:32I no longer hated them,
52:34nor did I love them,
52:36they just felt a little unfamiliar,
52:39dad slowly walked over,
52:42he held a brown envelope,
52:44he handed it to me,
52:45his hand was cold,
52:47it was covered in calluses,
52:50the result of years of holding a pen,
52:53Eli, this is an apology letter,
52:57we know you won't forgive us,
52:59but we still wanted to write it for you,
53:02I took the envelope,
53:04it was thick,
53:06when my fingertips touched his hand,
53:09he quickly pulled away,
53:10like a child who had done something wrong,
53:16we're leaving now,
53:18mom looked at me,
53:19her eyes were red,
53:20but not crying,
53:21her voice trembled a little,
53:23take good care of yourself here,
53:25when it gets cold,
53:27remember to wear more clothes,
53:30don't catch colds all the time,
53:32like you did when you were little,
53:33I nodded,
53:34I said nothing,
53:36they walked out slowly,
53:38dad moved very slowly,
53:40mom supported him,
53:42step by step,
53:43without looking back,
53:45the gallery lights were warm,
53:47I opened the envelope,
53:49I found several sheets of yellowed letter paper,
53:53the handwriting was crooked,
53:55it was dad's writing,
53:57he wrote a lot,
53:59about the year Melanie came back when I was seven,
54:02and how panicked they were,
54:05about when I was 12 and got kicked out,
54:07how he secretly went to the old house at night,
54:11how he saw me crying into my blanket,
54:15and how much it hurt him,
54:17about changing my college application when I was 18,
54:21and how much he regretted it,
54:24about how over the past 10 years they tried to find me,
54:28and thought about me,
54:29the last line read,
54:32Ely, we're sorry,
54:34you must live well,
54:36better than us,
54:40tears fell onto the letter,
54:42they blurred the ink,
54:44I read it again,
54:46and again,
54:49dad's handwriting was crooked,
54:51unsteady,
54:51the hand of an old man who had lost his fine motor skills,
54:56he wrote about the night they told Melanie I was adopted,
55:00how mom had cried herself to sleep for a week afterward,
55:03how dad had driven to the old house in the rain,
55:06just to check if the light was still on in my window,
55:09he wrote about the day he changed my college application,
55:13I knew it was wrong the moment I signed it,
55:16but Melanie was crying,
55:18she said she'd run away if I didn't,
55:20I was a coward,
55:21Ely,
55:21I chose the easy path,
55:23and you paid the price,
55:24he wrote about the 10 years of silence,
55:28how mom saved every photo of me she could find in a shoebox under her bed,
55:34how dad drove past my old apartment building once a month,
55:37hoping to catch a glimpse of me,
55:40I pressed the letter against my chest,
55:43the paper was warm from my tears,
55:46all these years I thought they had forgotten me,
55:49they hadn't,
55:51they were just too weak,
55:53too guilty,
55:54too broken to come find me,
55:55I folded the letter,
55:57I put it in my bag,
55:59I walked to the window,
56:01I watched my parents figures slowly disappear around the corner,
56:06dad leaned heavily on his cane,
56:09mom's arm was linked through his,
56:12they walked like to people carrying a weight they knew they could never put down,
56:17the wind was gentle,
56:19it brushed my face,
56:20it carried the scent of the old locust tree,
56:23I knew I would never forgive them,
56:26but I would not hate them anymore either,
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