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FULL MOVIES ENGLISH SUB (2026)
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Transcript
00:07I had a notebook hidden in my drawer it only contained one number 99 the 99 times my family
00:19let me down on my wedding day my sister Sylvia Meyer suddenly flew back home my parents my brother
00:34Zachariah and even my fiance Eugene Anderson all abandoned me to go pick her up at the airport
00:40while she posted group selfies on Instagram showing off how adored she was I called them
00:46over and over yet every call was coldly declined the only one who picked up was Eugene he said just
00:52one thing stop overreacting we can always hold another wedding so at the wedding I had looked
01:01forward to for so long they made me the biggest joke of the day whispered about and ridiculed by
01:07everyone I calmly wrapped everything up on my own then wrote a new number in my diary 99 it was
01:16the
01:1699th time they had disappointed me I no longer wished for their love I filled out my application
01:23to study abroad and packed my suitcase they all thought I had finally grown obedient but the
01:30truth was that I was preparing to leave the door to my room burst open Zachariah walked in and let
01:36out a mocking snort when he saw me staring at my diary seriously how old are you writing a diary
01:43like an
01:43elementary school kid normally I would have snapped back but this time I didn't even raise my head
01:56annoyed by my indifference Zachariah raked a hand through his hair grabbed the diary and flipped it
02:02open inside was only one number 99 the number of times they had let me down he couldn't understand
02:13it he frowned tossed the notebook onto the floor and ordered me enough with your nonsense still wants
02:19your garlic butter shrimp go wash your hands and get cooking and take it as your apology for that snarky
02:25comment you made earlier I simply said okay and headed downstairs he was stunned that I didn't throw
02:37a tantrum in the past whenever the family asked me to cook shrimp for Sylvia I would cry like I
02:43had
02:43suffered some great injustice why is she suddenly so quiet he thought
02:56Rebecca what's with you you're not up to something right you're not planning to put something in her
03:01food are you suspicion flickered in his eyes as he studied me when he noticed my slightly reddened eyes
03:11he paused and finally shut up after a long moment he spoke again
03:23Syl's been abroad for a year living on her own the whole time this is her first time back home
03:32of course we're eager to see her you should understand
03:38it's just a wedding we can throw you another one later
03:45I stayed silent while cleaning the shrimp right just a wedding in their eyes nothing would ever
03:50matter more than picking up Sylvia not even the wedding I had dreamed of four years
03:58they knew it had taken me months to secure that couture gown
04:04they knew I spent half a year planning every detail with the wedding team yet in the end they
04:11turned me into the biggest joke of the entire event my family never showed up Eugene never appeared
04:19while Sylvia flaunted her airport welcome party on Instagram I faced the guests ridicule and puzzled
04:26stairs alone even the hotel staff noticed how pale I looked and pitying me urged me to go home and
04:34rest
04:38but when my family returned the first thing they did was ask me to cook
04:46a bitter smile tugged at my lips I had once thought that because my parents were getting older Sylvia was
04:54abroad
04:54Zachariah was busy and I was getting married I should decline my professor's offer to study overseas
05:01but now I knew leaving was the right choice
05:06unfortunately even with the application submitted I still had two weeks before I could depart
05:11I pushed past Zachariah move you're blocking the way
05:17my coldness made him feel like he had swung a fist only to hit empty air
05:22he sighed about to speak again but Sylvia's voice rang out from the living room
05:28Zach I can't open this chestnut
05:34Zachariah panicked instantly
05:35don't do it yourself you'll hurt your hands you're gonna be a pianist wait I'll help you
05:40that annoying buzzing finally left the kitchen
05:43I lowered my gaze to my hands
05:45my one slender fingers were now red and swollen from an allergic reaction
05:49when I set the plate of shrimps on the dining table
05:52I glanced toward the living room
05:54the atmosphere over there was warm and lively
05:57dad who was usually busy with business calls
05:59suddenly had all the time in the world
06:02he sat comfortably on the couch
06:04listening patiently while Sylvia talked about her fun experiences studying abroad
06:10mom held Sylvia in her arms fussing over her
06:14saying she looked thinner and must have suffered overseas
06:18Zachariah was sitting next to her focused on opening chestnuts for her
06:23I didn't say anything
06:25I just watched that cozy little scene quietly
06:29the living room and dining room felt like two completely different worlds
06:34one side was full of laughter and the other was utterly silent
06:39Becca why are you standing over there
06:41is it because I messed up your wedding
06:43are you still mad at me
06:45Sylvia's soft pitiful voice carried across the room
06:48only then did the three in the living room finally notice me
06:52dad frowned instinctively
06:56wipe that look off your face
06:58get over here
07:00mom's expression held a flash of irritation
07:03your wedding mess happened because you picked a bad date
07:06it had nothing to do with Slive
07:09if you dare stay mad at her
07:11don't call me your mother
07:13Sylvia pouted dramatically and tugged on mom's sleeve
07:16mom don't say that
07:18you'll make Becca sad
07:19she sounded like she was defending me
07:21but the smugness in her eyes was impossible to hide
07:26I knew better that Sylvia was far from innocent
07:29a week ago I told her the wedding date myself
07:32she saw the message and even replied that she was preparing a surprise
07:38and she did give me one
07:40it was just not the kind anyone would want
07:46this forced choice between us was a game she had played since childhood
07:51every single time I was never the one my parents or Zachariah chose
07:58even Eugene who was supposed to spend his life with me
08:01didn't choose me
08:03I should have been heartbroken
08:05but maybe I had gone numb
08:06hearing their words now barely stirred anything inside me
08:11I'm not mad
08:13the moment I said that
08:14everyone stopped and stared at me
08:17it was impossible that I wasn't mad
08:19I caught the expressions on their faces and felt a wave of irony
08:24they knew what they did was infuriating
08:26yet they chose to do it anyway
08:28and then acted like my emotions were the problem
08:33my calmness made my parents and Zachariah uneasy
08:37after a moment of silence dad finally said
08:42good
08:43we're a family so stop taking everything so seriously
08:47yes I understand
08:49I nodded obediently
08:52seeing me act so unaffected
08:54they relaxed and turned back to fussing over Sylvia
09:00aside from the shrimp I made
09:02the table was covered in seafood dishes prepared by the housekeeper
09:06they were everything Sylvia loved
09:09Sylvia
09:09you're so thin
09:11eat more
09:13dad and Zachariah's fork never stopped moving
09:17before long
09:18the food was piled high in her plate like a tiny mountain
09:24she beamed as she bragged to the family about her life overseas
09:29she claimed she had already secured a spot in an orchestra
09:32and would be performing with them soon
09:35my parents and Zachariah showered her with praise
09:39I quietly continued eating my rice
09:41my silence must have finally stirred some guilt in mom
09:46because she suddenly remembered I had been humiliated today
09:52a shrimp was placed on my plate
09:54I looked up
09:57mom's expression was a little stiff
09:58eat
10:00don't think we only care about sylve
10:03didn't I just give one to you too
10:05I stared at the shrimp for a long time
10:07then set my fork down
10:10no need
10:12I'm full
10:17mom looked embarrassed and a little irritated
10:22what's wrong with you now
10:24just as she was about to say more
10:26Sylvia
10:27who was sitting beside her
10:28suddenly grabbed her throat
10:30her facial expression changed instantly
10:35mom
10:36I can't breathe
10:39when my parents and Zachariah rushed to Sylvia's side
10:42and saw the hive spreading across her skin
10:44they panicked
10:48she's having an allergic reaction
10:51how could this happen all of a sudden
10:55mom's gaze flicked around then landed on me
10:59the next second she slapped me with all her strength
11:06I staggered couldn't steady myself and fell to the floor
11:09my head buzzed
11:13Rebecca what did you put in the food
11:15don't you remember what syve is allergic to
11:18Zachariah looked at me with utter disappointment
11:20I knew it
11:21it was weird that you were acting so agreeable
11:25you were really planning to hurt sylve
11:29Rebecca
11:30how can I have such a vicious sister
11:35enough stop yelling
11:39take sylve to the hospital first
11:42dad slammed the table
11:44and only then did mom and Zachariah tear their hateful glares away from me
11:48my whole family rushed out in a blind panic
11:51and I was the only one left sitting on the floor
11:54holding my swollen cheek in a daze
11:57it wasn't me
11:59I wanted to say it so badly
12:02but things like this had happened to many times
12:04and I knew they wouldn't believe me even if I said it
12:09so I would just forget about it
12:13one of the house staff came running over after hearing the commotion
12:17she tried to help me up but froze when she saw my hands
12:20Miss Rebecca what happened to your hands?
12:24why are they so swollen?
12:26I'm fine
12:28I rejected her help
12:29stood up on my own and went upstairs to my room
12:36I picked up the notebook on my desk as a flood of memories surged through me
12:40when I was eight, our family had very little money
12:43all five of us squeezed into one old cramped house
12:51my parents were overwhelmed with work and couldn't take care of three kids at the same time
12:56they decided one of us needed to be sent to our grandparents in the countryside
13:01but Zachariah was about to start high school at a critical time
13:05and Sylvia was too young and frail for them to feel at ease sending her away
13:11I didn't want to see my parents looking so stressed
13:13so I lifted my hand and volunteered
13:18and just like that, I was sent to the countryside
13:24before I left, mom stroked my head and said I was the most sensible child
13:29but no one told me the price of being sensible was that I would stay there for eight whole years
13:35for eight years, except for the new year, I didn't see my parents, Zachariah or Sylvia
13:44I watched their clothes get nicer every year and could guess that life at home had improved a lot
13:51I kept waiting for mom and dad to bring me home
13:54but I grew from an elementary schooler into a high schooler
13:57and even after my aging grandparents passed away, they still hadn't come for me
14:04I only returned once there was no one left to take care of me
14:08the tiny rundown house in my memories was gone
14:12in its place stood a three-story villa
14:17the room they gave me was on the first floor corner
14:20it was nothing like Zachariah's room filled with books and gaming gear
14:24nor like Sylvia's room overflowing with girlish decorations
14:29it mirrored my place in this family never important enough to matter and always easy to overlook
14:38I packed the few belongings I had and stuffed them into my suitcase
14:43the wedding leave I had requested from my advisor, Radin Delian, was useless now
14:50I was about to call him to say I would be back tomorrow when my phone suddenly rang
14:56it was Eugene
15:00I thought he was calling about wedding follow-ups
15:02but the moment I picked up, he started yelling
15:06Rebecca, what did you do to Syl?
15:10why is she in the hospital?
15:14the man who was always calm and composed had lost it twice in one day
15:19the first time was when he heard Sylvia was back in the country
15:23the second time was because she went to the hospital
15:28I found it funny, considering he was supposed to be my fiance
15:35she had an allergic reaction
15:38so it was you, wasn't it?
15:40how could you do that to your own sister?
15:43his voice was thick with anger
15:45Rebecca, I always thought you were a kind person
15:49but just because of something this small, you sent Syl to the hospital
15:53do you even have a conscience?
15:56I listened to his accusations, too tired to bother explaining
16:02yeah, guess I don't
16:05it's my fault
16:07I'll apologize to her when she gets back
16:10are you happy now?
16:12if you've said everything you needed to say
16:14I'm hanging up
16:16I have things to do
16:20Eugene froze
16:21he clearly didn't expect this reaction
16:25before this, we had fought countless times over Sylvia
16:30on dates, he would get lost in conversation with her
16:35at meals, he would forget my food allergies
16:37but always order her favorites
16:40whenever I accused him of crossing lines
16:43he would respond with
16:44you're overthinking, she's your sister
16:47I'm just looking after her for you
16:51his indifference made me look like some controlling, jealous lunatic
16:56my parents and Zachariah took his side every time
16:59saying I was too possessive
17:03so when Sylvia left the country for a year
17:06I shamefully felt relieved
17:10but I had been starving for affection for so long
17:12that I forgot broken glass cuts
17:15I kept clutching those shards long after they should have been dropped
17:18and now all I was left with were bleeding hands
17:24Rebecca you'd better mean what you said
17:28if anything happens to Syl again you can forget about our wedding
17:33Eugene's voice carried a clear threat
17:38I heard him get out of the car, the door slamming shut
17:41and the noise around him suddenly growing louder
17:44I could tell he was going to the hospital
17:47probably rushing in to check on Sylvia
17:50he was using my name as an excuse just so he could fuss over the woman he actually cared about
17:55did he really think I was stupid enough to fall for it?
18:01I let out a dry laugh, hung up, and called Raiden
18:07by the time my parents and Zachariah finally dragged themselves home
18:11exhausted, I had already finished packing and was ready to move into the dorms
18:18just in time to hear mom sigh
18:21if only Gino's family were better off
18:24he and Syl would make such a good match
18:28look at him, he's so attentive
18:32my steps faltered
18:35then dad spoke
18:38yeah, he's decent looking too
18:41I think Syl actually likes him
18:47if I had known earlier I wouldn't have arranged for Eugene and Rebecca to meet
18:55don't overthink it
18:56mom said
18:58I can't bear the thought of Syl suffering with him
19:01better for Eugene to be with Rebecca
19:04they match each other
19:08besides
19:09Syl is going to be a pianist
19:13even if he's her brother-in-law
19:14he can still spoil her
19:18she kept talking
19:19then lifted her head and saw me standing on the stairs
19:23she jolted back a couple of steps in panic
19:28Rebecca?
19:31what are you doing here?
19:33mom must have assumed the lights were off because I was asleep
19:37who knew how much of their conversation I had heard
19:41I ignored the faint sting in my chest and walked right past her
19:48I have things to take care of at school, I'm heading back
19:52seeing that I looked calm, my parents exchanged a glance and finally relaxed
19:57Zachariah frowned when he noticed the suitcase at my side
20:00you're taking luggage to school?
20:02what? are you afraid we'll accountable for Syl's allergy?
20:06are you planning to run away?
20:08the moment he brought it up
20:10my parents, who had looked guilty just seconds earlier
20:13straightened their backs and towered over me with righteous indignation
20:17right! we almost forgot!
20:21Rebecca, do you realize Sel ended up in the hospital because of you?
20:25you won't apologize?
20:28and now you want to walk away?
20:33do you think you can get off that easily?
20:38irritation crept up my spine when I saw they were worked up and clearly unwilling to back down
20:42I pulled out my phone
20:45dialed Sylvia and put the call on speaker
20:47she was awake now
20:50at that moment, she was basking in Eugene's attentive care
20:55the moment she picked up, her voice dripped with faux innocence
20:59Becca?
21:00why are you calling me?
21:02did someone tell you Gino is here?
21:05taking care of me?
21:06are you upset about that?
21:08the moment Sylvia's voice came through
21:11my parents and Zachariah both froze
21:13they could hardly believe that such petty
21:16spiteful words were coming out of the mouth of the daughter and sister they adored
21:21I didn't care what they were thinking
21:22nor did I care about Eugene hovering over her
21:25I said flatly
21:26mmm, Eugene's taking good care of you
21:32everyone listening was stunned
21:36Sylvia too, sounded confused
21:40Becca, are you serious?
21:42of course
21:44I replied without hesitation
21:49I don't know what exactly triggered your allergy
21:52but I'll apologize anyway
21:54I'm sorry
21:59before anyone could react
22:01I hung up cleanly
22:03then looked at my family
22:04every one of them was dumbfounded
22:07can I go now?
22:08I asked calmly
22:11this time
22:12no one even tried to stop me
22:15I didn't bother taking Zachariah's snide remark
22:18why aren't you throwing a fit now?
22:20to heart
22:22back at school
22:23I switched my phone to airplane mode
22:26and locked myself in the lab
22:27working non-stop for 13 straight days
22:33I didn't step out of the lab until the day before my departure
22:36when I finally finished my experiments
22:41the moment I turned my phone back on
22:43it exploded with notifications
22:48there were messages from everyone my family, Eugene
22:51and a flood of texts from my friends
22:56I opened my friend Eleanor Hamilton's conversation first
23:01she was furious
23:02she had sent 70 or 80 messages in a row
23:05all cursing out Eugene and Sylvia
23:09then she sent a screenshot from Sylvia's Instagram
23:15it was a family portrait
23:16my parents, Zachariah, Sylvia, and even Eugene, were in the photo
23:22he was standing next to Sylvia
23:25staring at her like a knight guarding his princess
23:28his eyes were soft and full of devotion
23:32Sylvia's caption read
23:34with the people I love most
23:37the audacity nearly sent Eleanor over the edge
23:40she ranted endlessly and even commented under the post
23:46your sister isn't even there
23:47it looks like your brother-in-law is taking good care of you
23:52I soothed her with a few replies before opening the rest of my messages
24:00without exception
24:01every message scolded me for letting Eleanor bully poor Syl
24:07I apologized one by one
24:10just as I was about to lock my phone
24:12Zachariah called
24:15Rebecca what the hell is going on?
24:17why haven't we been able to reach you?
24:20you have no idea how worried we have been the past few days
24:27right after he said that
24:28I heard Sylvia's bright, sugary voice in the background
24:32dad mom Jenna look at this carousel it's so pretty
24:36so they were at an amusement park
24:38I asked softly
24:40worried?
24:42that single word made Zachariah choke up
24:45it took him a long time to respond
24:48well
24:50yeah
24:50we couldn't reach you
24:53if you were around
24:54you could have come too
24:59besides
24:59it's all your friends fault
25:01Sylvia's sensitive
25:02she cried for hours after seeing that comment
25:04we had to bring her out to cheer her up
25:06I already apologized
25:08he went quiet again
25:10as if he had no idea what to say next
25:13after a long pause he muttered
25:16good
25:17you finally learned to behave
25:19the next second Eugene snatched the phone
25:23his deep annoyed voice cut through the speaker
25:26Rebecca did you tell your friend to leave that comment?
25:29why is your mind always so dirty?
25:32I've told you so many times
25:33that Sylvia is your sister
25:36I'm only looking after her for you
25:38your whole family does that
25:39I know you're jealous because everyone likes Syl more
25:42but that's not her fault
25:47maybe you should think about why no one likes you
25:51my grip on the phone tightened when I heard him run his mouth like that
25:57when we first started dating
25:59I had told Eugene about how my family treated me
26:03back then
26:05he held me and said he would always be on my side
26:09now he told me to reflect on why myself
26:15sigh
26:16but I didn't feel sad
26:18a little over 10 days ago
26:21back at my parents place
26:23I finally learned the truth that Eugene had never liked me
26:30he had just been playing a part
26:33and once the act landed
26:34he could stay by the woman he actually wanted
26:38protect her
26:39spoil her
26:40and never let go
26:42what I thought was fate had never been anything more than a script they rehearsed together
26:52sometimes I wanted to ask why
26:55but there was no point
26:57love that wasn't there was simply not there
26:59whether it was family or romance
27:01it didn't need a reason
27:04on the other end of the line
27:05Eugene started stammering apologies
27:08clearly realizing he had gone too far
27:12it didn't matter anymore
27:17I glanced at the flight information my colleague had sent me and spoke calmly
27:28Eugene?
27:30let's break up
27:31I was done being someone's tool
27:34I was leaving
27:36hearing my words
27:38the other end of the call went dead silent
27:42just as I was about to hang up
27:44Eugene suddenly laughed
27:46he was full of confidence like he had me completely figured out
27:51Rebecca
27:52are you sure you spent so long preparing for that wedding?
27:55there's no way you actually want to break up
27:59sigh
28:00I sighed
28:03so you do know I spent a long time preparing
28:07he seemed convinced I was just throwing another tantrum and spoke helplessly
28:12stop it
28:14I already told you that I'll make it up to you
28:20acting like this won't work on me
28:23I didn't have the energy to explain anything further
28:27when I heard him and Zachariah arguing in the background
28:33I simply hung up
28:34then I blocked every number belonging to my family and to Eugene
28:42that night, I slept deeply and had a dream
28:48in my dream
28:50a little girl dressed differently from her siblings sat at a desk
28:54writing in her diary
28:56she held a pen and wrote the number one in a new notebook
28:59mumbling to herself
29:01if it ever reaches 99
29:04I won't want mom, dad, Zach, or Sil anymore
29:08she paused, then crossed out the number and wrote 0.5 instead
29:12mom and dad forgot to buy clothes for me again
29:14the kids at school laughed at my old outfit
29:17I felt sad
29:19I felt sad
29:20but this is the best I have
29:22today, Sil said I stole her things
29:26mom and dad beat me
29:28I didn't steal anything
29:30I was trying to clean it for her
29:35Sil wanted garlic butter shrimp
29:37I cooked it
29:39mom and dad forgot
29:41I'm allergic to seafood
29:43my hands swelled
29:46it hurts a lot
29:48it's Sil's birthday
29:50the cake is so pretty
29:52I want a birthday too
29:54but mom and dad forgot mine comes 2 days earlier
29:59I watched silently as she filled the notebook page after page
30:02sometimes listing fractions
30:04sometimes whole numbers
30:06she made excuses for her family over and over
30:09her face grew increasingly numb
30:12when the notebook was almost full
30:14the wedding she had hoped for fell apart too
30:17the number stopped at 99
30:19I found myself staring straight into the eyes of the girl in the wedding dress
30:24I should have left
30:25earlier
30:26she said
30:27I nodded
30:28but it's not too late now
30:33when I boarded the plane
30:35all those heavy feelings
30:36I had recorded all the resentment
30:39disappointment
30:40and wounds stayed behind on that land
30:45I threw myself into studying with everything I had
30:49being alone in a foreign country could feel lonely
30:52but unlike Sylvia
30:54I didn't look for someone to complain to
30:57I used every spare moment to fill myself up again
31:01like a sponge
31:02I absorbed everything I'd never had the chance to learn before
31:05eventually my lab mates begged me to stop overworking
31:08and forced me to take a break
31:10I returned to my dorm and lay on my bed
31:14while chatting with Eleanor
31:16she suddenly mentioned my family and Eugene
31:19sounding gleeful
31:21Becca, you won't believe it
31:23after you left
31:24Eugene and the Meyer family practically went crazy
31:27crazy?
31:29I murmured
31:32I typed a casual reply
31:34impossible
31:35they don't care about me that much
31:37Eleanor sent a quick message back
31:39who knows
31:40but apparently they've been trying every possible way to contact you
31:45I nodded
31:47that finally explained all the recent unknown numbers calling me
31:51but since I never answer unfamiliar calls
31:54I always ignored them
31:58it turned out they were from my family and Eugene
32:03as I was thinking this
32:05another unknown number came in
32:08I hesitated
32:10then answered
32:10to my surprise
32:11it was mom
32:12the moment the call connected
32:14she sounded emotional
32:16Becca, you finally picked up
32:18where did you run off to?
32:20why did you block all of us?
32:22we thought something happened to you
32:25she paused
32:26then spoke stiffly
32:29we shouldn't have ignored your feelings before
32:33come home
32:33we'll celebrate your birthday
32:37her sudden change in tone was too abnormal
32:40I immediately thought of the notebook I had tossed into the trash before leaving
32:44and figured they must have fished it out and read my diary
32:4799 numbers
32:48and far more than 99 wounds
32:52no wonder they were suddenly drowning in guilt and desperate to make it up to me
32:56but what did it change?
32:59doing something that hurt me and then coming back asking for forgiveness didn't prove they cared
33:06it only proved they wanted to soothe their own conscience
33:09I said coldly
33:11no need
33:13I don't like celebrating birthdays
33:16mom choked on my words and was left speechless for a long moment
33:21when she finally spoke again
33:22she tried to persuade me to come home soon
33:26I looked around my small dorm room
33:29it wasn't big
33:30but everything inside it was mine
33:32I had chosen them
33:35this place was where I finally felt I belonged
33:41no need
33:42I'm already home
33:44I said it calmly
33:45then hung up
33:47I had assumed my refusal that day was clear enough
33:51but one afternoon
33:53after finishing my experiments and stepping out of the lab
33:58I saw the very last group of people I wanted to face standing at the entrance of my apartment building
34:05it was dad, mom, Zachariah and Eugene
34:11when they saw me, all of them looked shaken
34:16Becca, you're finally back
34:19Zachariah started toward me
34:20but Eugene shoved past him and planted himself directly in front of me
34:26Becca, long time no see
34:29he looked haggard, eyes red, like he hadn't slept in days
34:33the old me might have felt a sting of sympathy
34:36now I only felt annoyed
34:38we already broke up
34:39why are you here?
34:42Eugene's eyes reddened even more
34:44I didn't agree to break up
34:48we just had a misunderstanding
34:52a break up doesn't need your consent
34:55I said calmly
34:57then looked toward my family standing awkwardly to the side
35:03I heard everything you said that day
35:05my parents and Zachariah went pale in an instant
35:07and even Eugene's eyes widened as the truth finally hit him
35:11I continued with the truth I had pieced together
35:15Eugene has always liked Sylvia
35:18you didn't think his family background was good enough for her?
35:23so you pushed him towards me instead
35:26that way, you could still keep someone around to spoil Sylvia, right?
35:34no, no that's not
35:37mom tried to deny it
35:40but even she had no strength to argue
35:44dad and Zachariah both lowered their heads
35:46shame painted across their faces
35:50as for Eugene, he rushed to explain himself
35:54I did like Sylvia in the beginning
35:56but that was only at the start
35:59we're about to get married
36:00how could I not have feelings for you?
36:03I nodded, as if acknowledging it
36:06relief briefly flickered in his eyes
36:08then, I struck cleanly
36:13but you didn't show up to our wedding
36:15so we're not getting married anymore
36:18no, we can have another wedding
36:21I already ordered your dress
36:22it's still from your favorite designer
36:25I already contacted the wedding planner
36:27as long as you agree
36:29we can redo everything
36:32it'll be even better than last time
36:35Eugene held my shoulders, voice hoarse with pleading
36:39Becca, please
36:41just listen to me
36:42I only take care of Syl
36:44out of habit
36:46the person I love is really you
36:49I never thought you would actually leave
36:52I was a jerk
36:54I hurt you
36:56it's my fault
36:58I gently pushed his hands off
37:00his red rimmed eyes stirred something inside me
37:03after all, he was the person who stayed with me
37:06during the loneliest years of my life
37:08and he was the one who made me believe I could be loved
37:11and maybe that was exactly why I could never forgive him
37:16forgiving him would mean betraying the girl who once waited so desperately for her wedding day
37:22you love me?
37:24no, you don't
37:26love doesn't look like this
37:29love means always feeling indebted
37:34not taking advantage of someone's feelings and hurting them again and again
37:39love is two people trying to understand each other
37:41not one person doing all the giving
37:46Eugene
37:47we can't go back
37:49you know very well what I wanted
37:51what I wanted was someone who chose me without hesitation
37:56but he had never done that
37:58Eugene staggered back like he had been struck by lightning
38:02he slumped over and covered his face
38:04it looked like he was crying
38:06I didn't comfort him
38:07he was an ex-boyfriend now
38:09he wasn't worth my energy
38:11that was all that needed to be said
38:13as long as he wasn't blocking my path to the dorm
38:15that was enough
38:18just as I turned to go
38:19my family stopped me
38:21that was when I recalled there were still three more people I hadn't dealt with
38:26I rubbed my temples
38:27irritated
38:28then looked at the three guilty hesitant faces
38:32he's here to beg me to get back together?
38:34what about you?
38:36what are you here for?
38:40dad exhaled heavily
38:42Becca
38:43only when we read your diary
38:45did we realize how much you've suffered all these years
38:48are you done?
38:50you can go now
38:51I have things to do this afternoon
38:54don't waste my time
38:55how is this wasting time?
38:57we're apologizing
38:58Zachariah's voice trembled with frustration
39:01just because you're apologizing doesn't mean I have to accept it
39:04I said firmly
39:07Zachariah opened his mouth but had nothing to say
39:11you keep saying you shifted your love for me onto Sylvia
39:14but why?
39:15I was the one you owed
39:17she was the one who benefited
39:19in your house I wasn't even as happy as I was living with grandpa and grandma
39:24now I've left
39:25I'm far away from you
39:28we can live our separate lives
39:30isn't that better for everyone?
39:35mom was already sobbing
39:38Becca! you're our daughter!
39:41you can't just cut us off like this!
39:45I'd rather not be your daughter
39:46after saying that I turned and walked upstairs
39:50not bothering to look at the three of them crying in a pathetic little huddle
39:55during my final year of grad school
39:57a huge scandal exploded in our overseas student circle
40:03it turned out that after Sylvia went abroad
40:05she immediately tossed aside the piano she had bragged so much about
40:11all the claims about orchestras and teacher recommendations were lies
40:17she didn't learn anything valuable
40:19what she did pick up was a chaotic lifestyle and an STD
40:26then at some party she got involved with things she shouldn't have touched
40:31to get money from my family
40:33she lied that she was seriously ill
40:36my parents and Zachariah rushed over out of worry
40:38only to walk in on her partying wildly
40:41apparently she was still high when they confronted her and she snapped
40:48aren't I your favorite?
40:50why would you give money to that bitch Rebecca instead of me?
40:53if you had given me money
40:54I wouldn't have had to lie
40:57during the argument she became delirious
40:59grabbed a knife and stabbed Zachariah
41:04he survived but the damage was permanent
41:17his body would never fully recover for the rest of his life
41:21my parents called it a family disaster and finally cut off her allowance
41:27without money she slid even further down the wrong path
41:32she passed her disease to several people
41:35then returned home looking for someone to take responsibility
41:39and guess who her target was?
41:41Eugene
41:46even though he claimed to love me
41:50when his first love came knocking
41:53he didn't refuse
41:56except that first love turned out to have an STD
41:59he got infected too
42:05unable to accept what his life had become
42:08he snapped and stabbed Sylvia
42:13she stabbed him and he stabbed her
42:16in the end
42:18one was dead
42:20and the other one was injured and imprisoned
42:24I stared at those familiar names and felt nothing but a faint, distant sigh
42:31whatever emotions I once had were long gone
42:34after graduating
42:36I returned to America and became a key researcher at a pharmaceutical company
42:40my parents and Zachariah eventually tracked down where I worked
42:44they tried to visit
42:45but they never even made it past the front gate because the security stopped them
42:51and so they lived the rest of their lives in regret
42:55they regretted never cherishing the girl they once brought home
43:00and they regretted losing the daughter and sister who once looked at them like they were her whole world
43:05in the end
43:05in the end
43:06in the end
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