- 18 hours ago
Shattered Porcelain
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00He took me to a piercing studio.
00:02I'll give you 50 grand for each piercing.
00:05How much do you need?
00:06I didn't expect it to be a live stream.
00:09The locations of the piercings on my private parts were all voted on by the audience.
00:14My mother saw the live stream.
00:16She watched her daughter being stripped of dignity in front of millions.
00:21That night, she swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills.
00:25I couldn't even pay for her coffin.
00:27I washed his mistress's stained sheets just to get money for my mother's funeral.
00:35I was born with skin as fragile as glass.
00:38The slightest touch makes it tear.
00:41After my family's decline, I asked my wealthy boyfriend for a loan.
00:45Instead, Sebastian Thorne took me to a piercing studio with a cruel, mocking glint in his eyes.
00:52I'll give you 50 grand for each piercing.
00:55How much do you need?
00:57I knew he was deliberately torturing me, punishing me for raising a hand against his adopted sister.
01:04Yet, I still gave in.
01:06The first piercing went through a private area.
01:09I dug my nails into my palms until they bled.
01:12The second piercing went straight through my shoulder, leaving a trail of blood.
01:16After 10 piercings, I was shaking violently in extreme pain.
01:22Sebastian casually tossed a flimsy check onto me.
01:255 million.
01:275 million s city current's a barely 2,000.
01:30I didn't cry or make a scene.
01:32I just picked it up.
01:34I squeezed out a smile for him.
01:36Thank you, Mr. Thorne.
01:38It's enough.
01:40Enough to buy a decent urn for my ashes one that won't let the wind in.
01:48Just as I reached for the last bill, Sebastian crushed my hand under his foot.
01:54You're calling me Mr. Thorne?
01:57He gripped my neck, forcing me to look him in the eye.
02:01Didn't you used to crawl after me?
02:03Begging to call me babe?
02:06Husband?
02:07Why so quiet now?
02:09The piercings tugged at my skin with agonizing pain.
02:12Beads of blood seeping out all over my body.
02:15I lowered my head, compromising with abject humility for the first time.
02:20Sebastian, give me the divorce papers.
02:22There was a time when a single flinch from me would send him into a panic.
02:26Now, Sebastian's eyes held nothing but a cold lack of care.
02:31He curled his lip in a sneer.
02:33You want a divorce?
02:34You're a doll I trained with my own hands.
02:37Why should I let anyone else have my leftovers?
02:41Then he commanded.
02:42Give up the master bedroom to Isabella.
02:45She has a weak constitution and isn't used to the guest room.
02:53Walking out of the piercing studio, my skin felt as if it were being torn apart.
02:58I counted the medical money he gave me.
03:01There was an extra 200.
03:02Just as I was about to push the door open to return it, I heard the piercer's fawning voice.
03:08Mr. Thorne, the live stream you arranged has already surpassed 10 million figure.
03:13My mind went blank with a buzz, as if struck by a heavy hammer.
03:17My private piercings, watched by the entire internet.
03:21That shame broke me more than the physical pain.
03:24I was born with glass skin.
03:26A condition where even a needle could cause my flesh to rot.
03:30Back then, Sebastian knelt for 999 steps up the pilgrimage stairs to plead for my cure.
03:36He suppressed his desires for nearly 10 years, being careful even when hugging me.
03:42Only when my condition became steady did we truly belong to each other.
03:50Back then, he held me, his voice trembling.
03:54I will protect you with my life.
03:56But ever since he met Isabella Thorne at the art exhibition, everything changed.
04:01She was vibrant and bold, like a wild rose with thorns.
04:05The complete opposite of someone dutiful and reserved like me.
04:09Countless times in bed, Sebastian would pant heavily and whisper to her,
04:14Isabella, my life belongs to you.
04:20After hearing the piercer's report, Sebastian tapped his fingertips on the table and asked nonchalantly,
04:26Her face wasn't shown just now, was it?
04:30Rest assured, Ms. Vance's face was blurred the entire time.
04:34Trembling, I unlocked my phone.
04:36It turned out that the locations of the piercings on my private parts were all voted on by the livestream
04:42audience.
04:43Shoulder private!
04:49It felt as though icy.
04:51Bone-chilling nails were piercing through my entire body.
04:54Censored screenshots had already flooded the local forums.
04:58Everyone was trying to uncover the identity of the woman with the blurred face.
05:03Sebastian leaned back against the sofa, his tone casual.
05:08If Iris Vance had just behaved, she wouldn't have had to suffer like this.
05:12Once Isabella sees this news,
05:15she should finally be willing to take my call.
05:18Light snow drifted through the streets,
05:20but it was nothing compared to the chill in my blood.
05:23All because I couldn't stand seeing his birthday scarred into the small of her back.
05:28I had taken someone to get it lasered off.
05:31So this is how he takes his revenge on me.
05:33I wrapped my coat tightly around myself and fled the piercing shop like a wandering ghost.
05:39Sebastian has been with me for so many years.
05:42He knows perfectly well.
05:44My body simply cannot withstand having them removed.
05:48These piercings will leave permanent holes in my body
05:51and bring me a lifetime of humiliation.
05:56I told the driver not to go back to the Thorn Mansion,
05:59but to drive straight to where Mom lived.
06:02After my family's fall from grace,
06:04she had moved from the mid-level villa to the slums.
06:07The place was as small as a storage unit.
06:10The car had barely come to a halt when I heard the wail of an ambulance siren.
06:15Paramedics were rushing out of the building with a stretcher.
06:18The person on the stretcher lay motionless beneath a silent white sheet.
06:22My heart sank violently and my fingertips turned ice cold.
06:26Holding my breath, I dialed her number.
06:29Until my own voice,
06:32singing that familiar nursery rhyme,
06:34drifted out from beneath the white sheet.
06:36I rushed forward like a mad woman and ripped back the white sheet.
06:45Mom's eyes were wide and vacant,
06:50as if she had stared into the heart of a nightmare in her final moments.
06:54I screamed until my throat was raw,
06:56tears falling like broken pearls.
06:59My mother's checkups were always fine!
07:02How could this happen?
07:15The medical examiner glanced at me.
07:18Your mother took an overdose of sleeping pills.
07:21No, I didn't believe it.
07:23Mom loved me too much.
07:25She would never leave me all alone.
07:27I unlocked her phone.
07:29On the screen,
07:30a message from an anonymous account flickered it was the link to the livestream.
07:35I collapsed to the floor, my strength gone.
07:38A sharp pain twisted in my chest as I broke down sobbing.
07:42It was me.
07:44I was the one who killed my own mother.
07:48In our chat history,
07:49she had left her final words.
07:52Iris,
07:53my darling.
07:54Don't let yourself be chained to a man who doesn't love you.
07:57My fragile glass doll,
07:59leave this darkness behind.
08:01Go find the sun again.
08:03Clutching my mother's cold hand,
08:05I wept like a child.
08:06My skin would ulcerate and fester at the slightest bump.
08:10My classmates looked at me like I was garbage,
08:13avoiding me like the plague.
08:16Only mom would hug me tight,
08:18repeating over and over.
08:21You're different from the others.
08:23You are my porcelain doll.
08:26If you don't want to go to school,
08:29mommy will homeschool you every day.
08:32But I was determined to fight fate,
08:34gritting my teeth and
08:37continuing school.
08:39The year one transferred high schools,
08:41I sat next to Sebastian.
08:43He was the one who chased away my bullies time and again.
08:47Even though it was out of his way,
08:49he walked me to and from school every day.
08:51Back then,
08:52I naively thought he was the light of my world.
08:56It turned out that besides mom,
08:58there really was someone who would protect me
09:00without asking for anything in return.
09:02When we graduated college,
09:04I secretly gave the dowry mom
09:06had saved for me to Sebastian to start his business.
09:09For once,
09:10fate finally treated me kindly.
09:13When the company turned its first profit,
09:15he placed the deed to a Riverview villa
09:17in the city center into my hands.
09:20Reporters crowded around to interview him.
09:25Mr. Thorne,
09:26why give your girlfriend such an expensive gift
09:28right after starting your business?
09:31Clad in a custom-made suit,
09:32he radiated the charm of a perfect gentleman.
09:35Back then,
09:37she sat on the back of my bicycle
09:39and lived in a basement
09:41with me for two years.
09:43I swore then that one day
09:45I would let her live in a house
09:46where she could see the sunlight
09:49and the waves.
09:50From now on,
09:52you can all call her
09:54Mrs. Thorne.
09:55Amidst the salute of fireworks,
09:57he knelt on one knee
09:59and pulled out a ring.
10:00Everyone said
10:01we were the model couple
10:02of the business world.
10:03They called it a fairy tale ending.
10:05The devoted wife
10:06who stayed through the storm,
10:08finally crowned in his glory.
10:10I sat withered in the morgue
10:12for the entire afternoon
10:13until the staff member's voice
10:15pulled me back from my trance.
10:18Mrs. Thorne,
10:19this card still won't go through.
10:23That was the last card
10:24I had on me.
10:25The man who once bought me
10:27a Riverview house and jewelry
10:28had frozen every single one
10:30of my accounts.
10:31Just to coax a smile
10:33out of his adopted baby sister,
10:35Isabella.
10:36Swallowing the bitterness
10:37in my throat,
10:38I knelt humbly and begged.
10:40This is everything I have.
10:43Please,
10:44just let me lay my mother to rest.
10:47I'll find a way to pay the balance,
10:49I swear.
10:49The staff member
10:50looked at me with mockery.
10:52This isn't even enough
10:53to buy a coffin.
10:54He sneered.
10:56Just go apologize to Mr. Thorne.
10:58Soften up a bit.
10:59You can surely get
11:00this small amount of money from him.
11:02I took a shaky breath
11:03and unclasped the heavy gold cross
11:05from my neck.
11:06This is solid gold.
11:08It's worth at least $20,000.
11:11Please,
11:13have a heart.
11:14He snatched it eagerly,
11:16bit down to test it,
11:17and then violently smashed the cross
11:20onto the ground.
11:21I can't believe you had the gall
11:23to try and scam me
11:24with a cheap gold-plated piece of junk.
11:30The gold cross,
11:32engraved with my name
11:33and meant to keep me safe,
11:34now lay mangled and deformed
11:36from his blow.
11:37My tears finally broke free,
11:40crashing down onto the mangled lump of gold.
11:43Beneath the thin layer of gold leaf,
11:45the dull,
11:46dark copper stung my eyes.
11:48The gift was a sham,
11:50just like his love.
11:51Every word,
11:52every promise
11:53since the very beginning
11:54had been a calculated lie.
11:55I picked up the twisted piece
11:57of fake gold
11:58and used my last bit of change
12:00to catch a cab back
12:01to the Thorn Mansion.
12:03Outside the master bedroom,
12:04I heard Sebastian's lazy,
12:07teasing voice from inside.
12:09Every time I touch her,
12:10it's a chore.
12:11One wrong move
12:12and the sheets are stained
12:13with her blood.
12:14It's a total turn-off.
12:16You're much better.
12:18You're so obedient
12:19and you know so many more positions.
12:22I couldn't stop my anger
12:24and sadness.
12:25I screamed,
12:26kicking at the door like mad.
12:28Sebastian!
12:30You poisoned mother!
12:31You killed my mother!
12:36The man's voice
12:37was thick with impatience
12:38and lingering lust.
12:40Iris,
12:41I'm not pouring any more money
12:42into your family's bottom.
12:44Don't use your mother's death
12:46as a pathetic plea for sympathy.
12:49Tears streamed down my face.
12:51I was sobbing so hard
12:53I could barely breathe.
12:54I have never lied to you,
12:56but what about you?
12:58Even the gold guardian cross
13:00you gave me was a fake.
13:02Sebastian fell silent
13:03for a few seconds,
13:04his tone laced with confusion.
13:07Iris,
13:08what the hell are you talking about?
13:09There was a rustling sound
13:11of someone getting up,
13:12but it was cut short
13:13by a woman's flirty whining.
13:15Sebastian,
13:16come on,
13:17a few more times.
13:18I haven't finished yet.
13:22Alright,
13:23whatever you say.
13:27After that,
13:28no matter how hard I kicked
13:29or how loud I cursed,
13:31it just became background noise
13:33to fuel their pleasure.
13:34My breakdown and extreme pain
13:36seemed to act as fuel
13:38for their lust.
13:42I collapsed to the floor,
13:44unconsciously murmuring
13:45his name.
13:46Sebastian.
13:47I wanted to tell on him
13:49to the man he used to be
13:50the man who used to cherish me
13:52above all else.
13:53I don't know how much time
13:54passed before the bedroom door
13:56finally opened.
13:57I could see large,
13:59wet stains all over the bed.
14:01Those were my bridal linens
14:02handmade by my mother.
14:04I instantly realized
14:05just how intense
14:06they had been moments ago.
14:08Sebastian caught sight
14:10of the tears
14:10in the corners of my eyes,
14:12a complicated look
14:13flashing through his own.
14:15He frowned
14:16and instinctively
14:17reached his hand
14:18out toward me.
14:19But Isabella
14:20beat him to it,
14:21grabbing his hand
14:22and pressing it
14:23against her lower abdomen.
14:24Sebastian,
14:25you are incredible.
14:26I can feel you
14:27still inside me.
14:29I'm only 20,
14:30so I'm sure
14:31to get pregnant easily.
14:33Unlike Iris,
14:34she's nothing
14:35but a barren,
14:36broken doll.
14:37As she spoke,
14:38she shot a disdainful
14:40glance at my body.
14:44I was trembling
14:45all over,
14:46my voice shaking.
14:48You had a vasectomy?
14:51You said there was
14:52no way for us
14:53to have another baby.
14:54Sebastian's gaze
14:55swept over me
14:56indifferently,
14:57yet it pierced
14:58my heart like a knife.
15:00Iris,
15:01I had the vascomy reversed.
15:03Things have changed.
15:04I need an heir
15:05to carry on
15:06the Thorn legacy.
15:07The last shred
15:08of hope was crushed
15:09and my heart
15:09turned to ash.
15:10If I hadn't given you
15:12my dowry
15:12as startup capital,
15:14how would you have
15:15ever built this fortune?
15:16Our first child.
15:18I lost it
15:19because my health
15:20was too frail.
15:21It was you
15:21who knelt
15:22in the church
15:23all night,
15:23swearing you would
15:24never want children
15:25in this lifetime.
15:27You were the one
15:28who knelt
15:28in the temple
15:29all night,
15:30praying and swearing
15:31that you'd never
15:32crave a child
15:32if it meant
15:33risking my life.
15:36I ripped the
15:37heirloom
15:38emerald bracelet
15:39from my wrist
15:39and smashed it
15:40onto the floor.
15:41The jagged shard
15:43sliced into my skin,
15:44drawing blood.
15:46I'm returning
15:47this heirloom
15:47bracelet to you.
15:49Sebastian,
15:49I will never believe
15:50a single word
15:51you say again.
15:53Sebastian didn't
15:54even look up,
15:55indifferently ordering
15:56the servant.
15:57Her wrist is cut.
15:59Bring the antiseptic
16:00ointment.
16:00Before I could speak,
16:02he suddenly sneered.
16:03Get some ointment
16:05for her wrist.
16:06We can't have you
16:07dying here.
16:08It's bad for business.
16:10My family has no room
16:11for a jinx like you.
16:12My throat felt
16:13as if it were
16:14stuffed with cotton.
16:15I slapped away
16:16his reaching hand.
16:17Do you know?
16:18My mom swallowed
16:20sleeping pillets
16:21and killed herself
16:22exactly because
16:23she watched
16:23that live stream!
16:26You even froze
16:27all my cards!
16:28I can't even
16:28scrape together
16:29the money
16:29for her funeral!
16:31The only response
16:32I got
16:33was a vicious slap!
16:40Iris!
16:42To extort money,
16:44you'd even make up
16:45such despicable lot!
16:46In the moment
16:47our eyes met,
16:48the boy who once
16:49draped his jacket
16:50over me in the rain
16:51and this man before me
16:53with eyes like ice
16:54were like to
16:55completely different people.
16:56The air seemed
16:57to freeze solid
16:58until a ball of sticky,
17:00soiled bedsheets
17:01was thrown at my feet.
17:03Isabella snuggled
17:04into Sebastian's embrace.
17:07Sebastian,
17:08I'm too exhausted
17:09to move.
17:10Why don't you let
17:11Iris wash the sheets
17:12for us?
17:13I froze in place.
17:15Sebastian pinched
17:16Isabella's cheek
17:17then turned to me
17:18and said,
17:20wash this clean.
17:22I'll give you
17:23a hundred thousand
17:24after it's done.
17:27Remember,
17:29stop using your mother
17:30to scam people.
17:32If you want money,
17:33you have to be obedient.
17:38Just so mom
17:39could rest in peace,
17:41I gritted my teeth,
17:42bent down
17:43and picked up
17:44that disgusting thing.
17:45When I walked
17:46out of the bathroom,
17:48Isabella was leaning
17:49against the doorframe,
17:50looking at me
17:51with a faint,
17:52ambiguous smile.
17:54I can give you
17:55a sum of money
17:56to bring your mom's
17:57company back to life,
17:58she pointed to
17:59the documents
18:00on the table.
18:01Just sign
18:02the divorce papers.
18:03I stared
18:04at her blankly,
18:05my voice trembling.
18:07How did you get
18:08Sebastian's signature?
18:10Ever since she appeared,
18:11I had mentioned
18:12divorce to Sebastian
18:13countless times,
18:14but he ignored me
18:16every time.
18:17Isabella raised
18:18an eyebrow,
18:19her tone flippant.
18:20I said,
18:21I wanted that
18:22pink diamond ring
18:23from the auction.
18:24He didn't even
18:25ask the price,
18:26he just signed.
18:27That ring was worth
18:29500 million.
18:30Sebastian couldn't
18:31possibly not know that.
18:36If he had been
18:37willing to pay
18:38just one-third
18:39of that price,
18:40my mother wouldn't
18:41have been driven
18:41to a dead end.
18:43He would rather
18:43drop a fortune
18:44on a ring
18:45for his adopted
18:46sister than
18:47spare a scent
18:47to save my mother.
18:49Bitterness
18:49welled up in my throat.
18:52Final sign.
18:53Isabella took me
18:54to the underground garage.
18:56Get in,
18:56I'll take you
18:57to get the money.
18:58The car drove
18:59further and further
19:00into desolation.
19:01It wasn't heading
19:02toward the bank
19:03at all.
19:04I smashed the window
19:05with all my might,
19:06trying to jump out.
19:07A pill was forcibly
19:09stuffed into my mouth.
19:10My consciousness
19:12instantly plunged
19:13into darkness.
19:14When I opened my eyes,
19:16I was bound tightly
19:17to a chair.
19:18Isabella gripped
19:19my jaw fiercely,
19:20a knife hidden
19:21in her smile.
19:23Iris,
19:24do you know
19:25how many people
19:25out there are looking
19:26for you to collect debts?
19:31My heart sank violently,
19:33a subconscious panic
19:34setting in.
19:35She turned back
19:36and jerked her chin
19:37at the men behind her,
19:38whose faces were brutal
19:40and fleshy.
19:41She's the daughter
19:42of that fraud
19:43Margaret Vance.
19:45Sebastian has already
19:46divorced her.
19:47She is nothing now.
19:49Do whatever you want
19:50with her.
19:52As soon as the words
19:54left her mouth,
19:55the men circled me
19:56like a pack of hungry wolves.
19:58I was pinned to the ground,
20:00forced to beg
20:01on my knees
20:01over and over.
20:03I'm sorry.
20:04I'm sorry.
20:05They roared
20:06at the top of their lungs.
20:08It's all because
20:09of your damn dead mother
20:10that we haven't been
20:11paid in three months.
20:12My eyes read,
20:13I screamed back.
20:15My mom is gone.
20:16Don't you dare
20:17talk about her like that.
20:22The men burst
20:23into raucous laughter,
20:24their tone filthy
20:25and vicious.
20:27Since your mom's dead,
20:29you can pay her debts
20:31with your body.
20:35Their rough fingernails
20:36scraped against my skin,
20:38feeling like sandpaper
20:39grinding against my bones.
20:41I curled into a ball,
20:43tears mixed with drops
20:45of blood hitting the ground.
20:46It felt like I was back
20:48in my childhood,
20:49being bullied all over again.
20:51Only this time,
20:52no one was coming
20:53to save me.
20:54They roughly tore
20:55my clothes to shreds.
20:57Seeing the piercings
20:58on my body,
20:59they howled in excitement.
21:01Wait, she's the bitch
21:02from the live stream.
21:03Come on, brothers.
21:05Let's see what the great
21:06Sebastian Thones
21:07leftovers taste like.
21:09I scrambled backward
21:11desperately,
21:12but the ropes binding me
21:13only grew tighter.
21:14Just then,
21:16the phone that had been
21:17thrown to the ground
21:18started vibrating.
21:19Gritting my teeth,
21:20I crawled toward it.
21:22But Isabella
21:23stepped on the phone,
21:24crushing it under her foot
21:25as she sneered.
21:27Give it up.
21:29No one is coming
21:30to save you.
21:31With that,
21:32she locked the iron gate
21:34from the outside.
21:39That night,
21:40Sebastian called
21:41my number again,
21:42but it was already
21:43switched off.
21:44He checked the GPS
21:46tracker on my phone.
21:47It led him to the heart
21:49of the slums,
21:49the most dangerous
21:50part of the city.
21:51To his shock,
21:53my location showed up
21:54in the most depraved
21:55and chaotic part
21:56of the slums.
21:58Sebastian gripped
21:59the steering wheel tight
22:00and drove like a madman
22:01toward the location.
22:02Just as he turned
22:04into the alley,
22:05he overheard
22:06to drunken day laborers.
22:07That chick back there
22:09was wild.
22:10Those piercings
22:11on her body
22:11drove me crazy.
22:14Sebastian froze
22:15in his tracks,
22:16the blood rushing
22:17straight to his head.
22:19Sebastian grabbed
22:20the man by the hair,
22:22forcing his head back.
22:24Did any of you
22:25filthy animals
22:26lay a finger on her?
22:30Tell me where she is
22:31or you're dead.
22:37He was filled with rage.
22:39I was the treasure
22:40he had protected
22:40for 10 years
22:41and he would not
22:42allow anyone
22:43to hurt me.
22:44Seeing his custom-made suit,
22:47the day laborers
22:47immediately adopted
22:48a weak and fearful,
22:50begging on their knees posture.
22:51Wait, wait!
22:53Boss!
22:54Please!
22:55We didn't know
22:56who she was!
22:57It's all a mistake!
22:59Don't kill us!
23:00We'll take you to her
23:02right this second!
23:03With that,
23:04the two men
23:05led Sebastian
23:06deeper into the alley.
23:07A dozen shops ahead
23:09were lit
23:09with cheap neon lights.
23:11Heavily made-up women
23:12stood by the street,
23:13but upon seeing his face,
23:15cold as ice,
23:17they retreated
23:17in fear.
23:18They all knew
23:19they couldn't afford
23:20to offend
23:21such a powerful figure.
23:23Sebastian's knuckles
23:24turned white
23:24as he thought to himself,
23:26The punishment today
23:27was too harsh.
23:30I didn't even give her
23:31a chance to explain
23:32before making the decision
23:33on my own.
23:34If the consequences
23:36are truly that bad,
23:38how will someone
23:39as proud as her
23:40ever face me again?
23:44The day laborers
23:46led him
23:46into a barbershop.
23:48Bowing low,
23:49one said,
23:50Boss,
23:50the young lady
23:51you're looking for
23:52is right in there.
23:53Inside,
23:53a woman in a slip dress
23:55was lounging on the sofa,
23:57touching up her makeup.
23:59Sebastian strode over
24:00and yanked her up.
24:01The moment he saw her face,
24:03his suspended heart
24:05suddenly settled.
24:07It's not her.
24:09He whispered.
24:10Where on earth
24:11is Iris right now?
24:12Sebastian,
24:13consumed by fury,
24:15immediately dialed
24:16his bodyguard.
24:17My wife is missing.
24:19I want her location
24:21within ten minutes.
24:22But no one expected
24:23what happened next.
24:24The bodyguard team,
24:26which the Thorne family
24:27spent a fortune on
24:28every year recruiting
24:29top talent nationwide,
24:31could not find me.
24:33Sebastian tore up
24:34the search report
24:35handed to him
24:36by the bodyguards.
24:37A vague suspicion
24:38surfaced in his mind.
24:44He immediately
24:45had Isabella brought to him,
24:47his eyes cold as knives.
24:50Someone said
24:50you were the last person
24:52to see my wife.
24:53I didn't want to suspect you,
24:55but the bodyguards
24:56have searched
24:56every corner of Seattle.
24:58Isabella,
24:59you'd better come clean.
25:00Isabella walked up to him
25:01and leaned into his embrace.
25:03Iris' family went bankrupt.
25:05Do you know how many people
25:07want revenge on her
25:08and her mother?
25:09Her mother is already dead.
25:12I just thought
25:13I'd hand her over
25:14to let those people
25:16take their revenge.
25:18Think of it as accumulating
25:20good karma
25:22for our child.
25:24Sebastian,
25:25I'm already pregnant
25:26with your child.
25:27Why should that barren hen
25:29stay in the Thorne family?
25:31Upon hearing this,
25:32Sebastian's hand
25:33clamped around her throat.
25:35The force of his grip
25:36seemed intended
25:37to kill her.
25:42Who gave you the right
25:43to act on your own?
25:48Tell me where Iris is
25:50right now!
25:51If a single hair
25:52on her head is harmed,
25:54I will make you
25:55wish you were dead.
25:57Isabella covered
25:57her burning cheek,
25:59daring not to talk
26:00back any longer.
26:01I only sent her there.
26:04I know it's
26:05that we're last
26:06when I'm being at this bit.
26:07She continued
26:08to feign innocence.
26:09I paid off
26:10those workers.
26:11At most,
26:12they'd yell at her a bit.
26:13They wouldn't lay
26:13a hand on her.
26:14But Sebastian
26:15wouldn't believe
26:16a single word anymore.
26:17He drove straight
26:19to that abandoned warehouse
26:20on the outskirts of town.
26:22The main gate was ajar,
26:23and the warehouse
26:24was completely empty.
26:26Only a pool of darkened
26:28blood remained
26:28on the concrete floor.
26:30Sebastian dropped
26:31to his knees,
26:32ignoring the filth
26:33on the ground
26:34as he reached
26:35for a blood-stained
26:36emerald pendant.
26:37There was no mistaking it.
26:39This was mine
26:40the one piece of jewelry
26:41I never took off.
26:46His eyes drifted
26:48to the dark,
26:49sticky pool of blood
26:50on the concrete.
26:51His heart felt like
26:52it was being crushed
26:53in a vice,
26:54the pain making it
26:56impossible to breathe.
26:57He immediately ordered
26:58the security team
26:59to run a rushed DNA test
27:01on the blood.
27:02Then,
27:03dragging Isabella
27:04by the arm
27:04like she was trash,
27:06he hauled her
27:07to the underground chamber
27:08behind the warehouse.
27:09There was a three-meter
27:11deep pool there,
27:12already filled with ice.
27:14Isabella finally smelled
27:15the scent of death.
27:17Her face was ashen
27:18as she shrank back
27:19in fear.
27:20Sebastian,
27:21why did you bring me here?
27:24I'm so cold.
27:26Sebastian only gave her
27:27a cold look.
27:29Cold?
27:30You won't be feeling
27:31that for long.
27:33Two minutes later,
27:34two bodyguards
27:35roughly tore open
27:37Isabella's clothes,
27:38chaining her hands
27:39and feet.
27:44Isabella shivered
27:45uncontrollably
27:46from the cold
27:47and screamed.
27:48Sebastian,
27:49are you crazy?
27:51I'm carrying your child!
27:52But Sebastian
27:53stepped closer,
27:55his eyes
27:55devoid of warmth.
27:57Scared?
27:58When you pushed Iris
27:59toward those day labors,
28:00did you ever think
28:00she might be scared too?
28:02Isabella,
28:04did you really think
28:05climbing into my bed
28:06would let you
28:07replace her?
28:08You aren't even
28:09worth her shadow.
28:13He waved his hand
28:14and the bodyguards
28:15immediately pulled
28:16the chains
28:17toward the pool.
28:18The moment
28:19Isabella's feet
28:19touched the water,
28:21her whole body
28:22seized up
28:22from the cold.
28:23The man before her
28:24was no longer
28:25the tender partner,
28:26but the grim reaper
28:27from hell.
28:28Speak.
28:30What exactly
28:31happened tonight?
28:33I want
28:34the truth,
28:35not your lies.
28:38He glanced
28:40at the time,
28:40his tone
28:41chilling.
28:41I'm counting
28:42to ten.
28:44If you don't
28:45talk,
28:46I'll sink you.
28:48Isabella went
28:49completely limp,
28:50snot and tears
28:51streaming down
28:52her face.
28:52I was wrong.
28:55I was just
28:56jealous of her.
28:57I wanted
28:58to teach her
28:59a lesson.
29:00She spilled
29:01everything how
29:01she colluded
29:02with the workers,
29:03how she tricked
29:04Iris into going
29:05to the warehouse.
29:06After listening,
29:08Sebastian pushed
29:09her head down
29:10toward the water.
29:11His eyes were
29:12filled with
29:12poisonous,
29:13murderous intent.
29:15Isabella's voice
29:16cracked with terror.
29:19But you even
29:21live streamed
29:22today.
29:23To get revenge
29:24for me.
29:25I'm still
29:26carrying your
29:26child.
29:27How can you
29:27do this to me?
29:28Sebastian sneered.
29:30Do you really
29:31think I had
29:32the piercer
29:33use ordinary
29:34nails on her?
29:35I just wanted
29:36to teach Iris
29:37a lesson
29:37to make her
29:39behave.
29:43Those were
29:44custom-made nails.
29:46They dissolve
29:47completely after
29:48three days.
29:49No one would
29:49have known it
29:50was her in the
29:50live stream.
29:51But you took
29:52that as proof
29:52that I love
29:53her and you
29:54decided to
29:54kill her.
29:55How could I
29:56not love her?
29:58She is the
29:59woman I would
29:59give my life
30:00to protect.
30:01Only I am
30:02allowed to
30:03cause her pain.
30:05Who the hell
30:06do you think
30:07think you are?
30:08Isabella continued
30:09to scream in her
30:10defense.
30:11No!
30:13Sebastian, I must
30:14be special to you!
30:15Otherwise, you
30:16wouldn't have let me
30:17carry your child!
30:19He is your bloodline!
30:21He's supposed to
30:22inherit your family
30:23fortune!
30:25Sebastian's foot
30:25was already on top
30:26of her head,
30:27pressing down with
30:28increasing force.
30:30Before you go under,
30:31I might as well tell
30:32you one more thing.
30:35The child in your belly
30:36is actually an
30:37embryo from me and
30:38Iris.
30:39I had a doctor
30:40implanted in you.
30:47Isabella,
30:50when it comes down
30:51to it,
30:52you're just a tool
30:53for breeding.
30:58I had planned
30:59to treat you
31:00better,
31:00to let you
31:01help raise
31:02the child.
31:05But what a pity.
31:07You won't live
31:08to see that day.
31:11With those words,
31:12he kicked her hard
31:13and Isabella
31:14sank to the bottom.
31:16Sebastian
31:17had countless
31:17ways to make
31:18Isabella vanish
31:19instantly.
31:21But he felt
31:22that would be
31:22letting her off
31:23too easy.
31:25For a woman
31:26with a heart
31:26as poisonous
31:27as a snake,
31:28she deserved
31:29to simmer
31:29in fear
31:30until he lost
31:31interest completely.
31:33Isabella was
31:33pushed underwater
31:34in the freezing
31:35pool.
31:36Her body
31:36had gone numb
31:37from the extreme
31:38cold,
31:38her limbs swollen
31:39and stiff.
31:40Just as she
31:41sank to the
31:42bottom,
31:42the rope around
31:43her neck
31:44yanked her
31:44violently upward,
31:46leaving her
31:47coughing as if
31:48her lungs
31:48would tear apart.
31:51But this
31:51was only the
31:52beginning.
31:56The ropes
31:57binding her
31:58neck and
31:58limbs lowered
31:59her slowly
32:00once more.
32:00She was
32:01forced to
32:01teeter back
32:02and forth
32:02on the edge
32:03of drowning
32:03and suffocation.
32:05Sebastian
32:05knew she feared
32:06the cold
32:07and suffocation
32:08above all else,
32:09so he would
32:09make her taste
32:10the brink of
32:10death a hundred
32:11times beneath
32:12the water.
32:13Hours later,
32:14the call from
32:15the bodyguard
32:15finally came.
32:19Mr. Thorne,
32:20we've located
32:21Mrs. Thorne.
32:23The day
32:24laborers had
32:25all been
32:25rounded up.
32:27From them,
32:29Sebastian
32:29learned the truth.
32:32Moments after
32:33Isabella left
32:34the warehouse,
32:35the main doors
32:35were blasted open
32:36by a group
32:37of men
32:38in black.
32:40A man
32:41in a black
32:42trench coat
32:42had scooped
32:43up me
32:43and vanished
32:44into the night.
32:48Then where
32:49the hell
32:49is my
32:50wife?
32:52Sebastian's
32:53eyes were
32:53bloodshot
32:54as he demanded,
32:55but no one
32:56had the answer.
32:59He took a deep
33:00breath and radioed
33:01his men
33:01again.
33:06Turn
33:07Seattle
33:07upside down
33:08if you have
33:09to.
33:09Find her.
33:12That night,
33:13several middle-aged
33:14men appeared
33:15in the slums
33:15of Seattle,
33:16unconscious
33:17and with
33:17their limbs
33:18broken,
33:18when I
33:19startled awake
33:20from a chaotic
33:21nightmare.
33:22I found
33:23myself in a
33:24pristine white
33:25hospital room
33:25filled with
33:26sophisticated
33:26equipment.
33:27This wasn't
33:28an ordinary
33:29ward.
33:30It was
33:30run by
33:31the Global
33:31Medical
33:32Federation.
33:33It's a
33:34facility reserved
33:35for the
33:35world's
33:36most elite.
33:38A place
33:39that only
33:39accepted
33:40the elite
33:40who had
33:41made
33:41significant
33:42contributions
33:43to humanity.
33:45I realized
33:46with a
33:47silent start,
33:48what ends
33:49it seem.
33:50I hadn't
33:51expected that
33:51he would be
33:52the one to
33:52save me
33:53just in time.
33:55The man
33:55in the
33:56adjoining
33:56lounge saw
33:57I was awake
33:57and entered
33:58the room
33:58after an
33:59iris scan.
34:00I softly
34:01called out
34:02his name
34:03at Liam.
34:05Thank you
34:05for today.
34:06He gently
34:07took my
34:07hand,
34:08his voice
34:08steady and
34:09calm.
34:09There's no
34:10need for that
34:10between us.
34:11If I hadn't
34:12happened to be
34:12on break and
34:13contacted you,
34:14I dread to
34:15think what
34:17might have
34:17happened.
34:20he paused,
34:22then lifted a
34:23bowl of
34:23nutrient
34:23porridge to
34:24feed me.
34:26Why did
34:27you go to
34:27a place
34:28like that?
34:28It's really
34:29not safe.
34:30I remained
34:31silent,
34:32unwilling to
34:32reopen those
34:33wounds.
34:34Even if he
34:35was my
34:36childhood
34:36sweetheart.
34:38Sebastian
34:39had his
34:39lover,
34:40his adopted
34:40sister and
34:41I had my
34:41childhood
34:42sweetheart of
34:4210 years.
34:45It was
34:45just that
34:46after I
34:46got together
34:47with
34:47Sebastian.
34:48I had
34:49consciously
34:49kept my
34:50distance from
34:51Liam.
34:52Liam's
34:52parents were
34:53core
34:53researchers at
34:54the center,
34:55and he had
34:55grown up under
34:56my mother's
34:56care.
34:58In high
34:59school, he
35:00was selected
35:01for the
35:01medical center's
35:02elite training
35:02program, and
35:03now he was
35:04its youngest
35:05senior officer.
35:06We hadn't
35:07seen much of
35:07each other over
35:08the years,
35:09only confirming
35:10we were both
35:10well through
35:11occasional calls
35:12and messages.
35:13He had
35:13contacted me
35:14this time
35:15to share
35:15some major
35:15news.
35:20We've had
35:20a breakthrough
35:21with your
35:21glass skin
35:22condition.
35:24This new
35:24treatment is
35:25light years
35:26ahead of the
35:27junk Sebastian
35:27found.
35:28It was a
35:29world of
35:29difference
35:30compared to
35:30those folk
35:31remedies Sebastian
35:32had dug up.
35:33Just one of
35:34the specific
35:34pills would
35:35allow me to
35:36become a
35:36normal person
35:37within a
35:38week.
35:39As I
35:39swallowed the
35:40sugar-coated
35:41pill, I
35:41couldn't help
35:42but say
35:42thanks once
35:43more to the
35:43man standing
35:44before me.
35:45Aside from a
35:46flimsy, thank
35:47you.
35:48I didn't seem
35:49to have anything
35:50else to offer
35:50him in return.
35:51He had already
35:52become a chief
35:52of the highest
35:53medical rank, a
35:54height I could
35:55never hope to
35:56reach.
35:56A man like
35:57him truly
35:58lacked for
35:58nothing.
35:59After leaving
36:00the treatment
36:00control center,
36:01I never wanted
36:02to return to
36:03the Thorn
36:03Mansion, the
36:04cage that had
36:05imprisoned me for
36:06so many years.
36:07I'd act as if
36:08I had long since
36:09let go.
36:09Leaving the
36:10unfaithful
36:11Sebastian and
36:12that iron
36:12cage to
36:12Isabella, I
36:15rented an
36:16apartment with
36:16a balcony by
36:17the river.
36:19Liam moved
36:20into the same
36:21complex, right
36:22next door.
36:24This proximity
36:25finally allowed
36:26my frayed nerves
36:27a moment of
36:27peace.
36:29It happened to
36:30be his rotation
36:31break.
36:32Occasionally, he
36:33would take me
36:34out for a drive.
36:35He would also
36:36invite me over to
36:37taste his cooking.
36:38I had never
36:39seen him like
36:39this wearing a
36:40cotton linen
36:41apron, tending
36:42to a pot of
36:42thick soup all
36:43afternoon.
36:45It completely
36:46changed my
36:47opinion of him.
36:49I'd often
36:49tease him.
36:51With skills like
36:52disness, even
36:53the center's
36:53Ristoshi menu
36:54couldn't keep you
36:55satisfied.
36:55A hint of
36:56grievance flashed
36:57in his eyes.
36:59Back when I was
37:00supporting remote
37:01outposts, all I
37:03had to gnaw on
37:04were compressed
37:04biscuits.
37:06Back then, I'd
37:08always think of
37:08Aunt Margaret's
37:09pork chop.
37:10It wasn't until
37:11I returned to
37:11headquarters that
37:12I got a
37:13dedicated dietary
37:14consultant.
37:17Hearing him
37:18mention my
37:19mother, the
37:20spoon in my
37:20hand clattered
37:21onto the
37:22table.
37:23He looked at
37:24me, his
37:25voice soft.
37:27I'm sorry, I
37:28didn't mean to.
37:29If you don't
37:30want to talk
37:31about it, I
37:33won't bring it
37:34up again.
37:35I shook
37:36my head, tears
37:37already welling
37:38up in my
37:38eyes.
37:39It had been
37:40so long since
37:41I tasted my
37:41mother's cooking,
37:42and I would
37:43never have the
37:44chance again.
37:45After I was
37:46rescued from
37:47the warehouse,
37:48Liam not only
37:49paid for my
37:50mother's funeral
37:50expenses but also
37:51arranged a grand
37:52memorial service
37:53for her.
37:54As for the
37:55truth behind the
37:56company's
37:56bankruptcy, he
37:58uncovered it using
37:59the Medical
37:59Alliance's global
38:00information network.
38:01It turned out to
38:03be Sebastian's
38:03conspiracy all
38:04along.
38:05He had
38:06engineered a
38:06fatal contract.
38:08He siphoned
38:08off all the
38:09cash flow from
38:10my mother's
38:10company and
38:11bribed every
38:11financial institution,
38:13cutting off our
38:14escape route.
38:15Furthermore, Liam
38:16had used his
38:17resources to
38:18recover the
38:19diverted assets,
38:20getting the
38:20company back up
38:21and running.
38:22All the unpaid
38:23wages for the
38:24day laborers had
38:25been issued as
38:26well.
38:29Tragically, Mom
38:30would never
38:31know.
38:32I patted his
38:34shoulder.
38:35It's okay.
38:36It seems we
38:37are the only
38:37two left who
38:38still remember
38:39her.
38:42I sniffled,
38:44trying hard to
38:45hold back my
38:46tears.
38:47Wasida
38:47Cebiza.
38:49If I hadn't
38:50married Sebastian,
38:51she could have
38:51lived happily and
38:52healthily for
38:53decades more.
38:55She only chose
38:57suicide.
38:59so she wouldn't
39:01be a burden to
39:01me.
39:03She gave me my
39:04life, yet she
39:05lost hers because
39:06of me.
39:10Last night, Liam
39:11and I talked all
39:12night about the
39:12past.
39:13We talked about
39:14how Mom used to
39:15make sweet pork and
39:16corn stew for us
39:18in the summer.
39:19I would help Mom
39:20wash the corn, and
39:21Liam would help
39:22chop it up.
39:23Every time, I was
39:25the one who ate
39:26the most meat.
39:28Confused, I asked
39:29Mom why she wasn't
39:30eating any meat,
39:31wondering if she
39:32had lost her
39:32appetite.
39:33She just smiled
39:34and placed another
39:35piece of meat in
39:36my bowl.
39:37I used to have a
39:38taste for it when
39:38I was young.
39:42But somewhere
39:43along the way, I
39:44realized I'd rather
39:45see you full than
39:47eat it myself.
39:48That sentence
39:49stayed with me my
39:50whole life.
39:53It turns out the
39:54most loving lie in
39:55the world is, Mom
39:56doesn't like the
39:57taste.
40:01I told Liam that
40:03my mother actually
40:03loved sweets back
40:04then.
40:05But to teach me to
40:07eat less sugar, she
40:08even gave up her
40:09favorite floral
40:10honey cake.
40:12Once, when I
40:13caught her, she
40:14smiled awkwardly.
40:17Sweet eat, Mom
40:19just had a tiny,
40:20tiny bite.
40:21Every time we
40:22would celebrate
40:23Christmas, Mom
40:24and I would lie on
40:25the sofa watching
40:26the holiday variety
40:27show.
40:27The performances
40:28were playing on
40:29the TV.
40:30Mom turned to me
40:31and asked,
40:32Do you know
40:33what tune this is?
40:34I said I didn't.
40:36I know.
40:37Never learned it.
40:38Mom gave a
40:39proud little humph.
40:41This is that piano
40:42piece you practiced
40:43every single day.
40:45I still remember
40:46it, but you've
40:47forgotten it all.
40:48I smiled.
40:54Mom, but I
40:55played the
40:56violin.
40:59Then we both
41:00burst into
41:01laughter.
41:06I was born with
41:07glass skin
41:08syndrome.
41:09I was like a
41:10fragile porcelain
41:11doll, needing to
41:12be cradled in the
41:13palm of a hand and
41:14protected at all
41:14costs.
41:15It was truly
41:17exhausting.
41:17Yet my mother
41:19cared for me with
41:20meticulous devotion,
41:21beaming with
41:22delight.
41:23This beautiful
41:24porcelain doll is
41:25mine, and I'm
41:26going to take good
41:27care of her.
41:28That night, I
41:29didn't tell Liam
41:30about those
41:31heart-trenching
41:32memories.
41:32Instead, I spoke
41:34of the sweet
41:35times I shared
41:36with Mom.
41:36Her dying wish
41:37was for me to be
41:38safe and happy, so
41:40I would carry all
41:40those warm memories
41:41of her and live the
41:42rest of my life
41:43well.
41:43The loss of a
41:45loved one is a
41:46dampness that
41:46clings for a
41:47lifetime, but the
41:48part of me that
41:49was shaped by my
41:50mother will take
41:50her place and
41:51stay with me
41:52forever.
41:52Before sleep, I
41:54said softly to
41:55Liam, thank you
41:56for saving me, and
41:57thank you for
41:58everything you've
41:59done, but I'm
42:00not ready to
42:00start another
42:01relationship.
42:05Before I can
42:05love someone else,
42:07I need to learn
42:08to love myself
42:09first.
42:09I looked into
42:10the tenderness
42:11in his eyes and
42:12added, but we
42:13will be partners
42:13for life.
42:15People always
42:16mistake dependency
42:17for love.
42:18Having survived a
42:20shattered marriage,
42:21I can no longer
42:22believe in spending
42:22the rest of my
42:23life with another
42:24person, nor do I
42:26want to hear
42:26flimsy promises or
42:28make guarantees
42:28that cannot be
42:29kept.
42:30He nodded
42:31gently, he softly
42:32sang a nursery
42:33rhyme, lulling me
42:34to sleep.
42:37The night in
42:38Seattle was
42:39completely silent,
42:40leaving only two
42:41adrift souls,
42:42leaning on one
42:43another for warmth.
42:45A few days later,
42:46I took Liam's
42:47dog for a walk
42:48in the park.
42:49A Rolls Royce
42:50screeched to a
42:51halt beside me.
42:52The window rolled
42:53down to reveal
42:54Sebastian's agitated
42:55voice.
42:56Iris!
42:58Are you really
42:59going to throw
42:59everything away
43:00because of one
43:01mistake?
43:02Get in the car
43:03now!
43:03I tightened my
43:04grip on the
43:05leash.
43:06Sebastian,
43:08you signed
43:09the divorce
43:09papers yourself.
43:12You're nothing
43:13but a stranger
43:14to me now.
43:16Please,
43:18have some
43:19dignity.
43:21Having said
43:22my piece,
43:22I tugged the
43:23dog along and
43:24kept walking,
43:25but Sebastian
43:26jumped out of
43:26the car and
43:27chased after me.
43:28He reached out
43:29and grabbed my
43:30arm.
43:31Don't go.
43:32Let's just
43:33talk properly,
43:34please.
43:38I shook
43:39off his hand
43:39violently,
43:40not even
43:41bothering to
43:41look at him.
43:43There's nothing
43:43to talk about.
43:44That was your
43:45signature on the
43:46divorce.
43:47Your Saree Force
43:47papers.
43:49Legally,
43:50we have
43:50absolutely no
43:51ties anymore.
43:55Sebastian,
43:56stop this
43:57harassment.
43:58Trying to
43:59trap someone
44:00who doesn't
44:00love you is
44:01just torture
44:01for both
44:02of us.
44:03It's
44:04completely
44:04pointless.
44:05He acted
44:06as if he
44:07hadn't heard
44:07a word,
44:08rambling on
44:09and on.
44:10He kept
44:11going on
44:11about how
44:12much effort
44:12it took
44:13to find
44:13me,
44:13and about
44:14the piercings
44:15on my
44:15body.
44:16He also
44:17claimed he
44:18had already
44:18tortured Isabella
44:19a thousand
44:20times over.
44:21I already
44:21knew about
44:22the nails.
44:23I knew
44:23the moment
44:24those nails
44:25began to
44:25dissolve and
44:26vanish from
44:27my skin.
44:28As for the
44:29rest of what
44:29he was saying,
44:30I couldn't
44:30care less.
44:31I finally
44:32stopped
44:32walking and
44:33turned my
44:33head,
44:34my voice
44:35as cold
44:35as ice.
44:36None of
44:37that matters
44:38anymore.
44:39What matters
44:40is that we
44:41will never
44:41have anything
44:42to do with
44:43each other
44:44again.
44:45Let the
44:45past rot
44:46in the
44:47past.
44:48Don't ever
44:49show your
44:49face in front
44:50of me again.
44:51Hearing this,
44:52Sebastian
44:52suddenly roared
44:53like a
44:54madman.
44:54Iris!
44:56Have you
44:56been seeing
44:57someone else
44:58all along?
44:59How else
45:00could you
45:00be so
45:01heartless?
45:04How could
45:04you forget
45:05me so
45:05quickly?
45:06Watching
45:07him lose
45:07control,
45:08I couldn't
45:08help but
45:09laugh out
45:09loud.
45:11You're so
45:12arrogant.
45:13Does my
45:14life have
45:15to revolve
45:16around a
45:16man?
45:17I don't
45:18need to
45:18love someone
45:19else to
45:19stop loving
45:20you.
45:22I belong
45:23to myself.
45:25I am
45:25not your
45:26possession.
45:26I am
45:27not
45:28something
45:28you can
45:28just
45:29snatch
45:29away,
45:29and
45:30certainly
45:30not
45:31something
45:31you
45:31can
45:31trap
45:32whenever
45:32you
45:32please.
45:33As I
45:34spoke,
45:34I pulled
45:35out my
45:35phone.
45:36Now get
45:36the hell
45:37away from
45:38me.
45:38Just ahead
45:38is a
45:39restricted
45:39medical
45:40facility.
45:41My
45:41brother
45:41works
45:42there.
45:42One
45:43phone
45:43call
45:43from
45:43me,
45:44and
45:44he'll
45:45bring
45:45people
45:45out
45:46to
45:46pin
45:46you
45:46to
45:46the
45:46ground.
45:48But
45:49Sebastian
45:49seemed
45:50possessed.
45:51His
45:51eyes filled
45:52with a
45:52manic
45:53obsession.
45:54He
45:54gripped
45:54my
45:54wrist
45:55tightly,
45:56refusing
45:56to
45:56let
45:56go,
45:57determined
45:57to drag
45:58me back
45:58to his
45:58car.
45:59I
45:59couldn't
45:59be
45:59bothered
46:00to
46:00struggle
46:00with
46:00him
46:01any
46:01longer.
46:01I
46:02barked
46:02a
46:02command
46:02to
46:02the
46:02Doberman
46:03on
46:03the
46:03leash.
46:07The
46:07command
46:08took
46:08immediate
46:08effect.
46:09West
46:09was a
46:10working
46:10dog
46:10with
46:11professional
46:11protection
46:12training
46:12and
46:12he
46:13obeyed
46:13my
46:13commands
46:13implicitly.
46:14He
46:15lunged
46:15forward,
46:16sinking
46:16his
46:16teeth
46:17into
46:17Sebastian's
46:18calf
46:18and
46:18tearing
46:18open
46:19several
46:19bloody
46:19gashes.
46:20Sebastian
46:21stumbled
46:21from
46:22the
46:22pain,
46:22dropping
46:23to
46:23one
46:23knee
46:24as
46:24cold
46:24sweat
46:24broke
46:25out
46:25across
46:25his
46:25forehead.
46:26I
46:27didn't
46:27even
46:27spare
46:28him
46:28a
46:28glance,
46:29turning
46:29on
46:30my
46:30heel
46:30and
46:30walking
46:31straight
46:31away.
46:32Just
46:32then,
46:33my
46:33phone
46:33screen
46:34lit
46:34up
46:34with
46:34a
46:34booking
46:35confirmation
46:35notification.
46:37Booking
46:37confirmed
46:38at
46:38Iris
46:39Vance
46:39Flight
46:40LX81
46:41to
46:41Zurich,
46:428pm.
46:45I
46:45locked
46:46the
46:46screen
46:46and
46:47my
46:47steps
46:47grew
46:48lighter.
46:49From
46:49now
46:50on,
46:50my
46:50life
46:51was
46:51finally
46:51rid
46:52of
46:52these
46:52toxic
46:52people
46:53and
46:53their
46:53mess.
46:54The
46:54past
46:55could
46:55no
46:55longer
46:55hold
46:55me
46:56prisoner.
46:59And
46:59like
46:59a
46:59bird,
47:00I
47:00would
47:00soar
47:01into
47:01a
47:01sky
47:01that
47:02belonged
47:02to
47:02me.
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