- 2 days ago
The Cursed Heiress’ Verdict Billionaire Romance
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was born with a curse.
00:02Whoever I doom dies exactly as I say.
00:06When I was five, the trafficker who kidnapped me beat me half to death because I wouldn't stop crying.
00:11You'll be crushed into meat paste by a truck.
00:14The words barely left my lips when a runaway assembly barreled through the gate and flattened it so thoroughly.
00:21Later, at the orphanage, the director embezzled our food and locked me in the punishment closet for days.
00:27You will choke to death on your own greed.
00:30That very noon, he died at the dinner table, a chunk of expensive steak lodged in his throat.
00:36After that, I became the monster everyone feared.
00:40So I learned to shut my mouth and play mute.
00:43Until the day the Sterling family found me and brought me home.
00:47You're doing very well the past studies in your six months.
00:49You're going to start learning how to do business.
00:51In the future, you'll become an outstanding giz.
00:53Your younger sister you get would learn from you.
00:55By the way, our family is engaged in a marriage with the Blackstone family, and your fiancée's name is Julian.
01:03But I'd only been there one day when I pushed open the front door and saw Lydia, the adopted sister,
01:09sobbing in my fiancée's arms.
01:11Julian, does Everly hate me now?
01:14She whimpered.
01:15She's been spreading rumors at the office, claiming I slept with Mr. Harrington to secure the Westside Development deal and
01:23that I caught syphilis from him.
01:24My mother stormed over and slapped me hard across the face.
01:28Your sister is innocent!
01:29How dare you spread such vile lies about her!
01:32I knew it.
01:33You grew up poor and bitter and now you're rotting from jealousy.
01:37Get to your room and don't come out until I say so.
01:40I covered my face, saw the smug look in Lydia's eyes, and sneered.
01:44You think I'm spreading rumors?
01:46Fine.
01:47Then you'd better be ready with the consequences when I open my mouth.
01:53Mom, Dad, look!
01:55Evelyn's laughing!
01:56My mother's chest heaved with fury, and she grabbed the teacup from the table and hurled the scalding liquid straight
02:02into my face.
02:03You cursed brat!
02:05I should never have brought you back!
02:07Look, we gave you everything.
02:10Food, clothes, a home, and this is how you repay us?
02:14Slandering your own sister at the company?
02:16How can you be so vicious?
02:18I bit down hard on my tongue until I tasted iron.
02:21Evelyn, I told you from the start.
02:23You don't belong in the Sterling family, and you sure as hell don't deserve to be my fiancée.
02:27If Lydia hadn't begged me to give you a chance, I would have called off this engragement ages ago.
02:31Now get on your knees and apologize to her, or I'm ending this farce right now.
02:36I lowered my head, staring at the puddle of tea soaking into the marble floor, and said nothing.
02:41My curse has always been absolute.
02:43Once I speak, fate obeys without fail.
02:46In the six months since they brought me home, the Sterlings gave me something I'd never had before.
02:51Warmth.
02:52When I had a fever, my mother stayed up all night, changing cold compresses on my forehead.
02:56My father, who never cooked, clumsily made me pork chops and gave me the first piece.
03:01Even my brother, who swore he'd never accept me, started sneaking pastries into my bag.
03:07My mother would stroke my face with tears in her eyes, and whisper that she was sorry for the years
03:12I'd suffered alone.
03:13My father even drove me to the office himself, saying I needed to start building connections because one day, the
03:19entire Sterling empire would be mine.
03:22To protect this fragile sliver of warmth I'd finally found, I sealed my lips shut.
03:27Seeing my silence, Lydia's sobs grew louder.
03:32Does Evelyn think she can just play dumb and get away with this?
03:35She's been spreading those disgusting lies.
03:37It's about me all over the company.
03:39Everyone's looking at me like I'm dirty now.
03:41How am I supposed to show my face in this industry again?
03:44Julian's face twisted in rage, and he stormed over and grabbed the fine chain around my neck, yanking hard.
03:50Pain seared across my skin.
03:53Six months ago, my mother had recognized me because of this necklace.
03:56She said she'd put it on me the day I was born, a mark of my identity as the sole
04:01illegitimate heir.
04:03I lunged forward, trying to grab it.
04:05Give it back!
04:06Julian sidestepped the stone, letting me crash to the floor.
04:09Don't touch me!
04:10If you come near me again, I'll call the cops and tell them you assaulted me!
04:12Then, right in front of me, he placed the necklace around Lydia's neck.
04:19A treasure this priceless should only be worn by someone pure and kind like Lydia.
04:25A vicious, foul-mouthed nobody like you would only taint it.
04:29Before I could get back on my feet, my brother came charging down the stairs and grabbed me by the
04:35collar.
04:36I knew we shouldn't have brought you back, you filthy charity case.
04:42It was Lydia who begged to be kind to you.
04:45She even gave up her own bedroom to you.
04:48And for the past six months, she's handed you every good thing she's ever had!
04:53And this is how you repay her?
04:55You ungrateful snake!
04:59Butler, lock this trash in her room right now!
05:01No one gives her a single drop of water without my permission, understood?
05:05Two security guards rushed forward, dragged me upstairs.
05:10I was locked in that room for seven days straight.
05:13Every night, the maid would slide a single bowl under the door.
05:17Inside was nothing but cold leftovers and scraps.
05:20Outside, I could hear laughter echoing through the halls.
05:22Before, a perfect little family.
05:25Lydia made sure to parade Julian past my door every single day.
05:29Julian, this watch is too expensive.
05:31Why don't you give it to Evelyn instead?
05:33Ed, I know you love me, but Evelyn is their real daughter and she's the one you're technically engaged to.
05:38Maybe we should just end this.
05:40As long as I can see you happy from afar, I'd die a thousand deaths and it would still be
05:44worth it.
05:45Stop talking nonsense.
05:47That piece of trash they dragged back from the gullet isn't even worth carrying your shoes.
05:50Just looking at her pathetic face makes me sick.
05:52Why the hell would I give her something this expensive?
05:56Don't worry, Lydia.
05:57Even if I marry her, I'll never lay a fender on her.
06:00You're the only one I'll ever love.
06:02I leaned against the door.
06:04Wearing something that expensive to bed?
06:06Better be careful.
06:07You might wake up with a stiff neck.
06:10The next morning, Lydia's shrieks tore through the hallway.
06:13It hurts!
06:14My neck!
06:15I can't move it!
06:21Then came my sister's panicked voice, followed by the frantic footsteps of the household staff.
06:26Doctor, hurry!
06:27I sat in the dark, eyes closed, a slow smile spreading across my face.
06:33On the eighth day, the lock finally clicked open.
06:35Lydia stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
06:39Oh my god, Evelyn.
06:40You look like death.
06:42Did you really starve yourself just to guilt trip us?
06:45Come on, get up.
06:46Mom and Dad want you at the company.
06:48All you have to do is stand in front of everyone and admit you lied, apologize to me, and we
06:53can all move on.
06:54I pushed myself to my feet and walked toward the door.
06:58The moment I reached the top of the stairs, Lydia leaned in close and whispered in my ear.
07:03You poor little bastard.
07:06Did you really think you could steal my parents and my man?
07:10I froze mid-step and turned to look at her.
07:12Lydia let out a blood-purdling scream.
07:15Evelyn, no!
07:16I swear I won't take the inheritance from you!
07:19Then she threw herself backward and tumbled down the stairs.
07:22Julian bolted toward the staircase.
07:24Lydia!
07:25And my parents and sister came running from every direction.
07:28Oh, Jesus!
07:29Lydia lay crumpled at the bottom.
07:31Julian, don't blame Evelyn.
07:34I just lost my balance.
07:36You've lived in this house for over 20 years and never once fell down these stairs.
07:41There's no way this was an accident!
07:43My mother flew up the steps and landed two brutal slaps across my face.
07:47I was so weak from starvation that the force sent me crashing to the floor.
07:51How did we ever give birth to a monster like you?
07:54I pressed my hand to my burning cheek and stared back at them.
07:58I let out a cold, humorless laugh.
08:00If I really wanted to hurt her, I wouldn't need to lift a finger.
08:03My brother's entire body shook the floor.
08:06We kicked over a decorative paint stand.
08:07Mom, do you hear this?
08:10Do you hear what she's saying?
08:12Lydia's lying there in pain.
08:14And Evelyn has the audacity to double down on her threats.
08:18You're still refusing to admit what you've done?
08:20Stop pretending you have some kind of supernatural power, you delusional freak!
08:24My father turned his face away, as if even looking at me disgusted him.
08:28Get her out of my sight.
08:30Lock her back in her room, now!
08:31I struggled against the guard's grip and let out a sharp, bitter laugh.
08:36You're all playing your parts so well.
08:38Just make sure she doesn't actually break a bone and pass out from the pain.
08:41Lydia suddenly went rigid.
08:43Her head lolled forward and she slumped, unconscious.
08:47My mother screamed.
08:49Someone get her in the car!
08:50We need to get to the hospital now!
08:51The guard scooped Lydia up and sprinted out the door, with my parents and brother racing after them.
08:58The roar of engines filled the courtyard, and within seconds, they were gone.
09:02I was thrown back into my room like garbage.
09:05A few days later, Lydia was discharged from the hospital.
09:09My parents shoved me into the car and dragged me straight to the Sterling Group headquarters.
09:13The normally spacious lobby was packed wall-to-wall with employees.
09:17My parents had summoned the entire company to publicly clear Lydia's name.
09:21On the massive LED screen in the center of the room, a video played on loop.
09:25Footage of Lydia handing out backpacks to underprivileged children in remote villages,
09:29and late-night shots of her working tirelessly on the West Side Development Project.
09:34My father stepped onto the platform, microphone in hand, his voice booming across the lobby.
09:41Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great misfortune to announce that we brought home a daughter of such rotten character.
09:50Out of pure jealousy, she spread vicious, slanderous rumors about Lydia throughout this company.
09:56She has not only damaged our family's reputation, she has committed an unforgivable moral crime.
10:02The employees, not knowing the full story, began whispering amongst themselves.
10:07Once trash, always trash. Doesn't matter if you put her in a mansion.
10:12I heard she grew up in some backwater foster home.
10:16People from places like that are all liars and thieves.
10:19If she's willing to slander her own sister, there's nothing she wouldn't do.
10:22Lydia, supported by Julian, walked up to me and held out a piece of paper.
10:26A printed confession titled, Statement of Guilt and Apology.
10:31Evelyn, I know why you did this.
10:33All you have to do is sign this, admit you lied, and apologize to me in front of everyone.
10:38Then I'll forgive you.
10:39I stared at her smug face, my chest heaving with barely restrained rage.
10:44I never said those things.
10:46But if I had said you slept with Mr. Harrington...
10:49Before I could finish, Julian's polished oxford slammed into the back of my knee.
10:54I collapsed onto the marble floor with a sickening crack.
10:58The employees around me erupted in laughter.
11:01Some even pulled out their phones, snapping photos and recording videos of my humiliation.
11:06Karma's a bitch!
11:08Shane tore through me like a serrated thing.
11:10And then...
11:11Stop! Evelyn didn't lie! I can prove it!
11:14Everyone froze.
11:15A young woman shoved her way through the crowd.
11:17Stop! Evelyn didn't lie! I can prove it!
11:19She is the intern I'd comforted on my first day at the office,
11:22who'd been crying in the break room after getting chewed out by her supervisor.
11:26She planted herself in front of me, her voice shaking but firm as she pointed at Lydia.
11:32I saw it with my own eyes that night when we were working late!
11:35Lydia got into Mr. Harrington's car, and they were in the back seat together.
11:39The entire lobby went dead silent.
11:42Lydia's face drained of color.
11:44But she recovered quickly, throwing herself into Julian's arms and wailing at the top of her lungs.
11:50Julian! How much did Evelyn pay this girl to lie for her?
11:54First she makes up disgusting rumors, and now she's bribing people to back her up?
11:59What kind of monthus anymore? I just want to die.
12:02The crowd's shock instantly morphed into contempt.
12:05Julian's expression darkened, glaring at the intern with pure hatred.
12:10He stepped forward and backhanded her across the face.
12:13The intern lost her balance and hit the floor hard, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
12:18You've gone too far!
12:21Throw this traitorous little bitch out of my building!
12:24Fire her immediately!
12:26Blacklist her from every company in the industry!
12:29I want her name ruined!
12:30Four security guards swarmed the intern, raining fists and kicks down on her fragile body.
12:36She curled into a ball on the floor.
12:39I knelt on the cold floor, watching the girl who'd been beaten half to death for telling the truth.
12:44I bit down on my lower lip so hard that blood streamed down my chin, but I didn't even feel
12:49it.
12:49My trust in them shattered completely.
12:54Mom, Dad, Evelyn must be doing this because she's terrified I'll steal her inheritance.
13:00I know she hates me.
13:02She's always hated me for taking away the life that should have been hers all these years.
13:06She clutched my father's pant leg.
13:07As long as you let me stay by your side, I'll be happy even if it kills me.
13:12Julian strode over, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and yanked my head up.
13:16Everyone, take a good look at this vile excuse for a human being.
13:20Oh, God.
13:22Today, I, Julian Blackstone, am officially calling off my engagement to her.
13:28Next month, Lydia and I will be having the grandest wedding this city has ever seen.
13:34My father stood on the platform like a judge, passing sentence.
13:37If you don't confess and apologize right now, I will disown you in front of this entire company.
13:43You won't see a single share of Sterling Group stock.
13:47Not one.
13:48Julian's designer's shoe pressed down on the back of my hand.
13:51Grinding my bones into the marble, the sickening crunch was followed by a wave of agony that shot straight to
13:57my skull.
13:58Around me, the crowd roared with laughter, camera flashes exploding in my face.
14:03My parents' disgusted voices echoed in my ears.
14:06I closed my eyes.
14:07The last fragile thread of affection I'd held for a Sterling Group was snapped.
14:11I opened my eyes slowly and spoke.
14:13I'm going to ask you one last time.
14:15Are you absolutely certain you want me to stand in front of all these people
14:19and confess that I spread those rumors?
14:21Of course, you did it.
14:23Now own up to it.
14:25My parents and Julian chimed in impatiently.
14:28Stop wasting our time.
14:30Apologize already.
14:32Fine.
14:33I confess.
14:34I looked at their eager, self-righteous faces.
14:37I said Lydia secured the West Side Development deal by sleeping with Mr. Harrington.
14:41And I said she contracted syphilis from him.
14:44Not only that, but Lydia is now pregnant.
14:46And the baby is Mr. Harrington's.
14:50The entire lobby fell deathly silent.
14:53Lydia froze for a split second.
14:55You all heard that, right?
14:57She finally admitted it.
14:59She made it all up.
15:01Julian let out a cold, mocking laugh.
15:03What are you waiting for?
15:04Get on your knees and apologize now.
15:06But just as she reached the peak of her victory,
15:09Lydia let out a blood-curdling scream and collapsed to the ground,
15:13clutching her groin.
15:14Blood began pouring down her legs.
15:16Lydia!
15:17Julian's face went white as a sheet, and he rushed to her side.
15:20The company's front doors exploded in them, glass and wood splintering everywhere.
15:26Mr. Harrington's wife, a massive and muscular woman with a crew of bodyguards,
15:31stormed into the lobby.
15:32Where the hell is that home-wrecking whore, Lydia Sterling?
15:36He charged forward, grabbed her by the collar, and ripped her out of Julian's arms.
15:40Then he started throwing punches, one after another.
15:45You disgusting slut!
15:47You seduced my husband!
15:49He pulled a stack of medical reports from his jacket, and slammed them onto the floor.
15:53Everyone, look at this!
15:55My husband caught syphilis from this filthy parasite!
15:58The lab results scattered across the marble.
16:01The words,
16:01Stage 2 Syphilis, glaring up at the crowd in red ink.
16:05Julian's face turned ashen, and he staggered backward, staring at the papers in disbelief.
16:09Lydia was already barely conscious from the beating, blood streaming from her mouth.
16:15Julian!
16:16It's not true!
16:17I don't have any disease!
16:19This is all Evelyn's doing!
16:21She hired actors to destroy me!
16:23She even faked these medical records!
16:25She's a monster!
16:27She'll do anything to frame me!
16:29She sobbed hysterically.
16:30He looked at the medical reports, melted into pure rage.
16:34Then at Lydia's tear-streaked face, and his doubt vanished entirely.
16:37Get the hell off her!
16:38Julian kicked Mr. Harrington's wife in the chest, and a swarm of security guards surrounded him.
16:44If you touch my fiancé again, you're a dead man!
16:48Then Julian spun around, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at me.
16:53Do you ever do anything?
16:54Do you ever stop?
16:56You went so far as to hire actors and forge medical documents just to prove your disgusting lives?
17:03Lydia is clean.
17:05There's no way she'd ever catch something that vile.
17:07My father's voice shook with rage.
17:10This is unforgivable!
17:13How did we ever raise such a venomous snake?
17:17You thought of something this despicable, something this evil!
17:21My mother was on her knees beside Lydia, stroking her bloodied face.
17:26My little baby!
17:27How did you end up with such a cool sister?
17:29This is all my fault!
17:32Mom, I hurt so much.
17:35Suddenly, Lydia let out another agonized scream and went low, collapsing in a pool of her own blood.
17:42The puddle beneath her was growing larger by the second.
17:45Julian's face made light.
17:46Lydia!
17:47And he barked orders at the guards.
17:49Get the car!
17:50We're going to the hospital!
17:51Now!
17:52My parents stumbled after them, their faces twisted in panic.
17:56The lobby descended into chaos.
17:58My brother appeared out of nowhere, grabbed me by the collar, and started dragging me toward the exit.
18:04You're coming with us.
18:06If anything happens to Lydia, you're going to pay for it with your life.
18:10He shoved me into the back seat of the car, and my head slammed against the window.
18:15Through the glass, I watched Julian's car speed away, running red lights,
18:19and swerving through traffic like a scene from a disaster relief.
18:23A cold smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
18:26The hospital emergency room hallway was silent.
18:29The only sound was my mother's muffled sobbing.
18:31Finally, the red light above the door went dark, and the doctor stepped out, his expression grim.
18:36Julian and my family immediately swarmed him.
18:39Doctor, how is she?
18:42The doctor sighed.
18:45The patient experienced severe rectal bleeding due to acute ternal hemorrhahalride rupture.
18:50Additionally, there are visible signs of blunt force trauma to the genital area.
18:54She'll need to remain on bed rest.
19:00Julian's face went slack with shock, and my parents and brother looked equally stunned.
19:05A nurse wheeled Lydia into a VIP room, and we followed.
19:08Lydia's eyes fluttered open, and when she heard the nurse repeating the doctor's instructions,
19:13even she looked genuinely shocked.
19:15But within a second, her brain recalibrated.
19:18She grabbed Julian's hand, tears welling up in her eyes.
19:20Julian, you're not going to think less of me because I have hemorrhings, are you?
19:27But I swear, I'm innocent.
19:30The injuries down there are because I fought back when Mr. Harrington tried to force himself on me,
19:35and his people beat me up.
19:37This is proof that I stayed loyal to you.
19:40That I resisted with everything I had.
19:42Julian's entire body went rigid.
19:44Lydia, you really went through all that for me?
19:47Lydia nodded pitifully.
19:48Of course it was for you.
19:51I didn't want to use this to guilt you into marrying me.
19:54I was going to wait until you'd completely ended things with Evelyn.
19:57Julian was utterly convinced.
19:59He grabbed her hand tightly, his earlier doubts completely erased.
20:02He turned to look at me, his expression twisted with disgust.
20:07Evelyn, what do you have to say for yourself now?
20:11Lydia fought them off to stay faithful to me.
20:14She's devoted her entire heart to me.
20:16How could she possibly be sleeping with Mr. Harrington?
20:19Those people who barged in here were obviously hired by you.
20:23My father let out a long sigh of relief.
20:27He called his assistant.
20:28Send out an internal memo immediately.
20:30Announce that Lydia and the Blackstone family will be moving forward with the engagement.
20:34As for that ridiculous slander my daughter spread.
20:36It's been completely debuffed.
20:37And send those thugs who stormed the building to the police.
20:39My mother clutched her chest dramatically.
20:42Tears of joy streaming down her face.
20:44Do you hear that?
20:45Lydia is devoted to Julian.
20:47You tried to curse your own sister with lies?
20:51You're not even human!
20:52Julian helped Lydia settle into the hospital bed.
20:55Then strode over to me.
20:57His gaze ice cold.
21:00Evelyn...
21:01I gave you a chance.
21:03And you threw it away.
21:05Once Lydia recovers and is discharged.
21:08I'm personally escorting you to prison.
21:10Faced with their accusations.
21:12I started laughing.
21:14Unsettling them.
21:14I shook off the guard's grip.
21:16And locked eyes with Lydia.
21:18My voice sharp and cold.
21:20Whether or not she stayed faithful to you.
21:22The syphilis rash on her body will tell you the truth soon enough.
21:26A flicker of panic flashed across Lydia's face.
21:29But she quickly mouthed...
21:29You're lying!
21:30You psychopath!
21:32You're just jealous that I won Julian's heart!
21:35You couldn't get mom and dad to love you!
21:37You couldn't get Julian to want you!
21:39So now you're cursing me with some disgusting disease!
21:42Julian was about to slap me again.
21:44When the hospital room door swung open.
21:46The attending physician walked in.
21:47Holding a stack of blood work results.
21:49His face, grave.
21:50His eyes swept over everyone in the room.
21:52And he took a deep breath.
21:54Who here is the patient's family?
21:56Julian stepped forward immediately.
21:58I'm her fiancé.
21:59Doctor, she's going to be okay, right?
22:01The doctor glanced at him.
22:03His expression complicated.
22:06During the routine blood draw, we ran a full infectious disease palette as per protocol.
22:13He handed the lab results to Julian.
22:18The patient, Lydia Sterling, has tested positive for stage 2 syphilis.
22:23The titer levels are extremely high, indicating she's in a highly contagious stage.
22:29The room plunged into complete silence.
22:31Julian staggered backward, his legs giving out beneath him as he collapsed onto the floor.
22:36He stared at Lydia, who just moments ago had seemed so pure and innocent with a look of absolute horror.
22:44No, that's impossible.
22:46No, that's impossible.
22:46No, that's impossible.
22:46You're laughing at mistake!
22:49I know what happened!
22:50The needle you used to draw my blood must have been contaminated!
22:53You infected me!
22:56Julian, you have to believe me.
22:59Miss Sterling, that's medically impossible.
23:01The infection didn't occur from the blood draw.
23:03He glanced down at his clipboard and continued.
23:05Your tiler levels indicate you've been infected for at least two months.
23:10Additionally, regarding the fetus...
23:11My stomach!
23:13Doctor, it hurts so much!
23:14Please help me!
23:16Something's wrong!
23:17The doctor was interrupted and was not able to mention Lydia's pregnancy.
23:21I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the whole scene unfold with detached amusement.
23:27Mr. Blackstone, if you want to know the truth, why don't you call your ojing?
23:33How'd him look into whether Mr. Harrington has also been diagnosed of syphilis?
23:37Julian's hands shook as he pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant.
23:41The moment the call connected...
23:42Mr. Blackstone, it's confirmed!
23:44Mr. Harrington has been diagnosed with stage two syphilis!
23:47And sir, there's more!
23:48Miss Sterling is pregnant!
23:49The whole industry is saying the child is Mr. Harrington's.
23:51The entire Westside Development Project has been shut down.
23:54Saying the child is Mr. Harrington's!
23:55The phone slipped from Julian's hand and platted on the tile floor.
23:58Now!
23:58Julian's face went from shock, to confusion, to realization, and finally, to pure, murderous rage.
24:06You're pregnant?
24:08Lydia's face turned deathly pale.
24:10Yes.
24:11The patient is approximately eight weeks pregnant, as I was trying to mention earlier.
24:15You lying piece of shit!
24:18Julian dies in a bloodshot, and he lunged at the hospital bed.
24:22He grabbed Lydia by the shoulders, shaking her violently.
24:25We haven't even slept together!
24:28You said you wanted to wait until the wedding night!
24:30Whose child is it?
24:31How many men have you been with?
24:32Lydia gasped for air, tears streaming down her face.
24:36But she had nowhere left to run.
24:39Realizing there was no way out, she gave up the act entirely and started playing the victim card.
24:45Julian, please!
24:46I was forced!
24:48I only did it to help you secure the Westside Investment!
24:51Mr. Harrington got me drunk and took advantage of me!
24:53But the baby...
24:55The baby is yours!
24:56I swear it's yours!
24:58I know you never wanted the burden of fatherhood.
25:02So?
25:03I made arrangements to carry your child myself, using your frozen samples!
25:08Julian's hand flew across her face, slapping her so hard she slammed back into the pillows.
25:14Then he climbed onto the bed and started beating her.
25:17Slap after slap, over and over, until her face was unrecognizable.
25:23My parents and brother stood frozen in place.
25:26They looked at Lydia, bruised, bloodied, pregnant, carrying of the nereal disease,
25:31and then turned to look at me, leaning calmly against the doorway.
25:35In that moment, they finally understood one thing.
25:39I hadn't lied.
25:40Every single word I'd said was true.
25:43My brother stared down at his own trembling hands.
25:47He remembered how he'd used those same hands to beat me, to call me ungrateful.
25:52All for this disease-ridden liar.
25:54The weight of his guilt nearly crushed him.
25:57His legs buckled, and he had to grab the wall to keep from collapsing.
26:01Julian finally stopped his assault on Lydia.
26:04You said the bastard in your belly is mine?
26:07Fine.
26:08Since she claims she's carrying my child, we'd better make sure the baby gets proper prenatal care.
26:12Watch them both.
26:13I don't care how much it costs.
26:15Make sure that thing gets born alive so we can run a paternity test.
26:18Both Lydia and Mr. Harrington were placed under house arrest.
26:22Julian stationed bodyguards and private nurses in the hospital room on rotating 24-hour shifts.
26:28During her confinement, Lydia tried multiple times to push herself down the stairs to induce a miscarriage.
26:34But every single time, the nurses caught her before she could succeed.
26:37Meanwhile, my father and brother finally started digging into Lydia's past.
26:41She hadn't just slept with Mr. Harrington.
26:44Her private life was a disaster of entanglements and scandals.
26:48The truth slapped them across the face, one revelation after another, until they were dizzy with shame.
26:55Three days after I moved out of the Sterling Mansion, my brother cornered me outside my new apartment.
27:00He was holding a bakery box from an upscale patisserie.
27:03The moment he saw me, his eyes turned red, and he rushed forward.
27:07Evelyn, I brought you those French macaroons from that place you used to love.
27:12I waited in line for two hours.
27:14They're still fresh.
27:15Please, just have one.
27:17Please?
27:18I took the box from his hands, and for a split second, hope flared in his eyes.
27:22Then I flipped my wrist.
27:23The delicate macaroons tumbled out onto the dirty pavement,
27:26their pastel shells cracking against the concrete.
27:30I don't like macaroons.
27:31I like pancakes.
27:33But no one in the Sterling family ever bothered to make me a single stack.
27:37My brother stood frozen in place as tears streamed down his haggard face.
27:42My father, desperate to make amends, reinstated me at the company.
27:45The employees who had once mocked me now fell silent whenever I passed, heads bowed, eyes averted.
27:52Everyone assumed I, a girl dragged back from poverty,
27:55would crumble under the pressure of salvaging the disastrous West Side Development Project.
28:00But it only took me one week.
28:02I scheduled meetings with every single landowner involved in the West Side Zone
28:07and sat across from them at the negotiation table.
28:10Gone was the silent, cowering girl they thought they knew.
28:13I was sharp, ruthless, and surgically precise in dismantling their objections.
28:18When I walked back into Sterling Group headquarters, with signed contracts in hand,
28:23my father's hands trembled as he took them from me.
28:26Tears rolled down his weathered face.
28:28Evelyn, your father was blind.
28:32I was so, so blind.
28:34The company is yours now.
28:36All of it.
28:37Please, forgive me just this once.
28:40I didn't even look at him as I walked past toward my new office.
28:44That's when Julian appeared.
28:46The once arrogant heir of the Blackstone Empire now looked hollowed out,
28:51his eyes red-rimmed and exhausted.
28:53He stared at me, and his expression twisted with regret.
28:56Evelyn, I broke off the engagement with Lydia.
29:01I was an idiot.
29:02I was blind.
29:04She manipulated me, and I fell for it.
29:06His voice cracked.
29:07Give me one more chance.
29:08A marriage between Sterling Group and Blackstone Holdings.
29:11I'll have my family transfer 30% of Blackstone's shares as a wedding gift.
29:15Just say yes.
29:16I sank into the chair that had once belonged to my father.
29:19Casually twirling a pen between my fingers, I looked up and met his desperate gaze.
29:25Wait for the baby.
29:28Julian's face turned ashen.
29:30In the days that followed, my mother appeared at the office,
29:33carrying a container of homemade beef stew.
29:36Evelyn, please.
29:38I failed you.
29:40I'm your mother.
29:41And I failed you.
29:43I think about it every single day.
29:46Save the stew for your beloved Lydia.
29:48After all, with her condition, she's the one who needs the nutrition.
29:52My mother's sobs cut off abruptly.
29:54She crumpled to the floor, staring at my retreating figure.
29:58The day Lydia went into labor, the hospital waiting room was thick with dread.
30:03My parents, my brother, and Julian, all of them sat in tense silence, waiting for the final verdict.
30:09The delivery room doors swung open, and a nurse emerged carrying a sickly, underweight infant.
30:14Julian didn't even glance at the child.
30:16He merely gestured toward the DNA lab director who'd been waiting on standby.
30:22Rush it.
30:23I want results in three hours.
30:25Those three hours were Lydia's last desperate scramble for survival, and my family's eternal humiliation.
30:32For me, it was just another afternoon.
30:34I leaned against the window, calmly running the sapphire necklace, now returned to me through my fingers.
30:40When the lab director finally emerged with the report, the entire hallway went deathly quiet.
30:45Mr. Blackstone, paternity has been excluded.
30:49Additionally, the infant shows signs of congenital abnormalities, likely caused by in vitro syphilis exposure.
30:56Julian's face went blank.
30:57Then he turned and stormed into Lydia's recovery room, ripping the blanket off her bed.
31:03Congratulations.
31:04You played me for a fool long enough to become the laughingstock of the entire city.
31:09He raised his hand and delivered one final vicious slap.
31:12Enjoy the rest of your life in prison.
31:15With a snap of his fingers, his security team swarmed Lydia, dragging her out of the bed and beating her
31:21as she screamed.
31:22My parents didn't even try to stop them.
31:24They stood there, staring at the damning paternity report, and then slowly turned to look at me.
31:30The regret in their eyes was bottomless.
31:33Evelyn.
31:33My mother stumbled toward me and collapsed at my feet, her knees hitting the tile with a painful crack.
31:39She clutched the hem of my coat, sobbing uncontrollably.
31:42I was so blind.
31:45How could I have treated you that way?
31:49Hit me.
31:51Please, hit me.
31:52I deserve it.
31:54I'm the one who made you suffer.
31:56She raised her own hand and began slapping herself across the face, over and over.
32:01Mrs. Sterling.
32:02The floor is cold.
32:03You're getting older.
32:05Save the performance.
32:06My father stepped forward, his hands shaking as he pulled a document from his briefcase.
32:11Evelyn, I know I was wrong.
32:13This is the share transfer agreement for Sterling Group.
32:16I've already signed it.
32:18Everything, all of it, goes to you.
32:23Just, please come home.
32:26Let me spend the rest of my life making this up to you.
32:29I took the document and signed my name at the bottom.
32:32Fine.
32:34From today forward, Sterling Group becomes Hale Enterprises.
32:38My mother grabbed my bag, trying to carry it for me like a servant.
32:41Evelyn, please stay at the house tonight.
32:43I'll cook for you myself.
32:45I walked past her without a word.
32:46From that day on, my brother resigned from his VP position and became the hardest working project manager in the
32:53company.
32:54Two weeks later, he collapsed at his desk from exhaustion.
32:57When the medics revived him, Julian, meanwhile, threw Blackstone Holdings into chaos by forcibly diverting billions in company resources to
33:09support my projects, ignoring protests from his own board of directors.
33:13At the celebratory banquet after my latest acquisition, he approached me with a glass of wine.
33:19Evelyn, I was arrogant and stupid.
33:22If you can forgive me, I'll spend the rest of my life working for you.
33:26Whatever you need.
33:28Let's move forward with the merger.
33:30Please.
33:31I swirled the wine in my glass, looking at the man who once stood above me.
33:36Mr. Blackstone, I'm open to business partnerships.
33:41But marriage?
33:44You should probably get tested for syphilis first.
33:48One year later.
33:49Under my leadership, Sterling Group, now Hale Enterprises, didn't just recover.
33:54It devoured several of Blackstone Holdings' key projects and became the most feared name in the industry.
34:00I was no longer the scared, silent girl they'd dragged back from the gutter.
34:06I was Evelyn Hale, and people crossed the street when they saw me coming.
34:11I used part of my fortune to buy the entire block across from the company headquarters, and opened a flower
34:16shop.
34:17I tracked down the intern who'd been beaten and blacklisted for defending me, and I brought her back.
34:23Starting today, you're the store manager.
34:25Your salary is ten times what you made before.
34:27You saved my life.
34:30She'd stand among the flowers, eyes bright, and ask me questions like,
34:36Miss Hale, are you sure you don't want to move back into the estate?
34:40My brother, determined to atone, had requested a transfer to the harshest project site in the Northwest.
34:48He spent his days in sandstorms and brutal heat, the spoiled air finally stripped of his privilege.
34:55Every single day, he sent me a photo of the barren landscape with the same caption.
35:01I never replied. Not once.
35:05One quiet afternoon, I sat by the shop window, trimming flowers.
35:09The freedom felt better than any amount of power.
35:12A group of kids ran past the shop, laughing and shoving each other.
35:16One little girl tripped and scraped her knee, bursting into tears.
35:21I walked over and gently patted her head.
35:24Don't cry. Something wonderful is about to happen to you.
35:28She sniffled and looked up at me.
35:30A second later, she spotted her lost kitten hiding behind a planter box.
35:35She squealed with joy and threw her arms around the cat and turned and gave me the brightest smile.
35:42My curse had finally transformed.
35:46The bell above the door chimed softly.
35:49A tall, striking woman in a crisp police uniform stepped inside.
35:53She walked toward me, her face flushed pink, looking almost shy.
35:58Evelyn, do you remember me?
36:01I froze. She was the girl from the orphanage.
36:04The only one who ever shared her food with me.
36:07The one who got her leg broken by the director for protecting me.
36:12I'd like to buy a bouquet of roses for someone I've loved for 20 years.
36:15I selected the most beautiful roses in the shop and handed them to her.
36:22She took the bouquet and then held it out to me.
36:26These are for you.
36:27I want the rest of your life to be full of flowers and endless spring.
36:32She took my hand and led me to her car.
36:35We drove to the highest peak overlooking the city, where the lights below sparkled like fallen stars.
36:42I closed my eyes.
36:43From today forward, may everyone I love live in peace and joy.
36:47And may everyone I hate never get what they desire.
36:49And may everyone I love live in peace and joy.
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