Daisy arrives in New York determined to earn money and save her father, hiding a secret contract marriage to billionaire CEO Julian Sterling. When jealousy, manipulation, and a dangerous rival drive a wedge between them, Daisy decides to walk away for good. But after discovering the truth, Julian is forced to confront the consequences of his mistakes and fight for the woman he never should have doubted. Filled with contract marriage romance, billionaire drama, emotional twists, heartbreak, and redemption, this addictive short drama delivers an unforgettable journey of love, trust, and second chances. Based on the short drama Fool's April & Broken Heart.
#FoolsAprilAndBrokenHeart #ContractMarriage #CEORomance #SecondChanceRomance #BillionaireLove #ShortDrama #DramaSeries #FullEP #ENGSUB #ASM
#FoolsAprilAndBrokenHeart #ContractMarriage #CEORomance #SecondChanceRomance #BillionaireLove #ShortDrama #DramaSeries #FullEP #ENGSUB #ASM
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Short filmTranscript
00:01At a gathering with friends, my husband, a highly respected university professor, suddenly dropped to his knees before me.
00:07His voice trembled as he spoke the unthinkable.
00:10Sarah, Mia's heart is a perfect match with yours. She needs the transplant immediately.
00:14For a moment, I was struck completely dumb, yet somehow I wasn't surprised.
00:18But a person only has one heart.
00:20I'll contact the best surgeons in New York to fit you with a state-of-the-art artificial one.
00:24Arthur, I am three months away from my due date.
00:27We can always have another baby.
00:30Let's just give this one up for now.
00:32While I sat there, paralyzed by the sheer cruelty of his words, a girl's crisp, melodic laughter rang out from
00:38across the room.
00:39Happy April Fool's, Professor! Your heart isn't actually a match, Sarah. I was just messing around.
00:43I can't believe you actually went and begged your wife, Professor!
00:46The tense atmosphere in the room instantly evaporated into boisterous laughter.
00:50Our friends began to tease him.
00:52That was a cruel joke, Mia. You put Arthur in an impossible position.
00:55If Mia told me we were a match, I bet Arthur would have dragged me onto the operating table himself.
00:58Amidst the laughter, I was the only one sitting dead silent on the sofa.
01:02I rested a hand over my rounded belly, my heart slowly turning to ash.
01:06Arthur had never once been angry with Mia.
01:09To him, this frail, sickly student of his was a fragile porcelain doll that needed constant protection.
01:14But this time, he stood up, his face uncharacteristically dark.
01:18The crowd belatedly quieted down.
01:20After a suffocating silence, someone whispered to Mia.
01:23Joke too far. You know how protected the professor is for Sarah.
01:26Series first started at Columbia University.
01:27A colleague made an off-color joke about Sarah, and Arthur put him in the hospital.
01:31Hearing this, Mia froze.
01:32Tears instantly welled up in her doe-like eyes.
01:35She reached out, gingerly tugging at the hem of Arthur's shirt.
01:38I'm so sorry, Professor.
01:40It's April Fool's. I just wanted to play a little prank.
01:43When Arthur remained silent, she turned her pitiful gaze to me, sniffing delicately.
01:47Sarah, I didn't mean any harm. If you're angry, you can yell at me. I'll take it.
01:52Oh, come on. She's just a straightforward girl. She spoke without thinking.
01:56Yeah, Arthur. She's been your star student for three years.
01:59You even dedicated your recent thesis to her.
02:01You can't let a silly April Fool's joke ruin that.
02:04Arthur's expression finally softened.
02:06Don't ever make a joke like that again.
02:08Mia nodded eagerly.
02:12Then he turned to me, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.
02:17I'm sorry, Sarah. I should have verified it before coming to you for a favor.
02:22A favor.
02:22He casually reduced demanding my heart and my unborn child's life to a simple favor.
02:28But this wasn't the first time.
02:29Whenever it came to Mia, the usually rational, fiercely logical Professor Arthur Davies
02:34became hyper-emotional and inexplicably blurred the lines.
02:38On Christmas Eve, he had driven 300 miles through a blizzard to Boston
02:42just because she texted him that her stomach hurt.
02:46When I questioned him, he simply sighed.
02:49Her health is fragile, Sarah.
02:50I was worried something terrible had happened.
02:52Yet when I, his wife, sat alone in our home, five months pregnant,
02:56waiting up for him all night in pain, he wasn't worried.
02:59When my violent fetal movements left me in agonizing, breathless pain,
03:03he wasn't worried.
03:04Through my morning sickness, my contractions, my edema, and my hair loss,
03:08he wasn't worried.
03:09With me, he was always as cold and pragmatic as a machine.
03:12Sarah, creating a life is naturally difficult.
03:13You just have to endure it until the baby is born.
03:16When the hormones made me irritable or depressed,
03:18he dismissed it as female hysteria,
03:20threw out a few half-hearted platitudes,
03:22and locked himself in his study.
03:24Every single time, I had to swallow my despair to avoid disturbing his work.
03:29Yet, the crowning achievement of his career,
03:31a research paper that took him five grueling years to complete,
03:35featured Mia's name on the very first line of the acknowledgements,
03:38an undergraduate student who had absolutely no professional contribution to the work.
03:45In the interview video, Arthur looked into the camera with a soft, affectionate smile.
03:50In my five years of teaching, Mia might not be the most gifted student I've ever taught,
03:52but she is unequivocally the most resilient.
03:54I thank her for walking into my life.
03:56She gave me the courage to continue my research.
03:58Last week, I accidentally dropped my favorite vase.
04:01It shattered into a dozen pieces.
04:03When Arthur saw it, he didn't even blink.
04:05He just calmly asked the housekeeper to sweep it up.
04:07But that vase was irreplaceable.
04:10It was one we had sculpted and fired together in Italy
04:13during the most passionate year of our marriage.
04:16He had once held it up looking deeply into my eyes
04:20and solemnly declared it would be our family heirloom.
04:24Let me just, let me glue it back together.
04:27I had whispered, squatting on the floor with trembling hands,
04:30trying to gather the fragmented pieces of our memories.
04:33He frowned and pulled me up by my arm.
04:35It's just a cheap vase, Sarah. Let it go.
04:38My eyes welled with tears, but his gaze simply dropped to my stomach.
04:42Is the baby making you act out again?
04:43I tried to comfort myself.
04:45He's a rational man.
04:46I thought it's normal for him not to care about sentimental trinkets.
04:49But that night when I brought a plate of fruit into his study,
04:52my eyes fell upon a locked transparent display case on his desk.
04:56Inside sat a cheap $20 fountain pen from a local stationery store,
05:00a gift from Mia.
05:01At that moment, it felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured directly over my head.
05:06We had the worst fight of our marriage.
05:08I completely lost it.
05:10I grabbed a paperweight, smashed the glass case,
05:14and threw the cheap pen into the trash can.
05:16But the very next second, Arthur scrambled to fish it out,
05:20cradling it in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure.
05:23When he finally looked at me, his eyes were brimming with disgust and impatience.
05:27Go look in the mirror, Sarah.
05:29Look at yourself. You look like a madwoman.
05:30You broke the damn vast yourself today, so what exactly are you blaming me for now?
05:35Swear on the Bible that you hadn't developed feelings for Mia.
05:39If you had, they would both rot in hell!
05:42Arthur, a staunch man of science, actually hesitated.
05:45It took him a long time to finally speak.
05:47Yes.
05:48I am tempted by her.
05:50The word struck me like a physical blow.
05:52But we haven't crossed the line, and we never will.
05:54So you can drop the wronged wife act.
05:56Tears streamed down my face.
05:58He sighed, stepping forward to gently smooth down my messy hair.
06:02Sarah, we've been together for 11 years.
06:04There's no freshness left.
06:05To be brutally honest, kissing you feels like my upper lip tug was on my lower lip.
06:09Sometimes I even regret that we eloped to Vegas the second we turned 18.
06:12Back then, I didn't know that 10 years later I would fall for someone else.
06:15He was the one who bought out the city's fireworks just to make me smile when we were young.
06:19Now he was the one looking down on me, casually discussing his change of heart.
06:23Mia has a lively personality.
06:25She's not dull and suffocating like you.
06:26She likes to goof off.
06:27She likes watching cheesy romance movies.
06:29She loves feeding stray cats by the road.
06:30You used to do those mundane things too, but when she does them, I just find her incredibly
06:33adhering.
06:34I can't control my heart flutter.
06:35Finally, he lit a cigarette.
06:36His tone was gentle, yet unimaginably cruel.
06:39As long as you want it, the position of Mrs. Davis will always be yours.
06:43But you have to accept the reality.
06:45She is the only one in my heart now.
06:46After that night, I spiraled into an endless cycle of breakdowns and internal torment.
06:52I cried until my eyes were swollen shut.
06:55I tried to detach myself emotionally.
06:57I tried pretending I didn't care when he came home late, when he missed my prenatal checkups,
07:01when he took Mia to Hawaii for a research trip.
07:04But I was only lying to myself.
07:05And today, when he knelt in front of all our friends, begging me to carve out my heart for
07:10Mia and abandon our six-month-old baby, I finally realized something this marriage was
07:14completely, utterly meaningless.
07:20Sarah, I know I was wrong.
07:22Please forgive me.
07:24Her voice carrying much more confidence than before.
07:28Someone chimed in to help her.
07:29Sarah, Mia didn't mean any harm.
07:31She never takes things seriously.
07:32Remember that time she got drunk and babbled about wanting to marry the professor?
07:35I didn't mean it like that.
07:36I just meant she speaks without a filter.
07:37Everyone knows you and Arthur have an unbreakable bond.
07:39There's no room for anyone else.
07:40I offered a quiet, hollow smile and looked directly at Mia.
07:44It's fine.
07:45I don't blame you.
07:47The crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.
07:50Then I delivered the final blow.
07:52Arthur and I are getting a divorce soon anyway.
07:54I wish you get everything you've ever wanted, Mia.
07:57Sarah!
07:58Stop talking nonsense in front of everyone.
08:01I found it laughable.
08:03You can kneel in front of a room full of people and beg me to give my heart to another
08:06woman,
08:07but I can't even mention divorce?
08:08It was an April Fool's joke.
08:10What is the big deal?
08:11Mia has already apologized and I've reprimanded her.
08:13If you keep making a scene, you're only going to embarrass yourself.
08:16Calm down, Sarah.
08:17You're pregnant.
08:17Don't let a little misunderstanding ruin your marriage.
08:19Yeah.
08:20Arthur clearly cares about you.
08:21We all saw it.
08:21He normally never yells at Mia.
08:22Hearing this, I slowly turned my gaze to Arthur.
08:25My voice was eerily calm.
08:27You weren't angry just now because she disrespected me.
08:29You were angry because she joked about being a match.
08:31When you heard the truth, you were just disappointed.
08:33Arthur stiffened.
08:34A moment later, profound irritation flashed across his face.
08:37For God's sake, I'm begging you.
08:38Can we not do this here?
08:39If you don't care about your dignity, Mia still cares about hers.
08:41A tidal wave of sheer exhaustion washed over me.
08:44I closed my eyes.
08:46Fine.
08:47I'll see you at the lawyer's office on Monday.
08:49I stood up to leave.
08:51Sarah, please don't blame the professor.
08:53He just wants me to have a healthy body.
08:55It's my fault.
08:56I looked down coldly at the girl crying crocodile tears.
08:59You went to all this trouble with this prank just to prove your place in his heart.
09:02You must be thrilled right now.
09:03Her face turned deathly pale as if she had been slapped.
09:06I looked away and walked past her.
09:08Sarah, don't forget.
09:10Your mother is still staying at my family's private hospital.
09:12My footsteps halted.
09:14Never in my wildest nightmares did I think the man I loved would use my sick mother as leverage
09:19to protect his mistress.
09:20After a long, agonizing silence, I forced a smile and helped Mia up from the floor.
09:29Everything I just said was a joke too.
09:32I don't blame you.
09:33Mia choked back a sob.
09:34That's good.
09:35I was so scared I caused trouble for the professor.
09:39The farce finally ended.
09:43Arthur offered to drive me home.
09:45On the way, he uncharacteristically tried to explain himself.
09:48I only said that to scare you.
09:49I would never do anything to your mother.
09:51You suffered a grievance today.
09:53As an apology, I'll go with you to your prenatal checkmate tomorrow.
09:55Sarah, we've been together for over a decade.
09:57It's not like I don't have feelings for you.
09:58I just wish you could learn to get along with Mia.
10:00I leaned against the cold car window, feeling absolutely nothing.
10:04I was serious about what I said today.
10:07Let's get a divorce, Arthur.
10:08From now on, whatever happens between you and her is none of my business.
10:12The car was silent for two seconds.
10:14Then he let out a low chuckle.
10:17This is the seventh time you've brought up divorce since you got pregnant.
10:20Next time you throw a tantrum, try a new trick.
10:23Just as he finished speaking, his phone rang frantically.
10:27He answered it and then slammed on the brakes.
10:34Get out, Mia's having an episode.
10:37I have to go back to her.
10:38I looked out the window at the torrential downpour.
10:41I paused for a second, then opened the door and stepped out into the storm.
10:45His rushed voice chased after me.
10:48Find somewhere to take cover.
10:50I'll come back and pick you up after I drop her at the hospital.
10:52Late at night in a thunderstorm, it was impossible to hail a cab.
10:56I stood shivering beneath the awning of a convenience store.
10:59But the person who eventually arrived wasn't Arthur.
11:02It was Mia holding an umbrella.
11:05She smiled sweetly at me, looking perfectly healthy.
11:08See, Sarah?
11:10With just one word from me, he will abandon you anytime, anywhere.
11:15I didn't want to engage with her.
11:16I turned to walk away.
11:18But she lunged forward, grabbed my arm in a vice grip.
11:24During the struggle, she shoved me hard.
11:27My foot slipped on the wet pavement, and I tumbled violently down the concrete steps.
11:31Blinding agony ripped through my abdomen.
11:33Hot blood mixed with the freezing rain dying.
11:36My dress a horrific crimson.
11:39Mia panicked for a split second, then sneered.
11:44Dropped the umbrella and ran back to the car waiting on the street.
11:50I woke up the next morning in a sterile hospital room.
11:58The doctor stood beside my bed, looking grimly at my chart.
12:01Mrs. Davis, I am so sorry.
12:03You suffered severe trauma.
12:04The baby couldn't be saved.
12:06For your own safety, we must perform an emergency DC procedure immediately.
12:10If we don't, your life is in danger.
12:12Furthermore, due to the damage, you will not be able to conceive again.
12:15If you understand, please sign here.
12:16I was born with a condition that made it incredibly difficult for me to get pregnant.
12:20When I was 23, I had a child.
12:23Back then, Arthur was just making a name for himself in the academic world.
12:26During his busiest period, I traveled with him to three different countries in a single week,
12:31managing his schedule until I collapsed from sheer exhaustion.
12:34I woke up in the hospital only to find out I had been a month pregnant,
12:37and the overwork had caused a miscarriage.
12:40That was the first time I ever saw Arthur cry.
12:43He held me tightly, sobbing apologies into my hair.
12:47I'm so sorry, Sarah.
12:48It's all my fault.
12:49I didn't take good care of you.
12:51We'll have another one.
12:52I promise you we will.
12:53It took six years.
12:54Six years of praying in churches and agonizing hospital visits before we finally conceived
12:59this baby.
13:00And now he wouldn't even get the chance to be born.
13:02In complete silence, I signed the consent forms.
13:05I didn't make a single call to Arthur.
13:07After the surgery, my body felt hollowed out.
13:10A nurse helped me back to the ward.
13:13As I walked down the hall, I bumped straight into Mia.
13:16She was wearing a fresh set of clothes, her cheeks rosy.
13:20She looked nothing like the wicked, vicious girl in the rain last night.
13:25Sarah, are you at the hospital alone?
13:28Why didn't the professor come with you?
13:30Then her lips curled into a malicious smirk, and she lowered her voice.
13:35Oh, I almost forgot.
13:36He's at the pharmacy getting me medicine for my upset stomach.
13:39You bled so much last night, you must have been terrified, right?
13:42But even if you told him what happened, he would just say it was an accident on my part.
13:46When I didn't react, she suddenly raised her voice, feigning remorse.
13:50I'm so sorry, Sarah.
13:52Did I make you mad again?
13:54Arthur, who had just rushed over with a pharmacy bag, heard her.
13:58He immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body, his brow deeply furrowed.
14:02Sarah, can't you just leave Mia alone?
14:05Her body's very weak right now.
14:10Ari stared at him with dead eyes, without a single word.
14:14I bypassed them and continued walking.
14:16Arthur watched my retreating back, his heart inexplicably skipping a beat.
14:21He stopped my nurse.
14:23Where is she going?
14:25Sir, I cannot disclose a patient's private medical information.
14:28The nurse replied politely.
14:30He wanted to press further, but Mia tugged his sleeve.
14:32Where else would she be going?
14:34A prenatal checkup, obviously.
14:36Come on, professor.
14:37You promised to take me to the movies today.
14:39Let's go.
14:40During my two days of hospitalization, I received 18 missed calls from Arthur.
14:45His texts grew increasingly irritated.
14:50I sent one single reply.
14:52Don't forget, tomorrow morning at the lawyer's office.
14:55He replied instantly.
14:56Are you seriously still playing this game?
14:58Fine.
14:58Just don't back out tomorrow and use some fake illness as an excuse.
15:03The next morning at nine, I stood waiting outside the lawyer's office.
15:10Half an hour later, Arthur finally arrived.
15:13He stepped out of his car, slowly, arrogantly adjusting his suit.
15:16But the moment his eyes landed on me, he froze.
15:19His gaze dropped, locking onto my completely flat stomach.
15:24Sarah, where is the baby?
15:26I followed his gaze, looking down at myself and gave a serene smile.
15:30The day before yesterday, while you were abandoning me in the freezing rain to go to Mia,
15:37I lost this child.
15:40His pupils dilated wildly.
15:41All the color drained from his face in an instant.
15:44What are you saying?
15:45Our baby is gone?
15:46He was in your womb for six months.
15:48He was already formed.
15:49What happened?
15:50Why didn't you tell me?
15:51I had no energy left to entertain his belated grief.
15:54Let's just sign the papers.
15:55I turned and walked toward the entrance.
15:58Sarah!
15:58He lunged forward, grabbing my wrist in a vice grip.
16:01Sarah!
16:03What are you hiding from me?
16:05He was my child, too!
16:07Looking at his pale, horrified face, I actually let out a laugh.
16:11Yes, he was your child.
16:13But where were you?
16:14You never accompanied me to a single checkup.
16:16When I had my first ultrasound, you weren't there.
16:18When I had the genetic scranning, you weren't there?
16:20When I was lying in a pool of my own blood in the pouring rain, crying for help,
16:24you still weren't there.
16:27How dare you call him your child?
16:30His breath hitched.
16:31His voice trembled violently.
16:33His eyes wide with disbelief.
16:35I went to get Mia that night.
16:37I was so busy with work.
16:41I shook my head.
16:42No, you weren't busy.
16:43You had time to take Mia to the movies, to get her nails done, to take her shopping.
16:48You had time to bring her to academic galas to expand her network.
16:52You just didn't have time for me.
16:54Or for your child.
16:56He was rendered utterly speechless.
16:59He opened his mouth, but no sound came out after an eternity.
17:03He finally forced a raspy whisper from his throat.
17:07But you still, you shouldn't have gone through that alone.
17:09You didn't even let me see him one last time.
17:11I closed my eyes, drowning in exhaustion.
17:16Arthur, don't forget.
17:18You were the first one to give up on him.
17:21When I was three months from my due date, you knelt in front of me and begged me to kill
17:24him.
17:25God simply granted your wish.
17:27The grip on my wrist instantly went slack.
17:32When I opened my eyes, the rims of his eyes were bloodshot.
17:36That was because of a joke.
17:37I didn't mean it.
17:38I was looking forward to this baby, too.
17:41I just bought a bunch of baby clothes yesterday.
17:44I hired a designer for the nursery.
17:46I've been reading the parents' books.
17:48He rasped, desperate to prove himself.
17:50Just last week, I would have given anything to hear those words.
17:54To know he cared.
17:55But right now, my heart felt absolutely nothing.
17:59It's too late.
18:01The baby is gone.
18:04He fell dead silent.
18:06It took a long time before he choked out.
18:09It's okay.
18:10We can always have...
18:12We have no future.
18:13I cut him off.
18:14It was spring in New York, but the wind still bit into my skin.
18:18He jolted as if waking from a nightmare.
18:21His expression slowly morphing back into a forced, desperate calm.
18:26Right.
18:27We're here to sign the divorce papers.
18:57The process was quicker than I imagined.
18:59The only sound was the stereo softly playing an old love song from a decade ago.
19:03It was the CD I had gifted him for his birthday the year we started dating.
19:07As soon as I walked through the door, I saw a pair of fluffy bunny slippers that didn't belong to
19:12me sitting in the entryway.
19:13Mia's lease expired.
19:15She's just staying in the guest room for a few days.
19:17Arthur instinctively explained.
19:19I had already looked away, but he kept explaining almost nervously.
19:24She doesn't get along with her roommate, so she couldn't go back to the dorms.
19:26I walked into the walk-in closet.
19:28I had only been gone for two days, but my clothes had been shoved into a dusty corner.
19:33Racks of pink dresses and skirts now dominated my space.
19:37Arthur frowned when he saw it.
19:38She brought a bit too much stuff.
19:41Please don't be mad.
19:43I didn't say a word.
19:45I just systematically folded my clothes and placed them into my suitcase.
19:49He stood in the doorway watching me in silence.
19:51Leaving the closet, I walked into the master bedroom.
19:54It looked exactly as I had left it.
19:56I meticulously gathered the last of my belongings.
19:59As I was about to walk out...
20:00You forgot this.
20:01Arthur suddenly held out a small velvet box.
20:03Inside was a silver cross necklace.
20:05After my first miscarriage, he had driven to a remote monastery and begged a priest to bless it for me.
20:10When I found out, I had laughed through my tears.
20:13I had teased.
20:14I thought you didn't believe in God.
20:16I don't.
20:17He had smiled, gently stroking my hair.
20:21But you do.
20:22From that day on, I never took it off.
20:25Looking at it now, I offered a faint smile.
20:27I don't want it anymore.
20:28Throw it away or keep it.
20:30It's up to you.
20:31His hand hovered frozen in the air for a second before he slowly, awkwardly withdrew it.
20:36I ignored him, dragging my suitcases into the living room.
20:40We had moved into this house when we were 24.
20:44Five years of memories were embedded in these walls.
20:47By the time I finished packing, the sun was setting.
20:51Do you...
20:51He asked softly.
20:52Want to get dinner together?
20:53I was slightly taken aback by the audacity, but politely declined.
20:57No, thank you.
20:58He pressed.
20:59Where are you going?
21:00Let me drive you.
21:01I don't need you to.
21:02I called a cab.
21:03His lips parted, but he swallowed whatever he was going to say.
21:06He lowered his head and silently wheeled my two suitcases to the front door.
21:12That was when Mia walked in.
21:14Seeing me, she beamed.
21:16Sarah!
21:17You finally came home!
21:18Arthur felt a sudden spike of anxiety.
21:20Go back to your room, Mia!
21:22Why?
21:23Professor, didn't you say yesterday that Sarah is pregnant and will definitely come crawling back?
21:28She blinked innocently.
21:30You told me to use the opportunity to bond with her.
21:33As the words left her mouth, she suddenly realized something.
21:36Her eyes dropped to my flat stomach.
21:38After a brief flash of panic, the tears began to fall on cue.
21:42She looked at Arthur with big, pitiful eyes.
21:44I'm so sorry, Professor.
21:46I didn't know Sarah hated me so much that she'd go this far.
21:50It's all my fault!
21:51I'll leave right now!
21:52I'll never appear in front of you two again!
21:54She sobbed so violently that her whole body shook,
21:57and within a minute she began gasping for air, clutching her chest.
22:01Arthur's resolve crumbled.
22:02He expertly fetched her pills and a glass of water,
22:05coaxing her to swallow them before gently patting her back.
22:08It's not your fault.
22:09Don't blame yourself.
22:10He murmured to her.
22:11Before I walked out the door, I glanced back one last time.
22:15Mia was leaning into Arthur's chest.
22:17From an angle he couldn't see, she looked right at me and smirked.
22:21I withdrew my gaze, completely dead inside, and walked out.
22:27The door shut.
22:28Arthur didn't look up.
22:29He just mechanically continued patting Mia's back.
22:32Professor, I'm so sorry.
22:35I really didn't expect Sarah to go as far as to kill the baby.
22:40How is the apartment hunting going?
22:42He interrupted her, his voice flat.
22:43I'm looking.
22:44I'll move out as soon as I can.
22:46She froze, tears pooling in her eyes.
22:48He nodded and finally pulled his hand away from her.
22:51Get some rest.
22:52I'm going for a walk.
22:54Mia grabbed his sleeve.
22:56Can I come with you?
22:59Please?
23:02Arthur rarely refused her requests,
23:04but this time he shook his head without a second of hesitation.
23:07He couldn't explain what he was feeling.
23:10His chest felt incredibly tight,
23:12and a suffocating need to flee the house had overwhelmed him.
23:15The truth was, when he went to the lawyer's office today,
23:18he had fully intended to bring Sarah home.
23:21He had specifically worn the dark charcoal suit she loved most
23:24and spent the morning grooming himself.
23:26Like he told her,
23:2711 years of marriage wasn't nothing.
23:29He had feelings for her,
23:30and he naturally assumed she still loved him too,
23:33especially since she was carrying his child.
23:36He knew exactly how desperately she wanted to be a mother.
23:39Because of that, he was willing to give her an out,
23:42a stepping stone to come back to him.
23:44But he never imagined that the child would be gone,
23:47and that he had been completely kept in the dark.
23:49Panic had set in.
23:50He hated himself for leaving her in the rain that night,
23:53so he interrogated her,
23:54demanding to know why she hadn't told him.
23:57But her answers all pointed to one terrifying conclusion.
24:00She was completely, utterly done with him.
24:02But how could that be?
24:03He thought frantically.
24:04She loved me so much.
24:06Arthur wandered aimlessly down the neighborhood streets
24:08they used to stroll together,
24:10torturing himself with that question.
24:12An old retired professor from the university
24:15happened to walk past.
24:17Arthur?
24:18Where's Sarah?
24:19You two used to take a walk together every single evening.
24:22An old retired professor from the university
24:25happened to walk past.
24:26Arthur's throat went dry.
24:28Sarah's sick.
24:29She's resting at home.
24:31The old man nodded,
24:32chuckling as he patted Arthur's shoulder.
24:35I have to say,
24:36I've never seen a couple more in love than you two.
24:39Do you remember your first year at Columbia?
24:42You brought Sarah into the lab to help out.
24:44That arrogant prick, Jason,
24:45made a nasty joke that she only got into the university
24:48by sleeping with you.
24:49You beat him black and blue.
24:50When the administration was threatening to expel you,
24:53Sarah went and begged Jason for mercy.
24:55She secured the settlement.
24:57Arthur stopped dead in his tracks.
25:00Sarah begged Jason?
25:02You didn't know?
25:04The old man looked surprised.
25:08The poor girl was so terrified,
25:10the expulsion would ruin your academic career.
25:12She practically got extorted.
25:14He forced her to pay $5,000.
25:16I heard she had to pawn the vintage diamond grandmother left her
25:19just to get the cash.
25:22The old professor waved goodbye and walked away,
25:25leaving Arthur standing frozen on the sidewalk
25:27for a very, very long time.
25:30He only knew Jason had mysteriously agreed to drop the charges.
25:34He never knew Sarah had swallowed her pride
25:37and begged the man who insulted her.
25:39No wonder the heirloom necklace she never took off had suddenly vanished.
25:43No wonder she kept smiling and telling him not to worry those few days.
25:48Arthur closed his eyes.
25:49A single tear slipped down his cheek.
25:51As dusk settled, he sat on a park bench,
25:54pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.
25:56He rarely smoked because Sarah hated the smell.
25:59He only ever smoked when he was at his absolute breaking point.
26:03His phone buzzed.
26:04It was Mia, her voice trembling and pitiful.
26:07Professor,
26:09the doctor said my condition has worsened.
26:11What if I don't survive long enough to get a heart?
26:14I'm so scared.
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