- 10 hours ago
Don's Regret Came Too Late
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Short filmTranscript
00:00My husband's late brother's widow posted a photo of a pregnancy report on Instagram.
00:04The caption read,
00:05Thank you for your sperm, for giving me the most precious gift.
00:08Under the father column on the report, printed in black and white, Dominic Valenti, my husband.
00:12I left a single question mark in the comments.
00:15Less than 40 seconds later, Dominic's call came through.
00:18Serena, what do you think you're doing?
00:19What exactly are you being snide about?
00:21Vivian has been a widow for three years.
00:23She wants a child for company. What's wrong with that?
00:26Lucien died for me. He took that bullet in my place.
00:29Taking care of the woman he left behind is the least I can do.
00:32It's a blood debt I owe, and you have no right to question it.
00:35The line went dead. I didn't even get a single word in.
00:38Twenty minutes later, Vivian's account updated again.
00:40This time, it was a series of photos of an apartment,
00:43floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline,
00:46and in the open-plan kitchen, the back of a man busy at the counter.
00:49I recognized the property. It was registered under the Valenti name.
00:52I recognized the man, too.
00:53I pressed the phone screen dark and sat in blackness for a long time.
00:57On the desk in front of me lay a pregnancy test report.
00:59Two days ago, I found out I was two months pregnant.
01:02I'd planned to tell him on our wedding anniversary.
01:04A surprise. Five years of marriage, and we'd never been able to conceive.
01:08I thought this child would be a new hope for us.
01:10Now, it seemed he no longer needed that kind of surprise.
01:13When dawn broke, I dialed the hospital.
01:16Hello. I'd like to schedule an abortion for today.
01:19That was when Dominic walked through the door.
01:21Serena, who are you on the phone with?
01:25He came in carrying a paper bag.
01:28Brought you clam chowder from that place you like.
01:30Drink it while it's hot.
01:31I opened the container inside the bag.
01:33The soup had already congealed.
01:34Lumpy grains and broth that looked like something regurgitated.
01:38He reached out to put his arm around my shoulder.
01:40I shifted away.
01:41Not hungry.
01:41Dominic frowned, but poured the soup into a bowl
01:44and set it in front of me anyway.
01:46The smell of it hit me, briny and sharp,
01:49and my stomach lurched.
01:50I bolted to the bathroom and hunched over the toilet, dry heaving.
01:54He followed and tried to rub my back and knocked his hand away.
01:58Don't touch me!
01:59Dominic's expression darkened.
02:01A flash of impatience crossed those deep brown eyes.
02:04What do you want from me?
02:06I'm already trying my best to manage your feelings, Serena.
02:09What more do you want?
02:10For me to get on my knees and apologize?
02:13Then what do you think I should do?
02:14Send her my congratulations?
02:16Tell her how happy I am she's carrying my husband's child?
02:19Lucien died for me.
02:20Taking care of Vivian is my responsibility, my obligation.
02:23Nothing happened between us.
02:25It was just a sperm donation.
02:26Can you stop making everything so soldered?
02:29Honestly, Serena, right now you look like nothing but a jealous, irrational shrew.
02:33I went still.
02:34In those early days after Lucien died,
02:36I was the one who took the initiative,
02:38bringing Dominic along to visit her.
02:40Whenever something broke in her apartment,
02:41the two of us went together to fix it.
02:43It was only later that things began to shift.
02:45At some point, I couldn't pinpoint exactly when Dominic started going alone to buy her groceries.
02:50Alone to assemble her new furniture.
02:51He'd get a call from her in the middle of the night,
02:54throw on his coat, and walk out the door.
02:56Every time I confronted him, he'd say the same thing.
02:58She's Lucien's widow.
02:59Then he'd shake me off and leave.
03:01But I never imagined he'd go so far as to give her a child.
03:03Take a good look at yourself.
03:04He flung the words at me and slammed the door behind him.
03:08Again.
03:11Soon enough, Vivienne's social media updated once more.
03:13In the photo, Dominic's hand rested on her gently swelling belly,
03:17the light warm and intimate.
03:18The caption,
03:19Baby's daddy came to be with us.
03:21He said,
03:21This is where home really feels warm.
03:23I laughed, laughed until the tears came.
03:27At three in the afternoon, I arrived at the hospital.
03:30After paying for the procedure,
03:32I sat in the general waiting area for my number to be called.
03:34At the far end of the corridor,
03:36the VIP wing had been entirely cleared out.
03:39Several bodyguards in black suits stood at attention on either side.
03:42I recognized the Valenti crest on their tie pins.
03:45The door to the VIP consultation room opened,
03:47and Dominic walked out with one hand firmly on Vivienne's waist.
03:50She wore a cream-colored loose dress and leaned into his arms,
03:54her face a portrait of bliss and devotion.
03:56They sat down in the lounge area,
03:57heads close together as they talked.
03:59I turned, intending to slip away in the other direction,
04:01but Dominic had already looked up and spotted me.
04:04Serena?
04:04His brow furrowed, his gaze cold and heavy.
04:07Are you following me?
04:08I kept my voice as flat as I could.
04:10I'm just here to see a doctor.
04:12For what?
04:13Dominic, don't give Serena a hard time.
04:15Maybe it's just a routine checkup?
04:16Let me go talk to her.
04:18I don't want you two fighting because of me.
04:19You're pregnant.
04:20Sit still.
04:21The doctor said you need to rest during the first trimester.
04:23Don't move around.
04:24I'll handle this.
04:25I turned to leave again.
04:26Dominic stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.
04:28The yank sent me stumbling backward.
04:30I nearly fell.
04:30I'm still talking to you, Serena.
04:32What are you doing at the hospital?
04:35And I already answered.
04:36I'm here to see a doctor.
04:38I'm not so idle that I'd waste my time stalking the two of you.
04:41Dominic frowned, seeming about to snatch the receipt from my hand to check for himself.
04:45Serena, I know you're angry.
04:47But after Lucy was gone, I was all alone in that house, so lonely.
04:51I just wanted a little life of my own to keep me company.
04:54I never meant to hurt you and Dom.
04:56I calmly withdrew my hand.
04:57The next second, Vivian let out a cry, her body pitching sharply backward.
05:02Dominic shoved me aside and caught her in his arms.
05:05Are you okay?
05:05Does anything hurt?
05:06I'm fine.
05:08My legs just went weak.
05:10Dom, don't blame Serena.
05:11She didn't mean to.
05:12Are you really that vicious, Serena?
05:15I didn't touch her.
05:16I saw it with my own eyes.
05:18If anything happens to her or the baby, I will never forgive you.
05:22Dominic, he paused mid-motion as he was soothing Vivian.
05:26What if I told you I'm pregnant and I came here today for an abortion?
05:31At that moment, Vivian tilted her face up close to his, her lips grazing the shell of his ear.
05:37Serena, don't try to manipulate me with tricks like that.
05:39No matter what, I'm not leaving Viviana.
05:43Serena Valente, are you here?
05:45Are you still going through with the procedure?
05:48I don't know how long I stood there.
05:50Not until the nurse called my name from the doorway.
05:52Yes.
05:53I want this pregnancy terminated.
05:55Before long, I was wheeled into the operating room.
05:57The blinding surgical light directly overhead.
05:59Then, darkness.
06:01That evening, when I returned to the townhouse, the place was pitch black.
06:04No calls.
06:05No texts.
06:06Nothing.
06:06But when I opened my phone, there he was again on Vivian's feed.
06:09A set of maternity photos.
06:11Dominic in a white dress shirt, wearing a pink cartoon headband for the shoot.
06:14Their hands layered together on her gently rounded belly, gazing tenderly at each other.
06:18I liked the post.
06:19For an entire week after that, Dominic didn't come home.
06:22I took the antibiotics alone, pressed a hot water bottle to my abdomen alone, and reviewed
06:26the terms of the divorce agreement alone.
06:28The day the faxed divorce papers arrived, Dominic called.
06:33Dinner at the family estate tonight.
06:35Fine.
06:36When I pushed open the dining room doors, I saw that the chair beside the head of the
06:39table, the one that had always been mine, was occupied by someone else.
06:42Vivian, Dominic's mother, Helena, was smiling warmly and holding her hand.
06:46Oh, Serena.
06:47You're here.
06:48Serena.
06:48After Helena found out I was pregnant, she insisted I move into the estate for my prenatal
06:52care.
06:52She said it would be easier to look after me here.
06:55Please don't overthink.
06:56That's enough, Viviana.
06:57Serena, you and Dominic have been married five years without producing a child.
06:59The baby in Vivian's stomach is the sole velalty heir.
07:02It's only natural she lives here.
07:03As for you, starting tomorrow, you'll move in and learn from the housekeeper how to take
07:06proper care of a pregnant woman.
07:07If Vivian is satisfied with you in any way, I'll have Dominic divorce you.
07:11Instantly, every servant in the dining room wore a smirk.
07:13They were all waiting for me to become the jealous shrew, waiting for me to lose my mind,
07:17to scream, to beg.
07:19Instead, I laughed.
07:20Well, that works out perfectly.
07:21Helena's brow furrowed.
07:23What's that supposed to mean?
07:24Helena, I came here tonight for one reason.
07:27To divorce Dominic.
07:30The dining room went silent for a few seconds.
07:33You, Serena, don't forget where you came from.
07:36The fact that you're even sitting at this table is a privilege the Velocci family granted
07:40you.
07:40Then it's settled.
07:41I don't want your privilege anymore.
07:43And was about to pull the divorce agreement from my bag.
07:46And Vivian dropped to her knees without warning.
07:48Serena, I'm begging you, don't do this to my baby.
07:51The child is innocent.
07:53This is all my fault.
07:55You can't just live a life.
07:57Stop.
07:59Serena, you're actually trying to force her to abort the baby?
08:02I'm not.
08:05Next instant, before I could finish, he charged across the room and drove his shoe into my
08:10lower abdomen.
08:11The force was savage.
08:12No restraint.
08:12You vicious bitch!
08:14Haven't I taught you enough of a lesson already?
08:16My vision was blurring, but I braced myself and dragged my body upright, inch by inch.
08:21Then, with the last of my strength, I pulled the divorce agreement from my bag and hurled
08:25it in his face.
08:25My voice sounded far away and hollow.
08:27Dominic Valenstie, we're done.
08:29The rage on his face froze.
08:32Then I turned and walked toward the door.
08:33One step.
08:34Two steps.
08:35My vision collapsed into blackness.
08:37My knees buckled and I went down.
08:39Something warm surged from inside me, soaking through my skirt.
08:42Her legs.
08:43There's blood everywhere.
08:45John kicked her in the stomach.
08:46Is she, is she mismarrying?
08:48Call an ambulance.
08:50Hurry, she's passed out.
08:51Serena.
08:53Serena.
08:53Serena, look at me.
08:54Don't close your eyes.
08:55Look at me.
08:56I tried to open my mouth and say something, but nothing came out.
08:59The blood pooled beneath me, spreading, and the darkness swallowed me whole.
09:04When I opened my eyes again, I saw a white ceiling, an IV line, and a tear-streaked face
09:10at my bedside.
09:11Mom was sitting there, gripping my hand tightly, tears falling harder, but forced a smile.
09:17Sweetheart, you're awake.
09:19How do you feel?
09:20Tell mama where it hurts.
09:23Mom.
09:24Mom's here.
09:26Mom, he's right here.
09:28Cry it out, baby.
09:29Just let it all out.
09:31I cried for a long time, until my throat gave out, until my eyes were swollen and raw.
09:37Dad came in after I'd mostly calmed down.
09:39He looked at my pale face, and for just a flicker, his eyes went red.
09:42You've suffered, sweetheart.
09:45I should never have let you marry into that family.
09:50Back then, Dominic had dimples when he smiled.
09:53He liked eating hot dogs with way too much mustard at late-night street stalls.
09:57He'd get misty-eyed over the ending of an old movie.
10:02The first time Dad met him, he said,
10:04I don't trust anyone in the mob.
10:08Dominic stood on our front porch, in the rain, for three days.
10:11On the morning of the third day, Dominic collapsed on the steps, and Dad finally opened the door.
10:17That evening in the living room, still running a fever.
10:20I will spend the rest of my life being good to her.
10:23Dad was silent for a long time.
10:30But three years later, Dominic knelt in a pool of blood, clutching his brother's body,
10:35and never smiled like that again.
10:38Mom touched my face and frowned slightly.
10:41Dominic is outside.
10:42Let me see her.
10:46Let me see her.
10:48Please.
10:50Just let me see her.
10:51I closed my eyes briefly.
10:53Let him in.
10:56Serena.
10:56Let him in, Mom.
10:58You two wait outside. I need to talk to him alone.
11:01My parents exchanged a look,
11:03then reluctantly rose and left the room.
11:07The door opened.
11:09Dominic stood there.
11:10His complexion was gray.
11:11His jaw locked.
11:12His eyes threaded with red.
11:13He walked to the bedside.
11:15Serena.
11:15I didn't know you were pregnant.
11:17I didn't know you'd miscarried it that day.
11:19I just thought you were trying to force Vivian to-
11:21I've already signed the divorce papers. Sign them.
11:25No!
11:29Serena.
11:29I won't sign.
11:31I love you.
11:34You say you just didn't know I was pregnant. Fine.
11:37Then let me ask you something.
11:40You'd get a call from her in the dead of night
11:42and walk out the door sometimes at two or three in the morning
11:45and you called that taking care of her. Right?
11:47You bought her an apartment.
11:48A Velati property titled in her name.
11:51And you called that making arrangements.
11:53Right?
11:55You gave her a child
11:57and you called that helping her fulfill a wish.
12:00Right?
12:01Then let me tell you
12:03if a man has no feelings for a woman
12:05he doesn't leave his house at 3 a.m.
12:07because she called.
12:09He doesn't buy her a home
12:11and put her name on the deed.
12:13And she certainly doesn't let her carry his child.
12:16Dominic, you can lie to me.
12:18You can lie to yourself
12:18but you can't lie to the facts.
12:22Everything you did for Vivian tells me
12:24and tells everyone that you love her.
12:28You're the Dawn.
12:29You control everything.
12:30But you don't get to control whether I stay or go.
12:33That's not...
12:35Serena.
12:36I was just...
12:37I only...
12:39Sign the papers, Dominic.
12:41There's nothing left to say.
12:43His head snapped up
12:45and in his eyes
12:46I saw a kind of panic
12:47I'd never seen before.
12:51Serena?
12:52Dad.
12:53Mom.
12:54You've said what you came to say.
12:56Now get out!
12:57No.
12:58Serena, give me one more chance.
13:01Get out!
13:03You're not welcome here.
13:05Dominic didn't move.
13:06He stared at me, unblinking.
13:08Dominic was finally pushed out of the room.
13:13I looked away,
13:14blocked him on every platform and phone number
13:16and sent Helena a single message.
13:18Please, have your son sign the papers.
13:21It'll free up a spot for the woman he actually wants to protect.
13:27A few days later,
13:28when I went downstairs for a walk,
13:29I found Dominic outside the building entrance.
13:31He was leaning against a black sedan.
13:33No bodyguards.
13:34No driver.
13:35The moment he saw me come out,
13:36he straightened and took a few steps in my direction.
13:45Serena.
13:47His voice was wrecked.
13:49How are you feeling?
13:51Any better?
13:53I was carrying a bag of fruit.
13:54My tone was distant.
13:56Much better.
13:57If there's nothing else, I'm heading back up.
14:00He reached out to stop me.
14:01Carefully.
14:02Tentatively.
14:03Same design Dominic and I had created together for our wedding band.
14:06No matter what happens, I'll never take it off.
14:08But I also hadn't forgotten what he'd said to me later.
14:11Viv gets upset when she sees my wedding ring.
14:13It reminds her of Lucien.
14:15Why can't you be more considerate of other people's feelings?
14:18I glanced instinctively at my own left ring finger.
14:21Pushed the box back toward him.
14:23The rings are new.
14:25But what's broken can't be fixed.
14:29After a few seconds of silence, he erupted.
14:32Serena, why can't you cut me off some slack just once?
14:35You're the one who didn't tell me about the pregnancy.
14:37If you had just said something, I never would have walked away at the hospital that day.
14:40I've explained the situation with Vivian.
14:41I don't love her.
14:42I was only looking after her for Lucien, helping her fulfill a wish.
14:45Why can't you understand that?
14:47At the hospital that day, your exact words were,
14:52no matter what, you would not leave her.
14:55And the anger froze on his face.
14:57If you won't sign the papers, then stop coming to find me.
15:01No.
15:02I don't want to see you again.
15:04I turned and walked straight back through the building entrance.
15:06Serena?
15:09But that night, I received a text from Vivian.
15:13Tomorrow, the cafe.
15:15I have something to say.
15:18There you are.
15:22Serena, since things have come this far, I'm not going to beat around the brush.
15:26Dominic loves me.
15:28Just sign the divorce papers and stop holding us up.
15:31I think you have it backwards.
15:33The one who won't agree to the divorce is Dominic.
15:36Not me.
15:37That's impossible.
15:38I'm carrying his child.
15:40Why would he not want me?
15:41You must be the one clinging to him, refusing to let go.
15:44I didn't respond.
15:45The silence seemed to infuriate her.
15:47I bet you don't know yet.
15:48This baby wasn't conceived the way Dominic told you.
15:51No providing a sample.
15:53No artificial insemination.
15:56Dominic and I slept together.
15:58More than once.
15:59The air went still for a beat.
16:02Is that so?
16:09Dominic and I slept together.
16:11More than once.
16:12The air went still for a beat.
16:14Is that so?
16:17Is that so?
16:21I stood.
16:23I picked up the still, half-full Americano and threw it squarely in her face.
16:29You're insane!
16:30Viviana, you should be grateful you're pregnant right now.
16:35I grabbed my bag and walked out.
16:38After leaving the cafe, I went straight to the law office and handed the voice recorder
16:44I'd been carrying to my attorney.
16:49Three days later, at the hearing, the old men poured over the evidence.
16:54Finally, one of them struck the gavel.
16:57Some fell, some gave thin, knowing smiles.
17:00By ruling of the family joint council, the infidelity is substantiated.
17:03The marriage of Dominic Veloto and Serena Veloto shall be automatically dissolved in one month.
17:08Dominic's shoulders collapsed.
17:11And walking out through the council hall doors, Dominic was standing at the bottom of the steps.
17:16Serena.
17:19Do you hate me that much?
17:21You really won't leave any room at all.
17:23I took out my phone, pulled up the recording, and pressed play.
17:26Vivian's voice poured for me.
17:27Dominic and I slept together.
17:29More than once.
17:30I can explain.
17:31That day, I helped her move some things back to her place, and she said she wanted to cook dinner
17:34to thank me.
17:35We had some wine, and then, and I don't know how it just...
17:37Dominic.
17:39Lucien took a bullet for you, and you turned around and took care of his wife all the way into
17:43her bed.
17:45If he could crawl out of that grave, the first person he'd put down is you.
17:51Serena, but I only love you!
17:53It was only that one time with her!
17:55I don't need love that cheap.
17:58Perhaps out of guilt, Dominic transferred a substantial sum into my account during the divorce proceedings.
18:04I accepted every cent.
18:06It was enough to live comfortably for a long time.
18:10So I bought a one-way ticket to Barcelona, and set off traveling alone.
18:20From Las Ramblas to the Charles Bridge in Prague.
18:27From the black sand beaches of Iceland, to a stargazing camp in New Zealand.
18:32At every stop, I mailed my parents a postcard, and logged my experiences on a blog.
18:38When I came home after a long stretch of travel, Mom eagerly filled me in over dinner on the aftermath
18:43of Dominic and Vivienne.
18:44Do you know what happened to Dominic and Vivianian later?
18:49After our divorce, Vivienne, belly and all, staged a coup.
18:52Dominic refused to marry her.
18:54He said he'd only ever looked after her out of guilt toward Lucien.
18:56That there had never been any real feeling.
18:58Vivienne dropped every pretense and weaponized the baby.
19:01Marry her, or she'd get an abortion.
19:03Helena, desperate for an heir, couldn't stomach that kind of threat.
19:06She strong-armed Dominic into a wedding.
19:08But married life was nothing like what Vivienne had envisioned.
19:11Dominic was glacially cold to her.
19:13He never came back to the estate.
19:15Never ate dinner with her.
19:16Wouldn't even sit at the same table.
19:17He shut himself in his downtown apartment to work.
19:19The way he used to shut me out.
19:20No, worse than he'd ever been with me.
19:22Vivienne had no sense of security.
19:24She probably understood better than anyone how she'd clawed her way to the top.
19:28And that made her all the more paranoid.
19:29When Dominic didn't come home, she'd hunt him down at the office.
19:33Making scenes in the lobby, demanding he come back with her.
19:37She started crashing business functions.
19:39There was one occasion when Dominic was at a critical juncture in a joint deal with several other families.
19:44And Vivienne somehow got hold of the restaurant address.
19:47She burst into the private dining room.
19:50And demanded to know why he hadn't answered his phone.
19:56Every person at that table was a power player from one of the branch families.
20:00For the Don's wife to throw a tantrum in that setting, loss of face doesn't begin to cover it.
20:05The deal nearly fell apart.
20:06Afterward, the straw that finally broke everything came a month later.
20:10Dominic was out at an evening function and hadn't come home.
20:13Vivienne tracked him to the venue.
20:14She spotted a young woman seated beside Dominic, pouring his wine.
20:18Nothing more than a liaison from the other party's PR team.
20:21She stormed over and slapped the woman across the face.
20:24The kind of people who circulate in those rooms are not the kind you provoke.
20:27The woman hit back immediately.
20:29In the scuffle, Vivienne's belly struck the edge of a table.
20:32The child was rushed to the ICU, put on a ventilator.
20:35A tiny life bristling with tubes.
20:37Fighting inside an incubator for nearly three weeks.
20:39In the end, the baby didn't make it.
20:42With the child gone, Dominic initiated the joint council's arbitration that very same day.
20:48On the grounds that Vivienne had gravely damaged the family's reputation and commercial interests.
20:53The marriage was forcibly dissolved.
20:55Vivienne must have known it was over.
20:57She took a severance payout and vanished from the city.
21:00Helena was now back to working every connection she had, scouting for a new daughter-in-law.
21:05But the Valenti Circus of the past two years had already made the rounds through every drawing room in their
21:10circle.
21:13Serves him right.
21:14If he'd treated you the way he should have, would any of this have happened?
21:18I smiled, but offered no comment.
21:19They had nothing to do with me anymore.
21:21I went back to packing my bags.
21:23The ticket for my next trip was already booked.
21:27Go on, then.
21:29Send me lots of pretty photos.
21:32I zipped my backpack shut, stood up, and flashed her an OK sign.
21:37Don't worry.
21:38I thought my life was finally about to settle into real peace and quiet.
21:43What I didn't expect was to run into Dominic one more time before I left.
21:47When he appeared, I flinched.
21:49His face was ashen, his hair a mess.
21:52Nothing like the commanding dawn he'd once been.
21:55Serena, Vivienne, and I are divorced.
21:57The baby's gone too.
21:58And?
21:59It was the baby that bothered you, wasn't it?
22:01The baby's gone now.
22:02We can start over.
22:05Dominic, there is no starting over.
22:08We're done.
22:10No.
22:12Serena, you loved me so much once.
22:14I know it was all because of Viviana and the baby that you left me.
22:17There's nothing standing between us anymore.
22:19Give me one more chance.
22:21I'll love you right this time.
22:23Better than before.
22:24He grabbed my hand, practically begging.
22:27But Dominic, I don't love you anymore.
22:30It's over.
22:31Move forward.
22:34He shook his head, unable to believe what he was hearing.
22:37In the end, he walked away with red-rimmed eyes.
22:40Serena doesn't love me anymore.
22:42It doesn't love me.
22:42So utterly wrecked, he almost looked pitiable.
22:45I watched his unsteady figure retreat into the distance.
22:48The once untouchable godfather.
22:50Reduced to this.
22:51When I boarded the flight to Copenhagen,
22:54I slid open the window shade.
22:56Outside, the morning sky was on fire with dawn.
22:59Blazing.
23:00Breathtaking.
23:01I was moving forward, and I wouldn't look back.
23:04I was moving forward, and I wouldn't look back.