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Don's Regret Came Too Late : New 🔝
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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.
00:09Under the father column on the report, printed in black and white, Dominic Valenti, my husband.
00:14I left a single question mark in the comments.
00:16Less than 40 seconds later, Dominic's call came through.
00:20Serena, what do you think you're doing?
00:22What exactly are you being snide about?
00:24Vivian has been a widow for three years.
00:26She wants a child for company. What's wrong with that?
00:29Lucian died for me. He took that bullet in my place.
00:32Taking care of the woman he left behind is the least I can do.
00:36It's a blood debt I owe, and you have no right to question it.
00:39The line went dead. I didn't even get a single word in.
00:42Twenty minutes later, Vivian's account updated again.
00:45This time, it was a series of photos of an apartment,
00:48floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline,
00:51and in the open-plan kitchen, the back of a man busy at the counter.
00:54I recognized the property. It was registered under the Valenti name.
00:58I recognized the man, too.
00:59I pressed the phone screen dark and sat in blackness for a long time.
01:03On the desk in front of me lay a pregnancy test report.
01:06Two days ago, I found out I was two months pregnant.
01:09I'd planned to tell him on our wedding anniversary.
01:12A surprise. Five years of marriage, and we'd never been able to conceive.
01:15I thought this child would be a new hope for us.
01:18Now, it seemed he no longer needed that kind of surprise.
01:21When dawn broke, I dialed the hospital.
01:24Hello, I'd like to schedule an abortion for today.
01:27That was when Dominic walked through the door.
01:30Serena, who are you on the phone with?
01:35He came in carrying a paper bag.
01:37Brought you clam chowder from that place you like. Drink it while it's hot.
01:41I opened the container inside the bag.
01:43The soup had already congealed.
01:45Lumpy grains and broth that looked like something regurgitated.
01:48He reached out to put his arm around my shoulder.
01:51I shifted away.
01:52Not hungry.
01:53Dominic frowned but poured the soup into a bowl and set it in front of me anyway.
01:58The smell of it hit me, briny and sharp, and my stomach lurched.
02:02I bolted to the bathroom and hunched over the toilet, dry heaving.
02:07He followed and tried to rub my back and knocked his hand away.
02:11Don't touch me!
02:12Dominic's expression darkened.
02:14A flash of impatience crossed those deep brown eyes.
02:17What do you want from me?
02:19I'm already trying my best to manage your feelings, Serena.
02:23What more do you want?
02:25For me to get on my knees and apologize?
02:27Then what do you think I should do?
02:29Send her my congratulations?
02:31Tell her how happy I am she's carrying my husband's child?
02:34Lucien died for me.
02:36Taking care of Vivian is my responsibility, my obligation.
02:39Nothing happened between us.
02:41It was just a sperm donation.
02:43Can you stop making everything so soldered?
02:45Honestly, Serena, right now you look like nothing but a jealous, irrational shrew.
02:50I went still.
02:51In those early days after Lucien died, I was the one who took the initiative, bringing Dominic
02:56along to visit her.
02:57Whenever something broke in her apartment, the two of us went together to fix it.
03:01It was only later that things began to shift.
03:04At some point, I couldn't pinpoint exactly when Dominic started going alone to buy her groceries.
03:09Alone to assemble her new furniture.
03:10He'd get a call from her in the middle of the night, throw on his coat, and walk out
03:14the door.
03:15Every time I confronted him, he'd say the same thing.
03:18She's Lucien's widow.
03:19Then he'd shake me off and leave.
03:21But I never imagined he'd go so far as to give her a child.
03:24Take a good look at yourself.
03:25He flung the words at me and slammed the door behind him.
03:28Again.
03:32Soon enough, Vivian's social media updated once more.
03:35In the photo, Dominic's hand rested on her gently swelling belly, the light warm and
03:40intimate.
03:40The caption, Baby's daddy came to be with us.
03:43He said, this is where home really feels warm.
03:45I laughed, laughed until the tears came.
03:50At three in the afternoon, I arrived at the hospital.
03:54After paying for the procedure, I sat in the general waiting area for my number to be called.
03:58At the far end of the corridor, the VIP wing had been entirely cleared out.
04:03Several bodyguards in black suits stood at attention on either side.
04:07I recognized the Valenti crest on their tie pins.
04:10The door to the VIP consultation room opened, and Dominic walked out with one hand firmly
04:15on Vivian's waist.
04:16She wore a cream-colored loose dress and leaned into his arms, her face a portrait of bliss
04:21and devotion.
04:22They sat down in the lounge area, heads close together as they talked.
04:25I turned, intending to slip away in the other direction, but Dominic had already looked
04:29up and spotted me.
04:31Serena?
04:31His brow furrowed, his gaze cold and heavy.
04:34Are you following me?
04:35I kept my voice as flat as I could.
04:37I'm just here to see a doctor.
04:40For what?
04:41Dominic, don't give Serena a hard time.
04:43Maybe it's just a routine checkup?
04:45Let me go talk to her.
04:46I don't want you two fighting because of me.
04:48You're pregnant.
04:49Sit still.
04:50The doctor said you need to rest during the first trimester.
04:53Don't move around.
04:54I'll handle this.
04:54I turned to leave again.
04:56Dominic stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.
04:58The yank sent me stumbling backward.
05:00I nearly fell.
05:00I'm still talking to you, Serena.
05:02What are you doing at the hospital?
05:05And I already answered.
05:07I'm here to see a doctor.
05:09I'm not so idle that I'd waste my time stalking the two of you.
05:12Dominic frowned, seeming about to snatch the receipt from my hand to check for himself.
05:16Serena, I know you're angry.
05:19But after Lucy was gone, I was all alone in that house, so lonely.
05:24I just wanted a little life of my own to keep me company.
05:27I never meant to hurt you and Dom.
05:28I calmly withdrew my hand.
05:30The next second, Vivian let out a cry, her body pitching sharply backward.
05:36Dominic shoved me aside and caught her in his arms.
05:38Are you okay?
05:39Does anything hurt?
05:40I'm fine.
05:42My legs just went weak.
05:44Dom, don't blame Serena.
05:46She didn't mean to.
05:47Are you really that vicious, Serena?
05:50I didn't touch her.
05:51I saw it with my own eyes.
05:54If anything happens to her or the baby, I will never forgive you.
05:58Dominic, he paused mid-motion as he was soothing Vivian.
06:02What if I told you I'm pregnant and I came here today for an abortion?
06:07At that moment, Vivian tilted her face up close to his, her lips grazing the shell of his ear.
06:14Serena, don't try to manipulate me with tricks like that.
06:17No matter what, I'm not leaving Viviana.
06:21Serena Valente, are you here?
06:24Are you still going through with the procedure?
06:26I don't know how long I stood there.
06:28Not until the nurse called my name from the doorway.
06:31Yes, I want this pregnancy terminated.
06:34Before long, I was wheeled into the operating room.
06:37The blinding surgical light directly overhead.
06:39Then, darkness.
06:41That evening, when I returned to the townhouse, the place was pitch black.
06:44No calls, no texts, nothing.
06:47But when I opened my phone, there he was again on Vivian's feed.
06:50A set of maternity photos.
06:52Dominic in a white dress shirt, wearing a pink cartoon headband for the shoot.
06:55Their hands layered together on her gently rounded belly, gazing tenderly at each other.
07:00I liked the post.
07:01For an entire week after that, Dominic didn't come home.
07:04I took the antibiotics alone, pressed a hot water bottle to my abdomen alone,
07:08and reviewed the terms of the divorce agreement alone.
07:11The day the faxed divorce papers arrived, Dominic called.
07:16Dinner at the family estate tonight.
07:19Fine.
07:20When I pushed open the dining room doors, I saw that the chair beside the head of the table,
07:24the one that had always been mine, was occupied by someone else.
07:27Vivian, Dominic's mother, Helena, was smiling warmly and holding her hand.
07:31Oh, Serena, you're here.
07:33Serena, after Helena found out I was pregnant, she insisted I move into the estate for my prenatal care.
07:38She said it would be easier to look after me here.
07:41Please don't overthink.
07:42That's enough, Viviana.
07:43Serena, you and Dominic have been married five years without producing a child.
07:46The baby in Vivian's stomach is the sole velouty heir.
07:48It's only natural she lives here.
07:50As for you, starting tomorrow, you'll move in and learn from the housekeeper how to take proper care of a
07:54pregnant woman.
07:54If Vivian is satisfied with you in any way, I'll have Dominic divorce you.
07:58Instantly, every servant in the dining room wore a smirk.
08:01They were all waiting for me to become the jealous shrew.
08:04Waiting for me to lose my mind, to scream, to beg.
08:07Instead, I laughed.
08:09Well, that works out perfectly.
08:10Helena's brow furrowed.
08:12What's that supposed to mean?
08:14Helena, I came here tonight for one reason.
08:17To divorce Dominic.
08:20The dining room went silent for a few seconds.
08:23You, Serena, don't forget where you came from.
08:26The fact that you're even sitting at this table is a privilege the Velocci family granted you.
08:31Then it settled.
08:32I don't want your privilege anymore.
08:35And was about to pull the divorce agreement from my bag.
08:37And Vivian dropped to her knees without warning.
08:39Serena, I'm begging you, don't do this to my baby.
08:44The child is innocent.
08:45This is all my fault.
08:47You can't just live on life.
08:50Stop.
08:52Serena, you're actually trying to force her to abort the baby?
08:55I'm not.
08:59Next instant, before I could finish, he charged across the room and drove his shoe into my lower abdomen.
09:05The force was savage.
09:06No restraint.
09:07You vicious bitch.
09:09Haven't I taught you enough of a lesson already?
09:11My vision was blurring, but I braced myself and dragged my body upright to inch by inch.
09:16Then, with the last of my strength, I pulled the divorce agreement from my bag and hurled it in his
09:21face.
09:21My voice sounded far away and hollow.
09:23Dominic Valenstie, we're done.
09:26The rage on his face froze.
09:28Then I turned and walked toward the door.
09:30One step.
09:31Two steps.
09:32My vision collapsed into blackness.
09:34My knees buckled and I went down.
09:36Something warm surged from inside me, soaking through my skirt.
09:39Oh my god!
09:40Her legs!
09:41There's blood everywhere!
09:43John kicked her in the stomach!
09:45Is she...
09:45Is she mismarrying?
09:46Call an ambulance!
09:49Hurry!
09:49She's passed out!
09:50Serena!
09:52Serena!
09:52Serena, look at me!
09:53Don't close your eyes!
09:54Look at me!
09:55I tried to open my mouth and say something, but nothing came out.
09:58The blood pooled beneath me, spreading, and the darkness swallowed me whole.
10:04The dining room went silent for a few seconds.
10:07You, Serena, don't forget where you came from.
10:10The fact that you're even sitting at this table is a privilege the Velocci family granted you.
10:15Then it settled.
10:17I don't want your privilege anymore.
10:19And was about to pull the divorce agreement from my bag.
10:21And Vivian dropped to her knees without warning.
10:24Serena, I'm begging you, don't do this to my baby!
10:28The child is innocent!
10:30This is all my fault!
10:31You can't just live a life!
10:34Stop!
10:36Serena, you're actually trying to force her to abort the baby?
10:39I'm not!
10:43The next instant, before I could finish,
10:45he charged across the room and drove his shoe into my lower abdomen.
10:49The force was savage.
10:51No restraint.
10:51You vicious bitch!
10:53Haven't I taught you enough of a lesson already?
10:56My vision was blurring, but I braced myself and dragged my body upright inch by inch.
11:01Then, with the last of my strength,
11:02I pulled the divorce agreement from my bag and hurled it in his face.
11:05My voice sounded far away and hollow.
11:08Dominic Valenstie, we're done.
11:10The rage on his face froze.
11:12Then I turned and walked toward the door.
11:14One step, two steps.
11:17My vision collapsed into blackness.
11:19My knees buckled and I went down.
11:21Something warm surged from inside me, soaking through my skirt.
11:24Oh my god!
11:24Her legs!
11:26There's blood everywhere!
11:28Don kicked her in the stomach!
11:29Is she, is she mismarrying?
11:31Call an ambulance!
11:32Hurry!
11:33Hurry, she's passed out!
11:34Serena!
11:36Serena!
11:37Serena, look at me!
11:38Don't close your eyes!
11:39Look at me!
11:40I tried to open my mouth and say something, but nothing came out.
11:42The blood pooled beneath me, spreading.
11:45And the darkness swallowed me whole.
11:48When I opened my eyes again, I saw a white ceiling, an IV line, and a tear-streaked face
11:55at my bedside.
11:56Mom was sitting there, gripping my hand tightly, tears falling harder, but forced a smile.
12:03Sweetheart, you're awake.
12:05How do you feel?
12:06Tell mama where it hurts.
12:10Mom.
12:11Mom's here.
12:13Mommy's right here.
12:15Cry it out, baby.
12:16Just let it all out.
12:19I cried for a long time.
12:21Until my throat gave out.
12:22Until my eyes were swollen and raw.
12:25Dad came in after I'd mostly calmed down.
12:27He looked at my pale face.
12:29And for just a flicker, his eyes went red.
12:31You've suffered, sweetheart.
12:34I should never have let you marry into that family.
12:40Back then, Dominic had dimples when he smiled.
12:43He liked eating hot dogs with way too much mustard at late-night street stalls.
12:48He'd get misty-eyed over the ending of an old movie.
12:53The first time Dad met him, he said,
12:55I don't trust anyone in the mob.
12:59Dominic stood on our front porch, in the rain, for three days.
13:03On the morning of the third day, Dominic collapsed on the steps.
13:07And Dad finally opened the door, that evening in the living room, still running a fever.
13:13I will spend the rest of my life being good to her.
13:16Dad was silent for a long time.
13:24But three years later, Dominic knelt in a pool of blood,
13:28clutching his brother's body, and never smiled like that again.
13:33Mom touched my face and frowned slightly.
13:36Dominic is outside.
13:38Let me see her.
13:41Let me see her.
13:44Please.
13:46Just let me see her.
13:48I closed my eyes briefly.
13:50Let him in.
13:52Serena.
13:53Let him in, Mom.
13:55You two wait outside.
13:56I need to talk to him alone.
13:58My parents exchanged a look,
14:00then reluctantly rose and left the room.
14:06The door opened.
14:07Dominic stood there.
14:08His complexion was gray.
14:09His jaw locked.
14:10His eyes threaded with red.
14:12He walked to the bedside.
14:13Serena.
14:14I didn't know you were pregnant.
14:16I didn't know you'd miscarried it.
14:18That day, I just thought you were trying to force Vivian to...
14:20I've already signed the divorce papers.
14:21Sign them.
14:26No!
14:29Serena, I won't sign.
14:32I love you.
14:35You say you just didn't know I was pregnant.
14:37Fine.
14:39Then let me ask you something.
14:41You'd get a call from her in the dead of night and walk out the door sometimes at two or
14:46three in the morning and you called that taking care of her, right?
14:49You bought her an apartment, a velati property titled in her name, and you called that making arrangements, right?
14:59You gave her a child and you called that helping her fulfill a wish, right?
15:05Then let me tell you, if a man has no feelings for a woman, he doesn't leave his house at
15:113 a.m. because she called.
15:14He doesn't buy her a home and put her name on the deed.
15:18And she certainly doesn't let her carry his child.
15:22Dominic, you can lie to me.
15:24You can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to the facts.
15:28Everything you did for Vivian tells me and tells everyone that you love her.
15:35You're the Dawn.
15:36You control everything.
15:37But you don't get to control whether I stay or go.
15:41That's not Serena.
15:43I was just, I only...
15:48Sign the papers, Dominic.
15:50There's nothing left to say.
15:52His head snapped up, and in his eyes, I saw a kind of panic I had never seen before.
16:00Serena?
16:02Dad.
16:03Mom.
16:04You've said what you came to say.
16:06Now get out!
16:08No.
16:09Serena, give me one more chance.
16:11Get out!
16:14You're not welcome here.
16:16Dominic didn't move.
16:18He stared at me, unblinking.
16:19Dominic was finally pushed out of the room.
16:25I looked away, blocked him on every platform and phone number, and sent Helena a single message.
16:31Please, have your son sign the papers.
16:34It'll free up a spot for the woman he actually wants to protect.
16:40A few days later, when I went downstairs for a walk, I found Dominic outside the building entrance.
16:45He was leaning against a black sedan, no bodyguards, no driver.
16:49The moment he saw me come out, he straightened and took a few steps in my direction.
17:00Serena.
17:03His head snapped up, and in his eyes, I saw a kind of panic I had never seen before.
17:11Serena?
17:13Dad.
17:14Mom.
17:15You've said what you came to say.
17:17Now get out!
17:18No.
17:19Serena, give me one more chance.
17:22Get out!
17:24You're not welcome here.
17:27Dominic didn't move.
17:28He stared at me, unblinking.
17:30Dominic was finally pushed out of the room.
17:35I looked away, blocked him on every platform and phone number, and sent Helena a single message.
17:42Please, have your son sign the papers.
17:45It'll free up a spot for the woman he actually wants to protect.
17:51A few days later, when I went downstairs for a walk, I found Dominic outside the building entrance.
17:56He was leaning against a black sedan.
17:58No bodyguards.
17:59No driver.
18:00However, the moment he saw me come out, he straightened and took a few steps in my direction.
18:11Serena.
18:14His voice was wrecked.
18:16How are you feeling?
18:19Any better?
18:20I was carrying a bag of fruit.
18:22My tone was distant.
18:24Much better.
18:25If there's nothing else, I'm heading back up.
18:27He reached out to stop me.
18:30Carefully.
18:31Tentatively.
18:32Same design Dominic and I had created together for our wedding band.
18:35No matter what happens, I'll never take it off.
18:37But I also hadn't forgotten what he'd said to me later.
18:40Viv gets upset when she sees my wedding ring.
18:43It reminds her of Lucien.
18:45Why can't you be more considerate of other people's feelings?
18:48I glanced instinctively at my own left ring finger.
18:52Pushed the box back toward him.
18:53The rings are new.
18:56But what's broken can't be fixed.
19:00After a few seconds of silence, he erupted.
19:03Serena, why can't you cut me off some slack just once?
19:07You're the one who didn't tell me about the pregnancy.
19:09If you had just said something, I never would have walked away at the hospital that day.
19:12I've explained the situation with Vivian.
19:14I don't love her.
19:15I was only looking after her for Lucien, helping her fulfill a wish.
19:18Why can't you understand that?
19:21At the hospital that day, your exact words were,
19:25No matter what, you would not leave her.
19:29The anger froze on his face.
19:31If you won't sign the papers, then stop coming to find me.
19:36No.
19:37I don't want to see you again.
19:39I turned and walked straight back through the building entrance.
19:41Serena?
19:45But that night, I received a text from Vivian.
19:49Tomorrow, a cafe.
19:51I have something to say.
19:55There you are.
19:59Serena, since things have come this far, I'm not going to beat around the brush.
20:04Dominic loves me.
20:06Just sign the divorce papers and stop holding us up.
20:09I think you have it backwards.
20:11The one who won't agree to the divorce is Dominic.
20:14Not me.
20:15That's impossible.
20:17I'm carrying his child.
20:19Why would he not want me?
20:20You must be the one clinging to him, refusing to let go.
20:24I didn't respond.
20:25The silence seemed to infuriate her.
20:27I bet you don't know yet.
20:28This baby wasn't conceived the way Dominic told you.
20:32No providing a sample.
20:33No artificial insemination.
20:37Dominic and I slept together.
20:39More than once.
20:41The air went still for a beat.
20:43Is that so?
20:51Dominic and I slept together.
20:53More than once.
20:55The air went still for a beat.
20:57Is that so?
21:05I stood.
21:06I picked up the still, half-full Americano and threw it squarely in her face.
21:13You're insane!
21:15You're insane!
21:15Viviana, you should be great for you're pregnant right now.
21:20I grabbed my bag and walked out.
21:23After leaving the cafe,
21:27I went straight to the law office and handed the voice recorder I'd been carrying to my attorney.
21:36Three days later, at the hearing, the old men poured over the evidence.
21:41Finally, one of them struck the gavel.
21:44Some funny, some gave thin, knowing smiles.
21:47By ruling of the family joint council, the infidelity is substantiated.
21:52The marriage of Dominic Veloto and Serena Veloto shall be automatically dissolved in one month.
21:56Dominic's shoulders collapsed.
22:00And walking out through the council hall doors,
22:03Dominic was standing at the bottom of the steps.
22:06Serena.
22:09Do you hate me that much?
22:11You really won't leave any room at all.
22:13I took out my phone, pulled up the recording, and pressed play.
22:17Vivian's voice poured.
22:18Dominic and I slept together.
22:20More than once.
22:22I can explain.
22:23That day, I helped her move some things back to her place,
22:25and she said she wanted to cook dinner to thank me.
22:26We had some wine, and then, and I don't know how it just...
22:29Dominic, Lucien took a bullet for you,
22:32and you turned around and took care of his wife all the way into her bed.
22:38If he could crawl out of that grave,
22:40the first person he'd put down is you.
22:44Serena, but I only love you!
22:47It was only that one time with her!
22:49I don't need love that cheap.
22:53Perhaps out of guilt,
22:54Dominic transferred a substantial sum into my account during the divorce proceedings.
22:59I accepted every cent.
23:02It was enough to live comfortably for a long time.
23:05So I bought a one-way ticket to Barcelona,
23:08and set off traveling alone.
23:17From Las Ramblas to the Charles Bridge in Prague.
23:24From the black sand beaches of Iceland
23:27to a stargazing camp in New Zealand.
23:29And, at every stop,
23:32I mailed my parents a postcard
23:34and logged my experiences on a blog.
23:37When I came home after a long stretch of travel,
23:40Mom eagerly filled me in over dinner
23:41on the aftermath of Dominic and Vivienne.
23:44Do you know what happened to Dominic and Vivianian later?
23:48After our divorce,
23:50Vivienne, belly and all,
23:51staged a coup.
23:52Dominic refused to marry her.
23:54He said he'd only ever looked after her out of guilt toward Lucien,
23:57that there had never been any real feeling.
23:59Vivienne dropped every pretense
24:01and weaponized the baby.
24:02Marry her,
24:03or she'd get an abortion.
24:04Helena,
24:05desperate for an heir,
24:06couldn't stomach that kind of threat.
24:08She strong-armed Dominic into a wedding,
24:10but married life was nothing like what Vivienne had envisioned.
24:13Dominic was glacially cold to her.
24:15He never came back to the estate,
24:17never ate dinner with her,
24:18wouldn't even sit at the same table.
24:20He shut himself in his downtown apartment to work,
24:22the way he used to shut me out.
24:24No,
24:24worse than he'd ever been with me.
24:26Vivienne had no sense of security.
24:28She probably understood better than anyone
24:30how she'd clawed her way to the top,
24:32and that made her all the more paranoid.
24:34When Dominic didn't come home,
24:35she'd hunt him down at the office,
24:37making scenes in the lobby,
24:39demanding he come back with her.
24:42She started crashing business functions.
24:44There was one occasion
24:46when Dominic was at a critical juncture
24:48in a joint deal with several other families,
24:50and Vivienne somehow got hold of the restaurant address.
24:53She burst into the private dining room
24:56and demanded to know why he hadn't answered his phone.
25:03After our divorce,
25:05Vivienne,
25:06belly and all,
25:06staged a coup.
25:07Dominic refused to marry her.
25:09He said he'd only ever looked after her
25:10out of guilt toward Lucien,
25:12that there had never been any real feeling.
25:14Vivienne dropped every pretense
25:16and weaponized the baby.
25:17Marry her,
25:18or she'd get an abortion.
25:19Helena,
25:20desperate for an heir,
25:21couldn't stomach that kind of threat.
25:23She strong-armed Dominic into a wedding,
25:25but married life was nothing like what Vivienne had envisioned.
25:28Dominic was glacially cold to her.
25:31He never came back to the estate,
25:32never ate dinner with her,
25:33wouldn't even sit at the same table.
25:35He shut himself in his downtown apartment to work,
25:37the way he used to shut me out.
25:39No,
25:39worse than he'd ever been with me.
25:41Vivienne had no sense of security.
25:43She probably understood better than anyone
25:45how she'd clawed her way to the top,
25:47and that made her all the more paranoid.
25:49When Dominic didn't come home,
25:51she'd hunt him down at the office,
25:52making scenes in the lobby,
25:54demanding he come back with her.
25:57She started crashing business functions.
25:59There was one occasion
26:01when Dominic was at a critical juncture
26:03in a joint deal with several other families,
26:05and Vivienne somehow got hold of the restaurant address.
26:08She burst into the private dining room
26:12and demanded to know why he hadn't answered his phone.
26:17Every person at that table was a power player
26:19from one of the branch families,
26:21for the Don's wife to throw a tantrum in that setting.
26:24Loss of face doesn't begin to cover it.
26:26The deal nearly fell apart.
26:28Afterward,
26:28the straw that finally broke everything
26:31came a month later.
26:32Dominic was out at an evening function
26:34and hadn't come home.
26:35Vivienne tracked him to the venue.
26:37She spotted a young woman
26:38seated beside Dominic,
26:40pouring his wine.
26:41Nothing more than a liaison
26:42from the other party's PR team.
26:44She stormed over
26:45and slapped the woman across the face.
26:47The kind of people who circulate in those rooms
26:49are not the kind you provoke.
26:51The woman hit back immediately.
26:53In the scuttle,
26:54Vivienne's belly struck the edge of a table.
26:56The child was rushed to the ICU,
26:58put on a ventilator,
27:00a tiny life bristling with tubes,
27:02fighting inside an incubator
27:03for nearly three weeks.
27:05In the end,
27:05the baby didn't make it.
27:08With the child gone,
27:10Dominic initiated the joint council's arbitration
27:12that very same day.
27:14On the grounds that Vivienne
27:15had gravely damaged the family's reputation
27:18and commercial interests,
27:20the marriage was forcibly dissolved.
27:22Vivienne must have known it was over.
27:24She took a severance payout
27:26and vanished from the city.
27:28Helena was now back to working
27:29every connection she had,
27:31scouting for a new daughter-in-law.
27:33But the Valenti Circus of the past two years
27:36had already made the rounds
27:37through every drawing room in their circle.
27:42Serves him right.
27:43If he'd treated you the way he should have,
27:46would any of this have happened?
27:47I smiled, but offered no comment.
27:49They had nothing to do with me anymore.
27:51I went back to packing my bags.
27:53The ticket for my next trip was already booked.
27:58Go on then.
27:59Send me lots of pretty photos.
28:02I zipped my backpack shut,
28:05stood up,
28:06and flashed her an OK sign.
28:08Don't worry.
28:10I thought my life was finally about to settle
28:12into real peace and quiet.
28:15What I didn't expect
28:16was to run into Dominic one more time
28:18before I left.
28:20When he appeared,
28:21I flinched.
28:22His face was ashen,
28:23his hair a mess,
28:25nothing like the commanding dawn he'd once been.
28:28Serena, Vivienne, and I are divorced.
28:30The baby's gone, too.
28:33And?
28:33It was the baby that bothered you, wasn't it?
28:35The baby's gone now.
28:36We can start over.
28:39Dominic, there is no starting over.
28:43We're done.
28:46No.
28:47Serena, you loved me so much once.
28:50I know it was all because of Viviana
28:52and the baby that you left me.
28:53There's nothing standing between us anymore.
28:56Give me one more chance.
28:57I'll love you right this time.
28:59Better than before.
29:01He grabbed my hand,
29:02practically begging.
29:04But Dominic, I don't love you anymore.
29:07It's over.
29:09Move forward.
29:12He shook his head,
29:13unable to believe what he was hearing.
29:15In the end,
29:16he walked away with red-rimmed eyes.
29:18Serena doesn't love me anymore.
29:20Doesn't love me.
29:21So utterly wrecked,
29:23he almost looked pitiable.
29:24I watched his unsteady figure
29:26retreat into the distance.
29:27The once untouchable godfather,
29:30reduced to this.
29:31When I boarded the flight to Copenhagen,
29:34I slid open the window shade.
29:36Outside,
29:37the morning sky was on fire with dawn.
29:40Blazing.
29:41Breathtaking.
29:42I was moving forward,
29:43and I wouldn't look back.
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