- 12 minutes ago
They Stole My Daughter, So I Took Their Empire
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00:00I was picking up my son's new driver's license when my smart home app buzzed.
00:03Living room motion sensor detected unusual activity.
00:06Click to view real-time footage.
00:08I opened the app.
00:09My husband, Daniel, was leaning back on the couch,
00:12his tie hanging loosely around his neck.
00:15And my adopted sister, Vivian, wearing a sheer silk slip dress,
00:18was sitting on his lap,
00:19slowly unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt.
00:22Seeing their bodies intertwined made me feel sick to my stomach.
00:25Darling, do you know how much it hurts every time Leo calls me Aunt Vivian?
00:29He should be calling me Mom.
00:30Vivian!
00:31Daniel snapped, turning his face away from her lips.
00:34But his hands on her waist never once let go.
00:37At that moment, I felt as if something inside me broke into pieces.
00:41What happened next was too unbearable to watch.
00:43I didn't keep watching.
00:45Instead, I calmly hit screen record,
00:47saved the video, and turned to the clerk at the counter.
00:50Hi, I'd like to update Leo's emergency medical information.
00:52His blood type is O.
00:54You may have mixed it up.
00:55The medical information we have on file lists his blood type as B.
00:59I froze.
01:00Daniel and I were both type O.
01:02How could we have a child with type B blood, gripping my phone tightly?
01:05I replied to the email from Daniel's competitor,
01:08who had been urging me to consider a partnership,
01:10I'll consider your proposal.
01:11We can schedule the meeting for next week.
01:13I'll bring the technologies you're interested in,
01:16the ones Grant Tech never managed to obtain.
01:18That night, I sent hair samples from Leo and me to a DNA testing center,
01:22then sat alone in the study until 3 a.m.
01:24Daniel and I had been together for 18 years.
01:27In the early days of the startup, I stayed up all night with him in cafes,
01:31revising the business plan.
01:33When I got tired, I would doze off on his shoulder.
01:36He always said,
01:38Selena, once the company goes public,
01:40I'll make sure the whole world knows you're the one who helped me.
01:43But when the company actually went public,
01:45the way he referred to me in every interview changed from co-founder to supportive wife.
01:50I said I wanted to keep the title of CTO.
01:52Baby, you just gave birth.
01:54Take a good rest and leave the company's affairs to me.
01:57I said I needed to oversee the technical issues, and he said,
02:01You have postpartum depression.
02:02The doctor said you need rest.
02:04Gradually, I stopped speaking up.
02:06I thought this was just how marriage worked,
02:08the spark fading into a calm partnership.
02:10But now, it seemed that all my trust had only led to complete betrayal.
02:14Daniel didn't come home until dawn.
02:17Did you know Leo is type B?
02:18How can two type O parents have a type B kid?
02:21I stared into his eyes and asked without emotion.
02:24Selena, you're stressed.
02:26Remember Leo's transfusion when he got hurt?
02:28The records probably got messed up.
02:30Don't overthink it.
02:31I've already booked a DNA test.
02:33Leo is about to start college!
02:35What more do you want?
02:36Do you have any idea how much this senseless suspicion is tearing our family apart?
02:40Is your postpartum depression acting up again?
02:43Postpartum depression.
02:44I had lost count of how many times he had thrown that phrase at me.
02:48Every time I questioned him, every time I tried to claim my equity,
02:52every time I asked about patent royalties,
02:54he'd weaponize those words like a padlock,
02:56walking away all my logic and judgment.
02:58Maybe you're right.
02:59I'll cancel the appointment.
03:02Go on to work.
03:03Don't let me keep you.
03:05Suit yourself.
03:09After Daniel disappeared through the door,
03:11I called a private investigator.
03:13Hello?
03:14I need you to pull the birth records and security footage
03:16from the maternally wood at St. Mary's Hospital,
03:18June 21st, 18 years ago, at 3 a.m.
03:21Also, check all records of Vivian's time abroad during that period.
03:24Focus on whether there are any childbirth records.
03:27One more thing.
03:28Look into the doctor who diagnosed my postpartum depression.
03:31Find out if Daniel had a hand in it.
03:32That evening was Grant Tech's annual gala.
03:35Although I had kept a low profile for years
03:37and rarely attended events like this,
03:39there had always been a seat reserved for me
03:40right beside Daniel at the head table.
03:42To my surprise,
03:43the name on the place card this year
03:45had been changed from Selena Vance to Vivian Vance.
03:47I flicked the card onto the floor and took the seat anyway.
03:50A moment later,
03:51Vivian walked in wearing a rose gold gown,
03:54arm in arm with Daniel,
03:55looking like a loving married couple.
03:57And Leo followed right behind them,
03:59beaming as he greeted the guests.
04:00The second their eyes met mine,
04:02all three of their smiles froze solid for a good three seconds.
04:04Daniel rushed over,
04:06keeping his voice down.
04:08Selena, what are you doing here?
04:09I looked up at him with a smile.
04:11It's my company's gala.
04:12Of course I'm here.
04:13Why?
04:13Am I not welcome?
04:15He shook his head awkwardly.
04:16No, of course not.
04:17I'm glad you could make it.
04:18With that,
04:19he moved back to Vivian.
04:20They whispered to each other
04:21with the easy familiarity of two people
04:23who had been close for years.
04:25Meanwhile,
04:25I picked up the menu
04:26and slowly flipped through it,
04:28looking like a perfectly composed wife
04:30attending the gala.
04:33Midway through the gala,
04:34Daniel walked onto the stage
04:35holding Vivian's hand
04:36and announced her as Grant Tech's new CTO.
04:38The room erupted in applause.
04:41A faint smile creeping onto my lips.
04:44So swapping my place card
04:45was just the appetizer.
04:47This was the main course.
04:48Thank you for placing your trust in me.
04:50Over the years,
04:51a certain someone did provide funding
04:53and technical support,
04:54but her mental instability
04:55gradually made her fall out of step
04:57with the group's strategy.
04:58A corporation needs
04:59a forward-looking mindset,
05:00not someone stuck in the past.
05:02She paused,
05:03her eyes locking right
05:04onto where I was sitting.
05:05I am truly honored
05:06to take the baton
05:07and lead our tech team
05:08into a brighter future.
05:09Getting kicked out
05:10by her own husband and sister,
05:12how embarrassing.
05:13Didn't she step back
05:14for postpartum depression?
05:15Does she even know tech anymore?
05:16Clinging to that spot
05:17is just embarrassing.
05:18Look at her.
05:19She actually showed up.
05:20As a housewife,
05:21isn't she embarrassed
05:21to even sit there?
05:22I turned and glanced at him,
05:24the child I had raised
05:25for 18 years.
05:26His tuition,
05:27his network,
05:28his manners,
05:29I gave him everything.
05:30He was tall,
05:31handsome,
05:32and dressed in a tailored suit,
05:33looking every bit
05:34like a wealthy young heir.
05:35And yet,
05:36here he was,
05:37looking at me
05:37with that kind of contempt.
05:39Daniel stepped down
05:40from the stage
05:40and walked over.
05:41Selena,
05:42you look a bit pale.
05:43Why don't you head home
05:44and get some rest?
05:45Every eye in the room
05:46locked onto us.
05:47I stood up,
05:48took a sip of champagne
05:49from my crystal glass,
05:50and completely ignored him,
05:52turning straight to Vivian.
05:54Mental instability?
05:55Vivian,
05:56you spent years in the UK
05:57yet you can't even understand
05:59the encryption protocol
06:00for our core database.
06:01Maybe master the basics
06:02before preaching about vision.
06:05Don't forget,
06:0660% of Grant Tech's
06:07core patents are mine.
06:09That seat at the head table
06:10tonight was paid for
06:11with my investment.
06:12Daniel and Vivian
06:13turned livid
06:14while Leo froze in place.
06:16I gave a small laugh
06:17and was about to turn away
06:18when both my arms
06:19were grabbed at the same time,
06:21one from each side.
06:22It was my parents.
06:23They practically dragged me
06:24out of the banquet hall.
06:26Inside the lounge
06:27at the end of the hallway,
06:28the door slammed shut.
06:29My mother let go of my arm
06:30and turned around.
06:31Her face is dark
06:32as a gathering storm.
06:33What are you doing?
06:34Do you know
06:35what occasion tonight is?
06:37Did you have to make
06:37such a scene?
06:38Vivian came from the UK,
06:40helped Daniel manage the business.
06:41How could you humiliate
06:42her publicly?
06:45I'm making a scene?
06:46Mom,
06:48that seat belongs to me.
06:50So what?
06:52Daniel is the actual controller.
06:54He puts whoever he wants
06:55in that seat.
06:56Growing this company
06:56wasn't easy
06:57and having family help
06:58is a good thing.
06:59As the older sister,
07:01be bigger than this.
07:02Dad,
07:02Daniel is your son-in-law
07:03and Vivian is your adopted daughter.
07:05Don't you think
07:06they're too close?
07:07What nonsense
07:07are you talking about?
07:08We watched Vivian grow up.
07:10She's like our own daughter.
07:11What's wrong with her
07:11working with Daniel?
07:12Our own daughter?
07:14Then what if I told you
07:16that Leo might not even
07:17be my biological son?
07:19Both of them froze instantly.
07:21My mother recovered first,
07:23grabbing my hands tightly.
07:25Selena,
07:26you can't just say
07:27things like that.
07:28How could Leo
07:28not be your biological child?
07:30Are you overthinking
07:30things again?
07:32My father slammed
07:33his hand on the table.
07:35Enough.
07:35I think there really
07:36is something wrong with you.
07:37Daniel is right.
07:38You need to see a doctor.
07:39Their reaction snuffed out
07:40the very last spark
07:41of hope in my heart.
07:42saying nothing.
07:43I pushed open
07:44the lounge door
07:45and walked out.
07:46Right then,
07:47the DNA report
07:47and the private investigators
07:49update arrived in my inbox
07:50at the same time.
07:51I skipped straight
07:52to the bottom line.
07:53Maternity excluded,
07:54Selena Vance is not
07:55the biological mother
07:56of Leo Grant.
07:57The truth was already
07:59in my heart.
07:59But the moment
08:00I saw the definitive result,
08:02my hands still began
08:03to tremble.
08:04I tapped on the rest
08:05of the investigators' messages.
08:07In May 18 years ago,
08:09Vivian arrived in London
08:10and gave birth to a baby boy
08:12with type B blood.
08:13Your records at St. Mary's
08:14that June show
08:15only one baby girl was born.
08:17However,
08:17the nurse's account
08:18was deleted that very day
08:20and the file is missing.
08:21In November of that same year,
08:23Vivian returned to the UK,
08:24this time with a baby girl
08:25about five months old.
08:27That girl works illegally
08:28at a Chinese restaurant
08:29under the name Nora Vance.
08:31Neighbors say she lives
08:32in poverty,
08:33covered in bruises.
08:35Vivian takes most of her pay
08:36every month
08:37through a middleman.
08:38photos were attached
08:39at the bottom.
08:40One showed a back alley,
08:41her tiny, frail frame
08:43hauling a massive trash bag.
08:44Another showed her curled up
08:46on a stool in the corner
08:47of the restaurant,
08:48eating a meal
08:48that had gone cold.
08:49The latest photo
08:50was a close-up of her arm,
08:51covered in a horrific mix
08:53of fresh bruises
08:53and old scars.
08:55Looking at her hollow,
08:56guarded eyes in the photos,
08:57my heart was ripped to shreds.
08:59My daughter,
09:00the little girl
09:01who should have grown up
09:02carefree in my arms.
09:03While she was hauling trash
09:04in a filthy,
09:05greasy alley,
09:06I was throwing lavish parties
09:07for that imposter,
09:08buying him sports cars,
09:10and paving his way
09:11into elite schools.
09:12While she was being beaten,
09:13I was celebrating
09:14that bastard's birthday.
09:16While she was eating cold meals,
09:17I was applauding
09:18at that fraud's
09:19graduation ceremony.
09:20When she curled into a ball
09:21from the pain
09:22in the dead of night,
09:23did she secretly pray
09:24for a mother to love her?
09:25Tears poured down my face
09:27as my trembling hands
09:28scrolled further.
09:29D.R. McRae,
09:30who issued
09:30your postpartum
09:31depression diagnosis,
09:33spoke with Vivian
09:33for over two hours
09:34and later received
09:35over $500,000
09:36in consulting service fees
09:38from one of Daniel's companies.
09:39Based on the evidence,
09:41it is highly suspected
09:42that Daniel Grant
09:43and Vivian Vance
09:44fabricated your
09:44postpartum depression diagnosis
09:46to strip you
09:46of your technical decision-making
09:48authority and equity control
09:49at Grant Tech.
09:50A wave of pure,
09:52unadulterated hatred
09:53consumed me instantly.
09:54I leaned against the wall,
09:56digging my nails
09:57deep into my palms.
09:58The sharp pain
09:59kept me lucid.
10:00I forwarded
10:01all the evidence,
10:02including the security footage,
10:03to my lawyer,
10:04then called Apex Systems,
10:06one of Grant Tech's rivals.
10:07I'll sign the investment
10:08agreement tomorrow,
10:09but I have one condition.
10:11I want Grant Tech's stock
10:13driven into the ground
10:14until they're de-lasted.
10:17Don't worry,
10:17we will fully cooperate
10:18with any of your conditions.
10:20No problem.
10:21After hanging up,
10:22I stared at all the evidence
10:23on my phone.
10:24Daniel Grant,
10:25Vivian Vance,
10:27for every scar
10:28on my daughter's body,
10:29I would make you pay,
10:30down to the last ounce
10:31of pain.
10:32I barely slept a wink
10:33on the flight to London.
10:34The new updates
10:35from the investigator
10:36felt like a dull blade,
10:37carving into my heart
10:38piece by piece.
10:39Nora had been working
10:40illegally in restaurant kitchens
10:42since she was eight.
10:43Her fingers had been burned
10:44by hot oil
10:44and cut by kitchen knives,
10:46yet she still managed
10:47to finish high school
10:48with second-hand textbooks.
10:49Her computer science
10:50and math scores
10:51topped the city,
10:51and she even passed
10:52her Cambridge interview.
10:54But Vivian cut off
10:54her education
10:55using the excuse
10:56of being broke,
10:57forcing her to keep
10:58washing dishes in the back.
10:59There was also an attachment,
11:01a screenshot
11:01from a small hacking forum.
11:03The poster's ID
11:04was noracodes underscore LDN.
11:06It was Python code
11:07for a traffic analysis tool.
11:08The logic was flawless,
11:10the structure beautiful,
11:11and its two innovative tweaks
11:13made me do a double take.
11:14That kind of thinking
11:15wasn't something
11:16textbooks could teach.
11:18That was my daughter's code.
11:19My throat tightened
11:20as I traced the screenshot
11:21on my screen.
11:22She had no idea
11:23whose gifts
11:24she had inherited.
11:25She belonged
11:25in a Cambridge library,
11:27not in front
11:27of a greasy stove.
11:28It was the dead of night
11:29when the plane
11:30touched down in London.
11:31I rented a car
11:32and drove straight
11:33to Chinatown.
11:34It was 7 a.m.
11:35The restaurant
11:36wasn't open yet.
11:37Overnight trash
11:38piled up in the back alley,
11:39the air thick with diesel
11:40and a faint smell
11:41of black bean sauce.
11:42A girl in a faded t-shirt
11:43and jeans walked out,
11:45hauling two massive
11:45black trash bags.
11:47She was so painfully thin
11:48with such a petite frame
11:49that the bags
11:50almost crushed her.
11:51There were faint scars
11:52on her face,
11:52but I recognized her instantly.
11:54She looked exactly
11:55like the photos
11:56of me from my youth.
11:57She struggled
11:58to heave the bags
11:58into the bin,
11:59then washed her hands
12:00at the alley sink.
12:01The freezing water
12:02made her shiver
12:03as she brushed hair
12:03off her forehead
12:04with the back of her hand.
12:05Right at that moment,
12:07she looked up.
12:08Through the car window,
12:09our eyes met.
12:10She froze,
12:11confusion flashing
12:12in her eyes.
12:13Then she looked down,
12:14turning quickly
12:15the head back inside.
12:18Wait!
12:19The girl stopped
12:20and looked back at me,
12:21her eyes guarded and distant,
12:22her body tensing
12:23like an animal
12:24ready to bolt.
12:25I stepped closer,
12:26trying my best
12:27to suppress the tremor
12:28in my voice.
12:29Are you Nora?
12:29Who are you?
12:31I'm from Los Angeles.
12:35Do you know Vivian?
12:37What does she want now?
12:38I already wired
12:39this month's money.
12:40I took a deep breath.
12:41No, not her.
12:43My name is Selena.
12:45I am your real mother.
12:48Nora!
12:49Where the hell are you?
12:51The dishes aren't washed.
12:52I'm not paying you
12:53to stand around all day.
12:55She stiffened,
12:56turning to leave
12:57out of pure reflex.
12:58I grabbed her wrist,
13:00which was so thin
13:01I could feel the bone.
13:04I'm taking you out of here.
13:05Ma'am,
13:06I don't know you,
13:07and I have to work.
13:10I'm taking her with me.
13:11I'll pay for everything.
13:18This covers whatever
13:19you claim she owes,
13:20plus this week's wages.
13:21As of today,
13:22she no longer works here.
13:25Who are you to her?
13:27I am her mother.
13:31I took Nora's hand,
13:32and this time,
13:33she didn't pull away.
13:34I brought her back
13:35to the hotel,
13:36had her take a hot shower,
13:37and laid out
13:38clean clothes for her.
13:39When she stepped out
13:40in a bathrobe,
13:41I finally saw
13:42the full extent
13:43of her injuries.
13:43She was covered
13:44in a mix of fresh
13:45and old bruises.
13:46I held her with tears
13:47in my eyes,
13:48but she spoke
13:48with a forced,
13:49defensive calm.
13:50You say you're my mother.
13:51Do you have proof?
13:53I showed her the DNA test,
13:55Vivian's birth records,
13:56and the investigator's file.
13:58She read through them slowly,
13:59parsing every detail.
14:01When she reached
14:02the customs file
14:02showing how she was
14:03brought into the UK,
14:04her eyes began to redden.
14:06Yet she didn't cry,
14:07setting the papers down
14:08with just a glimmer of tears.
14:10So for 18 years?
14:12You had no idea
14:13where I was?
14:14I squeezed her freezing hands.
14:18If I had known,
14:19I would have moved
14:19heaven and earth
14:20to find you.
14:21Then,
14:21she broke down,
14:22not out loud,
14:23but silently,
14:24hiding even the sound
14:25of her falling tears,
14:26as if she was afraid
14:27to let anyone hear her weep.
14:2918 years of buried grievance,
14:31pain,
14:31and loneliness
14:32burst through
14:32like a broken dam.
14:34I'm sorry I found you so late.
14:39Once Nora calmed down,
14:41she softly whispered
14:42her first mom.
14:44Mom,
14:45can I use your laptop?
14:46Of course!
14:48I've been hanging around here
14:49for years.
14:50Sometimes I help people
14:51dig up information online
14:52to cover my living expenses.
14:54I didn't dare save
14:55the extra money,
14:55so I traded it
14:56for information instead.
14:58These are Vivian's
14:59activity logs abroad.
15:00I stared at the screen,
15:02utterly speechless.
15:03It contained Vivian's
15:04European casino statements
15:06from the past five years.
15:08Screenshots proving
15:09she had misappropriated funds
15:11from the Vance Family Trust
15:12as their adopted daughter,
15:13and backups of messages
15:14showing that she and Daniel
15:15had been involved
15:16for 19 years.
15:17There was also
15:18a private contract
15:19promising her a share
15:20of Grant TexCore
15:20patent revenues
15:21after the IPO.
15:22My grip tightened
15:23as I looked at Nora.
15:24Nora, do you have any idea
15:25how valuable this data is?
15:27I do.
15:28That's why I've been waiting
15:29for the perfect moment
15:30to bring it all to light.
15:35We stayed in London
15:36for three days.
15:37I took her to the hospital
15:39for a full checkup
15:40and had her injuries treated.
15:41I took her shopping
15:42for clothes,
15:43walked with her on the beach,
15:44and treated her to restaurants
15:46she'd never dreamed
15:46of entering.
15:47By the third evening,
15:48she was leaning back
15:49in a beach chair,
15:50shoes kicked aside,
15:51toes buried in the sand.
15:53I'm going to study
15:54computer science.
15:56I want to go
15:57to the best university.
15:59and then,
16:00then I'll help you
16:01put those people
16:02in prison.
16:11Okay.
16:12Whatever you want to do,
16:14mom is with you.
16:15From now on,
16:17just run forward.
16:18Leave the storms to me.
16:20I'm here.
16:21I'm not going anywhere.
16:22On the flight back home,
16:24Nora fell asleep,
16:25leaning on my shoulder.
16:26Staring at the clouds
16:28outside the window,
16:29a complete plan
16:29took shape in my mind.
16:31Daniel,
16:32Vivian,
16:32you stole 18 years
16:34from my daughter.
16:34I would spend the rest
16:36of my life
16:36making you pay for it.
16:38The afternoon
16:38we got back to LA,
16:40I settled Nora
16:40into a hotel first,
16:42then headed home.
16:43The house was empty.
16:44The living room
16:45looked exactly
16:46as I'd left it.
16:47I walked into the study
16:48and started packing my things.
16:50Around dusk,
16:51the front door opened.
16:53Daniel and Leo
16:54walked in together
16:54with Vivian
16:55trailing behind them.
16:57The three were laughing
16:58and chatting,
16:58but froze instantly
16:59when they saw me
17:00sitting in the study.
17:01Where have you been
17:02these past few days?
17:04Selena,
17:04we need to talk.
17:07Talk about what?
17:09About how you and Vivian
17:10lied to me for 18 years?
17:12Or how you swapped my baby?
17:13Mom,
17:14what are you talking about?
17:16What?
17:17Leo,
17:18you knew all along,
17:18didn't you?
17:20You knew Vivian
17:21was your real mother.
17:22Silence stretched
17:23for a full 10 seconds.
17:25Then,
17:25lifting his chin,
17:26he spoke with that familiar,
17:28elite coldness.
17:29I've known for a long time.
17:33Since when?
17:35Since middle school.
17:36Dad thought I was
17:37old enough to know,
17:38so he took me to meet Mom.
17:39Dad?
17:39Mom?
17:40You knew your real parents
17:41all along,
17:41yet you kept spending
17:42my money,
17:43letting me stress over
17:44your GPA
17:44and pulling strings
17:45for your internships
17:45and networking.
17:47You took my love
17:48for granted
17:49without saying a word.
17:50He suddenly snapped.
17:52So what?
17:53His casual attitude
17:54completely crumbling.
17:55Didn't you treat me
17:56as your own son
17:57for 18 years anyway?
17:58What's the difference?
17:59Is blood that important?
18:00You raised me
18:01for 18 years,
18:02why should I ruin
18:03this family?
18:03I stared at him,
18:05this boy I once loved
18:06more than my own life.
18:07If it were just
18:07a hospital mix-up,
18:08I wouldn't blame you.
18:09But,
18:10you're the product
18:11of Daniel and Vivian's affair.
18:12The three of you
18:13conspired to deceive me
18:14for 18 years
18:15while throwing
18:16my real daughter
18:17into misery in the UK.
18:19Vivian rushed over,
18:21her eyes reddening
18:22as she shielded Leo.
18:23Selena,
18:24if you have a problem,
18:25take it out on me!
18:26Leo is innocent!
18:27The doorbell rang.
18:28My parents were here.
18:30The moment they walked in,
18:31my mother frowned.
18:33Selena,
18:33what are you throwing
18:34a tantrum over now?
18:35Why can't we just
18:36talk things through
18:37as a family?
18:38Mom,
18:39Leo isn't my son.
18:40He's Daniel and Vivian's bastard.
18:42They dumped my real daughter
18:44in a London kitchen
18:45to work illegally,
18:46suffering for 18 years.
18:48My mother's eyes widened.
18:50What nonsense
18:50are you talking about?
18:52The DNA test,
18:54Vivian's birth records
18:55in London,
18:55bank statements,
18:56and the surveillance footage
18:58of Nora working
18:58in that UK restaurant.
18:59It's all here.
19:01My father took the papers,
19:02his face turning livid
19:03as he flipped through them.
19:05I knew him too well.
19:06He was weighing
19:07the pros and cons.
19:09Selena,
19:09what's done is done.
19:11You raised Leo
19:12and there's real affection there.
19:14Just bring Nea back
19:15and we'll compensate her properly.
19:16As for Daniel's company.
19:18I couldn't believe my ears.
19:20They lied to me.
19:21They swapped my baby.
19:23That is a crime.
19:26Then what do you want?
19:27Call the cops,
19:28throw Daniel in jail?
19:30Make our entire family
19:31a laughing stock?
19:32Selena,
19:33listen to your father.
19:34Daniel knows he was wrong
19:35and we'll make it up to you.
19:37Once Nora's back,
19:38we'll treat her well.
19:39But Leo is your child too.
19:41Do you really want
19:41to ruin his future?
19:44You knew it long ago, right?
19:46Since when?
19:47When Leo was 10.
19:49Vivian called us
19:50and said she wanted
19:51to acknowledge him
19:52as her son.
19:54We thought Daniel's company
19:55was so big
19:57and you had given birth
19:58to a daughter
19:58while Leo was a boy.
20:00She trailed off,
20:01but her point
20:02was crystal clear.
20:03In their calculations,
20:04a boy was worth more.
20:05The pain Nora
20:07and I suffered
20:07was worthless.
20:08I let out a soft,
20:10bitter laugh.
20:11So you helped hide it
20:13for eight years.
20:14You watched me
20:16pour my heart out
20:17to someone else's kid.
20:18You knew the truth.
20:19Yet not a single one
20:21of you told me.
20:22We did it
20:22for your own good.
20:23If the truth came out,
20:25this family
20:25would fall apart.
20:28This family fell apart
20:29a long time ago.
20:33Daniel, sign it.
20:35Selena, do we really
20:36have to go this far?
20:37Absolutely.
20:38I'm not signing.
20:40Then I'll see you in court.
20:42Adultery,
20:42child abandonment,
20:44fraud,
20:44baby swapping.
20:46Daniel,
20:47do you think all this combined
20:48is enough to ruin you forever?
20:50I'm not signing.
20:51Next second,
20:51she grabbed the fruit
20:52and popped the table
20:53and pressed it
20:54against her wrist.
20:55Daniel!
20:56I've been with you
20:57for so many years.
20:59It's time you made me official.
21:00Vivian!
21:02Sign it!
21:03She cried.
21:03I've been your secret mistress
21:05all these years
21:05and Leo can't even
21:06call me mom in public.
21:08What's the point of living?
21:10My parents rushed
21:11to stop her
21:12while Daniel closed
21:13his eyes in agony.
21:14After a long pause,
21:15he picked up the pen
21:16and signed the divorce papers.
21:18Dropping the knife,
21:19Vivian threw herself
21:20into his arms.
21:21She then turned
21:21to look at me,
21:22her eyes full of triumph.
21:24Satisfied now, Selena?
21:26What do you have left
21:27after this divorce?
21:29Everything you ate,
21:30wore,
21:31and used all these years,
21:32didn't Daniel provide at all?
21:33Without him,
21:34you're nothing.
21:35Daniel stared at me too,
21:37his eyes mixed
21:37with complex emotions.
21:39Selena,
21:39you'll regret this.
21:40I picked up the agreement
21:41and took one last look
21:42around the mansion
21:42where I had lived
21:43for 18 years.
21:44Don't worry.
21:46I won't be the one
21:47regretting this.
21:49The next day,
21:51I took Nora
21:51to the Apex Systems
21:52headquarters.
21:53It wasn't until
21:54that phone call
21:54that I realized
21:55Apex's CEO
21:56was Adrian Cole,
21:57my junior from the
21:58same Stanford research group.
21:59He was waiting for us
22:00in the lobby himself.
22:03Selena,
22:03welcome back.
22:05Adrian,
22:06this is my daughter,
22:07Nora.
22:07Adrian held out his hand
22:08and met her eyes gently.
22:10Hi, Nora.
22:11Selena and I came
22:12from the same
22:12Stanford program.
22:13You're welcome here
22:14anytime.
22:14We have a game room
22:15and a code sandbox
22:16just for engineers.
22:18Interested?
22:18Nora gave a shy nod.
22:20The signing ceremony
22:21took place
22:21in the top four
22:22conference room.
22:23Selena,
22:23per our agreement,
22:25you'll get a 65%
22:26cut of patent revenues.
22:27Also,
22:28I'm personally inviting you
22:29as Apex's CTO,
22:31$8 million a year
22:32plus stock incentives.
22:33I signed my name
22:34on the contract.
22:36Shortly after,
22:37the internet exploded.
22:38Grant Tech's
22:39core patent license
22:40terminated.
22:40Apex Systems announces
22:42exclusive acquisition
22:43of patent rights.
22:43Grant Tech shares
22:45plunged 34% at open
22:46as multiple partners
22:47cancel orders.
22:49Market analysis.
22:50Selena Vance
22:51withdraws capital
22:51and patents.
22:52Grant Tech's valuation
22:53may shrink by 90%.
22:55I sat in my office
22:56watching the rolling
22:57financial news.
22:59Adrian knocked
22:59and walked in,
23:00a relaxed smile
23:01on his face.
23:02Selena,
23:03Grant Tech's
23:03major suppliers
23:04started flooding
23:05our lines this morning,
23:06wanting to switch
23:07to Apex.
23:07I took a sip
23:08of my coffee.
23:09Offer them
23:10favorable terms,
23:11but require them
23:11to terminate their
23:12contracts with
23:12Grant Tech first.
23:14Got it.
23:15My phone rang.
23:16It was Daniel.
23:17I picked up
23:18and hit the record button.
23:19His voice was
23:20anxious and furious.
23:21Selena,
23:22what is going on
23:23with the patents?
23:24That is Grant Tech's
23:25core asset.
23:26Mr. Grant,
23:27those are my patents.
23:28Giving your company
23:29a free license
23:30for the past 18 years
23:31was my mistake.
23:32Now,
23:33I'm taking them back.
23:34Do you have any idea
23:36that Grant Tech
23:36will collapse?
23:38Of course I do.
23:39That's exactly
23:40what I want.
23:42We're husband
23:43and wife.
23:44Former spouses.
23:45Every cent
23:46of Grant Tech's profit
23:47was made off
23:48my technology.
23:49Now that I'm
23:50cutting you off,
23:51what's the problem?
23:52Selena,
23:53I won't let you
23:54get away with this.
23:55I'll be waiting.
23:56I'll be waiting.
23:56Cįŗ£m Ę”n cĆ”c bįŗ”n ÄĆ£ theo dƵi vĆ hįŗ¹n gįŗ·p lįŗ”i.
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