- 7 hours ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00My wife Emma told me our three-year-old son had gone missing.
00:06As I was searching frantically for him, I saw a post from Emma's ex on Instagram.
00:13My blood ran cold when I saw the photo.
00:17Ethan Cole was holding my son and my wife was right there beside him like they were a family.
00:24Everyone in the comments was congratulating them.
00:27My comment was the only one out of place.
00:29My son back.
00:33Ten minutes later, the post was gone.
00:41After that, Emma called, already furious.
00:48What is wrong with you? It's just a child. We can have another one later.
00:54Ethan is never going to have kids of his own.
00:58Why not give him one?
01:01I could hear Ethan's voice in the background.
01:04He was right there with her as she yelled.
01:07Take some time to think about what you've done.
01:12An hour later, Ethan posted again.
01:16This time, he tagged me.
01:24I had bought it for Emma six months ago.
01:27I knew what Ethan was hinting at.
01:31Well, this time I just won't make it so easy.
01:35Emma didn't come home until after nine that night.
01:38I was packing.
01:40The bedroom was a mess.
01:48You knew.
01:49He just found out he can't have children.
01:51So why would you rub salt in the wound?
01:53Do you have any idea how cruel that was?
02:00I looked at her, my wife.
02:03She cared more about Ethan's feelings than what I went through when I thought my son was missing.
02:09I didn't answer.
02:10Just kept stuffing my son Liam's clothes into a suitcase.
02:16I thought back to two days ago.
02:19I had just gotten to work.
02:27Babe, oh my god, I can't find Liam.
02:29I looked everywhere.
02:31She said he went missing at the mall.
02:33I panicked.
02:34I called everyone who could help.
02:41I drove straight there.
02:42I searched every floor, every parking lot, every exit.
02:46And I was still the one comforting her.
02:49But Emma?
02:50She was probably with Ethan the whole time.
02:53Because Ethan had just gotten the diagnosis that he was infertile.
02:57Emma took it harder than he did.
03:00She wouldn't leave his side.
03:04I kept calling her, trying to find out where Liam had gone.
03:08And she got annoyed.
03:09Like I was interrupting something more important.
03:12Eventually, she blocked my number and blocked me on all social media.
03:22I searched for my son for two straight days.
03:27I was so wrecked.
03:32Then I saw Ethan's post.
03:34He held my son like Liam was his.
03:36His arm was around Emma.
03:38In that photo, they looked like a real family.
03:41For the first time, I wondered what I even was to her.
03:49When she saw me standing there silent, her temper flared again.
03:53Why aren't you saying anything?
03:55Quit standing there like I did something wrong.
03:57I already explained this on the phone.
04:00Ethan can't have children.
04:02Giving Liam to him solves everything.
04:08He can ask for anything.
04:13But Liam is my son.
04:16And you're bringing him back.
04:23Jason, are you serious right now?
04:25Haven't you done enough?
04:27I've told you over and over.
04:29Ethan and I are not having an affair.
04:31We're just trying to help him.
04:33Every time I even spend time with Ethan, you get jealous.
04:36And now he is going through something devastating.
04:39This is not about you.
04:45She said the part Ethan had clearly fed her.
04:48He was right about you.
04:50You're one of those men who need to dominate everything just to satisfy your own ego.
04:54For a second, I couldn't even speak.
04:57The wound I got while out there searching for Liam started to throb.
05:03I was still shaking from the pain when the doorbell rang.
05:11Emma saw I wasn't getting up, so she went to answer it.
05:18Ma'am, we got a report about a missing child.
05:21No, our son has been found.
05:23Sorry for wasting your time.
05:27Then she slammed the door shut.
05:30When she turned back to me, she was furious.
05:33Are you insane?
05:35Why would you call the cops?
05:36This is exactly what you do.
05:37You try to scare me into falling in line.
05:39I didn't say a word.
05:40She was about to keep going, but she noticed how pale I looked.
05:43Oh, please, cut the act.
05:45You practically live at the office, and now you're falling apart after just two days?
05:48Let me guess.
05:49You're trying to act like Ethan.
05:51I looked at her and almost laughed.
05:53Ethan looks fragile, but I'm the one faking it?
05:56I said nothing.
05:58I just wrapped the bandage tighter around my leg and sat there until the pain eased a little.
06:03Then Emma pulled a box of chocolates out of her purse and dropped it on the table.
06:07Here, eat something.
06:09Ethan told me to bring you this.
06:10He said Liam's fine, so you can stop worrying.
06:12Consider it compensation.
06:14We're doing what's best for him.
06:15If you can just accept that, we can still be civil.
06:18And if you miss Liam, you can always go visit him.
06:20I looked at the box on the table.
06:21It had already been opened.
06:23The almond chocolates were melted.
06:25I'm severely allergic to almonds.
06:27Emma used to know that.
06:29But ever since Ethan came back, it was like none of that mattered anymore.
06:34I don't want it.
06:39Enough, Jason!
06:41Don't push me!
06:42If you keep acting like this, you'll never see Liam again!
06:45Don't forget, I'm his mother.
06:47I gave birth to him.
06:49I had never imagined my wife would one day use our son to threaten me.
06:53I want to see Liam.
06:54He was so little.
06:55What if he was crying for me?
06:57Emma saw she had leverage.
06:59She picked up her phone.
07:01Fine.
07:01But first, you call Ethan and apologize.
07:05You stole my son?
07:07Gave him to your lover?
07:08And now I need to apologize to see my own child?
07:12Your child?
07:13Don't forget I'm the one who gave birth to him.
07:15He's my kid too!
07:16And if I want someone else to raise him, that's my choice!
07:24If you won't apologize over the phone, you go say it to his face.
07:30Then she grabbed my hair and tried to drag me toward the door.
07:34The pain in my leg made me think of Liam.
07:37He was such a good kid, he had to be scared.
07:41Ever since Emma picked Ethan up from the airport, she'd changed.
07:45She stopped caring.
07:49About a week ago, she suddenly came home early and cooked dinner.
07:52She apologized for neglecting me and our son because of work.
07:56Liam was so happy that night.
07:58He was too young to know that no job makes a mother disappear for three months.
08:02It was a terrible excuse.
08:04But I chose to believe her.
08:07One call from Ethan, and she abandoned our son.
08:11That's when everything made sense.
08:13Now I finally understood.
08:15All the things she chose to ignore were because of another man.
08:20The blood dripping onto the floor finally caught Emma's attention.
08:24You're actually hurt?
08:25I laughed.
08:26When we first got married, she used to notice everything about me.
08:29If I lost a couple pounds, she would be home early to make me a big meal.
08:33If I got a small paper cut, she insisted on doing all the chores.
08:37Now I was bleeding through bandages, and she hadn't even noticed.
08:44Fine.
08:44If you're hurt, we're going to the hospital.
08:47I didn't argue.
08:48I let her pull me to the car.
08:54When I got in, I realized even her car had changed.
08:57Their photo was taped to the rearview mirror, Emma and Ethan.
09:01When she saw where I was looking, she stiffened.
09:04Don't get the wrong idea.
09:05It was just a random picture.
09:07He thought it was funny and stuck it there.
09:08If you want, I can take it down.
09:11It's fine.
09:13Just drive.
09:20I knew exactly what Ethan was doing.
09:23He was marking his territory.
09:25The old me would have taken the bait.
09:36Now, I didn't care.
09:41We had only been on the road a few minutes when Ethan called.
09:45I could hear him panicking.
09:50Napster, not Ian'd want to sell to your crying.
09:54What happened to Liam?
09:55Why is he crying?
09:56She didn't answer me.
09:57She just pulled over, unlocked the door, and shoved me out of the car.
10:02Ethan is not in a good place right now.
10:03I'm going to see him.
10:05You can get to the hospital yourself.
10:06And then she drove off.
10:09Then the car disappeared into traffic.
10:14My wound split open again when I hit a fire hydrant.
10:22By the time a stranger got me to the hospital, I was covered in blood.
10:27When I got home from the hospital, Emma confronted me, furious.
10:32Who is she?
10:33The woman pushing my wheelchair was a college classmate.
10:36She was on shift at the hospital and offered to bring me home.
10:40Seriously?
10:40Since when have you known some random woman from college?
10:43Funny.
10:43I didn't know your business trips were really flights to France to see Ethan.
10:47I almost laughed.
10:49That shut her up for a minute.
10:52Jason, are you still mad about last night?
10:54I was worried about Ethan.
10:56He just got back, and he's not doing well.
10:58I was going to pick you up, but I thought maybe you'd already gone home.
11:00And you weren't answering my calls.
11:02And after I was this worried about you, you come home with another woman?
11:05Bye.
11:06My classmate clearly caught the vibe.
11:08She said goodbye and left.
11:09I watched her walk away, then turned my wheelchair toward the bedroom.
11:13Behind me, Emma called out.
11:15Jason, are you seriously not going to explain yourself?
11:18Explain what?
11:19You left me on the street to go see him.
11:23If you really cared, you would have gone to the hospital.
11:26Then no one else would have had to bring me home.
11:29I opened the bedroom door.
11:31At that point, I only wanted two things.
11:36To get Liam back.
11:37And to end this marriage.
11:43The next morning, Emma left early.
11:45I packed everything that belonged to me and Liam and moved out.
11:49My lawyer moved fast.
11:51The divorce papers were ready that same day.
11:54But he told me not to serve her yet.
11:55Not while she still had my son.
11:58When Emma got home and saw half the house emptied out, she assumed I was still angry about what happened
12:04with Liam.
12:06She called me over and over.
12:12I ignored every call.
12:17She started flooding her social media with photos of Liam and Ethan.
12:20She still thought this was a game.
12:28She had no idea what I were to do next.
12:34Two months later, I saw Emma and Ethan again.
12:40They showed up at a charity gala in Hartwild, hand in hand.
12:45I was there, too.
12:47My company had sponsored part of the event.
12:50Before the auction even started, Emma stayed wrapped around Ethan like she belonged on his arm, showing him off in
12:55front of everyone.
12:56And even while she was playing the perfect date, she kept glancing at me.
13:00Ethan noticed.
13:02There was malice in his eyes.
13:04The charity auction is about to begin.
13:07I'd like to add one more item.
13:09For a good cause.
13:11Then he pulled a ring from his pocket.
13:15My mother's ring.
13:16I froze.
13:17That ring was my family heirloom.
13:20My mother had protected her whole life.
13:23Before she died, she placed it in Emma's hands.
13:26She wanted it passed down through the family.
13:29Emma had promised her that she would treasure it.
13:32And now, she had handed it to Ethan.
13:35And he was putting it up for auction.
13:37I barely made it through the rest of the night.
13:39By the time the event ended, I just wanted to leave.
13:43Jason, how long are you going to keep this up?
13:45I've been more than patient with you.
13:47I looked at her.
13:48I used to know that face by heart.
13:50Now, I barely recognized her.
13:52Jason, are you and Emma fighting because of me?
13:54Emma and I are just friends.
13:55She's only nice to me out of pity.
13:57There is seriously something wrong with you!
13:59Ethan has done nothing wrong!
14:01Everything I did, I stand by.
14:03I did it because I wanted to.
14:04He sounded hurt.
14:05She said it so easily.
14:07Then headlights cut across the lot.
14:09A black sedan was coming fast.
14:13Before I could react, someone shoved me.
14:22The last thing I saw before everything went black
14:24was her raised hand as she leaned into Ethan.
14:28Ethan.
14:29Ethan.
14:30Ethan.
14:31Ethan.
14:38Then the scream started.
14:42Oh my God!
14:44Someone got hit!
14:45There's so much blood!
14:47Call an ambulance now!
14:54when i woke up i was already in the hospital voices were coming from outside my room
15:01emma's was the easiest to recognize what do you mean i can't go in he's my husband
15:07you're awake don't tell me you're still sorry for her that woman nearly killed you
15:12then she glanced at the door and scoffed
15:20babe you're awake are you still in pain oh now you care funny you didn't look this concerned
15:27when you shoved him toward a moving car emma froze do you even understand how bad this is
15:32his leg was already injured now it's worse because of you i i didn't mean to i didn't know he
15:38was hurt
15:38that badly of course you were too busy with another man to notice i can't believe you had the nerve
15:43to
15:43show up here emma looked like she wanted to defend herself but the words wouldn't come
15:47i just thought you thought what that getting hit by a car wasn't a big deal if it's so harmless
15:52why
15:52don't you try it yourself emma didn't say a word she just held onto my hand tighter jason
15:58i know this is my fault i'll do better just forgive me this once okay
16:06no there's no fixing this and i want a divorce
16:13she saw i meant it she looked like she wanted to say more
16:19then her phone rang she stepped out took the call
16:24and came back with that fake soft look
16:27jason i know you're upset i'm going home to make you some soup i'll come back tomorrow after
16:32you've had time to calm down i almost laughed
16:38she rushed out
16:41did she really think like i wouldn't know who she was running to
16:45ethan had texted me minutes earlier
16:49i didn't even react
16:55people are strange
16:58now that i'm done she suddenly wants to act loyal
17:09while i was in the hospital emma showed up every day
17:13but at that point i only said two things to her
17:17i want a divorce
17:19and i want my son back
17:22she refused to answer
17:24the longer she stayed
17:26the more desperate ethan got
17:28i could tell by the marks on her neck
17:31he was trying to claim her
17:37jason i bought back your mom's ring
17:39i ran my thumb over the gift box and almost laughed
17:43do you want me to thank you for returning my own family heirloom
17:46no i know you're still angry
17:49i just wanted to help ethan
17:51that's all
17:52you miss liam right
17:53i brought you something
17:55i took it and opened it without saying a word
17:58they had taken him everywhere
18:02anyone else might have thought he looked happy
18:04but i knew my son
18:06he wasn't
18:07his eyes were dull
18:09jason i know you love kids
18:13we can have another baby
18:15i'm willing to have more children with you
18:17ethan and i made this album together
18:19we do to see it lee and her family
18:21we wanted you to see that liam's doing well with him
18:25it was a photo of the three of them together
18:27ethan was grinning
18:28emma was holding liam and kissing his cheek
18:29and underneath the picture written across the bottom were the words
18:32our first family trip
18:34here's to many more
18:37since when did my son become part of your little family
18:39no no that was from a day trip with liam
18:40it must have gotten in there by accident
18:46get out
18:52and don't come back
18:56on the day i was discharged
18:58emma still showed up
19:02i stood there
19:03looking at that eager smile on her face
19:06babe
19:06i already talked to the doctor
19:08you need rest at home
19:10let me take care of you
19:13i already brought liam home
19:14he misses you
19:15don't you want to see your son
19:27i got in the car and sat down
19:28then i noticed it
19:30all of ethan's stuff was still there
19:33she followed my eyes immediately
19:37i know you hate these
19:39in a couple of days we can take new pictures with liam and put ours up instead
19:42i'll replace everything
19:43whatever you like
19:44no need
19:45it's fine
19:46you don't need to waste your energy on any of this
19:49just sign the divorce papers
19:51then go be with ethan
19:52you won't ever have to worry about me standing in the way again
19:57when we got home
19:58she was trying to take care of everything
20:01then i heard little footsteps
20:03daddy
20:04daddy where did you go
20:06i missed you so much
20:08hey buddy
20:09have you been okay
20:11daddy missed you too
20:12i knew i had failed him
20:13he was still so little
20:15and i hadn't been there to protect him
20:17emma saw me soften around liam
20:19she thought i was softening toward her too
20:21she came over and wrapped her arms around both of us
20:25babe i swear liam's been okay
20:27ethan really likes him too
20:28tell daddy sweetheart
20:29you had fun these past few weeks right
20:31i shifted liam in my arms and pulled away from her hand
20:34my face stayed cold
20:35she opened her mouth about to explain again but her phone rang
20:38we both knew who it was
20:40she glanced at the screen then walked out to the balcony to answer
20:44i could hear pieces of it through the wind
20:47jason was in a car accident
20:49i'm his wife of course i had to take care of him
20:51liam is jason's son too
20:53if he says no what am i supposed to do
20:55no that's not what i meant
20:57i'm coming now
20:58she hung up and walked back in
21:04babe something just came up at work i have to go in
21:07i didn't even look at her
21:08i just sat on the floor and played with liam
21:11once a relationship is dead to me
21:13it stays dead
21:17no matter what she did after that
21:19there was no bringing it back
21:22this time emma disappeared for three straight days
21:25ethan really knew how to keep her hooked
21:29while she was gone
21:30a college friend functioned
21:31helped me move into an apartment
21:32a few days later
21:34when i was dropping liam off at preschool
21:36emma stopped me outside
21:37jason i know i let you down
21:39i know that's why you moved out with liam
21:42but i swear i didn't do it on purpose
21:45ethan got depressed
21:46his therapist said he shouldn't be left alone right now
21:48but nothing happened between us
21:50nothing
21:51you don't need to explain anything to me
21:53just sign them
21:55once we're divorced you'll be free
21:59she was crying
22:00and her whole body was shaking
22:02you can keep the house
22:03i don't want any of it
22:04i just want liam
22:06she kept shaking her head
22:07tears everywhere
22:08jason please
22:09please don't do this
22:10i'm not divorcing you
22:11i love you
22:12i swear there's nothing going on between me and ethan
22:14and if it really bothers you that much
22:15i won't see him again
22:16we can still be a family
22:17liam is still so little
22:18can you really do this to him
22:19can you really let him grow up without a mother
22:21that actually made me laugh
22:23emma i gave you so many chances
22:24i was still giving you a chance last week
22:26and what did you do with them
22:27you lied to me
22:28every time you said you were going to work
22:29i already knew who you were really going to see
22:31in this marriage i was never the one who was unfaithful
22:33if you still refuse to sign
22:35i'll file and settle it in court
22:36then i turned and walked away
22:44after helping me move
22:45sophie grew really attached to liam
22:57emma and i got together our junior year
23:12emma and i got together our junior year
23:17and every time she would tell me the same thing
23:20having me was enough
23:21and that she didn't care about flashy things
23:23when i think about it now
23:25i do believe she loved me once
23:27even so
23:28i made myself a promise
23:30one day
23:31i'd buy her the best ring i could
23:33and eventually
23:34i did
23:35but in the end
23:36that ring
23:38became just another symbol
23:39of her life with ethan
23:42this wasn't the first time
23:44she had chosen him over me
23:46there had been plenty before
23:49we used to fight about him all the time
23:51and every time
23:52she defended him
23:53can you not be so petty
23:55we've known each other for years
23:56we're just friends
23:58we're married
23:59do i really have to explain this to you every time
24:01those words used to hurt
24:04but not anymore
24:07i looked over at liam
24:08still laughing on the rug
24:11yeah
24:11i'm done
24:12now i have liam
24:14that's enough for me
24:15all i want is a simple life with my son
24:20i thought that was the end of me and emma
24:24turns out
24:25she had one more nasty surprise waiting for me
24:28sunday morning
24:29i opened my apartment door
24:31emma stood there in a white wedding dress
24:33a phone set up on a tripod behind her
24:36holding the ring i had used to propose to her
24:39jason i know everything that happened was my fault
24:41i know i hurt you and i know i hurt liam
24:43i'll accept whatever punishment you think i deserve
24:46but i love you
24:46i really do
24:47i can't lose you
24:48three years ago you proposed to me at school
24:50i didn't cherish the marriage we had
24:52so this time let me do it
24:53let me ask you now
24:54give me one more chance let me take care of liam with you
24:57she looked beautiful
24:58everything was set up perfectly
25:00all that was left was for me to play my part and say yes
25:05this is an apartment building stop causing a scene
25:08and we're getting divorced
25:09sign the papers
25:10or i'll have my lawyer handle it in court
25:20what i didn't expect was for that live stream to blow up overnight
25:22within hours it was everywhere
25:24the comments were a mess
25:25some people defended me
25:26some people mocked the whole thing
25:27most of it i didn't care about
25:29then someone online dug up what had happened between emma and me
25:31after that public opinion flipped hard
25:33the backlash got worse by the day
25:35i never responded
25:39move forward with the divorce
25:42i had my lawyer move forward with the divorce
25:44by the time we got to court i was ready
25:47i had everything
25:48proof that the marriage had completely broken down
25:50proof of her affair
25:52proof of what she'd done with liam
25:53proof that my son would be safer and more stable with me
25:56in the end the judge granted the divorce
25:58i got full custody of liam too
26:01when i walked out of the courthouse
26:02emma was standing outside
26:08jason do you really hate me that much
26:10i know i was wrong
26:11i wanted to make it right
26:13why couldn't you just give me one more chance
26:16i didn't even look at her
26:19maybe i do keep score
26:21but i will never stay with a woman who could betray me
26:26and i would never let my son grow up
26:27depending on a mother who could throw him away
26:34after that
26:35emma disappeared from my life
26:38and i didn't care enough to ask where she went
26:40she didn't matter anymore
26:43these days
26:44my life is full
26:53and for the first time in a long time
26:55that's enough
26:56and i i don't love
26:56but in a long time
26:56because i don't love
26:57i don't know
26:58if she really didn't know
26:58because mojej
Comments