- 4 hours ago
- #revenge
Tearing up her old marriage contract, a brilliant financial mastermind utilizes her private networks to completely ruin her ex. #Revenge
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Hi, this is Mrs. Hudson. I'm here to swipe my card for the $3,000 a table 10-year-old
00:05birthday party I reserved.
00:06I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Hudson. This card has less than $500 available credit.
00:12I poured everything I had into helping my husband build his tech startup from nothing,
00:17turning it into one of Silicon Valley's red-hot unicorns.
00:21After that, I stepped back from the spotlight without a second thought and became a full-time mother.
00:26On my daughter Ava's 10th birthday, I wanted to throw her a grand party
00:30and booked a luxury banquet package at the Hotel Bel Air in Beverly Hills at $3,000 per table.
00:36But when I swiped the card, the front desk staff apologized.
00:40Mrs. Hudson, I'm very sorry, but the available balance on this card is less than $500.
00:46Embarrassed, I went home and confronted my husband.
00:49He put on an apologetic face and said,
00:52The company is bidding on the Silicon Valley Corley Tech Park, a competitor militially stirring up trouble,
00:56so I advanced a huge amount of money for components guarantees, and I'm a cash flowed temporarily tut.
01:00When the funds come through, I promise to throw Ava the most decent birthday party Los Angeles has ever seen.
01:05I considerately expressed my understanding, then immediately turned around and started liquidating our assets.
01:11Because the new chair of the review panel leading this bidding project is none other than my father,
01:16and I had just spoken with him on the phone last night.
01:18He made it clear, there have been no recent requests for any private financial transactions.
01:25The entire process is open and compliant.
01:28I'm going to find out exactly who he's been spending the money on.
01:32This black card was our family's joint account.
01:35Just last month, it still had over $2 million in it.
01:39The transaction history had been deliberately deleted,
01:42so I went to the bank specifically and requested the full statement.
01:45The single largest charge was, incredibly, at the very same Hotel Bel Air I had just been to.
01:52$140,000.
01:54And the details read,
01:56Private birthday party all-inclusive package.
01:59Daddy must be planning a surprise for us, right?
02:05Mommy, let's hurry over and give Daddy a surprise too.
02:09Looking at my daughter Ava's innocent eyes,
02:11I couldn't bring myself to think badly of Liam.
02:14When we rushed to the hotel banquet,
02:16I spotted him immediately Liam,
02:18sharply dressed in a suit,
02:20standing at the entrance,
02:21laughing and chatting with guests.
02:23A woman in a red evening gown was intimately holding his arm,
02:27looking just like a perfect golden couple.
02:30She was Sophia, Liam's chief assistant,
02:33and practically a company veteran.
02:34Liam, your son looks exactly like you,
02:38so outstanding.
02:39Who wouldn't envy you?
02:41Still so in love with a child this old.
02:43Listening to the guests' flattering words,
02:45I then noticed a little boy standing between them,
02:49with a striking resemblance to Liam around the eyes and brows.
02:53My daughter suddenly wrenched her hand free from mine,
02:55and ran toward Liam.
02:57Daddy, the name up there is wrong!
02:59My name is Ava, not Noah!
03:02That was when I realized she had seen the welcome sign nearby,
03:06which boldly read,
03:08Happy 7th birthday to our beloved son, Noah Hudson.
03:13Before I could even begin to process this,
03:16I heard a loud thud Sophia had reached out and shoved my daughter to the ground.
03:20Where did this child come from?
03:23No manners at all.
03:25I rushed forward and scooped up my daughter.
03:27The moment I saw the blood beating on her scraped knee,
03:30rage, completely overpowered reason.
03:33Liam Hudson!
03:35You used our family money to keep a woman and an illegitimate child on the side!
03:39And now you're letting her hurt Ava?
03:41My voice trembled with fury as I held my sobbing daughter tightly.
03:45Sophia muttered under her breath,
03:47What joint property?
03:48Every single penny of this company was earned with me fighting by his side.
03:52Some people have been playing housewife for so long,
03:56they actually think they're the company's owner.
03:58The surrounding guests buzzed with discussion,
04:01their eyes swiveling back and forth between us.
04:03Is this the mistress coming to stir up trouble?
04:06How dare she crash the real partner's party?
04:09Absolutely outrageous.
04:11Had nothing but a daughter and still tries to make a scene truly pathetic.
04:15Those probing, contemptuous, mocking stares fell on my daughter and me,
04:20piercing like countless needles.
04:22I said angrily,
04:24Are you kidding me?
04:26Sophia is the mistress!
04:28This boy is the dirty little secret no one was supposed to know about!
04:31A few snickers rippled through the crowd.
04:33A man with a beer belly swirled his wine glass and said,
04:37Sophia and Liam have been together for ages.
04:41Everyone knows she's the one who holds everything together for him.
04:44Another woman chimed in.
04:46Liam and Sophia have such a great relationship.
04:48This woman clearly just wants to scam him because he's loaded.
04:52I turned my gaze to Liam and said icily,
04:55Liam, tell me, who am I?
04:59Liam finally spoke.
05:00Wearing a helpless smile, he turned to the guests.
05:03My apologies for this little scene, everyone.
05:06This is Claire, our household assistant.
05:08She spends all her time reading romance novels and has a hard time telling fantasy from reality.
05:14He then turned to look at me, his eyes filled with warning.
05:17Claire, take your daughter Ava back to rest.
05:21Stop embarrassing yourselves here.
05:23I felt as if I had been struck by lightning.
05:26I couldn't believe that the man who had shared my bed for 12 years
05:29would actually slap such an absurd identity onto me right to my face.
05:34Seeing that Liam had taken her side,
05:36Sophia immediately found her confidence, her voice rising.
05:40Claire, I know it's not easy raising a daughter on your own,
05:43but you can't try to extort money like this.
05:48Tell you what, why don't you go back for now
05:51and I'll have the butler pay you an extra three months' salary.
05:53Bursts of mocking laughter erupted from the guests.
05:56Oh, so the assistant is trying to move up?
05:58That's a joke.
06:00People do anything for money these days.
06:04That poor little girl, stuck with a mother like that.
06:07A mother who acts like that, the child is bound to pick it up.
06:12She's probably going anywhere in life.
06:14Sophia smiled smugly.
06:16She crouched down and said to Noah,
06:19You see?
06:20Study hard, so you won't become a laughing out.
06:23Noah jutted out his chin,
06:26his eyes full of a meanness far beyond his years.
06:29How dare you shout at mom like that?
06:33He reached out and shoved me hard.
06:36Caught completely off guard,
06:37I staggered back two steps,
06:39nearly falling down together with my daughter.
06:41Noah said arrogantly,
06:43My dad said the tech company will be mine to control someday.
06:47You don't deserve to take my dad from me.
06:53You'll end up just like your mom,
06:56a servant assistant.
06:58The guests knock and laugh at an even more person.
07:02The young master has such ambition.
07:06Just then,
07:06several hotel waitstaff in uniform passed by carrying trays,
07:11and one of them was the front desk manager
07:13who had assisted me last time.
07:15When he saw me,
07:16he deliberately raised his voice
07:18and said to the colleague beside him,
07:20Well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Hudson,
07:22the one who reserved a 3,000-a-table birthday party
07:25but couldn't even get $500 out of her card.
07:27Told you,
07:28some people just love to put on airs
07:30pretending to be a rich wife,
07:31and they have to slink off with their tail between their legs.
07:34Sophia's frivolous and let out a scum.
07:37Broke is a joke.
07:38Can't even scrape up 500 bucks?
07:40No surprise she's throwing a fit.
07:42The bare-bellied man Richard from earlier
07:44also swayed forward,
07:45his greasy gaze sizing up Ava and me,
07:48his tone frivolous.
07:51You have to admit that Nancy at Liam's place
07:53is actually quite good looking,
07:54and the little girl is kind of cute too.
07:56You definitely don't stand a chance with Liam,
07:58so why not come with me?
08:00I'll give you $3,000 a month
08:02plus room and bear for you and your daughter.
08:03What do you say?
08:04You won't have to worry about $500 anymore.
08:06I'm willing to be the one to take over.
08:08Pretty decent of me, don't you think?
08:09Hearing this,
08:11the other guests laughed even harder.
08:13Richard, you're so generous!
08:15But seriously,
08:16isn't $3,000 a bit too much for someone like her?
08:20Sophia wrestled up to Liam
08:21and joined the crowd in the jury.
08:23I demanded sharply,
08:25Liam, are you just going to stand there
08:27and watch them insult me and Ava like this?
08:29Liam looked at me expressionlessly,
08:32as if I truly were a complete stranger.
08:35After everyone had laughed their fill,
08:37he finally spoke again,
08:39his tone cold and impatient.
08:41Claire, stop embarrassing yourself here.
08:43This is my son's birthday party.
08:45Take your daughter and go back
08:47or I'll call security.
08:48Ava trembled even more violently in my arms.
08:51Her tiny hands clutched tightly
08:53at the hem of my clothes,
08:55and she buried her face against my chest,
08:57too afraid to look at those malicious faces.
09:00Mom, is it really like what they said?
09:03Hearing my daughter's terrified question,
09:06my heart ached so fiercely I could barely breathe.
09:0912 years of devotion and sacrifice,
09:12and what I got in return was being trampled
09:14and humiliated by my own husband in public like this.
09:19No, no, Ava.
09:21I covered Ava's ears.
09:22My heart filled with bitterness.
09:24How was I supposed to explain this to her?
09:27Back when Liam first started his business,
09:30we were crammed into a run-down garage
09:32of less than a hundred square feet.
09:34The company couldn't afford to hire anyone,
09:36so I took on multiple roles.
09:38Admin, bookkeeper, order tracking.
09:41To help him bring in clients,
09:43I cast aside every shred of dignity
09:45and begged every single person I knew.
09:48I remember the day he signed
09:50his first million-dollar contract.
09:52He excitedly spun me around in circles
09:54and then used that money
09:55to buy me a very expensive dress.
09:58I saw the sparkle in Liam's eyes,
10:00and in the end,
10:01I never told him that the big client
10:03was actually a long-time business partner
10:05of my uncle.
10:06Later, the company gradually got on track,
10:08and I became pregnant with Ava.
10:11Liam, out of concern for me,
10:13had me go home to rest
10:14and take care of the pregnancy in peace.
10:16From now on, I'll take care of you.
10:18You've suffered so much for me.
10:20Now it's turn to give you
10:21the life of a princess.
10:22But now,
10:23I looked down at the old dress I was wearing,
10:26the one I had worn for three years.
10:28Meanwhile,
10:30Liam was in a sharp suit,
10:31and Sophia was draped head-to-toe
10:33in designer brands.
10:35The two of them stood together,
10:36basking in everyone's flattery,
10:38looking perfectly matched.
10:40And I was called the assistant,
10:41and no one even doubted it.
10:44Ma'am,
10:44I know life hasn't been easy for you,
10:46but children at this age
10:48already understand things.
10:49If you don't care about your own dignity,
10:52at least don't embarrass the child.
10:53As Sophia spoke,
10:55she pulled a small stack of green bills
10:57out of her exquisite designer wallet.
10:59She held it out to me with utter arrogance.
11:02Durgar Zion the Didawa Mansan.
11:05I don't have much cash on me,
11:06and I don't know what kind of trouble you're in,
11:08but take these $2,000.
11:11Buy a one-way ticket to the Midwest,
11:13then go see a psychiatrist
11:14and get your head examined.
11:16As she leaned in close,
11:17Sophia said in a voice so low,
11:19only the two of us could hear,
11:21Claire,
11:21what does it matter that you met Liam first?
11:24The one not loved
11:25is the one who doesn't belong.
11:28Right in front of everyone's watching eyes,
11:30she suddenly let out an,
11:32oh dear,
11:33and her fingers loosened.
11:35The bills smacked across my face
11:37and scattered all over the floor.
11:39Sophia smiled without a trace of apology,
11:42her gaze condescending.
11:44Sorry, my hand slipped.
11:46The pot-bellied vice president
11:48immediately chimed in.
11:49What a classy lady Sophia is!
11:53No wonder she's Liam's most trusted partner.
11:56Liam glanced at me indifferently and commanded,
11:59Pick it up and hurry along.
12:00I was so enraged that I actually laughed.
12:04$2,000 trying to get rid of me?
12:07Liam,
12:08do you think back then
12:09your crappy garage company,
12:11what made you think you could get
12:12those multi-million dollar defense contracts?
12:15Every penny you've spent on Sophia
12:17and this illegitimate child over the years
12:19is our marital property.
12:21If I want,
12:22I can take it all back.
12:24That's quite a story, Claire.
12:26With that imagination,
12:27you should try writing some rich family romance for fun.
12:30Times have changed.
12:31No need to be so hung up on being the original wife.
12:35But Liam was clearly hit where it hurt.
12:37His face instantly turned ashen
12:39and he was just about to shout,
12:41Claire, stop it!
12:42A crisp sound of a slap cut him off.
12:44Liam,
12:45if you dare slander me one more word,
12:47if you dare call me an assistant again,
12:48I'll take you to court immediately.
12:50I'll make Hudson Technology vanish from Silicon Valley for good.
12:56Liam was stunned by the slap.
12:58The moment he registered what had happened,
13:00fury ignited in his eyes.
13:01He grabbed me by the throat,
13:03his knuckles turning white from the force,
13:05his tone vicious.
13:06You think I wouldn't hit a woman?
13:09Don't push your luck.
13:11In a corner where no one could see,
13:13he suddenly clamped down on my neck.
13:15His grip grew tighter and tighter
13:17and I felt the air being slowly squeezed out of me.
13:20My vision began to darken
13:22and I could only claw helplessly at his wrist.
13:25Just when I thought I was truly going to die right there,
13:28Sophia stepped forward with feigned concern to intervene.
13:31Liam,
13:31it's not worth getting angry over someone like that.
13:34What if you end up hurting yourself?
13:36Only then did Liam release his grip.
13:39I collapsed to the floor,
13:41gasping for breath,
13:42tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.
13:44The ruthlessness in his eyes just moments ago
13:47made me understand in that instant,
13:49his gaze was filled with pure rage
13:51and he struck without the slightest regard
13:53for the bond we once shared.
13:55Sophia tenderly stroked the red mark on Liam's face
13:58and then,
13:59right in front of everyone,
14:01she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
14:03All right,
14:04don't be upset.
14:06Today is Noah's birthday.
14:08Don't let people like that ruin our good mood.
14:11Liam's expression softened slightly
14:13and he wrapped an arm around Sophia's waist.
14:15Just then,
14:16the banquet hall light suddenly dimmed.
14:20The timed projector flickered on
14:22and photos began to play across the screen.
14:25There,
14:25on the screen,
14:26in vivid detail,
14:27were the moments of Noah's life from birth to now.
14:30His birth,
14:31his first birthday,
14:32his first day of school.
14:34All were recorded and in every single one,
14:37Liam and Sophia were there by his side.
14:40Yet in my daughter Ava's life,
14:42Liam as a father was always absent.
14:44My daughter and Noah share the same birthday.
14:47So after Noah turned three,
14:49meaning from the very year Noah was born,
14:50my daughter never saw her father on her birthday again.
14:54Noah made a face at my daughter
14:56and taunted.
14:57So you say he's your father?
14:59Then take out the photo and let us see.
15:02Mom,
15:03does daddy not care about me at all?
15:06Am I just an unwanted child?
15:08I shook my head,
15:09but photos of them started playing on the screen.
15:11Seeing several familiar backgrounds,
15:14I couldn't help but freeze.
15:16The backgrounds were the deck and the ocean,
15:18the two of them cheek to cheek,
15:20intimately.
15:21I remembered that cruise ship.
15:22It was the luxury cruise I had booked
15:24for my fifth wedding anniversary with Liam.
15:26So Liam had booked a ticket for Sophia too.
15:29And that family photo at the amusement park.
15:32Liam and Sophia tightly embracing the date
15:34stamped on the photo
15:35was the very same day Liam had been at the park
15:38with me and our daughter.
15:40Finally, I understood why.
15:42Every time we went out,
15:43Liam always had some urgent, unavoidable meeting.
15:46The happy marriage I had cherished in my heart
15:48was already full of cracks,
15:50rotten on the inside.
15:51While I was still lost in shock,
15:54Noah suddenly rushed over,
15:57slapped Ava hard across the face,
15:59and shouted,
16:00Cause your mom isn't a mommy top where I'm dadded.
16:03Your mom just dared to hit my dad,
16:06so I'm going to bully you.
16:07My daughter's head was struck to the side,
16:10her cheek instantly flushing bright red.
16:12She was a head taller than Noah,
16:14and at an age where children are naturally competitive
16:16and eager to stand their ground.
16:19So her instinct was to hit back.
16:21But Sophia immediately grabbed hold of Ava's hands,
16:24squeezing her wrists forcefully,
16:26and scolded her harshly.
16:27Acting so insilent at such a young age,
16:31you truly lack manners and upbringing.
16:34Seeing my daughter restrained,
16:35Noah rushed forward at once
16:37and began kicking and hitting her.
16:39Children strike without any sense of restraint,
16:41and soon bruises and marks appeared all over my daughter's body.
16:45She was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face,
16:48but she stubbornly bit her lip
16:50and refused to let herself cry out loud.
16:54Desperate, I tried to pull Noah away,
16:56but Liam seized my arm in a death grip.
16:58They're just children playing.
16:59Why are you getting involved?
17:01Noah's very sensible.
17:02He knows his limits.
17:03Nothing will happen.
17:03I had reached my breaking point
17:05and screamed almost hoarsely,
17:07Liam Hudson,
17:09that is your own daughter!
17:11How can you just stand by
17:12and watch others bully her?
17:14How can you be so heartless?
17:17But Noah's my son.
17:19But Noah's my son.
17:21His voice was very soft,
17:23yet every word pierced my heart like a blade.
17:26But Noah is my son.
17:27Just then,
17:28Noah kicked Ava viciously in the stomach.
17:30My daughter immediately doubled over in pain,
17:33her little face turning deathly pale.
17:36Ava!
17:37I shrieked,
17:38my heart nearly stopping.
17:40Ava tried to shield her stomach with her hands,
17:42but Sophia was still clamping down on her tightly,
17:46leaving her utterly unable to protect herself.
17:48Seeing this,
17:49Noah grew even more smug
17:51and raised his foot again,
17:53aiming straight for Ava's already scraped and injured knee.
17:57I finally wrenched myself free from Liam,
17:59threw myself forward and shoved Noah aside,
18:02gathering my daughter protectively into my arms.
18:06Ava was trembling violently in my embrace.
18:08Her tiny hands clutched tightly at the hem of my clothes,
18:12and her voice was feeble.
18:13Mommy,
18:14it hurts so much.
18:16Noah,
18:17having been pushed away,
18:18knocked into a nearby table
18:20and started wailing loudly in pain.
18:23Sophia was beside herself with distress.
18:26My precious son!
18:28Our Noah is going to inherit the entire Hudson Technology Empire one day!
18:32Can you even afford it if you break him?
18:34Seeing Sophia and her son crying in each other's arms,
18:39Claire,
18:39how could you be so vicious?
18:41Liam couldn't hold back and raised his hand.
18:43Just as his slap was about to land on me,
18:45the sound of synchronized footsteps suddenly rang out from the entrance of the banquet hall.
18:50A middle-aged man in a dark, bespoke suit,
18:53exuding an aura of commanding authority,
18:56strode in.
18:57His eyes were razor sharp,
18:59and his entire presence radiated a quiet,
19:02intimidating power.
19:03Flanking him were a bodyguard and a senior assistant.
19:06The pot-bellied Richard,
19:08who had made those insolent remarks to me earlier,
19:11instantly switched to a fawning expression.
19:13He trotted over to greet the newcomer,
19:16bowing and scraping obsequiously.
19:18Mr. Anderson,
19:19your presence here is a true honor for the entire banquet.
19:23Liam, come over here.
19:24Let me introduce you.
19:25This is Silicon Valley's top angel investor,
19:29the lead investor in the tech company's first round,
19:31Mr. Robert Anderson!
19:33Liam stared at the newcomer in utter disbelief,
19:36his face instantly turning deathly pale.
19:39Father-in-law?
19:41Holding my injured daughter in my arms
19:44and gazing at that familiar face,
19:46my tears finally burst forth uncontrollably.
19:49I called out through my sobs,
19:51Dad!
19:54Mr. Robert ignored Richard,
19:56who had rushed up to him first,
19:58and didn't even glance at Liam,
20:00whose face was as pale as paper.
20:02He walked straight through the crowd
20:04and stopped in front of me.
20:05When his eyes fell on Ava in my arms,
20:08her face pallid,
20:09her arms and calves covered in purplish bruises,
20:12and then swept over the clear,
20:14glaring strangulation marks on my neck,
20:17the temperature in the entire banquet hall
20:19seemed to plummet to freezing in an instant.
20:22What's going on here?
20:24His voice was not loud,
20:25but it carried an unquestionable authority
20:27that struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.
20:30Richard,
20:30who had been so unbearably arrogant moments ago,
20:33was now drenched in sweat,
20:35the back of his shirt soaked through
20:37with cold perspiration.
20:39He stammered,
20:40trying to explain.
20:41Mr. Anderson,
20:42this is all a misunderstanding.
20:43This mother and daughter
20:44are Liam's household elders.
20:46They came to Noah's birthday party
20:47trying to extort money
20:48and cause bus blanks,
20:49and I'm so embarrassed
20:49that you have to see this.
20:50And next time you come,
20:51please your assistant notify me in advance,
20:53and I'll suddenly pick you up at the airport.
20:54Are you saying
20:56that my daughter and grandbotter
20:58are extorting money
20:59and causing trouble?
21:02His gaze slowly swept over Liam
21:05and Sophia's arms
21:06still tightly intertwined,
21:07and finally came to rest on Ava.
21:10His tone softened considerably.
21:12Ava,
21:13tell grandpa who hit you.
21:15Dad, let me explain.
21:16Things are not as you think.
21:18Ava,
21:19speak.
21:20Mr.
21:21Robert's tone was firm,
21:22and brooked no argument,
21:24giving Liam no chance
21:25to defend himself whatsoever.
21:27Ava timidly peeked out from my arms.
21:29Her little finger pointed first at Noah,
21:32still sniffling in Sophia's arms.
21:34Then at Sophia,
21:36tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
21:38It was him.
21:40He hit my face,
21:41kicked my stomach,
21:43and she held my hand so I couldn't die.
21:45Listening to Ava's tearful accusation,
21:48fine beads of cold sweat
21:49broke out on Liam's temples.
21:51He quietly pulled Richard aside,
21:53ducking away.
21:55Richard,
21:55is this really the newly a director
21:57of the fine patroker department?
21:58Are you sure you've got the right person?
22:00Richard was now utterly terrified.
22:03He kept wiping the sweat from his forehead
22:05with a handkerchief,
22:06his voice trembling.
22:07Absolutely.
22:08He invested in Google,
22:10Tesla.
22:10He's a titan of Silicon Valley.
22:12How could I be mistaken?
22:16This is really your father-in-law?
22:18Liam,
22:19you never told me you had such a big shot
22:20as a father-in-law.
22:21Why didn't you tell me
22:22her father is a top Silicon Valley investor?
22:27How was I supposed to know?
22:29I thought he was just some reclusive,
22:30retired old man
22:31who only goes fishing
22:32and reads books every day.
22:33He never talks about who he really is.
22:36And he rarely asked about Claire's affairs,
22:38so I assumed...
22:39I thought.
22:40While the two were still whispering,
22:42Noah,
22:42sheltered in Sophia's arms,
22:44had absolutely no inkling
22:45of how tense the atmosphere had become.
22:47He had just bumped his head
22:48and was already feeling full of grievance.
22:51Now,
22:52seeing this strange old man
22:53siding with Ava
22:54and even letting Ava tattle,
22:56his anger flared instantly.
22:59Hey,
22:59you old man!
23:00How dare you meddle in my business!
23:03Believe me,
23:04I'll have my dad
23:04call the security guards
23:06to throw you out!
23:07My dad is a billionaire!
23:11As he spoke,
23:12he even reached out his little hand
23:14to shove his father's leg,
23:15but the assistant swiftly stopped him
23:17with sharp reflexes.
23:18Sophia was scared out of her wits.
23:21She rushed forward in a panic,
23:23wrapped her arms around Noah,
23:24and clamped her hand tightly over his mouth,
23:27forcing a smile that was worse
23:28than a grimace onto her face.
23:30Please don't take it to heart, sir.
23:32The child is young
23:33and doesn't know what he's saying.
23:35Yes, Dad.
23:36He's just a little boy with no filter.
23:38Please don't hold it against him.
23:39It seems Mr. Hudson
23:41has a rather unique approach
23:42to disciplinating his child
23:44on a regular basis.
23:45But Noah was still struggling,
23:47making muffled sounds
23:49through the hand over his mouth,
23:50his eyes still glaring fiercely
23:52at Mr. Robert.
23:53Clearly,
23:54he didn't regard this old man
23:56as anyone important at all.
23:58Sophia,
23:59frantic,
24:00secretly pinched his arm
24:01several times
24:02before he finally settled down a little,
24:04yet he still kept his neck stiff,
24:06wearing a defiant,
24:08unyielding expression.
24:12Seeing his son's reckless arrogance
24:14and catching the increasingly cold look
24:17on Mr. Robert's face,
24:18a surge of fury ignited within Liam.
24:21It's all thanks to the way
24:22you've raised your son!
24:23Look at what you've spoiled him into!
24:26Sophia's head was knocked sideways
24:28by the blow,
24:29her hair falling loose in disarray,
24:31and clear finger marks
24:33surfaced on her face.
24:34She covered her face in disbelief,
24:36her eyes instantly reddening.
24:38Liam Hudson,
24:39you actually hit me?
24:40Ask yourself,
24:41don't you bear any responsibility
24:42for the way no one has turned out?
24:44Dad,
24:44it was this woman who seduced me.
24:46Noah only exists
24:47because of her careful scheme.
24:49You're a man too.
24:50What man doesn't make mistakes?
24:52But Claire has always been
24:53the one I truly love.
24:55From now on,
24:55I'll cut all ties completely
24:57with this mother and son.
24:58You promised me
24:59you'd divorce Claire!
25:00Now that your father-in-law is here,
25:02you want to kick us out?
25:04There's no way
25:05I'm letting this go!
25:06So what if her dad is a big shot?
25:08You're a wealthy boss too.
25:10Take this opportunity,
25:11they everything out on the table
25:12and divorced her!
25:13Crazy woman!
25:14How could I possibly
25:15divorce Claire for you?
25:17Don't even dream about it!
25:18You're so heartless.
25:20Liam,
25:21with you all these years,
25:22gave you a son
25:23and this is how you treat me?
25:25The two of them
25:26were completely heedless
25:27of the setting,
25:28tangled in an all-out brawl,
25:30the scene utterly unsightly.
25:32The surrounding guests
25:33watched in stunned disbelief.
25:38Some quietly took out
25:40their phones to record videos,
25:41while others stepped backward,
25:43afraid of getting caught
25:44in the fray.
25:45Noah's earlier arrogance
25:46had vanished entirely.
25:48He stood rooted to the spot,
25:50wailing loudly.
25:51Just as the two of them
25:53were locked in their ugly,
25:54inextricable fight,
25:55the doors of the banquet hall
25:57were pushed open once again.
25:58Several police officers
26:00in Los Angeles Police Department
26:01uniforms walked in.
26:03The lead officer scanned the room
26:05and asked in a deep voice,
26:06We received a report
26:07that someone here
26:08is suspected of
26:09intentional assault,
26:10child abuse,
26:11and disturbing public order.
26:14Who is Liam Hudson?
26:15Who is Sophia Miller?
26:17Liam and Sophia
26:18instantly froze in place.
26:20Liam frantically
26:21straightened his twisted tie.
26:23Officer, this is all
26:24a misunderstanding.
26:25Dad, please put in
26:26a good word for me.
26:27No amount of pleading
26:28will help.
26:30Misunderstanding or not,
26:31you're coming to the station
26:32with us for investigation.
26:34Mr. Robert's assistant
26:36stepped forward
26:37and said calmly,
26:39Officer, I'm the one
26:39who called the police.
26:40I'll cooperate and go back
26:42to give a full statement.
26:43Fully cooperate
26:44with the police investigation.
26:45Submit all collected evidence
26:46truthfully and completely,
26:48leaving nothing out.
26:52Under the shocked stares
26:53of the entire banquet of guests,
26:55Liam and Sophia
26:56were handcuffed
26:57and taken away.
26:59Noah stood there
27:00where he was,
27:00his face smeared
27:01with tears and snot,
27:03but he no longer dared
27:04to cry or throw a tantrum.
27:06He just stood there timidly,
27:08like an abandoned child.
27:09Off to the side,
27:11Richard remembered
27:11his own earlier behavior,
27:13how he had jeered
27:14and mocked me so brazenly,
27:15and his face instantly
27:17turned ashen as death.
27:18He hunched over
27:19and bowed his head
27:20in utter terror,
27:22apologizing profusely
27:23with deep regret.
27:24Mrs. Hurtson,
27:25my previous words
27:26and actions
27:27were rude and offensive.
27:28I sincerely ask
27:30for your forgiveness.
27:31All those disrespectful remarks
27:33were my fault.
27:34It was my lack of insight
27:35and failure
27:36to see the truth.
27:37Watching him grovel
27:38with the tide like this,
27:39I felt nothing but disgust.
27:41I turned my face away,
27:43unwilling to look any longer.
27:45My father merely cast him
27:46a cold glance,
27:47then carefully took Ava
27:49from my arms.
27:50His eyes were filled
27:51with heartache.
27:52Ava, be good.
27:54Grandpa is taking you
27:56to the hospital
27:57for a checkup and treatment.
28:01After a few days
28:02of quiet recuperation
28:04in the hospital,
28:05Ava's complexion
28:06improved considerably,
28:07but her spirit
28:08was still somewhat listless.
28:10She would often
28:11startle awake
28:12from nightmares,
28:13so I stayed at the hospital
28:14with her the whole time.
28:15In this sordid drama,
28:17all the blame
28:18had been pinned on Sophia.
28:20Liam did not bear
28:21the primary responsibility
28:22and was quickly bailed
28:23out of jail before long.
28:25Soon after,
28:26Liam appeared at the door
28:27of the hospital room,
28:28carrying an exquisite
28:29fruit basket
28:30and a bouquet under his eyes,
28:32his whole appearance
28:33considerably having
28:34a cautious,
28:35testing tone.
28:36Honey,
28:37Ava,
28:38I've come to see you.
28:40Ava,
28:40who had been leaning
28:41against me reading a book,
28:42saw Liam,
28:43and her eyes flickered faintly.
28:46She called out softly.
28:48I could see clearly
28:50that in her heart,
28:51my daughter still longed
28:52for fatherly love.
28:57Even after being hurt,
28:59she hadn't completely
29:00let it go.
29:01As if granted redemption,
29:03Liam immediately
29:03walked into the room
29:04and placed the flowers
29:05in Ava's hands.
29:07Do you like it, sweetie?
29:09Daddy has always remembered.
29:11Your favorite flowers
29:12are light pink daisies.
29:13Ava took the flowers
29:14and nodded lightly,
29:15but her eyes were
29:16full of evasiveness,
29:18tinged with
29:18unmistakable timidity.
29:20I didn't know
29:20what you'd like,
29:21so I also bought
29:23your favorite mango pudding,
29:25the signature dessert
29:26from that trendy sweet shop
29:28you always go to.
29:29Claire,
29:30it's your favorite flavor, too.
29:31I sat quietly to the side,
29:33not uttering a single word.
29:35The damage from that day
29:36had nearly upended
29:37my daughter's entire world view.
29:39I didn't want to provoke her further
29:41and could only remain silent
29:43for the time being.
29:44Over the following half month,
29:46Liam came to the hospital
29:47on time every single day
29:48to visit.
29:49Sometimes he brought
29:50carefully prepared meals,
29:52sometimes new toys,
29:54and sometimes he would just
29:55sit quietly by the bedside,
29:57chatting with Ava
29:58to cheer her up.
29:59He never once mentioned
30:00Sophia or Noah,
30:02as if that unbearable,
30:04ugly farce
30:04had never happened.
30:06Seeing that I showed
30:07no obvious resistance,
30:08Liam grew bolder.
30:10He probed gently.
30:11Claire,
30:12I know I've made
30:12unforgivable mistakes.
30:13Please,
30:14for Ava's sake,
30:15give me another chance
30:17to turn over a new sheaf,
30:18will you?
30:21With Ava right beside us,
30:23I gave no response,
30:24simply lowering my head
30:26and quietly peeling
30:27an apple in silence.
30:28My silence gave Liam
30:30a glimmer of hope.
30:31Starting the next day,
30:32rare and expensive flowers,
30:35haute couture clothing,
30:36and designer jewelry
30:37poured into the hospital room
30:39in an endless stream,
30:40piling up in every corner.
30:42I accepted every single item
30:43without the slightest hesitation.
30:45By the time Ava was discharged
30:47from the hospital,
30:48Liam showed up holding
30:49two exclusive invitations
30:51to a top-tier fashion show,
30:53his eyes earnest
30:54and tinged with excitement.
30:56Claire,
30:57do you remember
30:57when I landed
30:59my first business order?
31:01I bought you
31:02your first
31:03affordable luxury dress.
31:04Back then I told you,
31:06once I made it big,
31:07I'd book the entire fashion show
31:09and give you
31:09every hauteur gown.
31:11Now,
31:12this show
31:13is specially prepared for you.
31:14It wasn't that he was
31:15incapable of being
31:16thoughtful and considerate,
31:18nor that he had forgotten
31:19his past promises.
31:20It was simply that,
31:22before,
31:22he had never been willing
31:24to put in the effort for me.
31:25I finally spoke,
31:27my tone flat
31:28and unruffled.
31:29Liam,
31:30do you really think
31:31doing all this
31:32can erase all the hurt
31:33and make up for everything?
31:34He immediately stepped forward
31:36and clutched my hand,
31:37urgent and earnest.
31:39Claire,
31:39I know this is far from enough,
31:41but I'm willing to spend
31:42the rest of my life
31:43making it up to you
31:43and Ava.
31:45I'll completely cut off
31:46all ties with Sophia
31:47and arrange for her
31:48and her son to go abroad.
31:50They will never come
31:51had to disturb
31:51our lives as anyone.
31:56Just as he was envisioning
31:57the future
31:58with a heart full of hope,
31:59I directly pulled out
32:00a divorce agreement
32:01I had long since drafted
32:02and placed it in front of him.
32:04The moment Liam saw
32:06the agreement,
32:06the invitations in his hand
32:08fell to the ground.
32:09He stared at me blankly.
32:11Nobody can go through life
32:12without making mistakes.
32:13I was just confused
32:15for a moment.
32:16Claire,
32:17do you have to be so heartless?
32:18Let's part on good terms
32:19and not make things awkward
32:21for each other in the end.
32:22Liam quickly scanned
32:23the contents of the agreement
32:25and his face instantly
32:26turned ashen and contorted.
32:28Claire,
32:29you're so heartless.
32:29Why should I have to give up
32:30the vast majority
32:31of my property and assets?
32:32Then see you in court.
32:33Liam took a deep breath,
32:35suppressing the fury
32:36rising in his heart.
32:37I can give you
32:37all the family assets,
32:39but not the company.
32:39This is the enterprise
32:40I built with my own hand,
32:42my life's work.
32:42I can't give it to you.
32:43As for the shares you hold,
32:45I'm willing to buy them
32:45all back at full market price.
32:47I looked at him,
32:48my words deeply meaningful.
32:50Okay.
32:51Lander,
32:52you recover all the dzechents
32:53of the Wendigan Sophia
32:54and her Urzen Express.
32:56I will never interfere
32:57with your company.
33:00Liam agreed on the spot
33:02and his execution was swift.
33:04The very next day,
33:06he retained a top-tier law firm
33:08and formally filed a lawsuit
33:09against Sophia,
33:11demanding the return
33:11of all property
33:12gifted to her
33:13during the marriage.
33:14In the courtroom,
33:16Sophia's face
33:17was streaked with tears.
33:18She sobbed emotionally,
33:21making every possible excuse.
33:23All the money
33:23was voluntarily paid
33:24by Liam
33:25as living expenses
33:26and child support,
33:27which constitute
33:28voluntary gifts
33:28and do not need
33:29to be returned.
33:30Over the years,
33:31the total value
33:32of the property
33:33Liam had lavished on
33:34and gifted to Sophia
33:35and Noah
33:36amounted to $3 million.
33:38In the end,
33:40the court ruled
33:41that Sophia must return
33:42$140,000.
33:45Although not all
33:46the money was recovered,
33:47this sum was enough
33:48to completely bankrupt her
33:50and leave her
33:50with nothing.
33:51The moment the verdict
33:53was handed down,
33:54Sophia completely lost
33:55control in the courtroom,
33:57screaming hysterically.
34:01Liam!
34:02You are cold
34:03and heartless
34:04with no trace
34:05of affection!
34:08I worked hard
34:09by your side
34:10for years,
34:11gave you a son,
34:12and this is how
34:13cruelly you treat me?
34:15These things were never
34:15yours to begin with.
34:17Walking out
34:17of the courthouse,
34:18Liam quickly caught up
34:19to me,
34:20a trace of hope
34:21and wishful thinking
34:22in his eyes.
34:24Claire,
34:24I've made up my mind.
34:26I can't lose you
34:27and Ava.
34:28I'll spend the rest
34:29of my life
34:29proving my sincerity.
34:31Just give me
34:31one more chance.
34:33All right,
34:34we'll talk after
34:35you've got the company
34:36running smoothly.
34:37Not long after,
34:38Liam still showed up
34:40at my door.
34:40This time,
34:41his eyes were bloodshot,
34:43his hair a disheveled mess.
34:45The spirited air
34:46of a Silicon Valley
34:47young entrepreneur
34:48had been completely
34:49stripped away,
34:50leaving him looking
34:51utterly wretched
34:51and defeated.
34:52Claire!
34:53Was this your scheme
34:54all along?
34:56I've already returned
34:57all of Sophia's money
34:58and given you
34:59all the marital assets
35:00as you demanded.
35:01Why won't you
35:02just let me go?
35:03The company has recently
35:04lost three key clients
35:05in a row.
35:06All our partners
35:07have annually terminated
35:07cooperation without even
35:08giving a reason.
35:09No thanks to the
35:09Wall Street banks we worked
35:10have thrown like Titan
35:11all set in lines
35:12and are completely
35:13squeezing our Subint Len.
35:14You've pushed me
35:15a boopy dead in Ted's end.
35:16You determined to drive
35:17a corner with no way out.
35:21Take a good look.
35:22Every major client
35:23and every core investment
35:24that has kept you
35:25standing in Silicon Valley
35:26all these years,
35:27who do you think
35:28has been paving the way
35:28behind the scenes?
35:30If I didn't win them
35:31on my own merit,
35:32what, you handed them
35:33to me as charity?
35:34Claire, don't go too far.
35:36Sure, you have a father
35:37in a high position,
35:38but Hudson Technology?
35:39I built it myself
35:41working countless nights.
35:42Do you remember that first
35:43lifeline order in the early
35:45days of the company?
35:47You always thought it was
35:48because your business proposal
35:49brilliant enough,
35:50didn't you?
35:50That was my uncle's
35:52longtime business friend.
35:54Back then,
35:55to secure that opportunity,
35:57I went to their door
35:58every day for a month,
35:59curting favor with their family
36:01and swallowing all my pride
36:03just to buy you a lifeline
36:05for your startup.
36:06And what about Mr. White,
36:07the company's biggest
36:08venture partner?
36:09In Silicon Valley circles,
36:10he's always been notoriously tough
36:12and rarely willing
36:13to collaborate.
36:14I went to his door three times
36:16and got rejected every time.
36:18I had to ask my father's
36:19former colleague
36:20from the defense department
36:21to make the introduction
36:22using that kind of
36:23top-line connection
36:24to get you that
36:24$10 million venture capital.
36:26Without me,
36:27who would have given
36:27your tiny startup
36:28which had nothing at the time
36:29the time of day?
36:30All these years,
36:32Liam had been completely
36:33immersed in his own myth
36:34of building a business
36:36from scratch,
36:36priding himself
36:37on his achievements.
36:39A faint bitterness
36:40rose in my heart.
36:42Do you know
36:42why my father
36:43has never meddled
36:44in our family affairs
36:46or interfere in your career
36:47all these years
36:48we got Heman?
36:49Throughout his life,
36:51he has always adhered
36:52to his principles
36:53and acted with integrity.
36:56He can't bear the most
36:58is watching his own daughter
37:00set aside all her pride
37:01and dignity,
37:02running around
37:03begging for favors
37:04and clinging to connections
37:06just to help her husband
37:08get ahead.
37:08Every night he had stayed up
37:10battling through the grind.
37:12I had been there
37:12the whole time,
37:13silently supporting him.
37:15Back then,
37:16I always felt that
37:17as long as I could help him
37:18steady his career
37:19and hold together
37:20our little family,
37:21all the sacrifice
37:22was worth it.
37:23Liam opened his mouth
37:24as if to argue,
37:25but his throat tightened
37:26and he had no words.
37:28Did I orchestrate this scheme
37:29to trap you?
37:31Liam,
37:32without me,
37:33you're nothing.
37:37He collapsed weakly
37:38onto the floor,
37:39every shred of his arrogance
37:40and confidence
37:41dissolving in an instant.
37:43A moment later,
37:44Liam,
37:45utterly shattered,
37:46got to his feet.
37:47He stumbled toward the door,
37:49his back hunched and bent,
37:51as if he had aged
37:52ten years overnight.
37:53Just as he raised his hand
37:55to push the door open,
37:56a figure burst out suddenly
37:58from around the corner
37:59of the villa block
37:59and blocked his path
38:01with deadly determination.
38:02It was Sophia.
38:04So you two really
38:05got back together?
38:06Sophia's hair was disheveled.
38:08Her eyes shot through
38:09with blood-red veins.
38:10Haggard and wretched,
38:11she had long since lost
38:13the polished,
38:14capable look she once wore.
38:16Seeing Liam walk out
38:17of my villa,
38:18she completely lost control
38:19of her emotions,
38:20screaming hysterically,
38:22Liam!
38:23Then what am I to you?
38:24What does our son Noah
38:26count for?
38:26Now I'm drowning in debt
38:28with nothing left.
38:31You turn around
38:32to cozy up
38:33to this woman?
38:35Haven't you caused
38:35enough trouble?
38:37What happens between me
38:38and her is none
38:39of your business.
38:41Where are you to try?
38:43You're the one
38:44who insisted on
38:44clinging to this.
38:45Ending up like this,
38:46you deserve it.
38:48Deserve it?
38:49When I risked everything
38:51to give you a son,
38:52you didn't call me
38:53deserving back then.
38:54Now you want to go back
38:55and beg for her forgiveness
38:57and you're tossing us
38:58away like garbage?
38:59Liam, let me tell you,
39:01don't you dare think
39:02you'll get away with it!
39:06Her shouting grew
39:07louder and louder,
39:09drawing passersby
39:10in the villa community
39:11to stop and watch,
39:12whispering among themselves.
39:14Liam's face cycled
39:15from ashen to pale,
39:17wanting nothing more
39:18than to escape this farce,
39:19he gave Sophia
39:20a hard, impatient shove.
39:22Don't make unreasonable
39:24trouble here
39:24and disturb public order!
39:26That shove thoroughly
39:27ignited the despair
39:28and hatred
39:29that had been festering
39:30inside Sophia.
39:31She stared deathly
39:33at Liam's cold,
39:34merciless face
39:35and a crazed,
39:36ferocious ruthlessness
39:37suddenly surged
39:38in her eyes.
39:39Having completely
39:40lost all reason,
39:41she abruptly pulled
39:42a portable sharp knife
39:43from her handbag.
39:45If I can't have
39:46a good life,
39:47none of you
39:47will either!
39:51Sophia,
39:52don't do anything rash!
39:53But it was already
39:54too late.
39:55Sophia raised the knife
39:57high and stabbed it
39:58viciously into Liam's chest.
40:00Liam let out
40:00an agonized cry
40:01of pain.
40:02He collapsed to the ground,
40:04clutching the gushing
40:05wound tightly,
40:06the bright red blood
40:07instantly soaking
40:08through his light-colored
40:08shirt.
40:09In the very moment
40:10she struck,
40:11Sophia was also
40:12utterly stunned.
40:13She stood frozen
40:15in place,
40:16the knife clattering
40:17from her hand
40:17onto the ground.
40:18I calmly and immediately
40:20dialed emergency services
40:21and the police.
40:23Through the courtyard fence,
40:24I watched Liam's breathing
40:26grow weaker
40:27and weaker.
40:28He struggled
40:28to lift his eyes.
40:30All that was left
40:31in them was
40:31bone-deep remorse.
40:32His breath fading
40:34to a whisper,
40:34he murmured,
40:47those were the last words
40:48he ever spoke to me.
40:50Police cars and ambulances
40:52quickly arrived at the scene,
40:53but Liam had lost
40:54too much blood
40:55and succumbed
40:56to his injuries
40:56en route to the hospital.
40:58Sophia was arrested
40:59on the spot by police
41:00for intentional assault
41:01resulting in death.
41:02Years of tangled love
41:04and hatred
41:05ended at last
41:06in tragedy,
41:06one dead,
41:07the other behind bars.
41:09The bonds of love
41:10and entanglement
41:11that had bound us
41:12for 12 years
41:12were thus completely
41:14and utterly severed.
41:15I turned and went
41:16back inside the house,
41:17tightly embracing
41:18my daughter,
41:19who had rushed out
41:20upon hearing the commotion.
41:21Ava had just been
41:23startled awake
41:23from her sleep.
41:24Rubbing her drowsy eyes,
41:26she said softly,
41:27Mom,
41:28I think I heard
41:29Dad's voice.
41:29I was silent
41:30for a moment,
41:31then spoke gently.
41:32Dad has gone
41:33to a place
41:33far, far away
41:34and he'll never
41:35come back.
41:37Ava,
41:38will you miss Daddy?
41:39My daughter hesitated
41:40for a few seconds,
41:42then reached out
41:43and wrapped her arms
41:44tightly around my waist.
41:45Her voice was soft
41:46and sweet,
41:47yet utterly resolute.
41:49I don't.
41:50Actually,
41:51Ava understands everything.
41:53Daddy is a bad daddy.
41:54He loves his little
41:55brother more.
41:56I don't want Daddy.
41:57I only want Mommy
41:59and Grandpa.
42:00I know.
42:01We only want each other
42:02and Grandpa.
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