- 12 minutes ago
After I Lost Our Baby, the Don Begged Me to Come Back
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The day I decided to divorce the godfather, his dead brother's widow posted a pregnancy report
00:04online. The father listed on it was Dominic Vallelti, my husband. I was two months pregnant
00:09too. But before he ever knew, he chose her child over mine. And one day, he would regret it on
00:15his
00:15knees. I left a single question mark in the comments. Less than 40 seconds later, Dominic's
00:22call came through. What exactly are you being snide about? Vivian has been a widow for three
00:28years. She wants a child for company. What's wrong with that? Lucian died for me back then.
00:35The whole street was shooting. Muzzle fire let the rain like daylight. I lost control.
00:42I stepped out from cover. Lucian saw it before I did. The bullet meant for me hit him. I watched
00:50him die in my arms. Taking care of the woman he left behind is the least I can do. And
00:56you have no right to question it. I didn't even get a single word in. 20 minutes later,
01:02Vivian updated again. This time it was her apartment. Floor to ceiling windows, city skyline,
01:08and open kitchen. I knew that back. The caption said, with you by my side, I feel the warmth
01:14of home again. The property was under the Velady name. And the man was my husband. I pressed
01:22the screen dark. I sat in blackness for a long time. On the desk in front of me lay my
01:28own
01:28pregnancy report. Two days ago, I found out I was pregnant. I planned to tell him on our
01:33anniversary. Five years of marriage, and we had never conceived. I thought this child would
01:40be our new hope. Now, he didn't need that surprise anymore. I already knew what I had
01:45to do. Hello, I'd like to schedule an abortion for today. That was when Dominic walked through
01:53the door. No, not now. He heard enough. I couldn't let him take this choice too. If he asked, I
02:07would not lie. Serena, who are you on the phone with? Serena, who are you calling? I brought
02:23clam chowder from your favorite place. Not hungry. He still thought kindness could erase betrayal.
02:30The smell hit me, and my body rebelled. I could not bear his hands on me. Don't touch me!
02:37What do you want from me? I'm trying to manage your feelings. What more do you want? Me on my
02:45knees? Then what should I do? Congratulate her? Be happy she carries my husband's child?
02:53Lucien died for me. Vivian is my responsibility. She wanted a child. Is that a crime? Nothing
03:00happened. It was only a donation. Stop making it filthy. He looked at me like I was disgusting.
03:07Take a good look at yourself. Vivian posted again. He called her home. I laughed until the tears came.
03:17At 3 in the afternoon, I arrived at the hospital. I waited for my number. Just get through this.
03:23Then leave. He was holding her like she belonged there. I should leave before they see me.
03:30Serena? Are you following me? I'm just here to see a doctor. For what?
03:37Dominic, don't give Serena a hard time. Maybe it's just a routine checkup. Let me talk to her.
03:44You're pregnant. Sit still. The doctor said you need rest. I'll handle this.
03:50I only wanted to leave. I'm still talking to you, Serena. What are you doing at the hospital?
03:57I already answered. I'm here to see a doctor. I'm not wasting my time stalking you two. He wanted
04:04proof, not truth. Serena, I know you're angry. After Lucien died, I was alone in that house.
04:11I only wanted a child to keep me company. Her grip was cold, too controlled. I never meant
04:18to hurt you and- No, she was falling on purpose.
04:22Viv! He chose her first. Viv, are you okay? I am fine. My legs just went weak. Dom, don't blame
04:35Serena.
04:35Serena. Are you really that vicious, Serena? I didn't touch her. I saw it with my own eyes.
04:42He had already judged- If anything happens to her or the baby,
04:47I will never forgive you. They moved like a shield. My proof was shaking in my hand.
04:53Dominic, what if I told you, I'm pregnant, and I came here today for an abortion? Would you stay?
05:00For one second, he almost heard me. Then she took that second away.
05:07Serena, don't try to manipulate me with tricks like that.
05:11No matter what, I'm not leaving Viviana.
05:14That was the answer I needed.
05:17Serena Valardi, are you here? Are you still going through with the procedure?
05:22Yes. I want this pregnancy terminated. No one came for me. Then, darkness.
05:31That evening, I came home to darkness. No calls, no texts, nothing. He was on Vivian's
05:39feet again, so I liked it. For a week, Dominic never came home. The divorce papers arrived that
05:45day. Dinner at the family estate tonight. Fine.
05:50I carried the divorce papers into their house. My chair was already taken.
05:56Oh, Serena, you're here. Serena. Helen insisted I moved in for prenatal care.
06:02That's enough, Viviana. The child in her belly is the sole Valeti heir. Starting tomorrow,
06:08you'll move in and learn to care for her. If Viviana is displeased, I'll have Dominic divorce you.
06:13They were waiting for me to scream. Instead, I laughed.
06:17Well, that works out perfectly. What's that supposed to mean?
06:20Helena, I came here tonight for one reason. To divorce Dominic.
06:26Serena, don't forget where you came from. Sitting at this table was a privilege the Valeti
06:32family gave you.
06:34Serena, I'm begging you. Don't do this to my baby.
06:38The child is innocent. She was performing for someone.
06:43Stop. Serena, you're trying to force her to abort the baby?
06:46I'm not...
06:48The pain swallowed my voice. You vicious bitch!
06:51Haven't I taught you enough?
06:53I couldn't fall here. Not in front of them.
06:57This was the only thing I had left to give him.
07:01Dominic Valeti.
07:02You're done.
07:04One step. Then another. Just leave.
07:08Then my body gave out.
07:10There's blood! Call an ambulance!
07:12Serena, look at me! Don't close your eyes!
07:14I tried to speak. Nothing came out. And the darkness swallowed me whole.
07:18I woke up to a white ceiling, an IV line, and my mother's tears.
07:22Sweetheart, you're awake. Where does it hurt?
07:25Mom.
07:26I had held it in for too long.
07:29Mama's here. Let it out, baby.
07:32I cried until my throat failed me.
07:35You've suffered, sweetheart. I should never have let you marry him.
07:40He used to smile with dinkles over mustard and late night hot dogs.
07:46He even cried at old movies.
07:50I don't trust anyone in the mob.
07:54He stood there for three days.
07:57I'll spend my life being good to her.
08:00Dad was silent. Then he nodded.
08:03We held each other and laughed.
08:06Three years later, Lucien died.
08:09Dominic never smiled like that again.
08:12Dominic is outside.
08:15Even his name still hurt.
08:18Let me see her.
08:21Please, just let me see her.
08:24He finally sounded afraid.
08:26Let him in.
08:28Serena.
08:30Let him in, Mom. You two wait outside.
08:33I need to talk to him alone.
08:35My parents knew I had decided.
08:38He looked nothing like the Don.
08:41He stopped where guilt could reach me.
08:44Serena, I didn't know you were pregnant.
08:45I didn't know you'd miscarried it.
08:48That day, I thought you were forcing Vivian.
08:51I've already signed the divorce papers.
08:54Sign them.
08:56There was no anger left in me.
08:58No.
08:59He reached for me, then froze.
09:01He saw what his grip had left.
09:04Serena, I won't sign.
09:06I love you.
09:08Love came too late.
09:10He said he loved me after choosing her every time.
09:14You say you just didn't know I was pregnant?
09:17Fine.
09:18Then let me ask you something.
09:20You'd get a call from her in the dead of night, sometimes at two or three in the morning,
09:24and you called that taking care of her, right?
09:26You bought her an apartment, a Volani property, titled in her name, and you called that making
09:31arrangements, right?
09:33You gave her a child.
09:34There had to be a reason.
09:36There had to be.
09:37Then let me tell you, if a man has no feelings for a woman, he doesn't leave his house at
09:433
09:43a.m. because she called.
09:44He doesn't buy her a home and put her name on the deed, and he certainly doesn't let
09:48her carry his child.
09:49You can lie to me.
09:50You can lie to yourself.
09:52But you can't lie to the facts.
09:54Everything you did for Vivienne tells me and tells everyone that you love her.
09:58No.
09:58That wasn't love.
10:00It couldn't be.
10:01You're the Don.
10:02You control everything.
10:03But you don't get to control whether I stay or go.
10:06That's not Serena.
10:07I was just...
10:08I only...
10:09Sign the papers, Dominic.
10:11There's nothing left to say.
10:14Serena.
10:15Dad.
10:16Mom.
10:18The door opened.
10:19My parents walked in.
10:21The moment Dad saw him, his face went hard.
10:24You've said what you came to say.
10:25Now get out.
10:27He still thought he could stay.
10:29No, Serena.
10:30Give me one more chance.
10:31Get out.
10:32You're not welcome here.
10:34This time, he was the one shut outside.
10:37No more chances.
10:38No more waiting.
10:39I blocked him on every platform and every number.
10:43I sent Helena one message.
10:45Please have your son sign the papers.
10:48Free the place for the woman he chose to protect.
10:51A few days later, I went downstairs for a walk.
10:55Then I found Dominic outside.
10:57No bodyguards.
10:58No driver.
10:59He looked nothing like the dawn I knew.
11:02He was careful now.
11:04Too late.
11:05Serena.
11:06That name no longer owned me.
11:09I thought he had finally stopped coming.
11:12Serena.
11:13How are you feeling?
11:15Any better?
11:16Much better.
11:17If there's nothing else, I'm heading back up.
11:19Now he was careful.
11:20Too late.
11:21Then he pulled out a velvet box.
11:25Inside was a pair of rings.
11:27We designed that pattern together.
11:30No matter what happens, I'll never take it off.
11:34All that was left was a pale mark.
11:36No, thank you.
11:38I pushed the box back.
11:41The rings are new, but what's broken can't be fixed.
11:44His knuckles turned white.
11:46Serena, why can't you cut me some slack?
11:48Just once.
11:49You were the one who didn't tell me about the pregnancy.
11:53If you had said something, I never would have walked away.
11:56I told you, I don't love Vivian.
11:58I only helped her for Lucian.
12:00Why can't you understand that?
12:02He still thought pain needed my permission to count.
12:05At the hospital, you said no matter what, you wouldn't leave her.
12:08He had no answer.
12:10If you won't sign the papers, stop coming to find me.
12:15I don't want to see you again.
12:17That night, Vivian texted me.
12:19Tomorrow, the cafe.
12:26Vivian chose the place.
12:28That meant she wanted an audience.
12:29When I arrived, Vivian was already seated in a booth.
12:33Her dress was perfect.
12:34So was her smile.
12:36I would not give her the reaction she came for.
12:38There you are.
12:39Sit.
12:40She stirred her latte like she had already won.
12:43I sat down because I wanted to hear how far she would go.
12:47Serena, since things have come this far, I'm not going to beat around the bush.
12:53Dominic loves me.
12:54Just sign the divorce papers and stop holding us up.
12:58She thought I was the one refusing to let go.
13:01I think you have it backwards.
13:03The one who won't agree to the divorce is Dominic.
13:05Not me.
13:06For one second, she lost the smile.
13:10That's impossible.
13:12I'm carrying his child.
13:14Why would he not want me?
13:16You must be the one clinging to him, refusing to let go.
13:20I gave her silence.
13:21It hurt her more than anger.
13:23Then she touched her belly like it was proof.
13:26I bet you don't know yet.
13:27This baby wasn't conceived the way Dominic told you.
13:30No sample.
13:31No artificial insamination.
13:32Dominic and I slept together.
13:33More than once.
13:35The air went still for a beat.
13:39Is that so?
13:40She wanted me to break.
13:43I picked up the Americano and threw it squarely in her face.
13:50You're insane!
13:52Viviana, you should be grateful you're pregnant right now.
13:57I had what I needed.
13:59After leaving the cafe, I went straight to my attorney.
14:03This time, I would not beg.
14:06I handed over the recorder I had been carrying.
14:09Got it.
14:12Three days later, the hearing began.
14:14They were not here to comfort me.
14:16They were here to judge facts.
14:18The old men pout over the evidence.
14:20Some frowned.
14:21Some smiled like they already knew.
14:23I did not need him to confess.
14:25The evidence had spoken.
14:27Finally, one of them reached for the govel.
14:32By ruling of the family joint council,
14:35the infidelity is substantiated.
14:38The marriage of Dominic Velarde and Serena Velarde
14:42shall be automatically dissolved in one month.
14:46The ruling landed.
14:47Dominic finally broke.
14:48I had won the ruling, but not the ending.
14:51He was waiting below the steps.
14:55Serena.
14:57Do you hate me that much, Serena?
14:59You really won't leave any room at all?
15:03He still thought this was about mercy.
15:06Dominic and I slept together.
15:08More than once.
15:10Now the truth had a voice.
15:12I can explain.
15:14That day, I helped her move some things.
15:16She made dinner.
15:18We drank wine.
15:20Then I don't know how it just...
15:23Dominic.
15:27No more excuses.
15:30Luciane took a bullet for you.
15:33And you took care of his wife into her bed.
15:35That was the wound he could not deny.
15:37If he could crawl out of that grave,
15:40the first person he'd put down is you.
15:44He had no answer.
15:47I stepped around him and kept walking.
15:50Serena.
15:50But I only love you.
15:53It was only that one time with her.
15:56I don't need love that cheap.
16:00Dominic's sent money during the divorce.
16:02I accepted every cent.
16:05That money bought me distance.
16:07For once, I chose myself.
16:11I booked a one-way ticket to Barcelona.
16:14Barcelona was my first breath of freedom.
16:16Bridges could lead away, too.
16:20Iceland felt like the world after fire.
16:23I stopped waiting for him.
16:24At every stop, I mailed proof I survived.
16:27I wrote one wound at a time.
16:31Strangers began reading.
16:32Then staying.
16:35They called it courage.
16:37Once I left rot behind,
16:39the world opened wide.
16:41The sunset was mine.
16:44Five years felt like someone else's lifetime.
16:47Then I finally came home.
16:50Mom filled me in over dinner.
16:53Eat first.
16:55Then I'll tell you everything.
16:56It's about Dominic and Vivian.
16:58I thought that story was over.
17:01After your divorce, Vivian finally showed her true face.
17:05Pregnant and desperate, Vivian turned the baby into a weapon.
17:09Marry me, or I end this pregnancy.
17:11The Valeti heir cannot be risked.
17:13You will marry her.
17:14Helena forced the wedding.
17:16Viviana got the title she wanted.
17:18This was not how Mrs. Velotti was supposed to feel.
17:21Dominic would not even sit at the same table with her.
17:23He locked himself in his downtown apartment, colder than he had ever been with me.
17:27If he does not come home, everyone will know I lost.
17:29Started hunting him down at the office.
17:33Where is Dominic?
17:34Why is he not answering me?
17:36Tell him his wife is waiting downstairs.
17:39Mrs. Valenti is making a scene in the lobby.
17:42Do not touch me.
17:43I am his wife.
17:44Once or twice, they tolerated it.
17:46After that, even his men cringed.
17:48Repetition turned scandal into routine humiliation.
17:51Dominic answered her panic with silence.
17:53If he hides, I will drag him back in front of everyone.
17:55Then she crossed the line, business functions.
17:58If every family agrees, we close tonight.
18:01Madam, this is a private room.
18:03So this is why you ignored my calls?
18:06Every man at that table watched the Don lose control of his own house.
18:10Vivian, not here.
18:13Every man at that table held power in a branch family.
18:17Why didn't you answer my calls?
18:19Wife to explode there was more than embarrassing.
18:21The deal nearly collapsed before dessert was served.
18:24Freeze every card under her name.
18:29I'm sorry, ma'am.
18:31It was declined.
18:31Run it again.
18:33He can't shut me out like this.
18:36A month later, she tracked him to another evening function.
18:40There you are.
18:43The woman beside him was only a PR liation.
18:46She thinks she can sit beside him.
18:50By then, she was beyond reason.
18:52Stay away from my husband!
18:57Touch me again and you'll regret it.
19:00People in those rooms were not people you could provoke.
19:03Move.
19:04We need the room now.
19:07Sir, we have to wait outside.
19:09The child was rushed to the ICU, fighting through tubes and glass.
19:13For nearly three weeks, that tiny life held on.
19:17I'm sorry.
19:17We did everything we could.
19:19In the end, the baby didn't make it.
19:22The baby was gone.
19:23That same day, Dominic called the council.
19:25On grounds of grave damage to family honor and business, the marriage is dissolved.
19:29He used the same rules that once protected him to cut her loose.
19:32Vivian knew it was over.
19:34She took the payout, signed the papers, and disappeared.
19:38The city closed behind her like a door.
19:42No farewell.
19:43No mourning.
19:45Just disposal.
19:46Helena started calling every connection she still had.
19:50Of course.
19:51I understand.
19:52But everyone had heard the Velarti scandal.
19:56No family wanted to send their daughter into that mess.
19:59When I came home, mom told me everything over dinner.
20:03Serves him right.
20:05If he had treated you right, none of this would have happened.
20:09I had nothing left to say about them.
20:12Those people had nothing to do with me anymore.
20:15So I went back to packing.
20:17My next ticket was already booked.
20:20They were no longer my story.
20:24Mom did not stop me this time.
20:28Tomorrow, Copenhagen.
20:30I was already moving forward.
20:34Go on then.
20:36Send me lots of pretty photos.
20:39Don't worry.
20:40I didn't expect to see Dominic again before I left.
20:44Just one last step.
20:47My body flinched first.
20:49He looked nothing like the Don he used to be.
20:54Serena.
20:57Vivian and I are divorced.
20:59The baby.
21:01The baby's gone too.
21:04And?
21:05It was the baby that bothered you, wasn't it?
21:08The baby's gone now.
21:09We can start over.
21:13Even now, he still didn't understand.
21:18I laughed.
21:20The baby was never the reason I left.
21:23Dominic, there is no starting over.
21:26He was waiting for the wrong answer.
21:28I had a flight to catch.
21:31I was finally leaving him behind.
21:33And he still couldn't let go.
21:38No.
21:39Serena, you loved me so much once.
21:42I know it was all because of Vivian and the baby that you left me.
21:45There's nothing standing between us anymore.
21:49Give me one more chance.
21:52I'll love you right this time, better than before.
21:56He still thought holding me meant keeping me.
22:00This time, I left gently.
22:02But Dominic, I don't love you anymore.
22:05It's over.
22:06Move forward.
22:08The coldness of it cut right through him.
22:11In the end, he walked away with red-rimmed eyes.
22:14So wrecked, he almost looked pitiable.
22:18Serena doesn't love me anymore.
22:21Doesn't love me.
22:24The once-untouchable godfather was gone behind me.
22:28But none of it was my concern.
22:30Not anymore.
22:31When I boarded the flight to Copenhagen, I didn't look back.
22:34For the first time, the road ahead belonged only to me.
22:37I slipped open the window shade.
22:40Outside, the morning sky was on fire.
22:45I was moving forward.
22:47And I wouldn't look back.
22:49This time, I chose myself.
22:52I just wanted to listen to see stories.
22:52I just wanted to go back and hear from the zoom requirements.
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