- 14 hours ago
Slept With my Bastard Sister. Now He's on His Knees. New π
Category
π₯
Short filmTranscript
00:02My billionaire husband threw me into a slum on our first anniversary.
00:07My father's illegitimate daughter Serena was on his arm, wearing my wedding ring.
00:12One year ago, the night before my wedding, she had drugged me, sleeping pills in my tea.
00:18I was out before midnight.
00:19She climbed into my bridal car, took my name, my groom, and every wedding gift my mother
00:24had spent months preparing.
00:25The accounts, the jewelry, all of it.
00:28I came to before the vows were done.
00:30I walked into that ceremony hall in my ruined dress.
00:32That's not me!
00:34The room went silent.
00:36Serena turned around under the veil.
00:38Every camera in the room found her face.
00:40She dropped to her knees on the carpet.
00:43Sister, I just wanted to be loved.
00:45I had security tie her up, dragged out.
00:48I married Damien.
00:49I took back everything, or so I thought.
00:52Until now, a year later.
00:54I became the one bound hand and foot on the floor of an abandoned building.
00:59Damien and Serena stood over me.
01:01Damien adjusted his cufflinks.
01:03Your father is bankrupt.
01:04A pause.
01:05If I didn't still need to manage the fallout, humiliating Serena would be worth your death
01:10a thousand times over.
01:11You're not even worth a dog.
01:13Serena tilted her head.
01:14Sister, you humiliated me once.
01:18Rod in here and make amends.
01:19Damien belongs to me now.
01:22Damien raised his hand.
01:24Three men filed in from the hallway.
01:26The way they looked at me made my skin fall.
01:28One of them was holding a camera.
01:30Do whatever you want with her.
01:31Send me the footage when it's over.
01:42I couldn't take it anymore.
01:44I pulled free from the restraints,
01:46crossed the room,
01:47and threw myself through the open window.
01:49The pain I was bracing for never came.
01:52When I opened my eyes again,
01:53I was back.
01:54The morning of the wedding,
01:56I dragged myself out of bed and opened the door.
01:58Mom was just coming back down the hall.
02:00A maid holding her arm.
02:02Dad beside her.
02:02She looked up.
02:03Saw me standing at the top of the stairs.
02:05She froze.
02:06Dad frowned.
02:07He recovered first.
02:09Vivian,
02:10what are you doing here?
02:11Then who just got into the boss car?
02:14I pressed a hand to my chest.
02:16What?
02:17Someone took my place?
02:18Last night,
02:19Serena said she couldn't bear to see me go.
02:21She made a calming tea for me,
02:23said it would help me sleep.
02:25I took two sips and woke up just now.
02:27The noise in the room died instantly.
02:30Everyone looked at each other.
02:31No one said a word.
02:32Mom's legs almost gave out from fury.
02:35She steadied herself
02:36and immediately ordered the staff
02:38to grab Mrs. Ward,
02:39who was already trying to slip through the crowd
02:41toward the back.
02:42There it is.
02:43I thought something was off.
02:45Clinging to the bride's hands during the send-off,
02:47crying harder than me.
02:48I thought you were just sentimental.
02:50Turns out it's exactly what you raised.
02:52Mrs. Ward dropped to her knees,
02:54eyes darting.
02:55Ma'am, I don't know what you mean.
02:57Miss Viviana overslept.
02:58How is any of that my Serena's fault?
03:01Before anyone could respond,
03:02the doorman rushed in.
03:04Sir, ma'am.
03:05The Callum family's procession has arrived.
03:06They're waiting at the front gate.
03:07Mom's face went cold.
03:09Where is Serena?
03:10Bring her here.
03:11I looked down and hid the smile in my eyes.
03:13Where else?
03:14She was in Damien Voss' van.
03:16When the wedding was arranged,
03:17Damien had insisted on one look
03:19that the bride kept her face veiled the entire time.
03:22By now, the vows were done.
03:24They were in the suite.
03:24I watched the corner of Mrs. Ward's mouth.
03:27That small, barely contained flicker of triumph.
03:30This woman and her daughter were a matching set.
03:32Mrs. Ward had been our housekeeper for years.
03:34She'd drugged my father,
03:36gotten into his bed,
03:37and produced Serena.
03:38She'd been living comfortably off our family ever since.
03:41Now Serena had drugged me,
03:43stolen my identity,
03:44and walked into my wedding.
03:45It was fait accompli,
03:46done before anyone could stop it.
03:48That left only one door open for me.
03:49Married Callum,
03:50took the marriage Serena didn't want.
03:52The Callum family were new money,
03:54but it developed so fast.
03:56Two years in and already everywhere.
03:57The one problem was the man.
03:59He was in a wheelchair.
04:00If I accepted,
04:01the city would hear by morning
04:02that the legitimate Harrington daughter
04:04had married a disabled man.
04:06Our family would be a joke
04:07across every social circle in town.
04:10In my last life,
04:11that was exactly how she kept me under her heel for good.
04:14But last time,
04:15I'd made a scene at the wedding.
04:16Dad and mom had backed me.
04:17The Voss family needed Harrington money,
04:19so they'd had Serena physically removed from the suite.
04:22I'd gotten what I wanted.
04:23I became Mrs. Voss.
04:25What I didn't know then
04:26was that the man who acted devoted to my face
04:29had already gotten Serena pregnant in secret,
04:32waiting for the right moment
04:33to bring my family down completely.
04:35The maid's gasp snapped me back.
04:37Ma'am,
04:38Serena isn't in her room,
04:40and neither is her jewelry,
04:41and we found something in her room.
04:43Dad picked it up and looked.
04:44Intimate photos of Damien and Serena
04:46in bed.
04:48Dad's face went the color of stone.
04:50He threw the photos directly at Mrs. Ward's face.
04:52This is what your parenting produced.
04:55She's gonna drag the entire Harrington name
04:57through the dirt.
04:58The doorman was still hovering.
05:00Sir,
05:00the Callum family is asking at the gate.
05:02What should we do?
05:03Get someone to the Voss estate immediately.
05:06Find Serena and drag her back.
05:08I took the chance caught Dad's sleeve,
05:09pressed my nails into my thigh.
05:11Let the tears fall.
05:12Let it go.
05:13Serena and Damien already slept together.
05:15He set up this whole scheme
05:17on his own wedding day to humiliate us.
05:19A man like that,
05:19I don't want him.
05:20I wiped the corner of my eye.
05:22In business,
05:23your word is everything.
05:25I don't want you to be seen
05:26as someone who breaks promises.
05:27I'll go.
05:28I'll marry into the Callum family.
05:30Dad looked at me,
05:31stunned and moved at the same time.
05:33Vivian,
05:34but you are the Harrington heir.
05:36And that Zayn Callum is...
05:38His eyes said everything.
05:39I smiled and finished for him.
05:41Dad,
05:42the Callum group ranked only 10 spots
05:44below the Voss family
05:44on last year's Forbes list.
05:46The Voss empire
05:47has been around for generations.
05:49The Callum group is two years old.
05:51Zayn's disability doesn't affect his ability,
05:53and he's a genuine business mind.
05:56With me there,
05:57with Harrington backing,
05:58the Callum trajectory
05:59is anyone's guess.
06:00Everyone in the room
06:01could see the difference.
06:02One daughter
06:03who'd stolen her sister's wedding,
06:04chasing wealth
06:05any way she could get it.
06:06One daughter
06:07who held her composure
06:08in a crisis
06:09and chose her family's honor
06:10over her own comfort.
06:12Mom was already
06:13pulling me into her arms,
06:14holding on.
06:17Even so,
06:18no one gets to treat my daughter
06:19however they like.
06:21Vivian,
06:21I want you to know,
06:22you made the right call
06:23not marrying Damien.
06:25By the time we arrived
06:26at the Voss estate,
06:27the newlyweds
06:28were already in the suite,
06:29but the banquet
06:30was still in full swing.
06:32When we walked in,
06:33the whole room went silent.
06:35Isn't that Vivian Harrington?
06:36She's the bride.
06:37Why is she here?
06:39That can't be right.
06:40The bride was taken to the suite
06:41half an hour ago.
06:42If it's not her,
06:43then who's in there?
06:44Mom's smile was sharp.
06:46We apologize for the spectacle.
06:48The woman you saw earlier
06:49is also a Harrington daughter,
06:50the illegitimate one.
06:52She stole her sister's wedding.
06:54Damien shoved through the crowd,
06:56face-
06:56Vivian!
06:57Stop making a scene.
06:58How is any of this
06:59Serena's fault?
07:00You overslept
07:00and missed your own ceremony.
07:02That's on you.
07:03I thought she was you
07:04when we went to the bed.
07:05As a man,
07:06I have to take responsibility for her.
07:08You came here
07:09to swap her out, didn't you?
07:10I know you've been devoted
07:11to me for years.
07:12Here's what I offer.
07:13Serena and I
07:14will file legally,
07:15but I'll only name a child
07:16of yours as my heir.
07:18How about that?
07:20I couldn't help it.
07:21I covered my mouth and laughed.
07:23He wanted to marry Serena
07:24and keep me as a mistress.
07:26The Voss family
07:27had been skating
07:27on borrowed time for years.
07:29If it weren't Harrington's support,
07:31they'd have dissolved long ago.
07:32And now he wanted
07:33both Harrington's daughters.
07:35Before Damien could continue,
07:37Serena ran in a red silk robe.
07:39She dropped to her knees
07:40in front of me
07:41and cried beautifully.
07:42Sister,
07:43it was all my fault.
07:45I lost control of my feelings
07:46and I did something
07:47I can't take back.
07:48But Damien and I
07:49are legally married now.
07:50I know you don't care about me
07:51if you keep push a Harrington name
07:53that takes the damage.
07:53But are you really willing
07:54to burn the family reputation
07:56over this?
07:57She dressed up
07:58her own filth
07:59as weakness.
08:00She framed me
08:01demanding accountability
08:02as recklessness.
08:03The nerve was breathtaking.
08:05You're saying you drugged me,
08:06stole my wedding,
08:07took my place in that suite
08:09and now I'm the one
08:10damaging the family?
08:11I raised my voice deliberately.
08:13Made sure the whole room
08:14heard every detail.
08:16If you really loved Damien,
08:17why didn't you say
08:17something sooner?
08:18You had to wait
08:19until the actual wedding day
08:20to pull something this ugly.
08:21Who exactly is the one
08:22grinding the Harrington name
08:23into the floor?
08:24Or is it simpler than that?
08:25Did you want Damien
08:26or did you just want
08:27everything that was mine?
08:30Serena's face went white.
08:32Her eyes slid away.
08:34I did.
08:35I really do love him.
08:36Every person in that room
08:37had seen enough of the world
08:39to know exactly what she was.
08:42Oh, that scheming girl.
08:43An illegitimate daughter
08:45who doesn't know her place.
08:46Stealing from her own sister
08:47and she wants to call it
08:48a love story.
08:49God knows what she'd do next.
08:52Damien's mother
08:52had gone pale as chalk,
08:54shaking so hard
08:55she could barely stand.
08:56She slapped him hard
08:57across the face.
08:58Get on your knees
08:59and apologize to Vivien's parents
09:00right now!
09:03And promise me
09:04you will file with her
09:04by end of day.
09:05She turned toward me,
09:07reaching for my hand.
09:08I moved before she could touch me.
09:10Her face stiffened,
09:11then rearranged itself
09:12into something warm.
09:14you've been treated arably.
09:15Whatever you want,
09:16Damien will do it.
09:17I promise you,
09:18nothing like this
09:19will ever happen again.
09:21Damien pressed his hand
09:22against his cheek.
09:23The look he gave me
09:24was pure venom,
09:25like I had ruined
09:26something that was his.
09:27Mom,
09:28Serena is the only woman
09:29I will ever love.
09:30I will not marry anyone else.
09:33Vivien is arrogant
09:34and entitled.
09:35If I take her,
09:36the whole Vos family
09:37pays the price.
09:38The only woman
09:39who belongs in this family
09:40is Serena.
09:41If she's smart,
09:42she'll take what I'm offering.
09:43I'll give her a child,
09:45one she should be grateful for.
09:47If she isn't smart,
09:48she can wait and see
09:49what it feels like
09:50to be the woman
09:50who got rejected
09:50by the Vos family.
09:52Let's see who in this city
09:53dares touch her after that.
09:55I looked at this man,
09:57the one I had given years to.
09:59After Damien's father died,
10:01the empire landed
10:01on someone completely mediocre.
10:03In six months,
10:04he'd burned every
10:05important investor relationship,
10:07combined debt
10:08in the billions,
10:09investors running,
10:11selling off every asset
10:12accumulated over generations
10:13and still not enough
10:15to cover the hole.
10:16Someone had made him
10:17crawl across the floor
10:18of a party for entertainment,
10:20paid him by the crawl.
10:21I was the one
10:21who reached out.
10:22I took care of him.
10:23I encouraged him.
10:24I talked my father
10:26into backing him.
10:27He knelt in front
10:28of my father and wept.
10:29Swore that if he ever
10:30betrayed me,
10:31he deserved every punishment
10:32God could invent.
10:33Only two years,
10:34and he'd already forgotten
10:36every word of it.
10:37Now he stood here
10:38telling me being his mistress
10:39was a gift.
10:40The entire room
10:41was watching him
10:42like he'd lost his mind.
10:43No one could understand
10:44how a man who owed
10:45his survival to his fiancΓ©e
10:47had the nerve
10:48to talk to her like this.
10:49Damien didn't seem to notice.
10:51He saw my silence
10:52and decided I was
10:53devastated,
10:54too in love to speak.
10:55He pulled Serena closer,
10:56smirked.
10:57Vivian,
10:57kneel down and serve
10:58Serena her tea.
10:59Acknowledge her
11:00as the lady of this house.
11:02Do that and I'll let you stay.
11:04If you behave,
11:05I might let you move in.
11:07You'd still get to see
11:08the children.
11:08I looked at his
11:09self-satisfied face
11:10and felt something
11:11close to relief.
11:12Let Serena have this idiot.
11:14She was practically
11:15doing me a favor.
11:16Dad had reached the limit.
11:18He laughed.
11:19The Vos family
11:20really has grown wings,
11:22big enough to talk
11:23to me like that.
11:24Then I suppose
11:25the Harrington group
11:25has been punching
11:26above its weight.
11:28As for you...
11:29He pointed at Serena.
11:30No daughter of mine
11:31trades her sister's wedding
11:32for a seat at this table.
11:33I'm opening the family
11:34records tonight.
11:36You're out.
11:36From now on,
11:37whatever life you end up with
11:38has nothing to do with us.
11:40Serena's eyes went red.
11:41Dad,
11:42I'm your daughter too.
11:44How can you be
11:45this cruel to me?
11:46Damien not wanting Vivian
11:48is her own failure.
11:50Why should all the good things
11:51automatically go to her?
11:52Dad's expression
11:53didn't move.
11:54Fine.
11:54I'll honor your fight.
11:56Everyone here is a witness.
11:57You are no longer
11:58a Harrington.
11:59Good luck.
12:00Someone go collect
12:01my daughter's assets
12:02from this estate.
12:0350 cases of certified funds,
12:0515 sets of jewelry,
12:06three vehicles,
12:07one equity agreement
12:08covering a 20% stare,
12:10five property deeds
12:11for the harbor residences.
12:12Every last item
12:14comes home with us.
12:15The room inhaled sharply.
12:16Half of them
12:17were already looking
12:18at Damien
12:18like he was
12:19the stupidest person alive.
12:21No!
12:21Those are mine!
12:23That asset belongs to me!
12:25Mom's palm connected
12:27with the side of her face.
12:28You stole her wedding
12:29and now you want
12:30her assets too.
12:31What world are you living in?
12:32Every item in that collection
12:34was prepared for Viviana.
12:35You are nothing.
12:36You want assets?
12:37Go ask your mother.
12:38The security team
12:39moved toward the assets.
12:40Touch those assets
12:41and half the Harrington group
12:42belongs to me by morning.
12:44He looked at Dad.
12:45The pre-Nwedel agreement
12:46we signed
12:46said a Harrington daughter.
12:47No specific name.
12:48I honored the contract.
12:50I promised to take care
12:50of a Harrington daughter
12:51for life.
12:52Serena hasn't been mistreated.
12:53You pulling those assets
12:54is a breach.
12:55Under the terms
12:56a breach by the Harrington side
12:57triggers a transfer
12:58of 50% equity to me.
13:00He produced the agreement.
13:01His lawyer read the clause
13:02aloud to the room.
13:04If the groom
13:04upholds his obligations
13:05to a Harrington daughter
13:06and the Harrington family
13:07withdraws the assets,
13:08the Harrington party
13:10is in breach
13:10and shall compensate
13:11the groom
13:11with 50% of voting shares.
13:13Dead silence.
13:14Impossible.
13:15There is no way
13:16I signed that.
13:16Dad's face went
13:17the color of old paper.
13:19Damien smiled.
13:20He tilted his chin
13:21toward the screen
13:21behind him.
13:22The footage played.
13:23You're a man
13:24who can make
13:25half this city shake
13:26with one phone call.
13:27Surely you're not
13:28going to pretend
13:29you don't remember
13:29your own signature.
13:30The document is notarized.
13:32It's legally binding.
13:33If you want to make
13:34a scene in a courtroom,
13:35go ahead and take
13:36those assets.
13:37Dad's chest heaved.
13:39He pressed a hand
13:39over his heart,
13:40struggling to breathe.
13:42Mom's eyes were red,
13:43shaking with fury,
13:45completely cornered.
13:46Serena curved
13:47against Damien's side,
13:48smiling like she'd won
13:49every hand at the table.
13:51Sister,
13:52I know I can't
13:53back home anymore,
13:54but if you kneel
13:55and apologize to me
13:56right now,
13:56I might be in a generous mood.
13:58I could put in
13:59a good word with Damien,
14:00stay out of the shareholder vote,
14:02let Dad keep
14:02his chairman seat.
14:03Those old men
14:04on the board
14:05will tear him apart otherwise.
14:07As for your assets,
14:08I'll take good care of it.
14:10All of it.
14:10The Voss staff
14:11shoved past me.
14:12The assets were about
14:13to walk out the door.
14:14Mom rushed to block them.
14:15One of the Voss people
14:16pushed me.
14:17She hit the floor hard.
14:18Ma'am,
14:19this is Voss family business.
14:21You inserted yourself.
14:22If you get hurt,
14:24that's on you.
14:24I helped Mom up,
14:26looked at both of them
14:27without blinking.
14:28Without that assets,
14:29you've got nothing left
14:30to buy yourself a husband.
14:32Out of respect
14:32for the history between us,
14:34come work for Serena
14:35for three years.
14:36Keep your head down.
14:37I'll consider
14:38giving you a child
14:38for security.
14:40When I didn't respond,
14:41he grabbed my shoulder
14:42and dragged me
14:42in front of Serena.
14:43Then he kicked
14:44the back of my head.
14:45Just as he moved
14:46to force me down,
14:47the ballroom doors
14:48slammed open.
14:50We've received a report
14:51of the legal seizure
14:52of private assets
14:53belonging to the Harrington family.
14:55Who here is Damien Voss?
14:56Right on time.
14:57I turned around,
14:58then stopped.
14:59Walking in behind
15:00the investigators
15:01was Zane Callum.
15:02He was in his wheelchair,
15:04moving through the crowd,
15:05following the lead investigator
15:07into the room.
15:08His eyes swept the space,
15:10cool, measured.
15:11When they landed on me,
15:12just for a second,
15:13the corner of his mouth moved.
15:15What happened here?
15:16Before I could speak,
15:17Damien lunged forward.
15:19Officer,
15:20it's all there in writing.
15:21We are law-abiding citizens.
15:23We haven't done anything wrong.
15:25These people are refusing
15:26Damien to honor
15:27a legal contract
15:28and trying to buy time.
15:29Then he looked at Zane
15:31with open contempt.
15:32You called this in,
15:33didn't you?
15:34The man whose fiance ran off
15:36and can't say a word about it.
15:37This is the best you've got?
15:39Pathetic.
15:40You think marrying Serena
15:41means you get her assets too?
15:42Look in the mirror.
15:43I'd advise you
15:44to drop this right now.
15:46A man in a wheelchair
15:47playing hero.
15:48I'll tip your chair
15:49over myself.
15:51Zane raised an eyebrow slightly.
15:53You mean me?
15:54He stood up.
15:55The entire room went silent.
15:57Every jaw dropped.
15:59The head of the Callum group
16:00in a wheelchair for five years,
16:02standing up
16:03in the middle of a situation
16:04where his fiance had run off,
16:06his future bride's assets
16:07had been stolen
16:08and everything had gone sideways
16:10at once.
16:10I hadn't fully processed it myself.
16:13Serena had gone wide enough
16:14to show through her foundation.
16:16Zane straightened.
16:17He was taller than Damien
16:18by a full head,
16:19the kind of height
16:20that changed the weight of a room.
16:21I recovered two years ago.
16:24I kept the chair out of habit.
16:26Turns out some people
16:27genuinely believed
16:28I was useless.
16:29Damien swallowed
16:30and gripped his document title,
16:31forcing the casual tone.
16:33So a man who can walk now
16:34can walk.
16:35It doesn't change what you are.
16:36You scraped your way
16:37into the room on luck.
16:39Vivian isn't the type
16:40to settle for someone like you.
16:41I see exactly what you're doing.
16:43Don't come crying
16:44when it blows up in your face.
16:45Zane glanced at him once,
16:47then turned to the screen
16:48on the far wall.
16:49A new video started playing.
16:51Private dining room.
16:52A server pouring something
16:54into a glass from a small vial.
16:56My father drinking it.
16:57The server was brought in.
16:58That's him.
16:59He's the one.
17:00He gave me a packet
17:01and said to put it in the drink
17:02of whoever came to that table.
17:04He said a million dollars.
17:06My son is sick.
17:07I needed the money.
17:08I never thought it would be something
17:10that made a person
17:10lost control to himself.
17:12She was already crying,
17:13turning to my father.
17:14He said he was your son-in-law.
17:15I thought it couldn't be
17:17anything dangerous.
17:18I didn't know it was something
17:20that squirreled your memory.
17:21I'm so sorry.
17:22You're lying!
17:23Damien's composure shredded.
17:25He was screaming.
17:26Some broke little server
17:28is going to walk in here
17:29and accuse me?
17:31I will sue you into nothing!
17:34The server pulled out her phone.
17:36I figured rich people like you
17:38would say that.
17:39I kept the photos
17:40and I recorded everything.
17:42The evidence was airtight.
17:43Under the law,
17:44any contract signed
17:45while a party was chemically impaired
17:47was void.
17:48The room turned on Damien.
17:50The Harringtons funded him.
17:52He repaid them
17:52by going after their assets
17:54and humiliating their daughter,
17:56rotten to the core.
17:57Good thing Vivi
17:58never legally married him.
17:59Otherwise,
18:00she'd have let a predator
18:00into the house
18:01and never seen it coming.
18:03And that's Serena.
18:04If my son brought home
18:05someone like that,
18:05I'd break both his legs.
18:06Damien's mother
18:07was shaking so hard
18:08she could barely breathe.
18:09She reached out
18:10and slapped Serena
18:11across the face
18:12with everything she had.
18:13You!
18:14You did this!
18:15You seduced my son
18:17until he lost his mind!
18:18He gave up a perfect match
18:20for someone like you!
18:21Look what we have now!
18:23Get out
18:23or I will drag you
18:24out of this house myself!
18:26Serena crumpled
18:27against Damien,
18:28tears streaming.
18:28Even now,
18:29she was the love of his life.
18:31He pulled her in,
18:31voice strained.
18:32Mom,
18:32I'm not leaving Serena.
18:34If you throw her out now,
18:35you're killing me.
18:38If she doesn't go,
18:39I die here.
18:40Damien's mother
18:41grabbed a sharp
18:41desert work from the table
18:43and pressed it
18:43to her own throat.
18:44This woman has
18:45destroyed everything.
18:46If you keep protecting her,
18:48I'll bleed out
18:49right here in front of you!
18:51He lurched toward her.
18:52Serena grabbed his arm
18:53and wouldn't let go.
18:54You can't leave me.
18:56Damien,
18:57it's her or me.
18:59Are you gonna watch
19:00your mother die?
19:01He was already
19:01coming apart.
19:02He was about to pull free
19:03when Serena screamed it.
19:05You can't abandon me!
19:07I'm carrying your child!
19:08Damien spun around.
19:09His face split open
19:11with something unguarded.
19:12Is that true?
19:13Serena's eyes were wet.
19:14She nodded,
19:15small and fragile.
19:17Twelve weeks.
19:18The doctor said it's a boy.
19:19Damien's mother made a sound
19:21like something had closed
19:22around her throat.
19:23She couldn't get a single word out.
19:25Mom,
19:26this is my first.
19:27Serena did this
19:28for our family.
19:29Please,
19:30for the baby,
19:31accept her.
19:32Damien's mother
19:33aged ten years
19:34in ten seconds.
19:35She closed her eyes,
19:36pressed her lips together,
19:37and walked out of the room
19:39without speaking.
19:40I gave the signal
19:40to my security
19:41without ceremony.
19:43Serena snapped out of it
19:44the moment they grabbed her.
19:45What are you doing?
19:47The investigators
19:48are right here.
19:49You just directed staff
19:50to assault my mother.
19:51She has a heart condition.
19:53She's dizzy
19:53and nauseous right now.
19:55You tell me what I'm doing.
19:56Mom registered the queue
19:58after two seconds
19:59and started playing her part,
20:01groaning convincingly.
20:02Given that you're pregnant,
20:03I'll settle for apology
20:04on your knees.
20:06You're...
20:07You're cheating!
20:08I narrowed my arms.
20:10Then we take it to court.
20:11She understood exactly
20:12what that meant.
20:13She folded onto the floor
20:14and started screaming.
20:15You can't do this to me!
20:17Damien looked like
20:18he was about to go through the wall.
20:19Vivian,
20:19you want to fight?
20:20Fight me!
20:21Don't touch Serena!
20:22He had already decided
20:23I was acting out of heart.
20:24The self-assurance
20:26was nauseating.
20:27You think you're
20:28walking away from this?
20:30You drugged my father.
20:32You had a fraudulent
20:33contract signed.
20:34I will make sure
20:35you spend the rest
20:36of your life
20:37answering for it.
20:38Every drop of color
20:39left Damien's face.
20:40I didn't look at him again.
20:42I walked out with my parents
20:43and our assets.
20:45Zane caught up
20:45with us outside.
20:46This is my personal stake
20:48in the Callum group.
20:49Half.
20:50I know it's not
20:50what you're used to.
20:52I'll have the formal proposal
20:54ready and come
20:54to you properly.
20:58Just wait for me.
20:59I looked at the paperwork.
21:00Notarized.
21:01Official.
21:02Tens of millions
21:02of dollars in equity.
21:03Didn't you have
21:04an arrangement with Serena?
21:05Why didn't this go to her?
21:06It was always meant for you.
21:08You're the one
21:08I wanted to marry.
21:09I knew I wasn't
21:10in a position to ask.
21:12But when your father
21:13offered the second daughter,
21:14I already knew
21:14she and Damien were involved.
21:16I looked at him carefully.
21:17You knew all of that
21:18and you still showed up today.
21:21His expression
21:21shifted slightly.
21:23Because I knew
21:23she'd swap.
21:25And I knew
21:26you'd say yes.
21:28The man had calculated
21:29every move
21:30before anyone else
21:31had taken their first step.
21:32He extended his hand,
21:34brushed a strand of hair
21:35back from my face
21:36with quiet ears.
21:38I know you don't like
21:39people who can't think.
21:40Give me three years.
21:41I will build
21:42the Callum group
21:42to Harrington level
21:43without a single dollar
21:44of your family's money.
21:45Equal footing
21:46with the Harringtons?
21:47Now that was interesting.
21:48I liked a man
21:49who could think.
21:50Go home.
21:51Come back
21:51with a formal proposal.
21:54Back at the estate,
21:56Mrs. Ward
21:56had been kept under watch.
21:58When she saw me
21:59walk in with the family,
22:00she broke into
22:01a wide smile.
22:02Miss Vivian,
22:03I heard the Voss family
22:05sent you back.
22:05I knew it.
22:06My daughter
22:07is the real prize.
22:08You brought this on yourself
22:09going over there
22:10to make a scene.
22:11What did it feel like
22:12being thrown out
22:12in front of everyone?
22:13The Voss name
22:14belongs to my Serena.
22:16From now on,
22:17show some respect to me.
22:19Everything that was yours
22:20goes to my daughter now.
22:21She's the one
22:22carrying the Harrington torch.
22:23I watched her
22:24hold herself up
22:25as straight as she could manage
22:26and almost laughed out loud.
22:28The Voss family,
22:29your daughter
22:30and that failure
22:30really are a perfect match.
22:32Mrs. Ward's eyes went wide.
22:34Impossible!
22:35The Voss family
22:36is the top name
22:37in this city.
22:38You're just bitter.
22:40Sour grapes
22:41because you're jealous
22:41of my Serena.
22:42I shrugged.
22:44Believe what you want.
22:45I turned and walked away.
22:46I didn't look back
22:47at whatever her face was doing.
22:49Zane said he'd prepare
22:50a formal proposal
22:51before coming over.
22:53He showed up the next day
22:54with a proposal gift list
22:55the thickness of a book.
22:56He clearly had this ready
22:58for a long time.
22:59Dad reviewed it
23:00and nodded.
23:01He asked what I thought.
23:02I respected Zane's mind
23:03and his nerve.
23:04We were evenly matched.
23:06Of course, I agreed.
23:07The families finalized
23:08the wedding timeline quickly.
23:10The venue was a private island
23:11Zane had bought outright.
23:12We kept the guest list
23:13to people we actually trusted.
23:15No one expected Damien
23:16to find his way
23:17into the dressing room.
23:18No one knew
23:18how he got through.
23:20The room went tense.
23:21Nobody moved fast enough.
23:22He looked at me
23:23like his-
23:23Vivian!
23:24You can't marry Zane Callum!
23:27I frowned.
23:28The air in the room
23:29felt contaminated
23:30just from him being in it.
23:32Damien,
23:33who I marry
23:33is none of your business.
23:35If you don't want me
23:36calling security
23:37to remove you,
23:37leave now.
23:38He ignored it.
23:39He grabbed my hand.
23:40Full performance mode.
23:41Tragic and sincere.
23:43Vivian,
23:44I was wrong.
23:46Serena manufactured
23:47everything.
23:48She played the victim
23:49to get close to me.
23:50A woman that's selfish
23:52and calculating.
23:52She doesn't come close to you.
23:53Since you left,
23:54I can't eat.
23:55Can't sleep.
23:56The doctor says
23:57it's emotional collapse.
23:58That's when I understood.
24:00You were always the one.
24:01I can't survive without you.
24:02I've thought it through.
24:04Say the word
24:04and I'll file for divorce
24:05from Serena today.
24:06We'll register properly.
24:07I'll make you my wife.
24:09I had heard enough
24:09of his speeches
24:10to be completely immune.
24:12I felt nothing
24:12except a mild urge to laugh.
24:15What about Serena's baby?
24:16If you agree to leave with me,
24:18I'll have her scheduled
24:19for a termination tonight.
24:21It's just a pregnancy.
24:22It's not a problem.
24:24We'll have plenty of children.
24:25When he loved her,
24:27he wouldn't flinch
24:27even when his own mother
24:28threatened to die.
24:29When he didn't,
24:30she was disposable.
24:31The child was disposable.
24:33His love was cheap enough
24:34to be embarrassing.
24:35My best friend
24:36had run out of patience.
24:38She stepped forward
24:38and slapped him
24:39clean across the face.
24:41Every time you open your mouth,
24:42I think someone near Bay
24:43must have stepped in some shit.
24:45Your family was broke
24:46and Vivian still chose you.
24:47Now you're a secondhand disaster
24:49with another woman's baby
24:50and you're asking her
24:51to come rescue you again?
24:53Are you having
24:54some kind of episode?
24:55Damien's face went dark red.
24:57His ego had taken a direct hit.
24:59He turned on me.
25:00Vivian,
25:01if you don't come back to me,
25:02I walk out of here right now
25:04and tell every person in this city
25:05that you were mine years ago.
25:07Let's see if Zane Callum
25:08still wants you after.
25:09I went cold.
25:10I was about to respond.
25:12Then the back of Damien's collar
25:13was ranked upward.
25:14He didn't have time
25:15to make a sound
25:16before Zane showed up
25:17and pulled him
25:18into the adjacent bathroom.
25:20The door swung shut.
25:22The people outside
25:23heard water running
25:24and Damien coughing
25:25in broken intervals.
25:27My best friend
25:27pulled me two steps sideways
25:29and waved her hand
25:30in front of her face.
25:31Men,
25:32let them handle it.
25:33We're drinking coffee.
25:34The door opened.
25:35Zane came out
25:36with his sleeves
25:37rolled to the elbow,
25:38hands still damp.
25:39His expression
25:40was exactly the same
25:41as it always was.
25:42Damien was carried out
25:43by security,
25:44care soaked,
25:45toilet water
25:46running down his face.
25:47He'd gone completely limp.
25:49Take him out,
25:50Zane said.
25:51Don't let him near my wedding.
25:52Damien got one moment
25:53of coherence back
25:54and twisted to look at me.
25:56Vivian,
25:57you think marrying him
25:58means you won.
25:59I'm telling you!
26:00Security tightened their grip.
26:02His voice disappeared
26:03down the hallway.
26:04Zane's already dry hand
26:06settled over mine.
26:07He looked down at me.
26:08You alright?
26:09I shook my head slightly.
26:10I was about to mention
26:11tightening the perimeter
26:12when something shattered
26:13outside the door.
26:14Serena,
26:15the next second,
26:16a full bucket of red paint
26:17came flying at us
26:19without any warning.
26:20I didn't have time to move.
26:21Zane was already
26:22in front of me,
26:23body completely angled
26:24to cover mine.
26:25The paint hit him
26:26across the back
26:27of his jacket.
26:28Serena hadn't expected
26:29him to take it.
26:30She faltered.
26:31Zane,
26:31I wasn't aiming at you.
26:33I wanted to hit Vivian.
26:34Zane checked me first,
26:36made sure I was clean.
26:37Then he turned
26:38and his face
26:39had gone completely flat.
26:41She is my wife.
26:43Coming for her
26:44means coming for me.
26:45Serena's eyes filled.
26:46She pushed against
26:47the security holding her,
26:49trying to get closer
26:50to Zane.
26:50I know you'll never
26:51forgive me.
26:52I came today
26:53because I needed you
26:53to know the truth.
26:54Vivian drugged me.
26:55Damien took advantage of me.
26:57I wanted to end my life,
26:58but I couldn't watch you
26:59get deceived by someone
27:00like her.
27:01If you actually marry
27:02this woman,
27:03you'll regret it.
27:03I'll die and it will
27:04be on your conscience.
27:05She was completely convincing.
27:07The broken expression
27:08was flawless.
27:09She'd even gotten
27:10her eyes swollen.
27:11Zane watched her
27:12the way you watch
27:13a magician whose trick
27:14you've already seen
27:15explained.
27:15So Damien assaulted you.
27:17She thought he was
27:18softening.
27:18Yes!
27:19I had no choice.
27:20I'm a victim.
27:22Then it's a criminal matter.
27:23Zane said.
27:24I have a nine-unprofit
27:24legal team.
27:25I can refer you to
27:26someone who handles
27:27cases like this
27:28at no cost.
27:29With the evidence you have,
27:29Damien is looking
27:30at serious time.
27:31Serena's face drained.
27:33She was still forming
27:33a response when a voice
27:35came screaming
27:35from the far end
27:36of the corridor.
27:37Damien,
27:38soaked,
27:39unraveling.
27:40He spotted her
27:40and his expression
27:41went peril.
27:42He closed the distance
27:43and grabbed her
27:43by the door.
27:44Serena screamed.
27:46Damien,
27:46what are you doing?
27:47Let go of me!
27:48Let go of you?
27:49His voice had gone
27:50somewhere past anger.
27:51You went behind my back
27:52to find Zane Callum.
27:54What are you?
27:55You're nothing!
27:55I didn't.
27:56I didn't go to find him.
27:57They set you up.
27:58They're lying to you.
27:59Set me up.
28:00He dragged her out
28:01the room,
28:02Serena stumbling
28:03to keep up.
28:03I watched you
28:04walk in here myself.
28:06Give me one reason.
28:08Say it.
28:10I came to find you.
28:11I came to find you.
28:12Damien,
28:13listen to me.
28:14He leapt up.
28:14She hit the floor.
28:15Her elbow caught
28:16the edge of the hardwood.
28:17She inhaled sharply
28:18through her teeth
28:19and looked up at him.
28:21Damien,
28:22calm down.
28:25Calm down.
28:26He stood over her.
28:27My company is gone.
28:29My mother is in the hospital.
28:30All because of you!
28:32Tell me how to calm down!
28:34Serena shifted back
28:36against the wall.
28:36The company failing
28:37isn't my fault.
28:38You don't get to blame
28:39everything on me.
28:40He grabbed the front
28:41of her dress,
28:42hauled her up,
28:43voice cracking.
28:44You'd already gotten to me
28:45before any of this started.
28:46You planned this.
28:48Every step,
28:49didn't you?
28:50Let go of me!
28:51You're sick!
28:52Let go!
28:53I am sick.
28:54I was sick the day
28:55I let you anywhere near me.
28:57Vivian was right there
28:59and I walked away from her.
29:00What was wrong with me?
29:01Zane was already behind me,
29:03putting his body
29:04between me and the hallway.
29:06Get them out.
29:07They moved immediately.
29:08Down the hall,
29:09Serena's voice
29:10breaking into pieces.
29:11Damien kept shouting,
29:12then his voice dropped,
29:14then there was only her,
29:15then nothing.
29:16Zane walked beside me
29:17out of the building.
29:18Outside there was salt air
29:19and light
29:19and the wedding music
29:20still drifting from the lawn.
29:22He held my hand once.
29:24Don't look back.
29:25I have it.
29:26I didn't look back.
29:28The news was everywhere
29:29within days.
29:30Damien Voss had a breakdown
29:32at a society wedding
29:33and beat his wife to death.
29:35Arrested on the spot.
29:36The day of sentencing,
29:37the gallery was nearly full.
29:39Some came because
29:40they'd lost money
29:41in his projects.
29:42Some came because
29:43they just needed
29:44to see the end.
29:45Damien sat in the defendant's chair,
29:47looking nothing like
29:48the man from the wedding.
29:49The hands that used
29:50to pull women close
29:51were cuffed
29:52and folded in his lap.
29:53His mother had died
29:54of cardiac arrest
29:55the night Serena went.
29:56He was in custody
29:57when he got the news.
29:58He spent that entire morning
29:59not speaking.
30:00The prosecutor laid it out
30:02item by item,
30:03drugging a man,
30:03fraudulent contract,
30:05attempted asset seizure,
30:06felony assault
30:07resulting in death.
30:08Multiple charges compounded.
30:10The judge delivered
30:10the verdict.
30:11Life sentence.
30:12Damien pushed back
30:13against the chair,
30:14tipped his head up
30:15and stared at the ceiling
30:16of the courtroom.
30:17Nothing on his face at all.
30:18Before the sentencing was done,
30:20someone in the gallery
30:21recognized me.
30:22Isn't that the daughter
30:23of Harrington family?
30:24The Callum wife?
30:25Her ex-fiancee just got life?
30:26Deserved every year of it.
30:28Humiliated her publicly,
30:29now he's in a cage
30:30with nothing to show for it.
30:32Lost everything.
30:33Cost himself
30:34and his mother
30:35their lives.
30:36I didn't respond
30:37or turn around.
30:38This chapter was done.
30:39It had nothing to do
30:40with me anymore.
30:42Zane glanced over.
30:44Dinner?
30:45I said,
30:46sure.
30:47You pick.
30:48His mouth moved up slightly.
30:49He looked down at his phone
30:51to make a reservation.
30:52Zane looked up.
30:53His expression didn't shift.
30:54Mrs. Ward is outside
30:55the courthouse.
30:56She wants to come in.
30:57I thought about it
30:58for a second.
30:59Let her in.
31:00Mrs. Ward came in
31:01held up by two court officers.
31:03Hair everywhere.
31:04Makeup destroyed.
31:05Eyes completely hollow.
31:06She was murmuring to herself
31:07when they brought her in
31:08and the moment
31:09the doors opened,
31:10she lunged toward
31:11the defendant's area.
31:12Both officers barely holding.
31:14Let me go!
31:15Where is she?
31:17Where is my daughter?
31:18Damien!
31:19Damien, you son of...
31:20Damien heard the noise
31:22and slowly turned his head.
31:24Mrs. Ward saw her.
31:25She fought harder,
31:26her voice dropping
31:27into something
31:27that didn't sound
31:28entirely human.
31:29Give me back my daughter!
31:31Give her back!
31:34Damien's face didn't move.
31:35I killed her.
31:36That's on me.
31:37He said it the way
31:38you read something
31:39off a form.
31:40It landed like a needle.
31:41Mrs. Ward stopped fighting.
31:43She stood where she was,
31:44tears running silently.
31:46She looked at him
31:47for a long time.
31:48Her lips shook.
31:49Finally,
31:49she got one sentence up.
31:51Why did I ever
31:51let her near you?
31:52They took her out.
31:54Her crying echoed
31:55down the corridor.
31:56No one in that room
31:56knew it wasn't over yet.
31:58Three days later,
31:59a footage circulated everywhere.
32:01Mrs. Ward appeared
32:02at the courthouse entrance
32:03in a coat
32:04that sat wrong
32:04on her body.
32:05Security flagged
32:06her immediately.
32:07She didn't resist.
32:08She stood there,
32:09looked down
32:09at her own hands
32:10and said something
32:11under her breath
32:12that nobody caught.
32:13Then,
32:13the moment
32:14security turned away.
32:15She was through the door.
32:17Everyone stepped back.
32:18The sound
32:19at the end
32:19of the corridor
32:20shook the whole hallway.
32:22The official report
32:22used the words
32:23sudden incident.
32:25Damien was rushed
32:26to surgery.
32:27They brought him back
32:28but both legs were gone.
32:29Permanent bed care
32:30for the rest of his life.
32:32Mrs. Ward was declared
32:33dead at the scene.
32:34I was home
32:34when the news came through.
32:36Zane was sitting next to me,
32:37having his lunch.
32:38He read it,
32:39set his phone face down
32:40on the table.
32:41That's the end of it.
32:44Yes.
32:44Outside the window,
32:46the afternoon was clear.
32:47Sun across the whole living room.
32:49My parents are coming
32:50for dinner tonight.
32:52Tell the kitchen
32:52to add two more dishes.
32:55Okay.
32:56Okay.
32:57What do you think?
32:58What do you think?
32:59What do you think?
32:59What do you think?
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