- 13 minutes ago
Frozen Vengeance: The Trillion-Dollar Heiress Returns HD
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Short filmTranscript
00:00He abandoned his dying daughter on a frozen highway, just to please another woman.
00:04He thought I had nothing, but little did he know, I'm the only heir to a trillion dollar empire.
00:11Julian, you didn't just lose your wife, you lost your whole world.
00:15When the car pulled over onto the shoulder of the interstate,
00:18I thought Julian was just stopping for a break or a driver's swap.
00:21Eva's sleeping. Don't wake her, okay?
00:24I whispered, gently pulling the fleece blanket over my daughter's small frame.
00:27Julian didn't look back, his long fingers tapped impatiently against the steering wheel.
00:31Take Eva and get out of the car.
00:33I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
00:36What?
00:37From the back seat, Sarah spoke up in that sickly sweet faux gentle tone.
00:42Honey, it's okay, we can squeeze in.
00:45Her daughter, Chloe, immediately shrieked, her voice piercing the quiet cabin.
00:49Ew no, I'm not riding with that sick kid! She kept coughing all over the place! Gross!
00:55Julian turned around. His eyes held a coldness I had never seen before in our five years of marriage.
01:01Get out!
01:05Tiffany is on her way. Wait here.
01:07Christmas Eve. A mountain pass.
01:0914 degrees Fahrenheit. I clung to my three-year-old daughter, watching as the SUV, our car, roared back to
01:15life.
01:15The red taillights blurred in the blinding snow.
01:17Vanishing into the darkness of the abyss, the blizzard intensified,
01:20as if trying to swallow the world whole, but I huddled against the icy guardrail,
01:25shielding Eva with my own coat, as the wind sliced through us like a blade.
01:31Mommy, where's Daddy?
01:33Eva whispered, her tiny voice trembling.
01:35Her cheeks were an unnatural, feverish red.
01:38Daddy went to Grandma's to get some help.
01:40I forced a smile that felt more painful than crying.
01:42Auntie Tiffany's coming for us soon.
01:45But I'm cold. Mommy, I'm so cold.
01:48I tucked her deeper into my down jacket.
01:50My phone battery dropped to 25%.
01:53I called Julian's sister.
01:55Tiffany, once, twice.
01:56Three times, she finally picked up.
01:58The background was filled with deafening EDM and the roar of a crowd.
02:02She was clearly at a rager.
02:04Claire? What's up?
02:06Tiffany! Where are you?
02:08Julian said you'd come get us.
02:09We're stuck on the mountain road off Route 40.
02:11Huh. Pick you up?
02:12Tiffany paused, letting out a long, dismissive sigh.
02:15Oh, right. My brother did mention it.
02:20But I'm at a party with my friends right now.
02:23I've been drinking. I can't drive.
02:28Please, Tiffany.
02:30Ava's sick.
02:31She has a fever, and it's freezing out here on the highway.
02:35Ugh.
02:36Claire, you're being way too dramatic.
02:40Waiting a bit won't kill you.
02:42My brother said Sarah and Chloe are delicate.
02:44They can't afford to get sick, so they had to go home first.
02:47You're hearty enough.
02:48A little cold air isn't gonna kill you.
02:50The line went dead, but I gripped the phone.
02:52My fingertips numb to the bone.
02:54I called Julian again, straight to voicemail.
02:57Again, powered off.
02:58Ava shuddered violently in my arms.
03:00Mommy, I wanna go home.
03:02I want grandma.
03:06Soon, baby.
03:08We'll be home soon.
03:10I kissed her burning forehead dotted.
03:12My eyes burned with tears,
03:13but I didn't dare close them .5 years of marriage.
03:16And I realized I never truly knew Julian.
03:19I didn't know he was capable of this level of cruelty
03:21just because Sarah's daughter called Ava dirty.
03:24He was willing to dump his wife and sick child
03:26on a deserted highway on Christmas Eve.
03:32Far off, headlights pierced the dark.
03:35I waved my arms frantically,
03:37my voice cracking as I screamed
03:38for help down a black-born raptor slow to a crawl.
03:41The window rolled down,
03:43revealing a man in his early 20s.
03:47Do you need help?
03:48I clung to his words like a lifeline.
03:51Please, I'm begging you!
03:53Take us to the nearest hospital or rest area!
03:56The young man started to nod.
03:58But then another head popped out from the passenger seat.
04:02Claire?
04:03I froze.
04:04It was Julian's cousin, Chase.
04:07He looked at me,
04:07then at the empty, snow-covered highway.
04:09What you doing here?
04:11Where's Julian?
04:12I explained the situation in fractured.
04:15Shivering sentences,
04:16Chase's face went pale with rage.
04:18He slammed his fist against the dashboard.
04:20Is he fucking crazy?
04:22He left you and Ava out here to freeze to death?
04:27So Sarah's daughter matter,
04:29but his own daughter doesn't?
04:33He spat out a string of curses and turned to his friend.
04:37Come on, man.
04:39Let them get in the car.
04:40We'll make room.
04:41But the truck was already packed with four guys.
04:44The back seat was full.
04:45We're maxed out.
04:46The driver said,
04:47looking pained without a word,
04:49Chase jumped out of the truck,
04:51pulling his heavy parka tight.
04:53Take her with you.
04:54I'll wait here for the others.
04:57Chase!
04:58You can't do that!
05:00Move!
05:00Now!
05:01Chase shoved me toward the warm cabin.
05:04Look at Ava.
05:06She can't hold on much longer!
05:08The moment the door closed,
05:10the blast of the heater hit me.
05:11My frozen limbs began to throb
05:13with a needle-like sting.
05:14Chase tapped the glass.
05:15Claire!
05:16Call me the second you get there!
05:18I'll go get my brother!
05:19The truck pulled away,
05:21through the rear window.
05:22I watched Chase's solitary figure
05:24shrink into the white abyss
05:25until he was gone.
05:29My throat tightened.
05:30My own husband dumped us like trash
05:32to please his mistress.
05:33In the end,
05:34it was a distant cousin who saved us.
05:36Ava drifted off in my arms.
05:38Her breathing was terrifyingly shallow.
05:40Her cheeks a raw, inflamed red.
05:42Man, can you drive faster, my daughter?
05:45She's burning up!
05:48The driver nodded grimly
05:50and floored the gas
05:51that I tried to call Julian's sister, Tiffany.
05:54One more time, .no service,
05:56the interstate cut through the mountains.
05:58The signal was a ghost.
05:59How long before we reach the rest area?
06:0212 miles,
06:02but with this damn weather,
06:03it's going to take at least 20 minutes.
06:0520 minutes,
06:07Ava went from hot to radiating heat.
06:10Baby, wake up.
06:12Stay with Mommy.
06:13She opened her eyes blearily,
06:14her voice a faint rasp.
06:15Mommy, my chest hurts.
06:17I can't breathe.
06:18She burst into a bit of coughing,
06:20a violent kind of body.
06:22I unzipped her coat
06:23and saw her chest retractions,
06:25her ribs sucking in
06:26with every desperate gasp,
06:27acute pneumonia.
06:28She'd had it last year.
06:30She'd spent a week in the ICU.
06:32Ava, keep your eyes on Mommy, okay?
06:35Mommy will tell you an Elsa story.
06:37Her eyes began to roll back.
06:39I pounded the window like a mad woman.
06:42Help us, please!
06:43My daughter needs help!
06:44Finally,
06:45the neon lights of a rest stop
06:47appeared through the sleep.
06:48I dialed Julian with trembling fingers.
06:52After six rings,
06:54he picked up.
06:55Hello?
06:56His background was quiet.
06:57The sound of a crackling fireplace
06:59in a cozy living room.
07:02Julian!
07:02I sobbed, my voice erect.
07:04Ava's really sick.
07:05We're running out of time.
07:06Where are you?
07:07His tone was flat,
07:08devoid of emotion.
07:12We're on a side road
07:14heading to the county hospital!
07:16Claire!
07:16He cut me off,
07:17sounding annoyed.
07:18Tiffany already told me
07:19she picked you guys up.
07:20She lied!
07:21She never showed up!
07:26No way!
07:27She posted on Instagram
07:28three minutes ago.
07:30I froze.
07:30I used the last of my battery
07:32to open the app.
07:33It was a photo Tiffany had posted.
07:35A woman's back,
07:36wearing a jacket just like mine,
07:38sat in her passenger seat.
07:39The caption read,
07:41Finally got my sister-in-law and niece.
07:43Big bro worries too much.
07:45It was an old photo of me
07:46from last winter.
07:47She was gaslighting him.
07:49She was playing with our lives.
07:52You saw the post, right?
07:54Julian said icily.
07:56So this is your new little drama?
07:58Using your own daughter
07:59to get sympathy
08:00because I brought Sarah home?
08:02It's not funny, Claire.
08:04Sarah and Chloe are having dinner
08:05with my mom,
08:06and she's finally happy.
08:07Don't fucking ruin it.
08:09Julian!
08:11She's dying!
08:13Our daughter is actually dying!
08:15I shrieked.
08:17Cut the shit.
08:18That's enough.
08:18His voice turned stone cold.
08:20It's Christmas,
08:20and you're saying shit like that?
08:22That's fucking vicious.
08:24Once Tiffany drops you off,
08:26just get some Tylenol.
08:27Stop fucking calling me.
08:28The call disconnected.
08:32I sat there.
08:33Feeling the blood in my veins
08:35turn to ice,
08:35the owner looked at me
08:36through the mirror.
08:37That was your husband?
08:38I nodded,
08:39my tears turning to crusts of ice.
08:41What a fucking animal!
08:42He yanked the steering wheel.
08:43Hold on tight!
08:44I won't let a kid die in my truck!
08:47Ava's breathing grew fainter,
08:49but I felt for her heartbeat.
08:50It was so weak.
08:52It felt like a hallucinated vibration.
08:55Ava,
08:57don't leave me.
08:59It's mommy's fault.
09:00I never should have fallen in love,
09:02that monster.
09:03Trembling,
09:04I reached into a hidden pocket of my coat
09:06and pulled out a small,
09:07metallic disc engraved
09:09with a strange crest.m.
09:10My father gave it to me
09:11on my wedding day,
09:12dot he had said.
09:14Claire,
09:15if that man ever pushes you to the brink,
09:17press this.
09:18I will come take you home.
09:20I thought I'd never need a dot.
09:21I pressed the sensor in the center.
09:23No sound,
09:25no light,
09:25but I knew a high frequency encrypted signal
09:27was cutting through the blizzard,
09:29heading straight to a private command center
09:31miles away.
09:31My father said that once pressed,
09:33his private medical team and security
09:36would find me anywhere on the planet.
09:37Point one thought consumed me point three hours.
09:40My father's team would take at least three hours
09:43to arrive.
09:43Can my Ava survive the next three hours?
09:49We finally reached the county hospital,
09:51dot I burst into the ER with Ava in my arms.
09:54My throat so raw from screaming
09:56and the cold that I couldn't make a sound.
09:58The triage nurse took one look at Ava's blue face
10:01and hit the code red.
10:03Pediatric emergency,
10:04three-year-old,
10:05acute pneumonia,
10:06heart rate dropping,
10:07prep for intubation.
10:08I was barred from the trauma room,
10:10through the narrow glass pane.
10:11I watched them thread tubes into Ava's tiny body.
10:14The shrill beep of the heart monitor
10:16felt like a blade twisting in my chest,
10:18dot I collapsed in a corner of the freezing hallway,
10:21trembling uncontrollably then.
10:23My phone buzzed.
10:24Julian,
10:25I picked up but didn't speak.
10:27Claire, what's your problem now?
10:30Since Tiffany picked you up,
10:32why the hell aren't you here?
10:33My mother is waiting to start Christmas dinner.
10:35I forced the words through my parched throat.
10:38Hospital.
10:39Ava.
10:41Resuscitation.
10:42What?
10:42He paused,
10:43then let out a cold snort.
10:44Are you fucking kidding me?
10:45Just because Sarah's here,
10:47you're cursing your own daughter
10:48and pretending she's in the ICU now?
10:50Tiffany literally just posted a photo
10:52in the family chat.
10:53She said you're already on your way.
10:56She's laughing.
10:57I closed my eyes,
10:58tears falling silently.
10:59Julian,
11:00come to the hospital.
11:01Now.
11:02Claire.
11:03Julian's voice went dead cold.
11:05Cut the bullshit.
11:07Tiffany is my sister.
11:08She'd never lie to me.
11:10You're just insecure
11:11because you had a daughter
11:12and think your place in this family
11:14isn't safe anymore.
11:16If Ava dies because of this,
11:17Julian,
11:19I'll hate you for the rest of my life.
11:21Suit yourself.
11:22He said dismissively.
11:23If Ava is such a burden,
11:24we can settle the divorce
11:25after the holidays.
11:26You can drop her off
11:27at a state orphanage
11:28or social services
11:29for all I care.
11:30I don't need a broken legacy
11:31holding me back.
11:32He hung up.
11:33The dial tone
11:34sounded like a funeral bell.
11:35The ER door swung open.
11:37The doctor stepped out,
11:39pulling down his mask
11:41with a weary sigh.
11:42Are you Ava's mother?
11:43I scrambled to my feet.
11:44Yes.
11:45How is she?
11:46The doctor's eyes
11:48were full of pity.
11:49We saved her life.
11:50But because of the
11:51prolonged oxygen spiration,
11:53there's significant brain damage.
11:54She may face cognitive delays
11:56or even permanent palaces.
11:58The world tilted.
11:59I had to lean against the wall
12:00to keep from collapsing.
12:02She's only three.
12:07I'm sorry.
12:07We need to transfer her
12:09to the ICU right away
12:10and proceed with surgery.
12:11Please go handle
12:11the payment first.
12:12It's going to be expensive.
12:13Okay.
12:13I staggered to the billing desk.
12:16My card was declined.
12:19Julian only gave me
12:20an $800 monthly allowance.
12:22He'd say,
12:23You stay home,
12:24taking care of the kid.
12:25You don't need that much
12:26spending money.
12:26I bit my lip
12:27and called him again.
12:29Now what?
12:30The background was filled
12:31with cheerful carols
12:32and flinking glasses.
12:34Julian,
12:35Ava needs surgery.
12:36I need $50,000 now.
12:39$50,000?
12:39Julian's voice spiked.
12:41What the fuck is wrong
12:41with you, Claire?
12:42Having money doesn't mean
12:43I'll let you burn through it.
12:45You'd even make up
12:45something like this for cash?
12:47Yeah,
12:47I'm her dad,
12:48but I'm not some
12:49fucking cash machine.
12:50Besides,
12:51even if she's saved,
12:52she'll never be normal.
12:53It's a waste of money.
12:54I'm dealing with something
12:55right now,
12:56so stop fucking calling me.
12:57My mom says hospitals
12:58are bad luck,
12:59so you're not coming home
13:00for Christmas.
13:01You'll hear from my lawyer.
13:02I hung up,
13:04feeling the life
13:04drain out of me
13:05as I stood in the
13:06falling snow
13:07outside the hospital
13:08entrance.
13:11My phone buzzed.
13:13It was Chase.
13:14Claire,
13:14where are you?
13:16Julian said Tiffany
13:17got you guys?
13:18Chase.
13:19My voice was eerily calm.
13:21Do me a favor.
13:22Just say it.
13:23Anything.
13:24If I don't make it,
13:26promise me you'll
13:27take care of Ava.
13:28Julian never wanted her.
13:30And I've run out of ways
13:31to save her.
13:32If you can't raise her either,
13:34then send her far away.
13:35Just don't let Julian find her.
13:37Claire,
13:38don't act rashly,
13:39okay?
13:39Just stay where you are
13:40and wait for me.
13:42I hung up and powered off
13:44the phone
13:44that I walked back
13:45into the ward
13:45and looked at Ava.
13:47She looked like
13:48a broken porcelain doll.
13:49So still it shattered my soul
13:51that I leaned down
13:52and kissed her cold forehead.
13:54I'm so sorry, baby.
13:56Next time,
13:56choose a better mom.
13:58Someone who can keep you safe.
14:00I turned around
14:01and walked up
14:02to the hospital roof.
14:03The wind roared
14:04on the rooftop.
14:05The lights of the town
14:06below felt distant
14:07and mocking.
14:08If I jumped,
14:09the humiliation
14:10and pain would end.
14:11Julian would get his air.
14:13Sarah would get her status,
14:15even if my life
14:16was worthless.
14:17I wanted my death
14:18to hang around his neck
14:19like a murder charge
14:20for the rest of his life.
14:21Dot I closed my eyes
14:23and leaned into the void,
14:24but a split second
14:25before gravity took me.
14:26A powerful hand
14:28gripped my wrist
14:28and slammed me back
14:29onto the concrete.
14:33The wind roared
14:34on the rooftop.
14:35The lights of the town
14:36below felt distant
14:37and mocking.
14:38If I jumped,
14:39the humiliation
14:40and pain would end.
14:42Julian would get his air.
14:44Sarah would get her status,
14:45even if my life
14:46was worthless.
14:47I wanted my death
14:48to hang around his neck
14:49like a murder charge
14:51for the rest of his life.
14:52Dot I closed my eyes
14:53and leaned into the void,
14:54but a split second
14:55before gravity took me.
14:57A powerful hand
14:58gripped my wrist
14:59and slammed me back
15:00onto the concrete.
15:01Dot I fell into the slush,
15:02gasping in rage
15:03as I looked up.
15:04Dot a line of stern men
15:05in black suits
15:06stood before me.
15:07At their head
15:08was a man in his late 50s,
15:10dressed in a bespoke
15:11cashmere overcoat.
15:12As he removed his aviators,
15:14I saw his sharp eyes
15:15were bloodshot with grief.
15:17Cece.
15:18He called me by the nickname
15:19I hadn't heard in years.
15:21Dot I gasped.
15:22Dad?
15:23Minutes later,
15:24three private rescue helicopters.
15:26Bearing our family crest
15:28touched down
15:28on the hospital lawn,
15:29Ava was whisked away
15:30by a world-class medical team
15:32into a mobile ICU
15:33inside the lead chopper.
15:36Intracranial pressure is spiking.
15:38Prep for immediate
15:39depression surgery.
15:40A flight medic
15:41roared into his radio.
15:44Alert the Manhattan Medical Center.
15:46Clear the penthouse OR.
15:47Greenlight the corridor.
15:49My father sat beside me,
15:50gripping my cold,
15:51cracked hands.
15:52His own were shaking
15:54with a mix of fury
15:55and heartbreak.
15:56I'm so sorry, Claire.
15:58Daddy's late.
15:59I watched the clouds blaze
16:00past the window.
16:01It felt like a fever dream.
16:03Dad,
16:04I thought you were living out
16:05on some farm
16:06in that tiny town?
16:07My father forced a bitter,
16:09self-reproaching smile.
16:10That little farm life?
16:12It was all to test Julian.
16:17You had to marry Julian
16:18no matter what.
16:19I was scared he only wanted you
16:21because of the Gwendolyn family's wealth.
16:23Scared all he cared about
16:25was money.
16:25That's why I hid
16:26who I really was
16:27for five years.
16:28I wanted to know
16:29whether he could truly
16:30give you a lifetime of happiness.
16:31He turned his gaze
16:33to Ava,
16:34who lay pale
16:34under an oxygen mask.
16:36His eyes burned with,
16:38But I never thought
16:39my own fucking mistake
16:40would almost get
16:41my daughter
16:42and granddaughter killed.
16:43That fucking trash
16:44really dare to call
16:46a Gwendolyn heir worthless?
16:47As the helicopter
16:48began its descent
16:49onto the helipad
16:50of the families.
16:51Private hospital,
16:53my father pulled out
16:54a black, unlisted phone
16:55and dialed a number.
16:56His voice was colder
16:57than an arctic glacier.
16:59Pass this down immediately.
17:00Before the markets open tomorrow,
17:02I want every asset
17:03under Julian's name
17:05fucking destroyed.
17:06Freeze every line of credit.
17:08I want him drowning in debt
17:09for the rest of his fucking life.
17:11He hung up and looked at me.
17:14Claire,
17:14I'm giving you two options.
17:16You can take this
17:17unlimited black card,
17:19leave with Ava
17:19and never look back
17:20at that piece of shit again.
17:21Or,
17:23He paused.
17:24Reclaim what's yours
17:25piece by piece
17:26and make him kneel
17:27in shattered glass
17:28while he begs for you back.
17:33I looked down
17:34at my frostbitten fingers
17:35and let out
17:36a shivering, cold laugh.
17:37I'm staying.
17:39But you're going to agree
17:40to one condition first.
17:42Go ahead.
17:43Get me two bodies.
17:45A woman and a small girl
17:46who died recently.
17:48I want Julian to personally believe
17:50that Ava and I
17:51froze to death that night.
17:53Fine.
17:54My father fell silent
17:55for a long time
17:56before finally nodding.
17:58The arrangement was seamless,
18:00dot a passing trucker
18:01made the 9-11.
18:02Call,
18:03the local sheriff's department
18:04contacted Julian
18:05based on the ID
18:06found on the body.
18:07When the call came in,
18:09Julian was hosting
18:09a lavish Christmas dinner
18:11with his family.
18:12Sarah sat close to him,
18:13daintily placing slices
18:15of expensive truffle
18:16on his plate.
18:17Chloe was acting the part
18:18of the perfect angel,
18:19calling Julian's mother.
18:20Grandma!
18:22Julian's mother beamed.
18:23Now that's a well-raised child.
18:25Sarah clearly knows
18:26how to teach a kid properly.
18:27Unlike the kid
18:28Claire gave birth to,
18:30Ava's always shrinking
18:31into herself
18:31like some pathetic little stray.
18:33No elegance,
18:33no confidence.
18:35Just low-class manners
18:36all over her.
18:36Julian's phone buzzed.
18:38He glanced at the screen,
18:40his brow furrowing.
18:41The sheriff?
18:43He answered.
18:45Hello?
18:46Is this Mr. Julian Lawrence?
18:48Your wife Claire
18:49and daughter Ava
18:50were traveling on I-40,
18:51correct?
18:51Julian stiffened.
18:53That's right.
18:53Is there a problem?
18:55We found two bodies
18:56in a snowback
18:57off the shoulder.
18:58Preliminary cause of death
18:59is hypothermia.
19:00The female victim
19:01was carrying
19:01Claire Lawrence's ID card.
19:03There was also a young girl
19:04about three years old.
19:06We need you to come down
19:07to the coroner's office
19:08to identify them.
19:12The silver fork
19:13slipped from Julian's hand,
19:15clattering against the china
19:16with a sharp,
19:17jarring crack.
19:18What did you say?
19:20We believe your wife
19:20and daughter
19:21may not have survived.
19:22The dining room
19:23fell into a sudden,
19:24suffocating silence
19:26dot Julian's mother
19:27asked irritably.
19:27Who is it?
19:28Ruining our Christmas
19:29with such depressing news.
19:31Julian stood up,
19:32his face as pale as a ghost.
19:34Claire and Ava died.
19:37By the time Julian
19:38reached the morgue,
19:39his legs could barely
19:40support his weight.
19:41The coroner led him
19:42into the frigid cold room.
19:44He pulled open the drawer,
19:46revealing two forms
19:47under white sheets,
19:48one large,
19:49one very small.
19:50The larger one
19:51wore my signature down coat.
19:52The smaller one
19:53was curled tightly
19:54into the larger one's embrace,
19:56as if seeking one last bit
19:58of warmth
19:58in a cruel world.
19:59Is this right?
20:01The officer asked softly,
20:03Julian opened his mouth.
20:04But it was as if
20:05someone were strangling him.
20:06No sound came out.
20:08He reached out
20:09with a trembling hand
20:10to touch a hand
20:11that was now covered in frost.
20:13No.
20:14It can't be.
20:16He shuddered violently,
20:18whispering to himself.
20:20Tiffany said,
20:21she said she'd pick them up.
20:22The officer glanced
20:23at his notes.
20:24We pulled the interstate cameras.
20:26Your sisters never got
20:27on the highway last night.
20:28She spent the evening
20:29circling the downtown
20:29club district
20:30before heading back
20:31to a house party.
20:31Furthermore,
20:32the victim's phone logs
20:33show she made
20:34a dozen emergency calls.
20:35The last successful
20:37connection was to you.
20:38Your wife begged you
20:40for help.
20:40She told you
20:41your daughter was dying
20:42and you...
20:44The officer paused.
20:45His eyes filled
20:46with undisguised disgust.
20:48You told her
20:48a damaged piece of property
20:50wasn't worth
20:50the $50,000 surgery
20:51that she might as well
20:52just die.
20:53Julian recoiled
20:54as if struck,
20:55his back slamming
20:56against the cold metal wall.
20:58I thought she was
20:59faking it.
21:00I didn't know.
21:01If you knew it was real,
21:02would you have gone?
21:04The officer stared
21:05at him icily.
21:06Julian had no answer.
21:07The sharp click
21:08of high heels echoed
21:09as Julian's mother
21:10burst in.
21:11She gave two exaggerated
21:12wails and dropped
21:13to her hair.
21:13Oh my God,
21:14my former granddaughter.
21:16This is killing grandma.
21:18She stopped crying
21:19abruptly and lowered
21:20her voice,
21:21clutching Julian's arm.
21:22Julian, look,
21:23it's a tragedy,
21:23but it's a clean slate.
21:25Claire was always
21:25below our status.
21:26Now you can marry
21:27Sarah properly.
21:28The baby she carries
21:29is going to be an heir.
21:30Mom, that's my daughter.
21:31Julian looked at her
21:32as if seeing a monster
21:34for the first time.
21:35She rolled her eyes.
21:36It was just a girl.
21:38All that matters now
21:40is that this bad luck
21:42doesn't tarnish
21:42the Lawrence name.
21:43Tell the coroner
21:44to cremate them immediately
21:45so we don't ruin
21:46tomorrow's Christmas gala.
21:48Even the seasoned officer
21:49couldn't take it.
21:52Excuse me, ma'am,
21:53that's two human lives.
21:54This is a Lawrence family matter.
21:57It's none of your business.
21:59Black mourning drapes
22:00hung over the entrance
22:01of the Lawrence estate.
22:02The memorial was relegated
22:03to the side wing.
22:04Sarah and Chloe
22:05had already moved
22:06into my primary suite
22:07and Sarah was busy
22:09ordering the maids
22:10to toss my skin care products
22:11and clothes.
22:12Into the trash,
22:13Julian sat in a catatonic state
22:15beside the two small caskets.
22:16He had personally slapped Tiffany
22:18and kicked her out of the house.
22:20Julian!
22:20I just got drunk
22:21with friends and forgot!
22:22How was I supposed to know
22:23they were so weak?
22:24Tiffany shrieked.
22:25She was just some useless
22:26common woman
22:27and you slapped me
22:28because of her?
22:29Julian only pointed to the door,
22:30his eyes bloodshot.
22:31Get out of my sight.
22:32You're no sister of mine.
22:35Sarah walked in,
22:36holding Chloe,
22:37her voice sickeningly sweet.
22:39Julian, let it go.
22:40Claire wouldn't want you
22:41to suffer like this.
22:42You have to think
22:43about our future.
22:44Do you know what you were doing
22:45while they were out there
22:46freezing and waiting to die?
22:47Julian looked up.
22:48surveying her
22:49as if she were a piece of trash.
22:50You know what you were doing?
22:52Shopping for her mess
22:54and complaining
22:54that my little girl was dirty.
22:56Sarah turned pale.
22:57That was your sister's fault!
22:58What does it have to do with me?
23:00On top of that,
23:01you're the one
23:01who kicked them out
23:02into the cold!
23:03Julian collapsed onto the floor,
23:05laughing like a madman.
23:06Yes,
23:07it was his own pathetic pride
23:09and arrogance
23:09that had murdered his family.
23:13I watched the scene remotely,
23:16my heart cold.
23:17Dad,
23:18let's begin.
23:19Overnight,
23:20the Lawrence group
23:21descended into hell.
23:22First,
23:23their largest partners
23:24in Europe and Asia defaulted.
23:26Then,
23:26major Wall Street firms
23:27pulled their funding.
23:29Banks circled like sharks
23:30scenting blood.
23:32Calling in every loan
23:33simultaneously,
23:34Julian was losing his mind,
23:36living in his office.
23:37His mother called,
23:38screaming.
23:39Julian,
23:39what's going on?
23:40My cards got declined
23:42at the auction house
23:42while I was looking at diamonds!
23:44We're bankrupt,
23:45Mom.
23:45Julian's voice
23:46was utterly flat.
23:47Your house,
23:48your cars,
23:48every piece of jewelry you own,
23:50you might want to get comfortable
23:51with the idea
23:51of a public housing complex.
23:55One month later,
23:57Julian had lost everything.
23:59Sarah fled with Chloe,
24:00taking his last bit of emergency cash
24:02and disappearing into the Manhattan rain.
24:05Julian ended up on the streets.
24:06He found manual labor
24:07on a construction site
24:09for minimum wage.
24:10At night,
24:11he slept in the abandoned,
24:12dusty side wing of his former estate,
24:14the room that used to hold the caskets
24:16until one day,
24:17while clearing out some of my old belongings,
24:19he found a crumpled receipt.
24:20It was an invoice
24:21from a Gwendolyn-owned
24:22private surgical center.
24:24The date,
24:25four days after he thought I had died.
24:27The procedure,
24:28minimally invasive surgery
24:30for acute pneumonia
24:31and neurological recovery,
24:32Julian's hands began to shake uncontrollably.
24:35He ran toward the remnants
24:36of our old life like a madman.
24:38Finally,
24:39outside the gates
24:40of the most exclusive
24:41private preschool in New York,
24:42he saw her.
24:43Ava was dressed
24:44in a custom school uniform,
24:45a Mickey Mouse backpack
24:47on her shoulders,
24:48Her cheeks were as rosy as apples.
24:50She was giggling
24:51as she held the hand
24:52of a suited security guard,
24:53walking toward
24:54a bulletproof Rolls Royce.
24:56Ava!
24:57Julian screamed,
24:58rushing toward her.
24:59Ava flinched,
25:00hiding behind the guard.
25:01When she recognized Julian,
25:03there was no joy,
25:04only terror and disgust.
25:06Go away!
25:07I hate you!
25:08You're the bad guy
25:09who left Mommy and me!
25:11Julian froze,
25:12as if a thousand arrows
25:13had pierced his heart.
25:16Ava,
25:17I'm Daddy.
25:18Ava shouted,
25:19her eyes watering.
25:20My Daddy is dead!
25:21Mommy said Daddy
25:22turned into a block of ice
25:24in the snow and died!
25:29The window of the Rolls Royce
25:31slid down
25:31that I sat there
25:32wearing designer sunglasses
25:33and a power suit.
25:35My aura was so cold
25:36and commanding
25:37it made me a stranger to him.
25:38Well,
25:39long time no see, Julian.
25:41Julian threw himself
25:41against the car door
25:43like a stray dog.
25:44Claire,
25:44you didn't die!
25:45You did all of this,
25:46didn't you?
25:47That's right.
25:47I removed my sunglasses,
25:49looking down at him.
25:50I didn't just want you
25:51to feel powerless.
25:52I wanted you to see
25:53that without you,
25:54we are thriving.
25:56You completely lied
25:57to me all this time!
25:58He shrieked.
25:59You made me believe
26:00you were just
26:00a poor farm girl!
26:02I opened the door
26:03slightly
26:03as the security team
26:04stepped in
26:05to wall him off.
26:06That was my father's test.
26:08If you had passed that test,
26:09you'd be a partner
26:10in the Gwendolyn Empire
26:11right now.
26:12All for Sarah,
26:13you tossed away
26:14the chance to have everything
26:15and nearly killed
26:16my daughter in the process.
26:18Julian fell to his knees
26:19in the mud,
26:20sobbing,
26:21trying to grasp
26:21the tip of my shoe.
26:23Claire, I was wrong.
26:24Give me one more chance
26:25for Ava's sake.
26:26You don't deserve
26:27to say her name.
26:29I rolled up the window.
26:31Security,
26:31call the police.
26:32There's a vagrant
26:32harassing the Gwendolyn Ayers.
26:36Press charges
26:37for the abandonment
26:38on the highway
26:38while you're at it.
26:39The car pulled away smoothly,
26:42leaving the broken,
26:43filthy,
26:43and regretful man
26:44far behind
26:45in the rearview mirror.
26:49Ava leaned against me,
26:51munching on her favorite
26:52strawberry chocolate.
26:54Mommy,
26:55are we going home?
26:56Yes, honey.
26:57Going home.
26:58I stroked her hair.
26:59To a home
27:00where the bad men
27:00can never find us again.
27:03I formally took the helm
27:04of Gwendolyn Glo-
27:05My father retreated
27:06to the background,
27:07spending his days
27:08gardening and fishing
27:09at his Connecticut estate,
27:10much like any
27:11retired gentleman.
27:13Occasionally,
27:13watching me button up
27:14my dark blazer
27:15for a board meeting,
27:16he would ask softly,
27:18Claire,
27:19do you still hate him?
27:20I shook my head
27:21while adjusting my cuffs.
27:24No.
27:25Hating someone
27:26takes too much energy.
27:28I have the Gwendolyn family
27:29to carry,
27:30and I have Ava.
27:31I'm not wasting
27:32another second
27:33of my life on him.
27:34And,
27:35do you ever think of him?
27:37Dad,
27:37do you really think
27:38that's possible?
27:38I smiled,
27:39though it didn't reach my eyes.
27:41My father sighed,
27:42his eyes full of concern.
27:44I just feel
27:45you're keeping yourself
27:45too tight.
27:46In these past three years,
27:47I haven't seen you
27:48smile off camera,
27:49nor have you let
27:49any man get close.
27:51I set down
27:52the merger agreement.
27:53Dad,
27:53I'm doing fine.
27:54I have a career,
27:55a daughter,
27:55and power.
27:56My life is full enough.
27:57I don't need a man
27:58to clutter it up.
27:58I ended the conversation there.
28:00I had a flight
28:00to London next week
28:02and headed toward
28:03Ava's music room.
28:04The corridor was long,
28:05lined with portraits
28:06of three centuries
28:07of Gwendolyn prestige.
28:09At the end,
28:10a melody drifted
28:11from the music room.
28:12She sat at the Steinway piano,
28:13her small hands
28:15dancing diligently
28:15across the key.
28:17She was playing
28:17twinkle,
28:18twinkle,
28:19little star.
28:20It was simple,
28:21yet every note
28:22was executed
28:22with perfect precision
28:23by leaned against
28:24the door frame
28:25watching her.
28:26Three years ago,
28:27doctors said
28:28she faced
28:28permanent brain damage
28:29and paralysis.
28:30But in those three years,
28:32my father had mobilized
28:33the world's most elite
28:34medical teams
28:35and 24-hour
28:36private therapists.
28:37It was money
28:38that bought back
28:39her health,
28:39and it was the same money
28:40that had allowed me
28:41to see right through
28:42Julian's wretched soul.
28:43My phone buzzed.
28:45A text from my assistant.
28:46Ma'am,
28:47Julian's here again.
28:49He's refusing to leave.
28:50He's kneeling
28:51in the middle of the lobby
28:52holding a sign that says,
28:54I'm sorry
28:54for the sake of our child.
28:56Talk to me.
29:00Ava leaned against me,
29:02munching on her favorite
29:03strawberry chocolate.
29:05Mommy,
29:05are we going home?
29:07Yes, honey.
29:08Going home.
29:09I stroked her hair.
29:10To a home where the bad men
29:11can never find us again.
29:14I walked to the window,
29:15looking down at the people below,
29:17who looked like ants.
29:20But I closed the blinds
29:21without a hint of emotion.
29:26Get security to deal with him.
29:28If he persists,
29:29file for a restraining order.
29:30I don't want the media
29:31catching wind of this trash.
29:33I hung up,
29:34sat down beside Ava,
29:35and listened to her
29:36play the piece one more time.
29:38Mommy,
29:39your eyes are red,
29:40Ava said,
29:41stopping her play
29:42to look at me with concern
29:43that I ruffled her hair.
29:44Probably just spent too much time
29:46reading reports today.
29:48Then Ava will blow the pain away.
29:50She leaned in
29:51and blew gently on my eyes.
29:53Her breath was warm,
29:55smelling of strawberry toothpaste.
29:57Mommy,
29:58I love you.
29:59She whispered,
30:00suddenly throwing her arms
30:01around my neck.
30:02I hugged her back,
30:03the only warmth
30:04in my frozen corporate kingdom.
30:07Mommy loves you too,
30:08more than the world,
30:09more than all the trillions.
30:11I love you most.
30:13Three months later,
30:14Julian died
30:14in a low-rent studio apartment.
30:16The cause was
30:17multiple organ failure
30:18due to chronic malnutrition
30:20and cardiac arrest
30:21triggered by severe
30:22clinical depression.
30:23The news reached me
30:24while I was in my London office,
30:26preparing to sign
30:27a 10 billion pound
30:28multinational acquisition.
30:30My pen didn't tremble.
30:31It didn't even pause.
30:32I scrawled the Gwendolyn signature,
30:35closed the folder,
30:36and nodded curtly
30:37to my assistant.
30:38Noted.
30:39Contact his next of kin.
30:40If no one claims him,
30:42have the company
30:42pair a basic cremation.
30:44Don't let him take up
30:45space in the morgue.
30:45The warm winter sun
30:47streamed into the office,
30:48illuminating my hands,
30:50my ring finger,
30:51which once bore
30:51the initials of his name,
30:53now held only a massive,
30:55power-symbolizing
30:56pear-shaped diamond.
30:57There was no longer
30:58any trace of him left
30:59from that moment on.
31:00My world had no Achilles heel
31:02in the penthouse
31:03overlooking the entire city.
31:05The warm amber lights
31:06created a scene
31:06of peace and serenity.
31:08Ava finished her last note
31:09and leaped into my arms
31:10with a giggle.
31:12Mommy,
31:13will you come to the weekend
31:14carnival with me tomorrow?
31:16I leaned down
31:17and placed a mother's kiss
31:18on her forehead,
31:19a kiss that was both
31:20my softest gesture
31:21and my hardest shield.
31:22Of course, honey.
31:23Mommy is always here.
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