- 2 days ago
Congratulations, It's A Girl... And A Mistress 33eps HD 720p ASM
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00:00Daniel, the daughter you hid from me is right here in my arms.
00:09I hadn't seen my husband in person for almost a year.
00:12Right up until the afternoon, I ran into one of his co-workers at the mall.
00:15Hi.
00:20Congratulations, Mrs. Hayes.
00:23Baby number two, and a girl this time.
00:27I froze.
00:28She didn't notice my expression and kept talking.
00:31I'm definitely coming to the Sip and See this weekend.
00:36As she spoke, she waved a gold-foiled invitation in her hand.
00:40They really went all out on this.
00:43It's gorgeous.
00:44I forced a smile, took the invitation, and looked down before she could see anything in my face.
00:50Under father, I saw my husband's name, Daniel Hayes.
00:54Under mother, it said, Olivia Carter.
00:58I had never heard of this woman.
01:00I quietly memorized the hotel address.
01:04I'll see you there this weekend.
01:12That weekend, I went to the hotel listed on the invitation.
01:19The place was lively and crowded.
01:22At the entrance stood a beautiful woman, greeting guests with a newborn baby girl in her arms.
01:32You must work with Daniel.
01:34There are so many pretty women at his company.
01:38Come on in.
01:42I looked at the baby in her arms.
01:44She was pale and delicate, and in her features, I could already see traces of Daniel.
01:49I kept my face blank and asked,
01:52Where's Daniel Hayes?
01:54What I did see were a few familiar faces from Daniel's side of the family.
01:59I had only met his relatives once before, at our wedding seven years ago.
02:04But I had a good memory.
02:05I remembered the older ones with the more distinctive faces.
02:09I hadn't expected Daniel to be bold enough to acknowledge another child this openly in front of family.
02:15He went to pick up my in-laws. He'll be back soon.
02:21Two days earlier, my in-laws had told me they'd signed up for a senior bus tour.
02:26They said they'd be gone for half a month.
02:28I worried they wouldn't have enough spending money,
02:31so I'd even sent my mother-in-law $8,000 for the trip.
02:35Their health had been bad for years.
02:37They were always on medication, always in and out of doctor's offices.
02:42They had never really traveled before.
02:44They told me they wanted to get out and enjoy life a little, and I supported them.
02:49In front of me and behind my back, they always praised me,
02:53said I was kind, dependable, the kind of daughter-in-law any family would be lucky to have.
02:59All these years, I had treated them like my own parents.
03:02I never imagined they'd been lying to me, too.
03:06Just like Daniel.
03:07Olivia didn't notice the storm building in my face.
03:10She led me over to the section where Daniel's co-workers were sitting.
03:13The second we got close, a middle-aged man said to her,
03:17Daniel's a lucky guy.
03:18Look at you two.
03:21Olivia, you really made the right call.
03:23I was a little worried when you quit your job to stay home.
03:26It's been over six years.
03:28You two still look so happy together.
03:30And now you've got this little girl.
03:32I'm truly happy for you both.
03:34That was when I realized my marriage to Daniel had lasted seven years.
03:39And he had been cheating on me with Olivia for more than six of them.
03:43The cruelest part was that I hadn't known a thing.
03:47A year earlier, he said the out-of-town assignment would increase his monthly salary by $5,000.
03:53We had to think about our son's future.
03:56College, marriage, bride price, and a house.
03:59They all cost money.
04:01He told me he wanted to earn more, save more, and build something solid for our son.
04:07After thinking it through carefully, I agreed to let him take the assignment in a city a thousand miles away.
04:13Now I understood what I had missed.
04:16He had not been sacrificing for us.
04:18He had been building another life in plain sight, and I had never really seen him at all.
04:25Daniel's doing really well for himself.
04:27He's top salesperson every year, isn't he?
04:29The commissions alone must be crazy.
04:31I still remember that beautiful wedding celebration you two had.
04:34Six years later, and you've got a baby.
04:37We're all pretty lucky.
04:39He makes great money, treats his wife right.
04:42You really don't see men like that much anymore.
04:44That was when I realized the number he'd given me had only ever been his base salary.
04:49And his commissions?
04:50Those had been funding the other household.
04:53When Daniel married me, we had a simple reception back in his tiny hometown.
04:57He hadn't invited a single co-worker.
05:02I stood there in the middle of the crowd, listening quietly to all the parts of my husband's life I
05:07had never been allowed to know.
05:09Olivia, seriously, teach me your ways.
05:12How do you get Daniel to listen to you like that?
05:15He treats you so well.
05:17Daniel's just a good man.
05:19I'm the luckiest one.
05:21Then she laughed a little.
05:22Couples need to understand each other.
05:24But if you're worried about him straying, just keep a tight grip on the money.
05:28Marriage is then methled.
05:30Daniel gives his entire paycheck to me, only keeping 1k dollars for his cigarettes.
05:35How his bonus always turns into jewelry.
05:38Like they say, a man's heart is wherever his money is.
05:41That hit harder than I expected.
05:43His bonuses bought Olivia necklaces?
05:46Then what had he bought me?
05:49Nausea rose so fast I nearly choked on it.
05:51They kept chatting, laughing, tossing comments back and forth.
05:55And no one noticed I was standing there like a block of ice.
05:59Silent.
06:00Stiff.
06:01Completely out of place.
06:03Then Olivia's phone rang.
06:07Daniel.
06:10Can you hold her for a second?
06:12More than once that day, I had come within seconds of falling apart.
06:16But with this tiny, soft little thing in my arms, I forced it all back down.
06:22She looked up at me with huge, shiny eyes.
06:25She didn't cry.
06:26Didn't fuss.
06:27Okay.
06:28Dear, you just had the baby.
06:30Take it easy.
06:31I've got mom and dad with me.
06:32Traffic's awful, but we're almost there.
06:34Don't stress.
06:35I'm okay.
06:36Drive safe and don't rush on my account.
06:38I had always thought Daniel cared about me deeply.
06:41He called every day.
06:43He texted every day.
06:44The calls were short, usually under a minute.
06:47But I had never doubted him.
06:49Work.
06:49Home.
06:50Our son.
06:51Every small thing in my life filled up every corner of my time.
06:55His job was demanding, too.
06:57That was what I told myself.
06:59That was why his calls were always so short.
07:02I never imagined he was saving the real details of his day for another woman.
07:07I carried the baby to an empty seat and sat down.
07:10That was when I noticed the bracelet on her wrist.
07:14I recognized it instantly.
07:17Seven years earlier, when I found out I was carrying twins, a boy and a girl, my mother
07:23had a jeweler make a matching keepsake bracelet set for the babies.
07:27She even took them to the little chapel she loved and had them blessed before the babies
07:31were born.
07:32But we never got that one.
07:35Something went wrong during delivery.
07:38Only my son made it.
07:41The girl did not survive.
07:43The loss nearly broke me, and the complications left me unable to have another child.
07:49My son's bracelet had been packed away with his baby keepsakes years ago.
07:54The one meant for my daughter was different.
07:57I kept that one locked in the safe at home.
08:00Whenever I missed the baby girl I never got to bring home, I would take it out, hold it
08:05in my palm, and cry until I couldn't breathe.
08:08Joy.
08:10That was the name I had chosen for our unborn daughter, after months of flipping through
08:15baby name books.
08:17My daughter's name is Joy.
08:19Daniel picked it, and he had it made just for her.
08:24He takes good care of you.
08:26You must be pretty new at the company, right?
08:28I used to know everyone there.
08:30Now half these people look new to me.
08:32Yeah.
08:33The company's great.
08:35He used to travel all the time.
08:37It's only recently that he's been home more.
08:39Before that, he was gone all the time.
08:41Some months, we barely saw each other.
08:44I'm just glad we made it through that stretch.
08:48Yeah.
08:49I bet.
08:51Before that one-year regional assignment, Daniel had spent at least half of every month traveling
08:57for work.
08:58I used to feel bad for him.
08:59I thought he was worn out from bouncing between cities, so I handled everything at home without
09:04bothering him.
09:06Bills, our son Noah, his parents, hospital stays, caregiving.
09:11I never asked him to step in.
09:13Even when our sex life had started disappearing over the past few years, I never complained.
09:19Now I knew the truth.
09:20He hadn't been traveling.
09:22He had been taking care of his other home.
09:27She really took to you.
09:29I've had friends try to hold her, and she starts crying almost right away.
09:33But look at her with you.
09:34You've been holding her this whole time, and she hasn't fussed once.
09:37That's kind of amazing.
09:38Maybe it's because I have a child, too.
09:40I've had practice.
09:43She smiled and slipped back into the crowd without a second thought.
09:46Would you mind holding her a little longer?
09:48I still need to make the rounds.
09:53I'm sorry.
09:58I looked up then, and saw the large welcome sign displayed across the room.
10:03It read,
10:05Welcome to the baby celebration for Joy Hayes, Daniel Hayes, and Olivia Carter.
10:11My arms went stiff around the baby, and I had to force myself to loosen them.
10:17My son never had a baby celebration.
10:20Back then, all of us were drowning in the grief of losing the other baby.
10:25Daniel had been the one who said we shouldn't do it.
10:28Said he was too heartbroken over losing our daughter.
10:31And now?
10:33Now that he had a daughter, he could throw a joyful party for her.
10:37I was the only one who still remembered the little girl I never got to bring home.
10:43Then, out of nowhere, my mother-in-law called.
10:47Grace, I texted you. Didn't you see it?
10:50No.
10:51Where are you? I can't hear a thing.
10:53I already sent you what I need. Go check your phone and text me back.
10:55Don't make me ask twice.
10:58I opened my phone and saw the message she had sent 20 minutes earlier.
11:03Grace, your cousin just had her baby.
11:05The family is splitting the cost of the nursery furniture.
11:08I'm short on my share.
11:10Send me $20,000 today.
11:13We're not going to look bad over this.
11:16For years, his whole family had played me for a fool.
11:19And now Margaret wanted me to help pay for a gift for the child Daniel had built with someone else?
11:26A laugh left me before I could stop it.
11:29I didn't reply.
11:30A second message came in right away.
11:33Send it now.
11:34We are not going to look cheap over this.
11:38Don't make me ask again.
11:39I still didn't answer.
11:42I wanted her to come say it to my face.
11:44A few minutes later, another text lit up my screen.
11:48I always thought you were the sensible one.
11:51Didn't expect this from you.
11:53Forget it.
11:54If you won't send it, I'll figure something out myself.
11:57Every word of it had been a joke.
12:01Baby, Mom picked up another gold bracelet for our little girl.
12:04She doesn't need another one.
12:06Joy already has so much jewelry.
12:08No, this one's different.
12:09It has a little lion charm.
12:11And Mom had it blessed.
12:13It's special, Liv.
12:14It's not just jewelry.
12:16Aw, that's so sweet of her.
12:18Tell her I said thank you.
12:20Oh, honey, that's just what grandmothers do.
12:24You gave this family such a beautiful little girl.
12:27We ought to be thanking you.
12:29We're almost there, so just keep things moving till we get in.
12:33Two days ago, before my son left for summer camp,
12:36my mother-in-law told him to take the gold bracelet off so he wouldn't lose it.
12:41Noah had handed it over without thinking anything of it.
12:44Now, I knew exactly why.
12:47She'd been planning to give my son's blessed bracelet to Daniel's other daughter.
12:53As soon as the call ended, Olivia reached for the baby,
12:56then spotted another group of guests coming in across the room
12:59and turned to greet them instead,
13:01leaving Daniel's other daughter in my arms.
13:05They're not going to forget this day.
13:10A few minutes later, through the hum of the room,
13:13I heard Daniel's family arrive.
13:15I walked toward the stage with the baby still in my arms.
13:19Then I heard Daniel ask Olivia,
13:21Baby, where's our little girl?
13:23I picked up the microphone.
13:24The feedback shrieked, silencing the entire room.
13:31Daniel, the daughter you hid from me is right here in my arms.
13:38Daniel, the daughter you hid from me is right here in my arms.
13:44Then the room erupted.
13:47Whispers, gasps, chairs shifting, voices rising all at once.
13:52Daniel looked like all the blood had drained from his body,
13:55staring up at me from below the stage.
13:57My in-laws looked even worse.
14:00Olivia just stood there, stunned, like the sky had caved in over her.
14:05But instinct made her look to Daniel first.
14:08She hurried over to me, trying hard to stay calm, and asked softly.
14:13I'm sorry.
14:14Who are you?
14:15I thought you were one of Daniel's co-workers.
14:17There has to be some mistake.
14:21Whatever this is, we can sort it out.
14:23Please give me my baby.
14:25My face must have frightened her.
14:27The look in my eyes definitely did.
14:29She reached for the baby carefully, cautiously,
14:33terrified I might lose control and hurt her child.
14:36I didn't give her back.
14:38I looked straight at her and said,
14:41I'm Daniel's wife.
14:42We've been married for seven years.
14:44We have a six-year-old son.
14:46Then I let the words sit between us.
14:49So tell me,
14:51do I look like I came here for no reason?
14:54Olivia's face drained white.
14:56She staggered back half a step,
14:58her knees almost giving out.
15:00Disbelief and terror hit her at once.
15:03That's not possible.
15:06Daniel, look at me.
15:08How long have you been lying to me?
15:11I had thrown the question at Daniel on purpose.
15:13And when I said wife,
15:15I made sure the word came out sharp enough to draw blood.
15:19The whole room stared at Daniel
15:21like he was standing under a spotlight.
15:23His face turned red all the way down his neck.
15:27And he just stood there,
15:28rooted to the floor,
15:30guilty,
15:31exposed,
15:32useless.
15:33I thought Daniel was divorced.
15:35Wait,
15:35so he was never divorced at all?
15:38Then who's his actual wife?
15:39How does a man end up with two wives?
15:41I knew something felt off.
15:43That woman on stage hadn't said a word all night.
15:46I noticed her earlier.
15:48Voices kept breaking loose from the crowd.
15:51Then I turned and looked straight at my in-laws,
15:53who seemed like they wanted the floor to swallow them whole.
15:56I asked deliberately.
15:59Margaret,
16:00Robert,
16:01why don't you tell them?
16:03Which one of us is your daughter-in-law?
16:09Olivia stared at them too.
16:11Then at Daniel.
16:12My in-laws lowered their heads.
16:15Neither of them answered.
16:16Daniel finally started toward the stage
16:18like someone had a knife at his throat.
16:21Step by step,
16:23slow and painful.
16:24Olivia grabbed his arm,
16:26crying now,
16:27and demanded.
16:28Say something!
16:30What the hell is this?
16:31Then her voice cracked.
16:34Which one of us did you lie to first?
16:36Daniel tried to calm her,
16:38shame written all over his face.
16:41Please,
16:41just calm down.
16:43I'll explain everything.
16:44Just slowly.
16:45Olivia snapped back at once.
16:47You explain it now.
16:49She raised her left hand,
16:50the one with the wedding ring.
16:52She showed up.
16:53Then her voice shook.
16:55At our baby celebration in front of everyone.
16:58She showed up.
17:00At our baby celebration in front of everyone.
17:05You are gonna answer this right here.
17:09Right here.
17:10Right now.
17:11Then her voice shook.
17:12She looked from me to him.
17:14I don't care whether I'm the other woman
17:16or she is.
17:18No.
17:19Forget that.
17:19You lied
17:20to both of us.
17:24I recognized the ring on her finger.
17:26It was the exact design
17:28I had fallen in love with
17:29when Daniel and I got married.
17:31But it was $18,000.
17:33And I told myself
17:34I couldn't justify it.
17:36So I'd settled for a plain gold band
17:38that cost $1.8,000.
17:41Back then,
17:42Daniel's eyes had turned red
17:44when he watched me
17:45put the expensive one back.
17:46He had taken my hand
17:48and promised that one day
17:49when he could afford it,
17:51he'd buy me the real one.
17:53Turns out,
17:54he could afford it.
17:55He had just put it
17:56on another woman's hand.
17:57Daniel finally looked up at me.
17:59His eyes were full of everything at once.
18:02Guilt.
18:03Panic.
18:04Shame.
18:04Helplessness.
18:05His lips moved with effort.
18:07Then, so quietly,
18:09only the three of us could hear it.
18:11I'm sorry.
18:13Please.
18:15Not here.
18:16Can we go home and talk?
18:19I hated him so much
18:20my teeth hurt.
18:21So I lifted the microphone
18:23and said,
18:24on purpose,
18:27What was that, Daniel?
18:32Did you say go home?
18:33Which one?
18:34Mine or hers?
18:38My voice boomed through the speakers
18:40for the whole room to hear.
18:42I stared at him.
18:44I tilted my head.
18:45He looked even more ashamed,
18:47like he couldn't bear
18:48to meet my eyes.
18:49Then he stepped forward
18:51and reached for the microphone
18:52in my hand.
18:57I stepped back
18:58and pulled my arm
18:59out of his reach.
19:00I didn't let him
19:01take the microphone.
19:03Answer me, Daniel.
19:04How many homes do you have?
19:06Who is your wife?
19:07What game are you playing?
19:09Olivia rushed forward,
19:11grabbed his arm,
19:11and all but shouted
19:13in his face.
19:14Say it!
19:17Daniel had nowhere
19:18left to hide.
19:19At last,
19:20he looked at me
19:21and said the truth.
19:22You're my wife.
19:24You're my wife.
19:25I'm sorry.
19:25I never should have cheated.
19:27The room erupted.
19:29She clutched his arm tighter
19:31and stared up at him,
19:32refusing to believe
19:33the fake marriage.
19:35Olivia broke down
19:36on the spot,
19:37sobbing as she hit him again.
19:38Then what am I?
19:40How could you do this to me?
19:46What am I?
19:52Daniel lowered his head
19:54and forced the truth out
19:55about the fake marriage.
19:57Olivia's legs gave out.
19:58She collapsed to the floor,
20:00crying so hard
20:01the sound seemed
20:02to tear through the room.
20:06What do you mean?
20:07It wasn't.
20:08You took my money,
20:10stood up there
20:11and let me believe
20:11all of it was real.
20:17Now we have a daughter
20:19and you're telling me
20:20none of it was real?
20:22Daniel Hayes,
20:23how could you do this to me?
20:26Daniel stood between us,
20:28trapped,
20:28guilty,
20:29and useless,
20:31unable to move
20:32toward either of us.
20:37He treated you better
20:38than he ever treated me.
20:40He made me think
20:41I knew what he earned.
20:42I didn't.
20:43What he told me
20:44was just his base.
20:46The commission money
20:47was going to you.
20:48The necklace he bought
20:49for you was real.
20:51The ones he gave me
20:52were fake.
20:54And that so-called
20:55one-year assignment?
20:56That was a lie too.
20:58He was living with you
20:59the whole time,
21:00playing house
21:01in another city.
21:03I exposed the truth
21:04about his salary,
21:06commissions,
21:07fake jewelry,
21:08and the one-year
21:09assignment lie.
21:10I lifted her daughter
21:12little hand
21:12and shook the bracelet
21:14at her wrist.
21:15Do you know where
21:16this bracelet came from?
21:22Seven years ago,
21:23I was pregnant with twins,
21:25a boy and a girl.
21:27My mother had a jeweler
21:28make a matching set
21:29for the babies.
21:31She had my daughter's name
21:32engraved on the back
21:33and then she took
21:34both bracelets
21:35to a chapel
21:36to be blessed.
21:37I told her the truth
21:38about the twins,
21:39the blessed bracelets,
21:41and the name Joy
21:42I chose for my lost daughter.
21:45And the name
21:45your daughter is carrying?
21:51I chose it
21:52for the little girl
21:53I never got to hold.
21:55I never imagined
21:56he'd take something
21:57meant for my daughter
21:58and put it on yours.
22:01I looked at the bracelet again.
22:03My voice caught
22:04more than once.
22:05Even then,
22:06just thinking about
22:07the child I had lost,
22:09the pain still went
22:10straight through me.
22:12Then I turned
22:13and looked at my in-laws,
22:14standing in the middle
22:15of the crowd.
22:16And my wonderful
22:17mother-in-law?
22:19She was about to give
22:20this baby my son's bracelet.
22:23She took it
22:24from him herself.
22:26Said she wanted
22:26to have it cleaned
22:27and the clasp checked.
22:28My mother-in-law
22:30stole my son's
22:31blessed bracelet
22:32to give to your baby!
22:34I exposed
22:35that my mother-in-law
22:36stole my son's
22:37blessed bracelet
22:38for the bastard daughter.
22:40The cold inside me
22:42spread inch by inch.
22:44Everything I had given
22:46that family
22:46over the last seven years
22:48and this was how
22:50they had paid me back.
22:51In seven years,
22:53when did I ever
22:53fail this family?
22:55You kept saying
22:55you treated me like family.
22:56Is this what that looked like?
22:58Whenever one of you
22:58got sick,
22:59who showed up?
23:00Who took you
23:00to your appointments?
23:01Who sat with you
23:02in hospitals?
23:03So how did you
23:04treat me back?
23:05How did you treat
23:05your only grandson?
23:07It felt like a hand
23:08closing around my throat.
23:10Like they had taken
23:11half my life
23:12and crushed it.
23:14For seven years,
23:15I even hand-washed
23:16your underwear and socks.
23:17Ever since I married
23:19into this family,
23:20I've been the one
23:20holding everything together.
23:22Two days ago,
23:23you told me
23:23you were leaving
23:24on a trip
23:24and I sent you
23:258K dollars.
23:27I treated you
23:28like my own parents.
23:29I yelled out
23:30all I had done
23:31for the family
23:32and the $8,000
23:34I sent for the fake trip.
23:36Margaret looked like
23:37she wanted the floor
23:38to split open
23:39and swallow her whole.
23:40The guests around them
23:41didn't hold back.
23:42Their whispers
23:43cut harder than knives.
23:44So, Daniel's trash
23:46and his parents
23:47helped cover for him?
23:48Like parents like son,
23:49that whole family's rotten.
23:52She gave them everything
23:53and they still
23:53played her like that?
23:54Makes me sick
23:55to even look at them.
23:56Daniel came toward me again,
23:58his eyes rimmed red,
24:00then pulled me
24:00into a hard,
24:02desperate embrace.
24:03He held me
24:04and cried
24:05and all I could do
24:06was let out
24:07a thin, bitter laugh.
24:10Grace, I'm sorry.
24:12I was a coward.
24:13I did something unforgivable.
24:15You've been through
24:15enough because of me.
24:17I swear to God
24:18I'll spend the rest
24:18of my life
24:19making this right.
24:20Just give me one chance
24:21to fix this.
24:22Olivia watched him
24:23hold me
24:24and beg for forgiveness
24:25and through her tears
24:27a bitter laugh
24:28slipped out of her too.
24:29She pushed herself
24:30up off the floor,
24:32grabbed Daniel
24:32by the arm
24:33and yanked him away from me.
24:34Then she slapped him
24:36with everything she had.
24:38She nearly went down again.
24:39Her whole body
24:40was shaking
24:41and she swayed
24:42where she stood.
24:43Her makeup
24:44streaked with tears.
24:46I'm sorry, Olivia.
24:47You will meet
24:48someone better.
24:49Not a piece of trash
24:50like me.
24:51No, say it right.
24:53Trash.
24:54What about me?
24:56What the hell
24:57are you going to say
24:58to me after what you did?
24:59A short,
25:00humorless laugh
25:01slipped out of me.
25:02So he knew
25:03exactly what he was.
25:05I murmured.
25:07Daniel barely looked at her.
25:09His eyes found mine again,
25:11already red.
25:12I looked down
25:13at the baby girl
25:13in my arms
25:14who had started fussing
25:16in thin,
25:17hungry cries.
25:18Grace,
25:19can we please
25:20just go home?
25:22And what about her?
25:26What exactly
25:27were you planning
25:27to do with her?
25:28You always wanted
25:29a little girl.
25:30He answered
25:31without hesitation.
25:32If you're willing,
25:34we could raise her
25:35ourselves.
25:36The pain
25:37hit Olivia
25:37so hard
25:38she could barely
25:39stay on her feet.
25:40By the time
25:41she stumbled
25:41in front of me,
25:42she was already
25:43on her knees.
25:44Her eyes,
25:45once bright and open,
25:46were now overflowing
25:48with tears.
25:49She was so panicked
25:50she could barely
25:51get the words out.
25:52She held her hands
25:54out carefully,
25:55terrified of setting
25:56me off,
25:57terrified I might
25:58hurt her child.
25:59She was crying
26:00so hard
26:01she could barely
26:01breathe.
26:02She was a victim
26:04too.
26:04I had never
26:05blamed her.
26:06And seeing her
26:07on her knees
26:08for her child,
26:09I felt it
26:10with the kind
26:11of clarity
26:11only a mother can.
26:14I reached
26:15for the bracelet
26:16on the baby's wrist.
26:17Olivia tensed
26:18instantly.
26:19She wanted to tell
26:20me to be careful,
26:21afraid I'd hurt
26:22the baby,
26:23but she was
26:23too scared
26:24to say it.
26:25As I spoke,
26:26I won't hurt her,
26:27I slipped the bracelet
26:28off the baby's wrist.
26:30The baby whimpered
26:31softly,
26:32probably hungry.
26:34Olivia looked
26:35wrecked.
26:36She's hungry,
26:36I need to feed her.
26:38Please,
26:39can I have her back?
26:40I need answers
26:41first.
26:42She nodded
26:42immediately,
26:43like she was ready
26:44to tell me
26:45anything she knew.
26:46Don't worry,
26:47I'm not taking
26:48your child.
26:49I already have
26:50my own.
26:50From the day
26:51you got together,
26:52including the
26:53wedding money,
26:54the ceremony,
26:55all of it,
26:56how much did
26:57Daniel give you?
26:57Looking me
26:58straight in the eye,
26:58she answered.
26:59He gave
27:00180k for the
27:01bride price
27:02and the jewelry
27:02alone was
27:03another $150k.
27:05After that,
27:06he was giving me
27:07somewhere between
27:08$30k and $50k a month
27:10and every year
27:11he used his bonus
27:12to buy me bracelets.
27:13By now,
27:15it was probably
27:16around 2.3
27:17millielords total,
27:20plus another
27:21$300
27:21or so
27:22in jewelry.
27:25I quit my job
27:26after we got
27:27married.
27:28Her voice
27:29cracked.
27:30I really
27:31didn't know
27:31he was already
27:32married.
27:34I know you'll
27:34probably go after
27:35every dollar
27:35he spent on me.
27:36Then she swallowed
27:37and finished
27:38quietly.
27:38So I'm not
27:39going to lie
27:39to you.
27:43I was calmer
27:44now,
27:44so I asked
27:45her,
27:45if I asked
27:46for it back,
27:47would you return
27:48it?
27:48If I asked
27:49for it back,
27:50would you return
27:51it?
27:52Yes.
27:53Send me the
27:53account info
27:54and I'll send
27:55it right now.
27:55She nodded
27:56without hesitation.
27:57I was genuinely
27:58surprised she agreed
27:59that fast.
28:00I pulled out
28:01my phone
28:02and showed
28:02her the account.
28:03Olivia didn't
28:04hesitate for even
28:05a second.
28:05She took out
28:06her phone
28:07and made the
28:07transfer on
28:08the spot.
28:09Less than a
28:09minute later,
28:10$2.6 million
28:12landed in my account.
28:13She looked at me
28:14and said,
28:14her voice shook.
28:17The money's yours
28:18and you can
28:19have the man too.
28:21I just want
28:22my child,
28:23please,
28:23please.
28:25Can I have
28:25her back now?
28:27For the first
28:28time,
28:28I let myself
28:29see her clearly.
28:31She was just
28:32like me,
28:33broken by
28:34the same man.
28:35I walked over,
28:37helped her
28:37to her feet
28:38and gently
28:39placed the baby
28:39in her arms.
28:41She held
28:41the baby tight
28:42like she was
28:43still afraid
28:43someone might
28:44tear her away.
28:45Then finally,
28:47she let out
28:47one long,
28:49shaking breath.
28:50She's your
28:50daughter.
28:51No one's
28:52taking her
28:52from you.
28:54I'll take
28:55the money.
28:56Him?
28:56I don't want
28:57him.
28:58She froze
28:58for a second,
28:59stunned.
29:00Then I turned
29:01and walked
29:02straight out.
29:03Daniel didn't
29:04hesitate.
29:05He came
29:05after me
29:06immediately.
29:12when we
29:12got back
29:13to the house
29:13we had
29:14lived in
29:14for seven
29:14years.
29:15The family
29:16portrait was
29:16still hanging
29:17on the living
29:17room wall.
29:18I used to
29:19come home
29:19from work,
29:20look at that
29:21picture,
29:21and feel
29:22warm all
29:23over.
29:24Now I
29:25couldn't look
29:25at it without
29:26feeling sick.
29:28Daniel came
29:28toward me,
29:29reached for
29:30me,
29:30and tried to
29:31pull me into
29:31his arms
29:32while apologizing.
29:33It won't
29:34happen again.
29:34It was a
29:35mistake.
29:35Just this
29:36once.
29:36I shoved
29:37his arm
29:37off me
29:37on instinct.
29:38Don't
29:38touch me!
29:39I yelled
29:40so hard
29:41my head
29:41hurt and
29:42my throat
29:42burned.
29:43Ever
29:44since I
29:44found out
29:45he'd been
29:45living a
29:45double life
29:46for more
29:46than six
29:47years,
29:47I couldn't
29:48even look
29:49at him
29:49without
29:49feeling
29:49sick.
29:50He
29:51disgusted
29:51me.
29:52He
29:52felt
29:52filthy
29:53to me
29:53now,
29:54like
29:54something
29:54I
29:54wanted
29:55scrubbed
29:55out of
29:56my
29:56life.
29:57Daniel
29:58didn't
29:58dare
29:58touch
29:59me
29:59again.
29:59He
30:00just
30:00kept
30:00pleading.
30:01Grace,
30:01I'm
30:02sorry.
30:02I
30:03swear,
30:03I
30:03lost
30:03my
30:03head.
30:04I'll
30:04end
30:04it
30:04with
30:04her.
30:05We
30:05can
30:05still
30:05fix
30:05this.
30:06We
30:06can
30:06raise
30:06no
30:07one
30:07together.
30:07Then
30:07my
30:08in-laws
30:08came
30:08in.
30:09She
30:09sighed
30:09like
30:10she
30:10was
30:10the
30:10one
30:10carrying
30:11the
30:11burden.
30:12Grace,
30:13I
30:13know
30:13this
30:14hurt
30:14you,
30:14but
30:15what's
30:15done
30:15is
30:15done.
30:16That
30:16little
30:16girl
30:17is
30:17Daniel's
30:17daughter
30:17too.
30:18You
30:19can't
30:19stay
30:19stuck
30:19in
30:19this
30:19forever.
30:30give
30:30any
30:31of
30:31this
30:31was
30:31somehow
30:32the
30:32real
30:32problem.
30:33marriage
30:33is
30:34over.
30:34Daniel
30:35Hayes,
30:36you
30:36are
30:36nothing
30:37but
30:37a
30:37fraud.
30:38His
30:39eyes
30:39reddened
30:39again,
30:40helpless
30:41and
30:41frantic.
30:42Then
30:42tell
30:42me
30:42what
30:42it
30:43would
30:43take
30:43for
30:43you
30:43to
30:43forgive
30:43me.
30:44Anything
30:45I
30:45can
30:45do,
30:45I'll
30:45do.
30:47Then
30:47go
30:48to
30:48hell.
30:49Go
30:50drop
30:50dead.
30:51Then
30:52go
30:52to
30:52hell.
30:53Go
30:53drop
30:54dead.
30:55The
30:55hatred
30:55in
30:55me
30:56surged
30:56up
30:56so
30:57fast
30:57I
30:57couldn't
30:58stop
30:58it.
30:58My
30:59voice
30:59shook
30:59but
31:00I
31:00didn't
31:00look
31:00away.
31:01Daniel
31:02went
31:02still.
31:03In
31:04my
31:04eyes
31:04he
31:05finally
31:05saw
31:06it
31:06clearly.
31:08Disgust.
31:09Hatred.
31:10And
31:11at
31:11last
31:11he
31:12understood.
31:13I
31:14was
31:14never
31:14going
31:14to
31:15forgive
31:15him.
31:16I
31:17went
31:17back
31:17to
31:17the
31:17bedroom
31:18and
31:18locked
31:18the
31:18door
31:18behind
31:19me.
31:20Leaning
31:20against
31:20it
31:21I
31:21looked
31:22up
31:22and
31:22saw
31:22the
31:22wedding
31:23photo
31:23on
31:23the
31:23wall.
31:24Daniel
31:25smiling
31:25behind
31:25me,
31:26his
31:26arms
31:27around
31:27me,
31:28like
31:28any
31:28of
31:28it
31:28had
31:29ever
31:29been
31:29real.
31:30I
31:30couldn't
31:31stand
31:31the
31:31sight
31:31of
31:31it
31:32for
31:32one
31:32more
31:32second.
31:33I
31:34climbed
31:34onto
31:34the
31:34bed
31:35with
31:35my
31:35shoes
31:35still
31:36on,
31:36yanked
31:37the
31:37frame
31:37off
31:37the
31:37wall
31:38and
31:38grabbed
31:38a
31:38pair
31:39of
31:39scissors.
31:39I
31:40stabbed
31:40hole
31:41after
31:41hole
31:42straight
31:42through
31:43Daniel's
31:43smiling
31:44face.
31:44When
31:45my
31:45hands
31:45finally
31:46stopped
31:46shaking,
31:47I
31:47pulled
31:47out
31:47my
31:48phone.
31:58When
31:58I
31:58left
31:59the
31:59Hayes
31:59house,
32:00I
32:00made
32:00Margaret
32:01give
32:01me
32:01back
32:01my
32:01son's
32:02bracelet.
32:02Give
32:03me
32:03my
32:03son's
32:03bracelet
32:04back.
32:11Daniel
32:12didn't
32:12stop
32:12me,
32:13but
32:13just
32:14as I
32:14reached
32:14the
32:14door,
32:15he
32:15suddenly
32:15dropped
32:16to his
32:16knees
32:16in front
32:17of me.
32:17He
32:18grabbed
32:18my
32:18hand
32:19and
32:19begged
32:19like
32:20getting
32:21on his
32:21knees
32:21could
32:22still
32:22fix
32:22any
32:22of
32:23this.
32:23I
32:23know
32:24I
32:24was
32:24wrong.
32:25I
32:25know
32:25that.
32:26Please,
32:27for
32:28Noah's
32:28sake,
32:30give
32:30me
32:30one
32:31last
32:31chance.
32:34Noah's
32:35give
32:35me
32:35one
32:35last
32:36chance.
32:36I'm
32:36begging
32:37you.
32:38I
32:39yanked
32:39my
32:39hand
32:40away.
32:43I'm
32:43done
32:44standing
32:44in the
32:44way of
32:44the
32:44life
32:45you
32:45already
32:45built.
32:45That
32:46should
32:46be
32:46good
32:46news
32:46for
32:47you.
32:47At
32:47least
32:47you
32:47won't
32:48have
32:48to
32:48keep
32:48sneaking
32:48back
32:49and
32:49forth
32:49between
32:49two
32:50homes.
32:50He
32:51reached
32:51for
32:51my
32:52hand
32:52again,
32:52his
32:53eyes
32:53bloodshot,
32:54full
32:54of
32:54fake
32:55remorse.
32:56A
32:56mocking
32:56laugh
32:57slipped
32:57out
32:57of
32:58me.
33:00I
33:00don't
33:02cut
33:02her
33:03off.
33:03I
33:03swear.
33:04I
33:04tore
33:05my
33:05hand
33:05free
33:05and
33:06slapped
33:06him
33:06hard
33:06across
33:07the
33:07face.
33:08Daniel
33:08Haley's
33:09you
33:09make
33:09me
33:09sick.
33:10When
33:11you
33:11really
33:11love
33:12someone
33:12you
33:12don't
33:12wreck
33:13their
33:13life.
33:14The
33:14mark
33:15of
33:15my
33:15hand
33:15bloomed
33:16across
33:16his
33:17face.
33:18He
33:18just
33:18stood
33:18there,
33:19stunned.
33:20Then I
33:21slammed
33:21the door
33:21behind
33:22me
33:22and
33:23left.
33:29I
33:30went
33:30to the
33:30other
33:30house.
33:31We
33:31had
33:31bought
33:32that
33:32place.
33:32After
33:32we
33:33got
33:33married.
33:33I
33:34had
33:34barely
33:34touched
33:35the
33:35money
33:35Daniel
33:35gave
33:36me
33:36over
33:36the
33:36years.
33:37I
33:37had
33:37saved
33:38almost
33:38all
33:38of
33:39it.
33:39With
33:39what
33:40I
33:40saved
33:40and
33:40what
33:41I
33:41earned
33:41working
33:42in the
33:42school
33:42office,
33:43we
33:43bought
33:43the
33:44house
33:44a
33:44few
33:44years
33:45earlier
33:45and
33:45paid
33:46it
33:46off
33:46last
33:46year.
33:47We
33:47planned
33:48to
33:48leave
33:48it
33:48to
33:48Noah
33:49someday.
33:50Now
33:50it
33:50had
33:50become
33:51the
33:51home
33:51my
33:51son
33:52and
33:52I
33:52would
33:52live
33:52in.
33:55The
33:56next
33:56day
33:57I
33:57realized
33:58I
33:58left
33:58my
33:58work
33:59laptop
33:59at
33:59the
34:00old
34:00house.
34:00When
34:01I
34:01went
34:01back
34:01to
34:01get
34:02it
34:02I
34:02stopped
34:03outside
34:03the
34:03door
34:03after
34:04I
34:04heard
34:04Margaret
34:05talking
34:05to
34:05Daniel
34:06inside.
34:07Grace
34:07isn't
34:07coming
34:07back.
34:08If
34:08she
34:08wants
34:09the
34:09divorce
34:09let
34:09her
34:09have
34:10it.
34:10Olivia
34:10is
34:11easier
34:11than
34:11Grace
34:11and
34:12she
34:12doesn't
34:12have
34:12parents
34:13anymore.
34:13She
34:13is
34:14sitting
34:14on
34:14a
34:14fortune.
34:15Her
34:15parents
34:15probably
34:16left
34:16her
34:16millions
34:17settlement
34:17money
34:18property
34:18all
34:18of
34:19it.
34:19If
34:19you
34:19marry
34:19her
34:20sooner
34:20or
34:20later
34:20that
34:21money
34:21becomes
34:21yours
34:21too.
34:22Grace
34:23doesn't
34:23make
34:23much
34:24and
34:24she's
34:24too
34:25hard
34:25headed
34:25anyway.
34:26If
34:27you
34:27end
34:27up
34:27with
34:27Olivia
34:28you're
34:28marrying
34:29money.
34:31If
34:31Grace
34:32is set
34:32on
34:33divorcing
34:33me
34:34then
34:35I
34:35guess
34:35I
34:35don't
34:36have
34:36much
34:36choice.
34:38Then
34:39I
34:39guess
34:39I
34:39don't
34:39have
34:39much
34:40choice.
34:41Robert
34:42chimed
34:43in right
34:43away.
34:44Daniel
34:44sounded
34:45exhausted.
34:46A
34:46dry
34:46laugh
34:47caught
34:47in my
34:47throat.
34:48By
34:49then
34:49my
34:49heart
34:50was
34:50frozen
34:51solid.
34:52I
34:52barely
34:52felt
34:52anything
34:53anymore.
34:57I
34:58had
34:58my
34:58lawyer
34:58handle
34:59the
34:59divorce
34:59terms
35:00with
35:00Daniel.
35:01Two
35:01houses.
35:02He
35:02kept
35:02one.
35:03I
35:03kept
35:04the
35:04other.
35:05Noah
35:05stayed
35:05with
35:05me.
35:06The
35:06rest
35:07of
35:07the
35:07marital
35:07assets
35:08went
35:08to
35:08me
35:08too.
35:09Daniel
35:10sent
35:10me
35:10endless
35:11messages
35:11trying
35:12to
35:12make
35:12peace.
35:13I
35:13ignored
35:14every
35:14one.
35:15Once
35:15he
35:16realized
35:16I
35:16wasn't
35:17wavering,
35:17he
35:18agreed
35:18to
35:18the
35:18divorce.
35:19About a
35:20month
35:20later,
35:21we
35:21signed
35:21the
35:21divorce
35:22papers.
35:23Not
35:23long
35:23after
35:24that,
35:24the
35:24divorce
35:25was
35:25finalized.
35:31The
35:31next
35:32day,
35:32Olivia
35:33came
35:33to
35:33see
35:34me.
35:34She
35:35looked
35:35just
35:35like
35:36I
35:36did.
35:36In
35:37a
35:37month,
35:37both
35:38of
35:38us
35:38had
35:38lost
35:39weight.
35:39The
35:39whole
35:40thing
35:40had
35:40worn
35:40us
35:41down.
35:42Sitting
35:42across
35:43from
35:43me,
35:43she
35:44still
35:44held
35:44herself
35:45carefully,
35:46cautiously,
35:47like she
35:47wasn't
35:48sure she
35:48had the
35:48right
35:49to
35:49be
35:49there.
35:50She
35:50had
35:50been
35:50lied
35:50to
35:51just
35:51like
35:51I
35:52had.
35:53Daniel
35:54said
35:54the
35:54divorce
35:55went
35:55through.
35:56It
35:57did.
35:57Noah's
35:58with
35:58me.
35:59You
35:59didn't
36:00deserve
36:00any
36:00of
36:00this.
36:01This
36:01isn't
36:01yours
36:02to
36:02carry.
36:03Daniel
36:03did
36:03this,
36:03not
36:03you.
36:04What
36:05happens
36:05next
36:05is
36:06up
36:06to
36:06you,
36:06but
36:06don't
36:06let
36:06him
36:07make
36:07you
36:07carry
36:07what
36:07he
36:07did.
36:08I
36:08let
36:08the
36:08silence
36:09sit
36:09for
36:09a
36:09second.
36:10Then
36:11I
36:11looked
36:11at
36:11her
36:11and
36:11said,
36:12there's
36:12something
36:13you
36:13deserve
36:13to
36:13hear.
36:15It's
36:15about
36:16what
36:22Grace
36:22isn't
36:22coming
36:23back.
36:23If
36:23she
36:24wants
36:24the
36:24divorce,
36:24let
36:24her
36:24have
36:25it.
36:25Olivia
36:26is
36:26easier
36:26than
36:26Grace
36:26and
36:27she
36:27doesn't
36:27have
36:27parents
36:28anymore.
36:28She's
36:29sitting
36:29on a
36:29fortune.
36:31When
36:31the
36:31recording
36:32ended,
36:32I
36:33took
36:33my
36:33phone
36:33back.
36:39So
36:40I
36:40was
36:40just
36:40his
36:41foul
36:41bauk
36:41option.
36:42That
36:42whole
36:42family
36:43is
36:43nothing
36:43but
36:43scum.
36:44We
36:45are
36:45both
36:46victims.
36:49I've
36:49pulled
36:49myself
36:50out of
36:50the
36:50mud
36:51and
36:51I
36:51don't
36:52want
36:52you
36:52to
36:52sink
36:52into
36:52it.
36:55Take
36:55care
36:56of
36:56yourself
36:56from
36:56now
36:56on.
36:57Thank
36:57you.
36:58Really,
36:59thank
36:59you so
36:59much.
37:00You
37:00deserve
37:00someone
37:01so
37:01much
37:01better.
37:02Daniel
37:02doesn't
37:03deserve
37:03you and
37:03of
37:04course
37:04he
37:05doesn't
37:05deserve
37:06me
37:06either.
37:07A
37:07touch
37:07of
37:08genuine
37:08emotion
37:09softened
37:09Olivia's
37:10eyes.
37:10I
37:11held
37:11her
37:11gaze.
37:12In
37:13each
37:13other's
37:13eyes
37:14I
37:14saw
37:15the
37:15same
37:15thing.
37:16Thank
37:17you.
37:17Not
37:18weakness.
37:18Then
37:19let
37:19me
37:19start
37:19over.
37:20I'm
37:22not
37:22shame.
37:23Just
37:24clarity.
37:25Two
37:26women
37:26who
37:26had
37:26finally
37:27seen
37:27the
37:27truth
37:28for
37:28what
37:28it
37:28was.
37:29In
37:29that
37:29whole
37:30twisted
37:30mess,
37:31neither
37:31of us
37:32chose
37:32to tear
37:33the
37:33other
37:33apart
37:34over
37:34one
37:34worthless
37:35man.
37:36I
37:36heard
37:36Daniel
37:37kept
37:37chasing
37:37after
37:38Olivia,
37:39begging
37:39her to
37:39take
37:40him
37:40back
37:40like
37:40he
37:40could
37:40still
37:41talk
37:41his
37:41way
37:42out
37:42of
37:42what
37:42he'd
37:42done.
37:43He
37:44chased
37:44her
37:44for
37:44two
37:45months.
37:46She
37:46didn't
37:46waver
37:47once.
37:48If
37:48anything,
37:49every
37:50call
37:50and
37:50every
37:51message
37:51only
37:52made
37:52her
37:52see
37:52him
37:53more
37:53clearly.
37:54Daniel
37:55didn't
37:55just
37:55lose
37:56both
37:56women.
37:57His
37:57career
37:58took
37:58a
37:58hit
37:58too.
37:59He
38:00had
38:00spent
38:00years
38:01building
38:01the
38:01image
38:02of
38:02the
38:02perfect
38:02husband,
38:03the
38:03good
38:04man,
38:05the
38:05guy
38:05every
38:06coworker
38:06respected.
38:07When
38:08that
38:08image
38:08collapsed
38:09overnight,
38:10he
38:10couldn't
38:11handle
38:11the
38:11looks,
38:12the
38:12whispers,
38:13or
38:13the
38:13silence
38:14that
38:14followed
38:15him
38:15around
38:15the
38:15office.
38:16Before
38:17long,
38:17he
38:19found
38:19another
38:20job
38:20after
38:20that,
38:21but
38:21the
38:21pay
38:21was
38:22cut
38:22in
38:22half.
38:23When
38:23he
38:23got
38:24nowhere
38:24with
38:24Olivia,
38:25he
38:25came
38:26crawling
38:26back
38:27to
38:27me.
38:28Every
38:29time,
38:29used
38:29Noah
38:30as
38:30an
38:30excuse.
38:31But
38:32ever
38:32since
38:32Noah
38:33found
38:33out
38:33his
38:33father
38:34had
38:34cheated
38:34and
38:35had
38:35another
38:35daughter,
38:36something
38:37in
38:37him
38:37changed
38:38completely.
38:39Most
38:40of
38:40the
38:40time,
38:41Noah
38:41refused
38:42to
38:42see
38:42him.
38:43my
38:44ex
38:44in-laws
38:45came
38:45to
38:45me
38:45too.
38:46Tears,
38:47sniffles,
38:48guilt
38:48trips,
38:49one
38:49after
38:50another.
38:51They
38:51begged
38:52me
38:52to
38:52come
38:52back
38:52to
38:53that
38:53house.
38:54One
38:55after
38:55another.
38:56They
38:57begged
38:57me
38:57to
38:57come
38:58back
38:58to
38:58that
38:58house.
38:59You
38:59were
38:59family
39:00to
39:00us.
39:00I
39:01know
39:01we
39:01were
39:01wrong,
39:02but
39:02you
39:02were
39:02always
39:02the
39:02best
39:03thing
39:03that
39:03ever
39:03happened
39:04to
39:04this
39:04family.
39:05We
39:05can
39:05make
39:05this
39:05right,
39:06Grace.
39:06Can't
39:07we
39:07still
39:07be
39:12or
39:12keep
39:13their
39:13lives
39:13running.
39:14When
39:14they
39:14got
39:15sick,
39:15no
39:16one
39:16took
39:16them
39:16to
39:16the
39:16doctor.
39:17They
39:18were
39:18too
39:18cheap
39:18to
39:19hire
39:19help.
39:19$200
39:20a
39:21week?
39:26That
39:26was
39:27when
39:27they
39:27finally
39:27understood
39:28what
39:29I
39:29had
39:29been
39:29to
39:29them.
39:30What
39:31you
39:31want
39:31is
39:31your
39:31unpaid
39:31maid
39:32back.
39:32You
39:32don't
39:33miss
39:33me.
39:34You
39:34miss
39:35what
39:35I
39:35did
39:35for
39:35you.
39:37Later
39:37on,
39:38Olivia
39:39and I
39:39stayed
39:39in
39:40touch.
39:40We
39:42sometimes
39:43for
39:43coffee,
39:44sometimes
39:44with
39:45the
39:45kids.
39:46Somehow,
39:47Noah and
39:47Joy got
39:48along for
39:49the start.
39:49They were
39:50too young
39:50to care
39:51how any
39:51of it
39:52had
39:52started.
39:53Maybe
39:53that was
39:54the one
39:54good thing
39:55we managed
39:56to save
39:56from
39:57all of it.
39:57As for
39:58Olivia and
39:59me,
39:59we didn't
40:00become
40:00sisters
40:01overnight,
40:01and we
40:02didn't
40:02pretend
40:03none
40:03of it
40:03had
40:04happened.
40:04But
40:05we
40:05were
40:05honest
40:06with
40:06each
40:06other.
40:07We
40:07showed
40:07up,
40:08and
40:09little
40:09by
40:09little,
40:10life
40:11stopped
40:11feeling
40:11like
40:12something
40:12that
40:12had
40:13been
40:13done
40:13to
40:13us.
40:14It
40:14became
40:15ours
40:15again.
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