- 7 hours ago
Contract Father And Son My Dad Is A Billionaire Tycoon - Ep
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:02The debt is mine. I'll settle it.
00:04And who might you be? This is family business. Stay out of it.
00:09That's $100,000.
00:10But for slapping her, and for threatening my son, you will be run out of this town by the end
00:15of the week.
00:16And if you so much as look at them again, you'll wish you'd never been born.
00:28Luna! You bitch! Come back!
00:31She can't run far! I drugged her soda ten minutes ago! She'll pass out soon!
00:40Sir, the car broke down. There is a nearby. I will go and have a look.
00:47Do you know what you are doing?
00:49Please, let me hide here. They want to kidnap me.
00:55Please don't let them take me away.
00:58Hey! Anyone inside? Have you seen a tall girl with brown hair, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans?
01:04No. There's no one else here but me.
01:06Are you sure? She took my money. My son and I have been looking for her for hours.
01:12I said no.
01:15Let's go, Dad. She can't have gone far. Let's search the woods.
01:23You're burning up. I have to take you to the hospital.
01:25No! I can't go to the hospital. They'll find me there. Please.
01:57You don't know what you're doing.
01:58I don't know what you're doing anymore.
01:59What are you doing? I don't know what you're doing. I don't know what you're doing anymore.
02:03I don't know who you're doing anymore.
02:28take away jasper's custody it's not your fault baby mommy is useless no you have a dad he is
02:38a very powerful man he will definitely come find us arthur stop rushing me i know your 90th
02:44birthday is coming up soon hush if i don't push i'll die without seeing my grand-grandson
02:50if you don't bring me a grand-grandson today don't call me grandpa
02:56stop the car
03:01mom this man looks exactly like the daddy i drew in my picture
03:07little guy what's your name my name is jasper snow jasper i'll give you ten thousand dollars
03:13you act in a play with me be my son for one day okay act in a play what kind
03:18of play pretend to
03:19be be my son and cheer up your great-grandpad once you're done acting ten thousand dollars is yours
03:24you can use the money to find your dad
03:28sir this my name is asher king don't worry it's just acting after it's done i'll arrange a place
03:35for you to live as an extra
03:56mom am i handsome yes my handsome boy our jasper is the most handsome
04:05must be fake when has ashon ever been in a relationship just wait we'll expose him soon
04:16grandpa oh my sweet little one grandpa finally gets to meet you
04:26sweetheart look this is the room grandpa prepared for you it has dinosaur toys and legos
04:34wow thank you grandpa as long as you like it from now on this is your home
04:40hurry up and do the dna test tomorrow at the party i'll make them lose everything
04:43don't worry i've already arraigned it with the lab i know the results will be ready tomorrow
04:51is this asher's wife and son they are so beautiful yes a perfect match
04:57oh i'm so sorry i didn't mean to it's okay
05:05aunt watch your step
05:15jasper come to grandpa
05:19grandpa
05:24what could it be he's mr asher's son looks like there's a big announcement today
05:29grandpa jasper wish you a happy birthday i drew this myself i hope you like it
05:34grandpa i know you love grandchildren one grandson isn't enough so i drew you five more
05:42sweetheart you really know what your grandpa wants
05:49good good thank you jasper
05:57mom let's use the plates
06:02look at her does she look like a rich man's wife
06:04exactly she must be some random woman he found just to make the old man happy
06:09i said she was some noble lady but i was clearly mistaken
06:13hilarious even my maid wouldn't eat like that
06:15that's how construction mercants eat
06:19everyone come look the young lady of the king family is squatted on the ground eating
06:23how ridiculous
06:26mom are you laughing at us
06:29sweetheart mom mom seems to have embarrassed you
06:41what's wrong with squatting while eating i squatted and ate when i was camping as a kid
06:45that's right when my great grandfather came to america from ireland he squatted on the dock and ate too
06:54look it turns out squatting while eating is so noble and elegant
06:59from now on i will also squat to eat
07:02dad why i have to teach them fast
07:05sweetheart as long as you success everything you do is right
07:12ladies and gentlemen please be quiet i have an important announcement to make
07:15everyone has been deceived this child is not a king at all this woman is not some lady of noble
07:19birth
07:19she's just a single mother from the countryside bringing a bastard child to scam family's money
07:22marcus
07:23what nonsense are you talking i'm not talking nonsense
07:25i've already taken ashen in this child's hair for a dna test and the results will be here any minute
07:29that's right we have proof once the report comes out let's see what they have to say
07:33uncle you've gone too far
07:35too far i'm doing this for the king family i can't let outsiders ruin our reputation
07:38i've also contacted her family they're on their way
07:44brother you've been deceived
07:45this child is not your grandson at all he's just someone ashley hired to fool you
07:49you bastard how dare you lie to me
07:54don't you hit my dad dad he's not your dad at all
08:01grandpa are you okay mom did dad get hit because of me
08:04no it's not because of you it's mom's fault
08:08mom we messed up didn't we
08:10grandpa he's not gonna be okay is he
08:13you a country woman with a child out of wedlock
08:15dare to cling to our family and dream of rising to the top in one step
08:19you're finished the test results will be here any minute
08:25i've been waiting day and night and finally got a grandson
08:29i never thought it would be fake grandpa oh brother i told you long ago this grandson was fake
08:37you just wouldn't believe me when we got home a month later i married damon whitmore
08:40a year later we had our first baby and now i was pregnant with our second
08:44honestly if it had not been for damon's family memorial i never would have set foot back in this country
08:48and i definitely would not have run into ethan
08:57madden's baby needs a dad on paper i'll marry you once my dorses final
09:03everyone thought i would swallow my pride and wait another month
09:05after all i had already waited seven years
09:08but that night i left the country for an arranged marriage
09:11i vanished from his world completely
09:13three years later i returned with my husband for a family memorial
09:16my husband had something urgent to handle at the last minute
09:18so he asked his local branch to send someone to pick me up
09:21i stepped out of the airport and froze
09:23behind the wheel was ethan my ex-fiance
09:25ethan isn't that your obsessed ex
09:28isn't that natalie
09:29see i told you guys she would come crawling back
09:32natalie disappeared for three years not a call not a text
09:35and now ethan finally has money and look who suddenly found her way back
09:39she probably spent every night stalking his socials and crying into a cheap pillow
09:43natalie if you're trying to stage a dramatic reunion sweatpants were a bold choice
09:47couldn't you at least brush your hair first or did life without ethan's get so bad you stopped trying altogether
09:51you look like you came here to ask for a favor
09:53not make a comeback
09:54it was true
09:55i used to spend hours getting ready for ethan
09:57full makeup
09:59tight designer dresses
10:00i always made sure i looked absolutely perfect for him
10:02but i didn't need to do that anymore
10:04i'm pregnant so my husband won't let me wear makeup
10:07he wants me to dress however feels best
10:09he even has this plain looking loungewear custom tailored for me in paris
10:13listening to them mock me
10:14it suddenly clicked they had only read the name on the corporate dispatch
10:17they had no idea the vip they were picking up was me
10:20a former acquaintance of mine
10:22anyway it's nice having you back
10:23ethan actually spent years hunting for you and asking all over about
10:26ethan's face stiffened for a second
10:27then he acted like nothing happened
10:29madison's kid starts preschool next week
10:31from now on you're in charge of drop off and pick up
10:33he was still incredibly arrogant
10:35but i was not that naive little girl anymore
10:37seeing him only filled me with annoyance
10:39i did not want to waste another second on them
10:41when i was just about to tell them exactly who i was
10:44natalie don't blame ethan for this
10:46he's only trying to look out for you
10:48you disappeared for three years
10:49who knows what kind of shady things you had to do to survive
10:52look at you
10:53life really chewed you up
10:54ethan even wanted to give you a job as my personal secretary
10:57but clearly that would be too much for you
10:59don't worry
11:00being my nanny is honest work
11:01no one's gonna look down on you for that
11:03all right
11:04natalie drop the attitude
11:06you clearly couldn't make it on your own
11:07so stop making a scene
11:09take care of the kid
11:10and learn your place
11:13don't worry
11:13we still have a spare room for the nannies downstairs
11:16natalie
11:16look how good ethan is to you
11:18he's giving you free room and board
11:20isn't babysitting better than whatever life you've been scraping by on
11:22hurry up and say thank you
11:24don't worry dear
11:25if my son acts up i'll make sure he behaves
11:27i won't let anyone give you a hard time
11:30give me a break
11:31who's giving her a hard time
11:32she disappeared over one tiny misunderstanding
11:34if life got rough out there
11:35maybe she needed the lesson
11:37hearing that
11:37my heart actually skipped a beat
11:39even now he still thought
11:40doing the city hall wedding registration with madison
11:43was only a tiny thing
11:44the ethan who used to love me was truly dead
11:46he was no longer the boy who carried me across town
11:48but whatever that love had been
11:50it was all in the past
11:51after all i was about to give birth to my second baby anyway
11:56aren't you here to pick me up
11:57let's go
11:58the scene went quiet for a moment
11:59several people exchanged looks
12:01then they suddenly burst into laughter
12:02madison laughed like i had told a joke
12:04waiting for you
12:05do you even deserve that
12:07read the sign
12:07we're waiting for mrs whitmore
12:09do you even know who that is
12:10mrs whitmore is the lady of the whitmore family
12:13she is damon whitmore's lawful wife
12:15and mr whitmore is a ruthless billionaire
12:17but in private he is deeply devoted
12:19people say he refused to get married back then
12:21because he was waiting for her
12:22everyone in our circle knows this
12:24don't bother sucking up to damon
12:25suck up to mrs wiltmore
12:26she is his entire world
12:28listening to them gossip about my marriage
12:30i could not help smiling
12:31after three years of marriage
12:33damon's business had grown bigger and bigger
12:35and his reputation as a fiercely devoted husband
12:37had spread everywhere
12:38madison had always wanted to stand above me
12:41she would never miss a chance to show off in front of me
12:43to spoil his wife
12:44damon whitmore once bought a diamond bracelet at christie's
12:47it's called eternal heart
12:49it costs 20 million dollars
12:51mrs whitmore is literally the most envied woman on earth
12:54that's the exact same bracelet
12:59it's a pretty good fake
13:00what broke delivery guy bought you this
13:02a cheap knockoff as a gift
13:04pathetic
13:08it really is a high quality fake
13:09way better than the replica i bought
13:11but i'd never wear mine in public
13:13that would be humiliating
13:14foreign knockoffs really are something
13:16the weight almost feels real
13:18wait
13:19don't tell me you're saying you're the real mrs whitmore
13:22natalie are you seriously claiming
13:24you're the legendary billionaire's wife
13:25natalie why don't you sell me this fake
13:27i'll pay you double whatever that broke delivery guy paid
13:31give that back right now
13:33damon gave that to me
13:37shut your mouth
13:39natalie are you trying to get us both killed
13:41you think you can just casually drop mr whitwell's name
13:45are you trying to drag me down with you
13:48do you have any idea how hard we fought for this airport pickup
13:51mr whitfield bought out ethan's company last year
13:53now all of us depend on him to survive
13:55the only way ethan keeps his position
13:56is if we impress mrs whitfield
13:57and you're out here spreading insane rumors about knowing him
14:00are you trying to ruin ethan's career
14:05don't push your luck
14:06natalie you ungrateful little
14:08ethan was kind enough to keep you off the street
14:10i know you're bitter about the past
14:11but trying to wreck his career just to get back at him
14:13that's sick
14:14hearing her say that felt exactly like three years ago
14:17no matter what i did
14:18madison twisted it
14:19she would feed ethan her poisoned version of the truth
14:22in the early days he used to defend me
14:24but by the end he always took her side
14:25just like right now
14:30you're such a bitter jealous woman
14:36for the sake of what we used to be
14:37i'll let this slide
14:38take the cash
14:39go buy yourself something decent to wear
14:40if you really don't want a nanny madison's kid
14:42i'll pull some strings
14:43and get you a proper job next week
14:45don't worry
14:46ever since the whitmore acquisition
14:47this kind of money is pocket cheese to me
14:50no thank you sir
14:51i don't take handouts from strangers
15:00natalie i gave you money and you still refused
15:02what do you mean
15:02i'm a stranger to you
15:04since we've already broken up
15:05it's better not to have any contact
15:07otherwise people might understand
15:08the company is holding a dinner for mr whitmore in three days
15:11i plan to take you there to see the world
15:12but you need to buy a proper outfit first
15:14don't embarrass me when the time comes
15:15there really is no needed
15:16natalie you really have learned some attitude
15:18shoran poor always have the worst piece
15:19and you don't want to go
15:20forget it
15:20i'll take madison
15:22ethan i'll behave well
15:23i absolutely embarrassed you
15:24i did not want to keep getting tangled up with them
15:27i hope that in three days
15:28you can still be this confident
15:29i practically sprinted out of the arrival terminal
15:31the fresh air outside
15:32finally pushed down the nausea
15:34churning in my stomach
15:35my mind flashed back to three years ago
15:39this is the best choice for our family
15:41you have to accept
15:41natalie don't be childish
15:42it's for your own good
15:43i will never marry someone i don't love
15:45ethan
15:46just elope with me
15:50let's leave here
15:56her child needs a legal father
15:59i will divorce madison in a month
16:01then marry you
16:02watching him hold her hand
16:03and walk into that clerk's office
16:04i was completely done
16:05i flew overseas for a blind date
16:07that very night
16:08a month later
16:09i married damon whitmore
16:10a year later
16:11we had our first baby
16:12and now
16:13i was pregnant with our second
16:14honestly
16:14if it had not been for damon's family memorial
16:16i never would have set foot back in this country
16:18and i definitely would not have run into ethan
16:27you said you wouldn't come
16:28but your body is honest
16:29if you want to chase me and make me turn back
16:31you at least need to make me happy
16:33for an occasion like today
16:34you need to dress properly
16:35only then can you match my status
16:39natalie i'm talking to you
16:40did you hear me
16:40our seats are right here
16:42where do you think you're going
16:44those are your seats
16:46my seat is over there
16:51natalie
16:51tonight is miss miss witter's first public appearance
16:53this year this winter dare you wear that bracelet
16:55wait is that the eternal heart bracelet
16:57the one mr whitworth bought for his wife
16:59tonight is mrs whitworth's first public appearance
17:01is this woman trying to insult mrs whitworth
17:03she's snoke in
17:04she trying to embarrass us in front of mr whitworth
17:06excuse me ethan
17:07is this young lady with you
17:08no i don't know her
17:10take that fake bracelet off and get out
17:11are you sure you want me to leave
17:13what are you pretending for
17:14stop acting like you're important
17:15hurry up and take off the bracelet
17:22survived
17:23but all the guests went quiet at once
17:25dominic stood out in any crowd
17:27without even trying
17:28red roses had always been my favorite
17:30after one night with my foster father dominic
17:32i found out i was pregnant
17:34i clutched the pregnancy test
17:35and confessed my love to him
17:37he rejected me
17:38then he got together with my best friend blair
17:40blair framed me for pushing her down the stairs
17:42and causing her miscarriage
17:43because of that
17:44i was sent to london for college
17:46when my water broke in the hospital
17:47the pain nearly tore me apart
17:49but i couldn't even afford the bill
17:50so i called dominic
17:52dominic please
17:52could you lend me some money
17:54i swear i'll pay you back
17:55aria you knew today was my engagement party
17:57did you call just to ruin it
17:59blair was right
18:00i've spoiled you rotten
18:01and that night the woman in your bed was me
18:03enough
18:04stop lying
18:05if you refuse to change
18:06don't even think about coming home
18:07he hung up
18:07while i am giving birth alone
18:09dominic is getting engaged to blair
18:11five years later
18:12i had been invited back to attend their wedding
18:14the man standing across from me
18:15looked just as i remembered
18:16he is
18:17your kid
18:18i'm watching him for a friend
18:19he
18:20he looks a lot like me
18:21right
18:23when you see blair
18:24you need to apologize to her
18:25you owe her a life
18:27i froze for a second
18:28then i let out a bitter laugh
18:29and got into the back seat
18:32dominic rolled down the window
18:34and blew out a stream of cigarette smoke
18:36soon the car stopped outside the familiar estate
18:38it was halloween
18:39my head suddenly split with pain
18:41you tonight
18:42for a moment
18:42i almost felt safe
18:46dominic
18:47i don't feel well
18:48can you come stay with me
18:50blair isn't feeling well
18:51i have to check on her
18:51you'll be fine right
18:52he carried our luggage to my room
18:54everything in this house looked the same
18:56but i was no longer the princess he once sheltered
18:58my wound had torn open again earlier
19:00you come back and have nothing to say to me
19:02you've been gone for five years
19:03i'm sorry
19:04i'll apologize to blair when i see her
19:06he turned and left
19:09the day before the wedding
19:10dominic called me to the fitting room
19:11my clothes used to fill half this closet
19:13now there was no trace of them
19:15when the bridesmaid's dresses were brought in
19:16my stomach dropped
19:17most of the gowns were cut to show skin
19:19bare shoulders or arms
19:20but my body now
19:22blair had picked these on purpose
19:23if dominic saw my scars
19:24he would start asking for reasons
19:26then he would only think i was trying to blame blair again
19:28dominic
19:29do i have to try these on
19:30i picked these for you
19:32are you still unhappy with me aria
19:34we're best friends
19:35right
19:35if you don't like these
19:36no worries
19:37i have hundreds more picked out for you
19:38she wanted to humiliate me
19:40no thank you
19:41i'll just wear what i have on
19:42don't push your luck
19:44don't be so hard on her
19:45i spent one whole night picking these out
19:47but if aria doesn't like
19:49it's fine
19:50we can go shopping together
19:51i know i still can't walk for too long
19:53because she pushed me down
19:53but after all
19:54she's your
19:55i said no
19:57dominic grabbed a glass
19:58and smashed it onto the floor at my feet
20:00what the hell do you want
20:03why are you overreacting like this
20:04aria
20:05five years abroad
20:07and you've learned to hurt yourself for sympathy
20:08it wasn't like that
20:10you were never like this before
20:11doctor checked my wound
20:12if aria doesn't want to be a bridesmaid
20:14that's totally fine
20:15but leo could be our ring baron
20:16we don't have one yet
20:18no i don't agree
20:20if it weren't for what you did to me
20:22my child would be about his age right now
20:24just think of it as granting me one small wish
20:27i still don't understand how she fell down the stairs
20:29that's how it'll be
20:30i didn't trust leo's safety with them
20:33so i followed every step from the fitting to the rehearsal
20:36nothing went wrong
20:37but my unease only grew
20:38the wedding day arrived
20:40i stay with leo in the farthest corner
20:43trying to make myself invisible
20:44isn't that area montgomery
20:46she dressed like she can barely pay rent
20:48dominic cut her off three years ago
20:50i'd heard enough filthy comments about being an unwed mother over the years
20:53these were nothing compared to what i'd already survived
20:56but all the guests went quiet at once
20:58dominic stood out in any crowd without even trying
21:01red roses had always been my favorite
21:03considered it
21:06were you threatening to call security on evelyn shaw over damon pierce's unpaid balance
21:12seven days before my wedding
21:13i discovered my fiance was already married to his brother's widow
21:17my name is evelyn shaw
21:18a week before my wedding
21:20i flew back from london to finalize the paperwork for my marriage to damon pierce
21:23the wedding planner wanted floral approvals
21:25the venue needed final guest numbers
21:27whether the seating chart should read
21:28evelyn shaw
21:29or evelyn pierces
21:32i had stared at that question for a long time
21:34for eight years
21:35i had been waiting to become mrs pierce
21:38that morning i sat across from my attorney in a private office
21:41my attorney marion vale
21:43flipped through damon's financial disclosures
21:45then her pen stopped moving
21:47evelyn
21:48has damon ever been married before
21:50i frowned
21:51no
21:51why
21:52she turned her screen toward me
21:54a marriage certificate filled the monitor
21:56damon james pierce
21:58and clara marie bennett
21:59filed 14 months ago
22:00i stared at it
22:01until the letters blurred
22:02eight years
22:03i had spent eight years
22:05building that man from nothing
22:06his company
22:07pierce digital
22:08i funded the seed round
22:09his penthouse on the upper west side
22:11my down payment
22:12his porsche
22:13his investor network
22:14his reputation as a self-made tech genius
22:16all of it was mine
22:17handed to him piece by piece
22:19while i stayed behind the scenes
22:21because he said he was not ready to go public with us
22:24she's his late brother's widow
22:26he told me he was just helping her with legal paperwork
22:28my attorney's expression told me everything her words did not
22:31i picked up my phone and called him
22:33i said
22:35the prenup lawyer found your marriage certificate damon
22:39two seconds of silence
22:41damon said
22:42it's not what you think
22:42clara needed legal protection after my brother died
22:45she has a daughter
22:46i married her on paper so lily could stay on my insurance and benefits
22:49it means nothing
22:50you've been legally married for over a year
22:53and i would have told you eventually
22:54you've waited eight years evelyn
22:56what's a little longer
22:59i closed my eyes
23:03i have no interest in married men
23:05then i hung up
23:07the last eight years hit me all at once
23:12then i called my assistant
23:14freeze damon pierce's access to everything
23:16black card office credentials building entry parking garage
23:18all of it effective immediately
23:20not long after
23:21my phone started lighting up
23:23damon's name kept flashing across the screen until i finally answered
23:26what the hell is wrong with you
23:28you're acting like a child evelyn
23:29i explained the situation
23:31you explained that you committed fraud
23:33it's not fraud it's a favor
23:35clara has no one
23:36lily calls me dad
23:37what was i supposed to do let them end up on the street
23:39evelyn please don't blame damon
23:40blame me
23:41i'm the one who
23:42evelyn
23:42you're gonna call your assistant restore everything
23:44then you're gonna apologize to clara for making her feel unwelcome
23:47do that and we can move past this
23:48i looked at the prenup glass on the table in front of me
23:50then i picked it up and fed it into the shredder
23:53there's nothing to move past damon
23:55there's no wedding
23:56evelyn
23:56you brought a wife to our wedding paperwork
23:58i brought a witness
24:00every asset record with damon pierce's name on it
24:03every building
24:03every account
24:05every share
24:06he thought he was a self-made man
24:08he was about to find out what happens when the woman who made him decides to unmake him
24:12the next morning damon's car was waiting outside my building
24:17now he sat at the curb in the porsche i had paid for
24:19looking less like a man caught in a lie
24:21than a man waiting for his fiancee to stop embarrassing him
24:23get in
24:24we're going shopping
24:26shopping?
24:27clara is upset
24:27lily is upset
24:29you made a scene yesterday
24:30the least you can do is help fix it
24:31of course
24:33he had married another woman
24:34lied to me for 14 months
24:36and somehow i was the one expected to fix the mood
24:38don't mind
24:39i get carsick in the back
24:40old evelyn would have argued
24:41knew and felt nothing but a calm so steady it surprised even me
24:45i slipped into the back seat
24:46because mine has a time stamp
24:47let him show who he is in front of witnesses
24:49and don't stop him when he does
24:50so i sat behind them
24:51phone in my coat pocket
24:52recording everything damon still believed he could get away with
24:56damon took us to a luxury boutique on madison avenue
24:58and held the door for clara like she was his wife
25:01which legally she was
25:03clara and lily need new things for the season
25:05you should pick something too
25:06god knows you could use it
25:07i had spent three years overseas building his investor pipeline
25:10he mistook exhaustion for neglect
25:12he looked at me like i was the embarrassing one
25:15damon
25:16clara tried on dresses
25:17lily twirled in a princess gown
25:19damon stood beside them
25:20patient and proud
25:21keep that one
25:21wrap that too
25:23whatever lily wants
25:25lucas
25:26daisy and chargandall the sending quet
25:30she had spent all afternoon pretending to be the fragile wife
25:34but the second that dress touched my hands
25:36she looked afraid i might outshine her
25:41so i tried it on
25:55clara was checking the child who had just shoved me
25:57it's okay sweetheart
25:59nobody's going to yell at you
26:02she's a child evelyn don't make a scene
26:05she pushed me
26:06keep your balance that's not her fault
26:10you saw what happened
26:14let's go
26:15she's not worth upsetting lily
26:16i changed back into my own clothes
26:21when i stepped back out
26:22the vip lounge was empty
26:23no clue
26:24two weeks before the wedding
26:25a fever brought back the hearing i'd lost 10 years ago
26:27excited to share the good news
26:29i grabbed a cab straight to his office
26:30the first thing i heard him say was
26:32that deaf girl doesn't deserve me
26:33vanessa
26:35you're the one i want to marry
26:36because she kept saying her parents saved my life
26:38i hit record
26:39my heart died
26:40i ripped it up
26:41dropped it in the trash
26:42then i called my uncle
26:43i can hear again
26:44i said it quietly and hung up
26:46then i bought a one-way ticket to la
26:48two weeks before the wedding
26:49a fever brought back the hearing i'd lost 10 years ago
26:52saving axel
26:55i grabbed a cab straight to his office
26:57excited to share the good news
26:58but after all these years
26:59the first thing i heard him say was
27:01that deaf girl doesn't deserve me
27:02vanessa
27:04you're the one i want to marry
27:05i got engaged to her
27:06because she kept saying her parents saved my life
27:09her laughter and gasps
27:10were clear over the phone
27:12relax
27:13she's deaf
27:14besides isn't this hotter
27:15i listened to the moan
27:17i hit record
27:18my heart died
27:19then i bought a one-way ticket to la
27:21for the exact day of the wedding
27:22when his frantic calls came in
27:24i sent him the recording and my message
27:25axel i can hear
27:28axel snapped
27:29who's there
27:30i held my breath tightly
27:31a moment passed
27:32i don't remember how i got home
27:33when i flicked on the lights
27:34i saw a trail of bloody footprints
27:36that was when i realized i'd run out barefoot
27:38the glass somewhere had sliced my foot open
27:40i pulled the shards out
27:41ripping skin with them
27:42none of it hurt like my chest did
27:43i lay on the couch in a daze
27:45tears soaked the pillow
27:46i wanted this to be a dream
27:47two weeks from now
27:48i'd still be axel's bride
27:49walking into the wedding
27:50i'd been waiting ten years for
27:52but the recording told me
27:53axel had betrayed me
27:54i don't know how long i lay there
27:55a sharp pain in my foot woke me
27:57i opened my eyes
27:58axel was holding my foot
27:59picking out the last bits of glass
28:01dabbing antiseptic on the cuts
28:02it had been ten years
28:03since my parents died
28:04saving him in that fire
28:05since i'd gone deaf
28:06saving him too
28:07looking after me
28:08had become a habit
28:09he finished bandaging me
28:10he didn't ask where the cuts came from
28:11he just sighed
28:12irritated
28:13you know you can't hear
28:14why don't you just stay home
28:15then he must have remembered
28:16that i couldn't hear him anyway
28:18his face hardened
28:19whatever
28:19i won't marry a deaf girl anyway
28:23that line cracked something open in my chest
28:25i remembered high school
28:26a group of bullies
28:27followed me down the street
28:28laughing
28:29saying things i couldn't hear
28:30i kept my head down
28:32and limped forward
28:32as if nothing had happened
28:33but the moment axel came to pick me up
28:35he charged at them
28:37without a second thought
28:37and started fighting them
28:41he came back to me
28:42and pulled me into his arms
28:43i signed to him
28:44why he'd fought them
28:45he replied
28:46they called you deaf
28:47hannah
28:47that's not true
28:48you have ears
28:49i'm your ears okay
28:50i'll always be your ears
28:51he cried that day
28:52hard
28:53that was the first time i understood
28:54how cruel the world was to deaf people
28:56but i didn't care
28:57because axel said he'd always be my ears
28:59now my ears were back
29:01so why was the word coming out of his mouth like that
29:03deaf
29:03i held my tears back
29:05but maybe my expression gave it away
29:07he pressed his lips together and signed fast
29:09does it hurt
29:10his phone buzzed before i could answer
29:12it was a voice message from vanessa
29:13honey you're so bad
29:15my legs are still shaking from that kiss
29:17vanessa was his college friend
29:19after they graduated she became his secretary
29:21they sent each other voice messages all the time
29:23late at night too
29:24but i trusted axel
29:25i just assumed it was work
29:27there's worse
29:28wanna try
29:29who are you texting
29:30i said it out of nowhere
29:31he looked at me suspiciously and asked
29:33can you hear me now
29:36i gave no response like the usual deaf girl and he was relieved
29:39he steadied himself fast and signed
29:41a client
29:42rush order
29:43the second he finished signing
29:44he tapped record
29:45i bought hannah some lingerie
29:47but your body is ten times better than hers
29:50i bought you one too
29:51you should put it on for me
29:52ew
29:53i don't wanna match that cripple freak
29:55i didn't want to hear anymore
29:56i limped back to the bedroom
29:58i held the framed photo of my parents against my chest
30:00curled up in bed
30:01pulled the blanket over my ears
30:03but the flirting outside came through anyway
30:05next time
30:06different position
30:07i wanna do it in front of the mirror
30:08every word cut my heart
30:10this axel was so filthy
30:12i didn't want him anymore
30:13a few minutes later the front door slammed
30:15i sat up
30:16it was midnight
30:16i didn't have to ask where he was going
30:18i looked at the gold foil wedding invitation on the nightstand
30:21the one i'd spent two weeks picking out
30:23i ripped it up
30:24dropped it in the trash
30:25then i called my uncle
30:26uncle
30:28i wanna come stay with you
30:29with grandma and grandpa
30:31his voice came back worried
30:32what happened sweetheart
30:33then he remembered i couldn't hear
30:34the line went quiet
30:36i heard him typing
30:37nothing
30:38i just miss you guys
30:39my voice cracked
30:40my uncle had built his empire in la
30:42real estate
30:43finance
30:43the works
30:44he'd brought grandma and grandpa out there with him
30:46when my parents died
30:47he flew back to take me too
30:48but i couldn't leave the house that still smelled like mom and dad
30:51later i just couldn't leave axel
30:53even when they begged
30:54i kept saying no
30:54thank god
30:56thank god you finally came around
30:57he sounded like he was about to cry
30:59then he caught himself
31:00hannah
31:02your ears
31:02yeah
31:04i can hear again
31:05i said it quietly and hung up
31:07he booked me a flight
31:08the morning of my wedding
31:13two weeks before the wedding
31:15a fever brought back the hearing i'd lost ten years ago
31:17excited to share the good news
31:19i grabbed a cab straight to his office
31:20the first thing i heard him say was
31:22that deaf girl doesn't deserve me
31:23vanessa
31:25you're the one i want to marry
31:26because she kept saying her parents saved my life
31:28i hit record
31:29my heart died
31:30i ripped it up
31:31dropped it in the trash
31:32then i called my uncle
31:33i can hear again
31:34i said it quietly and hung up
31:36then i bought a one-way ticket to la
31:38two weeks before the wedding
31:39a fever brought back the hearing i'd lost ten years ago
31:41saving axel
31:45i grabbed a cab straight to his office
31:47excited to share the good news
31:48but after all these years
31:49the first thing i heard him say was
31:51that deaf girl doesn't deserve me
31:52vanessa
31:54you're the one i want to marry
31:55i got engaged to her
31:56because she kept saying her parents saved my life
31:59her laughter and gasps
32:00were clear over the phone
32:02relax
32:02she's deaf
32:04besides isn't this hotter
32:05i listened to the moan
32:07i hit record
32:08my heart died
32:09then i bought a one-way ticket to la for the exact day of the wedding
32:12when his frantic calls came in
32:14i sent him the recording and my message
32:15axel
32:16i can hear
32:18axel snapped
32:19who's there
32:20i held my breath tightly
32:21a moment passed
32:22i don't remember how i got home
32:23when i flicked on the lights
32:24i saw a trail of bloody footprints
32:26that was when i realized i'd run out barefoot
32:28the glass somewhere had sliced my foot open
32:30i pulled the shards out
32:31ripping skin with them
32:32none of it hurt like my chest did
32:33i lay on the couch in a daze
32:35tears soaked the pillow
32:36i wanted this to be a dream
32:37two weeks from now
32:38i'd still be axel's bride
32:39walking into the wedding
32:40i'd been waiting ten years for
32:42but the recording told me axel had betrayed me
32:44i don't know how long i lay there
32:45a sharp pain in my foot woke me
32:47i opened my eyes
32:48axel was holding my foot
32:49picking out the last bits of glass
32:51dabbing antiseptic on the cuts
32:52it had been ten years since my parents died
32:54saving him in that fire
32:55since i'd gone deaf saving him too
32:57looking after me had become a habit
32:58he finished bandaging me
33:00he didn't ask where the cuts came from
33:01he just sighed
33:02irritated
33:03you know you can't hear
33:04why don't you just stay home
33:05then he must have remembered
33:06that i couldn't hear him anyway
33:07his face hardened
33:09whatever
33:09i won't marry a deaf girl anyway
33:12that line cracked something open in my chest
33:15i remembered high school
33:16a group of bullies followed me down the street
33:18laughing
33:19saying things i couldn't hear
33:20i kept my head down and limped forward as if nothing had happened
33:23but the moment axel came to pick me up
33:25he charged at them without a second thought
33:27and started fighting them
33:30he came back to me
33:32and pulled me into his arms
33:33i signed to him
33:34why he'd fought them
33:35he replied
33:35they called you deaf
33:37hannah that's not true
33:38you have ears
33:39i'm your ears okay
33:40i'll always be your ears
33:41he cried that day
33:42hard
33:43that was the first time i understood how cruel the world was to deaf people
33:46but i didn't care
33:47because axel said he'd always be my ears
33:49now my ears were back
33:50so why was the word coming out of his mouth like that
33:53deaf
33:53i held my tears back
33:55but maybe my expression gave it away
33:57he pressed his lips together and signed fast
33:59does it hurt
34:00his phone buzzed before i could answer
34:02it was a voice message from vanessa
34:03honey
34:04you're so bad
34:05my legs are still shaking from that kiss
34:07vanessa was his college friend
34:09after they graduated
34:10she became his secretary
34:11they sent each other voice messages all the time
34:13late at night too
34:14but i trusted axel
34:15i just assumed it was work
34:17there's worse
34:18wanna try
34:19who are you texting
34:20i said it out of nowhere
34:21he looked at me suspiciously and asked
34:23can you hear me now
34:26i gave no response like the usual deaf girl
34:28and he was relieved
34:29he steadied himself fast and signed
34:31a client
34:32rush order
34:33the second he finished signing
34:34he tapped record
34:35i bought hannah some lingerie
34:37but your body is ten times better than hers
34:40i bought you one too
34:41you should put it on for me
34:42ew
34:43i don't wanna match that cripple freak
34:45i didn't want to hear anymore
34:46i limped back to the bedroom
34:47i held the framed photo of my parents against my chest
34:50curled up in bed
34:51pulled the blanket over my ears
34:53but the flirting outside came through anyway
34:55next time
34:56different position
34:57i wanna do it in front of the mirror
34:58every word cut my heart
35:00this axle was so filthy
35:02i didn't want him anymore
35:03a few minutes later
35:04the front door slammed
35:05i sat up
35:06it was midnight
35:06i didn't have to ask where he was going
35:08i looked at the gold foil wedding invitation on the nightstand
35:11the one i'd spent two weeks picking out
35:13i ripped it up
35:14dropped it in the trash
35:15then i called my uncle
35:16uncle
35:18i wanna come stay with you
35:19with grandma and grandpa
35:21his voice came back
35:22worried
35:22what happened sweetheart
35:23then he remembered i couldn't hear
35:24the line went quiet
35:25i heard him typing
35:27nothing
35:28i just miss you guys
35:29my voice cracked
35:30my uncle had built his empire in la
35:32real estate
35:33finance
35:33the works
35:34he'd brought grandma and grandpa out there with him
35:36when my parents died
35:37he flew back to take me too
35:38but i couldn't leave the house
35:39that still smelled like mom and dad
35:41later
35:41i just couldn't leave axel
35:42even when they begged
35:43i kept saying no
35:44thank god
35:45thank god
35:46you finally came around
35:47he sounded like he was about to cry
35:49then he caught himself
35:50hannah
35:51your ears
35:52yeah
35:54i can hear again
35:55i said it quietly and hung up
35:57he booked me a flight
35:58the morning of my wedding
36:01considered it
36:04were you threatening to call security on evelyn shaw
36:06over damon pierce's unpaid balance
36:09seven days before my wedding
36:10i discovered my fiance was already married to his brother's widow
36:14my name is evelyn shaw
36:16a week before my wedding
36:17i flew back from london to finalize the paperwork for my marriage to damon pierce
36:20the wedding planner wanted floral approvals
36:22the venue needed final guest numbers
36:24whether the seating chart should read evelyn shaw or evelyn pierce's
36:29i had stared at that question for a long time
36:31for eight years i had been waiting to become mrs pierce
36:36that morning i sat across from my attorney in a private office
36:39my attorney marion vale flipped through damon's financial disclosures
36:42then her pen stopped moving
36:44evelyn
36:45has damon ever been married before
36:47i frowned
36:48no
36:49why
36:50she turned her screen toward me
36:51a marriage certificate filled the monitor
36:53damon james pierce and clara marie bennett
36:56filed 14 months ago
36:58i stared at it until the letters blurred
37:00eight years
37:01i had spent eight years building that man from nothing
37:04his company pierce digital
37:05i funded the seed round
37:07his penthouse on the upper west side
37:08my down payment
37:09his porsche
37:10his investor network
37:12his reputation as a self-made tech genius
37:14all of it was mine
37:15handed to him piece by piece
37:16while i stayed behind the scenes
37:18because he said he was not ready to go public with us
37:21she's his late brother's widow
37:23he told me he was just helping her with legal paperwork
37:26my attorney's expression told me everything her words did not
37:28i picked up my phone and called him
37:30i said
37:32the prenup lawyer found your marriage certificate damon
37:36two seconds of silence
37:38damon said
37:39it's not what you think
37:40clara needed legal protection after my brother died
37:42she has a daughter
37:43i married her on paper
37:45so lily could stay on my insurance and benefits
37:47it means nothing
37:48you've been legally married for over a year
37:50and i would have told you eventually
37:52you've waited eight years evelyn
37:54what's a little longer
37:56i closed my eyes
38:01i have no interest in married men
38:03then i hung up
38:04the last eight years hit me all at once
38:10then i called my assistant
38:11freeze damon pierce's access to everything
38:13black card
38:14office credentials
38:15building entry parking garage
38:16all of it
38:16effective immediately
38:18not long after
38:19my phone started lighting up
38:20damon's name kept flashing across the screen
38:22until i finally answered
38:23what the hell is wrong with you
38:25you're acting like a child evelyn
38:27i explained the situation
38:28you explained that you committed fraud
38:30it's not fraud
38:31it's a favor
38:33clara has no one
38:34lily calls me dad
38:35what was i supposed to do
38:35let them end up on the street
38:36evelyn please don't blame damon
38:38blame me
38:38i'm the one who
38:39evelyn
38:39you're gonna call your assistant
38:41restore everything
38:41then you're gonna apologize to clara
38:43for making her feel unwelcome
38:44do that and we can move past this
38:45i looked at the prenup draft
38:47on the table in front of me
38:47then i picked it up
38:49and fed it into the shredder
38:51there's nothing to move past damon
38:52there's no wedding
38:53evelyn
38:54you brought a wife
38:55to our wedding paperwork
38:56i brought a witness
38:59to start pulling every asset record
39:01with damon pierce's name on it
39:03every building
39:04every account
39:05every share
39:07he thought he was a self-made man
39:08he was about to find out what happens when the woman who made him decides to unmake him
39:12the next morning damon's car was waiting outside my building
39:17now he sat at the curb in the porsche i had paid for
39:19looking less like a man caught in a lie
39:21than a man waiting for his fiance to stop embarrassing him
39:24get in
39:25we're going shopping
39:26shopping?
39:27clara is upset
39:28lily is upset
39:29you made a scene yesterday
39:30the least you can do is help fix it
39:32of course
39:33he had married another woman
39:35lied to me for 14 months and somehow i was the one expected to fix the mood
39:38don't mind
39:39i get carsick in the back
39:41old evelyn would have argued
39:42knew and felt nothing but a calm so steady it surprised even me
39:45i slipped into the back seat
39:46because mine has a time stamp
39:47let him show who he is in front of witnesses
39:49and don't stop him when he does
39:50so i sat behind them
39:51phone in my coat pocket
39:52recording everything damon still believed he could get away with
39:56damon took us to a luxury boutique on madison avenue
39:58and held the door for clara like she was his wife
40:02which legally she was
40:03clara and lily need new things for the season
40:05you should pick something too
40:06god knows you could use it
40:07i had spent three years overseas building his investor pipeline
40:10he mistook exhaustion for neglect
40:12he looked at me like i was the embarrassing one
40:16damon
40:16clara tried on dresses
40:18lily twirled in a princess gown
40:19damon stood beside them
40:21patient and proud
40:22keep that one wrap that too
40:23whatever lily wants
40:25loosest
40:26daisy and shirgondal the sending quent
40:31she had spent all afternoon pretending to be the fragile wife
40:34but the second that dress touched my hands
40:36she looked afraid i might outshine her
40:41so i tried it on
40:55clara was checking the child who had just shoved me
40:58it's okay sweetheart nobody's going to yell at you
41:02she's a child evelyn don't make a scene
41:05she pushed me
41:06keep your balance that's not her fault
41:10you saw what happened
41:15let's go she's not worth upsetting lily over
41:20i changed back into my own clothes
41:21when i stepped back out
41:22the vip lounge was empty
41:24no clara
41:24no lily
41:25no damon
41:26only the sales associate behind the counter
41:28wearing the smile of someone who had already decided i was the problem
41:30mrs shaw
41:31mr pierce has left
41:32he's charged all selected items to your personal account
41:36i'd opened that account years ago so damon could buy suits for investor meetings
41:41now he'd used it to dress the wife he'd hidden all along
41:48i left the bill under your name
41:49consider it a lesson in humility
41:51come home when you're ready to apologize
41:52she can't pay
41:54why did she act like she owned the place five minutes ago
41:56she's just another pretender
41:57if there's an issue with payment miss shaw
41:59we'll need to call security
42:01and now i stood in a luxury boutique
42:03threatened with security over a bill
42:05i could pay ten times over with my own money
42:11security
42:16mr mercer
42:20kieran mercer
42:21i knew the name the way a soldier knows the sound of an enemy's footsteps
42:25mercer capital
42:26old money
42:27private equity royalty
42:29every founder in new york either wanted to impress him or prayed never to cross his path
42:33damon pierce's most dangerous rival
42:34for three years damon had tried to outrun him
42:36outperform him
42:37outrank him
42:37for three years i'd made it possible
42:39i blocked mercer's buyout offers
42:40clean directed messes before kelvin's team could find them
42:42i'd fought this man in the dark for a thousand days
42:44and now here he was
42:47watching me messy
42:49humiliated
42:49trapped behind the bill damon had left me
42:52for one cold second
42:53i thought kieran mercer had come to collect every war i'd ever fought for damon
43:04i hated that he saw it
43:08if you're here to watch me embarrass myself mr mercer
43:11get in line
43:13i considered it
43:16were you threatening to call security on evelyn shaw over damon pierce's unpaid balance
43:21mr mercer i was only following mr pierce's instructions
43:24this is not a payment issue this is theft
43:28get your manager
43:36what do you think i flew here to save damon pierce's face
43:41i've spent three years trying to figure out who the real brain behind pierce digital is
43:45and now i find her bleeding on a boutique floor while he buys dresses for his wife
43:51mrs shaw
43:52i'm so sorry i had no idea you were back in new york
43:56ms shaw is one of our parent company's primary investors
43:59mr pierce's authorization was revoked hours ago
44:02damon pierce clara bennett and the child walked out after charging purchases to an account
44:05they no longer had permission to use
44:06of course
44:07save the receipt file the report and send mr pierce the copy
44:09of course ms shaw
44:10one hundred seventy eight thousand dollars bold for a man living on borrowed power
44:14you're evelyn shaw
44:16and you're kieran mercer you were very good at keeping me out
44:20careful that almost sounded like a compliment
44:23it was a warning
44:25to me
44:25to damon
44:26my mother did not steal anyone's place
44:30she married father three years after your mother died
44:34please stop we are still family
44:35family who is family with you filthy people
44:38ivette balan what are you doing
44:40my fiancee
44:41theraphine was the commander of the light knights
44:43he was sacred restrained and untouchable
44:46and i was the royal high priestess
44:48i tried to tempt him many times but he never lost control
44:52i used to think he had sealed away all desire
44:54until the night before our wedding
44:56i saw seraphine kneeling beside laurel's bed
44:59her limp hand closed around him
45:01and his whole body went rigid
45:02hot and feverish
45:04hot sweat fell onto his white robe
45:06his breath was ragged
45:08his eyes dark
45:08his face was lost in raw forbidden desire
45:12the only reason i agreed to marry your sister
45:14was so i could come see you every single day
45:22after that night i tore up our betrothal scroll
45:25i'm not marrying seraphine anymore
45:27i'm marrying arthur
45:30yvette
45:31have you lost your mind
45:36arthur was mutilated by a cursed blade three years ago
45:39he beats people half to death over nothing
45:41you're marching straight to your grave if you marry him
45:45mother
45:46at this point it does not matter who i marry
45:49besides
45:49do you really think we can refuse the imperial family
45:54in the receiving hall father was smiling from ear to ear
45:58it is an honor that his minus would consider my daughter
46:00but my elder daughter still sleeps under a holy curse
46:03and my second daughter is bound to the lancid family by engagement
46:09an engagement is still only a contract
46:12break it
46:15if lady yvonne valian agrees to marry his highness
46:17the imperial family will offer a vial of sacred sunblood as the bride gift
46:21i hear it has awakened sleepers sealed by curses before
46:24i'll do it
46:32yvette
46:32haven't you always loved seraphine
46:36why so suddenly
46:38i did not answer
46:39because every time i thought of what i had seen that night
46:42my heart ached unbearably
46:44my ten years of devotion suddenly felt like a joke
46:50the vial of sacred sunblood worked
46:52within three days aurora woke up
46:57father was overjoyed to prepare a celebration feast for her
47:01that was when i saw aurora
47:03she was wearing the gown mother had spent months making for me
47:06she stood among the temple guests smiling like a saint
47:10yvette
47:10may i borrow this gown for tonight
47:12i just woke up
47:14i had no time to prepare a new gown
47:18mother tugged at my sleeve
47:19your sister just recovered
47:21let her have it
47:25of course
47:30may the light bless you yvette
47:37this gown fits me better doesn't it
47:39your tet is too thin
47:40she cannot fill it up
47:42my aurora has awakened
47:45from tonight on
47:46she will return as the high priestess of the sun temple
47:59suddenly the hall doors opened
48:01sunlight poured in behind seraphine
48:03the moment seraphine stepped into the hall
48:05every voice fell silent
48:07he walked straight to aurora
48:09then in front of everyone
48:10he dropped to one knee
48:12he bowed his head
48:13and kissed the back of her hand
48:18welcome back my high priestess
48:22you were always the one i was sworn to say
48:23my breath stopped
48:25he was always so aloof
48:26so proud
48:27i had never seen him kneel before anyone
48:29but as long as it was about aurora
48:31even the holiest knight would lose his heart
48:34see
48:34the one seraphine really loves is aurora
48:36the marriage only fell to yavit
48:37because aurora was cursed and fell into sleep
48:39i bet yavit must be dying of embarrassment right now
48:41i walked alone onto the terrace
48:43but even the cold wind
48:44could not ease the pain in my chest
48:46then i heard footsteps behind me
48:48does it hurt
48:50you must have enjoyed yourself
48:52while i was in a coma didn't you
48:53you even took my bedrothal to seraphine
48:56father told me it was arthur's sacred sunblood
48:58that woke me
48:59but do not expect me to thank you
49:02remember this clearly yavit
49:03you will always live in my shadow
49:05just like when we were children
49:07you only ever got what i had already grown tired of
49:12you know it mean a grey that's on you to friend
49:29what have you done
49:30the blade flashed with sacred light
49:32a sharp wave of force cut across my leg
49:35blood instantly stained my dress
49:37aurora hides against seraphine's chest
49:39flashing me a triumphant smile
49:41my eyes burned
49:42i forced myself to turn away
49:45in that split second
49:47and crushed me against the stone step
49:50seraphine
49:52aurora suddenly pressed a hand to her forehead
49:54aurora leans weakly against seraphine
49:57i'm so scared
49:58i feel dizzy
50:02when i woke up again
50:03emma was sitting beside my bed
50:05in the temple healing chamber
50:06seraphine that bastard
50:08stop crying emma
50:11remember
50:11i'm marrying arthur
50:13emma looked at me like her heart was breaking
50:15then emma cried even harder
50:19one of seraphine's attendants came to me
50:21seraphine wanted to see me at the garden pavilion
50:28seraphine pushed a delicate white box across the table
50:31inside was a pair of pale blue lace gloves
50:33i will still honor the betrothal
50:36as long as you stop targeting aurora
50:41no need
50:42it was always my sister's betrothal anyway
50:45before he could finish
50:46aurora appeared beside him
50:48use an eye
50:48she was dressed in a pale blue gown
50:50her lace sleeves matched the gloves in the box exactly
50:53it was not a gift chosen for me
50:55yvette
50:55i asked seraphine to bring you this
50:57do you like it
50:59i forced a smile
51:00my nails dug deep into my palm
51:05when i returned to the valen estate
51:07i saw mother limping down the stairs
51:09mother grips the railing
51:11moving with difficulty
51:13mother
51:15i rushed over to help her
51:17my fingers brushed the bruises on her wrist
51:21my voice trembled
51:23did aurora push you again
51:26suddenly the front door burst open
51:28aurora steps into the manor
51:30tossing her cloak to a servant
51:31aurora walked in as if nothing had happened
51:34i could not hold back
51:37aurora why did you push my mother
51:39who told her to steal someone else's place
51:42aurora raised her hand
51:44and slapped mother across the face
51:46my mother did not steal anyone's place
51:48she married father three years after your mother died
51:52please stop
51:53we are still family
51:54family
51:54who is family with you filthy people
51:57ivette balan
51:57what are you doing
51:58seraphine stood in the doorway
52:00seraphine was still holding aurora's forgotten cloak
52:03aurora's expression changed instantly
52:05she threw herself into his arms
52:07sobbing
52:10seraphine
52:11my sister tried to hit me
52:13i watched him pull her closer
52:15i watched the revulsion in his eyes
52:18suddenly
52:18it all felt absurdly funny
52:23consider it your apology to aurora
52:28do not disgrace the veiligan name again
52:31consider it your apology to aurora
52:38do not disgrace the veiligan name again
52:40i sat at the grand piano set beside the ceremonial platform
52:44my fingers moved mechanically across the keys
52:46from the corner of my eye
52:48i saw aurora glance at me again and again
52:50the moment the final note faded
52:52a deafening bang rang out
52:55the lid crashed over my hands
52:57excruciating pain shot through all ten fingers
53:00i screamed
53:01my vision was going black
53:10instinctively
53:11i looked toward seraphine in the distance
53:13but aurora immediately grabbed his arm
53:15seraphine the dawn procession is about to begin
53:18please
53:19walk with me
53:21arthur sent his best royal physician
53:23i think
53:24perhaps his highness is not as terrible as the rumors say
53:28we're a father in aurora
53:33your father went to join aurora's dawn procession
53:35arthur sent his best royal physician
53:38i think
53:39perhaps his highness is not as terrible as the rumors say
53:42we're a father in aurora
53:45the whole capital is celebrating her return
53:53that night i returned to my room at the valen estate
53:56everything related to seraphine was still there
53:58the letters i had written but never sent
54:00the sketches i had drawn of him
54:01and the broken betrothal scroll
54:03i placed them all into the fireplace
54:05the flames rose
54:06one by one
54:09the day i arrived at arthur's estate
54:11i was stunned by what i saw
54:12the royal guards and palace servants
54:16this is your home now
54:20don't be nervous
54:21this is your home now
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