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