He Gave Her Dress Away is an emotional modern romance short drama about betrayal, heartbreak, and finding the strength to start over. After discovering that her fiancé secretly gave away the wedding dress she lovingly designed, Chloe chooses to leave the past behind and focus on rebuilding her life and career. As success changes her future, those who underestimated her are forced to face the consequences. Watch the Full Episode (ENGSUB) for a powerful story of romance, redemption, and personal growth.
#ShortDrama #ModernRomance #RevengeDrama #WeddingDrama #StrongFemaleLead #SecondChanceRomance #RomanticDrama #DramaSeries #Drama #ShortFilm #ShortMovie #FullEP #ENGSUB #CEO #LoveStory
#ShortDrama #ModernRomance #RevengeDrama #WeddingDrama #StrongFemaleLead #SecondChanceRomance #RomanticDrama #DramaSeries #Drama #ShortFilm #ShortMovie #FullEP #ENGSUB #CEO #LoveStory
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was at the boutique, checking on the wedding dress I had custom-designed for myself.
00:04When a young woman walked in, the shop assistant came over and whispered to me,
00:09This girl had already rejected 99 dresses in their shop over the past three months.
00:14Her standards were impossibly high.
00:16Worse still, she had a ridiculously wealthy and doting husband
00:19who accompanied her through endless design changes without a single complaint.
00:23Just as the associate was venting her frustration, the girl's eyes landed on my dress.
00:28It was love at first sight.
00:30When she was told the dress wasn't for sale, she immediately pulled out her phone and called her husband.
00:35Minutes later, the boutique manager rushed over, looking panicked.
00:40She told me,
00:41Had Jaspins bought the entire bridal shop, his first and only demand as the new owner,
00:45give his wife that exact dress?
00:48The manager begged me to part with it.
00:49I refused.
00:51I had designed this dress for my own wedding.
00:53Why would I give it to a stranger?
00:55Chloe, please, just think about it.
00:57She's the young madam of the Winston family.
01:00Getting on her good side could do wonders for your career.
01:03I froze.
01:04She is the young madam of the Winston family?
01:06Then who am I?
01:08Seeing my shock, a flicker of pride crossed the girl's face.
01:12You're a designer too, right?
01:13She smiled and gave me a polite nod.
01:15If you let me wear your dress to my wedding,
01:18I promise you'll make a name for yourself in the design world very quickly.
01:21My mind was reeling.
01:23I forced myself to breathe.
01:25Could I please see this lady's contract?
01:27When they handed me the paperwork, I flipped straight to the last page.
01:31There, signed in bold, arrogant strokes, was a name I knew better than my own, Vincent.
01:36The handwriting was so familiar I thought I was hallucinating.
01:40This was the name that had filled the margins of my teenage notebooks.
01:44It was the name printed right next to mine on the welcome sign at our engagement party not that long
01:49ago.
01:50And now, here it was on a bridal contract, right next to the name Natalie.
01:54An absurd, undeniable reality crashed over me.
01:58My fiancé Vincent was having an affair.
02:02My knees felt weak.
02:04I took a sip of water, forcing the trembling out of my hands, and really looked at Natalie.
02:09She looked to be in her early twenties.
02:12Radiant, youthful, and vibrant.
02:14And looking closely at her features, I saw a faint, haunting resemblance to how I looked when I was younger.
02:20That realization didn't bring me any comfort.
02:22It just made my stomach churn with disgust.
02:26Numbly, I nodded.
02:27I told them she could have the dress.
02:28Natalie clapped her hands in delight, and turned toward the dressing room.
02:33Wait!
02:35I said, stopping her.
02:37This dress requires a very specific makeup look to really shine.
02:41Let me do it for you.
02:43Natalie was escorted to a private VIP makeup room.
02:46The cosmetics laid out for her were entirely different from what regular clients used.
02:51Seeing my surprise, Natalie covered her mouth and giggled.
02:54My husband refuses to let me share a makeup room with anyone else.
02:58He's a germaphobe when it comes to me.
03:00He had someone buy all of this brand new, just for me.
03:04Your husband treats you very well.
03:06Hmm.
03:07Throwing money at me is all he can do right now.
03:10I'm here trying on my wedding dress, and he couldn't even make time to come with me.
03:14Oh, Mrs. Winston, don't joke like that.
03:17Mr. Vincent has been here with you almost every single time you've come in over the last few months.
03:21He must just be tied up with something truly unavoidable today.
03:24The flattery worked.
03:25True.
03:26Natalie smiled, appeased.
03:28Unless it was an absolute emergency, he'd definitely be here.
03:32Her smile was blinding.
03:34It stung my eyes.
03:35I couldn't help but remember how utterly disinterested Vincent had been in planning our wedding.
03:41When I picked a venue, he simply said,
03:43Whatever you decide is fine.
03:46When I booked a photography team for our engagement shoot, he bailed on me three separate times.
03:52I had spent months convincing myself he was just too busy with work.
03:56Now I knew the truth.
03:57It wasn't that he didn't have the time.
03:59He just couldn't be bothered to spare any effort on me.
04:02I picked up a brush and began adjusting her eyebrows.
04:05Out of nowhere, she asked,
04:08Chloe, were you planning to give that dress to someone?
04:11Why did the staff say it was not for sale?
04:13My hand paused.
04:15Oh, Yemba Lai designed my rune the wedding the dress.
04:18Natalie blinked, genuinely taken aback.
04:22Oh, wow.
04:24I'm so sorry.
04:25She apologized, but she made absolutely no move to give the dress back.
04:32It's just that I'm so in love with it.
04:36I'm so picky.
04:37I can't bear go if I find a like something, but I believe you can do even better.
04:43It's fine.
04:44I'm not in a rush anymore.
04:46Since I was doing her makeup, she couldn't hold it to her ear, so she put it on speaker.
04:50Hey, sweetheart.
04:51How's the fitting going?
04:53The voice was low, laced with an undeniable, overflowing fondness.
04:57He used to talk to me like that, too.
04:59Back when we first moved in together, every day he'd wake up earlier than me,
05:03lean in close and whisper,
05:05Chloe, time to wake up.
05:07If I ignored him, he'd tease me until we just ended up holding each other.
05:12But sitting there now, I realized with a sickening jolt that I couldn't even remember the last time he had
05:17woken me up like that.
05:19Vincent.
05:37Vincent's voice was pure indulgence.
05:40Be a good girl.
05:41I'm swamped today.
05:43I have a board meeting this afternoon, and I just can't get away.
05:46I'll come with you next time, I promise.
05:48No way!
05:49I finally found the perfect dress!
05:52How could you abandon me on such a big day?
05:55You're making me so sad.
05:57A soft sigh came through the speaker.
06:00All right, all right.
06:01I'll head over as soon as my meeting is done.
06:03I swear I can never say no to you.
06:05Hearing that, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
06:07Just last night, I had told Vincent that I was picking up my finished wedding dress today.
06:12I asked if he could come with me.
06:13He said he's got meetings all day and can't make it.
06:17I pleaded.
06:18But he just pinched his nose, gave me a cold look, and said,
06:22Stop acting like a child.
06:25Then he walked into the bedroom and shut the door without looking back.
06:28Yet all it took was a little whine from Natalie, and he surrendered instantly.
06:33His schedule can be interrupted.
06:35I'm just not the woman he'd interrupt it for.
06:37Natalie giggled, flirted with him for another second, and hung up.
06:41Mrs. Winston, your husband treats you like a queen!
06:45It makes me so jealous!
06:47Natalie beamed, basking in the glow of her perfect life.
06:51Catching my eye, she asked,
06:53Chloe, when is your wedding?
06:55The question caught me off guard.
06:57Before I could answer, a rival designer from the boutique,
07:00someone who had never liked me,
07:03walked in holding some accessories.
07:05Hearing the question, she sneered.
07:08Her?
07:09She's been custom designing her dress for months,
07:13but none of us have ever seen this mythical fiancé of his.
07:17Who knows if he even exists?
07:20She turned a fawning smile toward Natalie.
07:23Not everyone has your luck, Mrs. Winston.
07:26Mr. Vincent runs a massive corporate empire,
07:30yet he still finds time to help you with all, with all the tedious wedding prep.
07:34I lowered my eyes, having absolutely nothing to say in my defense.
07:38She was right.
07:41Vincent hadn't even given me a concrete date for the wedding.
07:44All this planning.
07:46It had been nothing but a one-woman show.
07:49Your fiancé doesn't help at all?
07:51You're doing everything alone?
07:53That's awful.
07:55You really need to think things through, Chloe.
07:58Don't marry the wrong man.
08:03She appears to mean well, but her patronizing tone is unmistakable.
08:07You're right.
08:08I'll think it over.
08:10What about you?
08:11When is the big day?
08:13Natalie thought for a moment.
08:15Some time in the fall, probably.
08:17My husband said we should get legally married at City Hall first,
08:20and he'll handle everything else.
08:22All I have to do is pick out what I like.
08:24I froze.
08:26You're already legally married?
08:28Yep.
08:29We went on Valentine's Day.
08:31I thought the date was so romantic,
08:33so I pustered him until he agreed.
08:36He was originally supposed to fly out of state for a business trip that day.
08:41Chloe, am I being too childish?
08:43My mom says I never grow up,
08:45but my husband likes me just like that.
08:47He says he wants to spoil me,
08:49take care of me,
08:50and make sure I never have a worry in the world.
08:55Looking at her bright, untroubled smile,
08:57my heart turned to ash.
08:59Vincent had already married Natalie.
09:01On Valentine's Day.
09:06What a sick joke.
09:09Valentine's Day was my birthday.
09:11I had waited up for him until past midnight that night.
09:14He never came home.
09:16The next day, he claimed his out-of-state meetings ran late,
09:20and he missed his flight.
09:21I had believed him.
09:22I hadn't pushed it.
09:24Little did I know,
09:26while I sat alone waiting for him on my birthday,
09:29he was at City Hall marrying another woman.
09:31I had been with Vincent since I was 18.
09:34Today, I was 28.
09:36A decade.
09:37For ten years,
09:39I watched him go from a boy
09:40who counted down the days
09:41until we were of legal age
09:43so he could marry me,
09:44to a man who found every excuse
09:46to delay the wedding.
09:47Lately, he avoided the topic
09:49of City Hall altogether.
09:51Now I knew why.
09:53He was already a married man.
09:55Natalie said Vincent promised her a lifetime.
09:58She had no idea
09:59I'd heard those exact same vows.
10:01Under a sky full of stars,
10:03he had dropped to one knee,
10:05as he slid the ring onto my finger.
10:07He swore he would love me forever,
10:09cherish me,
10:10and never let me suffer a single day in my life.
10:13In the end,
10:14he kept his vows.
10:16He just gave them to someone else.
10:18Once her makeup was done,
10:20Natalie headed to the fitting room
10:21to slip into the gown.
10:23I followed her in to help.
10:24As I was lacing up the corset back,
10:27she suddenly leaned in and whispered,
10:28Chloe, do you think you could loosen the waistline
10:30for me a little?
10:32I looked at her reflection in the mirror,
10:34confused.
10:35But this measurement
10:36is absolutely perfect on you.
10:39If I alter it,
10:41the silhouette won't be as flattering.
10:43Natalie lowered her voice even more.
10:46I'm pregnant.
10:47My husband doesn't know yet.
10:48I want to surprise him.
10:50By the time the wedding rolls around,
10:51I'll definitely have a bump.
10:53And I'm worried it'll be too late
10:54to alter it then.
10:55So please,
10:57help me adjust it now
10:58and keep it a secret.
11:00The sudden bombshell
11:01left me completely, utterly paralyzed.
11:03It took me a long moment
11:05to process the words.
11:06And when I did,
11:07a creeping chill
11:08seeped into my bones.
11:10She was pregnant.
11:11Vincent was having a baby
11:12with another woman.
11:14Natalie rested a hand
11:15on her flat stomach,
11:16her face glowing
11:17with a profound, radiant joy.
11:20That happiness felt like
11:21shattered glass against my eyes.
11:23I mumbled an incoherent reply,
11:26fled the fitting room,
11:27and leaned against the closed door,
11:28gasping for breath
11:29as I desperately tried
11:31to calm the turmoil
11:32surging inside me.
11:33I was pregnant two years ago,
11:35but Winston Group
11:36was restructuring,
11:38and Vincent was under
11:39enormous stress.
11:41He said it wasn't the time
11:43for a child
11:43and begged me
11:44to get an abortion.
11:46Because I loved him,
11:47I went through with it.
11:49And now Natalie
11:50was carrying his child,
11:51a dark, malicious thought
11:53curled in my mind.
11:54If Vincent finds out
11:56about this baby,
11:57he might not be as thrilled
11:58as she thinks.
11:59Just then,
12:00Natalie's phone buzzed
12:01on the vanity.
12:02It was Vincent.
12:04Chloe?
12:06Can you answer that for me?
12:08I'm tied up right now!
12:10I hesitated,
12:11but a sudden, vicious urge
12:13took root in my chest.
12:15If Vincent heard my voice
12:16on her phone,
12:17what would he do?
12:18Driven by a morbid curiosity,
12:20I swiped to answer.
12:22Hello?
12:23Unfortunately,
12:23I held back tears
12:25all afternoon,
12:26my voice hoarse,
12:27and Vincent didn't notice
12:28at all.
12:29Who is this?
12:31I sneered silently.
12:33Since my cover
12:34wasn't blown,
12:35I decided to play the part.
12:37I'm a stylist
12:38at the boutique.
12:39Mrs. Winston
12:40is in the fitting room
12:41right now.
12:41Is there a message
12:42you'd like me to pass along?
12:43Vincent suspected
12:44absolutely nothing.
12:46It's fine.
12:47I just called to tell her
12:48I ordered some coffee
12:49and pastries for her.
12:50Please remind her
12:51to eat something.
12:52I don't want her
12:52feeling unwell.
12:53His tone,
12:54so gentle and considerate,
12:56it was heartbreaking.
12:57Is Mrs. Winston
12:58feeling under the weather?
13:00I asked,
13:00pretending to care.
13:01Is there anything specific
13:02we should be careful of
13:03while assisting her?
13:04Vincent was silent
13:06for a beat.
13:07She's pregnant.
13:09She thinks I don't know yet,
13:10and I don't want
13:11to ruin her surprise.
13:12So please don't tell her
13:14I know.
13:14Just be extra careful
13:16with her.
13:18I ended the call,
13:19slowly sank to the floor,
13:21and buried my face
13:22in my hands.
13:23How stupidly pathetic.
13:26I thought he didn't want
13:27children,
13:27but the truth is
13:28he just didn't want mine.
13:30Chloe,
13:30you were blind,
13:32wasting ten years
13:32of your youth
13:33on a man like that.
13:34When Natalie finally
13:35stepped out of the fitting room,
13:37she was breathtaking.
13:38The dress I had
13:39painstakingly designed
13:40to fit my own body
13:41draped over her perfectly.
13:43Just like the man
13:44I had chosen for myself.
13:47Apparently,
13:48our tastes were identical.
13:49The boutique staff
13:51swarmed her,
13:52showering her with praise.
13:54Natalie soaked up
13:55the attention,
13:56practically glowing.
13:58She picked up the skirt,
14:00twirled,
14:01snapped a photo,
14:01and sent it to Vincent.
14:03Honey, look.
14:05Isn't it gorgeous?
14:06Didn't I tell you
14:07I have great taste?
14:09Vincent texted back
14:10almost instantly.
14:14Wear it for me
14:15when you get home.
14:21Oh my god,
14:22Mrs. Winston!
14:23You two are so in love!
14:25It's criminal!
14:27Natalie blushed,
14:28clearly not expecting him
14:30to be so intimately
14:31flirtatious in public,
14:32and quietly tucked
14:34her phone away.
14:40My heart tasted like bile.
14:42I had spent three months
14:44sketching and refining
14:45that dress.
14:46Vincent had the opportunity
14:47to look at it
14:48every single day,
14:49but he never paid attention.
14:50He never cared to remember
14:52what it looked like.
14:53But the moment Natalie
14:54sent him a picture,
14:55he gave her his full,
14:56undivided attention.
14:57Was this the difference
14:58between being loved
15:00and being tolerated?
15:01I stood in the corner
15:02watching the blush
15:03on Natalie's cheeks.
15:04She was wrapped
15:05in the kind of
15:06intoxicating happiness
15:07that I used to know
15:08so well.
15:09I grew up poor.
15:10I never had the money
15:11to take art classes
15:12or build a foundation
15:13in drawing.
15:15When I decided
15:16I wanted to pivot
15:17to fashion design,
15:18everyone doubted me.
15:19Everyone except Vincent.
15:21He was my rock.
15:22He believed in my dream
15:23more fiercely than I did.
15:25Once,
15:25passing a wedding dress shop,
15:27I was captivated
15:28by a vintage gown
15:29in the window,
15:30but it was a display piece,
15:31not for sale.
15:32I left disappointed
15:33and never mentioned it again.
15:34The next day,
15:35that exact dress
15:36was sitting in my bedroom.
15:39Chloe,
15:42whatever you love,
15:43I will give you.
15:44Whatever you want to do,
15:46I will support.
15:47Spread your wings.
15:48I've got you.
15:49I asked him once
15:50why he was so good to me.
15:52He smiled,
15:53looking like the sun itself.
15:54Because we're soulmates,
15:56like a lock and a key.
15:59I was put on this earth
16:01to treat you right
16:02and I plan on doing it
16:03for the rest of my life.
16:05I know,
16:05without a shadow of a doubt,
16:07that he truly loved me back then.
16:09But time ruins everything,
16:11doesn't it?
16:12Natalie admired herself
16:13in the mirror
16:14as a stylist
16:15knelt beside her,
16:16tidying the skirt.
16:17Mrs. Winston,
16:17this dress looks flawless on you.
16:19If you paired it
16:20with a statement necklace,
16:21maybe something
16:22with a pop of color,
16:23it would be absolutely legendary.
16:25Natalie touched
16:26her bare collarbone,
16:27her eyes lighting up.
16:30I knew something was missing!
16:33It's perfect timing.
16:34I just picked up a necklace
16:35from an auction house today.
16:36Let me try it on.
16:37She practically skipped over
16:38to her designer handbag
16:40on the sofa
16:40and pulled out
16:42a velvet jewelry.
16:43She trotted over to me,
16:44beaming with excitement.
16:46Look, Chloe!
16:50My husband won this for me
16:51at an auction recently.
16:55She popped the box open.
16:56A blinding flash of crimson
16:58caught the light.
17:00The moment my eyes
17:01focused on the necklace,
17:02the air was punched
17:03out of my lungs.
17:05I stared at the jewels.
17:07Then I looked at Natalie.
17:09Then back at the necklace.
17:12It took me a long,
17:13agonizing minute
17:14to accept that
17:15I wasn't losing my mind.
17:16That necklace was mine.
17:18More specifically,
17:20it was my late mother's.
17:22It was an heirloom
17:23passed down from my grandmother.
17:25An antique piece
17:27you couldn't find
17:28anywhere on the market.
17:30Years ago,
17:31the group was on the verge
17:32of bankruptcy.
17:33Vincent was deep in debt
17:35and utterly desperate.
17:36I couldn't bear
17:37to watch himself destruct.
17:39So, I sold my mother's necklace.
17:41The money covered the critical gap
17:42in his company's finances,
17:44pulling the Winston group
17:45back from the grave.
17:46Even when my family
17:47was so poor
17:48we couldn't afford groceries,
17:50I never once considered
17:51selling that necklace.
17:53Vincent knew exactly
17:54what it meant to me.
17:55He knew the weight
17:55of my sacrifice.
17:57He had sworn to me,
17:58tears in his eyes,
17:59that he would track it down
18:00and buy it back for me
18:01no matter what it cost.
18:03But that necklace
18:03was bought by a private collector
18:05and vanished without a trace.
18:07This loss
18:07has been tormenting me,
18:09as if I betrayed my mother
18:10by failing to protect
18:11her last keepsake.
18:13Whenever the topic came up,
18:14Vincent was overwhelmed
18:15with guilt.
18:16He assured me he was using
18:17all his connections
18:18to find it.
18:19When did he finally
18:19track it down?
18:20And what exactly
18:21was going through his mind
18:23when he stood at that auction,
18:24spent a fortune
18:25to win it back,
18:27and then handed it
18:28to his mistress.
18:29My jaw locked so tight
18:30my teeth ached.
18:32My fingernails dug into my palms
18:34until the skin broke.
18:35Vincent!
18:36What the hell did he think I was?
18:38How dare he use
18:39my late mother's legacy
18:40to court another woman?
18:41What a monster he's become.
18:43Rage,
18:44hot and blinding,
18:45exploded in my chest.
18:46I couldn't breathe.
18:47I couldn't stay quiet anymore.
18:49I needed to rip him apart.
18:51Before I could say a word,
18:52the heavy doors
18:53of the VIP suite
18:54swung open.
18:58A tall, familiar silhouette
19:00walked in.
19:01Natalie, are you finished?
19:02I came to take you home.
19:04The sound of his voice
19:05sent a violent tremor
19:06through my body.
19:07Slowly, stiffly,
19:09I turned my head.
19:10Natalie's face lit up.
19:12She lifted the heavy skirt
19:14of the gown
19:14and practically threw herself
19:16into his arms.
19:17Honey, you made it!
19:20Vincent's eyes landed on me.
19:22The color instantly
19:23drained from his face.
19:25Chloe?
19:26He choked out.
19:27What are you doing here?
19:29I arched a brow,
19:31letting a razor-sharp smile
19:32touch my lips.
19:34What, am I ruining the mood?
19:36Vincent glanced at Natalie,
19:38who was clinging to his arm,
19:39and instinctively
19:40took a half-step away from her.
19:42His eyes darted back to me,
19:44wild with panic.
19:46What did you two talk about?
19:48A cold laugh escaped me.
19:50Even now,
19:51the man was trying
19:52to do damage control.
19:53I looked at Natalie.
19:55Her eyes were wide,
19:56darting between us
19:57in total confusion.
19:58She looked like a lost deer.
20:01Suddenly,
20:01the fire in my chest died down,
20:03leaving nothing but cold,
20:05exhausting pity.
20:06I didn't want to humiliate her
20:08in public.
20:09At the end of the day,
20:10she was just another idiot
20:11he had played.
20:12I took a deep breath,
20:13forcing my voice
20:14to remain dead calm.
20:15I looked dead
20:16into Vincent's eyes.
20:17Give me the necklace back.
20:19We will talk about
20:20everything else later.
20:21Without a second of hesitation,
20:23Vincent turned to Natalie
20:24and held out his hand.
20:25Give me the necklace.
20:27Natalie stared at him,
20:28bewildered.
20:29What?
20:30His voice dropped
20:31into a harsh,
20:32commanding bark.
20:33Give it to me.
20:34Now.
20:34Natalie was taken aback
20:36for a moment.
20:37She looked at Vincent's
20:38terrifying,
20:39grim expression,
20:40then lowered her head,
20:43took out the necklace
20:44she was holding,
20:45and handed it to him.
20:46The heavy rubies
20:47settled into my palm.
20:49I felt a fraction
20:50of my soul
20:51return to my body.
20:53Vincent lunged forward
20:54and grabbed my wrist.
20:55Chloe,
20:56where are you going?
20:58I violently ripped my arm
20:59out of his grasp.
21:01Deal with your mess first.
21:03We'll talk when you get home.
21:04I marched out of the boutique
21:06without looking back.
21:12The moment I got back
21:13to the apartment,
21:14I started packing.
21:15Clothes.
21:16My passport.
21:18My mother's photo albums.
21:20My sketch pads.
21:21The vase I bought
21:23at a flea market.
21:24The bedsheets monogrammed
21:26with our initials.
21:27The scarf Vincent
21:29had painstakingly
21:30hand-knitted for me
21:31our first Christmas together.
21:32There was so much.
21:34So much it overwhelmed me.
21:36My hands shook
21:37as I shoved things
21:38into suitcases.
21:40But the piles
21:41never seemed to end.
21:44A strangled scream
21:46ripped from my throat.
21:47I grabbed the knitted scarf
21:49and tore at it violently
21:50until the yarn snapped,
21:52slicing into my bleeding palms.
21:54I collapsed onto the floor,
21:57buried my face in my knees,
21:58and finally let the ugly,
22:00broken sobs tear through me.
22:02There was too much history
22:04in this house.
22:06From the velvet curtains
22:07to the ceramic plates
22:08in the kitchen,
22:09every single object
22:11was something
22:11we had picked out together,
22:13buzzing with excitement
22:15for our future.
22:16When we bought this place,
22:17I told him I wanted
22:18to design the interior myself.
22:20He sat beside me for weeks,
22:22sketching floor plans,
22:23driving me to every furniture
22:25showroom in the city.
22:26Renovating is supposed
22:27to be stressful,
22:28but we had loved
22:29every second of it.
22:30Those days were filled
22:31with endless conversations
22:32about the life we were building.
22:34The only thing
22:35we never talked about
22:36was breaking up.
22:37I had been so goddamn certain
22:38we would make it to the end.
22:40Now, it was all just a punchline
22:42to a sick joke.
22:43Through blurred,
22:44tear-filled eyes,
22:45I looked around
22:46the beautiful apartment.
22:47From this day forward,
22:49none of this belonged
22:50to me anymore.
22:52Vincent burst in
22:53to find my suitcases
22:54by the door.
22:55I mocked his panicked face.
23:00Wow.
23:01Never thought I'd see
23:02the day you'd be
23:03in a rush to get home.
23:04Vincent ignored the sarcasm.
23:06Chloe, the necklace.
23:07I just won it
23:07at the auction recently.
23:08I wanted to surprise you,
23:09which is why I didn't tell you.
23:10But Natalie saw it
23:11and she wouldn't let it go.
23:12I only meant to let her
23:13borrow it for a few days
23:14before giving it back to you.
23:15I swear on my life,
23:15I never intended
23:16to give Mom's necklace to her.
23:18You have to believe me.
23:19He knew the necklace
23:20was my weakness,
23:21but too late.
23:22His words were static.
23:25Mom from him
23:26turned my stomach.
23:27I turned for my coat.
23:30He saw the luggage,
23:31closed in,
23:32and grabbed my shoulders.
23:34Chloe, what are you doing?
23:35Where are you going?
23:36I stared into his
23:37indecipherable,
23:39stormy eyes.
23:40Anywhere but here.
23:44I'm just making room
23:45for you and your wife.
23:47Where else are you two
23:48going to live after the wedding?
23:49Vincent hugged me,
23:50voice cracking.
23:52She is not my wife.
23:54You are the only woman
23:55I have ever loved.
23:57I let out a harsh,
23:59barking laugh
23:59and shoved him off me.
24:01She's not your wife?
24:03I am.
24:04So you help her try dresses
24:06while I beg for five minutes?
24:07I grabbed my portfolio
24:09from the table
24:10and shoved it into his chest.
24:13Look.
24:14Does her dress look familiar?
24:16Vincent glanced at the sketches,
24:18shocked.
24:19He finally realized
24:20the dress Natalie stole
24:22was mine
24:23and he'd helped her.
24:24A heavy,
24:25suffocating silence
24:26fell over the room.
24:27Vincent swallowed hard,
24:29his voice dropping
24:30to a miserable whisper.
24:32Sorry, Chloe.
24:33I never meant to hurt you.
24:34She just reminds me
24:36of the younger you.
24:37I couldn't help
24:38spoiling her.
24:39Please give me
24:40another chance.
24:41Hearing this tragic,
24:43romantic confession,
24:44I actually burst out laughing.
24:46I laughed until I doubled over.
24:48I laughed until my ribs ached
24:50and my lungs burned.
24:51I looked at the man
24:52I had worshipped
24:53for a decade.
24:54Are you out of your mind?
24:55I choked out,
24:56wiping a tear from my eye.
24:58You love her
24:59because she looks like me?
25:01I am standing
25:02right in front of you
25:03breathing alive
25:04and you go out
25:04and find a cheaper knockoff?
25:07Does that make you feel
25:08like some kind of
25:08tragic,
25:09devoted romantic?
25:11Vincent flinched.
25:12Guilt turned to irritation.
25:14He hated being mocked.
25:15Chloe,
25:16stop talking to me like that.
25:18I apologized.
25:20I'll break up with her.
25:22But for me,
25:23with her,
25:23you need to know
25:24when to drop it.
25:26I wrenched myself
25:26out of his grip.
25:28Break up with her?
25:29That's not how it works,
25:30Vincent.
25:31When you leave her,
25:32it's called a divorce.
25:33I watched the color
25:34drain from his face
25:35once again.
25:36Valentine's Day.
25:37What a romantic day
25:38to tie the knot
25:39at City Hall, huh?
25:40Did you have a nice time
25:41while you stood me up
25:42on my birthday?
25:43You're a real piece of work,
25:45Vincent.
25:46His face darkened
25:47into something ugly
25:48and unreadable.
25:49We aren't legally married.
25:51I lied to her.
25:53I told you
25:54I would never
25:54marry anyone but you.
25:56You have to believe me.
25:57I stared at him,
25:59stunned.
26:00His confession
26:01only showed
26:01how hollow he was.
26:03He played us both.
26:04Lies to pacify me.
26:06A fake marriage
26:07to control her.
26:08He destroyed us,
26:09yet demanded a medal
26:11for his loyalty.
26:12I was done.
26:13I couldn't stay
26:13another second.
26:14I grabbed my suitcase
26:15and headed for the door.
26:17Vincent slammed his hand
26:18against the door.
26:19You are not leaving.
26:20You can yell,
26:21break things,
26:22hit me,
26:23but you are not
26:24leaving this door.
26:26Didn't shout or cry,
26:27just looked at him calmly.
26:28Vincent,
26:29are you trying to
26:29illegally detain me?
26:31Of course not,
26:32but-
26:32Step aside,
26:32or your CEO
26:33makes front page
26:34for false imprisonment.
26:35That hit home.
26:36Scandal would crash
26:37the stock mom's necklace saved.
26:38I'll give you time
26:39to cool off,
26:39but I am not letting you go.
26:41His arm dropped slowly.
26:43I walked out
26:44without looking back.
26:45I returned to my old apartment
26:47in the East End.
26:48After my mother passed away,
26:50this place became
26:51a living nightmare.
26:52My father was a violent drunk.
26:54My mother took his fists.
26:55On her deathbed,
26:56she gave me her necklace
26:57and begged me to find a good man,
26:59not to repeat her mistake.
27:01After she died,
27:01I became my father's punching bag.
27:03For years,
27:04every inch of my skin was bruised.
27:06Then I met Vincent.
27:07He dragged me out of that hellhole
27:09without hesitation.
27:10For my sake,
27:11he fell out with his family
27:13and was exiled
27:14from Winston Group's
27:14inner circle for years.
27:16Later,
27:16as the company collapsed,
27:18I gave him the necklace,
27:19the leverage
27:20to claw his way to CEO.
27:22On his appointment day,
27:23I took him to my mother's grave,
27:25laid flowers,
27:25and told her
27:26I'd found the right man.
27:28Vincent held my hand
27:29and swore on her tombstone
27:30to protect me forever.
27:32He broke his promise.
27:33Two years ago,
27:34my father died of liver cancer.
27:36Vincent wanted to gut
27:37and remodel the apartment,
27:38but I stopped him.
27:39I thought I'd never return.
27:40I really should have let him do it.
27:42At least I wouldn't be choking
27:43on dust right now.
27:44Scrubbing windows,
27:45my phone rang.
27:46It was Mia,
27:47my best friend
27:48and business partner.
27:49I answered,
27:50coughing violently
27:51from the dust.
27:52Chloe, babe,
27:53are you packed?
27:54We fly out to New York
27:55for the exhibition next week.
27:56Are you okay?
27:57You sound awful.
27:58Are you sick?
27:58I pushed open the balcony door
28:00and took a deep breath
28:01of fresh air.
28:02No, I'm fine.
28:03I'm just cleaning up
28:04my old apartment.
28:04It's a dust parlet.
28:06What the hell are you doing
28:07at the old apartment?
28:08I paused,
28:09then calmly told her everything.
28:11She went silent,
28:12stunned,
28:13short-circuited.
28:14When she finally spoke,
28:16her voice was low.
28:17Chloe,
28:18tell me this is a sick joke.
28:19That guy who looks at you
28:20like you're everything,
28:21how could he cheat?
28:23I couldn't blame her.
28:24I'd never told anyone
28:25how distant he'd become.
28:27To everyone,
28:28he was still the perfect fiancé.
28:30Until yesterday,
28:31even I wouldn't have believed it.
28:33I shook off the memories
28:34and steered back to work.
28:36A year ago,
28:37Mia and I started
28:37a bridal studio.
28:39My design was picked
28:40for NYFW.
28:41We fly next week.
28:43I never told Vincent.
28:44Doesn't matter now.
28:46After finalizing plans
28:47and thanking Mia
28:48for cursing him out,
28:49I hung up and collapsed
28:50on the moldy sofa,
28:51drained.
28:52I'd accepted reality,
28:53but reliving the betrayal
28:55to someone who rooted for us
28:56felt like a blade
28:57on an open wound.
28:59I needed work.
29:00To keep my hands and brain
29:02too busy for Vincent Winston.
29:04Vincent bombarded me for days.
29:06I ignored him,
29:07still a wreck,
29:08and had nothing to say.
29:10Then came a text
29:12from someone unexpected.
29:13At the cafe,
29:15Natalie sat with a weak smile,
29:16no boutique arrogance.
29:18Hi, Chloe.
29:20I sat across.
29:21She looked exhausted.
29:23You don't look so good.
29:24Tears instantly
29:25welled in her eyes.
29:27It's been a nightmare.
29:27I just...
29:29I never thought...
29:30She choked on her tears.
29:32I slid a napkin
29:33across the table.
29:34Chloe, sorry for intruding
29:36on your relationship.
29:37Don't blame yourself.
29:38You're not at fault.
29:40Vincent is the liar.
29:42Don't tear yourself apart
29:43for his sins.
29:44I'm just a cheap copy of you.
29:46That's why he wanted me.
29:47Should thank you.
29:48Without your face,
29:49I'd never have this life.
29:51Stop.
29:51Replacement is a cheater's lie.
29:53If he loved either of us,
29:55he wouldn't do this.
29:56Don't cheapen yourself for him.
29:59Now I see why he loved you so much.
30:01You really are a good person.
30:03So,
30:04what are you gonna do now?
30:08Chloe,
30:08I know this sounds horrible,
30:10but I can't let him go.
30:12You don't want him anymore, right?
30:13So,
30:14can you let me have him?
30:16Even if I'm just your stand-it,
30:18I don't care.
30:18I accept it.
30:20I stared at her,
30:21speechless.
30:21Why?
30:22You're so young.
30:23You have your whole life ahead of you
30:24because I know I will never find
30:25a man like him again.
30:26But I know,
30:27stay with him
30:28and it'll eat you alive.
30:29He betrayed me today,
30:30you tomorrow,
30:31then what?
30:32I know,
30:33but I love him.
30:35And more than that,
30:36I love the life he gives me.
30:38Chloe,
30:38the things I've gotten
30:39in the last few months
30:40are things I could work
30:40my entire life for
30:41and never touch.
30:42I can't give it up.
30:44I'm sorry,
30:45I'm just a shallow,
30:46materialistic woman.
30:47I had no response.
30:49Or what?
30:49Did you not actually
30:51break up with him?
30:51Are you just playing hard to get
30:53to make him beg?
30:53I'm not playing games.
30:54I am never getting back
30:56together with him.
30:57But Vincemint
30:58isn't a handbag
30:59for me to hand over to you.
31:00If you want him,
31:01go fight for him yourself.
31:03Leave me out of it.
31:05Promise me.
31:07Promise me
31:07you'll never see him again.
31:09You're asking for too much,
31:11Natalie.
31:11I don't owe you any promises.
31:13I was kind
31:14because you were manipulated,
31:15but I won't tolerate
31:16your insecurities.
31:17You've crossed a line.
31:19She opened her mouth,
31:20but no words came out.
31:21It's your life.
31:22Just make sure
31:22you don't regret it.
31:23I turned to leave,
31:25tossing one last sentence
31:26over my shoulder.
31:28The day of the New York
31:30flight arrived.
31:31I was standing at the terminal
31:32with Mia,
31:33checking our boarding passes.
31:34When I heard someone
31:35shout my name,
31:36Vincent was pushing through
31:37the busy airport crowd,
31:39rushing toward me.
31:40For a second,
31:41I saw Vincent backlit
31:42in that dark alley,
31:43running to save me
31:44from my father.
31:45He was still handsome,
31:46but my heart didn't flutter.
31:48Nothing left.
31:48Vincent pulled me
31:49into a crushing hug.
31:50Chloe,
31:51I finally found you.
31:52I was...
31:53I was wrong.
31:54I was so wrong.
31:55Please forgive me.
31:56I swear I'll never do it again.
31:58Please don't leave me.
31:59Please.
32:00I smiled,
32:01gently pushed him away.
32:02I owed him no explanation.
32:04Vincent,
32:05let's end it here
32:06while we still have
32:07some good memories.
32:10I don't want to remember
32:11just the screaming
32:12and hatred.
32:13It's better for both of us.
32:16I made one mistake.
32:18Just one.
32:19Why are you giving me
32:20the death penalty?
32:22Chloe,
32:23you're not being fair to me.
32:24My smile didn't waver.
32:25Vincent,
32:26you weren't fair to me
32:27or Natalie either.
32:29No!
32:30No, you love me.
32:31You can't just throw us away.
32:32You're just angry.
32:33You haven't forgiven me yet,
32:35that's all.
32:35I looked at his pathetic,
32:37broken expression and sighed.
32:38A few days ago,
32:39I thought I'd never get over you.
32:41But when you hugged me
32:42just now,
32:43I realized
32:45I felt
32:45absolutely nothing.
32:48My heart didn't beat
32:49for you, Vincent.
32:50I've let it go.
32:51You should too.
32:52With that,
32:52I gave him a small wave,
32:54turned around,
32:55and walked through
32:55the security checkpoint.
32:57Behind me,
32:58his hands finally fell
32:59to his sides.
33:00It was truly,
33:02finally over.
33:04Sorry.
33:04He looks so pathetic.
33:06Ten years together,
33:07maybe you wanted
33:07an excuse to take him back.
33:09So I lied
33:09you were leaving forever
33:10to make him panic
33:11and make a last grand gesture.
33:12I just wanted to give you a choice.
33:14But if you were done,
33:14I wanted him gone too.
33:16I didn't want you
33:16to have regrets.
33:17Don't ever do it again.
33:19NYFW was a huge success.
33:22Our studio blew up
33:23overnight with global orders.
33:24As my career soared,
33:26the past faded.
33:27Three years flew by.
33:28No contact with Vincent,
33:30but Mia kept me posted
33:31over drinks.
33:32Natalie married Vincent
33:34because she was pregnant,
33:35but the old lady Winston
33:36refused to accept their daughter.
33:38She kept trying for a son,
33:40but it never happened.
33:41Once the thrill was gone,
33:43Vincent stopped spoiling her,
33:44so she had to bite her tongue
33:46and walk on eggshells
33:47just to keep living
33:48that fancy life.
33:50History repeated itself.
33:51Vincent got a new mistress.
33:53Natalie lost it,
33:54cornered her in a mall,
33:55and they got into a screaming,
33:57fist-fighting brawl.
33:58The video went viral.
33:59The scandal tanked
34:00Winston Group's stock.
34:02Furious,
34:02Vincent filed for divorce.
34:04Thank God you didn't take him back.
34:05That man is toxic waste.
34:07I just smiled,
34:08taking a sip of my drink,
34:10and kept my thoughts to myself.
34:12Do we have the displays ready
34:13for tomorrow's bridal expo?
34:14Because if we don't,
34:15I don't want to hear
34:15another word about this soap opera.
34:17Oh my God,
34:18the acrylic signs!
34:19I forgot to pick them up!
34:19I'll be right back!
34:20I watched her run out the door,
34:22laughing softly.
34:24I looked down
34:25at the beautiful,
34:26intricate gown
34:27taking shape on my sketch pad.
34:29In this life,
34:30the only person
34:30you should never betray
34:31is yourself.
34:32That's how you live
34:33without regrets.
34:34I learned that lesson
34:35just in time to walk away.
34:37Natalie didn't,
34:38but I suppose,
34:40after everything,
34:40she probably understands it now.
34:42Be sure to find out
34:43mother
34:43are
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