- 14 minutes ago
Their Kiss Cam Betrayal
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00:03my bestie and I have known each other for 20 years but today my bestie and my husband betrayed me
00:09together Jessica did you go to that cool fly concert I heard the live show was amazing yeah
00:19I saw clips online I wish I were there come back soon and we can go together
00:35on the third day of my business trip to the west coast I saw a video of my husband kissing
00:41my bestie
00:42at the cool play concert my wedding day she cried her eyes out wishing you forever happiness
00:57after a few moments of silence I called her
01:04Jessica did you go to that cool fly concert I heard the live show was amazing yeah I saw clips
01:11online I wish I were there come back soon and we can go together okay I hung up and
01:17caught the first flight straight to her place Jessica I'll protect you Emily you are the hero
01:27in my life after 20 years I had to ask her why did you lie to me my flight landed
01:33in Boston at exactly
01:359 p.m. perfect time for a date what took you so long I went straight to Jessica's apartment and
01:42knocked
01:46she opened the door and the moment she saw me her face went pale
01:57Emily what are you doing back weren't you in Los Angeles for work didn't speak my eyes locked
02:02onto her nightgown it was a black lace see-through nightgown week ago I went shopping with her a woman
02:07no one needs to feel like a woman this is my secret weapon now this secret weapon I helped her
02:13pick
02:13out was it going to be used on my husband I wanted to laugh but my eyes got red first
02:25Jessica and I had
02:27been best friends since we were little at seven I chased away the boys who bullied her Jessica I'll
02:36protect you Emily you are the hero in my life 13 I was the one who grabbed a mop and
02:43charged into the
02:44bathroom you boys don't you dare hurt my friend at 17 we went to different high schools her parents were
02:56fighting and separated Emily I can't go on anymore surviving on $20 a month she dropped from 135 LBS to
03:0480 Libyans sneaked out of my boarding school that night and ran home knelt in front of my parents
03:12begging them to sponsor her thus she made it through and got into an Ivy League from seven to 27
03:18we'd known
03:19each other for 20 years she said so many times that I was the hero in her girlhood now she
03:25was wearing the
03:26sexy nightgown I helped her pick out ready to climb into my husband's bed thinking about this I wanted to
03:32laugh but
03:33couldn't I tried to stay calm and asked her do you have a date tonight my voice was natural as
03:40ever who is he do I know him tell me bestie but her face went completely white
03:53it's just a colleague you don't know him she was still lying to me my eyes scanned her panicked face
04:02then landing on her wrist
04:05I smiled slightly that's a pretty bracelet did your colleague give you that too
04:13last Valentine's Day I went through Chad's purchase history a pair of gold earrings Van Cleef and Arpel's ruby bracelet
04:21earrings were $5,000 I was wearing them the bracelet was $38,000 he gave it to Jessica
04:29they look beautiful on you
04:34she immediately hid her left hand behind her back
04:37yeah from my colleague she couldn't even lie convincingly and yet she'd been hiding this from me for so long
04:46forget it I won't interrupt your date
04:49see you tomorrow
04:51I turned and walked away
04:53the smile disappeared from my face
04:59on the way home
05:00he called my father
05:01dad I need your help
05:03chard's job
05:04Jessica's apartment
05:05and every penny they've spent of my money over the years
05:08hire a lawyer and get it all back
05:10Emily
05:11are you sure
05:12yeah
05:13they're together
05:14and I won't be taken advantage of
05:17I understand
05:22my dad moved fast
05:23I had just gotten home when the divorce lawyer sent me the email
05:27three gigabytes of evidence and documents
05:29opened it
05:30besides photos and hotel records
05:32there was a video account I'd never seen before
05:35every single one had my husband Chad in it
05:37I found out their first kiss was on my 23rd birthday
05:40while I went out to get the cake
05:42they were in the living room
05:44like their lives depended on it
05:45their first time was during that citywide storm
05:48Jessica's neighborhood lost power
05:50I knew she was afraid of the dark
05:52so when I couldn't reach her
05:53I drove through the storm to check on her
05:55I was completely soaked
05:57Jessica's door was locked
05:58I was afraid something had happened to her
06:00and kept knocking in the dark for an hour
06:02now I know
06:02she was in a hotel suite with Chad that night
06:05having a candlelit dinner
06:07they slept together for the first time
06:09and the latest video
06:10uploaded 10 minutes ago
06:12it was shot at Jessica's apartment
06:13she was still wearing that sexy nightgown
06:15smiling innocently at the camera
06:17shh
06:18almost got caught
06:21but Mr. Thompson said he'll make it up to me tonight
06:25he's not allowed to go home
06:27the voice was so natural
06:29not even a trace of guilt
06:314 years
06:3283 videos
06:33from my birthday to the stormy night
06:35every moment I thought they hated each other
06:37they were behind my back
06:39kissing and cheating
06:42my hand gripped the mouse
06:44until my knuckles went white
06:45suddenly remembered my wedding day
06:47Jessica wore the bridesmaid dress
06:49we picked out together
06:50she was crying her eyes out
06:52she held my hand and threatened Chad
06:54Emily is my best friend
06:56if you ever hurt her
06:58I will make you pay
06:59the bouquet toss
07:01everyone in the crowd
07:02was reaching for the bouquet
07:04but I walked through the crowd
07:05and handed the bouquet directly to her
07:07Jessica
07:08I hope you find happiness too
07:14she froze for a second
07:16then sobbed uncontrollably
07:18she shouted in my ear
07:19Emily I hope you are happy forever
07:23scenes flashed before my eyes
07:25I sat on the couch
07:26tears streaming silently down my face
07:29my phone rang
07:30it was Chad
07:31his voice was half cautious
07:33half complaining
07:34why didn't you tell me you were coming back?
07:36I wouldn't have known if Jessica hadn't told me
07:39his voice was half cautious
07:40half complaining
07:42where are you now?
07:45do you want me to pick you up?
07:46didn't speak
07:47my eyes were fixed on Jessica's latest video
07:50I'm at the airport
07:52came back to get some files
07:56leaving again soon
07:58okay honey
08:01I'm still at work
08:02so I won't be able to see you off
08:04let me know when you're back
08:05I hung up
08:07my lawyer Miss Smith
08:09looked at me hesitantly
08:10so what's your plan now?
08:14Mrs. Smith
08:14if I catch them in the act
08:16does that help my case in divorce court?
08:22my hand gripped the mouse
08:24until my knuckles went white
08:25suddenly remembered my wedding day
08:27Jessica wore the bridesmaid dress
08:29we picked out together
08:30she was crying her eyes out
08:32she held my hand
08:33and threatened Chad
08:33Emily is my best friend
08:35if you ever hurt her
08:37I will make you pay
08:38the bouquet toss
08:40everyone in the crowd
08:41was reaching for the bouquet
08:42but I walked through the crowd
08:43and handed the bouquet
08:44directly to her
08:45Jessica
08:46I hope you find happiness too
08:51she froze for a second
08:53then sobbed uncontrollably
08:55she shouted in my ear
08:56Emily I hope you are happy forever
08:58scenes flashed before my eyes
09:01I sat on the couch
09:02tears streaming silently down my face
09:04my phone rang
09:05it was Chad
09:06his voice was half cautious
09:08half complaining
09:09why didn't you tell me
09:10you were coming back
09:11I wouldn't have known
09:12if Jessica hadn't told me
09:13his voice was half cautious
09:15half complaining
09:17where are you now?
09:19do you want me to pick you up?
09:20didn't speak
09:21my eyes were fixed
09:22on Jessica's latest video
09:23I'm at the airport
09:25came back to get some files
09:29leaving again soon
09:31okay honey
09:34I'm still at work
09:35so I won't be able to see you off
09:36let me know when you're back
09:37I hung up
09:39my lawyer Ms. Smith
09:41looked at me hesitantly
09:42so what's your plan now?
09:45Mrs. Smith
09:45if I catch them in the act
09:47does that help my case
09:48in divorce court?
09:53yes
09:54it can help
09:55I pulled out my phone
09:56and called a few important people
09:57first
09:58my dad
09:59dad
10:00major player in Boston finance
10:02also Chad's boss
10:03meet me at Jessica's building
10:05tonight
10:05for my sake
10:06after Memorial Day
10:07he was going to promote Chad
10:08send me the address
10:10second
10:10Jessica's parents
10:11Mr. Miller
10:12please come to Jessica's apartment tonight
10:14there's something you both need to see
10:16please meet me at Jessica's building
10:18come with me and witness a big surprise
10:20and Chad's parents
10:21his brother
10:22I called everyone I could think of
10:25I told them all to meet me at the place
10:29today I wanted to see their faces
10:31when they found their daughter in bed with my husband
10:34I thought a lot
10:35I remembered the first time Jessica and Chad knew
10:37I carefully played peacemaker
10:39Chad this is my cousin Jessica
10:40Jessica this is Chad
10:41I hate her
10:42I hate him
10:45we don't get along
10:46I can't stand her
10:47don't put us together
10:50Jessica said you're young and promising
10:54she said that
10:55Chad picked this for you
10:56I gave Jessica gifts
10:58and told her they were from Chad
11:00I thought I was protecting my love
11:01and my friendship
11:02looking back now
11:04the biggest laughing stock was me
11:10that's okay
11:11soon
11:12they won't be laughing anymore
11:19Emily
11:21everyone's here
11:21Sith's voice brought me back
11:23got out of the car
11:24and looked at all the familiar faces
11:25everyone came
11:26Jessica's parents grabbed my hand eagerly
11:29Emily
11:29you've done so much for our family over the years
11:32what surprise are you giving Jessica this time?
11:35what your Jessica
11:35this is definitely about Chad's promotion
11:38I brought a camera
11:39don't worry Emily
11:40I know how to capture a surprise
11:42Smith pulled me aside and whispered
11:45Emily are you sure you want to do this?
11:47if you go through with this tonight
11:50there's no going back
11:51looked up at the light coming from Jessica's apartment
11:53remembered that summer
11:55you were walking hand in hand down the street
11:57sharing an ice cream
11:58Emily
11:58will we be best friends forever?
12:01besties
12:01forever
12:02knew I loved the ocean
12:03he rented out an entire beach on Cape Cod to propose
12:07Emily Carter
12:08I love you
12:09and I'll love you forever
12:10will you marry me?
12:13but at 28
12:14they chose to betray me without a word
12:16looked away
12:17the lights upstairs had gone dark
12:19they must be asleep
12:20I'm sure
12:24gathered myself
12:25and gave everyone behind me a carefree smile
12:29let's go
12:32upstairs
12:33there's a surprise
12:36I led the group into the elevator
12:38the elevator was cramped
12:40Jessica's parents were still buttering me up
12:42Emily
12:43our Jessica always says
12:45the luckiest thing in her life
12:46was meeting you
12:48she always says meeting you changed her life
12:51yes
12:52she says you're better to her than a real sister
12:54we're truly grateful
12:55they went on and on
12:56hinting that our families should grow closer
12:58Chad's parents weren't about to be outdone
13:00they pushed in and grabbed my other hand
13:01Emily
13:02don't listen to them
13:03our Chad is the one who truly loves you
13:06he's been waiting for that marketing director position for so long
13:09thanks to you and your father for making this happen
13:11Dad Richard stood behind me
13:12he placed a hand on my shoulder and held me gently
13:14could feel the warmth and strength in his palm
13:16could also feel the fury he was holding back
13:19so was I
13:19took a deep breath
13:20and walked to Jessica's door
13:22first
13:22I called her phone
13:24her voice was sleepy and cautious
13:26hello
13:27Emily
13:27it's late
13:28what's up
13:29nothing important
13:30I just wanted to ask if you're home alone
13:32I need to talk to you about something
13:36Jessica was wide awake now
13:37her voice turned panicked
13:39I'm home alone
13:40but I'm already in bed
13:41Emily
13:41can we talk tomorrow
13:42I'm really tired
13:43she was still lying
13:44the fear and guilt in her voice were impossible to miss
13:47okay
13:47get some sleep
13:48without hesitating
13:49I called Chad
13:50asked him the exact same question
13:52honey
13:52are you home alone
13:53I need to talk to you about something
13:55yeah
13:56I'm home alone
13:57lots of work
13:57just finished
13:58he paused
13:59probably realizing he sounded too tense
14:01then he added jokingly
14:02what's up
14:03you miss me
14:05if it weren't so late
14:07I'd fly to you right now
14:08how ridiculous
14:09he was lying in another woman's bed
14:12telling me sweet nothings without missing a beat
14:14I smiled to myself
14:15and hung up
14:16in that moment
14:16the crowd behind me went completely silent
14:19Jessica's parents
14:20Chad's parents
14:21all of them sensed something was off
14:22their expressions shifted from excitement
14:24and anticipation
14:25to nervous confusion
14:27Emily
14:28what's going on
14:29so you call us all here for
14:32to give you a surprise
14:33then under their horrified gaze
14:35I pulled out the spare key
14:37Jessica had once forced into my hand
14:39you're my best friend
14:39I believe in you
14:45I pushed the door open
14:47and flipped the light switch
14:48the harsh light flooded the room
14:49Jessica and Chad were tangled together
14:52naked
14:52sleeping soundly
14:53the black nightgown I helped her pick out
14:55was tossed on the floor
14:57his pants and shirt were scattered beside it
14:59the air smelled of sex
15:00mixed with perfume
15:01sickening
15:02but in that moment
15:03I felt no pain
15:04after being crushed by betrayal
15:06all that was left was a cold
15:07satisfying rush
15:08Jessica was the first to react
15:10she blinked groggily and let out a soft moan
15:12then she saw me standing at the foot of the bed
15:14that moan turned into a piercing scream
15:16she grabbed the blanket like a frightened animal
15:18and hid against Chad
15:20Chad woke up frowning and about to snap
15:22and he turned and saw me
15:23Emily?
15:24he shoved Jessica away instinctively
15:26like she was something dirty
15:27he froze
15:28the entire room went dead silent
15:30I looked at the two of them
15:32panicked
15:32humiliated
15:33pathetic
15:34the corner of my mouth curled up
15:37surprise
15:40Jessica and Chad's faces went white
15:42as two sheets of paper
15:43ah you shameless bitch
15:46Jessica's mother let out a shriek
15:48she lunged like a mad lioness
15:49and started swinging her
15:51I'll kill you
15:52you've disgraced our entire family
15:54how dare you
15:55Emily has been so good to you
15:57and to our family
15:57any man in the world
15:59and you choose hers?
16:00Jessica's father was purple with rage
16:02shaking uncontrollably
16:04he pointed at his daughter
16:05and couldn't even speak
16:06he finally forced out one word
16:08disgrace
16:09on the other side
16:10Chad's parents finally snapped at him
16:12they didn't scold their son
16:14instead they ran straight to me
16:16Emily this is all a misunderstanding
16:18Chad's mother grabbed him
16:20and forced his head down
16:21making him kneel
16:22you bastard
16:22kneel
16:23beg your wife to forgive you
16:25Chad realized he was finished
16:27it was her
16:28Jessica seduced me
16:30I didn't mean for this to happen
16:31I was just confused
16:31as he spoke
16:32he slapped himself twice
16:34honey
16:34I made a mistake
16:35a mistake any man could make
16:37I swear I'll never do it again
16:39please forgive me
16:40just this once
16:42Chad couldn't have started this
16:43someone must have seduced him
16:45Chad's mother wasn't done
16:46she turned and spat
16:48in Jessica's direction
16:49slut
16:50homewrecker
16:51look at yourself in the mirror
16:53before you go after our Chad
16:54that was the spark
16:56Jessica's father exploded
16:58stepped forward
16:59and slapped Jessica
17:00across the face
17:01with everything he had
17:03Jessica and Chad's faces
17:05went white
17:06as two sheets of paper
17:07ah you shameless bitch
17:10Jessica's mother let out a shriek
17:12she lunged like a mad lioness
17:13and started swinging her
17:15I'll kill you
17:16you've disgraced our entire family
17:18how dare you
17:19Emily has been so good to you
17:21and to our family
17:21any man in the world
17:23and you choose hers
17:24Jessica's father was purple with rage
17:26shaking uncontrollably
17:28he pointed at his daughter
17:29and couldn't even speak
17:30he finally forced out one word
17:32disgrace
17:33on the other side
17:34Chad's parents finally snapped at him
17:37they didn't scold their son
17:38instead they ran straight to me
17:40Emily this is all a misunderstanding
17:42Chad's mother grabbed him
17:43and forced his head down
17:45making him kneel
17:45you bastard
17:46kneel
17:47beg your wife to forgive you
17:49Chad realized he was finished
17:51it was her
17:52Jessica seduced me
17:53I didn't mean for this to happen
17:55I was just confused
17:55as he spoke
17:56he slapped himself twice
17:58honey
17:58I made a mistake
17:59a mistake any man could make
18:01I swear I'll never do it again
18:03please forgive me
18:04just this once
18:05Chad couldn't have started this
18:07someone must have seduced him
18:09Chad's mother wasn't done
18:10she turned and spat
18:11in Jessica's direction
18:13slut
18:14homewrecker
18:15look at yourself in the mirror
18:17before you go after our Chad
18:18that was the spark
18:20Jessica's father exploded
18:22stepped forward
18:23and slapped Jessica
18:24across the face
18:24with everything he had
18:28you've disgraced me
18:30completely
18:32Jessica held her face
18:33then she started laughing
18:35like she'd just heard
18:36the funniest joke in the world
18:37laughing
18:38crying
18:38tears streaming
18:39he looked up at her father
18:41with hateful insane eyes
18:42now you want to parent me
18:45now you're embarrassed
18:46when you two divorced
18:48over your affairs
18:49and threw me away
18:51like garbage
18:52did you think about
18:53parenting me then
18:57her voice was sharp
18:58and desperate
18:59and she looked around
19:00the room
19:00at every single person
19:06finally her eyes
19:07landed on me
19:08she threw off the blanket
19:09completely naked
19:10and screamed
19:12fine
19:13I'm cheap
19:14I love stealing
19:16other women's men
19:17Chad and his parents
19:19stared at her
19:19like she was insane
19:20and Jessica herself
19:22kept laughing crazily
19:23then my voice came out
19:24Jessica
19:26did you really think
19:28no one loved you
19:29Jessica's smirk
19:30froze on her face
19:33she turned her head
19:34slowly
19:34and met
19:35I looked at her
19:35at this face
19:36I had known for 20 years
19:38all the memories
19:39I had buried
19:39came rushing out
19:40like a flood
19:40seven years old
19:42you had just transferred
19:43to our school
19:43the boys made fun
19:45of your Texas accent
19:46pushed you down
19:47you sat on the ground
19:48and cried
19:48who was it
19:49that ran at them
19:50chased them all away
19:51who pounded her chest
19:52and told you
19:53I'll protect you
19:5413 years old
19:55you were insecure
19:56about your acne
19:56the mean girls
19:58cornered you
19:58in the bathroom
19:59and tried to force
20:00you to drink mop water
20:01who got your call
20:02and ran without
20:03a second thought
20:03grabbing a mop
20:05and running from
20:05the third floor
20:06to the first
20:07tell me who risked
20:08getting expelled
20:09herself to save you
20:10spoke slowly
20:11very slowly
20:12you know it
20:14it was always me
20:18the room was quiet
20:19just my choked voice
20:20and Jessica's rapid sobs
20:22tears were falling
20:23like broken beads
20:24looked at her
20:25and kept going
20:25high school
20:27your parents were divorcing
20:29neither of them wanted you
20:31you lived on $20 a month
20:34you ate two slices of toast a day
20:37just to save money
20:38soon dropping from 135 pounds
20:40to 80 pounds
20:41who got your call
20:43when you said
20:44you couldn't keep studying
20:45who snuck out of her dorm
20:46and ran home
20:47kneeling in front of her parents
20:49for two hours
20:50begging them to pay
20:51for your school
20:51and my wedding
20:52you wore the bridesmaid dress
20:54we picked out together
20:55you cried harder than I did
20:56everyone was reaching
20:57for the bouquet
20:58but I walked through the crowd
20:59and handed it to you
21:04you screamed in my ear that day
21:06you wished me happiness forever
21:09was that a lie too?
21:15Jessica finally broke down
21:16no
21:17no I meant it then
21:19I really really really wanted you to be happy
21:21she could barely breathe between sobs
21:24but then
21:25then I saw how good Chad was to you
21:28he treated you like a princess
21:33he bought you everything you wanted
21:37he took you everywhere you dreamed of
21:41I saw how happy you were
21:42how you shone
21:45and I couldn't stand it
21:47I was jealous
21:51Emily at first I really did think of you as my best friend
21:53when you begged your parents to pay for my school
21:57I was so grateful
21:58I swore I would pay you back
22:02but later
22:02I got into an ivy league
22:04I worked so hard
22:05I got scholarships every year
22:08but when I graduated
22:09I hit walls everywhere
22:10and you
22:11you didn't study as hard as me
22:13you didn't work as hard as me
22:15but the day you graduated
22:16your dad handed you the best job
22:18that's when I started hating you
22:19why?
22:20why were you born with everything?
22:22why did I have to fight so hard
22:25and get nothing?
22:26couldn't believe my ears
22:27even this back bay apartment you're living in now
22:30my dad bought it and rent it to you for $200 a month
22:33did you forget all of that?
22:37my question was met with a bitter laugh
22:39I didn't forget
22:41how could I forget?
22:44but that's exactly it
22:45it was charity
22:47the kinder you were to me
22:49the more your dad helped me
22:50the more it felt like charity
22:52like you were looking down on me from above
22:54like you were reminding me
22:55that Jessica Miller is nothing without the Carters
22:59so I had to get back at you
23:01I had to take the thing you loved most
23:04I wanted you to taste what it felt like to fall
23:07what kind of twisted logic is that?
23:09what kind of sick broken mind thinks like that?
23:12because I was good to her
23:13she wanted revenge?
23:14I looked at this woman
23:16who had become a stranger
23:17the last bit of feeling in my heart
23:19was crushed to dust
23:21Jessica
23:22after today
23:2320 years of friendship
23:24dead
23:25Chad
23:26tomorrow morning
23:279 o'clock
23:28come home and sign the divorce papers
23:29didn't give them any time to respond
23:31he turned
23:32and walked out
23:36I left that disgusting apartment
23:38and immediately notified my lawyer
23:40Missa Smith
23:41need the divorce papers drafted as soon as possible
23:44one demand
23:45Chad gets nothing in the divorce
23:47I also set up a team to recover
23:49every penny my family had spent on Jessica and Chad
23:52over the years
23:53I'm Emily Carter
23:54I don't get taken advantage of
23:56her karma came faster and harder than I expected
23:58first Chad
24:00the story of him cheating on the boss's daughter
24:02with her best friend
24:03spread through the entire company overnight
24:05he came to work the next day
24:07and was met with stares
24:09disgust
24:09mockery
24:10smug satisfaction
24:11everyone who used to suck up to him now
24:13avoided him like he was toxic
24:15people pointed and whispered behind his back
24:18called him a failed social climber
24:20a marketing director position
24:21he'd been chasing for three years
24:23next afternoon
24:24HR sent out not a promotion letter
24:26but a termination letter
24:27my dad Richard went even further
24:30he used every connection he had in Boston's finance world
24:33to blacklist Chad
24:34which meant Chad not only lost his high-paying job
24:37he couldn't find work anywhere in all of Massachusetts
24:42Jessica's fate was just as ugly
24:44she worked at a fortune 500 company
24:46the president of the Boston branch
24:48was an old friend of my dad's
24:49one phone call from my dad
24:50and they gave her an easy cushy job
24:53she just had to show up on time
24:55and do some basic paperwork
24:56$20,000 a month
24:58easy money
24:59his job was gone
25:00the apartment my dad had let her use
25:02taken back
25:03she went home to find all her belongings packed up
25:06and left at the curb like trash
25:08with nowhere to go
25:09she dragged her suitcase back to her parents' house
25:12but Jessica's parents never really cared about her
25:14they were nice to her before
25:16because she had money and connections to our Carter family
25:18now she had no job
25:20no reputation
25:21she was a homewrecker
25:23for them she was nothing but shame
25:24they fought in front of her every day
25:27blaming each other
25:28it's your fault
25:29you raised such a terrible daughter
25:31divorce
25:32Jessica couldn't handle the fall
25:34she couldn't handle her parents' cold stares
25:37and constant fighting
25:38a few days later
25:39she left Boston alone
25:41went back to that small Texas town
25:43she once swore she'd never returned to
25:45I heard later she found a job
25:47on a factory assembly line
25:48same repetitive work every day
25:50tiny paycheck
25:51meanwhile Chad kept showing up to beg for my forgiveness
25:55every time
25:55crying and pleading
25:57every time
25:57blaming everything on Jessica
25:59calling her every name in the book
26:01he never once looked at himself
26:02I raised my hand and slapped him across the face
26:05Chad
26:07you're pathetic
26:10Jessica's fate was just as ugly
26:12she worked at a fortune 500 company
26:14the president of the Boston branch
26:16was an old friend of my dad's
26:17one phone call from my dad
26:19and they gave her an easy cushy job
26:21she just had to show up on time
26:23and do some basic paperwork
26:24$20,000 a month
26:26easy money
26:27the job was gone
26:28the apartment my dad had let her use
26:30taken back
26:31she went home to find all her belongings
26:34packed up
26:34and left at the curb
26:35like trash
26:36nowhere to go
26:37she dragged her suitcase
26:39back to her parents' house
26:40but Jessica's parents
26:41never really cared about her
26:42they were nice to her before
26:44because she had money
26:45and connections to our Carter family
26:47now she had no job
26:48no reputation
26:50she was a homewrecker
26:51for them
26:52she was nothing but shame
26:53they fought in front of her
26:54every day
26:55blaming each other
26:56it's your fault
26:58you raised such a terrible daughter
27:00divorce!
27:01Jessica couldn't handle the fall
27:03she couldn't handle her parents' cold stares
27:05and constant fighting
27:06a few days later
27:08she left Boston alone
27:09went back to that small Texas town
27:11she once swore she'd never returned to
27:13I heard later
27:14she found a job on a factory assembly line
27:16same repetitive work every day
27:18tiny paycheck
27:20meanwhile
27:21Chad kept showing up
27:22to beg for my forgiveness
27:23every time
27:24crying and pleading
27:25every time
27:26blaming everything on Jessica
27:27calling her every name in the book
27:29he never once looked at himself
27:30I raised my hand
27:32and slapped him across the face
27:34Chad
27:35you're pathetic
27:38I pointed at his face
27:40and let him have it
27:41you screw up
27:42and you blame the woman every time
27:43you don't have the right
27:44to call her anything
27:45you're worse than she is
27:47sign the divorce papers
27:49and get out of my life
27:50or I promise
27:51you won't even find a job
27:52washing dishes in Boston
27:55maybe it was the look in my eyes
27:56maybe the threat finally landed
27:58Chad caved
28:00he covered his face
28:01and didn't say another word
28:02next day
28:03he signed the papers
28:04Chad and I were divorced
28:06left with nothing
28:07slipped out of the city
28:08like a ghost
28:09after getting rid of those two
28:11I was exhausted
28:12I decided to travel
28:13I went to Norway
28:14Italy
28:15Spain
28:15city after city
28:16one day
28:17I was sitting in a square
28:18eating ice cream
28:19a photographer was taking pictures
28:21of the sunset
28:22she walked over
28:23and asked me
28:24very naturally
28:25can I take your picture?
28:26I was surprised
28:27but I nodded
28:28she showed me the photo afterward
28:30I was wearing a white shirt
28:31my hair was messy
28:32from the wind
28:33half melted ice cream
28:34in my hand
28:34looking at the sunset
28:35I looked at the ice cream
28:37in that photo
28:37and I realized something
28:38clearly for the first time
28:40I was getting better
28:41not pretending
28:41really better
28:42less tense
28:43less hateful
28:43finally free
28:44back in Boston
28:45I changed the curtains
28:46couch
28:47the art on the walls
28:48the whole apartment
28:49felt brighter
28:50new
28:50my mom made me soup
28:51my dad pretended to complain
28:53about me traveling so much
28:54but then told me to be happy
28:56in that moment
28:57I realized
28:58I had wasted so much time
29:00and energy on people
29:01who didn't deserve it
29:02the people who really loved me
29:03had been here all along
29:07three days after coming home
29:09I got a postcard
29:10a return address
29:11on the back
29:12one sentence
29:12I'm sorry
29:13recognized the handwriting
29:14then after all these years
29:16I knew it
29:17in the corner
29:17she had drawn a tiny ice cream
29:19I stared at that ice cream
29:20for a long time
29:21Emily
29:22will we be best friends forever?
29:24forever
29:24bestie
29:25but some
29:26forevers
29:27aren't real
29:28or maybe they only exist
29:29for a certain age
29:30when you grow up
29:31they break
29:31I wasn't sad
29:32I wasn't angry
29:34I didn't want to look back
29:35I just put the postcard
29:36back in its envelope
29:37then I walked to the trash can
29:39I let go
29:40fell in softly
29:41like a past
29:42that should have been
29:43thrown away long ago
29:44a message came in
29:45from the photographer
29:46have you decided
29:47where to next?
29:48I smiled and typed back
29:50where?
29:51I thought for a moment
29:53then I typed two words
29:54far away
29:56then I closed my suitcase
29:58picked up my bag
29:59open the door
30:00this time
30:01I didn't look back
30:04open the door
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