Don't Say I Do is an emotional short drama that blends billionaire romance, wedding betrayal, hidden secrets, and second-chance love. As a dream wedding turns into heartbreak, one life-changing decision sets off an unforgettable journey filled with unexpected romance, painful truths, and emotional redemption. Will love find its way back before it's too late? Watch the Full Episode to experience shocking twists, heartfelt moments, and an unforgettable modern romance.
#DontSayIDo #ShortDrama #FullEpisode #ENGSUB #BillionaireRomance #WeddingDrama #RunawayBride #SecondChanceRomance #CEORomance #HiddenTruth #LoveStory #DramaSeries #ShortFilm #ShortMovie #RomanticDrama
#DontSayIDo #ShortDrama #FullEpisode #ENGSUB #BillionaireRomance #WeddingDrama #RunawayBride #SecondChanceRomance #CEORomance #HiddenTruth #LoveStory #DramaSeries #ShortFilm #ShortMovie #RomanticDrama
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Short filmTranscript
00:00When the wedding reached the exchange of vows, the entire Manhattan Art Museum fell silent.
00:05Guests sat on both sides of a corridor of white roses.
00:07Crystal lights hung from the vaulted ceiling like an upside-down frozen lake.
00:11On the enormous electronic screen, engagement photos of Ryan Hall and me played in a loop.
00:15As I walked toward Ryan, I raised my hand and touched the old pair of earphones by my ear.
00:21It was the last thing my parents had left me before their car accident.
00:24Today, before saying I do, I had planned to listen once to the wedding blessing
00:28they had recorded for me while they were alive.
00:30But the voice that rang out was my own.
00:34Ava, do not say I do.
00:36At that moment, Ryan was kneeling on one knee and holding my hand.
00:41In a low voice, he asked,
00:45Ava? Ava Lynn? Will you become my wife? Ryan Hall?
00:50The voice in the earphones continued,
00:52I am you from three years in the future.
00:54The man in front of you registered a marriage with your bridesmaid, Mia Chen, in Las Vegas last month.
00:59She is seven weeks pregnant.
01:01The child is his.
01:03Mia was my best friend.
01:05At that very moment, she stood behind me in her bridesmaid dress.
01:10Her eyes reddened.
01:12Everyone thought she was only sad to see me get married.
01:15But my future self said,
01:17Do not trust her.
01:19Her tears are an act for you.
01:21Ryan's smile stiffened, slightly.
01:24Ava, what is wrong?
01:26Ava, are you feeling unwell?
01:28Mia came closer and supported my arm.
01:30The me in the earphones said coldly,
01:33Do not let her touch you.
01:36Look at her left hand.
01:38On Mia's left ring thing was a thin diamond ring.
01:42I had seen that ring before.
01:44Ryan's mother, Grace, had once said it was the Hall family ring passed to daughters-in-laws.
01:48After the wedding, I will put it on you myself.
01:51At the time, she smiled at me and said,
01:54But now, it was on Mia's hand.
02:00I withdrew my hand.
02:01Ryan reminded me in a low voice.
02:05Ava, everyone is watching.
02:07The voice in my earphones also reminded me.
02:10Do not cry.
02:11Do not make a scene.
02:13In your last life, you broke down on the spot.
02:17And they edited you into a mad woman.
02:20Tonight, say nothing.
02:22Just remember,
02:24The wedding will not be completed.
02:26My breath stopped.
02:28Why?
02:29Because the crystal chandelier will fall.
02:31I jerked my head up.
02:33The huge crystal chandelier above us was swaying slightly.
02:36The next second,
02:37the sound of metal snapping pierced the entire art museum.
02:41The light fixture is loose!
02:44The guests instantly fell into chaos.
02:50Ryan was closest to me.
02:52But he barely looked at me.
02:55He threw himself toward Mia and protected her tightly in his arms.
02:59I was knocked down by the panicked crowd.
03:02My shoulders slammed into the champagne tower.
03:05And glass shattered across the floor.
03:08The crystal chandelier crashed down.
03:12As blood ran down my arm,
03:14I heard Ryan lower his voice and ask Mia,
03:17Is the baby hurt?
03:23When I woke,
03:24I was in the hospital.
03:25Snow light from New York before dawn fell by the window,
03:29white enough to hurt my eyes.
03:31Mia sat beside the bed,
03:33all ten of my fingers wrapped in sclaws.
03:35The moment she saw my eyes open,
03:37she rushed towards me.
03:38Ava, you finally woke up!
03:39Do you know how much blood you lost?
03:42I did not hug her.
03:44I only looked at her lower abdomen.
03:48She subconsciously shrunk back a little.
03:50That motion had answered every question for her.
03:55The door opened,
03:57and Ryan hurried in.
03:59His eyes were bloodshot,
04:00his suit jacket over his arm,
04:02as if he had not slept all night.
04:05The doctor says you have a mild concussion
04:07and twelve stitches in your shoulder.
04:11He sat by the bed and tried to hold my hand.
04:14Ava, I am sorry.
04:16Last night was too chaotic.
04:19I avoided his hand.
04:21His movement froze.
04:22Ava?
04:25I asked,
04:27why did you save her first?
04:29The ward went quiet.
04:30Ryan quickly adjusted his expression.
04:33Because I know Mia is the person you care about most.
04:36If she had been hurt,
04:37it would have hurt you more than being hurt yourself.
04:40I looked at Ryan.
04:44What if I had been the one crushed to death last night?
04:47Ryan's face went pale.
04:50Do not say things like that.
04:53Mia suddenly stood.
04:55Ryan, stop lying to her.
04:57Ryan turned to look at her,
04:58his gaze frighteningly cold.
05:00Shut up.
05:02Let her speak.
05:04Mia began to cry.
05:06Ava,
05:07actually,
05:08he and I...
05:10Mia!
05:11She just woke up!
05:12Do you have to upset her?
05:13I looked at Ryan.
05:15You are pregnant?
05:16At the door,
05:17the color drained from Maya's face.
05:20Ryan froze too.
05:22I laughed softly.
05:23So it is true.
05:25Mia covered her mouth,
05:27tears falling non-stop.
05:28I never meant for you to know.
05:29I really never meant to hurt you.
05:32Not wanting me to know
05:33and not wanting to hurt me
05:34are two different things.
05:36It's complicated.
05:38I looked at him.
05:39So complicated that you and she
05:40have already registered a marriage in Las Vegas?
05:43Ryan's pupils shrank.
05:46Mia froze too.
05:47How do you know?
05:49The me and the earbuds warned me.
05:51Do not explain the earphones.
05:53Let them be afraid.
05:55I did not answer.
05:58Ryan took a step closer.
06:00Ava, listen to me.
06:02I registered with Mia
06:03because she was pregnant.
06:04Her family was under a lot of pressure.
06:06I only wanted to stabilize
06:07the situation first.
06:09I asked back.
06:10Then what am I?
06:12Another part of the situation
06:14you needed to stabilize?
06:15He panicked.
06:16No.
06:17I love you.
06:20Mia cried.
06:21Ava, I told him to stop.
06:23I really did.
06:24I looked at her.
06:25Did you tell him to stop?
06:27Or tell him to lie more cleanly?
06:30Mia's face turned deathly pale.
06:34Ryan finally lost patience.
06:36You are emotionally unstable right now.
06:38We should not discuss this yet.
06:40The voice in my earphones said coldly,
06:42Do you hear that?
06:43The first step has begun.
06:45He will first say you are emotionally unstable,
06:48then say you need help,
06:49and finally send you to a 72-hour
06:51involuntary psychiatric evaluation.
06:54I raised my hand
06:55and pressed the nurse call button.
06:57Ryan frowned.
06:59What are you doing?
07:00Please leave.
07:01I said,
07:02I need to rest.
07:03He wanted to come closer,
07:05but a nurse stopped him.
07:08At the door,
07:09Mia turned back, crying.
07:11Ava,
07:11I really did not do it on purpose.
07:14I asked her,
07:15Then how did you get pregnant?
07:17Did you walk into the wrong room?
07:19She looked as if she had been slapped in public
07:22and could not say a word.
07:25After the door closed,
07:26I finally spoke to the person in my earphones.
07:30Me from three years later.
07:32What happened after this in the last life?
07:34The other side was silence for a long time.
07:37Then she said,
07:38You married him.
07:40Or rather,
07:41you thought you married him.
07:43That wedding,
07:45never completed the legal procedure.
07:48Afterward,
07:49he coaxed you into signing supplemental documents.
07:53What you received was only a ceremonial certificate.
07:57Two months later,
07:58Mia gave birth.
08:00She went on a show holding the baby
08:02and said you used the fact that you saved her life to control her.
08:07Ryan said you had suffered a mental collapse.
08:10The Hall family used edited videos and doctor's statements
08:13to send you into compulsory treatment evaluation.
08:17My fingers slowly clenched the bed sheet.
08:20Then,
08:21You lost your job.
08:22The trust your parents left you was taken from you by Ryan
08:25through premarital authorization documents.
08:28Three years later,
08:30I have just come out of that hospital.
08:34I closed my eyes.
08:39When I opened them again,
08:40I asked,
08:42What should I do?
08:44Don't cry.
08:45Don't make a scene.
08:46Don't give them footage to edit.
08:50Collect evidence and find a lawyer.
08:53When they arrange the supplementary signing ceremony,
08:57make them lie in front of the camera.
08:58I did not cancel the follow-up signing ceremony.
09:02After the chandelier fell,
09:04last night's wedding was forced to stop.
09:06Ryan quickly explained to the outside world
09:09that I need to rest because my injuries
09:10and the official documents would be signed after I recovered.
09:14He thought I did not know.
09:16That so-called official document
09:18would never be submitted to the county clerk.
09:21The next afternoon,
09:23Ryan came to the hospital again.
09:26He carried the Thai food I usually ate,
09:29sat by my bed,
09:31and spoke carefully.
09:33You did not eat last night.
09:35Have a little.
09:37The instant he opened the container,
09:39the smell of peanut sauce rushed out.
09:41I was allergic to peanut,
09:43as Ryan knew.
09:44When we first got together,
09:46I had been sent to the emergency room
09:48because a restaurant served the wrong dish.
09:53He carried me into the hospital,
09:55his hands shaking so badly
09:57he could barely sign the forms.
10:00After that day,
10:01he cleared out everything containing peanuts from his home.
10:05He had said,
10:06Ava,
10:08I will remember every small thing about you.
10:11Now,
10:11with his own hands,
10:13he placed peanut cold noodles
10:15in front of me.
10:18Ryan's face changed.
10:20The restaurant packed the wrong order.
10:21I will change it right away.
10:23The me in the ear bug said,
10:25It was not packed wrong.
10:27That portion is Mia's.
10:29Peanut cold noodles from this place are her favorite.
10:33I looked at him.
10:34You just said you bought this.
10:36He stiffened.
10:37I asked my assistant to pick it up.
10:39There may have been a communication mistake.
10:46So you can confuse my allergy with her preference?
10:50Ryan said in a low voice.
10:53Ava,
10:54things have been too chaotic lately.
10:56Mia happened to be standing in the doorway
10:58and heard that sentence
10:59when she saw the peanut cold noodles
11:02herked worse than mine.
11:04You even forgot her allergy?
11:06Ryan turned irritably.
11:08What right do you have to criticize me?
11:10Mia sneered.
11:12At least I did not plan to make her wear a wedding dress
11:15to a fake wedding.
11:17Ryan's expression changed,
11:19I said.
11:20Both of you,
11:20get out.
11:21Ryan immediately softened his voice.
11:24Ava,
11:24we can postpone the signing.
11:26Your health matters most,
11:27I said.
11:28Not postpone.
11:29Tomorrow,
11:30as planned.
11:31He froze.
11:32Are you sure?
11:34I nodded.
11:36I want to see with my own eyes how you marry me.
11:40Ryan thought I had softened.
11:41Even relief floated into his eyes.
11:44I knew you would not leave me.
11:46After they left,
11:47I called my lawyer,
11:48Jonathan.
11:51Jonathan was my university classmate
11:53and now worked at a Manhattan law firm.
11:56After hearing everything,
11:58he asked only,
11:59Do you want to settle privately
12:01or fight publicly?
12:02I looked at the peanut noodles.
12:05Publicly.
12:07I also contacted investigative journalist Claire.
12:10She was a friend of my parents
12:11and had investigated financial scandals
12:14in tech companies.
12:15Claire asked,
12:16Are you sure you want to drag the Hall family into this?
12:19I said.
12:20They already dragged me in.
12:22The me and the earbuds
12:23gave intermittent instructions.
12:26Check Nevada marriage records.
12:28Ryan Hall.
12:29Mia Chen.
12:30Also his private email keyword ceremony packet.
12:33Be careful.
12:34The signal is unstable.
12:36I cannot stay online forever.
12:38Every time you change one piece of the future,
12:41I will lose a piece of memory.
12:43My heart tightened.
12:44Will you disappear?
12:47If you win,
12:48I will no longer need to exist.
12:5120 minutes later,
12:52Jonathan sent the documents.
12:57Ryan Hall and Mia Chen
12:59had registered a marriage in Las Vegas
13:01one month earlier.
13:03Marital status, valid.
13:05The second document
13:06was the signing procedure packet
13:08from Ryan's private email.
13:11It stated,
13:12Use a ceremonial certificate on site.
13:15Do not file with the county clerk.
13:17The officiant serves only as ceremony witness.
13:20Tell the bride that the marriage license
13:21has already been processed by the team.
13:24In other words,
13:25tomorrow's signing
13:26was only a performance staged for me.
13:29I asked the version of myself
13:32in the earphones.
13:34What did I do after I discovered it
13:36in my last life?
13:37You rushed to hit Mia
13:39and smashed Ryan's car.
13:42The media filmed you losing control.
13:46The Hall family said
13:47you had violent contendence.
13:49And this time?
13:51Play the recording on the big screen.
13:53Have someone from the county clerk
13:55verify the license on the spot.
13:56Let Claire live stream.
13:58Make Ryan admit it
13:59with his own mouth.
14:00I backed up every document
14:02to three cloud accounts
14:03and send Jonathan and Claire.
14:11That night,
14:12Ryan sent me a message.
14:13Tomorrow I will pick you up.
14:15I will give you back
14:16the wedding that was interrupted.
14:18I replied,
14:19Okay.
14:20I will be there on time.
14:22Ryan,
14:23you think tomorrow
14:23is the signing for my wedding?
14:25No.
14:25Tomorrow is your public execution.
14:28The signing ceremony
14:29was set in the same
14:30Manhattan Art Museum.
14:32The chandelier that fell last night
14:33had been removed.
14:34The carpet was new
14:35and the champagne tower
14:36had been arranged again.
14:38Ryan said,
14:39Yesterday was only an accident.
14:41Today,
14:41we finish
14:42what should have been.
14:44I stood in the lounge
14:46wearing my repaired wedding dress.
14:48My parents' earphones
14:50hidden beneath my veil.
14:52My future self said,
14:54Do not be afraid.
14:56Jonathan is here.
14:57Claire is here.
14:58The county clerk staff
15:00are here too.
15:01Wait until the officiator
15:02asks whether you are
15:03willing to sign,
15:04then speak.
15:08The door opened.
15:10Mia walked in.
15:11She wore her bridesmaid's dress,
15:13her face pale,
15:14one hand constantly pressing
15:16her lower upment.
15:17She said softly,
15:19Ava,
15:21there is still time to leave.
15:23I looked at her.
15:25Are you advising me
15:26to run from the wedding
15:27or leaving yourself a line
15:29that says you warned me?
15:30No.
15:31Mia's tears fell instantly.
15:34You know everything,
15:36don't you?
15:37Know what?
15:38That you are carrying
15:39my fiancé's child
15:40or that you are already
15:42his legal wife?
15:43Her body swayed.
15:46Ava,
15:47I really did not mean
15:48to steal him.
15:50At first,
15:51I only wanted to test him
15:53for you.
15:54I was afraid
15:55you would be fooled
15:56by a man like him.
15:57I smiled.
15:59So you tested him
16:00for me all the way
16:01to pregnancy,
16:02to marriage,
16:03and to a front row seat
16:05at my signing ceremony?
16:07Mia cried
16:08and grabbed my hand.
16:10We have been friends
16:11for ten years.
16:12You saved my life.
16:14How could I truly hurt you?
16:16I withdrew my hand.
16:19When you hurt me,
16:21you did not live
16:22one second less.
16:23In college,
16:24Mia's ex-boyfriend
16:26cornered her
16:26in a parking lot.
16:28When the knife
16:29came down towards her,
16:30I threw myself
16:32in front of her
16:32and took it.
16:33The doctor later told me
16:35the abdominal injury
16:36was severe
16:36and it would be difficult
16:38for me to carry
16:39a pregnancy
16:40safely in the future.
16:43Mia knelt
16:44beside my hospitette
16:45and swore.
16:47Ava,
16:47I owe you my life.
16:49Now she held
16:50what I had lost
16:51and begged me
16:52to forgive
16:53what she had gained.
16:55Ryan's voice
16:56came from
16:56outside the door.
16:58Ava,
16:59are you ready?
17:00He pushed in
17:01and saw Mia.
17:02His expression
17:03chilled at once.
17:05Why are you still here?
17:06Mia wiped her tears.
17:09I am advising her
17:11not to marry you.
17:14Ryan sneered.
17:16What right do you have?
17:17I interrupted.
17:18Both of you,
17:19leave.
17:20I want to be alone
17:21for a while.
17:23After they left,
17:25my future self said,
17:26Ryan will go to the side hall
17:28to take a call.
17:29Mia will follow.
17:30Record it.
17:32I turned on my phone recorder.
17:34In the side hall,
17:36Mia lowered her voice.
17:37Ryan, stop.
17:39She already knows something.
17:41Ryan said,
17:42She will not have evidence.
17:45Are you really going
17:46to make her sign
17:47that thing?
17:48The ceremony
17:49is only form.
17:50Ryan said calmly.
17:52You are my legal wife.
17:53She only needs
17:54a stable ending.
17:57Then what about me?
17:59After the child is born,
18:01I will arrange it.
18:02Ryan paused.
18:03The trust left
18:04by Ava's parents
18:05and the shares
18:06in her hands
18:06are important
18:07to my company's listing.
18:09We cannot agitate her now.
18:12I pressed save.
18:15So it was not only betrayal.
18:18Even the things
18:18my parents left me
18:19had been calculated by him.
18:23The ceremony began.
18:24I walked into the Rose Corridor.
18:27Half the guests
18:27who had witnessed
18:28the chandelier fall
18:29last night were gone.
18:30The remaining guests
18:32were the people
18:32the Hall family
18:33most wanted to control.
18:35Ryan stood at the end.
18:37His eyes gentle.
18:39As if he were truly waiting
18:41for a perfect ending
18:42interrupted by an accident.
18:45The officiator
18:46picked up the document
18:47and asked,
18:49Ava Lynn,
18:50are you willing
18:51to confirm
18:52your marital commitment
18:53to Ryan Hall
18:54and sign
18:56this ceremonial certificate?
18:57I took the microphone.
18:59Ryan's smile stiffened.
19:01Ava?
19:01I looked at him.
19:03Before I answer,
19:04I want to confirm
19:04one thing.
19:05Ryan,
19:06you have no other
19:06legal spouse right now,
19:08correct?
19:08The whole room
19:09went quiet.
19:11I pressed play.
19:13You are my legal wife.
19:14She only needs
19:15a stable ending.
19:16His voice rang
19:17through the art museum.
19:19The audience area
19:20exploded.
19:23The next second,
19:24the screen changed.
19:26It no longer showed
19:27engagement photos.
19:29It showed Ryan
19:30and Mia's
19:30Las Vegas marriage
19:31registration record.
19:33Claire entered
19:34from the side door
19:34with a camera oppert.
19:35Jonathan stood beside me
19:37holding documents.
19:38Two county clerk
19:39staff members
19:40showed their IDs
19:41and requested verification
19:42of the marriage license
19:44on site.
19:44Ryan rushed forward
19:45to snatch my phone.
19:47I stepped back,
19:48removed the ring
19:48from my finger,
19:49and threw it
19:50into the champagne
19:51tower beside me.
19:53Glasses crashed
19:53across the floor.
19:54I looked at him.
19:56Ryan Hall,
19:57you already have a wife,
19:58yet you made me
19:59put on a wedding dress
20:00and sign a fake document.
20:01Now explain it
20:02in front of everyone.
20:03The gentleness
20:04on Ryan's face
20:05finally shattered completely.
20:07Ryan's first reaction
20:08was not to apologize.
20:09He turned to Mia,
20:11his voice pressed
20:11with anger.
20:12Did you tell her?
20:13Mia shook her head.
20:14It was not me!
20:15If not you,
20:16then who?
20:17Ryan sneered.
20:18You always wanted
20:18to be the good person,
20:19didn't you?
20:19I held the microphone.
20:21Do not rush
20:22to divide the spoils.
20:23I found the evidence myself.
20:25Claire pushed
20:26the camera closer.
20:28Mr. Hall,
20:29do you admit
20:30that you have
20:30a valid marriage
20:31with Mia Chen?
20:33Ryan's face was ugly.
20:34That is a private matter.
20:35I said,
20:37the moment you used
20:38a fake marriage license
20:39to deceive me,
20:40it stopped being private.
20:42The county clerk staff
20:43opened the file.
20:44This number
20:44does not exist.
20:46The officiator
20:46has not filed
20:47any valid record.
20:48Someone in the guest seats
20:49muttered,
20:50Disgusting.
20:51Grace Hall sat
20:52in the first row.
20:52She was Ryan's mother
20:53and the chairwoman
20:54of the Hall group board.
20:55She did not look
20:56at Ryan,
20:57only at me,
20:57as though I were
20:58a contract
20:59that had gone
20:59out of control.
21:03Mia suddenly rushed
21:04over and grabbed
21:05my wedding dress.
21:06Ava, listen to me.
21:07At first,
21:08I really only wanted
21:09to help you test him.
21:10I knew you trusted
21:12him too much.
21:13I was afraid
21:14he would deceive you.
21:15I looked down
21:15at her hand.
21:16You tested him
21:17until you were pregnant?
21:18She stiffened.
21:19Ryan immediately
21:20stepped in front of her.
21:21Enough.
21:22She is pregnant.
21:23Do not upset her.
21:24The room fell silent
21:25for the third time.
21:26Mia whipped her head
21:27toward Ryan.
21:29Are you insane?
21:31I looked at his movements.
21:32When the chandelier fell,
21:34he protected her.
21:35When the truth was exposed,
21:37he protected her.
21:37When the child was exposed,
21:39he still protected her.
21:41And I was only the tool
21:42who needed a stable ending.
21:45The voice in my earphone said,
21:47Ava, in the last life,
21:49you hit her here.
21:50Do not give her edited footage.
21:51I raised my hand.
21:53Mia closed her eyes.
21:56Everyone thought
21:56I was going to slap her.
21:58But I only removed her hand
21:59from my wedding dress.
22:01Mia, you are not worth
22:02dirtying my hands.
22:04She opened her eyes,
22:05and her face looked worse
22:06than if I had struck her.
22:09Ryan grunted his teeth.
22:10Ava, do not make yourself
22:11sound so innocent.
22:13I took care of you
22:14for three years.
22:15After your parents died,
22:17I helped you walk out of grief.
22:18Mia also cried.
22:20I stayed with you too.
22:22We are not bad people.
22:24We only made a mistake.
22:25I looked at them.
22:27If I had not found out today,
22:29how long were you planning
22:30to let me be wrong?
22:32Until the child was born?
22:34Until you held
22:35a one-month celebration?
22:36Or until the whole internet
22:38mocked me as the woman
22:39in a wedding dress
22:40attending someone else's marriage?
22:42Ryan finally panicked.
22:44I never wanted things
22:45to become like this.
22:46Things were already like this.
22:48I only turned on the light.
22:54Grace finally stood.
22:57She walked up to me,
22:58her tone cold.
23:01Ava, enough.
23:03Name your price.
23:05The room went quiet.
23:07I asked,
23:08Mrs. Hall,
23:09did you know they were married
23:11from the beginning?
23:13She did not answer.
23:16Silence was already
23:18an answer.
23:19Claire's camera
23:20turned toward her.
23:23Grace's face changed.
23:28Turn off the camera.
23:30Claire said,
23:32This is a ceremony venue
23:33where your family
23:34invited guests
23:35and media crews.
23:37We are merely
23:38reporting facts.
23:41Grace stared at me.
23:42Your parents are gone.
23:44You are alone
23:45in New York.
23:46Do not ruin
23:47every road ahead of you
23:48over emotion.
23:50My future self said,
23:51In the last life,
23:52this was how she frightened you.
23:54You signed the NDA
23:55and deleted the videos.
23:57Three months later,
23:58Mia went on a show
23:59with the baby
24:00and you became
24:01the mad woman.
24:02I lifted my head.
24:04My road does not
24:06need to be built
24:07on your son's lies.
24:09Her eyes
24:10went completely cold.
24:13You will regret this.
24:15I said,
24:16I have already
24:17regretted once.
24:19This time,
24:20it is your turn.
24:22Grace took me
24:24into the art museum lounge.
24:26Her assistant
24:27closed the door
24:28and pushed an NBA
24:29in front of me.
24:31$3 million.
24:32Sign it,
24:33delete the videos
24:34and tell the public
24:35the ceremony was cancelled
24:36for private reasons.
24:37Brian will no longer
24:38bother you
24:39and neither will Mia.
24:40I did not touch
24:41the agreement.
24:42Do you people think
24:43everything can be priced?
24:44Grace frowned.
24:45Ava,
24:46you are not legally married.
24:48There is no shared property
24:49and no child.
24:50Your legal damages
24:52are limited.
24:52I looked at her.
24:53So tricking me
24:54into a wedding dress
24:55and putting me
24:56in front of everyone
24:57does not count as damage?
24:59Her tone cooled.
25:01Emotional hurt
25:02is common.
25:03Smart people
25:04take compensation
25:05instead of dragging
25:06themselves into scandal.
25:08My future self said,
25:09She will threaten
25:10your job
25:11and your parents' trust.
25:12Sure enough,
25:13Grace continued,
25:14Hall Group invested
25:15in projects
25:16at your current company.
25:17Your parents' trust
25:18also holds tech funds
25:19connected to us.
25:21If you sign today,
25:22you will still have dignity.
25:23If you do not,
25:25many doors will close.
25:28I picked up my phone
25:30and forwarded her
25:31the news link
25:32Claire had just sent me.
25:34The headline was already
25:35on the local news front page.
25:37Rising tech executive
25:38signing ceremony
25:39implodes,
25:40suspected of concealing
25:41existing marriage
25:42and forging wedding documents.
25:47Grace's phone rang.
25:50She answered
25:51and her face dartened
25:52inch by inch.
25:53I stood.
25:55Mrs. Hall,
25:56you are right.
25:57Doors in this industry
25:58will close.
26:00But tonight,
26:01the boardroom door
26:02should close
26:03on your son first.
26:04She hung up
26:05and anger
26:06finally showed.
26:07Do you think
26:08you have won?
26:11No.
26:13I just finally
26:14did not lose.
26:21When I walked out
26:22of the lounge,
26:23Ryan was asked
26:25by investigators
26:26to cooperate
26:26with the questionnaire.
26:28When he saw me,
26:29he looked
26:29as if he had grasped
26:31the last rope.
26:33Ava,
26:34let us talk alone.
26:36I stopped.
26:38You had many chances
26:39to explain just now.
26:43I could not say it
26:44in front of so many people.
26:46He said horridly.
26:48I was afraid
26:49things would spiral
26:50out of control.
26:51I looked at him.
26:52You were not afraid
26:53of losing control.
26:54You were afraid
26:55of being exposed.
26:56Mia stood at the end
26:57of the hallway,
26:58leaning against the wall,
26:59pale-faced.
27:00She called me.
27:03Ava!
27:04I did not answer.
27:05She came closer
27:06and cried.
27:08If only one of you
27:09and Ryan
27:09can stay in my life,
27:11I choose you.
27:13I looked at her,
27:14too late.
27:19I can give up the child.
27:22She grabbed my hand.
27:23As long as you are
27:24willing to forgive me,
27:26I really can.
27:27I stared at her abdomen.
27:31Mia,
27:32I cannot safely
27:32have a child
27:33because I took
27:34a knife for you.
27:35And now you are
27:36using his child
27:37to bargain with me
27:38for compensation?
27:39Her whole body froze.
27:41I said,
27:42from today on,
27:43you no longer owe me.
27:44Hope appeared
27:45in her eyes.
27:46I continued,
27:47because you are not
27:48worthy of having
27:49any relationship
27:50with me.
27:51Mia slowly
27:52crouched against
27:53the wall.
27:54My future self
27:55was silent
27:56for a long time,
27:57then whispered,
27:59that sentence
28:00in the last life,
28:02I never managed
28:03to say before I died.
28:06The next morning,
28:08Hall Group suspended
28:09Ryan from his CEO
28:10position.
28:15At noon,
28:16Ryan's legal team
28:17issued a statement
28:18claiming that
28:19what happened
28:20at the ceremony
28:20was only a private
28:21emotional dispute
28:23and asking the public
28:24to stop spreading
28:25false information.
28:26three hours later,
28:28Claire released
28:29the second recording.
28:33Ryan's voice
28:34was perfectly clear.
28:36The trust left
28:37by Ava's parents
28:38and the shares
28:38in her hands
28:39are important
28:40to my company's listing.
28:41We cannot agitate
28:42her now.
28:43The statement
28:44became a joke
28:44on the spot.
28:46That afternoon,
28:48Mia accepted
28:48online program interview.
28:51She wore a plain sweater
28:53and sat in front
28:54of the camera.
28:57Her eyes red.
28:59The host asked,
29:00Do you admit
29:01that you and Ryan
29:02were already married
29:03before Ava's wedding?
29:05Mia was silent
29:06for a few seconds
29:08before tears fell.
29:13I admit
29:14I was wrong
29:16but during that time
29:17my mental state
29:18was very bad.
29:20Ryan told me
29:21Ava could not
29:21live without him.
29:22If she knew the truth
29:23she might hurt herself.
29:25I was only too afraid.
29:28Mia wiped her tears.
29:29I do not want
29:30to say that.
29:31Ava once saved me
29:32and I have always
29:33been grateful.
29:35But sometimes
29:36that debt
29:37also made it hard
29:38for me to breathe.
29:40I watched the screen
29:42without speaking.
29:45Jonathan's face chilled.
29:47She is shaping you
29:48into a controlling friend.
29:50My future self said,
29:52This is how she won
29:53in the last life.
29:54She said you always
29:55used the life-saving debt
29:56to pressure her
29:57and that Ryan
29:58was only protecting her
30:00from you.
30:02Half an hour later
30:03an edited video
30:05appeared online.
30:06It only showed me
30:08questioning Mia
30:09at the ceremony
30:10and saying
30:11she was not worth
30:12dirtying my hands.
30:13There was no Ryan
30:14recording.
30:15No fake documents.
30:17No Grace
30:18offering hush money.
30:19The headline read,
30:21Bride humiliates
30:22pregnant friend
30:23at ceremony.
30:25Suspected of long-term
30:26emotional control.
30:28The comments
30:29began to split.
30:30Some sympathized with me
30:32while others said
30:33I was too calm
30:34as if I had planned it
30:35from the start.
30:37Release the full version
30:38now, I said.
30:39Wait.
30:40For what?
30:40For her to raise
30:41the knife higher.
30:42That night,
30:43Mia started a live stream.
30:44The location was
30:45outside the cemetery
30:46where my parents
30:47were buried.
30:48Holding a black umbrella
30:49in the rain,
30:49she cried into the camera.
30:51Uncle, Auntie,
30:52I am sorry.
30:53I did not protect Ava
30:55and I did not protect myself.
30:58If my existence
30:59only makes her's-her suffer,
31:01I can disappear.
31:02Viewer numbers
31:03claimed wildly.
31:04She looked into the camera.
31:07Ava,
31:08if you are watching,
31:09I am willing
31:11to abort the child.
31:13I only beg you
31:15not to push me anymore.
31:16Jonathan cursed.
31:18She is insane.
31:19I did not curse.
31:21I told Claire.
31:27Release it now.
31:29The next second,
31:30Claire's news account
31:31pushed the complete
31:32evidence simultaneously.
31:34Mia saying,
31:35First,
31:36I only wanted
31:36to test him for you.
31:38Ryan saying,
31:39You are my legal wife.
31:40Had only me
31:41to stumble ending.
31:42Grace saying,
31:43Three million dollars.
31:44Sign it.
31:45Fall me though released.
31:47In the cemetery
31:49live stream,
31:50Mia's crying
31:50stopped.
31:52She stared
31:53at the screen
31:53and the softness
31:54on her face
31:55shattered
31:56completely.
31:58It is not like that.
31:59She shrieked.
32:00You have all
32:01been deceived by her.
32:02But this time,
32:03no one listened
32:04only to her tears.
32:06My future self said,
32:07In the last life,
32:09she dragged you
32:10into hell.
32:11In this life,
32:12she opened
32:13the door herself.
32:14Mia fainted
32:15during the live stream.
32:17Her assistant
32:18immediately shouted
32:19at the camera.
32:20Ava forced her!
32:22But the emergency
32:23record soon came out.
32:25Low blood sugar,
32:26hyperhenylation,
32:27no life-threatening danger.
32:28The topic claiming
32:29that I had forced her
32:30into a miscarriage
32:31had barely appeared
32:32before it was crushed
32:33by the emergency report.
32:35Ryan also began
32:36to bite back at her.
32:37His lawyer claimed
32:38Mia had approached
32:39him on her own,
32:40hidden the pregnancy,
32:41and used the child
32:42to force him
32:43into registration.
32:44After Mia woke,
32:45she immediately recorded
32:46a hospital video.
32:47Ryan promised to give me
32:49and the child a home.
32:50He told me to cooperate
32:50with that ceremony.
32:52He said Ava was emotionally
32:53fragile and could not
32:54be stimulated.
32:55At last,
32:56they no longer said
32:57everything had been
32:58for me.
32:59They began fighting
33:00to push each other down.
33:02I thought I would
33:03feel satisfied,
33:04but I only felt cold.
33:06Jonathan asked.
33:07Next step.
33:08I pushed the complaint
33:09materials towards him.
33:11Continue.
33:12Ryan used company
33:13legal staff
33:13to handle fake documents,
33:15company security
33:16to block media
33:17and company accounts
33:18to pay private expenses.
33:19This is not
33:20a relationship dispute.
33:21It is a corporate
33:22governance scandal.
33:23After reading,
33:25Jonathan looked up.
33:26You want to burn this
33:27all the way to the board?
33:30I said,
33:31I did not light
33:32the fire.
33:34I only opened the door.
33:36Three days later,
33:37Hall Group announced
33:38it would accept
33:39an external audit.
33:40One week later,
33:42Grace did not sit still.
33:43She had the trust
33:44administrator notified me
33:45of an emergency asset
33:47eligibility hearing.
33:48The location was
33:49Hall Group headquarters.
33:51On paper,
33:52it was to evaluate
33:53whether I was still fit
33:54to exercise the voting rights
33:56in my parents' trust.
33:57In reality,
33:59they wanted to pin me back
34:00into the position
34:01of mentally unstable.
34:03After reading the notice,
34:05Jonathan's expression
34:06was poor.
34:07They want to use
34:08the assets your parents
34:09left you
34:09to control you
34:10in reverse.
34:11The earphones
34:13suddenly lit.
34:14My future self's voice
34:16was weak.
34:17Go.
34:17I frowned.
34:19They have obviously
34:19set a trap.
34:20That is why you must go,
34:22she said.
34:23In the last life,
34:24you did not.
34:25Grace used edited videos
34:26and a psychological
34:27evaluation request
34:28to suspend your
34:29trust voting rights.
34:30That was the first step
34:31for Hall Group
34:32to swallow the influence
34:33of your parents' assets.
34:34I asked,
34:36Can I win?
34:37The earphones were quiet
34:38for several seconds.
34:39In your parents' earphones,
34:41there is an encrypted backup.
34:43The password
34:44is your 16th birthday.
34:46They are not ordinary earphones.
34:48They are the security key
34:49your parents left
34:50from when they participated
34:51in Hall's early
34:52technology project.
34:54My heart shook.
34:55I opened the hidden storage
34:56in the earphones.
34:58Inside was an encrypted file.
35:00After Jonathan read it,
35:01his eyes changed.
35:03Ava, your parents
35:04were not ordinary investors.
35:05They were early
35:06core technical consultants
35:07and equity trust agents
35:09for Hall Group.
35:10There is a major risk
35:11trigger clause here.
35:13I asked,
35:14What does that mean?
35:16If Hall Group's
35:17core management
35:17is involved in fraud,
35:19coercion,
35:20forged documents
35:21for major ethical risk,
35:22you, as the trust benefary,
35:24have the right to trigger
35:25a mandatory external audit
35:27and freeze voting
35:28on the next listing.
35:31I looked down
35:32at the old earphones.
35:34My parents had not only
35:35left me memories,
35:37they had left me a blade.
35:39The top floor conference room
35:41of Hall Group headquarters
35:42looked out through glass walls
35:44over all Manhattan.
35:45The moment I entered,
35:46I saw Ryan, Mia,
35:48and Grace all present.
35:49Grace sat at the head
35:50of the table,
35:51board members
35:52sitting beside her.
35:54Ryan sat to her right,
35:55his face pale.
35:57Mia wore a loose,
35:58light-colored coat
35:59and looked like a victim
36:01who might collapse
36:02at any time.
36:03Grace went straight
36:03to the point.
36:05Ava,
36:06today is not about
36:08judging Ryan.
36:09Today we are discussing
36:11whether you are fit
36:12to continue managing
36:13the voting rights
36:14in your parents' trust.
36:16I sat down.
36:19You stole a marriage,
36:21deceived me into a fake wedding,
36:22forged documents,
36:23and now you are evaluating
36:25my fitness.
36:28Grace pushed a file forward.
36:30Recently,
36:31your emotions
36:31have fluctuated severely.
36:34You publicly humiliated
36:35a pregnant woman
36:36at the ceremony
36:37and the internet
36:38is filled with controversy.
36:40We have reason to worry
36:41that you will let
36:42personal emotions
36:43affect company governance.
36:45Mia whispered,
36:46Ava,
36:47I really did not want
36:48things to reach this point,
36:49but you have pushed
36:50everyone until
36:51there is no way back.
36:53I looked at her.
36:54There you go again.
36:55Her tears immediately fell.
36:58See,
36:58you are always like this.
37:01Whenever I speak,
37:02you think I am acting.
37:04Ryan finally spoke.
37:06Ava,
37:06I know you hate me,
37:08but you cannot destroy
37:10the whole group
37:10because you hate me.
37:12If your parents
37:13were still alive,
37:13they would not want this.
37:15For the first time,
37:16I laughed aloud
37:17when I heard those words.
37:19You are worthy
37:20to mention my parents?
37:23Grace signaled
37:24her assistant
37:25to play a video.
37:26The big screen
37:27showed edited footage.
37:29Me questioning Mia
37:30at the signing ceremony,
37:31throwing the ring
37:32into the champagne tower
37:33and coldly ending
37:34the ceremony.
37:35There was no Ryan
37:37admitting the fake document.
37:39No Las Vegas registration.
37:41No Grace offering
37:42hush money.
37:44Grace said,
37:45Board members,
37:46this is why
37:47I am concerned.
37:48Ava is driven
37:49by emotion
37:50and is not suitable
37:51to hold critical
37:52voting rights.
37:53Mia held her abdomen
37:54and sobbed.
37:56I admit I was wrong,
37:57but I have already
37:58lost too much.
37:59I only hope Ava
38:00will not hurt more people.
38:02Ryan looked at me
38:03with a heavy voice.
38:04I held that ceremony
38:05to help her stabilize.
38:07After her parents died,
38:08she was always fragile.
38:10I only wanted
38:11to protect her.
38:13good.
38:14They had finally
38:15said everything
38:16to the end.
38:19Jonathan looked at me.
38:22I nodded.
38:24The next second,
38:25Claire's complete
38:26live stream footage
38:27connected to the screen.
38:29Ryan's voice sounded.
38:31You are my legal wife.
38:33She only needs
38:34a stable ending.
38:35Mia's voice sounded.
38:37At first,
38:38I only wanted
38:38to test him for you.
38:40Grace's voice sounded.
38:42Three million dollars.
38:44Sign it.
38:45Every board member's
38:45expression changed.
38:47Grace snapped.
38:48Who allowed you
38:49to connect
38:49an external signal?
38:50I placed my parents'
38:51earphones on the table.
38:53You wanted to use
38:54the trust my parents
38:55left to control me,
38:56but you forgot
38:56this was something
38:57they left me
38:58to protect myself.
39:00Jonathan stood
39:01and opened
39:01the second document.
39:03Under Article 14
39:05of the Lynn Trust
39:05and Hall Group
39:06Early Technology
39:07Investment Agreement,
39:08if core management
39:09is involved in fraud,
39:10coercion,
39:11forged documents,
39:12or major ethical risk,
39:13the trust beneficiary
39:14has the right
39:15to trigger a mandatory
39:16external audit
39:17and freeze all votes
39:18related to the next
39:18listing round.
39:21Grace's expression
39:22finally changed.
39:23I looked at her.
39:25You say I am unfit
39:26to exercise voting rights?
39:28Now I formally exercise them.
39:30Word by word,
39:32I said,
39:33I request the immediate
39:35suspension of all
39:36Ryan Hall's
39:37management authority,
39:38Grace Hall's reclusion
39:39from all related
39:40board decisions,
39:42and an independent audit
39:43of Hall Group.
39:45Until the audit ends,
39:47every listing support vote
39:48under my parents' trust
39:50is frozen.
39:51Ryan shot to his face.
39:52Ava!
39:52I looked at him.
39:54You said my parents
39:55would not want this?
39:56Wrong.
39:57They had long feared
39:58I would meet people like you.
40:00The board held
40:01a temporary vote.
40:03Ryan was suspended
40:04from all duties.
40:06Grace was required
40:07to recuse herself.
40:09The external audit passed.
40:11Hall Group's listing plan
40:13was delayed.
40:14When the hearing ended,
40:15Ryan sat in his chair
40:17as if he had finally
40:18been hollowed out.
40:20Mia looked at me,
40:22and for the first time
40:23there were no tears
40:24in her eyes
40:24only hatred.
40:32As I walked out
40:33of the conference room,
40:34the ear bones
40:35suddenly let out
40:36a harsh electric current.
40:39My future self said,
40:41broken and intermittent.
40:43Ava, be careful of Mia.
40:46I stopped.
40:47Her voice grew more
40:49and more distant.
40:50In the last life,
40:51it was not Ryan
40:52who pushed you
40:53through the final door.
40:54It was her.
40:56Mia disappeared
40:57for two days.
40:59During those two days,
41:01Ryan's legal team
41:02began blaming one another.
41:04Grace refused to respond
41:05to media questions
41:06about the board investigation.
41:07Hall Group's
41:09stock price for us
41:10fluctuated,
41:11and the listing plan
41:12was postponed indefinitely.
41:14I thought Mia
41:15had finally gone quiet,
41:17until the third night
41:18she sent me a photo.
41:21In the photo
41:22were a bottle
41:23of sleeping pills
41:24and a note
41:25in front of my parents'
41:26tombstone.
41:27The note read,
41:28Ava, if I die,
41:30will you forgive me?
41:33When Jonathan saw
41:35the message,
41:36he immediately said,
41:37Call the police.
41:39Do not go alone.
41:40I had already called 911.
41:46But Mia's second message
41:47arrived quickly.
41:49If you bring the police,
41:50I will let the whole
41:51internet know
41:52you drove your
41:53pregnant friend to death.
41:55Do not go alone.
41:58She is recording.
42:00She wants you to say
42:01even one cruel sentence.
42:03I called Claire.
42:05Bring a camera
42:05to the cemetery.
42:06Do not get close.
42:07Film the wide shot first.
42:09Claire understood immediately.
42:11She is playing
42:12the victim again?
42:15This time,
42:16she wants to play
42:17the corpse.
42:17When I reached
42:18the cemetery,
42:19the rain was heavy.
42:21Mia sat before
42:21the tombstone,
42:22wearing only a thin coat,
42:24her face frighteningly.
42:29You came after all.
42:31I stood three meters away.
42:33The ambulance
42:34is on its way.
42:36Her eyes changed.
42:38You called the police?
42:41You threatened self-harm.
42:42Of course I called the police.
42:44Mia laughed
42:45until the laugh
42:46became sobs.
42:47Ava,
42:47when did you become
42:48so cold?
42:49From the moment
42:50you started editing
42:51my pain into evidence
42:53that you were the victim?
42:54She stood,
42:56holding the bottle
42:57of pills.
42:58If I swallow
42:59these now,
43:00who do you think
43:00everyone will believe?
43:02The terrifyingly
43:04calm you?
43:05Or a pregnant woman
43:06pushed to the end
43:07by you?
43:08I looked at her.
43:09Didn't you already
43:10lose the child?
43:11Mia's face stiffened.
43:13I continued.
43:14You forgot.
43:15You said it yourself
43:16in the hospital video.
43:19Mia,
43:19you cannot even
43:20keep your lies straight.
43:22The fragile look
43:23vanished from her eyes.
43:25Why?
43:26She screamed.
43:27Why can you avoid everything?
43:29Why does everyone
43:30always end up
43:31on your side?
43:33I asked calmly.
43:35Because I no longer
43:36give you the chance
43:36to edit me.
43:40At last,
43:41she stopped acting.
43:44Yes,
43:45I am jealous of you.
43:46Mia said
43:47through clenched teeth.
43:48You have the money
43:49your parents left.
43:50A good job
43:51and everyone's sympathy.
43:52You saved me once
43:54and ever since then
43:55you stood above me forever.
43:57Ryan loves me.
43:58The child was mine.
44:00What right did you have
44:01to take him from me?
44:02I said softly.
44:04You finally told the truth.
44:07Mia suddenly realized
44:08what had happened.
44:09In the distance,
44:10Claire's camera light
44:12came on.
44:12The lights of police cars
44:14and ambulances
44:14also shone in
44:16from the cemetery entrance.
44:17Mia's face changed.
44:20You recorded me?
44:22I said.
44:23You taught me.
44:25Do not cry.
44:26Do not make a scene.
44:28Keep evidence.
44:29She rushed toward me
44:30to snatch my phone
44:32but the police stopped her.
44:33She screamed.
44:34AVA!
44:35You destroyed me!
44:38I looked at her.
44:40No, Mia.
44:41You only finally failed
44:43to put the knife in my hand.
44:44When the police took her away,
44:46she was still crying
44:47and calling my name.
44:49But this time,
44:50the camera captured everything.
44:53No editing.
44:54No frame-up.
44:56No version of me
44:57dragged into the mud
44:58by her.
44:58In the earphones,
45:00my future self whispered,
45:02the last door is closed.
45:05Ryan asked to see me
45:06in the third week
45:06after the lawsuit began.
45:08The meeting took place
45:09in the mediation room
45:10beside the courthouse.
45:11He had lost a lot of weight.
45:13His jaw was covered in stubble
45:15and his eyes were dark.
45:17When he saw me enter,
45:19something in his gaze
45:20actually lit.
45:21Ava.
45:22He said.
45:24You came.
45:25I sat beside Jonathan.
45:29If this is about settlement,
45:30let the lawyer speak.
45:32Ryan smiled bitterly.
45:34I only wanted to apologize
45:35to you in person.
45:36I looked at him.
45:38Say it.
45:39He lowered his head,
45:41his voice terribly horsey.
45:44That time with Mia
45:45really was an accident.
45:47On your parents' Memorial Day,
45:49you were drunk
45:49and kept crying.
45:51I sent you home, Mia.
45:53Neither of us was
45:55clear-headed.
45:58I asked.
46:00Not clear-headed enough
46:01to keep meeting the next day?
46:03Not clear-headed enough
46:04to go to Las Vegas
46:05after she got pregnant?
46:07Not clear-headed enough
46:09to make me wear a wedding dress
46:10and sign a fake document?
46:12His lips moved
46:14but he could not speak.
46:16I continued.
46:17You did not make one mistake.
46:21Every time you had the chance
46:22to stop,
46:23you chose to keep
46:25lying to me.
46:27Ryan's eyes redded.
46:29Because I was afraid
46:30of losing you!
46:32My future self said,
46:34In the last life,
46:35he said the same thing.
46:37You believed him.
46:38Later,
46:39he signed the treatment
46:40evaluation papers
46:41and said it was
46:42for your own good.
46:43I looked at Ryan.
46:44You were afraid
46:45of losing me
46:46so you prepared
46:47to make me lose myself.
46:49His face went white.
46:50Ava,
46:51I really did love you.
46:53Having loved me
46:55is not a pardon.
46:56He suddenly broke down.
46:59Then what do you want from me?
47:01The company is gone.
47:03My reputation is gone.
47:05And Mia has torn things apart
47:06with me too.
47:07What more do you want?
47:08I said calmly,
47:10I want you to admit
47:11that you were not seduced
47:12by Mia,
47:12not forced by the child
47:13and not protecting me.
47:15You were simply greedy.
47:17Ryan's lawyer
47:18immediately warned.
47:19Mr. Hall,
47:20do not answer.
47:21But Ryan looked at me
47:22as if he had finally
47:23been forced
47:23to the end of the road.
47:25Yes,
47:26I was greedy.
47:27I wanted the child
47:28in Mia's belly
47:29and I wanted you
47:30to keep loving me.
47:31I wanted the network
47:32and trust support
47:33your founds left
47:33to help my company list.
47:35I thought that
47:36as long as I arranged
47:37it well enough
47:38neither of you
47:39would leave.
47:40I nodded
47:41and looked at Jonathan.
47:44Recorded?
47:46Jonathan said.
47:48Recorded.
47:49Ryan refroze.
47:53Ava?
47:56I stood.
47:58Thank you for your apology.
48:00It came too late
48:01but it is very useful
48:02for my case.
48:03He shot to his feet.
48:05You calculated even this?
48:07I looked at him.
48:08Ryan,
48:08I have only learned
48:10what all of you taught me.
48:12At the door,
48:14he called after me.
48:16If not for those earphones,
48:19would you have married me?
48:20I stopped.
48:24Yes.
48:26Painful hope
48:26flashed in his eyes.
48:28That is why I am grateful
48:29I was the one
48:30who put them on.
48:32Before the door closed,
48:34I heard his
48:35respressed sobs.
48:37At the end of the corridor,
48:39Mia stood there.
48:41Being after released
48:42on bail,
48:43she had become.
48:44The first thing
48:45she said was,
48:48The child is gone.
48:50I said nothing.
48:51She smiled bitterly.
48:53The doctor said
48:54my body and stress
48:55were both problems.
48:57Ava,
48:58are you satisfied?
48:59I looked at her.
49:00What do you want me to say?
49:01Congratulations?
49:02Or sorry?
49:03Mia's tears fell.
49:05Can we really
49:06never go back?
49:07I asked.
49:09When you and Ryan
49:10went to Las Vegas
49:11to register,
49:11did you think
49:12about that question?
49:13She covered her face.
49:15I regret it.
49:16Regret is your business.
49:18Forgiveness
49:19is not my obligation.
49:21Mia raised her head,
49:23the last trace
49:24of resentment
49:25in her eyes.
49:26If that knife
49:27in the parking spot
49:28had not hit you,
49:29would we be different?
49:30I looked at her
49:32and finally smiled.
49:35Yes.
49:36I said,
49:37If that knife
49:38had not hit me,
49:39perhaps I would have
49:39seen you much earlier.
49:41She froze
49:42where she stood.
49:44My future self
49:46whispered
49:46in the earphones.
49:48This time,
49:49we did not
49:49hurt for her.
49:51Half a year later,
49:52Ryan accepted
49:53a plea deal.
49:54He admitted
49:55marriage fraud,
49:56document forgery,
49:58and misuse
49:58of company resources
50:00in exchange
50:01for some charges
50:02being rewashed.
50:04Hall Group
50:05erased him
50:05completely.
50:07Grace no longer
50:07appeared in public.
50:11Mia moved back
50:12to New Jersey.
50:13The last thing
50:14she sent me
50:15was an email.
50:16Sorry,
50:17can you forgive me?
50:19I did not reply.
50:21Some people
50:22are not looking
50:23for an answer.
50:25She only wanted me
50:26to remember
50:27once again
50:28that I had bled
50:29for her.
50:30I did not
50:31want to bleed
50:32anymore.
50:33On the day
50:33I received
50:34the civil settlement,
50:35I also received
50:36an offer
50:36from a streaming
50:37company in Los Angeles.
50:39The position
50:39was brand strategy
50:40director
50:41for global
50:41content projects,
50:43and the salary
50:44was triple
50:44my old one.
50:46Claire invited
50:46me for drinks
50:47and laughed.
50:48That wedding
50:48gave me the biggest
50:49story of my career.
50:51Jonathan raised
50:51his glass
50:52and taught
50:53certain people
50:54not to casually
50:54deceive a woman
50:55who backs up evidence.
50:56I clinked glasses
50:57to backups
50:58and to not softening.
51:02Before leaving
51:03for the airport,
51:04I returned
51:04to my old apartment.
51:05There had once
51:06been Ryan's coffee mug,
51:07the pillow Mia
51:08had given me,
51:09and wedding photos
51:10I had believed
51:11belonged to the future.
51:12Now they were
51:13all gone.
51:15In the deepest drawer,
51:17only the earphones
51:18my parents left me
51:19remained.
51:20When I picked them up,
51:22they lit automatically.
51:25The me from
51:26three years later
51:27appeared again.
51:28This time,
51:29her voice was
51:29no longer tense
51:30or cold.
51:31Ava,
51:32I whispered,
51:33you are still here.
51:35She laughed.
51:36Almost not.
51:37I sat in the
51:38empty living room.
51:39What is the
51:40new future like?
51:42She said,
51:43you go to Los Angeles.
51:44You do not marry Ryan.
51:45You do not enter
51:46compulsional treatment
51:47evaluation.
51:48No one defines
51:49you as crazy.
51:50You did well,
51:51I asked.
51:52And you?
51:52I was always
51:53your worst ending.
51:54She said,
51:55now that ending
51:56is gone,
51:57so I should
51:57disappear too.
51:59My throat
51:59tightened.
52:04She said softly,
52:06do not thank me.
52:07The earphones were
52:08left by your parents,
52:09but you were the one
52:10who put them on.
52:11You were the one
52:12who did not take them off.
52:14You were also the one
52:15who walked out
52:15step by step.
52:19After you disappear,
52:20where will you go?
52:21She was silent for a moment,
52:22then smiled lightly.
52:24Maybe I will become
52:25a sentence you remember
52:26sometimes.
52:27Do not look back.
52:28Do not make excuses
52:29for people who hurt you.
52:31Do not hand them
52:32your collapse as evidence.
52:35The boarding announcement
52:37sounded.
52:38I was already
52:38at the airport.
52:39I took off the earphones
52:41and held them in my palm
52:42for a long time.
52:43They were the last thing
52:44my parents left me,
52:45and their final way
52:46of protecting me.
52:47I did not throw them
52:48in the trash.
52:49I placed them
52:50in the deepest pocket
52:51of my carry-on bag.
52:53My future self
52:54said one last time,
52:56Ava, move forward.
52:59Okay.
53:01The light on the earphones
53:02went out.
53:05The world finally
53:06became quiet.
53:08When the plane
53:09rushed into the clouds,
53:11New York's lights
53:12shrank with me
53:13into a golden net.
53:14I had once thought
53:15that losing my fiancé
53:16and my best friend
53:17would leave me
53:17with nothing.
53:18Only later did I understand
53:20that it was not loss.
53:21It was clearing the room.
53:22After they left my life,
53:24I finally heard
53:25my own voice.
53:27If I could go back
53:28to the wedding,
53:28back to the version
53:29of myself who was
53:30about to say I do,
53:31wearing my parents'
53:33keepsake and trembling,
53:34I would tell her,
53:35Do not be afraid.
53:36You have not been
53:37abandoned by fate.
53:38You were caught
53:39by your future self.
53:40From that day on,
53:41I no longer waited
53:43for anyone to save me.
53:44Because with my own hands,
53:46I had already saved
53:47my three years later self
53:49back from hell.
53:50It's not safe on film
53:50until now will come.
53:51It's real,
53:53it's true.
53:53So we thought
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