When love turns into betrayal and trust is shattered, revenge becomes the only option. Experience this emotional short drama full of romance, secrets, and dramatic surprises.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Take off your police uniform, Amelia Saddington.
00:03You don't deserve to wear it at all.
00:05Desmond Urich, the head of the Major Crimes Unit,
00:09stripped my police uniform off me right in front of the entire team.
00:13So you really are still holding it against me from the raid
00:16because I prioritized protecting the hostages
00:19and didn't take good enough care of Addison,
00:21leaving her with a few scrapes?
00:24At my rebuttal, Desmond slapped me hard across the face in front of everyone.
00:28My head snapped to the side.
00:31He accused me of taking personal revenge under the guise of duty,
00:35then used every means to suspend me.
00:37After my suspension, Vicente D'Acra, my childhood friend,
00:41told me he wanted to marry me.
00:43But on the eve of our engagement, I overheard him talking to Desmond.
00:47Both of them were only protecting Addison.
00:50In pure despair, I changed into faded street clothes
00:53and headed alone to state police headquarters.
00:57Agent 003, Amelia Sadinton,
00:59requesting assignment to Operation Foxhunt as an undercover operative.
01:02Scrub my file. I'm not coming back.
01:04Desmond slapped me hard across the face,
01:07and my head snapped to the side.
01:09Before the pain in my cheek even set in,
01:12the trauma from my abduction flared up suddenly.
01:15Agony seeped from my bones,
01:17and I curled up on the ground.
01:19Seeing me like this, Desmond kicked me.
01:22Quit playing dead!
01:24I clutched at his pant leg,
01:26sweating cold from the pain,
01:27and trembled as I whispered,
01:29Tranquilizer. I need a tranquilizer.
01:33Desmond only stared at me coldly,
01:35then said to his subordinates beside him,
01:38Addison was traumatized during the rescue.
01:42Give it to her first.
01:45That night, I curled up alone in the freezing isolation room.
01:49The hallucinogens the cartel had injected into me flared up again.
01:53In my delirium, I was back in that hellish abandoned factory.
01:57Tortured and interrogated by dealers,
02:00one after another.
02:01I whimpered in agony,
02:03Desmond help me.
02:04But the man I once loved didn't even glance at me.
02:07By the next morning,
02:09Desmond had already used the episode as a pretext to file for my suspension.
02:13He told our superiors I was mentally unstable and prone to violence.
02:17To calm Addison's nerves,
02:18he even confiscated my service weapon.
02:21He locked it in his own desk.
02:23The only person who didn't abandon me was Vicenti Dacra.
02:26A forensic pathologist who had known me since we were kids.
02:30Vicenti promised he would vouch for me with the bureau to get me reinstated.
02:33He told me he wanted to marry me.
02:36That he would take care of me for the rest of my life.
02:39But, on the eve of our engagement,
02:41I overheard him talking to Desmond outside the forensics lab.
02:45Amy's a lost cause.
02:47After that kidnapping,
02:48everyone on the force is talking that she slept with the cartel boss for three days just to stay alive.
02:53She's tainted.
02:54What do you know?
02:55Back then,
02:56I had to pull out to save Addison,
02:58leaving Emmy trapped in that den.
03:01I'm drowning in guilt.
03:03But,
03:04I can't stand what she's become.
03:06She's a total head case now.
03:07Lieutenant,
03:08you don't actually love Addie, do you?
03:11You're only marrying her because Addison is terrified
03:14Amy will snap and come after Addison.
03:16You just want to keep her under your thumb and sedated,
03:18so she won't hurt Addie.
03:20So that was it.
03:21Both of them were only protecting Addison.
03:24In pure despair,
03:26I changed into a pair of faded street clothes.
03:29I headed alone to the high security archives at state police headquarters.
03:33Standing before the commander-in-chief,
03:34Donald Tabert,
03:35I snapped into a perfect salute.
03:37My voice was hoarse,
03:38but it didn't waver.
03:39Agent 003,
03:41Amelia Sadinton.
03:42Requesting assignment to Operation Fox Hunt as an undercover operative.
03:45Scrub my file.
03:47I'm not coming back.
03:48Donald's gray eyebrows knitted together,
03:51his eyes clouded with regret.
03:53This operation takes you deep into the heart of the golden trancle,
03:57straight into the hands of the most brutal cartel on the planet.
04:00To earn their trust,
04:02you might be forced into addiction or worse.
04:05Taking this assignment is effectively a death sentence.
04:09I squeezed my eyes shut against the sharp ache in my chest.
04:12My voice remained resolute.
04:14I'm ready.
04:15Both my parents were undercover narcotics officers who died on the border.
04:20I have nothing left to lose.
04:21If it takes my life to bring that cartel down,
04:24then that's a price I'm more than willing to pay.
04:27Donald glanced at the space on my waist where my police badge used to be.
04:32Isn't today the day you were supposed to head to the city hall with Dr. Dockwer?
04:36Don't you want a peaceful life?
04:38The tears finally broke,
04:40spilling over despite my best efforts,
04:43not wanting Donald to see me as weak.
04:45I roughly wiped my face.
04:46I did not explain.
04:48Donald didn't press further.
04:49He simply patted my shoulder heavily.
04:51A silent gesture of respect and farewell.
04:54Someone will be waiting to escort you across the border at 3 tomorrow morning.
04:58If you survive and complete this assignment,
05:02the department will restore your file
05:05and grant you our highest honor.
05:08I saluted in silence and walked out of the headquarters building.
05:12My mind blur.
05:14Just as I was about to leave,
05:16Desmond appeared in front of me.
05:17He was holding the leash of my retired canine partner,
05:21Kale.
05:21His gaze was cold.
05:23His tone completely unyielding.
05:25Kale hasn't stopped barking for days.
05:27It's disturbing Addy's rest.
05:30I was planning to drop it at a shelter in the suburbs,
05:33but since we ran into each other,
05:35it's your problem now.
05:36I stared down at Kale,
05:38a decorated veteran I had raised and trained myself.
05:41A partner who had saved my life more times than I could count.
05:48Five years ago,
05:49when Kale retired,
05:51Desmond had sworn he would treat it like family.
05:54He swore he would never let it suffer.
05:57Now,
05:57just to ensure Addison slept undisturbed,
06:00he was ready to discard an old comrade like trash.
06:03Kale saw me and let out a desperate whine.
06:06It lunged forward,
06:08but Desmond yanked back on its collar so hard the dog began to choke.
06:12Its eyes rolling back,
06:13my heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest.
06:18Ignoring Desmond,
06:19I crouched down immediately to calm Kale.
06:22Desmond looked down at me,
06:23his voice stern.
06:24Isn't today your big day with Vicedo?
06:27What the hell are you doing at state police headquarters?
06:31Get in the car.
06:32I'll drive you back.
06:34Aren't you worried Vicente will change his mind?
06:36And dump a junkie like you if you're late for the ceremony?
06:40I stood up slowly,
06:41my expression cold as I brushed the dust off my hands.
06:45I'm not marrying him.
06:47Not anymore.
06:48Desmond let out a sharp,
06:50mocking laugh.
06:52I get it.
06:53You're bitter.
06:54You still blame me for choosing to save Addie first?
06:58I also know you came here to file a formal complaint against me.
07:02But look at the facts.
07:05You're an officer who was held by a cartel boss for three days.
07:09God knows what happened to you in there.
07:12With all the rumors flying around the bureau,
07:14how could I ever trust you with real field work again?
07:18Don't worry though,
07:19I picked up the low-level thugs who grabbed you
07:21and made sure they got sentenced to death.
07:23Consider the debt solved.
07:26Now the fact that Vicente is still willing to marry a woman like you,
07:30mentally unstable,
07:31and potentially diseased,
07:35is more than you deserve.
07:38Don't push your luck.
07:40I looked up at the man I had once admired.
07:43His features were as sharp as ever.
07:46But his heart had turned to stone.
07:48The claims that I was mentally unstable
07:51were nothing but a convenient excuse.
07:54Addison as a psychiatrist
07:55had filled my evaluation with nothing but slander.
07:59Where were her professional ethics?
08:01A wave of sorrow crashed over me.
08:03There were too many words trapped in my chest.
08:06A weight so heavy I could barely breathe.
08:08In the end,
08:09all that emotion was stripped away,
08:12leaving only two words.
08:15Get out!
08:16My defiance instantly enraged him.
08:19He whipped Kale's leash toward me,
08:21the leather nearly catching me across the face.
08:23Amelia, don't push me.
08:26Vicente and I are like brothers.
08:28He's a good man.
08:31Don't you dare think you can keep him on a leash.
08:35Just to use him as a backup plan?
08:38I let out a cold, sharp laugh and chased him away.
08:42Afterward, I led Kale back to the police housing.
08:46My foster father, the former chief,
08:49had been waiting for a long time in the cold wind.
08:52Amy, thank God.
08:54The Dockwig family has been looking everywhere for you.
08:57Where have you been?
08:58I didn't hold anything back.
08:59I told him everything,
09:01including my application for the undercover assignment.
09:04The color drained from his face.
09:07His cane clattered against the pavement as it slipped from his hand.
09:10No!
09:11I won't allow it!
09:13Your parents already gave everything to this life.
09:18I won't stand by and watch you throw yours away, too!
09:22I took a breath and told him everything.
09:25Every word I had overheard outside the forensics lab.
09:28When I finished, my foster father was shaking with rage.
09:32He gripped his cane,
09:34ready to storm down to the bureau and demand justice from me.
09:37I threw my arms around his knees,
09:40sinking to the floor.
09:41My tears soaked into the fabric of his trousers.
09:45Dad, please, you have to let me go.
09:48If I marry Vicente,
09:50if I'm forced to live under their thumb and be sedated every day,
09:53that's not living.
09:55It's a slow death.
09:57Operation Foxhunt isn't just about settling a score.
10:01It's about finishing what my parents started.
10:04It was their last wish.
10:06Getting away from this place is the only way I'll ever be free.
10:10Seeing the unwavering resolve in my eyes,
10:13he broke down into bitter tears.
10:15He finally fell silent.
10:17As an old-timer on the force,
10:20he understood that some assignments were a one-way street.
10:23There was no coming back from them.
10:25When the wedding procession arrived later that day,
10:27there was no fanfare,
10:29no decorations,
10:30just a few black sedans idling at the curb downstairs.
10:33I didn't bother with a wedding dress.
10:35Instead,
10:36I threw on a black hardshell jacket
10:38and walked straight out of the building.
10:39Looking at Vicente's gentle face felt like a slow twist of a knife.
10:44The pain had long since moved past Sharp.
10:47Now it was just a heavy,
10:49throbbing numbness in my heart.
10:51He was only doing this to keep me on a leash,
10:53to clear a path for Addison.
10:56How could he still stand there and play the part of the devoted lover?
10:59It was disgusting.
11:01I pulled the prenuptial agreement from my pocket.
11:04I tore it into a dozen pieces and let the wind scatter them across the pavement.
11:10The wedding is off.
11:12Get out of here.
11:15Vicente's expression hardened instantly.
11:18Dropping the gentleman act,
11:20he closed the distance between us in a few steps.
11:23He clamped his hand around my wrist.
11:26Emi, do you have any idea what you're doing?
11:29I'm the only person in the entire department who doesn't hold your past against you.
11:34Why the hell are you taking this out on me?
11:38I know you're still in love with Desmond.
11:41But if you truly love someone,
11:44shouldn't you let him be with Addie?
11:46My eyes stung,
11:47but I tilted my head back to look at him.
11:50Every word I spat dripping with venom.
11:53So that's it.
11:55You love her too.
11:57You're throwing your life away on me,
12:00just to pave the way for them.
12:02You're taking me in just to make sure
12:04this crazy woman doesn't pest her Desmond
12:06or hurt Addison.
12:10You were planning to keep me sedated
12:12until I was too drugged to resist, weren't you?
12:16A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes,
12:18but he kept up the charade,
12:20even forcing his eyes to redden as if he were the one betrayed.
12:23Emi, how could you think so little of me?
12:26We grew up together.
12:28Everything I'm doing is for your own good.
12:30The neighbors and colleagues gathered around began to whisper.
12:34Dr. Dockware has done more than enough for her.
12:37Amelia hasn't been right since that operation.
12:40Who else would even consider marrying her?
12:43I heard she came back from that den tainted.
12:46She should be thanking her lucky stars he's still willing to take her.
12:49My foster father's face flushed with rage as he raised his hand.
12:53I quickly grabbed his arm and shook my head.
12:56Dad, don't.
12:58Desmond is the captain now,
12:59and the Dockway family has too much pull.
13:02We can't win a fight against them.
13:04Addison's the department's golden girl.
13:06Everyone is on her side.
13:07No one will believe us.
13:09They'll just see me as a jealous, unstable woman.
13:12His chest heaved with suppressed anger.
13:15Finally, he let out a heavy, defeated sigh
13:18and turned back toward the house.
13:21Vicenti reached for my hand again,
13:23his voice dropping into that familiar, hypocritical tone.
13:27Emi, if you're not in the right headspace today,
13:28we can push the date back.
13:31But my promise to you hasn't changed.
13:35Just promise me you won't bother Desmond and Addie anymore.
13:39I jerked my hand away and stared at him
13:41as if he were already dead.
13:43I'm not marrying you,
13:45and I'm never looking for Desmond again.
13:47Not in this lifetime.
13:50Because I'm...
13:52I was seconds away from telling him
13:55I was leaving the country
13:56when Desmond's SUV pulled up.
13:58Addison stepped out,
14:00dressed in a white dress.
14:01She made a show of needing Desmond's
14:03help getting out of the car.
14:05She cast Vicenti a faint, flirtatious look.
14:08A spark flickered in Vicenti's eyes
14:10for a split second before vanishing.
14:13Addison walked over to me,
14:14her eyes already beginning to redden.
14:17Her voice was soft and sounded utterly tender
14:20that it could break people's hearts.
14:22Emi, why are you still causing a scene?
14:24It's your wedding day!
14:26Why do you have to keep making
14:28Captain Urals and Vic worry about you?
14:31The murmurs around me grew sharper.
14:34She just said she didn't want to marry him,
14:35but the second Captain Urals shows up,
14:37she's standing there stardrock.
14:38How shameless can you get?
14:40Dr. Doc Ware even went out of his way
14:42to pull strings for her medication.
14:44An ungrateful woman like that
14:45belongs back in a holding cell.
14:47When Desmond heard that I had called off the wedding,
14:49his gaze turned icy.
14:51He stepped protectively in front of Addison.
14:54Amelia, I know you look down on Addie
14:56because she's a civilian.
14:58You think she's delicate, don't you?
15:00But let's look at the facts.
15:02How many major cases has she closed
15:04from behind the scenes
15:05using psychological profile?
15:07Her hands are meant for a pen.
15:09They're clean, untainted.
15:11And then there's you.
15:13Ever since that mission,
15:15you've been nothing but bitter
15:16and full of malice.
15:18Now you've even lost
15:19the little loyalty you had left.
15:22How can you even begin
15:23to compare yourself to her?
15:25I felt a sting in my nose
15:26as I sniffled.
15:27The late autumn wind
15:28whipped against my collar,
15:29but it couldn't chill me nearly
15:31as much as the coldness
15:32in my own chest.
15:33To put Addison on a pedestal,
15:35Desmond had gone as far
15:36as handing over half
15:37of my hard-earned career achievements
15:39to her.
15:42Overnight,
15:42I became the crazy woman
15:44of the department.
15:45Addison became
15:46the celebrated genius profiler,
15:48the golden girl of the force.
15:50Suddenly,
15:51Addison pointed
15:52at the worn collar
15:53around Kale's neck.
15:55Oh!
15:55Isn't that my missing emerald?
15:57How did it end up
15:58set into a dog collar?
16:00My body went rigid.
16:02I stared at Desmond,
16:03my eyes bloodshot and burning.
16:05That emerald?
16:07Wasn't that the retirement gift
16:08you gave Kale back then?
16:09A flicker of guilt
16:10crossed Desmond's eyes.
16:11His voice remained iron-cold.
16:13I never gave you
16:14anything like that.
16:15That's Addie's family heirloom.
16:16It went missing
16:17just a few days ago,
16:18so you're the one
16:18who stole it.
16:19The air was suddenly
16:20filled with voices
16:21calling me a thief.
16:23Every word felt like
16:24a bullet through my eardrums.
16:26Ignoring the sharp ache
16:28in my chest,
16:29I reached down
16:30with trembling hands.
16:31I unbuckled Kale's collar
16:33and slammed it
16:34onto the pavement.
16:35The emerald shattered
16:36into broken pieces.
16:38I haven't even set foot
16:39in your office.
16:40How could I have stolen anything?
16:41A flash of triumph
16:42crossed Addison's face.
16:44She buried herself
16:45in Desmond's arms,
16:46sobbing.
16:48Captain Urist,
16:49a few days ago,
16:50Emmy came to your office
16:50to cause a smeen.
16:51She must have taken it then.
16:54A voice rang out
16:55from the crowd,
16:57sharp with impatience.
16:58Addie,
16:58it's just an emerald.
16:59It's broken.
17:00Let it go.
17:02I'll buy you a better one.
17:04Emmy is still
17:05my deputy lead after all.
17:07Let's not make a scene
17:08in front of her house.
17:10Desmond pulled Addison closer,
17:12his eyes fiercely protective.
17:14He looked at me
17:14as if I were nothing but trash.
17:16Vedante,
17:17since she doesn't know
17:18what's good for her,
17:19consider the wedding off.
17:20Let's get out of here.
17:21Don't lower yourself
17:21to her level.
17:22I called out,
17:23my voice trembling.
17:26Desmond,
17:27we grew up together.
17:29How can you not believe me?
17:30He turned back,
17:31his gaze devoid
17:32of even a trace of warmth.
17:34He leaned in close,
17:36speaking in a low voice
17:37meant only for me.
17:38I want you to understand something.
17:40I don't care
17:41how outstanding
17:42you used to be.
17:44In my eyes,
17:45you don't even compare
17:46to Addie.
17:47If you keep trying
17:48to cling to me,
17:49you'll only disgust me more.
17:51My eyes stung
17:52with a bitter ache,
17:53but it felt
17:54as though my tears
17:55had already run dry.
17:58My mind drifted back
18:00to our days
18:00at the police academy.
18:02Back then,
18:03no matter who tried
18:04to bully me,
18:05Desmond would step
18:06in front of me
18:06without hesitation.
18:07He would declare
18:09I was under his protection.
18:11After that,
18:12no one dared
18:13to even raise
18:13their voice at me.
18:15But now,
18:16just to drive me away,
18:17he was letting
18:18the woman he loved
18:19drag my name
18:20through the mud.
18:21He didn't realize
18:22that even if I wanted
18:23to cling to him,
18:24I was out of time,
18:25by sunrise tomorrow,
18:27my identity
18:28would cease to exist.
18:29After the crowd dispersed,
18:31Vicenti dismissed
18:32the lingering colleagues
18:33with a wave
18:34of his hand.
18:35Seeing my numb expression,
18:36he grabbed my hand,
18:38his voice edged
18:39with impatience.
18:40Emmy,
18:41I'm sorry,
18:42that emerald
18:42really does belong
18:43to Addie.
18:44She gave it to me before,
18:45and I just passed
18:46it on to you.
18:47But I saw how much
18:48she liked it.
18:49If I hadn't played along,
18:50she would have been
18:51put in an awkward spot
18:52in front of Desmond.
18:53I stared at him,
18:55my face a mask
18:56of indifference.
18:58So you just stood there
18:59and watched them
19:00brand me a thief?
19:01He spoke with the gall
19:02of a man
19:02who truly believed
19:04he was in the right.
19:06There were so many people
19:07watching, Emmy.
19:10If I had called her out,
19:12how was Desmond
19:12supposed to save his image?
19:16How could Addison
19:16even stay on the force
19:17after a scandal like that?
19:20Besides,
19:20you're already suspended.
19:22Your reputation
19:23has already taken a hit.
19:25One more accusation
19:26isn't going to change anything.
19:28As long as I know
19:28you're innocent,
19:29that's all that matters.
19:31Once the wedding is over,
19:32I'll take you out of town
19:33for treatment.
19:34We'll start over
19:35on a clean slate.
19:37He was wrong.
19:37I wasn't looking
19:38for a fresh start.
19:40I simply reached the point
19:41where I didn't believe
19:42in humanity anymore.
19:43I slowly pulled my hand
19:45from his grip.
19:46I turned toward the hallway
19:47and shut the rusty
19:48iron door between us.
19:50Vicenti hammered
19:51on the door,
19:52his voice boiling over
19:53with rage.
19:54Emilia!
19:55Don't be so ungrateful!
19:57No one else out there
19:58would touch a crazy woman
20:00like you!
20:01I'll give you one night
20:02to get your head straight.
20:04I'm coming for you
20:05tomorrow morning.
20:07If you're still acting
20:08this stubborn,
20:09don't blame me
20:10for forgetting
20:11we were ever friends.
20:12I leaned against the door,
20:14listening until the sound
20:15of his footsteps
20:16finally faded.
20:17When the silence returned,
20:19my legs gave out.
20:21I slid to the floor,
20:23clutching Kale
20:23and sobbing
20:24until I couldn't breathe.
20:29Kale let out
20:30a low whine,
20:31licking the tears
20:32from my face.
20:33Later that night,
20:35I packed my life
20:36into a few small bags.
20:37I tucked the police badge
20:39that represented
20:40my past glory
20:41under my pillow.
20:42Then,
20:43leash in hand,
20:44I walked through
20:45the shadows
20:45of the night
20:46with Kale.
20:47When we reached
20:48the garage,
20:49I tied Kale's leash
20:50to a pole.
20:51It seemed to sense
20:52what was coming.
20:53It clamped its teeth
20:55onto my trouser leg,
20:56its eyes wide
20:57and pleading.
20:58I knelt,
20:59and with a heart
21:00made of stone,
21:01I slapped it.
21:02It let out
21:03a sharp whimper
21:04and backed away.
21:06Kale,
21:07if you follow me,
21:08you'll die.
21:10Stay here.
21:11At least this way
21:12you live.
21:13I pulled the knot tight
21:15and walked away
21:16without looking back.
21:17Behind me,
21:18Kale let out
21:19a series of
21:19heart-wrenching barks,
21:21each one sounding
21:21like a final goodbye.
21:22I whispered
21:23into the empty night sky.
21:25Amelia reporting
21:26to hell,
21:26I can't take it
21:27with me.
21:29I just hope
21:30it finds
21:30a decent owner.
21:32I stepped
21:33into the waiting van
21:34as the pre-dawn
21:35chill set in a
21:35single tear
21:37burned against
21:37my cheek
21:38for a second
21:38before the wind
21:39turned it to ice.
21:40Desmond,
21:41Vicenti,
21:42the bond we shared
21:43as brothers-in-arms
21:44died today.
21:45It was all gone.
21:46Burned to nothing.
21:49The next morning,
21:50Kale was found
21:51tied to the pole,
21:51shivering in the cold.
21:53Desmond frowned,
21:54his face twisted
21:55in disgust.
21:56So that crazy woman
21:58actually dumped
21:59the dog here?
22:00Does she really think
22:01she can win me over
22:02with a stunt like this?
22:04He untied the leash
22:05and was about
22:05to chase it away
22:06when Kale spat out
22:07a scrap of
22:08chewed-up paper.
22:09Desmond pieced it
22:10together,
22:11barely making out
22:12a few words.
22:13Undercover suicide mission.
22:15Final farewell.
22:16He let out a cold sneer
22:18and tossed the scraps
22:18into the trash.
22:19Another one of her
22:20mind games.
22:21How boring.
22:23I was already
22:23on a transport plane
22:25heading toward the border.
22:26Staring at the clouds
22:27outside the window,
22:29I felt a strange
22:30hollow sense of peace.
22:32Even though Desmond
22:33told himself
22:34he didn't believe
22:34a word of it,
22:35he couldn't shake
22:36the restless feeling
22:37gnawing at his gut.
22:39Without even realizing it,
22:40he got in his car.
22:42He found himself
22:43driving toward
22:44the police housing.
22:46He arrived just in time
22:47to see Vicenti
22:48clutching his ID
22:49and pounding at my door.
22:51Emilia!
22:52Get out now!
22:55Stop playing dead!
22:57Desmond rolled down
22:58his window.
22:59His voice I scold.
23:01Vicenti,
23:01give it a rest.
23:04A manipulative woman
23:05like her is probably
23:06hiding somewhere right now.
23:10Laughing at both of us.
23:14Vicenti looked embarrassed
23:15when he saw Desmond,
23:17but he doubled down
23:18stubbornly.
23:19Captain Urif,
23:20I'm just worried
23:20Emmy might do
23:21something reckless.
23:23She was in a really
23:24bad state yesterday.
23:25Desmond scoffed.
23:26Reckless?
23:27She values her life
23:28more than anyone.
23:30That whole performance
23:31yesterday was just
23:32for our benefit,
23:33wasn't it?
23:33Just as the words
23:34left his mouth,
23:35my foster father
23:36stepped out of the
23:36stairwell.
23:37He leaned heavily
23:38on his cane,
23:39his eyes heavy
23:40with disappointment
23:40and grief.
23:41You two should leave.
23:43Emmy is gone.
23:44She sent the dog
23:45away yesterday
23:46and she's already
23:47on her way
23:48to the border.
23:50Desmond frowned,
23:51his voice dripping
23:52with disbelief.
23:53You're actually
23:54humoring this nonsense?
23:57The border is no place
23:58for her.
23:59In the state she's in,
24:01she can barely
24:01hold a gun steady.
24:04She'd be nothing
24:04but a liability.
24:06My foster father
24:06let out a cold,
24:07hollow snort.
24:08And whose fault
24:09is that?
24:10You two drove her
24:11out of this city.
24:12She felt she had
24:13no choice but to
24:14volunteer for that
24:15suicide mission.
24:17She thinks dying
24:18out there is the
24:19only way to clear
24:20her name.
24:21Desmond flinched,
24:22but he quickly
24:23forced a dismissive
24:24smirk.
24:25Undercover?
24:26Her?
24:27Don't be ridiculous.
24:30If she actually
24:31has the guts
24:31to go through
24:32with that,
24:34I'll eat my hat.
24:37He turned
24:38and walked away,
24:40refusing to listen
24:40to another word.
24:42Yet when he returned
24:43to the station
24:44and passed the archives,
24:45he walked in
24:46on an impulse.
24:47He pulled up
24:48my file.
24:49A bold red warning
24:51flashed across
24:51the screen.
24:52Top secret
24:54sealed.
24:54At that moment,
24:56his hands began
24:56to tremble
24:57uncontrollably.
24:58He rushed toward
24:59the chief's office,
25:01but the secretary
25:02informed him
25:03that the chief
25:03was already at a
25:04briefing at state
25:05police headquarters.
25:06He called
25:07Vicenti immediately.
25:09Vicenti,
25:10check Emi's
25:11travel records
25:11now!
25:12Hurry up!
25:13On the other
25:14end of the line,
25:15Vicenti's voice
25:16was shaking.
25:18Desmond,
25:19I was just about
25:19to call you.
25:21Addison is having
25:22morning sickness.
25:23She says the baby
25:24might not make it.
25:26Let's put the stuff
25:27about Emi aside
25:28for a minute.
25:29Addie's in critical
25:30condition.
25:31Desmond froze,
25:33his mind spiraling
25:34into chaos.
25:35On one side
25:36was his childhood
25:37friend,
25:38who might be walking
25:39to her death.
25:40On the other
25:41was his fragile
25:42current partner,
25:43carrying what they
25:44believed was a
25:44fallen comrade's
25:45child.
25:46Finally,
25:47he gritted his
25:48teeth.
25:49Stay with Addie
25:50at the hospital.
25:51I'm on my way.
25:55As for me,
25:56he convinced
25:57himself it was
25:58just another one
25:59of my desperate
25:59plays for attention.
26:02A sealed file?
26:03Please.
26:04She must have
26:05begged the former
26:05chief to pull
26:06some strings
26:07and fake it.
26:09Six months later,
26:10big news came
26:11from the border.
26:12The drug cartel
26:13that had ruled
26:14the Golden Triangle
26:15for years was
26:16finally taken down
26:17in one major
26:18strike.
26:18The success was
26:20all thanks to
26:20an undercover
26:21officer,
26:22codenamed 003.
26:24This officer had
26:25lived among the
26:25cartel and sent
26:26back the secret
26:27data needed for
26:28the raid.
26:29But during the
26:30final fight,
26:31003 went missing,
26:32no one knew if
26:33the officer was
26:34dead or alive.
26:35While the rest
26:36of the department
26:37celebrated,
26:38Desmond and
26:39Vicenti couldn't
26:40even smile.
26:40They were the
26:41only ones who
26:42remembered that
26:43003 was my
26:44old codename.
26:45During the
26:46victory party,
26:47Addison walked
26:48in, leaning
26:49on Desmond's
26:50arm.
26:50She was heavily
26:51pregnant now.
26:53Des, don't worry
26:54so much.
26:54Emmy will be
26:55okay.
26:56She's always
26:56been lucky.
26:57Besides, our
26:58baby has been
26:59kicking me all
27:00day.
27:01Desmond looked
27:02at Addison's
27:02belly.
27:03A flicker of
27:04tenderness crossed
27:05his face, but it
27:06was mostly buried
27:07under pure
27:08exhaustion.
27:09Over the last
27:10six months, he
27:11had dreamed of
27:11me countless
27:12times.
27:13In the
27:14nightmares, I
27:14stood before
27:15him, covered
27:16in blood, asking
27:17why he hadn't
27:18saved me.
27:19Every time he
27:20woke up, his
27:21pillow was wet
27:22with tears.
27:25Nearby, Vicenti
27:26drank alone, his
27:28eyes dark.
27:29He had known the
27:30truth for a long
27:31time.
27:31I really had
27:32gone to the
27:33border.
27:33But he didn't
27:34dare tell
27:35Desmond.
27:36He certainly
27:36couldn't face
27:37Addison.
27:38The truth was,
27:39the child Addison
27:40carried wasn't a
27:41deceased comrade's
27:42child at all.
27:43That night, he
27:44had been drunk and
27:45mistaken Addison for
27:46me.
27:47If that secret ever
27:48came out, all three
27:50of them would be
27:50finished.
27:51Suddenly, the
27:53doors swung open,
27:54several special
27:55forces soldiers in
27:56camouflage carried
27:57in a stretcher draped
27:58with a white sheet.
27:59A single limp hand
28:01hung off the side,
28:02tightly clutching a
28:03shattered police
28:04badge.
28:04The entire hall went
28:06silent.
28:07The glass in
28:08Desmond's hand
28:09hit the floor and
28:10shattered.
28:10He staggered
28:11forward, reaching
28:12out to lift the
28:13sheet.
28:14The lead soldier
28:15stepped in his
28:16way.
28:16Captain
28:17Urance, I'm
28:18sorry for your
28:19loss.
28:19This is Deputy
28:20Captain
28:20Saddenton.
28:21We found her in
28:22the dungeon of
28:22the cartel's
28:23stronghold.
28:23Desmond's legs
28:24gave out, and
28:25he hit his knees
28:26beside the
28:27stretcher.
28:28He reached out
28:28with trembling
28:29fingers and pulled
28:30back a corner of
28:31the white sheet.
28:33The face
28:34underneath was
28:35completely
28:35unrecognizable.
28:37Her once
28:38beautiful features
28:38were a mass of
28:39knife scars and
28:40burn marks.
28:41Her skin
28:42barely intact.
28:44Only the old,
28:45familiar scar on
28:46her neck remained
28:47clear.
28:47The one she had
28:48gotten saving him
28:49from drowning when
28:50they were children.
28:54Desmond let out
28:55a gut-wrenching cry
28:56that echoed through
28:56the silent hall.
28:58Addison turned
28:59pale, clutching her
29:00belly and backing
29:01away in terror.
29:03Nearby, the wine
29:04bottle slipped from
29:05Vicenti's hand as
29:06he collapsed to the
29:07floor, his eyes
29:08completely hollow.
29:10Suddenly, the limp
29:11hand on the
29:12stretcher twitched.
29:13Desmond snapped
29:14his head up, a flash
29:16of desperate hope
29:16in his eyes.
29:19Doctor!
29:20Get a doctor over
29:21here!
29:22She's still alive!
29:23The military medic
29:24shook his head, his
29:25voice heavy with
29:26grief.
29:28Captain Urence, it's
29:29no use.
29:30They pumped her full
29:31of neurotoxins.
29:33Her organs have
29:34already failed.
29:35She's only held on
29:36this long by sheer
29:37willpower.
29:39She said she had
29:40something to tell
29:40you.
29:41Desmond and Vicenti
29:42scrambled closer,
29:44pressing their ears
29:45to my lips.
29:47My voice was a ghost
29:49of a sound, coming
29:50out in shallow, broken
29:52gasps.
29:53Desmond,
29:54Vincenia, tell
29:56Addison, the act
29:58is over.
29:59I'll see you
30:01in hell.
30:02With those final
30:02words, my hand went
30:04completely limp.
30:05The eyes that had
30:06once shone like stars
30:08were closed forever.
30:09In the corner of
30:10the hall, a man in a
30:11black trench coat
30:12watched the scene
30:13with cold indifference.
30:15He was the supreme
30:16commander of the
30:17operation, the only
30:18person in the world
30:19I had truly trusted,
30:21a top secret agent
30:22known only as
30:23lone wolf.
30:24He ran a hand over
30:26the sniper rifle at
30:27his side, a dark,
30:29dangerous smirk
30:30pulling at his lips.
30:31The real show has
30:33only just been
30:33Barton.
30:34As the hand fell
30:36limp, a heavy silence
30:37filled the hall,
30:39broken only by
30:40Desmond's frantic
30:41roar.
30:42Where's the ambulance?
30:43Why isn't it here
30:44yet?
30:45Vicente, you're a
30:46forensic tech.
30:47Save her!
30:47Do something!
30:50Desmond pressed
30:50down on my chest
30:51like a madman,
30:52trying to start
30:53CPR.
30:54His hands, which
30:56had never wavered
30:57while holding a gun,
30:58were shaking so
30:59violently he couldn't
31:00even find his
31:01rhythm.
31:03Vicente collapsed
31:04beside him, his
31:06trembling fingers
31:07reaching for my
31:07carotid artery.
31:09Seconds later, he
31:10pulled his hand back
31:11as if he'd been
31:12electrocuted.
31:13His face turned
31:14white as a sheet.
31:22Desmond screamed, his
31:24eyes bloodshot as he
31:26shoved Vicente
31:26aside.
31:29She's too tough for this!
31:31She wouldn't just die!
31:33She's doing this to get
31:34back at me!
31:35She's faking it!
31:37Just then, the man in
31:38the black trench coat
31:39stepped forward from the
31:40shadows.
31:41Jalen Field, known as
31:43Lone Wolf.
31:43With a face like stone,
31:45he grabbed Desmond's
31:46wrist.
31:47His grip tight enough to
31:48crush bone.
31:49Captain Urich, that's
31:50enough.
31:50Amelia was a special
31:51operative for national
31:52security.
31:53Her remains are a
31:54classified state secret.
31:56Your department has no
31:57jurisdiction here.
31:59He gave a sharp nod.
32:00Several armed agents
32:01stepped in, forcibly
32:02dragging Desmond away.
32:04They lifted the
32:05stretcher and moved
32:05out, swift and solemn,
32:07disappearing into the
32:08night.
32:09Let go of her!
32:11She's mine!
32:13Desmond thrashed like a
32:14wounded animal.
32:17Jalen stopped and
32:18looked back with pure
32:19contempt.
32:20He pulled a folder from
32:21his coat and slammed it
32:22hard against Desmond's
32:24chest.
32:24Take a good look,
32:26Captain Urichans.
32:27This is the last bit of
32:29intel she sent back.
32:30The truth she bought with
32:32her life.
32:32The file burst open,
32:34spilling photos and a
32:36voice recorder across the
32:37floor.
32:38Desmond's hands shook as
32:39he reached for the
32:40pictures.
32:40In one, I was strapped to
32:43an electric chair.
32:44Drenched in blood, my jaw
32:45set in a silent, stubborn
32:47line.
32:48In another, Addison was
32:50perched on the drug lord's
32:51lap, laughing as she
32:52counted a thick stack of
32:53cash.
32:54Then, the recorder
32:56clicked on Addison's voice
32:57filled the room, sounding
32:59sickeningly sweet.
33:00Oh, Amelia is such a
33:02fool.
33:03I just play the victim for
33:04a minute and Desmond falls
33:06for it every time.
33:08Once she's dead, I'll be
33:10the captain's wife for
33:11real.
33:11Desmond went still, his
33:13mind a total blank.
33:15Seeing the evidence, Addison
33:17shrieked and lunged for the
33:18recorder.
33:27The sound of the slap
33:28cracked through the hall
33:29like a gunshot.
33:31Desmond put everything he
33:32had into it, sending
33:34Addison spinning to the
33:35floor.
33:35Blood immediately began to
33:37leak from the corner of
33:38her mouth.
33:39His eyes were bloodshot as
33:41he closed in on her, his
33:42voice a low, deathly
33:44growl.
33:45It was you.
33:47You leaked the intel.
33:49You're the reason they
33:50caught her.
33:50You were the one crawling
33:51at the feet of a drug
33:52lord.
33:53Addison scrambled back in
33:55terror, only to hit
33:56Vicenti's legs.
33:57She grabbed onto him like
33:59a lifeline.
34:00Vic, help me!
34:01I still have your...
34:02But Vicenti kicked her
34:04away like she was trash,
34:05his face a mask of despair
34:07and self-loathing.
34:08Still acting, Addison?
34:10He pulled a crumpled
34:11medical report from his
34:13pocket and threw it at her.
34:14I already found out the
34:16truth.
34:16You drugged me that night!
34:19A wave of shocked
34:20whispers broke out across
34:21the room.
34:22Jalen watched the pathetic
34:24display with a cold,
34:25mocking curve to his lips.
34:27Amelia was right.
34:29You people really are
34:30disgusting.
34:32Move out!
34:33At his command, the
34:34agents lifted my body and
34:36walked away from that
34:37filthy place without
34:38looking back.
34:40Behind them, Desmond
34:42collapsed to his knees,
34:43his desperate wails
34:44drowned out by Addison's
34:46hysterical screams.
34:47Two years later, the air
34:50in the Chicago PD's
34:51criminal investigation
34:52division was so thick
34:53it was suffocating.
34:55Desmond was unshaven,
34:57his eyes sunken and
34:58hollow.
34:58The sharp, confident
35:00edge he once carried
35:01had long since vanished.
35:03For two years, he had
35:04lived like a madman.
35:06Every spare moment was
35:08spent at the border,
35:09hunting for any scrap of
35:10proof that I might still
35:11be alive.
35:12Even though the ashes
35:14Jalen sent back were
35:15already buried in the
35:16martyr's cemetery, he
35:18simply refused to
35:19believe I was gone.
35:22Captain Urich, an order
35:24just came in from state
35:25police headquarters.
35:26A young trainee handed
35:28him a file, his hands
35:29shaking slightly.
35:31Interpol is sending a
35:32special commissioner to
35:33help us with the recent
35:33cross-border trafficking
35:34case.
35:35Word is, this commissioner
35:36is the Reaper.
35:37The one everyone in the
35:39golden triangle is
35:39terrified of.
35:40Desmond rubbed his
35:41tired brow and took
35:42the file.
35:44Got it, prepare a
35:45meeting room.
35:46His heart had died two
35:47years ago, buried right
35:48alongside those ashes at
35:50the funeral.
35:52Half an hour later, the
35:54conference room door
35:55swung open.
35:56The sharp, rhythmic
35:57click of high heels
35:58echoed through the room,
35:59bringing with it a cold,
36:01lethal energy.
36:02Allow me to introduce
36:03myself.
36:05I'm Catherine Barnard, the
36:07special commissioner from
36:07Interpol.
36:08The familiar voice hit
36:10Desmond and Vicente like a
36:11physical blow.
36:12They both snapped their
36:13heads up at once.
36:15Standing before them was a
36:16face that was as delicate
36:17and stunning as it was
36:18icy.
36:19She wore a tailored black
36:20trench coat, her blonde
36:21waves falling over her
36:23shoulders.
36:23Her lips a bold, fiery
36:25red.
36:26Her presence overwhelming.
36:28It was unmistakably the
36:29face of Amelia, the woman
36:31who had been dead for two
36:32years, but the light in her
36:33eyes had changed the steady,
36:35earnest look she once had
36:36was gone, replaced by a
36:38cold mockery and an
36:39indifference born from
36:40someone who had seen it
36:41all and survived.
36:42The pen in Desmond's hand
36:43snapped in two with a
36:44sharp crack.
36:45He surged to his feet so
36:47quickly that his chair
36:48slammed into the floor
36:49behind him.
36:50Emmy?
36:50Is that you?
36:51You're alive?
36:52He stumbled toward her,
36:54reaching for her hand,
36:55but a firm, powerful grip
36:57blocked his way.
36:59Jalen, dressed in a sharp,
37:01tailored suit, stood between
37:03them with a faint, mocking
37:04smile.
37:05He casually slipped an arm
37:06around the woman's waist.
37:08Captain Urest, show some
37:10respect.
37:12This is my fiancée, and your
37:14commanding officer for this
37:16mission, Catherine.
37:19I casually removed my
37:21sunglasses to reveal eyes
37:22that were completely composed.
37:24I looked at Desmond with a
37:25flick of contempt, as if
37:26glancing at a stray dog by the
37:28side of the road.
37:29Captain Urent, I believe you
37:31have me mistaken for someone
37:32else.
37:33That fool, Emilia, died two
37:34years ago.
37:35Driven to her death by your
37:36own hands, wasn't she?
37:38Beside him, Vicenti stumbled
37:40forward, his eyes bloodshot.
37:41Emmy, it really is you.
37:43I knew you hadn't died.
37:44That scar on your neck-
37:45I let a thin smile curl my
37:46lips as my fingers brushed
37:48the side of my neck.
37:49The skin was as smooth as
37:50silk.
37:51The scar had been surgically
37:53removed long ago.
37:54Mr. Daxue, if your eyesight is
37:56failing you, I suggest seeing
37:57an ophthalmologist.
37:58We are here to discuss the
37:59case if all you can offer is
38:00personal sentiment, then I
38:01don't think you deserve to be
38:02an officer anymore.
38:03My voice was as cold as ice,
38:05every word cutting through the
38:06room.
38:07Just then, the conference room
38:09door swung open again.
38:10A large German shepherd rushed
38:12in.
38:13It was Kale.
38:14It had aged significantly, and
38:16its coat had lost the luster it
38:18once had.
38:19Desmond lunged at this final
38:21straw, pointing at the dog and
38:23shouting,
38:24Kale is your dog!
38:25He'll recognize you!
38:26Dogs don't lie!
38:30When Kale saw me, it let out an
38:32excited whine, it moved to
38:34pounce.
38:35Every eye in the room fixed on
38:37the animal, a spark of hope
38:38ignited in Desmond's eyes.
38:40Kale charged toward me, its tail
38:43wagging like a propeller.
38:44Seeing that familiar expression
38:46made my heart skip a beat.
38:47But I kept my face a mask of
38:49indifference.
38:50The moment it went to leap at
38:51me, I stepped aside.
38:53My gaze sharpened instantly as I
38:55drew my sidearm.
38:56I leveled the barrel directly
38:58between its eyes.
38:59Where did this stray come from?
39:01What happened to security?
39:02One more step and I'll shoot it
39:04to death.
39:05As if sensing the cold
39:06lethality radiating from me,
39:08Kale slammed on the brakes.
39:10It skidded to a halt half a
39:12meter away.
39:13It tilted its head in
39:14confusion.
39:15A pitiful whine caught in its
39:17throat.
39:17But it didn't dare move any
39:19closer.
39:20It could still catch my scent.
39:21But it was now buried under the
39:23stench of gunpowder and years
39:24spent in the line of fire.
39:26The vibe of the gentle owner it
39:28once knew was gone.
39:29The light in Desmond's eyes
39:30vanished.
39:31He stared at me in disbelief.
39:35You would really kill it?
39:36This is Kale.
39:37You used to scrimp and save just
39:39to buy the best food for it.
39:40You nearly got hit by a car
39:41trying to save its life.
39:42I coldly holstered my gun,
39:44cutting off his sentimental rant.
39:46Captain Eurbert, I've told you
39:47don't know any Kale.
39:48In my world, any unpredictable
39:50variable is a threat.
39:51I turned toward Jalen,
39:52my voice softening.
39:54Jay, let's get the meeting
39:56started.
39:57I don't want to waste any more
39:58time on irrelevant people or
39:59their drama.
40:00In front of everyone, Jalen
40:02affectionately ruffled my hair.
40:03He pressed a kiss to my
40:05forehead.
40:05Of course, whatever you say.
40:07The rest of the meeting was
40:08nothing short of torture for
40:10Desmond and Vicenti.
40:11I laid out the operation plan with
40:13ruthless efficiency.
40:15Every order was precise and
40:16calculated.
40:17Completely overshadowing Desmond,
40:20the supposed team leader.
40:21They watched me speak with such
40:23confidence.
40:24A wave of familiarity and
40:26strangeness washing over them.
40:28The little girl who used to
40:29follow them around, meekly calling
40:31them Day and Vic.
40:33She really had died that winter.
40:36After the meeting, I stood up to
40:38leave.
40:39Desmond blocked the door in
40:40desperation.
40:41His eyes bloodshot and his voice
40:43rasping.
40:44Amy, I went back through the old
40:46files.
40:46I know you took that undercover
40:48mission just to get away from us.
40:50These last two years, I've lived in
40:52regret every single day.
40:54I've been to countless therapy
40:56sessions because every time I
40:57close my eyes, I see you covered
40:59in blood.
41:00Adeline is in prison and Vicento has
41:02gotten what he deserved.
41:05Can you give me a chance to make
41:07things right?
41:07He reached out humbly, catching the
41:10hem of my coat.
41:11Even if you never forgive me, just
41:13let me watch over you from a
41:15distance.
41:15I stopped and turned.
41:17I looked down at the man I had
41:19once loved with all my heart.
41:21Now, he was just a pathetic loser.
41:24A cruel smile tugged at my lips.
41:26Make amends?
41:27Desmond, love that comes this late is
41:30worth less than the dirt under my
41:32shoes.
41:33When I was being injected with
41:34hallucinatics in that dungeon, in so
41:37much pain I wanted to bash my head
41:39against the wall to end it, you were
41:42taking Addison to her prenatal checkups.
41:44When I was being stepped on by a
41:46drug lord, my ribs breaking as I
41:49defended the dignity of my badge, you
41:51were celebrating Addison's birthday!
41:55And now you want to talk about making
41:57amends?
41:59I crowded into his space, step by step.
42:02My gaze was sharp.
42:04You want to atone?
42:06Fine.
42:07Then die.
42:10The only way I'll ever believe you're
42:12sorry is if you're dead.
42:14Desmond staggered, his face turning
42:17ashen as the life seemed to drain
42:18right out of him.
42:19I didn't give him another glance,
42:21slipping my arm through Jalen's.
42:23I strode out of the police station.
42:25Outside, the sunlight was blinding.
42:28Jalen opened the car door for me.
42:31Did your heart soften just now?
42:33I stared at the figure kneeling and
42:36weeping in the rearview mirror.
42:37I shook my head gently.
42:40My heart died a long time ago.
42:43There is nothing left to soften.
42:45Let's go, J.
42:46We still have missions waiting for us
42:48at the border.
42:49The car roared to life and sped away.
42:52A week later, during an arrest,
42:54Desmond threw himself recklessly in
42:56front of a rookie officer to protect
42:57them.
42:58He was shot five times and died on
43:00the spot.
43:00When his belongings were sorted,
43:02a blood-soaked photograph was found
43:04in his pocket.
43:05The only picture of him and me,
43:07taken on the day we graduated
43:08from the police academy.
43:10As for Vicenti, he never married.
43:12He stayed in that empty dormitory
43:14courtyard with the aging kale,
43:16living out the rest of his days
43:18in a haze of madness.
43:20But none of that mattered to me anymore.
43:22I was Catherine.
43:24And I was Amelia, who had been reborn.
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