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🔥 Prepare for the ultimate short drama addiction! Packed with breathless romance, shocking betrayals, and massive plot twists that will keep you hooked until the very last second. 💔👑🕶️
🚀 Hit FOLLOW now for daily addictive mini-series! 👇
#shortdrama #miniseries #drama #romance #betrayal #mafia #shortfilm
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Short filmTranscript
00:00At my wedding, my fiancé slapped me across the face.
00:04All for his bridesmaid, right in front of our parents.
00:07That same day, I threw my ring away and called off the wedding.
00:10Everyone thought I was just throwing a tantrum.
00:13After all, Caleb and I had grown up together.
00:15I'd been in love with him since we were kids.
00:17I followed him around like a shadow for 20 whole years.
00:22But this time, I was dead serious.
00:24Later, when he finally tracked me down...
00:27Why?
00:27Just because of one slap?
00:29Yes, just because of one slap.
00:33The second his hand connected with my face,
00:36a sudden metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.
00:39After the sharp, echoing crack of the slap,
00:42the entire ballroom fell dead silent.
00:45The left side of my face went numb.
00:47Then it burst into a burning pain.
00:50I looked up at him, my fiancé, Caleb Westbrook.
00:53All because I caught Natalie Hawthorne trying on my wedding dress
00:57without permission.
00:58All because I refused to let her be my bridesmaid.
01:02Even Caleb looks stunned by what he'd done.
01:05Enough, Vanessa.
01:07Stop making a scene.
01:09The ceremony's starting.
01:11Can you just be reasonable for once?
01:13Natalie stood right beside him, biting her lip,
01:15her eyes turning glossy and red.
01:18Oh my god, Caleb, don't.
01:19It's my fault.
01:21I shouldn't have tried it on without asking.
01:23I just loved it so much.
01:24I'm so sorry.
01:25I didn't mean it.
01:26Just step down as your bridesmaid.
01:28Please, can you guys just stop fighting?
01:30Caleb shot her a look.
01:33Vanessa, if you don't want to do this, then leave.
01:35We have guests waiting out there.
01:37This is not the place for your tantrums.
01:40Humiliation, hurt, fury.
01:42They all surged up at once, lodging themselves in my throat.
01:45Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
01:49In front of all the guests, I slid the diamond ring off my finger,
01:53then turned around and walked away.
01:55I was done explaining myself,
01:57and I sure wasn't staying there to be humiliated in front of everyone.
02:02Honestly, Caleb had never been Prince Charming,
02:05but that was the first time he hit me.
02:07More than that, in my entire 25 years of life,
02:11that was the first time anyone had ever struck me.
02:14Caleb and I went way back.
02:16His grandpa, Walter, and my grandpa served in the army together.
02:20We grew up in the same neighborhood, literally next-door neighbors.
02:23I had been in love with him since I was a little girl.
02:27When I was five, a boy at the playground snatched my toys.
02:30He pulled my hair, dumped bugs straight into my backpack.
02:34I ran crying to my mother, Eleanor.
02:36She went to confront the boy's parents,
02:38but they just brushed it off as kids will be kids.
02:41Grandpa Walter was having dinner at our house that night.
02:44When he heard what happened, he called Caleb over.
02:47He told him to watch my back out there from now on.
02:50Caleb was two years older than me.
02:52When he heard I'd been bullied,
02:53he caught that boy by the playground slide,
02:55pinned him to the dirt, and beat him up.
02:58Caleb had always been big for his age.
03:00He had this mean, untouchable edge to him.
03:03By the time he was done,
03:04that boy and his two friends were bawling their eyes out.
03:08Anyone touches Vanessa, they deal with me.
03:12That was the exact moment I fell for him.
03:15From that day on, I became his shadow.
03:18I followed him every single day.
03:21Wherever he went, I was right behind him.
03:24Caleb hated it at first,
03:26but I never stopped trailing after him.
03:28Eventually, he got used to it and stopped telling me to leave.
03:31He would carry my backpack,
03:33tilt the umbrella toward me when it rained,
03:35and whenever I called his name, he'd turn around right away.
03:38At my 18th birthday party, Walter joked around.
03:42Well, if these two are this inseparated,
03:44maybe we should just make it official one day.
03:46I saw his ears turn red.
03:49And I'm marrying Caleb.
03:54But six years ago, everything shattered.
03:56That fall, Natalie Hawthorne arrived.
03:59She was the daughter of his mother's friend.
04:01She had just moved back from London
04:03and was staying at his house temporarily.
04:05She was gorgeous,
04:07with perfect natural curls
04:09and a soft, breathy accent.
04:11The very first day she moved in,
04:14Caleb brought her along to pick me up from campus.
04:17Oh my God.
04:18So this is your little sister, Vanessa?
04:20She's so cute.
04:22Literally covered in pink.
04:23Wait, how old are you again?
04:25You're in college, right?
04:26You still dress like a little girl
04:28and no one's ever said anything?
04:29My face instantly burned red.
04:33I loved pink.
04:34I was obsessed with it.
04:36My clothes, my tumbler, my hair clips,
04:39my jewelry, my phone case,
04:41even my fingernails were pink.
04:43People had teased me for it plenty of times.
04:45But no one had ever talked down to me like that before.
04:49With such fake, over-the-top pity,
04:52my face burned.
04:53I just stood there, completely tongue-tied.
04:57Relax, I'm just super blunt.
04:59Don't tell me I offended the princess already.
05:02Seeing my reaction,
05:03Natalie just smiled and winked.
05:06All right, that's enough.
05:07Caleb cut through the tension impatiently.
05:09I turned around.
05:10He was staring at Natalie,
05:11brows drawn tight,
05:13clearly annoyed.
05:15Ooh, the princess knight in shining armor?
05:18What, I can't even make a joke?
05:20Seriously?
05:21What's your problem?
05:22That night, Caleb told our parents what happened.
05:25Diana smoothed it over immediately.
05:27She told Natalie to lay off the jokes.
05:30And she pushed Caleb to take us both out on weekends
05:32so we could bond.
05:34From that day on,
05:35Natalie was always around.
05:37I didn't know exactly when
05:39she and Caleb got so close.
05:41Every afternoon,
05:42Caleb used to bring me
05:43a strawberry milkshake after class.
05:45But one day,
05:46he handed me an iced Americano.
05:48I barely drink coffee.
05:50You know that.
05:50I stared at the iced coffee,
05:53my chest tightening.
05:54Come on.
05:55You only like the milkshake because it's pink.
05:57That stuff's basically melted sugar.
06:00Try drinking something healthier.
06:02Across from him,
06:03Natalie lifted an identical iced Americano.
06:06Oops.
06:07Sorry, shortcake.
06:08I was craving coffee so I told Caleb to grab these.
06:11But honestly,
06:12milkshakes are kind of a lot.
06:16Do girls like you seriously drink that stuff every day?
06:20Do you always give people nicknames?
06:22For a second she froze.
06:24Then came the wounded expression.
06:26Why are you making it such a big deal?
06:28I was joking.
06:30You're being way too sensitive,
06:32don't you think?
06:33Am I sensitive?
06:34Or did you do it on purpose?
06:36Enough, Vanessa.
06:38Caleb cut in sharply.
06:39She just moved here.
06:41Sometimes she speaks without thinking.
06:46Stop taking it so personally.
06:48My blood was boiling.
06:49Then maybe she should think before she talks.
06:53Hey, hey.
06:54All right.
06:55My bad.
06:57How about this?
06:58Tomorrow I'll get you a Vanta strawberry milkshake.
07:01Deal?
07:02My little princess?
07:04Hearing that,
07:05Natalie's smile disappeared.
07:06She stared dead at me.
07:09From that day on,
07:10Natalie actively targeted me.
07:13Whenever I pulled out a pink pack of tissues,
07:15she would gasp dramatically.
07:17Wow.
07:18Even your tissues are pink?
07:20What?
07:21Are you trying to turn yourself into Barbie?
07:23At dinner,
07:24whenever I wiped down my silverware before evening,
07:27there it is.
07:29Princess mode activated.
07:31During summer break,
07:32I was hauling suitcases down from my dorm.
07:34Aw.
07:35The princess can't carry her own luggage.
07:38Someone get this girl a night.
07:40Every single time she did this,
07:42her friends would crack up.
07:44At first,
07:46Caleb actually stepped in.
07:48He would tell her to knock it off.
07:50Relax.
07:51I'm kidding.
07:52Vanessa's too guarded.
07:56I'm helping her loosen up and actually bond with people.
08:00She's a bit high maintenance.
08:03Is that just a girl thing?
08:05Natalie punched his shoulder playfully.
08:07Hey, Caleb.
08:08Don't lump me in with those girls.
08:10I'm definitely not like them.
08:12Caleb laughed.
08:13It was such a gentle smile.
08:15My chest tightened with a sour ache.
08:18I always knew he thought I was spoiled
08:21and through little tantrums.
08:22Maybe to guys like him,
08:24liking pink,
08:26hating germs,
08:27and not being physically strong
08:28just meant you were a high-maintenance princess.
08:32But finally,
08:33I snapped.
08:34It was a friend's birthday party.
08:36I wore a fitted pink button-down
08:38over a white cami to the club.
08:40When Natalie saw me,
08:42she practically shrieked.
08:44Oh.
08:45My.
08:46God.
08:47Vanessa,
08:48are you serious right now?
08:49Pink with a white cami?
08:51What's this,
08:52a teen drama?
08:53No, seriously,
08:54I'm dying.
08:55Do you think you're the main character?
08:57Look at you.
08:59You look like,
09:00what's the word?
09:02One of those girls
09:02trying way too hard to look cute.
09:05Like a Barbie doll
09:06that wandered onto the wrong set.
09:09Hilarious.
09:09She cracked up
09:11with a few guys
09:12who'd been mocking me
09:13since we were kids.
09:14Even Caleb
09:15seemed genuinely amused.
09:17The corner of his mouth twitched.
09:19A tidal wave
09:20of humiliation and shame
09:22swallowed me alive.
09:23While they were laughing,
09:24I grabbed my glass
09:25and tossed my drink
09:27right into her face.
09:29Natalie gasped,
09:30wiping furiously
09:31at her wet face.
09:32Her makeup melted.
09:33Black mascara
09:34completely streaked
09:35down her cheeks.
09:36She coughed violently.
09:38What the hell
09:39is wrong with you?
09:40Are you insane?
09:42Oh, my God.
09:44I mocked her tone perfectly.
09:46Look at your heavy contour,
09:47fake lashes,
09:48and that dress
09:48that barely covers your ass.
09:50What are you,
09:51a hooker?
09:51Some trashy
09:52little club princess?
09:53Caleb scowled
09:54and stepped between us.
09:55He yanked the glass
09:56right out of my hand.
09:58Vanessa,
10:00apologize.
10:01He looked down at me,
10:03his brow furrowed.
10:03My eyes burned
10:04as I stared dead at him.
10:06Didn't you hear
10:07what she said to me?
10:08She mocked me first.
10:10That's not the point.
10:11You already insulted her back.
10:13Now apologize
10:13for throwing the drink.
10:15When you do something wrong,
10:16you own it.
10:18Stop acting like a child.
10:20He said it
10:21with such casual authority.
10:23Just say sorry.
10:24She won't hold it against you.
10:27Fuck off.
10:29Vanessa,
10:29what's gotten into you?
10:30You leave for college
10:31and suddenly this is how you talk?
10:34Apologize right now.
10:35I scoffed,
10:36turned on my heel
10:38and walked straight out of the club.
10:40Three days later,
10:41Caleb showed up.
10:42He brought my favorite
10:43strawberry milkshake to campus.
10:44It had pink whipped cream on top
10:46with my favorite flamingo straw
10:48sticking out of it.
10:49He stood below the balcony
10:50of my dorm building.
10:51Vanessa,
10:53come down.
10:55I owe you an apology.
10:56I stood on the balcony
10:57looking down at him.
10:59The wind made my eyes sting.
11:01I went downstairs
11:01and took the shake from him.
11:03I took a sip.
11:04It was sweet,
11:05but my chest still felt tight
11:07and heavy.
11:08Do you actually think
11:09I'm spoiled,
11:10petty,
11:10and making a big deal
11:11out of nothing?
11:12He fell silent for a long time.
11:15Natalie's just blunt.
11:16She doesn't mean any harm.
11:17Just let it go.
11:18You take everything
11:19way too personally,
11:20Vanessa.
11:22That's probably why
11:23you have no friends.
11:24The milkshake sat heavy
11:25in my throat.
11:27I couldn't swallow it.
11:28Couldn't spit it out.
11:29So that was it.
11:29No matter how badly
11:31I was hurt,
11:32I was always the petty one
11:33with Caleb.
11:34Always too sensitive,
11:36too dramatic.
11:37From that day on,
11:38our relationship
11:39just went on autopilot.
11:40We were together,
11:41but something between us
11:43had gone cold.
11:44After we finished grad school,
11:46our parents started
11:47bringing up marriage
11:47more and more.
11:49They thought it was time
11:50we settled down.
11:51Caleb didn't object,
11:52so the wedding was set
11:54for my 25th birthday.
11:56On the big day,
11:57Natalie was already
11:58standing in the bridal suite
11:59wearing my wedding dress.
12:01She said she just wanted
12:02to see how it looked on her.
12:04I let out a disbelieving laugh.
12:06She glanced at the red
12:07reception dress
12:08I had just changed into,
12:10wrinkled her nose.
12:11Honestly,
12:12red is definitely
12:13not your color,
12:14Vanessa.
12:14It looks hideous on you.
12:16Take it off.
12:17If you want to try
12:18on a wedding dress so badly,
12:19go rent one.
12:21That one is mine.
12:22But she just did
12:23a little twirl
12:24in front of me.
12:25Oh, come on.
12:26You've already worn it
12:27for the ceremony.
12:28Caleb said he didn't mind.
12:31Why are you being
12:32so possessive?
12:33That was it.
12:34I reached out
12:34and grabbed the fabric.
12:36It's my wedding dress.
12:37Give it back.
12:39As we struggled,
12:40her foot caught on something.
12:42She tripped
12:42and fell hard
12:44onto the floor.
12:45Her carefully styled hair
12:46tumbled into a messy heap.
12:48At that exact moment,
12:50the door flew open.
12:51Caleb rushed in.
12:53His eyes landed on Natalie.
12:54And without a single second
12:56of hesitation,
12:57he raised his hand
12:58and slapped me
13:00straight across the face.
13:02It was raining
13:02when I walked out
13:03of the ballroom.
13:04A brutal August storm.
13:06Heavy drops smashed
13:07against the pavement.
13:08I walked step by step
13:11into the freezing rain.
13:12Still wearing that
13:13red reception dress
13:15Natalie had just mocked.
13:17Behind me,
13:18my mother's voice
13:19tore through the storm.
13:20Vanessa!
13:21Vanessa!
13:21Come back!
13:23Oh, for God's sake!
13:25What is wrong with her?
13:27Throwing a tantrum?
13:28Throwing a tantrum
13:29at her own wedding?
13:30This is so embarrassing!
13:32I didn't look back.
13:33My heel caught in a puddle,
13:35my ankle twisted,
13:36and I nearly fell.
13:38So I yanked off both heels,
13:40walked barefoot
13:41on the soaking wet pavement.
13:43The muddy water
13:44was freezing and filthy,
13:46but I couldn't care less.
13:48When I walked past
13:48the main gates,
13:50the hotel security guard
13:51stared at me
13:51like I'd lost my mind.
13:53Well,
13:54a barefoot bride
13:55walking into a thunderstorm.
13:57I probably did look insane.
13:59My phone buzzed
14:01nonstop in my purse.
14:02I pulled it out.
14:04Dozens of texts
14:05from relatives and friends.
14:06What happened?
14:07Is everything okay?
14:09Why did you leave?
14:11I powered the phone off
14:12and flagged down a cab.
14:13The driver hesitated
14:15when he saw me dripping wet,
14:16but eventually unlocked the doors.
14:19Where to?
14:19I gave him an address,
14:21an old apartment
14:22I shared with a friend
14:23back in college.
14:24She had moved to San Francisco,
14:26but she kept the lease
14:27and left me a spare key.
14:28The ride took 40 minutes.
14:30I shivered the entire way.
14:32I wasn't sure
14:33if it was from the cold
14:34or something else.
14:36When I arrived,
14:37I dug through my soaked purse.
14:39I only had $200 in cash
14:41and a debit card.
14:43My phone was completely dead.
14:46I climbed the stairs
14:47and unlocked the door.
14:48The apartment
14:49was dead empty.
14:51Just a bare mattress
14:53and a single folding chair.
14:55I peeled off
14:56the heavy soaked dress,
14:58crawled into an old blanket
15:00she had left behind,
15:01curling into a tight ball.
15:03Finally,
15:04the tears started falling.
15:06It wasn't even heartbreak anymore.
15:09It wasn't anger either.
15:10It was just
15:11a suffocating emptiness.
15:14I'd loved Caleb
15:15for almost my entire life.
15:17When I was five,
15:18he beat up the boys
15:20who bullied me.
15:21I thought he was
15:21the bravest person
15:23in the world.
15:24When I was eight,
15:25I scraped my me.
15:26He crouched down
15:27and put a band-aid on it.
15:29His hands had been clumsy,
15:30but so careful.
15:32When I was 15,
15:34I bombed a test.
15:35He stayed on the phone
15:36with me for hours,
15:38saying,
15:39It's one test, Vanessa.
15:41You'll be fine.
15:42When I was 18,
15:43I got accepted into college.
15:45He bought me
15:46a pink crystal bracelet.
15:48My little princess
15:49finally grew up.
15:52But when did everything change?
15:54Was it the day
15:55Natalie showed up?
15:56Or was it even
15:57earlier than that?
15:58Maybe he'd never loved me.
16:01Maybe I was just
16:02a needy friend
16:03he had to look after.
16:04A shadow
16:05he just couldn't shake off.
16:08He treated me well,
16:09not out of love,
16:11but out of habit.
16:12He was used to me
16:13following him around,
16:15used to my clinginess.
16:17But Natalie was different.
16:18She was independent,
16:20fiercely opinionated,
16:22and bluntly outspoken.
16:24She didn't need him
16:25to act as her knight
16:26in shining armor.
16:27She even challenged him.
16:29To Caleb,
16:30maybe that was
16:31a mature,
16:32equal relationship,
16:33not a childish,
16:35high-maintenance princess
16:36who needed
16:36constant coddling.
16:38Those thoughts spiraled
16:39until I eventually
16:41passed out
16:41from exhaustion.
16:43In my dreams,
16:44I was five years old again.
16:46After he finished
16:47beating up those boys,
16:48he turned his head
16:49and looked at me.
16:51Sunlight hit his face.
16:53Anyone touches Vanessa,
16:55they deal with me.
16:56But the very next second,
16:58the dream shifted.
16:59He was standing
17:00in the grand ballroom,
17:01staring at me
17:03with an ice-cold face
17:04before slapping me
17:06across the cheek.
17:07I jolted awake.
17:08Sweat slicked my skin.
17:10The storm had passed.
17:11The sky was starting
17:13to turn pale.
17:14I plugged in my phone,
17:16powered it on.
17:17It vibrated
17:18for three straight minutes,
17:20flooded with messages.
17:22Most were from my mother,
17:24starting from a panicked,
17:26Vanessa,
17:26where are you?
17:28To,
17:29please answer me.
17:30And finally,
17:31do you have any idea
17:33what this has done
17:34to both families?
17:36Then there were
17:37a few texts from Caleb.
17:39Where are you?
17:40Vanessa,
17:41are you done with this yet?
17:43Pick up.
17:44The very last one
17:45was sent at 2 a.m.
17:48Just one line.
17:49Are you happy now?
17:50I stared at that text.
17:52A bitter laugh
17:53escaped my lips.
17:55He slapped me
17:56across the face.
17:57And now,
17:58he actually had the guts
18:00to text me,
18:01are you happy now?
18:03Just like always.
18:04To him,
18:05this was totally my fault.
18:07I was being unreasonable.
18:09I ruined
18:10our perfect wedding.
18:12I didn't reply
18:13to anyone.
18:14I opened DoorDash
18:15and ordered
18:16some hot chicken soup.
18:17The buzzer sounded.
18:19I assumed
18:20it was the chicken soup.
18:21I pulled open the door.
18:23But it wasn't
18:24the delivery guy.
18:25It was Caleb.
18:26He was still wearing
18:27the same gray wedding suit.
18:30Dark circles
18:31bruised the skin
18:31beneath his eyes,
18:32like he hadn't slept
18:34all night.
18:35He took one look
18:36at my pale face
18:38and froze.
18:39I knew exactly
18:41how pathetic I looked.
18:42I was drowning
18:43in a baggy old t-shirt
18:44someone left behind.
18:45And I still had
18:47the faint red handprint
18:49on my left cheek.
18:50He stared at me
18:51for a few seconds.
18:52His throat bobbed.
18:54You stayed here last night?
18:55I didn't answer him.
18:57Just turned
18:57and walked back inside.
18:59He followed me inside,
19:01scanning the completely
19:02bare room,
19:03his brows drawing together.
19:04You're staying here?
19:05You're staying here?
19:05There's not even a bed.
19:07None of your business.
19:09I sat down on the mattress,
19:10picked up a cup,
19:11and took a sip of water.
19:13He walked over
19:14and towered above me,
19:16looking down.
19:17Come home.
19:20Let's finish the wedding.
19:21We can pretend
19:22yesterday never happened.
19:24I slowly looked up at him.
19:26His face was
19:27so incredibly calm.
19:29Caleb,
19:30do you honestly think
19:30I can't live without you?
19:33What?
19:34I said,
19:36I'm not marrying you.
19:38We're done.
19:40His brow furrowed
19:42into a tight knot.
19:43Vanessa,
19:44do you even hear yourself?
19:45I do.
19:46I'm perfectly clear.
19:48Why?
19:49Just because of one slap?
19:52I didn't mean it.
19:54Given the situation...
19:56What situation?
19:58You saw Natalie
19:59on the floor
20:00and you hit me.
20:02You didn't ask why.
20:04You didn't ask
20:05what she did to me.
20:06You didn't even give me
20:07a chance to explain.
20:08You just hit me.
20:12Do you even know
20:13what she did?
20:14She wore my wedding dress.
20:16On my wedding day,
20:17she put it on
20:18without my permission.
20:20I told her to take it off
20:21and she refused.
20:23We argued.
20:24I tried to pull it off her.
20:26Then you walked in
20:27and you hit me
20:28for no reason.
20:31Tell me, Caleb.
20:33What did I do wrong?
20:34She'd never worn one before.
20:36She was just curious.
20:37Did you really have to make
20:39such a huge deal out of it?
20:41Did you really have to hit me?
20:45Caleb,
20:46I chased you for 20 years.
20:48I loved you for 20 years.
20:51I've been your loyal shadow
20:52for 20 years.
20:54I thought you were just bad
20:55at expressing yourself.
20:58I thought you loved me
20:59and didn't know how to say it.
21:01But that slap yesterday
21:02finally woke me up.
21:04You never loved me.
21:05You got used to me.
21:07I'm just an accessory to you.
21:10Someone you could snap
21:11your fingers at
21:12whenever it suited you.
21:13But Natalie,
21:14you'll back her up in public.
21:16You'll hit me for her.
21:17Because deep down, Caleb,
21:19she is more important to you.
21:21Not true.
21:22Say it, Caleb.
21:23Tell me what it actually is.
21:26He couldn't say a single thing.
21:28I let out a bitter laugh.
21:31Get out.
21:32I already threw the ring away.
21:34The wedding is canceled.
21:36I'll deal with our families
21:37and the fallout.
21:38From now on,
21:39we're completely done.
21:41Don't ever reach out to me again.
21:44He didn't move.
21:45He stood there for a long time.
21:48Finally, he muttered,
21:49Cool off for a few days.
21:51I'll come back when you've calmed down.
21:53Then he turned around
21:54and walked out.
21:55The second the door shut,
21:57my legs gave out.
21:59I sank to the floor,
22:00burying my face in my arms.
22:02I was the one who initiated the breakup,
22:05who canceled the wedding.
22:06But why,
22:08why did my chest still hurt this much?
22:12For the next three days,
22:13I locked myself in that empty apartment.
22:17Ignored every call.
22:18My mother was losing it.
22:20She texted me that she and my father
22:22were already on their way.
22:24I just replied,
22:25I'm fine.
22:26Please don't come.
22:27On the third afternoon,
22:29the doorbell rang.
22:30I checked the peephole.
22:31It was her.
22:32With no choice left,
22:34I opened the door.
22:35When she stepped inside,
22:37her eyes welled up with tears.
22:39Oh, sweetheart.
22:41You've lost so much weight.
22:43You look so pale.
22:45Have you even eaten anything?
22:47As she scolded me,
22:49she started pulling thermoses
22:50out of her tote bag.
22:52I know you're hurting.
22:54I know what happened humiliated you.
22:57But starving yourself won't fix it.
23:00My nose stung.
23:02Tears threatened again.
23:04My father stood in the doorway.
23:06His face was dangerously grim.
23:10I've already talked to Caleb's parents.
23:12If you want to call the whole thing off,
23:14just say the word.
23:15I have your back.
23:18Drop it, Arthur.
23:20What?
23:22Laying a hand on my daughter
23:23right in front of me?
23:24Who the hell does he think he is?
23:26I didn't raise her to be his punching bag.
23:29She let out a heavy sigh
23:31and didn't argue back.
23:32I knew this had hurt them, too.
23:35Decades of friendship
23:36between our families,
23:37and now they were stuck
23:38in the middle of this mess.
23:40The wedding ruined everything.
23:43Mom.
23:44Dad.
23:45I'm sorry.
23:47I'm sorry for putting you through this.
23:50Stop talking nonsense.
23:52I don't care about any of that.
23:54I only care that you're okay.
23:56I only care that you're okay.
24:00That night,
24:01my mother stayed with me,
24:02and my father checked into a hotel nearby.
24:04She lay next to me on that bare mattress,
24:07just like when I was little.
24:09Vanessa,
24:10be honest with me.
24:12Okay.
24:13Do you still love him?
24:15I stayed quiet for a long time.
24:19I loved him for 20 years.
24:22You don't just turn that off overnight.
24:25But, Mom,
24:26I don't want to love him anymore.
24:28I know, sweetie.
24:30Then take it slow.
24:31I'm right here with you.
24:33Staring into the dark,
24:35I cried without making a sound.
24:37On the fourth day,
24:38Caleb came back.
24:39But this time,
24:40he wasn't alone.
24:42Natalie was with him.
24:43I don't want to love him anymore.
24:43I don't want to love him anymore.
24:43I don't want to love him anymore.
24:44I don't want to love him anymore.
24:44I don't want to love him anymore.
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