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Transcript

00:00:00Tout le monde à la Université de San Francisco de la Cour de la Cour de la Cour de la

00:00:03Cour de la Cour de la Cour de la Cour de la Cour de la Cour de la Cour de

00:00:04la Cour.

00:00:04C'était un bon, et passionné.

00:00:09Je suis aussi un gagnant de l'épreuve de la Cour de la Cour de la Cour de la Cour.

00:00:16Puis un lien sur moi a été viré sur la Web de la Cour.

00:00:20Overnight, il spreadait à l'écran de la Cour de la Cour.

00:00:24Tout le monde qui a été signé et pouvait gagner des points pour faire des choses avec moi.

00:00:321,000 points would secure a movie date with me.

00:00:363,000 points would unlock a video of me in a suggestive bunny outfit, moaning and cooing.

00:00:4310,000 points would earn a passionate night with me.

00:00:49This trended on the campus network for three straight days, and my reputation was left in tatters.

00:00:56Girls stormed into my classes, calling me shameless and demanding that the school expel me, while guys took every chance

00:01:03to grope me.

00:01:06Blinking back tears, I clicked the trending link.

00:01:09Every video in the reward list was real.

00:01:15The only person who could have gotten those videos was my boyfriend, Ezekiel Willard, who was also my classmate.

00:01:24My heart aching, I ran to Ezekiel's place to confront him.

00:01:32Outside the door, I heard one of his friends say,

00:01:35Hey Zek, you're a legend.

00:01:37Now all my friends are asking for the link, talking about the fastest way to rack up points.

00:01:40Not only do you get revenge for Aaliyah, but you also get all that free labor.

00:01:43Another guy said,

00:01:44Come on, Zek is a trust fund kid, he doesn't make bad deals.

00:01:48Serves her right for stealing Aaliyah's scholarship.

00:01:50True.

00:01:51She deserves to be destroyed.

00:01:53But damn, her voice and her body, top treat.

00:01:57Every time I watch her video on my screen, I'm about to lose it.

00:02:02But Zek, her mom is a murderer.

00:02:05Aren't you worried she'll figure out it's you and cause trouble?

00:02:08Ezekiel swirled his wine glass, his gaze cold and detached.

00:02:12She's boring.

00:02:14Once this is over, you can have your fun with her.

00:02:16As for trouble?

00:02:17She has severe depression and always gets on her knees begging me not to leave after every fight.

00:02:22What kind of trouble can she possibly cause?

00:02:25Find some place to go die?

00:02:26Who'd feel sorry for trash like her?

00:02:29With a murderer mother and a stepdad who almost assaulted her?

00:02:37Just keep your mouth shut.

00:02:41No one leaks anything until I'm finished.

00:02:44Got it?

00:02:48My whole body went cold.

00:02:50I slumped to the floor, my clothes was soaked with cold sweat.

00:02:55Years ago, after my mother remarried, my stepfather started harassing me.

00:03:03On my birthday, he spiked my drink.

00:03:13When I realized what was happening, the heat was already spreading through my limbs.

00:03:25I bit his ear hard enough to break free and fled the house.

00:03:33Half conscious, I collapsed into Ezekiel's arms.

00:03:37I was tearing at my own clothes, desperate for relief.

00:03:41But he held me tight, his voice soft.

00:03:44A girl's reputation is everything.

00:03:47Hang on.

00:03:48I'm taking you to the hospital.

00:03:52The whole way there, I was in such torment that I bit his arm until it bled.

00:04:01He never made a sound and stayed by my hospital bed all night.

00:04:08Finally, as dawn broke and my mind cleared, I saw his tired, bloodshot eyes.

00:04:14I knew right then I was gone for him.

00:04:18We started dating after that.

00:04:25He treated me like I was the most precious thing in the world,

00:04:28tending to my every need and slowly helping me heal from my trauma.

00:04:34I thought I'd finally found happiness.

00:04:38Instead, I'd walked straight into something even more twisted.

00:04:44Every moment we'd shared,

00:04:47he'd been using it to get back at me for another woman.

00:04:53A crack of thunder split the sky.

00:04:56The power went out, plunging everything.

00:05:03I curled on the dark floor.

00:05:05I didn't know how I got home.

00:05:11When my senses returned,

00:05:13I realized my palms were bleeding from where my nails had dug in.

00:05:20Blankly, I opened my phone.

00:05:24The screen showed several missed calls.

00:05:28With trembling fingers, I called back.

00:05:31Mr. Smithson, I've changed my mind.

00:05:34I'll join the legal department at Rodway Group in New York after graduation.

00:05:42I didn't go back to school that day.

00:05:45And instead,

00:05:46I locked myself in the bathroom and scrubbed my skin raw,

00:05:49ten times over,

00:05:51trying to wash away every trace of him.

00:05:54But he wouldn't just let me disappear.

00:06:00Later that evening,

00:06:01Ezekiel came back to our apartment.

00:06:05He didn't even ask why I had skipped class.

00:06:08He was only desperate to cover his own tracks.

00:06:11About the dark web listing,

00:06:13he brushed it off with a flimsy explanation.

00:06:15Lena, listen.

00:06:17I sent my laptop in for repair.

00:06:19Some intern there must have stolen the hard drive and sold it.

00:06:22It's all my fault.

00:06:23I promise I'll do everything to find whoever leaked that link and make this right.

00:06:26He sounded so sincere.

00:06:28But the hidden videos I had already copied onto my USB drive

00:06:32made a complete mockery of his words.

00:06:34I remained completely silent the whole time,

00:06:37just watching him put on his little show.

00:06:43My suffocating silence was broken by a sudden ding from my laptop.

00:06:48It was an email from the Rodway Group,

00:06:50confirming my start date in New York in exactly one week.

00:06:55It was the escape route I desperately needed.

00:07:01What's that?

00:07:03Ezekiel was annoyed by my silence and indifference.

00:07:07Just spram.

00:07:12I wouldn't tell him my decision,

00:07:14and there was no need to.

00:07:16He pushed me onto the couch,

00:07:18murmuring against my ear as he kissed it.

00:07:22Lena.

00:07:23It's been days.

00:07:25I want you.

00:07:32His voice was as tender as ever,

00:07:34but his hands were rougher than I'd ever felt.

00:07:38I pushed him off with force.

00:07:43Not tonight.

00:07:44I can't.

00:07:45Ezekiel froze.

00:07:46It was the first time I had ever refused him so bluntly.

00:07:50His brow frowdled.

00:07:52Still upset about the trending thing?

00:07:55Don't worry.

00:07:56I'll always love you.

00:07:58A shiver ran through me,

00:07:59my stomach turning with nausea.

00:08:02But I couldn't let on that I knew.

00:08:04Who knew what this lunaturk would do then?

00:08:08I stood and straightened my clothes.

00:08:11I really don't feel well.

00:08:12I'm going to bed.

00:08:15Ezekiel studied me for a long moment,

00:08:17but found nothing in Smith's.

00:08:20About tomorrow's law school debate,

00:08:22you think you could take it easy on them?

00:08:24The negative team has...

00:08:26a friend of mine.

00:08:28I already told her you'd go easy on them.

00:08:30You wouldn't let me look bad, right?

00:08:33I knew instantly who that friend was.

00:08:37My hands clenched into fists behind my back.

00:08:42Fine.

00:08:44I'll send you my prepared arguments.

00:08:46Your friend can use them to figure out how to counter.

00:08:49I just knew you loved me the most!

00:08:52Getting what he wanted,

00:08:53Ezekiel planted a loud kiss on my cheek.

00:08:57I'll forwards it now.

00:08:58Can't wait to watch you kill it tomorrow.

00:09:00Without another word,

00:09:02he grabbed his car keys and left the apartment.

00:09:06I let out a bitter laugh,

00:09:08my eyes falling on the box of gifts I'd left by the door.

00:09:13If he had paid just a little more attention,

00:09:15he would have noticed and sensed what I was planning.

00:09:26Ezekiel never truly cared about those things,

00:09:28just as he had never truly cared about me.

00:09:37Under my eyes,

00:09:39every person in the room turned to look,

00:09:42their gazes full of contempt,

00:09:44their whispers pointed.

00:09:51for the affirmative team.

00:09:55Soon,

00:09:56the negative team entered.

00:09:58A bright,

00:09:59smiling female student was at the center,

00:10:01flanked by Ezekiel.

00:10:04She said something,

00:10:05playfully punching his chest,

00:10:07and he caught her fist.

00:10:11That was Felicia Veer.

00:10:16I forced my eyes down to my debate notes.

00:10:21The debate began.

00:10:24I'd just finished presenting my point.

00:10:26When Felicia rose from her seat,

00:10:29a smug smile curling her lips.

00:10:31Does the affirmative team have no respect for this debate?

00:10:35Why else would you decide to let a student with no morals compete?

00:10:41This wasn't the first time Felicia had come after me.

00:10:46A spoiled trust fund kid from San Francisco,

00:10:49Felicia skipped class and barely studied.

00:10:53Once,

00:10:53her father promised her a sports car,

00:10:56if she won a scholarship.

00:10:58So,

00:10:59she paid off a professor for the exam answers.

00:11:04The top play still went to me.

00:11:08As a student council member,

00:11:10when I gave her standard demenies for misconduct,

00:11:12Felicia saw it as a personal attack.

00:11:16That's when the bad blood started.

00:11:20This is a formal debate.

00:11:23Besides,

00:11:24there's no proof for those online rumors.

00:11:32I couldn't let my anger cost my team the win,

00:11:35but wouldn't let it go.

00:11:37With a cold snort,

00:11:39she stood.

00:11:40I refuse to talk to a cheap slut.

00:11:43It's disgusting.

00:11:44The audience erupted.

00:11:48The head judge stood up,

00:11:50slamming his hand on the table.

00:11:53Order!

00:11:55Order in the hall!

00:11:57Miss Vale,

00:11:59personal attacks and foul language

00:12:01are strict violations of debate rules.

00:12:04Sit down immediately,

00:12:06or your team will be disqualified.

00:12:12Felicia pouted,

00:12:13her eyes red,

00:12:14shooting me a hateful glare

00:12:16before finally sitting back down.

00:12:19Just then,

00:12:21Ezekiel stood from the audience

00:12:22and spoke to the school dean.

00:12:24Mr. Yatin,

00:12:26I think Felicia has a point.

00:12:27There are videos of Paulina circulating,

00:12:30and no one has confirmed

00:12:31the words cut me deeply.

00:12:38I tried to defend myself.

00:12:41Those videos were...

00:12:42Ezekiel cut me off

00:12:44before I could finish.

00:12:45He held up his phone to the dean.

00:12:48See for yourself.

00:12:49Felicia isn't lying.

00:12:51I'm concerned for the school's reputation.

00:12:54Then he looked at the other judges.

00:12:56The Willard family was one of USF's major donors.

00:12:58A lot of the faculty had reasons to stay in Ezekiel's good graces.

00:13:03They were quick to chime in.

00:13:06One said,

00:13:09Mr. Yatin,

00:13:11our law school has been strict.

00:13:14This sort of scandal invites criticism.

00:13:17Another chimed in.

00:13:18We've all heard rumors about this student's conduct.

00:13:23Some even say she

00:13:26engages in compensated dating.

00:13:29I got caught in the teeth of the storm,

00:13:32feeling hurt.

00:13:34The dean said to me,

00:13:37In that case,

00:13:38Paulina,

00:13:40please step down now.

00:13:42You're graduating soon anyway.

00:13:45Finish this week's specialized courses

00:13:47and leave before the school ends.

00:13:49Under the hostile stares of hundreds,

00:13:51I stumbled out of the auditorium.

00:13:53Someone held up their phone,

00:13:55showing one of the screenshots

00:13:57from the viral post,

00:13:58waving it at me.

00:14:00Better run,

00:14:01or we'll project it on the big screen.

00:14:07I broke into a frantic run.

00:14:09Every last shred of my dignity violated.

00:14:11My foot caught on a loose piece of pavement.

00:14:14I crashed down hard,

00:14:16skinning my palm.

00:14:18Blood dripped onto the ground,

00:14:20but I felt no pain.

00:14:24Tears streamed down my face

00:14:26as I silently talked to myself.

00:14:27Just hold on a little longer, Paulina.

00:14:30Hang in there.

00:14:31You're leaving soon anyway.

00:14:32It can't get any worse.

00:14:33You're about to start over.

00:14:37I had no idea

00:14:38this was only the beginning of the storm.

00:14:42I returned to the dormitory

00:14:44in the afternoon,

00:14:46humiliated and dejected.

00:14:48In the hallway,

00:14:49Felicia was insulting me

00:14:50before a crowd.

00:14:52Look at her!

00:14:53A slut and a disgrace to our university!

00:14:55She even tried to seduce that professor

00:14:57for exam answers!

00:14:59Everyone knows what she does at night.

00:15:01Trash like her doesn't belong here.

00:15:04She spoke with utmost spite

00:15:06and made things up.

00:15:10Watching from a distance,

00:15:12I felt like I had been thrown

00:15:13into the snow naked.

00:15:15Fed up,

00:15:16I darted over,

00:15:17shoved Felicia,

00:15:18and roared hysterically,

00:15:19Liar!

00:15:20I didn't do it!

00:15:24Seeing me,

00:15:25she dashed to me with a sneer,

00:15:27grabbed my hair,

00:15:28and conned my head

00:15:29against the wall.

00:15:31A thud came,

00:15:33and blood was everywhere.

00:15:37I felt woozy instantly.

00:15:39It hurt like hell.

00:15:40You didn't do it?

00:15:42Who cares?

00:15:43Felicia jeed and strutted away,

00:15:45laughing.

00:15:47Right.

00:15:48It was the rich kid's words

00:15:50against mine.

00:15:51Although it was slander,

00:15:53I...

00:15:54didn't stand a chance

00:15:55of winning this battle.

00:16:01In the evening,

00:16:02the university released a notice.

00:16:04I was punished

00:16:05for attacking a classmate

00:16:07and broken campus rules.

00:16:09The students present

00:16:11all witnessed Paulina

00:16:12hitting Felicia.

00:16:13What Felicia did

00:16:14was self-defense.

00:16:15It wasn't a fight.

00:16:17So,

00:16:17Paulina must apologize openly,

00:16:19or she'll be expelled.

00:16:20Downstairs at the dormitory,

00:16:23over ten department directors

00:16:24and university leaders

00:16:26surrounded me

00:16:27and looked at me disdainfully.

00:16:28Holding Felicia's hand,

00:16:30Ezequiel announced loudly,

00:16:32Professors!

00:16:33I took Felicia to the infirmary.

00:16:35Her Achilles tendon

00:16:36was almost broken.

00:16:37Paulina's behavior

00:16:38was on the border

00:16:39of a severe assault.

00:16:42I looked at him.

00:16:43I couldn't believe my ears.

00:16:45The hurt was unbearable.

00:16:47Bumped into the wall,

00:16:49my forehead was lacerated.

00:16:50The injury was plain.

00:16:52Anyone with eyes

00:16:53could see it.

00:16:54It didn't take a doctor

00:16:55to tell them that.

00:16:58On the other hand,

00:17:00Felicia was standing there intact.

00:17:02Yet I was

00:17:03severely assaulted?

00:17:05It was absurd.

00:17:07The director

00:17:08of their department

00:17:09listened to Ezequiel

00:17:11with a grim face

00:17:12and said,

00:17:13In this case,

00:17:15Paulina deserves

00:17:16harder punishment.

00:17:17Wait!

00:17:18I interrupted him.

00:17:19My phone camera

00:17:20was on when it happened.

00:17:22I recorded everything.

00:17:24You'll know the truth

00:17:25after watching the video.

00:17:27The gloat on Felicia's face

00:17:28froze.

00:17:29She stomped her feet

00:17:30anxiously and

00:17:31pulled hard

00:17:32at Ezequiel's clothes.

00:17:35He patted her head

00:17:36gently and comforted her

00:17:38in a soft voice.

00:17:41I'm here.

00:17:42Don't worry.

00:17:46Slowly,

00:17:47he walked to the director

00:17:48and smiled.

00:17:51Sir,

00:17:52I know how adept

00:17:53she is at video

00:17:54splessing and editing.

00:17:56Her so-called

00:17:57evidence is dubious.

00:17:58I, on the other hand,

00:17:59can prove the attack

00:18:00was premeditated.

00:18:01She's always jealous

00:18:03of Felicia.

00:18:04We both know the law.

00:18:05I believe you value

00:18:07the validity of evidence

00:18:08more than I do.

00:18:10What evidence

00:18:11do you have?

00:18:13The director asked.

00:18:14Looking at me,

00:18:15Ezequiel said slowly,

00:18:19Paulina works

00:18:19outside the university

00:18:20as an escort.

00:18:22Felicia caught her

00:18:23in the act.

00:18:24She's been holding

00:18:25a grudge since.

00:18:27Everyone present

00:18:28was dumbfounded.

00:18:29The students passing by

00:18:30walked over

00:18:31and talked about it,

00:18:32causing an uproar.

00:18:35Everyone look.

00:18:36This is the video.

00:18:39The screen displayed

00:18:40the muddle-headed

00:18:41me snuggling

00:18:42in a man's arms

00:18:43in a dim private room

00:18:44of a bar.

00:18:46It looked like

00:18:47I was drunk.

00:18:50The man took out

00:18:51a wad of banknotes

00:18:52from his wallet,

00:18:53counted them,

00:18:54and put them

00:18:55in my school bag.

00:18:58The next second,

00:18:59Felicia flung the door open,

00:19:01pointed at them,

00:19:01and said,

00:19:02Paulina!

00:19:04You're such a disgrace

00:19:05to our university!

00:19:07That was all

00:19:08the video showed.

00:19:09It was brief,

00:19:10but it turned my heart

00:19:11into an ice cellar.

00:19:15I remembered

00:19:16the background

00:19:17of the video,

00:19:18of course.

00:19:19It was Ezequiel's birthday

00:19:20several months ago.

00:19:23That day,

00:19:24he kept urging me

00:19:25to drink.

00:19:26Now I knew why.

00:19:28He set me up

00:19:29to fabricate this video.

00:19:33As much as I had seen

00:19:34through Ezequiel,

00:19:35I still felt my heart

00:19:37being wrung and torn.

00:19:38It hurt so much

00:19:39I couldn't breathe.

00:19:41People were pointing

00:19:42and calling my names.

00:19:44Under such humiliation,

00:19:46I just wanted to run.

00:19:48If only the ground

00:19:49would crack

00:19:50and give me a way out.

00:19:54in the end,

00:19:55I was to write

00:19:56a 5,000-word

00:19:57self-critical

00:19:58and apologetic letter

00:19:59and read it

00:19:59at the assembly.

00:20:03Finally,

00:20:04the crowd disperted.

00:20:06I was left alone.

00:20:09I couldn't go to the dorm.

00:20:11More humiliation

00:20:12would await me.

00:20:16I could only go back

00:20:17to my apartment.

00:20:19Hardly had I walked

00:20:20out of the gate

00:20:21when a vehicle

00:20:21sped over

00:20:22from the opposite direction

00:20:23and almost hit me.

00:20:29Terrified,

00:20:29I slumped

00:20:30onto the ground.

00:20:31The angry driver

00:20:32craned his head

00:20:33out of the car window

00:20:34and cursed.

00:20:35Unable to take it anymore,

00:20:37I sobbed.

00:20:38All this was too painful.

00:20:41What was I living for,

00:20:42anyway?

00:20:43My life was meaningless.

00:20:45Looking through

00:20:46my blurry vision

00:20:47at the heavy traffic,

00:20:49I stood up

00:20:49and walked

00:20:50toward the middle

00:20:51of the road.

00:20:55Are you out of your mind?

00:20:56Someone suddenly

00:20:57grabbed my arm

00:20:58and pulled me away

00:20:59from the speeding vehicles

00:21:00and into a firm chest.

00:21:01A familiar,

00:21:02refreshing scent

00:21:03wafted into my nostrils.

00:21:05What's the big deal?

00:21:06You were giving up

00:21:07on your own life

00:21:08because of such a trifle?

00:21:11Ezekiel

00:21:11glossed it over,

00:21:12as if the torment

00:21:13from a while ago

00:21:14was just my delusion.

00:21:16Pinching my cheek,

00:21:17he pressed his nose

00:21:19against mine.

00:21:20Knock it off.

00:21:21I'm taking you

00:21:22to your favorite restaurant,

00:21:23all right?

00:21:23How could he?

00:21:24How could he pretend

00:21:25nothing had happened

00:21:26after hurting me deeply

00:21:27and making me miserable?

00:21:28I broke free from him,

00:21:30took several steps back,

00:21:31and glared at him.

00:21:33Ezekiel,

00:21:34are you happy now?

00:21:35He shrugged,

00:21:37looking relaxed,

00:21:38but his face dartened.

00:21:45I was only telling the truth.

00:21:48You were hurting

00:21:49someone innocent.

00:21:51I couldn't be biased

00:21:53in your favor

00:21:53just because you're

00:21:54my girlfriend.

00:21:56The truth?

00:21:57I sneered,

00:21:59trembling all over

00:22:00with rage.

00:22:01You mean the video

00:22:02you forged

00:22:03by setting me up?

00:22:05You're shameless!

00:22:06With a livid face,

00:22:08Ezekiel stared at me,

00:22:09his eyes sinister.

00:22:11Paulina,

00:22:12enough is enough.

00:22:14I must have

00:22:15indulged you too much.

00:22:17I wouldn't have

00:22:18released the video

00:22:19if you hadn't

00:22:19attacked Aaliyah

00:22:20like a crazy woman.

00:22:23It was just a final.

00:22:25Would it have killed me

00:22:26if I had let Felicia

00:22:27come first?

00:22:28He didn't understand

00:22:30why I made

00:22:31such a fuss over it.

00:22:33As a result,

00:22:35there was still tension

00:22:36between Felicia

00:22:37and her father

00:22:37to this day,

00:22:38and there was no way

00:22:39to easy it.

00:22:45Lena,

00:22:45you know what?

00:22:46Elia's mother

00:22:47passed away

00:22:48when she was little.

00:22:49Her stepmother

00:22:50is never nice to her.

00:22:51Her family

00:22:52doesn't give her

00:22:52birthday presents

00:22:53unless she does well

00:22:54on exams.

00:22:55But you killed her hope.

00:22:57She's so devastated

00:22:59she doesn't want to live.

00:23:00Ah!

00:23:00Why doesn't she die?

00:23:02Isn't it my fault

00:23:03that she don't work hard?

00:23:05Everyone earns

00:23:06what they want.

00:23:07Why do I have to

00:23:08give her what she wants?

00:23:10I shouted hysterically,

00:23:12unleashing the

00:23:13penned-up anguish

00:23:14in my chest.

00:23:15Losing control,

00:23:16I ran toward Ezekiel

00:23:17and showered him

00:23:18with punches.

00:23:27He had never seen me

00:23:29in such despair.

00:23:34graduation is around the corner.

00:23:38Even though your reputation

00:23:40is ruined in the law industry

00:23:41in San Francisco,

00:23:44you still have me.

00:23:46I can help you get a job

00:23:48at my family's company.

00:23:49Okay?

00:23:51Too exhausted to argue,

00:23:52I just wanted to stay away

00:23:53from him.

00:23:55Unaware of this,

00:23:56Ezekiel took my hand

00:23:58and continued,

00:23:59Are you done

00:23:59with your tantrum?

00:24:01Shall we go to the restaurant?

00:24:03I withdrew my hand

00:24:04and declared,

00:24:09Ezekiel,

00:24:10I wasn't joking.

00:24:12Nor was I throwing

00:24:13a tantrum.

00:24:16Let me rephrase it

00:24:17if you don't understand.

00:24:21I'm breaking up with you.

00:24:22Dumbstruck,

00:24:23Ezekiel stared at me,

00:24:24irritation tensifying

00:24:25inside him.

00:24:26He scratched his hair

00:24:28irritably and said,

00:24:29Okay, Paulina,

00:24:30good for you.

00:24:31You'll crawl back to me

00:24:33and ask for my forgiveness

00:24:34sooner or later.

00:24:40With that,

00:24:41he left.

00:24:42Blank-minded,

00:24:43I crouched

00:24:44and hugged my knees.

00:24:45I didn't take

00:24:46his threat seriously.

00:24:48However,

00:24:49a mere few days later,

00:24:50I realized

00:24:51that Ezekiel was serious.

00:24:56At the assembly,

00:24:57I walked to the Dawes

00:24:59like a zombie

00:24:59and read my letter

00:25:00of confession

00:25:01in a mechanical voice.

00:25:06Before long,

00:25:07an egg was thrown at me.

00:25:10Then came decaying

00:25:11vegetable leaves,

00:25:12red paint,

00:25:13bottles of toilet water.

00:25:16The event became chaotic.

00:25:18Everyone was pointing

00:25:20and yelling at me.

00:25:22Get out!

00:25:23Go away!

00:25:25Go away!

00:25:26Drop out!

00:25:26I was flustered.

00:25:28Even the management

00:25:28of the university

00:25:29lost control

00:25:30over the scene.

00:25:31Only then did the person

00:25:33who had started

00:25:33the tinker shout it.

00:25:34Call it ties to Mr. Willard

00:25:36or you can't graduate!

00:25:37Although Ezekiel

00:25:38was just a student,

00:25:39with his wealthy family

00:25:41as a sponsor

00:25:41of the university,

00:25:42he was too important

00:25:44for any of them

00:25:45to trifle with.

00:25:46Unnerved by the scene,

00:25:47one of the university's

00:25:48leaders said to me,

00:25:49Paulina,

00:25:50what are you waiting for?

00:25:51Go apologize now!

00:25:52Don't you want your diploma?

00:25:53Of course I wanted

00:25:54my diploma.

00:25:55Without it,

00:25:56I wouldn't be able

00:25:56to join the Rodway group

00:25:57in New York

00:25:58and leave this hellish place.

00:25:59Left with no choice,

00:26:00I went to the stadium

00:26:02and found on the basketball court.

00:26:04Eziel,

00:26:04how will you have

00:26:05those people

00:26:06stop making trouble for me?

00:26:07What do you want me to do?

00:26:09I stood in front of him,

00:26:11clenching my hands.

00:26:15Fine.

00:26:16I said in a reiki voice.

00:26:17I'll apologize to you.

00:26:18Please ask them to stop.

00:26:20I said in a shaker voice,

00:26:22holding out Felicia

00:26:23in his arms,

00:26:25glanced at me indifferently.

00:26:28Apologize?

00:26:29Like this?

00:26:31How sincere.

00:26:33Felicia stood up,

00:26:34pinching her nose.

00:26:35She eyed the filth-covered me

00:26:36and pursed her lips

00:26:37thromphantly.

00:26:38Paulina,

00:26:38there you go.

00:26:39This is your style.

00:26:40It suits you perfectly.

00:26:42Trash belongs with trash.

00:26:43Don't daydream again.

00:26:44Then,

00:26:45she poured the hot water

00:26:46from her thermos cup

00:26:47all over me.

00:26:52Scalded,

00:26:52my skin was burned

00:26:53and I shrieked.

00:26:54Felicia slapped me

00:26:55across the face

00:26:56and said,

00:26:56thanks to you,

00:26:57my dad whipped me.

00:26:59Ten lashes,

00:27:00Paulina.

00:27:01You think I'll forget about it

00:27:02just because you apologize?

00:27:04No way.

00:27:06Ezekiel peered down at me

00:27:07with a wicked smile

00:27:08and crooked his fingers

00:27:09to summon his guys.

00:27:13You want forgiveness?

00:27:14No problem.

00:27:16Clean their sneakers.

00:27:17Looking at him silently,

00:27:19I felt as if a blunt knife

00:27:20was slicing my heart

00:27:21bit by Adit.

00:27:22Okay,

00:27:23I'll do it.

00:27:23I nodded with a bitter smile.

00:27:26I turned around,

00:27:26squatted down

00:27:27and cleaned the sneak ears

00:27:28with a wet napkin

00:27:28one by a one.

00:27:33Overwhelming humiliation

00:27:34flooded my heart.

00:27:35Nevertheless,

00:27:36this wasn't good enough

00:27:38for Felina.

00:27:39She pushed me forcefully

00:27:40and made me kneel.

00:27:42Down on your knees!

00:27:44Squatting!

00:27:44How can you see the smurges?

00:27:49Finally,

00:27:50the last pair was cleaned.

00:27:51I had lost feeling

00:27:53in my knees.

00:27:54Okay.

00:27:55I forgive you.

00:27:56Ezekiel said slowly

00:27:58in an apathetic voice.

00:28:00Now,

00:28:01apologize to Aaliyah

00:28:02on your knees.

00:28:03The whole thing

00:28:04will be over.

00:28:06I raised my head

00:28:07mechanically.

00:28:08I didn't know

00:28:09whether my heart

00:28:10or my knees

00:28:11irked more.

00:28:13Apologize to her!

00:28:14Not gonna happen!

00:28:16I had done nothing wrong

00:28:18and Felicia

00:28:19had been hurting me.

00:28:20Why should I apologize?

00:28:23Taken aback,

00:28:24Ezekiel looked

00:28:25at my red swollen eyes.

00:28:27Panic seized him again

00:28:28as it had the other night.

00:28:30Why not this?

00:28:31Paulina,

00:28:32what do you want?

00:28:34Wise up!

00:28:35Remember the videos online?

00:28:37You don't want

00:28:38to be stripped naked

00:28:39and act those things out

00:28:41in front of my

00:28:42basketball teammates,

00:28:43do you?

00:28:45Don't push me.

00:28:49Don't push him?

00:28:50I had to laugh.

00:28:52I didn't do anything

00:28:53to Felicia.

00:28:53She slacked off

00:28:54and couldn't get full marks

00:28:56even after memorizing

00:28:57the answers.

00:28:58How is it my fault?

00:28:59Ezekiel,

00:29:00I will not apologize

00:29:02to her!

00:29:03No!

00:29:03Never!

00:29:04A loud bang came.

00:29:06Ezekiel smashed the bottle

00:29:07in his hand

00:29:08on the floor

00:29:08and hunt.

00:29:10Bravo,

00:29:11Paulina.

00:29:12Don't blame me

00:29:13for what I'm about to do.

00:29:14You asked for it.

00:29:16Hardly had he finished

00:29:17speaking

00:29:18when the boys

00:29:18surrounded me

00:29:19and knocked me

00:29:20down to the floor.

00:29:22Wearing a sinister smile,

00:29:24Felina tore my clothes

00:29:25with one hand

00:29:26and struck me

00:29:27mercilily

00:29:27with a ball picker

00:29:28with her other hand.

00:29:30Bitch!

00:29:32I'll destroy you today!

00:29:36I resisted

00:29:37with all my strength

00:29:38and screamed,

00:29:39but it was useless.

00:29:40They made me bend

00:29:41over a stool

00:29:41on my knees.

00:29:42As if chained

00:29:43with shackles,

00:29:43I couldn't move at all.

00:29:44My clothes were torn

00:29:45and ripped,

00:29:46revealing my fair skin.

00:29:48No!

00:29:48Get on me!

00:29:50Get off,

00:29:50Ezekiel!

00:29:51You can't do this to me!

00:29:52Just then,

00:29:53Felina swung the ball picker

00:29:55and hit me hard

00:29:56in the head.

00:29:57Bitch!

00:29:58You're too loud!

00:29:59Just then,

00:30:00Felina swung the ball picker

00:30:01and hit me hard

00:30:02in the head.

00:30:05Guys,

00:30:06fun time.

00:30:07Take pictures of her.

00:30:09My head was spinning.

00:30:11Kicks landed on me

00:30:12one after another.

00:30:13It was excruciating,

00:30:15as if my body

00:30:16were falling apart.

00:30:18I wanted to hug myself,

00:30:20but I couldn't budge.

00:30:23Fluid was coming

00:30:24out of my eyes.

00:30:26I didn't know

00:30:27whether it was blood

00:30:28or tears.

00:30:31I couldn't open my eyes.

00:30:36At last,

00:30:37someone grabbed my hair

00:30:38and dragged me

00:30:39around the court.

00:30:41Take pictures, guys!

00:30:43At Paulina looks like

00:30:44a stray dog

00:30:46standing there,

00:30:47Ezekiel watched

00:30:48nonchartily.

00:30:49He didn't stop them

00:30:51or say anything.

00:30:53The trace of softness

00:30:54that surfaced

00:30:55was repressed

00:30:56at once.

00:30:59I was too stubborn.

00:31:03He thought I would

00:31:04stay by his side

00:31:05and forget about

00:31:06breaking up with him

00:31:07only if my dignity

00:31:08was crushed.

00:31:10My consciousness

00:31:11became bloody

00:31:12as the pain

00:31:13aggravated.

00:31:15everything before

00:31:16my eyes

00:31:17was turning.

00:31:18It seemed

00:31:19I was going

00:31:20to die here

00:31:21in these people's hands.

00:31:23Ezekiel,

00:31:24check this out!

00:31:25Someone got

00:31:2610,000 points.

00:31:27The guy just called

00:31:28and wanted you

00:31:29to deliver your promise.

00:31:30My mind cleared up

00:31:32immediately

00:31:32as immense fear

00:31:33engulfed me.

00:31:34Ezekiel walked

00:31:35to the door

00:31:36with the others

00:31:36to learn more

00:31:37about the person

00:31:38who had scored

00:31:3810,000 points.

00:31:43This was a golden

00:31:44opportunity for me.

00:31:46I stood up

00:31:47with all my might

00:31:48and ran toward

00:31:48the exit.

00:31:51She is running!

00:31:53Away!

00:31:54Catch her!

00:31:56Rapid and chaotic

00:31:58footstamps

00:31:58came from behind me.

00:32:00I ran like crazy.

00:32:02When I was about

00:32:03to reach the exit,

00:32:04I staggered

00:32:06from exhaustion

00:32:06and fainted.

00:32:07before my lingering

00:32:09consciousness

00:32:09left me completely.

00:32:11I seemed to hear

00:32:11Ezekiel's

00:32:12panicky voice.

00:32:13Then,

00:32:13the security guards

00:32:14came.

00:32:15Suckily,

00:32:16it was just a fracture.

00:32:17My life was

00:32:18out of danger.

00:32:19Ride Smitherson

00:32:20returned from abroad

00:32:21in advance.

00:32:22When he knew

00:32:23what had happened

00:32:23to me,

00:32:24he was furious.

00:32:25He knew me well.

00:32:26I would never

00:32:27act like that.

00:32:31The university leaders

00:32:32who had forced me

00:32:33to apologize

00:32:34all received

00:32:35a warning privately.

00:32:37Reet prepared

00:32:38my diploma quickly

00:32:39and helped me

00:32:40as much as he could.

00:32:44When I woke up,

00:32:46Reet was sitting

00:32:47by my bed.

00:32:49Kid,

00:32:50I'm sorry

00:32:50you've suffered

00:32:51so much.

00:32:52I've contacted

00:32:53the Rodway group.

00:32:54You can start

00:32:54your job earlier.

00:32:55They'll send someone

00:32:56to pick you up today.

00:32:58Tears ran down

00:32:59my face.

00:33:03I sobbed

00:33:04in Reet's arms,

00:33:05letting out

00:33:06all my sadness.

00:33:08Three hours later,

00:33:10I got on the plane

00:33:11bound for New York.

00:33:15Outside the window,

00:33:16the clouds

00:33:17were getting thicker.

00:33:18Nothing could hold

00:33:19me back here.

00:33:20A new life

00:33:21awaited me ahead.

00:33:24During my stay

00:33:25in the hospital,

00:33:26the school head

00:33:27staff stationed

00:33:28at my room

00:33:28around the clock,

00:33:29keeping outsiders

00:33:30at bay.

00:33:34with Reib's intervention,

00:33:37many students

00:33:37came forward

00:33:38and admitted

00:33:38that I didn't attack

00:33:39Felicia in the hallway

00:33:40that day.

00:33:41Because the incident

00:33:42involved an injured student,

00:33:44the school handled it

00:33:45privately

00:33:46and did not announce

00:33:47the outcome.

00:33:48In the apartment,

00:33:49Ezekiel had been

00:33:50on edge all day.

00:33:52Ever since he watched

00:33:53me fall down the stairs,

00:33:55nightmares of me

00:33:56lying in a pool of blood

00:33:57plagued him every night.

00:34:00His heart throbbed

00:34:01painfully,

00:34:02like it was rotting

00:34:03from the inside.

00:34:04He tried calling me,

00:34:05but my phone

00:34:06was turned off.

00:34:12He even went

00:34:13to the hospital

00:34:14to see me,

00:34:14but the teachers

00:34:16blocked him

00:34:16at the door.

00:34:21Later,

00:34:21he heard that

00:34:22I had left

00:34:23the hospital,

00:34:24yet I never

00:34:24sought him out

00:34:25and nobody knew

00:34:26where I had gone,

00:34:27as if I had vanished

00:34:29into thin air.

00:34:30Ezekiel's fidgetness

00:34:32escalated into

00:34:33full-blown panic.

00:34:35Because he knew

00:34:35I had no one

00:34:36to rely on

00:34:37in San Francisco.

00:34:38Besides this apartment

00:34:39and the school dorm,

00:34:40I had no place to stay.

00:34:42He was desperate

00:34:43to find me,

00:34:44though even he

00:34:44couldn't explain why.

00:34:46Just then,

00:34:47the doorbell rang.

00:34:49Ezekiel's heart

00:34:50leaped with joy.

00:34:51He rose and sprinted

00:34:53for the door.

00:34:53His calf slammed

00:34:55into the coffee table,

00:34:56and the pain

00:34:57doubled him over,

00:34:58but he clenched

00:34:58his teeth

00:34:59and staggered on.

00:35:00To his shock,

00:35:02the person

00:35:02standing outside

00:35:03the door

00:35:03was Felina.

00:35:05She pouted,

00:35:06tears welling

00:35:07in her eyes.

00:35:09Ezekiel,

00:35:10I have no idea

00:35:11what that bitch

00:35:12Paulina did

00:35:13did to turn

00:35:13the whole school

00:35:14against me.

00:35:15They're accusing me

00:35:16of framing her.

00:35:18I can't face this alone.

00:35:19I need your help.

00:35:21As she spoke,

00:35:22she threw herself

00:35:23into Ezekiel's arms.

00:35:26In the past,

00:35:27Ezekiel would always relent

00:35:29and take care

00:35:29of everything for her.

00:35:31But this time,

00:35:33he stood moatmanless,

00:35:35gazing at the beautiful

00:35:36girl in front of him,

00:35:37yet all he could think of

00:35:39was that diaphiled face

00:35:40of me,

00:35:42as radiant

00:35:43and stunning

00:35:44as a fiery rose.

00:35:47He gently pulled

00:35:48Felina's hands away

00:35:49and said,

00:35:53Ezekiel,

00:35:54you should go.

00:35:55I still have other things

00:35:57to deal with.

00:35:59Felina was stunned.

00:36:02She stubbly gripped

00:36:03his hands,

00:36:04her voice sharp.

00:36:09Ezekiel,

00:36:09you're not abandoning me,

00:36:11are you?

00:36:11You promised you would

00:36:13always look out for me.

00:36:14How can you go back

00:36:15on your word?

00:36:17How can you leave me

00:36:18high and dry?

00:36:19If my dad hears those lies,

00:36:21he'll beat me to death.

00:36:24Felicia was guilt-tricking

00:36:25him again.

00:36:28For the first time,

00:36:30Ezekiel could commiserate

00:36:31with me.

00:36:32And I was,

00:36:33he could not understand,

00:36:35what right Felicia had

00:36:36to use her misfortunes

00:36:38as a weapon

00:36:39and him to her will.

00:36:42Yet he didn't say anything

00:36:43and patiently soothed her.

00:36:47All right, Elia.

00:36:48Go home.

00:36:50Just give me some time.

00:36:52I promise I'll handle it, okay?

00:36:55Hearing him,

00:36:57Felicia finally simmered down

00:36:58and left reluctantly.

00:37:00As Ezekiel watched her

00:37:02disappear into the elevator,

00:37:04he breathed out a long sigh.

00:37:07A dull pain still lingered

00:37:09in his calf.

00:37:11Once again,

00:37:12a wave of frustration

00:37:13weighed on his heart.

00:37:20He grabbed his phone,

00:37:26threw on a coat

00:37:27and headed out.

00:37:28Walking into his favorite bar,

00:37:29he was immediately greeted

00:37:30by a ruckus.

00:37:32But the moment he saw

00:37:34the person being teased,

00:37:35his jaw dropped.

00:37:41Amid the red and green lights

00:37:43of the bar,

00:37:44a man and a woman

00:37:45were passionately kissing.

00:37:50They were Felina

00:37:51and Ezekiel's best friend.

00:37:53It was also him

00:37:54who first suggested

00:37:55that Eziele design

00:37:56a link targeting me.

00:37:58So now he knew

00:37:59I would be completely ruined

00:38:00socially,

00:38:01all to vent Felicia's anger.

00:38:09Everyone applauded

00:38:11and the sound of whistles

00:38:12was deafening.

00:38:14The lively atmosphere

00:38:15seemed to ignite

00:38:16the air around them.

00:38:18But Ezekiel felt as cold

00:38:20as if he had fallen

00:38:20into an ice cave.

00:38:23At that moment,

00:38:25the kiss ended.

00:38:26Felina raised her bottle

00:38:28and shouted to the crowd,

00:38:32Order whatever you want tonight.

00:38:35Ezekiel the idiot

00:38:36will pay for everything.

00:38:39Someone laughed and asked.

00:38:43Elia, aren't you the one

00:38:45who likes Ezekhezirad the most?

00:38:48Aren't you afraid

00:38:49he'll get angry

00:38:49if he finds out you that?

00:38:53Unexpectedly,

00:38:54Felicia sneered out loud.

00:38:57Angry?

00:38:58Am I supposed to be afraid

00:38:59of him getting angry?

00:39:01Now that Paulina,

00:39:02that bitch,

00:39:03is gone,

00:39:04he's completely useless to me.

00:39:07He really thinks I like him?

00:39:09To hell with him.

00:39:10Arrogant and conceited.

00:39:12He's not even the first

00:39:13insare of the Willard family,

00:39:15yet he acts like

00:39:16he's some treasure.

00:39:19I only used him

00:39:21to deal with Paulina,

00:39:22that annoying bitch.

00:39:25Everyone burst into laughter.

00:39:34The sharp laughter

00:39:35pierced Ezekiel's heart

00:39:36like a sword.

00:39:38But the conversation

00:39:39did not end.

00:39:41Felicia,

00:39:42drunk,

00:39:43raised her bottle

00:39:44and climbed onto the table,

00:39:46boasting.

00:39:48Do you know why Ezekiel

00:39:51has always been so good to me?

00:39:53Everyone was intrigued

00:39:55and corred.

00:39:56No!

00:39:58Fight!

00:40:02Felicia raised her hand

00:40:03to her mouth

00:40:04in a mysterious gesture

00:40:05as if she was about

00:40:07to whisper.

00:40:08Her voice did not lower

00:40:10at all,

00:40:11because he thinks

00:40:12that three years ago

00:40:14at Twin Peaks,

00:40:15the person who saved him

00:40:17was me!

00:40:19Me!

00:40:22Actually,

00:40:23it wasn't me at all.

00:40:26He would never imagine

00:40:28that it was Paulina,

00:40:29but that woman

00:40:30pretends to be so noble.

00:40:33So I just borrowed

00:40:34the title of Savior

00:40:36for myself.

00:40:37Ezekiel was completely stunned,

00:40:40standing there in a daze,

00:40:42unable to recover

00:40:43for a long time.

00:40:44Three years ago,

00:40:46he had been tricked

00:40:47into going up the mountain,

00:40:48only to fall into a trap

00:40:50set early in the morning.

00:40:52His legs were severely injured

00:40:54and he could not move,

00:40:57almost dying in the forest.

00:40:59A girl had saved him,

00:41:00using her frail shoulders

00:41:02to carry him down the mountain

00:41:03and take him to the hospital.

00:41:06When he opened his eyes,

00:41:09Aunt Felicia

00:41:09was sitting beside him.

00:41:14I was the one

00:41:15who saved him.

00:41:16But in fact,

00:41:17she was nothing

00:41:18but a shameless imposter.

00:41:24And Ezekiel

00:41:25had been used by her,

00:41:26personally hurting

00:41:27his true savior.

00:41:32As Ezekiel felt like

00:41:33he was going insane,

00:41:34he grabbed a nearby

00:41:36bottle of liquor

00:41:36and rushed it at Felicia,

00:41:38who was still laughing.

00:41:39He smashed it hard

00:41:40against her head.

00:41:42Blood mixed with the liquor

00:41:43dripped down

00:41:44and she screamed,

00:41:45clutching her head.

00:41:50When she saw Ezekiel clearly,

00:41:53all color instantly drained

00:41:54from her face.

00:41:57Zach?

00:42:01Let me explain.

00:42:03It's not what you think.

00:42:04I drank too much.

00:42:06I was talking nonsense.

00:42:07Really just nonsense.

00:42:10Ezekiel's eyes were cold

00:42:11and fierce,

00:42:12like a ghost

00:42:13crawling out of hell.

00:42:14He stepped forward,

00:42:15grabbed her hair,

00:42:16and forced her face up

00:42:18to look at him.

00:42:23Felina,

00:42:24answer me.

00:42:25Who was the one

00:42:26who saved me back then?

00:42:29Felicia had never seen

00:42:30Ezio like this before

00:42:32and was completely terrified.

00:42:34Her tears and snot

00:42:35mixed with the blood

00:42:36on her head,

00:42:37dirty and smeared

00:42:38all over her cheeks.

00:42:42It was Paulina.

00:42:44But Zach,

00:42:45I really like you.

00:42:47I lied because I wanted

00:42:48to be with you.

00:42:52Ezio looked coldly

00:42:53at the woman in front of him,

00:42:55whose mouth was full of lies,

00:42:57and threw her heart

00:42:58onto the ground.

00:42:59The guests around

00:43:00were all stunned,

00:43:01and when they saw

00:43:02it was Ezekiel,

00:43:03they even didn't

00:43:04dare to breathe.

00:43:07The person who had

00:43:08just kissed Felicia's legs

00:43:09went weak

00:43:10and knelted on the ground.

00:43:14Ezekiel,

00:43:15I was wrong.

00:43:16It was this woman

00:43:17who seduced you.

00:43:18Please forgive me.

00:43:20Ezekiel coldly

00:43:21curled his lips.

00:43:22His eyes were filled

00:43:24with extreme cruelty.

00:43:28Forgive you?

00:43:31How could you do that

00:43:32after you risked

00:43:33your life so recklessly?

00:43:35Ezekiel left the bar.

00:43:40He searched frantically

00:43:41through every place

00:43:42I might have gone

00:43:43but found nothing.

00:43:46In the end,

00:43:47exhausted,

00:43:48he collapsed

00:43:49on the playground.

00:43:52Staring blankly

00:43:53at the field

00:43:53across from him,

00:43:54his heart ached

00:43:56as if it were

00:43:57being cruelly squeezed

00:43:58by a pair

00:43:58of invisible hands.

00:44:06He collapsed

00:44:07in agony

00:44:07on the pavement

00:44:08nearby.

00:44:13Tears streaming

00:44:15controllably

00:44:15down his face

00:44:16as he called out

00:44:17again and again.

00:44:18Lena,

00:44:20where are you?

00:44:22Please,

00:44:23come out

00:44:24and see me,

00:44:25will you?

00:44:30I was wrong.

00:44:32I truly knew

00:44:33I was wrong.

00:44:37The students

00:44:38passing by all

00:44:38looked at him

00:44:39as if he were

00:44:40some kind of monster.

00:44:41They pointed

00:44:41and talked about him.

00:44:47Ezekiel did not know

00:44:48how much time

00:44:48had passed

00:44:49before he finally

00:44:50dried his eyes.

00:44:51Numbly,

00:44:52he got up,

00:44:53took out his phone

00:44:54and dialed a number.

00:44:59Donate

00:45:00two million dollars

00:45:01to the University

00:45:02of San Francisco.

00:45:03Have them

00:45:04thoroughly investigate

00:45:05how Felicia

00:45:05obtained the final exam

00:45:07questions in advance

00:45:08and cheated.

00:45:09And also investigate

00:45:10her framing of classmates

00:45:11and her extremely vicious

00:45:12acts of campus bullying.

00:45:14Hand the case over

00:45:16to the judicial authorities

00:45:17and expel her from school.

00:45:20Also,

00:45:21help me find someone

00:45:22even if you have to dig

00:45:24three feet into the ground.

00:45:26You must find her.

00:45:29Ezekiel returned

00:45:30to his apartment,

00:45:31deleted all the

00:45:32back-end data

00:45:33of that post,

00:45:34then opened

00:45:35the campus forum,

00:45:36published a statement,

00:45:38and lay down

00:45:39on the big bed

00:45:39that no longer

00:45:40carried any trace

00:45:41of Paulina,

00:45:42breathing greedily.

00:45:46He tried in vain

00:45:47to find even

00:45:48the slightest trace,

00:45:50but there was nothing.

00:45:52He did not sleep

00:45:54at all that night.

00:45:55The next day,

00:45:56the campus forum

00:45:57of the University

00:45:58of San Francisco

00:45:59exploded.

00:46:00The top trending news

00:46:01was Ezekiel's statement.

00:46:04I am Ezekiel

00:46:05from the law department,

00:46:06also Paulina's boyfriend.

00:46:08I was the one

00:46:09who framed Paulina

00:46:10and used our intimate photos

00:46:12taken during

00:46:12our normal relationship

00:46:13to create the viral post online.

00:46:16In fact,

00:46:16she never did any

00:46:17of the things

00:46:18reported in the news.

00:46:21Immediately after

00:46:22was the disciplinary decision

00:46:24regarding Felicia.

00:46:31Felicia from the law department

00:46:33for bribing teachers

00:46:34before the exam,

00:46:35cheating,

00:46:36and committing

00:46:36severe campus bullying

00:46:37is ordered to withdraw

00:46:39and is expelled

00:46:39from the university.

00:46:41The legal issues

00:46:42involved will be

00:46:43further handed over

00:46:44to the relevant authorities

00:46:45for processing.

00:46:47For a time,

00:46:48the entire

00:46:49University of San Francisco

00:46:51was in an uproar.

00:46:52The students

00:46:53who had once hurt me

00:46:54were all in a panic,

00:46:56afraid of retaliation.

00:47:01Others,

00:47:02just as they had

00:47:03once cursed me,

00:47:04now turned

00:47:05all their anger

00:47:06towards Felicia.

00:47:09When Felicia

00:47:10packed her things

00:47:10and was taken away

00:47:11from the school

00:47:12by the Vale family,

00:47:13everyone hurled

00:47:15ridicule

00:47:15and insults at her.

00:47:16No one knew

00:47:17who threw

00:47:18the first bottle,

00:47:19but soon a barrage

00:47:20of trash

00:47:20and debris

00:47:21was thrown at her.

00:47:22You bitch,

00:47:23get out of the

00:47:23University of San Francisco!

00:47:25You're nothing

00:47:25but a troublemaker!

00:47:26Go to hell!

00:47:26It's all because of you

00:47:27that Paulina

00:47:28left the school!

00:47:29I still had so many

00:47:30case studies

00:47:30I wanted to ask her about!

00:47:33Felicia covered her head

00:47:35and fled in panic.

00:47:37But she knew very well

00:47:38that an even more

00:47:39brutal storm

00:47:40from the Villick family

00:47:41was waited for her.

00:47:46As she walked out

00:47:47the school gate,

00:47:49Ezekarney happened

00:47:49to be coming in.

00:47:54She rushed over

00:47:55in tears,

00:47:56melt at his feet,

00:47:57and clung tightly

00:47:58to his pant leg.

00:48:01Zek, please save me!

00:48:02I know I was wrong!

00:48:04I really know

00:48:05I was wrong!

00:48:05Please save me!

00:48:09Ezekiel lifted his foot

00:48:11and kicked her

00:48:11hard to the ground.

00:48:12his eyes devoid

00:48:13of any warmth.

00:48:22Felicia,

00:48:22I was the one

00:48:23who asked the school

00:48:24to deal with you strictly,

00:48:25so how could I

00:48:26possibly save you?

00:48:30And by the way,

00:48:32I just spoke to your father

00:48:33on the phone

00:48:34and told him that I

00:48:36the useless second

00:48:37young master

00:48:38of the Willard family

00:48:39wanted him to teach you

00:48:40a good lesson.

00:48:46Do you think it will work?

00:48:49When Felicia heard this,

00:48:51her whole body

00:48:51trembled like a leaf,

00:48:53all the color

00:48:53drained from her face,

00:48:55and her eyes rolled back

00:48:56as she fainted

00:48:57on the spot.

00:49:00The plane landed

00:49:01at JFK Airport.

00:49:03I followed behind

00:49:04the staff of the

00:49:04Broadway group.

00:49:06Walking quickly

00:49:06toward the parking lot,

00:49:08I felt a bit excited,

00:49:10but even more uneasy.

00:49:15The Broadway group

00:49:16in New York

00:49:17was an existence

00:49:17that even the

00:49:18Willard family

00:49:19in San Francisco

00:49:20could not compare to.

00:49:22And their legal department

00:49:23was famously known

00:49:25as the strongest

00:49:26on earth.

00:49:31of course,

00:49:32I did not doubt

00:49:32my own abilities,

00:49:34but I worried

00:49:35whether my future work

00:49:36and life would go smoothly

00:49:37and whether my boss

00:49:38would appreciate

00:49:39my working style.

00:49:41Lost in my thoughts,

00:49:42I failed to see

00:49:43the road ahead

00:49:44and accidentally

00:49:45bumped straight

00:49:46into a broad chest.

00:49:51I looked up in surprise,

00:49:53just about to apologize,

00:49:55when I saw

00:49:56a familiar gentle smile.

00:49:59Kieran?

00:50:03Kieran Rodway

00:50:04was my direct senior,

00:50:05and also the one

00:50:06who had partnered with me

00:50:07to win the San Francisco

00:50:09Legal Model competition

00:50:10three years in a row.

00:50:12After he graduated last year,

00:50:14we had not seen

00:50:15each other again.

00:50:16Had he really come

00:50:17to New York?

00:50:18Wait a minute,

00:50:19Kieran Rodway,

00:50:20Rodway.

00:50:21Kieran looked at me

00:50:22with amusement

00:50:23as my expression

00:50:24changed several times.

00:50:25And as the confusion

00:50:27in my eyes

00:50:27gradually turned to surprise,

00:50:29he finally spoke.

00:50:32Paulina,

00:50:32you are as observant

00:50:34and analytical as ever.

00:50:36That's right.

00:50:37I am your new boss.

00:50:39The president

00:50:40of the Rodway group.

00:50:42Welcome to my world.

00:50:43I looked up,

00:50:45staring at him in a daze.

00:50:47The last bit of coldness

00:50:49in my heart

00:50:49completely melted away

00:50:51in that dazzling smile.

00:50:54Kieran must have learned

00:50:55about my situation

00:50:56and taken the initiative

00:50:57to ask Rhett,

00:50:59reaching out to help me

00:51:00just when I was about

00:51:01to fall into utter despair.

00:51:05At this moment,

00:51:07my eyes turned red,

00:51:08and only one voice

00:51:10remained in my heart.

00:51:14Kieran,

00:51:14it was truly wonderful

00:51:16to see you.

00:51:17Thank you.

00:51:19In the following half year,

00:51:21my work in the Rodway group's

00:51:23legal department

00:51:23made me feel

00:51:24as if I had come back

00:51:25to life.

00:51:29I quickly developed

00:51:30perfect rapport

00:51:31with my colleagues.

00:51:32Everyone here

00:51:33was as easy

00:51:34to get along with

00:51:35as Kieran,

00:51:36and they often teased me.

00:51:39Paulina,

00:51:39if you keep this up,

00:51:41us old folks

00:51:42will be outshined by you.

00:51:43But as the new generation

00:51:45surpasses the old,

00:51:46seeing such outstanding

00:51:48newcomers,

00:51:49we feel comforted.

00:51:50With you

00:51:51in the Rodway group's

00:51:52legal department,

00:51:53we are all at ease

00:51:54about its future.

00:51:59Kieran also often

00:52:00found various reasons

00:52:02to come see me.

00:52:03Showing concern

00:52:04and care,

00:52:05everyone noticed

00:52:05what was going on.

00:52:07So they deliberately

00:52:08left us space

00:52:09to be alone,

00:52:10intentionally

00:52:10helping us along.

00:52:13That day,

00:52:14the legal department

00:52:15had a dinner gathering,

00:52:16to everyone's surprise,

00:52:18Kieran,

00:52:19the big boss,

00:52:20also attended.

00:52:21He sat right next to me,

00:52:23listening to everyone's

00:52:25conversation throughout

00:52:26the evening,

00:52:27not saying much himself,

00:52:28but taking care of those

00:52:30around him

00:52:31at just the right moments.

00:52:34I turned to look at him

00:52:36and was immediately startled

00:52:38by the burning intensity

00:52:39in his deep eyes.

00:52:41I quickly looked away,

00:52:42my heart pounding like a drum.

00:52:45After the gathering ended,

00:52:46Kieran, as usual,

00:52:48drove me downstairs

00:52:49as I pushed open

00:52:50the car door to get out.

00:52:51I blurted out,

00:52:52almost involuntarily.

00:52:55Would you like to come up

00:52:56for some tea?

00:52:57I have the green tea you like.

00:52:59We started kissing

00:53:00as soon as we entered

00:53:01the elevator,

00:53:02fueled by the alcohol.

00:53:04I poured out the last bit

00:53:05of concern I had been

00:53:06hiding in my heart.

00:53:09Kieran,

00:53:09I'm not the same

00:53:10pure Paulina

00:53:11I used to be you.

00:53:12My words were completely

00:53:14sealed by his kiss.

00:53:16He kissed me

00:53:17even more fiercely

00:53:18than before,

00:53:19stealing my breath.

00:53:23Lina,

00:53:24I love you.

00:53:25I loved you since college.

00:53:30I loved you.

00:53:33For the three years

00:53:35I knew you.

00:53:36And every day

00:53:37after I left,

00:53:39I regretted not

00:53:40confessing earlier.

00:53:42But at that time,

00:53:43my family was in the middle

00:53:44of internal strife.

00:53:46I couldn't give you

00:53:47a future.

00:53:50I thought I would wait

00:53:51until everything settled down

00:53:52to find you.

00:53:52but by then,

00:53:54someone else was already

00:53:55by your side.

00:54:02Finally,

00:54:02when we reached the door,

00:54:04Kieran suddenly stopped.

00:54:05Kieran pressed me

00:54:06against the door,

00:54:07breathing heavily.

00:54:10Lina,

00:54:11I'm giving you

00:54:11one last chance.

00:54:13Will you be with me?

00:54:15I don't care about your past.

00:54:16I just feel sorry for you.

00:54:19But let me tell you,

00:54:21once you're with me,

00:54:22breaking up is not allowed.

00:54:26I'm very possessive.

00:54:28I can't stand you

00:54:29leaving again.

00:54:30Yes!

00:54:31Before he could finish,

00:54:32I spoke first.

00:54:34I want to!

00:54:35I want to be with you!

00:54:40Our passion ignited instantly.

00:54:43It was unstoppable.

00:54:45We moved from the doorway

00:54:46to the living room.

00:54:48From the sofa

00:54:49to the balcony.

00:54:51From the bedroom

00:54:52to the bathroom

00:54:53again and again.

00:54:54Over and over.

00:54:57Insatiable and tireless.

00:55:02When the surging tide

00:55:03finally calmed,

00:55:05the sky was already

00:55:06turning pale,

00:55:07Kieran held me in his arms

00:55:08and gently kissed

00:55:09the top of my head.

00:55:12Lina!

00:55:14I love you!

00:55:15On the other side,

00:55:18after Ezekiel graduated

00:55:19and left school,

00:55:21he joined the Willard group.

00:55:26yet he still did not give up

00:55:27searching for me.

00:55:29But no matter how many people

00:55:30he sent out,

00:55:31he could not find me.

00:55:32He was like a furious,

00:55:34trapped beast

00:55:35that had lost its way,

00:55:36turning all of San Francisco

00:55:38upside down.

00:55:39He even mobilized

00:55:40all the connections

00:55:41the Willard family

00:55:42had accumulated

00:55:43over the years,

00:55:45both in the underworld

00:55:46and the upper world,

00:55:47among all walks of life,

00:55:49and set a reward

00:55:50of $10 million.

00:55:52But his hopes

00:55:53were still dashed.

00:55:55He planted informants

00:55:57everywhere,

00:55:57at the docks,

00:55:59stations,

00:55:59and airports.

00:56:01From the initial notices

00:56:02to the current

00:56:03CitiWid search,

00:56:04I once again became

00:56:05the talk of San Francisco.

00:56:08My photos kept spreading

00:56:09and the information

00:56:10was repeatedly filtered.

00:56:16But after a full six months,

00:56:18I still could not be found.

00:56:20It was as if Paulina

00:56:22had vanished into thin air

00:56:23from Ezekiel's world.

00:56:25Late at night,

00:56:26Ezekiel did not return

00:56:27to the Willard family villa,

00:56:28but still lived in the apartment

00:56:29where he and Paulina

00:56:30had spent so much time together.

00:56:32He sat at the bedside,

00:56:34downed an entire bottle

00:56:35of strong liquor,

00:56:36and let his tears fall silently.

00:56:39In half a year,

00:56:40he had lost four pounds,

00:56:41becoming so haggard

00:56:42and dispirited

00:56:43that he seemed

00:56:43like a different person.

00:56:45He stared fixedly

00:56:46at my photo still on his phone,

00:56:47confusion flashing in his eyes

00:56:49before it turned into obsession.

00:56:53I won't give up, Lina.

00:56:56Even if I have to go

00:56:57to heaven or hell,

00:56:59no matter what the cost,

00:57:00I will find you.

00:57:05Thinking of this,

00:57:07he dialed his assistant again.

00:57:09Make arrangements.

00:57:09Starting tomorrow,

00:57:11expand the search

00:57:11to the mainland

00:57:12and raise the reward

00:57:13to $20 million.

00:57:14After speaking,

00:57:16he thought for a moment

00:57:16and then asked,

00:57:20How is Felicia?

00:57:22Is she dead yet?

00:57:24Since graduating

00:57:25and joining the Willard group,

00:57:27apart from work

00:57:28and searching for me,

00:57:29the most important thing

00:57:31for him was taking

00:57:31revenge on Felicia.

00:57:35After she was bailed

00:57:36out of prison,

00:57:37she was beaten

00:57:38and scolded

00:57:38by her father every day,

00:57:40with not a single

00:57:41uninjured spot

00:57:42left on her body.

00:57:45But Ezekiel still felt

00:57:47it was not enough.

00:57:48Tell Mr. Veal,

00:57:50send her to Mexico

00:57:51and I'll let him handle

00:57:53the South Bay project.

00:57:57Three days later,

00:57:58a shocking murder case

00:58:00broke out

00:58:00in San Francisco.

00:58:05Miss Felicia of the Veal family

00:58:07poisoned the food,

00:58:08causing the deaths

00:58:09of all 15 members

00:58:10of the Veal family,

00:58:12and she is now

00:58:12on the run.

00:58:18The assistant held

00:58:19a tablet

00:58:20and reported

00:58:21to Ezekiel at his desk,

00:58:22constantly observing

00:58:24his reaction

00:58:24out of the corner

00:58:25of his eye.

00:58:27On the run!

00:58:29As Ezekiel slammed

00:58:30his fist on the desk,

00:58:32what are those

00:58:33useless people doing?

00:58:34They can't find Lina!

00:58:35And now,

00:58:36and now they've let

00:58:37Felicia escape too?

00:58:40Catch her.

00:58:41Send her to the police.

00:58:43Hire the best lawyers.

00:58:45I want her to never

00:58:46leave prison

00:58:46for the rest of her life.

00:58:51As soon as he

00:58:52finished speaking,

00:58:53the door to his office

00:58:54was suddenly pushed open,

00:58:55a person dressed

00:58:56as a cleaner walked in,

00:58:57and before Ezekiel

00:58:58could react,

00:58:59pulled out a gun

00:59:00and fired at him.

00:59:01Bang!

00:59:01At the moment,

00:59:02the gunshot rang out.

00:59:04Ezekiel was shot

00:59:05in the chest,

00:59:06the tremendous impact

00:59:07made him stagger

00:59:08and fall to the ground,

00:59:09blood gushing out

00:59:10instantly.

00:59:11The cleaner also

00:59:12took off her mask,

00:59:13revealing Felicia's

00:59:14scarred face,

00:59:15and charged at him

00:59:16viciously,

00:59:16ready to fire another shot.

00:59:18The assistant reacted quickly,

00:59:19grabbing the marble stand

00:59:20nearby and smashing it

00:59:21hard against her head.

00:59:24With that blow,

00:59:26her brains splattered everywhere.

00:59:30The handgun fell to the ground,

00:59:32and she collapsed

00:59:33in a pool of blood.

00:59:38The blood flowing from her body

00:59:40snaked forward,

00:59:41mixing with Ezekiel's.

00:59:45Ezekiel's vision darkened,

00:59:47the pain and blood loss

00:59:48blurring his sight.

00:59:49Before losing consciousness,

00:59:50he was still thinking,

00:59:52What bad luck,

00:59:52getting myself stained

00:59:53with her blood.

00:59:57Felina was imprisoned

00:59:58and sentenced to life in prison.

01:00:03Ezekiel was hospitalized

01:00:04with serious injuries.

01:00:07After a full day and night

01:00:09of emergency treatment,

01:00:10his life was barely saved.

01:00:12However,

01:00:13his limbs and body

01:00:14were still affected,

01:00:15and he could only sit

01:00:16in a wheelchair

01:00:17for the time being.

01:00:20Ezekiel's grandfather,

01:00:21Peter Willard,

01:00:22heard that there was

01:00:23a sanatorium in New York

01:00:25specializing in severe paralysis

01:00:27cases like his,

01:00:29and immediately arranged

01:00:31for him to be transferred there

01:00:32by private jet.

01:00:34Yet during the long rehabilitation,

01:00:37Ezekiel simply could not

01:00:38calm his mind

01:00:39to cooperate with the treatment.

01:00:40His heart and thoughts

01:00:42were filled with the hope

01:00:43of finding me

01:00:44as soon as possible.

01:00:46On this day,

01:00:47his assistant pushed him

01:00:48out of the sanatorium

01:00:49for a walk

01:00:50in the marina district,

01:00:52and a couple walking

01:00:53hand in hand nearby

01:00:54instantly stung his eyes.

01:01:01He looked at me

01:01:02and Kylan.

01:01:03I held a large bouquet

01:01:05of roses in my arms,

01:01:06leaning against Kylan.

01:01:12Unconsciously,

01:01:13Ezekiel's heart skipped a beat.

01:01:16But then,

01:01:17it sank heavily,

01:01:19for at Kieran's face

01:01:21was all too familiar to him.

01:01:26Kieran,

01:01:27president of the

01:01:28Broadway Group in New York.

01:01:29Kieran appeared on the front page

01:01:31of financial news every day,

01:01:33and a single word from him

01:01:34could cause a financial earthquake

01:01:35in the country.

01:01:36Kieran had also once been

01:01:38a prodigy in the law department

01:01:39at the University of San Francisco,

01:01:41a top student.

01:01:43No wonder,

01:01:44no matter how many methods

01:01:45Ezekiel used

01:01:46or how much money

01:01:47he offered as a reward,

01:01:48he could never find me.

01:01:49It turned out that

01:01:50someone had protected me well,

01:01:52completely sheltering me

01:01:53under his invincible wings.

01:01:55Ezekiel,

01:01:56who had once feared nothing

01:01:57and commanded the winds

01:01:58and clouds

01:01:59at the University of San Francisco

01:02:00and throughout San Francisco,

01:02:02for the first time

01:02:03felt uncontrollable fear

01:02:04in front of the one he loved.

01:02:06I already had another lover.

01:02:08Healthy,

01:02:08successful in his career,

01:02:10academically outstanding,

01:02:12each quality so exceptional

01:02:13that ordinary people

01:02:15could only look up to him.

01:02:16Even Ezekiel himself

01:02:17had to admit

01:02:18that he simply could not

01:02:19compare to Kieran.

01:02:21It was not until my figure

01:02:22gradually disappeared

01:02:23into the distance

01:02:24that he,

01:02:25like a stranded fish,

01:02:26clinged to the armpit

01:02:27of his wheelchair

01:02:28and gasped for breath.

01:02:29The assistant saw everything

01:02:31and tentatively asked,

01:02:32Mr. Willard,

01:02:33why be flying out

01:02:34to Mrs. Quincy?

01:02:35Ezekiel let out

01:02:36a self-mocking laugh

01:02:37and as he spoke,

01:02:39tears welled up in his eyes.

01:02:40In the past six months,

01:02:42he had almost shed

01:02:43all the tears of his life,

01:02:44all for me.

01:02:51Call out to her?

01:02:54On what grounds?

01:02:57Because I've become a cripple?

01:03:01Or because that man,

01:03:05with a flick of his finger,

01:03:07could make all my efforts

01:03:08over the past six months

01:03:09amount to nothing,

01:03:10leaving me unable

01:03:11to find a single trace of Lena?

01:03:14He was not discouraged.

01:03:16He hated himself.

01:03:19After returning,

01:03:21Ezekiel began

01:03:21an intense revelation

01:03:23in Regine.

01:03:25He trained like a madman,

01:03:27as if he wanted

01:03:28to exhaust himself

01:03:29to death

01:03:30on the rehabilitation equipment.

01:03:35Finally,

01:03:35on the day he could

01:03:36stand up on his own again,

01:03:38he went to the building

01:03:39of the Rodway group

01:03:40and waited quietly

01:03:41in his car.

01:03:43He waited until nightfall

01:03:45as groups of employees

01:03:47left the company.

01:03:51Only then

01:03:52did that familiar figure

01:03:53finally appear

01:03:55at the entrance.

01:04:00I carried my laptop bag,

01:04:03looked exhaustedly

01:04:04toward the exit

01:04:05of the underground

01:04:05parking lot,

01:04:07and slowly walked

01:04:08to the roadside

01:04:09as Ezekiel opened

01:04:10the car door

01:04:10and finally called out

01:04:11my name.

01:04:13Lena

01:04:15I had lost weight,

01:04:17but my complexion

01:04:18was remarkably good.

01:04:20My fair skin

01:04:22still glowed

01:04:23with a moist radiance

01:04:24under the moonlight,

01:04:24tinged with a faint blush.

01:04:27Yet my gaze

01:04:28showed not

01:04:29the slightest ripple,

01:04:30unusually calm.

01:04:32Those lively eyes,

01:04:34now unperturbed,

01:04:35resembled a deep,

01:04:37bottomless cold pool,

01:04:39without joy or sorrow,

01:04:41love or hate.

01:04:44Instead,

01:04:45they reflected

01:04:46his current embarrassment

01:04:47and agitation

01:04:49with even greater clarity.

01:04:52That look

01:04:53was clearly directed

01:04:55at a stranger.

01:04:57Ezekiel suddenly recalled

01:04:59every late night

01:05:00in the past

01:05:01when my heart

01:05:02and eyes

01:05:02had been filled

01:05:03with his presence.

01:05:05Now, however,

01:05:06I was so distant

01:05:07and indifferent.

01:05:15He spoke with

01:05:17a hossy voice,

01:05:18cautiously.

01:05:20I've been looking

01:05:21for you for so long.

01:05:22I even went

01:05:23to the hospital

01:05:24to see you,

01:05:24but I was blocked

01:05:26every time.

01:05:27I called you

01:05:28countless times,

01:05:29from your phone

01:05:30being turned off

01:05:31at first

01:05:31to eventually

01:05:32being disconnected.

01:05:34I...

01:05:36Ezekiel was

01:05:37somewhat incoherent.

01:05:38He was too agitated

01:05:39and too fearful.

01:05:41He was terrified

01:05:42I would disappear again.

01:05:44I'm sorry

01:05:45I miss you so much.

01:05:48I really miss you.

01:05:50For more than

01:05:51half a year,

01:05:52not a moment passed

01:05:53without me

01:05:54thinking of you,

01:05:55searching for you.

01:05:58I found out

01:05:59the person who saved me

01:06:00on the mountain

01:06:01was you.

01:06:03Lena,

01:06:03I was wrong.

01:06:05It was because

01:06:06Felicia lied to me,

01:06:08saying she was

01:06:09the one who saved me,

01:06:10that I helped

01:06:10her hurt you.

01:06:12I finally lifted

01:06:13my eyes

01:06:14and looked

01:06:14directly at him.

01:06:16But it was not

01:06:17because I was moved.

01:06:19It was because,

01:06:20behind him,

01:06:21Kieran's car

01:06:22had already driven

01:06:23out of the underground

01:06:24garage

01:06:25and was approaching

01:06:26slowly.

01:06:27Yet this reaction,

01:06:29in Ezekiel's eyes,

01:06:30took on a different

01:06:32meaning.

01:06:34He was greatly

01:06:35encouraged

01:06:35and continued.

01:06:38I've already

01:06:38punished myself.

01:06:40I had the hacker

01:06:41delete the link

01:06:41from the push

01:06:42notification

01:06:43and at school,

01:06:44I also did

01:06:45things for you.

01:06:46However,

01:06:47he did not

01:06:48finish his sentence.

01:06:49I suddenly smiled,

01:06:51waved behind him

01:06:53and walked around him,

01:06:54leaving straight away.

01:06:58I did not leave

01:07:00a single word.

01:07:01Ezekiel watched

01:07:03my departing figure

01:07:04and involuntarily

01:07:05pressed his thin lips

01:07:07together.

01:07:07He hurried forward,

01:07:09trying to grab

01:07:10my arm.

01:07:12Lena,

01:07:13don't go!

01:07:14I still have

01:07:15something to say!

01:07:19However,

01:07:20just as he was

01:07:20about to touch me,

01:07:21the car door nearby

01:07:22slowly opened.

01:07:24Keenan stepped out

01:07:24and tightly embraced me.

01:07:26Mr. Willard,

01:07:27it's not very appropriate

01:07:29for you to

01:07:29cumulically

01:07:30pestle my girlfriend.

01:07:31At what my place

01:07:32is, is it?

01:07:33Kieran's expression

01:07:34was indifferent,

01:07:35without any emotion.

01:07:36In contrast,

01:07:37at Ezekiel's face

01:07:38was filled with

01:07:39urgency and panic.

01:07:40Kieran used his

01:07:41tall figure to

01:07:42shield me behind him,

01:07:43his eyes carrying

01:07:43an undisguised warning.

01:07:45Ezekiel quickly

01:07:46calmed down,

01:07:47his brows tightly

01:07:48frowned as he

01:07:49sized up the cold

01:07:49and stern man

01:07:50before him,

01:07:51refusing to back down.

01:07:53Mr. Rodbay,

01:07:54this is between

01:07:55Lena and me.

01:07:56It has nothing

01:07:57to do with you.

01:07:58He was confident

01:07:59that as long as

01:07:59he sincerely apologized

01:08:01I would surely

01:08:01forgive him.

01:08:02After all,

01:08:03I had loved him

01:08:04so deeply.

01:08:05However,

01:08:06at Kieran Rodway

01:08:07let out a low laugh.

01:08:09Out Lena's

01:08:10matters are my matters.

01:08:12Besides,

01:08:13do you need me

01:08:13to remind you

01:08:14what you've done?

01:08:14If I were you,

01:08:16I'd wish to smash

01:08:17my head and die.

01:08:19He took a deep breath

01:08:20before continuing.

01:08:21The Willard family

01:08:22is truly unfortunate

01:08:23to have a son like you.

01:08:25If you keep

01:08:26pestering Lina,

01:08:26I won't mind

01:08:27having your family

01:08:28come over to properly

01:08:29enforce the family rules.

01:08:31There was already

01:08:31a hint of threat

01:08:32in Kieran's words,

01:08:33but at Ezimiel Willard

01:08:34did not care at all.

01:08:35Even if you can use

01:08:36your power to force me back,

01:08:38you can't change the fact

01:08:39that's most beloved person

01:08:40is always me.

01:08:42I made mistakes.

01:08:43I can punish myself

01:08:44however I want,

01:08:45but I will never

01:08:46give up on her.

01:08:48Kieran Rodway,

01:08:50do you dare to compete

01:08:51with me fairly?

01:08:53We...

01:08:53He did not finish

01:08:55his sentence

01:08:55as I suddenly interrupted him.

01:08:57Ezikiel,

01:08:58there's no need to compete.

01:09:01Both men looked at me

01:09:02at the same time.

01:09:03The person I love now

01:09:04is at Kieran.

01:09:06No one can compete with him.

01:09:08As for you,

01:09:10I feel utterly disgusted

01:09:11and regretful

01:09:12for ever loving you.

01:09:13That is the greatest shame

01:09:14of my life!

01:09:16Ezikiel was struck

01:09:17as if by lightning.

01:09:19He staggered back

01:09:20several steps,

01:09:21almost collapsing

01:09:21to the ground

01:09:22in embarrassment.

01:09:22It was as if

01:09:23all his strength

01:09:24had been instantly

01:09:25drained from his body

01:09:26and even maintaining

01:09:27the last bit of dignity

01:09:28was becoming a luxury.

01:09:30Impossible.

01:09:33I don't believe it.

01:09:34You clearly love me

01:09:35so much

01:09:35you said you would

01:09:36love me

01:09:36for your whole life.

01:09:40Lena,

01:09:41this joke

01:09:41isn't funny at all.

01:09:42I was wrong.

01:09:43I really was wrong.

01:09:45Please forgive me.

01:09:46Don't be so cruel to me.

01:09:48I swear.

01:09:50I will spend

01:09:50the rest of my life

01:09:51making up for what

01:09:52I owe you.

01:09:53I won't let you

01:09:54suffer any more harm.

01:09:56I'm begging you,

01:09:57Lena,

01:09:57don't treat me like this.

01:09:59As he spoke,

01:10:00he reached out

01:10:00to grab my hand,

01:10:01but his hand

01:10:02was slapped away harshly.

01:10:03I looked at him coldly,

01:10:05my eyes completely

01:10:06unherherbed.

01:10:08Ezikiel,

01:10:08go back.

01:10:09Your very presence

01:10:10makes me sick.

01:10:11If you truly

01:10:12feel sorry for me,

01:10:14then please get out

01:10:15of my world completely

01:10:16and never bother me again.

01:10:19In the days that followed,

01:10:21I briefly regained

01:10:22a period of peace.

01:10:24On this day,

01:10:25I was invited

01:10:26to Columbia University

01:10:27to participate

01:10:28in a month-long

01:10:28teaching seminar.

01:10:30The transition

01:10:31from student to teacher

01:10:32felt novel to me,

01:10:33and the gloom

01:10:34that Ezikiel had cast

01:10:35over my mood

01:10:36was swept away.

01:10:37After the first day ended,

01:10:38a student ran over

01:10:39and said,

01:10:40Miss Quincy,

01:10:41there's someone waiting

01:10:42for you outside

01:10:42the lecture hall.

01:10:43He's a very handsome man.

01:10:45I thought it was Kieran,

01:10:47so I quickly packed

01:10:47my things and ran outside.

01:10:49I had to admit

01:10:50that I was relying

01:10:51and more and more

01:10:52on Kyran.

01:10:53No matter what I did,

01:10:54I wanted to share

01:10:55my feelings with him first.

01:10:57But when I saw

01:10:58At Ezikiel standing

01:10:59before me,

01:11:00all the blood

01:11:00in my body turned cold.

01:11:02He really was

01:11:03like a lingering ghost.

01:11:04I turned to leave,

01:11:05but At Ezikiel

01:11:06caught up with me

01:11:06in a few quick steps.

01:11:08He hugged me tightly

01:11:09from behind.

01:11:10His eyes filled

01:11:11with obsessive emotion,

01:11:12Don't go, Lena.

01:11:13Let's talk, please.

01:11:15I really can't live

01:11:16without you.

01:11:18I know you've been wronged,

01:11:19so why don't you hit me?

01:11:20Use a knife

01:11:21or a stick,

01:11:22anything you want.

01:11:24Even if you want

01:11:25to kill me,

01:11:25that's fine.

01:11:27Just don't ignore me, please.

01:11:29Since you left,

01:11:29I haven't had a single

01:11:30good night's sleep.

01:11:32It took me so long

01:11:33to find you,

01:11:34but now there's another man

01:11:34by your side.

01:11:36Do you know

01:11:37I'm about to lose my mind?

01:11:38I felt a wave

01:11:40of nausea

01:11:40rise in my heart.

01:11:42During those days

01:11:43when I couldn't control

01:11:44my feelings for him,

01:11:45when I hoped he would

01:11:45give me a little love,

01:11:47I had imagined

01:11:48countless times

01:11:48that he would truly love me,

01:11:50but from beginning to end,

01:11:51all he gave me

01:11:52was cruel hurt.

01:11:55From the moment

01:11:56I walked out of the campus,

01:11:57the Paulina of the past

01:11:58had already died.

01:11:59I had died

01:12:00on on the basketball court

01:12:02on the third floor

01:12:02of the school gymtasium.

01:12:04I broke free

01:12:05from Ezekiel's embrace

01:12:06with disgust,

01:12:07looked at him indifferently,

01:12:08and spoke coldly.

01:12:09Ezekiel,

01:12:10if you keep pestering me,

01:12:12I'm going to call the police.

01:12:14Ezekiel's eyes

01:12:15suddenly turned red.

01:12:16He had searched for me

01:12:17for such a long time,

01:12:18and never once

01:12:19had he thought

01:12:20about giving up.

01:12:21He ignored my resistance,

01:12:22trapping me tightly

01:12:23with his arms,

01:12:24and tried to kiss

01:12:25my ear and hair.

01:12:26Lena,

01:12:28please don't treat me

01:12:29like this.

01:12:30Didn't we agree

01:12:31to get married

01:12:31after graduation?

01:12:32I can marry you right now.

01:12:34I've already bought

01:12:34the engagement ring.

01:12:36You left me without a word,

01:12:37and I really

01:12:38corned me with this.

01:12:39Are you still blaming me?

01:12:41I know I'm sorry

01:12:42I didn't understand

01:12:43my own heart,

01:12:43but I really will change.

01:12:45His hot breath

01:12:46poured over the back

01:12:46of my ear,

01:12:47made me so uncomfortable

01:12:48that my hair stood on Ed,

01:12:50but his disgusting behavior

01:12:51continued.

01:12:52I know you've already

01:12:53found out

01:12:53about the push-link thing.

01:12:54I admit I did it,

01:12:56but now I've erased

01:12:57them all.

01:12:58Even the ones others got,

01:12:59I destroyed them

01:13:00with one click.

01:13:00I was so furious

01:13:02that I shook.

01:13:02I bit at Ezekiel's arm hard,

01:13:04and while he was in pain,

01:13:06I quickly turned around

01:13:07and saw him hard

01:13:07across the face.

01:13:09Ezekiel,

01:13:09no matter what you do

01:13:11to make up for it,

01:13:12I will never love you again.

01:13:14In my eyes,

01:13:15you are a complete bastard.

01:13:16You disgust me.

01:13:17You make me hate you,

01:13:18and even hearing your name

01:13:20makes me sick.

01:13:23To me,

01:13:24the at Paulina of the past

01:13:26died long ago,

01:13:27died at the University

01:13:27of San Francisco,

01:13:28died in your abuse

01:13:30and harm.

01:13:30What gives you the right

01:13:31to ask for my forgiveness?

01:13:33Why should I come back?

01:13:34Just because you regret it!

01:13:37Tell me,

01:13:37why?

01:13:38Early spring in New York

01:13:40was still a bit coley,

01:13:41and I curled up my body.

01:13:42Then,

01:13:43as if I remembered something,

01:13:45I slowly rolled up my sleeve.

01:13:47The exposed skin

01:13:48was covered with

01:13:48crisis-crossing scars.

01:13:50Who knew how many years

01:13:51it would take to fully heal,

01:13:52or perhaps it would

01:13:53never heal at all?

01:13:54I pointed at those scars

01:13:55and said word by word,

01:13:57Ezekiel,

01:13:58these are your crimes,

01:13:59and they will never be erased.

01:14:01You should stay

01:14:01as far away from me

01:14:02as possible.

01:14:03If you had even

01:14:04a shred of guilt,

01:14:05you wouldn't be

01:14:06so self-righteous

01:14:07as to harass

01:14:08my hard-won peaceful life

01:14:10and make it a mess again!

01:14:11You are just so selfish

01:14:13and shameless!

01:14:17Ezekiel stood frozen in place,

01:14:19unable to move

01:14:19for a long time.

01:14:21Kiran suddenly launched

01:14:22an attack.

01:14:23Kiran precisely targeted

01:14:25all the projects

01:14:26of the Willard family.

01:14:27The family crisis

01:14:28was all because

01:14:29Ezekiel went to

01:14:30harass someone else's girlfriend.

01:14:32Peter was furious

01:14:33and immediately sent people

01:14:34to bring him Welkai,

01:14:35but Ezekiel seemed bewitched

01:14:37and would still sneak off

01:14:38to New York.

01:14:39Although Kiran had already

01:14:40arranged bodyguards around me,

01:14:42they would drive him away

01:14:43before he could get close.

01:14:45Yet he only wanted

01:14:45to see me from afar.

01:14:47It was only at this very moment

01:14:48that Ott Ezekiel

01:14:49finally understood

01:14:50the inexplicable panic

01:14:52that had suddenly a raisin

01:14:53in his heart back then.

01:14:55It turned out that

01:14:56from that time on,

01:14:57he had been afraid

01:14:57of losing me.

01:14:58He had also become

01:14:59clearly aware

01:15:00that his actions

01:15:01might make it impossible

01:15:02to win my back.

01:15:05So I was right.

01:15:06He deserved it.

01:15:07He was shameless.

01:15:08He knew the outcome

01:15:09but still did it,

01:15:10simply because he was convinced

01:15:11my love would never change.

01:15:13He publicly announced

01:15:14his separation

01:15:15from the Willard family,

01:15:16gave up all inheritance rights,

01:15:18and stayed alone in New York.

01:15:19He could not succeed

01:15:21in anything in New York,

01:15:22because Kiran's people

01:15:23were always watching him.

01:15:24So he could only

01:15:26take odd jobs everywhere,

01:15:27living a miserable life.

01:15:29All just to catch

01:15:30a glimpse of Paulina

01:15:31from time to time.

01:15:32On the day I got married,

01:15:34Ezekiel waited early

01:15:35in the grass

01:15:36outside the Rodway mansion.

01:15:37He watched helplessly

01:15:39as I gave my hand to Kiran.

01:15:40He went mad.

01:15:41He rushed back

01:15:42to his rented room

01:15:43and stabbed himself

01:15:44again and again.

01:15:45Just before losing consciousness,

01:15:47he dialed the emergency center

01:15:49and said,

01:15:51Please, I'm about to die.

01:15:54Please let me see Lena.

01:15:56Just let me see her

01:15:56one more time, please.

01:15:58When woke up again,

01:15:59he was already laying

01:16:00in a ward

01:16:01at New York Pristerian Hospital.

01:16:03He had previously

01:16:03suffered a gunshot wound

01:16:05and his body

01:16:05had long been severely weakened.

01:16:07After this ordeal,

01:16:08he seemed completely broken.

01:16:10I filed a lawsuit against him.

01:16:12I personally served

01:16:13as my own attorney,

01:16:14accusing him

01:16:16of violating citizens' privacy,

01:16:17distributing obscene materials,

01:16:19intentional injury,

01:16:21and several other charges.

01:16:22In court,

01:16:23I fought

01:16:24wore my lawyer's robe,

01:16:25spoke clearly and logically,

01:16:27and Spreard nevidically

01:16:28presented all the evidence

01:16:29in detail.

01:16:30Over the years,

01:16:31I had never given up

01:16:32seeking justice for myself.

01:16:34Now that I was married,

01:16:35I had the strongest support

01:16:36and no longer had any worries.

01:16:38And the chain of evidence

01:16:39was finally completely intact.

01:16:42Ezekiel did not hire a lawyer,

01:16:44nor did he apply

01:16:44to defend himself.

01:16:46He cooperated silently

01:16:47with all the procedures.

01:16:48He pleaded guilty in court

01:16:49and would not appeal.

01:16:51He was subsequently convicted

01:16:52of multiple crimes

01:16:53and sentenced to seven years

01:16:54in prison.

01:16:56On the day he entered prison,

01:16:59Ezekiel knelt on the ground

01:17:00and begged the prison guard

01:17:01to let him see me.

01:17:02But I replied,

01:17:03you will never see me again

01:17:05in this lifetime.

01:17:06Seven years had passed

01:17:08in the blink of an eye.

01:17:09I had given birth to a daughter

01:17:10named Emily Roadway.

01:17:11I gently raised the high old,

01:17:13nurturing her

01:17:14to be independent

01:17:15and obstinous,

01:17:16my heart overflowing

01:17:17with Fortis eyes.

01:17:18Kieran accompanied me

01:17:19back to San Francisco

01:17:20to pay respects to my mother.

01:17:22The three of us

01:17:23bowed before the gravestone.

01:17:25Mom,

01:17:26I am very happy now.

01:17:28My family is harmonious

01:17:30and blissful.

01:17:31All the pain from the past,

01:17:33I have already forgotten.

01:17:35Please rest assured.

01:17:36Emily hopped around,

01:17:38earnestly wiping

01:17:39the gravestone

01:17:39for her grandmother,

01:17:40her little face shrouded

01:17:42in solemnity.

01:17:42With her childish voice,

01:17:44she said,

01:17:45Grandma,

01:17:46I will take good care of mom,

01:17:48so don't worry.

01:17:49Kieran and I were amused

01:17:50and burst into laughter.

01:17:53It was not until

01:17:54the sun slanted west

01:17:55and the cemetery

01:17:56was about to close

01:17:57that the three of us

01:17:58left hand in hand.

01:18:00We did not notice that,

01:18:01not far away in the bushes,

01:18:03two pairs of eyes

01:18:04were watching us,

01:18:05one burning with intensity,

01:18:07the other cold and sinister.

01:18:09Before returning to New York,

01:18:10I visited the University

01:18:12of San Francisco

01:18:13to see Reet.

01:18:14Seeing Reet,

01:18:15whose hair had long

01:18:16since turned white,

01:18:17my eyes could not help

01:18:18it grow moister.

01:18:19Mr. Smithison,

01:18:21there is something

01:18:21I have never told you

01:18:22all these years.

01:18:23I came here today,

01:18:24especially to tell you,

01:18:25thank you.

01:18:27Truly,

01:18:27thank you.

01:18:28If you hadn't contacted

01:18:30Kieran back then,

01:18:31there would be no Paulina today.

01:18:33You are like a second parent

01:18:34to me.

01:18:35Riot was moved to tears as well

01:18:36and we talked for quite a while.

01:18:38When I left,

01:18:39it was already noon,

01:18:40the students had gone to lunch

01:18:42and there were not many people

01:18:43on campus.

01:18:44I walked alone

01:18:45along the familiar path

01:18:46and a message from Kieran

01:18:47popped up on my phone.

01:18:49My work is finished

01:18:50and I am almost

01:18:51at the University of San Francisco.

01:18:53I smiled softly,

01:18:54my face full of tenderness.

01:18:56Just then,

01:18:57a figure suddenly darted out

01:18:58from behind a tree,

01:18:59blocking my way.

01:19:01Paulina,

01:19:02after all these years,

01:19:04I have finally waited for you.

01:19:06I looked up and saw

01:19:07at Felicia.

01:19:08I was utterly shocked

01:19:09and took two steps back,

01:19:11my eyes wide with caution.

01:19:12Weren't you sentenced

01:19:13to life imprisonment?

01:19:14How are you here?

01:19:16Felicia let out a bitter laugh,

01:19:17her voice completely horny.

01:19:19Inside,

01:19:20I lived a life

01:19:20of utter darkness.

01:19:23Tortured until I developed cancer.

01:19:26So I applied for medical parole.

01:19:30All so I could find a chance

01:19:32before I die

01:19:33to drag you to hell with me.

01:19:35I kept retreating,

01:19:36trying hard to stay calm.

01:19:38Felicia,

01:19:38I never wronged you.

01:19:39In fact,

01:19:40you have always hurt me.

01:19:42Why do you hate me so much?

01:19:44Felicia's eyes glinted

01:19:45with ferocity.

01:19:46The knife in her hand

01:19:47waved ceaselessly.

01:19:50Of course I hate you!

01:19:52You are an orphan.

01:19:53You should have lived

01:19:54like a worm in the mud.

01:19:56So why are you better than me

01:19:58in every way?

01:19:59You were always top of the class.

01:20:01Teachers liked you,

01:20:02and even when you went hiking,

01:20:04you managed to save

01:20:05the youngest son

01:20:05of the most powerful

01:20:06Willard family

01:20:07in San Francisco.

01:20:08Why, at Paulina,

01:20:10why is your luck so good?

01:20:11How could I not hate you?

01:20:14I just want to destroy you

01:20:15to make you fall

01:20:16into the abyss with me.

01:20:18With that,

01:20:19she lunged straight at me

01:20:20with the knife.

01:20:23Just as the sharp blade

01:20:24was about to pierce my body,

01:20:26a stern shout

01:20:27rang out from nearby.

01:20:29Kieran and the recently released

01:20:31Ezekiel were running

01:20:32toward me at the same time.

01:20:34Felicia saw Ezekiel,

01:20:35and her eyes grew even redder.

01:20:37She suddenly turned the knife

01:20:39and stabbed fiercely

01:20:40at the charging Ezekiel.

01:20:41Ezekiel,

01:20:42I didn't kill you last time,

01:20:43so this time

01:20:44we'll die together!

01:20:46The sound of the blade

01:20:48piercing skin echoed

01:20:49and Ezekiel's heart

01:20:50was strapped through.

01:20:51He did not even have time

01:20:53to say a word

01:20:53before he collapsed.

01:20:55Even in death,

01:20:56he was still looking

01:20:57in my direction.

01:20:58Felicia wildly turned her head,

01:21:00her body covered in blood

01:21:01as she looked at me.

01:21:02Paulina,

01:21:03I really dislike you,

01:21:05but I also envy you.

01:21:07As soon as she finished speaking,

01:21:09she plunged the blooded knife

01:21:10into her own heart.

01:21:13Kieran raised his hand

01:21:15to cover my eyes,

01:21:16holding me tightly

01:21:17in his arms.

01:21:18Don't be afraid,

01:21:19Lena,

01:21:20I'm here.

01:21:21I'm here.

01:21:22This was the most beautiful

01:21:23love conflession

01:21:24I had ever heard.

01:21:25My heart, too,

01:21:26settled into peace.

01:21:28A week later,

01:21:29Kieran and I

01:21:30returned to New York.

01:21:31When we got off the plane,

01:21:33the evening glow

01:21:34happened to be in the sky.

01:21:36We held hands

01:21:37and gazed

01:21:39into each other's eyes.

01:21:41We were surrounded

01:21:42by the radiant cease

01:21:43of happiness.

01:21:46Kieran and I

01:21:47have no hope

01:21:47I asked him

01:21:50to be in the sky

The Girl Who Refused to Be a Victim Short Drama 720p Full HD 1920p English Subtitles

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