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Watch full-length drama films featuring powerful business leaders, hidden identities, family secrets, impossible love stories, revenge, and inspiring personal journeys. Every movie delivers engaging storytelling and memorable characters.
Enjoy high-quality drama entertainment with English subtitles and discover new trending stories uploaded on a regular basis.
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FunTranscript
00:01I had just signed a $10 million patent licensing agreement when my mother called.
00:06Serena's getting married this weekend.
00:08You must come home.
00:09Her tone was as detached as ever.
00:11Click.
00:12She hung up.
00:13A FaceTime video call request popped up in the family group chat.
00:16I tapped to answer and...
00:17Hazel, I thought you weren't going to pick up.
00:20My brother Elliot Scott...
00:21Wear something decent.
00:22Don't embarrass Serena.
00:23The Ashford's guests are all people who matter.
00:26Ethan Cole, who had grown up with me, waved a hand and said...
00:29It's been 10 years since high school.
00:31If you'd worked harder back then, you'd be Ivy League like Serena.
00:34Instead of scavenging for food in New York.
00:36My former best friend, Melanie Reed, let out a derisive laugh.
00:39Hazel, Serena is marrying Julia Ashford.
00:41If things aren't working out for you in New York, come home.
00:43Let the Ashford set you up with something local.
00:45Anything's got to be better than what you're doing now.
00:47I thought back.
00:48Ashford, the family patriarch, Sterling Ashford,
00:51had the provost of MIT personally deliver three formal invitations.
00:55Asking for 30 minutes of my time.
00:57He'd been trying for three months.
00:59They were still talking about me like I was a joke.
01:02I couldn't be bothered to listen anymore.
01:04Okay, I'll be there.
01:05Serena sent a Venmo transfer.
01:07Zero dollars and one cent.
01:09The note read,
01:10For your flight home, can't wait to see you, Hazel.
01:13Elliot's voice came within seconds.
01:14Serena's wedding is expensive enough.
01:16How can you actually accept that?
01:18Send it back right now!
01:20Even if Serena makes 200k a year,
01:23that doesn't mean you get to spend her money.
01:25Ethan followed up.
01:26I was just about to speak.
01:28Just let it go.
01:28She's the least accomplished among us,
01:30the lowest income out of all of us.
01:32She's probably too broke to show her face.
01:34She's probably been too embarrassed to come home.
01:35Don't scare her off.
01:36I watched their unabashedly mocking faces on the screen
01:39and clenched my fists.
01:42I remembered senior year of high school.
01:45I was 18 when Serena had transferred in from California.
01:48She slipped effortlessly into the close-knit circle
01:50Ethan, Melanie, and I had always shared.
01:52And just like at home, I became the invisible one.
01:55After I got my early admission to MIT,
01:58I poured every waking hour into the lab.
02:02Serena's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
02:04Hazel, don't take the Venmo thing the wrong way.
02:07I know life in New York hasn't been easy for you.
02:09I just wanted to help out.
02:10Cover your flight.
02:11That's all.
02:12Predictably, the call exploded with praise
02:14for how thoughtful she was.
02:16I took a screenshot of the Venmo transfer
02:18and sent back my own one cent.
02:20The call went quiet for a few seconds.
02:22Elliot was the first to speak.
02:23Hazel, what's your problem?
02:24Not enough?
02:25Serena's getting married.
02:26Everyone there is in the Ashman circle.
02:27You didn't even finish college
02:28and she's not ashamed of you.
02:29Now you're complaining she didn't send enough?
02:30Penny is still a gesture.
02:31Serena genuinely cares about you.
02:32Did you even think about how she'd feel
02:34when you screenshipped that?
02:37At 18, this kind of bias
02:39would have kept me awake all night.
02:40At 28, I felt nothing.
02:42Hazel.
02:43Serena spoke next.
02:44I just found out you're coming home
02:46and got excited.
02:46I accidentally typed the wrong amount.
02:47Don't be mad, okay?
02:48I already told Julian
02:49to keep an eye out for a job for you.
02:50The thing is,
02:51this company has pretty high standards.
02:52Minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree.
02:54With your education,
02:55you may be receptionist
02:55or administrative assistant.
02:57Elliot sneered and said,
02:58What right does she have to be picky?
03:00Blame herself for not making something of her life
03:02her degree is embarrassing.
03:05Ten years ago,
03:08when the college acceptance letters arrived,
03:11Serena got into Yale.
03:12I received one rejection letter
03:13and one community college waitlist notice.
03:16My parents booked a two-week trip to Europe
03:18for Serena and Elliot.
03:22They gave me $50.
03:26I tried to tell,
03:27but I'd been accepted early.
03:29Mom, I was admitted early.
03:31My mother threw a coffee mug at my forehead.
03:32I never finished the sentence.
03:35I never told them about the USAMO gold medal
03:38or that MIT had offered me
03:39a full presidential scholarship.
03:41A knock at the door.
03:42I ignored the rest of what they were saying
03:43and ended the call.
03:44Emma, my assistant,
03:45stood in the doorway.
03:47Dr. Whitmore,
03:48Ashford's office emailed again.
03:49This time, Dr. Langwood called personally.
03:51He's asking if you can spare 30 minutes.
03:54Ashford Industries had a brain-computer interface project
03:57stuck on an algorithm for two years.
03:59They burned through $500 million
04:01and a patent of mine
04:02happened to be exactly the key they needed.
04:05Emma paused.
04:07Should I decline again?
04:08No.
04:09Tell Mr. Ashfield
04:10that if he still wants to meet,
04:11I'll be in Newport this weekend.
04:13Friday, I landed in Newport.
04:15No one came to pick me up.
04:16I booked an uber black
04:17from the airport to my parents' house.
04:19Melanie opened the door.
04:21Hazel!
04:22I almost didn't recognize you,
04:24your whole outfit.
04:25Designer?
04:26I didn't answer.
04:27I walked past her into the house.
04:29Serena's eyes swept over the watch on my wrist
04:31and lingered on my coat.
04:36Hazel, we're family.
04:38You didn't need to take out loans
04:39to buy fancy clothes just for appearances.
04:41How many credit cards did you max out?
04:44Come on.
04:45On Hazel's salary?
04:46Those are obviously knockoff.
04:48Ten years apart
04:49and none of them had changed much.
04:52Elliot had gained weight.
04:53Ethan's hairline had noticeably receded.
04:56Melanie had crow's feet.
04:58Serena was the exception,
04:59perfectly made up.
05:01But the contempt in their eyes
05:03when they looked at me
05:04was identical to what it had been
05:05ten years ago.
05:06From the day I left home until now,
05:08I have never once mentioned my income
05:10to any of you.
05:11Nobody had an answer.
05:13So what exactly are you basing
05:14your assumptions about my salary on?
05:16My mother came out of the kitchen
05:17carrying a serving plate
05:18and glanced at me.
05:20Without a college degree,
05:21what kind of job could she possibly get
05:23in New York?
05:23Stop pretending.
05:24That's enough.
05:25We're all family here,
05:26no strangers around.
05:27Even if life hasn't worked out for you,
05:28nobody here is judging you.
05:29Sit down and eat.
05:30Eight dishes on the table.
05:33Wow.
05:35Mrs. Whitemore remembered
05:36I love the roasted rib hat.
05:38I scanned the table.
05:39Everyone had a dish they loved.
05:42Even the golden retriever
05:43curled up at the foot of the couch
05:45had its own bowl of beef.
05:47Everyone except me.
05:48I got a plate of salad.
05:50My mother cut the tenderest piece of rib
05:53and pushed it onto Serena's plate.
05:55Over the years,
05:55we've invested in several
05:56waterfront properties in Newport.
05:58One for Elliot,
05:59one for Serena,
06:00Hazel, Elliot, and Serena
06:01graduated from top schools.
06:02It's only right they get properties.
06:03It wouldn't be fair to them
06:04if you got one too,
06:05given you didn't even finish college.
06:06So the property distribution
06:07is based on GPA,
06:08not on the number
06:09of biological children?
06:10The table went dead silent.
06:12My mother slammed her palm
06:14on the table.
06:19Hazel!
06:20You don't come home for 10 years
06:22and the moment you show up,
06:23you start picking fights?
06:25If I'd known you'd turn out
06:27this ungrateful,
06:28I should have given you up
06:29for adoption at the hospital.
06:31Exactly the same as 10 years ago.
06:32The biggest regret of my life
06:34is not giving you up
06:34for adoption at the hospital.
06:36Would have saved us
06:37all the embarrassment.
06:38In that moment,
06:39I didn't even feel hurt,
06:40just numb.
06:40That's just how your mother is.
06:42Don't take it personally.
06:44Serena,
06:44I managed to get my hands
06:45on a bottle of Macali 25.
06:47It'll make the perfect gift
06:47for Mr. Ashfield tomorrow.
06:49He'll love it.
06:49Dad,
06:50Mr. Ashford
06:51might not be able to make it.
06:53What?
06:54This is Julian's wedding.
06:55It's one of the biggest days
06:56for both families.
06:57How can he not come?
06:58Julian said there's
06:59an important guest
06:59flying in from New York this week.
07:01Mr. Ashford has to meet them first.
07:02He genuinely can't get away.
07:03Who's this person more important
07:04than his own grandson's wedding?
07:07I'm not sure either.
07:09Julian just said
07:10someone from New York.
07:11Mr. Ashford went through
07:12several connections
07:12to arrange the meeting.
07:13It took nearly three months.
07:14This person holds a patent
07:16that could save Ashford Industries.
07:17If they land this deal,
07:18Ashford Industries will be set
07:19for the next decade.
07:20Who has that kind of leverage?
07:22What kind of person
07:23is Mr. Ashford waiting
07:24three months for?
07:25Hazel,
07:26you've been in New York a while.
07:27Ever heard of anyone like that?
07:30Not really.
07:32She didn't even finish college.
07:33What would she know?
07:34I kept eating
07:35and said nothing.
07:36What could I say?
07:37That the person Mr. Ashford
07:38had been chasing
07:39for three months was me.
07:40They'd think I was insane.
07:44Hazel,
07:45your mom cleared out
07:45your old room a few days ago.
07:47We even put fresh sheets
07:48on the bed
07:49all ready for you.
07:50Melanie's taking
07:50the guest room tonight.
07:52Hazel,
07:52you can crash on the couch
07:53in the living room.
07:54My father's smile froze.
07:56Mrs. Whitemore,
07:57I feel bad.
07:58I can just book an Airbnb.
08:00You're only here
08:01for a short visit.
08:02How could I let you
08:03stay somewhere else?
08:04Hazel is family.
08:05Sleeping on the couch
08:06for one night
08:07won't kill her.
08:08I stood by the dining table
08:09saying nothing.
08:10Hazel,
08:11that won't be necessary.
08:12I've already booked a hotel.
08:14What's that supposed to mean?
08:14You have a home here
08:15but you'd rather stay
08:16at a hotel?
08:17Is the couch beneath you now?
08:18I prefer sleeping in a bed.
08:20I've been headed for the door.
08:21This girl,
08:22ten years away
08:23and her attitude
08:23has really grown.
08:24Talks back for every word.
08:26The door closed behind me.
08:30Ten years ago,
08:31when my family showed me
08:32they didn't care,
08:32I would have cried
08:33quietly into a pillow.
08:35Ten years later,
08:36another deposit
08:36was just another
08:37notification on my phone.
08:38Patent royalties,
08:40investment returns,
08:41licensing fees.
08:42Every payment came
08:43with more zeros
08:44than I cared to count.
08:45I wasn't sad anymore.
08:46I could take care
08:47of myself now.
08:48I was looking forward
08:48to seeing their expressions
08:49when they realized
08:50exactly...
08:52The next day,
08:53Newport's most
08:54prestigious wedding venue.
08:57My parents watched
08:58the entrance nervously.
09:00Ethan and Melanie
09:01huddled together.
09:02Halfway through the toasts,
09:03Serena suddenly walked
09:04from the head table
09:05up to the stage
09:06and picked up the microphone.
09:07Thank you all for coming
09:08to witness Julian's
09:09and my wedding today.
09:10While I have
09:11everyone's attention,
09:12I'd like to play
09:13matchmaker for Hazel.
09:14I stiffened.
09:16Hazel Whitfern,
09:1728 years old,
09:18high school diploma,
09:19currently working
09:19as a barista in New York,
09:20making $18 an hour,
09:21but she's such a wonderful
09:22person, so grounded.
09:23If any single gentleman
09:24here are interested,
09:25please come introduce yourselves.
09:26Who knows,
09:26maybe she'll finally
09:27meet the right man today?
09:29Don't worry about
09:29Hazel's education or income.
09:31Just do it as a favor
09:32to the bride.
09:33Give her a chance.
09:34A balding man
09:35on the right side
09:35of the ballroom stood up.
09:36I'm 35, divorced,
09:38have a six-year-old son,
09:38department manager at Costco,
09:4065K a year.
09:41Not bad, right?
09:41Can I get your number?
09:42Hi, Hazel.
09:43I graduated from Ruckters,
09:44underwriter at State Farm,
09:4580K a year.
09:46Mind if I add you on Instagram?
09:47I don't do matchmaking.
09:48Those men are
09:49perfectly good catches.
09:50They don't even mind
09:51that you didn't go to college
09:52and you're being picky?
09:53Leave them your number.
09:54Don't embarrass Serena.
09:56Hazel,
09:56do you not like the men
09:57I picked for you?
09:58But your options
09:59are what they are.
10:00Julian wrapped an arm
10:01around her shoulders
10:01and frowned.
10:04Hazel,
10:05why do you have to
10:05humiliate Serena
10:06in front of everyone
10:07like this?
10:07The bride is a Yale grad
10:09and an associate
10:09at McKenzie.
10:11Compared to that,
10:11Hazel is quite a step down,
10:14isn't she?
10:14My mother pointed at my face.
10:15Today is Serena's wedding.
10:16You just have to ruin
10:17the mood for everyone,
10:18don't you?
10:18Get out!
10:21Hazel,
10:21leave.
10:22You're not welcome here.
10:23You're just jealous
10:23Serena's marrying
10:24into the Asherd family.
10:25Get out!
10:26Hazel,
10:26just give them your number.
10:27If you get kicked out,
10:28how are the Asherds
10:28ever going to help you
10:29find a job?
10:29I pulled my arm free.
10:31Are you all sure
10:31you want me to leave?
10:32Before I came,
10:33I'd already coordinated
10:34with Mr. Ashford.
10:35The meeting was scheduled
10:36to happen right here
10:37at this wedding.
10:38Ouch!
10:39From this moment on,
10:40I don't have a daughter anymore!
10:42Serena dabbed at her eyes.
10:43Hazel,
10:43this wedding means
10:44everything to me.
10:45You've ruined my wedding.
10:47Since you refuse
10:47Serena's kindness
10:48and insist on humiliating her,
10:50I have to ask you to leave.
10:52Okay.
10:52I rose without hesitation
10:54and turned toward the exit
10:55and a frantic voice called out.
10:56Dr. Whitmore,
10:57wait!
10:58Stop her!
10:58She can't leave!
11:07And a frantic voice called out,
11:09Dr. Whitmore,
11:10wait!
11:10Stop her!
11:11She can't leave!
11:12It was Sterling Ashford.
11:13Every head in the room turned.
11:15Bride can leave.
11:16The groom can leave.
11:17But Dr. Whitmore,
11:19she absolutely cannot leave.
11:25Mr. Ashford stopped in front of me
11:27and lowered his head respectfully.
11:28Dr. Whitmore,
11:29please,
11:29I need your help.
11:34For a moment,
11:35the entire ballroom was stunned.
11:37The grand ballroom fell so silent.
11:39Mr. Ashford,
11:40are you,
11:40are you sure you have the right person?
11:42That's Hazel.
11:43She only got waitlisted
11:45at community college
11:46back in the day.
11:46Grandfather,
11:47are you mistaken?
11:48That's Serena's sister,
11:49the one who never even finished
11:50community college.
11:51Enough!
11:52Do you have any idea who she is?
11:54Dr. Hazel Whitmore,
11:55PhD in Biomedical Engineering
11:56from MIT,
11:57the youngest tenatured professor
11:58in MIT's history,
11:59the leading authority
12:00in neural signal decoding,
12:01holder of 17 international patents,
12:02last month's cover of Nature,
12:03Biomedical Engineering,
12:04that was her,
12:04the youngest candidate
12:05for members
12:06in the National Academy
12:08of Engineering.
12:09One title after another
12:10filled the room.
12:11The room erupted.
12:12Every eye on me
12:13now held shock,
12:14admiration,
12:15and something bordering on awe.
12:16Phones were raised.
12:17Countless lenses pointed at me.
12:21The balding man
12:22who had raised his hand earlier
12:23shrank back a step
12:24into the crowd.
12:25The short guy
12:25drained his glass
12:26in one gulp.
12:28I remember now.
12:29Last month's Nature Biomedical
12:30Engineering cover was her.
12:31How could anyone
12:31have recognized her?
12:32The bride kept saying
12:33my sister is a barista.
12:34Even if she looked familiar,
12:35who'd have made the connection?
12:36There were two guys
12:36asking for her Instagram earlier.
12:38Some people were even
12:38calling Dr. Whitmer stuck up.
12:40At her level,
12:40of course she wouldn't
12:41add strangers.
12:42Just then,
12:42the side door
12:43of the ballroom opened.
12:48A middle-aged man
12:49in a charcoal gray Brioni suit
12:50walked in briskly.
12:52A guest gasped.
12:53Isn't that Ken Chen
12:54from Sequoia Capital?
12:57One of the top VCs
12:58on the West Coast?
12:59Someone of his stature
13:01wouldn't attend
13:01a wedding of this size?
13:03Ken Chen walked straight up to me
13:04and handed over
13:05his business card.
13:07Dr. Whitmore,
13:09we've recently invested
13:10on three BCI startups.
13:12All of them are stuck
13:13on this algorithm issue.
13:15Whenever you're available,
13:16we'll fly to New York
13:16to meet with you.
13:17I took the card
13:18and gave a polite smile.
13:20Right after,
13:20a woman in a beige suit
13:22hurried over
13:22from the head table.
13:23Dr. Whitmore,
13:25I'm Diana Delgado,
13:26president of the
13:27Newport Chamber of Congress.
13:28Would you mind
13:29connecting on LinkedIn?
13:30One by one,
13:31prominent figures
13:32from East Coast
13:33business circles
13:33gathered around me.
13:34Dr. Whitmore,
13:36I'm Michael Ellis,
13:37Kelda Pharma.
13:38Most are you asking
13:39to be in a little bit.
13:40Dr. Moore,
13:42Horizon Ventures
13:42would like to schedule
13:43a time with you.
13:44Business cards fell around
13:45me like snow.
13:46My mother stood frozen.
13:47She opened her mouth.
13:48The wine glass
13:49in her hand trembled.
13:50Red wine spilled
13:51onto the pristine
13:52white tablecloth.
13:53Therina stood on the stage,
13:54fingers gripping
13:55the microphone.
13:56Her knuckles were white.
13:57Elliot stepped forward
13:57as if he wanted
13:58to say something.
13:59Ethan's wine glass
14:00hovered in midair.
14:01His pupils were dilated
14:02with disbelief.
14:02How is this possible?
14:04Hazel,
14:04I had no idea
14:05you were this successful.
14:07I'm so happy for you.
14:08I glanced at her.
14:09Melanie,
14:09that might sound
14:10more convincing.
14:12If your fingernails
14:13weren't drawing blood
14:14from your own palms.
14:16Melanie's eyes
14:16went blank.
14:17Her smile withered.
14:18My parents finally
14:19snapped out of it.
14:20The anger on my mother's face
14:21had vanished completely
14:22and its place
14:23was an expression
14:24I'd never seen
14:24from her before.
14:25Something almost obsequious.
14:27She rushed over
14:27to Mr. Ashford.
14:28Mr. Ashford,
14:29please don't worry.
14:29Hazel and we are family.
14:31This partnership
14:31will absolutely happen.
14:33Let's finish the wedding first
14:34then sit down
14:34and discuss family.
14:36I cut her off
14:36repeating the word softly.
14:37When you were kicking me
14:38out of here a minute ago,
14:41why didn't the word
14:42family come up then?
14:44The ballroom went silent again.
14:46Elliot's face
14:47cycled through green and white.
14:48Ethan lowered his head
14:49wishing he could disappear
14:50into the pattern
14:51of the Persian carpet.
14:52A young man's voice
14:53cut through.
14:54Grandfather.
14:55He wore an impeccably tailored
14:56deep navy three-piece suit.
14:58His features resembled Julian's
14:59but with more composure
15:00and shrewdness in his eyes.
15:02Sebastian Ashford,
15:03Julian's cousin
15:04and Julian's biggest rival
15:05in the succession race
15:06for Ashford Industries.
15:07There's something
15:08you should know.
15:09Sebastian walked over
15:10to Mr. Ashford,
15:11his tone respectful.
15:12In this very room
15:13a moment ago,
15:13the Whitmore family
15:14collectively drove
15:15Dr. Whitmore out.
15:16He glanced at Julian
15:17with just the right measure
15:18of regret.
15:19Julian was part of it too.
15:22He also asked
15:23Dr. Whitmore to leave.
15:24Dr. Whitmore is essential
15:26to Ashford Industries.
15:28Julian's actions
15:28have hurt Dr. Whitmore deeply
15:31and damaged the relationship
15:32between the Ashford family
15:34and Dr. Whitmore.
15:35Julian's face went bloodless.
15:36He wanted to defend himself
15:37but he'd said those words
15:38in front of 30 tables of guests.
15:40No explanation could undo them.
15:42Mr. Ashford was silent
15:43only for a few seconds
15:44but it was enough
15:45to press a fine sheen
15:46of cold sweat
15:47onto Julian's forehead.
15:49The old man's fingers
15:49tapped lightly on the table.
15:51Since this wedding
15:52doesn't welcome Dr. Whitmore
15:54then very well.
15:55The wedding will continue.
15:57Then he turned to the side
15:58and gestured for me to go ahead.
15:59Dr. Whitmore and I
16:00will take our lead.
16:01Julian went ashen.
16:02Grandfather!
16:02He ran forward
16:03to block Mr. Ashford.
16:04Grandfather,
16:05this is my wedding.
16:06You can't leave!
16:07Mr. Ashford looked at him.
16:09Do you know how many favors
16:10I called in to secure
16:11a meeting with Dr. Whitmore?
16:12And what did you do?
16:14You and your bride
16:15are trying to throw her out.
16:16You have the nerve
16:17to ask me to stay?
16:19He turned away from Julian
16:20and gave me a slight nod.
16:21Dr. Whitmore, shall we?
16:21I picked up my clutch
16:23and walked past everyone
16:23toward the door.
16:24Behind me,
16:25Serena's voice finally broke.
16:26Hazel!
16:27Her cry laced with tears.
16:29I didn't look back.
16:32Newport,
16:32the Ashford family's
16:33private lounge.
16:34Mr. Ashford poured me
16:35a glass of Chateau Lafitte,
16:371982 himself.
16:38Dr. Whitmore,
16:39today's incident was a failure
16:40of grace on the Ashford family's part.
16:42I'm reassigning the BCI project.
16:44It won't be under Julian anymore.
16:46Someone who can't even read a room
16:48can't carry the future
16:49of Ashford Industries,
16:51let alone maintain
16:51a partnership with you.
16:53I'll assemble a separate team
16:54that reports directly to you.
16:55The terms are yours to set.
16:57I raised the glass
16:58and took a sip.
16:59Lafitte,
17:0082.
17:00Good wine.
17:01Mr. Ashford was a shrewd man.
17:03He had no shortage of grandchildren.
17:04He could afford to lose Julian.
17:06But the only person in the world
17:07who could salvage a project
17:08he'd already sunk
17:09half a billion dollars into
17:10was me.
17:11An hour later,
17:12we finalized the preliminary framework.
17:1320% equity in the project company
17:16in exchange for the technology
17:18plus a seven-figure licensing fee.
17:20Mr. Ashford personally drove me
17:22to the Four Seasons Newport.
17:23The presidential suite
17:24was on the 42nd floor.
17:25Floor-to-ceiling windows
17:27faced the coastline
17:28of Narragansett Bay.
17:29I wrapped myself in a bathrobe,
17:31settled onto the sofa by the window,
17:32and poured a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
17:34My phone was buzzing non-stop.
17:36The family group chat
17:37had over 200 new messages.
17:38My mother had sent
17:39seven or eight voice messages,
17:40each nearly a minute long.
17:42Her tone was completely different
17:43from the night before.
17:45Hazel, where are you?
17:45It's late.
17:46It's not safe out there alone.
17:47Come home.
17:48I have your room ready.
17:49Mom was wrong before.
17:50I said things I shouldn't have.
17:52Don't take it to heart.
17:53What mother doesn't love
17:54her own child?
17:55Do you remember when you had pneumonia
17:56at four years old?
17:57I stayed with you in the ER
17:58for three days and three nights.
18:00Hazel, we're family after all.
18:02Blood is thicker than water.
18:04Hazel, Dad knows you've had it rough
18:07over the years.
18:08But Serena's grades
18:09were always so strong.
18:10There were only so many resources
18:12at home.
18:12We had to prioritize the child
18:14with the most potential.
18:16You've made something of yourself now.
18:17Dad is genuinely happy.
18:19Come home and visit sometime.
18:21I'll bake you your favorite
18:21mac and cheese.
18:22I swiped past.
18:24Mac and cheese was Serena's favorite.
18:25Not mine.
18:26Elliot sent a string of messages.
18:28Hazel, do you know how many calls
18:30I've gotten today
18:30after word got out?
18:32My VP came over personally
18:33to ask if Dr. Hazel Whitmore
18:35was really my sister.
18:36I've never felt so proud.
18:38Which hotel are you at?
18:39Let me pick you up tomorrow.
18:40I'll throw you a welcome dinner.
18:41Remember that Michelin three star
18:42I mentioned?
18:43I'll book the best table.
18:44Ethan's tone was cautious
18:45for the first time in his life.
18:47I didn't understand the situation
18:48earlier and said things out of line.
18:50Don't hold it against me.
18:52You were always smarter
18:53than us in school.
18:54I should have seen it coming.
18:55I found it funny.
18:56In high school,
18:56to please Serena,
18:58he'd said to my face,
18:59Hazel, you're really slow.
19:01How are you not even
19:02half as smart as Serena?
19:03Now, he was saying,
19:05I'd always been the smart one.
19:06Melanie's message was long.
19:08Hazel, you're incredible.
19:09I'm honestly so happy for you.
19:11Now that you're this successful,
19:12do you think we're all
19:13pathetic in comparison?
19:14I'm just a regular nine to five.
19:16Not like you.
19:17Wherever you go,
19:18everyone worships you.
19:19I'm so jealous.
19:20Every sentence sang my praises.
19:22Every sentence told me
19:22exactly how jealous she was.
19:24An Instagram notification popped up.
19:26I opened it.
19:27Serena had posted an hour ago.
19:28The photo was a professionally edited
19:30shot from the reception.
19:31A sea of white roses,
19:33glittering crystal chandeliers,
19:34her silhouette in a Vera Wang gown
19:36at center stage.
19:37The caption read,
19:38Thank you to everyone
19:39who came to witness
19:40the happiest day of my life.
19:41Like nothing had happened.
19:43Julian sent a LinkedIn
19:44connection request.
19:45Dr. Whitmore,
19:46I sincerely apologize
19:47for what happened today.
19:48I'm asking for the chance
19:49to apologize in person.
19:50Sebastian added me too.
19:52His note was a single line.
19:53Dr. Whitmore,
19:54looking forward to working with you.
19:55Sebastian.
19:58Eight o'clock the next morning,
19:59I was dressed and walking
20:00through the hotel lobby.
20:01A black escalade was parked
20:03outside the revolving door.
20:04Serena stood beside it.
20:05She looked like she hadn't slept.
20:07When she saw me,
20:07she straightened her back.
20:09Hazel?
20:09Her voice was hoarse.
20:11I want to talk.
20:12I asked.
20:13About what?
20:13She reached for my sleeve.
20:15Her fingertips were cold.
20:16Hazel,
20:17can you just talk to me
20:18for a bit,
20:18just a few minutes?
20:19Fine.
20:20Ten minutes.
20:21We crossed the street
20:22and went into blue bottle coffee.
20:24I didn't want people
20:24to have anything to laugh about.
20:26The truth is,
20:26the wedding never finished.
20:27She bit her lip.
20:28After Mr. Ashford left,
20:29Julian's father called him
20:30back to the Ashford estate.
20:31He hasn't called me since.
20:33Hazel,
20:34I really don't know what to do.
20:35I tapped the table
20:36and looked her in the eye.
20:37Say what you came to say.
20:38You have eight minutes left.
20:40Her eyes reddened again.
20:41Hazel,
20:42could you just say something
20:43to Mr. Ashford?
20:44Julian must be too scared
20:45of getting in trouble
20:46to come find me.
20:48He does want to marry me.
20:49Just say something for him.
20:51Tell Mr. Ashford
20:52not to hold it against him.
20:53First,
20:54I cut her off.
20:54I didn't ask Mr. Ashford
20:55to do anything to you
20:56or Julian.
20:57I don't have that kind
20:58of time to waste.
20:59Serena froze.
21:00Second,
21:01in yesterday's situation,
21:02Julian's choice
21:03was to leave you alone
21:04at your own wedding
21:05and walk out.
21:06You need to re-evaluate
21:07the man you married.
21:08The expression on Serena's face
21:09went rigid.
21:10The soft,
21:11delicate shell
21:11she'd worked so hard
21:13to maintain
21:13cracked piece by piece.
21:15Underneath was something
21:16sharp and bitter.
21:17She raised her voice.
21:20Hazel Whitmarn.
21:21She called me by my full name.
21:22You must be so smug
21:23right now, huh?
21:24For years,
21:25you were beneath us
21:26in every way.
21:27Worse grades than me,
21:28mom and dad loved me,
21:30not you.
21:30In every family photo,
21:32you were shoved to the edge.
21:33And now look at you.
21:34You're stepping on
21:35all our heads
21:36watching us fall apart.
21:37Bet it feels amazing,
21:39doesn't it?
21:39Serena,
21:40instead of trying to figure out
21:41what I'm thinking,
21:42you should be figuring out
21:43how to win Julian back.
21:44Her pupils shrank.
21:45Getting on Julian's good side
21:46and holding on to your position
21:48as Mrs. Ashton,
21:49that's what you should
21:50be worrying about.
21:51Spending your energy on me
21:52will get you absolutely nothing.
21:54I walked around her
21:55and left the coffee shop.
21:56Behind me,
21:57I heard a hoarse scream
21:58and the dull thud
21:59of a Chanel bag
21:59hitting the floor
22:00and the crisp crap
22:01of an iPhone screen shattering.
22:02Hazel!
22:03You only have a few patents!
22:04What's so special about you?
22:06Who do you think you are?
22:08I couldn't be bothered
22:08to look back.
22:11A few days later,
22:12there was a knock on the door
22:13of the Four Seasons
22:14presidential suite.
22:15I opened it.
22:16My parents stood there
22:17holding bags,
22:18faces plastered
22:19with eager smiles.
22:20Elliot pulled out his iPhone
22:21the moment he walked in
22:22and started filming
22:23an Instagram story.
22:24Presidential suite?
22:25How much a night is this?
22:27Melanie looked around
22:28and smiled,
22:28moving to link her arm
22:29with mine.
22:30Hazel,
22:30you really are living the dream.
22:32Not like us,
22:33dragging ourselves
22:33through nine to fives.
22:35I'm so jealous.
22:36I pulled my arm free.
22:39What do you want?
22:40My mother nudged
22:41Serena forward.
22:42About the coffee shop
22:43and the wedding.
22:44I was wrong.
22:46I shouldn't have set you up like that.
22:47I shouldn't have said what I did
22:48about you stepping on our heads.
22:50I was upset
22:50and I said things I shouldn't have.
22:52Please don't hold it against me.
22:53Yes, yes.
22:54She knows she was wrong.
22:55She's been crying at home every day,
22:57can't eat,
22:57can't sleep.
22:58You're sisters.
22:59Blood is thicker than water.
23:00Hazel,
23:01forgive her this once.
23:02My father nodded.
23:03That's right, Hazel.
23:04If you're still upset,
23:05you can yell at her a bit.
23:07Teach her a lesson.
23:08For as long as I could remember,
23:09whenever Serena and I fought,
23:11the same lines came out.
23:12You're the older sister.
23:13You have to set an example.
23:15She's still young.
23:17Don't stoop to her level.
23:18Back then,
23:19nobody ever demanded
23:20Serena apologize to me.
23:21Not even to hold back.
23:22Not even that.
23:22Now they had dragged Serena
23:24over to apologize.
23:25So favoritism could be changed after all.
23:27Not because they'd realized
23:28they were wrong,
23:29but because my position had shifted.
23:32Apology accepted.
23:33You can go now.
23:34I'm heading back to New York
23:35in a few days.
23:36I have a lot to take care of.
23:37Elliot's eyes lit up.
23:38New York?
23:39Hazel, we've never been to New York.
23:40Should we visit sometime?
23:41Sure.
23:42You come.
23:43I'll take you out to dinner
23:44and cover the hotel.
23:45A hotel?
23:46Can't we just stay at your place?
23:48A single patent licensing fee
23:49is worth 10 million.
23:50You must have a huge house in New York.
23:52Staying at a hotel instead of with you
23:54would be so cold.
23:55Right.
23:55Your house has to be big.
23:57If family isn't using it,
23:58isn't it wasteful to leave it empty?
24:01I do have a house.
24:03But it's my house
24:04and nothing to do with you.
24:05The words landed.
24:07Nobody had a response.
24:09I'm staying at a hotel this trip
24:10in Newport too, aren't I?
24:12My mother's face shifted
24:13through several colors.
24:15But in the end,
24:15she said nothing.
24:16Elliot pretended to read
24:17the hotel welcome package.
24:20My father cleared his throat.
24:22If there's nothing else,
24:24please leave.
24:24I'm very busy.
24:26Before my mother left,
24:28she asked quietly,
24:29Hazel,
24:31you still haven't forgiven me,
24:33have you?
24:36No.
24:41After I got back to New York,
24:43occasional pieces of news
24:44drifted my way.
24:46Ethan had co-signed
24:47a six-figure loan for a friend.
24:48The friend defaulted
24:49and disappeared.
24:50The bank came after him.
24:51His wife took the two kids
24:53and moved back
24:53to her parents' place,
24:55hired a divorce lawyer.
24:56Emma, my assistant,
24:57set a coffee down on my desk
24:58and mentioned it in passing.
25:00Dr. Whitford,
25:01my cousin told me
25:02Melanie Reed got married last week.
25:03She met the guy on Hidge.
25:05They had their marriage license
25:06in six weeks.
25:07Less than a month
25:08after the wedding,
25:08she found out he was carrying
25:09$150K in credit card debt
25:10and student loans.
25:11Now they're smashing dishes every day.
25:13Her Facebook is nothing
25:14but adulthood
25:15is a scam complaint.
25:16I gave a small hum.
25:18My finger paused
25:18on the project schedule
25:19Emma had just brought in.
25:20Next Wednesday,
25:21Ashford Industries,
25:22BCI project kickoff meeting.
25:24Next Friday,
25:25Nature Medicine Editorial
25:26Board Video Conference.
25:27The Monday after,
25:28flying to Boston
25:29for MIT board meeting.
25:30The chaos in their lives
25:32didn't take up
25:32a single slide in mine.
25:37My mother was in the hospital,
25:39Emma told me.
25:40Not serious,
25:41but the doctor wants her admitted
25:43for overnight observation.
25:44She called you.
25:46I glanced at the missed call count
25:47on my phone.
25:4817.
25:49Elliot said work is too busy,
25:51can't take time off.
25:52Emma hesitated.
25:53And Serena,
25:54well,
25:55Julian recently.
25:56I looked up.
25:56Emma quickly added,
25:57the Ashford set Julian up
25:58with someone new.
25:59A local Newport girl.
26:01Comes from a family on par
26:02with Serena's,
26:03but with one advantage.
26:04She's younger.
26:06Serena has been watching
26:06Julian's find my iPhone
26:08location every day,
26:09trying to figure out
26:09where he is.
26:10She doesn't have time
26:11to sit at the hospital.
26:12Meanwhile,
26:12my mother reportedly
26:13told anyone who would listen.
26:15My daughter Hazel
26:16is a PhD from MIT.
26:17She's always been
26:18the most thoughtful,
26:19the most caring.
26:20When I got sick,
26:21she was the one
26:21bringing me medicine and water.
26:23Not afraid of catching anything.
26:25She's so devoted.
26:26She'd say it
26:27and start crying.
26:28Emma looked at me carefully.
26:30Should I arrange for me
26:31to go visit her?
26:32I lowered my head
26:33and kept reading files.
26:35The most devoted daughter
26:36had turned her back on her.
26:38No.
26:39The year I was 18,
26:40I had a 102 degree fever.
26:42For three straight days,
26:44my mother was going over
26:45Serena's SAT practice tests.
26:48Mom.
26:48She didn't even look up.
26:50Fever?
26:51Go get some Tylenol
26:52from the fridge yourself.
26:54There was no Typhlamol
26:55in the fridge.
26:55I walked two blocks
26:57by myself to CVS
26:58to buy it,
26:59turned my phone
26:59face down on the desk,
27:01and went back to reviewing
27:02the next patent
27:03lice-licing contract.
27:06A week later,
27:08the Ashford Industries
27:09BCI project
27:10officially launched.
27:11Sebastian,
27:11as project lead,
27:12flew to New York
27:13for the first time.
27:14We signed
27:14the collaboration documents
27:15in a conference room
27:16in Midtown Manhattan.
27:17Sebastian's pen
27:18left its final signature
27:19on the page.
27:21Dr. Whitmore,
27:22it's an honor
27:22to work with you.
27:24By the way,
27:24Julian has been removed
27:25from grandfather's list
27:26of succession candidates.
27:28I made a small sound
27:29of acknowledgement.
27:30Ashford family matters
27:31don't really concern me.
27:32I know.
27:33But there is one thing
27:34you might find interesting.
27:35Julian and Serena's wedding
27:37was never completed.
27:38Last week,
27:38they got divorced.
27:39I paused for a second.
27:40Serena signed?
27:42Sebastian smiled.
27:43No.
27:43Julian filed unilaterally.
27:45The prenup
27:45was very clear.
27:46The Ashton daughter-in-law
27:47must come from
27:48a matching family.
27:49Your sister's family condition
27:50once barely qualified.
27:51But after that day
27:51at the wedding,
27:52everyone inside
27:53the Ashton family
27:53understood one thing.
27:54The core asset
27:55of the Whitmore family
27:56isn't Serena.
27:57It's you.
27:59And you clearly
28:00have no intention
28:00of doing anything
28:01for Serena,
28:02so Serena lost
28:03her last remaining value.
28:04I was quiet
28:04for a few seconds.
28:06She got nothing.
28:08That's right.
28:09One year of severance,
28:10that's all she took.
28:11Her position at Mackinley
28:12has been affected
28:13by her mental state.
28:14She's been put
28:15on a performance review.
28:16Her situation right now
28:18is, to put it plainly,
28:19rough.
28:20I capped my pen.
28:21That's not my concern.
28:22Sebastian nodded.
28:24I figured you'd say that.
28:29That evening,
28:30I got back to my apartment
28:31in Tribeca after work.
28:33The Manhattan skyline
28:34stretched beyond the floor
28:35to ceiling windows.
28:36The lights atop
28:37the Empire State Building
28:38glowed a soft,
28:39warm white.
28:40I opened a bottle of red,
28:41cut a piece of cheese,
28:43and settled on the sofa
28:44to review tomorrow's
28:44meeting materials.
28:45The doorbell rang.
28:46Nobody was supposed
28:47to be here at this hour.
28:49Serena was standing outside.
28:50She had lost a lot of weight.
28:52No makeup.
28:52Deep shadows under her eyes.
28:54No Chanel bag in her hand.
28:55Just a cheap canvas tote.
28:57Hazel,
28:58I know I have no right
28:59to come here,
28:59but right now,
29:00I truly have nowhere else to go.
29:01Julian kicked me out.
29:02Mackenzie is gonna fire me.
29:04Mom and Dad told me
29:04not to come back to Newport.
29:05They said I've disgraced
29:06the whole family.
29:07Elliot blocked me.
29:08I'm begging you.
29:08Let me stay here for a few days.
29:10Just a few days.
29:10I'll get back on my feet soon.
29:12Ten years ago,
29:13I stood at the door
29:14of that house,
29:14burning with fever.
29:16Nobody opened the door for me.
29:18Serena,
29:20I remember what you said
29:21at the wedding
29:21in front of 30 tables of guests.
29:24My sister is a barista
29:25in New York,
29:26making $18 an hour.
29:27Single gentleman,
29:28please give her a chance.
29:30Serena's face went white.
29:31Hazel,
29:31I didn't know back then.
29:33Whether you knew or not
29:34isn't the point.
29:35The point is that
29:36you were capable of saying it.
29:37You were capable of saying it
29:39because for as long
29:39as you've been alive,
29:40you've believed
29:40that's what I am.
29:42Worthless.
29:43Something to be examined.
29:44Something to be disposed of.
29:46Now you've hit rock bottom
29:47and suddenly you remember
29:48I'm your sister.
29:50Serena,
29:50has it ever occurred to you
29:51I was never your sister.
29:54I was just the hazel
29:55that all of you
29:56spent 20-some years
29:57stepping on.
30:00Six months later,
30:02I was sitting in my office
30:03at MIT.
30:04The Charles River
30:05stretched outside the window.
30:06Sailboats drifted
30:07across the water.
30:08The sky was that clean,
30:09deep blue
30:10you only get in Cambridge.
30:12Emma knocked
30:12and came in.
30:13Dr. Whitmore,
30:14email from Nature Medicine.
30:15They want you to serve
30:16as guest editor
30:17for the next issue.
30:18Reply that I accept.
30:19Emma smiled.
30:21Also,
30:21today's your birthday.
30:22Happy birthday.
30:27Emma stepped out.
30:28I was alone in the office.
30:30My phone screen lit up.
30:32A text from Serena.
30:34Hazel,
30:35today is your birthday.
30:36I remember every year
30:37on your birthday
30:37mom would buy me a cake.
30:38She said since our birthdays
30:39were only a month apart
30:40we could celebrate together.
30:42None of those cakes
30:42ever had your name on them.
30:44I'm sorry.
30:45Happy birthday.
30:46I stared at the message
30:47for a long time.
30:49In the end,
30:50I deleted it
30:51and blocked her.
30:53The Cambridge afternoon sun
30:54spilled across
30:55the Charles River.
30:57The water shimmered.
30:58The 18-year-old girl
30:59curled up
31:00on the living room couch,
31:01waking up drenched in sweat.
31:03The girl bleeding
31:03from her forehead
31:04after a mug hit her,
31:05kneeling to pick up
31:06a $50 bill.
31:07The girl who cried
31:08into her blanket
31:08so many nights
31:09because her family
31:10loved someone else more.
31:11All of them had drifted
31:12so far,
31:14so far away from me.
31:15The Hazel Whitmore
31:16who existed now
31:17didn't need anyone's apology,
31:18didn't lack anyone's approval.
31:20She was standing
31:20high enough now,
31:21high enough
31:22that the pain
31:22that used to keep her awake.
31:23Looking down
31:24from where she was
31:24was nothing more
31:25than a grain of dust
31:26beneath her feet.
31:27Outside the window,
31:28a sailboat drifted slowly
31:30across the Charles River.
31:31I picked up the coffee
31:32on my desk
31:33and took a sip.
31:34It was sweet.
31:34It was like that.
31:38It's a nice trabalho
31:38that the Passover
31:39was supposed to be
31:39to never be
31:39even though
31:39unknown Mr.
31:39You
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