- 19 hours ago
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CreativityTranscript
00:02This was the third time that my mafia husband, Carter Moretti, kicked in the door to catch me.
00:07This time, I did not panic or rush to put on my clothes and explain.
00:10Vivian Rossi stood right at the front.
00:12Clara, this is the third strike of infidelity within your marriage.
00:16Under the prenup you signed, you leave with nothing and give up the custody of the child.
00:21Carter had already run out of patience with me completely.
00:23First time you swore you did not even know the man at all.
00:26Second time you claimed you had no idea how you got hotel.
00:28Three strikes have happened now and what are you going to say this time?
00:31He expected another weak lie from me this time around, but I said nothing.
00:34I picked up the pen and signed my name.
00:36Vivian quickly snatched the signed papers.
00:38It is done now, Don Moretti.
00:40Carter stared at me with his brow furrowed.
00:42He probably waited for me to tear up the divorce agreement, as I did before.
00:45He thought I would drop to my knees and bleed and cry while begging him.
00:49Believe me one more time for the sake of our child.
00:52I will pack what I need and leave this place quickly now.
00:54As for visitation rights with the child.
00:56You do not deserve to be a mother.
00:57You will never see the boy again after today.
01:00I was about to say, I do not want the visitation rights either.
01:04The indifference in his eyes did not change.
01:06He just looked at me for a moment.
01:08For four years, he and the child had been my entire life.
01:10Auntie Vivian.
01:11Even hearing the boy call Vivian too many times hurt me.
01:14Now, I was giving it all up without any fight.
01:16This was not like me.
01:18Faithless woman.
01:20You would abandon your own flesh and blood for some home repper now.
01:25What about the way you schemed to get into my bed and birth that child?
01:29What was it all for?
01:31I listened without any urge to defend myself at all.
01:33The first time he caught me in a hotel with another man, I was confused.
01:36I explained desperately that I had not betrayed him in any way.
01:39He had always believed I was loyal only to him alone.
01:42The man had already fled and left only a blurry back view on cameras.
01:45Carter chose to believe me that time, but he still took our son away from me after that.
01:49I could only see the boy once a month, at most.
01:51I had to book the visit with Vivian a week in advance.
01:54Vivian supervised every meeting from start to finish, without fail.
01:57I can't even hold him a little longer without checking her face.
02:00Every toy or piece of clothing I bought had to be approved by her first.
02:04Otherwise, it never reached him.
02:05The pressure broke me down completely.
02:07Then I got caught cheating for the second time.
02:09I had taken a job to fill my empty time with something.
02:12On a business trip, I ended up in a hotel room, somehow.
02:14When I woke, a fat, greasy man was lying next to me.
02:17He was drooling.
02:18I called the police right away.
02:20The officer checked and said I had not been assaulted at all.
02:22The facts are right in front of him, but he still insists I just didn't have time to commit the
02:27crime.
02:28After that, I was not even allowed to attend parent meetings at kindergarten.
02:32Whenever the school needed something, Carter sent Vivian instead of me.
02:35He told me to stay home and stop embarrassing the family name.
02:39My boy pointed at me and called me a bad woman openly.
02:42Carter stood there and said nothing to stop him at all.
02:46Caught for the third time, I'm done with this game.
02:48I'll let them have their way.
02:50Yet he still asks why I don't even want my own kid.
02:53Carter, even though the agreement says she gives up custody completely,
02:57I have never seen a mother do this so easily.
03:00Given how many times she has stepped out, she probably planned this.
03:04A child would only complicate things for her in the future.
03:07Do not waste your breath trying to change her mind at all.
03:10She seems to forget that four years ago, she drafted that ridiculous contract.
03:14Just because she was the widow of Carter's top enforcers, Carter trusted her completely and spoiled her endlessly.
03:19The contract even listed exact numbers for infidelity in advance.
03:23Carter's expression darkened another degree.
03:24You better mean what you say, don't come kneeling and begging me later.
03:27That would not happen, Carter.
03:29Four years ago, to convince myself to accept you, I visited every chapel.
03:33I prayed until my knees were raw from all the kneeling.
03:36The priests told me not to obsess over a mafia man like you, but I still held on to my
03:39hope for us back then.
03:41Then I traveled hundreds of miles away and knelt for a full day and night.
03:44Finally, a priest was moved by my devotion and blessed our marriage.
03:47I never expected that our marriage match would turn into this kind of hell.
03:51This time, my knees will not bend for anyone at all.
03:57Well, a steamy night like this is worth everything.
04:00We will not disturb you.
04:01The door closed, and the room fell quiet again, all of a sudden.
04:05I looked down at the man still unconscious on the bed in front of me.
04:08Nausea rose in my stomach as I saw him lying there.
04:10I had woken up before him, and could have left before they arrived.
04:13But I was tired of this cat and mouse game they had been playing, so I stayed, and waited for
04:17them to come and catch me here.
04:18I put on my coat, and walked out without looking back at all.
04:21The next evening, I returned to pack my things from the house.
04:23When I opened the master bedroom door, I found all my usual clothes gone.
04:27The maid stammered, and was unable to meet my eyes at all.
04:30Ma'am.
04:32Your things were moved to the storage room earlier today.
04:35Miss Rossi said the master bedroom needs to be cleared for the new lady.
04:38I smiled at her words, even though it hurt me inside.
04:40Four years of marriage, and I did not even deserve a proper goodbye.
04:44I turned, and headed to the storage room in the back of the house.
04:48I pushed the door open, and saw boxes stacked on top of other boxes.
04:52Bags were piled on top of other bags, all over the floor.
04:55I crouched down, and started searching through everything in the room.
04:58Nothing else mattered to me.
04:59I had to find my mother's vintage cameo locket right now.
05:03My grandmother had given it to my mother many years ago.
05:05My mother had given it to me, as a special family heirloom.
05:08It was the only thing in this house that truly belonged to me.
05:11I finally found it at the bottom of one of the boxes there.
05:13I closed my fist around it, and let out a long breath of relief.
05:18I was just about to grab a few clothes and take them with me.
05:22What are you doing here?
05:24I turned, and saw Leo's small figure blocking the entrance completely.
05:28He looked so much like his father in many ways,
05:30but that superior posture was pure Vivian in every single way.
05:36Getting my things.
05:37Normally, I would have gone to him and hugged and kissed him,
05:40even if he acted cold toward me.
05:42This time, I stayed calm.
05:44Those are not your things.
05:48Auntie Vivian said everything in this house belongs to dad only.
05:53You cannot take any of it.
05:55I paused what I was doing, and looked up at him.
06:00This is mine.
06:02You spend dad's money.
06:04Dad's money belongs to the family, and not to outsiders, like you.
06:09Outsider, I thought as I looked up at him now.
06:11A four-year-old boy stood in front of me, like I was a thief.
06:14The coldness in his eyes was even stronger than his father's eyes.
06:20I will only take this one thing.
06:22I do not want anything else.
06:24No!
06:26You cannot steal from the Moretti family.
06:29Leo, move.
06:32No!
06:34You are a beggar and a thief.
06:37Auntie Vivian said once you leave, you cannot come back here ever again.
06:41If you come back, it is only to steal from us.
06:44I am telling you one last time to move out of my way now.
06:50I will not.
06:51Put it down.
07:00I stood frozen in place, as I saw it break into pieces.
07:04I remembered the day my mother put the locket on me, for the first time.
07:08This had been in our family for six generations now.
07:11It would go to your daughter one day, when you had one.
07:14If you had no daughter, it would go to your son's wife instead.
07:17I had no daughter, and I had no daughter-in-law either.
07:20I only had this locket, as my only family heirloom now.
07:24It had been passed down for generations in my family.
07:26Now it lay broken, because my own son had torn it from me.
07:30You should have let go of it.
07:34I told you this was from your grandmother.
07:37Do you even know why your grandmother is lying in that medical facility?
07:42I do not know any grandmother.
07:44All I know is some old woman, who burns through money all the time.
07:49Auntie Vivian said she stays in that expensive room, and costs Dad so much.
07:54She still cannot be cured, and is just burning money every day.
07:58Say that again.
08:02She is just an old woman, burning through our cash.
08:08Dad, Dad.
08:12I looked at my son, kicking and screaming on the ground.
08:15The words echoed in my ears, again and again.
08:18That old woman, burning money, was my mother, and his grandmother.
08:22She was the woman who dragged her broken body after surgery.
08:25She sewed him a little jacket by hand when he was a newborn baby.
08:28She was the woman who called every year on his birthday from the nursing home.
08:31She had the nurse say, happy birthday, Leo, to him every year.
08:35But he called her a drain on the money, without any care.
08:38The sharp edges of the broken locket cut into my palm deeply.
08:41The pain cleared my head a little bit at that moment.
08:51Leo, what happened?
08:55Dad, she pushed me.
08:57Get her out of here now.
08:58I want Auntie Vivian.
09:02Have you lost your mind completely?
09:04You hit your own child.
09:07I did not hit him.
09:16I was just telling the truth.
09:19Auntie Vivian said that old woman is burning dad's money every day.
09:25You are arguing with a child.
09:27Vivian is only trying to help.
09:29Manage the family finances here.
09:31She was speaking from a practical standpoint.
09:34And nothing more.
09:35The boy overheard it.
09:36And you should not make it bigger than it is.
09:38She works so hard.
09:41For this family, every single day.
09:44We know that very well.
09:51I brought Leo over today on purpose so the two of you could talk.
09:55But about that thing, do not tell him yet.
09:58It might affect him badly.
09:59I knew he meant divorce when he said those words.
10:02I did not answer him at all.
10:04In four years of marriage, he and my child spent far more time with Vivian.
10:09The time with me did not even add up to half the time with her.
10:13Back in college, he had been the one who pursued me relentlessly.
10:16He made me fall for him, step by step, over time.
10:20I had visited every chapel, begging for any sign that our world could work.
10:25Even without that accidental pregnancy back then, I had already made my choice.
10:31I dropped my bias against the mafia and chose to be with him.
10:35Looking back now, maybe it was better I never chose him.
10:39My mother was still in that medical facility, waiting for me to visit her.
10:43Thinking of all this, I picked up my bag and walked out of the storage room.
10:48In the living room, Vivian was crouched in front of Leo.
10:52She was speaking softly to comfort him.
10:54I walked past them with a blank face.
10:57Why will that bad woman not talk to me?
11:01He was used to me rushing over with red eyes to soothe him.
11:05He was used to me saying,
11:06Leo, do not be angry.
11:08Mommy was wrong.
11:10So when I did not even look at him, he felt attacked by it.
11:14Carter did not speak.
11:15But I could feel his cold gaze on my back.
11:18I did not stop.
11:19I was about to open the door when Carter finally exploded.
11:24Stop!
11:26Come here and apologize to Leo.
11:30You pushed him and you scared him a lot just now.
11:32I hesitated for a moment.
11:34This might be the last time I saw them in this house.
11:37I had no strength left to argue about anything anymore.
11:41I am sorry.
11:43Mommy should not have pushed you.
11:48Dirty woman!
11:49You deserve it!
11:51You're cheating around.
11:52Even the kid can't stand-stand watching it anymore.
11:57I cheat around?
11:58These three staged infidelities have been arranged so sloppily by someone.
12:03Did he really not see the cracks in their plan at all?
12:06Maybe he did see it.
12:07But he just did not want to expose it.
12:10If he wanted to believe it, then that was fine with me.
12:14Four years of marriage and you have been with her every day for four years.
12:19You even send my child to her house to be raised by her.
12:22We are getting divorced now, so can you stop lying to yourself?
12:27Clara, how can you slander me like this?
12:30Don Carter, I-
12:31Four years have passed and have you not made enough trouble yet?
12:34Fine.
12:34Since you think I have been cheating with her all along,
12:37I will show you what real cheating looks like.
12:40He had the nan you take Leo away from the room immediately.
12:42Then he grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the bedroom.
12:44The door slammed shut behind us with a loud noise.
12:47Do you want it?
12:47I have waited so long for this moment, Carter.
12:54Carter, we are already divorcing and you can do this anytime you want.
12:58Humiliate you.
12:58Do you think you have value that could be humiliated by me?
13:02Do not get distracted, Carter.
13:04I closed my eyes and let the tears fall silently down my face
13:07until my phone started vibrating loudly.
13:10It was my mother's number.
13:11I struggled to reach it and answered the call right away.
13:13Mrs. Moretti, please come to the hospital right away.
13:16Your mother heard about the divorce and thinks she is a burden on you.
13:19She has climbed up to the rooftop now.
13:21What?
13:22She said,
13:23Carter,
13:24my mother is in trouble and you must let me go now.
13:27Please let me go.
13:29Did you not just accuse us of being guilty earlier?
13:32I let you watch the whole thing
13:34and now you want to run off with some excuse you made up?
13:37I did not make it up.
13:38The hospital called me.
13:40My mother knows we are divorcing and she cannot take it anymore.
13:44Enough.
13:45You just signed the divorce papers,
13:46so how would your mother even know?
13:47You told her even though you knew she could not handle the shock.
13:50Whose fault is that?
13:51Carter,
13:51I never told her about the divorce at all.
13:53So let me go over there because there is still time to stop her.
13:56My mother got hit by that truck while saving you and our son.
13:58Please do not joke with her life like this.
14:01Clara,
14:02is your mother your hostage now in this situation?
14:04Every time you get caught cheating,
14:06you use the fact that our son is still young to beg for forgiveness
14:09or use how your mom saved us to play the sympathy card.
14:11I did not.
14:13It is real.
14:15Please.
14:17Carter,
14:18everyone knows your mother-in-law only threw herself in front.
14:21She did it because of her grandson,
14:23not for you alone.
14:24If it had been only you,
14:25she wouldn't have done it so selflessly.
14:27You have already done more than enough for her.
14:29Come here.
14:30Do not ruin the mood.
14:32Any last hesitation in his eyes
14:33disappeared completely at that point.
14:36I stopped hoping he would suddenly grow a conscience.
14:38I threw myself toward the door with all my strength.
14:41My head slammed into the door panel
14:43and split open from the impact.
14:45He strode over,
14:46grabbed me,
14:47then threw me to the ground.
14:48You will watch it whether you like it or not.
14:54Listen carefully to exact how cheating you really are.
14:57The last sliver of the light vanished from my view completely.
15:00In the darkness,
15:01I heard them continue what they were doing.
15:03I did it again and again,
15:05without any care for me.
15:07The next day,
15:07Carter came back from a meeting in the evening.
15:09He stood in the living room for a moment,
15:11trying to collect himself.
15:12He rubbed his temples and called out to me by habit.
15:15Clara,
15:15my head hurts.
15:16You need to make me some hangover soup.
15:17No one answered his call in the quiet house.
15:19He frowned
15:20and turned to the maid standing nearby.
15:22Where is my wife?
15:24Sir,
15:24I was just about to ask you
15:26where Mrs. Morelli is right now.
15:28This morning,
15:29the young master had a fever
15:31and kept calling for his mother.
15:32It reached 39 degrees
15:34and we were very worried.
15:36And the hospital called last night
15:38about your wife's mother.
15:39She jumped from the building
15:40and her body is still at the hospital.
15:42No one has claimed it yet
15:43and we do not know what to do.
15:45What did you say?
15:46You did not let her out of the closet,
15:48did you?
15:49Let her out of what?
15:49He turned and ran upstairs,
15:51his steps getting faster and faster.
15:52The moment he pulled open the closet door,
15:54he stopped dead in his tracks.
15:57The torn tie was there
15:58and the ripped tape lay on the floor.
16:01Dried blood stained the closet wall
16:02from my head injury.
16:03But the closet itself was empty.
16:06There was no one inside at all.
16:08Quite the performance.
16:09Mother and daughter working together
16:11on this pity act for money.
16:14He took out his phone
16:16and called Clara right away.
16:18The line was off.
16:18She did not answer his call.
16:20The maid looked as though
16:21she wanted to say something.
16:22Watch Leo for me.
16:23I want to see what those two are up to.
16:25But she stopped herself.
16:26At the hospital morgue,
16:27several nurses saw Carter arrive.
16:29They recognized him as my husband
16:30and their expressions changed immediately.
16:33Are you Mrs. Morelli's husband?
16:36Where is your wife?
16:39Carter frowned
16:40as a bad feeling rose in his chest.
16:44My wife didn't come here?
16:49No.
16:50If she had come,
16:52her mother wouldn't be dead right now.
16:55Last night,
16:56the old lady stood on the hospital rooftop
16:58for half an hour.
17:00We talked her down
17:01and told her to see her daughter and grandson.
17:03She finally hesitated
17:04after we spoke to her
17:06for a long time.
17:07But we called
17:08Mrs. Moretti's phone
17:09again and again
17:09without any success.
17:11Last night,
17:12when he had thrown her
17:13into the closet
17:13in a rage,
17:14her phone had been thrown aside.
17:16It was not
17:16with her.
17:17The old lady heard
17:18her daughter was getting divorced.
17:20She felt like she was dragging
17:21her daughter down
17:22with her problems.
17:23So she jumped
17:24from that height
17:25without any warning.
17:28She had a daughter
17:29who wouldn't even come
17:30to see her in the end.
17:32Does she have a conscience?
17:34Carter said nothing
17:35in response to her words.
17:37He wanted to explain
17:38everything that had happened
17:39last night.
17:39She had been locked
17:40in the closet
17:41with her mouth
17:42taped shut.
17:43Her phone had been thrown aside
17:44and she could not reach it.
17:45She had heard everything
17:46and had begged him
17:47to let her go
17:48but had not believed her at all
17:50and had kept her locked up.
17:51The words stuck in his throat.
17:53He could not see them.
17:54The body needs to be handled.
17:55The hospital can't
17:56keep it forever.
17:58You're her husband.
17:59You should take care
17:59of the paperwork first.
18:00And please tell your wife
18:02that when her mother was dying
18:03she kept saying
18:03don't blame my daughter.
18:05She said it was mom
18:06who held her back.
18:07Even at the end
18:08she was still protecting
18:09her daughter.
18:15Who told her
18:16we were getting divorced?
18:17The divorce papers
18:18aren't even signed yet.
18:20We don't know
18:21how she found out
18:22about the divorce.
18:23Your wife hasn't been
18:24to the hospital
18:25in the last few days.
18:27But a woman named Rossi
18:28came by earlier this week.
18:33Vivian had come to the hospital
18:34and talked to his mother-in-law.
18:36That explained
18:37the strange feeling
18:38he had been having.
18:39Clara had always only told
18:40her mother the good news
18:41never the bad.
18:42She would never have called
18:43to tell her about the divorce.
18:44He suddenly remembered
18:45Clara's desperate cry
18:46from last night.
18:49My mother saved you
18:50and our son
18:51by throwing herself
18:52in front of that truck.
18:53It had been three years ago
18:54on Mother's Day.
18:55He had been carrying Leo
18:56on the street at that time.
18:58A truck had lost control
18:59and barred toward them
19:00without warning.
19:01Clara's mother rushed out
19:02and pushed them
19:03out of the way.
19:04She had been thrown instead
19:05and suffered severe injuries.
19:07Six steel rods
19:08had been put in her leg
19:09after the accident.
19:10She had walked with a limp
19:11ever since
19:12and needed long-term care.
19:14For the rest of my life
19:15I'll take care of you.
19:17At first
19:18he visited sometimes
19:19to check on her
19:20but later he had forgotten
19:21that promise he made to her.
19:22He had even stopped
19:23letting the child
19:24visit his grandmother.
19:25He said he was afraid
19:26Leo would catch something
19:27from the hospital.
19:29Back at the house
19:30the lights were on
19:31in the living room.
19:32Leo had a fever patch
19:33on his forehead
19:33and his face was flushed.
19:35He jumped off the sofa
19:36and ran to Carter
19:37with open arms.
19:38Dad
19:38where is mom?
19:40Why did mom
19:41not come back home?
19:49Mom had something to do.
19:50I do not want that.
19:52I am sick
19:53and I want mom.
19:54Whenever I got sick
19:55mom stayed with me.
19:57She told me stories
19:58and fed me medicine.
19:59She held me the whole time
20:00until I felt better.
20:04Bad woman.
20:05Why she not
20:06come back home to me?
20:11Mom
20:12I want mom.
20:14Carter froze
20:14as he heard his son's words.
20:16He realized
20:17that the words
20:17bad woman
20:18and mom
20:19referred to the same person.
20:21In the past
20:22whenever Leo got sick
20:23Clara had done
20:24everything possible.
20:25She had been there
20:25to take care of him herself
20:27no matter what.
20:29She would stay up all night
20:30watching over him
20:31with care.
20:32She treasured
20:32every moment with the child
20:33and prayed for him
20:34to get better.
20:35Over time
20:35Leo had learned
20:36the pattern of who to go to.
20:38When he wanted good food
20:39or fun things
20:40he went to Auntie Vivian.
20:43When he was sick
20:44or scared
20:44or had nightmares
20:45he went to mom.
20:49But now
20:50mom was gone
20:51and he did not
20:51understand why.
20:54Carter picked Leo up
20:55and soothed him
20:56a little bit.
20:58Then he handed him
21:00to the maid
21:00to take care of.
21:03He went to his study
21:05and closed the door
21:06behind him.
21:10His eyes fell
21:11on the divorce papers
21:12she had already signed.
21:14His signature line
21:15was still blank
21:15and waiting for him.
21:17He had never planned
21:18to sign them at all.
21:18Even when she had signed
21:19so readily
21:20he had felt a tightness
21:21in his chest.
21:22Why was she so decisive
21:23about leaving everything behind?
21:25She was the one
21:25who had cheated
21:26and betrayed him.
21:27Why was she calmer than him
21:28in this whole situation?
21:29She should have been
21:29on her knees
21:30begging him not to divorce her.
21:31The first two times
21:32she had done
21:33without fail.
21:34Why was this time
21:35so different from the others?
21:36She had said
21:37she was leaving
21:37and she did not
21:38even want the child.
21:41Now
21:41she would not even
21:42come back to claim
21:43her mother's body.
21:44She had walked away
21:45so lightly from everything
21:46as if these four years
21:47she had taken nothing
21:48and wanted nothing more.
21:51He stared at her signature
21:52Clara Vance
21:53on the paper.
21:54It suddenly felt like
21:55it burned his eyes
21:56to look at it.
21:57He opened their chat
21:58and typed a heavy message
21:59to her.
22:00I handled your mother's
22:01arrangements.
22:02Leo has a fever
22:03and he has been
22:04calling for you.
22:05The study was quiet
22:06except for the ticking
22:07of the wall clock.
22:08Then the maid
22:09suddenly shouted
22:09from outside
22:10the study door.
22:11Sir
22:11it is bad.
22:12The young master
22:13is having convulsions
22:14from the fever.
22:16Carter shot to his feet
22:17and ran into Leo's room.
22:21Leo lay in bed
22:22with his face
22:23burning red
22:24from the fever.
22:25He was mumbling nonsense
22:25in his delirium
22:26about his mother.
22:28Mom
22:29Mom
22:29don't go.
22:31Carter scooped his son
22:32into his arms
22:34and ran downstairs
22:35quickly.
22:36On the way to the hospital
22:37Leo curled against his chest.
22:38He kept whispering
22:39in his fever dream
22:40without waking up.
22:41Auntie Vivia said
22:42Mom is a bad woman.
22:46She told me to pull that
22:48tube out of the old woman.
22:52She said if I pulled the tube
22:54the old woman would die
22:56and then Mom would leave
22:57and never come back home.
22:59Grandma is not an old woman.
23:02Grandma sewed me
23:03a little jacket.
23:05Mom
23:05I was wrong.
23:09Please do not leave me alone.
23:14Pull the tube?
23:16He thought
23:17as he remembered the incident.
23:19There had been a time
23:20when his mother-in-law
23:21was in emergency care.
23:22Someone had pulled
23:23her oxygen tube
23:24and she had almost died.
23:26Clara had cried
23:27like her world
23:28was ending at that time.
23:29He had finally agreed
23:31to let Leo stay
23:31with her for a while.
23:33But not long after that
23:34the third
23:35staged infidelity
23:36had happened.
23:38This child.
23:39She had suddenly
23:40given up on him
23:41completely.
23:42Even yesterday
23:43when the boy
23:44had spat on her
23:44she had not reacted much.
23:47Spit?
23:47He had not realized
23:48when his son
23:49had become like this.
23:50Doing things like that
23:51so casually
23:52without any thought.
23:54Carter leaned
23:54against the corridor wall
23:55with his fingers
23:56still shaking.
23:58He took out his phone
23:59and stared at the message
24:00he had sent.
24:01He realized
24:01that even Leo's fever
24:03could not bring her back now.
24:05Nothing could bring her
24:06back to them
24:06at this point.
24:07The corridor was quiet
24:09as he closed his eyes
24:10for a moment.
24:11All he could see
24:12was Clara crying
24:13and begging him for help.
24:14The first set up.
24:15The second set up.
24:17And when her mother
24:18was in danger.
24:24Carter.
24:25How's Leo doing?
24:26Suddenly she felt
24:27like a stranger to him
24:28at that moment.
24:29Vivian had grown up
24:30in the Moretti household
24:31from a young age.
24:32Her father used to be
24:33one of Carter's
24:33most trusted subordinates
24:35in the family.
24:36He died in a gunfight
24:37many years ago
24:38to shield Carter
24:38from bullets.
24:40Carter felt so guilty
24:41that he took Vivian
24:42into the family home
24:42to live.
24:43He had thought
24:44she was loyal
24:44and always put
24:45the family first.
24:47But the things
24:47his son had said
24:48while burning with fever.
24:50They were like needles
24:51stabbing into his brain
24:52over and over.
24:54How have you been
24:55teaching my son?
24:59I am asking
25:00how you have been
25:02teaching Leo.
25:04Old woman.
25:06Burning money.
25:07Pull the tube
25:07and bad woman.
25:08Did you put those words
25:09in his head?
25:10He asked her.
25:11Vivian's face went white
25:12and her lips trembled
25:13as she answered.
25:14Carter, I did not.
25:16I was only speaking
25:17from a rational perspective.
25:21Rational?
25:24Teaching a child
25:25who is not even
25:25four years old
25:26about rational thinking?
25:28Is spitting on his own mother
25:29really rational to you?
25:34Please, listen to me explain.
25:37Get out.
25:40Last night was a mistake
25:41on my part.
25:42I will give you
25:43a sum of money
25:43to make up for it.
25:45From now on
25:46do not show your face
25:47in front of me again.
25:48She had waited
25:49so many years
25:50for this chance.
25:52She had finally
25:53gotten her chance
25:53to climb into his bed.
25:56And this was the result
25:57she got in the end.
26:00But this was not the time
26:02to argue with him
26:02about it.
26:04Carter leaned back
26:05against the wall
26:06to collect himself.
26:07He had been angry
26:09at Clara's words
26:09at the time
26:10of the incident.
26:11He had indulged
26:13Vivian in many ways
26:14over the years.
26:15But nothing had actually
26:16happened between them
26:17in reality.
26:18If it had not been
26:19for last night
26:20he would not have known
26:21how forward Vivian
26:22really was.
26:24Thinking of that
26:24he called one of his men
26:25right away.
26:27Look into the reasons
26:29why Clara ended up
26:30in those hotel rooms.
26:31Look into last January
26:33last month on the 8th
26:34and a few days ago.
26:36and find out
26:37who those three men
26:38were in each case.
26:41He had handed
26:42all those investigations
26:43to Vivian before this.
26:44But if Vivian
26:45had her own agenda
26:46then things made sense now.
26:49He quickly opened
26:50his chat with Clara
26:50and typed a message.
26:52Clara,
26:53I am sorry.
26:54He stared at the screen
26:56for one minute
26:57then five
26:57then ten.
26:59Her silence
26:59made his chest
27:00tighten with anxiety
27:01and fear.
27:02He sent another message
27:03to her without waiting
27:04any longer.
27:06Leo has been calling
27:06your name.
27:07Could you come back
27:07and see him?
27:09Then he slowly slid down
27:10to the floor
27:11in the corridor.
27:12He buried his face
27:13in his hands
27:14as he sat there.
27:15He thought about
27:16last night
27:16when Clara was locked
27:17in the closet.
27:19Her mouth was taped shut
27:20and her wrists
27:21were bound tightly.
27:22She had to listen
27:23while he had sex
27:24with another woman
27:24in the room.
27:25He thought about
27:26how she had cried
27:27that her mother
27:27was about to jump.
27:28He had accused her
27:29of putting on a show
27:30for sympathy.
27:31His chest suddenly
27:32felt so tight
27:33he could not breathe
27:34at all.
27:35After some time
27:35his phone vibrated
27:37with a call.
27:38It was the lieutenant
27:38calling him
27:39with new information.
27:40Don Marotti
27:41something interesting
27:42came up in the investigation.
27:44The second and third men
27:45both received
27:46large transfers.
27:48They came from
27:48the same account
27:49but the first man
27:50we only have a blurry
27:51back view from the cameras.
27:53We have not identified him yet
27:54despite our efforts.
27:57Is it possible
27:58that all three
27:59infidelity scenes
28:00were arranged
28:00by someone?
28:01Carter's fingers
28:02slowly tightened.
28:04He remembered
28:05the first time
28:05Clara had knelt
28:06on the ground.
28:07I did not know
28:08the man.
28:08He had not believed
28:09her at that time.
28:10The second time
28:11she said
28:12I did not know
28:13how I got there.
28:14He still had not
28:15believed her
28:15despite her words.
28:17The third time
28:17she said nothing
28:18and he had taken
28:19that as guilt.
28:20He had not been
28:21completely unbelieving
28:22of her story
28:22but every time
28:23he had given
28:24the investigation
28:24to Vivian to handle
28:25and Vivian's evidence
28:27had always pointed
28:27so clearly
28:28in one direction
28:29he suspected
28:30something was wrong
28:31but he had been
28:32too lazy
28:32to dig deeper
28:33into the matter
28:35or maybe
28:35he just needed
28:36a reason
28:38to punish her
28:39for getting pregnant
28:39and forcing him
28:40into marriage
28:42to punish her
28:43for shattering
28:44his fantasy
28:44of a free choice
28:45in love.
28:46He had asked
28:47Vivian to draft
28:48that prenup
28:48to make Clara
28:49feel sick
28:50but he even thought
28:50the three strikes
28:51clause was ridiculous.
28:53He would never
28:53have let her
28:54have three strikes
28:55in reality.
28:55He would not have
28:56allowed even one strike
28:57to happen
28:58but in the end
28:58he had indirectly
28:59made all three
29:00happen to her.
29:02Keep digging
29:03I need to know
29:04who's messing with us
29:04he said hoarsely.
29:05Also lock Vivi up
29:06poisoning my kid.
29:08He hung up
29:08and something felt
29:09missing inside his chest.
29:12Over the next few days
29:14he stayed at the hospital
29:15with Leo.
29:16He waited for any word
29:17from Clara
29:17but nothing came.
29:19Carter had no answer
29:20to give his son
29:20at all.
29:22Clara had simply
29:23left the two of them
29:24behind without a word.
29:25Not long after
29:26he went to pick Leo
29:28up from kindergarten.
29:29He found Leo
29:30sitting alone
29:30in a corner
29:31with a bruised face.
29:33What happened?
29:35Some of the other kids
29:36said he does not
29:37have a mother.
29:38Leo got into a fight
29:39with them
29:39because of those words.
29:42On the drive home
29:43Leo suddenly
29:44asked a question.
29:45Dad
29:46does mom
29:47not want me anymore?
29:48Why does she
29:49not want me?
29:51Is it because
29:52I broke her locket
29:53or because
29:54I spit on her?
29:56Auntie Vivia
29:57said that if
29:57I spit on mom
29:58she would get worried.
30:00That day
30:00when I saw her
30:01packing to leave
30:02I did not
30:02want her to go.
30:05That is why
30:05I did it.
30:07I will never
30:08say bad things
30:09about grandma again.
30:11Can you make mom
30:11come back home
30:12to us, please?
30:14Carter wanted
30:14to say that mom
30:15was not abandoning you.
30:16Dad is the one
30:17who lost her
30:18through his own actions
30:19but he could not
30:20open his mouth
30:20to say those words.
30:22Vivian had been
30:23locked in the
30:23punishment room
30:24for half a month.
30:25By the time
30:26Carter came to
30:26question her
30:27she was broken
30:28barely human.
30:30Her hands and feet
30:30were shackled
30:31fed nothing but
30:32rotten food
30:33every day.
30:34Carter!
30:35My father died
30:36protecting you!
30:37You can't treat me
30:37like this!
30:39For years
30:40I have done
30:41everything for you
30:42and your father.
30:44You think
30:45locking me up
30:46will bring her back?
30:47Carter, you're dreaming.
30:48Her mother's dead.
30:49She'll never forgive you!
30:50The next second
30:51a gunshot rang out.
30:53Vivian's laughter
30:54stopped cold.
30:56Carter stood there
30:56and took out his phone
30:57from his pocket.
30:59He opened his chat
31:00with Clara on the screen.
31:01Over the past half month
31:02he had sent hundreds
31:03of messages to her.
31:05From I am sorry
31:06to
31:06Leo misses you
31:07and I was wrong.
31:08Not a single reply
31:09had come back from her
31:10at all.
31:11She had not deleted the chat
31:12and she had not
31:13blocked him either.
31:14She just ignored
31:15every message he sent
31:16without any response.
31:18He put the phone
31:18back in his pocket
31:19and turned toward
31:20the elevator.
31:21He still had to go
31:22pick up his son
31:22from kindergarten.
31:24The teacher said
31:25Leo had been
31:26spacing out a lot lately.
31:28When asked what was wrong
31:29he said
31:29I was wondering
31:30when mom is coming
31:31to pick me up.
31:32Carter took his small hand
31:33and walked out
31:34of the school gate.
31:35The setting suns
31:36stretched their shadows
31:37long across the ground.
31:39Leo suddenly looked up
31:40at his father
31:40with a question.
31:41Dad,
31:42is it because
31:42I liked Auntie Vivian more?
31:44Is that why
31:45I made mom
31:45leave us all behind?
31:47Carter's throat tightened
31:48as he heard his son's words.
31:49It took a long time
31:50before he answered
31:51the question.
31:52Dad is the one
31:52who drove her away from us.
31:54Then make her come back.
31:56Say sorry.
31:57It's easy.
31:58In my class
31:59Steve broke my eraser.
32:01He said sorry
32:02and I forgave him.
32:04Apologies now
32:05would be meaningless.
32:06She shut him out
32:07long ago.
32:08He recalled
32:08their college days.
32:10Clara is radiant
32:11but distant.
32:12She hid behind
32:12old prejudices.
32:14Afraid their worlds
32:15were too far apart.
32:16She didn't want to join
32:17the mafia family.
32:18Just wanted a normal life.
32:19I just need a chance.
32:21One little spark
32:22to fight for.
32:23But she never took it.
32:25He remembered the night
32:27after graduation.
32:27He woke to her
32:28tangled beside him.
32:29Clothes disheveled.
32:31A cruel joke of fate.
32:32He sneered bitterly.
32:33So much for high morals
32:34and restraint.
32:35Turns out she drugged him
32:36after graduation
32:37and got into his bed.
32:38He'd thought she was calculating
32:39but now knows the truth.
32:41The wine was handed to him
32:42by Vivian Rossi.
32:43That woman wanted his bed.
32:44Not Clara.
32:45Clara was blind
32:46and unwilling pawn.
32:47She got pregnant.
32:48Parents pushed the marriage
32:49after a priest's nod.
32:51He felt trapped
32:51and cold toward her
32:52ever since.
32:53He hated the wrong people
32:54for four long years.
32:56Three years later
32:57Carter brought his son
32:58to a birthday party
32:59which hosted by the Romano family
33:00the powerful syndicate rival.
33:02Leo is taller now
33:03dressed neat
33:04in a little suit.
33:05He wasn't loud
33:05or reckless like before.
33:06Now he was quieter.
33:08While Carter shook hands
33:08his eyes caught
33:09a familiar figure in the corner.
33:11She cradled a toddler
33:12in a dark green dress.
33:13Serene
33:13with a faint smile.
33:15Blood surged
33:15hot in his veins.
33:17Clara.
33:17He had searched
33:18for her through the years.
33:19He had his men
33:20search everywhere.
33:21Hired private eyes
33:22but she vanished
33:23like smoke.
33:24But now
33:24she stood just
33:25ten feet away
33:26holding a child
33:27smiling so peacefully.
33:28Leo saw her too.
33:30Mom!
33:31Mom!
33:32You're finally back!
33:33I missed you so much!
33:35I had a fever
33:36and you never came.
33:37The other kids
33:37call me motherless
33:38and-
33:39Let go.
33:39I said let go.
33:41You're scaring my baby.
33:42Who's he, Mommy?
33:43Mommy,
33:43why are you holding
33:45another kid?
33:45You said I was
33:46your only child!
33:47You said that!
33:48So you were
33:48the unwanted kid all along.
33:50Well that's just
33:50too bad for you.
33:51How can you say
33:52such things?
33:53He's your son!
33:53I only have
33:54one true baby.
33:55Mommy,
33:56don't go!
33:56I was wrong!
33:57I didn't mean
33:58to break your locket!
33:59I didn't mean
33:59to call grandma names!
34:01Mommy!
34:04You've got
34:05the wrong family,
34:06kid.
34:07Take my wife
34:07and child
34:08somewhere quiet.
34:11Carter stood,
34:12rooted,
34:12the man's name.
34:13Julian Romano,
34:15the Romano family's
34:16elusive Don's
34:17youngest son.
34:18He just called
34:18Clara wife.
34:19Then it hit him.
34:20Over the years,
34:21their turf and assets
34:22kept shrinking.
34:22He traced every move
34:24back to the Romano family.
34:25He thought it was
34:26just normal rivalry
34:27but now he knew.
34:28It was Clara.
34:29Married to him
34:29four years,
34:30she'd known
34:31Moretti's empire
34:31inside out.
34:32All the weak spots,
34:33the backdoor deals,
34:35the contacts,
34:35the merger plans
34:36he'd mentioned
34:37carelessly on calls,
34:38the contract clauses
34:39she glanced at
34:40while packing files.
34:41Carter's heart
34:41clenched hard.
34:42He thought Clara
34:43never let go of
34:43their son,
34:44never left him,
34:45but she'd already
34:46moved on,
34:46somewhere far
34:47from them both.
34:48She had a new child,
34:49a new life,
34:50and was working
34:50to destroy his empire.
34:51He watched Julian's back,
34:53a faint memory
34:54stirring inside,
34:55but with Leo's cries
34:56ringing out,
34:57he couldn't think straight.
34:59Determined to see me
35:00once more,
35:00Carter faked a chance,
35:02letting news of the
35:02divorce procedure
35:03reach my ears.
35:04I glanced,
35:04but didn't answer.
35:05Mom.
35:06Carter wasn't really
35:07ready to let go,
35:08he just wanted to
35:08force me out,
35:09not truly divorce.
35:10He was still trying
35:11to save the family.
35:12Clara,
35:13that prenup,
35:13I never signed.
35:14We've been waiting,
35:15but how could you,
35:16with Julian,
35:17the Romano family's
35:19ruthless,
35:19how could you betray us?
35:20You arranged those
35:21setups,
35:21the men,
35:22the stage betrayals,
35:23you wanted this outcome.
35:24What did you say?
35:25That man,
35:26the first one,
35:27it was him.
35:28He was drunk,
35:29stumbled into my room.
35:30Memories flooded
35:31back all at once.
35:32That man,
35:33the blurry figure
35:34on the tape,
35:34was Julian Romano.
35:35No,
35:36Clara,
35:37I didn't set it up.
35:37Not your doing,
35:38then why never
35:39investigate three times
35:40Carter III?
35:41You never even questioned.
35:42You didn't set it up,
35:43but you let it happen.
35:44Otherwise,
35:44it wouldn't have
35:44happened twice.
35:46This whole thing,
35:47and your mother's,
35:48I'm sorry.
35:48This is the last time
35:49I'll call his name.
35:50Carter,
35:50sign it.
35:52The stamp pressed down
35:53quietly,
35:54but it cuts the last tie
35:55like a knife.
35:56Mom,
35:56please don't go.
35:57I'll be good.
35:58I won't say bad words.
36:00I'll listen to you.
36:02I didn't stop.
36:03Carter stepped forward
36:04and pulled Leo back.
36:05I walked out of
36:06the courthouse doors.
36:07The sun burned
36:08my eyes,
36:08making me squint.
36:09I raised a hand
36:10and quickly wiped
36:11my tears away.
36:12Done.
36:12Spread the news
36:13and release that video
36:14the one with you
36:15and Vivian that night.
36:17I want you.
36:18Three years
36:19of whittling down
36:20in the ready family empire.
36:22Years of silent sabotage.
36:24Now,
36:24it was time
36:24to finish the hunt.
36:26Behind her,
36:26the boy's cries faded
36:27until they were nothing
36:28but an echo.
36:29I never looked back.
36:30Not this time.
36:31My knees would never bend again.
36:34I don't want you to sempre.
36:34I don't think.
36:34I've said yes this is why
36:35I was just encima of my eyes
36:35if we're not
36:35I made sure
36:35you're not
36:35It's just Three years
36:36and I was going to put it down.
36:36Just give it some information to other
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