- 16 hours ago
My Husband Gave My Dowry To His Mistress Part 2
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00called with cautious probing, or didn't call at all. She could feel the pointing and whispering
00:06from their evasive glances and awkward small talk. What made her even more restless was her son
00:13Daniel's condition. He was unshaved, with sunken eyes, either grumble-rowling on the phone or
00:20furiously smashing things, cursing Elena's family as vicious and Bianca as a menace.
00:25He hadn't been to the offices in days, and word was the board would soon meet to discuss his future.
00:33It's all that bitch's fault! If it weren't for her, how would our family have come to this?
00:41Daniel roared in the living room again, throwing his phone onto the couch, watching him like this,
00:47and remembering the online accusations about Bianca being a serial offender, a thought
00:52Margaret had never considered before, or perhaps deliberately ignored, slithed into her mind like
00:57a venomous snake. That child? That grandchild she'd doted on like the apple of her eye for months?
01:04Who she believed would carry on the family line and bring honor to the clan?
01:10Was he really Daniels? Bianca was a woman full of lies, juggling different men.
01:17Once planted, this thought could no longer be suppressed. It gnawed at Margaret day and night,
01:24robbing her of sleep and appetite. She recalled that the timing of Bianca's pregnancy didn't quite
01:30match up with when Daniel said they'd started dating. She remembered how after the child was born.
01:40Bianca would sometimes take the baby to the balcony for long phone calls. Her tone intimate. No. She had to
01:48know the truth.
01:55Daniel wouldn't listen to anything about Bianca and the child now he'd explode at the slightest mention.
02:03Margaret knew she had to do this herself. She made up an excuse to visit her grandson at Bianca's
02:10temporary apartment. Bianca had been overwhelmed lately and didn't give Margaret a warm reception.
02:16But perhaps to maintain some semblance of relationship, she let her in.
02:22The baby lay sleeping in his crib. Margaret's heart pounded.
02:27When Bianca went to the kitchen to get water, she quickly and tremblingly pulled out a clean,
02:34small sealed bag and a brand new pair of scissors she'd prepared in advance.
02:38She bent down, carefully snipping a few fine, soft hairs from the child's pillow,
02:44then painfully yanked out several of her own graying hairs, placing them together in the sealed bag
02:51and clutching it tightly in her palm. The entire process took less than 20 seconds.
02:57Her palm was drenched in cold sweat.
03:00Mom, what are you doing just standing there?
03:03Bianca came out with the water, asking suspiciously.
03:07Nothing. Just checking if the baby's sleeping soundly.
03:12Margaret forced a smile, shoving the hand clatching the bag into her coat pocket and using her other
03:18hand to gently tuck the baby's blanket. You, you should rest well too. I'll come see you both another day.
03:26She practically fled the apartment.
03:34Back home, she locked her bedroom door and pulled out the address and contaction for an
03:39amazing offering anonymous paternity testing services she'd secretly researched.
03:44She needed Daniel's DNA sample. That was easy. The bathroom was full of his fallen hair.
03:50The next day, wearing sunglasses and a scarf like a thief, Margaret mailed two sealed bags.
03:57One bag had the kid's hair, the other had Daniel's hair and hers, as a maternal reference sample.
04:04And she paid extra for rush delivery.
04:07The moment she sent the package, she collapsed onto a bench near the post office, feeling utterly drained.
04:14She didn't know what result she was hoping for, or rather, what result she feared.
04:20But one thing was certain. No matter the outcome, this family was was already shattered.
04:27And inside that small package she'd sent, might be the final straw that broke the camel's back.
04:33Or the beginning of an even more terrible storm.
04:37All she could do was wait, in fear and torment, for that cold, scientific report to arrive.
04:50Daniel wouldn't listen to anything about Bianca and the child now, he'd explode at the slightest mention.
04:56Wait, in fear and torment, for that cold, scientific report to arrive.
05:09Margaret charged out like a crazy lioness, still in her pajamas, hair a mess, eyes burning red.
05:17Honking all the way to Bianca's, ran red lights, didn't give a damn.
05:23She pounded on the apartment door almost maniacally.
05:26Open up, Bianca! You goddamn whore! Open this door!
05:31The door opened, Bianca stood in the doorway, looking haggard, with heavy bags under her eyes, clearly tormented by the
05:37online backlash.
05:39Seeing the crazed Margaret, she froze for a moment, then frowned, her tone sharp.
05:43What are you doing here again? I told you not to bother me lately. Isn't everything chaotic enough?
05:49Bother you?
05:51Margaret threw the crumpled paternity report in Bianca's face.
05:55Look at this! You shameless liar! Whore!
05:59The papers scattered.
06:01Bianca glanced down, and when she saw what they were, her face went deathly pale.
06:05But she quickly raised her head, chin jutting out, fanding composure.
06:17Margaret threw the crumpled paternity report in Bianca's face.
06:22Because my son almost destroyed everything for you, you bitch!
06:25Because you had our whole family fooled! The child isn't even Daniels!
06:30Tell me! Tell me! Whose bastard is he? Tell me!
06:34Bianca stepped back, her eyes darting, but her mouth remained defennethed.
06:38You're talking nonsense. That report is fake. Elena's family made it to frame me. Daniel is the father.
06:45Bullshit!
06:47Margaret reached out to grab Bianca's hair.
06:49I sent the report myself! I collected the samples myself! Still trying to lie!
06:54How long did you play us for fools? Stealing my son's money, manipulating my feelings,
06:59passing off a bastard as our family's bloodline? How can you be so black-hearted?
07:11Bianca dodged Margaret's hand and was provoked into fury herself.
07:16The long-term pressure and her current desperation made her throw caution to the wind,
07:21tearing off her disguise to reveal the vicious truth beneath.
07:24I'm black-hearted? Bianca's voice rose, filled with resentment and mockery.
07:29Your family is stupid and greedy! Daniel wanted my youth and beauty, pretending to be a single,
07:36rich guy to seduce me. You wanted me to give you a grandson to solidify your position in the family,
07:42fanning all over me. Weren't you just trying to use me? You gave me money and things because you
07:48wanted to buy my obedience, buy yourselves an heir. Now that things have gone wrong, you pin everything on me?
07:54You gave me money? So what if the child isn't Daniels? When you were giving me money,
07:58why didn't you ask questions then? Margaret was stunned by these brazen words, momentary,
08:03speechless. You... You... Me what? Bianca stepped closer, her face full of reckless malice.
08:10That's right, the child isn't Daniels. So what? Doesn't he know his own performance in bed?
08:17What could he give me? Besides money stolen and swindled from his wife, what does he have? A kept
08:24man living off his father-in-law? Actually thought he was some rich heir? Joke. Shut up! Don't you dare
08:32talk about my son like that! Margaret trembled rage. I'll say it! Bianca's was shrill and piercing.
08:40And you, old woman, acting all noble and kind, but you're more snobbish than anyone at heart.
08:48If Daniel didn't seem to have money, would you have been so good to me? Calling me good
08:54daughter-in-law, saying I was closer than your own daughter? Disgusting. You and your son,
09:00one hypocritical, one incompetent, you deserve everything that's happened. I'll tear that mouth off your face!
09:12Margaret completely lost control, lunging at Bianca. Nails scratched, hair was pulled,
09:18curses and cries echoed through the hallway. Expensive loungewear was torn, jewelry scattered
09:24across the floor. Only when neighbors were disturbed and threatened to call the police did
09:27the two women separate, gasping and disheffled. Margaret's face bore bloody scratches, her hair
09:32like withered hair, her clothes astray. Bianca looked no better, with red marks scratched across
09:36her neck, but her eyes were like poison daggers. Get out! Bianca pointed at the door, chest heaving
09:42violently. Take your damn report and get out! If you dare come here again, I'll sell every detail of
09:48how your son groveled to me. How he secretly transferred his wife's assets to the media.
09:54Let's see who's more humiliated. Margaret pointed at her, fingers trembling,
10:00wanting to curse but unable to form coherent words from extreme anger and shame.
10:04Looking at this vicious woman before her, then remembering the sweet, obedient future daughter
10:09in Saw from the past, the stark contrast made her dizzy. She finally realized that everything she'd
10:14eagerly pursued and carefully platted, including this grandson she'd placed such high hopes on,
10:20had been a dirty, ridiculous fraud from start to finish. And she wasn't just a victim, she was an
10:26accomplice who'd fanned the flames. She said nothing more. She bent down, staggling to pick up that
10:31wrinkled, cold paternity report from the floor, clutching it like burning coal, turned, and shunted
10:37step by step out of this nauseating place. Behind her, Bianca slammed the door with a deafening crash.
10:45The hallway was empty. Just her and the weight of her despair.
10:55Daniel sat in his empty office, the city lights outside having nothing to do with him. The HR notice
11:02sat quietly at the top of her inbox. No attempt to retain him. No thanks. Just business-like terms
11:09and confirmation of his last working day. A copy of the Winston Group's attorney's letter had also
11:15been delivered here, listing multiple lawsuits about to be initiated, filled with cold legal
11:20terminology and unquestionable demands for recovery. He tried contacting his former friends, those who'd
11:27shared wine tastings, played golf, and called each other brothers. Either no one answered, or assistants
11:34politely deflected, saying their boss was in a meeting. The one call that did go through involved
11:40awkward small talk before the person hastily said, let's talk another time and hung up.
11:47His social media accounts were flooded with mocking and abusive comments under his latest unrelated post.
11:53He deleted his accounts. His income stream was completely cut off. Personal accounts frozen,
11:59company position terminated, no income. His car and an investment condo, the down payment mostly from
12:07Elena's trust fund, both faced risk of being disposed of by creditors or the court. His lawyer told him
12:14that based on the pre-teamal agreement and current evidence, he would most likely leave the divorce with
12:20nothing and would need to bear substantial legal fees and possible financial compensation.
12:32He returned to his mother Margaret's house.
12:37Now, this was the only place he could go that didn't require rent. But even this was no longer a
12:43safe haven. Margaret had fallen ill. Since that day she'd returned from Bianca's apartment.
12:50She'd been bedridden. They said it was from acute anger, her blood pressure spiking, dizziness.
12:56She could only lie in bed. A doctor had come, prescribed medication, but said she had a heart
13:03ailment that required rest and avoiding emotional agitation. Daniel tried to enter her room,
13:10but Margaret told him to leave in a hoarse, weak voice.
13:14Don't come in. I'm dizzy. Seeing you makes it worse. Get out.
13:20Through the door crack, he saw his mother lying with her back to the door,
13:25her graining hair disheveled, looking exceptionally old and fragile. He knew his mother wasn't just
13:31physically sick. She'd been crushed by that paternity report, by Bianca's face-tearing
13:37crosses, by the absurd conclusion of the entire affair. Her lifelong maintenance of dignity,
13:43her hopes for family legacy, her pride as a shrewd mother, all shattered on the ground,
13:50stained with indelicable filth. She couldn't face her son, or perhaps more so, couldn't face her own
13:56role in this farce. The housekeeper privately told him that when Margaret was awake,
14:02she stared at the ceiling crying. Repeatedly muttering. Siniful. Liar. All over.
14:16Bianca had blocked all of Daniel's contact methods. Through other channels,
14:20he learned she'd quietly moved out of the apartment, whereabouts unknown, naturally taking
14:25everything of value she could carry. That child? She took him too, of course. That child he'd once
14:32thought was his own flesh and blood, who'd brought brief vanity and satisfaction, now became a mocking
14:39symbol, reminding him of his complete stupidity and failure. His father had died early, and Daniel had
14:47grown up dependent on his mother. Margaret had cherished him, strived to give him the best, and
14:53instilled in him the idea of rising above others and reviving the family business. He'd once thought
14:59himself quite successful. Marrying a rich woman. Taking over a respectable career. But now, his wife had
15:07turned against him. Her family was crushing him. His mistress had vanished with his money leaving a
15:13bastard child. His mother lay sick in bed, regarding him like a plague. Abandoned by all.
15:22This phrase, which he'd once found distant and abstract, now became the air he breathed every
15:29minute. Cold, thin, suffocating. He stood in the dim living room of his mother's house, surrounded by
15:37familiar furniture and decorations, yet feeling as strange as if in someone else's home.
15:44No phone calls, no work emails needing attention, no sweet words or pouting from Biana, no dinners
15:51prepared by Elena or Leah's laughter. Only dead silence, and the indifferent streetlight filtering
15:57through the window. His lawyer sent another message, reminding him of the next court hearing time,
16:09informing him that Elena's side refused any mediation, their attitude firm. No way out. He slid down to the
16:17cold floor, back against the couch. Images flashed through her mind. Elena's bright eyes when they
16:26first met. Leah's tiny voice calling him dad. Bianca hanging off him on the yacht. Mom grinning about her
16:35grandson. Arthur Winston staring her down on the bank steps like a judge. Then everything stopped.
16:42On Bianca's last message. Left on read. And mom's door. Slammed shut. Everything was gone. Career,
16:51family, wealth, reputation, kinship, love, all reduced to nothing and he was left with debts and
16:58lawsuits he might never escape. He slowly wrapped his arms around his head, fingers threading through his
17:03hair. No tears, only a bottomless, ice-cold emptiness, and a gradually spreading, desperate madness.
17:12What comes next? What can he even do?
17:22Legal documents came flying in like snowflakes. Formal indictments, copies of asset freeze orders,
17:28and harshly worded compensation demand letters from the Winston Group's lawyers. The number of zeros
17:35behind the figures made Daniel dizzy. It wasn't just about recovering the gold bars and properties,
17:41there were claims for unjust enrichment restoration, fraudulent transfer damages,
17:46and the emotional distress compensation Elena was demanding. If he lost the lawsuit,
17:52and his lawyer had privately told him that given the current evidence, the odds were heavily against him,
17:57he would be saddled with a debt he could never repay in his lifetime.
18:05Fear became a tangible noose around his neck. He couldn't just sit and wait for death. He needed
18:13money, a lot of money, to pay legal fees, to gain some negotiating leverage, or, or to simply run.
18:20But all normal channels were closed to him. The only person he could think of who still had resources
18:26was Bianca. The jewelry, luxury bags, and cash he'd given her. She couldn't have spent it all yet.
18:35She had to cough it up now. Took some digging, but he found Bianca's place through a mover who'd helped
18:42her pack before.
18:50It was a crappy studio in a rough neighborhood. Yellow walls. The hallway stanked of grease.
18:57Nothing like the fancy places he used to put her up in. He pounded on the door.
19:04Bianca's wary voice came from inside. Who is it? Me. Open up. Daniel's voice was horny. The door cracked
19:11open, Bianca blocking the entrance with no intention of letting him in. She looked thinner too, face bare
19:17of makeup, wearing cheap loungewear, none of her former glamour remaining. When she saw Daniel,
19:23Daniel, her eyes held only disgust and warreness. What are you doing here? We have nothing to talk
19:29about. Money talks. Daniel wedged his foot in the door and pushed his way inside. The room was small
19:37and cluttered. Suitcases and unopened cheap shopping bags piled on the floor. But on the vanity, several
19:44familiar velvet jewelry boxes still sat. Daniel walked straight over and opened one. Inside were
19:50the diamond earrings he'd bought her. Sell these. He commanded, his voice devoid of warmth. And your
19:57bags, watches, everything I gave you. Right now. Immediately. Bianca rushed over and snatched the
20:04jewelry box back, clutching it to her chest. Are you insane? These are mine. What right do you have
20:17to tell me to sell them? Yours? Daniel turned, eyes bloodshot, staring at her. I bought those with my
20:24wife's money. Now I need money. I need money for legal fees to deal with this lawsuit. This is all
20:33because of you. If you hadn't been so greedy, flaunting everything everywhere, how would things have gotten
20:40this bad? Because of me? Bianca let out a sure laugh. Daniel, you couldn't control yourself. You wanted to
20:50play big shot with stolen money to impress women? You were stupid enough to get played by your wife and
20:57her family. Now that things have gone south, you want to squeeze money out of me? Dream on.
21:06You have to sell. Daniel turned her wrist, gripping hard. What good are these things to you? Waiting for
21:14the court to seize them? I'm telling you, Alaino's family lawyers are coming after you next. They'll
21:22recover all the gifted property. You won't keep any of it. Sell now. At least you'll get some cash.
21:32Let go of me! Bianca struggled, scratching at his hand with her nails. Even if I sell them,
21:38the money's mine. Nothing to do with you. Why should I fill your bottomless pit? You deserve this.
21:46My bottomless pit? Daniel shoved her away roughly. Bianca stumbled backward and hit the wall. He paced the
21:54cramped room like a caged animal, pointing at her. Without me, would you have had any of this? Could
21:59you have lived that life? Now that I'm in trouble, you want to wash your hands of it? Let me
22:05tell you,
22:05we're grasshoppers on the same rope. If I'm finished, you won't have it easy either! Sell! Contact a second
22:14hand shop right now! I won't! Bianca leaned against the wall, breathing hard, her eyes like poisoned
22:21daggers. Daniel, look at yourself now. You're disgusting. Like a mangy dog. Money? I won't give
22:28you a single cent. These things, I'd rather throw them away, destroy them, than let you use them to
22:35save your pathetic life. You and your revolting mother can go to hell together. You bitch!
22:48Daniel's last shred of reason snapped at those words. He lunged forward not to hit her,
22:52but to grab the jewelry box she was clutching to her chest. Bianca screamed and fought back,
22:57kicking him, head-betching him. The two struggled in the narrow space, knocking over a chair,
23:03toppling a water glass, water spilling everywhere. Curses, cries, and thuds mixed together.
23:10Give it to me! That's my money! Get off! You wish! You ruined everything! You jinx! You're useless!
23:17Gigolo are worthless! In the end, Daniel managed to grab the jewelry box with his superior strength,
23:23but Bianca bit down hard on his arm, leaving a bleeding teeth mark. The pain made him loosen his grip,
23:30and Bianca seized the opportunity to snatch the box back, clutching it to her chest like a mother
23:35beast protecting her young, her eyes fierce and resolute. The two faced off across the mess-streamed
23:41floor, both panting, hair dishembled, faces and hands bearing injuries, looking at each other with
23:48nothing but the purest, undisguised hatred and revulsion.
23:58Whatever false affection and mutual exploitation had once existed between them, had long since turned
24:04to ash through repeated arguments and despair. Daniel knew he wouldn't get anything today. Bianca would
24:11never yield. Between them, nothing remained, except the desire to see each other dead.
24:16You'll regret this. Daniel wiped what could have been anyone's blood from his face,
24:23his voice low and raspy, like a curse. When I'm driven to the edge, neither of us will survive.
24:33Who are you trying to scare? Get out! If you don't leave, I'm calling the police!
24:39I'll report you for trespassing and assault! Daniel took one last look at the jewelry box
24:45clutched in her arms, then at this filthy, dilapidated room, pulled his lips into a smile
24:52uglier than crying, turned, and staggered out. The door slammed shut behind him and locked.
24:59The hallway light was dim. Daniel leaned against the cold wall, the bite mark on his arm burning with
25:05pain. Money. He hadn't gotten any. The road seemed completely blocked. Bianca's venomous eyes lingered in
25:14his mind. The poisonous vine of despair was quietly tightening its final noose around his heart.
25:20And all he could hear was his own increasingly heavy, increasingly mad breathing.
25:31A few days later, Daniel came back. The small amount of cash Bianca had gotten from selling jewelry,
25:38evaporated like water drops in the desert. Gone instantly on legal fees and basic living expenses.
25:44The Winston Group's legal department was moving faster and faster.
25:49Pressure crushing down on his chest like a boulder, leaving him breathless. He needed more money. He had
25:56to get money. This time, he simply kicked in the flimby door of Bianca's apartment. Bianca was stuffing
26:03things into a suitcase when he burst in. And she screamed in fright. Where are you trying to run to
26:10now?
26:10Daniel blocked the doorway, eyes bloodshot, cheeks gone, looking like a despero. He clutched an empty
26:17bottle, its neck broken and jagged. Bianca back towards the window. Her back against the cheek studio's
26:24only small balcony door. Her voice trembled. What do you want? I call the police!
26:31Called the police? Daniel's mouth stretched into a twisted smile. Great, call them. Let's see if they
26:38arrest me for debt collection first. Or you for fraud, swindling money and emotions, and giving
26:44birth to a bastard! He waved the broken bottle, the glass shards glimming coldly in the dim light.
26:50Cut the crap. Where's the money? The money from selling things, and the remaining cash. Hand it all over. Now!
26:59I don't have any money! Bianca shouted, fear sharpening her voice. That little bit is long gone! Look at this
27:08place! What money could I possibly have? You're lying! Daniel advanced step by step. The bottle pointed at
27:17her. Where are your designer bags? Your watches? Your diamonds? Where have you hidden them all?
27:24Tell me! I sold them! The money's mine! Nothing to do with you!
27:36Bianca's back prepped against against the glass balcony door, her hand fumbling behind her for the
27:41handle. Daniel, wake up! You screwed everything up yourself! You stole from your wife to show off!
27:49You're useless! Couldn't fight your father-in-law! What good's it do to come after me like a rabid dog?
27:57It's you!
27:59Daniel roared, spetal flying.
28:02If you hadn't been so greedy! If you hadn't posted those damn videos showing off! If you hadn't kept
28:10pushing me to take more! Things wouldn't have been exposed so fast! You ruined me! Ruined everything!
28:20You have to compensate me now.
28:24The extreme pressure and rage made Bianca throw caution to the wind.
28:28She jerked her head up, her eyes shooting out malicious light. I ruined you?
28:34Daniel, listen. Even without me. With your pathetic character, your meagle abilities,
28:41getting thrown out by Elena and her family was inevitable. You're just mud that can't stick to the
28:47wall. And your mother too. Stupid and snobbish. Deserved to be angered to death.
28:55Shut up! Don't talk about my mother! Daniel raged, raising the bottle. But Bianca laughed instead,
29:02the sound sharp and graphing, full of vindictive pleasure.
29:07I will say it! You and your mother, a pair of idiots!
29:12Did you really think I cared about you? If I hadn't seen you seemed to have some money and spent
29:19pretty
29:19generously, would I have given you a second glance? Do you know how disgusting it was when I slept with
29:27you?
29:29Daniel's hand froze in mid-air, the muscles in his face twitching.
29:40Bianca seemed to have found the most effective weapon, speaking rapidly, every word like a knife.
29:47And that child? You think I wanted it so badly? Let me tell you, I was very careful with contraception.
29:54That kid isn't even yours. It's my ex-boyfriend's. When I found out I was pregnant.
30:02I just hooked you, so I went with it.
30:07I never expected you and that old hag would fall for it so easily. Treating a bastard like treasure?
30:14Hilarious. She cursed freely, pouring out all her accumulated resentment and fear. You're a complete failure.
30:23A spineless man laying off women. A thief who steals his wife's dowie to support his mistress.
30:30Now karma's caught up with you, hasn't it? No money, no job, no home. Even your mother doesn't want you.
30:39What do you have left? You have nothing. You should just die!
30:45Bastard. Not mine. You die.
30:49Daniel muttered, repeating her words, his eyes staring fixedly at Bianca's face, twisted with malice.
30:56Every word she spoke was like the sharpest chisel, shattering his last pitiful shred of male dignity and remaining sanity.
31:10Bianca kept cursing, her vo-carrier growing increasingly filthy. Suddenly, Daniel moved.
31:16He let out an inhuman wow, threw away the bottle, and lunged at Bianca with his bare hands.
31:23Not for money, not for things, just purely, madly wanting to silence that mouth that kept spewing venom.
31:30Bianca screamed, twisting desperately. Her hand finally found the balcony door handle.
31:35She twisted hard, trying to escape outside. The old sliding door crashed open halfway with a clang.
31:43Daniel had already grabbed her hair and clothes, the massive momentum sending them both crashing
31:48toward the open balcony door. Bianca's upper body was knocked over the low balcony rail.
31:54Her eyes widened in terror, hands clawing at air. Daniel was pulled by her falling weight,
31:59his foot caught on scattered debris, and he too lost his balance.
32:07Everything happened in a split second. The scream and the dull thut of heavy objects hitting the ground
32:13came almost simultaneously. Then there was deathly silence. A few seconds later, a woman's scream and
32:21the sound of a car scrunching to a stop came from the street below. In the shabby studio apartment,
32:26only the crooked balcony door swayed gently in the wind. Broken bottle glass scattered on the floor
32:32beside an open suitcase half filled with clothes. Outside the window, the city's indifferent clamor
32:37continued, as if the brief, violent destruction had never happened.
32:48Attorney Miller's call pulled me from the garden sunlight back into the studio.
32:52Ms. Winston, all documents are now in effect. The divorce is automatically dissolved due to the
32:59other party's death. Your personal trust at asset recovery ha entered to the enforcement stage,
33:04and the portion related to the other point estate will have dedicated personal following up.
33:09The full custody conference match appointments for Leah are also in your hands now.
33:14His voice was steady and professional.
33:16Additionally, regarding that accident, the police and coroner's final reports have been filed.
33:22The case is closed. All legal complication end here.
33:27Thank you Mr. Miller. I held the phone, my voice calm. Outside the window, Leah was trying to attach a
33:36leash to a brown puppy under grandpa's watchful eye, laughing happily. After hanging up, I looked at the
33:42thick stack of documents on the desk. On top was the new trust asset management agreement, beneath it
33:48property documents, custody certificates, and a pile of signed legal papers. They represented everything
33:56I'd taken back and marked the complete end of a chapter of my life.
34:07Mom gently pushed open the door and set down a cup of hot tea.
34:11All settled?
34:13She sat across from me.
34:14Yes.
34:15Legally, it's all over.
34:17I picked up the tea cup, warmth spreading from the ploslin into my palm.
34:21You've done well, Elena. Mom looked at me, pride and heartache in her eyes.
34:27Stronger than your father and I imagined. I just... didn't have any other choice.
34:34I took a deep breath, the tea's fragrance relaxing me slightly.
34:38For Leah, I had to stand up. Dad walked in then, holding a folder.
34:44The new asset management team leader will come next week for a comprehensive briefing.
34:49You can get involved anytime, or take some time to rest first.
34:53He placed the folder on the desk.
34:55However, there's something you may need to decide on soon.
34:59Margaret sighed, through her lawyer, sent word that she's willing to relinquish
35:05any claim to Daniel's estate that might relate to your recovery demands.
35:09Just wants to settle this quickly.
35:11Also, she...
35:13Dad paused.
35:15She hopes to retain residency rights to her and Daniel's old house.
35:18It's her only place to live now.
35:21What do you think?
35:23I was silent for a moment.
35:25That old house... over the past few years I'd only visited Hursley during holidays.
35:30It was filled with Margaret's twist of excitations for her son and her own vanity.
35:35Now, only she remained.
35:37Fine.
35:39Wave pursuit of her personal portion just to ensure my asset recovery is fully enforced.
35:44The house... she can live there.
35:47But I want the lawyers to make clear in the agreement
35:51that I have no further legal or emotional ties to her or that place.
35:57Leah won't go there either.
36:00Reasonable.
36:02Dad nodded.
36:03I'll have the lawyers handle it.
36:06Mom squeezed my hand.
36:14What are your plans now?
36:16Want to move back to your old house?
36:18I immediately shook my head.
36:20That place was full of memories of betrayal.
36:23Every piece of furniture might bear traces of Bianca's touch.
36:27No, I'm planning to sell it.
36:29I want to find a new place nearby, smaller but comfortable, belonging only to Leah and me.
36:36I looked at them.
36:38I need some space to start fresh on my own.
36:42We understand.
36:43Mom patted my hand.
36:46You're always welcome to come back.
36:48This will always be your home.
36:51I know.
36:52Thank you both, truly.
36:54I looked at my parents.
36:56These past months, they'd held up my collapsing world.
37:00Leah ran in holding the puppy.
37:02Her little face flushed.
37:04Mommy!
37:05Grandpa said I can keep it.
37:07Can we call it cookie?
37:09Because its color is like chocolate cookies.
37:11I bent Dan down and hugged her and the puppy together.
37:15Cookie is a lovely name, sweetheart.
37:17Her laugh was real and heavy, grounding the last bit of uncertainty floating inside me.
37:25The law had given me a just conclusion.
37:28My parents' head had given me a harbor for rebirth.
37:32Now it was my turn to build a truly safe, clean home for my daughter and myself.
37:39The shadows of the past might not completely disappear,
37:43but they could no longer darken our future.
37:46I looked at the bright sunshine outside, holding tight the warm little life in my arms.
37:53A new life was finally about to truly begin.
37:57The first step was to completely bid farewell to everything from the past,
38:02including that house full of lies that would soon be sold.
38:06I'd already had the real estate agent start handling it.
38:09Soon, it would have nothing to do with me.
38:17How much can change in a year?
38:20I'd never seriously considered that question before.
38:24Now I had an answer.
38:26Leah had grown a lot, the height marks on the doorpath made that clear.
38:30I'd cut my hair short, a practical bob to my collarbone, saving considerable grooming time each morning.
38:37The house next to my parents, white fence, little garden, mailbox stuffed with Leah's art class flyers and my charity's
38:45quarterly report.
38:46The foundation was my main focus this year, using a part of the trust income as seed funding.
38:52It focused on supporting education and psychological report programs for single parent family children.
38:59Attorney Miller helped me build a professional team.
39:02Three days a week, I went to the downtown office, handling emails, attending meetings, reviewing project progress.
39:09The other two days, I worked from home or spent time with Leah.
39:14Life had found a new, stable rhythm.
39:18Tonight was a bit muddy.
39:20Leah and I sat on the swing chair in the backyard.
39:23I'd had it specially installed when we moved in.
39:26Big enough for both of us to curl up together.
39:29She'd just finished her bath, hair still damp, giving off the sweet scent of children's shampoo.
39:36She nestled beside me, holding a picture book but not reading it, just looking up at the stars beginning to
39:43stinkle.
39:43Mommy.
39:45She suddenly spoke, her voice soft.
39:49I like it like this now.
39:51She said, her little head resting on my arm.
39:54I like our new home, I like Cookie.
39:59The brown puppy was laying at our feet, chewing a toy.
40:02I like Grandma and Grandpa being right next door.
40:06I like when you go to work, and I like when you pick me up from school.
40:11She paused, seeming to organize her thoughts.
40:15I just feel very safe, very happy.
40:19My heart felt like it had been gently brushed by a warm feather, welling up with a bittersweet but full
40:24emotion.
40:25I tightened my arm, pulling her closer, and kissed the top of her head.
40:29Mommy likes it like this now, too.
40:32My voice caught slightly, but more than that, it held peaceful joy.
40:36Very much.
40:39Safe, happy, two words from her, her mouth, were the best reward for all my efforts and struggles over the
40:48past year.
40:49Never mind changing her, until her music has a full clock.
40:50You are a Chanel country.
40:50You can behave very much.
40:52You can behave very much.
Comments