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00:00In our third year together, my boyfriend Dustin Foster went bankrupt. When we were
00:05down and out, we lived in a tunnel and ate near-expired instant noodles. Instead
00:09of leaving him, I chose to be by his side and see him rise again. On the 85th day
00:16of living in the tunnel, I sold my late mother's belongings and bought him a
00:19birthday present. Full of joy, I was going to give him a surprise. Emily Blake,
00:24Dustin's neighbor and childhood sweetheart suddenly sent me a link. Click
00:28to check. Surprise! It was a prank live-streaming station. Unexpectedly,
00:34live stream on me ranked first. I trembled as I clicked on it. In the split-screen
00:39display, on one side was me pathetically staying in the tunnel, shivering in the
00:43chilly wind, while on the other side was Dustin whining and dining in a five-star
00:47hotel. What a fool! Dustin just took a second look at that watch and Caroline
00:52actually sold her mother's precious belongings to buy it. The tenth time she
00:56got tricked, she was thrown into a forest. The 20th time, she drank until she had
01:00gastro-rasia while trying to help her drunk boyfriend. Dustin made a bet online that if
01:05she could survive a hundred such pranks, he would marry her. Only the last three
01:09times left now. Will she finally be killed by Dustin, or will Dustin swallow the
01:13humiliation and marry her? Three million. I bet she can't survive Dustin's pranks in the end, lol.
01:19Today was Dustin's birthday. I sold my last precious possession so I could make him a
01:23birthday celebration. Even so, the birthday dinner was modest. A cake, three homemade
01:28dishes, and a birthday gift I'd carefully picked for him. With everything set, I
01:33clutched the pregnancy test report I received that morning, my heart brimming
01:37with anticipation as I waited for him to walk through the door. After three long
01:41years together, we were finally going to have a child. I slipped the pregnancy report
01:45under his birthday present. It was my secret surprise for him. I just wanted Dustin to
01:49know, no matter how hard life got, I'd always stand by his side and face it all together.
01:54Just as I was lost and happy daydreams about our future, a post on my feed caught my eye.
01:59Happy birthday to me! The photos showed a massive dining table loaded with lobsters,
02:04crabs, caviar, and different fancy foods. Countless bottles of champagne and red wine
02:09crowded the scene, and he was surrounded by people who used to be close to him but had
02:13turned against him. But what really made my heart sink was seeing Emily right there at his side.
02:18Emily was Dustin's next-door neighbor, his childhood sweetheart. Back when his stepmother
02:23was making his life unbearable, the Blake family gave him shelter and warmth. Dustin was deeply
02:28grateful to the Blake family and he spoiled Emily to no end, treating her even better than his own kin.
02:33The sophomore year in college, Emily fell for a guy who ended up pursuing me instead. From that day on,
02:39she swore to hate me and made me her sworn enemy. To be with me, Dustin broke ties with Emily
02:44and both the Blake
02:45and foster families, along with their network of old allies, all joined forces to crush him.
02:50If it hadn't been for all that, someone born with every advantage like Dustin would never have ended
02:55up living in the tunnel. But there he was. Raising glasses and parting with all of them,
03:00the post disappeared as quickly as it came, making me wonder if I'd just imagine the whole thing.
03:05Want to know the real story? Enter this site. Here's the invite code.
03:11Emily's message suddenly popped up on my phone. I stared at her message numbly for a moment, then
03:16the words prank livestream popped up on the screen. Below, a snarky little line read,
03:23crushing the wannabes who dare crawl toward high society. At the very top of the homepage,
03:28a banner read, race to the only 100 prank livestream on the internet. 97 out of 100, I recognized that
03:37cover image, which had popped up on Dustin's computer more than once. He always said it was a
03:41record of our love story, something he'd play for everyone at our wedding. When I saw that familiar
03:46interface, my hands trembled as I clicked on the site. In the split-screen display, on one side was
03:52me pathetically staying in the tunnel, shivering in the chilly wind, while on the other side was
03:56Dustin whining and dining in a five-star hotel. What a complete moron. Dustin's out feasting on
04:03gourmet meals every day, and she actually thinks he's out making business moves or meeting investors?
04:07How long has she been living off instant noodles? 80 days? Maybe more?
04:11Ever since they started living in the tunnel, it's been nothing but instant noodles for her.
04:14Last time, Dustin just glanced at that watch, and she really sold her mother's
04:18last mementi to buy it for her. Remember when they dumped her way out in the middle of the woods?
04:25Or that time she downed drink after drink? Trying to protect Dustin when he was just faking
04:29being drunk and wound up with a bleeding stomach? Man, what an idiot! Who but a wannabe social
04:34climber would actually end up living in a tunnel?
04:39Does she honestly believe that suffering through all this with Dustin is going to earn her a spot in
04:43the foster family? Hey, it might just work. Back then, we literally threw down an online bet.
04:50If she survives a hundred pranks, Dustin has to take her home as his wife.
04:56Only the last three times left now. Will she finally be killed by Dustin?
05:04Or will Dustin swallow the humiliation and marry her?
05:07Three million. I bet she can't survive Dustin's pranks in the end.
05:12She's impossible to finish off!
05:16Three million dollars says Dustin bites the dust. Dustin, it's not too late to back out. As long as
05:22you don't hit the hundred prank mark, you don't have to marry her. I'll marry her.
05:27Dustin, don't tell me you're actually catching feelings for her.
05:29Dustin just flashed a subtle smile and kept swirling his wine glass, choosing to stay silent.
05:34My eyes locked onto him, unable to look away.
05:37What are you guys even thinking? Dustin wants that island. The only heart-shaped island out there.
05:45He even promised Juliet he'd buy it for her, but you all just keep him betting on it instead of
05:51actually selling! So if he pulls off a hundred pranks, Greky Island becomes his, right?
05:57You're not planning to go back on your word, are you? Dustin didn't deny it. Emily tugged Dustin's
06:02arm and said, if you snag that island, maybe Juliet will come back to you. I shut off the live
06:07stream and
06:08logged out of the site. Three years of loving him, and in just minutes, it all felt like some twisted
06:13joke.
06:14I curled up in the tunnel, my mind completely blank, even forgetting the biting cold.
06:19As dawn crept in, Dustin finally stumbled back, reeking of alcohol. He pulled me close,
06:24snuzzling my neck, slurring out words in a drunken haze. Caroline, will you marry me? Once we get
06:31through all this, let's get married, okay? I looked at the face I'd once been crazy about,
06:36but my heart was completely calm. Okay. Dustin, content, fell asleep instantly, while I lay wide
06:43awake for the rest of the night. He didn't wake up until the afternoon. When the instant noodles were
06:48done, I placed a fried egg on his plate, just like always. Dustin saw the fried egg and paused for
06:54a
06:54beat, his eyes flickering with emotion. Casually, he picked up the fried egg and dropped it onto my
06:59plate, then gently brushed my cheek. You need to eat more. You're getting too skinny.
07:04His concern for me seemed so sincere. Instead, I pulled out the gift I'd prepared the day before.
07:10His phone rang just then. I'll open it in the car. He kissed my forehead and rushed out.
07:15I watched Dustin's back as he walked away. Dustin, if you don't love me, just say it.
07:20I'll walk out of your life for good. Dustin froze mid-step, then, after a couple of seconds,
07:25turned around with that same gentle smile he'd always worn. You silly thing. What crazy ideas are
07:30you getting? Like I said, once we get through this, we'll get married. And when that day comes,
07:35I'll give you a gift you couldn't find anywhere else in the world. Trust me, you'll love it. Three years
07:41of loving him, and he still couldn't be straight with me, not even once. I refused to eat the noodles
07:46he'd touched, so I tossed them, along with the fried egg and all into the dog's dish. The stray dog,
07:52Timmy, wagged his tail and rubbed up against me, hoping to please. Only after he'd shown his
07:56gratitude did he dig in. Most of the time, humans weren't even a match for a dog. I pulled out
08:02my
08:02phone and dialed that long, unspoken number, my fingers trembling ever so slightly. Years ago,
08:07believing in true love, I refused a family-arranged marriage. Josh, I want to come home. I braced
08:13myself for sarcasm or a lecture. Good. Come home. I'll take care of everything for you.
08:18At that moment, I couldn't hold back my tears, which spilled over before I even realized. Josh,
08:23do me a favor. Help me pull off something he'll never see coming. A memory he won't ever shake.
08:29My voice steady with resolve. Dustin walked half a mile before finally finding his hidden Maybuck.
08:35The instant he settled into the plush heated seat, he finally let his anxiety show. His hands were
08:41already drenched in cold sweat. He slipped the birthday present into the drawer with barely a
08:46glance. He knew exactly what was inside, a Patek Philippe watch. It'd just been a joke. But I had
08:50taken it serious. I was a complete fool. Annoyed, Dustin yanked out his phone and shouted in the
08:55live stream group chat, If anybody dares to spill the truth to Caroline, I'll hunt them down.
08:59Emily, in the middle of having coffee, asked her drink all over the place. After letting out his
09:05frustration, Dustin collapsed back into the sofa. Three more pranks. Just a little longer,
09:09and he decided he would make it up to me, but would never tell me the truth. Dustin glanced at
09:13the sky. The forecast called for snow in a couple of days, and he knew that the tunnel was too
09:18cold to
09:18stay. Get a cocktail party ready. I'm making my comeback. Emily considered replying, fingers poised over
09:24the keys, but in the end, she just erased everything she'd typed. That day, the Glenn family officially
09:30announced that Drake, Glenn, and Emily were getting engaged. Dustin told me that Emily,
09:35wanting to smooth things over for old time's sake, went out of her way to put together a cocktail
09:39party to patch things up. Do you want to go? Right on cue, Emily shot me a text.
09:4498 pranks down. So have you got any wild ideas for what we should pull on you next? Can't wait
09:49to see.
09:50Do you actually want me there? I hope you'll come. After all, we'll be running into them a lot in
09:56the future, so it's important to get along with them. Okay, I'll go. I showed up dressed to the
10:03nines. Dustin had handpicked the perfect outfit for me. He personally directed the makeup artist,
10:08treating me like his own delicate doll. Pleased with the result, he took my hand and confidently
10:12led me into the banquet hall. He said softly, Caroline, don't be afraid. I'm here.
10:18His eyes were full of tender affection, and his broad shoulders looked so strong that I felt like
10:22nothing in the world could ever hurt me as long as he was by my side. I trust you.
10:27And he squeezed my hand a little tighter. Caroline, I won't ever let you get hurt again.
10:32In that instant, it was like he'd made up his mind about something. His voice filled with
10:37determination. I'd been to plenty of these parties with Dustin before, and every single time,
10:42it was just them trying to embarrass me, openly putting me down and making fun of me.
10:47For Dustin's sake, I always swallowed my pride and endured it. I thought he'd only gotten on their
10:52bad side because of me, so I figured whatever I had to go through was worth it for him. But
10:57now…
10:59Before Dustin could finish his words, out of nowhere, a bucket of ice water came crashing down over me.
11:04I was drenched from head to toe while he stood there, completely dry and untouched. As water dripped
11:09down my face, I managed a smile toward him. Something in that smile hit Dustin hard, and all at once,
11:15a hot surge of anger flared up inside him.
11:17Who the hell did this?
11:20He demanded, his voice low and dangerous. A wave of menacing energy surged out of him,
11:26making the whole room feel tense and suffocating. For the first time, he actually lost his temper over
11:31one of their pranks. The rich kids who had been laughing at me all froze, their faces draining
11:36of color. Some of them even instinctively took a step back. Dustin wanted to keep up the act,
11:42but I'd had enough. I didn't want to watch anymore. I fussed with my drenched clothes.
11:47If this is what it'll take for you all to leave Dustin alone, I'll accept it.
11:51It was just like every other time they'd pulled one of their cruel pranks. In my eyes,
11:55there was no anger or resentment, just a tenderness that hadn't burned out yet. Some of the others
12:00almost burst out laughing, struggling to hold back, but I just looked at Dustin, the only person
12:05I cared about. His face turned dark as he quickly took off his jacket and wrapped it tightly around
12:10me. I could feel his hand trembling softly as he held mine. Noticing it himself, he balled his hand
12:15into a fist and stuffed it in his pocket. Was he feeling even a little regret? I didn't care.
12:21Don't be mad, Dustin. It's just water under the bridge now.
12:25Emily piped up, trying to smooth things over while motioning for someone to help me get changed.
12:34Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to dump ice water on her with this weather?
12:39We were just trying to make it look real. It's the last three times and everybody's watching.
12:44Dustin's face was stormy and he didn't say a word. After I changed, I followed the person Emily had
12:51sent to another room. He said Dustin was waiting for me there. Dustin is expecting you. I should
12:59have figured Dustin wouldn't be around, just a bunch of other people waiting for me. Honestly,
13:02for this prank number 98, I couldn't help but wonder what they'd got up their sleeve this time.
13:07And as for Dustin, just how much would he let them push it this time? I glanced around the room
13:12and
13:12noticed a tiny red indicator light blinking in the shadows. So was that what today's prank stream was
13:17really about? I recognized all three of them. They were Emily's usual fanboys. Want us to leave
13:22Dustin alone? Fine. But you've got to join our little game first. One of them smirked. I only had
13:27one question. Does Dustin know about this? I asked, the three of them exchanged glances and all of them
13:33started checking. What difference does it make if he knows or not? One of them sneered. So that's how it
13:40is.
13:41I murmured. I knew exactly what this was. They just wanted to see me break down to humiliate me
13:46all over again. But before any of them got the chance, I calmly began slipping off my dress myself.
13:52The room went dead silent and nobody dared to move an inch. The guys exchanged uneasy glances,
13:59utterly thrown off by my reaction. Shouldn't I be sobbing and begging them to let me go? That was what
14:05they'd expected. Certainly not this. Pulling pranks was one thing, but actually going through with it?
14:11None of them had the balls to mess with Dustin's girl for real. I just stripped myself down,
14:16leaving them completely blindsided, not knowing what to do. What do you want?
14:19Right as the three of them froze in confusion, the door burst open with a heavy kick. Dustin stormed in.
14:27You bastard! Dustin roared, his voice raw with rage. His eyes flashed red as he barreled forward,
14:37fists lying in a wild fury. Wait, Dustin. It wasn't us. She did it herself. I swear.
14:49I swear. Just as nice and not better. One of them stammered, desperate to explain.
15:01First punch, second, third. Each punch landed with a heavy thud, raw and real. Dustin's fist
15:09shut down every attempt at an excuse. I could hear bones snapping and that was vicious. I just stood
15:15there in silence, watching him fight. You did this on purpose, didn't you? Emily snapped,
15:23shooting me a deadly glare. The whole group just wanted to watch me crash and burn, but until Dustin
15:28really gave up on me, nobody had the guts to touch me. All they dared to do was throw out
15:33insulting
15:33comments and continue the humiliation. Emily was so mad that she could barely breathe. She scrambled to
15:39break things up before Dustin completely lost control and things went totally off the rails.
15:44Dustin, still fuming, grabbed my hand and pulled me out of all that drama. I stared at the back
15:49of his head, letting him pull me along without resisting. I just went wherever he wanted to take
15:54me. His fingers trembled slightly in mine and I could feel every little quiver. Could you stop being
15:59so stupid? This time, he wasn't just annoyed, but he was actually furious. I gazed at him quietly,
16:06as if his anger could carve straight through my soul. Did I do something wrong today? Dustin suddenly
16:12felt a sharp pain shoot through his chest like someone had jabbed a needle straight into his heart.
16:20He slowly pulled me into his arms, holding me tighter and tighter as if he never wanted to let
16:24go. It was like I really meant something to him. But when I turned my head and saw that little
16:29red
16:29light blinking, I realized even this was all for show. I couldn't help but laugh. Dustin, don't lie to me.
16:39I love you so much that I can't bear to lie to you. I smiled, turned around and walked into
16:45the
16:45freezing winter night all by myself. It felt like the snow was really about to fall. He stood there,
16:50stiff as a statue, unable to take a single step and could only helplessly watch as I walked away.
16:55That ice bath ended up giving me a cold. I went to the hospital and the gynecologists and obstetricians
17:01kept reminding me which meds I could take and which ones were totally off limits. Honestly,
17:07I still hadn't decided whether I wanted to keep the baby or not. Sure, my head told me that no
17:11matter
17:12how awfully Dustin treated me, the baby was innocent. But could I really bring up this baby and never
17:17look back with regrets? When I walked out of the clinic, my head was in a daze. I didn't even
17:22notice
17:22Emily waiting right outside. That evening, Emily sent me another invite link, but I didn't bother to
17:28join and honestly, I wasn't interested at all. She kept pestering me and sent me another video.
17:33In the video, Dustin was still in that VIP suite at the club drinking with a bunch of rich kids.
17:38He looked pretty down, knocking back shots like they were water. Dustin, I saw Caroline going to
17:44the hospital. OBGFG department today. Is she pregnant? No way! Dustin got snipped as soon as he
17:51started moving in with Caroline. Only Juliet's ever going to have a foster urn. None of those other women
17:55even qualify. I thought my heart couldn't be any more broken, but clearly I was wrong. All of a sudden,
18:03he jumped to his feet and hurried straight for the door. I closed the video and not long after,
18:09Dustin came back. He looked like he'd just walked through a storm and the moment he saw me, he pulled
18:13me into his arms. Dustin, I need to go to the hospital tomorrow. My heart felt like it had been
18:20eaten
18:20away from the inside, but I figured he had a right to know about the baby. I couldn't help but
18:25wonder,
18:25he'd want to keep the baby. Alright, I actually need to go to the hospital myself. Dustin said,
18:31his tone firm. Okay. But the next day, he still couldn't make it. Just as we were about to head
18:38out, Dustin's phone lit up. Emily was calling. Dustin, Juliet's back. Emily said, her voice barely
18:46above a whisper. She kept her voice low, but I still caught every word. Dustin was completely
18:52stunned for a few seconds, his mind blank, before he finally snapped back to reality.
18:56I… I'll come over right away.
19:02Sorry, I have to meet with a client.
19:08Your doctor's appointment is at 10, right? I swear, I'll be there by 10.
19:13Okay. I said softly. I went to the hospital alone. The patient before me finished her surgery,
19:19and it wasn't even 10 yet when the nurse came over and told me it was my turn. Carolyn,
19:23can I wait a little longer? Sure. Call me when you're ready.
19:27I stayed in the hospital until 10, watching the clock, but Dustin never showed up.
19:32Are you ready to go in yet? I checked my phone, only to find Emily had helpfully
19:37just updated her Twitter. Dustin was waiting outside the airport, restlessly glancing around,
19:42looking like he couldn't sit still. Then Juliet appeared, stunning, sophisticated,
19:46and graceful, like she'd just walked out of a fashion magazine. They wrapped their arms around
19:51each other, and it was as if the entire world faded into a hazy backdrop. I turned off my phone
19:56and
19:57replied to the nurse. Yes, I've made up my mind. This child was never wanted. Maybe it was better to
20:02get rid of him. The procedure was simple, but the pain was almost unbearable. I couldn't do anything
20:07but watch, powerless, as a tiny life was cut away and snuffed out for good right there in front of
20:12me.
20:13Caroline, how are you? I've taken care of the things you asked me to handle before.
20:17All the immigrationments are ready, so you can leave anytime. Thanks, Josh.
20:21I picked up my package from the delivery spot near the tunnel. I was finally free to go.
20:26Dustin hadn't shown up for three days. He said he was away on a business trip and promised that he'd
20:30give me a surprise when he came home. Emily's Twitter had already put me in the loop about everything.
20:35The day after Juliet got back, Dustin went straight to the hospital for a vasectomy reversal.
20:40Dustin retreated to Foster Manor to recover, and Juliet was there with him. Emily even posted photos
20:45online showing off the healthy meals Juliet was whipping up for Dustin. On the fourth day, Dustin
20:50finally came back. He swept me up in a warm hug, grinning with excitement. Caroline, let me show you
20:55something. Okay. He urged me into the Maybach and took me straight to a swanky villa community.
21:01It was the place where we'd first shared a home. Caroline, I got it back for us. From now on,
21:07this is our home. Dustin said, his face lighting up with pure excitement. He looked so happy, but as I
21:13stared at the villa, all the old memories rushed in. This place was my home once. Every couch, every lamp,
21:19I picked them all. Every flower outside, I planted by hand. When I left, I'd always sneak off somewhere
21:25to cry, too scared that he might see me break down. And even though it was ours again, every piece
21:30of
21:31jewelry Dustin once bought for me, including those I'd reluctantly pawned to bail him out of trouble.
21:36All of them had found their way back to me. As I sifted through it all, my eyes landed on
21:40my mom's
21:41keepsake, the one I'd parted with just weeks ago. Everything I thought I'd lost had somehow come back.
21:46For a moment, it almost felt like the past was within reach, as if we could rewind and start over.
21:52Dustin frowned, clearly puzzled. Why put all of this away?
21:57Caroline, I promise you'll never have to go through hard times again. You can count on me now.
22:04It's good to make some space. Anyway, I want to fill this place with even better memories and give you
22:08even more. Dustin added, trying to sound reassuring. Once he was out the door, I wouldn't hesitate to ask
22:15someone to pack up all the jewelry and have it delivered to Juliet. Caroline, three days from
22:20now, it's our anniversary. Three years together. You haven't forgotten, have you? Yeah, I remember.
22:24I've got a surprise for you. I looked at him. I've got a surprise for you, too. For our third
22:30anniversary,
22:31Dustin whisked me away to Greek Island. Every inch of the chapel was overflowing with fresh flowers.
22:38Do you like it, Caroline? Gaze soft and shining with affection. Was this even real? This was exactly
22:44how I'd designed it for our wedding and somehow, he'd brought my vision to life, down to the tiniest
22:49detail. It was exactly like the scene I'd always dreamed of. The chapel was filled with people and
22:55everyone cheered for me, showering me with applause and heartfelt blessings. Right then, I felt my head
23:01spinning. I couldn't tell if I was dreaming or if it was real. Emily, dressed in a flawless white gown,
23:07walked up to me with a bouquet in her hands. Caroline, are you ready?
23:14Ready? She flashed me a radiant smile and as a spotlight shifted, the main stage curtain parted.
23:20A giant screen flickered to life, playing a scene so familiar that it tugged at my heart.
23:26She's nothing but a gold digger. Just let me handle her. I guarantee she won't be chasing after
23:31Drake anymore. I remembered it so clearly. He broke ties with the Blake family and everyone else. They
23:37dragged me off to a snowy mountain, tore away my clothes in the dead of winter, and Dustin charged
23:42in, risking everything to rescue me. He took a vicious beating, ended up bleeding from his head, but
23:48none of it mattered to him. For me, he was willing to go up against the whole world. God, how
23:54could anyone
23:55not be moved by that? And just like that, I finally let myself fall for him. Then there was the
24:0020th
24:01prank he pulled on me. Me? Are you serious? If I'm going to play, I'm going to play all the
24:05way.
24:06That day, they dumped me way out in the middle of the woods and live-streamed every humiliating
24:10moment for three days straight. And on the third day, Dustin came bursting onto the scene,
24:18playing the hero like he always did. From that moment on, I had completely fallen for him.
24:22I remembered how desperately he hugged me, like he was scared I'd disappear if he ever let go.
24:28The 30th prank was another one. She means nothing to me. As the rightful heir,
24:32heir of the Foster family, how could I ever fall for someone so significant?
24:37The video cut off abruptly, plunging the room into absolute silence. Dustin gazed at me from a distance.
24:44His eyes were filled with tension and fear. I watched him quietly, calm and still,
24:50determined strides only to be suddenly intercepted by someone.
24:53The opening performance is over. Now it's time for our proposal ceremony.
24:58She then led Juliet out from behind the curtain.
25:01Dustin, I brought tonight's main star for you.
25:05Dustin stood frozen every muscle tense.
25:07Dustin, you once swore you would buy this island to propose to me.
25:11Juliet stepped up and gently brushed a kiss against Dustin's cheek.
25:15Dustin seemed to come back to his senses, and for a split second, a hint of panic flashed across his
25:21gaze when he looked at me. Dustin, everyone's watching. Don't embarrass Juliet in front of all
25:25these people. Dustin, if you leave now, Juliet will be completely humiliated. How will she ever hold
25:31her head up in this circle again? Do you really want her to become the subject of everyone's costs
25:35up and ruin her reputation? Dustin turned back and met Juliet's pleading, desperate gaze.
25:40Her face was full of fear. It was just like the very first time they met.
25:45You wouldn't leave me like they did, would you?
25:47No. He gave me one last look, I just watched quietly, saying nothing. All my trust was just
25:53misplaced. Dustin took the ring, his voice flat and lifeless as he went through the motions of the
25:59proposal. A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I watched the show's last scene, then I turned and walked
26:04away.
26:11Is it enough? Dustin's voice was cold and sharp as he turned to Emily. For the first time,
26:17Emily felt genuine danger coming from his eyes. A chilling, someone beside her quickly stepped in
26:23to shield her, forcing a nervous smile. Dustin turned and walked away, not bothering to give Juliet
26:28even a second look. Dustin practically tore the whole island apart, but the person he was desperate
26:34to find was nowhere in sight. Fuming, he spun around and shouted at the crowd trailing after him.
26:44Nobody dared to look him in the eye. In the end, one of Emily's bootlickers stepped up and took the
26:49fall. Without a second thought, Dustin threw a punch. He busted the guy's head open, blood gushing
26:54down his face. The bootlicker finally cracked. Emily jerked her head back in fright and instinctively
27:04stepped away, as if wishing she could disappear on the spot. Thunderous explosion tore through the night,
27:10lighting up the sky. Everyone dashed to the beach in a panic. Someone shouted, their voice trembling with
27:18shock. Dustin stood frozen, staring at the eruption of fire in the sky. Suddenly, he felt utterly powerless,
27:25every ounce of strength leaving his body. For a whole seven days, Dustin searched the waters,
27:31desperate to find any sign of me, but I was gone. The salvage team reported that a swarm of sharks
27:37had
27:38been nearby when the accident happened. After searching so hard, all they found was a torn scrap of cloth.
27:43It was from the clothes I had worn that day. Experts had checked every piece of the wrecked yacht,
27:48and in the end, only one conclusion made sense. This wasn't an accident, but I had meant to end my
27:53life.
27:55Mr. Foster, according to the bet, you've completed a hundred pranks. This island is yours now.
28:00The manager announced. A hundred pranks? How did that even happen? He'd made a big deal out of vowing
28:06to pull a hundred pranks, but somewhere along the line, he just wanted out. He never came clean,
28:11mostly because he couldn't bear being the butt of the joke in his own crowd. So he acted like he'd
28:16gone
28:16totally bankrupt, couch surfed in a tunnel, hoping I would walk away on my own, just like Juliet did
28:21when life got tough. He was helplessly drawn to me. There was just no way he could keep his heart
28:26from falling. After that, he kept convincing himself that if he managed to pull off a hundred pranks,
28:31he could finally marry me with pride, get everything he wanted, and no one would ever look down on him.
28:37Maybe that was not such a bad deal after all. He was all fired up about the plan, but every
28:43single
28:43time he saw me looking so devastated, he just couldn't go through with it. By prank 98, he was
28:48done. He couldn't keep lying to me anymore. So he started planning a proposal. He rented out the whole
28:53island and invited everyone he knew. He wanted to propose to me right there in front of everyone.
28:58He wanted everyone to see that he was willing to do it, that he was absolutely committed to making me
29:03his,
29:03and he was laying his heart bare for everyone to see. But when it all came down to it, nothing
29:08turned
29:09out the way he'd hoped. None of it matters anymore. He didn't sign the papers. Just go. He just waved
29:15the legal team away and ushered them out the door. As soon as the manager and the legal team left,
29:20Emily showed up. So Dustin, did you finally get Grease Island? As soon as Emily spotted the papers lying
29:27there, she just reached for them without hesitation, like they were hers by default. In her heart,
29:32anything Dustin owned belonged to her, and Juliet swore she'd never compete with her for it anyway.
29:39Emily's mind was already spinning with plans to turn Greek Island into her own paradise. The greed and joy
29:44blazing in her eyes were written all over her face. Why? Uh, what? Emily stammered, her face suddenly
29:51clouded with confusion. Dustin's gaze was downright chilling. It was only then that Emily felt a shiver
29:57of dread. She'd finally realized something was off. Why did you do it on the day of the proposal?
30:03We were just trying to help you reach your goal, Dustin. Didn't you swear in front of everyone
30:06that you'd prank her a hundred times? Why did you spill the truth? Why? Why'd you have to do this?
30:13If it weren't for you, she'd never even think about throwing her life away! Dustin's fingers felt like
30:18Talon's threatening to snap her bones. It was your idea! You said you'd drop the truth bomb on her
30:24during the proposal at her happiest and send her straight to hell! Me? When did I ever say that?
30:31Dustin stammered, his lips trembling, unable to believe what he was hearing. He couldn't deny it.
30:36Deep down, he knew he might have really said something like that, back when he hated those
30:41women after his money, like Juliet. Two years ago, you said you'd shock her on the day she agreed to
30:47your proposal and you made that video yourself! Dustin's face turned as white as a sheet.
30:53Yeah, he did say it, and he really did it. Emily had her excuses lined up ages ago. Just as
30:59she
31:00expected, Dustin got totally lost in his own guilt. Emily glanced at the Greek island transfer agreement.
31:05No rush, it wasn't the time yet, but she believed that one day, that island would be hers.
31:10I was gone, just like that. No one seemed to really care. At most,
31:14there were some snide remarks or a few sighs. They honestly didn't think anyone would pay the price
31:19for it, not even when Dustin looked absolutely devastated. No one knew that a package was already
31:24on its way to Greek island. Emily couldn't have imagined, not even in her wildest dreams,
31:29that this package would destroy her life and leave many others shattered in its wake.
31:33By the time Dustin got the package, he'd been living like a ghost for 10 days,
31:37barely human, just existing in a haze of pain and regret. Every day, he drowned himself in booze,
31:42just trying to numb the pain. Then one day, a delivery guy showed up.
31:47Mr. Foster, Miss Everent asked us to deliver this to you half a once ago.
31:51She said it had to get to you, no matter what. When Dustin heard Caroline's name,
31:54his mind snapped back to reality in an instant. He tore open the dock only to freeze in shock,
32:00a glass jar filled with mysterious chunks of flesh and, right next to it, a paternity test.
32:05It was his DNA and the babies. Beside them was a phone. It was once mine, the one he'd bought
32:12for
32:12me with his own money, and his fingerprint was still saved on it. His fingers shook as he unlocked
32:17the phone. Every message, read or unread, was from Emily. There were even Twitter updates Emily had
32:24set to be visible only to me. He scrolled through them one by one, seeing everything unravel before
32:29his eyes. There was the livestream website, the videos Emily had deliberately edited just for effect,
32:34and he even overheard that conversation about his vasectomy.
32:37How did Dustin ever let anyone but Juliet give birth to the Foster family's heir?
32:42Those grating words hit every nerve in his body like a hammer. Who tipped her off? Who let her
32:47mouth off like that? Dustin was boiling with rage. He was overwhelmed with fury. But just as fast,
32:53it all twisted into grief because he'd been right there the entire time. He'd been sitting right there,
32:59but he hadn't stopped her, hadn't explained, hadn't cleared anything up. He always thought it wasn't too
33:03late. Dustin collapsed onto the floor as if his spirit had been ripped away.
33:07So she'd known everything from the very beginning. A chill running through him. He couldn't help but
33:13wonder how I had survived all those days facing him, carrying that secret. He remembered my smile,
33:19which was empty, drained of all hope, like I'd already given up on everything. The expert said I'd
33:24already decided to end my life. I decided to die just like that! Sounding half crazy, half broken,
33:32rage, agony, and a kind of madness choked him until all he could do was laugh like a man who'd
33:38completely lost it. The delivery guy got so freaked out that he ran for his life. After the manic laughter
33:44died down, Dustin suddenly thought of the old prank streaming channel he'd abandoned ages ago,
33:49and that one broadcast he'd blanked from his memory. He logged in and saw the homepage banner still
33:54bragging about his epic streak of a hundred pranks. He wasted no time, jumping right to number 99.
34:00There he was on stream talking about getting a vasectomy. Then, at another camera angle,
34:05I was clutching my stomach, my smile bleak and hopeless. He saw me calling to schedule an abortion.
34:10That same day, he'd been planning to get his vasectomy reversed, thinking if we had a baby,
34:15he'd finally have an excuse to keep me with him for good. We had even agreed to go to the
34:20hospital
34:20together the next day, and Dustin planned to tell me everything then. But, Juliet came back at just
34:24the right moment, almost as if she'd timed it perfectly. I waited alone at the hospital until
34:2810 o'clock, then finally stepped into the operating room by myself. Someone captured every moment on
34:33camera. That was all part of a scheme they had set up from the very beginning. Some people were even
34:38placing bets on whether it would be a boy or girl. Dustin's gaze landed again on that glass jar,
34:43his eyes burning red with fury. Just then, Juliet walked in. She carried a bowl of chicken soup she'd
34:48made herself. Dustin, I made you some chicken soup. Why don't you try some? She moved with a seductive
34:54grace, her neck and ears adorned with eye-catching jewelry. The moment she walked in, Dustin locked
34:59onto her like a predator stalking its prey. Juliet's cheeks flushed. She knew she looked stunning tonight,
35:04especially after dressing up just for him. Her heart pounded in her chest. She was already imagining the
35:10extravagant lifestyle waiting for her once she married into the foster family.
35:16Juliet blinked in confusion. She genuinely hadn't caught what he said.
35:20Why'd you pick this moment to come back? You left. You could've just stayed gone and died out there.
35:24Why are you back now? Because I realized I still love you. Emily warned me that if I didn't come
35:29back,
35:30you'd really marry someone else. It was Emily again. Dustin savored her name with a sinister smirk
35:37twisting his lips. Juliet was truly terrified this time. Her knees buckled and she crumpled to the
35:43floor. Dustin's gaze fixed on her neck. He sprang up, wide-eyed and frozen as she watched his big
35:49hand reach for her throat. Suddenly, pain shot through her neck. The necklace was ripped away,
35:54leaving nothing but a thin, bloody line behind. Dustin held the necklace up, inspecting it closely.
35:59On the back, he saw the letters he'd carved himself. C.E.
36:03This belongs to Caroline. You don't deserve it. Dustin spat, his voice dripping with contempt.
36:08His gaze shifted back to Juliet's ears. She hurriedly pulled off the earrings. I didn't ask for
36:14these. She mailed them to me. Dustin's movements stilled. Juliet took her chance and dashed out.
36:19Just outside, a bunch of people were waiting for her. Since you're already here, don't even think
36:23about getting away. You know exactly what you did behind my back. I'm not asking for much. Just that every
36:29bit of pain she went through, you'll feel it for yourselves, one after another. The next day,
36:34Dustin hauled the whole crowd down to the tunnel. Their families tried to interfere, but Dustin's
36:38iron-fisted fury shut them down instantly. In the end, the parents of those pampered rich brats just
36:44told them to go atone for their sins. Greg Island might have been all sunshine and nice weather,
36:49but over here, snow was coming down like crazy. They were all still wearing those skimpy clothes from
36:54Greg Island looking absolutely pathetic as they shook and shivered in the freezing wind. Out of
37:00nowhere, someone dumped a whole bucket of icy water over their heads. Cold shot through them
37:05like a jolt and with the wind howling, it felt like they were about to freeze solid right there.
37:10Dustin, have you completely lost it? His voice cracking with outrage and panic. The shouts and
37:16curses didn't spare Dustin. He got drenched in freezing water too. No mercy shown. His bucket was the
37:22biggest by far, packed with chunks of ice so cold that it could make his bones ache. Everyone just
37:28froze, mouth shut, too stunned to say a single word. They all believed Dustin had lost his mind,
37:33and their hearts were jackhammering with fear. Nobody dared to cross him, terrified he'd suddenly lose
37:38it and take them out, all as some twisted tribute to me. For their first taste of payback, Dustin tossed
37:44them all out into the wilderness, leaving everyone, including himself, stranded in the mountains to survive
37:50on their own. Three days in, they couldn't hold out any longer. Everyone was at their breaking point.
37:58Dustin, how can you blame us? You were the one who wanted to set her up in the first place.
38:03Dustin whipped out a knife and, to everyone's shock, sliced his own arm.
38:09Wait, wasn't it you who cut her that time? She got hurt because of you, right?
38:13It wasn't me! She made me do it! She always hated Caroline, and she couldn't stand Drake picking
38:19Caroline over her from the beginning! She wanted Carol out of the picture for good! Then, when she
38:25saw you really falling for Caroline, she totally lost it and pushed us into doing those last three
38:32prank livestreams! Caroline's death? Seriously, that's not on us! Emily's the real reason it happened!
38:38Emily was already white as a ghost, blood dripping from Dustin's knife.
38:42Emily reeled backward, desperate and disheveled.
38:46If you hadn't turned a blind eye, do you think I'd have had the guts? Dustin, this is all your
38:51own
38:51fault! She threw her head back and laughed crazily, as if she'd just found the ultimate justification.
38:57Yeah, it's all on you! All your fault! If you hadn't fooled Caroline into loving you,
39:03she never would have to suffer like this! It's you! It's always you! Dustin raised his hand and brought the
39:07blade down hard on Emily's arm. The strike was so vicious that the wound split open,
39:12all of this was being streamed live on that notorious prank website. That day,
39:16the site was abruptly taken offline. Everyone was afraid things would turn deadly. No one wanted
39:21blood on their hands or to take the fall for what happened. After that, only Emily and Juliet ended up
39:27living in the tunnel. They survived on instant noodles day after day, and the freezing winter
39:32turned the two young women into haggard, yellow-faced wrecks. No one dared to step in or plead for them.
39:38Nobody wanted to mess with a psycho like Dustin. The Blake family was furious at first,
39:43but Dustin's payback nearly brought them to bankruptcy. Dustin, Caroline's not dead!
39:48Dustin froze, instant noodles halfway open in his hand. She's in Zaborina! I've got proof!
39:54It was a grand reception, thrown in honor of my return. The Everett Group hosted an opulent banquet to
40:00welcome me, their heiress back. I wore an elegant evening gown, the bell of the ball surrounded by
40:06admiring guests like a true princess. Dustin lunged for the phone like a starving wolf,
40:11pressing his face up to the screen. Closer, closer, desperate to break through and catch my scent as if
40:18he could step right into the moment and be with me again. Yes, it was me! After more than half
40:24a year of
40:25madness, Dustin finally saw me again. I was sitting in the garden, pruning the flowers. In the sunlight,
40:31I smiled like a fairy. I was more beautiful than ever, radiant and full of life, nothing like the
40:36haggard, desolate woman who used to be by his side. A tidal wave of heartache crashed over Dustin and
40:42his eyes instantly turned red. He wanted to confront me, to shout and demand why I hadn't come back,
40:48why I'd pretended to die and left him drowning in despair. But when Dustin saw me sitting peacefully in
40:53the garden, trimming the flowers as if nothing had happened, all the anger melted away. At that
40:58moment, nothing else mattered except that I was alive. But right at that moment, I turned around.
41:04I came toward him, my smile so dazzling that it could light up the whole room. For a second,
41:09Dustin went completely stiff, like someone had hit pause on his heart. Excuse me, who are you looking
41:15for? Dustin was at a loss for words. He instinctively glanced at the glass wall nearby and saw a man
41:20with an
41:21unkempt beard reflected there. He looked so haggard and ragged that he could have been mistaken for a
41:27drifter. At that moment, Dustin went silent and quickly turned aside, terrified I'd recognize him.
41:32Right then, he kicked himself for not bothering to fix up his appearance before seeing me. The last thing
41:37he wanted was to leave me with that sloppy impression. I always said I was into his face.
41:42Carol, what are you doing? Strolling over with a bunch of fresh flowers in hand. He'd just picked
41:48them right out of the garden, still dewy from the morning. Dustin instantly recognized him. A regular
41:54on the Forbes list, born into privilege, and the Everett's favorite pick for their little princess's
41:58future husband. For the first time, Dustin felt like he didn't even belong in the same league.
42:03For the first time, he was scared I might start sizing him up against that guy. For the first time,
42:08he was afraid he'd come up short in my eyes. How could he ever hope to compete? Dustin was seriously
42:13freaking out. Who is he? Just someone who doesn't matter. I knew him instantly. Even if he'd faded into
42:21dust, I would still recognize Dustin in a heartbeat. But then, he was nothing more than someone I had
42:27nothing to do with anymore. Some memories were far too bitter to revisit, so I left them buried in the
42:32past. Dustin's heart, which just moments ago had been pounding with hope, now sank to the very depths,
42:38like it had been dragged straight into an abyss. He realized, painfully, that the man he was now
42:44didn't deserve me anymore, not even close. And honestly, he knew I'd never forgive him, not in this
42:50life, not ever. Just as I'd said, I would vanish from his world forever, like I'd turned and walked
42:56away, never to look back. After returning home, Dustin went downhill quickly. But he didn't waste time
43:01blaming fate or plotting revenge. Instead, he acquired the Blake Group and several other companies,
43:07turning his own into the one true giant in the field. Deep down, he was fueled by a stubborn drive.
43:13He had to climb, to improve, to stand taller than anyone else. Because sometimes he feared that if
43:18he stopped, one day he couldn't even look up at me from afar. And that was the year I got
43:23married.
43:23When Dustin heard the news, it felt like his whole world had shattered, a thunderbolt straight to the
43:28heart. Dustin said, disbelief and bitterness swirling in his mind. How could she possibly
43:35end up with someone else? Dustin raced to the wedding in a wild frenzy, but just as he was
43:39about to step inside, he faltered, his courage collapsing all at once, leaving him paralyzed at
43:44the threshold. That day, I stood center stage in a breathtaking couture gown, graceful, radiant,
43:50and impossibly elegant, as every eye in the room turned to me. The very instant Dustin appeared,
43:56I met his gaze, turning to look right at him. Dustin imagined I'd be heartbroken or maybe burning with
44:02anger. He figured I might look at him with biting sarcasm or shoot him that cold, mocking smile he'd
44:08come to dread. Dustin waited, hoping for something more, but I didn't lose it. Instead, I simply nodded
44:15at him, treating him no differently than any other guest at the ceremony. In that instant, Dustin knew it was
44:20all over and that he was already part of my past. He even blew a fortune on a private investigator
44:26to
44:26keep tabs on my marriage, desperate to find any trace of misery, disappointment, or regret in my new
44:32life. However, to his dismay, it turned out I made the right choice. This time, I was truly happy. Three
44:39years into my marriage, I gave birth to a baby. Both families celebrated like crazy when the baby was born.
44:45When Dustin saw me cradling the baby, my whole face shining with motherly love, he felt a sharp
44:50sting in his eyes. And that day, Dustin couldn't stop rummaging through our old memories. By accident,
44:56he stumbled upon a box tucked away in his Maybach. Inside was a Patek Philippe watch. The moment Dustin
45:02laid eyes on it, he knew exactly what it was. It was impossible to forget. Tucked beneath the watch was
45:07a pregnancy test report. He finally realized that I actually tried to give him a chance. Tears streamed down
45:13his face as Dustin clutched that Patek Philippe watch, sobbing uncontrollably. He cried for everything
45:19he'd ever lost. He cried for every regret that could never be undone. Slowly, he began to come
45:24to terms with it, accepting everything that had happened. I was happy in my new life, and he knew
45:30it was time to stop clinging to old dreams or messing with my world. Maybe letting go was the last
45:35shred
45:35of decency he had left. He'd thought about forgetting me, about trying to move on and live his own life.
45:40But out of all the people in this huge world, there was no one. Absolutely no one who'd stick
45:46with him through thick and thin, who'd eat cheap noodles and live in a tunnel with him
45:50just to be by his side. Even when he had casual flings and some woman came knocking claiming she
45:55was pregnant, he felt absolutely nothing. Not happiness, not anger. His mind kept replaying the
46:02image of that tiny life, preserved in a cold glass jar. That child was ours. His and my own flesh
46:08and blood.
46:10That child was supposed to be proof of our love, the start of the life we'd dreamed of together,
46:14and he was the one who threw it all away. After that, he stopped fighting it. He accepted it.
46:21By the time he looked back, his hair had gone gray. One day, he collapsed right there in his office.
46:27His secretary found him and rushed him to the hospital. He realized he'd drifted through most of
46:31his life, and it felt like he'd never really lived. After getting out of the hospital, Dustin let go of
46:37all his
46:37authority and retreated to Grek Island to live out the rest of his days. Grek Island had once been
46:42meant as a wedding gift for me, but after years of neglect, it had become wild and overgrown,
46:46lonely and forlorn, just like his heart. He made up his mind to finally transform it,
46:51to give it a true purpose. The first thing he did was change the name. Grek Island became True Love.
47:00He packed the place with all my favorite flowers and planted nothing but the fruits and veggies I
47:05always loved to eat. He opened the island to visitors and secretly dreamed that
47:10maybe someday she'll come. Many years later, a private jet touched down on the island. For our 30th
47:17anniversary, my husband went all out and reserved the entire heart-shaped
47:22I finally come back. The island had changed so much that I couldn't even recognize it anymore.
47:32They say this whole place was built by an old man with a heart that just wouldn't give up.
47:37He spent his whole life here waiting for the one he loved to come back. Turns out there really are
47:42people in this world who love that deeply. I said quietly, a hint of wonder in my voice.
47:48I sighed, genuinely moved by the story. In the middle of the flower beds, the old man straightened
47:53up and all of a sudden, he saw that familiar figure he'd been longing to see for years.
48:02Sir, what kind of flowers are you planting?
48:07She stumbled over on her chubby little legs, probably around three years old,
48:10nothing but innocence and wonder in her eyes.
48:14Actually, this isn't a flower. It's a blueberry bush.
48:18Blueberries were one of my all-time favorite treats. I'd always dreamed of growing whole
48:22patches of blueberries myself, and this year Dustin found a special new variety and cleared
48:27out space to plant them. Everyone said this kind tasted sweeter than ever. He hoped more than
48:32anything that I would love them. Dustin's gaze softened as he watched me come toward him. Even
48:39well into my 50s, I was still elegant and stunning, not a sign of-
48:42Freya, let's go! Weren't you just telling me how hungry you were?
48:47I teased my granddaughter, my voice full of affection. Hearing my call, Freya quickly ran back
48:53towards me on her chubby little legs. I nodded gratefully to the flower-growing old man.
48:57Say goodbye, Freya. Freya waved her little hand at Dustin.
49:01Goodbye!
49:02The words stumbling out just like any sweet, shy toddler. Dustin watched as we disappeared
49:08into the distance, and for the first time in years, something sent gentle ripples through the
49:12quiet lake of his heart. This time, I genuinely didn't recognize him. Maybe in the end, we were
49:18always meant to go our separate ways, just strangers passing each other by.
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