- 50 minutes ago
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:02My family and fiancé sent me to a red light district club, all because they said I stole my sister's
00:07hosting spot.
00:10For five years, I was sold as a beauty blind box.
00:13They took my tongue, broke my body.
00:15Just as I was ready to die, the mafia matriarch who raised me found me.
00:27Put the word out. Hunt down every Ashcroft and my grandson Leon. No one gets away.
00:33Yes, ma'am.
00:35The beauty blind box started here five years ago. Striking faces were turned into living ornaments.
00:43Desirable bodies became toys. And the features they prized most...
00:48Desirable bodies became toys.
00:54A hand. A pair of eyes. A collarbone.
00:59Here, beauty was carved up and sold. Brutal. Bloody. Reserved for the rich.
01:05Mr. Wellington, it's done. Ella Ashford is now our most exclusive beauty blind box.
01:10The rescue I'd spent years waiting for had been hell all along.
01:14First, they took my fingernails, then my tongue, simply because they hated my screams.
01:20And today, Leon and my parents finally came.
01:25Everybody out! Now! Cross Mr. Wellington and you're dead!
01:33Ella. Five years should have taught you to behave. You can come home now.
01:38My mind went blank. The host who'd been auctioning me all this time took off his mask.
01:43It was my father.
01:47Then the lighting tech stepped forward. It was my mother.
01:51Ella, don't blame us. You stole Bethany's hosting spot.
01:54Even in the womb, you took more than your share. That's why Bethany was born frail.
01:57So we put you through this blind box training to teach you some humility.
02:01Now, your grandma's been asking for you. She wants you at her birthday gala, so we're taking you home.
02:05Don't make us regret it.
02:06There it was again. Bethany was frail, so everything was my fault.
02:10One stupid hosting spot cost me my nails, my tongue, and five years of my life.
02:14If not for grandma, how long would this charade have lasted?
02:17You have no choice but to go back.
02:22The guards hauled me along like a stray. I tried to speak, but without a tongue, all I could make
02:28were broken whimpers.
02:33And Bethany, five years had only made her more pampered.
02:37Oh my god! Where's my sister? Who's that old woman? She looks terrifying!
02:42In the reflection, Leon gently pulled Bethany back into the car.
02:45And right beside them was my own face, worn down by five years of torture.
02:51Silly girl. You don't even recognize your own sister?
02:54I'll be fine. You'll take care of me, won't you?
02:56My own sister and my fiancé had been together for five years.
03:01Ella, how did you get this filthy? Look at the rug. It was white before you stepped on it. Disgusting.
03:10Leon, don't be so hard on her. She looks so pitiful.
03:13Bethany, you're too soft on her.
03:15Ella, after five years of training, you're still playing the victim.
03:18Fine. Get out. Run the rest of the way home.
03:24I couldn't get out. Not like this. My body was already at its limit.
03:29If they made me run, I could die.
03:30Just the night before, I'd survived my 50th blind box.
03:35They left me on a street packed with homeless men until morning.
03:39I fought with everything I had, but it didn't matter.
03:42They took turns on me, tossing me around like a rag bull until there was nothing left in me.
03:46I shook my head in terror, trying to beg them to stop.
03:49But when I opened my mouth, only a cracked gawjo sound came out.
03:54Spare me the act. You've ruined the rug so this is on you.
03:57Besides, you've been cooped up for five years. A little exercise will do you good.
04:06The guards dragged me out anyway. Then they tied me to the trunk.
04:10Look at you now, princess. Quite the fall from grace, huh?
04:14They even cut out your tongue. Maybe we should have a little fun with you.
04:18Go ahead, scream. Oh right, you can't.
04:30Forget it, man. Five years in that place? God knows what she's carrying.
04:34Fine, bitch still thinks she's too good for us. I'll teach her a lesson.
04:40They tied me to the car and made me run through the snow, leaving blood down the street.
04:48My eyes burned, but I didn't dare cry.
04:50At the club, tears only gave them another reason to hurt me.
04:53They'd lock me in a dark room with stroob lights flashing day and night, until my eyes nearly gave out.
04:59That was how I learned not to cry.
05:01Then I looked up and recognized the street. The place they'd kept me for five years was barely a mile
05:08from home.
05:10I was shaking in disbelief. I couldn't tell if it was rage or heartbreak.
05:16I'd always thought they'd taken me somewhere far away. Somewhere I could never escape.
05:22But for five years, they'd been torturing me less than a mile from home.
05:26Right in the part of the city I knew best. All over one stupid hosting spot.
05:32After everything I'd given up for Bethany, why?
05:37It's still early. Let's wait a little longer for Ella. She might need a hand.
05:43Don't worry about her. Her training was way tougher than this. She can handle it.
05:48Ella will be fine. Bethany's freezing. Let's leave her.
06:10Miss Bethany says you're too filthy to come in. Maybe the snow can clean you up. Family rules, Miss Ella.
06:18Kneel for 30 minutes and you can go inside.
06:20Grandma, I missed you so much.
06:26Ella, you grew up by my side and I've loved you like my own granddaughter.
06:31Now that you're going back to your family, take this. Keep it close. It'll keep you safe.
06:43I don't want you going back alone so Leon's coming with you. And if he ever hurts you, I'll cut
06:48him off and make you my heir instead.
06:50I don't care if it's Leon or your own parents. Anyone who mistreats you will answer to me. I'll make
06:58anyone who hurts you pay.
07:07Where's Ella? You said you went to get her. What happened?
07:14I don't care. I don't care.
07:17No, I don't.
07:40Ella probably got held up somewhere.
07:43When we went to get her, she promised she'd be here for your birthday.
07:46Grandma, it's late. You should get some rest.
07:50Ella would feel terrible knowing you stayed up waiting for her.
07:54You're right. I'll go rest.
07:56Tell Ella I really miss her.
08:05I was right outside. So close to Grandpa. So close to telling her everything.
08:13Keep it up, and we'll break your legs for good.
08:28She'll just serve her to me.
08:31For five years, I wondered if my parents were looking for me. If my fiancé was losing his mind over
08:37my disappearance. God, I was stupid.
08:40The Ashcrats run the biggest mob in the city. Finding one person would have taken five minutes, not five years.
08:47Sweetheart, keep practicing. I promise you'll be the one hosting Mrs. Wellington's birthday gala.
08:53You'll do great. I'll take you to pick up the custom-made necklace for her. She'll be impressed.
09:00But Mrs. Wellington's always favored Ella. They haven't seen each other in five years. Now that Ella's back, Mrs. Wellington
09:07might want her to host.
09:08Don't think I don't know what you're trying to pull. You're using Grandpa's favor to get at Bethany.
09:12I'm warning you, Ella. Cut the petty games.
09:15What happened to your clothes? I told the guards to look after you. You must have cut it up yourself
09:20just to get sympathy.
09:21Five years of training, and you're still pulling dirty tricks.
09:24Ella, stay quiet at your grandma's birthday, and let Bethany host. Otherwise, your engagement to Leon is over.
09:49I made it back to my old room, and went straight for the safe.
09:57Inside was the phone I'd hidden there five years ago.
10:01The moment it turned on, Grandma's messages flooded the screen.
10:07For five years, while I was being sold as a blind box, she was the only one still reaching out.
10:14The only one who truly wanted me back.
10:17I couldn't hold back the tears.
10:19I took pictures of my injuries, and tried to send her everything.
10:34Ella, I came to apologize.
10:36I'm terrible with words.
10:38I try to stand up for you, but Mom and Dad always take it the wrong way.
10:42I brought you this as a peace offering.
10:45Please, forgive me.
10:47I didn't trust Bethany for a second, so I kept my distance.
10:51Then she slipped, and the necklace fell right in front of me.
10:55I reached for it on instinct, but she shoved me.
11:07Oops.
11:08Sorry, sis.
11:09I unplugged your internet before I came in.
11:12Don't even think about reaching your grandma for help.
11:15Why can't you just behave?
11:32In those five years, the wheel spun 50 times, and every spin meant being sold to a different member.
11:39There was always a masked woman beside him, whispering new ways to torture me.
11:43Just thinking about her made me shake.
11:46Ella, I'm sorry.
11:47I shouldn't have stolen Mom, Dad, or Leon from you.
11:50Please don't smash the necklace, please.
11:52I picked it out, especially for Mrs. Wellington.
11:55Don't ruin it!
12:05Ella, are you seriously that jealous of Bethany?
12:08Your parents and I came up with that training.
12:10She had nothing to do with it.
12:12Take it out on me, not her.
12:15I turned to my parents in disbelief.
12:18So you still haven't learned your lesson.
12:21Maybe I should send you back after your grandma's birthday.
12:26I never should have brought you home.
12:28If anything happens to Bethany, you'll pay with your life.
12:35Leon's kick, my mother's slap, my battered body finally gave out, my vision blurred.
12:43Right before I blacked out, I heard Leon shouting Bethany's name in panic.
12:52I woke up to Leon sitting beside me.
12:54I was about to speak when he slapped me.
13:01Ella, what the hell is wrong with you?
13:03You've been back less than half a day and you've already hurt Bethany and destroyed Grandma's necklace five years and
13:08you still haven't learned a damn thing?
13:11The necklace can't be fixed in time, but doesn't Ella always carry an amulet with her?
13:15If she'd lend it to me, maybe the party can still go on.
13:22I took it from the safe.
13:24I was going to give it back when she woke up.
13:27Not anymore.
13:30Bethany, take it to the gala.
13:32That amulet was the only proof I'd ever been loved.
13:35I lunged for it, even as my wounds tore open.
13:38If they took it too, then my whole life had been a lie.
13:42The noise brought my parents in.
13:44Without asking what happened, they had the guards restrain me.
13:57Then Leon put the amulet around Bethany's neck.
14:00My heart shattered.
14:02She didn't mean it.
14:03Why don't you guys go?
14:05I just want a minute alone, with my sister.
14:09Okay.
14:10If she gives you any trouble, just call for us.
14:21I gave a bitter laugh.
14:24Bethany was so fragile.
14:26Mom and Dad raised her themselves.
14:28They'd even spend a whole day throwing a birthday party for a stray dog she took in.
14:32I was sent to boarding school.
14:34Straight A's, endless training and hosting, horseback riding, and still, I barely got to see them.
14:40I used to think they were hard on me simply because they expected more from me.
14:44Now I knew better.
14:45When you're the favorite, you never have to earn it.
14:48And as that truth sank in, the room suddenly tilted to the left.
14:53Look familiar?
14:55This is the yacht from your 40th blind box, where they made you jump into the ocean naked.
15:01Oh, right.
15:03You don't have a tongue anymore.
15:05Guess you can't answer.
15:06My whole body started shaking before I could stop it.
15:10It really was her.
15:12The woman who had always stood beside the members was Bethany.
15:16She pulled out that patterned mask, then clapped her hands.
15:19A masked man stepped out from behind the medical cabinet.
15:22My pupils tightened.
15:25My heart started pounding out of control.
15:36Well, look who it is.
15:39Blind box 1037.
15:41You look even more pathetic than I remember.
15:45Not yet, Mr. Gregory.
15:47Mrs. Wellington specifically asked to see her.
15:50Gregory.
15:51He's Gregory.
16:02Make her kneel and squeal like a pig 99 times.
16:06I'll use AI to make it look like Ella's the bully.
16:09Then I'll send the video to Mrs. Wellington from Ella's account and delete it right away,
16:13like she sent it by accident.
16:15Once Mrs. Wellington thinks Ella's hurting people,
16:18she'll stop protecting her.
16:21Then she's ours.
16:23I almost smiled.
16:25Bethany had no idea she was handing me the evidence I needed.
16:29Grandma's tech team could trace a fake like this in seconds.
16:33So let them send it.
16:35I wanted to watch their trap backfire.
16:48My head hit the floor again and again.
16:50My clothes barely covered me, and Gregory wouldn't stop staring.
16:54Humiliated, I forced out one broken squeal after again.
16:58Without a tongue, even that came out twisted.
17:01Mom, Dad, Leon, they were right on the other side of the wall.
17:05Ella, this is Bethany's first time at your grandma's birthday gala.
17:09She's under enough pressure already.
17:12Stop making those noises and upsetting her,
17:14or don't expect me to treat you like my daughter.
17:20Dad, it's fine.
17:21She's just trying to cheer me up.
17:23It's sister time.
17:24By the time I finished all 99,
17:26my eyes were burning with humiliation.
17:29Then everything went black.
17:30My last thought was simple.
17:32Keep smiling, Bethany.
17:34Soon enough, you won't even be able to cry.
17:41They drugged me until I could barely stand.
17:45Watch carefully.
17:48Tonight, you're going to lose everything you have left.
17:53The drugs blurred his face, but that voice...
17:56I knew it.
17:57I just couldn't remember from where.
18:02Ella said she'd go straight to her grandma.
18:04She said she's the only Ashworth
18:06Mrs. Wellington cares about,
18:08and the rest of us are just there
18:10to make her look good.
18:12That ungrateful brat.
18:14I'm done with her.
18:16Someone who's always looking for shortcuts
18:18eventually gets exposed.
18:20Let's see if Mrs. Wellington still favors her.
18:23Then.
18:25If the engagement with Ella is over,
18:27Bethany can take her place.
18:29You two are already close.
18:30No one would find it strange.
18:40Let's not decide anything yet, Bethany.
18:42Did Ella tell you where she is?
18:43I want to talk to her myself.
18:49What was there left to say?
18:51Lian and I grew up together.
18:52I used to believe he truly loved me.
18:55But once our engagement became official,
18:57everything changed.
18:59He started measuring me
19:00against some impossible standard.
19:02Perfect, but never arrogant.
19:05Ambitious, but never too competitive.
19:08No mistakes.
19:09No excuses.
19:11The screen lowered over the ballroom
19:13as security cleared out the press.
19:15Soon, only the family
19:16and a handful of invited guests remained.
19:18I was so close.
19:19All I needed was for Grandma to see me.
19:27Grandma was looking for me.
19:28I wanted to run to her,
19:30make any sound I could,
19:31but Gregory noticed every move.
19:33One wrong step,
19:34and his grip tightened.
19:35Stay still.
19:37Unless you want the famous
19:38Ella Ashbird stripped naked at the gala
19:40by tomorrow,
19:42your pictures will be everywhere.
19:47Lian, I'm nervous.
19:49Stay with me while I give
19:50Mrs. Willington the gift.
19:51Then maybe I can handle
19:52the hosting part.
19:54Of course, my little princess.
19:56I watched him walk her
19:57straight towards Grandma.
19:59Then Grandma spotted my amulet
20:00around Bethany's neck.
20:02Who are you?
20:02Why is Leon with you?
20:04And where did you get that amulet?
20:05Mrs. Willington,
20:06I had this custom made for you.
20:08Please accept it.
20:10And since I'm taking over
20:12Ella's engagement to Leon,
20:14he should be here with me.
20:24Watch closely, Miss Ella.
20:26You're about to see
20:27your reputation destroyed.
20:34The video disappeared
20:35almost immediately,
20:36but it was too late.
20:37The room erupted.
20:39Dad was furious.
20:40Mom crushed the glass in her hand.
20:42For once,
20:43neither of them cared
20:44about looking composed.
20:45Oh, my God!
20:46Grandma, please don't blame Ella.
20:48She's always hated losing.
20:50Maybe she's just upset
20:51that I took her place
20:52with Leon.
21:00Ella, what happened to you?
21:02Why are you so weak?
21:05So this is where you were.
21:07I figured once your little stunt
21:08got exposed, you'd run.
21:10I thought you were just jealous.
21:12I never realized
21:13you could be this vicious.
21:18No one touches her!
21:22Poor girl.
21:24Tell me what happened.
21:27Tears streamed down my face.
21:29I wanted to scream out
21:30five years of pain,
21:31but all I could do
21:32was open my mouth
21:33and show her
21:34what was left of my tongue.
21:41Your condition's acting up.
21:43I'm taking you to the doctor.
21:44Ella,
21:45stop upsetting Mrs. Wellington.
21:46You sent that video yourself.
21:48If you won't explain it,
21:49that just proves
21:49you're hiding something.
21:50Our deal with the Wellingtons
21:51is almost finalized.
21:53If anything happens
21:54to Mrs. Wellington,
21:55you'll pay for it.
21:56And I'll send you
21:57right back to that club
21:58until you learn
21:59some discipline.
22:02Mrs. Wellington gave
22:03strict orders.
22:04No one is to lay
22:05a hand on Ella.
22:06Anyone who disobeys
22:08will be permanently
22:09banned from all
22:10Wellington estates
22:10and businesses.
22:13Ella's the reason
22:14Edith passed out.
22:14Why are you still
22:15protecting her?
22:17You've been hiding
22:18behind Edith's authority
22:19for years.
22:20Now you're helping
22:20Ella seize control, too?
22:21The drugs were pulling
22:23me under,
22:23but those voices
22:24still cut through.
22:25I tried to warn
22:26Harold about Gregory,
22:28but when I turned,
22:29Gregory was already gone.
22:33Ella, move!
22:34I couldn't.
22:35I watched the chandelier
22:37fall straight towards me.
22:39Then came the pain
22:40and nothing.
22:44Ella.
22:45Ella, wake up.
22:46Please.
22:47I can't lose you.
22:50Growing up,
22:52I pushed myself
22:53from one competition
22:54to the next.
22:55I performed
22:56until I lost my voice,
22:57pushed through injuries,
22:59took painkillers
23:00just to keep going,
23:02all because I wanted
23:03Mom and Dad
23:03to see how hard
23:04I was trying.
23:05I wanted to be someone
23:07they could be proud of.
23:08And now,
23:09everything I'd spent years
23:10building was ruined
23:11overnight.
23:12My heart sank.
23:25Ella,
23:26you suffered so much.
23:28That was all it took.
23:30Five years of pain
23:32finally found
23:32somewhere to go.
23:34I couldn't stop crying.
23:36I'm already dealing
23:38with the press.
23:39Ella,
23:41tell Grandma
23:41what happened.
23:43How did you end up
23:44like this?
23:45My family had never
23:46been a safe place
23:47for me.
23:49And I was done
23:50protecting them.
23:52Fighting through the pain,
23:53I typed out
23:54the whole truth
23:55for Grandmother.
24:03She read it in silence,
24:05then slammed her cane
24:07against the floor.
24:08Those bastards!
24:09How dare they do this
24:11to you?
24:12Ella,
24:13you stay here and heal.
24:14And remember this,
24:15they didn't abandon you.
24:16You walked away from them.
24:21Get the truth
24:21out everywhere.
24:22Send the video,
24:23account data,
24:24and medical records
24:25to the forensic team.
24:26Freeze Leon's trust
24:27immediately
24:28and begin the process
24:29of removing him
24:29from the board.
24:30And issue a global notice.
24:32Leon is no longer
24:33the Wemington heir.
24:34From now on,
24:35Ella is my sole heir.
24:41Ella has been disowned
24:42by the Ashcruits.
24:44Her rights to the family trust
24:45have been transferred
24:46to her sister,
24:47Bethany.
24:48From now on,
24:49Bethany is the sole heir.
24:52Ella is being treated
24:54at a Wellington
24:54medical facility.
24:56Bethany agreed to take
24:57Ella's place
24:57in the engagement.
24:58That's the only reason
24:59Edith agreed to let this go.
25:02Mom,
25:02don't say that
25:03in front of Leon.
25:04He and Ella
25:04were engaged after all.
25:05This can't be easy for him.
25:07Leon said nothing.
25:08But something about it
25:10felt wrong to him.
25:11He had only wanted
25:12to teach me a lesson.
25:13Make me less competitive,
25:15more sweet and obedient,
25:17like Bethany.
25:18He had never planned
25:19to end our engagement.
25:22How does the Ashcroft family
25:23plan to compensate
25:24the victim in that video?
25:26Ella spent most of her childhood
25:27at an out-of-state
25:28boarding school.
25:28So how exactly
25:29was she able to bully
25:30your classmate in Silverhard
25:31for years?
25:34Ella traveled constantly
25:35for competitions.
25:35She met people everywhere.
25:37I always thought
25:37she was just overly competitive.
25:39Now I know she was using
25:40those competitions
25:40to hurt people.
25:41Once even my own mother
25:42backed the accusation,
25:43it practically sealed my guilt.
25:45But Mr. Wellington
25:46is no longer
25:46the Wellington heir,
25:47so how can this still
25:48be considered
25:48a marriage alliance?
25:52What did you just say?
25:57What did you just say?
26:06Ella paid you off,
26:07didn't she?
26:08You really brought fake news
26:10into our press conference?
26:13Security, escort him out.
26:19I'm with the World Chronicle
26:20Silver Harbor Bureau.
26:21The notices came straight
26:22from the Wellington website
26:23and trust system.
26:24You can verify them yourself.
26:26Get him out.
26:27Don't let him cause
26:27another scene.
26:30Leon was already
26:31checking his phone.
26:32The family website,
26:33his trust account,
26:33the board notice.
26:34His inheritance rights
26:35were frozen.
26:36He was out.
26:37Leon?
26:37What is it?
26:42He's telling the truth.
26:45All of it.
26:58The room went silent.
27:00A moment ago,
27:01they had been standing there
27:02like they owned the world.
27:04Now everyone was watching
27:05them fall apart.
27:08Mr. Wellington,
27:10as Edith Wellington's
27:11own grandson,
27:12how do you respond
27:13to being removed as heir?
27:17No, that's impossible.
27:18The evidence was solid.
27:20Your grandma would never
27:21disinherit you
27:22just because of Ella.
27:23You're her own grandson.
27:27Ella must have used
27:28the family name
27:28to fake those notices.
27:30Leon, don't panic.
27:31We'll go ask
27:32your grandma ourselves.
27:36Okay.
27:39This press conference is over.
27:40Any further questions
27:41can go through my attorney.
27:46Even as a Wellington,
27:48Leon couldn't just
27:49see grandma
27:49whenever he wanted.
27:55Leon panicked.
27:56He sent a question mark,
27:58but the message
27:58wouldn't go through.
28:00He rushed out
28:01of the press conference,
28:02texting everyone he knew.
28:04Every message failed.
28:08Leon, you made me fall.
28:10What are you so
28:11worked up about?
28:18I can't reach anyone
28:19in the family.
28:20What the hell
28:21did Ella tell grandpa?
28:24I can get into
28:24Ella's account.
28:26Mrs. Wilmington's
28:26contact information is there.
28:28We can use it
28:28to find her.
28:30Leon didn't think twice.
28:31Not until he watched
28:32Bethany switch into my account,
28:34like she'd done it
28:35a hundred times before.
28:37Why was she so familiar
28:38with my login?
28:43Found her.
28:44Leon, let's go.
28:51Edith Wellington.
28:54The only patient
28:55registered under
28:55Mrs. Wellington
28:56is Ella Ashproth.
28:57You're here to see her, right?
28:58I'll take you to her.
29:01Actually,
29:01aside from Mrs. Wellington,
29:03you two are the only
29:03visitors for her.
29:05Her injuries
29:05are among the worst
29:06we've seen.
29:07And somehow
29:08her own parents
29:08haven't even shown up.
29:10How bad was it?
29:12She's faking it again.
29:13She's just scared
29:13we'll hold her accountable.
29:14If Ella were really hurt,
29:15she'd make sure
29:16the whole world
29:16knew about it.
29:17The receptionist
29:18was about to correct her,
29:19but Bethany kept
29:20shooting him warning lookses,
29:22so he fell silent.
29:23But Leon's unease didn't.
29:25Yeah.
29:25Ella's always been sneaky,
29:27always looking for shortcuts.
29:27There's no way
29:29she's really hurt.
29:40But the moment
29:41the doors opened,
29:43Leon's breath caught.
29:55These injuries
29:55were inflicted
29:56at different times.
29:57What happened to you?
29:59Nothing.
30:01I had simply spent
30:02five years
30:03trusting a few people.
30:05I never should have trusted.
30:08I truly believed
30:09they would save me
30:10once they learned the truth.
30:13After my first unboxing,
30:15they said I needed
30:16to be disaffected.
30:17They suspended me
30:18in concentrated brine.
30:19I couldn't die
30:21I couldn't die
30:21even when I wanted to.
30:23When they finally
30:24pulled me out,
30:25I decided to escape
30:26for the first time.
30:49I was only half a meter
30:50from the exit.
30:52My hand had already
30:53reached the light
30:54when the host
30:54when the host began
30:55applauding behind me.
31:02For five years,
31:04I had spent every night
31:05wondering whether mom and dad
31:06were out there
31:07looking for me.
31:09Only later did I learn
31:10that the host
31:11who had promised
31:12to release me,
31:12then ordered the guards
31:14to drag me back
31:15was Roland,
31:16my father.
31:23Let them see
31:24for themselves.
31:42You must be her friends.
31:44It's been a week.
31:45I'm glad someone
31:45finally came.
31:48Please cover her up.
31:49We have things to discuss.
31:51I'll be back in 30 minutes
31:52to treat her wounds.
31:54If she needs anything,
31:55press the call button.
32:03Ella,
32:04who did this to you?
32:06The people who had hurt me
32:08were standing right
32:08in front of me.
32:10I looked at Leon.
32:12Whatever love I once felt
32:13was gone.
32:15Only Hatred remained.
32:19She doesn't want to talk to you.
32:20Let me handle this.
32:27Please don't make
32:27our job harder.
32:28If you press that button again
32:29for no reason,
32:30I'll have to notify
32:31Mrs. Willington.
32:44Did you paint those injuries on?
32:48Or are Grandma and the doctor
32:49both in on this act?
32:51He would rather believe
32:52everyone was lying to him
32:53than admit what kind of place
32:55he had left me in.
32:58Look at me!
32:59Answer me!
33:21Leon, don't look!
33:24Ella,
33:26what happened to your tongue?
33:27His shock didn't look like an act.
33:28Bethany, however,
33:30cared only about
33:30blocking his view.
33:31For the first time,
33:32I wondered if part of the truth
33:33had been hidden from me,
33:34but that couldn't erase
33:35what they had done to me,
33:36and it didn't make me
33:36hate them any less.
33:42What do you mean
33:43we did this?
33:49Wait.
33:50You couldn't speak
33:51five years ago,
33:51so how could the woman
33:52in that recent video
33:53pronounce every word perfectly?
33:56You made that video,
33:57didn't you?
33:58That's impossible.
33:59I was with you
34:00when the video came out.
34:01Besides,
34:02the alleged victim
34:02said it had been recorded
34:03six years earlier.
34:04Ella,
34:05please tell me the truth.
34:06Even with the contradiction
34:07laid out so clearly,
34:08he still couldn't believe me.
34:09I had no desire
34:10to explain myself again.
34:11I closed my eyes
34:12and set the phone beside me.
34:22Whenever my father
34:23had to choose
34:24between Bethany and me,
34:25he never chose me.
34:26Not when it came
34:27to boarding school,
34:27not when it came
34:28to hosting opportunities,
34:30not even after
34:31I escaped from the club.
34:32Don't touch Ella again!
34:33Bethany is your fiancé now.
34:35Why are you defending Ella?
34:36If Ella hadn't filled
34:37your grandma's head with lies,
34:38you never would have
34:39lost your inheritance.
34:41Ella has always been
34:42better than me.
34:44I can't blame Leon
34:45for loving her instead.
34:49Go comfort Bethany.
34:51She's never been treated
34:52this way before.
34:53Even if you didn't
34:53mean to hurt her,
34:54you still need to
34:55consider her feelings.
34:57You're her family.
34:58You should know better.
35:00Kneel and apologize
35:01to Bethany
35:02and we'll consider this over.
35:04So tears had always worked.
35:05They just had to belong
35:07to Bethany.
35:17Even you're choosing
35:18to hurt me?
35:20Am I supposed to be
35:21left unprotected
35:23just because
35:23Ella is better than me?
35:25Leon,
35:26we've always treated you
35:27like family.
35:28Is this how you repay us?
35:30By hurting Bethany?
35:34Enough with the act!
35:38For five years,
35:39you were the one
35:40using Ella's account
35:41to complain to us.
35:42You played both roles
35:43for five years.
35:46You made us believe
35:47Ella was spoiled
35:48and always looking
35:49for shortcuts
35:49while you cast yourself
35:51as the sensible one.
35:52It wasn't difficult
35:53to investigate.
35:54The login devices
35:55and timemakes
35:55were enough to reveal
35:56who had been speaking
35:56for the past five years,
35:57but they had never checked
35:58because everything
35:59Bethany said
36:00fit exactly what
36:00they already believed
36:01about me.
36:03Ella told you
36:04to say all this,
36:04didn't she?
36:05She's lying to you again!
36:07I only logged
36:08into her account
36:09occasionally to claim
36:10I never pretended
36:11to be her.
36:12Where's your proof?
36:14You can't accuse Bethany
36:15based on suspicion alone.
36:23The two accounts
36:24aren't linked.
36:26Someone replied
36:27to the message
36:28I sent Ella yesterday
36:29and that exact reply
36:31is on Bethany's phone.
36:33It proves Bethany
36:34has been posing as Ella
36:36and messaging us
36:37for years.
36:40I had finally
36:41taken my side,
36:42but I wasn't moved.
36:44One reply left
36:45only yesterday
36:46was enough
36:46to unravel
36:47five years of lies.
36:48They had simply
36:49never wanted
36:50to investigate.
36:52You told Leon
36:53all this behind
36:54my back,
36:54didn't you?
37:08The moment I'm gone,
37:10you dare treat
37:10Ella like this?
37:11You already cut
37:12Ella out
37:13of the Ashford family.
37:14What makes you think
37:14you can storm
37:15into her room
37:15and keep treating
37:16her however you please?
37:17For the first time,
37:19my parents lowered
37:20their voices
37:20in front of me,
37:21but they weren't afraid
37:22because I had been hurt.
37:24They were afraid
37:25of the power
37:25Grandpa held.
37:26Our families
37:27need this partnership.
37:29Freezing Leon's trust
37:30and removing him
37:31will ruin the Ashcrots.
37:32You cannot do all this
37:34just because
37:34Ella made accusations
37:35against us.
37:36Restore Leon's status
37:37and we'll let
37:38Ella come home.
37:39We won't restrict
37:40her freedom again.
37:41They would let me
37:41come home.
37:43Even now,
37:43she believed
37:44they had the right
37:45to decide where I belonged
37:46and that I could be used
37:47as a bargaining chip.
37:54You still think
37:54you get to decide
37:55where Ella goes?
37:56Before you say
37:57another word,
37:58look at this.
38:15The terms are
38:16perfectly clear.
38:17Ella must be named
38:18the successor
38:19to Ashbroath Media,
38:20but you crossed out
38:22that clause
38:22without authorization,
38:24Roland.
38:25The Ashbroath family
38:26breached the agreement.
38:27Our partnership
38:28is terminated.
38:30Ella,
38:30you have to clear
38:31this up for us.
38:32Don't just sit there.
38:33Tell your grandma
38:33this is all a misunderstanding.
38:42You knew the truth
38:43about your past
38:44would come out,
38:44so you cut your own tongue
38:46to avoid answering for it.
38:48You're even crueler
38:50to yourself
38:50than you are
38:51to everyone else.
38:54The evidence
38:55was right in front of him,
38:57yet he still had
38:58to find me guilty
38:59of something.
39:01In that moment,
39:02the last trace of hope
39:04I held for them
39:04disappeared.
39:06Does no one
39:07in the Ashcroft family
39:08have a brain?
39:28This is what you call
39:29training?
39:30If I hadn't insisted
39:31on seeing Ella,
39:32how long were you
39:33planning to let this continue?
39:40I thought the training
39:41was just random selection
39:42followed by ordinary tasks.
39:44I've never seen
39:45any of these things.
39:46I've never seen them either.
39:47There were no torture devices
39:48in the plan.
39:49We thought everything
39:50that happened
39:50was part of the training.
39:51They rushed to explain
39:52that they hadn't known,
39:54never realizing
39:55that their ignorance
39:55was even more terrifying.
39:57For five years,
39:59not one of them
39:59had inspected
40:00the training site
40:01or asked
40:01what I was actually
40:02going through.
40:06So none of you
40:07ever verified the truth.
40:08The club has already
40:09been secured
40:10by a licensed rescue team
40:11and federal agents.
40:13Save the rest
40:13of your explanations
40:14for the police
40:15and the court.
40:40I knew the man
40:41in the photograph.
40:42He was Leon's uncle.
40:44When we were children,
40:46Leon and I had stayed
40:47at Gregory's house
40:48for a while.
40:49Back then,
40:49I didn't understand
40:50why he looked at me that way.
40:52I only knew not to
40:54admit anything he offered
40:55or accept his kindness.
40:57My body recognized
40:58the danger
40:59before my mind did.
41:04The man who had
41:05tortured me
41:06for five years
41:07had been hiding
41:07beside Leon all ahead.
41:09Gregory was the man
41:11behind that nightmare.
41:23I had thought
41:25I would be happy
41:25when this day
41:26finally came.
41:27But those five years
41:29had taken too much
41:30from me.
41:32Knowing Gregory
41:33could never hurt me again
41:34left me feeling
41:35only tired.
41:48That place had not
41:49been built
41:49only to torture me.
41:51The list contained
41:52many other numbers.
41:54And behind every number
41:56was a person
41:56who had been sold.
42:07Although Leon,
42:08Roland,
42:08and Meredith
42:09did not know
42:09the full extent
42:10of the trafficking operation,
42:11they helped design
42:12the training
42:13and participated
42:14and participated
42:14in unlawful confinement,
42:15dragging and repeated humiliation.
42:17Ignorance of the entire criminal scheme
42:19does not absolve them
42:20of responsibility
42:20for their own actions.
42:31Gregory handled the violence
42:33of human trafficking.
42:34Bethany controlled
42:35Ella's account,
42:36produced fabricated videos,
42:37and concealed
42:37the victim's identities.
42:39Together,
42:39they operated the club.
42:46Only after entering prison
42:47did they learn
42:48that the blind box training
42:49they had believed in
42:50for five years
42:51had never existed.
42:52What did exist
42:53was a dark web
42:54human trafficking club.
42:56The training
42:56was merely the lie
42:57Gregory and Bethany
42:58used to conceal it.
43:09The case records
43:10reconstructed,
43:11piece by piece,
43:12how Gregory
43:13had used them.
43:14He showed them
43:15only rooms
43:16prepared in advance
43:17and explained
43:18every irregularity
43:19as part of
43:19the training process.
43:21Sometimes they changed
43:22into staff uniforms
43:23and participated,
43:25believing they were
43:25still carrying out
43:26randomized tasks,
43:27while he led them
43:29further and further
43:29from the truth.
43:34Their names do not
43:35appear on the
43:36transaction lists
43:37and none of the
43:38core payments
43:38pass through
43:39their accounts.
43:40But they approved
43:41Ella's confinement
43:42and the order to
43:43drag her behind
43:44the vehicle
43:44and they personally
43:45took part in
43:46humiliating her.
43:47Those records
43:47don't disappear
43:48simply because
43:49they were deceived.
43:50Gregory and Bethany
43:50had used them
43:51as tools to hide
43:52their crimes,
43:53but tools with eyes
43:54can see,
43:55and they had been
43:55given chances to stop.
43:57Not once did they
43:57take them.
43:59As I watched the footage,
44:00I remembered my first
44:01escape attempt.
44:03My father had been
44:04the person closest to me
44:05then too.
44:06If he had asked
44:07what happened,
44:08if he had looked at me
44:09for one moment longer,
44:10he would have known
44:11my injuries could never
44:12have come from training.
44:14He knew I was begging
44:14for help and saw
44:15that something was wrong.
44:17In the end,
44:17he still chose to
44:18believe Bethany.
44:22My father had always
44:24stood closest to the truth,
44:25yet he was the last
44:27to admit what he had seen.
44:29Roland made this recording
44:31after he entered prison.
44:32Do you want to hear
44:33the whole thing?
44:41She's in Ashbrook too!
44:43Why should she be
44:44the only one left outside?
44:45Arrest her and bring her
44:46in here!
44:47By the time I heard
44:48that my father still
44:49wanted to drag me back,
44:51most of my injuries
44:52had healed.
44:54I wasn't angry,
44:55and I had no interest
44:57in hearing who he blamed.
45:00The only life he could
45:01still control
45:01was the one he would
45:03spend behind bars.
45:06I traveled to many cities
45:07with Grandma.
45:08She taught me
45:09how to read contracts,
45:10then made me face
45:11directors and investors
45:12on my own.
45:13She never handed me
45:14a position as compensation
45:15for what I had suffered.
45:17Every decision
45:17had to produce results,
45:18and every mistake
45:19was mine to correct.
45:27The three of them
45:28are still blaming
45:28one another in prison.
45:30We also uncovered
45:31another batch of assets
45:32Roland had hidden,
45:33our attorneys
45:34have filed
45:34to recover them.
45:37Keep investigating.
45:39Every dollar recovered
45:40goes to the club's
45:41victim assistance fund.
45:42They wanted me
45:43imprisoned beside them,
45:44but I had a life
45:45of my own to live.
45:49As for them,
45:50they could remain
45:51behind those iron doors
45:52and keep paying
45:53for what they had done
45:54with their own hands.
Comments