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Each movie brings exciting characters, surprising plot twists, touching relationships, and powerful stories that keep you watching until the final scene. From billionaire romances to inspiring life journeys, every film offers a unique experience.
Enjoy HD movies with English subtitles and stay tuned for regular uploads of the latest popular drama films.
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AmusantTranscription
00:00Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30So he hated me, couldn't stand me, couldn't stand the child growing inside me
00:33That day, I took his hand and placed it on my belly
00:36Thought he'd want to feel it
00:38He yanked it back, like he'd touched something filthy
00:41You know what? You made me sick
00:43You stole my sister's life
00:45Why didn't you die instead?
00:47After that, he never looked at me again
00:49One night, they came
00:50They dragged me off the bed
00:52A gun pressed to my temple
00:53A boot stomped down on my belly
00:55Tell Dante Marchea, this is for what his father did to our family
01:00I couldn't stop the bleeding
01:02Just as Dante wished
01:03My baby died, and so did I
01:05Before my eyes closed
01:06I looked back on this life
01:07From 5 to 15, I was truly happy
01:10The Marchettis treated me like their own daughter
01:12We were like a normal, happy family
01:14If you didn't think about why the study door was always locked
01:16Didn't count the strangers slipping in and out the back door late at night
01:19And Dante, he had always been my knight
01:21We weren't even in the same grade
01:22He still took me to school and picked me up every day
01:25In school, no one dared say a single bad word to me
01:27Because Dante Marchetti walked beside me
01:29He had blood on his hands
01:31Everyone said so
01:32But he never made me feel afraid
01:33Once, I had a fever
01:35I woke up in the middle of the night
01:36And found him asleep on the floor beside my bed
01:38Still clutching a damp towel
01:40I fell for him so easily
01:42Then one day, everything changed
01:44Dante wasn't the Dante I loved anymore
01:46After that night, he hated me even more
01:48Before I died, I wasn't afraid
01:49Not even a little
01:50I even thought
01:50It wasn't so bad
01:51Somehow, I opened my eyes again
01:54I was back
01:55To the day they came to the group home
02:01Nola, what are you doing back here?
02:03Miss Linda scooped me off the fire escape
02:07Mrs. Linda, I don't want to go
02:09She smoothed my hair down
02:10Tucked a strand behind my ear
02:12Silly girl, it's the Marchettis
02:14If they pick you, you'll finally have a real home, sweetheart
02:17Just smile, okay?
02:19That's all you have to do
02:20Just one smile
02:22One smile
02:24I thought of Dante's eyes in my past life
02:26Cold
02:28Hateful
02:28The moment that black escalade pulled up
02:31I hid in the storage room
02:33I don't know how long I was in there
02:34At some point, I fell asleep
02:36By the time they found me
02:37The Marchettis had already left
02:39They didn't end up choosing anyone
02:41I didn't know why
02:42Didn't care either
02:43That night, I lay in bed
02:45Three other kids shared the room with me
02:47Just like me
02:48No family
02:49I didn't know who the Marchettis' biological daughter was
02:51But in my past life
02:52I'd overheard it from one of Miss Linda's phone calls
02:54The Marchettis believed she was here
02:56Kidnapped at two years old
02:57Passed through the system for years
02:58They'd been searching ever since
03:00I didn't want anything to do with the Marchetti family
03:01But in my past life
03:03The first ten years with them
03:05The Marchettis and Dante were also good to me
03:07If in this life
03:08Their real daughter could find her way back to them
03:10We'd be even
03:11But before I could do anything about it
03:12The Marchettis came back a second time
03:14All the girls around five or six
03:16Were lined up for a DNA test
03:18A cotton swab along the inside of the cheek
03:20Dropped into a vial
03:21Labeled
03:22Ten seconds
03:22That's all it took
03:23This never happened in my past life
03:25When I walked out after the test
03:26I saw Dante coming toward me
03:28Expression cold
03:29Something stirred in my chest
03:30Word was
03:31This DNA test was requested by the young heir of the Marchetti family
03:35Could it be
03:36Had Dante been reborn too?
03:39I lowered my head
03:40And stepped aside
03:41Dante paused in front of me
03:43Even at eight years old
03:44There was something about him
03:45A pressure that made you not want to get too close
03:48The next day
03:49The girl sleeping across from me
03:50Sarah
03:51Was gone
03:51Sarah barely talked
03:53She cried all the time
03:54A total crybaby
03:55Turns out
03:56She was the Marchettis' biological daughter
03:59Two days later
04:00The Marchettis came back again
04:01This time
04:02They said they wanted to adopt a girl
04:04To keep their daughter company
04:05And this time
04:06I didn't hide
04:06All of us
04:07Myself included
04:08Lined up in a row
04:09Waiting for the Marchettis to come pick
04:11The first one out of the car
04:12Was the Marchettis' little girl
04:14The crybaby
04:15Who used to cry over everything
04:16Now treated like a princess
04:18By everyone around her
04:19Dante carried her the whole way
04:21Only set her down
04:22When they reached us
04:23Sarah had this scent around her
04:24I couldn't quite name
04:25Not perfume
04:26More like a warmth
04:27The Marchetti warmth
04:28The smell of money
04:29Dry cleaning
04:30Leather seats
04:31Sarah
04:32A bunch of kids rushed up to her
04:34Eyes bright with excitement
04:35We were all young
04:37But group home kids learn early
04:38You learn to read adults
04:40You learn to read a room
04:41Everyone knew
04:42If you got to leave with Sarah today
04:43You'd get to wear pretty dresses like hers
04:45Live in a big house
04:47Have your own room
04:48All eyes were on Sarah
04:49But for some reason
04:50She stopped right in front of me
04:52My stomach dropped
04:53Before I even realized what I was doing
04:54I shoved Sarah away
04:56Sarah
04:57Nola
04:59That day
05:00Miss Linda made me stay in my room
05:02For three hours
05:03As punishment
05:04I thought there was no way
05:05The Marchettis would still want me
05:07After what I did
05:07But three days later
05:09I was sitting in that black escalade
05:11Miss Linda said the Marchetti family
05:13Had filed for my foster placement
05:15The paperwork was already done
05:16I froze
05:17But it was settled
05:19All I could do was accept it
05:21At least Sarah was easy to get along with
05:24And the Marchettis
05:25Just like the first ten years of my past life
05:28Were kind to me
05:29The coldest one in the house
05:31Was Dante
05:31He barely spoke to me
05:33But sometimes
05:34I'd catch him watching me in silence
05:35Something complicated in his eyes
05:37I didn't want to get into it
05:39A few days later after dinner
05:41I heard Dante bring something up
05:43Dad
05:43The furnace at the group home is ancient
05:45It breaks down every winter
05:47Why don't we get them a new one
05:48I stiffened
05:49The truth was
05:50I'd been thinking about the same thing for days
05:52How to keep the group home from the disaster
05:54In my last life
05:55The group home caught fire
05:57An old space heater
05:58Short-circuited in the middle of the night
06:00Those heaters were all second-hand donations
06:02Used for god knows how many years
06:04Those kids were so young
06:06Five, six years old
06:07They couldn't smell the smoke
06:09Couldn't wake themselves up
06:10Couldn't get out
06:12Right
06:12That's on me
06:14They looked after Sarah for years
06:17We owe them
06:19I knew what oh
06:20Meant in the Marchetti world
06:21From now on
06:23That group home was under Marchetti protection
06:26The Marchettis replaced the group home's entire furnace
06:28And donated a large sum on top of it
06:31I didn't expect Dante to do something like that
06:33I still kept my distance from him
06:36But honestly
06:37I was grateful
06:37Setting aside everything between us from the past
06:40Dante's rebirth had genuinely saved a lot of people from a terrible fate
06:45In the blink of an eye
06:47Sarah and I were both old enough for high school
06:49Dante was still in college
06:50But he'd already started handling family business
06:52He and I barely crossed paths
06:54I kept my distance on purpose
06:56And Dante was just as cold toward me as ever
06:58The contrast with how he treated Sarah couldn't have been more obvious
07:02I knew the deal
07:03The Marchettis adopted me to keep Sarah company
07:05That was always the point
07:06So for all those years
07:07School and Sarah
07:09That was my life
07:10When everyone found out I wanted to transfer from St. Ignatius to a public high school
07:13The Marchettis
07:14Even Dante
07:15Looked at me like I'd lost my mind
07:17Nora, why would you want to transfer to public school?
07:19No one from the family will be there to look out for you
07:22Outside Marchetti territory
07:23No one would know who I was
07:25No one would care
07:26But I didn't want to stay
07:27In this life
07:28I wanted to live my own life
07:30The Marchettis tried to talk me out of it
07:31I didn't budge
07:32Dante, who hadn't said a word the entire time
07:34Spoke up
07:35Let her go
07:36The living room went silent for two seconds
07:38No one argued after that
07:39One night during finals
07:40I stayed at the library studying until almost 11
07:43When I came out
07:44The school gate was deserted
07:45November night
07:45Wind cutting hard
07:47I hunched my shoulders
07:47And walked along the sidewalk
07:49Passing in and out of pools of streetlight
07:51The neighborhood around a public school was nothing like Long Island
07:53No Marchetti people
07:54No iron gates
07:55No surveillance cameras
07:57No Dante
07:58My phone rang
07:59It was Dante
08:00I hesitated
08:01Picked up anyway
08:02Where are you?
08:03His voice was low
08:04I didn't answer
08:05You're just now heading home?
08:08Yeah
08:09Where exactly?
08:11I looked up
08:13Outside the bodega near school
08:15Don't move
08:16I'm coming to get you
08:17You don't have to, I can
08:18He hung up
08:19Ten minutes later
08:20A black escalade turned the corner
08:22He didn't kill the engine
08:23Just rolled down the window and looked at me
08:25I got in the passenger seat
08:26The smell of tobacco and woody cologne filled the air
08:29Dante's scent
08:30I was trying to clear my mind
08:32Dante suddenly moved closer to me
08:33I was startled
08:34And instinctively flinched backward
08:36He didn't say anything
08:37He just glanced at me
08:38Buckled my seatbelt
08:40Silence
08:41Then he suddenly spoke up
08:43You afraid of me?
08:46In my past life
08:47This was when the truth came out
08:49That Sarah had been at the group home all along
08:52I was at St. Ignatius back then
08:54Those family kids knew exactly which side to be on
08:57My locker got plied open
08:59My things tossed in the trash
09:01Some girl threw milk on me
09:03There was even an anonymous account making up stories about me
09:06After that night with Dante
09:08Even the Marchettis started looking at me differently
09:11Streetlights flickered past the passenger window
09:13I pulled myself out of those memories
09:15The car had already turned into the Long Island neighborhood
09:18Dante's profile shifted between light and shadow
09:21Under the passing street lamps
09:22There was a faint scent in the car
09:24Tobacco and woody cologne
09:26I shouldn't have cared
09:27But there it was
09:28The car pulled into the garage
09:30He killed the engine
09:31Neither of us got out first
09:33I stared at the time on the dashboard
09:3511.47
09:36A few seconds later
09:38He pulled the key
09:39Pushed open his door
09:40And got out
09:41I followed behind
09:42Two
09:42Three steps back
09:44Through the Marchetti front door
09:46After that
09:47I buried myself in schoolwork
09:49Sarah's college was already set
09:51The Marchettis had arranged a school in England for her
09:53All she had to do was graduate
09:55Before summer break
09:56Sarah made plans to go to Europe with friends
10:00Noah, I thought you'd finally hang out with me
10:03Why are you doing a summer program?
10:04I smiled
10:05It's just how it is
10:07But I haven't spent time with you in forever
10:10Sarah looked hurt
10:11Before high school
10:12We were practically inseparable
10:13It's fine
10:14Just send me pictures of everything
10:16The fun stuff
10:17The good food
10:17It'll be like I'm there too
10:19I meant it
10:20I wanted to go
10:21But I couldn't
10:22I wasn't smart enough
10:23I was giving everything I had
10:25Just to keep my GPA looking good
10:27And even then
10:28Compared to kids with private tutors
10:30Legacy admissions
10:31And resumes packed with extracurriculars
10:34I was still miles behind
10:35If I was going to make it on my own
10:37I wasn't doing enough
10:38Not even close
10:42After Sarah left
10:43I started spending every day after school in the library
10:46Until the staff kicked me out
10:48Library's closed
10:49Then I'd walk to the McDonald's on the corner
10:51Order a coffee
10:51And sit there until late
10:53Gianna wasn't happy at first about me coming home so late
10:56But eventually she didn't say anything
10:58Senior year
10:59Spring break
10:59A whole week off
11:00Sarah came to pick me up from school
11:02I thought it'd just be her
11:03But when I walked out
11:05I saw the black Escalade parked by the curb
11:07Dante in the driver's seat
11:08I noticed a bunch of girls on the steps glancing that way
11:11I thought of how Gianna always said
11:13After all these years
11:14Dante still hadn't brought a single girl home
11:16Maybe he's gay
11:17Every time she said that
11:18Sarah would laugh
11:19And volunteer to find Dante a boyfriend
11:21I raised the book in my hands a little higher
11:23About to slip past
11:24But Sarah had already spotted me
11:26Nola!
11:27She shoved the car door open
11:29And grabbed my arm
11:30Didn't you recognize Dante's car?
11:33We're right here
11:34She pushed me into the back seat
11:36Dante, I want to go to that new steakhouse
11:39When we got there
11:40Dante gave a name
11:41The hostess led us straight to a window table
11:44Nola, what do you want to eat?
11:46Anything's fine
11:47I shifted in my seat
11:48A little uneasy
11:49Sarah was about to order the Cajun ribeye
11:52And the spicy shrimp appetizer
11:53But Dante changed it
11:54Switched it to mushroom soup
11:56And herb-crusted filet
11:57I quietly exhaled
11:58My stomach had been bad lately
12:01Even though I tried to eat on time every day
12:03When the pain hit
12:04It was brutal
12:07After dinner
12:08We drove back to Long Island
12:09My stomach was getting worse
12:11I dug out the Pepto and took two
12:13It kicked in pretty fast
12:14Soon
12:15I could read again
12:16I pushed through the rest of spring break
12:18Trying to finish a paper due right after
12:20Used every last bit of energy I had
12:22When I got home
12:22I crashed
12:23Slept straight through to the next day
12:25Probably went too long without eating
12:27The stomach pain woke me up
12:28I was about to go find something to eat
12:30The second I opened the door
12:31I saw Dante leaning against the hallway wall
12:34We both froze
12:34He looked away
12:35Mom says come down and eat
12:37His voice was flat
12:38I nodded
12:38Okay
12:39We walked downstairs
12:40Nora, you're seriously amazing
12:42Sarah pushed a sandwich
12:44She'd made herself right in front of me
12:45We all see how hard you've been working
12:47You will get everything you want
12:49I know it
12:49April
12:50College offers started rolling in
12:52Sarah ordered the entire family to be there
12:54When my results came out
12:55Including Dante
12:56I sat on the living room couch
12:58Opened my laptop
12:59And logged into the application portal
13:01The page loaded for two seconds
13:02Congratulations
13:04Oh my god
13:05No!
13:06Sarah screamed and threw herself at me
13:08Wrapping me in a hug
13:09My hands were shaking
13:10As I reached up and hugged her back
13:12But my decision took them all by surprise
13:16I got offers from several schools
13:18East coast
13:19West coast
13:20I chose San Francisco
13:21Five hour flight from New York
13:22Not that far
13:23But far enough
13:23Far enough that I wouldn't be breathing Marchetti air every single day
13:26If he was in New York
13:27Then I'd go west
13:28Gianna wasn't happy about it
13:29Almost backed out of the graduation trip we'd already planned
13:32In the end
13:32Sarah talked her mom into it again
13:34Sarah
13:34She's so nice
13:36She didn't always understand me
13:37But she always respected my choices
13:39More than once
13:40I felt grateful to Dante
13:41Grateful that in this life
13:42He'd brought Sarah back to us as soon as he could
13:44April
13:44Prom season
13:45The hallways were full of promposals
13:47Balloons
13:48Spray paint in the parking lot
13:49Handmade posters blocking classroom doors
13:51Within one week
13:52Three different guys asked me to be their prom date
13:54One did it at lunch
13:55In front of the entire cafeteria
13:56One slipped a note into my locker
13:58One sent a friend to ask on his behalf
14:00I turned them all down
14:01After that
14:01Sarah and I went to Europe together
14:03A trip that belonged to just the two of us
14:05When we got back
14:06I made one more stop
14:07The group home where I grew up
14:08Ms. Linda still remembered me
14:10When she heard I'd gotten into college
14:12Her eyes welled up
14:13Good
14:15Good sweetheart
14:16Once she pulled herself together
14:18She asked if the Marchetti family had been good to me
14:21Yeah
14:22Really good
14:23This time around
14:24I wasn't going to let myself fall into tragedy again
14:27The night Sarah flew to England
14:28I packed my bags too
14:29Gianna couldn't understand why I wanted to go to school so early
14:32That evening I passed by Gianna's room
14:34She's never gonna see us as her real family
14:36No matter what we do
14:38She's always gonna
14:38I heard her voice through the door
14:40I went back to my room
14:44Didn't turn on the light
14:45Sat there in the dark the whole night
14:47The next day
14:48The Marchettis were driving me to JFK
14:51Dante was behind the wheel
14:52Enzo and Gianna were in the back
14:53The whole ride Gianna kept talking
14:55Call us if you need anything
14:56Don't forget to eat
14:57We're always here
14:58I responded to every single one
15:00At the airport
15:01I said goodbye to each of them
15:04I reached for the suitcase in Dante's hand
15:06He pulled it back
15:07Let's go
15:07I blinked
15:08Watched him walk with me through security
15:10Then onto the plane
15:11He sat down next to me
15:12I still hadn't processed what was happening
15:14What?
15:14He slid a gray neck pillow behind my head
15:16Quick, no warning
15:17When his fingers brushed the back of my neck
15:19My whole body went rigid
15:20He didn't say anything else
15:21Leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes
15:23I put my earbuds in
15:24Body stiff the entire flight
15:26Didn't sleep a single second
15:28After we landed
15:29Dante carried my luggage all the way from the parking lot to the dorm
15:32He walked half a step ahead of me
15:33Not side by side
15:34Not holding hands
15:35Just him in front
15:36Everything had to go through him first
15:38It had been like that my whole life
15:39My roommates assumed he was my boyfriend
15:41After he left
15:42They found out he was my brother
15:43Every single one of them came at me for his Instagram
15:46That is not a brother face
15:49The truth is
15:50In this life
15:51Dante and I barely interacted
15:52I knew he probably hated me
15:54So I always kept my distance
15:56I never smiled at him
15:57Not once
15:57And it wasn't just him
15:58I kept my distance from everyone
16:00In my past life
16:02He hated that smile I gave him when I was five
16:04That day at the group home
16:05He looked at every single girl
16:07Then walked up to me
16:09All because I smiled at him
16:10He chose me
16:11And Sarah was left behind
16:12The reborn Dante
16:14He probably hated my smile too
16:16So in the Marchetti house
16:17I was always guarded
16:18Just like Gianna said
16:19I never let myself belong
16:20Only around Sarah could I relax a little
16:23Now that I was in San Francisco
16:24I didn't have to face any of them
16:26I couldn't finally breathe
16:27College was busy
16:28Full
16:28That was good
16:29The only hard part
16:31Every Christmas
16:32I had to come up with a different excuse each year
16:34Not to go back
16:35The first year
16:36Sarah FaceTimed me
16:37She looked a little hurt
16:38Behind her was the Marchetti living room
16:40Christmas tree
16:41Fireplace
16:42Gianna setting the table
16:43The second year
16:44I still didn't go back
16:45Nora?
16:46What's going on with you?
16:48Sarah's tone changed
16:49I feel like you didn't just go to college
16:51You left us
16:52For good
16:53I gripped my phone
16:54Didn't know what to say
16:55Sarah waited a long time
16:57Then hung up
16:59That night
17:00I made myself a cup of hot cocoa
17:02Steam fogged up the window
17:04That grey neck pillow
17:05Was still at the bottom of my closet
17:07Some nights
17:08A trace of tobacco
17:09And woody cologne
17:10Would drift through
17:10I wasn't sure if I actually smelled it
17:12Or if it was just a memory
17:14The dorm was almost empty
17:16Not a single person in the hallway
17:18The door to the room next door hung open
17:20Beds stripped bare
17:21Nothing left but fairy lights
17:22Still blinking on the wall
17:23I forced my eyes shut
17:25Then my phone rang
17:25Sarah
17:26Sarah?
17:27Nora
17:27Come downstairs
17:28Now
17:30Nora
17:31Come down
17:31I'm right outside your building
17:33I froze for a second
17:35Grabbed my jacket
17:36And ran
17:36From a distance
17:37I could see a few figures standing below
17:38I slowed
17:39Sarah had already spotted me
17:41Nora
17:41I ran toward them
17:43It wasn't just Sarah
17:44Dante was there too
17:45Behind them was a bodyguard
17:46Sarah was holding a bag of Whole Foods groceries
17:48Dante had a small tabletop Christmas tree
17:51Cradled in his arms
17:52My eyes burned
17:53I suddenly felt like I'd been so selfish
17:54When Sarah saw me cry
17:56She looked happy about it
17:57She pulled me into a tight hug
17:59I knew it
17:59I knew you missed us
18:01That night
18:02Sarah made Christmas dinner in the communal kitchen
18:04A pot of pasta
18:05Garlic
18:06Olive oil
18:06Parmesan
18:07The smell filled the entire floor
18:09Dante set the little Christmas tree on the windowsill
18:12And plugged it in
18:12He didn't say a word
18:13But he was there the whole time
18:15We were halfway through eating
18:16Then hurried footsteps at the end of the hallway
18:18A voice
18:19Low and urgent
18:20Dante's bodyguard burst in
18:22Face white
18:23We need to move
18:24Now
18:25Before I could process it
18:26The window shattered
18:27Sarah screamed
18:28Dante shoved her to the ground
18:30Glass still hanging in the air
18:31I saw a shadow flash at the doorway
18:33The gun was aimed at Sarah
18:34I don't know where the strength came from
18:36I threw myself in front of her
18:37Then a bang
18:38My abdomen
18:39Torn through
18:39Dante's face appeared above me
18:41He was shouting something
18:42I couldn't hear it
18:43Everything went black
18:46When I woke up again
18:47I was in the ICU
18:48The doctor said the bullet hit my left kidney
18:51During emergency surgery
18:52They removed it
18:53The surgery was a success
18:54They said
18:55I was lucky
18:56But on the third day post-op
18:57My attending came in with a report
18:59He said
19:00My remaining right kidney
19:01Had some congenital issues
19:03Something I might have gone my whole life
19:04Without knowing
19:05If the left one were still there
19:07But now
19:07The pressure on a single kidney
19:09Was too much
19:10We need to monitor your kidney function
19:12Closely going forward
19:13In the worst case scenario
19:14You may need a transplant down the line
19:17I stared at the ceiling
19:18I didn't understand
19:19I tried so hard
19:21So hard
19:22To break free from the Marchettis
19:24To live my own life
19:26I'd gotten into a great school
19:27Two more years
19:28And I could have been working
19:29Independent
19:30But now
19:31Everything felt like it was sinking into the dark
19:33I was transferred to a private hospital in San Francisco
19:36Enzo arranged it
19:37One phone call
19:38One black SUV
19:39And just like that
19:41I was moved from a public hospital bed
19:43Into a private room with an ocean view
19:44Sarah's eyes were swollen from crying
19:47Her school was about to start
19:48She didn't go
19:49Took a leave of absence
19:50Refused to leave my side
19:52That bullet was meant for me
19:55She held my hand
19:56Voice trembling
19:57Nora that bullet was meant for me
20:00Don't be stupid
20:02Don't say that
20:03I touched her face
20:04After surgery
20:05Things got worse than the doctors expected
20:08He confirmed it
20:09I needed a kidney transplant
20:10And worse
20:11My blood type was rare
20:12Finding a match would be extremely difficult
20:14What I didn't expect
20:16Was Sarah going behind everyone's back
20:18To get tested for compatibility
20:19And she was a match
20:22I lay in the hospital bed
20:23Listening to Gianna's voice
20:25Out in the hallway
20:26Sarah, have you thought about this?
20:27If you give up a kidney
20:29What happens to you for the rest of your life?
20:31Stop telling me you'll be fine with one kidney
20:34You don't know that
20:38I won't allow it
20:39Do you hear me?
20:41I won't allow it
20:43My tears fell
20:44Sarah
20:44I won't allow it either
20:46When none of the Marchettis were around
20:48I packed my things and left the hospital
20:50I had nowhere to go
20:51And I didn't want the Marchettis to find me
20:53I couldn't even book a flight
20:54Rent a car
20:55Or check into a hotel under my own name
20:57Enzo had people in every system
20:59The second my name showed up
21:00The Marchettis would know
21:01I called a car outside the hospital
21:03Paid cash
21:04Told the driver to keep heading east
21:06Sacramento
21:06A city I'd never been to before
21:08I'd always planned to pay back every dollar
21:10The Marchettis ever spent on me
21:12But now, clearly
21:13That wasn't going to happen
21:14I'd owe the Marchetti family for the rest of my life
21:17I found a tiny studio on a quiet side street
21:19Off Craigslist
21:20Cheap rent
21:21Everything old
21:22To make myself feel somewhat normal
21:23I got a job at a flower shop wrapping bouquets
21:26The owner was a Mexican lady in her 60s
21:28She didn't ask many questions
21:29She just looked at me once
21:31And told me to come in at 9 the next morning
21:33The hours weren't long
21:34Six hours a day
21:35Not hard work
21:36But every time I came back to that little studio
21:38I felt so alone
21:42Valentine's Day
21:43The flower shop was slammed until late
21:45By the time I clocked out
21:46It was almost midnight
21:47Sacramento at night was dead quiet
21:49The last bus was long gone
21:51All I could do was walk
21:52But on the way
21:53I kept feeling like someone was behind me
21:55Up ahead was a narrow stretch with no streetlights
21:58No one around
21:59I walked faster
22:00And faster
22:00Eventually
22:01I broke into a jog
22:02But the footsteps behind me
22:04Face sped up too
22:05I panicked
22:05Tripped
22:06Hit the ground
22:07I could feel someone coming toward me
22:08I screamed
22:09Scrambling backward
22:10Headlines started flooding my brain
22:12Rape
22:12Murder
22:13Body found three days later in a ditch
22:15A hand raised around my wrist
22:17No!
22:19Please let me go!
22:20Please!
22:21I'm sick
22:22I really am
22:23I don't have money
22:25Please!
22:26Leave me alone!
22:28Help!
22:30I kicked and hid at whoever was in front of me
22:32Then someone pulled me in
22:33Held me tight
22:33No
22:35No
22:35No
22:36It's me
22:37That scent came back
22:38Tobacco and woody cologne
22:39In the darkness it surrounded me completely
22:41I froze for one second
22:43Then I broke down crying
22:46Dante held me while I fell apart
22:48And couldn't get a single word out
22:49After a long time
22:51I pulled myself free and went back to the little studio
22:53I didn't know how Dante found me here
22:55I didn't want to know why he came
22:57In our past life he hated me
22:59So why?
22:59Over the next few days
23:00Dante was just there
23:02Following me
23:03He didn't talk
23:04Didn't explain
23:05Didn't get too close
23:06He was just there
23:07When I went to work at the flower shop
23:09He sat in the cafe across the street
23:12Pretending to look at his phone
23:13When I walked home after my shift
23:15He trailed half a block behind
23:17I didn't want to deal with it
23:18Didn't want to ask
23:19But the shop owner noticed
23:20She glanced out the window at Dante
23:22Sitting in the cafe
23:24Then looked back at me
23:28Boyfriend trouble?
23:29I didn't answer
23:30Just walked out in silence
23:31I just didn't want anything to do with the Marchettis anymore
23:33One time Dante showed up outside my building again
23:37I couldn't help it
23:38I walked up to him
23:40Let me go
23:41Clean
23:42Is that too much to ask?
23:43Something shifted in his eyes
23:44Not anger
23:45Something heavier than anger
23:46Nola
23:49I'm sorry
23:51My condition was deteriorating fast
23:53The next time I ended up in the ICU
23:55I was transferred back to New York
23:56Sarah was at my bedside again
23:58She held my hand
23:59Forehead pressed against the back of it
24:01Her shoulders were shaking
24:03Nora, please
24:05Let me do this
24:06Let me save you
24:08Please
24:09She looked up at me
24:10Eyes so swollen from crying
24:11She could barely keep them open
24:13You're my sister
24:14Do you hear me?
24:17You're my sister
24:18That was the first time Sarah ever said that
24:20I held her hand weakly
24:21Shook my head
24:22I was happy she said it
24:23But no matter how many times she did
24:24I couldn't let Sarah give me her kidney
24:26Before
24:26The reason I refused was because I couldn't bear it
24:29What if
24:29What if something happened to Sarah because of me?
24:31I couldn't imagine how the Marchettis would treat me then
24:33But now
24:34My reason was different
24:35I just couldn't ruin the rest of Sarah's life
24:37She was still young
24:38She'd only been back in this family for a few years
24:40Losing a kidney
24:41No one knew what that would mean for her future
24:45Gianna had aged so much during this time
24:47The elegant matriarch of the family
24:49Now the lines around her eyes had deepened overnight
24:51I knew she had regrets
24:53Because after that fight
24:54Sarah still refused to speak to her
24:55She probably thought she'd failed as a mother
24:57An adoptive one at least
24:58That her selfishness was the reason my condition got this bad
25:01But I never blamed Gianna
25:02Not really
25:02Because I knew
25:03It wasn't just Sarah who got tested
25:05Gianna did too
25:05She just wasn't a match
25:07And she never told anyone she tried
25:10Just when everyone was about to lose hope
25:12We got a call from the hospital
25:16I made an excuse
25:17Said there was a shipment issue on the west coast
25:19Had to fly out and handle it
25:20Mom gave me hell for it
25:21Said Nola had finally found a kidney donor
25:23Surgery was right around the corner
25:25And I, her brother
25:26Couldn't even be bothered to care
25:27You remember Sarah's birthday every single year
25:30Every single year
25:31But Nola's?
25:32You've never once remembered
25:33She's your sister too
25:35But you're the only one in this family
25:37Who's always treated her like an outsider
25:38The truth was
25:39I just didn't know how to face Nola
25:41Every time I looked at her
25:42I thought of our past life
25:43Thought about what I did to her
25:44Of course I knew
25:45Sarah's death in our past life
25:46Had nothing to do with Nola
25:47Not one bit
25:48But back then
25:48We were all drowning in grief
25:50Too blind to think straight
25:51So I watched Nola get bullied
25:52Humiliated
25:53Over and over
25:54And I clenched my jaw
25:55And pretended I didn't see
25:56Like that would somehow make her hurt
25:58The way I hurt
25:58Sarah was dead
25:59Nola should have been in pain too
26:00I even said cruel things to her face
26:02More than once
26:03Until the night of that family dinner
26:04When someone slipped something into Nola's drink
26:08I noticed her glass had been tampered with
26:10I went after her immediately
26:11But what I didn't expect
26:12The moment Nola saw me
26:13She held onto me
26:14And wouldn't let go
26:15I lost control
26:16That was the first time
26:17I ever completely lost it
26:18I knew what I felt for her
26:19Was more than what a brother should feel
26:21I'd been suppressing it
26:22For over a decade
26:23I kept it buried
26:23That night
26:24It all came crashing down
26:25After that night
26:26The regret hit
26:27When I found out Nola was pregnant
26:29I pushed her away
26:30Truly
26:30I knew the Vicaris had been watching us
26:32Looking for a weak point
26:33But I still turned my back
26:34And walked away
26:35It wasn't until she was dead
26:36That I realized what I really was
26:37A complete and utter piece of shit
26:41In this life
26:42I brought Sarah back
26:43And I brought Nola back too
26:44I thought I was making things right
26:45But slowly
26:46I started to realize
26:47Nola didn't seem happy
26:48It's not like I didn't notice
26:49Back at the group home
26:50She was already hiding from us
26:52But I told myself
26:53The Marchetti family
26:53Could give her a better life
26:55Besides
26:55In our past life
26:56We owe her
26:56So in this life
26:57When Nola wanted to go to public school
26:59I convinced the family to let her
27:00When she wanted to go somewhere
27:02Five and a half hours away by plane
27:03I convinced them again
27:04What Nola didn't know
27:05During her two years in San Francisco
27:07I flew out to see her more than once
27:09The lecture halls
27:10The library
27:10Even outside her dorm
27:11Every time I parked a block away
27:13Baseball cap on
27:14A jacket that didn't look like mine
27:15I never let myself get close
27:17When people around me asked where I was going
27:19I said business
27:20No one dared push it
27:21Until that Christmas
27:22When Sarah insisted on going to see Nola
27:24I went with it
27:25And the Vicaris showed up
27:26That bullet was meant for Sarah
27:27Nola threw herself in front of it
27:29I watched her life all off a clip
27:30Right in front of me
27:31I saw how mom fought against Sarah donating a kidney
27:34I also saw how mom quietly got tested herself
27:36And dragged dad into it too
27:37Neither matched
27:38I went and got tested on my own
27:40My kidney was a match for Nola
27:43I went into the operating room first
27:45Before they wheeled me in
27:46I saw the door to another OR down the hall
27:48The light above it was on
27:49She was behind that door
27:50I knew
27:51Before surgery I stopped the doctor
27:52Take care of her
27:53Whatever it takes
27:54The surgery was a success
27:55I was transferred to a different hospital to recover
27:57My family was thrilled
27:58Messages came in one after another
27:59The surgery went well
28:01Nola's numbers were improving
28:02No one knew whose kidney it was
28:04Later Nola went back to San Francisco to finish school
28:06And me
28:07I actually found that missing a kidney didn't really change my life
28:10If it weren't for the scar
28:11I'd sometimes forget there was something missing inside me
28:13Once I healed up
28:14I fell back into old habits
28:15Flying out to San Francisco to see Nola
28:17I knew her grades were good
28:18Knew she got into a prestigious research lab her senior year
28:21One time I saw Nola walk out of the school gates
28:23There was a man beside her
28:25The two of them
28:25Walking close
28:26Nola's eyes
28:27That look she had
28:28Shy
28:29A smile she couldn't hold back
28:31I'd never seen her smile like that
28:32Not once
28:32Not at me
28:33Not at anyone in our family
28:35Never
28:35And it hurt so bad I couldn't breathe
28:36I thought
28:37Maybe during that surgery the doctors made a mistake
28:39Gave Nola half my heart along with the kidney
28:41Why else would it hurt this much?
28:44I met someone at school
28:45Luca Caldwell
28:46The first time I noticed him was in the research lab
28:49He was sitting at the bench across from mine
28:51A book spread open in front of him
28:52One I happened to be reading too
28:54He didn't look like the other guys
28:56Not the deliberately messy
28:57I don't care type
28:59Not the trying too hard polish type either
29:01Just clean
29:02White t-shirt
29:03A worn leather watch strap on his wrist
29:05The first time we spoke was because he borrowed my highlighter
29:11Thanks
29:11He smiled a little when he handed it back
29:14A light smile
29:15No edge to it
29:16After that we kept running into each other in the lab
29:19He didn't talk much
29:20But every time he spoke to me
29:21He'd really look at me
29:23Not the way Dante looked at me
29:24The kind that made you want to run
29:26This was the kind that made you feel like every word you said was actually heard
29:31One night I stayed late in the lab finishing something due
29:34Everyone else had left
29:36Just the two of us
29:37He stood up
29:38I thought he was leaving
29:40Instead
29:40He pulled a sandwich out of his bag
29:42And set it on my desk
29:44You didn't eat lunch today
29:46I blinked
29:48How would you know?
29:50Because you were in here the whole time
29:51He didn't explain further
29:53Grabbed his bag and left
29:55That night
29:56Walking back to the dorm alone
29:58I realized I was smiling
29:59It had been a long, long time since that happened
30:04Luca never asked about my past
30:06He didn't ask why I always ate alone
30:08Didn't ask why I'd slip to the end of the hallway whenever certain calls came in
30:11One time we were reading on the campus lawn
30:13I was wearing a slightly shorter top
30:15When I sat down
30:16It might have ridden up a little
30:17His gaze brushed past it
30:19Just one second
30:21Then he said nothing
30:22Just handed me his jacket
30:24Getting windy
30:25That was all
30:26Luca pursued me slowly
30:27Not the overwhelming roses and proposal kind of loud
30:31It was a coffee that appeared on my bench
30:32Every time he came to our lab to drop off data
30:35It was me staying late in the lab
30:36Pushing the door open
30:38And finding him leaned against the hallway wall
30:40I was passing by
30:41It was one time it rained
30:42And I didn't have an umbrella
30:43He ran over from god knows where
30:45Completely soaked
30:46Holding an umbrella in his hand
30:48He was out of breath
30:49You didn't pick up
30:50I looked at him
30:51Rain dripping down his forehead
30:52White shirt drenched
30:54Clinging to his body
30:55He wasn't angry
30:56Just looked at me and smiled
30:57Pick up next time
30:59I said okay
31:01That night
31:02I said yes
31:06After Luca and I got together
31:07I suddenly understood something
31:09Being liked by someone
31:10It could be this easy
31:11He didn't make me guess
31:12Didn't make me wonder if I'd done something wrong
31:14Didn't make me replay a single word
31:16Or look of his over and over in the middle of the night
31:19He never once made me feel like I was something to be hated
31:21That December, Sarah called
31:23Nola, you're coming home for Christmas this year
31:25Non-negotiable
31:26Sarah
31:26Don't even start
31:27I don't care
31:28Three years in a row you haven't come back
31:30If you skip again this year
31:31I'm flying to San Francisco
31:32And dragging you home myself
31:33I was quiet for a second
31:35Okay
31:37Really?
31:38You said yes?
31:40You actually said yes!
31:41Yeah
31:42I hung up and looked at Luca beside me
31:44I'm going back to New York for Christmas
31:46Home
31:47He smiled
31:48That's great
31:49I hesitated
31:50Do you want to come with me?
31:52He looked at me
31:53That look so gentle
31:55You sure?
31:57Yeah
31:57I want them to meet you
31:59Three days before Christmas
32:00We landed at JFK
32:02Sarah was holding a handmade sign
32:04With a crooked little heart drawn on it
32:05The second she saw me
32:06She screamed and ran over
32:08Then she noticed Luca beside me
32:09Oh my god, Nola?
32:11Before I could even introduce him
32:12I heard a sound behind me
32:13An engine cutting off
32:14A black escalade parked at the curb
32:16The door opened
32:17Dante stepped out
32:18His gaze passed over Sarah
32:19Passed over me
32:20Landed on Luca
32:21The air froze
32:23Dante looked at Luca for a full three seconds
32:26Didn't speak
32:26No expression
32:27Just looked
32:28Then he pulled his gaze away
32:29And walked towards Sarah
32:30Get in the car
32:32Dante, didn't you see Noah brought-
32:33I saw
32:34He opened the back door
32:35Waited
32:36On the drive back to Long Island
32:37Luca and I sat in the third row of the escalade
32:39Sarah was in the second row
32:41Twisting around to stare at us the whole time
32:43Eyes full of gossip
32:44Dante didn't say a single word
32:46But I could feel his gaze in the rear view mirror
32:48Not angled at the road
32:49When we pulled up to the estate
32:51Gianna was already waiting at the door
32:52She paused when she saw Luca
32:54But smiled quickly
32:55Noah didn't tell me she was bringing a friend home
32:57Sarah beat me to it
32:58Boyfriend
32:59Gianna's smile deepened
33:00Even better
33:01Come inside, it's cold out
33:02Dinner was Gianna's Christmas Eve Italian feast
33:05Luca sat to my left
33:06Dante sat across from me
33:08The entire meal
33:09Luca was polite
33:09Composed
33:10He answered every one of Gianna's questions
33:14Jeanette
33:15Complimented the food
33:16Poured wine for Sarah
33:17Dante said nothing
33:18Just ate
33:19Glanced up every now and then
33:21Every time he did
33:22It was the exact moment
33:23Luca was smiling at me
33:27I know
33:28Luca's tone was even
33:29I already got her water
33:31He had
33:31The wine glass in front of me
33:33Had been swapped for a water glass
33:34I didn't even notice when he did it
33:36Dante's gaze landed on that glass of water
33:38Lingered for one second
33:39And he stood up
33:40And left the table
33:42After dinner
33:43Luca went to the guest room
33:44To drop off his bags
33:46Sarah pulled Gianna into conversation
33:48I stood alone in the hallway
33:50Heading back to my room
33:51Nola
33:52Behind me
33:53I turned around
33:54Dante was standing at the other end of the hallway
33:56Backlit
33:57I couldn't make out his expression
33:58He walked toward me
34:00Every step slow
34:01I stepped back instinctively
34:03My back hit the wall
34:05He leaned in closer
34:08Does he know where that scar on your body came from?
34:12My breath caught
34:14Does he know why you can't drink?
34:16I didn't answer
34:17That last one
34:17His voice was so low
34:19Almost just a breath
34:20Does he know whose kidney you're carrying?
34:23I clenched my fists
34:24That's none of your business
34:25He looked at me
34:26That look
34:27Dark
34:28Heavy
34:28Like it could swallow me whole
34:30None of my business
34:32His hand came up
34:33Fingertips touched the side of my face
34:35Just a touch
34:36So light
34:36It might not have happened at all
34:38Then he turned and walked away
34:39I stood there
34:40Heart pounding so hard
34:43It scared me
34:44That night
34:45I couldn't sleep
34:46Luca was right next door in the guest room
34:49But all I could think about was that moment in the hallway
34:52Dante's fingertips
34:53The warmth on the side of my face
34:55That look
34:56I forced my eyes shut
34:57At some point
34:58I fell asleep
35:00In the dream
35:01I was back on that night when I was 18
35:03The family dinner
35:05Crystal chandeliers
35:07A room full of noise
35:12I pushed open a door
35:14Dante was inside
35:16Shirt collar undone
35:18Eyes red
35:19He looked at me
35:20Then he stood up
35:23And walked toward me
35:25In the dream he didn't say
35:26You make me sick
35:28He pressed me against the door
35:32Forehead against mine
35:34His breath scalding
35:37Do you know how long I've waited
35:38The moment his lips touched mine
35:41I jolted awake
35:433am
35:44Heart slamming
35:47Drenched in sweat
35:52I stared at the ceiling
35:53A wave of self-hatred washed over me
35:59The next morning
36:00I ran into Dante in the kitchen
36:02He was leaning against the espresso machine
36:04Black coffee in hand
36:05His eyes flicked over me
36:07When I walked in
36:07Luca was already up
36:08Sitting at the table
36:09With a plate of Gianna's cannoli
36:11In front of him
36:11Morning
36:13He smiled at me
36:14Pulling out the chair beside him
36:15Like it was the most natural thing
36:17In the world
36:17I sat down
36:18Dante carried his coffee over
36:20And sat across from me
36:21No one spoke
36:22Sarah came bounding down the stairs
36:24And broke the silence
36:27Luca
36:28What's your major?
36:29She was leaning over the table
36:30Chin propped on both hands
36:32Eyes bright
36:33And locked on him
36:34C.S.?
36:35Luca said
36:36Doing some computational modeling stuff
36:38And after graduation?
36:39Might do my own thing
36:40Start a company?
36:42Sarah perked up
36:43What kind?
36:45Luca smiled
36:46Still figuring it out
36:47He said it so lightly
36:48Like he really was just another college kid
36:51Without a plan yet
36:52But that afternoon
36:53I happened to walk past Enzo's study
36:55The door wasn't fully shut
36:57I heard Enzo's voice
36:58Low
36:59Caldwell
36:59Have you looked into that name?
37:01Then Dante's voice
37:02Yeah
37:02And?
37:03Two seconds of silence
37:05Clean
37:06Strangely clean
37:07I didn't stay to listen
37:09Walked away fast
37:11Christmas day
37:12A dinner at the Marchetti estate
37:14Was never just a meal
37:15The long table stretched
37:16From the dining room
37:17Into the living room
37:18Over twenty people
37:19Some faces I recognized
37:20Uncles
37:21Cousins from the family
37:23Others I'd never seen before
37:24Men in dark suits
37:25Women in gowns
37:26The fireplace burning high
37:28Luca wore a simple black turtleneck
37:30With a grey blazer over it
37:31He stood among the crowd
37:32Not conspicuous
37:33But impossible to overlook
37:35A few family members glanced his way
37:37Eyes lingering for a second or two
37:38That appraising look of who are you
37:40Luca didn't look uncomfortable
37:41Not once
37:42He chatted with Gianna easily
37:44Passed wine
37:45Picked up conversations
37:46Smiled at just the right moments
37:48Neither too humble nor too eager
37:50Like he'd done this a hundred times before
37:52Halfway through dinner
37:53Enzo stood and raised his glass
37:54To family
37:55Everyone raised theirs
37:57And in that exact moment
37:58A deafening bang
37:59From the direction of the front hall
38:01Then a second
38:01A third
38:02Glass shattering
38:03Someone screaming
38:04Counterreacted faster than anyone
38:06Get down
38:07He grabbed Sarah beside him
38:09And shoved her under the table
38:10The room exploded
38:11Screams
38:12Chairs crash into the floor
38:14My body froze in place
38:15This scene
38:16The hell
38:16Again
38:17My hand seized my wrist
38:18And pulled me down hard
38:19Not Dante
38:20Luca
38:20He pressed me beneath him
38:21One hand cradling the back of my head
38:23His heartbeat against my back
38:25Steady
38:25So steady
38:26Not the heartbeat of someone afraid
38:28Don't move
38:29His voice right against my ear
38:31Low and deep
38:32Much stronger than usual
38:34That tone
38:35I'm here
38:35It didn't sound like an ordinary college student
38:39The chaos lasted less than two minutes
38:41Enzo's people had it under control
38:43A few men in black coats rushed in
38:45And pinned the intruders to the ground
38:47Vicari
38:47Again
38:48After it was over
38:49I got up from beneath Luca
38:51As he stood
38:51I caught his phone screen lighting up
38:53The caller ID
38:54No name
38:55Just a string of numbers
38:56He glanced at it
38:57Didn't pick up
38:57Flipped the phone face down
38:59Then he looked at me
39:00And he was the gentle Luca again
39:01You okay
39:02I nodded
39:02But I saw it
39:03In those few seconds of chaos
39:05The look in Luca's eyes wasn't fear
39:07It was assessment
39:07Calculation
39:08Control
39:09That look
39:10I'd seen it on one other person before
39:12Dante
39:12After the dinner
39:13The estate was in disarray all night
39:15Enzo locked himself in the study
39:16Family men coming and going
39:17No one slept
39:18Sarah was taken upstairs by Gianna
39:20Her face was white
39:21I knew what she was thinking
39:22The last bullet had been Vicari's too
39:24Luca stayed with me the whole time
39:26We sat at the end of the second floor hallway
39:28Him leaning against the wall
39:30Me leaning against his shoulder
39:31His hand resting on the back of mine
39:33Thumb brushing back and forth
39:35It was all quiet
39:37Were you scared?
39:38He asked
39:39No
39:39I said
39:39And I meant it
39:40When you've already died once
39:42Gunshots don't scare you that easily
39:43Luca
39:44Hmm?
39:45Just now you
39:46I wanted to ask
39:47But I didn't know how to start
39:48Why were you so calm?
39:50Why weren't your hands shaking?
39:51Who was that call from?
39:52He waited a moment
39:53I've seen this kind of thing before
39:54He said
39:55I looked up at him
39:56He didn't explain
39:57Just leaned down and pressed his lips to my forehead
40:00Barely a touch
40:01You don't have to be scared
40:02I'm here
40:03The next morning
40:05When I came downstairs
40:05I heard Enzo and Dante
40:07Talking outside the study door
40:08Enzo's voice was heavy
40:09Last night
40:10Someone intercepted the Vicari's second wave
40:13It wasn't our people
40:14Dante was quiet for a second
40:15It was Caldwell
40:16You're sure?
40:17His men showed up on the perimeter
40:19Of the estate
40:20At least four of them
40:20Enzo's voice dropped even lower
40:22So low I could barely hear
40:24Who the hell is this kid?
40:26I stood at the turn of the staircase
40:27Palms drenched
40:28Luca Caldwell
40:29Who are you?
40:31The day after Christmas
40:32Long Island got buried in snow
40:34The entire estate was covered in white
40:36A layer of frost clung to the M on the iron gate
40:39Luca was standing by the window on the phone
40:41His back was to me
40:42Voice low
40:42I only caught one word
40:43Handled
40:44He hung up
40:44Turned around
40:45And saw me standing in the doorway
40:46Not a trace of panic on his face
40:48Morning
40:49Luca
40:49Hmm?
40:52Last night those men
40:53Were they yours?
40:55He looked at me for two seconds
40:56You heard
40:57Not a question
40:57I didn't say anything
40:58He walked over and stood in front of me
41:00My family's in investing
41:02Fairly large scale
41:03We keep a low profile
41:04So you have armed personnel?
41:06Security team
41:07He corrected me gently
41:08In our line of work you make enemies
41:10Having a few people around is normal
41:11It all sounded perfectly reasonable
41:13But my gut told me he wasn't telling me everything
41:15Before I could push further
41:17Nola
41:17End of the hallway
41:18Dante
41:18Leaning against the wall
41:19Hands in his pockets
41:20He was looking at Luca
41:21Mind if we have a word Mr. Caldwell
41:23Not the tone of a request
41:24Luca smiled
41:25Of course
41:26They walked into the study
41:27The door closed
41:27I stood in the hallway
41:28Heart racing
41:29Through that door
41:30Couldn't hear a thing
41:31But three minutes later
41:32It opened
41:32Luca came out first
41:33Expression unchanged
41:35Dante followed
41:35Face dark
41:36When he passed me
41:37He stopped
41:38His lips moved
41:39Like he wanted to say something
41:40In the end
41:41He said nothing
41:41Went straight upstairs
41:42I looked at Luca
41:44What did he say?
41:45Luca looked at me
41:45One second of silence
41:48He asked if I was worthy
41:49Of standing beside you
41:51What did you say?
41:52The corner of Luca's mouth
41:53Lifted just slightly
41:54I said
41:55Maybe he should ask himself
41:57That first
41:59The day before New Year's
42:01Luca flew back to San Francisco
42:02Early
42:02At the airport
42:03He held me for a long time
42:05Before he left
42:05Be safe going back
42:06Call me if anything comes up
42:07I nodded
42:08When he let go
42:08His thumb grazed my cheekbone
42:10I'll be waiting for you
42:11He walked into the security line
42:12Didn't look back
42:13But he left that feeling of safety
42:15Hanging in the air
42:16Still there even after he was gone
42:18So different from Dante
42:19Dante's presence was overwhelming
42:21When he was there
42:22You couldn't ignore him
42:23When he wasn't
42:24You still couldn't
42:24Luca's presence was
42:25Easy
42:26Like sunlight coming through a window
42:28Not burning
42:29Just warm
42:29The day after Luca left
42:31I was helping Gianna clean up the kitchen
42:33Sarah was curled up on the couch
42:34Scrolling her phone
42:35When she suddenly sat up
42:36Noya come look at this
42:38She held her phone out to me
42:39On the screen was a Forbes article
42:41Long headline
42:42But I only caught two things
42:44Caldwell
42:44And a number
42:45A lot of zeros
42:45Isn't that your boyfriend's last name?
42:47Sarah's eyes were wide
42:48I stared at the article
42:49Caldwell family office
42:51Spanning tech
42:52Energy
42:52Real estate
42:53Family assets
42:54I didn't finish reading
42:55I handed the phone back to Sarah
42:56Probably just the same last name
42:58But my hands were shaking
43:01After New Year's
43:02I went back to San Francisco
43:04Life seemed to go back to normal
43:05Lab
43:06Classes
43:07Luca
43:08But something had shifted
43:09I started noticing things
43:10I'd overlooked before
43:11Luca never talked about his family
43:13His apartment looked ordinary
43:15But it was in Pacific Heights
43:16One of the most expensive neighborhoods
43:18In San Francisco
43:19That worn leather watch strap of his
43:21I leaned in close once
43:23The logo on the dial
43:24Patek Philippe
43:25The old Volvo he drove
43:26I happened to catch a document
43:27On the back seat
43:28The letterhead read
43:29Caldwell family office
43:31I didn't ask
43:32Just like he never asked
43:33About my past
43:34I didn't poke at his
43:35Maybe we were both people hiding scars
43:37His were just covered with money
43:39February
43:39Late one night
43:40Sarah called
43:41She was crying
43:43Nola
43:43Something happened to Dante
43:45My blood went cold
43:46What?
43:47He was in a car accident
43:49North shore of Long Island
43:50He's at the hospital now
43:51I gripped my phone
43:52Knuckles white
43:53How bad is it?
43:54Sarah was crying
43:55Too hard to speak
43:56Gianna took over the phone
43:57Her voice was steady
43:58But I could tell it was
43:59The kind of steady
44:00New force
44:01Nola
44:01You don't need to come back
44:02He's not in danger
44:03I
44:04Surgery's already done
44:05He's in the ICU
44:07For observations
44:08Surgery?
44:09Gianna was quiet for a second
44:10The impact to his abdomen
44:12Was too severe
44:13The doctor said
44:14She stopped
44:14Said what?
44:15He only has one kidney
44:16Nola
44:18The injury was too close to it
44:20I heard the words
44:21But my brain refused to process them
44:22He only has one kidney
44:24Why?
44:25Why does Dante only have one kidney?
44:29I booked the next red eye
44:30Back to New York
44:31Five and a half hours
44:32I didn't sleep a single second
44:34After landing
44:34I took a cab straight to the hospital
44:36Four a.m. hallway lights
44:38Pale and harsh
44:39Sarah was curled up on a bench
44:41Outside the room
44:41He's stable
44:42Just got moved from ICU
44:44To a regular room
44:45Can I go in and see him?
44:47But she didn't cry
44:48He's still asleep
44:49I just want to look
44:51That's all
44:52She didn't stop me
44:53I pushed the door open
44:54Dante was lying in the hospital bed
44:56Face white
44:57Lips drained of color
44:58Tubes in his arm
44:59The heart monitor beeping
45:00In steady rhythm
45:01His hospital gown was loose
45:03At the collar
45:03An old scar above his collarbone
45:05My eyes moved lower
45:06The gown had been left partly open
45:08I saw it
45:09His left abdomen
45:09A long, healed, surgical scar
45:11My knees gave out
45:13I grabbed the edge of the bed
45:14That kidney
45:14The one I thought came from an anonymous donor
45:16The one that kept me alive
45:17It was his
45:18I crouched beside his bed
45:20Hand pressed over my mouth
45:21Tears hit the hospital floor
45:22He was asleep
45:23He didn't know a thing
45:24And I was right there beside him
45:28I don't know how long I crouched there beside his bed
45:31My tears dried up
45:32Knees gone numb
45:34The heart monitor beeped on
45:36Then he woke up
45:38Not the slow, drifting open kind
45:41It was instant
45:42Like he sensed something
45:44He turned his head
45:45Saw me
45:46I was still on the ground
45:48Eyes swollen
45:49A mess
45:50He didn't ask how I got here
45:52Didn't ask why I was crying
45:55He just looked at me
45:56Then reached out
45:58Fingertips touched my face
46:00Light as that time in the hallway
46:02You came
46:02Your kidney
46:04My voice was shaking
46:05It was yours, wasn't it?
46:08His hand stayed on my face
46:10Why didn't you tell me?
46:11He didn't pull it back
46:12What difference would it make?
46:13He didn't deny it either
46:16Would you have accepted it?
46:17I couldn't speak
46:18He looked at me
46:19Eyes heavy
46:20You wouldn't have
46:22You would have said no
46:24You would have run
46:26Just like you always do
46:27I clenched my fists
46:31So you just kept it from me?
46:34Yeah
46:35He said it softly
46:36Without a second of hesitation
46:39I kept it from you
46:42I don't regret it
46:43My chest felt like someone had it in a fist
46:46Squeezing until it hurt
46:47I stood up
46:48Tried to step back
46:49But he caught my wrist
46:51He shouldn't have had any strength
46:53Just out of surgery
46:54Abdomen still wrapped in gauze
46:56But his grip was tight
46:58He pulled me forward
46:59I lost my balance
47:00One hand landing on the pillow beside his head
47:04Our faces were so close
47:06Close enough to see the shadows on his lashes
47:08And to feel his breath land on my lips
47:11His gaze dropped from my eyes to my mouth
47:13Do you know how long I've waited?
47:15The exact same words from the dream
47:17My mind went blank
47:18His lips grazed the corner of my mouth
47:21Not a kiss
47:21Something worse than a kiss
47:23A test
47:24A crack breaking through
47:26After holding back for too long
47:27My heart was pounding so hard
47:29I thought it would burst
47:30His hand slid from my wrist
47:31To the back of my neck
47:32Fingers threading into my hair
47:34I closed my eyes
47:35And I snapped them open
47:37No
47:37This isn't right
47:38We're free from his hand
47:40Stepped back
47:41His hand hung in the air
47:42We stared at each other
47:44There was so much in his eyes
47:45Pain
47:46Want
47:47And something I'd never once seen
47:49On Dante Marchetti's face before
47:51Vulnerability
47:52But I still turned around
47:53Pushed the door open
47:54Walked out
47:55The hallway was quiet
47:56Lights pale and harsh
47:58I leaned against the wall
47:59My legs barely holding
48:00The warmth of his breath
48:02Still lingering at the corner of my mouth
48:03Closed my eyes
48:04Hated myself
48:06More than after that wet dream
48:08After I came back from the hospital
48:10I stayed on Long Island for three more days
48:13Not because I wanted to
48:14Sarah wouldn't let me leave
48:16You just got into trouble
48:17And you're flying back right away?
48:19Do you really not want to stay with us?
48:21I didn't explain
48:22Dante was discharged
48:23Back at the estate
48:24He didn't come find me
48:26I didn't go find him either
48:27But that night
48:28The scar
48:29Those words
48:30The warmth of his lips
48:31Brushing the corner of my mouth
48:33I hadn't forgotten a single second of it
48:35On the third day
48:36Luca flew here
48:37He didn't tell me ahead of time
48:38I opened the front door of the estate
48:40And he was just standing there
48:41Grey coat
48:42Scarf draped loosely
48:44I looked at him
48:44He smiled
48:46Gentle
48:46Same as always
48:47I'll come pick you up
48:48And take you back
48:49I couldn't speak
48:50You didn't answer my calls
48:52And I was worried sick
48:53I just walked over
48:54And buried my face in his coat
48:55His hand came up to the back of my head
48:57He didn't ask questions
48:58That evening
48:59Luca was in the living room
49:00Chatting with Sarah
49:02I went to the kitchen for water
49:04Passing the study
49:05The door was open
49:07Dante was inside
49:08Standing by the window
49:09He saw me walk by
49:11Nola
49:12I stopped
49:14I don't know why
49:15I walked in
49:18So you're just gonna act like nothing happened?
49:22Dante
49:22He took a step toward me
49:24You know now
49:25You know everything
49:27So what?
49:28You go back and live your nice little life with that guy?
49:30He has a name
49:31I don't care what his name is
49:33His voice dropped low
49:34Nola, do you have any idea
49:37That child
49:39The one you were carrying?
49:40My blood went cold
49:41I think about it every day
49:42If I hadn't walked away
49:43If I hadn't pulled everyone off you
49:45Stop
49:45It would have been born
49:47Grown up
49:48Could have been calling me dad by now
49:50Could have
49:50I said stop, stop
49:52My voice came out louder than I expected
49:54He went still
49:55We stared at each other
49:56Then a soft sound at the study door
49:58Leather shoes on hardwood
49:59I turned my head
50:00Luca stood in the doorway
50:01His expression hadn't changed
50:03But his eyes
50:03And I'd never seen that look before
50:05Not anger
50:06Not hurt
50:06It was the kind of calm
50:07That comes when something suddenly clicks into place
50:09He looked at me
50:10Then at Dante
50:11Then he spoke quietly
50:12Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt
50:13He turned and walked away
50:15His footsteps were steady
50:16Didn't speed up
50:16But I knew
50:17Something had just broken
50:20Luca didn't ask me
50:21That night
50:22He said nothing
50:22We sat together in the living room
50:24Sarah was watching a movie beside us
50:26Gianna was in the kitchen
50:27Everything looked normal
50:28But he didn't rest his hand on the back of mine
50:31Like he always did
50:32Didn't lean in with a smile
50:33And whisper something random in my ear
50:35Like he always did
50:36He just sat beside me
50:37Quiet
50:38Not the Luca kind of quiet
50:39The easy kind
50:40This was a glass wall
50:42After the movie ended
50:43Sarah yawned and went upstairs
50:45The living room was left with nothing but the flicker of the fireplace
50:48We sat side by side
50:50Ten centimeters between us
50:52There had never been those ten centimeters before
50:54Luca?
50:58Not tonight
50:59He cut me off
51:00Voice soft
51:01Tomorrow
51:01His gaze was on the fire
51:03Fire light shifting across his profile
51:05Quiet
51:05But I saw his hand
51:07The one resting on his knee
51:09Knuckles tightening
51:10That was the first time I'd ever seen restraint on Luca
51:12He was always relaxed
51:14Always warm
51:15Always the person who made me feel like nothing could go wrong
51:17But right now
51:18He was holding back
51:20I knew what he was holding back from
51:21That child
51:22Those three words Dante said
51:24To Luca
51:25Those three words meant
51:27Between Dante and me
51:28There was a past he would never be able to understand
51:30Not a fling
51:32Not old feelings
51:33A child
51:36That night
51:37I went and knocked on his guest room door
51:39He opened it
51:44Saw me
51:45Expression unchanged
51:46Come in
51:51Luca, what you heard today
51:53That child
51:53He spoke
51:54Voice flat
51:54The child he was talking about
51:56What did he mean?
51:57My breath caught
51:57I walked in
51:58Did something happen between you two?
52:00I opened my mouth
52:01I couldn't tell him about the past life
52:03No one would believe it
52:04Saying it out loud would only make me sound insane
52:06That was a long time ago
52:07How long?
52:09A long time
52:10He looked at me
52:11Those eyes
52:12So clear
52:13Clear enough to make you feel guilty
52:17I'm not gonna force you to explain
52:19He said
52:19But I need to know one thing
52:22He stepped closer
52:25Do you still love him?
52:26I could hear my own heartbeat
52:27I don't know
52:28I meant it
52:29Maybe it was the cruelest answer I could have given
52:31I don't know
52:32Is more hopeless than yes
52:34Because yes
52:35Is at least an answer
52:36I don't know
52:37Thank you for not lying to me
52:39Means I'm still caught in it
52:40Luca looked at me for a long time
52:42I won't pressure you to choose
52:44The next morning Luca booked a flight back to San Francisco
52:46Before he left
52:47He stood at the front door of the estate looking at me
52:50Figure it out
52:51Then come find me
52:54Whatever the answer is I'll take it
52:56Coat collar turned up
52:57Breath turning to white fog in the cold air
53:00His thumb grazed my cheekbone one last time
53:02The same motion as the very first time
53:04Gentle
53:05Steady
53:06Then he got in the car
53:07Didn't look back
53:07This time
53:08After he left
53:09There was nothing in the air
53:10Not like Dante
53:11After Dante left
53:12His traces lingered
53:13Tobacco
53:13Cologne
53:14That gaze in the rearview mirror
53:16That brush across the corner of my mouth
53:18I stood in the doorway
53:18Palms cold
53:19And suddenly realized
53:21Why do I always compare him to Dante?
53:25I stood at the door crying like a lunatic
53:27For a long time
53:28Then I turned around and saw Dante
53:30Long Island had cleared up for once
53:32The snow was half melted
53:33He looked so much thinner
53:35I was about to go back inside
53:36Nola
53:37I stopped
53:38I have something for you
53:39He pulled an envelope from his pocket
53:41Took two steps toward me
53:43And held it out
53:43I didn't take it
53:44What is it?
53:45Open it
53:45I hesitated
53:46Then took it
53:47Inside was a document
53:48A property transfer agreement
53:50Address in San Francisco
53:51Mission District
53:52A one bedroom apartment
53:53The name on it
53:55What is this supposed to mean?
53:57It's not Marchetti's
53:58It's under my personal name
54:00Nothing to do with the family
54:01His voice was flat
54:03You don't have to live in places you find on Craigslist anymore
54:06I gripped the document hard
54:08I don't want it
54:09I'm not asking you to want it
54:11It's yours
54:11Throw it away if you want
54:13I looked at him
54:13Those eyes
54:14Calm
54:15Nola
54:16This was the kind of calm that comes after a decision has already been made
54:19I'm not gonna hold you back anymore
54:21Go live your life
54:22With whoever you want
54:24Dante
54:25I owe you two lives
54:27One from our past life
54:29One for this life
54:30He pressed a hand to his left abdomen
54:32I won't cage you anymore
54:34He finished
54:34That day at the group home
54:36You smiled at me
54:38That was the most right decision I've ever made in my life
54:41And the most selfish
54:42Then he walked away
54:43I stood in the backyard
54:44The envelope trembled slightly in the wind
54:47My whole life
54:48I was always the one running
54:49He was always the one chasing
54:51Pinning me in place with his silence and his presence
54:53This was the first time
54:55He left first
54:56I thought I'd feel relieved
54:57But I stood there
54:58For a long, long time
55:00Unable to move a single step
55:04A week later
55:04I went back to San Francisco
55:06Life seemed to return to normal
55:07Lab
55:08Classes
55:09Alone
55:09Luca didn't reach out
55:10I didn't reach out either
55:11But things were happening quietly
55:13Those people I used to notice
55:14Standing on the corner
55:15Trailing half a block behind in a car
55:17They were gone
55:17The Marchetti people assigned to watch over me
55:19All of them
55:20Gone
55:20I assumed Dante had pulled them
55:22Until one day
55:22Nola, have you seen the news?
55:24What?
55:25The Vakiris
55:25FBI raided them
55:26Several members arrested
55:27Rico charges
55:29Dante did that?
55:30No
55:30Dad says it wasn't our people
55:32Someone fed evidence to the FBI
55:34But no one knows who
55:36I hung up
55:36A vague answer already forming in my mind
55:38That afternoon I got a text from Luca
55:40Short
55:40Free
55:41Want to see you
55:41Come to my place
55:42He'd never invited me to his home before
55:44Pacific Heights
55:45A white apartment building
55:46Top floor
55:47When the elevator doors opened
55:48I saw the Golden Gate Bridge
55:49Through the floor to ceiling windows
55:51Sunset had turned the entire bay orange
55:53Luca stood in the living room
55:54Wearing a simple white linen shirt
55:56But the space was anything but simple
55:58A painting on the wall
55:59I didn't know art
56:00But I could tell
56:00This didn't belong to a college student
56:02Want something to drink?
56:04Luca
56:04Hmm?
56:06The Vakari thing
56:07That was you
56:08Not a question
56:09Is it in?
56:10I never give up