- hace 10 horas
She Came Home to Rule (ENGL SUBT COMPLETE)
Categoría
📺
TVTranscripción
00:00Soy la única hija de la más febrada mafia dinámica en el mundo.
00:04Mi padres de adoptar me levantaron como una princesa,
00:06me enseñaron todo lo que quería y me enseñaron nunca a tolerar la disrespección.
00:12La primera vez que me regresé a mi familia biológica biológica,
00:16su hija de adoptar, Chloe, murió en la lluvia.
00:20Alessia, si no me quieres aquí, me voy a dejar.
00:26¿Cuánto es esta casa worth?
00:28¿About $50 millones?
00:31Dad, las almacenadas aquí son terrible.
00:35Buy me la casa next door.
00:40¿Qué estás haciendo?
00:41¿Vocas vino a casa y ya estás moviendo?
00:44¿Por qué me quedo aquí y hacer que me llame cuando puedo vivir next door?
00:49¿Por qué me importan de esta familia?
00:52Claro, pero estoy alergic de favoritismo.
00:55¡Vamos tan maldita!
01:01Esa es la manera de Maredi.
01:03Amarte, amarte, amarte, amarte, amarte, amarte, amarte, amarte, amarte, amarte.
01:21No, no, no, no, no, no, no, you don't know.
01:39La mujer me llamó a worthless orphan.
01:42La mamá apareció en la puerta con una bolsa de expensive wine.
01:46Cuidado.
01:47La Morettis no le da insultos lightly.
01:52Cuando tenía 10, mi padre me llevó a tomar dinero.
01:55El hombre le owed la Morettis $3,000,000.
01:58Era en sus pies antes de que pasara la puerta.
02:01Recuerda esto, princesa.
02:03Money puede ser ganado, pero disrespecimiento?
02:06Nunca let's survive la noche.
02:08So I learned young, talk first.
02:10If that fails, handle it like a Moretti.
02:19Either way, I never wasted time being upset.
02:23Then, when I turned 20, my biological family found me.
02:27Apparently, I'd been switched at birth.
02:29Their butler came to the Moretti estate himself.
02:33Miss Moretti, Mr. and Mrs. Hale would like you to come home as soon as possible.
02:36Dad was cleaning his gun nearby.
02:39His hands stopped.
02:40Mom slowly set down her coffee.
02:43Home?
02:45She is home.
02:47My apologies, Mrs. Moretti.
02:49I meant her biological parents would like her back.
02:54Is their food any good?
02:57If the food sucks, I'm not going.
02:59A Moretti doesn't suffer for anyone.
03:01Dad sighed and slipped a black card into my bag.
03:03Then he gestured to his men.
03:05Two guards carried over a heavy black weapons case and set it in front of me.
03:10Take it with you.
03:12If anyone gives you trouble, use these.
03:15Or call your father.
03:16Your father is never too busy for trouble.
03:19If that house doesn't feel like home, come back.
03:22A Moretti never begs anyone to love her.
03:24My eyes stung a little, but I smiled.
03:29Relax.
03:30I'm just going to inspect the family.
03:32And if they disappoint me, I'll return them.
03:39I looked back at the estate that had been my home for 20 years.
03:43The Hales could have billions,
03:45but money couldn't buy the confidence the Morettis had spent 20 years giving me.
03:49Two hours later, we stopped outside the Hale mansion.
03:56A massive gold fountain stood in front of towering marble columns.
03:59Did your decorator think more gold meant more class?
04:07Mom! Dad!
04:09Now that Alessia's back, should I leave?
04:12I stopped.
04:13Oh, so this was her game.
04:14Cute.
04:15The Morettis taught me better tricks before I turned 10.
04:18Four people were waiting in the living room.
04:20My biological parents, my biological brother,
04:22and Chloe, the girl they'd raised as their daughter for 20 years.
04:26Alessia?
04:27Hi.
04:28She froze.
04:29Apparently, she expected more.
04:31Alessia, we're glad you're home,
04:33but you need to understand something.
04:35Chloe may not be our biological daughter,
04:37but we've loved her for 20 years.
04:40I understand.
04:41She visibly relaxed, and my biological father spoke.
04:43So don't come in here trying to take her place.
04:45We won't treat you unfairly,
04:47but you will not bully Chloe.
04:50Got it.
04:51You'd better mean that.
04:53Chloe's sensitive.
04:54She can't handle stress.
04:56Don't blame Alessia.
04:57She just found out the truth.
04:58Of course she's upset.
05:00If you want my room, I can move into the attic.
05:02Which room?
05:03Her eyes lit up for half a second.
05:05The south-facing room upstairs.
05:07It was supposed to be yours.
05:09Don't be ridiculous.
05:11That's your room.
05:12Alessia?
05:14You just got here.
05:15Don't start taking things from Chloe.
05:17Did I say I wanted it?
05:19The room went silent.
05:20Chloe bit her lip.
05:21I just thought you might mind.
05:24Chloe, you're impressive.
05:26No one asked,
05:27and you've already written the whole script.
05:29Do you always have to be so rude?
05:31I'm not.
05:32I'm just a Morelli.
05:34We prefer things clear.
05:36And if you want to play the victim,
05:37at least make it convincing.
05:41Alexia, you just got here.
05:42Don't start causing trouble.
05:44I looked at them.
05:45All three of them were protecting Chloe.
05:47Strangely, it didn't hurt.
05:49I already understood.
05:50They hadn't brought their daughter home.
05:52They'd brought home someone
05:53they expected to fall in line.
05:55Too bad.
05:56Moretti's don't fall in line.
05:58The butler took me upstairs.
06:00Chloe followed.
06:01At the end of the hall,
06:02she opened a small door.
06:05Dust filled the air.
06:06Old boxes covered the floor.
06:08Oh my God.
06:09Alessia, I'm so sorry.
06:11I didn't know they hadn't cleaned it.
06:13I can move out tonight.
06:14You can have my room.
06:16I stared at the dusty bed.
06:18Then I turned to the butler.
06:19This is the room you prepared
06:21for your biological daughter?
06:22Mr. and Mrs. Hale said
06:23it was only temporary.
06:29What now?
06:30Going to post them online
06:31and play the victim?
06:33No.
06:34I'm sending them to my mother.
06:36She'll love your idea
06:37of billionaire hospitality.
06:40Alessia, don't make such a big deal
06:42out of this.
06:42We can have it cleaned.
06:44Chloe has already sacrificed enough.
06:46Stop making things harder for her.
06:49Mrs. Hale, I haven't even said a word
06:51and your whole family
06:52has already decided
06:53I'm the villain.
06:54Efficient.
06:55Not very smart, though.
06:56Alexia!
06:59No need to shout.
07:01My hearing is excellent.
07:02I'm just allergic to family drama,
07:04especially favoriteness
07:05and stupidity.
07:06At dinner,
07:07the Hales had prepared
07:08a full table of food.
07:09It looked expensive
07:10and cold.
07:11Chloe sat beside
07:12my biological mother,
07:14sweetly putting food
07:15on her plate.
07:15My brother sat
07:16on her other side.
07:17He kept handing Chloe napkins
07:19without even looking at me.
07:20I didn't care.
07:21I took a bite of the steak.
07:22Then I went silent.
07:26Not used to it?
07:28Alessia probably isn't used
07:29to food like this.
07:31This was made by our private chef.
07:34Maybe it's a little
07:34too sophisticated for her.
07:36This isn't fine dining.
07:38It's just bad.
07:40Alessia, our private chef
07:41has been with us
07:41for over ten years.
07:43No one has ever complained.
07:44Then you're all very kind.
07:47The steak is overcooked.
07:49The sauce is too sweet.
07:51And the seasoning
07:51is completely off.
07:53Kind of like this family.
07:55Looks perfect.
07:56Tastes disappointing.
07:58You grew up
07:59outside this family.
08:00What would you know?
08:02I grew up with the Morettis.
08:05Not in a cave.
08:06Is your world really
08:07just the Hales
08:08and everyone beneath you?
08:10Enough!
08:12It's one dinner.
08:14Do you have to turn
08:15everything into a fight?
08:16Mr. Hale,
08:17you're the ones
08:17who brought me here.
08:18You gave me a storage room.
08:20No respect.
08:22And now I'm supposed
08:23to praise bad food?
08:25Is this how the Hales
08:27welcome their own daughter?
08:29Alexia,
08:30do you hate the food
08:31because you hate me?
08:34Chloe,
08:34not everything
08:35is about you.
08:37The food is bad
08:39because the chef failed.
08:40You're crying
08:41because you love drama.
08:43Two different problems.
08:46Alexia!
08:47Apologize to her.
08:50Sorry.
08:51It's my bedtime.
08:52Morettis don't waste
08:53their nights
08:54on pointless drama.
08:55You-
08:56One more thing.
08:58Starting tomorrow,
08:59I'll handle my own meals.
09:00I'll pay for them.
09:01No need to trouble yourselves.
09:02And please don't test
09:03my manners with food this bad.
09:05You think the Hales
09:06need your scrap of cash?
09:08Good.
09:09I was afraid
09:10you'd start
09:11freeloading dinners.
09:12Just then,
09:15a maid brought over dessert.
09:17Miss Chloe,
09:18your favorite
09:18truffle chocolate souffle.
09:20And plain pudding
09:21for you,
09:22Miss Moretti.
09:22I'm sure that'll be fine.
09:24Why does she get
09:24chocolate souffle
09:25and I get plain pudding?
09:27Miss Chloe
09:28has delicate tastes.
09:29Mrs. Hale
09:30specifically ordered it
09:31for her.
09:32Alessia,
09:33if you want the same thing,
09:34we can have it
09:34prepared tomorrow.
09:35I nodded,
09:36then I turned to the maid.
09:37What's your name?
09:38Linda.
09:39How long have you
09:40worked here?
09:41Twelve years.
09:43Perfect.
09:45Send me your
09:46employment contract,
09:47salary records,
09:48and household expense reports.
09:51What do you mean?
09:52Nothing.
09:53I just want to know
09:54if twelve years of salary
09:55paid for this level of service.
09:57Alexia,
09:57Linda has been
09:58with this family for years.
10:01Even better
10:01than she should know
10:03how to treat a guest.
10:04Alessia,
10:05please don't make
10:05things difficult for her.
10:06She works very hard
10:07taking care of me.
10:08Oh,
10:09then I definitely
10:10want to see those accounts.
10:11She takes care of you,
10:12the Hales pay for it,
10:14and apparently
10:14I'm one of the Hale heirs now.
10:17Why is everything
10:18about money with you?
10:19I thought about it seriously.
10:21Because so far,
10:22money is the only thing
10:23about this family
10:24that's impressed me.
10:25The next morning,
10:27breakfast arrived
10:27right on time.
10:28Fresh croissants,
10:30truffle eggs,
10:30smoked salmon,
10:31and my favorite coffee.
10:32Miss Moretti,
10:33Donna Moretti said
10:34you probably didn't
10:35eat well last night,
10:36so have this for now.
10:37She's sending your
10:37private chef over for lunch.
10:44You just got here,
10:45and you're already
10:46making this much of a fuss.
10:47Do you think
10:48the Hale House
10:48is a hotel?
10:50Hotels actually care
10:51if their guests are comfortable.
10:53This place doesn't.
10:55Alexia,
10:56you can't have your people
10:57coming and going
10:58whenever you want.
10:59I was raised
10:59to never make myself suffer,
11:01just to please others.
11:03Do the Morettis
11:04always spoil you like this?
11:05Of course.
11:06That's why I'm happy,
11:07healthy,
11:08and don't need tears
11:09to get attention.
11:12Stop picking on Chloe.
11:13I didn't bother explaining.
11:15After breakfast,
11:16I went upstairs
11:17to get my bag.
11:18A suitcase was sitting
11:19outside the storage room.
11:21Inside were a few
11:22cheap clothes
11:23and a thin blanket.
11:25Miss Moretti,
11:25I've put your things away.
11:27Mrs. Hall said
11:27you'll stay here for now
11:28until they make
11:29other arrangements.
11:30Who told you
11:31to touch my luggage?
11:32I was helping you.
11:33You could at least
11:34be grateful.
11:34I opened the suitcase.
11:36My clothes had been
11:36tossed around.
11:37Even the document envelope
11:38hidden inside
11:39had been opened.
11:40I smiled.
11:41Linda suddenly looked nervous.
11:42What are you smiling at?
11:45Your incompetence.
11:47If you're going
11:48to search my luggage,
11:48at least stay out
11:49of the cameras.
11:52Alessia,
11:52don't scare Linda.
11:53She was only
11:53trying to help.
11:55By going through
11:56my private documents.
11:58Alexia,
11:59do you ever
11:59stop causing trouble?
12:01Then take a look
12:02at what she was
12:02snooping through.
12:04A second later,
12:05he froze.
12:06Inside were
12:07legal authorizations,
12:08a list of my assets,
12:09and an offer
12:10to purchase
12:10the estate next door.
12:16Since the Hales
12:17don't have
12:17a proper room
12:18for me,
12:18I asked my father
12:19to contact
12:20your neighbor
12:20last night.
12:21The estate
12:21next door?
12:22Yep.
12:23It's nicer than
12:24this one,
12:25and a lot less
12:25tacky.
12:27I'm buying it.
12:28I'll live there.
12:29This is ridiculous.
12:30You just came home
12:31and now you're
12:31moving out?
12:32What will people
12:33think of us?
12:35You put your
12:35biological daughter
12:36in a storage room.
12:38What do you think
12:39they'll say about that?
12:41Alexia,
12:42are you still upset
12:42because I took
12:43your room?
12:44I really can move
12:45Don't.
12:45You keep your room.
12:46I don't fight
12:47over things.
12:48I just buy my own.
12:51You make it sound easy.
12:53Do you even know
12:54how much the estate
12:54next door costs?
12:57Mr. Hale,
12:58the owner of the
12:59estate next door
13:00is here,
13:00with her agent
13:01and attorney.
13:09Princess,
13:10did you sleep well?
13:11No.
13:12Too much dust.
13:14And you are?
13:18Alexia's mother.
13:25Mr. Hale frowned.
13:27Mrs. Moretti,
13:29Alessia has already
13:30returned to the
13:31Hale family.
13:31Don't you think
13:32you're interfering
13:33a little too much?
13:33Mr. Hale,
13:34we can discuss
13:35that later.
13:36Three of your
13:37company's debts
13:37are due next quarter.
13:39I own the largest one.
13:41The room went silent.
13:42So I'm not only
13:43here for my daughter.
13:45I'm also here to see
13:46if the Hales
13:47still intend
13:48to pay what they owe.
13:50What did you say?
13:51Mom sat down.
13:52Her attorney spread
13:53several documents
13:54across the table.
13:55Three years ago,
13:56Hale Group ran
13:57into cash flow problems.
13:58You borrowed
13:59through several intermediaries.
14:01Later,
14:01you pledged part
14:02of your shares
14:03to secure financing
14:04for your supply chain.
14:05Surely you didn't think
14:06that money came from nowhere.
14:07Dad,
14:08I thought the company
14:08was doing fine.
14:09Mr. Hale said nothing.
14:10Mrs. Hale gripped the sofa.
14:12Mrs. Moretti,
14:13is there some
14:14misunderstanding?
14:15No misunderstanding.
14:17The only misunderstanding
14:18was you thinking
14:19Alexia had nowhere else
14:20to go.
14:21I sat nearby,
14:22calmly drinking my coffee.
14:24I'd always know
14:25my parents were rich.
14:26Dad could discuss
14:26a hundred million dollar deal
14:28while cleaning his gun.
14:29Mom could host
14:30a family meeting
14:31over afternoon tea.
14:32You'd never guess
14:32how much they actually controlled.
14:34Then,
14:34on my 18th birthday,
14:36they gave me a book
14:37listing our family assets.
14:38I flipped through
14:39a few pages,
14:40properties,
14:40private companies,
14:42corporate shares,
14:42and enough debt holdings
14:44to make several
14:44billionaires nervous.
14:46Exactly how rich are we?
14:48Not that rich.
14:49Just rich enough
14:50that my daughter
14:50never has to bow to anyone.
14:53Turns out,
14:54he meant it.
14:57Chloe stood at the top
14:59of the stairs.
15:00Her face was pale,
15:01her eyes full of panic.
15:02She clearly hadn't expected
15:04the poor adopted girl.
15:05She looked down on
15:06to be backed
15:06by the Morettis.
15:08Mrs. Moretti,
15:09business is business.
15:11Family is family.
15:12Of course.
15:14So I'll only ask one thing.
15:16How do you plan
15:17to treat my daughter?
15:19Suddenly,
15:20Chloe rushed downstairs
15:21in tears.
15:23Mrs. Moretti,
15:24this is all my fault.
15:25I shouldn't have taken
15:26Alessia's room.
15:28I'll move out right now.
15:29Chloe.
15:30She turned to leave.
15:31My brother immediately
15:32grabbed her arm.
15:34I set down my coffee.
15:37Chloe,
15:38you tried this last night.
15:39Repeating the same act
15:41gets boring.
15:41Alessia,
15:42I'm just trying
15:42to make you feel better.
15:44I'm not angry.
15:45I just think
15:46you're bad at this.
15:47If you're going
15:48to play innocent,
15:49at least stay away
15:50from the cameras.
15:52Especially after
15:53telling Linda
15:53to search my luggage
15:54last night.
15:55What?
15:56I handed her my phone.
16:00Security footage
16:01played on the screen.
16:02Chloe's voice
16:03came through clearly.
16:04Check her document envelope.
16:06Take pictures
16:07if you can.
16:08She's just an adopted girl.
16:10There's no way
16:11she really has
16:12that kind of money.
16:14She has to be pretending.
16:16What if she finds out?
16:18Just say you were
16:19helping her unpack.
16:20Mom,
16:21Dad,
16:22and my brother
16:22will believe me anyway.
16:30The video ended.
16:32The living room
16:33went dead silent.
16:34My brother slowly
16:35let go of Chloe's arm.
16:36Mrs. Hale
16:37stared at her.
16:38Chloe?
16:39No, Mom!
16:40It's not what you think!
16:42I was just scared
16:43Alessia hated me!
16:45I never meant
16:45any harm!
16:47No harm?
16:49I guess it just
16:50comes naturally to you.
16:51Mr. Hale sank
16:52onto the sofa.
16:53For once,
16:54he had nothing to say.
16:55Mom stood up.
16:56Since the Hales
16:57still haven't figured out
16:58how to respect Alessia,
16:59she'll stay next door.
17:01She glanced at Mr. Hale.
17:04As for the debt,
17:06my legal team
17:07will reassess
17:08Hale Group's
17:08ability to repay it.
17:10Mrs. Morelli!
17:12Relax, Mr. Hale.
17:14I'm not here
17:15to threaten you.
17:16I'm just reminding you
17:18my daughter
17:19has the Morelli
17:20family behind her.
17:21I moved next door
17:22that same day.
17:23The two estates
17:23were separated
17:24by a single wall,
17:25but they felt
17:25like different worlds.
17:26The Hales had
17:27family drama every day.
17:28I had fresh flowers
17:29after noon tea
17:30and Meridi guards
17:31at the gate.
17:32The first time
17:32my brother came over,
17:33I was relaxing
17:34by the pool.
17:35He stood awkwardly
17:36at the door.
17:37Alessia,
17:38Dad wants you
17:39home for dinner.
17:41Which home?
17:43The Hale house.
17:45Oh.
17:48No.
17:50Send me the menu first.
17:52If the food's bad,
17:53I'm not going.
18:00His face reddened.
18:02Why are you so difficult?
18:04I smiled.
18:07I'm not one of your creditors.
18:08I don't have to cooperate
18:10with the Hales.
18:12About last night.
18:14I didn't know
18:14Chloe would do that.
18:17You didn't know
18:18because you didn't
18:19want to know.
18:20You have eyes.
18:22Try using them.
18:25I treated you badly before.
18:27I'm sorry.
18:28I closed my book.
18:31Apology accepted.
18:32Forgiveness pending.
18:34How long?
18:36Depends on your behavior.
18:37He hesitated.
18:40Then,
18:40can you help me
18:41with something?
18:42I raised an eyebrow.
18:43He looked embarrassed.
18:44Some guy at school
18:45has been mocking
18:46Chloe and me
18:47over everything
18:48that happened.
18:49I laugh.
18:50Aren't you supposed
18:51to be the great
18:51Hale heir?
18:53His expression
18:54darkened.
18:55His father
18:56is on the school board.
18:58He's always
18:59had it out for me.
19:02Fine.
19:03Let's go.
19:04Where?
19:05Your school.
19:09I can give you hell.
19:11Outsiders can't.
19:14My brother's eyes lit up
19:16and he hesitated.
19:17What about Chloe?
19:18I glanced toward
19:18the second floor window
19:20of the Hale house.
19:21Chloe was watching us.
19:22Her expression
19:22was complicated.
19:24Bring her.
19:25She may be dramatic
19:26but she's still a Hale.
19:28And outsiders
19:28don't get to mess
19:29with my family.
19:30That afternoon
19:31the three of us
19:32went to their school.
19:33Jason was standing
19:34near the field
19:34with a few friends laughing.
19:36Well,
19:37look who's here.
19:39The real daughter
19:40and the fake one.
19:42He looked at my brother.
19:44Your family's a mess, Hale.
19:46One sister isn't even yours
19:47and the real one
19:48doesn't want you.
19:49Chloe lowered her head.
19:50My brother clenched
19:51his fists
19:52but said nothing.
19:53I walked over
19:54with a smile.
19:54You Jason?
19:55He looked me up and down.
19:57Who are you?
19:59The daughter
19:59the Hales just found.
20:01Oh,
20:02the adopted girl.
20:04I heard they stuck you
20:05in a storage room
20:06so you ran off
20:07next door.
20:08Everyone laughed.
20:09I nodded.
20:11Yeah.
20:13I bought the place
20:14next door.
20:16Maybe if you work hard
20:18you can afford
20:18a parking spot someday.
20:20Jason's smile
20:21disappeared.
20:21A few people around him
20:22immediately stopped laughing.
20:24I pulled out my phone.
20:26By the way,
20:27I recorded everything
20:27you just said.
20:29Harassment.
20:30Defamation.
20:31My family has plenty
20:33of lawyers.
20:34They'd love something to do.
20:39You think that scares me?
20:41My father's on the school board.
20:44Perfect.
20:46Donna Morelli
20:47just donated
20:47a new building
20:48to this school.
20:50Maybe we should
20:51name it after you.
20:52The Jason Miller
20:53School of Legal Education.
20:55Jason's face changed.
20:56Beside me,
20:57my brother
20:57lowered his voice.
20:58Wait,
20:58is that true?
20:59No.
21:00What?
21:02The building was fake.
21:03But the recording
21:04is real.
21:05The lawyers are real.
21:07And you being an asshole,
21:09very real.
21:10What the hell
21:11is wrong with you?
21:12I ignored him
21:13and sent the recording
21:14straight to the
21:14Moretti family attorney.
21:16Then I slipped my phone
21:17back into my bag.
21:18I don't waste time
21:19arguing with idiots.
21:20I let the adults
21:21handle the bill.
21:22Jason opened his mouth.
21:23Before he could say anything,
21:25his phone rang.
21:26I walked away.
21:27Enjoy explaining this
21:28to your father.
21:30That night,
21:31Jason's father
21:32called Mr. Hale
21:33not to complain,
21:34to apologize.
21:35Apparently,
21:35having a seat
21:36on the school board
21:37didn't make him eager
21:38to deal with
21:38Moretti lawyers
21:39after the call,
21:40Mr. Hale
21:41stared at me
21:41for a long moment.
21:42His expression
21:43was complicated.
21:44What?
21:45Nothing.
21:46My brother
21:46was even worse.
21:47The next morning,
21:48he showed up
21:49at my door
21:49holding a coffee.
21:50He awkwardly
21:51held it out.
21:52For you.
21:58Iced Americano?
21:59You like those, right?
22:01No.
22:04Hot lache,
22:05half sweet,
22:06oat milk.
22:08You did your homework
22:09exactly like
22:10you live your life.
22:11What does that mean?
22:13Completely wrong,
22:14but surprisingly committed.
22:16He stared at me
22:16for two seconds,
22:17then silently
22:19took the coffee back.
22:20I'll get another one.
22:21I almost laughed.
22:22Chloe was standing
22:23behind him.
22:23Alessia,
22:24thank you for yesterday.
22:26I looked at her,
22:26no tears.
22:27That was new.
22:28You're welcome.
22:30Keep those dry,
22:31and we'll get along
22:32much better.
22:33I'll try.
22:34Don't try.
22:36Do it.
22:38She went quiet.
22:40You want to stay
22:41with the Hales?
22:42Fine.
22:43I don't care.
22:44But stop treating me
22:45like your enemy.
22:46Her fingers
22:47tightened around
22:48her dress.
22:49I just thought
22:51you'd want
22:52everything I have.
22:55Chloe,
22:57I'm not fighting
22:58you for their
22:59attention.
23:00I already have
23:01parents who love me.
23:04And if I really
23:05wanted to compete
23:06with you,
23:07you wouldn't even
23:08make it into the game.
23:16Why don't you
23:17hate me?
23:18I thought about it.
23:19I do.
23:20Her eyes immediately
23:20turned red.
23:21I raised a finger.
23:23Don't.
23:23She actually
23:24forced the tears back.
23:26I almost smiled.
23:27I don't like you.
23:28But that doesn't mean
23:29I'm going to waste
23:29my life thinking
23:30about you.
23:31You're not that
23:32important.
23:33Chloe opened her
23:33mouth.
23:34Nothing came out.
23:35Beside her,
23:36my brother tried
23:36to hide a laugh.
23:37I looked at him.
23:38His smile vanished
23:39instantly.
23:39She's right.
23:40I narrowed my eyes.
23:43You've been acting
23:43weird lately.
23:46I just...
23:50I think you're
23:51more reliable
23:51than I expected.
23:53Stop.
23:56Compliments won't
23:57make me write
23:57your statement
23:58for you.
23:59His face froze.
24:00How did you know?
24:01I looked at him.
24:03Jason got scared
24:04by the lawyers
24:05yesterday.
24:05He couldn't come
24:06after me,
24:07so obviously
24:08he complained
24:09to the school
24:10about you two.
24:11I crossed my arms.
24:13And now the school
24:14wants a written
24:15statement.
24:17My brother
24:17stared at me.
24:20How do you know
24:20everything?
24:22Because I use my
24:22brain.
24:23You should try it
24:24sometime.
24:29From that day on,
24:30my brother started
24:30learning how to set
24:31boundaries for me.
24:32Even Chloe slowly
24:33stopped crying every
24:34time something went
24:35wrong.
24:35But the biggest
24:36surprise was Mrs. Hale.
24:37One afternoon,
24:38she texted me,
24:39Alesha, will you come
24:40home for dinner tonight?
24:41I asked the chef to
24:42make your favorite
24:42steak.
24:43I stared at the word
24:44home.
24:44I didn't feel much,
24:46but the steak
24:47sounded tempting,
24:48so I replied,
24:49Fine, if it's bad,
24:51I'm leaving.
24:53She replied instantly,
24:55Deal, I'll make sure
24:57the chef gets it right.
25:00That evening,
25:01I went back to
25:01the Hale house.
25:02Dinner was strangely
25:04peaceful.
25:05Chloe put some food
25:07on my plate.
25:08Try this.
25:10I made sure the chef
25:11didn't make the sauce
25:12too sweet.
25:13My brother handed
25:13me a cup.
25:14Hot latte,
25:15half sweet,
25:16oat milk.
25:18Got it right this
25:19time.
25:21Barely.
25:22Mr. Hale cleared
25:23his throat.
25:25Alesha, we have a
25:26supply chain meeting
25:27next week.
25:28Would you like to
25:29sit in?
25:30Mrs. Hale immediately
25:31frowned at him.
25:32She just came back.
25:34And you already
25:35want her working?
25:36I'm only asking.
25:38I took a sip of
25:39my coffee.
25:40Sure.
25:41I charge by the
25:42hour.
25:43Mr. Hale went
25:44silent.
25:44Chloe muttered.
25:46You really never
25:46let anyone get
25:47the better of you,
25:48do you?
25:48I smiled.
25:49That's how I was
25:50raised.
25:51Sweet when I can be.
25:54But a Moretti
25:55never takes a loss.
26:01The first time I met
26:03the rest of the Hale
26:03family was at
26:04Mrs. Hale's birthday
26:05party.
26:05It was a huge event.
26:07The entire family was
26:08there.
26:09I hadn't planned on
26:10going.
26:10Then Mrs. Hale sent me
26:12a message.
26:13Alesha, I hope you'll
26:14come.
26:15Not for appearances.
26:16I want to introduce you
26:17properly as my daughter.
26:18I stared at the message for
26:20a long time.
26:21Then I changed into an
26:22elegant pale blue dress
26:24and went.
26:25At the party, Mrs. Hale
26:26took my arm.
26:27Then she faced everyone.
26:30This is my daughter,
26:32Alessia Hale.
26:33This time, she didn't say
26:35biological daughter.
26:36She didn't introduce
26:37Chloe first either.
26:39Just my daughter.
26:40Chloe stood beside us.
26:41She looked a little hurt,
26:43but she didn't make a
26:44scene.
26:44I glanced at her.
26:46She quietly said,
26:47I'm fine, Alessia.
26:50Good.
26:51Your emotional control
26:52is improving.
26:53Her mouth twitched.
26:55Thanks for the
26:55compliment.
26:56Anytime.
26:58So this is the
26:59daughter you found.
27:01Pretty good.
27:03But I heard she was
27:04raised outside the
27:05family.
27:07I suppose her manners
27:09might be a little
27:10different.
27:13Vanessa, enough.
27:15And you are?
27:16Your aunt,
27:18Vanessa.
27:19Oh.
27:21Was that supposed
27:22to be a welcome?
27:24Pretty cheap one.
27:25Vanessa's smile
27:26stiffened.
27:29My brother almost
27:31laughed.
27:31Vanessa quickly
27:32recovered her smile.
27:34You've got quite a
27:35mouth on you.
27:38I heard your adoptive
27:39parents are well
27:40af.
27:41Now that you're back
27:42with the Hales,
27:43shouldn't you help out
27:44your relatives?
27:45Your cousin just
27:46started a business
27:47and needs some seed
27:48money.
27:49Not much.
27:50One million dollars.
27:52How much?
27:54She smiled.
27:56Only a million.
27:57Your biological parents
27:59are billionaires and
28:00your adoptive parents
28:00have money too.
28:01We're family.
28:03No need to be so
28:04stingy.
28:06Does she always ask for
28:07money like this?
28:09Mrs. Hale said
28:10nothing.
28:11Mr. Hale didn't look
28:12happy either.
28:13Ask?
28:14We're family.
28:16Talking about money
28:17only hurts the
28:17relationship.
28:18Not talking about money
28:19hurts the bank account.
28:21Vanessa frowned.
28:22What do you mean?
28:24I mean I can lend you
28:25the money.
28:27Sign a contract first.
28:31Market rate interest,
28:32collateral required,
28:33and if you don't
28:34repay it on time,
28:35my lawyers will
28:36handle it.
28:38If that's too much
28:39trouble, don't borrow.
28:42I'm your aunt!
28:45Being my aunt
28:46doesn't make you
28:46interest-free.
28:48If you need money,
28:50go to a bank.
28:52If the bank won't
28:53lend to you,
28:54that means you
28:55don't qualify.
28:58If the Hales still do,
29:00that means they
29:01haven't been thinking
29:02clearly.
29:05Vanessa's face
29:06turned livid.
29:09You're just going to
29:10let her humiliate me
29:11like this?
29:17Mrs. Hale took
29:18a deep breath.
29:18I thought she would
29:19smooth things over
29:20like she always had.
29:21Instead, she tightened
29:22her grip on my hand.
29:23Her voice trembled
29:24slightly, but it was
29:25firm.
29:25Vanessa Alessi is
29:26right.
29:28It's time you paid
29:29back the money
29:30you borrowed from us.
29:31Vanessa froze.
29:33Mr. Hale spoke too.
29:34You owe us a total
29:35of five million dollars.
29:38I've had the finance
29:39team prepare the
29:40records.
29:40If you don't repay it,
29:42we'll handle it
29:43according to the
29:43contracts.
29:44Vanessa's face
29:45twisted with rage.
29:46Are you all insane?
29:48Chloe suddenly stepped
29:49forward and copied
29:50my tone.
29:51Aunt Vanessa,
29:52family is family.
29:53Money is money.
29:55Keep the two separate.
29:57Exactly.
29:58Stop treating your
29:59relatives like ATMs.
30:00I looked at the two
30:01of them, feeling
30:02strangely complicated.
30:03Great, the Meridi
30:04Way was becoming
30:04contagious.
30:05After the party,
30:08Mrs. Hale pulled
30:09me aside and sat
30:10with me in the
30:10garden for a long
30:11time.
30:14She said quietly,
30:16Alexia,
30:18I used to think
30:19that with family,
30:21you should just
30:22tolerate things
30:23and let them go.
30:25But then I realized
30:27the more I tolerated,
30:29the more people
30:29took it for granted.
30:31It's not too late
30:32to figure that out.
30:35What about you?
30:38Are you still
30:39willing to accept
30:40me as your mother?
30:41The wind swept
30:42through the garden
30:44and the lights
30:45caught the redness
30:46around her eyes.
30:47I didn't answer
30:48immediately.
30:49After a long
30:50silence, I said,
30:52Mrs. Hale,
30:54family isn't
30:54paperwork.
30:56You can't sign
30:57a form and expect
30:59it to take effect
31:00the same day.
31:02Her eyes dimmed.
31:05But there can be
31:06a trial period.
31:08She froze.
31:10I smiled.
31:11Do well during
31:12probation and maybe
31:14you'll get promoted
31:15to mom.
31:15Mrs. Hale froze
31:16for a few seconds.
31:17Then she laughed
31:18through her tears.
31:21The Hale group's
31:22real trouble
31:23came a month later.
31:24The supply chain
31:25suddenly broke down.
31:26Several major clients
31:27tried to cancel
31:28their contracts
31:29and the bank
31:30started demanding
31:31repayment.
31:31Mr. Hale seemed
31:32to age years
31:33overnight.
31:34My brother
31:34paced anxiously.
31:35Dad,
31:36how did the company
31:37end up like this?
31:39Mr. Hale rubbed
31:40his temples.
31:41Someone's targeting us.
31:43I sat on the couch
31:44flipping through
31:44the documents.
31:45Not someone.
31:47An insider.
31:49How do you know?
31:51I spread several
31:53purchasing contracts
31:54across the table.
31:56These three contracts
31:57are overpriced.
31:59The delivery schedules
32:00don't make sense
32:01and the payments
32:03all ended up
32:04with the same
32:04shell company.
32:07And that company
32:08is connected
32:09to Linda's nephew.
32:13Linda?
32:14Chloe went pale.
32:17She told me
32:18a few days ago
32:19that Alessia
32:20would destroy
32:21the Hale
32:21sooner or later.
32:24She got it backward.
32:26She's the parasite.
32:28I'm pest control.
32:29Mr. Hale's face darkened.
32:31I'm calling the police.
32:32Not yet.
32:35Linda isn't working alone.
32:37Who else?
32:38I looked at Chloe.
32:39She instinctively
32:40stepped back.
32:42Alessia,
32:42why are you looking at me?
32:43I swear I didn't...
32:45Not you.
32:46But they used you.
32:49Chloe froze.
32:50I handed her my phone.
32:54On the screen
32:55were messages
32:56between Vanessa
32:57and Linda.
32:58Vanessa had been
32:59pushing Linda
32:59to steal
33:00confidential Hale contracts.
33:01She'd also used
33:03Chloe's name
33:03to approach clients,
33:05claiming the family
33:06was fighting
33:06over the inheritance
33:07and Hale Group
33:08was becoming unstable.
33:11She used my name?
33:13Yeah.
33:15You spent so much time
33:16acting helpless
33:17that everyone believed
33:19you were the victim.
33:20So when she used your name
33:21to sell the same story,
33:23people believed it.
33:25Chloe's lips trembled.
33:27I...
33:28I saw the tears coming.
33:30Hold it.
33:31She forced them back.
33:32My brother whispered
33:33beside her.
33:35Chloe,
33:36you're getting
33:36much better at that.
33:38Thanks.
33:40I went back
33:41to the documents.
33:43We have two options.
33:45First,
33:46call the police
33:47and let the lawyers
33:47handle it.
33:49Second,
33:50stabilize the clients first,
33:52then draw Vanessa
33:53and the company
33:54behind her out.
33:54Mr. Hale looked at me.
33:56You have a plan?
33:57I nodded.
33:59Yes.
34:00I paused.
34:02But I charged.
34:04Mr. Hale went silent.
34:05Mrs. Hale immediately spoke.
34:07Of course.
34:07You absolutely should.
34:09My brother nodded.
34:10Family is family.
34:11Business is business.
34:13Chloe added seriously.
34:14If Alessia doesn't take a loss,
34:16the Hales might actually survive.
34:18I looked at the three of them
34:20and laughed.
34:21Good.
34:23You're finally learning.
34:27For the next three days,
34:29I met with Hale Group's
34:30key clients.
34:31Not at a hotel.
34:32At one of Donna Moretti's
34:34private restaurants.
34:35By the end of dinner,
34:36most of them had stopped talking
34:37about canceling their contracts.
34:41Don Moretti sat beside me,
34:43calmly, drinking tea.
34:45Gentlemen,
34:46the Hales may have
34:47management problems,
34:49but their supply chain
34:51won't collapse
34:52because I control half of their
34:54upstream suppliers.
34:55Mr. Hale stared at him in shock.
34:57Dad winked at me.
34:58I quietly took a sip of tea.
35:00Now Mr. Hale finally understood
35:01why Mom had been so calm
35:03when she said she was
35:04his biggest creditor.
35:05The Meridus hadn't
35:06suddenly stepped in.
35:07They had always controlled
35:08some of the most important pieces
35:10of Hale Group's supply chain.
35:12Vanessa thought she was
35:12taking advantage
35:13of the Hales' weakness.
35:14She didn't realize
35:15she was stepping onto
35:16Meriddy territory.
35:17That night,
35:18Vanessa met with
35:19the head of a rival company.
35:20The Hales are falling apart.
35:24And that so-called
35:25real daughter,
35:26she's just a girl.
35:29The door opened.
35:30I walked in.
35:32Behind me were our lawyer,
35:34Mr. and Mrs. Hale,
35:35my brother and Chloe.
35:37I smiled at Vanessa.
35:39Aunt Vanessa,
35:40you can talk all you want,
35:42but stealing contracts?
35:45Time to pay the bill.
35:49Vanessa was soon
35:50placed under investigation.
35:53Linda was also investigated
35:55for stealing property
35:56and leaking confidential
35:57business information.
35:58Once the crisis was over,
36:00Mr. Hale apologized to me
36:01for the first time.
36:02He sat across from me
36:03in his study.
36:04Alessia, I was wrong.
36:10I said nothing.
36:12He gave a bitter smile.
36:15I thought bringing you home,
36:16giving you money
36:17in the Hale name
36:18would make up for everything.
36:21But I forgot.
36:23Those were the things
36:24you needed least.
36:26I looked at the untouched tea
36:28on the table.
36:30What I needed was for you
36:31to treat me like your daughter
36:32from day one,
36:33not like a problem
36:34you had to find a place for.
36:36Mr. Hale's eyes reddened.
36:37Mrs. Hale stood silently
36:39at the door,
36:40crying.
36:42I'm sorry, too.
36:45I always protected Chloe first
36:46because I thought
36:47she was weaker.
36:49Now I understand.
36:52You weren't never hurt.
36:53You just never let it control you.
36:56Chloe stepped forward, too.
36:58Her voice was quiet.
37:02Alexia, I'm sorry, too.
37:04I was scared you'd come back
37:05and take everything from me,
37:06so I kept playing the victim.
37:10But then I realized
37:12you never wanted to take anything.
37:14You already had more real love
37:16than I could ever get
37:17by pretending.
37:20I looked at them lining up
37:21to apologize inside.
37:26Do the Hales offer group discounts
37:27on apologies now?
37:29My brother froze,
37:30then burst out laughing.
37:31Mrs. Hale laughed
37:32through her tears, too.
37:33The mood finally lightened.
37:35All right.
37:36We'll settle the past slowly
37:37and see what happens next.
37:40One apology can't fix a family.
37:43But if you're willing to learn,
37:45I'll consider teaching.
37:47Mr. Hale nodded immediately.
37:49I'll learn.
37:51Mrs. Hale wiped her tears.
37:54So will I.
37:55My brother raised his hand.
37:57I already learned.
37:57Hot latte, half-sweet oat milk.
38:00Chloe whispered.
38:01I learned not to cry.
38:02I looked at her.
38:04She quickly added,
38:05Most of the time.
38:07I laughed.
38:10After that,
38:11the Hale family completely changed.
38:13Whenever relatives came asking for money,
38:15Mrs. Hale would calmly pull out a contract.
38:19Of course.
38:20Let's discuss the interest and collateral first.
38:24Whenever executives talked in circles,
38:26Mr. Hale would frown.
38:28Enough.
38:28Give me the numbers.
38:33When someone tried to provoke my brother,
38:36he stopped getting angry.
38:39He pulled out his phone instead.
38:41Say that again.
38:42My sister's lawyers have been bored lately.
38:44Chloe changed the most.
38:45The fragile little victim was gone.
38:47One day, someone asked her,
38:49Aren't you afraid the real daughter will take your place?
38:51Chloe smiled sweetly.
38:52Take what?
38:54My sister has her own money,
38:56her own house,
38:57and her own lawyers.
38:59She doesn't want my place.
39:03I'm sticking with her.
39:04Saves me 20 years of bad decisions.
39:06I nearly spit out my coffee.
39:08Six months later,
39:09Hale group was stable again.
39:10Mr. Hale proposed officially adding me to the inheritance plan.
39:14I looked over the documents.
39:15Fine.
39:16But add one rule.
39:17He immediately tensed.
39:18What?
39:19Every major Hale family decision gets audited
39:22before anyone starts talking about family.
39:24He was silent for three seconds.
39:27Then nodded.
39:29Fair.
39:29Mrs. Hale smiled beside him.
39:32Alexia,
39:33are the Morettis coming this weekend?
39:36I want Donna Moretti to teach me how to make your favorite dessert.
39:40I looked at her.
39:42I thought you hated cooking.
39:44She looked a little embarrassed.
39:46I want to learn.
39:48You like it.
39:49For some reason,
39:51something inside me softened.
39:52That weekend,
39:53my parents came to the Hale house.
39:55Dad arrived in casual clothes
39:57carrying two boxes of pastries.
39:59Mom looked as elegant as ever.
40:02Mr. and Mrs. Hale were so nervous
40:04they looked like they were at a job interview.
40:07For the first time,
40:09both families sat at the same table.
40:11Mr. Hale raised his cup toward my parents.
40:14Thank you
40:16for raising Alexia so well.
40:23Mom looked at me and smiled.
40:26She was always wonderful.
40:28We just made sure no one made her suffer.
40:31I lowered my head
40:32and took another bite of dessert.
40:34Just sweet enough,
40:35Mrs. Hale carefully put another piece on my plate.
40:38Alessia, try this.
40:40I learned it from your mother.
40:42I took a bite.
40:42Too sweet.
40:43Not quite right.
40:44But when I saw the hope in her eyes,
40:46I nodded.
40:47Not bad.
40:48Less sugar next time.
40:50Mrs. Hale's eyes immediately lit up.
40:52My brother leaned toward her.
40:55Mom,
40:56not bad is basically
40:57a five-star review from Alessia.
40:58Chloe nodded enthusiastically.
41:01Exactly.
41:01If she doesn't say it's terrible,
41:03that means she loves it.
41:05I glared at them.
41:08You two are getting way too good at reading me.
41:11My brother laughed.
41:12We learn from you.
41:14Be clear about what you want.
41:15Say it when you love someone.
41:17Keep money straight
41:18and never carry today's resentment into tomorrow.
41:23Chloe raised her glass.
41:26To Alessia,
41:27the woman who taught the Hales how to have boundaries.
41:31Mrs. Hale raised hers too.
41:33Mr. Hale cleared his throat and added seriously.
41:36And to Don and Donna Moretti,
41:39thank you for giving Alessia
41:40the best upbringing we could have asked for.
41:42Dad smiled and waved it off.
41:45Our parenting philosophy is simple.
41:48My daughter never has to beg for love.
41:50I froze for a second.
41:52Then I smiled.
41:53Outside,
41:54the Hale garden had been renovated.
41:56The ridiculous fountain was gone.
41:58In its place were quiet paths,
42:00flowers and trees swaying in the breeze.
42:02Maybe this family had been a mess
42:04when I first arrived.
42:05But at least they were willing to change.
42:07And me,
42:08I was still Alessia Moretti.
42:11Loved deeply,
42:12feared when necessary.
42:14And never willing to beg
42:16for what should have been mine.