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Enjoy high-quality drama entertainment with English subtitles and discover new trending stories uploaded on a regular basis.
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FunTranscript
00:00I made more than $400,000 a year, but with my pregnant wife, I insisted on keeping everything
00:05strictly 50-50. In my mind, marriage meant two people handling their own. Just because she was
00:11carrying a baby didn't mean she got a free pass. Seven months along, and she still squeezed onto
00:17the subway every morning, commuting as if nothing had changed. Her lunch was a $2 cup of instant
00:23noodles, eaten at her desk. I didn't see the problem. We were independent. We both had our
00:28own money. If she were tired, she could cut back on spending somewhere else. She could figure it out
00:34herself. It all seemed perfectly reasonable to me. Hell, I was proud of how logical I was. Plenty of
00:41guys I knew got bled dry by marriage, but not me. I stuck to my guns. It wasn't until our
00:47baby was
00:47born that she handed me a document. I opened it, and my blood ran cold. Karina came home that night
00:54with heavy footsteps, like she was dragging something behind her. I was at the dining table,
01:00working on a steak I'd had delivered from that place downtown. Medium rare, still bleeding a little
01:06on the plate. It was $109. She glanced at me but didn't say anything. She walked into the kitchen and,
01:15with the kind of ease that comes from doing something a thousand times, tore open a packet
01:20of instant noodles. The kettle hummed, and pretty soon that fake, salty smell filled the apartment.
01:26I frowned. She mumbled, coming out with a disposable bowl. Her belly was huge now, round and tight as a
01:33balloon. You know there's a fan in there. Forgot. She sat down across from me and started eating.
01:42She was slurping loudly. I paused with my knife in the air. Karina, we've talked about this. She looked up.
01:49I'm hungry. She dropped her eyes back to the noodles. If you're hungry, eat something decent.
01:55Your money, your choice. I need to save it for the appointments.
02:02We're splitting the R-Kit. We share the responsibility equally. That's fair.
02:07Michael, I spend three hours on the subway every day, standing. I squeezed in like a sardine.
02:12I corrected her. That's your choice. Take a cab if you want. You can pay for yourself. It's in the
02:18prenup. Personal expenses are personal. I'm pregnant. I glanced at her belly. I know.
02:24But that doesn't mean one of us gets to drain the other dry. Marriage is a partnership, not a charity.
02:32That was my rule. It was also why I was making 400 grand by 30. I had rationality and precision.
02:38No unnecessary emotional cost.
02:40I'd seen too many guys get chewed up by marriage, destroyed by their own families. Not me.
02:45I stuck to my principles. I stayed true to myself. She didn't say another word.
02:52She finished her soup, drained the bowl as if she was checking off box on a list.
03:00Printing it'll check up tomorrow at 9, 787. You owe me $393.
03:05Send me the receipt. I want to see the breakdown.
03:08Okay.
03:13She nodded and headed for the bedroom. There was no anger or fight. Everything clicked along like a well-oiled
03:18machine.
03:19I was genuinely satisfied with this arraignment. This was marriage done right. Clean lines, full transparency.
03:26There were no blurred edges, no confusion about money. I cut my stake, feeling tent.
03:33My phone buzzed. It was a text from my mom.
03:42Here we go again.
03:44I typed back,
03:45Mom, this is how our marriage works. It's fair. It's modern.
03:49Mom, replied immediately.
03:51Modern? You mean selfish.
03:53Turned off my phone. It was useless talking to her.
03:56People from her generation never understood boundaries.
03:59What they called love was emotional blackmail.
04:01And I'd never let myself be blackmailed.
04:04Not now. Not ever.
04:07The next morning, I woke up half an hour early.
04:10I ran three miles on the treadmill and worked up a good sweat.
04:13That was my ritual. Self-discipline was the key to freedom.
04:17Karina was up too, leaning over the bathroom sink, dry heaving.
04:20The sound made me wince. Honestly, it was rough.
04:22When I got out of the shower, she was already at the table.
04:25Two slices of plain white toast were in front of her.
04:27Shouldn't you eat something with more nutrients?
04:29Toast is empty carbs.
04:31My breakfast was nutritionist approved.
04:33I had a vegetable salad, two boiled eggs, and black coffee.
04:36I'll throw it up anyway. It's a waste of money.
04:38It's your money waste. Who cares?
04:39Karina asked how they would get the hospital, changing the subject.
04:43So, how are we getting to hospital?
04:44I'll drive you.
04:45No, I'll take the subway.
04:46Why?
04:47Your car's yours. Pre-marriage property.
04:49Using it means gas, wear, and tear. I don't want to owe you anything.
04:52Her voice was flat. It was like she's talking about somebody else's business.
04:55Michael blinked. She'd said those exact words once before, right after they got married.
05:00They'd fought for something, and she'd thrown them at him.
05:02Back then, I'd been impressed. It said she was a reasonable, modern woman.
05:06But now, hearing it from her, seven months pregnant, hit different.
05:10Karina.
05:11You don't have to be so strict about it. It's one ride. I'm not going to charge you.
05:15No. Rules are rules. We agreed to go Dutch. I'm sticking to it.
05:18She grabbed her canvas bag from the couch and headed for the door.
05:21Watching her go, Michael felt a strange pang like he was looking at a stranger.
05:24She used to be different. She used to pout, complain, and find ways to show she was unhappy.
05:31Every time, Michael would win the argument with his logic and principles, leaving her speechless.
05:35But now, she stopped complaining. She started using his own rules against him.
05:39It was like throwing a punch and hitting air. Frustrating and powerless.
05:42Fine. Don't be late.
05:44She didn't turn around. The door clicked shut behind her.
05:47I finished breakfast and drove to work. There was no traffic jam, but my mood stayed sour.
05:51I kept replaying her words in my head. Rules are rules. Wasn't that what I always said?
05:56Shouldn't I be happy she was finally playing by the book? Then why'd it bother me so much?
06:01It must be her attitude and that calm, flat voice. Right. It was a silent protest.
06:06What good would protesting do? The rules were set. She had to follow them.
06:11At 9.05, Michael was in the morning meeting when his message from Buzzard. It was a message Karina.
06:18Michael opened his banking app, typed in $393 and hit send. Perfect. Everything was running smoothly.
06:26Michael turned back to the meeting. Walking team through last quarter's financial.
06:29His colleagues watched him with something like respect. That feeling of being in control was deep satisfying.
06:34Marriage should be like a balance sheet. Income and expenses should all be transparent.
06:37Nobody got exploited. The meeting ended around 11. Michael made coffee and stood by the window.
06:43Traffic crawled below, watching the traffic below. His phone buzzed. It was Karina calling.
06:51Michael, the doctor wants to admit me.
06:54Admit you? Why?
06:55Something's off with the baby's heartbeat. They want to keep me for observation for two days.
07:01Is it serious?
07:02I don't know. That's why they want to watch me.
07:04I went quiet. Admission meant a whole new round of costs. Room fees, nursing, and tests.
07:09How were they supposed to split this? Go ahead and check in. We'll figure out the money when you're home.
07:14I need to pay now. The nurse is waiting. The deposit's $1,600.
07:18$1,600?
07:20I don't have enough in my account.
07:22Didn't you get paid last month?
07:23I paid the mortgage and my mom's last hospital bill. I've got about $300 left.
07:29It was her mom again. That family was a bottomless pole. That's your problem, Karina.
07:33We agreed. Your family's expenses are yours.
07:36I know, but I don't have the deposit right now.
07:39I'll transfer it. A loan. You can pay me back next paycheck.
07:42Should I write you in, Paige?
07:43Should I write you a note?
07:46Karina! Is that really how you want to talk to me?
07:49I'm following your rules.
07:50Fine. I'll send you $1,600.
07:54Interest. At the bank rate.
07:56He hung up before she could say another word.
08:01I sent the money. I tossed my phone onto table.
08:04My chest felt tight, like I couldn't draw a full breath.
08:07Did it actually do something wrong?
08:09I was holding my ground.
08:10I refused to end up like my father, bled dry by his family, left with nothing.
08:15Was that really so unreasonable?
08:18My assistant knocked on the door and poked his head in.
08:22Mr. Reid, everything's set for the Stellar group meeting this afternoon.
08:25Got it.
08:26Work was the only thing that kept me steady.
08:28I threw myself into pre-prepping for the afternoon,
08:31forcing the hospital calls out of my head.
08:33The meeting went well.
08:34I finally landed the contract I'd been chasing for months.
08:37The CEO of Stellar couldn't stop talking about how sharp I was.
08:42He called me young, driven, and decisive.
08:46Over dinner, he kept raising his glass to me.
08:49I drank more than I should have.
08:51By the time I got home, it was nearly eleven.
08:54The apartment was dark.
08:56I flipped on the lights.
08:57The place was empty.
08:59It hit me then that Karina was still at the hospital.
09:02I grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet and poured a glass.
09:05The liquor burned going down, made my head swim a little.
09:10I pulled out my phone.
09:11There were no messages from her.
09:13But my feed was buzzing.
09:15An old college buddy was posting about his newborn.
09:20There was a photo of his wife in a hospital bed, holding the baby.
09:24Both of them glowing.
09:25He captioned it,
09:26Babe, you've been through so much.
09:28I'll take care of you and our little one.
09:30I snort.
09:31Responsibility.
09:32Easy to say now.
09:33Another guy drowning in hormones.
09:35Once the passion wore off, all that was left was the chaos of bills, chores, and everyday nonsense.
09:41That was when he would realize how laughable his promises really were.
09:44I was the only one thinking clearly here.
09:46I poured another drink.
09:48My phone lit up.
09:50It was a bank notification.
09:51My secondary card had been hit for ninety bucks at a baby store.
09:56It must have been Karina.
09:58That card I gave her only had a $150 limit for picking up household stuff now and then.
10:02She was in the hospital.
10:04Why would she need baby stuff?
10:06I called her immediately.
10:07The phone rang for a long time before she picked up.
10:10There was noise in the background.
10:11Hello?
10:12What did you buy?
10:13You spent ninety dollars.
10:15A maternity kit.
10:17A maternity kit?
10:18We agreed to split baby expenses.
10:20Why'd you use my card?
10:21I don't have any cash left.
10:23What about the one thousand six hundred I sent you today?
10:26I paid the deposit and had some tests done.
10:29I've got less than a hundred left.
10:31Then you should have called me first.
10:32Karina, you're breaking our agreement.
10:36She went quiet.
10:38All that was left was the muffled sound of her sobbing.
10:41Crying?
10:42I hated it.
10:43It was the oldest trick in the book.
10:44What are you crying for?
10:46Tell me, am I wrong?
10:47We set rules.
10:48We stick to them.
10:49Otherwise, how are we any different from those families that are always a mess?
10:52Michael, I wanted to buy something nice for the baby and me.
10:56The doctor said things aren't looking great.
10:59I might have to deliver early.
11:01So that's an excuse to blow money?
11:03It's not blowing money.
11:05It's stuff we actually need.
11:06Then we both pay for it.
11:08Who said you could decide on your own and stick me with the bill?
11:10You're seriously losing it over ninety bucks?
11:13It's not about the money.
11:14It's about the rules.
11:16Without ground rules, what kind of family are we even running?
11:18Fine.
11:19I understand.
11:20I'll pay you back for the maternity kit.
11:22Forty-five dollars.
11:23She hung up.
11:24I stared at the dark screen.
11:26The frustration didn't fade.
11:27It curdled into something worse.
11:29She hung up on me.
11:30She was the one in the wrong, and she was acting like the victim.
11:33I drained my glass.
11:34The whiskey slid down cold, but it didn't touch the heat of my chest.
11:42The next morning, my phone wouldn't stop ringing.
11:45Dragged me out of a dead sleep.
11:46My head pounded from last night.
11:48The screen said Karina's mom.
11:50I picked up, frowning.
11:52Michael, how's Karina?
11:53I heard she's in the hospital?
11:55Just a minor thing.
11:56They're keeping an eye on her.
11:58Minor?
11:58Nothing about pregnancy is minor.
12:01Are you even taking care of her?
12:02I told you, I told her, quit her job and rest at home.
12:05But you never listen, do you?
12:07That was the same old nagging and the same tired complaints.
12:11Melissa, if she quits, who's paying her bills?
12:14You?
12:15Karina's salary is hers.
12:16She used it to cover share.
12:18That's what we agreed on from day one.
12:19If she quits, she loses half her income.
12:22Who makes up for that?
12:23You make more than $4,000 a year.
12:26Can't you cover a little more?
12:27She's carrying your child.
12:28Our child.
12:29Since it's our responsibility should be equal.
12:32That's only fair.
12:33You're talking nonsense.
12:35It's nonsense.
12:36It's honoring our agreement.
12:37I have to get to work.
12:38We'll talk later.
12:39I hung up.
12:40Finally, some quiet.
12:42I got up and made coffee.
12:43My phone buzzed with a message from Karina.
12:46It was a screenshot of a bank transfer of $45.
12:49Note attached for the maternity kit.
12:51Good.
12:51At least she understood how things worked.
12:53I felt a little better.
12:54The rules were holding.
12:57I finished my coffee and headed to the office.
13:00I spent the whole day buried in work,
13:02stretch sheets, market trends, and numbers.
13:05Numbers were easier than people.
13:07With numbers, what I saw was what I got.
13:09That evening, driving home, I passed that baby store.
13:12On impulse, I pulled over and went inside.
13:14I wanted to see what a $90 maturity kit actually looked like.
13:18Shopping for your wife, sir?
13:19How far along is she?
13:20Seven months.
13:21Then you might want to check out our...
13:23I'm here for the $90 kit.
13:24She paused.
13:25Her smile tightened a fraction.
13:27She led me to a corner shelf and pointed at a plain pink bag.
13:30The cheapest looking one there.
13:31Here you are, sir.
13:32I picked it up and checked inside.
13:33There was almost nothing in it.
13:34A handful of diapers, a flimby set of baby clothes,
13:37and a small bottle of baby wash.
13:38All generic brands.
13:39What's your best maternity kit?
13:41Her eyes lit up.
13:42She hurried to the center display.
13:44There was a fancy gift box, beautifully wrapped.
13:47This one's imported from abroad.
13:49Everything inside is organic and of premium quality.
13:51It was perfect for mother and baby.
13:53A lot of celebrities use this brand.
13:56I checked the price tag.
13:57It said $900.
13:59Ten times what Karina had spent.
14:01I put it back on the shelf and walked out without a word.
14:07Back in the car, I lit a cigarette.
14:09I didn't know what I was feeling exactly.
14:11Something stuck in my throat.
14:12I told myself it was her choice.
14:14If she wanted the expensive one, she could afford it.
14:16She bought the cheap one to save her own money.
14:18That was her business, not mine.
14:23I crushed the cigarette in the ash drain and started the engine.
14:27My phone rang.
14:28It was hello?
14:30They're discharging me tomorrow.
14:32Okay.
14:32The doctor said I'm a little undernourished.
14:35I need to eat better and take some pregnancy supplements.
14:37Oh.
14:38I checked the prices.
14:39They're over $300 a month.
14:41Does this count as something for the baby?
14:43She finally hit the nail on the head.
14:45I smiled to myself.
14:46Karina, those supplements are for your health.
14:49The baby takes what it needs from you.
14:51So that would come out of your budget, right?
14:53What do you think?
14:54There was a long pause on Karina's end.
14:56I could hear her faint, steady breathing through the phone.
14:59I knew what I'd said was cold.
15:01Maybe even harsh.
15:02But it was true.
15:03My logic was solid.
15:04I understand.
15:06Then she hung up.
15:08She acted like always.
15:09No protest.
15:10No fuss.
15:11Just acceptance.
15:12It made me feel like the villain somehow.
15:14But I wasn't wrong.
15:15I was defending the rules and protecting our agreement.
15:19I'm making sure neither of us took a good advantage.
15:22The next day was Saturday.
15:24I actually had the day off.
15:26I went to the hospital around noon to pick her up.
15:28At the discharge desk, I went through every bill carefully.
15:32I checked each charge down to the last cent.
15:34Any fees, tests, or medications related to the baby,
15:37I marked those, totaled them, and split them in half.
15:40These are your personal expenses.
15:43Karina took the bill without even looking.
15:46Okay.
15:47I pulled out my phone and opened the calculator.
15:49The total bill is $2,440.
15:52The baby's share is $1,600, so we split that for $800 each.
15:57I held the phone out so she could see the numbers.
15:59Remaining $840 is your own expenses.
16:01I lent you $1,600.
16:03After taking off your $840 and your $800 wins, you still owe me 40 quetzin.
16:08She glanced at it.
16:09Okay.
16:10I didn't even calculate the interest.
16:11For three days it's probably pennies.
16:13Forget it.
16:13I waved a hand like I was doing her a favor.
16:15She didn't respond.
16:16She started gathering her things in silence.
16:18A small bag was all she'd brought for her hospital stay.
16:21We drove home in silence.
16:22The air in the car was thick.
16:24I turned on the radio and played some classical music, hoping to break the ice.
16:28But it was useless.
16:30The silence got heavier.
16:32The moment we walked in, Karina went straight to the bedroom.
16:35When she came back, she was holding an envelope.
16:41You're $40.
16:42I took it and opened it.
16:46Inside were two crisp $20 bills.
16:49Where'd you get this?
16:50I borrowed it from my mom.
16:51I felt another wave of irritation.
16:53Of course it was with Alyssa Hart again.
16:56She'd rather go to her mom for help than ever come to me.
16:59Karina, what's that supposed to mean?
17:02Nothing.
17:03I don't want to owe you anything.
17:05We're married!
17:06Even married couples should settle accounts.
17:09You taught me that.
17:10I stared at her.
17:11Her face was pale, almost ghostly.
17:13But her eyes were calm, flat, and still as a frozen lake.
17:17It hit me then, like a punch to the chest.
17:20I didn't know her at all.
17:21Fine.
17:22Hope you can stay this strong-willed.
17:24She stayed in the bedroom all afternoon.
17:27When I called her for dinner, she said she wasn't hungry.
17:30That night, I heard her on the phone in the other room.
17:32Her voice was low, careful.
17:34As if she were discussing something serious.
17:38I moved closer to the door and caught fragments.
17:42Yes, I've documented everything.
17:44Chain of custody matters.
17:45Thank you, Miss Bennett.
17:47Was she talking to a lawyer?
17:49My heart skipped a beat.
17:50But why?
17:51Was through lines?
17:52Was she planning a divorce?
17:54The thought flashed through my mind, but I pushed it away.
17:56No way.
17:57She was pregnant.
17:58She didn't work.
17:59How could she divorce me?
18:00Would she walk away with nothing?
18:02She was not, not stupid.
18:04I was overthinking.
18:05She's probably consulting for a friend.
18:07That night, I lay beside her in bed.
18:09She was stiff as a board.
18:11There was a wall between us.
18:12Invisible, but solid.
18:14I turned away from her.
18:15She would get better after the baby came.
18:18Pregnant women were emotional.
18:19It was okay.
18:21I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.
18:24In the middle of the night, something woke me.
18:26I opened my eyes.
18:27Karina was sitting on the edge of the bed.
18:29Moonlight spilled through the window.
18:31She was holding her phone, the screen casting a pale glow on her face.
18:35She was looking at a photo from our wedding.
18:37In it, she was smiling, pressed close against me.
18:40She looked radiant.
18:41I watched a tear slide down her cheek.
18:44It landed on the screen, leaving a small wet mark.
18:47Something twisted in my chest.
18:49The feeling caught me off guard, but I pushed it down.
18:53Emotions were messy.
18:54They clouded judgment.
18:56She looked at the photo for a long time.
18:58Then she put the phone down and lay back down, her back to me.
19:01I could tell she wasn't asleep.
19:03I could feel the tension in her body like a wire pulled too tight.
19:06We lay there like strangers sharing a bed.
19:11The next day was Monday.
19:12I got up early as usual, went for a run, and had my usual healthy breakfast.
19:17Karina got up too.
19:18She made herself a bowl of oats with nothing else.
19:21That's all you're eating?
19:22The doctor said you need more nutrition.
19:25I'm not hungry.
19:26You need to eat even if you're not hungry.
19:28It's for the baby.
19:29Michael, are you actually worried about me or your investment?
19:32I was stunned at Karina's words.
19:35What kind of investment are you talking about?
19:37Her mouth twisted into something that wasn't quite a smile.
19:40The baby.
19:40Isn't that what this is?
19:42Your long-term investment?
19:44You put in half the effort now and hope for a full return later.
19:47You want someone to take care of you when you're old.
19:49My chest tanned.
19:50Is that really what you think of me?
19:52Isn't it?
19:53You track every dollar between us.
19:55Every single one.
19:56You treat marriage like a business deal and our child like a project.
20:00You never give anything without expecting something back.
20:03Michael, have you ever actually loved me?
20:05She held my eyes as she asked, waiting.
20:08I opened my mouth but nothing came out.
20:10Love?
20:11That word felt foreigner and abstract like something from another language.
20:15I believed in fair exchange.
20:17I gave her stability.
20:18I provided her with a good life and a solid marriage.
20:21In return, she gave me companionship, children, and a family.
20:24Wasn't that fair?
20:26See?
20:26A tear slipped down her cheek.
20:28She laughed.
20:30You can't even say it.
20:31Because in your heart, there's no such thing as love.
20:33Only cost and benefit.
20:35I hated the tears.
20:36They made me uncomfortable.
20:37Made me feel like the bad guy.
20:39I'm not having this conversation.
20:41I stood up, grabbed my jacket.
20:42I've done my part for this family.
20:44That's what matters.
20:45Your half.
20:46Yes, my half.
20:47I've stuck to my rules.
20:49I stormed out, slamming the door.
20:53In the elevator, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
20:56Sharp suit, good looks, the picture of success.
20:58My life was a system I'd built from the ground up.
21:01It was carefully engineered.
21:03There were no errors allowed.
21:04Karina was the one trying to introduce errors.
21:06I couldn't let her.
21:07When I got the office, my mom called again.
21:10Michael, I've got some news.
21:11I'm retiring next month.
21:13Congratulations.
21:14Your father and I talked.
21:16Once I'm retired, I'll come help with Karina.
21:18That's not necessary.
21:20Not necessary?
21:21She's pregnant.
21:22There's no one there to help her.
21:23How is that okay?
21:24She has me.
21:26You?
21:26You can't even make your own dinner.
21:28She has to cook for you.
21:29My mom didn't mince words.
21:31She knew what I was like.
21:32Mom, this is between Karina and me.
21:35Stay out of it.
21:38I'm worried about my grandchild.
21:39Where would you stay?
21:40What about meals?
21:41Expenses?
21:42Have you thought about any of that?
21:44I'd stay in your guest room.
21:46You think I'd charge you?
21:48If you move in, you'd be using our utilities and eating our food.
21:52Those are costs.
21:53In this house, if someone else joins the household, the budget needs adjusting.
21:58So who covers those extra costs?
22:00You?
22:00Me?
22:01Karina?
22:01My mom went silent for a moment.
22:04Michael, have you lost your mind?
22:07I'm your mother.
22:08I hung up before she could respond.
22:10Exactly.
22:11This is the best way.
22:12Boundaries keep relationships clean.
22:14That's why I don't want money to come between us.
22:17I leaned back in my chair and exhaled.
22:19Another problem solved.
22:21That afternoon, I got a delivery notification.
22:24There was a package for me from Karina.
22:26I found it a bit odd.
22:27She was at home, so why would she send me something through a courier?
22:30After work, I picked it up.
22:32It was a small cardboard box.
22:34It felt light.
22:35Back in my car, I opened it.
22:36Inside was a ring.
22:38My wedding ring.
22:39Underneath the ring was a note.
22:40Her handwriting was neat and clear.
22:42This ring was bought by you when we got married.
22:45It's your pre-married property.
22:47I was having it temporarily.
22:48Now I'm returning it to its owner.
22:50Also, about your mother coming to take care of me, I agree.
22:53But I'll pay her full salary as a purse care caker.
22:55We'll sign a formal employment contract.
22:59I gripped the cold ring.
23:01My palms slick with sweat.
23:02The words on the note stung like needles.
23:04Returning it to its owner.
23:06Signing a formal employment contract.
23:08What was her game?
23:09Was she trying to rub my nose in it?
23:11I fired up the engine and tore down the road toward home, tires scratching.
23:16I needed to settle this.
23:17She had to understand who calls the shots in this house.
23:20I shoved the door open.
23:21She was curled up on the couch, wrapped in a thin blanket, reading a parenting book.
23:25She was so absorbed as if nothing had happened.
23:28I slammed the ring box onto the coffee table.
23:31It hit hard.
23:32She jumped, startled, and looked up.
23:34What the hell is this supposed to mean?
23:37Exactly what it says.
23:38You bought the ring.
23:39It's yours.
23:40I've got no right to keep it.
23:41I'm your husband.
23:43Legally, yes.
23:44Then you should be wearing my ring.
23:46Why?
23:46A ring stands for loyalty, for love.
23:49Is there any yet left between us?
23:51Save the drama.
23:52What's this about my mom?
23:53A work hot?
23:54You want to turn her into your nanny now?
23:55A post-parter caretaker.
23:57Market rate is $4,000 a month, room and bell included.
24:00I think that's fair.
24:01Fair?
24:02That's my mother we're talking about.
24:04She's the baby's grandmother.
24:05You want to pay her like some hired hand?
24:07How's she supposed to face anyone after that?
24:10The same would go for my mom, too.
24:12I thought playing the family card would make her back her down, but she didn't even blink.
24:17If your mom's not comfortable with it, I can always hire a cert of post-terdarni from outside.
24:22That'll run $6,000 a month.
24:23She had a backup plan ready.
24:25I felt like I was punching a pillow, completely useless.
24:28All my anger, all my arguments dissolved in front of her.
24:32Because she was using the very logic I'd taught her.
24:34No emotions.
24:35Stick to the deal.
24:37Karina, do we really have to be this calculating?
24:39Do we really need to keep score?
24:41Michael, you're the one who taught me.
24:43In marriage, keeping clear is the only way to make it work.
24:47Feelings are the most unreliable world thing.
24:49Only the money in your pocket and the words on paper are real.
24:52With that, Karina turned and walked into the home office.
24:55She came back with a printed contract and handed over.
24:58This is the home child TRICARE care agreement.
25:01Take a look.
25:01If your mom's okay with it, you can go ahead and sign.
25:04I stared at the document.
25:05The title was bolded.
25:06Everything was laid out.
25:08Services, hours, pay, responsibilities, and breach of contract terms.
25:12As professional as any corporate deal.
25:16My hands trembled.
25:17Not from anger, but from fear.
25:19For the first time, I realized things were slipping out of my control.
25:23My phone rang.
25:24It was my mom.
25:25I hit the speaker.
25:26Michael, I've made up my mind.
25:28I'm coming over.
25:29Karina told me everything and she's even paying me.
25:31She's so considerate.
25:32She don't want me to overwork or pay out of pocket.
25:35Mom, don't listen to her.
25:36I don't care.
25:37I'm coming next month.
25:39Salary or no salary.
25:40I want to take care of my grandchild.
25:42Oh, and about that contract.
25:44Karina's I should sign it with you.
25:46Get it ready so nobody can say I'm taking advantage of you two.
25:50The call ended and I stood there stunned.
25:53The contract in my hand felt like it might burn through my skin.
25:56The days slipped past and suddenly Karina's due date was a week away and my mom had arrived
26:01in town early.
26:03A few days later, Karina's belly had grown more prominent.
26:07Her movements increasingly labored.
26:09One evening, stepping out of the shower, her feet slipped on the wet tile and she crashed
26:15to the floor.
26:19I heard the thud and rushed from my study.
26:21She lay crumpled on the ground, grained of all color.
26:25Karina!
26:27Then I saw the fluid spreading beneath her.
26:29Her water had broken.
26:31Call an ambulance!
26:33I grabbed my phone, fingers fumbling over the screen, but Karina caught my wrist.
26:37Breath racked, but eyes startlingly clear.
26:39She fixed me with that unwagering gaze.
26:42Michael, don't tall.
26:45You drive me.
26:46Why?
26:47Because ambulances cost extra.
26:50Your car is premarited property.
26:52That's what we agreed.
26:53If I use premarital asset, I should compensate you for gas and depreciation.
26:59Fair is fair.
27:01My mind went totally blank.
27:03Ambulance fees, gas money, depreciation.
27:06She wanted everything to be settled, no loose ends.
27:09Her words sliced into my brain like poisoned blades.
27:23I stared at Karina's pale face, sweat beating on on her forehead.
27:27Her body trembled violently, but her eyes never wavered.
27:31Michael, promise me I won't owe you anything.
27:35Fine!
27:36I promise!
27:37Whatever you want!
27:45When we reached the emergency entrance, I burst through the doors with Karina in my arms.
27:50Doctor!
27:50My wife's in labor!
27:52Nurses and doctors materialized instantly.
27:54Within moments, Karina was on a gurney being wheeled through the swinging doors.
27:58Sir, you need to register and pay the deposit.
28:02Here we go again.
28:04Another deposit.
28:05My mother fumbled for a wallet.
28:07How much?
28:08I have cash.
28:11Mom, it's okay.
28:13Use this.
28:14Michael, you...
28:15Just go.
28:16I stood alone outside the emergency room, drenched in sweat.
28:19When I'd carried her, her amulic fluid had soaked through my shirt, warm, sticky, with a faint metallo scent.
28:26My legs gave way, and I slumped against the wall, realizing I'd been trembling the whole time.
28:32I paid $3,000.
28:34I shoved them into my pocket without looking.
28:36The emergency doors swung open, and a doctor emerged.
28:39Family of Karina?
28:41I'm her husband.
28:42She's not doing well.
28:43Signs of preentural labor.
28:45Cervix already dited to two centimeters.
28:47We're moving her to maternity now, straight to delivery.
28:49Be prepared for complications.
28:50There are a lot of variables.
28:52Soon, they wheeled Karina out.
28:54She lay on the gurney with her eyes squeezed shut.
28:57Her brow furrowed in pain.
28:58Her face was pale.
28:59I followed right beside the gurney, wanting so badly to take her hand, but I couldn't bring myself to do
29:05it.
29:05I noticed her lips moving and leaned closer.
29:08Her voice came out in a thread, so faint I had to strain to hear.
29:11The deposit added to the bill.
29:16My blood ran cold in that instant.
29:19I watched them roll her down the corridor, deeper, into the maternity ward.
29:24The doors swung shut behind her, sealing her off from me as if we existed in different dimensions.
29:31Family of Karina Hart!
29:35Doctor, how is she?
29:37During surgery, Karina began hemorrhaging severely.
29:41His words hit me like a physical blow.
29:44What?
29:45And the baby?
29:46My mother screamed, her legs buckling.
29:48The baby's out.
29:49It's a boy, almost eight pounds, and he is perfectly healthy.
29:52He's been taken to the neon ulcer observation unit.
29:55But Karina's condition is critical.
29:57We're doing everything we can, but she needs an immediate blood infusion.
30:00The blood bank is critically low on her type, RH negative.
30:03I'm type O, take mine!
30:04That won't help.
30:05Does anyone in her immediate family share her blood type?
30:08I froze.
30:09I had no idea.
30:11Two years of marriage, and I'd never once asked about her family's blood type.
30:17Quick!
30:18Caller's voice cut through the chaos.
30:19My hands were shaking so badly I couldn't even unlock my phone.
30:23My mom was sobbing beside me.
30:25What should I do?
30:26I looked at the doctor's urgent face, then at my mom's desperate eyes, and my brain stopped.
30:31It's too late!
30:32Her parents are all the way back home.
30:34It'd take them three or four hours by plane.
30:36Then, out of nowhere, the guy who'd been celebrating his twins walked over.
30:40He put a hand on my shoulder.
30:42Hey man, take a breath.
30:43I'm Ari Nagich, you can use mine.
30:45I stared at him.
30:46He looked so ordinary.
30:47A husband about to become a father, same as me.
30:50But right now, in my eyes, he was nothing short of a saint.
30:54I-I...
30:56Nurse, get him screened, now!
30:58Everything blurred into motion.
30:59Someone hit fast forward on the world.
31:01The man was gone before I could even process what had happened.
31:04My mom rushed after him, nearly collapsing.
31:09God bless you.
31:10You're saving our family.
31:12Please, don't.
31:13No need for that.
31:15We're both husbands.
31:16I get it.
31:18He said he understood, but I didn't.
31:21Not even close.
31:22There were no strings attached.
31:23No payment.
31:24Why would anyone do that for a stranger?
31:26He was risking his own body for someone he'd never even met.
31:29It didn't make sense.
31:31It broke every rule I lived by.
31:33Every principal of fair exchange.
31:35Every transaction I'd ever made.
31:37I sank into a chair, feeling like the ground was shifting beneath me.
31:41Thirty years of building my world dild, and it was crumbling into dust.
31:45My mom sat down beside me.
31:47For once, she didn't yell.
31:48She let out a long, heavy sigh.
31:50That sigh was full of disappointment and pity.
31:53It was as if she was looking at someone beyond saving.
31:56A total lost cause.
31:57So we waited.
31:58The minutes crawled by, but everything had changed.
32:01Before, I'd been waiting for news on a project.
32:04Now I was waiting for a verdict on life itself.
32:07Life was so fragile that it needed the blood of a total stranger to survive.
32:10There really was a bond between people that ignored all costs.
32:14Everything I'd mocked, everything I'd called stupid and impulsive, was now my only hope.
32:19Another hour dragged past.
32:20Then finally, the delivery room lights went out.
32:23My heart stopped.
32:24The door swung open.
32:25A doctor stepped out, pulling off his mask.
32:27He looked exhausted, but his eyes held something softer.
32:30Family of Karina?
32:34Right here!
32:36She's out of danger.
32:37The sweetest words I'd ever heard.
32:39My knees nearly gave out.
32:40My mom pressed her hands together, whispering prayers under her breath.
32:44We stopped the bleeding, managed to save her uterus.
32:47Mother and baby are both stable.
32:48Both stable.
32:49The words echoed in my head.
32:51Nothing, not closing a million-dollar deal, not any victory in my life, had ever brought
32:56me this kind of relief.
32:58Thank you, doctor.
33:01She'll need 24 hours in the ICU.
33:03The baby's in the new normal unit.
33:05You can see him now.
33:06And that gentleman who donated blood needs rest, too.
33:09Make sure you thank him properly.
33:10I nodded, still in a bays.
33:12I followed the nurse to the N.E.
33:13Sue.
33:14Behind a thick plain of glass, there he was.
33:16My son.
33:17He was asleep in his incubator, eyes closed, peaceful.
33:20His skin was all wrinkled.
33:21He looked like a little old man.
33:22This was my kid with my DNA.
33:25I'd thought of him as an investment once.
33:27Standing there, looking at him, all that talk of profit and loss evaporated.
33:31All I could think was how small he was.
33:33How fragile.
33:34How completely helpless.
33:35It hurt to look at him.
33:37My grandson.
33:38My beautiful grandson.
33:41I stood there a moment longer, then turned to leave.
33:44Morning light filtered through the hallway windows.
33:47Karana Hart is awake.
33:48Her vitals are stable.
33:50She can be transferred to a regular room today.
33:52Is she okay?
33:53She's recovering well, but still weak.
33:56One family member can visit for ten minutes.
33:58Mom, you go.
33:59You go.
34:00She's your wife.
34:01You should be the first one in.
34:02Fear twisted in my stomach.
34:04I didn't know how to face her.
34:06What could I possibly say?
34:07I'm sorry felt like a joke.
34:09It was too small.
34:10Too cheap for everything I'd put her through.
34:13She lay there, staring at the ceiling, eyes empty and distant.
34:16Her lips were dry, cracked.
34:18When she heard my footsteps, her gaze shifted slowly towards me.
34:22Our eyes met.
34:23There was no anger, no resentment.
34:26Not even a trace of emotion in her gaze.
34:30You're awake.
34:31She looked at me, saying nothing.
34:33How are you feeling?
34:34The words stumbled out.
34:35The silence between us felt endless.
34:37The only sound was the steady beep of machines.
34:39Each one landed like a hammer on my chest.
34:41I lost all track of time.
34:43Those ten minutes felt like a lifetime.
34:45The nurse walked in, letting me know.
34:47Visiting hours were over.
34:48I stood up to leave.
34:49As I reached the door, Karina spoke.
34:51Her voice was barely a whisper, raspy, like sandpaper on wood.
34:55Where's my baby?
34:56Karina asked.
34:57My baby.
34:58Not our baby.
34:59Those two words cut deeper than anything.
35:01It felt like I didn't exist to her anymore.
35:03My heart felt like it had been stabbed all over again.
35:05He's doing well.
35:06It's a healthy boy.
35:07He's in the Nephinal unit, in an incubator.
35:09Oh.
35:09She murmured.
35:10Then she closed her eyes and didn't look at me again.
35:12It was as if she'd only woken up to check on her baby.
35:15Once she got her answer, I was nothing but empty air to her.
35:18I walked out of the icy suit, stripped off the visitor gown, and felt cold all over.
35:22Her attitude toward me was worse than anything I'd ever pictured in my head.
35:28Yelling, cursing, and blaming, I was ready for all of that.
35:31But this total indifference was like a dull blade, slowly cutting.
35:35That night, my mom stayed at the hospital.
35:36She told me to go home, pack some things, and get some rest.
35:39I drove home and walked through the door.
35:41The house felt dead.
35:43It was too quiet.
35:44There wasn't a hint of anyone's presence.
35:46I stepped into our bedroom.
35:47Her scent still lingered faintly in the air.
35:49Her pregnancy pillow sat on the bed.
35:51Exactly she did left it when she rushed out.
35:54I opened the nightstand drawer, looking for her bank card.
35:57That was when I spotted a file.
35:58There was no label.
35:59There was nothing special about it.
36:01But something pulled me to pick it up.
36:02It was thick and heavy.
36:04I hesitated, then opened it.
36:06Inside was a detailed scred shot.
36:08The title read,
36:09Marriage.
36:10It started from the day we got married.
36:12Every single expense was listed in meticulous detail.
36:15Date, item, amount, who paid, and the 50% I was supposed to cover.
36:19From the mortgage down to the groceries, it was all there.
36:21Dozens of pages, filled to the brim with expenses.
36:24At the very end of the scred shit was the final total.
36:27A number in bold, bright red.
36:29Next to it was a note, the unpaid share Mike's supposed to cover.
36:32I stared at that number.
36:33My mind went blank.
36:34But that wasn't even the worst part.
36:38I kept flipping through the pages.
36:40After the spreadsheet, there was a fat stack of copies of every single receipt and invoice,
36:44all lined up exactly with the entries in the spreadsheet.
36:47What came next sent chills down my spine.
36:50There were receipts for digital voice recorders and mini spy cameras.
36:54And then there was a thick stack of printed out chat loogs.
36:56Every conversation between her and me.
36:58Every discussion about money.
37:00Every time I pushed for splitting everything 50 for 50.
37:02Every bit of evidence showing I refused to spend on her.
37:05She'd highlight each one with red lines, one after another.
37:08Buried under the pile, at the very bottom, was a document with her signatures already on it.
37:13The title screamed at me in bold black letters.
37:16Divorce papers.
37:17I held that envelope as if it were on fire.
37:20My hands shook.
37:21My heart quivered.
37:22My whole world reeled.
37:24Divorce papers.
37:26Bills.
37:27Recordings.
37:28Chat logs.
37:28When did she start putting this together?
37:30The day we got married?
37:32The first time I made her split the grocery bill?
37:34I always thought I was the one in control.
37:37The chess player.
37:38She was another piece on my board.
37:40But I was dead wrong.
37:41I was the idiot.
37:43The one left in the dark.
37:45She wasn't some doxile sheep.
37:47She was a wolf, patient, cunning, and disguised.
37:50All that submission, all that composure she showed me was all leading up to today.
37:54The final fatal strike.
37:58My heart slammed against my ribs as rage surged through my veins like wildfire.
38:02It was rage at being played for a fool, at being someone's puppet.
38:05I grabbed the folder and my car keys and stormed out of the house,
38:09not bothering to change out of my slippers.
38:11I flooded the gas.
38:12The engine roared through the empty midnight streets like a wounded animal.
38:16There was only one thought in my head.
38:19I had to see her.
38:20I needed the truth.
38:21I needed to shatter that mask she wore so well.
38:24I burst into the hospital and made a beeline for her private room.
38:27My mother was dozing in the chair by the bed.
38:29She jolted awake the commotion.
38:31Michael, what are you doing here?
38:33I didn't answer.
38:34My eyes were locked on Karina.
38:36She was awake, staring right at me.
38:38Her gaze was eerily calm, as if she'd been expecting me all along.
38:43You're here.
38:44I walked to the bed and threw the folder onto the blanket in front of her.
38:47The papers spilled out, covered the white sheets like a black flower blooming with despair.
38:51What are these?
38:52Explain to me, Karina.
38:53What the hell are these?
38:57Michael, stop.
38:58She had surgery.
39:00She reached for my arm, but I shrugged her off.
39:04Karina glanced at the papers, then back at me.
39:06A ghost of a smile touched her lips.
39:08It was not a question.
39:09It was a statement.
39:11You found them.
39:12I grabbed an apple from the night can and hurled it to the floor.
39:15It exploded into pulp.
39:17My voice echoed off the sterile walls, sharp and unharged.
39:20Was this your plan all along?
39:22Marry me?
39:23Play the loving wife?
39:25Wait for the right moments to take everything?
39:27Karina looked at me, and for a moment,
39:29something shifted in her eyes.
39:30Michael, you're wrong.
39:32I wasn't playing you.
39:33I was playing by your rules.
39:35My rules?
39:36Since when do my rules end taping me without my knowledge?
39:39Printing private conversations?
39:41Lawyering up behind my back?
39:44Every time we argued about mun money,
39:46you demanded receipts and proof.
39:47You always said,
39:48no evidence, no right to speak.
39:50I'm following what you taught me.
39:54The words caught in my throat.
39:56My face burned.
39:57You, you're insane.
40:00No, I'm done being naive.
40:01Do you really think I went through all this for money?
40:04My mother had picked up the divorce papers from the floor.
40:06Her hands shook as she scanned them.
40:09Karina, are you really divorcing him?
40:12Karina ignored completely.
40:14Her eyes never left mine.
40:15Look again, Michael.
40:17Turn to the last page.
40:18That's what this is really about.
40:19The last page?
40:20I froze.
40:21I'd been so blinded by rage,
40:23I never made it that far.
40:24My mother gathered the scattered papers with trembling hands.
40:26She reached the final page and went still like stone.
40:29This is...
40:30She stared at the paper,
40:31her lips twizzling,
40:32unable to say a word.
40:33I grabbed the paper from her.
40:35It wasn't part of the divorce agreement.
40:36It was something else entirely.
40:38Personal statement on custody,
40:40and custody and guardianship of our unborn child.
40:42My eyes locked onto the headline,
40:44and then I saw what was written underneath.
40:46It wasn't long,
40:47but every word like a blade twisting in my chest.
40:52Michael and I agreed to a strict 50-50 split
40:55after we got married.
40:57Separate finances,
40:58separate responsibilities.
40:59I, Karina Hart,
41:01shouldered all the physical costs.
41:02Health risks,
41:04loss of earnings,
41:05and the countless emotional and physical pain
41:08that came with this pregnancy,
41:09see,
41:10and childbirth,
41:11every bit of it alone.
41:12Pregnancy takes a toll on mother's body alone.
41:15Childbirth is a life or death battle
41:17fought by one person during the whole process.
41:20Michael didn't face any comparable physical risks or burdens.
41:24So,
41:25by the principle of fairness,
41:27since I owe all the costs myself,
41:29the child born from this marriage
41:31should belong entirely to me,
41:33with full custody and guardianship.
41:36Michael only contributed biologically at the start.
41:39He didn't precipitate in the actual process
41:41of bringing the child into the world.
41:44Therefore,
41:45he has no ownership over the final product.
41:48This is my official statement.
41:50Enclosed is a legal memandader
41:53from Bennett and Associates
41:56in support of this claim.
42:00I stared at the statement.
42:02My blood ran cold.
42:04What kind of twisted logic was this?
42:06A child wasn't a product.
42:08We shouldn't claim ownership like this.
42:09You're insane!
42:11Did childbirth break your brain?
42:13That kid is ours.
42:14Is it?
42:15Was there ever an ours between us, Michael?
42:17Your paycheck was yours.
42:19Mine was mine.
42:20Your car,
42:21your money,
42:22your choices,
42:23always separate,
42:24always divided.
42:25So why should this be any different?
42:27Why now do you get to claim the baby ours?
42:30That's not fair, Michael.
42:31That's not how your rules work.
42:33You don't get to invoke 50 for 50 when it suits you,
42:36then cry we when it doesn't.
42:38My mind turned.
42:39She was twisting everything.
42:40That's not the same.
42:41It's totally different.
42:43The law says the child is legally both of ours.
42:46Right.
42:47The law says spouses have a duty to help each other.
42:50When I was seven months pregnant,
42:52crammed into the subway every morning,
42:54where were you?
42:55When I couldn't keep down anything but dry toast,
42:58where were you?
42:58When my water broke,
42:59and I begged you to drive me to the hospital,
43:02and you argued,
43:04you about gasp and ink,
43:05you care about me?
43:06When I was bleeding out on the operating table,
43:09and needed someone to sign,
43:11and you were still negotiating the surgery costs,
43:14do you think you deserve to be my husband?
43:19This is a tragedy.
43:21So legally and morally,
43:23you abandon your role as a husband first.
43:25Why should you get the rights of a father now?
43:28My lawyer will show the court
43:29how you manipulate me financially,
43:31and tormented me emotionally.
43:33You don't to call yourself a parent.
43:35Bennett and associates.
43:37I'd heard of Pierce Bennett before.
43:39She was the city's most ruthless divorce lawyer.
43:42The fortune burner.
43:44She carved up fortunes,
43:46and left men like me in pieces.
43:48I always thought she was a legend in the news.
43:51Never X Pierce would ever be tied to my name.
43:53When did you get a lawyer?
43:54The first time you made me split,
43:56the cost of a prenatal checkup,
43:58I went straight to their office that same day.
44:00I felt the air leave my lungs.
44:02My legs gave out,
44:03and I slid down the wall to the cold floor.
44:05It was over.
44:06It had been over for months.
44:07She wasn't acting on impulse.
44:09She wasn't bluffing.
44:10She'd been plotting,
44:11laying out this trap for seven months.
44:13From the day I made her split
44:15the prenatal checkup costs,
44:16I'd already walked right into the trap
44:19she'd dug for me.
44:20No, this isn't real.
44:21I won't agree to a divorce.
44:23I won't sign.
44:24You can't leave me,
44:25not if I refuse.
44:29Michael.
44:30Karina looked at me
44:31like a parent watching a child throw a tantrum.
44:34Really?
44:34Are you still thinking like this?
44:37Two years of separation
44:38is talks to Borsford to go through,
44:40and I have more than enough evidence
44:41this marriage died a long time ago.
44:43I can even document every way
44:44you failed during our marriage.
44:46So tell me,
44:46do you really think a job leave
44:47will view over all this?
44:48She gentrioned at the paper
44:50scattered across the floor.
44:51Those receipts and insuice
44:52I'd always dismissed as trivial
44:53were now the nooth
44:54tightening around my neck.
44:55Why?
44:56I gripped my hair,
44:57pain twisting through me.
44:58Why are you doing this to me?
45:00Did it really have to end like this?
45:03You want to know why?
45:05Michael, that's a question
45:06you should ask yourself.
45:08You're the one who pushed me here,
45:10step by step.
45:11I gave you chance to chance,
45:12more times than I can count.
45:14When I was in my first trimester
45:16and told you I felt miserable
45:18and craved something sour,
45:19you told me to order my own takeout
45:21and not your monies.
45:22Later,
45:23when my feet swelled so badly
45:24I couldn't fit into my shoes,
45:26and I asked you to pick me up
45:28from work just once,
45:29you complained about
45:30wear and tears on your car
45:31and told me to call a cab.
45:33On my birthday,
45:34when my mother brought over
45:35homemade cookies,
45:36pulled actually a calculator
45:37in front of her
45:38and started calculating
45:39how much water electricity
45:41she'd used in our kitchen.
45:42When I was being wheeled
45:44into the delivery room,
45:45not knowing if I'd make it out alive,
45:47your first question
45:48was how we'd split
45:49the surgical costs.
45:50Her voice turned to ice.
45:52That was when I realized
45:53the man I married
45:53had no heart.
45:54And a man without a heart
45:56doesn't deserve a wife.
45:57And he certainly doesn't
45:58deserve a child.
46:02No, that's not true.
46:04I was wrong, Karina.
46:05I really was.
46:06I messed up.
46:07Please forgive me this once.
46:08We'll forget the 50-50 arrangement.
46:10You can control all our money
46:12from now on.
46:13My salary,
46:13my credit cards,
46:14even the secondary ones.
46:15Everything I have is yours.
46:17Can we start over?
46:18Please?
46:18I cried.
46:19I, a guy who hadn't shed
46:21a single tear in 30 years,
46:22was now bawling like a kid.
46:24I thought my begging,
46:25my surrender,
46:26would finally soften her.
46:27But I was wrong again.
46:28She stared at me,
46:30her eyes empty of any emotion.
46:32Michael, you still don't understand.
46:34This was never about money.
46:35What I wanted was love,
46:37care.
46:37Someone who would show up for me
46:39without being asked,
46:41without calculating the cost.
46:42Not someone who weighs every option
46:44and hands me an itemized bill.
46:46You can't give me love,
46:48because to you,
46:49everything is a transaction.
46:50As she spoke,
46:52she pressed the call button
46:53beside her bed.
46:54A nurse appeared immediately.
46:56Is everything okay, ma'am?
46:57Please escort this man out.
46:59I don't want to see him anymore.
47:00He's disturbing my recovery.
47:02Her voice was calm,
47:04cold,
47:04and absolute,
47:06like a judge delivering a verdict.
47:09Sir, you need to leave.
47:11No, I'm not going anywhere!
47:13Karina,
47:14give me one more chance.
47:16One last chance.
47:17Please!
47:18Get him out.
47:20Two nurses appeared,
47:22grabbing my arms
47:24and pulling me back.
47:25My mother took my arm,
47:27her face wet with tears.
47:28Michael, let's go.
47:29Don't humiliate yourself here.
47:30Let her rest.
47:31They dragged me out,
47:32my feet barely touching the floor.
47:34The door slammed shut behind me.
47:36I collapsed onto the cold lulling of the hallway,
47:38feeling like my entire life
47:40had ended the moment that door closed.
47:42Just then,
47:43my phone buzzed with a new email.
47:45My hands trembled as I opened it
47:47with sender and associates.
47:49The email contained only one attachment.
47:51It was an image.
47:54It was a copy of the pre-troll asset freezing application
47:57filed with the court.
47:59Every single one of my bank accounts
48:01stocks,
48:02funds,
48:02properties,
48:02and vehicles.
48:03Everything in my name
48:05would be frozen within 24 hours.
48:07I sat slumped on the cold hallway floor.
48:10Nothing but an empty shell
48:11with my soul sucked out.
48:13The light from my screen
48:14cast a harsh glow over my deathly pale face.
48:18Asset freezes.
48:19Account lockdowns.
48:20These were tools I knew intimately.
48:22In my line of work,
48:23they were the weapons I used against clients who defaulted.
48:25Now that same weapon had been turned on me,
48:28aimed directly at my own heart.
48:30I refused to believe it.
48:31With shaking hands,
48:32I opened my banking app.
48:34I typed in my password.
48:35I stared at my account balance.
48:37The numbers I used to flaunt
48:38now faded to gray,
48:40lifeless,
48:40and unreachable.
48:44Below the balance,
48:45in tiny red letters it read,
48:47this account had been frozen by court order.
48:49I switched to my stock account.
48:51There was the same message.
48:53My investment portfolio was the same story.
48:56All my liquided assets,
48:57everything I could have cashed out,
48:59had turned into mirazes overnight.
49:01She'd gutted me,
49:02pulled the floor out from under me
49:03before I even had time to react.
49:05She'd check mad at me.
49:06Plain and simple.
49:07The very next day,
49:08while I was still scrambling to find a lawyer,
49:10my name was already trending online.
49:12High-powered executive makes pregnant wife split
49:15every bill.
49:15The post went viral almost instantly.
49:17The comment section exploded.
49:19I scrolled through the comments,
49:20feeling like I'd been stripped naked
49:22and dropped in the middle of a crowded plaza,
49:24everyone staring,
49:25pointing fingers.
49:26The call from the company came almost immediately.
49:28It was HR.
49:29Michael, get to the office.
49:30Now.
49:31I threw on some clothes and rushed over.
49:33The second I walked in,
49:35every single person turned to look.
49:37I saw it all in their eyes.
49:38Contempt, pity,
49:39and more than a few barely concealed smirks.
49:41I used to be the golden boy,
49:43the one they looked up to.
49:44I was the guy who had it all figured out.
49:46Now, I was a punchline.
49:50I walked into the HR director's office.
49:53The CEO was waiting.
49:54Neither of them looked happy.
49:55You've seen what's happening online, right?
49:57I, no need to exp-
49:58This is your personal life.
49:59And normally, we'd stay out of it.
50:01But this isn't normal.
50:03You've done real damage to the company across the desk.
50:05The screen showed our stock price.
50:07A sea of red.
50:08One hour in,
50:09and we'd already hit the daily limit.
50:10Major clients are calling.
50:12Our PR team keep up.
50:14You're a smart guy, Michael.
50:15You know what has to happen.
50:17I'd like to resign.
50:18You must.
50:19We'll give you a severance package.
50:21The condition is,
50:22you disappear from the public eye completely.
50:25We'll say you left for personal reasons.
50:27That's the best we can do for you now.
50:28I walked out of the CEO's office and returned to my own.
50:32I started packing up my things.
50:33There wasn't much.
50:34Just a few books,
50:36a mug,
50:36and a photo of Karina and me.
50:38It was taken right after we got married.
50:40She was smiling so sweetly in the picture.
50:42I stared at it until my chest felt like it was caving in.
50:45Then I turned it face down on the desk.
50:50Clutching my box of belongings,
50:51I walked out of the office building
50:53I'd fought for eight years to climb.
50:55I felt like a dog kicked out of the only home it ever knew.
50:58My career was gone.
51:00I'd lost my wife,
51:01my child,
51:02everything I owned.
51:03And now this.
51:04I had nothing left.
51:06Just then,
51:07my phone rang.
51:08It was an unknown number.
51:09I picked up.
51:10Hello?
51:11Is this Mr. Michael Reed?
51:13Yes.
51:14This is Ms. Bennett from Bennett & Associates.
51:16I'm calling on behalf of my client,
51:19Ms. Karina Hart,
51:20to formally notify you.
51:21Your divorce case has been scheduled
51:23for a pre-trial mediation hearing
51:26next Wednesday at 9 a.m.
51:28It will be held at the Mushrupal Court,
51:301st Division.
51:31Please ensure your presence.
51:32On Wednesday morning,
51:34my mom found me a clean suit.
51:35I put it on.
51:36It hung loose on me now,
51:37like I was wearing someone else's skin.
51:39Go, whatever happens.
51:41Show up looking like yourself.
51:45I took a cab to the courthouse.
51:47At the door to the mediation room,
51:48I saw Karina.
51:49She wore a tailored beige suit
51:51with a touch of makeup.
51:52Her hair was pulled back tight,
51:54sleek,
51:54and professional.
51:55She looked like she'd bounced back completely.
51:57Her skin was glowing,
51:58and I'd never guess she'd had a baby.
52:00Beside her stood a woman in a black suit.
52:02That had to be Pierce Bennett,
52:04the fortune burner.
52:05Pierce looked younger than I'd expected,
52:07but her eyes were razor sharp,
52:08like she could see right through me.
52:10Karina's gaze was completely indifferent
52:12when she saw me,
52:13no emotion at all.
52:14She nodded to my lawyer,
52:15as if that was the only greeting need.
52:17We walked into the mediation room.
52:20The judge sat in the center,
52:21and we took our seats on opposite sides.
52:24My lawyer told the judge where we stood.
52:26We were okay with the divorce,
52:27and we'd split the assets as Karina wanted.
52:30The only thing we asked for was joint custody.
52:33Pierce gave a slight smile,
52:34then pulled out a document
52:35and handed it to the judge.
52:37Your Honor,
52:38this is the complete medical report
52:40for the child conducted post-born.
52:42And this is an evaluation
52:44from a certified psychological assessment agency.
52:50The reports show that due to prolonged malnutrition
52:53and significant emotional distress during pregnancy,
52:56both mother and child
52:57have sustained lasting health issues.
53:00The child's immune system
53:01is noticeably weaker than that of a normal infant.
53:04My client is showing serious signs
53:06of postpartum depression.
53:07The assessment links these conditions
53:09directly to the husband's financial control
53:11and emotional neglect during the marriage.
53:13A man capable of treating his pregnant wife
53:16with such indistifference
53:17raises serious questions about his ability
53:19to care for a vulnerable infant.
53:21So we're sticking to our demand.
53:23Full custody to the mother.
53:25The father may keep the minimum visitation rights
53:27the law allows.
53:28Twice a week.
53:29My lawyer went pale.
53:30He glanced at me and shook his head,
53:32telling me that we were crushed.
53:33I looked at Karina.
53:35Her face was calm,
53:36in an almost cruel way.
53:37I finally understood.
53:38She never wanted my money.
53:42What she really wanted was for me
53:44to feel the same pain I'd put her through.
53:46The pain of being stripped away,
53:48ignored,
53:48and completely shut out.
53:50And she'd done it.
53:50The mediation was over.
53:52I signed the agreement
53:53that stripped me of everything.
53:54Walking out of the courthouse,
53:55the sunlight felt violent.
53:57I saw a black luxury SUV
53:58parked outside the courthouse.
54:00Karina and her lawyer
54:01were getting ready to climb in.
54:02I don't know what made me do it.
54:04I walked over.
54:05Karina!
54:05She paused and turned around.
54:07I asked, almost pleading.
54:09Can I see the baby one more time?
54:11Pierce frowned,
54:12looking like she wanted to say something,
54:13but Karina shook her head
54:14and quietly opened the car door.
54:16There he was nestled
54:17in the baby car seat inside the SUV.
54:19I'd only glimpsed him once,
54:20through the glass of the incubator.
54:22He was awake.
54:23His eyes were bright and curious,
54:25taking in the world,
54:26and then they found me.
54:27His eyes were a mirror of Karina's.
54:28Beautiful.
54:29I couldn't hold it in anymore.
54:31Tears streamed down my face.
54:32I asked, my voice breaking.
54:34What's his name?
54:35Karina looked at me,
54:36holding my gaze in silence
54:38for a long moment.
54:39Then she spoke slowly,
54:40each word deliberate.
54:41His name is Ethan Hart.
54:43She closed the door.
54:44The SUV pulled away.
54:45I stood there alone,
54:46standing in the blinding sun.
54:48I felt myself falling into that abyss.
54:50She wanted me to face it as she had.
54:52I finally understood.
54:53Her final judgment
54:54wasn't about taking everything from me.
54:56It was about making me spend
54:57the rest of my life
54:58living with regret and pain,
54:59forced to face the abyss
55:00I created with my own hands,
55:02and never able to turn back.
55:05I was like, I don't know how to do it.
55:05I was like, I don't know how to do it.
55:05I was like, I don't know how to do it.