- 7 hours ago
Slept With my Bastard Sister. Now He's on His Knees
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00:00My billionaire husband threw me into a slum on our first anniversary.
00:05My father's illegitimate daughter, Serena, was on his arm, wearing my wedding ring.
00:11One year ago, the night before my wedding, she had drugged me.
00:15Sleeping pills in my tea. I was out before midnight.
00:19She climbed into my bridal car, took my name, my groom, and every wedding gift my mother had spent months
00:27preparing.
00:28The accounts, the jewellery, all of it.
00:32I came to before the vows were done.
00:34Sheet!
00:35I walked into that ceremony hall in my ruined dress and pointed at her standing at the altar.
00:41That's not me!
00:42The room went silent. Serena turned around under the veil.
00:46Every camera in the room found her face. She dropped to her knees on the carpet.
00:51Sister, I just wanted to be loved.
00:54I had security tie her up, dragged out.
00:57I married Damien. I took back everything. Or so I thought.
01:01Until now, a year later.
01:04I became the one, bound hand and foot on the floor of an abandoned building.
01:08Damien and Serena stood over me. Damien adjusted his cufflinks.
01:13Your father is bankrupt.
01:15If I didn't still need to manage the fallout, humiliating Serena would be worth your death a thousand times over.
01:21You're not even worth a dog.
01:22Serena tilted her head.
01:24Sister, you humiliated me once.
01:26She leaned into his arm.
01:28Brought in here and make amends. Damien belongs to me now.
01:30Damien raised his hand.
01:32The door opened.
01:33Three men filed in from the hallway.
01:35The way they looked at me made my skin crawl.
01:38One of them was holding a camera.
01:40Damien didn't look up.
01:41Do whatever you want with her.
01:43Send me the footage when it's over.
01:45I couldn't take it anymore.
01:47I pulled free from the restraints, crossed the room, and threw myself through the open window.
01:53I married into the most powerful family in the capital.
01:57And the illegitimate daughter who'd never been wanted at home turned green with envy.
02:01The day before the wedding of the century, she drugged me, climbed into my wedding car in my place,
02:07and make off with my hundred billion marriage gifts.
02:10She made a grand entrance, and married into the family instead of me.
02:14When I came to, I wasn't having it.
02:16I had the illegitimate daughter tied up and dragged back.
02:19I got my wish, and married into the Vos family.
02:23But a year later, my husband threw me into a slum.
02:26His eyes were vicious.
02:27If it weren't for the financing support of your family.
02:30His voice cold as ice.
02:32No amount of dying would be enough to pay for how you humiliated your sister.
02:37The illegitimate daughter stood beside him.
02:39Now your family's gone bankrupt.
02:41Laughing softly.
02:42You're worth less than a dog.
02:44Sister, you humiliated me once.
02:47Now you can go pay for it properly.
02:50I'll be comfortable in your place as Mrs. Vos.
02:53Unable to bear the humiliation, I died by suicide.
02:58When I opened my eyes, I was back on the day of the wedding of the century.
03:03I climbed out of bed, sat for an hour with my head in my hands,
03:06before I opened the door and stepped out.
03:08Mum was just heading back up the staircase, leaning on the housekeeper's arm.
03:12She looked up, saw me at the top of the landing, and froze.
03:15Dad's brow furrowed first.
03:17What are you doing here?
03:20Then who just got into the Vos car?
03:22He pointed toward the front door.
03:24What?
03:25Someone took my place?
03:28Last night, Serena said she couldn't bear to see me go.
03:31She made a calming tea for me.
03:33Said it would help me sleep.
03:35I took two sips and woke up just now.
03:38The bustling foyer went dead silent.
03:40Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.
03:43Mum staggered, nearly fainted.
03:46Find her.
03:47Then snapped at the staff to grab Mrs. Ward, Serena's birth mother,
03:51who was already edging toward the side door.
03:53Stop!
03:54What did you do?
03:56Mrs. Ward dropped to her knees, eyes darting, voice stuttering.
04:02Ma'am, I don't know what you mean.
04:05Miss Viviana overslept.
04:07How is any of that my Serena's fault?
04:10The butler rushed in.
04:12Sir, ma'am, the Callum family's procession has arrived.
04:16They're waiting at the front gate.
04:18Mum's face went cold.
04:20Where is Serena?
04:21Bring her here, now.
04:23I tilted my chin down to hide the mock in my eyes.
04:26Where else would she be?
04:27In Damien's bed.
04:28When we picked out the wedding dress,
04:30Damien kept insisting on one with a veil.
04:32They'd had all of this planned out from the start.
04:35I'm ready.
04:35By now, the vows were done.
04:36They'd be in the bridal suite.
04:38My gaze caught the smug twitch at the corner of Mrs. Ward's mouth.
04:42I was sure of it now.
04:43Mother and daughter.
04:44What a tidy little operation.
04:46Mrs. Ward had been our family's housekeeper years ago.
04:49But one day, she drugged my father,
04:51climbed into his bed,
04:52gave birth to Serena,
04:54bought herself a life of luxury.
04:56Now Serena had drugged me
04:58and walked down the aisle wearing my name.
05:00Done deal before anyone could stop it.
05:02All that was left for me
05:03was the wedding she didn't want.
05:05Marrying into the Callum family.
05:07The Callum were new money.
05:08Two years on the scene.
05:10Nowhere near the old family's depth.
05:12But aggressive.
05:12Welcome home, sir.
05:14Their name was on every major emerging tech deal.
05:17Pity their heir was in a wheelchair.
05:19Dad had a sharp eye for the long game.
05:21That's why he'd paired Serena with the Callum.
05:23If they thrived,
05:24Serena would rise with them.
05:26If they faltered,
05:27the Harrington name would shield her.
05:28She didn't understand.
05:30She just saw the wheelchair.
05:31So she pulled the switch
05:32and shoved the wedding she hated onto me.
05:35If I went through with it,
05:36by tonight,
05:37every dinner party in Manhattan
05:38would be whispering about
05:39how the Harrington heiress married a cripple.
05:42The whole family would be a punchline.
05:44Last time,
05:45that's how she'd kept her heel on my neck.
05:47But last time,
05:48with my parents behind me,
05:50I'd stormed the wedding.
05:51The Vos still needed Harrington backing.
05:53They threw Serena out of the bridal suite
05:55to keep the deal.
05:56I got my wish.
05:57Became Mrs. Vos.
05:59Damien treated me like I was made of glass and gold.
06:02I didn't know then
06:02that the man holding me like I was everything
06:05had already been sleeping with Serena,
06:07plotting behind my back,
06:09waiting for the moment
06:10to bury the Harrington for good.
06:12A maid's gasp pulled me back.
06:14Madam,
06:15Miss Serena isn't in her room.
06:16Her veil and gown are gone.
06:18She took everything.
06:19And we found something in her room.
06:21Dad picked it up.
06:23Intimate photos of Damien and Serena
06:25in bed.
06:28Dad's face went the color of stone.
06:30He threw the photos directly at Mrs. Ward's face.
06:34This is what your parenting produced.
06:36She's going to drag the entire Harrington name
06:39through the dirt.
06:40The doorman was still hovering.
06:43Sir, the Callum family is asking at the gate.
06:46What should we do?
06:48Dad slammed his fist on the table.
06:51Get someone to the Vos estate immediately.
06:54Find Serena and drag her back.
06:57Yes, sir.
06:58I took the chance,
06:59caught Dad's sleeve.
07:00Pressed my nails into my thigh.
07:02Dad.
07:02Let the tears fall.
07:04Let it go.
07:05Serena and Damien already slept together.
07:07He set up this whole scheme
07:09on his own wedding day
07:09to humiliate us.
07:11A man like that,
07:12I don't want him.
07:14In business,
07:15your word is everything.
07:18I don't want you to be seen
07:19as someone who breaks promises.
07:21I'll go.
07:22I'll marry into the Callum family.
07:25Vivian.
07:27He swallowed the rest.
07:29His eyes said everything.
07:31But you are the Harrington heir.
07:34And that same Callum is...
07:36I smiled and finished for him.
07:38Dad.
07:38The Callum group ranked only ten spots
07:41below the Vos family
07:42on last year's Forbes list.
07:44The Vos empire has been around for generations.
07:47The Callum group is two years old.
07:52Zane's disability doesn't affect his ability.
07:55And he's a genuine business mind.
07:57With me there,
07:58with Harrington backing,
07:59the Callum trajectory is anyone's guess.
08:07Everyone in the room
08:08could see the difference.
08:09One daughter who'd stolen
08:10her sister's wedding,
08:11chasing wealth
08:12any way she could get it.
08:14One daughter
08:14who held her composure in a crisis
08:16and chose her family's honour
08:18over her own comfort.
08:19Mum was already pulling me
08:20into her arms,
08:22holding on.
08:22Dad bit down on his back teeth.
08:24Even so,
08:26no one gets to treat my daughter
08:28however they like.
08:30Vivian,
08:31I want you to know
08:32you made the right call
08:33not marrying Damien.
08:35By the time we arrived
08:36at the Vos estate,
08:37the newlyweds
08:38were already in the suite.
08:39But the banquet
08:40was still in full swing.
08:41When we walked in,
08:42the whole room went silent.
08:45Isn't that Vivian Harrington?
08:47She's the bride.
08:48Why is she here?
08:48That can't be right.
08:50The bride was taken
08:51to the suite
08:51half an hour ago.
08:52If it's not her,
08:53then who's in there?
08:54Mum's smile was sharp.
08:56We apologise for the spectacle.
08:57The woman you saw earlier
08:59is also a Harrington daughter.
09:01The ill-elitimate one
09:02who stole her sister's wedding.
09:05The room exploded.
09:09Damien shoved through the crowd,
09:10face tight.
09:11Stop making a scene!
09:15How is any of this
09:17Serena's fault?
09:19You overslept
09:20and missed your own ceremony.
09:22That's on you.
09:23I thought she was you
09:24and we went to the bed.
09:26As a man,
09:27I have to take responsibility
09:28for her.
09:29The room was passed speechless.
09:32You came here
09:33to swap her out,
09:34didn't you?
09:35I know you've been
09:36devoted to me for years.
09:38Here's what I'll offer.
09:40Serena and I
09:41will file legally.
09:43But I'll only name
09:44a child of yours
09:45as my heir.
09:47How about that?
09:50I couldn't help it.
09:52I covered my mouth
09:53and laughed.
09:54He wanted to marry Serena
09:56and keep me as a mistress.
09:58The Voss family
09:59had been skating
10:00on borrowed time
10:01for years.
10:02If it weren't
10:03Harrington's support,
10:04they'd have dissolved
10:05long ago.
10:06And now,
10:07he wanted both
10:08Harrington's daughters.
10:11Before Damien
10:12could continue,
10:13Serena ran
10:14in a red silk robe.
10:15Sister,
10:16it was all my fault.
10:17I lost control
10:18of my feelings
10:19and I did something
10:20I can't take back.
10:22But Damien and I
10:23are legally married now.
10:26If you keep pushing this,
10:27it's the Harrington name
10:29that takes the damage.
10:30I know you don't care about me.
10:34But are you really willing
10:35to burn the family
10:36reputation over this?
10:38She dropped to her knees
10:39in front of me
10:39and cried beautifully.
10:41She dressed up
10:42her own filth
10:43as weakness.
10:43She framed me
10:44demanding accountability
10:45as recklessness.
10:47The nerve
10:48was breathtaking.
10:49I kept my voice cold.
10:50I raised my voice
10:51deliberately,
10:52made sure the whole room
10:54heard every detail.
10:55You're saying
10:56you drugged me,
10:57stole my wedding,
10:58took my place
10:59in that suite,
10:59and now I'm the one
11:00damaging the family?
11:04If you really love Damien,
11:06why didn't you say
11:07something sooner?
11:08You had to wait
11:09until Boutdraff
11:10did not know Lace
11:11and never they swan
11:12admit all something
11:13this scener.
11:14You had to wait
11:15until the actual wedding day
11:16to pull something
11:17this ugly?
11:18Who exactly is the one
11:19grinding the Harrington name
11:21into the floor?
11:23Or is it simpler than that?
11:27Did you want Damien?
11:30Or did you just
11:31want everything
11:31that was mine?
11:35I did.
11:38I really do love him.
11:40Her eyes slid away.
11:42Every person in that room
11:43had seen enough of the world
11:45to know exactly
11:46what she was.
11:47Oh, that scheming girl.
11:50An illegitimate daughter
11:52who doesn't know her place.
11:53I meant a time
11:54that I reminds her
11:55to Shikmati.
11:56Stealing from her own sister
11:57and she wants to call it
11:58a love story.
12:00God knows what
12:01she'd do next.
12:03Damien's mother
12:03had gone pale as chalk
12:04shaking so hard
12:06she could barely stand.
12:07She slapped him hard
12:09across the face.
12:11Get on your knees
12:12and apologize to Vivian's parents
12:13right now
12:14and promise me
12:15you will file with her
12:16by end of day.
12:18She turned toward me
12:19reaching for my hand.
12:21I moved
12:21before she could touch me.
12:23Her face stiffened
12:24then rearranged itself
12:26into something warm.
12:28Vivian
12:29you've been treated
12:30terribly.
12:32Whatever you want
12:33Damien will do it.
12:34I promise you
12:35nothing like this
12:37will ever happen again.
12:39Damien pressed his hand
12:40against his cheek.
12:41The look he gave me
12:42was pure venom
12:43like I had ruined
12:44something that was his.
12:47Mum
12:48Serena is the only woman
12:50I will ever love.
12:51I will not marry
12:52anyone else.
12:53Vivian is arrogant
12:54and entitled.
12:55If I take her
12:56the whole Vos family
12:57pays the price.
12:58The only woman
12:59who belongs in this family
13:00is Serena.
13:02If she's smart
13:02she'll take what I'm offering.
13:04I'll give her a child.
13:05One she should be
13:06grateful for.
13:07If she isn't smart
13:08she can wait
13:08and see what it feels like
13:09to be the woman
13:10who got rejected
13:10by the Vos family.
13:14Let's see who
13:14in this city
13:15dares touch her
13:16after that.
13:17I looked at this man
13:19the one I had
13:20given years to.
13:21After Damien's
13:22father died
13:22the empire landed
13:23on someone
13:24completely mediocre.
13:26In six months
13:26he'd burned
13:27every important
13:28investor relationship.
13:29Combined debt
13:30in the billions.
13:31Investors running.
13:32Selling off every asset
13:34accumulated over generations.
13:35and still not enough
13:37to cover the hole.
13:38Someone had made him
13:39crawl across the floor
13:40of a party
13:41for entertainment.
13:42Paid him by the crawl.
13:43I was the one
13:44who reached out.
13:45I took care of him.
13:46I encouraged him.
13:48I talked my father
13:49into backing him.
13:50He knelt in front
13:51of my father
13:52and wept.
13:53Swore that if he
13:54ever betrayed me
13:55he deserved
13:56every punishment
13:57God could invent.
13:58Only two years
13:59and he'd already
14:00forgotten every word
14:01of it.
14:02Now he stood here
14:02telling me
14:03being his mistress
14:04was a gift.
14:05The entire room
14:06was watching him
14:07like he'd lost his mind.
14:08No one could understand
14:09how a man
14:10who owed his survival
14:11to his fiancée
14:12had the nerve
14:13to talk to her like this.
14:14Damien didn't seem
14:15to notice.
14:16He saw my silence
14:17and decided
14:18I was devastated.
14:19Too in love to speak.
14:21He pulled Serena closer
14:22smirking.
14:23Vivian
14:24kneel down
14:24and serve Serena her tea.
14:27Acknowledge her
14:27as the lady of this house.
14:29Do that
14:30and I'll let you stay.
14:31If you behave
14:32I might let you move in.
14:34You'd still get
14:35to see the children.
14:36I looked at his
14:37self-satisfied face
14:38and felt something
14:39close to relief.
14:40Let Serena have this idiot.
14:42She was practically
14:43doing me a favour.
14:44Dad had reached the limit.
14:46He laughed.
14:48The Vos family
14:49really has grown wings.
14:51Big enough
14:52to talk to me like that.
14:53Then I suppose
14:54the Harrington group
14:55has been punching
14:56above its weight.
14:58He pointed at Serena.
15:01No daughter of mine
15:02trades her sister's wedding
15:03for a seat at this table.
15:05I'm opening
15:05the family records tonight.
15:08You're out.
15:10From now on
15:11whatever life
15:13you end up with
15:14has nothing to do
15:16with us.
15:23Serena's eyes went red.
15:24I'm your daughter too.
15:26How can you be
15:27this cruel to me?
15:29She cried with conviction.
15:31Damien not wanting
15:32Vivian is her own failure.
15:34Why should all the good things
15:36automatically go to her?
15:38Dad's expression
15:38didn't move.
15:39Fine.
15:40I'll honour your fight.
15:42Everyone here
15:43is a witness.
15:44You are no longer
15:45a Harrington.
15:46Good luck.
15:48Someone go collect
15:48my daughter's assets
15:49from this estate.
15:5050 cases of certified
15:52guns.
15:5215 sets of jewellery.
15:543 vehicles.
15:551 equity agreement
15:56covering a 20% stake.
15:585 property deeds
15:59for the harbour residences.
16:01Every last item
16:01comes home with us.
16:03The room
16:03inhaled sharply.
16:04Half of them
16:05were already
16:06looking at Damien
16:06like he was
16:07the stupidest person alive.
16:09Serena screamed.
16:10Those are mine!
16:11That asset
16:12belongs to me!
16:14Mum's palm
16:15connected with
16:16the side of her face.
16:18You stole her wedding
16:19and now you want
16:20her assets too.
16:21What world
16:22are you living in?
16:23Every item
16:24in that collection
16:25was prepared for Vivian.
16:26You are nothing.
16:28You want assets?
16:29Go ask your mother.
16:31Those assets
16:32and half the Harrington
16:33group belongs to me
16:35by morning.
16:36The security team
16:37moved toward the assets.
16:38Damien stepped
16:39in front of them.
16:40He looked at Dad.
16:41The Preenwuddle agreement
16:42we signed
16:43said a Harrington daughter,
16:44no specific name.
16:45I honoured the contract.
16:46I promised to take care
16:47of a Harrington daughter
16:48for life.
16:49Serena hasn't been mistreated.
16:50You pulling those assets
16:51is a breach.
16:52Under the terms,
16:53a breach by the Harrington side
16:54triggers a transfer
16:55of 50% equity to me.
16:57He produced the agreement.
16:58If the groom
16:59upholds his obligations
17:01to a Harrington daughter
17:02and the Harrington family
17:03withdraws the assets,
17:05the Harrington party
17:07is in breaching
17:08and shall compensate
17:09the groom
17:10with 50% of voting shares.
17:12Dead silence.
17:13Dad's face
17:13went the colour
17:14of old paper.
17:15Impossible.
17:17He grabbed the document.
17:18There is no way
17:19I sign that.
17:21Damien smiled.
17:22He tilted his chin
17:24toward the screen
17:24behind him.
17:25The footage played.
17:26Dad,
17:27in a private dining room,
17:29signing in his own hand.
17:31You're a man
17:31who can make
17:32half this city shake
17:33with one phone call.
17:34Surely you're not
17:34going to pretend
17:35you don't remember
17:35your own signature.
17:36The document
17:37is notatrised.
17:38It's legally binding.
17:39If you want to make
17:40a scene in a court,
17:41Runtz!
17:43If you want to make
17:44it in a courtroom,
17:44go ahead and take
17:45those assets.
17:47Dad's chest heaved.
17:48He pressed a hand
17:50over his heart,
17:50struggling to breathe.
17:52Mum's eyes were red,
17:53shaking with fury,
17:55completely cornered.
17:56Serena curved
17:57against Damien's side,
17:58smiling like she'd won
18:00every hand at the table.
18:02Sister,
18:02I know I can't
18:03go back home anymore,
18:04but if you kneel
18:05and apologise to me
18:06right now,
18:06I might be in a generous mood.
18:07I could put in
18:08a good word with Damien.
18:09Stay out of the
18:09shareholder vote,
18:10let Dad keep
18:10his chairman's seat.
18:11Those old men on the board
18:12will tear him apart
18:12otherwise.
18:13As for your assets,
18:15I'll take good care of it.
18:16All of it.
18:17The Vos staff
18:18shoved past me.
18:19The assets were about
18:20to walk out the door.
18:21Mum rushed to block this.
18:23One of the Vos people
18:24pushed her.
18:25She hit the floor hard.
18:27Ma'am.
18:28Serena raised an eyebrow.
18:29This?
18:30Is Vos family business.
18:32You inserted yourself.
18:33If you get hurt,
18:34that's on you.
18:36I helped Mum up.
18:37Looked at both of them
18:38without blinking.
18:40Damien tilted his head.
18:42Magnanimous.
18:43Without that assets,
18:44you've got nothing left
18:45to buy yourself a husband.
18:48Out of respect for the history
18:50between us,
18:50come work for Serena
18:51for three years.
18:53Keep your head down.
18:54I'll consider giving you
18:55a child for security.
18:58When I didn't respond,
18:59he grabbed my shoulder
19:00and dragged me
19:01in front of Serena.
19:02Then he kicked
19:03the back of my knee.
19:04Just as he moved
19:05to force me down,
19:06the ballroom door
19:07slammed open.
19:08We've received a report
19:09of illegal seizure
19:10of private assets
19:11belong to the
19:12Harrington family.
19:15Who here is Damien Vos?
19:19I, right on time.
19:21I turned around,
19:22then stopped.
19:23Walking in his wheelchair,
19:28moving through the crowd,
19:29following the lead
19:30investigator into the room.
19:31His eyes swept the space,
19:33cool, measured.
19:35When they landed on me,
19:36just for a second,
19:37the corner of his mouth
19:38moved.
19:39The lead investigator
19:40looked at me.
19:41What happened here?
19:42Before I could speak,
19:44Damien lunged forward
19:45and shoved his
19:46prenuptial agreement
19:47at the investigator.
19:48Officer,
19:49it's all there in writing.
19:50We are law-abiding citizens.
19:52We haven't done
19:53anything wrong.
19:55These people are refusing
19:56to honor a legal contract
19:57and trying to buy time.
19:59Then he looked at Zane
20:00with open contempt.
20:01You put this in,
20:01didn't you?
20:02The man whose fiancé
20:03ran off and can't say
20:04a word about it.
20:05This is the best you've got?
20:06Pathetic.
20:07You think marrying Serena
20:08means you get her assets too?
20:10Look in the mirror.
20:11I'd advise you to drop
20:12this right now.
20:12A man in a wheelchair
20:13playing hero.
20:14I'll tip your chair
20:15over myself.
20:16Zane raised an eye
20:17eyebrow slightly.
20:18He stood up.
20:19The entire room went silent.
20:21Every jaw dropped.
20:23Oh.
20:25You mean me?
20:28I recovered two years ago.
20:30I kept the chair
20:32out of habit.
20:33Turns out some people
20:34genuinely believed
20:35I was useless.
20:36Zane straightened.
20:37He was taller than Damien
20:38by a full head,
20:39the kind of height
20:40that changed
20:41the weight of a room.
20:42I hadn't fully
20:42processed it myself.
20:44The head of the Callum group.
20:46In a wheelchair
20:46for five years.
20:48Standing up.
20:49In the middle
20:49of a situation
20:50where his fiancé
20:51had run off.
20:52His future bride's
20:53assets had been stolen
20:54and everything
20:55had gone sideways
20:56at once.
20:57Serena had gone
20:58white enough
20:58to show through
20:59her foundation.
21:00Zane stepped forward.
21:01Damien swallowed
21:02and gripped his document
21:03tighter,
21:04forcing the casual tone.
21:05So a man who can walk
21:06now can walk
21:07doesn't change
21:08what you are.
21:09You scraped
21:09your way into the room
21:11on luck.
21:12Viviana isn't the type
21:13to settle for someone
21:14like you.
21:15I see exactly
21:16what you're doing.
21:17Don't come crying
21:18when it blows up
21:18in your face.
21:20Zane glanced at him
21:21once,
21:21then turned to the screen
21:22on the far wall.
21:23A new video started playing.
21:25Private dining room.
21:26A server pouring
21:27something into a glass
21:28from a small vial.
21:29My father drinking it.
21:30The server was brought in.
21:32That's him.
21:32He's the one.
21:33He gave me a packet
21:34and said to put it
21:35in the drink
21:35of whoever came
21:36to that table.
21:36He said a million dollars.
21:40My son is sick.
21:41I needed the money.
21:42I never thought
21:43it would be something
21:44that made a person
21:44lost control to himself.
21:46She was already crying,
21:47turning to my father.
21:48He said he was
21:49your son-in-law.
21:50I thought it couldn't
21:51be anything dangerous.
21:53I didn't know
21:54it was something
21:55that screwed your memory.
21:58I'm so sorry.
22:00Damien's composure
22:01shredded.
22:01You're lying!
22:03Some broke little server
22:05is going to walk in here
22:07and accuse me?
22:07He was screaming now.
22:08I will sue you
22:10into nothing!
22:13I figured rich people
22:14like you would say that.
22:16I kept the photos
22:17and I recorded everything.
22:19The evidence was airtight.
22:21Under the law,
22:22any contract signed
22:23while a party
22:24was chemically impaired
22:25was void.
22:25No exceptions.
22:27The room turned on Damien.
22:28Harrington's funded him.
22:29He repaid them
22:30by going after their assets
22:31and humiliating their daughter.
22:33Rotten to the core.
22:34Good thing Viviana
22:35never legally married him.
22:37Otherwise,
22:37she'd have let a predator
22:38into house
22:38and never seen it coming.
22:40And that's Serena.
22:41If my son brought home
22:41someone like that,
22:42I'd break both his legs.
22:43Damien's mother
22:44was shaking so hard
22:45she could barely breathe.
22:46She reached out
22:47and slapped Serena
22:48across the face
22:49with everything she had.
22:51You!
22:51You did this!
22:53You seduced my son
22:55until he lost his mind!
22:56He gave up a perfect match
22:58for someone like you!
23:00Look what we have now!
23:01Get out
23:02or I will drag you
23:03out of this house myself!
23:04Serena crumpled
23:05against Damien,
23:06tears streaming.
23:07Even now,
23:08she was the love of his life.
23:09He pulled her in,
23:10voice strained.
23:12Mum,
23:13I'm not leaving Serena.
23:14Damien's mother
23:15grabbed a sharp dessert fork
23:17from the table.
23:17and pressed it
23:18to her own throat.
23:19If you throw her out now,
23:20you're killing me.
23:21This woman
23:22has destroyed everything.
23:23If you keep protecting her,
23:25I'll bleed out
23:26right here in front of you.
23:27If she doesn't go,
23:28I die here.
23:33Damien went pale.
23:35He lurched toward her.
23:36Serena grabbed his arm
23:37and couldn't let go.
23:38You can't leave me, Damien!
23:39It's her or me!
23:40Are you gonna watch
23:41my mother die?
23:42Please!
23:42I'm carrying your child!
23:44He was already coming apart.
23:45He was about to pull free
23:47when Serena screamed it.
23:48You can't abandon me!
23:50Is that true?
23:51Damien spun around.
23:53Twelve weeks.
23:54His face split open
23:55with something unguarded.
23:57Serena's eyes were wet.
23:58She nodded.
23:59The doctor said it's a boy.
24:00Small and fragile,
24:02Damien's mother
24:02made a sound
24:03like something
24:04had closed
24:04around her throat.
24:06Mum,
24:07this is my first.
24:09Serena did this
24:10for our family.
24:11Please,
24:11for the baby,
24:13accept her.
24:13She couldn't get
24:14a single word out.
24:15The fork hit the floor.
24:17Damien's mother
24:18aged ten years
24:19in ten seconds.
24:20She closed her eyes,
24:21pressed her lips together,
24:22and walked out of the room
24:24without speaking.
24:25I gave the signal
24:26to my security
24:27without ceremony.
24:28Serena snapped out of it
24:29and then grabbed her.
24:31What are you doing?
24:32The investigators
24:33are right here!
24:33You just directed
24:34staff to assault
24:35my mother.
24:36Mum registered
24:37the cue
24:38after two seconds
24:39and started
24:40playing her part,
24:41groaning convincingly.
24:42She has a heart condition.
24:44She's dizzy
24:44and nauseous
24:45right now.
24:46You tell me
24:47what I'm doing.
24:48You're cheating!
24:49You can't do this to me!
24:51Serena exploded.
24:52Can we take it to court?
24:53I narrowed my eyes.
24:54She understood
24:55exactly what that meant.
24:56She folded onto the floor
24:58and started screaming.
25:00Vivian!
25:01You wanna fight?
25:02Fight me!
25:03Don't touch Serena!
25:05He had already decided
25:06I was acting out of heartbreak.
25:07The self-assurance
25:08was nauseating.
25:09I cut my eyes at him
25:11and let out a short laugh.
25:12You think you're
25:12walking away from this?
25:14Damien looked like
25:15he was about to go
25:16through the wall.
25:18You drugged my father.
25:20You had a fraudulent
25:22contract signed.
25:23I will make sure
25:24you spend the rest
25:25of your life
25:25answering for it.
25:27Every drop of colour
25:28left Damien's face.
25:30I didn't look at him again.
25:31I walked out
25:32with my parents
25:33and our assets.
25:34Zane caught up
25:35with us outside.
25:36Vivian!
25:38He reached into his jacket
25:39and pulled out a document.
25:41This is my personal stake
25:42in the Callum Group.
25:43Half.
25:44I know it's not
25:45what you're used to.
25:46I'll have the formal
25:47proposal ready
25:48and come to you properly.
25:49Just wait for me.
25:50I looked at the paperwork.
25:53Notarized.
25:54Official.
25:55Tens of millions
25:56of dollars in equity.
25:59Didn't you have
25:59an arrangement with Serena?
26:00Why didn't this go to her?
26:03It was always meant for you.
26:05You're the one
26:06I wanted to marry.
26:08I knew I wasn't
26:09in a position to ask.
26:13But when your father
26:14offered the second daughter
26:15I already knew
26:16she and Damien
26:17were involved.
26:18I looked at him carefully.
26:20You knew all of that.
26:22And you still showed up today.
26:24His expression shifted slightly.
26:26That same almost smile.
26:27Because I knew she'd swap.
26:29And I knew you'd say yes.
26:30I know you don't like
26:31people who can't think.
26:32He extended his hand.
26:34Give me three years.
26:36I will build the Callum Group
26:37to Harrington level
26:38without a single dollar
26:39of your family's money.
26:41The man had calculated
26:42every move
26:43before anyone else
26:44had taken their first step.
26:46Equal footing
26:46with the Harringtons.
26:47Now that was interesting.
26:49Go home.
26:50Come back
26:51to the formal proposal.
26:52I liked a man
26:53who could think.
26:54I raised an eyebrow
26:55and told him.
26:59Back at the estate
27:00Mrs. Ward
27:01had been kept under watch.
27:03When she saw me
27:03walk in with the family
27:04she broke into a wide smile.
27:06Miss Vivian.
27:07I heard the Vos family
27:08sent you back.
27:09I knew it.
27:09My daughter is the real prize.
27:11You brought this on yourself
27:12going over there
27:13to make a scene.
27:14What did it feel like
27:14being thrown out
27:15in front of everyone?
27:16The Vos name
27:17belongs to my Serena.
27:19From now on
27:20show some respect to me.
27:23Everything that was yours
27:24goes to my daughter now.
27:26She's the one
27:27carrying the Harrington torch.
27:28I watched her
27:29hold herself up
27:30as straight as she could manage
27:31and almost laughed out loud.
27:34The Vos family?
27:36Your daughter
27:37and that failure
27:38really are a perfect match.
27:40Impossible!
27:41The Vos family
27:42is the top name
27:43in this city!
27:44You're just bitter!
27:45Sour grapes
27:46because you're jealous
27:47of my Serena!
27:48Believe what you want.
27:50I shrugged.
27:51I turned
27:51and walked away.
27:52I didn't look back
27:53at whatever her face
27:54was doing.
27:54Zane said he'd prepare
27:56a formal proposal
27:56before coming over.
27:58He showed up
27:58the next day
27:59with a proposal gift list
28:00for thickness of a book.
28:02He'd clearly had this
28:03ready for a long time.
28:04Dad reviewed it
28:05and nodded.
28:05He asked what I thought.
28:07I respected Zane's mind
28:08and his nerve.
28:09We were evenly matched.
28:11Of course I agreed.
28:12The families finalised
28:13the wedding timeline quickly.
28:15The venue was a private island
28:17Zane had bought outright.
28:18We kept the guest list
28:19to people we actually trusted.
28:21No one expected Damien
28:22to find his way
28:23into the dressing room.
28:23No one knew
28:24how he got through.
28:25The room went tense.
28:26Nobody moved fast enough.
28:28He looked at me
28:29like his heart was breaking.
28:30You can't marry Zane Callum.
28:35I frowned.
28:37The air in the room
28:38felt contaminated
28:38just from him being in it.
28:41Damien.
28:41He ignored it.
28:42Who I marry
28:43is none of your business.
28:44He grabbed my hand.
28:45If you don't want me
28:46calling security
28:47to remove you,
28:48leave now.
28:49Vivian.
28:49Full performance, mate.
28:50I was wrong.
28:52Serena manufactured everything.
28:53She played the victim
28:55to get close to me.
28:56A woman that's selfish
28:58and calculating.
28:59She doesn't come close to you.
29:00Tragic and sincere.
29:02Since you left,
29:02I can't eat.
29:03Can't sleep.
29:04The doctor says
29:05it's emotional collapse.
29:06That's when I understood.
29:08You were always the one.
29:09I can't survive without you.
29:11I've thought it through.
29:13Say the word
29:14and I'll file for divorce
29:15from Serena today.
29:17Catherine.
29:18We'll register properly.
29:19I'll make you my wife.
29:21I had heard enough
29:22of his speeches
29:22to be completely immune.
29:24What about Serena's baby?
29:25If you agree to leave with me,
29:27I'll have her scheduled
29:27for a termination tonight.
29:29It's just a pregnancy.
29:30It's not a problem.
29:32We'll have plenty of children.
29:33He waved it off
29:34like it was an inconvenience.
29:36When he loved her,
29:37he wouldn't flinch
29:38even when his own mother
29:39threatened to die.
29:40When he didn't,
29:41she was disposable.
29:42The child was disposable.
29:44His love was cheap enough
29:45to be embarrassing.
29:46My best friend
29:47had run out of patience.
29:49Every time you open your mouth,
29:51I think someone nearby
29:52must have stepped in some shit.
29:54Damien's face went dark red.
29:56His ego had taken a direct hit.
29:58Your family was broke
30:00and Viviana still chose you.
30:01Now you're a secondhand disaster
30:03with another woman's baby
30:04and you're asking her
30:04to come rescue you again?
30:06Are you doing some kind of episode?
30:08He turned on me.
30:10Vivian,
30:11if you don't come back to me,
30:13I walk out of here right now
30:15and tell every person
30:16in this city
30:17that you were mine years ago.
30:18I wake cold.
30:19I was about to respond.
30:21Let's see if Zane Callum
30:23still wants you after.
30:24Then the back of Damien's collar
30:26was yanked upward.
30:27He didn't have time
30:27to make a sound
30:28before Zane showed up
30:29and pulled him
30:30into the adjacent bathroom.
30:31The door swung shut.
30:34The people outside
30:35heard water running
30:36and Damien coughing
30:38in broken intervals.
30:39Let them handle it.
30:40We're drinking coffee.
30:40My best friend
30:42pulled me two steps sideways
30:43and waved her hand
30:44in front of her face.
30:45The door opened.
30:46Zane came out
30:47with his sleeves
30:48rolled to the elbow,
30:49hands still damp.
30:50His expression
30:51was exactly the same
30:52as it always was.
30:53Damien was carried out
30:54by security.
30:55Take him out,
30:56Zane said.
30:57Don't let him near my wedding.
30:58Hair soaked,
30:59toilet water
30:59running down his face.
31:01He'd gone completely limp.
31:02Security moved.
31:03Vivian,
31:04you think marrying him
31:05means you won?
31:06I'm telling you!
31:07Damien got one moment
31:09of coherence back
31:10and twisted to look at me.
31:11Eyes red.
31:12Security tightened their grip.
31:14His voice disappeared
31:15down the hallway.
31:16Zane's already dry hand
31:18settled over mine.
31:19He looked down at me.
31:20I shook my head slightly.
31:21I was about to mention
31:22tightening the perimeter
31:23when something shattered
31:24outside the door.
31:25Serena.
31:26Black dress.
31:27A plastic bucket in her hand.
31:29Eyes already locked on me.
31:30The next second,
31:31a full bucket of red paint
31:33came flying at us
31:34without any warning.
31:35I didn't have time to move.
31:36Zane was already in front of me.
31:38Body completely angled
31:39to cover mine.
31:41Are you hurt?
31:42The paint hit him
31:43across the back of his jacket.
31:44Red, sharp smell.
31:45The bucket hit the floor.
31:49Serena hadn't expected
31:50him to take it.
31:51Zane.
31:52She faltered.
31:54I wasn't aiming at you.
31:55I wanted to hit Viviana.
31:57Zane checked me first,
31:58made sure I was clean.
32:00Then he turned
32:00and his face
32:01had gone completely flat.
32:02She is my wife.
32:04Coming for her
32:05means coming for me.
32:06Serena's eyes filled.
32:07She pushed against
32:08the security holding her,
32:10trying to get closer to Zane.
32:11I know you'll never forgive me.
32:13I came today
32:14because I needed you
32:15to know the truth.
32:17Vivian drugged me.
32:19Damien took advantage of me.
32:21I wanted to end my life.
32:23But I couldn't watch you
32:24get deceived
32:25by someone like her.
32:26If you actually marry
32:28this woman,
32:29you'll regret it.
32:30I'll die
32:31and it will be
32:32on your conscience.
32:33She was completely convincing.
32:35The broken expression
32:36was flawless.
32:37She'd even gotten
32:38her eyes swollen.
32:39Zane watched her
32:40the way you watch a magician
32:41whose trick
32:42you've already seen explained.
32:43So Damien assaulted you.
32:45Serena's head came up fast.
32:46She thought he was softening.
32:48Yes.
32:48I had no choice.
32:50I'm a victim.
32:52Then it's a criminal matter.
32:53Zane said.
32:54I have a non-profit legal team.
32:57I can refer you
32:58to someone who handles
32:59cases like this
32:59at no cost.
33:00Serena's face drained.
33:04With the evidence you have,
33:06Damien is looking
33:06at serious time.
33:08She was still
33:08forming a response
33:09when a voice came
33:10screaming from the far end
33:11of the corridor.
33:12Damien.
33:13So,
33:14he spotted her
33:15and his expression
33:16went feral.
33:17He closed the distance
33:18and grabbed her
33:19by the hair.
33:22Damien,
33:22what are you doing?
33:24Let go of me!
33:26Serena screamed.
33:27Let go of you?
33:29You went behind my back
33:32to find Zane Caller.
33:34What are you?
33:34His voice had gone
33:35somewhere past anger.
33:36You're nothing.
33:37I didn't.
33:39I didn't go to find him.
33:41They set you up.
33:42They're lying to you.
33:44Raw and scraped out.
33:46Set me up?
33:47He dragged her out the room.
33:49Serena stumbling
33:50to keep up.
33:51Both hands trying
33:52to pry at his grip.
33:53I watched you
33:54walk in here myself.
33:55Give me one reason.
33:56Say it!
33:58Say it!
33:59I came to find you.
34:01I came to find you.
34:02Damien,
34:02listen to me.
34:04He let go.
34:05She hit the floor.
34:06Her elbow
34:07caught the edge
34:07of the hardwood.
34:08She inhaled sharply
34:09through her teeth
34:10and looked up at him.
34:11And for the first time,
34:13there was something
34:14genuinely frightened
34:15in her face.
34:16Damien,
34:18calm down.
34:20Calm down.
34:21My company is gone.
34:23My mother
34:24is in the hospital.
34:25All because of you.
34:27Tell me how to calm down.
34:29Serena shifted
34:30back against the wall.
34:31The company failing
34:32isn't my fault.
34:33You don't get to
34:34blame everything on me.
34:37He grabbed
34:37the front of her dress,
34:39hauled her up,
34:40voice cracking.
34:41You'd already gotten to me
34:42before any of this started.
34:43She pulled at his hand.
34:44You planned this.
34:45Every step,
34:46didn't you?
34:46Let go of me.
34:47You're sick.
34:48Let go.
34:48I am sick.
34:50I was sick the day
34:51I let you anywhere near me.
34:54Vivian was right there
34:55and I walked away from her.
34:56His hands were shaking.
34:58What was wrong with me?
34:59Then they weren't here.
35:00Zane was already behind me.
35:02Get them out.
35:03Putting his body
35:04between me and the hallway.
35:05His voice to the security team
35:07was quiet and even.
35:08They moved immediately.
35:09Down the hall,
35:10Serena's voice
35:11kept breaking into pieces.
35:13Damien kept shouting.
35:14Then his voice dropped.
35:15Then there was only her.
35:17Then nothing.
35:18Zane walked beside me
35:19out of the building.
35:20Don't look back.
35:21I have it.
35:21Outside there was salt air
35:23and light
35:23and the wedding music
35:25still drifting from the lawn.
35:26He held my hand once,
35:28steady.
35:29I didn't look back.
35:34The news was everywhere
35:36within days.
35:37Damien Voss had a breakdown
35:38at a society wedding
35:40and beat his wife to death,
35:42arrested on the spot.
35:43The day of sentencing,
35:44the gallery was nearly full.
35:46Some came because
35:47they'd lost money
35:48in his projects.
35:49Some came because
35:49they just needed
35:50to see the end.
35:51Damien sat in the defendant's chair,
35:53looking nothing like
35:54the man from the wedding.
35:56The hands that used
35:56to pull women close
35:57were cuffed
35:58and folded in his lap.
36:00His mother had died
36:00of cardiac arrest
36:01the night Serena died.
36:02He was in custody
36:03when he got the news.
36:05He spent that entire morning
36:06not speaking.
36:07The prosecutor laid it out
36:08item by item,
36:10drugging a man.
36:11Fraudulent contract.
36:13Attempted asset seizure.
36:14Felony assault resulting in death.
36:18Multiple charges compounded.
36:20The judge delivered the verdict.
36:22Life sentence.
36:23Damien pushed back
36:24against the chair,
36:25tipped his head up
36:26and stared at the ceiling
36:27of the courtroom.
36:28Nothing on his face at all.
36:30Before the sentencing was done,
36:31someone in the gallery
36:32recognized me.
36:33Isn't that the daughter
36:34of Harrington's family?
36:35The Callum?
36:36Her ex-fiancee just got life.
36:38Deserved every year of it.
36:39Humiliated her publicly.
36:40Now he's in a cage
36:41with nothing to show for it.
36:42Lost everything.
36:43I didn't respond
36:43or turn around.
36:44This chapter was done.
36:45It had nothing to do
36:46with me anymore.
36:47Zane glanced over.
36:50Dinner?
36:50His arm came around
36:51my shoulders.
36:52Sure.
36:52I said.
36:53Okay.
36:53His mouth moved up slightly.
36:55He looked down at his phone
36:56to make a reservation.
36:57He was almost done
36:58when the security lead
36:59came over
37:00and said something quietly.
37:01Mrs. Ward is outside
37:03the courthouse.
37:04She wants to come in.
37:05Zane looked up.
37:07Let her in.
37:07His expression didn't shift.
37:09He glanced at me.
37:11I thought about it
37:11for a second.
37:15Mrs. Ward came in
37:16held up by two court officers.
37:18Hair everywhere.
37:20Makeup destroyed.
37:21Eyes completely hollow.
37:22She was murmuring to herself
37:24when they brought her in
37:25and the moment the doors opened
37:26she lunged
37:27toward the defendant's area.
37:28Both officers barely holding.
37:30Where is my daughter?
37:32Damien!
37:34Damien, you son!
37:35People turned to look.
37:36Some stepped back.
37:37Damien heard the noise
37:39and slowly turned his head.
37:40Mrs. Ward saw him.
37:41She fought harder,
37:43her voice dropping
37:43into something
37:44that didn't sound
37:45entirely human.
37:46Give me back my daughter!
37:48Give her back!
37:50Damien's face didn't move.
37:52I killed her.
37:53That's on me.
37:54He said it the way
37:54you read something
37:55off a form.
37:56It landed like a needle.
37:58Mrs. Ward stopped fighting.
37:59She stood where she was,
38:01tears running silently.
38:02She looked at him
38:03for a long time.
38:04Her lips shook.
38:05Finally, she got
38:06one sentence out.
38:08Why did I ever
38:09let her near you?
38:10They took her out.
38:11Her crying echoed
38:12down the corridor.
38:13No one in that room
38:14knew it wasn't over yet.
38:16Three days later,
38:17a footage circulated
38:19everywhere.
38:19Mrs. Ward appeared
38:20at the courthouse entrance
38:21in a coat that sat
38:23wrong on her body.
38:24Security flagged her
38:25immediately.
38:26She didn't resist.
38:27She stood there,
38:28looked down at her own hands
38:29and said something
38:30under her breath
38:31that nobody caught.
38:32Then, the moment
38:33security turned away,
38:35she was through the door.
38:36Everyone stepped back.
38:37The sound at the end
38:38of the corridor
38:39shook the whole hallway.
38:41The official report
38:41used the words,
38:42Sudden incident.
38:44Damien was rushed
38:44to surgery.
38:45They brought him back,
38:46but both legs were gone.
38:48Permanent bed care
38:49for the rest of his life.
38:50Mrs. Ward was declared
38:51dead at the scene.
38:52I was home when
38:53the news came through.
38:54Zane was sitting next
38:55to me having his lunch.
38:57He read it,
38:58set his phone
38:59face down on the table.
39:00That's the end of it,
39:01he said.
39:02I nodded.
39:03Yes.
39:04Outside the window,
39:05the afternoon was clear.
39:07Sun across the whole
39:08living room.
39:09Zane slid my cup over.
39:11My parents are coming
39:12for dinner tonight.
39:13Tell the kitchen
39:13to add two more dishes.
39:15Okay.
39:16I picked up my coffee,
39:17took a sip.
39:22Three years later,
39:23the Callum Group's
39:24annual report dropped
39:25and every business outlet
39:27in the country
39:27ran the same headline.
39:29Callum Group
39:29surpasses the Voss family's
39:31peak valuation,
39:32breaks in as the top one.
39:34Damien was in a hospital bed
39:35when the notification
39:36hit his screen.
39:37He knocked his phone
39:38to the floor
39:39trying to reach it,
39:40couldn't get it back,
39:41just hung there
39:41over the edge of the mattress,
39:43breathing hard.
39:43The nurse came in,
39:45picked up the phone
39:45and shouted at him.
39:46He didn't answer.
39:48I said don't move.
39:49You deaf or just stupid?
39:51That same afternoon,
39:52Zane set the report
39:53on the table
39:54in front of me.
39:57Three years,
39:58like I said.
39:59I picked it up,
40:00flipped through,
40:01lipped to him.
40:01Three points above
40:02the Harrington Group?
40:03He raised an eyebrow.
40:04Not enough?
40:05It's enough.
40:06I closed the report
40:07and pushed it back.
40:08The corner of my mouth
40:09went up.
40:10Half a year ahead of schedule.
40:11Then I suppose
40:12we can start on something else.
40:14Such as?
40:15Give me a baby.
40:17He leaned forward
40:18and touched his forehead
40:19to mine.
40:19Something quiet
40:20in his voice.
40:21His hand traced slowly
40:23down the line of my waist.
40:24I laughed
40:25and leaned back
40:26into his arms.
40:27Through the window,
40:28the sky had caught fire
40:29at the horizon
40:31and our beautiful life
40:32was just beginning.
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