- 24 minutes ago
my father is the top investorđź’–.drama
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Hi, this is Mrs. Hudson. I'm here to swipe my card for the $3,000 a table 10-year-old
00:05birthday party I reserved.
00:07I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Hudson. This card has less than $500 available credit.
00:12I poured everything I had into helping my husband build his tech startup from nothing,
00:17turning it into one of Silicon Valley's red-hot unicorns.
00:21After that, I stepped back from the spotlight without a second thought and became a full-time mother.
00:26On my daughter Ava's 10th birthday, I wanted to throw her a grand party
00:31and booked a luxury banquet package at the Hotel Bel Air in Beverly Hills at $3,000 per table.
00:37But when I swiped the card, the front desk staff apologized.
00:41Mrs. Hudson, I'm very sorry, but the available balance on this card is less than $500.
00:47Embarrassed, I went home and confronted my husband.
00:50He put on an apologetic face and said,
00:52The company is bidding on the Silicon Valley Corley Tech Park, a competitor militially stirring up trouble,
00:57so I advanced a huge amount of money for components guarantees and I'm a cash flowed temporarily tut.
01:01When the funds come through, I promise to throw Ava the most decent birthday party Los Angeles has ever seen.
01:05I considerately expressed my understanding, then immediately turned around and started liquidating our assets.
01:12Because the new chair of the review panel leading this bidding project is none other than my father,
01:16and I had just spoken with him on the phone last night.
01:19He made it clear, there have been no recent requests for any private financial transactions.
01:25The entire process is open and compliant.
01:29I'm going to find out exactly who he's been spending the money on.
01:33This black card was our family's joint account.
01:35Just last month, it still had over $2 million in it.
01:39The transaction history had been deliberately deleted,
01:42so I went to the bank specifically and requested the full statement.
01:45The single largest charge was, incredibly, at the very same Hotel Bel Air I had just been to, $140,000.
01:54And the details read, Private Birthday Party All-Inclusive Package.
01:59Daddy must be planning a surprise for us, right?
02:05Mommy, let's hurry over and give Daddy a surprise too.
02:09Looking at my daughter Ava's innocent eyes, I couldn't bring myself to think badly of Liam.
02:15When we rushed to the hotel banquet, I spotted him immediately Liam, sharply dressed in a suit,
02:21standing at the entrance, laughing and chatting with guests.
02:24A woman in a red evening gown was intimately holding his arm, looking just like a perfect golden couple.
02:30She was Sophia, Liam's chief assistant, and practically a company veteran.
02:35Liam, your son looks exactly like you, so outstanding.
02:39Who wouldn't envy you? Still so in love with a child this old.
02:44Listening to the guests' flattering words, I then noticed a little boy standing between them,
02:49with a striking resemblance to Liam around the eyes and brows.
02:53My daughter suddenly wrenched her hand free from mine, and ran toward Liam.
02:57Daddy, the name up there is wrong! My name is Ava, not Noah!
03:03That was when I realized she had seen the welcome sign nearby,
03:06which boldly read,
03:08Happy 7th birthday, to our beloved son, Noah Hudson.
03:13Before I could even begin to process this,
03:16I heard a loud thud Sophia had reached out and shoved my daughter to the ground.
03:21Where did this child come from?
03:23No manners at all.
03:24I rushed forward and scooped up my daughter.
03:28The moment I saw the blood beating on her scraped knee,
03:31rage, completely overpowered reason.
03:34Liam Hudson!
03:35You used our family money to keep a woman and an illegitimate child on the side!
03:39And now you're letting her hurt Ava?
03:41My voice trembled with fury as I held my sobbing daughter tightly.
03:46Sophia muttered under her breath,
03:47What joint property?
03:49Every single penny of this company was earned with me fighting by his side.
03:53Some people have been playing housewife for so long,
03:56they actually think they're the company's owner.
03:59The surrounding guests buzzed with discussion,
04:01their eyes swiveling back and forth between us.
04:04Is this the mistress coming to stir up trouble?
04:07How dare she crash the real partner's party?
04:10Absolutely outrageous.
04:11Jesus had nothing but a daughter and still tries to make a scene truly pathetic.
04:16Those probing, contemptuous, mocking stares fell on my daughter and me,
04:21piercing like countless needles.
04:23I said angrily,
04:24Are you kidding me?
04:26Sophia is the mistress!
04:28This boy is the dirty little secret no one was supposed to know about!
04:31A few snickers rippled through the crowd.
04:34A man with a beer belly swirled his wine glass and said,
04:37Sophia and Liam have been together for ages.
04:41Everyone knows she's the one who holds everything together for him.
04:44Another woman chimed in.
04:46Liam and Sophia have such a great relationship.
04:49This woman clearly just wants to scam him because he's loaded.
04:52I turned my gaze to Liam and said icily,
04:55Liam, tell me, who am I?
04:59Liam finally spoke.
05:01Wearing a helpless smile, he turned to the guests.
05:04My apologies for this little scene, everyone.
05:07This is Claire, our household assistant.
05:09She spends all her time reading romance novels and has a hard time telling fantasy from reality.
05:14He then turned to look at me, his eyes filled with warning.
05:18Claire, take your daughter Ava back to rest.
05:22Stop embarrassing yourselves here.
05:23I felt as if I had been struck by lightning.
05:26I couldn't believe that the man who had shared my bed for 12 years
05:30would actually slap such an absurd identity onto me right to my face.
05:34Seeing that Liam had taken her side, Sophia immediately found her confidence, her voice rising.
05:40Claire, I know it's not easy raising a daughter on your own,
05:43but you can't try to extort money like this.
05:49Tell you what, why don't you go back for now and I'll have the butler pay you an extra three
05:53months' salary.
05:54Bursts of mocking laughter erupted from the guests.
05:56Oh, so the assistant is trying to move up?
05:59That's a joke.
06:01People do anything for money these days.
06:04That poor little girl, stuck with a mother like that.
06:07A mother who acts like that, the child is bound to pick it up.
06:12She's probably going anywhere in life.
06:14Sophia smiled smugly.
06:16She crouched down and said to Noah,
06:19You see?
06:20Study hard, so you won't become a laughing out.
06:24Noah jutted out his chin,
06:26his eyes full of a meanness far beyond his years.
06:30How dare you shout at mom like that!
06:33He reached out and shoved me hard.
06:36Caught completely off guard,
06:38I staggered back two steps,
06:39nearly falling down together with my daughter.
06:42Noah said arrogantly,
06:44My dad said the tech company will be mine to control someday.
06:48You don't deserve to take my dad from me.
06:53You'll end up just like your mom,
06:57a servant assistant.
06:59The guests laughing laughing for even more patience.
07:02The young master has such ambition.
07:06Just then, several hotel waitstaff in uniform passed by carrying trays,
07:11and one of them was the front desk manager who had assisted me last time.
07:15When he saw me, he deliberately raised his voice and said to the colleague beside him,
07:20Well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Hudson,
07:22the one who reserved a 3,000-a-table birthday party but couldn't even get $500 out of her card.
07:27Told you, some people just love to put on airs pretending to be a rich wife,
07:31and they have to slink off with their tail between their legs.
07:34Sophie's frivolous and let out a scum.
07:37Broke as a joke, can't even scrape up 500 bucks?
07:40No surprise she's throwing a fit.
07:42The bare-bellied man Richard from earlier also swayed forward,
07:46his greasy gaze sizing up Ava and me, his tone frivolous.
07:51You have to admit that Nancy at Liam's place is actually quite good-looking,
07:54and the little girl is kind of cute, too.
07:56You definitely don't stand a chance with Liam, so why not come with me?
08:00I'll give you $3,000 a month, plus room and bear for you and your daughter.
08:04What do you say?
08:04You won't have to worry about $500 anymore.
08:06I'm willing to be the one to take over.
08:08Pretty decent of me, don't you think?
08:10Hearing this, the other guests laughed even harder.
08:13Richard, you're so generous!
08:15But seriously, isn't $3,000 a bit too much for someone like her?
08:20Sophia messaged up to Liam, and joined the crowd in the jury.
08:24I demanded sharply,
08:25Liam, are you just going to stand there and watch them insult me and Ava like this?
08:30Liam looked at me expressionlessly, as if I truly were a complete stranger.
08:35After everyone had laughed their fill, he finally spoke again, his tone cold and impatient.
08:41Claire, stop embarrassing yourself here.
08:43This is my son's birthday party.
08:45Take your daughter and go back, or I'll call security.
08:49Ava trembled even more violently in my arms.
08:52Her tiny hands clutched tightly at the hem of my clothes, and she buried her face against my chest, too
08:58afraid to look at those malicious faces.
09:01Mom, is it really like what they said?
09:03Hearing my daughter's terrified question, my heart ached so fiercely I could barely breathe.
09:10Twelve years of devotion and sacrifice, and what I got in return was being trampled and humiliated by my own
09:16husband in public like this.
09:19No, no, Ava.
09:21I covered Ava's ears.
09:23My heart filled with bitterness.
09:25How was I supposed to explain this to her?
09:27Back when Liam first started his business, we were crammed into a run-down garage of less than a hundred
09:33square feet.
09:34The company couldn't afford to hire anyone, so I took on multiple roles, admin, bookkeeper, order tracking.
09:41To help him bring in clients, I cast aside every shred of dignity and begged every single person I knew.
09:48I remember the day he signed his first million dollar contract.
09:52He excitedly spun me around in circles, and then used that money to buy me a very expensive dress.
09:58I saw the sparkle in Liam's eyes, and in the end, I never told him that the big client was
10:03actually a long-time business partner of my uncle.
10:06Later, the company gradually got on track, and I became pregnant with Ava.
10:11Liam, out of concern for me, had me go home to rest and take care of the pregnancy in peace.
10:17From now on I'll take care of you.
10:18You've suffered so much for me.
10:20Now it's turn to give you the life of a princess.
10:23But now, I looked down at the old dress I was wearing, the one I had worn for three years.
10:29Meanwhile, Liam was in a sharp suit, and Sophia was draped head-to-toe in designer brands.
10:35The two of them stood together, basking in everyone's flattery, looking perfectly matched.
10:40And I was called the assistant, and no one even doubted it.
10:44Ma'am, I know life hasn't been easy for you, but children at this age already understand things.
10:50If you don't care about your own dignity, at least don't embarrass the child.
10:54As Sophia spoke, she pulled a small stack of green bills out of her exquisite designer wallet.
11:00She held it out to me with utter arrogance.
11:15As she leaned in close, Sophia said in a voice so low, only the two of us could hear.
11:21Claire, what does it matter that you met Liam first?
11:24The one not loved is the one who doesn't belong.
11:28Right in front of everyone's watching eyes, she suddenly let out an, oh dear, and her fingers loosened.
11:35The bills smacked across my face and scattered all over the floor.
11:39Sophia smiled without a trace of apology, her gaze condescending.
11:43Sorry, my hand slipped.
11:47The pot-bellied vice president immediately chimed in.
11:49What a classy lady Sophia is!
11:53No wonder she's Liam's most trusted partner.
11:57Liam glanced at me indifferently and commanded,
11:59Pick it up and hurry along.
12:01I was so enraged that I actually laughed.
12:04$2,000 trying to get rid of me?
12:08Liam, do you think back then your crappy garage company,
12:11what made you think you could get those multi-million dollar defense contracts?
12:15Every penny you've spent on Sophia and this illegitimate child over the years is our marital property.
12:21If I want, I can take it all back.
12:24That's quite a story, Claire.
12:26With that imagination, you should try writing some rich family romance for fun.
12:30Times have changed.
12:32No need to be so hung up on being the original wife.
12:34But Liam was clearly hit where it hurt.
12:37His face instantly turned ashen.
12:39And he was just about to shout,
12:41Claire, stop it!
12:42A crisp sound of a slap cut him off.
12:45Liam, if you dare slander me one more word,
12:47if you dare call me an assistant again,
12:48I'll take you to court immediately.
12:50I'll make Hudson Technology vanish from Silicon Valley for good.
12:56Liam was stunned by the slap.
12:58The moment he registered what had happened,
13:00fury ignited in his eyes.
13:02He grabbed me by the throat.
13:03His knuckle was turning white from the force.
13:05His tone vicious.
13:07You think I wouldn't hit a woman?
13:09Don't push your luck.
13:11In a corner where no one could see,
13:13he suddenly clamped down on my neck.
13:15His grip grew tighter and tighter.
13:17And I felt the air being slowly squeezed out of me.
13:20My vision began to darken.
13:22And I could only claw helplessly at his wrist.
13:25Just when I thought I was truly going to die right there,
13:28Sophia stepped forward with feigned concern to intervene.
13:30Liam, it's not worth getting angry over someone like that.
13:35What if you end up hurting yourself?
13:36Only then did Liam release his grip.
13:39I collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.
13:42Tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.
13:45The ruthlessness in his eyes just moments ago made me understand in that instant.
13:49His gaze was filled with pure rage.
13:51And he struck without the slightest regard for the bond we once shared.
13:55Sophia tenderly stroked the red mark on Liam's face.
13:58And then, right in front of everyone, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
14:03All right, don't be upset.
14:06Today is Noah's birthday.
14:08Don't let people like that ruin our good mood.
14:11Liam's expression softened slightly, and he wrapped an arm around Sophia's waist.
14:16Just then, the banquet hall lights suddenly dimmed.
14:20The timed projector flickered on, and photos began to play across the screen.
14:25There, on the screen, in vivid detail, were the moments of Noah's life from birth to now.
14:30His birth, his first birthday, his first day of school.
14:34All were recorded, and in every single one, Liam and Sophia were there by his side.
14:39Yet, in my daughter Ava's life, Liam, as a father, was always absent.
14:45My daughter and Noah share the same birthday.
14:47So, after Noah turned three, meaning from the very year Noah was born,
14:51my daughter never saw her father on her birthday again.
14:54Noah made a face at my daughter, and taunted.
14:57So, you say he's your father?
14:59Then, take out the photo and let us see.
15:03Mom, does Daddy not care about me at all?
15:06Am I just an unwanted child?
15:08I shook my head, but photos of them started playing on the screen.
15:12Seeing several familiar backgrounds, I couldn't help but freeze.
15:16The backgrounds were the deck and the ocean, the two of them cheek to cheek.
15:20Intimately.
15:21I remembered that cruise ship.
15:23It was the luxury cruise I had booked for my fifth wedding anniversary with Liam.
15:27So, Liam had booked a ticket for Sophia, too.
15:29And that family photo at the amusement park.
15:32Liam and Sophia, tightly embracing the date stamped on the photo,
15:36was the very same day Liam had been at the park with me and our daughter.
15:40Finally, I understood why.
15:42Every time we went out, Liam always had some urgent, unavoidable meeting.
15:46The happy marriage I had cherished in my heart was already full of cracks, rotten on the inside.
15:52While I was still lost in shock, Noah suddenly rushed over.
16:07My daughter's head was struck to the side, her cheek instantly flushing bright red.
16:12She was a head taller than Noah, and at an age where children are naturally competitive and eager to stand
16:18their ground.
16:19So her instinct was to hit back.
16:21But Sophia immediately grabbed hold of Ava's hands, squeezing her wrists forcefully, and scolded her harshly.
16:28Acting so in silent at such a young age.
16:31You truly lack manners and upbringing.
16:33Seeing my daughter restrained, Noah rushed forward at once, and began kicking and hitting her.
16:39Children strike without any sense of restraint, and soon bruises and marks appeared all over my daughter's body.
16:45She was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face, but she stubbornly bit her lip, and refused
16:51to let herself cry out loud.
16:53Stop!
16:55Desperate, I tried to pull Noah away, but Liam seized my arm in a death grip.
16:59They're just children playing. Why are you getting involved?
17:01Noah's very sensible. He knows his limits. Nothing will happen.
17:04I had reached my breaking point and screamed almost hoarsely.
17:08Liam Hudson, that is your own daughter!
17:11How can you just stand by and watch others bully her?
17:14How can you be so heartless?
17:17But Noah's my son.
17:20But Noah's my son.
17:21His voice was very soft, yet every word pierced my heart like a blade.
17:26But Noah is my son.
17:27Just then, Noah kicked Ava viciously in the stomach.
17:31My daughter immediately doubled over in pain, her little face turning deathly pale.
17:36AVA!
17:37I shrieked, my heart nearly stopping.
17:40Ava tried to shield her stomach with her hands, but Sophia was still clamping down on her tightly,
17:46leaving her utterly unable to protect herself.
17:48Seeing this, Noah grew even more smug and raised his foot again, aiming straight for Ava's already
17:54scraped and injured knee.
17:57I finally wrenched myself free from Liam, threw myself forward and shoved Noah aside, gathering
18:03my daughter protectively into my arms.
18:05Ava was trembling violently in my embrace.
18:08Her tiny hands clutched tightly at the hem of my clothes, and her voice was feeble.
18:13Mommy, it hurts so much.
18:16Noah, having been pushed away, knocked into a nearby table and started wailing loudly in
18:22pain.
18:23Sophia was beside herself with distress.
18:26My precious son!
18:28Our Noah is going to inherit the entire Hudson Technology Empire one day!
18:32Can you even afford it if you break him?
18:35Seeing Sophia and her son crying in each other's arms.
18:38Claire, how could you be so vicious?
18:41Liam couldn't hold back and raised his hand.
18:43Just as his slap was about to land on me, the sound of synchronized footsteps suddenly rang
18:48out from the entrance of the banquet hall.
18:50A middle-aged man in a dark, bespoke suit, exuding an aura of commanding authority, strode
18:57in.
18:57His eyes were razor sharp, and his entire presence radiated a quiet, intimidating power.
19:03Flanking him were a bodyguard and a senior assistant.
19:06The pot-bellied Richard, who had made those insolent remarks to me earlier, instantly switched
19:12to a fawning expression.
19:13He trotted over to greet the newcomer, bowing and scraping obsequiously.
19:18Mr. Anderson, your presence here is a true honor for the entire banquet.
19:23Liam, come over here.
19:24Let me introduce you.
19:25This is Silicon Valley's top angel investor, the lead investor in the tech company's first
19:31round, Mr. Robert Anderson.
19:33Liam stared at the newcomer in utter disbelief, his face instantly turning deathly pale.
19:39Father-in-law?
19:41Holding my injured daughter in my arms and gazing at that familiar face, my tears finally burst
19:48forth uncontrollably.
19:49I called out through my sobs.
19:51Dad!
19:54Mr. Robert ignored Richard, who had rushed up to him first, and didn't even glance at
19:59Liam, whose face was as pale as paper.
20:02He walked straight through the crowd and stopped in front of me.
20:05When his eyes fell on Ava in my arms, her face pallid, her arms and calves covered in purplish
20:12bruises, and then swept over the clear, glaring strangulation marks on my neck.
20:17The temperature in the entire banquet hall seemed to plummet to freezing in an instant.
20:22What's going on here?
20:24His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority that struck everyone's
20:28heart like a heavy hammer.
20:30Richard, who had been so unbearably arrogant moments ago, was now drenched in sweat, the
20:35back of his shirt soaked through with cold perspiration.
20:39He stammered, trying to explain.
20:41Mr. Anderson, this is all a misunderstanding.
20:43This mother and daughter are Liam's household elders.
20:46They came to Noah's birthday party trying to extort money and cause bus blanks, and I'm
20:49so embarrassed that you have to see this.
20:51And next time you come, please your assistant notify me in advance, and I'll suddenly pick
20:54you up at the airport.
20:54Are you saying that my daughter and grandbotter are extorting money and causing trouble?
21:02His gaze slowly swept over Liam and Sophia's arms still tightly intertwined, and finally
21:08came to rest on Ava.
21:10His tone softened considerably.
21:12Ava, tell grandpa who hit you.
21:15Dad, let me explain.
21:17Things are not as you think.
21:18Ava, speak.
21:20Mr. Robert's tone was firm, and brooked no argument, giving Liam no chance to defend himself
21:26whatsoever.
21:27Ava timidly peeked out from my arms.
21:30Her little finger pointed first at Noah, still sniffling in Sophia's arms.
21:34Then at Sophia, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
21:39It was him.
21:40He hit my face, kicked my stomach, and she held my hand so I couldn't die.
21:45Listening to Ava's tearful accusation, fine beads of cold sweat broke out on Liam's temples.
21:51He quietly pulled Richard aside, ducking away.
21:55Richard, is this really the newly a director of the fine retroca department?
21:58Are you sure you've got the right person?
22:00Richard was now utterly terrified.
22:03He kept wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, his voice trembling.
22:07Absolutely.
22:08He invested in Google, Tesla.
22:10He's a titan of Silicon Valley.
22:12How could I be mistaken?
22:16This, this is really your father-in-law?
22:18Liam, you never told me you had such a big shot as a father-in-law.
22:21Why didn't you tell me her father is top Silicon Valley investor?
22:28How was I supposed to know?
22:29I thought he was just some reclusive retired old man who only goes fishing and reads books every day.
22:33He never talks about who he really is.
22:36And he rarely asked about Claire's affairs, so I assumed...
22:39I thought.
22:40While the two were still whispering, Noah, sheltered in Sophia's arms, had absolutely no inkling of how tense the atmosphere
22:47had become.
22:47He had just bumped his head, and was already feeling full of grievance.
22:51Now, seeing this strange old man siding with Ava and even letting Ava tattle, his anger flared instantly.
22:59Hey, you old man!
23:00How dare you meddle in my business!
23:03Believe me, I'll have my dad call the security guards to throw you out!
23:07My dad is a billionaire!
23:11As he spoke, he even reached out his little hand to shove his father's leg, but the assistant swiftly stopped
23:17him with sharp reflexes.
23:18Sophia was scared out of her wits.
23:21She rushed forward in a panic, wrapped her arms around Noah, and clamped her hand tightly over his mouth.
23:26Forcing a smile that was worse than a grimace onto her face.
23:30Please don't take it to heart, sir. The child is young and doesn't know what he's saying.
23:35Yes, Dad, he's just a little boy with no filter. Please don't hold it against him.
23:40It seems Mr. Hudson has a rather unique approach to disciplinating his child on a regular basis.
23:46But Noah was still struggling, making muffled sounds through the hand over his mouth.
23:50His eyes still glaring fiercely at Mr. Robert.
23:53Clearly, he didn't regard this old man as anyone important at all.
23:58Sophia, frantic, secretly pinched his arm several times before he finally settled down a little.
24:04Yet he still kept his neck stiff, wearing a defiant, unyielding expression.
24:12Seeing his son's reckless arrogance, and catching the increasingly cold look on Mr. Robert's face, a surge of fury ignited
24:20within Liam.
24:21It's all thanks to the way you've raised your son!
24:23Look at what you've spoiled him into!
24:26Sophia's head was knocked sideways by the blow, her hair falling loose in disarray, and clear finger marks surfaced on
24:33her face.
24:34She covered her face in disbelief, her eyes instantly reddening.
24:38Liam Hudson, you actually hit me? Ask yourself, don't you bear any responsibility for the way no one has turned
24:43out?
24:44Dad, it was this woman who seduced me. Noah only exists because of her careful scheme. You're a man too.
24:50What man doesn't make mistakes? But Claire has always been the one I truly love. From now on, I'll cut
24:56all ties completely with this mother and son.
24:58You promised me you'd divorce Claire! Now that your father-in-law is here, you want to kick us out?
25:04There's no way I'm letting this go!
25:06So what if her dad is a big shot? You're a wealthy boss too. Take this opportunity, they everything out
25:12on the table and divorced her!
25:13Crazy woman! How could I possibly divorce Claire for you? Don't even dream about it!
25:18You're so heartless. Liam, with you all these years, gave you a son and this is how you treat me?
25:25The two of them were completely heedless of the setting, tangled in an all-out brawl, the scene utterly unsightly.
25:32The surrounding guests watched in stunned disbelief.
25:38Some quietly took out their phones to record videos, while others stepped backward, afraid of getting caught in the fray.
25:45Noah's earlier arrogance had vanished entirely. He stood rooted to the spot, wailing loudly.
25:51Just as the two of them were locked in their ugly, inextricable fight, the doors of the banquet hall were
25:57pushed open once again.
25:58Several police officers in Los Angeles Police Department uniforms walked in.
26:03The lead officer scanned the room and asked in a deep voice.
26:06We received a report that someone here is suspected of intentional assault, child abuse, and disturbing public order.
26:14Who is Liam Hudson? Who is Sophia Miller?
26:17Liam and Sophia instantly froze in place. Liam frantically straightened his twisted tie.
26:23Officer, this is all a misunderstanding. Dad, please put in a good word for me.
26:27No amount of pleading will help. Misunderstanding or not, you're coming to the station with us for investigation.
26:34Mr. Roberts' assistant stepped forward and said calmly,
26:39Officer, I'm the one who called the police. I'll cooperate and go back to give a full statement.
26:42Fully cooperate with the police investigation. Submit all collected evidence truthfully and completely, leaving nothing out.
26:52Under the shocked stares of the entire banquet of guests, Liam and Sophia were handcuffed and taken away.
26:59Noah stood there where he was, his face smeared with tears and snot.
27:03But he no longer dared to cry or throw a tantrum. He just stood there timidly, like an abandoned child.
27:09Off to the side, Richard remembered his own earlier behavior, how he had jeered and mocked me so brazenly,
27:15and his face instantly turned ashen as death.
27:18He hunched over and bowed his head in utter terror, apologizing profusely with deep regret.
27:24Mrs. Hurtson, my previous words and actions were rude and offensive.
27:28I sincerely ask for your forgiveness. All those disrespectful remarks were my fault.
27:34It was my lack of insight and failure to see the truth.
27:37Watching him grovel with the tide like this, I felt nothing but disgust.
27:41I turned my face away, unwilling to look any longer.
27:45My father merely cast him a cold glance, then carefully took Ava from my arms.
27:50His eyes were filled with heartache.
27:51Ava, be good. Grandpa is taking you to the hospital for a checkup and treatment.
28:01After a few days of quiet recuperation in the hospital, Ava's complexion improved considerably,
28:07but her spirit was still somewhat listless.
28:10She would often startle awake from nightmares, so I stayed at the hospital with her the whole time.
28:15In this sordid drama, all the blame had been pinned on Sophia.
28:19Liam did not bear the primary responsibility, and was quickly bailed out of jail before long.
28:25Soon after, Liam appeared at the door of the hospital room,
28:28carrying an exquisite fruit basket, and a bouquet of Ava's favorite pale pink daisies.
28:33He was wearing a simple shirt and trousers, with a shadow of bluish stubble on his chin,
28:38and prominent dark circles under his eyes, his whole appearance considerably haggard.
28:43He stood at the doorway, his voice carrying a cautious, testing tone.
28:48Honey, Ava, I've come to see you.
28:52Ava, who had been leaning against me reading a book, saw Liam, and her eyes flickered faintly.
28:58She called out softly.
29:00I could see clearly that in her heart, my daughter still longed for fatherly love.
29:09Even after being hurt, she hadn't completely let it go.
29:13As if granted redemption, Liam immediately walked into the room, and placed the flowers in Ava's hands.
29:18Do you like it, sweetie?
29:20Daddy has always remembered.
29:22Your favorite flowers are light pink daisies.
29:25Ava took the flowers and nodded lightly, but her eyes were full of evasiveness,
29:29tinged with unmistakable timidity.
29:31I didn't know what you'd like, so...
29:34I also bought your favorite mango pudding, the signature dessert from that trendy sweet shop you always go to.
29:41Claire, it's your favorite flavor, too.
29:43I sat quietly to the side, not uttering a single word.
29:47The damage from that day had nearly upended my daughter's entire worldview.
29:51I didn't want to provoke her further, and could only remain silent for the time being.
29:55Over the following half-month, Liam came to the hospital on time every single day to visit.
30:01Sometimes he brought carefully prepared meals, sometimes new toys, and sometimes he would just sit quietly by the bedside, chatting
30:09with Ava to cheer her up.
30:11He never once mentioned Sophia or Noah, as if that unbearable, ugly farce had never happened.
30:18Seeing that I showed no obvious resistance, Liam grew bolder.
30:21He probed gently.
30:22Claire, I know I've made unforgivable mistakes.
30:25Please, for Ava's sake, give me another chance to turn over a new sheaf, will you?
30:32With Ava right beside us, I gave no response, simply lowering my head and quietly peeling an apple in silence.
30:40My silence gave Liam a glimmer of hope.
30:43Starting the next day, rare and expensive flowers, haute couture clothing, and designer jewelry poured into the hospital room in
30:51an endless stream, piling up in every corner.
30:53I accepted every single item without the slightest hesitation.
30:57By the time Ava was discharged from the hospital, Liam showed up holding two exclusive invitations to a top-tier
31:04fashion show, his eyes earnest and tinged with excitement.
31:08Claire, do you remember when I landed my first business order?
31:13I bought you your first affordable luxury dress.
31:16Back then I told you, once I made it big, I'd book the entire fashion show and give you every
31:22hauteur gown.
31:24Now, this show is specially prepared for you.
31:26It wasn't that he was incapable of being thoughtful and considerate, nor that he had forgotten his past promises.
31:32It was simply that, before, he had never been willing to put in the effort for me.
31:37I finally spoke, my tone flat and unruffled.
31:41Liam, do you really think doing all this can erase all the hurt and make up for everything?
31:46He immediately stepped forward and clutched my hand, urgent and earnest.
31:50Claire, I know this is far from enough, but I'm willing to spend the rest of my life making it
31:55up to you and Ava.
31:57I'll completely cut off all ties with Sophia and arrange for her and her son to go abroad.
32:01They will never come had to misturb our lives as anyone.
32:08Just as he was envisioning the future with a heart full of hope,
32:11I directly pulled out a divorce agreement I had long since drafted and placed it in front of him.
32:16The moment Liam saw the agreement, the invitations in his hand fell to the ground.
32:21He stared at me blankly.
32:23Nobody can go through life without making mistakes.
32:25I was just confused for a moment.
32:28Claire, do you have to be so heartless?
32:30Let's part on good terms and not make things awkward for each other in the end.
32:34Liam quickly scanned the contents of the agreement and his face instantly turned ashen and contorted.
32:40Claire, you're so heartless.
32:41Why should I have to give up the vast majority of my property and assets?
32:44Then see you in court.
32:45Liam took a deep breath, suppressing the fury rising in his heart.
32:49I can give you all the family assets, but not the company.
32:51This is the enterprise I built with my own hand, my life's work.
32:54I can't give it to you.
32:55As for the shares you hold, I'm willing to buy them all back at full market price.
32:59I looked at him, my words deeply meaningful.
33:02Okay.
33:03Landry, you recover all the dsichents at the Wendidgin Sophia and her Urzen Express.
33:08I will never interfere with your company.
33:12Liam agreed on the spot, and his execution was swift.
33:16The very next day, he retained a top-tier law firm and formally filed a lawsuit against Sophia,
33:22demanding the return of all property gifted to her during the marriage.
33:26In the courtroom, Sophia's face was streaked with tears.
33:30She sobbed emotionally, making every possible excuse.
33:34All the money was voluntarily paid by Liam as living expenses and child support,
33:39which constitute voluntary gifts and do not need to be returned.
33:42Over the years, the total value of the property Liam had lavished on and gifted to Sophia and Noah
33:48amounted to $3 million.
33:50In the end, the court ruled that Sophia must return $140,000.
33:56Although not all the money was recovered, this sum was enough to completely bankrupt her
34:01and leave her with nothing.
34:03The moment the verdict was handed down, Sophia completely lost control in the courtroom,
34:09screaming hysterically.
34:20I worked hard by your side for years, gave you a son, and this is how cruelly you treat me?
34:26These things were never yours to begin with.
34:29Walking out of the courthouse, Liam quickly caught up to me.
34:32A trace of hope and wishful thinking in his eyes.
34:36Claire, I've made up my mind.
34:38I can't lose you and Ava.
34:39I'll spend the rest of my life proving my sincerity.
34:42Just give me one more chance.
34:45All right.
34:46We'll talk after you've got the company running smoothly.
34:49Not long after, Liam still showed up at my door.
34:52This time, his eyes were bloodshot, his hair a disheveled mess.
34:56The spirited air of a Silicon Valley young entrepreneur had been completely stripped away,
35:01leaving him looking utterly wretched and defeated.
35:04Claire!
35:05Was this your scheme all along?
35:07I've already returned all of Sophia's money and given you all the marital assets as you demanded.
35:13Why won't you just let me go?
35:15The company has recently lost three key clients in a row.
35:18All our partners have annually terminated cooperation without even giving a reason.
35:21No thanks to Wall Street banks we worked have thrown like Titan all sedent lines
35:24and are completely squeezing our Subint Len.
35:26You've pushed me a boopy dead in Ted's end.
35:28You determined to drive a corner with no way out.
35:33Take a good look.
35:34Every major client and every core investment that has kept you standing in Silicon Valley all these years,
35:39who do you think has been paving the way behind the scenes?
35:42If I didn't win them on my own merit, what, you handed them to me as charity?
35:46Claire, don't go too far.
35:47Sure, you have a father in a high position, but Hudson Technology?
35:51I built it myself working countless nights.
35:54Do you remember that first Lifeline order in the early days of the company?
35:58You always thought it was because your business proposal brilliant enough, didn't you?
36:02That was my uncle's longtime business friend.
36:05Back then, to secure that opportunity, I went to their door every day for a month,
36:11curting favor with their family and swallowing all my pride.
36:15Just to buy you a Lifeline for your startup.
36:17And what about Mr. White, the company's biggest venture partner?
36:20In Silicon Valley circles, he's always been notoriously tough and rarely willing to collaborate.
36:26I went to his door three times and got rejected every time.
36:30I had to ask my father's former colleague from the Defense Department to make the introduction,
36:34using that kind of top-line connection, to get you that $10 million venture capital.
36:38Without me, who would have given your tiny startup, which had nothing at the time, the time of day?
36:42All these years, Liam had been completely immersed in his own myth of building a business from scratch,
36:49priding himself on his achievements.
36:51A faint bitterness rose in my heart.
36:53Do you know why my father has never meddled in our family affairs or interfere in your career all these
36:59years we got Heman?
37:01Throughout his life, he has always adhered to his principles and acted with integrity.
37:07He can't bear the most.
37:10He's watching his own daughter set aside all her pride and dignity,
37:14running around begging for favors and clinging to connections,
37:18just to help her husband get ahead.
37:20Every night he had stayed up battling through the grind.
37:23I had been there the whole time, silently supporting him.
37:27Back then, I always felt that as long as I could help him steady his career
37:31and hold together our little family, all the sacrifice was worth it.
37:35Liam opened his mouth as if to argue, but his throat tightened and he had no words.
37:40Did I orchestrate this scheme to trap you?
37:43Liam, without me, you're nothing.
37:48He collapsed weakly onto the floor,
37:51every shred of his arrogance and confidence dissolving in an instant.
37:55A moment later, Liam, utterly shattered, got to his feet.
37:59He stumbled toward the door, his back hunched and bent,
38:02as if he had aged ten years overnight.
38:05Just as he raised his hand to push the door open,
38:08a figure burst out suddenly from around the corner of the villa block
38:11and blocked his path with deadly determination.
38:14It was Sophia.
38:18Sophia's hair was disheveled.
38:19Her eyes shot through with blood-red veins.
38:22Haggard and wretched, she had long since lost the polished, capable look she once wore.
38:27Seeing Liam walk out of my villa,
38:29she completely lost control of her emotions,
38:32screaming hysterically,
38:33Liam, then what am I to you?
38:36What does our son Noah count for?
38:38Now I'm drowning in debt with nothing left.
38:42You turn around to cozy up to this woman?
38:46Haven't you caused enough trouble?
38:48What happens between me and her is none of your business.
38:53Where did you try?
38:55You're the one who insisted on clinging to this.
38:57Ending up like this?
38:58You deserve it.
39:00Deserve it?
39:01When I risked everything to give you a son,
39:04you didn't call me deserving back then.
39:06Now you want to go back and beg for her forgiveness?
39:09And you're tossing us away like garbage?
39:11Liam, let me tell you,
39:12don't you dare think you'll get away with it!
39:17Her shouting grew louder and louder,
39:20drawing passers-by in the villa community to stop and watch,
39:24whispering among themselves.
39:26Liam's face cycled from ashen to pale.
39:29Wanting nothing more than to escape this farce,
39:31he gave Sophia a hard, impatient shove.
39:34Don't make unreasonable trouble here and disturb public order!
39:38That shove thoroughly ignited the despair and hatred
39:41that had been festering inside Sophia.
39:43She stared deathly at Liam's cold, merciless face
39:46and a crazed, ferocious ruthlessness suddenly surged in her eyes.
39:51Having completely lost all reason,
39:53she abruptly pulled a portable, sharp knife from her handbag.
39:56If I can't have a good life, none of you will either!
40:03Sophia, don't do anything rash!
40:05But it was already too late.
40:07Sophia raised the knife high and stabbed it viciously into Liam's chest.
40:11Liam let out an agonized cry of pain.
40:14He collapsed to the ground, clutching the gushing wound tightly,
40:17the bright red blood instantly soaking through his light-colored shirt.
40:21In the very moment she struck, Sophia was also utterly stunned.
40:25She stood frozen in place, the knife clattering from her hand onto the ground.
40:30I calmly and immediately dialed emergency services and the police.
40:34Through the courtyard fence, I watched Liam's breathing grow weaker and weaker.
40:39He struggled to lift his eyes.
40:41All that was left in them was bone-deep remorse.
40:44His breath fading to a whisper, he murmured,
40:58Those were the last words he ever spoke to me.
41:02Police cars and ambulances quickly arrived at the scene,
41:05but Liam had lost too much blood and succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.
41:10Sophia was arrested on the spot by police for intentional assault resulting in death.
41:14Years of tangled love and hatred ended at last in tragedy, one dead, the other behind bars.
41:21The bonds of love and entanglement that had bound us for 12 years were thus completely and utterly severed.
41:27I turned and went back inside the house, tightly embracing my daughter,
41:30who had rushed out upon hearing the commotion.
41:33Ava had just been startled awake from her sleep.
41:36Rubbing her drowsy eyes, she said softly,
41:39Mom, I think I heard Dad's voice.
41:41I was silent for a moment, then spoke gently.
41:44Dad has gone to a place far, far away, and he'll never come back.
41:49Ava, will you miss Daddy?
41:51My daughter hesitated for a few seconds,
41:53then reached out and wrapped her arms tightly around my waist.
41:57Her voice was soft and sweet, yet utterly resolute.
42:01I don't. Actually, Ava understands everything.
42:04Daddy is a bad daddy.
42:06He loves his little brother more.
42:07I don't want Daddy.
42:09I only want Mommy and Grandpa.
42:12I know.
42:13We only want each other and Grandpa.
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