- 2 weeks ago
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🦄
CreativityTranscript
00:02Everyone knew Julianne Cross had taken me by force.
00:05I had a boyfriend once.
00:06Who the hell are you?
00:13Julianne paid him $100 million to disappear.
00:16When I refused him, he locked me inside his mansion and claimed me as his own.
00:22I hated him enough to put a knife to his throat.
00:25Blood ran down his neck, but he only smiled.
00:27Go on.
00:28Stab again. If it doesn't kill me, you'll end up loving me instead.
00:32Everyone said Julianne Cross was insane.
00:35Maybe he was.
00:36He would take a bullet from me, kneel to put my shoes on, and give me everything I wanted.
00:40Somehow, I fell in love with him.
00:43Three years into our marriage, he brought home a college girl named Chloe Bennett.
00:48Young, gentle.
00:49She looked almost exactly like the girl I used to be.
00:52One night, changed everything.
00:54Julianne looked at me and said,
00:55Kings used to have harems.
00:57I'm richer than most countries.
00:58Keeping two wives is hardly a crime.
01:00You promised I'd be the only woman you'd ever love.
01:04I smashed everything in the house.
01:06He still refused to send Chloe away.
01:09Out of options, I offered Chloe a check large enough to change her life.
01:13She took one look, then ran to Julianne in tears.
01:16That same day, my parents were dragged to an abandoned warehouse.
01:19They hung above a roaring industrial meat grinder.
01:23Julianne looked down at me.
01:25Nod.
01:26Tell me Chloe stays.
01:27I'll let them go.
01:29Julianne!
01:29You promised I'd be the only woman you'd ever love!
01:32I still love you.
01:33It's just that now, I love Chloe too.
01:38Agree to this arrangement, and we can go back to how things were.
01:42Go back?
01:43Julianne, a person only has one heart.
01:45How can you love two people at once?
01:48He simply raised one hand.
01:50The countdown began.
01:52Ten.
01:52Nine.
01:53No!
01:54Dad!
01:54Mom!
01:55The bodyguards pinned me to the ground.
01:57Mom!
01:58Eight.
01:58Seven.
02:00Julian!
02:00I hate you!
02:02I hate you!
02:03Six.
02:04Five.
02:05Dad!
02:06Mom!
02:07Four.
02:08Three.
02:10Two.
02:11I agree!
02:12I agree!
02:13Let her stay!
02:14Please!
02:15Please let my parents go!
02:17Julianne lifted a hand.
02:19A satisfied smile crossed his face.
02:21See?
02:22You should have listened from the beginning.
02:24He nodded to his men.
02:25Lower them.
02:26The workers rushed to the winch.
02:28Then, the rope broke.
02:31My parents plunged into the roaring grinder.
02:35The screams stopped instantly.
02:37Only red remained.
02:38Blood.
02:39Dad!
02:39Metal.
02:39Silence.
02:41Everything around me disappeared.
02:43The taste of blood filled my mouth.
02:45I coughed, and blood splashed across the floor.
02:48My vision went dark.
02:50I collapsed.
02:51When I opened my eyes, I was back in my bedroom.
02:54I grabbed my phone.
02:55The date froze me.
02:56It was the exact day Julianne brought Chloe home.
02:59The image of my parents, hanging above the roaring meat grinder, flashed through my mind.
03:04Not this time.
03:05Julian.
03:06Chloe.
03:07I would never love him again.
03:08Not even a little.
03:09If he wanted Chloe, he could have her.
03:12All I wanted was my parents alive.
03:14I rushed out of the mansion and ran all the way home.
03:17My mother was in the kitchen, carrying a tray of fresh cookies, while my father laughed beside her.
03:22They were alive.
03:23Dad!
03:24Mom!
03:25Ivy?
03:26What's wrong?
03:28Did you have a nightmare?
03:29I fought back my tears.
03:31I fought back my tears.
03:32Dad.
03:32Mom.
03:33I'm divorcing Julianne, and after that, we're leaving.
03:38Ivy.
03:39Julianne treated you terribly in the beginning, but after that, he devoted everything to you.
03:44He took a bullet for you.
03:47You once said you wanted to see the Northern Lights, and he canceled billion-dollar deals just to stay with
03:51you.
03:52You fought so hard to be together.
03:53Why divorce him now?
03:54Did you two argue?
03:55Every marriage has not that.
03:58I can't explain, but please, just trust me this once.
04:01I have to leave.
04:02They looked at each other.
04:04After a long silence, they finally nodded.
04:06The moment they agreed, I began preparing our escape.
04:09I sealed every public record connected to my family.
04:12Then I filed legal name changes for all three of us.
04:16Julianne would never let me go willingly.
04:17If I wanted to disappear, I had to make sure he could never find us again.
04:21The paperwork would take a few days.
04:23Until then, I had to go back.
04:25The moment I stepped into the mansion, I saw Julianne standing in the living room,
04:29with his arm wrapped around the Chloe's waist, whispering in her ear.
04:33Just like my last life, everything had begun again.
04:36He looked up.
04:37Ivy, come here.
04:39Chloe leaned against his chest.
04:41This is Chloe.
04:42She's living here now.
04:43I love both of you.
04:45I'm rich enough to keep you both comfortable.
04:47I expect you to get along and stay with me for the rest of my life.
04:50Fine.
04:51I agree.
04:52Julianne paused.
04:53No scene?
04:55Why would I?
04:56You said you can love two women.
04:57As long as you still love me, I'm fine.
04:59Carried a quiet sting.
05:01Good girl.
05:02Go prepare a room for Chloe.
05:04Sorry to trouble you, Ivy.
05:05I hope we can get along.
05:08I nodded and walked away.
05:09That night, dinner was silent.
05:11Julianne and Chloe fed each other across the table.
05:14I ate without looking up.
05:15Monday, Wednesday, Friday with you.
05:16Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday with Chloe.
05:18Tonight is hers.
05:20Fine.
05:21The mansion stayed quiet.
05:23No screaming.
05:24No broken glass.
05:25I had already cried enough in my last life.
05:28Julianne threw a lavish welcome party.
05:31Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming.
05:33Starting today, Chloe owns 10% of cross holdings.
05:36Then he opened a velvet box.
05:38Inside lay the jade bracelet passed down through generations of crosswives.
05:43The same bracelet he'd once fastened around my wrist.
05:47Loved me forever.
05:48The memory flashed through my mind.
05:50I looked away.
05:51Julianne placed the bracelet on Chloe instead.
05:54She smiled brightly.
05:55Then she turned to me.
05:56Ivy, what did you get me?
05:57I didn't prepare anything.
05:59Her eyes landed on my necklace.
06:01No need.
06:01I like that necklace.
06:03Can I have it?
06:04My fingers closed around it.
06:06No.
06:06It was the only thing my grandmother had left me.
06:09You said we'd be sisters?
06:12You won't even give me one necklace?
06:15Do you really not want me here?
06:17Julianne came over.
06:19What is going on?
06:20I just, I don't know what I did wrong.
06:22I just wanted to be friends, but she, she gave me this check and told me to leave.
06:25I don't understand why she hates me so much.
06:28Julianne looked at me.
06:29You promised to get along with her yesterday.
06:32This is what that means?
06:34Then suddenly, he reached out and yanked the necklace off my neck.
06:38The chain cut into my skin.
06:39A thin line of blood appeared.
06:41He handed it to Chloe.
06:43Take it, since you like it.
06:44Chloe lit up.
06:45Thank you, Julian.
06:46I'm going to look at it in the mirror.
06:48She ran upstairs.
06:50I stood frozen.
06:51My grandmother's necklace, gone.
06:53I followed her.
06:54I pushed open Chloe's half-closed door.
06:56What I saw made my blood run cold.
06:58Chloe was laughing.
07:00She fastened the necklace onto a dog's collar.
07:03What are you doing?
07:05Oops.
07:06It's too plain for me.
07:08It suits the dog better.
07:10Give it back!
07:11What's wrong?
07:12You want it back?
07:17Julianne arrived instantly.
07:19Chloe!
07:21What happened?
07:22I didn't.
07:23I rushed to the balcony.
07:26Julianne, don't blame Ivy.
07:30She's still angry about the necklace.
07:32So she, she pushed me.
07:35I did not push her.
07:37I told you to get along.
07:38You agreed?
07:39And now this?
07:41It's just a necklace.
07:42I know it was your grandmother's, but it's still just an object, Ivy.
07:45I gave it to her.
07:46So what?
07:47You really can't tolerate her at all?
07:49The words hit harder than anything before.
07:51He knew.
07:52He knew exactly what it meant to me.
07:54And he still gave it away.
07:55My breath stopped.
07:56The wound inside me tore open again.
07:59This time, no sound came out.
08:01Only silence.
08:02I already told you I did not push her!
08:05Enough.
08:06Julianne's voice was cold.
08:08You made a mistake.
08:09You will pay for it.
08:10Kneel at the front gate.
08:11Polish every guest's shoes.
08:13You stop when Chloe forgives you.
08:14My head snapped up.
08:16Julianne!
08:17How can you humiliate me like this?
08:19Don't want to?
08:20Then maybe your parents would prefer it.
08:22No.
08:23Leave them out of this.
08:24They'll go.
08:24My voice cut through instantly.
08:26My nails dug into my palms.
08:27For my parents, I could endure anything.
08:30I knelt at the mansion gate.
08:32Head lowered.
08:32Guests passed by.
08:34Laughter.
08:35Whispers.
08:35Disgusted stares.
08:37I wiped each pair of shoes in silence.
08:39So it really is you.
08:41The untouchable Mrs. Cross.
08:45How does it feel to end up like this?
08:47Years ago, she had slapped me.
08:49Back then...
08:50I'm sorry.
08:51I'm here.
08:52Julianne had broken her family in return.
08:55Vivian slowly lifted her heel and stepped on my hand.
08:59Pain exploded.
09:00I screamed before I could stop it.
09:02Does it hurt, Ivy?
09:04Back when you had Julian, did you ever think this day would come?
09:06You're nothing now.
09:08A stray dog.
09:10I looked up instinctively.
09:12The balcony.
09:13Julianne stood there.
09:14Wineglass in hand.
09:15Watching.
09:16Cold.
09:16He frowned slightly, as if considering something.
09:19Then, Chloe leaned into him, whispering, soft, satisfied.
09:23Julianne went still.
09:24His arm wrapped around Chloe's waist, and his gaze turned flat.
09:28Even without sound.
09:29Leave her.
09:30Let her learn a lesson.
09:32She won't touch you again.
09:33Something inside me collapsed.
09:35Not pain.
09:36Not anger.
09:37Just silence.
09:38The last thread of hope broke completely.
09:41The world tilted.
09:42My vision went dark, and I fell into the ground I had been kneeling on.
09:45When I woke up, I was back in the mansion.
09:47My fingers had been carefully bandaged.
09:50Awake.
09:51Don't move.
09:53Chloe isn't blaming you.
09:54Behave from now on.
09:55Stop provoking her.
09:56I hired the best orthopedic surgeon.
09:58Your fingers will heal.
10:00I stared at the ceiling.
10:02I didn't answer.
10:03Julianne frowned, then quietly left.
10:06Julianne, let's watch the meteor shower.
10:08Bring Ivy too.
10:09We're sisters now.
10:11Come.
10:15When Chloe suddenly screamed.
10:19It's handled.
10:20It didn't bite.
10:20Just wrapped around.
10:22A snake wrapped around her ankle.
10:25Julianne rushed forward and pulled her behind him.
10:28The startled snake struck.
10:30Julianne!
10:31Blood dripped onto the rocks.
10:33It's probably not venomous.
10:36You wanted to see the meteor, Shash.
10:38We'll leave after we watch.
10:40Once, he had looked at me the same way.
10:42I remembered cutting my finger.
10:44He had abandoned a hundred million dollar deal just to take me to the hospital.
10:47Now, he ignored a snake bite just to stay beside Chloe.
10:50A meteor streaked across the sky.
10:53Then another.
10:54The night filled with falling stars.
10:56A shooting star!
10:59Julianne rushed over immediately.
11:01Send a helicopter.
11:04The helicopter lifted off.
11:06We're overweight.
11:07We have to reduce weight.
11:11Julianne turned to me.
11:13Ivy, you jump first.
11:18When Chloe reaches the hospital, I'll send another helicopter.
11:21Put the parachute on her.
11:24At his signal, the bodyguard shoved me out.
11:27I pulled the cord.
11:28The parachute only opened halfway.
11:30It had been sabotaged.
11:32I plunged into darkness.
11:33I woke up in the hospital.
11:35How do you feel?
11:36Julianne sat beside my bed.
11:38I taught you how to skydive.
11:39How did you still get hurt?
11:41My parachute was sabotaged.
11:43Chloe did it.
11:44His face hardened.
11:46Ivy, Chloe is kind.
11:48She would never do that.
11:49She's blamed herself ever since your accident.
11:51And you're accusing her there were cameras on the helicopter?
11:53Go check.
11:54I closed my eyes.
11:55Julianne stood up.
11:56You're just trying to get even.
11:57This is ridiculous.
11:59He turned and walked out.
12:01Several days later, I was discharged.
12:03As I packed my things, Chloe appeared at the door.
12:06She smiled.
12:06You told Julian?
12:07What a shame.
12:08He didn't believe a single word.
12:10Doesn't it hurt?
12:11Being abandoned by the man you love most?
12:13Get out.
12:15Can't take it already?
12:17There's more where that came from.
12:19As long as I'm here, you'll never have a good day.
12:21I ignored her.
12:22Picked up my bag.
12:23Done.
12:24I'm not done talking.
12:25She grabbed my arm.
12:27Suddenly, shouting erupted outside.
12:29Patients screamed.
12:30A man holding a knife charged down the hallway.
12:33Slashing wildly.
12:34People scattered.
12:35His bloodshot eyes locked onto us.
12:37He rushed forward.
12:38The knife aimed straight at Chloe.
12:40At that moment, Juliet arrived.
12:42Without hesitation, he shoved me forward and pulled Chloe tightly into his arms.
12:47The blade plunged into my chest.
12:49I froze.
12:49Blood spread across my clothes.
12:51Pain tore through my body.
12:53I looked at Julian.
12:54Chloe, are you hurt?
12:57My vision blurred.
12:58The last thing I saw was his back protecting another woman.
13:02It happened too fast.
13:04That was instinct.
13:05When I opened my eyes again, I was back in a hospital bed.
13:08You accused Chloe of tampering with your parachute.
13:11Now you've taken a knife for her.
13:12Consider us even.
13:13Apologize to Chloe.
13:15I looked at him in silence.
13:17Julian frowned.
13:18Something about me felt different.
13:20As if the woman who had once loved him.
13:23Ian, I'm scared.
13:24I'm here.
13:25What happened?
13:26I'll be right there.
13:28He laughed without another glance.
13:30The room fell silent.
13:32I slowly closed my eyes.
13:33A few days later...
13:34Chloe's birthday is coming up.
13:36You're planning the party.
13:37Her preferences, allergies, everything is inside.
13:40Follow it exactly.
13:42I took the file.
13:43My fingers trembled slightly.
13:45I remembered when I first stayed in the mansion.
13:47I went on a hunger strike.
13:49He searched every cuisine.
13:51Hired chefs.
13:52Even cooked himself.
13:53Burned his hands.
13:54All because I once praised a single dessert.
13:57Now that devotion belonged to someone else.
13:59I said nothing.
14:00I took the folder.
14:01The birthday night was extravagant.
14:03Lights.
14:04Music.
14:05Crowds.
14:06Julian stayed by Chloe's side the entire time.
14:09He lifted a diamond crown.
14:12Chloe.
14:12This is for you.
14:14A symbol of my love.
14:16Chloe teared up.
14:17Then she kissed him in front of everyone.
14:20Ivy.
14:20What did you get me?
14:22I handed her a box.
14:24She opened it.
14:25Silence.
14:27She threw it down.
14:28Photos scattered across the floor.
14:30The room froze.
14:31Then whispers exploded.
14:33Was that her?
14:34Mr. Cross was cheated on?
14:37Ivy!
14:38You can't stand me, can you?
14:40If you hated me, why agree to be sisters?
14:43I endured everything from you!
14:44But this filthy trap!
14:46Are you trying to drive me to death?
14:47She rushed toward the balcony.
14:49Chloe!
14:50Calm down!
14:51I know you've been wrong.
14:53I will handle this.
14:55Clear the room.
14:55If anyone speaks of this tonight, I'll make sure their family regret being born.
15:00Silence returned.
15:02Julian turned to me.
15:03Ivy.
15:04His eyes were sharp.
15:05What will it take for you to learn?
15:07I admitted I split my love, but I never loved you less.
15:10We could have had peace, but you keep hurting her.
15:13Over and over.
15:15I did not do this.
15:16Enough.
15:17He didn't listen.
15:18His voice dropped.
15:19Normal punishment doesn't work anymore.
15:21Take her to St. Amnes Hill.
15:23999 steps.
15:25She kneels at every step.
15:26She repeats,
15:28I am guilty.
15:29I deserve to die.
15:30I will never hurt Chloe again.
15:32Julian!
15:33You cannot do this!
15:34Cannot?
15:35You can refuse?
15:37Your parents can go instead.
15:39Your choice.
15:40My parents, always my parents.
15:43The memory of them dying hit me all over again,
15:45and every last shred of resistance in me crumbled.
15:48The steps up to St. Agnes's were long and steep.
15:51Dressed in plain white,
15:52I started at the bottom and knelt my way up,
15:55one step at a time.
15:56My knees split open against the cold stone almost immediately,
16:00blood seeping through.
16:01I am guilty.
16:02I deserve to die for this.
16:04I will never hurt Chloe again.
16:06I am guilty.
16:07I deserve to die for this.
16:09I will never hurt Chloe again.
16:12I am guilty.
16:14My voice cracked,
16:15echoing off the empty hillside,
16:17soaked in blood and tears.
16:18With every step,
16:19memories flooded back against my will.
16:22How obsessively he had once pursued me.
16:24How he had whispered wild,
16:26desperate words of love in my ear.
16:28How he had wanted me endlessly.
16:30How he had taken a bullet from me,
16:32knelt to put my shoes on,
16:33sung to me in front of a thousand people.
16:35That extreme,
16:37all-consuming love,
16:38tangled now with this extreme humiliation,
16:41cut my heart to ribbons.
16:42Why?
16:43Why had it come to this?
16:45Why had his forever lasted only a few short years?
16:48If he could not keep his word,
16:50why had he stolen my heart in the first place?
16:52From sunrise to sunset,
16:53I did not know how many steps I had climbed,
16:56how many times I had screamed the words.
16:58My knees had gone numb,
16:59long ago.
17:00My throat had gone raw past speech.
17:02Only the thought of sparing my parents kept me moving.
17:05When I finally knelt on the last step,
17:08my whole body looked like it had been dragged out of a river of blood,
17:11and everything went black.
17:12I woke up in the mansion's bed.
17:14Chloe's in the hospital.
17:15Worked up over what you did to her.
17:16I will be with her for the next few days.
17:18Stay put and behave.
17:20Apologize properly when she is back.
17:21He turned and left.
17:23I lay there,
17:24hollow,
17:24a body with nothing left inside it.
17:26Not long after he left,
17:28my phone buzzed.
17:29A text.
17:30Ms. Hale,
17:30the erasure of your family's registration
17:33and your name changes are now complete.
17:35That one short line hit me like a beam of light,
17:38splitting through days of darkness and despair.
17:40Days of grief,
17:41pain,
17:42humiliation
17:43finally found somewhere to go.
17:45And strangely,
17:46what was left behind was calm.
17:47I sat up fast,
17:49my chest still aching,
17:50but my eyes were suddenly,
17:52startlingly clear.
17:53I got up,
17:54grabbed the bag I had already packed,
17:56and called my parents.
17:57Dad, Mom, it is done.
17:58We are heading to the airport now.
18:00We are leaving.
18:01I dragged my suitcase to the door,
18:03took one last look at the gilded cage
18:05that had held so much love and hate,
18:07and walked out without looking back.
18:09I met my parents
18:10and checked in without any trouble.
18:12Seated on the plane,
18:13seatbelt fastened.
18:14I listened to the flight attendant
18:15remind everyone to power down their devices.
18:18I did not hesitate.
18:19I selected all of them
18:20and deleted every one.
18:22Then I dropped the phone
18:22straight into the trash bin beside my seat.
18:25The engines roared to life.
18:27The plane taxied,
18:28gathered speed,
18:29lifted its nose,
18:30and climbed into the clouds.
18:31As the weightlessness hit,
18:33I leaned back in my seat,
18:34closed my eyes,
18:35and let myself relax completely
18:37for the first time in years.
18:39Julian,
18:40when you come home,
18:41all you will find is an empty house
18:43and a woman named Ivy Hale
18:44who no longer exists anywhere in the world.
18:47From here on,
18:48we were strangers.
18:49Forever.
18:49By the time I returned from the hospital,
18:52Ivy?
18:52It was already night.
18:54The mansion was unusually quiet.
18:56I pushed open the front door.
18:58A maid hurried over.
18:59Sir, you're home.
19:01Where's my wife?
19:03We haven't seen Mrs. Cross all day.
19:05We assumed she wasn't feeling well
19:06and was resting.
19:09Another tantrum.
19:10Leave her alone.
19:11She'll come out when she's hungry.
19:12The master bedroom was dark.
19:14I switched on the light.
19:15The room was spotless,
19:16silent.
19:17The bed was perfectly made,
19:18untouched.
19:19Even the faint scent of Ivy's perfume
19:21had almost disappeared.
19:22My eyes stopped on the plush rabbit
19:24lying on her side of the bed.
19:26Earlier that day,
19:27Chloe said she was afraid
19:28of staying alone in the hospital.
19:30I didn't have a stuffed toy.
19:31So I grabbed Ivy's rabbit
19:33and brought it back.
19:34Now it sat where Ivy used to sleep.
19:36Something about the room felt wrong.
19:38I frowned,
19:39then turned away.
19:40There was still work waiting for me.
19:43Cold?
19:44Scared?
19:45Afraid of what?
19:46I'm here.
19:47Go to sleep.
19:48I'll be there in the morning.
19:49I'll come see you first thing tomorrow.
19:51What do you want me to bring?
19:52I still have work tonight,
19:53but if you're scared,
19:54I'll stay on the phone with you.
19:55You're okay.
19:56I'm here.
19:57She happily listed everything she wanted.
19:58I agreed to every request,
20:00working through documents
20:02while talking to her for hours,
20:04completely forgetting
20:05that somewhere in this mansion,
20:07Ivy might still be waiting for me.
20:09In my mind,
20:10she had always belonged to me.
20:12She loved me enough to forgive anything.
20:14A few days slipped by in a blur.
20:15I spent almost all my time
20:17at the hospital with Chloe,
20:18only returning to the mansion briefly.
20:19The house manager hurried over.
20:21Sir, no one's entered Mrs. Cross's room.
20:23The meals we've been leaving outside her door,
20:25the one from three days ago,
20:26was still this morning.
20:27Has anyone seen her leave?
20:29We checked the security footage.
20:30Mrs. Cross left the mansion three days ago.
20:32She never came back.
20:33We thought...
20:34The number you have dialed is switched off,
20:35again and again.
20:37Then I called her parents.
20:38No answer.
20:39A strange unease settled in my chest.
20:41Maybe she went back to her parents' place.
20:42Maybe she just needs time to cool off.
20:45Even I didn't believe those words.
20:46I grabbed my keys
20:47and drove straight to the hail residence.
20:49The house was dark.
20:50I rang the doorbell again and again.
20:52No one answered.
20:52The neighbor finally opened a window.
20:54Stop ringing.
20:54The halls moved out days ago.
20:56They left in a hurry.
20:57Said they were leaving town for good.
20:58If it's urgent, call them.
20:59When?
21:00Where did they go?
21:01Three or four days ago.
21:02No idea.
21:03The neighbor quickly shut the window.
21:05I stood there,
21:05staring at the empty house.
21:07Three or four days ago,
21:08the day I forced Ivy to climb those 999 steps,
21:11the day she finally agreed to let Chloe stay,
21:13a terrible thought crept into my mind.
21:15She hadn't been throwing a tantrum.
21:16She had actually left.
21:17She wanted to leave me for good.
21:19While I was busy comforting Chloe,
21:20Ivy had taken her parents
21:21and disappeared from my world.
21:23My hands trembled as I called my assistant.
21:25Sir, find her.
21:25Now.
21:26Use every resource we have.
21:28Tear this city apart if you have to.
21:30I gripped my phone so tightly,
21:31my knuckles turned white.
21:34Ivy, how dare you?
21:35I ordered everyone to find Ivy.
21:37No one dared waste a second.
21:39Then my phone rang.
21:39I answered immediately.
21:40Did you find her?
21:41Mr. Cross,
21:42we found something.
21:43Where is she?
21:44Three days ago,
21:45Mrs. Cross and her parents
21:46boarded a flight to Northern Europe.
21:48Prepare the jet.
21:49I'm going after her.
21:50Mr. Cross,
21:51that flight,
21:51it crashed.
21:52It was what?
21:53Two hours after takeoff,
21:55mechanical failure went down over the ocean.
21:57No,
21:57that's impossible.
21:59They used fake identities.
22:01I want every record checked.
22:03Check again.
22:04Verify everything.
22:05Did they use fake identities?
22:06I want every record checked.
22:07My people searched every database they could reach.
22:10They contacted the airline,
22:11the rescue team.
22:12Every report came back the same.
22:13The passenger list was correct.
22:14No one survived.
22:15I drove to the airport.
22:16The departure hall was still crowded.
22:17People walked past as if nothing had happened.
22:19Then I saw it.
22:20The airline's black memorial board.
22:22The flight number.
22:22The announcement.
22:23No survival.
22:24Nearby,
22:24families of the passengers stood crying.
22:26I couldn't hear them.
22:27I couldn't hear anything.
22:28Only one sentence echoed inside my head.
22:30Ivy is dead.
22:31The woman I forced to stay beside me.
22:32The woman who eventually loved me.
22:34The woman I betrayed for Chloe.
22:35The woman I made kneel.
22:36The woman I pushed in front of a knife.
22:38She boarded that plane because she wanted to leave me.
22:40No.
22:41It can't be.
22:42You can't be dead.
22:43I never let you go.
22:45My vision blurred.
22:46The world spun.
22:47I collapsed onto the cold marble floor.
22:49The airport erupted into chaos.
22:51I heard nothing.
22:51I jolted awake in the master bedroom.
22:53Cold sweat soaked my back.
22:54The airport.
22:55The crash.
22:55Condolence board.
22:56The family's crying.
22:57The nightmare still clung to me.
22:59I threw off the blanket and stumbled barefoot through the mansion.
23:02Everywhere I looked, she was still there.
23:03Her potted plant sat quietly in the corner.
23:06A half-finished carton of milk still rested on the kitchen counter.
23:09Rows of shoes I had bought her filled the cabinet.
23:11Her closet stood nearly empty.
23:12Only a few soft pajamas remained.
23:14The house was full of her, yet she was gone forever.
23:17I returned to the bedroom.
23:18A jade bracelet lay on the nightstand.
23:20The cross-family heirloom.
23:21The bracelet I'd taken from Ivy.
23:23Too old-fashioned.
23:24And given to Chloe.
23:25Chloe had tossed it aside.
23:26I picked it up.
23:27The jade was ice cold.
23:28A memory flashed before me.
23:29I'd slipped the bracelet onto Ivy's wrist.
23:31I'll love you forever.
23:32She had smiled and believed me.
23:33Then I remembered everything I'd done.
23:35I took her grandmother's necklace.
23:36Forced her to kneel.
23:37Ignored her.
23:38Chose Chloe over her.
23:39Again and again.
23:40My fist slammed into the wall.
23:42Once.
23:42Twice.
23:43Again.
23:43Blood ran down my knuckles.
23:44Night fell.
23:45I sat alone on the edge of the bed.
23:46The jade bracelet still in my hand.
23:48I unlocked my phone.
23:48Photo after photo of Chloe.
23:50I kept scrolling until I found Ivy.
23:52Every picture.
23:53She was smiling at me like I had been her whole world.
23:55A tear landed on the screen.
23:56I hugged the pillow she used to sleep on.
23:58Her faint scent still lingered.
23:59In the empty room, I finally broke down.
24:01The mansion stayed silent for days.
24:03Then Chloe arrived.
24:04Julian.
24:05She wore a simple white dress and walked toward me.
24:07She reached out to hug me.
24:08I stepped away.
24:08She bit her lip, eyes turning red.
24:10Ivy left because she was angry at me.
24:11Maybe she ran away with another man.
24:14Maybe this...
24:14Shut up.
24:15Chloe froze.
24:16For the first time...
24:17I was only worried about you.
24:18I said enough, she whispered.
24:20Her words echoed in my head.
24:21The broken parachute, the knife at the hospital, the fake photos, the balcony incident.
24:25Every time Ivy suffered, Chloe had been standing beside me, crying, looking innocent.
24:30Every time, I believed her.
24:32Julian, you don't really suspect me, do you?
24:34I just don't want you getting fooled.
24:36Maybe Ivy really...
24:37I want to be alone.
24:38I'll make you some soup later.
24:41I didn't answer.
24:42She left quietly.
24:43The door closed.
24:43The room fell silent.
24:45I stood by the window.
24:46For the first time, I questioned everything.
24:48Every accident.
24:49Every misunderstanding.
24:50Every choice I had made.
24:51Investigate Chloe Bennett from the day we met.
24:53I want everything.
24:54No matter what it takes.
24:56My team worked fast.
24:57Within two days, investigation files covered my desk.
25:00I opened them one by one, and every page shattered another lie I'd believed.
25:04The first report confirmed it.
25:05The parachute had been sabotaged.
25:07Security footage showed Chloe slipping into the helicopter's gear compartment while Ivy and I watched the meteor shower.
25:12Forensics found thin wire jammed inside Ivy's parachute.
25:15It had never been meant to open.
25:16The next file uncovered the truth about the hospital attack.
25:18The knife man confessed.
25:19A woman had paid him to stage an attack outside Chloe's hospital room and frame Ivy if he was caught.
25:24He was never supposed to hurt anyone, but when I shoved Ivy in front of him, he couldn't stop in
25:28time.
25:29The money led to Chloe.
25:30Then came the birthday gala.
25:31The photo editor handed over the chat logs, payment records, and original files.
25:34Chloe had ordered every fake photo herself and used them to frame Ivy.
25:38I clenched the papers harder.
25:39Then I opened the final report.
25:40Our first meeting had been a lie.
25:42The men surrounding Chloe that night were hired actors.
25:44She had studied my preferences, copied Ivy's innocent look, and rehearsed every smile, every tear, every helpless glance.
25:50From the very beginning, she had been playing a role designed for me.
25:53Every report hit harder than the last.
25:55The parachute, the stabbing, the fake photos, the chance encounter.
25:58Every disaster, every misunderstanding, every reason I had to hate Ivy had been planned by Chloe.
26:03My hands shook so violently the files crumpled in my grip.
26:06My eyes burned as the truth finally sank in.
26:08I realized the monster I'd been protecting was never Ivy.
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