On Christmas Eve, Julian leaves his sick child and his wife Claire behind in a blizzard, all to please his mistress. He is sure they will not survive. He is wrong.
What Julian never knew is that Claire is the sole heiress to the vast Gwendolyn empire. She makes it back from the edge, and she lets the world believe she is gone. Then she starts planning. Every move is calm, precise and total.
By the time Julian understands what is happening, he has lost everything. Some betrayals cost more than anyone can pay.
#FrozenVengeance #HeiressRevenge #RevengeDrama #BillionaireDrama #FullEpisode
frozen vengeance, frozen vengeance full episode, trillion dollar heiress, heiress returns, hidden heiress drama, revenge drama, wife revenge, cheating husband revenge, fake death revenge, betrayal and revenge, christmas revenge drama, billionaire heiress romance, romance drama full episode, short drama full episode, marriage drama
What Julian never knew is that Claire is the sole heiress to the vast Gwendolyn empire. She makes it back from the edge, and she lets the world believe she is gone. Then she starts planning. Every move is calm, precise and total.
By the time Julian understands what is happening, he has lost everything. Some betrayals cost more than anyone can pay.
#FrozenVengeance #HeiressRevenge #RevengeDrama #BillionaireDrama #FullEpisode
frozen vengeance, frozen vengeance full episode, trillion dollar heiress, heiress returns, hidden heiress drama, revenge drama, wife revenge, cheating husband revenge, fake death revenge, betrayal and revenge, christmas revenge drama, billionaire heiress romance, romance drama full episode, short drama full episode, marriage drama
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FunTranscript
00:00He abandoned his dying daughter on a frozen highway, just to please another woman.
00:04He thought I had nothing, but little did he know, I'm the only heir to a trillion dollar empire.
00:11Julian, you didn't just lose your wife, you lost your whole world.
00:15When the car pulled over onto the shoulder of the interstate,
00:18I thought Julian was just stopping for a break or a driver's walk.
00:21Ava's sleeping. Don't wake her, okay?
00:24I whispered, gently pulling the fleece blanket over my daughter's small frame.
00:27Julian didn't look back, his long fingers tapped impatiently against the steering wheel.
00:31Take Ava and get out of the car.
00:33I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
00:36What?
00:37From the back seat, Sarah spoke up in that sickly sweet faux gentle tone.
00:42Honey, it's okay, we can squeeze in.
00:45Her daughter, Chloe, immediately shrieked, her voice piercing the quiet cabin.
00:49You know, I'm not riding with that sick kid!
00:52She kept coughing all over the place! Gross!
00:55Julian turned around. His eyes held a coldness I had never seen before in our five years of marriage.
01:01Get out!
01:05Tiffany is on her way. Wait here.
01:07Christmas Eve. A mountain pass.
01:0914 degrees Fahrenheit. I clung to my three-year-old daughter, watching as the SUV, our car, roared back to
01:14life.
01:15The red taillights blurred in the blinding snow. Vanishing into the darkness of the abyss, the blizzard intensified, as if
01:20trying to swallow the world whole.
01:22But I huddled against the icy guardrail, shielding Ava with my own coat, as the wind sliced through us like
01:28a blade.
01:31Mommy, where's Daddy?
01:33Ava whispered, her tiny voice trembling. Her cheeks were an unnatural, feverish red.
01:37Daddy went to Grandma's to get some help.
01:39I forced a smile that felt more painful than crying.
01:42Auntie Tiffany's coming for us soon.
01:44But I'm cold. Mommy, I'm so cold.
01:48I tucked her deeper into my down jacket.
01:50My phone battery dropped to 25%. I called Julian's sister.
01:54Tiffany once, twice.
01:56Three times, she finally picked up.
01:58The background was filled with deafening EDM and the roar of a crowd.
02:02She was clearly at a rager.
02:04Claire? What's up?
02:05Tiffany! Where are you? Julian said you'd come get us!
02:09We're stuck on the mountain road off Route 40!
02:11Huh. Pick you up?
02:12Tiffany paused, letting out a long, dismissive sigh.
02:15Oh, right. My brother did mention it.
02:20But I'm at a party with my friends right now. I've been drinking. I can't drive.
02:28Please, Tiffany. Ava's sick.
02:31She has a fever, and it's freezing out here on the highway.
02:35Ugh. Claire, you're being way too dramatic.
02:40Waiting a bit won't kill you.
02:42My brother said Sarah and Chloe are delicate.
02:44They can't afford to get sick, so they had to go home first.
02:47You're hearty enough.
02:48A little cold air isn't gonna kill you.
02:50The line went dead.
02:51I gripped the phone.
02:52My fingertips numb to the bone.
02:54I called Julian again, straight to voicemail.
02:57Again, powered off.
02:58Ava shuddered violently in my arms.
03:00Mommy, I wanna go home.
03:03I want grandma.
03:06Soon, baby.
03:07I kissed her burning forehead dotted.
03:11My eyes burned with tears, but I didn't dare close them .5 years of marriage.
03:16And I realized I never truly knew Julian.
03:19I didn't know he was capable of this level of cruelty just because Sarah's daughter called Ava dirty.
03:23He was willing to dump his wife and sick child on a deserted highway on Christmas Eve.
03:31Far off, headlights pierced the dark.
03:34I waved my arms frantically.
03:37My voice cracking as I screamed for help.
03:41The window rolled down, revealing a man in his early 20s.
03:47Do you need help?
03:48I clung to his words like a lifeline.
03:51Please, I'm begging you.
03:53Take us to the nearest hospital or rest area.
03:56The young man started to nod.
03:58But then another head popped out from the passenger seat.
04:01Claire?
04:03I froze.
04:04It was Julian's cousin, Chase.
04:06He looked at me, then at the empty, snow-covered highway.
04:09What you doing here?
04:11Where's Julian?
04:12I explained the situation in fractured.
04:15Shivering sentences, Chase's face went pale with rage.
04:18He slammed his fist against the dashboard.
04:20Is he fucking crazy?
04:21He left you and Ava out here to freeze to death?
04:27So Sarah's daughter matter, but his own daughter doesn't?
04:33He spat out a string of curses and turned to his friend.
04:37Come on, man.
04:38Let them get in the car.
04:39We'll make room.
04:41But the truck was already packed with four guys.
04:43The back seat was full.
04:45We're maxed out.
04:46The driver said, looking pained without a word,
04:49Chase jumped out of the truck,
04:50pulling his heavy parka tight.
04:52Take her with you.
04:54I'll wait here for the others.
04:57Chase!
04:58You can't do that!
04:59Move!
05:00Now!
05:01Chase shoved me toward the warm cabin.
05:03Look at Ava.
05:05She can't hold on much longer!
05:08The moment the door closed,
05:09the blast of the heater hit me.
05:11My frozen limbs began to throb
05:13with a needle-like sting.
05:14Chase tapped the glass.
05:15Claire, call me the second you get there.
05:17I'll go get my brother.
05:19The truck pulled away,
05:20through the rear window.
05:22I watched Chase's solitary figure
05:23shrink into the white abyss until he was gone.
05:29Why throat tight and why own husband dumped us like trash to please his mistress.
05:33In the end, it was a distant cousin who saved us.
05:36Ava drifted off in my arms.
05:37Her breathing was terrifyingly shallow.
05:40Her cheeks are raw, inflamed red.
05:42Man, can you drive faster, my daughter?
05:45She's burning up!
05:48The driver nodded grimly
05:50and floored the gas
05:51that I tried to call Julian's sister, Tiffany.
05:54One more time, dot NO service,
05:56the interstate cut through the mountains.
05:57The signal was a ghost.
05:59How long before we reach the rest area?
06:01Twelve miles.
06:02But with this damn weather,
06:03it's going to take at least twenty minutes.
06:05Twenty minutes.
06:06Ava went from hot to radiating heat.
06:10Baby, wake up.
06:11Stay with Mommy.
06:12She opened her eyes, blearily.
06:14Her voice a faint rasp.
06:15Mommy, my chest hurts.
06:17I can't breathe.
06:18She burst into a bit of coughing,
06:19inviting behind the body of the chest,
06:21but I unzipped her coat
06:22and saw her chest retractions.
06:24Her ribs sucking in with every desperate gasp,
06:27acute pneumonia.
06:28She'd had it last year.
06:29She'd spent a week in the ICU.
06:32Ava, keep your eyes on Mommy, okay?
06:34Mommy will tell you an Elsa story.
06:37Her eyes began to roll back.
06:38I pounded the window like a mad woman.
06:41Help us, please!
06:43My daughter needs help!
06:44Finally, the neon lights of a rest stop
06:47appeared through the sleep.
06:48I dialed Julian with trembling fingers.
06:52After six rings, he picked up.
06:55Hello?
06:55His background was quiet.
06:57The sound of a crackling fireplace
06:59in a cozy living room.
07:01Julian!
07:02I sobbed, my voice erect.
07:04Ava's really sick.
07:05We're running out of time.
07:06Where are you?
07:07His tone was flat,
07:08devoid of emotion.
07:12We're on a side road
07:13heading to the county hospital.
07:15Claire!
07:16He cut me off, sounding annoyed.
07:17Tiffany already told me
07:18she picked you guys up.
07:20She lied!
07:21She never showed up!
07:25No way!
07:26She posted on Instagram
07:28three minutes ago.
07:29I froze.
07:30I used the last of my battery
07:31to open the app.
07:33It was a photo Tiffany had posted.
07:35A woman's back,
07:36wearing a jacket just like mine,
07:37sat in her passenger seat.
07:39The caption read,
07:40finally got my sister-in-law and niece.
07:43Big bro worries too much.
07:44It was an old photo of me
07:46from last winter.
07:47She was gaslighting him.
07:49She was playing with our lives.
07:52You saw the post, right?
07:53Julian said icily.
07:55So this is your new little drama?
07:57Using your own daughter
07:59to get sympathy
08:00because I brought Sarah home?
08:01It's not funny, Claire.
08:03Sarah and Chloe
08:04are having dinner with my mom
08:05and she's finally happy.
08:07Don't fucking ruin it.
08:09Julian!
08:11She's dying!
08:12Our daughter is actually dying!
08:15I shrieked.
08:16Cut the shit.
08:17That's enough.
08:18His voice turned stone cold.
08:20It's Christmas
08:20and you're saying shit like that?
08:22That's fucking vicious.
08:24Once Tiffany drops you off,
08:25just get some Tylenol.
08:26Stop fucking calling me.
08:27The call disconnected.
08:31I sat there.
08:33Feeling the blood in my veins
08:34turn to ice,
08:35the owner looked at me
08:36through the mirror.
08:37That was your husband?
08:37I nodded.
08:38My tears turning to crusts of ice.
08:40What a fucking animal!
08:42He yanked the steering wheel.
08:43Hold on tight!
08:44I won't let a kid die in my truck!
08:47Ava's breathing grew fainter
08:48that I felt for her heartbeat.
08:50It was so weak.
08:51It felt like a hallucinated vibration.
08:55Ava,
08:56don't leave me.
08:58It's mommy's fault.
09:00I never should have fallen
09:01in love with that monster.
09:03Trembling,
09:03I reached into a hidden pocket
09:05of my coat
09:05and pulled out a small,
09:07metallic disc
09:08engraved with a strange crest.m
09:10why father gave it to me
09:11on my wedding day.
09:12He had said,
09:14Claire,
09:14if that man ever pushes you
09:16to the brink,
09:17press this.
09:18I will come take you home.
09:19I thought I'd never need it.
09:21I pressed the sensor
09:22in the center.
09:23No sound,
09:24no light,
09:25but I knew
09:25a high frequency
09:26encrypted signal
09:27was cutting through the blizzard,
09:28heading straight
09:29to a private command center
09:30miles away.
09:31Why father said
09:32that once pressed,
09:34his private medical team
09:35and security
09:35would find me anywhere
09:36on the planet.
09:37Point one thought
09:38consumed me.
09:38Point three hours.
09:40My father's team
09:41would take at least
09:42three hours to arrive.
09:43Can my Ava survive
09:44the next three hours?
09:49We finally reached
09:50the county hospital.
09:51I burst into the ER
09:52with Ava in my arms.
09:54My throat so raw
09:55from screaming
09:56and the cold
09:56that I couldn't make a sound.
09:58The triage nurse
09:58took one look
09:59at Ava's blue face
10:00and hit the code red.
10:03Pediatric emergency,
10:03three-year-old,
10:04acute pneumonia,
10:05heart rate dropping.
10:06Prep for intubation.
10:08I was barred
10:08from the trauma room
10:09through the narrow glass pane.
10:11I watched them
10:12thread tubes
10:12into Ava's tiny body.
10:14The shrill beep
10:15of the heart monitor
10:15felt like a blade
10:16twisting in my chest.
10:18Dot, I collapsed
10:18in a corner
10:19of the freezing hallway,
10:21trembling uncontrollably then.
10:23My phone buzzed.
10:24Julian,
10:24I picked up
10:25but didn't speak.
10:26Claire,
10:27what's your problem now?
10:30Since Tiffany picked you up,
10:31why the hell aren't you here?
10:32My mother is waiting
10:34to start Christmas dinner.
10:35I forced the words
10:36through my parched throat.
10:37Hospital,
10:39Ava,
10:40resuscitation.
10:41What?
10:41He paused,
10:42then let out a cold snore.
10:44Are you fucking kidding me?
10:45Just because Sarah's here,
10:46you're cursing your own daughter
10:47and pretending
10:48she's in the ICU now?
10:49Tiffany literally
10:50just posted a photo
10:51in the family chat.
10:52She said you're already
10:53on your way.
10:56She's laughing.
10:56I closed my eyes,
10:58tears falling silently.
10:59Julian,
11:00come to the hospital.
11:01Now.
11:02Claire.
11:03Julian's voice went dead cold.
11:04Cut the bullshit.
11:06Tiffany is my sister.
11:08She'd never lie to me.
11:09You're just insecure
11:11because you had a daughter
11:12and think your place
11:13in this family
11:13isn't safe anymore.
11:15If Ava dies
11:16because of this,
11:17Julian,
11:18I'll hate you
11:19for the rest of my life.
11:20Suit yourself.
11:21He said dismissively.
11:22If Ava is such a burden,
11:23we can settle the divorce
11:24after the holidays.
11:25You can drop her off
11:26at a state orphanage
11:27or social services
11:28for all I care.
11:29I don't need
11:30a broken legacy
11:31holding me back.
11:32He hung up.
11:32The dial tone
11:33sounded like a funeral bell.
11:35The ER door swung open.
11:37The doctor stepped out,
11:39pulling down his mask
11:40with a weary sigh.
11:41Are you Ava's mother?
11:42I scrambled to my feet.
11:44Yes.
11:44How is she?
11:46The doctor's eyes
11:47were full of pity.
11:48We saved her life,
11:50but because of the
11:51prolonged oxygen spiration,
11:52there's significant brain damage.
11:54She may face
11:54cognitive delays
11:55or even permanent palaces.
11:57The world tilted.
11:59I had to lean against the wall
12:00to keep from collapsing.
12:02She's only three.
12:06I'm sorry.
12:07We need to transfer her
12:08to the ICU right away
12:09and proceed with surgery.
12:10Please go handle
12:11the payment first.
12:12It's going to be expensive.
12:13Okay.
12:14I staggered
12:14to the billing desk.
12:16My card was declined.
12:19Julian only gave me
12:20an $800 monthly allowance.
12:22He'd say,
12:23You stay home,
12:23taking care of the kid.
12:24You don't need
12:25that much spending money.
12:26I bit my lip
12:27and called him again.
12:29Now what?
12:30The background was filled
12:31with cheerful carols
12:32and flinking glasses.
12:33Julian,
12:34Ava needs surgery.
12:36I need $50,000 now.
12:3850 grand?
12:39Julian's voice spiked.
12:40What the fuck
12:41is wrong with you, Claire?
12:42Having money doesn't mean
12:43I'll let you burn through it.
12:44You'd even make up
12:45something like this for cash?
12:46Yeah, I'm her dad,
12:48but I'm not some
12:48fucking cash machine.
12:50Besides,
12:51even if she's saved,
12:52she'll never be normal.
12:52It's a waste of money.
12:54I'm dealing with
12:55something right now,
12:55so stop fucking calling me.
12:57My mom says hospitals
12:58are bad luck,
12:59so you're not coming
13:00home for Christmas.
13:00You'll hear from my lawyer.
13:02I hung up,
13:03feeling the life
13:04drain out of me
13:05as I stood in the
13:06falling snow
13:06outside the hospital
13:07entrance.
13:10My phone buzzed.
13:12It was Chase.
13:13Claire,
13:14where are you?
13:15Julian said Tiffany
13:16got you guys?
13:18Chase.
13:18My voice was eerily calm.
13:20Do me a favor.
13:39I hung up and powered off the phone
13:43dot I walked back
13:44into the ward
13:45and looked at Ava.
13:46She looked like
13:47a broken porcelain doll.
13:49So still it shattered my soul
13:50that I leaned down
13:51and kissed her cold forehead.
13:53I'm so sorry, baby.
13:55Next time,
13:56choose a better mom.
13:57Someone who can keep you safe.
13:59I turned around
14:00and walked up
14:01to the hospital roof.
14:02The wind roared
14:03on the rooftop.
14:04The lights of the town
14:05below felt distant
14:06and mocking.
14:07If I jumped,
14:08the humiliation
14:09and pain would end.
14:11Julian would get his air.
14:13Sarah would get her status,
14:14even if my life
14:15was worthless.
14:16I wanted my death
14:17to hang around his neck
14:18like a murder charge
14:19for the rest of his life.
14:21Dot I closed my eyes
14:22and leaned into the void,
14:23but a split second
14:24before gravity took me.
14:26A powerful hand
14:27gripped my wrist
14:28and slammed me back
14:29onto the concrete.
14:32The wind roared
14:33on the rooftop.
14:34The lights of the town
14:35below felt distant
14:37and mocking.
14:38If I jumped,
14:39the humiliation
14:39and pain would end.
14:41Julian would get his air.
14:43Sarah would get her status,
14:45even if my life
14:46was worthless.
14:47I wanted my death
14:48to hang around his neck
14:49like a murder charge
14:50for the rest of his life.
14:51Dot I closed my eyes
14:52and leaned into the void,
14:54but a split second
14:55before gravity took me.
14:56A powerful hand
14:57gripped my wrist
14:58and slammed me back
14:59onto the concrete.
15:00Dot I fell into the slush,
15:02gasping in rage
15:03as I looked up.
15:04Dot a line of stern men
15:05in black suits
15:06stood before me.
15:07At their head
15:07was a man
15:08in his late fifties,
15:09dressed in a bespoke
15:10cashmere overcoat.
15:12As he removed his aviators,
15:13I saw his sharp eyes
15:14were bloodshot
15:15with grief.
15:16Cece.
15:17He called me
15:18by the nickname
15:19I hadn't heard in years
15:20dot I gasped.
15:21Dad?
15:22Minutes later,
15:24three private rescue
15:25helicopters.
15:26Bearing our family crest
15:27touched down
15:28on the hospital lawn,
15:29Ava was whisked away
15:30by a world-class
15:31medical team
15:31into a mobile ICU
15:33inside the lead chopper.
15:36Intracranial pressure
15:37is spiking.
15:37Prep for immediate
15:38depression surgery.
15:39A flight medic
15:41roared into his radio.
15:43Alert the Manhattan
15:45Medical Center!
15:46Clear the penthouse OR!
15:47Greenlight the corridor!
15:48My father sat beside me,
15:50gripping my cold,
15:51cracked hands.
15:52His own were shaking
15:53with a mix of fury
15:54and heartbreak.
15:55I'm so sorry, Claire.
15:57Daddy's late.
15:58I watched the clouds
15:59blaze past the window.
16:01It felt like a fever dream.
16:03Dad?
16:04I thought you were living
16:05out on some farm
16:05in that tiny town?
16:06My father forced a bitter,
16:08self-reproaching smile.
16:10That little farm life?
16:12It was all to test Julian.
16:16You had to marry Julian
16:17no matter what.
16:18I was scared he only wanted you
16:20because of the Gwendolyn
16:21family's wealth.
16:23Scared all he cared about
16:24was money.
16:25That's why I hid
16:26who I really was
16:27for five years.
16:28I wanted to know
16:28whether he could truly
16:29give you a lifetime
16:30of happiness.
16:31He turned his gaze
16:32to Ava,
16:33who lay pale
16:34under an oxygen mask.
16:35His eyes burned with
16:37But I never thought
16:38my own fucking mistake
16:40would almost get
16:40my daughter and
16:41granddaughter killed.
16:42That fucking trash
16:44really dare to call
16:45a Gwendolyn heir worthless?
16:47As the helicopter
16:48began its descent
16:49onto the helipad
16:50of the families.
16:51Private hospital,
16:52my father pulled out
16:53a black, unlisted phone
16:54and dialed a number.
16:56His voice was colder
16:57than an arctic glacier.
16:58Pass this down immediately.
17:00Before the markets
17:01open tomorrow,
17:01I want every asset
17:03under Julian's name
17:04fucking destroyed.
17:05Freeze every line
17:06of credit.
17:07I want him drowning
17:08in debt for the rest
17:09of his fucking life.
17:11He hung up
17:11and looked at me.
17:13Claire,
17:14I'm giving you
17:15two options.
17:16You can take
17:17this unlimited black card,
17:18leave with Ava
17:19and never look back
17:19at that piece of shit again.
17:21Or,
17:22he paused,
17:23reclaim what's yours
17:24piece by piece
17:25and make him kneel
17:27in shattered glass
17:27while he begs
17:28for you back.
17:32I looked down
17:33at my frostbitten fingers
17:34and let out
17:35a shivering,
17:36cold laugh.
17:37I'm staying.
17:38But you're going to agree
17:39to one condition first.
17:41Go ahead.
17:42Get me two bodies.
17:44A woman and a small girl
17:46who died recently.
17:47I want Julian
17:48to personally believe
17:50that Ava and I
17:50froze to death that night.
17:52Fine.
17:53My father fell silent
17:55for a long time
17:55before finally nodding.
17:57The arrangement
17:58was seamless.
17:59A passing trucker
18:00made the 911.
18:02Call,
18:02the local sheriff's department
18:03contacted Julian
18:04based on the ID
18:05found on the body.
18:07When the call came in,
18:08Julian was hosting
18:09a lavish Christmas dinner
18:10with his family.
18:11Sarah sat close to him,
18:13daintily placing slices
18:14of expensive truffle
18:15on his plate.
18:16Chloe was acting
18:17the part of the perfect angel,
18:19calling Julian's mother.
18:20Grandma.
18:21Julian's mother beamed.
18:22Now that's a well-raised child.
18:24Sarah clearly knows
18:25how to teach a kid properly.
18:27Unlike the kid
18:27Claire gave birth to,
18:29Ava's always shrinking
18:30into herself
18:31like some pathetic
18:31little stray.
18:32No elegance,
18:33no confidence.
18:34Just low-class manners
18:35all over her.
18:36Julian's phone buzzed.
18:37He glanced at the screen,
18:39his brow furrowing.
18:40The sheriff?
18:42He answered.
18:44Hello?
18:45Is this Mr. Julian Lawrence?
18:47Your wife Claire
18:48and daughter Ava
18:49were traveling on I-40,
18:50correct?
18:51Julian stiffened.
18:52That's right.
18:53Is there a problem?
18:54We found two bodies
18:55in a snowback
18:56off the shoulder.
18:57Preliminary cause of death
18:58is hypothermia.
18:59The female victim
19:00was carrying
19:01Claire Lawrence's ID card.
19:02There was also a young girl
19:04about three years old.
19:05We need you to come down
19:06to the coroner's office
19:07to identify them.
19:11The silver fork slipped
19:13from Julian's hand,
19:14clattering against the china
19:15with a sharp,
19:16jarring crack.
19:18What did you say?
19:19We believe your wife
19:20and daughter may not
19:20have survived.
19:22The dining room
19:22fell into a sudden,
19:24suffocating silence
19:25dot Julian's mother
19:26asked irritably.
19:27Who is it?
19:27Ruining our Christmas
19:28with such depressing news.
19:30Julian stood up,
19:31his face as pale as a ghost.
19:33Claire and Ava died.
19:36By the time Julian reached
19:38the morgue,
19:39his legs could barely
19:40support his weight.
19:41The coroner led him
19:42into the frigid cold room.
19:43He pulled open the drawer,
19:45revealing two forms
19:46under white sheets,
19:47one large,
19:48one very small.
19:49The larger one wore
19:50my signature down coat.
19:52The smaller one
19:53was curled tightly
19:54into the larger one's embrace,
19:55as if seeking one last bit
19:57of warmth in a cruel world.
19:59Is this right?
20:00The officer asked softly,
20:02Julian opened his mouth.
20:03But it was as if
20:04someone were strangling him.
20:06No sound came out.
20:08He reached out
20:09with a trembling hand
20:10to touch a hand
20:11that was now covered in frost.
20:12No.
20:14It can't be.
20:16He shuddered violently,
20:17whispering to himself.
20:19Tiffany said,
20:20she said she picked them up.
20:21The officer glanced
20:22at his notes.
20:23We pulled the interstate cameras.
20:25Your sisters never got
20:26on the highway last night.
20:27She spent the evening
20:28circling the downtown
20:29club district
20:29before heading back
20:30to a house party.
20:31Furthermore,
20:31the victim's phone logs
20:33show she made a mistake
20:33and made a dozen
20:34emergency calls.
20:35The last successful
20:36connection was to you.
20:38Your wife begged you
20:39for help.
20:40She told you
20:41your daughter was dying
20:42and you...
20:43The officer paused.
20:44His eyes filled
20:45with undisguised disgust.
20:47You told her
20:48a damaged piece of property
20:49wasn't worth
20:49a $50,000 surgery
20:51that she might as well
20:51just die.
20:52Julian recoiled
20:53as if struck,
20:54his back slamming
20:55against the cold metal wall.
20:57I thought she was faking it.
20:59I didn't know.
21:01If you knew it was real,
21:02would you have gone?
21:04The officer stared
21:04at him icily.
21:05Julian had no answer.
21:06The sharp click
21:07of high heels
21:08echoed as Julian's
21:09mother burst in.
21:10She gave two exaggerated
21:11wails and dropped
21:12to her chair.
21:12Oh my God,
21:13my former granddaughter.
21:15This is killing
21:16grandma.
21:17She stopped crying
21:18abruptly and lowered
21:19her voice,
21:20clutching Julian's arm.
21:21Julian, look,
21:22it's a tragedy,
21:23but it's a clean slate.
21:24Claire was always
21:24below our status.
21:26Now you can marry
21:26Sarah properly.
21:27The baby she carries
21:28is going to be an heir.
21:30Mom, that's my daughter.
21:31Julian looked at her
21:32as if seeing a monster
21:33for the first time.
21:34She rolled her eyes.
21:35It was just a girl.
21:38All that matters now
21:39is that this bad luck
21:41doesn't tarnish
21:42the Lawrence name.
21:43Tell the coroner
21:43to cremate them
21:44immediately so we don't
21:45ruin tomorrow's
21:46Christmas gala.
21:47Even the seasoned officer
21:49couldn't take it.
21:51Excuse me, ma'am,
21:52that's two human lives.
21:54This is a Lawrence family matter.
21:56It's none of your business.
21:58Black mourning drapes
21:59hung over the entrance
22:00of the Lawrence estate.
22:01The memorial was relegated
22:03to the side wing.
22:04Sarah and Chloe
22:05had already moved
22:05into my primary suite
22:07and Sarah was busy
22:08ordering the maids
22:09to toss my skin care
22:10products and clothes.
22:11Into the trash,
22:12Julian sat in a catatonic state
22:14beside the two small caskets.
22:16He had personally slapped Tiffany
22:17and kicked her out of the house.
22:19Julian!
22:20I just got drunk
22:21with friends and forgot.
22:22How was I supposed to know
22:23they were so weak?
22:23Tiffany, shriek.
22:24She was just some useless
22:25common woman.
22:26And you slapped me
22:27because of her?
22:28Julian only pointed
22:29to the door,
22:29his eyes bloodshot.
22:31Get out of my sight.
22:32You're no sister of mine.
22:34Sarah walked in,
22:35holding Chloe,
22:36her voice sickeningly sweet.
22:38Julian, let it go.
22:40Claire wouldn't want you
22:41to suffer like this.
22:42You have to think
22:42about our future.
22:43Do you know what you were doing
22:44while they were out there
22:45freezing and waiting to die?
22:46Julian looked up,
22:47surveying her
22:48as if she were
22:49a piece of trash.
22:50You know what you were doing?
22:52Shopping for her mess
22:53and complaining
22:54that my little girl
22:55was dirty.
22:55Sarah turned hale.
22:56That was your sister's fault.
22:57What does it have to do
22:58with me?
22:59On top of that,
23:00you're the one
23:01who kicked them out
23:01into the cold.
23:02Julian collapsed
23:03onto the floor,
23:04laughing like a madman.
23:06Yes,
23:06it was his own
23:07pathetic pride
23:08and arrogance
23:09that had murdered
23:09his family.
23:12Dad, I watched the scene remotely.
23:15Dad, let's begin.
23:19Overnight, the Lawrence group
23:20descended into hell.
23:21First, their largest partners
23:23in Europe and Asia defaulted.
23:25Then, major Wall Street firms
23:27pulled their funding.
23:28Banks circled like sharks
23:30scenting blood.
23:31Calling in every loan
23:32simultaneously,
23:33Julian was losing his mind,
23:35living in his office.
23:36His mother called,
23:37screaming.
23:38Julian, what's going on?
23:40My cards got declined
23:41at the auction house
23:42while I was looking at diamonds.
23:43We're bankrupt, Mom.
23:44Julian's voice
23:45was utterly flat.
23:47Your house,
23:47your cars,
23:48every piece of jewelry you own,
23:49you might want to get comfortable
23:50with the idea
23:50of a public housing complex.
23:55One month later,
23:56Julian had lost everything.
23:58Sarah fled with Chloe.
23:59Taking his last bit
24:00of emergency cash
24:02and disappearing
24:02into the Manhattan rain,
24:04Julian ended up on the streets.
24:05He found manual labor
24:07on a construction site
24:08for minimum wage.
24:09At night,
24:10he slept in the abandoned,
24:11dusty side wing
24:12of his former estate.
24:13The room that used
24:14to hold the caskets
24:15until one day,
24:16while clearing out
24:17some of my old belongings,
24:18he found a crumpled receipt.
24:19It was an invoice
24:20from a Gwendolyn-owned
24:22private surgical center.
24:23The date,
24:24four days after
24:25he thought I had died.
24:27The procedure,
24:27minimally invasive surgery
24:29for acute pneumonia
24:30and neurological recovery,
24:32Julian's hands
24:32began to shake uncontrollably.
24:34He ran toward the remnants
24:35of our old life
24:36like a madman.
24:37Finally,
24:38outside the gates
24:39of the most exclusive
24:40private preschool in New York,
24:42he saw her.
24:42Ava was dressed
24:43in a custom school uniform,
24:45a Mickey Mouse backpack
24:46on her shoulders.
24:47Her cheeks
24:48were as rosy as apples.
24:49She was giggling
24:50as she held the hand
24:51of a suited security guard,
24:53walking toward
24:53a bulletproof Rolls Royce.
24:55Ava!
24:56Julian screamed,
24:57rushing toward her.
24:58Ava flinched,
24:59hiding behind the guard.
25:00When she recognized Julian,
25:02there was no joy,
25:03only terror and disgust.
25:05Go away!
25:06I hate you!
25:07You're the bad guy
25:08who left Mommy and me!
25:10Julian froze,
25:11as if a thousand arrows
25:12had pierced his heart.
25:15Ava,
25:16I'm Daddy.
25:17Ava shouted,
25:18her eyes watering.
25:19My Daddy is dead!
25:21Mommy said Daddy
25:22turned into a block of ice
25:23in the snow and died!
25:28The window of the Rolls Royce
25:30slid down
25:30that I sat there
25:31wearing designer sunglasses
25:32and a power suit.
25:34My aura was so cold
25:35and commanding
25:36it made me a stranger to him.
25:37Well,
25:38long time no see, Julian.
25:40Julian threw himself
25:41against the car door
25:42like a stray dog.
25:43Claire,
25:43you didn't die!
25:44You did all of this,
25:46didn't you?
25:46That's right.
25:47I removed my sunglasses,
25:48looking down at him.
25:50I didn't just want you
25:50to feel powerless.
25:51I wanted you to see
25:52that without you,
25:53we are thriving.
25:55You completely lied
25:56to me all this time!
25:58He shrieked.
25:58You made me believe
25:59you were just a poor farm girl!
26:01I opened the door slightly
26:02as the security team
26:03stepped in
26:04to wall him off.
26:05That was my father's test.
26:07If you had passed that test,
26:08you'd be a partner
26:09in the Gwendolyn Empire
26:10right now.
26:11All for Sarah,
26:12you tossed away
26:13the chance to have everything
26:14and nearly killed
26:15my daughter in the process.
26:17Julian fell to his knees
26:18in the mud,
26:19sobbing,
26:20trying to grasp
26:20the tip of my shoe.
26:22Claire,
26:23I was wrong.
26:23Give me one more chance
26:24for Ava's sake.
26:26You don't deserve
26:26to say her name.
26:28I rolled up the window.
26:30Security,
26:30call the police.
26:31There's a vagrant
26:31harassing the Gwendolyn Ayers.
26:35Press charges
26:36for the abandonment
26:37on the highway
26:37while you're at it.
26:38The car pulled away
26:40smoothly.
26:41Leaving the broken,
26:42filthy,
26:42and regretful man
26:43far behind
26:44in the rearview mirror.
26:48Ava leaned against me,
26:50munching on her favorite
26:51strawberry chocolate.
26:53Mommy,
26:54are we going home?
26:55Yes, honey.
26:56Going home.
26:57I stroked her hair.
26:58To a home where the bad men
27:00can never find us again.
27:02I formally took the helm
27:03of Gwendolyn Glo-
27:04My father retreated
27:05to the background,
27:06spending his days gardening
27:08and fishing
27:08at his Connecticut estate,
27:09much like any retired gentleman.
27:12Occasionally,
27:12watching me button up
27:13my dark blazer
27:14for a board meeting,
27:15he would ask softly,
27:17Claire,
27:18do you still hate him?
27:19I shook my head
27:21while adjusting my cuffs.
27:23No.
27:24Hating someone
27:25takes too much energy.
27:27I have the Gwendolyn family
27:28to carry,
27:29and I have Ava.
27:30I'm not wasting
27:31another second
27:32of my life on him.
27:34And do you ever
27:35think of him?
27:36Dad,
27:36do you really think
27:37that's possible?
27:37I smiled,
27:38though it didn't reach
27:39my eyes.
27:40My father sighed,
27:41his eyes full of concern.
27:43I just feel you're
27:44keeping yourself too tight.
27:45In these past three years,
27:46I haven't seen you
27:47smile off camera,
27:48nor have you let
27:48any man get close.
27:50I set down
27:51the merger agreement.
27:52Dad,
27:52I'm doing fine.
27:53I have a career,
27:54a daughter,
27:54and power.
27:55My life is full enough.
27:56I don't need a man
27:57to clutter it up.
27:57I ended the conversation there.
27:59I had a flight to London
28:00next week,
28:01and headed toward
28:02Ava's music room,
28:03the corridor was long,
28:04lined with portraits
28:05of three centuries
28:06of Gwendolyn prestige.
28:08At the end,
28:09a melody drifted
28:10from the music room.
28:11She sat at the Steinway piano,
28:12her small hands
28:14dancing diligently
28:14across the key.
28:16She was playing
28:16twinkle, twinkle,
28:18little star.
28:19It was simple,
28:20yet every note
28:21was executed
28:21with perfect precision
28:23that I leaned against
28:23the door frame,
28:24watching her.
28:25Three years ago,
28:26doctors said she faced
28:27permanent brain damage
28:28and paralysis.
28:30But in those three years,
28:31my father had mobilized
28:33the world's most elite
28:34medical teams
28:34and 24-hour private therapists.
28:36It was money
28:37that bought back her health,
28:38and it was the same money
28:40that had allowed me
28:40to see right through
28:41Julian's wretched soul.
28:42My phone buzzed.
28:44A text from my assistant.
28:45Ma'am,
28:46Julian's here again.
28:48He's refusing to leave.
28:50He's kneeling
28:50in the middle of the lobby
28:51holding a sign that says,
28:53I'm sorry,
28:54for the sake of our child.
28:55Talk to me.
28:59Ava leaned against me,
29:01munching on her favorite
29:02strawberry chocolate.
29:04Mommy,
29:05are we going home?
29:06Yes, honey.
29:07Going home.
29:08I stroked her hair.
29:09To a home where the bad men
29:10can never find us again.
29:13I walked to the window,
29:14looking down at the people below,
29:16who looked like ants.
29:19I closed the blinds
29:20without a hint of emotion.
29:25Get security to deal with him.
29:27If he persists,
29:28file for a restraining order.
29:29I don't want the media
29:30catching wind of this trash.
29:32I hung up,
29:33sat down beside Ava,
29:34and listened to her
29:35play the piece one more time.
29:37Mommy,
29:38your eyes are red,
29:39Ava said,
29:40stopping her play
29:41to look at me with concern
29:42that I ruffled her hair.
29:43Probably just spent too much time
29:45reading reports today.
29:46Then Ava will blow the pain away.
29:49She leaned in
29:50and blew gently on my eyes.
29:52Her breath was warm,
29:54smelling of strawberry toothpaste.
29:56Mommy,
29:57I love you.
29:58She whispered,
29:59suddenly throwing her arms
30:00around my neck.
30:01I hugged her back,
30:02the only warmth
30:03in my frozen corporate kingdom.
30:06Mommy loves you too,
30:07more than the world,
30:08more than all the trillions.
30:10I love you most.
30:12Three months later,
30:13Julian died
30:13in a low-rent studio apartment.
30:15The cause was
30:16multiple organ failure
30:17due to chronic malnutrition
30:19and cardiac arrest
30:20triggered by severe
30:21clinical depression.
30:22The news reached me
30:23while I
30:24was in my London office,
30:25preparing to sign
30:26a 10 billion pound
30:27multinational acquisition.
30:29My pen didn't tremble.
30:30It didn't even pause.
30:32I scrawled the Gwendolyn signature,
30:34closed the folder,
30:35and nodded curtly
30:36to my assistant.
30:37Noted.
30:38Contact his next of kin.
30:39If no one claims him,
30:41have the company
30:41pair a basic cremation.
30:43Don't let him
30:43take up space in the morgue.
30:44The warm winter sun
30:46streamed into the office,
30:47illuminating my hands.
30:49My ring finger,
30:50which once bore
30:51the initials of his name,
30:52now held only a massive,
30:54power-symbolizing
30:55pear-shaped diamond.
30:56There was no longer
30:57any trace of him left
30:58from that moment on.
30:59My world had no Achilles heel
31:01in the penthouse
31:02overlooking the entire city.
31:04The warm amber lights
31:05created a scene
31:05of peace and serenity.
31:07Ava finished her last note
31:08and leaped into my arms
31:09with a giggle.
31:11Mommy, will you come
31:13to the weekend carnival
31:14with me tomorrow?
31:15I leaned down
31:16and placed a mother's kiss
31:17on her forehead.
31:18A kiss that was both
31:19my softest gesture
31:20and my hardest shield.
31:22Of course, honey.
31:23Mommy is always here.
