- 12 hours ago
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:01My fiancée, Elizabeth Vaughn, is the heiress to the Vaughn family.
00:04Right before the wedding, I found out Elizabeth still had feelings for her ex.
00:07I was late that day.
00:08I stood outside the door and saw Julian sitting next to Elizabeth.
00:12Noah was egging them off.
00:13Come on! Kiss already!
00:16Elizabeth's sister Eileen joined in.
00:17Ethan won't care anyway.
00:19The whole room erupted in laughter.
00:21Julian pulled her in by the waist.
00:22Elizabeth didn't pull away.
00:24With everyone watching, they kissed.
00:26I called up wedding planner.
00:27Sir, any changes to the wedding?
00:30Nothing. Just the groom's name.
00:32If they'd already picked the real groom, the least I could do was get the name right.
00:35That night, everyone gathered at Elizabeth's penthouse.
00:37Lucas, the Vaughn family's capo, held up a deck of cards.
00:40Everyone draws a card. You can see your own. No one else can.
00:43Describe the person on your card, and we guess who drew the odd one out.
00:46The villain.
00:47I flip my card. Julian Reyes.
00:49Let's start. Eileen, you first.
00:52Bad temper?
00:53Lucas went next.
00:55Way too emotional. Always the victim.
00:57Elizabeth paused for a moment.
00:58Jealous.
00:58My sister Maya was quick to jump in.
01:00And he can't take a joke.
01:01I dealt with Julian before. He wasn't like that.
01:04I didn't know why they were picking him apart.
01:05But enemy or not, he deserved respect.
01:08He's smart. Better than you're making him out to be.
01:10Maya snorted.
01:12God, you're so full of yourself.
01:14The whole room erupted in laughter.
01:16Lucas flipped the cards.
01:17All of them face up.
01:18Every card had the same name on it.
01:19Ethan Kane.
01:20I was the odd one out.
01:21I sat there gripping the card with Julian Reyes name on it.
01:24They weren't playing a game.
01:25They were telling me who I was.
01:27The door opened.
01:28Noah walked in carrying drinks.
01:29Five coffees.
01:30Took me 20 minutes.
01:32I reached for the cup in front of me.
01:33Noah put his hand on mine.
01:34Wait.
01:35That one's mine.
01:37Where's mine?
01:38Sorry.
01:39Forgot.
01:40There's a place downstairs.
01:41Go get your own.
01:42Elizabeth glanced at her phone.
01:43Ethan, grab one for Julian too.
01:45He's almost here.
01:46That was the moment I knew.
01:47There was no place for me here.
01:49Get it yourself.
01:53I didn't look back.
01:54No one called after me.
01:55Elizabeth's glare burned into my back.
01:57She blamed me for embarrassing her again.
01:59Eileen called Julian.
02:00Julian, get over here.
02:01Elizabeth's pissed again.
02:02You're the only one who can calm her down.
02:04Lucas asked sneering.
02:05Elizabeth, aren't you going after him?
02:06Ethan looks upset again.
02:08Elizabeth's voice was completely flat.
02:10No need.
02:10He'll get over it.
02:11Eileen picked it up.
02:12Right.
02:12We've been shutting him out his whole life.
02:14He still acts like nothing's wrong.
02:15He's a coward.
02:16Worse than a dog.
02:17A dog bites back.
02:19He just wags his tail.
02:20The room erupted in laughter.
02:21At me.
02:22I stood outside the door.
02:23It all came back.
02:25When we were kids splitting a pizza,
02:27I was always last to get a slice.
02:28When we got older,
02:29they'd switch restaurants last minute.
02:30No one told me.
02:31On camping trips,
02:32when the tent was full,
02:33they didn't have to say it.
02:34I slept in the car.
02:35If there's no room for me in the group,
02:36there's no point trying to squeeze in.
02:38Then Lucas's voice came through the door.
02:40He still doesn't know.
02:41The docks raid last week,
02:43he and Elizabeth were supposed to handle it.
02:45But Elizabeth asked to take Julian instead.
02:47They were gone three whole days.
02:49Honestly,
02:50Elizabeth and Julian should have ended up together.
02:52No one regrets that more than us.
02:54Tonight's game,
02:54let's call it payback for Julian.
02:56No, I shushed him.
02:57Keep your voice down.
02:57Don't let anything find out.
02:58He's so sensitive.
02:59If he found out,
03:00he'd lose it.
03:01What about his father, Richard?
03:02You won't have a problem with this?
03:04Relax.
03:05Richard doesn't care about him.
03:07He uses Ethan like a dog.
03:08That's it.
03:10I thought back to last week.
03:11My father's call.
03:12There was nothing I could do.
03:13She didn't look me in the eye when she said,
03:15everyone had been hiding it from me,
03:17just to give Elizabeth and Julian time alone.
03:19I walked out into the street
03:20and looked down at the ring on my finger.
03:21This is yours now.
03:22I gave the ring to a homeless man on the street.
03:24At least that made one person happy.
03:30I got in the car and called Noah.
03:33The whole time I was with Elizabeth,
03:34were they seeing each other?
03:35I waited for him to say no.
03:38Why didn't you tell me?
03:39Julian's my friend too.
03:41And you have to admit,
03:42he makes her happier.
03:44What about me?
03:45You knew they kissed before the wedding?
03:47You watched me plan the wedding
03:49and you said nothing.
03:50Ethan, you turn everything into a trial.
03:52You think because you treat her well,
03:53she owes you?
03:54She's about to marry me.
03:55Here's the thing.
03:56This wedding was never supposed to be yours.
03:58Elizabeth was my first love.
03:59After she left the school in Europe,
04:01she'd go days without answering.
04:02Once, I was burning up with fever.
04:03I called her 12 times.
04:05I found out later.
04:05That night, she was skiing in Switzerland with Julian.
04:10Two years after we broke up,
04:11she came back from Europe.
04:12One drunk night, we slept together.
04:14But when she kissed me,
04:15she whispered Julian's name.
04:16When she woke up,
04:17she swore he was in the past.
04:19After we got engaged,
04:20Julian came back for the Reyes family.
04:22The Reyes and Vaughan families.
04:23Two mob families with years of blood
04:25between them.
04:26If Elizabeth married him,
04:27they'd share ports,
04:28intel,
04:28and security.
04:29At first,
04:30everyone called him the other man.
04:31Then they started saying
04:32he was always meant to be a Vaughn.
04:34More than I ever did.
04:35I told the driver to take a different route.
04:36Take me to the wedding planner.
04:38If they'd already picked the real groove,
04:39the least I could do was get the name right.
04:43On the way to the wedding planner,
04:45the vet called.
04:48Mr. Kane,
04:49Sunny's due for her yearly checkup tomorrow.
04:51Just hearing her name almost got to me.
04:53Eight years ago,
04:54I was kidnapped by a rival family.
04:56Elizabeth took two bullets for me.
04:58It left her with permanent nerve damage
05:00in her lower back.
05:00After that,
05:01no one could get near me except her.
05:03And I couldn't sleep in the dark.
05:04Elizabeth found me a guard dog.
05:06I can't always be there.
05:08But she can.
05:09She trained Sunny to be my guard dog.
05:12From then on,
05:12Sunny slept next to me.
05:13On the back of a collar,
05:14it said,
05:15E and E,
05:16always come home.
05:17So no matter how much they ignored me,
05:18I told myself it was fine.
05:20Because I had Elizabeth and Sunny.
05:22The three of us were a family.
05:23But when I saw the planner's tablet,
05:24that was the moment I stopped making excuses for her.
05:27Roses had been swapped for lilies.
05:28The flower that could kill me.
05:29My parents had been moved off the head table.
05:32The Reyes family was seated at the groom's table.
05:34The wedding dance had been changed
05:35into an alliance ceremony
05:36between the Vaughn and Reyes families.
05:38My security detail had been pulled off me
05:40and sent to Julian.
05:42Elizabeth approved all of this?
05:45Yes.
05:46Should we change it back?
05:47No need.
05:48Just change the groom's name.
05:50To whom?
05:51Julian Reyes.
05:53The system notified me
05:54the change would sync to every digital invitation.
05:56I hit confirm.
06:00Late that night,
06:01Elizabeth finally came home.
06:03She reeked of alcohol.
06:04In Julian's cologne,
06:06Sunny stood in front of me,
06:07growling low.
06:08Put it away.
06:09It scared the hell out of Julian today.
06:11It was the first time she called Sunny.
06:13It.
06:13She slid a bakery box across the table toward me.
06:17Don't be mad.
06:18Your favorite.
06:19Chestnut cake.
06:20There was one left in the box.
06:23Where are the rest?
06:24They ate them.
06:26Julian too?
06:27She didn't answer.
06:28The truth is,
06:29I never liked chestnut cake.
06:31But they always dumped the leftovers on me.
06:33For 15 years,
06:34they all said it was my favorite.
06:36Even Elizabeth believed it.
06:39God, I hate chestnut cake.
06:41Lilies could kill me.
06:43You don't know me at all.
06:45You went to the wedding planner?
06:46I know you pulled my security detail
06:48and gave it to Julian.
06:49He got a death threat.
06:50He's the Reyes heir.
06:52What about me?
06:53The people who kidnapped me
06:55eight years ago are still out there.
06:56You're safe.
06:57Stop fighting him.
07:00Elizabeth,
07:01I don't want to marry you.
07:02Elizabeth saw my bare ring finger.
07:04She grabbed my wrist.
07:05Where's the ring?
07:06I gave it to a homeless man.
07:09You're impossible.
07:10She slapped me.
07:12Sunny bare her teeth lunged.
07:13In the scuffle,
07:14I hit her old injury.
07:15Elizabeth collapsed in pain.
07:16I'd already decided to leave,
07:18but I couldn't just walk away like that.
07:19I called an ambulance.
07:20After they took her in,
07:21I went back inside for my jacket.
07:23That's when I heard Julian's voice.
07:24You chose him.
07:26It's about the Cain family, isn't it?
07:28Elizabeth didn't answer.
07:30Julian leaned in.
07:30If it weren't for my heart issue,
07:32I'd be the one up there with you.
07:34He closed his eyes about to kiss her.
07:39I was about to push the door open.
07:41A hand clamped over my mouth from behind.
07:45Lucas slammed me against the wall.
07:47My head cracked against it.
07:49My vision went black.
07:54Sunny growled and lunged,
07:55sinking her teeth into Lucas' pant leg.
07:57Lucas kicked her off.
07:59She hit the wall,
08:00scrambled back up,
08:01and planted herself in front of me,
08:02baring her teeth.
08:03Before I could even catch my breath,
08:05they were there.
08:05Eileen,
08:06Maya,
08:06and Noah.
08:11Eileen spoke first.
08:12Ethan,
08:13since you know,
08:14you won't hide it anymore.
08:16The only man Elizabeth has ever loved
08:18is Julian.
08:19Lucas added.
08:20Do everyone a favor.
08:21Step aside.
08:22They belong together.
08:23Maya stepped in too.
08:24Julian is always her first pick.
08:26Even that bottle of wine for your birthday last year,
08:28Julian's leftovers.
08:29We were afraid you'd hurt Julian.
08:31That's why we kept it from you.
08:33Now you should see it clearly
08:34and step aside.
08:35I'd had enough.
08:36Every friend I had,
08:37gone.
08:37I'll step aside.
08:39But from this day on,
08:40I'm done with all of you.
08:41I turned,
08:42pushed open the door,
08:42and hit Julian.
08:44Sunny dropped low,
08:45growling at Julian.
08:46Julian looked at Elizabeth.
08:48That dog's lost it again.
08:50Elizabeth frowned.
08:52Lucas,
08:53get that dog out of here.
08:55She's my guard dog.
08:56She'll hurt someone.
08:59She's protecting me.
09:00Lucas grabbed Sunny
09:00and dragged her away.
09:01When Elizabeth gave me Sunny,
09:03she said Sunny would protect me
09:04in her place.
09:05Now she was ordering her men
09:07to drag her away.
09:12I got hurt.
09:14And you didn't even ask
09:15him to kill your fiance?
09:16Sunny bears her teeth
09:17at anyone who hurts me.
09:18What about you?
09:20I turned and walked out
09:22of the hospital.
09:22A black SUV roared to life
09:24and came straight for me.
09:31And I heard Sunny bark behind me.
09:33She shoved me out of the way,
09:34but she couldn't save herself.
09:35I hit the curb hard.
09:36My skull cracked against the pavement.
09:37By the time I crawled to her,
09:38her back legs were shaking.
09:40She couldn't stand,
09:41but her teeth were still
09:42clamped onto my sleeve,
09:43still trying to drag me
09:44off the road.
09:44Then she stopped breathing
09:45in my arms.
09:46No!
09:47A man ran toward me.
09:48The homeless man.
09:50Ambulance!
09:50Call an ambulance!
09:52The paramedics checked me over.
09:53I had nothing on me.
09:54No ID,
09:55no license,
09:55no phone,
09:56nothing.
09:57The hospital logged me
09:58as a John Doe.
09:59Meanwhile,
09:59Julian was still
10:00in Elizabeth's room.
10:01Elizabeth called my phone.
10:02Elizabeth,
10:02give him a couple days.
10:03He'll figure out
10:04where he stands.
10:05Forget him.
10:06He's nobody.
10:06The four of them
10:07didn't bat an eye.
10:09He's done this before.
10:10Every time,
10:11he makes a scene
10:12and comes crawling back.
10:13Elizabeth put her phone down.
10:14She didn't try again.
10:15They had no idea
10:16I'd never answer again.
10:20Five days later,
10:21Elizabeth called again.
10:22Still no answer.
10:23She stared at the screen,
10:24then put the phone away.
10:25Julian was lounging on the couch.
10:26I'm bored.
10:27Let's go golfing.
10:29Elizabeth agreed.
10:30The TV in the golf club
10:31was playing the local news.
10:32Vaughn family heir,
10:33Elizabeth Vaughn,
10:34will marry her fiancé,
10:35Ethan Kane,
10:36in five days.
10:37Julian's face changed.
10:38He turned the TV off.
10:39Just then,
10:39Elizabeth got a call
10:40from a sorority friend.
10:42Congratulations, girl.
10:43I can't believe
10:44you ended up with Julian.
10:45Who?
10:46Julian Reyes.
10:47My fiancé is Ethan Kane.
10:49The invitation says Julian.
10:52Elizabeth called
10:52the wedding planner immediately.
10:54Check the groom's name
10:55on the invitation.
10:56Julian Reyes.
10:57What the hell is going on?
10:58Mr. Kane changed it himself.
11:00He said you approved it.
11:01A homeless man
11:02kept staring at Elizabeth.
11:03Lucas stepped in.
11:04Get out.
11:05The homeless man
11:06held up a ring
11:06and asked Elizabeth,
11:07Is this your fiancé's?
11:08Elizabeth recognized it instantly.
11:10She designed it herself.
11:11One of a kind.
11:12Where did you get that?
11:13He gave it to me
11:14a few days ago.
11:15He got hit by a car.
11:16I've been trying
11:16to find his family.
11:17Are you his family?
11:20The homeless man
11:21took her to the city hospital.
11:23Has anyone been brought in
11:24from a car accident
11:25in the last few days?
11:26A man was brought in
11:27five days ago.
11:28No identification.
11:29Severe head trauma.
11:30He hasn't woken up since.
11:31That was my...
11:32Elizabeth pushed open the door.
11:33My head was wrapped in bandages.
11:35Sonny's blood-stained collar
11:36sat on the table beside me.
11:37The homeless man
11:38stepped forward.
11:38Not an accident.
11:40That SUV went straight for him.
11:42The dog shoved him
11:42out of the way
11:43and took the hit herself.
11:44After that,
11:45he wouldn't let go of her.
11:46Elizabeth picked up the collar.
11:48Eight years ago,
11:48she swore she'd protect him
11:50no matter what.
11:50In the end,
11:51only Sonny kept that promise.
11:53Elizabeth turned to Lucas.
11:54Where was his security distaste?
11:55Lucas said nothing.
11:56Because the two men
11:57who were supposed to be
11:58protecting me were upstairs,
11:59protecting Julian.
12:00Elizabeth reached out
12:01to touch me,
12:02then stopped.
12:03I opened my eyes
12:03and looked at her.
12:04Ma'am,
12:05who are you?
12:09Doctor flipped through the chart,
12:11his tone gentle.
12:12Sir,
12:13you have severe
12:14retroactive amnesia.
12:15You remember how to talk,
12:16how to live,
12:17but certain people
12:18and events may be gone.
12:19I looked at Elizabeth.
12:20Do we know each other?
12:21She looked down
12:21at the blood-stained collar
12:23in her hands.
12:24I'm Elizabeth,
12:25your fiancé.
12:26If you're my fiancé,
12:27why was I alone?
12:28The doctor cut in.
12:29Forcing his memory
12:30could make the brain damage worse.
12:31We can't tell him
12:32everything right now.
12:33The doctor led them
12:34into the hallway
12:34and explained the rest.
12:35When he finished,
12:36Elizabeth grabbed Lucas
12:37by the collar.
12:38Lucas lowered his head
12:39and explained.
12:40The police would have used
12:40this to move on us.
12:41The alliance couldn't take it.
12:43So I deleted the footage
12:44and kept the dog's death quiet.
12:46I thought he was fine.
12:48He was missing for five days
12:50and you didn't even bother
12:51to look for him.
12:53Elizabeth punched Lucas
12:54in the face.
12:55She handed the collar
12:55to one of her men.
12:56Put this away.
12:58No one mentions it
12:58in front of him.
13:00Elizabeth came back
13:01into the room.
13:01I looked at her.
13:04Who's Sonny?
13:06No one.
13:10Within two hours
13:11my room was packed
13:12with strangers.
13:13Ethan, I'm your father.
13:14A man grabbed my hand,
13:16frowning.
13:16I shook my head.
13:17The woman beside him
13:18didn't ask if I was in pain.
13:19She asked the doctor.
13:21Can he still make
13:21the wedding tomorrow?
13:23Maya thought I was faking.
13:25He's always used guilt
13:26to manipulate Elizabeth.
13:27Now amnesia
13:28makes him the center
13:29of attention.
13:30The guest list
13:31has judges,
13:31senators,
13:32three family reps.
13:33If the wedding is called off,
13:34the public will think
13:35the Vons are in trouble.
13:36Eileen was worried
13:37about the family's reputation.
13:38Maya pulled out a tablet.
13:40Ethan,
13:40at least record a video.
13:43I'll tell the press
13:44you're just not feeling well.
13:45If the wedding's canceled,
13:46what happens
13:47to the Von Cain alliance?
13:48Lucas stared straight
13:49at Elizabeth.
13:50I looked at all of them.
13:51One by one,
13:52they told me they knew me.
13:53But all they talked about
13:54was the wedding,
13:55the alliance,
13:55the press,
13:56the money.
13:57Not one of them asked
13:58why I was lying here,
13:59covered in cuts and bruises.
14:01Are you really my family?
14:02Because you care more
14:03about the wedding
14:04than about me.
14:05The room went dead silent.
14:07The doctor made everyone leave.
14:08But outside the door,
14:09they were still discussing
14:10whether Julian should
14:11take my place at the altar.
14:12Elizabeth finally snapped.
14:14Ethan almost died.
14:15All you care about
14:16is who wears his tux.
14:17Anyone who brings up
14:18replacing the grue again
14:19is out of this family.
14:20For good.
14:21When she came back in,
14:22I grabbed her sleeve
14:23for the first time.
14:24Out of all those strangers,
14:25she was the only one
14:26who stood up for me.
14:27Elizabeth,
14:28can you take me home?
14:32Elizabeth took me back
14:33to the apartment
14:34we once shared.
14:35Before I even walked in,
14:36she'd already cleared it out.
14:37Sunny's collar,
14:38her bed,
14:38her bowls,
14:39every photo,
14:39every vet record.
14:40The wall was lighter
14:41where the frames used to hang.
14:42She told me we were
14:43high school sweethearts
14:44together for years.
14:45The only fight we ever had
14:46was over wedding planning.
14:47I stormed out.
14:48Then I got into the accident.
14:49Then why did I give my ring
14:50to a stranger?
14:52You were upset.
14:53Then why was Julian's name
14:55on the digital invitation?
14:57A system error.
14:58Then why did I block you?
15:00We had a huge fight.
15:02Each answer made sense
15:03on its own,
15:04but together,
15:05they fit too well.
15:06Every piece was wiping
15:07her betrayal clean.
15:09Elizabeth slid the ring
15:10back onto my finger.
15:11It fit perfectly,
15:12but it felt like
15:13it belonged to another man.
15:15One she'd already
15:16hidden away.
15:17That night lying in bed,
15:18I left a space beside me
15:19without thinking.
15:20Elizabeth asked me why.
15:21I don't know.
15:23The next day I found
15:24a chewed up tennis ball
15:25under the couch.
15:26It was out of shape
15:26with a few light brown
15:27dog hairs stuck to it.
15:29Did we have a dog?
15:31She snatched it
15:32and threw it
15:32straight in the trash.
15:35No,
15:36you just always wanted one.
15:38I looked again
15:39at the empty wall.
15:43That was the first time
15:44I felt it.
15:45The place she brought
15:45me back to
15:46wasn't a home.
15:47It was a crime scene
15:47wiped clean.
15:48Cleaned up before
15:49I ever saw the evidence.
15:53Elizabeth put the family
15:54on hold just to be with me.
15:55She took me to the cafe
15:56where we had our first date.
15:58She told me she thought
15:58the black coffee
15:59was too bitter,
16:00so she dumped
16:00three packs of sugar
16:01into hers
16:02when I wasn't looking.
16:03She took me back
16:03to the university library.
16:04She said I once wrote
16:05a paper for her
16:06and threatened to cancel
16:07all our dates
16:08if she skipped class again.
16:09She said our first kiss
16:10happened under the tree
16:11by the river.
16:11Everything she told me
16:12was true,
16:13yet she left out Julian.
16:14I saw the bullet scar
16:15on her lower back.
16:16That's when I found out
16:17she took a bullet
16:17for me eight years ago.
16:18It had cost her a spot
16:20on the cheerleading squad,
16:21but it also made me believe
16:22that someone who took
16:23a bullet for me
16:23could never hurt me.
16:24That's why I believed it
16:25for so many years.
16:26After the amnesia,
16:27I kissed her first.
16:28Elizabeth held me
16:29like she'd finally
16:30gotten back what she lost.
16:31She'd never been this gentle.
16:33When I had a fever,
16:34she skipped family meetings
16:35and stayed by my bed all night.
16:37Every time the nightmares came,
16:38she held my hand
16:39and told me over and over
16:40that I was safe.
16:40I started mistaking
16:41need for love
16:42and Elizabeth started
16:43to believe that
16:44if I never remembered,
16:45this could be real.
16:48A month later,
16:49Julian showed up.
16:50Julian walked in
16:50and sat down on the couch.
16:51Remember me?
16:52I shook my head.
16:55I'm the one
16:56who should have been
16:56in your place.
16:57This apartment,
16:58this couch,
16:59and Elizabeth,
16:59all of it should have been mine.
17:00The reality is,
17:02none of it is yours.
17:03Julian stood up
17:03and took a step forward.
17:05You're just a waste of space
17:06with no memory.
17:08Elizabeth doesn't love you.
17:09She just pities you.
17:11Julian!
17:12Elizabeth walked in
17:13from the doorway
17:14and stepped in front of me.
17:15Say one more word to him
17:16and I'll send you to hell.
17:18Julian's face went pale.
17:19He opened his mouth
17:20but nothing came out.
17:21Elizabeth looked at him.
17:22You've got one thing wrong.
17:23I'm the one who can't leave,
17:25not Ethan.
17:27Elizabeth!
17:28Get out!
17:30Julian turned
17:31and headed for the door.
17:32As he passed me,
17:33he tilted his head
17:34and lowered his voice
17:35so only I could hear.
17:37You'd better never remember.
17:38I stood there,
17:39didn't move.
17:40I stared at the door,
17:41letting his words sink in.
17:42Then I turned
17:42and looked at Elizabeth.
17:43If I got my memory back,
17:45would anything be different?
17:47Nothing would change.
17:48She didn't even hesitate,
17:49like she'd rehearsed it
17:50a thousand times.
17:54Four of them set up
17:55another game.
17:56Lucas spun an empty bottle.
17:58Truth or dare?
17:59Let's go.
17:59The bottle slowed and stopped.
18:01It pointed at Maya.
18:02Truth.
18:02She answered without hesitation.
18:04Who would you want
18:05to be sister of?
18:06Julian.
18:07A few quiet laughs
18:08came from the table.
18:09This time,
18:09the bottle stopped
18:10in front of Noah.
18:11Truth.
18:12He picked up his glass,
18:13didn't even blink.
18:14Whose calls
18:15do you hate the most?
18:16Ethan's.
18:17I froze.
18:17The game went on.
18:18The bottle stopped
18:19steady on Eileen.
18:21Truth.
18:22Which family
18:23would you want
18:24the Vons to marry into?
18:26The Reyes family.
18:27Julia glanced at me.
18:28The bottle turned
18:29to Lucas.
18:32Truth.
18:33He answered
18:34without a care.
18:35Who do you hate
18:36the most here?
18:37Ethan.
18:38His lips curled.
18:39The bottle slowed
18:39and stopped
18:40in front of Julian.
18:42Truth.
18:43Julian didn't flinch.
18:44Who do you care
18:44about the most?
18:45My finger paused
18:46on the rim of my glass.
18:47Elizabeth.
18:47The bottle spun again.
18:48It stopped.
18:49The bottle pointed at me.
18:50Dare's more fun.
18:50I was about to speak
18:51but Lucas cut me off.
18:52The room erupted.
18:53Dare.
18:55Pick dare.
18:56Don't be a coward,
18:57Ethan.
18:58Voices crashed over me
18:59like a wave.
19:00Thick with open malice
19:01and hunger.
19:01This wasn't a game.
19:03It was a silent trial
19:04and it felt like this
19:05had happened before.
19:06What's the dare?
19:07Lucas pulled out his phone,
19:08opened the camera
19:09and pointed it at me.
19:10Say it to the camera.
19:11You're nothing
19:12next to Julian.
19:13The door pushed open.
19:14Elizabeth walked in.
19:19Lucas,
19:19who did you say
19:20is nothing next to Julian?
19:22Lucas froze.
19:25You think a phone
19:26makes you a judge?
19:27She pulled the phone
19:27out of Lucas' hand
19:28and tossed it
19:29into the ice bucket.
19:30A sizzle.
19:31The screen went black.
19:32She smiled,
19:33trying to smooth things over.
19:34Elizabeth,
19:35it was just a joke.
19:35Elizabeth turned to her.
19:37A joke?
19:38She took a step forward.
19:40Ethan is my fiancé.
19:41What gives you the right
19:42to make jokes about him?
19:44Eileen's smile died.
19:45Try it again
19:45and you'd better
19:46start counting your lives.
19:48The room went dead silent.
19:49Her eyes moved slowly
19:50from face to face.
19:52Starting today,
19:52anyone who treats him
19:53as a punch stake
19:54will answer to me.
19:55Julian's knuckles
19:55went white on his glass.
19:57Elizabeth took my hand
19:58and walked me out.
19:58I looked back.
19:59Through the gap,
20:00their faces shrank.
20:01The door shut behind us,
20:02shutting out the hypocrisy,
20:03the malice,
20:04the humiliation.
20:05All of it.
20:09Today,
20:09Elizabeth took me
20:10to a shooting range.
20:11I took the gun
20:11and fired.
20:12Bullet went wide,
20:13hitting the edge
20:14of the target.
20:14I fired again.
20:15Missed again.
20:16You never had to aim this long.
20:17You just raised the gun
20:18and hit.
20:19Elizabeth sat on the bench
20:20watching me.
20:20I lowered the gun.
20:21A small smile
20:22at the corner of my mouth.
20:23When you talk about us,
20:24your eyes light up.
20:26We were really in love,
20:27weren't we?
20:29Yes.
20:30We were in love.
20:31She looked away
20:32as she said it.
20:32Then she took my hand,
20:33held it tight.
20:34We'll stay in love.
20:35Always.
20:36I said nothing.
20:37Looked at her.
20:37She hadn't let go of my hand.
20:39At night,
20:39I dreamed of a dog
20:40covered in blood,
20:41standing in the rain,
20:42broken collar around her neck,
20:43just staring at me.
20:44Wake up,
20:45gasping,
20:45my back soaked with sweat.
20:47Elizabeth,
20:48did I forget someone important?
20:50Her hand froze midair.
20:51Long pause.
20:52It was the first time
20:52I heard the fear in her voice.
20:54No.
20:55No.
20:58Maya came by
20:58to drop off some clothes.
20:59She looked at the empty living room
21:01and asked offhand.
21:01You threw out
21:02all of Sunny's stuff?
21:03Elizabeth cut her off.
21:04You should go.
21:06I stepped in front of her.
21:07Who's Sunny?
21:07Maya looked at Elizabeth.
21:08She finally realized
21:09she'd slipped.
21:09Just a dog we used to have.
21:11Where is she?
21:12No one answered.
21:12I turned to Elizabeth.
21:14She's dead, isn't she?
21:15She finally nodded.
21:16The accident.
21:17When I got hit?
21:18Yes.
21:19Then why did you tell me
21:20I never had a dog?
21:21Elizabeth reached out
21:22and hugged me.
21:25I was afraid
21:25if you knew
21:26she died saving you,
21:27you couldn't handle it.
21:28It was the first time
21:29she'd admitted it.
21:30She had always decided
21:30what I knew.
21:31I pushed her away.
21:33Being afraid I'd hurt
21:35and lying to me
21:35that she never existed?
21:36Those aren't the same thing.
21:38What was her name?
21:40How long was she with me?
21:42Didn't I even have
21:42the right to know that?
21:43That night,
21:44the vet clinic called again.
21:45The staff didn't know
21:45I'd lost my memory.
21:47She was with you
21:48for eight years.
21:49She was a gift
21:50from Mrs. Vaughn.
21:52You never missed one.
21:53They were calling
21:53about Sunny's checkup.
21:54I hung up and logged
21:55into my cloud album.
21:56Thousands of photos
21:57flooded the screen.
21:58Sunny asleep on my bed,
21:59running beside me.
22:00Her head on my knee
22:00when I was hurting.
22:01The last photo,
22:02me, down on one knee.
22:03The engagement ring
22:04tied to Sunny's collar.
22:05I stared at the photo.
22:06So it wasn't just a dog
22:07I'd forgotten.
22:08Elizabeth had erased
22:08the most important family I had.
22:12I went through every photo.
22:14Sunny was with me
22:14for eight years.
22:15When my friends
22:16forgot my birthday,
22:17she'd wait by the door
22:18for me to come home.
22:19When Elizabeth wasn't with me,
22:20she slept by my side.
22:21She was the one
22:22who pulled me out
22:22of my nightmares.
22:23And Elizabeth had erased
22:24her entire life
22:25with one set.
22:26You never had a dog.
22:28Why?
22:29This time,
22:30she didn't deny it.
22:30I got scared.
22:32If you knew about her,
22:33you'd remember the accident
22:34and what happened
22:35before the wedding.
22:37So what happened
22:38before the wedding?
22:39We just had a fight.
22:42She was still cherry-picking
22:43the answers that favored her.
22:44Why was Sunny at the scene?
22:46It was an accident.
22:47The dog ran out on her own.
22:49But from those photos,
22:50Sunny was clearly trained.
22:51She never left my side.
22:53I started digging
22:54into the accident reports.
22:55The public report
22:56just said hit and run.
22:57No security footage
22:58at the hospital entrance either.
22:59That didn't add up.
23:0017 minutes of footage
23:01before and after the crash
23:03were gone.
23:03That wasn't a system glitch.
23:04The Vons controlled
23:05that hospital.
23:06Only the inner circle
23:07could delete that footage.
23:08My mind went to the safe
23:09in Elizabeth's office.
23:10Late that night,
23:11while she was asleep,
23:11I slid the signet ring
23:12off her finger
23:13and opened the safe.
23:14No money,
23:15no guns,
23:15just Sunny's blood-stained collar
23:17and an encrypted tablet.
23:18The file on the screen read,
23:19City hospital attack.
23:20Do not disclose to Ethan.
23:22I opened the video.
23:23Blood on my forehead.
23:24I walked out of the hospital alone
23:25and the two men
23:26who were supposed to protect me
23:28were standing outside
23:29Elizabeth's room,
23:29guarding Julian.
23:33Video kept playing.
23:34A black SUV came roaring
23:36around the corner
23:37straight at me.
23:37Sunny threw herself at me,
23:39knocking me out of the way.
23:40She took the bullet.
23:41Amongst the memories
23:42hit me like bullets.
23:43I remembered Lucas
23:43slamming my head
23:44into the wall.
23:45I remembered Julian's sneer
23:46and I remembered
23:47Elizabeth saying,
23:48Lucas,
23:48get that dog out of here.
23:50The tablet had footage
23:51from earlier.
23:52Pull Ethan's detail,
23:53put them on Julian.
23:54Julian's safety comes first.
23:56Elizabeth stood in the doorway.
23:57She saw the collar
23:57in my hand
23:58and went still.
23:59Ethan,
23:59I can explain.
24:00Did Sunny die
24:01because of you?
24:03I didn't know
24:04they'd make a move that day.
24:05But you knew
24:06the men who kidnapped me
24:07were never caught.
24:09She dropped to her knees.
24:11I thought you'd be safe
24:12in the hospital.
24:13I was hurt
24:14and you didn't say a word.
24:17Did you ever treat me
24:18like your fiancé?
24:19Elizabeth opened her mouth.
24:20Nothing came out.
24:20I pushed the tablet toward her.
24:22She kept the promise you made
24:24and you took advantage
24:25of my amnesia.
24:26You made sure
24:27I'd never remember her.
24:28More memories came back.
24:29Card game.
24:29Five copies.
24:30The kiss before the wedding.
24:31The name on the digital invitation.
24:33That name.
24:33I changed it myself.
24:34I gripped the table.
24:35I remembered everything.
24:36And I finally remembered
24:37why I walked away.
24:41Elizabeth reached for me.
24:42I stepped back.
24:44The past few months
24:45weren't fake.
24:46We were really happy
24:48because you deleted
24:49every fact
24:50that should have made me leave you.
24:52I wanted to start over.
24:54You can't start over
24:54unless both people know the truth.
24:56I thought of the lilies
24:57at the wedding.
24:57How my friends humiliated me.
24:59How they pushed me to step aside.
25:00Sunny dying in my arms
25:02while Elizabeth was with Julian.
25:03You weren't helping me remember.
25:05You were waiting for me to forget.
25:07Forever.
25:08Elizabeth dropped to her knees
25:09in front of me.
25:10I'll leave the family.
25:11I'll call off the alliance
25:12with the Reyes.
25:14Give me ten years.
25:15Twenty.
25:15I'll make it up to you.
25:18You can't.
25:20Before the crash,
25:21I lost my fiancé,
25:22my friends,
25:23my sister.
25:24During the crash,
25:25Sunny died saving me.
25:27After the crash,
25:28you took away my right to the truth.
25:29I put the ring
25:30and the collar on the table.
25:33The ring is the promise you made.
25:36The other is the one
25:37who actually kept me.
25:38Elizabeth's eyes went red.
25:39Ethan,
25:40I love you.
25:41You love the me
25:42who can't remember.
25:44The one who wouldn't question you,
25:46wouldn't refuse you,
25:47didn't know you'd betrayed him.
25:49Tomorrow,
25:50meet me where Sunny died.
25:51Is there still a chance for us?
25:52I didn't answer.
25:53Tomorrow you'll know.
25:54For the first time,
25:54I made her wait for my answer.
25:58Before the next day came,
26:00Elizabeth cleaned up
26:00the mess she'd made.
26:01She turned over
26:02the hospital footage.
26:03Admitted she'd pulled my security.
26:04She handed the evidence
26:05to the police.
26:06Proof that Lucas
26:06had deleted the footage.
26:07The Kane-Vaughn alliance
26:09collapsed on the spot.
26:10Lucas was stripped
26:10of his copper rank
26:11for destroying evidence.
26:12Eileen was cut
26:13from the family's inner circle.
26:14Maya was fired
26:15from her PR firm
26:16for putting out
26:16a false statement.
26:17Noah lost his gallery
26:18and Julian lost
26:19the wedding that was
26:20supposed to tie the Vons
26:21and the Reyes together.
26:22In the end,
26:23Elizabeth took off
26:23the family signet ring
26:24and publicly stepped down
26:26as heiress.
26:26When I heard,
26:27I felt nothing.
26:28Taking responsibility
26:29was all she could do.
26:30That night,
26:30I went back
26:31to where Sunny died.
26:32This time,
26:32there were no bodyguards,
26:33no family muscle
26:34sealing off the street.
26:35I'm not the heiress anymore.
26:38The ports,
26:39the unions,
26:40the family name,
26:41I can give it all up.
26:43Now,
26:43can I just be your Elizabeth?
26:50Everyone said
26:50marrying her
26:51was the luckiest thing
26:52that ever happened to me.
26:53But staying by her side
26:54almost cost me my life.
26:55Giving up power,
26:56that's how you face
26:57your mistakes.
26:57But that doesn't mean
26:58I forgive you.
26:59I'll walk away
27:00from the family for good
27:01and I'll start
27:02an animal rescue fund
27:03in Sunny's name.
27:04I'm not asking you
27:05to forgive me now.
27:06Give me a chance
27:07to prove I've learned
27:08how to love you.
27:08When I lost my memory,
27:09the way she took care of me,
27:10that was real.
27:11She never left my bedside.
27:13She helped me
27:13put my life back together.
27:14Her tenderness was real.
27:16So was the damage.
27:17Sunny was still protecting me
27:18when she died.
27:18Where were you?
27:21You controlled the whole city,
27:22but I was always
27:23the last one protected.
27:26I won't do that again.
27:28Maybe you won't,
27:29but I don't need to spend
27:30the rest of my life
27:31waiting for you
27:31to prove it.
27:34I did love you
27:36and I don't want to wait
27:37until the good memories
27:38turn sour.
27:39I turned and walked away.
27:41Elizabeth didn't follow.
27:42It was the first time
27:43she didn't argue
27:43with my choice.
27:47Next day,
27:48Eileen found Elizabeth
27:49gone from Vaughn headquarters.
27:50Lucas couldn't reach her.
27:51Julian had no idea
27:52where she was.
27:53She hadn't taken
27:53the family signet ring.
27:54She'd left only a statement.
27:56No one knew where she went.
27:57We were all finally
27:57paying for our choices.
27:58A few months later,
27:59I moved to Monterey, California.
28:00I opened a flower shop
28:01and took in animals
28:02from a local shelter.
28:03Injured ones,
28:04old ones,
28:05the ones nobody else wanted.
28:06Sonny's old collar
28:07hung by the front door.
28:08Not to remind myself
28:09I'd been betrayed,
28:10but to remind myself
28:11that real loyalty
28:12doesn't make you suffer for it.
28:13Eileen,
28:14Maya,
28:14and Noah
28:15all reached out.
28:16Eileen said the family
28:16gave her no choice.
28:17Maya said she was
28:18just doing her job.
28:19Noah said he just wanted
28:20a bigger piece of the family.
28:21Knowing their reasons
28:22doesn't excuse the pain
28:23and it doesn't earn them
28:24a place back in my life.
28:28Every month,
28:29a bouquet of roses
28:30with no card
28:30showed up at the shop.
28:32Whoever sent them
28:33finally got the flowers right,
28:35but figuring it out
28:35too late
28:36doesn't earn a second chance.
28:37If it was Elizabeth,
28:38that was how she lived with it.
28:39I stopped chasing her.
28:40That was how I set myself free.
28:42One day,
28:42a newly rescued puppy
28:43dropped an old tennis ball
28:44at my feet.
28:45She didn't look anything like Sonny,
28:46but she chose to trust me,
28:47just like Sonny did.
28:48I knelt down
28:49and pulled her into my arms.
28:50I used to think
28:51home was something
28:52I had to earn,
28:53even if no one
28:53had ever put you first.
28:55Now I finally get it.
28:56A true home
28:56is someone who chooses you,
28:58even when you're not
28:58strong enough
28:59to stand on your own.
29:00Someone who will
29:00never ever leave you behind.
29:20She's not going to be behind.
29:22She's not going to be behind.
29:24She's not going to be behind.
29:25You