- 21 hours ago
His Secret Woman Got the Ring, I Got His Heart
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Short filmTranscript
00:03I'd been with Luca Russo for six years. Suddenly, he handed me a contract. I had thought that was
00:08a prenup. I was ready to sign. But what I saw was…
00:11Mistress agreement. Three years. On call 24-7. Renew if satisfied. My finger trembled.
00:18Luca, what does this mean? Luca leaned back on the sofa, smoking a cigar. He looked at me with
00:23cold eyes. My father is pushing hard. He chose a marriage alliance for me. Serena, the daughter
00:28of the Vitoli family. They hold the entire Adriatic arms line, and I need that.
00:33My voice trembled. And what about me? Luca looked up, sneered.
00:37Tezoro, give me a break. Your dad had left you with gambling debts, and I had paid for
00:42his care. Your ex stole your identity and left you with thugs. My men threw them into the
00:47Hudson River. I'm just asking you to be my secret lover. Is that too much?
00:51I looked at the sharp black text written on paper. Party B must be on call 24-7. Party B
00:57shall not appear at any family events or social gatherings. If Party B gets pregnant, she must
01:02handle it herself. The Russo family will not acknowledge the child. I stared at the last
01:06one, and my hand instinctively touched my belly. My fingers were ice cold.
01:11Sign it. Luca flicked the ash from the cigar.
01:14Why are you just staring at it? I put down the contract. My voice trembled.
01:19Luca, we've been together for six years. He laughed.
01:23So what? Did we ever plan on getting married?
01:26Those words stabbed me like a knife. For six years, he took me to every gala, and all the
01:31unmarried women looked at me with calculating eyes. But he always introduced me as his assistant.
01:36His mother, Rosa, had implied more than once,
01:39Mia cara, you should find a good man to marry.
01:42I thought she was teasing us. Now I realized she was politely telling me to get out.
01:46What were these six years to you?
01:51Luca crushed the cigar and walked to me.
01:54It was a fair trade. I supported you for six years. I paid for your dad's nursing home.
01:59I cleared your ex's debt. I gave you a job. You've managed the Russo family's accounts for six years.
02:04If you leave, who would dare to hire you?
02:07He paused, then smiled.
02:08Tezora, be reasonable. You didn't hesitate to use me when you were in trouble.
02:13Now I'm using you. It's just business.
02:15I felt my eyes burn, but I didn't shed a single drop of tears. He never mentioned these things,
02:21though I knew he was telling the truth. He was right. My father was a loser. He walked out on
02:25us to gamble, then spent over a decade rotting away before showing up at my door with broken legs.
02:30I was soft, so I took him in. As for my ex, we only dated for a month. I didn't
02:36even know he used
02:37my identity to get a loan until three men with machetes showed up at my door. It was Luca's men
02:42who came
02:42and cleared the trouble. I knew I owed him, but I never thought he was keeping a ledger of every
02:47cent. So I pushed his hand away. There was no love? Only investment? Luca laughed.
02:53Don't be silly. You call this an investment? I've got nothing back from you, haven't I?
02:58Luca dropped a black card on the table.
03:00Sign, and it's yours. In three years, if you want to stay, we will renew. If not, keep the money.
03:06500k, enough to buy ten lives, but not enough to buy me. I wanted to say something, but it was
03:12caught in my throat because I remembered the nursing home's call. If I don't pay, they'll kick
03:17my father out. Luca knew I needed money, so he just dropped that card in front of me, like feeding
03:21a
03:21treat to a dog. Is it not enough? I get it. Six years for 500k isn't much, but that's mistress
03:29money, not girlfriend money. As of now, this is exactly what you're worth. He paused again and
03:34smiled. Of course you can refuse, but then...
03:41But then you need to move out of this apartment. My heart felt like it was being crushed. Over the
03:45past
03:46six years, I have treated this place as my home. I planted the roses on the balcony myself. In the
03:51kitchen, my favorite vinegar always sat next to his jar of olives. Our travel photos are still
03:56on the nightstand, but in the end, I was just a tenant who could be kicked out at any time.
04:01Luca, my voice was still trembling. If you don't love me, let's say goodbye. You don't have to
04:06humiliate me like this. Love? He crushed the cigar, leaned in, put his hands on either side of the armrest.
04:13Did your father love you? Did your ex love you? Does anyone in this world truly care about you?
04:19He whispered, looked into my eyes. I paid your debts. I protected you. I can't give you a marriage,
04:26but I'm giving you a way to survive. My tears fell eventually, because at some point,
04:30I realized he's right. He handed me the pen, clearly running out of patience.
04:35Well, are you signing it or not? I opened my mouth. I looked at the pregnancy rule again.
04:40I swallowed my words. If my mother and I had planned to get married early next month,
04:44would you still have made me sign this? Married. He laughed. Planned with whom? Your drowned mother?
04:50Even without these changes, I never planned to marry you. You have quite an imagination.
04:57I closed my eyes. Six years. This marriage was never meant to be. I opened my eyes and picked up
05:02the pen. I signed my name on the last page. Vittoria DeLuca. My hands had stopped trembling.
05:08Luca collected the contract. Good girl. Everything stays the same. But from now on,
05:15in public, you call me Mr. Russo. He kissed my forehead coldly. Be good.
05:21Luca left. The door closed. He was gone. I looked down at the black card in my hand. I slowly
05:27squatted
05:27down on the floor, burying my face in my knees. I didn't know how long I'd been sitting here.
05:32My legs were numb, and my tears had finally dried up. I stood up unsteadily and walked into the bathroom.
05:38I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face repeatedly, until I finally calmed down.
05:43I picked up my phone and made a call. Mom, you were right. I've lost. That thing you mentioned
05:48before? Get it started. I'm ready. The person on the other end paused. Are you sure? There's no
05:54turning back. I looked out at the cathedral. The bells were tolling like a funeral. It's Ave Maria.
06:01I'm sure.
06:04The next morning, I went to the nursing home. My father was in a wheelchair, being pushed into
06:09the yard by a nurse. He looked very old, like a hollow tree. His hair was completely white.
06:15Both his legs were gone. They had been crushed by a van six years ago. His lips trembled.
06:21Something lit up in his murky eyes. I handed him that black card. There's 500k euros in here.
06:27It's enough for the best care and the best nurses. From today on, I won't see you again.
06:32Where are you going?
06:34I'm going back to her, with a clean slate. I took out a photo and put it in his hand.
06:40It's a photo of my mom when she was young, wearing a white dress, standing in a lemon grove,
06:46smiling brightly.
06:48She asked me to give you a message. I said,
06:50What message?
06:51La morte è troppo buona per te.
06:53He burst into tears, touching the photo with shaking hands. He had thought she had committed
06:58suicide. He had no idea she was actually alive, but he didn't know she was alive. She was saved
07:04by the Moretti family. It had all been a play she had staged to fake her death. She waited six
07:09years
07:10for me. She waited for me to lose everything, to wake up, and to finally call her. I turned
07:15to leave, but I stopped at the corner.
07:18Dad, that car back then? Was it your doing?
07:21The air went silent. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Tears streamed down his wrinkled face.
07:28No. Victoria, really no. I didn't know that car was coming.
07:34I just saw it heading for you, and I...
07:38And you pushed me out of the way?
07:41Yes. I wanted to save you, even if it cost my life. I'm a deadbeat. I owe you and your
07:47mother too much.
07:48I closed my eyes. I believed him. A bastard father who abandoned his wife and daughter
07:54actually acted like a father in that moment. But that didn't mean I forgave him.
07:59That money is to pay you back for my life. We're even now. I walked out of the nursing home.
08:05I heard him crying and laughing behind me.
08:08She's alive. She's not dead. Good. Good. Good. Go now. Don't ever come back.
08:14I didn't look back.
08:17After that, I went back to work in the casino as usual. The Russo family owned many businesses,
08:23and the casino was just one of them. All the dirty money from weapons,
08:29smuggling, and loans was laundered through those accounts. And I was the one who kept
08:34the books. Luca walked in while I was organizing the monthly statements. He looked at me with
08:39no expression.
08:40When this quarter's books are done, bring them to my office.
08:43Yes, Mr. Russo.
08:44I replied naturally. Luca paused, looking surprised.
08:48You've adapted quickly.
08:49He whispered, and moved his finger across the back of my hand on purpose. I didn't move,
08:54nor react. Our relationship wasn't a secret. For six years, he picked me up from work and took me
09:00everywhere. The inner circle had always known, an unspoken truth among them. But he never officially
09:07announced us. Since we were never official, calling him Mr. Russo now actually made things
09:12look more professional to others. At night, Luca sent me a location. I took a taxi here. I opened the
09:18door to a suite. The floor was covered in rose petals. A silk nightgown was hanging on a rack.
09:24The air was thick with the scent of guerlain. That's the brand Serena liked.
09:28Seen enough?
09:29His voice came from behind. Luca leaned against the doorframe, looking at me with a half smile.
09:35The engagement party is next week. You're coming to help.
09:41Help with what? I channeled the calmness I had spent the last few days cultivating.
09:46They hired the best planning team in Sicily for their engagement party. They didn't need an ex-girlfriend
09:51getting in the way. Hosting guests, and Serena feels you must witness our happiness.
09:58I let out a short laugh. That last part was the real reason. Fine. I will confirm the details with
10:04Mr. Russo tomorrow. If that's all, can I go? His future wife just left, so he wouldn't need me to
10:11stay. After all, a mistress was only used for one thing. He squinted at me. You aren't upset at all?
10:17Does Mr. Russo want me to be upset? He walked over and grabbed my chin. You've changed a lot lately.
10:23You've become a bit annoying. How does Mr. Russo want me to be? I can change. Years ago,
10:28he had been attracted to me because I was the closest person to him. Yet, I never asked for
10:34anything. Back then, he called it integrity. Now, he calls it annoying. It had never been me who
10:40changed. He stared at me for a long time and let go. Forget it. Go home. As I turned to
10:47leave,
10:47he suddenly hugged me from behind. He rested his chin on my shoulder, his voice muffled. Do you know
10:53I won't let you leave? He meant the agreement. Because you are a good girl. You never make
10:59things difficult for me. You don't fight with me or ask where I've been. Not like her. She checks
11:04on me every day. He tightened his arms around me. Sometimes I think, if only you had a decent family
11:10background, I wouldn't have to marry someone else. I almost let out a laugh. In the end, he was blaming
11:17me for not having a high-class background. But he forgot that he was the one who came after me
11:22first. Mr. Russo. I gently pulled Luca's hands away. What color should I wear to the engagement
11:29party? I need to prepare in advance. His hands froze in midair. I ignored him and turned to leave.
11:36After I walked out of the hotel, I realized my palms were bleeding from my own fingernails.
11:44The day of the engagement party. It's held in Villa Ikea Royal Hotel, the most luxurious
11:49place in Sicily. The guests were all powerful figures from the underworld. I had hidden my
11:54pregnancy report in his desk drawer. I had thought that when he found it, he would naturally propose
11:58to me. So, you are the Miyakata? I froze for a second, then nodded. Luca mentioned you. He said
12:05you've been with him for many years and you're very capable. Thank you. Oh, by the way, we've chosen a
12:09new wedding house near the apartment. It won't be convenient for you to stay there anymore. You
12:13should look for a new place. Okay, I'll take care of it. Suddenly, Serena grabbed the champagne
12:18glass next to my hand and poured it over her white wedding dress. How could you throw wine on me?
12:25A loud slap hit my face. Everyone looked over. Luca walked up, frowning. What happened? Luca! I was
12:32just kindly telling her that you won't be living in the apartment anymore and she threw wine at me.
12:38I didn't... Are you saying she poured it on herself just to hit you? No one would believe
12:42a bride would ruin her own dress at her own engagement party. Don't make this difficult
12:46for me. You know what day it is. Apologize or don't come to work tomorrow. He looked at me.
12:51Six years ago, he had picked me up from the rain. Six years later, he held the person who bullied
12:57me and demanded I apologize. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have poured the wine on you. It's just
13:03a misunderstanding. Please go back to the party. Yes, it was embarrassing. But the most embarrassing
13:10part was that the man I loved for six years found me guilty without even asking questions.
13:14I took out my phone and sent a message. Mom, I want to end this now.
13:20I walked out of the bathroom, having already schooled my face into a blank mask.
13:24Come to room 306 on the third floor. It was from Luca. Since I signed that agreement,
13:31he only wanted me for one thing. But today was his engagement party. He had just finished
13:37toasting every guest with his fiancée, and now he wanted me in a private room? What was
13:43I to him? Or did he find it more exciting because of the occasion? Another message popped up.
13:50It didn't matter anyway. After this night, everything would be over. The door to room 306 was ajar.
13:58Mr. Russo? I told you I wasn't available these few days. Suddenly, the door slammed shut. A man
14:04smelling of heavy alcohol appeared. I knew him. Tony Bianchi, also known as the King. He was the top
14:12thug for the Vitali family. A man with blood on his hands. Oh, you're here?
14:19He was grinning, bearing yellow-stained teeth. Russo said some woman messed up today.
14:25Sent her here for me to teach a lesson. Didn't expect you'd be this fiery.
14:28Tony lunged at me. I backed away, but knocked over the coffee table. He grabbed my wrist in a
14:33tight grip. Let go of me! Scream all you want. Tonight, you belong to me.
14:40He ripped open my collar in a brutal motion. Infuriated, Tony swung his arm and slapped me
14:45hard across the cheek. Tony swore coarsely and crawled over me, his hands squeezing my
14:50neck tightly. At this moment, the door was kicked open with a thunderous crash.
14:55The tip was right! They're caught in the act! Keep taking pictures!
14:57Mr. Russo's ex-girlfriend can't stay lonely! Caught in bed at the engagement party!
15:01Trying desperately to hide myself with my torn clothes. I saw them clearly. In the hallway,
15:08Luca had Serena in his arms, turning away. Tears slid down the corners of my eyes and into
15:13my hair. Oh my god! What's that blood? There's so much blood! Call an ambulance!
15:17I looked down. Beneath my skirt, bright red blood was winding down my thighs. My vision started
15:23to blur. Again and again. Like the lights of Judgment Day.
15:29A black Maybach slowly drove out of the Milla Igea Royal Hotel.
15:34Who did this? It's so shameless! If my father hadn't called us, I would have gone to that
15:37room to see for myself. Luca kept his eyes closed. His mind was filled with the image
15:42of me standing at the desk. He even started to find the woman beside him annoying.
15:46Don't get too interested in other people's business.
15:49Suddenly, his phone vibrated. His assistant...
15:53Boss, you need to come back to the hotel immediately. Someone... someone is dying.
15:56Then call the police. Why call me? I'm not a cop. But boss...
16:00He hung up. Who was that?
16:03Marco. He's making a fuss out of nothing. He said someone died at the hotel.
16:07Luca's phone vibrated again. He ignored it. Serena pulled his sleeve.
16:12You really not going back to check it out?
16:14There's nothing to see.
16:16Tori is still in the hall cleaning up. Do you think she'd do something crazy because I slapped her?
16:21Serena, why the sudden care?
16:22It's not that. She's your ex-girlfriend. If something happens to her because of me,
16:26the media will go crazy. I won't know what to tell your father.
16:29Then why did you insist on her coming today?
16:31I just wanted her to give up on you for good. Who knew she'd actually throw wine at me?
16:35Don't worry. She'll be fine. She had survived much harder days.
16:39Six years ago, she had been scammed by an ex, had been hounded by her father for money.
16:43She survived all of that. Today was just a slap. She might cry, but she'll be at work tomorrow.
16:48She needed this job. And she needed him. Luca rolled down the car window and lit a cigarette.
16:53Serena watched his face. Luca's phone vibrated again.
16:56Is this Mr. Luca Russo? Your partner is in critical condition.
16:59My partner is sitting right next to me. Are you trying to scam me? You've got a death wish.
17:04But in this lady's phone, you are saved as husband. Get lost.
17:08He hung up and blocked the number. His anger came out of nowhere.
17:11He lit another cigarette to calm down. Then, he sent a message to Tori.
17:16We had lived in that apartment for six years. It was in the heart of Palermo, right next to the
17:21theater.
17:22Every morning, you could see the sun rising over the sea.
17:25Serena wanted to renovate this place for the wedding, but he refused.
17:29The message had been sent, but with no reply. He didn't mind.
17:32Besides, she was humiliated today. She had the right to be upset.
17:36He stayed late in the Vitali family's house.
17:38It was already two in the morning when he arrived at the apartment.
17:41When he climbed the stairs, he was thinking, should he go easy on her when he sees her?
17:46After all, Serena's slap was out of line.
17:49He didn't help Tori, but he knew the truth.
17:52Tori always knew her place, but that was his engagement party.
17:56If he didn't support his future wife, the Vitali family would find him weak,
17:59and the alliance he had sacrificed so much for would crumble.
18:02Once he controlled the Adriatic weapon lines, he wouldn't be afraid of the Vitalis anymore.
18:06Then, no one could tell him who to marry.
18:09He opened the door. It seemed nothing had changed.
18:12But the apartment was empty. He found a black suitcase in the corner.
18:15He opened it, and her things were in it.
18:17It turned out she had already packed everything.
18:20She was just waiting for the final step.
18:22Luca felt a surge of anger, so she was planning to leave him without even saying goodbye.
18:28Tori, don't forget you signed that agreement!
18:30He stormed into the study, looking for the contract, only to find a hospital report.
18:36Before he could make out the contents of the report...
18:39Tori, I was just gonna...
18:40Boss? What are you doing here?
18:41What the hell are you doing here?
18:42Tori isn't answering her phone, so I thought I'd drop by her apartment.
18:46You're here looking for her, too?
18:47She's not here. Why do you need her?
18:49Boss, you hung up on me several times. I know you're engaged now, and you don't want to hear about
18:52Tori.
18:52I'll leave right away. Stop right there. Spit it out. What happened to her?
18:54Tori had been by his side for six years.
18:57Marco always kept him updated on her, never dared keep anything from him.
19:01After the engagement party ended, I called you a dozen times. You didn't pick up.
19:06Your calls were about a casualty at the hotel. What does that have to do with Tori?
19:10He stopped mid-sentence. Something clicked.
19:14Gosh. No way.
19:17Boss, the person involved in the incident in room 306 tonight was Tori.
19:21What the hell are you talking about?
19:22Remember Tony Biacci, the one who had been fighting you over the Adrianic Arms line?
19:25He went into 306, too.
19:26When reporters rushed in after getting tipped off, she was already lying in a pool of blood.
19:30I kept calling you. You said call the police.
19:32By the time I got back, she'd already been taken to the hospital.
19:34I couldn't track her down anywhere.
19:36Do you think it's funny to make this up?
19:37You know what she means to me.
19:39How the hell would she end up with another man?
19:41Boss, it's true.
19:42Enough. She's just hiding from me for a few days. Stop making a fuss.
19:46He picked up the report and flipped it open casually.
19:50Early intrauterine pregnancy.
19:52Approximately six weeks.
19:53Fetal development normal.
19:56His heart skipped a beat.
19:58A strange feeling surged through him.
20:01He thought it was panic.
20:02She was carrying his child.
20:05That was before the contract.
20:07It didn't count as a violation.
20:09The priority now was finding her and setting her up.
20:12He called Tori, but her phone was off.
20:14He thought for a moment, then sent a message.
20:17The message had been sent, but there was no reply.
20:20Boss, we got something.
20:22One of my guys tracked down a private hospital.
20:23A doctor there said he took in a woman earlier tonight.
20:25Severe hemorrhage, pregnancy loss.
20:27The doctor said they tried the first emergency contact and her phone saved as husband.
20:30They got through, but he hung up.
20:31The number ended in 8867.
20:33Boss, did you get a call from any hospital today?
20:35He had.
20:35Not only did he answer, he cursed them out.
20:38The second contact they dialed was saved as mom.
20:40That call went through and she was picked up shortly after.
20:43Whose mom?
20:44No idea.
20:45The doctor said the woman claimed to be Tori's mother.
20:47Impossible.
20:48Her mother's been dead for years.
20:49Who the hell picked her up?
20:50I'll ask them myself.
20:51Go pull the hotel's security footage right now.
20:54I want to know exactly why those two ended up in 306 together.
20:58Tori would never humiliate herself like that.
21:01He knew that better than anyone.
21:02The woman who took Tori, what did she look like?
21:04Did she leave any information?
21:05You're the patient's husband?
21:07When Tori was hemorrhaging, we called you.
21:08Hung up.
21:08Then we called her mother.
21:10Within 10 minutes, three black SUVs pulled up outside.
21:12A whole team got out.
21:13Doctors, bodyguards, two men in chutes.
21:14Since when had Tori had connections like that?
21:17No one ordinary could do that.
21:21When he got back to the apartment, Luca was like a man who'd lost his soul.
21:25He sat through the night.
21:26He had just found out about the child, thinking he was going to be a father.
21:30Yet overnight, he lost them both.
21:32Boss, the footage from the third floor corridor.
21:35The hard drive just happened to crash.
21:38Crashed.
21:41You really expect me to believe that?
21:43Marco kept his head down.
21:45He dragged Tony Bianchi out of the party and threw him into the casino basement.
21:49Luca!
21:50We can talk this out!
21:52Tony curled up, screaming in agony.
21:56Who sent you to 306?
21:57You texted me.
21:59You told me to take care of her.
22:00Said not to hold back.
22:02The afternoon of the engagement party.
22:04Look, it's right here.
22:05He remembered.
22:06Serena had borrowed his phone at the party.
22:10Tori.
22:12What did she say?
22:14She didn't say much.
22:16She came in and called out Mr. Russo.
22:18Serena was the interruper.
22:20Tori is my only true fiancé.
22:21Vitali family stormed out in rage.
22:24Before the conference even ended, his father called in.
22:27Without the Vitalis, we are finished.
22:30Luca didn't argue.
22:32This was the only thing he could do for Tori now.
22:34She had never been just a mistress.
22:36Within hours of the announcement, the internet was on fire.
22:40Said it was all a ploy for power.
22:42Then someone anonymous leaked screenshots of the mistress contract he'd forced Tori to sign.
22:47Before Luca could trace the leak, the Vitali family retaliated.
22:51They pulled funding.
22:52Territory was chipped away.
22:54Key members defected.
22:55His father and the family elders pushed Luca to move fast.
22:59Cut losses.
23:00Do something.
23:01He couldn't hear a word of it.
23:02They didn't know.
23:03The only reason he'd ever agreed to marry Serena was to use the Vitali arms line.
23:08He searched for Tori like a madman.
23:10But he'd vanished from the leak.
23:12Not a single trace left for him to follow.
23:14He went to the nursing home.
23:16Found her useless father.
23:17Said there's someone she needs to go see.
23:19Clean and pure.
23:20It's her mom.
23:21Must be her mom.
23:22Didn't her mother die?
23:23I know is.
23:23I'll never see her again.
23:25Two months later, just as Luca hit a dead end, a notification popped up on his phone.
23:31Driven by instinct, he clicked it.
23:33The photo shows a man and woman.
23:35Luca stared at the familiar face.
23:37His pupils contracted sharply.
23:41It all made sense now.
23:43When she said she'd discussed with her mother about the marriage next month, this was what
23:48she meant.
23:49The Russos had looked down on her for her background and her gambler father.
23:53Her mother was the runaway daughter of the Moretti family.
23:56All those years when Vittoria was struggling in the mud, she wasn't without a way out.
24:01Her mother had paid the price for marrying beneath her once.
24:04She would never let her daughter walk the same path.
24:07Vittoria had waited six years.
24:09She never left.
24:10What had he done?
24:11What did he do?
24:12Why didn't you tell me?
24:14Luca booked a flight to Los Angeles.
24:16He waited in the Moretti group lobby for three days.
24:20She wouldn't see him.
24:22On the fourth day, a document was delivered to him.
24:25Moretti was moving to absorb the last piece of the Russo territory.
24:28He couldn't take it anymore.
24:29He stormed into the elevator and went straight to the top floor.
24:33Inside the CEO's office, Vittoria Moretti was signing papers.
24:39Vittoria.
24:40Security, someone broke in.
24:42Vittoria, do you really have to leave me no way out?
24:45The mistress agreement isn't the only leverage I have.
24:47I have 20 records of money laundering from your casinos.
24:50That's enough to keep the FBI busy.
24:52If you bother me again, I won't go easy on you.
24:56Sign it, then you still have a way out.
24:58So, this was your plan from the start?
25:03So, this was your plan from the start?
25:04You let me humiliate you.
25:06You signed the contract.
25:06You stayed at the casino.
25:07Not because you couldn't let go of six years.
25:09You were there to get your hands on the core financial records to hand them to the Morettis on a
25:12silver platter?
25:13Vittoria didn't deny it.
25:15With a clean slate.
25:16That was her mother's only condition.
25:18Her mother had wanted Vittoria to destroy Luca Russo herself.
25:23By the way, that Tony Bianchi is my mother's man.
25:27She arranged for him to play a part to turn you and the Vitalis against each other.
25:31She just didn't expect that I was pregnant.
25:34The news was contained.
25:35No one knows.
25:36If you want to make this public, I don't mind releasing the footage from 306 along with the message you
25:42sent to Tony.
25:43You didn't tell your mother about the pregnancy, did you?
25:45Because you knew she'd make you get rid of it.
25:47So, the trap they set, they didn't tell you and that's why you lost the baby, right?
25:51Vittoria's fingers curled slightly.
25:53You still cared.
25:54Even though you hate me, you could have used the baby to blackrail me, but you didn't.
25:59You wanted that child, didn't you?
26:00You came all the way to Los Angeles just to tell me this?
26:05No.
26:05I came to tell you I had reasons for what I did.
26:07I thought marrying Serena would give me the power to marry you eventually.
26:10I was just taking a short...
26:11You never once asked if I was willing to wait.
26:13You only thought about how to maximize your gains at the minimum cost.
26:16Including you coming here.
26:18It's not because you love me.
26:19It's because you can't stand being outplaned by a woman you look down in.
26:22She stood up and walked past him toward the door.
26:25Luca Russo, you once thought I wasn't good enough for you.
26:28Now, it's my turn to look down on you.
26:30The acquisition went faster than expected.
26:33The casino, the docks, the money laundering channels...
26:36All changed hands.
26:38Old Russo had a heart attack and was hospitalized.
26:40The board demanded that Luca give up what was left.
26:44Mr. Russo, if you ever need anything, give me a call.
26:47Give her back to me!
26:50She was never yours.
26:51How can I give her back?
26:53Luca stood there, as if all his strength had been drained from him.
26:57Dante was right.
26:58He had never truly had her.
27:00And because of her, he had lost everything.
27:05Six months later...
27:06Winter came to Sicily again.
27:09Luca sat inside a cheap apartment in Palermo.
27:12The sky outside veiled in dull gray.
27:15The old Russo died in the hospital.
27:17His last words were a curse.
27:19Black sheep.
27:21Luca didn't argue.
27:22For six months, he'd tried everything.
27:25Sent messages through intermediaries.
27:27Wrote letters.
27:28Even stood outside the Moretti's territory for an entire night.
27:32All he got was being chased away by bodyguards.
27:35And a warning from Dante Moretti.
27:37He knew he needed to let go.
27:39But every time he closed his eyes, that pregnancy test report kept haunting his mind.
27:45If that night hadn't happened, his phone rang.
27:48An unknown number.
27:50Luca Russo.
27:52I'm her mother.
27:53I'm not calling for her sake.
27:55She doesn't know about this call, and I don't want her to.
27:58Then why?
27:59There's something you should know.
28:01The baby survived.
28:03She knows.
28:04She's always known.
28:06I wanted to keep it from her, but the first thing she asked when she woke up was whether
28:10the baby was still there.
28:12I couldn't lie to her.
28:13So she kept that child and married Dante.
28:15My adopted son is an excellent man.
28:17He's loved Tori for years.
28:18They're very happy now.
28:19I'm not telling you this because you're worthy of knowing.
28:21It's because she wants me to pass you a word.
28:22What does she want to tell me?
28:23She said, the child carries the Moretti name, not Russo.
28:26But her eyes are like yours.
28:27That's the only part of her you'll ever have.
28:28But don't ever think of getting close to her.
28:30Why are you telling me this?
28:31You should know what you lost.
28:32That's the only way this pain will last.
28:35The call ended.
28:36The light from his phone screen illuminated his tear-streaked face.
28:40This was his punishment.
28:44Three years later, Los Angeles, Sunny, in the gardens of the Moretti estate,
28:48a little girl with pigtails chased butterflies across the lawn.
28:51She looked pretty, round cheeks, gray eyes.
28:54Nana!
28:55Nana, look!
28:56A butterfly!
28:57All right, sweetheart.
28:59Go find your mama.
29:00The little girl hopped back toward the house.
29:03What's up, my little butterfly?
29:05Then to the beach we go.
29:08Dante stepped out of the study, a file still in his hand.
29:12When he saw this scene, he smiled lightly.
29:15Sunlight fell on her, and her white skirt fluttered in the wind.
29:18She looked relaxed and totally at ease, smiling as if nothing had ever hurt her.
29:24Same day, Palermo, a city street.
29:26Luca stood at the entrance of an Italian restaurant.
29:29A cigarette clamped between his fingers.
29:31He'd lost a lot of weight, with heavy dark circles under his eyes.
29:34Dressed in a plain jacket, he looked ordinary.
29:37The Russo family was history.
29:38Now, he was just a nobody, making a living as an accountant.
29:42In his phone was a photo, one he'd spent all his savings to buy from a paparazzo.
29:47It's a photo of a little girl running across a lawn, a small dimple at the corner of her
29:51mouth when she smiled.
29:53He looked at it every day, and every time, he smiled first, then cried.
29:58If there had never been that mistress agreement, if he hadn't been so greedy and cowardly,
30:03if only when she'd said,
30:04If I said I planned to, he'd let her finish.
30:08Perhaps the story wouldn't have ended this way.
30:10But there are no what-ifs in this world, only consequences.
30:15You live with what you choose.
30:17He chose betrayal, so he suffered loss.
30:20And she chose to endure pain, so she finally found freedom.
30:24The only regret left was the little girl with gray eyes.
30:27She would never know that on a street somewhere in New York,
30:30there was a man who cried over her photo every day.
30:33Nor would she ever know that her existence was the only pure thing
30:37between two people who owed each other far too much.
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