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00:00old farmer next door. My dad said that before he left for the army. The old farmer had a bad
00:05leg,
00:05but he was a savage man. People said he even killed his first wife. He was strong enough to
00:11knock out a bull with one punch. For my mom, marrying him was a death sentence. Three years
00:17later, the news came that my dad was dead. Right away, my grandma sold my mom to the monster for
00:23$2,000. The day we heard the news of dad's death, it was December, right after a blizzard.
00:30My mom was feeding the cattle barefoot. Grandmother never allowed her to wear shoes.
00:35She said a bitch like her didn't deserve them. I often went to the woods to gather branches for
00:40warmth, but my uncle would always snatch them away for his fireplace. No matter how we begged,
00:46it was useless. Grandmother would beat us and curse us for days. I felt sorry for mom and tried to
00:52help
00:52her feed the cows. Baby, go play over there. The sun is out. It's warmer there. My shoes were torn
00:58and
00:59falling apart. The sun was our only source of heat. After feeding the cows, we went back to the
01:04cabin. Grandmother was already waiting, fuming with rage. What took you so long? Were you out
01:10looking for other men again? She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. The army sent word. Jason is
01:17dead. Ever since he married you, my son was cursed by your bad luck. She didn't look sad about her
01:22son's
01:23death at all. There had to be a secret behind this. Now that he's gone, get out of this house.
01:29Don't stay here and ruin the Hudson family name. She looked at us with disgust and kept grumbling.
01:34Luckily, my son sold you to Rick before he left. Otherwise, we would have lost so much money feeding
01:40you two. My mom didn't fight back. She just picked up her coat and held my hand tight. Mom,
01:46at least let me take the child with me. Grandmother looked me up and down. She had a wicked look
01:52in her
01:52eyes. That depends on if that old farmer pays more. A girl her age could fetch $2,000 at the
02:02town.
02:04She's worth much more than you. My mom gripped my hand even harder. We both knew the truth.
02:11As soon as she marries Rick, grandmother will sell me away. It was the day we were driven to Rick's
02:16ranch. The legendary monster was there, chopping wood. Each swing of his axe was terrifying. One of
02:23his legs was broken and propped on a wooden stool. He looked strange and menacing. A huge scar ran from
02:29his left eye down to his mouth. It looked like his face was split in two. I hid behind my
02:34mom,
02:35trembling. Rick looked at us coldly. You're forcing this woman on me for $500?
02:41Now you want $2,000 more? He clearly didn't want my mom, and he definitely didn't want a burden like
02:46me. My son Jason saved your life in that blizzard. Now that he's gone, you should be grateful to take
02:52her. This girl will be your daughter. It's a blessing. $2,000 is a bargain for you. $2,000 was
02:58a lot of
02:58money. It could buy so many seeds. I knew I wasn't worth that much. Rick glanced at grandmother but said
03:05nothing. People said he was a man of few words, but one look from him could scare anyone to death.
03:11Grandmother shoved my mom forward. My mom's thin body almost hit the ground. She pulled me along
03:17and knelt down instantly. Rick, my child eats very little. She can feed the cows and collect firewood.
03:23Please give us a way to live. His eyes were sharp, judging me. Call him dad.
03:30I looked at Rick and that terrifying scar. Rick froze. His scar looked even more twisted.
03:37Grandmother kicked me hard in the back. Your father just died and you're already calling him dad.
03:44Just like your mother, a traitor to the... She kept kicking me over and over. I lay on the ground,
03:50motionless. I didn't fight back or scream. I knew if she had her fun, she would eventually stop.
03:56Mom crawled over to save me, but grandmother slapped her across the face. This was life in
04:01the Hudson house. Mom couldn't save me and she couldn't save herself. Suddenly, Rick threw a roll
04:08of cash at grandmother's feet. And enough! This girl belongs to my family now. Grandmother took the
04:15money and tried to leave, but Rick stopped her. He demanded she sign the guardianship transfer agreement.
04:20Grandmother refused. Rick snatched the money back instantly. No signature, no money.
04:26In the end, she gave in for the cash. Mom and I officially became part of Rick's family.
04:31Mom folded our two ragged coats by the cow shed. She started working right away. She wanted to be
04:37useful. She thought hard work would keep us from being beaten. Rick's cabin was simple. Three rooms and
04:43a living area. Only one bedroom had a bed. The other rooms were empty. Mom took me to the cow
04:49shed. It
04:50was kept very clean. Mom found some wooden boards to make me a bed. I will sleep here tonight. Don't
04:56be
04:56afraid, baby. I spread hay over the boards. I'm not scared, Mom. It was the same back at the Hudson
05:03ranch. When Dad was home, he said I was in the way. He always kicked me out to the cow
05:08shed. The Hudson shed
05:10was much filthier. There were rats and snakes everywhere. Freezing in winter and boiling
05:15in summer. I survived all those years. Mom hugged me tightly.
05:22It's my fault I couldn't keep your father's heart. Dad was always talking to Mom. I knew there was a
05:28secret behind all this. Mom, why did Dad want you to marry Rick? Before, Dad never let her leave the
05:34ranch. He never let her look at anyone in the eye. Grandmother always cursed her for flirting with
05:39outsiders. Why the sudden rush to marry her off? Mom's bitter laugh was muffled in her chest.
05:45Her voice was barely a whisper. Because only Rick had this much money and she didn't finish the
05:52sentence, but I knew. Dad sent Mom here to die. Dad decided to sell Mom for money before he even
05:58left.
05:59He wasn't coming back and he didn't want Mom to survive. He wanted to cut off her every means of
06:04escape. Even as a child, I could see their plot. It was so obvious that all the neighbors were talking
06:09about it. A moment later, Rick came back. He ignored us. He carried a pile of wooden boards into the
06:15house. The sound of his heavy hammering echoed, hitting our hearts. Mom stood outside, hesitant.
06:21She wanted to ask where the flour and beef were so she could cook, but she didn't dare. After a
06:25while,
06:26Rick came out. He saw us standing there like statues and frowned.
06:29Is something wrong? His voice was gruff. I wanted to shrink back. But it was just me and Mom. If
06:35I
06:35backed down, she would be all alone. I stood my ground and held her hand tight. Rick noticed my
06:41move and his brow twitched. Mom asked hesitantly. I wanted to ask about dinner. Please give me the
06:49ingredients so I can cook. Rick frowned again, looking at us with confusion. He pointed toward the kitchen.
06:57In there. And the key? Rick's frown deepened. He walked over and kicked the door open. Then he looked
07:06back at us. I felt like he was asking if we were stupid. There was no lock, so why would
07:10there be a
07:10key? But things were different at the Hudson Ranch. The Hudson kitchen was always locked. Even the flour,
07:15beef, and butter were kept in locked cabinets. Mom cooked every meal, but grandmother decided every gram of
07:21food. She would put the exact amount on the counter and watch Mom cook. If a single grain of flour
07:27was dropped, she would scream for hours. She called Mom a money waster and called us starving ghosts.
07:32All you do is eat! You're useless! She was afraid we would steal food. Mom led me into the kitchen.
07:40Seeing the flour, beef, and butter sitting there made her hesitate. She looked at Rick, but he had
07:44already gone back outside. Mom didn't dare touch the food. She was afraid that if she messed up,
07:49Rick would beat her, just like grandmother did. She was afraid of being accused of stealing.
07:53Mom made dinner with trembling hands. She put the food on the table, but we stood in the yard,
07:58not daring to move. Rick came back carrying two large wooden crates. He put them into the empty,
08:05unused room. He saw the food and then saw us standing outside. His frown deepened. He sat down at the
08:12table and called us inside in a gravelly voice. While he ate, he grunted, Not enough. Make more tomorrow.
08:18He ate quickly, finishing half and leaving the rest for us. Then he stood there, chopping wood while
08:24watching us eat. We didn't dare to eat much, but I soon noticed something strange. When I took big
08:30bites, he focused on his work. The moment I put down my fork, he would stare at me and frown.
08:35Did he
08:36want us to eat more? We finished the meal in fear, waiting for the beatings to start. But Rick didn't
08:42yell
08:42or hit us. He just put away his axe and spoke. Wash up and go to sleep. It's been a
08:49long day.
08:51After Rick finished, Mom took me to wash up. We hadn't used hot water in three years. She kept
08:56muttering as she washed, her face full of nerves. I must get clean, then he won't hate me. The hot
09:03water hit my back and I felt warm instantly. I never knew a bath could feel this good. At the
09:09Hudson
09:09Ranch, this was a heaven I couldn't even imagine. After the bath, I headed to the cow shed to sleep.
09:14Mom pulled me aside. Cover your ears. No matter what you hear, don't come out. Just pretend you're
09:20asleep. Okay? I nodded hard. I understood. Back then, Dad would come home drunk and beat me in the
09:28shed. He called me a waste of money and a curse. He blamed me for his gambling losses. One time,
09:33he almost killed me. Mom had to grab an axe to fight him off just to save me. Now, looking
09:38at Rick,
09:39he was much stronger than Dad. He could probably kill me with one kick. But he wasn't drunk and
09:43he wasn't angry. He picked me up like a little chick and carried me into the empty room. Mom was
09:49already waiting there. The room wasn't empty anymore. There was a wide wooden bed inside.
09:53It was piled with old but clean quilts and two sets of warm clothes. Rick set me down and turned
09:59to
09:59leave. He went back to his own room and closed the door. Soon, I heard him snoring. I never thought
10:05I'd get to sleep inside a house again. That night, we slept restlessly, but it was so warm. I curled
10:11up in my quilt and whispered, Mom, it's so warm. I had never felt this warm in winter before. My
10:17stomach
10:18was full and my heart felt safe. For the first time, I felt like I was actually alive. Mom stroked
10:24my hair.
10:24Baby, you called him Dad today. Call him that tomorrow and every day after. I nodded.
10:32Okay. Rick was already much better to me than my real father. After that, Mom slowly started making
10:38more food. She was careful, adding just a little more each time. It took days for her to figure out
10:43Rick's temper and appetite. He ate a lot, as much as Mom and me combined, but he never told us
10:49we
10:49couldn't eat. In fact, if we ate too little, he would frown. He went hunting in the mountains around the
10:54ranch. He sold the big one in town, but sometimes he brought back rabbits or pheasants for Mom to
10:59stew. He only ate half and left the rest for us. In my whole life, I had only tasted meat
11:04three times.
11:05This was the fourth. The meat tasted so good. No wonder grandmother and my uncle loved it so much.
11:10Mom saw how happy I was and gave me extra. I ate so much that I didn't notice the pain
11:14until midnight.
11:15I was rolling on the bed in agony. Mom rubbed my stomach, but nothing worked. She gave me hot water,
11:21but I threw it up instantly. I felt like I was dying. Rick burst into the room. He wrapped me
11:27in
11:27a quilt and hoisted me onto his shoulder. He started running. Mom stumbled along behind him,
11:32too scared to say a word. He ran all the way to the town doctor's house. He kicked the door
11:37open.
11:37The doctor's family was terrified. They started to complain, but one look at Rick's face silenced them.
11:43The doctor checked me with a stethoscope. He asked what I had eaten.
11:46It's indigestion. She ate too much. She's been malnourished for years. Her body can't handle
11:53this much meat all at once. I'll give her something to throw it up. He poured something
11:57into my mouth. I vomited everything out. The room smelled awful. The doctor's wife grumbled in the
12:03corner. Clearly she's never had anything good in her life. She doesn't have the luck to enjoy good food.
12:08Rick looked up and gave her a death stare. She scurried back into her room, terrified. I felt so ashamed.
12:15I got
12:15sick just from eating meat. Maybe grandmother was right. Maybe I was just a starving ghost who didn't
12:21deserve anything. Rick carried me back home. On the way, he asked in a low voice,
12:26Have you never had meat before? I thought he was judging me. This was only my fourth time before
12:32I only ever had a bite. At the Hudson's, they wouldn't even give us the leftover broth. I truly
12:38had never had anything good. He gave a low grunt. You'll get used to it if you eat it more
12:43often.
12:44I was sick and could only eat rice porridge for a few days. Rick bought some supplements from town.
12:50Those were expensive things I had never seen before. I ate rice porridge with nutrient powder
12:55every meal. It was even better than what my mom ate when I was born. Rick watched me eat every
13:01day.
13:01Once my face looked healthy again, he stopped worrying. He went to fix the doctor's fence. Then he dragged
13:07the doctor back to check my heartbeat. Only after the doctor said I was fine did he let him go.
13:12He said he
13:13was going deep into the mountains to hunt. He wanted to catch something big. He would be gone
13:17for days and asked mom to pack some food. Mom mixed butter and brown sugar into the dough. The flatbread
13:23smelled delicious as she baked it. She also gave him thick insoles and a winter hat she had made.
13:29Rick took the food and looked at the gifts. He looked at her and his eyes softened. Christmas is coming
13:35soon. I'll buy you gifts once I sell the big game. Think about what you want. Mom and I stood
13:41at the
13:42ranch gate to see him off. Watching his limping figure, I couldn't help but shout,
13:46Dad, come back soon. Rick's body stiffened for a second. He didn't look back but he waved his hand.
13:52Go inside. It's cold out here. We waited for five days but he didn't come back.
13:59That night, the weather turned even colder. On the fifth day, snow began to fall from the sky.
14:06Mom looked at the darkening sky, then at me. She pointed to the food in the kitchen. She told me
14:13to
14:13take care of myself and fix something to eat if I got hungry. I'm going to find him. I'll be
14:19back soon.
14:20She put on thick clothes, strapped a dagger to herself, and took a flashlight. I was too worried
14:28to stay, so I hid a small curved knife on myself. I followed closely behind her. Where you go, I
14:34go,
14:34Mom. We're going to bring Dad home. In my heart, Rick was my father. He was a thousand times better
14:41than my
14:41real father. Mom sighed. If something really happened to him, you wouldn't survive alone.
14:46Let's go. Together. We held hands and walked deep into the mountains. Before,
14:52we only gathered firewood at the edge of the woods. People said there were wolves, wild boars,
14:58and man-eating black bears deep inside. But, as long as I was with Mom and thinking that Dad was
15:05waiting for us, I wasn't scared at all. Heavy snow fell from the sky. It was only afternoon,
15:11but it was already completely dark. The path through the woods was extremely hard to walk.
15:18I stepped deep and shallow, sometimes falling into deep holes made of fallen leaves. Mom pulled me out
15:24and used a stick to check the path ahead. Before long, heavy footsteps came from ahead. Mom pulled out
15:32her dagger, and I gripped my curved knife tightly. We stared ahead, terrified and alert. In that moment,
15:40I thought, even if I die, I want to die with Mom. The footsteps grew closer. A tall, limping figure
15:48appeared. He was dragging a huge black bear, walking with difficulty with every step. We both froze.
15:56I let go of Mom's hand and rushed over suddenly. I hugged his leg tightly and looked up at him.
16:02The black bear fell heavily to the ground. What? What are you doing here? He looked at us,
16:07completely shocked. He reached out to pick me up. But he was clearly exhausted, trying several times,
16:14but failing. I held tightly to his thigh. Dad, we came to take you home. Mom rushed over as well.
16:21Rick, you've been gone for five days, and it started snowing. She didn't dare say she was worried.
16:29Back then, when my biological father didn't come home for days, Mom went to look for him too.
16:35I was afraid something happened to you. But my father just slapped her across the face.
16:40Something happened? What could happen to a man like me? It's because you cursed me all day that I'm so
16:45unlucky! After that, Mom never dared to show her worry again. He wasn't a good husband, a good father,
16:52or even a good person. But Rick just looked at Mom and quirked his lips. He tried to smile, but
16:59maybe he
17:00hadn't smiled in years and forgot how. He gave us an explanation. This game was too big. That's why I'm
17:06late.
17:08He hoisted the black bear back up and told us to go home. Go back and start the fire. I'll
17:15be home soon.
17:16That bear was massive. He must have dragged it for so long that he was completely exhausted.
17:22Yet, he didn't demand our help. He wanted to carry the burden himself. Mom saw how tired he was and
17:30hesitated. She didn't want to disobey, but she desperately wanted to help. I ran forward and
17:36grabbed the bear's leg. Dad, we're going back with you. I didn't have much strength and the bear's fur
17:43felt terrifying. It was so huge that it looked fierce even in death. Mom found her courage and
17:51ran over too. We'll help you. It took all our strength to drag the black bear home. The snow on
17:58the ground
17:59was thick now. The ranch was pitch black and the trail was empty. We finally made it back. The giant
18:06bear lay in the snow looking even more fierce, but I wasn't afraid. I circled it a few times and
18:13ran back
18:14to Rick. I leaned against his leg and looked up. Dad, you're amazing. You actually killed a black bear.
18:21Rick was too tired to move, but he reached out. He gently patted my head.
18:27Yeah. His hand was large, rough, and heavy. But when he touched me, it was light and warm.
18:35Jason's hands were big too, but they weren't rough. He rarely did any real work. Jason wasn't even that
18:42strong. When he got into trouble in town, he would just curl up and take the hits. But when he
18:49hit me
18:49and mom, he was very strong. His blows made my head ring every time. In this place, many men slapped
18:56their
18:56wives and children. I used to think all fathers and husbands were like that. I didn't know someone
19:02could be different. The next morning, before dawn, Rick borrowed a tractor. He woke us up to go to town
19:10and sell the bear. He knew exactly where to go. He stopped at a grand luxury house. A butler came
19:18out and greeted him warmly. They hugged and talked like old friends. I realized then that dad could be
19:25so full of life. He could actually talk this much. Mom and I stayed back, staring at the fancy gates.
19:32We didn't dare step forward. Dad pointed at us. The butler looked us over and pulled out a small coin
19:40purse. Here, child, take this. I was too scared to take it, but he pressed it into my hand. Dad
19:48nodded,
19:48so I finally accepted it. Thank you. There was a silver coin inside. I immediately put the coin in
19:56dad's hand. Dad, this is for you. The butler froze for a second, then burst out laughing. Rick, you have
20:06a
20:06sweet daughter. You're a lucky man. He handed me a big apple. The coin is for your dad, but this
20:14is for you.
20:16Keep it for yourself. Merry Christmas to your family. The butler bought the bear and invited dad for a
20:22drink. Won't you come in for a drink? Rick waved him off and refused. No, thank you. We need to
20:29buy
20:29things for Christmas. The black bear sold for a lot of money. Dad took us to the streets. First, he
20:37bought
20:37a lot of candy. He put them into three red socks. I took one out and put it in my
20:43mouth carefully.
20:44I peeled another one for mom. Mom didn't dare to eat and looked at dad. She wanted to save it
20:51for me,
20:52but dad stopped her. Too much sugar makes kids sick. We don't want to see the doctor again. Mom remembered
21:00my stomach ache and didn't give me more. So, mom finally opened her mouth and ate the candy. Dad then
21:09took us to buy meat, flour, and butter. He even bought spices for cooking. Finally, we went to a clothing
21:17store for new coats. Mom waved her hands and said no. Our old coats are still good. I said no
21:26too. The old
21:27quilts and coats dad gave us were already warm and clean. That was good enough for me. I had never
21:34worn such
21:35nice clothes in my life. But dad insisted on buying new ones. I bought old ones because I was broke.
21:44Now we have money. In the end, we bought fabric and cotton instead of finished coats. I can sew quickly.
21:52They'll be ready before Christmas. She still didn't want to spend too much. She picked out a plaid fabric
21:58for dad and held it up to him. Rick, this pattern looks good on you. It was the first time
22:05they were
22:05soaked. Mom was worried and kept checking dad's leg. She was afraid he would get too tired. After a while,
22:13dad bought me some toys. He also bought hair clips and brooches for me and mom. Brother, your wife and
22:20daughter are beautiful. These brooches from the city suit them perfectly. Both dad and mom blushed at the
22:26same time. On the way back, we sat on the tractor. I hugged my red socks tightly. This was the
22:33happiest
22:33day of my life. As we passed the Hudson Ranch, I saw grandmother. She was feeding the cows in the
22:39yard.
22:40My uncle was lounging under the eaves in the sun. He still had no job and no wife. He just
22:46ate,
22:47drank and wasted his life. After selling us to Rick, he had that money. Now he worked even less. He
22:53said he
22:53was preparing for a blind date. Grandmother always called us lazy, but I never dared to say that my
22:58uncle was the laziest one. I gripped my red socks and stared at them. Grandmother and my uncle noticed
23:05us. Their eyes widened in disbelief. Then their faces turned into a hateful scowl. Grandmother was
23:13cursing at us. Dad stopped the tractor. He threw a stone and hit my uncle right on the head. My
23:20uncle
23:20jumped up in pain. Who did that? Dad threw another stone into grandmother's water basin.
23:28They are my wife and daughter now. If you insult them again, you're dealing with me. He looked
23:34terrifying. Even with a limp, he stood like a mountain. Grandmother and my uncle were bullies who feared the
23:41strong. They were furious but didn't dare say a word. Mom gripped my hand. Her eyes turned red.
23:49As we drove away, I looked back. I could still see their hateful glares. I suddenly felt brave.
23:57I waved my red socks and made a face at them. I had a real dad now. They could never
24:03bully us again.
24:04Back home, Mom started decorating the tree and making apple pie. Dad spent his time fixing everything
24:12in the house. He gathered wood and never stayed idle. He brought back more pheasants and rabbits.
24:18Eat more meat, then your stomach won't hurt anymore. I wanted to follow him into the mountains,
24:24but he refused. Kids stay home and play. I tried to help Mom, but she sent me away too.
24:31Your dad wants you to play. Go on. You haven't had a chance to be a kid yet.
24:37At the Hudson Ranch, I never had time to play. Now that I could, I didn't know how.
24:42I walked along the path with some candy. I saved them carefully, not wanting to eat them. But then,
24:49I ran into some mean kids from a nearby farm. They swarmed me and grabbed my candy.
24:55You're a brat born from that limp farmer. Your grandmother said so. It must be true.
24:59A bitch and her brat. No wonder her husband just died and she remarried already.
25:05I fought back with all my might. That's not true. Grandmother kicked us out. My mom isn't a
25:11bitch and I'm not a brat. But I was too small. I couldn't beat them. My clothes were torn.
25:19My candy was gone. Even my new hair clip was missing. They laughed and ran off with my sweets.
25:26I sat in the mud and cried. Grandmother and my uncle stood nearby, watching with wicked smiles.
25:34You deserve this. We should have sold them to the town tavern back then.
25:39I screamed at them. I am not a brat. You are the bad people. You are evil.
25:46I was so small back then. My mom had already had a child. The tavern would never pay that much
25:52for us.
25:52They thought I was too young to understand. But I had overheard their conversation.
25:57They were the truly wicked ones. They wanted to leave us at the ranch. They wanted to watch Rick beat
26:03us to death. But they never expected this. Dad never hit us. He never tortured us even for a second.
26:11He treated us so well. They couldn't stand it. So they spread rumors behind our backs.
26:17They framed us everywhere. Clearly, they are the real monsters.
26:21I lost the hair clip and candy Dad bought me. I was too ashamed to go home. I lingered near
26:27the gate,
26:28hesitating. Dad came down from the mountain. He saw me covered in mud and blood. He dropped his
26:34pheasants in shock. I had never seen him so angry. I trembled in fear. He panicked, trying to wipe the
26:45mud off my face. His hands were rough, but they calmed my racing heart. I stuttered through the
26:54whole story. The more I spoke, the darker his face became. He took me back and left me with Mom.
27:01Then he grabbed his axe to head out. Mom pulled him back and shook her head. Dad thought for a
27:09moment.
27:09He dropped the axe and grabbed a wooden club instead. That day, the parents of those bullies
27:16all got a beating. If you can't teach your kids, I won't hit them. I'll hit you instead.
27:22Those grown men were chased like rabbits by a man with a limp. Dad moved slowly but steadily. He caught
27:33up to them and struck them down. The men wailed in pain. Everyone in the ranch came out to watch.
27:40Then Dad went to the Hudson Ranch. He gave my uncle a brutal beating. My uncle screamed and begged for
27:47mercy. He promised he would never do it again. Dad turned to the crowd of onlookers.
27:54If you have something to say, say it to my face. No one dared to speak. They all waved their
27:59hands and
27:59shook their heads. We all know what the Hudsons are like. Just go live your life. Look at how happy
28:04your family is now. Dad dropped the club. He patted my head and led me home.
28:13Have you lived this long without a name? I shook my head. Grandmother called me a brat.
28:20Mom only called me baby. Dad pulled me close and looked at the stars.
28:24From now on, your name is Stella. Shine like a star and have a bright future ahead.
28:33For the first time, I had a real name. Stella Cooper, I have my own name now.
28:38I smiled at Mom. Dad smiled too and patted my head. I finally have a daughter of my own.
28:46That night, Mom talked to me. Stella, you're a big girl now. Starting tomorrow, you sleep on your own,
28:55okay? If I sleep alone, where will Mom sleep? I thought about it and nodded hard. Okay, Mom,
29:02you and Dad have a baby brother or sister soon. I'll play with them. This time, I really wanted a
29:08sibling. A sibling just like Dad would be wonderful. The next morning, Dad woke me up early.
29:16Stella, was I cool when I handled those bad guys yesterday? I nodded vigorously. So cool.
29:21If you want to protect yourself, you want to rely on more forever. You have to rely on yourself.
29:28Do you want like me strong? I nodded again. Yes. I wanted to be strong like him. I wanted to
29:35protect my parents and my future siblings. I wanted to hunt bears and earn lots of money. Dad looked
29:41proud. He made me run 50 laps around our ranch cabin. By the end, I could barely stand. He gritted
29:49his
29:49teeth and wouldn't let me stop. Mom looked pained, but she didn't say a word. She just made extra food
29:56and added two fried eggs for me. After running, there was weight training. Dad brought sandbags from
30:03the ranch warehouse. They felt like a thousand pounds on my arms. After a day of training,
30:09my hands and feet were covered in blisters. Mom washed my feet and popped the blisters for me.
30:15Stella, train hard. Your dad is doing this for your own good.
30:21I know, Mom. Most ranch families only teach girls to gather wood, wash clothes, and cook. Who would
30:28ever teach a girl how to be strong? I understood how much Dad cared for me. That night, Mom moved
30:34into Dad's room. I heard them talking for a bit before the lights went out. My body ached all over,
30:40but I slept peacefully. The next morning, Dad woke up late. I had already finished 30 laps when he came
30:47out.
30:48His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. All day long, Dad and Mom were blushing. They kept
30:54stealing glances at each other. Why hide it? Just look if you want to. Grown-ups are so strange.
31:01We had a perfect Christmas. Dad used the bear money to expand the ranch. He bought two dairy cows and
31:07a
31:07few beef cattle. When we weren't farming, we were managing the ranch. During the off-season, we went hunting.
31:14Dad started taking me into the mountains. He taught me how to track animals and read
31:18their droppings. He showed me how to avoid bears and wolves. He taught me to set traps and use a
31:24hunting rifle. He even showed me how to knock someone out with minimal force and how to spot
31:29poisonous plants in the woods. I was weak, so my progress was slow, but Dad was always patient.
31:36Most of them came from the Hudson's. Rick's fault he's a cripple.
31:40That person pretends to be arrogant and married a cripple.
31:45So what if Jason was handsome? His only talents were hitting us, gambling and drinking.
31:51I started staring at Dad's leg. Dad noticed and tried to walk slower to hide his limp.
31:57Sometimes he would lean on the ranch fence for support.
32:02Your dad is so good to you, Stella. Don't be heartless. Don't look down on him like others.
32:10Mom thought I was becoming ungrateful. Her eyes turned red with anger, but she couldn't bring
32:14herself to hit me. I quickly grabbed her hand to explain. Mom, I don't look down on Dad. I feel
32:20bad for
32:20him. I want to study medicine. I want to fix his leg. I didn't care that he limped. I didn't
32:27care
32:27about the scar on his face. I just hated seeing him unable to sleep when it rained. I hated that
32:34hunting was harder for him than others. Mom understood my thoughts, but she was worried.
32:39There were no medical schools in town. Besides, I was only a six-year-old girl. Dad overheard us from
32:46outside the cabin. He stayed silent for two days. He just sat on the porch, staring at the mountains.
32:52Two days later, he took me back to the city. We found the butler who bought the black bear.
32:57Dad asked him for a favor. The man looked at me carefully. He patted Dad's shoulder and agreed
33:03happily. If she wants to learn, she can start as an assistant in the pharmacy.
33:10Stella, studying medicine is very hard. You have to memorize names, mix medicine,
33:16and care for the sick. People might yell at you or even hit you. Can you handle it?
33:23I slapped my chest and spoke loudly. I can. I'll fix my Dad's leg and earn lots of money.
33:30I'll take care of my parents and my future siblings. The man burst out laughing and nudged Dad's arm.
33:36Rick, your daughter is so sweet. Is the next one already on the way?
33:42Dad's face turned bright red instantly. He waved his hands quickly.
33:46It's still too early for that!
33:49I lived at the pharmacy in town, doing odd jobs. I tried my best to learn everything about medicine.
33:55I only went home to the ranch once every two weeks. I brought the sandbags Dad gave me to the
34:00pharmacy.
34:01No matter how busy I was, I found time to train. Mom hated leaving me alone in town. She held
34:07my hand
34:08and wouldn't let go when she dropped me off. With red eyes, she told me to eat well and not
34:12overwork.
34:13Come home if anyone treats you badly, she said. I waved and smiled to comfort her.
34:20Don't worry, Mom. I can take care of myself. When I learn everything, I'll fix Dad's leg.
34:26Mom laughed through her tears and wiped them away.
34:29All right, I'll be waiting. I'll make your favorite snacks for when you come home.
34:34The doctor at the pharmacy was an old friend of the butler's. He was kind to patients, but very
34:39strict with apprentices. If we forgot a drug's name, he yelled. If we missed a detail in a patient's
34:44record, he yelled. If we took blood pressure incorrectly, he yelled. Sometimes he made us
34:50copy drug names as punishment for being slow. The other students felt mistreated. Before long,
34:56they all went home crying and never came back. But I wasn't afraid. What was this little bit of
35:01hardship? Compared to Grandmother's beatings or Jason's violence, this was nothing. I was already
35:07used to it. Besides, I knew the doctor wanted me to grow fast, just like Dad wanted me to be
35:12strong.
35:13The doctor was strict, but he never treated us poorly. He made plenty of food for us every day.
35:19Sometimes he even gave us nutrient powder. I might not be the smartest, but I know who was truly kind.
35:24I kept training the way Dad taught me. I ran five kilometers with weights every morning and night.
35:29I grew stronger, and my movements became faster. The doctor started teaching me massage techniques.
35:35At first, I practiced on him. Slowly, I began helping the elderly patients ease their pain.
35:40The doctor worked so hard with his patients in medicine. I massaged him to help him relax.
35:45He started smiling at me more. He even taught me about heat and cold therapy. He said these skills
35:51would really help my Dad. When I went home every two weeks, the first thing I did was massage Dad's
35:56leg.
35:56I rubbed the stiff muscles from his knee to his ankle. Then I used the heat therapy the doctor
36:02taught me. At first, Dad refused. He thought it was awkward for a man to have his legs rubbed.
36:07I had to beg him for a long time before he finally agreed. After the massage, he stood up and
36:13took a
36:13few steps. His eyes lit up and turned a bit red. Stella is so smart. My leg feels much better
36:21now.
36:21Mom saw this and asked me to teach her too. When you're away, I can do it for him. He
36:27worked so
36:27hard on the ranch and in the mountains. I taught them both step by step. I laughed and said,
36:33When I'm not here, you two can massage each other. That way, you'll both feel better.
36:38Both their faces turned bright red instantly. They glanced at each other and quickly looked down.
36:43Mom gave me a little pinch for talking nonsense. They are so strange. What is there to be embarrassed about?
36:48I studied in the city for five years. My medical knowledge and physical strength grew fast.
36:54I went from a skinny little girl to a strong, healthy teenager. The fear in my eyes was gone,
37:00replaced by confidence. During this time, Mom and Dad never had another child. Rumors started
37:07spreading around the ranch. Most of them came from the Hudson's. They claimed Dad couldn't have children.
37:12It must be Rick's fault. He's disabled. He probably doesn't even have the strength to father a child.
37:17Maybe that's why his first first wife fought with him before she died.
37:20I overheard some workers gossiping when I returned home. I clenched my fists, ready to fight them.
37:25But Mom grabbed my hand and stepped forward. She raised her voice so everyone could hear.
37:29It's my fault! I was abused at the Hudson's and it ruined my health! It has nothing to do with
37:35my
37:35husband! Rick, stop your lies! Dad was healthy, but Mom was right. Years of hunger, heavy labor,
37:42and beatings had left her scarred. She had been taking medicine for five years, but nothing happened.
37:47Mom was anxious and often sat by the creek staring into space. Sometimes I caught her wiping away tears.
37:54Dad was always there to comfort her. Raising Stella is enough. She's smart and capable. She's worth more than
38:0210 sons. With her around, we have nothing to worry about.
38:13But right then, my biological father, Jason, suddenly returned.
38:16.
38:17.
38:17.
38:17.
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