- 21 hours ago
زوج أمي المزارع المتوحش
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00:03Sold my mom to the old farmer next door.
00:05My dad said that before he left for the army.
00:08The old farmer had a bad leg, but he was a savage man.
00:12People said he even killed his first wife.
00:14He was strong enough to knock out a bull with one punch.
00:18For my mom, marrying him was a death sentence.
00:21Three years later, the news came that my dad was dead.
00:24Right away, my grandma sold my mom to the monster for $2,000.
00:29The day we heard the news of dad's death, it was December, right after a blizzard.
00:34My mom was feeding the cattle barefoot.
00:36Grandmother never allowed her to wear shoes.
00:39She said a bitch like her didn't deserve them.
00:41I often went to the woods to gather branches for warmth,
00:44but my uncle would always snatch them away for his fireplace.
00:48No matter how we begged, it was useless.
00:51Grandmother would beat us and curse us for days.
00:54I felt sorry for mom and tried to help her feed the cows.
00:57Baby, go play over there.
00:59The sun is out.
01:00It's warmer there.
01:02My shoes were torn and falling apart.
01:04The sun was our only source of heat.
01:06After feeding the cows, we went back to the cabin.
01:09Grandmother was already waiting, fuming with rage.
01:12What took you so long?
01:14Were you out looking for other men again?
01:16She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
01:19The army sent word.
01:20Jason is dead.
01:21Ever since he married you, my son was cursed by your bad luck.
01:25She didn't look sad about her son's death at all.
01:28There had to be a secret behind this.
01:30Now that he's gone, get out of this house.
01:33Don't stay here and ruin the Hudson family name.
01:36She looked at us with disgust and kept grumbling.
01:39Luckily, my son sold you to Rick before he left.
01:42Otherwise, we would have lost so much money feeding you two.
01:45My mom didn't fight back.
01:47She just picked up her coat and held my hand tight.
01:50Mom, at least let me take the child with me.
01:53Grandmother looked me up and down.
01:55She had a wicked look in her eyes.
01:57That depends on if that old farmer pays more.
02:03A girl her age could fetch $2,000 at the town.
02:08She's worth much more than you.
02:10My mom gripped my hand even harder.
02:13We both knew the truth.
02:15As soon as she marries Rick, grandmother will sell me away.
02:19It was the day we were driven to Rick's ranch.
02:21The legendary monster was there, chopping wood.
02:24Each swing of his axe was terrifying.
02:27One of his legs was broken and propped on a wooden stool.
02:30He looked strange and menacing.
02:32A huge scar ran from his left eye down to his mouth.
02:35It looked like his face was split in two.
02:38I hid behind my mom, trembling.
02:40Rick looked at us coldly.
02:42You're forcing this woman on me for $500?
02:45Now you want $2,000 more?
02:47He clearly didn't want my mom.
02:49And he definitely didn't want a burden like me.
02:51My son Jason saved your life in that blizzard.
02:54Now that he's gone, you should be grateful to take her.
02:56This girl will be your daughter.
02:58It's a blessing.
02:59$2,000 is a bargain for you.
03:01$2,000 was a lot of money.
03:03It could buy so many seeds.
03:05I knew I wasn't worth that much.
03:08Rick glanced at grandmother but said nothing.
03:10People said he was a man of few words, but one look from him could scare anyone to death.
03:15Grandmother shoved my mom forward.
03:17My mom's thin body almost hit the ground.
03:20She pulled me along and knelt down instantly.
03:22Rick, my child eats very little.
03:24She can feed the cows and collect firewood.
03:27Please, give us a way to live.
03:30His eyes were sharp, judging me.
03:32Call him dad.
03:34I looked at Rick and that terrifying scar.
03:38Dad.
03:39Rick froze.
03:40His scar looked even more twisted.
03:42Grandmother kicked me hard in the back.
03:44Your father just died and you're already calling him dad.
03:48Just like your mother, a traitor to the power.
03:51She kept kicking me over and over.
03:53I lay on the ground, motionless.
03:55I didn't fight back or scream.
03:57I knew if she had her fun, she would eventually stop.
04:00Mom crawled over to save me.
04:02But grandmother slapped her across the face.
04:05This was life in the Hudson house.
04:07Mom couldn't save me, and she couldn't save herself.
04:11Suddenly, Rick threw a roll of cash at grandmother's feet.
04:14And enough!
04:16This girl belongs to my family now.
04:18Grandmother took the money and tried to leave.
04:20But Rick stopped her.
04:21He demanded she sign the guardianship transfer agreement.
04:25Grandmother refused.
04:26Rick snatched the money back instantly.
04:28No signature, no money.
04:30In the end, she gave in for the cash.
04:33Mom and I officially became part of Rick's family.
04:36Mom folded our two ragged coats by the cow shed.
04:38She started working right away.
04:40She wanted to be useful.
04:42She thought hard work would keep us from being beaten.
04:45Rick's cabin was simple.
04:47Three rooms and a living area.
04:49Only one bedroom had a bed.
04:50The other rooms were empty.
04:52Mom took me to the cow shed.
04:54It was kept very clean.
04:55Mom found some wooden boards to make me a bed.
04:58I will sleep here tonight.
05:00Don't be afraid, baby.
05:02I spread hay over the boards.
05:05I'm not scared, Mom.
05:06It was the same back at the Hudson Ranch.
05:08When Dad was home, he said I was in the way.
05:11He always kicked me out to the cow shed.
05:13The Hudson's shed was much filthier.
05:15There were rats and snakes everywhere.
05:18Freezing in winter and boiling in summer.
05:20I survived all those years.
05:23Mom hugged me tightly.
05:26It's my fault I couldn't keep your father's heart.
05:29Dad was always talking to Mom.
05:31I knew there was a secret behind all this.
05:33Mom, why did Dad want you to marry Rick?
05:36Before, Dad never let her leave the ranch.
05:39He never let her look at anyone and lie.
05:41Grandmother always cursed her for flirting with outsiders.
05:44Why the sudden rush to marry her off?
05:47Mom's bitter laugh was muffled in her chest.
05:50Her voice was barely a whisper.
05:52Because only Rick had this much money and...
05:55She didn't finish the sentence, but I knew.
05:58Dad sent Mom here to die.
06:00Dad decided to sell Mom for money before he even left.
06:03He wasn't coming back, and he didn't want Mom to survive.
06:06He wanted to cut off her every means of escape.
06:09Even as a child, I could see their plot.
06:11It was so obvious that all the neighbors were talking about it.
06:14A moment later, Rick came back.
06:16He ignored us.
06:17He carried a pile of wooden boards into the house.
06:20The sound of his heavy hammering echoed, hitting our hearts.
06:23Mom stood outside, hesitant.
06:25She wanted to ask where the flour and beef were so she could cook, but she didn't dare.
06:29After a while, Rick came out.
06:31He saw us standing there like statues and frowned.
06:33Something wrong?
06:35His voice was gruff.
06:36I wanted to shrink back, but it was just me and Mom.
06:39If I backed down, she would be all alone.
06:42I stood my ground and held her hand tight.
06:45Rick noticed my move and his brow twitched.
06:47Mom asked hesitantly,
06:49I wanted to ask about dinner.
06:52Please give me the ingredients so I can cook.
06:57Rick frowned again, looking at us with confusion.
07:00He pointed toward the kitchen.
07:02In there.
07:05And the key?
07:06Rick's frown deepened.
07:08He walked over and kicked the door open.
07:09Then he looked back at us.
07:11I felt like he was asking if we were stupid.
07:13There was no lock, so why would there be a key?
07:15But things were different at the Hudson Ranch.
07:17The Hudson kitchen was always locked.
07:19Even the flour, beef, and butter were kept in locked cabinets.
07:22Mom cooked every meal,
07:24but Grandmother decided every gram of food.
07:26She would put the exact amount on the counter
07:28and watch Mom cook.
07:30If a single grain of flour was dropped,
07:32she would scream for hours.
07:34She called Mom a money waster
07:35and called us starving ghosts.
07:36All you do is eat!
07:39You're useless!
07:41She was afraid we would steal food.
07:42Mom led me into the kitchen.
07:44Seeing the flour, beef, and butter sitting there
07:46made her hesitate.
07:47She looked at Rick,
07:48but he had already gone back outside.
07:50Mom didn't dare touch the food.
07:51She was afraid that if she messed up,
07:53Rick would beat her,
07:54just like Grandmother did.
07:55She was afraid of being accused of stealing.
07:58Mom made dinner with trembling hands.
07:59She put the food on the table,
08:01but we stood in the yard,
08:03not daring to move.
08:05Rick came back carrying two large wooden crates.
08:08He put them into the empty, unused room.
08:11He saw the food,
08:12and then saw us standing outside.
08:14His frown deepened.
08:15He sat down at the table
08:17and called us inside in a gravelly voice.
08:19While he ate, he grunted,
08:21Not enough.
08:22Make more tomorrow.
08:23He ate quickly,
08:24finishing half and leaving the rest for us.
08:26Then he stood there,
08:27chopping wood while watching us eat.
08:30We didn't dare to eat much,
08:31but I soon noticed something strange.
08:33When I took big bites,
08:35he focused on his work.
08:36The moment I put down my fork,
08:38he would stare at me and frown.
08:40Did he want us to eat more?
08:42We finished the meal in fear,
08:44waiting for the beatings to start.
08:45But Rick didn't yell or hit us.
08:48He just put away his axe and spoke.
08:52Wash up and go to sleep.
08:53It's been a long day.
08:55After Rick finished,
08:56Mom took me to wash up.
08:58We hadn't used hot water in three years.
09:00She kept muttering as she washed,
09:02her face full of nerves.
09:04I must get clean.
09:05Then he won't hate me.
09:07The hot water hit my back,
09:09and I felt warm instantly.
09:10I never knew a bath could feel this good.
09:13At the Hudson Ranch,
09:14this was a heaven I couldn't even imagine.
09:16After the bath,
09:17I headed to the cow shed to sleep.
09:19Mom pulled me aside.
09:20Cover your ears.
09:22No matter what you hear,
09:23don't come out.
09:24Just pretend you're asleep.
09:26Okay?
09:27I nodded hard.
09:28I understood.
09:30Back then,
09:30Dad would come home drunk
09:31and beat me in the shed.
09:33He called me a waste of money
09:34and a curse.
09:35He blamed me for his gambling losses.
09:37One time,
09:38he almost killed me.
09:39Mom had to grab an axe
09:40to fight him off
09:41just to save me.
09:41Now,
09:42looking at Rick,
09:43he was much stronger than Dad.
09:45He could probably kill me with one kick,
09:46but he wasn't drunk
09:48and he wasn't angry.
09:49He picked me up like a little chick
09:51and carried me into the empty room.
09:52Mom was already waiting there.
09:54The room wasn't empty anymore.
09:56There was a wide wooden bed inside.
09:58It was piled with old but clean quilts
10:00and two sets of warm clothes.
10:02Rick set me down and turned to leave.
10:04He went back to his own room
10:05and closed the door.
10:07Soon,
10:07I heard him snoring.
10:08I never thought I'd get to sleep
10:10inside a house again.
10:11That night,
10:12we slept restlessly,
10:13but it was so warm.
10:15I curled up in my quilt
10:16and whispered,
10:17Mom,
10:18it's so warm.
10:19I had never felt this warm
10:20in winter before.
10:21My stomach was full
10:23and my heart felt safe.
10:24For the first time,
10:26I felt like I was actually alive.
10:28Mom stroked my hair.
10:29Baby,
10:30you called him Dad today.
10:32Call him that tomorrow
10:33and every day after.
10:35I nodded.
10:37Okay.
10:38Rick was already much better to me
10:39than my real father.
10:40After that,
10:41Mom slowly started making more food.
10:43She was careful,
10:44adding just a little more each time.
10:46It took days for her to figure out
10:48Rick's temper and appetite.
10:50He ate a lot,
10:51as much as Mom and me combined,
10:52but he never told us we couldn't eat.
10:54In fact,
10:55if we ate too little,
10:56he would frown.
10:57He went hunting in the mountains
10:58around the ranch.
10:59He sold the big one in town,
11:00but sometimes he brought back
11:02rabbits or pheasants
11:03for Mom to stew.
11:04He only ate half
11:05and left the rest for us.
11:06In my whole life,
11:07I had only tasted meat three times.
11:09This was the fourth.
11:10The meat tasted so good.
11:12No wonder Grandmother
11:13and my uncle loved it so much.
11:14Mom saw how happy I was
11:16and gave me extra.
11:17I ate so much
11:18that I didn't notice the pain
11:19until midnight.
11:20I was rolling on the bed in agony.
11:22Mom rubbed my stomach,
11:23but nothing worked.
11:24She gave me hot water,
11:26but I threw it up instantly.
11:27I felt like I was dying.
11:29Rick burst into the room.
11:30He wrapped me in a quilt
11:32and hoisted me onto his shoulder.
11:33He started running.
11:35Mom stumbled along behind him,
11:37too scared to say a word.
11:38He ran all the way
11:39to the town doctor's house.
11:40He took the door open.
11:42The doctor's family was terrified.
11:44They started to complain,
11:45but one look at Rick's face
11:47silenced them.
11:48The doctor checked me
11:49with a stethoscope.
11:50He asked what I had eaten.
11:51It's indigestion.
11:53She ate too much.
11:54She's been malnourished for years.
11:56Her body can't handle
11:58this much meat all at once.
11:59I'll give her something
12:00to throw it up.
12:01He poured something
12:02into my mouth.
12:02I vomited everything out.
12:04The room smelled awful.
12:06The doctor's wife
12:07grumbled in the corner.
12:08Clearly, she's never had
12:09anything good in her life.
12:10She doesn't have the luck
12:12to enjoy good food.
12:13Rick looked up
12:14and gave her a death stare.
12:15She scurried back
12:16into her room, terrified.
12:18I felt so ashamed.
12:19I got sick
12:20just from eating meat.
12:21Maybe grandmother was right.
12:23Maybe I was just
12:24a starving ghost
12:25who didn't deserve anything.
12:26Rick carried me back home.
12:28On the way,
12:29he asked in a low voice,
12:30Have you never had meat before?
12:32I thought he was judging me.
12:34This was only my fourth time
12:36before I only ever had a bite.
12:39At the Hudson's,
12:40they wouldn't even give us
12:41the leftover broth.
12:42I truly had never had
12:43anything good.
12:44He gave a low grunt.
12:45You'll get used to it
12:47if you eat it more often.
12:48I was sick
12:49and could only eat rice porridge
12:51for a few days.
12:52Rick bought some supplements
12:53from town.
12:54Those were expensive things
12:56I had never seen before.
12:57I ate rice porridge
12:59with nutrient powder
13:00every meal.
13:01It was even better
13:02than what my mom ate
13:03when I was born.
13:04Rick watched me eat
13:05every day.
13:06Once my face looked
13:07healthy again,
13:08he stopped worrying.
13:09He went to fix
13:10the doctor's fence.
13:11Then he dragged the doctor
13:12back to check my heartbeat.
13:14Only after the doctor
13:15said I was fine
13:16did he let him go.
13:17He said he was going
13:18deep into the mountains
13:19to hunt.
13:19He wanted to catch
13:20something big.
13:21He would be gone for days
13:22and asked mom
13:23to pack some food.
13:24Mom mixed butter
13:25and brown sugar
13:26into the dough.
13:27The flatbread smelled
13:28delicious as she baked it.
13:30She also gave him
13:31thick insoles
13:31and a winter hat
13:32she had made.
13:34Rick took the food
13:35and looked at the gifts.
13:37He looked at her
13:38and his eyes softened.
13:39Christmas is coming soon.
13:41I'll buy you gifts
13:42once I sell the big game.
13:44Think about what you want.
13:45Mom and I stood
13:46at the ranch gate
13:47to see him off.
13:48Watching his limping figure,
13:49I couldn't help but shout,
13:51Dad, come back soon!
13:52Rick's body stiffened
13:53for a second.
13:54He didn't look back
13:55but he waved his hand.
13:56Go inside.
13:57It's cold out here.
13:59We waited for five days
14:01but he didn't come back.
14:04That night,
14:05the weather turned
14:06even colder.
14:07On the fifth day,
14:09snow began to fall
14:10from the sky.
14:11Mom looked at
14:12the darkening sky
14:13then at me.
14:14She pointed to the food
14:15in the kitchen.
14:16She told me
14:17to take care of myself
14:19and fix something to eat
14:21if I got hungry.
14:22I'm going to find him.
14:24I'll be back soon.
14:25She put on thick clothes,
14:28strapped a dagger
14:29to herself
14:30and took a flashlight.
14:31I was too worried
14:33to stay
14:33so I hid a small
14:34curved knife
14:35on myself.
14:36I followed closely
14:37behind her.
14:38Where you go,
14:39I go, Mom.
14:39We're going to bring Dad home.
14:41In my heart,
14:42Rick was my father.
14:43He was a thousand times
14:45better than my real father.
14:47Mom sighed.
14:48If something really
14:49happened to him,
14:50you wouldn't survive alone.
14:51Let's go.
14:52Together.
14:53We held hands
14:54and walked deep
14:55into the mountains.
14:56Before,
14:57we only gathered firewood
14:58at the edge of the woods.
15:00People said there were wolves,
15:02wild boars,
15:03and man-eating black bears
15:04deep inside.
15:05But,
15:06as long as I was with Mom
15:08and thinking that Dad
15:09was waiting for us,
15:10I wasn't scared at all.
15:12Heavy snow fell
15:14from the sky.
15:15It was only afternoon,
15:16but it was already
15:17completely dark.
15:19The path through the woods
15:20was extremely hard to walk.
15:22Stepped deep and shallow,
15:24sometimes falling
15:25into deep holes
15:26made of fallen leaves.
15:28Mom pulled me out
15:29and used a stick
15:30to check the path ahead.
15:31Before long,
15:33heavy footsteps
15:34came from ahead.
15:36Mom pulled out her dagger.
15:38and I gripped
15:38my curved knife tightly.
15:40We stared ahead,
15:42terrified and alert.
15:43In that moment,
15:44I thought,
15:46even if I die,
15:47I want to die with Mom.
15:48The footsteps grew closer.
15:51A tall,
15:52limping figure appeared.
15:53He was dragging
15:54a huge black bear,
15:56walking with difficulty
15:57with every step.
15:58We both froze.
16:00Dad!
16:01Dad!
16:01I let go of Mom's hand
16:02and rushed over suddenly.
16:04I hugged his leg tightly
16:05and looked up at him.
16:07The black bear fell
16:08heavily to the ground.
16:09What?
16:10What are you doing here?
16:11He looked at us,
16:12completely shocked.
16:13He reached out
16:14to pick me up,
16:15but he was clearly exhausted,
16:17trying several times
16:18but failing.
16:19I held tightly
16:20to his thigh.
16:21Dad,
16:22we came to take you home.
16:24Mom rushed over as well.
16:26Rick,
16:27you've been gone
16:28for five days
16:29and it started snowing.
16:31She didn't dare say
16:32she was worried.
16:34Back then,
16:35when my biological father
16:36didn't come home for days,
16:38Mom went to look
16:38for him, too.
16:40I was afraid
16:41something happened to you.
16:42But my father
16:43just slapped her
16:44across the face.
16:45Something happened?
16:46What could happen
16:47to a man like me?
16:48It's because you curse me
16:49all day
16:50that I'm so unlucky!
16:51After that,
16:52Mom never dared
16:53to show her worry again.
16:54He wasn't a good husband,
16:56a good father,
16:57or even a good person.
16:59But Rick just looked at Mom
17:01and quirked his lips.
17:02He tried to smile,
17:04but maybe he hadn't smiled
17:05in years
17:06and forgot how.
17:07He gave us an explanation.
17:09This game was too big.
17:10That's why I'm late.
17:13He hoisted the black bear
17:14back up
17:15and told us to go home.
17:17Go back and start the fire.
17:19I'll be home soon.
17:21That bear was massive.
17:23He must have dragged it
17:24for so long
17:25that he was completely exhausted.
17:27Yet,
17:28he didn't demand our help.
17:29He wanted to carry
17:30the burden himself.
17:32Mom saw how tired he was
17:34and hesitated.
17:36She didn't want to disobey,
17:37but she desperately
17:38wanted to help.
17:40I ran forward
17:41and grabbed the bear's leg.
17:43Dad,
17:44we're going back with you.
17:45I didn't have much strength
17:47and the bear's fur
17:48felt terrifying.
17:50It was so huge
17:51that it looked fierce
17:52even in death.
17:54Mom found her courage
17:55and ran over too.
17:57We'll help you.
17:59It took all our strength
18:00to drag the black bear home.
18:02The snow on the ground
18:03was thick now.
18:05The ranch was pitch black
18:06and the trail was empty.
18:08We finally made it back.
18:10The giant bear lay in the snow
18:12looking even more fierce.
18:14But I wasn't afraid.
18:16I circled it a few times
18:18and ran back to Rick.
18:19I leaned against his leg
18:21and looked up.
18:22Dad, you're amazing.
18:24You actually killed
18:25a black bear.
18:26Rick was too tired
18:28to move,
18:28but he reached out.
18:29He gently patted my head.
18:32Yeah.
18:33His hand was large,
18:35rough,
18:35and heavy.
18:36But when he touched me,
18:38it was light and warm.
18:40Jason's hands were big too,
18:42but they weren't rough.
18:43He rarely did any real work.
18:46Jason wasn't even that strong.
18:48When he got into trouble in town,
18:49he would just curl up
18:51and take the hits.
18:53But when he hit me and Mom,
18:55he was very strong.
18:56His blows made my head ring
18:58every time.
18:59In this place,
19:00many men slapped
19:01their wives and children.
19:03I used to think
19:04all fathers and husbands
19:05were like that.
19:06I didn't know
19:07someone could be different.
19:09The next morning,
19:10before dawn,
19:12Rick borrowed a tractor.
19:13He woke us up
19:14to go to town
19:15and sell the bear.
19:16He knew exactly where to go.
19:18He stopped
19:19at a grand luxury house.
19:21A butler came out
19:23and greeted him warmly.
19:24They hugged
19:25and talked like old friends.
19:27I realized then
19:29that Dad could be
19:29so full of life.
19:31He could actually
19:32talk this much.
19:34Mom and I stayed back,
19:35staring at the fancy gates.
19:37We didn't dare
19:38step forward.
19:39Dad pointed at us.
19:41The butler looked us over
19:43and pulled out
19:44a small coin purse.
19:45Here, child.
19:47Take this.
19:48I was too scared
19:49to take it,
19:50but he pressed it
19:51into my hand.
19:52Dad nodded,
19:53so I finally accepted it.
19:57There was a silver coin inside.
19:59I immediately put the coin
20:01in Dad's hand.
20:03Dad, this is for you.
20:06The butler froze for a second,
20:08then burst out laughing.
20:10Rick, you have a sweet daughter.
20:12You're a lucky man.
20:13He handed me a big apple.
20:16The coin is for your dad.
20:18If this is for you,
20:21keep it for yourself.
20:22Merry Christmas to your family.
20:24The butler bought the bear
20:25and invited Dad for a drink.
20:27Won't you come in for a drink?
20:29Rick waved him off
20:31and refused.
20:31No, thank you.
20:33We need to buy things
20:34for Christmas.
20:36The black bear sold
20:37for a lot of money.
20:39Dad took us to the streets.
20:41First, he bought
20:42a lot of candy.
20:43He put them into
20:44three red socks.
20:46I took one out
20:47and put it in my mouth,
20:48carefully.
20:49I peeled another one
20:51for Mom.
20:52Mom didn't dare to eat
20:53and looked at Dad.
20:55She wanted to save it for me,
20:57but Dad stopped her.
20:59Too much sugar
21:00makes kids sick.
21:02We don't want to see
21:03the doctor again.
21:04Mom remembered
21:05my stomach ache
21:06and didn't give me more.
21:08So, Mom finally opened
21:10her mouth and ate the candy.
21:13Dad then took us
21:14to buy meat,
21:15flour, and butter.
21:17He even bought spices
21:18for cooking.
21:20Finally, we went
21:21to a clothing store
21:22for new coats.
21:24Mom waved her hands
21:26and said no.
21:27Our old coats
21:28are still good.
21:29I said no, too.
21:31The old quilts
21:33and coats Dad gave us
21:34were already warm
21:35and clean.
21:36That was good enough
21:37for me.
21:37I had never worn
21:39such nice clothes
21:40in my life.
21:42But Dad insisted
21:43on buying new ones.
21:46I bought old ones
21:47because I was broke.
21:48Now we have money.
21:50In the end,
21:51we bought fabric
21:52and cotton
21:53instead of finished coats.
21:55I can sew quickly.
21:57They'll be ready
21:57before Christmas.
21:58She still didn't
22:00want to spend too much.
22:01She picked out
22:02a plaid fabric
22:03for Dad
22:04and held it up to him.
22:06Rick, this pattern
22:07looks good on you.
22:08It was the first time
22:10they were so close.
22:11I think I saw
22:12Dad's face
22:13turn red.
22:16Dad lifted me up
22:18and set me
22:18on his shoulders.
22:19I could see
22:20so far away.
22:22I laughed out loud.
22:23It was my first time
22:25being up this high.
22:26Mom was worried
22:27and kept checking
22:28Dad's leg.
22:29She was afraid
22:30he would get too tired.
22:32After a while,
22:33Dad bought me
22:34some toys.
22:35He also bought
22:36hair clips
22:37and brooches
22:37for me and Mom.
22:39Brother,
22:39your wife and daughter
22:40are beautiful.
22:41These brooches
22:42from the city
22:43suit them perfectly.
22:44Both Dad and Mom
22:45blushed at the same time.
22:47On the way back,
22:48we sat on the tractor.
22:49I hugged
22:50my red socks tightly.
22:52This was the happiest
22:53day of my life.
22:54As we passed
22:55the Hudson Ranch,
22:57I saw Grandmother.
22:58She was feeding
22:59the cows in the yard.
23:00My uncle was lounging
23:02under the eaves
23:02in the sun.
23:03He still had no job
23:05and no wife.
23:06He just ate,
23:07drank,
23:07and wasted his life.
23:09After selling us
23:09to Rick,
23:10he had that money.
23:11Now he worked
23:12even less.
23:13He said he was
23:13preparing for a blind date.
23:15Grandmother always
23:16called us lazy,
23:17but I never dared
23:18to say that my uncle
23:19was the laziest one.
23:21I gripped my red socks
23:22and stared at them.
23:24Grandmother and my uncle
23:25noticed us.
23:26Their eyes widened
23:27in disbelief.
23:28Then,
23:28their faces turned
23:29into a hateful scowl.
23:30You two!
23:32True!
23:33Grandmother was
23:34cursing at us.
23:35Dad stopped the tractor.
23:37He threw a stone
23:38and hit my uncle
23:39right on the head.
23:40My uncle jumped up
23:41in pain.
23:42Who did that?
23:44Dad threw another stone
23:45into Grandmother's
23:46water basin.
23:48They are my wife
23:49and daughter now.
23:50If you insult them again,
23:52you're dealing with me.
23:54He looked terrifying.
23:56Even with a limp,
23:57he stood like a mountain.
23:59Grandmother and my uncle
24:00were bullies
24:01who feared the strong.
24:02They were furious
24:04but didn't dare say a word.
24:06Mom gripped my hand.
24:08Her eyes turned red.
24:09As we drove away,
24:11I looked back.
24:12I could still see
24:13their hateful glares.
24:15I suddenly felt brave.
24:17I waved my red socks
24:19and made a face at them.
24:21I had a real dad now.
24:23They could never bully us again.
24:25Back home,
24:27Mom started decorating the tree
24:28and making apple pie.
24:30Dad spent his time
24:31fixing everything in the house.
24:33He gathered wood
24:34and never stayed idle.
24:36He brought back
24:36more pheasants and rabbits.
24:39Eat more meat
24:40and your stomach
24:41won't hurt anymore.
24:42I wanted to follow him
24:43into the mountains
24:44but he refused.
24:46Kids stay home and play.
24:47I tried to help Mom
24:49but she sent me away too.
24:51Your dad wants you to play.
24:54Go on,
24:55you haven't had a chance
24:55to be a kid yet.
24:56At the Hudson Ranch,
24:58I never had time to play.
25:00Now that I could,
25:01I didn't know how.
25:02I walked along the path
25:04with some candy.
25:05I saved them carefully,
25:07not wanting to eat them.
25:08But then,
25:09I ran into some mean kids
25:11from a nearby farm.
25:12They swarmed me
25:13and grabbed my candy.
25:15You're a brat
25:16born from that limp farmer.
25:17Your grandmother said so.
25:19It must be true.
25:20A bitch and her brat.
25:22No wonder her husband
25:23just died
25:23and she remarried already.
25:25I fought back
25:26with all my might.
25:27That's not true!
25:28Grandmother kicked us out!
25:30My mom isn't a bitch
25:31and I'm not a brat!
25:34But I was too small.
25:36I couldn't beat them.
25:38My clothes were torn.
25:40My candy was gone.
25:42Even my new hair clip
25:43was missing.
25:44They laughed
25:45and ran off
25:45with my sweets.
25:47I sat in the mud
25:48and cried.
25:49Grandmother and my uncle
25:51stood nearby,
25:52watching with wicked smiles.
25:54You deserve this!
25:56We should have sold them
25:58to the town tavern back then!
25:59I screamed at them.
26:00I am not a brat!
26:02You are the bad people!
26:05You are evil!
26:06I was so small back then.
26:08My mom had already had a child.
26:10The tavern would never
26:11pay that much for us.
26:12They thought I was
26:13too young to understand.
26:14But I had overheard
26:16their conversation.
26:17They were the truly wicked ones.
26:19They wanted to leave us
26:20at the ranch.
26:21They wanted to watch Rick
26:22beat us to death.
26:24But they never expected this.
26:26Dad never hit us.
26:28He never tortured us
26:30even for a second.
26:31He treated us so well.
26:33They couldn't stand it.
26:34So they spread rumors
26:36behind our backs.
26:37They framed us everywhere.
26:39Clearly,
26:40they are the real monsters.
26:42I lost the hair clip
26:43and candy Dad bought me.
26:45I was too ashamed
26:46to go home.
26:46I lingered near the gate
26:48hesitating.
26:49Dad came down
26:49from the mountain.
26:50He saw me covered
26:52in mud and blood.
26:53He dropped his pheasants
26:54in shock.
26:55I had never seen him
26:57so angry.
26:58Who did this?
26:59I trembled in fear.
27:01I'm sorry.
27:02I'm so sorry.
27:03He panicked,
27:05trying to wipe the mud
27:06off my face.
27:07Tell Dad.
27:08Who hit you?
27:09His hands were rough
27:11but they calmed
27:12my racing heart.
27:13I stuttered
27:14through the whole story.
27:15The more I spoke,
27:17the darker
27:17his face became.
27:19He took me back
27:20and left me with Mom.
27:22Then he grabbed his axe
27:23to head out.
27:24Rick.
27:25Mom pulled him back
27:26and shook her head.
27:28Dad thought for a moment.
27:30He dropped the axe
27:31and grabbed
27:31a wooden club instead.
27:34That day,
27:35the parents of those bullies
27:36all got a beating.
27:37If you can't teach your kids,
27:39I won't hit them,
27:40I'll hit you instead.
27:42Those grown men
27:43were chased like rabbits
27:47by a man with a limp.
27:49Dad moved slowly
27:51but steadily.
27:52He caught up to them
27:54and struck them down.
27:55The men wailed in pain.
27:58Everyone in the ranch
27:59came out to watch.
28:00Then Dad went
28:01to the Hudson Ranch.
28:02He gave my uncle
28:04a brutal beating.
28:05My uncle screamed
28:07and begged for mercy.
28:08He promised
28:09he would never do it again.
28:10I won't do it again.
28:11I promise.
28:12Dad turned to the crowd
28:13of onlookers.
28:15If you have something to say,
28:15say it to my face.
28:17No one dared to speak.
28:18They all waved their hands
28:19and shook their heads.
28:21We all know
28:21what the Hudsons are like.
28:22Just go live your life.
28:24Look at how happy
28:25your family is now.
28:26Dad dropped the club.
28:28He patted my head
28:29and led me home.
28:33Have you lived this long
28:34without a name?
28:36I shook my head.
28:38Grandmother called me a brat.
28:40Mom only called me baby.
28:42Dad pulled me close
28:43and looked at the stars.
28:45From now on,
28:46your name is Stella.
28:48Shine like a star
28:49and have a bright future ahead.
28:53For the first time,
28:54I had a real name.
28:56Stella Cooper.
28:57I have my own name now.
28:58I smiled at Mom.
29:00Dad smiled too
29:01and patted my head.
29:03I finally have
29:05a daughter of my own.
29:07That night,
29:08Mom talked to me.
29:09Stella,
29:10you're a big girl now.
29:13Starting tomorrow,
29:14you sleep on your own, okay?
29:16If I sleep alone,
29:17where will Mom sleep?
29:19I thought about it
29:20and nodded hard.
29:21Okay, Mom.
29:22You and Dad have a baby
29:23brother or sister soon.
29:24I'll play with them.
29:26This time,
29:27I really wanted a sibling.
29:29A sibling just like Dad
29:30would be wonderful.
29:32The next morning,
29:34Dad woke me up early.
29:35Stella,
29:36was I cool
29:37when I handled
29:38those bad guys yesterday?
29:39I nodded vigorously.
29:40So cool!
29:41If you want to protect yourself,
29:43you want to rely on more forever.
29:46You have to rely on yourself.
29:48Do you want like me strong?
29:50I nodded again.
29:51Yes.
29:52I wanted to be strong like him.
29:54I wanted to protect my parents
29:56and my future siblings.
29:57I wanted to hunt bears
29:59and earn lots of money.
30:01Dad looked proud.
30:02He made me run 50 laps
30:04around our ranch cabin.
30:06By the end,
30:07I could barely stand.
30:08He gritted his teeth
30:10and wouldn't let me stop.
30:11Mom looked pained,
30:13but she didn't say a word.
30:14She just made extra food
30:16and added two fried eggs for me.
30:19After running,
30:20there was weight training.
30:21Dad brought sandbags
30:23from the ranch warehouse.
30:24They felt like
30:25a thousand pounds on my arms.
30:28After a day of training,
30:29my hands and feet
30:30were covered in blisters.
30:32Mom washed my feet
30:33and popped the blisters for me.
30:35Stella,
30:36train hard.
30:38Your dad is doing this
30:39for your own good.
30:42I know, Mom.
30:43Most ranch families
30:44only teach girls
30:45to gather wood,
30:46wash clothes,
30:47and cook.
30:48Who would ever teach a girl
30:49how to be strong?
30:51I understood how much
30:52Dad cared for me.
30:53That night,
30:54Mom moved into Dad's room.
30:55I heard them talking for a bit
30:57before the lights went out.
30:59My body ached all over,
31:01but I slept peacefully.
31:02The next morning,
31:04Dad woke up late.
31:05I had already finished
31:0630 laps when he came out.
31:08His eyes were bloodshot
31:09from lack of sleep.
31:11All day long,
31:12Dad and Mom were blushing.
31:14They kept stealing glances
31:15at each other.
31:16Why hide it?
31:17Just look if you want to.
31:20Grown-ups are so strange.
31:21We had a perfect Christmas.
31:23Dad used the bear money
31:24to expand the ranch.
31:26He bought two dairy cows
31:27and a few beef cattle.
31:29When we weren't farming,
31:30we were managing the ranch.
31:31During the off-season,
31:33we went hunting.
31:34Dad started taking me
31:35into the mountains.
31:36He taught me how to track animals
31:38and read their droppings.
31:39He showed me how to avoid bears
31:41and wolves.
31:42He taught me to set traps
31:44and use a hunting rifle.
31:45He even showed me
31:46how to knock someone out
31:47with minimal force
31:48and how to spot poisonous plants
31:50in the woods.
31:51I was weak,
31:52so my progress was slow.
31:54But Dad was always patient.
31:56Our family was happy.
31:57But the rumors
31:58never truly stopped.
31:59Most of them came from the Hudson's.
32:02Rick's fault.
32:02He's a cripple.
32:03That person pretends
32:05to be arrogant
32:06and married a cripple.
32:08So what if Jason was handsome?
32:10His only talents
32:11were hitting us,
32:12gambling and drinking.
32:14I started staring at Dad's leg.
32:17Dad noticed
32:18and tried to walk slower
32:19to hide his limp.
32:20Sometimes he would lean
32:21on the ranch fence
32:22for support.
32:25Your dad is so good to you, Stella.
32:29Don't be heartless.
32:31Don't look down on him
32:32like others.
32:33Mom thought
32:33I was becoming ungrateful.
32:35Her eyes turned red with anger,
32:37but she couldn't bring herself
32:38to hit me.
32:39I quickly grabbed her hand
32:40to explain.
32:41Mom, I don't look down on Dad.
32:43I feel bad for him.
32:45I want to study medicine.
32:47I want to fix his leg.
32:49I didn't care that he limped.
32:50I didn't care about
32:51the scar on his face.
32:52I just hated seeing him
32:54unable to sleep
32:55when it rained.
32:56I hated that hunting
32:57was harder for him
32:58than others.
33:00Mom understood my thoughts,
33:01but she was worried.
33:03There were no medical schools
33:04in town.
33:05Besides,
33:06I was only a six-year-old girl.
33:08Dad overheard us
33:09from outside the cabin.
33:10He stayed silent
33:11for two days.
33:12He just sat on the bed
33:13and looked at me carefully.
33:14He patted Dad's shoulder
33:16and agreed happily.
33:17If she wants to learn,
33:19she can start as an assistant
33:20in the pharmacy.
33:23Stella,
33:24studying medicine
33:25is very hard.
33:26You have to memorize names,
33:28mix medicine,
33:29and care for the sick.
33:31People might yell at you
33:32or even...
33:34I'll take care of my parents
33:35and my future siblings.
33:37The man burst out laughing
33:38and nudged Dad's arm.
33:40Rick,
33:41your daughter is so sweet.
33:43Is the next one
33:44already on the way?
33:46Dad's face turned
33:47bright red instantly.
33:48He waved his hands quickly.
33:50It's still too early for that!
33:52I lived at the pharmacy
33:54in town,
33:54doing odd jobs.
33:55I tried my best
33:56to learn everything
33:57about medicine.
33:58I only went home
33:59to the ranch
34:00once every two weeks.
34:01I brought the sandbags
34:02Dad gave me to the pharmacy.
34:04No matter how busy I was,
34:06I found time to train.
34:07Mom hated leaving me
34:09alone in town.
34:10She held my hand
34:11and wouldn't let go
34:12when she dropped me off.
34:13With red eyes,
34:14she told me to eat well
34:15and not overwork.
34:17Come home
34:18if anyone treats you badly.
34:19She said.
34:20I waved
34:21and smiled
34:22to comfort her.
34:23Don't worry, Mom.
34:24I can take care of myself.
34:26When I learn everything,
34:28I'll fix Dad's leg.
34:29Mom laughed
34:30through her tears
34:31and wiped them away.
34:33All right,
34:33I'll be waiting.
34:34I'll make your favorite snacks
34:36for when you come home.
34:37The doctor at the pharmacy
34:39was an old friend
34:39of the butler's.
34:40He was kind to patients
34:42but very strict
34:42with apprentices.
34:44If we forgot
34:44a drug's name,
34:45he yelled.
34:46If we missed a detail
34:47in a patient's record,
34:48he yelled.
34:49If we took blood pressure
34:50incorrectly,
34:51he yelled.
34:52Sometimes he made us
34:53copy drug names
34:54as punishment
34:55for being slow.
34:56The other students
34:57felt mistreated.
34:58Before long,
34:59they all went home crying
35:01and never came back.
35:02But I wasn't afraid.
35:03What was this little bit
35:04of hardship?
35:05Compared to Grandmother's
35:07beatings
35:07or Jason's violence,
35:08this was nothing.
35:09I was already used to it.
35:11Besides,
35:12I knew the doctor
35:13wanted me to grow fast,
35:14just like Dad
35:15wanted me to be strong.
35:16The doctor was strict
35:18but he never treated
35:19us poorly.
35:20He made plenty of food
35:21for us every day.
35:22Sometimes he even
35:23gave us nutrient powder.
35:24I might not be the smartest
35:26but I know who was
35:27truly kind.
35:27I kept training
35:28the way Dad taught me.
35:29I ran five kilometers
35:31with weights
35:31every morning and night.
35:32I grew stronger
35:33and my movements
35:34became faster.
35:35The doctor started
35:37teaching me
35:37massage techniques.
35:39At first,
35:39I practiced on him.
35:40Slowly,
35:41I began helping
35:41the elderly patients
35:42ease their pain.
35:44The doctor worked
35:45so hard with his
35:45patients and medicine.
35:46I massaged him
35:47to help him relax.
35:48He started smiling
35:49at me more.
35:50He even taught me
35:51about heat and cold therapy.
35:53He said these skills
35:54would really help my dad.
35:55When I went home
35:56every two weeks,
35:57the first thing I did
35:58was massage Dad's leg.
36:00I rubbed the stiff muscles
36:01from his knee
36:02to his ankle.
36:03Then I used the heat therapy
36:05the doctor taught me.
36:06At first,
36:07Dad refused.
36:08He thought it was awkward
36:09for a man to have
36:10his legs rubbed.
36:11I had to beg him
36:12for a long time
36:13before he finally agreed.
36:14After the massage,
36:16he stood up
36:16and took a few steps.
36:17His eyes lit up
36:18and turned a bit red.
36:20Stella is so smart.
36:22My leg feels
36:23much better now.
36:25Mom saw this
36:26and asked me
36:26to teach her too.
36:27When you're away,
36:28I can do it for him.
36:30He worked so hard
36:31on the ranch
36:31and in the mountains.
36:33I taught them both
36:34step by step.
36:35I laughed and said,
36:37When I'm not here,
36:38you two can massage
36:39each other.
36:39That way,
36:40you'll both feel better.
36:41Both their faces
36:42turned bright red instantly.
36:44They glanced at each other
36:45and quickly looked down.
36:46Mom gave me a little pinch
36:48for talking nonsense.
36:49They are so strange.
36:50What is there
36:51to be embarrassed about?
36:52I studied in the city
36:53for five years.
36:54My medical knowledge
36:55and physical strength
36:56grew fast.
36:57I went from a skinny
36:58little girl
36:59to a strong,
37:00healthy teenager.
37:02The fear in my eyes
37:03was gone,
37:04replaced by confidence.
37:05During this time,
37:07Mom and Dad
37:07never had another child.
37:09Rumors started spreading
37:10around the ranch.
37:12Most of them came
37:12from the Hudson's.
37:13They claimed Dad
37:14couldn't have children.
37:15It must be Rick's fault.
37:17He's disabled.
37:18He probably doesn't even
37:19have the strength
37:19to father a child.
37:20Maybe that's why
37:21his first first wife
37:22fought with him
37:22before she died.
37:24I overheard some workers
37:25gossiping
37:25when I returned home.
37:26I clenched my fists,
37:28ready to fight them.
37:29But Mom grabbed my hand
37:30and stepped forward.
37:31She raised her voice
37:32so everyone could hear.
37:33It's my fault!
37:33I was abused
37:35at the Hudson's
37:36and it ruined my health!
37:37It has nothing
37:38to do with my husband,
37:39Rick!
37:39Stop your lies!
37:41Dad was healthy,
37:42but Mom was right.
37:43Years of hunger,
37:44heavy labor,
37:45and beatings
37:46had left her scarred.
37:47She had been taking
37:48medicine for five years,
37:49but nothing happened.
37:51Mom was anxious
37:52and often sat by the creek
37:53staring into space.
37:55Sometimes I caught her
37:56wiping away tears.
37:57Dad was always there
37:58to comfort her.
37:59Raising Stella
38:00is enough.
38:02She's smart
38:03and capable.
38:04She's worth
38:05more than ten sons.
38:08With her around,
38:09we have nothing
38:10to worry about.
38:16But right then,
38:17my biological father,
38:19Jason,
38:19suddenly returned.
38:21I was at the pharmacy
38:22when I saw him.
38:23It was Jason,
38:24dressed like a gentleman.
38:25He wore a sharp suit
38:27and slicked back hair.
38:28A rich,
38:29delicate young woman
38:30was by his side.
38:31They looked very close,
38:33almost too sweet.
38:34He held her arm
38:35with such careful grace.
38:37It was like he was afraid
38:38she might break.
38:39I stood there
38:40in total shock.
38:42It took me a while
38:43to believe my eyes.
38:44Many years
38:45had changed me completely.
38:46I wasn't that skinny,
38:48dark girl
38:48from the ranch anymore.
38:50He didn't recognize me
38:51at all,
38:51but I could never
38:52forget his face.
38:54No fancy clothes
38:55could hide
38:55his selfish eyes.
38:57He was still a coward
38:58deep down.
38:59Wasn't he supposed
39:00to be dead?
39:01How could he be alive
39:03and living so well?
39:04I quietly asked
39:05the doctor's assistant.
39:06He told me Jason
39:08and the woman
39:08were married.
39:09They were here
39:10to treat infertility.
39:11She was a lady
39:12from a wealthy family.
39:13She couldn't get pregnant
39:14no matter what.
39:16They traveled a long way
39:17to find our doctor.
39:18As they walked out,
39:20Jason held her hand.
39:21He whispered sweet,
39:22comforting words to her.
39:24He looked so humble
39:25and devoted.
39:26It was a look
39:27I had never seen before.
39:28When my mom
39:29couldn't give him a son,
39:30he was a completely
39:32different monster.
39:33He only knew
39:34how to beat
39:34and shame her.
39:35He took all his anger
39:36out on her life.
39:38I was closing
39:39the pharmacy that night.
39:41Jason's face
39:42was stuck in my head.
39:43I couldn't focus at all.
39:44I almost put the medicine
39:46in the wrong spot.
39:47The doctor gave me
39:48a harsh scolding.
39:49Your skill is slipping,
39:50slipping, Stella.
39:51Do you still want to fix
39:52your dad's leg?
39:53I kept my head down
39:54and whispered,
39:55Doctor, I'm just confused.
39:58If a man was supposed
39:59to die in war,
40:00but suddenly shows up alive,
40:02what happens?
40:03The doctor froze
40:04for a second.
40:05Then he let out
40:06a cold laugh.
40:07What happens?
40:08He's a deserter.
40:10Running away from battle
40:11is a huge crime.
40:14They go to jail
40:15or even face death.
40:17My heart skipped a beat.
40:18Jason was a deserter.
40:20I asked the doctor
40:21for some time off.
40:22I had to tell my parents
40:24the truth.
40:25The doctor saw
40:25the look in my eyes.
40:27He knew something was wrong
40:28and said yes.
40:30Back at the ranch,
40:31I told them everything.
40:32I told them about
40:33seeing Jason at the shop
40:34and the fact that
40:35he was a coward on the run.
40:38Dad looked at Mom
40:39with worry in his eyes,
40:40but Mom's face
40:41remained cold and calm.
40:43She just let out
40:44a soft sigh.
40:45The Hudsons
40:45have nothing to do with us.
40:48Stella, let it go.
40:49We just need to live
40:50our own lives.
40:51Dad was so happy
40:52she had moved on.
40:53He gripped her hand tight
40:55and nodded.
40:56Exactly.
40:57They mean nothing to us.
40:59Don't worry, Stella.
41:00As long as I'm here,
41:02no one will hurt you.
41:03We decided to leave
41:04the past behind.
41:05We were ready
41:06to start our new life.
41:08I had a few days off
41:09and stayed at the ranch.
41:10I helped Mom with chores
41:12and massaged Dad's leg.
41:14But that night,
41:15Jason sneaked to our door.
41:17He knocked on the back door
41:18under the moonlight.
41:19He held a paper bag
41:21with a smug, greedy smile.
41:23Dad opened the door
41:24and his face went dark.
41:26He tried to push him away
41:27instantly.
41:29What are you doing here?
41:31Get out!
41:32But Jason forced his way
41:33inside anyway.
41:35He dumped a stack of cash
41:36from the bag.
41:37Don't be so cold, Rick.
41:39Here's $2,000.
41:40I'm paying you back.
41:42Just let her bear me a son
41:43for a few years.
41:45Then I'll leave you two
41:46alone forever.
41:47We all stared at him
41:48in total shock.
41:49I wondered if this man
41:50had lost his mind.
41:51But he acted like
41:52he was doing us a favor.
41:54My new wife is broken.
41:55She can't have kids.
41:56I need a woman
41:57to give me a son.
41:59Then he looked at Dad
42:00with a cruel smirk.
42:02Besides, Rick,
42:03everyone knows you're a dud.
42:05When she has the baby,
42:06just say it's yours.
42:08Then people will stop
42:09calling you a useless cripple.
42:11He had it all figured out
42:13in his sick head.
42:14He really thought
42:14we were all fools.
42:16Jason wanted a son
42:17of his own blood.
42:18But he didn't dare tell
42:19his rich wife.
42:20So he planned to use
42:21my mom in secret.
42:23The plan was to hide
42:24the child at our ranch.
42:25Then he would steal
42:27the boy back years later.
42:28He already had it
42:29all calculated.
42:30But would his current
42:31wife ever agree?
42:33He probably had
42:34some cruel trick ready.
42:35A way to force her
42:37to accept the child.
42:38Living off a wealthy
42:39family changed him.
42:40He had become arrogant
42:42and delusional.
42:43He didn't even hide
42:44his evil plot anymore.
42:46My wife's family
42:47has no other heirs.
42:48They took me in
42:49because they need a man.
42:50After she left,
42:51that fortune belongs to me.
42:53Everything will go
42:54to me and my son.
42:55He looked at my mom
42:56with fake kindness.
42:58But his voice was still
42:59full of cold pride.
43:00This is a great deal for you.
43:02I'll make sure our son
43:04takes care of you.
43:05A little of my wealth
43:06will keep you rich.
43:07Finally, his eyes
43:08landed on me.
43:09He studied me
43:10for a long time.
43:11He barely recognized
43:12the girl I had become.
43:14His face twisted
43:15into a look of disdain.
43:17I didn't expect you
43:18to grow up so fast.
43:19I'll find a good future
43:20for you too.
43:21You're even prettier
43:22than your mother.
43:24Rich men in the city
43:25love girls like you.
43:27I'll set you up
43:28as a wealthy man's mistress.
43:30You'll live a life
43:31of luxury
43:31you can't imagine.
43:34I couldn't believe
43:35my own ears.
43:36Jason wanted to sell me
43:37as a mistress.
43:38How could a father
43:39treat his own daughter
43:40like this
43:41before he could even
43:42finish his sentence?
43:44Rick was already shaking
43:45with pure rage.
43:46He grabbed the wooden club
43:48by the door.
43:49He swung it at Jason
43:50with all his might.
43:53I'll kill you
43:54you heartless beast!
43:55Keep dreaming!
43:57Stella will never
43:58be a mistress!
44:00Dad was consumed
44:01by a burning hatred.
44:03He struck Jason
44:04again and again.
44:05Jason screamed
44:06and scrambled
44:07through the door.
44:08Jason was howling
44:09in pain
44:09from the beating.
44:10But he still
44:11wouldn't shut up.
44:12Think about it.
44:13It's a guaranteed profit.
44:15Don't be so stubborn
44:17and stupid.
44:18I don't even want
44:19that old woman anymore.
44:20I just want to use her
44:22to get a son.
44:23The life is still
44:24Yordas
44:24and I'll pay extra.
44:26His disgusting words
44:27made Dad hit
44:28even harder.
44:29The heavy club
44:30almost snapped in half.
44:32Suddenly,
44:33Mom rushed out
44:34from the room.
44:34Her eyes were blood red
44:36with fury.
44:37She looked like
44:37she had gone
44:38completely mad.
44:39She lunged forward
44:40and tackled Jason.
44:41She pinned him down
44:42and hammered his chest.
44:44She sobbed
44:45and cursed him
44:45with every strike.
44:47I am Rick's wife now!
44:48Stay away from me!
44:50You won't bully us
44:51ever again!
44:52This was the second time
44:53Mom fought back.
44:54The first time
44:55she fought to save me.
44:56This second time
44:57she fought for herself.
44:59Dad stood by
45:00and watched her.
45:01He didn't stop her
45:02but his eyes
45:03were full of pain.
45:05When she finally
45:06grew tired
45:06he pulled her up.
45:08He held her tight
45:09and patted her back.
45:10Mom sobbed loudly
45:11against his chest.
45:13She let out years
45:14of bitterness
45:14and hate.
45:15Jason scrambled away
45:17bruised and bloody.
45:18He looked back
45:19and shouted a threat.
45:21You just wait!
45:23This isn't over!
45:24We ignored him
45:25and held each other tight.
45:27We felt the warmth
45:28of our real family.
45:29Mom cried for a long time
45:31that night.
45:32She cried for every beating
45:33and insult
45:34at the Hudson's.
45:35Dad and I stayed
45:36by her side.
45:37Finally she fell asleep
45:38in Dad's arms.
45:40Dad gently touched
45:41my head.
45:41His eyes were very serious.
45:44Stella,
45:45remember this forever.
45:47Never let yourself
45:49be someone's mistress.
45:51Rich houses
45:51look grand
45:52but they hide
45:53deep pain.
45:54I want you to rely
45:55on yourself
45:56and live with pride.
45:58I nodded hard,
46:00tears falling down.
46:01I know, Dad.
46:02I won't let you down.
46:04I'll study medicine
46:05and train hard.
46:06I will protect you both
46:08and build our own life.
46:10I soon returned
46:11to the city pharmacy.
46:13Everything seemed
46:14to go back to normal
46:15until one day
46:16I went out
46:17to deliver medicine.
46:18Two strangers
46:19suddenly blocked my path.
46:20They were strong
46:21and looked dangerous.
46:23Before I could scream,
46:24they grabbed me.
46:25They forced me
46:25into a sack.
46:27I was being kidnapped
46:28in broad daylight.
46:29When I finally woke up,
46:31I was tied to a chair
46:32in a cold warehouse.
46:34Jason and his wife Lillian
46:35stared at me.
46:36Jason wore a fake,
46:38kissing up smile.
46:39Lillian, don't be mad.
46:43I'll use her life
46:45to force her mother
46:46to bear our child.
46:51Then we'll kick them
46:52both into the street.
46:53Lillian giggled
46:54behind her hand.
46:55She looked delicate,
46:56but her eyes were cruel.
46:58She's your daughter.
46:59Don't just throw her away.
47:01Sell her to a butcher
47:03later for some cash.
47:05My mouth was gagged,
47:06so I just glared.
47:07I cursed them a thousand times
47:09in my head.
47:10These two monsters
47:11were truly insane.
47:13Lillian left the warehouse
47:14with a smirk.
47:15Jason stayed behind
47:16and untied my gag.
47:18He snatched the hair clip
47:19from my head.
47:20He stuffed it into an envelope
47:21for blackmail.
47:23As long as I have you,
47:24your mom will obey.
47:26Once I have my son,
47:28you're useless.
47:29I'll leave you both
47:29to rot in the dirt.
47:31You bastard!
47:33Keep dreaming!
47:34My mom won't listen
47:35to a coward like you,
47:36and my dad will come
47:37and save me!
47:38Jason's face
47:38turned purple with fury.
47:40He slapped me so hard
47:41I hit the ground.
47:42Blood trickled
47:43from the corner
47:44of my mouth.
47:45You ungrateful brat!
47:46I ignored the pain
47:48and looked up at him.
47:51Don't be so sure
47:52it's Lillian's fault.
47:54Maybe you're the one
47:55who was broken.
47:58I remembered
47:58what the doctor once said.
48:00Jason had refused
48:01to be tested
48:02at the clinic.
48:03He claimed he already
48:04had a child.
48:05But the doctor
48:05had laughed
48:06behind his back.
48:07A life of waste
48:08and sin ruins a man.
48:10He's too ignorant
48:11to see the truth.
48:13I knew Jason's body
48:14was already failing.
48:15He was living a lie
48:16this whole time.
48:17A monster like him
48:19deserved nothing.
48:20He deserved to have
48:21his bloodline end here.
48:22I stared at him
48:24in the eyes
48:24and laughed.
48:25The terror on his face
48:27was beautiful.
48:29Jason was stung
48:30by the truth
48:31and flew into a rage.
48:32He struck me again
48:33with a heavy blow.
48:35My body trembled
48:36with pain,
48:36but I didn't make a sound.
48:38He wasn't afraid
48:39of Lillian hearing him.
48:40In fact,
48:41the harder he hit me,
48:42the better.
48:43Cruelty toward me
48:44was his way
48:45of proving a point.
48:46He wanted her to believe
48:47he had no feelings for me
48:48and that he had long
48:50forgotten about my mother.
48:51They dragged me along
48:53for three agonizing days.
48:55I was given almost
48:56no food or water.
48:58When I was thirsty,
49:00I licked rainwater
49:01from the roof.
49:02My limbs grew numb
49:03from being bound so tight
49:05and new bruises
49:06covered my face
49:07every single day.
49:09By the third day,
49:10I was drifting in
49:11and out of sleep.
49:13In my days,
49:14I heard a voice
49:15that made my heart leap.
49:16It was full of worry
49:18and pure, raw anger.
49:21Dad.
49:23Dad's voice thundered
49:24outside the warehouse.
49:26Jason,
49:27give me back my daughter.
49:29Jason's face turned pale
49:30the moment he heard it,
49:31but he tried to act tough
49:33and shouted back,
49:34Rick!
49:35Rick!
49:35You cripple!
49:37You dare to follow us?
49:39You don't know your place!
49:42Guards!
49:43Kill him!
49:44The warehouse was filled
49:46with the sounds of chaos,
49:47shouts from the guards
49:48and Dad's fierce roars.
49:50The fighting didn't last long at all.
49:52The silence was broken
49:54by Jason's terrified begging.
49:56Rick, have mercy!
49:58I was wrong!
49:59I'll give your daughter back.
50:01Just stop hitting me!
50:02I squeezed my eyes shut,
50:04tears finally falling.
50:06My dad,
50:07the man everyone called,
50:08a cripple.
50:09He had fought
50:10through the guards
50:11to save me.
50:11I knew then
50:12I was finally safe.
50:14The warehouse door
50:15was kicked open
50:15with a bang.
50:17Dad rushed in
50:17like a madman.
50:18He saw me tied up,
50:20covered in bruises
50:21and starving.
50:22His eyes turned red
50:23with tears and rage.
50:24He ran to me
50:25and untied the ropes
50:26with trembling hands.
50:27He pulled me
50:28into a tight,
50:29protective embrace.
50:30Still, I'm so sorry.
50:32Dad came too late.
50:34I let you suffer so much.
50:36His voice was shaking
50:37and so were his hands.
50:39Resting against his chest,
50:41I finally broke down.
50:42All the fear and pain
50:43from the last three days
50:44exploded.
50:45Meanwhile,
50:46Lillian was screaming
50:47in the corner.
50:48Her face was pale,
50:49but she still tried
50:50to act powerful.
50:51You bastard!
50:53Do you know who I am?
50:54My father is a wealthy merchant.
50:57You're dead!
50:59Dad looked at her
51:00with eyes as cold as ice.
51:02The sheer hatred
51:03in his gaze
51:04silenced her instantly.
51:06You are harboring
51:07a deserter
51:08and a fugitive.
51:09Think about whether
51:11the army will let you go.
51:13Lillian's face
51:14turned white as a sheet.
51:16She looked at Jason
51:17in total disbelief.
51:20A deserter?
51:22Jason,
51:22is he telling the truth?
51:24You told me
51:25you were honorably discharged!
51:28It turned out
51:29she knew absolutely nothing.
51:30She thought she had found
51:31a loyal,
51:32reliable husband.
51:33She had no idea
51:34she was sleeping
51:35next to a coward.
51:36How could someone
51:37so rich
51:38be so incredibly blind?
51:40She never once
51:41questioned Jason's
51:42dark past.
51:43She was just
51:44a foolish pawn
51:45in his game.
51:46I leaned against Dad,
51:47a weak smile
51:48on my lips.
51:49I looked straight
51:50at Lillian
51:51trembling eyes.
51:53Jason had a plan
51:54for you all along.
51:55He's waiting
51:56for you to die
51:57so he can take
51:58your wealth.
52:02He only wanted
52:03my mom to bear
52:04him a son.
52:05A son to inherit
52:07your family's money.
52:10And you're still
52:11protecting him?
52:12You're such a fool.
52:14Lillian looked
52:15at Jason,
52:16her world
52:16crumbling down.
52:18Lillian trembled
52:19with rage
52:20as the truth
52:20hit her.
52:21She pointed
52:22at Jason,
52:22her voice
52:23trapped in her throat.
52:24Her vision went black
52:25and she nearly collapsed.
52:27Before long,
52:28the military police arrived.
52:30We watched
52:31as they shackled Jason.
52:33Lillian was also
52:34taken away
52:34for investigation.
52:36Harboring a deserter
52:37is a severe crime.
52:39Dad held me tight,
52:40his eyes full
52:40of lingering fear.
52:42My precious daughter
52:43will never be hurt again.
52:45Later,
52:46Mom told me
52:46what had happened.
52:47When I didn't
52:48come home
52:48for two days,
52:50Dad went wild.
52:51He searched
52:51every corner
52:52until he got
52:53that envelope.
52:54He didn't hesitate
52:55for a second.
52:56He charged
52:56straight toward
52:57Jason's warehouse.
52:58Dad's old leg
52:59injury was acting up.
53:01Every step
53:02was agonizing
53:02and he fell twice.
53:04He didn't care
53:05about the pain
53:05or the blood.
53:06His only thought
53:07was my safety.
53:09Because of his bravery,
53:10Jason was behind bars.
53:12And the entire
53:13Hudson family
53:14was dragged down too.
53:15The Hudsons
53:16had known Jason
53:17was alive all along.
53:19For years,
53:20Jason had been
53:20sending them
53:21secret cash.
53:22Now they screamed
53:23that they were innocent.
53:24They claimed
53:25they knew nothing
53:26about his desertion.
53:27They turned on Jason,
53:29cursing him like demons.
53:32You monster!
53:34You've destroyed us all!
53:37Jason didn't back down.
53:39He fought back
53:40just as hard.
53:41You didn't say
53:41you were innocent
53:42when you took my money!
53:43Now that we're caught,
53:44you want to blame me?
53:46Keep dreaming!
53:47We're all going down together!
53:50The whole family
53:51pointed fingers
53:52and barked like mad dogs.
53:53It was a pathetic,
53:54ridiculous sight.
53:56They finally got
53:57the ending they deserved.
53:58Lillian did not
53:59escape her fate either.
54:01For harboring a deserter,
54:03her family assets
54:03were seized.
54:04Her life was utterly
54:06destroyed by Jason's lies.
54:09But I had no time
54:11to worry about
54:11their downfall.
54:12My only concern
54:13was my father's leg.
54:15To save me,
54:16he had run for three days
54:17and nights.
54:19His old injury
54:20had flared up completely.
54:21The pain was so sharp
54:22he couldn't even stand.
54:24He could only lie bedridden
54:25in a state of agony.
54:26I brought him directly
54:28to the pharmacy.
54:29I became his personal nurse
54:30every single day.
54:32I gave him massages
54:33and applied herbal ointments.
54:35I followed the doctor's methods
54:37to heal his nerves.
54:38The head doctor watched me
54:40and praised my progress.
54:42Stella,
54:43you are becoming
54:44truly skilled.
54:46You will surely
54:47become a great physician.
54:50Cold sweat often poured
54:51down dad's forehead
54:52from the pain.
54:53But whenever he looked at me,
54:55he always smiled.
54:56His eyes were filled
54:57with comfort
54:58and immense pride.
55:00Our Stella has grown up
55:02so well.
55:07You truly are
55:08your father's greatest pride.
55:10In this small pharmacy,
55:12I finally saw the light.
55:15After a month of treatment,
55:16dad finally improved.
55:18He could slowly get out
55:19of bed and walk.
55:20Though he still limped,
55:22he was much more agile.
55:23The rainy days
55:24no longer kept him awake
55:25with pain.
55:27Six months later,
55:28Jason was sentenced to death.
55:30On the day of his execution,
55:32he looked like a ghost.
55:34Arrogance and greed
55:35vanished from his eyes.
55:36He finally paid
55:37for everything he owed us.
55:39This was the karma
55:40he truly deserved.
55:42Even then,
55:43some meddling elders
55:43in the village spoke up.
55:45They said I was his daughter
55:46and should bury him.
55:48Dad stood before
55:49the entire village
55:50and roared,
55:51Stella is my daughter!
55:54Rick's daughter!
55:56She has nothing to do
55:58with that bastard Jason!
55:59He glared at the gossiping crowd
56:01with fierce eyes.
56:03Jason was a deserter
56:04and a monster!
56:06Are you to his family?
56:08Are you connected to him?
56:09Should I call the army?
56:11The villagers shut their mouths
56:12in an instant.
56:13No one dared to mention
56:15Jason's name ever again.
56:17They didn't want to end up
56:18like the Hudson's
56:19or Lillian.
56:20Under my care,
56:22Dad's leg was almost
56:23fully healed.
56:24Unless you looked closely,
56:26the limp was invisible.
56:27He could hunt
56:28and work the ranch
56:29like a normal man.
56:30Now,
56:31Dad was the happiest man alive.
56:33He walked with a new spring
56:35in his step
56:35because after all the years
56:37of suffering and waiting,
56:39Mom was finally pregnant.
56:41Our true family
56:42was finally growing.
56:44The shadows of the past
56:45were gone forever.
56:46We will never, ever be apart.
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