From Left Behind to Living Lavish

Chapter 10

I had no intention of calling this heartless man "Dad."

He had abandoned my mother, and she died from illness while I was stuck in an orphanage. I'd never known what a father's love was, and I didn't care to learn it now.

But for her, my quiet little one, I had to swallow my pride.

He was thrilled when I suddenly appeared at his doorstep. Within days, he handed me control of the Dale Corporation and told me to learn how to run it.

I'd never considered myself particularly sharp, but for her, I took on the massive responsibility of this company and pushed myself to master it.

At a business dinner, I finally met Carter Hall.

I had no patience for small talk and got straight to the point: I needed him to let her go.

He was an experienced businessman, showing no emotion, but that night, he drank heavily.

When I got home, my father was furious.

The Dales and the Halls were equally powerful. Provoking them recklessly wouldn't help our family.

His cane struck me again and again, but the pain didn't register. My mind was consumed with worry for my quiet little one. Carter was drunk, what if he took it out on her?

As soon as the old man finished venting, I rushed to the Hall villa.

The sight that greeted me nearly broke me.

Her clothes were torn, a knife lodged in her chest, and she was covered in blood.

For a moment, I thought she was gone.

I snapped back to reality and knocked Carter to the ground with a single punch.

Ignoring his furious shouts, I threw my jacket over her, lifted her, and rushed to the hospital.

Only after the surgery was over did my heart finally return to my chest.

When I turned to face Carter, rage flooded back. I called security and had them throw him out of the hospital room.

Once everything settled, the sharp pain in my back hit me.

My wounds hadn't been treated and were bleeding again.

But thinking of her, I didn't feel it.

It turned out she wasn't truly mute.

She'd just experienced something so horrible that she chose silence.

That realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

Why hadn't I found her sooner? Why had she had to endure so much pain alone?

She looked at me with those intense eyes and asked, "Do you believe me?"

My chest tightened. What kind of suffering had she endured to make her value trust so much?

Without hesitation, I nodded. "I believe you."

Her smile, bright and warm, was like the sun breaking through the clouds.

She wanted a divorce.

I promised her I would protect her, that she could finally feel safe.

But every second she spent in the Hall family home made me anxious.

Then came that day, the memorial service for Mr. Hall.

It happened again.

A video of her being violated was played on the big screen.

She stood there, frozen, her body trembling until she lost control and wet herself.

And Carter, Carter just stood across from her, frowning.

She was completely alone in that moment, and I knew I had to step in.

Covering my ears, my heart ached in a way I'd never known before.

But Lindsey, she's a strong woman.

When I reached out to pull her up, she was already fighting her way out of the darkness, struggling to regain control of herself.

Those who hurt her got what they deserved.

And she, too, was ready to start over.

I took care of her, making sure I understood her needs and feelings.

At the start of the new year, I gathered all my courage and proposed to her.

The custom-made engagement ring fit perfectly on her finger, it looked beautiful.

I worked even harder to be good to her, and she did her best to respond in kind. But healing doesn't happen overnight.

I'm willing to wait.

I'll wait until my girl fully accepts me, until she regains the pure happiness she once had.