At 65, a widower thought he’d spend his last years alone—until he fell in love with his friend’s much younger daughter. Despite her father’s furious opposition, the two fought for their love and eventually married.
But on their wedding night, joy turned to heartbreak. As he helped her out of her gown, he saw fresh wounds across her back. Through tears, she confessed her father had beaten her for “bringing shame” to the family.
The old man’s heart broke. Holding her gently, he promised: “You’ll never be alone again. I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.”
