Chapter 5. Daddy, Let Me Explain

• The young girl looked at him sadly, by now she could feel her heart shrinking at the treatment and contempt of her own father, it was unbelievable how the man who was supposed to protect her, care for her, love her, treated her in such an inhuman way, she could no longer hold back her tears at these thoughts, she wiped them quickly, despite all this, she felt the need to give him an explanation, to try to appease his anger and make him understand what had happened, she longed so much for a little consideration from him.
• "Dad, let me explain, things are not like you think, at no time did I steal my sister's car, she gave it to me to go to the car..." but she could not continue with her explanation because before she could react, he gave her a couple of loud slaps that made her turn her face from side to side, leaving her chewed handprints.
• "Shut up, you wretch! I don't know how you can behave like this, trying to sully your sister's good name so you can get away with it. You're a wretch, you creep, but I won't let you, Lynnet is not alone, she has me to protect her from a harpy like you, how can you treat someone who only wants your good with evil?"
• "Dad, listen to me! Please, it's not like that, let me tell you how it all happened," the girl begged in a pleading tone, seeking his sympathy. Her eyes, wet from the accumulated tears that were about to overflow, were so fragile and helpless in the face of a completely violent man who refused to listen to her explanation.
• For a few seconds she thought she could hold him back, but a moment later she could see that it was not so, the father was out of his mind, without thinking about how much he was hurting her, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of bed in one fell swoop, dragging her across the room until he took her out into the hallway, he cared little for the young woman's state of health, in front of everyone's surprised look, she refused to go on, he turned around and hit her with his open hand, blow after blow, while the girl protected her face to avoid being hurt in that place.
• "You bitch! You wretch! You're shameless, I'll teach you to respect your sister!" Jonas insulted her, energetically, without measuring the consequences of his actions.
• People watched them with curiosity, but everyone remained passive, silent, no one tried to protect her, let alone defend her, for they firmly believed that a father had every right to discipline his daughter, and many recognised Jonas' identity as one of the richest men in the country.
• "Daddy... I beg you, don't hurt me anymore," she said without stopping crying. "You're hurting me, please, Daddy, no more!" the girl pleaded in agony, her arm aching, the skin on her face burning, her head numb.
• Nearby, Christian watched the scene, feeling sorry for the girl, he had recognised her instantly, she was the same one he had collided with when she had crossed his path. He couldn't help but wonder how a father could treat his own daughter like this.
• He knew how despicable Jonah was, one of the worst, but he never imagined that he was capable of treating his own flesh and blood in such a vile manner. He walked towards the hustle and bustle because he wanted to intervene in her defence, he couldn't allow this man to treat his daughter like this, but just then the assistant who was attending to Sally called him.
• "Mr. Goldman, the doctor is waiting for you," the woman said as she waited for him at the door.
• For a moment he hesitated, whether to go to the doctor or to come to the girl's defence, but again weighing the immense affection he felt for Sally, he turned and left the scene to attend to his friend's business.
• "Yes, all right, I'll come," she replied, unable to suppress the uncomfortable tightness in her chest, the cause of which she had no idea.
• *****
• Lynda's father continued to beat her, mercilessly exposing her to the pitying gaze of those present, until the attending doctor entered the area and saw the scene unfold before his eyes.
• "What are you doing!!! How can you even think of mistreating a patient like this?" he asked, angrily.
• "Mind your own business! She's my daughter! I have every right to discipline her," the man said in a tone that brooked no argument.
• "You're wrong! Even if she is your daughter, you have no right to treat her like this, especially when she is recovering from an accident, either you stop right now or I will call the authorities and accuse you of causing a disturbance in a health centre," the doctor said firmly.
• "Do you know who I am?" the man asked arrogantly.
• "I don't care if you are the prince of this country, the prime minister or the most powerful man in the world, this is a hospital, she is my patient and in this place I am the ultimate monarch," he motioned to the security guards who were standing nearby waiting for instructions. "Take him out!" he ordered.
• As they pulled him out, the man tried to break free, shouting at the doctor.
• "You don't know who I am, I swear you'll pay for this, I'll have this damn hospital shut down!"
• The doctor ignored her screams and turned his attention to the young woman to help her, but the girl was not only a sea of tears, she was so beaten that she could barely stand, he had to lift her in his arms and carry her into the room, the girl hiding her face in his chest.
• "I'm sorry!" she cried, seeing that she had filled the doctor's coat with tears and snot.
• "Why are you apologising?" he asked her, "you haven't done anything wrong, you're just a victim."
• "Because I'm dirtying his robe and because I don't have to pay for my stay here, I have no health insurance, no money and apparently no family to vouch for me either, I'm all alone in the world, I have no one," she said, lowering her head in shame.
• "You have nothing to be ashamed of, don't cry, I'm not going to throw you out! I own this place and I'll let you off the hook." He tried to reassure her, feeling sorry for the girl.
• She looked at him for a moment and took off the chain.
• "Then charge it to me, because I don't like to owe anyone anything," she declared firmly, lifting her chin in an expression of proud courage.
• Pride rears its head when everyone around you does.