00:00My name is Bridget. I am 28 years old.
00:04My father died when I was a young child, only 7 years old.
00:10I grew up with my mother, Martina.
00:14She was a very strong woman.
00:16She was also very beautiful.
00:20But my mother did not only want happiness.
00:24She wanted power.
00:26She wanted money.
00:28Lots of money.
00:29These were the most important things for her.
00:34My mother often told me that love was not important at all.
00:39She said love could not buy you a nice home or a nice car.
00:44But I always believed in love.
00:47I thought love was the most important thing a person could have.
00:53I dreamed of a life filled with true love.
00:56Then I met Conrad.
00:59I was 23 years old when I met him.
01:03He was a quiet man.
01:05Conrad did not have a lot of money.
01:08His job was not grand, and he did not come from a rich family.
01:14He did not have a big house or a nice car.
01:18But Conrad had something much better.
01:22He had a very kind heart.
01:25We fell in love very quickly.
01:27I felt safe with him.
01:30We decided to get married.
01:33It was a small wedding.
01:34I wore a beautiful white dress.
01:39Conrad looked very handsome in his suit.
01:42I thought I would live a happy life with Conrad.
01:47But I did not know that my mother Martina had different plans.
01:54At first, my mother Martina did not like Conrad.
01:58She said he was not good enough for me.
02:01She thought he had no money.
02:04This made me sad.
02:06But my love for Conrad was strong.
02:09I thought she would accept him.
02:11After some weeks, I saw a change.
02:16Martina stopped speaking bad about Conrad.
02:20This was a surprise.
02:22I thought she was finally seeing his good heart.
02:26Then her actions changed more.
02:29She began to watch Conrad closely.
02:33There was a strange look in her eyes.
02:37My mother asked Conrad many questions.
02:40She wanted to know about his work and future dreams.
02:45She never showed this much interest in my life.
02:50Martina's came to our house almost every day.
02:54She said she missed me.
02:56But her eyes were always on Conrad.
02:59One evening, Conrad and I were at home.
03:03Martina came to visit and stayed late.
03:07I went to the kitchen for water.
03:10As I walked in, I saw Martina and Conrad near the table.
03:16Martina was touching Conrad's hand.
03:19My heart stopped beating.
03:21I could not move or speak.
03:24My mother, Martina, wanted Conrad.
03:28She wanted my husband.
03:30The man I loved.
03:32The man I married.
03:33My simple, happy life was broken.
03:38Martina gave my husband many expensive gifts.
03:42Things I never got.
03:43I began to feel like a stranger in my own home.
03:49Conrad told me,
03:51Bridget, I only love you.
03:53I wanted to believe him, but I could not.
03:57Sometimes my mother called him late at night.
04:02I wanted to shout at her.
04:04I wanted to tell her to stop.
04:07But she was my mother.
04:09I couldn't not fight with her.
04:13I felt lost and did not know what to do.
04:18Then one evening, I found a letter.
04:21It was hidden inside Conrad's jacket.
04:25My heart began to beat fast.
04:27I knew it was not a letter from me.
04:30I opened the letter.
04:32It was Martina's, my mother's handwriting.
04:36The letter said,
04:38Leave Bridget.
04:39Be mine.
04:40I will give you everything.
04:43My own mother had written this to my husband.
04:46She wanted him to leave me.
04:49I could not breathe.
04:51I went to Conrad.
04:52I put the letter on the table.
04:55He looked up surprised.
04:57He read the letter.
04:58Bridget?
04:59He said.
05:00I never answered her.
05:02I never wanted her.
05:03You must believe me.
05:05I only love you.
05:08Tears filled my eyes.
05:10He saw my sadness.
05:11He stood up and held me close.
05:14I knew he was telling the truth.
05:16He would never hurt me.
05:19Martina soon found out.
05:21She was very angry.
05:23You are so blind, Bridget.
05:25She shouted.
05:26Conrad only stays with you because he is weak.
05:30You do not deserve him.
05:32I did not know what to say.
05:36After that day, Martina said bad things about me and Conrad.
05:42She said we fight.
05:43I felt alone and scared.
05:46I thought about leaving Conrad.
05:49Perhaps if I left, the problems would stop.
05:53But then I looked at Conrad.
05:55He was my husband.
05:56I remembered why I loved him so much.
06:01He held my hand.
06:03We will fight this together, Bridget.
06:06He said.
06:07She will not win.
06:09We are stronger together.
06:12We looked at each other and knew what to do.
06:15We decided to face Martina together.
06:19We would not let her break our love.
06:21One morning, I decided to follow my mother.
06:27She went to a lawyer's office.
06:29Why was she going to a lawyer?
06:32This was strange.
06:34Martina went inside.
06:36I could hear voices from inside.
06:39I heard my mother's voice.
06:41She was talking about Conrad and me.
06:46She said,
06:46If Bridget and Conrad divorce, I can marry him.
06:52I will also get the property from my late husband.
06:56I could not believe what I heard.
07:00Martina wanted to use Conrad to get more money and our family property.
07:07My mother wanted to destroy my happy life.
07:11I felt angry.
07:12How could a mother do this to her daughter?
07:16I had always thought she loved me, but it was all for herself.
07:23I knew I had to fight.
07:26I had to protect my husband and my life.
07:30The next day, Martina came to our house.
07:34Conrad was in the living room.
07:36She opened the door and walked straight to him.
07:42Then she tried to kiss Conrad.
07:45I was shocked.
07:46I pushed her away from Conrad.
07:49I shouted,
07:50He is my husband.
07:52He is not yours.
07:55My mother got very angry.
07:58She lifted her hand and slapped me on my face.
08:02My cheek got red.
08:04My eyes filled with tears.
08:06But I was not afraid anymore.
08:10I said,
08:11You will never win.
08:14Martina held papers.
08:16She walked to Conrad.
08:18Conrad, she said.
08:20I have good news.
08:22These papers can make you rich.
08:24Sign these papers and get money.
08:26Just divorce Bridget and marry me.
08:30You will be rich.
08:32She wanted to trick Conrad with money.
08:35But Conrad loved me.
08:37Not money.
08:38He looked at Martina.
08:40I do not want your money, Conrad said.
08:45I will never leave Bridget.
08:47I will never betray her.
08:49Then Conrad took the papers from Martina and tore them into small pieces.
08:57Martina's face turned red.
08:59She turned to me.
09:01Bridget, she cried.
09:03I love Conrad.
09:04I cannot stop myself.
09:07Please understand.
09:08She looked very sad.
09:11You are my mother, I told her.
09:13But you are my enemy now.
09:16You tried to destroy my life.
09:18You tried to take my husband.
09:21Martina finally gave up.
09:24She ran out of our house.
09:26Conrad and I looked at each other.
09:29We knew the fight was over.
09:31We knew our love was strong.
09:34Our marriage was not broken.
09:37It was stronger.
09:39We were finally free.
09:41We decided to leave the old town.
09:44We wanted a fresh start.
09:46We found a small house with a garden in a new town.
09:52Conrad found a new job.
09:55I cooked dinner and took care of the house.
09:58I thought about Martina sometimes.
10:02She stayed in the old town.
10:05She lost her name, her daughter, and everything because of her greed.
10:12Real love needs two people who choose each other every day.
10:18If you liked this story, please like, comment, share, and subscribe.
10:24Don't forget to subscribe.
10:25Don't forget to subscribe.
10:25Like, share, and subscribe.
10:27END
10:27Joyce
10:27Pen twin
10:28Elizabeth
10:29The
10:35Little
