第8部分(第4/6 頁)

an　himself　said　it　was　never　his　intention　to　hurt　anyone。　He　just　wished　to　introduce　these　lonesome　women　to　the　nature　of　true　love。　The　only　way　to　open　up　their　hearts　of　steel　was　by　catching　them　off　guard。　One　day　they’d　thank　him　for　easing　off　their　armour　of　cold　self…sufficiency。

The　victim　impact　reports　were　decisive。　His　actions　obviously　left　them　with　a　trauma　as　bad　as　the　most　vicious；　violent　attacks。

He　was　given　a　long　prison　sentence。　And　a　whole　female　popul…ation　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。

Women　said　to　marry　well　often　marry　badly。　I　pity　any　bride　who　receives　congratulations　on　having　captured　an　eligible　man。　For　this　implies　that　she　has　somehow　got　more　than　she　deserves；　that　her　groom　had　been　expected　to　attract　something　better。

Whether　it　is　looks；　age；　wealth　or　education；　background；　status　or　any　other　mundane　criteria；　by　which　the　world　measures　human　value；　the　message　es　across　clearly：　she　is　lucky；　he　is　not。

It　doesn’t　augur　well　for　the　woman’s　future。　She’ll　be　conde…mned　to　a　life…long　struggle　trying　to　prove　them　all　wrong：　showing　her　husband’s　family　and　friends　that　he　didn’t　make　a　mistake　in　choosing　her。

The　battle　is　hard　to　win；　for　no　amount　of　hard　work；　self…sacrifice　or　moral　rectitude　will　ever　change　the　facts　of　her　beginnings；　gain　her　the　esteem　initially　denied　her。

She　will　always　have　difficulty　asserting　herself；　even　within　her　own　family。　Children　detect　such　weakness　and　are　quick　to　take　advantage；　which　will　further　undermine　her。　Think　of　any　spoilt；　indulged　or　unruly　children　you　know。　Aren’t　they　usually　the　product　of　a　mother　unsure　of　her　role　in　the　home？

It’s　interesting　how　this　trap；　in　which　so　many　women　are　caught；　does　not　s