Chapter 6

The clear smack of the slap echoed, and Tina was stunned by what she had done.

S-She had just slapped Samuel!

Samuel had actually been a little tipsy, but he was fully awake now.

“Ti—na—Lynd!” He snarled every syllable in her name like a raging lion, as if he would tear her into pieces in the next instant because of her insult!

He had strutted over Freesia for over two decades, and everyone held him in reverence, not daring to even get too close.

Therefore, he never could have imagined that he would be tricked by a plain woman, who ended up slapping him afterwards!

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” Tina panicked, and stammered amid Samuel’s wrathful presence, “T-That’s too sudden…”

Samuel had no intention to wait for any explanation, however, and promptly turned to leave!

He was afraid he would tear Tina into pieces if he didn’t, and since she was useful alive, he was not about to let her die so easily!

Tina couldn’t help breathing a sigh of relief just then, since she had thought that she really was going to die…

Still, she was left with a headache—she had clearly resolved to die when she jumped Samuel, but after that failed, she became a little hesitant now!

But did she really have to please Samuel?

After a long night of messy thoughts, Tina woke up the next morning with dark circles under her eyes.

Still, she was pleased that the housekeeper of the main Langford residence showed up once more with great news.

“Mr. Langford is busy, and won’t be here for a week!”

After the housekeeper left, Tina just stopped short of popping fireworks in celebration.

***

During the weekend, Tina received a call from the orphanage.

“Are you free to visit the orphanage this afternoon, Tina? The children miss you.”

Even as the orphanage caretaker spoke, a chorus of children's voices could be heard from the other end, calling out sweetly, “We missed you, pretty lady!”

Tina stayed at the orphanage since she was seven. Although she was adopted by the Lynds under the excuse of charity, she would visit the orphanage from time to time and help as a volunteer.

Tina felt spreading warmth in her heart at the children’s voices—even if the Lynds treated her harshly, everyone at the orphanage granted her warmth as if they were all family.

Remembering that Samuel wouldn’t be back for a week, she agreed without hesitation.

“Alright, just wait right there—I’ll definitely come!”

Indeed, she appeared punctually at the doorstep to the orphanage, and the children were buzzing as they surrounded her.

Nearby, a shady man saw it and immediately made a call.

“Miss Lynd—I’ve found that woman!”

He was speaking to Pearl Lynd, who replied in excitement, “What? You’ve finally found that wretch?! Hurry, give me the address!”

When the black-clad bodyguards stormed into her family’s mansion the other day, Jonah Lynd was under the impression that Mr. Wallace had sent them.

Naturally, he didn’t expect that Mr. Wallace would personally charge into their mansion after the bodyguards left. He slapped Pearl’s father across the face without a word, cursing as he demanded that Tina be returned to him!

The Lynds were naturally dumbstruck, finally realizing then that someone else had taken Tina away!

Afterwards, Mr. Wallace gave them a week—he would come and break the legs of every member of the Lynd family if Tina still didn't show up.

The Lynds had to hire a number of private detectives just to find Tina, and one of them had finally sighted her.

Chuckling with mischief, the private investigator who had found Tina said, “Miss Lynd, about my reward…”

“Cut the crap!” Pearl snapped impatiently. “I’ll pay you double—send me her location this instant!”

After all, what if they were too late and the wretch managed to run away again?!

Then, having received the notification that a transfer had been made, the private investigator quickly gave Pearl the address.

After hanging up on the private investigator, Pearl called Mr. Wallace and said gingerly, “Mr. Wallace, I’ve found that wretch. She’s at Loving Heart Orphanage…’

Mr. Wallace laughed coldly. “Good. I’ll be right there.”

“Have fun, Mr. Wallace!”

Pearl laughed with evil satisfaction as she hung up.

That wretch was finally going to die! The very thought was utterly cathartic!

Meanwhile, Tina was reading a storybook to the children when she heard a car’s honk.

When she looked up to find a black sedan stopping outside the orphanage, she became wary—did the Lynds find her and were taking her home?!

She quickly hid herself and peeked outside.

A young man alighted from the black sedan just then, and he appeared to be of mixed ancestry.

His facial features were pronounced, and the prestigious tailored suit made it obvious that he was rich.

Tina couldn’t help sighing then. It seems that he was here for an adoption instead of capturing her…

The orphanage caretaker went out to meet him just then. “Sir, have you come to apply for an adoption?”

The children were all staring hopefully at the young man, all of them wishing to be adopted.

Nonetheless, the young man shook his head and flatly said, “No, I’ve come to ask for information…”

He spoke to the caretaker for a while, before disappointment showed on his face and he turned to leave.

It was only then that Tina came out of hiding and asked the caretaker in curiosity, “Did he come to adopt a child, madam? Why did he leave so quickly?”

The caretaker shook her head then.

“Poor kid—he said that he was separated from his younger sister when he was a child, and their family had been looking for her for over ten years to no avail. Recently, they found out that she might have been abducted and brought into the country, which was why he came here expressly…”

“Still, if I have to put my finger on it, they won’t find her in the country, let alone in foreign lands. He had made the trip for nothing!”

Tina nodded in agreement and sympathy. “Yeah, it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”

Then, seeing that it’s late, she bade farewell to the caretaker and started to leave.

And yet, she had just reached the door when an MPV screeched to a halt outside, blocking her path.

A pudgy fifty-year-old man alighted right then and glared at her with twisted hatred. “You bitch! Let’s see where you’ll run off to this time!”

Tina felt a chill down her spine right then. The old man is none other than Mr. Wallace, who had tortured and killed countless girls!

He had chased her all the way to the orphanage!