Still, Tina knew she was in the hospital as she picked up the scent of antiseptic in the air.As she just woke up, her mind was muddledâall she remembered was being in Henry's car, where he took advantage of her being drugged to force her to lose herself.Her rationality crumbled under the drug, but just as she thought Henry would get what she wanted, she realized she was on her period and stopped resisting.Even if Henry hated her, he would not do it when she was having her period, and he had no choice but to take her to the hospital.As the rest of her memories were a mess, she did not bother to remember that her drug-fueled self was getting intimate with Henry.She slowly got up, smiling in disdain when she realized that she was alone.How pragmatic of Henryâas soon as he realized he could not screw her, he only took her to the hospital and left without waiting a single second.She did not hesitate to get out of bed, since she was fine now that the drug had worn off.She was
John glanced at Tina. "Thank you."The drawing room light was directly in front of him, and the glow made his eyes radiant as he watched her.Unable to meet his gaze, Tina quickly headed to the tearoom to avoid him.Madam Barnes made some small talk with John in the meantime before excusing herself to the tearoom.Tina was still brewing tea and greeted Madam Barnes as she watched Madam Barnes enter. "Grandma.""What do you think of John?" Madam Barnes asked right away.She was very much satisfied with John, and she immediately thought of the Levines and John when she decided to arrange a blind date for Tina.Despite that, she also understood that even if she thought the world of Tina and that she deserved anyone, neither John nor the Levines would agree.She just wanted to get someone who would take care of Tina and not hurt her, which was why she was ready to pick John's cousin instead.Even if he would not have actual authority, they were close, and John had always watched o
Henry smiled slightly, expressionless as he strode in."Family? Have I missed something?" he asked evenly as he took off his coat and passed it to a maid. Walking up to the couch, he subtly glanced at Tina before sitting down opposite John, folding his legs while leveling his cool visage at John.Then, as if finding the room too hot, he reached up and loosened a couple of buttons on his collar.He looked pointedly at John, hiding a smile as he adjusted this collar.From John's point of view, he just happened to be able to see the many hickeys beneath.Judging from the hue, they were recentâand it went without saying who had done it.Even as John's gaze darkened, Henry stayed silentâa quiet provocation and an assertion of advantage.After all, he had told John more than once that Tina was his.On the other hand, Madam Barnes could not see what Henry was doing, only seeing that nonchalant expression on his face."You missed everything."She almost said that out loud, as she h
Having no memories of the past five years, to Madam Barnes, Henry's words seemed to show that he still did not care for Tina, even using her lowly status to hurt her.She shot Henry a glare, but she could not humiliate him that much either.Taking Tina's hand and squeezing it as a silent assurance, she said very quietly, "Who is Tina, you ask? I've told you all this while that she's a member of the Barnes family."She had never announced it because she had hopes that things would work out between Henry and Tina.If she announced it, that would really make Tina Henry's sister, and it would be incest if they got together.She did not think that staying her hand allowed Henry to exploit that fact just to hurt Tina.As such, she announced, "I will pick an auspicious date where I formally announce Tina as my god-granddaughter, and she will formally be a daughter of this family."It was as much as a retort to Henry as it was a praise for Tina for John's sake, while cutting off any cha
That was exactly what bothered Tina, as she could not come up with an idea that would stop Madam Barnes from arranging more blind dates for her once and for all, and without wounding Madam Barnes."As for me, I'm sure you've heard the rumors about me," John continued quietly."AhâĶ Ahem." Tina could not help clearing her throat.She was not really a part of Jadelight's elite circles, but she did hear gossip about him.John was twenty-eight just like Henry, and their families were equal in standing. On top of that, they were equally successful heirs, but John also stayed well away from romantic affairs.He was never seen with a woman, unlike Henry, who went public about his affair with Linda as early as in university.As such, rumors started to spread that John preferred men, and suddenly every man was scrutinized under a microscope, as they were all speculated to be his lover.Naturally, Tina had not been curious before, but she was curious now as humans were creatures of gossi
Tina was trying to draw the attention of the servants, but none of them were coming."Heh." Henry snorted, reading her mind.Tina realized right then that Henry had sent them away, and none of them would come no matter how much she yelled.Since there was no help in sight, Tina raised her hand, ready to hit Henry, only for him to grab her wrist and pull. Then, he shoved her against the craggy boulder, leaving her grimacing in pain and kicking at him. "Get off me!"However, Henry pressed his own legs on hers, keeping her immobile as he grabbed her chin to force her to meet his gaze, snapping demandingly, "You don't like John Levine. Tell Grandma that right now."Tina glowered. "Why should I listen to you?!" Who did he think he was?!"Why, you ask?! Because you're my woman!" Henry bellowed, not hiding his possessiveness at all. "As long as I don't consent to it, you're not hooking up with another man, you hear me?!"Such was the worst attribute of menâeven if Henry never loved
Tina returned to Madam Barnes' house.Remembering that Henry got in her room even though she locked the door, she headed to Madam Barnes' room, hugging her arm and asking tenderly, "Grandma, may I stay with you tonight?""Of course! I'd love that." Madam Barnes smiled lovingly, patting her head.With that, Tina slept beside Madam Barnes, hugging her arm and sleeping soundly.It was a rare moment for Madam Barnes, as she watched Tina huddled so closely to her under the bed lamp.The child had always been sweet toward her, and she could see that Tina really did not despise her at all.It was unlike Irene, who always greeted her 'grandma' sweetly, but cringed from her being old.The thought left Madam Barnes' gaze tender as she watched Tina.Meanwhile, Henry arrived outside Tina's room in the dead of the night, glowering as he looked into her empty room.She was hiding from him!-Tina was still clinging to Madam Barnes' arm the next morning, and they headed to the dining room
John chuckled. "Just keeping up the act. Don't worry about it."Tina's mind was considerably eased nonetheless. "Can you take me to the hotel yesterday first, John? I left my bag there."Just addressing John by his first name left his eyes lighting up, though he shook his head. "I picked it up for you last night. It's in the backseat."Tina turned and saw that it really was, and she picked it up. "Thanks."She took out her phone, but it was turned off since it had run out of battery.John took it off her hands as if it was only natural and started charging it."Thanks," she said again.John smiled at her in exasperation. "People who are dating aren't this formal."Tina blushed in turnâshe had never gone on dates before.As soon as she knew love, she became completely obsessed with Henry.It was not as if she had no admirers, but she simply had no eyes for anyone else.But before long, Henry got together with Linda, and though what had happened five years ago kept them togeth
As Linda vomited, she also coughed out the dirty rag from her mouth, and it landed on herself along with her own vomit."Argh!"But as Linda screamed hysterically, the dirty rag was shoved into her open mouth again, stopping her from yelling or calling for help.Various colors alternated over Linda's faceâshe could not stand such disgust and retched again.She shook her head repeatedly as well, trying to get the rag out.This time, the woman shoved the rag deep, blocking her vomit completely.Linda was left spasming in misery, almost passing out from sheer disgust, and could die right then!At that point, the pride she carried at the start was completely gone.She leveled a tearful, pleading look at the moment, her tone muffled but clearly apologetic.But it was too lateâand on top of that, the damsel in distress trick worked with men but only invoked disgust in other women.And to no surprise, the woman glared at Linda hatefully as she kicked her to the floor, snorting in di
That was when Henry, his eyes ablaze, asked Tina, "Why did you say that at the hospital earlier?"Tina closed her eyes and did not answer.The fact that Henry asked it meant he had already convinced himself that Linda was Orange, and Tina was not.Seeing that Tina was ignoring him, Henry's lips twitched, but he stayed silent.Once they reached the hospital, Tina alighted immediately.Henry did not, instead telling Andy to take him to hospital where Rory was to keep her company.-At the precinct, Linda was led to a cell.Having led a life of privilege, Linda definitely could not stand the environment in there and was frowning as soon as she was in.The air inside was stagnant, and there were many different scents in the mix, and it left her sickened as soon as it hit her nostrils.On top of that, the woman closest to her had a foul body odor, and she immediately snapped in disgust, "Get away from me. Don't you know that you stink?"Over the last two years, Linda had been faw
Linda's eyes lit up at Henry's quiet responseâhe trusted her.But before she could get all smug about it, Henry continued, "If it really wasn't you, the cops will maintain your innocence once their investigation is complete."When he told Tina that they could not believe Mrs. Fuller entirely to pin the crime on Linda, he did not say it to protect LindaâMrs. Fuller did not produce solid evidence that proved it was Linda.But he would not stop the cops getting involved, and he would not protect Linda if her guilt was proven.Linda's eyes widened in disbelief. "HenryâĶ You don't believe me?"Henry shook his head. "I believe you. But if it really wasn't you, why would you be worried?"The cops will uncover the truth and prove it wasn't you. And when Tina understands that it wasn't you, she won't get to keep accusing you!"Linda's heart skipped a beat, holding Henry's gaze with a look of grief as she sobbed, "Why would I be worried? I didn't do it! It's not like I'm upset that the cop
Linda wiped her tears and looked at Tina fearlessly. "Yeah! Go on, Tina! You said I'm not Orange, so where's your proof?!"As she was behind Henry, she leveled a contemptuous leer at Tina that basically goaded her to show proof if she could!She really loved it when Tina knew the truth but still could not do a thing about it!So what if Tina was Orange? Henry would never believe her from her words alone, and the only one who had proof could no longer talk.What did Linda have to fear?Still, Henry's question restored Tina's rationality.She could not remember the childhood memories she had of Henry, and now, Linda left her mother a vegetable.That meant she had no way to prove she was Orange.It was only in her frustration that she said Linda was not Orange, because Henry was stubbornly defending Linda.And since there was no proof and Henry obviously would not believe her, there was no reason to keep pressing the issue, or she would just humiliate herself.She had already
Smack!Tina slapped Henry across the face furiously, cutting him short while her chest heaved with rage.He was really blindâMrs. Fuller had already made herself so clear, and he would still defend Linda!He already mindlessly protected Linda even after she murdered Sophie two years ago, and now, he was still doing the same after Linda almost killed her mother, leaving her a vegetable!To him, Sophie and Mrs. Smith's lives were trivialâonly Linda mattered!The more Tina was reminded of Sophie's senseless death and her mother being comatose, the more furious she was!A slap was certainly not enough.Her eyes red, she started punching Henry's body, leaving him frowning and grabbing her wrists to stop her. "Just calm down for now, Tina."Now was not the time to be rash.He had many questions that needed answering."Calm down?!" Tina bellowed. "Linda has already murdered Sophie, and now, she has left my mom a vegetable! And you're telling me to calm down?! My mom must have been b
Tina glared viciously at Henry, who was pig-brained whenever Linda was concerned. "That pendant was never Linda's! She got it from someone else! You had the wrong person from the start!"If it was not for her mother, Madam Barnes, and Sophie's sake, she would not even bother talking to Henry, as she did not want him to keep protecting Linda mindlessly because he thought she was her savior.Otherwise, he could treat Linda as whoever he thought she wasâshe would not care!Henry stared at Tina in turn, asking before he knew it, "If Linda isn't Orange, then who is?"That was when Linda suddenly appeared at the doorway, crying out tearfully before Tina could speak, "Tina! What do I have to do for you to stop?!"You paid off Zach Foster to try to turn Henry against me! Now that it has gone south, you're lying to Henry that I'm not Orange! What do you want from me?!"And I'm not Orange, you say? Then who's Orange? You?!"However, Tina's eyes flared with irrational hatred the instant Li
Henry's eyes widened, unable to believe what he was hearing.It was Linda? How could it be so?!On the other hand, Mrs. Fuller could not help cringing from the cold air that seemed to spill from Henry.There was no turning back now that she already betrayed Linda, and she was genuinely terrified of Henry. As such, she decided to turn to Tina, who, between the two, was much more agreeable.She really did not want to end up in prison, and hence started begging, "Please, Ms. SmithâI'll tell you everything I know, just don't call the cops on me."Trust meâI never wanted to hurt your motherâĶ But Linda Cook paid me so much, and I was tricked into doing such a thing."I have a big family with many mouths to feedâĶ they're all hopeless without me. And you're so kindâyou're not going to destroy my family, right?"Mrs. Fuller could have spent the money for her son's future, and then assumed a new identity to keep working.But now that she was exposed, she thought she could bank on Tina'
"Argh!!!"Mrs. Fuller could feel her collarbone breaking, and the agony left her face contorting!At that moment, she realized that Tina and Henry might have noticed something.But that should not be possible!She made sure the hallways were clear and even closed the curtains just in case.No one should have known!Still, even as Mrs. Fuller panicked, she told herself to stay calm.That was when Tina pulled out the IV drip needle and got out of bed."Tina!"Henry noticed that right away and turned to hold her down by her shoulder. "Just leave this to me. I'll make sure she suffers."She was too weak now, after all.However, Tina shook his hand off and strode toward Mrs. Fuller.Henry frowned but did not stop her since she was insistent, staying behind her while keeping a close eye on her.Mrs. Fuller was naturally relieved that it was Tina, who was definitely more agreeable between her and Henry.Henry was so scary that just one look made Mrs. Fuller think she was going t
However, Mrs. Fuller soon composed herself and leveled a wounded look at Tina."If you think it's my fault that this happened to Mrs. Smith, then I quit!" she snapped, tears welling up in her eyes as she complained, looking utterly aggrieved. "I believe I've done everything I could to take good care of your mother and have never once slacked. She has been good to me and treated me like her sister."I know that Mrs. Smith had an accident while I was away, and you held it against me. That was my negligence, and I'm sorry because I shouldn't have left her alone."But you can't blame her for going to shock me over one instance of negligence. You have no evidence and yet you still suspect me! You're breaking my heart!"However, Tina's question was just probing at best.There were just too many coincidencesâMrs. Smith first had an accident, and then went into shock in the half hour when she was gone.But it would all make sense if this was all done on purpose.And if it was, then Mrs.