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."Ah… 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 men—even 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 turn—she 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
[I'm sorry, the device you called has been turned off.]Hearing the answering machine, Tina calmed down—SJ should be asleep at this hour.She sent a text instead: [Call me when you wake up.]With that, she slid her phone back into her handbag and was heading down the subway station when a car honk blared behind her.She turned to find John's black Maybach still waiting there—he had never left.Tina returned to it, ready to thank him again, but soon remembered what he said about being too formal and stopped herself."Not bad." John's lips curled into a small smile in praise.Tina sighed in exasperation at him in turn, and as they locked gazes, they could not help laughing.In that moment, Tina felt like she had grown closer to John despite that invisible ravine separating them.Nonetheless, she asked, "If Madam Barnes arranged for me to meet you, then why was it Martin who picked me up?" She was not blaming him—she just wanted the truth.John sighed in exasperation. "I was
"It's all here," SJ replied as he slid the file on all the information he had gathered to Tina.Tina took it and paid the remaining balance. "I'll reach out again when I need your help."Having received his payment, SJ nodded and left.Tina quickly opened the envelope, reading through everything carefully for anything she could use—but there was nothing worthwhile even after she flipped through everything.SJ was a very famous PI in Jadelight, but even he could not find any leverage against Linda.That meant anyone else would fail just the same.Tina was left staring fixedly on the last page, overwhelmed by the helplessness she felt inside.The only one who knew that Linda had poached the kidney meant for Sophie was Quentin, and he was dead.Naturally, Tina had sought out Quentin's wife, but the woman knew nothing.She told Tina that Quentin had arranged everything, stopping her from donating her kidney to Sophie.As for who it was or even whether Quentin was paid for it, Que
Heartbroken, Linda was forced to head abroad.At that time, Stan and his friends saw how depressed Henry was.That was why it was not just Henry who despised Tina—being his close friends, Stan and the rest of Henry's buddies all despised Tina as well.Even if Tina had a child with Henry, none of them cared.However, even as Stan ranted on indignantly for Henry's benefit, he suddenly realized that instead of calming down, Henry looked ready to snap.If anything, it looked like…"Wait, have you fallen for Tina?!" Stan asked with a dumbfounded look.Even he doubted that was the case as he asked that question.Henry had spent years looking for Linda, and when he finally did, he immediately spoiled her rotten, obsessing over her in mind and spirit.Why would he ever fall for a scheming bitch like Tina?Indeed, Henry's expression changed as he gave Stan an incredulous look.There was no way he would fall for Tina!"Exactly!" Stan laughed. "Why would you ever fall for Tina?!"He
After being together for four years, Olivia and Stan naturally had their disagreements.However, no matter how much Stan hurt Olivia, she could never bring herself to break up with him.And on every occasion, he just had to sweet talk her a little, and she was suddenly clinging to him again.Her friends always called her a loser for that, but she just could not help it—she loved him, even if she bent herself backward doing so.It was to the point that Stan could now frolic with other women right in front of her to hurt her and humiliate her, because he was dead sure that she would never leave him.As Tina started to leave the clubhouse, she had to walk past clubroom 888 on her way out.She hence saw Olivia, and that Stan was frolicking with Amber inside the clubroom.She knew that Stan was Henry's close friend, and that Olivia was Stan's girlfriend.But she only knew them—over the last five years, Henry had never brought her along to meet them.Tina did not want to care, but s
As soon as Henry heard that Tina was hurt and hospitalized, he got into his car and rushed to the hospital, only to see John touching her upon arrival.However, John had already been furious with Henry when he found Tina in her tragic state.If he had not dumped her at that isolated place, she would not have suffered so much.Hence, John stood up.Henry presumed that he was backing down and released his grip, only for John to suddenly get up and punch him in the face viciously.It came so quickly it caught Henry off guard, and it struck him true.While John was a gentleman, and this was the first time that he had ever punched anyone, he did it so viciously.Henry stumbled backward once before catching his balance and felt blood in his mouth.Still, his face contorted savagely, but as he was about to return the punch, Tina suddenly got out of bed.She knew him too well and scrambled out of bed to stand in front of John.Henry's eyes widened and promptly stopped, his fist just
"Tina!" John cried, grimacing in heartache as he dropped to one knee, wrapping his coat around her before carefully picking her up.However, she was hurting everywhere after the robber kicked her repeatedly.She gasped in pain without knowing as John touched her and could not see where she was hurt under her clothes.She was not loud, but the pain in his eyes showed even more.He gathered her in his arms even more carefully this time, while Ian drove over in his black Maybach.Ian opened the door, and John put Tina in the backseat, barking, "Get us to the hospital!"At his order, Ian floored the gas pedal and sped off.-Much later, John was sitting by a hospital bed, his eyes fixed on Tina, who lay frailly on it.The doctor told him that Tina was bruised all over, clearly having been kicked repeatedly.John's heart clenched at the thought, his pain welling out.That was when Tina woke up and found herself staring at John's dark gaze right away.She was awake but also felt
The robber started fantasizing—once he got rich, he would kick his wife and the three money sinks to the curb and get himself a young pretty face to carry his genes.With that thought, he cheerfully returned to his bike and sped off, not caring about what happened to Tina.She lay on the ground, watching as the last thing she kept of Sophie disappeared from her sight, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Sophie…"In time, her body slowly turned stiff from the cold as she lay on the icy ground.Her tears would dry up quickly, but more would flow soon after.There was no telling how long had passed before she completely passed out.-After getting Henry's call, Andy promptly drove to where Tina was, but she was not there when he arrived.He alighted and yelled, "Ms. Smith!"There was no response, so he returned to his car and called Henry, but the call was cut off right away.After all, Henry had called him to pick Tina up while he sent his people to save Linda. At this time, he m
Furious, the robber lunged at Tina viciously. "You bitch! You asked for this!"Tina was flat on her back and did not have the strength to fight back as the robber charged at her again.She could only curl up to hold onto the necklace containing Sophie's bone."Give it up!" However, the robber was a blue collar worker and very strong.His hands were like pliers that grabbed firmly on her arm as he attempted to unfold her.He did not expect Tina to hold on so tightly that his temple veins were bulging, and he could not even pull her arm off."Fuck! Don't think I can't make you budge!" he swore as he sprang to his feet again. Unable to pull her off, he kicked her repeatedly.He did not hold back, just like how he never held back on beating his wife whenever he got too drunk.In fact, he was furious this time and kicked Tina even harder.However, Tina only curled into herself even tighter amid the pain.Even as she started blacking out, she held onto the necklace containing
Tina was the one who had taken care of Sophie from birth.Since jewelry was cumbersome when taking care of children, she was used to not wearing it even after Sophie's death.At most, she wore a watch to work—hers was not all that valuable, but she took it off even though it was hidden under her sleeve.Having given the robber everything, and seeing that he was still measuring her from head to toe, she said earnestly, "I really have nothing else."She had been very compliant, and the robber believed her and started stuffing everything into the handbag.However, just as he was about to get on his bike, he spotted the necklace around Tina's neck.His face dropping, he hung the handbag on the bike while snarling as he returned to Tina, grabbing her shoulder, "You bitch! You lied to me!"He was a big man and could crush her collarbone right then.Even as Tina shuddered in pain, she did not know what had gotten the robber upset, fighting back her panic as she said, "I've really give
It was a voice that would invoke any man's chivalry."I won't leave!" Henry promised Linda again.Relieved, Linda calmly closed her eyes, her breathing turning rhythmic.Thinking that she was asleep, Henry pulled his hand away…"Henry!"Linda promptly jolted awake, her eyes wide open.However, seeing that Henry was just moving to sit by the bed, she calmly closed her eyes again, this time holding firmly on his shirt to keep him.Nothing would change, even if Henry found out that Tina was not the one who had drugged him five years ago!In his mind, Linda would always be his savior, the woman he loved the most!He would love her like nothing ever happened no matter what she had gone through, and Tina had no right to compete with her!-Meanwhile, Tina continued walking along the eerily silent road after Henry had left her there.She would be lying if she said she was not scared, but she fought her fear and hurried along.It would take several hours to reach the city, but tha
It was a line that reminded Henry of that moment five years ago, and he nodded. "Yeah. I told you I'd never let you get hurt again, Linda."The single line offered Linda assurance, and she threw herself into Henry's arms."Henry…" She sobbed endlessly, at once hysterical and miserable. "You came for me!"Pained, Henry pursed his lips and scooped her up in his arms. "It's alright. I'm taking you home right now.""Yeah," Linda murmured, hugging his neck and pressing her cheek against his chest, shuddering endlessly.She seemed horrified, refusing to leave his embrace.And that was how Henry carried her to his car, quietly telling the chauffeur to head to Rose Garden.It was almost ten when they arrived.As Henry carried Linda inside as well, the maid heard them and came out.Bowing respectfully at the two when she saw them, she said, "Mr. Barnes, Ms. Cook. Rory's asleep.""Good," Henry replied quietly and leaned down to tell Linda tenderly, "We're home, Linda."Linda did not s
Seeing that Henry was stopping to listen, the man's eyes lit up with hope, and he quickly said, "It's the truth, Mr. Barnes—I'm not lying! She really came on to us!"That woman's acting was just too good.If they had not personally been there, even they would have doubted that the same person who came on to them was also the same person who had accused them!"It's the truth, Mr. Barnes!" the other man promptly echoed, his tone earnest as he tried to convince Henry.Regret was twisting their insides to a bunch too, as they did not have evidence—if they did, they would have shown it!They had been feeling gleeful earlier that they were doing it in a place without cameras.And now, they could not even defend themselves!Henry looked at them then.He could see that they were just stopping short of swearing it was the truth, and there was no hint of guilt in their eyes as they looked at him in turn."No!!! Get away from me!!! Please don't touch me!!! Henry!!! Henry!!!"But even as
Henry's eyes were on Tina even as he held his cigarette and answered the phone.Tina ignored him as he had clearly mentioned Linda's name to screw with her, but just as she got up, Henry's face dropped.He dropped his cigarette on her too, and she flinched in pain, losing her balance and falling again.However, Henry was busy assuring Linda endlessly as she screamed in terror on the other end. "Calm down! I'm coming right now—I'll save you! It's alright!"He did not hang up as he continued offering words of comfort, completely ignoring Tina as if she was never there.As soon as he returned to his car, he floored the gas pedal, disappearing into the night."Henry Barnes!" Tina yelled just as she got up, but her voice was drowned out by the roaring engine, and she was left standing as she watched Henry's car disappear from sight.A cold breeze blew just then, and the rustle of leaves echoed on both sides of the road.As Tina shuddered, she picked up her bag from the ground and to