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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
As Henry arrived downstairs, the robber was on his knees and begging for mercy, after the bodyguards left him bruised and battered.He really got unlucky!Seeing Henry, he confessed everything. "I-I just wanted money!" he cried. "I didn't even want to hurt her. She's crazy—oof!"He had barely finished those words when Henry kicked him in the mouth, sending him to the floor.He clutched his mouth, tasting blood on his own tongue before coughing out blood and several teeth.He was left staring at Henry in fear, wondering what he had done to incur the wrath of that monster.Andy snorted and kicked him too. "Keep talking, but watch your words."The likes of this scum think he could insult Tina?As such, the robber had to fight back the pain and took out the necklace that he had stolen from Tina out of his pocket.Just seeing it again left him frustrated, as he had it appraised, but it was worth less than Tina's coat.Forgetting his pain, he could hardly hide his grief. "She kep
Seeing that the cabbie gave up without a fight, Linda shot him a look of disdain and spat, "Loser!"Peasants would always be peasants—he did not even have the balls to retort!However, the cabbie simply watched her despite her glare of disdain without reacting and kept driving steadily.Linda snorted audibly in turn, rearing her chin while looking outside the window.She finally got slight relief from the frustration of being locked up for forty-eight hours, after all.Nonetheless, the commercial district where she was at was bustling with activity since it was the weekend.The cabbie also made sure to stop where there were most people. Once Linda alighted after paying and steered her wheelchair out of the car, the cabbie suddenly yelled at the crowd, "Look, everyone! It's Linda Cook!"His call was like a clap of thunder, and the crowd was at once restless.She was already slightly famous online because of her relationship with Henry over the last two years.Her fame only sk
Some of the fruits hit Henry on the head, while some dropped on the floor.Even so, Henry never moved, staying on his knees and allowing Mrs. Smith to vent as much as she wanted.He had to do that much after what he did to Sophie and Tina. However, Jimmy snapped right then, "Don't try to make yourself look so pitiful—you heard Mrs. Smith! She told you to leave!"If you actually think you owe her, Tina, and Sophie, then find evidence and avenge Sophie. As long as you don't avenge them, you have no right showing up around them!"Otherwise, Henry did not even get to atone, let alone ask for a second chance!"Please get some proper rest, Mama Orange," Henry said then.He was reluctant to upset Mrs. Smith, and after allowing her to vent briefly, he got up and left.However, he could not help pausing just as he passed Tina, glancing at her with endless affection and regret.How could he not regret it?How much better would it have been if he had not gotten the wrong person?Even
While Tina used to wonder what would happen if she met Ice again, all she wanted was for him to stay as far away from her as possible upon learning that Ice was Henry."Tina…"Henry wanted to tell her that he would find evidence, and that Linda would wish she were dead if there was solid proof that she was guilty.However, Tina did not want to listen to his nonsense.In fact, she really could not even be bothered to be disappointed in him after learning that he only had Linda locked up at the precinct."Get out! Don't make me slap you again!" she snapped, her tone even colder now.That was when Mrs. Smith called out, "Is that Henry? Let him in!"Mrs. Smith had been sleeping after she was rushed to the hospital, but the commotion outside woke her up, and she called out when she heard Henry.And as soon as Henry heard her, he let his eyes linger on Tina for a moment but soon strode past Tina into the room.The rim of his eyes reddened as soon as he saw Mrs. Smith staring at him
As soon as Henry parked his black Ghost downstairs of the hospital where Mrs. Smith was admitted, he hurried out, carrying the favorite fruits he remembered she used to like.He wanted to see Mrs. Smith, and Tina even more so.However, just as he stepped out of the elevator, he ran into Tina, who was just leaving Mrs. Smith's room to pick up some groceries downstairs."Tina!" Henry exclaimed, at once excited as he rushed toward her.His dark gaze was fixed on Tina, and he could not help reaching toward her, intent on taking her into his arms and having her melt into him.The instant he learned that Tina was the real Orange, he felt rage from Linda's deception that lasted a decade.However, he also felt irrepressible delight—strictly speaking, he had never cheated on Orange.Nevertheless, Tina was frowning—a stark contrast from Henry's thrill.The instant he got near, she stepped backward, avoiding him like the plague.Henry stopped abruptly, as if someone had pressed the pause
As Mrs. Smith finished, she closed her eyes in exhaustion.She had just woken up, and she was at her limit.Tina did not stay as she was worried about her and followed her to the hospital, while Henry did not, as he had more important things to do.He watched as their car left and strode up to Linda."Henry…"Seeing him come back to her, and that there were just the two of them, Linda's eyes lit up with hope.As Henry dropped to a crouch, she was ready to throw herself into his arms and cry, only for him to grab her by her neck as soon as she moved.As his fingers clenched around her throat with a vice-like grip, Linda's eyes widened in terror.Unable to breathe, she reached up to pull his hand by instinct, stuttering as she could hardly speak, "Henry… Let go… It hurts!"She leveled a pained look at Henry, to show that she was really in pain, but Henry completely ignored her, clenching even harder, and demanded, "Did you murder Sophie and Grandma?"Without the halo of Orange
Henry's face was contorted in disgust, and he did not hold back his strength as he kicked Linda, launching her away from him like a piece of trash.Even as she landed pathetically, it happened too quickly that Linda's mind blanked out.She could not believe what had just happened for a few seconds, and reality sank in when the pain struck her.She did not imagine it—Henry really did just get violent with her.She looked up in disbelief at Henry who was barely a few feet away, blinking away her tears to clear her vision.It was only then that she could have a clear look at Henry, and she was watching ever so solemnly, as she tried to look for any pain or remorse on his face.Even just a tiny bit.However, there was none.Henry's expression was endlessly cold, and the fiery rage in his eyes could consume her.Tears welled up in Linda's eyes just then.This time, it was not to curry Henry's sympathy—her heart was simply broken.But she refused to believe Henry felt nothing for
Linda was convinced that Henry must be really in love with her and continued her sob story, using her past to invoke Henry's feelings for her.A successful man like him would never dedicate his life to the promise he made to a five-year-old girl who had only been with him for six months.The fact that Henry did not interrupt her only added to her confidence, and she cried even louder and laid bare their relationship. "Day after day, I tried to tell you countless times, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it when you were so close to me… So I kept telling myself that when the real Orange showed up, I shall let her reclaim her rightful place…" "Ha! Hahaha!" Mrs. Smith laughed coldly, cutting Linda short while glaring at her coldly from a distance.The audacity of that woman to say that!Linda was clearly stumped—she was so preoccupied with making Henry believe they loved each other that she forgot about the hag!And Mrs. Smith did not give Linda time to be preoccupied either an
The coldness in every syllable Henry breathed cut to the bone, leaving Linda pale in fear.She trembled in fear the instant Henry turned toward her, as his gaze made clear he could tear her apart where he was standing.He looked just like a demon who had just climbed out of hell, and it was the first time she wanted to flee from him!She reached with his trembling fingers to steer her wheelchair but paused before she moved.Instead, she clenched her fingers so hard that they went pale as she encouraged herself inwardly.She must not flee—it was not like she could anyway.She must save herself instead.And at that moment, a fantasy appeared amid her despair.It had been ten years since she showed up with Henry's pendant and took the name of Orange.And Henry doted on her for ten years, a superior being who always caved to her, doing everything she asked and trusting her unconditionally—loving her by a hundred percent.It left her lost in it, and even now, bits of their past pl
In reality, Henry had fallen in love with Tina all along—even Yancy could see it and told him that he had changed.Even so, Henry kept trying to avoid facing facts, refusing to admit that he was cheating on Orange, and buried his feelings for Tina deep beneath his heart while sealing it behind wall after wall so that he did not have to deal with it.And now that he knew he had fallen in love with the real Orange all along, all his feelings for Tina broke through the walls, gushing out.At that moment, his eyes burned with passion as he looked at Tina, only to find himself looking into her icy glare.It was not the first time Tina had stared at him like that either, as it was the way she looked at him after she grew to thoroughly despise him ever since Sophie died because of him and Linda.But none of those times hurt as much as this.Even after learning that she was his Orange, but she was still glaring at him like she wanted him to drop dead, it felt like someone was flaying his