Henry's glower faded, replaced by a tender smile as he answered without hesitation, "Okay!"With that, he turned and hurried out of the villa, choosing the daughter he had with Linda—abandoning Tina and Sophie once again.Tina stood where she was, her heart breaking as her arms tightened around the urn containing Sophie's ashes.She then gently patted it, like a quiet gesture to comfort her daughter.Ever since Linda returned from abroad with her daughter, Henry had given them his absolute undivided attention.It did not matter what time it was or what he was doing—he would be there with just a phone call.And while Tina had no issue with abandonment, her heart ached for Sophie.She was so sweet and kind, only for her father to hurt her time and time again!Fortunately, this would be the last.It would never happen again!-In the VIP ward of Jadelight Hospital, Linda was coaxing her daughter Rory.Then, watching as Henry entered, she exclaimed in surprise, "What are you do
When Henry came to his senses, he growled at Tina with an icy tone that cut to the bone, "Have you lost your mind?!"Reaching out, Henry caught Tina's wrist before she could continue, glaring viciously at her.The sight of the man—who was always so haughty—changing completely for his beloved woman left Tina's eyes red.Bitterness welled up in her heart.And she had loved him for ten years!"Yes, I have. And I should've lost it a long time ago," she snapped and suddenly slapped Henry across the face!"It's over between us, Henry."She had wanted to say that since the moment her daughter died.And now, they would simply go their separate ways!She withdrew her hand, finding her palm numb as she had put her back into it.Henry's left cheek reddened visibly in return—it was the first time in his life that he had been slapped by a woman.Glaring at Tina with viciousness that was beyond description, he chuckled coolly. "Heh."Tina did not bother arguing and turned to leave—she kn
As Henry hung up and left without hesitation, he snorted coolly at Tina. "Go on, do your best to stop Sophie from ever calling me again."However, he had just stepped out of the doorway when he heard an audible thud behind him.He turned in reflex and saw that Tina had collapsed to the floor."I warned you," he growled. "Don't you dare behave like a drama queen around me."Tina lay on the cold hard floor, not fully unconscious.Henry's words only sent chills down her gut, stinging her very bones.He obviously thought she was faking it just to get him to stay, as he only saw her as a vile woman who did not care who she hurt to get what she wanted.He still believed that Tina had deliberately drugged him on their anniversary to separate him from Linda. With that, she ousted Linda so that Linda went adrift abroad, giving birth prematurely to Rory and suffering all the pains of the world.And now, five years later, when Linda returned to the country with Rory, she told Sophie to fe
As the air in the room heated up, Henry felt a fire converging in his groin as he moved up, pinning Tina beneath him.That was when she groaned, waking up from her nightmare.After she opened her eyes, she stared blankly at the ceiling of her bedroom for a while—the pain in her nightmare was so overwhelming that she failed to recognize reality for a second.Nonetheless, all her senses returned to her when she felt the breeziness over her chest. It was only then that she realized that she was laying on her bed, and Henry was undressing her!Glowering as her blood boiled, she did not hesitate to push him off, snapping, "Let go of me!"However, Henry was just getting started.If anything, he craved more instead of stopping.He might not love Tina, but even he had to admit that he desired her body. Once he touched her, he would never be able to stop.The look on Tina's face darkened further.For five years and whenever he felt like tormenting her, Henry would pin her down in bed
Linda's words were as suggestive as the man's clothes in the shopping bag, especially since the boxers were placed deliberately on top of the rest.She was clearly bragging to Tina that Henry had spent the night at her place.Moreover, as Tina turned away from the boxers, she saw Linda brushing her hair behind her neck, seemingly not realizing that she revealed the hickeys on it.So, she had done the deed with Henry last night. Unable to vent his libido with Tina, he ran straight to the other woman.They were quite vigorous, from the looks of it as well.While Tina felt slightly pricked that Linda was trying to hurt her, her gaze turned cool as she remembered her daughter.She slowly stood up, looking down loftily at Linda as she scoffed. "It's Henry's clothes, so return it to him yourself. I'm not a garbage truck."Linda was stumped—she did not expect this.Before she could react, she felt a chill emanating from behind.She turned to see that Henry was already standing there,
Tina had loved Henry for ten years and knew his taste all too well.As she immediately recognized his kiss, her panic faded, giving way to coldness.She turned away, clearly resistant and avoiding his forceful kisses.That in turn left him furious, and he grabbed her jaw with his large hand, firmly turning her back to kiss her.It only repulsed Tina further—was he just trying to vent his rage for giving Linda grief?However, he was holding her down very firmly, and she could not escape. All she could do was clench her jaw, keeping his advances at bay and stop him from going any further.She flailed around more as well, even shoving at him, but the difference in strength between the sexes remained.She could not make him budge even as she pushed with all her strength, and he caught both her hands with just one of his, all while they moved even closer.So close, she could sense Henry's burning desire.Tina's body stiffened. She arched her back, trying to avoid him again, but the
Tina was at once embarrassed and furious.Seizing the moment when Henry was distracted by Linda's call and eased his grip, she launched her knee forcefully into his crotch."Oof—"Henry grunted and lost his grip on Tina.She seized that moment to get away from him and got out of Henry's car.Then, holding tightly on her coat to hide her disheveled clothes while running to her car, she was still on edge until she locked the door.-Meanwhile, Henry lit himself a cigarette as he reclined against his seat.Both his eyes were following Tina, while still remembering the way she looked beneath himself.Her long hair disheveled, the hickeys he left bloomed like flowers in snow over her fair skin.It was as devilish as it was alluring, and Henry's expression darkened as he gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing obviously.He took a long, deep puff before exhaling, allowing the smoke to swirl around him, keeping his expression inscrutable.That was until Linda asked in concern out loud, "
Tina abruptly stopped in her tracks, suddenly wheeling on Henry with an icy glare as he kept carrying Rory."You never once cared about Sophie ever since she was born," she sneered coolly. "How did you find the audacity to accuse me here?"While Henry was stumped, Linda promptly leaped in, as understanding as ever."How could you say that? Unlike you, Henry's always busy with work and does not goof off at home like you. He can't help if he's neglected Sophie a little. If anything, you should be understanding instead of blaming him."And see? He loves children—why would he really neglect Sophie? Shouldn't you be reflecting on yourself instead?"Not only was she sucking up to Henry, but she was also throwing barbs at Tina for spoiling Sophie, which was why Henry did not favor her.Tina wheeled on her with a piercing glare and warned darkly, "You don't get to talk here."Tears promptly welled up in Linda's eyes as she leaned on Henry while shooting Tina a wounded look. "I'm sorry,
Tina had been at the graveyard before Zach called.She had called Zach repeatedly after learning that Linda was saved, but he never answered.Just by threatening suicide, Linda easily won Henry over and made Zach back down, and everything Tina had done once again went to waste.She was left experiencing the same crippling helplessness she had felt two years ago.As long as she could not unmask Linda's true nature, Linda would never be punished, and Sophie would never rest in peace.Tina could not even begin to express the guilt she felt and could only repeatedly kiss Sophie's cheek, sobbing repeatedly, "I'm sorry, baby…"Her tears had long since dried in the morning breeze."The winds are strong here. You'll catch a cold." Henry suddenly appeared, carefully putting down his offerings in front of Sophie's grave before draping his coat over Tina's shoulders.She immediately tried to push him away but failed as he pressed it on her with both hands. "Even if you hate me, don't hate
In her ward, Linda's thoughts returned to her troubles at hand after she was done venting her grievances.She had stalled Henry and Zach for the time being by threatening suicide but was well aware that it was temporary.Whoever Zach would give the evidence he had to, it was all over for her—she would not just lose Henry, but she would also face prison.And having led a life of privilege for years, it was a fate worse than death.She could not go to prison, and right now, only Rory could hope to convince Zach. Linda's tone was suddenly soft as she called out, "Rory."Rory's eyes lit up. "Mommy!""Rory, Zach has evidence that would make you lose me. So call him now and tell him that if he dares to give it to your daddy, you'll die, and he'll lose you forever."The prospect of dying left Rory clearly taking a step back, resistant.She did not want to die—she had plenty to live for!Linda rolled her eyes in disappointment and pulled Rory toward her. "I'm not actually telling yo
The care worker smiled. "Ms. Smith, Mr. Barnes has asked me to stay and take good care of you. Should I order delivery?"Mendy's provided delivery anyway."I told you to leave and get it yourself," Linda rasped, her voice weak but her glare cold.The care worker was just paid to do a job and did not argue since Linda was insistent, and left to buy breakfast from Mendy's.And once Linda was sure that the care worker had left, her expression turned cold right then.Rory noticed that.She cringed from muscle memory since Linda constantly abused her, but she did not dare to run away.Looking at Linda, she called out gingerly, "Mommy…?""You are a failure!"Linda's eyes narrowed icily and did not hesitate to raise her remaining good hand.She did not slap Rory because Henry might come and see that, but she was really furious and could not get over it if she did not punish Rory.Instead, she knocked Rory off her chair.Right now, Rory was the one she was really sick of, aside fro
Zach hurried after Henry and Linda, staggering as he did.His mind had gone blank when Linda cut herself with such determination.He certainly knew why Linda had said those words to Henry and why she had slit her wrist.But when he saw those cuts that reached bone on her wrist, the scales of his rationality and sentiment ultimately tipped toward sentiment.He really loved Linda and could not stop himself from worrying.At that moment, he had only one thought—that he did not want Linda to die.After everyone was gone, the door shut on its own, while the ambulance's siren soon faded into the distance.Tina slowly dropped to a crouch, not bothered to clean Linda's blood from the floor.All she could think about was Henry telling Linda that she believed him and could not help clenching her fingers around Sophie's bone. "Mommy's not giving up, and I won't fall again. I'll avenge you, Sophie… Definitely."Even if it killed her.-Linda was barely alive when she was rushed to the
Linda's tears were falling like a string of broken pearls. "Believe me… I didn't do it… You know me. How could I be so heinous?"There was endless grief in each word, as she was betting everything on this killing stroke to win Henry's trust.As long as he believed her, he would not even bother to seek evidence or believe Zach's evidence when it was shown to him.But things were different this time.In the past, whenever Linda used to ask Henry to believe her, he would never hesitate to say that he did.Now, however, his visage was cold and he did not answer, only quietly and quickly bandaging her wrist.Linda's heart sank as she watched.However, she soon pulled herself together—she could not just take this lying down!Zach had yet to show his evidence, and she must not give up until the very last moment!As if losing her sanity, she suddenly withdrew her hand to stop Henry from bandaging it, even tearing it wide open with her remaining good hand.At the same time, she levele
Zach did not bring his evidence, even though he had taken precautions against Linda when he had gone to see her the other night.He kept his evidence safe in case anything unexpected happened. He had lied to Tina about bringing it along and presenting it to Henry, because he just wanted to reveal to Henry that he and Linda were sleeping together all along.He presumed that Henry would snap because he loved Linda so much—a man of his position would never stay with a woman who cheated on him.And once Henry dumped Linda, Linda would have no refuge.And since she did not love Rory, she would hand Rory over to him.However, Henry's reaction was something that Zach did not expect, and Zach himself had trouble deciding if he loved Linda or not.Nevertheless, Linda felt a lifeline when she heard Zach.This was a chance!Looking up at Tina, who was clearly shocked, Linda screamed in grief, "Tina! So you were really working with Zach to set me up! Calling me heinous without proof, mur
"Zach Foster!"Linda's eyes were wide with rage, not expecting Zach to go that far.He swore that he would never hurt her!"Linda Cook!!!"Henry suddenly bellowed.And it was the first time he had ever called her by her full name!Linda's lips trembled as she turned toward Henry, and she was shocked to see the doubt in his eyes."Henry…" she murmured, her tears raining to try and curry Henry's sympathy.Even so, he was just glaring icily at her, and she felt a chill creeping up from her toes, extending throughout her body.She knew very well that Henry was absolutely regretful after learning that he had the wrong idea about Tina since two years ago, and that his presumptions had led to him neglecting Sophie.He felt that he owed Sophie so much and could never make amends for her death, and it was a boulder that kept weighing down on him.Over the past two years, he had spent countless nights at that bastard's grave.And whenever he saw anything that reminded him of children
"What did you say?"Zach's words were a clap of thunder that left Henry reeling in shock, and he turned sharply toward Zach with eyes as cold as ice.In his surprise, his arms seemed to go limp, and he dropped Linda on the floor just as he lifted her."Argh!" Linda promptly cried out in pain in an attempt to draw Henry's attention back to her.However, seeing that Henry took no notice, Linda stopped being bothered by the pain, keeping her head lowered and her shoulders shaking.As no one could see her face, they could not tell if she was fearful that Zach would expose her or if it was something else.Then when she looked up at Zach moments later, tears welling up in her eyes as she bellowed, "That's slander! Why are you slandering me?!"She stared straight into Zach's eyes, while giving him a look that only they knew.She was betting on Zach's love for her—because he loved her so much, he would not bear to hurt her.And Zach did see the look in her eyes, his gaze troubled as h
Linda kept crying, "I promise it won't ever happen again! As long as you stay away from Tina, I'll stay away from Zach! And once Grandma's mourning period is over, we'll get married!"Her words left Henry's heart skipping a beat, as he realized that when he saw the video of Linda getting intimate with Zach, he was only angry that she lied to him—and not that she had cheated on him.In fact, he did not feel jealous at all from seeing Linda willingly melt into another man's embrace.But if that were Tina… No, he did not even dare imagine that. Forget letting it happen—just the sight of Tina being near another man was unbearable.That was when he remembered what Yancy said about changing hearts, and Henry's eyes appeared troubled as he turned toward the sobbing Linda again."You're just satisfying your needs, you say?! You never loved me, you say?!"Zach's fingers clenched around his phone, as he had always believed that Linda was really in love with him.Even now, he forgave her