"Henry!!!"Linda suddenly yelled, grimacing as if her heart broke from seeing Henry's wounded arm.Not caring that Tina was a threat, she ran toward her with eyes filled with concern. "You're hurt…"She seemed to have moved too quickly and slipped, while Henry relaxed his grip from Tina's wrist and reached out toward Linda in reflex.As Linda fell into Henry's arms just like that, she did not seem to notice Tina behind her back, as her eyes were glued to Henry's injury.Her eyes teary, she called out to Carl, who was just a few paces away, "Dr. Sandler, please, you have to help Henry…"While she was a little afraid that Tina could kill her, she was even more certain that no harm would come to her as long as Henry was right there with them.Therefore, she was not actually worried at all.As for Tina, she knew that Linda was not actually worried that Henry was hurt—Linda was yelling to interrupt what she was about to say.However, Tina did not care.She had come to kill Linda a
Henry was serious about making amends to Sophie, so why did Tina have to be so stubborn about it?And he should be upset, but the sight of her being so pale in his arms stopped him from being too harsh on her.He should also be leaving her in Carl's care too, but his body reacted quicker than his mind, and he scooped her up in his arms."Henry…"Watching as Henry's attention was completely fixed on Tina, Linda had to fight back her jealousy and call out meekly to Henry.She appeared more hurt than Tina, so Henry was not going to leave her behind…Henry glanced at her but did not leave Tina with Carl as she had expected, instead telling Carl, "Take care of Linda."Carl had served the Barnes family for years, and Henry trusted the family doctor."Yes, Mr. Barnes!"With Carl's reply, Henry promptly strode out, still carrying Tina.Linda's eyes widened in disbelief, finally realizing that Henry was really leaving her, despite her being injured, and leaving with Tina."Henry…"
Tina woke up early the next morning, not sleeping for long despite being sedated.She felt a splitting headache even as she opened her eyes and soon realized that she was on the giant bed of the main bedroom back at the villa.Soon, memories of last night rushed into her mind, to the moment when Linda had so spitefully thrown the dog's blood laced with cursed talismans on Sophie's gravestone, as Linda wanted Sophie to suffer even in the afterlife.As Tina was about to set out, feeling hatred welling up in her as well as the impulse to murder Linda, she heard Henry's voice from the balcony.His tone was gentle as he comforted Linda, who appeared scared. "It's alright—last night was just an accident, and it won't happen again. I've arranged for bodyguards, and she's never going to hurt you and Rory…"Tina could not be bothered to listen to the rest, as all she heard was that Henry had arranged for bodyguards to protect Linda.And that meant Tina could not even reach Linda now.Her
In her heart, Tina resented Henry's brainless protectiveness and Linda's vile nature while also resenting her own incompetence.And the more she resented her own incompetence, the more guilty she felt toward Sophie, feeling that she owed her but could not avenge her.That frustration and helplessness was a boulder weighing on her chest, suffocating her.As Tina's psychiatrist told her to talk to someone to ease her mind, which was already on the brink, she immediately thought of Madam Barnes.Madam Barnes was still comatose, but she was also one of the few who loved and cared for Tina.And since she was comatose, Tina did not have to worry about her going into shock when told that Linda killed Sophie.Heading to the hospital right then, Tina headed straight to Madam Barnes' room once she parked her car.Madam Barnes was still unconscious, and Carl had no idea when she would wake up.Sam's wife was there and was concerned when she saw how pale Tina was. "Are you losing sleep fro
"Tina… Don't cry…"It was only when Madam Barnes called out to her lovingly, gently lifting her hand to wipe her tears, that Tina realized this was reality.Madam Barnes was really awake!Not caring about her own misery just then and forgetting the buzzer, Tina tearfully rushed outside and called out to the bodyguards nearby, "Madam Barnes is awake! Get the doctor!"The doctor soon arrived, giving Madam Barnes a full-body examination to ascertain that she was fully conscious and that other vital signs were in normal range."Remember, the patient mustn't be put through further shock."Madam Barnes was old and could not take that much, after all.Tina nodded, while Sam's wife escorted the doctor out of the room.Still, even as Madam Barnes was being examined, she was holding Tina's hand throughout, her eyes on her with overflowing pain."Leave us, and don't tell anyone I'm awake for now," she told Sam's wife.Sam's wife was actually about to call Henry and the rest of the Barne
Madam Barnes' words ruptured the dam of emotions that Tina had worked so hard to withhold."I hate Linda Cook! I could stab her a million times and slice her apart, so that there's nothing left of her!"How could she be so vile and kill my darling Sophie?!"Sophie was only five, and she's a mother too! How could she bring herself to do this?!"Her tears bursting out, she cried in utter resentment—resentment she had felt ever since she got the truth from Quentin.Last night, when Linda went to Sophie's grave to curse her with dog's blood and talismans, Tina's hatred toward the woman vaporized her rationality.She did not care anymore, if she could take her down with her!Madam Barnes sobbed as Tina did—her dear Tina had really suffered too much.She did not have family and craved warmth.Gina had taken her in and doted on her, more or less making up for it.But later on, Gina was gone, and Tina had Sophie, the only family with her blood whom she loved to the bone.Losing Soph
Still, Madam Barnes could not get discharged yet, so she would have Tina take Henry to Sophie's grave instead and make him fall apart in regret!"Yeah," Tina replied, not knowing why Madam Barnes wanted her phone at all.As Madam Barnes took it, she scowled as she called Henry, but no one answered.She tried repeatedly afterward, but he never picked up.She glowered—what was that brat up to this time?"Please, Grandma, you just got up. Just rest for now," Tina told her, seeing the terrible look on her face.She had lost herself and ended up burdening Madam Barnes with her emotional baggage, when the doctor had already warned against causing Madam Barnes shock."Alright." Madam Barnes nodded. "I'll just take a nap for now. When that brat calls back, tell him to get over here this instant."She knew the condition of her own health, and while she was anxious, she had to take care of her own health to avenge Sophie and protect Tina.As she lay down, she soon fell asleep—her body h
Sophie's grape-like eyes were filled with yearning then, and she turned to Tina as she stepped out. "Mommy, can I ask Daddy to give me piggyback rides next time he comes home? Just for a little while—I won't make him tired."She even held up her little hand to swear it.However, Tina knew that Henry would never agree to it and never answered, as if she was quickly coming up with a reason that would not hurt Sophie.Nevertheless, Sophie was just so mature.Seeing that Tina was silent, she promptly lowered her hand and said, "Mommy, Daddy is already very tired working hard to buy me presents. I won't make Daddy tired. I was just kidding… I don't really want piggybacks."Despite what she said, her reaction was honest—her eyes were still sneaking peeks at the child next door.She really wanted a piggyback ride.There was a lump in Henry's throat after watching the footage, and Sophie's words left him even more guilty.He should not have stood her up, but fortunately, he could make
After Linda vandalized Sophie's gravestone, the graveyard's security got her number, saying that they would keep an eye and tell her right away if anyone got near Sophie's grave.Tina tapped on the photo sent to her and saw that it was Henry kneeling in front of Sophie's grave.So, he managed to find Sophie's grave anyway…Still, it was inevitable once he set his mind to it.The only reason he never knew about Sophie's death was that he did not care and refused to spare the effort to look.She replied to the text: [Thank you, but don't worry about him. He's Sophie's father.]With that, she put away her phone—Henry owed Sophie that much anyway.-The security guards ignored Henry as Tina told them to, although they would find him still kneeling there during every patrol.In fact, he stayed there through the night, and he only got up when the sun rose the next day."Daddy will come by tomorrow again," he said as he touched Sophie's little face and wobbled out of the graveyard.
The name was a sharp knife that stabbed viciously into Henry's heart, and his figure wobbled as if he could not take it.It took a long while for him to finally look up, his eyes red as he took Sophie's death certificate from Tina and saw the cause of death: kidney failure.His chest suddenly felt stuck and stuffy, suffocating him.Sophie was really dead.His daughter… dead!"Where's she buried?" he rasped.He wanted to see her anyway.On the other hand, Tina was endlessly indifferent even as she watched him hurt. "You have no right to visit Sophie. Don't bother her when she's resting in peace."A man who never stopped protecting Sophie's murderer certainly had no right! And with those words, Tina turned to leave.The only reason she came was because she did not want Madam Barnes to make this easy for Henry.She wanted to make him understand Sophie while making it very painful, so that it would hurt him.She had never bothered to hope for Henry to avenge Sophie, not when L
It was all true—Sophie was really sick and had kidney failure.Henry then remembered Sophie calling him, asking gingerly and tearfully, "Daddy, can you come visit me? I'm sick, and the injections hurt—""Don't lie like your mother." Henry had snapped coolly at her and hung up.He thought she was pretending to be sick just like before when Tina had asked her to.Now, he could not even imagine how hurt Sophie must have been.Rory had kidney failure too, but Henry was at her side during every injection.As for Sophie? Not even once.He had heartlessly rejected her the only time she mustered her courage to call him.He really had no right to call himself her father.He wobbled unsteadily even as the truths struck him one after the other."I didn't know that Sophie's really sick. I thought…"He tried to explain himself but could not just then.Now that he remembered, Tina had fired that maid, who was problematic in the first place.But now was not the time for that, nor the tim
Grabbing Tina's shoulders with his large hands, Henry's eyes were red as he cried, "What happened to Sophie? Why did she pass out? Why did she cough blood?"This time, Tina did not try to free herself from his grip, her eyes redder than Henry's as she held his gaze.After Madam Barnes found out that Sophie was dead, she knew that Henry would eventually find out anyway.So, when she saw the surprise Henry prepared for Sophie at the amusement park, she did not hesitate to tell him Sophie was dead in this fashion.Since he kept refusing to believe her, she would drive the point home in the way that would hurt him the most.She might be breaking her own heart, but she was breaking his too.It was always said that love that came too late was cheaper than dirt, and a father's love was no different.Even though she was shedding tears ever since the video started playing, it was only because her heart ached for Sophie—her eyes remained cold whenever she looked at Henry.Still, she had
No! That was impossible!Henry promptly shook her head, rejecting the thought that Sophie was dead as soon as it occurred to him!There was no way she could be dead—she was a perfectly healthy child, so how could she die just from being stood up at the amusement park?!Right, that was impossible!Tina was just giving him crap for making Sophie wait alone at the amusement park for so long because she loved Sophie too much and was too upset with him for playing favorites with Rory! That was why she would say something like that!At that moment, Henry was too scared to think or delve further, even if his reasoning was as weak as it was illogical.It was instinctive denial—denying the possibility that Sophie was really dead.He was so scared that he refused to accept that reality, because that would mean his remorse had come too late.He had finally just realized how much he owed Sophie and had just started to understand that he was a father and was learning how to love Sophie.As
However, Henry had no idea what Tina was showing him—all he knew was that he would see Sophie again once he was done watching it.And so, he let Andy play it, while he kept his eyes on the giant LED screen of the amusement park.Once connected, the screen lit up, and Henry saw that it was the front gates of the amusement park.Unsure what Tina was up to, he was ready to turn and ask when he saw that tiny figure.It was Sophie, whom he yearned to see so much.She wore a white down jacket and a pink rabbit-ear hat while carrying a duck backpack.Her outfit made her pinkish cheeks especially adorable, and it was obvious that she was wearing her favorite clothes for the date with Henry.After reaching the amusement park, she quietly stood in a corner, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she kept staring at the gates.At that moment, Henry realized something and looked at the right corner of the screen, and he saw that the date and time of the footage was the day he stood Sophie u
Pausing, Tina continued, "Before Rory returned, you were busy with work. When Rory returned, you were busy visiting her and had no time for Sophie."No, you weren't just busy—you couldn't even spare time to celebrate her birthday. But Sophie never blamed you, even asking me gingerly if she was a bad child, and if that was why you hated her and avoided her."I constantly made excuses for you because I didn't want her to be sad, saying that you were busy working and making money for our family."Sophie took it at face value and brought me her piggy bank that very night, telling me to give it to you to share your burden."She even told me to tell you that she didn't need toys or new clothes and could even skip her meals."She thought that if she saved money, you wouldn't be so burdened to make so much money and would have time to spend with her."She had no idea that her daddy's so rich that he wouldn't care for her piggy bank. He just didn't care to visit her."It's because you ne
At the amusement park, Henry was waiting at the gates once he confirmed that Tina was bringing Sophie.There was no hiding the thrill and joy on his face—he was looking forward to this.He used to be prejudiced against Sophie and despised her, which was why he had gone through long periods of time without seeing her.He had thought nothing of it back then, but he then realized that he had wrongfully blamed Tina for what had happened five years ago and came to see that Sophie was not a rotten apple like he thought.His heart softened as he found that she had patiently spent months making him a cup.And after watching the footage of her over the last five years, his fatherly love was now up and running at full speed.He kept seeing moments of Sophie's cuteness and yearned to see her even more—to hug her, kiss her, and tell her that her daddy loved her too.As time passed, Henry kept checking his watch, feeling that time was so slow for the first time, with every minute feeling lik
And once Sophie called him, he would find out where she was, and he would see her again.To avoid his phone line from being engaged, he had even blocked every other number for the day just so that Sophie's call would reach him right away.However, the citywide broadcast had started since this morning, and with the press and internet covering it, everyone in the city should know.So there was no way Sophie would be oblivious.However, his phone never rang.As more time passed, Henry's expression darkend.Sophie was a good girl—she would definitely call him when she saw this.The only explanation was that Tina had been stopping her.She did raise Sophie, and Sophie was as dependent as she was obedient, loving Tina very much in turn.If Tina stopped her, Sophie would listen and curb her impulse no matter how much she wanted it the other way.And Henry would not blame Sophie if she sided with Tina.But Tina… He had already done so much, so she should be feeling his sincerity t