Tina struggled as hard as she could, but simply couldn't free herself.She could only watch as the gang leader's shive streaked toward her hand…That was when the door opened from the outside.The three women inside clearly didn't expect that, and were taken by surprise.Tina also seized the moment to pull her hand back to herself, but the gang leader quickly realized it. She thrust her shive downward, but it missed and struck the floor with a sharp, audible clang."What are you doing?!" The captain of the precinct bellowed when he saw what happened inside.Even before he charged inside, a figure dashed inside, covering the distance between the four women and the doorway in just a few sides.The man most famous in Jadelight for his gentlemanly demeanor lost his composure right then, as he glowered and kicked the gang leader brutally!"Argh!" She screamed shrilly as she slammed heavily on the floor.Her two lackeys, already spooked at John's intimidating presence, promptly re
And with that, Henry's stiff expression turned tender even as he studied Tina.Without that armor of thorns she wore in the morning, she was so soft and sweet, even nuzzling his palm as if flirting, only to brush against the cut on her cheek."Ah…" She gasped in pain, flinching and turned away.Click.His hand freed, the man moved his hand to turn on the bedlight, illuminating the room.He could see her red, swollen cheeks and the distinct palm prints over it.He strode out of the room, looking through the first aid kit by the tea table for aspirins while calling Andy."Yes, Mr. Barnes?""Find out who assaulted Tina while in lockup," Henry's tone was cold and sinister. "Then get some people on the inside to return the favor a hundredfold.""Yes, Mr. Barnes."With that, Henry hung up, and returned to Tina's room with the aspirin."Open wide. It's time to take your meds."However, Tina was immediately resistant—she hated it!-When she was eight, the orphanage caretaker had
Nonetheless, as Henry saw her open her eyes, he growled, "Is it that difficult to ask for my help?"All she had to do was ask, and the cops wouldn't have arrested her in the first place!Tina's expression turned cool right then.Her cheeks didn't hurt that much with the ointment and a bath, but every moment she experienced in the lockup could well be burned into her mind's eye.And now, he was saying that just because she didn't beg him for help, she deserved everything that happened there?Shoving his hand off firmly, Tina's expression was apathetic as she snorted, "I am willing to ask anyone for help except you. Quit shoving your fake sympathy at me—I don't need it."Henry's expression fell. "Can't you see things clearly for once?!""Oh, am I not?"Tina chuckled coolly, her smile not reaching her eyes as she retorted, "So just because you offered me both carrot and stick, I should be awash with gratitude?""What happened at the lockup wasn't my intention," Henry suddenly sai
Tina Smith was the only person present for her daughter's cremation, and her loose black dress barely hid the weight she had lost.Her wistful eyes were red and puffy from tears too, and she took out a pair of hair pins, arching her back as she gently slid them into her daughter's hair.It was a birthday present for her daughter, which she had designed herself."Happy birthday, baby. Mommy will always love you."As Tina leaned down to gently kiss her daughter's forehead, the icy touch to her lips left tears welling up in her eyes again.It was soon time nonetheless."My condolences."A crematory assistant approached Tina, reminding her politely, "When is the father coming?"There was a father noted on the papers, after all.Still, there was a brief flicker of coldness in Tina's eyes. "He isn't coming!""But are you really not going to wait?"The crematory assistant was a father himself, so he understood that he would be burdened with a lifetime of regret if he did not see hi
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
Nonetheless, as Henry saw her open her eyes, he growled, "Is it that difficult to ask for my help?"All she had to do was ask, and the cops wouldn't have arrested her in the first place!Tina's expression turned cool right then.Her cheeks didn't hurt that much with the ointment and a bath, but every moment she experienced in the lockup could well be burned into her mind's eye.And now, he was saying that just because she didn't beg him for help, she deserved everything that happened there?Shoving his hand off firmly, Tina's expression was apathetic as she snorted, "I am willing to ask anyone for help except you. Quit shoving your fake sympathy at me—I don't need it."Henry's expression fell. "Can't you see things clearly for once?!""Oh, am I not?"Tina chuckled coolly, her smile not reaching her eyes as she retorted, "So just because you offered me both carrot and stick, I should be awash with gratitude?""What happened at the lockup wasn't my intention," Henry suddenly sai
And with that, Henry's stiff expression turned tender even as he studied Tina.Without that armor of thorns she wore in the morning, she was so soft and sweet, even nuzzling his palm as if flirting, only to brush against the cut on her cheek."Ah…" She gasped in pain, flinching and turned away.Click.His hand freed, the man moved his hand to turn on the bedlight, illuminating the room.He could see her red, swollen cheeks and the distinct palm prints over it.He strode out of the room, looking through the first aid kit by the tea table for aspirins while calling Andy."Yes, Mr. Barnes?""Find out who assaulted Tina while in lockup," Henry's tone was cold and sinister. "Then get some people on the inside to return the favor a hundredfold.""Yes, Mr. Barnes."With that, Henry hung up, and returned to Tina's room with the aspirin."Open wide. It's time to take your meds."However, Tina was immediately resistant—she hated it!-When she was eight, the orphanage caretaker had
Tina struggled as hard as she could, but simply couldn't free herself.She could only watch as the gang leader's shive streaked toward her hand…That was when the door opened from the outside.The three women inside clearly didn't expect that, and were taken by surprise.Tina also seized the moment to pull her hand back to herself, but the gang leader quickly realized it. She thrust her shive downward, but it missed and struck the floor with a sharp, audible clang."What are you doing?!" The captain of the precinct bellowed when he saw what happened inside.Even before he charged inside, a figure dashed inside, covering the distance between the four women and the doorway in just a few sides.The man most famous in Jadelight for his gentlemanly demeanor lost his composure right then, as he glowered and kicked the gang leader brutally!"Argh!" She screamed shrilly as she slammed heavily on the floor.Her two lackeys, already spooked at John's intimidating presence, promptly re
Even as Linda cried out in panic, Tina did not hesitate to pull the tablecloth with all her strength. Crash!!!Everything from the plates, confectionery and drinking glasses on the table were sent crashing down on the floor, leaving an utter mess."Stop it already, Tina!" Henry bellowed at her.Stop?!Tina smirked—the only reason she came here today was to ruin this party for Linda and Rory!In fact, even as Henry kept bellowing at her, Tina strode off to knock over the stacks of presents, sending everything crashing down, reduced to trash."Wargh!!!" Rory bawled even harder as she watched.She was going to show off to all her friends, only for Tina to destroy everything!It was all ruined now!"That's enough from you!" Linda sprang to her feet furiously, her eyes widened in rage as she charged at Tina.As she grabbed Tina's hand, she shoved her towards the nearby champagne tower.Once Tina crashed into it, she would definitely be disfigured!However, Tina's was just too
As Henry clenched his fingers around Tina's wrist, the pain left her lowering her hand.Linda promptly turned and threw herself into Henry's arms.Clutching her swollen cheek, she sobbed at Tina, "Sophie's your daughter! Why do you keep saying she's dead? Are you trying to curse her so? Just because she couldn't help you win over Henry?"Tina's eyes flashed with cold savagery. "Mention Sophie again and I will slap your mouth right off!" Sophie was dead, but Linda refused to stop hurting her, trampling all over her memory!"You hurt Mommy!"Rory heard the commotion and ran toward Tina in her pretty princess gown. "You bad woman! You're just like Sophie! Always bullying us!"She grabbed Tina's hand, ready to bite down, but Tina pulled her hand off, glowering.It knocked Rory off balance, and she dropped on her rump.She quickly fell backward, forgetting the tower cake that was just delivered, and knocked it over herself."Wargh!!!"While she was just going to pretend to cry e
There was no doubt that Linda knew Sophie was dead, but she kept mentioning her around Tina.If anything, Tina was dead sure that Linda planned this call, deliberately choosing the day of Sophie's funeral for some bullshit party.It was also to brag to Tina that Henry loved Rory, and not her darling Sophie!Even when Sophie was alive, Linda had used Henry's absolute affection for herself and Rory to hurt Sophie as much as she could. And they weren't letting up even after she was gone!Such humiliation and insults… Linda was truly savage!"Hello? Are you listening, Tina?" Meanwhile, Linda's voice remained sickly sweet, leaving Tina absolutely disgusted.Even so, she sneered as she answered, "Sure."And with that, she hung up, kissing the photo of Sophie on the tombstone before she got up."It's alright, Sophie. I won't let you suffer anymore."-Meanwhile, at Saint Holden Hotel, Linda's smile stiffened when Tina told her "Sure".She was actually surprised that Tina would co
Tina's slap came so quickly that it caught Linda' off guard, launching her face sideways.Since Henry wasn't around, her face contorted viciously right then.But even as she raised her hand, Tina caught her before she could slap her back and shoved her forcefully away."Linda Cook," she warned coolly. "If you have the time to come after me, you should instead put a leash around Henry Barnes and stop him from chasing me around!"And with those words, she turned to leave.-After finishing her paperwork to get discharged, Tina headed to the elevator.As she passed the nurse station, two nurses were gossiping quietly, as one of them had witnessed Tina's confrontation with Linda and came to tell the other nurse."Urgh, and here I was wondering why that bitch was so cold," she sighed. "So they were after the same man.""What are you talking about?" her colleague asked half-heartedly, busy cleaning her table."Don't you remember Sophie? That sweet, pretty little girl."Tina stoppe
Tina raised her foot right then, kicking Henry viciously on the shin!Thud!Caught off guard, Henry gasped in pain and stumbled backward.At the same time, Tina shoved him, sending him stumbling and dropping on the toilet, while she quickly opened the door and fled.As Henry followed out of the cubicle, he paused at the doorway, glaring as Tina left like a hunter glaring after his prey…Like he could skin her and eat her right then!However, no one noticed Linda standing behind a potted plant, her knuckles clenched.Be it five years ago or now, everyone knew that Henry loved her, spoiling her endlessly…Even so, that man never looked at her like that!-By the time Tina made it back to the table, the food was already served.John didn't start without her, however, so she apologized, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Levine.""It's alright," John replied, his gaze lingered on her swelling red lips just a second before turning away.Tina started eating, keeping her head lowere
John and Tina arrived at a restaurant, and he pulled the chair out for her."Thank you," Tina smiled as she sat. People often said that John was as civilized as he was gentlemanly, and the praise was certainly deserved.Still, as John took his seat and after they ordered food, neither of them spoke.Tina waited for John to start discussing her work, but the man was simply staring at her.Though his gaze was tender and didn't invoke disgust, being stared like that still left Tina slightly uncomfortable.Eventually, she frowned slightly, meeting his gaze as her expression turned a little cold.Could he be just messing with her? Perhaps the rumors were just exaggerated, and he was just a rich playboy like any other?But even as her suspicions gnawed, John calmly spoke in his deep, magnetic voice, "You really don't remember me?""Huh?"Tina did a double take, staring at John blankly.What was that supposed to mean? Were they actually acquainted?Still, John smiled as he presse