Tina did not expect John to immediately believe her again when she voiced her suspicion and tried to find a link between Linda and Zach.At first, it appeared that there really was no connection, and even Tina thought she was imagining it.But John never gave up and ultimately found something: Zach used to be a care worker at the hospital where Linda's stepfather stayed, and he used to take care of Linda. That was where they had met.John even asked around at the hospital, and one of the nurses remembered Zach—he was poor, but because he had the looks and a good figure, they almost became a couple.But later on, he fell for a patient's daughter, who was also a minor at that.It was Linda.That was why Zach was especially attentive toward the patient, and he resigned when the patient died.That was the extent of Linda and Zach's connection that they could find, but that only affirmed Tina's belief that Linda was behind her accident.Tina had no proof to implicate Linda with Ma
While John drove to a famous restaurant, Henry was immediately notified of Zach's demand for an appeal, and he glowered.He would have murdered Zach two years ago when he learned that Zach tried to murder Tina, if murder was not against the law.Even if Tina was lucky that she did not die back then, it was a fact that Zach had wanted to murder Tina, and she had gone missing for two years.He was not getting off easy.But since Henry could not kill Zach himself, he called Norman Gates, who was the one who made sure Zach got a life sentence two years ago."I want that life sentence to stick," Henry growled."Sure. Don't worry about it." Norman nodded as he remembered the murderous glare on Henry's face back then.As the person was already gone and it was too late to pry further, he still could not resist asking, "Are you sure you're not in love?""It has nothing to do with love," Henry replied without hesitation.He looked like he knew very well who he actually loved, but did he
In another photo, John had just put some food on Tina's plate, and they shared a smile. There was also one where he brushed her hair behind her ear.In every photo, the affection between them was all too obvious—John loved her, and Tina was happy.Linda was left staring at her crippled legs—that bitch had no right! Tina had made Linda paraplegic and wheelchair-bound, and she wanted to start over? Hell no!After checking which restaurant he was in, Linda steered her wheelchair toward the study, telling Henry who was behind his desk, "I'm meeting up with friends tonight. I won't be staying for the evening.""Yeah," Henry replied, never looking up and clearly not paying her any attention.Linda's fingers clenched over her wheelchair, and she blamed Henry's indifference on Tina too.If she suffered even once, she would make Tina suffer a million times!-Linda arrived at the restaurant with two bodyguards whom Henry had arranged for her after her legs were crippled.Knowing wh
Linda was paraplegic and could not stand—her legs flopped limply on the ground like rags as Tina dragged her by her hair to the wall.Then, as Tina held Linda's hair with one hand and her nape with the other, Linda was left gaping in panic as Tina slammed her face into the wall!Thud!Linda saw stars even as the pain struck.Though there was no blood flowing out of her head, her vision was threatening to turn dark as Linda saw stars.And before Linda realized what had just happened, Tina flung her viciously on the floor, leaving her collapsing in a heap.Linda looked up, her eyes wide with rage as she glared at Tina."Mmmph!!! Mmmph!!!"Linda tried to call Tina names, only to remember that she was gagged.She reached up and attempted to pull out her gag to call in her bodyguard, only for Tina to grab her hand just as she did.Then, holding Linda's hands behind her, she bound them with a piece of her skirt that she ripped off.Her hands subdued and her legs immobile, Linda wa
And as long as Henry and Linda were allowed to push her around, Tina would not ever have the chance to avenge Sophie.Snorting, she said, "What, trying to give me a shock? So that I'd snap?"As Linda met Tina's exceedingly calm gaze, she suddenly realized that Tina was far too calm with her.It was a stark contrast from two years ago, when Tina always glared at her like she could kill her.But there was no way Tina would stop hating her, so the only remaining possibility was… that she had recovered?Even as Linda pondered, Tina's hand clenched around her jaw.It had only been two years—she did not expect Tina to grow so strong!She shook her head to free herself from Tina's control, but Tina simply held on with a vice-like grip, preventing that.At the same time, Tina's smile remained devoid of warmth, and her eyes especially gave Linda the creeps.She was even more unpredictable than when she had lost her mind two years ago!That was when Tina continued, "Oh, Linda—you could
Tina hated Henry, but she hated Linda even more.And now, Linda was paraplegic and was in a room alone with Tina…Henry's face darkened as he strode into the room, ready to push the doors open, only to realize that it was locked from the inside.He scowled even harder and bellowed, "Tina! Open the door! Calm down! Don't hurt Linda!"Hearing Henry and that he was immediately jumping to Linda's defense, her eyes lit up, and she shot a vicious glare at Tina to say: You're dead!Tina suddenly raised her hand, and Linda promptly cringed, having gotten the fear of Tina beaten into her.Still, she soon realized that Tina was not beating her again, but freeing her hands.Linda's eyes flashed in contempt, and she promptly pulled out her gag and cursed, "Too late to be scared now, bitch!"After all, Henry would definitely hurt Tina for hurting her!However, as soon as Linda said bitch, Tina did not hesitate to kick her again."Argh!!! Henry! I'm here! Help me!!!" Linda cried as she cra
A storm brewed in Henry's eyes as he stared at John and Tina's interlocked fingers, but John ignored him and turned toward Tina, saying mildly, "It's late. Let's go home."He had deliberately put it that way instead of saying that he was taking Tina's home, leaving Henry glowering even harder, his jealousy barely repressed."Who said you can leave?" he growled.With just a look, his bodyguards strode in Tina and John's way.Tina leveled an icy smile of contempt at Henry in turn. "Who do you think you are, Henry Barnes? Do I need your permission to leave?"Just watching Tina's smugness left Linda's chest heaving.She promptly put on a look of grief, tugging on Henry while sobbing, "Henry, take me to the hospital. I need a checkup—it hurts!"She was clutching her stomach, and with her already pale lips, she really looked like she had sustained internal injuries.Henry's face dropped—if Tina really did inflict internal bleeding…As he could not stay, he promptly picked Linda up f
The rim of Linda's eyes reddened at Henry's words."Henry, I know that I hurt Sophie, but I've lost my legs. And you know how the last two years have been for me, don't you?"But Tina just won't let it rest. It's not like I can't understand that she couldn't get over Sophie's death."I was really happy when I realized that she wasn't dead. I went looking for her to apologize again—I mean, it's been two years, and I hoped she could get over it and start over. But I didn't think…"Did you know how she hurt me in that room? She almost killed me!"I might already be dead if you hadn't made it in time!"And when you look at her, did you see any guilt? She was so pompous about it too! And if I let it slide this time, who knows what she would do to me the next time."Can you really bear to see Tina hurt me like this, over and over again?"Linda's tears poured, and she was dead sure that with these words, Henry would play along and comfort her.After all, he would definitely not hesit
Linda kept rambling on. "I was just too hurt and said those things in the heat of the moment!"It isn't what I really think—I feel guilty hurting Jimmy, but I had no choice! You know that Rory is my life!"Rory is only seven—her life has just begun! But she was in the terminal stage and had no kidney donor and could die anytime."You know how much my heart hurts seeing her suffering from her illness."I had tried other other options, but I know Tina hates me, which was why they had deliberately denied Rory!"I begged them, only for Tina to humiliate me, making me bow to her in public! I even did it, but they still refused!"What can I do?! I can't just watch Rory die…."Henry did not take her side over her words and snapped coolly, "Even so, you don't get to hurt Jimmy! You know that he has a tournament!""Yes, I do!" Linda nodded. "But if I didn't do it, would you have approached him?! You can be considerate about his dreams, but not me!"I know I'm selfish, ignoring national
All Linda could think about was what Henry was doing there when she saw him there with Jimmy.When did he get there, and how much of her conversation with Tina did he hear?Linda was simply unsure, so she did not speak recklessly, instead quickly adjusted her emotions.As she looked up, she made sure Henry had a clear line of sight of her cheeks—flushed and swollen from Tina's violent slaps.At the same time, tears were quickly welling up in her eyes to evoke Henry's sympathy, while she called out miserably, "Henry…"Her tears rolled out at the same time, a perfect picture of a victim that evoked sympathy.She was used to doing this and knew that it would never fail to dupe Henry.He believed he owed her and could not bear to see her sad.And to no surprise, as soon as Henry saw her shedding tears, he strode up to her.Despite being delighted, Linda made herself look even more aggrieved, as she knew that Tina still could not budge her place in Henry's heart.She just had to c
As Tina kept ranting, she kept slapping Linda like she had lost her mind.And Linda had seen Tina behave like that two years ago, when she had used Sophie's ashes to drive Tina to suicide!Did this mean that Tina's crippling depression had relapsed?Perhaps the slap had left Linda stunned and less sharp-minded, as she could not help feeling thrilled at the thought.She had heard that depression was incurable, and strong trauma would cause a relapse.And once it did, it would be worse than before.Tina had been suicidal two years ago, and even if she did not kill herself with this relapse, she might just go crazy.And if Tina was crazy, Henry would never be with her even if he fell for her.Linda forgot her pain right then and leveled a smug, venomous look at Tina as she gloated sinisterly. "So what if it was me?! What can you do?! Do you have proof?!"You're really angry, aren't you?! Because Jimmy Jones is crippled and in a lot of pain?!"He's always wanted gold, but lost a
"No," the officer replied. "It was an inmate named Zach Foster. The culprit was Foster's acquaintance, and Foster talked him into it."Foster confessed to it when we interrogated him, and he said he wanted revenge because he hated Mr. Jones for not donating his kidney to his daughter. He wanted to hurt Mr. Jones so that he couldn't take part in the tournament and suffer."The motive made sense, and there was a confession, so the case was closed right then.However, just hearing Zach's name mentioned gave Tina an answer—Linda had planned everything.Remembering the things Linda had spat at her back at the hospital, it was clear that Linda wanted Jimmy's kidney no matter what it took because it would make her suffer.As Tina looked at Jimmy's wounded hand after the call ended, she felt her heart tighten, her nails digging into her palm as her knuckles clenched. After calming herself for a while, she said, "Get some rest. I'll visit Mom.""Travel safe," Jimmy told her.Tina nodde
All of Linda's plans had just gone to ruin!A cool voice spoke behind her just then. "Disappointed that it wasn't me?"Hearing that it was Jimmy, Linda almost blurted, "Yes! Very much so!"Fortunately, she bit her lip and stopped herself just in time, subtly taking a deep breath to stop herself from speaking her mind.As she composed herself and adjusted her expression, she noticed that Henry was watching her.And she could not arouse his suspicion, or he might realize that she was behind Jimmy's accident.Instead, she forced a smile as she turned toward Jimmy, exclaiming in a sickly sweet voice, "No way!"I'm really just relieved, and this is naturally the best outcome. Rory's going to be fine, while you and Tina won't feel bad about this…"She then leveled a pointed look at Tina and continued, "After all, I've done Tina wrong regarding Sophie. I can understand why she hates me and doesn't want Rory to grow up healthy…"Jimmy snapped, "Shut up already, two-faced bitch!"He t
Tina looked up, unable to hide her shock.Henry looked downward at her in turn, his tone earnest, "It's true. I won't lie to you—as soon as I was told there's another viable donor, I promptly changed donors."I don't know what you and Jimmy take exception to, but I wouldn't have asked him if I had a choice. It was never my intention to coerce him."His gaze was penetrating, as if to peer through Tina's eyes and into her mind, attempting to understand her behavior.He never wanted Jimmy's kidney from the start—if he did, he would not have told them and afforded them a choice.He continued to search for another viable donor after that and had to coerce Jimmy because circumstances compelled him to."What I said in Jimmy's room wasn't all true." He sighed as he continued, "I'd never hurt you knowingly, let alone Jimmy, who's your good friend."He had said what he said because he knew Jimmy cared about Tina, and that was his only choice if he wanted to make Jimmy sign the organ donat
Grinning smugly, Linda continued, "I murdered your daughter, and not only could you not do anything about that, but even your best friend has to give up his kidney for my daughter! Hurts to think about it, no? But what can you do about it? The more it hurts you, the more it pleases me!"Tina's chest was heaving, but she did not waste her breath—she kicked Linda to the floor and walked over Linda as she lay sprawled on the floor.But just as she went over, the lights turned off—the surgery was over.As the doctor stepped out, Tina grabbed his arm and demanded worriedly, "Where's the donor? Is he alright?""Don't worry—the surgery was a success. Both the donor and patient are fine."Tina sighed in relief, hearing that Jimmy was fine.That was when Henry stepped out, having heard her.Seeing that it really was her, Henry said, "Don't worry, Jimmy is—""Shut up!"However, Tina's hatred flared even though she heard that Jimmy was fine, and she did not even give Henry a chance to fi
Tina mentioned Sophie on purpose to invoke what little humanity Henry had, just to catch him off guard so she could grab the organ donation form and tear it into pieces.However, Henry caught her hand before she could reach it and said quietly, "Sorry, Tina."Before she could pull with her other hand, Henry struck her nape with the side of his palm.Tina's eyes widened in disbelief at Henry, and her vision turned dark as she fell limply in Henry's arms."Henry Barnes!!!" Jimmy bellowed, not expecting Henry to attack Tina."She's fine! Waste more time and Rory dies, and everyone will suffer!" Henry snapped at him as he put Tina on the couch before pulling off Jimmy's blanket and placing it over her.His touch was gentle, but his words sent a chill down the spine, as if his patience toward Tina was built entirely on the basis that Linda and Rory were fine.Otherwise, he would go crazy for their sake.As such, Jimmy followed him out of his hospital room, and Henry sent him to the
Henry appeared troubled as he looked at Tina, and he spoke softly as he assured her, "Calm down—don't worry, I've arranged everything, and the procedure will be safe. Jimmy's going to be fine."Once it's done, I'll compensate him with everything… He can have money and a job, anything. He won't have donated his kidney for nothing."Tina's chest heaved from rage, glaring hatefully at Henry as she pointed at the door and snapped, "Get out! Don't give me that bullshit! Jimmy would never say yes no matter what you tell him!"He did not move, so she pushed him and kicked him. "I told you to leave! Can't you hear?!""Just calm down, Tina," Henry sighed, anxious as another moment's delay meant Rory was in more danger. "We're talking about human life here—can't you just set aside past grudges for now? Rory's really going to die, and she needs Jimmy's kidney. This really can't wait!""What does that have to do with us?!" Tina bellowed and started throwing things at Henry since she was una