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 calmed down after returning to her room and taking a bath.She had lost tonight, but only because she had misjudged Tina's condition.But she would be holding a grudge, and there was plenty of time. There was no way she would let Tina off easy.She lay in bed, sending a selfie of herself in her sleeping gown and texting Henry goodnight.Soon after, her phone rang. She promptly answered, thinking it was Henry."Hen—"Before she could even say his name, Tina was snickering in contempt. "I thought you said you'd make me pay?"The rage that Linda had worked hard to repress flared right then. "You bitch! You did it on purpose!"At that moment, Linda finally realized that Tina was setting a trap for her all along, holding back even though she was beating her."So what if I did? What can you do about it?" Tina retorted calmly and provokingly.Beep, beep…She hung up as soon as she was finished, leaving Linda's chest heaving.Two years ago, she always got to provoke Tina wi
Mrs. Smith's heart could not help aching as she remembered how her daughter was when they met again a year later.Worried that she would remind Tina of the pain, she fought her heartache and said, "His name was Henry, but we all called him Ice. He was much colder than that boy over there."He always had a long face and didn't talk to anyone or let anyone get too near him."The boy had kept everyone at arm's reach and always lashed out, after all.As for Tina, she presumed that it was just another person with the same name and kept listening attentively to Mrs. Smith's story. "But with a little sun like you, even colder ice would melt."When he didn't eat, you would keep bringing food that you like to him."No matter how he snapped at you and threw it away, you never took it to heart and would always go to him enthusiastically."My heart ached for you, so I told you to stop going to him."But you told me that Ice must have been hurting, that he was crying."Ice actually never s
"Ice frowned, but he finished the sweet potato."It was only at that moment that I finally understood that he was a good child, and he only lashed out due to the terrible circumstances he found himself in."As Mrs. Smith finished, even Tina could not help smiling as she imagined the scene—she must have really loved Ice, though she had no idea where he was now.They had returned to the ward, where the doctor came in during his rounds, and Mrs. Smith's story was interrupted.After the doctor examined Mrs. Smith, Tina stayed and watched her eat before leaving.She had an appointment with Helen Moore for minor adjustments to the jewelry set she wore on her birthday, and it was a pleasant meeting.After they had lunch together, Tina headed home to finish her draft.But when she was done, she got a text saying that Henry was interfering in Zach's release.She frowned, not expecting that.John had told her that Zach was sentenced for life because he and Henry worked together to prolo
Jimmy had already been transferred to a ward when Tina arrived at the hospital he was in.She ran into his teammate on the way there, who was going out for a smoke in the fire escape stairs, and paused when he saw Tina.Tina was gasping as she ran all the way there and asked him gingerly, "Is Jimmy alright?"Why a traffic accident, and at this time?She did not dare to think how devastated Jimmy would be after he had worked so hard for years but still could not accomplish his dream."He's safe, but one of his wrists is thoroughly hurt," the teammate said somberly. "And the doctor is saying that it's disabled."He was like a brother to Jimmy and knew better than anyone how hard Jimmy had worked to get gold.But now, Jimmy could not even compete with his wrist disabled.Tina staggered backward at the news, the rim of her eyes reddened as tears soon covered her face.It took her a long while to stop crying and wipe the tears off her face, compose herself, and head inside.The do
But as Rory really grew on Henry, he could see that she really thought of him as her father, and he treated her as his daughter in turn.Nonetheless, Jimmy snorted. "What does Rory Cook have to do with me? Who do you think she is? Why should I sacrifice my dreams to save her? You want me to donate my kidney to her? Not in this lifetime!" And with that, he took Tina's hand and turned to leave.As Linda saw that Henry was not stopping them, she promptly tugged on him. "Are you just going to let him go?! What about Rory?!""No." He shook his head. "Jimmy is competing by the end of the month. Stop obsessing over him—I'll get Rory another donor."Jimmy's words just reminded Henry about the tournament, and that Jimmy was not representing himself but the whole nation.Rory's life mattered, but saving her should not come at such a cost.Linda's lips twitched, as she really wanted to argue.So what if Jimmy had to give up on the tournament?It was not like he was going to win gold—eve
Thud!Thud!Linda only bowed just three times, but she was at once dizzy and bleeding from her forehead."Linda!" Henry cried as he rushed to her side.Just as he dropped to a couch, she promptly dropped limply into his arms, blood flowing freely down her head as she rasped, "Henry… Calm down, I'm alright."Her face was covered in blood and tears—it was a gruesome sight."For Rory's sake, I won't just bow—I'm willing to die for her if I have to." Even so, she tugged feebly on Henry's arm, while continuing to prove how deeply she loved Rory as she turned to Tina. "Can you let Jimmy save Rory now? I've already bowed as you demanded…"Henry's face dropped at those words.Glowering, he gently reached down to pick up Linda from the floor, but she refused and stayed on her knees, tears covering her face as she cried, "Haven't I bowed enough? I can keep going, as long as you promise to save Rory!"Linda was ready to keep bowing as she finished, but Henry caught her, stopping her fr
Linda did not think that Tina could completely ignore the mob's outrage, even turning the tables on her!If Linda refused to bow, that meant she did not love her daughter.Even if that was a fact, she could not let it show in front of the public!Her jaw clenching so hard she could crush her own teeth, Linda had no choice but to slide off her wheelchair with considerable difficulty, breathing, "I'm begging you, Tina."The same thing had happened two years ago, but the roles were reversed—Linda had been on her feet, while Tina had been prostrating herself and begging.Tina would never forget the day Linda threatened her with Sophie's ashes, and how it ripped her heart apart because she really thought it was Sophie.She had not hesitated to kowtow until her head bled as Linda demanded, but Linda scattered Sophie's ashes anyway.Her heart was left in pieces then.Even if she later found out that the ashes were not Sophie, her heartache and the way Linda humiliated her was never fo
Tina and Jimmy were just leaving the hospital when a figure steered her wheelchair toward them, grabbing Tina's hand as everyone watched, crying and begging, "Please, Tina, I'm begging you—you have to help Rory!"She's dying, and she'll be dead without your friend's kidney!"She's only seven! She's just a child—please, take pity on her! Don't be so cold-blooded and stop your friend from donating his kidney! A feud between adults shouldn't hurt the kids! Rory is innocent!"Linda was smart—she actually mentioned that they had a feud.And for most people, whenever they thought of a feud between two women, they would immediately presume it was a love triangle—that the women were after the same man.That was why Linda would take the moral high ground and coerce Tina into relenting through emotional blackmail.Still, Jimmy himself pried Linda's fingers off even before Tina spoke. "Don't touch Tina with your filthy hands, and quit your slander! I'm the one who's refusing to donate my ow
"I didn't want to worry you, but I really wanted you to visit."Mommy told me not to catch a cold, but I sneaked out because you never came."I'm sorry, Daddy. I know you're busy and can't visit all the time, but I just…"Rory trailed off, barely catching her breath.Just watching that left Henry's heart bleeding and unable to scold her at all. "It's my fault I shouldn't have left the hospital—I'll try to stay with you as much as I can from now on, okay?"Rory shook her head. "It's alright, Daddy. I know you're busy—but just visit when you have time, okay?"In contrast to her capricious nature when she was five and always bugging Henry to keep her company, Rory appeared even more mature now.Henry smiled and nodded. "Okay. Just be good, Rory—close your eyes and sleep. Leave the rest to Daddy, okay?"Rory nodded, leveling a worshipful gaze at Henry with her clear, innocent gaze, having complete faith in him as he said, "I believe you, Daddy. You're my hero—you'll save me, right?
Henry sped all the way to the hospital and arrived outside the emergency room to find Linda covered in tears in her wheelchair.Her tears gushed even more when she saw him and called out to him helplessly, "Henry…"Henry went up to her, his expression worried. "She was fine this afternoon, wasn't she? Why is she suddenly in critical condition?""I-I don't know… She was just fine before she slept… then, she suddenly had a fever and a low heart rate… I quickly called the doctor, and he said she's in critical condition and asked me to sign the notice…"I didn't… I… I'm afraid Rory will die… I….""Rory's going to be fine."Seeing that Linda was spouting nonsense, Henry patted her back to calm her down, but his eyes were worried even as he stared at the doors of the emergency room.He was really worried that Rory would die too.He did not want to lose Rory too after losing Sophie.And Linda seized the moment to sneak into his arms…-There was no telling how long had passed when
After all, Linda was really worried that Rory might die."I told Jimmy Jones," Henry admitted."Why?!" Linda cried out in disbelief. "We agreed not to tell Tina, didn't we?! Why did you tell her?! What is Rory going to do, now that Jimmy is refusing to donate to her?! Do we just watch her die?!""I won't let anything happen to Rory," Henry replied quietly. "Don't worry—I've sent my people on a nationwide search for a suitable donor. Rory is going to be fine."However, Henry's promise did not calm Linda down at all.But no matter how upset she was with his decision, she did not dare to let it show and fought back the frustration burning within her."I trust you, Henry," she sobbed, sounding helpless as if she was completely reliant on him.Henry then offered a few more words of comfort and told Linda not to tell Rory—she was seven and knew enough about death now, and he was worried that it would worsen her condition."Don't worry. I'll keep it a secret," Linda replied.Once Hen
Personally, Henry hoped that Tina would not extend their feud as adults to Rory.But if Tina decided to go through with it and stop Jimmy from donating, Henry decided that he would not push her either.There was still time, and Henry would be doing everything he could to get a suitable donor.To no surprise, his words left both Tina and Jimmy's faces dropping, with Jimmy throwing the pen as far as he could in disgust.He had almost donated his kidney to the daughter of the woman who murdered Sophie!Hell, he could consider donating to Rory if Rory was innocent and Linda was the only rotten one there.But Rory had already learned to frame Sophie even when Rory herself was just a child, hurting Sophie repeatedly.That apple was really rotten to the core, and Jimmy was no saint who would save someone so undeserving at the price of his own health."Donating to Rory Cook?! Not in your lifetime!" Jimmy bellowed as he picked up the papers and tore it into shreds.Then, he took Tina's