But in no time at all, a hole was burned into Henry's expensive suit, running it.While he looked speechless, he quickly picked up another set and put it on himself before holding out his necktie to Tina, "Help me with this."Tina took it.She actually did not know how to tie one at first, but she had learned it for Henry's sake.She was very clumsy too, but in time, she learned multiple ways of tying a necktie until her technique was perfect.All because of him.Despite remembering her insignificant past self, Tina did not let it show.Still, as Henry lowered his gaze, ready to hold her waist as he got near, she pulled.The necktie tightened around Henry's neck, suffocating him and leaving his handsome face flushed.Before he knew it, he grabbed the necktie to stop her from tightening it further, though Tina seized the moment to release her grip without resistance.She would simply strangle him if she did not have other things to worry about.Seeing the hatred overflowing i
After that, John's bodyguards 'invited' Zach to one of his private properties.Zach was gagged but flailed around, cursing throughout the journey until he was dragged inside.He paused when he saw Tina sitting on the couch, glaring at her warily. "What do you want?! Murder is a crime!"He had sabotaged her car so that she would get in an accident so terrible it either maimed or killed her.And yet, she returned alive.It was thanks to that he was released from prison early.Now, he was afraid of revenge and did not want to die."Did you think she'd stoop that low for the likes of you?" John snapped, kicking him to the floor viciously.But that was how scum were—they just thought everyone else was just like them.Zach paled as he clutched his stomach in pain, but his glare still wary. "Then why did you drag me here?!"Tina did not waste her breath.Throwing the photos of him with Rory in front of him, she said bluntly and confidently. "Rory Cook is your daughter."Zach's eye
However, Zach bellowed at Mrs. Long, "How much did Tina pay you to slander Linda? What did Linda do to deserve this?"Linda had mentioned that Mrs. Long was paid very well, but she would backstab Linda when she was given such treatment?Mrs. Long was left stumped in turn.Tina did pay her off, but she was also telling the truth."I have proof," Mrs. Long said, taking out her phone and showing Zach a video.Zach trusted Linda unwaveringly, but he also loved Rory very much.As those thoughts clashed, he could not help reaching out to take Mrs. Long's phone.It was a video lasting over a dozen seconds, showing Rory standing outside the house in the middle of winter, her hands and feet bare and wearing nothing but a thin sleeping gown.Her skin was turning red and purple from the cold. "Ms. Cook sent me to fetch groceries from a grocery store very far away, but I made it back early and saw this," Mrs. Long then said.She disliked Linda and had taken that video to share with her
To no surprise, Linda found Rory's door ajar.Zach did not just visit Rory first—he was even staying in Rory's room for a long while, and it upset Linda that she was not his top priority.She scowled as she steered her wheelchair inside, snapping, "Zach!"Every time Zach came to visit, Linda would spike Rory's milk, sedating her until morning came.That was why Rory would not wake up, let alone be aware of their indulgences, as Linda would never let Rory know about her and Zach.And after Linda snapped, she waited by the door for Zach to come over and fawn all over her.But to her shock, Zach ignored her, all his attention focused on Rory.Linda's expression turned cold—Rory would not exist without her! And Rory was just leverage she held against Zach—how could she let said leverage supplant her?!Linda promptly steered her wheelchair, zipping toward Rory's bed, and snapped, "I'm talking to you, Zach! Don't you hear me?! Don't you care about me?"Zach suddenly wheeled on her
Zach had always believed that Linda loved Rory and spoiled her to bits.However, Linda's eyes were immediately red as she promptly denied it. "What are you talking about? Why would I hurt Rory? She's our daughter! I absolutely love her!"After all, she avoided prying eyes whenever she abused Rory—definitely no one knew.At the next instant, as she turned toward Rory, she threw herself by Rory's bed and gasped, "Rory! How could this be?! Why is she covered in so many wounds?! Oh, Rory… My baby!"Her tears were gushing, and her gaze appeared pained even as she looked at Rory, while her hands were hovering above Rory as if she did not know where to put them.At the same time, she continued, "It must have been her teacher… I'll ask Rory when she wakes up tomorrow! I'll definitely have someone answer for this! Whoever it is, I'll kill them once I find them!"Linda was so good at pretending that she immediately had Zach convinced, as her heartache did not look fake to him.Could it be
The rim of Linda's eyes reddened as Zach kept pressuring her. "What do you want me to say? You're already pinning the blame on me already, aren't you?"As she finished, tears rolled down her cheeks.Even though she was not arguing her case, she was leveling Zach a look of grief, leaving him heartbroken right then.His sentiment kicked in quicker than his rationality, and he reached out to wipe away her tears.And when he did, Lidna threw herself in his arms, holding his waist and hiding her face against his abs, nuzzling her lips ever so gently."Zach."Linda's voice was very sweet—she knew how much Zach loved her.Sensing his body stiffening, her eyes flashed in glee. But when she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with a crystalline tenderness. "I don't want to drug Rory, but she's very clingy and comes to my room every night."Every time you come, we end up going at it until the morning."I have to keep her asleep until morning, not because I'm worried she'd see… bu
Zach's kiss left Linda's insides churning, as she could feel how threatening it was.If she did not do as he said, he would definitely go to Henry and run his mouth.Nonetheless, Zach turned to tuck Rory under her blanket, stroking her cheek before leaning in to kiss her forehead.Then, he took a long look at Linda before leaving.Linda listened to his footsteps fade, her fingers clenched over her wheelchair.That man who used to listen to her every whim was now coercing her for Rory?!Furious, she pinched Rory's waist repeatedly.-Tina sat in John's car, watching as a despondent Zach left Rose Garden.They traded glances—they had no idea what Linda and Zach said to each other, but judging from Zach's reaction, it was definitely not pleasant."My people will follow him," John told Tina.Tina nodded—she was just hoping that Zach would push Linda enough to hurt him in turn.She had no evidence to prove Linda was behind Sophie and Madam Barnes' death.But now that Henry's pe
Before John's lips touched Tina's, someone struck the car window audibly.Startled, John paused and looked up to see Henry scowling at him.Tina was woken up too and opened her eyes to see what it was.Seeing Henry's furious glare from behind the window, her sleepiness faded right away."You should head home soon, John," she said, calmly returning John's suit.She meant that John did not have to stay nor bother about her being with HenryWith those words, she alighted and smiled at John, beckoning for him to leave.Once she closed the door, she strode in without even looking at Henry."What were you doing?" Henry pulled up alongside her, casting a searching glance on her face.Tina did not want to entertain him—she was tired and only wanted a bath and rest.But Henry was not about to spare her and pinned her against the door as soon as they were inside, holding her chin and suddenly leaning in for a kiss.Tina turned her head aside, and his lips only brushed past hers, landi
Tina glared viciously at Henry, who was pig-brained whenever Linda was concerned. "That pendant was never Linda's! She got it from someone else! You had the wrong person from the start!"If it was not for her mother, Madam Barnes, and Sophie's sake, she would not even bother talking to Henry, as she did not want him to keep protecting Linda mindlessly because he thought she was her savior.Otherwise, he could treat Linda as whoever he thought she was—she would not care!Henry stared at Tina in turn, asking before he knew it, "If Linda isn't Orange, then who is?"That was when Linda suddenly appeared at the doorway, crying out tearfully before Tina could speak, "Tina! What do I have to do for you to stop?!"You paid off Zach Foster to try to turn Henry against me! Now that it has gone south, you're lying to Henry that I'm not Orange! What do you want from me?!"And I'm not Orange, you say? Then who's Orange? You?!"However, Tina's eyes flared with irrational hatred the instant Li
Henry's eyes widened, unable to believe what he was hearing.It was Linda? How could it be so?!On the other hand, Mrs. Fuller could not help cringing from the cold air that seemed to spill from Henry.There was no turning back now that she already betrayed Linda, and she was genuinely terrified of Henry. As such, she decided to turn to Tina, who, between the two, was much more agreeable.She really did not want to end up in prison, and hence started begging, "Please, Ms. Smith—I'll tell you everything I know, just don't call the cops on me."Trust me—I never wanted to hurt your mother… But Linda Cook paid me so much, and I was tricked into doing such a thing."I have a big family with many mouths to feed… they're all hopeless without me. And you're so kind—you're not going to destroy my family, right?"Mrs. Fuller could have spent the money for her son's future, and then assumed a new identity to keep working.But now that she was exposed, she thought she could bank on Tina'
"Argh!!!"Mrs. Fuller could feel her collarbone breaking, and the agony left her face contorting!At that moment, she realized that Tina and Henry might have noticed something.But that should not be possible!She made sure the hallways were clear and even closed the curtains just in case.No one should have known!Still, even as Mrs. Fuller panicked, she told herself to stay calm.That was when Tina pulled out the IV drip needle and got out of bed."Tina!"Henry noticed that right away and turned to hold her down by her shoulder. "Just leave this to me. I'll make sure she suffers."She was too weak now, after all.However, Tina shook his hand off and strode toward Mrs. Fuller.Henry frowned but did not stop her since she was insistent, staying behind her while keeping a close eye on her.Mrs. Fuller was naturally relieved that it was Tina, who was definitely more agreeable between her and Henry.Henry was so scary that just one look made Mrs. Fuller think she was going t
However, Mrs. Fuller soon composed herself and leveled a wounded look at Tina."If you think it's my fault that this happened to Mrs. Smith, then I quit!" she snapped, tears welling up in her eyes as she complained, looking utterly aggrieved. "I believe I've done everything I could to take good care of your mother and have never once slacked. She has been good to me and treated me like her sister."I know that Mrs. Smith had an accident while I was away, and you held it against me. That was my negligence, and I'm sorry because I shouldn't have left her alone."But you can't blame her for going to shock me over one instance of negligence. You have no evidence and yet you still suspect me! You're breaking my heart!"However, Tina's question was just probing at best.There were just too many coincidences—Mrs. Smith first had an accident, and then went into shock in the half hour when she was gone.But it would all make sense if this was all done on purpose.And if it was, then Mrs.
Mrs. Fuller had heard rumors of her colleagues doing the same thing, with none being the wiser.So she could not help being interested—and did it.She was supposed to take Mrs. Smith's life right then and there and was surprised by a nurse who came in doing her rounds.Hearing the nurse come in, Mrs. Fuller promptly reattached Mrs. Smith's oxygen tube and hurried off to a corner to look busy. Mrs. Smith had already gone into shock by then, and the nurse immediately noticed that something was wrong.Mrs. Fuller played along, feigning panic when the nurse pressed the call button.Everything went smoothly—even if Mrs. Smith survived, she was in a vegetative state and was no different from dead.Just the thought that she would soon get 500 grand left Mrs. Fuller's hands shaking in excitement. [She's not dead, but she's in a vegetative state. Dr. Sandler even told Ms. Smith to prepare for the worst, so she might be gone before long anyway.]Linda could not help smiling smugly whe
Yancy was himself on the way to the hospital when he called Henry, and his expression was somber as he hung up.Even as he sped toward the hospital, he was left wondering how Mrs. Smith suddenly went into shock, when her condition was clearly stabilizing?She was already weak after a major surgery, and the shock came with terrible timing.If they could not save her in time, she would die.And even if they did, she might remain comatose, staying in a vegetative state.Even as the thought crossed Yancy's mind, he floored the gas pedal again.Every second counted for such medical crises, and just being early by one minute might make all the difference.And Yancy prayed that Mrs. Smith would be fine.-Tina was pale as she stood outside the doors of the emergency room.She and Jimmy were going to take turns taking care of Mrs. Smith, as there was no reason for two people to stay with her at the same time.As such, Tina told Jimmy to go home to rest and come tomorrow so they coul
On the other hand, Linda felt gleeful about it too.Sophie was six feet under but had never once experienced such fatherly love from Henry.It all went to Rory instead.Smart as ever, Rory called out to Linda just then, "Mommy." Linda hurried over as Rory held out a hand while she remained in Henry's arms.Linda quickly grasped Rory's hand and used that as an excuse to move beside Henry, even pressing herself against him.Her spirits soared as she inhaled that mature masculine scent of his.How could she ever let go of his man?No matter what happened, she would never let Henry find out that Tina was Orange.Henry was hers and hers alone!As Linda subtly pressed herself closer to Henry, they looked just like a blissful family of three in the distance.Still, she had to get up when the specialist Henry recruited hurried over, and Henry told Rory to lie down.After the specialists took turns to examine Rory, Henry went with them to the office to speak about her condition in
Hearing that there was evidence, Tina's spirit soared.After countless attempts on her own life and pulling herself together, she told herself repeatedly that she must be patient—that she must not break before she avenged Sophie.That she must never rush things and always be calm, and never let Henry or Linda get to her.However, how could she not get impatient?Linda had murdered her baby, and her hatred for Linda cut deep into her bones.Even in her dreams, she wanted justice for Sophie.But now, knowing that Linda was a fraud all along, Tina could not wait to get her hands on the evidence and rip off Linda's mask of lies as Henry watched!"Where's the evidence, Mom?" Tina pressed urgently.Beside Mrs. Smith's bed, Mrs. Fuller leaned closer when Mrs. Smith said there was evidence.Mrs. Smith's voice was too soft for her to catch, and Jimmy and Tina were both too focused on Mrs. Smith to notice what she was doing anyway.However, just before Mrs. Smith could tell Tina where
Crash!However, just as Mrs. Smith finished, Mrs. Fuller suddenly staggered and knocked over a bedside lamp.It shattered loudly on the floor, drowning out Mrs. Smith's already enfeebled voice."I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Mrs. Fuller apologized repeatedly as she dropped down to pick up the pieces, and no one paid attention to that minor distraction after.Still, Henry missed what Mrs. Smith said and was about to ask what it was when Linda grabbed his arm and caught his attention. "Please, Henry—Tina's mother's surgery was a success. She can wait, but Rory can't."She's really in terrible danger—anything else can wait. Can't you go to Rory now?"Linda's tears poured as she pleaded miserably, as all she wanted was to get Henry away from this place.Once she did, she would use Rory to buy even more time while she came up with a plan.Henry had to agree that Linda was right—there was a priority to things.Mrs. Smith's surgery was a success, and she had already passed her risk period—t