However, despite being plenty cooperative ever since she was admitted to this hospital, Mrs. Smith ignored Yancy for the first time and started flailing viciously when the nurse got near."Don't touch me!" Mrs. Smith bellowed.Worried that her agitation would hurt her health, Yancy promptly gestured for the nurse to open the door and quickly wheeled her out.Once he saw Tina, he said, "Sorry, Ms. Smith, but your mother is suddenly demanding that she gets discharged. Please reason with her—this is an important period where she must stay and condition herself for the surgery next month.""I said I'm not undergoing that surgery!" Mrs. Smith snapped.She refused to stay in this hospital! Henry wanted to threaten Tina with her life?! Dream on!"Please, Mom! Nothing's more important than your health."Seeing that Mrs. Smith was still agitated, Tina's voice choked with tears even as she took Mrs. Smith's hand. "I've lost Sophie. I can't lose you too."Her mother was her only family
Mrs. Smith had been staring at Henry for a while, and her eyes widened when he saw the pendant exposed on his hip.It looked like Tina's, but Mrs. Smith had just regained consciousness, and her vision was blurry.Worried that she had mistaken it, she suddenly told Henry, "Come here."Yancy was relieved as she was not agitated like before and thought telling the truth worked.He could see that Henry cared about Mrs. Smith's condition, and it would not be the case if he did not care about Tina.And seeing that there was still hope, he stepped aside, clearing the way from Henry.Henry's gaze was dark.He had no idea what Mrs. Smith wanted but walked up to her as she had asked.And once he was close and Mrs. Smith got a good look, and saw that the pendant really was Tina's.Years ago, when Ice was leaving, they had exchanged tokens—Ice had given Tina the pendant he always carried, and she had done the same with her pendant.So why would Henry have Tina's pendant?The answer was
Having made up her mind, Mrs. Smith calmed down and turned toward Tina. "Let's go back to my room."If Henry stopped holding her hostage to coerce Tina, she was naturally happy to get the surgery."Okay," Tina's heart was at ease with those words.That was when Henry suddenly pressed a hand on the handles of Mrs. Smith's stretcher, his dark gaze on her as he asked, "Excuse me, is there a problem with this pendant?"He could not help asking to see the weird looks she was giving it."Problem? Well, the problem is that the one who holds it doesn't deserve it!" Mrs. Smith scoffed pointedly, as she really wished that she had never saved Henry.Yancy was actually shocked that Mrs. Smith was still so cold toward Henry and felt indignant for his sake. "Mrs. Smith, Henry did everything he could to help you, from getting the medicine to arranging the best meals. He was meticulous—""And what, should I be grateful?" Mrs. Smith replied sharply.Yancy frowned. "Even if you aren't, you shoul
Just the mention that he might have a change of heart left Henry's gaze darkening, and he turned toward Yancy. "What did you say?"His tone was flat, but there was authority.As Yancy saw how placid Henry's was, he realized right then that he was mistaken."N-Nothing," he quickly replied.He feared Henry and decided to keep quiet under Henry's quiet pressure."Well, I'll get going." He nodded at Henry and hurried to his car.On the other hand, Henry remained calm as he returned to his car, leaning on it instead of getting in.He pulled out his cigarette box and lit himself one, taking a puff and breathing out a smoke ring.As the smoke swirled around him, he remembered what Yancy said—that he had a change of heart.He certainly understood that Yancy was suggesting that he had fallen for Tina.But had he?Before he knew it, he lifted the pendant he kept clipped to his waist, his finger brushing gently over it.He stopped as he finished his cigarette, any hint of doubt in his
However, it was just a split second distraction, and John soon turned his attention back to the monitor—Linda had asked Zach to meet tonight at a hotel, where she would bring Rory along.Hearing that Rory was going, Zach agreed to it without hesitation, but with the bodyguards at John's villa, he could not get out and needed to find a way…"John…""Tina…"John and Tina turned virtually at the same time.As they were very close, their noses brushed against each other's and their breaths tangled.It was only then that Tina realized how close they were, and her ears turned red as she instinctively pulled away.Still, she composed herself within seconds and calmly looked into John's eyes. "When Quentin was the only person who knew that Linda had stolen the kidney meant for Sophie on purpose, he threatened her."That was why Linda hired someone to kill him, silencing him while protecting himself."And when Madam Barnes tried to avenge Sophie, Linda killed her before she could go th
Rory nodded. "Okay."Inwardly, she was blowing a raspberry."From now on, you just have to tell me what you like, and I'll get it for you."Really? Could he even afford that?Still, it was late, and she yawned, looking sleepy. However, Zach would like for her to stay and was just wondering how he should go about it, when Linda suggested on her own. "Rory could stay the night here—how about that?""Okay!" Zach promptly nodded.Rory was really sleepy too and soon fell asleep once she got in bed.Zach sat by her bed, tucking her in and gently brushing his fingers over her hair.His love for her was all too obvious—he could not even bear to turn away from Rory's face.Linda sat on the bed, hugging him from the back while breathing into his ear, "Zach."Her voice could melt any heart, but Zach was not reacting.As such, she deftly reached under his shirt—she knew all too well what excited him.Zach's breathing turned heavy, but he held her hand and muttered under his breath, "
Linda passed Rory to Zach's care while she stayed on the beach.Zach carefully helped Rory to put her gear on and took her hand, taking her onboard a boat, checking her diving mask when they arrived at the diving spot.Having ensured that everything was fine, he led her down into the water.Rory really liked diving.As they dived into the depths, and Zach spread some fish food into the water, fishes slowly flocked around them.Rory's eyes lit up behind her diving mask, and Zach gazed upon her lovingly.Taking her hand, he spread more fish food as she swam. After a while, Rory held out her hand to him for the fish food—she wanted to do it too.Zach naturally would not refuse and quickly demonstrated how to do it slowly before he passed her some.Rory nodded, and he watched tenderly as she worked, when she suddenly spread all of the fish food at once.The sudden murkiness caught him by surprise, but he held on firmer to Rory's hand, his eyes fixed where she was supposed to be.
Finding Linda on the beach, Rory ran up to her excitedly, exclaiming, "Mommy! He sank!"She looked expectantly at Linda for her praise, having accomplished what Linda had told her to do.Satisfied, Linda pulled Rory into her arms, calmly kissing her little cheek while whispering softly, "Remember—no one must know about this. If anyone asks, just say you don't know anything. If they get pushy, start crying."If you can't do that, you'll lose me and your daddy."Rory could not help cringing and promptly hugged Linda, hiding her little face in Linda's bosom. "I don't know anything, Mommy.""Good girl."Linda patted Rory's head, her eyes cold as she looked upon the sapphire surface of the sea.It was Zach's own fault.Since he was so sincerely in love with her, she would have been content with just having him locked up behind bars to keep him from meddling in her affairs.But he refused to know his place, refusing to accept her accusations and even threatening her in turn.That p
Tina had been at the graveyard before Zach called.She had called Zach repeatedly after learning that Linda was saved, but he never answered.Just by threatening suicide, Linda easily won Henry over and made Zach back down, and everything Tina had done once again went to waste.She was left experiencing the same crippling helplessness she had felt two years ago.As long as she could not unmask Linda's true nature, Linda would never be punished, and Sophie would never rest in peace.Tina could not even begin to express the guilt she felt and could only repeatedly kiss Sophie's cheek, sobbing repeatedly, "I'm sorry, baby…"Her tears had long since dried in the morning breeze."The winds are strong here. You'll catch a cold." Henry suddenly appeared, carefully putting down his offerings in front of Sophie's grave before draping his coat over Tina's shoulders.She immediately tried to push him away but failed as he pressed it on her with both hands. "Even if you hate me, don't hate
In her ward, Linda's thoughts returned to her troubles at hand after she was done venting her grievances.She had stalled Henry and Zach for the time being by threatening suicide but was well aware that it was temporary.Whoever Zach would give the evidence he had to, it was all over for her—she would not just lose Henry, but she would also face prison.And having led a life of privilege for years, it was a fate worse than death.She could not go to prison, and right now, only Rory could hope to convince Zach. Linda's tone was suddenly soft as she called out, "Rory."Rory's eyes lit up. "Mommy!""Rory, Zach has evidence that would make you lose me. So call him now and tell him that if he dares to give it to your daddy, you'll die, and he'll lose you forever."The prospect of dying left Rory clearly taking a step back, resistant.She did not want to die—she had plenty to live for!Linda rolled her eyes in disappointment and pulled Rory toward her. "I'm not actually telling yo
The care worker smiled. "Ms. Smith, Mr. Barnes has asked me to stay and take good care of you. Should I order delivery?"Mendy's provided delivery anyway."I told you to leave and get it yourself," Linda rasped, her voice weak but her glare cold.The care worker was just paid to do a job and did not argue since Linda was insistent, and left to buy breakfast from Mendy's.And once Linda was sure that the care worker had left, her expression turned cold right then.Rory noticed that.She cringed from muscle memory since Linda constantly abused her, but she did not dare to run away.Looking at Linda, she called out gingerly, "Mommy…?""You are a failure!"Linda's eyes narrowed icily and did not hesitate to raise her remaining good hand.She did not slap Rory because Henry might come and see that, but she was really furious and could not get over it if she did not punish Rory.Instead, she knocked Rory off her chair.Right now, Rory was the one she was really sick of, aside fro
Zach hurried after Henry and Linda, staggering as he did.His mind had gone blank when Linda cut herself with such determination.He certainly knew why Linda had said those words to Henry and why she had slit her wrist.But when he saw those cuts that reached bone on her wrist, the scales of his rationality and sentiment ultimately tipped toward sentiment.He really loved Linda and could not stop himself from worrying.At that moment, he had only one thought—that he did not want Linda to die.After everyone was gone, the door shut on its own, while the ambulance's siren soon faded into the distance.Tina slowly dropped to a crouch, not bothered to clean Linda's blood from the floor.All she could think about was Henry telling Linda that she believed him and could not help clenching her fingers around Sophie's bone. "Mommy's not giving up, and I won't fall again. I'll avenge you, Sophie… Definitely."Even if it killed her.-Linda was barely alive when she was rushed to the
Linda's tears were falling like a string of broken pearls. "Believe me… I didn't do it… You know me. How could I be so heinous?"There was endless grief in each word, as she was betting everything on this killing stroke to win Henry's trust.As long as he believed her, he would not even bother to seek evidence or believe Zach's evidence when it was shown to him.But things were different this time.In the past, whenever Linda used to ask Henry to believe her, he would never hesitate to say that he did.Now, however, his visage was cold and he did not answer, only quietly and quickly bandaging her wrist.Linda's heart sank as she watched.However, she soon pulled herself together—she could not just take this lying down!Zach had yet to show his evidence, and she must not give up until the very last moment!As if losing her sanity, she suddenly withdrew her hand to stop Henry from bandaging it, even tearing it wide open with her remaining good hand.At the same time, she levele
Zach did not bring his evidence, even though he had taken precautions against Linda when he had gone to see her the other night.He kept his evidence safe in case anything unexpected happened. He had lied to Tina about bringing it along and presenting it to Henry, because he just wanted to reveal to Henry that he and Linda were sleeping together all along.He presumed that Henry would snap because he loved Linda so much—a man of his position would never stay with a woman who cheated on him.And once Henry dumped Linda, Linda would have no refuge.And since she did not love Rory, she would hand Rory over to him.However, Henry's reaction was something that Zach did not expect, and Zach himself had trouble deciding if he loved Linda or not.Nevertheless, Linda felt a lifeline when she heard Zach.This was a chance!Looking up at Tina, who was clearly shocked, Linda screamed in grief, "Tina! So you were really working with Zach to set me up! Calling me heinous without proof, mur
"Zach Foster!"Linda's eyes were wide with rage, not expecting Zach to go that far.He swore that he would never hurt her!"Linda Cook!!!"Henry suddenly bellowed.And it was the first time he had ever called her by her full name!Linda's lips trembled as she turned toward Henry, and she was shocked to see the doubt in his eyes."Henry…" she murmured, her tears raining to try and curry Henry's sympathy.Even so, he was just glaring icily at her, and she felt a chill creeping up from her toes, extending throughout her body.She knew very well that Henry was absolutely regretful after learning that he had the wrong idea about Tina since two years ago, and that his presumptions had led to him neglecting Sophie.He felt that he owed Sophie so much and could never make amends for her death, and it was a boulder that kept weighing down on him.Over the past two years, he had spent countless nights at that bastard's grave.And whenever he saw anything that reminded him of children
"What did you say?"Zach's words were a clap of thunder that left Henry reeling in shock, and he turned sharply toward Zach with eyes as cold as ice.In his surprise, his arms seemed to go limp, and he dropped Linda on the floor just as he lifted her."Argh!" Linda promptly cried out in pain in an attempt to draw Henry's attention back to her.However, seeing that Henry took no notice, Linda stopped being bothered by the pain, keeping her head lowered and her shoulders shaking.As no one could see her face, they could not tell if she was fearful that Zach would expose her or if it was something else.Then when she looked up at Zach moments later, tears welling up in her eyes as she bellowed, "That's slander! Why are you slandering me?!"She stared straight into Zach's eyes, while giving him a look that only they knew.She was betting on Zach's love for her—because he loved her so much, he would not bear to hurt her.And Zach did see the look in her eyes, his gaze troubled as h
Linda kept crying, "I promise it won't ever happen again! As long as you stay away from Tina, I'll stay away from Zach! And once Grandma's mourning period is over, we'll get married!"Her words left Henry's heart skipping a beat, as he realized that when he saw the video of Linda getting intimate with Zach, he was only angry that she lied to him—and not that she had cheated on him.In fact, he did not feel jealous at all from seeing Linda willingly melt into another man's embrace.But if that were Tina… No, he did not even dare imagine that. Forget letting it happen—just the sight of Tina being near another man was unbearable.That was when he remembered what Yancy said about changing hearts, and Henry's eyes appeared troubled as he turned toward the sobbing Linda again."You're just satisfying your needs, you say?! You never loved me, you say?!"Zach's fingers clenched around his phone, as he had always believed that Linda was really in love with him.Even now, he forgave her