Tina stiffened at the mention of Sophie.Seeing that she was silent, he growled in warning, "Quit your antics already."Tina's gaze darkened—he was telling her not to say that Sophie was dead whenever he mentioned her.However, she never planned to mention Sophie at all, as she was concerned for Madam Barnes.Madam Barnes had doted on Sophie before falling to a coma—could she really take the news of Sophie's death?It was a bet she refused to take.Still, before she could speak, an elderly voice asked from the stairs, "What was that? Bring who to dinner?"Tina panicked but mustered herself and fought back her misery, smiling as she walked up. "No, Grandma. I—"Before she could even change the subject, Henry stared straight at Tina as he said, "Sophie."He refused to let her win—not when she had hidden Sophie for so long.Tina glared at him where Madam Barnes could not see but soon turned to her. "Sophie is—""Who's Sophie?" Madam Barnes asked, cutting her short.She was fro
Henry frowned—in other words, they must never mention Sophie around Madam Barnes.Still, his eyes darkened as he glanced sideways at Tina, who clearly sighed in relief.How long was she going to hide Sophie?!Madam Barnes just happened to step out just then and was immediately annoyed. "Glare at Tina again, and I'll take your eyes."She then smacked him on the back for good measure!"Guh!" Henry grunted."You deserved it!" Madam Barnes snorted, though concern showed in her eyes.She was really getting old, already forgetting that she had just flogged him…-Soon, Madam Barnes was happily having seconds at the dining table, as Tina had personally cooked her favorites.They went out for a stroll in the garden after, and there was a sudden downpour.Worried for Madam Barnes' health, Tina took off her jacket and covered Madam Barnes despite the latter's protests.Still, while not one drop of rain reached Madam Barnes when a servant arrived with an umbrella, Tina was soaked thro
When the door opened, Tina was busy showering with her back to it.Still, she promptly turned when she heard the door open and found herself staring into Henry's possessive glare.Her cheeks flushed so hard she could bleed, and she promptly turned, covering herself while snapping in embarrassment, "W-Who told you to come in here?! Get out!"She really had nowhere to run!"This is my bathroom."Henry unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeves, flashing his expensive wrist watch, and leaned against the door as he slowly took it off, putting it aside.At the same time, his eyes were fixed on Tina possessively.Her long black hair was draped over her shoulders, her fair skin seemingly glistening in contrast.Thanks to that special ointment, there were only faint traces of the flogging left on her back, but the sight reminded him of her touch when she had helped him apply it on his own back.His breathing suddenly turning labored, he loosened his neck tie to ease his breathing, while his
However…"I'm no longer interested," Tina said, pressing her hand on his chest to push him away."Heh."Henry chuckled raspily. "Did you think I'm that easy? That you could put the moves on me and push me away whenever you like, hmm?"His large hand held her waist as he nibbled her earlobe, leaving her with a numbing tingle as it was Tina's most sensitive spot.She cringed into herself and felt that he was going to force herself on her.However, with Linda not around, all Tina wanted was for Henry to stay well away from her."Grandma's waiting for me!""She said she's tired after her twenty-hour flight." Henry snorted, cutting her off again. "She should be sleeping by now, so don't bother her."In fact, as Madam Barnes' memories had regressed to five years ago, she would be once again hoping that he would hook up with Linda, completely unaware that they had done it countless times in the memories she lost.Comment by _ Lunaelle: Linda or Tina?"You're not getting away from m
Henry's gaze darkened, his breathing turning labored.Still, he pressed a hand over her lips to silence her while growling over the phone impatiently, "What is it?"As he was not leaving immediately like when Linda had called him before, Tina looked into his eyes dolefully with her own, just as she did countless times before.When she was so tame and tempting, it was a look that Henry could not resist.He frowned, his breathing turning heavy, and suddenly hung up, having no patience to wait another few seconds for Linda to speak.Throwing his phone carelessly aside, he leaned down to kiss Tina viciously again.But as soon as he did, his phone rang again.This time, he ignored it.It stopped ringing eventually but quickly rang again after.By the third time that happened, Tina reached out with her free hand.However, Henry grabbed her hand before she could turn it off, still panting as he took his phone from her and answered it.This time, he had yet to say a word when Linda
Amanda, Nora Spencer's assistant, was on hand to receive the trio when they arrived.She glanced at their work badges and finally turned to Tina, studying her for a moment before saying, "So, you're Tina Smith. Ms. Spencer thinks very highly of you.""Thank you." Tina nodded humbly. "I'll do my best not to let her down."Amanda's scowl remained, and she even snorted. "That can wait until you pass the internship."That was when Linda suddenly said, "You're a coffee person, right? Here, Henry told me to give everyone some. I can get you more if you like it."As she spoke, she took out an exquisitely decorated coffee tin.Amanda had actually missed the part where Linda mentioned Henry, but her eyes lit up when she saw the label.As a coffee lover, she certainly recognized the Barnes Special Brew that even money could not buy, which she had been yearning to have a taste for a while.She had naturally heard that one of the interns was in a relationship with Henry but dismissed it as
Linda followed Tina inside, her smile fading instantly as she glared at Tina viciously.Last night, she had clearly heard Henry's labored breathing—he wanted it and was almost getting it.But in the end, she managed to stop him from getting it on with Tina!Since he would be full off pent-up libido, the simplest teasing should turn them into wolves.That was why she put on her most alluring sleeping gown.Once Henry came with the doctor, who left after making sure that Rory was fine, she pretended to be busy with Rory and accidentally loosened her sash, baring most of her skin before Henry.She was proud of her body—no man could resist it, and Henry should have been pent-up on top of that.However, Henry did not even look as he kept his eyes on Rory, quietly telling her, "Don't catch a cold."Linda had no idea why Henry would not touch her even though he loved her so much.And then there was Tina, who always sent Linda's jealousy flaring.As such, once they were alone, Linda
With those words, Tina put away the magazine, ignoring Linda as she opened the door and left.Linda was left gritting her teeth.Trying to steal Henry from her?! Dream on!Still, she quickly composed herself and headed out with a smile.Glancing at Tina as she used the printer, Linda suddenly asked out loud, "Everyone! Why don't we have dinner together tonight?"Someone asked jokingly, "Are you buying?"Linda smiled and nodded. "Yes, Henry just called, saying that he's inviting everyone to Orange Tower tonight to celebrate my new job. Is everyone here able to make it?""Yes, yes, of course!""We're talking about Orange Tower! I'll go even if hell rains down upon me! The food is extraordinary, and we can have a taste thanks to Linda!"It was both a joke and a statement of fact—Orange Tower was the most famous restaurant in Jadelight and a subsidiary of Barnes Group.Only the rich and powerful got to go there."It's really nothing. Just make sure to order anything you like." L
As soon as Henry heard that Tina was hurt and hospitalized, he got into his car and rushed to the hospital, only to see John touching her upon arrival.However, John had already been furious with Henry when he found Tina in her tragic state.If he had not dumped her at that isolated place, she would not have suffered so much.Hence, John stood up.Henry presumed that he was backing down and released his grip, only for John to suddenly get up and punch him in the face viciously.It came so quickly it caught Henry off guard, and it struck him true.While John was a gentleman, and this was the first time that he had ever punched anyone, he did it so viciously.Henry stumbled backward once before catching his balance and felt blood in his mouth.Still, his face contorted savagely, but as he was about to return the punch, Tina suddenly got out of bed.She knew him too well and scrambled out of bed to stand in front of John.Henry's eyes widened and promptly stopped, his fist just
"Tina!" John cried, grimacing in heartache as he dropped to one knee, wrapping his coat around her before carefully picking her up.However, she was hurting everywhere after the robber kicked her repeatedly.She gasped in pain without knowing as John touched her and could not see where she was hurt under her clothes.She was not loud, but the pain in his eyes showed even more.He gathered her in his arms even more carefully this time, while Ian drove over in his black Maybach.Ian opened the door, and John put Tina in the backseat, barking, "Get us to the hospital!"At his order, Ian floored the gas pedal and sped off.-Much later, John was sitting by a hospital bed, his eyes fixed on Tina, who lay frailly on it.The doctor told him that Tina was bruised all over, clearly having been kicked repeatedly.John's heart clenched at the thought, his pain welling out.That was when Tina woke up and found herself staring at John's dark gaze right away.She was awake but also felt
The robber started fantasizing—once he got rich, he would kick his wife and the three money sinks to the curb and get himself a young pretty face to carry his genes.With that thought, he cheerfully returned to his bike and sped off, not caring about what happened to Tina.She lay on the ground, watching as the last thing she kept of Sophie disappeared from her sight, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Sophie…"In time, her body slowly turned stiff from the cold as she lay on the icy ground.Her tears would dry up quickly, but more would flow soon after.There was no telling how long had passed before she completely passed out.-After getting Henry's call, Andy promptly drove to where Tina was, but she was not there when he arrived.He alighted and yelled, "Ms. Smith!"There was no response, so he returned to his car and called Henry, but the call was cut off right away.After all, Henry had called him to pick Tina up while he sent his people to save Linda. At this time, he m
Furious, the robber lunged at Tina viciously. "You bitch! You asked for this!"Tina was flat on her back and did not have the strength to fight back as the robber charged at her again.She could only curl up to hold onto the necklace containing Sophie's bone."Give it up!" However, the robber was a blue collar worker and very strong.His hands were like pliers that grabbed firmly on her arm as he attempted to unfold her.He did not expect Tina to hold on so tightly that his temple veins were bulging, and he could not even pull her arm off."Fuck! Don't think I can't make you budge!" he swore as he sprang to his feet again. Unable to pull her off, he kicked her repeatedly.He did not hold back, just like how he never held back on beating his wife whenever he got too drunk.In fact, he was furious this time and kicked Tina even harder.However, Tina only curled into herself even tighter amid the pain.Even as she started blacking out, she held onto the necklace containing
Tina was the one who had taken care of Sophie from birth.Since jewelry was cumbersome when taking care of children, she was used to not wearing it even after Sophie's death.At most, she wore a watch to work—hers was not all that valuable, but she took it off even though it was hidden under her sleeve.Having given the robber everything, and seeing that he was still measuring her from head to toe, she said earnestly, "I really have nothing else."She had been very compliant, and the robber believed her and started stuffing everything into the handbag.However, just as he was about to get on his bike, he spotted the necklace around Tina's neck.His face dropping, he hung the handbag on the bike while snarling as he returned to Tina, grabbing her shoulder, "You bitch! You lied to me!"He was a big man and could crush her collarbone right then.Even as Tina shuddered in pain, she did not know what had gotten the robber upset, fighting back her panic as she said, "I've really give
It was a voice that would invoke any man's chivalry."I won't leave!" Henry promised Linda again.Relieved, Linda calmly closed her eyes, her breathing turning rhythmic.Thinking that she was asleep, Henry pulled his hand away…"Henry!"Linda promptly jolted awake, her eyes wide open.However, seeing that Henry was just moving to sit by the bed, she calmly closed her eyes again, this time holding firmly on his shirt to keep him.Nothing would change, even if Henry found out that Tina was not the one who had drugged him five years ago!In his mind, Linda would always be his savior, the woman he loved the most!He would love her like nothing ever happened no matter what she had gone through, and Tina had no right to compete with her!-Meanwhile, Tina continued walking along the eerily silent road after Henry had left her there.She would be lying if she said she was not scared, but she fought her fear and hurried along.It would take several hours to reach the city, but tha
It was a line that reminded Henry of that moment five years ago, and he nodded. "Yeah. I told you I'd never let you get hurt again, Linda."The single line offered Linda assurance, and she threw herself into Henry's arms."Henry…" She sobbed endlessly, at once hysterical and miserable. "You came for me!"Pained, Henry pursed his lips and scooped her up in his arms. "It's alright. I'm taking you home right now.""Yeah," Linda murmured, hugging his neck and pressing her cheek against his chest, shuddering endlessly.She seemed horrified, refusing to leave his embrace.And that was how Henry carried her to his car, quietly telling the chauffeur to head to Rose Garden.It was almost ten when they arrived.As Henry carried Linda inside as well, the maid heard them and came out.Bowing respectfully at the two when she saw them, she said, "Mr. Barnes, Ms. Cook. Rory's asleep.""Good," Henry replied quietly and leaned down to tell Linda tenderly, "We're home, Linda."Linda did not s
Seeing that Henry was stopping to listen, the man's eyes lit up with hope, and he quickly said, "It's the truth, Mr. Barnes—I'm not lying! She really came on to us!"That woman's acting was just too good.If they had not personally been there, even they would have doubted that the same person who came on to them was also the same person who had accused them!"It's the truth, Mr. Barnes!" the other man promptly echoed, his tone earnest as he tried to convince Henry.Regret was twisting their insides to a bunch too, as they did not have evidence—if they did, they would have shown it!They had been feeling gleeful earlier that they were doing it in a place without cameras.And now, they could not even defend themselves!Henry looked at them then.He could see that they were just stopping short of swearing it was the truth, and there was no hint of guilt in their eyes as they looked at him in turn."No!!! Get away from me!!! Please don't touch me!!! Henry!!! Henry!!!"But even as
Henry's eyes were on Tina even as he held his cigarette and answered the phone.Tina ignored him as he had clearly mentioned Linda's name to screw with her, but just as she got up, Henry's face dropped.He dropped his cigarette on her too, and she flinched in pain, losing her balance and falling again.However, Henry was busy assuring Linda endlessly as she screamed in terror on the other end. "Calm down! I'm coming right now—I'll save you! It's alright!"He did not hang up as he continued offering words of comfort, completely ignoring Tina as if she was never there.As soon as he returned to his car, he floored the gas pedal, disappearing into the night."Henry Barnes!" Tina yelled just as she got up, but her voice was drowned out by the roaring engine, and she was left standing as she watched Henry's car disappear from sight.A cold breeze blew just then, and the rustle of leaves echoed on both sides of the road.As Tina shuddered, she picked up her bag from the ground and to