It was precisely because Tina was well aware that Henry had broken his promise that all these sketches were Sophie's imagination.Every brush and stroke was a knife that cut into her heart—Sophie's expectation and love hurt her all the more.She could not help wondering how disappointed Sophie must have been, waiting in the blistering cold for over half a day, but her father never showed up.No, he never even showed up as she was dying, instead taking Rory to Wonderland.How hurt had she been then?Tina's tears blurred her vision instantly and welled out of her eyes.-Meanwhile, Henry could not find Tina in the main bedroom after cooking some soup and strode over to Sophie's room when he noticed the light inside.He entered to find Tina sitting quietly in front of Sophie's desk.She did not hear him even though he was being loud.He strode over, about to ask what caught her attention, when he noticed the sketches on the table.It was the caption above that caught his attent
Henry felt like something was stuck in his throat, choking him.Eventually, he rasped, "Sorry."He did not think that something so insignificant like visiting an amusement park was so important to Sophie.Tina closed her eyes when she heard the apology.As she opened them again, she slowly turned, leveling her puffy red eyes straight as his with hatred as she growled every word. "Sorry?! Your apology is worth nothing!"Henry saw that she was losing her mind and remembered how she had begged him on her knees.He had been busy then—Rory was complaining about being afraid of her surgery, and he had promised to stay with her.He immediately refused Tina as soon as he asked, but surprised that Tina would go that far to beg him, he eventually relented, only to break that promise."I made a mistake. I'll make it up to Sophie," Henry said, humble around Tina for once.However, Tina clenched her knuckle and strode up menacingly instead of relenting. "Make it up to her?! How?! Do you kn
Henry's brow eased as Tina finally relented."Alright." He promptly stood up, taking her hand and hurrying outside impatiently.Once they got in, he helped her with her seatbelt while asking, "Where to?""I'll point the way," Tina replied, as she was worried that Henry would call her crazy like before if she said it was the graveyard."Okay." Henry shrugged, too happy about seeing Sophie again to be petty.As he drove out of the garage, neither of them spoke as they were both caught up with their emotions.Tina kept her eyes on the road, giving directions seriously until Henry's phone rang halfway.It was a call from Linda.Hearing that familiar ringtone, Tina's body stiffened, and she promptly turned to Henry.He turned to her as well, and seeing her cool glare, he was able to tell that she did not want him to answer his phone.Henry gave in and declined the call, only for his phone to ring again.When he was about to answer, Tina warned icily, "This is your last chance. Mi
Linda's eyes were red and swollen from crying as she begged, "Please, just let go of my daughter—we can talk about this. My daughter is innocent—don't hurt her, please!"As Henry watched, she even bowed repeatedly and forcefully but was seemingly unaware of the pain or that she was bleeding as she continued.Henry's face dropped, and he shook off Tina as he rushed inside, knocking her off balance and dropping to the floor.She had her back against the wall, taking moments to fight back the dizziness and look up.From her angle, she just happened to see the side of Linda's face, who looked at the man while she looked up between bows.There was no fear or plea in her eyes. If anything, it looked like a signal…Still, Tina was in a daze and wondered if she was seeing things.Even she could not believe that Linda was crazy enough to hurt her own daughter!Nonetheless, Linda once again had her head down when Tina's eyes cleared, while the man suddenly bellowed, "Innocent?! Your da
Just as Henry finished, they heard a purr of an engine, and Andy soon rushed inside with Carl Sandler.Carl spotted Tina on the floor first and was ready to examine her since she looked terrible."Get over here. Rory's hurt," Henry growled icily right then.Tina looked up to see the hostile glare on his eyes, as if saying that she was trivial and who cared if she died because Rory mattered most!Carl stared at Tina for another beat but soon turned, taking his medical briefcase from Andy and hurried over, crouching by the couch to examine Rory."Don't worry, sir—her vitals are fine. I'll stitch her up now."As Rory was a child, he applied a local anesthetic before tending to her injuries.However, she was still in shock and trembling in Henry's arms.Henry watched her with a tender smile, patiently comforting her.Tina looked on, remembering the moment when Sophie was first sent to the hospital.Every other child had fathers hovering around them, comforting them—but not her.
Even as Linda sobbed, she screamed hysterically at Tina, "I know you're upset I cheated! But if you have a problem, take it up with me! Why do you have to send someone so terrible and goad him to hurt me and Rory?!"If Henry did not answer my call and make it in time, he would've killed us! Do you really hate us so much, Tina?!"Tina shook Linda's hand off and retorted icily, "Where's your proof?""Proof?! Do I need proof?! You're the only one who deliberately mentioned it in front of Henry! And it's just the three of us! Who else could it be?!"Even as Linda bawled and accused Tina, she was convinced that Henry would definitely believe her, since he loved her so much. However, Tina smirked. "There's you too, no?"Linda's eyes widened, and she turned toward Henry tearfully, waiting for him to intervene.But he did not.Her chest heaving, Linda's tears gushed right then as if humiliated. "You liar! I'm not like you! You used Sophie like a tool just to get Henry's attention!"S
Linda certainly had the look of a mother who would do anything as long as their child was fine. "I thought I could pretend nothing ever happened as long as you understood you made a mistake—""How are you this good? Hollywood really owes you an Oscar."Tina smirked in disdain, cutting her short impatiently. "Also, are you done? Like I said—where's your proof?"Since she did not do it, she doubted that Linda could show any proof at all.If anything, Linda had the guts to frame her solely because Henry trusted her unconditionally.Linda's eyes went red as if in desperation, and she shrieked, "Fine! Proof, you say?!"She lifted the man by the collar, shaking him in agitation, "Talk! Who gave you my address?! Who sent you after us?!"The man merely leveled a ferocious glare at Linda but said nothing.Seeing that Tina remained calm as if it was none of her business, Henry glanced at Andy, who promptly leaped up and took the man off Linda's hands.Then, throwing him to the ground, h
Linda glanced at Henry from the corner of her eye.Worried that Tina's calmness would make him doubt her, she kept snapping at Tina, "You're such a horrible woman! How could you do such a thing without your conscience hurting? Is it because of Madam Barnes?! Do you think you can do anything you like, now that she's back?!"She did not just make sure to use words that would touch Henry's nerves either—she started to bawl and wobble as if she was falling apart.As if she had proof but could not do anything about Tina.Once she was done, she glanced at Henry to see a scary glower on his face.It was all over for Tina now—she was not going to leave in one piece once she was locked up!As Linda lowered her face, her eyes flashed viciously.Still, before she called the cops, Henry suddenly growled, "Andy, go to the precinct.""Yes, Mr. Barnes." Andy strode up and dragged the man out.On the other hand, Tina could not quite keep up.However, she had done nothing and was therefore no
Had Henry considered the possibility that things would go bad, and that something worse might happen?Or perhaps he really did not care at all?With her mind riddled by drugs, she could not hold back her thoughts right then, shouting so hard her voice broke, "You were watching as he drugged me, just because I refused to listen and went on this blind date?! So that he can do what he wants with me?! Is that how you want me to learn?!"Henry stayed silent.Taking it as an admission, Tina felt a coldness creep up from her toes to the rest of her body and pushed Henry off with all her strength.Still, she had to lean against the wall with both hands, but just as Henry was going to pull her away with him, the elevators opened again.Then, a lofty, handsome figure strode down the hallway.It was John Levine, who reached Tina with just a few strides of his long legs. "Are you alright, Ms. Smith?"They had never met ever since she came clean to John at the hospital, and it was not easy
Martin chuckled gleefully. "You can shout yourself hoarse—no one's going to hear you."He had specifically picked this restaurant because it respected their guests' privacy, and the rooms were famously soundproof.A glint of excitement showed in his eyes as he looked downward at the cut on his hand too, surprised that the mild-mannered woman was that wild!But that was exactly it—he liked them wild!The wilder they were, the more thrilling it got!With that, he strode up.Knowing that she was about to lose even her ability to fight and that he was a grown man, Tina kept reaching for the door.Before she could open it, Martin grabbed her hair and pulled, dragging her way from the door.The automatic door shut, just as she managed to open it a little…"Get away from me!" Tina shrieked as she swung the knife at Martin once more, but he was prepared this time, catching her wrist and squeezing.Tina dropped the knife in pain, now defenseless. Martin pulled her into his arms, hol
As for Linda, she was smiling ever slightly as Martin's car sped off into the distance…-Once they were far enough, Tina turned to Martin and said apologetically, "I'm sorry for wasting your time, Mr. Levine, but I didn't want this blind date. You can drop me off at the next subway stop.""Actually, the same goes for me too."Martin chuckled. "Just family duties, I guess. But I guess we could still have dinner together, so that our elders would have something to work with?""Okay." Tina nodded, relaxing at Martin's words.With that, Martin took her to a restaurant, and though they walked side-by-side, there was proper social distancing.Arriving at the room he booked, he chivalrously pulled out a chair for her, asking, "What wine do you prefer, Ms. Smith?""Sorry, I don't drink." Tina smiled, refusing as she was a poor drinker.For his part, Martin did not force her, instead asking a waiter to pop open a red wine for himself while ordering something warm for Tina."Thank yo
Madam Barnes had waited until working hours were over to check on the progress.Still, it took Tina a while to realize who Mr. Levine was—he was her blind date."Is he here?" she asked."Yes." Madam Barns chuckled. "I know you're supposed to meet him at the restaurant, but Mr. Levine said he could pick you up since he's going in the same direction. Go on, don't keep the man waiting."Madam Barnes was quite enthusiastic, clearly pleased about the blind date she had arranged for Tina."Alright, I'll go now," Tina replied, not keen to keep someone waiting.After packing up and heading downstairs, she immediately saw a black Ghost outside the building.It was Henry's car, and he was inside, with the window lowered.Tina just happened to meet Henry's eyes, and Linda saw that. Though briefly surprised to see him looking at her, she pretended to wave at their colleagues to block his gaze."Henry's taking me home now. Bye!"With a sweet smile, she got into the car and leaned toward
Henry's dark gaze seemed to darken further as he saw her earlobes flush so hard that they could bleed.As he looked down, he saw plenty of other parts flushing attractively too.His breathing turning heavy, he turned Tina's face toward himself, holding her chin and kissed her."Mmph!"Tina tried to fight back, shaking her head to avoid his kiss.However, she could not as Henry kept pressing down, and the kiss left her breathless.It was only then that he slowly pulled away.Utterly mad, Tina opened her mouth and bit down dead center of his upper lip as soon as she was freed, all while glaring at him spitefully.Henry let her do so as if it did not hurt him and punished her twice as viciously.Nonetheless, the car drove out of Barnes Ranch and onto the main road. As it was rush hour, there were plenty of other cars around them.Although the windows were tinted and one would not be able to see inside, Tina—still pressed against the window—often found herself meeting the stare
As Tina hurried outside, she immediately saw the black Maybach parked there.It was the car that Madam Barnes had arranged for her, but as she arched her back to enter the backseat, she immediately noticed someone else inside.Her head jerked up as she saw the tall man reclining against the backseat, with half of his face hidden in the darkness.It was Henry, crumpling the unlit cigarette in his left hand and glaring at her dangerously.Tian scowled and paused, and she promptly started to back out. She refused to stay in the same car with him!However, though she responded quickly, Henry was quicker.As soon as she moved, he threw his cigarette aside and reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled.And once he dragged Tina into the car, he pressed the button to lock the door, snapping at the same time, "Drive!"The chauffeur naturally did not dare to disobey the head of the family.Lifting his foot off the brakes at Henry's order, he jammed it down on the gas pedal while rai
Linda sobbed. "I was just so upset, so I threw in some rats to get even for Rory. I just love Rory so much, Henry… That's why I did it."Rory would always be her trump card—Henry loved the child, and he would not hold anything against her just because she said it was for Rory's sake.And seeing that Henry was silent, Linda purred at him again, "I can't sleep, Henry. I can see the snakes whenever I close my eyes… Can you come to the hospital and spend the night with me?""It's late. Get some rest," Henry replied quietly and hung up right then.When Linda said that she kept seeing those snakes when she closed her eyes, Henry remembered that Tina had been locked in the basement for far longer and would not be able to sleep too.-Tina locked the door after Henry left, but as he was family, he could go anywhere he liked, even if it was Madam Barnes' house.A servant brought the keys, and Henry entered.Tina could have slept soundly for a few hours with medication, but Henry woke he
Linda sobbed softly as she told Henry about all the torment she had gone through in that basement, every word undoubtedly invoking Henry's rage.As she continued, she could clearly feel the air around him turning cold.Eventually, Linda buried her face against his chest, her lips curled up in glee.She did say she would get back at Tina when she got out anyway.-Tina was not sleeping at Henry's house in Barnes Ranch for the night, instead sleeping in her own room in Madam Barnes' house.She had a fright, so Madam Barnes had her servants make her soup to calm her nerves and bring some scented candles with a soothing aroma to her room.Tina thought it might work, only for her to see the basement whenever she closed her eyes.Unable to sleep, she took out her sleeping pills from her bag, tossing and turning for a while before eventually dozing off.However, when she almost fell asleep, she was lifted firmly off the bed as Henry's chilling tone rang overhead. "How could you sleep
Since Henry could not tell how great Tina was, Madam Barnes would get someone who loved her and cherished her instead.Walking up to Tina and talking to her hand, she said, "I'll definitely get you a good man."Tina shook her head. "I'm fine, Grandma."Henry was right that she would not go, but it was not because she loved him too much as he believed.She just could not spare the time when she had yet to avenge Sophie.Nonetheless, Madam Barnes sighed as she said earnestly, "I just want someone to be there for you."She certainly had her own motives in trying to get Tina together with Henry.Henry was her dearest grandson, and Tina loved him very much, so she could be at ease since Tina would definitely be good to him.At the same time, she would also like Henry to protect Tina from harm.Now, she understood.As long as Linda was around, she could not count on Henry—she needed to find Tina another man who would be her shelter.Still, Tina leaned on Madam Barnes' shoulder and