Then, the burly man kicked Linda, sending her tumbling into the car.Her head struck the car seat hard, and she was still in a daze when she felt her hair being grabbed."Argh!"She screamed shrilly as she was pulled inside and forced to look up to a pair of cool eyes.It was Tina—she had come to make Linda pay!Still, Linda's panic faded as soon as she saw that it was Tina, and she sat up fearlessly, even raising her brow at the woman who was left haggard and pale after a night of torture.Talk about dumb luck, coming out unscathed!And it went without saying that Madam Barnes must have freed Tina!Despite her frustration, Linda still noticed Tina's bandaged fingers and felt endless glee as she begged endlessly last night.However, she did not let her feelings show, fearlessly asking as if a damsel in distress, "Why are you doing, Tina? Let me go!"You know how much Henry loves me. If he finds out that you didn't learn your lesson and hurt me again, he would get upset… and w
In the silence inside the car, Linda was left staring at Tina as she kept her eyes out of the window, unsure of what she was up to.Could she actually have been mistaken?Linda also knew that whoever spoke first would lose the advantage but could not help it anyway, as she snapped at Tina, "What do you want?"She always had kept this woman and the bastard the woman had given birth to under her thumb.Tina had no right poising herself so loftily in her presence!"You'll find out soon enough," Tina replied quietly with a meaningful look.Linda seemed to see something she could not recognize in Tina's eyes just then, and not knowing left her dreading.Even as Tina watched her, she started to get flustered but forced it back as she snarled through her teeth, "If you hurt me, Henry will definitely get you for this!"Right now, she was hearing two voices.One told her that Tina would never dare to hurt her.Be it before she headed abroad or after she returned, she had exploited Hen
The favor that Tina had asked from Madam Barnes was to investigate the attack on Linda and her daughter, though Madam Barnes told Tina that she had already done so.While Tina's number had been used to contact that thug, it had been hijacked—she had an alibi of the login time and location, which proved her innocence.Sam had investigated Linda as well but could not find any evidence against her, as she had never met that man before, and there was no record of any contact between them.And if Madam Barnes could not find anything, that meant that there was nothing to be found.With that evidence, they could at best prove Tina's innocence to Henry—they certainly could not expose Linda's true nature and that she had orchestrated the attack.That was why Tina refused Madam Barnes' suggestion to show Henry the proof and to demand his apology and penitence.To Tina, an apology was pointless—the damage was already done.How much would it be worth anyway?Moreover, Henry cared so little
Tina held zero hope in Henry now.Linda had been banking on his obsession to pin the blame on her, goading him to lock her in that basement and torturing her.While Tina was not about to forget that grudge, she wanted Linda to have a taste of what she had been through, after causing it in the first place!Even if she could not avenge Sophie soon enough, she was not about to take last night's grief lying down."Don't you dare! Henry will definitely get you for this!" Linda kept threatening Tina with Henry nonetheless. "Really?"Tina laughed coolly—she would actually like to see what he would do. "Throw her inside!"At Tina's cold demand, the bodyguards flung Linda into the room without regard for chivalry."Oof!"Linda grimaced in pain as she slammed heavily into the floor, turning and glaring at Tina, surprised that Tina would come good on her threat.But that was all there was to it! What else could Tina do to her?Soon calming down and glaring at Tina in contempt, she c
Linda was so scared that she could die!Gulping, she softened her quivering voice as she tried to reason with Tina.After all, Tina was the biggest softie there was.As long as she could coax Tina into releasing her, she would make Tina pay later!However, Tina was not bothered to entertain her.Tina dropped to a crouch and put on the pair of gloves handed to her by the bodyguards before she took out one of the snakes as Linda looked on in fear.Tina was calm and collected, while Linda was utterly terrified, her eyes wide and her pupils shrinking.Even as she stayed on the ground, she shook her head repeatedly as she murmured, "No, no… Stay away from me!"But even as she screamed, Tina threw the snake at her.After all, Linda must have been the one to throw the rat through the window last night to scare her.Linda and Irene were the best of friends, and Irene would definitely have bragged about it to Linda.The coldness in Tina's eyes grew as she remembered everything she ha
Linda was not getting off easy!"Henry…"Even as Linda called out miserably, the door shut with a clang.At the same time, Tina smirked coolly despite Henry's furious glare, fearless as she asked in return, "Why wouldn't I dare?"Seeing that a conflict was brewing between Henry and Tina, Andy strode up, reasoning quietly, "Ms. Smith, Mr. Barnes made sure you weren't implicated, so don't—""So you're saying that I should thank him?" Tina asked sharply, remembering everything that had happened last night as she did. Andy was clearly telling her that Henry was protecting her by locking her up last night.However, she was completely innocent—why would she need his help?If only Henry had been a little fair between her and Linda, or even trusted her one tiny bit instead of jumping to conclusions that she was to blame, telling the cops would not even be a matter of discussion, just as he would not have tried to coerce her into reflection and apologizing with the one thing she feared
Madam Barnes had clearly rushed to the scene.Tina had asked her to call Henry earlier, so that he left Linda's side, and she could make the grab.Madam Barnes was ready to get even for Tina's sake, and she was delighted when she insisted on doing it herself.After all, Tina loved Henry too much before and tolerated his every whim!However, Madam Barnes quickly realized that something had gone wrong when Henry had never shown up at Barnes Ranch.She promptly told Sam to look for him and discovered that he had really come here instead.And now, Madam Barnes herself strode toward Tina, shielding her protectively."Grandma."Henry lowered his foot and turned toward Madam Barnes.Though he was still glowering in rage, his tone calmed considerably. "You can't tolerate her hurting Linda endlessly just because you like her more—""Do you think I'm you?!"Madam Barnes cut him short bluntly. "I love Tina, but I'm not senile! I've already asked Sam to investigate what happened—yes, th
In the room, Linda could not hide her glee when she heard Henry's determined retort.Still, she flinched as she felt the snakes slithering over her.She really did not want to stay here for another moment longer, and hence cried miserably, "Henry, I'm so scared… Get me out of here…"While she really was scared, she wanted to add insult to injury too.After all, Tina had barely locked her in here for a minute, and Henry was already ready to free her.On the other hand, he did not give a damn even though Tina had been locked up for almost a day.She certainly felt cathartic as she imagined the door opening and Henry carrying her out of her while Tina watched!Tina would never win against her!Outside, Henry told Madam Barnes, "Let Linda go. This has nothing to do with her— I was the one who locked Tina up."That only left Madam Barnes laughing coldly. "No chance—not after you locked up Tina for an entire day for Linda! I'm giving it to you straight—if she isn't locked up just as
"Tina… Don't cry…"It was only when Madam Barnes called out to her lovingly, gently lifting her hand to wipe her tears, that Tina realized this was reality.Madam Barnes was really awake!Not caring about her own misery just then and forgetting the buzzer, Tina tearfully rushed outside and called out to the bodyguards nearby, "Madam Barnes is awake! Get the doctor!"The doctor soon arrived, giving Madam Barnes a full-body examination to ascertain that she was fully conscious and that other vital signs were in normal range."Remember, the patient mustn't be put through further shock."Madam Barnes was old and could not take that much, after all.Tina nodded, while Sam's wife escorted the doctor out of the room.Still, even as Madam Barnes was being examined, she was holding Tina's hand throughout, her eyes on her with overflowing pain."Leave us, and don't tell anyone I'm awake for now," she told Sam's wife.Sam's wife was actually about to call Henry and the rest of the Barne
In her heart, Tina resented Henry's brainless protectiveness and Linda's vile nature while also resenting her own incompetence.And the more she resented her own incompetence, the more guilty she felt toward Sophie, feeling that she owed her but could not avenge her.That frustration and helplessness was a boulder weighing on her chest, suffocating her.As Tina's psychiatrist told her to talk to someone to ease her mind, which was already on the brink, she immediately thought of Madam Barnes.Madam Barnes was still comatose, but she was also one of the few who loved and cared for Tina.And since she was comatose, Tina did not have to worry about her going into shock when told that Linda killed Sophie.Heading to the hospital right then, Tina headed straight to Madam Barnes' room once she parked her car.Madam Barnes was still unconscious, and Carl had no idea when she would wake up.Sam's wife was there and was concerned when she saw how pale Tina was. "Are you losing sleep fro
Tina woke up early the next morning, not sleeping for long despite being sedated.She felt a splitting headache even as she opened her eyes and soon realized that she was on the giant bed of the main bedroom back at the villa.Soon, memories of last night rushed into her mind, to the moment when Linda had so spitefully thrown the dog's blood laced with cursed talismans on Sophie's gravestone, as Linda wanted Sophie to suffer even in the afterlife.As Tina was about to set out, feeling hatred welling up in her as well as the impulse to murder Linda, she heard Henry's voice from the balcony.His tone was gentle as he comforted Linda, who appeared scared. "It's alright—last night was just an accident, and it won't happen again. I've arranged for bodyguards, and she's never going to hurt you and Rory…"Tina could not be bothered to listen to the rest, as all she heard was that Henry had arranged for bodyguards to protect Linda.And that meant Tina could not even reach Linda now.Her
Henry was serious about making amends to Sophie, so why did Tina have to be so stubborn about it?And he should be upset, but the sight of her being so pale in his arms stopped him from being too harsh on her.He should also be leaving her in Carl's care too, but his body reacted quicker than his mind, and he scooped her up in his arms."Henry…"Watching as Henry's attention was completely fixed on Tina, Linda had to fight back her jealousy and call out meekly to Henry.She appeared more hurt than Tina, so Henry was not going to leave her behind…Henry glanced at her but did not leave Tina with Carl as she had expected, instead telling Carl, "Take care of Linda."Carl had served the Barnes family for years, and Henry trusted the family doctor."Yes, Mr. Barnes!"With Carl's reply, Henry promptly strode out, still carrying Tina.Linda's eyes widened in disbelief, finally realizing that Henry was really leaving her, despite her being injured, and leaving with Tina."Henry…"
"Henry!!!"Linda suddenly yelled, grimacing as if her heart broke from seeing Henry's wounded arm.Not caring that Tina was a threat, she ran toward her with eyes filled with concern. "You're hurt…"She seemed to have moved too quickly and slipped, while Henry relaxed his grip from Tina's wrist and reached out toward Linda in reflex.As Linda fell into Henry's arms just like that, she did not seem to notice Tina behind her back, as her eyes were glued to Henry's injury.Her eyes teary, she called out to Carl, who was just a few paces away, "Dr. Sandler, please, you have to help Henry…"While she was a little afraid that Tina could kill her, she was even more certain that no harm would come to her as long as Henry was right there with them.Therefore, she was not actually worried at all.As for Tina, she knew that Linda was not actually worried that Henry was hurt—Linda was yelling to interrupt what she was about to say.However, Tina did not care.She had come to kill Linda a
There was no hiding the concern in Henry's voice, and he was studying Tina from head to toe as he spoke.He could not see under her clothes, which were not torn, so he had no idea where she was hurt and did not pull her too forcefully.However, he kept holding on to her wrist firmly, stopping her from freeing herself while shooting Carl a look to examine her.Carl was stunned as Tina looked positively demonic just then, and he could not quite recover.It was Henry's sharp glare that jolted him to his senses, and he hurried over.Seeing that Tina was not in her right mind, he said mildly, "Please, Ms. Smith. Madam Barnes' heart would break if she woke up to see you hurt."Although Tina twitched ever so slightly at the mention of Madam Barnes, the flaring hatred in her eyes did not die off.Instead, she told Carl calmly, "Don't worry. I'm not hurt, Dr. Sandler. This isn't my blood—it was Linda who…"Tina remembered Linda's heinous act even as she was about to mention the dog's bl
Tina was always earnest toward anyone and anything, unlike Linda, whom Carl despised for her hypocritical nature despite her ability to keep up appearances perfectly.When Tina was first brought to Barnes Ranch, she considered herself an outsider and took everything lying down.Carl heard that she eventually gained some confidence because of Henry and changed just slightly but never abused his concern to start trouble. However, she would still fight back if someone pushed her too far.Therefore, if Tina really did attack Linda tonight, it could only be because Linda had really driven her to the brink.As Carl glanced at Henry, he really wondered why Henry could never understand that.He knew that he should not speak right now, but he could not help asking, "Ms. Cook, may I ask why Ms. Smith attacked you?"Linda was clearly taken aback but soon gathered herself and looked up from Henry's arms at Carl, shaking her head as her tone turned even more aggrieved. "I don't know—why wou
Linda was clearly shocked, not expecting Henry to immediately guess that Tina had hurt her.However, that reaction put her mind at ease.She had already thought of a plan—Tina could only have known that she killed Sophie from Quentin, so she was lucky that Quentin was dead.There was no evidence proving her crime now, and without evidence, Henry's immediate reaction to anything was to take her side when it came down to her and Tina.So what did she have to worry about?Her heart utterly gleeful, her lips curled up slightly as she looked up at Henry, who was glowering because Tina had hurt her.Still, she restrained herself and called out to her maid, "Mrs. Long, could you take Rory upstairs?" She would never forget to maintain her perfect image as a mother at every waking moment and take care of Rory even if things were bad."Mommy…" Rory looked at her worriedly."Be good now." Linda smiled at Rory. "Don't worry about me—I'm fine, and Daddy's here. Go to bed now.""Go on," H
Linda was just thinking about what she should do about Tina to keep driving her further from Henry.Tina clearly resented Henry now because Henry protected Linda unconditionally, so Linda just had to trick Henry into hating Tina once more…But even before she could finish the thought, her face dropped as Rory bawled beside her, telling her that she had called Henry."Who told you to do that?!" she snapped at Rory right then.The brat could never do anything right!Linda was never going to tell Henry in the first place, as she had no idea what she should say when he asked how she got hurt.Her tears still on her cheeks, Rory was left too scared to say a word even though her lips twitched.Linda was really too weary for her, but the damage was done. She could not call Henry to tell him not to come either, as it would be obvious that she had something to hide.After some thought, Linda sent Rory to the doorway to wait for Henry, while she quickly cleaned her forehead and lay on