That was when Andy asked tentatively, "Ms. Smith, Mr. Barnes clothes are soaked through… May I ask you to help him change?"Henry's fever might get worse if he stayed in those drenched clothes, but he refused to let anyone touch him despite being delirious.Tina knew Henry since she was eight and was naturally well aware that this was one of his eccentricities.Only Madam Barnes got to touch Henry, and Tina was later afforded the same privilege.That privilege was why she considered herself special, and she gave her heart to him before she knew it.And she could not help falling ever deeper in love with him, until Linda showed up…Nonetheless, she said quietly just then, "Sure."Andy sighed in relief and quickly brought a set of fresh patient garb. "Thank you, Ms. Smith. I'll be right outside—just call me if anything happens.""Okay."Seeing Tina nod, Andy headed out and closed the door behind him.Tina sighed as she stared at Henry.They had been together for five years and
It was not as if Tina did not know that Henry had hurt Tina so much that there was no fixing things between them.However, he could not just stand by and watch Henry suffer without lifting a finger.Keeping his tone soft, he kept pleading to Tina, "Please, can you come visit? He did get hurt saving you and your mother, and he's been calling your name ever since he became delirious. He really wants you to be by his side…"Tina's fingers clenched around her phone, but she remained silent.That was when Mrs. Smith called out from the doorway, "Tina…"Tina looked up, unable to hide the emotion behind her gaze.Seeing everything, Mrs. Smith went over and pulled her phone out of her grasp and told the hysterical Andy on the other end, "Tina will be there soon."And with that, she hung up."Mom?!"Tina was surprised that Mrs. Smith agreed to it.She knew very well what her mother thought of Henry—Mrs. Smith wanted Tina to be with John while Henry stayed well away and not have anythi
It was already one in the morning.However, although Tina had gotten in bed and turned off the lights at eleven, she was tossing and turning, not feeling sleepy at all.She opened her eyes and sat up—it had been a while since she lost sleep, so she took out the melatonin pills that she had yet to finish from the drawer.Still, before she took one, her phone glowed on top of the bedside drawer.It was a call from an unidentified number, but she seemed to have a feeling who it was as she picked up. "Who's this?""Ms. Smith? It's me, Andy Cox."Andy was standing outside Henry's ward, watching as the man writhed in his burning fever.His voice cracking with emotion, he told Tina, "Mr. Barnes is in really bad shape, and he fainted on the way to the hospital. His fever just isn't breaking even after the doctors tried everything… So would you mind coming to visit?""I'm not a doctor. I can't help him," Tina replied indifferently, although her fingers clenched around her phone."Pleas
Tina's eyes widened, her pupils dilating.Henry was the one who had saved her and Mrs. Smith?She still clearly remembered how violent that fire had been, and to run inside without protective clothing or a fire extinguisher to save them showed how strong their savior's desire to get them to safety was.If he did not care, would he lay down his life for their sake?Considering that and convinced that it had been John, Tina really felt touched—what reason did she have to reject a man who had been so good to her and was willing to give his life for her?But now, John was telling her that it was Henry, and not him, who had saved them and was willing to die for them.And John did not hide the other details either, as he told Tina everything his assistant had found out about Henry. "It was no bump—Henry Barnes got hurt trying to save you that night."A cupboard was going to crash down on you and him—that's why he pushed you to me while the cupboard pinned him down."As it turns out,
John's throat felt dry, and it took him a while to finally speak. "Tina… Did you agree to date me because I saved you the other day? Would you change your mind if it wasn't me?"Tina was stunned. Change her mind? If it was not him?Still, before she could ask, they were already inside the banquet hall and could not discuss it any further.Though John remained composed, his heart sank as he felt a convoluted mess of emotions.Eventually, the scales in his heart tipped, and he excused himself to call his assistant to check on Henry.After the call and he returned to Tina's side, he noticed that no one in the hall was belittling Tina after Henry's intervention.However, Wanda remained cold toward Tina, even after Tina gave Wanda the jewelry set that she had personally made for Wanda.She was not just holding Tina in contempt for her roots—that was no more than an excuse.John was left scowling in turn and left with Tina.He received a call from his assistant as they got in the
Henry stopped in his tracks, his hand twitching as he leaned against the car door.His spirits soared, as it had been so long since Tina even showed him a whiff of concern.In the end, she still cared…However, that happiness lasted for a moment as bitterness soon swelled.After all, Henry knew very well that Tina was not being as cold and even showing concern because she was at ease, now that he had personally announced that she was a daughter of the Barnes family.In other words, he decided to stop hounding her.And not wanting Tina to notice anything strange, he fought back his bitterness and stayed composed as he turned to her. "It's nothing. I just had a nasty bump on my leg a couple days ago."Tina did not press the issue—she had asked that question before she knew it anyway, and his health did not concern her.Henry smiled mildly at her in turn and got into the car.He had barely been able to hold on earlier, and he was trembling as soon as the door shut, his breathing