A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"I know this is the only way you will stay with me willingly..." Mark muttered. He held Tina in his arms, gently caressing her head and brushing her long soft black hair with his long and slender fingers, as if he was placating a small animal.

Tina closed her eyes, with a spaced-out look on her face. Evidently, the drugs she had taken was starting to take effect, and the illusions had kicked in. She felt like she was walking on clouds, light as a feather, climbing higher and higher until her mind buzzed with pure joy. She let her body lean against Mark's, without any struggle.

"Tap-tap-tap" There was a knock on the door.

Mark carried Tina to the bed, and laid her down gently, then he bent over and kissed her on the forehead. After tucking her in, he turned to open the door and walked out.

The servant, who was knocking on the door, saw Mark coming out. He whispered to him, "Master Mark, the couple are coming again. They are clamouring for seeing Lady Tina. Should I turn them away as I did before?"

The people he was talking about were Andrew and Debby.

In the past few days, Andrew and Debby came to this house every other day, asking to visit Tina, but each time they were turned away by Mark's people, in accordance with his wishes.

This time, however, Mark changed his mind, as he said, "Let them in."

Andrew and Debby were soon led to Mark's study by the servant. Both of them seemed to be in a nervous state, possibly intimidated by Mark.

When they came in, they saw Mark standing by the window, with his hands behind his back. He cast a glance at them, and sneered, "What on earth do you want to accomplish by coming over to my house?"

"We just want to see our daughter..." Debby muttered. She met his glance and then quickly lowered her head to avoid his eyes.The feeling of guilt overwhelmed her, as she knew that Mark had seen right through her facade.

Mark sniggered and said, "You want to see Tina? Really? What can you do for her? Don't you know that she is ashamed of the both of you? As her biological parents, you've only brought disgrace to her name."

The couple felt heat rising to their cheeks and prayed it wasn't noticeable. Debby tried to explain, "I was pregnant for nearly ten months before I gave birth to her. We love her! Even if she can't understand our love, we still love her..."

"Love?" Mark asked, as he turned around to glance sharply at them. His eyes were like two icy knives, preparing to cut through their pretense, as he said in a cold tone, "Do you even have the right to utter that word?"

From his point of view, no one in the world was fit to mention this word to Tina, except him.

Tina was the apple of his eye, the only one he could never live without.

shocked by the expression in his eyes. Their hearts trembled with fear, rendering them temporarily

vigilance, he said to them, mockingly, "If you really love Tina, I will give you a chance to prove your love for her. Would you like to listen to what I

sights away, and said with hesitation, "Yes, of course. But, how can we prove ourselves to Tina? You won't even let us

eyes harbouring hate. "Whatever Tina is suffering now, Emily needs to suffer as well. She must pay for her

a trembling voice, "What do

that you love her, so now I'm going to give you a chance to prove your love. Surely

would hurt Emily," Debby replied with

and glared at them with bitterness. He raised his voice and angrily denounced, "Have you seen Tina's face? While Tina rots away in a dark corner, Emily is out there living her life, like nothing had ever happened! She really is the most

was still trying to change his mind by saying, "Anyway, she is your real

what she has done," he said. Mark grinned coldly, as his whole face seemed to be covered with a thick rancorous mist, and he continued, "So, you don't want to do that? Maybe you prefer Emily? Or else you won't hesitate. In that case, why do you come every day to

not the truth!" Debby rebutted his words and tried to defend herself. However, she could not

Emily, it did not mean that she could hurt Emily without hesitation. After all, she raised Emily as her own child. There was no denying the fact that she had done many hurtful things to Emily in the past, but that was all in the past, she

long consideration, Debby opened her mouth again. "I can't kill her. I can't do it..." she answered, panicking.

want you to get her addicted to drugs, just like Tina," Mark said, as his face was overcast with malice, and he looked at them with contempt. "If you do

50 million!

had never seen that much money in their entire lives. Andrew, who had his head down the entire time, since he walked into the study, suddenly looked up at Mark, a look

will give us 50 million?" Andrew immediately asked, trying

more, but he didn't show any of it on his face. Instead, breaking into a smile, he said, "If you agree, I

his turbid eyes rolling around, as if he would agree in

she conducted final struggles against her conscience. "I can't

job!" Andrew interrupted her abruptly and

transferred 1 million dollars to Andrew's

went upstairs and watched the couple slowly disappear into the horizon. "E-mi-ly," Mark called out her name, syllable by syllable.

Emily!

did she manage to get away with everything unscathed? How could she still

the hands of her most trusted and beloved foster parents. Only then would she know the true meaning of

Meanwhile, elsewhere.