Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The woman tapped the on-screen keyboard, typed out a text, then hit send.

A second later, Timothy’s cell phone screen lit up briefly on the bedside table.

The woman put away her phone and turned around to leave.

…

Samantha came back to her senses and cleared her throat awkwardly. She did not know what to say so she asked, “What should we do with these flowers?”

Aunt Julia suggested, “Find a vase and put them in?”

As soon as that suggestion was mentioned, Old Madam Barker looked askance at her. “Why, throw them away of course! How can you accept flowers from someone you don’t know?”

Samantha nodded in agreement. “Better safe than sorry!”

She was never going to admit her annoyance at having to see anything from Timothy’s female companions in the ward!

After all, they were eyesores that were upsetting to look at!

Timothy saw through her thoughts but did not expose her. He merely smiled and said, “Do as you please.”

Aunt Julia picked up the lilies and got up from her seat. She then exited the ward and tossed them into a trash can.

Since Timothy was still somewhat weak, he began feeling fatigued and sleepy not too long after waking up. His vision started to become a little blurry too.

When Old Madam Barker noticed that, she said, “Tim should continue to rest. I’m going to head back and get some rest for myself too. Maybe calm my nerves a little. You can stay here and take care of them, Julia. Both of them are weak but I won’t be able to rest easy if I leave them in other people’s hands.”

Julia might not be a very bright person, but she was one of the best at taking care of and serving others.

She nodded, “Yes, Old Madam.”

Samantha was also injured and it was only natural for her not to do everything herself. “Okay.”

“Well then, I’m leaving.”

“I’ll see you out, Old Madam.”

Aunt Julia helped the old lady up and the two of them headed for the door.

Samantha wanted to send the old lady too, but she was stopped. “You don’t need to trouble yourself. Just take it easy.”

“Be careful on the way home, Grandma.”

Samantha watched them leave before walking back to the bed. She helped Timothy to lie back down and pulled the blanket to cover his body.

“Samantha,” the man called out softly to her.

“Yeah?”

Timothy strained to open his eyes and look at her, then said her name again, “Samantha.”

Samantha was a little puzzled but she nevertheless responded to him, “I’m right here.”

Timothy smiled. He no longer said anything and closed his eyes again.

Samantha was stunned for a second but could not resist smiling shortly after. Did a man as awe-inspiring as Timothy have moments of uncertainty too?

He probably called her name twice to get her response and make sure she was real rather than a figment of his imagination.

She sat on the edge of the bed, rested her chin on her hands, and focused her dark pupils on him. Life was good at that moment, and she hoped it would remain so until the end of time.

Would happiness be in store for Samantha and Timothy from that moment onward?

Aunt Julia went back to the ward after sending off Old Madam Barker, the lovable scene inside caught her eye just as she was about to push the door and walk in. It brought a smile to her face and she decided to shut the door softly instead.

It would be nice to let the young couple have some peace and quiet to themselves and she had no intention of ruining their moment.

…

The woman from earlier exited the hospital and took a taxi to the police station.

Once she had registered her name, the police officer led her to the visiting room, where she pulled a chair and took a seat. After a wait of about 15 minutes, Penelope was brought in.

Penelope looked pallid and she looked to have slimmed down considerably in just a few days. Her prison clothes were very baggy and there was not a trace of vitality left in her.

She sat across from the woman and raised her head.

A look of disbelief appeared on her face when she first laid eyes on the woman. Her eyes then widened and her gaze lit up as soon as she confirmed that the woman was who she thought it was.

Like a person who finally met the savior on the brink of death, Penelope stretched out her hand and grasped the woman’s hand firmly. Her voice was urgent as she said, “Harmony, is that…really you? When… When did you come back?”

The woman, whose name was Harmony Johnson, smiled indifferently and said, “Not too long ago.”

After pausing for a second, she glanced across Penelope’s face before asking, “Why do you have to make yourself so miserable?”

Penelope was unable to hold back the resentment in her heart when that subject was brought up. She had no regrets about being in jail—her sole regret was failing to kill Samantha!

“It’s that f*cking b*tch, Samantha, who put me in such a f*cked-up situation.”

Since Penelope has been locked up ever since that day, she did not know what went on in the outside world, especially with regard to Samantha and Timothy. She could not help but ask, “Harmony, do you know what condition Timothy and Samantha are in right now?”

Even if Samantha did not die, she would at least suffer from some near-fatal injuries.

Harmony seemed to know what Penelope was thinking and answered slowly, “I just visited them in the hospital. Samantha suffered only a little graze. Tim’s injury was very serious so he was lucky to survive. He just came out of his coma.”

After hearing Harmony’s words, Penelope clenched her hands tightly to the point where veins were starting to surface on the back of her hand.

Timothy and Samantha were both fine but Penelope had to go to jail for the rest of her life.

‘Why! Why must I have to suffer!’

Harmony spoke in a rather excoriating manner, “Penny, you shouldn’t hurt Tim over this grudge between you and Samantha.”

“That wasn’t my intention! I never wanted that to happen!” Penelope raised her voice all of a sudden. “Timmy is protecting that b*tch Samantha at my expense! He’s being ruthless and heartless toward me, even to the point of ignoring his promise to you!”

Harmony’s eyes dimmed slightly. “Is that so?”

Penelope tightened her grip around Harmony’s hand. “Harmony, I shouldn’t be jailed like this. Help me… Help me tell Timmy to let me go. It’s useless for me to beg him, but it’s different with you. Timmy will listen to you. When you told him to take care of me in the past two years, he always treated me well and gave me whatever I wanted.”

Although Penelope had been reluctant to admit that fact up until then, she was more than willing to acknowledge it as long as she could get the charges against her dropped and avoid any jail time.

Harmony kept quiet and removed her hand little by little from Penelope’s grip.

Penelope started feeling uneasy. “Harmony…”

Harmony’s voice was still very soft, but her tone left no doubt as to her intentions. “I can’t help you this time, Penny. You nearly killed Tim. He has repaid my debt to the Schmidts in the past two years. I no longer owe the Schmidts anything.”

Then, she spoke in a tone that belied her resentment for Penelope’s stubbornness. “Penny, I gave you this opportunity after you told me you liked Tim, but you didn’t make the most of it. In the end, you even pushed Tim to other women, and for this you only have yourself to blame.”

“Wait, no! No, it’s not like that! This is all Samantha’s fault! She used all sorts of tricks to snatch Timmy away! She’s the one who made me like this!” Penelope’s hatred grew with every word she said.

Harmony simply ignored those remarks and said, “I’ll take care of your mother. This is the most I can help you with. As for your grudges with Samantha, you should think long and hard about what you’re going to do about it..”