The slap was so brutal that Karen's head spun, her ears ringing loudly as she clutched her cheek in pain.

"Mrs. Miller, it's not what you think-" Henry started from behind Linda, but she whirled around and silenced him with a slap of his own.

"Oh, really?" she snarled. "What is it then? Karen was feeling aches all over her body, so instead of going to a spa, she came to your apartment for a naked massage because you're such an expert?"

Another slap followed, snapping Henry's head to the side. His nostrils flared, and he glared at her, stepping forward threateningly.noveldrama

"What are you going to do?" Linda asked coldly, tilting her head challengingly. "Hit me? Go on. Hit me."

Henry clenched his fists but, after a tense moment, he stepped back. Linda scoffed, disgust twisting her lips. Now I see why I never liked you. For a moment in the past, thought you were the better friend after I asked Alden to convince Kris to drop his ridiculous idea of marrying Thalassa, and you agreed to do it. I should've known you were nothing but a fucking snake."

She slowly turned back to Karen, her eyes filled with disdain. "And you," she sneered, "don't you even have enough decency to cover yourself?"

Karen quickly pulled a sheet from the bed, wrapping it around herself.

"Linda, why are you so angry? Kris is filing for divorce from me, remember?" Karen's voice wavered. "Don't I have the right to move on?"

"Don't take me for an idiot, you stupid girl," Linda warned, her voice like ice. "Your sneaking around started long before Kris filed for divorce."

Karen swallowed hard. "Well, what did you expect me to do? Kris never paid attention to me during our marriage. I'm not made of stone, am I?"

Linda's hand came down again, striking Karen's cheek with force. "I said, don't take me for a fool. Your affair with this idiot started before you even married my son. Want to know how I know?"

Her eyes burned with a cold fury. "I always wondered why your daughter looked nothing like Kris or anyone in our family. At first, I chalked it up to her taking after your features, but something always felt off. And now, looking at Henry, I see the resemblance I never saw between Tessa and Kris. Tell me, Karen-Tessa is this bastard's child, isn't she?"

Karen's eyes widened, her breaths coming in panicked gasps as she fought to stay calm. "What? What are you talking about, Linda? Tessa is Kris's daughter, I swear it!"

Linda's lips curled into a smirk. "You can deny it all you want, Karen. That's why there's something called a DNA test. I'll just have to tell Kris about my suspicions, and he'll have the test done. Then, he'll know that Tessa isn't his."

She turned, as though about to leave, but Karen rushed forward, grabbing her arm.

"No, you can't do this, Linda! You can't tell Kris the truth."

Linda turned slowly, her gaze cold as ice as she glared at Karen's hand until she let go. "I can't? And why not?"

Karen's voice shook. "Because you know how much Kris adores Tessa. If he finds out she isn't his, it will destroy him. You can't do that."

Linda let out a mocking laugh. "Oh, for a second, I almost believed you actually cared about my son's feelings, you

worthless whore." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "You're right. It will shatter Kris. But he'll get over it."

She started to walk away again, but Karen's desperation bubbled over. "If you tell him, he'll have even more reason to go after Thalassa! Is that what you want?"

Linda paused, then slowly turned back, her expression one of disdainful amusement. "Let's not delude ourselves, Karen. He's already chasing after her, whether I hide your little secret or not."

Karen took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring as she steadied herself. "If you tell him, I'll tell him the truth-that you masterminded the assault on Thalassa the night before their wedding. And I'll tell him you were responsible for the attack that caused her to lose their unborn child."

For a moment, Karen thought she'd finally gained the upper hand, but Linda suddenly let out an amused laugh." You really are an idiot, aren't you? Do you really think Kris will believe a word you say after he finds out you've been lying to him all these years? After I tell him how you turned him into a cuckold and let him raise another man's child?"

Karen's heart sank. "Are you really going to tell him?"

Linda shrugged. "I might. I might not. That depends."

"Depends on what?" Karen asked quickly, her voice filled with hope.

"Depends on what you're willing to give me for my silence."

Karen's heart skipped a beat. "What do you want?"

"I want your lover here to invest a billion in my fashion house to save it from bankruptcy."

Henry's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Are you insane?"

Linda's gaze shifted to him, calm and calculating. "No, I'm very sane, thank you. And you'll agree to it if you are too. I guess the reason you haven't claimed Tessa as your daughter is because you're hoping she'll inherit Kris's billions someday, isn't it? I'm sure you wouldn't want to risk losing that, now would you? So, forget one billion. I'm demanding two billion now."

Henry ran a hand through his hair, panic creeping into his voice. "But my company's only worth four billion, and most of that is in assets. I don't have that kind of liquidity."

"Well then, I guess you would have to start selling some stocks. Besides it's not like you'll just be giving it to me." You'll invest as a partner so you'll sow some benefits if the company comes out of the crisis." Linda replied smoothly. "You've got a few days. Don't take too long, or my mouth might just slip in front of my son."

With that, she turned and walked out of the apartment, leaving Karen and Henry thoroughly dismayed.

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