Ch. 411..420

Chapter 411 Chapter 411 Tiffany walked into the third–floor cafeteria of Lovell School and saw Zoe standing up and waving at her. She made her way over, and the dishes had already been ordered and served.

After all, it was an elite school, and the cafeteria spanned several floors, each with different standards. Students could enjoy food and service comparable to outside restaurants with a bit of extra money.

Tiffany sat down and glanced at the array of exquisite dishes before her, raising an eyebrow as she asked, “Are you treating me” “Absolutely I’m treating you!” Zoe replied enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Tiffany, I got my paycheck! That relative of yours is incredibly generous, they gave me even more than what was initially promised” Tiffany smiled and quietly deleted the transfer record. “That means you’ve been doing a great job Zoe managed the charity fund Tiffany established under her relative’s name. She meticulously tracked every expenditure and its purpose, ensuring no discrepancy existed.

Furthermore, beyond the accounting, Zoe was also responsible for purchasing items. While these tasks seemed minor when discussed, they were pretty cumbersome in practice, and all contributed to her accomplishments.

Tiffany picked up her fork and said, “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Zoe giggled, looking quite pleased.

After finishing lunch. Tiffany skipped the afternoon class on business negotiations, intending to head to the library to continue her search for books. However, she received a phone call from June. “What’s up, June?” “Miss Kelley, it’s bad news. Someone is trying to buy out your father’s company,” June said gravely. “The opposing party has significant backing and has quickly acquired shares from several major shareholders. Given the current situation, this is unfavorable for the Kelley family.” “I got it, Tiffany replied and hung up the phone. She then left the school and headed straight home.

When Charlie established his company, he had nothing and worked up from scratch. At that time, there were several partners, with Owen being one of them. There were also a few other shareholders, each holding a small portion of the company’s shares.

These shareholders did not interfere in the company’s internal affairs and only appeared during the annual dividend distributions. After more than a decade of friendship with Charlie, their relationship had remained strong, and they occasionally met for meals or to play golf together.

On her way home, Tiffany couldn’t stop thinking about the situation. How could they sell their shares so suddenly and without any warning? What kind of temptation had the opposing party offered that made them disregard their longstanding relationships?

Upon returning home and stepping through the villa’s front door. Tiffany found her father sitting in the bright and spacious living room, looking troubled, while Thalia stood beside him, massaging his shoulders.

Tiffany turned and instructed David, “David, wait for Eric at the school gate when classes end. Remember, don’t leave his side.

Previously, Eric had been kidnapped by Selena at the school gate, and that incident nearly turned disastrous. Although the opposing party’s intentions were still unclear, it was better to be cautious this time.

David nodded solemnly, his expression serious. “You can rest assured, Miss Kelley. I will ensure Mr. Kelley’s safety.” Tiffany finally stepped into the villa. “Dad, Mom “Oh, Tiffany, why are you back?” Charlie was slightly taken aback and couldn’t help but ask, “Did someone say something to you? Good deeds do not make the headlines, but scandals spread like wildfire!” Charlie was frustrated. A few shareholders he considered friends had betrayed him, and he was the last to learn about it.

Rumors spread rapidly, and within a short time, others claimed hat his position as CEO was unstable and that a mysterious figure with a substantial stake could oust him at any moment. Hearing such things was deeply frustrating Tiffany walked over and soothingly patted Charlie’s chest, her tone calm as always. “Dad, don’t worry. We still have Owen’s shares, right? While the other shareholders had sold their shares, she was confident that Owen would never do something like that.

Charlie nodded. “Owen has always been loyal and values relationships; he would never do something like this. What worries “What are you worried about?” Tiffany asked.

“Owen’s Maximus restaurant just opened not long ago. What if that person uses some underhanded tactics against the restaurant? What if they resort to unscrupulous means?” Charlie said. In the world of interests, people could resort to anything.

Tiffany narrowed her eyes slightly. She thought, ‘Indeed, this couldn’t be overlooked. If Owen sold his shares, Charlie’s fifty percent stake would only allow him to be on equal footing with the opposing party, preventing him from having absolute control.

Tiffany reassured him, “Dad, don’t worry. I’ll send someone to keep watch at Owen’s restaurant. If anyone causes trouble. they’ll be dealt with thoroughly!” Charlie couldn’t help but laugh. He recalled the first day the restaurant opened when a group of thugs intentionally put bugs in the food to extort money.

Their legitimate methods had proven ineffective in dealing with such unruly troublemakers. In the end, Tiffany stepped in and, with just a few well–placed words, had the thugs crying for mercy while insisting they pay for their meal.

Charlie couldn’t help but tease, “When did my sweet little girl become so fierce? But about this matter, you You’re a lady, and in a few days, you’ll be getting engaged. I don’t want you to let this affect your mood” Tiffany raised an eyebrow, not intending to heed his words. She had her plans in mind.

shouldn’t worry.

A servant rushed in to report. “Mr. Kelley, a convoy of vehicles has just arrived, heading straight toward our villa. We’re not sure if they’re here to see you.” “Oh?” Charlie stood up and looked outside.

Sure enough, the impressive convoy of vehicles approached and stopped at the entrance of Cedar Ridge Villa. A line of extended Rolls–Royces was flanked by bodyguards, clearing the way. The spectacle was quite grand Tiffany raised an eyebrow and then smiled. The Rolls–Royce in the center looked precisely like the one she had seen under the shade of a tree at the library. It was clear who had come to visit.

The large iron gate of the villa opened, and the convoy came to a halt. The door of the heavily protected Rolls–Royce. opened, and a gorgeous woman slowly stepped out of the car, exuding an air of aloofness and otherworldliness.

Despite the crowd around them, Tiffany keenly sensed that the woman’s gaze immediately fell on her as she stepped out of the car. It carried a mix of curiosity, scrutiny, and a subtle hint of apprehension. ‘Is this woman afraid of me? Tiffany thought, a playful smile spreading across her face.

After the group disembarked, one of the maids spoke to Charlie in a condescending tone, saying, “Mr. Kelley, this is the Saintess of the Azure Sea Royal Family. She has come to visit especially, and we apologize for you won’t take offense,” ext informing you. We hope While the maid spoke politely about not wanting to offend, her condescending posture and disdainful expression made it clear she looked down on everyone present. Tiffany felt a strong urge to knock that arrogant attitude down a peg, and she did.

Chapter 412 Chapter 412 With a flick of her wrist, Tiffany sent a coin flying with pinpoint accuracy, striking the maid’s leg perfectly. Instinctively, the maid staggered back, caught off guard by the pool’s edge behind her. Before she could cry out, she tumbled into the water with a loud splash.

In that brief moment, her once–highly raised chin collided sharply with the pool’s edge–a pain that seemed palpable even from a distance.

Tiffany casually withdrew her hand, her eyes filled with an innocent look–as if to say it wasn’t her.

The atmosphere grew tense. Morwen looked at the soaked maid, her face burning with embarrassment.

As an esteemed Saintess of the Azure Sea Royal Family, Morwen couldn’t afford this embarrassment. She scolded those nearby. “Well, what are you waiting for? Get this fool out of here To fall like that unprovoked was utterly ridiculous.

The maid had taken quite a fall, and her chin was visibly swollen and red. Once helped, she hastily defended herself, “I didn’t just fall–something hit me?” She looked around the ground and quickly spotted the coin responsible.

“Miss Xanthus, this hit me–I only fell into the pool when I stepped back by accident!” the maid explained.

Morwen frowned slightly. She thought, ‘Who here has the skill to use a mere coin to knock a maid into the water in front of so many people! Not only was the precision impeccable but the strength and timing required were far beyond most people’s reach The maid grew anxious, wanting to explain further when a melodious laugh rang out. Everyone looked up to see Tiffany’s cold gaze and mocking smile, slowly saying, “Did you come all this way just to cause trouble?” The maid fell silent, quickly retreating to the side.

Morwen felt utterly embarrassed and could only reply, “I truly apologize. It’s my fault for being too lenient with them and not managing the servants properly.” Tiffany thought, ‘Servants?” Her condescension reflected the Saintess’s high status. Tiffany smiled subtly but chose not to say anything further.

Seeing the crowd and the cars before him, Charlie got straight to the point and asked, “I wonder what brings you here?” Morwen, however, responded evasively, “As a guest from afar, Mr. Kelley should at least invite me in for a cup of coffee.” Then please, come in,” Charlie said, always open–minded, especially when unsure of the other party’s intentions. It was not wise to provoke hostility without cause, as that wasn’t how an interaction occurred.

With that, the Kelleys‘ servants opened the door, allowing Morwen to step into Cedar Ridge Villa with graceful strides. Behind her followed two other maids and bodyguards. However after witnessing the incident, this group entered without behaving arrogantly.

Soon, the servants brought in the coffee. Morwen, intrigued by the aroma, lifted her head before taking a sip to ask, “Miss Kelley, what is this coffee called?” Tiffany replied without a moment’s thought, “Matcha latte.” Morwen paused briefly, wondering if there was a hint of insult, but she couldn’t pinpoint it. Frowning, She continued, “I’ve heard that Miss Kelley is known as the most beautiful woman in Lovell City. Seeing you today, it’s truly a well–deserved reputation.” Usually, at times like this, the complimented person would shyly smile and say it was an exaggeration. However, Tiffany was not like others.

She immediately responded, “Of course,” Just those two words, delivered with absolute confidence.

Morwen w it up.

momentarily taken aback but couldn’t refute the statement, as Tiffany had the confidence and audacity to back Charlie sat nearby, feeling perplexed as he heard Morwen’s words. She had come all this way to his home, likely intending to discuss his company’s acquisition. Yet, her seemingly trivial comments were directed at Tiffany, leaving him unsure of her true intentions.

Just as he was in doubt, Morwen spoke again. “Miss Kelley, you- She hadn’t finished speaking before Charlie interrupted her. “My daughter has a beautiful appearance and unparalleled grace; do you have any other questions?” Morwen fell silent. With Charlie’s strong display of protectiveness, the probing was on halt. She shifted her focus to Charlie, saying, “Mr. Kelley, please don’t misunderstand. I feel a good connection with your daughter.

“I believe Mr. Kelley has heard that the Saintess of the Azure Sea Royal Family possesses the most accurate divination abilities. Why not allow me to perform a reading for Miss Kelley? All I need is her date of birth As the esteemed Saintess of the Azure Sea Royal Family offered to perform a reading, the Kelley family should have been delighted. After all, such an opportunity was something that others couldn’t easily obtain Confident in her offer, Morwen was taken aback when Charlie responded sternly. His tone left no room for negotiation as he replied. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” The cold and dismissive attitude infuriated Morwen, prompting her two maids to speak up indignantly. “Our Saintess is offering her services, and this is how you respond? Truly ungrateful…” Tiffany y shot a cold glare in their direction and asked, “Who are you calling ungrateful?” The maids felt a chill as they met her gaze. Tiffany appeared relaxed, tilting her head, and her smile was innocent as she spoke. Yet the glint in her eyes was sharp and icy, evoking an instinctive fear.

The maids immediately fell silent, but the lingering sense of danger still left them trembling with fear, their hearts pounding rapidly. It was clear to them that Tiffany was not someone to be trifled with. This realization was the only thought Occupying their minds.

Charlie was already impatient with the vague exchanges and straightforwardly asked, “Miss Xanthus, you are here regarding my company, right? Let’s not beat around the bush. I want to make my stance clear.

“I will not sell the company,” he asserted firmly. After years of hard work building it from the ground up, he could never hand it over to an outsider. Moreover, he intended to pass this legacy on to Tiffany and Eric and would not allow anyone to tarnish it.

Morwen remained unfazed, replying, “Mr. Kelley, are you sure about this? I can offer a price above market value, and once the company is under my ownership, I can guarantee that all current employees will remain.

“By doing so, Mr. Kelley, you won’t incur any losses. On the contrary, the price I’m offering is several times the company’s market value. It is the amount you would never be able to spend in a lifetime. Are you certain about your decision?” Charlie shook his head, realizing they were speaking past each other. “Send the guest out.” The polite yet assertive maid stepped forward, gesturing for Morwen and her party to leave. “Please take care.” After being rejected twice in one day, Morwen felt utterly humilated, her dignified persona nearly crumbling. After biting her tongue in frustration

Chapter 413 Chapter 413 The imposing convoy left Cedar Ridge Villa, and Charlie clicked his tongue in frustration, saying, “What was that all about?” Tiffany comforted him by gently rubbing his back, saying. “Dad don’t be upset. It’s just some shares that were sold. We can repurchase them later” “Silly girl.” he said, finding it easy to say such things.

Morwen was confident because the Azure Sea Royal Family had wealth to spare. The shareholders sold all their shares without hesitation because the terms she offered were too temping. Prices far exceeded expectations, making them eager to sell.

With at least forty percent of the shares under her control, it would not be easy for them to repurchase them.

Charlie sighed, thinking. This is no longer just about inoney” Tiffany, however, remained unconcerned. She patted Charlie’s back soothingly, as if comforting a child, and said. “Don’t be upset. Dad. Those shares will come back. I promise.” It was laughable; she had countless ways to deal with someone, and Morwen was hardly a challenge.

Thalia felt a bit worried and couldn’t help but remind Tiffany, “Tiffany, don’t get involved, and don’t let Richard interfere. We should handle our family matters ourselves This marriage was viewed as the Kelley family trying to align themselves with the Hampton family. With the company facing a crisis, asking Richard for assistance wouldn’t be difficult, but others would have their opinions.

They might spread rumors and gossip, accusing them of betraying their daughter for favors. In these times, it’s common to hear bitter remarks from those who can’t get what they desire.

Tiffany nodded and replied, “I know.” She never intended to involve Richard in this matter. It was a trivial issue that she could handle on her own.

Not long after Morwen and her convoy left, David returned with Eric unharmed in the back seat. “Dad, Mom, sis, what happened? Did we have guests just now?” “No,” Tiffany said, pinching Eric’s cheek. “From now on, let David pick you up and drop you off from school. And don’t wander around outside the school alone, understood?” “Got it,” Eric nodded obediently. For him, there was no need to ask why; whatever Tiffany said was like an order, and he would follow it.

Tiffany cherished his obedient nature, feeling both heartbroken and proud. Having a treasure like Eric was genuinely remarkable.

The grand convoy continued to parade through the streets. Inside the car, Morwen sat with hier tension–filled maids, all too aware not to utter a word, fearing they might provoke her and earn her ire.

To their surprise, Morwen was smiling instead. She showed no trace of the anger she had felt at the Kelley family; instead, she seemed to have come to a realization, laughing with unrestrained delight.

After the recent encounter, Morwen was confident that Tiffany had no recollection of the events from her childhood. Not only had she forgotten, but she also seemed utterly oblivious to any concept or doubts surrounding those memories. This revelation was genuinely fantastic news for her.

Morwen could hardly contain her joy, wanting to laugh aloud. The fact that Tiffany didn’t remember meant no one knew her true identity, making it much easier for Morwen to eliminate her without any support or obstacles. With this thought. the tension that had gripped her all day began to ease.

One of the maids couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Xanthus, what have you so happy?” “Good news.” Xanthus said, leaning back in her seat, radiating arrogance and pride.

Jeremy had spent a long time in Lovell City with the person he sought right under his nose, yet he remained oblivious. Meanwhile, Morwen had just arrived and quickly found the long–lost princess who had disappeared over a decade ago, indicating that circumstances were on her side.

Morwen gazed out at the scenery, a more profound smile forming on her lips. During her time in Lovell City, she was determined to find a way to eliminate Tiffany, who was a potential threat.

The secret of Tiffany’s true identity was something she couldn’t let anyone find out and had to guard fiercely. Once she eliminated Tiffany and severed the royal family’s only bloodline, she would wait for the king to pass away. Then, it would be only natural for her, the current Saintess, to ascend to the position of queen.

It was the dream she had nurtured her entire life. After over a decade of planning and enduring, victory was finally within reach; she couldn’t allow any mistakes now.

Morwen took a deep breath, and as she closed her eyes to rest, she imagined herself ascending to that supreme position, with everyone bowing at her. The more she thought about it, the broader her smile became.

The nearby maid exchanged glances with the others and quietly asked, “Miss Xanthus, do you still want to acquire remaining shares?” the “Of course!” Morwen opened her eyes, showing a hint of impatience on her face. “What’s taking so long? Haven’t you with that man yet?” She had dispatched people at noon to handle matters, and within just over an hour, they swiftly secured several shareholders through sheer financial power.

dealt Only one remained a tough nut to crack, refusing to be swayed no matter how tempting the offers were. Morwen couldn’t believe anyone could resist such a massive financial temptation “Double the amount!” Morwen declared with confidence, “Keep at it until he agrees! No matter what, she was determined to secure the Kelley family company. Richard was also on her agenda. No one would take anything away from her.

“But…” the maid replied hesitantly, “the staff reported that they’ve already offered the best conditions, yet the major shareholder, Owen Hughes, refuses to agree. He even said…” “What else did he say?” Morwen asked.

“He claimed we were foolish and stubborn for insisting on opposing the Kelley family…” the maid continued.

Morwen’s face twisted in anger as she exclaimed, “He doesn’t know what’s good for him! Since he has a restaurant, find a way to bring it down! Let’s see if he still dares to oppose me!” “Understood!” The maid nodded and immediately instructed the subordinates to get to work.

Thanks to Owen’s popularity and exceptional cuisine, the Maximus restaurant has been thriving lately, attracting a steady stream of customers.

Owen had stopped overseeing company matters months ago, focusing solely on being a shareholder and enjoying his retirement while running the restaurant.

As long as the Maximus restaurant thrived each day, he felt a great sense of satisfaction. However, today marked the arrival. of a third wave of trouble.

The first two disturbances involved complaints about finding urbanitary items in their dishes or a napkin mixed in with the food, and various petty tactics were used.

While those incidents were relatively easy to manage, they escalated significantly and became uncontrollable this time. It turned out to be a matter of life and death.

Chapter 414 Chapter 414 Owen was stunned. He watched in disbelief as a table of diners inished their meals at his restaurant, only for one young man in his twenties to suddenly collapse. The young man fell to the floor, convulsing, frothing at the mouth, and twitching uncontrollably.

Nearby diners were startled, and several tables hurriedly settled their bills and left. Others, terrified, dropped their utensils and jumped up, shouting. “Is there something wrong with your food?” “Impossible!” Owen vehemently protested.

His restaurant, Maximus, prioritized health and cleanliness, followed closely by the taste of the dishes. The kitchen was fully transparent, and he even had the confidence to allow customers to visit at any time, demonstrating how much he valued the quality of his food..

He had done his best without regrets, yet people constantly stirred up trouble due to other grievances. This convulsing young man on the ground was likely making a scene to tarnish his restaurant’s reputation. However, he could do nothing and had no choice but to accept the situation.

Owen felt utterly helpless and immediately instructed someone to call an ambulance. After the call was made, a sudden silence fell over the surrounding crowd.

Turning back, Owen saw the young man on the ground frothing at the mouth. As he continued to convulse, his eyes rolled back, and then he lay still, no longer moving.

Someone nearby exclaimed, “Is he… dead?” This statement sent shockwaves through the restaurant. Other diners were visibly shaken, with some even rushing to induce vomiting.

Regardless of the outcome, it was clear that Maximus Restaurant’s reputation and business would be severely impacted moving forward. Owen found himself at a loss for words, unable to defend himself.

Just as he was about to crouch down to check the young man’s breathing and pulse, the guy’s companion grabbed his arm and spoke in a low voice, half–threatening, half–warning, “Mr. Hughes, I’ll ask you one last time–are you not considering our generous offer?

“That sum is far greater than the dividends Charlie pays you. It would be a shame to pass up such a significant benefit. I can assure you that if you agree to sell us ten percent of your shares, we will withdraw immediately. Otherwise, your restaurant may not be able to stay afloat.” After hearing such threats multiple times in a single day, Owen smiled thinly but didn’t bother checking the man’s vital signs. He stepped back and replied, “Do as you wish.” Owen scoffed, thinking. ‘Do they believe I can be easily manipulated like a soft target just because I’m older?

Unlike other shareholders solely focused on profit, he wasn’t interested in selling what he valued; even if someone offered him a mountain of gold, it wouldn’t sway him.

“Mr. Hughes, since you’re so stubborn, you can’t blame us if things worsen. It is all on you After delivering that harsh warning, Owen remained unmoved.

One of the men immediately grabbed a chair and smashed it on the table, shouting. This place has killed someone! What kind of evil establishment is this? I’m going to sue you! I’ll make sure you go bankrupt? The other men quickly joined in, ready to take action.

a matter of moments, chaos erupted all around. Plates and bowls were shattered, shards scattering everywhere. Tables were overturned, and the food was strewn across the floor, creating a mess.

The waiter and the restaurant manager were left stunned by the scene. Meanwhile, Owen stood his ground, remaining completely still.

If there was any expression on his face, it was neither sadness nor anger, just a sense of resignation and a sigh. Well, if it couldn’t go on, then so be it. Some principles were worth keeping, and external things could be let go. After all, he blamed himself for getting involved with a group of thugs.

Owen shook his head and turned to the restaurant manager, saying, “Let the customers leave. There’s no need to settle the bill; close the restaurant.” The manager was taken aback. “Close the restaurant? But…” Owen waved his hand, not wanting to say more. “Just do as I say The manager hesitated momentarily and was about to nod when a clear, ringing voice came from the restaurant’s entrance. We’ve done nothing wrong, so how can we just close the restaurant?” Owen was taken aback and quickly turned around, seeing Tiffany walk in with a cheerful smile. She was dressed casually today in a light–colored jacket paired with jeans, her figure looking–slender and graceful. Her high ponytail added a youthful and vibrant touch, exuding a playful and lively aura.

Seeing Tiffany approach, Owen looked pleasantly surprised. Tiffany, what brings you here? Don’t you have class today?” The men smashing things paused momentarily, but when they saw it was just a young girl, they sneered wholly and dismissively disregarded her presence. “Keep smashing!” They became more aggressive, and as they continued their rampage, the flying debris even affected several innocent diners nearby.

Screams mingled with the sounds of destruction, creating utter chaos in the restaurant. If this continued, the situation would become even more dire.

Owen anxiously contemplated calling security to handle the situation when Tiffany snapped her fingers and lazily said. “Someone, tie them up for me!

When Tiffany finished speaking, over ten people entered the restaurant. They wore identical black suits, their strong imposing physiques radiating energy. Judging by their demeanor and stature, they were skilled fighters.

and The sudden appearance of this group lined up in formation created overwhelming pressure. Under such intimidating circumstances, the men who had been vandalizing the place panicked and instinctively stepped back, shouting, “What do you want? I warn you not round” Tiffany commanded, “Bind them!” Within two minutes, Tiffany’s ten subordinates swiftly complied binding the five troublemakers tightly with ropes.

inside. Following Tiffany’s signal, the restaurant’s entrance was locked, trapping everyone The troublemaker attempted to incite the other diners, declaring. This is a shady restaurant! You’ve all seen it for yourselves -their food has killed someone, and now they’re trying to cover it up by silencing us!” With the doors of Maximus Restaurant firmly shut, everyone realized that escape was no longer an option.

However, they weren’t overly frighten as most people recognized Tiffany’s prominent reputation in Lovell City.

Instead, their curiosity grew about how the notorious Tiffany planned to handle the situation, whether she would resort to intimidation or bribery, and if she would settle things quietly with money or silence everyone altogether.

In the end, it was neither. Tiffany turned to everyone with a bright smile and cheerfully announced, “Don’t be afraid. The reason for closing the doors is to invite you all to stay and watch show unfold!” Samenne asked, “What kind of show?

“That’s a great question: Tiffany replied smoothly. “I want everyone to be witnesses to demonstrate that Owen’s restaurant has no issues with its food whatsoever.” “How will you prove that?” someone couldn’t help but ask..

“Yeah, how will you prove it?” more people began to inquire.

Tiffany’s words piqued everyone’s curiosity. No one had any idea what she was planning.

Chapter 415 Chapter 415 Even Owen couldn’t figure out what Tiffany was up to. Before he could intervene, he watched as she snapped her fingers and had the troublemakers tied up. It was clear that things were escalating quickly.

Owen felt anxious and quietly urged, “Tiffany, I will handle this matter. Please have them released, and we need to get this person on the floor to the hospital immediately… It would have been too late to save him if they had been delayed longer.

Tiffany smiled reassuringly and said, “Don’t worry; leave it to me. Then, she produced a needle from her hand.

A keen–eyed customer spotted her and laughed, saying, “What do you need that needle for? Are you planning to do some embroidery?” Laughter erupted from all around.

Even the men tied up for causing the disturbance couldn’t help but scoff at the scene. “Do you think you can pull off some tricks? Do you even know who we are?” “Oh, who are you? Just a few lapdogs sent by Morwen Xanthus, Tiffany said with a knowing smile, exposing their true identities.

The Azure Sea Royal Family was well–known for its rare medicinal herbs, and the people there were skilled in using them. The person lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth and convulsing, indeed appeared to have stopped breathing.

Even if the ambulance arrived, the doctors would likely declare that the individual had lost all vital signs and that resuscitation efforts were futile, with the cause of death determined as food poisoning.

It was a ruthless move, using a potential manslaughter case to bring down Maximus restaurant. It relied on the assumption that Owen wouldn’t want to see his hard work go to waste, believing that he would compromise under intimidation and temptation.

However, what no one knew was that the man lying on the ground in a state of unconsciousness was merely faking his death.

Tiffany waved the needle in her hand, unfazed by the malicious jeers coming from all directions. She slowly crouched down, looking at the man feigning death on the ground, her smile filled with meaning. “Stay still; I won’t hold back,” she said as the needle descended.

as I The man on the ground remained utterly still. Meanwhile, the bound companions broke into a cold sweat, their eyes fixed on Tiffany as if she were out of her mind. “You plan to stab him! You can’t be serious about desecrating a corpse,” one of them exclaimed.

The other diners found the situation cruel and couldn’t help but interject, “Someone has collapsed in your restaurant, and instead of rushing to the hospital, you’re just stalling? It is incredibly irresponsible.” “Exactly, the young girl doesn’t know what she’s doing. How can you, Mr. Hughes, just let her act recklessly like this?” Amidst the chorus of accusations, Owen felt overwhelmed. Yet, he gritted his teeth and chose to wait a little longer. He thought that maybe Tiffany had a plan after all.

The others shook their heads in disbelief, one of them murmuring, “Alright then, let’s make a bet. Let’s see if Miss Kelley had what it took to save someone with a needle.” The person then changed their tope, saying, “Anyway, I don’t believe it. Do you?” “Of course not,” came the laughter that erupted around them.

In their opinion, relying on a mere trophy who depended on men to save lives was unrealistic. Tiffany’s former image was that of a lovesick, chasing after men and little else.

Even with her recent behavior change, besides that dangerously beautiful face, Richard’s influence stilearned her any respect; without it, no one would take her seriously.

The crowd shook their heads and sighed, assuming that Tiffany’s fearless confidence, seemingly unafraid of risking life, ultimately came from Richard’s support. With him backing her, she dared to act so boldly. Regardless of what others thought, Tiffany had already administered the second needle.

This time, unlike the painless needle in the shoulder, Tiffany placed the needle at the top of the person’s head.

The long needle gradually pierced downward, and a few onlookers, deeply engrossed, shuddered as if watching a needle. sink into their vein. The bound companion’s expression shifted a few more needles and this feigned state of death would be impossible to maintain!

They wanted to intervene, but Tiffany’s hands moved swiftly, and two more needles pierced down simultaneously.

“Ah!” With a scream, the half–conscious man on the ground suddenly sat up, his jaw trembling from the pain.

He was unaware of his surroundings, still thinking his companion had woken him after completing the task. Groggily, he asked. “Is it done? Did Owen sign the papers?” No one responded.

Only then did the man, with three needles in his head, slowly open his eyes. The first thing he saw was a charming, ethereal face.

Her brows resembled distant inkbrush strokes, and her eyes were like clear springs. The young girl crouched before him, exuding a lazy elegance like a fairy or a mythical being. She looked as if she had stepped right out of a painting.

The man was momentarily stunned, his eyes filled with amazement. Before he could recover from the shock, the girl smiled gently and asked, “Are you alright? If you’re fine, that’s truly wonderful.” He instinctively replied, “I’m fine. With my strong physique, how could anything be wrong? I fell on purpose; I hope I didn’t scare you.” He wanted to make a good impression in front of the beauty and felt that his previous convulsions must have looked disgusting. Eager to regain dignity, he blurted out anything that came to mind.

It wasn’t until he finished speaking that the man sensed something was off. He quickly turned to survey his surroundings and spotted his bound companions. He also noticed the onlookers, who were staring at him in shock.

The man suddenly jolted awake, fully realizing the situation. Tiffany smiled, her expression ambiguous. “Since that’s the case, we can tally up the losses from the damage to the restaurant and the fraud, right?” With a desperate voice, the man asked, “Is it too late for me to lie back down now?” Tiffany stood up, her gaze condescending, “What do you think?” Since the person had already been saved, there was no longer any risk of death at the restaurant.

Tiffany returned to Owen and reminded him, “Please make sure to list all the damages, and don’t hold back; just write down the largest amounts. After all, the mastermind behind these people has plenty of money.” Owen was still in a daze until Tiffany spoke to him, snapping him back to reality. His face was filled with disbelief as he asked, “Tiffany, how did you manage to do that?” Just a few needles, and she woke him up like that? That’s unbelievable, he thought, Tiffany shrugged, her smile innocent. “It’s not my fault; he just can’t act well enough.” To avoid raising suspicion with Owen, she didn’t mention that in a state of simulated death, the person wouldn’t feel a thing if the needles were inserted randomly. So, those seemingly haphazard needles she had just used were targeted at specific areas on the top of his head.

It was a technique that others couldn’t recognize..

Chapter 416 Chapter 416 Initially, he had already prepared for the worst. At most, he would close the shop. It was better than being pestered by these people endlessly!

However, he did not expect things to take a turn for the worse. Tiffany solved the problem so easily.

Moreover, it was resolved cleanly. Those people wouldn’t have any strange thoughts about that.

She also helped him vent his anger..

Owen did not stand on ceremony and immediately made a list of losses. The losses of the restaurant being smashed, the losses of the guests present who were free of charge, and the losses of the restoration.

The compensation rose quickly. Those who smashed the shop.

“No way. Even the cleaning fees included? You’re extorting us!” “Extorting?” Owen sneered. “This is just a compensation fee. You deliberately pretended to be dead to frame me. Do you think that I will let you go easily?” “Never!” Owen sent people to take them away. They would be sentenced as they should be!

There was always a price to pay for everything This was their price!

Those guys had nothing to say. They also didn’t plead for mercy. Obviously, they believed that Miss Xanthus would save them.

Tiffany smiled and let them be.

As these people were taken away, the other diners present also recovered from their initial confusion.

They still could not believe that Tiffany, who had nothing but a beautiful face, actually had such ability to turn the situation around with just a silver needle.

That was awesome!

Everyone looked at each other.

If they had not seen it with their own eyes, they would never believed it Tiffany yawned, said goodbye to Owen, and left Maximus restaurant.

As for the group of lackeys she brought with her, they followed her out.

She was like a queen, followed by her upright and sturdy guards After walking out of the restaurant, Tiffany turned around and said to her underlings, “Alright, let’s go back.” They were going back to the training camp.

Two months ago, during summer vacation, she was training there.

It was also on the mountain where the trial w diamond mine there held that she was chased by a tiger. However, by chance, she discovered a With that diamond mine, she successfully destroyed the Lee family, who wanted to assassinate her, and those mountains were now under her name, including the training camp with the best mechanical equipment.

And these people were strictly selected by her personally to ensure that their backgrounds were clean. They had to be loyal. Then, they were sent to the training camp to be trained step by step In order to tram them, she had specially sent Jeremy over to let him train these people.

This was the first time she brought them out. They were better than she thought.

Tiffany was very satisfied.

Just as she finished speaking, her subordinates immediately nodded.

Yes, my lady!

They said that together. No one had any objections. They immediately returned to the cars by the roadside and got into the cars. The cars drove back They were quick and well–trained. They were even more proficient than many bodyguards.

Tiffany raised her eyebrows and glanced at the night sky above her.

She was really not used to Jeremy leaving.

She did not know how Jeremy was doing. She did not know if the people who were chasing after him would find her. She also did not know if the person he was looking for was found and if the mission he tried to complete had been completed Unknowingly, she thought too much. When Tiffany came back to her senses, she realized that there was someone in front of her She looked up and saw Richard’s well–defined handsome face under the street lamp.

Tiffany could not help but sigh.

She had looked at him countless times and felt amazed countless times.

This face was really indescribable!

Just as Tiffany was in a daze, Richard frowned slightly and said, “Which bastard man are you thinking of? You seem attentive?” She laughed. “Thinking of you.” Richard raised his eyebrows and smiled instead of being angry. He curled his lips. It was obvious that his jealousy was gone.

He didn’t care whether he was called a bastard man but his girl could only think of him.

She had to think of him.

Tiffany could not help but laugh. “How did you know I was here She received sudden news and rushed to Maximus restaurant.

pin to save Because she was worried, she specially arranged for someone to be a spy in the restaurant so that she could step the situation if anything happeried That was why she could come in time this time.

Richard pinched her fare and replied. “I went to look for you. I w that you weren’t at home, so I came here to try my lack “Liar Tiffany snorted softly. With his power, if he wanted to find her, did he need to try his luck “You obviously investigated my whereabouts!” That’s very clever of you, darling” Tiffany instantly lost her temper when she heard this soft and attractive voice.

Who could withstand it? When he tried to flirt with her, a cold but tempting gaze was enough.

Tiffany’s pretty face was slightly red. Seeing that there were many people passing by on the road, she could only quickly pull Richard forward. “Hurry up and run!” Richard could not help but laugh.

However, he allowed her to pull him into the car.

Seeing them get into the car so quickly, John turned around and was a little surprised. However, he greeted respectfully, “Hello, Mrs. Hampton.” Tiffany touched her own face. “Good evening “By the way, where are we going?” Tiffany looked at the time. It was still early. It was only 7:30 pm. They had nothing to do if they went back at this time. They might as well go on a date!

She shared her thoughts with Richard.

Richard raised his eyebrows and immediately caught the main point. “A date?” “Yes, is there a problem?” “No, it’s fine.” Richard smiled faintly, and his eyes were deep.

He liked the word “date” “Where do you want to go?” “How about.. Tiffany thought about it and felt that there were not many things they could do, so she said. “I haven’t thought about it.” It was too boring to watch a movie. They had already eaten dinner.

There were not so many things a couple could do when they went on a date.

Richard’s expression darkened for a moment before he replied. “How about this? I’ll bring you somewhere.” “Alright!” Tiffany’s eyes lit up and she immediately agreed.

However, she agreed readily and did not see the mischievous simple that flashed across Richard’s eyes.

“John, let’s go.” “Mr. Hampton… You mean… Where are we going?” Richard did not say anything. He just cast a look.

As expected of the tacit understanding that he had cultivated over the years. John immediately understood. Even though he was tense, he was still secretly excited!

Richard, who was usually distant to women, would soon have his first date. That was exciting!

Chapter 417 Chapter 417 The car speed forward. Tiffany blinked, feeling like she was about to be sold.

“Where are you taking me?” She gasped. “You’re not seriously going to sell me, are you?” Richard raised his eyebrows and gently slapped Tiffany’s forehead. “What are you thinking about?” Could he bear to do that?

“Then why are you guys so mysterious…” And they were even exchanging secretive glances!

“Didn’t you say you wanted to go on a date?” Richard curled his lips. His eyes were as deep as the sea. “I’m giving you a surprise.” Since that was the case, Tiffany blinked and sat down obediently without asking further.

However, the journey was a little far… The car had been driving for more than half an hour, but they had yet to reach their destination.

Tiffany yawned and asked lazily, “How long until we arrive?” “Soon.” “Oh, then call me when you get there…” Sitting in the car for too long made her sleepy. Tiffany simply lay on the seat and fell asleep with her head on Richard’s shoulder.

After an unknown period of time, the car stopped steadily.

“Eh… we’re here?” Tiffany opened her eyes in a half–asleep state and saw the car door open. A cool breeze blew in. She shivered and her mind instantly became much clearer. “Where are we?” Tiffany got out of the car, her eyes blank.

Initially, she thought that the place Richard brought her to would be a romantic date place like a beautiful garden. However, she did not expect the car to stop in the wilderness!

It was pitch–black on all sides, and there was only the sound of insects and frogs.

However, in such a place, John actually turned off the headlights Without the illumination of headlights, there was only darkness on all sides. Other than the hazy moonlight and the densely packed stars above their heads, there was no light around.

Tiffany subconsciously took a step back.

However, in the next second, in a large patch of grass in front of her, light spots filled the sky!

Upon closer inspection, it was actually a large number of fireflies!

They came with a bright light and flew over the grass in front of them, dancing freely in the valley It was like a scene that would only appear in dreams!

The fireflies that filled the sky illuminated the darkness in front of them. The chirping of the insects on all sides was endless, and the evening wind blew gently. This scenery was shocking and spectacular, making one feel like they were in a valley, but it was as if they had come to heaven!

Tiffany’s eyes were filled with amazement.

This was the first time she had seen such a scene. It was simply unbelievable!

Richard chuckled and asked, “Do you like it?” “I like it!” Tiffany nodded heavily. After a long time, she finally came back to her senses. She turned around and asked, “How did you find this place?” “This is where I used to come when I was a kid.” Richard replied unhurriedly, “At that time, I accidentally discovered this place, so I got someone to protect this area. After more than ten years, no matter how the outside world changes, this place has never changed.” Tiffany nodded. She was secretly delighted. “In other words, I’m the first to be brought to your private domain, right?” Richard could not help but laugh. All his first and first times were with her. It was not just this time.

However, he could not let go of such a good opportunity to take credit.

Therefore, he leaned over and approached Tiffany bit by bit. He asked in a hoarse voice, “Yes, so are you going to praise me?

Tiffany dug her ears. She wanted to retreat, but there was no escape.

Richard’s handsome face gradually enlarged, and his thin and tightly pursed pink lips were just inches away… Tiffany’s remaining words were stuck in her throat by his kiss.

The night breeze blew past. In this valley that was enveloped by fireflies, their shadows were stretched out under the moonlight. Unknowingly, the two shadows gradually became one.

The valley was silent, and the breeze carried the aura of nature.

There seemed to be a layer of honey in the air, giving off a hint of sweetness.

Only John felt bad.

In order not to be a third wheel, he knew his place and left.

So now… he was feeding the mosquitoes by the pond on the other side of the valley.

*****

When Tiffany was released, her originally bright eyes were dyed with a hint of mist. To Richard, it was as if she was drunk and looked even more delicate and cute.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said hoarsely, “You’re not going back tonight, are you?” Tiffany was stunned for a moment before she reacted. She began to stutter.

‘No, I can’t…” “It’s not easy to drive in the mountains. It’s already very late,” Richard said in all seriousness. His face was not red and his heart was not beating fast. “I’ll send you back tomorrow morning “Well…” Tiffany looked at the time. It was indeed late at night!

‘Is it that late?‘ She clearly remembered that it was only seven or eight o’clock when she got into the car at the entrance of the restaurant. Even if she had slept for a long time on the way, it shouldn’t be half past eleven now!

Tiffany was stunned. He continued, “Your mother called you earlier. I picked up.” “You answered? What did you say?” “I told her you weren’t going back tonight, and she agreed.” Tiffany’s eyes twitched.

She had a feeling that she had been tricked… However, when she thought about it again, what Richard said was actually within reason. It would take hours to drive back. When they were home, it should be in the morning.

She could only nod. “All right, then.” Richard smiled. Even though he was trying his best to control his emotions, the corners of his lips could not help but curl up.

His heart was filled with joy, but he could only maintain a straight face.

“Let’s go. It’s easy to catch a cold in the valley.” “Okay.” Tiffany sat back in the car.

At this moment, John, who was covered in mosquito bites, was finally summoned back!

He originally thought that Tiffany and Richard would also be bitten. He felt quite balanced. However around, he saw that there was no trace of being bitten on their bodies at all.

In particular, Tiffany’s slender neck and arms were exposed, but there was not a single red dot Seeing this, John was at a loss.

when he he turned on her skin!

Tiffany looked at him sympathetically and explained with a smile, “Maybe it’s because of my physique. I’ve never attracted mosquitoes since I was young.” It turned out that even mosquitoes were picky!

John scratched his itchy arm, his heart aching.

He could be a third wheel. He could also see they were happy. But how could the mosquitoes bully him?

“That’s too much!‘ Fortunately, Tiffany gave him a bottle of medicine and teased, “Use it. It’s very effective at stopping itches.” The medicine Miracle Healer gave must be the best.

John was overjoyed as he took it. It really stopped itching!

“Thank you, Mrs. Hampton!” After expressing his gratitude, he did not dare to delay any longer. He started the car and drove forward.

There was a large villa in this valley.

Obviously, this was also Richard’s. It was similar to the villa he had lived in the border city previously. It was low–key and luxurious. The design was simple, but it was exquisite and extraordinary.

Tiffany stepped into the villa curiously.

However, her gaze was attracted by the clock on the wall.

Wait, what did she see? It was only 9:30 p.m.?

Chapter 418 Chapter 418 Tiffany understood everything now.

She turned around and said angrily, “Bastard, you lied to me!” In tal, they were delayed by only two hours, which meant the stance was a cha Richard had claimed.

Tiffany glared at him. “You must be lying to me when you said that you received a call, my Mom earlier,” she said.

As she spoke, Tiffany looked for her phone, wanting to check the call log.

As expected, there was no call record from her mother.

“The fucking liar,’ she thought.

Furious, Tiffany walked out. “I’m leaving,” she said.

Richard stood at the side with his hands in his pockets. He looked very relaxed and did not bother trying to stop Tiffany from leaving.

As Tiffany walked out, the only thing she saw was the car’s tail lights.

John had driven away.

In the blink of an eye, even the tail lights had disappeared.

Tiffany was speechless.

She had been too hasty in leaving earlier.

Richard chuckled and raised his brows. He said unhurriedly, “John has something urgent to handle, so I gave him the day off.” Tiffany was rendered speechless once again.

Richard’s ability to lie through his teeth was the same as hers.

‘So be it. I’ll stay here for the night. In any case, it’s just one night Tiffany thought to herself.

Tiffany turned around and walked back in. She surveyed the villa and noticed that it was literally spotless and free of dust. It was evident that a servant had cleaned this villa not too long ago ‘Seems like Richard has planned this from before, Tiffany thought.

“Where is my room?” Tiffany asked.

“Upstairs, the master bedroom,” Richard replied.

“Oh. Then I’ll go take a shower now,” Tiffany said before she ran upstairs. The sweat made her feel uncomfortable. She could put up with it when she was outside, but since she was staying the night, she wanted to freshen up.

As Tiffany looked through each bedroom one by one, she noticed that one of them was particularly large. This must be the master bedroom,’ she thought.

Tiffany walked in and locked the door behind her.

In the room, there was a full set of toiletries prepared, even a change of clothes. The more thoroughly everything was arranged, the clearer it became that Richard had ulterior motives!

“Hmph.” Tiffany let out a light scoff, picked up the clothes, and headed into the bathroom.

When Tiffany walked out 20 minutes later, she saw that Richard who should have been downstairs or in another room- had somehow opened the door and was now sitting comfortably on the sofa.

“Why are you here?” Tiffany asked.

She looked at Richard warily. “Don’t tell me… you’re also sleeping in this room tonight?” Richard smirked, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. “What if I am?” he asked.

“Then I’ll beat you up!” Tiffany said.

She even raised her fist as she spoke.

But her small fists did not hold much threat.

Richard chuckled softly, his gaze darkening.

Tiffany had a pure, delicate appearance, her tanned skin smooth and flawless. Her long, wet hair dripped at the tips, and the lavender nightgown added a touch of innocence and allure to her overall charm.

He found Tiffany charming and captivating.

Richard’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he had a serious expression on his face. “Come here, I’ll blow dry your hair.” ‘Is he that kind?’ Tiffany thought.

Tiffany remained vigilant, not daring to go over.

‘What if I fall into his trap?’ she thought.

She did not move, but Richard lightly waved his hand.

The next second, Tiffany was swept to Richard’s side by a sudden gust of wind.

‘It’s happening once again!’ she thought.

Just like by the pool before, Tiffany originally tried to run but Richard had lifted her onto the tree, and after that… Tiffany’s face flushed bright red, but she was already trapped in Richard’s arms, unable to move.

“Didn’t you say that you were just going to blow dry my hair for me?” Tiffany asked.

“Yeah,” Richard said.

He even turned around and teased, “What do you want to do to me?” Tiffany was rendered speechless.

‘How shameless of him!’ she thought.

Tiffany decided to keep mum.

Then, only the sound of the hairdryer could be heard.

Richard was indeed drying her hair.

His clean, slender fingers gently combed through her hair with great care and tenderness.

Under the warm light, their shadows intertwined on the floor, without a hint of anything suggestive. In the spacious bedroom, a cozy atmosphere filled the space.

Tiffany relaxed like a contented cat, letting out a soft murmur and then settling into Richard’s arms. With the soothing, almost massage-like feeling of him drying her hair, she drifted off to sleep, her breathing steady and peaceful.

Looking at how defenseless Tiffany was in his arms, Richard shook his head and gently carried her to the bed.

Tiffany had a terrible sleeping posture. As soon as her head touched the pillow, she rolled over dramatically, pulling the blanket with her.

Half of it was draped over her, while the other half was clutched tightly in her arms.

Richard could not help but laugh. He bent down and tapped her nose.

As a result, Tiffany slapped him with a loud smack, mumbling, “Stupid mosquito.” Richard, who had just taken a solid hit, was left speechless.

‘Well, she’s definitely the first person who dares smack me,’ he thought.

Even after being slapped, he found it hard to be angry. After all, this was Tiffany.

“Stupid woman,” he muttered.

Richard stood up, tucked the blanket around Tiffany, and then left the room.

After the door closed, the sleeping Tiffany smiled softly in her sleep.

“Stupid man,” she muttered.

*****

In another mountain villa, Morwen had thrown everything all over the floor.

“A bunch of useless idiots! You can’t even handle something so simple and end up getting yourselves caught up in it. How stupid can you be?” she yelled.

“Miss, that old man is really stubborn. It seems unlikely that you can buy shares from him…” The maid tried to console Morwen. She said cautiously, “And if you want to go after the Kelley family, you don’t necessarily have to buy their company shares to gain control.” As soon as she finished speaking, Morwen shot her a cold glare.

“Are you telling me how to do things?” Morwen asked coldly.

“No, I wouldn’t dare…” The maid’s heart skipped a beat and she quickly slapped her mouth. “That’s not what I meant. Miss, please don’t be angry!” The maid was aware that despite Morwen’s pristine and ethereal image in public, Morwen was anything but that. Only those who served her know that Morwen can be cruel and had a bad temper.

“Get lost, all of you!” Morwen yelled.

Just seeing these fools make me angry!’ she thought.

Morwen impatiently dismissed them, and her subordinates, along ith the trembling maid, quickly retreated.

‘It’s good we don’t have to serve her, at least everyone can relax for a moment, everyone thought.

“How useless!” Morwen said angrily.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Morwen originally thought that causing trouble at Owen’s restaurant to the point where it resulted in someone getting killed would surely make him back down, no matter how stubborn he was.

After all, with the generous conditions she offered, the other shareholders would be tempted, and taking down Owen would only be a matter of time!

However, Tiffany appeared out of nowhere.

Morwen could not believe that Tiffany managed to bring that supposedly dead subordinate back to consciousness in front of everyone, and as a result of the damages from the restaurant incident, Morwen ended up losing a significant amount of money!

This was called “Aiming for a quick win and ending up with a loss.” Morwen was in a fit of rage.

Without the shares in Owen’s hands, it would be difficult for her to take over Charlie’s company!

Morwen had initially intended to use this as a warning to the Kelley family, but now it seemed that this tactic would not work.

She could only find another way.

However, there were only three days left.

Three days later, it would be the first of next month.

This meant that Tiffany and Richard’s engagement party was just around the corner.

‘No, I must make Tiffany vanish before that!’ Morwen thought. That man is mine, no one can snatch him away from me!’

Chapter 419 Chapter 419 Under the cover of night, there was complete silence in the Harper family’s manor.

Suddenly, the door to the guest room opened. Melody slipped quietly down the stairs, careful not to make a sound. Seeing no one around, she took advantage of the moonlight to sneak into the manor’s back garden.

A few days earlier, Melody had begged Kenneth to agree to a 10–day arrangement, using a final farewell as her excuse to stay with the Harper family.

Now, with the 10 days nearly up, the box Felix had instructed her to find was still nowhere to be seen.

But Melody had searched everywhere.

‘Where on earth can the box possibly be?‘ she thought.

Melody’s anxiety was growing by the second.

Melody knew that if she could not find the box, Felix would not let her off.

Therefore, she had to continue searching.

As Melody walked toward the back of the manor, in her peripheral vision, she caught a glimpse of the main courtyard, which still had its lights on.

An idea struck her.

Melody had searched every corner of the manor under the pretense of cleaning, including Kenneth’s room and even the quarters of the elderly Harper couple.

The only place she had not been was Romeo’s private quarters.

Melody wondered if it was possible that the box was at Romeo’s However, Romeo was notoriously strict and traditional, and he clearly disapproved of her. If Romeo found out she had sneaked into his quarters, he would likely chase her out immediately.

‘It’s risky, but I still have to go!‘ Melody thought.

Melody gritted her teeth and, under the cover of moonlight, quietly slipped toward Romeo’s quarters.

There were hardly any servants in Romeo’s courtyard. He disliked anyone hovering under his nose, so even the daytime cleaning was done by the butler himself.

This made it even more likely that the box could be hidden in his quarters.

‘But where could it be?‘ Melody thought.

Melody mulled it over and decided to take a risk. She decided that while Romeo’s place still had the lights on, she would sneak over and peer through the window. ‘Who knows what I’ll find there?‘ she thought.

Melody crept closer, moving quietly.

Unexpectedly, Alexia happened to pass by and when she spotted Melody creeping around in the dead of night, she called out to Melody, “Hey! What are you trying to do? Are you trying to steal something?” Upon hearing Alexia’s voice, Melody froze.

Her back stiffened instantly.

This is bad. I’ve been discovered, Melody thought.

She turned back and smiled helplessly. “What are you talking about, Alexia? How could I possibly be trying to steal something? I merely ate too much for dinner and couldn’t sleep, so I’m taking a stroll.” “Taking a stroll?* Alexia asked.

She sneered. “If that is indeed the case, why were you acting so sneaky, like you were afraid of being caught? This seems like you have a guilty conscience. Now, tell me what you’re really up to!” I’m telling the truth!” Melody insisted with an indignant tone. “Why won’t you believe me?” Alexia said, “Don’t play games with me. My brother might fall for this, but I won’t! You won’t talk? Then I’ll have to call for someone! Someone, come quick! Catch the thief! There’s a thief here!” Melody clenched her fists in fury.

‘Alexia is really hard to deal with!” she thought.

“Stop shouting, stop shouting!” Melody yelled.

She tried to stop Alexia, but it was too late.

Alexia’s shouting had attracted Kenneth’s attention.

“What’s going on?” Kenneth asked.

Alexia said, “Kenneth, this woman has ulterior motives for staying in our home! I saw her sneaking around, and I could tell that she was up to no good! We should get rid of her as soon as possible. Just looking at this liar makes me feel nauseous!” Listening to her words, Kenneth frowned. “Alright, I’ll handle this. You should hurry and get some sleep.” Hmph!

Alexia made a face and gave Melody a provocative look before leaving with her hands on her hips.

“Kenneth…” Melody stepped forward, instinctively wanting to throw herself into Kenneth’s arms, but Kenneth raised a hand to stop her. “What are you doing here so late at night?” “I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for a walk. Besides, what could I possibly be up to?” Melody gave a bitter smile. “I guess it’s time for me to leave. After all, you’re all treating me like a thief.

Kenneth did not say anything.

Melody bit her lip, trying to find a way out of the awkward situation herself.

“There are only a few days left in our agreement, and I don’t want to leave with any regrets, so you can’t chase me away, not until the end of our agreement,” Melody said.

Melody knew Kenneth was someone who valued his promises deeply Since Kenneth had already agreed to this arrangement, there was no way he would send her away now.

She was right.

07.30 Sat, Nov y Chapter 419 Kenneth sighed. “Alright, this is the last thing I can do for you.” “Thank you,” Melody said.

“Have an early rest.” After saying that, Kenneth turned around and left.

After Alexia’s earlier shouts, several servants rushed over and looked around. “There’s a thief? Where’s the thief?” Melody stared at them speechlessly.

‘Tonight’s search was in vain,‘ Melody thought.

Her expression darkened as she turned back toward her guest room.

Sneaking around at night was not going to work. In that case, Melody thought that she had to come up with a legitimate excuse to search Romeo’s courtyard during the day.

The next morning, Romeo had already gone out for his early morning exercise.

This was a routine he never missed.

Ryan had gone to the company, while Felicia had been invited out for a gathering. Alexia and Kenneth had also left for school.

In just a few days, Melody had figured out the habits of everyone in the Harper family.

Claiming health issues, Melody had not attended school for several days. Seeing that everyone had left the house, she picked up a feather duster and began dusting around, just like she had before.

A nearby servant said, “Miss, you can put that down. Let us handle these chores.” “It’s fine. I have nothing to do anyway,” Melody said.

She smiled sweetly. Melody’s charming, lovely smile made it hard for people to dislike her.

Seeing that she could not dissuade Melody, the servant had no choice but to let her be.

Just then, another servant came in to call for help. “The butler has hurt his back, and we need to clean Mr. Harper’s courtyard.“ lit Melody’s eyes up, and she immediately said, “Let me help you with the cleaning. The manor is so large; it must be exhausting for you all.” “But…” The servant shook her head and said, “It’s better not to. Mr. Harper doesn’t like outsiders entering his room.” “It’s okay, I’ll just sweep the outside,” Melody said.

Regardless of the servants‘ objections, Melody eagerly made her way over there.

She resembled a child who had found a captivating toy–innocent and completely free of ulterior motives.

The servant shook her head helplessly. There was no way to stop Melody, so she could only let her go.

When they arrived at Romeo’s courtyard, Melody started sweeping the floor at the entrance, working diligently enough that who saw her would have to compliment her effort.

anyone Unfortunately, the Harper family had high standards. Merely doing household chores well was not enough to secure the position of a young mistress there.

The servants had varying thoughts as they quickly focused on their own cleaning, heads down.

Melody seized the opportunity and suddenly pointed at Romeo’s bedroom, exclaiming, “Oh no, a rat just ran inside!” “A rat?” The servants were taken aback.

“Are you sure?” “Yeah,” Melody said.

The Harper family’s manor was so large that it was hardly surprising to spot the occasional rat.

“Quick, we must catch the rat before Mr. Harper returns!” the servants said.

“I’ll help too.” Melody smiled and walked in openly.

The servants were indeed busy moving furniture and the large bed. Seizing this rare opportunity, Melody began to search everywhere.

After a thorough search, they did not find any rats, and the servants, sweating profusely, asked, “Did you perhaps see it wrongly?” Melody did not answer.

As she rummaged under Romeo’s wardrobe, she discovered a hidden compartment.

The compartment popped open automatically when “ed.

Melody was taken aback for a moment, then quickly brushed aside the clothes that were deliberately covering it. As expected, she found a box lying there!

‘I’ve found it!‘ she thought excitedly,

Chapter 420 Chapter 420 The item was identical to the image Scarface Lorenzo showed Melody that day.

The dark blue box emitted a mysterious light which was far more vivid than what she saw in the image.

Melody was so excited that her hands were trembling. She had finally accomplished the task Felix Quaid assigned her!

However, this also meant that the Harper family did indeed have what Felix wanted. So what would Felix do next? Would he steal from the Harper family or rob them?

A sinister and cunning person like Felix would probably have endless tricks up his sleeve.

If Kenneth Harper found out that Melody was responsible for all of this, what would he think? And more importantly, what would he do?

Melody hesitated, but she did not have time to think too much. The servant behind her was already walking toward her so she could only put back everything quickly. She then stood up as if nothing had happened and smiled. “There’s nothing here either.” The servant was a little suspicious but in the next instant, Melody opened her hand. A dead cockroach had somehow magically appeared in her palm. “I was mistaken. It wasn’t a rat that ran in. It was this big cockroach.” The servant took a step back in disgust. At the same time, she was baffled.

The senior Mr. Harper’s room was cleaned every day. How did such a big cockroach escape her vacuum cleaner?

Fortunately, the offending bug was caught in time so the servant expressed her gratitude. “Thank you, Miss Princeton.” “You’re welcome.” Melody went out to wash her hands. When she saw the servant coming out after cleaning the room, she reminded servant, “When Mr. Harper asks, please don’t tell him that I went into his room.

“After all, my marriage with Kenneth is already…” She lowered her head and looked a little sad. “In short, Kenneth and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. I don’t want to incur Mr. Harper’s wrath.” As Melody’s explanation was valid, the servants saw no reason to object. “Okay.” In fact, even if Melody didn’t remind her, she would still have kept mum.

After all, Mr. Harper had given strict instructions earlier that no outsiders were allowed to step into his room. If Mr. Harper found out someone had entered his room, all the servants would be in trouble.

Melody thanked her with a smile and returned to her room. The moment she stepped into her room, her smile vanished.

After that, she used the communicator Felix gave her to contact Scarface Lorenzo and she reported her findings. “The box you’re looking for is in Romeo Harper’s room. It’s hidden at the bottom of his bedroom closet.” The old man must have thought that the most dangerous place was the safest place and so he put it in the closet. He probably did not expect anyone to stumble upon his secret compartment and discover the secret within….

Lorenzo became very excited. He asked Melody again, “Are you sure you are not mistaken?” Melody then described what she saw. “The patterns on the box are very complex, and the color of the box is a little darker than the photo you showed me.” The voice on the other end of the communicator fell silent After a long while, Lorenzo’s slightly trembling voice was heard again. “Good, good. You did well. Master will reward you as promised.” With that, the communicator went silent. Melody sat on the bed and sighed heavily.

In this world, it was every man for himself. Even if she still felt a little soft–hearted towards Kenneth, what was the point of helping a man who didn’t want her? She might as well drag him down to hell with her!

Besides, Felix had promised her the reward she wanted after the task was completed. And the reward she wanted was to kill Tiffany Kelley with her own hands!

Only then could she give vent to the hatred in her heart. Melody’s face turned vicious, and her clear eyes were filled with deep hatred.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door and Alexia Harper’s voice rang out from outside. “Hey, have I’ve been calling out to you for so long. Are you deaf? Can’t you hear me?” Melody frowned at once and got up to open the door.

you died inside?

“Gosh, you’re still here? I thought you had left already. But you’re so brazen and still refuse to leave our house! You’re really shameless!” Alexia launched into a tirade.

She was wearing her school uniform so it was obvious that she had just returned from school. She was a young girl of school–going age, yet the things she said were downright unbecoming.

Melody snickered inwardly. ‘Go ahead and do your worst. Let’s see how long your family can remain smug!‘ So this bitch wanted to kick her out, did she? Well, since her mission was already completed, she would grant Alexia her wish.

Melody did not put on her usual pitiful pretense. Instead, she pushed Alexia aside brusquely and said cryptically, “Fine, I’ll leave now. But in the future… we won’t see each other again.” Alexia did not catch her underlying meaning. She continued railing at Melody. “Get lost quickly! Do you think I want to see you? It’s even better if I don’t see you anymore, in case I feel like puking when I see you!” Melody did not say anything else and stalked out. As she had come empty–handed, she had nothing to pack.

Alexia was somewhat surprised that Melody walked out of the villa in such a forthright manner.

In the past, this woman was such a shameless hanger–on who refused to leave. Yet today, she literally walked out after Alexia only said a few words. Things couldn’t be better.

With a wave of her hand, she instructed one servant, “Quickly set off some firecrackers to celebrate. We’ve finally gotten of this scourge!” rid The servant felt a little helpless. Before she could say anything, Alexia added, “Don’t forget the household fireworks too. Do it at once. Step on it!” Alexia was the Harper family’s pampered princess and had always done whatever she wanted. The servant had no choice but to do as Alexia instructed.

The firecrackers were quickly brought out. Alexia lit them herself before tossing them at Melody’s feet. She jeered loudly, “Whoever turns back is a sewer rat! Get lost now!” Melody never thought that Alexia could be so heartless. As the firecrackers started exploding all around her, she was so frightened that she screamed and fled. She could only rush into the safety of her car as quickly as possible.

After the car door slammed shut, the car shielded her from the crackling firecrackers outside. However, the car was shaking slightly from the exploding impact of the firecrackers. No doubt the car’s paintwork would be severely damaged as a result.

Even Melody’s body suffered some burns from the firecracker sparks.

She turned to look in Alexia’s direction, her eyes brimming with venomous hatred. ‘Just you wait,‘ she swore under her breath.

In a few days, she would personally strangle this bitch to death!

After swearing vengeance on Alexia, Melody drove off.

Unfortunately, Alexia didn’t catch sight of Melody’s expression which was hidden behind the car window. It would not make any difference even if she saw it. Such was her character that she would only make a face at Melody.

As Melody’s car gradually vanished, fireworks went off in the Harper family’s villa in broad daylight, but they soon died down.

****

In Lovell School, Tiffany Kelley was late for class today.

As for the reason… she couldn’t reveal it because she was simply too embarrassed. However, the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to kick herself.

She did not know what possessed her to go into the guest room to say good morning to Richard Hampton.

In the end, she was pushed onto the bed and the indescribable almost happened.

In the end, the man who nearly lost control had to dash into the bathroom to take a cold shower to quell the clamorous desire within his body.

Tiffany could still feel her face burning and her heart racing when she mulled over the incident now.

As she sat in the classroom and stared out of the window in a daze, the words that Richard whispered in her ear kept replaying in her mind. “We will be engaged in two days. I won’t hold back anymore after that.” For some inexplicable reason, she answered him, “Okay.”