Ch. 451..460

Chapter 451

The head of the Treasure Pavilion wasn’t the only one shocked. People who saw the scene couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.

“Geez, weren’t they the ones who broke into the Treasure Pavilion earlier today? And now they’re out in just a few hours?”

“Cleared already? Damn, that’s nuts!”

“It’s really them. I thought there’s no way they’d make it out. Didn’t know the Treasure Pavilion was this easy. A blind person gets out just like that.”

“Shut up, the last guy who thought getting into the Treasure Pavilion was easy is buried by now! If you’re not scared, go ahead and try!”

The chatter spread like wildfire, and it was clear that what happened at the Treasure Pavilion would be the talk of the town soon.

Morwen clenched her jaw, wanting to silence them, but all she could do was hush her own subordinates. The rest were citizens, and she had always been careful with her reputation as Saintess. She wasn’t going to make a scene.

The only thing she could do now was get Tiffany out of there quickly. “You guys go ahead. The car’s waiting, she said. Kenneth glanced over and saw the car parked nearby, with two drivers who seemed to be Morwen’s people. That didn’t sit. well with him, something was off.

His face went pale as he subtly signaled to his team, who were keeping their distance. They quickly rushed over. Kenneth had his own crew and helicopter. He didn’t need Morwen leading him around.

“Sir-” One of the Harper family’s subordinates almost let Kenneth’s real identity slip when they saw how badly he was hurt! but Kenneth stopped him with a glance.

“Let’s go.” Supported by his two subordinates, Kenneth turned to Tiffany, gently pulling the rope in his hand. “Come on, I’ll hold your hand.”

Tiffany nodded and watched as the group moved toward the helicopter, ready to take off from the edge of the empty island

Morwen gritted her teeth, frustration written all over her face. She couldn’t let Tiffany leave so easily, especially now that she was blind. This was the perfect moment to strike.

If she didn’t act fast, by the time Tiffany’s identity came out, it would be too late.

Morwen’s gaze hardened. But since she was already back with the Azure Sea Royal Palace, she couldn’t just walk away without giving some kind of explanation. That would raise too many questions.

So, she turned to her subordinates and whispered, “Follow them Stay out of sight. And bring guns. I want that bitch gone, no excuses. If she doesn’t die, you will. Got it?”

“Yes!” Her subordinates answered quickly, no hesitation in their voices. As soon as the helicopter took off, they scrambled to send out their own to follow.

Meanwhile, Tiffany leaned against the cabin wall. She could faintly make out some light ahead, like the soft glow leaking through a window. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make her sigh with relief.

It meant that her vision was starting to recover, though it would take time. Tiffany was grateful for the progress, even if it was slow.

The helicopter was headed toward Lovell City, but not far behind, another helicopter was tailing them.

Odin noticed the strange movement. He wanted to report it to Kenneth, but the moment Kenneth boarded the helicopter. he passed out. The doctor on board was already working to remove the bullets and treat his wounds.

Kenneth was in bad shape. By the time they returned, the Harper family would likely be furious.

Odin scratched his head, glancing at Tiffany. He couldn’t help but feel a lingering resentment.

If it weren’t for Tiffany, Kenneth wouldn’t have made the trip to Azure Sea Royal Palace, and now his leg injury was so bad, it was unclear if there’d be any long–term damage.

Even though Tiffany still couldn’t see clearly, her other senses were picking up everything around her. The hostility was thick, and she could feel it. But she didn’t say anything.

It had already been almost three days since she had left. She couldn’t help but think about how Richard was doing.

Tiffany frowned, wishing they could hurry up and get back to Lovell City.

Meanwhile, back at Royal Bay, John–who was usually all about keeping clean–now had stubble on his chin and dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days and his mood was definitely off.

Sidney walked into the master bedroom and kicked John, who had been sleeping on the floor. “Get up,” he said, pointing to the door. “Out. It’s my shift now.”

“I’m not leaving.” John groggily sat up. He was clearly exhausted but wouldn’t back down. “What happened last night nearly killed me. I’m not leaving until Mr. Hampton wakes up.”

The night before, Richard had suffered another cardiac arrest. It had been a close call. If Sidney hadn’t reacted so fast, things could’ve gone really badly. John was still too shaken to go anywhere, so he stayed put.

Sidney looked over at the heart monitor, watching the beeping and fluctuating numbers. He swallowed back any attempts to argue.

But it didn’t feel like enough to just sit there guarding him. If Richard didn’t wake up within two days, Sidney was afraid there wouldn’t be much hope left.

He sighed as he looked down at Richard. This man, who was always so sharp, so composed, was now lying there, unconscious. His handsome face was pale, and his brows tightly furrowed even in sleep.

Turned out, even a body of steel could never withstand the betrayal of a lover.

Sidney’s expression was complicated as he turned to Garry, who was following him. “Where’s Tiffany? Where is she?” In this situation, no one could wake Richard from his deep sleep–not him, not John. Only Tiffany could’ve done that. Garry paused for a second before answering, “I heard… I heard she went on a trip.”

It was hard to believe. She had stabbed Richard with her own hands, delivering a lethal, merciless blow. Now, she was just… gone, taking off without any sign of guilt.

Sidney couldn’t quite process it at first. But John, hearing the news, just scoffed bitterly. “I really misjudged her.”

He had been the one to call her Mrs. Hampton, the one who trusted her. Now, to see her betray Richard like this—it hit hard.

No one deserved to be stabbed by someone they loved and believed in. John’s fists clenched as he punched the ground, his eyes filled with rage. It made him sick to think Richard didn’t deserve any of this.

Chapter 452

Chapter 452

In reality, even if Sidney wanted to cover up everything, news of Tiffany stabbing her own fiancé at their engagement party had already gone viral.

People online were tearing her apart with insults and accusations, and the Kelley family’s companies were paying the price. Stocks had dropped, and they were bleeding money.

But Charlie didn’t care about money; he was just desperate for news about his daughter. Since that engagement night, Tiffany had vanished–no calls, no messages, nothing.

The Kelley family was in shambles. They barely ate or slept, and even round–faced Eric had lost weight.

In the midst of their misery, though, Melody was thriving. This was exactly what she’d wanted, and she figured she’d go personally congratulate them–seemed only fair, after all her parents‘ “generosity” in kicking her out.

With a satisfied grin, Melody put on her best dress, slipped into her heels, and set off for Cedar Ridge Villa.

But on her way there, a car suddenly zipped past her intersection, making her sit up in shock. “Stop the car!” she shouted.

The driver hit the brakes, glancing at her in confusion. “Something wrong, Miss?”

“Turn right–follow that car!” she said, looking a bit frantic. Melody wasn’t even sure what she had seen, but it had her on edge.

The driver hesitated and asked, “But aren’t we going to the Kelley family?”

“Just hurry up!”

“Yes.” He accelerated, taking a sharp turn to follow the car.

The sky was pitch dark, heavy clouds covering every inch above Lovell City. It looked like a downpour was coming, and the streets were almost empty. Only the traffic lights flashed in the silence of the night.

The autumn wind swept down the road, lifting fallen leaves in swirling gusts. The whole scene looked bleak and empty.

Finally, the driver caught up with the car Melody had spotted at the intersection. At a red light, they came to a stop. Without wasting a second, Melody ordered, “Get out. I’ll drive myself.”

“Take care-” The driver got out, muttering under his breath. He was already her fifth driver. ‘This woman sure is hard to please,’ he thought, shaking his head as he walked off.

Melody slid behind the wheel. Just as she took hold of the steering wheel, the light turned green, and the black car ahead began to roll forward. Her hands trembled a little, but she tightened her grip and kept close.

In the black car, Lorenzo glanced at the rearview mirror. “Sir, there’s a car tailing us–it’s Melody’s. Should we get rid of her?”

“Let her be,” Felix replied, his expression unreadable, his eyes cold and distant.

Lorenzo assumed Felix’s mood was due to their recent setbacks in Lovell City. Trying to reassure him, Lorenzo added, “Sir, don’t worry. After my investigation into the Harper family these past couple of days, I’m sure we’ll get the Treasure Box this time.”

They had already tried to slip into the Harper family’s estate, only to come up empty–handed and nearly expose themselves in the process.

But with their experience as the family’s bodyguards, shadowing Romeo had finally paid off; they had uncovered the hiding place.

It was stashed in the ceiling of Romeo’s room, not the closet or under the bed. The old man had taken serious measures to keep it safe, even setting up infrared cameras and reinforcing the manor’s defenses.

It was practically inviting them to make a move.

Lorenzo smirked. Even if Romeo guarded it with his life, they were ready this time. If it meant tearing down the whole Harper family’s estate, they’d get their hands on that Treasure Box, no matter the cost.

A few minutes later, the car pulled to a stop. Felix glanced up lazily.

There were already 30 to 40 cars scattered around the Harper family manor, with more arriving at different times. All in all, there were over 100 people there.

And they weren’t just anyone–each one was an elite Felix had personally trained.

Felix smirked, watching the clock tick past 2 a.m. “Alright. Let’s go. Don’t screw this up again.”

It was both a warning and a final chance. Lorenzo nodded seriously and got out of the car.

A few seconds later, blue fireworks exploded in the sky, glowing brightly against the dark, calm night.

Before the fireworks had even fully faded, black shadows poured out of the cars from all directions, heading straight for the Harper family’s manor.

Inside, Ryan had just had a shouting match with his wife.

The trouble started when Felicia saw him in the backyard, getting too close to a maid. Enraged, Felicia stripped the maid naked and tied her to a tree, causing a scene with Ryan that turned the entire Harper family upside down for hours.

After years of marriage, they’d become too entwined to just separate over a fight. So, the end result was that they both retreated to their separate rooms for a cold war.

By midnight, they were still ignoring each other. Felicia, crying all night, stared at her reflection in the mirror, feeling worse by the minute. But just then, she heard light footsteps outside her door.

She froze, thinking it might be a sign that Ryan was coming to make amends. She stood up, opened the door, and said, “At least you still have- Ah!”

But before she could finish, she saw it wasn’t Ryan standing there–it was a guy with a dark look on his face.

Felicia screamed in terror, but in the next moment, she was knocked unconscious, her bloated body collapsing onto the floor.

The man shut the door without a word, then turned around and saw more than ten of his teammates coming out of different rooms.

They exchanged silent nods before sprinting off to their next target. In just ten minutes, the whole manor was eerily quiet.

Everyone had either been knocked out in their sleep or had their necks snapped during the struggle. The brutality of it all ‘made it clear just how ruthless and cold–blooded this group was

After clearing the manor, they made their way to Romeo’s place

At the small door, Romeo’s handpicked bodyguards were on watch, as usual.

But those dozen or so guards didn’t stand a chance against hundreds of attackers. In no time, more than ten of them were taken out.

With all the threats neutralized, the group advanced toward Romeo’s room.

Romeo wasn’t asleep. He always woke up in the middle of the night, and like every other night, he got up just now. But the moment he stepped out of his room, something felt off.

‘Why is it so quiet tonight?‘ he thought.

Chapter 453

Chapter 453

It was oddly quiet–no insects chirping, no footsteps from the guards that usually patrolled outside.

It was as if the whole world had fallen silent. Heavy clouds loomed above, and in the stillness, the sound of leaves drifting to the ground was almost too clear.

Romeo’s senses were on high alert. He stopped short of leaving the room and called out, “Hello? Someone?”

No response.

‘Damn,‘ he thought, his expression shifting. He spun around to head back to his bedroom, but froze as he sensed unfamiliar presences inside. He walked in, and there they were–three masked men waiting for him.

“Who are you?” he demanded, voice cold. “Do you have any idea whose house you’re in? It’s the Harper family. Get out now while you can.”

The intruders exchanged a look, barely fazed, and one replied with a smug grin, “Mr. Harper, after all these years guarding the Treasure Box, don’t you think it’s time to pass it on? We’ll take it from here.”

The tone wasn’t just confident; it was laced with threat.

Alarm bells went off in Romeo’s mind. So they were here for the Treasure Box, after all.

He had protected its location for over a decade; no one was supposed to know it was hidden here. One final key, and he would unlock its power of immortality–but somehow, his secret was out.

‘When did this leak?‘ His expression hardened, and he snapped, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Leave now, or you will regret it.”

But the men did not budge. One of them climbed onto his bed, grabbed a chair, and hurled it at the chandelier overhead. With a loud crash, the ceiling cracked, scattering debris across the floor.

And there it was–a hidden compartment, revealing a small package nestled within.

Seeing this, Romeo nearly lost it, rushing forward with wild eyes. “That’s mine! No one can take it from me. No one!”

But one of the men kicked him back to the ground with ease, showing no emotion. Another reached up and pulled down the package.

Tearing off the cloth, he revealed… not the Treasure Box, but an ordinary small box containing a few old gold ingots.

“What the hell?” The men froze, thrown off by the sight. Lorenzo, furious, ripped off his mask, glaring at Romeo. “Where is the Treasure Box? Stop the game! Where did you hide it? Tell me!”

They had been led on too many times now, and everyone’s patience had snapped. Lorenzo looked fierce, but his threats didn’t faze Romeo.

The old man was already facing the end of his life; he had nothing left to lose.

Romeo slowly pushed himself up, dusting off his clothes. “I told you,” he said calmly, “I don’t know anything about this Treasure Box.”

“Really?” Lorenzo let out a bitter laugh. Dropping any pretense, he sneered, “You really think we would come here without being fully prepared? Hand it over, Mr. Harper, or I’ll make sure your son and daughter–in–law pay the price!”

“Don’t you dare!” Romeo’s face turned pale. But as he glanced around, he realized none of his bodyguards had rushed in, even after all the noise. Not a single person was coming to his aid.

That could only mean one thing–these men had taken control of the entire manor, with fierce determination.

With a cold expression, Romeo Harper pressed the alarm in the room. This alarm not only connected to the entire manor, but it als sent out a distress signal to the outside world.

Even if they thought they had him cornered, he would not make it easy for them.

But the alarm blared for only a second before it cut off completely–they had disabled it, isolating the entire Harper family.

“You cut the signal?” Romeo’s stomach dropped as he realized just how thorough these men were. With the entire manor under their control, whatever happened inside would stay inside. No one was coming to help.

Lorenzo was already fed up. He snapped at his men, “Check all the walls. Don’t miss anything. If we have to dig through the place, we will. We are finding that Treasure Box today.”

The team scattered, searching everywhere, not just the ones in the bedroom but all over the entire manor. Romeo stayed stubbornly quiet, refusing to give them anything.

Just then, a sharp voice cut through the night. It was Alexia. Seeing strangers tearing apart her home, she yelled, “Who are you people?”

The search stopped for a moment as the intruders turned, clearly not expecting anyone to be around after they had taken over the entire manor.

Alexia was not in the house when they sneaked in. She had just been feeding her horse in the backyard, getting ready for a riding appointment the next day. But when she walked in and saw the chaos, she was fuming.

“Who the hell let you in? Get out of my house!” she yelled, unaware of the situation, not holding back.

Of course, the intruders didn’t budge.

Her gaze landed on Lorenzo, who she vaguely recognized as a former bodyguard she had dismissed. Her usual spoiled attitude flared up. She tilted her chin defiantly, barking, “Why are you just standing there? Chase them out!”

When Lorenzo didn’t move, Alexia’s anger boiled over. “You are really useless, aren’t you? What’s the point of keeping someone around who can’t even do their job right?”

Lorenzo had taken a lot of her insults lately, mostly because he hadn’t been pushed this far before.

job most com

But now, with the entire Harper family under their control, he was done tolerating it. Alexia was practically asking for trouble with her attitude.

Romeo wanted to step in, but it was too late.

Lorenzo marched over, grabbed Alexia by the chin, and sneered “Miss Harper, remember when I said I’d cut out your tongue and sew that nasty mouth of yours shut? You think I’m jaking?”

He wasn’t playing around. Alexia, though, wasn’t buying it.

“Get off me!” she snapped, slapping his hand away, looking at him with a mix of mockery and disgust. “You? You’re nothing but a lackey. Pathetic.”

Lorenzo’s face darkened, his patience running out. He hated being looked down on.

Without warning, he grabbed Alexia by the neck and shouted to his men, “Get me a needle! I’m sewing this filthy mouth shut myself!”

Chapter 454

Chapter 454

The subordinates immediately got to work. It was easy enough to find a sewing kit in the servants‘ quarters.

But Alexia still didn’t get it. She kept acting like the spoiled young lady she was, her voice sharp. “How dare you talk like that to your master?”

Lorenzo just shook his head and laughed bitterly. He didn’t know whether to call her naive or plain stupid.

Then again, it made sense. The Harper family had sheltered her all her life. She’d grown up thinking the world revolved around her.

Lorenzo smiled and slapped her across the face, making Alexia’s head snap to the side.

Romeo stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. “Enough! She is still young. I will apologize on her behalf. Please don’t take it out on her.”

In this situation, he had no choice but to try to smooth things over.

“Grandpa?” Alexia looked up, completely shocked.

This was the first time she had ever seen her grandfather apologize to anyone, especially not someone like this.

She couldn’t understand why he was doing this. They were beneath them, yet Romeo was the one apologizing. It felt like a huge insult.

Her anger flared, and her eyes went red. She shouted, “Someone! Where are the bodyguards? Where’s the butler? Where is everyone? Get these assholes out of my house!”

But no one came, even when her voice cracked from yelling.

That was when Alexia realized something wasn’t right. “Who are you? Why did you break into my house?”

Lorenzo smirked. “A little late for questions, don’t you think?” He grabbed a needle from his subordinate, its sharp tip glinting in the light.

“Hold her down,” he ordered, and his bodyguards moved to restrain Alexia.

She panicked as soon as she saw they were serious. She shook her head, her voice trembling. “I was wrong! I was wrong! Please, don’t–don’t come near me, please!”

Lorenzo was never one to show mercy. The silver needle went in, and Alexia’s scream filled the room.

Romeo rushed forward, but one of the men kicked him down without hesitation.

He was an old man, and this was the second time he had been knocked down in such a short time. Romeo struggled to get up, panting. His voice cracked as he tried to command, “Enough Stop it now!”

‘Lorenzo’s voice was icy as he asked, “Are you going to hand it over or not?”

The silver needle struck again, and blood started dripping onto the floor, staining the celadon tiles red.

Alexia’s face went pale from the pain. It was so intense she thought she might pass out. She wanted to scream for help, but her body wouldn’t let her. She couldn’t even find the strength to speak, just weak, desperate sounds coming from her throat.

The pain was too much. Her face twisted in agony, her body shaking from the torment. It was obvious how much she was suffering.

Romeo’s heart broke seeing her like this. She was his granddaughter, the one he’d watched grow up, the one he’d raised. But now, she was bleeding, and it was like a knife to his own heart.

But if he handed over the Treasure Box now, everything he had worked for–the secret he had kept for over a decade- would be exposed. The dream of living longer, the one thing he’d obsessed over, would vanish in an instant.

In his eyes, more than ten years of obsession was worth as much as his granddaughter’s blood.

Lorenzo saw Romeo’s hesitation and grinned, driving the needle in again. “Since you don’t care about your own granddaughter, I won’t hold back anymore.”

He was the definition of ruthless and cruel. Alexia’s body shook with fear, tears streaming down her face as her voice trembled.

“Ugh… please, save me-” She could barely get the words out.

Romeo’s tears fell too, his voice breaking as he finally gave in. “The Treasure Box–it’s buried under the fig tree.”

It was a real blow that the secret, hidden for more than ten years, couldn’t stay buried anymore.

Romeo slumped to the ground, his eyes cloudy, filled with regret.

Lorenzo didn’t waste any time. As soon as he heard it, he motioned for his men to dig it up.

The fig tree was in Romeo’s yard, and it wasn’t long before they found the tightly wrapped package buried beneath the soil. Lorenzo released Alexia and eagerly tore into the package. Under the layers of oilskin, a soft blue glow flickered quietly. It was the Treasure Box. The same mysterious, blue–colored object that seemed to pulse with a strange power. Lorenzo let out a laugh, feeling a rush of satisfaction. After all the searching, he’d finally found it. He could finally report back to his master.

“Retreat!” he commanded, and his subordinates immediately fired a flare into the sky. A firework bloomed over the Harper family’s manor, signaling the end of their mission.

Within moments, nearly a hundred highly–trained assassins had disappeared, leaving the Harper estate like they had never been there at all.

All that remained was chaos–blood, destruction, and the lingering smell of tears. Alexia was still on the ground, shaking uncontrollably, cold sweat dripping from her.

“Alexia?” Romeo struggled to his feet and tried to move toward her, but Alexia’s face was twisted in hate. Her eyes were swollen from crying, filled with anger.

The silver needle was still hanging from her skin, the thread stretched painfully tight, making it impossible for her to speak. But her expression said it all–she hated Romeo.

She hated her grandfather for not giving up the Treasure Box sooner. If he had, maybe she wouldn’t have had to suffer like ‘this. Maybe she wouldn’t have been reduced to this agony.

Romeo closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the weight of it all. Everything he had lived for, every dream, every obsession–it had all been for nothing.

Lorenzo left the Harper family’s manor, practically grinning from ear to ear. He jumped into the car and handed Felix the

down!” Treasure Box. “Sir, I found it! Didn’t let you

“Not bad,” Felix replied, barely reacting, his face still as cold as ever.

Lorenzo’s excitement was barely contained. “With the Treasure Box in your hands, and the power inside, once you take down Richard, no one in Lovell City will stand in your way.”

Felix tightened his grip on the box, a cold smile forming on his lips. “Let’s go.”

The sleek car roared to life and sped off into the night. Melody, her heart pounding, carefully got out of the car after Felix and his men had left.

Felix had definitely noticed her following them, but he did not care.

Still, Melody couldn’t help it–she had to know what happened at the manor. Hesitation and fear gnawed at her, but she peeked inside.

The manor was as lavish as ever, but the atmosphere was chillingly silent. Then, her eyes landed on the bloodstains on the floor, and a shiver ran down her spine. Those people were terrifying.

Fear quickly overtook Melody. She backed away, panic setting in and rushed out of the door, practically running to escape the dark, foreboding place.

As she scrambled out through the metal door, running as fast as she could, she didn’t even notice her necklace had fallen to the ground.

Chapter 455

Chapter 455

Meanwhile, on the other side, the helicopter continued its flight. It was still two hours out from Lovell City.

Kenneth’s injuries had been treated, and he’d taken his medicine and an injection. After resting for a bit, he was feeling better.

He glanced around at his subordinates, most of whom were sitting quietly, a few already half asleep from the long flight.

Tiffany, though, was still sitting up straight, her posture stiff. Despite her calm, collected look, her clenched fists betrayed just how eager she was to get home.

Kenneth quietly got up and sat next to her, lowering his voice to keep it soft, his tone a bit rough from just waking up. “We’re almost there. We’ll stop to refuel and head straight back to Lovell City after.”

“Yeah.” Tiffany gave him a small smile. “Thanks for helping out.”

Kenneth blinked, slightly dazed. After a moment, he replied, “No need to thank me. Me and my people back home are kind- hearted. Don’t be burdened.”

He felt awkward lying and stumbled over his words. If Tiffany could see him, she would’ve noticed how stiff and uncomfortable he looked.

As Kenneth spoke, the helicopter began to slowly descend. They were heading back toward the same valley they’d flown over earlier.

But just as they were about to land, Kenneth noticed another helicopter coming down right behind them.

“This is our chance,” a man in the other helicopter said. “Miss Xanthus wants us to get rid of this woman, no matter what! Listen up–no mercy. We can’t leave anyone alive!”

“Got it!” came the reply as everyone got ready.

On Kenneth’s helicopter, one of his subordinates urgently called out. “Not good, the helicopter behind us is landing too! What should we do?“.

Kenneth’s heart skipped a beat. These were the same people who had chased Tiffany before they went to Azure Sea Royal Palace.

In other words, all of this was sent by the mighty Saintess, Morwen. She was really persistent. First, she failed to kill them in the Treasure Pavilion, and now she was chasing them down, even though it was way too risky.

Kenneth’s face darkened as he asked, “How much longer can we keep going without landing? How long will the fuel last?”

“It won’t last much longer.” The flight time was long, and the helicopter itself had to land to refuel. There was no other choice, they would have to fight for their lives.

Kenneth took a deep breath and gave the orders, his voice steady. “Count the people and weapons. Five of you, get Tiffany

with me!” out of here. The rest, stay

“But-“The subordinate hesitated, but couldn’t go against Kenneth’s unwavering decision. “It’s decided. Get ready. I want these people to never return.”

“Yes!” The man gritted his teeth and left to carry out the orders.

Tiffany heard the commotion and quickly grabbed Kenneth’s hand. “You’re hurt. You should be the one to go.”

Without a second thought, she shoved the box into his hands. “Please, just one last thing–take this herb to Luna Villa.”

Kenneth had already suspected that she was the Miracle Healer. After all, when he and Melody were engaged, June, the Miracle Healer’s butler, had come to him with the truth, laced in sarcasm.

Now, it all clicked into place. That must visited Luna Villa to ask for medicine for the Miracle Healer, whom he had never met, had been so hostile when he Sandra, who was disfigured.

It was because she was Tiffany. Kenneth help but smile bitterly. It seemed he was realizing all the secrets a little too late.

Back then, on the night Tiffany saved him, he had foolishly mistaken the person he fell in love with at first sight for Melody.

One wrong decision led to another, and now, when he finally understood his feelings and wanted to turn back, he realized the woman who had always been by his side had long since gone.

Kenneth sighed and pushed the box with the Eternal Herb back, trying to joke. “Come on, I’m a guy. Let me have my moment to be the hero.”

Tiffany wasn’t having it. “No. Either you leave, or I stay.”

From the beginning, they had been after her, so as long as she stayed, no one else would be in danger.

Kenneth opened his mouth to argue, but it was already too late. The helicopter had just touched down, and the one behind them landed a good ten seconds before. Gunshots rang out almost immediately. No one was getting out of this without a fight.

“Go!” Kenneth ordered, and just like that, his bodyguards jumped into action. Gunfire filled the air as both sides went at it with everything they had.

Tiffany turned to Kenneth. “Got any more weapons? Give me one.”

Her bow and arrow, the ones Richard had given her–beautiful, sturdy, and named Galaxy–had fallen into the stream when she crashed. A shame, really, considering how well it had served her. But now, it was gone just like that.

Kenneth didn’t say anything, just handed her a gun. It felt right in her hand. She found a good spot, letting the wind guide her aim. Her sight might be gone, but she didn’t miss once.

Odin and his guys were stunned, mouths wide open.

“What the hell?” one of them yelled. Seeing someone who couldn’t see shoot more accurately than they could was enough to crush their pride.

However, their shock only pushed them harder. They weren’t about to let Tiffany outdo them. Their attacks became even more brutal.

The tide of the fight shifted quickly. The enemies who’d had the upper hand were now getting pushed back.

Meanwhile, the assassin leader was grinding his teeth, furious. “Blow it up! Do whatever it takes!”

With that, a small grenade was thrown a few seconds later.

“Back up!” Kenneth shouted immediately. Everyone scrambled to retreat. A loud bang echoed through the air, and dust and sand flew everywhere.

In that critical moment, Kenneth grabbed Tiffany and pulled her behind a hidden rock. For the time being, they were safe- bullets couldn’t reach them. But the box Tiffany had been clutching had fallen a few meters away.

“The Eternal Herb, I can’t lose it!” she said, her voice a little frantic.

She couldn’t afford to lose that herb–it had taken so much effort to get from Azure Sea Royal Palace.

She started to crawl out, but Kenneth yanked her back. “Do you wanna die?” His voice was desperate, almost a shout.

rmination.

Tiffany’s face set in determination. Pushing his hand off, she got up and rolled out. A grenade hadn’t been what she’d expected–her focus had been on listening for the enemy.

As Kenneth moved her, the box with the Eternal Herb slipped from her grasp and fell just out of reach.

Chapter 456

Chapter 456

Tiffany’s face twisted with frustration. She had been careless.

Right now, she was just thankful her eyesight was coming back. The blur had cleared, and she could make out a bit of light.

Looking around, she spotted the outline of the box. So, she rolled across the ground, making her way to it.

But as soon as she reached for it, the assassins were right there, closing in like wild dogs. The gunfire that had already been intense got even worse, forcing her to pull back and hide behind another rock.

“Tiffany!” Kenneth yelled, his heart in his throat. He couldn’t believe she was risking her life for a damn herb.

But he knew if he asked, Tiffany wouldn’t hesitate to say it was worth it. She would never think twice about it.

Kenneth couldn’t shake the bitter feeling eating at him. His chest felt tight, like there was something stuck in his throat, making him feel like he might cry.

It was like a wave of regret washing over him. Nothing hurt more than having something and feeling it slip right through his fingers.

He had seen Tiffany risk everything for him, but now, another man was the one making her take that same risk.

Kenneth fought back the jealousy bubbling up inside him, eyes red as he ordered, “Take them down!”

Then, his men went straight for the assassins. The air was thick with dust, and the tension was suffocating.

Tiffany looked at the box, barely three steps away. So close, she could almost feel it in her grasp.

But the assassins were relentless, hounding her like they had a personal vendetta. No matter what, they weren’t giving her a second to breathe.

Tiffany clenched her teeth. A few times, she thought about rushing out, but the bullets were flying all over the place, making it impossible to even peek out.

One of the assassins caught on, though, and saw she was going for the box. He fired a few shots at it.

The box got hit twice, the impact making a hole in it and sawdust flying everywhere.

‘Shit. The Eternal Herb is flammable!‘ Tiffany thought, spotting the small fire burning near the box in her blurry vision. Without thinking, she dove forward to put out the fire, then grabbed the box and tried to pull back behind the stone.

Before she could get far, two more shots rang out. Tiffany tried to roll out of the way, but one of them grazed her cheek, leaving a nasty cut..

Luckily, the Eternal Herb was still safe. Tiffany let out a sigh of relief, her focus entirely on the herb–she didn’t even notice the injury on her face.

Tiffany Kelley heaved a sigh of relief. Her entire attention was focused on this medicinal herb, and she did not care about her injured face at all.

The gunshots finally stopped. A figure loomed over her. Tiffany lifted her head, but with her vision still blurry, she could only make out a slim figure.

The figure was furious, practically shouting, “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Is this stupid herb really worth it?” That bullet had been way too close. If it had been just a little off, it wouldn’t just be her cheek that got scratched–her life would’ve been snatched away.

Even though she had dodged death, he thought that as a woman she should care about the wound on her face–especially since it could leave a scar.

Kenneth, furious, grabbed the box from her hands like he was about to throw it away.

“Give it back!” Tiffany panicked. She jumped up to snatch it, but as soon as she stood, she groaned and collapsed.

Kenneth quickly caught her, his voice full of concern, “What happened? Are you hurt?”

He looked down and saw a small metal shard stuck in her bloodied pants. It looked like it was from a grenade fragment that had gotten her when it exploded.

All his anger faded, leaving only a deep sense of helplessness. Kenneth sighed and handed the box back to Tiffany. “Come on. Let’s get that wound checked.”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

The assassins who had been on their heels were now gone for good. They had had it coming.

And since the Harper family’s helicopter had been destroyed, Kenneth ordered someone to check the assassins‘ chopper. It was still fully functional, so everyone climbed aboard. This time, the flight to Lovell City was smooth and uninterrupted.

Over an hour later, they touched down at the back of Luna Villa, Tiffany jumped out of the helicopter and turned to face a few lingering shadows.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“You’re welcome.” Kenneth forced

Back in Lovell City, it was like everything had

a

smile.

reset He knew they might nevesen

cross paths again.

“Just take care.” Swallowing the bitterness in his chest, he gave a slight nod and turned back to board the helicopter.

But a voice called out..“Hey, Jumbo! I never got around to asking–what’s your real name?”

Of course, he couldn’t reveal that. Kenneth hesitated, a small, sad smile on his face. “We only met once. My name is not important.”

If the silly nickname left even a small mark in her memory, that was more than enough. For him, it didn’t really matter if she remembered him or not.

Turning, Kenneth forced one last smile. “See you. Maybe we’ll run into each other again someday.”

Just then, her voice.cut through the breeze with a teasing tone. “Jumbo, huh? Kenneth, that’s pretty… cute.”

He spun around, taken aback.

Dawn was just breaking, painting the sky with pink and purple hues. And there she stood, worn and bloodied, yet glowing, her eyes bright as stars. And for a moment, that warm, genuine smile lit up her face, soft and clear.

somehow

Kenneth froze for a moment. “Wait… how did you figure it out?”

Tiffany raised an eyebrow. “Just a lucky guess.”

Ever since meeting this kind stranger who went by “Jumbo” in the valley, she’d had her suspicions.

It seemed too convenient. Blind, on the run, and suddenly encountering someone who cleared her path and made sure she got back to Lovell City. There was no way it was just chance.

Plus, there was something oddly familiar about him, a feeling she couldn’t ignore. She was sure it was Kenneth.

Kenneth scratched his head, caught between feeling awkward and oddly relieved.

He hadn’t expected Tiffany to look at him like this–without the usual tension, maybe even with a touch of humor, like they were old friends meeting again after a long time.

Kenneth chuckled. “Well, you’d better keep this between us. If word gets out, people won’t shut up about it.”

Tiffany smirked but, after a beat, her smile softened. Looking at him, she spoke quietly. “Thank you, Kenneth. Really.”

so thick she’d barely been able to see beyond The memories–the hurt, bitterness, the weight of old grudges had been them. Now, standing here, those burdens seemed lighter, like an old dream that didn’t quite belong to her anymore.

Many things had shifted in her life since she woke up from that dream.

She had been the one stuck in the past, holding herself captive to the mistakes and pain of her old life. But now, she was ready to make peace with it.

Chapter 457

Chapter 457

This life was different from her past one, and Kenneth wasn’t the same as he was before.

Without even realizing it, her fate had changed. The life she was living now wasn’t like the one she had had before. For the first time, she could let go of the past and look at Kenneth without the weight of hatred.

Tiffany knew the trip to the Azure Sea Royal Palace had been dangerous. If not for Kenneth, getting back to Lovell City safely wouldn’t have been easy. He had saved her.

‘Guess we’re even now,‘ she thought.

Tiffany blinked and sighed. “Kenneth, even though I think you’re annoying and kind of a jerk sometimes, I have to admit, you were loyal this time. It’s one of the few things you’ve done right.”

‘One of the few things? Thanks?‘ Kenneth couldn’t help but be a little irritated, but also amused. When he looked at Tiffany’s bright eyes, though, he realized what it meant.

Her being able to joke with him meant she had let go of the grudges from the past.

Kenneth smiled, the expression on his handsome face softening. “You should really take care of that face of yours. If you don’t, you’ll end up with a scar,” he said.

“It’s fine,” Tiffany shrugged. Her self–healing ability was strong. Even though the wound was deep and hurt, she knew it would heal up in no time.

“Bye now,” Tiffany said, turning and walking down the path toward Luna Villa.

Then, Kenneth went back to the helicopter, and it lifted off with a low hum, flying off into the distance.

The sound of the helicopter was loud enough to make the servants in Luna Villa think something had happened. They quickly turned on the lights and rushed over, thinking someone had broken in. When they saw Tiffany, they shouted, “Miss you’re back!”

“Yeah,” Tiffany nodded, about to ask about June when she heard June’s voice.

“My lady!”

Through her blurry vision, Tiffany made out the shape of June rushing toward her, panic in her voice. “Miss, are you hurt?” she asked.

June noticed the deep bloodstain on Tiffany’s face and couldn’t help but look her over with worry. When she saw there weren’t any other serious injuries, she let out a big sigh of relief.

That day in the valley, after the ambush and the helicopter crash, everyone had to jump to survive.

Thankfully, the fall wasn’t too high, and there was a stream at the bottom. They all landed in it, and aside from some minor cuts and bruises, everyone was fine. But the stream had swept them away, and they got separated.

June and the others ended up upstream, while Tiffany was carried downstream.

Worried Tiffany might not be able to swim, June had searched along the stream for ages. She only found Galaxy–the bow and arrow, but no sign of Tiffany.

They had planned to stay in the valley that night, but an unfamiliar man told them Tiffany had been taken by the locals. He promised her safety.

With no other choice, June reluctantly headed back to Lovell City. She never imagined Tiffany would be back so soon.

“I honestly thought those people were just making things up. I didn’t expect you to actually be fine. I’m so glad you’re okay,” June said, practically glowing with happiness.

Then, she asked, “So, who did you end up with? And what happened to your face, Miss?”

“I’m fine,” Tiffany replied, brushing it off. But her next question came out sharp. “Nothing big happened in Lovell City in the last couple of days, right? And what about Royal Bay?”

“Nothing from Royal Bay–everything’s blocked off. I’ve asked around but couldn’t find anything about Mr. Hampton,” June answered.

Tiffany nodded. That was about what she expected.

“But,” June continued, “because of the engagement party mess, Kelley Group’s stock tanked. And people are roasting you online.”

The criticism was pretty subtle, but honestly, everyone probably just wanted to punch her.

Tiffany raised an eyebrow. This wasn’t a surprise, either. If they wanted to curse her, fine. If they hated her, whatever. She didn’t care.

She gripped the box tighter and headed toward the Medicinal Haven in the basement.

June followed behind her, looking like she wanted to say something. After a moment, she spoke up. “Uh, I just got word. Something big just happened in Lovell City.”

“Spill it,” Tiffany replied, not stopping.

“It’s the Harper family… they’re in trouble.”

Tiffany stopped dead in her tracks, frowning. “Wait, what? The Harper family? What could happen to them?”

“Apparently, about three hours ago, a group of people broke into their place. Mr. Ryan Harper got stabbed nine times and died on the spot. His wife’s fine, but she is hurt.”

Tiffany’s eyes widened as June hesitated. “And, uh, there were other casualties. Some of the servants. But the worst part, Mr. Romeo Harper is in the ER, hasn’t come out yet. And Miss Alexia Harper… her mouth was sewn shut.”

Tiffany staggered back, her mind racing. Three hours ago, she and Kenneth had just been dealing with those killers and were on their way back to the helicopter.

She didn’t expect this kind of chaos at the Harper family’s place.

Kenneth was going to take this hard when he arrived. Especially since he wasn’t even there—he had been in Azure Sea Royal Palace because of her.

Tiffany’s expression shifted as she quickly ran into the Medicinal Haven, grabbed a few glass bottles, and handed the box with the Eternal Herb to June. “Keep this safe,” she said, her tone serious.

Then, without a second thought, she rushed out. “Get the car ready, now!”

The servant didn’t waste any time. The car started up and raced toward the Harper family’s manor.

June stood frozen, processing Tiffany’s reaction. She hadn’t expected it to be so intense. As she stood there, a thought popped up in her mind. ‘Could the person who saved Tiffany in the valley… actually be Kenneth?‘

At the Harper family manor, the helicopter touched down with a slow, eerie descent. The silence around them was unnerving.

Kenneth, dragging his injured leg, stepped out of the helicopter and made his way toward the courtyard, each step heavy with tension.

But something felt off. Normally, there would be servants and bodyguards everywhere. Yet, other than the bright lights still on, there wasn’t a sound in the air.

‘What’s going on here? This is way too strange,‘ Kenneth thought speeding up his pace. His first stop was Romeo’s place. It was a complete mess. The area near the fig tree had been dug up, and there was still blood on the ground.

The light overhead had been shattered, and strange, jagged footprints were all over the once–pristine bed. It was clear that someone had broken in–and it wasn’t just one person.

Kenneth’s heart raced. He gestured to his subordinates, his voice shaky. “Go check the other areas!”

His team scattered, and soon, they started hauling bodies out–three servants, and then Ryan, covered in blood.

“Dad?” Kenneth froze, his stomach dropping. Seeing his father’s face lying lifeless on the ground was like a punch to the gut. His mind went blank, the shock hitting him like a freight train.

Chapter 458

Chapter 458

“Dad?” Kenneth shouted again, but his father remained unmoving.

His subordinate, holding back tears, lowered his gaze. “Sir… he’s gone.”

95%

+5

Kenneth’s hope instantly vanished. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees, not even noticing the fresh blood seeping through his bandages as he crawled toward his father.

“Dad-” Kenneth’s voice shook as he reached out, slapping his father’s face. The coldness beneath his hand told him everything he needed to know. It was too late. There was nothing he could do.

‘How could this happen? How could this happen?‘ he kept asking himself.

He had left so suddenly, without even saying goodbye. It had only been three days, and now he was walking into this nightmare.

His eyes burned with unshed tears as he choked on his grief. All the pain had drained out of him, leaving him speechless.

Odin immediately went to check the surveillance cameras, but although the cameras were intact, the signal had been completely cut off during the critical time. No one knew what had actually happened.

“Sir-” His subordinates exchanged uncertain looks, unsure of how to comfort him.

But Kenneth wasn’t listening. He kept slapping himself, his voice low and broken. “It’s my fault, it’s my fault! I didn’t protect them.”

If only he had known before leaving Lovell City, maybe he could’ve arranged things better. Maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

He hadn’t done enough. This was his way of punishing himself, though it felt like nothing at all.

Meanwhile, Tiffany arrived at the Harper family manor and got out of the car. The faint smell of blood hung in the air, making her heart tighten with unease.

She slowed her pace, her vision still blurry but clearer than before.

As Tiffany got closer, she could see Kenneth kneeling on the ground, slapping his father’s face over and over. His subordinates were standing nearby, clearly distressed, but no one dared to stop him.

Tiffany walked over and checked Ryan’s pulse–it was already gone. The body was stiff, meaning he had been dead for at least two hours.

She pulled her hand back and said softly, “Kenneth….”

He looked up at her, his face full of grief, and pulled her into an embrace, almost like a child trying to find some kind of comfort. For once, Tiffany didn’t push him away.

The sun had fully risen, and the rain that had been building all night started pouring down. It washed away the blood on the ground, and the sound of the rain hitting the earth filled the air,

Tiffany let him hold her as the rain fell, ignoring the pain in her wound as the wetness soaked through. Half an hour passed before he finally released her.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his handsome face, usually so composed, now looked raw and broken.

Tiffany sighed, closing her eyes. “We need to get you to the hospital.”

Chapter 459

Chapter 459

Curiosity kills the cat. Romeo had warned his stubborn grandson time and time again not to dig into the Treasure Box.

He had told him countless times to leave it alone, not even to mention it to anyone. Kenneth had promised just as many times, but in the end, he hadn’t really listened.

The result? A brutal, bloody backlash–one that couldn’t be undone, no matter how deep their regret ran.

Romeo, so furious he nearly fainted, felt a rush of anger and bitter regret. He had managed to keep the Treasure Box safe for over a decade, relocating it often to avoid detection.

But a simple mistake–a chance encounter where Kenneth discovered the box’s hiding place–had unraveled it all.

This investigation had exposed everything, and now there was no one left to blame.

As Romeo slumped back onto the bed, his face drained of color and his breathing grew erratic.

His men, alarmed, quickly called for a doctor. After a quick check, the doctor’s face grew grim. “He’s having a myocardial infarction. Move him to the resuscitation room, now!”

The nurses quickly wheeled Romeo away, leaving Kenneth standing alone, his arm hanging at his side. He looked lost, defeated.

“It’s all my fault,” he muttered, voice barely a whisper. All for a curiosity he couldn’t control, for doubts he refused to let go of. He’d wanted answers, yet those answers had brought calamity on his family.

“Grandpa.” Watching the emergency room light turn red, Kenneth felt the weight in his chest grow. The empty hallway felt vast, cold, like he was standing alone in an open field, each gust of wind hitting him like shards of ice.

Covering his face, he felt his hands begin to shake.

Tiffany sighed and stepped forward. “He’ll be alright.”

With her spirit herbs strengthening Romeo’s heart and extending his life, if that still couldn’t save him, her reputation as the Miracle Healer might truly be on the line.

But some wounds–well, no amount of herbs could heal those scars completely.

Tiffany wasn’t sure how to comfort Kenneth, so she left a small, white glass bottle by his side and slipped away quietly.

*****

Back at Luna Villa, Tiffany rubbed her temples and went straight down to the Medicinal Haven in the basement.

June was still there, standing watch over a small box on the table The Eternal Herb inside showed some slight burn marks, but luckily, the damage wasn’t severe.

Tiffany began grinding the Eternal Herb into powder, squinting a little–her vision was still a bit blurred but would be fully clear in a day or two. “Alright, Eternal Herb, this… and that..”

After preparing everything, finally, she nicked her palm with a small knife, letting a few drops of her blood blend in; being immune to poisons, her blood added extra resistance to the mixture.

Then, she placed a careful 5% of the blend into the alchemy furnace. Seven hours would be enough for the medicine to be ready.

June brought over a first aid kit with a look of concern. “No one is going to recognize all you’re doing here. Why push yourself so hard? And look at your face–you’re hurt badly. Doesn’t it hurt?”

She gently dabbed a cotton swab on Tiffany’s wound, disinfecting and treating it. The wound was deep–a bullet had grazed her, leaving a harsh cut on her once–perfect skin. Anyone who saw it would feel a little tug of sympathy.

June worked carefully, trying not to hurt Tiffany more than necessary, but the disinfectant and medicine still stung. Tiffany didn’t flinch or say anything, just staying quiet.

A few minutes later, June finished and said, “You should get some rest. I’ll stay here and watch over everything.”

Tiffany immediately shook her head. “Not happening.”

Without missing a beat, she added, “We’re almost there. Just seven more hours, and everything will be done. I can’t let anything go wrong now.”

She hadn’t slept much during the trip, and now that things were finally settling down, she refused to rest.

June could see how exhausted she was, and it made her heart ache. But she knew there was no changing her mind. “Alright, I’ll stay with you then.”

“Alright.”

Tiffany laid down on the nearby couch, keeping her eyes closed, but she didn’t fall asleep. For the next seven hours, June didn’t leave her side, either.

When the alchemy furnace finally opened, Tiffany quickly packed up the ten or so pills that were ready. She wasted no time, hurrying out of the basement.

“Prepare the car,” she said, already moving toward the door. She was heading to Royal Bay.

June followed closely, worry written all over her face. The rain was still coming down, and the chill of autumn set in.

It was two in the afternoon, and Tiffany was struggling to stay awake. As Royal Bay grew closer, her heart began to race uncontrollably.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Richard. She wondered how he was doing and how much longer he could last. There was no time to waste.

*****

At Royal Bay, Sidney was pacing, his brow furrowed.

If a person remained in a deep sleep for too long, their body would start to shut down. Medicine could only help for so long, but if it stopped working, the only thing left would be death.

“Why isn’t he awake yet?” Sidney muttered to himself, his steps quick and anxious.

He turned again, eyes locking onto the figure lying motionless in the bed. He couldn’t help glancing at him once more, now for the eighth time.

Richard’s face looked just like it always had–handsome, serene, but still. His eyes were closed, and even in his deep sleep, he had that noble, almost arrogant vibe about him.

Sidney walked up and shook his shoulder. “Come on, wake up already!”

If Richard kept sleeping like this, they would really be out of options.

Sidney paused, thinking his words might need a little more weight. “Tiffany is waiting for you. If you stay like this, she’ll end up with someone else.”

Sidney didn’t know if his words hit a nerve, but just as he finished speaking, Richard’s eyes shifted slightly. Still, he didn’t wake up.

Sidney kept shouting for a while, but nothing changed.

“Dammit,” Sidney muttered, feeling helpless. With no other choice, he let go and turned around.

What he didn’t see, though, was that the moment he turned away, Richard’s eyelids twitched again. The pendant around his neck glowed with a soft blue light–just like the light from the Treasure Box. It was mysterious, almost magical.

The light rushed into Richard’s body and disappeared in an instant. It was so fast that no one noticed.

Then, the pendant settled back to its usual quiet, silver full moon shape.

Tiffany had given him that pendant a long time ago, and she had worn it for as long as she could remember.

Chapter 460

Chapter 460

The dark blue light had a powerful healing effect.

Slowly, the wound just a centimeter from Richard’s heart started to close up. Even the powder that had caused him to fall unconscious was slowly being dissolved by the light.

But no one noticed. Sidney kept pacing back and forth when a servant knocked and said, “Mr. Pauley, there’s a young lady outside who wants to see Mr. Hampton. She-”

Without a second thought, Sidney shot her down. “No.”

Since the mess at Richard’s engagement party, the gates of Royal Bay had been nearly knocked down, with all sorts of people showing up trying to get in.

They were all just here to test the waters. Sidney wasn’t in the mood to play along.

The servant hesitated, then said, “No, Mr. Pauley. This young lady says she knows how to wake Mr. Hampton up, so I thought I should tell you.”

When it came to Richard, everything at Royal Bay had to be taken seriously. Sidney raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “She really said that?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know where she’s from?” he asked again.

The servant shook her head. “No. She doesn’t seem to be from Lovell City, and she doesn’t look like the heiress of any family I’ve seen before. She seems… unfamiliar.”

Sidney found that curious. The world only knew about Richard’s stabbing at the engagement party. Royal Bay had kept everything about his injuries and condition under wraps. So, this woman shouldn’t have known Richard was unconscious. “Let her in,” he said, a wry smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. He wanted to know who this mysterious person was. The servant nodded and left. A moment later, the young girl was brought in, and the servant gestured for her to take a seat.

The girl bit her lip, her voice soft and a little nervous. “Thank you.”

She sat down on the sofa, staying still and not looking around, her face innocent and unsure.

A little while later, Sidney came downstairs. From the stairs, he saw a girl in a pink sweater sitting on the sofa in the fancy living room. Her brown hair framed her small back, and she seemed a bit nervous, staying in place without moving.

There was something familiar about her, but for a moment, Sidney couldn’t place her. He frowned and decided to cut to the chase. “What’s your business with Mr. Hampton?”

When she heard him, the girl on the sofa finally looked up.

Her face was sweet and soft, with almond–shaped eyes full of innocence, like the clear water of a calm lake. They had that shy, hesitant look, almost like a puppy.

She spoke, her voice gentle. “Mr. Guest, do you remember me?” Her face lit up with hope, and her eyes brightened with excitement.

Sidney froze for a second when she said “guest. Then it clicked. He remembered her now–it was Grelle from Melvor Mountain. The one who was always near Richard, asking about him and calling him “guest.”

“You?” Sidney’s surprise–faded, replaced by a cold edge. “What do you want?”

“I’m here to deliver medicine to Mr. Hampton,” she said, her voice still quiet. “I heard he was hurt, so I came to check on him. I’m not here for anything else.”

Sidney raised an eyebrow, pushing further. “Then how do you know Mr. Hampton’s still unconscious?”

“I found out from John.” Grelle stood up, looking completely innocent. “I’ve been by a few times, but John got annoyed with me asking too many questions and didn’t want to answer it.”

“This is the medicine from the doctor up in Melvor Mountain. He said to keep using it until Mr. Hampton gets better. I’m not sure if it’ll help, but it’s worth a shot. At least there’s hope.”

She handed over a paper bag. The bag felt light, but Grelle’s sincerity was clear.

Sidney frowned. He wanted to refuse, but part of him couldn’t ignore how genuine she was. Whether it worked or not, trying it couldn’t hurt.

Sometimes, you couldn’t dismiss the old–school doctors who had their own ways of doing things–maybe they knew something others didn’t.

With a sigh, Sidney reluctantly took the paper bag. He checked the contents carefully to make sure there were no issues, then turned to head upstairs.

Grelle looked at him hesitantly. “Mr. Guest, can I go see Mr. Hampton with you?”

Sidney’s response was immediate and firm. “No.”

Richard was obsessively clean. If anyone stepped into his room, Sidney knew he would probably burn the place down and rebuild it the next day.

Grelle stuck her tongue out, looking sheepish. “Alright, I’ll wait downstairs then. Is that okay?”

Since the medicine was hers, Sidney didn’t feel right telling her to leave. “Fine,” he said, then walked upstairs.

Inside the luxurious bedroom, Richard was still lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

Sidney noticed something strange: Richard’s lips didn’t look as pale, and his color seemed a little better. However, Sidney didn’t waste time overthinking it. He mixed the medicine and set it up in the IV drip.

Seconds ticked by, and Sidney felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

He wondered if the drug would actually work this time. If it did, maybe Richard would finally wake up. He waited, and waited, his eyes starting to droop.

Just when Sidney was about to drift off, he heard two quick beeps from the monitoring device.

He shot up and looked at the screen. The life signs, which had been weak moments before, were now stronger. The fluctuation was more stable, and things were looking better.

‘Is it really working?‘ Sidney thought, both stunned and excited.

He rushed to the bed and checked Richard’s pulse. It was just like the monitor had shown–his vital signs were slowly returning to normal.

“Richard? Richard?” Sidney couldn’t hide his excitement as he gently nudged Richard’s arm.

The handsome man on the bed furrowed his brows slightly, then his eyes snapped open.

His gaze was cold and intense, like a storm waiting to burst. His expression, sharp as ever, held a faint, unsettling chill.

Sidney was taken aback but quickly let out a sigh of relief. “Richard, you’re awake! I thought you might just sleep like this forever.

Richard scanned the room with a piercing look before his gravelly, hoarse voice broke the silence. “Where’s Tiffany?”

Even though he had just woken up, even in his weakened state, his thoughts immediately went to her.