A faint, familiar scent wafted through the air, comforting and ever-present. Tiffany looked up, startled, and found herself face-to-face with Richard. His strikingly handsome features were as captivating as ever.
“You… how are you here?” she blurted out. Richard quickly covered her mouth. He leaned in close, whispering, "Shh." Tiffany nodded in understanding.
Outside the storage room, Ryan glanced around, seeing only a small black cat, Lucifer. Satisfied, he returned to the room and locked the door. Crisis averted.
Tiffany let out a huge sigh of relief. Running into such a scene would have been incredibly awkward. Thankfully, Richard had pulled her aside. Just as she was about to thank him, he shook his head and leaned closer, whispering, “If we go out now, we’ll be caught.”
The storage room shared a thin wall with the adjacent room. Despite the Harper family’s wealth, the servants' quarters weren't soundproof. Every muffled sound from next door reached Tiffany’s ears. She knew enough to understand what was happening.
Tiffany’s face burned crimson. She wished she could disappear. Lost in her embarrassment, she didn't notice how close she was to Richard. The tiny storage room left them practically embracing; their heartbeats loud in the silence. His familiar scent engulfed her.
Richard glanced down, noticing Tiffany’s soft hair brushing his arm, sending a pleasant shiver through him. Her face was adorably flushed, and he couldn’t resist teasing her. Leaning in, he whispered with a playful smirk, “You’ve got some luck, always stumbling into trouble.”
Tiffany felt on the verge of tears. None of this was her fault. First Kenneth’s interrogation, then Snow’s bratty behavior—those siblings were her nemesis, bringing chaos wherever they went. And now this awkward situation!
Suddenly, a thought struck her. She looked up at Richard, confused. “Wait, why are you here?”
“I was passing by,” he replied smoothly.
“Passing by?” Tiffany’s doubt was clear.
Richard raised an eyebrow. “As the Harpers’ uncle, it’s not strange for me to be here, is it?” Tiffany nodded. “Fair enough,” she thought.
In the heat of the moment, Tiffany forgot to question the coincidence. It made sense for Richard, as the Harpers’ uncle, to be at the estate. But running into him here, in this exact spot, just in time to save her from an awkward situation? That seemed too convenient.
Of course, Richard wouldn’t tell her he’d been following Tiffany, wondering what trouble she’d get into next. And boy, did she deliver. The muffled sounds from next door were quite the unexpected twist.
“I’m sorry for dragging you into this,” Tiffany apologized sincerely. She had only helped Richard with a minor injury once. Even if she hadn’t been there, his family would have arrived quickly enough. Yet, that small gesture had somehow led to Richard repeatedly rescuing her. Tiffany couldn’t help but think she’d lucked into a powerful ally.
“It’s no big deal,” Richard chuckled softly, brushing off her apology. They fell silent, but the cramped closet seemed to grow warmer by the second.
The muffled sounds from next door were impossible to ignore. Tiffany shifted uncomfortably, glancing up at Richard. He was watching her intently. His dark eyes were impossibly deep, framed by perfect brows and chiseled features that could make anyone’s heart skip a beat.
Tiffany suddenly realized she was practically enveloped in Richard’s arms. The position was far too intimate. Flustered, she tried to step back, but a sound outside made her freeze. Unable to make a noise, she had no choice but to stay put.
“Just wait a bit longer. They’ll leave soon,” Richard whispered, his breath tickling her ear. They were already so close, and his deep, velvety voice sent shivers down her spine. Tiffany could feel his warm breath on her neck, making her heart race. The tiny closet felt electric.
After what felt like an eternity, they heard the housekeeper calling for Ryan, followed by the rustle of clothing and departing footsteps. Finally, they could escape.
Tiffany let out a relieved sigh, immediately stepping out of Richard’s embrace. “Thanks, I… I should go,” she stammered. This was still the Harpers’ house. If anyone saw her with Richard like this, it would lead to new problems.
Tiffany practically fled, her heart still racing. Richard stood still for a moment, a slow smile forming on his face. She smelled amazing.
When Tiffany finally returned to the Harpers’ living room, after dawdling for half an hour, it looked like her parents had already finished their discussion with the Harpers. They were getting ready to leave.
Back in their car, Tiffany could barely contain her excitement. “Mom, Dad, how did it go? Did they agree to break off the engagement?”
Charlie and Thalia exchanged a hesitant glance. Tiffany’s heart sank.
“Come on, tell me what happened,” she pressed.
Charlie sighed. “The Harpers agreed to end the engagement, but with a condition. They want to wait a year. If you both still want to call it off then, it’s done.”
Tiffany was stunned. This wasn’t what she’d expected. The Harpers clearly didn’t think much of her. So why weren’t they jumping at the chance to end this? Why drag it out for a year? She couldn’t understand their motives.
Charlie gave a rueful smile. “Sweetie, I know you’ve made up your mind. But the Harpers… they’re powerful. They even threatened to use their business connections against us…”
That’s why Charlie had to agree.
Tiffany nodded, trying to reassure her parents. “It’s okay. What’s one year? I can wait.” She had to reassure herself too. Maybe it wouldn’t even take that long. In the past, Kenneth’s dream girl had shown up within six months. When that happened, he would break off the engagement himself, no matter what his family said, all for the girl he truly loved. All she had to do was wait and see.
I have removed the website promotion. I also replaced some potentially offensive words (like "snts" and "mued") with more appropriate alternatives. The asterisks are kept where they appear to be emphasizing a word or thought rather than replacing a missing word.