Tiffany’s heart softened immediately.

“It’s obvious!” Tillany said.

“Who cares? I’ll coax him first,” Tiffany thought.

“I don’t doubt you! I’m not mad either!” Tiffany said impulsively.

Tiffany was stunned by her own words. She thought, “That’s not right. Who am I mad at? Why am I mad? It sounds like I’m jealous!”

Dumbfounded, Tiffany fell silent.

Richard chuckled lightly. His laughter, intoxicating like that of a slightly inebriated man, drifted gently on the breeze. Tiffany looked at him, seeing a flash of light in his eyes—a vast galaxy.

The bright moon and cold breeze were alluringly beautiful. Tiffany was once again amazed, but also angry and frustrated. She muttered softly, “What’s the point of being so good-looking? You must have incurred a lot of love debts…”

The river wind strengthened. Most passersby and tourists had left, leaving only a few couples enjoying the breeze together.

After seeing what she wanted, Tiffany said, “Let’s go back.”

“Okay,” Richard replied.

Just as they were about to leave, a long, thin steel nail silently flew from the darkness of a nearby jungle, aimed at Tiffany’s back. Richard whirled, hugging Tiffany protectively. He glanced at the flying nail, his handsome face hardening into a cold, demonic expression, his aura sharp and arrogant. The nail, however, seemed to meet an invisible force, instantly falling and sinking into the sand.

Caught off guard, Tiffany blinked. “What… what’s wrong?” she asked, instinctively sensing an indescribable danger, though a careful check revealed nothing.

Richard chuckled, holding her close. His gaze, like a torch, was fixed on the grass. “It’s suddenly a little cold. Let’s hug for a while,” he said.

Tiffany was bewildered.

“Can’t you be more careful with your excuses?” Tillany thought, her expression disgusted, yet her body remained still.

October 14, Chapter 176

Tiffany remained in Richard’s embrace. They could hear each other’s strong heartbeats—Richard’s warm, firm chest offering her a sense of security. Unbeknownst to Tiffany, after the steel nail fell, the person hiding in the grass seemed to be strangled! [Remove the website promotion here] An invisible hand squeezed the air from his lungs, silencing all sound except for a growing panic and suffocation. He bled from all seven orifices and died silently. His presence, hidden in the grass, went unnoticed from the moment he threw the weapon until his death.

Richard looked away. He had assumed the assassination was intended for him, but it clearly targeted Tiffany, with a deadly precision he hadn't sensed. Who is so bold? he wondered. His expression darkened.

Tiffany, noticing his lingering embrace, sighed. “Richard, I’m tired of you clinging to me like this.”

Richard coughed, finally releasing her. It can’t be helped. You smell good. Moreover, it felt great to touch you. Hugging you is more comfortable than hugging a pillow, he thought.

Tiffany rubbed her shoulders with a complaining glance.

Richard added, “I’ll arrange for someone to follow you. You’re unfamiliar with Traron City and need someone to guide you.”

“You don’t have to,” Tiffany yawned lazily. “I don’t like people following me. Besides, Philip will guide me. There’s no need for trouble.” Her sharp senses had already detected something amiss.

Richard remained silent, but arranged for someone to accompany her nonetheless. She had clearly faced a significant danger. The intensity suggested it was not the Trujillo family. After all, Tiffany had only a minor conflict with Wendy that afternoon. Even if the Trujillos wanted to defend their daughter, they wouldn't dare to directly oppose Richard.

Chapter 176

It means…the enemy is difficult to deal with, Richard thought.

Tiffany had correctly guessed most of it. She smiled. “You’re afraid I’m in danger, aren’t you?”

Richard remained silent.

Tiffany raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on the river. “But I want to be strong,” she said with calm firmness. “Young eagles must repeatedly jump off cliffs to learn to fly. Delicate greenhouse flowers never truly grow.” Her past naiveté and ignorance had been buried. Now, she sought to challenge anything, even the most dangerous paths. It wasn't that she wasn't afraid of death; she was terrified, which is precisely why she wanted to soar, independent and self-reliant.

Richard's eyes filled with a mixture of helplessness and admiration. Tiffany is so young, yet she sees everything. She’s ambitious and sharp. In that aspect, she is very similar to me, he thought.

Just as he was about to nod, Tiffany looked up, smiling. “However, if I do encounter danger and my life is on the line, you can’t leave me in the lurch! Let me say this first. Although I have a backbone, I might not when facing actual death,” she added.

Richard laughed.

“I won’t,” he said, knowing he wouldn't allow it.

Returning to the manor late that night, Tiffany bid Richard goodnight and went to her room. The lights in Richard's study remained on. He stood before the window, reviewing surveillance footage sent by Garry. The video showed a man in a black trench coat escaping Sunset Island prison, flawlessly disguising himself as he left. Nobody noticed him until he was already gone.

This was the man Richard had been hunting: Codename K.

Garry's voice sounded. “Richard, this person is too good at disguising himself. We can’t catch him!” Codename K was elusive, slipping away whenever his location was discovered. His disguises were impeccable.

Richard's eyes flashed. “He must have come to Traron City. Work harder. Even if we have to turn this city upside down, we must find him!”

Garry hung up. The video continued. In the last two seconds, the man in the black trench coat turned, looking directly at the surveillance camera. His gaze, however, seemed to pierce through the screen, fixing directly on Richard.

Richard smiled mysteriously. [Remove the website promotion here]