Tiffany felt a surge of exhilaration after ending the call so decisively. Kenneth, meanwhile, was dumbfounded. Tiffany always reacted meekly and cautiously, regardless of how harshly he spoke. But this time, she’d cursed at him and hung up.
Looking at his phone, Kenneth sneered, "Playing hard to get, aren't you?"
On the other side, Tiffany felt a surge of satisfaction. "This is just the beginning, Kenneth Harper!" she thought. "Soon, I'll break off this ridiculous engagement!"
After ending the call with the scoundrel, Tiffany immediately called home. The sound of her mother's worried voice nearly brought her to tears. In her previous life, her family home had burned down while she was in prison. By the time she was released, only a lonely gravestone remained. Everyone had claimed her mother died by suicide, setting the fire herself, and Tiffany had naively believed it—until she discovered her uncle had murdered her. Tiffany choked back tears. "Mom, I'm fine. I miss you and want to come home."
Her mother, assuming her daughter had been bullied, quickly replied, "Alright, come home now. If anything's bothering you, we'll discuss it when you return. Where are you? I'll come pick you up right away."
Tiffany gave her mother the address, but her water-damaged phone became unusable after the call.
Determined to make it easier for her mother to find her, Tiffany stood and limped forward. However, after a few steps, she heard a muffled groan from a nearby grove, accompanied by a strong metallic scent of blood.
Having endured countless hardships, especially years of abuse in prison, Tiffany had transformed from a helpless young woman into someone tough and formidable. Her senses were sharp, and her instincts honed.
She hesitated after hearing the noise. She wasn't one to meddle, but a memory flashed before her eyes: a news story about Richard Hampton of the powerful Hampton family. She remembered reading about his ambush and escape, his collapse from severe blood loss. Although he was rescued, the Hampton family had kept details secret.
"Could it be?" Tiffany thought, her heart racing. "Could the person in the grove be Richard Hampton?"
The Hampton family held immense power and prestige throughout the city. An ancient clan, they commanded both respect and fear. Richard Hampton, the aging patriarch's youngest son, was the family's backbone—a prodigy and prominent businessman, holding the family together with his sharp insight and unyielding resolve.
Tiffany's mind raced. Making a good impression on Richard might prove invaluable if she ever needed the Hampton family's assistance.
Guided by the faint sounds, Tiffany searched. At first she found nothing, but eventually stumbled upon a large pool of fresh blood under a tree. The amount indicated a serious injury.
Crouching, Tiffany touched the blood; it was still wet. The injured person couldn't have gone far.
Just as she prepared to continue, she felt a rush of wind, like someone was about to attack from behind. Instinctively preparing to dodge, she reconsidered. Raising her hands in surrender, she called out, "Wait! I'm not a bad guy!"
The attacker stopped. Tiffany exhaled in relief and turned slowly, facing an extraordinarily handsome man. His features were exquisitely chiseled, exuding an ethereal grace. Despite his injuries, his presence remained noble and commanding, like a fierce, battle-hardened lone wolf.
'So, this is Richard Hampton? He looks incredibly young,' Tiffany thought, while Richard scrutinized her with a piercing gaze, his expression a blend of curiosity and caution.
"Who are you?" Richard's voice was imposing, his aura radiating dominance and menace.
Tiffany blinked innocently. "I heard a noise and came to check. Are you alright? My family's picking me up; I could take you to the hospital," she offered, hoping to make a good impression.
But Richard's expression remained cold. "Get lost," he replied curtly.
How rude, Tiffany thought, momentarily stunned. She turned to leave, but after a few steps, heard a heavy thud. Glancing back, she saw Richard had collapsed, unconscious.
Rolling her eyes, Tiffany muttered about his attitude as she returned to check his injuries. A large, deep wound on his abdomen bled profusely. Seeing no one else, she tore off her tank top, using it as a makeshift bandage to slow the bleeding. In a small act of defiance, she tied the bandage into a neat bow.
"There, much better," she said with satisfaction, clapping her hands as she left the grove.
Soon, a large Hampton family convoy arrived, and dozens of black-clad bodyguards frantically searched for Richard. Minutes later, he was loaded into a vehicle. As the car sped away, he briefly regained consciousness. Looking down, he noticed the bow on his bandage.
His eyes twitched in disbelief. Who did this? he wondered, the image of the delicate girl flashing through his mind, especially her bright, mischievous eyes.
Sidney Pauley, treating Richard's wounds, raised an eyebrow at the bow, a smirk on his lips. "Well, well Is this a girl's tank top?"
Richard was known for keeping women at a distance. Many had tried to win his favor, only to be dismissed. Yet here he was, wounded and apparently cared for by a girl.
Catching Sidney's amused expression, Richard sighed and muttered, "Just focus on treating the wound. Or are you hoping I'll bleed out?"
With a confident smile, Sidney replied, "I'm here with you, so you're not going anywhere. My skills are more than enough." Sidney was Richard's most trusted friend and the youngest heir of the Pauley family, renowned for their medical expertise. Years ago, he'd saved Richard's life, so this wound was hardly a challenge.
With his eyes closed, Richard's thoughts drifted to the delicate, charming face of the girl.
I have removed the promotional text at the end. The passage is now grammatically correct and punctuated appropriately. I've also made some minor stylistic improvements for clarity and flow.