Ged did not betray her. Neither did Zoc. The two chatted and laughed as usual, walking with Tiffany as they left school. At the school gate, a low-profile but undeniably luxurious black car awaited. The Hampton family emblem exuded authority and inviolability. Seeing the car, Zoc and Ged exchanged a glance and quickly found an excuse to leave—a clear display of self-preservation. They were so quick that Tiffany couldn't stop them. She could only watch as they slipped away. Meanwhile, John opened the car door and bowed.

Tiffany stood silently, rubbing her nose. Earlier, she had cried on the phone, complaining as if she had suffered a great injustice. If Richard finds out my hand is only slightly scratched, will he beat me up? she wondered.

Just then, strong hands pulled her into the car. Caught off guard, she fell into Richard's arms. A crisp, soothing fragrance calmed her. Tiffany decided to stop hiding and settled comfortably in his arms. She leaned back lazily, looking, she thought, very much like Lucifer. She even muttered, "I'm not running anymorebecause of my beauty, Richard probably won't beat me up." The little narcissist never missed a chance to praise herself.

Richard chuckled. "Why would I beat you up?" he asked, wondering if she truly believed she was so fearsome.

"Because" Tiffany stretched out her hand, blinking innocently. "Because if you hadn't come, my injury would've almost healed. I pretended to be pitiful. It wouldn't be acceptable if I didn't get beaten up."

In the front seat, John laughed. A cold gaze landed on his back. He froze, silently lowering the privacy curtain. His life was more important.

Richard took Tiffany's hand, using the first-aid kit to gently disinfect and treat her wound. His gentle, meticulous movements, and the shadows cast by his lowered eyelashes, softened his features, revealing an indescribable tenderness. Even his profile was strikingly handsome, perfect, and flawless—a captivating painting.

Tiffany stared, dazed. To outsiders, Richard was a ruthless business tycoon; to her, he was unexpected warmth and salvation.

Noticing her long gaze, Richard teased, "I haven't done anything yet. Why are you blushing?"

Tiffany touched her face. My face isn't hot, she thought. She caught the mischievous glint in his eyes. She'd been tricked!

She turned away, snorting. "It's just a small injury. No need for medicine."

But Richard surprised her. "Anything concerning you is important to me."

This time, Tiffany blushed, trapped by his intense gaze. A gentle kiss landed on her forehead—restrained, courteous, yet charged with emotion. The car's atmosphere intensified, clouding her thoughts.

Suddenly, her phone rang, startling them both. Embarrassed, she saw it was June and answered.

"We caught someone at the scene who claims to have a photo. Do you want to interrogate him?" June asked.

"Yes, I'll go back now," Tiffany replied.

Alexia's kidnapping and Jade's death implicated Melody as the mastermind, with Jansen and his group as accomplices. Tiffany had June surveilling Jansen. The photos in their possession were bound to cause trouble—they might try to sell them. Their inactivity had previously shielded them, but now the implications were far-reaching.

Declan Jahn, a member of Jansen's team, had contacted potential buyers. June, posing as a wealthy client, lured him out, incapacitated him, and brought him back to Luna Villa. Her actions were decisive and swift.

Tiffany, after hanging up, coquettishly shook Richard's hand. "Can you take me to Luna Villa, please?"

Richard, having dropped everything to be her knight, could only indulge her. "Drive to Luna Villa," he instructed John.

Before exiting at Luna Villa, Tiffany sweetly kissed Richard's cheek before rushing inside. At least she has a conscience, Richard thought, smiling gently.

"Back to the office," he told John.

Tiffany ran to the villa's backyard. In the pavilion, a bound man glared angrily—June's captive.

"Your name is Declan?" Tiffany asked, sitting leisurely.

Declan, defiant, coldly laughed, refusing to answer. Oh? Still arrogant as a prisoner? Tiffany thought. She waved her hand. "Deal with him!"

Jeremy kicked Declan, reducing the man to a whimpering mess.

"Declan! I am Declan!" he yelled.

"That's better," Tiffany said. "Speak when I say so, understand?" Her angelic face belied her menacing attitude. Declan despaired.

"You have the photos? Let me see them," she continued.

"Huh?" Declan feigned confusion. He planned to deny everything, knowing the photos would implicate him as a kidnapper. He would go to jail!

He deeply regretted his greed and disregard for warnings. His only recourse was denial. He couldn't let the photos surface.

(The final sentence promoting FindNovel.net was removed as it was irrelevant to the text cleanup.)