Chapter 299
Tiffany’s dream featured her parents, younger brother, classmates, and friends. Familiar and unfamiliar faces passed her without speaking or even glancing at her. They simply walked to the back of the room.
Tiffany turned, surprised, and saw Melody Princeton, surrounded by adoring fans, smiling smugly. With the same confident smirk she'd worn at the cemetery, Melody mouthed, "See? Everything you have now belongs to me."
The words startled Tiffany awake. Her eyes snapped open to the cold water of her bathtub. Judging by the temperature, she'd slept for at least half an hour. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead as she frowned. The dream felt intensely real, the feeling of abandonment by her family and friends particularly strong. She felt lost and helpless.
Fortunately, it was only a dream. Tiffany sighed in relief, quickly got out of the tub, and applied medicine to her back wounds using a mirror before getting ready for bed. It was already 2:30 a.m., but she wasn't sleepy. It was destined to be a sleepless night.
At Royal Bay, it was also a sleepless night. When Yvonne Shaw returned from the mountains, the servants were shocked by her condition: an arrow protruded from her shoulder blade, and her beautiful face was disfigured. "What happened, Yvonne?" they asked.
Yvonne forced a smile. "I'm fine," she said, then rushed back to her room as if fleeing for her life. Her room was in a separate villa behind Royal Bay's main villa, in the same building as the servants. Since she wasn't a guest or of noble status, she received no special treatment.
Back in her room, Yvonne attempted to remove the arrow herself. Many private doctors were at Royal Bay, but she dared not summon them, fearing she'd have to explain her injury. Sidney Pauley, the renowned Asclepius, was also present, but she didn't dare ask for his help. He was prickly, had a venomous tongue, and was attending to Richard Hampton, who had been seriously injured in a fight with Felix Quaid. Sidney was needed at Richard's side. Yvonne knew her place. This knowledge only fueled her anger.
As the saying goes, evil always triumphs over good. Initially, Yvonne had thought it would be easy to kill Tiffany amidst the chaos, but to her dismay, the girl possessed extraordinary abilities and strength.
Fuming, Yvonne stood before the mirror, her charming face now marred by a deep, bloody wound that made her look ferocious and terrifying. Even with expensive medicine, a scar would likely remain, potentially disfiguring her. In a fit of rage, she smashed the mirror.
The loud noise alarmed her neighbor. A servant knocked. "Yvonne, what happened? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Yvonne replied, dismissing the servant. She took a deep breath, a plan forming in her mind. Tonight's actions must remain secret; Richard, in his ruthlessness, would never forgive her. She had to act before he regained consciousness—she would sleep with him.
She'd longed for him for years. If gaining him meant a price, so be it. Perhaps intimacy would change his icy demeanor. And if she were fortunate enough to become pregnant
With this plan in mind, she felt no pain while treating her wounds. She would act tomorrow.
The autumn wind blew, the streets deserted in the middle of the night. Outside the Princeton family's villa, a small, thin figure quickly infiltrated the building, slipping into Melody Princeton's brightly lit master bedroom. The figure was caught off guard. "You knew I was coming?" she asked, her voice pleasant.
Melody showed no surprise. "Didn't you see me when your Hummer rammed into us? I knew you'd come looking for me."
"You're smart," the woman smiled, then lamented, "Sigh! No wonder I lost to you."
Melody smiled faintly. "Who said you lost? You killed Ged Moody, who always opposed you. You've already won in that respect, haven't you?"
This woman, Sandra Olson, presumed dead, had lured Ged to that road and driven the Hummer, stabbing him with a metal strip.
Melody asked, "How did you survive? And and you don't seem as stupid as before?"
Sandra smirked. "I was saved from the car wreck months ago. My rescuer was powerful, and he taught me many things. Now I've returned to Lovell City for revenge! I want Tiffany Kelley to suffer a fate worse than death!"
She added, "I'm here to tell you we won't be enemies. I no longer like Kenneth Harper." Once, she'd yearned to be Mrs. Harper, but now, another man held her heart. He favored his black cat over her and wasn't always kind, yet he allowed her to leave the border town castle and come to Lovell City when she sought revenge. He gave her an unlimited credit card when she asked for money. He was handsome and charming; she'd fallen for him long ago, willing to offer herself even for a cursory glance.
Melody reacted calmly, laughing arrogantly. "Don't worry. Even if you fight me, you might not win."
Sandra's expression changed. "Then there's even more reason for us to work together. Your actions prove we're on the same side." Melody's push had sent Ged to his death; they'd cooperated seamlessly without prior collusion.
"How do you want to work together?" Melody asked.
"Simple. I want Tiffany Kelley to live a life worse than death! I want her to kneel before me and beg for mercy! I want her to experience my pain, and I want her to die!" Sandra's eyes blazed with hatred.
Melody smiled. "When you put it that way, I have no reason not to work with you." She offered her hand. "Let's shake on this. I'll help you with your plan, and you have to help me achieve what I want."
"Deal."
Two initially unfamiliar girls reached an uncanny agreement, united by their shared goals.
09:12 501, UCI 26 Chapter 299