Richard didn't want to mess up Tiffany's plan, but he couldn't help feeling worried. "Are you sure you don't need my help?" he asked.

"I'm fine, really. If I need your help, I'll let you know," she replied with a charming smile.

"Alright, just stay safe," Richard said, then turned to leave. Before he did, he glanced at the kidnappers on the ground. They froze under his gaze, realizing he was someone they couldn't afford to cross. Any attempt at further action would end badly for them.

Earlier, they might have considered tying Tiffany up, but that idea was now out of the question. They knew Richard would make them pay dearly.

As Tiffany watched Richard walk away, she felt as if it had all been a dream. But then she saw a boot print on the iron door—proof he'd been there. She never expected him to rescue her, especially given their tenuous relationship. I only helped him a little, and he's willing to do this for me. Wow, now I'm certain choosing him as an ally was the right call, Tiffany thought.

Not long after Richard left, she heard another car engine outside. This time, it was Charlie.

Just as she was about to tell the kidnappers to get back in position, she noticed they had already straightened up, despite their fresh bruises, ready to play their parts.

Outside the factory, two cars screeched to a halt. Charlie and Owen jumped out, followed by several bodyguards. The kidnapper they'd captured earlier pointed to the factory and stammered, "She's in there."

Without hesitation, the group charged in. The factory's interior was filthy and chaotic, with a few dim lights flickering. Charlie's eyes quickly scanned the room, and he spotted Tiffany huddled in a corner.

He rushed to her side, his voice filled with concern. "Are you all right, Tiffany? Don't be scared, I'm here now."

But instead of relief, fear filled Tiffany's face as she screamed, "Dad, watch out!"

Three kidnappers lunged at Charlie from behind, wielding wooden bats. Owen quickly ordered the bodyguards to intervene, and they quickly subdued the kidnappers.

Tiffany let out a shaky breath, tears streaming down her face. Charlie gently untied the ropes around her wrists, comforting her. "Let's go home," he said softly, guiding her toward the exit.

But then Tiffany saw Stan standing off to the side.

"It's Stan!" she cried, quickly hiding behind Charlie. "Dad, help me! The kidnappers said Stan hired them to kill me! I'm so scared!"

Stan's heart sank with regret as he put on a pitiful expression. "Tiffany, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt you. I've just been going through a rough patch lately, and I didn't see any other way." [The following sentence is removed as it's an advertisement.]

"That's no excuse for what you did," Tiffany retorted sharply. "If a small setback makes you do this, what would you do facing something bigger? I'm afraid you'd try to take over the whole Kelley family."

Stan was speechless.

Tiffany continued, "My dad has never treated you badly, so why did you want ten million dollars? Wait, could it be that the one million, two hundred thousand dollars we lost on that last order was actually pocketed by you?"

"That's nonsense!" Stan snapped, his face turning ashen.

But Owen spoke up, "I received an anonymously sent contract yesterday related to that botched order."

He handed the document to Charlie, who quickly scanned it. The contract detailed an order for experimental steel, with a price tag of only tens of thousands of dollars. Stan's signature was at the bottom. Charlie immediately understood.

Closing his eyes briefly, Charlie sighed deeply. "Pack your things and leave by tomorrow morning. I don't want you in my house any longer. You'll need to return the money you took. I won't press charges, but you must return the funds to the company. You have to clean up this mess."

Stan was stunned. "Charlie, have some mercy! You're leaving me with no way out!"

Charlie laughed coldly. "You kidnapped my daughter—how can you expect mercy? My daughter is the most precious thing in my life. The fact that I haven't killed you is more mercy than you deserve."

Cutting off Stan's protest, Charlie said sharply, "Enough. You'll be out of our house by tomorrow."

As Charlie and Tiffany walked out of the factory, ready to go to the hospital, Tiffany felt overwhelming satisfaction. She knew Charlie would eventually see the holes in Stan's story, but it didn't matter. He'd finally seen Stan for who he was.

Just as they were getting into the car, Charlie received a call. The voice was tense and urgent. "This is Lovell City Hospital. Your wife has been in a car accident. Please come as soon as possible!"

Charlie's face paled. "To the hospital, now! Hurry!"

Tiffany and Owen, alarmed, asked what had happened. After hearing the news, they exchanged concerned glances. The timing is too uncanny. Something feels off, Tiffany thought.

But there was no time to dwell on it. She turned to Owen. "Uncle Owen, there's a friend of mine, Zoe, inside the factory. Could you take her home?"

"Of course," Owen nodded.

Charlie and Tiffany rushed to the hospital's emergency room. They found Thalia sitting outside, shaken but mostly unharmed, aside from a few scrapes.

Both Charlie and Tiffany breathed a sigh of relief.

Thalia, seeing Tiffany, looked worried. "Tiffany, are you okay? Did those kidnappers hurt you?"

"I'm fine," Tiffany reassured her, her gaze drifting to the illuminated sign above the operating room. Frowning, she asked, "Mom, who's in there being treated?"