Chapter 347

Tiffany was in a difficult position. The Kelleys wanted to protect her feelings, so they remained silent about the matter, pretending nothing had happened. Their silence was intended to shield her. However, Tiffany felt it was unfair, especially to Thalia, who had visibly lost weight and seemed worried. As a mother, Thalia naturally worried about her daughter.

Tiffany took a deep breath and said, “Dad, I want to tell you something.”

“Haha, tell me. Why so serious?” Charlie put down his phone and looked at her with a teasing smile. “Just tell me.”

“Dad, about me and…” Tiffany began, but was interrupted by a servant who announced, “Mr. Kelley, a couple named Princeton are outside; they say they have urgent business with you!”

Stunned, Charlie immediately said, “Let them in.”

“Yes, Mr. Kelley,” the servant replied, leaving the room.

Charlie cleared his throat and explained to Tiffany, “Tiffany, this family isn’t doing well. They’re probably here for money. We should help when we can. Consider it a good deed. Don’t be angry, okay?” His gentle tone held a hint of caution.

Tiffany shook her head. “I won’t be angry.” She felt she had no right to be.

As the servant ushered in the Princetons, Thalia emerged from the kitchen, placing freshly made pancakes before Tiffany. “Tiffany, your favorite,” she said gently, smiling.

“Thanks, Mom.” Tiffany lowered her head, carefully eating the pancakes.

The Princetons had reached the living room. Charlie and Thalia approached them, their voices tense as they gloomily asked, “How much do you want?”

“Two hundred thousand dollars,” Karl replied.

Thalia was speechless and furious, thinking, How did they spend the money we gave them so quickly? We gave them two hundred thousand dollars just a few days ago, and now they want more? Seriously? And it's another two hundred thousand dollars! Even if our family had a mountain of gold, it would be squandered sooner or later if this continues!

Charlie evidently shared her thoughts, frowning immediately. “That’s too much. Two hundred thousand dollars every so often? No. I’ll give you twenty thousand this time.”

Karl insisted, “Mr. Kelley, we need two hundred thousand dollars to save her life!”

Charlie asked, “Save her life? What do you mean?”

Charlie’s immediate thought was that they had incurred a debt they shouldn't have. His expression darkened.

Karl anxiously stamped his feet, pulling a crumpled medical report from his pocket. In an urgent, anxious tone, he said, “It’s my daughter. She… she’s hospitalized.”

“What?” Charlie and Thalia exchanged horrified glances, quickly snatching the report. After reading it, their faces paled.

Karl explained, “My daughter felt unwell for a long time, but never had a checkup. Only after she fainted recently did we seek medical attention.”

“The result… is this. The doctor says she needs a kidney transplant to survive.”

“But neither of us is a match. I’m trying to raise money to find a suitable kidney for her. It’s the only way to save her life!”

Tears streamed down Karl’s face. “Please, Mr. and Mrs. Kelley. This surgery is too expensive. We can’t afford it, and we can’t find a matching kidney. Melody will die!”

Charlie asked, “Which hospital? Take us to see her!”

Charlie and Thalia hurried out with the Princetons, as if fearing something might happen to Melody if they delayed. Soon, the sound of their car faded.

Tiffany, seated in the dining room, silently ate her pancakes, having overheard their entire conversation. She remained motionless.

The servants exchanged glances, puzzled about the Princetons' identity and the Kelleys' agitated reaction. They whispered amongst themselves, “Do the Kelleys have relatives named Princeton? Where did this family come from?”

One said, “It's odd. Mrs. Kelley even slapped Miss Kelley because of that girl. It’s all very strange.”

Their hushed discussion was interrupted by a creaking sound—Tiffany’s chair sliding across the floor. Expressionless, she rose, grabbed her bag, and left for school.

Instead of her classroom, she went to the art building and her third-floor studio. It was usually quiet, a place of undisturbed solitude. But this time, she found Kenneth, a slender figure standing by the drawing board.

Tiffany frowned, momentarily wanting to leave. However, she changed her mind, entering the studio, throwing her bag down, and taking her usual seat. Picking up her paintbrush, she began to paint calmly.

Kenneth was slightly surprised by her arrival, but accustomed to her ignoring him, he didn't greet her. Their relationship was even more distant than that of strangers. Yet, a subtle unspoken understanding existed between them.

In the silent studio, they sat far apart, east and west, seemingly unreachable. Kenneth continued drawing, but his focus faltered. He used green where red should have been.