Chapter 372
Richard leaned down, gave her lips a light but firm bite, and slipped out the window. Even in the night, his tall, elegant figure was as poised as ever; yet, there was a hint of hurried retreat in his graceful departure. Tiffany touched her lips where he’d bitten her, then burst into laughter. She’d lost count of how many times this had happened. She didn’t know whether to praise his self-control or question it. After laughing to herself, Tiffany turned off the lights and went to sleep.
The next morning, after freshening up, she went downstairs and found Thalia in the living room, dressed up with jewelry and holding a handbag, as if ready to go out.
“Mom, where are you going?” Tiffany asked, surprised.
“Mind your own business and head to school,” Thalia replied casually, turning to Charlie with impatience. “Are you ready yet? We’ll be late if you don’t hurry up.”
“Alright, alright,” Charlie grumbled. “Can’t even enjoy breakfast in peace, huh?” His sigh barely conveyed his exasperation.
“Dad, where are you both headed?” Tiffany asked.
“To the Harper family.”
Charlie patted Tiffany’s head and said quietly, “I know it’s been hard on you. Just hang in there a little longer, and soon, our lives will be as peaceful as they used to be.”
Tiffany paused, then understood what he meant. Her parents were headed to the Harper family to discuss Melody and Kenneth’s wedding. Once the wedding was arranged, the boundaries would be drawn. This way, they’d fulfill the wishes of the so-called couple and get Melody out of their lives for good. It was a win-win solution.
Tiffany thought, ‘So this is the peace my father was talking about?’ She shook her head, ate breakfast with Eric, and then headed to school. To her surprise, Kenneth was also there.
Tiffany thought, ‘Did he not know his long-desired marriage was about to be confirmed? Instead of staying home to welcome his fiancée, what was he doing at school?’ Tiffany looked away and entered the classroom.
But the moment Kenneth saw her, he jumped up from his seat, his face a mixture of surprise, joy, and shock. He walked straight toward her.
“You… you’re alive?” Kenneth asked.
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “Do you want to pinch me just to make sure I’m real?” It was clearly sarcasm. Anyone with ears would catch it. But Kenneth, in typical fashion, took it literally. Tiffany found both of her cheeks pinched. She was beyond words. If nobody stopped her, she was going to make him cry.
Kenneth, however, seemed overjoyed, his gaze full of relief. “I can’t believe it. I thought… I thought you really…”
Tiffany fell silent. After she’d returned yesterday, Charlie had called off the rescue team but hadn’t explained the real reason to the public. So, in the news, among the elite families and the guests from the banquet, everyone still assumed Tiffany was dead. According to Eric, after she fell into the river the other night, Kenneth had been the first to jump in after her. He’d searched the water tirelessly until he finally ran out of strength and had to leave in despair. He couldn’t find her.
Tiffany’s smile was subtle. “Thank you, Mr. Harper, for risking yourself to save me from drowning. I’ll remember this favor, but debts must still be repaid.” She brushed his hand away and calmly returned to her seat. The morning sun streamed through the window, rustling the white curtains. She sat by the window, her profile serene, without glancing back at him even once. Kenneth took a step back, feeling strangely hollow inside. He felt lost.
As more classmates entered the room, Kenneth sat down, distracted and lost in thought all morning. Others in the class were equally shocked to see Tiffany. But soon, their gossip turned to another hot topic.
“Hey, did you guys hear? Turns out Melody is the Kelley family’s long-lost daughter.”
“I saw her at the Kelley family’s recognition banquet with my parents the other night. And I heard Tiffany and Melody fell off the deck together because Tiffany pushed her on purpose.”
“Why would she?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Would you want a sister who appeared out of nowhere? Especially one who’s after your fiancé?”
The tension between Tiffany and Melody wasn’t exactly a secret at school. Besides, it was such a dramatic story that it naturally sparked all kinds of curiosity and speculation.
One student leaned in, saying, “I’ve got an inside scoop. Wanna hear it?”
“Stop stalling. Spill it!”
“My relative works at a testing facility. Last week, he let something slip over dinner. Apparently, Tiffany isn’t from the Kelley family.”
“Where did he get that idea?”
“Paternity test results. The gossipy boy bragged, ‘I saw it myself. Believe it or not.’”
Everyone looked at each other, skeptical but intrigued. Although there was some skepticism, most people believed it. After all, the story was too thrilling. Everyone wanted to join in the excitement. They didn’t care about the truth; as long as the gossip kept them entertained, that was all the fun they needed.
A group sat in the back of the classroom, whispering gleefully, when someone suddenly flipped a desk. The lead gossiper, who’d been speaking so convincingly, took a punch. Blood gushed from his nose. All the gossip stopped in an instant. The gossiper looked to curse, but swallowed his words as soon as he saw who’d hit him. It was Kenneth. “Say one more word. I dare you.”
Kenneth rarely lost his temper. He was always calm and composed, with a gentle demeanor. Despite his high social status, he never acted arrogant or entitled. But this time, for the first time, the usually courteous Kenneth had thrown a punch. The classroom fell into an eerie silence. Everyone wondered if he was defending Tiffany.
Then, Kenneth got a call from his family. His butler informed him that his wedding date had been set with the woman he’d been longing to marry. Kenneth was dumbfounded, as if struck by a thunderbolt. His expression darkened, and he rushed out of the school. Only after he left did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. Even someone as refined as Kenneth could be terrifying when he got angry.
Zoe, who had watched the whole thing, was dumbstruck. She turned to Tiffany, touching her head and asking, “Tiffany, am I dreaming, or did someone swap out Kenneth?”