Chapter 401

Tiffany lunged at him, biting his neck. "If I'm just a child," she muttered, "why did you kiss me? You just want me to shut up, right? Bastard!"

Richard chuckled, letting her bite him without resistance. "What else do you want to hear? You've heard enough."

As Tiffany bit him, she felt something odd. She released her grip, and Richard immediately pushed her onto the bed. A mischievous smile spread across his well-defined face, revealing a predatory gleam. He seemed godlike—handsome, otherworldly, bewitching. "Why did you stop?" he demanded. "Keep going."

His words echoed in her mind. Her eyes twitched. Embarrassed, she shoved him away. "In your dreams!"

"Hey, that's not fair!" Richard pointed at the bite mark on his neck, a faint smile playing on his lips. A large red mark had appeared; it wouldn't fade for days.

Tiffany was shocked. "Fuck, did I bite him that hard?" she thought. She'd only intended to get revenge.

"It's impolite to stop halfway," a low, husky voice purred, laced with malice. "You've been so good to me—how can I not repay you?"

Tiffany recoiled, a sharp pain lancing through her stomach. Her flushed face paled.

"Lie still," Richard commanded, gently pressing her down and rubbing her stomach through the blanket. The warmth eased her pain. Just as she was about to thank him, his gaze fell on her neck.

He picked up the diamond pendant she wore. "Who gave you this?" he asked, his voice sharp with a murderous intent. He was, after all, the king of jealousy.

Tiffany rubbed her hair. "Jeremy. He told me to crush it if I'm in danger."

Expecting jealous fury and the immediate removal of the pendant, she was surprised when he simply nodded. "Keep it," he said. "It seems extraordinary; it might even benefit you."

"Yeah," she murmured.

"Now go to sleep," he said softly. "I'll watch over you. I'll leave after you fall asleep."

The main lights were off, but he continued massaging her stomach. Tiffany moaned contentedly. Feeling safe and secure, she closed her eyes and slept soundly.

Seeing her peaceful sleep, Richard finally stopped. A warm yellow lamp illuminated the bedroom. Before leaving, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Good night, my love."

Chapter 401 (Continued)

Night fell. Some slept peacefully, others tossed and turned, their faces etched with worry.

Outside Lovell City, on a remote village road, a black SUV idled with its hazard lights flashing. Two middle-aged men inside smoked cigarettes, occasionally glancing at their phones.

One cursed angrily. "Women are so troublesome! The signal's been out for ages, and we still haven't seen her!"

The other was calmer. "Don't be anxious. We have a lead. We're practically at the doorstep; we won't lose her again."

Odin would recognize the scar-faced man—the one who'd betrayed him, passing intel from the treasure box to Kenneth at a bar. Odin had paid him extra to keep quiet, but the man had sold him out, tracking the box to Lovell City and the Harper family. He now sought to confirm its location.

Lighting another cigarette, the cursing man asked, "Lorenzo, we've been waiting for over two hours. Why don't we just drive into Lovell City?"

Lorenzo shook his head. "Remember our objective. Our location can't be compromised. We have to wait."

He was confident of obtaining the treasure box, but the Harper family, especially Richard, were dangerous. He needed a foolproof plan. "Don't forget what happened to Isolated Riverdale," he warned. "Don't even think about snatching the box. I'll offend anyone but Mr. Hampton."

"Got it," the other man muttered.

The phone on the dashboard lit up. A young woman's voice asked, "Where are you?"

"The country road. SUV with flashing lights."

"Got it."

Lorenzo activated the hazard lights. Minutes later, an unlicensed Cayenne arrived. Melody stepped out, elegant in a white dress.

Lorenzo's partner was stunned. "Damn, she's beautiful! I wouldn't have yelled at her on the phone if I'd known."

Melody sat in the back. "Tell me, what do you need me to do?"

Lorenzo explained their need to confirm the treasure box's location within the Harper family. He added a veiled threat: failure would mean the end of their deal.

Melody replied instantly, "Of course I can." She feared becoming a disposable pawn.

Melody's involvement with Felix, a ruthless man, stemmed from her near-ruin after framing Tiffany and arranging Alexia's kidnapping. Felix had offered her a lifeline, providing a bloodbite that would kill Jansen, her accomplice. She owed him a considerable debt, and now she had to face the Harper family.