Chapter 408
A high-ranking official once again fled out the window with a straight face. Richard's sorry state made Tiffany laugh. He wasn't practicing calling her "hubby"; he was clearly practicing his self-control.
Tiffany chuckled, turned over, and sat up, touching her burning face. She went to the bathroom to cool it with cold water, which gradually subsided the heat. After wiping her face, she admired her reflection in the mirror. The wedding dress, perfectly outlining her figure, was exquisitely beautiful—graceful, luxurious, and elegant. She changed out of the dress and stowed it, along with the expensive necklace, in the cloakroom.
The engagement ceremony was fast approaching. Tiffany lay back on the bed and called James, but only a recorded message indicated his phone was off. Unable to reach him, she sent a message, telling him about her engagement on the first of the next month and hoping he would see it and appear.
The next morning dawned bright and breezy. After breakfast, Tiffany drove to school. The usual seventeen- to eighteen-minute journey was significantly longer due to road closures. The only open road was congested.
"What's going on?" Tiffany asked, peering out the window. "Why are the roads blocked?"
"Miss Kelley, don't worry," said her driver, David. "I'll get out and ask."
The car seemed stuck for the morning. David approached a taxi driver, offering a cigarette and inquiring about the situation. A few minutes later, he returned.
"Miss Kelley, the roads are blocked for a VIP," he explained. "Quite a spectacle."
"Oh," Tiffany mused. Wendy's information was accurate. It was obvious who it was.
Tiffany rolled up the window and said calmly, "Then take a different route."
"Yes, ma'am," David replied, immediately turning the car onto an alternate route.
Meanwhile, on the blocked road, a majestic motorcade advanced. Bodyguards cleared a path, surrounding a Rolls-Royce. Passersby whispered curiously about the important personage inside.
The destination was Royal Bay.
Chapter 408 (Continued)
Inside the comfortable car, an impeccably dressed woman leaned against the leather seat. In her early twenties, she wore a spotless, elegant silver gown. Her exquisite beauty was complemented by a cool, distant demeanor.
In the flower-scented car, she finally spoke, her voice ethereal: "Are we almost there?"
Two maids knelt respectfully, awaiting instructions. "Yes, Saintess," they replied in unison.
"Since we're here, address me differently," she instructed.
The maids exchanged glances. The bolder one immediately flattered, "Saintess, your noble status we could call you Princess."
The other maid frowned. The Azure Sea Royal Family had strict rules. Even the Saintess, highly esteemed in the absence of the long-missing princess, remained a subordinate. The maid dared not voice this.
Morwen (the woman in the car) found the flattery pleasing, but softly reprimanded, "Don't say such things. The princess might be found someday."
The reprimanded maid retorted, "It's been over ten years. She's likely dead. How would we find her?"
Morwen remained silent, sharing the sentiment. The convoy stopped before Royal Bay, perched majestically atop a mountain, overlooking all. Morwen felt inexplicably nervous. She and Richard hadn't seen each other in over a decade.
A maid opened the car door. "Saintess—Miss Xanthus—we're here."
Morwen exited, surprised to find Royal Bay's iron gates tightly shut, with no welcoming servants. The scene was eerily calm. The maids were equally stunned and rang the bell.
Several servants emerged, looking at them quizzically. "Who are you? What do you want?"
One maid, chin raised, declared proudly, "My lady is the Saintess of the Azure Sea Royal Family."
She expected this to intimidate them. Instead, the servant asked, "And then?"
Speechless, the maid angrily retorted, "Didn't Mr. Hampton instruct you? Our Saintess is Royal Bay's future hostess and Mr. Hampton's fiancée."
The servant rolled his eyes. "Are you joking? The whole city knows about Mr. Hampton's engagement to his future wife on the first of next month. Don't you people use the internet?"
The Azure Sea Royal Family was too remote to know about Lovell City's events. Morwen's face darkened. This marriage was arranged long ago with Hank. Why was there another fiancée?
She stepped forward, asking, "Who is this future wife?"
"The daughter of the Kelley family," the servant replied. "Mr. Hampton proposed some time ago. Go back. Give up." He turned and re-entered the villa.
A maid cautiously asked Morwen, "Miss Xanthus, what now?"
"Let's find Hank," Morwen replied.