Chapter 429

"Kill Richard Hampton? Kill him?" Tiffany bit her tongue, struggling mentally to break free. Every cell in her body vehemently resisted. But the command, a swirling curse in her mind, propelled her. Despite her weakness from the electric shock, she accepted the dagger—a garter knife, its sharpest edge coated with lethal poison.

The alien command reverberated incessantly, nearly crushing her rationality. She grunted, blood dripping from her mouth; her face was devoid of color. Don't listen, don't listen. Please she pleaded internally. Her body trembled as command and rationality waged a mental tug-of-war. A blinding headache threatened to shatter her skull. The pain was excruciating; tears welled, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

Felix offered a condescending smile, his eyes devoid of pity. "You still want to fight to the death? You're the same as before. You haven't changed at all." Lost in agony, Tiffany didn't hear him.

As she fought to expel the foreign consciousness, Felix tightened his grip on her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. His soul-sapping hypnosis eroded her remaining rationality.

"Go. Kill Richard Hampton," he commanded.

"Yes"

Meanwhile, in the grand hall, Hank Hampton raged, berating everyone and everything. Bodyguards and waiters alike were scolded by the old man. When Richard arrived, the tirade continued. Finally, Richard curtly instructed John Ross, "Throw him out."

"Throw me out? How dare you! I'm your father!" Hank's fury intensified.

Richard's command brooked no defiance. "What are you waiting for?" he barked.

To prevent escalation, John, resisting immense pressure, approached Hank. "Mr. Hank, what's caused this outburst on such a fine day?"

Though old-fashioned and ill-tempered, Hank wasn't prone to unwarranted tantrums, especially at his son's engagement party. He snorted. "Some people don't take me seriously. Our offspring are engaged, yet these people still haven't bothered to welcome me?"

"These people" were the Kelley family. Given the engagement, they should have made an effort to contact him; Charlie Kelley, in particular, should have shown the older man some respect. However, the Kelley couple were absent. Feeling snubbed, Hank was understandably furious.

Relieved to understand the cause, John attempted to soothe him. "Mr. Kelley must be in the grand hall. You haven't even entered; why the tantrum?" His words made Richard frown. He hadn't noticed the Kelleys' absence. If they weren't there…

Richard's expression hardened. "Check the surveillance cameras for the Kelleys!" he ordered, then strode to the suite, which was empty. Tiffany was gone.

The guests remained unaware of the unfolding events. Suddenly, the hotel was on lockdown. Trained bodyguards swarmed, searching frantically. John, understanding the gravity of the situation, reviewed the surveillance footage. He saw Eric taken by a waiter, then the Kelleys, then Tiffany—all led to a guest room at the hotel's rear.

Richard's face froze; his icy demeanor sent shivers down spines. John's knees buckled. He'd planned the hotel's security, yet a detail had been overlooked. "Mr. Hampton, I…" But Richard had already stormed to the guest room.

He kicked open the door to find Tiffany standing amidst several wailing waiters, one with a blood-soaked head, smashed by an ashtray. Relief washed over Richard.

He embraced Tiffany. "Are you hurt?" he asked anxiously.

Tiffany turned. Her gown was slightly soiled, her hair disheveled, yet her beauty remained undiminished. What surprised Richard was the vixenish glint in her eyes—she seemed more alluring than usual. She threw herself into his arms, whining coyly, "Hubby, what took you so long?" Her tone was seductively coquettish.

Richard’s eyes darkened. He felt guilty. "I'm sorry. It's my fault." His subordinates discreetly waited outside.

Tiffany snuggled into his arms, smiling, but her hand concealed a poisoned dagger. Kill him, kill him! screamed a voice in her mind. Another resisted. No!

Her headache intensified as her consciousness battled. She was aware of her actions, yet powerless to control them. She watched helplessly as she raised her hand. Richard, leave quickly! she pleaded internally, but discreetly raised the dagger. Her face, however, held a sweet, lovable smile.

"Hubby," she murmured, her eyes sparkling. Richard’s eyes twinkled. "Are you seducing me, my dear wife? Hmm?"

Tiffany’s actions suggested seduction, yet beneath the honeyed surface lurked arsenic. She smiled. "I love you."

She kissed him passionately. Richard, initially bewildered, responded ardently. Then, a flash of steel, a sound of flesh being pierced…