Chapter 433

Zoe and Abbie observed, "It's clearly afternoon. The sun is blazing outside, and the room is brightly lit. Why do we need to turn on the lights?"

They were shocked, nearly believing Tiffany was joking. Only when Zoe stepped forward and waved her hand in front of Tiffany did they realize something was wrong. Tiffany didn't even blink, as if oblivious.

"Tiffany, can… can you see me?" Zoe asked, her voice trembling.

Tiffany's stunned reaction finally revealed the problem. The engagement party had been in the morning. Time hadn't passed as long as she'd thought; it wasn't evening. Yet, everything before her was pitch black. She couldn't see.

Earlier, resisting Felix's hypnotic control, she'd forcibly suppressed that part of her consciousness. This was excruciating, potentially resulting in a severe backlash. She hadn't anticipated blindness as the price, but she didn't regret it.

Even if it means dying, I refuse to be Felix's puppet, and I won't hurt that man again, she thought.

Unconcerned about her condition, Tiffany comforted Zoe. "I'm okay. I'll be fine in two days."

Such a backlash won't be permanent, she thought. Perhaps in three or five days, I'll be normal.

"Is that so?" Zoe panicked, immediately correcting herself. "It's alright. If worse comes to worst, I'll be your guide."

The remark still sounded awkward. Zoe slapped her own mouth. "I'm such a Debbie Downer! Urgh. You'll be fine. Maybe you'll recover after sleeping."

"Let's go," Tiffany said, raising her hand. "Don't tell anyone I can't see. You two will support me."

Zoe wiped her tears. They linked arms and left together. Though blind, Tiffany could still orient herself by sound.

Leaving the hotel, onlookers exclaimed, "Hey, isn't that Miss Kelley? Look at her! She's certainly been up to something with her lover." "Tsk tsk, how shameless."

Insults and curses filled her ears, but Tiffany remained impassive, walking toward the car. Their criticism intensified at her lack of guilt. Someone even threw a shoe.

Zoe and Abbie reacted, but Tiffany, tilting her head, calmly kicked the shoe into a nearby pond. Just because she couldn't see didn't mean she couldn't hear.

Zoe was astonished. Sure enough, a badass remains a badass, regardless of the situation, she thought.

Ignoring the cursing, Tiffany got into the car and headed to Royal Bay, arriving at 3:00 p.m. under a scorching sun. Zoe helped her out and rang the doorbell.

Royal Bay's servants had already seen them via surveillance. Aware of the unusual situation, they reported it to their superiors. With Richard unconscious, only Sidney had authority. He was asleep, however, having been exhausted by Richard's critical condition, which included multiple cardiac arrests. He hadn't dared leave his side. The servants, unable to disturb him, reported to John.

John, frowning, said, "Got it," then went to the entrance. Tiffany, still in Richard's gown—beautiful, but stained with blood—stood there. John approached, his expression conflicted. He started to say "Mrs. Hampton," then corrected himself. "Miss Kelley."

Tiffany lowered her gaze. Before my relationship with Richard was confirmed, John always called me "Mrs. Hampton." Now he…

"How is he doing?" she asked.

"Miss Kelley, why the pretense?" John said angrily. "You poisoned him, did everything. You should know." His anger was evident. "Mr. Hampton said he has nothing to do with you anymore. Leave."

Tiffany looked toward Royal Bay, her mind picturing the layout and the man inside, despite her blindness.

"Tell me," she insisted, refusing to leave. "How is he doing?"

John's anger grew. "That stab was almost fatal. But even more fatal is your betrayal."

Zoe protested, "What betrayal? Are you sure Tiffany doesn't have reasons? Otherwise, why can't she see—"

Tiffany softly stopped her. "I just want to know how he is."

John sneered. "Thanks to you, Mr. Hampton's life hangs by a thread. Even though he's been saved, he's still unconscious. Are you pleased?"

Tiffany was suddenly worried. "What do you mean he's unconscious?"

"You should ask yourself. You know what you did with that dagger."

John left angrily. Tiffany stood there, replaying his words. Was the dagger tampered with?

She remembered something from her hypnotized state: another substance in the dagger besides poison—a hallucinogen that could keep people trapped in a dream-like state, potentially leading to death. Panic filled her. Felix went all out to kill Richard.