Chapter 442

In Kenneth's memory, everything felt like the past. He remembered a girl with striking features constantly at his side. Wherever he turned, she was there, radiant as a blooming flower, her expression lively and mischievous. But he had pushed her away.

Kenneth reached out, desperate, pulling Tiffany into his arms. Madness and possessiveness consumed him. He wanted to call her name. Each time he uttered "Tiffany," his voice trembled, pleading.

"Tiffany, Tiffany, I…" He thought, I was wrong. So wrong, there's no redemption.

He lost control, his strength surprisingly immense. He toppled Tiffany, lowering his head to kiss her, ignoring everything. Then, a sharp slap echoed.

Tiffany's hand stung. Though blind, her eyes burned with menace and coldness.

"Is this slap enough?" she asked.

The slap sent Kenneth reeling, jarring him out of his madness. Clarity returned, replacing the frenzy with shock and regret. He thought, What did I just do? Damn it.

He wished he could slap himself again. Damn it. I didn't even do anything to deserve this, huh? This is already the second time. He remembered being drugged by Sandra in the studio and acting inappropriately towards Tiffany. Even if this time was a hallucination, the hallucination stemmed from his own unspeakable thoughts.

Kenneth wanted to disappear. Vexed, he mumbled, "I'm sorry…"

He dared not look at Tiffany, fearing disgust, rejection, and disdain. But she rose as if nothing had happened.

"Let's go," she said.

The difficulty was escalating. Each level presented a more severe challenge.

Kenneth nodded, continuing forward, clinging to the rope. The path remained dark, but clear. However, the intoxicating scent lingered. He'd already succumbed once and wouldn't repeat the mistake. Whenever temptation arose, he would harshly pinch or slap himself.

Thus, he guided Tiffany through the darkness, finding the staircase to the fifth floor. Having overcome the hallucination, the scent faded, and light flooded the area. The crystal chandelier glittered, reflecting dazzling light off the glazed tiles. Yet, in this brilliance, Kenneth felt his turmoil laid bare.

He thought, After what just happened, I wonder how Tiffany views me… Does she think I'm petty, with ulterior motives?

After a moment, he cautiously looked at Tiffany. She stood slightly bowed, long lashes casting shadows on her eyelids. Her skin was flawless and delicate in the light, as beautiful as a fairy.

Kenneth was momentarily lost in thought. He hesitated before saying, "I'm sorry."

Tiffany looked up, her clear eyes unfocused. She turned towards the sound. "It's not your fault," she replied. In this illusion, ordinary people are trapped, she thought. Not everyone has a system immune to all toxins like me.

"Let's go." "Okay."

Kenneth led the way, secretly relieved as his tension eased. He thought, That was close. Fortunately, when I tried to knock Tiffany down, I didn't reveal my identity. To Tiffany, I'm just a kind stranger, not the Kenneth she hates… This is good.

He shook his head, distressed.

Reaching the fifth floor, the layout was drastically different—all mirrors. An endless reflection of shadows overwhelmed him, blurring his vision.

He shook his head, explaining the situation to Tiffany. "Why does this feel like a maze?"

"A maze?" Tiffany replied.

Strangely, she found it unsurprising. It was as if she'd already traversed this maze in her mind. Her body instinctively knew the way. It was peculiar.

Tiffany pulled the rope, taking the lead. She wanted to verify her mental map.

Kenneth immediately said, "Step back. We don't know this maze. If we get lost, we're trapped." He thought, This glass tower is unexpectedly large, and the mirrors are disorienting. Escaping this maze won't be easy.

Tiffany seemingly ignored him. "Follow me," she said.

Seeing her resolve, Kenneth shook his head, memorizing the route while following her.

Dozens of surveillance cameras monitored Treasure Pavilion. Two supervisors watched the live feed.

"These two are lucky," one said. "They reached the fifth level. Many were trapped in the fourth-level illusion."

"Right," the other agreed, pointing at Tiffany. "And she's blind."

"Strange." They thought, A blind person taking on Treasure Pavilion's challenges.

One supervisor sipped coffee. Seeing Tiffany reach the maze, he shook his head. "Good luck at the start, but she won't pass this level." He thought, The maze is complex. Without a map, it's impossible. Even with luck, it requires brains. She's blind; there's no way. Jack, the supervisor with a long beard, looked away, losing interest.

Micheal, the other supervisor, watched with amusement. "We're free. Let's see this blind girl's distress," he teased.

"You watch. I'm not interested." Jack yawned and fell asleep.

Unaware of the cameras, Tiffany walked forward, needing no visual map, relying solely on memory, step by step.