Chapter 456

Tiffany's face twisted with frustration. She'd been careless. Right now, she was just thankful her eyesight was returning. The blur had cleared, and she could make out some light.

Looking around, she spotted the outline of the box. Rolling across the ground, she made her way to it. But as she reached for it, assassins closed in like wild dogs. The already intense gunfire worsened, forcing her to pull back and hide behind a rock. "Tiffany!" Kenneth yelled, his heart pounding. He couldn't believe she was risking her life for a damn herb.

But he knew she wouldn't hesitate to say it was worth it. She wouldn't think twice.

Kenneth couldn't shake the bitter feeling gnawing at him. His chest felt tight, as if something were stuck in his throat, making him want to cry. A wave of regret washed over him. Nothing hurt more than losing something he'd held so dearly.

He'd seen Tiffany risk everything for him, but now, another man was the beneficiary of her sacrifice. Fighting back the jealousy, his eyes red, he ordered, "Take them down!"

His men attacked the assassins. Dust filled the air; the tension was suffocating. Tiffany looked at the box, barely three steps away. So close, she could almost feel it in her grasp. But the assassins were relentless, hounding her as if they held a personal vendetta. They wouldn't give her a second to breathe.

Tiffany clenched her teeth. Several times, she considered rushing out, but the bullets flew everywhere, making it impossible to even peek.

One assassin noticed her aiming for the box and fired several shots at it. The box was hit twice, creating a hole and sending sawdust flying.

'Shit. The Eternal Herb is flammable!' Tiffany thought, noticing a small fire near the box through her blurry vision. Without hesitation, she dove forward to extinguish the fire, grabbed the box, and tried to retreat behind the rock. Before she could get far, two more shots rang out. Tiffany tried to roll away, but one grazed her cheek, leaving a nasty cut.

Luckily, the Eternal Herb was safe. Tiffany sighed in relief, her focus entirely on the herb—she didn't even notice her facial injury. The gunshots finally stopped. A figure loomed over her. Tiffany lifted her head, but with her blurry vision, she could only make out a slim silhouette.

The figure was furious, practically shouting, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Is this stupid herb really worth it?" That bullet had been far too close. A slight deviation, and it wouldn't just be a scratch—her life would have been taken.

Even though she'd cheated death, he thought she, as a woman, should care about the wound on her face, especially since it could scar.

Kenneth, furious, snatched the box from her hands as if about to throw it away.

"Give it back!" Tiffany panicked. She jumped up to snatch it, but as soon as she stood, she groaned and collapsed.

Kenneth quickly caught her, his voice full of concern. "What happened? Are you hurt?" He saw a small metal shard embedded in her bloodied pants, apparently a grenade fragment.

All his anger vanished, replaced by helplessness. Kenneth sighed and handed the box back. "Come on. Let's get that wound checked." She nodded. "Yeah."

The assassins were gone. They had gotten what they deserved. Since the Harper family's helicopter was destroyed, Kenneth ordered someone to check the assassins' chopper. It was functional, so everyone climbed aboard. The flight to Lovell City was smooth and uninterrupted. Over an hour later, they landed behind Luna Villa. Tiffany jumped out and turned to a few lingering shadows.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"You're welcome." Kenneth forced a smile. He knew they might never cross paths again.

"Just take care." Swallowing the bitterness in his chest, he nodded and turned to board the helicopter.

But a voice called out, "Hey, Jumbo! I never got around to asking—what's your real name?"

He couldn't reveal it. Kenneth hesitated, a small, sad smile on his face. "We only met once. My name isn't important."

If the nickname left even a small mark in her memory, that was enough. For him, it didn't matter if she remembered him or not.

Turning, Kenneth forced one last smile. "See you. Maybe we'll run into each other again someday."

Then, her voice cut through the breeze with a teasing tone. "Jumbo, huh? Kenneth, that's pretty cute."

He spun around, surprised.

Dawn was breaking, painting the sky with pink and purple hues. She stood there, worn and bloodied, yet glowing, her eyes bright as stars. For a moment, a warm, genuine smile lit her face.

Kenneth froze. "Wait how did you figure it out?"

Tiffany raised an eyebrow. "Just a lucky guess."

Since meeting the kind stranger "Jumbo" in the valley, she'd suspected it was Kenneth. It seemed too convenient—blind, on the run, and suddenly encountering someone who cleared her path and got her back to Lovell City. It couldn't have been chance.

Plus, there was something oddly familiar about him, a feeling she couldn't ignore. She was sure it was Kenneth.

Kenneth scratched his head, feeling awkward and oddly relieved. He hadn't expected Tiffany to look at him like this—without tension, maybe even with humor, like old friends reuniting.

Kenneth chuckled. "Well, you'd better keep this between us. If word gets out, people won't shut up about it."

Tiffany smirked, then her smile softened. Looking at him, she spoke quietly. "Thank you, Kenneth. Really."

The memories—the hurt, bitterness, and weight of old grudges—had been so thick she'd barely seen beyond them. Now, those burdens felt lighter, like an old dream that no longer belonged to her. Many things had shifted in her life since she woke from that dream.

She'd been stuck in the past, captive to the mistakes and pain of her old life. But now, she was ready to make peace with it.