Chapter 472
Tiffany sneered, thinking, "As expected!" She'd seen the scarred man in Felix's controlled hotel room on her engagement party day. He'd been among Felix's subordinates when Felix used Tiffany's family to threaten her into attacking Richard. The mastermind behind Ryan's murder was clearly Felix.
Tiffany was about to uncover Felix's whereabouts when he inadvertently revealed a clue. She decided to follow it. Hatred flared in her eyes. She told Kenneth about the scarred man and his connection to Felix.
Kenneth, upon hearing this, punched the wall, his handsome face contorted with suppressed rage. "I won't let him off," he muttered, fresh blood dripping onto the white wall. His voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet unshakeable determination resonated within it.
Tiffany remained silent. She knew Felix's strength firsthand from the hotel room; revenge wouldn't be easy. Moreover, he possessed the Treasure Box, a legendary artifact from the Azure Sea Royal Family's princess, somehow ending up with Romeo. Besides its alleged ability to predict the future, the Treasure Box held mysterious power. With it, Felix would be even more dangerous. Tiffany feared Richard would be his first target. Frowning, she turned and gazed into the distance. The late autumn cemetery was shrouded in a misty, elegant quietude, yet the cold, densely packed headstones before her spoke of sorrow. Before the funeral began, Kenneth left. The scene felt heavy with unspoken grief.
Tiffany remained seated, lost in thought, in the quiet, secluded corner rarely visited. She pondered how to destroy Felix with minimal cost. As she sat, chin in hands, the shadow of a tall figure enveloped her.
She was startled. Turning, she saw Richard's dark, cold eyes.
Tiffany’s heart leaped. She stumbled backward, losing her footing and falling. She cried out, but landed on soft grass, thankfully avoiding serious injury. Strong hands caught her at the waist, and she found herself in his familiar embrace.
"Where are you going, you heartless little thing?" Richard murmured, his voice low and melodious, teasing as always.
Tiffany's eyes welled. Sleepless nights, condemned by everyone, had left her feeling undeserving of sorrow. She'd expected disgust or hatred from him, but saw neither. It was as if the stabbing had never happened.
Holding back tears, she softly asked, "Are you alright? How are your injuries?" She hadn't seen him since the engagement party.
"Truth or lie?" Richard asked, loosening his grip slightly but still holding her.
Tiffany's heart pounded. "The truth, of course," she urged.
Before she could check his wounds, he kissed her, his hand over his heart. "It won't get better without you," he said, his voice deep and hoarse.
A tear rolled down Tiffany's cheek. "I'm sorry," she choked out. Richard responded with another kiss. The weather was hazy.
Richard and Tiffany were intimately embraced, a beautiful but poignant scene. Grelle, watching from afar, wept silently. "How can this be?" she thought. She’d tried desperately to win Richard's attention, waiting for him at Royal Bay, even following him to the cemetery, only to witness this. It was Tiffany again, the woman who'd stabbed him, yet he still couldn't let her go. Grelle's jealousy burned. She wished Tiffany gone, believing Richard's heart would then be free. Distraught, she stumbled, cutting her hand on a stone. The pain snapped her back to reality. She wiped her tears, hatred and jealousy hardening her beautiful face.
Tiffany was finally released, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glistening.