Chapter 576
‘Would I accidentally get pregnant?’ she thought. Tiffany jolted upright in the bathtub. Without wasting a second, she scrambled out, hastily dried herself, threw on some clothes, and slipped quietly out of the house.
At the curb, she hailed a cab and directed the driver to the nearest drugstore. It wasn’t too late; a few pharmacies were bound to still be open. When they arrived, Tiffany leaned forward and said, “Please wait for me.” The driver nodded as she stepped into the store.
“Good evening. How can I help you?” the pharmacist asked politely. Tiffany opened her mouth, but the words “birth control pills” seemed to lodge in her throat. Her hand unconsciously rested on her flat stomach. She wasn’t ready for children—not now, not with her life as it was. But if she was pregnant, could she accept it? If it came to that, she was sure Richard would be overjoyed.
Tiffany shook her head and softly apologized. “No, thank you.” Wrapping her coat tighter, she returned to the cab.
“Miss, where to?” the driver asked. “Back to…” She started to say “home” but stopped. A mischievous glint lit her eyes. “Royal Bay,” she said instead.
“Got it,” the driver replied, pulling away onto the quiet streets. Few pedestrians or cars were on the empty street. Tiffany leaned back and gazed out the window. The city lights grew sparser, and the serene night sky revealed a scattering of stars. A gentle breeze brushed her cheek as she rolled the window down slightly, easing the tension in her chest.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Royal Bay. Reaching for her bag, Tiffany froze. In her rush to leave, she hadn’t brought any cash—or her phone.
She rang the villa’s bell. Moments later, a maid hurried out, surprise evident on her face. “Mrs. Hampton?” The maid quickly opened the gate, letting Tiffany in.
The noise drew Richard’s attention, and he appeared at the door. Tiffany stood by the car, shivering slightly in the evening breeze, her nose tinged pink from the cold. She looked up and saw Richard walking out. His tall figure exuded quiet authority, and even in the dim light, his features remained striking and refined. His dark, penetrating gaze were fixed on her.
“I… I slipped out and didn’t bring any money,” she confessed awkwardly, her voice small.
Richard lifted his chin, signaling John, his assistant, who immediately stepped forward to pay the fare—paying far more than necessary. Then Tiffany was brought into the villa. The servants exchanged curious glances before quietly retreating to give them privacy.
“Are you cold?” Richard asked, glancing at Tiffany’s frostbitten red nose and sighing. He scooped her into his arms and carried her toward his upstairs bedroom.
“It’s not very cold—it’s just a bit windy,” Tiffany murmured, smoothly wrapping her arms around his neck. Her expression was pitiful, like a stray cat—helpless and forlorn. The sight tugged at his heart.
Richard gently placed her on the bed, his brow furrowing as he asked, “Why did you run out at this hour? Who upset you?” His tone carried a subtle, dangerous edge, a barely restrained fury.
Tiffany shook her head, looking upset and on the verge of tears. “No one,” she whispered. Her slightly reddened eyes brimmed with panic and helplessness, emotions she rarely showed. This was unsettling for Richard. His heart clenched, and his throat tightened. “What happened?” he asked, his voice low and steady, though tension seeped through each word.
“I…” Tiffany hesitated, struggling to keep her laughter at bay. Despite her internal amusement, her expression remained fearful and vulnerable. After holding Richard in suspense, she pursed her lips and finally said, as if barely holding back tears, “I… I think I might be pregnant.”
“What?” Richard froze, the single word spilling from his lips instinctively. Two seconds passed before the full weight of her statement hit him. His fingertips trembled, and the cool detachment in his eyes gave way to intense, unguarded joy. “Really?” He reached out to touch her belly. It was still flat, but the expression on his face radiated pure, unfiltered excitement.
‘Wait a second—this isn’t the reaction I expected,’ Tiffany thought, stunned. Before she could clarify, Richard cupped her face and kissed her gently, his voice trembling with emotion. “This is wonderful—truly wonderful.” From the moment he met her, he’d dreamt of this. And now, they were going to have a child—their child. The realization filled him with indescribable joy. Overcome with elation, Richard stood up, clearly ready to celebrate.
Seeing his overwhelming reaction, Tiffany felt guilty. She yanked him back, her voice small. “Wait—don’t get too excited yet. If I told you that… actually, I was just kidding, would you kill me?” She realized her joke had gone too far. Unable to continue the charade, Tiffany swallowed hard and confessed, her voice faltering, “Actually… I’m not pregnant.”
Richard froze. The smile on his face faded. Bit by bit, the joy drained from his features. Tiffany panicked. She cupped his face in her trembling hands, blurting out an eager assurance. “I was just kidding! But not having a child now doesn’t mean we won’t have one in the future. Don’t be angry, don’t feel sad…” If she had known how much Richard wanted a child, she never would have made such a childish joke! Regret gnawed at her, but Richard remained silent. The room fell into a suffocating stillness. The air grew heavy with a chill. Tiffany, on the verge of tears, stammered, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault. I won’t do it again, I swear…” Still, he didn’t say a word. But in his downcast eyes, she saw a deep disappointment. Overwhelmed with guilt, Tiffany threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “Don’t feel bad, honey. We still have a chance. If it doesn’t happen now, we’ll just work on it and try again! Someday, it will happen, I promise!” She repeated her reassurances, desperate to comfort him.
But then, she heard a muffled laugh. Tiffany froze. Pulling back, she stared at Richard in disbelief. He was smiling, his eyes glinting with triumph. “Alright, sweetheart,” he said, a teasing note in his voice. “That’s what you said. We’ll work on it—together.”
‘Wait. Have I just dug myself into a hole?’ she thought. ‘What the hell!’ Tiffany almost fainted from frustration. Shooting him a furious glare, she snapped, “Judging by the look on your face, you knew I was joking from the start, didn’t you?”
Richard raised his eyebrows, his smile deepening. “Uh-huh.” “How did you figure that out?” she asked. She thought she’d done a good job. How could he have seen through her so easily?
“Little fool,” Richard said affectionately, pinching her cheek as he stifled another laugh. “Your period just ended a few days ago. Also, even if you were pregnant, it couldn’t be detected this early.”
Chapter 576 (Continued)
So, from the moment she’d started her act, he’d known she was teasing him. He sighed. She was his wife; if she wanted to play this game, he was more than willing to indulge her. However, that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy a little fun in return.
Tiffany clutched her chest in frustration. As expected, when it came to scheming, she could never match him!
“It’s getting late,” Richard’s crisp voice cut through the air, breaking her thoughts. With a flick of his hand, the curtains drew shut. “Time to keep your promise, my dear.”